Vajpayee rejects Kamaraj-type Cabinet reshuffle proposal

From B L Kak

NEW DELHI, Mar 25: Emboldened by the Opposition failure to reduce the NDA Government into minority on the floor of the Lok Sabha, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee has turned down advice to go in for a major Kamaraj-type Cabinet reshuffle to clean up the BJP-led coalition’s image in the aftermath of the Tehelka revelations.

The Prime Minister has worked out what a senior Ministerial source termed as "appropriate strategy" to meet the challenge from the Opposition. The new strategy, it was pointed out, clearly suggested Mr Vajpayee’s preparedness to launch a counter-offensive.

Significantly, after the initial Tehelka shock followed by the exercise of resignations, the Prime Minister has managed to keep the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) intact after the exit of Trinamul Congress led by Ms Mamata Banerjee.

According to the Ministerial source, the Prime Minister was, on more than one occasion during the past 10 days, contacted by a set of "influential" men in the political class, including some BJP MPs, and persuaded to effect major changes in his Council of Ministers. Mr Vajpayee has, at least for the present, ruled out a major reshuffle of his Ministry.

In fact, the Ministerial source quoted Mr Vajapyee as having proclaimed in the course of one of the sessions with a team of Ministers: "I am not here to receive dictation from the Opposition on what I should and shouldn’t do. I can’t be expected to yield to someone’s bullying tactics".

The Prime Minister has, in the altered scenario, planned to hit back the Congress. The disclosure of his decision to launch a counter-offensive has come at a time when the Congress president, Ms Sonia Gandhi, finds herself in a practical dilemma, with leaders of major Opposition groups unwilling to go about under her stewardship in the battle against the continuance of the Vajpayee Government. In fact, in the absence of a clear-cut strategy of the Congress leadership vis-à-vis the question of promoting unity of action and of purpose among all Opposition groups, the BJP leadership cannot be faulted for its assessment that Ms Sonia Gandhi, taking the situation as it is, cannot bring down the NDA Government.

Again, BJP leaders, including the Prime Minister himself, cannot be faulted for trying to find out answer to the question: Why is the Congress in a hurry to destabilise the NDA Government when it does not have the numbers? There is no denying that the Congress cannot form the Government on its own, or in coalition, as long as Ms Sonia Gandhi remains a claimant for the post of Prime Minister.

Major political organisations, such as the Congress, the CPI(M), the CPI, the Samajwadi Party and Rashtriya Janata Dal, seem eager to restructure their respective plans to build anti-Government expression and activity in the light of the Tehelka expose on corruption in defence deals. But the division in the non-NDA parties, especially the Congress and the newly-floated People’s Front, has ensured political stability for the Vajpayee Government, at least for the time being.

The People’s Front, which nurses the desire to expose the "real face of the BJP, is slated to meet in New Delhi on April 3 to discuss measures to take the Tehelka revelations and the "anti-farmer and anti-working class" policies of the Vajpayee Government to every village in the country.

The Congress party, on the other hand, has started using the comments of the RSS and the VHP on the Tehelka expose against the NDA Government during its political campaign, which was launched on Saturday. The Congress has prepared 14 "talking points" to expose the BJP, after sensing that the rank and file in the ruling party had got demoralised by Mr Bangaru Laxman’s act, use of the official residence of Mr George Fernandes for deals and, most importantly, the criticism of the Sangh Parivar.

The main thrust of the "talking points" is to build up pressure on the Vajpayee Government to step down on "moral grounds". It will also explain why the Congress has opposed the judicial inquiry saying that it is dilatory tactic with the sole purpose of delaying the investigations.

Geelani’s stand main worry for Hurriyat Conference

NEW DELHI, Mar 25 Fire-brand Jamaat-e-Islamia leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani’s flip-flop stand on the Kashmir issue has caused a lot of problems for the Hurriyat Conference both within the State and in the international arena, insiders in the conference said here.

Geelani, who has become suddenly vocal after Hurriyat Conference appointed him the leader of the delegation for holding talks with military regime and militant outfits in Pakistan, has been talking of inevitability of Kashmir’s annexation to Pakistan.

"Kashmir is a religious issue and not a political one," the fire-brand Jamaat leader had said recently in Srinagar though the very next day he changed his stand in an interview to BBC’s Urdu service saying "the issue needs to be solved through political means." Hurriyat insiders also believe that Geelani’s rigid stand has put spokes in the peace process initiated by the Government.

They say Geelani, whose criticism of Pakistan during the Kargil war had invited wrath of militant groups, has again become their "heart-throb" and outfits like Lashker-e-Taiba (LeT), Hizbujaish-e-Mohammed and Al-Badar were extending full support to him.

"We can do nothing against him as he has boys on his side and they call the shots," Hurriyat insiders said.

Another factor for Geelani’s flip-flop stand is that some militant groups including Hizbul Mujahideen had voiced concern over the siphoning of money meant for relief and rehabilitation of people.

The Hurriyat’s stand, especially that of Geelani, was criticised by Hizbul Mujahideen when it announced a unilateral ceasefire on July 24.

For the first time in eight-year-old history of the amalgam, Hurriyat Conference was even forced to keep Geelani away from one of its executive meetings, which was called to chalk out a strategy in the wake of UN Secretary General Kofi Annan’s statement in Pakistan in which he ruled out any third party mediation or implementation of the UN resolutions on Kashmir.

However, the amalgam’s official line on keeping Geelani away from the Hurriyat executive was that it was considered appropriate as his stand on the Kashmir issue and his recent statements were to be discussed in the meeting.

But insiders say that the Hurriyat never wanted a rigid stand on Annan’s statement which Geelani had voiced a day before the meeting.

The entire issue has caused major worries for the present chairman Abdul Gani Bhat, who has been trying hard to keep the flock together. (PTI)

Curfew relaxed for 3 hours
KAP attacks houses in Poonch

Excelsior Correspondent

POONCH, Mar 25: Kashmir Armed Police (KAP) personnel last night went on rampage in the town attacking houses, shops and other property of minorities and mercilessly beating-up youths. Cops of KAP let loose a reign of terror in the town by resorting to indiscriminate firing and teargas shelling.

Meanwhile, curfew was relaxed in the town for first time during last three days for three hours from 1400 hours to 1700 hours. Relaxation period passed off peacefully.

Reports said a large number of KAP constables, deployed in the town on Friday following violent incidents, aggravated the situation by opening firing on minorities, who had gathered at Geeta Bhawan and a Gurdwara to register their protest against damage cause to their property by miscreants of majority community on Friday.

As people ran for safety to escape the wrath of KAP personnel, the cops chased them inside their houses and gave them severe thrashing. People alleged that cops also ransacked furniture, refrigerators and other electronic items in their houses.

A high drama continued for more than two hours in the town which sent a wave of panic among minorities. People again gathered in Geeta Bhawan and refused to go to their houses till KAP was replaced by army. Agitated people shouted slogans against KAP and demanded its immediate withdrawal from the town.

Brig W J B Sturgeon and other senior officers of army rushed to the town alongwith re-enforcement of army and took control of the town to restore confidence among minorities. People returned to their houses after deployment of army in the town.

Late last night and this morning, SP Poonch Pankaj Kumar Saxena convened a meeting of senior citizens of both the communities to review the situation and ensure peace in Poonch town, which was reeling under curfew for last three days.

After getting an assurance from the citizens, the district administration relaxed curfew in the town for three hours from 1400 hours to 1700 hours. Relaxation period passed off peacefully though tension prevailed in the town. Shops of minorities remained closed during curfew to register protest against police brutalities.

Meanwhile, at an all party meeting in the town, speakers after speakers castigated Armed Police for creating communal tension in Poonch and appealed to authorities to immediately remove it. They also blamed three teachers of degree college for instigating students to create trouble and demanded that trio should be shifted immediately from the college.

Trouble, it may be recalled, had erupted in Poonch on Friday afternoon when degree college students forced minorities to close down their shops and clashed with youths while protesting desecration of a holy book in Delhi and Amritsar.

Our Doda correspondent adds: A complete bandh was observed in Kishtwar tehsil of Doda district for third day today against the sacrilegious act. Life in other parts of the district returned to normal after two days of bandh.

Bandh in Kishtwar also passed off peacefully.

BSF cop, militant killed in Pulwama
Drug addict's death creates drama at
BBC Producer's house

Excelsior Correspondent

SRINAGAR, Mar 25: Even as at least one militant and a BSF soldier got killed in a fierce gunbattle in south Kashmir district of Pulwama this evening and unidentified gunmen eliminated a counter-insurgent source of paramilitary, two drug addicts have been found dead in the capital city here in mysterious circumstances.

Accoring to official sources as well as local residents, two youngsters found dead, at two different places in the capital city, were drug addicts. Waseem Rasool Matoo S/o Ghulam Rasool Matoo of Sanat Nagar had left his home on Thursday last. After staying at Aloochbagh, he had reportedly gone to his maternal uncles home, at Nandir Bagh. Found unconscious at a spot, he was rushed to SMHS Hospital where doctors described him as "brought dead". Quoting reliable sources, police maintained that he had been taking injections of tranquilizers.

Dead body of Firdaus Ahmed Bhat alias Kaka S/o Ghulam Rasool Bhat of Buchhwara, Dalgate, was recovered by residents and Police outside the house of the BBC Chief Producer, Nayeema Ahmed Mehjor, in Buchhwara locality. While as police said that post mortem of both the dead bodies had been conducted and its report was still awaited, relative and neighbours of Firdaus Ahmed Bhat alleged that he had been "beaten to death" by Nayeema's brother, Meraj-ud-Din Lone, who happens to be working in Police as Prosecuting Officer.

Firdaus Ahmed Bhat's relatives went on rampage and resorted to stone-pelting on the BBC Producre's house. Working under tremendous pressure, Police arrested Lone and inerrogated him for several hours. SSP Srinagar Dr B Srinivas confirmed to EXCELSIOR that the Prosecuting Officer had been detained for questioning as there were accusations that he had beaten up Firdaus late last night after the latter had allegedly pelted some stones on the former's house.

Gun battle in Pulwama:

Meanwhile, at least one soldier of BSF 104 Bn and a militant of Hizbul Mujahideen got killed in a fierce encounter at Dadoora village, 3 Km from district headquarters of Pulwama in south Kashmir, this evening. Official sources told EXCELSIOR that BSF 104 Bn, BSF 09 Bn and SOG Pulwama launched a search operation at Dadoora on a reliable tip-off which suggested the presence of some local militants. As soon as the troops raided the target house, militants opened fire and made desperate attempts to escape. However, troops maintained this siege and retaliated. In the initial round of the gunbattle, one BSF jawan and an unidentified militant got killed.

Reports said that two residential houses were destroyed but two or three holed up militants were holding the fort event at midnight. Officials as well as residents are expecting more casualties.

Reports available from Budgam said that unidentified gunmen shot dead a released militant, namely NazirAhmed Bhat alias Pahalwan S/o Rehman Bhat of Shamnag, near Surasyar village in upper Budgam. He was reportedly a BSF source.

An unconfirmed report from north Kashmir said that late this evening another gunbattle occured between militants and security forces in Bandipore.

One of the two militants killed in an encounter in Gadole area of Kokernag on Saturday morning, has been identified as Abdul Hameed Rishi S/o Ab Rehman Rishi of Sighpora, Kishtwar. Officials described him as a "district commander'' of Harkat-e-Jihad-e-Islami.

Bandh in Valley:

Meanwhile, spontanous bndh continued in Kashmir valley on fourth consecutive day in protest against the desecration of holy Quran in some north Indian cities. call for the shutdown had not been given by any Indian cities. Call for the shutdown had not been given by any militant or political organisation.

While as curfew continued in Baramulla town on the second consecutive day, passenger services remained off the road in entire Kashmir valley. At batmaloo (Tatoo Ground) and Baran Pathar, youngster pelted stones on vehicles an enforced a total shutdown. However, police avoided to engage into a clash with them.

Enquiries revealed that Firdaus Ahmed Bhat had joined militancy in early '90s and functioned as a commander of Al-Barq outfit until 1996 when he surrendered befor the Union Home Minister. Thereafter, he lived as a protected person for some time and became a drug addict. In 1997, he got after the BBC Producer's younger sister who has lately passed the competitive examination of junior Kashmir Administrative Services (KAS) and has been appointed as Assistant Registrar in Cooperative Department.

While in past two years, there has been mysterious stone-pelting on the BBC Producer's house, her family have been reportedly holding the former Al-Barq militant responsible for it. Almost everybody confirmed that Firdaus had been often found under the influence of drugs. Police said that they were investigating whether Firdaus had died of an over-dose of drugs or he had been beaten to death, as alleged by his family members.

While the high voltage drama, involving the family of a world famous broadcaster was going on at Dalgate, a militant organisation has reportedly claimed responsibility for killing Firdous Ahmed Bhat with the argument that he had surrendered before the Indian Home Minister. However, Police maintained that there were neither marks of physical torture nor gunshot wounds on the dead body.

Gen Murgai asked to appear before inquiry

NEW DELHI, Mar 25: The Army court of inquiry has summoned retired Major General S P Murgai, a key figure in the expose by tehelka.Com on defence deals, to appear before it next week, Army sources said.

Murgai, who retired recently as Additional Director General, Quality Assurance at Army Headquarters, has reportedly been missing since the expose.

Murgai was used by the Tehelka sting team to gain access to key officers dealing with armament procurement at Army headquarters. He also accompanied the team to a meeting with former Samata Party president Jaya Jaitley at former Defence Minister George Fernandes’ house.

The three-man court of inquiry headed by Lt. General S K Jain has issued summons to Gen Murgai, which was served to his wife at their Vasant Vihar residence, Army sources said.

Gen. Murgai was reportedly missing since last Friday (March 16) when the Tehelka team uncovered its expose on bribe taking in defence deals.

Though the court of inquiry has no power to issue summons to civilians, it has, under the Army act asked even retired Army personnel to appear before it to depose under oath, sources said.

The deposition of Murgai would be crucial in the case, Army sources said adding that they were confident that the officer would voluntarily appear before the court.

The court after studying the Tehelka tapes and collecting detailed defence statements of the suspended Additional DG Weapons and Equipment, Maj. General P S K Choudhary and four other senior officers, has also completed interrogating the Tehelka sting duo of Anirudh Pehal and Samuel Matthews.

It has also allowed five Army officers, besides Choudhary, Maj Gen Ahluwalia, Maj Gen Satnam Singh, Brigadier Iqbal Singh and Col. Anil Sehgal to cross examine Pehal and Matthews as stipulated under the Army rules.

The officers have been attached without work at Army headquarters pending the inquiry report.

Meanwhile, the parallel one-man Defence Ministry fact-finding inquiry, after completing its perusal of the Tehelka tapes have asked four ministry officials including Additional Secretary L M Mehta, Staff Officers to the Ordnance Factory Board H C Pant, Assistant Financial Advisor Narendra Singh and Office Assistant P Sasi to file details before it.

The inquiry held by R P Bagai Chief Vigilance Officer has been asked to submit its report to Defence Minister Jaswant Singh within a month. (PTI)

Tehelka inquiry
Venkataswami will complete inquiry in time limit

CHENNAI, Mar 25: Retired Supreme Court Judge K Venkataswami, appointed to head an inquiry commission to probe alleged bribery in defence deals following the tehelka.Com expose, today said he would strive to complete his work within the stipulated time limit of four months.

"I am yet to receive the terms of reference, which the Centre had couriered to me. Essentially, four months time has been given. My endeavour will be to complete it within this period", he said.

Responding to questions from mediapersons at his residence here, Venkataswami, currently chairman of the Chennai-based Railway Rates Tribunal, said it was a challenging job. "But I know I can do it", he said.

"Prima facie, it will not be a difficult job. I will be supported by oral evidence. I have really not given a thought about how I will go about it. It is the first time I am getting a job like this", he said. On how he would approach the task, Venkataswami said he did not want to proceed with any pre-conceived notions. "I have not seen the Tehelka tapes. So at this stage I cannot say anything", he said.

Asked whether he would insist on the implementation of his recommendations, he said the commission’s job was essentially a fact-finding one.

"I cannot say it is binding and I can’t insist that the recommendations should be implemented", he said.

To a question on whether his inquiry would also look into the aspect of ethics in journalism, he said he would do so only if he felt it was necessary.

His goal, he said, was to find the truth. In the process, if he stumbled upon some facts, then he would probe that also.

Venkataswami said he would leave for Delhi either on Wednesday or Thursday and return to Chennai on April 2. (PTI)

Expose highlights shortcomings in system: Vajpayee

NEW DELHI, Mar 25: Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee today said the Tehelka expose on corruption in defence deals has brought to the fore "shortcomings in the system" which needed to be rectified by evolving suitable mechanism.

"There is need for introspection. A suitable mechanism should be evolved to ensure that such incidents do not recur," Vajpayee told reporters on the conclusion of BJP’s two-day national executive here.

Vajpayee said the media was not to be blamed for the expose.

"I do not blame the media as they have done their job. They have alerted us. There are some shortcomings in the system and these need to be rectified," he said.

Vajpayee, who delivered the valedictory address at the concluding session, said as the elections were becoming increasingly expensive, there was need for electoral reforms to make party funding "transparent".

He said while individual spending on elections was monitored and accounted for, there was no such provision for checking expenditure. The BJP, he said, has "Aajiwan Sahyog Nidhi" for fund collection from the public.

This scheme of political funding is based on the philosophy of decentralisation of political funds in order to reduce dependence on big money. It is based on the principle of collecting funds through small amounts from larger section of supporters and sympathisers. (PTI)

Farooq says only Vajpayee can find solution with Pak

NEW DELHI, Mar 25: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah today said it was only Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee who could find a solution to the ‘issue’ with Pakistan.

Addressing the NDA rally here, Dr Abdullah said it was only a leader of Mr Vajpayee’s stature who could visit Pakistan and ask them to extend the hand of friendship instead of following the path of confrontation.

Saying that the way the Prime Minister had handled the Pakistan issue was commendable, he expressed hope that issues like Ayodhya temple and Babri mosque will also be amicably solved by Mr Vajpayee to the satisfaction of the two communities.

He said it was sad that the Tehelka controversy had been raised at a time when the country was going through a serious situation at the border with Pakistan, which is trying to divide Jammu and Kashmir.

The National Conference leader said another matter which was of great concern was the recent incidents of communal violence especially in Kanpur. "It needs to be probed who are the people who are trying to create a communal divide in the country."

He came in a strong defence of former Defence Minister George Fernandes saying that where many of defence personnel did not dare to go, Mr Fernandes visited Siachen 18 times during his tenure. (UNI)

Non-bailable warrant against Sharad Yadav

PATNA, Mar 25: A non-bailable arrest warrant has been issued against Union Civil Aviation Minister Sharad Yadav by a court in Bihar for allegedly driving out voters from polling stations during the last Lok Sabha elections in his constituency in Madhepura.

Superintendent of Police (Madhepura), Jagmohan, when contacted over phone said Madhepura’s Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) Mathura Mandal had taken cognizance of the complaint and an FIR lodged with the Sadar Police Station here on October 9, 1999 by two local college teachers, Vishnu Deo Yadav and Jagdeo Yadav.

The FIR stated that Sharad Yadav on March 3, 1999 went to polling stations No. 216 and 217 with armed supporters and forcefully drove out genuine voters who had collected before the polling stations to exercise their franchise.

The SP said later that the police found the allegations to be "true" and had sought an arrest warrant from the court against the Union Minister. The Court after the sides issued non-bailable arrest warrant against Yadav last Tuesday. (PTI)

NDA, Cong hold show of strength

NEW DELHI, Mar 25 : The political turmoil which stalled Parliament proceedings last fortnight spilled onto the streets of the Capital today with the National Democratic Alliance and the Congress holding parallel shows of strength over the Tehalka controversy.

While the NDA launched its counter offensive against the opposition at the historic Ram Lila Grounds, the Congress declared its war against the Government at a rally in the Karol Bagh area.

To add to the fever was a BSP meeting in East Delhi to celebrate the 67th birthday of party president Kanshi Ram.

Attendance of lakhs of people notwithstanding, the impact of the rallies on normal life was mitigated, today being a weekly holiday.

Police, however, did not take any chance and were out in full force on the streets since early morning. The deployment was not only at the venues but also at strategic points in the city.

To assist the 55,000 strong Delhi Police Personnel, were companies of the CRPF, Rapid Action Force (RAF) and other para-military forces. Apprehending trouble or intra-party workers clashes, the Delhi Police had sought additional forces to maitain law and order.

A senior police official said there was no untoward incident reported from the venues of the three rallies’. Barring a few traffic diversions, vehicular movement remained normal.(UNI)

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