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ANC’s
invitation accepted NEW DELHI, May 8: Centre's interlocutor K C Pant today said he would be visiting Kashmir valley soon to hold talks with groups in Jammu and Kashmir for early restoration of peace in the State. "I will be visiting Kashmir valley and soon dates for the visit would be firmed up," Pant told reporters after formally receiving an invitation from Awami National Conference (ANC) to visit the Valley. The ANC extended the invitation through Muzzaffar Shah, spokesman of the party and also the son of ANC chief and former Chief Minister G M Shah. "I have gladly accepted the invitation and since he (Shah) had come, I took the advantage and heard his views on broader aspects of the Kashmir issue," he said. However, Pant, who is also the deputy chairman of the Planning Commission, said the meeting did not amount to holding a formal discussion with Shah. "Whatsoever, discussion has to take place will be with Ghulam Mohammed Shah when I visit the Valley," Pant said. The ANC led by Shah had accepted the Centre’s invitation for talks with a condition that Pant should visit the State and see "reason" in Kashmiris’ "wishes and national aspirations". "ANC would have no objection or feel no hurdle to exchange its views with Pant to solve Kashmir issue peacefully, equitably, honourably, democratically and permanently," Shah had said after a meeting of the executive committee of his party on April 28. In response to media queries, Shah said he was here only to extend an invitation to Pant to visit the Valley so that "he can have a feel of the situation in the State." "When he (Pant) will visit the Valley, he will have the first hand knowledge of the problems of the State besides exchanging views with party president G M Shah", Shah said. However, asked whether the peace process was heading in the right direction, Shah, who was initially reluctant to reply the question, said "yes, we have come forward and there is no harm in talking without considering about the results." Stating that his party was for a honourable and permanent solution to the Kashmir problem, Shah said "our party’s Mantra to the problem was consultation, consensus, compromise, compassion and no confrontation." Pant also held meeting with senior most Ladakhi leader Kushak Baukula. The meeting with Baukula, who is the former MP from Ladakh and former ambassador to Mangolia follows the one with a Ladakhi delegation led by Lama Lobzang which demanded separation of the province from rest of the State. The delegation, which also comprised Rigzin Palbar, executive councillor of the Leh Autonomous Hill District Council (LAHDC), and Sonam Namgyal, apprised Pant of its views on other issues concerning the State too. Meanwhile, K C Pant today said he would be soon sending a reply to clarifications sought by Jammu and Kashmir Democratic Freedom Party (JKDFP) chief Shabir Shah on the Kashmir issue. "I have read the letter and I will be replying soon on the clarifications," Pant told reporters here after meeting a representative of Awami National Conference Muzzafar Shah, who had come to invite Pant to the Kashmir valley. Asked whether he would hand over a letter himself or send an emissary, he refused to give any further details and said "I can only say at present the clarifications will be replied back." Last week, a two-member JKDFP team comprising Saleem Geelani, spokesman and chief organiser of the party, and Maulana Abdullah Tari, secretary general, handed a letter to Pant seeking clarifications on the Centre’s move. The party had made it clear that it would take the next step after receiving a "right response" to its four "clarifications" sought from Pant by Shah. The clarifications were sought on whether talks would be held with Pakistan, even though at a later stage, agenda of talks and whether it considered the Kashmir issue as a law and order problem or a dispute which needs to be resolved. JKDFP also sought to know whether the Government was serious about holding talks with groups like National Conference and Congress and whether the Government planned to hold talks with the Kashmiri militant groups. Asked about inclusion of Pakistan in the proposed Kashmir talks, Shah said "Pakistan is an inevitable to the issue and they have to be included." However, Shah made it clear that this was not a precondition for Awami National Conference to begin a dialogue with the Centre. "But a permanent solution will be feasible only after involving Pakistan in the talks," he added. (PTI) |
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Excelsior Correspondent SRINAGAR, May 8: At least 50 people, including seven policemen, were injured as a high-velocity storm swept Srinagar and parts of the Kashmir valley this evening causing extensive damage to public and private property, official sources said. Although there was no report of loss of life from any part of the Valley, reports with police and hospitals said atleast 50 persons were injured. The storm, with a speed between 25 to 30 nauts (about 65 kmph), caused extensive damage to houses at a number of places, uprooted trees, electric and telephone poles, they said. About 300 structures were reported to have been damaged across the Valley. The storm was followed by heavy rains and hailstorm which caused extensive damage to standing fruit crop, especially cherry, almonds and apricots, the sources said. Seven policemen were injured when a tree in the police training college in Baramulla fell on two barracks of the college, the sources said. An auto-rickshaw driver was injured when a flying tin sheet hit his vehicle at Chotabazar in downtown Srinagar where rooftops of two school buildings and several houses in Rajbagh and Ikhrajpora areas were uprooted. Traffic on Jammu-Srinagar, Sopore-Kupwara and other major roads was disrupted due to felling of trees. Weather office said this was for the first time that such a strong storm lashed the Kashmir valley. The storm, which struck around 1830 hours, also lashed Badgam district in central Kashmir where three persons were injured. Several poplar trees on Srinagar-Baramulla highway were uprooted damaging some houses, but no loss of life was reported, the sources said. Police rescued ten persons from drowning in the Dal Lake as several Shikaras capsized. Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah, who was returning to his residence, was also caught in the storm and had to take shelter in Golf Club. Meanwhile, in militancy related incidents, a Hizbul Mujahideen militant Mohd Iqbal Baru alias Zahid-ul-Islam R/o Redwani was shot dead by SOG Shopian and army in Rakhi Momeen area of Zainpora this evening. Three cops were injured in a grenade attack by the militants at Khrew police post of Pampore. A Woman was injured in cross-firing between 29 RR and militants in Pattan. |
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Hurriyat silent, traders
shutdown Excelsior Special Correspondent SRINAGAR, May 8: The summer capital of Srinagar has never been so dirty and dark on the day of the annual return of Durbar and opening of Civil Secretariat. Not even in May 1990, when the entire administrative machinery had collapsed in the wake of a spontaneous outbreak of bloodshed and mayhem throughout Kashmir valley. But few in the Government are concerned over the sanitary conditions and power supplies. For the last one fortnight, all and sundry looked worried over the "lull before a storm" as Police, security forces and intelligence officials expected major militant strikes. Most of the officials had turned tense due to the latest threat of Lashkar-e-Toiba, which vowed to intensify offensive against the security forces and the Government. One had reasons to believe that the militant’s threat of attacks was not essentially Durbar Move-specific. But, everybody in the Government seemed to be apprehensive and very much on tenterhooks. Even the 2000-odd move employees, who arrived in from Jammu on Monday, seemed to be more worried about their protection than their comfortable accommodation, furnishing and mess. Director of Estates, Mohammad Ismail Kirmani, and his subordinate officials had made impressive arrangements for their boarding and lodging, notwithstanding some unrest in a section of the trade union leaders. The entire process remained smooth and trouble free as about three dozen hotels hired at Sonwar, Zero Bridge, Dalgate and Boulevard got packed to capacity. Uninterrupted power supply has been ensured by PDD engineers and other concerned departments for the VIP colonies, particularly Gupkar Road and Cheshma Shahi huts. But, scenes elsewhere in the capital city are sordid and bizarre. There has been no face lifting of Government structures along the road to Civil Secretariat this year. Officials hold the "financial crunch" and absence of plan approvals responsible for the same. For two consecutive days in last week, Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah himself drove away the herds of vendors and rehriwallas. That clearly meant "loss" of Rs 100,000 a month to the staff of two Police stations in uptown, besides officials of Srinagar Municipality and Srinagar Development Authority. Even as most of the Chief Secretary’s administrative doctors — from IGP Dr Ashok Bhan to SSP Srinagar Dr B Srinivas and Administrator of Srinagar Municipality Dr Asgar Samoon — are indisputably men of high integrity and clean image, it took the Government not less a surgeon than the Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah to clear the footpaths. Cynics, who have still Farooq Abdullah with his bike and Shabana Azmi on their mind, are generously all praise for the top surgeon’s Operation Clear out. Just adopted system of one-way traffic through Amirakadal and Budshah bridges has been widely appreciated in town. This has immediately brought relief to drivers as well as pedestrians as there are no traffic jams now. As a special case, authorities have permitted plying of all Government vehicles towards Civil Secretariat via Budshah Bridge for 90 minutes in forenoon. Sidewalks at Hari Singh High Street, Amirakadal, Lalchowk, Residency Road, Jehangir Chowk, Budshah Chowk and Maulana Azad Road are clear of the vendors and handcarts and no vehicles are allowed parking on the main streets during office hours. But, it has simultaneously exposed how rough and dirty the main streets and footpaths are in Civil Lines, which is seen as the face of the capital city. Slush is profusely flowing in the surface drains on Residency Road and Maulana Azad Road and perhaps the heart of the town, Lalchowk-Regal Chowk, is dirtiest ever this season. In spite of the Jhelum flowing with normal discharge after two years, there is no respite in the schedule of power curtailment. Like in the worst days of the year in January, most of the localities remain dark in Srinagar alternately. However, reports from the countryside indicate a better position. Since the PDD has no rapport with public or media, nobody knows whether the supplies are proportionate to the voters’ turnout in Assembly and Lok Sabha elections or that there is really some other problem with the capital city. Daytime is equally stifling due to the noise and smoke of mini generators at each shop from Lalchowk to Polo View. Officials of the State Pollution Control Board (PCB) drive past with a finger in ear but there is apparently no will to take on the shopkeepers who understand only one language: Shutters roll down in minutes when a 6-member brigade of youngsters emerges from Maisuma and announces a bandh while hurling a brickbat on a signboard. Hurriyat, this year, didn’t greet the Durbar with a bandh. But Kashmir Traders and Manufacturers Association today sponsored a shutdown in Kashmir valley in protest against the lengthy power cuts and the alleged harassment to the business community by Sales Tax and other departments. CPI(M) State Secretary Mohammad Yusuf Tarigami and some other politicians also supported the call. |
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Burglars strike in DPL; decamp with generator Excelsior Correspondent KATHUA, May 8: Unidentified burglars struck inside heavily guarded District Police Line (DPL) here and decamped with a generator right under the very noose of police. Indications were that burglars were none others but the police constables. Senior police officers were maintaining a silence on the burglary, which took place inside well fortified DPL premises, which housed many other police installations including Police Control Room (PCR), Fire Services Station, Canteen and MT Workshop. Reliable police sources, however, confirmed the burglary and said that a case has been registered in this connection at Kathua police station. Six constables of Fire Services and PCR have been detained for questioning to ascertain the identity of thieves. They said the burglary took place in the evening when a thunderous storm lashed Kathua town. While cops on guard duty took shelter in rooms to escape the thunderous storm, which was followed by torrential rains, the burglars got an opportunity and stole generator, which used to feed emergency power supply to police installations. The burglary of generator, costing about Rs 26,000 (as mentioned in the First Information Report lodged at Kathua police station), was detected by police personnel next morning when one of the constables went to start the generator and found it missing. The constable immediately brought the burglary to the notice of senior police officers, the sources said, adding a thorough search was conducted of entire DPL and PCR premises but the generator couldn’t be recovered. Even residential quarters of police staff around DPL and PCR were searched but a breakthrough remained elusive. After a full day of in-house inquiries, the senior police officers decided to register a case in the burglary. Accordingly, an FIR was lodged at Kathua police station and investigations started. The investigating team have detained six constables of Fire Services Department and PCR for questioning in the theft. Detained cops were on duty on the day of theft. "By all means, it appeared that burglars were either police constables or were helped by the constables in stealing generator set", the sources said. They were of the view that it was virtually impossible for outside thieves to gain an entry inside the heavily guarded DPL premises and steal generator set. "It was a handiwork of some disgruntled cops, who would be identified shortly and put behind the bars", they added. |
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J&K soon to figure on cellular map of country NEW DELHI, May 8: The Home Ministry has finally given its nod for introducing cellular phone facilities in some areas of Jammu and Kashmir after the Intelligence Bureau examined all aspects of allowing the operation in the insurgency-hit border State, official sources said here today. The sources said the Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) was likely to provide 10,000 connections to some of the areas in the State. However, when contacted BSNL officials said the formal approval from the Ministry was yet to come. Jammu and Srinagar districts will get 4000 connections each, while Udhampur in Jammu and Anantnag in Kashmir will be the other two districts which will acquire 1000 connections each by the end of this year or early next year. The sources said the facility will be extended to other parts of the State gradually. The plan to introduce the technology was shelved several times in the past as the Union Home Ministry opposed it for security reasons, mainly because of possible misuse by militants. However, the proposal has got a green signal owing to the relentless efforts of Information Technology Minister Pramod Mahajan and State Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah. Mahajan had written letters to Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Home Minister L K Advani for introduction of cellular technology in the State. Earlier, intelligence agencies were opposing the use of the technology as they feared that the militants would misuse the cellular phones. However, the green signal has been given now as the militants are already well equipped as far as communication devices are concerned. Militants have even acquired the latest Kenwood radio sets, the sources said. Besides, the security forces could use the mobile phones to combat militancy efficiently, the sources said. While sanctioning the mobile phones, priority would be given to VVIPs, security forces, media men and medical professionals, the sources said, adding that fibre optic cables were being laid for the purpose. Information Technology Minister Pramod Mahajan during his recent visit to Jammu and Kashmir had also promised to provide internet facilities in all the districts. Mahajan had reasoned that the introduction of the mobile phone facility would not cause any hinderance to countering of militancy in the State. There is only one internet node in the State which is based in Jammu and the internet users in Kashmir have to dial a number of times to get connected to the server while most of the scribes use STD to get connected to Delhi server. However, the problem would be addressed soon and more internet nodes were likely to be set up in the State, the sources added. (PTI) |
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Militant surrenders in
Poonch Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, May 8: Three civilians including a Haji and a minor girl were killed in separate militancy-related incidents across Poonch and Doda district overnight. Official sources said Haji Mohd Usmaan, 42, son of Qadir Baksh was seriously injured in an explosion at Hari Mehrot, Surankot last night. Haji was shifted to district hospital of Poonch where he succumbed to his injuries. Local people of Hari Mehrot alleged that Haji died under mysterious circumstances. They alleged that his shifting to Poonch hospital was also delayed, leading to his death. Haji was reportedly being used by security forces as ‘pithoo’. A minor girl Amir Fatima daughter of Sikander Shah was killed by some unidentified militants in her house at village Gassa under jurisdiction of Poonch police station last night. Reasons behind the killing of minor girl couldn’t be ascertained. A Poonch police station party led by SHO Behari Lal Sharma rushed to the house of victim. Investigations were being carried out by police. The girl was buried after post-mortem. Another civilian was kidnapped and killed by the militants at his house in Shakhori Mathi area of Marmat in Doda district last evening. He has been identified as Ghulam Mohd son of Muna Sheikh, resident of Shakhori Mathi. Police said Ghulam Mohd was kidnapped on the intervening night of May 6 and 7. His body with two gun shots was recovered the next day near his village. A militant surrendered before security forces in Chambar Kanari village near Poonch police station. He has been identified as Abdul Hamid son of Aziz Malik. He handed over one AK-56 rifle, one AK magazine and 150 rounds to security forces. After subjecting the surrendered militant to questioning, security forces handed him over to police. Meanwhile, an army jawan of 4 Rashtriya Rifles, who was killed in a powerful explosion at Chinka Mohalla in Bhaderwah has been identified as Dillawar Khan. He had died on the spot. Five other army jawans, who were injured in the blast, have been identified as Mohd Farooq son of Saif Din of Malli Paranu, Wali Mohd son of Mohd Abdul of Qudiwara, Aijaz Ahmed son of Abdul Majid Nadeem of Rajouri, Aftaab Alam and Abdul Qayoom of Rajouri. One of the injured Mohd Farooq was shifted to Medical College hospital this morning for treatment. His condition was stated to be improving. No arrest has been made in connection with the blast. Police and security forces continued searches for the ultras. |
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Dhaka’s limited
response to secular philosophy From B L Kak NEW DELHI, May 8: In a swift turn of events, the Bangladesh authorities have allowed the deployment of additional troops-one estimate has put their number at around 15,000-close to the border in West Bengal, Assam and Meghalaya. This phenomenon as well as the setting up of a number of new check-posts by the Bangladesh Rifles in the past 10 days led the Border Security Force (BSF) to sound a "red alert" in most parts of the West Bengal border with Bangladesh. A top Indian security officer told EXCELSIOR that following the "suspicious" behaviour of groups of belligerent BDR personnel at quite a few places close to the border, the BSF troops had to be ordered to be in a state of preparedness, particularly along the 100-km border stretch in Murshidabad sector of West Bengal. The BSF authorities, the officer said, were compelled to deploy an extra battalion in this border stretch as precaution. This development was allowed after the "clearance" from the BSF headquarters in New Delhi. The BSF Director-General, Mr Gurbachan Jagat, had detailed consultations with the Union Home Secretary, Mr Kamal Pande, on the situation arising from the "suspicious" behaviour of the Bangladesh Rifles at several places close to the border, particularly along the 100-km stretch in Murshidabad sector, before issuing instructions to his men in West Bengal and elsewhere to intensify vigil along the Indo-Bangladesh border. BSF’s battalion number 26 has been posted in the areas adjoining Jalangi and is spread up to Farakka. And the battalion Commandant, Mr PP Gupta, is under clear orders to make available necessary mechanism to prevent infiltration and cross-border smuggling. In fact, the directive from the BSF headquarters has highlighted the need for increased patrolling in areas like Lalgola, Jalangi, Bhagavangola, Shamshedganj and Raninagar where the red alert has been sounded. Significantly, "suspicious" behaviour of the Bangladeshi troops has been noticed at a time when the Vajpayee Government expected Dhaka to recognise the urgency of imparting some momentum to the proposed official-level talks between the two sides. Indeed, shortly after the crisis in the wake of the brutal killing of several BSF personnel by the Bangladeshi forces recently, India invited Dhaka to send a team of senior officials at the earliest to discuss ways of finalising the boundary settlement between the two nations. The Premier of Bangladesh, Ms Sheikh Hasina Wajid, who is facing elections later this year, is bound to step down, according to her country’s Constitution, a few weeks before polling takes place. It is not clear whether the two sides have enough time for substantive negotiations in the next two months, before she steps down in July-August. The Union Home Minister has received an assessment note from a security specialist, warning that the surface calm can be "highly misleading". The note says: "Making allowances for contradictory strands of policy in a divided polity like Bangladesh is one thing. Absolving the Sheikh Hasina regime of any kind of anti-India taint, as if all or most members of the regime share a common perception of India, is another". Referring to the recent Boraibari incident, the note insists that it must not be treated as a mere error of judgement. The note says that a serious introspection is called for. Bangladesh, undoubtedly, is a deeply polarised nation, a victim of the complex interplay of social, economic, religious and political forces. Increasing religious fundamentalism leading to Islamisation of Bangladesh has deeply scarred the nation and led to a high level of intolerance of other communities. Traditional communal groups with strong religious underpinnings pose a range of challenges for the governing elite. The note has added: "The Indian establishment has so far displayed a pathetic unwillingness to accept that Bangladesh now responds more readily to the drum beat of Islamic nationalism than to any secular philosophy. |
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Indo-Pak talks must for peace: Farooq Excelsior Correspondent SRINAGAR, May 8: Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah today said that talks with Pakistan are necessary for putting halt to terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir and heralding a new era of peace in the region. Talking informally to media persons after the re-opening of Civil Secretariat and Darbar Move offices in the summer capital this morning, the Chief Minister said terrorism flows from Pakistan, which could be prevailed upon to stop pushing in militants and mercenaries to the State. "This can be achieved only through Indo-Pak dialogue", he said. When asked about Centre’s offer to talk with Hurriyat Conference, the Chief Minister equipped that those thinking that peace would dawn in the State only after talking to the Hurriyat are wrong. Hurriyat Conference, he said, is the mouth piece of the Islamabad in the State that has been and would hold Pakistan brief only. He said, he believes that Indo-Pak dialogue is imperative for lasting peace in the sub-continent as militants are under the control from across the border. However, he made it clear that he was not averse to holding of talks by the Centre with various parties in Jammu and Kashmir including Hurriyat. He said let the peace process of talks continue. Dr Abdullah said that Jammu and Kashmir is proud part of Indian Union. The Chief Minister reiterated the resolve to fight terrorism with full might and said that seeds of militancy have to be uprooted from Jammu and Kashmir at all costs. |
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3 army jawans killed, 3 injured in accident Excelsior Correspondent UDHAMPUR, May 8: Three army jawans were killed and three others were seriously injured when their jonga met with an accident at Khoon on Dhar road this evening. The jonga was on way from Naki to Mansar. Deceased army jawans have been identified as Naik Ashok Kumar and Sepoys Mahavir Singh and Rajinder Kumar. Ashok died on spot while two others succumbed to their injuries while being shifted to Military Hospital. Three other injured jawans have been hospitalised. In Jammu, one person was killed and eight others were injured, three of them seriously, when a mini-bus carrying them skidded off the road and rolled down at Hari Singh Gharat near Jhiri this afternoon. According to police, the driver of the ill-fated vehicle bearing registration number JK02N-7658 lost control over the steering while negotiating sharp curve at Hari Singh Gharat under the jurisdiction of Kanachak police station as a result of which vehicle rolled down. One of the passengers died on spot while eight others were injured, three of them critically. The driver of the vehicle reportedly fled away from the spot leaving behind the victims bleeding profusely. Getting the report of accident, a police party from Kanachak police station rushed to the spot and started rescue operation. All the injured were rushed to Government Medical College Hospital where doctors pronounced one of them as brought dead. The condition of three injured was stated to be critical till reports last came in. The deceased has been identified as Dev Raj, son of Prem Chand of Paryal. The identity of the injured have been established as Vijay Singh, son of Ram Singh of Purkhoo, Rajni Devi, daughter of Tilak Raj of Biraj Mandir, Shanta Devi, wife of Garib Dass of Kanachak, Harbhajan Kour, wife of Ram Singh, Kunj Lal, son of Bita Ram, both the residents of Kanachak, Prabu Ram of Purkhoo, Rahul, son of Harbans Lal of Biraj Mandir and Prya, daughter of Harbans Lal. Police have registered a case in this connection and a hunt was on to nab the absconding driver. But no arrest was made till reports last came in. Meanwhile, one Naino Devi, daughter of Naresh Khajuria of Narwal allegedly made an abortive attempt to end her life by consuming some poisonous drug. She was rushed to hospital when spotted unconscious by family members. Doctors attending on her at the first instance washed her stomach followed by other treatment. Her condition was stated to be out of danger. The cause behind this extreme step is yet to be ascertained. |
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Lashkar condemn Punjabis influence NEW DELHI, May 8: The Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) has condemned the growing influence of Punjabis in Pakistan, saying the country was created for Islam, and not for them. Reacting to last month’s Punjabi conference in Lahore, the head of the LeT Hafiz Mohammad Saeed said the conference was a conspiracy against Islam. The Lashkar-e-Toiba and other such organisations stand for Pan-Islamism and say regionalism goes against the teaching of Islam. But Urdu-speaking Muhajirs are equally angry with the conference - for different reasons, though. Urdu newspapers had reported that one of the speakers at the conference had crudely told the Urdu-speaking population of Pakistan that "Lucknow Pan Culture" would not be allowed in the country. The Speaker had reportedly said, "the Muhajirs have not learnt our language for the past 53 years. If they do not like to speak our language, then let them leave the country or be thrown out of it." Urdu daily "Amn" of Karachi, the mouthpiece of the Urdu-speaking population, has taken strong exception to this statement. It has since then published articles and letters condemning such statements. One article titled "Pakistan does not belong to the father of Punjabis" said: Pakistan is the result of the sacrifices made by our forefathers. We do not owe our migration to Pakistan to the magnanimity of Punjabis. We are here because we made sacrifices for it and we gave them a "language to speak." (UNI) |
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RAIPUR, May 8: Capping months of uncertainties over the biggest privatisation deal, workers of aluminium major BALCO tonight withdrew their 67-day-old strike following an accord with the company’s new management Sterlite Industries on their 25-point of demands. The decision to end the strike, called to protest the sale of 51 percent of Government equity in BALCO, was taken after seven hours of hard negotiations between leaders of seven trade unions of BALCO workers and representatives of the management in Korba, District Collector K D P Rao told reporters. The meeting reached "general consensus" on 24 of the 25 demands put forward by the unions, including the key issue of salary for strikers during the period of the stir, he said. Rao said both the sides failed to agree on the issue of payment of salary to workers during the strike period but decided to abide by the Supreme Court order on the issue. The payment of two months wage either as salary or advance will be decided by the Apex Court, Rao said. Except this, there was general consensus between the two sides on rest of the 24 demands and the strike was called-off at 10 PM, he said. Brahma Singh, general secretary of "BALCO Bachao Sanyukt Abhiyan Samiti", said the workers would return to work from 6 AM tomorrow. (PTI) |
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Bukhari favours unstable Govts NEW DELHI, May 8: Terming BJP and Congress as two sides of the same coin, Shahi Imam of Jama Masjid Maulana Syed Ahmed Bukhari today asked Muslims with sizeable presence in Assam and West Bengal to see that no party in these states is able to form a stable Government. "Muslims electorates, 32 per cent in Assam and 30 per cent West Bengal, would be a vital force in the elections. They should prove their political awareness and create such circumstances that no party could be able to make stable Government in these states", he said in a statement. "The period of political instability has begun due to lack of confidence of Muslims in democratic set up and it (instability) will continue till 25 crore Muslims are not given proportional representation in power and other democratic institutions," Bukhari said. Terming the BJP and Congress as "two sides of the same coin", the Shahi Imam said the so called secular parties were forging alliances only to remain in power. "Had Congress, Samajwadi Party and other so-called secular parties been sincere towards secularism, the BJP led Government in Centre could not have lasted even for a day", he said. (PTI) |
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Helicopter with Minister missing in Arunachal ITANAGAR, May 8: A helicopter with Arunachal Education Minister Dera Natung and four others, including senior Union and the State Government officials, on board today went missing 15 minutes after take-off from here amidst reports of inclement weather on its flight-path. Official sources here said the Pawan Hans chopper, on a special flight, took off from here at 11 am for Rupa in West Kameng district and Seppa in East Kameng district and was scheduled to return at 4 pm. But the helicopter lost contact with Tejpur ground station at around 1115 hours after pilot Capt V K Dhir had informed it about wanting a change of route apparently because of clouds and rains. Besides Natung, the other passengers of the chopper were Deputy Secretary in the Union Human Resources Development Ministry S K Jain, State Education Secretary Sange Lhaden, Times of India group officials Nandita Judge and Nityanand Trihan, the sources said. The State Government came to know about the disappearance of the chopper once report came from Rupa said the helicopter did not land there as scheduled, they said. Captain V K Dhir and captain R K Singh were the pilot and co-pilot. Indian Air Force personnel from Tezpur in Assam carried out a recce mission but failed to locate the helicopter. A fresh search operation would be launched tomorrow, official sources said. Search teams had been sent to look for the helicopter and a high alert has been sounded across the State, they added. In 1998, Minister of State for Defence N V M Somu was killed in an IAF helicopter crash over snow-capped mountains I in Arunachal Pradesh. (PTI) |
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JALANDHAR, May 8: Indo-Pak bi-annual meeting between the Director General, Pakistan Rangers and Inspectors General, Border Security Force, will begin here tomorrow at BSF Headquarters. The Pakistani delegation, headed by Major General Zarrar Azim, DG, Pakistan Rangers (Punjab), will be received by Indian officials at the Wagha border tomorrow. The surveyors, engineers and officers of Narcotics Control Bureau of both the countries will also participate in the four-day meeting, an official release said here today. The Indian delegation will be led by A S Aulakh, IG, BSF, Punjab and includes some BSF IGs besides other senior officials, the release said. During the meeting, discussion will be held between the delegates to sort out minor irritants being faced currently by both the border forces on the international border, including border crimes, drug trafficking and other matters of mutual interest, it added. (PTI) |
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