Excelsior... Nation

Rajnath ‘loses’ his crown

ALLAHABAD, Nov 2: The burden of crown is becoming too much for Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Rajnath Singh. Mr Singh donated a golden crown, which he received as a gift, to a poor girl yesterday saying "I would not dare to bear the burden of gold and silver as long as I am in public life.".....more

BJP asks Govt to rectify
anomalies in WTO pact

AMRITSAR, Nov 2: In an effort to woo the working class and farmers ahead of the elections to the Uttar Pradesh and Punjab assemblies, BJP today asked the Government to expedite the implementation of social safety measures and ensure rectification of anomalies in the WTO agreement at the upcoming meet in Doha.....more

Naga peace process
in jeopardy

SOMEWHERE IN MOKOKCHUNG HILLS (NAGALAND), Nov 2: The fragile peace in Nagaland....more

Guidelines for satellite
mobile service issued

NEW DELHI, Nov 2: The Government today announced guidelines for issue of licences for the the......more

Gilgit’s controversial merger with Pak
Two British officers
played anti-India role

From B L Kak

NEW DELHI, Nov 2: Two British officers, Major William Alexander Brown and Captain Mathison, played a key role in 1947-48 in Gilgit until its "accession" to Pakistan. ....more

Plethora of laws no
solution to tackling
terrorism: Justice Verma

Developed nations
taking advantage of
distortion in WTO: BJP

AMRITSAR, Nov 2: BJP today came out strongly against the manner in which developed countries.....more

Court awards death
sentence to a man
for killing his wife

NEW DELHI, Nov 2: A city court today awarded death sentence to a man, who torched his wife to.....more

BJP asks Govt to rectify anomalies in WTO pact

In his introductory speech at the two-day national executive meeting here, party president Jana Krishnamurthy said Government should expedite implementation of social safety measures, including extending benefits of insurance coverage to the private sector workers in the same way as to psu workers.

He urged the Government to enhance compensation to workers affected by downsizing from 15 days to 45 days salary against each year’s service besides setting up of a national renewal fund to rehabilitate them.

Expressing confidence that the Government will not allow any new issues for discussion at the Doha meeting without first resolving the implemenation programme, he said, "I earnestly appeal to the Government that the anomalies in the present set up, especially the ones that adversely affect our farmers and small sector, should be rectified."

In an apparent reference to the opposition’s attack on POTO, recently promulgated by the Government, Krishnamurthy appealed to them not to "allow party or partisan interests to come in the way of fighting out the challenge posed by the terrorists. In a democracy we can afford to have different views.

"But when time comes when the national security is under threat, all should close ranks and extend unstinted support to all the efforts of the Government of the day and no difference should be allowed to come in the way of securing and safeguarding the security of the nation".

Charging Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf with adopting double standards, he said "it is strange that Musharraf is trying to doublespeak as and when he brands cross-border terrorism as freedom struggle and on the other admits terrorism in Afghanistan. His efforts to take public opinion in the world for a ride may not succeed. Terrorism is terrorism, pure and simple."

The BJP chief said if Pakistan was sincere and serious in eliminating terrorism, it would do well to stop cross-border terrorism from its soil.

"If President Musharraf and Pakistan shed their claws of terrorism first then they will find India extending its hand of friendship to them."

Expressing concern over the "harassment of Hindus" in Bangladesh and the flow of refugees from that country, Krishnamurthy urged the new Government in Dhaka to take necessary steps to check them.

With an eye on the rural electorate, Krishnamurthy suggested setting up of specialised courts to handle all land disputes, simplifying and improvising ground registration system for land titles, lowering of stamp duty to minimise tax evasion and reduce cost assured possession of dwelling units.

He also asked the Government to remove hurdles in conversion of the so-called agricultural lands where no cultivation is taking place, as being done in Delhi.

Strongly backing the Government’s labour reforms programme, he said the proposed amendment to the industrial dispute act and contract laws should be made in such a manner "that would help in accelerating economic activities through enhanced investment flow," besides increasing employment opportunities.

He said there was scope for improvement in bridging the communication gap between the Government and labour.

Krishnamurthy also asked the Government to consider parity in approach for both lending and borrowing.

At the organisational level, the BJP chief called for closer communication between central leaders and grassroot level cadres. "This will greatly enable to build up the necessary closeness and communication that has been the hallmark of our organisation all through", he said.

He described the Akali Dal-BJP relationship as "quite good". "With due understanding and accommodation, I am sure, our alliance will accept and meet the electoral challenges successfully," he added. (PTI)

Naga peace process in jeopardy

SOMEWHERE IN MOKOKCHUNG HILLS (NAGALAND), Nov 2: The fragile peace in Nagaland faces a severe threat following clashes between the rival factions of NSCN(Issak Muviah) and NSCN (Khaplang).

After a brief lull, the state has been witnessing frequent clashes between the activists of NSCN(IM) and NSCN(K). A major incident took place last week when NSCN(K) attacked the main notified camp of NSCN (IM) at Dimapur. They owned responsibility for the incident and justified their action.

"The NSCN(IM) has turned its ceasefire monitoring cell in dimapur into a centre of terrorism. It has established a clandestine operational centre for abductions and extortions under the cover of cease fire monitoring cell office. We cannot remain a silent spectator," General Secretary-cum-self styled Prime Minister of their Nagaland N Kitovizhimomi told a small group of media persons who traveled all the way to the hills of Mokukchang, the heartland of the NSCN(K) recently.

Expressing his anger against the NSCN (IM), Mr Kitovizhimomi claimed responsibility for the October 23 attack on the cease-fire monitoring cell in Dimapur and said his outfit had no option but to launch the offensive. NSCN(K) was compelled to attack the office to give a "warning" to the NSCN(I-M) and to "protect our people," he said.

Meanwhile, the NSCN(IM) has said that the attack by the "state sponsored" Khaplang faction was an attempt to sabotage the naga peace process. "They not only attacked the monitoring cell, but also damaged the adjacent buildings. It was an attempt on the life of the convener of the monitoring cell Phungting Shimrang. Such acts of terrorism deserve the strongest condemnation," the outfit said.

The 42-year-old Naga rebel leader was talking to media persons under tight security cover, provided by the cadres of the outfit.

Mr Kitovizhimomi said the NSCN(IM) had been violating the ground rules of the cease-fire in Nagaland. "Instead of working for peace, the NSCN (IM) is harassing the people. We are also a party to the cease-fire in Nagaland, but we are not doing anything like that," he said.

Meanwhile, the NSCN (IM) has condemned the killing of an innocent civilian on Sunday evening at Chumukedima near here allegedly by the cadres of khaplang faction.

A communique issued by the "Ministry of Information and Publicity of NSCN (IM)" alleged that on Sunday evening three armed cadres of Khaplang groups dragged out one Hormi Tangkhul, driver of Makhrietsu Angami Public Organisation, from his residence before pumping four bullets at point blank range into his body resulting his instant death.

Describing the killing of the 25-year old Hormi of Riha village in Ukhrul district of Manipur as "bestial and barbaric," the NSCN (IM) said the incident proved that the khaplang faction was targetting a particular community and attempting to ignite factional passion among the Nagas.

"Such acts are detrimental to toe unity of the Naga people and could impede the ongoing peace process. Behind such atrocious acts also lies the motive to reduce the Naga political crisis down to the level of a mere law and order problem," the communique alleged.

"The political issue confronting the Nagas is a question of national survival. To survive and achieve our goal and safeguard the rights of the Naga people, breach of national principle has to be prevented at all cost," the communique said.

"It is beyond human wisdom to venture upon killing unarmed civilians in the name of sovereignty and," it said and appealed to the right-thinking people to "condemn such acts of violence.,"

The church, which is at the forefront of the campaign to unite the warring Naga groups, fears that the renewed rivalry between the Kahaplang and Issak-Muviah faction of the NSCN might jeopardize the peace process.

The NSCN(K) had announced a cease-fire with New Delhi in April this year, while the NSCN(IM) is having cease-fire with new Delhi since 1997. The NSCN(I-M) sees NSCN(K) as a "Government stooge", while the NSCN(K) does not like to see the centre talking only to the NSCN(IM). (UNI)

Guidelines for satellite mobile service issued

NEW DELHI, Nov 2: The Government today announced guidelines for issue of licences for the the Global Mobile Personal Communication by Satellite (GMPCS) service in India.

The Department of Telecommunication has already given Letter of Intent (LOI) in two cases to ASC Enterprises and Shyam Aces (India) Pvt Ltd for grant of GMPCS licence in India.

With GMPCs service, a subscriber can communicate from any point on earth through hand-held terminal. The subscriber will have one telephone number irrespective of his location. It also enables easy, flexible and convenient communication with more economical use of radio frequency spectrum.

The 20 year-licences for GMPCs will be issued on non-exclusive basis subject to clearance of specific proposal from security angle. The licences can be made further extendible by 10 years.

Under the guidelines, the applicant has to be an Indian company with foreign equity not exceeding 49 per cent at any time during the entire licence period. Investment in the company by an NRI / Overseas Corporate Bodies (OCBs) / international funding agencies will be counted towards its foreign equity. The applicant company and/or its promoters should also have experience in telecom sector, according to the guidelines.

Gateway earth station along with control and monitoring facility for all the licensed systems will be located in India. From the security point of view, the operation and maintenance of the gateways will be with the authority /organization designated by the Government. GMPCs operators will provide monitoring facilities and security features as decided by security agencies.

The licensee company will be required to pay one time entry fee of Rs one crore prior to signing the licence agreement. In addition to the entry fee, the licensee will also pay an annual license fee at the rate of 10 per cent of ‘adjusted gross revenue’ as revenue share generated from the service.

Prior to the signing of the licence agreement, the licensee company shall be required to submit a Financial Bank Guarantee (FBG) of Rs one crore, valid at least for two years, from any scheduled bank in the prescribed pro forma given in the agreement.

Network connectivity and interconnection between various networks will be negotiated and finalised between service providers subject to any regulation issued from time to time by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India under TRAI Act, 1997 as amended from time to time.

The mobile satellite networks can operate with satellites either in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) up to 1,000 kms, Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) up to 10,000 kms or Geo Stationery Earth Orbit (GEO) at 36,000 kms. From the surface of the earth. Some of the satellites for GMPCs are Global Star, Agrani, Garuda, ICO and Thuraya etc.

These systems are designed to support a variety of telecommunications services like voice, data, fax, massaging having global reach with the help of a network of gateway earth stations, which provide connectivity towards satellite as well as PSTN. (UNI)

Gilgit’s controversial merger with Pak
Two British officers played anti-India role

From B L Kak

NEW DELHI, Nov 2: Two British officers, Major William Alexander Brown and Captain Mathison, played a key role in 1947-48 in Gilgit until its "accession" to Pakistan.

This finding has come from a well-known Pakistani writer on defence subjects, Col. Yahya Effendi. He has just been quoted by a leading English daily of Pakistan, Dawn, as saying that the exploits of the two British officers had resulted in the "accession" of Gilgit to Pakistan.

Col. Effendi told a gathering in Islamabad that Major Brown was deputed with the Gilgit Scouts in 1947 when Maharaja Hari Singh of Kashmir, the de jure ruler of Gilgit Agency, Hunza and Nagar principalities and Yasin and Koh-e-Ghizer, where the British were de facto rulers, decided to join India.

However, Major Brown, as revealed by Col. Effendi, thought that the Muslim majority areas of Gilgit, Baltistan, Hunza, Nagar and Chitral should join Pakistan. The Pakistani publication has also quoted Col. Effendi as saying that Major Brown had been, since August 1, 1947, advising the Maharaja of Kashmir and Governor of Gilgit and Baltistan agencies, Mr Ghansara Singh, that the "correct course of action for Kashmir would be to join Pakistan".

But Maharaja Hari Singh, as admitted by Col. Effendi, was bent upon acceding Kashmir to India and that was what he did on October 26, 1947. The news of Kashmir’s accession to India was received in Gilgit calmly, according to Col. Effendi.

However, the situation in other areas, Col. Effendi recalled, got out of control with the Wali of Swat marching on Chilas and the Mahtar of Chitral collecting an army to seize Koh-e-Ghizer and Yasin. Major Brown and his associate, Babar Khan, realised that Gilgit would be attacked by other rulers of Northern Areas and the Gilgit Scouts would defy orders if asked to take up arms against their Muslim brethren.

According to Col. Effendi, Major Brown sent the scouts to take Governor, Mr Ghansara Singh, into custody to ensure his safety. On November 1, 1947, Major Brown declared that Hindu rule had come to an end and Gilgit would join Pakistan in accordance with the wishes of the people.

Col Effendi’s yet another disclosure: Major Brown sent Capt. Mathison, a trusted officer, to Chilas, who, with the help of another officer, Mr Muzaffaruddin Shah, kept fanatics in check and gathered the non-Muslims in the fort in protective custody.

And disclosure number three: After an intense activity in the Northern Areas in the 45 days between October 1 and November 14, 1947, that bordered on "an outright rebellion against Maharaja Hari Singh", Major Brown received a message of the NWFP Chief Minister that Pakistan had accepted Gilgit as part of the country.

Col. Yahya Effendi sought to highlight what he described as "a stark reality" that Gilgit had "never been a natural part of Kashmir". He insisted that Gilgit had only been sold to Maharaja of Kashmir by the British-the sale having always been resented by the local Muslim population.

Plethora of laws no solution to tackling
terrorism: Justice Verma

NEW DELHI, Nov 2: National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) Chairperson Justice J S Verma today decried the tendency to enact plethora of laws to deal with terrorism and suggested that the Government must find out whether the deficiency was in the law or in the manner of its implementation.

Speaking at the three-day silver jubilee conference of the Indian Society of Criminology, which got under way here yesterday, Mr Verma said the Government should fashion out strategies which balanced the dignity of individuals with national security.

"Human dignity must be placed at par with the unity and integrity of the nation. Public interest will always outweigh individual interest but not to the extent that anyone of them is rendered totally irrelevant," he said.

Any law enacted to tackle terrorism must be very closely scrutinised and must muster the strict approval of constitutional validity, the NHRC Chairman contended. "Care must be taken to respect the human rights of citizens and avoid harassment of the innocent least the entire action becomes counter-productive."

Stressing the need for international cooperation in tackling terrorism, the former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court felt that modern technology had changed the pattern and dimension of crimes and advanced technologies were more often misused than used. The September 11 attacks on the US had now woken up many to the fact that terrorism was spreading its tentacles in various parts of the globe, but this phenomenon should have been noticed much earlier, he said.

Mr Verma said terrorism, narco-terrorism, drug trafficking, hijacking, economic offences and cyber crimes leading to child pornography were all patterns of modern-day crimes. He, however, felt that it was not the deficiency in law but in competence of people that created hurdles in tackling these problems.

"It is rather lack of will on the part of the Government and also lack of awareness of the civil society that is responsible for such a situation. Only community awareness and its involvement will ensure an end to this kind of crime."

Taking a dig at criminal investigation procedures, the NHRC chairperson said the main problem facing the country today related to efficient probing of crimes and speedy trials.

"Adjudication and punishment of criminals take a long time before courts. However, the problem can not be solved by enacting laws that do away with the legal safeguards that are designed to prevent innocent persons from being prosecuted and punished or by setting up special courts."

Mr Verma stressed upon the need to enhance the forensic diagnostic facilities in the country as anything that helped the delay in the process of investigation hampered the administration of criminal justice. This area had not been taken care of adequately by the Government even after repeated requests and reminders, he added. (UNI)

Developed nations taking advantage of
distortion in WTO: BJP

AMRITSAR, Nov 2: BJP today came out strongly against the manner in which developed countries were taking advantage of the distortion in the WTO provisions to give heavy subsidies to the agriculture sector while discouraging developing countries from exporting their products.

In its report to the two-day national executive, which began here, the commitee on agriculture headed by former Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, said the Government should raise this issue during the next round of trade talks to be held in the Doha later this month.

"As per the WTO provision, these countries (developed) were required to reduce their subsidy considerably, so that the developing countries could get a chance to export their products to these countries.

"However, last six years’ experience shows that these countries have increased their subsidy instead of decreasing it - using distortion within the WTO provision. This should not be acceptable to India. Government should raise this point during the next round of talks and the developed countries should be persuaded in this report," the report said.

With prices of Indian agricultural products being comparatively higher, they were not competitive in international market due to the heavy subsidy essential to introduce rotation system of agriculture, mixed sowing of crops and their diversification and to develop an integrated system of agriculture so as to reduce cost.

The committee suggested that provisions be made for keeping a buffer stock of foodgrains of around 30 million tonnes for use in times of scarcity and famine.

The committee’s report which formed the basis of the recommendations that the party would make to the Government said there was need to remove restrictions on the movement of foodgrains in the country.

"All these restrictions should be removed including the necessary amendment to the Essential Commodities Act, 1955. In case it is necesary, such laws could be retained for use under emergency conditions. However, these laws should be used only in such conditions when there is a real crisis regarding the availability of such as foodgrains," it said.

The report said it would be ironical to continue with internal restrictions on the movement of foodgrains in view of the "changed circumstances of globalisation with liberal import-export of agricultural products under the WTO."

It suggested that a meaningful Minimum Support Price (MSP) be devised so that farmers and consumers are mutually supportive of each other and the interests of both are taken care of. (PTI)