Kargil created unparalleled national upsurge: Gen Malik

NEW DELHI, Oct 24: Unhappy at some aspects of media coverage of the Kargil conflict and its aftermath, Army Chief Gen V P Malik has urged the press not to allow itself to be used in a manner that can erode the apolitical nature of the armed forces.

Giving Army’s impression of the impact of media coverage of the conflict, Gen Malik told editors of PTI during an interaction here that the coverage by the print and electronic media created a national upsurge unparalleled in Indian history which raised the morale of the armed forces.

Lauding the media for reporting what they saw and as per their conscience, he said truth generally prevailed and the reports were by and large transparent, objective and unbiased bringing the realities of the war to the drawing rooms.

The Army Chief, however, regretted that the coverage also saw exceptions with certain reports running down the Army on the basis of half-truths and biased comments and some even violated journalistic ethics.

Gen Malik said many reports showed lack of understanding on the part of the media of our organisation, our strategy and our tactics or the way the armed forces worked.

Observing that the conflict was a new learning experience for the armed forces vis-a-vis the media, he said it had now been recognised that media could act as a force multiplier as also as a force degrader in a war situation. Gen Malik said politics and media together could be a dangerous cocktail for the armed forces which could adversely affect its apolitical nature.

Soon after the Kargil conflict was over, we got caught in electoral politics. Armed forces are not used to these kind of things that have happened this time, he said.

We want to remain apolitical and do not want to get trapped in these kind of things, he said.

Recalling that the coverage during the previous Indo-Pak wars of 1965 and 1971 and during Operation Pawan in Sri Lanka and Operation Cactus in Maldives was insignificant, he said most of the news reports earlier were based on press releases issued either by the Army command or headquarters or the Defence Ministry.

Today the situation is quite different because of proliferation of the media and also because of aggressive mediapersons.

Unfortunately, however, there has been no change in the rules or organisation in the armed forces for handling the media, he said, adding that the rules had been diluted but they had not been changed.

He said although the Army tried to regulate at some stage the presence of mediapersons in the war-zone during the Kargil conflict, but it didn’t work.

Malik said the coverage contributed to the Izzat (honour) of the soldier and sympathy towards the martyrs.

Thanks to the media, this time we saw national integration of the country as I have never seen before, the Army Chief said referring to the attention and respect people from across the country gave to the martyrs of Kargil war.

Kargil conflict, he said, had provided important lessons on media handling to the Indian Army which was now contemplating imparting regular training to scribes to cover any future battle-front.

Apart from reviving the war correspondents’ course at Mhow in Madhya Pradesh, the Army was also thinking of running short courses at the united services institution here for mediapersons, he said, adding later certain advance courses would also be started.

Short courses, he said, would also be started in metropolitan cities including Calcutta and Pune. (PTI)

Infighting responsible for party’s debacle: Congress

NEW DELHI, Oct 24: Congress leaders from four Northern Indian states have assessed that infighting, wrong selection of candidates, use of Kargil crisis by BJP and an undercurrent in favour of Atal Bihari Vajpayee are among the major factors that led to the party’s debacle in the Lok Sabha elections.

The leaders from Delhi, Rajasthan, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh, expressed their views at the AICC introspection committee set up by the party president Sonia Gandhi to analyse the causes of the party’s worst electoral defeat.

The 11-member introspection committee headed by CWC member A K Antony will have several rounds of meetings in which leaders from other states will present their views.

The Committee, after undertaking a state-wise analysis, would submit its report to the party president by the end of November, committee convenor Mani Shankar Aiyar told reporters here today.

The committee has been divided into four sub-groups to hold discussions with Pradesh Congress office bearers, frontal organisations, state legislators, DCC presidents and the defeated candidates to know their views on the factors responsible for the debacle, he said.

He said a questionnaire was being distributed to the four groups to put forward their views in detail as Gandhi herself had suggested an introspection, frank assessment and determined action. We want that truth must come out, Aiyar said adding the committee would meet party members of the Lok Sabha early next month in Delhi to seek their views on the party’s performance in the just concluded polls.

Meanwhile, party leaders from these states which suffered reverses said the Kargil issue was exploited by the National Democratic Alliance to gain political mileage. Some of them, who declined to be quoted, opined that the party’s failure to project its Prime Ministerial candidate also cost the party dearly.

In Haryana, party leaders were divided on the issue but on one point they expressed unanimity that party’s change of stand within a fortnight on the issue of extending support to Bansi Lal Government was one of the main reasons that damaged the party’s electoral base.

Former Chief Minister Bhajan Lal who lost from Karnal Lok Sabha constituency said the party’s rout in Haryana was due to infighting and Pradesh Congress and CLPP leadership must be made accountable for that.

On other hand, Haryana Congress president Bhupinder Singh Hooda, who lost from Rohtak Lok Sabha seat, rejected Bhajan Lal’s charge and said the Kargil issue, bogus voting and support and withdrawal of support to Bansi Lal Government were the factors responsible for the defeat.

Twenty per cent of soldiers killed in Kargil operation came from Haryana which was exploited by the Indian National Lok Dal-BJP alliance in the State.

AICC general secretary Pranab Mukherjee, who is incharge of Haryana affairs, has already taken responsibility for the party’s worst drubbing in the State.

The introspection committee has begun reviewing the situation a day after several party MLAs met at the residence of former MP Sajjan Kumar to demand change of party leadership in Delhi following party’s total rout in the union capital.

The party had suffered humiliation in the Lok Sabha polls within a year after it swept to power in the Delhi Assembly elections.

Delhi leaders, who appeared before the committee, said that infighting and wrong choice of candidates in some constituencies were prime factors behind the drubbing, party sources said.

Lack of proper coordination among the candidates, state leadership and central leadership were also responsible for the defeat of the party in the capital which has seven seats, they said. In 1998 polls the party had won the lone Karolbagh seat.

Madhya Pradesh leaders Rilak Singh Lodha and Tanwant Singh Keer said besides infighting the undercurrent in favour of Vajpayee were the main factors behind party’s dismal performance.

Leaders from Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir expressed similar views about infighting, Kargil crisis and weak organisational set-up in their respective areas which they said led to party’s poor show. (PTI)

Kargil Review Panel to submit report shortly

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 24: Kargil Review Committee, set up by the Centre Government on July 25, has nearly completed its task and was expected to submit its report within the next few weeks. The Committee headed by Defence analyst Mr K Subramanyam as chairman has visited Jammu and Kashmir for three times to complete its inquiry.

Disclosing this at a news conference today, Mr Subramanyam and other Committee members said they have recorded statements of several concerned persons including Army officers and civil administration during its three months of exercise.

He said the Committee had been asked by the Centre to review the developments leading to Pakistani intrusions in Kargil and propose remedial measures so that such intrusions don’t take place in future.

Declining to share findings of Committee with the mediamen, Mr Subramanyam said the panel will like to first submit its report to the Centre. "If desired by the Government the report can be placed in the Parliament and made public".

Other Committee members present at the press conference were Lt Gen K K Hazari, Mr G S Verghese, Mr Satish Chandra, Secretary, Mr N S Sisodia, Additional Secretary, Mr S D Pradhan, Officer on Special Duty (OSD), Brigadier Ajit Gandotra, Director and Group Captain R Mohan, Joint Director.

To a pointed question, Mr Subramanyam admitted that Committee members also met controversial Brigadier Surinder Singh, whose letter had generated much heat in the powers of corridors. Besides, he said, the Committee has also gone through all the letters published in the media regarding Kargil intrusions.

Asked whether the panel was confident that Centre will take action on the basis of their report as report of one such Committee set up after Chinese aggression in 1962 was gathering dust in the South Block, Mr Subramanyam expressed confidence that Government will act on findings of the report.

Categorically denying the reports that untrained army jawans were sent to Kargil hills to fight Pakistan army and mercenaries, the Committee chairman said :"all armymen including officers and jawans were well trained".

"Had the jawans not been trained how we could have won the war"? he asked and asserted that Indian troops achieved successes during Kargil war under very tough circumstances. He also refuted charges that Indian troops weren’t climatised to Kargil.

Replying to another question, Mr Subramanyam said Pakistan ambition (for Kargil intrusions) was to bring Kashmir issue on international agenda and re-open the issued of Line of Control (LoC). He also admitted that present Pak army ruler Gen Musharraf and Gen Aziz had spent most of their time in Northern areas and could be behind the Kargil misadventure.

To another question about 50 questions posed to Kargil Review Committee in a book brought out recently by S P Sahni, the Committee members observed that they will be glad to read the questionnaire.

Explosive device was planted
3 arrested suspects not involved in explosion

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 24: Police today said that three suspected youths, picked up by the people from Residency Road last evening following an explosion, weren’t linked with the explosion. The militants, responsible for the blast, have managed to escape.

"So far the arrested persons including Mushtaq Ahmed and Mohd Anwar hadn’t been found involved in the blasts", a senior police officer said today after questioning of the arrested suspects.

Mushtaq, Anwar and their third associate had come to a watch repairing shop at Residency Road, close to Jai Hind bakery where the blast occurred. They had purchased two shops and were in the process of purchasing third one when the blast occurred.

Local shopkeepers and people mistook the three youths as militants and gave them severe thrashing. Later, the trio were handed over to police. One of them, Mushtaq Ahmed, who himself was injured in the explosion, has been hospitalised.

Police said the preliminary investigations revealed that explosion was triggered by a crude device, which had been planted on the roadside near the Jai Hind bakery shop and wasn’t thrown at the crowded area. The militant(s) involved in planting the crude device have managed to escape from the spot much earlier when the explosion occurred at 1915 hours last evening.

Splinters of the explosive device, seized by the bomb experts, also indicated that the device was crude one and had been planted. "It wasn’t possible for the militants to throw the grenade at the crowded place and escape", police said.

Police, however, maintained that historic Raghunath temple was the target of militants. But due to patrolling by police and para-military personnel, the militants failed to reach to the temple and planted the explosive device near a shop, few meters short of the temple.

Police doubted Kashmiri militants behind the blast but the hand of Doda militants was alson’t ruled out. Police last night carried out raids in several localities in City and outskirts in search of the militants but accused remained untraced. Several hotels in the City were also raided by the police but to no avail.

However, police have detained more than two dozen suspects from different areas for questioning in connection with the explosion. The suspects were being interrogated.

Meanwhile, all injured of blast except three were discharged from the Medical College hospital. Three injured still admitted in the hospital include Subash Choudhary of Nanak Nagar, Rajinder Kumar of Pacci Dhakki and Mohd Afzal of Prem Nagar, Jogi Gate. Condition of Subash Choudhary was critical.

A police officer strongly refuted a press report that Subash Choudhary was involved in the explosion. He said Choudhary has nothing to do with the militant activities and was an innocent civilian.

Army camps, STF post targeted
Rajouri rattled with 13 powerful mortar blasts

Excelsior Correspondent

RAJOURI, Oct 24: In a major assault, Pakistan-sponsored militants late tonight fired 13 mortar shells targeting army and police camps besides some sensitive civilian installations between Darhali Bridge and Chowdhary Narh area, about three kms from here.

The entire sleeping Rajouri town was rattled with the sound of mortar explosions and a wave of panic spread among the villagers. Fear-stricken people rushed out of their houses fearing a major offensive by the militants.

DIG Rajouri-Poonch Range Mr K Rajendran told EXCELSIOR late tonight that militants fired atleast 13 mortar shells between Darhali Bridge and Chowdhary Narh area at 2232 hours tonight. The mortar shells reportedly fell at the isolated places one after the other within a span of 13 minutes.

Mr Rajendran said even after half an hour after the explosion, no report had been received about any casualty or major damage in the mortar attacks. Army and police patrols from different locations flashed messages that mortars have failed to hit the intended targets and fell at isolated places.

According to SSP Rajouri Mr Parminder Singh, among the militants’ target was a post of Special Task Force (STF) situated at Rehtal in Chowdhary Narh area, which was narrowly missed. Atleast two mortars reportedly fell at a very short distance from the police post. Other targets were army and Special Operations Group (SOG) camps and some civilian locations but none of them was hit, official sources said.

There were 24 STF cops present at Rehtal STF post, who effectively retaliated the attack.

They said the mortars were fired from atop a hill by the militants. The area, from where the mortar shells came, has been identified by the army and police but due to darkness searches couldn’t be carried out in the area immediately.

A full-fledged operation by army, SOG and police is being launched in the area early tomorrow morning to eliminate the militants involved in the mortar attacks. Sources said going by the timing of rocket attacks (13 mortars in a short span of just 13 minutes) it appears that five to six militants might be involved in the attacks.

An operation in the area, where the rockets fell, was also expected to be launched tomorrow. The entire area was sealed late tonight by army and police teams.

Such was the intensity of mortar explosions that sound of the blasts was heard in the entire Rajouri town and several adjoining areas. People woke up from sleep and rushed out of their houses in extreme panic.

Police and para-military personnel also moved out in the town. Normalcy was restored only after police and CRPF jawans briefed people that there were no blasts in the town.

Sources said last month also, militants had fired rockets on Darhali Bridge and Chowdhary Narh area but failed to hit the target.

Rajiv Gandhi named to sustain Bofors chargesheet: Jaitley

NEW DELHI, Oct 24: Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Arun Jaitley today said late Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi’s name had to be mentioned in the chargesheet in the Bofors pay-offs case because the Prevention of Corruption Act is intended against public servants and it was necessary to sustain the chargesheet.

Private citizens, middlemen — whether it was Ottavio Quattrocchi or Martin Ardbo or Win Chadha— conspired with the public servants, which was the whole basis of the case. Now you cannot eliminate public servants from the case saying that we proceed only against non-public servants.

Legally to sustain the chargesheet, his name has to be there. The best way to kill the case is to eliminate Rajiv Gandhi’s name, Jaitley, who as Additional Solicitor General in the early 90’s was involved in investigations in the case, said while participating in a Star News discussion programme.

Therefore, he said, Gandhi’s name was not being put up for trial but his name had to be legally mentioned.

The Minister said everytime there was a corruption case against abuse of office there was a hue and cry and cited cases against former Pakistani Premier Benazir Bhutto who termed them as politically motivated.

Nobody in India could predict when the next set of Swiss bank documents relating to the case would be available, Jaitley said.

Jaitley said the CBI had wisely filed the chargesheet after the elections though it was long overdue.

Congress MP Mani Shankar Aiyar wanted to know why the Government went against its earlier stand that the chargesheet would be filed only after the six set of documents would be received from the Swiss Government.

He said the chargesheet appeared to be politically motivated. Quattrocchi had some social links with the Gandhi family but there was nothing to suggest that this extended to pay-offs affair.

If CBI had gathered evidence against Quattrocchi they were welcome to proceed against him, Aiyar said.

We don’t believe that anything that is brought to the doorstep of Quattrocchi will in anyway implicate the former Prime Minister, he added.

Jaitley said though it was for the courts to decide on the chargesheet, there was a Prime Minister who takes a decision and one of his close friends is paid kickbacks against the declared policy of no middlemen. Then you try to scuttle the probe for three years.

He said three issues arose out of the case — they were as far as the former Prime Minister was concerned whether he was a recipient indirectly of the bribes and did he abuse his position to grant pecuniary advantage to Quattrocchi and did he try to scuttle the evidence process.

Aiyar said there was nothing in the chargesheet to substantiate the three questions the Minister had posed. You have named somebody who will not be able to defend himself in the court because you are not going to proceed against him in the case.

Jaitley said the Congress party owed an explanation why the closest friend of Gandhi family was paid the commission.

CPI(M) leader Somnath Chatterjee said the name of Rajiv Gandhi could have been omitted from the chargesheet altogether.

Maintaining that politics should have been kept out of the case, he said the Government was unable to completely dissociate itself from political aspects of the case.

Chatterjee said the law must take its due course, however, highly placed persons may be involved. (PTI)

Militant hurt in encounter

Excelsior Correspondent

UDHAMPUR, Oct 24: A militant was injured in an encounter with SOG in Laggar forest area of Gandoh in Doda district today.

The injured militant, however, managed to escape from the encounter site leaving behind his 303 rifle.

The SOG personnel continued searches to nab the absconding militant.

India, China no threat to each other: Gang

CALCUTTA, Oct 24 : China today reaffirmed its stand that it does not consider India a threat and expects similar amity in return from this country.

Both countries had reached a concensus on not regarding each other as a threat during the visit of Indian External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh to China in June, Chinese Ambassador to India Zhou Gang said at a function marking the 50th anniversary of the People’s Republic of China here today.

Expressing hope that both countries will strive to handle Sino-Indian relations with the far-sightedness of the older generation of leaders, Gang said practice has proved that co-operation will benefit China and India while confrontation will do harm to both countries.

Hailing Chinese Premier Jiang Zemin’s recent visit to India, he said the country wanted to evolve a consensus to seek common ground on major issues while shelving differences on minor ones.

Gang said China was pleased that since the beginning of this year Sino-Indian relations, which tided over temporary ups and downs of 1998, had gradually returned onto the track of improvement and restoration.

The Ambassador said China’s defense strength and combatibility had been further augmented in recent times with the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) playing an important role in pursuing an active defence policy. (PTI)

Pak Army orders inquary

ISLAMABAD, Oct 24: The military regime in Pakistan has launched an inquiry into the alleged transfer of millions of dollars abroad by key leaders shortly before an economic morataria in the wake of Islamabad’s nuclear tests last year.

A probe into the entire transfer of money affair has been initiated and all banks and financial institutions have been asked to furnish details as to who sent how much forex and for what purpose, Urdu daily Nawa-e-Waqt today reported, quoting official sources.

It said the authorities recently summoned two leading industrialists of Lahore, deposed Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s home town, to ask them about the 200 million US dollars they transferred abroad after May 1998.

They also gathered crucial evidences which prove that most of the foreign exchange sent abroad after the nuclear tests belonged to key personalities in the country, it said.

The Army has also sought details of the withdrawal of foreign currency from banks immediately after the nuclear tests.

The erstwhile Nawaz Sharif Government had ordered freezing of all foreign currency accounts in Pakistan immediately after Islamabad went nuclear and also imposed a financial emergency in the country.

An earlier report had also claimed that the Government’s decision to carry out the blasts in response to New Delhi’s nuclear tests and the impending freeze on accounts had been leaked to influential circles to allow them to transfer their money abroad. (PTI)

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