RSS advises BJP to correct its image

NEW DELHI, Nov 1 : In a clear-cut message to its cadres and NDA allies that the Party was not apologetic about its ideology, former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and BJP president L K Advani today met the RSS top brass, who "advised" them to correct the Party’s image of having abandoned "Hindutva".

During the 90-minute long meeting at the Sangh Headquarters here ahead of the RSS National Executive beginning in Haridwar from November five, the Sangh fountainhead also told the two leaders to induct youngsters with a clean record in its leadership.

RSS was represented by its RSS general secretary Mohan Bhagwat, joint general secretary Madan Das Devi, besides senior leaders H V Sheshadri and Suresh Soni, at the meeting which came within ten days of Advani’s meeting with RSS chief K S Sudarshan at Nagpur on Vijayadashami.

Advani also accepted an invitation from the Sangh to attend its two-day conclave in an apparent attempt to pre-empt the VHP, which had been highly critical of the Party for "abandoning Hindutva", from persuading RSS to float a broad Hindu political forum.

The former Deputy Prime Minister would be the first party president to attend the RSS National Executive after the late Kushabhau Thakre.

Party sources said today’s meeting was also aimed at sending a clear message to BJP cadres and allies that Vajpayee was one with Advani on the issue of restoring its ideological primacy.

While Advani had asserted the Party’s commitment to the construction of a Ram Temple at its National Council meeting here on October 27, Vajpayee’s silence on the issue had fuelled speculation that he was averse to the Party returning to its core Hindutva constituency.

The JD (U) had also sought convening a meeting of the NDA to discuss the Saffron Party’s stand on Hindutva in the wake of Advani’s address.

"We have always expected them to take a clear stand on ideology", RSS spokesman Ram Madhav told reporters here after the meeting when asked about Sangh’s expectations from the Saffron Party.

RSS leaders also apprised Vajpayee and Advani of the views of Sangh Parivar organisations vis-a-vis the political situation, he said in an apparent reference to VHP’s charge that BJP’s "abandonment of Hindutva" had cost it dearly in the Lok Sabha and Maharashtra Assembly polls.

Asked about JD(U)’s reservation on Advani invoking the Ayodhya issue, he said "we believe that all parties should remain firm on their ideology and we expect BJP also to do so."

To a question as to how Advani would be able to strike a balance between Sangh demand to return to ‘Hindutva’ fold and coalition compulsions, the RSS spokesman said "it is for Advani and his party to decide... BJP knows how to handle the situation".

Advani, who had lunch with the RSS leaders after the meeting, declined to divulge to reporters the details of the meeting and said he was invited by the RSS to the Haridwar meeting and he would "certainly" go. (PTI)

HM 'area commander' shot dead
*Civilian killed, ration store destroyed

Excelsior Special Correspondent

JAMMU, Nov 1: A Hizbul Mujahideen "area commander" was shot dead by the security forces and police at Bhimdasa, Gool in Ramban police district this afternoon while a civilian was killed by the militants at Darhal in Rajouri district last night.

Security forces destroyed a "ration depot" of the militants in Hill Kaka area of Surankote and recovered a large quantity of ration.

Official sources said jawans of the Border Security Force (BSF) and Gool police cordoned off village Bhimdasa in Gool this afternoon after developing an information that a top Hizbul Mujahideen militant, escorted by two "body guards" was shifting his hideout in Bhimdasa area.

Security forces observed movement of the Hizbul commander and his two body guards at 1 pm and challenged them. The militants took positions and opened firing on the security personnel in a bid to escape. In retaliatory firing, security forces shot dead the Hizbul commander but his body guards managed to escape in a surrounding thick forest.

The fleeing militants were chased by the securitymen but they remained untraced.

Identity of slain commander couldn’t be ascertained immediately. Intercepts have also confirmed that he was an "area commander" of Hizbul Mujahideen for Bhimdasa. One AK-56 rifle, one radio set, three AK magazines and one grenade were recovered from him, the sources said.

There were no casualties on the BSF or police side in about two hour long gun-battle.

Two militants entered in the house of a civilian Munshi Khan son of Fazal Ahmed at village Morigam Ujjam in Darhal area of Rajouri district late last night.

The militants subjected him to sustained questioning for about one hour, the sources said, adding the militants later gunned him down and escaped.

Security forces today destroyed a hideout, which was being used by the militants for storing ration in large quantity, in Hill Kaka area of Surankote tehsil in Poonch district.

Recoveries made from the hideout include 150 kg rice, 50 kg atta, 25 kg sugar, 20 kg dal, three kg oil and two kg tea.

The militants were not present in the hideout when the raid was conducted.

In Baderi, Basantgarh area of Udhampur district, security forces recovered two .303 rifles, three magazines, 67 rounds, three AK magazines, 57 AK rounds and one Under Barrel Grenade Launcher (UBGL).

A militant, who was killed in an encounter with security forces and police at Dedni, Marmat in Doda district the other day, was today identified as Mohd Irfan alias Saqib son of Khurshid Ahmed Malik, a resident of Latti Dunna, Udhampur.

He was an active militant of Hizbul Mujahideen outfit since 1996 and was operating in Latti Dunna, Basantgarh, Lohai Malhar and Marmat areas. He was involved in a series of militant activities.

ISLAMABAD, Nov 1: Claiming "there seems to be light at the end of the tunnel," President Pervez Musharraf tonight said a solution to the Kashmir problem has to be found which does not humiliate India and Pakistan and acceptable to public and Parliaments in both the countries.

"We have to resolve our disputes peacefully with India. There appears to be light at the end of the tunnel. There is optimism. We have to take the process forward", he told an Iftar dinner.

"We cannot think of a solution that humiliates India. We cannot think of a solution that humiliates Pakistan. These are not possible. I told the Indian leaders that a solution that humiliates Pakistan will not be acceptable to me or to Pakistan. They understand that", Musharraf said.

Musharraf said that during his meeting with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in New York in September he had suggested to him that there should be an open debate on solution to the Kashmir issue so that the public and Parliaments in both the countries would not shoot it down later.

"If it is shot down by public and Parliament, we are going to put the cart before the horse. I think it should be thrown open. Let the public debate. Then we know the solution acceptable to most of the people", he said without mentioning the response of Singh to his suggestion.

Musharraf’s remarks followed India’s response to his new formulation to resolve the Kashmir issue that solutions to the Kashmir issue cannot be discussed through the media and could be raised in the ongoing composite dialogue process.

At an Iftar on October 25, Musharraf had suggested that Kashmir on both sides of LoC be divided into seven regions and demilitarise them and grant them the status of independence or joint control or under UN mandate.

Musharraf said he had not spelt out any solution to the dispute on October 25. He said he only suggested that the Pakistani media initiate a meaningful public debate on possible options.

He said the Kasmiris have to be part of solution otherwise the problem can not solved. "I am very hopeful that the future looks good. I am keeping fingers crossed. There is mood among the public and media to resolve the Kashmir issue. The economic development will receive a boost for both India and Pakistan", he said. He said at present neither India, Pakistan or Kashmiris knew what is the solution.

Describing Singh as a "very sincere" person he suggested to him that a solution should be debated in public so that it could be implemented.

The solution of the issue has to be acceptable to all three parties concerned - Pakistan, India and the Kashmiri people, Musharraf said.

Apparantly refuting opposition criticism at home of his October 25 formula to resolve Kashmir and his assertions that plebiscite and LoC can not be solutions, he said "I can never compromise on the interests of Pakistan, never will we sell out, never will we buckle under any pressure and there is no pressure on Pakistan."

Before his Iftar address today, Musharraf reportedly met some of the Pakisani journalists who recently visited Jammu and Kashmir under the banner of South Asian Free Media Association (SAFMA), and heard their feedback.

Today’s comments by Musharraf followed a flurry of clarifications from Pakistan Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, Foreign Minister Khurshid Kasuri and Pakistan Foreign Office during the past few days following strong criticism from the opposition parties and sections of media within Pakistan.

Musharraf was criticised mainly for expressing his willingness to look beyond plebiscite on Kashmir.

Aziz yesterday said Musharraf’s October 25th comments referred to a "hypothetical situation", whereas Kasuri said Musharraf has not made any proposal but thrown open certain ideas for a debate and his ideas were final and liable for change. On October 30, Musharraf told a meeting of Northern Areas Council here that he has not moved an inch on Kashmir.

Refuting criticism over his October 25 speech, he said that he had not proposed any solution. (PTI)

President awards standard to Aircrew Examining Board

KANPUR, Nov 1: President A P J Abdul Kalam today awarded the President’s standard to the Aircrew Examining Board (AEB) — the premier quality assurance agency, responsible for enhancing operational efficiency and flight safety across the entire spectrum of the IAF’s flying operations.

He also presented ‘colours’ to the No. 1 Base Repair Depot (BRD), based at Kanpur.

In his speech, Dr Kalam lauded both units saying they had been doing an excellent job, and recalled his one year service with the BRD in 1958.

The colourful parade at the Kanpur Air Force Station was also attended by Minister of State for Home Prakash Jaiswal, Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal S Krishnaswamy, Air Chief-designate Air Marshal S P Tyagi and AoC-NC Maintanence Command Air Marshal V A Patkar.

There was flypast by various aircraft of the IAF, including the AN-32, Dorniers, Sukhoi-30 and Jaguars. The Suryakiran aerobatics team also put up a show for the spectators.

Today’s investiture was the first Presidential presentation to an IAF unit in the last four years. The Flying Instructors School (FIS) at Bareilly had been the last IAF formation to be awarded Presidential colours in 2000.

The No. 1 brd has done a commendable job in indigenising and rectifying various aircraft, especially the IAF’s workhorse — the an 32 — thus saving the country large amounts in foreign exchange, Dr Kalam said.

The unit has overhauled more than fifty AN-32s.

The AEB, based at Hindan Air Force Station, is an examining authority charged with testing, categorisation and standardisation of all the pilots, navigators, flight engineers and flight gunners of the fighter, transport and helicopter units of the air force.

The AEB could help in bringing down considerably the number of accidents in air force fleet, the President said.

It is also specifically responsible for the assessment and quality of flying training being imparted to flight cadets at various ‘flying training establishments of the IAF.’ these tasks are achieved by ‘Air Force Examiners,’ who comprise experienced operational aircrew, handpicked from different backgrounds.

The forerunner of AEB was set up in 1951, after the return of four IAF officers sent to UK to be trained in methods of categorising the aircrew.

Initially termed the ‘aircrew training and testing team,’ and going on for some time as the ‘catboard,’ it has rechristened the ‘aircrew examining board’ on March 24, 1956. Wing CDR Masilamani took over as the first co on April 6.

Based at Palam, the AEB moved to Hindan in March 1965.

The AEB is presently an independent agency and is under the functional control of the Director-General (Inspection safety).

Currently commanded by Group Captain N S Kadian, it is structured in a flight system. ‘A’ flight tests and categorises pilots flying transport aircraft, ‘B’ flight inspects and tests all fighter aircrew, while ‘C’ flight takes on the task of standardising and ensuring quality control amongst all aircrew and flight-cadets under the IAF’s training command. ‘D’ flight handles all helicopter pilots.

There are also three sub-flights — ‘Navigator’, ‘Engineer’ and ‘Gunner’ that examine aircrew from these respective branches, in conjunction with the ‘A’ and ‘D’ flights. (UNI)

After Habibullah, Dulat brought to woo Hurriyat

NEW DELHI, Nov 1: In an attempt to resume stalled dialogue with separatists leaders in Jammu and Kashmir, the Centre has roped in the services of former raw chief A S Dulat.

Dulat held a series of meetings with moderate Hurriyat Conference leaders, including its former chairman Mirwaiz Umer Farooq, ahead of the proposed visit of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil to the State, informed sources said.

Dulat, who was the sepcial advisor to the then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, also held a meeting with senior Hurriyat leaders Abdul Gani Bhat and Maulana Abbas Ansari.

The former intelligence chief, who is ostensibly on a private visit to the State, is believed have the backing of the PMO for holding back-channel talks with the Hurriyat leaders in a bid to resume the dialogue which has remained stalled ever since the Congress-led UPA Government came to power.

Dulat’s visit comes soon after that of Union Textile Secretary Wajahat Habibullah who attempted to woo the separatists to the dialogue table but is understood to have failed to make much headway.

The separatist leaders in the State are apparently in a quandary after the inclusion of Dulat in attempts to bring them to talks. One of the leaders quipped "we are only wooed to the table but none is able to share the policy guiding the talks with the Centre." (PTI)

Farooq cautions against another division of country

KAITHAL, Nov 1: Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah today cautioned people against the ill designs of auother division of the nation in the name of religion, saying Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf had formulated a plan under which areas inhabited by Buddhists and Hindus would likely be separated from those inhabited by the Muslims in Jammu and Kashmir.

Dr Abdullah, who was speaking at a function organised on the occasion of Haryana Day celebrations, said this plan was similar to the one put forward to his father Sheikh Abdullah in 1950 when Pt Jawaharlal Nehru was the Prime Minister.

He said new plan was primarily based on the earlier plan, but only a few changes had been made. He suspected that it also had the interference of the US.

He described Jammu and Kashmir as the crown of the nation and said it would remain as such for ever. Dr Abdullah made it clear that the nation was not prepared for such a division and hoped that the people would cooperate with him in checking such ill designs. (UNI)

Al-Libby takes over Al-Qaeda command

NEW DELHI, Nov 1: North African Abu Araj-al-Libby, described as more dangerous than terrorist mastermind Osama bin Laden and his deputy Al-Zawahiri, has taken over the command of Al-Qaeda operations worldwide, especially in the United States and the United Kingdom.

According to Pakistan’s leading news magazine ‘Newsline’, intelligence agencies have identified Abu Faraj-al-Libby as the man in charge of Al-Qaeda operations, but finding him is not going to be easy.

He is believed to be coordinating Al-Qaeda cells worldwide to carry out terrorist activities, particularly in the US and the UK.

The debriefing of several dozen militants captured in Pakistan has resulted in identifying Abu-Faraj-al-Libby. "Every time we interrogate a militant linked to Al-Qaeda, Al-Libby’s name comes up," Pakistani security agency sources told the Newsline.

The sources said not only did Al-Libby orchestrate major terrorist acts on Pakistani soil, including the suicide attack on Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, he is also the man behind sending coded messages to Al-Qaeda sleeper cells in the US and the UK, through computer whiz, Mohammed Naeem Noor Khan, who was arrested in July.

"The coded messages deciphered recently have revealed that not only was Al-Libby coordinating pre-election terrorist acts in the US, but he had also sent messages to several militants in the UK in the last eight to 10 months sharing notes about future terror attacks in Britain," an official privy to these secret communications said.

At least two or three UK-based militants are believed to have travelled to Pakistan and held meetings with Al-Libby to finalise these attacks, the Magazine said.

Agency officials said Al-Libby is believed to have worked under Khalid Sheikh Mohammad, Al-Qaeda’s operational head for the 9/11 attack, as his deputy, as well as heading Al-Qaeda’s north African operations.

Al-Libby took over after Mohammad was captured from Rawalpindi in March 2003. "Al-Libby was immediately elevated to the terror network’s top position because he was Mohammad’s righthand man and trusted by bin Laden," the sources said.

Even today, Al-Libby is one of the few top Al-Qaeda militants who could possibly have knowledge of bin Laden’s or Al-Zawahiri’s whereabouts, the Newsline said. "Since many Al-Qaeda cadres were familiar with Al-Libby, he automatically qualified to replace Mohammad," an official said.

Drawing parallels between him and his predecessor, counter-terrorism experts say Al-Libby is less dangerous than Khalid Sheikh Mohammad, but is more dangerous than bin Laden or Al-Zawahiri. "He is less dangerous than Mohammad who had lived in the west and was familiar with the Chemistry of these regions, while Al-Libby has no exposure to the western world," a Pakistani official dealing with international terrorism said.

However, he said Al-Libby is more dangerous than bin Laden or Al-Zawahiri because both of them are confined underground concentrating only on ensuring the secrecy of their whereabouts, while Al-Libby is constantly in touch with Al-Qaeda’s sleeper cells, providing them with back-up and financial assistance to carry out their missions.

Officials said since Al-Libby had worked as Mohammad’s deputy, he is aware of the tricks-of-the-trade and has the potential to become equally dangerous. "He is actively engaged in planning these missions, selecting targets and arranging and transferring funds to the militants," the official said.

The Pakistan Interior Ministry has announced a reward of 20 million rupees for information leading to the capture of Al-Libby, meaning ‘’father of Faraj from Libya.’’

He stayed on in Pakistan after the war in Afghanistan and married a Pakistani girl.

"He can speak Arabic and is fluent in Urdu which was one reason why he had no problem remaining undetected in Pakistan," the official said.

Counter-terrorism experts believe that Al-Qaeda has become a hydra-headed monster. "You cut their head from one place and it appears from another," they said. (UNI)

Vajpayee disagrees with Musharraf’s formula

RAIPUR, Nov 1: Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee today said he disagreed with Pakistan President Parvez Musharraf’s new formula to solve the Kashmir problem.

"I dont agree with Gen Musharraf’s formula. The Government of India has already made its stand clear on the matter," he told reporters at the Mana Airport on his arrival here to participate in the fourth foundation day celebrations of Chhattisgarh.

"Gen Musharraf should not have raised this issue through the media. The appropriate forum is to talk about it during a composite dialogue process between representatives of both the countries," Mr Vajpayee added. "But the dialogue must continue." (UNI)

Deshmukh, Patil sworn-in

MUMBAI, Nov 1: Senior Congress leader Vilasrao Deshmukh was today sworn-in as the new Chief Minister of Maharashtra at the head of a Congress-NCP coalition Government for second time, a fortnight after the Assembly election results were out.

R R Patil of the NCP was sworn-in as deputy Chief Minister but no one else was sworn-in as minister today.

Maharashtra Governor Mohammed Fazal administered the Oath of Office and Secrecy to Deshmukh and Patil at a simple ceremony at Raj Bhavan here.

Both Deshmukh and Patil took the oath in Marathi amidst loud cheers by their respective party workers.

Deshmukh, who has got the top job for the second time, will be the 23rd Chief Minister of the State. He replaced Sushilkumar Shinde, who led the DF Government for around two years.

Patil, who held the Home portfolio in the previous DF Government, took over from senior NCP leader Vijaysinh Mohite-Patil. He edged out former deputy Chief Ministers Mohite-Patil and Chhagan Bhujbal alongwith other party leaders like Jayant Patil and Padamsinh Patil for the coveted post.

Deshmukh and Patil were elected as the Legislative party leaders of Congress and NCP respectively on October 29.

The Congress-NCP led alliance had bagged 141 seats in the 288-member Assembly and stormed back to power.

The ruling alliance has submitted a list of 165 legislators to the Governor while staking its claim.

Present on the occasion were outgoing Chief Minister Sushilkumar Shinde and deputy Chief Minister Vijaysinh Mohite-Patil.

Union Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel and D P Tirpathi from the NCP and Margaret Alva from the Congress were those who attended the ceremony.

Among the State leaders - Chhagan Bhujbal and Padamsinh Patil - of the NCP were also present on the occasion.

From the opposition state BJP chief Gopinath Munde and leader of opposition in the state legislative council Nitin Gadkari attended the ceremony. (PTI)

Advani not fit as mass leader: Singhal

VADTAL (CENTRAL GUJARAT), Nov 1: BJP has lost trust of Hindu society and its president L K Advani was ‘not fit’ to be a mass leader, alleged VHP working president Ashok Singhal.

"I do not know how long Advani will continue (as party president) but I feel he is only good as a stop gap president," Singhal told reporters today while briefing about the nine-day training camp of VHP full time workers, held here in the presence of top VHP leaders and other Sangh Parivar members.

Advani has proved to be a ‘failure’ in the eyes of Hindus, he said.

When asked what was VHP’s expectation from BJP, Singhal said "I have no expectation from them. They have lost the trust of Hindu society."

He also said there was a need for a ‘political tool’ other than BJP to persue the Hindutva issues aggressively.

Asked to elaborate on the political tool, he said, "keep patience; you will come to know of it gradually".

He said the reasons for the failure of BJP in the Lok Sabha election was its lack of leadership and control in the party, failure of Hindu image of the party and entry of some political leaders with questionable characters.

"This was the reason that many of them lost their deposits", he added. (PTI)

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