No lowering of guard due to cut in troop size: Mukherjee

MUMBAI, Nov 15: Stating that troop reduction in Jammu and Kashmir was a lead taken by the country to resolve the issue, Union Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee today said the move however "did not mean that we have lowered our guard or we are off the guard".

"Whenever needed, we are in a position to redeploy our troops," he said, after laying foundation stone of Raigad Military School in suburban Oshiwara.

He said "India through its diplomacy and efforts, will be able to sort out the vexed dispute through dialogue."

Mukherjee, without naming Pakistan, blamed the neighbouring country for "indulging a low intensity proxy war for last two decades and supporting it as a state policy."

He claimed India’s fight against terrorism could not be compared with any other country but added that "we have achieved some success (over terrorist activities) in J & K and reduction of troops was a lead taken by India for resolving the dispute."

Earlier, when reporters sought his reaction on Pakistani General Pervez Musharraf’s demilitarization proposal, Mukherjee said "I will not comment on it, unless Pakistan puts forth the proposal formally". The Defence Minister said "we have done what we have to".

Mukherjee said he was of the view that the vexed issue can be sorted out through a dialogue process and India was prepared for it "with an open mind".

"We are not going for a dialogue with a closed mind, but let the process begin and then we will see," he said without elaborating.

Later, addressing a function after laying the foundation stone of Raigad Military School in suburban Oshiwara, the Minister said "the country can not afford to compromise on the technology in the defence sector."

"We have to upgrade our strategy, skills and efforts to well-equip ourselves and there should not be any let off in this regard," the Minister said, adding efforts were also on to set up a defence university and a defence engineering college.

Referring to Maratha King Shivaji’s vision for developing a strong naval force, Mukherjee said "had the mighty Mughals taken a cue to develop their naval strength, then the East India Company would not have been in a position to take over the country".

Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar, Minister of State for PMO Prithviraj Chavan and Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh were present on the occasion. (PTI)

No miracle expected from Indo-Pak talks: Natwar

NEW DELHI, Nov 15: The atmosphere is conducive for talks between India and Pakistan and New Delhi is giving it the "best shot" but a "miracle" should not be expected during the coming visit of Pakistan Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz to the country, External Affairs Minister K Natwar Singh said here today.

"Yeh 57 Saal Se Chala Aa Raha Hai. Toh Koi Chamatkar Toh Hoga Nahi. Hamari Puri Koshish Chal Rahi Hai (it is continuing from the last 57 years. So there would be no miracle. We are trying our best)," he told reporters after flagging off the `Chalo Asean Car Rally’ here.

India has given several proposals for improving ties with Pakistan and it is hoped that discussions on most of these would take place during the three-day visit of Aziz beginning November 23, he added.

"We have given them many proposals. They have responded to some of them and hopefully their Prime Minister will come and discuss most of them during his visit," Singh said, adding India has, however, not received any formal "formula" from Pakistan in this regard.

"No, we have not received any formula as such. May be Aziz will bring it with him," he said responding to a query.

Asked whether he was optimistic or pessimistic about the visit of Aziz, Singh said "I don’t look at it in those terms. We are looking in terms of realism and we are giving it our best shot."

Natwar Singh said there was no structural agenda for talks with Aziz and various issues would be discussed.

He said parleys on various issues, including more rail and road links between the two countries, opening of consulates in Karachi and Mumbai apart from talks on nuclear issues and cross-border terrorism, would also begin shortly.

Asked whether cross-border terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir had reduced recently, Natwar Singh replied in the affirmative and added that there were many reasons behind it, including the weather conditions.

"Yes, cross-border terrorism has reduced recently but it has many reasons, including the climate.

"We hope that the efforts of the Pakistan Government to stop it was also one of the reasons," he said. (AGENCIES)

If invited, Hurriyat ready for talks with PM: Mirwaiz

LONDON, Nov 15: After having cold shouldered Home Minister Shivraj Patil during his Kashmir visit, the Hurriyat Conference now says it is ready to talk to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh during his visit to Jammu and Kashmir this week.

"Definitely we would sit and talk if invited. If the Indian Prime Minister wants to take any initiative towards the political solution to the Kashmir problem, we would seriously consider it," Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Omer Farooq said in a BBC Hindi programme last night.

"We have decided if any invitation is extended, we would sit and talk, but at the same time we want to make it clear that since two rounds of talks have already taken place with the Indian Government, when NDA was in power, it is important now that the Government of India permits the Hurriyat leaders to visit Pakistan, and then the process of talks would be really meaningful," Mirwaiz Farooq said.

Asked whether they had any hopes from Singh’s two-day visit to the State from Wednesday, the Hurriyat leader said: "See if the visit is only for an economic package, like giving money for schools and other buildings, then it would serve no purpose. It would give Kashmiris a feeling that the Indian Government wants to buy them over.

"However, if the Prime Minister has something new to offer to take the peace process forward, and if he is to announce some Confidence Building Measures, which would help towards the political solution, like the release of innocent people languishing in jails since many years, an end to human rights violations, then Hurriyat would certainly welcome it. His recent announcements give hope, but further work needs to be done."

Asked whether the Central Government has already made any offer to it, Mirwaiz Farooq said: "Nothing has come from Indian Government so far. It has been only through media and that too when the Home Minister visited Kashmir, but there is nothing concrete. Talking is fine, but where are the passports for the Hurriyat leaders to go to Kashmir (PoK)?"

Asked why the Hurriyat has been keeping away from the UPA Government so far, the Hurriyat leader said: "See, when the Congress-led Government took over at the Centre, we felt that Congress had a moral responsibility towards Kashmir, because it can be said that it is Congress which is responsible for the birth of the Kashmir issue or made it an issue, from the times of Pandit Nehru to Indira Gandhi.

"Therefore, we had a feeling, the Congress-led Government would deal with this important and sensitive issue with all seriousness. Initially there was a lot of confusion, with statements from Delhi saying talks would be within the framework of the Constitution, and then talks could be unconditional and subsequently that there is no use talking to Hurriyat. But the latest developments give hope."

Asked what led Hurriyat to talk to the previous NDA Government and stay away from the present Government, Mirwaiz Farooq said: "We went to talk to L K Advani in his capacity as the deputy Prime Minister and not as Home Minister. Our agreement with the NDA was on three points, first, talks on Kashmir would be unconditional, second both sides would look for a solution seriously, and thirdly, Pakistan would be included in the talks at some stage." (PTI)

Country celebrates Eid with bonhomie

NEW DELHI, Nov 15: Communal harmony and bonhomie marked Eid-ul-Fitr across the country today as Muslims offered prayers at the end of month-long Ramzan and greeted their Hindu brethren who joined the celebrations.

In the capital, President A P J Abdul Kalam, who had been on fast during Ramzan, offered prayers at the Rashtrapati Bhavan mosque. Later, he exchanged greetings with a cross section of Hindu and Muslim children and offered sweets.

Around one lakh people offered prayers at the Jama Masjid and listened to the address by Imam Syed Ahmed Bukhari. At the Shahi Masjid, Fatehpuri about two lakh worshippers offered ‘Namaz’.

Greeting Muslims on the occasion, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh said his Government was planning to constitute seperate waqf board for the State.

In Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Gujarat, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal the biggest festival of Muslims was celebrated with religious fervour.

Security was beefed in sensitive parts of the states with additional police personnel being deployed to ensure incident-free festivities.

In Rajasthan, Khadims (successors of Sufi saint Khawaja Moinuddin Chisti) offered Chhadar at the Dargah Sharief of Ajmer to mark the occasion.

Scenes of communal harmony was witnessed outside many mosques as Hindus and Muslims greeted each other and exchanged sweets. At several places, Muslim outfits organised seminars on the theme of communal harmony.

In Jammu and Kashmir and Kerala the Eid was celebrated yesterday. (PTI)

Complete bandh in Surankote
Two civilians shot dead, SPO injured

Excelsior Special Correspondent

JAMMU, Nov 15: Two civilians were gunned down and a Special Police Officer (SPO) was seriously injured in firing by the militants at village Tund in Patnazi area of Kishtwar tehsil in Doda district this evening while a complete shutdown was observed in Surankote town in Poonch district in protest against alleged threats by the Army to the civilians.

Official sources said two militants entered in a forest area where two civilians—Ranjeet Kumar and Roshan Lal and SPO Rajinder Kumar, who had come to his house on leave, were collecting woods. The militants opened firing on the trio causing serious injuries to all of them.

Both the militants, one of whom was believed to be a foreign mercenary, managed to escape from the spot.

Ranjeet Kumar and Roshan Lal succumbed to their injuries while being shifted to hospital while the SPO was admitted in the sub district hospital at Kishtwar, where his condition was stated to be critical.

Enforcement of security forces rushed to the forest area immediately after getting a report of the militant attack and launched a search operation. The militants, however, couldn’t be traced.

Bodies of the two killed civilians have been sent for post-mortem.

Meanwhile, shopkeepers in Surankote town today observed a complete bandh in protest against alleged threats to them by the Army officers. Local people also joined the protest and blocked traffic demanding action against the officers responsible for the threats,

As per the reports, two Army personnel Hameed and Mareed of TA battalion, both residents of Gounthal, Surankote beat-up a shopkeeper in Surankote town two days back when he refused to take back a pair of used shoes by the Army personnel.

Following protests by the shopkeepers, a First Information Report (FIR) was lodged against the two Army personnel.

Next day, a Captain of Army’s LO unit twice summoned another shopkeeper Kuljeet Bakshi and threatened him of consequences if he didn’t perform a task assigned to him. Bakshi refused to oblige the Army officer.

Today, the shopkeepers went on a strike demanding an end to the "harassment" being meted out to them at the hands of the Army officers and officials. They demanded that the "erring" officers should be posted out of Surankote.

Traffic on Poonch-Rajouri road remained disrupted for several hours due to the protests.

In the afternoon, Deputy Commandant S K Dallal visited the town and met the protesters. He assured the shopkeepers that their demands would be looked into. Following assurance, the shopkeepers lifted their dharna.

NDA strikes balance between Hindutva, secularism

NEW DELHI, Nov 15: Striking a delicate balance in the wake of BJP’s stridency on Hindutva, NDA today said it preferred a negotiated settlement of the vexed Ayodhya issue and declared its commitment to the "constitutional ideal" of secularism.

A meeting of the alliance leaders, called to "clear the air of misunderstanding" following BJP president L K Advani’s remarks supporting construction of a Ram Temple at the disputed site in Ayodhya, urged for the intensification of efforts towards a serious and meaningful dialogue to resolve the issue.

Scotching speculation about a split in NDA ranks following BJP’s growing proximity with the Sangh Parivar after its debacle in the Lok Sabha and Maharashtra Assemby polls, the meeting, presided over by former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, presented a united face and resolved to further strengthen the allies.

BJP president L K Advani, his predecessor M Venkaiah Naidu, party leaders Jaswant Singh and V K Malhotra, NDA convener George Fernandes, JD (U) leaders Nitish Kumar and Sharad Yadav, S S Dhindsa (Akali Dal), Anant Geete (Shiv Sena), Dinesh Trivedi (NTC), A C Sethi (BJD) and P C Thomas (IFDP) were among those who attended the two-hour meet.

"We continue to hold that the judiciary’s verdict in the matter must be accepted by all. At the same time, considering the delays inherent in our judicial processes, the NDA prefers a negotiated settlement...," a resolution passed at the meeting and read out by Fernandes to media said.

Calling upon the Government to take necessary steps to intensify the dialogue, the NDA said, "an early and amicable resolution of the Ayodhya issue will promote national integration and strengthen India socially as no other issue can".

"The solution to the issue, as well as the process of reaching it, should be such that it meets the aspirations of the majority community, the concerns of the minority community and the interests of national unity, integrity and communal harmony", the resolution said.

Training its guns on the UPA Government, it said that the coalition had "little to show" for its achievements in the first six months of its existence. "The steep rise in the prices of all essential commodities is proof of the betrayal of its promise to safeguard the interests of the common man", it said. The NDA also faulted the Prime Minister and the External Affairs Minister for making statements on the Kashmir issue "which are at variance" with the national consensus reflected in the Parliament resolution.

When asked about BJP’s stand on Hindutva and whether NDA was in favour of a Ram Temple, he said, "this is NDA’s resolution and BJP is part of NDA".

Turning to Bihar where polls are due early next year, the NDA called upon anti-RJD forces to unite "to emancipate Bihar from the corrupt and anti-people RJD-Congress rule".

The meeting also expressed concern over the non-issuance of the notice for the coming winter session of Parliament and wanted the Government to act fast.

The NDA leaders also condoled Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat’s death. (PTI)

Bansal appointed SMVD Varsity VC

Excelsior Special Correspondent

JAMMU, Nov 15: Dr Narendra Kumar Bansal, former head of the Centre for Energy Studies, Indian Institute of Technology, New Delhi has been appointed as new Vice-Chancellor of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University (SMVD).

Governor, Lt Gen ( Retd) S K Sinha has issued the order to this effect, in his capacity as the Chancellor of the University and the appointment shall be for a period of three years.

Dr Bansal succeeds Dr B B Chattoo, who completed his tenure in August this year. Vice Chancellor of Jammu University, Prof Amitabh Mattoo is currently holding the additional charge of SMVD University that was inaugurated by President Dr APJ Abdul Kalam on August 19, 2004.

The selection of new VC has been made on the recommendations of a four-member search committee headed by Prof V S Raju, Ex-Director Indian Institute of Technology New Delhi. The other members included Prof K L Kamal, former VC University of Rajasthan, Mrs Sonali Kumar Principal Secretary to J&K Government Forest department and Rohit Kansal Additional Chief Executive Officer SMVD Shrine Board. The search committee short listed six eminent scholars for the top slot and held two meetings to finalise its recommendations after having personal interactions with them.

Dr N K Bansal, 60 is credited with specialisation in renewable energy, energy conservation, energy planning and economics. He has remained a guest professor for University of Applied Science, Aachen, Germany, University of Essen, Germany, Arizona State University , USA, visiting Scientist of Cranefield Institute of Technology, Reader University UK Research Centre, Juelich, Germany, Nuclear Research Centre, Karlsruhe, Germany besides the visiting fellow of International Centre for Theoretical Physics, Triestle, Italy.

Dr Bansal has also co-authored 17 books mostly on energy subjects and has reviewed 16 books besides contributing 260 articles in reputed international publications. He has a vast teaching and administrative experience and has earned laurels for his contribution in the field of academics. He has received the title of Solar Pioneer from India from German Magazine, Sun, Wind and Heat and was guest of honour at the first World Engineers Conference at Honover, Germany in June 2004. World Renewable Energy Network , UK honoured him with the title of Pioneer in Renewable Energy in 1998 and he was awarded Dr C M Jacob gold medal by the System’s Society of India in 1992.

He remained member, Scientific Advisory Committee of Solar AG, Ministry of Economics & Research, North Rhine Westphalia since 1990 and is holder of Alexander Von Humbold Fellowship. In his 34 years experience Dr Bansal guided 35 scholars of Ph.D and 40 students of M Tech degree.

NDA cautions Govt on J&K

NEW DELHI, Nov 15: The National Democratic Alliance today expressed serious concern over the Government’s decision to consider Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf’s suggestions on Jammu and Kashmir and said the Parliament resolution must not be violated.

While it was necessary to carry forward the process of normalisation of relations with Pakistan initiated by the NDA, the recent statements made by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and External Affairs Minister K Natwar Singh on the Jammu and Kashmir issue were at variance with the national consensus articulated in a resolution passed by all political parties unanimously in Parliament, a resolution adopted by the NDA said.

NDA convener George Fernandes and former Foreign Minister Jaswant Singh said the Pakistan proposal cannot over ride the Parliamentary resolution. (UNI)

Joshi permitted to meet Seer today

CHENNAI, Nov 15: Senior BJP leader and former Human Resources Development Minister Dr Murli Manohar Joshi has been granted permission by Tamil Nadu Government to meet Kanchi Sankaracharya Jayendra Saraswati, who is in central prison at Vellore, tomorrow.

Joshi said that he had been permited to meet the Seer in the prison tomorrow.

Joshi said he had hoped to get the permission today, but the Government said the day being a holiday, he could be permitted to meet the Seer only tomorrow.

"I came here with the belief that I, being a member of Parliament, will be able to meet his holiness. There are rules but exceptions are also there. But according to the rule, on a holiday nobody could meet", he said.

He said he would be accompanied by BJP national secretary I Ganesan during his meeting with the Seer.

Joshi had arrived here last night from New Delhi.

About the arrest of the Sankaracharya, Joshi said the Kanchi Seer had been treated in an "indignified manner" by the police officers.

"There are two issues in it. One is the legal part of it. The other is the methodology, the way how the Sankaracharya was and should be treated. The general consternation in the minds of the people is the indignified manner in which he was treated. That worries people...That how come a person of his stature has been mishandled by ordinary police officers".

Joshi said "the law can take its own course" in the matter and "nobody is saying that you don’t take him to the court" but "there is a method in it". (PTI)

Powell, three of his cabinet colleagues quit

WASHINGTON, Nov 15: In the second major change in the run-up to US President George W Bush’s new team, US Secretary of State Colin Powell, a moderate who steered the American foreign policy during the tumultous four years and the Iraq war, and three of his cabinet colleagues have resigned.

Powell, the 67-year-old former General, who has been a key figure in bringing about a thaw in Indo-Pak relations, resigned on Friday, the White House said today.

The other three who put in their papers are Agriculture Secretary Ann Venneman, Education Secretary Rod Paige and Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham, they said, adding Bush has accepted the resignations of all of them.

It has also released the letters sent by Powell and the other senior cabinet ministers.

"I believe that now that the election is over, the time has come for me to step down as Secretary of State and return to private life," Powell said in his letter.

There are unconfirmed reports that Powell may be offered the post of World Bank President and John Danforth, US Ambassador to the UN, might be the new Secretary of State.

It is understood that Powell’s Deputy Richard Armitage, another key pointsman of Washington in Indo-Pak relations, may also exit.

Powell, who had served a term with Bush senior during the Gulf war, is among the high-ranking officials who has put in his papers and is believed to have conveyed that he was not keen on a new term with George W Bush during his second stint.

"I am pleased to have been part of the team that launched the global war against terror, liberated the Afghan and Iraqi people, brought the attention of the world to the problem of proliferation, reaffirmed our alliances, adjusted the post-cold war world and undertook major initiatives.....", Powell said in his letter.

Attorney General John Ashcroft and Commerce Secretary Donald Evans have already resigned. Powell, who was Bush’s main advisor and sold America’s plans for a war on Iraq, has long been rumoured that he would not be in the run for a second term. He had last December undergone an operation for prostrate cancer.

While going along with Bush’s decision to invade Iraq, he had fought against an array of hawks in the cabinet and was more keen on securing an UN mandate and also gather as many allies as possible. (PTI)

Petrol prices reduced by Rs 1.26

NEW DELHI, Nov 15: Public sector oil companies have reduced the prices of petrol by upto Rs 1.26 while maintaining diesel prices at earlier level.

The new prices will be effective from midnight tonight.

The prices of pertol in Delhi will come down by Rs 1.16 to Rs 37.84 per litre while the decrease in Mumbai will be Rs 1.26 to Rs 43.23.

The decline in prices of petrol in Kolkata will be Rs 1.21 to Rs 40.89 and in Chennai prices will come down by Rs 1.26 to Rs 41.25.

The diesel prices in Delhi will continue to be Rs 26.28, in Mumbai at Rs 32.83, in Kolkata at Rs 28.72 and in Chennai at Rs 29.30 a litre. (PTI)

AVMs file caveats in SC

NEW DELHI, Nov 15: Two Air Vice Marshals, who were "wrongly" denied promotions to the rank of Air Marshals, have filed caveats in the Supreme Court pre-empting the Air Force’s move to obtain any ex-parte stay of a Delhi High Court order to convene a fresh promotion board to reconsider their cases.

"We filed caveats at the residence of Joint Registrar S K Seth, who was authorised to receive caveats and urgent filings in the Supreme Court during Diwali vacation," Keshav Kaushik, counsel for Air Vice Marshals (AVMs) T S Chhatwal and Harish Masand, said.

On the petitions filed by Chhatwal and Masand, a bench of Justice Vijender Jain and Justice H R Malhotra had on November 8 quashed promotions of four Air Marshals and ordered setting up of a fresh promotion board within four weeks to reconsider their cases along with the two AVMs.

Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee had said the Government would file a Special Leave Petition (SLP) in the Supreme Court against the order of the High Court, which was critical of the conduct of the Air headquarters and the then Air Officer in-charge of Personnel (AOP) N Menon for attempting to mislead it by concealing the truth.

The court had also indicted Chief of Air Staff S Krishnaswamy for indulging in "mala fide exercise of power", saying he cannot "exonerate" himself from the obligation to be fair and impartial.

"The least we can say is that respondent No.2 (Air Chief) cannot exonerate himself from the obligation to be fair and impartial as head of the Air Force", it said allowing the AVMs’ petitions. (PTI)
 
 
 
 
 

 

 

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