Migrants vent their ire on Pak media delegation

Excelsior Special Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 4 : The Pakistani media delegation, on its first visit to Jammu and Kashmir in 57 years, today faced the ire of the displaced Kashmiri Pandits when the members of the team visited one of the migrant camps near here.

The 16-member Pakistani media team, which arrived here last night on a six-day visit to the State, was greeted with anti-Pakistan slogans and banners by the migrants when it visited the Muthi Camp, about 10 km from here.

The members of the displaced community voiced their strong protests over the "continuing Pakistan-sponsored cross-border terrorism".

Blaming Islamabad for their migration from Kashmir valley, they urged the visiting delegation "to press the Pakistan Government to stop supporting militancy in Jammu and Kashmir."

The Kashmiri Pandits also accused the Pakistani media of not "condemning their ethnic cleansing" and highlighting their problems.

"While the alleged human rights violation by security forces in Jammu and Kashmir finds suitable place in their newspapers and TV channels, the Pakistani media does not mention anything about the barbaric acts perpetrated by the militants," they said.

The Kashmiri Pandits also demanded immediate renovation of the historic Sharda Temple in Muzaffarabad in Pakistan occupied Kashmir and asked the Pakistani Government to allow them to visit the temple.

"It is one of our pilgrim centres. We wish to go there . When Pakistani pilgrims can visit any place in India , why not we,?" they asked.

Demanding a separate homeland for the displaced community in the Valley itself, the members of the displaced community said they would never go back to Kashmir under the "present and existing" arrangement.

"We are not ready for yet another migration. We want a separate homeland within the Valley from the North and the East side of the River Jhelum," they said. At Muthi Camp among others the Panun Kashmir Movement chief, Ashwani Kumar Chrangoo also interacted the visiting delegation of journalists from Pakistan.

He told them about the human rights violations committed against Pandits in Kashmir by the terrorists. He told the delegation about the genocide and the ethnic cleansing of the Pandits in the Valley due to which the community was forced to live like refugees in their own country.

He urged the visiting delegation to make a round of the camp and report in an unbiased manner the appalling conditions in which the Pandits have been forced to live as refugees.

Mr Chrangoo presented the document book "Kashmir Documentation : Pandits in exile" along with other book containing papers regarding the human rights summit of South Asia Region held at New Delhi in April this year.

He also requested the visiting journalists to impress upon the Government of the Pakistan to take steps to renovate the Kashmiri Pandits ancient Shrine Sharda Temple situated in PoK and also make it convenient for the Pandits to visit this holy shrine.

The other members of PK and PKM who highlighted the plight of the community include Bushan Lal, Pushkar Nath Razdhan, Janki Nath, Upinder Koul, P K Bhan and Bal Ji.

Break all walls of hatred for peace, prosperity: Dy CM
Alam seeks lasting peace in region

Excelsior Special Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 4: Stressing the need of strengthening cultural ties between India and Pakistan, general secretary of the South Asia Free Media Association (SAFMA) and eminent Pakistani journalist, Imtiaz Alam today called upon people of this sub-continent to work together for restoration of lasting peace and tranquility in this region.

Mr Alam, while addressing gathering at a reception organised by Deputy Chief Minister Mangat Ram Sharma to facilitate visiting delegation of Pakistan scribes, said, "we share same culture, ethos, food habits, traditions and way of life so there is no reason to maintain distances."

Speaking in traditional Punjabi style, the Pakistan journalist highlighted qualities of Punjabis living across both sides of the border. "We Punjabis have some unique qualities and these similarities should be expolited for further strengthening our ties", he stressed and quoted some couplets of famous Punjabi folk writer/singer Bhulley Shah.

"We are here on goodwill visit and this tour will be proved as historical event in the future history", he said and expressed his gratitude towards Deputy Chief Minister Mangat Ram Sharma for his warm hospitality.

Mr Sharma, while felicitating the visiting journalists, exhorted them to break all walls of hatred to create new atmosphere of peace and prosperity in the sub-continent. He, however, made it clear that peace will remain a distant dream as long as terrorism is there. He strongly advocated wiping out of terrorism from every part of the world for strengthening brotherhood.

Keeping in view the backwardness and poor economic conditions, the Deputy Chief Minister said, neither India nor Pakistan can afford war. "Instead of utilising our energy on war, we should divert our attention towards ameliorating sufferings of the people of this region", he stressed, adding, "eradication of poverty and development of backward areas should be our priorities". He stressed the need of softening borders and allowing people of both the sides to meet and exchange views.

Reiterating Congress Party’s stand on initiating dialogue to solve all problems, Mr Sharma pointed out towards statement given by the All India Congress Committee (AICC) chief Sonia Gandhi at Leh. "We will further accelerate peace process initiated by the previous BJP Government", he assured the Pakistan delegation and reminded that it was under the leadership of former Prime Minister late Mrs Indira Gandhi when India and Pakistan had signed Shimla Agreement to solve all issue bilatrally.

Earlier in the day, stressing that civil society has a definite role to play in bringing both India and Pakistan close, visiting Pak journalists rubbished the assertion that both the countries were allegedly not serious to carry forward the ongoing peace process and the initiatives being taken in this direction, like the ongoing visit of mediapersons, were mere to keep the superpower in this unipolar world satisfied.

"The world can be changed if we have a determination for the same and I firmly believe that this visit will have a great impact on the developments with regard to peace process," said Imtiaz Alam, leader of Pak journalists’ delegation while interacting with students and faculty members of Jammu University, here today.

"If civil society has no role to play and the ongoing peace initiatives have no impact on the political developments then was it possible to see bursting of crackers in Lahore on Indian cricket team’s victory over Pakistan," he asked and said that remarks dubbing both the countries as mere puppets in the hands of super power America were feelings of pessimism.

Advocating involvement of people at all level, Mr Alam explained," even as the political decisions have to be taken by persons in power, such interactions and debates by the civil society cement positive initiatives."

The senior Pak journalist also stressed that the new generation in both the countries should not be taught hatred for each other while media should also concentrate more on highlighting the positive things.

The visiting Pakistani journalists regretted media on both sides of the border used to see things through the eyes of security agencies and their respective regimes. "The journalists should rise above such approach and see the things in right perspectives," said Ejaz Haider of The Friday Times

Ms Rehana Hakim, editor of Newsline, regretted that Governments of both the countries did not encourage people to people contact and other such peace initiatives earlier. "Such exchanges should happen and let we make them a regular feature," she exhorted.

Young Muneeza Jehangir, daughter of famous Pakistani human right activist Asma Jehangir, who is representing Geo TV of Pakistan, held the politicians responsible for the divide between the two neighbouring countries. "Civil society on both sides of the border want peace and these are only politicians who have divided us," she said.

Talat Hussain of Ary TV said that the purpose of ongoing visit by the Pak journalists’ delegation was to know and understand the ground realities on this side of the border. "And as now the start has been made, we are also looking forward for more such visits from both sides," he wished.

Ms Mariana Babar of The News pointed that despite being separate from each other, there has been definite reaction of every action on other side of the border. "If some mosque is damaged here, its reaction would be seen in Pakistan and the vice-versa and hence people on both sides should take maximum care that such acts donot take place in their country," she advised and exhorted people to learn very elementary lessons of civilized nations firsts.

Speaking on the occasion, Jammu University Vice-Chancellor Prof Amitabh Mattoo, who chaired the interaction session, described the visit of Pakistani journalists as historic which has provided an opportunity to people of both the countries to carry forward the peace process. "The visit is like a catalyst for the ongoing peace process and the things will hopefully change as winds of peace have started blowing," he remarked.

The Vice-Chancellor also presented mementoes and Basohli paintings to the visiting Pak journalists.

Earlier, Prof J R Panda, president of Jammu University Teachers Association, presented a welcome address and threw light on the unity in diversity aspect of Jammu and Kashmir State.

Chairman of JU Students Cultural Council, Zulfiqar Ahmed made a plea to the visiting journalists to facilitate a visit of JU students to Pakistan so that an interaction at the level of students of the two countries may be held.

Director External Relations, JU, Dr Pritam Singh presented vote of thanks.

Old man shares fading memories with Pak scribe

By Mohinder Verma

JAMMU, Oct 4: The unexpected meeting between one of the visiting Pakistani scribes and an 88-year old man today drove both back to the memory lanes and created a very emotional scene.

While the meeting with a journalist from Muzaffarabad reminded this old man of 31 years which he spent in one of the main towns of Muzaffarabad till 1947 war, the scribe felt love of his father, who is no more in this world, in the gentle touch of this old man.

When the visiting scribes were about to meet the delegations of different political outfits here, an old man—Ram Lal Verma abruptly entered the hall and started inquiring from each and every body as to if there was any journalist from Muzaffarabad. His happiness crossed all barriers when he came to know that the delegation comprised two scribes from Muzaffarabad.

As soon as the old man was introduced with Tariq Naqqash of "The Dawn" newspaper based in Muzaffarabad, tears rolled down from his eyes and he hugged the scribe. "I was also residing in Muzaffarabad but enough time had passed to see the place where I spent 31 years of my life", the old man said while trying to hide the tears in his eyes which were clearly indicating that how much happiness the old man had received on meeting someone from Muzaffarabad.

When the scribe of "The Dawn" asked where was he residing and did he miss Muzaffarabad the oldman replied "Watan Ki Yaad Dil Mein Hoti Hai Aur Hamesha Rehti Hai. Mera Watan Mere Dil Main Hai Aur Use Koi Nahin Nikal Sakta. If God willing, I would definitely visit Muzaffarabad before leaving this world". He further said that all the old memories were still fresh in his mind and would diminish with him only.

The conversation about some old men of the Muzaffarabad between scribe and old man revealed that they were all known to Rattan Lal Verma. In the gentle touch of the old man the journalist felt the love of his father, who is no more in the world, and he said "Babaji Tusi Te Mino Mere Fout Walid Di Yaad Dila Ditti", (you have reminded me of my father)"

The scribe recalled: "My father left Kashmir at the age of 17 years and his last wish was to visit Kashmir valley which could not be fulfilled. He invited all those, who once upon a time were residing in Muzaffarabad to visit the place and advocated opening of Uri-Muzaffarabad and all other roads for more and more people-to-people contact and bring closer the divided hearts.

Both the scribe and old man said that the time has come when both the countries should shun enemity and live like neighbours with love and affection to fulfill the long cherished dreams of the people of both the sides. They hoped that the respective Governments would take the on-going peace process to its logical conclusion.

The journalist Tariq Naqqash while concluding his meeting with the old man said: "We want to live together. Let’s pray to Almighty God that we will meet soon but next time at Muzaffarabad and there would not be any barriers between us".

Before parting way, the old man said: "though I can walk and even run but the eyes cannot see clearly. God knows how long I will survive but I hope the relations between India and Pakistan would normalise and there would not be any barrier for the future generations".

Another old man—Bhagwan Dass was only three-years-old when after partition he and his family members had migrated to Jammu from Pakistan’s Jai Brahmana village in Mirpur Kotli.

He is now 60. Bhagwan told the visiting scribes that he supported Indo-Pak friendship, unconditional peace talks between the two countries and people to people contact.

"I hope Pakistan media will make every possible effort to make the atmosphere more conducive for talks through their writings," he said. A retired Government school headmaster, Bhagwan still remembers the river bank at Jai Brahmana where his mother used to take him for an evening walk every day. His father Ami Chand was killed in the post-partition riots.

He said if permitted, he would like to go to his ancestral village in Pakistan, see his parental house and meet the people there.

‘Pak scribes visit part of bargaining on Kashmir’
Dukhtaraan chief hits hard on Pak

Excelsior Special Correspondent

SRINAGAR, Oct 4: Chairperson of the radical pro-Pakistan organisation Dukhtaraan-e-Millat, Asiya Andrabi, today launched a scathing attack on the Pakistan President, Gen Pervez Musharraf, and his government’s Kashmir policy, while alleging that the current visit of Pakistani journalists to Jammu & Kashmir was part of a "bargaining on Kashmir" between India and Pakistan. She said that the Pakistani mediapersons’ visit had been sponsored by the Government of India and they were the guests of pro-India political parties and Army.

While addressing a hurriedly arranged but crowded news conference at one of her hideouts here today, the underground Dukhtaraan supremo contended that both, India and Pakistan, were well on a Kashmir roadmap prepared by the United States of America. She expressed regrets that Kashmir had failed to produce a "bold leader" like Mohammad Ali Jennah or a "great religious leader" like Ayatullah Khomeini in the last 57 years. "The tragedy of Kashmiris is that the agents of India and Pakistan are being imposed upon them as political leaders", Asiya said, weighing New Delhi and Islamabad for the first time on the same scale.

The burqa-clad Dukhtaraan chief, who shot into prominence in 1992 with forcible implementation of Islamic dress code—that included sprinkling of acid on the faces of Kashmiri women—called for a "pre-1947 type mass movement" to resist what she called "US-sponsored bargaining" in Jammu & Kashmir. According to her, glaring deletion of Kashmir and human rights from Gen Musharraf’s speech at the United Nations General Assembly last month was a clear indication that Pakistan had compromised her 57-year-long position on Jammu & Kashmir.

"When media reported that a Pakistani artiste (Samia Malik) was dancing in Srinagar, Musharraf’s Information Minister was quick to call her a British national. He even said that his Government would break the legs of Pakistani nationals if they visited the disputed state of Jammu & Kashmir. Where’s that Sheikh Rashid today? How did his Government allow Pakistani journalists to visit the same territory within a few weeks?", asked Asiya. "Government of India does not permit international human rights groups to visit Kashmir. How’s it so friendly with Pakistani journalists today?", Asiya added.

Valley’s strongest anti-India voice, Asiya claimed that the Pakistani media delegation’s agenda was nothing but to tell the whole world, particularly their own countrymen, that Kashmiris were now tired of the civil war and they all wanted peace on give-and-take basis. She described their visit as part of a diabolical plan "to get rid of Kashmir while slapping the defeat on the head of Kashmiris". "They are the guests of Indian Army, BJP, CPI(M), NC and PDP. They are going to enjoy at Gulmarg and Pahalgam while skipping 500 martyrs’ graveyards and turning a blind eye to thousands of widows, orphans and devastated properties. That’s clearly not their agenda", Asiya asserted.

According to her, the Pakistani journalists would, on their return, tell their countrymen that Kashmiris were happy with Gen Musharraf’s policies, situation had improved on the human rights front and opening up of Srinagar-Muzaffarabad road was emerging as the substitute for Azadi. She recalled that Pakistani Press had also remained a mute spectator to Pakistani government’s "anti-Muslim bombardment" on Waziristan and Afghanistan.

Asiya recalled that it was none other than Gen Musharraf who had publicly deviated from Pakistan’s 57-year-old position on Kashmir and described the UN resolutions as redundant. She contended that Pakistan’s compromise on Kashmir had always remained the basis of Delhi-Islamabad friendship. "Whenever Pakistan raised the Kashmir issue, India called her rogue, terrorist and what not. Whenever, Pakistan showed signs of submission, Indian called the Pakistanis as great leaders", Asiya said while referring to a number of relevant incidents in the last 57 years.

Asiya said that the Indian and Pakistani leaders of the top level had met as many as 18 times in the last 57 years but New Delhi had never compromised its stated position on Jammu & Kashmir. She insisted that Kashmiris had offered "over one lakh sacrifices" for freedom and not for people to people contact and opening of Srinagar-Muzaffarabad road.

Kumar surrenders before Vigilance

Excelsior Special Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 4: Senior IAS officer Ajit Kumar today surrendered before a senior officer of Vigilance Organisation after remaining elusive for nearly a month.

Mr Kumar surrendered before SSP Vigilance, Srinagar, Ghulam Hussain Bhat, the supervisory officer of jute mat scam, here at 11 am. His pre-arrest bail applications had been turned down by three courts—Special Judge, Anti-Corruption, State High Court and Supreme Court.

Mr Kumar accompanied by his wife and counsel D S Chouhan prayed in a temple at 10.30 am for about 15 minutes before walking into the office of the SSP Vigilance Organisation to surrender.

He was arrested by the Vigilance Organisation and shifted to an unknown place for custodial interrogation. It may be recalled that the Vigilance has already registered a First Information Report (FIR) against Mr Kumar, who was posted as Principal Secretary, Education, when the scam took place, Janak Singh, the then Financial Advisor, Education Department and Lassa Vakil, a middleman in the purchase.

On September 6, the Vigilance teams had conducted simultaneous raids in three houses of the IAS officer at Jammu, Srinagar and New Delhi and seized some documents, the details of which were not disclosed by the investigating agency.

After the raids, Mr Kumar had gone into hiding.

Mr Kumar’s counsel D S Chouhan told a local news agency that on his request, medical check-up of the IAS officer was conducted by a team of Government doctors. He said the Vigilance Organisation has permitted him to contact Mr Kumar on his mobile telephone number.

"The Vigilance has taken my mobile number also for the convenience of Mr Kumar. He too can contact me on phone, if required", Mr Chouhan said.

Ajit Kumar, who is main accused in jute matting scam had first applied for pre-arrest bail in the court of Special Judge Anti-Corruption, Jammu, B L Bhat, which was dismissed by the Judge on September 11 with observation that this is an appropriate case where Mr Kumar should submit himself for custodial interrogation.

Against this order, he filed pre-arrest bail petition in the State High Court, which too was dismissed by Ist Pusine Judge V K Jhanji on September 22 with observation that in view of serious nature of offence, gravity of allegations and searches made in the houses of Mr Kumar and other co-accused, there is need of his custodial interrogation by the investigators.

Again, Ajit Kumar filed SLP against this order in the apex court in which top lawyers including Ram Jethmalani, former Union Law Minister and T S Doabia, former Judge of the State High Court, appeared for him while KTS Tulsi appeared for the State. The SLP was also dismissed by the Supreme Court on October 1.

Mr Kumar was head of the State Level Purchase Committee when he was posted as Principal Secretary, Education, in 1997 when an order for purchase of 5.55 lakh meters jute matting was given. However, the department received a total supply of 4.10 lakh meters jute mat.

An amount of Rs 2.20 crore was paid to the supplier at the rate of Rs 55.50 per meter against the market rate of Rs 43 per meter. This way, an excess amount of about Rs 50 lakh was paid from the State exchequer, as per the Vigilance investigations.

6 top LeT militants killed in Surankote

Excelsior Special Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 4: In a major success, troops of 9 Para and police today gunned down six top militants of Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) outfit in a fierce encounter at Ban Dodi, opposite Hill Kaka, in upper reaches of Surankote tehsil in Poonch district.

Two civilians were killed in two separate militancy related incidents.

DIG Rajouri-Poonch range S M Sahai told the Excelsior that troops of 9 para and police launched a joint search operation at Ban Dodi, named by the local people as Kali Ban, yesterday after developing a report that six top Lashkar activists had taken shelter in the area. The militants were holding an important "strategy session" in the Surankote hills mainly with a view to intensify the militant activities in Surankote and other areas of Poonch district.

After trekking 16 kms on foot, the Army team led by Major Gourav and police parties reached Ban Dodi early this morning, Mr Sahai said, adding a contact with the militants was established at 11 am.

After about three hours heavy exchange of firing, the security personnel killed one militant. At 4 pm, all five remaining militants were eliminated in a dense forest area.

Army and police didn’t suffer any casualties in the operation, which culminated late in the evening with killing of all six hardcore militants.

Though identity of the slain militants hasn’t been established so far, two of them were believed to be of the "commander" rank. A total of three militants including the two commanders were Pakistanis while three other were locals.

Slain militants were part of Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) outfit, official sources said.

So far, six AK rifles and a large quantity of ammunition, explosive material and two wireless sets have been recovered from the encounter site. More recoveries were expected tomorrow morning as searches in the area were stopped by the security forces in the night.

Bodies of the militants were in the process of being shifted to nearby Army posts.

In another incident, two militants gunned down a civilian Mohd Sharief son of Ghulam Mohd in his house at village Majoor Kachal in Kishtwar tehsil in Doda district last night.

Both the militants, suspected to be locals, escaped after the killing. A police party reached the spot this morning and sent the body for post-mortem. Reasons behind the killing hasn’t been ascertained so far.

Body of another civilian Mohd Ilyas son of Jamaal Din R/o Rani Badtar, Rajouri was recovered by police from a forest area this morning. Ilyas was missing from his house for last two days.

Jaguar to lead fighter flypast

AMBALA, Oct 4: The Indian Air Force’s Jaguar deep penetration strike fighters, which have earned the distinction of being the first IAF aircraft to take part in an international military exercise, will lead the fighter fly-past at the IAF day on October 8.

"Jaguars performed very well in the multinational cooperative Cope Thunder exercise held in Alaska in July. These aircraft, which possess no equivalent in the world for the missions they are tasked with, are a formidable part of the IAF’s strike power," Jaguar Unit Commandant Wing Commander K K Khera today said.

Interacting with mediapersons visiting the Ambala base, Wing Commander Khera said the Jaguars, which observed their silver jubilee earlier this year, seem set to serve the IAF for many more years to come.

"The induction of the IL-78 mid-air refueller has considerably increased the strike capacity of the Jaguars," he observed.

Ambala Air Force Base (AFB) Commandant Air Commodore I K Malhotra said the Jaguars, which were the first supersonic fighter-bombers in entire South Asia, have been suitably upgraded since their induction into the IAF a quarter century ago and rank with the best in the world.

The fighter flypast on Air Force Day, on the coming Friday, will be led by five Jaguars in an arrowhead formation, flying at 150 metres at a speed of 780 km/hr. They will subsequently be followed by Jaguars in an ‘Alaska’ formation (two Jaguars plugged into a IL-78 mid area-refueller and a further two Jaguars on their wings.

The formation commemorates the exploits of the IAF in Alaska. At air force day last year, a mirage and a SU-30 were plugged into the IL-78 as they participated in the flypast. (UNI)

‘India, Pak moving towards J&K solution’

ISLAMABAD, Oct 4: India and Pakistan have crossed "one barrier" towards settlement of Jammu and Kashmir by agreeing to explore all possible options in this regards, Foreign Ministry spokesman Masood Khan said here today.

"Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and President Pervez Musharraf have crossed one barrier in New York as they agreed to explore possible options on Kashmir for the peaceful negotiated settlement of the dispute as against the past tradition of just expressing stated positions," Mr Khan told a press briefing.

He said the agreement between the two leaders (to explore the options) underlined political will of the two Governments to resolve the lingering dispute.

Mr Khan said it was a nascent "process which needs to be nurtured".

The spokesman said that the two countries need to make headway on the issue, which has remained unresolved for decades.

He said there was a feeling all around that the leadership of the two countries must get together and come up with a solution in line with the wishes of the Kashmiris and acceptable to the people of both India and Pakistan.

Leadership in the two countries resumed their long-stalled dialogue process in January following a landmark meeting between Mr Singh and Gen Musharraf.

The two countries, which held talks on the eight agenda items including Jammu and Kashmir and peace and security in July-August this year, will have further interactions before the end of this year as part of their composite dialogue.

Mr Khan recalled that Islamabad had been saying in the past that the two countries must go beyond their stated positions to resolve the issue. But he emphasised that the flexibility could not be one sided and has to be on reciprocal basis.

The spokesman said that there was a will on part of the Governments in Islamabad and New Delhi to move towards some sort of resolution.

Responding to a question, the spokesman said the two sides had a calendar of engagements for the last quarter of the year on various issues including nuclear CBMs, Sir Creek and Siachen.

The two Foreign Secretaries will also meet in December to review the progress and work out details for next round of talks, he added. (UNI)

I've not decided yet on CM's post: Azad

AIZAWL, Oct 4: Union Minister for Urban Development Ghulam Nabi Azad is still undecided whether to take up the Chief Minister’s mantle, which falls vacant next year in Jammu and Kashmir, leaving his job as a central minister.

As per the agreement between the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the Congress, which are partners in the coalition Government in Jammu and Kashmir, both the parties have to alternate with their respective candidates as the Chief Minister.

Consequently, after the completion of the first three years, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed has to step down to make way for a Congress nominee next year. The State already has a Congress leader as the Deputy Chief Minister.

Talking to UNI, Mr Azad said, "as per the agreement the Congress will have the Chief Minister’s post. But I have not decided yet and it will be decided when the time comes."

"Whether it is as a union minister or a Chief Minister, I need to work for the interest of the people in the country and right now I have dedicated myself to the job given to me," he added.

Asked about the peace initiative with Pakistan he said, "it is always nice to see that the two countries are talking to each other." (UNI)

Govt to scrap Tehelka Commission

NEW DELHI, Oct 4: In a bid to put the NDA and its convenor George Fernandes on the defensive, the Centre today decided to scrap the Commission inquiring into the Tehelka expose on defence deals and asked the CBI to probe into the tapes revealing the role of "various personalities".

"The Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs (CCPA) has decided not to extend the term of the Commission headed by Justice S N Phukan, which expired on October 3, Law Minister H R Bharadwaj told reporters alleging that the NDA Government had "misdirected" the inquiry as it wanted to "delay" and "shield" the then Defence Minister.

The commission’s term expired yesterday and the Government has decided not to extend its tenure any further.

"The matter will now be probed in detail by CBI in an independent manner and the Government will provide it the tapes used in the sting operation conducted by the web portal Tehelka," he said.

After getting the tapes from the Commission, which would wind up very soon, the Government would forward them to the investigating agency, he said adding it was for the CBI to decide the course of inquiry including registration of FIR.

"We would like the agency to speedily complete the probe," he said but gave no time frame for it.

Hitting out at JD(U) leaders Fernandes and Jaya Jaitley indirectly, the minister said "how could a private person function from the ministerial bungalow of the then Defence Minister. Why did NDA Government not probe the minister?"

Asked about the fate of the interim report of the Phukan Commission, which had reportedly given clean chit to Fernandes, the minister said the report never talked about any clean chit to then Defence Minister.

"The only thing the commission has done so far is to send the tapes for forensic test abroad and the report in this regard had said that the tapes were genuine," he added.

Bharadwaj said that once the tapes were genuine, why would the Commission still inquire about the "motive of the journalists" who did a great service by bringing to public notice the widespread corruption in defence deals.

"The NDA Government had no desire to go deep into the matter because of the involvement of certain personalities," he said in an apparent reference to Fernandes and Bangaru Laxman.

Replying to a question, he said the Government was thinking about bringing a legislation to stop "witch-hunting" against journalists who report about corruption in high places and public life. "Such a legislation will also help in giving protection to witnesses," he added.

Criticising the move of the NDA Government to refer the matter to an inquiry commission, Bharadwaj said "the then Government had to refer the matter to a commission as it could not have afforded to move against some powerful people".

Asked whether the UPA Government has lost confidence in the commission, he said there was no question of losing confidence in the commission but as it was not mandated to interrogate the "personalities" involved in the expose, it was decided to refer the matter to an independent investigating agency.

The minister said the NDA Government had committed a lot of "wasteful expenditure" by setting up the commission, which was first headed by Justice K Venkataswamy, who resigned under controversial circumstances, and succeeded by Justice Phukan.

"Tehelka expose was a big political event but the NDA Government had no desire to go deep into the expose as it involved certain personalities," the minister said.

The Centre on October 1 had submitted before the commission that the question of journalistic ethics of the portal in carrying out the sting operation fell outside its scope of inquiry.

The scope of the commission’s inquiry was limited to finding out whether or not there was truth in the allegations that bribes were paid in defence deals as shown in the tapes of Tehelka, the Centre had stated in an affidavit.

Therefore, the question of motive behind the expose was not relevant and could not be the subject matter of inquiry of this commission, it had said.

In the affidavit of Finance Ministry Joint Secretary D P Sengupta, the Centre said that the allegations of violations of taxation laws, SEBI regulations, enforcement and other regulations also fell outside the scope of the commission as it was being dealt by appropriate authorities.

Immediately after the expose in 2001 during the NDA rule, allegations of such violations were levelled against First Global, one of the promoters of Tehelka portal. (PTI)

Pak agrees for renovation of Gurdwara

NEW DELHI, Oct 4: A Sikh leader today claimed that Pakistan has given permission to a community’s body from India to carry out renovation work at a historic Gurdwara in Lahore.

"The Government of Pakistan Punjab and the Wakf board have allowed us to carry out renovation work at Gurdwara Ram Das in Chuna Mandi, Lahore, and at the same time build a yatri niwas for pilgrims from Delhi in a college adjacent to the famous Gurdwara Nankana Sahib," Shiromani Akali Dal (Delhi) president Paramjit Singh Sarna told reporters here.

"For this, they have also allowed multiple visas for groups of 20 people from India. We plan to keep sending people from here in groups to perform the Kar Seva there," he said noting "this would give a further boost to the relations between the countries."

Sarna, who led a four-member delegation to Lahore last week to finalise the plan with the authorities there, said "we met chairman, Wakf board, Lt Gen Naem Akbar Khan, joint secretary of the board Ezar-ul-Hasn and president, Pak Gurdwara Board Shyam Singh and finalised the details of the renovation work with them.

"They have given the permission in principle and there is no written agreement on it," Sarna said.

The renovation would be done under the guidance of Baba Jagtar Singh from Amritsar. Architects from Pakistan would be involved in the renovation work and we are ensuring that no change is made in the structure, he said.

The design and architecture of Gurdwara Ram Das would be totally preserved and the type of bricks and material used would all be the same as has been used originally in this structure, he said.

"For this, we estimate that around Rs 10 crore will be utilised, which will be sent by us directly to the Gurdwara there," Sarna said.

The Government has allowed shifting of the college near Nankana Sahib to a nearby school premises. The decision had led to demonstration by the college students, who thought that it was being closed, Sarna said.

Sarna, who visited the Gurdwara after the recent incident, denied reports that any damage had been done to the holy structure.

He said angry students had demonstrated against the Government decision but it was not meant against the Gurdwara or Sikhs.

Sarna said the Government there was fully committed to preserving the Gurdwaras there and had set up a Nankana Development Authority. It had earmarked Rs 150 crore for it.

"They are also working on a plan to make a straight road from Wagah to the Gurdwara, which would make it a one-hour drive and cut the distance by 30 km. A proposal to start a bus service from Wagah to Nankana Sahib is also being considered," he said. (PTI)

Doors open for talks with militants: Patil

GUWAHATI, Oct 4: Declaring that a multi-pronged strategy was being worked out to check insurgency in the North East, Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil today said doors for talks with militants were always open for negotiations but it should be unconditional.

"We are prepared to sit for talks with insurgents but we cannot talk to a group which is demanding independence. There should be no conditions for talks", he told a press conference here at the end of his two-day visit to violence-hit Assam and Nagaland.

Patil said that the doors for talks were not shut but "our primary duty is to protect the lives of the people".

A multi-pronged strategy was being worked out to combat terrorism and there was a proposal that every State in the region should have a nodal officer who would coordinate among themselves to deal with the menace effectively, said Patil, who accompanied by Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi visited the violence hit areas of the State. Condemning the militant strikes as "cowardly and dastardly acts", he said those involved in these attacks would be dealt with firmly. "We will take concrete steps to ensure that such incidents do not take place in future".

"Cooperation of all the State Governments was required and they must act and function unitedly to deal with the situation effectively’’, Patil said adding the Centre will extend all possible help to the State Governments in all possible manner.

Asked about the possibility of external forces being behind the attack, the Home Minister said, "we should not jump to conclusions and since investigations are on, I would not like to comment on it".

He said vital clues have been gathered about the Dimapur blasts but these cannot be disclosed now.

Asked about Bhutan type operations in neighbouring Bangladesh and Myanmar to dismantle militant camps in those countries, Patil said "we are looking into it".

On the demand for additional security forces for Assam, he said that it will be sent immediately.

The Home Minister also said "we should not to find faults with the state police because by criticising them we will be protecting the criminals".

He said the trend in the North East is that insurgents are out to terrorise people "but we are prepared to deal with it effectively and must do it unitedly".

Patil said "we shall stand together. They (the terrorists) are bad people but we shall have to be prepared for it".

"We will come to correct conclusions and take steps but the situation should not deteriorate further and lead to further violence", the Home Minister said. (PTI)
 
 
 
 
 

 

 

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