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Home Minister to visit
Kashmir on Oct 8 Excelsior Correspondent/Agencies SRINAGAR, Oct 6 : The Centre is mulling a long-term package to boost the collective efforts by the State Governments and NGOs to help the people affected by the killer earthquake that rocked Jammu and Kashmir on October eight last year. "We are not claiming that the miseries and sufferings of the people affected by the quake have been mitigated completely but we have given the best possible support to the people in their time of need," Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad said ahead of the first anniversary of the quake. Azad, who will accompany Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil to the frontier regions of Tetwal and Tangdhar on October eight, said the rehabilitation efforts seemed to be long process but the "mission mode" approach of the State Government ensured that no one was without shelter before the onset of winter last year. The quake measuring 7.4 on the richter scale struck areas close to Line of Control in the State and left nearly 1,000 people dead, mostly in the Uri and Tangdhar regions in north Kashmir. The Centre provided Rs 467 crore under an interim package, and is now mulling a long-term rehabilitation programme submitted by an inter-ministerial team in consultation with the National Disaster Management Authority, an official in the Union Home Ministry said in New Delhi. The official said the amount handed over to the State Government so far included Rs 328 crore from the National Calamity Contingency Fund, Rs 134.04 crore as part of a special package for the State and Rs 32.42 crore from the calamity relief fund. The Union Cabinet had decided to provide a total of Rs 242.95 crore as a Special Package for the State, and the remaining Rs 108 crore will be handed over to Central agencies involved in relief operations. Timely intervention by the State and the Centre along with NGOs preventing the situation from taking a turn for the worse. "The effort of my Government was to ensure quick rehabilitation and construction of permanent structures before the onset of winter," said Azad, who was personally monitoring the rehabilitation process even before he took over as Chief Minister. "They have already spent one winter in harsh conditions and we have released the rest of Rs 60,000 (promised to people whose homes were destroyed) in one go so that permanent structures come up before snowfall this year," he said. Azad said the Centre extended liberal assistance to the State to overcome the challenge posed by the quake and the concern shown by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi also "inspired the administration to work in overdrive for the relief of the people". Though there were allegations of embezzlement of relief money earlier, the mechanism for providing relief was made transparent and effective with the constitution of Special Lok adalats for distributing money to affected people, he said. Meanwhile, Mr Patil would visit Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday on the first anniversary of devastating earthquake. Mr Patil, accompanied by top officials of the Home Ministry would visit Titwal and Tangdhar districts of the State. In Titwal, they would inspect the infrastructure set by the security forces after the quake, and assess the relief and rehabilitation work done for the quake-affected people. It may be mentioned here that Mr Azad visited the quake affected areas of Uri, Tanghdar and Poonch sectors this week to assess the rehabilitation work going on at these places. On his visit to Kamlakote-Uri and Poonch, apart from inspecting the newly constructed houses, Mr Azad interacted with individual families there and addressed a public gathering. At Poonch on October 4, he said that the Government has provided a cash assistance of Rupees 422 crore to last year’s October 8 killer earthquake victims. In addition to the disbursement of this huge cash assistance, the earthquake affected people have been provided with other kinds of relief under special package. Mr Azad said that on an average each earthquake affected individual family received Rupees 1.35 lakh, which was the highest compensation given so far in such natural calamities in the entire country. The Chief Minister said that with the disbursement of last and final installment of Rupees 60,000 to the earthquake affected families, the target of completing all structures damaged due to the killer quake, shall be achieved within a definite time-frame. |
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‘Infiltration
slightly more this year’ CHURUNDA (URI), Oct 6: Dismissing foreign media reports that military recruitment has gone down in India and increased in Pakistan since 1971, Army chief General J J Singh today said the armed forces are doing whatever necessary for the security of the nation. "Keeping in view the need, size and stature of the country, we are doing whatever is required to safeguard its security," he told reporters after inaugurating a model village - Churunda - in Uri block of Baramulla district today. Singh was reacting to foreign media reports that the ratio of the Indian Army had decreased since 1971 while it had increased in Pakistan. He said "we have plans for the armed forces - for improvement and meeting their requirements. These plans are being implemented and the Government is supporting each and every effort". The Army chief said infiltration from across the border was slightly more this year but was contained by the troops. Asked about the recent abortive attempts by Kashmiri youth to cross over to Pakistan-occupied Kashmir for arms training, Singh said the Army had taken steps to prevent both infiltration and exfiltration. He said anti-militancy operations would continue and "we have an iron fist" for them and the operations were being carried to ensure no loss of life and property of innocent civilians. "Violence has decreased in the interior areas. Less incidents are taking place now and civilians have suffered lesser casualties," he said. Operations against militants this year yielded good results as many of them were killed or arrested, the Army chief said and claimed that there was 100 per cent increase in surrender incidents of militants. He said the Army had taken projects under ‘Operation Sadbhavana’ to reach the people. Some 40 goodwill schools were started across the Valley to impart quality education and dispensaries opened to provide better healthcare. He said the Army authorities were taking stern steps against mistakes being committed by men in uniform. "We punish them when anybody is found guilty," Singh said and asked the media not to blow out of proportion the mistakes of troops. "We regret the incidents and compensate for the loss being suffered," he said but declined comment on a question about announcing internal ceasefire in the State. He said it was for the Government to decide. "We have given our views on the subject but have got no response from the Government so far.’’ Earlier, Gen Singh inaugurated the model village of Churunda in Uri Churunda village, barely a few hundred meters from the LoC, had suffered maximum damage in the devastating earthquake of October 8 last year. About 31 people were killed, 12 seriously wounded and 62 livestock perished in the killer quake. Nearly 100 per cent houses and existing infrastructure were destroyed in the temblor. Gen Singh visited the quake-ravaged area of Uri on November 21 in 2005 and pledged to built Churunda a model village of rehabilitated prosperity, organised development and for others to emulate. Today, he inaugurated and dedicated the model village Churunda to the locals. The army has met the aspirations of locals by constructing 230 new houses, creating a road link to this remote village and construction of bus stand, grain store, veterinary centre, tiled pathways inside the village, school building, modern four-bed dispensary, vocational training centre for empowerment of women and for training the youth, development of modern recreational asset like amphi-theatre, provision of water supply scheme to door steps, provision of electricity to village over rugged terrain and street lighting in the village in a record time. Apart from Churunda, similar projects are nearing completion in adjoining villages of Batgran and Thajal. The Army chief stressed on uplift of rural areas of the State by providing quality education, health-care, clean drinking water, empowerment of women, clean environment and basic infrastructure for positive engagement of youth to make a better society. He emphasised on the importance of engaging children of the region in quality education. Gen Singh reiterated that the Army has and would remain in the forefront of all pursuits of nation building, especially, in creation of a generation with vision for growth and prosperity. During his two-hour stay at Churunda, the Army chief met the locals and officials of the civil administration.(Agencies) |
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Cop injured, cordon
on Excelsior Correspondent RAJOURI, Oct 6: A fidayeen opened firing on police at Bela Colony near Officers Colony in the heart of town tonight injuring a police constable and was still holed-up in the area even as Army, police and other security agencies cordoned off the entire area. A fidayeen wearing black dress was spotted at Bela Colony heading towards the nearby Officers Colony, housing senior civil and police officers, at 8.50 pm. As police rushed to the spot, the fidayeen opened firing causing injuries to a police constable Daleep Kumar. Injured constables, who had sustained gun shots in his leg, was admitted in District Hospital, Rajouri. SSP Rajouri Farooq Khan, DySP Headquarters K S Jasrotia, DySP Qayoom, DySP DAR Fareed Ahmed and SHO Rajouri Devinder Singh rushed to the spot along with police and para-military personnel. Army personnel also reached the area. Entire Officers Colony and Bela Colony, also known as Suicide Colony, was cordoned off by Army and police. Police confirmed the presence of fidayeen in the area but said a further contact hasn’t been established with him. The fidayeen might have hidden himself under the cover of darkness and a contact with him was expected to be established only in the morning. An alert has been sounded in the area, official sources said. Meanwhile, security forces and police have arrested two militants from Pangai in Thanna Mandi area of Rajouri district and were hunting their third associate. The arrested militants have been identified as Liaquat Hussain son of Gulab Din and Mushtaq Ahmed son of Master Mohd Akbar, both residents of Pangai. Their absconding associate was identified as Mohd Aksar son of Mohd Akbar of Pangai. Sources said the arrests were made on the disclosures of Muzaffar Amin son of Munir Hussain of Pangai, a Jaish-e-Mohammed militant, who was arrested by police from a hotel in the town the other day after a grenade, he was planning to throw in the town here, exploded in his hands in a hotel room. Sources said all four militants were teen-agers and students of different schools in Thanna Mandi. They had been lured into militancy by a Jaish ‘district commander’ Saifullah. |
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Pak admits having helped militancy in J&K WASHINGTON, Oct 6: Pakistan has admitted that it might have helped insurgency in Jammu and Kashmir at "some time" but claimed it is now "trying our best" to prevent infiltration of militants into India. "Jihad, insurgency or whatever you want to call it in Kashmir...Yes, Pakistan may have helped the jihad at some time but it was not started by us and now we are trying our best to stop people from crossing," Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United States Mahmud Ali Durrani said. He was delivering a lecture at the South Asia Programme of the School of Advanced International Studies of Johns Hopkins University when he was asked what Pakistan was doing to stop terrorist outfits like the Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) from crossing into Jammu and Kashmir. "To the best of my knowledge Lashkar-e-Toiba is a banned organisation. They are no more in Pakistan," Durrani said. However, even two years ago, the LeT had money collection boxes in the markets of Rawalpindi, he said. "There were these hundreds and thousands of these boxes. That is finished and Lashkar-e-Toiba does not have the luxury of those funds...And the organisation has been banned," the Pakistani envoy claimed. "We are trying our very best. We have put military as well as intelligence assets in areas where from people went. There is no serious cross border movement today in Kashmir," Durrani claimed. He said there were "vast areas" in which both India and Pakistan had responsibilities. "Both parties have responsibilities. If we can’t hypothetically stop every guy from crossing over, the other side has responsibility too. So it is a joint issue. It has been addressed," he said. Asked how Pakistan was dealing with what was being taught in the ‘madrassas’ (Islamic schools), Durrani maintained that every madrassa does not teach violence but they do preach a "very narrow vision of Islam." The Government is fighting to change the syllabus of such schools focussing on reforms that goes beyond just teaching of religion to including instruction in other subjects like Maths and English, he said adding that they are being "closely watched" by security forces. Durrani brushed aside as "grossly overstated" the notion that in the event of another military coup, ‘jihadists’ and extremists will come to the fore and, hence, the fear of Pakistan’s nuclear weapons falling into the hands of such elements. "The nuclear weapons are very safe," he said. On Musharraf’s plans to quit as Army chief, Durrani said "I think he’s going to surprise us." On the proposed legislation to amend the rigid ‘Hudood’ law, which puts onus on women to prove offences like rape, he said President Pervez Musharraf was trying to win over religious parties instead of bulldozing the legislation. In his opening presentation, Durrani said that terrorism, irrespective of the motive, "is unacceptable" to Pakistan and that the country "is committed to fighting" it "in all its form". (PTI) |
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Manu's father resigns for influencing key witness CHANDIGARH, Oct 6: As the controversy over his alleged attempt to bribe a witness in Jessica Lall murder case snowballed following a sting operation, Haryana Power Minister Venod Sharma, whose son Manu is the main accused, resigned today. Sharma’s resignation came in the wake of opposition parties stepping up their campaign for his ouster after a television news channel and a news magazine carried out a sting operation on camera which exposes Sharma’s alleged attempt to bribe a key witness from retracting his statement to help his son. Manu Sharma was among the nine acquitted by the trial court seven years ago but now a Delhi court is trying the case again. Venod Sharma sent his resignation to Congress president Sonia Gandhi informing her that he does not wish to remain a minister till the case against his son is decided, according to AICC general secretary Janardan Dwivedi, incharge of party affairs in Haryana. Sharma said he has informed Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda and left it to Gandhi to decide on sending the resignation to Hooda to be forwarded to the Governor for acceptance, they said. An official spokesman said Haryana Governor has accepted Sharma’s resignation. Haryana’s opposition Indian National Lok Dal (INLD), led by former Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala, and other organisations have been pressing for Venod Sharma’s dismissal in the wake of the sting operation. Tehelka had carried out a three-month sting operation against three key witnesses — Shayan Munshi, Karan Rajput, and Shiv Das — who had turned hostile in the ramp model murder case leading to the acquittal of Manu Sharma. The operation had sought to reveal how money and muscle power were allegedly used to coerce the three witnesses into changing their stand in court despite having given statements to the police accusing Manu of killing the ramp model at a restaurant in Delhi on the night of April 29, 1999. Shortly after the registration of the case against his son, Venod Sharma had resigned as the head of Chandigarh unit of Congress and was virtually in political wilderness till the Haryana Assembly elections last year which brought the party back to power. The AICC, which had so far sought to steer clear of the controversy contending that the matter was subjudice, today welcomed Sharma’s resignation on moral grounds.(PTI) |
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Drass being developed as modern town: Azad DRASS, Oct 6: The gateway of Ladakh, Drass, which is second coldest place in the world after Siberia, is being developed into a beautiful modern town, Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad today said Addressing a public meeting here, Mr Azad said that granting sub-division status to Drass is a step forward in this direction and also fulfilling cherished desire of people of the area. He said that tourist village and other tourism related infrastructure are being established in the area to make it a comfortable stay place for the tourists and travelers visiting Ladakh. The Chief Minister said that development works worth Rs 5 crore have already been started in Drass sub-division and many more are in the pipe-line. Drass hit the International headlines when Pakistani intruders occupied almost all the peaks in 2000. However, they were later evicted by the Army. Mr Azad said a girls higher secondary school for the area is also being established, which will be operative from next education season, adding that Government is granting priority to development of education in far-flung, border and backward areas like Drass. He said 10 primary schools have already been opened in the area to universalise primary education. He said Leh and Kargil districts have had added benefits by this State-Centre coordination, adding that two mega power projects, one each in Kargil and Leh, are one of the outcomes. Mr Azad said that Drass sub-district hospital is being modernized and adequate staff posted so that people could get medicare facility round the year. The Chief Minister said the coalition Government has fulfilled all aspirations of the people and their demands as promised. Normally the Governments do not fulfill all the promises they make to the people but the coalition Government has come up to the expectations of people and fulfilled the promises made to them", he added. Mr Azad said the close coordination between State and Central Governments and keenness of the UPA Government to seek speedy development in Jammu and Kashmir, has really turned the tables in favour of the State and a gigantic reconstruction and economic betterment scenario has emerged on development spectrum. Amidst enthusiastic welcome and warm reception, he lauded bravery and courage exhibited by the people of Drass to protect the borders and foil designs of the aggressors. He said that the country is proud of outstanding commitment exhibited by the people for preserving solidarity of the country and secular fabric of the society. He said people living in border areas have always fought enemies shoulder to shoulder with forces and rendered great sacrifices whenever country was put to threat. Earlier, Azad was received here by Minister for Social Welfare Haji Nissar Ali, Chief Executive Councillor LAHDC Kargil Asgar Ali Karbalai and a number of people, political leaders and heads of social organizations. Mr Azad was carried to the venue of public meeting in a procession. Addressing another public meeting at Kargil, the Chief Minister said that Leh and Kargil districts have received priority attention for speedy development. He said it is for the first time that Ladakh region is witnessing huge economic packages and every village receiving due share in the development process. Mr. Azad said that mega projects will change total economic scenario of the region and lift it to the level of modern and developed area these projects include upgrading of Srinagar-Kargil-Leh road as national highway, construction of prestigious 220 KV transmission line from Srinagar to Kargil and Leh, construction of two power projects, one each in Kargil and Leh, and opening the areas of the region by way of constructing a network of road communication, all of which have been launched. Mr. Azad said that recognizing the vast tourist potential of Kargil area, steps have already been initiated to bring it at world tourism map. He said seven model villages are being established in the district while as tourism development infrastructure is being created in the district. "The day will not be far-off when the tourists visiting Ladakh would not miss to stay and witness the grandeur of Kargil along with Leh", he added. |
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Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Oct 6: Allegedly indulging into corrupt practices, Chief Engineer, Irrigation and Flood Control, Kashmir R A Kamli was today attached with the Commissioner/Secretary, PHE, Irrigation and Flood Control. According to Government order number 359 PW (Hyd) of 2006 dated 6-10-2006, A R Beigh, Chief Engineer, PHE Kashmir will hold the charge of the Chief Engineer, Irrigation and Flood Control, Kashmir in addition to his own duties till further orders. Official sources said that PHE, Flood Control and Irrigation Minister, Mohammed Dilawar Mir, was receiving complaints against Mr Kamli. It was following the directions of the Minister that the Chief Engineer was attached. Admitting that he has received numerous complaints against Mr Kamli, the Minister, told the EXCELSIOR the officer had allotted number of works without allocation of funds. Although inquiry has been ordered against the attached officer, Mr Mir said that people of Srinagar, Anantnag, Baramulla and Sumbal have given written complaints against the officer. Acting on these complaints, the Minister decided to attach the officer as it was not possible to conduct inquiry when the accused was himself at the helm of the affairs. Mr Mir said that many complaints of financial indiscipline have also been received against the officers. |
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Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Oct 6: Durbar Move offices will close in Srinagar, the summer capital of the State, on October 27 and re-open in Jammu, the winter capital, on November 6. However, the Durbar Move offices observing six day week shall close in Srinagar on October 28, an official handout said. The General Administration Department (GAD) has directed all Departments to pack their records on last working days and send advance parties comprising a gazetted officer and five non-gazetted employees on October 23 to Jammu. The employees of Jammu division can avail special casual leave of four days for October 23, 24, 26 and 27 in combination with move days for celebration of Diwali and Eid festivals and resume duties on November 6 at Jammu, the order said. |
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Civilian killed, 6 hurt in blast Excelsior Special Correspondent SRINAGAR, Oct 6: While thin demonstrations were held at various places against implementation of Afzal Guru's death sentence, one civilian got killed and six others sustained injuries when an unidentified person lobbed a hand grenade at the crowded General Bus Stand in Batmaloo today. Informed sources said that an unidentified youth lobbed a hand grenade at General Bus Stand in Batmaloo area this evening. It was not immediately clear whether there was any specific target or the grenade was thrown on the civilian concentration. As the grenade exploded, seven civilians sustained injuries. They were all evacuated and admitted to SMHS Hospital. Later one of the critically injured, Firdaus Ahmed Darzi of Chhanapora, died at the hospital. Official insisted that the grenade thrower was a militant. Reports from Sopore said that troops of RR 22 Bn shot dead a militant of Al-Badar, namely Mohammad Zaid Bhat alias Zubair of PoK, in an encounter near Zenipora, Bumai. Reports from south Kashmir said that the dead body of an unidentified woman was spotted and fished out from Lidder nullah today. Cause of her death was not immediately clear. Reports said that 10 Kgs of explosive was recovered and two suspected militants, Yasin Dar and Dildar Dar, were taken into custody for questioning in Anantnag. An official spokesman said that the Hizbul module busted today had planted the bomb to target a military convoy on the national highway on the orders of "Divisional Commander" Suhai Faisal and "District Commander" Tahir Bhat. Meanwhile, thin groups of demonstrators shouted slogans, pelted stones on passing vehicles and clashed with Police at several places in Srinagar and other major towns in Kashmir valley today after the collective Friday prayers ended at mosques. They were registering their protest against the impending implementation of death sentence on the Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru. On this occasion, some of the separatist leaders remained indoors while a few were placed in home detention. In retaliation to stone pelting, Police used baton charge and tearsmoke to disperse the angry crowds at Jamia Masjid, Nowhatta and Maisuma. Reports of similar demonstrations were also received from Hazratbal, Sopore, Bandipore, Pulwama, Baramulla, Anantnag and Kulgam. People's Conference claimed that it organised thick demonstrations at Pulwama and Kupwara in which people urged New Delhi not to implement the capital punishment. Speakers cautioned that hanging Guru to death would create a fresh era of alienation and armed insurgency which would plainly mean thousands of more deaths and more years of bloodshed in Jammu and Kashmir. |
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Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Oct 6: Three police officers of Jammu and Kashmir, presently posted as SSPs, were today inducted into IPS cadre. An order to this effect was issued by the State Home Department vide order No. 14011/5/2006-IPS dated 6/10/1006 after receiving a communication of induction from the President of India. The officers include Bashir Ahmed Yatoo, Commandant IRP Ist, Israr Ahmed Khan, Commandant JKAP 5th and Nissar Ahmed, SSP Vigilance.
NEW DELHI, Oct 6: Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) conducted 24 enforcement raids across the country on firms misusing ISI mark without a valid licence on items of mass consumption which include packaged drinking water, switches and sockets, cables etc. Mr Anant Dhul, Chief Vigilance Officer of BIS, said in a statement today that BIS would further intensify its raids against firms misusing ISI mark as these spurious household products are a serious threat to the safety and health of the common consumer. During the current drive, four raids were conducted in Maharashtra, three each in Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, two each in Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and West Bengal, one each in Punjab and Tamil Nadu. Mr Dhul said that the violators are to be punished with imprisonment upto one year or fine upto Rs 50,000 or both and forfeiture of seized material. He further mentioned that the bureau will soon be launching legal proceedings against those who were found misusing the ISI mark during the raids.(UNI) |
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Army was 'reluctant' to tell govt about Kargil: Tipnis New Delhi : The army was "reluctant" to inform the government about the presence of Pakistan-backed intruders in Kargil in early 1999 and did little initially to jointly plan and carry out operations to evict them, Air Chief Marshal (retired) A Y Tipnis has said. The army top brass kept saying they could handle the situation but insisted the Indian Air Force should provide helicopter gunships to support ground troops -- a request Tipnis turned down several times as he felt helicopters would be vulnerable to missile attacks and the use of air power would lead to an escalation. "I observed that the ground situation was grave. Army required air force help to evict the intruders. Army Headquarters was reluctant, possibly because it was embarrassed to have allowed the present situation to develop, to reveal the full gravity of the situation to (the Ministry of Defence)," Tipnis says in a signed article in the latest issue of Force, a leading defence publication. "Thus it (army) was not amenable to Air Headquarters' position to seek government approval for use of air power offensively," writes Tipnis, who headed the IAF during the Kargil conflict. At two meetings of the three service chiefs on May 23 and May 24, 1999, then army chief Gen Ved Malik "appeared to get agitated" on the reluctance to use helicopters. At the second meeting, when Tipnis indicated helicopters would not be deployed without government approval, he writes that Malik "stormed out"of the room, saying, "If that's the way you want it, I will go it alone." Malik was not immediately available for comments. The IAF went into action on May 26, 1999 after its deployment was cleared by the Cabinet Committee on Security. Tipnis writes that at a meeting of the CCS on May 18, 1999, the army could not give a "satisfactory answer" to a question from the then External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh about an "assessment in respect of the enemy's intentions". "It was apparent the army had not applied its mind to this aspect; they were engaged in getting out the intruders without having quite established the nature of the intrusions or the identity of intruders," he writes. "I felt strong sympathy for the Army Headquarters staff. Having been caught off guard in the field, they were unable to make up for their initial lapse, due to inadequate intelligence and possibly indifferent involvement from the command headquarters." Tipnis indicates he was "troubled" by the "total lack of army-air force joint staff work" since the time the intrusions in Kargil were reported in early May. "When the army found itself in difficulties, information/intelligence had not been communicated by Army HQ, in any systematic manner to the Air HQ. There had been no call for a joint briefing, leave alone joint planning, both at the service and command headquarters; just repeated requests for armed helicopter support," he says. Noting that "proper joint staff-work" could have helped both sides appreciate the strengths and limitations of each other, he writes, "There had been no joint deliberations at any level." The CCS took note of Tipnis' reservations about the use of air power at several meetings and then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee finally authorised the use of the IAF at a CCS meeting on May 25, 1999. Tipnis writes that Vajpayee, however, turned down his request seeking permission to cross the Line of Control during operations. At a meeting with Tipnis on May 14, 1999, then army vice-chief Lt Gen Chandrashekhar said his force was "capable of throwing back the intruders on its own" and "air support will hasten the process". Chandrashekhar felt "political go-ahead was necessary only in case fire-support was being provided by fighters; use of helicopters...Was an in-house services' headquarters' decision", Tipnis writes. But Tipnis again turned down the army's request, saying "government authorisation was mandatory". The IAF lost a Mi-17 helicopter, a MiG-21 and a MiG-27 jet and five personnel in the early days of the Kargil operations before it began using precision-guided munitions to destroy enemy positions and supply dumps from a great height. IAF officials had earlier claimed their operations in Kargil were hampered by the lack of intelligence and Tipnis hints at this in his article. He says MiG-25 strategic photo-reconnaissance aircraft had to be specially modified to enable them to gather information about the intruders. Tipnis himself flew in a Mirage 2000 jet during Operation Safed Sagar, the IAF's codename for its operations in Kargil, and participated in a mission against the enemy position on Tiger Hill. "It would be a gross under-statement to say the experience was unforgettable!" he writes. At the conclusion of the article, Tipnis, however, acknowledges, "It was the army's leadership in this operation, we were only in support." (PTI) |
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Advani, Rajnath to meet Kalam tomorrow over Afzal New Delhi : Opposed to clemency for Mohammad Afzal, facing execution in the 2001 Parliament attack, the BJP has sought an appointment with President A P J Abdul Kalam for tomorrow to request that the punishment should not be commuted to life imprisonment. "He (Afzal) should be punished in accordance with the court orders. We have sought an appointment with the President for tomorrow. When we meet the President, we will tell him that any decision in this regard should lie in national interest," BJP chief Rajnath Singh said today. A BJP delegation, including Singh and senior party leader L K Advani, will also submit a memorandum to the President. Singh, who maintained that no attempts should be allowed to reverse judicial decisions in such cases, recalled that Mahatma Gandhi had requested no clemency for Bhagat Singh, who was apprehended after a bomb attack on the Central Assembly here and sentenced to death in connection with a murder in Lahore. "There his no need to grant pardon to Afzal," the BJP chief, whose party seeks to use clemency calls for Afzal as a nationalist issue after its Vande Mataram campaign ahead of Assembly elections, told a party event commemorating the birth anniversary of Valmiki. Singh also used the occasion to woo SCs and STs, the main vote-block of the BSP in Uttar Pradesh, as he demanded there should be lessons in school and college textbooks on Valmiki. The former UP Chief Minister, whose party held the Valmiki event for the first time at its headquarters, said he had ordered a survey while being in power in the state to assess the reach of government benefits for SCs and STs. (PTI) |
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