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Indo-Pak composite dialogue to resume from Nov 14 NEW DELHI, Oct 17: The Indo-Pak composite dialogue will resume on November 14 when the Foreign Secretaries of the two countries meet here to consider a wide range of issues, including giving shape to the Joint Anti-terror Mechanism through which India will offer evidence of Pakistani involvement in the Mumbai blasts. Shivshankar Menon, who took over as Foreign Secretary on October 1 after serving as High Commissioner in Islamabad, will have discussions with his Pakistani counterpart Riaz Mohammad Khan on November 14 and 15 and review the progress of the peace process covering key bilateral issues. Khan will arrive here on November 13. The dates were simultaneously announced from New Delhi and Islamabad. Khan "will visit New Delhi from November 13 to 15 for talks" with Menon, External Affairs Ministry said in a statement here. The dialogue had been interrupted as the meeting of the Foreign Secretaries, which was to be held in July, was put off following the terror attacks in Mumbai that vitiated the atmosphere. With Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and President Pervez Musharraf having agreed at Havana last month to set up the Joint Anti-terror Mechanism, the Foreign Secretaries are expected to discuss its modalities including how many representatives each side will have on it and at what level. The hope in New Delhi is that this mechanism would be in place soon after these talks. Thereafter, India will submit "credible evidence" of Pakistani involvement in the July 11 blasts in Mumbai that left nearly 200 people dead. India is likely to provide evidence, including phone records, showing involvement of ISI and Pakistani nationals in the blasts. It may seek handing over of those involved to the Indian investigating authorities. Mumbai Police on September 30 said the explosions were planned by ISI and executed by activists of the banned Lashkar-e-Toiba and SIMI here. It said 11 Pakistani nationals were directly involved in the blasts on local trains and the conspirators came from Pakistan in groups crossing over from Nepal, Bangladesh and the porous border in Gujarat. One of the Pakistanis, involved in the explosions, was killed in the explosion while another was gunned down by police in Antop Hill later, Mumbai Police Commissioner A N Roy had said. The remaining either escaped to their country or are hiding in India, he had said. Pakistan had said that Indian contention was "unsubstantiated" and "baseless". The Prime Minister last week said India will give "credible evidence" to Pakistan about involvement of ISI and LeT and test that country thereafter. "Before we give them evidence, what is the use of talking about it?" He said when referred to Pakistan’s repeated denials. "We have to give them evidence. We will give them credible evidence. We feel that there is involvement of elements (based) in Pakistan," Singh said. "We will test them once we have given them evidence," he added. (PTI) |
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Pak sponsored anti-India terror unabated: JJ Singh NEW DELHI, Oct 17: Even as India and Pakistan today announced resumption of their composite dialogue aimed at restoring peace and tranquility between the two, Army chief Gen JJ Singh maintained that Pak-sponsored anti-India activities continued unabated with the terror training-infrastructure across the border intact. Briefing mediapersons at the conclusion of the Army commanders’ conference here, Gen Singh — while reiterating the charge against Pakistan — pointed to the continuing anti-India terrorism within the country — though he admitted to the frequency having gone down as compared to previous years. The Army chief said infiltration from across the Western borders continued — though through areas other than the traditional Jammu & Kashmir. "Now terrorists are getting in through Rajasthan and our neighbouring Nepal and Bangladesh...." New Delhi and Islamabad today announced dates for Foreign Secretary-level talks between the two neighbours — from November 13 to 15 in New Delhi — marking the resumption of the composite dialogue between the two countries that was stalled after the July 11 serial blasts in Mumbai that claimed more than 180 lives. Pakistan Foreign Secretary Riaz Mohammed Khan will arrive in New Delhi on November 13 for the talks with his Indian counterpart Shiv Shankar Menon — who assumed office October 1 last. According to Gen JJ Singh, the Army in J&K — after having won the confidence of the civil population — had brought down its own attrition rate and — through a now well-established information network — carried the battle into the terrorists’ traditional strongholds. "We are winning the proxy war in J & K... And the security duties in the North-Eastern parts of the country, too, have benefitted from similar strategies", said the Army chief. He said the efforts of the security forces in the North-East —especially Assam, Nagaland and Manipur — had borne the desired results assisted by well-meaning civilian population averse to the prolonged insurgency. "The ULFA (United Liberation Front of Assam) in Assam and the NSCN(IM) — Nationalist Socialist Council of Nagaland: Muivah faction — in Nagaland have shown keenness to start dialoguing with the Government aimed at resolving the prolonged insurgency in these North-Eastern areas of the country...." (UNI) |
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Grenade attack at Baramulla: 10
hurt SRINAGAR, Oct 17 : Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) militants shot dead two Jammu and Kashmir Police personnel, including a driver of an Inspector General of Police (IGP) in separate incidents here today, official sources said. Head Constable Vikram Singh, driver of IGP, Kashmir S M Sahai, was shot at and critically wounded by militants from point blank range near the General Bus Stand at Batmaloo here, they added. He was immediately rushed to a hospital where he was declared brought dead, the sources said. In the second incident near the historic Hazratbal Shrine, militants shot at and wounded constable Dilawar Ahmed at the Telbal Morh on the city outskirts. He was rushed to the Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) in a critical condition where he succumbed to his wounds. The Pakistan based JeM has claimed the responsibility for both the attacks. A person, who claimed to be the spokesman of the outfit, telephoned the local media here and owned the responsibility of the attacks on policemen. Security forces have cordoned off the area and launched a hunt to nab the attackers. During the past few days, militants have targeted policemen in the city. On Sunday, a Police Constable was killed and another critically wounded in the busy Lal Chowk area here. A report from Baramulla said suspected militants fired upon a party of the Special Operation Group (SOG) near their camp at Sopore this afternoon, causing serious injury to a constable, Farooq Ahmad. He was hospitalised, the sources said. Three border security force (BSF) personnel were among the 10 people wounded in a grenade blast in Baramulla district of North Kashmir this afternoon. Militants hurled a hand grenade towards BSF personnel in the compound of the District Hospital which exploded causing injuries Havaldar Ghulam Mohammad Sheikh, constable Ratnam and Ravinder Singh and seven civilians. The injured were admitted to a hospital where the condition of the BSF personnel was stated to be critical. Security forces apprehended two upper-ground activists of the Al Badr militant outfit at Dangiwacha in Border district of Kupwara today and three hand grenades and 23 rounds seized from them. The spokesman said militants snatched away a mobile phone of a civilian, Altaf Ahmed Wani, at Ohangam, Beerwa in Central Kashmir district of Badgam today. Militants intercepted a vehicle, bearing registration number JKO1J-6039, at Pinglana in Pulwama district of South Kashmir last evening and forcibly took away Rs 25,000 and two mobile phones from the four occupants, he added. Meanwhile, two persons suspected to be working for Al-Badr militant outfit have been arrested along with some ammunition and explosives in Baramulla district Security forces arrested the Ghulam Hassan Lone and Mohammad Ramzan Dhobi from Dangiwacha village of the district last night and seized three hand-grenades and 23 rounds of AK ammunition from them, official sources said today. The State Police has meanwhile given a cash reward of Rs two lakh to villagers of Sagoo in Shopian in Pulwama district for the capture of a Lashkar-e-Toiba militant. The militant Rayees Ahmad Malik has been handed over to the police. He barged into a businessman house in the village and demanded money and a vehicle, a police spokesman said. He said Malik was one of the most wanted militants in south Kashmir and was carrying the cash reward of Rs two lakh. The villagers have decided to spend the money on improving the village roads. ( AGENCIES) |
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Rs 40 lakh surrendered by Abrol Electricals after IT surveys By Mohinder Verma JAMMU, Oct 17: Following the surveys in all its concerns, owner of M/s Abrol Electricals at Karan Market today surrendered unaccounted income of Rs 40 lakh before the Income Tax Department which he had not reflected in any of the accounts book. Sources in the Income Tax Department told the EXCELSIOR that after all the accounts and stock books of M/s Abrol Electricals, distributors of Khaitan fans, its godown and M/s Pooja Sales Corporation were impounded by the Income Tax sleuths yesterday during survey, owner of these firms approached Income Tax Department and surrendered Rs 40 lakh. "Such a huge amount was not reflected in any of the accounts of these concerns with a sole aim to evade tax on the same", they said and added that during scrutiny of impounded record, the IT Department found large scale discrepancies in maintenance of purchase bills, sale bills and stock books with regard to day-to-day business. They disclosed that the accounts of these firms were being maintained by an employee of the Power Development Department (PDD) Parshotam Sharma, a resident of Surya Vihar, Patta Bohri and since the Income Tax Department surveys, he was absconding. When contacted, IT Commissioner Jammu and Kashmir, Virendra Singh confirmed that unaccounted income of Rs 40 lakh has been surrendered by M/s Abrol Electricals on account of various discrepancies in the current year accounts and added that tax as per provisions will be charged from him. About M/s Gupta Hardware, M/s Kameshwar Builders and Contractors, M/s Vikas Traders and M/s Bharti Traders in Akhnoor town, Mr Singh said that though owners of these establishments have not surrendered any amount on the pattern of M/s Abrol Electricals yet glaring discrepancies in all sorts of records impounded by the Department have been detected. "Sale and purchase entries have not been properly maintained besides huge stock difference which revealed that concealment of income is in several lakhs of rupees", he said and added that even purchase parties have not been reflected properly. He further said that after proper scrutiny of the impounded records independent inquiry will be conducted for assessment of undisclosed income. To a question, he said that balance in the bank accounts of these establishments have not been attached and they are allowed to operate their accounts as the same doesn’t leave any impact on the inquiry. Mr Singh said that the Income Tax returns which are going to be filed on October 31 will be analysed properly and if anyone makes attempt to evade tax, he will be dealt with sternly. He asked those traders, who had not reflected correct income in earlier returns, to disclose the same this time to avoid action on part of IT Department. He further said that even Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CII) and Associated Chamber of Traders Federation (ACTF) have assured the IT Department to advise their members to disclose exact income and file returns accordingly. Meanwhile, IT Department held interactions with industrialists and traders at Samba and Bari Brahmana and apprised them of their legal responsibility of paying taxes properly before October 31, 2006. |
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SVO sets one year time frame for investigations By Sanjeev Pargal JAMMU, Oct 17: The State Vigilance Organisation (SVO) has fixed a time frame for completion of investigations in corruption and embezzlement cases registered against the Government officers. This is being done to ensure that the corrupt officers face action, awarded by the Government as well as the Court, within their life time. To ensure speedy completion of investigations, the SVO has decided that only two cases will be assigned to an Investigating Officer (IO) in a year with directions to complete investigations within the stipulated period, Vigilance Commissioner, Dr Ashok Bhan told the Excelsior. "We would like to complete investigations as far as possible in all pending cases, barring the complicated ones, by 2006. All SSPs and IOs have been told about this", Dr Bhan said. He disclosed that out of 65 cases registered in 2005, investigations have been completed in 42 cases. Even 24 cases have been challaned in the court of law. Figures indicated that more than one-third of cases registered in 2005 have been challaned. Upto September this year, 60 cases were registered by the anti-corruption body. Of them, investigations have been completed in 23 cases and challan has been produced in seven cases. Reliable sources said the SVO has decided that investigations in the case shouldn’t be prolonged. To achieve the target, the IOs have been told that their role was very crucial. As earlier, the IOs used to be burdened with investigation of cases, the SVO has already decided that they would be assigned investigations of only two cases in a year with a direction to complete their investigations and challan them within the fixed time frame. This year, the Vigilance Organisation has received 46 sanctions for prosecution of Government officers. Only 30 cases of sanctions for prosecution of the officers were now pending with the Government. Thirteen cases for sanction were sent only last month, the sources said. In 2005, the SVO had received 42 sanctions from the Government for prosecution of the officers in corruption related cases and scams. Only delay in prosecution sanction was being faced by the SVO from management of the Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs). In corruption and embezzlement cases concerning officers of the PSUs, the authority for giving prosecution sanction is vested with management of the PSUs while for other Government officers, the sanction is given by the General Administration Department (GAD). In 2003, the Vigilance Organisation had registered 106 cases but ended up with having proved only 14, in 2004, nine out of 112 cases disposed of were proved. In 2005, 60 cases were proved out of a total of 128 cases while in 2006 (upto July ending), investigations were completed in 70 cases and 48 of them were proved. Majority of the cases, which were not proved, belonged to the period ranging between 1997-99. In 2005, the SVO had apprehended 30 Government officers/officials red handed taking corruption while number of the trap cases has touched 35 this year with two and a half months still pending. |
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1200 mw Sawalakot hydel project By Gopal Sharma JAMMU, Oct 17: A consortium of Spass International from Norway, Ozaltin Constructions Company from Turkey and Hindustan Construction Corporation (HCC) of India are going to launch work on 1200 MW Sawalakot hydel power project on river Chenab near Damkund in Ramban shortly. A Norway based consultancy, Norplan Ltd has started the survey and study related to environmental impact and social mitigation besides tunnel positioning on the project site as the entire responsibility of the project worth over Rs 7340 cr will be of the Consortium as per the MoU signed by it with the State Government. The J&K Power Development Corporation (PDC) will be supervising the entire project work. Executive Director of the PDC and incharge project, V K Malhotra told the Excelsior that Sawalakot hydel power project over Chenab will have two phases (units) of 600 MW each. He said the entire project is being constructed on run of the river scheme and a MoU has already been signed between the State Government and the Consortium. The detailed project report was submitted by the State to the Central Electricity Authority of India in March 2006, he said. The work on the project is likely to be started after financial arrangement is made. He said the 30 % of the total project cost will be the State equity while for 70 percent funding will be managed by the CEA from any financial agency like World Bank or the Asian Development Bank. While the consortium will be responsible for any civil or electromagnetic work of the project, the PDC will be supervising the overall work being initiated on this prestigious project, Malhotra maintained. Responding to a question, the Executive Director said that a seven and half years time has been accorded to the Consortium for the completion of work on both the units of the project. He said immediately after achieving the financial closure (funds arrangement from agency) the time period of the Consortium will start. Mr Malhotra however, hoped that it will be achieved within next six to seven months. Meanwhile, sources said that huge funds are required to be spent on the approachable road to the project site. He said the PDC will be looking after other aspects like acquisition of Government, forest or the private land coming under project besides raising some infrastructure there. Some time back, a detailed survey and feasibility report was prepared for the site initially by the NHPC for 600 MW project but later it was decided by the Government to enhance project capacity and now the entire work is being done from the zero level. The sources said that State Government submitted the DPR to the Central Electricity Authority for the project worth Rs 7346 cr in March this year and the project awaits a counter guarantee from the State Government and the financial arrangement from a financial agency. They disclosed that project will be constructed on run of the river scheme and will not be inviting any objections from the Pakistani authorities as no water storage in the dam is required for the power generation here as the water channels will help generating electricity, the sources added. |
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Mattoo murder accused convicted NEW DELHI, Oct 17: In a triumph for people’s outcry for justice, the Delhi High Court today set aside a "perverse" lower court judgement and convicted a former IPS officer’s son for raping and murdering 23-year-old Priyadarshini Mattoo nearly 11 years ago. Declaring that the trial court’s acquittal of Santosh Singh, a lawyer now in his 30s, in 1999 had "shocked the conscience of the judiciary", Justices R S Sodhi and P K Bhasin, who conducted rare day-to-day hearings over just 42 days, convicted him under sections 302 (murder) and 376 (rape) of the Indian Penal Code. Singh, who was present in the jam-packed courtroom, was taken into custody by the CBI on the court’s directive. The sentence — death or life imprisonment — will be pronounced on October 30. Singh’s acquittal by Additional Sessions Judge G P Thareja on December 3, 1999 had shocked the nation because the judge had said that he knew the accused had committed the crime but gave him the benefit of doubt because of lack of evidence. The CBI, which has come in for a great deal of flak from the media and the judiciary for its handling of the case, had appealed against the lower court’s verdict on February 29, 2000. Following an intense public and media campaign for justice, the appeal in the sensational case was heard speedily, leading to Singh’s conviction which was greeted by Priyadarshini’s 71-year-old father Chaman Lal Mattoo with, "finally justice has been done." Priyadarshini, a law student in Delhi University, was raped and murdered by Singh at her house at Vasant Kunj in south Delhi on January 23, 1996. Quashing Singh’s acquittal, the High Court in its 71-page judgement observed, "the trial judge acquitted the accused amazingly taking a perverse approach. It murdered justice and shocked judicial conscience." The lower court had acquitted Singh on the ground that the CBI failed to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt. It had not accepted the DNA report and circumstantial evidence produced by the agency while deciding the case. However, the High Court disagreed with the trial court’s findings on the DNA report and said there was no evidence of tampering with blood samples or proof that the procedure adopted for conducting the test at a laboratory in Hyderabad was erroneous. The bench rejected Singh’s contention that there was any evidence of rape or sexual intercourse and that blood samples were tampered with, saying, "we find that there is no evidence to show that there was any tampering with the blood samples forwarded to the laboratory nor any reason for tampering with the same." Singh’s contention that tampering of the blood sample was done to secure evidence to his prejudice failed to impress the court, which said that "at no stage did the accused lead any evidence to the contrary nor sought to have an independent DNA test conducted to counter the report...". Ruling out the contention of Singh’s counsel that proper procedure was not followed in conducting the DNA test, the court observed that "there has been great effort made by the counsel for the accused to discredit the test". The bench said, "we find that at no stage has any of the expert witnesses said that the test conducted by them would have given a wrong result. On the contrary they have categorically ruled out any such possibility of such contamination or erroneous results." The court agreed with the prosecution’s contention that massive force was used and bodily injury caused to Priyadarshini when the crime was committed. The court said Singh’s explanation that his helmet —which was used to assault Priyadarshini — was damaged nine days before the incident in a motorcycle accident on January 14, 1996 "did not sound plausible". It also noted that "there was no visible signs of an accident seen on the helmet and as a matter of fact even the accident has not been proved". Referring to the 19 injuries on Priyadarshini’s body, the court said "use of blunt object to cause injury to the deceased cannot be ruled out...The use of force and injury suffered by the accused (Singh) on his right hand show that the helmet was used with a great force as a weapon to cause injury to the deceased". Holding that Singh had taken a false plea that the visor of his helmet had broken in an accident, the bench said "the only inference we can draw in the facts and circumstances of the case is that the visor was broken while he was assaulting the deceased with his helmet". "On our own analysis of the evidence we are of the view that the helmet of the accused got damaged and the visor was broken on January 23, 1996, while it was being used for assaulting the deceased and that is why on January 25 when the helmet was seized it had no visor on it," the bench held. Before conluding the judgement, the court concurred with the trial court judges’ observation that some officials of Delhi Police have been unfair in order to save the accused as his father was a senior police officer in the force. "The very fact that Inspector Lalit Mohan did not record the statement of Kuppuswamy (witness and neighbour of Mattoo) on the date of occurrence that he (witness) had narrated the incident to them (police), is indicative of the softness shown by the brothers in uniform and that conduct of the policeman has been very rightly and severly commented by the trial court which we find no reason to differ with," the bench said. The court expressed its displeasure that Delhi Police failed to act on the complaint made by Mattoo that the accused was stalking and harassing her. "None of the police officers to whom such complaints were made had reacted as was expected of them. Obviously at every stage they had in their mind that the accused was the son of their superior officer," the court observed. (PTI) |
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NEW DELHI, Oct 17: The main opposition BJP today demanded that India warn Pakistan that it should withdraw comments by its Foreign Minister reportedly favouring clemency for Parliament attack convict Mohd Afzal or else New Delhi would have a rethink over the diplomatic ties. BJP chief Rajnath Singh, who accused Pakistan Foreign Minister Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri of intervening in India’s Internal Affairs by reportedly favouring clemency for Afzal, said the Government should immediately summon the Pakistani High Commissioner and issue him a warning about diplomatic ties. "The High Commissioner should be told he (Kasuri) should immediately withdraw his remarks on Afzal or else India will have a rethink over diplomatic ties with Pakistan," he said. The BJP leader also demanded the Government discuss with the opposition the Pakistani Foreign Minister’s comments about clemency for Afzal facing execution for the 2001 Parliament attack. "Pakistan should be given a week or ten days to respond and if the response is not satisfactory India should snap diplomatic ties with that country," he told reporters after addressing a public meeting in the Sarojani Nagar market on the first anniversary of pre-Diwali blasts last year that claimed more than 60 lives. In his address at the meeting, the BJP chief, whose party opposes the proposed joint anti-terror mechanism with Pakistan, described Kasuri’s remarks as the first outcome of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s agreement with President Pervez Musharraf in Havana. "This marks the beginning of the agreement over the proposed joint anti-terror mechanism," Singh, who sought an end to diplomatic ties with Islamabad, said. The BJP chief, who maintained that India could also take "aggressive moves" against Pakistan under international monitors to eliminate terror infrastructure in that country, said international agencies should probe what he called the possible nuclear technology supply from Pakistan to Al-Qaeda. Singh, who fell short of being critical of North Korea’s nuclear tests apparently because the BJP-led NDA Government itself carried out atomic experiments in 1998, referred to news reports about the Pakistani links with the Communist country. "North Korean nuclear tests and the charges against (Pakistani scientist) A Q Khan should be seen together. Pakistani nuclear programme should be put under international inspections," he said. The BJP leader maintained that India should launch diplomatic initiatives aimed at garnering international support over the ISI’s suspected involvement in the Mumbai train bombings. Singh also sought snapping of trade links with Pakistan, a move he insisted the BJP could have adopted if it was in power at the Centre. (PTI) |
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HC slaps Rs 20,000 cost on SSRB Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Oct 17: Justice Nirmal Singh of the State High Court, while slapping a cost of rupees 20,000 for negligence, has directed State Service Selection Recruitment Board (SSRB) to recommend the name of the petitioner Bishan Dass for the appointment in SC category for the post of teacher in District Kathua within one month. Director School Education and State Government have been asked to issue the appointment orders in favour of the petitioner within a month thereafter. The High Court also slapped a cost of rupees 20,000 against SSRB for its serious negligence for taking a lenient view of the matter and also directed that the same amount be recovered from the officials found negligent in this regard. A mischief was committed by some one within SSRB with an ulterior motive as despite the petitioner applying under SC category, was shown in the waiting list of open merit notwithstanding the fact that Bishan Dass was having high merit than the last candidate selected under reserved category. The selection was made in 2002. The Court allowed the petition with all consequential benefits except monetary benefit. The petitioner was represented by Advocate Subash Chander Mansotra. |
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Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Oct 17: DIG Udhampur-Doda range Lalat Indu Mohanty today placed SHO Banihal Inspector Abdul Wahid Giri under suspension and ordered an inquiry against him after large scale illegal selling of kerosene oil in private shops was detected by the DIG during a surprise raid at Banihal. Official sources said Mr Mohanty found tanker off-loading kerosene oil at Wagan and surrounding areas of Banihal in private shops. He saw this practice going on at three-four places. A total of 800 liters of kerosene oil had been off-loaded by the tankers in the private shops illegally. Immediately after the seizure, the DIG ordered suspension of SHO Banihal Inspector Abdul Wahid Giri. He directed that an inquiry will be conducted into illegal selling of kerosene oil and police role by SSP Ramban Basant Rath.
Kashir to concentrate on local talent: Dashmunsi SRINAGAR: Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting Priya Ranjan Dashmunsi today said the Jammu and Kashmir-specific 'Kashir' channel of Doordarshan would be shifted to Srinagar with 75 per cent of commissionee programmes given to local talent. The administrative aspect of the Kashir channel would be shifted to Srinagar, Dashmunsi told reporters here after launching seven FM radio channels for Jammu and Kashmir - to be broadcast from Jammu, Srinagar, Udhampur, Poonch, Rajouri, Nowshehra and Bahderwah areas of the state. He said the bulk of the commissioned programmes would be given to local talent from the state. Seventy-five per cent of the programmes will be alloted to the state's residents and the remaining to migrants and others. Dashmunsi said he had cancelled all allotments of programmes pending an inquiry into alleged scandals in Kashir. A few people who wanted to loot this empire will be in trouble if the facts are revealed now, he said. The minister said there were allegations that many fraudulent producers had hijacked the channel and upon investigation it was found that some allotments were fake and some genuine. Dashmunsi said a new category of producers had been introduced to promote local talent - particularly those artistes who had just passed out from various training schools and are looking to gain experience, he added. Doordarshan staff or their relatives cannot apply for Kashir's commissioned programmes and there can be no changes in allotments, Dashmunsi said adding that vacancies in the Jammu and Kashmir and north eastern states, pertaining Prasar Bharti, would be filled up separately. A provision of unprecedented and unexpected dimension for the state would be included in the 11th plan of Prasar Bharti. It will be a priority item to be implemented at the beginning of the 11th plan and not at its fag end, he said. Doordarshan would air a programme similar to All India Radio's popular 'Shaherbeen', he said adding that a 30-minute programme 'Hello Chief Minister', would also be broadcast by AIR and Doordarshan for people to directly interact with their chief minister. The minister said a two-day I&B ministry festival would be held in Kashmir every year to reward outstanding performers of Kashir in the areas of production, acting, direction, music and other fields. Referring to the mushrooming of cable TV network and lack of control over them, Dashmunsi said a bill was being drafted to tackle the issue and it would be placed during the next budget session of the Parliament. Thanking Dashmunsi for conceding to the state's demands and respecting its people's aspirations Chief Minster Ghulam Nabi Azad emphasised on the need for special programmes and news bulletins on DD and AIR to present the real development scenario in the state and the kind of progress and growth being witnessed in its nooks and corners. (PTI)
PM tells armed forces to upgrade terror fighting capabilities NEW DELHI: Terming terrorism as principal challenge to national security, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today told armed forces to upgrade its terroism fighting capabilities as well as step up surveillance and interdiction system. Maintaining that the threat of terrorism was international, he said India would have to reorient its strategic thought to combat the scourge by re-working its relations with major powers as well as in the country's immediate neighbourhood. "Terrorists are becoming increasingly sophisticated in the way they deal with death and destruction. Thus, there is a need to upgrade our capabilities, which have traditionally been geared to conventional threats". Calling for developing a national security strategy, the Prime Minister said the policy to deal with terorist threats, could not not be restricted only to preparators of terrorist acts, but should also seek to modify the behaviour of the states where terrorists find safe haven, sanctuary and material sustenance. Mentioning Pakistan in this regard, the Prime Minister said New Delhi had put Islamabad "on notice" that any democratic Government in India would find it difficult to continue on its present path of addressing all outstanding issue unless the Government of Pakistan clearly deals with the issue of terrorism. (PTI ) |
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