Delhi police’s killer in hospital

GURGAON, Mar 29: Vijay Bhardwaj, the prime accused in the murder of Delhi Police ACP Rajbir Singh was today admitted to hospital following complaints of ‘chest pain.’

Bhardwaj was rushed to the Civil hospital here this afternoon from the sector 15 police station where he is kept under police remand.

The 42-year-old property dealer has confessed of killing the controversial policeman as he feared that Singh would kill him for not paying him money-part of a profit generated from property investments.

The ‘encounter specialist’ used to invest to properties through Bhardwaj and used to collect payments from him on a regular basis. Rajbir had known Bhardwaj for the past 20 years as the latter was the classmate of the deceased’s younger brother in college. (UNI)

HC moved against discharge of two
ministers in wealth case

MADURAI, Mar 29: Two AIADMK lawyers have moved the Madurai Bench of Madras High Court challenging recent lower court’s order discharging two ministers in disproportionate wealth cases.

The lower court had discharged Union Minister of State S Regupathy and Tamil Nadu Minister I Periyasamy in a case against them, filed by Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption.

In their criminal revision petition seeking to set aside the January last orders of Pudukottai and Dindigul Chief Judicial Magistrates, the petitioners S Jayapaul and Ramachandran said the trial courts had not properly appreciated the prosecution’s evidence.

When the petitions came up before Justice S Nagamuthu yesterday, advocates for the Ministers contended the petitioners had no right to challenge the lower court’s order. They were neither the complainant nor were they affected in any way.

The petitioners contended that the matter pertained to public money and everybody had a locus standi to question it.

The DVAC had accused Regupathy of amassing wealth beyond his known sources of income during 1991-96, when he was a minister in the then AIADMK cabinet. He later joined DMK.

Periyasamy was charged with amassing wealth beyond his known sources of income when he was a state minister during the previous DMK regime in 1996-2001.

The Judge, after hearing both sides, posted the petitions to Friday for deciding maintainability. (PTI)

Black Widow announces unilateral ceasefire for 3 months

HAFLONG, Mar 29: The ‘Black Widow,’ Assam’s most violent insurgent group, has announced unilateral ceasefire for three months.

Official sources said the decision by the ultras was taken last week and communicated to the Assam Police on March 24 through a fax.

The district received the news with a mix of disbelief and suspicion amidst joy, they said.

"This is a great development and people of the North Cachar Hills were long waiting for it. We all hope that the Government will reciprocate, the ceasefire will extend and the Union Government will begin the peace process in earnest at the earliest," said Mr Mohit Hojai, the Executive Member(EM) of the newly elected NC Hills District Autonomous Council.

In a fast-paced development, after wrecking havoc in the district for the last one year, the rebels belonging to the Black Widow declared the unilateral ceasefire for a period of three months. However, the Government had not yet taken any decision on suspension of operations against the group.

"Ceasefire is not the end. It has to be carried forward. There are too many ceasefires and the talk process remains stagnant after that. The Government must show sincerity," said Kulendu Daulagapu, EM of the Council.

The Government had not made its response clear, while the rival Pranab Nunisa faction of the Dimasa militants called on Governor Lt Gen Ajay Singh on Thursday urging him to intervene and expedite the peace process.

The Nunisa faction was on ceasefire with the Union Government for the past three years but the radical faction of the Black Widow broke off from the pact and targetted the moderate faction.

They killed more than 120 people and injured 165 in the last one year. They also stalled the two mega infrastructure projects of the East-West Corridor and broad gauge conversion besides the NEEPCO’s hydel project of Umrangso.

The security forces believed the intensified operation had forced the group to go for ceasefire.

An important decision is expected on April 2, when the strategy group of the Unifed Command meets under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi.

However, the mood in Haflong was to give peace some chance as tremendous pressure had been created through a series of peace rallies and meeting by the civil society of the NC Hills.

A highly-placed security source said, "We have to examine whether the outfit is really serious on the ceasefire before taking any decision on suspension of operations. The then chief of the Dima Halam Daogah (DHD), Jewel Garlosa, had signed the ceasefire agreement with the Government to come forward for talks but later came out of the DHD to form the Black Widow group, proving that he is not sincere on peace."

According to information available with the Government, the group had around 150 armed cadres and the favourable terrain of the district put the militants at an advantageous position.

The Government had recently decided to procure eight bullet proof vehicles, including four buses, for the movement of security forces and workers of the NEEPCO from the residential colony to the power houses, while around 500 ex-servicemen had been appointed as special police officers to provide security to the personnel working in execution of the Railway and National Highway projects. (UNI)

Kanpur gears up for Congress meet

KANPUR, Mar 29: The Congress party workers are giving final touches to preparations for the party’s regional conference starting here tomorrow with the posters and hoardings of party Chief Sonia Gandhi and General Secretary Rahul Gandhi dotting the streets.

Though the Congress’s city unit is divided into several factions, they are unitedly working to put up a good show before the national leaders, a party worker said.

The posters and buntings of Congress have appeared in large number in several prominent areas of the city, including the Mall Road and Nanarao Park.

Congress’s city unit president Mahesh Dikshit said around 2,000 delegates are expected to attend the conference whereas the party rally would have more than five lakh members.

Rohit Kohli, a senior leader of the Uttar Pradesh Youth Congress, said Rahul Gandhi’s visit would be a major boost to the motivation of youngsters in the city.

The special protection group has already taken the responsibility of providing security to Sonia and Rahul Gandhi. It would be supported by police force led by the city SSP. (PTI)

Govt urged to take lesson from S Africa and ban asbestos

NEW DELHI, Mar 29: Pointing out that South Africa has joined some 50 countries in banning the use of asbestos, the Ban Asbestos Network of India (BANI) today urged the government to follow suit.

The African country was the fifth largest supplier of chrysotile asbestos.

The NGO said it was sad that India was one of the largest consumers of chrysotile asbestos. A february 2008 Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) survey that tracks and records the performance of the manufacturing sector, rated asbestos cement in the high growth category among others.

"What is not being recorded is the high growth rate of asbestos victims in the country. This is being done in a studied manner as a classic case of Ostrich policy under the influence of Russia and Canadia amid reports of 10, 000 asbestos deaths per year in US and asbestos related disease epidemic in Europe," BANI said here.

The role of South African government in safeguarding the health of its citizens was commendable, but in contrast, India was quite noteworthy, it added.

The regulations to ban use of asbestos in that country were put into effect from yesterday. They form part of the South African Environment Conservation Act 1989.

BANI pointed out that in its 95th Session of the International Labour Conference on 14th June 2006, International Labour Organtisation adopted a resolution for the elimination of all forms of asbestos from future use as it was the only way forward for protecting workers.

The resolution said,all forms of asbestos, including chrysotile, are classified as known ‘carcinogens’ by the International Agency for Research on Cancer, a classification restated by the International Programme on Chemical Safety (a joint Programme of the International Labour Organization, the World Health Organization and the United Nations Environment Programme)".

BANI said out of several million workers exposed to asbestos in India, less than 30 had been compensated so far. The reasons for such a small number were: refusal by management sponsored studies to grant medical certifications to workers suffering from occupational diseases, lack of training for doctors in diagnosis of occupational lung diseases, deliberate misdiagnosis by doctors of asbestosis as either chronic bronchitis or tuberculosis.

The NGO appealed to the Government to take lessons from the countries like South Africa and said it was high time for prohibition of asbestos consumption and a announced that national register of asbestos products and its victims would be maintained by them.(UNI)

All India Mayors’ Conference from today

RAJKOT, Mar 29: A two-day "All India Mayors’ Conference" will be held here from tomorrow to promote good urban governance through democratic decentralisation.

Addressing mediapersons here today, Rajkot Mayor Dhansukh Bhanderi said the event is being organised under the aegis of National Resource Centre on Urban and Poverty (NRCUP), Regional Centre for Urban and Environmental Studies (RCUES), All India Institute of Local Self Government (AIILSG) and Rajkot Municipal Corporation.

The main aim of the conference is to provide a platform for sharing experience, expertise and strengthen efforts towards urban poverty alleviation by undertaking knowledge management, discussing reforms, policies and programmes under Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) especially with regard to Basic Services to Urban Poor (BSUP) and Integrated Housing and Slum Development Programme (IHSDP), Mr Bhanderi said.

Regional Centre for Urban and Environmental Studies Director Dr Sneha Palnitkar said mayors can play a pivotal role in the creation of egalitarian communities, mobilisation of local community resources, establishing partnerships with private sector, Non-Governmental Organisations, community and national and international organisations.

Dr Palnitkar further said JNNURM provides opportunities to access central assistance for slum upgradation and providing housing to the poor in cities.

The urban poverty reduction strategies can succeed only when the city leadership along with responsive administration constantly engages with stakeholders and receives the grass root level support from poor communities at large, she added. (UNI)

Only a stable Govt can implement
welfare schemes: Rahul Gandhi

BANGALORE, Mar 29: On the campaign trail ahead of the Karnataka assembly elections, Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi today harped on the stability factor asserting that a stable government in the state alone can implement welfare schemes for the poor and weaker sections.

Winding up his five-day ‘Connect With People’ tour of Karnataka during which he interacted with different sections of people, Gandhi told a public meeting here that people of Karnataka needed a stable Government, a Government with a vision and capable of implementing programmes for the poor and weaker sections of society.

The Rs 60,000 crore loan waiver scheme announced in the Union budget remained the focus of Gandhi’s tour in several districts.

Hitting out at the critics of the scheme, Gandhi had said questions or criticism were not raised when industrialists defaulted on loans but at the same time loan waivers for poor farmers were being criticised.

In his address to the rally here today, Gandhi spoke about the disparities that prevailed in Karnataka.

"Some parts of Karnataka are doing well, there are also other parts of Karnataka which have been left behind, which do not have roads, schools and electricity that is needed", Rahul said.

People of Karnataka have shown the people of India "the way forward", he said, adding, "I would like to thank the people of Karnataka who have been looking at the world with confidence and for making the people of India proud of what they have done".

Gandhi said foreign visitors mention the name of Karnataka and ask questions on how it’s able to do so well.

"This success is the success of the youth of Karnataka and hardwork of the people of Karnataka," he said.

He appealed to the young people, particularly from the SCs and STs, to join politics.

Gandhi also said he felt the pain of farmers after he saw damage to crops due to unseasonal rains.

Recalling his visit to an orphanage during the tour, he said a boy there sang a film song which narrated that he is an orphan, has no father, mother, sister and brother and nobody is listening to him.

"I told him I don’t like the song because it’s not true. (I told him) I am your brother", he said, adding his dream for Karnataka is that no child should sing that song and "nobody (irrespective of caste, religion and background) should feel that he is alone," he said.

KPCC President M Mallikarjuna Kharge said Rahul Gandhi’s visit and the rally were conceptualised much before it was known that polls in the State would be held in May and has nothing to do with the upcoming elections.

But Kharge went on to say that the Congress has made gains because of Gandhi’s visit, adding, the Congress (if it came to power in Karnataka) would provide 20-25 kgs of rice for Rs three per kg (presumably for poor), extend the scope of farm loans at four per cent interest, give stipend to (unemployed) graduates and provide shelter to 15 lakh homeless families.

Party leader Siddaramaiah said Rahul’s visit has "electrified" the party’s rank and file, while S M Krishna, the former Chief Minister said it has created a "big ripple". (PTI)

CPI-M to focus on undoing defence pact with US

COIMBATORE, Mar 29: After opposing the Indo-US nuclear deal, the CPI(M) today said it would focus its attention on undoing "military pact" and "disentangle" the country from the "strategic embrace" of the US.

"The defence framework agreement and the nuclear cooperation agreement are part of an overarching alliance. The CPI(M) and the Left parties have already declared that the nuclear deal cannot go forward," CPI(M) General Secretary Prakash Karat said inaugurating the 19th Congress of the party here.

"But the task is not over. We have to undo the military collaboration agreement. We have to continue to struggle disentangle India from the strategic embrace of the US," Karat said.

Karat also appealed to "progressive and democratic" forces in Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka to join the campaign to check "growing imperialist penetration" in the region.

Karat said that CPI(M) could take legitimate credit for bringing foreign policy and strategic matters on the centre stage of Indian politics.

Ever since the Indo-US joint statement in July 2005, announcing the strategic partnership, the party understood what was being touted was nothing but "wholesale shift"in the foreign policy of the country and strategic perspective, he added. (PTI)

BSF, Pak Rangers discuss repatriation
of inadvertent crossers

CHANDIGARH, Mar 29: India and Pakistan today decided to work out mechanisms to expedite repatriation of inadvertent border crossers.

Efforts would be made to return inadvertent crossers immediately, ideally within 24 hours, to mitigate suffering of the families, said BSF’s Additional Director General (West) G S Gill while addressing a joint press conference with Major General Muhammad Haroon Aslam, Director General Rangers, (Punjab in Pakistan) at the end of the four-day meeting between the two sides.

Local commanders will be encouraged to mutually resolve minor issues related to border management.

Aslam said that Pakistan has as of now 42 inadvertent crossers including those from India, Bangladesh and Myanmar, while Gill said the Indian side has sent back 41 such crossers to Pakistan.

He said the two sides have agreed to "expedite repatriation of inadvertent border crossers to minimise the miseries of the families of those prisoners who continue to remain in jails of India and Pakistan due to lengthy and complicated repatriation procedures."

Gill said both forces agreed to improve awareness among border population to understand the alignment of International Boundary and to uphold its sanctity to avoid inadvertent crossings.

"Issues which were deliberated thoroughly included illegal crossing on the land borders and illegal fishing in Creek areas of Gujarat," Gill added.

Regarding defence-related construction works on the border, both sides assured to extend full cooperation by sensitising their field commanders to maintain sanctity of International Boundary, Gill said.

The surveyor and PWD officials of both India and Pakistan reviewed the progress of repair and re-construction of damaged/missing border pillars, Gill said.

On-the-spot resolution of minor problems by holding flag meetings at border outposts and the issue of old cases of Indian nationals in Pakistan jails and vice-versa were deliberated during the meeting, he added.

Issues relating to human trafficking and smuggling of narcotics and other contraband and the need for sharing of information and co-operation were also discussed during the four-day long meeting, he said.

Senior officers of the BSF, representatives of Narcotics Control Bureau, Survey of India and Public Works Department (PWD) also took part in the meeting.

Pakistan’s 14-member delegation included Major General Liaqat Ali, Director General, Pakistani Rangers (Sindh) and other senior officers of the Rangers and Survey of Pakistan.

To a query, Gill said they had exchanged lists of prisoners (in each country’s jails), but added it was for concerned agencies to decide their fate as the matter is "beyond border guarding forces".

Both sides today exchanged statements on issues which they had agreed during the meeting. (PTI)