SRINAGAR : There will be no Karvan-e-Aman bus, operating between Srinagar to Muzaffarabad, capital of Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK), today as drug row deepened further. Jammu and Kashmir police arrested a driver after drugs worth Rs 100 crore were seized from a truck which had arrived here on January 18 from PoK.
However, the PoK authorities demanded release of the truck and driver. They announced cancelation of the bus service, official sources said.
They said during a meeting between representatives of both sides yesterday, the PoK has also announced suspension of the bus service till the row is resolved. The weekly bus run today was cancelled and residents, who were scheduled to undertake cross Line of Control (LoC) travel were informed, sources said.
The service was started on April 7,2005 when Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh flagged off first bus from here for Muzaffarabad despite threat by militants.
The bus service has helped thousands of families, divided in 1947 due to partition, to meet each other after India and Pakistan agreed to allow travel of separated families on ‘Travel Permit’ instead of International Passports. However, it was also agreed that travel permit will be allowed to any person after intelligence agencies of both the countries clear his or her name.
SRINAGAR, Jan 20: Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) authorities today claimed diplomatic immunity for the driver who was arrested after recovery of a huge haul of brown sugar from his vehicle on the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad Cross-Line of Control trade route.
The claim was made by PoK’s Director General of Trade, a retired army officer, during a meeting with state government officials for breaking the deadlock over the arrest of the PoK driver, Divisional Commissioner (Kashmir) Shailendra Kumar told reporters here.
“Surprisingly they conveyed that under the (Cross-LoC) pact, these people have diplomatic immunity. We asked for the documents which provide diplomatic immunity even to drivers,” the Divisional Commissioner said.
The PoK authorities have detained 27 Indians and their trucks demanding release of the driver who was arrested after 114 packets of brown sugar valued at Rs 100 crore in the international market were recovered from his vehicle on Friday.
The PoK authorities have also refused to take back their 48 drivers and trucks which had come with goods to this side.
Kumar said the PoK authorities were asking for release of the driver and return of the narcotic substance as well.
“We explained to them that it is not possible as a case has been registered and a judicial process has to be followed. We cannot return them without a trial,” he said.
The Divisional Commissioner said the the PoK authorities were requested to take up the matter with their higher ups as “we are going to follow the law of land in this case”.
“We have also requested the state government to take up the matter with the Centre. We are hopeful some progress will be made in next couple of days,” he said.
The Divisional Commissioner said there were no directions to the administration to start any extra-judicial process.
“As per the law, possession of narcotic substance — whether by a local or a foreigner — is banned and illegal,” he said.
There was no information to suggest involvement of the government across the LoC in smuggling of narcotics to Kashmir but “we have to be careful. These substances can be used to target our youths”, Kumar said.
“It is a signal for us to remain vigilant. We need truck scanners to help in detection of illegal substances without unloading goods.” (AGENCIES)
SRINAGAR : A militant was killed in a fierce encounter that broke out in south Kashmir district of Kulgam, official sources said here today.
They said security forces and State police launched a joint operation at Shampora, about two km from national highway in Qazigund in south Kashmir following a tip off about the presence of a top Hizbul Mujahieen (HM) militant today.
However, an encounter ensued after militants opened fire from a house on security forces.The fire was returned leading to fierce encounter.
They said one militant was killed in the encounter and operation was still going on when the reports last came in. (AGENCIES)
Excelsior Correspondent
MENDHAR, Jan 19: Some unknown thieves broke into two shops in the town and decamped with some ‘Karyana’ items, cash and a motor-cycle last night.
Reports said the thieves barged into the shop of Nasir Ahmed, son of Firoz Din, resident of Bhati Dhar in the town here last mid night and decamped with Rs 35,000 cash and some Karyana items. They also broke the shop of one Liaqat Hussain, son of Mohd Hafiz, resident of Tappa village and escaped with some cash and other items. They also lifted a motor-cycle No. 3374/ JK-12 which the shopkeeper had parked outside the shop.
The police party reached the spot after they came to know about the theft in the morning. The bike was recovered with the help of dog squad which was pressed into service by local police. No arrest has been reported till this evening.
NEW DELHI : In an unprecedented action, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his ministers today began a dharna outside Rail Bhavan demanding action against police officials who refused to carry out a raid on an alleged drug and prostitution racket in South Delhi last week.
Defying prohibitory orders in force in the high-security area near the seat of power, Kejriwal accompanied by six of his ministers attempted to go to North Block housing the Home Ministry to lodge their protest.
However, they were stopped near the Rail Bhavan as the nearby Vijay Chowk and the entire Rajpath were sealed for the Republic Day rehearsal that was going on.
Making an impromptu address to his MLAs and supporters, Kejriwal put the blame squarely on the Prime Minister, Home Minister and the Centre for the situation that has led to his dharna and said he has come prepared for 10 days and would continue the agitation further if need be.
He said any crisis arising out of the situation including disturbance in holding Republic Day celebrations will be the responsibility of the Centre.
Rejecting Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde’s statement that action can be taken only after an inquiry, the Chief Minister demanded immediate suspension of the “corrupt” officials who refused to act in the interest of the public whose cause Law Minister Somnath Bharti had taken up.
The Minister had created a controversy last week when he went to a locality in his constituency of Malviya Nagar, claiming a drug and prostitution ring was being run from a residence and demanded police raid the place.
However, the police refused saying they have no warrant to do so. The AAP workers allegedly forced a couple of women from Uganda to give urine samples. Their action came under alround attack but the AAP Government insists that action should be taken against the police officials.
This is perhaps for the first time that a Chief Minister and his entire cabinet is holding a dharna against the Central Government to press for their demands.
Defending his action to hold dharna, Kejriwal asked those gathered whether it was wrong to demand suspension of policemen in connection with the rape of Danish woman and those who failed to act on his cabinet colleagues’ letter demanding protection for a woman who was later allegedly burnt alive by her parents-in-law.
Kejriwal said he was demanding action against policemen who failed to check drug and sex racket being run from South Delhi. He said under such circumstances, ministers should be seen among people instead of sitting in the cosy comforts of their big bungalows.
Kejriwal claimed that an official from the Uganda High Commission had met Bharti and supported his action, saying in the name of employment several women from the country were being forced into prostitution in India. He said he would distribute a copy of the letter written by the High Commission officials.
Kejriwal also blamed a section of the media, Congress and BJP for describing actions of AAP leaders as “vigilantism”. He also referred to the allegation made by former Union Home Secretary R K Singh against Sushilkumar Shinde that he was involved in transfer of SHOs in Delhi Police.
“It creates doubt that money has changed hands (for the purpose),” said Kejriwal.
He said most policemen are not corrupt and asked the honest ones to join AAP’s movement against corruption. He recalled that the Delhi Government has given Rs 1 crore compensation to the next of the kin of the policeman who was killed by liquor mafia recently. (AGENCIES)
NEW DELHI : Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his ministers were stopped today by the Delhi Police near Rail Bhawan here on their way to North Block to sit on dharna outside the Home Minister’s office demanding action against police personnel for alleged dereliction of duty.
Even as prohibitory orders under Section 144 CrPC were imposed in the New Delhi district, Kejriwal and his team decided to go ahead with the dharna seeking suspension of four Delhi police personnel.
Kejriwal has demanded action against the policemen who allegedly refused to cooperate with Law Minister Somnath Bharti in cracking down on a suspected drug and prostitution racket in south Delhi.
A large number of police personnel have been deployed in the area around Rail Bhawan and barricades have been erected to stop anyone from marching towards North Block, which houses the office of Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde.
Kejriwal and his ministerial colleagues, who reached Rail Bhawan around 11.20 AM, were not allowed to alight from their cars and proceed towards the Home Minister’s office.
“Whosoever comes to protest, if section 144 is invoked, he will be stopped. At the moment, he (Kejriwal) has been stopped,” said Deputy Commissioner of Police (New Delhi) S B S Tyagi.
Meanwhile, activists of Bhartiya Aam Aadmi Party (BAAP) party, donning saffron caps, reached the scene and started shouting slogans against Kejriwal. They were detained by the police and take away from the spot.
Kejriwal had on Friday met Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde and demanded action against the police personnel.
The AAP Government has also sought action against a policeman who had a tiff with Women and Child Development Minister Rakhi Birla in Sagarpur of West Delhi. The Chief Minister has also blamed the police over the way in which it handled the gangrape case of a Danish tourist on Tuesday.
After the meeting with the Home Minister, the AAP Government had said that the Chief Minister along with his cabinet colleagues and AAP MLAs will stage a dharna outside the Home Ministry from Monday if the SHO of Malviya Nagar and two ACPs of the area are not suspended for refusing to take action against the alleged sex and drug ring. (AGENCIES)
ISLAMABAD : At least 10 people, including five soldiers, were killed today in a Taliban suicide attack at a market close to Pakistan’s military headquarters in Rawalpindi, a day after one of the deadliest attacks on security forces killed 20 troops.
The suicide bomber, who was riding a cycle, blew himself up after he was intercepted. SSP Operations Rawalpindi Mian Maqbool confirmed the death toll and said the dead included five army personnel and five civilians.
Eighteen people were injured in the attack and have been shifted to various hospitals including the Combined Military Hospital, he said.
The blast took place in RA Baza. According to Maqbool, the suicide bomber was between 18 and 20 years of age.
The intensity of the blast shattered glass windows in the area. Security was put on high alert throughout the area after the blast.
The Pakistani Taliban claimed responsibility for the bombing.
Spokesman for the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) Shahidullah Shahid said the group had carried out the attack in Rawalpindi in response to the ongoing military operations in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) and the killing of the militant leader Waliur Rehman.
Rehman was killed in a US drone strike mid last year.
President Mamnoon Hussain strongly condemned the blast.
Today’s attack came a day after a blast in the cantonment in Bannu district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province that killed 20 soldiers and injured 30 others.
That attack was also claimed by the TTP with its spokesman saying the group’s onslaught on security forces would continue. (PTI)
SRINAGAR: An encounter broke out between militants and security forces in Anantnag district of Kashmir Valley today. “A gun fight broke out between security forces and militants in Shamspora area of Qazigund following an anti-militancy operation in the area,” a police spokesman said. He said there were no reports of any one getting injured in the operation so far. (AGENCIES)
BALASORE : India today conducted the development trial of the most advanced long range missile system ‘Agni-4′ from launch complex number four from the Wheelers’ Island of the Odisha coast.
The missile, defence sources said considered as one of its kinds of world class, proving many new technologies and giving a quantum leap in technology was test fired at 10 52 hours. This was the third test-firing of the missile, which has the second-largest striking range in country’s weapon arsenal.
The indigenous Ring Laser Gyros based high accuracy INS (RINS) and Micro Navigation System (MINGS) complementing each other in redundant mode have been successfully flown in guidance mode in this weapon system during earlier trials.
The Missile System has opened a new era in the class of Long Range Missile having capability to carry Strategic Warheads for the Forces and has provided a fantastic deterrence to the country.
The Missile is lighter in weight and has two stages of Solid Propulsion and a Payload with Re-entry heat shield.
Defence sources said the missile system is equipped with modern and compact Avionics with Redundancy to provide high level of reliability. (AGENCIES)
Country needs will not bills, commitments not committees
NEW DELHI, Jan 19: Hitting back at Congress, BJP led by Narendra Modi today taunted it for not naming Rahul Gandhi as the Prime Ministerial candidate saying Sonia Gandhi wanted to save her son from being sacrificed politically in view of “imminent” defeat in the Lok Sabha polls.
The BJP’s Prime Ministerial candidate, while attacking the UPA’s policies, unveiled his vision for the country, promising to develop 100 smart cities and set up IITs, IIMs and AIIMS in every State while projecting India as a brand worldwide.
He talked about steps like creation of a ‘Price Stabilisation Fund’ and having a system of realtime data of agricultural produce to deal with the problem of inflation and creating more job opportunities to deal reduce poverty.
At the National Council here, senior leader L K Advani cautioned the party against “over confidence” citing the example of 2004 even as he praised Modi, whose elevation as PM candidate he had been opposed initially.
The Council adopted a political resolution which attacked the Congress and its Government, saying they were responsible for slow economic growth, failure to check terrorism, vote bank politics, and decline of constitutional institutions.
It said Congress had taken the “exit” route by not naming Rahul as PM candidate as he was “no match” to Modi and was equally responsible for the “ills” and “suffering” of the country.
Taking the centre stage on the second and concluding day of the conclave, Modi questioned Congress’ contention that it was following the tradition that PM should be elected by party MPs as he cited the case of Rajiv Gandhi in 1984 and Manmohan Singh in 2004.
The BJP’s Prime Ministerial candidate also responded to the ‘chai wala’ barbs at him by Congress leaders by invoking his backward class background and saying that “those born in an aristocratic family” feel below their dignity to contest against a tea vendor because of “feudal mindset”.
During his 75-minute speech at the conclusion of the two-day meet, he took digs at Rahul while referring to his address at AICC on Friday and attacked the UPA Government over its policies, corruption and price rise.
Insisting that the upcoming Lok Sabha polls are not only for a change in Government but for meeting the hopes and aspirations of the country, Modi asked people to give “this servant” a chance to serve for 60 months when they have given chance to “rulers” for 60 years.
The Gujarat Chief Minister, who is often attacked by Congress, said “woh naamdar hain aur mai kaamdar hun (they are big names and I am a worker).”
Referring to the Congress decision of not naming Rahul as PM candidate, Modi said, “There are obviously political reasons. But I see a human angle behind this decision of Congress. When defeat is imminent, which mother will sacrifice her son politically? The heart of a mother (Sonia) decided to protect her son.”
He questioned Congress’ contention that it was following the tradition of not naming a PM candidate as the person should be elected by the MPs. In this regard, he referred to 1984, saying Rajiv Gandhi was made as the Prime Minister hours after the assassination of his mother Indira Gandhi.
“About four people took the decision and Rajiv Gandhi was sworn in as the Prime Minister,” he said.
He also mentioned 2004, when Congress MPs elected Sonia Gandhi to be the Prime Minister but she instead nominated Manmohan Singh for the top job.
Modi claimed that after Independence, “everyone” wanted Sardar Patel to be the Prime Minister but somehow Jawaharlal Nehru got the top post.
Invoking his backward class background, he said, “How can people with big names contest against a worker? They feel insulted. For those born in higher clan cannot think of being pitted against a person born in a backward caste, whose mother used to clean utensils and fill water of others…How can they contest against someone who sold tea?”
Responding to the comment by Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar that he should focus on selling tea than dreaming about becoming the Prime Minister, Modi said all the tea vendors are today feeling proud that one among them was contesting for the top post.
The BJP leader has himself been saying that he used to sell tea in trains during his inital years.
“The tradition in which they have grown up, the way they have established themselves as a senior family, when people live in this kind of life, their mindsets become conditoned in such a manner that they feel it is a matter of shame to contest a tea boy in the election,” he said.
He said that it feels humiliating for those “born with prominent sirnames” (Namdars) to constest against those who is known for his work (Kamdar).
“It feels insulting… They think there is no equality..They are ‘namdar’…I am ‘kamdar’…These big namdars feel bad to contest against a Kamdar.. They think its humiliating for them,” Modi added.
“They think that it is below their dignity to fight against a person was born in a backward class…A person whose mother used to clean dishes in the neighbourhood, a person who used to sell tea in a railway compartment, we fight such a person?,” he added.
Modi cited Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s rule and the decisions taken during that time while urging people to elect a Government based on the track record of parties and not on rheotrical claims coming out of “decrepit tape-recorders”.
He also praised the L K Advani, who had initially been opposed to his projection as the PM candidate, and promised to implement his favourite proposal of getting back blackmoney stashed abroad if he becomes the Prime Minister.
He sought to reach out to States, many of which are ruled by regional parties whose support to him could be crucial in future. He promised to change the present order in which the Centre behaves like a “big brother” and acted as if it was doing a favour to States with its help.
Attacking the UPA Government, Modi said the country has never seen such bad days as during the last decade when corruption and inflation were at peak and poverty was all over.
The BJP’s Prime Ministerial candidate said Congress had ruled the country for 60 years and it was now time for giving a chance to his party for 60 months.
“For 60 years, you have chosen rulers…I appeal to the people, you have given 60 years to rulers, now give 60 months to this ‘sevak’ (servant). It is time now for ‘sevak’,” he said while addressing the BJP gathering at Ramlila ground.
Apparently with the Aam Aadmi Party effect in mind, Modi said democracy so far has been “representative” but now it was time to make it “participatory” with greater involvement of people in governance.
Taking a dig at Rahul’s contention that Congress is a “thought” which cannot be erased, he said he did not want to delve into what kind of thought it is. “But the entire Congress party is in deep thought.”
Continuing his swipe, he said, “our thought is nationalism, their thought is dynasty.”
He also hit out at Rahul for his remark that tickets would be given to those having Congress in their hearts. “Our thinking is that tickets be given to those who have the country in their hearts.”
Rahul’s other comments like ‘India is a bee-hive’ and ‘poverty is a state of mind’ also came in for attack from Modi. “For us, India is our mother and the poor should be treated like god,” he said.
Modi cited the Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s rule and the decisions taken during that time while urging people to elect a Government based on the track record of political parties and not on rheotrical claims coming out of “decrepit tape-recorders”.
Targeting the Prime Minister, Modi said, “not a single month goes when he does not form a committee. The country is burdened with committees. Now it is time not for committees but for commitments.”
He said, “The country does not need Bills but political will… We have heard enough of Acts what we need now is action. We do not need doles, we need delivery.”
In an apparent bid to counter the charge by his rivals that his economic model is pro-rich, he said “good governance” is not for the rich who can “buy” Government but for the poor, dalits and deprived who need schools and hospitals.
Observing that India has huge potential to be among the top countries of the world, Modi unveiled his vision of giving a new direction to progress through empowerment and job opportunities to various sections, particularly the poor and skilled workers.
He talked about his plan to create 100 “smart” cities and establishing IIMs, IITs and AIIMS in every state.
“We need second generation infrastructure, inter-linking of rivers, gas grid to end fight over (LPG) cylinders, optical fibre network across the country, the BJP leader said.
He said the Vajpayee Government built golden quadrilateral of roads and it was time to build golden quadrilateral of bullet trains as country approaches “diamond jubilee” of Independence.
Wanting to build “brand India” to compete in the globalised world, he said it would focus on 5-Ts — talent, tradition, tourism, trade and technology.
To address the issue of price rise, he talked about setting up of a ‘price stabilisation fund’ and creation of an agriculture grid, which will involve keeping realtime data about production.
Wondering whether inflation could not be checked, he said there is no realtime data about sowing of seeds and production of foodgrains.
“Our first priority will be to have realtime data of foodgrains sown and produced as also the requirement. By this method, we can also decide what to export,” he said.
He also proposed to have a price stabilisation fund which could help the Government intervene in case of price rise and give immunity to the people.
Setting up of a National Agriculture Market is another proposal he has besides special courts to deal with black marketing.
“If Atalji’s Government could prevent price rise, our Govt in 2014 can also do,” he said.
Senior BJP leader L K Advani, who had initially opposed naming of Narendra Modi as PM candidate, today showered praise on him but cautioned against “over confidence” which had spoiled the party’s chance of retaining power in 2004.
“I have not seen so much enthusiasm and self confidence, I congratulate party president Rajnath Singh and other colleagues who decided that we will make Narendra Modi as the PM after we get the majority in these elections,” Advani said while addressing the party National Council here.
Applauding the election campaign which has been going on for the past five-six months led by Modi, he said he had not seen any other politician address so many “massive rallies”.
He noted that Modi has already addressed 77 rallies and 100 wll be completed soon.
At the same time, he had a word of caution.
“We lost 2004 elections because we had become over confident. This Lok Sabha elections, we have to ensure that we do not become over confident and fight the elections with only with confidence,” the former Deputy Prime Minister said.
He praised Modi for his track record in governance in Gujarat as well as the crowds his rallies attract.
“There are many achievements of Gujarat for which everybody including its Chief Minister Narendra Modi can be proud of. But the way the water of Narmada was brought to Sabarmati river, it (achievement) was given such a spectacular dimension… I want to congratulate Modi for that,” Advani said.
Advani said he had taken a ride by a water launch along with Modi when the linking (of rivers) was done and the entire experience was such as if one was taking a ride in Paris or some other European city where river flows through the middle of the city.
His praise for Modi assumes significance as he had initially strongly opposed Modi’s anointment as PM candidate.
“During the Vidhan Sabha elections, Mizoram was like a consolation prize for them (Congress). But take just Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, we secured more than 80 per cent of the seats. That is an all-time record,” Advani said.
“In all the four States combined, Congress got only 126 seats, which means what we have got in just two States, they have got less than that in all. That is why they (Congress) are demoralised,” he added.
He said that despite Congress and its allies creating doubt regarding BJP amongst the minorities, the latter had heavily supported the party in states like Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan.
“Mistrust has been built by the Congress and its allies for us (BJP) amongst Muslims; but this time, in MP and Rajasthan, Muslims have greatly supported us and not only them, but also people from the Scheduled Castes and Tribes. I want to address this mistrust as well,” he said.
He said that Muslims had seen how for many years, they have been used for vote-bank politics.
“As far as our party is concerned, we believe in integral humanism. We do not discriminate between humans on the basis of caste, creed, religion, language.
“We say that when it comes to the question of governance, development and removing poverty — majority and minority become irrelevant… Those people discriminate between majority and minority who are interested in the votes. We want everybody’s benefit,” Advani added.
Meanwhile, BJP today said that Congress shied away from naming Rahul Gandhi as its Prime Ministerial candidate as it is foreseeing defeat in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls.
It was also unsparing in its criticism of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, alleging his ministers “looted” the country while he blamed constitutional watchdogs like CWG and CVC for the slump in the economy.
Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj accused the Prime Minister of speaking “untruth”, in an apparent reference to his remarks that bureaucrats were hesitant to take decisions fearing CVC and CAG.
She mocked the claim of Congress that it was not its tradition of naming the PM candidate and said a tradition is something which party leaders and workers are aware of, not something which they are reminded of at the last moment.
“This is the same drama which we had seen during the time of ‘inner voice’,” she said in a reference to Congress President Sonia Gandhi’s decision to not become the PM after her party’s victory in 2004 polls and instead appointing Manmohan Singh for the top job.
“This is a party which hears the voice of conscience a bit too late and realises its tradition a bit too late. The truth is that Congress is scared and refused to declare its leader fearing defeat. The battle will be between our visible leader and their invisible leader,” she said in a hard-hitting speech on the last day of two-day BJP National Executive meeting.
Swaraj also praised BJP’s PM candidate Narendra Modi, saying he has shown strength of character during the last 12 years as he fought false charges, which had accused him of collusion in 2002 Gujarat riots, and came out triumphant.
Asking whether the PM did not feel a “tinge of hesitation” when he said last year on the completion of four years of UPA-II that the economy he had inherited was a glass only half-full, she said the NDA government had left behind an economy growing at a robust 8.4 per cent which slowed down to 4.5 per cent under him.
“We had given you a full glass but you have done the job of emptying it,” she said. (PTI)
