Howrah News Service - Latest news and headlines on Howrah,West Bengal and World

No gas to spare, Dhaka tells Tata

Mon, 12 May 2008 03:40:00 -0400

Dhaka, May 12 (IANS) Bangladesh has told India's Tata Group that it does not have gas to spare for the steel and fertiliser plants that form part of its $3 billion investment proposals. Instead, Tata should await the coal policy that is on the anvil.

Allen Roseling, executive director of Tata Sons, responded by saying Sunday: "If there is no gas, we cannot go ahead with our steel plant."

The situation would be the same for the fertiliser project that was to be fuelled by the gas, analysts noted, viewing the five-hour talks as a dampener on the biggest foreign investment proposals that Bangladesh has ever received.

The talks, which resumed after two years, produced "no answer", New Age newspaper said Monday.

The Indian conglomerate will review and study the resources situation in Bangladesh before making the final decision on investment, said Roseling.

The government side informed the Tata officials about the the country's depleting energy resources and said it was not possible now to supply 200 million cubic feet of gas daily as asked by the Indian conglomerate for its planned plants.

"We told them about the resource situation, gas scenario and coal policy (in the making), which would form the basis for our discussion," said Board of Investment (BOI) chief Kemal Odin Ahmed, who led the Bangladesh side at the talks.

Roseling, too, admitted that the country's gas reserve situation was not in a state that "the investor wanted it to be in", the report said.

The Tata group will now look at the planned coal policy that will determine the mining method - either underground or open-pit - and see whether enough coal would be made available for its proposed power plant.

Neither BoI chief nor the Tata executive confirmed when the next stage of negotiations would take place.

The Tata proposals worth $1.8 billion were first made in 2003 when its chief Ratan Tata visited Bangladesh.

They were hiked to $3 billion later with more projects envisaged as part of a larger effort to utilise Bangladesh's resources to speed up industrial development.

`CPI(M) goons taking away voter ID cards in Nandigram`

Sat, 10 May 2008 15:58:00 -0400

Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Priya Ranjan Dasmunshi on Saturday said it was evident that the Left Front government was losing its grip in West Bengal as CPI(M) men forcibly took away photo identity cards of voters in Nandigram ahead of the Panchayat polls.

"I received reports from the local levels of the Congress this morning that CPI(M) goons forcibly took away voter ID cards of innocent people at Nandigram. They have also been threatened with dire consequences," he said while campaigning for the May 18 Panchayat polls here.

"The incidents at Nandigram are a shame for the people of the state. Never in its history so many farmers have been beaten up or so many women raped," he said in an apparent reference to Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee`s comment yesterday that the situation in the area had radically changed and peaceful polls would be held there.

People should give a "fitting reply" to the violence at Nandigram, Dasmunshi said, adding that the state had failed to properly implement the Central projects.

The situation at the power front was particularly bad as people in many rural areas have been living without electricity for the past 30 years since the Left Front came to power, he added.

Amarnath shrine to have an artificial Shivlingam too

Sat, 10 May 2008 02:25:00 -0400

Jammu: When this year's Amarnath pilgrimage begins on June 18, the pilgrims will have to pass by an artificial Shivlingam before paying obeisance at the natural one. "The pilgrims will be allowed to spend time at the artificial Shivlingam, where they would be permitted to light incense sticks and drape it with flowers," said an official of the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board.

"This proposal has been cleared to ensure that the natural ice Shivlingam is protected from the hands of the pilgrims, who invariably seek to touch the lingam and cause it to melt at a faster pace," the official said.

Earlier attempts by the shrine board to save the Shivlingam from melting by keeping dry ice had failed to yield results. The Shivlingam had melted quite early in 2006 and 2007. Some attributed it to global warming and others to the "wrongdoing" by pilgrims who visited the shrine ahead of the schedule.

All arrangements are being put in place to make this year's pilgrimage smooth and comfortable, the official said.

Traders and hoteliers in Pahalgam have decided to offer major discounts to the pilgrims. The Himalayan cave shrine, located at nearly 4,000 metres above sea level, has been attracting 400,000 pilgrims. This year, because of the intense heat in the plains, the number of pilgrims is expected to go up. (IANS)

NHRC sends 12-point recommendation on Nandigram

Fri, 09 May 2008 15:09:00 -0400

New Delhi: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has sought the comments of West Bengal Chief Secretary on its 12 point recommendations on the violence in Nandigram. The recommendations were given by a three-member committee of the Commission, which visited Nandigram on April 3 and 4, 2008.

The NHRC Committee comprising A K Jain, Secretary General, Damodar Sarangi, Special Rapporteur and A K Garg, Registrar, was appointed on February 8, 2008 to suggest compensation regarding the damage that occurred and to ensure that the monetary relief reaches the genuine persons. The Committee was constituted after an inquiry team of the Commission submitted a report, after visiting the violence hit areas.

In its suggestions, the committee has asked the State Government to publish complete list of persons whose houses were damaged in the incidents from March 14 to November 2007, giving details like address, nature of construction, extent of damage, exgratia amount paid or proposed to be paid, etc.

"The lists may also be displayed on the notice boards in Gram Panchayat and Block offices and copies may be given to the district level representatives of all recognized political parties in the State. Copies may also be given to representatives of Bhoomi Uchhed Pratirodh Committee (BUPC)," the report stated.

In the report, the NHRC proposed a sum of Rs 20,000 and Rs 12,000 for damaged Pucca and Kutcha houses respectively, to be paid to the victims and provide compensation for damaged shops at the same rate. The NHRC said that payment must also be made to the next of kin of those who died in other incidents related to the issue and that the State Government should immediately take a decision about payment of ex-gratia amount to injured persons and inform the Commission.

It said that the Superintendent of Police, East Midnapore, shall ensure that appropriate action is taken on all the complaints received at the police stations in the District. If the allegations made in the complaint disclose cognizable offence, the provisions of Section 154 Cr. P.C. should be complied with, and, all persons who have been arrested in connection with police cases regarding incidents of clashes and riots should be provided legal aid, if required.

During the visit, the NHRC Committee held discussions with District Magistrate East Midnapore, SP East Midnapore, ADM Haldia, SDO and SDPO Haldia, BDO Nandigram I and II Blocks and other officials.

It also interacted with the victims and met Ashok Behra (CPM), Sabapati Panchayat Samiti of Nandigram block and Mohd Yasin, Chairperson, Standing Committee of Panchayat Samiti on Education. The Committee also met the Joint Secretary of the BUPC.

Ranthambore tigers may be flown to Sariska

Fri, 09 May 2008 02:20:00 -0400

New Delhi: Three tigers that are to be relocated from the Ranthambore national park to Sariska tiger reserve should be shifted in a helicopter, officials have suggested to the Rajasthan government. This will save the tedious four-hour road journey of some 240 km between the two sanctuaries and help avoid exposure to scorching heat - the air route would take just 45 minutes.

Mahendra Singh Kachawa, an advocate at the Rajasthan High Court and wildlife activist,said, "We have already informed the state forest minister and he told us that he will consider the matter," "As of now, we are positive that it will eventually be decided."

Ranthambore, which is one of India's famous national parks, is a 494 sq km reserve in Rajasthan's Sawai Madhopur district. It is home to the Royal Bengal tigers. The three tigers from Ranthambore will move to Sariska tiger reserve in the month of June as part of a plan to reintroduce the big cats there.

Rajasthan has 34 tigers, all in Ranthambore. Sariska is bereft of any. All its tigers were killed by poachers some three years ago.

Kachawa said there is a helipad just outside Ranthambore. The big cats could take the 15-minute ride up to the helipad by a truck and from there it is just about half-an-hour helicopter ride to Sariska. "The government is intending to take help from the army to move the tigers. At present, the government and the chief wildlife warden are discussing the matter," Sariska park director Somashekhar said.

Kachawa said that in the past, all injured or displaced tigers which were moved from Ranthambore and adjoining areas to Jaipur by road for treatment had died. Jaipur has the most advanced veterinary hospital, some 170 km from Ranthambore.

The deaths could be due to the strong dose of sedatives being given to the animals at the time of travel to keep them under control, he added. "We don't want to take any chance this time," he said.

In 2005, Kachawa had filed a public interest litigation (PIL) to stop the vehicular traffic passing by Sariska. Last week, the Central Empowered Committee (CEC) of the Supreme Court directed the Rajasthan government to stop the traffic on the portion of the Jaipur-Alwar highway that passes through the reserve. "The CEC has asked the government to stop the traffic on that stretch or else wrap up the Project Tiger in Sariska," Kachawa said.

The highway has been a major problem for the park managers. The passing vehicles created disturbance and threatened the animals. A number of endangered animals, including tigers, were killed in road accidents in the past. "Construction of an alternate route, some seven kilometres from the sanctuary, has already been completed last year, but it is yet to be operational as some groups with vested business interests oppose it," he said. The bypass was built at a cost of $20 million.(IANS)

US asks India to open markets ahead of talks with Kamal Nath

Thu, 08 May 2008 01:48:00 -0400

Washington: The US wants advanced developing countries like India, China and Brazil to open their markets to finish the Doha round of world trade talks before President George Bush leaves office in January,2009. "The President's commitment to the Round is unequivocal; the process in Geneva rolls on; and my schedule continues to take me wherever there are trade ministers interested in finding that elusive breakthrough," United States Trade Representative (USTR) Susan Schwab said on Wednesday.

But "the big question for the Round is whether the emerging markets like China, India and Brazil are willing to make contributions to global market opening commensurate with their growth rates and levels of development," the top US trade official said ahead of a meeting in New York today with Indian Commerce and Industry Minister Kamal Nath.

Kamal Nath arrived in New York on Wednesday to meet Schwab in another bid to achieve a breakthrough on agriculture that has been at the core of global trade talks since they began in November 2001 in the capital city of Qatar.

Reports from New Delhi indicate India, the world's 11th biggest food exporter according to WTO figures, is unlikely to soften its stance on agriculture as it prefers no deal to one that neglects the needs of poor countries.

Kamal Nath last week reportedly said that there is no scope for accepting any proposal which compromises agriculture. We have to ensure that the United States comes down very very substantially on its subsidies. "We do understand that in the United States with the election atmosphere... the space available to their negotiators may not be enough," he said adding, "India wants to be a part of the solution in closing this round but this has to be an equitable package."

Speaking on "The US Trade Agenda" at the Peterson Institute For International Economics, Schwab stressed the importance of the US commitment to free and fair trade for American workers, farmers and entrepreneurs.

"You understand the need for a level playing field for American goods and services in the international marketplace - a marketplace where 95 per cent of our potential customers lie beyond our borders, a marketplace in which we must compete to succeed," she said.

The US, Brazil, the European Union and a core group of other countries were working hard in Geneva to try to narrow the gaps in the negotiations aimed at spurring economic development through increased trade in agriculture, manufacturing and services, Schwab said in another speech at the State Department.

"The question is what is the contribution that China is going to make? What is the contribution that India is going to make?" Schwab asked at a meeting of the Council of Americas, a Western Hemisphere business group. "It is our objective to see the Doha round conclude on our watch," she said but "that can't be just any old Doha round. We're not going to sign up to a bad agreement just to get an agreement in 2008."

Suggesting a failure to reach a deal this year could delay an agreement indefinitely, Schwab said: "If you don't do it in 2008, 2009 and 2010 are not likely to help us accomplish it" because of the change in the US administration, a turnover in the leadership of the European Commission and a variety of other reasons.

For a deal to come together, rich countries such as the US and those of the European Union need to "really lean forward and make the tough decisions to make the tariff cuts and the subsidy cuts that we need to do," Schwab said.

But it also requires "this tier of advanced developing countries taking on a set of (market-opening) responsibilities that are more than other developing countries," she said.(IANS)

Nandigram tensions media creation, says Bhattacharjee

Tue, 06 May 2008 15:01:00 -0400

While confabulating with reporters at city's Writers' Buildings, Bhattacharjee said, "Some electronic and print media are exaggerating minor conflicts and incidents at Nandigram in a big way. This is misleading the people there, and being frightened about their safety, people are rioting against the government."

"Nandigram has become a victim of rumours, and being hypersensitive is quick to react," he stated. "After much trouble and efforts, we have been able to control the agitation at Nandigram. People have also started believing and supporting us. But the situation is not completely under control. At this point, a single rumour can disrupt the entire scenario," he added.

Narrating his concerns over Nandigram, Chief Minister said, "I have always stood by the people of Nandigram. Everyday I keep track of the goings on there. And hence can say that the so-called pre-poll tension is 90 percent made up story of the media. Minor conflicts occur across the state every day. There is no need to focus particularly at Nandigram. This misleads people and makes situation worse for the government."

"I have repeatedly asked all political parties to come together, discuss and sort out any problem at Nandigram as soon as they take place," said Bhattacharjee.

West Bengal Pradesh Congress Committee president and Union Minister Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi today sent written appeals to Bhattacharjee and Governor Gopal Krishna Gandhi to defer the panchayat polls in Nandigram.

"We are not against polls. But keeping in mind the increasing tension and violence in Nandigram, we have appealed to the government to defer the election date," Dasmunsi said at a press conference.

The panchayat polls at Nandigram are to be held on Sunday. There are about 1,76,000 voters at the two blocks in Nandigram. (IANS)

Militants in northeast have international links says Sarkar

Tue, 06 May 2008 02:38:00 -0400

Agartala: According to Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar, militant outfits of northeast India have links with international terrorist groups. And the intelligence wings of foreign countries are misguiding the youth of the region.

Sarkar said,“Pakistani and American intelligence wings are misguiding the youth in the northeast to join militant outfits and create trouble in the region. Common cadres of the militant groups are fed up with life in the jungles. Moreover, there is resentment because extremist leaders lead a luxurious life in Bangladesh and other foreign countries while cadres have no food, no place to stay and no shelter.” He, however, refused to identify the international terrorist groups with whom the northeast militants have links.

In the past 10 years, about 1250 militants from various outfits have surrendered in Tripura. To economically rehabilitate the surrendered extremists, the Tripura government has so far provided vocational training to 710 surrendered militants. The 18 month long vocational training program, being provided in four separate training centres across the state. The program includes car driving and maintenance, carpentry, electrical work, computer use, besides sports and education.

The chief minister has appealed the militants to come to the mainstream and help in developmental activities. “The Tripura government is providing all benefits available as per the package announced by the government of India for the surrendered militants of the northeast,” Sarkar added.

According to a police document, two banned militant outfits - the National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) and All Tripura Tiger Force (ATTF) have been fighting for an independent Tripura. The document said,“The two outfits, whose total strength is of about 1200 cadres, have close links with other northeast terrorist groups, including the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN) and United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA).” (IANS)

India sending two relief ships to cyclone-hit Myanmar

Mon, 05 May 2008 15:26:00 -0400

New Delhi: Expressing "deep distress" at the devastation caused by Cyclone Nargis in Myanmar, India is dispatching two naval ships loaded with relief supplies as aid to the cyclone-battered nation where over 350 people were killed and thousands rendered homeless.

Cyclone Nargis hit Myanmar on Friday night with winds of speed up to 190 kmph. It subsided after 10 hours on Saturday morning leaving behind large-scale devastation in several areas of Yangon and the Irrawady delta.

The military-run Myanmar government has declared a state of emergency. According to media reports from Yangon, the foreign ministry had solicited aid through its envoys.

Ministry of External Affairs in a statement said on Monday that President Pratibha Patil, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and MEA Minister Pranab Mukherjee have sent individual messages to the Myanmar government "expressing their deep distress" at the devastation caused by the natural disaster. "They have also conveyed India's readiness to provide immediate emergency relief assistance and to assist Myanmar in its rehabilitation efforts," it said.

According to the MEA press note, two naval ships were being loaded with relief supplies, mainly food items, tents, blankets, clothing, medicines and meals-ready-to-eat (MRE) for immediate assistance. They will be dispatched from Port Blair for Yangon.

India will send more relief material once a better assessment is made of the requirement by the Indian embassy in Yangon and the Myanmarese authorities.

All Indian nationals in Myanmar were reported to be safe, said an MEA official. "We had not been able to contact our embassy as all communication lines were down yesterday (Sunday). Contact was finally made today (Monday)," he said. (IANS)

I know my daughter's killer: Scarlett's mother

Mon, 05 May 2008 10:28:00 -0400

London, May 5 (IANS) The mother of British teenager Scarlett Keeling who was raped and murdered in Goa says she knows the identity of one of her daughter's killers, a newspaper reported Monday.

"I was approached by many people who told me this man's name. It is common knowledge out there it seems. He is a powerful person with money. It would explain a lot - why police have tried to cover it up," Fiona MacKeown told the Guardian newspaper after returning to Britain from India Sunday.

"People are saying that they have had enough of him and his group and they want something done about it. I don't think he will get away with it once the CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation) take over because they don't take instruction from anyone. Hopefully we will get to the truth."

When 15-year-old Scarlett Keeling's body was found on Anjuna beach in February, Goa police initially said she had died after drowning. But MacKeown pointed to bruise marks on her body and forced police to reopen the case and conduct a second autopsy, which returned a verdict of rape and murder.

Two men have been arrested in connection with Scarlett's death, but MacKeown says there is a cover-up between police, politicians and drugs barons.

A third autopsy conducted by British experts found that Indian doctors had removed Scarlett's kidneys, stomach and uterus - without seeking MacKeown's permission.

MacKeown had returned to India 10 days ago hoping to recover the organs for burial, but authorities in India said her request was "unprecedented" and could not be carried out.

MacKeown told the paper authorities had used "tactics of intimidation" against her.

"They have done everything they can to try to stop it being investigated properly," she said.

MacKeown said local people had been very supportive of her campaign to find out what happened to her daughter. "It is quite moving the amount of people that have stopped and spoken to me. A lot of them feel very responsible that this has happened to Scarlett in their country."

On reported plans by Bollywood film director Prabhakar Shukla to make a film based on the case, she said: "If it is to show the corrupt officials in Goa then I think it could be a good idea. But I hear he is going to call it 'Rave Party', which doesn't sound good."

Tribal woman becomes train driver in Ranchi

Sun, 04 May 2008 07:19:00 -0400

Ranchi, May 4 (IANS) A tribal woman, Deepali Amrit Khalko, has become a train driver in Jharkhand's Ranchi railway division.

She drives local passenger trains on the Ranchi-Lohardagga route.

"Since childhood, I wanted to do something different. Even I had not imagined that one day I would become a train driver," said Khalko, 30, a resident of Kanke area of Ranchi.

She completed diploma from a polytechnic in 1999 and took examination for train driver's post. She qualified as train driver in Allahabad railway division. "But, I wanted to join at Ranchi and I took the examination for a second time and qualified for the driver's post here," Khalko said.

After getting selected, she underwent rigorous training. "My training took place in South Eastern Railway. I have been trained to handle both diesel and electric trains," she said.

Asked how she managed to strike a balance between work and family, Khalko said: "I try my best. My husband and in-laws are very supportive."

She was born in a middle class family. Her father was a teacher. "My parents and family members always supported me. Today, I feel I am different as people watch with surprise when I sit on the driver's seat," she said.

She is married and has two children. Her husband Atit is also happy. "I feel great seeing her as a train driver. She is different from others and she proved it by joining as a train driver," he said.

Bush's remark on Indian food habits "cruel joke": Antony

Sun, 04 May 2008 07:16:00 -0400

Thiruvananthapuram: Defence Minister A K Antony today termed US President George W Bush's contention as a "cruel joke", that says that the growing demand for foodgrains in India was the reason for spiralling global food prices.

Large scale conversion of agriculture land for commercial and bio-fuel cultivation purposes have resulted in food shortage at the global level, Antony told reporters in the city.

"Policies of USA are also responsible for foodgrain shortage," the minister added. Those who criticise should not set apart agriculture land for other purposes. The countries, including America, should rectify their mistakes, he said.

However, it is true that production of rice and wheat have come down in the country resulting in shortage of these items, Antony said on the sidelines of a convention. (PTI)

US pressure robs chopper order from Hindustan Aeronautics

Sun, 04 May 2008 03:38:00 -0400

Santiago, May 4 (IANS) India's state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) has lost out on an ambitious deal to sell its Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) Dhruv to Chile due to "arm twisting" by the US, Indian officials here allege.

Chile, was keen to purchase the Dhruv, but overrode India's offer despite the best price offered and finalised the deal with Bell, a US-Canada joint venture, said the officials. The Chilean government was apparently under severe pressure from the US to go for Bell, diplomatic sources said.

"It was a political decision. The Chilean authorities admitted it was the result of arm twisting by the US," said a diplomatic official who did not want to be named.

According to several sources, HAL had offered six indigenously developed Dhruv helicopters with spares at $46 million.

"Eurocopter, Russian and Polish companies were also there for the bid. But we were leading with the best pricing," the sources told IANS on condition of anonymity.

The Chilean government finally settled for four heavier class Bell-412 Helicopters for $100 million instead of the Dhruvs, said one source.

"The explanation - which was given at our pursuance - was that they wanted to standardise the fleet of helicopters and other aircraft as they were all from Bell," the official added.

The Chilean Air Force had made a request for proposal for the 5.5 tonne, twin engine new generation helicopter in May last year.

HAL was also negotiating with Bolivia and Peru for ALHs. HAL had for some years now been demonstrating ALH in the terrains of Chile which were similar to India's.

The state-run company, which doubled its turnover in three years to $2 billion in 2007-08, has a secure order to supply 159 Dhruvs to the Indian military and the home ministry.

This apart, the multi-role helicopter has also been exported to Nepal and Israel and a civilian version is also available. The specialised military variant has the capability of anti-submarine warfare.

The production of this multi-role, multi-mission helicopter in the 5.5-tonne class was started in 2000-01 and is designed to meet the requirements of both military and civil operators.

With both utility and attack roles, its twin-engine configuration also allows a continued flight through a mission.

The Sarang aerobatic team of the Indian Air Force, which uses Dhruv, is said to be one of the world's three such aerobatic teams in the copter segment. The team is named after India's national bird peacock and has been a regular showpiece at air shows in India and overseas.

Pakistan erects mobile towers near LoC, worries India

Sun, 04 May 2008 01:43:00 -0400

New Delhi, May 4 (IANS) In what Indian security officials find alarming, Pakistani mobile phone service providers are believed to have erected nine mobile towers in their territory along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir.

In February this year, the Vigilance and Telecom Monitoring Cell of the Department of Telecommunications conducted a survey at 44 locations on the Indian side of the LoC - the de facto borderline that divides Kashmir between India and Pakistan. It found that at 39 locations, Pakistani mobile signals reached Indian territory.

"Pakistan has erected nine mobile towers in its territory along the LoC with its signal reaching our side of the land," a top security official told IANS on condition of anonymity.

"The move has caused serious security-related implications. The issue is presently under consideration at the ministry of home affairs. But we have already begun adopting a series of corrective measures," the official added.

Another senior official who deals with insurgents and anti-nationals said: "The situation is alarming. Terrorists hiding in border areas are already taking advantage of the Pakistani mobile phone network to communicate with their chiefs in the neighbouring country."

Until recently, militants have largely relied on wireless phones and satellite phones, which cost millions of rupees, as they are considered a safe mode of communication.

The availability of satellite phones has always been inadequate, due to their high cost, forcing anti-nationals to work in large groups and making them depend on each other for every bit of information and directions from their leaders.

But now officials fret that militants may change their modus operandi and divide themselves into smaller groups with each man carrying his own set of communication.

Mobile phones may supplement satellite phones, as it is difficult to put both on surveillance.

"Keeping a technical check on the movement and activities of militants has become more intricate and difficult. Earlier we used to copy their message and carry out our operations accordingly," the official said.

"As we can't ask Pakistani mobile service providers for phone tapping and call records, it will seriously hamper anti-terrorism operations in a significant way. The lapse may result in lethal attacks."

A senior official of a paramilitary force said the Indian government has begun taking security measures.

"The security forces and the Intelligence Bureau have been equipped with GSM interceptors in some select areas in Jammu and Kashmir and the central government is mulling erecting some of its own towers to overcome the new challenge more effectively," the official said.

"But the officials have to take permission from either the state home secretary or the union home secretary, explaining the reason for someone's phone being put on surveillance," the official added.

Fire destroys Asia's biggest chilli market in Guntur

Sat, 03 May 2008 11:45:00 -0400

Hyderabad: A major fire swept through Asia's largest red chilli market in Guntur town of Andhra Pradesh today, destroying hundreds of shops and thousands of bags of chilli, police said. The fire, which broke out in one of the shops, engulfed the entire market yard, destroying 450 shops of commission agents and over 3,00,000 chilli bags, according to traders. No loss of life was reported.

With strong wind blowing, the flames spread fast over the 56 acre market yard, causing panic in nearby residential areas. Guntur is located about 300 kilometres from Hyderabad. Fire engines in the town proved insufficient. The authorities called more fire tenders from neighbouring Vijayawada and Prakasam districts.

Guntur District Superintendent of Police Mahesh Chandra Laddha said that efforts were on to press a helicopter in service to drop water over the flames. A police official quoted a witnesses as saying that smoking led to the disaster.

Market Yard officials estimated the loss at Rs 1-2 billion. One of them told a television channel that the fire engines did not reach in time, causing the flames to spread.

Chilli farmers from different parts of the state and even neighbouring states bring their produce to Guntur Mirchi Yard, which also serves as an export hub. (IANS)

Sarabjit's execution stayed indefinitely: Pakistani laywer

Fri, 02 May 2008 18:32:00 -0400

New Delhi, May 3 (IANS) Islamabad has stayed indefinitely the execution of Sarabjit Singh, an Indian prisoner on death row in Pakistan, his lawyer told an Indian news channel Friday.

"The death sentence has been postponed till further orders," Sarabjit's lawyer in Pakistan, Rana Abdul Hamid, told private television channel CNN-IBN.

He added that the instructions were issued by the Pakistani interior ministry.

Answering a question on whether his client's sentence may be commuted, Hamid added, "We may think on this line. We may presume that it will be converted into life sentence".

The Pakistani lawyer also reported that Sarabjit's clemency petition was currently with Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf.

Minister of State for External Affairs Anand Sharma told NDTV that India was "awaiting confirmation" on the news. "We cannot comment with finality on these reports. We will be much relieved if that is the decision. India has been urging the government of Pakistan to take a humanitarian view and asked for clemency for Sarabjit Singh."

The news comes three weeks before External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukhejee visits Pakistan on May 21.

The Indian government had previously asked for clemency on humanitarian grounds, following which the hanging had been postponed by a month to May 1. Then, by another order on April 28, the execution had been stayed for upto three weeks.

Earlier Thursday morning, the Pakistani information and broadcasting minister Sherry Rehman who led a three-member delegation to the funeral of veteran Gandhian and Rajya Sabha member Nirmala Deshpande, had said that Sarabjit's case was under review.

"As far as Sarabjit's status, we told didi (Nirmala Deshpande) that we will do our best and it is under review," Rehman said, adding that Deshpande had previously raised Sarabjit's issue with Pervez Musharraf.

Sarabjit's elder sister Dalbir Kaur, his wife Sukhpreet Kaur, daughters Swapandeep and Poonam and brother-in-law Baldevy Singh, returned to India Tuesday after meeting him after 18 years in Lahore's Kot Lakhpat Jail.

Sarabjit, known as Manjit Singh in Pakistan, has been sentenced to death for two blasts in Lahore and Multan in 1990 which left 14 Pakistanis killed. Incidentally, during his family's visit, there were some demonstrations by the kin of the victims killed in the bomb blasts pleading against any mercy being shown to Sarabjit.

His family claims that he inadvertently crossed into Pakistan on August 1990 in an inebriated state from the border near his home town Bhikhiwind.

He was later caught in Pakistan and blamed for the two blasts. He was sentenced to death by a lower court there and the sentence was upheld by the Pakistan Supreme Court last year.

Musharraf had rejected a mercy plea from Sarabjit in March.

Human rights activist and former Pakistan minister Ansar Burney has submitted a fresh plea to the Pakistan government to free Sarabjit saying there was no concrete evidence against him in the blasts case and that he had strayed into Pakistan by mistake.

Vellore jail official denies Priyanka-Nalini meeting

Fri, 02 May 2008 15:39:00 -0400

Chennai, May 2 (IANS) The Vellore prison superintendent has kicked off a controversy by denying that a secret meeting took place March 19 between Rajiv Gandhi's assassin Nalini Murugan and his daughter, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra.

K. Raja Saundari made the disclosure in a written communication.

According to sources, senior lawyer S. Doraiswamy, who argued for Nalini's premature release in the Madras High Court Wednesday, is in possession of Saundari's statement through his colleague Raj Kumar, wherein she has said, "Nobody had visited the prisoner under contention between March 14 and March 19."

Government Chief Secretary L.K. Tripathy told IANS Friday: "Though there is nothing earthshaking about a prisoner meeting a private citizen on mutual agreement, under normal circumstances records of such meetings exist in all prisons. However, as we are officially unaware of the matter, it can only be said that the government will follow rules if such a thing has come to pass. We will cross the bridge when we come to it."

Neither Home Secretary, S. Malathi, who has to take a decision on the ticklish issue, nor S. Doraiswamy, who represents Nalini in court, were available for comment.

A retired Additional Superintendent of Police, currently practising as a lawyer, said: "It is also highly unlikely that someone politically savvy as S. Doraiswamy would press the matter of the prison superintendent Saundari lying vide the Right to Information Act, which is the only way the counsel could have accessed the document. However, if the matter comes out, it will be an embarrassment for the state and central governments which knew such a meeting took place before Priyanka admitted to the meeting."

Priyanka had on April 15 stated: "I met Nalini on March 19. It was purely a personal visit on my own initiative which must be respected. I do not believe in anger or violence and I refuse to let it overpower me. Meeting Nalini was my way of coming to terms with my father's death."

The Supreme Court confirmed the death sentences of Nalini, her husband Murugan alias Sriharan and Perarivalan in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case on May 11 1998.

Nalini was found guilty of being part of the conspiracy to kill Rajiv Gandhi on May 21, 1991, at an election rally near Chennai.

The LTTE denied any role in the killing.

Nalini was granted clemency following the intervention of the state and central governments in April 2000.

This was facilitated by the recommendation of Sonia Gandhi to commute her death sentence into life imprisonment on compassionate grounds. Nalini has a daughter, who is studying abroad.

Other co-conspirators in the assassination include Murugan and Perarivalan, who are serving death sentence at the Vellore prison since 1998.

Gorkha body promises tourist safety in Darjeeling

Fri, 02 May 2008 14:28:00 -0400

After West Bengal Municipal Affairs Minister Ashok Bhattacharya asked tourists not to visit Darjeeling this summer, Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM) leaders on Friday assured that tourists would be 'completely safe' in the hill station.

The GJM general secretary Roshan Giri said all tourists visiting Darjeeling this summer would be completely safe and would not be affected by the ongoing agitation being held by their party in the hills.

'It is an irresponsible comment of a minister who also hails from the hills. We have never harassed any tourist in Darjeeling. They don't get affected by any political activities of GJM,' Giri said from Darjeeling.

He said Bhattacharya had no right to ask people not to visit Darjeeling and tourists were always welcome to the queen of hills.

Giri said, 'The whole economy of Darjeeling, Kurseong and Kalimpong - three sub-divisions of the district - are dependent on tourism. How could he make such an irresponsible statement being a member of the state cabinet? He should be immediately sacked.'

Bhattacharya Wednesday said it is possible that the communication between the hills and the plains in Darjeeling district would suffer as the GJM supporters have decided to stop paying all taxes, electricity and telephone bills.

The minister advised tourists against visiting the hill station as they would face problems like scarcity of drinking water, frequent power cuts and traffic bottlenecks due to road blockades by the GJM supporters.

'The situation is absolutely normal here as far as the tourism is concerned,' retorted Giri.

The fast unto death programme of the morcha supporters entered the second day Friday. It was started May 1 to protest the state government's decision to disallow GJM from holding any political programme in Siliguri.

The GJM, led by its party president Bimal Gurung, had been spearheading the movement in the hills in demand of a separate state. It is opposed to sixth schedule status for Darjeeling.

The central government in 2005 announced sixth schedule status to the Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF)-led Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council (DGHC) that ensures greater autonomy to the governing body.

BJP wants subsidy on food items to combat inflation

Fri, 02 May 2008 13:34:00 -0400

New Delhi: On a day when inflation touched a new peak, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has put a new demand to the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government "in order to give relief to the common man in view of rising prices". The saffron party has asked the government to give subsidy on five essential food items- rice, wheat, pulses, sugar and edible oils to ward off the distorting impact of high inflation rate.

Talking to media persons, party spokesperson, Prakash Javadekar said, "In the view of very high prices of all commodities, the government should give heavy subsidy on rice, wheat, pulses, sugar and edible oils through public distribution shops if the government is serious in giving any respite the aam aadmi, the common man."
Javadekar also shot down the measures taken by the government and the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) by calling these measures would only push the inflation rate further up. He also alleged that the UPA government was not taking adequate steps to check black-marketing of LPG cylinders and profiteering in steel and cement by the traders. The BJP also asked the UPA as to "why it is not implementing the policy of revenue neutralisation in petrol and diesel."

BJP National Executive Meet on May 31
In order to extract maximum benefit from the current price rise situation, the BJP would be holding its national executive meet on May 31, June1 and 2. The 3-day meet would deliberate upon the price situation, apart from finalising the poll strategy for the Assembly elections later this year.

However, the BJP officials refused to divulge the agenda of the meet saying, "it has not been decided yet, but it will focus on exposing the UPA".

Govt approves setting up of National Police University

Fri, 02 May 2008 02:39:00 -0400

New Delhi: Union Cabinet in a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Thursday gave its approval to establish a National Police University to provide quality education, research and other related academic activities in police related subjects.

Briefing reporters after the meeting, Finance Minister P Chidambaram said that the University would also deal with subjects including competence in the areas of physical and social sciences.

Home Ministry sources said that land has been allocated in the national capital for the university which would be set up on the lines of the prestigious National Defence Academy.

They said the idea was to fine tune policing with the changing times in view of worsening internal security situation, lack of serious research and development and dip in the morale of security men.

The university is likely to offer graduates, post graduates and PhD courses to civilians and serving police officers in a range of subjects including biological warfare, criminal psychology, public relations, human rights, insurgency and communal tensions. (PTI)

'No panic over inflation; Growth to hold over politics'

Thu, 01 May 2008 06:47:00 -0400

New Delhi: Terming Inflation as a key challenge, the Confederation of Indian Industry today said the government is worried, but not panicked, that rising prices may go to levels where controlling it could become difficult K V Kamath, the new CII President said,"The government is not in a state of panic, but worried that inflation could get to a level where controlling becomes difficult." He, however, sought to underplay the political controversy over the inflation saying that "growth momentum is too strong for political vicissitude to hold sway."

Kamath, who also heads the country's biggest private sector lender ICICI Bank, noted that the current "inflationary momentum has caught us bit by surprise. Initially we thought it was only external factors and food driven but suddenly it has gathered momentum in the last 3-6 months." When asked whether he would have liked some inflation- controlling steps to be taken earlier, Kamath said, "very little" at this point of time, because a large part of the inflation is imported, and could not be helped.

He, however, exuded confidence that political will of the nation would help to overcome the crisis saying, "it is very difficult challenge that they have taken -- control inflation and grow. And the great thing I have seen is alignment of interest, not only in parliament but also across political parties." "Growth rhetoric is too strong for political vicissitudes to hold sway," he said adding that industry was willing to contribute its part in meeting the challenge.(PTI)

Speedy trial is an accused's fundamental right

Thu, 01 May 2008 03:23:00 -0400

New Delhi: The Supreme Court has today ruled that speedy trial is a fundamental right of an accused who cannot be subjected to hardships by delay in proceedings.

"The conduct of the complainant for the said purpose is of immense significance. He cannot allow a case to remain pending for an indefinite period," a bench of Justices S B Sinha and L S Panta observed, while allowing the appeal of an accused in a cheque bounce case.

The appellant accused S Ramakrishna had challenged a decision of the Andhra Pradesh High Court which had quashed the acquittal order passed by the Additional Judicial First Class Magistrate in favour of him.

Complainant S Rami Reddy had filed a private complaint against Ramakrishna on June 6, 2001 for issuing him cheques to the tune of Rs 5 lakh which had bounced at the bank. During the pendency of the case, Rami Reddy died on October 10, 2003 and his legal heir substituted for him in the proceedings.

But between April 18, 2005 and January 21, 2006 when the case came up for hearing on 14 occasions, none from the complainant's side appeared in the court. Exercising his powers under Section 256 Criminal Procedure Code, the magistrate acquitted Ramakrishna of the charge, following which the complainants filed an appeal in the High Court challenging the acquittal.

The High Court in its January 23, 2006 order, quashed the acquittal order on the ground that the magistrate shall decide the case on the merits and should not have acquitted the accused on technicalities. Ramakrishna, then challenged the High Court's order in the apex court. (PTI)

Anti-inflation steps will stifle growth rate: CPI(M)

Wed, 30 Apr 2008 15:02:00 -0400

New Delhi: The CPI(M) today charged the UPA Government with making a 'wrong diagnosis' of the causes behind price rise and said the steps announced to control inflation would in fact stifle the high growth rate.

CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury participating in the CII's annual session said,"The diagnosis is wrong. Inflation has not occurred because people are demanding more food. Speculation trade is the cause of the increase in the rate of food articles."

Yechury speaking at a session on 'Inclusive and Sustainable Growth and Coalition Politics', said the Government, instead of protecting the country from speculation, was reducing interest rates and reducing money supply, which he claimed would not help. He said,"You (UPA government) already have a dip in manufacturing, you already have a decline in the sale of consumer durables. You are in fact setting in motion a process of a slowdown of the Indian industry by this wrong diagnosis." He further said the "wrong diagnosis" could actually stifle the high trajectory growth rate that the country has had in the last five years .

Yechury said on one hand there is a 'shining India' which is growing at a rate not seen in decades, and on the other hand a 'suffering India.'He said inclusive growth required state intervention in terms of public investment. "Unfortunately, we missed the bus in the last three to four years, which is manifesting in the present inflationary crisis," he added. (PTI)

Deora to make statement in Parl on Baalu issue today

Wed, 30 Apr 2008 05:14:00 -0400

New Delhi: Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas Murli Deora will make a statement in the Rajya Sabha today regarding Minister of Shipping, Road Transport and Highways T R Baalu misusing his official position by seeking favour for his family-owned private firm.

Following the opposition's demand that a clarification from the Prime Minister on the reported recommendation by the PMO to issue supply of gas to firms owned by the Union Minister's family.

The issue was raised by BJP and AIADMK in the House demanding a categorical assurance from the Government when it would respond. While addressing the BJP's parliamentary party meeting, Leader of Opposition L K Advani said the Prime Minister was duty-bound to make a statement on the subject. The BJP has alleged that the PMO sent eight reminders to the Petroleum Ministry asking it to hasten the case.

On Monday, Congress spokesman Abhishek Manu Singhvi said: "The PMO had only forwarded the requests to the Ministry. There is no question of endorsing or agreeing with the contents."

Ever since Baalu had admitted to asking favours for a family-owned firm and told the Rajya Sabha, that there was nothing wrong in requesting the Petroleum Minister to provide gas to the company, in which he had held the post of Managing Director and now his sons and their wives are associated with the firm, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) members have been disrupting proceedings in the Parliament for the past few days on the issue.

Cyclone Nargis may hit Bangladesh coast

Wed, 30 Apr 2008 03:06:00 -0400

Dhaka, April 30 (IANS) Moving slowly across the Bay of Bengal, cyclone Nargis has gathered strength, intensifying into a "severe cyclonic storm" that may hit the Bangladesh-Myanmar coast, media reports said Wednesday.

A meteorological officer special bulletin issued here Tuesday said Nargis was lying over west central Bay and adjoining southwest Bay, 1,155 km from Chittagong coast, 1,090 km from Cox's Bazar and 1,030 km from Mongla coast. It had a minimum sustained wind speed of between 90 kmph and 120 kmph within the 54 km radius of its centre.

The first cyclonic storm since the deadly Sidr hit Bangladesh last November, Nargis is likely to intensify further.

"It is too early to comment about when and where the storm will hit. At this stage, a cyclonic storm frequently changes its course. But probably it is going to hit the Bangladesh-Myanmar coast," Arzumand Habib, director of the Dhaka Meteorological Office, was quoted as saying by the New Age newspaper.

The weather office warned that the sea will be rough over the north Bay and advised all fishing boats and trawlers to stay close to the coast.

Super-cyclone Sidr hit Bangladesh coast Nov 15, 2007, killing over 3,000 people and destroying about a million hectares of cultivable land.

Despite international help and import of 500,000 tonnes of rice from India, Bangladesh is still battling food shortage caused by Sidr.

Chidambaram assures to control inflation

Tue, 29 Apr 2008 11:26:00 -0400

New Delhi: Finance Minister P Chidambaram today gave assurances that the Reserve Bank of India?s monetary policy and fiscal measures would help to control inflation.

“The 25 basis points hike in the Cash Reserve Ratio by the RBI, the steps taken in the last three weeks on the food front and the measures announced today together would have an impact on the price situation,” Chidambaram told members of the Lok Sabha after the passage of the Finance Bill.

“Changes in duty charges that was announced today, would have a revenue implication of Rs 1,500 crore, while those announced between the budget and now would have an impact of Rs 4,840 crore,” he added.

“The food situation has improved in the last two-three weeks. Let us see how these measures come together and impact inflation. We are ready with a set of administrative measures. We will discuss these measures in the next few days," he said. Chidambaram also said that the improvement in tax-Gross Domestic Product ratio has given enough money to the Central Government to vastly increase outlays.

The UPA Government had inherited a tax-to-GDP ratio of 9.2 percent that has risen to 12.5 percent in 2007-08. The ratio will be 13 percent in 2008-09, he said while replying during a debate on the Finance Bill. The improvement in tax-GDP ratio could be seen despite a cut in customs, excise, current budget and personal tax rates, he said.

HC grants bail to arms dealer Suresh Nanda, son

Tue, 29 Apr 2008 09:16:00 -0400

New Delhi: The Delhi High Court today granted bail to arms dealer Suresh Nanda, his son Sanjeev and two others who allegedly manipulated evidence in a case of alleged kickbacks in the Barak missile deal. The Nandas, their chartered accountant Bipin Shah and IRS officer Ashutosh Verma had been in custody for the last 53 days.

"Each of the petitioners shall be released forthwith," Justice S N Muralidhar said while pronouncing the order.

The court said that all the four would have to furnish a personal bond of Rs one lakh and two sureties of like amounts.

The Bench also directed them not to leave the country without the court's permission.

Suresh Nanda and Sanjeev (who is also an accused in the BMW hit-and-run case), Shah and Verma, Deputy Director (Investigation) in the IT department, were arrested by the CBI on March eight from a Mumbai hotel.

The CBI has alleged that the Nandas bribed public servants to manipulate income tax records. (PT

Iranian President Ahmadinejad arrives in Delhi today

Tue, 29 Apr 2008 03:47:00 -0400

New Delhi: En-route to Srilanka, President of Iran Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is scheduled to have a brief stay in the Capital today during which India and Iran are tipped to hold highest-level discussions, for the first time, on issues surrounding Iran's controversial nuclear programme. Ahmadinejad will also call on President Pratibha Patil.

Besides, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his Iranian counterpart will have discussions on a wide range of issues. During their meeting, the two leaders are expected to review bilateral ties, including the ambitious Iran-Pakistan-India (IPI) gas pipeline, which has failed to take-off because of differences over cost factors.

They will also discuss the latest situation with regard to the stand-off between Iran and the West over Tehran's controversial nuclear programme. New Delhi has maintained that Tehran's nuclear issue cannot be resolved through force, but through dialogue. New Delhi has also said that any wrong done to Iran would have direct bearing on India.

Indian student taxi driver stabbed in Melbourne

Tue, 29 Apr 2008 03:32:00 -0400

Sydney, April 29 (IANS) A 23-year-old Indian student, who was also working as a taxi driver, was found Tuesday stabbed outside a hotel in the Clifton Hill suburb of Melbourne, the police said.

"He is an Indian student but we won't be releasing his name because none of his family is in Australia. He is now in a stable condition at the Royal Melbourne Hospital," a Victoria Police spokesperson told IANS.

The Indian student driver was found in a critical condition just before 6 a.m. Tuesday, covered in blood with multiple stab wounds to the upper body. He was lying out in the freezing cold, about 500 metres from the taxi which had been smashed into a power pole.

Detective Senior Constable Brendan Smith told reporters that the police had found the abandoned crashed taxi at about 3 a.m. but could not immediately find the driver.

"We'd say that he's received stab wounds... and we're receiving regular updates from the hospital as to his condition. We're still unclear as to what's happened in the taxi, but for a man to receive stab wounds and end up in a critical condition in hospital is obviously a very vicious attack and if completely unprovoked is very, very concerning," Smith said.

The police believe he may have been attacked by a passenger. They are appealing for witnesses to come forward with any information and are examining the CCTV cameras in the area for clues to the attack. A backpack was found on the footpath nearby.

US not ready to call 'critically important' n-deal dead

Tue, 29 Apr 2008 03:01:00 -0400

Washington, April 29 (IANS) The United States considers its civil nuclear deal with India "critically important" and is never going to pronounce it "dead" even as it remains stalled due to opposition from the Indian coalition government's leftist supporters.

"Well, I just want to remind - you often want me to say whether or not we think that this deal is dead," White House press secretary Dana Perino Monday told a reporter who suggested that the deal may be dead now with time running out for its ratification by the US Congress.

"We are never going to declare it dead because we think it's critically important," she said, reflecting the keenness of President George W. Bush to see the deal implemented before he leaves the White House in January. Bush looks at the deal as a major achievement of his administration,

"We are appreciative that the Indians are reconsidering their position, that they continue to have dialogue about it," Perino said. "And the fact that they are here in Washington talking about it is a good sign."

She was referring to a recent visit of Abhishek Singhvi, spokesman of Congress party which leads the Indian ruling coalition. He briefed officials and US lawmakers about New Delhi's political compulsions that had put the deal on the backburner.

Perino's remarks followed comments from another senior official that it was "definitely feasible" to get the remaining steps on the nuclear deal with India completed if New Delhi approves the implementing 123 agreement that was finalised by the two sides last July.

"I think, if the Indian government approves it, I do think that then what remains is to get an agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and with the Nuclear Suppliers' Group (NSG)," Deputy Secretary of State John D. Negroponte told a TV show last Friday.

"But I think those things are definitely feasible," he said in an interview with Charlie Rose. "But right now the main stumbling block is the internal Indian political process."

"And they're going to have to work that out," the second ranking State Department official said discounting suggestions that the agreement was in trouble because statements by US lawmakers about deadlines imposed by the US election calendar were putting pressure on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

The nuclear deal can be implemented only after final approval from US Congress after New Delhi reaches an agreement on India specific safeguards with IAEA and the NSG changes in its rules to let India resume nuclear commerce suspended since its first nuclear test in 1974.

"...the nuclear agreement, at the moment, it's held up in the Indian political process," Negroponte said, acknowledging: "The (Indian) government is committed to it".

"But they've got their own coalition politics and political considerations to take into account," he said, noting: "It's a democratic country".

Negroponte, who was the first US Director of National Intelligence, said: "India is an area where we really have had a significant improvement in the relationship with that country. And I think we look at India much more strategically than we used to."

He listed "reaching out to the Indian subcontinent" and "developing a strategic relationship with India" among "a whole variety of reasons" that made him see the world "quite hopefully and quite optimistically".

Other officials too have made similar comments reflecting the US viewpoint looking at the nuclear deal as a symbolic centrepiece of the new strategic relationship with India.

But of late with doubts arising about the deal being completed before Bush leaves office, they have also stressed the wide-ranging relationship with India in defence and other fields.

Govt may soon announce relief for Bundelkhand farmers

Mon, 28 Apr 2008 08:31:00 -0400

New Delhi Expressing concern over the condition of farmers due to severe drought in the region of Bundelkhand, Government today informed the Lok Sabha that a special programme for the region would be announced soon.

"Although we have not received any special proposal for the Bundelkhand region, but it requires a separate programme and a long-term solution has to be found for the region. We are going in this direction only," said Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar.

With regard to Madhya Pradesh's demand for over Rs 1,883 crore from the National Calamity Contingency Fund, the Minister said "A high-level committee will meet tomorrow to discuss the report from the state." A final decision will be taken on May 8 or 9, Pawar said.

Pawar said that the governments of Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh declared drought in parts of the states mainly due to deficient rainfall but no memorandum for drought relief assistance from the NCCF has so far been received from Rajasthan or Uttar Pradesh. (PTI)

US says n-deal 'definitely feasible' if India crosses own hurdle

Mon, 28 Apr 2008 01:57:00 -0400

"I think, if the Indian government approves it, I do think that then what remains is to get an agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and with the Nuclear Suppliers' Group (NSG)," a senior official told a television channel.

"But I think those things are definitely feasible," Deputy Secretary of State John D Negroponte said in an interview. "But right now the main stumbling block is the internal Indian political process. "And they're going to have to work that out," the second ranking State Department official said discounting suggestions that the agreement was in trouble because of statements by US lawmakers about deadlines imposed by the US election calendar were putting pressure on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

"The nuclear agreement, at the moment, it's held up in the Indian political process," Negroponte said acknowledging: "The (Indian) government is committed to it. "But they've got their own coalition politics and political considerations to take into account," he said noting that 'it's a democratic country.'

The nuclear deal can be implemented only after final approval from the US Congress after India reaches an agreement on India-specific safeguards with IAEA and the NSG changes its rules for India to let it resume nuclear commerce suspended since its first nuclear test in 1974.

Negroponte, who was the first US director of National Intelligence, said: "India is an area where we really have had a significant improvement in the relationship with that country. And I think we look at India much more strategically than we used to."

Asked how he saw the world, he said he saw "it quite hopefully and quite optimistically for a whole variety of reasons". "I think world economies are doing better. The lives of people are generally around the world are improving. I think if you look at the five continents, our position, our standing, our relationships have by and large improved in recent years, certainly reaching out to Asia, good relationship with the People's Republic of China, our relations with Japan and the Southeast Asian countries are on a strong footing, reaching out to the Indian subcontinent, developing a strategic relationship with India."

Asked if he saw India as a wedge against China, Negroponte said: "I think, I see India as a large country, more than one billion people, which is democratic, and which the United States cannot afford to ignore. "I see it growing, interactions between our two countries including a burgeoning Indian-American population here in the United States. So just like China, I see... a huge, growing middle class in that country, a very strong science and technology base." (IANS)

India condemns assassination bid on Karzai

Sun, 27 Apr 2008 12:04:00 -0400

New Delhi: India today condemned the assassination attempt on Afghan president Hamid Karzai in Kabul, describing it as an "dastardly" act and asked the international community to show zero tolerance for terrorism.

External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee expressed relief that Karzai was unhurt. He stated, "India condemns the dastardly attack in Kabul." He also underscored the need for the international community to show zero tolerance for terrorism.

Karzai escaped unharmed after militants attacked a high-profile military parade in Kabul with explosions and gunfire, killing at least one and wounding 11 including legislators. (PTI)

Clashes in Seoul during Olympic torch relay

Sun, 27 Apr 2008 11:53:00 -0400

Seoul, April 27 (DPA) The Olympic torch relay concluded in the South Korean capital Sunday marked by sporadic clashes between pro- and anti-China demonstrators and a self-immolation attempt.

The 17th stage of the torch's journey around the world took place under heavy security with the torch arriving at the centre of the 1988 Olympic Village Sunday evening after a 24-km relay through the city.

Thousands of Chinese filled Seoul's streets with red flags to show their support for this summer's Olympic Games in Beijing, while in the Olympic Village, members of refugee and human rights groups protested China's treatment of North Korean refugees and its policies on Tibet.

Shortly after the torch set off from the Olympic Park in the south of the city Sunday afternoon, witnesses reported clashes between Chinese and some 50 people taking part in a protest against the deportation of North Korean refugees from China.

Witnesses said stones and other objects were thrown. The clashes were broken up by police. Television pictures showed further wrangles between the groups as the torch proceeded through the city.

Despite the incidents the torch relay was not interrupted during the five-hour run. The 69 torch bearers were surrounded by dozens of police in buses and on motorbikes and an attempt by a protestor to grab the torch was quickly foiled. Around 8,000 police were deployed.

In other developments a man attempted to set himself on fire on the fringes of the torch relay to protest against the deportations of North Korean refugees from China, the Yonhap news agency reported Sunday.

The middle-aged man covered himself with a flammable liquid in the capital Seoul, witnesses said. Before he could set himself on fire he was taken away by police. The man claimed to have fled North Korea several years ago.

Estimates place the number of North Korean refugees in China at 300,000. Large numbers of people flee communist North Korea every year to escape hunger and persecution. Xinhua reported: An official with the Mt Everest Olympic torch relay said Sunday in Tingri county of Tibet's Xigaze that the Beijing Olympic flame has reached the base camp of M Everest for a relay to the world's highest peak.

Baalu, inflation to keep mercury level high in Parliament

Sun, 27 Apr 2008 11:48:00 -0400

The opposition parties and the Left Front have got another hot issue, besides inflation to corner the Congress-led UPA government in the Parliament. The rise in inflation after a minor dip for the week ending on April 12 is, however, supposed to remain the top issue throughout the session, despite the "new issue" of the Union Minister seeking favour for his sons' companies.

Though, the NDA leaders have not yet finalised the strategy to be adopted on the floor of the Houses, but the issues to corner the government are fixed. Deputy Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Vijay Kumar Malhotra hinted that the decision on whether the NDA would bring a motion against the Minister would be taken up during the meeting scheduled for Monday morning.

The Shipping Minister's issue has already disrupted the proceedings in Upper House on Thursday and Friday. The BJP has sought an explanation from Prime Minister Manmohan Singh as to why the PMO wrote letters asking for early supply of gas to the companies owned by Baalu's son.

The disruption by the opposition, particularly by the BJP, the Samajwadi Party and the AIADMK saw some very tense scene in the Rajya Sabha. It also led to removal of an AIADMK MP under Rule 255, which was invoked for the second time only in the history of Parliamentary democracy in India. The parties also demanded resignation of T R Baalu, who, however, has refused to resign saying, "There was nothing wrong in it."

'No country can give in writing not to undertake N-tests'

Sun, 27 Apr 2008 11:45:00 -0400

New Delhi: Opposing the Indo-US nuclear deal, the Bharatiya Janata Party today said that no country can give in writing that it will not undertake nuclear tests in future.

While speaking in an interview to a news channel, the Leader of Opposition L K Advani said, “Has any other country said that hereafter we will have no further tests. Has US given any such undertaking, has any other country which has so much nuclear weaponry said it in writing.” “It is one thing to voluntarily give it up but to say it in writing as part of a treaty is another," he added.

Asked about the Congressmen projecting Rahul Gandhi as the next Prime Minister, he said that he would not like to comment on it. When asked about dynastic politics, he said that he found such a trend in most parties but in BJP it was not the case.

Advani, also BJP's prime ministerial candidate for 2009 Lok Sabha elections, cited the example of Atal Bihari Vajpayee who had humble beginnings as the son of a school teacher and reached the top and same was the case with him.

When queried about the Left parties' opposition to BJP, he said that BJP did not believe in politics of untouchables while the Left parties practised it. He said that the Left parties were being hypocritical by aligning with Congress just to keep the BJP out. (PTI)

UPA trying to deviate from Constitution: Advani

Sat, 26 Apr 2008 15:03:00 -0400

Kochi: Senior BJP leader L K Advani today accused the Congress-led UPA government of attempting to deviate from the Constitution by proposing reservation on the basis of religion to bring Dalit Christians and Dalit Muslims under the ambit of SC/ST reservation.

Addressing a meeting of leaders of various SC/ST organisations in Kerala, he said that the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government since it came to power had been trying to make two major deviations in the Constitutional scheme adopted by Jawaharlal Nehru and Sardar Patel and followed by all governments till 2004.

"It is the Manmohan Singh government which for the first time tried to give reservation on the basis of religion and attempting to thrust the Dalit Christians and Muslims on the Scheduled Caste-Schedule Tribes," he said.

The strength of the SC/ST community in Kerala is 35 lakh and the Congress wants to put an additional burden on the community by bringing in another 45 lakh Dalit Christians and Dalit Muslims under this category of reservation, he said. "I can understand your anguish and pain and I have come to identify myself with you," he said.

"Not only the BJP, but the Constitution makers are there with you. Their memories are also being violated by these attempts," he added. (PTI)

Bhajji issued showcause notice for allegedly slapping Sreesanth

Sat, 26 Apr 2008 09:19:00 -0400

The BCCI on Saturday has issued a showcause notice to Mumbai Indians stand-in skipper Harbhajan Singh for allegedly slapping his IPL rival and Indian team mate, S Sreesanth. Singh has been asked to reply by April 28. Match Referee Farookh Engineer has been assigned to look into the matter. Charges if proved, can ban Bhajji from competitive cricket. Sreesanth’s team, Kings XI Punjab have lodged an official complaint with the BCCI, demanding action against the offie. In a complaint sent to the BCCI, the Punjab team members have expressed their disappointment over the matter.

Meanwhile, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has refused to intervene in the matter, stating that it is BCCI’s internal issue and the Indian board will have to deal with it according to its own discretion.

The board served a show cause notice on Harbhajan asking him why a disciplinary action should not be taken against him for his conduct in Mohali. BCCI`s secretary Ratnakar Shetty said that any form of physical contact in cricket is undesirable.

"At this point of time, we have issued a show cause notice. Harbhajan is a contracted player of BCCI. The BCCI itself has a code of conduct for players. And BCCI secretary Niranjan Shah has issued a show cause notice and he has to respond by Monday," Shetty said.

Shetty did not want to speculate on what punishment the BCCI could take against the off-spinner."I can`t say anything at this point of time about what action will be taken against him. And I don`t think we need to speculate on that. We will follow a proper procedure," he said.

After getting Harbhajan`s explanation, the disciplinary committee will consider what action needs to be taken in accordance with the rules, he said. The IPL`s governing body has also barred the players and the officials from speaking on the Bhajji-Sree row to the media. Lalit Modi, the commisioner of the IPL has ordered a probe. "We will probe the incident", Modi said. Upset over the row. Modi said that it was a "serious matter" and was not good for the cash-rich Twenty20 tournament.

"It looks like a serious matter the way it is being shown on television channels but I can`t say anything now. In any tournament it should not happen, it`s unfortunate what happened yesterday," Modi told reporters. But Modi said the IPL committee would wait for an official report on the matter before deciding about their next action in the issue.

Modi, however, said the IPL committee could take any decision only after receiving an official report on the matter as picture was still not clear about what exactly happened between the two players last night.

"The incident in itself is sketchy. There is no clear evidence at this moment; there are different versions about what may have happened. But at the end of the day we have to take cognizance of the fact that happened on the field.”

"(So) we are waiting for the match referee and umpire`s report only after which our committee will take a decision. The tournament is being played under the ICC guidelines, besides there are also tournament guidelines for the players," he said.

"Until the match referee informs us we will be handicapped. There is no question of taking a suo-moto action," Modi added.

The Kings XI team, led by Yuvraj Singh, is reportedly planning to lodge a complaint against the off-spinner, who later apologised to the paceman in the dressing room of the Punjab team.

Meanwhile, Sreesanth said that he just wants to let bygones be bygones and that he has moved on. He seemed keen on underplaying the unpleasant exchange with his Indian teammate. "I won`t really call it a slap, more like the handshake was in the wrong place. I told him, I`m OK with it, I`m fine with it. Maybe, next time I meet him in Mumbai, I`ll give it back on the field," said Sreesanth, member, Kings XI Punjab. He also ruled out making an official complain against Bhajji, saying the Harbhajan Singh was like an elder brother.

Upset over the row between Mumbai Indians stand-in captain Harbhajan Singh and Kings XI Punjab paceman S Sreesanth, Indian Premier League Chairman Lalit Modi on Saturday said it was a "serious matter" and was not good for the cash-rich Twenty20 tournament.

This is the second time in the last six months that Harbhajan has been at the epicentre of a major controversy. In January this year, ‘Turbanator’ was accused of racially abusing Andrew Symonds by the Australians during the infamous Sydney, inviting the wrath of the Australian team as well as the public throughout India’s tour Down Under.

On-field relations between Harbhajan and Sreesanth appeared strained during the India-South Africa Test series as well. Sreesanth had dropped Hashim Amla off Harbhajan during the Chennai Test to which Harbhajan reacted with displeasure after which he was seen motioning towards Sreesanth after making a diving save at point.

Meanwhile, the IPL`s governing body has barred the players and the officials on speaking on the Bhajji-Sree row to the media. Lalit Modi, the commisioner of the IPL said, "We will probe the incident".

Mumbai Indians captain Sachin Tendulkar, who is yet to play an IPL match because of a groin injury, refused to talk about the issue. "I don`t want to talk about it," the Maestro said.

Indian Premier League governing council member IS Bindra said the code of conduct laid by the International Cricket Council would be applicable on Mumbai Indians stand-in captain Harbhajan Singh, who has allegedly slapped paceman Sreesanth of Kings XI Punjab.

"As (IPL chairman Lalit) Modi said the process has been put in place. (but) it is unfortunate and an ICC code of conduct will be applicable," Bindra said.

Bindra, however, said he was not in a state to comment on the issue until an inquiry found out what exactly happened between the two players last night after which Sreesanth was seen bitterly crying on the ground.

"You were all there but I can say that only inquiry will find out what exactly happened. For anyone to comment at this stage is not right.

"The code of conduct has certain procedures which will be gone through. Once the process is completed, the action will follow," he said.

"At this moment, the process is sacrosanct which will be followed," he added.

Asked if there would be any time-limit to resolve the issue, the former BCCI president said,"It is a semi-judicial process, you cannot say when it will finish. The process has to run its course, we can`t lay down time limit".

On the possibility of banning Harbhajan, who has developed a knack for courting controversies, Bindra said, "If that is the recommendation, IPL governing council will take decision according to the findings".

Bindra advised the players to strictly follow the `Spirit of Cricket`.

"My views are clear that the game must be played in the spirit of game.

IPL has specially adopted `Spirit of Cricket’, everyone has to follow the spirit which is more important than the law itself," he said.

Nuclear power plants set to get no-fly zone status

Sat, 26 Apr 2008 02:06:00 -0400

New Delhi: Security at the country's nuclear power plants is set to be stepped up with each of them getting a no-fly zone status. "Yes, of course. We need a no-fly zone over reactors. They (security agencies) are working on it," Anil Kakodkar, Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission told reporters in Capital.

He said the civil aviation ministry is coordinating with other government agencies to put such systems in place but gave no time frame. "They have to put so many procedural things in place," said Kakodkar, who is also Secretary, Department of Atomic Energy. At present, the Tarapur Atomic Power Station near Mumbai is a no-fly zone.

India has nuclear power plants operational in Kaiga in Karnataka, Narora in Uttar Pradesh, Rawatbhata in Rajasthan, Kakrapar in Gujarat and, Kalpakkam and Kudankulam in Tamil Nadu.

Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) is a sensitive nuclear research facility at Trombay in suburban Mumbai, but it is almost impossible to make it a no-fly zone as it comes in the flight path of the main runway at the airport in the country's financial capital. (PTI)

High Court rejects Thales plea on Scorpene probe

Fri, 25 Apr 2008 14:44:00 -0400

2.4 billion Euro Scorpene submarine deal in which kickbacks are alleged to have been paid. A Bench of Justices T S Thakur and Siddharth Mridul said that it could not dismiss the petition without studying the action taken report of the CBI on the court directive to the investigating agency to conduct a preliminary enquiry.

"We will first go through the report and see what has been done by the CBI. If there is any ground on which the petitioner can raise an objection, we would further hear it," the Bench said, posting the next hearing for May 16.

Appearing for Thales, senior advocate B P Singh argued that the petition should be dismissed as the CBI had complied with its order by conducting an enquiry into allegations of kickbacks and had submitted its preliminary report. The CBI on Friday filed a report on its enquiry in a sealed envelop before the court, which had on December 20, 2007 directed it to do so.

The court had restrained the agency from closing the case after conducting the enquiry, saying that the CBI had to satisfy it that there was no evidence of kickbacks being paid in the deal.

India had signed the Scorpene submarine contract with Thales, which subsequently sold its submarine operations to DCNS, a company in which it holds a 25 per cent stake with the balance 75 per cent held by the French Government. (IANS)

Govt to expedite prison reforms: Home Minister

Fri, 25 Apr 2008 09:08:00 -0400

New Delhi: Union Home Minster Shivraj Patil today said that the government will amend certain laws and the concerned Directive Principle of State Policy to expedite prison reforms as recommended by Bureau of Police Research & Development (BPRD).

"It (Directive Principles) is an important chapter, which needs a lot of discussion. It has to be amendment to bring prison reforms from the state list to the concurrent list," said Patil at the All India Conference of Ministers, Secretaries and police officials at the DRDO Bhawan in New Delhi today.
Expressing his displeasure over the beyond-capacity number of inmates lodged in prisons in the country, the Home Minister said, "We are in a country, which have overcrowded prisons. Though the numbers of prisons are not increased yet number of laws have increased. That is why it is necessary to take step to increase the capacity. Minimum amenities should be provided to the prisoners."

However, Patil advised the state governments not to build more prisons in a hurried manner to solve the present crisis of overcrowding. Rather the states should build prisons to cope up with future problems, suggested Patil.
Assuring sufficient funds for the purpose, he said, "There are enough funds for this but use the funds, which is allocated. There should be determination to use those funds and the planning, which required to use those funds. We do not lack funds." The Minister also emphasised on the use of technology in jail.

Anguished over poor state of lock-ups in the country, the Home Minister said, "Model police stations have to be prepared. We are in the process of improving model police lock-ups. Some of the lock-ups do not have proper sanitary facility." He further advised that states "not build structure, which does not meet the requirements".
Highlighting the improvement in the bail procedure, he remarked that the law should be such that it does not create problem for the accused, police and the judiciary. "The laws are complicated, when it is amended. The law is to solve the problem, and it should be completely understood," advised Patil.

Kidnapped Indian in Afghanistan safe, says official

Fri, 25 Apr 2008 08:54:00 -0400

New Delhi: Indian national Mohammed Nayeem who was kidnapped from the Afghanistan province of Herat four days ago is safe, official sources said today. A senior official of the ministry of external affairs said, "As of this morning he is safe. We are trying our best to get him released and this is the information we have about his safety." Nayeem, who works for Dubai-based HEB International Logistics, was kidnapped on Monday evening. No group has so far claimed responsibility. Nayeem was abducted less than a fortnight after a suicide bomber on April 12 blew himself up next to an Indian road crew in Afghanistan, killing two Indian workers and their Afghan driver.

India has already announced its decision to send more security personnel to Afghanistan to guard Indian installations and ensure the safety of Indians working in Afganistan. While announcing the decision, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee on Wednesday also made it clear that India would not "succumb" to pressure from any quarters to withdraw from the strife-torn country.
The Taliban militia is suspected to be behind most of these attacks on Indians as they don't want New Delhi to build the strategic Zaranj-Delaram road link that seeks to reduce Afghanistan's dependence on Pakistan for overland access to Central Asia and provide an alternative route for Indian goods to that country. (IANS)

Kidnapped Indian in Afghanistan safe, says official

Fri, 25 Apr 2008 03:22:00 -0400

I am not quitting from Indian Hockey Federation: Gill

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 17:56:00 -0400

New Delhi: Clearly in no mood to oblige Sports Minister M S Gill who wants him to go, Indian Hockey Federation President K P S Gill on Thursday said he is not quitting from his post. The defiant IHF chief said he had not taken note of the Sports Minister's advice and would continue in the federation. "I will not quit as the IHF President. I have not taken note of the Sports Minister's advice", he was quoted as saying by a television channel.

Earlier, in the wake of the sting operation that caught former secretary of the federation K Jothikumaran accepting bribe to purportedly induct a player in the national team, the Sports Minister had said that the IHF chief should step down from the post.

"I believe in the totality of the situation, the IHF President must also introspect and review his position," the minister said in a statement. "In full consideration of the situation facing Indian Hockey, and the national need, I urge him, to consider withdrawing from his current responsibility. It is time to let other Indians, make an attempt, to lift our hockey," he said.

Gill has been under pressure to resign as IHF chief, a position he has held for close to 15 consecutive years, with several Members of Parliament and former hockey players demanding his ouster. (PTI)

Census to keep citizens' biometric records: Patil

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 13:37:00 -0400

New Delhi: After the successful completion of a pilot project on a multi-purpose identity card, the Government is planning to dovetail the preparation of a National Population Register (NPR) with the 2011 Census, Home Minister Shivraj Patil said today.

“The data in the NPR will have specified characteristics of each individual. The photograph and finger biometrics will be added subsequent to the census,” Patil said at a two-day data users' Conference for the 2001 Census.

He also said that the creation of a NPR would usher in an era of register-based census in the country. This would help in having estimates of population on a real-time basis by combining it with the system of registration of births and deaths in the country.

Patil kicked off the process for conducting India's next official census, the largest administrative exercise in the world involving some billion-plus people. (IANS)

We know where Dawood is: CBI

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 02:07:00 -0400

New Delhi: Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) director Vijay Shanker on Wednesday said the agency knew the whereabouts of India's most wanted fugitive Dawood Ibrahim but Pakistan's non-cooperation was impeding his arrest. "We know exactly where Dawood Ibrahim is and efforts are being made to get it (deportation done) through diplomatic channels and through the international community," Shanker told reporters here on the sidelines of the ninth D P Kohli Memorial lecture.

Dawood Ibrahim, declared a global terrorist by the US, allegedly masterminded the 1993 serial Mumbai bomb blasts, which claimed 257 lives. "He (Dawood) is in such a country which has a track record of not cooperating with India when it comes to terrorism," Shanker said. "CBI has facts that Dawood is being given safe shelter in Pakistan. But Pakistan is not cooperating," he further added. The CBI has been raising the issue through different diplomatic channels but Pakistan has denied Dawood Ibrahim's presence on its soil. (IANS)

CPM slams US statement, seeks summoning of American envoy

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 11:03:00 -0400

New Delhi: Stung by US remarks on Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's upcoming visit to India, the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) today demanded that the US ambassador be summoned to express India's "disapproval" of "gross interference" by Washington in its relations with other countries.

"The US Ambassador (to India) does need to be summoned to express our disapproval," CPI(M) member Brinda Karat said in the Rajya Sabha referring to the US statement that India should tell Iran to "meet the requirements of the UN Security Council" on the nuclear issue during Ahmadinejad's visit.
Noting that the External Affairs Ministry spokesman has responded by saying that India did not require advice, she said though it was appropriate, "it is not enough". She said the US statement reflected "the imperialist arrogance of a self-appointed world policeman. We condemn this statement in the strongest term".

Making a strong demand that the US envoy should be summoned to convey India's "strong displeasure", she said this was necessary because the Manmohan Singh government has "unfortunately belmished" India's record by voting twice against Iran in IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency).
Karat said the US State Department has thought it fit to "indulge in another act of gross interference" in India's relations with other countries.

US State Department Deputy Spokesman Tom Casey had said on Monday that the Bush Administration hoped that India will ask Iran to comply with UNSC requirements on its nuclear programme. The US would encourage New Delhi to ask Iran to "become a more responsible actor on the world stage", he said.
In the Lok Sabha, CPI(M) MP Rupchand Pal termed the US statement as "audacious and arrogant" and said it amounted to an "infringement of India's sovereign position". (PTI)

We do not need any guidance on dealing with Iran: India

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 04:12:00 -0400

New Delhi: In an unusually sharp reaction to the US counsel on New Delhi's dealing with Iran, India on Tuesday said it does not need "any guidance" on its conduct of relations with the Persian country as both the nations are "perfectly capable" of managing all aspects of their ties. "India and Iran are ancient civilisations whose relations span centuries. Both nations are perfectly capable of managing all aspects of their relationship with the appropriate degree of care and attention," External Affairs Ministry spokesman Navtej Sarna said in New Delhi.

He was reacting to US State Department's remarks that Washington expected India to tell Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmedinejad during his visit here next week to meet the UN Security Council resolution on its nuclear programme. "Neither country needs any guidance on the future conduct of bilateral relations as both countries believe that engagement and dialogue alone lead to peace," Sarna said. (PTI)

Antony promises modernisation, better pay in Defence

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 03:33:00 -0400

He also ruled out any military alliance with another country, though joint defence exercises would continue. Antony said a committee headed by the cabinet secretary had already been formed to look into the issue of better pay for the defence forces.

"The government is waiting for the report of the committee that has been set up to look into the anomalies," he said. Earlier during the debate on demands for grants for the defence forces, many MPs cutting across party lines said that there was an urgent need to increase the pay of the defence personnel. Recommendations of the Sixth Pay Commission report, which were made public in March, show major disparity in the pay of the armed forces vis-a-vis the higher bureaucracy.

Antony's announcement should come as a relief for the defence forces as more than 50 senior officers had sought voluntary retirement after the report was made public. Recent reports in the media pointed out that many officers were opting for the private sector due to low pay in the forces. The idea of one rank, one pay - pending for long - is likely to get the nod from the committee.

A debate on demands for grants for defence in the Lok Sabha was held for the first time in a decade. The practice of guillotine - where several bills are passed at one go without a debate - was the norm for clearing the defence budget for the past 10 years. After listening to the members' views on defence expenditure, Antony told the house that further modernisation of the armed forces was of utmost importance. Many MPs expressed the opinion that defence expenditure was inadequate and there was need to upgrade it in view of the growing defence arsenal of India's powerful neighbours, China and Pakistan.

"India's defence spending should be increased from the present," T P S Rawat (Bharatiya Janata Party) said. He said the low expenditure was a matter of grave concern, and suggested that it be raised to three percent of GDP. The current budget has earmarked only 1.99 percent of the GDP for defence. Pakistan reportedly spends 3.5 percent of its GDP while China spends 4.3 percent. Both boast of a nuclear arsenal as well. Antony said that the post of Chief of Defence Staff could not be created as there was no political consensus on the issue. (IANS)

Home Minister favours 'middle path' to fight Maoism

Mon, 21 Apr 2008 18:04:00 -0400

New Delhi: A moderate approach, which includes persuasion as well as use of force as and when required, is the right way to tackle Maoist violence in India, Home Minister Shivraj Patil told the Lok Sabha on Monday. "Some members here said that an iron will is required to deal with Naxalism. Some said we lack will power. On the other hand, one of the members said that bullets would not solve this problem and we need to create the right atmosphere to tackle Naxalism. A middle path is, thus, required," he said. Patil said his ministry was being blamed for law and order problems in the states. "Our constitution has provision where the state government controls the law and order. It is exclusively with the state. We have to seek the state's permission to intervene," he said.

Nevertheless, the central government has done its bit to control the situation in the states where radical left-wing violence is rampant, he said. "We have sent Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) to any state which has asked for it. But once the force is deployed in a state, it refuses to send it back even though CRPF is a reserve force," he said. "We have provided 13,000 central forces to Chhattisgarh, plus 33,000 cops more and thousands of Indian reserve forces," Patil said. Patil was speaking during a discussion on the demands for grants for the home ministry for 2008-09. The grants were later passed by the House.

The home ministry had provided funds to establish 2,588 police stations, 58,000 homes for police personnel, provided 19,000 vehicles, given adequate weapons, 30,000 bullet-proof vests and even helicopters to the states. Patil said the states had failed to fill the the vacancies in their police force and this had aggravated the problem. "In some states up to 28 percent of the vacancies have not been filled," he said. Some states had failed to utilize up to 50 percent of the funds. The minister said the internal security situation in Jammu and Kashmir, Tripura and Andhra Pradesh had improved upto 40 percent. But the situation in Chhatisgarh, Jharkhand and Orissa had deteriorated. "I am not saying this because we do not have a government in these states," he clarified.

The picture appeared dismal as the opposition parties gave figures in terms of districts and not the affected regions. "When we talk in terms of police stations affected, it is only 300 police stations. Or in terms of villages it comes to only one percent of the villages," he said. The minister also sought to connect security with development saying both go hand in hand. "The National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme and other welfare measures are also being spread in the affected areas. If this is added, a total of around Rs 75,000 crore (Rs 750 billion) would be spent in the next five years on the 10 states affected by internal security problems," he said.

The minister said disaster management was being given as much importance as internal security. Patil also commented on the Maoists' victory in Nepal elections and said: "We want to have good relations with Nepal. What has happened there (return to democracy) is by their people." (IANS)