Saturday, July 3, 1999
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N A T I O N |
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Back-channel diplomacy
may continu ‘Badge of sacrifice’ |
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India
“justified” in crossing LoC It’s diplomatic win: BJP
Mishra doesn't rule out crossing
LoC
UP brings power under ESMA Two killed in blast 2 gangsters killed in encounters
Crossing LoC vital, says Bhim
Singh Raring to take on the enemy Cong fields Pranab for RS poll Bride’s gesture to jawans Politicising Kargil crisis
USA, UK confirm hostages’
killing |
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Back-channel diplomacy may
continu NEW DELHI, July 2 — The Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, was responsible for initiating back-channel diplomacy with Pakistan as early as in the second week of June and the visit of former Pakistan Foreign Secretary, Mr Niaz A Naik, to New Delhi on June 26 was preceded by a similar mission by a special emissary of Mr Vajpayee to Islamabad on June 18. The Chairman, Editorial Board, of the Reliance group-controlled Observer (India) Ltd, Mr R.K.Mishra, alongwith a senior official of the Ministry of External Affairs, Mr Vivek Katju, had visited Islamabad on June 18. Mr Vivek Katju, a Joint Secretary in the External Affairs Ministry incharge of the Iran-Pakistan-Afghanistan desk, is understood to have had a limited mandate and that was of facilitating Mr Mishra’s meeting with the Pakistan Prime Minister, Mr Nawaz Sharif, and other senior officials. Mr Mishra during his meeting with Mr Sharif conveyed verbally a message given by Mr Vajpayee to end the Kargil conflict. According to the English daily, News of Pakistan, Mr Mishra also met the Pakistan Foreign Secretary, Mr Shamshad Ahmed, during his brief stay. Mr Mishra later briefed Mr Vajpayee on his return from Islamabad. The Ministry of External Affairs till date has however, not given out anything on the visit and the official spokesman when confronted with the news last week had maintained that he was not aware of Mr Mishra’s visit to Islamabad. He, however, described the visit to Islamabad of Mr Katju as "routine" saying that as Joint Secretary in-charge of Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan it was normal for the officials to keep in touch with the High Commission in countries of their interest. It is also learnt that Mr Mishra was in touch with Mr Naik in Islamabad and the Pakistan envoy’s return visit was due to this reason. It is being mentioned in diplomatic circles here that Mr Mishra has a large number of friends in the Pakistan circle and it was his association with several such personalities which prompted Mr Vajpayee to choose him as his special emissary. The two governments have tried to keep the exchanges of emissaries a top secret fearing political reprisal. All Opposition parties in Pakistan, after reading about Mr Mishra’s secret mission to Islamabad, had got together and warned the Sharif government not to show weakness on the Kashmir front. They had asked the government in Islamabad to resign if it could not protect national pride and integrity. The political parties in India too have not taken kindly to the caretaker-Vajpayee government taking such crucial decisions without taking them into confidence. It was after such sentiments expressed by the political fraternity that Mr Vajpayee had to give assurance to an all-party meeting held in New Delhi recently that the government had no intention of having any secret deal with Islamabad. The veil of secrecy on the back-channel diplomacy notwithstanding, there were indications from Islamabad today that the two governments would continue to have such missions in the future to descalate tension in Kargil. Back-channel diplomacy
initiated by the two Prime Ministers would continue
despite the serious setback and efforts made for a
military-to-military contact between the two neighbours
to normalise the situation in the borders, a senior
official in the Sharif Government was quoted as saying in
Islamabad. |
‘Badge of sacrifice’ NEW DELHI, July 2 (UNI) — The Army has instituted 'badge of sacrifice' which shall be presented to the family of a soldier killed while trying to evict Pakistani infiltrators from the Dras-Kargil-Batalik Sector. Announcing this here today, Army chief Gen V.P. Malik urged the next of kin of those killed to wear the badge. "I hope our citizens will recognise this symbol of courage and sacrifice for all times to come and honour the great loss to the family and the nation.... A grateful nation must continue to remember, recognise and honour the families of these gallant soldiers". He said more than 200 Indian Army personnel were killed in fighing so far and 17,000 sodiers had died similarly since 1947. An official spokesman said 217 Indian Army personnel were killed, 406 wounded while nine were still missing. The enemy had lost 446 of their men. Noted classical dancers Sonal Mansingh and Leila Samson will soon visit forward air bases of the Indian Air Force to give performances and boost the morale of the IAF personnel. The visit is being undertaken at the request of Defence Minister George Fernandes, an official press note said here today. The INS, which has a membership of some 750 publications in English and Indian languages, has offered to send complimentary copies of its magazines and newspapers for the armed forces personnel fighting in the forward areas. The publishers have been told to send their copies to the Commandant, Central Base Post Office, so that the personnel can go through these when off duty. The Lok Sabha Secretariat contributed Rs 6.5 lakh today towards the Army Central Welfare Fund. A cheque for Rs 6,49,480
— totalling a day's salary of the secretariat
employees — was sent to the relief fund. |
Vajpayee ‘open’ to session demand NEW DELHI, July 2 (PTI) — Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee is having an “open mind” on the Opposition demand for convening an immediate session of the Rajya Sabha to discuss the Kargil conflict, sources said today. They said no decision had yet been taken on the demand as there was no consensus at the all-party meeting on Monday with a number of parties and leaders strongly opposed to convening of a special session at this juncture. The Prime Minister has not closed his mind on the issue and would await the views to be expressed in the Chief Ministers’ meeting convened by him on July 7, the sources said. Tribune News Service adds: The Congress today reiterated its demand for a Rajya Sabha session to discuss the Kargil situation and drew a parallel to a similar demand by Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, as an MP to discuss the Chinese aggression in 1962 which was then acceded to. Digging into history, the Congress said it would like to refresh the Prime Minister’s memory about his audience with the then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru during the 1962 conflict. ‘‘Mr Nehru’s graceful and totally ungrudging acceptance of the demand by the present Prime Minister then a Jan Sangh Rajya Sabha MP stands in stark contrast to his inexplicable refusal to call the Rajya Sabha session,’’ the Congress said in a statement. The party quoting from Mr Vajpayee’s speech in the Rajya Sabha debate on November, 1962 said that he went to the extent of blaming the then government of crime and sin, for its alleged failure to anticipate the aggression and make appreciate preparations to meet it. ‘‘Mr Vajpayee was least bothered then, about the desirability of the entire Opposition standing completely unitedly with our armed forces and to back the government in crisis. The long speech of Mr Vajpayee dated November 9, 1962 in the Rajya Sabha is to say the least intemperate and unbalanced,’’ the Congress said. The party argued that the BJP was advancing sophistries for avoiding the Rajya Sabha session and said that even in 1962, 1965 and 1971 both Houses of Parliament freely discussed and debated the entire gamut of issues having bearing on the aggressions against the nation. The present treachery of Pakistan, the Congress said, could only be met by the united might of the people of India and their unstinted and patriotic support to the valiant soldiers fighting for the unity and territorial integrity of India. It said that the BJP’s extraordinary argument that a Rajya Sabha session at this juncture would be divisive was ‘‘utterly illogical, politically motivated and is borne out of their insecurity’’. The Congress said, while throwing out the invaders and protecting the nation’s integrity was a national endeavour, a government which had been defeated on the floor of the Lok Sabha has no right to doubt the patriotism and sense of national solidarity of Opposition parties. ‘‘It is
ironical that a nation like Pakistan with more than half
of its 50 years of history under military dictatorship is
having a vigorous and open-ended debate where as India,
the largest democracy in the world with its record of
opennes and transparency, under the leadership of the
present Prime Minister and government is all set to gag
the Constitution and democratic right of the political
parties to express their views on the only national
elected forum i.e the Rajya Sabha in the
country,’’ the statement said. |
India “justified” in
crossing LoC NEW DELHI, July 2 — India would not be violating international laws by crossing the Line of Control (LoC), a group of eminent jurists said here today. “India has sufficient justification to cross the LoC and the country won’t be violating any international obligations,” a former member of the National Human Rights Commission and retired Chief Justice of Kerala and Karnataka High Court, Justice V.S. Malimath, said. The views of Justice Malimath were endorsed by a former Judge of the Supreme Court, Justice Faizan Uddin, the Chairman of MRTP Commission, Justice A.N. Dwecha and the Chairman of National Commission for Backward Classes, Justice P.K. Shyamsunder. Several leading defence analysts have expressed the views that India should cross the LoC to effectively deal with Pakistan backed-intruders. The group of eminent jurists will visit Kargil and Dras and will also meet the defence personnel in Srinagar and those admitted in different hospitals during their two-day stay in Jammu and Kashmir. After their visit to the region from tomorrow, the jurists will meet the Prime Minister and apprise him of the situation. The jurists stated that Pakistan by intruding into Kargil had violated the bilateral and international commitment and India must take appropriate steps to push them back. While clarifying the legal position, the jurists urged that the “question of crossing the LoC should be left to the defence forces and should not be a matter of public debate.” Conflicting views expressed by political leaders, defence analysts and its debate in the media only demoralised the morale of the force and the men at the front get confused, they said. Since Pakistan had
violated the international conventions including Geneva
Convention by meting out “barbaric” treatment
to captured Indian soldiers, the jurists opined that
“India should take up the case in the International
Court of Justice and must also seek just compensation for
each and every soldier.” |
It’s diplomatic win: BJP NEW DELHI, July 2 — The Bharatiya Janata Party today claimed that “international isolation of Pakistan” on the Kargil issue was a great diplomatic success of the Vajpayee government. Briefing mediapersons here today, party General Secretary Narendra Modi said India had earned the support of the international community on the Kargil issue. He said that after the G-8 summit, the Indian stand had been supported by the USA and China. “One by one, all countries are supporting India and asking Pakistan to go back from the Indian territory.” Mr Modi said China chose to support India’s stand on the Kargil issue even after Pakistan Prime Minister visited China. The party General Secreatry criticised the Congress and the Communists for weighing diplomatic success on a poltical scale. “They have been raising voices that the Kashmir issue has been internationalised. Had it not been for the gravity of the situation, the Congress-Communist criticism could have been dismissed as a case of sour grapes.” He said at a time when the entire world was with India in condemning Pakistan’s violation of the Line of Control, the Congress and the Communists had chosen to stand aside. Mr Modi recalled that
during the 1962 war, the Communist’s was the sole
discordant voice. “History has not forgiven them. In
1999, as the nation stands united, the Congress has
joined the Communists in criticising the government.
History will not forgive the Congress,” he said. |
Arun Singh adviser to Jaswant
Singh NEW DELHI, July 2 — Mr Arun Singh, former Union Minister in the Rajiv Gandhi Cabinet, has joined the Vajpayee government as Special Executive Assistant to the External Affairs Minister, Mr Jaswant Singh. Mr Arun Singh, who quit his job in July 1987 and later kept away from public life, is said to have volunteered to the External Affairs Minister to work in any capacity as the country was facing Pakistani aggression in Kargil. The Minister accepted Mr Arun Singh’s offer and appointed him to the post on a token monthly salary of Re 1, sources in the External Affairs Ministry said. A spokesman of the External Affairs Ministry said today that Mr Singh "has been gracious enough to offer his services in these critical times...and give the benefit of his wide experience". Mr Arun Singh was Minister of State for Defence holding charge of Defence Research and Development Organisation between September, 1985 and July, 1987. He is considered to have sound knowledge on weapons and weapon systems. There was speculation over his resignation then from the Rajiv Gandhi government after the Bofors gun controversy surfaced. His appointment now has taken the political circles by surprise. The Congress today
preferred not to react to the appointment with the party
spokesman on External Affairs, Mr K. Natwar Singh stating
that the matter was not significant for the party to
react |
Sonia may contest LS poll NEW DELHI, July 2 (PTI) — The Congress today indicated that party President Sonia Gandhi would be contesting the coming Lok Sabha elections, but sidestepped queries about the reported decision of senior leader, Arjun Singh to stay away from the fray. "Why not?" remarked AICC General Secretary, Oscar Fernandes when asked by reporters whether Mrs Sonia Gandhi would contest the poll despite being the star campaigner of the party. Mr Fernandes had earlier said that some important party leaders would not be contesting elections as they would be busy in campaigning and other party work. Asked about Mr Arjun
Singh's reported decision not to contest party spokesman,
Ajit Jogi, said that he was not aware of the development
and would react only after checking with the senior
leader. |
Mishra doesn't rule out crossing LoC NEW DELHI, July 2 (PTI) — National Security Adviser Brajesh Mishra today did not rule out the possibility of India deciding to cross the Line of Control (LoC) to flush out Pakistani intruders in Kargil, but said it did not want to do that since it could lead to a "larger escalation". "I cannot rule out a possibility that a time will come when we may have to say to them (Army) or agree with them that they have to cross the LoC. Again, I emphasise, we don't want to do it because we are aware that it could lead to a larger escalation," he said in an interview to American television network CNN. "Let me give it to you as clearly as possible. At the moment we don't have the intention to cross the LoC but the situation keeps changing... I cannot vouch for all the time that we will not do it," a CNN release quoted Mr Mishra as saying. Mr Mishra said he was in
touch with the armed forces and there was "certainly
never any pressure in the government to allow the Army
cross the LoC. |
Dalai Lama cancels b’day celebrations NEW DELHI, July 2 (PTI) — In a rare gesture of solidarity with India in the wake of the Kargil conflict, the 64th birthday celebrations of the Dalai Lama on July 6 has been cancelled. An announcement on behalf of the Tibetan religious leader was made here today. ‘‘By not
holding any festivities on his birthday Tibetan people
wish to express their solidarity with the government, the
people of India and the Army, who are sacrificing their
lives in Kargil to regain and protect India's
territory,’’ a release from the Dalai
Lama’s representative said. |
UP brings power under ESMA LUCKNOW, July 2 (PTI) — Uttar Pradesh government today invoked the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) in view of the 48-hour token strike by powermen even as it said the stir failed to affect electricity supply anywhere in the state. Warning striking powermen with stern action if they failed to resume work, state Chief Secretary Yogendra Narain said the strike had been a complete failure and did not affect power supply even in Kanpur city where the employees were on "complete strike" since midnight yesterday. However, the spokesman of the Vidyut Karamchari Samyukt Sangharsh Samiti Shailendra Dubey said all powermen boycotted work in protest against the state government’s decision to privatise the Kanpur Electric Supply Authority (KESA). In Kanpur, Mr Dubey said total strike was observed in all 5 sub-stations and nobody attented office. However, the powermen
would attend to all calls from Army headquarters and
hospitals in view of the Kargil crisis, he added. |
Two killed in blast KANPUR, July 2 (UNI) — Two persons were killed and two others were injured in a powerful explosion in a house in the Shuklaganj area of Unnao district, about 3 km from here, today. The police said the blast was so powerful that a major portion of the ceiling of the house was blown off. The house owner's son, Shivnath Tandon (22) and servant Sanjay Rawat were killed and two girls were injured seriously. A team of experts from
Agra has left for the spot to access the cause of the
explosion. |
2 gangsters killed in encounters MUMBAI, July 2 (PTI) — Two alleged members of Chhota Shakeel and Ashwin Nayak gangs, one of them believed to be involved in the killing of two Maharashtra BJP leaders, were killed in separate encounters with the police here and in adjoining Thane district since yesterday. The police said the Chhota Shakeel gangster Javed Sayyed (32), involved in the shooting down of BJP leaders Ramdas Naik and Premkumar Sharma, five years back, was killed in an encounter at Dharavi in north central Mumbai early today. Acting on a tip-off that Sayyed, also suspected to be a close associate of gangster Feroze Kokani, would arrive in the area, the police laid a trap. When they spotted the gangster, police asked him to surrender, but he opened fire at the police. He was injured in the retaliatory firing and rushed to a nearby hospital where he was declared dead. The Ashwin Naik aide,
Kunda alias Raju Sakaram Pawar (24), was shot dead by the
police yesterday at Dharamveer colony in Thane. |
Crossing LoC vital, says Bhim Singh NEW DELHI, July 2 (UNI) — Panthers Party chief Bhim Singh today said that without crossing the Line of Control (LoC) it would be impossible for defence forces to dislodge Pakistani intruders from occupied heights in the Drass-Kargil-Batalik sectors. Addressing a Press conference here, he said the nation might have to pay a heavy price if it showed reluctance to cross the LoC. This was the only solution to cut off supply lines to the infiltrators and force them to vacate the positions held by them, he added. Mr Bhim Singh, who recently toured various areas in the sector, said by accepting the LoC as sacrosanct the Centre had fallen prey to the new world order by first accepting Pakistan's occupation of 32,500 square miles of the Jammu and Kashmir territory as legitimate and then negotiating on the remaining 34,000 sq miles. About 20,000 sq miles of Jammu and Kashmir territory was grabbed by China in 1962 whereas 4,600 sq miles was leased by Pakistan to China in 1963 in the Karakoram sector in total violation of the UN resolution. "Matters will not end with the reclaiming of all occupied heights. The supply lines will have to be cut off. Their reinforcements come from Skardu via Gurez and Neelam valley," he said. Lashing out at the
Centre for having "accepted" US mediation by
receiving US official Gibson Lanpher last month, he
alleged the USA had chosen Pakistan to create the Kargil
situation so that it could get a foothold in the northern
areas for keeping watch over the "expansion of
China". |
Rajputana Rifles sends more recruits NEW DELHI, July 2 — They are young. They are brave. And they are raring to take on the enemy. The newly-inducted soldiers of the Rajputana Rifles are all set to ‘‘throw out’’ the Pakistan-backed infiltrators in the Kargil sector of Jammu and Kashmir. Undeterred by the loss of 21 soldiers in Kargil, the Rajputana Rifles has sent another 350 recruits, some as young as 16, to the front in keeping with its motto of ‘Veer Bhogya Vasundhara’ (The land is for the brave). About 200 of these soldiers were given a ceremonial send-off here today. Many of the recruits left for Jammu and Kashmir yesterday, the Commandant of the Rajputana Rifles Training Centre, Brigadier P.S. Chaudhary said. Asked whether the fresh recruits would be able to fight in the difficult mountainous terrain of Kargil, Brigadier Chaudhary said the 34-week-long rigorous training had made them ‘‘combat riflemen.’’ The soldiers hail from Rajasthan, Haryana and Eastern Uttar Pradesh. They comprise Rajputs, Jats, Ahirs, Gujjars, Muslims and Gujaratis. The soldiers may be barely out of their teens but Brigadier Chaudhary, said. ‘‘They are no longer boys, but soldiers ready to take on the enemy. These soldiers will give a befitting reply to the enemy for their misadventures in Kargil.’’ Rifleman Vijay Kumar said, ‘‘We will flush out the intruders and get back our land. Our objective is clear and we are ready to make supreme sacrifice for our motherland.’’ To a query on Rajputana Rifles officers and jawans having been killed during operations, he said, ‘‘We will avenge for their death. Pakistan will have to pay dearly for this.’’ ‘‘I am going to fight for my country. We are going to move ahead and clear the positions held by the enemy. I am proud to be a soldier of the Rajputana Rifles, said young Rifleman Sahdev Singh, who is 17-year-old. Raj Rif, as the Rajputana Rifles is popularly known as, is seniormost rifle regiment of the Indian Army tracing its origin to 1775 when the 104, Wellesly’s Rifle was raised. The old designation of the regiment was changed to the ‘‘Raj Rif’’ after World War II. In 1949, Field Marshal Cariappa, while raising the Brigade of Guards, nominated 1 Raj Rif to be its battalions (3 Guards). Today, the regiment boasts of 20 battalions, including two TA battalions, one of which is an Ecological battalion with Indira Priyadarshini Vriksha Mitra, the highest award in the field, to their credit. The regiment has distinguished itself in all wars in pre and post-independent India, counter-insurgency operatiosn such as Operation Blue Star, and as part of the IPKF in Sri Lanka. This unit of the Army,
which goes to war with the battle cry ‘‘Raja
Ramachandra Ki Jai’’, has earned six Victoria
Crosses, one Param Vir Chakra (Chm Piru Singh-6 Raj Rif),
six Mahavir Chakras and 38 Vir Chakras, among others. |
Cong fields Pranab for RS
poll NEW DELHI, July 2 — AICC General Secretary, Pranab Mukherjee has been renominated by the Congress as its candidate for the Rajya Sabha poll from West Bengal due to be held on July 26. The Congress also decided to support former Army chief Gen Shankarroychowdhury, who is contesting the poll as an independent, the AICC General Secretary, Mr Oscar Fernandes, announced today. The term of nine Rajya Sabha MPs from two states, including six from West Bengal, is expiring on August 18. The Congress has atleast
30 surplus votes in West Bengal and it chose to transfer
the same to the former Army Chief as fielding another
candidate would require more votes which it did not have. |
Bride’s gesture to jawans CUTTACK, July 2 (PTI) — In a noble gesture a bride has donated her gold ornaments to the National Defence Fund for the jawans fighting against Pakistani intruders in Kargil. Ms Sibani Mishra’s marriage was fixed on Wednesday, but she donated her gold necklaces, earrings and bangles, weighing 21 grams, to the fund even before the solemn occasion. Sibani, a lecturer in Janata College, Hindol in Dhenkanal district, sincerely believes everything cannot be done by the government and it is high time citizens of this country do their bit for those battling against odds. “At this hour, when the country is passing through a critical phase, we should extend our moral support to the fighting jawans,” she told PTI. Sibani’s father, Kanhu Charan Mishra, a retired lieutenant and Editor of a weekly was justifiably proud of his daughter for expressing solidarity with those warriors guarding the nation’s frontiers. Her mother, Minati Mishra, a school teacher, said Sibani has shown true patriotism which she nurtured since her childhood days. “I feel proud for
my wife’s deeds,” a beaming Pankaj Dash said
after tying the nuptial knot with Sibani. Mr Dash is a
computer instructor. |
Politicising Kargil crisis NEW DELHI: In the running duel between the Congress and the BJP, using the grim Kargil battle for their respective electoral prospects, the convening of the Rajya Sabha session has become a focal point. The Congress and other Opposition parties are sure that the Rajya Sabha session will deal a devastating blow at the BJP’s electoral prospects,while the BJP is mortally afraid of open discussion of their own contradictions apart from the foibles of the Defence Minister and divergent postures on key issues between the Prime Minister and the Home Minister. In the event, convening of the Rajya Sabha session has been side-tracked by Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee with the rider that he would consider the pros and cons of the matter. Instead, he has countered the Congress proposal by suggesting a code of conduct for the election campaign that would not effect the battle on the border. A code may be alright as far as it goes but there are grey areas which Opposition parties are bound to exploit, intentionally or otherwise, and embarrass the government, if not help the enemy. With no precedents to go by, the convening of the Rajya Sabha session in the midst of the battle on the heights of the Kargil-Dras sector has aspects for and against, and many sensitive issues that deserve objective appraisal which the partisan mood in the leading political parties makes it difficult to apply. Raking up the failings of the government and Army at the inception of the Kargil intrusions may make the tasks of the Army more difficult and could affect the morale of the fighting forces. On the other side, it is rightly contended that with the Lok Sabha dissolved, the only forum for accountability to the nation in this hour of crisis is the Rajya Sabha. All more so, because this government heading the nation is a caretaker government. Of late, sources close to the Prime Minister have hinted that in the session, passions could be whipped up for jingoistic purposes. In the delicate stage in which the diplomatic negotiations are presently placed, to tie the hands of the government by such diversion would be dangerous. The Prime Minister is learnt to have alluded to the repeated reference by Congress President Sonia Gandhi that the government would have to explain to the nation their failings in this connection. Besides this, BJP leaders are themselves to be blamed for their contradictory statements, specially its President, Mr Kushabhau Thakre, for making statements which have only embarrassed the government. Mr Thakre’s statements on postponement of election or on the sensitive issue of crossing the LoC are a case in point. Only a week ago Mr Thakre peremptorily rejected the demand for a special session of the Rajya Sabha saying at this juncture it would affect the morale of the armed forces. Even Panchjanya, RSS mouthpiece asked Mr Vajpayee not to show “cowardice” and adopt a tough line, including the use of nuclear bombs to ‘teach Pakistan a lesson.” On the other hand,BJP spokesmen have made it appear as if it was a BJP conducted war and not the entire nation’s efforts. For instance, Mr Govindacharya, General Secretary of the BJP, told mediapersons in Jaipur recently that his assessment was that war would be over in one or latest by two weeks. He ruled out postponement of elections. Only a few days ago Mr Fernandes had said it would be over by September. Likewise, the Congress, the main Opposition party, too has changed its stance as is evident from Ms Sonia Gandhi’s speech in Mau in Uttar Pradesh where she launched a scathing attack on the Vajpayee government for its “failure” to check armed intrusion in time in the Kargil sector. Parliamentary debates on crucial issues have of late shown that often members lose track and easily fall prey to politicising the issues in the interest of their party. Even ministers of the coalition government have made statements embarrassing their own government. For instance, Defence Minister George Fernandes, who first absolved Mr Nawaz Sharif and the ISI of the responsibility of violating the LoC. Not to mention of the controversies on the “failure” of intelligence and safe passage to intruders. The Prime Minister had to discipline his ministerial colleagues by asking them not to make statements on the issue without clearance from him. If such things can happen in a government, it is easier in parliamentary debates. A new dimension has been added by the Niaz Naik mission and what is called Track-2 diplomacy, with indications that issues of immediate and future concern pertaining to the LoC are currently being scrutinised. The Prime Minister rightly enjoins that the government’s hands should not be tied in handling these delicate questions. A way out can be found
on this meshing up of diverse and divergent aspects of a
democracy’s functioning amidst a war-like crisis by
an assurance that finality to any concessions or
adjustments agreed upon in Indo-Pak contacts will be
subject to a consensus among the main parties, and
approval by the Rajya Sabha. If partisan treatment is
given up by the BJP’s spokesmen, the evolving of
such consensus will become easier. (IPA) |
Dilip should return award : Thackeray MUMBAI, July 2 (PTI) — Veteran film star Dilip Kumar should return Pakistan’s highest civilian award ‘Nishan-e-Pakistan’ following that country’s blatant aggression on the Indian soil, Shiv Sena Chief Bal Thackeray has said. “Like Kapil Dev, who has demanded snapping sporting ties with Pakistan over the Kargil conflict, Dilip Kumar should also show his loyalty towards India by returning the award”, Mr Thackeray was quoted in Sena mouthpiece ‘Saamna’ as saying. Mr Thackeray also urged
noted poet and film lyricist Javed Akhtar, his actress
wife and Rajya Sabha member Shabana Azmi and their
‘green brigade’ to express their nationalism
strongly. |
USA, UK confirm hostages’ killing NEW DELHI, July 2 (UNI) — The USA, Britain and Germany have virtually confirmed the killing of four hostages, kidnapped by Harkat-ul-Ansar four years ago, stating that the “absence of fresh demands or statements by the kidnappers point to the sad conclusion that none of the men is still alive.’’ “We regret there
have been no recent developments or evidence to justify
any hope that the four missing men are still alive,”
a press statement of the German Embassy said. |
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| ‘Big B’ voted
greatest star NEW DELHI: Former superstar Amitabh Bachchan has been voted the greatest ever star of stage or screen by an international poll of users of BBC’s internet news online service, pushing British actor Sir Lawrence Olivier and American actress Marilyn Monroe into the second and ninth place, respectively, Bachchan’s win in the ‘your millennium’ poll carried out by BBC, in which classic comedian Charlie Chaplin finished fourth, will come as a surprise to many in the western world who may not have even heard of the 56-year-old ‘angry young man’ of Indian cinema, a BBC release said here on Thursday. — PTI Two gangsters killed Prototype of
transport aircraft MSEB
engineers’ strike Tihar RMO held
for accepting bribe 1 more held in
Staines’ murder case Bollywood to
raise funds for jawans Tripura flood
situation improves Bihar Govt asked
to pay compensation UPEB employees
go on strike |
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