New Delhi, November 25
Not ruling out another terrorist attack on the Indian Embassy in Kabul, the government today said it needed to be vigilant as the security situation in Afghanistan had been worsening since 2006. Thirteen Indian lives have been lost in terror attacks in Afghanistan over the past two years; four people died in this year’s attack.

“Attempts will be made in 2010 as they have been made earlier. We have to be vigilant,” Minister of State for External Affairs Shashi Tharoor said in the Lok Sabha on the eve of the first anniversary of Mumbai terror attacks.

The minister’s intervention followed Trinamool Congress’ Sudip Bandopadhyay’s query on whether the government had any mechanism to prevent the vehicle-based explosive devices which were used to target the mission in Kabul on July 7, 2008 and October 8 this year.

Fearing another such attack next year, the government said it was not sure if there were any technical measures to forestall attacks from vehicle-based devices. “But we are adopting security measures to prevent damages. We are not complacent nor will we be deterred from supporting the Afghans,” Tharoor said during the Question Hour.

The minister also pointed a finger of suspicion at Pakistan for the 2009 attack on the embassy in Kabul, saying, “Afghanistan has said the attack finds its origins on the other side of the border, but we are awaiting conclusive results of the investigation currently going on into the October 8 attack. There is, however, no doubt in anyone’s mind as to who is interested in damaging India’s interests in Afghanistan. “Evidence is just one part. We have to be vigilant,” said Tharoor, recalling ISI’s involvement in the 2008 attack on the Indian mission in Kabul, which caused 59 deaths and 150 injuries on the whole.

This year’s attack resulted in 18 deaths and 83 injuries; lesser Indian lives were lost this time, with the minister today crediting the same to beefed-up security.

Interestingly, a recent survey of the Afghan perceptions of other nations’ involvement in their rebuilding placed India on the top - with 54 per cent Afghans praising the Indian engagement even before the UN and NATO’s.

So far as security measures in Afghanistan go, India today made it clear that it was not part of any such debate but believed that the pressure on the Taliban and the Al-Qaida should not be allowed to ease considering Pakistan is yet to act against the perpetrators of 26/11.

On the global level, India is already pursuing the adoption of a comprehensive resolution against terrorism. A draft for the same has been circulated.

New Delhi, November 25
Former Prime Minister Narsimha Rao may have escaped indictment in the ’92 Babri demolition case on account of technicalities in the Constitution on Centre-state relations. Justice MS Liberhan Commission that probed the demolition of the Ram Janambhoomi- Babri Masjid structure opines “President’s Rule ought to have been imposed in the state-that is beyond any doubt…”

However, the constitutional restraints imposed on the Central government were cleverly utilised by the state government (of Uttar Pradesh), said the commission’s report, which was tabled in Parliament yesterday.

The late Narasimha Rao, who was the then PM, had testified before the commission saying “….(the situation in the pre-demolition days) did not warrant imposition of President’s Rule”. He also stated that mere rumours and imaginations, prejudices or hearsay were not enough. He feared imposition of President’s Rule would have far-reaching consequences and could also lead to large-scale violence….. The possibility of damage to disputed structure itself could not be ruled out.

Rao said the ‘karseva’ was to be conducted within the parameters laid down by the Supreme Court (peaceful prayers with no disruption to the structure).

The former PM categorically stated that Article 355 ( imposing Presidents rule) of the Constitution could not be invoked s a preventive measure; it could only be employed as a remedial measure. So was the case with article 356. It could be invoked when a situation had arisen and not when the situation had yet to arise, it could not be invoked anticipation of a situation. This technicality allowed Rao to escape indictment.

Surprisingly, the commission reveals: “The role of Central government was not referred to the commission and not part of the questions referred to the commission”.

Jaipur, November 25
Dubbing himself as “old”, AICC general secretary Rahul Gandhi today said he was merely acting as a catalyst in strengthening the party’s youth wings - the Youth Congress and the NSUI.

Addressing mediapersons here, Rahul said, “If you do a demographic analysis of the population, I am old. I am 39. If you see the population of the country, 60 per cent of our population is below 40.” He stated this while replying to a query as to how old is young for the Congress. He said he has set out on a job to make the Youth Congress a dynamic and powerful organisation.

“We are moving towards a system which listens to the voice of youngsters, though it will take some time for implementation. Today’s youth is intelligent, dynamic and capable and they only need to be empowered with an organisation, which will help them deal with several burning issues facing the society,” he averred.

Replying to another question, he said he has not empowered the youth and is acting only as a catalyst. “Rahul Gandhi has not empowered youth but they have empowered themselves.”

When asked about some Congressmen exploiting their connections to get their children into the Youth Congress, Rahul said, “Though we have reduced its scope by doing away with nomination in the Youth Congress and the NSUI, if a person wins an election you cannot deny him the place simply because he is a kin of a party leader.”

At the same time he added that those with no political background are also getting an equal opportunity to contest the Youth Congress elections. “The only ones who cannot participate in these polls are criminals and those with hardline ideology,” he added. Regarding the role of former Election Commissioners KJ Rao and JM Lyngdoh in the Youth Congress elections, he said they would ensure that the elections are free and fair.

“We wanted an outside agency to monitor our election process to ensure that it is as fair as possible and a panel of former ECs will be doing the job for us. They can go anywhere and check anything and point out the shortcomings in our elections. We will take the corrective measures,” he stated.

Ranchi, November 25
Around 52 per cent polling was recorded in 26 constituencies in the first of the five-phase assembly elections in Jharkhand amid air surveillance and tight security today, Election Commission officials said.

Barring a few skirmishes, polling was by and large peaceful. As many as 6,532,234 voters exercised their franchise in 8,176 booths to decide the electoral fortunes of 470 candidates, including 34 women, they said.

The polling began at 7 am and ended at 3 pm. The opening and closing time for the polling has been advanced in view of Naxal threats and election boycott announced by the left wing extremists in the constituencies.

Prominent among the 470 candidates were former deputy Chief Minister Stephen Marandi and former assembly speaker Alamgir Alam (both Congress), Suraj Mondal and Hemlal Murmu (both JMM).

The high-pitch campaigning for the first phase saw the multi-crore money laundering case allegedly involving former CM Madhu Koda and his associates raised by different parties, with Congress and BJP blaming each other for “nurturing” Koda.

The second phase polling will be held on December 2, the third phase on 8th, fourth on 12th and the fifth on 18th of the month. The results will be announced on December 23.

The bodyguard of JMM nominee Suraj Mandal was suspended for opening fire following a scuffle at Poreyahat Assembly constituency in Godda district.

“Nobody was hurt in the incident. The guard has been placed under suspension and an FIR was lodged with Poreyahat police station,” additional Chief Electoral Officer Sailesh Kumar Singh said.

The guard was provided to the former MP, who contested from Poreyahat seat, by the Jharkhand police. — PTI

Lucknow, November 25
Politics over the price of sugarcane in the state is refusing to die down. While farmers have threatened a repeat of what they did in New Delhi, the state government has suddenly disallowed all demonstrations outside the Assembly building.

Clearly jittery at the prospect of the farmers bringing the capital city to a standstill, just as they had done in New Delhi, the Mayawati government, citing ‘terror threat’ as reason, has issued a directive to shift the dharna site near the Vidhan Sabha.

The state government has decided that from now onwards all protests and dharnas would be held at the Shri Jhulel Park near Nadwa and Shaheed Samarak. The two places are almost three kilometers away from the Vidhan Sabha.

Earlier in the day, while speaking to mediapersons, Chief Minister Mayawati, in a bid to accommodate the sugarcane farmers, pointed out that the State Advisory Price (SAP) was only an indicative minimum price to be offered.

She said private mill owners have already announced to give ad additional Rs 25 per quintal as incentive to farmers. Despite the CM going to great lengths to explain how the interests of the cane farmers was a priority of her government, the Rashtriya Lok Dal and Bharatiya Kishan Union (BKU) are determined to continue with their call for a statewide chakka jam on December 1.