|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
SAD screams murder, wants Red Cross probe
news Analysis
Sarabjit assaulters charged with murder
Pak's Punjab CM orders judicial probe into death
All 57 Pak prisoners in Punjab jails secluded
LS stalled over Sarabjit’s death, Sajjan’s acquittal
RS passes Finance Bill amidst protests, walkouts
JPC chief to stay but fate of 2G draft report hangs in balance New street vendors protection Bill gets Cabinet nod
All-party meet on EVMs with paper trail on May 10, EC tells SC
Farmers protest against land acquisition
Train passengers looted
|
|
Chandigarh, May 2 The vexatious question is likely to be given a quiet burial in Pakistan, as his body is handed over to his kin back home. But the issue of his identity is unlikely to die its natural death in India, as the circumstances leading to Sarabjit Singh’s incarceration -- and end of his journey to the gallows before the destination -- are being debated again. The Background
When the farmer from Bhikhiwind, located along the India-Pakistan border in Punjab’s Tarn Taran district, vanished on the dark night of August 28, 1990, there was no way his family could have realised that their happiness was to remain locked behind bars of Kot Lakhpat jail in Lahore for 23 years.
Sukhpreet Kaur claims her late husband left home to plough fields near the Wagah border. A school drop-out, he would work on farms to support his family. But what Sukhpreet Kaur at that time did not realise was that Sarabjit Singh, in the process of ploughing fields, was digging his grave. After he failed to returned, his family launched a massive combing operation in and around the village, but could not track him down. About nine months later, they received information about his being alive. The family received a letter from Sarabjit, claiming he had been caught by Pakistani border forces after erroneously crossing the border under the influence of liquor. India has maintained that Sarabjit was arrested by Pakistani border guards in an inebriated state on the border near Kasur. Pakistan has a different story to narrate. Initially, Pakistani policemen slapped the charge of illegally crossing the border against Sarabjit. Attribute it to the not-so-cordial relationship with India, or a result of further investigation, the charge against Sarabjit Singh became grave. After eight days, he was charged with being involved in the 1990 terror blasts at Faisalabad and Lahore.
Identity Crisis
Pakistani authorities claimed he was Manjit Singh and was responsible for carrying out four blasts and was arrested while returning to India after carrying out the explosions. Manjit Singh was accused of working for an Indian intelligence agency and described as a terrorist. Even an FIR in the matter carried Manjit Singh’s name. During the course of trial, the Pakistani authorities claimed he confessed his crime. Pakistani human rights activist Ansar Burney, too, said none of the four FIRs contained Sarabjit’s name or description. Talking to The Tribune, Burney had earlier asserted that he had already requested the Punjab Government in India to authenticate the FIR in which Sarabjit Singh was shown as missing from Bhikhiwind in 1990 so that he could again take up the issue. Human rights activist-cum-Punjab and Haryana High Court lawyer Ranjan Lakhanpal, who has been taking up Sarabjit’s case along with Burney at different levels nationally and internationally, says the confession was forced. Lakhanpal, who had moved a court in Pakistan on the issue earlier, says the evidence against Sarabjit was not presented to India. The forced confession was the only video India saw.
The Trial
More than a decade after he was arrested, Sarabjit Singh was handed over a death sentence under the Pakistan's Army Act. Contacted by The Tribune through email, British lawyer Jas Uppal, who had been campaigning for Sarabjit’s release, says the trial was fast-tracked. The main witness repeatedly changed his version. Sarabjit’s identity was neither verified nor established in court. Language, too, was a barrier. The trial was conducted in English and Sarabjit was not provided an interpreter, though he did not speak or understand English. Forensic evidence to link him to the bomb attacks was not provided. Sarabjit’s sentence was upheld by the high court. Challenging the verdict, his counsel contended that the conviction was based solely on the "confessional statement" of Sarabjit Singh, which was subsequently retracted. In its 27-page judgment, the Pakistan Supreme Court held that the death sentence awarded to Sarabjit Singh was "well-deserved" and that there was no scope for any "leniency" given the "nature of offence". Upholding the sentence, the Pakistan Supreme Court maintained that the act of Sarabjit Singh “was not only an act of terrorism at the national level, rather it was an act of international terrorism, the object of which was to disrupt and destroy the national life of the people of Pakistan and the petitioner by committing this heinous offence not only caused loss of life and property of innocent persons but also made an attempt to damage the national integrity and stability of Pakistan." The apex court said there was no substance in the defence counsel’s contention that it was unsafe to convict the petitioner on the basis of judicial confession which was subsequently retracted, in the absence of direct evidence.
The Twist
On April 26, 2008, prime witness Shaukat Salim retracted his statement during an interview with newspersons. Salim, whose father and other relatives had been killed in the attack, had initially told the court that Sarabjit had planted the bomb. He went back on his statement to say he had done so under pressure from the Pakistani police. Since his conviction, online campaigns were launched and mercy petitions filed by Sarabjit's legal representatives.
What Next
Lakhanpal says he will move a Pakistan court to seek strict action not just against Sarabjit’s attackers, but also jail staff. He says he would also pray for grant of compensation to Sarabjit’s family.
Manjit or Sarabjit: Identity not established in court
More than a decade after he was arrested, Sarabjit Singh was handed over a death sentence under the Pakistan's Army Act British lawyer Jas Uppal, who had been campaigning for Sarabjit’s release, says the trial was fast-tracked. The main witness repeatedly changed his version. Sarabjit’s identity was neither verified nor established in court Language, too, was a barrier. The trial was conducted in English and Sarabjit was not provided an interpreter, though he did not speak or understand English Forensic evidence to link him to the bomb attacks was not provided. Sarabjit’s sentence was upheld by the high court Pakistani human rights activist Ansar Burney has said none of the four FIRs contained Sarabjit’s name or description Challenging the verdict, his counsel contended that the conviction was based solely on Sarabjit’s "confessional statement", which was subsequently retracted Human rights activist-cum-Punjab and Haryana HC lawyer Ranjan Lakhanpal, who had taken up Sarabjit’s case along with Burney nationally and internationally, says the confession was forced He says the evidence against Sarabjit was not presented to India. The forced confession was the only video India saw
TIMELINE
1990: Bhikhiwind farmer Sarabjit Singh crosses over to Pak, inebriated; nine months on, he writes to his family saying he has been caught after erroneously crossing over
1991: Sarabjit Singh is convicted of spying, carrying out bombings in Lahore, Faisalabad and is sentenced to death; the sentence is upheld by a higher court
2006: The Supreme Court of Pakistan rejects Sarabjit Singh’s appeal for reviewing his death sentence and upholds the sentence awarded to him
2008: His renewed mercy plea is turned down by President Pervez Musharraf. However, his execution was later delayed by the Pakistani government 2012: President Zardari commutes his death sentence to life imprisonment following which Pak authorities say they will free him, but take a U-turn later 2013: Sarabjit severely assaulted by jail inmates; admitted to ICU; family calls for his transfer to India; request turned down; succumbs to injuries in hospital on May 2
|
|
sound & fury
— Dalbir Kaur, Sarabjit’s sister
— Manmohan Singh, PM
— Preneet
Kaur, MoS External Affairs —
The BJP is shedding crocodile tears. They did not even lift a single little finger to even provide consular access to Sarabjit while in power. — Manish Tewari, MoS I&B —
This is a result of bad handling of the case. I can only say sorry for the state of affairs that perpetrated this situation. —
The Govt should take strong steps now. It must show tough attitude. —
Partap Singh Bajwa,
PPCC chief
— Rajnath Singh, BJP president
|
||
|
SAD screams murder, wants Red Cross probe
Chandigarh, May 2 SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal said India should push Pakistan for an independent probe into Sarabjit’s death. “The way he (Sarabjit) was butchered in the Pakistan jail is a direct violation of human rights. The International Committee of the Red Cross should be asked to inquire into the case,” he said. “Despite repeatedly raising this serious issue for the last several years, the Congress-led UPA government did not pay any heed towards it while the family of Sarabjit fought at their own level to save him,” he said. Lashing out at the Congress-led UPA government at the Centre for its alleged failure to protect Sarabjit’s life, he said the UPA’s “weak-kneed” policies were responsible for the cold-blooded murder of Sarabjit. The SAD president said India should learn from countries like the USA that left no stone unturned to protect their citizens. Sharing grief with the bereaved family, he said the Punjab Government was standing with the family of Sarabjit in this hour of grief and had decided to offer jobs to both his daughters.
He’s a ‘national martyr’: Badal
Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal described Sarabjit as a “national martyr” who suffered unspeakable repression and torture with dignity. He declared a three-day state mourning and announced relief of Rs 1 crore for the family. The government would move a resolution in the Vidhan Sabha tomorrow to mourn Sarabjit’s death and to pay homage to him, he said. He came down heavily on the handling of the case by the Centre and called it “a gross diplomatic failure and a sign of weakness”.
|
||
|
Public anger spills on Punjab, Haryana roads
Amritsar/Chandigarh, May 2 In Amritsar, the Akhil Bharatiya Human Rights Organisation said Sarabjit’s death was a violation of human rights by Pakistan and its agencies. General secretary of the organisation HS Tanwar said Pakistan did not treat Sarabjit as a human being. He appealed to the Indian Government and the international organisations to take steps so that such acts were not repeated in future. The team organised a prayer in memory of Sarabjit Singh at the Golden Temple. Former Cabinet minister and senior BJP leader Laxmi Kanta Chawla said had the government become alert after the death of Indian national Chamel Singh in a Pakistan jail sometime back, Sarabjit could have been alive. The government should take up the issue of the security of Indian prisoners lodged in Pakistani jails in international courts, she said. Photographs of the Prime Minister were burnt near Cheharrta by angry protesters who wanted the Centre to snap all ties with Pakistan. Similar protests were held at Muktsar and Malout in Punjab and Sirsa, Bhiwani and
Sonepat.
|
||
|
First Chamel, now Sarabjit. How safe are Pak jails?
215 fishermen among nearly 270 Indians languishing in jails in Pakistan Ashok Tuteja/TNS
New Delhi, May 2 Pakistani militant groups had openly threatened to “avenge” the hangings and create unrest in India. The response came quickly when terrorists, said to be linked to Pakistan-based groups, carried out attacks in Hyderabad and Bangalore. Also, the killing in January this year of Chamel Singh, another Indian prisoner in Pakistan, had already raised doubts about the safety of Indian death row convict Sarabjit Singh. The murderous attack on Sarabjit in the heavily-fortified Kot Lakhpat Jail in Lahore on the night of April 26 obviously could not have taken place without the active connivance of the prison authorities. How else could the prisoners could lay their hands on iron rods, bricks, cutters, prison plates and blades and pounce on Sarabjit? To give a false impression about their resolve to punish the guilty, Pakistan Police claim to have booked at least two Pakistani prisoners for the attack and suspended some jail officials. The prisoners reportedly told investigators that they attacked Sarabjit because he had carried out bomb attacks in Lahore. But one wonders why Sarabjit was not housed in a safe barrack in the prison and, instead, made to share a cell with Pakistani inmates who posed a serious threat to his life. The attack on Sarabjit ostensibly was the only alternative to his execution the Pakistani authorities could think of. Sarabjit had himself written to the Indian authorities recently that he feared for his life in the jail and that he was being mentally tortured in his cell. India had repeatedly taken up Sarabjit’s issue with the Pakistani authorities since 2005 at every level, pointing out that his was a case of mistaken identity and he had nothing to do with the bomb blasts in Lahore and Multan in the nineties. Sarabjit’s appeal for clemency had currently been pending with Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari. India and Pakistan could still debate whether Sarabjit was innocent or actually an Indian agent but he certainly was entitled to live with dignity like other prisoners under international conventions. The prison manual in every civilised nation specifies norms for treating prisoners which are religiously adhered to by the authorities. Pakistan has a dubious history of treating its prisoners, particularly those from across the border. The two countries had also sometime back constituted a judicial commission consisting of legal experts from the two sides to visits each other’s jails and suggest reforms. As on January one this year, nearly 270 Indians prisoners are undergoing their jail terms in Pakistan, many of them on fictitious charges. They include 215 Indian fishermen who strayed into Pakistani waters. India must now ensure that they don’t meet Sarabjit’s fate. Also, it must firmly seek answers from Pakistan for the brutal attack on Sarabjit and his subsequent death.
Killed to ‘avenge’ Kasab, Afzal execution
|
||
|
Sarabjit assaulters charged with murder
The Pakistan police today slapped murder charges against the two death row prisoners who were booked for the brutal assault on fellow inmate Sarabjit Singh.
The Lahore police added murder charges to the FIR registered against death row prisoners - Amer Aftab, alias Amer Tambewala, and Mudassar - for attacking Sarabjit on Friday last week. The Pakistan authorities have also ordered a judicial inquiry into Sarabjit’s murder. Punjab caretaker chief minister Najam Sethi has directed the officials to complete the probe within 15 days. Indian High Commissioner Sharat Sabharwal met Sethi in Lahore and was briefed about the initial investigations leading to the April-26 attack on Sarabjit and the medical treatment given at Jinnah Hospital. Sarabjit’s body was flown to India after a postmortem examination at Jinnah Hospital. The Pakistan authorities handed over the body to the Indian High Commission staff in Lahore. Preliminary autopsy report suggested that Singh died of fatal head injuries received in the attack at the Kot Lakhpat jail. The motive remained unclear with Pakistan police saying initial investigation pointed towards exchange of “heated words” between the inmates. Sarabjit’s lawyer claimed the prisoner had been receiving threats from inmates ever since Afzal Guru’s execution. Sarabjit, who was sentenced to death 16 years ago over alleged bombings, died in the early hours of Thursday from injuries suffered in the attack. He had remained in coma all along and was on life support. Pakistan authorities claimed Sarabjit was provided with best possible treatment and that he died of cardiac arrest. “The prisoner, who had been in a comatose state and on a ventilator for the past few days, was being provided the best treatment available and the medical staff at Jinnah Hospital had been working round the clock… to save his life,” the Pakistan foreign ministry said in a statement on Thursday. The government provided “all assistance” to Singh’s family and the Indian authorities, the statement added. Hospital authorities said his condition deteriorated earlier in the evening and he died around 1.30 am. Security compromised: Pak panel
Lahore: Sarabjit Singh could not have been fatally attacked within the prison “without the knowledge and support of prison guards and the authorities”, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan has said. “It was no secret that Sarabjit faced more threats than other prisoners on account of the charge that he was convicted of and yet his security was so completely compromised,” the statement said. — PTI
|
||
|
Pak's Punjab CM orders judicial probe into death
Lahore, May 2 Najam Sethi, the caretaker Chief Minister of Punjab province, ordered the judicial inquiry. He directed officials to ensure that the probe was completed in 15 days. "Chief Minister Najam Sethi has directed the Home Department to prepare terms of reference for a judicial inquiry into the murder of Sarabjit Singh. The inquiry would be completed within 15 days," a Punjab government spokesman said. The inquiry will be conducted by a High Court judge, state-run Radio Pakistan reported. Sethi also directed authorities to beef up security for all foreign prisoners in jails across Punjab province, the spokesman said. The Police today added murder charges to an FIR registered against two death row prisoners - Amer Aftab and Mudassar - booked for attacking him. No action has been taken so far against officials of the jail for failing to provide adequate security to Sarabjit. — PTI
|
||
|
All 57 Pak prisoners in Punjab jails secluded
Chandigarh/Ambala, May 2 Confirming the development, Punjab Minister for Jails Swaran Singh Phillaur said, “The process commenced immediately after the attack on Sarabjit Singh last week. In the latest development, the lone Pakistani prisoner lodged at the Kapurthala jail has been shifted to Amritsar.” Thirty-eight Pakistani prisoners are lodged in the Amritsar jail, eight in Ferozepur jail, four in Patiala jail and two in the high-security Nabha jail. Sources said of the 38 Pakistani inmates in Amritsar jail, 28 had completed their terms. Such prisoners are lodged in a transit camp in the jail. An assistant jail superintendent has been given the charge of maintaining security in each jail. Indian prisoners are not being allowed to come face to face with Pakistani nationals. ADGP (Prisons) Rajpal Meena said, “We don’t have any feedback on the possibility of any uncomfortable situation in jails. However, a revised duty plan has been put in place as a precaution.” Ambala jail authorities have also beefed up the security of Pakistan nationals Mohmmad Saleem and Masood Akhtar serving life terms in the central jail there. Saleem belongs to Faislabad while Masood is from of Sahiwal. A case was registered against Saleem at the Baldevnagar police station in 2002, while Masood was booked under similar provisions at the Ambala Sadar police station in 2003. Both had admitted that they crossed the border illegally. The police had found that they were involved in spying. They were shifted to the security cell of the jail last evening. Security guards have been deployed outside their cell and they have been barred from meeting co-inmates.
|
||
|
LS stalled over Sarabjit’s death, Sajjan’s acquittal New Delhi, May 2 Akali Dal members stormed the Well of the house demanding a Supreme Court-monitored Special Investigation Team probe into the 1984 riots. Akali Dal MP from Bathinda Harsimrat Badal led the party members in the protest on the issue and carried a placard which read: “We want Supreme Court-monitored SIT probe into the 1984 anti-Sikh riots cases”. The BJP on its part slammed the government for its inability to prevent the Chinese incursions and also raised slogans against the Prime Minister in the coal scam. The BJP also protested against the death of Sarabjit. Amid ruckus, the government tried to get the National Food Security Bill passed but the same could not happen.
|
||
|
RS passes Finance Bill amidst protests, walkouts
New Delhi, May 2 The Opposition started to protest immediately after the Bills were being introduced after the first round of adjournment in the morning. Later, almost all the Opposition parties criticised the government over its policies, especially the foreign policy in the wake of Sarabjit’s death and Chinese incursion and staged a walkout, leaving the Congress-led UPA to listen to Finance Minister P Chidambaram’s reply. As Deputy Chairman PJ Kurien spoke in an attempt to introduce the Bills, BJP members were immediately on their feet taking strong objection to the procedure being adopted by the Chair, leading to heated arguments. The BJP members argued that as per the understanding, Leader of the Opposition in the House Arun Jaitley should be allowed to speak first, before considering the Bills clause by clause. Accepting the demand of the BJP members, Kurien later allowed Jaitley to speak but only after he had asked the Finance Minister to introduce the Bill. The BJP then was the first party to stage a walkout after the Bill was introduced, saying it was dissatisfied with the moral standards of the government and thus, could not cooperate. As part of an agreement reached between the government and the Opposition, the Finance Bill and demands for grants for various ministries, along with the railway Bill and appropriation Bill, were taken up by the Rajya Sabha in the afternoon, with the Opposition agreeing to maintain peace in the house. Jaitley said the Opposition did not want to cooperate with the government, but it also did not want to stall the passage of the Finance Bill. Attacking the government for "subverting" institutions, including the JPC, Jaitley said the issues raised were "contradictions on the eve of the winding up of the Raj". He said the needle of suspicion points towards the Prime Minister in the coal scam investigations as he was the Coal Minister when the coal block allocations were made. Jaitley said this was the first time that the investigating agency shared its reports with the possible suspects in the coal block scam. "These are contradictions on the eve of the winding up of the Raj, it is very clear today," he said. "There is a constitutional need that all Finance Bills are discussed, but we regret the condition of morality, governance and the situation of the nation; hence we cannot cooperate with the government," Jaitley said. "This government has inherited an Indian dream. It has converted it into a nightmare. This is what the people of India feel," Jaitley said as his party staged a walkout as the Finance and Railway Bills were taken up. Others who joined the BJP in its attack on the government included leaders of the BSP, AIADMK, DMK and SP, while the Trinamool Congress staged a walkout as they were not allowed to speak. Later, in a strong message to tax evaders, the government said that it will step up efforts to bring more people into its net and will endeavour to recover tax arrears.
|
||
|
JPC chief to stay but fate of 2G draft report hangs in balance New Delhi, May 2 Advising the squabbling MPs to sink their differences and place the JPC report before Parliament as mandated, the Speaker said contentious matters could be resolved in the committee by a majority view - a fact the ruling Congress is finding hard to get over, considering it lacks the majority in the JPC. Congress’ overtures to get the Samajwadi Party on board in the JPC didn’t yield results today with government sources saying talks were still on with the SP. In a 30-member JPC, the government currently has 14 members on its side -- 11 from the Congress, two from the BSP and one from the NCP. It needs support of the SP to tilt the scales in its favour and get the controversial JPC draft report adopted and placed before Parliament. All this must be done at the earliest, considering the term of the JPC ends with the end of Budget Session on May 10 or before in case Parliament is adjourned sine die. If the Congress gets one more MP on its side, it will be in a majority because the chairman has two votes. As for the Opposition BJP, Left, TMC and even Congress’ ally DMK, the adoption of the JPC draft report is out of question as it exonerates the Prime Minister and then Finance Minister P Chidambaram in the scam. JPC’s BJP member and former Finance Minister Yashwant Sinha recently demanded the Prime Minister’s explanation in the matter. It was on these grounds that 15 MPs had asked the Speaker to remove Chacko who, they said, didn’t act fairly in summoning witnesses. With the Speaker today saying she cannot remove Chacko, the ball is now in government’s court in as far as adoption of the draft report is concerned. Chacko said he would call a meeting of the JPC to take things forward. But that is a difficult call given the lack of majority support in the committee. Another option before Chacko is to move a motion in the Lok Sabha seeking extension of the JPC, for which again he needs the consent of majority members in the JPC. Meanwhile, sources in the Left today said they had prepared notes to explain reasons for rejection of the JPC report. There is a possibility of the Left allowing adoption of the JPC report with notes of dissent. What happens would depend on the Congress’ next move.
|
||
|
New street vendors protection Bill gets Cabinet nod New Delhi, May 2 “The Bill was discussed and cleared in the Union Cabinet meeting,” government sources confirmed. The proposed changes in the Bill, whose earlier version was tabled by the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Urban Development on March 13, will supersede all state and municipal laws as well as police Acts. “The provisions of this Act shall have effect notwithstanding anything inconsistent therein contained in any other law for the time being in force or in any instrument having effect by virtue of any law other than this Act,” the Bill states. The communication on this from Union Minister of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation Ajay Maken was announced during a national dialogue organised by the National Association of Street Vendors of India (NASVI) with support from the Centre for Civil Society. “Protecting and promoting livelihood of street vendors is of paramount importance for the inclusive growth of cities and towns, and the government is committed to table the Bill in the current session of Parliament,” stated the message. “We have struggled a lot for this and the deck is cleared now. We want the Bill to get passed in this session,” NASVI national coordinator Arbind Singh said. It was following objections from several streets vendors and trade unions that the previously drafted Bill was revised.In particular, the contention was about vendors doing business at and around railway stations, who had been excluded from the previous Bill. They will now be covered under the Bill.
|
||
|
All-party meet on EVMs with paper trail on May 10, EC tells SC
New Delhi, May 2 Appearing for the EC, senior counsel Ashok Desai told a Bench comprising Justices P Sathasivam and Ranjan Gogoi that all recognised national and state parties would attend the meeting and express their views on the EVMs with voter verifiable paper audit trail (VVPAT). The EC would also have a discussion with political parties and others over the introduction of the new EVMs. The EC would need 13 lakh units of new EVMs involving a cost of around Rs 1,690 crore, Desai said. Field trials of the paper-trail feature have been successful in all weather conditions in areas like Delhi, Trivandrum, Lakshadweep, Jaisalmer and Cherrapunji. A committee of experts and manufacturers, including Bharat Electronics and Electronic Corporation of India Limited, has also accorded technical
clearance to it. After casting his vote, a voter would be able to see a ballot come out of the EVM that he would drop into a box. This would re-assure the voter that his choice of candidate had been recorded correctly by the EVM. This would
also allow an option to the authorities to count paper ballots in case of a dispute over the electronic counting of votes in
any constituency. However, the voters would not be given copies of their votes as this would allow them a chance to draw benefits for voting for any particular candidate, Desai said. The apex court is hearing a PIL filed by Janata Party chief Subramanian Swamy seeking additional facility of paper balloting in order to prevent rigging.
WHY NEW EVMs?
|
||
|
Farmers protest against land acquisition
Mumbai, May 2 The most vociferous protest against land acquisition for the project is coming from Maharashtra's Raigad district where the government plans to acquire 62,440 hectares in 78 villages. Protesting farmers from the region have now come to Mumbai where they are camping at the Azad Maidan in South Mumbai. "The government is in a hurry to acquire as much land as possible before the new land acquisition Bill is passed in Parliament," says Ulka Mahajan, one of the local activists protesting the move to acquire agricultural land for the project. Mahajan added that the new piece of legislation would make it mandatory for the government to obtain permission from 70 per cent of the population. "People here will not easily give up their land, so the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation will not get permission from the majority of land owners," Mahajan said.
|
||
|
Train passengers looted
Garhwa (Jharkhand), May 2 At least seven armed dacoits went on to loot and beat passengers at around 7 am from sleeper coach one to seven when the Howrah-bound train was passing between Bindhamganj and Nagar Utary Railway stations.
— PTI
|
|
| HOME PAGE | |
Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir |
Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs |
Nation | Opinions | | Business | Sports | World | Letters | Chandigarh | Ludhiana | Delhi | | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | E-mail | |
New Delhi, May 2
He was martyred for India. (Pakistan President Asif Ali) Zardari killed him because of elections.
It is particularly regrettable that the government of Pakistan did not heed the pleas of the government of India, Sarabjit's family and of civil society in India and Pakistan to take a humanitarian view of this case.
Pakistani prisoners are safe in Indian jails. We are a responsible government.
When his (Sarabjit's) sister was crying for her brother, the government did not show its strength. It is a weak government
Narendra Modi, Gujarat CM 
Stern action should be taken against those guilty of brutally assaulting Sarabjit inside the jail. The Centre should have taken timely steps.
Akhilesh Yadav, UP CM 
Mamata Banerjee, WB CM 
The level of diplomatic relations with Pak should be scaled down for the time being, and the Indian High Commissioner should be called back.
Soon after the Union Home Ministry told all states to step up security of around 220 Pakistani prisoners lodged in jails across the country, all 57 Pakistani prisoners lodged in Punjab jails have been secluded from other inmates.
The Election Commission today informed the Supreme Court that it was holding an all-party meeting on May 10 for a demonstration on the functioning of the new electronic voting machines (EVMs) with paper-trail feature. The new feature would allay apprehensions of rigging in elections.