NEW DELHI: Taking stock of “lessons learnt” from the recent stand off in Ladakh after a Chinese incursion there, India and China on Monday decided on further measures for maintaining peace and tranquillity along their border.

This was disclosed after discussions on “mutual interest and concern” between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his Chinese counterpart Li Keqiang, who met here for the second time since Sunday, covering a wide range of issues including boundary dispute, trans-border rivers and trade deficit.

Addressing a joint press meet, the two leaders acknowledged their talks — last night and then this morning — had been “candid” and “frank”, a diplomatic aphorism for their forthright discussions.

Noting that they “took stock of lessons learnt from the recent incident in the Western Sector, when existing mechanisms proved their worth”, Dr Singh announced, “We have tasked our Special Representatives to consider further measures that may be needed to maintain peace and tranquillity along the border.

“We agreed that our Special Representatives will meet soon to continue discussions, seeking early agreement on a framework for a fair, reasonable and mutually acceptable boundary settlement.”

The talks come nearly a month after the 19-km-deep incursion by the Chinese troops in Depsang valley in Ladakh which was resolved only two weeks ago.

On his part, Li, while admitting that there were “some problems” between the two countries, said, “Both sides believe that, with regard to the boundary question, one that is leftover by history, the two sides have over time established the principles on this question.

“In the meantime, we have worked together to maintain tranquillity and peace on the border,” the Chinese Premier said, adding, “We need to confront various issues with a board mind and conduct dialogue on those issues in a mature and sensible way.

“We need to appropriately handle our cooperation by maintaining peace and tranquillity in the border areas and on the trans-border river issues.”

In a written statement issued upon his arrival, Li extended sincere greetings and best wishes to the Indian government and the 1.2 billion Indian people on behalf of the Chinese government and the 1.3 billion Chinese people.

China and India are friendly neighbours linked by mountains and rivers, said the Chinese premier, hailing the development of bilateral relations since the two countries established diplomatic ties in 1950.

In the 21st century, political exchanges between the two countries are getting more frequent and practical cooperation is expanding, Li said.

Nowadays, both China and India are speeding up their development, making steady efforts to boost their economy and improve people’s lives, and sharing deepening convergence of interests, he added.

Cooperation between China and India means that the two great civilizations can learn from each other, the two major markets complement each other, the two major emerging economies fulfil common development, and the two neighbouring countries achieve mutual benefit and win-win results, according to the statement. — PTI

NEW DELHI: Tibetan organisations today said they will stage protests in the next two days against the visit of Chinese Premier Li Keqiang even as police stepped up security in the city for the leader's arrival.

A large number of personnel were deployed at Chinese embassy and the hotel were the Premier is staying and traffic diversions enforced in several places.

Four Metro stations near possible protest locations will also be closed for public from 8 am to 10 am tomorrow.

Traffic diversions will remain in place till Tuesday afternoon, police said.

Due to VVIP movement across the city, the carriageways of Sardar Patel Marg will remain closed from Panchsheel Marg up to Dhaula Kuan till Tuesday afternoon. No traffic will be allowed on this stretch, police said.

However, Ring Road and Vandematram Marg will remain open for all types of traffic, including buses.

During the period, traffic police will ensure unhindered movement on certain routes from different portions of the city. These corridors will include — Ring Road from Dhaula Kuan to AIIMS, Aurobindo Marg, Lodhi Road, Mathura Road, Purana Qila Road, C-Hexagon, Ashok Road, Baba Kharak Singh Marg, Park Street, roundabout Shankar Road, Upper Ridge Road upto Dhaula Kuan.

"Those who want continuous movement can use this corridor to travel from one portion of the city to any other portion of the city," a police spokesperson said today.

Bonafied residents, office goers and visitors at SPM, Army Battle Honours Marg, Abhai Marg and Manas Marg will be allowed after due verification.

Due to VVIP movement tomorrow, traffic police has advised people to avoid areas including C-Hexagon, Ring Road and Mathura Road between 8.30 am to 10.30 am. C-Hexagon shall be affected from 10 am to 3 pm.

Delhi Metro has decided to close Metro station at Race Course Road for two hours in the evening, besides shutting four others tomorrow. — PTI

NEW DELHI: BCCI's anti-corruption unit chief Ravi Sawani today held a meeting with the top Delhi Police officials, who are investigating into the spot-fixing scandal that has rocked the Indian Premier League.

Sawani, who has been appointed by the BCCI as commissioner of inquiry to probe spot-fixing allegations, said the Cricket Board has assured the Delhi police of providing all possible assistance in their investigation.

"I had a fruitful meeting with Delhi Police Commissioner Neeraj Kumar and other top officials. The BCCI has assured Delhi police of all its co-operation," Sawani told reporters after the meeting.

Sawani said the Delhi police has also been apprised of Rajasthan Royals' intention to file a criminal complaint against its three cricketers arrested for spot-fixing.

"We have also told them about the intention of the BCCI to request the Rajasthan Royals franchise to file a FIR with the Delhi police because the three players who have violated the code are also guilty under the criminal code and that the affected party is Rajasthan Royals. They would be filing a complaint with the Delhi police," he said.

Asked about whether the Delhi police investigation is going on beyond the three arrested cricketers, Sawani chose not to react.

"I am not at liberty to discuss anything more with you at this stage," he said.

Sawani said the BCCI has initiated an internal inquiry to probe into the allegations of spot-fixing but refused to set any deadline for the submission of his report.

"We will hold out a separate disciplinary inquiry and once I submit my report to the disciplinary committee, the BCCI will take appropriate action based on my report. I can't give you a definite timeframe. It will take some time to collect all the evidences in this matter," he said.

Sawani also refused to share any further information with the media as it "could affect my inquiry". — PTI

GHAZIABAD: Dentist Rajesh Talwar on Monday claimed in the court that he was asleep on the fateful night when his daughter Aarushi and domestic help Hemraj were murdered and Internet activity recorded from his room might not be correct.

Talwar's statement is being recorded under section 313 of CrPC where the judge poses questions directly to the accused to explain his version of the circumstances.

So far special CBI judge S Lal has posed over 200 questions to Talwar in which he is given a chance to put forward his defence, Talwar's counsel Manoj Sisodia told reporters here.

Talwar was on Monday asked about the recurrent internet activity recorded from his router on May 15 night when the murders took place.

CBI had claimed that he had used the Internet at regular intervals which show he was awake and knew about happenings in Aarushi's room.

Talwar told court on Monday that he was asleep after 11.30pm and did not use internet.

Sisodia claimed that router was showing activity on May 16 between 6am to 1pm as well after all the police and investigators had reached crime scene and the computers were switched off.

The router activity on May 16 shows that there was error in its recording and hence it cannot be claimed since Internet activity was there so Dr Talwar would have been awake, Sisodia said, adding that he did not know whether Talwar explained these details to the court or not.

CBI had presented an Airtel executive as its witness to buttress its claim that Internet activity was recorded on May 15 which belies Talwars claim that he was asleep and did not know about happenings in Aarushi's adjoining room.

Talwar was also asked about postmortem conducted on the body of Hemraj where CBI claimed that his swollen private parts indicated that the servant was indulging or about to indulge in sex just before his death.

Raj had claimed that he had not formed any opinion about swollen parts of the servant on the day of postmortem as he had thought he would tell reasons when asked about it.

He had also agreed with the defence counsel's view that swelling could also be result of decomposition of the body. — PTI