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Monday,
June 10, 2002, Chandigarh, India  
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Discontent brewing among Pak forces Sub combat abilities enhanced: Admiral Japanese leave amid war fears |
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No change of guard: Deshmukh PWG, govt to resume talks on June 20 Joshi to address Commonwealth conference All set for ‘amavas’ fair today Arundhati joins tribesmen’s stir ‘Cows being killed despite ban’ Kataria’s wife cremated
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Discontent brewing among Pak forces New Delhi, June 9 During the past fortnight, Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf, who is also the Chief of Army Staff, Vice-Chief Gen Yusuf Khan and the Commander of Pakistan Army’s 10th Corps, Lt Gen Arif Hasan, have rushed to Gilgit, Skardu and other parts of the northern areas facing Kargil sector. While fatigue has started setting in, the major cause of discontent among the Pakistani troops, including those from the Northern Light Infantry (NLI), has been their continued forward deployment since last October, when it began as part of the preparation for winter exercises, the reports said. But soon after the December 13 attack on Parliament here, Indian forces were massed on the international border and along the Line of Control. This led to continuation of deployment of the Pakistani troops in high altitudes and inhospitable terrain. In the past two weeks, Vice-Chief General Khan visited these areas twice and Lt General Hasan rushed there four times to meet and talk to the personnel, the reports said. The reports said the other causes of the brewing discontentment included the cancellation of leave for a long period which had led to complaints that the personnel had not been able to contact their families for the past five months. The troops, especially those of the Northern Light Infantry which lost about 1,000 men during the Kargil war, have also complained about delayed or non-payment of salaries during the past two months. The reports said even the local populace was feeling disturbed with the heightened presence of troops in these areas for such a long time. In some cases in the hill areas, the locals have refused to carry logistics and ration to forward positions fearing they would be caught in the cross-fire, they said. Scarcity of essential commodities, especially food items, have also been reported with normal supplies to these areas having been requisitioned by the army.
PTI |
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Sub combat abilities enhanced: Admiral Dehra Dun, June 9 “The strength of Pakistan’s navy lies in its submarines, and therefore, we have put ourselves in top gear so far as our submarine combat capabilities are concerned”, he said. Speaking to mediapersons after the conclusion of the passing-out parade at the Indian Military Academy yesterday, he said heightened tension in the subcontinent following Pakistan’s support to cross-border terrorism had increased the prospects of transfer of more naval ships from the Bay of Bengal to the Arabian Sea. On asked about the present scenario in the Arabian Sea, he said the situation was calm except for the monsoon, which had caused stormy weather conditions there. On acquiring new ships, including aircraft carriers, he said their acquisition was a continuous procedure as the ship-building operations entailed time and efforts. “Replacement of a particular ship which is to become obsolete in five or 10 year’s time is anticipated for placing the orders because it takes that much time for a ship to be built”, he said adding that talks were also in progress with Britain as well as Russia for aircraft carriers |
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Japanese leave amid war fears New Delhi, June 9 This came in the wake of the Japanese government telling all its citizens in India and Pakistan to leave the countries as soon as possible following mounting tension on the Indo-Pak border. Insurers imposing a war-risk premium on shipping firms servicing India and the Japan Airlines cancelling a weekly flight to Delhi also deepened the crisis. When contacted, a spokesperson of Maruti Udyog, the local venture of Suzuki Motor Corp., said that about 15 Japanese personnel working in the company are leaving for their native place as per their government’s instructions. He, however, added that there would be no impact on the automaker’s normal operations. Toyota Motor said most of the Japanese nationals working in its southern India plant have started leaving while a few would stay back in the country. "At the moment, we think it would be a temporary measure. We are just obeying the Japanese Government’s decision," a company spokesman said. In companies like motorcycle maker Yamaha Motor India, which has 14 Japanese expatriates, a senior official said that some have already left the country while the remaining would leave in the next two days. Meanwhile, the Japanese government has decided to charter a flight on Tuesday to airlift its nationals who were unable to get seats on commercial flights from India.
PTI |
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No change of guard: Deshmukh Bangalore, June 9 “There is no question (of change in the leadership). The high command has clarified this. The high command has confidence in me,” Mr Deshmukh told reporters after a nearly three-hour long interaction with MLAs of the Congress and the NCP at a luxurious resort on the city outskirts. About 101 MLAs are camping at Golden Palms and Resort and Spa owned by film personality Sanjay Khan for the past three days, apparently as part of the DF’s strategy to prevent the BJP-Shiv Sena combine from poaching on the DF legislators. Mr Deshmukh said party President Sonia Gandhi and leader Vyalar Ravi had said there was no need for changing the leadership. “It is very clear”. Asserting that he had the “magic numbers”, he said he was “100 per cent confident” about proving his majority in the trial of strength during the confidence vote on June 13. Accusing the Shiv Sena and the BJP of using “money and muscle power” to topple his ministry in “a desperate bid” to come back to power, he said they were making “exaggerated claims” about their numbers. The MLAs staying in Bangalore “are in high spirits”, Mr Deshmukh said, asserting that he was confident of victory. The DF would seek the support of the Peasants and Workers Party (PWP) during the crucial voting, he said. On the controversy surrounding Congress MLA Padmakar Walvi, he said the legislator had said that he was abducted and confined at the Matosree Sports Club by the BJP and the Shiv Sena and he was so much pressurised”. It was in this context that the state government had sought the intervention of Maharashtra Governor P.C. Alexander to direct the Police Commissioner of Mumbai to inquire whether Mr Walvi had gone there voluntarily or under pressure.
PTI |
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PWG, govt to resume talks on June 20 Hyderabad, June 9 PWG emissaries P. Varavara Rao and Gadar, who entered the venue with slogans and placards condemning the encounter deaths at Ananthapur district yesterday, told reporters after the three-hour long talks here that laying down of arms need not be a pre-condition for the lifting of ban. However, state representatives K. Vijayarama Rao and T. Sitaram contended that the law would apply to any one carrying arms and the lifting of the ban on the PWG was directly linked to their proclaimed policy of armed struggle. While the PWG envoys said that with “fake encounters” still on, the atmosphere was not conducive for holding talks, the state emissaries said despite minor skirmishes, the atmosphere was conducive for talks and hoped that they would reach a longlasting solution soon. Varavara Rao, who also agreed it was people’s will that the talks should continue, said they had protested over the encounter killings which took most of the time at the negotiating table today.
PTI |
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Joshi to address Commonwealth conference New Delhi, June 9 The three-day conference, being held in Limpopo Province, will focus on building upon grass-root green innovations, facilitation of technology exchange and networking within the formal sector and creation of a knowledge network so that the value chain for augmenting formal and informal innovations runs through the entire Commonwealth. Science and Technology ministers from 15 Commonwealth countries will attend the conference. Dr Joshi, who will speak on “Indian science and technology leadership — its vision for South-South technology exchange and socio-economic development’, said India was poised to play a crucial role in preparing the ground for the Commonwealth science and technology agenda.
UNI |
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All set for ‘amavas’ fair today Hardwar, June 9 On “Budha Poornima” on May 26, the police and administration, were caught unawares as about a million pilgrims descended on the Har-Ki-Pauri to take a holy dip. There were unprecedented traffic blockades at various places. Vehicles carrying pilgrims from Delhi, Punjab. Haryana, Rajasthan, HP and UP were stranded in an 8 k.m.-long queue. A police spokesman said here today that the police would enforce the zero plan to control traffic a day before “Somvati Amavas”. No vehicles would be allowed to ply in the upper Hardwar road which passes through the city up to Har-Ki-Pauri. Vehicles carrying pilgrims, including buses, would be stopped at a considerable distance from Har-Ki-Pauri. Parking arrangements for vehicles coming from Delhi would be made at a distant place to avoid traffic problems. The pilgrims will have to walk a distance of about 3 km to reach Har-Ki-Pauri. On “Budha Poornima”, thousands of pilgrims were stranded due to insufficient buses. This time, the UP roadways will run special services from various cities. The Haryana Roadways is also likely to run special services up to Hardwar. The police and magistrates on duty would encourage the pilgrims to take a holy dip on other ghats also which are spread over a 20-km area. The administration is also not taking any chances with regard to the security of the pilgrims. Meanwhile, hoteliers in the city have already increased their rents. The room rent was already high as this is tourist season in Hardwar-Rishikesh and other upper areas. But now the rent has been doubled. An ordinary air-cooled room is available at Rs 1,000/- per night. However, as there are several ashrams, maths and Dharmshalas in the city, a majority of the pilgrims stay there. |
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Arundhati joins tribesmen’s stir Bhopal, June 9 She was talking to mediapersons this morning at the site where tribesmen from the Maan dam-affected villages are sitting on dharna. The governments, she said, were responding to violent methods while ignoring the peaceful methods of agitation. Ms Jharna Jhaveri, producer of a documentary on the plight of the Bargi dam oustees and a friend of Ms Roy, added, "If we lose this (peaceful) agitation, terrorists will win". The two arrived here yesterday and joined the dharna to provide moral support to the agitators. Today was the 26th day of the dharna and 20th day of indefinite fast by four of them, Ms Ramkunwar, Ms Chittaroopa Palit, Mr Vinod Patwa and Mr Mangat Verma. All four have lost weight considerably. The Maan dam on the Narmada will submerge 17 villages having a population of around 6000. The government is using methods like removal of handpumps and electricity poles to force the villagers to get out instead of resettling them at alternative sites. Criticising Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Digvijay Singh Arundhati said he had been insensitive to the plight of the oustees of the Bargi, Maheshwar, Maan or Sardar Sarovar dams in the state and had been frequently changing his statements. Meanwhile, around 90 litterateurs have sent a joint letter to the Chief Minister, urging him to resettle the Maan-affected people. |
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‘Cows being killed despite ban’ Vijayawada, June 9 “It is a pity that in Kalady, the land of Adishankaracharya, who integrated Hindustan with his spiritual teachings, the blood of cows is flowing like a river...Kerala is the only state where cow slaughter is allowed openly,” he told a meeting organised by the Animal Welfare Association here. He said cows were relatively better treated in the cow belt states of Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab and Himachal Pradesh. But the situation was bad in Bihar and worse in West Bengal, he added. Lamenting that officials were ignorant of laws related to cattle protection, Mr Justice Lodhi said the commission had come out with a booklet on the subject for free distribution among people. The association, in a memorandum, urged the commission to recommend to the Centre to completely ban cattle slaughter through a central law.
UNI |
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Kataria’s wife cremated New Delhi, June 9 She is survived by a son and a daughter. A large number of people attended the cremation at the Lodhi Road crematorium. |
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In video: Foreigners
leaving India on the advice of their governments say they feel
safe in the country and that the situation has been hyped by
the media. (
