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Saturday,
April 12, 2003, Chandigarh, India  
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Pak fit case for pre-emptive strikes: Fernandes
Azad, Dhawan being sent to
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Measures for safe
motherhood
Decision on ties with Iraq after war: Sinha Prannoy launches news
channels Govt nod to jatha
flayed PM in Sikkim Devotees throng Ram Temple
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Pak fit case for pre-emptive strikes: Fernandes Barmer (Rajasthan), April 11 “More than Iraq, Pakistan is a fit case to launch pre-emptive strikes,” Defence Minister George Fernandes said while launching the Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS) for the country from the desert state of Rajasthan. The US Secretary of State Colin Powell while appearing on the Pakistan TV last night had rejected Foreign Minister Yashwant Sinha’s statement on pre-emptive strikes earlier in the week. He said there was no comparison between Iraq and Pakistan. However, the Defence Minister’s statement reflects a defiant Indian mood and one which seeks to get an equal treatment for Pakistan as has been given to Iraq. The Defence Minister’s statement also assumes significance as he is the second Cabinet Minister in the Vajpayee government to propound the pre-emptive strike case against Pakistan. The External Affairs Minister, Mr Yashwant Sinha, had earlier justified India’s case on pre-emptive strikes on Pakistan. Moreover, there were recent reports of increase in the number of terrorist training camps along the Line of Control in Pakistan. In a chat with mediapersons, Mr Fernandes said India was closely monitoring the performance of the precision guided weapons being used by US-led forces in Iraq and their effectiveness is being studied. Asked about Islamabad’s contention that India is fit case for pre-emptive strike, Mr Fernandes said “Pakistan has the habit of lying.” On the issue of modernisation of the defence forces especially, Advanced Jet Trainer (AJT), he said the Defence Ministry had finalised the proposal and it had been sent to the Finance Ministry. A decision would soon be taken on the issue. Union Finance Minister Jaswant Singh, who also accompanied Mr Fernandes to Barmer, said “there would be no delay on his ministry’s part. There would be no lack of funds for the defence forces.” He also highlighted the significance of the scheme which has been launched from his constituency. Mr Fernandes said a proposal to acquire 130 multi-role aircraft had been received from the Chief of Air Staff and it was being examined. Asked about frequent crashes of the MiG aircrafts, Mr Fernandes said this series of aircraft still had a lot of life left. “There is no proposal to jettison the MiG fleet,” he said. The accidents in the past have been due to various reasons, he said, adding that for the future, the move is towards the Light Combat Aircrafts (LCAs). On the issue of the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), he said the Group of Ministers and the Cabinet had cleared the issue of CDS and informal discussion had been held with the Opposition on the issue. Mr Fernandes, however, did not give any time frame within which the CDS would be appointed. Earlier, launching the ECHS, the Defence Minister said it would cover all service personnel retired from April 1, 2003. Those who retired earlier could avail the facilities by making a nominal contribution to enter the scheme. The scheme would provide comprehensive medical treatment for all diseases for the ex-servicemen and their dependents. In the first year 227 clinics would be opened across the country and a number of hospitals would be empanelled. The scheme aims to benefit one crore persons, including 20 lakh ex-servicemen. Existing medical scheme would be terminated in a phased manner over a period of two years as the new scheme aims to provide larger benefit. |
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Azad, Dhawan being sent to Kerala New Delhi, April 11 Mr Govindan Nair, a confidant of senior party leader K Karunakaran, was still in fray despite his expulsion from the party. The high command is worried over the prospect of any of its official nominees — Vyalar Ravi and G Pillai — losing due the presence of Karunakaran loyalist. Mr Azad has been general secretary in charge of Kerala and is believed to have a good rapport with Mr Karunakaran. Both he and Mr Dhawan would try to find a way out to solve the impasse.
TNS |
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Measures for safe
motherhood New Delhi, April 11 She said “only the National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD) and National Institute of Virology (NIV) can confirm whether a patient has acquired the virus or not. Speaking without authorised confirmation can only harm the situation.” So far no case has been detected in the country and several hospitals in the country have been identified for treatment of the patients. The government has set up a round-the-clock control room and all passengers arriving in the country by air and sea are being monitored for SARS. Inaugurating the “Safe Motherhood Day” programme, Ms Swaraj launched the Janani Suraksha Yojna to bring down the maternal mortality rate in the country, which stands at 407 per one lakh live births. The day being observed on the birthday of Kasturba Gandhi, she said under the centrally funded plan women of below the poverty line families would be given free medical check-ups, institutional delivery facilities and monetary benefit of Rs 500 after the birth of a son and Rs 1,000 after that of a daughter. She said if a woman comes to a government health sub-centre, whose number will be increased to about 1,45,000 nationwide, in the third month of her pregnancy, she would be entitled to free check up for the next six months. |
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Decision on ties with Iraq after war: Sinha New Delhi, April 11 “We will take a view that would be consistent with the friendly relations with the people of Iraq,” he said while replying to a question by Mr Kuldip Nayar on what was India’s stand on Iraq. He said the hostilities were on and it cannot be said that the government in Iraq had been deposed. Earlier, Minister of State for External Affairs Vinod Khanna informed the House that the Embassy staff in Baghdad had been shifted to Amman and they were still there. A decision to move them would be taken after the return of normalcy. |
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Prannoy launches news
channels New Delhi, April 11 In their efforts to ensure that their viewers are the first to be informed of events, NDTV has taken the lead in Asia to have an exclusive arrangement with Bangalore-based Deccan Aviation Private Limited which will offer dedicated services for news gathering. The arrangement would enable NDTV have access to 10 helicopters and two fixed wing planes. |
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Govt nod to jatha
flayed New Delhi, April 11 Criticising the 100-member symbolic jatha to Pakistan, the DSGMC president, Mr Paramjit Singh Sarna, in a statement said “the Sikh community would appreciate that in future a regular Sikh jatha should be allowed enabling them to see whether the Sikh shrines in Pakistan were being maintained reasonably well.” He said the DSGMC would render all help, if and when required, to maintain the Sikh gurdwaras in Pakistan. About 30 Sikhs from Delhi as part of the jatha left the Capital on Friday to join other members of the jatha. |
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PM in Sikkim Gangtok, April 11 He was greeted on his arrival by Governor V. Rama Rao, Chief Minister Pawan Chamling and other senior officials. Greeting the people of Sikkim, the Prime Minister said he had been looking forward to the trip.
UNI |
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Devotees throng Ram Temple Ayodhya, April 11 The main function was organised in the famous Kanak Bhawa temple, where many of them thronged to take part in Ram
Janmotsava. PTI |
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