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PM allays Cong men’s fear on Indo-US N-pact
New Delhi, July 29 Today’s meeting of the Congress Working Committee served as a virtual dress rehearsal for next week’s Parliamentary debate on the Indo-US nuclear pact with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh giving a detailed explanation about his visit to party members who queried him about the ramifications of the joint agreement.
RS passes Citizenship (Amendment) Bill
CPM slams BJP on ‘tainted ministers’ issue
NDA to evolve floor strategy on Aug 1
Lalu’s lawyer creates flutter
Gill’s behaviour not expected of top cop: SC
Gurgaon incident won’t affect investment: Japan
India rues Nepal panel’s ‘harsh’ verdict against Deuba
Amend TRIPs agreement: India
Firing near regiment office, jawan hurt
Govt for enhancing seats for women in Parliament
SC rejects PIL for special protection to religious places
Shekhar Dutt appointed new Defence Secretary
Govt rules out importing
foodgrain
Speaker spells out new rule on supplementaries
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Inquiry
ordered into Shramjeevi Express blast
New Delhi, July 29 Making a suo motu statement in Parliament, he said states had also been asked to strengthen security measures in the wake of the blast. He said it was necessary to increase awareness among passengers to ensure their safety while travelling in trains. Mr Prasad said a statutory inquiry by the Commissioner of Railway Safety had been ordered into the incident that left nine passengers dead. The minister, who visited the site of the tragedy, said only after inquiry by the
Commissioner of Railway Safety, Northern Circle, it would be possible to establish elements who were involved in the blast. He said the forensic experts of the Uttar Pradesh police had visited the spot. The minister said an ex-gratia payment of Rs 1 lakh would be paid to the next of kin of those killed in the explosion, Rs 15,000 each to the grievously injured and Rs 5,000 each to those with simple injuries. He promised employment on compassionate ground to dependents of those killed and those disabled in the blast. Besides the ex-gratia payment, compensation of Rs 4 lakh to the kin of deceased would be paid as per the decision of the Railway Claims Tribunal. Mr Prasad said Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav had also announced Rs 1 lakh to the family members of the killed passengers, Rs 50,000 for seriously injured and Rs 25,000 for the injured. Earlier, the Janata Dal (U) staged a walkout from the Lok Sabha demanding resignation of Mr Prasad. |
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Only one body identified
Lucknow, July 29 According to Home Secretary Alok Sinha, most of the injured have suffered burn injuries. The 44 seriously injured persons have been admitted to Banaras Hindu University Medical College. Of them almost 22 had more than 50 per cent burn injuries. Ten of them are on continuous drip. Two injured have also been admitted to a private hospital. Mr Sinha had visited to site of the accident along with Chief Secretary Neera Yadav on Thursday night. As the compartment was unreserved there is no chart to help the Railway authorities identify the dead. Of the 10 bodies, only one has been identified. It is of a young woman, Promila. She has been identified with the help of a card on her person bearing a Patna telephone number. |
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Vohra calls for strict anti-terror law
New Delhi, July 29 “Misuse or misapplication of a law is not an argument against having a law to deal effectively with terrorism,” Mr Vohra said while referring to TADA and POTA. “Unlawful use is another matter. Any law could be misused, leave apart TADA and POTA,” Mr Vohra, who is presently the Centre’s interlocutor on Kashmir, said. He made above comments while participating in a round table discussion on “Ayodhya and London : Lessens for the Future”, organised by the Observer Research Foundation (ORF), here. “We need to focus very sharply on what kind of legal framework is needed and adopt an unambiguous, non-political and non-emotional approach,” Mr Vohra said. He asserted that the country “does not have the capability to counter the new threat posed by the very skilful misuse of modern technology by the terrorists”. Mr Vohra suggested formation of a ‘global task force’, comprising of experts, to come out with suggestions in a timebound manner to counter the menace of terrorism. Pointing to the Kashmir experiment, where the government did not allow the spread of mobile telephony in Jammu and Kashmir, Mr Vohra emphasised: “ Skilful misuse of mobile phones can not be checked by keeping the population away from mobile phones.” Referring to the recent terrorist attacks in the country and elsewhere, Mr Vohra called for a review of the “old classical approach” of intelligence gathering. “Human intelligence is very important to identify terror groups, their past history and gather operational information as to what kind of terror attacks are likely to happen,” Mr Vohra said. “We need to adopt a different approach (in intelligence gathering). Old classical approaches on intelligence gathering need to be reviewed,” he said. He also called for doing away with a narrow approach that the intelligence corps should be drawn from uniformed organisations only. “In the present circumstances, we need scientists, technologies and sociologists, etc to launch intelligence operations at various levels,” he said. Stressing that linking Islam to terrorism will be an “ill-considered approach”, he said: “We need to seggregate religion as such and people, who belong to a particular religion, from terrorism... There is need to understand Islam.” Referring to the announcement of global war against terrorism after 9/11 terror strikes in the United States, Mr Vohra said: “I have no hesitation in saying that nothing like war against terrorism is happening.” Mr Vohra also questioned the global war against terror and obliquely referred to Pakistan. He said if the war was real, then why the global community was not mounting pressure on a country, which had been known for supporting terrorist activities. Former Additional Secretary in the Cabinet Secretariat B.Raman termed the 'double standards' adopted by certain nations in their attitude towards terrorism as one of the root causes for abetment of terrorism. "For them, terrorism is what threatens the lives of their citizens and their national interests. What threatens the lives and interests of others is acceptable and understandable behaviour," he said.
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Ayodhya attack: 4 terrorists handed over to UP police
Lucknow, July 29 Confirming their innocence, the STF, presently attached to Ram janambhoomi police station at Ayodhya, released the three drivers, who were being intensively interrogated for carrying the terrorists from Akbarpur to Faizabad and then to Ayodhya. Raj Kumar and Yunus, two of the three drivers, had brought the terrorists from Akbarpur to Faizabad in their Mahindra jeep that they ran as a shared cab. The other driver, Rehan had brought them to the site of the crime in his Marshal Economy jeep bearing Faizabad registration number UP 42 T 0618. It was this vehicle that was blown up by the terrorists to create a gap in the outer barricade and gain entry into the makeshift temple complex. The terrorists had also used Rehan’s mobile phone inserting their SIM card in it. He had run for his life moments after the blast and was caught by the police. He was handcuffed and interrogated continuously without even being allowed him to inform his family of his whereabouts. Meanwhile, DGP Yashpal Singh reviewed the security arrangement at Ayodhya and Varanasi on Wednesday to provide inputs to the Standing Committee on the security scheme of the three religious shrines at Ayodhya, Varanasi and Mathura. . Headed by ADG (Security) R.K. Bhatia, the committee includes Inspector-General of the CRPF. The committee has already reviewed the security of the Taj and Mathura, the other two places put under high alert since the terrorist attack. The DGP will be visiting them soon. On August 2 the Standing Committee will make a presentation in Lucknow before two national-level anti-terrorist experts – Mr K.P. Thakur, retired DGP, Rajasthan, and Mr S.S. Ahmad Inspector-General, CISF. On August 3 a presentation would be made to the Crisis Management Committee headed by Chief Secretary Neera Yadav before the report is dispatched to the Union Government on August 4 – well within one-month stipulated by the Central Government after the Ayodhya attack, informed Home Secretary Alok Sinha. |
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PM allays Cong men’s fear on Indo-US N-pact
New Delhi, July 29 Ms Ambika Soni, chairperson of the AICC media department, said the Prime Minister cleared the air about the Indo-Iran gas pipeline project which, he said, remained on course. He emphasised that improved relations with the US would not impact relations with India’s “traditional friends”, notably Russia. The Prime Minister along with Minister for External Affairs K. Natwar Singh also explained that US indifference to India’s quest for a seat in the expanded UN Security Council was independent of the wide-ranging agreements inked by India and the US, she added. Ms Soni said the Prime Minister repeatedly emphasised that the agreement did not compromise India’s interests or security concerns. Responding to apprehensions about the future of the Indo-Iran gas pipeline, the Prime Minister clarified that this matter did not figure in his talks with President George Bush or at the official-level discussions, thus implying that the US offer of civilian nuclear energy cooperation was not contingent on India backing out of this project. The Prime Minister, it is learnt, pointed to his statement on his way to the US when he categorically said that this was an issue between India, Iran and Pakistan and that no outside country had a role in it. The Prime Minister explained that the subject only came up during the course of a media interaction when, responding to a question, he had reiterated that India remained keen on getting gas from Iran but had only enumerated the difficulties they faced in the full implementation of the project. The Prime Minister’s statement, expressing doubts about raising funds from international banks for the gas pipeline was immediately panned by the Left parties who charged that India was signalling its exit from this project under US pressure. While the Left parties went public with their apprehensions, several Congressmen privately endorsed their views. Today’s meeting was called primarily to clear their doubts and apprise party leaders of the details of the agreement. This, it was felt, would enable the party to counter Opposition criticism and convey the right picture to the public. Responding to a query about the impact of the Indo-US agreement on India’s relations with its old friends like Russia, the Prime Minister pointed out that the development had been welcomed internationally, adding that the pact would actually reinforce India’s position vis-a vis Russia. Regarding the US opposition to India’s inclusion in an expanded UN Security Council, the Prime Minister agreed that the US held out no assurance to him in this regard, while Mr Natwar Singh clarified that the Prime Minister’s bilateral visit to the US and India’s ongoing efforts to get a seat in the UN security council were two separate issues.
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Wait for US Congress stance on N-issue: CPM
New Delhi, July 29 The above views were conveyed by the Politburo member and Rajya Sabha MP Sitaram Yechury, who talked to reporters on the sidelines of the party’s decision-making forum meeting, soon after the Prime Minister’s statement in Parliament that the CPM’s apprehensions on the Indo-US joint statement, in particular on nuclear energy cooperation, would be raised during discussion, which was likely to take place on Monday. Mr Yechury said: "We think Prime Minister Manmohan Singh himself believes that so long as there is no concrete assurance from the USA, we should not initiate any action in this direction." Pointing out that even now there were differences within the American Congress over the issue of providing nuclear assistance to India, he said: “So long as the US Congress does not approve the promised measures and there is no acceptance within the 'Nuclear Club' (NSG) nations, these assurances cannot be transformed into reality."
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RS passes Citizenship (Amendment) Bill
New Delhi, July 29 Replying to the debate, Minister of State for Home Sriprakash Jaiswal, said in case of Pakistan and Bangladesh, the dual citizenship was not being considered as at the time of Partition the people had voluntarily opted to become citizens of those countries. |
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CPM slams BJP on ‘tainted ministers’ issue
New Delhi, July 29 The “tainted ministers” issue and the demands and counter-demands by Mr Advani and Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav had resulted in the adjournment of the Lok Sabha thrice and walkout by JD (U). “The BJP members had yesterday walked out of the Lok Sabha when the Railway Minister rose to make a statement saying he had been chargesheeted but now charges have been framed against their own leaders too,” CPM leaders Basudeb Acharia and Nilotpal Basu told reporters here. Replying to questions as to the BJP’s stand that charges against them were “political” in nature, they said the Criminal Procedure Code did not distinguish between political and non-political crimes. “Demolition of Babri Masjid was also followed by widespread communal violence and rioting which resulted in over 1000 deaths,” Mr Basu said. Earlier, the proceedings in the Lok Sabha were adjourned thrice today, twice during the post-lunch session, as pandemonium prevailed in the House due to persistent demand for the resignation of Opposition leader L. K. Advani by the RJD and CPM members and a counter-demand by the BJP members for resignation of the Railway Minister. Amid pandemonium, the House was first adjourned 15 minutes ahead of schedule in the pre-lunch session and then again immediately after lunch. Soon after the House reassembled at 2.45 pm after the second adjournment, chaos broke out again with the RJD and CPM members, Devendra Yadav and Mohammed Saleem, demanding the resignation of Mr Advani for having made an “inflammatory speech” at a public rally yesterday following framing of charges against him and seven others in the Ayodhya case. The Janata Dal (U) staged a walkout from the Lok Sabha demanding resignation of Mr Lalu Prasad in view of the explosion in the Shramjeevi Express.
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NDA to evolve floor strategy on Aug 1
New Delhi, July 29 A meeting of the NDA leaders will be held on Monday to decide on their floor strategy in Parliament, BJP Parliamentary Party spokesman V.K. Malhotra told newspersons here. Mr Malhotra said the party had assured the Speaker that it would allow the House to function despite issues like tainted ministers in the Cabinet. But now in view of the repeated disruptions caused by the RJD and the CPM demanding the resignation of Leader of the Opposition L.K. Advani on the Ayodhya issue, the NDA would have to review its strategy. The leaders would also consider Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s statement in Parliament on his US visit, he said. He asserted that there was no question of Mr Advani resigning on the Ayodhya issue as it was political in nature and could not be compared with criminal cases like those relating to corruption, murders and rapes. ‘’Ayodhya is a matter of pride for us and it is the BJP’s resolve to see a grand temple at Ayodhya. The party will continue to strive for making this temple a reality, there is no mincing of words,’’ he said. During the NDA regime, he said the government did not withdraw politically motivated Ayodhya cases against Mr Advani and other top leaders like the UPA government had done in the case of Mr Satish Sharma. Now they say Mr Advani should resign. ‘’Why should he’’? he asked. When a reporter said the Indian Penal Code did not distinguish between a criminal and a political case, Mr Malhotra retorted ‘’if this is the case, even Mahatma Gandhi could not have entered Parliament as he faced charges like unlawful assembly and violation of Section 144. ‘’There can be no minister in the whole of West Bengal, if this is the yardstick.’’ Mr Malhotra said the CPM had devised a clear strategy wherein it would vehemently raise the BHEL disinvestment issue outside the House and not inside Parliament. ‘’They don’t want to get caught in a situation where they are opposing the motion and their ‘mock fight’ with the Congress will get exposed on the BHEL disinvestment’’, he alleged. Earlier, Mr Malhotra took strong exception to Mr Chatterjee’s statement on the Supreme Court’s directive on the IMDA Act saying that his statement questioning the apex court’s order quashing the IMDT was not proper. Mr Chatterjee has also questioned the competence of the court in declaring that the country was under a demographic attack by asking how did the court get the figures.
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Lalu’s lawyer creates flutter
New Delhi, July 29 “I want to know the name of the person who contacted your lordship,” Lalu Prasad’s counsel
B.B. Singh told Mr Justice S.N. Variava, the presiding Judge of the Bench, who on March 15 in the open court had said he was approached by someone asking about the transfer of Patna’s Special Judge, hearing the cases against Lalu Prasad. But on March 17, in a suo motu clarification, Mr Justice Variava had stated that the person who had approached him raised only an academic query about the transfer and he (Mr Justice Variava) was “statisfied” about the explanation given by him and his initial inference that there was an attempt to “influence” him was “wrong”. The other two judges of the Bench are Mr Justice A. R. Lakshmanan and Mr Justice
S.H. Kapadia. But Lalu Prasad’s counsel at the very outset of today’s hearing on the PIL, which was only listed for fixing a date for arguments on its maintainability, raked up the issue again wanting the disclosure of the name of the person. When Mr Justice Variava asked which person he was referring to, Mr
B.B. Singh said “Do I have to remind your lordship of the March 17 order. Rumor is that this person is from Bihar. He is close to your lordship and belongs to a particular caste.” As Mr Justice Variava took strong exception to the behaviour of Lalu Prasad’s counsel and started dictating an order that he was making allegations against the court … Mr
B.B. Singh contended, “I am not making any personal allegation… I can tell this in open court, but I want to tell you in the chamber.” Mr Justice Variava, keeping his calm, politely told Lalu Prasad’s counsel, “As far as I am concerned, I have said what I had to say. Please say whatever you want to say in open court. There is nothing to hide. I have nothing to worry.” The PIL by
JD(U) MP Rajiv Ranjan Singh “Lallan” had alleged that Lalu Prasad after becoming Union Minister in UPA government had been interfering in the trial proceedings of various fodder scam-related cases, made an attempt to change CBI prosecutor and had got 25 IT case disposed of in a “tearing hurry” by a special team of Income Tax Appellate Tribunal last year against the husband-wife duo. Earlier this week, Mr Lallan had moved a fresh application, raising the issue of transfer of Patna Special Judge holding trial in the fodder scam case against them, when the apex court had summer vacation. |
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Gill’s behaviour not expected of top cop: SC
New Delhi, July 29 “If the whole incident is viewed in the correct perspective, it is clear that the behaviour of the accused on the date of the incident, was not consistent with the high standards expected of a top ranking police officer,” a Bench of Mr Justice K. G. Balakrishnan and Mr Justice B. N. Srikrishna observed. Dismissing the arguments of Gill’s counsel that a false case was “foisted” against the super cop, the apex court said as a police officer of the highest rank, Mr Gill should have been “exceedingly careful” while attending a social gathering. It said by touching the body of a woman officer with “culpable intention”, he had committed the offence under Section 354 (outraging the modesty of a woman) and by uttering certain words, he committed the offence under Section 509 of the IPC, said the apex court in its judgement, the detailed copy of which were made available to the media today. “Despite his holding a high position in the state police, various courts found him guilty of the offences punishable under Section 354 and 509 of the IPC and that by itself is setting a model for others and would enhance the faith in the judicial system,” the apex court said. Mr Gill was found guilty by every court at the four stages of trial and appeals - right from the court of Chief Judicial Magistrate to the apex court - for misbehaving with Ms Bajaj, a senior IAS officer of Punjab in a party on July 18, 1988, at another senior officer’s residence in Chandigarh. |
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Gurgaon incident won’t affect investment: Japan
New Delhi, July 29 The assurance was given by Japanese Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Shoichi Nakagawa to Commerce and Industry Minister Kamal Nath in Geneva today, an official statement said. Mr Nath had a long bilateral meeting this morning in Geneva with Mr Nakagawa on the sidelines of the meeting of the WTO General Council, during which bilateral issues were reviewed and the Gurgaon incident also came up for discussion. He assured the Japanese Minister that the Gurgaon incident was an isolated one and certainly not the norm. He explained the circumstances of the unfortunate incident as well as the follow-up action taken by the government to contain and resolve the issue. The Japanese Minister agreed with Mr Nath that the incident was indeed an isolated one and assured him that this would not affect Japanese investment in India. In this context, Mr Nakagawa emphasised that Japanese companies were investing in West Bengal in big way, the statement issued here said. |
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India rues Nepal panel’s ‘harsh’ verdict against Deuba
New Delhi, July 29 India said it would not only further vitiate the atmosphere but also complicate efforts towards reconciliation. In response to a question on the RCCC verdict, Foreign Office spokesperson said, “It is regrettable that harsh sentences have been meted out to former Prime Minister Deuba and former minister Prakash Mansingh by the RCCC in the Melamchi Water Supply Project case.” “We have noted that the Asian Development Bank, which is a major financier of the project, has publicly clarified after thorough investigations that they did not find any evidence of collusion or other corrupt fraudulent practice among those involved in the bidding process for the contract," he added. The spokesman said India's view had always been that "reconciliation between democratic and constitutional forces is imperative in order to address the critical issues facing Nepal".
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Amend TRIPs agreement: India
New Delhi, July 29 In a letter recently addressed to 31 Trade Ministers, the Commerce and Industry Minister, Mr Kamal Nath, has emphasised the need to develop a sharper and more aggressive strategy, on the issue as it has a strong bearing on large sections of people who are holders of traditional knowledge and are poor or disadvantaged. “We need to form a common position before Hong Kong for taking the process towards a logical outcome”, he has proposed. “While insisting on an amendment to the TRIPs Agreement in line with our consistent policy, we could also think of a parallel line of action, similar to what we did on public health issues during the Doha Ministerial Meeting, namely, getting a ministerial declaration on TRIPs and biological diversity, traditional knowledge and folklore. If we are able to achieve this in Hong Kong, it will strengthen our hands in getting an eventual amendment to the TRIPs Agreement”, the letter says. The Doha Ministerial Declaration of 2001 had instructed the council on TRIPs in the WTO to examine the relationship between the TRIPs Agreement and the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) for the protection of traditional knowledge and folklore. The issue was included in the negotiating mandate after several negotiating countries found that TRIPs obligations were not supportive of the commitments they had undertaken under the CBD, which provided for the conservation and sustainable use of bio-diversity. |
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Firing near regiment office, jawan hurt
New Delhi, July 29 The jawan, who was hit on the leg by a bullet, retaliated, but the vehicle sped way. The spokesman said the sentry was immediately rushed to the Base Hospital. Quoting preliminary reports, he said there were apparently two persons in the
Qualis. While the driver sported a beard and was wearing a black dress, the other person’s face was covered by a black cloth, he added. The police and the Army have still not confirmed whether it was a terrorist attack, saying that investigation and search was continuing. The area has been cordoned off by the Army and the police has been informed, the spokesman said. He said the incident occurred around 1615 hours, when a black Qualis came and stopped outside the main gate of the regiment office on Thimayya Road. According to the Joint Commissioner of Police, Southern Range, Mr B. S. Bassi: “When the jawan on sentry duty asked him not to halt in front of the gate, the driver of the vehicle went back about 200 yards. Soon the vehicle came back and the driver fired two bursts, apparently from his gun. In turn, the jawan also fired at the assailants but they managed to escape from there.” The fire, comprising two bursts, were possibly from an automatic gun, he added. |
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Govt for enhancing seats for women in Parliament
New Delhi, July 29 Home Minister Shivraj Patil has began the exercise of consulting the leaders of various political parties on this issue to ensure that the Women Reservation Bill is introduced and passed in this Monsoon Session itself, sources said. The sources maintained that though some of the political parties had openly expressed their reservation on the proposal to enhance the Lok Sabha seats by 33 per cent, the government is hopeful that it would be able to convince the political parties to support this compromise formula.
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SC rejects PIL for special protection to religious places
New Delhi, July 29 Refusing to entertain a public interest litigation (PIL) on the issue, Mr Justice K. G. Balakrishnan and Mr Justice B. P. Singh said the court was not expected to monitor everything. The PIL was filed by a Muslim citizen, Mohammed Aslam Bhure, who had earlier filed a PIL in the Babri Masjid demolition case. |
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Shekhar Dutt appointed new Defence Secretary
New Delhi, July 29 An IAS officer of the 1969 batch of the Madhya Pradesh cadre Mr Dutt has also served as Joint Secretary in the Department of Defence Production, Ministry of Defence. During this period he was Director in the Board of Defence Public Sector Undertakings such as Bharat Electronics, Bharat Dynamics, Bharat Earth Movers, Mazagaon Docks, Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers and Goa Shipyard. Earlier in the mid-80s, he served as Director (Navy) in the Ministry of Defence. |
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Govt rules out importing
foodgrain
New Delhi, July 29 The wheat stock in the Central Pool as on July 1 was 144.54 lakh tonnes, which is below the existing buffer norm of 171 lakh tonnes, Minister of State for Agriculture, Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Akhilesh Prasad Singh said during Question Hour. He said steps had been taken to ensure the adequate availability of wheat by augmenting its stocks in the country to check price rise. However, even these stocks were sufficient to meet the requirements under the targeted public distribution system (TPDS) and welfare schemes, the minister contended, assuring there was no need for the country to resort to imports to meet its demands. |
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Speaker spells out new rule on supplementaries
New Delhi, July 29 The new rule, which will come into effect from Monday, has been introduced to ensure that more questions are answered to by the ministers during the Question Hour. Even though 20 questions, pertaining to various ministries, are listed every day for oral answers during the Question Hour, usually only a handful of questions are taken up due to a large number of supplementaries raised by several members.
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Bhutan King coming on August 1
New Delhi, July 29
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