 |
|
Manmohan promises all help to Nepal
India’s stand on Nepal
“distorted” |
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rajnath hints at links between ISI, Maoists
JD(U) state unit to decide on Sonia’s rival: Yadav
Patna West: contest mainly between BJP, Congress
Nitish kicks off lok adalat
Can verdict be refused citing fellow Judge’s absence?
Jalandhar among top 10 polluted cities
Pramod incident shocks leaders
Peaceful polling in
W. Bengal
Victory for Left Front predicted
IAEA talks “positive”
Plan to tackle Naxal problem
|
|
Manmohan promises all help to Nepal On Board Special Aircraft, April 22 “I am not saying that Nepal is a failed state”, Dr Manmohan Singh said in reply to a question whether Nepal is a failed state. On the issue of future of monarchy in the Himalayan kingdom, he said so far our position had been constitutional monarchy and multi-party democracy. India also promised all assistance in supply of arms to Nepal if asked by a democratic government that assumed power. In reply to a question whether India would resume arms supply to Nepal, National Security Adviser M.K. Narayanan said if a democratic government asked for it, “we will consider it”. Referring to Special Envoy Karan Singh’s role in resolving the crisis, the Prime Minister said he gave his assessment to His Majesty. Whatever moves the King had made were in the right direction. The important thing was that they should be restoring multi-party democracy and there should be a government in place which exercised all executive powers. On the question of revival of Parliament and the issue of Constituent Assembly, the Prime Minister said the role was to ensure all elements of Nepali polity talking to each other. “We are not dictating anything to them. Our role is of a conciliator to ensure that a democratic process is restored.” Meanwhile, Dr Manmohan Singh arrived in Germany on the first leg of his five-day tour of Germany and Uzbekistan, during which he will seek to muster international community’s support for the Indo-US civilian nuclear energy cooperation deal. Dr Manmohan Singh, who is accompanied by a high-level delegation, was received at the airport by Indian Ambassador to Germany Meera Shankar and senior Indian and German officials. The delegation included Commerce and Industry Minister Kamal Nath, Science and Technology Minister Kapil Sibal, National Security Adviser M.K. Narayanan and senior officials. The ostensible reason for the Prime Minister’s visit to Germany is to inaugurate tomorrow the famous Hannover Trade Fair along with German Chancellor Angela Merkel. After 22 years India is the partner country in the fair this time. Over 300 Indian companies will be participating in the fair showcasing Indian expertise in the industrial sector. India will also participate in World Energy Dialogue. External Affairs Ministry officials say the Prime Minister will hold extensive talks with the German Chancellor on a wide range of bilateral issues as well as the international situation. He will utilise the opportunity to address Germany’s concerns over the Indo-US nuclear deal, clinched in March. Germany is a member of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), whose ratification of the accord is necessary for the deal to come into force. India and Germany will set up a bilateral energy forum. It will be co-chaired by the Power Secretary on the Indian side. The two countries will also sign three MoUs in the fields of railways, medical research and standards. On Monday, the Prime Minister will leave here for the German capital of Berlin to meet President Horst Koehler and other leaders. He will fly to Uzbekistan on Tuesday, reaching the Central Asian country’s capital of Tashkent late in the evening. In Uzbekistan, the Prime Minister will also inaugurate an IT Centre named after first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru. During the visit, Gas Authority of India Limited (GAIL) is expected to sign an agreement with its counterpart. Delhi University will also sign an agreement with Tashkent State University.
|
|
|
India’s stand on Nepal
“distorted” New Delhi, April 22 Soon after the King offered to transfer
executive power to the second party alliance yesterday, India had
welcomed the move, saying it would pave the way for restoration of
political stability in Nepal. New Delhi’s rush to welcome the King’s
offer even before the political parties had reacted to it has come in
for sharp criticism from large sections in Kathmandu who see this as a
clear indication of India’s continuing support for the monarchy.
Faced with rising anti-India sentiment in Kathmandu, foreign secretary
Shyam Saran called a late evening press briefing to clarify that India
respects the sentiments of the people of Nepal, has always supported
their democratic aspirations and believes that restoration of
multi-party democracy is the need of the hour. Mr Saran was hard put to
explain India’s initial response welcoming the King’s offer was only
limited to the basic principle that executive power be transferred from
the monarchy to the people. “India’s statement was not an acceptance
or rejection of the offer” Mr Saran said, adding that it is for the
people of Nepal to decide what kind of government they want to set up.
The Foreign Secretary repeatedly emphasised that India was not for
intervening in the internal affairs of Nepal and would respect the
decision of the people. “We are on he side of democratic forces...let
there be no ambiguity on this front,” he said, adding that India’s
stand had been deliberately distorted by certain elements who have
always been hostile to the close ties between the two countries. He,
however, refused to identify these elements.
|
|
|
Rajnath hints at links between ISI, Maoists
Lucknow, April 22 Charging the Central Government with ignoring the Nepal situation till things got out of hand, Mr Rajnath Singh said as India shared a vast and open border with Nepal, Maoist activities in the neighbouring country had a direct bearing on Naxal activities picking up pace in the region. Speaking during his halt in the city on the 16th day of his “Bharat Suraksha Yatra”, he said the yatra had been undertaken to focus attention of the common people on issues of external and internal security — mainly terrorism and Naxal activism. Quoting Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee, the BJP President said he had recently said Naxal activities were getting support from abroad. Accusing the Central and state governments of not showing enough “political will” to respond to the situation, he said the recent meeting of Chief Ministers of
Naxal-affected states convened by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was a “mere formality” as it had “neither given any direction nor provided any concrete time-bound programme to address the issue”. |
|
|
JD(U) state unit to decide on Sonia’s rival: Yadav
Patna, April 22 Sources in JD(U) disclosed to The Tribune that Mr Yadav has already informed the BJP President Rajnath Singh about his decision when the latter had called him up a day back to seek the former's support in Rae Bareli. Despite the fact that former president George Fernandes favoured Vinay Katiyar, Mr Yadav said he will not take a decision without consulting the state unit. On the contrary, sources disclosed that talks were on between JD(U) and Apna Dal, a regional outfit of UP, to explore the possibilities of future alliance by keeping an eye on the next Assembly elections slated for 2007. It may be noted that soon after defeating George Fernandes to the post of national president in Patna recently, Mr Yadav made his intention clear to strengthen the party's units in Jharkhand, UP, MP and Rajasthan. Interestingly, except UP, other states are ruled by the BJP. It is also a known secret now that the prime reason that prompted Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to back Sharad Yadav against Mr Fernandes was the NDA convenor's more proximity to the BJP. Mr Kumar was not in favour of Mr Fernandes flying to Nagpur to meet the RSS top brass to mediate on behalf of Mr L. K. Advani in the wake of the Jinnah controversy that finally paved the way for change in guard in BJP. Mr Yadav was reported to have told Mr Rajnath Singh that since NDA was only at the Centre, it was only the state party unit which would decide whom to support in Rae Bareli. According to sources, Mr Yadav also cited the example of the five states having Assembly elections currently, pointing out that only in West Bengal and Kerala the NDA was contesting jointly. Besides, despite the NDA rule in Bihar, where BJP and JD(U) are partners, Mr Nitish Kumar did not agree to BJP's request to welcome Mr Rajnath Singh during his recent rath yatra in the state. The decision by Mr Kumar to nominate Ali Anwar as party's candidate in the Rajya Sabha polls from Bihar, and also to back Mahendra Saini, the RJD turncoat backward leader as JD(U) candidate, who even had fought against George Fernandes from Muzzafarpur in 2004 Lok Sabha elections, perhaps could be viewed as pointers to his future calculations. Mr Kumar's open support to LJP candidate Ranjan Prasad in the sixth seat against RJD in Rajya Sabha polls can also not be overlooked. Mr Yadav was also reported to have discussed the issue of reviving the third front with former Prime Minister V .P. Singh in recent past. |
|
Patna West: contest mainly between BJP, Congress
Patna, April 22 The Patna West seat, the largest Assembly segment in the country, fell vacant following the death of BJP`s Navin Kishore Prasad Sinha. Even though there are altogether 13 candidates in the fray, the main contest is expected between the BJP and the Congress. On its part, the BJP has fielded the son of the late MLA, Mr Nitin Navin, to encash on the sympathy wave. The Congress has fielded veteran party leader Rana Ajay Kumar Singh. Talking to the Tribune, Congress leader and party spokesman Premchandra Mishra said recently the party held a crucial meeting in the presence of Bihar affairs in charge, Pervej Hasmi, to discuss strategies to take on the BJP. He alleged that the ruling NDA had failed to improve the law and order situation and the people had also been facing recurrent power crisis and lack of potable water. The Congress had urged other UPA partners — the RJD, NCP and the CPI(M) —to throw their weight behind its candidate. However, much to BJP`s comfort, it is again the split in the UPA — like the October-November poll, — which has given it an advantage. The LJP is contesting with support from the CPI and the CPI(ML), which is only expected to spoil the Congress prospects. The state general secretary of JD(U) Venkatesh Kumar dismissed the Congress claim dubbing the bypoll a mandate on the performance of the NDA, as baseless. “Even otherwise, Navin Kishore Prasad Sinha, who has been winning the seat since 1996, had retained it in October-November by the highest ever margin of 90,000 votes”, he said. The positive change in the image of the state under Chief Minister Nitish Kumar in the past five months would also benefit the BJP, he added.
|
|
Nitish kicks off lok adalat
Patna, April 22 Mr Kumar renovated the rear of his bungalow at Aney Marg, facing 10 Circular Road, now the residence of former Chief Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav, which was earlier used as cowshed by Yadav, for interface with people. In his hour-long first interaction with people, Mr Kumar apparently tried to put his justice delivery system on fast track by hauling up officials from his mobile phone as petitioners made a beeline for his residence with their grievances. Around 1,000 persons from different districts, including far-flung Siwan, Jehanabad and Sitamari, queued up in front of Aney Marg to meet the Chief Minister from early morning. Later talking to mediapersons, Mr Kumar said he would hold the lok adalat twice a week to meet people without any bureaucratic hurdles. “This will also give me a chance to get a direct feedback from people about the government and take necessary corrective measures too,” he said. Mr Kumar further spelt out his plan to computerise the Public Grievance Cell for proper follow-up of cases in the near future. He added that from next month senior officials from each department, including Chief Secretary, Home Secretary and the DGP, would interact once a month with the people.
|
|
Can verdict be refused citing fellow Judge’s absence?
New Delhi, April 22 The peculiar question of law is being considered by the Supreme Court which has taken cognisance of a petition raising the matter. The query arose when in a public interest litigation (PIL) before the Bombay High Court, Mr Justice S.Vazifdar refused to deliver the judgment following the elevation of former Chief Justice Dalveer Bhandari, who heard the matter with him in a Division Bench, to the Supreme Court on October 28, last year. This despite the fact that Mr Justice Bhandari had approved the draft of the judgment and duly put his signatures to it a day before. Faced with such a unique question of law probably for the first time, a three-Judge apex court Bench of Ms Justice Ruma Pal, Mr Justice C.K. Thakker and Mr Justice Markandey Katju, yesterday issued notices to all parties, named in PIL, seeking their reply. Mr Justice Vazifdar had declined to pronounce the judgment citing rules framed by the Bombay High Court in this regard . He held that the rules did not permit him to deliver the verdict when the other Judge of the Bench was not available even if he (other Judge) had signed the verdict. The high court had also rejected the review petition by the petitioner seeking pronouncement of the judgment. Petitioner Mishrimal Jethmal Oswal, who had filed the PIL on the issue of public ingress and egress on Mumbai roads and bridges, had in his special leave petition (SLP) before the Supreme Court contented that Mr Justice Vazifdar had not interpreted the law correctly. Mr Oswal argued: “Rules empower one of the judges constituting a Bench to pronounce the judgment, notwithstanding the fact that all judges are not available at the same place.” “The high court’s view is against the modern concept of justice-delivery system because this view impedes expeditious disposal of a case, denies affordable litigation and tends to shake the faith of the public in the justice-delivery system,” Mr Oswal said in his SLP. The other litigating parties — the Municipal Council of Lonavala, the Maharashtra Government, the
Collector, Pune, the Tata Power Company, the Sahara India Commercial Corporation and the Commanding Officer, INS, Shivaji, Lonavala — who were respondents before the high court in the PIL, were directed by the apex court to submit their reply. |
|
Jalandhar among top 10 polluted cities
New Delhi, April 22 The latest study by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), “The leapfrog factor: Clearing the air in Asian cities”, reveals that smaller cities like Raipur, Indore, Jalandhar and Faridabad have now replaced metros on top-10 list as far as the suspended particulate matter, in this case PM-10, pollution in the country is concerned. The list pegs Raipur at the top followed by Jharia and Jalandhar. The others on the top-10 list include Kanpur, Alwar, Lucknow, Satna, Kota, Faridabd and Indore. PM-10 pollution is a result of vehicular pollution and the CSE’s report says that exploding numbers of vehicles are choking the cities, turning them into virtual gas chambers. |
|
Pramod incident shocks leaders
New Delhi, April 22 Concerned over the incident, senior BJP leaders, including Leader of Opposition L.K. Advani and party chief Rajnath Singh broke their yatras and rushed to Mumbai to check on the condition of Mahajan, who was shot at allegedly by his younger brother this morning. |
|
Peaceful polling in
W. Bengal
Kolkata, April 22 The voter turnout in all 66 constituencies in these districts varied between 60 and 80 per cent. At some places, people stood for long hours to exercise their franchise. Barring an incident of death of a BSF jawan of Punjab at a polling station in Howrah, no untoward incident was reported from anywhere. The jawan, Asoke Kumar of Bathinda district in Punjab, was killed while on duty by a bullet shot fired accidentally from his rifle, according to the SP, Mr Ashil Roy. The SP said arrangements were being made for handing over the jawan’s body to his family members. Despite being hot and humid, people in large numbers stood in lines for hours together to exercise their franchise. |
|
|
Victory for Left Front predicted
Kolkata, April 22 Elections were held for Howrah, Hooghly, East Midnapore and Nadia where the Left Front is expected to do exceedingly well.
— UNI |
|
|
IAEA talks “positive”
New Delhi, April 22 “All that India is insisting on is assured nuclear fuel supplies for its civilian reactors,” he said in an interview here. Asked about the talks Atomic Energy Commission Chairman Anil Kakodkar had with the IAEA chief in Vienna recently, he said, “They are very initial discussions and all that I can say is the initial talks have been very positive”.
— PTI |
|
Plan to tackle Naxal problem
Patna , April 22 During his recent interaction with the Centre, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar expressed his resolve to rein in growing activities of ultra-Left outfits in Bihar. He reportedly apprised the Prime Minister of the “government at your doorstep” programme launched by him in Naxalite-affected districts to bridge the gap between the administration and the people. |
| HOME PAGE | |
Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir |
Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs |
Nation | Opinions | | Business | Sports | World | Mailbag | Chandigarh | Ludhiana | Delhi | | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail | |
Videos
