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Govt launches ad blitz to push N-deal
E. Ahamed in dilemma over N-deal
Safeguards Pact
Swaminathan backs N-deal
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No differences in Left: CPM
Tribune Special
Natwar’s son joins BSP
Pressure mounts on Somnath to quit
20,000 mines worth Rs 10 cr found defective
Flood alert in Bahraich
Rain throws power supply out of gear in M’rashtra
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Govt launches ad blitz to push N-deal
New Delhi, July 12 After the decisive push from Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to approach the IAEA board for approving an India-specific safeguards agreement, the government has finally shed its defensive attitude and is going all out to convert the sceptics and win popular mandate for the deal, which it considers is in the supreme national interest. The advertisement in leading dailies shows a smiling Manmohan Singh and United Progressive Alliance
(UPA) chairperson Sonia Gandhi waving jubilantly at pulling off the deal. The government lost the Left parties’ outside support after it pushed for the deal and will now face a trust vote in parliament on July 22. The ad carries an endorsement from none other than Atomic Energy Commission chairman Anil Kakodkar, a key interlocutor in the nuclear deal, who is quoted as saying: “If we don’t do it now, history will not forgive us.” The ad also cites the manifold benefits the nuclear deal will bring to a fast developing but energy-starved India, especially in the context of escalating oil prices. Giving a patriotic spin to rally support for the contentious deal, the advertisement says: “The nation now needs to unite and support the government for the economic growth and better future of the country.” The advertisement is probably the first attempt by the government to reach out to the people to pre-empt the move by the communist parties to make the deal a major issue in the next general elections. Terming nuclear energy as the “most efficient, environmentally cleanest and safe source of energy”, the advertisement says it produces more energy than any other source. The advertisement has been brought out by the ministry of petroleum and natural gas to project the deal as primarily an energy issue that will spur economic growth of the country, and to rebut the charge of the Left that the deal allegedly aims at drawing India into a strategic alliance with the US.
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E. Ahamed in dilemma over N-deal
RSS praises
Karat New Delhi: CPM general secretary Prakash Karat has earned appreciation from an unexpected quarter. The RSS has justified the Marxist leader’s “anger” towards the Congress and praised him for pulling out from the UPA government. An editorial in the latest issue of RSS mouthpiece ‘Organiser’ has said Karat was “right” in withdrawing support to the Congress-led UPA government on the nuclear deal.
— PTI
New Delhi, July 12 Addressing a press conference here today, Ahamed clearly stated that his party had serious reservation over the nuclear deal. He, however, was not prepared to resign and would support the Manmohan Singh government in the floor test. Ahamed is the lone Lok Sabha member of his party from Pannani in Kerala. The minister said his party executive had met on Thursday and expressed serious concern over the nuclear deal on the contention that it might compromise with the country’s independent and non-aligned foreign policy. He said he had been authorised by the party to convey the IUML’s concerns to the UPA leadership, including its chairperson Sonia Gandhi and the Prime Minister. He said he had alerady shared his views with both Sonia and Manmohan Singh on the deal and would be meeting them again. “However, we are with the government and will vote in its favour when the trust vote is sought by the Prime Minister in the Lok Sabha,’’ Ahamed said. The IUML could not vote against the government merely based on its views on the nuke deal alone as it had done a lot for the minorities in the light of the Rajinder Sachar committee report on their status. Ahamed was all praise for both Prime Minister and Sonia saying they were committed to the welfare of the minorities. It was unfortunate that the BJP and the Left were now trying to destabilise the government. He, however, did not have a convincing reply when asked how he could oppose the deal as a minister as it went against the principle of collective responsibility of the government. “Just because I am a minister, am I not supposed to think on the party line?”, a visibly embarrassed Ahamed asked.
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Safeguards Pact
New Delhi, July 12 “The strategic programme is completely insulated (from the safeguards pact)… the agreement will not impinge on the country’s strategic programme,” Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) chairman Anil Kakodkar said. He was addressing a joint press conference along with national security adviser M.K. Narayanan, foreign secretary Shiv Shankar Menon and Dr R.B. Grover, India’s chief negotiator for the draft safeguards agreement. The press conference by key Indian negotiators on the Indo-US nuclear deal came two days after the government made public the draft of the safeguards agreement, triggering a fresh wave of protests from Left parties. “Any supply agreement has to be between India and the supplier. Fuel guarantees will be embedded with the supply agreement,” Kakodkar said. He said the safeguards pact provides for uninterrupted fuel supply and freedom to build strategic fuel reserves for the lifetime of nuclear reactors that India would place under the safeguards. “India can take corrective action in case of disruption in fuel supplies. The response has to be calibrated. The corrective measures will depend upon our perception of the threat to the continuity of the nuclear reactors. India will take corrective action when such a situation arises,” the AEC chairman said. Calling it as an “umbrella agreement,” Grover said it would make provision for India to have strategic fuel reserves and help the country in lifetime operation of its reactors. Kakodkar said any agreement between (nuclear fuel) suppliers and India would have to be based on strong commitment. In case of any disruption of fuel supplies, India could go to the global nuclear watchdog. The discontinuation would not happen suddenly and India would have sufficient time and enough stockpiles. The NSA said the government desired to dispel any doubts in the minds of the people with regard to the deal. Asked what made the agreement “India-specific”, as was being mentioned, Narayanan said there were 66 templates for non-NPT states like India.
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Swaminathan backs N-deal
Chennai, July 12 Swaminathan said the IAEA-India safeguards agreement text made it clear that India had the option to designate its plants for inspections. “The text ensures that the designated plants are devoted to produce nuclear power and importantly they
(IAEA) said that you can designate your own plants for other purposes. This is a real concession because after the 1974 and 1998 nuclear tests, a host of countries have imposed sanctions against India,” he said here today. “Therefore, this agreement is quite unique in that respect. I would like our nuclear isolation to be ended and would like to see the peaceful use of atomic energy,” he said.
— PTI
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New Delhi, July 12 Terming the media reports as “fabricated”, the CPM politburo said they were “being floated to hamper the rallying of all forces who are committed to oppose the nuclear deal and bring to book the UPA government’s failure to tackle price rise and other problems of the people.” The party politburo came down heavily on a newspaper report that former West Bengal chief minister Basu told his party colleagues that there was no need for “pulling down” the government. The communists, who had withdrawn their legislative support to the government over the India-US civil nuclear deal, said they would vote against the government in the floor test. Politburo member Sitaram Yechury also denied differences with CPM general secretary Prakash Karat over the communists’ decision to withdraw their four-year-long legislative support to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s government. Yechury also denied that the Left would be voting along with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) against the government. “We have taken a stand on principles. If the BJP was opposing the deal, it could have brought a no-confidence motion. Now, they will be voting on an issue brought by us,” he said. — IANS
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Tribune Special
New Delhi, July 12 Over the years these teams have been equipped with newer technologies. This includes items like a watch-based measurement for gamma and neutron levels, besides high-end gadgetry that will decontaminate water and protect against radiation through the air. With reports emanating that even terrorists could unleash agents like biological or chemical warfare, the past couple of years have been used to intensify training. “There has been a major thrust in the past and this is a focus area,” said a senior officer. The training has been carried out without much publicity or fuss to counter what is called the nuclear, biological and chemical (NBC) threat. Close to 60 per cent of the army personnel in the fighting units have been trained at a special training school in Gwalior, said sources here. The communication line between the national capital and various critical commands have been “nuclear fortified” which means the links will work even in case of a nuclear attack. Nuclear fortified bunkers have been built at strategic locations for civilian and defence use. Jawans have been trained to clean contaminated water by biological and chemical weapons. An equipment, called the portable gas chromotograph, has been provided to recognise and measure upto 20 various gases in the atmosphere simultaneously. Instruments that can recognise radiation-levels have been developed and about 4 lakh fully protected suits with respiratory masks have been stock-piled, said well placed sources while confirming the preparedness. Notably, these protective suits will have a small patch on them to detect any radiation in the air. The colourless patch will turn yellow or orange in colour depending upon the intensity of the radiation. Jawans will also have an injector that can pierce through their clothings and inject anti-dotes. The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), has developed a tank mounted with equipment for monitoring radiologically and chemically contaminated areas. This will provide real-time communication of digital data to commanders stationed 20 kms away and help in troop-deployment. A mobile reconnaissance laboratory has been developed and is in use. Anti-dotes have been prepared to counter biological weapons. The water purifier and the machine that detects residual vapour of “nerve gas” and blister causing agents are among others. About Rs 700 crore have been spent so far to train the battalions and provide equipment, said official sources, while adding that it is a continuous process.
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Talwar walks free
Noida, July 12 “I was in a lot of grief. I thank God and the CBI as what my family has been saying (of my being innocent) all along now stands vindicated,” a tired looking Talwar told reporters after he went to the Sai Baba temple, near his Sector 25 residence in Noida, to pay obeisance. It was an emotional reunion for the whole family. A relieved Nupur hugged Talwar as he stepped out of the iron-gate of the prison. It was a tearful reunion of the couple, who pleaded with the media to “leave them alone” and allow them to mourn the death of their 14-year-old daughter. Talwar was seen crying on the shoulders of his brother Dinesh. Later Talwar drove to his in-laws house also in Sector 25, Noida. He was heard saying “now at least I can grieve for my dear daughter Arushi”. Yesterday, the court had ordered that Talwar be let off on two sureties of Rs 5 lakh each after 4 pm. But the formalities for the same could not be completed by 5.30 pm and the family had to return disappointed as the jail rules did not permit the release of prisoners after that time. Nupur said she was grateful to the CBI for professional investigations and to God and the court for giving them relief. In a way the court also gave a clear chit to Dr Praful Durani and his wife Dr Anita Durani, who are close family friends of Talwars.
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Jaipur, July 12 Jagat, a sitting MLA from Laxman Garh, who was expelled from the Congress two years ago on the charge of anti-party activities, told the media that his father, who had left the Congress, would also join the BSP soon. Immediately after joining the BSP, Jagat was appointed vice-president of Rajasthan unit of the party ahead of the Assembly polls due in the state later this year. Parleys with the BSP about his joining, the party had been going on for quite some time, Jagat said and claimed his entry into the party would have an impact on Jat politics in the state. “The Jats are unhappy with the Congress since Ashok Gehlot was made the Chief Minister in 1999 instead of a leader from their community and also with the BJP for not honouring its commitments.” — PTI
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Pressure mounts on Somnath to quit New Delhi/Kolkata, July 12 Chatterjee, who has maintained that his post was above politics, is meeting party veteran Jyoti Basu in Kolkata tomorrow and may step down on Monday, party sources indicated. The CPM is reportedly banking on Basu persuading Chatterjee to step down. Though the CPM general secretary Prakash Karat maintained a public posture that the party had not taken a decision that he should resign, enough hints had been sent to him to put in his papers in view of the new situation. “No, that is not correct. There is no such decision as yet,” Karat told PTI when asked whether the party has asked Chatterjee to step down and that he would quit on Monday. On Wednesday, Karat had given ample hints of his intentions when he said that Chatterjee would decide on his own whether to resign from his post in the light of Left parties decision to withdraw support. The Speaker was also not said to be very happy with his name being included in the Left parties’ list of members given to President Pratibha Patil as those who have withdrawn support. — PTI
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20,000 mines worth Rs 10 cr found defective
Chandigarh, July 12 Based upon an Army indent, the OFB had placed an order with the factory for the supply of 32,000 anti-personnel mines to the Central Ammunition Depot. According to the latest Comptroller and Auditor General’s (CAG) report, the factory had been experiencing problems in the manufacture of the mines. To sort them out and improve user satisfaction, the factory had convened a meeting with representatives from High Energy Materials Research Laboratory (HEMRL), which had designed the ammunition, and Directorate General of Quality Assurance. The problems faced by the factory were discussed and based upon the decision taken at the meeting HEMRL amended the specifications. Accordingly, authorities at the factory were informed in 2002. The factory, however, continued to manufacture the mines as per old specifications. The mines were issued to the ordnance depot after clearance by the senior quality assurance establishment concerned. However, during routine inspection of the mines at the depot a number of defects were noticed and reported to the factory and the OFB. A defect investigation committee was constituted by the factory, which in April 2006 reported a number of defects in the mines. After considering the committee report, the Director General of Ordnance Factories advised the ordnance depot that approximately 20,000 mines affected be destroyed in view of their poor physical properties. “The nature of defects pointed out by the committee confirms that the factory did not adopt the amended specifications. It is also indicative of use of substandard material by the factory in the manufacturing of mines,” the CAG observed. “The role played by the inspectorates in clearing the mines manufactured as per old specifications is open to question,” he added. The CAG has also noted that the ammunition factory has an obligation to replace the mines condemned for destruction, free of cost.
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Flood alert in Bahraich
Faizabad, July 12 All flood control stations on the banks of Ghaghra and Saryu rivers have been put on alert by the Flood Control Department anticipating that the flood situation could become grim within a couple of hours. Continuing heavy rains in the mountains of Nepal and opening of Banbasa barrage to let out excess rainwater into India have flooded the major rivers of eastern Uttar Pradesh, including the Ghaghra, Rapti and Saryu, submerging hundreds of villages. Ghaghra’s water level has recorded a rapid rise in the last twenty-four hours, running above danger level in Barabanki, Ayodhya and Balia districts. With floodwaters entering the low-lying villages on Friday, situation in Bahraich district continues to be grim. The turbulent Ghaghra had wrought havoc as around 70 villages in Nanpara and Mahsi tehsils were cut off from the rest of the region. The flood fury in the district began on Friday when waters of the Ghaghra swept across 25 villages following the release of water from Banbasa barrage. Before the Flood Control Department could take any action, the water had already deluged around a dozen villages in the north of Nanpara along the Indo-Nepal border.
— PTI
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Rain throws power supply out of gear in M’rashtra
Mumbai, July 12 According to the Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company, the demand for power stood at around 12,000 MW
against the 10,500 MW estimated earlier. “ The power supply for the entire state at present stands at 8,500 MW,” Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh said here
today. Deshmukh said a meeting of senior bureaucrats was called to review the power situation in the state. "While we are trying to buy power from other states, load shedding is inevitable," he said. So far, the Maharashtra government has managed to tie up just 350 MW of additional power from the national grid. The government is pressing for the delivery of additional gas to the Ratnagiri Power Project, formerly owned by Enron, so that the plant can generate another 600 MW. According to state power department sources, the power supply to the industrial sector will be cut for 24 hours every week. Earlier, power outages were announced for 16 hours.
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