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N-Deal
‘US document takes nothing away’
Revised draft on US website
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IAF was not in favour of 1965 ceasefire: Marshal Arjan Singh
Strengthening Parliamentary Democracy
MP demands action against Bajrang Dal
Prez to launch teachers’ portal today
Tata: Ready to cooperate
Nano welcome in Uttarakhand, says Khanduri
Sonia’s plane makes emergency landing
“Mannat” trouble for SRK
Israeli Spyder for India
Blasts in Chhattisgarh HC
New Cong ministry in Puducherry sworn in
Beggar menace in Jaipur
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United States plays down controversy
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, September 4 US Ambassador to India David C. Mulford went to the Prime Minister’s Office this afternoon, where he is understood to have met top officials to discuss the issue even as India and the US anxiously await the outcome of the Nuclear Suppliers’ Group (NSG) meeting in Vienna. Meanwhile, former US Ambassador to India Robert Blackwill has described as routine communication the disclosures that Washington could terminate the nuclear deal if New Delhi conducted a nuclear test in the future. Refusing to give much importance to the contents of the document released by Howard Berman, chairman of the foreign affairs committee Blackwill said: “It as such was a communication between one branch of the US government to another and has no political ramifications for any other country.” “This is routine. It doesn’t have anything to do with any force or impact outside the relationship between the executive and the government in the United States,” he said at a conference on Indo-US relations. Asserting that in the US there was an across the board support for strong Indo-US relations, he said the Bush administration had done everything in its power diplomatically to ensure that the deal “gets clearance from the NSG”. Whatever be the results at the final NSG meeting, the relationship between India and the US would not be affected, said Blackwill, who is credited with giving a dramatic push to the Indo-US ties during his tenure as the envoy to New Delhi. On the situation in Pakistan, Blackwill warned that terrorists were widening their net in the country. The ISI was simultaneously using the Taliban to continue its hold on strategic positions in India. Describing Pakistan’s future as bleak over the next five years, he said the civilian leadership in the country had little interest in governing the country and was more interested in out-manoeuvring each other.
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‘US document takes nothing away’
New Delhi, September 4 "If it is going to cause harm to our health, what (should) we do? You don't eat something just because it is served to you," he told NDTV. "What is the other alternative," Kakodkar countered when asked whether the deal would be kept aside if it is in a form which is unacceptable to India. "Let us finish the cooking process (of the nuclear deal), taste it and then see whether it is good or bad," he said. Asked what would India do in case the cooked meal was not appetising, Kakodkar said: "Then we don't eat it. If it is appetising, we will." Kakodkar said the US disclosures on the nuclear deal did not take away anything India wanted. He also stated that there was "adequate protection" for its strategic programme in the civil nuclear deal with Washington. He said India knew about the letter written by the US State Department in January to Tom Lantos, the then Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, but was caught unawares by its release. — PTI
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Revised draft on US website
New Delhi, September 4 The NSG sceptics had proposed nearly 50 amendments in the original draft. The revised draft was put on its website today by the Washington-based non-proliferation lobby Arms Control Association. It does not incorporate any new conditionalities on India. It has a new paragraph that says all governments participating in the NSG shall inform one another of their bilateral cooperation with India after the exemption is approved. American under secretary of state William Burns told reporters in Vienna that the Bush administration believed that these steps would strengthen non-proliferation. Back home in India, sources said the government’s entire attention was on the NSG meeting. External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee, in an interview to the AIR said India could not agree to anything in the NSG waiver which was beyond the Prime Minister’s ‘commitment to Parliament.’
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IAF was not in favour of 1965 ceasefire: Marshal Arjan Singh
New Delhi, September 4 Singh, one of the first few pilots in independent India, is the first and the only IAF chief to be adorned with the rank of ‘Marshal of the Air Force’, currently, the only ‘five-star’ officer in India. “When the ceasefire came, the IAF was not in its favour as it had consumed only 8-9 per cent of its resources. The war was too short,” Singh reminisced in an exclusive interview. Singh became the IAF chief in 1964 at the age of 44 years. The 91-year-old Singh, who was awarded the rank in 2002, says "I feel in the hindsight that had the IAF known that the war was going to be short it could have used the resources in a bigger way." The Pakistan Army's incursions in India culminated on September 1, 1965, in a massive attack in the Chhamb sector (Jammu and Kashmir) by the Pakistan forces. The Pakistani incursions in Jammu and Kashmir continued for about a month till the ceasefire was effected on September 23, 1965. Singh, his memory still razor sharp for his age, said the IAF, after starting off at a disadvantage, soon gained advantage over the Pakistan Air Force. “We had an impression that the Pakistan Air Force was better equipped as it had air-to-air missiles, Sabre fighter aircraft and better radars than us. On the other hand, our Gnat aircraft had short reach and were smaller,” Singh said. He added that Gnat was not famous before and nobody liked to fly it. “But as the war progressed the Gnat shot down two Sabre aircraft, boosting our morale. Its small size was also a good advantage because it could not be seen properly on radar,” Singh said proudly. The IAF was used for the first time in independent India in the 1965 India-Pakistan war. This gave important war lessons that came handy to secure a victory in the 1971 India-Pakistan war, which was won on the strategic use of the IAF. Close air support missions of the IAF in the Gujranwala sector, in the Sialkot-Lahore-Ferozepur axis and in the Khemkaran Kasur sector in Pakistan, contributed to the destruction of 300 Patton tanks of Pakistan. “We had planned for a three-month war. Our strategy was to attack Pakistan's rail and communications and at the same time stopping the Pakistan Air Force from attacking our bases and operation areas. We wanted to surround Lahore and not capture it as it would have been difficult to sustain,” Singh said. Eventually it was the “failure of communication links” that forced the Pakistan Army to retreat.
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Strengthening Parliamentary Democracy R. Sedhuraman Tribune News Service
New Delhi, September 4 Distinguished persons from various walks of life participated in the over four hours of discussions held at the instance of Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee. Those present on the occasion included former law minister Shanti Bhushan, BJP leader Jaswant Singh, Congress leader Girija Vyas, jurists Rajinder Sachar, Fali S. Nariman and Soli Sorabji, former RBI Governor Bimal Jalan, Prof M.S. Swaminathan, MP, and journalists Kuldip Nayar, Prabhash Joshi, Inder Malhotra, B.G. Verghese, H.K. Dua and Harish Khare, Rajya Sabha deputy chairman K. Rahman Khan and Lok Sabha secretary-general P.D.T Achary. However, external affairs minister Pranab Mukherjee was not present. In his initial remarks, the Speaker took the potential sting out of the debate, appealing to the participants not to talk about the July 22 trust vote and the unsavoury developments connected with it as a parliamentary committee was going into the issue. Several speakers regretted that parliamentary proceedings had deteriorated to such a level that even the Prime Minister was not being allowed to express his views in the two Houses as was witnessed during the July 21-22 debate on the trust vote. While the participants differed on the methods to deal with the problems, there was near unanimity that parliamentary system was best suited to India, given its vast geographical area and population, and the diverse culture. Chatterjee said the issues were getting complicated with increasingly fractured mandates that had resulted in 37 parties getting representation in the 14th Lok Sabha. Nariman said the chaos prevailing across the country was largely due to the bad example set by MPs in Parliament. Kuldip Nayar opined that parties were misusing parliament to pursue their respective political agenda at the cost of national interest. Economist B.B. Bhattacharya suggested a ban on the media for reporting disruptions in parliament and wanted MPs should be made accountable in parliament. Swaminathan suggested that all parties arrive at an NCMP on environment, population, poverty and development. Sorabjee agreed with the views that there was no need for the Presidential system. Inder Malhotra said fragmented polity had resulted in the neglect of national issues. Former Delhi University Vice Chancellor Deepak Pental said political parties should hunt for talent. Dr Girija Vyas favoured ‘punishment’ for MPs who created trouble in the House. Jaswant Singh regretted that Panchayats had become dens of corruption. Khare suggested an upper age limit for politicians for holding high positions. However, this was met with resistance from many of the participants for various reasons. Jalan opined that proliferation of regional and state-level parties was an unintended result of the Anti-Defection Law. Justice Sachar regretted the insensitivity of lawmakers to the rights of the judiciary. Shanti Bhushan said the Election Commission should be empowered to derecognise parties whose MPs misbehaved in Parliament and for enforcing ‘bandhs’ which resulted in violence and destruction of property.
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MP demands action against Bajrang Dal
New Delhi, September 4 Even Leader of the Opposition L.K. Advani has said that “whoever indulges in terrorism should be dealt with strictly.”Mollah has asked the Prime Minister to take action against “neo-fascist forces like the VHP/RSS and the Bajrang Dal who are training people to attack minorities in different parts of the country.” In his letter, he states:“Our attention has been drawn to a serious situation arising out of the strengthening of some fascist organisations and the government’s failure to tackle them.” He referred to a recent charge jointly levelled by filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt, former Gujarat DGP R.B. Sreekumar, retired judge B.G. Kolse Patil and Teesta Setalvad and said, “They alleged that the above mentioned neo-fascist organisations are engaged in getting training in arms, bomb making and bomb explosion in Bhonsale Military School in Nagpur.” The CPM MP wrote: “ The Bajrang Dal is training people to attack minorities in different parts of the country. They are planting bombs in mosques in the disguise of Muslim terrorists. But the CBI is trying to conceal all such information to protect those fascists. They are ignoring clear leads on various blasts which distinctly identify Sangh Parivar activists. Recent Kanpur blasts during the making of bombs proved the involvement of the Bajrang Dal.” Simultaneously, Paswan, a union minister, announced yesterday his intent to sit on a dharna at Jantar Mantar to press the government to initiate action against the Bajrang Dal. But when Advani was confronted about the involvement of the Bajrang Dal in Kanpur blasts, he said:“ The Bajrang Dal, I am told, has nothing to do with this. But whoever indulges in terrorism should be dealt with strictly.”
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Prez to launch teachers’ portal today
New Delhi, September 4 The primary purpose of the portal created by National Knowledge Commission in partnership with the Azim Premji Foundation is to build and share knowledge and create a vibrant network of teachers. One of the ideas articulated by the National Curriculum Framework - 2005 is that the school curriculum should be an inclusive space that extends beyond conventional curriculum. It should go into the domains of teaching-learning process that enables the children to learn and provides the teacher with an opportunity to plan according to the pace of the learner. Objectives of the portal are to provide a forum for sharing and interaction for teachers outside the formal training environment.
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Tata: Ready to cooperate
Kolkata, September 4 “We too want the crisis to end as it has been impossible for us to run the Nano plant in these unfavourable circumstances,” said Tata Gandhi who spent the whole day today in meeting the state government and farmers’ representatives, said Tata had agreed to participate in the negotiation process, if need be. Yesterday, the Governor had received a letter from Ratan Tata in response to his letter to him earlier. Raj Bhavan sources said Tata had expressed regret that they had been trapped in a political tangle between the ruling and the opposition parties over Singur. This was unwanted and unwarranted. “The Tatas would have not invested in the Nano project at Singur and get its image tarnished had it been known to us that the land acquiring process at Singur was wrong,” Tata reportedly remarked. On the eve of tomorrow’s crucial meeting, the Governor today was busy meeting with state industries minister Nirupam Sen and state officials on certain proposals for a solution. Former Chief Justice of the Mumbai High Court ChittatoshMookherjee also took part. In the afternoon, Gandhi met farmers’ representatives. He also heard the views of the chairman of the assembly standing committee on industries Sudip Banerjee. Banerjee said he informed the Governor that there was no ancillary units inside Tata’s Pune plant and, hence, it was not necessary that all ancillaries were accommodated inside the Singur project. Industries minister told mediapersons at the Writers’ Building that he was confident that the Nano motor car would be rolled out in the market from the Singur plant in October-November.
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Nano welcome in Uttarakhand, says Khanduri
Dehra Dun, September 4 Khanduri said earlier it was not clear whether the Tatas would pull out of Singur or not. “But now it seems that they have decided to shift and if they choose
Uttarakhand, they are welcome,” he said. The Chief Minister said Uttarakhand was the ideal location for the Nano car plant. The Tatas already have a 1,000-acre plant at Pantnagar in Udham Singh Nagar district where they manufacture ‘ACE trucks’. “Incentives in shape of cheap and uninterrupted power supply, water, peaceful atmosphere without any industrial or law and order problem and above all Centre’s industrial package involving excise and other tax benefits make Uttarakhand the ideal place for shifting the Nano factory. The Tatas know about these benefits,” said
Khanduri. “Once they decide to come to Uttarakhand with the Nano factory, we can discuss all their demands across the table,” he added. The state government has recently allotted 50 acres to the Pantnagar plant of the company for housing purposes.
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Sonia’s plane makes emergency landing
Bangalore, September 4 A Congress party spokesperson here said the plane carrying the UPA chairperson and the finance minister had landed in Bangalore after their aircraft developed a snag. “They had flown to Chennai from Delhi for a programme and were supposed to go to Coimbatore. But their aircraft developed a problem and made emergency landing in Bangalore,” the spokesman said. He said the two Congress leaders left for Coimbatore from Bangalore by another plane.
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“Mannat” trouble for SRK
Mumbai, September 4 Hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) petition, the Bombay High Court today issued notices to Khan, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation and the Maharashtra government asking them to explain as to how the construction of the building was permitted. The petitioner, a social worker, Simpreet Singh, contended that the construction violated the Coastal Regulation Zone rules and regulations, which prohibited construction of properties on coastal land. The petitioner contended that the actor had also violated heritage norms by constructing a seven storeyed building on the backyard of a heritage building purchased from the original owner some years ago. In The petitioner has compiled a list of 32 violations of rules and regulations by the actor.Among other things, the actor has been accused of buying up property meant to house the poor and the setting up of an art gallery. The petitioners said their action in filing the PIL "stems from the grievance of the petitioners, whereby, people holding substantial power and sway in the society are able to mould and then flout the laws meant for the society's benefit for their own pecuniary gain." The actor is also accused of using his clout by lobbying with the state Chief Minister seeking the de-reservation of land for the art gallery on the grounds that it would affect his security. The government is now being questioned on agreeing to the actor's request and formally asking the BMC to de-reserve the plot meant for an art gallery. The PIL charged that laws under various heads like the Development Control Regulation, CRZ notifications, Environment Protection Act, 1986, etc have been violated. This is not the first controversy Khan has had to face over his dream house. Way back in 2001, the actor had to cough up Rs 51 lakh to the Maharashtra government by way of taxes owed by the former owner of the property. The state government had threatened to seize the 26,300 sq ft property while it was under construction. The Maharashtra government originally owned the land and the lessee was required by law to share the proceeds with the state. The property was originally leased to the family of Nariman Dubash during the British rule. The family had then sold it to a packing company from whom Khan had bought the place. The state government however asked Khan to cough up the back taxes due from both previous owners of the property.
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Israeli Spyder for India
Mumbai, September 4 The systems will be built to Indian requirements by Israeli armaments maker Rafael and Israel Aircraft Industries. Defence sources here say the systems will have to be modified for Indian climatic conditions before being deployed. The systems will be delivered in 2011 and 2012. India has a long relationship with Rafael, which had supplied the Barak missiles. The Spyder is a truck-mounted system that carries a combination of short-medium-range Derby 4 and ultra-agile short-range 5th generation Python 5 air-to-air missiles. The missiles have been so designed that they can be deployed to counter a wide range of threats. |
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Blasts in Chhattisgarh HC
Bilaspur, September 4 The blasts, set off using firecrackers ('sutli' bombs), took place on the first floor terrace of the ancient building that earlier housed a school. Several identical computer-printout pamphlets, purportedly issued by 'Peedit Adhivaktagan' (victimised advocates) and containing personal allegations against Justice Satish Agnihotri, were found on the terrace and in the lobby close to Chief Justice Rajeev Gupta's chamber. ''The pamphlets warned the judge to 'go back' and accused him of a superiority complex that led to undermining other jurists,'' said IGPolice (Bilaspur Range) Rajeev Chandra Shrivastav. The first explosion took place on the terrace of Justice TP Sharma's courtroom about 45 minutes after the day's work began. Consequently, panic prevailed in Chhattisgarh's second-largest town. Immediately after the blasts, hearing was suspended in two adjoining courtrooms and the judges retreated to their antechambers. Court sources quoted the Chief Justice as expressing ''extreme concern'' over the incident. Several lawyers demanded immediate action against the printer. — UNI
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New Cong ministry in Puducherry sworn in
Puducherry, September 4 Vaithilingam (58), who along with four of his ministerial colleagues in the previous six-member Cabinet spearheaded the revolt against Rangasamy, took over the reins of the UT for the second time after nearly 12 years. All ministers in the previous government were sworn in along with A Namassivayam, a former minister. Lt-Governor Govind Singh Gurjar administered the oath of office and secrecy to Vaithilingam, who held the power and industries portfolios in the previous ministry, and others. Rangasamy was conspicuous by his absence at the swearing-in ceremony, which was also attended by CWC member V Arunkumar and union minister of state V Narayanasamy and leaders of allied parties. The formation of the new ministry followed the open feud between Rangasamy and his Cabinet colleagues and repeated efforts by the party high command failed to ensure rapprochement and finally a change of guard had to be carried out. Soon after assuming charge, the Chief Minister chaired a Cabinet meeting
— PTI
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Beggar menace in Jaipur
Jaipur, September 4 A physically challenged woman, seemingly in her early 30s, was witnessed nude on a busy four-lane near Hotel Raj Mahal Palace here yesterday. Though she appeared to be mentally challenged, she seemed to have learnt the art of seeking money by such unusual acts. The director of Social Welfare, Rajasthan, Alok Kumar, said the state had the Anti-Beggary Act in place.
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On the 43rd anniversary of the war with Pakistan, Arjan Singh, the only Marshal of the Air Force, who led the Indian Air Force
(IAF) during that conflict, rues that the war was too “short” and the IAF was not in favour of a ceasefire.
