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N-deal a mega fraud: BJP
Prominent leaders stay away
CWC Meeting |
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CWC meets to discuss poll strategy, alliances New Delhi, September 13 With a series of Assembly elections scheduled in the next few months to be followed by the Lok Sabha poll, the Congress Working Committee (CWC) today met to take stock of the political situation and discuss possible alliances to hammer out a winning strategy. 2 trusts, many parallels, unparalleled fraud
Satellite imageries to guide flood control in state
Fresh trouble at Singur
2 killed, 2 hurt in Kandhamal district
India may buy Boeing P-8i Poseidons?
Astra test-fired successfully
Gallantry allowance doubled
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N-deal a mega fraud: BJP
BJP general secretary Ananth Kumar, who briefed the media on the political resolution, said the “last nail in the coffin” with regard to the deal was that Hyde Act would continue to be in force even after the formalisation of the deal. Quoting the political resolution, Kumar said the PM had on July 2 gave a statement saying that the 123 agreement would override the Hyde Act. Kumar said the Bush Administration in its reply to the Congress committee had stated that the 123 Agreement was in full conformity with the Hyde Act and in the event of India detonating a nuclear device, the US would have the right to cease all nuclear cooperation with India immediately. The resolution also argued that the waiver granted to India by the NSG had only harmed the country’s strategic interest. The voluntary moratorium on further tests declared by foreign minister Pranab Mukherjee had become a binding under the NSG waiver conditions. The resolution said the UPA’s claim that the deal would lead to energy security and enhanced availability of power was “equally misleading”. Energy to be supplied at a very high cost and “in all likelihood after a gap of 25 years” was being projected as an achievement, the resolution said and added that the claim was yet another instance of “misrepresentation”. The resolution clarified that the BJP’s opposition to the deal was fundamentally different from that of left parties. The BJP was for good and friendly relations with the US and for strategic partnership with the country and opposed to “strategic subservience”, said the resolution. On the issue of Jammu and Kashmir, the national executive condemned the Congress party and the UPA for withdrawing the land given to the Amarnath Shrine Board. It congratulated the Amarnath Sangharsh Samiti for being able to finally extract a concession from the government with regard to land for pilgrims. On “SIMI and the fight against terror”, the resolution blamed the UPA government for being “soft” on terror outfits. It also complimented the BJP governments in Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Karnataka and Chhattishgarh for being able to take effective action against the terrorists. The political resolution was proposed by Ravi Shankar Prasad and seconded by Arun Shourie, Narendra Modi, Chaman Lal (former union minister of state for civil aviation and a resident of Jammu) and Safi Yusuf Khan (from Kashmir). Kumar said an economic resolution about the ill effects of price rise and inflation was being deliberated upon at the meeting for adoption.
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Prominent leaders stay away
Bangalore, September 13 BJP vice-president Kalyan Singh and general secretary Vinay Katiyar, both once the OBC faces of the party in UP, refused to come to Bangalore on the ground that the party was proceeding with aligning with western UP Jat leader Ajit Singh, without taking them into confidence. But these were the only two prominent names mentioned by BJP spokesman Ravi Shankar Prasad here yesterday. There are many more. The fair face of the BJP, Sushma Swaraj, has stayed back in Delhi for no specific reason and no one knows why. BJP parliamentary party deputy leader Vijay Kumar Malhotra was also not seen when the party was discussing the forthcoming assembly elections in Delhi. While officials at his Delhi residence maintained that he had flown to Bangalore, he was nowhere in sight and again none would say anything about Malhotra. Sources said his absence was related to the tussle in the Delhi BJP about who should lead the BJP in the Delhi assembly elections. So far Harsh Vardhan was projected as the man who would lead the BJP team in Delhi in the state elections scheduled for sometime in October-November this year. Then only recently BJP general secretary and a veteran Delhi man from Chandni Chowk Vijay Goel also became a self-declared aspirant. Sources indicated that Malhotra was unhappy that even though he was today the tallest leader of the party in Delhi, the BJP had not bothered to consult him on who should lead Delhi. Incidentally, Harsh Vardhan is attending the national executive. That apart, there is also class distinction between leaders and leaders, attending the meeting. For instance, Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi, the trusted lieutenant of party prime ministerial candidate L.K. Advani, has a special status. Apart from BJP President Rajnath Singh and Advani, Modi and general secretary Arun Jaitley are the only visible and constant faces in the three-day meet. And Modi’s presentation of his state report was specially and separately marked. By contrast, the others, including Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhra Raje along with the likes of Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan, were in the category of also rans. It showed in their cursory and partial presence in the national executive. Raje came, presented her report and left on the first day itself. Similarly Chauhan arrived only on Saturday to present his state report and left the same day. The ostensible reason given was that these leaders have been asked to rush back immediately to prepare for their state elections--not a very plausible excuse.
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CWC Meeting New Delhi, September 13 The Prime Minister made these remarks in the course of his speech at the meeting of the extended Congress Working Committee (CWC), which was meant to set the tone for the approaching assembly elections and next year’s Lok Sabha poll. While enumerating the government’s achievements, Singh admitted that terrorism along with Naxalism, corruption and communalism continued to pose a serious challenge to the country. This is not the first time that Manmohan has spoken of terrorism as a being a matter of grave concern for the government. The country has witnessed a series of such incidents in recent months as Gujarat and Rajasthan were rocked by powerful bomb blasts, which left behind a trail of death and destruction. The Prime Minister has reiterated his government’s resolve to fight these forces with a heavy hand on all these occasions. In her opening remarks, Congress president Sonia Gandhi also referred to the need for putting down terrorism firmly but the brunt of her attack was against the BJP and its sister organisations like the Bajrang Dal and the VHP who, she charged, inflamed religious prejudices and passions through vicious communal campaign to divide the society. Referring to the Orissa violence, she said it was a carefully orchestrated ploy by saffron oufits to inflame religious prejudices and passions. “This has been their strategy all along. Every time their position is weakened, every time elections are around the corner, the BJP, RSS, Bajrang Dal and the VHP launch the most vicious communal campaign to divide and polarise society,” she added. Despite Sonia Gandhi’s brave words in the morning, the Delhi blasts only served to push the UPA government on the defensive as the BJP is all set to up the ante against the the ruling coalition for being soft on terror. The focus will again shift to the government’s handling of the internal security situation with home minister Shivraj Patil coming in for a fresh round of criticism both from the opposition and his colleagues, who privately maintain that Patil has not dealt firmly with the menace of terrorism. Patil was under attack at a recent cabinet meeting from his ministerial colleagues for his ministry’s slow response to the communal violence in Orissa. Although Congress leaders put up a brave face, today’s blasts have clearly demoralised the party. The confidence exhibited at the day-long CWC meeting over the party’s electoral prospects in the upcoming polls soon gave way to concern and worry after they heard of the blasts. That the day’s deliberations were overtaken by the subsequent developments was evident at Congress spokesperson Veerappa Moily’s briefing, which had just commenced when news of the blasts came in. There was all-round chaos and Moily had to abandon his briefing on the CWC and instead give the party’s reaction to the serial blasts. Earlier, participating in the discussions, leaders from the poll-bound states of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Delhi presented a glowing account of the organsiation’s health and were confident of unseating the BJP governments provided the central leadership distributes tickets in time and selects candidates on merit.
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CWC meets to discuss poll strategy, alliances
New Delhi, September 13 More than 150 delegates, comprising party general secretaries, secretaries, CWC members, PCC presidents, CLP leaders along with union ministers, deliberated on the political scenario, Indo-US nuclear deal, inflation and flood situation in Bihar and some other parts of the country. The brain-storming session, the first after the UPA's victory in the July 22 trust vote and the end of the nuclear apartheid, discussed the party's preparedness to face the elections in Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Jammu and Kashmir and Mizoram. The meeting, chaired by Congress President Sonia Gandhi, was attended by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, and his senior party colleagues in the Cabinet, including Pranab Mukherjee, Shivraj Patil and P. Chidambaram. AICC general secretary Rahul Gandhi was among the other prominent party leaders who attended the day-long meeting. The CWC also discussed the necessity of alliances in the current political scenario and the number of seats it should contest in the Lok Sabha elections in the states where it is opting for such electoral tie-ups. — PTI
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2 trusts, many parallels, unparalleled fraud Chandigarh, September 13 If the amazing parallels of the Ludhiana City Centre scam and the Amritsar Improvement Trust land exemption case are any indication, these statutory local bodies, constituted with the specific purpose of promoting the development of new areas of a city, have turned out to be the bane of the previous Congress government in general and the former Chief Minister Amarinder Singh in particular. Chronological studies of both the cases throw up some stunning revelations: both came to limelight and remained subjects of discussions not only in the administrative circles but also in the state legislature during the previous Congress government in the state.The two cases, raked up and fuelled by the ruling party members themselves, provided the Akalis a strong tool to put Amarinder Singh and his ministerial colleague Jagjit Singh in a political quagmire. In either of the cases, the then Chief Minister Amarinder Singh agreed for a probe - in the Amritsar Improvement Trust case by a House Committee and in the Ludhiana City Centre scam by an inspector-general of the Vigilance Bureau. The Amritsar case became contentious after alleged tampering of the Vidhan Sabha record that was referred to a Privilege Committee. Interestingly, the Ludhiana Improvement Trust and the Amritsar Improvement Trust had their chairpersons - Ashok Garcha and Ratna - replaced by Wg Cdr P.S. Sibia and Jugal Kishore Sharma, allegedly for raising objections to the proposals. It is the prerogative of the state government to appoint chairpersons and other members of the Improvement Trusts. Chairpersons could be either civil servants or influential local politicians who have, besides, some nominated members from among municipal councillors or local bigwigs, some ex-officio members including town planners, engineers and architects. When Improvement Trusts are dissolved then administrators appointed by the state government take over their functioning. Local bodies minister Jagjit Singh has also been named and booked along with his Chief Minister Amarinder Singh in both cases. Subsequent appointees in the Ludhiana Improvement Trust - Wg Cdr PS Sibia - and Amritsar Improvement Trust - Jugal Kishore Sharma - also could not escape the Vigilance net. The FIRs suggest their active involvement. The preliminary investigations in the two cases refer to tampering of records. Intriguingly, babudom - from bottom to top - had dissented with the schemes that were approved at the highest level of the Chief Minister. The ruling Shriomani Akali Dal and Bharatiya Janata Party alliance has been throughout denying any political witch hunting or vendetta politics in registration of these major scams involving Ludhiana and Amritsar Improvement Trusts. The SAD-BJP alliance holds that it was the inquiry committee report of IG CSR Reddy of the Vigilance Bureau that became the basis of registration of a case in Ludhiana City Centre scam while in the case of Amritsar scam, it was Bir Devinder Singh, who was, for a brief period, deputy speaker in last Punjab Vidhan Sabha, who had raked up the issue on the floor of the legislature.
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Kosi Curse: Waters recede, so does life
Jankinagar(Purnia), September 13 Ahead of Jankinagar at Ground Zero in the worst affected Madehpura district, floodwaters are receding. But even three weeks after the Kosi struck terror in five districts of north Bihar, displacing lakhs and destroying public and private property worth thousands of crores, the washed away road at Chandanpurbhanga continues to resemble a vast flowing river. A stench, perhaps of dead fish, emanates from the Kosi’s new course. From the nearby Jankinagar, women from the Marwari community-Sushila, Kusum, Hema, Suman and Mamta- visit the spot to offer ladoos to the river. “We are praying to Kosi so that it calms down,” explains the eldest in the group, Sushila, as she distributes prasad among flood victims from Murliganj. Seeing a couple of women carrying their belongings in a sack and the aid efforts by Krishnanand Yadav, a school teacher from a secondary school in Murliganj, who helped this correspondent cross a bad stretch on his motorcycle, one cannot help but salute their resolute spirit. The women smile as they pass by despite the tumult in their lives. Just before Kosi swept away the highway is the Bhanga boat launching point. Bhanga, that has been the hub of activity for the Army, Navy, TISTA, RRF and ITBF personnel operating in the area for the past couple of days, is now settling down after the hectic rescue operations by the forces. Explains a young Captain, manning the spot: “Most of the marooned have been rescued.There has been no rainfall and things are under control. The Army will withdraw soon. “In Harbola village 10 to 15 persons and in Chaharpati 50 to 60 villagers who did not want to move out earlier now want to shift to relief camps as some of their domestic animals have died and the stench is becoming unbearable.” Among those waiting for an Army BAUT to be launched is Suresh Yadav of Rahata village. He wants to take the boat ride to his village to see how his pair of oxen and buffaloes are doing. At the JBC Bagicha in Abhay Ram Chakla(Janki Nagar) mega camp, the first to be set up by the state government after the floods, there is no dearth of relief material. A community kitchen being run there caters to 22,000 victims, says labour inspector Sushil Kumar Yadav. There is no dearth of relief material anywhere with help pouring in from the length and breadth of the country. The highway from Patna to Purnia is dotted with trucklods of relief material for the flood-hit. However, the challenge is to carry the relief and medical aid to those refusing to move out of their villages, fearing for safety of their belongings and cattle. In Purnia, scores of relief camps are being run by social, political and religious organisations, besides the official camps. It is full of people, each with a tale to tell. Their worry now is how to restart life all over again. To helppeople re-settle, organisations like Baba Ramdev’s Patanjali Yogpeeth, Art of Living and Mata Amritanandmayi Math and Nargis Dutt Charitable Trust plan to adopt some of the villages.
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Satellite imageries to guide flood control in state
Guwahati, September 13 Assam government spokesman Himanta Bishwa Sharma said, "In the wake of the Prime Minister's assurance to provide sufficient assistance to the state to undertake permanent flood-control projects like construction of new embankments and rebuilding flood-damaged infrastructure, the government is keen to revolutionise its water resources department through use of modern technology and equipment." He said the Centre had already granted over Rs 1,160 crore assistance for the flood-control projects in Assam. This included an externally aided component of Rs 500 crore out of which Rs 450 crore would be borne by the Centre. "However, the capacity of the state water resources department, which has been banking on local ill-equipped contractors to carry out flood- control projects, was put under scanner by the state Cabinet. The Cabinet favoured use of modern technology and engagement of well- equipped highway construction companies so that money granted by the Centre could be utilised in time through early completion of projects," he said.
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Fresh trouble at Singur
Kolkata, September 13 Bose urged Mamata Banerjee to accept the state government’s offer for returning 70 acres from within the project area and give up her demand for return of 300 acres. He said the Left Front today unanimously endorsed the government’s new settlement proposal, including the farmers rehabilitation package, which he felt would serve the interests of Tata Motors and the affected farmers. He said the Left Front would organise a rally at Singur on September 15 for garnering public opinion in support of Tatas’ Nano car project in which leaders of all partner parties would participate. Soon afterwards, Mamata declared at a crowded press conference that they would launch “Singur invasion” on September 16 against the state government’s betrayal of the agreement reached at the Raj Bhawan on September 7 in the presence of the Governor Gopal Krishna Gandhi. Mamata claimed she and the Chief Minister agreed that at least 300 acres from within the Tata Motors project area (not the Nano plant area) would be returned to those farmers whose lands had been forcibly acquired at Singur. She said as advised by the Governor they also instantaneously called off their agitation on September 7 night. But now the government was coming forward with a new proposal for which the Governor was also not consulted. She alleged the CPM was more interested in serving the interests of the Tatas at the cost of the bread and butter of the poor farmers. Visibly disturbed at the newly developed situation, the Governor today issued a press statement urging both the state government and the aggrieved party to avoid fresh trouble and hold further talks. He felt if the intentions were good solution could be found. Gandhi said during his prolonged discussions and meetings with the Chief Minister and Mamata Banerjee and the representatives of both parties from September 5-7, he found every one serious and sincere about solving the problems. He wished the same spirit would prevail even now. Mamata said at her meeting with the Chief Minister at Nandan last evening she categorically turned down the new proposal and the latter too was convinced about their stand. She was expecting fresh invitations, meetings and discussions for resolving the issue since they were not against the Tatas. Bose, however, claimed that if Mamata’s demand for 300 acres was acceded to the Tatas Nano project would have to be abandoned. He said they were wanting the Tatas to run the Nano project and also the farmers to get the maximum benefit, both financially and otherwise.
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2 killed, 2 hurt in Kandhamal district Phulbani (Orissa), September 13 Security personnel opened fire after a CRPF jawan sustained bullet injuries following firing by miscreants from a country-made gun at Kurtamgarh in Tumudibandh area, director general of police Gopal Chandra Nanda said. Two of those indulging in arson and rioting were killed and another was injured in firing as security personnel tried to disperse the mob, Nanda and Kandhamal District Collector Krishan Kumar said. “The situation in the area is tense but under control. One company of CRPF has been deployed in Kurtamgarh as a precautionary measure,” Kumar said. Trouble started when miscreants opened fire as the security personnel were trying to disperse the mob, Kumar said adding security personnel resorted to firing soon after the gun shots by arsonists. — PTI
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India may buy Boeing P-8i Poseidons?
Mumbai, September 13 But an official request by the Indian defence ministry to purchase 20 AGM-84L Harpoon Block II missiles has sparked off speculation in the international defence market that the government has decided to purchase the LRMR aircraft from Boeing. The aircraft purchase from the US is expected to be one of several deals with the US in the post-nuclear deal era, according to experts. According to information available on the Harpoon Block II missiles deal, the Indian Navy is to pay $170 million. Aircraft manufacturer Boeing is expected to be main beneficiary. What has sparked off interest in the deal is the absence of offset clauses which the Indian defence ministry has made mandatory for arms purchases from the world market. Under the offset clause, arms suppliers are to source up to 30 per cent of the value of the order from Indian manufacturers. According to technical information available, the Harpoon missile is not compatible with any of the aircraft presently in service with the Indian forces like the MiGs, Mirages, Sea Harriers and the Sukhois. Only the Boeing P-8i Poseidons long-range maritime reconnaissance (LRMR) patrol aircraft are easily compatible with missiles. The Indian government has been talks with placing an order for eight such planes at a cost of $2 billion. The aircraft is based on the Boeing-737 commercial airliner. The aircraft is currently in the process of being inducted into the US navy. The main competitors to the P-8i Poseidons is the European Aeronautic Defence and Space (EADS)’s A-319 maritime patrol aircraft which is based on an Airbus A-319 commercial aircraft.
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Balasore (Orissa), September 13 The Beyond Visual Range (BVR) missile, which can carry a 15-kg warhead for use by the Indian Air Force (IAF), was launched from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Chandipur in Orissa. The missile is proposed to be integrated with combat fighter aircraft Sukhoi-30 next year after more trials. Astra is a high-end tactical missile capable of engaging and destroying fast-moving aircraft at supersonic speed. The futuristic missile was test-fired from a launcher in the launch pad number 2 of the ITR complex at about 1205 hours. After data analysis of the flight test, another test may be conducted in the next couple of days if needed, defence sources said. “Before being made full operational, the complex missile system would undergo some more trials, though test on its navigation, control, air frame, propulsion and other sub-system have been validated,” said a source from the Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO) at the ITR. The single stage, solid fuelled Astra missile “is more advanced in its category than the contemporary BVR missiles and it is capable of engaging and destroying highly manoeuvrable supersonic aerial targets,” the source added. DRDO scientists said the missile could intercept a target at supersonic speeds (Mach 1.2 to 1.4). Though the exact range of today’s trial has not been disclosed, scientists are working to ensure that Astra performs effectively at different altitudes, one cruising at an altitude of 15 km with 90 to 110 km range, another at an altitude up to 30,000 ft, having a range of 44 km and the third at sea level altitude with a range of 30 km. Initially planned to arm Jaguar, MIG-29 and indigenous light combat aircraft, Tejas, DRDO officials are now concentrating that after user’s trial, the sleek missile would be integrated with Indian Air Force’s front line fighter aircraft like Sukhoi-30 MKIs and Mirage-2000. — PTI
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Gallantry allowance doubled
New Delhi, September 13 A notification in this regard has been issued. The allowance for the President’s Police medal for gallantry (PPMG) has been doubled from Rs 750 per month to Rs 1,500 per month. An award of each bar to the existing PPMG will now result in an allowance of Rs 1,500 per month double of the existing allowance. Similarly, in case of the Police Medal for gallantry (PMG), the allowance has been doubled from Rs 450 per month to Rs 900 per month. The addition of each bar to the existing PMG will also result in an allowance Rs 900 per month double of the earlier allowance. All other rules, terms and conditions will remain the same. For long, the PPMG and PMG awardees have been representing that several of them risk their lives and a few even die in counter-insurgency areas or fighting Naxals. The allowance should have been a respectful sum, is the opinion of several awardees.
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Bangalore, September 13