The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

	Khar wants 'bold initiative' on Siachen Lahore: India should take "a bold initiative" to resolve the dispute over Siachen, the world's highest battleground, said Pakistan Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar. Khar said Pakistan believed that all outstanding issues with India could be resolved through dialogue. Responding to queries by Indian businessmen on a two-day visit, Khar said in Lahore that Islamabad had been willing to resolve the Siachen dispute way back in 1989. “Today Pakistan still sticks to its stance and we want India to also take a bold initiative in this regard,” she said. — IANS
	Anti-PC clamour in Parliament: Both Houses disrupted Tribune News Service New Delhi, May 8 Both the Houses were repeatedly disrupted during pre-lunch hours today with the BJP and the AIADMK demanding the resignation of Home Minister P Chidambaram over reports of the latter’s involvement in delaying approvals for the Rs 4,000 crore Aircel-Maxis deal for months when he was the Finance Minister. Flashing copies of a news report which today challenged the Government’s viewpoint that no delay happened in approvals and the same was granted by the Foreign Investment Promotion Bureau (FIPB) on March 7, 2006 when the matter was listed for the FIPB meeting. The news report alleged that the actual clearance was given on October 3, 2006, whereas the Finance Ministry in a statement issued on April 28 stated that the clearance was given on March 7, 2006. The Finance Ministry statement came after Janata Party president Subramaniam Swamy’s allegations that under Chidambaram, the FIPB sat on months on the deal involving Maxis’ acquisition of Aircel.
	Pakistan must do more to check terror, says Hillary Ashok Tuteja/TNS New Delhi, May 8 Describing JuD chief Hafiz Saeed as one of the principal architects of the Mumbai massacre, the US today asked Pakistan to do more to ensure that its territory was not used as ‘launching pads’ for terrorist attacks anywhere, including within its own boundary. Addressing a joint press conference with External Affairs Minister SM Krishna here, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton dismissed suggestion that Washington was doing ‘double-speak’ regarding its announcement of a 10 million dollars bounty on Saeed, whom India accuses of plotting the 26/11 attack. “We have offered a reward which could lead to the arrest or conviction of Hafiz Saeed under the Reward for Justice Programme…we wanted to send an unmistakable message of solidarity with India, but not only with India, solidarity with people everywhere who will not tolerate the continuation of terrorism and want to see terrorists brought to justice wherever they may be,” she unequivocally stated. Underlining that Islamabad ought to do more to combat terrorism, she said the unfortunate part was that Pakistan itself was bearing the brunt of terror attacks. Terrorists in Pakistan had killed more than 30000 Pakistanis. The need of the hour was stronger and more concerted efforts to tackle the scourge. Referring to the terrorist groups, which were still operating from Afghanistan, Clinton said Washington was determined to going after those who posed direct threats to the US, to Afghanistan and to their allies in the battle-scarred nation. The US was also closely coordinating with India regarding the threats emanating against it. On his part, Krishna said recent attacks on foreign missions in Kabul highlighted once again the need for elimination of terrorist sanctuaries in the neighbourhood and the need for stronger action from Pakistan on terrorism, including on bringing to justice the perpetrators of the Mumbai attack. Describing their breakfast meeting as productive and useful, the two ministers said they had talked about all bilateral issues as well as global matters. The meeting between them was held a month ahead of the strategic dialogue between the two countries in Washington. Referring to bilateral civil nuclear cooperation which has become a contentious issue between the two sides because of certain provisions of India’s Civil Nuclear Liability Law, Krishna told the US leader that India was committed to providing a level-playing field to all US companies within the framework of the national law and New Delhi’s international legal obligations. “We were pleased that US companies are engaged in substantive discussions with the Indian operator, Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL). We hope that they will make early progress towards contractual steps.” Clinton also welcomed the ongoing talks between US companies and the NPCIL even as she reiterated Washington’s concerns over the liability rules framed by India. On Afghanistan, Secretary Clinton said the US proposed to maintain an active presence in that country even after the pullout of the allied forces by 2014. “We will contribute to building their (Afghanistan) capacity in their government, and enhancing their economic growth and development.” The US was also negotiating a security agreement with Afghanistan after inking recently the strategic partnership accord. Krishna said India would continue to support Afghanistan on the basis of its own strategic partnership declaration. Elimination of safe havens in Pakistan was indeed vital for the success in Afghanistan and regional security and stability. “We remain supportive of any reconciliation effort that is fundamentally acceptable to us as long as it is led and owned by Afghan people, that upholds the redlines and embraces all sections of Afghan society and that does not fritter away the gains of the past decade,” he added. We have offered a reward which could lead to the arrest or conviction of Hafiz Saeed under the Reward for Justice Programme…we wanted to send an unmistakable message of solidarity with India, but not only with India, solidarity with people everywhere who will not tolerate the continuation of terrorism and want to see terrorists brought to justice wherever they may be. — Hillary Clinton, US Secretary of State Govt ACTING under US pressure, SAYS CPM Describing as "unprecedented and abnormal" the increasing US interference in the diplomatic and internal affairs of India, the CPM on Tuesday accused the government of acting under American pressure and sacrificing domestic interests. "India is now increasingly taking positions at the behest of the US. In recent times, our oil imports from Iran have declined. We are subverting our national interests to please the Americans," said Sitaram Yechury, CPM leader in the Rajya Sabha.
	Cong evasive on naming Pranab as Prez Anita Katyal Our Political Correspondent New Delhi, May 8 While the Congress is under increasing pressure to name Finance Minister Pranab Mukehrjee as its Presidential candidate, the party remains evasive on the issue, maintaining steadfastly that it is still early to declare its nominee. The silence in the Congress camp is in sharp contrast to the vocal support which Mukherjee has drawn from UPA allies like the DMK and the NCP and even BJP leaders. Yesterday, while participating in the debate on the Finance Bill, BJP leader Yashwant Sinha had lavished praise on the Finance Minister and later declared that Mukherjee would make a “very good President.” The open support for Mukherjee has only added to the Congress discomfiture as the party is yet to complete consultations and has not finalised any names. “There is no finality on this issue,” said a senior Congress leader. Key UPA ally Mamata Banerjee is yet to declare her choice. She will not do so till she gets a favourable response from the Centre to her demand for a bail-out package for West Bengal.
	MoD seeks Rs 45,617 cr hike in defence budget Ajay Banerjee/TNS New Delhi, May 8 Assessing growing military ties between Pakistan and China as a worrying factor, India, in a move expected to create ripples in the strategic circles, today announced that it wants to increase its defence spending by some 23 per cent over this year’s already allocated budget. The Ministry of Defence will pitch for an additional Rs 45,617 crore ($9.5 billion) over and above the already allocated Rs 1,93,407 crore (nearly $38.6 billion). This will include the raising of an mountain strike crops — a first of its kind for the Indian Forces — besides new equipment, warplanes, warships etc. China has a budget of $106 billion, while the US has one of $740 billion, including its war effort. Defence Minister AK Antony, while replying to a discussion on the performance of his Ministry in the Rajya Sabha, today said, “We need to have a second look at the Defence Budget…. I feel India’s defence budget will have to be enhanced… I will ask for more money.” If there is need to change the yardstick of the Finance Commission on defence spending, it will have to be changed, Antony asserted as the House listened with rapt attention. The commission favours lowering of the share of defence spending in percentage terms of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Antony said, “We have been given Rs 1,93,407 crore this year, but as per the estimated requirement of the armed forces, we would want Rs 2,39,123 crore. We want Rs 45,716 crore more. I have asked the government to provide us more money. The existing budget is good but is still short. As per review of threats, the demand is that the defence budget should be 2.35 per cent of the GDP.” Antonyspeak One rank one pension: Antony said, “We are as near to the goal as possible and I will get maximum for the forces.” Tatra Trucks: Antony said he ordered a CBI probe into BEML on February 15, much before the Army Chief General VK Singh’s statement appeared in the media on March 26. Artillery Guns: Antony said they will provide news guns within the next few months. A 155 mm Ultra Light Howitzer has been field-tested. A technical committee is evaluating it
	2G: Govt to withdraw review plea from SC New Delhi, May 8 The Centre today decided to withdraw from the Supreme Court its plea for review of the 2G judgment, which had held that natural resources should be allotted to private companies only through "auction" and not on the basis of first-come-first-served (FCFS) policy. A letter, circulated in this regard to the parties linked to the matter, said an application would be moved on May 10 for withdrawing the petition seeking review of the February 2 judgment, which held the FCFS policy unconstitutional, while cancelling the 122 2G licences, allotted during the tenure of former Telecom Minister A Raja. The letter said, "In view of the fact that only limited notice has been issued, the petitioners do not want to press the review petition and will be praying for withdrawal of the review petition." The apex court on April 13 had admitted the government's plea seeking review of its 2G ruling on a limited aspect that natural resources should be allotted to private firms only through "auction" but had refused to hear the affected telecom firms. — PTI
	Gehlot: Ensure disabled-friendly facilities in public buildings Jaipur, May 8 Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot today directed officials concerned to ensure facilities for differently-abled in all public building across the state.For this purpose, the government would take a loan of Rs 115 crore from Housing and Urban Development Corporation, an official said here. The facilities included lift, ramp and disabled-friendly toilets among others in all government buildings at sub-division, district and division level, he said. Gehlot approved budget of Rs 11 crore for CM's free medicine distribution scheme, he said.— PTI
	K’taka police nabs IM man in Bihar, Nitish objects Darbhanga/Patna, May 8 A suspected Indian Mujahideen terrorist has been arrested by the Karnataka police from Bihar's Darbhanga district, drawing the ire of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar who objected to the unilateral "brazen" action without informing his state. A police team from BJP-ruled Karnataka arrested Kafil Ahmed from Barasmela village two days ago in connection with the 2010 Chinnaswamy Stadium twin blasts, Superintendent of Police Garima Malik said. "The Karnataka police did not contact the local police nor informed us about the arrest of Ahmed," the SP said, adding that the Darbhanga police came to know about the arrest of the suspected terrorist from his family. Fifteen people were injured when two low-intensity bombs exploded outside a packed Chinnaswamy cricket stadium on April 17, 2010 during an IPL match. In Patna, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said, "The Karnakata police has brazenly violated an established law about giving prior information to the local police about arrest of a person from its jurisdiction." "This is not right. Rules have been flouted in this case," Kumar said adding he had raised the issue of such arrests by police of one state in another state without prior information. "The state's police where the arrest is taking place has to be involved," he said. The Bihar DGP has lodged a strong protest with his Karnataka counterpart, Kumar told reporters. The Chief Minister said that he had sought a report from the Darbhanga SP and on the basis of it, a complaint will be lodged with the Union Home Ministry. The Bihar Government said its police should have been informed by the Karnataka police before its action and after the arrest Ahmed should have been brought to a court in the state as mandated. Talking to reporters in Bangalore, Karnataka DGP AR Infant said: “Let me clarify, the Bihar DGP did speak to me. He is my batch-mate. According to him, our police did not inform the local police when they picked up Kafil. I am waiting for a report from the police team". "This person was arrested on May 6. This information could not be given earlier because of the apprehension that the accused will run away. This man enjoys the support of the local people. So the team thought it fit to produce him in the nearest court possible," Infant said. It's violation of law The Karnakata police has brazenly violated an established law about giving prior information to the local police about arrest of a person from its jurisdiction. — Nitish Kumar, Bihar CM The arrest row A police team from BJP-ruled Karnataka arrested Kafil Ahmed from Barasmela village two days ago in connection with the 2010 Chinnaswamy Stadium twin blasts The Karnataka police did not contact the local police nor informed us about the arrest of Ahmed, says, SP Garima Malik, adding that the Darbhanga police came to know about the arrest of the suspected terrorist from his family