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A politician who switched roles with ease
He paved the way for better ties with Pak
Gujral favoured unconditional talks in J&K
Badal recalls his swift loan waiver
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Jalandhar was his second home
India, China hold border talks ahead of NSA’s visit to Beijing
Indian couple held in Norway for ‘disciplining’ child
Claim to top post divides BRO
Judicial remand for Zee editors
Hate speech case: Court frames charges against Varun Gandhi
CBI chargesheets arms dealer,
ex-IAF officer
PIL in HC challenging Sinha’s appointment as CBI director
J&K, Himachal MPs want local tribes in ST list
Koirala diagnosed with cancer
FB case: SC to examine IT
law provision
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A politician who switched roles with ease
New Delhi, November 30 For someone born in a family of Congress workers at Jhelum, now in Pakistan on December 4, 1919, Gujral's early political thoughts were influenced by the communist, worked closely with Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in the middle and drifted towards socialists in the end. It is perhaps the umbilical ties with undivided Punjab that drove the process to take India-Pakistan relations on a different plane. In fact, a few months before he was chosen by the Janata Dal to lead the United Front Government at the Centre, the then Pakistan Premier Nawaz Sharief had commented that India never had a Prime Minister from Punjab. Gujral began his career in politics as a student leader. He was arrested in 1942 and jailed for his involvement in the Quit India movement. Gujral got elected first to the Electoral College of Delhi and served as the Vice President of New Delhi Municipal Council. At the end of the tenure in 1964, he was elected to the Rajya Sabha where he served two consecutive terms till 1976. It was during this period that a storm was brewing in the Congress. The post-Nehru and Shastri-era saw the emergence of Indira Gandhi and her struggle against the ‘old guard’. The phase saw the young Gujral being drawn into the vortex marking his presence in the corridors of power. Such was his rise and proximity to the changing structure of power that Gujral was bracketed as someone in the early version of Indira Gandhi's ‘kitchen cabinet’. Interestingly, in his book Gujral describes Indira Gandhi as a “split and very complex personality,” who could be mean, petty, and vicious yet large-hearted, gracious and charming. Gujral, however, held grudging respect for Indira Gandhi in whose Council of Ministers he served as a Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs and Communications, Information and Broadcasting, Works, Housing and Urban Development and later Planning. While students of politics were fortunate that Gujral left behind his memoirs for posterity, unfortunately he preferred not to elaborate as to why he fell out of favour with Indira Gandhi. Reports later suggested that he was not particularly keen to implement censorship that came in the wake of internal emergency. It is perhaps the gentleman-politician him that made Gujral avoid reference to the period or that of the rise of Sanjay Gandhi. For Gujral, a self-confessed Communist, his posting as India's Ambassador to the then USSR between 1976-1990 served as springboard for his role later as the External Affairs Minister during the 1989-90 VP Singh's Government. His days in Moscow allowed Gujral to follow the India's foreign policy from close quarters especially since Indira Gandhi had excellent personal equations with the top Soviet leaders and the back and forth communication between New Delhi and Moscow through him. After his return from Moscow in 1980, amid growing distance from the Congress under Indira Gandhi, his intellectual and political thought was stimulated in the company of the leaders with socialist leanings. The period saw national upheavals and Gujral attending Opposition conclaves in various parts of the country, studying trouble in Jammu and Kashmir, the ‘Mandal’ upsurge and the ‘Mandir-Masjid’ issues that dominated political discourse in the country. During his tenure as the External Affairs Minister in the VP Singh Government, he expounded the Gujral doctrine which he expanded later first in his second stint in the Ministry of External Affairs under H D Deve Gowda and later as Prime Minister between April 1997 and March 1998. Among the books he published is one on ‘A Foreign Policy for India’. At a time when the United Front was under pressure to change Prime Minister Deve Gowda, Gujral emerged the front-runner. In fact, Gowda cautioned Gujral against assuming the mantle under such circumstances. The Congress withdrew support to the Janata Dal Government during March 1998 over the continuation of the DMK in the coalition Government in the wake of Jain Commission of Inquiry into Rajiv Gandhi assassination. During his tenure, a controversial decision to impose President's Rule in Uttar Pradesh was returned by President KR Narayanan.
Pakistan connection
It is perhaps the umbilical ties with undivided Punjab that drove the process to take India-Pakistan relations on a different plane. In fact, a few months before he was chosen by the Janata Dal to lead the United Front Government at the Centre, Nawaz Sharief had commented that India never had a Prime Minister from Punjab
His memoirs
While students of politics were fortunate that Gujral left behind his memoirs for posterity, unfortunately he preferred not to elaborate as to why he fell out of favour with Indira Gandhi. Reports later suggested that he was not particularly keen to implement censorship
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He paved the way for better ties with Pak
New Delhi, November 30 Gujral truly represented the benign face of India’s foreign policy and formulated what was popularly known as the ‘Gujral Doctrine’, emphasising that India should be generous with its neighbours without expecting reciprocity. The basic objective of the doctrine was to create an environment of mutual trust and friendship among the nations in the region. The doctrine was also aimed at ensuring that the weight and size of India was regarded positively by neighbouring countries. Gujral might have become country’s Prime Minister by accident but his conciliatory skills and amiable nature made him a popular world leader in his own right. Such was his popularity with the people of Pakistan that his elevation to the Prime Minister’s post raised hopes of better relations. Natives of Jhelum, where Gujral was born, began dreaming that they would now be able to travel to India without visa. Even with Pakistan leaders, Gujral had established a great rapport, primarily because he could communicate with most of them in Punjabi. He was a nationalist to the core. Soon after becoming Prime Minister, he travelled to the Maldives for the SAARC Summit where he got a warm embrace from then Pakistan premier Nawaz Sharif for his elevation to the top executive post. Now that Gujral was at the helm of affairs, Sharif thought he could extract some concessions from India on the Kashmir issue. He broached the subject at a meeting with Gujral, asking him to withdraw troops from Jammu and Kashmir, but Gujral was clear: Pakistan must show sincerity in dealing with the Kashmir issue. “Our troops are not on a recce mission there,” he said, unambiguously telling Pakistan that it must stop providing material support to militants in Kashmir. He wanted good relations with Pakistan, but without compromising on India’s core interests. Gujral would brook no interference in India’s internal affairs. He was so upset once when British Foreign Secretary Robin Cook offered to mediate on the Kashmir issue that he described Britain as a ‘third rate power’, displaying the tougher side of his persona.
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Gujral favoured unconditional talks in J&K
Jammu, November 30 Had his call not been interrupted by the politicians of the time, he could have set up a table of talks with militants and the Kashmir-post July 1997 history would have been written differently. In July 1997, speaking in chaste Urdu after laying the foundation stone of the Qazigund-Baramullah rail link at Qazigund, the gateway of Kashmir about 80 km south of Srinagar, Gujral declared that the government was willing to hold unconditional talks with the militants. That stunned the audience and the announcement was greeted by wild cheers. Until then, Kashmir had been witnessing violence almost on a daily basis. Kashmir had lost direction and international pressure was mounting for a solution to the crisis. Hailing the announcement, the then Congress legislature party leader Mehbooba Mufti called it a big milestone. She and her father Mufti Mohammad Sayeed called for a dialogue with the militants and the separatists’ conglomerate All-Parties Hurriyat Conference. But that milestone disappeared the very next day when it was known that some politicians had told Gujral that it would boost terrorism and demoralise security forces. Gujral was advised to make it conditional. He was urged to qualify his statement saying that if the militants gave up arms. That was the end of the dialogue story in 1990s. His historical speech was lost.
J&K Governor recalls his days with ex-PM
The Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, NN Vohra, has expressed sorrow on the passing away of IK Gujral with whom he had served as Principal Secretary during 1997-98. The Governor has written to his son Naresh Gujral, MP, to convey his feelings to all members of the grief-stricken family. In his letter, the Governor recalled the difficult time during which Gujral served as PM. He remembered that despite serious challenges on various fronts, the former PM had consistently maintained courtesy, decorum and gentlemanliness in his dealings with one and all. Vohra also recalled the fervent efforts made by Gujral to foster friendly relations with neighbouring countries, particularly Pakistan, and the several meetings he had with Pakistan former PM Nawaz Sharief. —TNS
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Badal recalls his swift loan waiver
Chandigarh, November 30 Describing the former PM as a visionary statesman, the CM said Gujral would long be remembered as an outstanding champion of international peace and understanding. Badal said that the people of Punjab will never forget the daring and decisive role played by Gujral in helping his state get rid of the crippling special term loan of Rs 8,500 crore which the state had incurred during the days of militancy. “The memory of the moments in which IK Gujral as PM waived the entire loan with just a mild but firm stroke of his pen is still etched deep in my mind. We took 21 most-difficult issues of the state to Gujral and he took just 11 minutes to solve all those and to issue clear orders then and there. This was one of the happiest moments in my life and a great moment for Punjab,” he said. Pradesh Congress president Capt Amarinder Singh said Gujral would be remembered for the Gujral Doctrine which was aimed at strengthening relations with
neighbours.
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Jalandhar was his second home
Jalandhar, November 30 The Gujrals not only lived in the city after the Partition but contributed a lot towards its development in more than one ways. Gujral was born on December 4, 1919, in Jhelum (now Pakistan) and served as the 12th Prime Minister of India from April 1997 to March 1998. In the tumultuous days of the Partition, Gujral and his family migrated from Pakistan and settled in Jalandhar where his mother Pushpa Gujral had set up ‘Nari Niketan’ offering succour to the partition-devastated girls and pregnant women. Pushpa Gujral was a councillor in Municipal Committee. The Gujral family arrived in Jalandhar in 1947. It was at the Jalandhar railway station that Pushpa Gujral gave birth to her son, now Rajya Sabha MP Naresh Gujral. IK Gujral moved to Delhi after about a year and rose to become the Prime Minister of India. Known for his famed ‘Gujral Doctrine’. Gujral was elected twice as an MP from Jalandhar — 1n 1989 and 1999 on the Janata Dal ticket. Both the times, he was supported by SAD and the BJP. Gujral is known for his valuable services towards the people of Punjab. Gujral’s biggest gift to Jalandhar was setting of Doordarshan Kendra when he was a Union Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting. The station, however, got operational two-three years later. He was also behind the setting up of Science City near
Jalandhar.
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India, China hold border talks ahead of NSA’s visit to Beijing
New Delhi, November 30 The Indian delegation was led by Gautam Bambawale, Joint Secretary (East Asia) and comprised representatives of the Ministries of External Affairs, Defence and Home Affairs as well as members of the Indian Army and the Indo-Tibetan Border Police. The Chinese delegation was headed by Ambassador Wang Xiaodu, Special Representative, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and consisted of representatives of the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and National Defence of China. An official statement said the discussions took place in a cordial, constructive and cooperative atmosphere. The two delegations reviewed developments in the India-China border areas since the first meeting of the mechanism and acknowledged with satisfaction that peace and tranquillity continued to be maintained due to the efforts of both sides. The two delegations also exchanged ideas on additional measures for maintaining peace as well as further steps to build greater trust and confidence between the two sides. The two delegations welcomed the recent liberalisation of border trade across Nathu La, which has led to a significant increase in the volume of trade. They continued their discussions on introducing additional routes for the Kailash Manasarovar Yatra. The meeting came days ahead of National Security Adviser Shiv Shanker Menon’s visit to Beijing to meet representatives of the Communist Party leadership of China.
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Indian couple held in Norway for ‘disciplining’ child
New Delhi/Hyderabad, Nov 30 According to the information with the mission, V Chandrasekhar, a software professional from Andhra Pradesh, and his wife, Anupama were taken into custody by the police in Oslo, official sources said here. They said the mission has offered to provide consular assistance to the family, who is also in the process of filing their appeal through their lawyer there. However, more details were awaited in the matter. The Indian Embassy in Oslo is in touch with the lawyer and is awaiting more information from the lawyer. The police arrested Chandrasekhar, a TCS employee, nine months after the child complained to his school teachers that his parents were threatening to send him back to India for his acts, Chandrasekhar’s nephew V Sailender, who is in Hyderabad, claimed. “My uncle had no idea about the case registered against him initially. He came to Hyderabad along with his wife and children in July and went back to Oslo in the last week of October. Then he was served a notice to appear before the authorities along with his wife,” he said. “My aunt also went to Oslo on November 23 and the couple appeared before the authorities concerned. On November 28, we were informed by my uncle’s neighbours in Oslo that they were arrested and remanded,” Sailender said. The boy was found wetting his pants in the school bus which was reported to his father, who in turn “threatened” the child that he would be sent back to India if he repeated that again, Sailender said, adding the boy was also found bringing toys from school. — PTI
Parenting pangs
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Claim to top post divides BRO
New Delhi, November 30 The BRO has a unique combination of officers-some are drawn from the Army while a section of officers are from the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH). The overall command is with the Ministry of Defence (MoD) and the Minister of State for Defence handles it. The officers, all engineers, from the MoRTH have shot off protest letters to Defence Minister AK Antony demanding that the appointment of the Director-General Border Roads (DGBR) made on November 14 be cancelled. The DGBR has always been a Lieutenant-General rank officer of the Army. The engineers from the MoRTH have been demanding that they be given a chance at the top post. Today as Lt Gen AT Parnaik took over as the DGBR, the office of the Defence Minister was besieged with some 80-odd complaints, all on the same lines protesting against the appointment of an Army officer to the top post. The protestors in the letters have said that on November 8, the Secretary Border Roads Development Board (BRDB) intimated that framing of recruitment rules was under consideration in consultation with the MoD and the UPSC. Since the rules are being framed, the Military Secretary under the MoD should not have issued orders to appoint the DG, said the protest letters while adding that the restructuring of the BRO approved in 2006 has not been implemented.
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Judicial remand for Zee editors
New Delhi, November 30 Both, Sudhir Chaudhary, Editor of the Zee News, and Samir Ahluwalia, Editor of Zee Business News, had allegedly tried to extort the Rs 100 crore advertisement agreement with Jindal Steels and Power Limited. The police claim to have audio and video recordings of the conversations between the two men and the officials of Jindal's company. The Central Forensic Science Laboratory has authenticated the recordings that purportedly show Chaudhary and Ahluwalia trying to extort the deal.
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Hate speech case: Court frames charges against Varun Gandhi
Lucknow, November 30 Recently, Varun had written to the Uttar Pradesh Government requesting that in public interest, all the cases should be dropped against him. The government had sought reports from the district administration and referred it to the law department raising the possibility of cases against him being dropped. Over a dozen witnesses are expected to testify against Varun in the Pilibhit court. Another case is pending against him of the attempt to murder following the widespread violence that ensued when he was arrested and kept behind bars for about two weeks at the end of March 2009. There was a riot-like situation in Pilibhit when he was being taken to prison as his followers had indulged in violence and attacked police officials who were escorting him. Taking a serious view of his attempt to promote enmity between groups on religious grounds to garner electoral support, then Chief Minister Mayawati had ordered his arrest. However, Varun on various occasions has flatly denied having made any communal or divisive statements.
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CBI chargesheets arms dealer,
ex-IAF officer
New Delhi, November 30 The charge sheet filed in special CBI court is under Section 3 of the Official Secrets Act 1923, and Sections 120-B and section 380 of the IPC. The CBI on August 28 registered a case against Verma and his Romanian wife, now lodged in jail, under the OSA on a complaint by the Defence Ministry. The third person, the IAF officer, to be chargesheeted, was arrested by the CBI last night and was today remanded in judicial custody for 14 days by Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (CMM) Vidya Prakash. The CBI had sought Rao's custody for four days to question him on the conspiracy of the offence and to ascertain others' involvement in it. Rao was arrested for allegedly leaking the confidential documents which were later provided to the CBI by Verma's estranged business associate C Edmond Allen. CMM Vidya Prakash slated December 11 for scrutiny of documents filed with it. |
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PIL in HC challenging Sinha’s appointment as CBI director
Chennai, November 30 Based on the petition filed by retired police officer Jebamani Mohanraj, Justice K Venkataraman asked the Centre to reply within a week. The petitioner alleged that Sinha was removed from a fodder scam case in a Patna High Court and he had not challenged the court findings of his "personal misconduct". Manikandan Chettiar, counsel for petitioner, said an officer facing charges should not have been appointed as the head of the country's top investigating agency. Additional Solicitor General P Wilson said the case had been filed based solely on newspaper reports. Responding to it, Justice Venkataraman said media reports cannot be completely ignored and added the merits of the issue may be considered after getting the reply from the Centre. Senior IPS officer Ranjit Sinha was recently appointed as the CBI director for a two-year term. A controversy erupted over his appointment with BJP demanding that the Prime Minister keep it on hold, citing a recommendation by a Rajya Sabha panel on Lokpal that the selection be made by a collegium. The government, however, said the selection of the 1974-batch IPS officer has been done in a "fair manner" following the "due process" and that the Prime Minister has got the authority to decide on one name. — PTI
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J&K, Himachal MPs want local tribes in ST list
New Delhi, November 30 Raising the matter in the Lok Sabha during question hour today, Udhampur MP Chaudhary Lal Singh narrated the woes of
Bakarwals, Gujjars and Gaddis into the central ST list. The inclusion of Paharis and Arwans into the same list has also been sought by the Government of J&K. From Himachal
Pradesh, MP from Shimla Virendra Kashyap talked of the Hati tribe from Sirmaur region and demanded that they be included in the ST list. Talking of the Bakarwals and Gujjars in Jammu region, Lal Singh said these tribes had always led a nomadic life and lived for the safety and security of their livestock. "Will they ever get a chance to be settled, will they ever have a permanent home and will their children go to school. These tribes must be included in the ST list," Lal Singh said. Replying to the concerns of MPs, Tribal Affairs Minister KC Deo said the J&K Government must send a proposal to the Centre for inclusion of the said tribes into the ST list so that a proper route could be followed.
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Koirala diagnosed with cancer
Hospital officials have however not confirmed Koirala's illness. "She has undergone several tests and the results would be made available to her family," Krishnakant
Dasyan, the hospital spokesman said. Koirala was rushed to the Mumbai hospital from Kathmandu after she fell unconscious at her home. Her father, Nepalese politician Prakash
Koirala, was quoted as saying by Nepal newspapers that the actress has been diagnosed with ovarian cancer.
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FB case: SC to examine IT law provision New Delhi, November 30 "The working of this section can lead to any kind of action by the police as it is very wide and can be applied against everybody or anyone can be arrested," the apex court observed while directing Maharashtra government explain the circumstances under which the girls were arrested. The girls, Shaheen Dhada and Rinu Shrinivasan, were arrested in Palghar in Thane district under section 66A of the Information Technology Act after one of them posted a comment against the shut down and the other 'liked' it — PTI.
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Spl DG takes addl charge of BSF
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Gujral's family was among the thousands that crossed over to India from Pakistan post-Partition, and in his autobiography “Matters of Discretion”', the former Prime Minister dwelt at length speaking nostalgically of his childhood days in Jhelum in West Punjab and the pangs of separation.
Mumbai, November 30
