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AERO INDIA 2013
Cong may go on offensive if Modi is projected as PM
Zanskar captured in its full glory
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Govt, Opposition spar over CAG’s remarks
Suryanelli case: Kurien
rules out resignation
Rajapaksa begins India visit amid protests
Kurien issue: Cong in wait-and-watch mode
Management of Wakf properties discussed
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Russia feels India ignoring it
Ajay Banerjee/TNS
Bangalore, February 8 Almost re-living a USSR-US cold-war era rivalry, Komardin, head of the Russian government-owned Rosoboronexport’s delegation at the Aero India, today expressed angst at Russia being ignored at the show. “Russia has virtually created the Indian Defence Industry...but little attention was being given to contribution of Russia in building India’s defence capabilities,” Komardin told a select group of journalists here. Though Komardin blamed the Indian media for the ‘wrong’ projection of Russia, it was amply clear that he was questioning the capabilities and cost of the US and European platforms vis-ŕ-vis the Russian ones. “We are partners, deal with us like partners. Don’t be carried away by chocolates or sweets”, he said. Questioning India’s decision to opt for the Boeing-built Chinook heavy-lift chopper over the Russian-built Mi-26, Komardin said: “The Mi-26 cannot lose out to Chinook. Chinook is a baby. The Mi-26 can lift it and can drop it anywhere.” The Russian had carefully nuanced his argument as US-led NATO forces in Afghanistan often requisition a MI-26 to lift a snag-hit Chinook and drop it to the nearest base. “We don’t accept that the Mi-26 lost out to the Chinook. It’s all politics. A Mi-26 can transport 80 troops. The Chinook, in comparison, doesn’t have half of its capability,” Komardin said. “It is not the Boeing that is winning the tenders, the US State department is doing so...we have offered licensed production for all equipment since 1964, the US is doing sales without transfer of technology,” he said. He listed Sukhoi-30MKI, T-90 tank, Smerch rockets, BrahMos missile, the fifth generation fighter aircraft (FGFA) and the multi-role transport aircraft as some examples of Russian transfer of technology. The Russian visitor next targeted the medium transport aircraft the C-130-J. “Put it through a tender, it cannot beat the IL-76,”he said, adding that India had 70 per cent Russian equipment and none of it would fit into the C-130-J. The purchase defies military logic”. On the heavy lift C-17 aircraft, he said: “The C-17 is used by the US, Canada and Australia to traverse oceans with goods and troops. The US needs such a plane, why does India need it? The cost is huge and comes without transfer of technology.” In response to a query, Komardin said: “We will not sell to Pakistan.” Russia gets $7-billion equipment orders from India annually.
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Cong may go on offensive if Modi is projected as PM
New Delhi, February 8 Wary of a Hindu consolidation in the BJP’s favour, the Congress had taken a conscious decision not to focus on Modi’s role in the 2002 riots during the recent Gujarat assembly polls. Instead, the Congress campaign had chosen to highlight local issues and the Modi government’s poor development record. As the next General Election draws closer and the clamour for “Modi as PM” becomes louder, Congress insiders believe they will have to revisit their strategy and raise questions on his secular credentials. The Congress will have to be more upfront in attacking the Gujarat Chief Minister if the BJP bites the bait and declares Modi as the party’s face in the run-up to the Lok Sabha poll. “We will definitely have to be more aggressive in our approach if Modi is in the fray,” remarked a senior Congress leader. Modi has struck a chord with the urban middle class and the youth who are completely smitten by him. These are the two constituencies which had rooted for the Congress in 2009 polls enabling the party to increase its Lok Sabha tally to 206 seats. To compensate for this loss, the Congress will have to necessarily talk about the Gujarat riots and Modi’s “communal taint” to enhance its appeal to the minorities and the liberal sections of society. With the RSS and the VHP reviving its Ram Mandir agenda, the Congress strategy will be to reach out to other secular parties on the plea that they should stand together to keep “communal forces” at bay. This will alter the political narrative and help the Congress to deflect attention from its own deficiencies. However, the Congress is hoping that the BJP will find it difficult to project Modi as PM because of the internal leadership tussle in the party and pressure from its key partner, Janata Dal (U) leader and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. The JD (U) leader has made it clear on several occasions that he will not accept Modi as the PM as he fears erosion in his Muslim support base which could shift to Lalu Prasad Yadav’s RJD. While Modi is a clear front-runner for the top post, newly-appointed BJP president Rajnath Singh may prove to be a stumbling block as he is said to be no push-over. On the other hand, it is possible the BJP may tactically decide not to field Modi in the Lok Sabha elections or officially project him as PM in its effort to keep the NDA united. Instead he could be deployed as the party’s chief campaigner and pitched as its PM candidate after the elections, provided the BJP wins a substantial number of seats.
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Zanskar captured in its full glory
New Delhi, February 8 Breathtaking views of the Zanskar valley displayed at a photo exhibition at the India International Centre in New Delhi here drew a host of dignitaries at its inauguration today, including Congress chief Sonia Gandhi, Vice-President Hamid Ansari and Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. The photographs, mostly aerial shots, were dedicated to the Zanskar ranges and showed the most beautiful colour-changing rivers, different hues of mountain and local women dancing in traditional dresses. Zanskar mountains are well over 19,000 feet with glacier areas of more than 1,500 sq km and has a population of 14,000. "It was a challenge to capture mountains from a height, but if you have an eye for photography, you know when and where to click," said Usha Vohra who is a passionate photographer and loves the mountains. The photographs that appear to be more than real are so original and filled with natural colours that it unfailingly takes the viewer to a different planet. "It is the eye that captures more than a camera. This art of clicking the right moment at the right time comes with lot of experience and knowledge," explains Usha. Praising the photographs, Omar said there was lot of detailing and research behind all this state of art. "They are lovely pictures. She really has an eye for photography. There is a wonderful play of light and shadow in the photos and the mountains look real," he said. "The pictures are fascinating. I have been to Leh but this looks even more amazing than what I saw," said Kiran Seth, one of the visitors.
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Govt, Opposition spar over CAG’s remarks
New Delhi, February 8 Slamming Rai for criticising the government on foreign soil, Information and Broadcasting Minister Manish Tewari said constitutional authorities should circumscribe by "Lakshman Rekha propriety". "It is most unfortunate that the CAG rather than validating the integrity of his numbers (on 2G presumptive loss of Rs 1.76 lakh crore) chooses to criticise the government on foreign soil and at a foreign fora," Tewari told reporters in Chennai. Leaders of opposition parties supported the CAG, with the BJP charging the Congress with "misusing" constitutional authorities for its own political gains and said those who did not toe its line were termed as working for the opposition. "The Congress has been a history-sheeter of misusing constitutional authorities for their own political benefits and using them as a shield to hide their own misdeeds. The party has been targeting constitutional authorities and forcing them to work according to its own needs,” BJP vice-president Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said. Tewari said this was not the first time he (the CAG) had done it (criticising the government). "I think constitutional authorities, you know, should circumscribe by the Lakshman Rekha propriety," he said. — PTI
What he said
Comptroller and Auditor General Vinod Rai, while speaking at Harvard Kennedy School, suggested that the government was trying to reduce the audit watchdog to a mere accountant.
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Suryanelli case: Kurien
rules out resignation
New Delhi, February 8 "I have been absolutely cleared by the highest court of the land legally and morally. To my conscience, I am an innocent person. Can an innocent person be asked to step down because of allegations? Stepping down would amount to making me admit myself indirectly to the crime," he said when asked whether he would resign against the backdrop of a political uproar over the case. Kurien said the current controversy and the demands for his prosecution in the case were "politically motivated" and is being used to "tarnish my image by my political adversaries". The allegation against him was raised in a private complaint during the 1996 elections on which he had written to the DGP and the then CM AK Antony asking them to order an inquiry. — PTI
Key witness retracts
In a new twist to the Suryanelli rape case, a Kerala BJP leader on Friday alleged his statement was wrongly recorded by investigators to benefit PJ Kurien. BJP state secretary KS Rajan, whose testimony to the police had helped Kurien to get cleared of the charge against him levelled by the victim, told a press meet in Kozhikode that what the police submitted in the court as his statement was different from what he had actually said.
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Rajapaksa begins India visit amid protests
Hyderabad/ Bodh Gaya, Feb 8 Rajapaksa is on a two-day personal visit to Bodh Gaya and Tirupati in India. Protesters started raising slogans as Rajapaksa's motorcade entered the Mahabodhi temple. The security forces dispersed the protesters and detained two persons for questioning, DSP, Law and Order, Rakesh Kumar Dube said. Another group of protesters comprising activists of the CPI(M-L) Liberation and the All India Students Association raised slogans outside the Hotel Royal Residency where Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar hosted lunch for the visiting dignitaries, sources said. Rajapaksa, his spouse and a 62-member delegation offered prayers at the Mahabodhi temple and meditated under a peepal tree where Lord Buddha had attained enlightenment before visiting the Sri Lankan Buddha Vihar in Bodh Gaya amid tight security. CM Nitish Kumar was present at the airport when Rajapaksa left for Tirumala in Tamil Nadu. After landing at Tirupati, he travelled by road to the hill shrine amid tight security. Over 800 persons in the Chittoor district have been taken into preventive custody in view of Rajapaksa's visit. Unprecedented security was in place at the Renigunta airport, about 15 km from Tirupati, and along the 18-km route leading to Tirumala, the hill abode of Lord Venkateswara. Rajapaksa would offer prayers to Lord Venkateswara in the wee hours tomorrow. MDMK chief Vaiko and his supporters were detained in Delhi when they tried to march towards the PM's residence in protest against Rajapaksa's visit. Vaiko and scores of his supporters have been protesting at Jantar Mantar since morning demanding that India should close down the Sri Lankan High Commission in the Capital.
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Kurien issue: Cong in wait-and-watch mode
New Delhi, February 8 The Congress core group, headed by party president Sonia Gandhi, which met this evening is learnt to have taken note of this brewing controversy, but felt it would be more prudent to wait for a direction from the court before taking action against Kurien. The Congress has decided to adopt a wait and watch policy while the Kerala government has sought legal opinion on whether the old case can be reopened. However, this issue could prove to be an embarrassment for the UPA government as it gears up to face a crucial budget session of Parliament from February 21. The charges against Kurien have resurfaced at a time when the ruling coalition recently promulgated an ordinance providing stricter laws for sexual assault while the Congress has placed the issue of women’s security on its political agenda with Sonia Gandhi taking the lead in it.
Won't quit: Kurien
I have been absolutely cleared by the highest court of the land legally and morally. Can an innocent person be asked to step down because of allegations?
Witness retracts
In a new twist, Kerala BJP state secretary KS Rajan on Friday alleged his statement was wrongly recorded by investigators to benefit PJ Kurien. Rajan, whose testimony had helped Kurien to get cleared of the charge against him levelled by the victim, said what the police submitted in court as his statement was different from what he actually said.
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Management of Wakf properties discussed
Ambala, February 8 The three-day conference ended today. The participants discussed various issues and problems being faced by the Wakf boards in protecting and managing their properties. While drafting final recommendations, they said the state governments should appoint Wakf survey commissioners and monitor their progress regularly. They also demanded that the name of state Wakf board, Wakf institutions or Wakf estates should be entered in the ownership column in revenue records so as to plug the possibility of any manipulation in land records. The delegates also wanted that the process of mutation of Wakf properties should be expedited and completed in a time-bound manner. In case a Wakf property is leased out for agriculture, it should still stand in the name of the board.
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Bhopal bandh passes off peacefully
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