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Parliament passes resolution against terrorism New Delhi, May 17 (ANI): The Lok Sabha on Friday unanimously passed resolution to fight terrorism and pledged the country's commitment to see an end to the menace. The Opposition extended all the support to the government for the same. The resolution follows the dastardly Tuesday's attack in Jammu that killed as many as 34 people. The three militants who carried out the attack reportedly belonged to Pakistan. The resolution, adopted after a special discussion on the Jammu massacre, said: "The House resolves to fight against such senseless acts of terrorism, which are against humanity as a whole, in a united and determined manner and declares this nation's commitment to see an end to this menace". The resolution said, "it was essential that leaders of the world community take note of the continuing acts of terrorism encouraged by Pakistan so that a united and effective action can be taken against it". Speaking during the debate, Home Minister L.K. Advani asserted that India will weigh all options before arriving at a decisive strategy to counter Pakistan-sponsored cross-border terrorism in the wake of the Kaluchak attack. He said, "In what way we respond and in what way we tell the people, you will soon know. The Government will certainly do its duty in this regard. The discussion today has empowered the Government to weigh all options and arrive at a decisive strategy". The home minister informed the House that Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee would convene a meeting of Opposition leaders before a decision is taken. Advani said the unanimity in the House has given the Government "added strength" to its stand that India has to fight its own battle against terrorist and emerge victorious. Observing that there was no place for any rhetoric at this juncture, he said the Government would also consult the armed forces before reaching a final decision. Advani expressed deep disappointment over Washington's "encouragement" to Pakistan by making it a key ally in the international war against terrorism. This, he said, was conveyed to U.S. Ambassador Rober Blackwill on Thursday. Advani said while India was angry with Pakistan, "it was deeply disappointed with the US". I told Blackwill that the U.S.' stance has only encouraged Pakistan". Earlier, the Opposition attacked the Government accusing it of failing to effectively combat Pakistan-sponsored terrorism. Even NDA allies wanted the Government to take tough decisions for concrete action to end cross-border terrorism. Left parties struck a cautious note saying, "war was not a solution as Pakistan was also a nuclear state". Initiating the special discussion, Leader of the Opposition Sonia Gandhi assured the Government of support in combating terrorism sponsored from across the border. She, however, asked the Government to come out with a strategy to deal with the situation in Jammu and Kashmir. She said, "mere customary rhetoric would not help". In a bid to corner the Government, Sonia said, "if it has any strategy it should spell it out clearly and once for all. We will continue to stand by the Government on such vital issues". Apparantly hinting at the U.S., Sonia said, "the perpetrators of terrorism were ironically regarded by some to be their allies in the war against terror". (ANI) One killed, 12 injured in blast near Srinagar civil secretariat
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to top Srinagar, May 17 (ANI): At least one person was killed and 12 pepole injured when militants triggered a powerful Improvised Explosive Device (IED) blast near the high security civil secretariat area here Friday. The massive blast occurred at around 3.45 p.m. It was followed by a few gunshots. According to sources, militants had apparently fitted the IED in a plastic container and kept it on the main road outside the fire service headquarters. Security personnel have not ruled out the use of RDX in the blast. The deafening noise of the blast caused panic in the city and policemen deployed in the area fired several shots in the air in self-defence. The whole area was cordoned off immediately by the security forces and the injured were admitted to a hospital, the sources said. Condition of two of the injured persons was said to be "critical". Further details are awaited. (ANI)
Heavy shelling along Indo-Pak border, Indian girl killed Go to top Jammu, May 17 (ANI): Heavy exchange of fire was reported from areas along Indo-Pak border on Friday. One four-year old girl was killed by mortars fired from the Pakistani side, sources said. In the Poonch district of Kashmir, three people, including two women, were injured in Pakistani shelling, they added. According to the defence sources, Indian and Pakistani troops traded mortar fire in areas including Poonch, RS Pura, Samba and Kathua. It is believed that the shelling was the result of tensions that built up after the massacre in Jammu (on Tuesday) which killed as many as 35 people. A defence spokesman said Pakistani troops opened "unprovoked" fire early Friday on posts deployed in the Samba, R S Pura and Kathua sectors of Kashmir, 75 km from here. Colonel S.P.K. Singh of the Northern Command said, "Small arms fire from medium and light machine guns is common in this area on the border. But this time Pakistan has been using mortars to target our posts". Singh further said, "To stop Pakistani troops from further damaging property on this side of the border, the Indian troops retaliated and opened fire". Jammu Deputy Commissioner Rohit Kansal said senior officials of the local administration have been sent to the area to take stock of the situation. Pakistani firing has mainly targetted Sundari Nala and Gantar Mod areas of the Poonch district, which was used by the Indian army to move men and supplies to forward areas, Colonel Singh said. "Pakistan is deliberately targetting the area to ensure that vehicular movement is disrupted," he added. According to the Indian army, Pakistan troops fire across the border to provide cover for terrorists crossing into Kashmir. (ANI)
Mayawati wins vote of confidence
Go to top Lucknow, May 17 (ANI): Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati won the vote of confidence here Friday. The BSP-led government got a total of 216 votes in the 403-member Assembly. Interestingly, Mayawati had claimed the support of only 211 MLAs before she assumed power. She was sworn in as the chief minister on May 3 alongwith 23 other cabinet and ministers of state. Governor Vishnu Kant Shastri had granted three-weeks time to her to prove majority on the floor of the House. Moving the motion, Mayawati attacked the Samajwadi Party for calling the alliance between the BJP and the BSP unholy. On the other hand, the Opposition led by Samajwadi Party focused its attack on the Babri Masjid and the Gujarat issue. After the last Assembly elections (held in February), Samajwadi Party had emerged as the single largest party with 142 MLAs. The BSP stood a distant second with 99 members, while the BJP could win only 88 seats. With no party apparantly able to form the government, the Governor recommended President's Rule in the state, which continued for nearly two months. Subsequently, the BJP and BSP joined hands to form the next government. With 14 members, the Ajit Singh-led Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) played a crucial role in government formation. (ANI)
Regional approach needed, four power ministers told
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top New Delhi, May 17 (ANI): Union Power Minister Suresh Prabhu held a meeting with power ministers of four southern states. (Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu) here on Friday. He discussed the power situation in the states, besides presenting a proposal of pooled tariff for power generated from Kayamkulam power station of NTPC (National Power Thermal Corporation). Prabhu emphasised the need for a regional approach. He said "each state must plan and each region should try to be self- sufficient". The minister further said the Centre had planned that the eastern western, northern and southern grids should be clubbed together to create a National Grid. He also declared that a permanent forum called "Asian power ministers" would be set up soon. Besides, according to Prabhu, a regional forum of all the Power Ministers would be established. He said the regional ministers should meet regularly so that a permanent review of their problems can be done. The minister felt that in order to check power pilferage, a sense of competition would have to be inculcated among the states. He said a cash prize of Rs 5 crore would be given to the state which acquires the best distribution system. Similar prizes should be given for the best grid system, he added. Prabhu further announced that power generation capacity of at least 41,000 megawatt would be added in the 10th five year plan. (ANI)
Nambiar takes over as Permanent Representative to U.N.
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top New York, May 17 (ANI): Vijay Nambiar, former High Commissioner to Pakistan, has taken over as India's Permanent Representative to the United Nations. His predecessor, Kamlesh Sharma, will be UN Secretary General Kofi Annan's special envoy in East Timor after the territory gains independence on May 20. He will be later involved in rebuilding the country. Nambiar, a career diplomat, succeeds Sharma who retired after five-year stint at the world body. Nambiar had earlier worked as first secretary and counsellor at the U.N. from March 1979 to April 1982 during which he dealt with political issues, including decolonisation and struggle against apartheid. After joining the IFS in 1967, Nambiar served as high commissioner to Malaysia and ambassador to Afghanistan and Algeria.(ANI)
Landlord can seek eviction for constructing more houses: SC
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to top New Delhi, May 17 (ANI): In an important judgement, the Supreme Court on Friday held that a landlord could seek eviction of a tenant on the ground that the rented building needed demolition for construction of more residential premises. The ruling was given by a bench comprising Justice R.C. Lahoti and Justice B.N. Agrawal while upholding the Rent Controller's decision directing eviction of Harrington Housing School at Tirupur in Tamil Nadu. In its order, the division bench said, "The useful utilisation of the property which would (on demolition and reconstruction) make available more space to be occupied by human beings for residential or non-residential purposes, and the genuine desire of the landlord to earn economic advantages, are relevant factors pointing to the bonafides of the requirement". The owners of the property, SA Ispahani, contended that a number of multi-storey buildings have come up in the vicinity and that he wanted to convert the small building into such a complex. The school contended that it would not be in the public interest to order eviction resulting in closure of the school only to serve the private interest of the landlord. Reacting to the contention, Justice Lahoti said, "such a plea was aimed at touching the emotions and not the law". He said, "the school is an unrecognised private school run by the tenant catering to the need of non-resident Indians who have to leave their children behind in the country. Indeed, the school is being run not for a social service, but for the private earnings of the tenants". (ANI)
Fire at Shastri Bhavan destroys three Govt departments
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to top New Delhi, May 17 (ANI): At least three Government departments, namely Law Commission, Tribal Affairs and Press Information Bureau (PIB), were damaged in a fire that broke out at Shastri Bhavan here on Friday. There are no reports of any fatalities. The fire broke out at around 11.30 a.m. on the sixth floor of building that houses several ministries. As many as seven fire tenders were pressed into service to douse the blaze. The cause of the fire is still not known. (ANI)
Jammu killings: Pak finds flaws in Indian arguments
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to top Islamabad, May 17 (AN(): India changed its stand thrice on the attack launched in Jammu last Tuesday that left 32 peaple dead, the ISPR chief, Major-General Rashid Qureshi has told The Nation. According to him, First it claimed that three men in army uniform launched the attack, then it said some papers were also recovered from the pockets of the arrested assailants which was an indication that they were sent from Pakistan, while their third stand was that some persons who were boarding a bus launched the attack. Like in the past, he added, India has once again held Pakistan responsible for this attack. The man who wants to attack an army camp cannot, according to him, attack a passenger bus. His target should obviously be the Army only. The truth is that the Indian army opened rocket fire from within the camp which damaged the bus and killed the passengers, Qureshi argued. If there is any truth in the Indian claim that Pakistan is behind the attack, then why does it not invite the intelligence agencies of other countries to unveil the reality, he asked. He reiterated Pakistan's call for an impartial and independent inquiry to unmask the motives of the perpetrators of this crime. To the statement that India has been making hectic preparations to attack Pakistan and also deployed strike corps on the border, Qureshi said this was not something new. Pakistan is fully prepared to face all eventualities, he added. (ANI)
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