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Vajpayee briefs Sonia over border situation New Delhi, May 19 (ANI): Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee met Leader of Opposition Sonia Gandhi and apprised her of the latest situation on the border as also the steps taken by his government. While the former was accompanied by Union Home Minister L.K Advani, Manmohan Singh, Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, came with Sonia Gandhi to attend the meeting. After the meeting, External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh told reporters that the Prime Minister would also meet leaders of other political parties on an individual basis to brief them over the situation. However, it was not known whether the issue of Presidential elections figured during the talks. Asked about the matter, Singh gave a non-committal reply suggesting that he was not authorised to speak on the issue. (ANI) Four injured in Indo-Pak shelling
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to top Jammu, May 19 (ANI): At least four Indian civilians were injured and three houses damaged as mortar shelling continued for the third consecutive day along the border on Saturday. Official sources said firing continued along the Line of Control in Jammu-Kathua, Rajouri and Poonch sectors. One forest nursery and three houses were also damaged in the shelling at Panjgarayan village, they added. According to sources, the exchange of fire and shelling was still going on in areas including Kerni, Mendhar, Jallas, Salotri, Karmara, Jangard, Kadhi, Briwala, Noushera, Laam, Shahpur, Sabzian, Choki Chora, Sunderbani, Panjigarian, Londi, Pargwal, Samba, Hiranagar, RS Pura and Laam, Balakote and Bhawani areas of Jammu-Poonch sector. They described the situation as "tense but under control". (ANI)
Pak to approach Security Council to ease tension Go to top Islamabad, May 19 (ANI): Pakistan contemplates seeking U.N. Security Council's intervention to bring down heightening Indo- Pak tension, media reports said here Sunday. According to the reports, the country cited "extremely belligerent moves" along LoC (Line of Control) in the wake of Tuesday's suicide attack in Jammu. A well circulated daily reported: "Informed sources did not rule out the possibility of Pakistan asking the UN to invoke Security Council Resolution 1172 passed in 1998 when Pakistan and India had tested their nuclear weapons. The resolution specifically mentions Kashmir as the source of tension between the two countries". Quoting sources, it said Pakistan kept the UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan informed on a daily basis on India's "warlike actions" and on the ongoing heavy shelling across the LoC. "We have also asked all our high commissioners and ambassadors to keep the host governments posted on the developing situation and brief them on our position with regard to India's accusations" of Islamabad's support to cross-border terrorism, the paper quoted sources as saying. The sources reportedly said Islamabad has asked the international community to use its influence with India and dissuade it from escalating tension with Pakistan. The paper quoted "knowledgeable sources" as saying that India might even cut off all trade links with Islamabad. Also, they said Pakistan has told its friendly nations that it was "next to impossible to stop the infiltration of Kashmiris across the LoC", as most of them were members of divided families living on both sides of the LoC. The reports further said that Pakistan has told its "friends" that it did not stand to gain anything by encouraging such militant activities inside Jammu and Kashmir. (ANI)
First the quake, now burning weather under tin roofs
Go to top Bhuj, May 19 (ANI): Survivors of last year's earthquake in Gujarat are going through a different kind of turture this time. It is just not possible for them to live in sheds made of tin and asbestos sheets which virtually turn into furnaces during daytime because of the mercilessly rising temperature. They say their children and the elderly people are constantly falling ill because of the unbearable heat that builds up within the asbestos-roofed structures. Bhuj, in Kutch district, was one of the worst affected areas when the quake struck on January 26. A year and half later, the people are complaining that the temporary shelters provided to them by the government are difficult to live in summers. But necessity, it is said, is the mother of invention. While some are using grass and straw for insulation to keep off direct sunrays from the asbestos roofs, others have put up tents for staying during daytime. Conditions are worse for the shopkeepers who run small kiosks on the roadside. Out in the open, they have no respite from the heat and the atmosphere in their makeshift tin stalls become unimaginably hot by noon. Naren, who lives in one such temporary shelter, said, "The temporary shelters get heated very quickly because of the material used in the ceiling. The floors are also not well- made...... the heat emitted from the earth further adds to our woes, making it very difficult to live in the makeshift houses". The children suffer the most. The scorching rays of the sun, coupled with hot winds (loo) blowing at high speeds, force them to keep indoors and bear the intense heat. Diarrhea and heat strokes are common among them. Kusumben, a resident, said, "We make the children sit inside the house the entire day, but it is difficult". The elders too are finding it hard to cope with the rising mercury. They have to be taken to hospitals at least twice a week because of the intense heat. Residents say that the government is apathetic and permanent houses are a distant dream, despite promises officially made at the time of the earthquake. It is worthwhile to note that after the devastating earthquake ravaged most houses in Bhuj, just a single temporary house was built at a cost of Rs 20,000 out of which the owner paid Rs 3000, the government contributed Rs 12,000 rupees while the rest came from various non-governmental organisations (NGOs). (ANI)
World Bank launches Afghan Reconstruction Fund
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top Islamabad, May 19 (ANI): The World Bank has announced the launching of the Afghanistan Reconstruction Trust Fund to help meet the country's priority expenditures. The facility succeeds the UNDP Trust Fund, which provides short- term emergency funding for salaries of civil servants besides simplifying management and oversight of funds for the interim administration by coordinating financial assistance. The fund will be jointly managed by the Asian Development Bank, Islamic Development Bank, United Nations Development Programme, and the World Bank (administrator of the ARTF). The initiative is aimed at meeting serious funding shortfalls for salaries of civil servants. It finances development of priority projects which would otherwise go unfunded. The ARTF will be one of the funding sources to facilitate the return of skilled Afghans interested in helping to rebuild their homeland. A coordinated financing mechanism, the ARTF assists the interim administration to fund both physical reconstruction projects and running expenses such as salaries for civil servants including health workers, teachers and police.(ANI)
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