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India, Pakistan must act responsibly, says Sonia New Delhi, May 24 (ANI): Sonia Gandhi, president of the Congress party, said on Friday that in view of military standoff at the Indo-Pak border, the two nuclear powers should act in a responsible manner. She also added that her party would support the government in fighting terrorism. Speaking to party delegates who came here from all over the country to attend All India Congress Committee's one-day annual session, the Opposition leader said India should not let the situation go out of its control. "The situation today is very delicate. We have to be prepared for the most difficult of times. We cannot allow the situation to get out of our control. We should not take steps, which do not lead to the right results. We have to act as responsible nuclear powers," she said. The AICC president further said that "while the Congress has some fundamental differences with the government over social, economic, and other key issues, we want to make it clear to the international community that the entire nation is together in the fight against terror." However, she also warned against the danger of pro-Hindu right- wing forces which are allegedly trying to divide the country on religious lines. "As a political party, we have to be on guard that the Pakistan army's inimical stand against India and its constant support to terrorist groups is not used as a tool by the RSS (Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh) and its associate parties to polarise our society and create communal tension," she added. Sonia Gandhi attacked Pakistan for continuing to support cross- border terrorism. "We should use different means to tell Pakistan that we will not tolerate cross-border terrorism any more," she added.(ANI) Kathua villagers forced out by Pak shelling
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to top Jammu, May 24 (ANI): The residents of Panser and Maniyari villages in Kathua district have moved to relief camps after Thursday's shelling from across the border destroyed their houses. "We have come here due to the firing from the Pakistan side. We have been forced to move here," said Sanjay Dogra of village Panser. Almost all the houses of Panser village, situated only half a kilometre from the border with Pakistan, were gutted. The ensuing fire, which is still raging, left most villagers homeless. "Shelling is still on. Nothing is left in our village," said Hira Singh, one of the villagers. Indian and Pakistani troops continued to exchange mortar shells across the Line of Control for the eighth consecutive day after New Delhi told its troops to prepare for decisive action and Islamabad warned against any military "misadventure". Tensions between the two neighbours are on the rise since a suicide terrorist attack on the family quarters of an army camp in the state on May 14. The attack killed 34 people, mostly women and children. The situation has worsened after the assassination of a moderate Hurriyat leader Abdul Ghani Lone on Tuesday. Currently more than a million troops from both sides have been mobilised at the borders in a sign of heightened tensions between the two South- Asian neighbours.(ANI)
Jawans brave 55 deg C inside battle tanks deployed in desert Go to top Bikaner, May 24 (ANI): Troops deployed along the borders with Pakistan in the treacherous desert state of Rajasthan are on high alert as a military showdown looked heading only for the worse. The 1,035-km-long border passing through Rajasthan has been the army's major thrust region in the last two wars. Troops face one of the most difficult war theatres here with soaring temperatures and miles of arid lands with little or no drinking water. Cavalry men brave temperatures upto 55 degrees Celsius inside T- 72 tanks, the army's mainstay, and the recently inducted upgraded T-80 Main Battle tanks, both of Russian origin. The troops are maintaining a state of alert for over five months now since India mobilised its biggest military buildup on the entire 3,310-km-long western frontier with Pakistan after a terrorist attack on Parliament in December last year which New Delhi blamed on Pakistan-based Kashmiri guerrillas. The borders, however, remain peaceful but tense and uneasy though the two nuclear-capable neighbours exchange fire across the 790- km-long disputed ceasefire line in the Himalayan region which has become tense during the last week. A suicide militant attack on an army camp in restive Jammu and Kashmir, flashpoint of the current military stand-off and at the root of their more than 50-year-old rival claims to the scenic Himalayan territory termed as one of the most dangerous paces in the world, on May 14 in which 31 people were killed, further escalated tensions between the two countries. The increased tensions have set off alarm bells around the world, triggering a stream of top level envoys from the United States, Britain and Europe to try to avert any action that could lead to a fourth war between the South Asian powers.(ANI)
Srinagar remains shut for Lone
Go to top Srinagar, May 24 (ANI): Security remained tight with business establishments staying shut for the fourth successive day on Friday in Srinagar, showing their solidarity with the All Party Hurriyat Conference, whose leader Abdul Gani Lone was assassinated by unidentified gunmen earlier this week. Lone was shot dead at a meeting in Srinagar where a separatist rebellion has been raging since 1989. The Hurriyat called the strike, saying it wanted to protest against human rights violations in the country's only Muslim- majority state. A prayer ceremony was held on Friday to mark the fourth day of the death of Lone. A large number of people, including Hurriyat leaders and Lone's supporters, attended the ceremony called "Fatehi". Shabir Shah, leader of Jammu and Kashmir Democratic Freedom Party who was also present at the ceremony, said the economic package announced by the Prime Minister was no solution to the Kashmir problem. "It is not clear whether the Central government has any policy regarding Kashmir. Yesterday (Thursday) we came to know when Prime Minister (Atal Behari Vajpayee) gave a press conference during which he announced an economic package for the state. Economic package is not a solution to Kashmir problem," said Shah. Lone's son Sajjad said his father's party People's Conference would continue to remain in the Hurriyat. "This will be decided by the Supreme Council of People's Conference that who they send as representative to Hurriyat Conference. There will be no difference in relations between People's Conference and Hurriyat Conference and it will remain the same and strong as they were when Lone (Abdul Gani Lone) was alive," said Sajjad. The killing of Lone, a moderate leader in the Kashmiri separatist Hurriyat Conference, was seen by many political leaders and the people as a setback to the peace process initiated by the federal government.(ANI)
Vajpayee writes to Bush to help stop Pak infiltration
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top Washington, May 24 (ANI): Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee has written to President George W Bush, urging him to act speedily to make Pakistan stop terrorist infiltration into Jammu and Kashmir. Defence Secretary Yogendra Narain gave this information at a press conference here Thursday at the end of a three-day meeting of the India-US Defence Policy Group that oversees burgeoning defence cooperation between the two countries. IANS quoted Narain as saying he did not bring the letter, which reportedly listed India's preparations for any eventuality. He said the US appeared deeply concerned at the escalating tension along the Line of Control (LoC). "We told them that our patience had almost come to an end and what Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf had promised in his January 12 (anti-terrorism) speech, he had not lived up to it. "We also felt that the US had not done enough to control and advise Pakistan on this issue," Narain remarked. Asked about the response to his statement, Narain said the US side promised that they were taking several initiatives to reduce tension and their officials were active on both sides. "We are doing our best to reduce tensions," he quoted a US official as having said. Narain said the deployment of Indian troops along the border also came in for discussion. "We said the deployment that started in December was a result of cross-border terrorism and the May 14 incident (32 Indians were killed in Jammu) was the last straw and we feel strongly that we must take some firms steps to deal with the menace." The defence secretary said the US had promised to take the initiative to stop trans-border terrorism. "They have condemned terrorism indulged in by Pakistan." Replying to a question, he said: "On our side preparations are on and we are determined to see that, if necessary, we have to take this last resort (of war) if Pakistan does not see reason and agree in some tangible measure to avoid recurrence of cross border terrorism." Narain was very happy at the trend of discussions, especially on the US willing to provide India with Special Forces equipment, including unmanned aerial vehicles and ground sensors, for inter- operability between the special forces of the two countries. He also said the US will give India night-vision gear, thermal imaging, and personal protection equipment. When asked whether the US advised India on anything, he replied: "They say 'we know India is a mature and democratic country and you will be taking steps that deem fit for your country.'" Narain recalled the US having repeatedly said that the US-India relationship would help in building stability and security in Asia and beyond and that it looked at India as "a power which can influence events not only in its region but also globally."(ANI)
Mixed reaction to largesse for J-K
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top Srinagar, May 24 (ANI): There were mixed reactions to a development package announced by Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee during his three-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir. Vajpayee announced a financial package of Rs. 6165 crore for strengthening infrastructure and creating more jobs. "We are happy that the Prime Minister has announced this package. We hope that all the planning which the Prime Minister has in mind will come through and all the problems of the state which he has seen for himself will be solved," said Abdul Rehman who runs a taxi in Srinagar. Twelve years of militancy in the Kashmir valley has completely destroyed the state's economy, which many say has alienated the region from the rest of the country. In an effort for greater economic integration of Jammu and Kashmir with the remaining part of India, Vajpayee also announced speeding up of a railway track in the Valley. Vajpayee on Thursday concluded a three-day visit to Srinagar, his first in two years. Many in the valley said the package offered by the Prime Minister needed an effective implementation. "We are happy with what he has to offer. Who will not be happy? But it will hold value only if it reaches the poor people. If it doesn't reach where it is needed, then what use is the package," said Majid Khan, owner of a houseboat whose business has been hit ever since the number of tourists visiting the state declined. But others, like Ashraf, were skeptic of the effective implementation of the package. "Kashmir will not benefit from this. Only those who are in the government and the bureacucray will benefit. It has no use for the common people," said Ashraf. Kashmir is central to the military build-up by India and Pakistan. The nuclear-capable neighbours traded fire across their ceasefire line on the eighth consecutive day on Friday.(ANI)
Patten agrees India running out of its patience with Pakistan
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to top New Delhi, May 24 (ANI):India on Friday agreed to visiting Europen Union External Affairs Commissioner's statement that New Delhi was running out of its patience with arch-rival Pakistan. Chris Patten, who is in India on easing tensions between the two South Asian powers amid fears of war, earlier in a statement had said "I think India's patience is close to breaking point." Patten held talks with foreign minister Jaswant Singh and National Security Advisor Brajesh Mishra. "Our patience is not interminable we waited for very very long. As Mr. Patten (European Union External Affairs Commissioner Chris Patten) put it very eloquently, has been stetched beyond breaking point," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Nirupama Rao told reporters in New Delhi. Meanwhile, senior officials, including External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh, have denied a newspaper report that New Delhi had decided to give Pakistan two months to cut back cross-border "terrorism" before deciding on possible military action in the latest standoff over disputed Kashmir. Local daily "The Hindustan Times" on Friday reported that the decision to give two months time to Pakistan was taken at a meeting of the Unified Command during his three-day trip to Jammu and Kashmir. India blames Pakistan for attacks by Islamic militants in Jammu and Kashmir. The nuclear neighbours have massed more than a million men along their border, raising fears of their fourth war since independence from British colonial rule in 1947. The troop build-up started after a December attack on India's parliament New Delhi blamed on Pakistan-based militants. India demanded Islamabad take action. Tensions worsened last week after militants attacked an army camp in Kashmir, killing 31 people, mostly wives and children of soldiers. Patten, the first in a series of anxious global leaders scheduled to visit the region to cool passions, said Islamabad had to implement its promises to crack down on Islamic militants. The foregin ministry spokeswoman said New Delhi told Patten that Islamabad cannot be a part of international coalition against terrorism and still support terrorists operating in Kashmir. "We were direct and candid in the expression of our views to Patten that Pakistan has to recognise that it cannot engage in cross border terrorism and yet claim to be fighting terrorism as a member of the global coalition against terrorism. The international community would have to understand this basic and fundamental premise," Nirupama Rao said. "Attempts to persuade Pakistan to mend the error of its way by the international community have not borne fruit so far. Pakistan's so called commitment to address the issue of terrorism as reflected in General Musharraf's speech of January 12 has not been implemented," she added. India has vowed to take "appropriate action" against violence in Jammu and Kashmir, which has witnessed a bloody rebellion against Indian rule since late 1989. More than 33,000 people have died in the insurgency, officials say. The two armies have exchanged heavy fire across the border in Kashmir over the past week but Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee said on Thursday he saw clear skies rather than war clouds ahead, although he added lightning could strike any time. British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw and U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage are also scheduled to visit the volatile region in the coming weeks.(ANI)
Additional flights for Sindhu Darshan Festival in Leh Go to top New Delhi, May 24 (ANI): Alliance Air, a subsidiary of Indian Airlines, will operate four additional flights from 30 May to 4 June on Delhi-Leh sector to facilitate the journey to the Ladakh capital of passengers willing to attend the sixth Sindhu Darshan Festival there, according to a press release. The normal scheduled flights take place four times a week. The festival will be held from 1 June to 3 June and aims at projecting Indus as a symbol of multi-dimensional cultural identity, unity and communal harmony. It is being promoted by the Jammu and Kashmir government with support from Ministry of Tourism and Culture.(ANI)
Loot before the wedding! Go to top Patna, May 24 (ANI): Shopowners in Patna have complained that supporters of Bihar chief minister Rabri Devi forcibly took away goods from their shops for her daughter's wedding. At least 60 cars were taken away from four shops on Thursday, a day before the marriage. Supporters of Rabri Devi, wife of former chief minister Laloo Prasad Yadav, entered a car showroom and allegedly demanded that they be allowed to "borrow" cars for the wedding of the minister's daughter. Chief Minister Rabri Devi could not be immediately contacted for her comment. The showroom of another carmaker was raided later where the supporters abused the employees and smashed windows, before driving away with some more cars. At another showroom, the supporters beat up an employee before taking possession of the brand new cars, saying the automobiles would be returned in three months. As the news spread, car dealers across Patna downed their shutters. After the incidents on Thursday, most shopowners refused to serve customers, and shops throughout Patna closed within hours of opening up. "This is total misuse of the state authority. The worst form of autocracy was on show here. If it was limited only to the misuse of the state property, people would have taken it with a pinch of salt. But now they have gone one step further --- It's as if the king's daughter is getting married and his supporters have the licence to loot. Cars from showrooms were looted, chickens from poultry shops forcibly taken away and it became a free-for-all for criminals," Kiran Ghai, a state BJP spokeswoman, said.(ANI)
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