Govt ready for unconditional dialogue with

      Kashmiris: PM Srinagar: Holding out the olive leaf to separatist groups in Jammu and Kashmir, Prime Minister Dr.Manmohan Singh on Wednesday said that his government is ready for an unconditional dialogue with all groups who shun violence. Speaking at a public rally at the Sher-e-Kashmir stadium in Srinagar, hours after becoming the first Congress PM in 16 years to visit the strife-torn state, Singh said:"Our government is committed to an unconditional dialogue with anyone and everyone in the state, who abjures violence. This dialogue should and will be carried forward." "Our government is committed to a purposeful dialogue with Pakistan to resolve all outstanding issues. The only condition is that, as agreed to by Pakistan, territories under its control should not be used to promote cross-border terrorism directed against us," he added. Speaking of the need for the state to get roads, schools and hospitals, the Prime Minister announced a Rs.24,000 crore package, but made it clear that he had come to the state not with a package but with a long-term plan aimed at setting the state on the road to peace, prosperity and development. He also said that he was fully aware of the trauma of the Kashmiri people and said that it should end.

Two ultras die in encounter as PM arrives (Go To Top)

      Srinagar: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's scheduled rally was postponed by a few hours following an encounter between security forces and terrorists at Suleiman Shopping complex near the Dal Gate, .not far from the site of the meeting, in which two terrorists were killed. The gunbattle raged for a couple of hours and culminated with the terrorists being killed shortly before Singh's arrival in the city. The encounter took place less than 200 metres away from the venue of the rally. Three people, including two security personnel were reportedly injured in the encounter. A three-tier security blanket was thrown around Sher-e- Kashmir cricket stadium in the city where the Prime Minister addressed a public meeting later in the day. Security forces were deployed on the rooftops of several buildings in the area and electronic surveillance was also in place on the routes to be taken by the Prime Minister. Meanwhile, the de-induction of the Army from Jammu and Kashmir began in the morning with the first column of troops moving out from South Kashmir's Anantnag district.

Redrawing of int'l border with Pak not acceptable: India (Go To Top)

      Srinagar: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Wednesday said any redrawing of international border with Pakistan is not acceptable to India. Addressing a press conference here at the end of the day-long visit to the valley, he said any proposal for division on the basis of religion is also not acceptable to India. On the morning gunbattle between militants and security forces, Dr Singh said various incidents are inspired by those who do not want to support peace talks. "We can only pursue them. We have to create conditions for the development of Kashmir." Denying that the dialogue process with separatist groups have derailed, the Prime Minister said, ''Our government has not yet completed six months. In such a short period, we have achieved many things.'' He reiterated that the Centre is willing to talk to any group provided they abjure violence. He also denied that Kashmir is a stumbling block in India's claim for a permanent seat in the United Nations Security Council.

India begins troop pull-out in Kashmir (Go To Top)

      Srinagar: India has begun pulling some of its troops out of Kashmir on Wednesday as Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's began his first trip to the state. About 1,000 soldiers withdrew from a southern Kashmiri town as part of a highly touted move to scale back some forces in the Himalayan region. The first batch of soldiers, looking happy and waving their hands, moved out of Anantnag town in a convoy, a witness said. In a surprising peace move last week, Singh said New Delhi would reduce the number of soldiers in its only Muslim-majority state, stationed there to put down a 15-year-old separatist rebellion. "I have already issued instructions to reduce the number of troops depolyed in the state. As the condition improves and the incidence of infiltration and violence, the menace is controlled, it will make easier in efforts of reduction of troops," Singh said at the convocation of a medical college here.

At least 10 patients die as doctors continue strike in Bihar (Go To Top)

      Patna: At least ten patients have died in Bihar due to lack of health care and medical services as the doctors' strike entered the fifth day on Wednesday. Doctors went on a flash strike after eminent surgeon N. K. Agarwal was gunned down by extortionists in Patna on Saturday after he refused to pay up. At least five doctors have been killed for ransom in the lawless state in the last two years. The strike has been called by the Indian Medical Association (IMA), the organisation of private practitioners and supported by various government doctors' federations. Several patients lie unattended in the hospitals while there are long queue of patients at the emergency ward. With no signs of rapprochement between the doctors and the provincial government, patients continue to suffer. "There are no doctors available at present. So we are doing whatever is necessary to be done," said Asha Kiran, a nurse at a state-run hospital. "Nobody is paying any attention. We are really agitated. We are taking our patient to Varanasi," said Shatrughan Kumar, a relative of a patient. State authorities are trying to persuade the IMA to call off the strike. "We have appealed striking doctors, that keeping in mind the welfare of the general people, to withdraw their agitation," said Girish Shankar, Home Secretary of state government.

Kalyan Singh appears before Liberhan Commission (Go To Top)

      New Delhi: Former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Kalyan Singh today appeared before the Liberhan Commission, which is probing the demolition of disputed Ram Janambhoomi Babri Masjid structure at Ayodhya. The disputed structure at Ayodhya was demolished during the tenure of Kalyan Singh. The Commission, headed by Justice M S Liberhan, had directed him to appear before it on November 17. The Commission adjourned the hearing to December 02 after Singh's counsel made a request that he was not well for the last few days and needed some more days to go through the records of the incident.