NewsBriefs
Back to Headlines

Manmohan calls for building a new Kashmir
by Bilal Butt

       Srinagar: Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh on Wednesday said that the series of fresh initiatives introduced by his UPA Government since 2004 were all aimed at building a new Kashmir, free from the fear of the gun, and allowing people to work in peace towards achieving development-related goals. Addressing the Second Round Table Conference between the Centre and leaders of various Kashmiri groups here, Dr. Singh said: "I know that your coming here today comes from your decision to become part of the process of bringing peace and improvement to this beautiful land. I hope that with our collective efforts, we will certainly be successful in building such a Kashmir."

     Recalling the deliberations of the First Round Table Conference in New delhi in February this year, Dr. Singh said that many views were expressed then, and thereafter, he had continued his interactions with different groups so as to "acquaint ourselves with every viewpoint and understand every approach." He was particularly critical of some elements within the State who did not wish for this dream to become a reality. He also used the occasion of his address to appeal to the All Parties Hurriyat Conference "to join the series of Round Table Conferences so that they can share their views with all of us." Dr. Singh that it was the government's effort and desire that there should be prosperity on both sides of the Line of Control (LoC). In conclusion, the Prime Minister said that the Second Round Table Conference should focus on (1)What are those political institutions and arrangements which can strengthen the relationship between the state and centre? (2) How can the different regions in this state, while recognizing their distinct identities, be brought closer to each other? (3) What is the economic future of the state? (4) What steps are needed to restore public self-confidence. Each region of Jammu and Kashmir has a distinct identity. How can these be strengthened so that they can blossom? How can we harmonise relations between them? and (5) What are those institutional arrangements which can bring people from both sides of the LoC closer to each other?

Four injured in grenade attack in Srinagar  (Go To Top)
by Parvez

       Srinagar: Even as the security arrangements have been tightened in the wake of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's visit for the Roundtable Conference, a grenade exploded at the old city of Qmarwari, in which two Central Reserve Police Force personnel and two civilians were injured. According to official sources, the blast was aimed on the bunker targeting the CRPF personal in it at around 12:30 p.m. There are also reports of two grenade explosions at Anantnag. However, no damage from this area was reported. As the government is busy in the roundtable conference, the Kashmir Valley is under a constant fear of violence.

Indo-Pak talks on Siachen conclude (Go To Top)

      New Delhi: The two-day Defence Secretary-level talks between India and Pakistan on demilitarisation of the Siachen Glacier concluded here today with both sides welcoming the "successful" continuation of the ceasefire at the world's highest battlefield since November 2003. The delegation led by Shekhar Dutt, Defence Secretary and his Pakistani counterpart Lt Gen (Retd.) Tariq Waseem Ghazi, reaffirmed their commitment and desire to make the ceasefire an enduring success. The Defence Secretaries further agreed to continue the discussions to resolve the Siachen issue in a peaceful manner. The Pakistani Defence Secretary called on Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee and National Security Advisor, MK Narayanan. Earlier in the day, Pranab Mukherjee termed said the talks as a failure as the two sides "could not make a breakthrough". Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a function, Mukherjee said India and Pakistan failed to reach any agreement on the demilitarisation issue.

Natwar's cousin admits role in scam (Go To Top)

       New Delhi: Former External Affairs Minister K Natwar Singh's kin Aditya Khanna on Wednesday admitted before the Pathak Inquiry Authority of his role in the oil-for-food scam. Officials said that after intense grilling Khanna admitted to having played a role in transferring kickbacks to "beneficiaries". He however, did not give a clear picture of the financial transactions in the scam, they said. Khanna is alleged to have received payments from Switzerland based Masefield Oil Company, which was named by the Paul Volcker Commission of having been involved in the oil for food scheme. Khanna, brother of Arvind Khanna, Congress MLA from Sangroor, is likely to be called soon by the Authority for further questioning. For the last five years, the Income Tax department has been probing into Khanna's financial transactions in order to trace the money reportedly routed from his London bank account to an Indian bank for distribution among the beneficiaries. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) is also preparing "show cause" notices for people who allegedly received kickbacks in the oil- for-food scam. Those to be served the show-cause notice would be given time to reply to the notice for allegedly abetting violations under Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA). Under FEMA, abetment is also construed as violation. The ED, which is investigating the Indian angle of the oil-for- food scam, as brought out by the Volcker Committee Report, has as part of the investigation, questioned several people including Natwar, his son Jagat Singh, Jagat's friend and Director of Hamadan Exports Andaleeb Sehgal and Aneil Matherani, India's former envoy to Croatia.

Anti-dam Aamir faces wrath in Gujarat (Go To Top)

     Rajkot: The Cinematograph Exhibitors Association of Gujarat is so upset with Bollywood star Aamir Khan for supporting the environmental activists opposing the construction of Sardar Sarovar Dam that they have decided not to show any film starring him in the State, including his upcoming movie 'Fanna - destroyed in Love'. The film casting Kajol, Tabu, Rishi Kapoor, Kirron Kher, Shiney Ahuja, Lara Dutta and Abhishek Bachchan besides the 'Activist Khan' is slated to be released on May 26. But the Gujarat Cinematograph Exhibitors Association president Harish C Patel, in a statement released here on Tuesday, has said that no film featuring Aamir Khan would be screened in any of the cinema halls in the state until he apologises for his recent anti-Narmada statements. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) youth wing activists in Gujarat also have threatened to stop the screening of the film violently. The state Congress party workers also have said that they would not let the film be screened in Gujarat.

AIADMK boycotts Governor's address (Go To Top)

      Chennai: Former Chief Minister J.Jayalalithaa's All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) party boycotted Tamil Nadu Governor Surjit Singh Barnala's address to the first session of the newly constituted state Assembly on Wednesday. Amid acrimonious scenes, the deputy leader of the AIADMK Legislature Party, K A Senkottiyan, said that the Z-plus security cover provided to former Chief Minister Jayalalithaa, who faced threats from militant outfits, had been withdrawn by the M.Karunanidhi-led Dravida Munnettra Kazhagam (DMK) Government. Senkottiyan even calimed that Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) leader Vaiko was not being provided adequate security. Describing the law and order situation as abysmal, he said that the DMK had done nothing to fulfil the promises it has made to the voters. AIADMK MLAs then trooped into the Well of Assembly, shouted slogans and trooped out of the House in protest against what termed was the "dictatorial DMK rule in the state". The MDMK and the Dalit Panthers of India (DPI) were also joined the boycott. Barnala, however, went ahead with his address and announced several important policy decisions of the new DMK Government.

Rahul Gandhi calls on Dalai Lama (Go To Top)

       Dharamshala: Rahul Gandhi, Member of Parliament and son of ruling Congress party president Sonia Gandhi, called on Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama here on Tuesday. After his meeting with the spiritual leader, Rahul spent some time with the local children. "This was a very special visit from him (Rahul Gandhi) to the Tibetan community and particularly to meet His Holiness the Dalai Lama. So we are very delighted that he could make this short visit," Tsewang Yeshi, Director of the Tibetan children village school, said. Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama fled to India along with his followers after a failed uprising against Chinese rule in 1959. About 130,000 Tibetan refugees are now settled in different parts of India. The Tibetan government-in-exile has its headquartered in Dharamsala. Beijing has turned down the Dalai Lama's peace overtures saying he continues to pursue secessionist ideas. However, the Dalai Lama, who seeks real autonomy for Tibet, has said that it could remain a part of China, but Beijing has rejected Hong Kong model of autonomy for Tibet.

Kerala declared a `debt stressed' state  (Go To Top)
By K Ashik

       Thiruvananthapuram: The newly-formed Left Democratic Front (LDF) Government, headed by Chief Minister V.S.Achuthanandan, has declared Kerala a debt-stressed state. If the state's Finance Minister T. M. Thomas Isaac is to be believed, Kerala's financial situation is so grim that funds exist only for one-fourth of Budget 2006-07. Criticising the previous UDF regime under former Chief Minister Oomen Chandy for making "tall claims" about the southern state's "healthy" fiscal position, Dr. Isaac told reporters here on Tuesday that the previous figures projected, were grossly inflated and exxagerated. He claimed that the previous state government had announced a fiscal plan of Rs.6, 450 crore and hoped to borrow around Rs.7,000 crore to finance Plan and Non-Plan expenditures. This, he added, was no longer feasible, as no provisions had been made for major expenditures such as government employee wage revision, paying off pension arrears, providing of ration rice at Rs.3 a kilo to below poverty line (BPL) families or for the Wayanad package. He said though a clear estimate of the additional expenditure for the Kerala State Transport Project was yet to be made, a rough estimate showed that over Rs.3,000 crore would be necessary to complete the project. The state finance minister said that the Cabinet would meet soon to decide on the need for presenting an alternate memorandum or a revised Budget, and added that at present, there were three options before the Achuthanandan Ministry -- downsizing the Plan, asking the Central Government not to stress on Article 293 that prohibits borrowing and going hard on tax collection.

Neo-Nazis might attack World Cup (Go To Top)

       London: Security officials assigned the task of manning security arrangements during the upcoming Football World Cup, beginning in Germany on June 9, have warned that the number of neo-Nazis in Germany intent on causing violence in the World Cup "is spiralling". Quoting police figures, The Mirror reported that the number of criminally active neo-Nazis has risen by 300 to 4100 since 2004, though officials fear that there were another 10,400 unaffiliated far-right extremists. The German intelligence report found violent acts by the far right rose to 958 last year - up from 776. Attacks on the blacks across Germany also show it was not limited to the east of the country. But, according to the paper, the country's Interior Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble vowed to prevent the possible violence. "We will not tolerate extremism, xenophobia or anti-Semitism," he said.

Apex Committee for C'wealth Games (Go To Top)

      New Delhi: The Government today reconstituted the Apex Committee for the Commonwealth Games, 2010 under the chairmanship of Minister for Panchayati Raj and Youth Affairs and Sports Mani Shankar Aiyar. The committee will have the over-riding power and responsibility for overseeing and coordinating the Commonwealth Games, 2010. The minutes of all the other committees related to the conduct of the Commonwealth Games will be submitted to the Apex Committee periodically for its information. The Chairman of the Committee will have the power to call for such information, which he deems fit and to give such guidance that may be required. The other members of the reconstituted committee include Ram Niwas Mirdha, Former Union Minister, Kiran Karnik, President, NASSCOM, Dr. P. Sivanthi Adityan, President, Volleyball Federation of India, K.V. Kamath, Chairman and MD, ICICI, S. Shankar Menon, Former Additional Chief Secretary, Maharashtra, Prof. Deepak Nayyar, Former Vice Chancellor, Delhi University, V.K. Shunglu, Former Comptroller and Auditor General of India, K.T.S Tulsi, Senior Advocate Supreme Court, Shiv Nadar, Chairman, HCL Technologies, Prakash Narain, Former Chairman Railway Board, V.S. Ailawadi, Senior Advocate and Dr. S.Y. Quraishi, Secretary Youth Affairs and Sports. Quraishi, will be the convenor and member secretary of the committee.