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Archived News
Chandigarh December 28:
The Government machinery in Punjab seems to have gone heywire where even the Director General of Police (DGP) seems helpless in getting information on drug abuse and trafficking from the district authorities in the backdrop of a ‘secret report’ on drug mafia operating in the State.
Though there are numerous instances where orders of DGP were disobeyed or ignored, but in a recent case the several SSPs of districts have ignored a letter written at the behest of DGP seeking details of drug smuggling and menace of drugs among youth in their respective areas and steps taken to control the drugs.
The letter signed by ADGP Internal Vigilance Cell cum Human Rights was also sent to Deputy Commissioners and Civil Surgeons of all districts and Director Social Welfare Punjab. The response was however lukewarm from the civil and health authorities as well.
A Nawanshahar based non-governmental organisation Human Empowerment League of Punjab (HELP) on November 28, 2007 approached Punjab State Human Rights Commission (PSHRC), seeking directions to the State police to initiate strict action against those involved in the murky business of drugs in Punjab which was fast becoming a threat to human life in the State.
Punjab State Human Rights Commission on January 3 this year had directed the state DGP to “take appropriate action” in the matter under intimation to the Commission as “it is definitely concerned with this menace which is blooming amongst the children and in a rapid manner threatening the life of the youth of the State of Punjab.”
HELP general Secretary Parvinder Singh Kitna had procured information under RTI Act about the action taken by State Government after 10 months of PHRC orders. The information furnished by the Government speaks volume of the nonchalant attitude of official machinery and government’s halfhearted approach to curb drug menace.
The half of the districts police chiefs have not replied to the communication and none except one Deputy Commissioner and a civil surgeon also responded to Government query. The police districts of Tarn Taran, Bathinda, Mansa, Ferozepur, Ludhiana, Sangrur, Fatehgarh Sahib, Gurdaspur, Mohali, Hoshiarpur, Muktsar, Faridkot, Khanna, Batala and Jagraon and Deputy Commissioner of Ropar and Civil Surgeon of Sangrur have so far sent their reports to ADGP.
The PSHRC had written in its order issued on February 5, 2008 that all “such illegal activities are required to be discouraged and controlled with an iron hand and it is the primary duty of the State to ensure that every source of smuggling of drugs into Punjab from various states should be effectively curbed.”
HELP General secretary Kitna lamented the nonchalant attitude of the state bureaucracy in such a serious matter as the menace of drugs has questioned the need to seek reports from the districts when the police itself had already a “secret report” containing information on the suspected people and their activities on the issue.
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Source :
Punjab Mail Online
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News Date :
December 2
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Jalandhar December 28:
Two head constables of Narcotic Control Bureau (NCB) were injured when unidentified persons opened fire on them on Jalandhar-Kapurthala road here in the wee hours, police said.
Acting on information that some persons were trying to smuggle large quantity of heroin, a team of NCB headed by Deputy Superintendent of Police Balwinder Kumar laid a barrier near the Science city on Jalandhar-Kapurthala road and intercepted an Indica car, they said. When the occupants of the vehicle were asked to come out, they opened fire and injured constables Rajesh Kumar and Ravinder Pal Singh.
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Source :
Punjab Mail Online
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News Date :
December 2
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Mandi Ahmedgarh December 28:
Terming war to be devastating for any border state, Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal has urged the Union government to try to find a solution to curb terrorism without going for a battle with Pakistan.
However, the Punjabis were ready to make any sacrifice for the pride of the nation, maintained the Chief Minister. Badal regretted that the state had paid a heavy price for being a border state. Unfortunately, it has been suffering during peacetime also.
“Though we are not afraid of war and are ready to make any sacrifice for saving the pride of the nation, we impress upon the Union government to avoid war till it is thrust on us. What is more regretting is that our state suffers during peace times also,” responded Badal, when asked about his reaction on apprehensions of a war with Pakistan.
Accusing the Congress of ignoring interests of the Punjabis in general and inhabitants of borders areas in particular, Badal said the Union government, instead of giving special concessions to residents of the border state, had been discriminating against them on various issues.
The industry of Punjab, that was number 1 at one time, had been literally deserted due to alleged discriminating tax policies of the state. “While our industrial units are being crushed under the burden of heavy taxes and levies, entrepreneurs in other states, including Himachal Pardesh and Haryana, are given special exemptions.”
Earlier, addressing a gathering of SAD activists at Latala village in Ludhiana, Badal alleged that the defective and anti-peasant policies of the UPA government had forced a large number of farmers to commit suicide as the agriculture was no longer a remunerative profession.
Announcing development projects worth Rs 30.5 crore for villages of the Kilaraipur Assembly segment, Badal distributed grants worth Rs 4 crore. Jagdish Singh Garcha, former minister, Mann Singh Garcha and Raghbir Singh Saharanmajra also spoke.
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Source :
Punjab Mail Online
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News Date :
December 2
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Washington December 28:
Two key witnesses of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, who had claimed that former Union Minister Jagdish Tytler had played a role in instigating rioters, gave their statements to a two-member CBI team, raising hopes of justice among members of the community here.
The CBI team, which visited New York and San Francisco from December 22 to December 26, have recorded the statements of key witnesses Jasbir Singh and Jasbinder Singh regarding Tytler's role in the anti-Sikh riots, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, legal adviser to the Sikhs For Justice, a US based human rights group said.
The group, which is advocating the cases of the riot victims in collaboration with the All India Sikh Students Federation said the latest development has strengthened their hopes of obtaining justice for the victims under Indian law. "Now this is a testing time for the CBI, as to how long they will take to formally charge Member Parliament Jagdish Tytler," he said.
The CBI team was sent to the US after California-based Jasbir Singh repeatedly refused to appear before the Indian courts citing threat to his life and family. CBI's move to visit the US marks a U-turn from its earlier position demanding the presence of Singh and other witnesses in India.
The agency, which had on September 29, 2007 filed an affidavit in a court here seeking closure of case against Tytler on the plea that Singh was untraceable, was directed by the court to submit the address of Singh, declared as a crucial witness. Attorney Pannun said as of now two Commissions and multiple Committees have investigated the riots in Delhi, while violence against Sikhs occurred in 14 states across India and till date not a single inquiry has been set up to inquire into the cases nationwide.
A panel of lawyers will file writ petitions in High Courts of all the 14 states, where anti-Sikh riots took place, to demand a CBI inquiry, he said. Meanwhile, the All India Sikh Students Federation in association with 'Sikhs for Justice' would organise a "Justice Awareness Campaign" starting January 1, 2009, to reach out to witnesses and victims in the 14 states, the Federation's President Karnail Singh Peermohammad has announced.
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Source :
Punjab Mail Online
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News Date :
December 2
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Lucknow December 28:
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati said she was ready to recommend a CBI inquiry into the lynching of PWD engineer allegedly by a BSP MLA provided the probe agency takes over the cases referred to it by the state government including those relating to police recruitment during Samajwadi Party rule.
"The government has no objection to referring the engineer (M K Gupta) murder case to CBI but only when the investigating agency accepts all the dozen-odd cases referred to it, including the recruitment scam of police constables under the previous Mulayam Singh Yadav government, which has been turned down," she told newspersons here.
Assuring detailed investigation as well as stern action against all those found involved in the murder of the engineer, Mayawati said if required the government would also order narco analysis test of BSP MLA Shekhar Tewari arrested in connection with the incident as well as the station officer of Dibiyapur police station, where the crime took place, Hoshiyar Singh who has since been suspended.
Mayawati said she has come to know that the MLA was a habitual drunkard and it was being ascertained whether someone might have taken advantage of this weakness. She said Hoshiyar Singh had been posted in the same police station during the SP rule and had close links with Samajwadi Party leaders and it was being ascertained whether there was any political conspiracy behind the incident.
"In case any political conspiracy comes to light and it is found that some people have taken advantage of the MLA's weakness, stern action would also be taken against those behind it", Mayawati said. On the background of history-sheeter Shekhar Tewari background, Mayawati said that before joining BSP, he and his family had been associated with Congress, BJP and Samajwadi Party and all his "criminal" activities had been of the time when he was in these parties.
Referring to investiagtions in the engineeer murder case, Mayawati claimed the bereaved family has expressed satisfaction over the government action and assured that her government would not allow the case to die down till all those involved are punished. Questioning the opposition parties' demand for a CBI inquiry into the killing when stern action has already been taken, Mayawati said the opposition was "projecting as if the government had something to hide when all the facts have been presented the people".
"We have nothing to hide and have presented all relevant facts before the people to the extent that even the ruling party MLA has been arrested along with some others", she said adding NSA and Gangsters Act have been invoked against them. Earlier, Centre had said it was ready to order a CBI probe into the killing of the PWD engineer allegedly by a BSP MLA and his supporters if the same was recommended by the Uttar Pradesh government.
"If the UP government recommends a CBI probe into the killing of engineer M K Gupta in Auraiya, the Centre will order a CBI probe into the matter," Union Minister of State for Home and an MP from the city Sriprakash Jaiswal told reporters here. He said that invoking the provisions of the National Security Act (NSA) and the Gangster Act on prime accused BSP MLA Shekhar Tiwari was just a "face saving" exercise of the state government.
"The nation wants to know that why the BSP give tickets to criminals and make them MPs and MLAs. The image of a leader is very important in a democracy and political parties should refrain from giving tickets to tainted persons who abuse their posts later," Jaiswal said.
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Source :
Punjab Mail Online
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News Date :
December 2
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New Delhi December 28:
It was meant to be a swift and airtight investigative effort after India opened all doors of cooperation with US investigators.
As it turns out, a convinced US did ask Pakistan for access to Lashkar-e-Toiba operations chief Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi and communications in-charge Zarar Shah but has heard nothing positive on the request, leaving India frustrated and disappointed.
A concerned Bush Administration has rushed in to assure India that it is still serious about the effort. With Pakistan desperately waiting for the US to schedule a donor’s conference involving the Friends of Pakistan in January, Washington has signalled to New Delhi that it does retain leverage. India, however, remains sceptical given the nature of the US reliance on Pakistan in the war against Terror and the extent to which Washington will hold out on Islamabad’s desperation.
New Delhi does have its reasons for the frustration. FBI investigators concluded their efforts in India and recovered a wealth of information from the communication equipment recovered from the 10 terrorists, all of which lead to Pakistan. In this context, Zarar Shah is one person US investigators singled out quite early and wanted to confront and interrogate.
In fact, it’s learnt that this was one name US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice brought up first when she visited India and Pakistan in the first week of this month. She is said to have made this clear to authorities in Islamabad too. Once the UN formally proscribed Jamaat-ud-Dawa in the subsequent days, Pakistan did say it detained Lakhvi and Shah.
This is when the request was formally re-emphasized but Islamabad has shown no signs of cooperation thereafter and, instead, had diverted the issue by resorting to an orchestrated war propaganda. According to what US had told India, Lakhvi and Shah were just the beginning and the FBI wanted to move step-by-step with a thorough investigative effort that exposed the entire link which conceived, planned, controlled and executed the strike that killed over 180 people, including six US citizens.
While not doubting Washington’s sincerity in trying to locate the perpetrators, India feels there is a “fundamental disconnect” in expecting cooperation from the Pakistani government, particularly security elements, whose own role is clouded by several questions. However, officials concede that the deteriorating economic situation of Pakistan does allow US to apply the squeeze to quite an extent.
On November 17, at the meeting of the newly created Friends of Pakistan that includes US, UK, China, Germany, France, Saudi Arabia, UAE among others, Pakistan asked for $60 billion to give an impetus to its entire economy including developmental projects in FATA and NWFP. While IMF did release $7.6 billion in November to Pakistan, the amount is not enough and Islamabad needs a massive bailout effort. This explains India’s diplomatic efforts with Saudi Arabia and the upcoming visit of UAE Foreign Minister. A GCC meeting is also slated in January first week where the Mumbai attacks is likely to come up in the context of Pakistan.
Critical to the bailout are investments in the energy sector for which Washington has scheduled some expert meetings. Sources said Islamabad is expecting the Bush Administration to announce a large donor’s conference soon to approve some cash flow before its demits office. But there has been no announcement yet, which many say has Islamabad very nervous.
Despite all this, the broad consensus in India is that US will not be able to succeed if it continues to see Pakistan as an ally in the war and hence, a country which is entitled to these bailout packages. The strategic community here is veering to the view that India has to deliver a clear message to US that in the long run, the better option would be to work in partnership with Russia using supply routes from there than to depend on Pakistan.
This thinking, which is also gaining acceptability in official circles here, is that Pakistan Army’s duplicity must be exposed and in that sense, the route from the Caucasus and Russia would ensure greater success. This paradigm shift, sources said, is worth considering for the US while it weighs options on how far it can push Pakistan to deliver on the Mumbai attacks.
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Source :
Punjab Mail Online
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News Date :
December 2
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Islamabad December 28:
Striking a conciliatory note after the war rhetoric of the past few days, Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari, accepted that Pakistan has its own problems and needs to fight it out on its own.
Speaking at a function to commemorate Benazir Bhutto’s first death anniversary, he admitted that Pakistan has non-state actors operating on its soil, and pledged to continue fighting them. Zardari told the gathering that included senior ministers and legislators that Pakistan would act to rein in extremists "because we want to do it", and not because "you want it" apparently referring to countries putting pressure on it to take action in the wake of Mumbai terror attacks.
Accepting that Pakistan had the "cancer" of extremism, Zardari said, “These non-state actors are forcing an agenda on us and falling victim to them will cause instability.” Commenting on Pakistan’s internal condition Zardari commented, “Pakistan is not a failed state; we are determined to rid the country of extremism or terrorism.” However, he cautioned India not to dictate the course of action.
In a reference to the US and India, Zardari said, "I want to tell the oldest democracy and the largest democracy of the world--listen to us, learn from us. We have experiences to share with you. We have lost our people-we do not talk about war, we do not talk about vengeance as the whole region will suffer in case of war.”
Without directly naming India but in an obvious reference to it, the President said, "in case there are people in the region who feel that they want to test our mettle, I would like to tell them that this mettle has been tested many times. Please do not test it again." The President said, "Every tragedy is an opportunity. Today the world is looking at us. the world is engaged with us. We have shortcomings. We need more help."
He expressed the view that solution to the problems of the region is dialogue and democracy in Pakistan because democracy is "part of the cure and not part of the problem." Acknowledging that Pakistan had "weaknesses", Zardari said, "we intend to overcome our weaknesses but we shall do it in our own time and not on your demarche." "We will do it at an opportune time, right time. We will choose our time," he added. However, Pakistan President made a strong statement by saying that, “He is ready to sacrifice more lives for the country.”
Zardari, reiterated his faith in the diplomacy between the two nations to bring down tensions and bring about a peaceful environment across the border by adding that, “Dialogue is our biggest arsenal and it is the only solution to diffuse problem.”
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Source :
Punjab Mail Online
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News Date :
December 2
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New Delhi December 28:
Unmindful of the advisory by government against going to Pakistan, scores of Indians travelled to the neighbouring country by Delhi-Lahore bus and Thar Express with a hope that the current chill will go and ties will improve.
The situation should not be allowed to worsen and Pakistani Government should hand over to India the terrorists found to be involved in the Mumbai carnage, was the common refrain of passengers a day after India issued the advisory. "Pakistan should hand over terrorists if it knows they are from Pakistan. If they cannot catch the terrorists, they should discuss it with India," said a women passenger of Thar Express before it left the Jodhpur station for Khokrapar in Pakistan.
Over 300 passengers, including 260 Pakistanis, were onboard the Thar Express train which left the Jodhpur in Rajasthan early. A Pakistani national said he came to India to take his relatives to Pakistan thinking that the situation has worsened. "But there is nothing like that and my people have told me that it would be wrong to leave India." Another women traveller said people in Pakistan too should ask Islamabad to handover the people wanted by India so that both the countries can live in peace.
"I want all Muslims across India and Pakistan to tell the Pakistani Government to handover the people wanted by India so that both the country can live in peace and ensure that Pakistan's reputation is not spoilt," she said.
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Source :
Punjab Mail Online
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News Date :
December 2
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Srinagar December 28:
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which is set to become the second largest party in the state Assembly, is willing to form an alliance with a party which agrees to have a common minimum programme with it.
"If we are going to have an alliance with whichever party, we are going to have an agenda of common minimum programme. Whether we together agree or not is the most important thing to us. Power comes secondary," said PDP president Mehbooba Mufti. Asked if the PDP was willing to tie up with the Congress, she said: "they are not in touch with us. We have not decided anything. If the CMP does not work out, we would like to sit in the Opposition."
Mehbooba said the common minimum programme her party had with the Congress in 2002 was even appreciated by BJP leader Atal Bihari Vajpayee. "In 2002, we sat together and we had a CMP, where the healing touch policy became the lead. It was even appreciated by Atal Bihari Vajpayee. We brought out a turn in the whole situation."
Mehbooba, who won from Wachi seat, said the record voter turnout in the state must not be misinterpreted. "Jammu and Kashmir is not like any other state because over 60 per cent of people voted. It is not the end of the road. The people here have different aspirations and ambitions," she said.
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Source :
Punjab Mail Online
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News Date :
December 2
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Kolkata December 28:
The people of Jammu and Kashmir have voted against divisive politics and for parties with national perspective, which was a pointer to the future, the CPI(M) said on Sunday.
"Despite all efforts at communal polarisation, it clearly shows the parties with national perspective and not those fed on communal divide or regional divide have done well," CPI(M) Politburo member Sitaram Yechuri said here. "This is a big relief and good pointer to the future," Yechuri, a Rajya Sabha MP, said.
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Source :
Punjab Mail Online
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News Date :
December 2
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New Delhi December 28:
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress President Sonia Gandhi on Sunday hailed the Jammu and Kashmir elections as a vote for national integration and democracy.
While the Prime Minister said the vote was for national integration and democracy, Gandhi said the election was a "lesson to be learnt by our neighbours", an apparent reference to Pakistan.
"It does not matter who wins, what matters is the people of the valley, people of Jammu and people of Jammu and Kashmir have expressed their faith in the democratic system. It is a lesson to be learnt by our neighbours," Gandhi told reporters on the sidelines of the Congress Foundation Day celebrations here.
Singh, who was also present at the celebration said, "The large turnout is a vote for democracy. It is a vote for national integration. Therefore, we are all happy." The beaming Congress President added, "From the very beginning, I wanted the election to be held on time. I am glad that it has."
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Source :
Punjab Mail Online
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News Date :
December 2
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Jammu December 28
The BJP on Sunday admitted that the Amarnath land row has paid it rich dividends in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections.
"Definitely, the Amarnath land issue was important. We were party to the (Amarnath Sangharsh) Samiti," senior BJP leader and former Union Minister Chaman Lal Gupta said when asked if BJP's performance in elections to the 87 constituencies was helped by the land issue, especially in Jammu region.
Attacking the PDP, he said, "PDP has behaved as an anti-national party. The then government of which PDP and Congress were part was not behaving like a government. People felt the government's functioning was very dangerous." Gupta, who was a Union Minister of State of Defence during 2002-2004 in BJP-led NDA government at Centre, said the party was ready to sit in the opposition bench.
Earlier, taking a dig at the BJP, National Conference President Omar Abdullah had said, "The BJP should thank Azad and PDP since they have brought BJP back in reckoning in the State." Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad too hit out at the BJP, saying the "rise" of the saffron party was a worrying sign in the State.
"It does worry me. These trends are the outcome of unfortunate things (that) happened in July and August. The question is that secularism is getting shrunk at the cost of development," Azad said adding that it should be a "worry for each and every Indian".
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Source :
Punjab Mail Online
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News Date :
December 2
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Srinagar December 28
National Conference, which is emerging as the single largest party in Jammu and Kashmir Assembly, on Sunday said it will approach the Congress for forming a coalition government.
"Yes, if the current trends of leads in 27 seats hold momentum, we will approach the Congress which is a like-minded party. We will approach the Congress to form the government," party President Omar Abdullah said. Asked earlier as to whom the National Conference would like to see as a coalition partner in future government, Omar, said "personally, I will prefer to have an alliance with the Congress.
"It is for them (Congress) to think whom they want as an ally, considering their past experience with PDP. During the previous PDP-Congress alliance, it was PDP which was benefitted and it was BJP which was benefitted at the cost of Congress in Jammu," he said. The NC chief said the people of Jammu and Kashmir have voted for a coalition government and NC and the Congress are the only two parties "which cannot sacrifice the interests of people for petty politics".
The NC leader said his party would not have any truck with any party "which talked about breaking up Kashmir". Ruling out a tie-up with BJP, Abdullah said his party would prefer to sit in the opposition rather than forming a government with the saffron party.
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Source :
Punjab Mail Online
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News Date :
December 2
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New Delhi December 28:
As BJP gained in Jammu region, Congress on Sunday said the controversy over the transfer of land to Amarnath shrine cost the party heavily in the region.
"Amarnath land row cost us dearly. It is an emotive issue and it took place just before the elections...Had the land row not been there, we could have swept the polls," AICC General Secretary Prithviraj Chavan told reporters here. The Congress leader hoped that the party would be able to retain 20 seats which it had won in the last elections.
"We contested a hard election. The Congress is there to stay in the state," Chavan said. Asked with whom would the party go with in forming the next government, he said "options are open. It will be a coalition government." Chavan said that the Congress-led coalition government in the state had launched several developmental works and wants to continue it.
"We thank the people of Jammu and Kashmir and their participation in the elections prove their faith in democracy and our neighbours should learn a lesson from it," Chavan added. Congress leader Salman Khurshid said there was a "clear idea" of a hung assembly and everyone was prepared for it. "Looking at this, homework already would have been done."
"We have learnt from our experience and that would be apparent in the decision that we take in few days from now," he said. Asked about the possible coalition partner for Congress if it emerges as the single largest party, he said "we are known to both PDP and National Conference."
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Source :
Punjab Mail Online
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News Date :
December 2
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New Delhi December 28
In an apparent hint as to who would be the Chief Minister in case the National Conference comes to power in Jammu and Kashmir, party chief Farooq Abdullah on Sunday said he "prefers" to sit in Parliament.
"I would rather be in Parliament," he told reporters here when asked if Omar or him would be the Chief Minister if the party forms the government. Interestingly, the party had earlier projected Abdullah senior as its chief ministerial candidate during the elections to the 87-member assembly.
Meanwhile, paving the way for himself, NC President Omar Abdullah left the memories of the bitter defeat in the 2002 assembly elections behind and retained his party's traditional seat of Ganderbal defeating his nearest rival of PDP, Qazi Mohammed Afzal against whom he had lost the previous polls. Asked who would be the next Chief Minister, Omar said a final decision would be taken later.
He said that in case of a hung assembly, the party would prefer to have an alliance with the Congress. "Personally, I will prefer to have an alliance with the Congress," Omar said when asked whom his party would like to see as a coalition partner in the future government.
Ruling out any possibility of having a tie-up with BJP, Omar said his party would prefer to sit in the opposition rather than forming a government with the saffron party. The NC was a part of the A B Vajpayee-led NDA government. Omar said the NC would try to get the support of the independent MLAs first before mulling other options.
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Source :
Punjab Mail Online
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News Date :
December 2
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Srinagar December 28:
The National Conference on Sunday appeared to be emerging as the single largest party in a fractured verdict in the Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections in which Congress looked to be the king maker.
With results of five seats already out, the NC headed by Omar Abdullah has won three seats and was ahead in 23 of the 87 seats for which counting of votes was taken up on Sunday. Omar Abdullah, seen as a prospective Chief Minister in a possible coalition government, himself won by a margin of 3,600 votes from Ganderbal, where he was defeated in 2002. 38-year-old Omar said his preference would be to align with Congress in case NC was to form a government.
PDP, the erstwhile ally of Congress in the dissolved Assembly, was leading in 20 seats. Its patron Mufti Mohammed Sayeed won from Anantnag by 5,000 votes. The party had 16 seats in the dissolved Assembly, all from the valley. Congress, which holds the key to next Government formation, was leading in 16 seats, suffering a setback mainly due to the BJP surge in the Jammu region. In the last elections, Congress held 20 seats and shared power with PDP. 'Others' were ahead in 11 seats.
Former Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad declined to go into which party the Congress would support in forming the government but felt it could ally with anyone who would help in combating terrorism. After the 2002 polls, by a rotation formula, PDP headed the government for the first three years and the Congress for the next three years which was cut short towards the end when PDP withdrew support on the Amarnath issue.
Having played the spoiler for Congress, the BJP said it would not support Congress, NC or PDP in government formation and would prefer to sit in the opposition. Cashing on the Amarnath land row, BJP was ahead in 11 seats having done well in the Jammu region compared to its lone victory in the last elections. The Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party, headed by Bhim Singh, which had four seats in the last elections, is ahead in three and the CPI (M) is ahead in the lone seat it held earlier.
Omar Abdullah said the NC would try to get the support of independent MLAs first before mulling other options. The Congress preferred to keep the cards close to its chest on what its strategy would be as the trends emerged. AICC General Secretary Prithviraj Chavan said in New Delhi that Congress would not take the initiative to form a Government if it did not emerge as the single largest party.
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Source :
Punjab Mail Online
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News Date :
December 2
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New Delhi December 28:
India's pace spearhead Zaheer Khan has credited his return to form after months in wilderness to a reduced run-up, which he says has helped him become fitter and consistent.
"I think a major difference in my career has been my readiness to cut down on my run-up. My reduced run-up, without sacrificing on my leap at the point of delivery, has both improved my rhythm and fitness," Zaheer told reporters.
Zaheer has a new-found status of being a dreaded swing bowler and has his opponents numb with clever bouncers and one that straightens after pitching. The left-arm paceman had successive averages of 37.40, 44.00 and 43.18 in his last three series prior to the recent one against England and only one five-wicket haul in his last 12 Tests but even without many wickets, he has enhanced his reputation.
His opponents dread his exaggerated reverse swing, a factor which was enough to win him his first man of the series award on home soil with returns of eight wickets at 21 runs apiece in the two-Test series against England. Most are now inclined to compare him with the legendary Wasim Akram of Pakistan in his prime.
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Source :
Punjab Mail Online
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News Date :
December 2
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Mumbai December 28:
With the inflation declining even below the RBI's comfort levels, the Reserve Bank is likely to cut the lending rate for banks and reduce the amount banks need to keep with the Central Bank 'anytime from now' to support demand, bankers have said.
"A 0.5-1 per cent cut in the reverse repo rate could be expected anytime now following the sharp decline in inflation numbers. This would be needed to support the falling demand in different sectors owing to a global economic slow down," HDFC Bank's Deputy Head of Treasury Ashish Parthasarathy told reporters here. The Reserve Bank had revised its key rates several times in 2008 to balance the liquidity conditions in the system, besides supporting the economic growth momentum.
It slashed the Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR), the percentage of amount banks need to park with the Central Bank by 3.5 per cent to 5.5 per cent from nine per cent besides cutting the repo, reverse repo rates to 6.5 per cent and five per cent respectively. Echoing a similar view, Vijaya Bank's Executive Director, K C Kalia said the Central Bank is expected to reduce its key rates by 0.5-1 per cent in the near future in view of the slow down in different sectors.
"A one per cent cut in repo, reverse repo rates are likely with the inflation declining to 6.61 per cent. I expect this to happen in the near term," Kalia said.
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Source :
Punjab Mail Online
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News Date :
December 2
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New Delhi December 28:
Sports Minister MS Gill on Sunday mourned the passing away of two-time Olympian Sahu Mewalal, describing the Indian soccer legend as his "boyhood hero".
In his condolence message to Mewalal's family, Gill said, "As a school boy, I was present when Mewalal's magic goal won India the first Asian Games final at the National Stadium in Delhi. As a Sports Minister, I wanted to visit Kolkata and meet him. He remained my boyhood hero." Gill said Mewalal's death was a personal tragedy for him. "Mewalal was a great footballer and I salute him," the Sports Minister said.
Mewalal, who guided India to 1951 Asian Games title with his solitary goal, died at a Kolkata hospital late Friday night following illness. He was 82 and is survived by his 64-year-old wife Laxmi Devi Lal, a son and two daughters.
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Source :
Punjab Mail Online
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News Date :
December 2
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Ferzoepur December 28:
Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal asked the Union government to build an unconditional consensus against terrorism and not to walk into Pakistan's trap of creating war hysteria.
"Punjabis will fully back any move including war, to foil the nefarious designs of enemies of the country against our unity and integrity," he said. "But we must not allow Pakistan to paint us as the aggressors especially when the whole world knows that the Mumbai terror strikes were an act of aggression against our country.
Winning on the diplomatic fronts is as important as winning on the war front", said Badal, while addressing a series of public rallies at Talwandi Bhai at Ferozepur Cantonment and Ferozepur City as a part of his development tour to project state's development. The Chief Minister said "Punjabis have always remained and will remain in the fore front of our mutual efforts to defend the country.
We have made maximum sacrifices for the cause of the nation and so long as Punjabis are leading from the front, no enemy can hope to attack our country and get away it. We know how to give a befitting reply to the enemy but we never believe being the first to start the war".
The Chief Minister called upon the Centre to evolve a special package for the development of border areas of the state to compensate the people which had been badly affected due to Indo-Pak war since 1947. He also said that the Centre should enhance financial grant for the cities and towns of the state under Border Area Development Project.
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Source :
Punjab Mail Online
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News Date :
December 2
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Attari December 28:
Very few passengers from India are boarding the bus service from here to Lahore and Nankana Sahib in Pakistan and the numbers are likely to go down further with the Ministry of External Affairs issuing a travel advisory asking Indians not to travel to Pakistan.
Started in 2006, the Amritsar-Lahore and Amritsar-Nankana Sahib (the birthplace of Sikhism founder Guru Nanak Dev) bus services have never been a big hit with people due to the lack of a facility for obtaining Pakistani visas from here. Passengers still have to get the visa from the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi.
'The number of passengers from here is sometimes as low as two or three. The bus service is not really a hit. More people travel from the Pakistan side,' a transport official at the international bus stand here told reporters. Most of those travelling on the bus from here are Pakistani nationals going back. Only a few Indians, especially businessmen from here, use the service.
'I use the bus to travel to Lahore for business purposes,' leading exporter to Pakistan Rajdeep Uppal told reporters. The Samjhauta Express peace train between both countries that runs between Lahore and Attari station, 30 km from here, too is seeing a drop in passengers from India in recent weeks. 'Most of those returning on the train from here are Pakistani nationals. After the Mumbai terror attack, the number of passengers has reduced. With the latest travel advisory, the figure will further go down,' an immigration official at Attari station said.
The train runs from Attari to Lahore twice a week - on Monday and Thursday. Most passengers boarding the peace train actually come on the Samjhauta link train from Delhi to Attari. The Samjhauta link train was targeted February last year by miscreants and the blasts set two bogies of the moving train on fire near Panipat city in Haryana. Sixty-seven people, mostly Pakistani nationals, were burnt to death in the incident.
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Source :
Punjab Mail Online
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News Date :
December 2
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Mumbai December 28:
The identification parade of Mohammad Ajmal Amir Iman, the lone terrorist caught alive in the November 26 terror attack, continued for the second day on Sunday at the high security Arthur Road Jail where Ajmal was shifted.
Officials of the Government Railway Police (GRP) and RPF visited the jail as witnesses to identify Ajmal. In the wee hours of Saturday, Ajmal was shifted from the lock-up at the Mumbai police headquarters in south Mumbai to the Arthur Road jail. According sources, the identification parade would be carried out over the next few days and around 33 witnesses have been lined up by the Mumbai crime branch against Ajmal.
The process would be conducted in the presence of a magistrate. Police officials said officers who had intercepted Ajmal and his slain partner Ismail Khan at Girgaum Chowpatty and officials from Cama hospital that was also attacked by the duo visited the jail. Police constable Arun Kumar Jadhav, who was the only one to survive the ambush that killed three senior police officials including ATS chief Hemant Karkare, will be one of the prime witnesses.
Another witness in the case is Maruti Madhavrao Phad, a government driver who witnessed the terrorists firing at the three police officers. S R Arasa, the owner of the Skoda car which was hijacked by the duo will also be called for the identification parade. Last Wednesday, Ajmal was remanded to police custody till January 6.
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Source :
Punjab Mail Online
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News Date :
December 2
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New Delhi December 28:
Even after reaping a good electoral harvest crossing the double-digit mark for the first time in the Jammu and Kashmir assembly, BJP said it would sit in the opposition to consolidate the "nationalist forces" ahead of the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections.
The saffron party has even ruled out exploring possibilities of supporting any of the political parties trying to form a government in the state. "We, in the BJP, have reason to be happy about the outcome in Jammu and Kashmir. We have done exceedingly well in Jammu and got the highest number of seats than in the past. We will play the role of a nationalist opposition in assembly," BJP general secretary Arun Jaitley said.
BJP leaders said the polarisation of votes between Kashmir valley and Jammu region has helped it increase its tally from one in the last assembly elections to 10 this time. The party will capitalise on its achievement and consolidate nationalist forces for the Lok Sabha elections slated for next year, they said. "This support of the people in the state will prove to be a milestone in the coming Lok Sabha elections," BJP vice-president Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi told reporters.
The party maintained a safe distance from Congress, PDP and National Conference terming the three as being "soft on terror and of sympathising with the separatists". Earlier, Naqvi had ruled out an alliance with these parties saying, "All three of them are directly or indirectly supporting separatists and terrorists." BJP said it will keep alive the issue of "discrimination" by the Kashmir Valley against people of other regions in Jammu and Kashmir. "We will fight against discrimination of any region of the state, especially Leh, Ladakh and Jammu," Arun Jaitley said.
During the Amarnath shrine land allotment agitation in September this year, BJP had said it will take up as poll plank the "step-brotherly treatment" given to the Jammu region by Kashmir allegedly due to its more share of the development funds by virtue of having more assembly seats. Kashmir Valley has 46 assembly seats while Jammu has 37. The ploy seems to have worked with BJP increasing its seat tally from one in the last assembly to 11 in this year's polls. All seats have come from the Jammu region.
Economic development and good governance, two of BJP's ever favourite poll planks, were on its radar here too. BJP sees the impressive above 60 per cent turnout of voters in the state as a good sign and something which has worked in its favour. "We are happy that the people of Jammu and Kashmir came out in large numbers to vote and the separatist call of boycott was rejected by them," Jaitley said.
On PDP's win of only 20 seats, the BJP said the party's standing has come down because of the "public anger at PDP for supporting the separatists during the Amarnath agitation".
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Source :
Punjab Mail Online
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News Date :
December 2
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Islamabad December 28:
Expressing disappointment at the deteriorating ties between the two countries after the Mumbai terror attacks, Indians visiting Pakistan are rushing back home well before their visas expire.
One such person who changed her plans was Indian national Haleema, who travelled to Pakistan by the Thar Express train to meet her brother living in Karachi after a gap of 45 years. "I wanted to see my brother before I died and the Thar Express provided me the chance to do that. I wanted to stay here for at least two months and spend time with my brother's family but now I have to leave," she told media.
Several other Indians who travelled to Sindh by the Thar Express to visit relatives in Pakistan are making their way back home well before their visas expire because of tensions in the wake of the Mumbai terror attacks, which India has blamed on the Pakistan-based elements like the Lashkar-e-Taiba terror group. Some Pakistani families have already cancelled plans to travel to India.
Farzana, a resident of Korangi in Karachi, was born in Uttar Pradesh. She married a Pakistani relative 15 years ago and wanted to visit her birthplace along with her mother who was also in this country. However, the tensions between the two countries forced her to reconsider her travel plans and she has cancelled her tickets. "I had planned on going to Uttar Pradesh to visit my birthplace with my mother but my husband is not allowing me to go in view of the current situation," said a visibly disappointed Farzana.
The situation may have forced Farzana to cancel her plans of travelling to India but her mother remained adamant on going to the neighbouring country. "My mother refused to cancel the tickets, she says that she's on her deathbed and wants to see her relatives before she dies," Farzana said as she saw off her mother at the Cantonment Railway Station in Karachi.
Farzana's mother was not the only one. Several other families came to the railway station to board the Thar Express on Friday. Their relatives, who gathered to see them off, had tears in their eyes as the uncertainty of their return played on their minds. Many people expressed disappointment at the worsening of ties between India and Pakistan. "The people of both countries are against war. I have been to India twice and people there treat me with respect," said Amjad Ali Khan, a resident of Karachi, before leaving for India with his younger brother.
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Source :
Punjab Mail Online
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News Date :
December 2
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Koderma December 28:
Calling for demolition of terror camps operating on Pakistani soil, India reminded the neighbouring country of its commitment not to allow terrorist activities, but said no ultimatum has been given to Islamabad to act.
Stating that Pakistan had made a commitment that it would not allow its territory to be used for terrorist activities, External Affairs minister Pranab Mukherjee asked Islamabad to take steps and demolish terrorist camps there. Denying any ultimatum being set for Pakistan to act, he said, "no ultimatum was set. There is no question of any ultimatum. Nobody has set any ultimatum."
Asserting that India would share whatever information Pakistan required once investigations were over, Mukherjee said Pakistan should admit that the terrorists involved in the Mumbai terrorist attack came from there. "If all these things are done, then there is no problem at all," he said. He said "not once, but twice Pakistan had made a commitment. Once by Musharraf and now by President Zardari. Where is the commitment? Where is the action against terrorists?" Mukherjee asked.
"We have evidence and gave the names, not once but ten times. Pakistan had earlier accepted that the perpetrators of Mumbai attack emanated from there. But now they are contradicting it," Mukherjee said here. Regretting Pakistan's U-turn on Maulana Masood Azhar's arrest, he said "the Pakistan defence minister had earlier said that the Jaish chief was under house arrest.
"Now some others say he is not in Pakistan. who is telling the truth? It is Pakistan which has to tell that," Mukherjee said. Stating that he had spoken to the foreign ministers of the US, Saudi Arabia and China, the minister said "merely creating war hysteria without taking any action would not serve any purpose."
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Source :
Punjab Mail Online
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News Date :
December 2
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