Nation

US to contribute to PM's relief fund

wali — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 22:35:15 +0530

The United States on Thursday said that it would contribute Rs 40 lakh to Prime Minister's National relief Fund for assistance to victims of the recent floods in Bihar.

In a statement, US Ambassador to India David C Mulford offered his condolences to the families of those killed in the disaster.

The United States is ready to provide further support as needed, he said.

At least 55 people have so far lost their lives while over 25 lakh people in 15 districts have been hit by the impact of one of the worst floods in recent memory with the worst hit being Araria, Supaul, Madhepura and Saharsa.

Revised text of the draft India waiver ready

wali — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 22:15:37 +0530

The revised text of the draft India waiver to be considered at next week's NSG meeting is ready with some changes being incorporated in it, sources said in New Delhi on Thursday.

The Indian side is expected to examine the draft in a day or two to give its clearance for its introduction at the September 4-5 meeting of the Nuclear Suppliers Group depending on whether its objective of "unconditional" exemption is ensured.

In the draft, the US is believed to have attempted to strike a balance between addressing the concerns of the sceptic nations and ensuring that it is free of conditionalities.

Though India has held preliminary discussions with the US over revision of the draft, it will be keen to see that the revised document does not contain any language or elements that would bind it in lieu of the waiver.

Foreign Secretary Shivshankar Menon, who is in Washington, has held discussions with US Under Secretary of State William Burns on the draft soon after several NSG members at the August 21-22 meeting sought changes in it to address their non-proliferation concerns.

India has been insisting on an "unconditional" waiver and made it clear that it would walk away if the waiver was found to bind it.

Around 15 countries particularly New Zealand, Austria, Switzerland and Norway have voiced apprehensions over grant of waiver to India since it has strategic nuclear programme despite which it is not a signatory to the NPT.

At the last NSG meeting in Vienna, the sceptic countries suggested at least 50 amendments to the draft to make it acceptable to them.

To ensure smooth sailing at the September 4-5 meeting of the NSG, the US is continuing lobbying efforts to convince the apprehensive countries about the initiative for India.

As part of these efforts, US Ambassador David Mulford has been meeting envoys of New Zealand, Switzerland, The Netherlands, Norway and Austria which have reservation to grant of exemption.

PM assures Christian group of normalcy in Orissa

wali — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 21:57:03 +0530

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Thursday assured a Christian delegation that "every effort" would be made to restore normalcy in Orissa which has been rocked by the communal violence in the wake of the killing of VHP leader.

The assurance was given to the delegation which quoted the Prime Minister as having described the incidents in Orissa as a "national shame".

The delegation met Singh seeking his intervention to maintain peace and ensure safety of Christians in the state.

"The Prime Minister termed the incidents as a national shame. He said whatever has happened should not have happened," CBCI spokesperson Babu Joseph quoted Singh as telling the delegation.

A PMO spokesman said the Prime Minister told the Catholic Bishops Conference of India that the Centre was in touch with the state government and "every effort" would be made to restore normalcy in the state.

Singh also spoke to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and requested him to take immediate steps in this direction and also provide immediate relief to violence-affected people, particularly children.

The delegation sought the Prime Minister's intervention and demanded a CBI inquiry into the violent incidents.

The Prime Minister also assured the delegation that adequate compensation will be given to the victims of the violence from his relief fund, Joseph, who was part of the eight-member delegation, said.

Singh said every citizen has the right to live in the country peacefully.

The CBCI spokesman said they demanded adequate relief and rehabilitation for the affected people.

UN HCHR's comments on J-K 'unwarranted': India

wali — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 20:42:39 +0530

India on Thursday reacted strongly to the comments by UN High Commission for Human Rights (HCHR) on the situation in Jammu and Kashmir, terming these as "unwarranted" and "irresponsible" and bluntly told that New Delhi does not need "any advice".

New Delhi pointed out to the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) that terrorists have been targeting innocent people in the state, like in Jammu on Wednesday, and the security forces have been making efforts to ensure that no innocent lives are lost and in this endeavour laid down their lives.

"We regret that the OHCHR has issued a statement on the situation in Jammu and Kashmir. This is uncalled for and irresponsible," External Affairs Ministry spokesman Navtej Sarna said in New Delhi.

"India does not need any advice in respect of the protection and promotion of human rights of its citizens," he asserted.

The UN body, in its first comment since protests and violence erupted over Amarnath land transfer issue in Jammu and Kashmir, voiced concern over civilian casualties and asked India to conduct "a thorough and independent investigation" into all the incidents.

Sarna said the OHCHR should be aware that Jammu and Kashmir has been a "victim of terrorist violence" for almost two decades and all through this period, the authorities have acted within the law and with restraint.

"Terrorist groups have targeted innocent civilians. They have not refrained from taking women and children as hostages as in the recent incident in Jammu," the MEA spokesman said.

"In all their actions against terrorists, personnel of the security forces have sought to ensure that no innocent lives are lost and for this objective have on many occasions laid down their lives," Sarna said.

The sharp reaction came after OHCHR asked Indian authorities, to "respect the right to freedom of assembly and expression" and "comply with international human rights principles in controlling protests."

The use of force, it said, should be proportionate to the threat posed and firearms should only be used in dispersing a violent assembly to protect individuals against imminent threat of death or serious injury.

Calling on the demonstrators to use only peaceful means, OCHCR said, "leaders of the different protesting groups have a responsibility to ensure that demonstrations are peaceful and that the demonstrators are not carrying sticks, guns or other weapons and refrain from intimidation."

Raj backs off after HC talks tough on signboard diktat

wali — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 19:43:40 +0530

Raj Thackeray on Thursday backed off from his threat to shopowners over the Marathi signboards issue after the Bombay High Court stepped in to restrain the MNS chief and his supporters from indulging in violence, observing that nobody can "hold the people to ransom".

The court observation appeared to have a salutory effect on Raj, who said he would be happy if the BMC and the Government implemented an old rule stipulating mandatory signboards in Marathi.

"We don't have any desire to take to the street just like that. I will be happy if the Government strictly implements the provision for mandatory Marathi signboards", Raj told reporters shortly after the High Court gave relief to thousands of shopkeepers from threats by the MNS.

"I have appealed for peace", Raj said, replying to a query over his earlier 'warning' to shopowners over the signboards issue.

The court in response to an application filed by a few traders' associations restrained Raj and MNS members from "in any manner whatsoever disturbing" the traders in the city from carrying on their business activity, defacing or damaging their business property and assaulting or threatening them.

Justices J N Patel and K K Tated also restrained Raj personally from giving any provocative or intimidating public speech regarding the issue of Marathi signboards.

Federation of Retail Traders Welfare Associations, along with others, had approached the High Court after the MNS chief warned shopowners to put Marathi signboards by August 28 failing which they would be taught a lesson.

The court also ordered police commissioners of Mumbai and Thane to take 'effective steps' to safeguard the petitioners and to protect them from any act of violence by MNS workers.

Congress set to tie-up with SP in UP

wali — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 19:05:24 +0530

With Rahul Gandhi in attendance, a crucial meeting of the Congress in Uttar Pradesh on Thursday favoured an electoral tie-up with its new-found ally Samajwadi Party in the next Lok Sabha elections.

"The Uttar Pradesh Coordination Committee, which was addressed among others by Rahul Gandhi, was unanimous in supporting the tie-up with the Samajwadi Party," Congress General Secretary and in-charge for Uttar Pradesh, Digvijay Singh told reporters in Allahabad after the meeting.

He said modalities of the proposed tie-up with SP will be decided at a meeting in New Delhi on August 30 or 31. He asserted that seat-sharing will be "on a pragmatic basis, keeping in mind the 'winnability' of the candidates".

Singh Gandhi, an MP from Amethi in the state, has favoured "bringing all like-minded secular forces together in order to fight the communal elements" but declined to state which other parties the Congress intends to align with.

When asked about the party's decision to go along with SP, a bitter rival until recently when it rescued the Congress-led coalition government in Lok Sabah, Singh said "this reminds us of the old quote from Winston Churchill that there are no permanent friends or enemies in politics".

Commenting on SP's insistence on extending the pre-poll alliance beyond UP, Singh said "today's meeting focused solely on Uttar Pradesh".

Singh said the party has decided to "raise its voice over the BSP government's failure to provide relief to the flood-affected areas."

Congress President Sonia Gandhi will address a Kisan rally on September 13 and the Congress will continue with its agitation against the unfair land acquisition policy of the government, he added.

COBRA to sting Naxal virus, govt clears new force

wali — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 18:47:08 +0530

Nearly a year after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had described Left-wing extremism as a "virus", a special anti-Naxal force - COBRA - has finally seen light of the day after remaining in bureaucratic wrangling for months.

The clearance to raise the 10,000-strong Combat Battalion for Resolute Action (COBRA), under the command and control of the CRPF, was given last evening by the Cabinet Committee on Security chaired by the Prime Minister.

It took nearly a year for the Union Home Ministry to translate the words of the Prime Minister into action.

Singh during his address to the top police brass last year in October had called for a special force to tackle Left-wing extremism.

Though the CRPF, which is in-charge of the internal security in the country, had submitted a proposal to the Ministry about creation of a dedicated force, the Home Ministry was still mulling over it till it pressure was exerted from relevant quarters for its immediate presentation before the Cabinet.

The 10,000 odd men in the COBRA unit will focus on "effectiveness and operational success" and they would be imparted exclusive training in the terrain and topography of the area of operation.

The new force will be set up at a cost of Rs 1,389.47 crore out of which Rs 898.12 crore will be spent on land and infrastructure while an an expenditure of Rs 491.35 crore will be made on manpower training over a period of three years.

The CRPF, in the meantime, will provide the manpower till the recruitment and the training process of the fresh 10 battalions were completed.

K Durga Prasad, a 1981 batch IPS officer from Andhra Pradesh, is likely to take charge of the COBRA force as he has an expertise in handling the anti-Left wing operations in his parent cadre.

The COBRA will be headquartered in the national capital and will have battalion headquarters in every Naxal-affected state.

Naxalites have carried out several attacks this year which includes gunning down of more than two dozen personnel of Andhra Pradesh's elite force "Greyhounds" last month, killing of Orissa police personnel, political leaders and their kin.

CPM hampers India’s development, says Dasmunsi

wali — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 18:21:18 +0530

Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi on Thursday alleged that the CPI(M) was against the Indo-US nuclear deal because it did not want India to have an edge over China.

"(The CPI-M) does not want India to go for the nuclear deal. But they do not have any objection to China going for the deal. Can they not be called agents?" Dasmunsi said at the 55th anniversary celebration of Chhatra Parishad, the student wing of Congress.

Recalling that the CPI(M) had opposed the move by the Rajiv Gandhi government to introduce computers in the country, Dasmunshi said the CPI(M)-led government in West Bengal was now wooing IT companies in the state.

"The CPI(M) has opposed India signing the GATT treaty and inclusion in the WTO. Now, even China has entered WTO and wants most favoured nation status from the US," he said, adding that since inclusion in the WTO, India's exports had increased by 12 times and was the second largest in the world after Japan.

Asserting that the nuke deal was absolutely necessary to meet India's energy requirement by 2012, he said the deal had been struck with the US after some scouting as it was found to have the required technology.

"Does the deal mean that we cannot make nuclear bombs? The answer is, we can. No one can influence our military strategy. The only condition is that we cannot send our reactors to any other country," he said.

Bihar CM seeks help from corporates to battle deluge

wali — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 18:00:32 +0530

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Thursday appealed to industrial houses, trade and business bodies, NGOs and other institutions to contribute generously towards relief and rescue operations and for reconstruction of areas devastated by floods.

"With its limited resources, the central and state governments are trying hard to meet the relief requirements of the flood-hit people," Kumar told reporters.

"But assessing the damage caused by the worst-ever deluge in the four districts of Araria, Supaul, Saharsa and Madhepura, support from other corners would come in handy for tackling the gigantic task of providing succour to the affected people in the wake of turbulent Kosi charting out a new course after breaching its embankment," he said.

Kumar appealed to the industrial houses, trade and business bodies, NGOs and financial institutions to "contribute generously in this hour of sorrow."

The chief minister said he had called an important meeting of leaders of all the political parties in Patna to seek their cooperation and support for the flood-hit population.

Kumar said he would meet the representatives of NGOs, business and trade organisations and other institutions and seek their cooperation.

Prosecutors drop 30 charges against India-born designer

wali — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 16:14:42 +0530

More than half of the 59 charges against India-born celebrity fashion designer Anand Jon have been dropped by the US prosecutors, just as the jury selection was set to begin in his trial for allegedly sexually assaulting aspiring models.

Prosecutors in Los Angeles announced that they were striking 30 of the 59 charges against the 34-year-old designer without specifying reasons for the move on Wednesday.

The decision to strike the counts, involving 10 of the 20 alleged victims, was made just as jury selection was set to get under way in Los Angeles County Superior Court.

Jon is a well-known figure in the celebrity fashion world and designed clothes for Paris Hilton, singer Mary J Blige and others. He was involved in the show "America's Next Top Model" and was planning to star in a reality TV show for VH1 about the fashion world.

Prosecutors with the LA County district attorney's office said they still have "a very strong case" against Jon, local media reported.

"These are the victims that prosecutors are electing to proceed with at this time," Jane Robison, a spokeswoman for the district attorney's office, was quoted as saying, adding that lawyers for the other alleged victims could move to reinstate the charges during trial.

The charges against Jon include forcible rape, lewd acts upon a child, contributing to the delinquency of a minor, sexual battery by restraint and attempted forcible oral copulation.

The alleged incidents occurred from August 2000 to March 5, 2007, prosecutors said. Many of the alleged assaults were said to have occurred in Jon's Beverly Hills condominium.

Jon's New York attorney, William Petrillo, said the prosecutors' choice to dismiss 30 charges confirms what he has been saying all along - that many of the cases against his client are weak.

"California seems to think half its witnesses are unbelievable," Petrillo was quoted as saying by Newsday.

Gloria Allred, a Los Angeles attorney who represents Natalie Pack, one of the women accusing Jon, said the Los Angeles charges involving Pack were dismissed.

However, she said she believes prosecutors are merely "streamlining" their case and expects that Pack will still have a role in the case against Jon, but did not say what.

The stricken charges involved 10 alleged victims aged 16-26. The remaining 29 charges involve another 10 alleged victims aged 14-21.

According to the New York-based designer's website, he has won numerous fashion honours, including a 2002 People's Choice award for "Best New Designer" and was named the 2002-03 Fashion Week of the Americas "International New Star."

Talks on Amarnath land row deffered

wali — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 15:49:20 +0530

The fourth round of talks between the group spearheading the Amarnath land agitation and the official panel scheduled for Thursday has been postponed and is likely to be held on Friday.

"The scheduled round of talks between the Samiti and the Governor's panel at Jammu this afternoon has been deferred in view of indisposition of the committee's chief S S Bloeria at Srinagar," an official spokesman said.

The meeting is likely to take place in Jammu tomorrow, he said.

Shri Amarnath Yatra Sangarsh Samiti (SAYSS) has received a letter from the four-member panel appointed by Governor NN Vohra to participate in the talks today.

"We have already submitted our demands in writing to the Governor's panel and are expecting a favourable response from them," Samiti spokesman Narinder singh said.

The Samiti's committee which consists of Tilak Raj Sharma, Brigadier (retd) Suchet Singh, Narinder Singh and Pawan Kohli had earlier held three rounds of talks with the panel to resolve the land transfer row.

However, the talks remained inconclusive and it was agreed by both sides that they would resume the discussions at a later stage.

A five-point agenda formed the basis of talks which included reconstitution of the Amarnath Shrine Board.

Assessment of the total requirement of land by the Board and its role and duties were the other points that formed the basis of the agenda.

Marooned people drinking floodwater to survive in Bihar

tejas — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 13:57:41 +0530

Even as they wait for government aid, the 200 residents of Bangmatiya village in Bihar's flood ravaged Madhepura district are struggling to survive by eating stale rice puff and drinking the dirty water that their houses have been marooned in for the past 10 days.

Sakhua Singh, a landless labourer in his 50s, and his family of six were promised relief by the local administration a week ago but it is yet to reach them.

"There is no way to survive without relief but we are eating baked grains and rice puff. Hopefully, we will get some aid soon," Sakhua said.

"My wife and son are unwell. We are praying that the waters will recede soon so that we can take them to a doctor," he added.

Another villager, Gangu Singh, told IANS that children crying for milk were being pacified with roasted rice.

"We are giving our children the polluted floodwater to drink. There is no other option," he said helplessly.

Bangmatiya, like other villages in Madhepura district, about 225 km from state capital Patna, was swamped by floodwaters after the Kosi river, sometimes known as the sorrow of Bihar, changed its course after almost two centuries and breached an embankment upstream in Nepal.

The village is seven to eight kilometres off the national highway connecting Madhepura to Saharsa. Even the highway has been submerged and the only way to reach the area is by boat.

Disaster Management Minister Nitish Mishra said the marooned people were being evacuated. However, villagers in Madhepura had another tale to tell.

"We have nothing left - there is no food. We don't even have plastic sheets or kerosene," said Madhav Yadav, a farmer who is among the hundreds forced to live under the open sky on mud embankments.

Satabia Devi, a widow who used to support her three children by working in other's fields, said: "No relief has reached us. We are surviving on stale rice and flood water."

Arvind Kumar, the district magistrate of Madhepura, said floodwaters were showing no signs of receding and the administration was trying to evacuate as many marooned people as possible.

"It is not an easy task, given the availability of boats, helicopters and officials engaged in the rescue work," Kumar said.

About two million people in 14 Bihar districts have been affected by the flood, one of the worst in 50 years. The most seriously hit areas in the state are Madhepura, Supaul, Araria and Purnea.

Indian Navy expands influence in Indian Ocean region

tejas — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 13:44:56 +0530

Parallel to India's rise as a global economic power, its navy is expanding its influence among the over 30 Indian Ocean countries with efficient delivery of aid during natural disasters.

The effort, explained a senior officer, was also aimed at countering the growing influence of the Chinese Navy in what is known as the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) that straddles from Africa to Australia.

The third largest body of water in the world and with 33 littoral states, the IOR is strategically important, with a large percentage of global trading ships passing through it.

Eighty percent of China's and 65 percent of India's oil is shipped through this region.

"Our aid diplomacy is aimed at gaining more influence in the IOR. And coupled with our 'Look East' policy, it is expected to help India gain (in the region)," the officer told IANS.

"We are helping African countries and countries like Mauritius in capacity building and capability enhancing. We would like to play a benevolent role in this area," the officer added.

In May this year, as Cyclone Nargis battered neighbouring Myanmar leaving thousands dead, the Indian Navy was the first to send relief supplies.

Under "Operation Sahayata", INS Rana and INS Kirpan offloaded sea-borne aid supplies at Yangon port.

It was the latest demonstration of the ability of the Indian Navy to rush aid in times of distress.

When tsunami struck in December 2004, although India suffered over 15,000 deaths and vast destruction, the Indian Navy was quick to rush aid to the Maldives as well as the worst-hit Sri Lanka and Indonesia.

About 1,000 Indian relief personnel and five naval ships were sent to Trincomalee, Galle and Colombo ports in Sri Lanka, with medical teams and immediate relief material.

"The fact that India could deploy its navy within 24 hours of the tsunami created ripples in the world, including in Washington," pointed out analyst C Uday Bhaskar of the Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (IDSA).

Potent tool of diplomacy

The Indian Air Force and navy helicopters ferried packed food, medicines and drinking water and undertook rescue operations in Sri Lanka. Two field hospitals were established in Galle and Colombo before any other aid could reach the island country.

"Post-tsunami we have learnt more lessons in relief operations. Each of our ships carries one logistic brick (a pre-packed container of emergency supplies), which is sufficient to cater to 200 people for 30 days. The brick includes a community kitchen and packaged food to provide immediate relief and succour," an Indian Navy officer told IANS.

The Indian Navy and the Coast Guard also undertook relief work in the Maldives post-tsunami. Apart from conducting aerial surveys to search for survivors, India provided relief material.

In Indonesia, Indian ships offloaded emergency rations, medicines, tents and first-aid kits worth $1 million and established two field hospitals in the worst hit area, Aceh.

"Traditionally aid is a potent tool of diplomacy. With a number of natural disasters hitting the Indian Ocean Region, the Indian Navy has acquired a great edge," Bhaskar said.

"Moreover, engaging in capacity building and capability enhancing is the direct way of enhancing influence," he added.

In February, the chiefs of a record number of 27 navies from the IOR took part in an Indian Ocean Naval Symposium in New Delhi in February this year.

"India's move should be seen in the light of China's interest in the region and the aid it has been showering on the nations to avoid a choking of its energy supplies," the officer added.

China has financed the construction of Pakistan's Gwadar port and the coastal highway linking the port to Karachi. The cost benefits to China of using Gwadar for western China's imports and exports are evident.

China has helped refurbish the Chittagong port in Bangladesh. Beijing also gives billions of dollars in military aid to Myanmar.

"Aid diplomacy as a tool furthered India's foreign policy objectives after tsunami," said an Indian officer.

Toll in chemical factory fire climbs to 10

tejas — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 13:37:22 +0530

The devastating fire at a chemical factory at Bhosari claimed lives of ten women workers while injuring nine others, fire brigade officials said on Thursday.

The deceased included three sisters employed in the unit situated in the MIDC area, around 30 km from Pune.

The fire broke out late Wednesday night after a series of explosions in 'Sai Chemicals' which produces bomb covers for ammunition factories, the sources said.

Four women charred to death on the spot when around 20 containers of chemicals exploded. Six others, who sought protection in the bathroom, were later found dead due to asphyxiation, the official added.

Nearly 30 workers were present inside the premises of the factory when the mishap occurred.

We have nothing to conceal, says Sabeel's family

tejas — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 13:33:40 +0530

Following reports that a UK police team would be visiting India to interrogate Sabeel Ahmed, brother of Kafeel Ahmed, who died while allegedly trying to carry out a terror attack on the Glasgow Airport, his family on Wednesday said it had "nothing to conceal."

"We are open to the idea (of UK police questioning Sabeel) if the UK team comes down here," said Zakia Ahmed, mother of Sabeel, who was deported to India on May 8 after serving an 18-month sentence in the UK on charges of trying to withhold information related to the Glasgow attack case planned by his brother and other associates.

She said the family had so far received no intimation from UK authorities about the police team being sent to India to interrogate their son.

"I have learnt this from the media", she told PTI.

Since his return to India, Sabeel has spent most of his time in the house, meeting friends and family. "We have a big set of family and friends," she said.

Karnataka DGP Dr Ajai Kumar Singh, heading the Corps of Detectives, refused to comment on reports of the UK team's visit.

Karnataka police had sent a report on Sabeel Ahmed to the UK police through the Interpol. The report included his activities here as well as his financial transactions.

Kafeel, an engineer, had attempted to drive a burning jeep into the Glasgow Airport on June 30, 2007, suffering serious burns that later led to his death.

His brother Sabeel was picked up by the UK police for trying to withhold information. Their cousin Haneef was also picked up by the Australian police and subsequently released.

Soren will seek trust vote on Friday

tejas — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 13:22:54 +0530

Jharkhand Chief Minister Shibu Soren will seek to prove his majority on the floor of the house Friday.

The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) leader was sworn in as the sixth chief minister of the state on Wednesday along with 11 ministers.

While inviting Soren to form the government on August 25, Governor Syed Sibte Razi had asked him to prove his majority by September 1.

The 11 ministers who took oath include three legislators from the JMM - Sudhir Mahto, Nalin Soren and Dulal Bhuiya - who were ministers in the previous Madhu Koda government.

The other ministers are Bhanu Pratap Sahi and Aparna Sen Gupta of the Forward Bloc, Bandhu Tirkey and Jobha Manjhi of the United Goan Democratic Party (UGDP), Kamlesh Singh of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and independent legislators Stephen Marandi, Enos Ekka, Harinarayan Rai.

Except Aparna Sen Gupta, all were ministers in the Koda government.

JMM withdrew support from the Koda government on August 17. Koda resigned Saturday after getting direction from the central United Progressive Alliance (UPA) leaders.

Shibu Soren staked claim Monday to form the government with the support of 42 legislators in the 82-member house. The Congress with nine members and the RJD with seven are supporting the government from outside. The JMM has 17 legislators.

Two suspended Bharatiya Janata Party legislators, Manohar Tekriwal and Vishnu Bhaiya, have also announced their support to Soren.

The Congress agreed to back Soren's claim to be the chief minister of Jhakhand after JMM's five Lok Sabha MPs helped Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to win a trust vote in the Lok Sabha last month.

High alert sounded in Jammu

tejas — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 13:19:20 +0530

A high alert was sounded in the city on Thursday with authorities suspecting the presence of more militants here after three infiltrators were killed by security forces during a 19-hour hostage drama.

Security has been beefed up in areas along the IB and LoC and police has intensified frisking and checking of vehicles with all entry and exit points in the city being sealed.

"There could be more infiltrators hiding in some other areas on the outskirts of the city and the need is to maintain vigilance," Director General of Police (DGP) Kuldeep Khoda said.

A high alert has been sounded here and police stations have been asked to monitor the sitution round the clock in their respective areas, he said.

Search and combing operations have been lauched in Muthi, Gajansoo, Marh, Akhnoor, Gharota, Hiranagar and other places, including the adjoining border areas, were on, Khoda said.

Besides screening of vehicles is being done by multi-tier security agencies, including the CRPF and Army, he said.

Security has been beefed up along the Pathankote-Jammu-Udhampur railway line and stations, Deputy Inspector General, Railway, Niaz Mehmood said.

The Army has been deployed for the purpose as an important section of the track runs close to the Indo-Pak border in Samba and Hiranagar districts, he said.

Security forces had killed three militants who held 11 people captive for 19 hours in a house near Jammu on Wednesday.

Three of the hostages were killed while the others, including four children, were safe.

PM terms Bihar floods a national calamity, releases 1000 crore

tejas — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 12:39:26 +0530

Describing the floods in Bihar as a "national calamity", Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Thursday announced an immediate assistance of Rs 1,000 crore to the state for rescue and relief operations and 1.25 lakh tonnes of foodgrains to tide over the situation.

After undertaking an aerial survey along with UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi of the four worst affected districts in the state where the swollen Kosi river continued to wreak havoc, Singh also assured Bihar to provide all possible help to meet the situation.

Singh and Gandhi arrived at the Purnia airbase by a special IAF plane from New Delhi and took off in an IAF chopper to undertake the aerial survey in Supaul, Saharsa, Araria and Madhepura districts, official sources said.

They were accompanied by Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil as also several union ministers including Lalu Prasad, Ram Vilas Paswan and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.

Earlier, Kumar received Singh and Gandhi at the Purnia airbase and briefed them about the flood situation. Altogether 55 persons have so far lost their lives in the current spell of floods in the state.

Personnel of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Special Auxiliary Police (SAP), Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), state police and the Army were engaged in the flood-hit areas to provide succour to the victims, the sources said.

Strengthening embankments

Over 25 lakh people in 15 districts have been hit by the impact of one of the worst floods in recent memory with victims from these four districts making up 19.78 lakh.

A total of 396 boats engaged in relief and rescue work in the four districts have so far rescued 65,539 marooned people to safer places, they said, adding the number of people rescued from all the 15 districts was over 1.2 lakh.

Chief Minister Kumar, who called on Prime Minister Singh in New Delhi on Wednesday, had demanded an initial allocation of Rs 1,000 crore from the Centre in view of the unprecedented devastation caused by the turbulent Kosi river, which has charted a new course after breaching its embankment.

Kumar had stressed the need for an aggressive pursuit of diplomatic initiatives with Nepal for the construction of high dams and massive re-aforestation in the upper catchment area of the rivers, which would also imply the strengthening of embankments as part of long-term initiatives.

"More than 20 lakh people and their houses, including a number of townships, 242 panchayats and 671 villages which lie along the new course of the river have been inundated," he said, adding the state would immediately require one lakh metric tonne of rice for relief.

Orissa: Violence continues despite shoot at sight order

tejas — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 11:43:44 +0530

Notwithstanding the shoot-at-sight order imposed in eight blocks of riot-ravaged Kandhamal, violence continued on Thursday in remote areas of the communally sensitive district in a backlash to the killing of VHP leader Laxmanananda Saraswati claiming ten lives in Orissa so far.

Information about some incidents were received from some remote places of Tikabali, G Udaygiri and other areas while the situation was under control in most areas of Kandhamal, District Collector Krishan Kumar told PTI over phone.

"Though tension prevails, the situation has been brought under control in 6/7 out of the 12 blocks of the district," he said adding shoot-at-sight order and curfew remained in force in eight blocks as part of efforts to restore normalcy.

Deputy Inspector General of Police R P Koche said there has been 'substantial improvement' in the situation though some violence was reported from Kotgad area and "We are gathering details about the incident."

Some additional central forces have arrived in troubled areas while more were expected soon, he said.

The BJD-BJP government headed by Naveen Patnaik has come under sharp attack from different quarters with all major political parties including Congress, demanding his resignation, following the killing of Saraswati on the night of August 23 and unabated violence since then.

The government has also been indicted by the Centre with Minister of State for Home Sriprakash Jaiswal voicing displeasure over steps taken to contain violence.

Violence spread to areas outside Kandhamal too with some incidents reported from Sundergarh, Rayagada, Gajapati and Bolangir districts.

Escalating violence

Though officials confirmed ten deaths in the state due to the violence, unofficial sources put the toll at 15. Prominent Christian organisations and leaders claimed that at least 13 persons, including one in Bargarh district, were killed in the violence.

As Kandhamal was on the boil, shoot-at-sight was ordered on Wednesday in places like Phulbani, Baliguda, Tumudibandh, Raikia, Nuagaon, G Udaygiri, Tikabali and Sankarakhol, a senior official said, adding anyone found indulging in arson and rioting would be shot.

Raikia, which remained virtually unaffected during the communal riots in December last year, was hit this time where largescale violence took place and two persons were critically injured in mob attack, said a senior official, who has been camping in the district.

Kandhamal remained a 'no entry zone' to prevent outside and unwanted elements from entering the district, he said adding that all entry points were sealed, while prohibitory orders under Section 144 were in force in entire district.

Alarmed at escalating violence, Christian leaders demanded a CBI probe into the entire chain of events since the killing of Saraswati for establishing truth, arrest of culprits and trial by a special court, rehabilitation of riot-hit people and immediate measures by the Centre and state government to end violence.

Angry over the killing of Saraswati and handling of the subsequent incidents, several BJP MLAs and ministers wanted withdrawal of their party from coalition government in Orissa.

However, party leadership asked them not to destabilise the government which is trying to restore normalcy in Kandhamal.

Second day of short curfew relaxations in Kashmir valley

tejas — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 11:14:25 +0530

Curfew restrictions in the Kashmir valley would be relaxed in a phased manner for the second day Thursday to allow people to buy essential items like food and medicines, police said.

"Curfew restrictions would be relaxed in the afternoon to provide relief to the people. The timings and duration of curfew relaxation would be determined by the various executive magistrates in consultation with the police," a police officer told IANS.

The Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus service Thursday began its fortnightly run across the Line of Control (LoC) - the de-facto border between India and Pakistan. Authorities had made announcements here that the tickets for the bus would be treated as curfew passes so that passengers could reach the bus stand.

Two protesters were killed and 10 others, including three security personnel, were injured during the curfew relaxation in the valley on Wednesday.

One protester was killed in the north Kashmir town of Handwara, about 75 km from Srinagar, when a mob reportedly attacked security forces after coming out of a local mosque where they had gathered to pray.

Another protester died in firing on stone pelting demonstrators by security forces in Soibug village in Badgam district.

An indefinite curfew had been imposed in all the 10 districts of the valley at 4 am Sunday to thwart a proposed separatist march to Lal Chowk, the city centre of the state's summer capital Srinagar, Monday.

Separatist leaders Syed Ali Geelani and Mirwaiz Umer Farooq were arrested late Sunday, while Muhammad Yasin Malik, chairman of the pro-freedom Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF), was arrested Monday to prevent their participation in the separatist march. The three are still in police custody.

Violent protests

Authorities on Wednesday arrested Ashraf Sehrai, senior leader of Geelani's Tehreek-e-Hurriyat party, Asiya Andrabi, the chief of women's separatist group Dukhtaran-e-Milat and a dozen other middle rung separatist leaders from across the valley.

The joint coordination committee of the separatists said in Srinagar on Thursday that the arrest of their leaders will not slow down their campaign.

Masrat Alam, one of the leaders of the coordination committee, told reporters: "People should raise slogans against India and in favour of freedom and Islam. The arrest of our leaders will not dampen our spirits and resolve for liberation".

Jammu and Kashmir has been witnessing widespread violent protests for more than two and a half months nows. The protests were triggered following a dispute over 40 hectares of forest land allotted to the Hindu

Amarnath shrine board. The land transfer was later cancelled. When the land allotment decision was reversed July 1 following a Muslim backlash in the valley, Hindus in the Jammu region staged demonstrations, blocking the movement of goods to the valley for some days.

More than 45 people have died, mostly in police and paramilitary firing, in the turmoil, which has been stoked both by separatist leaders in the Muslim-majority Kashmir valley and Hindu groups in Jammu.

The unrest also breathed life into the separatist movement in Kashmir which witnessed huge rallies in the last fortnight. The largest demonstration in two decades took place last Friday when tens of thousands of

Kashmiris, including women, gathered in an open area of the Eidgah grounds in Srinagar's old city to demand "freedom" from India.

SAYSS, panel to hold talks on Amarnath land row

tejas — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 11:06:21 +0530

The group spearheading the agitation for re-transfer of land to Shri Amarnath Shrine Board would hold a meeting with the governor's panel headed by S S Bloeria on Thursday.

Convenor of Shri Amarnath Yatra Sangharsh Samiti (SAYSS) Leela Karan Sharma has received invitation from the governor's panel for fourth round of talks to be held at a Guest House in Jammu at around 4.30 pm, Samiti's spokesperson Narinder Singh said.

"We have already submitted written demands to the governor's panel and are expecting a favourable response from them," he said.

The Samiti's committee which consists of Tilak Raj Sharma, Brigadier (retd) Suchet Singh, Narinder Singh and Pawan Kohli had earlier held three rounds of talks with the governor's panel on August 23 to arrive at some decision on the land issue.

However, the talks remained inconclusive and it was agreed by both sides that they would resume the discussions at a later stage.

Principal Secretary to the Governor, B B Vyas had earlier sent invitation to the convenor of the Samiti on August 18 for holding talks.

A five-point agenda had been set for the talks in the invitation sent from Raj Bhawan to the SAYSS which included reconstitution of the Amarnath Shrine Board, clarifying in appropriate details, the role and duties of the Shrine Board.

It also includes assessment of the total requirement of land by the Shrine Board and working out an arrangement for use of 100 acres of land at Baltal-Domail by the SASB during the period of yatra.

The governor's panel includes Vice Chancellor of Jammu University Professor Amitabh Mattoo, former judge of Jammu and Kashmir High Court Justice (Retd) G D Sharma and Principal Secretary to Governor and Chief Executive Officer of SASB B B Vyas.

Militants said we will kill you: Hostages

tejas — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 10:28:40 +0530

It was a trauma they would have never imagined to come across. Fear could be seen on the faces of the seven hostages, including four children, who were held captive by the suspected LeT militants for 19-hours before being freed in a military operation early Thursday.

One little child said the armed militants were in police uniform, had entered the kitchen and asked all the inmates of the house to assemble together.

"We went inside the kitchen but they got us out. They were talking and were in police uniform," the child said.

The children - Sheetal (9), Vipin (2), Ashad (7) and Kajal (4) - said they were scared and were very happy that they have been rescued.

"They (militants) said 'we will kill you'. We pleaded with them not to kill us and said take all the belongings and cash but please spare us. We have small children," said a woman who was one of the hostages.

"They then locked all of us, except my husband who they kept separately in a room," she said.

Billo Ram, the father of the children and was not among the hostages, said, "I had lost hope. I had given up. It was God's grace that they (the children) are safe. I am also thankful to the army for getting them out."

Army's Special Forces shot dead the last of the three suspected LeT militants early Thursday.

"The operation is over. Our Special Forces have killed the third militant early today," army spokesman Lieutenant Colonel S D Goswami told PTI.

Guarded reactions to Chiranjeevi's party

tejas — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 09:31:04 +0530

Political parties in Andhra Pradesh reacted guardedly to Telugu superstar Chiranjeevi's grand entry into politics by launching his own party, saying the actor was yet to clearly spell out the policies and programmes.

"There is no threat to Congress irrespective of who enters politics. We will come back to power on the basis of the strength of our welfare schemes and innovative development programmes," Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhar Reddy said.

Addressing a meeting of the Congress Legislature Party in Hyderabad, Reddy said his party was not worried about Chiranjeevi entering politics as it was focused on welfare of weaker sections and all-round development of the state.

Taking a more strident posture, the state Congress Chief D Srinivas said Chiranjeevi lacked a proper understanding of people's problems and failed to spell out his stand on crucial issues like Telangana.

"His (Chiranjeevi's) maiden political speech (at the temple town of Tirupati on Tuesday) was virtually silent on key issues facing the state. It was only a cinematic rhetoric," the state Ministers K Lakshminarayana, N Raghuveera Reddy and T Jeevan Reddy said.

They said the film star spoke in general terms about the problems of various sections but failed to explain how he would go about solving them.

"There was no clarity on important issues like Telanagana, categorization of Scheduled Castes and naxalism. He also did not spell out his party's policies and programmes," the Ministers told reporters.

The TDP Chief N Chandrababu Naidu said there was nothing new in the agenda unveiled by the actor at his maiden public meeting in Tirupati.

Policy statement

The Telangana Rashtra Samithi President K Chandrasekhar Rao said the people of Telanagana would accept Chiranjeevi only if he unequivocally supports the demand for separate state.

"We will formulate our position only after he makes his stand clear," Rao said.

After months of speculation, Chiranjeevi, a popular actor, who acted in 148 films in a three decade long career, launched his party before a mammoth gathering at Tirupati on Tuesday in an event that evoked memories of matinee idol late N T Rama Rao taking the political plunge at the same venue over 25 years ago.

While asserting that his party would strive for social justice and welfare of the weaker sections and farmers, Chiranjeevi skirted the thorny issues like Telangana, saying a collective decision would be taken on all sensitive matters after a wider debate.

"In democracy, anyone can join politics and launch a party. Ultimately, the people will decide based on your policies and programmes. The TDP is always with the people, trying to understand and solve their problems," Naidu, whose party has suffered desertions in recent times, said.

Acknowledging that Chiranjeevi would certainly make an impact on the state political scene, the CPI(M) Secretary B V Raghavulu said his party would consider joining hands with former's party "Praja Rajyam" only if it came up with a clear policy statement on key issues.

"He has not stated his party's stand on issues like federalism, Indo-US nuclear deal, communal politics and the need for forging a third alternative," Raghavulu said.

Hostage drama ends, three captives killed; others safe

tejas — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 09:12:29 +0530

Army's Special Forces shot dead the last of the three suspected LeT militants early Thursday and freed seven hostages including four children they seized in a house near Jammu, ending a 19-hours hostage drama which also witnessed the killing of three men captives by the ultras.

"The operation is over. Our Special Forces have killed third militant early today," army spokesman Lieutenant Colonel S D Goswami told PTI.

Goswami said that seven hostages, including four children, their mother who sustained bullet injuries in her leg and two other persons were safe after the prolonged hostage drama and gunbattle between the security forces and militants.

However, three hostages were killed by the militants before the final assault was launched, he said.

"The final assault was lunched at 11.45 pm last night by the special forces of the army and entire family of the house owner including four children were rescued," he said.

Ashok Kumar, a teacher and the tenant, one territorial army jawan who went inside during the operation and another person were killed, the army spokesman said.

After killing all the militants holed up inside the two-storeyed house at Chinore, 20 kms from Jammu city, the army moved in and rescued the hostages.

Thirty five-year-old Sunita Devi, the injured mother of the four children aged between two and nine, was admitted to the Government Medical College Hospital in Jammu.

The children have been identified as Sheetal (9), Vipin (2), Ashad (7) and Kajal (4). Two other captives who were rescued were the house owner's brother and sister-in-law.

Earlier, security forces killed two of the three militants who were inside the house on Wednesday evening.

Fresh violence in Kashmir, 2 die in firing

wali — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 22:40:24 +0530

Two persons were killed and another was critically injured on Wednesday when security forces opened fire on protesters who defied curfew in Jammu and Kashmir's Kupwara and Budgam districts as violence erupted again in the Valley after a brief lull.

A group of people tried to defy curfew in Soibugh area of Budgam in the afternoon and raised anti-India slogans, prompting security forces to resort to baton charge and teargas shelling, official sources said.

Unable to control the mob, the security forces opened fire resulting in death of one Hilal Ahmad Mir, they said.

Another youth was hit by a teargas shell and was shifted to a hospital in Srinagar in a critical condition.

Earlier, a group of protesters started raising anti-India slogans after offering afternoon prayers at Banday
Mohalla in Handwara area of Kupwara, the sources said.

Security forces opened fire to disperse the mob in which one person identified as Mohammad Yousuf Banday was injured.

He was shifted to a hospital here where doctors declared him brought dead.

Agitated at the firing, more people gathered in the area and indulged in stone pelting resulting in minor injuries to five police personnel.

With these, the death toll in firing by security forces on curfew-defying protesters has now gone up to eight.