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Kalam unveils blueprint for progress and prosperity
New Delhi, Aug 14 (ANI): President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam in his address to the nation on the eve of Independence Day urged Indians to work together for the development of the country. In his message, broadcast on the national television on Wednesday, Kalam said "fused minds" of a billion people could unleash mammoth power. He called for an integrated work in the fields of science and technology, health, education and infrastructural sectors. "Similar to the first vision which created a movement to achieve freedom with unity of minds of the people and the unity of purpose and actions, we need a second vision which will integrate people from all walks of our society and towards common purpose. The second vision of our nation is to transform it from the present developing status to a developed nation by integrated action simultaneously in the areas of agriculture and food processing, education and health care, infrastruture development including power, information and communication technologies and critical technologies," Kalam said. Kalam is staunch supporter of technology and its use for the betterment of society. "A greater vision will aim to alleviate poverty, illiteracy and unemployment. When the minds of the people of our country are unified and fused towards this vision then dormant potential will manifest as a mammoth power leading to a happy and prosperous life of a billion people. This vision of the nation will also remove the conflicts arising out of differences and small thinking," he said. Describing Kashmir as an internal matter of India, Kalam ruled out talks with Pakistan until it put an end to cross border terrorism. "I would like to reiterate that Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India and it is not an international issue. India is ready for bilateral dialogue once the cross border terrorism is brought to a complete end," said Kalam. Hindu-majority India accuses Pakistan, an Islamic nation, of training Muslim militants and sending them across the border into disputed and divided Kashmir. Pakistan says it gives only diplomatic and moral support to what it calls the Kashmiri struggle for self-determination. India has been locked in a military standoff with Pakistan since last December after an attack on its parliament which it blamed on Pakistan-based Kashmiri separatists. The nuclear rivals came to the brink of war in June over Kashmir. Referring to the forthcoming elections in Jammu and kashmir, Kalam said the process would lead to normalisation of situation in the state. "Normal election process is on in Jammu and Kashmir. It is essential to ensure its successful completion and dawn of peace in Jammu and Kashmir," he said. The state goes to polls in late September and eary October. India, which has faced a separatist revolt in disputed Kashmir for 13 years, sees the elections as a way to bring peace and establish its legitimacy in the Himalayan region. Referring to Hindu-Muslim clashes in Gujarat earlier this year and terrorist violence elsewhere in the country, Kalam said divisive tendencies need to be eradicated. "We also have many challenges in front of us. We have to eradicate the communal and other divisive clashes sprouting in certain parts and remove the pains of our people whether it is in Jammu and Kashmir or in any other part of the country. We also have to find a permanent solution to combat terrorism," said Kalam. More than 1,000 people, mostly Muslims, have been killed in reprisal violence in Gujarat since February when a Muslim mob torched a train burning alive 59 Hindu pilgirms. Independent human rights organisations however put the toll at more than 2,500.(ANI) Panthers Party for Governor's rule in J-K for polls
New Delhi, Aug 14 (ANI): The Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party (JKNPP) on Wednesday demanded the imposition of Governor's rule ahead of polls in the restive state. JKNPP chief Bheem Singh said elections would not be free and fair unless they were held under Governor's rule. "We believe that there is only one way in which you can hold elections that Section 92 of Jammu and Kashmir's constitution should be invoked immediately. Governor should take over power, form a neutral government and create a conducive atmosphere, prepare electoral rolls and all those materials which are necessary for the free and fair elections," Singh told reporters after meeting with Deputy Prime Minister Lal Krishna Advani. "We are asking to immediately impose Governor's rule. And I have conveyed that if they do not do it then my party, the National Panthers Party, we shall be on the roll," he added. Several political parties including main opposition Congress Party have demanded imposition of President rule in the state. The state government headed by Farooq Abdullah has promised free and fair polls and opposed President's rule. Several militant groups have threatened to sabotage the elections. Kashmiri separatists have also refused to take part in the elections saying polls are no solution to the Kashmir dispute. The elections would be held in four stages on September 16 and 24 and on October 1 and 8. India, which has faced a separatist revolt against its rule in disputed Kashmir for 13 years, sees the elections as a way to bring peace and establish its legitimacy in the Himalayan region. Meanwhile in Srinagar, the summer capital of country's revolt- racked Jammu and Kashmir state, activists of All Jammu and Kashmir Peace Council on Wednesday marched through the streets shouting slogans against Pakistan. India accuses Pakistan, an Islamic nation, of training Muslim militants and sending them across the border into disputed and divided Kashmir. Pakistan says it gives only diplomatic and moral support to what it calls the Kashmiri struggle for self-determination. The activists demanded Islamabad to hand over occupied Kashmir to India. "The main aim of this rally is that Pakistan should return us our occupied Kashmir which it holds. Because in occupied Kashmir people are trained to use guns and make terrorists. Arms are sent here... due to which lots of Kashmiri youths have died," said an activist. "Second thing is that Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf is celebrating his Independence Day by making us slaves. He is spreading gun culture here. So he has to stop all this then only we can hold talks with him. And we welcome whatever steps Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee has taken to solve the Kashmir," he added.(ANI) A clever play by Mamata
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to top Kolkata, Aug 14 (ANI): Trinamul Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee's conditional withdrawal from the NDA over Eastern Railways bifurcation is being considered a clever ploy to prevent a split in her party and keep the ruling Marxists in West Bengal on tenterhooks. She is apparently following a policy of "hasten slowly" since she knows that any formal declaration on a complete break from the NDA at this juncture may prompt some party MPs to form a separate group and remain in the ruling coalition. Besides, any such announcement would have exposed her party to multiple attacks--from the Marxists in her home state and the BJP-led Centre in Delhi--a scenario she wanted to avoid. According to informed sources, Ms Banerjee is likely to follow an independent political line and strengthen her party at the grassroots level to face next year's panchayat polls on a sound footing. She, however, does not rule out an alliance with the Congress in the distant future if her party becomes totally irrelevent to the BJP and other NDA partners. The Trinamul Congress chairperson, however, feels a political or electoral alliance with the Congress will be feasible only if the party gives up its current policy of "keeping the Bengal Marxists in good humour." Ms Banerjee is aware of the fact that the Vajpayee Cabinet may not be in a position to stall the creation of new railway zones after endorsing railway minister Nitish Kumar's move in this regard. She has, therefore, sought a personal appointment with Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee to explain her party's political compulsions in the wake of Eastern Railways bifurcation and find out why the NDA Cabinet chose to ignore different expert committees' recommendations regarding the creation of new zones. A lot will, therefore, depend on the outcome of her proposed meeting with the Prime Minister scheduled in a couple of days. The Trinamul Congress supremo, however, has largely succeeded in mobilising both the public opinion and her party's support in favour of her on-going anti-bifurcation stir. The pro-NDA MPs, who wanted her not to quit the ruling coalition, have been inconvenienced by the BJP's refusal to concede her minimum demand for retention of Dhanbad and inclusion of Katihar divisions in Eastern Railway. These MPs had persuaded Ms Banerjee not to announce her party's complete dissociation from the NDA on the assumption that the BJP's apex leadership would accept the formula as a face- saving device for her. As the BJP and the Cabinet did not betray any such inclination, the concerned MPs had no other options but to support her decision to pull out of the NDA on Tuesday. Ms Banerjee's decision has also caught the Marxists here on the wrong foot. The CPI(M) had earlier rejected the Trinamul Congress leader's plea for a joint movement to stall the bifurcation and kept its protests at a low-key in order not to antagonise the Centre. The party is now citing her conditional withdrawal from the NDA as the "clearest evidence of her personal motive and greed for a Cabinet berth." However, the sequence of events leading to Ms Banerjee's decision to quit the NDA amply proves that her only concern is to prevent the bifurcation "which threatens the economy of Bengal as well as the north-eastern region." There is every possibility of Vajpayee repeating his earlier request to the Trinamul Congress leader to join the NDA Cabinet without any pre-conditions. However, Ms Banerjee, who has already burnt her boats, does not seem to be in a position to oblige him as long as the bifurcation is not stalled. According to informed sources, the Congress high command has been keenly watching the progressive deterioration in Ms Banerjee's relationship with the saffron party and will only be happy if she makes a clean break from the NDA. Congress chairperson Sonia Gandhi, who is believed to have a soft corner for the beleaguered Trinamul Congress leader, has directed her party leaders not to say or do any thing to antagonise Ms Banerjee at this juncture. Both Mrs Gandhi and some central Congress leaders feel it will not be difficult for her party to have a "working relationship" with Trinamul Congress once it completely snaps its ties with the BJP. However, as far as Ms Banerjee is concerned, the state Congress leadership continues to pose a problem. The PCC, led by Pranab Mukherjee and Somen Mitra, has been unusually harsh on her ever since she parted company with the Congress after the Assembly polls. The state Congress leaders even played second fiddle to the Marxists to undermine the impact of Ms Banerjee's anti-bifurcation movement. Political observers believe that a change in the PCC leadership will be imperative if the Congress high command is really eager to re-build the earlier relationship with Ms Banerjee in the changed circumstances. The state BJP regards Ms Banerjee's decision to quit the NDA as a fait accompli. The BJP, which has hardly any public support in the state today, has remained largely politically inactive after the last Assembly elections which did not return a single candidate. Besides, Tapan Sikdar's transfer to a relatively insignificant portfolio has dealt an additional blow to the party in Bengal. It is precisely for all these reasons that the state BJP has been unable to pull out of the fragile alliance with Trinamul Congress to run the Calcutta Municipal Corporation and some panchayat bodies in rural Bengal.(ANI)
Landmine explosion kills 2, injures 19 near Shopian Go to top Srinagar, Aug 14 (ANI): Two jawans were killed and 19 others injured when a private bus carrying soldiers hit a landmine in the village of Dangam, near Shopian, police said on Wednesday. The driver and conductor of the bus were also injured in the explosion that ripped through the vehicle late on Tuesday. The two soldiers died on way to hospital and the condition of four of the injured was reported to be serious. (ANI)
Delhi security tightened to foil terror strikes
New Delhi, Aug 14 (ANI): Security was tightened in Delhi fearing strikes by Kashmiri militants to disrupt Independence Day on Thursday. Intelligence inputs warn that Pakistan-based Kashmiri groups, particularly the banned Lashkar-e-Taiba, Harkat-ul-Mujahideen and Jiash-e-Mohammed might launch suicide attacks. Armed guards, the most visible element of multi-layered security cover, could be seen on Wednesday spread around Rashtrapati Bhavan, India Gate and mausoleums of leaders visited by dignitaries to mark the day. Anti-aircraft guns and air surveillance will supplement the snipers and sharp-shooters occupying vantage points around the historic Red Fort, where Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee will hoist the tricolour and address the nation on Thursday. Security is beefed up across the country on every national day with separatists targeting functions in Kashmir and in the northeastern states. After the December 13 suicide attack on Parliament by separatists, which New Delhi says were Pakistanis, officials perceive the seat of power may not be immune to attacks by separatists fighting elsewhere across the country.(ANI)
Bihar flood relief measures reviewed Go to top Patna, Aug 14 (ANI):To assess the progress of the relief work undertaken by the Bihar government for the flood affected areas, Governor Vinod Chandra Pandey called an all-party meeting on Wednesday. The meeting was attended by Chief Minister Rabri Devi and other senior ministers. The governor had made it mandatory for all the ministers and government officials working under the department of flood relief to attend the meeting. The heavy rains which hit Bihar in the last week of July flooded about 24 districts and disrupted the life of more than one and a half crore people residing in 7777 villages across the state. The death toll has mounted to 280 and there has been a loss of standing crop worth crores. Jagdanand Singh, Minister for Water Resources, said,"It is a fact that we have not been able to fulfil the expectations of the people with regard to the flood relief that should have been provided to them mainly because the roads were flooded. Now since the situation is better we will make all possible efforts to provide adequate relief to the flood victims." However, the opposition is not quite satisfied with the efforts of the state government. Sushil Kumar Modi, leader of the Opposition, said "that in the meeting the state government stated that it has funds worth Rs.157 crore. But till now only Rs 60 crore has been used in providing relief to the victims." The flood situation has been particularly bad this year with erratic monsoon rains pouring over eastern India.(ANI) |