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Army says youths shot at in mistaken identity
by Sutirtha Sanyal/Ramesh Ranjan

     Srinagar/New Delhi: In a case of mistaken identity, the Indian Army shot down four youths in the wee hours on Sunday at Bangargund in Kupwara district of Jammu and Kashmir, killing two and injuring the other two, one of whom died later. Army Spokesperson Col. Batra in an interview to ANI said that four young boys in the age group of 17 to 20 had strayed into the militant-prone area where the Army had laid an ambush. The incident occurred at 2 am when the boys started running on being challenged by the security forces. Col Batra said that the boys had gone to take part in marriage festivities and had strayed beyond the village areas. They had ventured far from the village precincts, while they had been advised by the village elders not to do so. Neither were the boys carrying any lanterns or torches with them. He said that the general rule for the villagers was to inform the army units of their movement and carry torches and lanterns, none of which was adhered to in this case. He said that the area was militant prone and the Army had in earlier instances lost Major Salman Ahmed Khan, and in a second incident, one jawan and one NCO. The Army, he said had laid a policy of not opening fire first, and it was under such circumstances that the Army had incurred the above losses. So, this time also, the Army first challenged the boys who instead of surrendering and replying, started running. It was then that the Army opened fire at them, killing two on the spot and wounding two others. Upon finding that the youth were local boys, the Army rushed them to the field hospital, where one succumbed to his death. Police officials also said that the incident happened when the youths from the village decided to visit the nearby home of a bride's family to take part in the midnight festivities. Reports also said that authorities rushed in extra forces to calm down the agitated villagers as tension mounted in the area. Col Batra also confirmed of an enquiry into the incident by the civilian administration, and said that the Army would fully co- operate with it, adding that villagers should follow the norms to prevent such painful and such tragic incidents from taking place in the future.

BJP achieved neither 'Ram' nor 'Rajya': Govindacharya (Go To Top)
by Pankaj Choudhary

     New Delhi: KN Govindacharya, former General Secretary of the BJP, has accused the BJP of sticking to Ram Mandir issue only and forgetting the ideology of Ram Rajya. The former BJP ideologue said that BJP could not move from Ram Mandir to Ram Rajya and destroyed itself in the power politics. When asked how he evaluates the state of affairs within BJP, he said," I was simply an activist and worked for the commitment to its ideology ....but over the years the work culture that came into the force could not take the issue of Ram Mandir to Ram Rajya," he said. Govindacharya , the architect of BJP's ideology, said," In 2000, I experienced that the party has drifted from its values and issues ...they are doing power-centred politics ...and this created despair in lots of party workers...I was also one of them...but I am not the kind of person who can be marginalised ....I am more active and continously working for a better future." Govindji, as he is affectionately called, said that by remaining outside the political hullabaloo, he can bring changes in the society and the Government. He cited the example of Gandhi and Jaiprakash who never became a part of power but still commanded much respect. Govindacharya said that there is no difference between BJP and Congress now. "Both are pursuing the economic policy of foreign countries....even Communists are also the chips of the same block.

    On one hand the Left parties give licence to coca-cola in Kerala and on the other hand they oppose MNCs in Delhi," he said. He further said that Manmohan Singh and Lal Krishna Advani, both are equally culprit. "One has praised British government and while another has showered praises on Jinnah," he said. Govindacharya said that by praising British government's "enterprise" , "creativity " and " adventure" Manmohan Singh has insulted those martyrs who sacrificed their life for the freedom of country." Gandhi, Subhas, Chandrashekhar Azad's soul must be restless now ....they must be asking for whom they sacrificed their lives?" he asked. Similarly , he said that Advani has rubbed salt on the wounds of those people who experienced the pains of partition, by praising Jinnah. He said," The Indian psyche knows who was responsible for the partition of the country and who is to be blamed for lakhs of people who were killed during the partition..here nothing should be uttered which is related only to "mind" ...one should take care of "heart" also.." Govindacharya once again strongly refuted the charge that he ever used "mask" word for former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. He said," I have never used any insulting words for anybody ...since there was no contradiction from the other side, people thought that I must have uttered such words for Vajpayeeji." Talking about his future plans, he said that he would never join BJP in future. "The party has drifted from its ideology and doesn't match my mindset," he claimed. He said that he travel through 150 districts every year and is trying to bring an ideological movement which will ensure job ,food and self-respect for everybody across the country.

'US wants to build up India to offset China's military expansion ' (Go To Top)

     Washington: Steven R Weisman, a senior American journalist and well-known commentator on South Asian affairs, has said that the Bush administration was keen on building up India and see it as a "counterpoise" to China. To achieve this objective, Washington was doing everything that it could do to "counter the expanding Chinese military", he added. The statement assumes significance if seen in the wake of the recent Indo-US Defence Pact signed recently, US' recognition of India as a nuclear power, and Bush's decision to sell nuclear supplies to India for non-military use. In an interview, Weisman reportedly said that since assuming office in the White House, President George Bush and his administration are keen developing a relationship with India so as to counter the expanding Chinese military. But, he said, the US administration was doing the same secretly without acknowledging it in the public.

     "This is something that the administration has been loath to acknowledge publicly, but it's clearly underneath the surface," the Daily Times quoted Weisman as saying in an interview with Bernard Gwertzman of the Council on Foreign Relations. He further said that New Delhi was resentful in admitting that it was being seen in the US as a kind of pawn to beat up on China, since it (India) has been making endeavours to better its ties with Beijing, with which it fought a war in 1965 and still have a border dispute. In the last couple of years, the Pentagon has become "much more alarmed" over Chinese military intentions, and the Chinese acquisition of high technology that has given it an upper hand in the Taiwan Strait, he reportedly said adding that the administration also felt alarmed over Europe's selling of high- tech equipment to China. To a question if there was a contradiction in Washington's attempts in seeing India as a way to offset China, and on the other hand, India trying to improve ties with China, Weisman said, "India is playing Kissinger-like games of making up with the long-time enemy. It accelerated a policy of improving relations with China, and when you talk to Indian officials, they are adamant, and resentful, frankly, that they are being seen in Washington as a kind of a pawn here to beat up on China among the China-bashers. So, for both India and the Americans, you don't hear very much (public) talk about, 'Let's build up India as a counterweight to China,' even though everybody knows that's part of what's happening." To another related question that how would it work strategically, since India was not interested in any confrontation with China, Weisman said that India had its own ambitions, such as a blue water navy. "India's navy is a presence in a part of the world where China also wants a presence, which could make it a "stabilising force" in the region from Pentagon's perspective," he added.

Asif Zardari may undergo cardiac surgery (Go To Top)

     Islamabad: Former Pakistan Premier, Benazir Bhutto's husband, Asif Ali Zardari is likely to undergo cardiac surgery. According to Online News, a team of US doctors has reportedly advised Zardari to undergo heart surgery. A medical report had also disclosed that 60 to 80 percent Zardari's heart valves were blocked. Sources however, said that a final decision on the surgery would be taken after the final medical report. The spokesman of the PPP, Senator Farhatullah Babar while confirming Zardari's heart tests said that final report was awaiting and decision about his cardiac surgery would be taken after arrival of final medical report.

Muslims in UK fear backlash after second bomb attack (Go To Top)

     London: The second bomb attack on London, after 7/7 has left the Muslim community in Britain in a state of fear and shock. Many have raised apprehension about the rise in hate attacks against the community members. Also the fact that police officers on a London subway shot and killed a man, described by witnesses as a South Asian, has given rise to fears that Britain might adopt a policy of "Shoot to kill" to quell the rising instances of terrorist attacks, reports the Daily Times. "They didn't need to shoot him five times. They could have shot him once or twice, maybe in the leg, so that he couldn't get away," the Daily Times quoted Qari Asim, the imam of the Makkah mosque as saying. "We are getting phone calls from quite a lot of Muslims who are distressed about what may be a shoot-to-kill policy. One caller, asked: "What if I was carrying a rucksack?" said Inayat Bunglawala, the spokesman of the Muslim Council of Britain as saying. Many have also taken the London attacks as part of a war, and feel that Britain's involvement in Iraq has brought the conflict and destruction into England. They have also expressed their solidarity with Muslims involved in conflicts around the world. "This is the war, and now it is here. The West says they're helping us, but they're not. They're killing us, said Guner Bahadir, a 40-year-old Turkish woman. Police officials said they were operating on a "shoot to stop" policy only, when facing an imminent life threat. London Police Commissioner Ian Blair has urged Londoners to not direct their fear and outrage against any particular community. "We need calm. We know there are rumours sweeping London. No community should be smeared with responsibility for these matters. The investigation is targeting criminals and not a community or section of a community," added Ian Blair.

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