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Tuesday, February 9

I was not informed in time about Tuesday's meeting: Nitish Kumar
by
Bhavesh
on Tue 09 Feb 2010 04:53 PM IST
Kolkata: Clarifying his stand on skipping Tuesday''s
meeting convened by Union Home Minister P Chidambaram to help the four
Naxal-affected states of West Bengal, Orissa, Bihar and Jharkhand
counter the Naxal problem; Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has said
that he had prior commitments and was not informed about the meeting in
advance.
Kumar said, "I had prior commitments to fulfill today and the Home
Minister did not discuss these issues while fixing the dates."
"I don''t think, we can solve these issues by applying force," added
Kumar.
Kumar has sent Bihar Home Secretary for the meeting in his absence.
Official sources have said the meeting will review at length the
strategy adopted to deal with Naxals in the three States and
co-ordination among them as Naxals often from one State to another after
committing a crime. The discussion today will stress on the
offensive that will be launched at the interstate junctions of West
Bengal-Jharkhand or Bihar-Jharkhand, as these areas are considered to be
a breeding ground of the Naxalites. Issues of development will
also be discussed during the daylong meet. Director General of
Police (DGP)''s of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and Border
Security Force (BSF) will also attend the meeting along with the top
police officials of the Naxal-affected four states. Source ANI

Turkish President accorded ceremonial welcome at Rashtrapati Bhavan
by
Bhavesh
on Tue 09 Feb 2010 04:52 PM IST
New Delhi: Turkish President Abdullah Gul, who is on a
six-day visit to India, was on Tuesday accorded a ceremonial welcome at
the Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi.
President Pratibha Patil and Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh were
present on the occasion along with a host of other dignitaries.
Gul said, "My expectation from this visit is to have Turkey and India
discover each other. In fact, the process has already started and we
have to speed it up. Turkey and India have many similarities, both
countries are secular and we have free market economy and our economies
are booming."
During the visit of the Turkish President, the two countries are
expected to hold talks on bilateral relations, economic and political
ties.
The Civil nuclear cooperation will also be discussed between the two
countries. Source ANI

Attacks on Indians in Australia inexcusable: Foreign Minister Smith
by
Bhavesh
on Tue 09 Feb 2010 04:50 PM IST
Canberra: Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith on
Tuesday described the series of racially-motivated attacks against
Indians, particularly students, in the country as inexcusable, and urged
the government and all Australians to view the matter very seriously.
Addressing Parliament here, Smith said: "Recent contemptible attacks
on Indian students and others of Indian origin in Australia have cast a
long shadow, not only over our education links, but across our broader
relationship and bilateral agenda. These attacks are inexcusable.
Australia needs to take this seriously and we are taking it very
seriously."
"We also need to accept and understand that it has considerably
damaged Australia’s reputation in India and among the Indian people.
Indeed it has been widely noticed beyond India and South Asia. On behalf
of the Australian Government and the Australian people, I again express
publicly, as I have privately to my counterpart External Affairs
Minister S M Krishna, my deep sympathy and condolences to those Indians
who have had family members in Australia attacked and in some tragic
cases, murdered," he added.
He said that police forces in Australia are investigating all
incidents so that those responsible for the attacks are brought to
justice.
"We will continue to do our utmost to ensure that the children Indian
parents have entrusted into the care of the Australian community remain
safe and come home with a first class education and a great Australian
experience. We have zero tolerance for racism in this country. If any of
these attacks have been racist in nature - and it seems clear some of
them have - they will be punished with the full force of the law," Smith
said.
"Let us be absolutely clear about this: the Australian Government
and Australian community condemn all such attacks, irrespective of
nationality or ethnicity. The Australian Government and the Australian
community unequivocally condemn any attack which is racially
motivated. Such attacks affront our values and are anathema to our
view of the modern Australia. Australia and India are countries for
which the rule of law is fundamental. The rule of law means that we
allow the processes of investigation, prosecution and sentencing to take
their course. That is what we are doing. Governments at all levels in
Australia are working together to address this problem," Smith said.
He informed that law enforcement agencies have brought perpetrators
of attacks to justice in Victoria, New South Wales, South Australia and
Queensland.
In Victoria alone some 45 people have been arrested for crimes
against Indian students or nationals and perpetrators are being pursued
with vigour, the foreign minister said.
Smith said Indian citizens are welcome guests in Australia, and added
that Indian-Australians make a most important contribution to the
fabric of our multicultural society.
"We want to ensure that international students, whether from India or
elsewhere, obtain a quality education, can support themselves
financially, and have a positive experience in Australia. The safety
issue has revealed deficiencies in our education and visa arrangements
for international students. Australian Governments at all levels have
moved to address those deficiencies," he said.
He said that he was in regular touch with Indian Foreign Minister
Krishna and had informed of latest developments on issues arising from
attacks on Indians in Australia. Krishna, he said, would be informed
this week by the Australian High Commission in New Delhi and through the
Indian High Commission in Canberra of further developments, he added.
"We need goodwill and consistent leadership on both sides to deal
with the challenges this matter has identified," he concluded. Source ANI

Second avalanche in Kashmir kills 18th soldier
by
Bhavesh
on Tue 09 Feb 2010 03:11 PM IST
Srinagar: Another army soldier was killed in a second
avalanche on Tuesday, even as 13 out of the 14 already trapped, were
rescued from an Army forward post in Jammu and Kashmir Tangdhar
District.
On Monday, at least 17 soldiers had lost their lives. Around 400
people mostly Armymen and porters were rescued.
The avalanche took place at 11 a.m. on Monday. The Army''''s High
Altitude Warfare School at Gulmarg had established an advance camp at
Gujjar Hut on Sunday, and 300 Army trainees, 100 trainers, 60 support
staff and 50 civilians were present when the avalanche came down.
Army
and police rescue teams reached the location and made all efforts
possible to rescue all those trapped.
Snow Avalanche Study Establishment (SASE) had issued an avalanche
warning last evening and asked the people living in high altitude areas
not to venture in the area, which has been receiving heavy snowfall for
the past three days.
High danger prone areas include Sonamarg, Gagangir, Bhimbat, Drass,
Batalic, Dhudi and S M Hills in Kargil district. The areas where
low danger avalanche warning has been issued include both sides of the
Jawahar Tunnel and the adjoining areas on the Srinagar-Jammu National
Highway. Source ANI

Bihar and Jharkhand chief ministers skip Chidambaram's meeting
by
Bhavesh
on Tue 09 Feb 2010 03:10 PM IST
Kolkata: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Jharkhand
Chief Minister Shibu Soren have decided to skip Tuesday''s meeting
convened by Union Home Minister P Chidambaram to help the four
Naxal-affected states of West Bengal, Orissa, Bihar and Jharkhand to
co-ordinate their campaign against Naxals.
Soren has sent his deputy Sudesh Mahato, while Nitish Kumar has sent
the State Home Secretary for the meeting.
West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee and Orissa Chief
Minister Naveen Patnaik will attend today''s meeting and chalk out
strategies to counter the Naxal threat. Official sources have
said the meeting will review at length the strategy adopted to deal with
Naxals in the three States and co-ordination among them as Naxals often
from one State to another after committing a crime. The
discussion today will stress on the offensive that will be launched at
the interstate junctions of West Bengal-Jharkhand or Bihar-Jharkhand, as
these areas are considered to be a breeding ground of the Naxalites. Issues
of development will also be discussed during the daylong meet. Director
General of Police (DGP)''s of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and
Border Security Force (BSF) will also attend the meeting along with the
top police officials of the Naxal-affected four states. Source ANI

Eleven Maoists arrested in Lucknow
by
Bhavesh
on Tue 09 Feb 2010 12:46 PM IST
Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh Police arrested eleven Maoists including two members of the central committee of the banned Communist Party of India outfit.
"Chintan and Balraj, both members of the apex central committee of the CPI (Maoist), were among 11 Naxalite leaders arrested in a night raid at Allahabad, Gorakhpur and Kanpur," Karamveer Singh, police chief of Uttar Pradesh, told a news conference here on Monday.
Chintan, 64, has PhD and MPhil degrees from JNU. Balraj, 51, also known as BR and Arvind, is a science graduate.
The nine others arrested are Navin Prasad Singh, Ambreesh, Deepak Ram, Shivraj Singh, Rajendra Kumar Fulara, Kripa Shankar, Seema Azad, Viswavijay and Asha Munda.
According to literature seized from the leaders, the Maoists were planning to expand their organisation in Uttar (North) Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand.
Maoists claim they are fighting for the rights of poor farmers and landless labourers, but are fast losing credibility after attacking schools, hospitals and infrastructure projects.
Source ANI

Pak worried over ‘open ended’ talks with India
by
Bhavesh
on Tue 09 Feb 2010 12:45 PM IST
Islamabad: Pakistan is looking to adopt a tough stance
over India’s offer to resume foreign secretary level talks, as it is
worried about engaging New Delhi in ‘open-ended’ talks, diplomatic
sources said.
According to sources, Islamabad might push for a “result-oriented
dialogue” in order to work out a programme for resolving all outstanding
issues,
Pakistan does not want ‘open-ended talks without any substantial
results.
“We are not interested in just talks ... we are looking for a
fruitful engagement that will result in the solution of real problems
and help bring peace,” sources here said.
“We are expecting a candid exchange of views on all aspects of
relations with India, including the agenda of the talks ... there are
several issues, such as India’s refusal to resume the composite dialogue
immediately,” they added.
During the proposed talks, Pakistan may also seek India’s assurance
that New Delhi would not suspend the peace process in case of another
terrorist attack by “non-state actors”.
The composite peace talks were suspended after the November 2008
Mumbai terror attacks.
While Pakistan has consistently been demanding the resumption of the
peace talks, India has refused to come to the negotiation table until
Islamabad brings 26/11 perpetrators to justice. Source ANI

Karan Johar meets Mumbai's top cop
by
Bhavesh
on Tue 09 Feb 2010 12:42 PM IST
Mumbai: Despite the verbal battle between Bollywood
actor Shahrukh Khan and Shiv Sena activists coming to an end, Bollywood
filmmaker Karan Johar is taking no chances ahead of the release of his
film ''My Name is Khan'' and has met Mumbai Police Commissioner D
Sivanandan.
Johar has sought police security ahead of the film''s release, and
told media that he has received assurances of full protection and that
the film will be released on schedule.
The representatives of the film''s distributor, FOX Searchlight, are
also meeting the top Mumbai cop along with multiplex owners.
Earlier, there were reports that posters of Bollywood flick ''My Name
is Khan'' were being destroyed in Mumbai.
The entire team of the flick ''My Name is Khan'' is worried that
theaters in Mumbai are not selling tickets and there are no advance
bookings.
Earlier, the Shiv Sena was upset with Shahrukh''s statements that
Pakistani cricketers should be allowed to play in the next season of the
Indian Premier League (IPL).
Shiv Sena activists had warned theater owners in Mumbai not to screen
Shahrukh''s upcoming flick releasing on Friday (February 12). Source ANI

Sukhna scam: Charges against Lt Prakash to be framed in Kolkata
by
Bhavesh
on Tue 09 Feb 2010 12:26 PM IST
New Delhi: The charges against former Military Secretary
Lt General (retired) Avadesh Prakash in connection with the Sukhna land
scam are expected to be framed in Kolkata on Wednesday.
It has been reported that over a dozen army officials will be flying
to Kolkata to testify as witnesses when the charges are read out.
The court martial proceedings are likely to begin after a summary of
evidences is presented to the court.
The Armed Forces Tribunal had on Friday issued notice to the army to
produce the findings of the Court of Inquiry (COI) in the Sukna land
scam and raised a number of questions over the role of Lt Gen Avadesh
Prakash in the case.
During the hearing by the two-member tribunal, Prakash''s counsel
Jyoti Singh accused Lt Gen P K Rath, who is also facing a court martial
in this case, of being the main culprit.
Prakash and three other Generals have been indicted by an Eastern
Army Command Court of Inquiry for giving a No-Objection Certificate
(NOC) to a private realtor to construct an educational institute on a
plot of land adjacent to the Sukhna Army base in Darjeeling.
The Court of Inquiry into the Sukhna land scam case, in which three
other Army generals have been indicted, holds Lt General Prakash
responsible for allegedly hiding information and taking undue interest
in promoting the vested agenda of real estate developer and family
friend Dilip Agarwal. Source ANI

Maoists strike ahead of Chidambaram's Kolkata meeting
by
Bhavesh
on Tue 09 Feb 2010 12:23 PM IST
Ranchi/ Patna: Ahead of Union Home Minister P
Chidambaram''s meeting in Kolkata to discuss strategies to counter
Maoists threat, in an audacious strike, the Naxals blew up a stretch of
the railway tracks in Jharkhand''s Giridih district on the third day of
the 72-hour shutdown call given by them on Sunday across the four states
of Jharkhand, Orissa, Bihar and West Bengal.
Police sources said the tracks were blown up under Nimiaghat police
station in the district, adding that the trains on this section have
been stopped on both up and down lines.
There are reports that the Naxals blasted the Howrah-Delhi line at
the Narganjo railway station in Bihar. Earlier on Sunday, a railway
official was killed and a railway track was blown up at the same place.
A government middle school in Khunti district of Jharkhand has also
been blown up by the Naxalites. Source ANI

Chidambaram to discuss strategy to battle Maoists threat
by
Bhavesh
on Tue 09 Feb 2010 12:22 PM IST
Kolkata: Union Home Minister P Chidambaram will on
Tuesday chair a meeting here that has been called by the Centre to help
four Naxal-affected states of West Bengal, Orissa, Bihar and Jharkhand
to co-ordinate their campaign against the Naxals. West Bengal
Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, Orissa Chief Minister Naveen
Patnaik, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Jharkhand Chief Minister
Shibu Soren will attend today''s meeting and chalk out strategies to
counter the Naxal threat. Official sources have said the meeting
will review at length the strategy adopted to deal with Naxals in the
three States and co-ordination among them as Naxals often from one State
to another after committing a crime. The discussion today will
stress on the offensive that will be launched at the interstate
junctions of West Bengal-Jharkhand or Bihar-Jharkhand, as these areas
are considered to be a breeding ground of the Naxalites. Issues
of development will also be discussed during the daylong meet. Director
General of Police (DGP)''s of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and
Border Security Force (BSF) will also attend the meeting along with the
top police officials of the Naxal-affected four states.
Describing Naxalism as a grave threat, Chidambaram had on Sunday said
that the Centre had announced that it would encourage the State
governments to talk to Naxalites if they abjured violence, but they have
spurned the offer. Source ANI
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