China objects to ADB funds for Arunachal: Krishna

NEW DELHI: China had recently objected to Asian Development Bank (ADB) funding an irrigation project in Arunachal Pradesh which is a "clear violation" of the charter of the multilateral lending agency, the government informed the Rajya Sabha on Thursday.

Replying to questions, external affairs minister S M Krishna said India had made it clear to all member nations of ADB that political considerations cannot be cited for prohibiting the bank for evaluating any project.

All member countries on the board of executive directors of ADB except China supported the India funding plans.

"China did not endorse the Country Partnership Strategy (CPS) 2009-12 for India in the board of the ADB on the ground that the proposed India CPS involved technical assistance funding for the Flood and River Erosion Management Project in Arunachal Pradesh which China claims is its territory," he said.

India had told the ADB and all member countries including the US, Japan, Australia, Canada, Indonesia, Korea, Malaysia, Philippines, Germany and Italy that the CPS is not a political document and it does not make any judgement as to the legal or other status of any territory.

The member countries were also told that "China's objection on political grounds is a clear violation of the ADB's charter which prohibits the Bank from evaluating any proposal on grounds other than economic," he said.

"India's CPS was discussed in the meeting of the Board of Executive Directors of the ADB on June 15 and all member countries except China supported the document," Krishna said.

He said New Delhi had conveyed to the ADB member nations including China that Arunachal Pradesh is "an integral part of India and its status is not negotiable."

ADB assistance has to be strictly decided on economic parameters and not on political considerations, he said. "Ultimately ADB had gone with India's point of view."

"We have put across (to China) in the strongest diplomatic language possible that Arunachal Pradesh is an integral part of India," he said.

New Delhi, he said, wanted to resolve the boundary issue with China amicably.

"We have friendly relations with our neighbour China. We are engaged in a multilateral activity with them. Our trade is growing and we would like to continue in that direction," he said.

India and China will meet in New Delhi next month to discuss the boundary issue, he said. "We certainly would like that China-India relationship is normal (and) extend the relationship to some kind of partnership."

"We will have to engage China and come to an understanding," he said.

Krishna said he plans to visit Arunachal Pradesh shortly. Previously, the President and the Prime Minister had visited the state, which was protested by China, he added.

Source and complete story : Times Of India

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Prabhakaran waited for Indian poll results

NEW DELHI: Velupillai Prabhakaran was waiting for the results of Indian elections to plan his next strategy in the 30-year-old civil war in Sri Lanka and was apparently hoping that either the NDA or the Third Front would come to power in New Delhi, but the army there had different plans.

It has now emerged that the 54-year-old slain guerrilla leader was waiting till May 16, the day results of Lok Sabha elections were known, to decide on his and the outfit's future, but it was too late as the Sri Lankan Army had by then cut off all the escape routes.

"Till May 16, he (Prabhakaran) was hoping that someone will interfere and stop the army from entering the final 'No Fire Zone' where he was held up," Sri Lankan Army sources said.

On May 16th afternoon, LTTE announced that it would allow all civilians trapped in the area held by them to leave to safety, apparently after knowing that the Congress, which it believed was hostile to him and the outfit, was set to return to power.

Sources in the Tamil polity in Sri Lanka said the LTTE was hoping that there would be a popular upsurge for it in Tamil Nadu, where the general elections
were fought on the Eelam plank, and that the Third Front or the NDA could come to power.

"This (election results) might have upset Prabhakaran and other leaders of the outfit, but they did not have time to think or plan anything. They were boxed by the Army by that time," the Tamil sources said.

The LTTE chief would have thought that the Third Front and the NDA would not be so hostile as the Congress was, they said, adding that once the people started leaving the war zone, Sri Lankan Army swiftly rescued the civilians and took them to safe zones.

AIADMK's Jayalalithaa, who was part of the Third Front, expressed support to the Sri Lankan Tamils cause and had even promised to send Indian Army to carve out Tamil Eelam from Sri Lanka if a government of her choice came to power in New Delhi.

On May 16 afternoon, LTTE's International Relations head Selvarasa Pathmanathan issued a statement in which the outfit virtually accepted defeat and asked the "global community to save the people of Wanni."

They said Prabhakaran did not expect that the Sri Lankan forces would encircle him and his aides "so soon".

The army also got a tip off from LTTE Sea Tigers chief Soosai's wife, who was taken into custody while trying to flee the island, that Prabhakaran and the top brass were still inside the war zone.

"This emboldened the Army which went all out against the Tigers and virtually encircled them in a 2 sq. km area in the Wanni region on May 16. That gave no chance for any of the Tiger leaders to escape," the sources said.

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BJP should give up 'Hindutva': Vaidya

NAGPUR: Criticising the BJP for its "inconsistency" in toeing the 'Hindutva' policy, senior RSS ideologue M G alias Baburao Vaidya said the party should give up the policy as it has "failed" to attract commoners. Narrating the history of the then Jana Sangh which later converted into BJP, Vaidya, in his weekly column in local Marathi daily 'Tarun Bharat', said BJP had adopted Gandhian socialism, but could not stop itself from being labelled as a communal party.

After the 1984 general elections drubbing, BJP again started chanting 'Hindutva'. BJP came close to power, but could not sustain its strength. Party leaders had no patience and almost forgot 'Hindutva' and its basic principles, the former RSS
spokesperson alleged.

"The party came to power again (in 1999), but after losing it in 2004, it again turned towards 'Hindutva'. BJP mentioned 'Hindutva' in its election manifesto in the just concluded Lok Sabha elections, but it miserably failed to attract the common voters and citizens in the country," Vaidya said.

"The BJP has failed to convey the real meaning of 'Hindutva' to the people. Probably they thought not deemed to climb the pedestal of power with 'Hindutva' line. Hence, BJP should now disassociate itself with 'Hindutva'." he said, but added, "If the BJP gives up its 'Hindutva' line, it will automatically snap its umbilical cord with the Sangh."

However, he said, it would not have any impact on the RSS.

BJP would have ample opportunities to get a modern outlook, Vaidya added.

"If BJP gives up 'Hindutva', regional parties like Trinamool Congress, Biju Janata Dal, Telugu Desam Party will rush to it and internal bickering in the JD(U) will also finish," he said.

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ISI maintains link with militant commanders, says Musharraf

LONDON: Former Pakistan President General Parvez Musharraf has conceded that his country's Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) maintains link with militant commanders like Sirajuddin Haqqani, suspected of having masterminded the attack on the Indian embassy in Kabul.

Musharraf said that ISI had "used Haqqani's influence" to get Pakistan's Ambassador to Afghanistan, who was abducted by Tehrik-e-Taliban chief Baitullah Mehsud, released.

Haqqani, "is the man who has influence over Baitullah Mehsud, a dangerous terrorist, the fiercest commander in South Waziristan and the murderer of Benzir Bhutto, as we know today," Musharraf told Der Spiegel in an interview.

"Mehsud kidnapped our Ambassador in Kabul and our intelligence used Haqqani's influence to get him released. Now that does not mean that Haqqani is supported by us. The intelligence service is using certain enemies against other enemies. And it is better to tackle them one by one than making them all enemies," he said.

On US media reports that ISI had systematically supported Taliban, the former Pakistan President said, "Intelligence always has access to other network -- that is what Americans did with KGB, that is what ISI also does."

Sirajuddin Haqqani is the son of renowned Mujaheedin commander Jalaluddin Haqqani, who is now one of the foremost commanders of Afghan Taliban. Haqqani brothers have been accused of masterminding the attack on Indian embassy in Kabul on July seven, 2008.

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Maya challenges scrapping of NSA against Varun

NEW DELHI: The Uttar Pradesh government moved the Supreme Court challenging the nixing of National Security Act (NSA) against BJP's Varun Gandhi by a state advisory board under the Allahabad High Court.

The state government moved the apex court contending that the state advisory board scrapped invocation of NSA against Gandhi ignoring "cogent evidence" of the state government for invoking the NSA against him.

Blogs: Varun's clean chit does not prove BJP right

The filing of the petition in the apex court's registry was confirmed by Uttar Pradesh's advocate-on-record G.V. Rao.

The Uttar Pradesh advisory board had scrapped the state government's decision to invoke the NSA against Varun Gandhi, saying that the step was too harsh.

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Amar Singh accused of provoking Jayaprada to commit suicide

LUCKNOW: Samajwadi Party (SP) general secretary Amar Singh has been accused of provoking actress-turned politician and party's Rampur Lok Sabha candidate Jayaprada to commit suicide, the police said Tuesday.

The complaint against the SP general secretary was made by the supporters of the party's senior leader Azam Khan, the officials added.

"We have accepted the complaint against Amar Singh, but a case against him would be registered after the completion of the inquiry that is underway," district police chief Jyoti Narayan said over phone.

He said that while addressing an election rally in Rampur Sunday, Amar Singh allegedly said that in case of defeat in elections, Jayaprada could commit suicide. "After completing the inquiry, probably by today (Tuesday) evening, we will register a case against Amar Singh," the police official added.

There is a major dispute between Amar Singh and Azam Khan over the candidature of Jayaprada from Rampur, with Amar Singh backing her while Khan an

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Efforts to bring back Somnath into CPM: Buddhadeb

KOLKATA: West Bengal chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee has said he has been making efforts in his "own way" to bring leaders like Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee back into the CPM fold.

"I miss him. For us, losing a personality like Somnath and a leader like him ... on the part of the party and also on a personal level is a bit painful," Bhattacharjee said in an interview to a local television channel.

The chief minister was asked if it would be possible to set aside personal feelings and egos to get leaders like Chatterjee and former MP Saifuddin Chowdhury, who had been expelled from the CPM, back into the party fold.

Bhattacharjee replied: "An individual doesn't make the party. The party is made up of several people. I can say this much that I am doing it in my own way".

The chief minister, however, did not specify whether his efforts were intended towards the return of both leaders or only Chatterjee.

"I won't say anything specifically. I have talked to my colleagues on this issue in Delhi and Kolkata," he said.

Chowdhury, who formed the Party for Democratic Socialism (PDS), however, said: "No body has talked to me on this".

"May be his (Bhattacharjee's) attitude is that we should return. But he knows why we came out of the party. He also knows whether such a possibility exists or not," he said.

Chowdhury is contesting the Lok Sabha elections from Jadavpu PDS ticket.

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Hanging Afzal does not suit UPA: Modi

LUDHIANA: Attacking the UPA on alleged delay in executing Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru, Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said the government was indulging in "votebank politics " and "hanging Guru does not suit its interests".

"The Congress-led UPA is indulging in votebank politics and hanging Guru does not suit its interests," Modi said, a day after Rahul Gandhi defended his party saying Afzal will be hanged when his turn comes.

"Out of 29 persons who are on death row, cases of 26 have been processed and only three cases including that of Afzal Guru are pending, Modi told an NDA "Maha Rally" at PUDA ground here, which witnessed a major show of strength with party stalwarts and alliance leaders attending it.

Rahul Gandhi while addressing a rally at Mohali in Punjab on Saturday evening had said Afzal Guru was twenty second on the list of those to be hanged.

"There is a huge line and there are others before him. When his number (turn) comes, he will be hanged."

Modi launched a blistering attack, saying "During Congress regime there is a huge line for everything, be it for getting ration cards, gas connections... Congress General Secretary (Rahul) says Afzal is in queue. Never before have we heard that even for hanging a person, there is a queue. This is unfortunate for the country".

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Moily removed as AICC media head

NEW DELHI: M Veerappa Moily, who launched a surprise attack on JD(U) leader Nitish Kumar, has been abruptly removed as chairman of the Congress media department.

He has been replaced by AICC General Secretary Janardan Dwivedi, who had been holding the charge earlier, party sources said on Saturday.

The removal of Moily is believed to be due to the displeasure of the party high command over his remarks against the Bihar Chief Minister, who was sought to be wooed by party leader Rahul Gandhi.

Moily had on Friday said that Congress is not going to "make a hero" of Nitish Kumar.

"I do not think Congress is going to make a hero of Nitish Kumar, the manner in which he has aligned with BJP and is carrying on...that kind of pollution of his secular credentials with the communal," Moily had said.

When asked about the Congress decision to relieve him of his charge as AICC media head, Moily, who is in Bangalore, merely said that he had given the charge to Dwivedi as he would be away in Karnataka till May 17.

Moily is contesting elections from Chikkballapur in Karnataka.

In a flip-flop yesterday, the AICC media head had first attacked Railway Minister Lalu Prasad and LJP Chief Ramvilas Paswan in the wake of reports that they were boycotting the meeting of the union cabinet but later softened to say that they were part of the UPA and would be back in a UPA government.

The sources said Moily had exceeded his brief on earlier occasions too and had created an awkward situation for the party.

Moily, who had been the party's media department chief for quite some time, had handed over the charge to Dwivedi last month when he went to Karnataka and had resumed the responsibilities only last week.

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RJD, LJP insulted Congress: Moily

NEW DELHI: The spat between the Congress and its partners in the government, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and Lok Janshakti Party (LJP), went up a notch Friday, with the Congress spokesperson accusing them of "insulting" it over seat-sharing in Bihar.

"We should be more angry. We never wronged them... It's only Paswan (Ram Vilas Paswan of LJP) and Laluji (Lalu Prasad of RJD) for reasons best known to them, they left us only two seats," Moily told reporters here.

The RJD and LJP chiefs, key members of the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA), seem to be annoyed over Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi's praise of Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar.

The Congress' ties with the RJD as well as the LJP have been strained to the breaking point over seat-sharing in Bihar. Rahul Gandhi's comments about Nitish Kumar added to the tensions.

But the Congress was now in a fighting mood. "They left us only two out of 40 seats in Bihar. A national party like the Congress party can't gulp this kind of insult," said Moily.

He added that had there been "harmonious discussions" before the elections, "the situation would not have come to this".

Moily also had harsh words for the Bihar chief minister after wooing him. Unhappy over Nitish Kumar's rebuff to the Congress, Moily said that he "thinks too much of himself". "He will regret staying with BJP. We are not reaching out to him".

Lalu Prasad and Paswan, meanwhile, decided to skip Friday's cabinet meeting.

In Kolkata, Paswan said he was skipping the cabinet meeting as he had a previously scheduled election meeting in the West Bengal capital. "Moreover, there was no agenda of my ministry (in the cabinet meeting)," he added.

Denying any tensions over Rahul Gandhi's remarks on Nitish Kumar, Paswan said: "The Congress has already clarified what Rahulji wanted to say. I am with the UPA. LJP, RJD is with the UPA. And we will remain with UPA."

The steel minister added that any overtures by the Congress and the Left to Nitish Kumar will be unsuccessful. "What is the reality? Nitish kumar is with the BJP. And if anybody wants to talk with Nitish, then first he has to leave the BJP. I don't think that he will leave BJP."

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