BJP demands delimitation of constituencies be conducted in J&K

NEW DELHI: Even as the Amarnath issue shows no signs of abating, the BJP on Wednesday demanded that delimitation of constituencies should be conducted in Jammu and Kashmir as done in the rest of the country.

"We demand that the delimitation process should be started at the earliest in Jammu and Kashmir. It has been due for a long time," BJP senior leader Venkaiah Naidu told reporters in New Delhi.

The Kuldip Singh Commission initiated the delimitation exercise in the country in 2002. Interestingly, the BJP-led NDA government, which appointed the commission, had agreed with other political parties at that time that Jammu and Kashmir should be exempted from the delimitation process.

The present demand from the BJP has come at a time when Jammu and Kashmir is on the boil with growing chasm between people from Jammu and those from the valley (Kashmir).

Making the demand for delimitation, BJP argued that Jammu had been discriminated against in allotment of assembly and Lok Sabha constituencies.

"The Election Commission figures show that of approximately 56.12 lakh voters, 28,92,290 are from the Jammu region while 25,46,913 are from Kashmir. Around 1.73 lakh voters are from Ladakh," the BJP leader said.

To further strengthen his argument, Naidu said the area occupied by Jammu is 26,000 sq km while Kashmir occupies only 15,000 sq km.

Source : Hindustan Times

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Continuing protests in the valley leave 42 injured

NEW DELHI/KASHMIR: Forty two persons were injured on Wednesday in police firing at various places in Kashmir, as demonstrations continued across the city over the economic blockade of the valley by Shri Amarnath Sangharsh Samiti in Jammu.

Four persons received bullet injuries when CRPF personnel opened fire on a group of protesters being chased by police in Delow village of Rajpora area in Pulwama distict, official sources said.

The protesters were engaged in clashes with police when the latter fired tear smoke shells to chase them away. As the protestors were retreating into the village, CRPF personnel from nearby camp opened fire on them, injuring four of them.

Three of the injured have been referred to a hospital in Srinagar in critical condition, the sources said.

Police and paramilitary forces opened fire at Kralkhud area of the city, injuring six persons, two of them critically, they said.

The group of agitators had tried to dismantle a bunker of CRPF in Kralkhud area, promting the law enforcing agencies to open fire, the sources said.

The protesters fought pitched battles with the security personnel prompting the latter to open fire in which five persons were injured at Habbakadal in the city, they said.

The injured where shifted to hospital where condition of one of the injured, Tanveer Ahmad of Tankipora locality, was stated to be critical.

In Bemina, one person was injured when CRPF personnel opened fire on a group of protesters, the sources said, adding the mob then set afire the building of Srinagar Development Authority.

Source : Hindustan Times

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JHU wants further debates on National issue

COLOMBO: Jathika Hela Urumaya will not participate in the All Party Representative Committee proceedings until the Committee puts before the public the dynamics of conflicting opinions, which have held back the APRC from reaching a consensus to provide a political solution to the national issue.

The Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) has informed President Mahinda Rajajpaksa in writing that it will not participate in APRC meetings unti the conflicting opinion concerned are put before the public for their analysis and concern.

JHU General Secretary Ven. Omalpe Sobhitha Thera said, he has sent a letter to the President stating the JHU believes that it will be futile to drag discussions on the opinions concerned.

The Committee’s efforts to reach a consensus on them have proved unsuccessful in spite of prolonged and earnest discussions the committee had in this connection for over two years.

” Hence, we believe it will be futile to have further discussions in this regard. Accordingly, we have taken the stance that the dynamics of these conflicting opinions be brought before the public so that they will come out with their own opinion about the nature of these opinions, said the Thera.

He said they have also requested President Rajapaksa to summon the APRC.

The APRC was set up by President Mahinda Rajapaksa fulfilling an election pledge in the Mahinda Chinthana to reach a consensus among all political parties in Parliament to provide a political solution to the country’s North and East.

Source : The Daily News

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Hasina remains outside the Country on parole

DHAKA: A Special Court at the Parliament Complex has directed Awami League President Sheikh Hasina and other accused in Mig-29 fighter plane graft suit to appear before it on August 20 in a bid to frame charges against them. Yesterday as the defence counsels prayed to the Court for not framing charges(The Bangladesh Today)

against Hasina during her absence, Judge Golam Mortuza Mojumdar of Dhaka Divisional Special Court passed this order.

The Court's order is handed down for appearance of Hasina at a moment when she remains in USA for treatment following government's extension of her temporary release for one month more. She was also exempted from her personal appearance in the case on June 9.

Talking to The Bangladesh Today, one of Hasina's counsels Abdul Mannan Khan said, "On August 20-the day fixed for Hasina's appearance we will produce before the Court the government order extending temporary release of Hasina for one month more. We will also ask for not framing charges against Hasina in this case as the law does not permit framing of charges in absentia."

But Public Prosecutor ABM Sharfuddin Khan Mukul explained the legal proposition otherwise saying that there is no bar as to framing charges against an accused who has been exonerated from appearing before the Court.

Meanwhile, another accused in the case, former chief of army staff Gen (Retd) Muhammad Mustafizur Rahman Bir Bikram died on August 3 and his lawyer SM Kamrul Hassan submitted before the Court the death certificate of his client.

Earlier the Special Court initiated charge framing hearing in the case as the Supreme Court on March 18 finally cleared the way for resuming the stalled trial proceedings. The trial proceeding was halted by the higher Court following seven petitions filed by Hasina and others under Section 561 Cr.P.C praying for quashing the case against them.

Names of Brig Gen (retd) Iftekhar-Ul-Bashar and former deputy secretary Hasan Mahmood Delwar were dropped from the list of accused due to lack of evidence while former Army Chief Mustafizur Rahman, Air Commodore (Retd) Mirza Akhter Maruf, former joint secretary Hossain Serniabat and businessman Nur Ali were indicted in the case after investigators found their involvement in the alleged scam.

Finally those who are facing the case now include former Air Force chief Air Vice Marshal (Retd) Jamaluddin Ahmed, former defence secretary Syed Yusuf Hossain, former defence joint secretary Mohammad Hossain Sherniabat, retired Air Commodore Mirza Akhtar Maruf and Nur Ali.


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Source : News from Bangladesh

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Khaleda will not apply for release - News from Bangladesh

DHAKA: Former prime minister Khaleda Zia will not apply to the government for her release, a lawyer said Tuesday.

After visiting her in special jail, advocates Ahmed Azam Khan and Shamsur Rahman Shimul Biswas told reporters that Khaleda believed the cases filed against her have no basis and she thinks those cases are bailable.

"[Khaleda Zia] said the government has detained her on unfounded cases. She will not apply for her release," said Azam Khan.

She said there was no substance in the cases filed against her or her two sons, he said.

Khaleda enquired about the health of her detained elder son Tarique Rahman, her lawyers said.

She expressed concern over his health and urged the government to send him abroad as soon as possible, they said.

Advocate Simul Biswas said Khaleda had urged party leaders, supporters and countrymen to remain united.

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Source : Independant Bangladesh

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Pak to approach UN over situation in J&K

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has said that it started approaching global bodies like the UN over the "deteriorating situation" in Jammu and Kashmir, ignoring India's warning that such statements amount to "clear interference" in its internal affairs and will undermine the composite dialogue process.

Pakistan Foreign Office spokesman Mohammad Sadiq said Islamabad is "deeply concerned over the deteriorating situation" in the Indian state that is "resulting in loss of life and property of the Kashmiri people".

Earlier, Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi described the police action in Jammu and Kashmir as the "excessive and unwarranted use of force" against people, drawing strong reaction from India which said such statements constitute clear interference in internal affairs of an integral part of the country.

Replying to a question on the situation in Jammu and Kashmir, the spokesman said Pakistan has "set in motion" the process to call on the "international community, in particular the UN, Organisation of the Islamic Conference and human rights organisations to take notice".

The world community and global organisation would also be asked to "impress upon India to observe restraint and rein in the extremist elements that are seeking economic destruction of the Kashmiri people", Sadiq said.
Replying to a question on India's assertion that Pakistan's statements on the Kashmir issue could affect the composite dialogue process, Sadiq said Jammu and Kashmir was a "disputed territory" according to UN resolutions.

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Source : Times Of India

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Third Pakistani Assembly ( SINDH) votes against Musharraf

KARACHI: The Sindh Assembly on Wednesday became the third of Pakistan's four provinces to adopt a resolution asking President Pervez Musharraf to face a vote of confidence or resign, in yet another sign of eroding support for him ahead of an impeachment motion in Parliament.

"President Musharraf is not a suitable candidate for the post of Presidency," Provincial Law Minister Ayaz Soomro said tabling the motion which said that if Musharraf failed to do either, he should be impeached in Parliament.

"The resolution is adopted," Assembly Speaker Nisar Khuhro said after a voice vote as members chanted "Go Musharraf, Go!"

Some of the opposition members of PML-Q, a Musharraf ally, voted in favour of the motion while others boycotted. The Muttahida Quami Movement of Altaf Hussain also stayed away.

The Sindh provincial assembly was the third province to approve the non-binding motion against Musharraf after Punjab and North West Frontier Province since the ruling coalition announced last week that it would impeach the president.

The provincial votes are seen as a way of putting pressure on Musharraf, who has not spoken himself on the move but made it clear through his aides that he will not quit.

The coalition says it is still finalising a "comprehensive and strong" chargesheet against Musharraf and expects to introduce the impeachment motion in the national parliament next week.

If it succeeds in getting the two-thirds majority in a combined sitting of the National Assembly and the Senate to topple the president, it would be the first in Pakistan's 61-year history.

Related Stories : Political Turmoil in Pakistan

Source : Times Of India

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Despite warning, Pak interferes in J&K again

NEW DELHI: Despite New Delhi's warning to Pakistan to keep out of India's internal affairs, Islamabad has once again raked up the Jammu and Kashmir issue and sought immediate end to the violence in the state.

Ignoring India's strong reaction to its comments on the situation in Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, who visited the All Parties Hurriyat Conference office in Islamabad to express condolences over the death of Kashmiri separatist leader Sheikh Abdul Aziz, regretted what he described as the excessive use of force by Indian security forces.

Qureshi said, "Pakistan regrets the excessive use of force by Indian security forces against the Kashmiri people and calls for an immediate end to violence in Jammu and Kashmir."

Qureshi also said that Pakistan calls for immediate steps to address the situation and prevent the human rights violations in Jammu and Kashmir.

The statement came just a day after India strongly reacted to earlier comments by Pakistan on Jammu and Kashmir, terming these as clear interference in the country's internal affairs.

MEA Spokesman Navtej Sarna reacted to the statements made by Qureshi, who had earlier too reiterated that Pakistan condemned the excessive and unwarranted use of force against the people of Indian occupied Kashmir, saying it did not provide a suitable environment to sustain the peace process and address the long standing dispute of Jammu and Kashmir.

Source : Times Of India

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US envoy seeks safe passage for Musharraf, Nawaz opposes

LAHORE: PML-N Quaid Mian Nawaz Sharif on Tuesday said Gen (retd) Pervez Musharraf did not deserve any safe passage, since he sowed the seeds of hatred between the people of Pakistan and the Army, resulting in the death of innocent people.

He said this during a meeting with US Ambassador Anne W Patterson, who called on him at his Raiwind residence.During the meeting, the US ambassador sought a safe passage for President Musharraf, while Mian Nawaz Sharif told her that parliament is the right forum for all the decisions in accordance with the wishes and aspirations of the people.

Matters relating to the impeachment motion, the ongoing military operation in Fata and the current political situation in the country were discussed.The ambassador said her country was committed to supporting the democratic government in Pakistan. She said: “We wish to see a solid political system in Pakistan.” The war against terrorism is not only in the interest of the US, but it is also in favour of Pakistan as well as the world.

Nawaz Sharif opposed any outside interference and said that it would harm the sovereignty of Pakistan. He said the operation in the tribal areas badly damaged the country and condemned bombardment in tribal areas and said the nation would not accept it.


Source : The News - Jang Group

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Impeachment resolution tabled in Sindh Assembly

KARACHI: Impeachment’s resolution against President Pervez Musharraf has been presented in Sindh Assembly today.

Provincial Law Minister Ayaz Soomro tabled the impeachment motion in the Assembly session chaired by its Speaker Nisar Khuhro.

Resolution demands the president to take vote of confidence from the Sindh Assembly.

Ayaz Soomro said, “President Musharraf is not a suitable candidate for the post of presidency. On this occasion, Opposition Leader Jam Madad Ali said government was taking unconstitutional steps.

MQM members of Sindh Assembly did not attend the session.

Sindh Assembly has 168 members in which PPP has 93, MQM 51, Muslim League-F 8, PML-Q 7 and National People Party has three members.

Source : The News - Jang Group

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Tawang dispute holding back talks

KUALA LUMPUR – India and China will hold the next round of boundary talks soon but the lingering dispute over the Buddhist enclave of Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh is preventing efforts by the two countries to “cross the rubicon,” National Security Adviser M K Narayanan has said, reports PTI. “We are working toward an agreed framework. Five or six points, the more difficult points are settled. What is important is that areas of convergence are increasing. But areas of divergence remain. Tawang, in Arunachal Pradesh state, remains the most important,” Narayanan, also the Special Representative to the India-China boundary talks said.

“Till that (the issue of Tawang) is settled whatever else we may do, it is difficult to say we have crossed the rubicon,” Narayanan said in an interview to Straits Times of Singapore.

He said “when they (the Chinese) talk in terms of movement forward, they keep arguing Tawang has always been a part of Tibet, which is a matter of debate.”

Tawang, nestled among the mountains in Arunachal Pradesh has long been a serious bone of contention between India and China. He noted that the two sides have an agreement worked out in 2005 that areas of settled populations were not negotiable.

“Tawang is an area with substantial settled populations. Not a small number. It flies in the face of guiding principles and political parameters (for China to demand it). How we work out.. whether I have the ingenuity or Mr Dai (Bingguo, the Chinese Special Representative) has the flexibility, we will see,” Narayanan said.

Though he dismissed reports that the boundary talks have “gone cold,” Narayanan acknowledged that he could not hold talks with Dai during the last six months.

“They (the talks) have not gone cold. Far from it. Last six months they put everything on hold. Next month we will be holding the talks. It is my turn to go across (to China),” Narayanan said, without giving a specific date for talks.

“We were supposed to meet earlier this year but my counterpart Dai Bingguo was getting upgraded,” Narayanan said referring to the Chinese official’s elevation as a State Councillor from Vice Foreign Minister.

“So there was doubt whether he would be the interlocutor. By the time that got settled they got into the Olympic mode. We have been in touch. We are very comfortable, quite happy with the progress we have made,” he said.

Commenting on reports of frequent Chinese army intrusions into India, he said: “Chinese have been a little more assertive in all the areas that are treated as disputed.

“They have been careful not to intrude into any area which is either not disturbed or which by their very careful assessment does not fall within what they regard as their area,” he said.

“But we don’t realise why they should increase the frequency of their visits to the areas,” Narayanan said.

He noted that the areas “they are visiting” were exactly the same as they have done over the years but their frequency in the last year or so have gone up.

“We have not been able to fathom this but once again I would take the views of the political leadership,” he said, adding that the leadership of India and China were absolutely clear to maintain peace and tranquillity.

“Yes there will be instances of this kind. We haven’t settled the border. It’s not demarcated or delineated. There will always be a certain amount of discomfort. We are careful,” he said.

“We don’t wish to do something which would aggravate the situation from either side,” the NSA said.

Narayanan also noted that the Indian Army has been making a “fair” amount of noise over the Chinse incursions.

“We are conscious of it. The instructions are that you cannot be complacent because you have to guard our border. From our side there will be no provocative action.”

The unresolved Sino-Indian boundary issue has hampered the normal development of bilateral ties, with frequent reports of incursions, hurting the overall relations.

Unable to find a negotiated settlement through the diplomatic channels, India and China appointed Special Representatives in June 2003 to address the border issue from a political perspective of the overall bilateral relations.

India says China is illegally occupying 43,180 sq kms of Jammu and Kashmir including 5,180 sq km illegally ceded to Beijing by Islamabad under the Sino-Pakistan boundary agreement in 1963. On the other hand, China accuses India of possessing some 90,000 sq km of Chinese territory, mostly in Arunachal Pradesh.

Source : Assam Tribune

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NDA accuses Lalu of land-for-job scam

The ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in Bihar has demanded an independent probe into the alleged “land-for-job” scam in the Railways and has asked Union Railway Minister Lalu Prasad be sacked.

The NDA plans to meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress president Sonia Gandhi in the next 15 days with their demands. They have demanded a probe into Lalu’s assets.

“After the fodder scam, Lalu has not changed. This is another big scam in the making. He is a habitual offender and an example of fall in political values in the country,” JD (U) state president Rajiv Ranjan Singh said. He submitted over 500 land documents at a press conference organised at the party office on Tuesday, in follow up to a sting telecast by a TV channel on Sunday.

The channel had allegedly shown how the railway minister misused his position to acquire land for his relatives. The channel also alleged his colleagues Raghunath Jha and Kanti Singh had “gifted” land worth lakhs to Lalu’s son to get berths in the cabinet.

Singh said Lalu had been on a “land-grab spree” since he became railway minister. “The market value of land acquired through different means, be it in lieu of job or giving Railway property on lease or accepting land as gift would be more than Rs 100 crore,” Singh allleged.


Source : By Vijay Swaroop, Hindustan Times

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FANS fight over mega venue : Southern Star Chiranjeevis Political Debut

TIRUPATI: After the announcement comes the jostling. Less than 24 hours after megastar Chiranjeevi made clear his political intentions, a fight has broken out between his fan groups over the proposed site of the public meeting the star-turned-politician is scheduled to address here sometime next week.

Permission has been sought from the district authorities to hold the meeting—most likely on August 26— at Avilala Tank near the Padmavati temple in Tiruchanur. Spread over 183 acres, the government land can accommodate about 5-6 lakh people but the district authorities told Chiranjeevi that a lot of bushes on the ground need to be cleared.

Thus even as clearing of the bushes is under way, the authorities advised the megastar to scout for an alternative site.

The second site offered is Nandikunta, a 40-acre government land also located in Tiruchanur. This can accommodate about 3-4 lakh people, district authorities said.

Chiranjeevi's brother-in-law Allu Arvind inspected the sites on Tuesday and according to sources, is inclined to settle for Avilala Tank as the venue.

However, a final decision would be taken after the megastar's brother Nagababu inspects the two sites on Wednesday, the sources added.

In the meantime, two local Chiru fans' association leaders are fighting over the venue. While Ashok Samrat Yadav belonging to the Chiranjeevi Seva Dal wants the Avilala Tank to be the venue of the meeting, C R Rajan of the Chiranjeevi Yuva Sena wants the meeting to he held at Nandikunta.

According to sources, both these leaders are not that well known even in Tirupati and that they are pitching for the two venues in order to get into the good books of Chiranjeevi.

Some predict that attempts by various fans and political leaders jostling for Chiranjeevi's attention will only increase in the coming days.

"We are well aware of that. That is why over 2,500 volunteers have been trained to protect Chiranjeevi when he comes here for the public meeting. Also, we will ensure that the public is seated at least 100 feet away from the dais from where the megastar will speak," a Chiru loyalist said.


Source : Times Of India

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VHP, BJP protests hit traffic in Delhi, Mumbai

NEW DELHI: The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) on Wednesday began its nationwide protest against the cancellation of land transfer to the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) by blocking roads and disrupting train services across the country.

Traffic hit in NCR

Traffic was affected and several people were stranded in many parts of the national Capital region on Wednesday as a number of BJP and VHP activists blocked roads as part of their nationwide 'chakka jam' agitation over the Amarnath land row.

Vehicular movement was badly affected here on the busy Vikas Marg, Akshardham, Deepali Chowk, Wazirpur, Moolchand and the Delhi-Jaipur Highway.

Carrying VHP flags, slogan-shouting supporters of the Sangh Parivar started assembling at various intersections at about 9 am for their two-hour nationwide road blockade stir.

Delhi BJP unit president Harsh Vardhan led the protesters at Noida More near Lakshmi Nagar in east Delhi blocking traffic on Vikas Marg.

A senior police official said adequate security measures were taken in view of the protest.

VHP general secretary Pravin Togadia said the agitation programme of the VHP demanding immediate transfer of forest land to the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board could culminate into a nationwide movement on the lines of 'Chalo Ayodhya'.

However, the group had on Tuesday said vehicles heading to schools and hospitals would not be stopped.

Traffic hit in Mumbai
Traffic in the metropolis and neighbouring Navi Mumbai was disrupted at some places as VHP and Bajrang Dal activists set up road blocks as part of their nationwide agitation.

In Navi Mumbai, VHP and Bajrang Dal workers threw old tyres on roads and set them on fire to block passage of vehicles.

VHP general secretary Pravin Togadia said: "The central government must give the land to the Amarnath shrine board; otherwise our protest will continue."

For the last two months, Jammu and Kashmir has witnessed unparalleled strife along communal lines over the allotment of 40 hectares of land in north Kashmir to the Amarnath shrine board, which manages the pilgrimage to the cave shrine dedicated to Lord Shiva.

The allotment was revoked due to protests in the Muslim-majority Kashmir valley, which incensed people in the Hindu-majority Jammu region.

Source : Times Of India

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Musharraf likely to resign soon after August 14: Report

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf has finally decided to step down soon after Pakistan Independence Day (August 14), according to Pakistan daily WAQT News here on Tuesday.

Highly placed sources have told WAQT News, Musharraf has been ensured a safe exit after he resigns.

Musharraf is likely to demand an opportunity to address the nation before formally announcing his resignation.

Earlier on Tuesday, Pakistan’s ruling coalition said the impeachment motion against Musharraf will be submitted in parliament next week.

Two of the four provincial assemblies in Pakistan have passed resolutions asking Musharraf to seek a vote of confidence in parliament.

Once the process of the four provincial assemblies passing resolutions asking the President to seek a vote of confidence is completed, the impeachment motion will be moved in the national assembly.


Source : Times Of India

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Soren adamant on becoming CM

NEW DELHI/RANCHI: Jharkhand appeared headed for a spell of central rule with the UPA leadership not keen on presiding over any change of guard in the state, given the tough task of convincing eight Independent legislators to support Shibu Soren as chief minister in place of Madhu Koda.

Brushing niceties aside, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha boss Soren bluntly told UPA leaders at a meeting here on Tuesday that he wanted the top post for himself and — as the alliance's largest party as well as the state's tallest leader — he had a "right" to demand so.

Congress and Rashtriya Janata Dal, which prop up the Koda government from outside, told Soren that they had nothing against his claim, but asserted that it would be his job — not theirs — to convince the eight Independents for a change of leadership. This could prove to be the end of Disom Guru's second chance to steer a state created in 2000 after five decades of a movement that became synonymous with him.

Koda himself is an Independent and the rest eight are his ministers. The JMM, with 17 MLAs, has three representatives in the cabinet, stretching it to the maximum permissible limit of 12. Political parties are so precariously placed in the 82-member Assembly that Independents must support any UPA regime lest it crumbles.
Congress with nine members and RJD with seven take the UPA's strength in the House to 42.

The UPA leadership, content with the status quo in Jharkhand, is not keen to prick either side, considering that while JMM supported Manmohan Singh during the July 22 trust vote, RJD chief Lalu Prasad has always backed Koda as CM.

Soren's unpredictable ways — he insists that besides the CM's post, JMM would get two ministerial berths at Centre — could be behind government deferring a session of Parliament to avoid any embarrassment from JMM even though many crucial economic legislations are awaiting passage.

Till recently, the Congress spearheaded an oust-Koda campaign in Jharkhand but the party's state in-charge Ajay Maken was told to go slow as BJP stormed to power in Karnataka and Himachal Pradesh. But Congressmen like Union minister Subodh Kant Sahay, state party chief Pradeep Kumar Balmuchu and senior leader Niel Tirkey still wanted a change.

Sahay, who was present at Tuesday's meeting, is believed to have reminded Soren of the campaign and JMM's lukewarm response to it then. But sticking to his guns after the meeting, Soren announced that the UPA leadership has already asked Koda to resign "at the earliest" as he (Soren) was to be the CM. "If that does not happen, we will withdraw support," he warned.

JMM's five MPs and all MLAs are slated to meet in Ranchi on August 17 to take a final call. But deputy CM Stephen Marandi, Soren's trusted friend of years who quit JMM to contest as an Independent, is opposed to any change. Marandi said in Ranchi that all eight Independents were against any change of guard. Koda, too, insisted his government was safe. Asked about the eight Independents, Soren said no one was against him.

Congress leaders said the matter was yet to be decided at the highest level in the party as RJD chief Lalu Prasad clarified he had no objection to Soren becoming CM provided everyone was taken along.

Source : Times Of India

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State Congress poll panel formed

JAIPUR: All the members of the steering committee of state Congress have been nominated in the key election committee, responsible for finalising candidates for the Assembly election. The list was approved by Congress president Sonia Gandhi after a meeting with state president CP Joshi in Delhi on Tuesday.

Party general secretary Mumtaz Masih said the committee would be headed by Joshi. The presidents of all the four frontal organisations will also be the members of the committee. It will have leader of opposition Hema Ram Choudhry, former chief ministers Jaganath Pahadia and Ashok Gehlot, Paras Ram Maderna, Sis Ram Ola, Girija Vyas, Namo Narayan Meena, Santosh Ba-grodia, Kamla, Banwari Lal Berwa, Narayan Singh, Ram Narayan Choudhry, BD Kalla, AA Ahmed Loharu, Prabha Thakur, Shanti Dhariwal, Tayyab Hussain, Sachin Pilot, national secretaries Sanjay Bapna, Harendra Mirdha and Jitendra Singh and Karan Singh Yadav as its members.

It has been observed for the past more than two decades that the election committee, barring finalising the panel, does not have much role to play except passing a one-line resolution entrusting the party president the responsibility of finalising the candidates. The names are after all finalised by the high command at Delhi. The ticket-seekers also lobby at that level as the state committee has a very little or no say in it.

It is learnt that national general secretary Rahul Gandhi, like his late father Rajiv Gandhi, is keen to infuse young blood for the November elections and Joshi has already been briefed about sending a panel of young candidates. It is likely that a few old faces would pave the way for youngsters. In some cases, the kin of the sitting MLAs may be preferred. According to a party source, as many as 110 out of the 200 candidates would be new faces if Gandhi has his way.

If the Antony formula is followed, a number of sitting MLAs may not get the tickets.

The A K Antony committee's report has suggested that all those who lost in the last Assembly election by 15,000 votes, those who lost for two consecutive times, those who lost the parliamentary election and also lost from their own constituency, rebels and those who are above 65 years of age should not be given tickets. At least 35 leaders, including several sitting MLAs and former ministers, would not be eligible for party's nominations if the recommendation is adopted in toto.

Source : Times Of India

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Illegal Bangladeshis threat to security: Delhi High Court

NEW DELHI: Days after a judge of Guwahati High Court (HC) hit out against influx of illegal Bangladeshi migrants into Assam, it is Delhi High Court which has expressed alarm and said this trend has "serious implications for internal security."

"The influx of Bangladeshis who have illegally migrated poses a threat to integrity and security of India," Justice S L Bhayana observed on Tuesday while upholding an order of Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) to deport four members of a Bangladeshi family living in the capital since 1990.

The court further noted, "The large scale influx of illegal migrants has led to large tracts of sensitive borders. This has serious implication for internal security." It added that "on account of variety of reasons, including religious and economic, it is difficult to make a realistic estimate of the number of illegal migrants."

While dismissing a petition filed by a Bangladeshi woman Razia Begum seeking a stay on the deportation order passed by FRRO in April this year against five members of her family, Delhi HC concluded that the ration card and nationality certificates obtained by them were forged and fabricated. "A foreign national cannot automatically be deemed to be an Indian citizen without complying with law," the judge held, rejecting the woman’s claim that they have been staying in Mehrauli area since 1980. HC made it clear those Bangladeshis nationals who have illegally migrated to India or trespassed, have no legal right of any kind to remain in the country and are liable to be deported.

On December 27 last year, the staff of FRRO had apprehended 16 Bangladeshis from police station Khanpur area as they were allegedly staying in the country without valid documents. The FRRO passed an order on April 23 this year for deportation of the illegal migrants.

"The order of deportation is not a punishment but a method of ensuring the return to his own country of an alien who has not complied with conditions," HC explained, saying in order to establish India’s citizenship the petitioners should have produced date of birth/place/name of parents/place of birth and citizenship, none of which was done in this case.


Source : Times Of India

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Musharraf's ouster will boost terror outfits: Indian National Security Advisor

NEW DELHI: Pakistan president Pervez Musharraf's removal would create a political "vacuum" that would give free rein to all the Islamist terrorist outfits which target India, says national security adviser MK Narayanan.

In an interview to the Straits Times , Narayanan said, "It (the impeachment) leaves a big vacuum and we are deeply concerned about this vacuum because it leaves the radical extremist outfits with freedom to do what they like, not merely on the Pak-Afghan border but clearly our side of the border too. Like nature abhors a vacuum, we abhor the political vacuum that exists in Pakistan. It greatly worries us."

Pakistan has just begun an impeachment process against Musharraf, a process he intends to fight tooth and nail. This is polarising further an already polarised polity inside Pakistan. But mostly, it's creating greater space for government agencies like the ISI to strike out on their own even more, something that culminated in the attack on the Indian embassy in Kabul on July 7, killing Indian diplomats, a first of its kind.

The trail has led surely to the ISI, which planned the operation with the Taliban, a fact that has been corroborated by the US, Afghanistan, India and everybody else that is monitoring the situation there.

Narayanan said, "ISI is behind it, according to whatever information we have. We would expect that the (political leadership of Pakistan) would take some action against it. Either against rogue elements in it, or an ISI operating without control."

India's stand has been corroborated by the NATO commander in Afghanistan over the weekend, who said the ISI assistance has resulted in a 50% increase in terror attacks this year. "There certainly is a level of ISI complicity in the militant areas in Pakistan and organisations such as the Taliban," US General David D McKiernan said in another interview.

"I can't say to what level of leadership that goes to but there are indications of complicity on the part of ISI...to the extent that they are facilitating these militant groups that come out of the tribal areas in Pakistan."

Despite the relative silence on the subject in India, the Kabul blast has also effectively killed the India-Pakistan peace process. The NSA stripped the composite dialogue bare of all pretences. The cold fact today is that there is no effective peace process with Pakistan at all.

Narayanan said, "Up to at least early 2007 it seemed to be working. We do not wish to interrupt that dialogue. But dialogue is only as good as the kind of people who have the capacity to deliver on what they can promise. In any case the resumption of the dialogue at the foreign secretaries level, which took place after the Kabul attack, did not happen in the most propitious of circumstances. It was a rather formal, cold affair. We wish to keep the dialogue on but it depends on if the other side has the capacity to deliver on more than empty words."

The increase in infiltration and firing across the LoC is also a matter of concern in India, said the top official.

Source : Times Of India

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Sri Lanka's controversial government minister organizes an anti-media protest and calls for ban on TV station

Colombo: The Free Media Movement (FMM) says that the rogue government Minister Mervyn Silva organized a protest against the MBC network's Sirasa television station in Colombo on 11th August 2008.

Around one hundred men, women and children were bussed in to the city centre from the Minister's constituency of Kelaniya. The protest was given wide publicity by all state media justifying the allegations made by the Minister against the private media station in their commentary and reportage.

Amongst the Minister's demands was a ban on the private Sirasa TV station. Sirasa TV coverage has consistently covered the Minister's violence against the media, most notably the attack against the director of the State-owned TV Rupavahini in December 2007. For this, the Sirasa station has borne the brunt of the Minister's wrath, with journalists who covered the incident repeatedly abused and violently attacked at public functions.

Supporters of the Minister at the orchestrated rally in Colombo shouted slogans that said they were the indomitable force of the President and alleged that the Sirasa television station is pro-LTTE.

Political observers say the minister is emboldened by the support of President Rajapaksa and his government turning a blind eye to his roguish behavior. They say the minister brings the party to disgrace by his thuggish actions.

Source : Colombo Page

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BJP activists launch agitation over Amarnath issue

Over 500 BJP activists were taken into custody for staging a demonstration on the Amarnath land issue in Bangalore on Tuesday.

The activists, led by Party's National General Secretary Anant Kumar staged a protest at MG Road.

The party workers carried placards and banners relating to the Amarnath stir and shouted slogans.

Police said 520 activists were taken into custody and later released.

Source : Hindustan Times

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Musharraf plans move to counter offensive

ISLAMABAD: A beleaguered President Pervez Musharraf is reported to have told his loyalists that he has ‘sufficient official records’ to expose failures of the four-month-old coalition government.

PML-Q president Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and former Punjab chief minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi made on Monday a third call on the president in four days to discuss the situation arising out of the impeachment move.

Sources said the two leaders briefed the president on their efforts for galvanising support for him and urged him not to resign without fighting.

PML-Q MNAs Marvi Memon, Amir Muqam and Sheikh Waqas Akram also met the president and assured him of their support. The president informed them he had a list of failures of the present government.

They told reporters that the president had criticised PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif for what he termed his personal vendetta against him. He accused Mr Sharif of pitting the PPP leadership against him to fulfil his designs.

The president dismissed as rubbish the allegations of misappropriation of hundreds of millions of dollars of US military assistance, saying that pocketing foreign aid by an individual was not possible because it was utilised under a system.

The opposition legislators said the president had accused the coalition government of trying to cut the size of the army by half. He said he had opposed a move to replace the chief of the Inter Services Intelligence.

The PML-Q leaders said Mr Musharraf had sought information about the corruption committed by various officials of the government over the past four months.

He assured his supporters that he would not disappoint them and confront his detractors and expose them to the nation.

Meanwhile, president’s spokesman Maj-Gen (retd) Rashid Qureshi said in a statement that Mr Musharraf did not want to respond to the ‘wild allegations’ being levelled against him through the media and would defend himself after receiving the charge-sheet.

APP adds: The spokesman denied reports of President Musharraf’s meeting with US Ambassador Anne W. Patterson.“No such meeting took place.”

Source : By Ahmed Hassan The DAWN

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Zardari condemn Army and ISI involvment in politics

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Peoples Party co-chairman, Asif Ali Zardari has told the media that Pakistan army and the Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) are not involved in politics.

In an exclusive interview to private channel Asif Ali Zardari said that it would be premature to say that President Musharraf might have misappropriated the US aid given to Pakistan in war against terror. PPP co-chairman said that his statement in this regard was stated out of context by British newspaper.

As regards Dr. Aafia Siddiqui’s case, Zardari said that her trial is an acid test of the US Judicial system. Asif Ali Zardari admitted that he was in the wrong by not taking Muttahida Qaumi Movement Chief, Altaf Hussain into confidence over the issue of President’s impeachment. He said that new President would abolish 58-2(b).

Source : Pakistan Tribune

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Congress ready to support Soren as Jharkhand CM

NEW DELHI: With JMM chief Shibu Soren staking claim for Chief Ministership of Jharkhand, Congress on Tuesday expressed its readiness to back him.

"Congress will support him (Soren) if he forms the government," AICC in-charge of Jharkhand Ajay Maken said when asked to comment on the JMM chief's demand that Chief Minister Madhu Koda should step down to pave way for him.

Maken, who is also Union Minister of State for Urban Development, refused to speak further on the issue.

Koda, an Independent, is heading the government with the support of JMM, Congress, RJD and seven independents.

In the 81-member House, JMM has 17 MLAs, Congress has nine, RJD seven.

Earlier in the day, Soren said Koda should quit at the earliest, failing which the JMM will withdraw support to his coalition government.

"The decision regarding making me Jharkhand CM was taken long back but it is getting delayed. Hence, we arrived at the decision to withdraw support for Koda government if he does not resign now," said Soren after a meeting of leaders from Jharkhand at his residence here.

Soren denied that the independent ministers in the state had reservations on his becoming the CM. "There is no objection from any quarter".

Congress sources said while the party would be with Soren, the JMM leader himself will have to make efforts take the independents along. One of them is Koda, who appears reluctant to give up the chair.

Source : Times Of India

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