PM, Pranab welcome end of isolation

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee, who had the biggest stakes in the drama that was played out in Vienna for three days, duly welcomed the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) decision on Saturday after the war was won.

The Prime Minister — who had risked the stability of his government on this issue — said after the 45-nation club that controls global nuclear commerce agreed in Vienna to grant India a wavier for conducting international trade that it would end India’s 35-year-long isolation from the nuclear mainstream.

He said the waiver was a “recognition of India’s impeccable non-proliferation credentials and its status as a state with advanced nuclear technology.”

Pranab Mukherjee said the waiver was a culmination of a process which had started three years back. “The journey has not only been long but required several steps to be taken sequentially including intense bilateral negotiations,” he said.

Meanwhile, Singh also came in for praise from the US President George W. Bush for his “strong leadership.” Bush called Singh minutes after the news of the NSG clearance came in from Vienna and praised his handling of the entire issue, PMO officials said.

Foreign Ministry officials said the turning point in the talks came on Saturday morning, when both the US and India reasoned with China about the importance of granting the waiver to New Delhi.

“President Bush spoke to President Hu Jintao and asked him to be reasonable. Here in Delhi, the Chinese ambassador was spoken to and it was conveyed that Beijing’s stand in the NSG should reflect the strategic partnership between the two countries,” the official said.

The Chinese opposition to the waiver at the 11th hour was cited by Samajwadi Party as proof of the deal being in national interest. “There was never a question on the deal being not good for the country,” SP general secretary Amar Singh said.

“China first tried to build internal resistance to the deal through its friends here and when it failed, it tried to take its opposition to the international level.”


Source : Hindustan Times

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Zardari set to be new Pak president as poll begin

ISLAMABAD: Members of Pakistan's parliament and four provincial assemblies began voting in a presidential election on Saturday to choose a replacement for Pervez Musharraf, who resigned last month. ( Watch )

Asif Ali Zardari, the widower of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto, whose Pakistan People's Party (PPP) heads a coalition government, is expected to win.

The result is due later on Saturday. "God willing, the PPP has a clear majority and the PPP will win. Mr Zardari will become president and will make the democratic and parliamentary system strong," PPP spokeswoman and member of parliament Farzana Raja said on her way in to the assembly to vote.

Investors hope the election by members of the two-chamber parliament and four provincial assemblies will bring some stability after months of political turmoil that helped drag stocks and the rupee sharply lower.

Whoever wins will have to contend with a host of problems that have raised fears for the prospects of the nuclear-armed US ally, including surging militant violence and an economy in crisis.

Zardari, known as a polo-playing playboy in his younger days, was thrust into the centre of politics by his wife's assassination on December 27.

A February parliamentary election win by their Pakistan People's Party (PPP) made him one of the most powerful figures in the country.

His decision in August to begin impeachment proceedings against Musharraf led to the latter's resignation, and cleared the way for Zardari to win the top job.

His two rivals for president are Saeeduzzaman Siddiqui, a former judge, nominated by ex-prime minister Nawaz Sharif's party, and Mushahid Hussain Sayed, a senior official of the party that backed Musharraf and ruled under him.

The PPP has the most electoral college votes and despite some doubts about Zardari's suitability, party members will stick by him, making victory virtually a foregone conclusion, analysts say.

JAIL, DOUBTS
Zardari, 53, spent 11 years in jail on corruption and other charges stemming from his time in government when his wife was prime minister in the 1990s. He was never convicted and said the charges were politically motivated. But in an indication of the doubts Zardari faces, a poll by Gallup Pakistan found only 26 per cent of about 2,000 people questioned thought he should be president, while 44 per cent didn't want any of the three candidates.

Political uncertainty, exacerbated by a split in the PPP-led coalition last month, together with security and economic worries have sapped investor confidence and dragged Pakistani stocks down 34 per cent this year.

The main index rose 1 per cent on Friday, helped by optimism the vote will bring some clarity. The rupee has lost 20 percent to the dollar this year but firmed to 76.40/50.

Dwindling foreign reserves, a widening current account deficit and sliding rupee could result in a ratings downgrade as doubts mount over its ability to meet external debt obligations.

But it will probably avoid sovereign debt default as its stability is such an important geopolitical factor institutions such as the International Monetary Fund will eventually help it meet its obligations, analysts say.

Zardari is close to the United States and has repeatedly stressed Pakistan's commitment to the campaign against militancy.

But he will take office as anger with the United States is boiling after a bloody incursion by US ground troops into a remote village on the Afghan border this week.

Musharraf saw his popularity dive partly because he was viewed as too close to President George W Bush.

Zardari will walk a tightrope as he tries to assure Washington of his support on security while trying to calm public anger.

Source : Times Of India

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Former Bangla PM Khaleda Zia may be released next week

DHAKA: Detained former Bangladesh Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, languishing in prison for over a year on graft charges, may be freed on bail by next week, her lawyers have claimed.

However, she will have to go through legal procedures for her release, a senior government leader has said.

"We expect her to be released as she now needs bail from courts in only two cases," the Prothom Alo newspaper quoted one of Zia's counsels as saying, a day after her high profile elder son Tarique Rahman, who was being tried in a number graft charges was released.

The lawyer's comment came as Commerce Adviser of the interim cabinet Hossain Zillur Rahman said yesterday that the government was “advancing the political process” without hampering the legal procedure for the release of Zia, the chairperson of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP).

“She (Zia) has to seek bail in all the cases she is facing... She will be released once she is granted bail,” Rahman told newsmen.

Zia's archrival Sheikh Hasina of Awami League was released on government ‘executive order’ in June this year for treatment abroad.

The government at that time had said a process was underway to free the BNP chief in identical manner.

Both the former premiers have been charged under a number of corruption cases as part of a massive anti-graft campaign launched by the interim government soon after its installation with crucial military support after the January 11, 2007 proclamation of the state of emergency.

Source : Times Of India

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Zardari backs US against terrorism

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan stands with the US against international terrorism, the Muslim nation's presidential front-runner wrote in a column appearing on Thursday amid furor over a US-led cross-border attack in Pakistani territory.

The raid in the South Waziristan tribal region was the first known foreign ground assault in Pakistan against a Taliban haven. The Pakistani government summoned the US ambassador to protest the incursion, which officials said killed at least 15 people, including civilians.

An American official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said US troops conducted the raid Wednesday about 1 mile beyond the Afghan frontier.

The boldness of the thrust fed speculation about the intended target. But it was unclear whether any extremist leader was killed or captured in the operation, which occurred in one of the militant strongholds dotting a frontier region considered a likely hiding place for Osama bin Laden and al-Qaida's no. 2 leader, Ayman al-Zawahiri.

Foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi condemned the attack in an impassioned speech to lawmakers on Thursday, saying it “violated the sovereignty of Pakistan.” He also said “no important terrorist or high-value target” was killed.

“Innocent citizens, including women and children, have been targeted,” Qureshi said. Officials said they had no indication US forces captured anyone in the raid. A foreign ministry spokesman said the government had no information al-Qaida leaders were in the area at the time.


Source : Times Of India

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Secret letter fallout: UPA govt must go, says BJP

NEW DELHI- Accusing the Prime Minister of “misleading” Parliament and the country on the nuclear deal issue, main opposition BJP today demanded the resignation of the Manmohan Singh government.

In a press conference addressed by senior BJP leaders Arun Shourie and Yashwant Sinha on Thursday over the ‘secret letter’, the BJP slammed the UPA government and demanded a special Parliament session be held to discuss the ‘secret letter’ fallout.

UPA has committed a gross breach of Parliament, the party said. “Once again the PM’s falsehood has been exposed,” BJP said.

On Wednesday, details of a ‘secret’ letter written by President Bush were revealed that seemingly challenged New Delhi's claim that the agreement will not constrain India's right to conduct nuclear tests. According to the letter, the Bush administration had told the US Congress that Washington will terminate nuclear trade with India if New Delhi conducts any further nuclear test.

The Opposition party said the government knew all these details and revealed nothing to the nation. “Secret letter makes it clear that India and US position on N-deal vary.”

“The letter shows UPA government misled India. We demand that the UPA government must quit office after this betrayal,” it added.

“We are concerned about the nation’s honour,” the BJP said.

India has so far been claiming that the deal would not constrain the country's right to nuclear tests and would provide an uninterrupted supply of fuel to India's nuclear reactors. In August 2007, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh told Parliament, “The agreement does not in any way affect India's right to undertake future nuclear tests, if it is necessary.”


Source : Times Of India

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Bush's letter on N-deal: BJP, Left slam UPA govt

NEW DELHI: Reacting to the disclosure of the secret letter written by US President George W Bush to the US Congress adopting a hardline stand on the nuclear deal, the Opposition parties hit out at the government.

Left Parties slammed PM Manmohan Singh and said, “Our stand is vindicated by the disclosure. UPA has betrayed the trust of the nation.”

BJP too was not lagging behind in criticizing the government saying the Centre has been “exposed” before the nation now.

“This has brought shame to our country,“ the BJP spokesperson said.


Source : Times Of india

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Vote bank politics is protecting terrorists: Modi

NEW DELHI: Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday criticised the UPA government, saying the Centre lacks commitment to tackle terrorism in the country.

Modi said he was waiting for Centre's approval for the anti-terror law for his state. "The Centre is not giving any reason for not approving it which is very surprising," he said.

"Vote bank politics is protecting terrorists in the country. But in Gujarat there we will be zero tolerance against terrorism," Modi added.

Advani who was also present in press conference was of the strong opinion that to curb activities of terror outfits, POTA-like laws should be reintroduced.

"The laws to tackle organised crime in Gujarat, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh are yet to get the President's assent when a similar legislation is in place in Maharashtra, he said and described it as "totally unjustified".

On the delay in carrying out the execution of Parliament attack case convict Afzal Guru, he said, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has given "no explanation" for it.

The senior leader said the previous NDA government also had to face the challenge of terrorism. "But it was majorly cross-border terrorism," he added.

Advani said the scrapping of POTA was "votebank politics and nothing else". He also said the recent violent incidents in Orissa was wrong.

"I am happy that the Orissa government has ordered a judicial inquiry into the incidents," he added.


Source : Times Of India

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SAD powers poll entry

Banawala (Mansa): SAD (Badal) on Tuesday used the foundation stone laying ceremony of the 1980 MW thermal power plant at Talwandi Sabo to its full advantage by kick-starting its poll campaign for the parliamentary polls.

The loud tone used by former CM Amarinder Singh at an impressive rally in Malwa hinterland recently seems to have forced the Akalis to answer in the same tone. Euphoric and proud projecting itself as the party that would actually rid the state of power shortage, the SAD rank and file asserted that their party had heralded a new beginning on the power front that would lead the state on the path of development.

The CM lead the SAD leaders in projecting a grim picture on the power front and accused the previous Congress government for all the ills, saying they did not initiate any efforts to enhance power generation.

Lambasting Amarinder Singh, CM PS Badal said he (Amarinder) had no time to think for people's welfare and remained indulged in 'aishprasti' (making fun). In fact, every leader of some significance left no stone unturned to criticize Amarinder. Coming back to the power front, Badal said the Talwandi Sabo power plant would be the biggest in the state and would come up in three years with an investment of Rs 10,000 crore, thus making Punjab self-reliant in power sector.

Sukhbir Badal said three more power plants were in the pipeline and in the next four months work on Rajpura, Goindwal and Gidderbaha plants would also start. He said SAD government's next priority would be to provide safe drinking water to rural folks and also education and health services to all.

He said 100 new water channels would be laid in the state to overcome canal water shortage. Sukhbir tried to lure the schedule castes saying the Congress has done nothing for the 40% SC population.

'Locals will be given preference for jobs'

Terming power as the first step towards development, Vedanta group chairman Anil Aggarwal said without power no state or country could be prosperous. Chairing the power plant foundation stone laying ceremony here on Tuesday. "Local youths will be given preference while recruiting persons for the plant and about 7,000 persons will get employed at the plant where maximum workforce intake will be from the local population," Aggarwal said.

Source : Times Of India

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Pact with SP the last tango for UP Cong?

Lucknow: The two-day marathon between the SP and Congress to finalise the contentious seat-sharing issue has left UP Congressmen nervous and edgy. Reports received so far are far from satisfactory . SP, going by the accounts , is playing the big boss while Congress has been reduced to a meek second fiddle . And even as the party bigwigs are yet to arrive at what Digvijay Singh called "a pragmatic , realistic and honourable deal for both" , Congressmen are left wondering just how.

To begin with, the ideological turnaround has been too sudden to stomach for an average party man. Though the relationship between the two had thawed considerably by February, till as late as June, AICC general secretary Rahul Gandhi had firmly ruled out the possibility of any tie up. Rahul had only repeated the gist of the Anthony committee report which had listed going it alone as the most favoured strategy for the coming parliamentary polls.

The plan obviously went haywire with trust vote drama unfolding in Delhi. As "pragmatism took precedence over principled politics" , UPCC president put up a brave front and vowed that party would contest at least 35 to 40 seats.

Though they will have an extensive list of candidates for all 80 seats, she assured.

However, with the passage of time as SP leader began their bout of muscle-flexing , her bravado is giving way. Joshi very well knows she is pitted against hard bargainers who would want to wrest away a yard. This to the partymen in UP is a scary prospect.

There are many grey areas that pose a tough challenge . First, the suspense over numbers -how many seats fall in Congress kitty-question still has no answers. Sources doubt if Mulayam and co. will offer anything beyond 20 or 25.

With Ajit Singh lurking in the background poised to jump into the Congress bandwagon at the right moment, the tally could slip further. Chaudhary will demand at least eight seats, confide RLD sources. Moreover, there are other UPA constituents who may demand their pound of flesh not forgetting pocket-sized outfits like Apna Dal or the Rajesh Tikait's fledgling party. This in reality will mean no "jhanda banner" in 50 constituencies , said a disgruntled leader. So far Congress was the only political party which claimed to have a presence all over the state with the selective contest, we are ensuring that whatever grassroots cadre was left with the party would also vanish within no time, he said. In fact, the state leadership is already having a tough time trying to quell the apprehension of the demoralised cadre who fear the party is nearing extinction, said sources.

Then there is the tickling issue of seats - Pratapgarh, Farukhabad, Padrauna, Rampur, Lalitpur, Varansi, Allahabad - that are eyed by both. Congress has the list of winnable candidates including Ratna Singh, Salman Khurshid, Begum Noor Bano and even Rita Bahuguna Joshi all ready, the SP is no mood to surrender the captured ground.

Laloo Yadav had called Mulayam Singh "vote katva" for nothing, said a senior leader on Tuesday. "While the number in the Parliament may go from single digit to double, the tango, he said, would cost the party dearly in long run.

However, having forfeited deposits in 48 seats during the last election in 2004, this could also be the only life line.

Source : Times Of India

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Naidu equates YSR to Duryodhan

Hyderabad: After a cooling off period, chief minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy and his bete noire, TDP president N Chandrababu Naidu, renewed their war of words which very often have gone personal . On Tuesday, it was Naidu's turn.

"The chief minister and the 'brazen' attitude he displays in the House when he intervenes during debates reminds us of Duryodhan, the Kaurava leader, before the battle of Kurukshetra," Naidu said.

Talking to the media on Tuesday, the TDP president said the chief minister had become highly "arrogant and egoistic," and is unable to control himself and was hence claiming that all the parties whose future is being threatened were coming together.

Duryodhana used to claim that he was the supreme ruler and no one can defeat him. The chief minister should realise that his "empty claims," will not get him votes.

"The people are not with the Congress. Rajasekhara Reddy cannot claim to have monopoly over voters," he said.

Referring to the chief minister's intervention during the reply to a discussion on shortage of fertilizers in the state, Naidu said Rajasekhara Reddy claims that the productivity in the state had gone up while the government records say that it had come down in case of rice, jowar, bajra groundnut and malt.

Similarly, the net irrigated area had come down from 16.49 lakh hectares to 16.27 lakh hectares in the last five years despite the claim that crores of rupees was being spent on Jalayagnam. While the farmers suffered due to less returns, the consumer was suffering on account of rising prices, Chandrababu Naidu said.

The chief minister is likely to respond to the TDP leader in a day or two.

Source : Times Of India

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