NEW DELHI: Even as the ruling UPA emphatically and vociferously defended the signing of the recent India-Pakistan joint statement in Sharm-el-Sheikh, Egypt, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led opposition walked out of the Lok Sabha on Thursday afternoon, specifically protesting on the issue of Balochistan and the delinking of terror from the composite dialogue process.
Defending Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's stand on the statement, finance minister Pranab Mukherjee, who was the external affairs minister not too long ago, said India's foreign policy was an extension of national interest, and New Delhi had not compromised on this at any stage in the past or at the recent Red Sea resort summit meeting.
"Our stand on terror remains undiluted. Our country's foreign policy is not based on the whims of one political party. We have not compromised India's sovereignty," said a highly-charged Mukherjee in spite of constant heckling from the opposition benches.
Stating that India's foreign policy is of nearly 5000 years standing, Mukherjee echoed Dr Singh's stand on the joint statement saying that it was necessary.
Ruling out war as an option, Pranab Mukherjee said that there was no alternative but to keep talking to Pakistan but made it clear that there was no surrender by the government on the issue of combating cross-border terrorism.
"We can't erase Pakistan. It's going to exist. War is no solution," Mukherjee said while underlining the importance of keeping talks going with Pakistan.
"Pakistan must dismantle the terror mechanism operating from its soil. India is not interested in Balochistan. The reference to Balochistan in the Indo-Pak Joint statement was a unilateral mention by Pakistan," he added.
In apparent reference to an opposition jibe that the present government was made to ink the joint statement in Egypt because of pressure from Washington, Mukherjee said there was no pressure from anyone or any country.
The opposition BJP took on the government saying that they did not believe that the UPA felt that foreign policy was an extension of national interest.
Leader of Opposition L K Advani asked what was the need for the government of the day to agree to have Balochistan mentioned for the first time in a joint statement by India and Pakistan.
Endorsing former external affairs minister Yashwant Sinha's warning that India would find it very difficult to live down this particular aspect of the joint statement for years to come, Advani said it was not enough to say that New Delhi's hands were clean on the issue. He said the government's reply did not justify the inclusion of Balochistan in the statement.
When external affairs minister SM Krishna endorsed the PM and Mr Mukherjee's stands on the joint statement and on the issues of terror and Balochistan, the BJP said there was no point in participating in the debate any further and walked out.
The government's defence of the joint statement came after Congress president Sonia Gandhi and party general secretary Rahul Gandhi came out in full support of Manmohan Singh.
Addressing the meeting of the Congress Parliamentary Party (CPP) here on Thursday, Sonia said, "The party fully supports and welcomes the Prime Minister's reply on the Indo-Pak joint statement."
"Talks with Pakistan can resume once it actually takes action on terror and not allow its soil to be used for anti-India activities," she added.
Supporting the Prime Minister's statement, Congress spokesperson Manish Tiwari said: "The party had made its stand very clear on PM's reply. I don't think that after the party president has spoken, there is any need for anyone to add or subtract from it."
Several parliamentarians complimented Dr Singh for his convincing speech in the Parliament on the Indo-Pak joint statement, at the dinner hosted by Sonia Gandhi for the party MPs on Wednesday.
Party general secretary Rahul Gandhi also praised Dr Singh by describing his speech as convincing.
"The speech was very good and the Prime Minister is always convincing," Rahul had said.
Intervening in Wednesday's debate on the Indo-Pak joint statement in the parliament, Singh said it was "in our vital interest to make sincere efforts to live in peace with Pakistan" and emphasized that India wanted good relations with Pakistan.
Singh said: "Unless we talk directly to Pakistan, we will have to rely on third parties to do so. That route has severe limitations as to its effectiveness".
He, however, added that "despite the best of intentions, we cannot move forward if terrorist attacks launched from Pakistani soil continue to kill and injure our citizens, here and abroad. That is the national position."
'India’s foreign policy not based on whims of one party'
New Delhi:Even as the ruling UPA emphatically and vociferously defended the signing of the recent India-Pakistan joint statement in Sharm-el-Sheikh, Egypt, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led opposition walked out of the Lok Sabha on Thursday afternoon, specifically protesting on the issue of Balochistan and the de-linking of terror from the composite dialogue process.
Defending Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's stand on the statement, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, who was an external Affairs Minister not too long ago, said India’s foreign policy was an extension of national interest, and New Delhi had not compromised on this at any stage in the past or at the recent Red Sea resort summit meeting.
“Our stand on terror remains undiluted. Our country’s foreign policy is not based on the whims of one political party. We have not compromised India’s sovereignty,” said a highly charged Mukherjee in spite of constant heckling from the opposition benches. Stating that India’s foreign policy is of nearly 5000 years standing, Mukherjee echoed Dr. Singh’s stand on the joint statement saying that it was necessary.
“Pakistan must dismantle the terror mechanism operating from its soil. India is not interested in Balochistan. The reference to Balochistan in the Indo-Pak Joint statement was a unilateral mention by Pakistan," Mukherjee added.
In apparent reference to an opposition jibe that the present government was made to ink the joint statement in Egypt because of pressure from Washington, Mukherjee said there was no pressure from anyone or any country.
The opposition BJP took on the government saying that they did not believe that the UPA felt that foreign policy was an extension of national interest.
J-K Governor dismisses PDP charge, asks Omar to continue
Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Governor N N Vohra dismissed PDP's allegation that Omar Abdullah was involved in the 2006 sex scandal and asked him to continue discharging his responsibilities as Chief Minister.
The Governor while turning down Omar's offer to step down said there was no truth in the allegations levelled against him in the assembly by PDP leader Muzaffar Hussein Beigh about his alleged involvement in the sex scandal.
"The Governor has advised the Chief Minister that, based on the information supplied to him by the Union Home Ministry, there is no basis for Omar seeking to resign," the Governor's spokesperson said.
Omar had resigned on July 28 after Beigh alleged on the floor of the House saying the Chief Minister was an accused in the scandal.
The Governor advised the Chief Minister to most vigorously devote himself to discharging responsibilities of J and K Chief Minister.
Jackson's mother gets permanent custody of his children
LOS ANGELES: Michael Jackson’s mother
will retain the permanent custody of his three children in an out-of-the court agreement reached with the pop star's ex-wife Debbie Rowe.
Rowe, who is the biological mother of Jackson's two elder children, will be granted "meaningful visitation rights," ABC News reported quoting a source.
According to the agreement, Katherine Jackson, 79, will maintain the sole custody of Prince Michael-I, 12, Paris-Michael Katherine, 11, and Prince Michael-II "Blanket", 7, while Rowe will retain her legal parental rights.
Katherine and Rowe's lawyers plan to bring the agreement to Los Angeles Superior Court on Monday for the approval of judge Mitchell Beckloff, who had appointed Jackson's mother as the temporary custodian of the children.
Rowe had earlier indicated to fight for the custody rights of the two children but she decided to give up custody rights after reaching a deal with Katherine, who is said to be close to the children.
"The discussions were amicable and cooperative, rather than a give and take negotiation. Both sides cooperated to reach agreement based solely on the best interest of the children," the source said.
Both Rowe and Katherine will reportedly split the cost of a child psychologist for the children, who have been living with Katherine and Jackson's extended family in Encino, California, since his death on June 25.
Domestic airlines suffer Rs 2445 crore losses in 2007-08: Govt
NEW DELHI: Government on Thursday said leading airlines in the country had suffered losses amounting to nearly Rs 2,445 crore during the 2007-08 fiscal.
"The leading airlines registered losses of Rs 2,444.84 crore last year," civil aviation minister Praful Patel said in a written reply to a Lok Sabha question.
The minister added that Paramount Airways was the only airline which made profits during this period.
Kingfisher Red topped the list of loss-makers at Rs 798.35 crore.
While giving the data for the last three years, Patel said for the first time in the last three years, Jet Airways suffered losses to the tune of Rs 253.06 crore this year.
The minister said the leading airlines together suffered losses amounting to Rs 2,938.25 crore in 2005-06 and 2006-07.
Replying to another query, Patel said the government has given no objection certificates to three airline companies -- Star Aviation, Jagson Airlines and ZAV Airways -- for operating scheduled regional transport air services.
In reply to another query, he said guidelines have been issued to domestic airlines for adopting effective training programmes for their Indian pilots to replace foreign pilots.
Indian Business News
Anil seeks probe into RIL's 'huge scandal'
New Delhi: Questioning clearance by junior Oil Ministry officials to the near four-fold hike in costs to Rs 45,000 crore for gas fields by Mukesh Ambani-led RIL, Anil Ambani demanded a probe into the "huge scandal."
"I am deeply concerned that RIL's capital expenditure of nearly Rs 45,000 crore on KG-D6 fields as confirmed in Parliament by the Petroleum Minister and which is nearly 33 per cent of India's total defence budget was cleared by a management committee..." he said in an e-mailed interview.
"The committee comprised of one junior level official each from the Petroleum Ministry and Director General of Hydrocarbon and two representatives of the contractor (RIL)...talk about conflict of interest," he said, adding that any expenditure above Rs 150 crore by any arm of government goes to the Cabinet Committee of Economic Affairs for approval.
Given the incredibly high stakes involved, the Comptroller and Auditor General and Central Vigilance Commission should examine relevant facts and find out if capex was overstated, Anil said, pointing that budgeted expenditure of RIL for peak production of 40 mmscmd was only Rs 12,000 crore in 2004.
Anil alleged that Petroleum Ministry, particularly after the changes in 2006 (when Murli Deora took over as minister), was colluding with RIL in its quest to make "super-normal profits of Rs 50,000 crore" at the cost of power and fertiliser sectors.
SC rejects RNRL's speedy trial plea
New Delhi: The Supreme Court refused to take up a gas dispute between Reliance Industries and RNRL for final hearing on September 1, rejecting the prayer of Anil Group company for expeditious proceedings.
A bench headed Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan said it will decide on the date of final hearing on September 1 when it will consider various petitions related to the dispute.
The RNRL prayer came up for mentioning and the company's counsel Mukul Rohtagi requested that final hearing be taken up on September 1 as the entire Bombay High Court record was before the apex court and nothing was left to be filed.
"All parties are here," he said, referring to Mukesh Ambani-led RIL, the government and gas users.
RIL counsel Harish Salve, however, questioned the need for early final hearing, saying "what public interest would this serve?"
The court enquired whether the petitioner wanted interim arrangement on the September 1 or the final order, Rohtagi said that RNRL was not looking for interim arrangement.
At this point Salve requested the court that there should be complete silence from all parties as people are going to the media.
Additional Solicitor General Mohan Parasaran said the government also wanted early resolution of the dispute.
The court said it will try to give an early date but the first week of September is not possible.
Seeking early resolution to the gas supply dispute involving Mukesh Ambani led RIL and Oil Ministry, Anil Ambani said that his group firm RNRL would approach the Supreme Court for final hearing on September 1.
Indian Sports News| Sports News
Dambulla (Sri Lanka): Sri Lanka beat Pakistan by 36 runs in Dambulla in a thriller where Pakistan's lower order batsmen did things that the top order were supposed to do.Eventually Pakistan was bundled out for 196 in 44.4 overs.
Earlier, Sri Lanka recovered from a top-order failure to post a competitive 232-9 in the first one-day international against Pakistan in Dambulla on Thursday.
The hosts had slipped to 131-6 by the 34th over after Pakistan captain Younus Khan won the toss and elected to field in overcast conditions at the Rangiri International Stadium.
All-rounder Angelo Mathews (43) led the late revival, with the last four Sri Lankan wickets adding 101 valuable runs before the 50 overs ran out.
Star spinner Muttiah Muralitharan, who missed the preceding Test series with a knee injury, marked his return with an aggressive 32 off 15 balls that included four boundaries and a six.
Pakistan, who lost the Tests 2-0, need 4.7 runs an over to take the lead in the five-match one-day series. Sri Lanka were unable to build partnerships against the accurate Pakistani attack, which revelled on the slow wicket.
Veteran Sanath Jayasuriya failed to take advantage of two dropped catches and fell for 15, while opening partner Upul Tharanga struggled to make 17.
Skipper Kumar Sangakkara hit 36 and Mahela Jayawardene scored 33 in his 300th one-day international, but none of the other top order batsmen settled in.
The duo put on 48 for the third wicket before Sri Lanka lost four wickets for 38 runs to slip from a promising 93-2 in the 22nd over.
Players reluctant, BCCI may miss ICC deadline on WADA rules
New Delhi:India's top cricketers are reluctant to sign a controversial anti-doping clause which, they claim, infringes on their privacy, leaving the cricket board in a fix. The International Cricket Council (ICC) has asked all its affiliated members to get their players to sign the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) form by August 1 which leaves a rattled BCCI with little time to negotiate with the reluctant players.
The cricketers are unhappy with the clause which makes it necessary for them to give details about their availability
for one hour every day for random out-of-competition testing by WADA officials. The players have been asked to fill their "whereabout update form" by August 1 but have they have not done so with most of them expressing reservations.
The cricketers feel such a clause not only infringes on their privacy but also makes it difficult for them since they are not aware of their programmes two months in advance during the off-season. According to the WADA rule, any sportspersons missing three doping tests in 18 months faces a two-year sanction. In the form, the cricketers are expected to give details about their residence, training and regular activity locations in advance.
"The players have certain reservations about this clause. They have already expressed their concerns to the BCCI. We are seeing what can be done," a top BCCI official said.
The BCCI has convened an emergency meeting of its all-powerful Working Committee in Mumbai on Sunday to work out a solution to this vexed issue. "The BCCI, on its part, has also conveyed the reservations of the players on the whereabout clause to the ICC. The ICC has been told about the specific reservations the players have on certain clauses of the WADA rule and it may be difficult for the BCCI to stick to the August 1 deadline," the official said.
No comments:
Post a Comment