NEW DELHI: The top BJP leadership including Atal Bihari Vajpayee, L K Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi have been severely indicted and called "pseudo-moderates" by a Commission that probed the demolition of Babri Masjid 17 years ago.
The Justice M S Liberhan Commission of Inquiry also attacked former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Kalyan Singh saying the destruction of the disputed structure on December 6, 1992 was carried out in a "duplicitous and under-handed manner" which was not worthy of a democratically-elected government.
The four-volume report, running into over 1000 pages, and the government's Action Taken Report (ATR) on it were tabled in Parliament by Home Minister P Chidambaram, a day after a leak of the report in a national daily.
The Commission, which was set up 10 days after the incident and got 48 extensions, recommended a law providing for exemplary punishment for misuse of religion for acquiring political power and disqualification of political parties and candidates who have religious agenda.
Report answers all questions: Justice Liberhan
CHANDIGARH: Justice MS Liberhan on Tuesday remained composed and asked the media to read his report on the 1992 Babri mosque demolition before asking questions even as the controversial document was tabled by the government in Parliament.
"All questions have been answered in the report. You should go and read the report and come to me after that," Justice Liberhan, who headed the one-man commission into the mosque demolition for over 17 years, said at his residence.
Speaking at his bungalow in the city's upscale Sector 9, Liberhan was cool and composed on Tuesday compared to his outburst a day earlier when he had asked the media to "get lost" after being asked if he had leaked the report.
Liberhan did not say anything else and went into his House.
BJP invoke Atal to deflect Liberhan issue
New Delhi: BJP appeared to be deflecting the Liberhan Commission focus from indictment of senior leaders L K Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi by raking up the issues of Atal Bihari Vajpayee, being named in the report, and the leakage of document to the media.
Initiating a tirade against Justice Liberhan Commission report and the ATR tabled in Parliament on Tuesday, Deputy Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj said, "Findings of this report are perverse, ill-founded and against the evidence placed before the Commission."
Swaraj asserted that the report violated the principles of natural justice by putting Vajpayee in the list of the guilty without summoning him for a hearing.
In an apparent attempt at keeping the focus away from Advani, Joshi, RSS and others in the demolition of the Babri mosque, BJP even mentioned the petition submitted by one Aslam Bhure with the Commission asking it to summon Vajpayee. Swaraj said her party had answered the petition but Liberhan had dismissed it.
"If there was any doubt in the mind of Justice Liberhan about the involvement of Vajpayee, he should have summoned him," she said.
She categorically ruled out the stepping down of Advani due to his indictment by the Commission, saying a case was already pending against the senior leader on the issue in a court.
Unlike China, India has growth with values: PM Manmohan
WASHINGTON: Bull in a China shop is not an expression one would normally use to describe India’s mild-mannered Prime Minister, but at a Washington think-tank on Monday evening Manmohan Singh was anything but delicate on India’s newly nettlesome neighbor before an audience that is largely in thrall of the Middle Kingdom’s meteoric rise on the global stage.
In candid remarks that were keenly scrutinized in the context of New Delhi’s niggling troubles with Beijing and US overtures to the country, Dr Singh offered an Indian perspective on rising China that included an admission that lately, ''there is but a certain amount of assertiveness on the Chinese part. I don't fully understand the reasons for it."
Singh prefaced that comment by telling his audience that India recognized that it has a long standing border problem with China which it was trying to resolve it through dialogue. In the meanwhile both countries have agreed that pending the resolution of the border problem, peace and tranquility should be maintained in the border line. ''Having said that I should say that I have received these assurances from Chinese leadership from the highest level,'' he added, suggesting that Beijing was not entirely sticking to the script.
But for that one discordant, complaining note vis-à-vis Beijing, Singh indicated that India was on the same page as the rest of the world on China, wanting to prepare for its peaceful rise as a major power. ''So, engagement is the right strategy for India as well as for United States. We ourselves have tried very hard to engage China in the last five years and today China is one of our major trading partners,'' he said.
Singh remarks came against the backdrop of President Obama’s own visit to China last week in course of which some Indian analysts felt he (Obama) was sub-contracting or outsourcing oversight of South Asian peace and security to the East Asian giant and accepting it as a rising if not equal partner, to the detriment of India. That episode came on the heels of India’s renewed tensions with China on the border issue, and over the travels of Dalai Lama to regions Beijing regards as disputed.
Singh was also unexpectedly tetchy about comparisons between Indian and Chinese economic growth, saying while there is no doubt that Chinese performance is superior to India's, ''there are other values which are important than the growth of Gross Domestic Product.''
''I think the respect for fundamental human rights, the respect for the rule of law, respect for multi-cultural, multi-ethnic, multi-religious rights, I think those have values. So, even the Indian perforce with regard to the GDP might not be as good as the Chinese, certainly I would not like to choose the Chinese path," he said in unusually blunt remarks that constituted a criticism of the Chinese model.
Singh’s candid public statements on China, Pakistan (no purposeful talks till it abjures terrorism and acts on 26/11), and Afghanistan (insisting India will stay the course against Taliban and asking US and international community to do the same militarily) set the stage for his meeting with US President Barack Obama on Tuesday following a ceremonial state welcome on the South Lawns of the White House.
India has taken note of assertiveness by China: PM
Washington: In an unusually strong remarks, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has said India has taken note of "certain amount of assertiveness" by China lately, an apparent reference to its objections over Beijing's provocative steps.
Coming against the backdrop of China's statements on Arunachal Pradesh and other issues, Singh, however, said he did not "fully understand" the reasons for its actions.
"There is certain amount of assertiveness on the part of Chinese. I don't fully understand the reasons for it. That has to be taken note of," he said during an interaction at the US Council for Foreign Relations in Washington. The Prime Minister did not elaborate but the statement assumes significance considering that China has recently been involved in some provocative steps like issuing visas to residents of Jammu and Kashmir on stapled sheets of paper rather than passport, to send out a message that it does not consider the state to be a part of India.
Besides, China has objected to the Prime Minister's visit to Arunachal Pradesh, is participating in projects in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir despite India's objections and mentioned Indo-Pak relations in a Joint Statement with the US.
Singh, who also responded to questions on Indo-Pak relations, denounced Pakistan's "selective" approach in the fight against terrorism.
The Prime Minister said he did not want to speculate about India's response in the event of another 26/11-type attack.
"I hate to speculate and sincerely hope that such sort of eventuality does not arise," Singh said.
The Prime Minister also indicated India's readiness to resume dialogue with Pakistan provided it abjures terrorism and comes to the table with "good faith and sincerity".
China refuses to take Hurriyat bait, says not party to Kashmir conflict
BEIJING: China on Tuesday refused to be drawn into the renewed controversy over Kashmir, which has been ignited with Mirwaiz Umar Farooq,chairman of All Parties Hurriyat Conference, saying that Beijing should act as it had a stake in the region's peace.
"The Kashmir issue is an issue between India and Pakistan left over by history. We hope the two sides could properly resolve the issue through dialogue and negotiations," Qin Gang, the foreign ministry spokesman said in reply to a question seeking his response to Farooq’s remarks.
Qin’s statement is significant in view of India’s unhappiness over one portion of the joint declaration issued by China and the United States during Barack Obama’s recent visit to China. The statement said the two countries supported “the improvement of relations between India and Pakistan”.
The foreign ministry spokesman was asked to comment about the snag developed during the launch of the Agni-II missile on Monday.
“It is an internal matter for India. We hope India would contribute to regional peace and stability,” he said.
Qin told a journalist he had not read reports about New Delhi denying visas to 3,000 workers. But China always supported development of trade and economic relationship with India. Trade and business relationship will also contribute to better neighborly relationship and help resolve pending issues, he said.
Indian Business News
Family MoU sacrosanct, RNRL tells SC
New Delhi: Anil Ambani led RNRL asserted in the Supreme Court on Tuesday that family MoU of 2005 was a "sacrosanct" document for resolving the gas row with Mukesh Ambani group's RIL and accused it of scuttling efforts to arrive at a bankable agreement for the supply of gas from KG Basin.
The arguments in the high-voltage bitter legal battle for the first time saw Anil Ambani sitting during the court proceedings throughout the day.
Besides MoU, the RNRL said it wants to strictly comply with the NTPC document which evisaged the supply of gas to the PSU at USD 2.34 per mmBtu by the RIL.
"We want to strictly comply with the MoU. We want to strictly comply by the NTPC document. MoU is sacrosanct and we have no dispute at all on it and the NTPC draft is a model document," senior advocate for RNRL, Ram Jethmalani submitted before a Bench headed by Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan.
He said under the MoU, mother Kokilaben Ambani has the power to give directions for working out the MoU which was practically to be given the shape of the scheme for demerger.
"The MoU was to be given a shape for technically feasible and commercially viable gas supply production agreement (GSPA) which has to confirm to the NTPC document. Our purpose was that the GSPA consider the NTPC draft which is the best," Jethmalani said while countering RIL's argument that the family MoU was not binding for arriving at suitable arrangement for the supply of gas.
Sensex closes down 49 points
Mumbai: The Bombay Stock Exchange benchmark Sensex today fell by 49 points as investors booked profits before the expiry of current month contract in the derivatives segment amid weak Asian trend.
The 30-share index closed lower by 49.10 points at 17,131.08 points.
The wide-based National Stock Exchange index Nifty fell by 13 points to close at 5,090.55 points.
The stocks in fast moving consumer goods, metals, oil and gas, power, bank and realty fell sharply, while gains in auto, consumer durables and tech stocks averted a major fall.
In the 30-BSE index stocks, 13 closed with gains while 17 fell on profit booking.
The FMCG index suffered the most by losing 0.92 per cent to 2,886.87 points, followed by the metal index which ended down by 0.81 per cent at 16,216.72 points. The oil and gas index fell by 0.79 per cent to 10,357.78 points as the heaviest on the Sensex Reliance Industries dropped by Rs 19.40 to Rs 2,176.10.
The metal segment stocks fell as base-metal prices dropped on the London Metal Exchange, raising concerns this might impact corporate earnings of metal producing companies.
All major Asian markets closed in the red. Hong Kong's Hang Seng index lost 1.53 per cent, while Japan's benchmark Nikkei-225 index lost 1.01 per cent and Singapore's Straits Times Index fell by 0.64 per cent as investors booked profit after yesterday's gains amid concerns that Beijing may tighten the monetary policy.
Indian Sports News|Sports News
Sehwag, Gambhir reign supreme
Kanpur: Gautam Gambhir (167) and Virender Sehwag (131) were the architects of India's unrelenting dominance as the hosts batted themselves into a position from where they can dictate terms in the second cricket Test againsr Sri Lanka here on Tuesday.
The near-capacity Green Park witnessed a lop-sided opening day, completely dominated by the Indian batsmen and their blazing blades as the hosts cruised to a mammoth 417 for two and threatened to raise a run-mountain under which they can bury their opponents.
Arguably the most evolved batsman of recent times, Gambhir first starred in a blistering 233-run partnership with Sehwag in just 41.2 overs before forging another 137-run association with Rahul Dravid (85 not out). India's unyielding grip over all three sessions had the islanders totally at sea.
Right from Mahendra Singh Dhoni winning the toss, India hardly put a foot wrong today. Sehwag and Gambhir milked 131 runs in the 26-over morning session without being separated. The Sri Lankans did manage to cut short Sehwag's explosive stay in the second session but they bled 176 runs in that 33-over segment as India consolidated their position. India did not take the foot off the pedal, adding another 110 runs in the final session losing just one wicket to consolidate their position.
Dropped on zero, Sehwag earlier slammed an insouciant 122-ball 131, bejewelled with 18 delectable boundaries and two effortless sixes. In contrast, Gambhir's was a chanceless 215-ball knock, studded with 15 boundaries. Dravid's unbeaten 85 came off 153 balls and had eight fours in it.
Gambhir best Indian opener after Gavaskar: Sehwag
Kanpur: Virender Sehwag has forced many a bowlers into submission by his explosive batting but on Tuesday, he doffed his hat to Gautam Gambhir describing him as the best Indian opener after the legendary Sunil Gavaskar.
Gambhir (167) slammed his fourth successive century on the opening day of the second Test against Sri Lanka and Sehwag, who himself scored a blistering 131, said his younger opening partner can score another hundred in the next match.
"He (Gambhir) is best opener India had after Gavaskar. He has hit four successive Test centuries and already has eight Test centuries in 25-30 Tests. I think with the kind of form he is in, he can slam a ton in the next Test as well," Sehwag said after India piled on 417 for two on the opening day.
"He was in good form and hitting well. So we were still scoring at over three and his boundaries took the pressure off me and I could wait before playing my shots," he said.
Sehwag was seen interacting with Gambhir after the left-hander foozled a shot against Muttiah Muralitharan in the morning session.
Asked what he told his Delhi team-mate, Sehwag said, "I told him to think big. You are good enough to score four successive centuries. Stay three hours and you will automatically get a hundred."
Sehwag said India would look to pile up 700 plus runs on Wednesday and put enough pressure on Sri Lanka so that the visitors crumble.
Sehwag and Gambhir were involved in a blistering 233-run opening stand that proved the bedrock of India's stunning batting display on the opening day of the second Test and the right-hander insists his teammates cannot relax or relent yet.
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