NEW DELHI: As the country seethes with anger over denial of justice to victims of Bhopal gas tragedy, the CBI officer who probed the world's worst-ever industrial disaster has made the stunning charge that the investigating agency was forced in 1994 by the Narasimha Rao government not to press for extradition of Warren Anderson, the fugitive CEO of Union Carbide.
"We (CBI) were forced by ministry of external affairs officials not to follow Anderson's extradition," said B R Lall, former joint director of CBI who was in charge of the probe from April 1994 to July 1995. CBI had moved for the extradition of Anderson after he was declared absconder in 1993.
The Narasimha Rao-led Congress government was in power from 1991 to 1996.
Lall said, "The MEA communication came in 1994 by when we had already filed a chargesheet for culpable homicide not amounting to murder (304 of IPC) which was changed to death due to negligence (304A) by the Supreme Court. There was enough evidence against Anderson and we were going ahead with investigations when MEA's intervention slowed down the extradition process and he could never be brought to India."
Lall also said CBI had resisted the move to let Anderson off the hook but had to give in because the agency, according to him, enjoyed no independence. "We told them that we will go by the investigations and he is our main accused. I did not recommend that the move to initiate proceedings for Anderson's extradition be dropped," said the retired officer making it clear that the decision not to bring Anderson to trial was not CBI's.
On Monday, a trial court in Bhopal convicted seven accused under Section 304A, which carries the maximum penalty of imprisonment of upto 2 years, sparking countrywide outrage. What added to the indignation was that Anderson, who jumped bail to escape to the US, has gotten away unscathed.
The former CEO of Union Carbide who was arrested on December 7, 1983 spent just over three hours in detention. He was released allegedly at the instance of then MP chief minister Arjun Singh, and never came back despite having promised to do so.
Elaborating upon his serious allegation, the former CBI officer said, "CBI investigation was influenced and commandeered by some officials. As a result, justice in the Bhopal gas leak not just got delayed; it was, eventually, denied to the victims."
The allegation can fuel the furore over lighter punishments for those who have been held guilty for the loss of thousands of lives. It can also have political repercussions for Congress, considering that it had the reins at the Centre when Lall says CBI was arm-twisted into dropping its plan to secure Anderson's extradition.
Lall, who was posted at the CBI headquarters, had hit the headlines earlier when he came out with a book 'Who Owns CBI -- The Naked Truth' -- a lament about denial of independence to the central probe agency.
Talking to TOI, the former joint director said he had to yield to pressure from MEA because "CBI is an organisation over which government exercises complete control, and officers have to give in to pressure that is brought to bear upon them".
‘Agonised’ over verdict, Jairam says first green court will be in Bhopal
New Delhi: Saying he was “agonised” and anguished” by the verdict in the Bhopal gas tragedy case, Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh today said that the National Green Tribunal would be set up by the year-end to ensure victims of such disasters get speedy relief.
Stating that the National Green Tribunal would be a network of dedicated courts for environment issues, he said the first such court would be set up in Bhopal. “This is deliberate. This is a decision to show sensitivity to the tragedy of Bhopal,” he said.
“These courts will decide on civil matters relating to the environment. And I can assure you, these verdicts won’t take 20 years,” he added.
His comments came a day after a Bhopal court sentenced former Union Carbide India Ltd non-executive chairman Keshub Mahindra and six others to two years imprisonment each in the gas tragedy case, over 25 years after the industrial disaster left thousands dead.
“We are trying to set up a National Environment Protection Authority, which will be something like a watchdog. I want to fast-track this. The Ministry is working towards bringing this to Parliament by August,” Ramesh said.
On the Environment Protection Act, 1986, which was put in place after the Bhopal gas tragedy, he said: “I actually feel that it is a very progressive Act. The challenge is to implement it. We have to implement it without fear or favour.”
Expressing concern that the existing pollution boards were “not working to full capacity”, he said, “New institutions can be created, others can be cleaned up. Both can be done.”
Airport operators give security a pass, allow entry in key areas
MUMBAI: While aviation security measures are being constantly tightened in a terror-afflicted world, the Indian ministry of civil aviation doesn't seem to be overly bothered about hijackers, terrorists and their ilk. In a startling move, it has relaxed a vital security norm to give airport operators the power to issue three-day temporary airport entry passes which give the holder access to sensitive areas both in the terminal and the aircraft operational area.
More shocking is the fact that the private commercial companies which run airports can issue these passes without even informing government security agencies like the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) and the local police. There is no upper limit on the number of temporary passes an airport operator can issue in a day; these passes can even be issued to individuals who are not employed in the aviation industry. The temporary passes can also be issued during periods of heightened threat perception or on and around sensitive dates like January 26 and August 15. The new norm violates the provisions of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) as well.
The controversial proposal was mooted by BCAS (the sole agency responsible for aviation security in India) on April 15, when its commissioner wrote to the ministry of civil aviation. The ministry cleared the proposal within a month and, in a letter dated May 14, ministry of civil aviation director L Rajasekhar Reddy gave his green signal.
TOI has a copy of the ministry letter, which allows an airport operator to issue a temporary airport entry pass for a period of one to three days without a background check or verification of the applicant by any security agency. A background check by the local police station is required only when the validity of the pass exceeds three days. The pass can be issued to any Indian citizen for a maximum period of 30 days once in six months.
Strangely, the letter says that the person in charge of the airport security unit (the CISF in case of airports like Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Bangalore, Hyderabad) and the chief airport security officer (the CISF commandant posted in these airports) "shall not be involved in the process of issuance of temporary passes in any manner whatsoever". But any official from the commercial organisations that run the airports can issue the passes. The only requirement, according to the letter, is that "the specimen signature of the issuing authority of temporary passes shall be sent to the CISF".
Till now, only officials from the BCAS could issue airport entry passes, whether permanent or temporary ones. Passes were only issued to employees/officials whose job demanded entering the airport area (like pilots, flight attendants, engineers, check-in staff, ground staff and loaders).
The only other official authorised to issue an airport entry pass was the airport manager. But there were several restrictions; the airport manager could only issue an emergency temporary entry pass (to employees of aviation companies who needed to enter the airport premises). Moreover, the airport manager could issue such a pass only if the requirement for it arose during office non-working hours (BCAS offices close at 6pm) and on holidays.
The May 14 ministry letter does away with all these restrictions. "It is in complete violation of Annexe 17 of the ICAO norms, which deals with airport security. Under these international norms, commercial organisations cannot be solely entrusted with the power to allow individuals airport access," said an airport source.
The Chicago Convention, 1944, also states that if there is a difference in standards advocated by ICAO and those followed by its member states (that is contracting countries, of which India is one), then the ICAO must be informed. "The ICAO will then inform all its other signatories that this particular country has diluted the aviation security norm concerned. India definitely hasn't informed ICAO about the changed security norms," the official added.
Badminton bodies oppose Azharuddin's candidature
NEW DELHI: After the bid-rigging controversy in the Indian Premier League, the decade-old cricket match-fixing row has now returned to haunt Indian badminton.
At least 22 of the 28 state badminton associations have registered their protest against the decision of tainted former cricketer, and now Congress MP, Mohammad Azharuddin, to run for the top post in the Badminton Association of India.
In identical letters written to BAI, a majority of state associations have sought to revoke Azharuddin's proposed candidature on the ground that he is serving a life ban imposed on him by the BCCI for alleged involvement in match-fixing.
The Moradabad MP had last week announced his desire to contest for the office of the BAI chief. His nomination is likely to come up at the sport federation's annual general meeting on June 13 and, if necessary, elections will be held the same day.
The move is seen as an attempt to preempt the former Indian cricket captain from participating in the election process by getting his candidature revoked at BAI's AGM on "moral and ethical" grounds.
BAI's current president, technocrat V K Verma, himself faces opposition from the sports ministry as his tenure has exceeded 12 years. In a significant move, BAI on Monday wrote to the ministry saying it no longer requires any financial assistance from the government and thus should be relieved of any obligation to follow government guidelines.
We made sure Headley would talk, says US
WASHINGTON: Asserting that the United States and India have made the "greatest progress" in terms of law-enforcement and intelligence cooperation, a key US official on Monday insisted both sides have been candid and transparent in the matter of access and interrogation of LeT terror operative David Headley.
In a review of the just-concluded US-India Strategic Dialogue, US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Robert Blake challenged the impression that Washington had been dodgy in allowing Indian investigators to question Headley, who is said to have scouted locations for the 26/11 massacre undertaken by the Pakistani group Lashkar-e-Taiba.
"I would dispute your assertion that it took a long time (to allow India access to Headley). These are very sensitive matters, that we wanted to make sure that Mr Headley would be willing to talk, and so a number of things had to be worked out," Blake told correspondents at the foreign press center, indicating Headley was cooperating with the investigation by prior agreement. Indian sleuths are still questioning Headley, whose original name is Daood Gilani, in Chicago.
"Let me just say that there's been a great deal of transparency and close cooperation between our two governments. I think our Indian friends would confirm that. For obvious law-enforcement reasons, there are many things that we can't share with the press," Blake said, adding that the issue was not a focus of discussions between the two sides and in no way hijacked last week's strategic dialogue between US and India.
In the same context, Blake maintained Washington took "extremely seriously" threats against both India and US emanating from Pakistan and said it is the interests of all three countries to address this very critical problem.
"We believe that there is increasingly a syndicate that is operating in countries like Pakistan that threatens both of our countries, and Pakistan itself," Blake said, asserting that Washington has "taken a strong position on terrorism that is emanating from Pakistan soil, and that remains our very strong conviction, that it's in Pakistan's own interest to address that."
"The United States will never be soft on terrorism. This is our highest priority," Blake stressed, revealing that the US was urging Pakistan to address the problem in the Punjab with regard to Punjab-based groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba, "that are operating against India, that have also targeted the United States, in the Mumbai bombings and elsewhere."
Blake also disclosed that US and India discussed ways of working together more in Afghanistan dismissing Pakistan's complaints about New Delhi's growing influence in the country in the process. He said Washington commended India's role in Afghanistan, condoled the losses it suffered there in terrorist attacks, and "reaffirmed our support for the very important work that India has undertaken there and our determination to see if we can find ways to work together."
Asked about India training Afghan personnel, Blake said "it's really up to India to decide how -- where it wants to take its cooperation from here," and the US support for India in Afghanistan "reflects the confidence we have in the partnership that we have with India and also the constructive role that it's playing."
Business News
Sensex rises 0.3 pct; gains seen capped
Mumbai: Indian shares rose in early trade on Wednesday, after declining for two previous sessions but gains were seen capped as worries on euro zone's debt woes weigh.
The 50-share NSE index was up 0.3 percent at 5,002.45.
Pre-Market: Indian shares to open lower
Europe is continuing to be a drag on Indian markets and is likely to have the same effect today.
Indian shares are expected to drop early on Wednesday, tracking markets elsewhere in Asia and weighed down by lingering worries about Europe's debt troubles.
Bharti Airtel will be watched after the telecom operator completed its $9 billion acquisition of African operations from Kuwait's Zain and said it expects to have 100 million subscribers and $5 billion a year in revenue in Africa by 2012/13.
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Rival Reliance Communications will also be on the radar as it aims to sell a stake to strategic or private equity investors.
Automobile stocks will be in focus as the industry body releases May sales numbers.
The MSCI's measure of Asian markets other than Japan was down 0.12 percent by 0305 GMT, while Japan's Nikkei was trading nearly 1 percent lower and South Korea's Kospi was down 0.2 percent.
The Nifty India stock futures in Singapore were down 0.2 percent.
On Tuesday, the 30-share BSE index fell nearly 1 percent to 16,617.10 points, its second lowest close in June.
STOCKS TO WATCH
* Sterlite Industries (India) after the three-month copper on the London Metal Exchange rose $65 to end at $6,165 on Tuesday.
* Cairn India after U.S. crude futures extended gains to above $72 a barrel.
FACTORS TO WATCH
* FOREX-Euro's gains fade as sentiment deteriorates
* NYMEX-Crude rises further after API's big crude drop[O/R]
* Euro up vs dollar, US stocks mixed eye Europe
* Dow, S&P rise on commodities, banks, but tech dips
New road tax rates to be effective from Wednesday
New Delhi: Delhiites will have to shell out more for luxury cars and bikes from Wednesday when the city government will notify the cabinet decision to increase road tax on them to generate additional revenue.
The new rates will be effective from tomorrow across the national capital as the government will notify the cabinet decision after it was approved by Lieutenant Governor Tejendra Khanna.
"The file regarding increasing the road tax on two-wheelers and luxury four-wheelers was sent to the Lt Governor after the Cabinet took the decision. The file was received today," a senior Delhi Transport Department official said.
He said that the government will notify the new rates from tomorrow following which it will come into effect immediately. The official said the department will also come out with a public notice in leading Hindi and English newspapers about the new rates to inform the people.
People buying two-wheelers costing up to Rs 25,000 will have to pay the existing rate of two per cent while two-wheelers in the price range of Rs 25,000 to Rs 40,000 will attract a road tax of four per cent.
Two-wheelers exceeding Rs 40,000 will be charged six per cent road tax, the official said.
The Delhi Government had on May 24 decided to increase the road tax on two-wheelers and four-wheelers to generate additional revenue and to "discourage" people from using private vehicles.
For cars costing upto Rs 6 lakh, the tax has been doubled to four per cent from existing two per cent, while the cars in the price band of Rs 6 lakh and Rs 10 lakh will attract seven per cent road tax.
Ten per cent road tax will be levied on cars costing above Rs 10 lakh, the official said.
Justifying the hike, Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit had said "rationalisation of road tax rates" became necessary as they were not increased in last many decades.
The Chief Minister said road tax prevalent in the neighbouring states were also considered before finalising the rates. Around 1,000 new vehicles are registered daily in the city, where around six million vehicles ply.
Sports News
France, Italy get the blues
Cape Town: Four years after reaching the World Cup final, Italy’s Azzurri and France’s Les Bleus appear to have a bad case of the blues just days ahead of their opening matches.
Critics say there will be no way either will play in the final on July 11 at Soccer City. Both world champions Italy and runners-up France only need to look at history and realise — been there, done that.
For France, the crisis is most acute if only because their opener is on Friday and their opponents are a confident Uruguay. Italy have respite until Monday, when they open against another South American challenger — Paraguay.
If other nations surge on national enthusiasm, France have to do with much less. Even Marcel Desailly, the defensive stalwart of the 1998 World Cup-winning team, has lost all belief that France will advance from Group A, which also includes Mexico and host South Africa.
“While I hope for South Africa and France to get into the second round, I think South Africa and Uruguay will make it,” Desailly wrote in South Africa’s Sunday Times. A poll in Le Parisien newspaper showed half of the French believed Les Bleus would not go beyond the quarter-finals.
Cascading gloom
A shocking 1-0 loss to China in their last World Cup preparation game rubbed in the negative vibes even further, especially since it came on the heels of a lucky 1-1 draw with Tunisia and a come-from-behind 2-1 win over Costa Rica. Even the highlight reels from qualifying can’t boost morale, since the only one people around the world keep seeing is the handball of Thierry Henry which helped France bamboozle their way past Ireland in a playoff and into South Africa.
The only voice of optimism comes from coach Raymond Domenech himself. “We just lacked the finishing touch,” he said of the loss to China, a typical last preparation match set up especially against a minor team to give the strikers scoring practice.
The coach has often been met with derision and developed an elephant skin in Germany four years ago before leading the country into the final, where they lost only on penalties to Italy. Then, as now, they were not expected to do well. Four years ago, however, France still had the magical touch of Zinedine Zidane. Now, Franck Ribery should have matured to take over his leadership and provide an unmatched sparkle, but he has fallen short on both counts so far. And much of his supporting cast would not have made it in some of the classic French teams over the past three decades.
Italy, too, have the same coach as four years ago, and coach Marcello Lippi has the same problems — too little sparkle and leadership amid his players.
He still relies on central defender Fabio Cannavaro, who was smooth and efficient at the World Cup and became FIFA’s player of the year that season because of it. Pushing 37 now, he could not plug the holes in a 2-1 loss against Mexico in Brussels last week and the usually vaunted Italian defence looked sluggish and slow. “We were second to every ball,” Lippi complained.
Lethargic holders
And even when the Italians finally had the ball, it turned as lethargic as the Italian players themselves. A 1-1 draw on Saturday in their last warm-up match against Switzerland, considered rank outsiders, brought no respite to the Italians. “Italy gave us more space than Costa Rica,” Switzerland defender Stephan Lichtsteiner said.
What’s more, over their two preparation games, the Italian team were devoid of personality and creativity. They are still chockfull of players that gave Lippi the title four years ago and his enduring trust could cost him. Then again, Italy have a tradition of looking bad early on before surprising everyone and notching another title. Four years ago, a corruption scandal had the team reeling before they won their fourth title. In 1982, they didn’t win a single of their first three games before awaking from their slumber and lifting another Cup.
Mallya optimistic Force India can overtake Renault
New Delhi: Force India chairman Vijay Mallya is confident his team can still overtake Renault in the Constructors’ Championship and hopes Sunday’s Canadian Grand Prix will mark the start of that process. Renault are currently fifth with 73 points in kitty and with a 41-point lead over Force India, but Mallya believes it’s not too late yet.
Mallya is particularly enthused about the Montreal race where Switchable Rear Wing (the SRW) would be tried on both the cars. “Looking forward to Canada, I firmly believe we’re still in good shape. We have some more development parts coming for this race, including some new aero parts for the low downforce configuration, and we are testing the switchable rear wing (the SRW) further on both cars this weekend,” Mallya said, adding that Vitantonio Liuzzi, who has had grip problems in recent races, would use the earlier chassis in Montreal. “Tonio will revert back to the chassis used for the first four races as we continue to look into why he’s got the lack of grip,” he said.
Looking back at the season so far, Mallya said the team have come a long way since last year. “Obviously scoring points is always something we are happy about. Seeing the race pace of our car compared to others, I think we’re right up there, racing with the Ferraris and Mercedes, which is a very nice position to be in. It’s positive proof of our improvement and our movement this year,” he said in a statement.
Team driver Adrian Sutil also sounded upbeat ahead of Sunday’s race. “The SRW was a development item in Turkey and it’s a really good system as I can use it without taking my hands off the steering wheel and once we introduce it long-term, it will be very easy to use,” Sutil said.
Yahoo signs on Beckham as global football ambassador
New York: Three days ahead of the soccer world cup, Internet major Yahoo roped in legendary soccer player David Beckham as its global football ambassador.
Football fans would be able to watch and read exclusive content from Beckham in addition with its host of microsites, mobile content, fantasy games and search tools.
The campaign, which would begin in more than 20 nations, is the part of the company's USD 100 million marketing strategy called 'It's you'.
The campaign focuses on showcasing specific products, services and experiences that users can find only on Yahoo.
"The goal of the campaign is to drive more people to search, use and talk about Yahoo through exciting and experiential demonstrations of our unique ability to bring my world and the world together," the company said in a statement.
The ace player would provide exclusive content to Yahoo during the World Cup, which is beginning from June 11. He would share his thoughts and experiences on playing in three consecutive tournaments.
Before next season begins, football fans would have the opportunity to directly connect to him and ask questions through various Yahoo channels.
"Yahoo! will allow me to interact one on one with as many football fans as possible talking about the game I love," said David Beckham.
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