NDTV Correspondent
Monday, June 30, 2008 (Jammu)
The BJP has called for Jammu bandh on Monday and protestors have burned tires on the Jammu Pathankot highway.While J&K government's Sunday move to take over the Amarnath yatra may have helped in bringing some respite to the Valley after the week-long protests, anger is still brewing in Jammu.Other Jammu-based parties such as the Lok Jana Shakti, Panthers Party and Panun Kashmir, the party of Kasmiri Pandits, have accused the government of bowing to pressure from parties from the valley and not keeping the sensibilities of Hindu minority in mind.
Congress Government’s decision to take over the Amarnath shrine reminds me of Advani's famous remark regarding Indira Gandhi's emergency - when asked to bend they crawled. The Muslims of Kashmir only wanted a rescinding of the 100 acre allocation to the shrine. But the congress not only rescinded the allocation, but virtually took over the temple itself. This is a record in the annals of appeasement.
Sunday, June 29, 2008
BJP calls for Jammu bandh today
BJP, VHP give shutdown call on Amarnath land issue
Jammu, June 29: The BJP and the VHP on Sunday gave a shutdown call on Monday here and demanded the removal of Amarnath Shrine Board Chairman and Jammu and Kashmir Governor N N Vohra after the board gave up its claim on the forest land allotted to it. "We want removal of Vohra for succumbing to pressure ... This is most shameful act as he has succumbed to few protests of fundamentalists, political parties and separatists," state BJP President Ashok Khajuria said reporters here. The party gave a call for a shutdown here on Monday to protest the decision. He said the BJP will soon launch a nationwide agitation on the issue and demanded dismissal of the Ghulam Nabi Azad-led Congress government in the state. The shutdown call was supported by state VHP President Ramakant Dubey, who also demanded that Vohra be replaced. Bureau Report
Where Kashmiri Muslims only wanted a revocation of the allotment of land to the shrine, the ever appeasing Congress took away whatever little independence the shrine had by taking over the control of the shrine. With parties like the Congress in power, why would the separatists want to waste their manpower by waging acts of terrorism? The Congress is ready to hand them independence on a platter. - K.Venugopal - Mumbai
govt revokes land transfer, to take over yatra
NDTV Correspondent
Sunday, June 29, 2008 (Srinagar)
In a bid to put an end to the Amarnath yatra land controversy, J&K government has decided to take over the responsibility of Amarnath yatra from the shrine board.Responsibility of providing shelter at Baltal is also taken over by state government. The security and safety of yatris now is with state government.The Amarnath land crisis is technically over, in which about three people died and over 500 injured in last one week.J&K Governor's Principal Secretary Arun Kumar, who is also the CEO of Sri Amarnath Shrine Board, has been removed. B B Vyas would be the Interim Principal Secretary to Governor.The Jammu and Kashmir government has now said it is scrapping the transfer of state land to the Amarnath shrine board. In a letter to the Governor N N Vohra, the Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad said that the state was ready to undertake all the logical requirements of the Amarnath yatra. But people in Jammu are unhappy with the government's latest move. They want the control of the Amarnath yatra to remain with the shrine board and not the state government.PDP President Mehbooba Mufti has said that her party is with the government on this issue.Azad's statement comes a day after coalition partners PDP pulled out the Congress-led coalition in the state over the shrine board land transfer issue. The party had insisted that the transfer of land should be scrapped. The Chief Minister has also accepted PDP minister's resignations and forwarded it to the Governor on Sunday.PDP's withdrawal from the coalition government has reduced the Congress-led government to a minority. The PDP wants the transfer land revoked, though the Congress says no construction will take place till the matter is sorted out.In an exclusive interview to NDTV, the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir Ghulam Nabi Azad has said that he intended to last out the full term of this government even without PDP's support. Though its still unclear how he intends to do that.Meanwhile, there's a curfew-like situation on the ground and the police are asking the residents to stay indoors. At least 40 people were injured on Saturday in fresh clashes over the row. It's been a week since the protests started in the Valley in a dispute, which has taken on a distinctly communal colour between protestors who say the government is trying to populate the state with `outsiders' and those who say Hindus are being denied their rights in the Muslim majority state.
In other words, the Muslims of Kashmir have nipped in the bud any possibility of Hindus managing even their temples independently while they themselves want an independent nation.
Congress revokes land transfer order in J&K
CNN-IBN
Published on Sun, Jun 29, 2008 at 11:02, Updated at Sun, Jun 29, 2008 in Nation section
New Delhi: A day after People's Democratic Party (PDP) pulled out from the Congress-led coalition government in Jammu and Kashmir, Governor N N Vohra on Sunday formally wrote to the state government saying he is willing to revoke the transfer of forestland to the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB).
Following his letter, Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, state Congress president Saif-ud-din Soz and other senior Congress leaders met Vohra, who is also the chairman of SASB.
PDP, however, says it stands by its decision of withdrawing support from the state government.
“I am happy with the decision. We have succeeded in what we wanted to do. We would like to see normalcy back in the state. We have already pulled out of the government,” PDP President Mehbooba Mufti said.
Mebooba added: "Once the government agrees to provide the facilities to the yatris, as was done for so many years, there will be no point of transferring the land."
National Conference president Omar Abdullah, whose party is not in favour of the land transfer, told CNN-IBN that he was pleased with Vohra’s decision but whether they’ll extend support to Congress was still unclear.
“We are happy with the Governor's decision. As of now, we are not providing support to Congress. However, our agenda will be decided in the core committee meeting on Sunday,” he said.
But Congress continues to remain confident of lasting a full term despite the split.
“I believe we will have a breakthrough. I am meeting the Governor, and together we will look for a solution. Government will run its course till the last day,” Soz said.
Meanwhile, the state government has made it clear that it will conduct the Amarnanth yatra instead of the Board.
BJP, however, has objected to the decision stating that J&K government is ill equipped to handle the yatra.
“We are completely against the decision of the transfer of responsibility of the yatra back to the state government, which is not equipped to deal with the arrangements and is the main reason SASB was constituted in 2002,” BJP party in-charge, Kashmir, R P Singh.
Singh added, “The standing of the government is still not clear on whether the yatra is still on. How will the government be able to handle the arrangements?”
Srinagar has been tense since June 23 after dozens were injured during clashes with police. Three people died and more than 200 were injured in protests that lasted six days.
Authorities had decided to transfer nearly 100 acres of forestland in Batal SASB to erect temporary structures for thousands of pilgrims who annually trek to the cave shrine.
The Muslims of Kashmir want an independent nation but will not allow even a Hindu temple the right to function independently.
Saturday, June 28, 2008
Militant uprising to revisit Valley lest land transfer is revoked: JKLF
28 June, 2008 12:00:51
Jehangir RashidSrinagar, June 28:
Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front on Saturday said that if the situation which has come up over the last one week continues for some time, militant uprising would revisit the Kashmir valley.Talking to journalists at a hurriedly convened press conference, Ghulam Rasool Dar alias Eidi, general secretary JKLF said that the situation has gone out of control of the government.He said that the “oppressive” measures of the troops would force the youth to take up guns and the blame in this respect would lie entirely on the state government. “Over the last few days, hundreds of people have been injured and some others have been killed in the repressive measures taken by the troops. It is our belief that we are moving towards a situation of 1990 when militancy was at its peak in the Kashmir valley. The government should act fast and revoke the order and in case they don’t do so then they are in for serious trouble,” said the JKLF general secretary.Eidi said that the ongoing public anger against the land transfer issue is an off-shoot of the “movement” which has been launched for the complete “freedom” of Jammu Kashmir from India. He added that the protest demonstrations against the transfer of the forestland should open the eyes of the government. “Kashmiris have offered numerous sacrifices during the ongoing movement, and we will not budge from our demand. We want complete freedom from India and we won’t accept anything less than that. Our goal is complete independence and the controversy surrounding the land transfer issue is an off-shoot of the ongoing movement,” said the JKLF general secretary.Eidi said that Kashmiris are neither against Yatra nor Hindus and they have always upheld secular credentials. He castigated chief minister Ghulam Nabi Azad who in a statement had said that Kashmiris have achieved nothing even after thousands of people have been killed over the last two decades. “Azad has forgotten that Kashmiris are demanding freedom and for that they are offering the sacrifices. The movement is going on in the right direction and this would not stop unless and until it is taken to its logical conclusion,” said the JKLF general secretary. He added that the transfer of forest land to Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) is an attempt to strengthen the “illegal occupation” of India on the state of Jammu Kashmir.Eidi condemned the police action on a procession at HSH Street, and said that the Front chairman Muhammad Yasin Malik along with Noor Muhammad Kalwal, Muhammad Zaman and some others were injured in the police action.“The Front leaders along with the common people carried out a procession against the land transfer. As soon as they reached near the HSH Street area, the policemen attacked them. Sixty persons were injured in the attack and many among them were hospitalized in the Bone & Joint hospital at Barzulla,” said the JKLF general secretary.Speaking on the occasion, senior leader of the Front, Showkat Ahmad Bakshi said Kashmiris are neither against Yatra nor Hindus. He added that the government wants to give a communal colour to the present “uprising” against the transfer of the forest land.
Is it the argument of Kashmiri Muslims that a Hindu shrine should not get any land for improvement of its facilities? Since residency laws are in place in Kashmir, where does the question of 'outsiders' settling in the 100 acres land arise? I think the Kashmiri Muslims have shown their true colours - they are religious fanatics who hate Hindus. Their claims of serving the Yatris is misleading. The Amarnath Yatra is an economic boon for the Muslims and they are exploiting it. If facilities come up in the 100 acre land, financial income of the Muslims may get reduced and their only motive in "helping" the Yatris would no longer be tempting. Therefore they bare their true colours.
Congress looks at options in Kashmir(With PDP pulls out of Kashmir government)
New Delhi, June 28 (IANS) The withdrawal of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) from the Congress-led coalition in Jammu and Kashmir Saturday sent the Congress into a huddle to chalk out its future strategy in the poll-bound state. While Congress leaders in the national capital refused to comment on the development, party sources said Prithivraj Chavan, the Congress general secretary in charge of Kashmir, was closeted with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to discuss the emerging political scenario.
“This is not a major setback for the party as the move was expected for the past few weeks. Elections are to be held in a few months in the state so we are not worried,” said a senior Congress leader, not wishing to be named.
The party is likely to urge Jammu and Kashmir Governor N.N. Vohra to allow the government of Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad to continue in a caretaker capacity.
“In case Azad is not allowed to continue, the state may be put under the president’s rule,” the Congress leader said.
Assembly elections are due in the state by November.
The PDP withdrew from the coalition Saturday following differences with the Congress on the allotment of 40 hectares of forest land to the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) for pilgrims visiting the holy shrine near Srinagar.
PDP has alleged that the land was being used to set up permanent structures and settling Hindus to change the demographic profile of the Muslim majority state.
The govenrment move has led to violent protests in the Kashmir Valley.
The PDP withdrawal comes as a further jolt to the party already reeling under electoral defeats in several states and persistent threats of the Left parties of withdrawing support to the government of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh over the India-US civilian nuclear deal.
Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) preferred to focus on the land controversy rather than its political fallout.
“Who is supporting whom and where is inconsequential for the BJP. But any step to provide facilities to devotees anywhere in the country is a matter of right and any attempt to deprive them of the benefits would be treated as unconstitutional,” BJP spokesman Rajiv Pratap Rudy told IANS.
“Any force that acts in an unconstitutional manner would be working against the interests and unity of the nation,” he added.
“The Congress government, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress president Sonia Gandhi are keeping quiet on the issue. They should make their stand clear and intervene in the interest of the Hindu minority in Kashmir,” Rudy maintained.
K.Venugopal Says: after publication. -->June 29th, 2008 at 12:34 am
Just 100 acres and the Muslims of Kashmir are concerned about demography. Assam’s and the entire North East’s demography is being changed by Muslim infiltration from Bangladesh and the Hindus seem unconcerned. That’s the difference between the Hindus and Muslims. Hindus have been brainwashed by false secularism whereas Muslims suffer from no such handicap.
Saturday, June 14, 2008
Natwar Singh looking to join Mayawati's party
Bhupendra Chaubey / CNN-IBN
Published on Sat, Jun 14, 2008 at 18:34 in Nation section
New Delhi: Several leaders like K Natwar Singh and Bhajan Lal who are out from their parent parties are now looking at the BSP as their option.
Natwar has been forced to reconsider his political future after he tried reaching out to the Samawadi Party, but Amar Singh and Mulayam Singh bent backwards to mend their relations with Congress President Sonia Gandhi.
Having bitterly opposed the BJP all his life Natwar Singh is now knocking on the doors of BSP.
"I think Mayawati is a great leader. She is bound to have an impact in Rajasthan. I am going to campaign against the Congress vigorously," says the former external affairs minister.
Though he doesn't want to run the risk of fighting an election without the powerful election support of a big party like the Congress, for the moment he is only focusing on giving a good platform to his son Jagat.
Like his father, Jagat is also a victim of the Oil for Food scam.
"I am running 79, so I don't think I should be fighting elections. Jagat has a bright future ahead of him," say Natwar.
The father-son duo is not alone in hoping for a political resurrection by hopping onto Mayawati's bandwagon.
In Karnataka PGR Scindhia did the same, in Haryana Bhajan Lal is in advanced state of negotiations and in UP Akhilesh Das has already rebelled against Rahul Gandhi and joined the BSP camp.
Mayawati is presenting herself as the only viable alternative to all those who don't want to do business with the two national parties.
From Himachal Pradesh to Gujarat, it's a strategy that has worked well for her.
As for the Congress, this will be bad news as in her success lies the party's grand old failure.
Natwar Singh is a pathetic fellow. Having got caught in a scam (how many would he have committed without anyone being the wiser for it?) and thrown out of the Congress, where he was the chief cheerleader of the Nehru family, he is still pompous enough to declare his innocence. Mayawati has nothing to lose by giving him and his son tickets in Rajasthan, while bagging a formerly powerful politician into her kitty. It is better he retired from public life and wrote an autobiography of his colourful life. It would do justice to the great talent he has in English literature.
Saamana attack: Bal Thackeray demands Rane`s arrest
Pune, June 14: Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray on Saturday demanded arrest of the Maharashtra revenue minister Narayan Rane, alleging that he hired goons to attack the Pune base of the party mouthpiece `Saamana`. Rane, who is currently on Europe tour should be arrested on his arrival at Mumbai airport as he had hired underworld elements to vandalise the Saamana office, Thackeray said in a hard-hitting editorial in the party`s paper. Demanded stringent action against the minister, Sena chief said, "If government does not initiate steps to book Rane, the Shiv Sena will." Referring to the caricature of Rane in a female form published in `Saamana` that led to the attack allegedly by Rane supporters, Thackeray said, as a cartoonist I have caricatured in the same manner leaders like Pandit Nehru, comrade Dange, Y B Chavan and also Sharad Pawar. But all of them took it in good humour as it should be. Drawing a parallel between Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati sacking a cabinet colleague for criminal activities and the attack on the newspaper office on Thursday night, Thackeray said the same yardstick should be applied by Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh in booking Rane for the offence. The Sena Supremo also asked the journalists and political parties to take up the issue of freedom of expression, which had been violated by the attack on the Saamana establishment. Thackeray lambasted Rane, who crossed over to congress deserting the Sena in 2005, saying the attack on `Saamana` was symbolic of his frustration over failing to become chief minister by dislodging incumbent Vilasrao Deshmukh. The party newspaper had parodied Rane by publishing his caricature depicting him as a newly-wed bride after Chief Minister Deshmukh described his bete noire as a new daughter-in-law of congress, who would need time to get adjusted to a new culture. Bureau Report
Cartooning is an accepted form of satire. I think the morphed picture of Narayan Rane as a bride, is a similar expression of satire. If Saamana erred, so did the CM in calling Rane a bride.
Friday, June 13, 2008
Gujjars, Raje govt to meet again on Saturday
Friday, June 13, 2008 (Jaipur)
The Rajasthan government and Gujjar leaders met in Jaipur on Friday for ''positive talks'' and would hold more discussions on Saturday in their effort to resolve the prolonged standoff over the community's demand for tribe status. ''The second round of talks that went for over two hours in Jaipur was positive,'' Om Prakash Mathur, state chief of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), said in Jaipur at a press conference.''The talks were held in a cordial environment and we have decided to hold another round of talks here on Saturday at 11 am,'' said Ramdas Agarwal, who headed the government delegation. ''I am optimistic that we will be able to reach an amicable solution,'' he added. Masood Chaudhary, vice-chancellor of a university in Jammu and Kashmir who is heading the Gujjar delegation, said the community raised its problems and the government listened to them ''with an open mind''. The second round of talks has raised hopes that the 22-day violent standoff over the demand for affirmative action may finally end.A 28-member team of the Gujjar Sangarsh Aarakshan Samiti, that has been spearheading the community's agitation for Scheduled Tribe status and therefore better education and employment opportunities, is holding discussions with a nine-member government delegation. Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje and Gujjar leader KS Bainsla are not part of the talks. The government had paved the way for the talks on Thursday by releasing 24 Gujjar women arrested during the agitation, a precondition the community had set for the talks.The women were arrested June 6 for squatting on the railway track near Bandikui in Dausa district as part of the agitation, which affected rail traffic on the important Jaipur-Delhi sector for about six days. They were charged with causing damage to rail property and indulging in violence.On Monday, the two sides had held discussions in Bayana in Bharatpur district, about 160 km from Jaipur. The Gujjar leaders had then focussed on three conditions - release of the Gujjars held during the agitation, restoration of power supply to some Gujjar-dominated areas, and a stop to police raids in their areas.The Gujjars, who are classified as other backward classes (OBCs) in Rajasthan and want ST status that would give them a bigger share of the quota pie, have been agitating since May 23. The violent protests have claimed 39 lives.Last year, Gujjars had held protests all over Rajasthan from May 29 to June 4 to press the same demand. At least 26 people were killed in the violence then.
The Gujjar delegation is led by a Muslim. This is ominous.
Sunday, June 8, 2008
'Let Advani hang me; Cong playing games'
New Delhi: On death row for the last three years, India's most controversial convict, Mohammed Afzal, wants a speedy conclusion to his ordeal and says BJP's prime ministerial candidate LK Advani would act swiftly in deciding his plight one way or the other while the present government is dilly-dallying his death sentence.
"I don't think the UPA government can ever reach a decision. The Congress party has two mouths and is playing a double game," said Afzal, convicted for the December 2001 Pparliament attack in an exclusive interview to IANS in Tihar prison's Jail No 3.
"I really wish LK Advani becomes India's next prime minister as he is the only one who can take a decision and hang me. At least my pain and daily suffering would ease then," said Afzal, who has been in solitary confinement in the capital's high security jail.
Incidentally, Advani has criticised the delay in carrying out the death sentence.
"I fail to understand the delay. They have increased my security. But what needs to be done immediately is to carry out the court's orders," Advani had remarked in November 2006.
In an exclusive interview, Afzal's first since he was convicted by the Supreme Court in 2004 that was subsequently upheld a year later, he says the death sentence had made him delusional. He, too, has filed a mercy petition – along with 40 others – that is pending before the President.
Cumbersome legal procedures and prolonged periods of solitary confinement, he said, were inhuman and cruel.
Psychologists call this condition the 'death row' phenomenon, in which prisoners spending years awaiting their execution go through excruciating mental torture, a fact that was recognised by the European Court of Human Rights in 1989.
"Life has become hell in the jail. I requested the Government to take an immediate decision over my sentence just two months ago. I don't wish to be part of the living dead," said Afzal, whose moods swung frequently between being stoic and defiant.
"I have also requested that till the time they (Government) take a decision, they shift me to a Kashmir jail," said Afzal.
Dressed in a spotless white kurta-pyjama and a sports cap to hide his shaven head, Afzal, who is in his mid-30s, said he sympathised with Sarabjit Singh, an Indian lodged in Pakistan prison for nearly two decades, but said no parallel could be drawn between the two of them.
Hang this traitorous creep forthwith, instead of having the secular media give him free publicity.
Let Advani hang me, Cong is dillydallying: Afzal
Indo-Asian News Service
Sunday, June 8, 2008 (New Delhi)
On death row for the last three years, India's most controversial convict, Mohammed Afzal, wants a speedy conclusion to his ordeal and says Bharatiya Janata Party's prime ministerial candidate LK Advani would act swiftly in deciding his plight one way or the other while the present government is dilly-dallying his death sentence.''I don't think the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government can ever reach a decision. The Congress party has two mouths and is playing a double game,'' said Afzal, convicted for the December 2001 Indian parliament attack in an exclusive interview to IANS in Tihar prison's Jail No 3.''I really wish LK Advani becomes India's next prime minister as he is the only one who can take a decision and hang me. At least my pain and daily suffering would ease then,'' said Afzal, who has been in solitary confinement in the capital's high security Tihar Jail.Incidentally, Advani has criticised the delay in carrying out the death sentence.''I fail to understand the delay. They have increased my security. But what needs to be done immediately is to carry out the court's orders,'' Advani had remarked in November 2006.In this rare interview, Afzal's first since he was convicted by the Supreme Court in 2004 that was subsequently upheld a year later, he says the death sentence had made him delusional. He, too, has filed a mercy petition - along with 40 others - that is pending before the president.Cumbersome legal procedures and prolonged periods of solitary confinement, he said, were inhuman and cruel.Psychologists call this condition the 'death row' phenomenon, in which prisoners spending years awaiting their execution go through excruciating mental torture, a fact that was recognized by the European Court of Human Rights in 1989.''Life has become hell in the jail. I requested the government to take an immediate decision over my sentence just two months ago. I don't wish to be part of the living dead,'' said Afzal, whose moods swung frequently between being stoic and being defiant.''I have also requested that till the time they (government) take a decision, they shift me to a Kashmir jail,'' said Afzal, who now sports a long black beard.Dressed in a spotless white kurta-pyjama and a sports cap to hide his shaven head, Afzal, who is in his mid-30s, said he sympathised with Sarabjit Singh, an Indian lodged in Pakistan prison for nearly two decades, but said no parallel could be drawn between the two of them.''Please don't compare me with Sarabjit. The issues are separate. My sympathies are with him, but my fight is for the Kashmir conflict. Now, I am not even seeking any clemency and have no objection to the government deciding my fate.''Last month Home Minister Shivraj Patil's controversial statement saying those demanding Afzal's hanging could not seek reprieve for Sarabjit Singh drew considerable publicity.''If you are asking for Afzal Guru's hanging, then how can you ask for pardon for Sarabjit Singh?'' Patil had asked.Sarabjit Singh has been held guilty for bombings in Lahore and Multan in 1990 that left 14 people dead. He was to be executed April 30. However, the intervention of the Indian government led to the execution being postponed by Pakistan.Afzal, also known as Afzal Guru, was convicted of conspiracy in the December 2001 attack on India's parliament that killed six security personnel and one civilian.''I long for my eight-year-old son, Ghalib. In jail, it is not possible to meet them easily as intelligence officials unnecessarily harass my family and wife, Tabassum, when they come here,'' he remarked.In jail, Afzal is reading a book called India wins freedom by Maulana Abul Kalam Azad that details events of the country's independence movement.There is pressure to issue clemency to Afzal from political groups in Kashmir, who believe hanging Afzal would have negative effects on the peace process in Kashmir. Human rights activists too have demanded a reprieve, as they believe that the trial was flawed.''I only asked for pardon to stop millions of Kashmiri people hitting the streets. If I am hanged, I would take it as a sacrifice towards the people of Kashmir,'' Afzal told IANS.
This traitorous creep, instead of having already been hung by now, is being given free publicity by the secular media.
Monday, June 2, 2008
UP police mishandled Aarushi case: CBI
Poonam Aggarwal
Monday, June 2, 2008 (New Delhi)
Within 24 hours of taking over the Aarushi murder case, the CBI is making progress in its investigations. They have already got custody of Dr Rajesh Talwar, accused by the Noida police of killing his daughter and their domestic help. A forensic team spent the day picking up fingerprints from the Talwars flat in Noida. On top of this, according to sources, the CBI said the UP police had mishandled the case and that they could have cracked it in 24 hours.All this indicates that the CBI might be close to naming the killer soon. In court on Monday morning, the CBI said that they hoped Dr Talwar would lead them to the murder weapon. A CBI team also questioned the Talwar's close friend and business partner Dr Anita Durrani. Their driver Umesh and Hemraj's brother-in-law Jeevan are also being questioned. But for now, the CBI is not saying anything.Earlier, the Noida court granted the CBI one-day remand of Dr Talwar, prime accused in Aarushi Talwar murder case.''CBI has asked for seven days, but the court has sent Talwar in remand till 5 pm on Tuesday,'' said Pinaki Mishra, lawyer for Talwar family.On being asked about the timing of the next hearing, he said: ''This will be decided after remand. In case, there is any recovery then he'll appear in CBI court or he will be taken to the jail directly.'' The case has been transferred to the CBI court in Ghaziabad. The CBI had moved an application for seven-day remand of Dr Talwar.He was arrested by the Uttar Pradesh Police for allegedly murdering his daughter Aarushi and domestic help Hemraj.The CBI had registered a case of murder on Sunday after the UP government handed the probe to the central agency.Meanwhile, a day after the Uttar Pradesh government transferred three senior policemen for botching up the case, women and child development minister Renuka Chaudhary has said the transfers are not enough and strict action should have been taken against them.
The case appears to have been cracked by the CBI and Dr. Talwar is the killer. This is clear from the sentence in the above report, "In court on Monday morning, the CBI said that they hoped Dr Talwar would lead them to the murder weapon." The question of 'who?' being answered, the question of 'how' about to be answered, the answer that will take longer in coming or may be the full truthful answer would never come - to the question 'why?'.
Sunday, June 1, 2008
My book on Iraq scam will bring out truth: Natwar Singh
New Delhi, June 01:
Former external affairs minister K. Natwar Singh is writing a tell-all book on the Iraqi oil-for-food scam in which he was named a beneficiary and which cost him his job. 'In my book I will prove that neither me nor my son (Jagat Singh) took a single penny from the oil deal. The only beneficiaries were (friends of Jagat) Andaleeb Sehgal and Aditya Khanna,' Singh, once a prominent Congress leader, said. 'All I did was to give three letters of recommendation. What is the big deal about that? Many people do it,' Singh added. The oil-for-food scam that led to Singh's resignation from Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's cabinet in December 2005 still rankles him. 'Crores (tens of millions) of rupees were spent on the investigation though the total money transacted in the deal was only Rs.40 lakh (Rs.4 million). 'Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials visited the US, Switzerland, Iraq and other countries and stayed in the best hotels, only to come up with nothing,' he said. On May 5, the Supreme Court stopped proceedings against Natwar Singh in the case and asked the ED to submit documents to prove his involvement. The UN had asked Paul Volcker, a former head of the US Federal Reserve, to probe the scam. Thereafter, an Indian government committee headed by former Supreme Court chief justice R.S. Pathak validated the findings. Singh's book will also deal with the role played by Pathak in the case. When asked whether Congress president Sonia Gandhi's suspicion of his involvement had pained him, he said: 'She acted in haste (in distancing herself from me and forcing my resignation). How could she say that she merely had a working relationship with me when I was so close to the family?' After resigning from the Rajya Sabha, the upper house of parliament, and the Congress party in February, Singh, 78, is writing three other books as well. 'My book 'Yours Sincerely' will be out in October. It is a collection of letters that I received from various people since I was 15 years old,' he explained. 'In India, people don't preserve letters. They destroy them. But I saved all the letters, including those written to me by C. Rajagopalachari, Indira Gandhi, Nirad C. Chaudhuri, E.M. Forster, Zia-ul Haq, Sunil Dutt, R.K. Narayanan,........,' Natwar Singh said, rattling off a long list of names. Rajagopalachari was independent India's first governor general; Gandhi was a former prime minister; Chaudhuri, Forester and Narayanan are authors; Zia was a former Pakistani military dictator ; and Dutt was an actor and a former central minister. 'The book will also have a letter written by (Prime Minister) Manmohan Singh,' Singh said smugly. 'The first letter I received was when I was 15 years old. It was written by (former prime minister) Jawaharlal Nehru's sister Krishna Hutheesing, whose kids studied with me,' he added. The former career diplomat, whose first posting was in China, is also writing 'China Diary-1956-2006' , which will hit the bookstores in December. 'It will have about 300 pages and lots of photos,' Singh said. 'I had accompanied (then prime minister) Rajiv (Gandhi) when he visited China in 1988 to renew relations with the Chinese,' he said. Yet another book with a self-explanatory title, 'Diplomatic Incidents-1953-2005', will be completed by February 2009. 'It is always better to release books in winter when most people (the movers and shakers) are in Delhi,' Singh said, responding to a question on why his publisher Rupa had scheduled all the releases for winter. Singh has authored two biographies and many other books over the years. A respected reviewer of books for magazines and journals, he now spends much time in his personal library as he works on his forthcoming books. The library houses a rich collection of rare and out-of-print books. Bureau Report
However much Natwar Singh tries to white-wash his role in the scam, his role would show through. His using public office to benefit his son's friends is enough to indict him.