Terrorism being fanned to destabilise economy: HM
Wednesday 10 March, 2010: Terrorism and militancy are being fanned to destabilise the economy of the country which is at the threshold of a double digit growth, Union Home Minister P Chidambaram on Wednesday said.
"Even while they (hostile forces) challenge our borders and our boundaries, they make attempts to destabilise our economy. Terrorism and militancy are being fanned to hinder the growth of our country," Chidambaram said in his address at the CISF Raising Day Parade in Ghaziabad.
He said hostile forces seek to undermine the security and stability of our nation.
He said since the 1980's, India has emerged as one of the most happening economies of the world.
"The past decade has seen good growth and our economy is on the threshold of a double digit growth," Chidambaram said.
He said the country's growth depends on infrastructure and the CISF, which guards some of the most critical installations, is securing India's future.
About the renewed mandate of the force to provide security to private installations also, the Minister said his Ministry continues to receive requests which are being examined and security will be provided as per priority.
At present the government has selected Information Technology, Power, Oil and Natural Gas sectors as the top three priorities.
India not to wind-up Kabul mission
Mar 10, 2010, NEW DELHI: India is looking at various options including scaling down operations of its missions in Afghanistan in the wake of terror attacks on Indians there.
Government is also planning to put all the Indians working in projects like power and road together to ensure their safety, reliable government sources said today.
This follows an assessment made by National Security Adviser Shivshankar Menon's visit to Kabul last week in the wake of terror attack on Feb 26 on guest houses frequented by Indians in which seven Indians were killed.
Apart from the embassy in Kabul, Indian has consulates in Herat, Kandahar, Mazar-e-Sharif and Jalalabad.
The sources said that an advisory may also be issued asking all Indians in Afghanistan to return home.
They recalled that the operations of the Indian medical mission has already been put on hold after the Feb 26 attack in which the hand of Pakistan based LeT operatives is suspected.
Taliban terrorists, with backing from Pakistan's ISI, had targeted the Indian embassy twice in the past. On July 7, 2008, 60 people, including four Indians--one IFS official and a brigadier-ranked official were killed in the attack, while on Oct 8 last year, four ITBP jawans were among those injured.
Regret and return, govt to suspended MPs
Mar 10, 2010, NEW DELHI: Parliamentary affairs minister Pawan Kumar Bansal on Wednesday indicated that the government could bring a motion to revoke suspension of seven Rajya Sabha members if they expressed regret over their behaviour to Chairman Hamid Ansari.
"It (the suspension) was a well-considered action as they (the members) had insulted dignity of the house. The minimum thing is to go the chairman," Bansal told reporters here.
He said the members should at least realize their mistake.
The minister said the house had not taken action against the members with any sense of elation and it was "a bitter medicine".
He indicated that the government would be willing to consider the demand of opposition for revoking the suspension of the members if they apologized to the chairman.
"All of us have to work in a spirit of cooperation," he said.
The Bharatiya Janata Party and the Left on Wednesday supported demand of the Samajwadi Party (SP) and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) for withdrawing suspension of the seven members.
The MPs suspended for unruly behaviour were Kamal Akhtar, Veerpal Singh Yadav, Amir Alam Khan and Nand Kishore Yadav (all SP), Ejaz Ali (Janata Dal-United), Sabir Ali (Lok Janshakti Party) and Subhash Prasad Yadav (RJD).
The MPs had to be forcibly removed from the house Tuesday before the debate on the women's reservation bill.
On Monday, these MPs created pandemonium near chairman's podium after he instructed the law minister to move the bill for consideration.
Court adjourns Rathore's case till April 15
Chandigarh, March 10, 2010: A court on Wednesday adjourned till April 15 the molestation case against former Haryana police chief SPS Rathore after being told that his counsel was recovering from an injury.
Additional District and Sessions Judge Raj Shekhar Attri gave the ruling. His wife and another counsel, Abha Rathore, accompanied Rathore. His main counsel, Narayan Dutt Sharma, was injured last month.
The case will now be heard April 15 and 16.
The court had earlier adjourned Rathore's case till March 10 following a knife attacks on him by a student, Utsav Sharma.
At that time, Rathore had refused to file a complaint against Sharma. But last week he asked the Chandigarh Police to register an attempt to murder charge against the young man.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) special court held Rathore guilty in December last year of molesting 15-year-old Ruchika in Panchkula town in August 1990. She committed suicide three years later.
He was sentenced to six months' rigorous imprisonment and fined Rs 1, 000. Rathore is on bail.
Chef de Missions visit CWG venues
Wednesday 10 March, 2010: Chef de Missions from the participating countries on Wednesday inspected the venues for the 2010 Commonwealth Games and were impressed with facilities, according to the organisers.
The delegates, including Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) president Michael Fennell, have gathered in New Delhi for the three-day Chef de Mission seminar, which commenced on Tuesday.
They visited Jawaharlal Nehru Sports Complex, the Games Village, Indira Gandhi Sports Complex and the Rugby 7 venue at Delhi University.
At the Games Village, the delegates were shown a set of furnished apartments, where they got to see the facilities that would be provided to the visiting athletes and officials during the Games, a CWG Organising Committee release said.
"I am confident that Delhi will organise excellent Commonwealth Games. At the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, work is going on, but I am sure that everything will be ready in time.
In India the work in progress is very impressive," Abdul Halil of Malaysia said after the inspection.
Neville Fenton of Antigua said, "I am very impressed with the facilities, which we have seen at different venues for the Commonwealth Games. Surely its going to be a lovely Games, and we will love to be a part of it. Here at the Games Village also, the arrangements are fine."
Two ministers, US Congressman recommended Chatwal for Padma
Mar 10, 2010, NEW DELHI: Two Union Ministers and a prominent US Congressman recommended the name of controversial NRI hotelier Sant Singh Chatwal for the prestigious Padma awards, the government told the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday.
The four recommendations came from Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel, Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs Vayalar Ravi, member of US Congress Joseph Crowley and Dalis Adler, Staff Associate, Sub-Committee on the Middle East and South Asia under the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
Minister of State for Home Mullappally Ramachandran told the House in reply to a query that as per guidelines regulating Padma award, nominations for it are open to all.
Besides inviting nominations from institutional sources like state and UT governments, central ministries, departments, institutes of excellence and Bharat Ratna and Padma Vibhushan awardees, a large number of recommendations are also received from various other sources like Governors, Chief Ministers, Cabinet Ministers, MPs, private institutions, bodies and individuals, he said.
All nominations and recommendations received are placed before the Padma Awards committee for its consideration. The committee scrutinises them and makes its recommendations to the competent authority for approval, Ramachandran said.
The selection of Chatwal for the Padma award had sparked a controversy following allegations that he was involved in financial irregularities, a charge denied by him.
