India attaches highest importance to ties with Russia: PM
New Delhi,Wednesday, December 11, 2002: Declaring that India will continue to attach the "highest importance" to its relations with Russia, Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee today said in Lok Sabha that important accords signed during President Vladimir Putin's visit earlier this month would further consolidate strategic partnership between the two countries.
Making a suo motu statement on Putin's state visit from December three to five, Vajpayee announced that in keeping with the commitment to hold annual summits, he had accepted the invitation to visit Russia next year.
He said India "fully agreed" with Russian view that the international regime on civilian applications of nuclear energy needed reforms
On defence cooperation, he said this now transcended a buyer-seller relationship and included joint research, development and production.
He said the two countries were now embarking on co-production of the state-of-the art Brahmos missile system, a product of joint research and development efforts, for its induction into the armed forces of both countries.
Both agreed that a number of other projects "hold promise for our future cooperation", he said without elaborating.
The visit underlined the mutual commitment of the two countries to constantly strengthen their strategic partnership, intensify political consultations and to give a new dimension to economic relations.
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No spurt in terrorist activities during last one month:Advani
New Delhi,Wednesday, December 11, 2002: Government today told the Rajya Sabha that there was no spurt in terrorist activities during the last one month and the Centre has set up Joint Working Groups with a number of countries to counter terrorism.
"As per available information, there is no spurt in terrorist activities during the last one month," Minister of State for Home C H Vidyasagar Rao said in a written reply.
He said 32 militant organisations have been notified as terrorist organisations.
The government has set up Joint Working Groups with a number of countries to counter terrorism, he said.
Rao, however, said some major Pakistan-sponsored terrorist incidents have taken place in Jammu and Kashmir and Delhi last month in which 13 security personnel, 14 civilians and 6 terrorists were killed and 35 security personnel and 46 civilians were injured.
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Adequate security arrangements in Gujarat: Lyngdoh
New Delhi,Wednesday, December 11, 2002: Chief Election Commissioner J M Lyngdoh today asserted that adequate security arrangements had been made for conduct of free and fair polls in Gujarat tomorrow and said that 17 foreign diplomats and 20 Special Observers would witness the polling at 181 assembly constituencies.
He told a press conference here that 36657 polling stations had been set up across the state to enable 3.32 eligible voters to exercise their franchise.
The Election Commission took a "lot of pains" on special revision of electoral rolls, particularly to include those who had migrated following communal riots early this year, Lyngdoh said, adding 176,000 such voters had been located and included in the rolls.
For those who remained untraceable, he said special police stations had been set up at three district collectorates in Patan, Panchmahal and Anand districts to allow them to cast their votes there or exercise their franchise at their original place of habitation.
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UAE asks India to seek Anees Ibrahim's extradition
In a significant development, authorities in Dubai have asked the CBI to make a request for extradition of underworld don Anees Ibrahim who is an accused in several cases including the Mumbai serial blasts.
A CBI spokesman said that it has received a communication from Interpol in Abu Dhabi asking it to "process the extradition request for Anees". The spokesman said the request for Anees' extradition would be made soon.
The communication came on a day when newspaper reports from Dubai said, quoting police sources, that Anees would not be sent to any country till the trial against him in a murder case, in which he has been arrested, was over.
Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani expressed the hope that the UAE authorities would deport Anees to India as he was the main accused in the 1993 Mumbai bomb blasts case and had been declared an absconder.
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Adamant Indian stand prompted SAARC summit postponement:Jamali
Islamabad,Wednesday, December 11, 2002: Accusing India of holding the SAARC movement hostage, Pakistan Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali has said the meet proposed to be held next month had to be postponed due to "adamant" stand taken by the Indian leadership, a charge already rejected by New Delhi.
Addressing a meeting of Editors of local dailies here on Tuesday night he said it was regrettable the summit had been postponed even while the arrangements were underway. "But, it was due to the adamant stance of the Indian leadership which resulted in its postponement," he said.
Jamali alleged India in the past used military rule in Pakistan as a pretext to avoid SAARC meetings but now New Delhi hardly had an excuse after a civilian government had taken over.
He accused India of adopting "anti-Pakistan posture", stating SAARC was a useful regional cooperation forum, but remained a "hostage to the adamant Indian attitude".
In his meeting with the Editors, which was his first after he took over power last month, Jamali dwelt at length on various issues, including his relationship with President, Pervez Musharraf, the political crisis faced by his government, law and order, politics and foreign policy issues.
On his relations with Musharraf, he said "The relations are cordial, ideal and excellent- and will continue to remain so. If we contain ourselves within defined constitutional parameters, there will be no confrontation at all".
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Nani Palkhivala dead
Eminent jurist Nani Palkhivala died at the Jaslok Hospital here on Wednesday following a prolonged illness.
He was 82.
Palkhivala was admitted to the intensive care unit of Jaslok Hospital on December 7 following complaints of uneasiness.
While in hospital he had suffered a severe cardiac arrest, Dr Cyrus Wadia, who was attending him said.
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Stone-throwing victim loses eye
KEM doctors on Tuesday confirmed that 17-year-old Suchita Achrekar, who was hit by a stone while travelling on the train last week, will not regain her vision in her left eye.
Ms Achrekar was travelling from Bhayander, where she lives, to Borivali for her computer classes when she was struck by a stone on the eye near the new bridge being constructed between Mira Road and Bhayander. The incident occurred at around 4 p.m. on December 4.
KEM doctors said that she suffered fractures in her left eye and that it was unlikely she would regain her sight. She is currently in the plastic surgery ward of the hospital.
Meanwhile, police are following leads to find out who threw the stone. They suspect that one of the construction labourers working on the bridge was responsible.
Railway police commissioner Rakesh Maria also said that the railway was looking into helping Ms Achrekar medically. They may also consider giving her future employment.
Suchita is putting up a brave front. ‘‘I will appear for my HSC exams in February as I am fully prepared for it,’’ she says.
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Advani favours greater pvt participation in different fields
New Delhi,Wednesday, December 11, 2002: Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani today sought greater private initiative in various fields now confined with the government, saying determined efforts were required to maximise the potential of government-private sector cooperation.
Stressing synergisation of efforts by public and private sectors in fields like aviation and tourism, he said India had "infinite prospects and talent" at its disposal and "earnest efforts" by both public and private sectors were required to bring the country to the "forefront of the international comity in the 21st century".
Inaugurating a conference on the aviation and tourism strategy in a changing business environment here, Advani said the global environment had "considerably changed" in recent times and the private sector was now accepted with a positive frame of mind unlike in the past.
Stating that India had tremendous potential in tourism and aviation sectors, he said effective steps to synergise efforts of the private sector and government would have to be made. Also a sense of optimism and confidence needed to be generated in the public mind to "remove the sense of despair, negativism, diffidence, self-flagellation and that we are inherently weak."
Civil Aviation Minister Shahnawaz Hussain, in his address, announced that restructuring of four metro airports would be completed by October next year.
The Ministry had earlier said the process would be completed by the end of the current fiscal.
Hussain said "we are also considering a proposal for attracting private participation in the development of non- metro airports as well".
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CCD to decide on allowing PSUs to bid for HPCL: Naik
New Delhi,Wednesday, December 11, 2002: Petroleum Minister Ram Naik said today he would forward to the Cabinet Committee on Disinvestment the proposals from PSUs under his ministry to bid for Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd (HPCL) after examining individual proposals, and the final decision rested with the CCD.
"Every (public sector) company (which wants to bid) will have to submit to its administrative ministry a proposal and give information (on why it wants to bid for HPCL). The ministry will than take a view and forward a case to the CCD," Naik told reporters here.
"It is ultimately for the CCD to allow or disallow (any PSU from bidding for Government stake in HPCL)," he said when asked to comment on his views on state-run exploration firm Oil and Natural Gas Corporation and gas transmission company GAIL evincing interest in acquiring HPCL.
As per the September 7 CCD decision, all public sector firms have been barred from participating in disinvestment process and in special cases/circumstances the administrative ministry would have to make a case for allowing a particular PSU to make a bid for Government shareholding in another.
Naik refused to speculate what stand his ministry would take on requests by ONGC and GAIL. "Let them first decide and make a formal proposal to us."
Asked if he was satisfied by the compromise formula of selling Government holding to a strategic investor in HPCL and making a public offer for state equity in Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL), he said "the decision was unanimious and the Government will implement it (in full spirit)".
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World Bank pegs down South Asia growth rate to 4.6 in 2002
New Delhi,Wednesday, December 11, 2002: World Bank today pegged down the overall economic growth prospect of India and other nations in South Asia to 4.6 per cent in 2002, but said it would go up by 5.4 per cent in 2003 and further by 5.8 per cent in 2004.
"The recent global economic slowdown, adverse weather conditions, internal and external security concerns reduced growth figures for South Asia region in 2002," World Bank said in a report.
The report 'Global Economic Prospects and Developing Countries 2003: Investing to Unlock Global Opportunities' said GDP growth in South Asia is expected to average 4.6 per cent in this year, which is lower than 5.3 per cent projected in last year's report.
The lowering of growth projections assumes importance in view of lowering of India's growth projection by private and multilateral agencies to 5-5.5 per cent for this fiscal due to drought and other factors. Earlier, India's growth projection was pegged at 6-6.5 per cent for 2002-03.
Lower growth prospects of India, which contributes about 85 per cent economic produce in the region, appears to have pulled down the overall growth prospects of the region.
"However, future growth prospects appear brighter. South Asia should achieve an average of 5.4 per cent growth in 2003 and 5.8 per cent in 2004," the report said.
World Bank South Asia's chief economist Sadiq Ahmed said "this improvement in growth prospects is premised upon a return to normal weather patterns, an improvement in political stability and regional security aspects thereby facilitating faster implementation of reforms, and a recovery in world trade volumes".
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Sensex ends in positive territory in volatile trade
Mumbai,Wednesday, December 11, 2002: A smart rally in Infosys Tech and SBI aided the sensex to end in positive territory in extremely volatile activity on the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) today on alternate bouts of buying and selling by Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) and speculators.
The BSE Benchmark 30-share Index opened firm at 3298.94 and later fluctuated erratically in a range between 3324.23 and 3287.28 before ending at 3303.27 as against yesterday's close of 3289.68, netting a rise of 13.59 points or 0.41 per cent.
The broad-based BSE-100 Index also improved further by 4.63 points to 1621.50 from previous close of 1616.87.
Blue-chip counters like MTNL, RIL, ITC, Zee Telefilms, Satyam Computer, Telco, ACC and some others attracted keen demand at early stages and rose sharply. However, these scrips met with strong resistance either trimming gains or closed with modest falls.
FIIs were believed to be consistent buyers in a few blue-chip shares during the session but the market later turned volatile ahead of assembly elections in Gujarat as local operators anticipated political uncertainty in case of the BJP's defeat in the election, brokers said.
Initial rally was well supported by the government's initiatives to speed up reforms, particularly privatisation process and a smart recovery on Wall Street on Tuesday night.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose by about 101 points and the Nasdaq Composite Index by about 24 points Tuesday.
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RS passes Bill to curb female foeticide
A Bill to curb female foeticide through stringent measures was passed in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday with Minister of State for Health A Raja asserting the legislation aimed at bringing about a social change in the country.
The Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (Regulation and Prevention of Misuse) Amendment Bill, 2002 was passed by a voice vote after several amendments put forward by members were withdrawn.
Members expressed concern over the dwindling female population in the country and sought measures to end female foeticide by using pre-natal diagnostic techniques to know the sex of embryos.
"This legislation is aimed to bring a social change," the minister said even while agreeing mere legislation would not prevent female foeticide and would only curb the menace.
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No laundry allowance for Indian cricketers
Wellington,Wednesday, December 11, 2002: After starting the current New Zealand tour on a "dirty shoes" note, the India team is now faced with a laundry problem.
Some of the Indian cricketers may not be in the best of whites for the present Test series as they are not being given any laundry allowance by the hosts.
The Indian team, also comprising the Tendulkars, Dravids and Gangulys -- who are millionaires many times over -- is not only being paid daily allowance less than what is stipulated or reciprocal but there is also an "unambiguous message" they would have to take care of their own laundry, sources in the team said.
The Indian cricketers are being paid 60 NZ dollars (US$30) for non-match days and 80 NZ dollars (US$40) for match-days which is far less than what the International Cricket Council (ICC) recommends or what is usually the figure on a reciprocal basis that is US$50 (100 NZ dollars).
The host country usually picks the bill for atleast six clothes of a member of a visiting team and the Indian Board does it unfailingly. But NZC has refused to do so and the Indian Board has been accused by some players of being guilty of signing the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
The MoU offered by the New Zealand Cricket (NZC) and agreed upon by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has the figures and also clearly states the expenses of laundry would have to be taken care of by the visitors themselves.
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Pitch good for our bowlers to take 20 wickets: Ganguly
Wellington,Wednesday, December 11, 2002: An unfazed Indian captain Sourav Ganguly today tried to draw inspiration from a green-top Basin Reserve pitch saying that it would give his bowlers a chance to pick 20 wickets in the first Test against New Zealand starting on Thursday.
"It's green and was a bit damp yesterday. It would provide movement to the seamers but it's good. It gives our bowlers a chance to pick 20 wickets," said Ganguly.
The Indian captain, however, discounted any theory his batsmen could be found wanting on this pitch and reeled off figures in their defence.
"It is a similar kind of conditions as in Headingley. There we won the toss, batted first and topped 600 runs.
"This year, all of our top batsmen have scored centuries. Its a matter of getting your basics right," he said.
All the six top-order Indian batsmen have scored heavily this year and have scored 16 centuries between them during the period - Bangar (1), Sehwag (2), Dravid (5), Tendulkar (4), Laxman (2) and Ganguly (2).
Home captain Stephen Fleming, on the otherhand, sounded a warning to the batsmen when he described the pitch as the "hardest" he has ever seen in New Zealand.
"There is a great grass cover and it will the hardest for any batsman to cope with," said Fleming as he prepared to lead his side to a possible fourth win in a row against the Indians at this venue.
"I think it will be very difficult for batsmen first up. It will be very tough for the batsmen throughout no matter who is bowling".
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Amanjot, Somdev keep Indian hopes alive
New Delhi,Wednesday, December 11, 2002: Amanjot Singh and Somdev Dev Verman kept India's hopes alive in the men's section while six home favourites in the women's section - including Sania Mirza, Isha Lakhani and Ankita Bhambri - moved into the quarterfinals of the GAIL Asian junior tennis championship at the DLTA Courts here today.
Chances of an Indian emerging winner in the men's draw was never really high even before the tournament started. As it were, as many as six Indians fell by the wayside in the second round matches today.
Amanjot's was a creditable win against Kenichiro Nakahara of Japan who at 154 is about 140 places above his ranking. Amanjot lost just one game on his way to a 6-0 6-1 victory in 45 minutes.
Somdev Dev Verman literally lived to fight another day as Divij Sharan exposed his sluggish court coverage to take the first set before going down 4-6 6-3 6-4.
The difference in playing at home and abroad was amply exemplified by Tushar Liberhan's 6-1 0-6 7-5 defeat at the hands of Weerapat Doakmaiklee. The Thai might be ranked 293 as against Tushar's 158 but the former had the better technique of staying on top of the baseline and taking the ball early which paid him rich dividends as the game wore on.
In the end, that extra yard the Indian had to cover for every point made the difference and Tushar lost in an hour and 20 minutes.
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Indians keen to reverse trend in New Zealand
Wellington,Wednesday, December 11, 2002: A determined India will be relying on their famed batting line-up to counter New Zealand on a seamer-friendly pitch in the first Test as they seek to break a jinx of not winning a match in this part of the world for close to three dacades.
India have not won a Test from four visits and 12 Tests to New Zealand since Erapalli Prasanna spun a win at Auckland during the 1975-76 visit. They have had a hat-trick of defeats at this very venue of Basin Reserve since winning a Test in the 1967-68 series.
New Zealand, in contrast, have a formidable record at their oldest Test venue. They have played 39 Tests in all and lost 12 compared to winning 10 games. Their only losses in the eight matches here in the last six years have been against Australia (1997-98) and South Africa (1999-2000).
The Indians are eager to reverse the trend, not the least because they are desperate for their first series win outside the sub-continent in 18 years. A victory here would also give Ganguly his 14th win and put him on par with Mohammad Azharuddin as the most successful Indian Test captain ever.
Under the guidance of coach John Wright, the Indians have made it a habit to win atleast one Test whenever they have left shores except for a series in South Africa last year where they suffered a 0-1 defeat.
India beat Zimbabwe in Zimbabwe as they did to Sri Lanka, West Indies and England in the last 18 months to let Ganguly have five overseas wins under his belt - a feat not achieved by any other Indian captain.
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