Mayawati quits
Lucknow,Tuesday, August 26, 2003: In a swift and dramatic development, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati today tendered her resignation to Governor Vishnu Kant Shastri.
Mayawati told a crowded press conference after meeting the Governor that she had requested him not to allow her to continue as caretaker Chief Minister.
Mayawati said she had urged the Governor to dissolve the Assembly and recommend President's rule in the state. MORE PTI VMN RKC 08261357 D MAYAWATI-LD RESIGN 3 In her resignation letter to the Governor, Mayawati urged him not to give her the responsibility as caretaker Chief Minister.
"Now, no party can accuse me of wanting to stick to power," she said.
She claimed 40 BJP MLAs were on the verge of splitting the party in the state and forming a breakaway group and that she had verbally conveyed this to the Governor.
Mayawati announced that BSP would not support the NDA at the Centre.
She said if there is any delay on the part of the Governor in announcing his decision, "it will not affect our health, it will only affect BJP's health".
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Advani blames SIMI, LeT for Mumbai blasts
On Board Special IAF Aircraft,Tuesday, August 26, 2003: Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani today said preliminary investigations revealed the involvement of banned SIMI and Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Toiba in the Mumbai blasts.
Talking to accompanying reporters en route Mumbai, he said Pakistan's condemnation of the incident can be regarded "earnest" only if Islamabad handed over 20 absconders wanted by India.
"The first impression gathered (about the blasts) points to the involvement of SIMI and LeT," he said, adding the same kind of explosives - gelatine - have been used and the same people were involved in all the blasts in the metropolis since December last.
He said while the perception was that India's problem with Pakistan stemmed from Jammu and Kashmir, "the fact is far more widespread. Mumbai only highlighted that".
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Pak should handover wanted criminals immediately: Advani
Mumbai,Tuesday, August 26, 2003: Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani today said Pakistan should handover to India 20 wanted criminals who were responsible for the serial blasts in Mumbai in 1993.
Advani, who arrived here to visit the blast sites and the hospitals where the injured were being treated, told reporters at the airport "it is good that Pakistan has condemned the incident.
"But the people of Mumbai remember that those who perpetrated a bigger tragedy a decade back claiming over 250 lives here and were wanted by the Interpol and the courts, besides being declared as absconders, were ejoying the patronage of Pakistan. They must be handed over to India," he said.
Advani said "this raises doubts about the credibility of Islamabad's condemnation of yesterday's incidents".
The Deputy Prime Minister, who held talks with Maharashtra Chief Minister Sushilkumar Shinde, Deputy Chief Minister Chaggan Bhujbal and senior police officials at the airport, said he hoped the state government would be able to arrest the culprits and make suitable arrangements for the future.
Hinting that Pakistanis were involved in terrorist activities in Mumbai, he said the fact that the bodies of two recently killed LeT militants have not been claimed shows this.
On the casualty figure in yesterday's blasts, Advani said 52 people were killed and 167 were injured.
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World leaders condemn Mumbai twin blasts
Washington,Tuesday, August 26, 2003: US President George W Bush and UN Secretary General Kofi Annan today joined the international community in expressing outrage over the twin car blasts in Mumbai terming them as "acts of terror", "despicable act" and called for close cooperation among nations to combat the scourge of terrorism.
Indian organisations in US and UK also condemned the bombings and demanded strong action by the Indian Government to deter and eliminate terrorists.
"I strongly condemn the bombings... On behalf of all Americans, I send condolences to all affected by today's tragedy and to the Government and people of India," Bush said in a statement.
"Acts of terror are intended to sow fear and chaos among free peoples. I hope that the perpetrators of these murders will be identified quickly and brought to justice," Bush said.
UN Secretary General described the bombings as "despicable acts" of terrorism and said he "adamantly opposed all acts of terrorism, from whatever quarter."
Fifty people were killed and about 140 were injured in twin blasts that rocked the famous monument of Gateway of India and city's jewellery market in what intelligence sources suspect is the handiwork of Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) and Students Islamic Movement of India (SINI).
A Russian Foreign Ministry statement said "the terrorist acts in Mumbai once more highlight the need for close unity of all the members of the world community in combating the global scourge of international terrorism".
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India, Australia to sign MoU on counter-terrorism
Sydney,Tuesday, August 26, 2003: India and Australia will sign a Memorandum of Understanding on counter-terrorism during the four-day visit of External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha beginning on Wednesday that is also expected to give greater "dynamism and substance" to bilateral relations.
The issue of terrorism and ways of enhancing bilateral relations in various sectors are likely to figure prominently in the talks Sinha will have with Australian leaders.
Sinha will call on Australian Prime Minister John Howard and will hold talks with his Australian counterpart Alexander Downer. He will also meet Immigration Minister Phillip Ruddock.
Sinha will attend the Foreign Ministers Framework Dialogue in Adelaide on Thursday and sign a MoU on Counter Terrorism with Downer. The two ministers will also address the international media.
He will hold a meeting with Ruddock on his arrival in Sydney tomorrow to further expedite the signing of MoU on cooperation between the two countries in the field of immigration.
Discussions are already afoot between the Indian Ministry of Home Affairs and Australia's Department of Immigration on the issue.
Indian High Commissioner to Australia R S Rathore said, "this is only the second visit by an Indian foreign minister to Australia. (Jaswant Singh, the then foreign minister had visited Australia in June 2001). We do hope the present visit will add greater dynamism and substance to the bilateral relations, which have been growing in recent years".
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Eight detained in twin blasts case
Claiming to have gathered vital clues in yesterday's twin bomb blasts here, the Mumbai Police have detained at least eight people for interrogation.
A senior police officer said here this evening that the eight had been detained but refused to give details.
He said the police had launched a massive hunt for the mystery couple and a child who had hired a tax from 'Juhu galli' in Andheri (W) on Sunday for a two-day tour of Mumbai.
This was revealed by the taxi driver, Shiv Narayan Pandey, who has been interrogated extensively. Based on the descriptions provided by Pandey, the police have prepared sketches of the couple which would help in tracking them down, the official said.
Separate teams of the Mumbai Police have also fanned out Gujarat, Uttar Padesh and Bhar on the basis of certain clues.
The Mumbai Police supects the involvement of jehadi groups let loose by enemy nation for the blasts and this was confirmed by Commissioner of Police Ranjit Singh Sharma, who briefed the press yesterday evening on the twin blasts.
"We have definitely gathered some vital clues with regards to the dastardly act," confirmed Joint Commissioner of Police Satya Pal Singh here today.
Dr Singh said the police had questioned several people in connection with the blast. However, no no arrests have been made so far.
The Crime Branch is conducting parallel investigastions into the case besides the Colaba police station and M R A Marg police station.
Dr Singh refused to give details on the taxi hired by the couple saying it would hamper the probe.
At least 52 people were killed and over 150 others injured in the twin blasts yesterday, the sixth such incident in Mumbai since December 2.
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Pak govt threatens to cancel licences of cable operators
Islamabad,Tuesday, August 26, 2003: As the cable operators' strike in Pakistan protesting the ban on Indian TV channels entered the third day, the government toughened its stand threatening to cancel their licences if they continued their "obduracy."
"If they continue their obduracy, we shall cancel their licences and issue new licences to other parties," Information Minister Sheikh Rashid said adding the cable operators who went on a week-long strike from August 24 did not inform the government about their action.
Defending the continuing ban on Indian channels, he said the Indian government imposed restrictions on Pakistani channels following last year's military tension and Islamabad followed the suit.
He said the issue of lifting ban on Indian channels came up during talks visiting Indian Parliamentarians had with President Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Zafarullah Khan Jamali recently.
They were told that India had first banned Pakistani channels and later Islamabad took a similar step, he said adding Pakistan's policy on this issue would not change.
Private Pakistani channels like ARY, Geo and Indus were uniformly removed off air Sunday evening and cable operators in Lahore, Karachi and Peshawar targetted international channels like CNN, BBC and Fox.
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3-day transport strike begins in West Bengal
Kolkata,Tuesday, August 26, 2003: A three-day transport strike to press for withdrawal of additional tax and police fines in West Bengal began this morning with private and mini bus, besides taxi services being affected.
"The number of private buses, mini buses and taxis on the roads was very few, though government buses and trams were plying as usual," police sources said.
The North Bengal State Transport Corporation and South Bengal State Transport Corporation were also running the long distance buses as usual, the sources said.
Transport Minister Subhas Chakraborty had yesterday said the strike would not have much impact on public life as more than 2,000 buses and trams would run in Kolkata.
All private transporters, including buses, taxis, trucks, chartered and school buses called the 72-hour strike demanding withdrawal of additional tax and police fines.
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Pak-India may exchange lists of items under SAPTA in October
Islamabad,Tuesday, August 26, 2003: Pakistan and India may exchange additional lists of items for tariff concessions under South Asia Preferential Trade Arrangement in October this year to enhance volume of bilateral trade as the SAARC countries geared up to finalise the much awaited South Asia Free Trade Area.
The decision of adding more items to the lists for concession was taken following the request from the SAARC secretariat to the governments of two countries, a Pakistan official here said.
The lists would be exchanged by officials of the two countries following efforts to finalise the draft of SAFTA, in Katmandu in October to allow free trade among member countries, Pakistan daily 'Dawn' quoted officials here as saying. The SAARC Summit is scheduled to be held in Islamabad early next year.
Recently Pakistan announced its willingness to give tariff concessions on 74 items under SAPTA. The list was expected to be expanded. India has already granted most favoured nation (MFN) status to Pakistan even though Islamabad has not reciprocated it so far.
In recent months, Pakistan has shown considerable haste in finalising its list of items for tariff concessions for India under SAPTA as New Delhi linked to progress in SAPTA and SAFTA to the holding of SAARC summit in Islamabad early next year.
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India to make a strong presence at Gitex 2003
Dubai,Tuesday, August 26, 2003: India's Information Technology sector will make a strong presence at Gitex 2003, the premier IT show in the Gulf with nearly 30 companies including Wipro, Nuclear Software Exports and Cherrysoft Technologies having confirmed participation.
China has also caught up with India with as many participants having registered themselves for the show, Kamal Vachani, Regional Representative, Electronics and Computer Software Export Promotion Council (ESC) said.
ESC had organized successful participation of 19 IT firms in GITEX 2002 and more member companies were expected to showcase their wares in GITEX 2003,which is scheduled from October 19-23, 2003, Vachani said.
Vachani said more and more Indian IT companies were making their base in Dubai because of its strategic location and offered the latest and modern facilities.
The exports of computer software and information technology enabled services climbed 27.4 per cent to Rs 46,500 crore (465 billion) in 2002-2003 from Rs 36,500 crore (365 billion) in 2001-2002.
Overall infotech exports grew 24 per cent to Rs 52,500 crore (525 billion) in 2002-03 from Rs.42,300 crore (423 billion) in 2001-2002, he added.
Besides India and China, national pavilions are also expected from Canada, United Kingdom, France, Finland, Ireland, Germany, Hongkong and Singapore.
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Ex-PMs criticise govt for following developed nations at WTO
New Delhi,Tuesday, August 26, 2003: Coming down heavily against Government for toeing the line of developed countries at WTO, former Prime Ministers V P Singh, H D Deve Gowda and I K Gujral today said India should resist any move by developed countries to bring in new issues at Cancun Ministerial unless previous ones were resolved.
Accusing Government of maintaining double standards, political leaders from various parties such as Communist Party of India and Janata Dal said, "there is a difference between what the government says and does".
Speaking at a demonstration held under the aegis of Indian People's Campaign against WTO, Gujral said "We are not against WTO, but the double standards adopted by the trade body should be totally denounced by our government".
Singh said "new issues such as investment, competition policy, government procurement and trade facilitation can take a backseat unless the earlier ones like subsidies, medicines, TRIPS are settled".
Flaying the joint farm proposal of EU-US which does not talk about elimination of subsidies, Singh said "at a time when developed nations are providing subsidies to agriculture, how can can we stop them in our country".
"The question today is of dishonesty and not whether WTO is acceptable or not," Singh said.
Gowda said "lot of inequalities are prevailing in WTO. All the developing countries must unite together, especially with regard to agriculture and investment".
Speaking on the occasion, CPI-M member Sitaram Yechuri said Government should take a strong stand with regard to agriculture subsidies in developed nations.
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Vajpayee for making sports integral part of educational curriculum
New Delhi,Tuesday, August 26, 2003: Keen on making sports an integral part of the educational curriculum, Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee today announced renaming of an existing fund as Prime Minister's Sports Development Fund to attract more contributions and for promotion of sports in the country.
"The subject of sports needs to become an integral part of the educational curriculum and effective steps should be taken in this direction," he said inaugurating the All India Sports Congress here.
He said the Ministries of Human Resource Devleopment and Youth Affairs and Sports should chalk out a time-bound action plan to include sports in the curriculum. "Let us, today, adopt a motto of 'Fit and Strong India' and try to make sports a part of our lifestyle," he told the audience which included several Union Ministers, Chief Ministers and eminent sports personalities.
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Vajpayee makes plea to remove gap between cricket and other sports
New Delhi,Tuesday, August 26, 2003: Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee today made a strong plea to remove the "big gap" between cricket and other sports and broadbase interest and participation in sports.
"Today there is a big gap in this regard between cricket and other sports. No one can possibly grudge the focus that cricket receives, because it is a game that excites the young and the old alike all over the country," he said inaugurating the All India Sports Congress.
Emphasising the need to increase attention on other sports, Vajpayee said he welcomed the recent revival of popular interest in hockey.
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Ganguly puts contenders for NZ series on notice
Bangalore,Tuesday, August 26, 2003: Skipper Sourav Ganguly today put contenders for the upcoming series against New Zealand on notice, saying one or two slots in the team are up for grabs and performance in the Challenger Series and Irany Cup as well as two warm-up games against the Kiwis would serve as trials.
Asked about the team combination for the series against New Zealand at home, he told reporters here: "More or less the same field we had in the past year...where we have done well. Obviously, there are places for one or two".
"We will have to see how they (the contenders) perform in the Challenger series, Irany Cup and two warm up games against New Zealand," he said.
Queried if the said were open for new faces also, Ganguly replied: "Whoever performs, people trying to make a come-back or those trying to play for the national side for the first time".
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Gopichand two steps away from main draw in Indonesian Open
New Delhi,Tuesday, August 26, 2003: Former All England Open Champion Pullela Gopichand was just two steps away from making it to the main draw of the Indonesian Open Badminton tournament on a day when the challenge of all other Indians in the qualification draw came to an end.
Gopichand, making a comeback after a knee-injury kept him away from competitive badminton for a about six months, thrashed Hartono Andi of Indonesia 15-3 15-2 in the second qualification round on Monday.
The ace shuttler, who received a bye in the first round, would now take on M Hendry of Indonesia in the penultimate qualification round, according to information received here.
Meanwhile, Chetan Anand, Anup Sridhar, J B Vidyadhar, Arvind Bhat in the men's section and Jwala Gutta and Shruti Kurian in the women's section lost to better opponents to end their challenge in the qualifiers.
Anand beat Zulkifli Salleh of Brussels 15-3 15-9 in the first round but went down to Santono Agus of Indonesia 9-15 15-8 9-15 in the next. Vidyadhar got the better of Citra Made of Indonesia 15-7 15-2 before losing to Mohd Latifi of Malaysia 9-15 15-9 4-15.
Sridhar was defeated by Naoki Kawamae of Japan 8-15 10-15 while Bhat lost to Yunyang Wu of China 9-15 9-15.
Jwala gave a walkover to Indonesia's Marissa IP after defeating another home challenge Dwi Ratna 11-6 11-9 while Shruti lost to Yoo Mi Song of Korea 3-11 11-6 1-11 after getting the better of Indonesia's Siti Mahiroh 11-6 4-11 11-6.
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