National News

PM targets Pak on terror
Long-term visas cleared
Maya targets parties on Kanshi
India shrugs off US ‘threat’

PM targets Pak on terror

India has put Pakistan “on notice” that any democratic government in India would find it difficult to address “all outstanding issues,” unless the Pakistan government clearly deals with the issue of terrorism. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh mentioned this in his address to the combined (armed forces) commanders’ conference here on Wednesday. The Prime Minister also said that the India-Pakistan anti-terrorism institutional mechanism would “be a test of Pakistani intentions.” Defence minister Pranab Mukherjee also lashed out at Pakistan, saying that there is no apparent change in Pakistan’s intent to support cross-border terrorism, not only in Jammu and Kashmir but also in other parts of the country. Expressing concern at the “marked deterioration in the internal situation of Pakistan which has serious implications on overall stability and peace in the region,” the defence minister added that “occasional restrictions placed on terrorist groups by Pakistan remain cosmetic and reversible.” He also said that “terrorist training and communication infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir are intact.” Meanwhile, in an apparent reference to illegal immigration from Bangladesh, Prime Minister Singh said at the conference that the economic pull of the Indian market on migrants from Bangladesh “offers opportunities to our enemies who seek to incite terrorism in India.” On China, Dr Singh said that there is a recognition that the “two rapidly developing and transforming nations need to come to terms with the rise of one another.” He said that India had “made a good beginning in addressing the border dispute” with China. Back

Long-term visas cleared

The Centre has cleared long-term visas, with multiple-entry facility, up to a period of five years, which is expected to boost tourist arrivals in the country. The Centre, however, has not yet cleared visas-on-arrival, although Pakistan, Malaysia and Singapore have allowed it. Union tourism minister Ambika Soni said that in order to boost medical tourism, the Centre has also agreed to grant Medical Visa for a period of one year, which could be extended upto two years for the person concerned and an accompanying attendant. The aim is to make India a global healthcare destination. Ms Soni said long-term visas along with multiple-entry facility would make the travel process less cumbersome for foreign tourists. In fact, the Union tourism minister suggested that the ministry of external affairs should increase the staff to expeditiously issue visas. The work could also be outsourced, but it should be ensured visas are issued without delay. All visa applications, she insisted, should be expedited within a 36-hour time frame.

“The visa, which will be for a five-year period, will help in increasing the number of tourists visiting India. While we will give the facility to 16 countries to begin with, it may be expanded to other countries,” the minister said. In yet another suggestion, Ms Soni said advance passenger information, which has been started on Air India flights to Delhi, should be started on all flights to all Indian metros to make it easier for giving visa-on-arrival. The idea is that if the information of the passengers is obtained eight to 10 hours in advance, then the security checks could be carried out expeditiously. In due course, she said, it could lead to issuing visa-on-arrival to foreign tourists. Back

Maya targets parties on Kanshi

BSP president Mayawati on Wednesday accused the Congress, BJP and the Samajwadi Party of “insulting the memory of late Kanshi Ram.” She said that the Centre and the Uttar Pradesh government did not bother to declare a holiday on the death of the man who gave a new direction to Indian politics. “Whenever a leader dies, the Centre and the state governments rush to declare holidays, but when Mr Kanshi Ram died, the Congress at the Centre and the Samajwadi Party in UP did not show any respect to him and did not declare a holiday. These governments did not even bother to announce state mourning. UP chief minister Mulayam Singh Yadav did not even bother to place a wreath on the body of Mr Kanshi Ram and the BJP, which claims to be a friend of dalits and wants to take advantage of dalit voters, has also insulted the memory of Mr Kanshi Ram. Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee also did not take the trouble of paying homage to Mr Kanshi Ram,” she said while addressing a huge condolence rally in Lucknow.

Ms Mayawati, who had brought the urn containing Kanshi Ram’s ashes to Lucknow, reaffirmed her resolve to fulfill the dreams of her mentor the late Kanshi Ram and to continue her party’s battle against “Manuwad (brahiminism).” She also promised to complete the unfinished tasks of her mentor and promised the Bahujan Samaj that she would give them the power they deserved. “Mr Kanshi Ram, throughout his life, worked relentlessly for the upliftment of dalits and his ideology was a mission for him. This Bahujan Prerna Kendra that now houses his ashes will serve as a reminder to his unfinished tasks and I resolve to continue working for the fulfilment of his mission,” Ms Mayawati said in an emotional tone. Ms Mayawati also gave a detailed explanation regarding the allegations leveled against her by the Kanshi Ram family members. She alleged that the relatives were playing in the hands of Samajwadi Party. Back

India shrugs off US ‘threat’

India on Wednesday shrugged off reports that United States President George W. Bush sought to put pressure on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to vote against Venezuela in the election for non-permanent seats in the United Nations Security Council. In response to questions regarding news reports about the conversation between President Bush and Prime Minister Singh, the spokesman of the ministry of external affairs on Wednesday reiterated, “When the leaders of friendly countries speak to each other, they do not threaten each other. We have already given you details of the telephone conversation.”

New Delhi maintains that both leaders discussed the India-US civil nuclear cooperation and the developments in Pakistan and Afghanistan, but certain media reports suggested Washington discussed the election of non-permanent members in the UN Security Council. According to reports reaching New Delhi, India’s position in the several rounds of voting on Tuesday remained unaffected despite US President George W. Bush’s telephone call to the Prime Minister on Monday evening. US ambassador to United Nations John Bolton has said Venezuela has around 30 votes less than Guatemala and hence no chance to win. So, it should step aside to allow the process to be completed. However, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has said his country will not abandon its bid for a UN Security Council seat. “Venezuela does not surrender,” Mr Chavez said in a speech on Tuesday. “I say it here to the whole world, Venezuela will continue waging this battle.” Guatemala, unable to obtain the required two-thirds majority to win, was left with 102 votes to Venezuela’s 77 in the final ballot of the day. Voting is to resume on Thursday after a day off to allow for consultations. Back