B4U India

NSA Narayanan meets Vohra to discuss security situation in J-K

Wed, 20 Aug 2008 10:38:00 -0400

National Security Advisor M K Narayanan today met Jammu and Kashmir Governor N N Vohra and other top officials of the state administration to discuss the ongoing situation in Jammu region, in the aftermath of the controversy over the Amarnath land transfer.

He was accompanied by Intelligence Bureau Director P C Halder and other officers from the Union Home Ministry.

The visit comes two days after thousands of protestors marched past the UN office in Srinagar demanding the international body''s intervention to resolve the issue.

He is also scheduled to hold talks with authorities from civilian and security agencies.

After an on-the-spot assessment of the situation, Narayanan will submit a detailed report to Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh.

On Tuesday, SAYSS decided to accept the invitation of the four-member committee formed by Vohra to hold talks with the Samiti over the crisis in the state.

Earlier this month, wide scale protests over the Amarnath land issue led to violence and a riot like situation in the state. The protests have also led to tensions between India and Pakistan. (ANI)

Flights, train services disrupted due to trade union strike

Wed, 20 Aug 2008 10:37:00 -0400

A nationwide strike called by the Left-backed trade unions today paralyzed normal life in West Bengal and Kerala, disrupting air and rail traffic.

With the ruling Left Front supporting the strike, called by eight trade unions and 40 employees’ federations to protest against the “anti-labour policies of the Centre”, turned out to be a complete shutdown in these states.

While no flight landed in Kolkata, flight services from the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport were hit after employees of the airport joined the strike in protest against the airport privatisation.

The Airport Authority Employees'' Union (AAEU), under which all airport employees have gone on strike, has been demanding that there should be no further privatisation or leasing out of other AAI airports in the country and the rationalisation of pay scale of executives and non-executive staff and filling of vacant posts.

The Indian Air Force (IAF) has deployed 250 skilled personnel to maintain safety and fire services at 21 airfields across the country.

According to reports, train services were disrupted following protesters squatting on the rail track at several places. However, no untoward incident was reported from any part of the state. Many long-distance express trains were kept waiting at various stations and several trains were cancelled.

Public transport like buses, trams, taxis and auto-rickshaws largely stayed off the roads. Additional policemen and Rapid Action Force personnel were deployed in the city to maintain law and order.

Meanwhile, in Kerala train services were disrupted at many places. Shops and business establishments remained closed with buses, taxis and autorickshaws keeping off the roads. However, the strike did not affect flights from the airport here.

The unions supporting the general strike are the All-India Trade Union Congress (AITUC), Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), Hind Mazdoor Sabha, All-India Central Council of Trade Union, Trade Union Coordination Centre and All-India United Trade Union Centre.

The Bharatiya Janata Party backed Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS) and the Congress supported Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC) are abstaining from the protest.

The unions have a six-point charter of demands, which includes curbing inflation, a comprehensive Unorganised Workers Bill, loan-waiver scheme for farmers, proper implementation of labour laws, removal of anomalies in the Sixth Pay Commission among other things. (ANI)

India, South Africa sign programme of cultural cooperation

Wed, 20 Aug 2008 10:37:00 -0400

Tourism and Culture Minister Ambika Soni and her South African counterpart Pallo Jordan recently signed the programme of cooperation in the fields of arts and culture.

The signing was held during Soni''s recent visit to South Africa at the invitation of Jordan to attend the centenary celebrations of historic protest march led by Mahatma Gandhi.

During her four-day visit, Soni discussed bilateral cooperation as well as trilateral cooperation under IBSA (India, Brazil and South Africa) relating to arts and culture with Jordan.

The programme of cooperation (2008-2010) will strengthen active cooperation and deepen cultural relations between the two countries through time bound, action oriented activities in diverse fields such as handicrafts, literature, music, dance and films.

The programme will also facilitate establishment of contacts and cooperation between associations, institutions and individuals in the field of music, theatre, library, museum, performing arts and creative industries on governmental and non-governmental levels.

It will also help in exchange of handicrafts exhibition for a period of seven to ten days in each other''s country, exchange of skills in design, design related activities, training in intellectual property in the design industry, collaboration and exchanges in the areas of design, education and research, engaging select institutions from both the countries in design projects, exchange of faculty members and experts including design policy experts and academics in the field of design, and exchange in the field of performing arts.

The programme will further encourage the study of literature of each other''s country by exchange of books, translation of literary works, exchange of experts such as writers, policy experts, creative writing instructors, literary critics etc. and establishing writers'' residences.

It will also help to promote mutual film weeks, presentation of new films, exchange of documentaries and other films of mutual interest. (ANI)

Flood situation worsens in Patna, Punjab

Wed, 20 Aug 2008 10:36:00 -0400

The flood situation has worsened in many parts of India with major rivers in spate.

Most rivers in Bihar, including Ganga, Punpun, Ghaghra, Burhigandak, Bagmati, Kosi and Mahananda are flowing above the danger level.

Following a breach in the Kosi Barrage in Nepal, a red alert has been sounded in Supaul, Madhepura and Araria districts of Bihar.

Residents in Danapur, a satellite town of Patna, said that the situation was grim and they had already incurred huge losses on account of damage to property and cattle.

"The situation is really bad because of the flood water. Our life has gone for a toss. Not only humans, even animals are a troubled lot. The level of the water is above the danger level. We are somehow living in these boats," said Raju Rai, an affected villager.

A 12 km stream of the Kosi Barrage in Nepal territory has reportedly developed a breach at two places. The barrage has a capacity to store 9.5 lakh cusecs of water and has 56 sluice gates and is maintained by the Bihar Government''s Water Resources Development Department in Biratnagar. Cooperation has been sought from Nepal.

Meanwhile, Punjab is reeling under one of its worst floods over the past two decades.

Incessant monsoon rains and rising water levels in most of the rivers and dams have flooded many districts including Jalandhar, Ferozepur, Moga, Bhatinda, Sangroor and Ropar.

Floods have created havoc in the Moga district and state authorities have called in army to help in the rescue operations.

"The government has not done much to help us. We have helped ourselves. The children of the village helped us to place the belongings on the rooftop first. But, when the water level rose further, we have got our belongings here and are sitting here," said Harvinder, a resident.

Many families have been rescued, but thousands of others are stranded and await succor. (ANI)

Jammu authorities to prevent people from courting arrest

Wed, 20 Aug 2008 10:36:00 -0400

The district authorities in Jammu have decided not to allow people to court arrest on the third day of the ‘jail bharo’ programme of the Shri Amarnath Sangarsh Samiti, even as the entire Jammu city was placed under curfew from 5:00 a.m. following violent protests in various parts.

Night curfew was lifted on Monday, but with violent protests erupting again on Tuesday evening in the Canal Road, the Gandhinagar Police Station and Parade areas of old city over the Amarnath land dispute, the authorities clamped curfew again. Army has been called in to maintain law and order following fresh violence.

A mob of irate protesters clashed with police and paramilitary forces in the region, and attempted to attack a theater where a cultural programme was being held by the state Information Department. The police chased the protesters away as they pelted stones, injuring several people including police personnel.

Earlier, over 100,000 women courted arrest across the Jammu region as part of their second day of the ‘jail bhari andolan’ protest. At many places from Kathua to Jammu, the protestors forced their entry into police stations.

The Bharatiya Janata Party has accused the Jammu and Kashmir Government of acting in a partisan manner.

"The State and the Central Government, both have acted in a partisan manner on Shri Amarnath issue. BJP demands that the land must be restored to Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) and the separatists should be hauled before law for challenging the sovereignty of the Indian republic," BJP president Rajnath Singh said.

Meanwhile, National Security Advisor M.K.Narayanan is undertaking a day-long visit today to take stock of the ongoing situation in Jammu and Kashmir.

The region has been rocked by violent protests and demonstrations for over a month after the State Government ordered the transfer of forestland to Shri Amarnath Sangharsh Samiti (SASS), the trust that runs Amarnath, a cave shrine visited by pilgrims.

Following controversy provoked by Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Separatists the Government reversed its decision. This in turn, angered people of the Jammu region who attacked lorries carrying supplies to the Kashmir valley and often blocked the region''''s highway, the only surface link with the rest of India. (ANI)