RS Clears Anti-Terror Mechanism

After the government addressed reservations cast over “misuse” of some provisions, the Parliament on Thursday relented with approvals required for the National Investigation Agency (NIA) Bill, 2008 and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Amendment (UAPA) Bill, 2008, thus equipping security agencies with an efficient mechanism to counter terror.

The government pushed some provisions in the Bills, saying that the measures were measures were crucial for prompt and efficient investigation and trial without violating human rights.

The Rajya Sabha unanimously passed the two Bills by voice vote after ceratin amendments sought by the Left parties were rejected on vote.

Amendments moved by the AIADMK were also rejected by voice vote.

The Bills were passed by the Lok Sabha on Wednesday, and are now set to become laws.

Earlier in a lengthy debate Union Home Minister P Chidambaram addressed fears of misuse of the laws, expressed by members from the minority community.

Chidambaram said the laws will help security agencies deal with eight acts of terrorism but at the same time an independent authority will be set up to evaluate the registration and investigation of a case before prosecution “to work as a filter.”

Informing the House, Chidambaram defined the NIA as “fit and lean” with young and able officers and special courts where specifically appointed judges will endeavour to complete trials within a given time frame and ensure speedy investigation.

“The Agency (NIA) will only investigate terrorist cases with inter-State and international ramifications. All other cases would be with the State governments. NIA will expect State agencies to cooperate and associate. The NIA may or may not investigate a case and may even return it to the State.”

Responding to apprehensions cast by DMK and AIADMK members, over possibility of the Agency encroaching upon the rights of State governments, Chidambaram said that the Centre would respect every State’s autonomy and had no intention of encroaching upon their rights. “More often than not, the NIA will ask the State to associate with the investigations. Provisions have been included as precaution against cases where the local police could be involved in a cover-up of a terrorist act.”

The Home Minister added that the government had tried to strike a balance by providing for a maximum period of detention up to 180 days without bail as sometimes it was not possible to complete the investigation in 90 days. The earlier anti-terror law POTA had merely said that detention could continue beyond 90 days but stopped short of defining the period.

No Evidence to Prove Pakistani Origin of Terrorists: Zardari

Effectuating a virtual volte-face from the earlier stance on the issue, President Asif Ali Zardari of Pakistan says there is still no "real evidence" to prove that terrorists involved in the attack came from his country, he added that Ajmal Amir Kasab, the lone terrorist to be captured alive, was not yet proven to be a citizen of his country.

New Delhi blames “elements in Pakistan of involvement in the macabre assault that killed over 170 and wounded scores of others.

"Have you seen any evidence to that effect, questioned Zardari during an interview to the BBC before asserting that he had “definitely not seen any real evidence to that effect."

Zardari had earlier acknowledged that 'non-state' actors from Pakistan may have been involved in the attack.

Zaradri’s comments come amid mounting international pressure to ac against militants holed up in his country.

Soon after the attack, US, Britain and several other countries threw their weight behind India while holding ‘outfits’ present inside Pakistani may be responsible for the gruesome incident.

On being reminded that agencies across the world identified Pakistan as the place of origin of the attack, Zardari said: "Investigation is an evolving process. It has not been long enough for anybody to... even the foreign minister of India has said they are still investigating.

"I think we will hold that judgement till proper investigation and conclusive evidence is shared between Pakistan and India. We are hoping that will happen because we have asked for a joint investigation."

Milking dichotomous media reports to the optimum, Zardari attempted to wash his hands clean of Kasab, whose father, living in Faridkot - Pakistan, had earlier confirmed that the arrested terrorist was indeed his son. The President said: "We are investigating that position. There are disputed positions in the Press. Some say what you say and some say to the contrary. So I would say the investigation is ongoing. I would not jump to a conclusion."

In tacit acceptance of inactivity on part of his country, Zardari said Islamabad was prepared to act if adequate evidence of any Pakistan complicity in the attacks emerged.

"If that stage comes, and when it comes, I assure you that our parliament, our democracy, shall take the action properly deemed in our constitution and in our law," he said.

Zardari however said Hafiz Saeed, the leader of the Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) would remain under house arrest.

"Let me assure you that if there is any investigation to be found pointing towards his involvement in any form of terrorism, he shall be tried for that reason," Zardari said.

JuD, allegedly a Lashkar-e-Tayeba front, is blamed for the terror attack on the Indian commercial capital, Mumbai.

Not denying LeT's continued activities, Zardari said, "when you ban an organisation they emerge in some other form."

(PTI Inputs)

Lack of Unity Cost Congress in MP, CG: Sonia

Bringing respite to Madhya Pradesh state unit chief Suresh Pachouri and former Chhattisgah chief minister Ajit Jogi, Congress President Sonia Gandhi on Thursday blamed “lack of unity and co-ordination” within the various party leaders in these states for the recent poll debacles it suffered in these states.

The statement is the first tacit acceptance of the all powerful factions in these states and is also by far the strongest indictment of party ‘biggies’ from these states, who cost the party dearly by indulging in faction feuds.

Speaking to party parliamentarians Sonia said: “In Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh —the two states which have been our traditional strongholds — we have lost. We have increased the number of seats and our vote share. But that is small consolation. There are a number of reasons behind this setback. But to my mind the lack of unity and co-ordination among our colleagues in these two states has been the main factor.”

Several Congress biggies from MP including, Union ministers Kamal Nath and Jyotiraditya Scindia, former chief minister Digvijay Singh, and Pachouri enjoy clout in the various forums of the party.

The party in the state is divided into all-powerful factions and that expectedly came off at the seams during the election making it impossible for the party to function as ‘one’ unit during the campaign for the 230 member assembly.

With an outdated quota system, employed by the party for the distribution of party tickets, hurting bloated egos and triggering faction feuds a rout in the election was only to be expected.

Despite her dislike for the Congress high command headed by Gandhi assented on lists of nominees provided by the ‘biggies,’ who forwarded names after grading candidates on faction loyalty and regional considerations.

The non projection of a chief ministerial candidate also contributed to the party’s woes as the BJP contested the elections in both the states with their chief ministers Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Raman Singh leading the campaign from front.

Voters in Madhya Pradesh say they are vary of the Congress ploy of not declaring a CM candidate, as it normally culminates in the party pushing an undesired chief minister down the peoples’ throat.
In Chhattisgarh, the state where the party started out with excellent chances for a win, the situation was no better as factions headed by Jogi, VC Shukla and Mahendra Karma among others worked to undermine the opposition within the party rather than the one on the outside.

Addressing the Congress Parliamentary Party, Gandhi hailed electoral victories in Delhi, Rajasthan and Mizoram as ones that “enthused and re-energised” party workers across the country.

With the debacles of Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh behind her Gandhi exhorted party parliamentarians to “work very hard, both individually and collectively in cohesion” to ensure a victory for the party in the Lok Sabha elections 2009.

Controversy Surrounds Antulay Statements over Karkare

A day after he stirred Right wing hornets, by casting doubts over the killing of Mumbai Anti-terrorist squad (ATS) chief Hemant Karkare during the 26/11 terror strike in Mumbai, Union Minister for Minority Affairs AR Antulay’s controversial statements reverberated in the Rajya Sabha.

Terming Antulay’s statement, issued to the media on Wednesday, as “irresponsible” senior BJP leader SS Ahluwalia, soon after the Question Hour, said the Minister’s ramblings were a cause for concern.

"How can the House sit idle?" Ahluwalia questioned while demanding for the House to take up the matter immediately.

Several members of the House supported Ahluwalia, who was pacified only after Deputy Chairman K Rahman Khan said the matter could be taken up in the House tomorrow.

On Wednesday, Antulay had cast aspersions over the killing of Karkare during the Mumbai terror attack, calling for a probe into the possible link between the top anti-terror officials killing and the Malegaon blasts being investigated by him.

Terming it a slight of the Rajya Sabha, a belligerent Ahluwalia further, took exception to Minister for Home Affairs P Chidambaram’s absence from the house, on a day when a significant Bill was moved in the in the House when a Bill related to the ministry was moved by Chidambaram’s deputy Shakeel Ahmed.

Following the argument, Chidambaram came to the House and the issue was conclusively settled.

Amid demands for Antulay’s ouster, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee told the Lok Sabha the UPA government will make a statement on Antulay remarks before the Parliament session concludes.

"Government will make a statement either tomorrow or before the end of the session on December 23."

Meanwhile, Antulay, a former Maharashtra Chief Minister, also came in for strong criticism from the Opposition benches, in the state Assembly, that demanded an immediate apology from Antulay.

The House was adjourned thrice, as Opposition members trooped the well of the House.

Later in the day, top BJP leader Venkiah Naidu, demanded that Antulay be sacked as he had "no moral right to remain a minister after what he said. He has committed a terrible mistake by saying so."

Naidu suggested that the clouds of doubt, cast over the incident by Antulay, will be used as cover by ‘opponents’ to punch holes in the Indian arguments on the terror strikes.

“Whom he is asking the questions from? If he had any doubts, he should have discussed in the cabinet or talked to the Prime Minister. Due to this our opponents outside will try to find loopholes in our argument on the terror- strikes,” thundered Naidu.

Despite embarrassing the government and ticking off the BJP, Antulay’s remarks have found ‘many takers’ in the minority community.

With the Congress in no position to sack the minister at this juncture and the BJP seething with rage over his remarks, the controversy surrounding Antulay is not likely to subside over the next few days.

LeT Men Remanded to Mumbai Police Custody

Accused of having conducted a reconnaissance to identify terror sites for the 26/11 terror attacks on the commercial capital, two alleged Lashkar-e-Tayeba (LeT) operatives – Fahim Ansari and Sabahuddin – were remanded in Mumbai police custody till December 31, by a Mumbai Court on Thursday.

Arrested last February in connection with the attack on the Rampur CRPF camp, the duo is now in custody of the Mumbai police and is reported to have provided several ‘vital clues,’

According to CNN-IBN, which claims to be in possession a copy of Ansari's interrogation report, the LeT operative has confessed to have carried out a recce of various targets in Mumbai.

Ansari is an expert in intelligence gathering and says he was shown a Google earth map of Mumbai, with prominent places like the police headquarters and Taj Mahal hotel marked out.

He later visited several of the locations, took pictures and put together diagrams of roads and buildings before forwarding them to Mohammed Muzamil, a top LeT commander.

The interrogation of Sabahuddin has revealed that he visited and finalized the target for the attack on the Indian Institute of Science in Bangalore. He later escaped to Nepal and was appointed the LeT chief there. In January this year, Sabahuddin helped Fahim Ansari cross into India.

Sabahuddin and Ansari have reportedly admitted to have been waiting for an arms shipment in Nepal at the time of their arrest.

Defence Minister Reviews Preparedness

With a heightened war of words with Pakistan, following the 26/11 attack on Mumbai, threatening to escalate, Defence Minister AK Antony on Thursday convened the three service chiefs in New Delhi to assess the country’s preparedness to combat terrorism and deal with the emerging situation.

“The defence minister today held a meeting with the chiefs of the three services and the defence secretary to review the overall security situation and to take stock of the state of preparedness of the armed forces,” a defence ministry official was quoted as saying after the meeting.

The meeting, the second in the last fortnight, reviewed the requirements of the forces to deal with cross-border terrorism and its backers with the government agreeing to move fast to plug gaps in their requirements, in terms of equipment and critical defence systems, said a report on the ET website.

Keeping in mind urgent needs of the security forces, the government is expected to push through the acquisition of defence equipment, say defence ministry officials and experts.

It is now expected that the other requirements of the three armed forces would be given a fresh, urgent look in view of the changed security scenario.

Security of coastal and offshore assets and with land and maritime borders was also reviewed at the meeting held here on Thursday, in light of threats emanating from there.

The gathering also stressed the need for a co-ordinated intelligence sharing. Besides Antony, among those who attended the meeting included Chief of the Naval Staff, Admiral Sureesh Mehta, Chief of Army Staff, General Deepak Kapoor, Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal FH Major and defence secretary Vijay Singh.

The defence minister will hold another meeting on Saturday to review coastal security.

Also on Thursday, India for the first time tested the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile from a vertical launcher fitted on a moving warship in the Bay of Bengal.

The launch of the 290-km missile from the Rajput-class destroyer INS Ranvir "met all mission requirements'' and was "100 percent successful''.

Pak Registers Protest over IAF “Violations”

Hoping to take the steam off mounting diplomatic pressures pushing it to act against terror elements present in its territories, Pakistan on Thursday registered a formal protest against alleged violations of its airspace by Indian fighter jets last week, New Delhi has already denied the incident.

The Pakistan Foreign Office summoned India's Deputy High Commissioner Manpreet Vohra and handed him a note regarding the alleged airspace violations.

According to media reports attributing the information to diplomatic sources, the protest note was handed over to Vohra by Pakistan's Additional Secretary (South Asia) Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry.

Communicating its concerns, in the note, Islamabad has reportedly sought an explanation from India over the incident, says PTI.

Pakistan, on December 13, claimed that two Indian jets entered its airspace in the Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and Lahore sectors.

An IAF spokesperson had later rubbished the claims while maintaining that no Indian jets had violated Pakistan’s airspace.

The Pakistani Air Force spokesman had then said that Indian authorities had been contacted and informed of the incident and he described the alleged violation as a "technical incursion of a minor nature made by mistake".

NBA Bans Live Coverage of Death and Gore

In the dock for its coverage of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack, the News Broadcasters Association (NBA), an amalgam of electronic media organizations, on Thursday unveiled several self imposed guidelines, which include a ban on live reporting of hostage crises and blocking information which may help terrorists.

The guidelines come in wake of coverage of the terror strike in Mumbai which elicited widespread criticism from the public and the government, which threatened media houses with the imposition of an emergency protocol.

NBA was already debating the formulation of a self-restraining code, but the Mumbai terror attack clinched the argument from the naysayers, as broadcasters hurried to complete the process after the event.

In pursuance of the guidelines broadcasters will not disclose details of hostages and withhold sensitive information on rescue operations.

The broadcasters have also been asked to avoid live contact with victims and with security personnel engaged in rescue operations.

The guidelines urge broadcasters to exercise their judgment in not airing details of identity and number of hostages, and refrain from reporting or making comments that might provide publicity to terrorists.

“News related to armed conflict and communal violence should be shown with public interest in mind,” the guidelines said.

The broadcasters have been asked to avoid unnecessary repetition of archival footage which may agitate the minds of viewers.

“Dignity of those who are killed should be kept in mind while such incidents are telecast,” the guidelines read.

Announcing the guidelines, Justice JS Verma, who headed the drafting committee, said self-regulation was “far more effective” than anything else, and stressed that these guidelines were the “first big step” in the direction of self-regulation.

“Self-regulation is a requirement which everyone who has considerable power must exercise. Nobody likes to be told what to do,” Verma told reporters while explaining the rationale for self-regulation guidelines.

The guidelines, finalised on Wednesday, come at a time when the government is mulling an “emergency protocol”, and a broadcast code that strikes a balance between freedom of the press and societal concerns.

Some of the guidelines are similar to the advisories issued to TV channels by the information and broadcasting ministry during and after the Mumbai terror attacks.

The self restraining code is will ensure that reporting, of sensitive situations like the Mumbai attack, does not in any way put the security of the nation at risk and is also not offensive to public taste.

Delhi Police Files Chargesheet in GK Blast

Delhi Police on Thursday filed a the second chargesheet in connection with September 13 blast at GK-1 blast was filed before Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Kaveri Baweja against Mohd Shakeel, Zia-ur-Rehman, Saquib Nissar, Mohd Saif and Zeeshan the five suspected Indian Mujahideen terrorists.

The September 13 serial blasts in Delhi claimed 26 lives.

The document charges the accused with various offences including waging war against the state and attempt to murder under various provisions of Indian Penal Code, the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and the Explosives Substance Act.

The accused, however, were not charged with murder as there were no casualties in the GK-1 blast.

The police alleged in the chargesheet that Atif Ameen and Junaid had planted the bomb in the plush South Delhi market.

Ameen and Mohd Sajid were gunned down during an encounter in Jamia Nagar while Junaid is still absconding, police said.

The first chargesheet in the Delhi serial blasts was filed yesterday by the police in connection with Karol Bagh blasts.

Accused Mohd Saif and Zeeshan were arrested by the Delhi Police Special Cell on September 19, six days after the serial blasts, following Batla House encounter.

Two Dead as Villagers, Cops Clash in Bhiwani

22 year old Virender Singh and 21 year old Sandeep Kumar.were killed and 27 others were injured on Thursday, as a bloody clash erupted between Haryana police and villagers in Bhiwani, when the cops attempted to end the blockade of the important Bhiwani-Rohtak road.

Fifteen policemen, a press photographer and 11 villagers were sustained wounds as villagers pelted stones to desist the police from ending the blockade of the road.

The police resorted to a baton charge but villagers from Kharak and other nearby villages brought out firearms and shot several rounds.

The victims are undergoing treatment after being rushed to the Rohtak Medical College Hospital, where two of them were declared brought dead, say hospital sources.

The villagers had blocked the main Bhiwani-Rohtak road at Kharak village protesting alleged police inaction in locating two missing villagers, Chhotu Ram and Shiv Kumar, who had gone to attend a marriage at Chhuchhakwas village in Jhajjar district on December 1.

Police parties from Bhiwani, Rohtak, Hissar and Jhajjar districts have been posted at Kharak, where the situation continues to remain tense.