National News

Centre to strengthen intelligence set-up New Delhi, Sept 18: India is to strengthen its intelligence, vigilance and surveillance systems but this not a knee-jerk reaction to a spate of terror bombings in the country, a top home ministry official said on Thursday. “These measures have been in the pipeline since 2005 as part of the police modernisation drive. It’s just that they’ve gained added impetus now,” Home Secretary Madhukar Gupta said. He spoke after Information and Broadcasting Minister Priya Ranjan Dasmunshi had briefed reporters on the deliberations at a special cabinet meeting Prime Minister Manmohan Singh chaired here late Wednesday to discuss the situation in the wake of the terror bombings in Jaipur, Bangalore, Ahmedabad and New Delhi in which scores were killed and hundreds more injured. “We are working on various measures to ramp up our preventive mechanism by fine tuning our intelligence, vigilance and surveillance systems,” Gupta said. “This is a focused scheme for strengthening the Special Branches of the state police forces and ensuring their systematic structuring, which is now lacking. The central government will provide the states all help in this,” the home secretary added. “Considerable work has already been done on this and 6,000 additional posts have already been sanctioned, the bulk of it to create a dedicated mechanism to focus on research and analysis,” Gupta said. According to the home secretary regulations would be put in place to ensure that malls, multiplexes and other places that record large footfalls “provide minimum necessary benchmarked security systems that are interfaced with the security system of the State police”. And, since all of the terror bombings had occurred in urban centres, the centre would assist the states in procuring scanning and vigilance equipment “to develop proper metro policing”, Gupta pointed out. Asked about the suggestion to create a federal agency to probe terrorist incidents, the home secretary said: “It’s an issue of methodology. A group is looking at what further (anti-terror) measures are required and this (the creation of a federal agency) will be looked into as part of that exercise.” Speaking specifically about the national capital, Gupta said the government had sanctioned 7,612 additional posts and 130 additional vehicles for the Delhi Police. “The Delhi Police had sought 5,000 additional posts and 170 additional vehicles. The Delhi Police has been wanting to open 11 additional police stations and they will now be able to do so,” the home secretary said. This apart, 58 additional markets in the city would be wired up with CCTV systems. Only nine markets are currently wired up. (IANS)

Centre fails to take a stand in HC on homosexuality law New Delhi, Sept 18: The Centre has failed to sort out the differences between the Home and Health ministries over decriminalisation of homosexuality among consenting adults and sought more time today from the Delhi High Court to take a decision on the issue. Additional Solicitors General P P Malhotra, appearing for the government, told the court that the matter is under consideration and the cabinet will soon take a decision on the issue in view of the differences among the ministries. A bench comprising Chief Justice A P Shah and Justice S Muralidhar, however, refused to adjourn the matter saying that the government can file its response during the pendency of the case. “Let the cabinet take the decision. We are not going to pass the order today,” the bench said. The Centre in its reply had taken a contradictory stand with Ministry of Home Affairs favouring the retention of the penal provision for homosexual acts while the Health Ministry was against the enforcement of Section 377 in cases involving consenting adults. “Indian society strongly disapproves of homosexuality and disapproval is strong enough to justify it being treated as a criminal offence even where consenting adults indulge in it in private,” the Home Ministry had said in its affidavit. “Deletion of the Section can open the flood gates of delinquent behaviour and be misconstrued as providing unbridled licence for homosexual acts,” it had said. The Ministry of Health, on the other hand, has not favoured the enforcement of the penal provisions against consenting homosexual adults. “Enforcement of Section 377 can adversely contribute to pushing the persons suffering from HIV underground which would make such risky sexual practises go unnoticed,” said an affidavit filed by National Aids Control Organisation (NACO), which comes under the Ministry of Health. Pointing to the vulnerability of homosexuals to HIV infection, the NACO had said that there were around 25 lakh male homosexuals and around eight per cent of them were infected with HIV while in normal people the infection was only one per cent. “Men Having Sex with Men (MSM) are mostly reluctant to reveal same sex behaviour due to fear of law enforcing agencies, pushing the infection underground and making it difficult to access them,” the affidavit file by NACO had said, adding that around 69 per cent MSM know about preventing infection but only 36 per cent use condoms. The Ministries’ response came on a petition filed by gay right activists from NGO, Naz Foundation, seeking courts direction to abolish Section 377 of Indian Penal Code which provides a punishment of up to life imprisonment for indulging in homosexual acts. “Section 377 demeans a gay man. It silences a gay man into accepting the discrimination against him. He will not come out to declare his orientation,” the NGO contended. “It can be criticised on the basis of moral ground but it is illegal to make homosexual acts between consenting adults an offence,” the petition said. The Centre in the last hearing on July 24 had informed the court that the government would sort out differences between the ministries and would file a fresh affidavit by sorting out differences. (PTI)

India, Nepal reactivate committee on water New Delhi, Sept 18: With India and Nepal agreeing to check recurrence of floods in Kosi river and putting on fast track projects to utilise water for irrigation and power generation, top officials of the two neighbours will meet this month in Kathmandu to streamline the process. The Joint Committee on Water Resources, which last met in 2004, will meet again in the Nepalese capital on September 29 and 30 to discuss various issues, including project reports on two upcoming dams in Nepal and means to control floods. Secretary, Water Resources U N Panjiar, will lead the Indian side. Before his visit, Commissioner, Ganga II Wing, S P Kakran will be in Nepal to prepare background papers and decide on the agenda of the joint committee. As part of the three-level system established between the two countries, a minister-level committee has been set up to keep both the governments updated on issues of water resources at the highest level. The secretary-level committee is also part of the three-level system. At least eight technical committees would also meet regularly to review various projects. The decision to reactivate the joint committee was taken at a meeting between Union Water Resources Minister Saifuddin Soz and his Nepalese counterpart Bishnu Paudel here a couple of days ago. The finalisation of detailed project reports (DPRs) on Saptakosi High Dam Multipurpose Project and Sunkosi Storage- cum-Diversion Scheme will be on the agenda of the proposed meeting. Nepal also assured India of “full security” for its engineers working on DPRs on the construction of Saptakosi and Sunkosi projects in upstream Nepal. The Indian engineers are facing threats from Maoists and had not been able to work on the DPRs which are to be completed by the end of this year. “The DPR could be delayed but the process has begun in right earnest,” Soz had said. (PTI)

‘Hate politics’ by Sangh Parivar to be defeated first:CPI(M) New Delhi, Sept 18: As the demand for a new anti-terror law gains momentum, the CPI(M) has said only “tough” laws cannot curb the menace and the “hate politics” pursued by the Sangh Parivar have to be defeated at first. In an editorial in the forthcoming issue of party mouthpiece ‘People’s Democracy’, the CPI(M) said attacks on Christians in Karnataka “do not portend well” for an effective fight against terror. “One important prerequisite of fighting terrorism is that we defeat the hate politics of the Sangh Parivar. Those who are weakening the democratic and secular character of the country like the Sangh Parivar are not fighting terrorism in real terms but only promoting vote bank politics,” it said. The CPI(M) noted that attacks against Christians came in the aftermath of the BJP national executive meeting in Bangalore, which has unveiled its communal agenda for the coming Lok Sabha polls. “The attacks on Christians are a part of this strategy. The most dangerous message that is being sent out by the BJP-ruled states is that the minorities cannot expect a just and equal treatment a citizens. This creates the most fertile ground for the terrorists of all hues.” “Eliminating terrorism requires that we strengthen the democratic and secular character of the Indian State,” the CPI(M) said. Emphasizing that it was obvious that “reliance only on tough terror laws” is not going to curb terrorism, it said it needs to be repeated once again that when POTA “adorned the statute books, terrorist attacks took place on Parliament, Red Fort, Raghunath temple and Akshardham temple”. The CPI(M) was of the view that it was not the “inadequacy of the law” that is preventing the fight against terror but the lack of “resolute will and determination to fight terrorism unitedly”. “It is this necessary unity that the saffron brigade disrupts with its rabid communal agenda. One should also not ignore the terrorist activity that is being indulged in by various outfits of the saffron brigade,” it said pointing out to the alleged involvement of Sangh in blasts in Nanded and Thane-Vasi. Noting that terrorism has no particular religious affiliation, the party said it is of “utmost necessity” that the intelligence and security apparatus be urgently beefed up and all lapses be identified and eliminated. (PTI) Major sacked for stealing goats fails to get job back New Delhi, Sept 18: Former Major Manjeet Singh Ahluwalia’s alleged bid to make a quick buck by stealing villagers’ goats and selling them off cost him his job 26 years ago. But he thought he was innocent and fought a legal battle — which he lost today. The Delhi High Court rejected the former Major’s plea to restore his service and dismissed his petition challenging the sentence of “cashiering” awarded by the General Court Martial (GCM.) A Division Bench comprising Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice Mool Chand Garg said “We find no infirmity in the order passed by the GCM and appellate authority.” The Bench accepted the submission made by Jyoti Singh, counsel for Indian Army that the GCM was conducted in accordance with law and there was no violation of Army rules at any stage. In October 1983, Ahulwalia was court martialled following a complaint from the Rajasthan police that the Major, who was posted in Ramsar, Barmer district and commanding officer of 116 Medium Regiment, had stolen several goats and sheep belonging to the villagers in 1982. The officer was also sentenced to undergo two years imprisonment for the offence committed under the Army Act. After confirmation of the sentence by the Secretary Ministry of Defence in 1985, the Chief of Army staff had deducted 50 per cent of his pay and allowances as a part of the punishment. Sending the complaint to General Officer in Commanding against Ahulwalia, the Rajasthan police had said the villagers had lodged complaints with the police against the Army officer on the charges that he had stolen many goats and sheep on different occasions. In a writ petition, the former Major asked the court to set aside the October 1983 order passed by the GCM and also sought a direction to restore his job besides release of pay deducted at the time of his dismissal. (PTI) India to have a ‘Red Flag’ war game of its own soon New Delhi, Sept 18: India will soon have an advanced air war game in a multi-national setting on the lines of the US' Red Flag exercise in which the Indian Air Force (IAF) participated this August for the first time. “Yes, we are working towards having a multi-national air force gaming, which will be quite advanced, providing the best of air battle scenarios,” IAF’s vice chief Air Marshal P V Naik told reporters here today. The proposed war game would be held on Indian soil and would have a distinct Indian name, he said, replying to queries on the sidelines of an IAF team’s debriefing on the Red Flag exercise here. The team comprising 91 officers and 156 personnel below officer rank had returned home from the US late last week and are in the process of compiling their experiences at the Red Flag exercise for future reference. Naik said India went on to participate in the exercise on the invitation from the US Air Force and it was a rarity that a non-NATO country’s air force was participating in the exercise that followed NATO standard operating procedures. However, the Indian contingent “seamlessly integrating” into the US Air Force’ operating procedures impressed the Red Flag staff members. Though the IAF’s ability to adapt to new operating environment quickly was at full display at Red Flag, Naik said India’s participation at the world’s only exercise with near warlike, large force engagement scenarios would be done once in five years. “The Red Flag happens every quarter in a year, but IAF participating in it was an expensive affair. The Red Flag being a complex exercise, extensive preparation too is needed, which actually unsettles the regular training rhythm of IAF pilots,” Naik said. “The process of IAF participation in the Red Flag this August started in February 2007 with the USAF Chief General T Micheal Moseley extending an invitation for participation in the coveted exercise,” the IAF vice chief added. The IAF had joined the US, French and South Korean air forces for Red Flag held at the Nellis USAF Base in Nevada State. Of all the air forces that participated in the exercise, the IAF had the distinction of being the only air force to have about 95 per cent serviceability of all its platforms, be it the eight Su-30 multi role, air superiority, strike fighters, two IL-78 air-to-air refuellers or the lone IL-76 heavy lift transport aircraft. Red Flag also provided opportunity to the IAF to test its capability to deploy a trans-continental task force of fighters, refuellers and transport aircraft, Group Captain D Chaudhary, IAF's Gwalior-based Tactics and Air Combat Development Establishment (TACDE) Commandant and the team leader for the exercise. “Yes, IAF does possess the capability for deploying troops and force projection in battle grounds far away from India’s mainland if necessary,” Naik said to a question. The IAF pilots also gained experience on the USAF’s F-16s when the two sides did some half-a-dozen exchange flying with their pilots trying out the Su-30 MKI aircraft. “Of course, the exchange flying sorties were done in non-sensors mode and it was done at USAF base Mountain Home in Idaho State during the work up phase just before the actual Red Flag exercises,” Wing Commander G Thomas, commanding officer of the Pune-based 20 Squadron, said. While the French brought their latest Rafale aircraft, the South Koreans brought their F-15s and the US both their F-15s F-16s to the Red Flag. Incidentally, F-16 of Lockheed Martin, a US aerospace major, and French Rafale are contenders for IAF’s requirement of 126 multi-role combat aircraft. On their return journey, the IAF team also stopped at Al Dhafra near to Abu Dhabi in United Arab Emirates to participate in the ‘Desert Eagle’ exercise with the UAE air force. The Su-30s exercised with the UAE’s Mirage-2000s and F-16s during Desert Eagle, the first time India and UAE air forces were exercising together. “The invitation for Desert Eagle had come while the IAF team to Red Flag was on its way to the US. So during the return journey, the IAF team was exposed to the UAE air force’s exercise too,” Naik said. (PTI) UPA Govt lacks will to tight terror: BJP New Delhi, Sept 18: BJP today alleged the Congress-led UPA government displayed a lack the will and commitment to fight terrorism by refusing to bring a POTA-type law. “The cabinet briefing today morning by P R Dasmunsi was depressing for the nation. He said the government has no plan to bring in a POTA-like law which clearly manifests UPA’s lack of will and commitment to fight terror,” party spokesperson Prakash Javadekar told reporters here. The UPA rule has seen around 50 terror attacks and loss of many lives, “which itself is a proof of the incompetancy and unpreparedness of the government to fight the menace of terrorism”, he alleged. Asked if BJP would support the government in its initiative to introduce a federal law to fight terror, Javadekar said it would be decided “when it happens”. “As a concept, we welcome and support any endeavour of the government to fight terror but we cannot support somethig which is in vaccuum. Let the government come up with the law and we will then decide on the support,” he said. The government’s “half-hearted”efforts to fight terror is proven by its “inaction” in the Afzal Guru (Parliament attack convict sentenced to death) case, their inability to act against the cabinet ministers openly speaking in favour of SIMI and Bangladeshi migrants, he added. (PTI) Bollywood titles must be registered with Copyright Board: Expert Mumbai, Sept 18: Hindi film titles are always registered with film trade associations, but an advocate here who specialises in Bollywood cases says that registering with the Copyright Board is essential if filmmakers want to protect their intellectual property rights adequately. Advocate Atul Mankame stressed that registering titles and contents of films with associations was “not a legally valid procedure”. “When the concerned associations register the titles of the movies and contents, they do so only in order to maintain the internal discipline of the film industry,” Mankame, who deals in Bollywood related legal matters, told IANS. The Bollywood filmmakers register the titles with the Title Registration Committee of the Indian Motion Picture Producers’ Association (IMPPA) or the Film and Television Producers’ Guild of India or the Association of Motion Pictures and Television Programme Producers (AMPTPP). But title dispute is common in Bollywood. Recently producer-director Kunal Kohli and actor-producer Saahil Chadha were at loggerheads over the title of their films Thoda Pyaar Thoda Magic and Thoda Life Thodi Magic respectively. Music company Venus’ upcoming movie, Kushti, in which WWW wrestling champion Khali plays, is also embroiled in a battle with producer Anoop Srivastava over the title. Srivastava claims that he had registered the title Kushti with IMPPA much before Venus. Along with Kushti, he says, he had also registered two other titles, Yaaran Di...Kushti and Kushti...Ab Aayega Maza for his proposed movie. Although under the Indian Copyright Act, it is not compulsory for movies and their contents to be registered with the Copyright Board in New Delhi after having registered with film industry trade and craft associations, it is nevertheless important, Mankame said. In case of disputes, only a registration with the Copyright Board is considered a prima facie evidence in a court of law, the lawyer said. But so far no film title has been registered with the Copyright Board. He added that the non-availability of legal documents in support of copyright ownership is why a majority of movie piracy cases fizzle out in courts. He said the preamble of the Copyright Act 1957 clearly states: “In order to encourage Registration of Copyright, provision is made that proceedings regarding infringement of copyright shall not be issued unless copyright is registered at copyright office.” Registration with the Copyright Board’s serves as evidence to prove “ownership of work and title and all rights envisaged in the work, for enforcing legal remedies in case of infringement of rights, to claim rights of ownership, for protection and acknowledgement in 136 countries and to enforce moral rights”, Mankame said. (IANS) Saas, Bahu Aur Sensex — a paradox to India’s dark side New Delhi, Sept 18: Poverty, prostitution, paedophilia, corruption - India’s darker side has always attracted filmmakers for a worthy subject but with Saas, Bahu Aur Sensex, director Shona Urvashi has attempted otherwise. “I have seen so many films portraying the negative aspects in India, so I have tried to show the positive side of our country. My film shows who we are today and how the social, economic and political changes in our country have affected our lives. It is a heart-warming subject,” Urvashi told IANS over phone from Mumbai. Releasing on Friday, the film is set against the backdrop of the share market, masala and kitty parties of modern day women living in Mumbai. It has a spicy dose of drama, comedy and emotion. “Stock market and sensex affect everyone in the country. I wanted to bring this subject forward. For this, I met a lot of stockbrokers and interviewed them about what they thought of the Indian stock market,” she said. Saas, Bahu Aur Sensex is US-based film distribution company Warner Brothers’ first Indian venture and boasts of an ensemble cast of 15 known artistes including big names like Farouque Shaikh, Kirron Kher and Lilette Dubey. Actors Tanushree Dutta, Masumeh Makhija, Sudhanshu Pandey, Ankur Khanna and Sharon Prabhakar are also part of this film. The narrative unfolds with Nitya Sen (Tanushree Dutta), a young woman who has to abandon her ambition of studying for MBA in the US due to her parents’ divorce. Her mother Vinita Sen (Kirron Kher) moves to Mumbai after the separation. Keen to start a new life for her daughter, Vinita adapts a new lifestyle - she starts going to kitty parties and also takes a plunge into the volatile world of stock markets with the help of a stockbroker, Firoz Sethna (Farouque Shaikh). In the meantime, Nitya starts working at a call centre where she seeks solace in the company of Ritesh (Ankur Khanna) who is already dating Kirti (Masumeh Makhija). Kirti, a middle class girl who doesn’t mind spending a month’s salary on expensive clothes and accessories, dreams of marrying billionaire Yash Modi (Sudhanshu Pandey). Nitya and Ritesh work in Yash’s call centre. (IANS)