The world's two largest democracies, the oldest and the largest, sought to take their ties to a new level by agreeing to work together to deny terrorists 'safe havens' in the Afghanistan-Pakistan region with visiting US President Barack Obama and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh unveiling a slew of pacts ranging from clean energy to health and collaborating in agriculture and food security to spark 'an evergreen revolution.'
The big announcement - long speculated in India - about support for the UN permanent seat for New Delhi, was the crowning moment of Obama's four-day maiden visit to the country and came amid ringing applause in the cavernous Central Hall of the Indian parliament.
'We welcome India as it prepares to take a seat at the United Nations Security Council,' said Obama in his address while lauding India's growing role in leading global decision-making bodies.
'And as two global leaders, the United States and India can partner for global security - especially as India serves on the Security Council over the next two years,' he said in a reference to India beginning its two-year stint in the UNSC as a non-permanent member Jan 1, 2011.
'Indeed, the just and sustainable international order that America seeks includes a United Nations that is efficient, effective, credible and legitimate,' he said.
'That is why I can say today - in the years ahead, I look forward to a reformed UN Security Council that includes India as a permanent member,' he said to loud applause from 790 MPs from both its houses, the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha.
'For in Asia and around the world, India is not simply emerging; India has already emerged. And it is my firm belief that the relationship between the US and India will be one of the defining partnerships of the 21st century,' said Obama.
The announcement, which ended months of US ambiguity around the issue in the run-up to the presidential visit, brought much cheer to India's political and strategic establishment.
'The US' is a very powerful endorsement. It was long overdue,' said Jaswant Singh, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and a former foreign minister who initiated nuclear talks with the US after the 1998 tests.
Obama began his day of back-to-back official engagements Monday morning with a ceremonial welcome at Rashtrapati Bhavan, the imposing British-era presidential mansion, and a visit to Rajghat, a memorial to Mahatma Gandhi whom Obama has described as his hero and an inspiration.
The US president then headed for talks with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh that focused on adding more economic substance and strategic heft to the burgeoning relationship between the world's two largest democracies.
The talks were summed up by Obama later at a press conference at Hyderabad House where he said that 'ours is not ordinary relationship' and such was the depth and sweep of bilateral cooperation that 'I cannot remember an occasion when we have agreed to so many new partnership across so many areas as we have done during my visit'.
Before the press conference, the two leaders held talks in a restricted format for at least an hour before the delegation-level talks that lasted around 80-90 minutes. Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna and Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao were present during restricted talks.
The issues included: Expansion of trade and investment, specially high-tech trade, concerns over outsourcing and deepening of counter-terror cooperation and defence issues. Among global and regional discussed were the UN reforms, non-proliferation, climate change, global economic architecture, the Indian Ocean security, East Asia and issues relating to terrorism emanating from Pakistan and Afghanistan.
In a key step that brings India a step closer to ending technology-denial regimes targeted against it since the 1998 nuclear tests, Obama announced at a joint press conference the US decision to relax its export controls of high-tech equipment to India, particularly in the defence and scientific areas.
He also agreed to push New Delhi's membership in some multilateral institutions that control global trade in nuclear and dual use technologies. 'The US will remove Indian organizations from the so-called Entities List' he said, adding that the two sides will implement their nuclear deal.
The announcement was music to the ears of Manmohan Singh, who launched the initiative to forge a landmark nuclear deal in 2005 with the larger promise of ending nuclear discrimination against India and boosting its civil nuclear energy to meet its power shortfall.
'We welcome the decision by the United States to lift controls on export of high technology items and technologies to India, and support India's membership in multilateral export control regimes such as the Nuclear Suppliers Group'' said a beaming Manmohan Singh, adding that it was 'a manifestation of the growing trust and confidence in each other.'
'We have agreed on steps to expand our cooperation in the space, civil nuclear, defence and other high-end sector,' he said.
According to official sources, the three Indian entities that have been removed from the US export black list include the Indian Space and Research Organisation (ISRO), Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) and Bharat Dynamics Limited.
This apart, the US decided to support India for full membership of the top four nuclear clubs, including the Nuclear Suppliers Group, the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR), the Australian Group and the Wassenaar Arrangement.
The two sides also decided to deepen counter-terror cooperation and announced a new dialogue between the department of homeland security and India's home ministry officials. They agreed to combat terrorist networks in the region and shared notes on dealing with extremism emanating from the volatile Pakistan-Afghanistan region, said the sources.
'We agreed on the need for all nations in the region to work together and ensure that there are no safe havens for terrorists,' said Obama at a joint press conference.
Describing India as 'a key actor on the global stage,' Obama advocated a bigger role for India in East Asia, a region which has lately seen a bout of Chinese assertiveness and which Beijing sees as its sphere of influence.
In yet another reassurance that allayed anxieties of New Delhi in the wake of a proposed power-sharing deal with the Taliban, Obama lauded India's involvement in reconstruction activities in Afghanistan and stressed that the 'US will not abandon the people of Afghanistan - or the region - to the violent extremists that threaten us all.'
Tacitly acknowledging India's concerns over terror groups operating from Pakistan, Obama said: 'We will continue to insist to Pakistan's leaders that terrorist safe havens - within their borders - are unacceptable and that the terrorists behind the Mumbai attacks be brought to justice.'
With Obama by his side, Manmohan Singh, however, underlined his commitment to pursuing peace with Pakistan but made it clear that as long as 'the terror machine was active against New Delhi it will be difficult to keep on talking'. Obama, on his part, ruled out US mediation but encouraged the two countries to resolve their tensions by themselves.
The two leaders announced a slew of initiatives in areas of clean energy, health and agriculture that included the setting up of a Joint Clean Energy Research and Development Centre in New Delhi, the establishment of a Global Disease Detection Centre in India and an agreement for cooperation in weather and crop forecasting. The two sides also decided to hold a Higher Education Summit next year
'In my discussions with the president, we have decided to accelerate the deepening of our ties and to work as equal partners in a strategic relationship that will positively and decisively influence world peace, stability and progress',' said Manmohan Singh.
Obama, who is on his maiden visit to India, evocatively described the relationship between India and India and the US as 'indispensable to addressing key challenges of the 21st century.
'The relations between India and the US are stronger, deeper and broader than ever,' he said' 'I am confident that India's influence in world affairs will continue to rise,' he said.
(Manish Chand can be manish.c@ians.in)
'The labourers got hurt as the overbridge near which they were working collapsed,' a police official told IANS after the accident, barely 10 days before the Games begin.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (South) H.G.S. Dhaliwal told reporters at the spot that 23 workers were injured, five of them seriously.
'A portion of the overbridge caved in. It is not on the main road but is part of the parking,' Delhi Chief Secretary Rakesh Mehta told a TV channel.
Mehta said the bridge would be completed within next 10 days.
Most of the injured were rushed to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Trauma Centre. Some were taken to the nearby Safdarjung Hospital.
The opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games, the biggest sporting event being hosted by India since the 1982 Asiad Games, will be held at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium Oct 3. The stadium, the showpiece of the event, will also host the closing ceremony.
The accident comes on a day Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) president Michael Fennell said parts of the Village were still not fit for accommodation.
Concerns have also been raised by the New Zealand and Scotland contingents.
NEW DELHI, April 2 – Manipur continues to be the hot bed of insurgency followed by Assam as 150 violent incidents have been reported in the two States in last three months, claiming 100 lives.
Those killed included 77 extremists, 20 civilians and three security force personnel, according to Home Ministry.
Altogether, 105 people were killed in six North eastern States – Assam, Manipur, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Tripura and Arunachal Pradesh – till last month in 174 incidents. Mizoram had no major insurgency and was comparatively a peaceful State.
In 2009, 435 people, including 81 civilians and 336 militants, were killed in 659 incidents in Manipur while 368 people, including 152 civilians, were killed in 424 incidents in Assam.
517 people, including 364 extremists, were killed in 2008 in Manipur while 373 people, which include 245 civilians, lost their lives in Assam in the same year.
“Though there is a declining trend in the incidents of violence, both Manipur and Assam continue to be the most troubled States in the North East,” a Home Ministry official said.
Overall, there were 1297 incidents of violence that claimed 877 lives, including 571 militants and 264 civilians, in 2009 in the entire North East.
There were 1,561 incidents in the region in 2008 in which 1,152 people, including 466 civilians, lost their lives.
Nagaland, home to major insurgent groups like NSCN (IM) and NSCN (K), has become relatively peaceful, thanks to the peace pacts signed by the two groups with the government.
Though there were 12 incidents of violence in the first three months of 2010 in Nagaland, there was no report of any casualty while in 2009 only 31 people lost their lives.
However, in 2008, the state saw 321 incidents in which 213 people, including 140 extremists and 70 civilians, were killed.
In Meghalaya, four people were killed this year in five different incidents while one person was killed in Arunachal Pradesh. Though, there were nine incidents in Tripura in 2010, no report of any casualty has come from the state.
In 2009, 22 people lost their lives in Arunachal Pradesh, nine in Meghalaya and 10 in Tripura.
Those killed included 77 extremists, 20 civilians and three security force personnel, according to Home Ministry.
Altogether, 105 people were killed in six North eastern States – Assam, Manipur, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Tripura and Arunachal Pradesh – till last month in 174 incidents. Mizoram had no major insurgency and was comparatively a peaceful State.
In 2009, 435 people, including 81 civilians and 336 militants, were killed in 659 incidents in Manipur while 368 people, including 152 civilians, were killed in 424 incidents in Assam.
517 people, including 364 extremists, were killed in 2008 in Manipur while 373 people, which include 245 civilians, lost their lives in Assam in the same year.
“Though there is a declining trend in the incidents of violence, both Manipur and Assam continue to be the most troubled States in the North East,” a Home Ministry official said.
Overall, there were 1297 incidents of violence that claimed 877 lives, including 571 militants and 264 civilians, in 2009 in the entire North East.
There were 1,561 incidents in the region in 2008 in which 1,152 people, including 466 civilians, lost their lives.
Nagaland, home to major insurgent groups like NSCN (IM) and NSCN (K), has become relatively peaceful, thanks to the peace pacts signed by the two groups with the government.
Though there were 12 incidents of violence in the first three months of 2010 in Nagaland, there was no report of any casualty while in 2009 only 31 people lost their lives.
However, in 2008, the state saw 321 incidents in which 213 people, including 140 extremists and 70 civilians, were killed.
In Meghalaya, four people were killed this year in five different incidents while one person was killed in Arunachal Pradesh. Though, there were nine incidents in Tripura in 2010, no report of any casualty has come from the state.
In 2009, 22 people lost their lives in Arunachal Pradesh, nine in Meghalaya and 10 in Tripura.
By Juhan Samuel, Kochi (Kerala), Apr 1 : The trial run using an engine was held in Kochi on Wednesday over the country's longest rail bridge in the stretch from Idappally to Vallarpadam.
The 8.86 kilometer-long link was built at a total cost of Rs 350 crore funded by Goverment of India through Ministry of Shipping. The Rail Vikas Nigam oversaw the work. The rail link also includes the longest railway bridge (4.62 km) in the country.
The track has been laid to the best specifications with 52 Kg rails, Pre-stressed Concrete sleepers and 30 cm ballast cushion. The track has been fully electrified and has the latest signalling system.
Officials have said that the trial run on the Vallarpadam rail link was a success.
The project has the longest Railway Bridge and other four small bridges. The bridges are on 1.2 diameter piles and are taken to an average depth of about 55 metres. There are over 1275 piles made for the project totalling to about 65000 metres of pile length.
All put together, there are 99 spans of 40 m and 33 spans of 20 m U girder.
The new bridge cuts across the Vembanad Lake through the Mulavukad Island and will push the Nehru Setu Bridge near Dehri on river Sone in Bihar to the second place by more than a kilometre.
Building the new bridge involved massive deployment of manpower and material.
Source: New Kerela
The 8.86 kilometer-long link was built at a total cost of Rs 350 crore funded by Goverment of India through Ministry of Shipping. The Rail Vikas Nigam oversaw the work. The rail link also includes the longest railway bridge (4.62 km) in the country.
The track has been laid to the best specifications with 52 Kg rails, Pre-stressed Concrete sleepers and 30 cm ballast cushion. The track has been fully electrified and has the latest signalling system.
Officials have said that the trial run on the Vallarpadam rail link was a success.
The project has the longest Railway Bridge and other four small bridges. The bridges are on 1.2 diameter piles and are taken to an average depth of about 55 metres. There are over 1275 piles made for the project totalling to about 65000 metres of pile length.
All put together, there are 99 spans of 40 m and 33 spans of 20 m U girder.
The new bridge cuts across the Vembanad Lake through the Mulavukad Island and will push the Nehru Setu Bridge near Dehri on river Sone in Bihar to the second place by more than a kilometre.
Building the new bridge involved massive deployment of manpower and material.
Source: New Kerela
NEW DELHI: National Security Adviser Shivshankar Menon Thursday said India and China have found a way to manage their differences over "the most complicated and difficult" boundary dispute and have decided not to allow it to stand in the way of expanding ties in other areas.
"The two countries have found a modus vivendi to deal with the boundary issue and to manage their different approaches to issues where their peripheries overlap," Menon said at a seminar on India-China relations organised by Indian Council for World Affairs.
Menon underlined the need to "evolve a detailed framework for the resolution of the boundary dispute in a manner that is feasible to both leaderships."
Alluding to then prime minister Rajiv Gandhi's visit to Beijing in 1988, Menon said Indian and Chinese leaders had decided that the difficult and complicated boundary question would be addressed, but would not stand in the way of the expansion of relations in other areas.
Menon's comments come days before external affairs minister S M Krishna goes to Beijing when the two sides are likely to discuss dates for the 14th round of boundary negotiations between their special representatives.
Menon has taken over from his predecessor M K Naryanan as India's Special Representative on the boundary issue.
Admitting that there are differences on many issues, Menon stressed upon the need for both sides to build on congruences while managing contradictions. "Differences in worldview, structure, systems and foreign policy making have not prevented and will not prevent an expanding engagement between India and China," he said.
Indian and Chinese leaders Thursday exchanged greetings on the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties and expressed their optimism about the future development of the relationship for the sake of regional and global peace.
The TimesofIndia
"The two countries have found a modus vivendi to deal with the boundary issue and to manage their different approaches to issues where their peripheries overlap," Menon said at a seminar on India-China relations organised by Indian Council for World Affairs.
Menon underlined the need to "evolve a detailed framework for the resolution of the boundary dispute in a manner that is feasible to both leaderships."
Alluding to then prime minister Rajiv Gandhi's visit to Beijing in 1988, Menon said Indian and Chinese leaders had decided that the difficult and complicated boundary question would be addressed, but would not stand in the way of the expansion of relations in other areas.
Menon's comments come days before external affairs minister S M Krishna goes to Beijing when the two sides are likely to discuss dates for the 14th round of boundary negotiations between their special representatives.
Menon has taken over from his predecessor M K Naryanan as India's Special Representative on the boundary issue.
Admitting that there are differences on many issues, Menon stressed upon the need for both sides to build on congruences while managing contradictions. "Differences in worldview, structure, systems and foreign policy making have not prevented and will not prevent an expanding engagement between India and China," he said.
Indian and Chinese leaders Thursday exchanged greetings on the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties and expressed their optimism about the future development of the relationship for the sake of regional and global peace.
The TimesofIndia
(Left): Indian President Pratibha, second left, Patil puts her signature after being enumerated for the national census, at the presidential palace in New Delhi, April 1. (Right): A nurse inspects a newborn baby at a hospital in Jammu, April 1. India kicked off the national census of its billion-plus population Thursday with a 2.5 million strong army of census-takers fanning out across the country to conduct what has been billed the world’s largest administrative exercise. (AP Photo)
New Delhi, April 1 (PTI): The massive Census to cover India’s 1.2 billion population began today with President Pratibha Patil being the first to be enumerated in the decennial exercise. The 15th National Census exercise, which will see over 25 lakh officials capturing the socio-economic-cultural profile of its citizens, will also seek information for the creation of the National Population Register.
“My appeal to all brothers and sisters of the country is to wholeheartedly take part in the preparation of the first ever National Population Register. It is important for the nation as well as you,” President Patil said after a delegation of the Census officials took down her information. The delegation included Registrar General and Census Commissioner C. Chandramouli and Deputy Director General, National Population Register, S. K. Chakraborty.
Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram, who was also present at the Rashtrapati Bhavan said this is the first time in human history that 1.2 billion people are being provided I-cards after being identified, counted and enumerated. “This exercise must succeed and will succeed. We will leave no stone unturned to visit every village, every habitation in the country,” he said appealing to the civil society, teachers, parents and authorities to take part in this exercise. The Census operation would cost around Rs 2,209 crore while the approved cost of the scheme for creation of NPR is Rs 3,539.24 crore.
During the mammoth exercise, the enumerators for the first time will collect information like ownership of mobile phones, computers, internet, having treated or untreated drinking water facility. The enumerators will also seek basic information like name, age, sex, date of birth, besides others for the creation of NPR. The government has made it clear that no information will be collected on castes as no caste-based census has ever been conducted in independent India.
“We will fill a separate form and give each covered under the census a receipt which will have a number. Once all the information is digitized, we will hold designated camps across the country where citizens will give fingerprints of all 10 fingers and will be photographed after showing their receipt,” Mr. Chakraborty said. Mr. Chakraborty said the fingerprints would be then passed on to the Unique Identification Authority of India, who after checking for duplication will assign a 16-digit unique number to each which will then be part of the NPR card to be issued. The first NPR cards would roll out by 2011 end.
The fingerprints and photographs will help the government formulate plans and strengthen the country’s security. The NPR will bring the entire population of the country under one database. Explaining the Census procedures, Mr. Chandramouli said it would be conducted in two phases. The first phase, called the House listing and Housing Census, will be conducted between April and July, depending on the convenience of different states and UTs.
This exercise is to be conducted over a period of 45 days in each state or UT, he said. This second phase, called the Population Enumeration phase, will be conducted simultaneously all over the country from February 9 to 28, 2011, and the entire exercise would be completed by March 5, 2011. The Census would cover all 640 districts, 5,767 tehsils, 7,742 towns and more than 6 lakh villages. More than 24 crore households will be visited and 1.20 billion people enumerated during this exercise.
NEW DELHI, April 1 – India today gave the right to all its children to have access to elementary education, becoming among a handful of countries in the world that legally guarantees free and compulsory education to millions of deprived children.
Citing his own example, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh dedicated the landmark measure to the nation, saying: “I am what I am because of education” and education is key to progress and well-being of the nation.
“Today our government comes before you to pledge all our children elementary education. The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, enacted by Parliament in August, 2009 comes into force today,” the Prime Minister said in his early morning address to the nation delivered both in Hindi and English.
The fundamental right to education as incorporated in our Constitution through Article 21 (A) has also become operative from today.
“This demonstrates our national commitment to the education of our children and to the future of India. We are a nation of young people. Education will determine the well being of our nation. Education is the key to progress. It empowers the individuals. If we nurture our children through right to education then India’s future is secured,” Singh, a strong proponent of the measure, said.
The Act promises 10 broad objectives, including free and compulsory education to all children in the 6-14 age group. This means millions of children will now get education at least up to class eight. Currently, in India, nearly 200 million children in the 6-14 age group are in schools while nearly 8.1 million do not go to schools. This Act will benefit this significant number and empower millions of families.
Other than free and compulsory education, the Act speaks of quality education, focus on social responsibility like reservation in private schools, the obligation of teachers and de-bureaucratisation of admissions. Lack of educational access was seen as a major impediment to growth and development of the county in its march towards modernity and progress that measures up to global standards.
The “national effort”, as termed by the Prime Minister, seeks to create conducive educational atmosphere for physically handicapped children. It also emphasizes to make learning student-oriented rather than teacher- and classroom-oriented.
He said the act would also focus on education of “girls, Dalits, Adivasis, and minorities”.
The Prime Minister, giving his own example on how education has shaped his future, said: “I was born to a family of modest means. In my childhood, I had to walk a long distance to go to school. I read under the dim light of a kerosene lamp.I am what I am today because of education.”
Leading educationist Yash Pal said the act is “great and marvellous” but it should have “come 50 years back”.
However, the Act faces many challenges in its implementation, chief of them being the huge shortage of funds, untrained teachers and inadquate infrastructure across the country.
Among the countries that have guaranteed the maximum number of years of compulsory education include Chile, Germany, Netherlands, Britain, France, Canada, Brazil and Mauritius. – IANS
File: In this Nov. 29, 2008 file photo, an Indian soldier takes cover as the Taj Mahal hotel burns during gun battle between Indian military and militants inside the hotel in Mumbai, India. The trial into the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks and the murder of 166 people during the three-day siege closed Wednesday, March 31, less than a year after it opened, a speed rare in the Indian judicial system. (AP Photo)
Mumbai, March 31 (Agencies): The trial in the 26/11 Mumbai attack case against Pakistani gunman Ajmal Kasab and two Indian conspirators concluded on Wednesday, almost a year after it commenced, and the judge will pronounce his verdict on May 3. Special judge M L Tahaliyani reserved his judgement after the prosecution and defence counsels wrapped up their final arguments and would pronounce his verdict on May 3.
If the accused are pronounced guilty, the court would on that day call upon the prosecution and defence lawyers to put forth their arguments on quantum of sentence. The prosecution examined as many as 653 witnesses to prove their case that Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) carried out the dastardly attacks by sending 10 jihadi terrorists from Karachi. The court also examined four witnesses, including two National Security Guard (NSG) commandos, who led the teams in operations to fight the terrorists.
Police had filed the charge sheet in the case on February 26 last year after which the case was committed from magistrate’s court to Sessions Court on March 9, 2009. A separate court was established in high-security Arthur Road central prison here to hear the case. On April 17, before the trial began, Kasab had pleaded that he was a juvenile, but the court rejected his claim after examining prosecution witnesses and experts and ruled that he was over 20 years of age.
On May 8, the first witness stepped into the box, saying he had seen Kasab gunning down sub-inspector Tukaram Ombale at Girgaum Chowpatty. After examining 653 witnesses, including 30 eyewitnesses, special public prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam opened arguments this month, saying there was evidence to suggest that the security apparatus of Pakistan was involved in the attacks on India’s financial nerve centre. Days later, American LeT operative David Headley, in a plea bargain before a Chicago court, disclosed that officers in the Pakistani Army were also behind the conspiracy to strike terror in Mumbai on November 26, 2008.
Nikam argued for 13 days before the trial court and filed a 675-page written submission. Kasab’s counsel K P Pawar argued for three days, while R B Mokashi and Ejaz Naqvi appeared for Faheem Ansari and co-accused Sabauddin Ahmed. aNikam has sought conviction of the accused on various charges under IPC, including waging war against nation, and other laws such as Foreigners Act, Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, Prevention of Damage to Public Properties Act, Customs Act, Passport Act, Arms Act, Explosives Act, Explosives Substances Act and Bombay Police Act.
Mumbai, March 31 (Agencies): The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) on Wednesday came in for praise from the prosecution in the Mumbai terror attacks trial for its ‘contribution and cooperation’ to the case. In a warm gesture, Special Public Prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam acknowledged and appreciated the FBI’s help which enabled the prosecution wrap up case against Pakistani terror accused Mohammed Ajmal Amir Kasab and his Indian co-accused, Fahim Ansari and Sabahuddin Ahmed.
When the trial was mid-way, a couple of FBI agents and experts had appeared in camera before the special court, but their names and evidence were not permitted to be made public knowledge. Three others had deposed before the court from the US via video-conferencing, which was also kept off bounds for the media. Nikam said that Kasab and his friends had even tried to destroy the data in the global positioning system (GPS), but with the help of the FBI experts the prosecution was able to retrieve the missing data. Nikam said it was with the co-operation of the FBI that the prosecution was able to wrap up the trial in a record time of 7 months (discounting many holidays and gaps during the period from the appointment of the special judge Jan 13, 2009).
Mumbai, March 31 (Agencies): The trial in the 26/11 Mumbai attack case against Pakistani gunman Ajmal Kasab and two Indian conspirators concluded on Wednesday, almost a year after it commenced, and the judge will pronounce his verdict on May 3. Special judge M L Tahaliyani reserved his judgement after the prosecution and defence counsels wrapped up their final arguments and would pronounce his verdict on May 3.
If the accused are pronounced guilty, the court would on that day call upon the prosecution and defence lawyers to put forth their arguments on quantum of sentence. The prosecution examined as many as 653 witnesses to prove their case that Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) carried out the dastardly attacks by sending 10 jihadi terrorists from Karachi. The court also examined four witnesses, including two National Security Guard (NSG) commandos, who led the teams in operations to fight the terrorists.
Police had filed the charge sheet in the case on February 26 last year after which the case was committed from magistrate’s court to Sessions Court on March 9, 2009. A separate court was established in high-security Arthur Road central prison here to hear the case. On April 17, before the trial began, Kasab had pleaded that he was a juvenile, but the court rejected his claim after examining prosecution witnesses and experts and ruled that he was over 20 years of age.
On May 8, the first witness stepped into the box, saying he had seen Kasab gunning down sub-inspector Tukaram Ombale at Girgaum Chowpatty. After examining 653 witnesses, including 30 eyewitnesses, special public prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam opened arguments this month, saying there was evidence to suggest that the security apparatus of Pakistan was involved in the attacks on India’s financial nerve centre. Days later, American LeT operative David Headley, in a plea bargain before a Chicago court, disclosed that officers in the Pakistani Army were also behind the conspiracy to strike terror in Mumbai on November 26, 2008.
Nikam argued for 13 days before the trial court and filed a 675-page written submission. Kasab’s counsel K P Pawar argued for three days, while R B Mokashi and Ejaz Naqvi appeared for Faheem Ansari and co-accused Sabauddin Ahmed. aNikam has sought conviction of the accused on various charges under IPC, including waging war against nation, and other laws such as Foreigners Act, Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, Prevention of Damage to Public Properties Act, Customs Act, Passport Act, Arms Act, Explosives Act, Explosives Substances Act and Bombay Police Act.
Prosecution lauds FBI help in trial
Mumbai, March 31 (Agencies): The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) on Wednesday came in for praise from the prosecution in the Mumbai terror attacks trial for its ‘contribution and cooperation’ to the case. In a warm gesture, Special Public Prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam acknowledged and appreciated the FBI’s help which enabled the prosecution wrap up case against Pakistani terror accused Mohammed Ajmal Amir Kasab and his Indian co-accused, Fahim Ansari and Sabahuddin Ahmed.
When the trial was mid-way, a couple of FBI agents and experts had appeared in camera before the special court, but their names and evidence were not permitted to be made public knowledge. Three others had deposed before the court from the US via video-conferencing, which was also kept off bounds for the media. Nikam said that Kasab and his friends had even tried to destroy the data in the global positioning system (GPS), but with the help of the FBI experts the prosecution was able to retrieve the missing data. Nikam said it was with the co-operation of the FBI that the prosecution was able to wrap up the trial in a record time of 7 months (discounting many holidays and gaps during the period from the appointment of the special judge Jan 13, 2009).
Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh listens to Saudi Shura Council chairman Abdullah al-Sheikh, unseen, during his visit to the Saudi Shura consultative” council in Riyadh, March 1. (AP Photo)
RIYADH, March 1 (PTI): India is willing to walk the “extra mile” to open a new chapter in relations with Pakistan but it must act decisively against terrorism, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh asserted on Monday. Addressing the Majlis-al-Shura or the Saudi Consultative Council here, he said India seeks a cooperative relationship with Pakistan for permanent peace as both countries are bound together by a shared future.
“We seek cooperative relations with Pakistan. Our objective is a permanent peace because we recognise that we are bound together by a shared future. If there is cooperation between India and Pakistan, vast opportunities will open up for trade, travel and development that will create prosperity in both countries and in South Asia as a whole,” Singh said. But to realise this vision, the Prime Minister asserted, Pakistan must “act decisively against terrorism”.
“If Pakistan cooperates with India, there is no problem that we cannot solve and we can walk the extra mile to open a new chapter in relations between our two countries,” Singh, who is on a three-day visit to the oil-rich kingdom, said. Noting that both India and Saudi Arabia are threatened by extremism and violence, the Prime Minister said, “History teaches us that the scourge of terrorism must be confronted with determination and united effort. “Nowhere is this challenge greater than in Afghanistan,” Singh said.
“The people of Afghanistan have suffered for too long. They deserve an atmosphere of peace and the opportunity to pursue a life of dignity and hope,” the Prime Minister said. He said the pursuit of terror in the name of religion or any other cause or grievance cannot be acceptable to civilised societies. “It has no sanction in any religion.” Singh asked the international community to support all sections of Afghan society who wish to work towards the emergence of Afghanistan as a modern, stable and sovereign nation. “No sanctuary should be given to those who promote terror, violence or instability in the country.”
He said India wishes to live in peace and friendship with its neighbours and that he believed that all countries of South Asia should work to realise a common vision of peace and inclusive development for the region. Addressing the members of the legislative body that advises the Saudi King, Singh said Islam is an integral part of India’s nationhood and ethos and of the rich tapestry of its culture. “India has made significant contributions to all aspects of Islamic civilisation. Centres of Islamic learning in India have made a seminal contribution to Islamic and Arab studies,” he said.
“Our 160 million Muslims are contributing to our nation building efforts and have excelled in all walks of life. We are proud of our composite culture...,” he said. Returning to the issue of bilateral ties, he said India considers Saudi Arabia as a “pillar of stability” in the Gulf region and expressed confidence that the two countries could forge a “new partnership”. Describing west Asia as a vital part of India’s extended neighbourhood, Singh said, “we have a high stake in the peace and stability of the region” and “neither the countries of the region nor the world could afford fresh turmoil.”
He reaffirmed India’s support for the struggle of Palestinian people and its backing for the Arab Peace Initiative to ensure peace and stability in the region. Referring to his meeting with King Abdullah and other Saudi leaders on Sunday, Singh said these talks have led to reaffirmation of the close ties and common interests of the two countries. “We have agreed to impart a strategic character to our relations, and have put in place a roadmap for bilateral economic, political and security-related cooperation that will constitute the core of our relationship in the coming years.”
Singh said the kingdom is home to the largest Indian community abroad numbering 1.8 million and that Indian workers and professionals have participated in the “extraordinary development of this region”. He also expressed gratitude to Saudi Arabia for the warm welcome it has extended to the community as well as pilgrims from India who come here every year to perform Haj and Umrah.
“As many as 165,000 Indian pilgrims perform Haj annually...the second largest group from any single country,” the Prime Minister noted. He sought increased exchanges between parliamentarians, scholars, scientists and students of the two countries and observed that there is scope for considerable expansion of interactions in political, defence and security spheres.
