Punjab Dy CM talks to Press

From Punjab Newsline
Punjab Newsline Network Friday, 22 October 2010

JALANDHAR: Punjab Deputy Chief Minister  Sukhbir Singh Badal Thursday said that subsidies are an International phenomenon and Union Government is one of the biggest providers of subsidies. He ruled out the possibility of withdrawal of any subsidy being provided to any section of society in the state as these were the outcome of SAD-BJP government’s commitment to the people of State.

In an informal interaction with media persons at PAP Complex helipad, the Deputy Chief Minister pointed out that in comparison of Union government and other state governments, our State was providing too less subsidies and all these subsidies were being provided to the deserving and needy sections of the society.


He informed that earlier in the day during his meeting with Union Home Minister Mr. P. Chidambaram, he urged him to take initiative for opening of Hussainiwala border as it could make a significant contribution in overall development of the region as Kasur, the adjoining City of Pakistan was an industrial hub. Besides this, regular compensation of Rs. 5000 per acre for those farmers having land across the fencing, wherever possible, shifting the fencing towards International border, acquisition of 11 meter land being used by BSF for patrolling, resumption of Ferozepur-Amritsar rail link and starting a Shatabadi train from Ferozepur to Delhi were the other major demands put forth before Home Minister, he added. He further asked Mr. Chidambaram to take up the issue of release of polluted industrial water especially of Kasur tanneries with Pak government.

http://www.punjabnewsline.com/content/subsidies-are-international-phenomenon-say-punjab-dy-cm/25164

Chidambaram eases curbs on farmers

Expects Hussainiwala border to open soonChander Parkash

From Tribune News Service

Hussainiwala (Ferozepur), October 22
The Union Home Minister, P. Chidambaram, who today found himself at the receiving end of demands and petitions for improving the lot of people living in border areas, agreed to extend the time for farmers to work in their fields beyond the border fencing.

The farmers would now be allowed to start working at 6 am rather than 7.30 am; they will also be able to work longer till 6 pm whereas they were being forced to return by 5 pm till now.

The Home Minister, who was here on a flying visit to lay the foundation of a viewers’ gallery at the Hussainiwala border, also responded favourably to the demand that border farmers be allowed to use electricity to pump water, and asked Border Security Force ( BSF ) officers to explore the possibility.

“I don’t know when but I do know that a day will come, sooner rather than later, when Hussainiwala border will be opened for trade between India and Pakistan,” said the Union Minister in his address.

Relations with Pakistan would improve, he hoped, and people of both countries would be able to travel more freely. “ We are earnest about building a good relationship with our neighbour and trade between the two countries must resume,” he asserted emphatically.

He was conscious of the issues in the border areas of Punjab and is in regular correspondence with the Punjab Chief Minister, he added.

Sukhbir Badal, deputy chief minister, Raman Srivastava, DGP, BSF, Janmeja Sekhon, irrigation minister, MP and MLAs of Ferozepur district and PS Gill, DGP, Punjab were among those who attended the function.

The Union Minister handed over gift hampers to Pakistan Rangers and BSF Jawans.

Although the entire stretch of the road up to the venue was dotted with Congress flags, PPCC general secretary Parminder Singh alleged that invitation had not been extended to Congressmen unlike workers of the ruling coalition. However, Congress MLA Rana Gurmeet Singh Sodhi was given a place on the dias.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2010/20101023/main1.htm

Frequent infiltration attempts increasing: Minister of State for Defence

From Headlines India New Delhi, Oct 22: Government of India claimed that infiltration across the international border has increased in a stupendous manner in the recent years. Army personnel are however undertaking necessary steps to foil their attempts to infiltrate into the nation. M Pallam Raju, the Minister of State for Defence has expressed his concern for the increasing infiltration in India. He said that intelligence reports have indicated that militants are stationed along the LoC and are waiting for their opportunity to infiltrate into India. He said that although Indian Army personnel and BSF are successfully preventing the periodic infiltration attempts by the terrorists but it is still a matter of concern. A large part of the border regions of India are unsealed which provides an easy opportunity to these militants to cross the borders. Intelligence agencies also reported that these terrorists have been specially assigned to carry out deadly terror operations in different part of India.

http://headlinesindia.mapsofindia.com/defence-news/infiltration/frequent-infiltration-attempts-increasing-minister-of-state-for-defence-66252.html

India can go more than half way for better ties with Pak

From zeenews

October 22, 2010

Hussainiwala (Punjab): India on Friday said it could go more than half way to have better ties with Pakistan as things improve and pitched for consolidation of trade between the two countries. 

Union Home Minister P Chidambaram today hoped relations with Pakistan would improve in times to come and lead to consolidation of trade links with the neighboring country. 

Reacting to the demand of Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal, the Union Home Minister said "as things improve we could go more than half way to have better relations with Pakistan. Trade must resume with Pak. I sincerely hope it will come sooner than later."
Chidambaram, who inaugurated a visitors' gallery where freedom fighters Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev and Rajguru were cremated, said people living in border areas "carry with them a special burden and responsibility." 

He said Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and Sukhbir Singh Badal had been raising the problems of border villagers, including those faced by farmers in sowing on land beyond fencing, and the Union Home Ministry was addressing these issues. 

Reacting to the demand for extended working hours for farmers during summer, Chidambram asked the DG BSF to go for new timing of 6 am to 6 pm instead of present timing of 7:30 am to 5:00 pm. 

He also asked the DG to explore the possibility of providing power connection for tubewells installed beyond fencing. 

Paying glorious tributes to Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev and Rajguru, the Union Home Minister described Hussainiwala as "Punya Bhoomi" (sacred land). 

He said he was happy to lay the foundation stone of viewers gallery where Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev were cremated. 

Chidambaram said the people and the land of this area have suffered a lot. 

He said "we are proud of sacrifices made by freedom fighters for the freedom of our country. 

The Union Home Minister said the expanded viewers gallery could accommodate 3000 viewers and whole area around the gallery would be landscaped and beautified.

Earlier, Chidambaram laid the foundation stone of the Rs 6.22 gallery at Joint Check Post at Hussainiwala to facilitate more and more tourists to visit this Indo?Pak border and witness the popular Retreat ceremony in which BSF jawans and Pak rangers simultaneously lower the flags of their respective countries ceremonially every evening. 

Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal present on the occasion submitted a memorandum to Chidambaram seeking opening of Hussainiwala border on the pattern of Wagha border to establish trade link with Pak besides also seeking a special infrastructure and industrial package for rapid development of border belt. 

Before laying the foundation stone, Chidambaram laid wreathes on the memorial of Bhagat Singh, Rajgur and Sukhdev. Later, he took a guard of honour form the full contingent of BSF on Zero Line. 

Chidambaram handed over a basket of fruits and sweets to the Pak rangers stationed at the joint check post. 

Sukhbir also sought an industrial package on the pattern of hill states to the border areas, linking Amritsar with Ferozepur by rail and introduction of Ferozepur?Bathinda new daily Shatabadi. 

He also sought Chidambaram's intervention in releasing compensation to farmers at the rate of Rs 5,000 per acre per year from the year 2002 onward, extended working hours for the farmers with land beyond fencing, release of Rs. 29 crore compensation for land acquired for a 17-foot road along the fencing. 

PTI
http://www.zeenews.com/news663067.html

A BSF jawan among more than 10 injured in Kashmir

From New Kerala

Srinagar, Oct 22 : 

Two Border Security Force (BSF) personnel and more than six state government employees were injured in overnight road accidents in the Kashmir valley, official sources said here this afternoon.
They said a vehicle skidded off the road at Tangmarg on Srinagar-Gulmarg road resulting in injuries to a BSF constable K S Dhamanay of 84 battalion and local driver.

Both the injured were hospitalised, they said.

Sources said a bus carrying Army personnel collided with another vehicle carrying employees to civil secretariat, resulting in injuries to more than six employees.

A vehicle hit and injured a four-year-old child Faizan Hussain Mir at Kunzar in Baramulla district while a motorcycle hit and wounded a pedestrian Maria at Dalgate here.

The injured were shifted to hospital, they said.

--UNI

http://www.newkerala.com/news/world/fullnews-68212.html

Maoist killed in Chhattisgarh gunfight with BSF

From Sify News

2010-10-22

Raipur, Oct 22 (IANS) Troopers of the Border Security Force (BSF) assisted by state police personnel killed a Maoist guerrilla in gun battle with the rebels in a forested pocket of Chhattisgarh's restive Bastar region Friday, officials said. The gun battle broke out in Kanker district's iron ore rich Rowghat area, about 300 km south of capital Raipur. 'Rebels opened fire on a contingent of BSF and District Force personnel and they retaliated strongly. One rebel was killed on the spot while several of his colleagues managed to escape. We recovered some arms and explosives from the encounter site,' officials at the police headquarters here told IANS. http://sify.com/news/maoist-killed-in-chhattisgarh-gunfight-news-national-kkwwahddddc.html

BSF constable sentenced to 3-yr RI

From Central Chronicle

By Our Staff Reporter
Bhopal, Oct 22:
CBI special magistrate has found constable Mukesh Kumar working in Border Security Force (BSF) guilty for getting service through fake certificate of scheduled tribe. He has been sentenced to three years rigorous imprisonment (RI) and fined Rs 500 under section 420 and under section 465/471 he has been sentenced to one-year imprisonment and fined Rs 500. Both the sentences will run simultaneously.
Mukesh Kumar got fake certificate of scheduled tribe made through conspiracy and got job in Border Security Force on reserved post. He showed that he belonged to Raji caste although he belongs to Yadav caste. After complaint was received against him CBI registered case under sections 120-B, 420, 465, 467 and 471. His case was transferred from New Delhi to CBI Bhopal and charge sheet was filed against him at special magistrate Indore.

http://www.centralchronicle.com/viewnews.asp?articleID=50196

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Indian Army Plans Combat Exercises to Boost Defence Diplomacy

From ArmyTechnology.Com

22 October 2010 

The Indian armed forces are planning a round of combat exercises with foreign forces in the coming months.

India is using defence diplomacy as a tool to bolster national security and to promote strategic cooperation, according to the Times of India.

The 1.13-million-strong Indian Army has plans for 14-18 exercises with countries including the US, the UK, Russia, Bangladesh, Mongolia, Thailand and Tajiskistan, Defence Ministry officials have said.

The armies of the Seychelles and Singapore will participate in joint combat exercises to be held in January 2011.

Other wargames include the Malabar naval wargames, the Habu Nag amphibious exercise at Okinawa, Japan, the Vajra Prahar counterterrorism drills at Belgaum and the Balance Iroquois exercise with US special forces.

The India Army conducted over 60 exercises between 2001 and 2009, of which over a third were with the US.

http://www.army-technology.com/news/news99612.html?WT.mc_id=DN_News

Dec 27 fixed for framing charges against Sylhet mutineers

From The Daily Star, Bangladesh

October 22, 2010

A special court of Bangladesh Rifles on Thursday fixed December 27 for framing charges against 61 alleged mutineers of Sylhet sector headquarters.

Prosecutor Major AKM Aurangajeb, acting commanding officer of the Sylhet Sector, gave a description of the incident as the court began at about 8:00am and continued till 9:15am.

The Special Court-14, headed by Comilla Sector Commander Col SM Farhad, heard the description and adjourned the trial proceedings till 8:30am on December 27.

All the accused were hauled before the special court, reports our staff correspondent in Sylhet.

After hearing, the court asked the complainant to supply copies of the charges to the accused so that they can take preparation to defend themselves.

Earlier on Wednesday, complainant Subedar Abdul Gani read out the allegations against the accused.

After hearing, the court asked the complainant to supply copies of the charges to the accused.

Of the 61 accused, 33 mutineers in jail while rest 28 were arrested Wednesday morning.

Our Dinajpur correspondent reports that the trial of 20 BDR jawans of Joypurhat-3 Battalion resumed at its battalion headquarter in the morning.

The Special Court, led by Colonel Saleh Ahmad, sector commander of Dinajpur, began the proceedings at about 10.00am.

All the 20 accused were produced before the court on Thursday as per the court order.

Of Wednesday, complainant Deputy Assistant Director Major Suber Md Shafiqul Islam of Joypurhat-3 Battalion read out the allegations against the mutineers.

He alleged that the accused looted firearms from the battalion armoury and fired blank shots on February 25 and 26, expressing solidarity with the mutineers of BDR headquarters at Pilkhana in the capital.

http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/latest_news.php?nid=26514