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Archives for August 2018

France condoles Vajpayee’s death

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France on Friday condoled the death of former Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, saying his name will remain linked to Indo-French friendship as he shaped the strategic partnership that the two countries share.

“It was with deep grief that we learnt of the demise of former Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee,” the French Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

“France offers its condolences to his family as well as the Indian authorities and people,” it said.

“Poet, politician, visionary, he left his mark on India’s history. His name remains linked to the Indo-French friendship, which he shaped by launching the strategic partnership that has united our two countries since 1998.”

Vajpayee, 93, passed away on Thursday evening at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences here following a prolonged illness.

No change in Rahul’s itinerary during UK, Germany visits: Congress

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The Congress clarified on Friday that there has been no change in the engagements of Congress President Rahul Gandhi during his scheduled visits to Germany and the UK and accused the BJP of trying to undermine the visit because “it is getting popular”.

Congress spokesperson Priyanka Chaturvedi said there is “absolutely no change in Gandhi’s itinerary”.

“He will go as per schedule of the itinerary decided by the Indian Overseas Congress (IOC). He will engage and interact with various sections of people as per the schedule. There is no change in the plans,” she said.

“BJP is trying to undermine the entire visit because they know how popular it is getting and how people wish to hear Rahul Gandhi and want to reach out to him,” she added.

Chaturvedi said if the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was attempting to get any invite withdrawn, it exposes “its pettiness and its shortsightedness” at a time when leaders from across the political spectrum were appreciating the democratic norms followed by former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

Congress sources said IOC Chairman Sam Pitroda had conveyed that there had been no change in the proposed visit of Gandhi to the UK Parliament.

A media report said on Friday that Indian-origin millionaire Dr Rami Ranger, co-chairman of the Conservative Friends of India, and Tory peer Baroness Verma have rescinded an invitation to Rahul Gandhi during his trip to London saying the event had been cancelled.

It also said Labour MP Keith Vaz has sponsored a room elsewhere in the Parliament and Indian Overseas Congress (IOC) has taken over running the event.

Rahul Gandhi will be visiting Germany and London next week to meet businessmen, politicians, academics and Non-Resident Indians (NRIs).

Sam Pitroda said in a tweet on Thursday that Gandhi will be visiting Germany on August 22 and 23 and London on August 24 and 25.

Shot putter Tejinder Toor aims for Asiad title

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He may be a relative newcomer at the international level, but emerging Indian shot put star Tejinder Pal Singh Toor is exuding loads of confidence as he heads into his maiden Asian Games.

“I am a sure contender for a medal. Of course, I will aim for gold. That is the biggest prize any athlete strives for. But even if I miss the gold, I am almost certain that I will finish on the podium,” Toor told IANS.

“Any medal is valuable, but a gold is a gold,” he added.

The tall, burly athlete from Punjab has enough reasons to be confident. The 23-year-old is one of the best proponents of the shot put in Asia and took the silver medal at the continental championships last year.

“This will be my first appearance at the Asian Games. But I am totally confident. There is no pressure or nervousness. I am confident of doing well. I am among the best in Asia and it will not be easy to beat me,” Toor asserted.

This year, however, has been a difficult one for Toor. He had a poor outing at the Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia, where he ended up at a disappointing eighth position.

Toor, however, prefers to look at the bright side and is determined to make amends at the Asian Games.

“I faced a lot of disappointment at the Commonwealth Games. But there were a lot of positives as well. The competition there was really tough and the experience will help me a lot in future tournaments. The confidence and self-belief that an athlete gets after competing against such a tough field is really invaluable,” he said.

“The overall standards of the athletes at the Commonwealth Games is higher than the Asian Games. So the experience of competing there a few months before the Asiad will definitely help me a lot,” he added.

Unlike several of his peers, Toor opted not to go for a training stint abroad, preferring instead to train at high altitude in Dharamsala.

“Practice is going well. I am happy with my preparations. I have shifted my training base to Dharamsala and it has helped me a lot,” he said.

“I opted not to train abroad. The climate in Dharamsala is really good and I have trained well over the past few months,” he added.

Deve Gowda, Karnataka CM pay last respects to Vajpayee

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Former Prime Minister and Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S) supremo H.D. Deve Gowda and his son and Karnataka Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy paid their last respects to late Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in New Delhi on Friday, said an official.

“Gowda and Kumaraswamy flew to Delhi in a special aircraft earlier in the day and paid homage to the mortal remains of Vajpayee at the latter’s residence,” said a statement from the Chief Minister’s office in Bengaluru.

Vajpayee, 93, passed away in New Delhi on Thursday evening after prolonged illness.

Stating that Vajpayee was an “ajaata shatru” (one without an enemy), Kumaraswamy said the former Prime Minister was a politician who lived for the values he believed in.

State’s Bharatiya Janata Party President B.S. Yedyyurappa and central ministers from the southern state, Anantha Kumar and D.V. Sadananda Gowda, also paid their last respects to Vajpayee at the party’s headquarters where his mortal remains were kept, a party official said.

When India scripted history in Pokhran under Vajpayee’s leadership

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Twenty years ago, India scripted a success story on May 11 and May 13, 1998 when five nuclear tests were performed in Rajasthan’s Pokhran under the guidance of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who had assumed power only a little while ago.

It was a completely secret exercise only known to a select few.

On May 11, 1998, Jaisalmer woke up to an ordinary day. However, there were a few bulldozers heading to a particular site to dig up well-like sites. Sand was filled into these wells.

Within a few minutes, they were ignited. It was followed by a huge thunder that brought loud cheer from a few scientists at the site who had kept a constant vigil on all the developments.

In Delhi, Vajpayee along with the then Home Minister Lal Krishna Advani, former Defence Minister George Fernandes, Finance Minister Yashwant Sinha and Principal Secretary to Prime Minister, Brijesh Mishra, were sitting with bated breath.

However, the moment, Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, who happened to be the Scientific Advisor to Vajpayee, sent a message on the hotline, saying, “Buddha smiles again”, all of them jumped with joy.

The former Prime Minister immediately called the scientists to congratulate them on their success.

The tests left the Western world shocked and surprised.

India gained a new identity after the tests. However, there were economic sanctions imposed by the US.

An unfazed Vajpayee, however, continued with the next round of nuclear tests two days later.

Sikh store-owner stabbed to death in US

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A Sikh store-owner has been stabbed to death in the US state of New Jersey, in a third incident targeting the community in the country in the last three weeks.

Terlok Singh was found dead by his cousin Karnail Singh on Thursday in his East Orange suburb store with apparent stab wounds, WABC TV reported.

The assailant had put a knife in his chest, Karnail Singh told the station. Terlok Singh had a wife and children in India. He owned Park Deli and Grocery store in the US to support them.

The Essex County Prosecutor’s office called the incident a homicide, reported ABC7NY.

WNBC TV reported that the police did not have a motive for the killing and had made no arrest as of Thursday evening.

A worker interviewed from a nearby petrol station said he found Terlok Singh’s body in a puddle of blood in the bathroom of the store.

Customers who spoke to the TV said the victim was “extremely generous”. One of them, Anthony Pointdexter, said Terlok Singh was a “great guy and never bothered anybody”.

Two Sikhs were attacked in separate incidents in California over the past few weeks, but they survived the assaults.

On July 31 in Keyes, Surjit Singh Malhi, 50, was attacked by two men when he was putting up a campaign sign for Republican Congressman Jeff Denham, KCRA TV said.

Malhi said they shouted at him, beat him and spray-painted his truck with a white nationalist symbol and wrote “go back to your country” on it, according to the station.

Malhi said that his turban saved him by acting like a helmet and absorbing the blows. The police were considering it a hate crime.

On August 6, Sahib Singh Natt, 71, was thrown to the ground and spat on by two people in Manteca, about 40 km from Keyes.

The police arrested two teenagers and charged them with attempted robbery, elder abuse and assault with a deadly weapon, but not a hate crime.

One of them, Tyrone McAllister, 18, an African American, is the son of police chief Darryl McAllister of Union City.

Earlier, an Indian woman, Sasikala Narra, and her six-year-old son were stabbed to death in another New Jersey town, Maple Shade, in March 2017 but that case has not been solved.

Modi, Shah walk with sea of mourners to bid adieu to Vajpayee

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Tens of thousands of commoners joined Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP President Amit Shah in the final journey to bid adieu to Atal Bihari Vajpayee as the former Prime Minister’s body was being taken to Rashtriya Smriti Sthal on the banks of Yamuna river for the last rites.

The journey began around 2 p.m. — an hour behind schedule — from the BJP’s new central office on the Deen Dayal Upadhyay Marg. Modi and Shah walked behind the flower-decked gun carriage carrying the body of Vajpayee draped in the tricolour as security personnel kept a tight watch.

People from across the country, many of them teary-eyed, threw flower petals on the casket all through the three-kilometer route as an expression of their love, respect and admiration for the late leader.

Slogans like “Atalji amar rahen”, “Jab tak sooraj chand rahega, Atalji ka naam rahega”, “Bharat Mata ki jai” and “Vande Mataram” rent the air as the procession progressed. Some people were carrying banners containing lines from poems written by Vajpayee.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath was also in the procession and supporters accompanying him raised slogans of “Jai Shri Ram”. A number of BJP chief ministers including, Shivraj Singh Chauhan (Madhya Pradesh), Manohar Lal Khattar (Haryana), Union Ministers and BJP leaders accompanied the funeral procession.

It passed through some populated areas of Delhi, inclduing Bahadurshah Zafar Marg, on its way to Rashtriya Smriti Sthal, a designated spot for the last rites of Presidents, Vice Presidents and Prime Ministers.

Earlier, Modi, Shah, veteran BJP leader L. K. Advani, Shiv Sena chief Udhav Thackeray, Samajwadi Party leader Mulayam Singh Yadav, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, his deputy Manish Sisodia, CPI-M General Secretary Sitaram Yechury, CPI leader D. Raja, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister E. Palanisami were among the national leaders who paid tributes to Vajpayee at the party office after his body was brought there from his Krishna Menon Marg residence.

Before the body was taken from the residence, Congress President Rahul Gandhi, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, DMK Working President M.K. Stalin, MDMK chief Vaiko, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and chiefs of the Army, Navy and the Air Force placed wreaths and paid their last respects.

Modi, Shah, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Uttar Pradesh Governor Ram Naik and Yogi Adityanath received the body near the gate of the party office. They later paid their tributes by offering flowers.

Bhutan King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuk and British High Commissioner to India Dominic Asquith were among those who paid their tributes at the party office.

Nepal’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Pradeep Kumar Gyawali, Sri Lanka’s Acting Foreign Minister Lakshman Kiriella, Bangladesh Foreign Minister Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali will attend the funeral.

The mortal remains were kept in front of a large smiling picture of Vajpayee. A party flag had been placed on each side of the photograph.

Among those present at the party office were union ministers, chief ministers, state ministers, MPs, MLAs and BJP office-bearers.

People had gathered outside the party office in large numbers since morning to pay their tributes. Security men had a hard time keeping the crowds in check. A woman from Darjeeling jumped the gate to get inside the party office.

As the casket reached the party office, people turned emotional and some of them had tears in their eyes.

Tight security arrangements had been made for the final procession by security forces anticipating participation of a large number of people.

Vajpayee, who had passed away at the AIIMS on Thursday evening, has a pan-India appeal and his flair for foreign policy and initiatives were acknowledged globally.

The country is observing a seven-day state mourning as a mark of respect for the leader who had been decorated with Bharat Ratna and was very popular. The tricolour is flying half-staff.

Peace initiatives, nuclear tests: Foreign media remembers Vajpayee

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Atal Bihari Vajpayee will be remembered for his bold peace initiatives and also for the nuclear tests in 1998 — many foreign newspapers on Friday wrote about the late former Indian Prime Minister who passed away on Thursday.

Pakistan’s influential daily Dawn on its front page wrote that Vajpayee “was idolised in Pakistan as a sincere peacemaker and wooed by rivals at home as the right man in the wrong party”.

Recalling Vajpayee’s 1999 visit — one of his three visits to Pakistan, the daily remembered how the then Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had famously remarked that Vajpayee “could win an election” from there.

The daily said he would be “remembered for his bold peace initiatives with Pakistan and defiant nuclear tests”.

The Washingon Post in an obituary referred to him as “the Indian Prime Minister who oversaw nuclear tests that ushered in a new arms race in South Asia”.

“Vajpayee shocked the world in May 1998 with five underground nuclear tests, prompting international sanctions, rattling neighbours and setting off an arms race with archrival Pakistan.”

The nuclear tests “established India as an overt nuclear-weapon state”, it said.

“Vajpayee worked discreet diplomacy behind closed doors and set in motion a friendly dialogue with US President Bill Clinton, who went to India in 2000, the first visit by a US president to the country in more than two decades.”

The New York Times recalled how Vajpayee “stunned the world by ending a decades-old moratorium on nuclear weapons tests” and still “managed to ease tensions with Pakistan and build closer ties to the US”.

“His passing away marks the end of an era. He lived for the nation and served it assiduously for decades.”

The Los Angeles Times recalled the February 1999 bus ride to Lahore that “cemented Vajpayee’s stature as a peacemaker even though he had set off the nuclear arms race”.

The Independent also recalled how the “groundbreaking bus ride to Lahore” kicked off “a peace process that, while often rocky, remains the basis of ongoing negotiations” between the two countries.

The Gulf News published a three-column photo on its front page with a bold caption: “A giant of Indian politics bids adieu”.

164 dead in Kerala floods, massive rescue underway

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More than a dozen helicopters, hundreds of defence personnel, NDRF teams and ordinary fishermen with their motor boats on Friday launched a massive rescue operation in Kerala as rains subsided but the death toll touched 164 in 10 days.

Six more deaths were reported on Friday. Although the intensity of rains decreased in several districts since Friday morning, waters from the big dams in Idukki district continued to be let out, keeping 13 districts in red alert, except for Kasargode.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan told the media on Friday that situation continues to be grave.

“The only good news is that rains have come down in certain areas of the state and we are planning to rescue all those who are waiting preferably by the end of this day.”

Prime Minister Narendra Modi discussed the flood situation with Vijayan over the phone earlier in the day and said he would be heading to the state Friday later to take stock of the situation.

Since August 8, 164 people have died, while 2.23 lakh people are put up in 1,568 relief camps across the state.

“The worst affected districts include Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Ernakulam and Thrissur, where 52,856 families have been affected,” Vijayan said after a review meeting.

He said 11 more helicopters will join the present fleet of 14 that have already been carrying out rescue and relief operations.

Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman sanctioned the extra chopperrs, as people marooned in Chengannur and Chalakudy can only be rescued by air.

As of Friday, 16 Army, 28 Coast Guard, 39 NDRF and 42 Navy teams were engaged in the rescue operations, while another 14 more National Disaster Response Force teams would reach Kerala during the day, said Vijayan.

Waters in Idukki and Wayanad areas and certain areas of Pathanathitta have receded, he said.

“One big problem that the rescue teams are facing is that some people are unwilling to move to relief camps. This is not good for their own safety,” Vijayan added.

Many people, especially in the Kuttanadu area, have refused to move to the camps, Finance Minister Thomas Issac said.

Rising waters though forced them to submit to the authorities’ request. Few of the big houseboats were used in areas where there are no narrow waterways.

Waters from the Periyar river and its tributaries kept many towns in Ernakulam and Thrissur submerged. The worst affected include Paravur, Kalady, Chalakudy, Perumbavoor and Muvatupuzha.

“We have no food and there are 150 people waiting to be rescued,” said a group of people who send a video clip to the TV channels from Chalakudy.

Thousands of people are still perched on high rise buildings waiting to be rescued and taken to relief camps. Over 50,000 people are lodged in the Ernakulam and Thrissur camps alone.

The central district of Pathanamthitta is facing its worst ever calamity as the overflowing Pamba river has inundated several towns. Ranni, Kozhenchery are completely submerged.

Hundreds of experienced fishermen from the coastal villages of the state capital arrived at Pathanamthitta and started rescue operations as the helicopters began airlifting people to safer places.

Aluva legislator Anwar Sadat said shortage of fuel was hampering rescues as the only mode of transport to be used is the boat.

“Things are very bad. Aluva is completely marooned. People have no food or water. Our only solace is the numerous fishermen who are rescuing us.

“But now even their families are asking them to return. More defence personnel are required, also they are more competent and the process will gain speed,” said Sadat pleading for help.

On Friday, the Achenkovil river started overflowing into Pandalam town.

Helicopters loaded with food packets left the state capital and headed to the central districts as the number of displaced people crossed lakhs.

The authorities in the worst affected districts have taken over big lorries that can best navigate through the flooded roads to reach people marooned in small pockets. More boats will also be taken from people to aid in the operations, Isaac said.

The Met has forecast less rains in the next 24 hours till Saturday, which should bring some relief.

Rescue operations are progressing well in Malappuram, Kozhikode and Wayanad. The latter two districts have put up over 20,000 camps.

Major national and state highways, as well as the rail traffic, continued to be disrupted in various parts of the state.

Railway operations between Ernakulam and Thrissur are suspended; the Alappuzha sector is open to Thiruvananthapuram but the Kottayam sector is closed.

Some long distance trains were being diverted via the Nagercoil sector.

Kerala is facing the heaviest rains and floods witnessed in the state since 1924 which by now have caused massive destruction with damages to crops and properties estimated to be thousands of crores.

Pakistan’s National Assembly to elect new Prime Minister

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The newly-elected members of Pakistan’s National Assembly, the lower house of the Parliament, are set to vote for the new Prime Minister on Friday.

Former cricketer and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairperson Imran Khan and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif are vying for the top post.

The PTI, which emerged as the single largest party in the July 25 general election, appears to be in a comfortable position to elect its chief as the next Prime Minister. A simple majority of votes from the total strength of the 330-member house is required for a candidate to take the top slot.

According to the poll body’s figures, the PTI has 158 members in the National Assembly after the joining of nine Independents and bagging of 33 seats reserved for women and minorities.

In all, the party has the support of 175 lawmakers as it has the backing of the country’s smaller and regional parties.

On the other hand, Shehbaz Sharif faces an almost impossible task to be elected as the Prime Minister after the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) led by Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, with 54 seats, withdrew support for his candidature.

The PML-N has 82 seats in the National Assembly and it was unclear if the party will still be supported by the Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (15 seats) and Awami National Party (1 seat).

The Jamaat-e-Islami, which is part of the MMA, announced that it will not vote in the election, Geo News reported.

On Thursday, PPP leader Khursheed Shah said his party apprised the PML-N of its reservations over the latter’s candidature for prime ministership. He warned that if the PML-N does not change its candidate for the post, the PPP would make a decision accordingly.

Sources told Geo News that the PPP had decided not to vote for either candidate in the election.

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