Committed to working with India on NSG nod: US

New Delhi :, Augast 25 2008 : Affirming its commitment to work with India in securing a "clean" waiver from the NSG, the US on Monday said that the two countries will "continue our vigorous joint advocacy", including at the highest levels, for it ahead of the grouping's next meeting on September 4।

US Ambassador to India, David C Mulford, said that Washington is committed to working with New Delhi to rapidly complete the remaining steps necessary to conclude the Indo-US civil nuclear deal for which clearance from the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) is a key step।

"The US and India stand shoulder-to-shoulder in their desire for a clean exception and we will continue to work with our Indian partners to persuade the NSG countries that such an exemption is in the international community's best interests," he said in a statement in New Delhi।

"Ahead of the scheduled NSG plenary on September 4, the US and India will continue our vigorous joint advocacy for the initiative at the highest levels of NSG Governments," Mulford said।

His statement came in the backdrop of questions by some sections as to whether the US did its bit adequately to secure the NSG waiver as promised by it in the Joint Statement of July 18, 2005।

The questions were raised after the two-day NSG meeting in Vienna last week failed to arrive at a consensus, with several member countries seeking changes in the draft introduced by the US।

As India is not a member of the NSG, the onus of garnering consensus support of the grouping was on the US. It had sent its officials to various NSG member countries to persuade them to vote for the waiver.

Jaipur, A'bad blasts: Key planner held frm Lucknow

Lucknow:, 25 2008 Augast : A man suspected to have been involved in the serial bombings in Jaipur and Ahmedabad was arrested from here Monday, police said।

A team of the Jaipur police and the Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) of the Uttar Pradesh police nabbed the man, whose identity was not immediately revealed, from Aminabad locality at about 2.30 p.m. And he was produced in the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court here, police said.

US committed to work with India in securing NSG nod: Mulford

New Delhi (PTI): Affirming its commitment to work with India in securing a "clean" waiver from the NSG, the US on Monday said the two countries will "continue our vigorous joint advocacy", including at the highest levels, for it ahead of the grouping's next meeting on September 4।

US Ambassador to India, David C Mulford, said Washington is committed to working with New Delhi to rapidly complete the remaining steps necessary to conclude the Indo-US nuclear deal for which clearance from the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) is a key step।

"The US and India stand shoulder-to-shoulder in their desire for a clean exception and we will continue to work with our Indian partners to persuade the NSG countries that such an exemption is in the international community's best interests," he said in a statement here।

"Ahead of the scheduled NSG plenary on September 4, the US and India will continue our vigorous joint advocacy for the initiative at the highest levels of NSG governments," Mulford said।

His statement came in the backdrop of questions by some sections as to whether the US did its bit adequately to secure the NSG waiver as promised by it in the Joint Statement of July 18, 2005।

The questions were raised after the two-day NSG meeting in Vienna last week failed to arrive at a consensus, with several member countries seeking changes in the draft introduced by the US।

As India is not a member of the NSG, the onus of garnering consensus support of the grouping was on the US. It had sent its officials to various NSG member countries to persuade them to vote for the waiver.

Ban on SIMI to continue till Sept 24: SC

NEW DELHI, 25 2008 Augast :The Supreme Court on Monday extended stay on Tribunal order lifting the ban on Students Islamic Movement of india (SIMI) for six weeks, till the date of next hearing।

The decision has come after the UPA government told the apex court that SIMI, the fundamentalist outfit, is a threat to "peace, integrity and secular fabric of India"।

Pressing for an absolute ban on SIMI, which has been found to be increasingly involved in terrorist attacks, the Centre had told the Supreme Court that SIMI activists are not just busy spreading the message of "jihad", but have also "extended full support to extremists and terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab and have been involved in various militant and disruptive activities in Maharashtra, Kerala, Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu"।

In its hard-hitting affidavit designed to overcome the setback it suffered on August 6 when the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Tribunal had turned down its plea to continue the ban on SIMI, the Centre said that allowing free run to the organization would seriously compromise national security।

The tribunal had lifted the ban on the jihadi organization on the ground that the Centre had failed to provide it with fresh evidence to back up its case। The two Yadav chieftains and Paswan swiftly latched on to this, to hand out certificates of innocence to SIMI.

In its hard-hitting affidavit, the UPA government had told the SC that SIMI had also "extended full support to extremists and terrorists in J&K and Punjab and have been involved in various militant and disruptive activities in Maharashtra, Kerala, UP and TN"।

The Centre's 42-page affidavit in the top court marked a strong refutation of the "no fresh evidence" argument cited by the tribunal and the three leaders।

Displaying a new anxiety to give as much evidence as possible before the apex court, the Centre gave a list of 349 cases that were filed against SIMI prior to February 2006 as well another 60-odd which were slapped later and may qualify to be treated as "fresh evidence"।

While the August 6 relief for SIMI had been immediately challenged by the Centre before the apex court, which ordered a freeze on the tribunal's order, the intervening period has seen the Gujarat police, in coordination with police of various states as well as the Intelligence Bureau unearthing the involvement of the fundamentalist organization in the terror attack on Ahmedabad। That is not all. Investigation into the Ahmedabad blasts have provided strong evidence that SIMI and its hardline version, Indian Mujahideen, was also involved in blasts across the country - serial explosions in Mumbai suburban trains, as well as those in jaipur and in the courts in UP towns of Lucknow, Varanasi and Faizabad.

The involvement of SIMI is suspected also in the bomb attacks on Hyderabad and explosions in the country's tech capital, Bangalore.

First Nano will roll out in October: Buddhadeb

Kolkata (PTI): A day after Ratan Tata threatened to pull out the small car project from Singur in the wake of violence and disruptions, West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee on Saturday said the first 'Nano' car would roll out in October।

"Some state governments have offered land to the Tatas to shift their small car plant from Singur, but I would like to assert that the project will be a reality," Bhattacharjee told a hurriedly-called press conference here।

"I hope it will be implemented in time and the first car will roll out in October। Nobody can obstruct it," he said.

Stating that he shared the concern of the Tata Motors chairman, Bhattacharjee urged him to stay in the state। "We want the project to grow here."

He said 85 per cent of the project's construction was over and work in the ancillary units was in progress.

BMW sting case: Lawyers protest HC's verdict

New Delhi:, August 23, 2008 : The Delhi High Court may have sent a strong message by punishing criminal lawyers R K Anand and I U khan in the BMW sting case। But lawyers in the Capital are unhappy with the verdict.

On Friday Bar Association in the Delhi district court went on strike, protesting against the order।

Lawyers in Delhi were up in arms a day after the Delhi High Court held R K Anand and I U Khan guilty of contempt of court and barred them from practicing for the next four months।

All four district courts in the Capital wore a deserted look as the Bar Association went on strike protesting the HC judgement।

"We are upset with the verdict because the judge has barred two very senior lawyers from practicing in Delhi, whereas it is not up to him to decide this," says Patiala house Bar Association's Santosh Mishra।

The High court had found Anand and Khan guilty of trying to bribe witness Sunil Kulkarni to favour accused Sanjeev Nanda in the BMW hit-and-run case।

However, the Bar Association argues that the punishment given is unjustified, as barring a lawyer from practice is the job of the Bar council and not the court।

"We've had a very successful strike today as lawyers on their own didn't practice today without any pressure since they understand that the verdict is unjust," says Patiala house Bar Association's R K Wadhwa।

But senior members of the legal fraternity point out that striking work is only damaging the reputation of the Bar।

"The entire Bar of Delhi could have chosen to file a petition in the SC or in the HC। Instead of resorting to strike as a strike gives a wrong message to the people," says advocate K T S Tulsi.

A year and a half ago the Bar council had initiated inquiry against Anand and Khan, but no action had been taken so far। And as protests continue.

questions are being raised - is the bar council serious enough to send a strong message by punishing the offending lawyers?

Musharraf in 'protective custody'

Islamabad:, August 23, 2008 : Former Pakistani president Pervez Musharraf is under protective custody and will be allowed to move freely only after a new head of the state is elected and the judges he sacked after declaring an emergency in November 2007 are restored, an official said।

"He is under protective custody but is free to meet friends and relatives," said the official, adding this is mainly because of security reasons।

"Once the new president is elected and judges are restored Musharraf will be allowed to leave the country," he said।

According to sources, Musharraf, who resigned Monday, wanted to visit the US but was stopped by the authorities। "It has been conveyed to him that he will allowed (to travel) after three-four weeks after the election of the president," said the source.

The Presidential election, which was scheduled for September 17, has been brought forward to September 6।

"Some officials are suggesting Saudi Arabia as Musharraf's destination because of security reasons। There are suggestions that he would be sent to the kingdom, where he will stay for at least six months before leaving for any other country," said another official.

The official said that Musharraf would not be allowed to shift into his five-acre farmhouse in Islamabad that is under construction for the last three years. Musharraf had bought the property, valued at $5 million, after he seized power in 1999.