Hindu Rashtra different from a theocratic state: Advani Expelled Indian diplomat crosses over to India Defamation suit against Tejpal of Tehelka restored

Karna directed to release 4500 cusecs of water to TN

New Delhi,Monday, February 10, 2003: In a setback to Karnataka, Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee today directed it to release 4500 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu for three days after that ensure inflows as per the interim order of the Cauvery Tribunal. While Tamil Nadu termed the outcome as "terribly disappointing, Karnataka was "unhappy" with it. This ad hoc formula of distress water sharing was ordered by Vajpayee after a two hour long meeting of the Cauvery River Authority (CRA) held at the directions of Supreme Court. All the Chief Ministers of the Cauvery basin states including Karnataka and Tamil Nadu which have been at loggerheads on the sharing of the waters attended the meeting which was twice postponed earlier due to lack of quorum.

Armed with Supreme Court's order that his decision would have the status of a court order, the Prime Minister gave the direction which made Karnataka Chief Minister S M Krishna "unhappy". But he said that he has "no alternative other than submitting ourselves to the directions" Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa told reporters later that "we are terribly disapppointed" with the outcome. "The only positive point in the whole meeting was that the Prime Minister has accepted that the deficit level at Mettur is 16.5 tmcft. That is the solace to us in the end". Union Water Resources Minister Arjun Charan Sethi and Water Resources Secretary A K Goswami said that the unhappiness of both Karnataka and Tamil Nadu showed that the Centre had acted fairly.

Hindu Rashtra different from a theocratic state: Advani

New Delhi,Monday, February 10, 2003: Asserting that India was secular "because of Hindutva", Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani has sought to differentiate between a "Hindu Rashtra" and a theocratic state.

Commenting on controversy over his recent statement in Parliament during a discussion on Gujarat events wherein he said that India could never become a theocratic state, he said "What I said was incorrectly reported as I having said that we are not a Hindu Rashtra". Hindu Rashtra and a theocratic State are "two different concepts meaning absolutely different things," Advani told the latest edition of RSS mouthpiece Organiser in an interview. "The concept of Hindu Rashtra is not a political philosophy. It has nothing to do with the political administration of the country," he said.
Emphasising that in the political and administrative sphere "there is no scope for religion," he said "But one thing is clear -- India is secular because of Hindutva."

Advani pointed out that the framers of the Constitution had not considered it necessary to mention in its Preamble that we are secular as "it went without saying so". "In the real sense of the term, secularism is showing equal respect to all forms of worship and the State considering all its subjects equal without patronising those professing a certain method of worship," he said.

Expelled Indian diplomat crosses over to India

Wagah,Monday, February 10, 2003: Two days after his expulsion, Indian Charge d' Affaires in Pakistan Sudhir Vyas Monday crossed over to India through Wagah border saying responsibility for the safety and security of Indian High Commission officials there lay on Islamabad. Four other expelled Indian High Commission staffers, including a diplomat, Rahul Rasgotra, and a servant also crossed over to the Indian side Monday afternoon. Soon after crossing the border, Vyas told reporters that "Indian High Commission employees are not living in any serious danger, but we have to be vigilant and responsibility for this lies with Pakistan." Besides Vyas and Rasgotra, others who arrived here were M R Balu, Ranbir Singh and S R Anand. A servant Vinod Kumar also crossed the border with them.

Defamation suit against Tejpal of Tehelka restored

New Delhi,Monday, February 10, 2003: A Delhi court today restored the criminal defation complaint filed by Samata Party leader Jaya Jaitly against the CEO of Tehelka news portal Tarun Tejpal following a High Court direction to this effect. Acting on the High Court's order, Metropolitan Magistrate Gulshan Kumar restored the case and fixed April 14 for further hearing. Jaitly had filed the complaint against Tejpal, allegedly for showing her in bad light by dragging her name to the fictitious armsgate scandal. The court had on December 3 dismissed the complaint on the ground of "non-prosecution" after Jaitly and her lawyers failed to appear in the court to present their case.

The Metropolitan Magistrate had earlier issued summons to the news portal and its chief for allegedly displaying an article on its website on February 26 last, accusing Jaitly of misusing her office and indulging in corruon. Jaitly, in her complaint, had submitted that statements displayed on the website were "totally false". She denied having "ever received supposed arms dealers and middle men or accepted any sum of money, including Rs 200,000 in exchange" as alleged by the portal."
The High Court had on January 20 allowed Jaitly's plea to restore the complaint after she and her advocate filed separate affidavits stating they had wrongly noted the date of hearing of the case before the Metropolitan Magistrate.

It is a "moment of truth" for UN, says Bush

Washington, Monday, February 10, 2003: Reiterating his stand on disarming Saddam Hussein if he does not comply with UN demands, US President George W Bush has warned the United Nations that it is a "moment of truth" for the world body with regard to Iraq. "It's a moment of truth for the United Nations. The United Nations gets to decide shortly whether or not it is going to be relevant in terms of keeping the peace, whether or not its words mean anything," Bush told a Republican Party retreat receon at White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, Saturday. Ignoring reports from Baghdad that the chief weapons inspectors now feel that Saddam Hussein appears to have had a "change of heart" on cooperating with them, Bush insisted that "it is clear that not only is Saddam Hussein deceiving, it is clear he is not disarming."

"For the sake of peace and for the sake of security, the United States and our friends and allies, we will disarm Saddam Hussein if he will not disarm himself," he said. He said he is glad that history has called the US into action at this point in time, because "there is no doubt in my mind, when we make our mind up, we can achieve a lot." "As we work to make the world a safer place," said Bush, "we will also work to make the world a freer place." The Iraqi leader "wants the world to think that hide-and-seek is a game that we should play. It's over... And so you'll see us over the next short period of time working with friends and the United Nations to bring that body along," the president said.

Sri Lanka appoints task force for Gulf war evacuation

COLOMBO, Monday, February 10, 2003: Sri Lanka today appointed a high-powered task force to evacuate 170,000 of its nationals employed in Kuwait if war breaks out in neighbouring Iraq. Foreign Minister Tyronne Fernando called a meeting of top officials from his ministry and the Labour ministry to draw up contingency plans for mass evacuation of Sri Lankans in the Gulf, particularly in Kuwait, a spokesman said. "We are setting up networks to keep our nationals informed and appeal to them not to panic," a foreign ministry spokesman said, adding "We have today set up the task force that will coordinate an evacuation if it becomes necessary."

He said the government was working closely with United Nations, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and governments in the Gulf region to undertake an "orderly evacuation" in case of war. Labour ministry sources said the government plans to provide food and shelter to an estimated 160,000 to 170,000 Sri Lankans working in Kuwait. The total number of Sri Lankan migrant workers in the middle east is estimated at about a million. Last month, Sri Lanka urged Iraq to co-operate with UN weapons inspections and called for diplomatic efforts to peacefully resolve the crisis given the "human, political and economic consequences" of war.

US for war if Iraq fails to fully comply with UN resolutions

New York,Monday, February 10, 2003: As the US and Franco-German row over Iraq deepens, Washington has threatened to ask the United Nations Security Council to immediately authorise military action if the chief weapons inspectors fail to report full compliance by Baghdad with UN resolutions. If chief weapons inspectors Hans Blix and Mohamed Elbaradei, who are scheduled to present their report on Friday to UN Security Council, say that Iraqi President Saddam Hussein is not cooperating, then the Council would have to go into session and decide immediately the next step, US Secretary of State Colin Powell told NBC TV network yesterday.

Also, whether France and Germany would bring forward a resolution they are reportedly considering is open to speculation. Reports say it calls for tripling the number of inspectors, equipping them with latest technology and stationing of thousands of United Nations troops. Confusion prevails as to what stage the discussions are and officials of the two countries are declining to say anything officially. Brushing aside demands by France and Germany, Powell asserted that the Bush Administration would press for immediate consideration of a resolution allowing use of force to disarm Iraq. Diplomats watching the developments said if Washington implements its threat, it would mean an early confrontation with France and Germany which could have far reaching effects on the relations between US and the two European nations.

Pakistan ready to discuss Jilani's replacement

Islamabad,Monday, February 10, 2003: Pakistan today said it hopes to start consultations with India soon to workout modalities to name replacements for the expelled acting High Commissioners of both the countries. This was stated by Foreign office spokesman Aziz Ahmad Khan here shortly after the departure of Indian Charge d'affaires Sudhir Vyas and four more diplomats expelled by Islamabad in a tit-for-tat row over New Delhi expelling Pakistan's acting high commissioner Jaleel Abbas Jilani on charges of funding separatists in Kashmir. Khan also said Pakistan has no plans to reduce the number of its personnel in its High Commission in New Delhi. "We do not want any reduction in the staff strength. It is not Pakistan that is setting the pace", he said adding that Vyas, recently held talks with Pakistan Foreign office about clearing visas at the level of Deputy High Commissioners and hoped that the issue would be settled amicably. The Foreign office spokeman also maintained that Pakistan has taken measures to stop infiltration of militants across the LOC and reiterated Islamabad's offer for positioning UN monitors along the Line of Control to verify the allegations. "There has been no infiltration and Pakistan has taken all measures to prevent it", Khan said.