Indian law will apply: India to Italy on fi shermen case

NEW DELHI: Amid increased diplomatic pressure from Italy, India stood its ground today and reiterated that its law would hold precedence in the case of killing of two Indian fi shermen allegedly by Italian naval guards off the Kerala coast last week. Speaking to reporters here after meeting visiting Italian Deputy Foreign Minister Staffan De Mistura, who rushed to the national capital this morning, Minister of State for External Affairs Preneet Kaur accepted the difference of opinion between the two sides but, importantly, denied any agreement between India and Italy on the matter. “Our law will take its own course in the matter,” the MoS said. Kaur said she assured Mistura that the Indian judiciary is very fair and free and would take the right decision on the incident. According to the MoS, the Italian minister expressed regret over the incident and offered condolences to the families of the two fi shermen. Mistura is likely to visit Kerala today to meet authorities there. He is also likely to call on External Affairs Minister SM Krishna later in the day. Italy rushed its deputy foreign minister for talks, to be followed by the visit of Foreign Minister Giulio Terzi on February 28, after New Delhi made it clear that it will go by its legal process. Italy has demanded that the two Marines, currently in Kerala police’s custody, be tried by an international court. Mistura will “continue on a political level the action so far carried out by a delegation of experts from the Italian Foreign, Defence and Justice Ministries”, the Foreign Ministry in Rome said. “Minister Terzi will visit personally next Tuesday,” it added. Ajesh Binki, 25, and Gelastine, 45, were mistaken for pirates and shot dead by the Marines from the Italian cargo vessel on February 15, off Alappuzha in Kerala.

Don’t politicise NCTC: Singhvi

CHENNAI: Congress Spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi today urged the political parties, opposing the proposed National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC), notto politicise it and sought the cooperation of all the State governments. In a brief chat with reporters, Singhvi, who is in the city in connection with a case at the Madras High Court, said the NCTC issue should not be politicised. The proposed NCTC, said to be the brainchild of Union Home Minister P Chidambaram, was scheduled for implementation from March one. It had ran into rough weather in the wake of stringent opposition from Chief Ministers of various states, including Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa and her West Bengal counterpart of UPA’s key ally Mamta Banerjee, besides Chief Ministers of Orissa, Bihar and other states. All those opposing the NCTC said it was an attack on federalism and also infringes on the powers of the State governments. They wanted the Centre to rescind the decision. Ms Jayalalithaa, sharing the concerns of the Chief Minister, had twice written letters to the Prime Minister urging him to withdraw the Union Home Ministry’s memorandum to this effect and initiate consultations with the Chief Ministers who have voiced reservations against it. Responding to apprehensions raised by Chief Minister’s of various states, Mr Singhvi said the NCTC would not infringe the rights of the States as claimed by several Chief Ministers. ‘’It’s not aimed at intervening in the affairs of the State government,’’ he said and appealed to leaders of political parties not to politicise the issue. He also urged all those opposing the NCTC to extend their support in national interest. ‘’I appeal to all the parties not to politicise the issue and wanted all responsible state governments to extend their support to it,’’ he added. On BJP’s charge that the Centre was trying to interfere in the affairs of the Election Commission, Singhvi dismissed them as’politically motivated’. The BJP should stop making such charges, he said, on Election Commission issuing notices to Union Ministers Salman Khursheed and Beni Prasad Verma for their sub-quota remarks during election campaign in Uttar Pradesh violating the model code of conduct. To a question on the killing of two Indian fi shermen by the Italian Merchant Vessel, Mr Singhvi said the Centre was taking all steps as per law. ‘’What steps Italy will take if such an incident had occurred in their water, the same steps the Indian government is taking as per law,’’ he added.

In Pakistan, Meira Kumar talks peace in fl awless Urdu

ISLAMABAD: Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar on Tuesday fl oored an audience that included her Pakistani counterpart, senior ministers and Parliamentarians by delivering a speech in fl awless Urdu laced with couplets from Firaq Gorkhpuri, Majrooh Sultanpuri and Faiz Ahmed Faiz. At a dinner hosted by Fehmida Mirza, the Speaker of Pakistan’s National Assembly or Lower House of Parliament, Kumar was repeatedly applauded by the gathering as she interspersed her speech with Urdu couplets. Kumar praised the natural beauty of Pakistan and said: “Your matchless hospitality is famous in India. But after coming here, I have found that the hospitality, in reality, is even greater”. The Parliaments of both countries, she said, have an important role to play in fostering better relations between the people. The foundation of relations between India and Pakistan is based on common culture and links, including a shared love for music, fi lms and sports, Kumar said. Indian fi lm stars are loved in Pakistan, while Pakistani musicians and singers have huge followings in India, she added. Referring to the passion for cricket in both countries, Kumar said more exchanges in all fi elds would help send a message of peace to the people. “It is necessary for us to move towards the goal of friendship with greater speed,” she said before concluding her speech with a couplet from Majrooh Sultanpuri. In contrast, Mirza largely spoke in English and noted that the lower houses of parliament in Pakistan and India had women Speakers for the fi rst time. Noting that this was a tribute to the women of the subcontinent, she said: “Women don’t make wars, women make peace. Women don’t take lives, women give lives”. Mirza noted that she had visited India in a “tense atmosphere” in January 2010 to use parliamentary diplomacy to improve bilateral relations. “During the last two years, the world community also witnessed a pleasant change as we both supported each other on numerous international parliamentary and other forums,” she said. She said that the two Speakers had identifi ed several areas for cooperation during their talks earlier in the day. “I am sure this process will yield positive results by not only breaking the existing myths but also in fi nding practical ways to solve the contentious issues affecting the growth of our mutual relationship,” she added. India-Pakistan relations have been marked by “missed chances and lost opportunities” and it was “now time to make up for the past”, Mirza said. The dinner was followed by performances by leading classical musicians and dancers. Among those who attended the event were Defence Minister Chaudhry Ahmed Mukhtar, Law Minister Maula Bux Chandio, former premier and PMLQ chief Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, and scores of parliamentarians.

Filing of nominations for Sankarankoil by-poll begins

TIRUNELVELI: The process of fi ling nominations for the much-awaited Sankarankoil (SC) Assembly byelection began today. The by-poll was necessitated following the demise of AIADMK Minister C Karuppasamy on October 22, last year. Nominations will be accepted at the offi ces of Returning Offi cers at Sankarankoil Taluk offi ce and Tirunelveli District Collector offi ce. According to the schedule announced by the Election Commission (EC), the last date for fi ling nominations will be February 29 and the scrutiny will take place on March one. The last date for withdrawal of nominations is March three and the polling will be held on March 18. The counting of votes will be held on March 21. Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) will be used in the by-poll in all polling stations and the polling will be held between 0800 hrs and 1700 hrs. Offi cial sources said here today that steps have been taken to ensure that the bypoll is held in a free and fair manner. Since all the 242 polling booths were considered as sensitive, the Central Paramilitary forces will be deployed in addition to the local police. The EC has deployed ten fl ying squads and ten static surveillance squads in the constituency. The by-election is set to witness a fi erce multi-cornered contest, as major political parties, including the ruling AIADMK, DMK, MDMK and DMDK have announced their candidates, while the BJP which has stated that it would contest the election. The Congress has decided to support the DMK candidate, while the CPI and PMK announced their decision not to contest the by-poll. The CPM has not announced its stance so far.

Police zero in on bank heist suspect, release photo

CHENNAI: Police have zeroed in one of the suspects involved in the twin bank heist at Bank of Baroda last month and at IOB on February 20, and exuded confi dence of achieving a signifi cant breakthrough in the next few days. Talking to reporters here today, Chennai City Police Commissioner J K Tripathy said, 40 special teams, formed to crack both the burglaries held at gun point, have collected various footages from surveillance cameras, examined them and zeroed in on the suspect after pursuing various leads. Releasing the photo sketches of the suspect, who was a middle-aged person clad in jeans and checked shirt, the Commissioner said the suspect was identifi ed by the offi cials ofboth the BOB, where a four-member gang made away with Rs 19.25lakh at Perungudi on January 23 and by those in Keelkattalai branch of IOB, where a fi ve-member gang looted Rs 14 Lakh two days back. ‘’Since there were striking similarities in both the heist, we believe that the suspects might have visited several banks before targeting a particular branch. We went through the footages of surveillance cameras installed in several banks and it helped us to zero in on the suspect,’’ he added. ‘’We showed the photos of the suspect to the bank employees who were witnesses in BOB and IOB heists and they have identifi ed it,’’ Mr Tripahy said and hoped that a signifi cant breakthrough would soon be made in the twin daring daylight robberies that had put the police on their toes. The release of the suspect’s photo had established that he was involved in both the robberies and the police had sought more information from the public on the accused. Mr Tripathy said those having information, including students, public and bank employees, about the accused could share it with the police on toll free numbers. He also announced a reward of Rs one Lakh to that providing key information about the accused. Noting that special teams were probing the robbery cases, the Commissioner said the teams have also fanned to other states as part of the investigation. Mr Tripathy said a meeting was held with bank authorities in the wake of the two heists. The probe into the fi rst heist at BOB, which took place exactly a month ago, hit a road block due to non-installation of CCTV cameras by the banks. Same was the case in respect of IOB also where no CCTV cameras were installed. Of the 1300 banks in the city, about 400 of them did not have CCTV cameras or security personnel. ‘’We have already advised and once again advised the banks to install CCTV cameras and burglary alarm systems,’’ he added. ‘’Some of the banks have complied with the order. But some others are yet to comply with it. We have made installation of CCTV cameras and burglary alarm system in banks mandatory to prevent such incidents in future,’’ Chennai City Additional Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) P Thamaraikannan, who was also present, said. ‘’We are also looking at connecting the alarm systems with the nearest police station using the technology so that police can reach the spot immediately,’’ he added. Thamaraikannan said all the banks were asked to compulsorily deploy security guards either with the help of private security agencies or utilising the services of ex-servicemen. ‘’We have insisted the banks that CCTV cameras, burglary alarm systems and posting of security personnel should be made mandatory. The banks have to comply with this,’’ he said. Terming the probe into the two bank robbery incidents as a massive job, he said 40 teams were formed and each of them was given a specifi c task. ‘’During the last 30 days we have examined various footages captured in surveillance cameras and zeroed in on the suspect who was identifi ed by both the banks. We are confi dent of achieving a breakthrough in the next couple of days,’’ he added.

DMK will win Sankarankoil bypoll

Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam’s (DMK) will win the coming Sankarankoil assembly by - election in Tamilnadu. DMK candidate J Jawahar SuryaKumar will fi le his nomination papers on February 27. I will accompany the DMK candidate during the fi ling of nomination papers. - Union Minister M.K.Alagiri

Confederation of Pvt Schools to hold fast on Feb 23

PUDUCHERRY: Confederation of Private Schools Staff Associations would observe a one day fast in front of the Swadeshi Cotton Mills here on February 23 to press their demands. Addressing a press conference here today, Honourary President of the Federation C H Balamohanan and President Vincent Raj said the confederation was pressing for the fi lling up of all vacant posts as per a government order issued much earlier, and the former Education Secretary had assured to fi ll up the posts last year itself. However, nothing happened. Even the next Secretary, Srikanth, also promised to fi ll up the posts before September 2011, but till date the posts were vacant, they said. The confederation observed a dharna in support of the demand on February 15 and submitted a memorandum to the Director, School Education. But still teachers working for Rs 1000 to Rs 5000 per month were waiting for their chance to get appointed o