BJP defers withdrawal of support in Jharkhand

RANCHI: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday deferred its threatened withdrawal of support to the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) government in Jharkhand.

Reports said the party has asked all its Jharkhand MLAs to come to Delhi to take a final decision on withdrawing support to the Shibu Soren-led government.

BJP leaders did not meet Governor M.O.H. Farookh at 11 a.m. as scheduled to convey the party's decision to take back legislative support after the JMM voted for the Congress-led government in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday.

Manmohan wants normal ties, Cong not supporting him: Qureshi

THIMPHU: In an apparent bid to drive a wedge between Indian government and the ruling party, Pakistan has said that "well-meaning" Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was keen to normalise ties with it but "elements in Congress" did not support him.

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi criticised India for refusing to have "meaningful" talks till Pakistan acts against terrorism, saying the contention had been "dragged too long" and "nobody is buying that anymore".

In an interview to PTI here, he insisted that Pakistan has moved "considerably" against perpetrators of Mumbai attacks and the reply to India's dossiers recently was "not to gain time" but to get additional information so that the case can be taken to its logical conclusion.

Dialogue "is the only sensible thing to do. Two prime ministers of this region, two important countries of this region, have to sit and work out (bilateral issues)," said Qureshi who is here to attend the two-day SAARC Summit that got off today.

He said Pakistan was always ready for dialogue but "it seems India is not yet ready, perhaps because of domestic political considerations".

Elaborating on his contention, he said, "I am convinced that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh wants to move forward".

"I think, he (Singh) is a well meaning individual, he has a vision, he wants to leave a legacy behind, he is an academic, he is an economist. He understands the benefits that can accrue to the region if there is normalisation between two important players of the SAARC region. But it seems that elements within the Congress are not giving him the support he should be given".

He, however, did not identify the "elements" within the Congress whom he was referring to.

The Pakistan Foreign Minister said both India and Pakistan have recognised that dialogue is the only way forward and. "If that is so, how can we have dialogue not engagement? Pakistan has never shied from the engagement. We have said we are ready".

On India's emphasis that there can be no meaningful dialogue till Pakistan takes credible action against cross-border terrorism, Qureshi said, "That has been dragged too long, nobody is buying that anymore because Pakistan has moved considerably forward on that score on the perpetrators of Mumbai".

He said seven of the perpetrators of Mumbai attacks have been arrested and the trial is going on.

"You got to recognise that... What you are not realising that Pakistan today is in a different state of mind. Pakistan has woken up to the challenge of terrorism. Pakistan is a victim of terrorism," Qureshi said.

"You are talking of Mumbai, we have had many Mumbais in all the major cities of Pakistan. Innocent lives have been lost like innocent lives were lost in Mumbai," he said.

When pointed out that India was unhappy that Pakistan was only targeting Taliban and not groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba, Qureshi claimed, "We do not differentiate. We are not differentiating between acts of terrorism. An act of terrorism is an act of terrorism, period".

When his attention was drawn to LeT chief Hafiz Saeed against whom India wants action, he cryptically said, "same old beaten track".

He said Saeed was arrested twice by Pakistan government but courts let him off "because in the eyes of the judicial process, the evidence against him was not strong enough to keep him locked up. That is a legal process. You have an independent judiciary, so do we".

Asked whether Pakistan was making any efforts to collect evidence against Saeed in connection with terror activities, Qureshi said, "Pakistan has, is and will continue to try and collect evidence against any terrorist. We do not want our soil to be used against anyone".

Queried whether it meant that even Saeed would not be allowed to use Pakistani soil against India, he repeated, "anyone... Anyone means anyone".

He said that by "disengaging," India was sending out a message to the terrorists "that you control the agenda, by one act, you can scuttle the whole process".

Qureshi also reminded India about the "agreement" that the peace process, started in 2004, is "irreversible and acts of terrorism will not impede the peace process".

Maintaining that India was not "fully recalling" that "agreement", he said, "understand the spirit behind that, recognise the changed situation, recognise that terrorism is a common challenge".

He said that "harping on the same string, it seems, is not going to pay off".

Asked about Pakistan's demand for handing over of Ajmal Kasab, the lone terrorist held during Mumbai attacks, Qureshi refused to comment, saying the matter was sub-judice.

Soren's deal with Cong: Making son deputy CM?

NEW DELHI: Jharkhand Chief Minister Shibu Soren voted for the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government in the cut motion on Tuesday. It has set off speculation that there may be new power equation in the state and alter his relation with the Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP), his coalition partner.

A shocked BJP said after the vote that it has taken note of Soren's act in the Parliament. Soren, still a member of the Lok Sabha, made a rare appearance to spring a surprise on the BJP.

"We have taken note of it," a senior BJP leader said outside the Parliament, indicating that Soren could face trouble in the state.

"Soren has clearly ditched us. Now we are going to review our stand to support the government led by him," said BJP's state unit spokesperson Sanjay Seth.

BJP sources said Soren may have struck a deal with the Congress under which he may move to the Centre and make his son Hemant the Deputy Chief Minister of Jharkhand.

Opposition calls nationwide strike against price rise

NEW DELHI: A 12-hour nation-wide bandh called by 13 non-NDA and non-UPA parties on Tuesday to protest against price rise hit normal life and affected air and rail services especially in Left-ruled states of West Bengal and Kerala.

The 'Bharat Bandh' which began at 6 am also had some impact in Orissa, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. Sporadic protests marked the hartal elsewhere in the country including in the Capital.

Streets in West Bengal and Kerala where educational institutions were also closed wore a deserted look.

Besides the four Left parties, the 13-party grouping which gave the call for the bandh consists of AIADMK, BJD, SP, RJD, TDP, RLD, LJP, JD-S and INLD. The grouping is pressing for a roll-back in the hike in prices of petrol, diesel and fertiliser.

Rail services were disrupted in many parts of Uttar Pradesh and three buses torched in Lucknow. SP supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav's son and MP Akhilesh Yadav was detained in Lucknow while leading protestors.

"A total bandh has been implemented in Bihar. All services are disrupted," claimed RJD chief Lalu Yadav.

CPM leader Brinda Karat claimed the bandh is 'very successful' in large parts of the country while Mulayam warned of anarchy by people if price rise is not checked.

Two train passengers were injured as a clash broke out between travellers in Ganga Sagar Express and bandh supporters at Pandua station in Hoogly district.

In West Bengal road and rail services and flight operations were badly affected and shutters in commercial areas were down. Hundreds of passengers were stranded at railway stations and airports for want of transport.

Airport sources in Kolkata said only ten out of 25 domestic and international flights took off this morning. They included flights of Air-India, Jet Airways and Jetlite.

An Eastern Railway spokesperson told PTI that due obstructions put up by bandh supporters at several stations, train services were disrupted at Howrah and Sealdah division. Long-distance trains were stranded at various stations as bandh supporters sat on the railway tracks.

Reports from Kerala said the protesters picketed trains in different stations.

Both private and state run bus services, taxis, autorickshaws and commercial vehicles are also keeping off the roads. However, no violence was reported, police said.

Vehicular movement was affected across BJD-ruled Orissa as bandh supporters blocked national highways, state highways and other roads, putting a halt to plying of passenger buses, trucks, taxis and auto-rickshaws, police sources said.

Rail services were also affected as trains were stopped at different stations for a brief period, they said.

Normal life in several parts of Jharkhand was affected due to the bandh and the 48-hour shutdown by the CPI(Maoist).

The bandh supporters squatted on railway tracks in Jamshedpur, Jamtara, Giridih and Koderma as the railway authorities cancelled half-a-dozen passenger trains in Jamshedpur.

Cut motion: BSP to support UPA

NEW DELHI: Uttar Pradesh chief minister and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) president Mayawati said her party would support the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government over the cut motion expected to be moved in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday.

"We should have voted against the UPA government but it would strengthen communal forces to attain power in the centre. Taking this into account, we have opted to support the government," she said.

The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) as well as the Left parties and some others are set to move cut motions in the Lok Sabha on the budget proposals to hike prices of fuels and fertilisers but the treasury is confident of passing the test of strength.

When budget proposals are presented in Parliament for approval, a lawmaker or a party can question specific allocations with a cut motion. If it is carried in the House, it amounts to a vote of no confidence and the government is obliged to quit.

The BSP supports the UPA government from the outside. Its stance is being linked to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) telling the Supreme Court that it was prepared to consider Mayawati's plea for closing a disproportionate assets case against her.

The BSP has 21 members in the House.

The Congress has issued a whip to its members to be present in the House when the guillotine is applied on demands for grants of certain ministries. Parliamentary affairs ministry sources said the guillotine is expected to be applied at 6pm on Tuesday.

The UPA partners and supporters include Congress - 207, Trinamool Congress - 19, DMK - 18, Nationalist Congress Party - 9, National Conference -3, Muslim League - 2, Kerala Congress (M) - 1, All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen - 1, Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi-1, Sikkim Democratic Front - 1, Bodoland People's Front - 1, Jharkhand Vikas Morcha - 1, Bahujan Vikas Aaghadi-1, Assam United Democratic Front-1, Nominated-2.

There are nine independent members in the Lok Sabha, some of whom support the UPA.

Meanwhile, the 13-party alliance led by the Left parties appeared divided on Tuesday about bringing a cut motion even as they jointly protested the rising prices of essential commodities at Parliament.

The 13 parties, including the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and Samajwadi Party (SP), have called for a nationwide shutdown to protest the price rise issue and the United Progressive Alliance government's economic policies.

However, the parties were clearly divided staging the sit-in at Parliament. While MPs from the four Left parties, the BJD and the AIADMK demonstrated in front of the main gate of Parliament House, the SP, RJD and TDP protested before the Mahatma Gandhi statue inside the premises.

The Left parties are determined to bring the cut motion in the house on Tuesday. CPM leader M.B. Rajesh told IANS: "We will bring the cut motion."

However, SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav had a different view.

Asked whether the RJD and SP would support the Left decision to bring the cut motion demanding a rollback in prices of fuels and fertilisers, he said: "We are observing a Bharat Bandh today, then why should we run the house today?"

His reply indicated that they would not join the Left opposition in their demand for a cut motion.

TDP leader Nama Nageshwar Rao told IANS: "Our party would support the Left in bringing a cut motion."

Later, MPs from the RJD and SP joined the Left parties to raise slogans against the UPA government's economic polices.

The demand for the grant for the general budget presented by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee earlier this session is expected to be taken up for voting on Tuesday.

Manmohan, Gilani meeting during SAARC meet not ruled out: Krishna

THIMPHU, BHUTAN: In a first official indication of a possible meeting between the prime ministers of India and Pakistan here, external affairs minister S M Krishna on Monday said the bilateral meeting cannot be ruled out.

"I am not ruling it out," Krishna said when asked if Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will meet his Pakistani counterpart Yousuf Raza Gilani during his visit here for the SAARC summit to be held on April 28 to 29.

Observing that heads of states and governments are going to be under the same roof for the next couple of days for the multilateral meeting, the minister said there will be a number of bilateral meetings during the period.

"Let’s wait and watch, how things are going to work out," he said, adding "all bilateral issues between India and Pakistan will be discussed as and when the Prime Ministers meet".

Asked about Pakistan's request seeking the testimony of the Indian magistrates who recorded the confessional statement of Mumbai attack accused Ajmal Kasab, Krishna said he was yet to examine the matter.

Krishna said he has received the dossier containing the request late last night but he was yet to go through the same.

Maintaining that Kasab's trial was in advanced stage in India, he said it was going on in full steam.

"We have to complete our legal formalities first and then we can examine Pakistan's request for the same," he said, adding, the matter will be examined in consultation with other ministries and departments.

The Pakistani side has made a request for three Indian officials, including two magistrates and an investigator, to be allowed to travel to Pakistan to testify that they had recorded Kasab's statement.

A special court in Mumbai hearing the case of Kasab, the lone gunman captured alive by Indian authorities after the Mumbai siege of 2008, is expected to deliver its verdict on May 3.

Krishna arrived here for the 16th SAARC summit to be held on Thursday and Friday.

Parliament adjourned over phone tapping of politicians

NEW DELHI: A united Opposition on Monday forced the adjournment of both the Houses of the Parliament over the alleged tapping of telephones of some senior politicians by the government.

Speaking in Lok Sabha, senior BJP leader L K Advani demanded that the Prime Minister make a statement in the parliament on what he called an ‘emergency-like situation’ in the country. He also said that a law should be enacted to prevent such incidents in the future.

TV reports said the Home Minister P Chidambaram is expected to make a statement in the Lok Sabha on the controversial issue.

Soon after nominated member B Jayashree took oath, the entire opposition led by BJP and Left parties was up on their feet raising the issue.

S S Ahluwalia (BJP) said a notice for suspension of Question Hour has been given even as his colleagues shouted slogans condemning the alleged act.

Minister of State in Prime Minister's Office Prithviraj Chavan said, "Members have raised some issues... notices have been received. The Government will make a statement after the Question Hour."

This, however, did not satisfy the opposition members who continued to raise the issue.

Chairman Hamid Ansari said the Government will make a statement and pleaded with them to allow the Question Hour to proceed.

"All discussions will be at the appropriate time. This is Question Hour... Please allow the Question Hour to proceed," he pleaded but the Opposition benches were unrelenting.

Minutes into the din, Ansari adjourned the House till 12 noon.