M A I N   N E W S

Rumsfeld to visit India on Nov 5
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, November 1
Concerned with the marked escalation in the war of words between India and Pakistan and certain statements from Defence Minister George Fernandes perceived as hawkish, US President George W. Bush is rushing his Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld to the subcontinent on November 5.

Mr Rumsfeld would meet Mr Fernandes and possibly Union Home Minister L. K. Advani on Monday and visit Pakistan too where he is expected to meet President Pervez Musharraf and his senior ministers. Mr Rumsfeld is coming to the Indian subcontinent from Moscow.

Well-placed sources here told The Tribune today that Mr Rumsfeld’s main mission in India would be to persuade the Indian leadership to do nothing drastic which could precipitate a war-like situation between the two hostile neighbours who have already fought four wars.

Though New Delhi has allayed Washington’s fears, the Americans are concerned that India might do something “adventuristic” like raiding terrorist training camps in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (POK) or destroying Pakistan’s nuclear installations. This, the Bush administration fears, might lead to a full-scale war between two nuclear wars — something unprecedented in world history.

Mr Rumsfeld’s India visit assumes urgency and significance in view of the fact that he would be visiting India at a time when Mr Vajpayee would be away in Moscow. This indicates that he comes here with an urgent mission which obviously cannot be discussed on telephone or through diplomatic channels.

Bill supporting Sikh Americans is law
Tribune News Service

Amritsar, November 1
In a significant development, US President George W. Bush has signed into law the Patriot Act of 2001 which incorporates resolutions condemning crimes against Sikh Americans and calls for the protection of their civil liberties. The bill passed by the House and the Senate incorporated resolutions framed by Senator Richard Durbin and congressman Mike Honda which gained overwhelming bipartisan support in both chambers.

“Unfortunately, in the aftermath of September 11 attacks on our nation, there were those who in misguided anger and fear turned on their neighbours and fellow Americans for revenge,” said Senator Durbin.

“They mistook symbols of religious belief, such as turbans and beards, for distrust, terror, and destruction. Recent terrorists attacks should never cloud our judgement when it comes to our fellow Sikh Americans. Sikh Americans share with us the pain and sorrow of the September 11 tragedy,” he said.

“I am very pleased that Congress has acted to inform all those who would target their fellow Americans simply because of their appearance or faith, that acts of hatred and brutality will not be tolerated,” Mr Honda said.

“I will continue to work with Sikh Americans, Arab Americans and all groups representing the diverse mosaic of culture and religion in our nation to protect our most sacred principles of civil liberty and free exercise of religion,” he said.