New Delhi, January 17
France today said the dossier of evidence prepared by India suggesting the involvement of elements in Pakistan in the Mumbai terror attacks is ‘totally credible’ and demanded that Islamabad ‘fully cooperate’ with New Delhi in bringing to justice the perpetrators of the strikes.

Jean-David Levitte, Diplomatic Adviser to French President Nicholas Sarkozy, who is on a visit to India, today called on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and held indepth discussions with National Security Adviser MK Narayanan. The tension in the Indian sub-continent in the wake of the Mumbai attacks launched from the Pakistani soil figured prominently during the discussion.

Later addressing a press conference, the visiting dignitary said: “The evidence (on the Mumbai attacks) given to us by India is totally credible...we have shown it to our intelligence agencies...we have absolutely no reason to doubt the authenticity of what was given to us.”

This statement is being seen as an attempt by Paris to chide Pakistan for repeatedly saying that the dossier given by India was ‘information’ and not comprehensive evidence’ on the Mumbai incidents

Sending a clear message to Islamabad that France wanted action against those who masterminded the attacks, Levitte said: “It is in the interest of Pakistan to demonstrate their full cooperation” in the investigation.

He, however, emphasised that both India and Pakistan must exercise restraint and consider resuming the bilateral composite dialogue process at an ‘appropriate’ time. “You (India and Pakistan) have to live side by side...no country can change address”.

Asked if France agreed with India’s demand that those behind the attacks should be handed over to New Delhi by Pakistan, The French official said: “It is not for me to tell them that there should be extradition.”

Levitte also shared with the media the excerpts of the speech made by Sarkozy in Paris yesterday while addressing the diplomatic corps. “It is necessary that Pakistan cooperates fully with India, the largest democracy in the world, so that the terrorists responsible for the Mumbai slaughter are arrested and punished. France wants to speak to Pakistan and France wants to be a friend of India,” Sarkozy underlined.

On the Indo-French nuclear cooperation, Levitte noted that the two countries had signed a deal for civilian nuclear energy cooperation during the Indian Prime Minister’s visit to Paris in October last year. France proposed to set up six reactors in India over a period of time.

In the meantime, the two countries had concluded talks on the supply of 300 tonnes of uranium by France to India. It was the first time that any country would be selling uranium to India in 34 years and the deliveries would begin in the next few months.

New Delhi, January 17
With Supreme Court moving an appeal in the Delhi High Court against the CIC order on making assets of its judges public, Chief Justice of India K G Balakrishnan has made it clear that the judges “are not bound to disclose” their wealth.

“There is no statute or law which insists that the judges or the superior courts should submit declaration of their assets. Even then, our judges are submitting the declaration of assets to the Chief Justice,” the CJI said.

His remarks come close on the heels of the Supreme Court Registry taking the unprecedented step of moving the High Court, challenging the January 6 decision of the Central Information Commission.

The CIC had asked the Central public information officer of the apex court to furnish information within 10 days as to whether any declaration of assets has been filed by the judges of the Supreme Court or not.

Justice Balakrishnan said he was going by the resolution passed by the Supreme Court on May 7, 1997, which required judges of the apex court to make a declaration of their assets to the CJI.

“It is not a public document,” he said adding, that the declaration given by his colleagues was “based on confidence”.

“So it is not proper for me to disclose it. If it is (made) statutory, suppose if there is any Parliamentary enactment that judges should declare their assets and should give it to the Chief Justice, then it is a public document,” he added. — PTI

Chandigarh, January 17
Justice Nirmal Yadav of the Punjab and Haryana High Court who was issued a show cause notice by Chief Justice of India KG Balakrishnan in the cash-at-judge’s door scam, may not be right in what she is claiming in her defence. It seems that over-defensive Justice Yadav's argument against the acceptance of cash on August 14, 2008, in her reply to the notice, is contrary to the facts and circumstances of the scandal that had rocked both the Bench and the Bar.

Available information suggest the CJI had issued the notice to Justice Yadav in December last year after the three-judge committee appointed by him concluded that Rs 15 lakh was delivered at her residence on August 14 last year, a day after the scam came to light.

After examining almost everyone directly or indirectly associated with the scandal in two spells spread over six days, the committee concluded that the first consignment of cash was wrongly delivered on August 13 at the house of another Judge with a similar name — Justice Nirmaljit Kaur.

The committee recorded the cash was then delivered the next day at the house of Justice Yadav. From the findings, it is apparent that the cash was erroneously delivered at Justice Nirmaljit Kaur’s residence on August 13 by the clerk of an additional advocate-general-cum-accused in the scandal, Sanjeev Bansal. The next day it was left at the house of Justice Nirmal Yadav by another accused Rajeev Gupta.

In her three-page reply to the notice (a copy of which is with The Tribune), Justice Yadav has claimed: “The committee accepts the delivery despite the fact that the scandal about the delivery of cash to Justice Nirmaljit Kaur had already broken out in the evening of August 13, 2008, itself and was extensively reported in the newspapers of August 14, 2008.” Justice Yadav goes on to say: “In Chandigarh, newspapers are delivered by 6.30 am, yet the committee accepts the statement of a self-confessed author of a concocted story (Sanjeev Bansal) and a person with a chequered record (Rajeev Gupta) to believe that I will be stupid enough to accept the money, or anyone would dare to deliver the money to a judge in these circumstances”.

It seems Justice Yadav’s reliance on the newspaper reports is misplaced. The incident regarding the wrong delivery of cash at Justice Nirmaljit Kaur’s house on August 13, 2008, was for the first time reported in a newspaper on August 15, 2008. As such, the news on “the scandal” was not known to the public on August 14, 2008, as claimed by Justice Nirmal Yadav in her defence. Justice Yadav is yet to file a detailed reply to the notice.

New Delhi, January 17
Today, it was indeed an inspiring rendezvous with 20 young children, who will be honoured with the National Bravery Awards-2008 for their exemplary acts of courage amidst different forms of odds.

Among them, 16-years-old Manish Bansal, a resident of Jind in Haryana, was one who had displayed remarkable determination in foiling a robbery bid while saving his father. In the act, he had severely damaged his hands by grasping a sword while trying to save his father from the attacks of two miscreants who broke into their house on February 10 last.

Late Kavita Kanwar (15) was awarded posthumously with the Bapu Gaidhani Awards, who along with her sister, Seema Kanwar from Chhattisgarh, displayed outstanding valour by forsaking their lives in trying to save three others from a fire mishap. In the attempt, Kavita succumbed to burn injuries. Besides, the two sisters, Asu Kanwar (14) of Rajasthan was also awarded with the Bapu Gaidhani Award for voicing protest against the shameful child marriage system.

The other recipients of the special category awards, Sanjay Chopra and Geeta Chopra Awards, are Saumik Mishra (13) of UP, who had foiled a theft attempt by fighting away miscreants and Prachi Santosh Sen (10) of MP, who saved four children from electrocution.

The Delhiites can easily recognise 12-years-old Rahul, a balloon seller, who was the key witness of the September 13 serial blasts at Barakhamba.

The Indian Council for Child Welfare (ICCW), which is the nodal agency, this year received over 150 entries. The council eventually zeroed in on these children, including 12 girls and 8 boys.

On January 23, these children will be awarded a cash prize, medal and certificate at the hands of the Prime Minister and on the Republic Day, they will be given a ride on elephant at Rajpath. In addition, the children who are not blessed with affluent backgrounds will also be rendered financial assistance for their school as well as higher education.

New Delhi, January 17
Former Vice-President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, having jumped into the thick of electoral politics, is slowly emerging as a rallying point for most political elements either disenchanted with the present BJP leadership or inimical to the BJP.

Former Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Shanta Kumar was the latest to call on Shekhawat here today. He was with the BJP veteran for close to an hour, said sources.

Today’s callers also included controversial tantrik Chandraswamy.

Already former BJP ideologue KN Govindacharya, former MP Chief Minister Uma Bharti and a host of BJP leaders have called on the octogenarian BJP veteran, who resigned from the party seven years ago when he became the Vice-President.

AICC general secretary Digvijay Singh called on Shekhawat yesterday as also his namesake in the JD (U) earlier. Shekhawat’s confidants claimed the two share camaraderie from the late 1990s when both were chief ministers of the neighbouring states of Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. But the Congress leader also seemed to be fishing in troubled waters of the BJP and enjoying its discomfiture.

Political circles are linking this to a growing unease over the controversial choice of LK Advani as BJP’s prime ministerial candidate. And add to that, India Inc floated the name of Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi to the list of prime ministerial aspirants, challenging Advani’s position as the sole claimant to the office from the Opposition side.

But Shekhawat’s guest list largely consists of BJP leaders unhappy with the way their party leadership has treated them. Shanta Kumar also falls in the same category. He was first a chief ministerial aspirant. But his claim was ignored and Prem Kumar Dhumal preferred over him by Advani. There are reports that the BJP is likely to set up Satyapal Jain from Kangra, traditionally held by Kumar. Jain used to contest from Chandigarh.

Meanwhile, Advani has said he is amused by all media speculation on the issue.

New Delhi, January 17
Refusing to comment on film star Sanjay Dutt's relationship with the Samajwadi Party or its leader Amar Singh, the BJP today said Sanjay could not be equated with former cricketer and BJP Lok Sabha member Navjot Singh Sidhu.

Sidhu was permitted by the court to contest the Lok Sabha election after a three-day hearing on a special leave petition filed by him. Even prior to this, Sidhu had resigned from the LS, BJP spokesman Ravi Shankar Prasad said.

“If Sanjay thinks that his case is similar to that of Sidhu, let him move the court to seek permission for contesting election,” he said.

Asked who would be the BJP's candidate if Sanjay was fielded by SP from Lucknow, Prasad said it would be decided by the (party’s) central election committee when the time comes.

The party, meanwhile, maintained that its relations with the Akali Dal, Biju Janata Dal and Janata (U) were as strong as before. — UNI

Lucknow, January 17
It has all the ingredients of a Bollywood potboiler - a woman taking on the alleged ‘goonda raj’ of her rivals and wiping out criminals with a “firm determination”.

But the protagonist is no film star but Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati, who is going to take centrestage in a series of films being made by the state government to bolster the image of the BSP government ahead of the Lok Sabha polls.

The script of the films, which are going to be screened in mobile theatres and possibly some cinema halls, is based on a booklet released by the state government on completion of one year in office: “Uttar Pradesh: Vikas aur Pragati Ka Ek Varsh”.

These films highlight alleged ‘goonda raj’ in the previous Mulayam Singh Yadav regime and attempts made to rid the state of this by eliminating dreaded dacoits and bringing notorious criminals to book, a senior Information and Public Relations (IPR) department official said.

Under attack from the Opposition for its failure to improve law and order in the state, these films would show “firm determination” of Mayawati in dealing with criminals and even highlight arrest of BSP leaders, involved in criminal activities, party sources said. “With this, the government wanted to drive home the point that it is not soft on those involved in the criminal activities even if they belong to the BSP. It also aimed at brushing aside false propaganda of the Opposition”, they said.

“These films are being shot in different parts of the state targeting rural folk, especially, those who vote with Mayawati taking the centerstage”, the official added.

The films are being made by a private firm and will be formally screened next week before senior officials of the state, the official said, adding there would be one 25-30 minute film, besides six films of one minute each and one of four minutes.

The producer of the film, the IPR department, has mobile theatres, which will screen these documentaries across the state to apprise the people about the work done by the Mayawati government in the past 20 months.

Besides plans are also afoot to screen these films in cinema halls, the official said. The development projects being initiated by the state government to provide basic amenities to the people, especially to the downtrodden and minorities, would be one of the main focuses of the films, they added. — PTI

Bhubaneshwar, January 17
Hundreds of tribals, many carrying bows and arrows, marched in protest against the mining of bauxite here as planned by Britain's Vedanta Resources Plc, the police and eyewitnesses said.

The protesters, including hundreds of women, danced and shouted slogans as they marched several kilometres in Senelbhata, on the foothills of the Niyamgiri hills. The police kept a watch over the protest.

The villagers held banners that said "Vedanta Quit Niyamgiri" and "Vedanta Go Back", illustrating the growing opposition to the giving up of land for industry in a country where two-thirds of the population depends on agriculture for a living.

"Without Niyamgiri we cannot think of life," said Jitu Jakaka, a tribal leader.

"We will protect it at any cost. We will not allow the company to mine," he said. Frequent violent protests in mineral-rich Orissa state had held up the Vedanta plant for months until last August, when the company received the green light from India's Supreme Court to mine bauxite from the hills held sacred by an ancient tribe.

Vedanta wants to dig open-cast mines in the Niyamgiri hills to feed the refinery it has already built there as part of an $800-million project.

A Vedanta spokesman said the company is coordinating with the government and the tribal leaders on building new roads and to provide employment to the local people.

But the indigenous Kondha tribal groups who have lived in the lush forests of the Niyamgari hills for generations say the project threatens their very existence, and that mining in the hills was a sacrilege.— Reuters

Guwahati, January 17
A herd of rampaging wild elephants trampled to death three members of a family on late Thursday night at remote Bhelapara area under Boithalangshu police station in Hamren sub-division of area in Karbi Anglong hill district of Assam creating panic among the villagers.

The big herd of jumbos ploughed through the cottage of 45-year-old tribal farmer Mithison Marak killing him and his wife Julia on the spot. Their five-year-old daughter who was critically injured in the incident died in the nearby public health centre on Friday. The herds destroyed total four houses in the village that night, according to delayed report received here.

A source in the forest department informed that the elephant herds was roaming around in the area which falls on an elephant migration corridor that got fragmented after tribal villagers cleared a huge area of forest to make land for agriculture activities.

The villagers of Bhelapara have been trying hard to chase away the herd of elephants but in vain. The jumbos are out in the open in search of food while migrating along the hugely disturbed migration corridor.

With these three deaths, the number of human lives lost in the raging man-elephant conflict in Hamren sub-division of the hill district has gone up to five since December last year. Two more persons, grocery shop owner Jong Bahadur Chouhan (28) and a farmer Jiten Pator (40) were trampled to death by wild elephants in two separate incidents at Donkamokam area of the sub-division on December 8 and December 21 last.

Hamren DFO MK Dhar said severe food crisis inside forests around this time of the year and human encroachment had fuelled man-elephant conflict in the area.