Congress star campaigner Priyanka Gandhi on Tuesday said India as a nation cannot forgive LTTE chief V Prabhakaran for the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi though personally she and her family harbour no "hatred or anger" against the killers of her father.
Ms. Priyanka also downplayed the controversial comments of DMK chief M Karunanidhi that Prabhakaran is not a terrorist, saying she would have no "personal grief" even if anybody "praises" the LTTE chief.
"This issue is both political and personal for me. I fully understand politically the former Prime Minister of India was assassinated and they (LTTE) cannot be pardoned by India as a nation," she said when asked what treatment she would like to be meted out to Prabhakaran if he is handed over to India by Sri Lanka.
She, however, hastened to add that "from the point of view of humanity, I have nothing against them (killers) in my heart...neither anger nor hatred."
Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated by LTTE in a suicide bomb attack in Tamil Nadu on May 21, 1991.
Ms. Priyanka, in interviews to the media here while campaigning for brother Rahul Gandhi, referred to her meeting with Nalini, one of the convicts in Rajiv Gandhi assassination case, and described it as a learning experience.
Asked whether she has forgiven Nalini, Ms. Priyanka responded, "I am like Nalini. I am a human being. One human being cannot forgive another human being."
On Mr. Karunanidhi's comment that Prabhakaran is not a terrorist and the LTTE chief was his good friend, Ms. Priyanka said, "If somebody says things about them (LTTE) or praises them, it does not cause us personal grief. Politics is quite separate to us from our personal grief,"
At the same time, she noted that "he (Karunanidhi) has retracted his statement."
She also declined to comment on AIADMK chief J Jayalalithaa's remark that Ms. Sonia Gandhi should tell the nation what she feels about the DMK chief's remark. "These are political things. I won't like to comment on that," Ms. Priyanka said.
Asked to comment on Mr. Rahul's remark that the family was yet to get justice for the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi, Ms. Priyanka said she and her brother perhaps react differently on this issue.
She, however, maintained that Mr. Rahul has no anger in his heart and he was only referring to the long period that justice system takes.
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Sri Lanka troops move in on Tigers, 49,000 flee
Sri Lankan soldiers battled into the last redoubt of the Tamil Tigers on Tuesday, and an exodus of people trapped by the rebels in the coastal strip reached nearly 50,000, the military said.
The operation gathered speed after the military's noon (0630 GMT) deadline for the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) to surrender passed without any word from the separatists, in what appears to be the final act in Asia's longest-running war.
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) warned the situation was "nothing short of catastrophic" and urged both sides to prevent further mass casualties among civilians, saying hundreds had been killed in the past 48 hours.
The neutral agency did not assign blame to either side.
Sri Lanka's military, in what it dubbed the world's largest hostage rescue operation, moved in to keep the stream of people moving and give troops a clear shot at the LTTE and its elusive leader Vellupillai Prabhakaran.
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"So far 49,054 people have come out and still people are coming in. Troops are expanding the area under their control," military spokesman Udaya Nanayakkara said.
The United Nations and Western governments have urged the military to renew a brief truce to negotiate the civilians' exit, a plea the government has rejected on the grounds the Tigers have dismissed all entreaties to let the people out.
The state-run ‘Daily News’, quoting army commander Lt-Gen. Sarath Fonseka, said soldiers had reached the shoreline and taken control of the only medical facility in the no-fire zone, a makeshift hospital run by the ICRC in Puttumatalan.
The operation gathered speed after the military's noon (0630 GMT) deadline for the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) to surrender passed without any word from the separatists, in what appears to be the final act in Asia's longest-running war.
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) warned the situation was "nothing short of catastrophic" and urged both sides to prevent further mass casualties among civilians, saying hundreds had been killed in the past 48 hours.
The neutral agency did not assign blame to either side.
Sri Lanka's military, in what it dubbed the world's largest hostage rescue operation, moved in to keep the stream of people moving and give troops a clear shot at the LTTE and its elusive leader Vellupillai Prabhakaran.
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"So far 49,054 people have come out and still people are coming in. Troops are expanding the area under their control," military spokesman Udaya Nanayakkara said.
The United Nations and Western governments have urged the military to renew a brief truce to negotiate the civilians' exit, a plea the government has rejected on the grounds the Tigers have dismissed all entreaties to let the people out.
The state-run ‘Daily News’, quoting army commander Lt-Gen. Sarath Fonseka, said soldiers had reached the shoreline and taken control of the only medical facility in the no-fire zone, a makeshift hospital run by the ICRC in Puttumatalan.
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Monday, April 20, 2009
Somnath has exposed 'his moral high ground’: CPM
Left parties on Monday reacted sharply to Somnath Chatterjee's dubbing their withdrawal of support to the Government as a ‘mistake’, with the CPI(M) even alleging that his support to the Congress-led coalition and continuation as the Speaker were ‘inter-connected’.
"By admitting his pro-Congress stand, Chatterjee has exposed the moral high ground he took that the Speaker is above party politics," CPI(M) General Secretary Prakash Karat said in a strongly worded reaction.
"His support to the Congress-led Government and his continuance as the Speaker are inter-connected," Karat, under whose leadership the CPI(M) had asked Chatterjee to quit the high office last year, said.
Karat's comment came a day after Chatterjee said he had sent a note to the CPI(M) asking them not to withdraw support but continue opposing the nuclear deal. Chatterjee was expelled from CPI(M) after he refused to step down following Left's withdrawal of support.
"By admitting his pro-Congress stand, Chatterjee has exposed the moral high ground he took that the Speaker is above party politics," CPI(M) General Secretary Prakash Karat said in a strongly worded reaction.
"His support to the Congress-led Government and his continuance as the Speaker are inter-connected," Karat, under whose leadership the CPI(M) had asked Chatterjee to quit the high office last year, said.
Karat's comment came a day after Chatterjee said he had sent a note to the CPI(M) asking them not to withdraw support but continue opposing the nuclear deal. Chatterjee was expelled from CPI(M) after he refused to step down following Left's withdrawal of support.
Farzi Gandhigiri may get crowds but not votes: Maya
Peeved at the "jadu ki jhappi" remark by Sanjay Dutt, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati on Monday attacked the Samajwadi party, calling it a gathering of people who are good at little other than singing, dancing and fake Gandhigiri.
"My political opponents have no good work to their credit and are demoralised over the BSP's growing popularity. Hence, they are now gathering people who are good at little except singing, dancing and "farzi" (fake) Gandhigiri", the BSP
supremo told an election meeting.
Without naming Dutt or the Samajwadi Party which has made the actor its General Secretary, she said, "Our political opponents need to remember that naachne-gaane wale (those who sing and dance), through their farzi Gandhigiri, may attract huge crowds but will not help them get votes". The remarks came in the wake of Dutt having allegedly said at an election meeting that he wanted to give "jaadu ki jhappi aur pappi" (magical hug and kiss) to Mayawati, following which an FIR, accusing the actor of having made "obscene" comments, has been registered in Pratapgarh district of the state. Earlier, the BSP supremo came down heavily on the Congress for its "failure to remove poverty an unemployment from the country despite having ruled it for the most part of the 61 years since Independence.
"My political opponents have no good work to their credit and are demoralised over the BSP's growing popularity. Hence, they are now gathering people who are good at little except singing, dancing and "farzi" (fake) Gandhigiri", the BSP
supremo told an election meeting.
Without naming Dutt or the Samajwadi Party which has made the actor its General Secretary, she said, "Our political opponents need to remember that naachne-gaane wale (those who sing and dance), through their farzi Gandhigiri, may attract huge crowds but will not help them get votes". The remarks came in the wake of Dutt having allegedly said at an election meeting that he wanted to give "jaadu ki jhappi aur pappi" (magical hug and kiss) to Mayawati, following which an FIR, accusing the actor of having made "obscene" comments, has been registered in Pratapgarh district of the state. Earlier, the BSP supremo came down heavily on the Congress for its "failure to remove poverty an unemployment from the country despite having ruled it for the most part of the 61 years since Independence.
UPA is pro-poor, says Rahul
Claiming that the pro-poor programmes of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) were revolutionary and labelling the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) “anti-poor,” All India Congress Committee general secretary Rahul Gandhi on Monday urged voters to give the UPA another term to further strengthen the programmes it had initiated.
Addressing four election rallies during a day of electioneering in Assam, he said India cannot shine until even one person in the country remained poor.
Against slogans
Mr. Gandhi said that during the previous Lok Sabha elections the NDA had claimed that India was shining: but the people told them, India was not. “The Congress never raises such slogans. The Congress believes India cannot shine till there was even one poor person in the country,” he said.
Accompanied by Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi and Pradesh Congress Committee president Bhubaneswar Kalita, Mr. Gandhi addressed election rallies in Lakhimpur, Kaliabor, Mangaldai and Dhubri Lok Sabha constituencies.
Benefits for the poor
He claimed that it was only during Congress rule that the benefits of welfare and development schemes reached the poor. He claimed that wherever the Congress was in power their benefits reached the poor. But in States such as Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, funds sanctioned by the Centre did not reach the common people, he alleged.
He said the non-UPA parties were not bothered about the poor. They think they can leave the poor behind to make India run fast. But during their time, the growth rate was just about 5 per cent. During UPA rule, it went up to 9 per cent.
He highlighted the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, the loan waiver for farmers and the midday meals scheme as three major pro-poor programme of the UPA. There is no similar programme bigger than the NREGA anywhere in the world, he said. Referring to the benefits of the Rs. 70,000-crore loan waiver scheme for the farmers, Mr. Gandhi alleged that while in power the NDA had forgotten the farmers. The midday meal programme encouraged poor parents to send their children to school, he added.
Pot shot
The young Congress leader took a pot shot at the BJP’s prime ministerial candidate, L.K. Advani, and accused him of “surrendering” before the terrorists during the Kandhahar hijacking episode.
“They call Dr. Manmohan Singh a weak Prime Minister. But during NDA rule the Home Minister was not even aware that the External Affairs Minister was releasing terrorists for the release of hostages. What kind of Home Minister he was when he did not even know what his Cabinet Minister was doing?” asked Mr. Gandhi.
Addressing four election rallies during a day of electioneering in Assam, he said India cannot shine until even one person in the country remained poor.
Against slogans
Mr. Gandhi said that during the previous Lok Sabha elections the NDA had claimed that India was shining: but the people told them, India was not. “The Congress never raises such slogans. The Congress believes India cannot shine till there was even one poor person in the country,” he said.
Accompanied by Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi and Pradesh Congress Committee president Bhubaneswar Kalita, Mr. Gandhi addressed election rallies in Lakhimpur, Kaliabor, Mangaldai and Dhubri Lok Sabha constituencies.
Benefits for the poor
He claimed that it was only during Congress rule that the benefits of welfare and development schemes reached the poor. He claimed that wherever the Congress was in power their benefits reached the poor. But in States such as Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, funds sanctioned by the Centre did not reach the common people, he alleged.
He said the non-UPA parties were not bothered about the poor. They think they can leave the poor behind to make India run fast. But during their time, the growth rate was just about 5 per cent. During UPA rule, it went up to 9 per cent.
He highlighted the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, the loan waiver for farmers and the midday meals scheme as three major pro-poor programme of the UPA. There is no similar programme bigger than the NREGA anywhere in the world, he said. Referring to the benefits of the Rs. 70,000-crore loan waiver scheme for the farmers, Mr. Gandhi alleged that while in power the NDA had forgotten the farmers. The midday meal programme encouraged poor parents to send their children to school, he added.
Pot shot
The young Congress leader took a pot shot at the BJP’s prime ministerial candidate, L.K. Advani, and accused him of “surrendering” before the terrorists during the Kandhahar hijacking episode.
“They call Dr. Manmohan Singh a weak Prime Minister. But during NDA rule the Home Minister was not even aware that the External Affairs Minister was releasing terrorists for the release of hostages. What kind of Home Minister he was when he did not even know what his Cabinet Minister was doing?” asked Mr. Gandhi.
Surveillance satellite put in orbit by PSLV
In a flawless mission, the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C12) on Monday put in orbit Radar Imaging Satellite (RISAT-2), a surveillance satellite, which could keep a watch on the country’s borders.
This is the first time the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is putting in orbit a RISAT in the micro-wave band. It can take images of the earth day and night, see through clouds and identify objects on the ground.
The 300-kg RISAT-2 has been procured from Israel. Anusat, built by Anna University, Chennai, was also put in orbit by the PSLV-C12.
It is an experimental communication satellite meant for storing and relaying information.
Asked whether the RISAT-2’s synthetic aperture radar operating in the X-band meant that it would be used for defence applications, ISRO Chairman G. Madhavan Nair said, “There is nothing like a spy satellite in our agenda. We have only earth observation, communication and scientific satellites.”
The RISAT-2 could precisely look at water bodies and vegetation. Its images would have wide ramifications in managing disasters such as cyclones, floods and landslips.
It would also be “a powerful tool” in estimating the paddy acreage.
However, informed sources said the RISAT-2 would be used for surveillance purposes and its images would be used for identifying arms caches and bunkers.
This is the first time the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is putting in orbit a RISAT in the micro-wave band. It can take images of the earth day and night, see through clouds and identify objects on the ground.
The 300-kg RISAT-2 has been procured from Israel. Anusat, built by Anna University, Chennai, was also put in orbit by the PSLV-C12.
It is an experimental communication satellite meant for storing and relaying information.
Asked whether the RISAT-2’s synthetic aperture radar operating in the X-band meant that it would be used for defence applications, ISRO Chairman G. Madhavan Nair said, “There is nothing like a spy satellite in our agenda. We have only earth observation, communication and scientific satellites.”
The RISAT-2 could precisely look at water bodies and vegetation. Its images would have wide ramifications in managing disasters such as cyclones, floods and landslips.
It would also be “a powerful tool” in estimating the paddy acreage.
However, informed sources said the RISAT-2 would be used for surveillance purposes and its images would be used for identifying arms caches and bunkers.
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