Nation & States

Kashmir divide widens, talks
end with war of words

What is India News Service, Monday, September 7, 2004, 1700 hrs IST

India and Pakistan concluded the first round of the composite dialogue with a war of words airing irreconciled differences over cross border terrorism and Kashmir. Pakistan Foreign Minister Khursheed Mehmood Kasuri, went a step further and placed Kashmir firmly on the table by proposing a separate mechanism in the form of a high level representative nominated by each government to discuss the Kashmir issue exclusively. 

Pakistani sources said that the proposal for high level representation was now awaiting India\92s response. The visiting delegation also made it apparent that there could be no progress in the talks without the involvement of Kashmiris. This demand was raised at the foreign secretaries meeting although New Delhi has taken a considered position not to involve Kashmiris in the dialogue taking the view that they are part of India represented at the talks by the Central government.

Manipur agitators to intensify protests: Apunba Lup, the apex body of 32 organisations demanding immediate removal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act, said on Tuesday that it would 'seek people's support afresh' to continue an intensified agitation for lifting the act.
 
Joshi labels text-book changes as votebank politics: Senior BJP leader Murli Manohar Joshi on Tuesday said that efforts by Union Human Resource Development Minister Arjun Singh to change the syllabus of history textbooks was only aimed at getting support of certain sections of people for votes and keep the Leftists in good humour.

Uma Bharti released; case withdrawn: The former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister was today discharged by a court in a 10-year old criminal case and ordered to be set free.

Muslim growth rate alarms BJP: The party said with 36 pc Muslim growth rate, infiltration could pose demographic problems. 6.1 pc decline in Sikh population: The first-ever \91Census report on religion\92 released by the Census Commission of India today showed a \93high growth\94 of Muslims at 36 per cent during the decade 1991-2001 in sharp contrast to the 20.3 per cent growth rate of Hindu population during the same period. Hijack alert in Kolkata: The Central Industrial Security Force headquarters in New Delhi has information that Maoist rebels in Nepal are planning to hijack an Indian Airlines aircraft flying to Kathmandu.  States SC stays proceedings in Taslimuddin case in Bihar court: In a blow to the UPA government on \93tainted\94 ministers issue, the Supreme Court today stayed proceedings in the Araria court on the Bihar Government\92s plea for withdrawing a criminal case against Union minister Mohd Taslimuddin, saying the Magistrate concerned had shown \93mortal hurry\94 in staying the arrest warrant against him. Crude bombs found in Ahmedabad: A ragpicker was injured when a crude bomb exploded in Sarangpur area of the city today. Police recovered 10 more crude bombs stuffed inside small plastic balls from the spot.  Former envoy kills himself: R C Shukla, former Ambassador to South Africa, allegedly committed suicide in his east Delhi house. Sources said his illness could have prompted him to take this step.   Neighbours Musharaff says 96 pc people want him: President Musharraf on Monday said the vast majority of Pakistanis do not want him to quit the post of the army chief and become a civilian ruler. "You should go and ask the people, 96 per cent will say 'should not shed' the uniform. Explosion at Nepal hotel: A bomb exploded at Hotel Malla in Kathmandu Tuesday evening. New Pak PM vows to carry opposition along: Shaukat Aziz has promised to offer an olive branch to opposition parties which boycotted his recent election to the office. Nepal PM to leave for India:  Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba is to leave for New Delhi for a five-day official visit on Wednesday afternoon, the Foreign Ministry Tuesday said. Indian PM calls Deuba: Dr Manmohan Singh called Deuba on Monday and told that India was willing to extend cooperation to Nepal to combat terrorism, reports said. Indian peace activist introduces book at Lahore: Mumbai-based Indian peace activist and member of the Pak-India People\92s Forum for Peace and Democracy (PIPFPD) Neera Adarkar held a reading session at the National College of Arts on Monday evening. 2 soldiers, tribesman killed in mine blast: Two soldiers and a tribesman were killed and two others wounded in a landmine explosion in the South Waziristan tribal region on Sunday ni View from abroad  'India can hardly help French Sikhs': India can do little to come to the aid of Sikh students in France who have been subjected to a curb on wearing turbans at schools, regrets National Commission for Minorities chairman Tarlochan Singh. Overall: India, Pakistan talks made some progress: But the foreign secretaries couldn't move forward on Kashmir at the two-day session. Kolkata went on an alert:  It feared Maoists from Nepal could be planning a plane hijack. Census figures were released: It showed varying demographic growth rates for India's major religions. Home Page Subscribe to receive this page daily by email Unsubscribe from the mailing list

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