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Upper House concerned about
India's foreign policy focus

What is India News Service, Tuesday, 21 December 2004, 1900 hrs IST

The Rajya Sabha on Monday saw Elders discussing India's foreign policy in the context of the changing global scene. The Opposition has been accusing the UPA Government of lacking focus, and letting the relationship with Pakistan drift.

The debate, which lasted more than three hours, saw members covering nearly all aspects of foreign policy including relations with Pakistan, Israel, US, Russia, India's nuclear doctrine and efforts to secure a seat in the United Nations Security Council. External Affairs Minister K Natwar Singh, who was present during the debate, would reply on Tuesday.

Initiating the debate, Samajwadi Party MP Janeshwar Mishra asked the Government to come out with a white paper on foreign policy and urged India to stand up to nation states who used their might as a means of terrorising smaller countries. He also cautioned the Government not to bank too much on the US as it was not a true friend.

However, the tone of the short duration discussion was set by former External Affairs Minister and BJP leader Yashwant Sinha when he said the relationship with Pakistan in the last six months was drifting. Moreover, the talks had entered a dangerous zone and the UPA Government's focus was not proper and confusion marked the process, he said.
 
Election Commission lodges FIR against Lalu Prasad: Taking suo motu action on the reported incident of the Railway Minister and the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) president, Lalu Prasad, distributing Rs. 100 each to his partymen in Patna, the Election Commission today lodged a first information report. 
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BJP stages walkout in LS over Lalu's 'philanthropy'.
Lalu's ek note, ek vote draws EC ire 

Laloo determined to derail Lok Pal Bill: Union Minister for Railways Laloo Prasad Yadav is determined on derailing the much-delayed Lok Pal Bill. At a Cabinet meeting held last Friday, Laloo, according to authoritative sources, was belligerent about the fact that politicians and ministers already faced much scrutiny under Acts such as the Prevention of Corruption Act.

DTH broadcasting to be regulated: The government is planning a legislation to address security concerns and check obscene programmes in television following introduction of Direct-to-Home service.

'Fake encounter' major dismissed: Surinder Singh was sentenced after the court found him "guilty of all charges" after the court martial proceedings, according to an army spokesman. 

Badawi suggests trade agreement: The Malaysian Prime Minister, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, today suggested ``some form of free trade agreement'' with India to catalyse greater economic and trade cooperation between the two countries. 

Turban issue taken up with France: The government has taken up with France the issue of ban on Sikh turbans in French schools as part of that country\92s new law.

No possibility of third front at national level, says Yechury:  Termed as \91political watchdogs\92 of the UPA govt, the CPI-M has promised support to the alliance as long as the former sticks to the Common Minimum Programme.

Zaheera's deposition begins: Prime witness in the Best Bakery case Zaheera Sheikh began her deposition on Tuesday in the retrial being conducted at the special court at Mazgaon.

States

BJP all the way in Chhattisgarh: The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party did a hat trick after its splendid show in the Assembly and Lok Sabha elections by romping home in by-elections.

Will Jodhpur Jail act as 'safe house' for Pappu Yadav?: RJD leader and muscleman MP from Bihar Pappu Yadav could be shifted to the high security Jodhpur jail in Rajasthan. After the Beur Jail incident, the Patna High Court had directed the CBI to shift Yadav to a jail outside Bihar. The deadline to shift him to another jail was fixed for January 3. According well-informed sources, the CBI has listed about a dozen such jails in the country; in this regard the Jodhpur jail has topped the list.

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