US apologises for Kalam frisking incident

http://www.timesnow.tv/US-apologises-for-Kalam-frisking-incident/videoshow/4388877.cms

The US has apologised to former President A P J Abdul Kalam who was twice subjected to frisking at New York airport by American security officials who even took his jacket and shoes to check for explosives, an incident that left India fuming. 

"We deeply regret the inconvenience that resulted for him (Kalam) as a result of the September 29 incident involving the security screening at JFK Airport in New York," a statement from the US Embassy here said, noting that it had the utmost respect for Kalam. 

80-year-old Kalam was frisked in New York on September 29 before boarding an Air India flight. 

Sources said that even after Kalam had taken his seat in the aircraft, the US security personnel forced the crew to open the door and took away the jacket and boots of the former president to check for explosives since they had forgotten to do so before his boarding. The items were later returned to Kalam. 

Outraged at the frisking incident, India today threatened retaliatory action against US dignitaries unless such 
"unacceptable" practices were stopped. 

External Affairs Minister S M Krishna spoke to Indian Ambassador to US Nirupama Rao and directed her to take up the matter in writing at the "highest level" with Washington. 

In its damage control exercise, the US came out with a written apology to Kalam and the Indian government, saying "appropriate procedure for expedited screening of dignitaries had not been followed". 

They also said that US was actively working to prevent such incidents from occurring in the future. 

The US said that subsequent to the frisking incident, US Charge d' Affaires here Peter Burleigh personally hand delivered a letter from the US Transportation Security Administrator to Kalam and a similar letter was delivered to the government of India regretting the incident. 

Maintaining that it "deeply values and appreciates" the strong relationship and partnership with India, the US said, "We are confident that despite this regrettable incident, we will continue working closely with India in the many areas of our strategic partnership". 

MEA officials said Krishna has sought a detailed report from its mission on the incident which they said was 
"unacceptable". 

They further said that if this continues, there is a possibility of reciprocating as per diplomatic norms. 

Sources close to Kalam said he doesn't give much thought to such incidents and never complains about them. 

However, this time, his office informed the External Affairs ministry about the incident after he returned home. This is not the first time that Kalam has been frisked by US aviation officials. 

Kalam was frisked by officials of US airliner Continental Airlines in April, 2009 despite his name featuring in the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security's list of people exempt from security checks in India. 

A detailed report on the latest incident was prepared by Air India's Director (Security) S Mathur and sent to the Civil Aviation Ministry which in turn forwarded it to the External Affairs Ministry in October. 

"As the incident happened on American soil, I have been informed that US security agencies are investigating it. Such incidents should not happen," Civil Aviation Secretary Nasim Zaidi said. 

An External Affairs Ministry spokesperson said officials of both the countries were working on ways to avoid recurrence of such incidents in future, including preparing a common list of VIPs. 

BJP asked the government to take up the issue with the US saying this "cannot be tolerated". 

"The way former President Kalam was treated was an insult to him. Government must take it up with the US," BJP leader Shahnawaz Hussain told reporters. 

Hussain said "such incidents are not happening for the first time. There are many such incidents. This cannot be tolerated."

Kalam not exempted from security screening: US 

India and the US are planning to hold talks on appropriate mechanisms for security screening of dignitaries in the backdrop of frisking of A P J Abdul Kalam at a New York airport with Washington informing New Delhi that the former President was not exempted from security checks. 

In a response to Kalam's frisking at JFK airport, official spokesperson in the Ministry of External Affairs said it had immediately lodged a protest over the incident after which the US wrote to the former President regretting the episode and assured Indian government that it was taking corrective steps to prevent such events. 

Noting that Kalam was a regular visitor to USA and was returning home on September 29 by an Air India flight from New York, he said US authorities have explained that under existing US regulation, former President Abdul Kalam does not fall into the category of persons exempt from security screening. 

"However, US authorities extended usual courtesies to him at the airport, including escort and private screening," he said. 

After former President Kalam had entered the aircraft, US Transport Security Agency (TSA) agents requested Air India staff for President Kalam's jacket and shoes, reportedly as these had not been checked according to the prescribed procedure during the private screening, the spokesperson said. 

Air India staff then sought the consent of Kalam, who had by then removed his jacket and shoes and settled in his seat, to hand them over to TSA authorities, he said, adding these personal belongings of former President Kalam were returned shortly thereafter.

BJP's internal feud peaks? (over appointment of a general secretary)

He is someone that Narendra Modi has kept at arms length for a long time, fellow RSS Pracharak and BJP General Secretary Sanjay Joshi. Joshi, after an infamous exit from the party in 2005, has made a comeback two months back. Sources say this is enough to make Modi unhappy for he does not want his old detractor back on his home turf.
http://www.timesnow.tv/BJPs-internal-feud-peaks/videoshow/4388513.cms

Trinamool MPs meet Indian PM, not much headway over price hike.

More than 20 Members of Parliament met the Indian Prime Minister on November 08, 2011 to inform him about the concerns of a common man, hit by inflation. The PM informed them about global economics in the case but did not really promise any action in future. The government had its way, and Mamata Banerjee did not get the leverage she was hoping for.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/videos/news/Trinamool-MPs-meet-PM-over-petrol-prices/videoshow/10656408.cms

With Navika Kumar in Delhi and Shamvit in Kolkata, my report from Delhi for Times Now.

NCW submits report on Bhatta Parsaul violence, confirms rape

New Delhi, Sep 20 (ANI): 

The National Commission for Women (NCW) on Tuesday submitted its final report into the Bhatta-Parsaul violence in which it mentioned that police officials deployed in the twin villages of Uttar Pradesh had raped and beaten women during a farmers' agitation earlier this year.

The NCW submitted its report to Minister of State for Women and Child Development Krishna Tirath.

NCW chairperson Mamta Sharma said that women were scared and the police exerted pressure on them and therefore a committee of female members was set up to record their testimonies.

"Each woman spoke separately to Committee members and narrated the whole incident and how they were abused. The committee cross-questioned them as well and carried out a tally to match their accounts," said Sharma.

"After verifying the truth, we concluded the women were raped and the culprits were police officials," she added.

The final report contradicts the National Human Rights Commission's report, which stated no atrocities were reported, but validated Congress party General Secretary Rahul Gandhi's charge that women were indeed beaten and raped by policemen.

Meanwhile, NCW has assured that they would ensure that the perpetrators are punished.

"NCW will be involved in this matter until a case is filed and rapists punished. The official record states 22 people have been arrested during the farmers' agitation, but not one police official was taken into custody. This is grave injustice and we are trying our best to get the culprits punished," said Sharma.

The NCW spoke to seven women and a committee set up by the chairperson recorded detailed statements.

In its preliminary report, the commission's acting chairperson, Yasmin Abrar, had said that the women were molested.

In May this year, the twin villages of Bhatta-Parsaul witnessed violent clashes between the police and farmers, who protested against the land acquisition policies of the Uttar Pradesh Government. 

By Pooja Shali (ANI)

Israeli Tourism Minister terms Delhi HC blast 'terrible'

New Delhi, Sep.7 (ANI): Israel's Minister for Tourism Stas Misezhnikov on Wednesday said the bomb blast at Delhi High court was 'terrible' and both nations should learn to maintain strict safety measures while living in difficult neighbourhoods.

Misezhnikov is on his first official visit to India between September 5 and 9.

Expressing his concern over the blast that killed 12 and injured 60, Misezhnikov said such 'terrible' acts can prove fatal for international tourism

"We have a quite difficult neighbourhood and you have the same difficulty with your neighbourhood. This makes a strong bond with our country and so there is a deeper understanding of feelings during such times. It is a difficult job for the ministry of tourism to explain to the tourists that it is safe to travel to a country after it has suffered from such a terrible terrorist attack," said Misezhnikov.

Misezhnikov said both India and Israel must unite and understand each other better and continue with tourist interactions so that terror does not win.

Stas Misezhnikov

"We have today's attack on a judge court in New Delhi but you will see that the youngsters of Israel would continue to come to India and Israeli families will continue to come to India because if we will not do all this, this will be an award to the terrorists and none of us would want to give such a prize to the terrorists. We have to say that terror will not win but now it is more important to understand each other needs better," said Misezhnikov.

Misezhnikov has met his Indian counterpart, Subodh Kant Sahai and would be meeting Minister of Civil Aviation, Vayalar Ravi today. Misezhnikov, accompanied by senior officials from his ministry and a business delegation, will also conduct meetings and seminars with tourism and aviation business leaders in Mumbai city tomorrow.

He noted that strict security measures have helped Israel against possible terror acts and it is better to be on the safe side with regard to security.

"When there are complaints of certain Indian groups that they have to wait at the entrance of our country for too long due to checking and double checking, the explanation to that is we want to guarantee you safety at the entrance and when you leave Israel. It is always better to be on the safe side of security," said Misezhnikov.

The blast outside the court, seen as a high profile but soft target, comes at a time when the judiciary is in sharp focus for nudging the government to act on issues ranging from corruption to environment.

In May, a low-intensity blast outside the same court triggered panic but no one was injured.

Several bomb attacks in large Indian cities in recent years have been tied to the Indian Mujahideen, said to have support from Pakistan-based militants fighting Indian rule in Kashmir.  

By Pooja Shali(ANI)

http://in.news.yahoo.com/israeli-tourism-minister-terms-delhi-hc-blast-terrible-102920327.html

Pak child receives gift from Indian doctors on Eid

New Delhi, Aug 31 (ANI): 

Reflecting the current spirit of cooperation between two Asian neighbours, doctors at Gurgoan's Medanta Midicity Hospital successfully operated a nine-year-old Pakistani boy, suffering from a chronic liver disease, and discharged today on the joyous occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr.

Ali Shaheer Malik, who hails from Pakistan's Lahore city, was suffering from Familial Cholestasis and went into a state of semi-coma.

He was brought to the Medanta Medicity Hospital here in a critical condition.

The boy's uncle Kashif Malik decided to donate a part of his liver that led to a successful surgery a few weeks ago and the ailed was kept under observation during the post-operative period.

 

The occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr has brought double celebrations for the family, as doctors announced Ali could leave the hospital premises after successfully recuperating from the surgery.

 

Now, the hail and hearty boy would be heading to Lahore along with his mother and uncle in the next few daysn extremely delighted Ali's mother thanked the team of Indian doctors for gifting her child a new life.

 

"I feel like my son has got a new life here and he has been taken care of very well. When we came here he was quite sick and very critical and the doctors at the hospital did whatever they could. I am very thankful to both the doctors and Medanta Hospital for taking good care of my son," said Zanobia, Ali's mother.

 

"Now, he can sit and he can walk. I hope he can now have a good life," she added.

 

An elated Ali feels this to be his best Eid gift and now plans to undertake fun activities back home.

 

"I can stand now and I will also run very soon. I will climb the stairs of my home and do other things as well. This is my best Eid gift," said Ali.

 

Experts at the Delhi Hospital feel they had a huge responsibility with the boy, as doctors in Pakistan failed to detect causes of the disease.

 

"Ali has a birth defect, which is called Familial Cholestasis. It is a genetic defect. In Pakistan, the doctors could not point out the cause of it and here in India, we did not have enough time to cue the reason because the boy reached us in a state of coma," said Dr. Neelam Mohan, Director, Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Liver Transplantation, Medanta.

 

"Our first priority was to reverse the process and prepare the boy for surgery," she added.

 

The Indian High Commission had granted the visa within two days of the request and the family members were able to reach the hospital on time for further treatment.

 

This collaborative effort has brought forth more hope of enhanced relations between the two countries, which have fought three wars in the past. By Pooja Shali (ANI)

http://www.newstrackindia.com/newsdetails/238255

Hazare's health poor, but firm spirit keeping medical situation in control: Dr. Trehan

New Delhi, Aug.24 (ANI):

Civil society activist Anna Hazare's health is poor, but his spirit is keeping his medical situation under control, said Dr. Naresh Trehan, the head of Gurgaon's Medicity Hospital and the leader of medical team monitoring his health on a round-the-clock basis.

"Mr. Hazare's sugar level has reached 102 and he again has refused to be put on a drip today morning. His condition needs medical attention, but his firm spirit has kept the situation in control till now," said Dr Trehan.

The anti-graft crusadet has lost six kilograms in weight since he began his fast on August 16. Traces of ketone have also been found in his blood.

Doctors have warned that his condition will worsen if he continues to refuse to be put on an IV drip.

Last evening, Hazare, 74, refused to be taken to hospital or be put on IV drip. In fact, Anna told his supporters to form a human chain in case government officials tried to take him away forcefully from the Ramlila grounds.

Meanwhile, members of Team Anna are having a second meeting with Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee and other senior UPA ministers, though not much headway has been made at present.

"The three main sticky issues were the Citizen's Charter, the inclusion of lower bureaucracy and the setting up of state Lokayuktas," said Arvind Kejriwal.

The government is expected to respond to Team Anna in the next few hours over all issues.

Meanwhile, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) lawmaker Varun Gandhi and social activist Aruna Roy have met Hazare and interacted with his supporters at the Ramlila grounds.

"I am here to support this cause as a citizen of this country," said Varun Gandhi.

Security continues to remain tight at the grounds, as tens of thousands of people continue to pour in to express support for Hazare.

Hazare's campaign has found resonance with millions of Indians, particularly the middle class, which is tired of endemic bribery and a series of corruption scandals that has the top politicians and businessmen embroiled in it.

Supporters are demanding for the swift passing of the Jan Lokpal Bill (civil society's version of Ombudsman bill) in the Parliament for which Hazare has been crusading since April this year.

The federal government had appointed the joint drafting committee of the Lokpal Bill (Ombudsman bill) in April 2011, after Hazare had gone on an anti-graft hunger strike in New Delhi, drawing support from millions of Indians.

Though the legislation was presented before the Parliament in early August, civil society activists slammed the draft version as 'toothless' as the Prime Minister, judges and the lawmakers were kept out of its ambit.

http://in.news.yahoo.com/hazares-health-poor-firm-spirit-keeping-medical-situation-065854192.html