Akash testfired from ITR

ORISSA, Jun 17 (UNI) India today successfully testfired medium-range surface-to-air missile 'Akash' from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Chandipur-on-sea, about 15 km from here.

According to ITR sources the missile, with a range of 25 km and considered to be one of the major milestones in the country's integrated guided missile development programme, was testfired at 1430 hours.

Scientists of the Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO) and the ITR witnessed the testfire.

'Akash' possessing an advanced booster and ramjet propulsion, has a multiple target handling capability.

President's office refuses to divulge info on Vajpyee-KR communiques AHMEDABAD, Jun 17 (UNI) The Nanavati-Shah Commission, probing the post-Godhra riots in Gujarat, today said the Rashtrapati Bhawan has refused to divulge the contents of the official communications between then President K R Narayanan and then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on the riots, citing its special privileges.

The two member commission Justice (Retd) K G Nanavati and Justice (Retd) G T Shah said it has got a letter from the President's Office stating that it was raising the special privilege under Article 74 (2) of the Constitution to refuse divulging the contents of the official documents about the communication between Narayanan and Vajpayee for controlling the post-Godhra riots.

The commission also said that the Rashtrapati Bhavan has stated' that it was also raising special privileges under section 123 of the Indian Evidence Act.

The Commission had written the letter to Rashtrapati Bhavan in the wake of the interview by Narayanan to a noted Malyalam magazine in which he had stated that he had urged Vajpayee to send the Army to Ahmedabad and other affected places to curb the communal riots.

Meanwhile, in his reply to the Commission, Naraynan had stated that he had already said whatever he had to say.

However, other three respondents Vajpayee, former Union Defence Minister George Fernandes and former Gujarat Governor Sundar Singh Bhandari have not not so far responded to Commission's letter.

Later, talking to reporters, lawyer Mukul Sinha, who appears for NGO Jan Sangarsh Manch said he might challenge the stand of Rashtrapati Bhavan or move another application.

UP to quench Delhi's thirst; but not before June 22 LUCKNOW, Jun 17 (UNI) The Uttar Pradesh government today said it could provide the required amount of water to Delhi only after June 22, provided the monsoon arrived by that time.

How can we give water when we ourselves are grappling with an acute shortage, UP Irrigation minister Munna Singh Chauhan told UNI today.

The Minister claimed that during the talks between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav it was agreed upon that UP would give 270 cusecs (cu) of water to Delhi only after river Ganga had 2,500 cu water.

But as of now Ganga has only 2,100 cu water.

He said from June 2006, UP would get 4,000 cu of water from Tehri in Uttaranchal.

After we get water from Tehri, we would give an additional 300 cu of water to Delhi, he informed.

At present, UP is giving 200 cu water to Delhi.

But their demand of an additional 270 cu could only be met after the arrival of monsoon in UP, he added.

Chauhan also clarified that 80 cu of water provided to Delhi's Sonia Vihar water plant was stopped after a three month trial between February and April this year.

The minister, meanwhile, has left for New Delhi to hold talks.

A section of the media had this morning quoted Delhi Jal Board (DJP) as claiming that UP would release the additional 270 cu of water immediately.

It said CM Yadav had taken the decision to immediately release water following intervention by the PM.

UPA govt undermining institutions: Venkaiah Naidu TIRUPATI, June 17 (UNI) Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Vice-President M Venkaiah Naidu today alleged that the UPA government at the Centre was undermining institutions including the Election Commission and the Supreme Court, and faulted Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for breaking protocol by going to the airport to see off Sonia Gandhi on a private visit to a foreign country.

Talking to reporters here, he said the BJP felt there was a new power centre other than the office of the Prime Minister, in an apparent reference to AICC President Sonia Gandhi.

Alleging that the UPA government was unable to take any decision on important matters including oil prices, Naidu said the Left parties and the RJD, among others, were vetoing its decisions.

The Supreme Court, High Courts and Election Commission (EC) were being criticised on Jharkhand and Bihar, and the EC, which had held free and fair elections in Bihar was being attacked, he said.

Referring to the speeches made by the President and the Prime Minister at the recent Governors conference that the latter should be watchdogs over states, he remarked that Governors remained pet dogs.

On the recent resignation of BJP president L K Advani, he said it was a closed chapter.

Advani was the senior-most leader and would continue to head the party, he added.

The resignation and withdrawal were entirely a party affair, he said, adding that Advani was a great leader in protecting Hindutva.

He defined Hindutva as nationalism and secularism.

The BJP would support the majority and protect the minority, Naidu, said.

The party's mission was to expand, with all attempts to reach out to the minorities.

To a question, he replied that the BJP and VHP were separate entities.

Sheila Dikshit to open Delhi Haat fair in London NEW DELHI, Jun 17 (UNI) Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit will open the Delhi Haat Exposition at Trafalgar Square in London tomorrow.

Dikshit will also inaugarate a three-day workshop at the Nehru Centre in which Indian artisans and crafts people along with their London counterparts will participate.

During her three-day visit to the United Kingdom, the Chief Minister will be accompanied by senior officials including Education Secretary Reena Ray.

The Delhi Haat Exposition will also see cultural performances from different states.

Odissi exponent Madhavi Mudgal is scheduled to perform during the fair.

Second batch of 'Garud' commandos pass out NEW DELHI, Jun 17 (UNI) The second batch of 'Garud' commandos of the Indian Air Force today passed out from the Garud Regimental Training Centre (GRTC) at the Hindon Air Base near here.

Eighty two airmen commandos, specially termed 'Air Cubs,' were given their rank at an impressive Passing-Out Parade, by Air Commodore P J Joseph, the Command Non-Technical Training Officer at the Bangalore-based IAF Training Command, IAF spokesman Wing Cdr Sanjeev Sharma said.

The 'Air Cubs' successfully completed a session of rigorous commando training on various modern weapons and combat operational exercises with the Indo-Tibetan Border Police.

Raised on the pattern of the Army's Para Commandos and the Navy's Marine Commandos (MARCOS), the force is intended to be posted at various air force stations for protection of vital IAF installations like radars and airfields in border areas as well as undertake counter terrorist operations.

The first batch comprising 62 air commandos, graduated in February 2004.

The IAF intends the force's strength to be approximately 1080 men and women, and also equip them with advanced training, including anti-hijack and counter insurgency operations, jungle and snow survival techniques, specialised weapon handling and advanced driving skills.

Hawara associate committs suicide CHANDIGARH, June 17 (UNI) Mandip Singh, a close associate of dreaded Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) terrorist Jagtar Singh Hawara committed suicide in Kehra village in Hoshiarpur district yesterday, police today said.

Senior Punjab police officials here said that Mandip Singh alias Deepa, who had close links with Hawara, jumped into a well when he was cornered by the police at Kehra village under the Mahilpur police station.

The police party had gone to arrest him following inputs collected by state intelligence agencies.

The police achieved another success when it arrested Hardip Kaur,a close friend of Hawara who harboured him after his escape from Chandigarh's,Burai Jail.

She was arrested from near a Gurdwara in Fatehgarh Sahib, ADGP, J P Birdi claimed.

The police recovered 2.50 kg RDX, several detonators and rupees 4.50 lakh in cash, based on information it got from her.

Hardip Kaur had known Hawara since her college days.

Hawara who is currently in the custody of the Delhi police, had stayed with Hardip Kaur, at her rented accomodation in Saala.

The police has so far arrested about a dozen persons/associates of Hawara and recovered a large cache of ar and ammunation including about 15 kgs RDX.

Charanjit Kaur and Baljit Kaur, elder sisters of Hardip Kaur are already in the custody of the police.

JD(U) member Digvijay Singh administered RS member oath NEW DELHI, June 17 (UNI) Rajya Sabha Chairman Bhairon Singh Shekhawat today administered the oath as member to Digvijay Singh of the Janata Dal (United)- elected to the House from Jharkhand through a byelection on June 3 last.

The byelection was necessitated due to Stephen Marandi vacating the seat after he rebelled from the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha and got elected as an Independent from the Dumka Assembly seat in elections held earlier this year.

For Digvijay Singh this is his second stint in the Rajya Sabha- having served a full term from 1990 to 1996.

His present term shall run upto July 7, 2010.

Digvijay Singh has also been member of the 12th and 13th Lok Sabha and has held important portfolios as Minister of State for External Affairs (July 1, 2002 to May 22, 2004), Minister of State for Railways (August 1, 2001 to July 1, 2002 and October 13, 1999 to July 22, 2001) and Minister of State for Commerce & Industry (July 22, 2001 to September 1, 2001).

He was also Deputy Minister Finance and External Affairs during 1990-91.

BJP to hold agitation to protest Rampur incident LUCKNOW, June 17 (UNI) The Uttar Pradesh BJP today announced it would hold a series of agitational programmes in the state to protest the removal of the statue of Jan Sangh ideologue Pt Deen Dayal Upadhaya at Rampur.

The decision to hold state-wide dharnas and demonstrations on the issue was taken a meeting here, attended by Rajya Sabha member Kalraj Mishra, Leader of the Opposition Lalji Tandon, former BJP state president Om Prakash Singh and other senior leaders.

Party leaders from all the districts would hold demonstrations at Rampur from June 21 to 27, party spokesman Hridya Narain Dikshit said.

A massive demonstration programme would be held in the state capital on June 23, which is also the death anniversary of Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee.

Meanwhile, party MPs and MLAs would march to Raj Bhawan on June 25 to hand over a memorandum to the Governor, demanding action against the culprits involved in insult to the great leader by removing his statue.

Ths statue had been removed by private contractors on June 13 when they were widening the road.

Several senior BJP leaders including national vice-president Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, Vinay Katiyar, state unit president Keshrinath Tripathi and Lalji Tandon were arrested when they tried to hold a rally at Rampur on June 15 to protest its removal.

BJP activists are holding demonstration at several places regularly and were burning the effigy of state urban development minister Mohd Azam Khan in connection with the incident.

Advani to address rally in J&K town on June 23 NEW DELHI, Jun 17 (UNI) BJP President L K Advani will address a massive rally at the historic Lakhanpur town of Jammu and Kashmir on June 23 as part of the party's silver jubilee celebrations to highlight the need for emotional integration of the country.

BJP Vice President Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said that it was through this very small border town that Bharatiya Jana Sangh founder Shyama Prasad Mukherjee had entered Jammu and Kashmir without permit, only to return as a body.

His demand for a single Constitution, flag and a Prime Minister had resulted in Jammu and Kashmir coming under the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court of India and the Election Commission of India, after which the people of the country could travel to the state without permit.

Naqvi said the party wanted to highlight the sacrifice of Jan Sangh founder when the BJP, the Jan Sangh's next avatar, was completing its 25 years of existence in Indian polity.

The Jan Sangh had dissolved itself into the Janata Party in 1977 only to break away three years later in 1980.

He said Advani would be addressing a meeting in Delhi on June 25 to remind the people of the threat posed to the country's polity due to the imposition of emergency by s Indira Gandhi in 1975.

On June 26, Advani will be addressing a rally at Bangalore, where he was arrested along with former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee as a member of a Parliamentary delegation on the night the emergency was imposed.