State Cong stopping flow of central funds to Punjab: Badal
Gurdaspur: Reports in a section of the local media related to alleged comments by Union Minister Jairam Ramesh that the state Congress leadership was opposing central grants for the state had exposed the anti-Punjab stance of the party, Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal said on Sunday . Interacting with reporters here on the sidelines of the second day of his Sangat Darshan programme in the Qadian Assembly segment, the CM said that Ramesh’s statement had vindicated the view of the SAD-BJP government that it was the state Congress leadership which was a “stumbling block” in the path of development in Punjab. A few vernacular dailies in the state recently reported a quote attributed to Rural Development Minister Ramesh that leaders of Punjab Congress were stopping central grants from coming to the state. He said that it reflected the “narrow approach” of Punjab Congress leaders towards the larger issues concerning the state. “Instead of resorting to such tactics, Congress leaders must join the state government for seeking more funds to ensure unprecedented development in Punjab,” he said. Replying to another query, the CM said that before asking the state government to construct a memorial for the victims of militancy in Punjab, the state Congress leadership must ask the Union government to build one. (PTI)
India, Russia to review crucial military projects
New Delhi: India is expected to take up the issues of progress made in the Admiral Gorshkov aircraft carrier project and pricing of the fifth generation fighter aircraft project during Defence Secretary R K Mathur’s meeting with his Russian counterparts in Moscow tomorrow. The Defence Secretary is leading a high-level tri-services team comprising three-star rank officers from the three services, and the status of ongoing projects such as Gorshkov, which is now rechristened as INS Vikramaditya and FGFA are expected to come up for discussion, Defence Ministry sources said here. In the delegation-level talks scheduled to be held tomorrow, the two sides are also expected to discuss the futuristic joint development projects for the armed forces, they said. The meeting is also expected to discuss the ammunition requirements of the artillery and the tank fleet of the Army and the upgrade of the T-90 tanks. However, it is not clear whether the Indian side will raise the issue of mishap on its Kilo Class submarine INS Sindhurakshak, which had come back from Russia a few months ago after an extensive refurbishment in a shipyard there and is believed to under warranty till January 2014. India is planning to involve the Russian side into the investigations in the mishap after the completion of the Board of Inquiry into the matter. It is learnt that the two sides are also planning to discuss the upgrade of one more Kilo Class submarine INS Sindhushastra, the last of the 10 submarines procured by India from Russia. India had procured ten Kilo class vessels from Russia in early 1980s and the deliveries were made in 14 years from 1986 to 2000. PTI
Farooqui fit to be in Pakistan: Togadia
Coimbatore: VHP on Sunday said SP leader Kamaal Farooqui was “fit to be in Pakistan” after his comments over the arrest of Indian Mujahideen co-founder Yasin Bhatkal. “Those who are supporting anti-nationals and terrorists should be branded as anti-nationals and should be in Pakistan,” VHP International Working President Praveen Togadia told reporters here. Togadia made the comment against the backdrop of Farooqui asking whether Bhatkal’s arrest was “based on crime or religion”. The VHP leader said, “This Farooqui is fit to be in Pakistan. If he is supporting anti-nationals and terrorists, he is anti-national and fit to be in Pakistan.” Congress and BJP have slammed Farooqui for his comment calling it “ridiculous” and “regrettable”. Samajwadi Party has, however, distanced itself from Farooqui’s remarks saying they reflected his personal views. “Farooqui’s statement is not that of the party’s. It could be his personal views,” senior SP leader Ramgopal Yadav said yesterday. (PTI)
Notorious criminal escapes from Bangalore jail
Bangalore: A notorious criminal and serial rapist on Sunday escaped from the high-security central prison here, where he was lodged since 2011, police said. ADGP Prisons K V Gagandeep told PTI that 11 prison officials, including an Assistant Superintendent, two jailers and a chief warden, have been suspended, for the alleged dereliction of duty. Jaishankar (36), facing as many as 24 cases of rape, murder and dacoity in Karnataka and outside, was lodged in the underground cell of the high-security Parappana Agrahara jail because he had “psychological problems”. (PTI)