international l

the week that was the week that was

President visits Russia and
Tajikistan
India Russia for more cooperation against terrorism
strengthening ties with geo-politically crucial Tajikistan
President Pratibha Patil recently
paid a visit to Russia and Tajikistan.
In a meeting between President
Pratibha Patil and Russian Prime
Minister Vladimir Putin, in
Moscow, the issue of terrorism and
strengthening economic relations
figured prominently.
The two leaders were in
complete agreement that the
world community has to respond
to the terror threat, for peace and
stability in the region. There was
also an agreement on the potential
to take the relationship forward in
the economic sector especially in
the context of the global financial
crisis.
President Patil appreciated the
st ro n g s u p p o rt R u s s ia h ad
extended on vital issues including
nuclear energy, defence and
military cooperation. Mr. Putin
held that the bilateral relationship
was in the interest of both countries
and was defined by special trust.
Russia also reiterated its support to
India's stand on regional and
international forums including its
claim for permanent membership of
the UN Security Council.
It was also agreed that there was
a need to intensify parliamentary
interaction between the two
countries, especially of young
parliamentarians. It was suggested
that the Inter-Parliamentary
Commission which was established
in 1988, should be revitalized.
On the economic front while
India has already finalised an
investment of about $5 billion
dollars in the hydrocarbon sector of
Russia and looking for more
opportunities in gas and petroleum
projects, Russian companies are
active in off shore oil explorations
and communications in India.
President Patil is the first Indian
head of state to visit Tajikistan, and
will be the only foreigner so far to
have attended functions to mark its
national day.
India's interest in this tiny Central
Asian Republic arises from a variety
of factors.
Today, this country represents a
confluence of big power interests. It
shares its border with China,
Afghanistan, Uzbekistan and
Kyrgyzstan, and is narrowly
separated from Pakistan-occupied
Kashmir by a small stretch of Afghan
territory and in recent years it has
become a strategic play ground for
Russia, China and the U.S., with India
joining the fray in 2001.
The second at traction to
Tajikistan's prime location is that it is
September 15-21 2009
Page 2
a Muslim majority secular State with
a declared interest in fighting
international terrorism, religious
extremism, drugs and transnational
crime.
Russia, from which Tajikistan
separated in 1991, has a military
base here and continues to mentor
the state, while China has pumped
money and aid into the country.
T h e Ru s s ian an d Ch in es e
engagements are estimated at $ 1
billion and $ 400 million
respectively. For the United States,
this tiny landlocked State is vital for
its strategic calculations both
because of rival Russian and Chinese
interests here as well as being next
door to extremist hotbed
Afghanistan.
Mamta
September 15-21 2009
Page 3
Economy business
It is not Laloo's kurta or Sonia' saari but the latest in politician's
fashion is flying economy
It started with cabinet minister
Pranab Mukherji asking the MPs
to cut on their travelling expenses
by taking the economy class
f l i g hts . T h e re we re m i xed
reactions over this. A poll
conducted by an English news
channel stated that 38% of the
MPs agreed to it, 33% disagreed
while 27% felt it didn't matter to
them.
News media has got a new
story to cover now- who is flying
how? This whole issue is being
presented in a way that these MPs
are doing some sacrifice on their
part whereas it should have been a
matter of common sense!
Where the 70 % of the
population is surviving with Rs. 20
per day, the MPs elected by them
fly business class and live in 5 star
hotels.
The common man is happy
that at last some of the MPs are
becoming sensible but no one is
thinking what these people are up
to. It is a well planned
appeasement policy by the ruling
government albeit for public good.
Using the content-hungry
media as a tool the strategy is being
implemented in stages. The
elections in three states,
Maharashtra, Arunachal Pradesh
and Haryana, are near. In UP,
Congress is getting some hold and
wants it to grow. They first raised
the issue of Mayavati's statue
building spree saying that it was all
a waste of public money. Now they
have got one more issue to project
themselves in white.
Rahul Gandhi travels at first
by Delhi Metro; then, he takes
Shatabdi Train that too in chair car
(how kind of him!). This adds
further into his media hoisted
'charismatic personality' banner.
His banner goes even higher.
nationa
Special Lok
Adalats to
settle power
cases
Sonia Gandhi is fast becoming
an epitome of sacrifice. The latest in
her sacrifice basket is her business
class. Just see how great she
becomes going by the words of
Pranab Mukherji.
The problem is not on MPs
flying or sitting in a rikshaw but the
problem is the way this all is being
projected. It is agreed that it will do
only good to the society at large
even by an iota of percentage but
the motif seems adulterated.
Where was this attitude when
the whole nation was in recession,
what the government is doing
about the price rise? Will MPs flying
economy class do any good to the
common man? It is all an image A Special Lok Adalat was organized at
building process just before the the Delhi Court on Sept 12th and 13th
elections. A party's projection for by Power distribution company BSES in
the bharat ki aam janta which association with the Delhi High Court
believes and forgets. Common man Legal Services Committee.
is lost in common men. With an aim to enable
Ajeet customers or litigants to reach over an
amicable on the spot settlement of
power theft cases, these Lok Adalats

Mongolia signs
civil nuclear pact
with India
Indian Prime Minister Manmohan
Singh and Mongolian President
Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj signed the
civil nuclear pact along with other
treaties here in New delhi on
September 14.
An MoU on Development of
Cooperation in the field of
peaceful use of radioactive
minerals and nuclear energy
which would enable India to look
for uranium in Mongolia was also
s i g n e d b y M r Ts e r e n g i i n
Damdinsuren, Deputy Head of the
Mongolian Atomic Energy Agency
and Mr A P Joshi, Additional
Secretary in the Department of
Atomic Energy (DAE) in the
presence of Dr Singh and the
Mongolian President.
Mongolia is believed to have a
huge reserve of Uranium. After
US, Russia, France, Kazakhstan
and Namibia, Mongolia has
become the sixth nation to sign a
civil nuclear pact with India.
All these treaties have been
Chinese cuisine Stampede in MCD School gave relief to consumers belonging to
the lower and middle-income group.
The people willing to settle their
48 incursions in past two months and the
Violation of court's warning on safety norms power theft cases came in person or
along with their advocate. Cases that
recent firing along Sikkim border... What This thursday proved to be the National Building Code children died in a fire, Delhi are either pending in any court of law
China is up to? traumatic for the Government
Senior Secondary School
(NBC) of India. According to the
code a school should have fire
became the first state to
incorporate safety measures as
or are yet to be filed or upto Rs 1 lakh
were taken up by the Lok Adalat.
possible only after the Nuclear The Sino-Indian relation is on the boil advancements against India. It has
after a series of incursions in the last
Suppliers Group (NSG) lifted the ban encircled southern India from the students and their parents in safety measures like fire part of its Roopantar project In order to settle these cases in
on India before the much debatedfew months. The latest being the sea-side with its military bases. Khajuri Khas in Delhi where five extinguisher, hose reel and fire- launched in 2008. the quickest possible time a total of 12
firing on the Sikkim border on
Indo-US Nuclear treaty. The NSG a The huge influx of cheap girls were killed in a stampede fighting equipment in place but However, there is still courts (BRPL 7 and BYPL 5) were set up.
group of 45 nations had imposed Monday. electronic and synthetic goods has BSES also made special arrangements
and 35 others were injured. the school had none of these. inadequate awareness on
the ban in 1975 on India to have Chinese troops fired into the had a serious impact on Indian like setting up 12 help desks manned
The injured were rushed to the The school was running in handling emergencies. Students by specially trained officials to help
trade in this field. Indian territory killing two ITBP economy by killing many small textile GTB hospital. Six of them were two shifts and there was gap of in most schools have no idea
jawans. Last two months, July and
Dr. Singh also told that the two and hand weaving industries along consumers. Of these, two help desks
critically injured. only 30 minutes between the about evacuation procedures were setup for women, senior citizens
August, saw 48 incursions from
nations have also agreed on deeper with electronic item manufacturers.
The incident has brought two shifts. The tragedy could during emergencies. Even and the disabled. A similar kind of Lok
China. Indian media reacted and
cooperation in not only the field of Hundreds of tanks and more
reported this issue strongly.
mining but also in other areas of than 700 trucks, 50000 troops have forth an issue of severe lack of have easily been avoided had teachers, who are responsible Adalat was organized in March which
However, the central government
mutual interest like agriculture. been shifted from four Chinese basic amenities in government the school authorities put in for the minors under their had seen over 2300 cases getting
Health, cultural exchanges, didn't take any noticeable stance on provinces at a place just 2000 kms and MCD schools. The issue place proper examination-time charge, are not trained in resolved on the spot.
it.
statistical matters and extension of from Arunachal Pradesh. came to the Delhi High Court's arrangements and ensured ensuring orderly exit from This time efforts were made by
loan were the other four fields in Chinese foreign Ministery Recently China even dared to BSES and Delhi High Court Legal
attention in 1997. Though monitoring of the two batches classrooms and school in an
spokesperson rubbished these
which the pacts were signed by the question India's wisdom as well as Services to make these Lok Adalats
Section 42(r) of the Delhi of students. Initial reports emergency. paperless. A special concern was also
two nations. reports by saying that it is yet to hear status of Arunachal Pradesh by Municipal Corporation Act suggest that the stampede Unless all kinds of safety
India on this occasion also from its Indian counterparts. The asking India not to allow Dalai Lama shown this time for the environment. It
1957 prescribed primary happened when a large number measures are ensured, Indian was ensured that there was no physical
declared US $ 25 million question remains why India is to visit Tawang.
education as a statutory duty; of girl students rushed down a schools will remain vulnerable movement of files.
keeping mum on all these issues?
stabilization fund for Mongolia. This It is a time when India will have
fund wi ll help Mongolia in With the recent firings China has to look into the matter with greater its 1802 schools in 12 zones narrow staircase after some to such tragic mishaps. While To sum up, it could be said that
violated the bilateral peace treaty of
mitigation of the impact of global concern as China is training its guns rarely comply with the safety boys misbehaved with a few Human Resource Minister, Kapil these Lok Adalats proved to be an
financial crisis. Mongolian 1996 whereby it was agreed that at all the fronts. Both the nations will norms. Apart from this they are girls. What is more striking is Sibal is eying on major reforms alternative redressal mechanism
both nations won't open fire
President Mr. Elbegdorj expressed have to sit and chalk out a better bereft of drinking water, that no teacher was present to in education in India, this should which is speedy as well as cost
gratitude towards India for whatever be the provocations. diplomatic plan which is in the effective. It has helped a lot in reducing
toilets, electricity, fans and control the situation. not go overlooked.
providing the stabilization fund. China has made several strategic interest of both. the huge backlog of pending cases.
desks. After the mishap of July Mamta
Upmanyu e c o n o m i c a n d m i l i t a r y Ajeet Ruchi
The school did not follow 2004 in Tamil Nadu where 93