·WEDNESDAY,MARCH23,2011·

36 Pages G Rs. 2.50 ISSN 0971 - 751X City Edition Vol. 134 No. 70 Chennai www.thehindu.com Regd. TN/ARD/17/09-11 www.thehindu.in RNI No. 1001/57

SEEKS VOTERS’ VILLAGERS LIBYA: FIGHTING PAKISTAN TAKES SUPPORT TORCHED INTENSIFIES ON WINDIES PAGE 8 PAGE 14 PAGE 19 PAGE 23

Printed at Chennai, Coimbatore, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Madurai, Delhi, Visakhapatnam, Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi, Vijayawada, Mangalore, Tiruchirapalli, Kolkata and Hubli • • BRIEFLY DA up for Central staff India sought help in IC-814 Opposition demands NEW DELHI: To help its 50 lakh employees and 38 lakh pensioners cushion the impact of high case; FBI said ‘no fishing’ inflation, the Centre on Tuesday increased the discussion on dearness allowance by six New Delhi wanted access to Taliban records seized by the U.S. per cent to 51 per cent. Page 15 Nirupama Subramanian ernment in Afghanistan pro- Later that year, Mr. Blake vided safe passage to the five sent another cable on the sub- CHENNAI: The Federal Bureau hijackers and the three re- ject (45536: secret, Novem- of Investigation (FBI) did not leased militants. ber 18, 2005), this time urging Manmohan statement respond to Indian requests India registered a case and Washington to take the Indi- for assistance in the investi- began investigations into the an request seriously: cooper- Uproar in Parliament over WikiLeaks exposé gation into the IC-814 hijack- hijacking. The U.S. too regis- ate more. ing as it did not want to tered a case as there was one Reason: MEA Joint Secre- Special Correspondent cooperate in what it internal- American citizen among the tary (Americas) S. Jaishankar ly described as “fishing passengers. had told him and the Embas- NEW DELHI: A determined Op- CBI moves court for expeditions.” When U.S. forces invaded sy Political Counselor at a position on Tuesday stalled Anderson extradition Wearying of playing the go- Afghanistan in 2001 after the meeting on November 18 that the proceedings in Parlia- NEW DELHI: The CBI moved between, the U.S. Embassy in 9/11 attacks, ousted the Tali- “a USG failure to respond to ment, demanding a discus- a court here on Tuesday to New Delhi urged Washington ban government and de- earlier information requests sion on Prime Minister obtain a Letter Rogatory to bring to an end “this ongo- tained many of its leaders, the FBI has shared all its in- […] regarding the hijacking of Manmohan Singh’s state- to U.S. authorities for the ing cycle of requests” by giv- India asked the Americans for formation relevant to the hi- IC-814 could infringe on the ment, following the Wiki- extradition of the former ing the Indian government a access to those linked to the jacking of IC-814 with the broader US-India law en- Leaks exposé — published by Union Carbide “clear negative response” hijacking. New Delhi also Central Bureau of Investiga- forcement/intelligence The Hindu — on alleged Corporation chairman, rather than “perpetuating a wanted access to records the tion (CBI), India’s lead feder- relationship.” bribes during the 2008 trust Warren Anderson, to fruitless dialogue.” U.S. may have seized in Af- al law enforcement agency, The trial of the 10 persons vote, while Leaders of the Op- India for trial in the 1984 But on a later occasion, it ghanistan that could help In- but has not acquiesced on re- who were accused in the hi- position in both Houses said Bhopal gas leak case. urged greater cooperation dia’s case. quests it deems ‘fishing jacking — seven of them in they gave notice of privilege with Indian investigators in expeditions’.” absentia — was winding against Dr. Singh. SpiceJet dismisses the interests of the develop- Two non-papers The only addition he made down. Dr. Jaishankar con- Disagreeing with the gov- ing bilateral strategic More than three years lat- to his response in May was veyed “that the GOI, in ab- ernment’s plea that a discus- two arrested pilots relationship. er, India was still pushing for that he had not conveyed the sence of a US reply, will be sion in the Lok Sabha could NEW DELHI: Two SpiceJet U.S diplomatic cables of its “pending requests”. In FBI’s “fishing expedition” forced to state in court that be taken up after the House pilots arrested for 2005, accessed by The Hindu March 2005 and again in May sentiment to India. they are unable to proceed considered the Finance Bill, misrepresenting their through WikiLeaks, reveal that year (Cable 29497: However, Mr. Blake added further due to US inaction.” the Bharatiya Janata Party- flying hours to get licences how wary Washington was confidential, March 24, that the MEA request showed Immediate action now, the led National Democratic Alli- were dismissed on just a few years before the 2005; 32567: confidential, “senior-level attention to the MEA official said, “would ance staged a walkout and BJP leader L.K. Advani protests interruption of Tuesday, even as nine Mumbai 2008 attacks about May 13, 2005 ) the Ministry of IC-814 matter and perception forestall such an embarrass- stayed away in the post-lunch Sushma Swaraj’s speech in the Lok Sabha more pilots suspected to sharing information with In- External Affairs handed over at that level that the USG has ing event.” session when the Bill was on Tuesday. — PHOTO: PTI have obtained licences dia, especially where it con- identical “non-papers” — dip- been less than fully Mr. Blake urged that “to passed. When the proceed- using forged marksheets cerned Pakistan. lomatic jargon for an infor- forthcoming.” prove our new strategic part- ings began, Leader of the Op- the allotted time and then er L.K. Advani said that in the were under the scanner. The Indian Airlines flight mal memorandum — to U.S. Making an “action re- nership extends to the intelli- position Sushma Swaraj said proceed to take up the Fi- history of Parliament, the — PTI from Kathmandu to New Del- Embassy officials in New Del- quest,” he urged that “we gence areas, we should share she gave notice of privilege nance Bill. Mr. Sinha said the House could not run for an en- IPS officer suspended hi was hijacked and taken to hi, reiterating the requests. need to bring an end to this fully what we know. Such a against the Prime Minister government should not stand tire session because the Lead- Kandahar in Afghanistan in Both times, Deputy Chief ongoing cycle of requests […] step may prompt India to which, Speaker Meira Kumar on technicalities. er of the Opposition was not MUMBAI: The Maharashtra 1999. of Mission Robert O. Blake and a clear negative response share more fully as well. said, was being examined by However, Leader of the allowed to speak. government has India surrendered to the transmitted the non-papers would be preferable to per- Jaishankar is clearly testing her. Ms. Swaraj maintained House Pranab Mukherjee Parliamentary Affairs Min- suspended a senior IPS hijackers’ demand for the re- to Washington, along with petuating a fruitless dialogue. the limits of our transformed that a discussion on another wanted the Bill taken up first ister Pawan Kumar Bansal re- officer facing the charge of lease of three militants in- the response from the Em- The FBI has reportedly ex- relations.” notice under a rule that did to ensure that it was taken up sponded, saying the secretly filming the cluding Masood Azhar, who bassy Legal Attache, an FBI hausted its ability to cooper- His requested action this not entail voting be taken up. early in the Rajya Sabha. “I do government gave the utmost interrogation of Pune went on to form the position in U.S. diplomatic ate, and we should directly time was “to verify the Indi- Prior to the walkout, Ms. not think heaven is going to importance to the office of businessman Hasan Ali Jaish-e-Mohammed. missions. inform both CBI and MEA to an’s claims about the hijack- Swaraj was joined by her col- fall if we take up the Finance Leader of the Opposition. Khan and leaking its In exchange, the govern- In both instances, the Legal that effect, with specific con- ers’ detention status. If they league Yashwant Sinha and Bill first. I assure you that we In the Rajya Sabha, Leader doctored CDs. — PTI ment secured the freedom of Attache had the same re- firmation on what evidence is are in USG detention, we Sharad Yadav of the Janata will have the discussion after of the Opposition Arun Jaitley METROPLUS all but one — the hijackers sponse: “Legatt noted that or is not in US possession.” should grant Indian access or Dal (United), all of whom had the Finance Bill is passed. I said he gave two notices, one a — 8 Pages killed him — of the 178 pas- share information we have given notice for discussion. am not making it a prestige is- privilege and the other to dis- sengers and 15 crew on board More reports on Op-Ed page; Cables at www.thehindu.com gleaned on the IC-814 Ms. Swaraj said the House sue,” he said. cuss the issue on the trust OPPORTUNITIES the aircraft. The Taliban gov- hijacking.” could have a debate within Taking exception to inter- vote. Deputy Chairman K. — 4 Pages ruptions during Ms. Swaraj’s Rahman Khan said the Chair- SUDOKU intervention, senior BJP lead- man was seized of the matter. — Page 23 EC imposing excessive Pranab rolls back restrictions: Karunanidhi tax on healthcare Lok Sabha passes Finance Bill Special Correspondent Says officials were “The money carried for land transactions is also being Special Correspondent CHENNAI: Chief Minister M. transferred without seized. But the irony is that Karunanidhi on Tuesday ac- consulting State the EC is not able to seize NEW DELHI: Stung by the “mi- cused the Election Commis- money from any politician,” sery tax” remark by the sion (EC) of imposing government he said, adding that the trad- healthcare industry and in excessive restrictions and ers’ association had called for deference to widespread crit- unilaterally transferring offi- date, he said the EC had re- closure of shops on March 29 icism in and outside Parlia- cials without consulting the jected the request of the polit- as a mark of protest against ment, Union Finance State government. ical parties for postponing the vehicle checking. Minister Pranab Mukherjee In a statement here, he said polling date, because it “does Mr. Karunanidhi said on Tuesday withdrew the five that in an “unprecedented not want anyone to raise their transport of livestock was also per cent service tax on hospi- manner” the EC had ordered voice against it”. under surveillance because tals and diagnostic centres. transfer of Director-General Recalling the days when the EC was under the impres- He also gave excise duty relief of Police (DGP) and many wall writings, festoons and sion that chicken and goats on branded garments to District Collectors. loud speakers made election a were being transported to small-scale industries and “It has not spared even festival for celebration, Mr. prepare biriyani and offer it to announced marginal tax con- honest officials only because Karunanidhi said the EC had voters as inducement. cessions for some other sec- the AIADMK levelled allega- even issued a direction that “In some places they have tors. tions against them. It has statues of leaders such as An- seized jewellery. In Madurai, In his reply to the debate Finance Minister Pranab transferred them without ver- nadurai, Kamaraj, Rajiv officials have searched an on- on the Finance Bill 2011-12 — ifying the allegations,” he Gandhi and MG Ramachan- ion godown for money,” he which was later approved by Mukherjee replies to the said, adding that even public dran should be covered. said. He pointed out that pub- voice vote in the absence of debate on the Finance relations officers working at Citing newspaper reports, lic interest litigation had al- the main Opposition Bharati- Bill in the Lok Sabha on the Collectorate were the Chief Minister said check- ready been initiated in the ya Janata Party as it walked Tuesday. — PHOTO: PTI transferred. ing of vehicles had completely Madras High Court against out when the Bill was moved Wondering why there was a crippled trade because trad- the excessive restrictions im- for consideration — Mr. Muk- by hospitals and by way of di- month’s gap between the poll- ers were not allowed to carry posed by the Election herjee chose to modify some agnostic tests until the GST ing date and the counting money to banks. Commission. other tax proposals relating comes into force.” to dividend tax, personal While the withdrawal of computers, printers, mobile the service tax on centrally phones and auto parts. air-conditioned hospitals 3 sitting MLAs in CPI (M) list With this, the three-stage (having more than 25 beds) R. Rajaram ram – K. Balakrishnan ; Tiru- The party’s Perambur con- budgetary exercise stands and diagnostic centres was pur (South) – K. Thangavel; stituency candidate A. completed in the Lok Sabha, welcomed by the treasury TIRUCHI: The Communist Par- Periyakulam (reserved) – A. Soundararajan is the CITU and the Finance Bill is to be benches and the Opposition, ty of India (Marxist) on Lasar; Dindigul – K. Balabh- State general secretary. K. taken up by the Rajya Sabha Mr. Mukherjee hoped that it Tuesday announced the arathi; Harur (reserved) P. Balakrishnan is the Kisan for final approval. would not be called a “misery names of its candidates for Dilli Babu; Vilavancode – R. Sabha State president. Earlier, announcing the tax” any more. the 12 Assembly constituen- Leema Rose; Vikkravandi – A. Lasar is State president rollback of the much-criti- Mr. Mukherjee also an- cies allotted to it by the R. Ramamurthy ; Palayam- of the Agricultural Labourers cised levy on hospitals while nounced exemption of coking AIADMK-led alliance for the kottai – V. Pazhani; Madurai Union. moving the Bill for approval, coal from customs duty when April 13 elections. South R. Annadurai; Madu- Ms. Balabharathi is the Mr. Mukherjee said: “The used in the production of iron The list includes three sit- ravoyal – K. Beem Rao and party State committee mem- proposed levy on health care and steel, and reduction in ting MLAs — K. Balabha- Keezhvelur (reserved) Nagai ber. has raised considerable anx- the import levy on completely rathi, P. Dilli Babu and R. Maali alias V.P. Mahalingam. Another sitting MLA P. iety in this House and out- knocked down kits for re-as- Leema Rose and four State Announcing the candi- Dilli Babu is the party’s side. The purpose of the levy sembled engine and gear-box secretariat members. dates’ names at the CPI (M) Dharmapuri district secreta- was not merely to mobilise or transmission assembly for The names of the candi- district unit office here, its ry. R. Leema Rose is the par- revenue; it was to pave the manufacture of vehicles to dates were finalised at the State secretary G. Ramak- ty’s Nagercoil district way for the introduction of provide relief to the auto meeting of CPI (M)’s State rishnan said that all 12 candi- secretariat member. The CPI the Goods and Services Tax sector. Committee here. dates had worked for the (M) has fielded a Dalit, K. (GST). However, I have de- The constituencies and party and had been consis- Beem Rao, from the Madura- cided to withdraw the new candidates are: Perambur- A. tently raising issues con- voyal Assembly constituen- levy in its entirety, both in BJP walks out: Page 14 Soundararajan; Chidamba- cerning people. cy, Mr. Ramakrishnan said. respect of services provided

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