2G scam: CBI probing four ex-babus
Vishwa Mohan & Pradeep Thakur, TNN, Nov 19, 2010, 01.50am IST
NEW DELHI: The CBI on Thursday said it was investigating four former senior bureaucrats for their alleged connection with a powerful lobbyist, Nira Radia, who is being probed for her alleged role in the 2G spectrum scam. In fact, a top CBI official said the former bureaucrats could even be booked "if evidence of collusion and payoff emerge" during the ongoing probe.
On Thursday, TOI had reported that four ex-bureaucrats were under serious scrutiny for their links with Radia and her firm Noesis Consultancy.
The bureaucrats are former Telecom Regulatory Authority of India chairman and disinvestment secretary Pradip Baijal, former economic affairs secretary C M Vasudev, former industrial policy and promotion secretary Ajay Dua and former TRAI member D P S Seth.
The CBI official said the agency was seeking to figure out that the jobs the bureaucrats got with Radia's firm was in exchange for any favour they may have extended to the lobbyist.
"The agency has been probing whether the four, who either took up post-retirement jobs in different private companies at one or the other point of time or worked independently as advisors to private players, had favoured the lobbyist Nira Radia's firm in one or the other way during their service period," a top CBI official said.
"One aspect of the 2G scam probe is to find out their roles. If we find something, a case will also be registered against them in due course," he explained.
The official also said that Radia remains at the centre of the escalating probe into the spectrum scam. "Over 5,000 call records of Radia are also being minutely looked into to ascertain the exact role played by her company Noesis Strategic Consulting Services relating to 2G spectrum allotment," the official said.
Stating that the entire probe will be completed in the next four-five months to meet the Supreme Court's deadline, he said R K Chandolia -- who was the private secretary to former telecom minister A Raja -- would also be called for questioning.
The official said the basic tenet of the probe would be whether Raja received any kickbacks. "If yes, what was the modus operandi and how did it change hands," he said.
Baijal, during his interview to a TV channel, admitted that he did advise Tata Teleservices on spectrum issues but said no investigating agency had approached him so far. "I did advise Tata Teleservices on spectrum issues. I am their advisor and consultant and have nothing to hide. Nira Radia is my partner. I am aware of everything. But no investigating agency has approached me till date," Baijal said.
The other ex-bureaucrats also defended their associations. During an interview to a channel, Vasudev acknowledged his affiliation with Noesis, but denied having any link with any telecom company. He also said he had quit Noesis. "I am not with the firm (Noesis). I left it a year ago. I was invited to do development work and had nothing to do with telecom sector even when I was in that firm," Vasudev said.
Seth, on his part, told news channels that he was an independent advisor on regulatory and technical issues and had nothing to do with policy matters.....http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/ml.asp?Ref=VE9JTS8yMDEwLzExLzE5I0FyMDAxMTA=&Mode=Gif&Locale=english-skin-custom
Saturday, November 20, 2010
Thursday, November 18, 2010
VIP Security...much needed downsizing
VIP protectee count down 50%
Vishwa Mohan, TNN, Nov 18, 2010, 01.25am IST
NEW DELHI: Constant rationalisation of the VIP security system by the government sees the number of protectees in the Central list substantially reduced from 423 in 2008 to 207 as on date -- over 50% decrease in number of those who get police protection at taxpayers' expense.
The sharp decline happened after the Union home ministry has weeded out those from the Central list of VIP protectees who do not have any `actual' threat on the basis of assessment made by both security and intelligence agencies. The pruning exercise had begun last year when the ministry, on the basis of field inputs, felt that a number of persons, mainly politicians, had got security cover despite having no `actual' threat to them.
"At present, the number of protectees in the Central list is 207, of whom 35, 55, 66 and 51 have been given Z+, Z, Y and X category security cover, respectively... Security is provided to individuals based on threat assessment by security agencies," the minister of state for home affairs Mullappally Ramachandran had said in written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday.
Though the pruning exercise has not affected the high-risk individuals who get Z+ category security cover, the list of VIPs in other categories -- Z, Y and X -- saw sharp decline with the ministry weeding out those from the list who got security on some flimsy grounds.
As many as 243 VIPs -- politicians, bureaucrats and others -- used to get Y category security as compared to 81 of X category, 68 of Z category and 31 of Z+ category security cover in 2008. The VIPs under the Y-category security cover currently avail of seven Personal Security Officers (PSOs) and house-guards while those under X category get two PSOs.
Similarly, the higher category protectees get more PSOs and number of house-guards. While Z+ category protectees get 20 PSOs (including head constables and constables), an escort and a pilot vehicle, the Z category ones get 13 PSOs (including HCs and constables) and an escort vehicle. Among the four categories of the VIP security, the Y-category list consists of the highest number of individuals. In fact, majority of them are enjoying the security cover, thanks to their positions in the government.
At present, senior political leaders like L K Advani, Narendra Modi, Mayawati, Mulayam Singh Yadav, Jayalalitha, Farooq Abdullah, Omar Abdullah and N Chandrababu Naidu and retired IPS officer K P S Gill are among 35 protectees who enjoy Z+ category security cover.
During the comprehensive review and rationalisation exercise of the entire VIP security system, the home ministry had withdrawn last year the X-category security cover of many individuals including former Chief Justice of India Y S Sabarwal; former MPs Govinda, Anwar Hussain; UP strongman and politician D P Yadav and MLA from Matia Mahal in Delhi Shoiab Iqbal.
Officials in the security agencies believe that the list of Z+ category security given to high-risk individuals has, however, grown with a couple of leaders, of late, insisting on getting it only by `overplaying' the actual threat perception. "They have succeeded because they are on the right side of the ruling political spectrum," said an official without identifying these VIPs.
Vishwa Mohan, TNN, Nov 18, 2010, 01.25am IST
NEW DELHI: Constant rationalisation of the VIP security system by the government sees the number of protectees in the Central list substantially reduced from 423 in 2008 to 207 as on date -- over 50% decrease in number of those who get police protection at taxpayers' expense.
The sharp decline happened after the Union home ministry has weeded out those from the Central list of VIP protectees who do not have any `actual' threat on the basis of assessment made by both security and intelligence agencies. The pruning exercise had begun last year when the ministry, on the basis of field inputs, felt that a number of persons, mainly politicians, had got security cover despite having no `actual' threat to them.
"At present, the number of protectees in the Central list is 207, of whom 35, 55, 66 and 51 have been given Z+, Z, Y and X category security cover, respectively... Security is provided to individuals based on threat assessment by security agencies," the minister of state for home affairs Mullappally Ramachandran had said in written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday.
Though the pruning exercise has not affected the high-risk individuals who get Z+ category security cover, the list of VIPs in other categories -- Z, Y and X -- saw sharp decline with the ministry weeding out those from the list who got security on some flimsy grounds.
As many as 243 VIPs -- politicians, bureaucrats and others -- used to get Y category security as compared to 81 of X category, 68 of Z category and 31 of Z+ category security cover in 2008. The VIPs under the Y-category security cover currently avail of seven Personal Security Officers (PSOs) and house-guards while those under X category get two PSOs.
Similarly, the higher category protectees get more PSOs and number of house-guards. While Z+ category protectees get 20 PSOs (including head constables and constables), an escort and a pilot vehicle, the Z category ones get 13 PSOs (including HCs and constables) and an escort vehicle. Among the four categories of the VIP security, the Y-category list consists of the highest number of individuals. In fact, majority of them are enjoying the security cover, thanks to their positions in the government.
At present, senior political leaders like L K Advani, Narendra Modi, Mayawati, Mulayam Singh Yadav, Jayalalitha, Farooq Abdullah, Omar Abdullah and N Chandrababu Naidu and retired IPS officer K P S Gill are among 35 protectees who enjoy Z+ category security cover.
During the comprehensive review and rationalisation exercise of the entire VIP security system, the home ministry had withdrawn last year the X-category security cover of many individuals including former Chief Justice of India Y S Sabarwal; former MPs Govinda, Anwar Hussain; UP strongman and politician D P Yadav and MLA from Matia Mahal in Delhi Shoiab Iqbal.
Officials in the security agencies believe that the list of Z+ category security given to high-risk individuals has, however, grown with a couple of leaders, of late, insisting on getting it only by `overplaying' the actual threat perception. "They have succeeded because they are on the right side of the ruling political spectrum," said an official without identifying these VIPs.
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Project Visa...
New 'P' visa for expats in power, steel sectors
Vishwa Mohan, TNN, Nov 17, 2010, 03.03am IST
NEW DELHI: The government has introduced a separate visa regime -- called `P' (Project) Visa -- within the employment visa for foreign nationals coming to India for "execution of projects in the power and steel sectors".
The new regime will pave the way for foreign companies to bring "highly skilled or skilled" foreign nationals to India for executing projects of their Indian clients (companies) for a maximum period of one year without getting into the nitty-gritty of the two existing work-related visa regimes -- Business (B) and Employment (E) Visas. The facility will, however, not be available to companies in other sectors.
"Guidelines issued recently for `P' visa have come out with certain conditions, which are to be strictly followed while granting such visas. Project Visa will be issued only after approval from concerned authorities in India, the processing of which may take 45-50 days," said a senior home ministry official.
India had felt the need for a separate visa regime after it imposed strict restrictions on issuing of Business and Employment Visas last year. The home ministry had in June 2009 found that thousands of foreign nationals, mainly unskilled or semi-skilled workers from China, used the `B' visa route to come to India instead of coming on the `E' visas which are meant for only skilled or highly skilled professionals.
Though the government had subsequently asked all such `B' visa holders to return to their countries and come back only after converting their visas (from B to E), the decision sent alarm bells ringing across the private industry as it feared substantial delay in ongoing projects. Considering the implication of the decision on certain infrastructure projects, the government had asked a Committee of Secretaries (CoS) to look for an alternative to address such concerns.
"The separate visa regime for execution of projects in the power and steel sectors is the result of the CoS recommendation," said the official.
The guidelines for `P' Visa clearly say that its validity will initially be for the duration of the project/contract with multiple-entry facility. "It, however, cannot exceed one year. Besides, a person coming under `P' Visa cannot take employment in the same Indian company for a period of two years from the date of commissioning of the project," said the official.
Besides highly skilled or skilled workers who can be issued such visas on the basis of "sector specific ceilings on the maximum number of visas allowed for each project in the steel and power sectors", the Project Visa can also be issued to two chefs and two interpreters per project.
The guidelines also say: "A Project Visa holder cannot engage in another project either of the same company or of a different company and his or her work will be restricted to the location of the project."
According to the guidelines, the Indian company engaging the foreign national for executing the project/contract "will be responsible for the conduct of the foreign national during his or her stay in India and also for the departure of such foreign national upon expiry of the visa".
Besides, the Project Visa holder will have to register with the FRO/FRRO concerned within 14 days of arrival if the validity of the visa is more than 180 days......http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/ml.asp?Ref=VE9JS00vMjAxMC8xMS8xNyNBcjAxMTAw&Mode=Gif&Locale=english-skin-custom
Vishwa Mohan, TNN, Nov 17, 2010, 03.03am IST
NEW DELHI: The government has introduced a separate visa regime -- called `P' (Project) Visa -- within the employment visa for foreign nationals coming to India for "execution of projects in the power and steel sectors".
The new regime will pave the way for foreign companies to bring "highly skilled or skilled" foreign nationals to India for executing projects of their Indian clients (companies) for a maximum period of one year without getting into the nitty-gritty of the two existing work-related visa regimes -- Business (B) and Employment (E) Visas. The facility will, however, not be available to companies in other sectors.
"Guidelines issued recently for `P' visa have come out with certain conditions, which are to be strictly followed while granting such visas. Project Visa will be issued only after approval from concerned authorities in India, the processing of which may take 45-50 days," said a senior home ministry official.
India had felt the need for a separate visa regime after it imposed strict restrictions on issuing of Business and Employment Visas last year. The home ministry had in June 2009 found that thousands of foreign nationals, mainly unskilled or semi-skilled workers from China, used the `B' visa route to come to India instead of coming on the `E' visas which are meant for only skilled or highly skilled professionals.
Though the government had subsequently asked all such `B' visa holders to return to their countries and come back only after converting their visas (from B to E), the decision sent alarm bells ringing across the private industry as it feared substantial delay in ongoing projects. Considering the implication of the decision on certain infrastructure projects, the government had asked a Committee of Secretaries (CoS) to look for an alternative to address such concerns.
"The separate visa regime for execution of projects in the power and steel sectors is the result of the CoS recommendation," said the official.
The guidelines for `P' Visa clearly say that its validity will initially be for the duration of the project/contract with multiple-entry facility. "It, however, cannot exceed one year. Besides, a person coming under `P' Visa cannot take employment in the same Indian company for a period of two years from the date of commissioning of the project," said the official.
Besides highly skilled or skilled workers who can be issued such visas on the basis of "sector specific ceilings on the maximum number of visas allowed for each project in the steel and power sectors", the Project Visa can also be issued to two chefs and two interpreters per project.
The guidelines also say: "A Project Visa holder cannot engage in another project either of the same company or of a different company and his or her work will be restricted to the location of the project."
According to the guidelines, the Indian company engaging the foreign national for executing the project/contract "will be responsible for the conduct of the foreign national during his or her stay in India and also for the departure of such foreign national upon expiry of the visa".
Besides, the Project Visa holder will have to register with the FRO/FRRO concerned within 14 days of arrival if the validity of the visa is more than 180 days......http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/ml.asp?Ref=VE9JS00vMjAxMC8xMS8xNyNBcjAxMTAw&Mode=Gif&Locale=english-skin-custom
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
FICN racket....the ISI-underworld network...Pakistan is allegedly using Dawood's network
For first time, India to name Pakistan in fake currency racket
Vishwa Mohan, TNN, Nov 16, 2010, 02.11am IST
NEW DELHI: With India having collected concrete evidence against Pakistan for allegedly printing and circulating fake Indian currency notes (FICNs), New Delhi will for the first time name Islamabad at various international fora soon.
An official said: "India will first approach the Financial Action Task Force -- an inter-governmental body -- whose purpose is the development and promotion of national and international policies to combat money laundering and terror financing. Subsequently, the matter will be raised before World Bank, IMF and Interpol."
Government sources said that a detailed dossier was being prepared incorporating the findings of various agencies like CBI and NIA which had over the years collected evidence, on how the FICNs were being printed at Quetta in Balochistan using "sophisticated machines" and "currency papers" which are actually meant for printing Pakistani currency notes.
Some time ago, the NIA in the chargesheet in an FICN case of Mumbai had clearly hinted at Pakistan's hand in printing and circulation of fake Indian currency. The chargesheet had said: "After thoroughly examining the FICN, it can be concluded that the notes have been printed on highly sophisticated machines which a common man cannot acquire since such machines involve huge capital investment. The perfection of window and watermarks formation indicates the manufacture of FICN paper on regular currency making machines which can only be owned by a country/state."
The chargesheet also said: "The wilful circulation of such high quality FICN printed abroad and smuggled into the country with the intent to threaten the economic security and sovereignty of India, therefore, tantamounts to a terrorist act committed to cause damage and destruction of India's legal tender and monetary system, thereby impeding the economic security of India."
Besides, the security agencies in India recently intercepted conversation between some Pakistani officials and their Indian agents which suggested that FICNs worth Rs 40 crore was ready to be sent to India. Only recently, the CBI had busted a racket by arresting seven persons in Delhi, Haryana, Bihar and West Bengal. Fake currency notes worth Rs one crore -- mostly in denomination of Rs 500 and Rs 100 -- were recovered from their possession.
"This gang had got all the FICNs from Pakistan. Forensic examination of the seized currency notes suggest that the paper used for the purpose was the one which was actually meant for printing Pakistan's currency," said a senior official.
It is suspected that Pakistan might have imported currency paper from European countries beyond its requirement and subsequently diverted it to print FICNs. The agencies here have found that while the FICNs are printed using Pakistan state agencies, these are being circulated through the underworld network of Dawood Ibrahim and his henchmen in West Asian and South-East Asian countries.
The FICNs seized in the recent past, officials said, showed that these notes were brought in by agents from Pakistan via Bangladesh, Nepal, Bangkok, Colombo, Dubai and sometimes Kuala Lumpur.
vishwa.mohan@timesgroup.com
--http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/ml.asp?Ref=VE9JTS8yMDEwLzExLzE2I0FyMDEyMDA=&Mode=Gif&Locale=english-skin-custom
Vishwa Mohan, TNN, Nov 16, 2010, 02.11am IST
NEW DELHI: With India having collected concrete evidence against Pakistan for allegedly printing and circulating fake Indian currency notes (FICNs), New Delhi will for the first time name Islamabad at various international fora soon.
An official said: "India will first approach the Financial Action Task Force -- an inter-governmental body -- whose purpose is the development and promotion of national and international policies to combat money laundering and terror financing. Subsequently, the matter will be raised before World Bank, IMF and Interpol."
Government sources said that a detailed dossier was being prepared incorporating the findings of various agencies like CBI and NIA which had over the years collected evidence, on how the FICNs were being printed at Quetta in Balochistan using "sophisticated machines" and "currency papers" which are actually meant for printing Pakistani currency notes.
Some time ago, the NIA in the chargesheet in an FICN case of Mumbai had clearly hinted at Pakistan's hand in printing and circulation of fake Indian currency. The chargesheet had said: "After thoroughly examining the FICN, it can be concluded that the notes have been printed on highly sophisticated machines which a common man cannot acquire since such machines involve huge capital investment. The perfection of window and watermarks formation indicates the manufacture of FICN paper on regular currency making machines which can only be owned by a country/state."
The chargesheet also said: "The wilful circulation of such high quality FICN printed abroad and smuggled into the country with the intent to threaten the economic security and sovereignty of India, therefore, tantamounts to a terrorist act committed to cause damage and destruction of India's legal tender and monetary system, thereby impeding the economic security of India."
Besides, the security agencies in India recently intercepted conversation between some Pakistani officials and their Indian agents which suggested that FICNs worth Rs 40 crore was ready to be sent to India. Only recently, the CBI had busted a racket by arresting seven persons in Delhi, Haryana, Bihar and West Bengal. Fake currency notes worth Rs one crore -- mostly in denomination of Rs 500 and Rs 100 -- were recovered from their possession.
"This gang had got all the FICNs from Pakistan. Forensic examination of the seized currency notes suggest that the paper used for the purpose was the one which was actually meant for printing Pakistan's currency," said a senior official.
It is suspected that Pakistan might have imported currency paper from European countries beyond its requirement and subsequently diverted it to print FICNs. The agencies here have found that while the FICNs are printed using Pakistan state agencies, these are being circulated through the underworld network of Dawood Ibrahim and his henchmen in West Asian and South-East Asian countries.
The FICNs seized in the recent past, officials said, showed that these notes were brought in by agents from Pakistan via Bangladesh, Nepal, Bangkok, Colombo, Dubai and sometimes Kuala Lumpur.
vishwa.mohan@timesgroup.com
--http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/ml.asp?Ref=VE9JTS8yMDEwLzExLzE2I0FyMDEyMDA=&Mode=Gif&Locale=english-skin-custom
Sunday, November 14, 2010
26\11 Mumbai terror attacks: Pakistan doesn't appear to be sincere in its efforts to punish the perpetrators
`Hand over voice samples of LeT terrorists'
Vishwa Mohan, TNN, Nov 14, 2010, 06.43am IST
NEW DELHI: India will reiterate its demand with Pakistan, asking it to hand over 'voice samples' of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists who have been in jail for their involvement in the 26\11 terror attacks and arrest the other key players including Hafiz Saeed and Sajid Majeed. New Delhi will send its formal communication to Islamabad ahead of the second anniversary of the Mumbai carnage.
"It will be second such request to Islamabad after Union home minister P Chidambaram raised the issue with his Pakistani counterpart Rehman Malik during their meeting in June. The matter had also come up as a follow-up during foreign minister-level talks in July," said a senior government official.
Although Malik had then promised to look at India's demand favourably, he later took recourse to judicial processes stating that his government would have to follow the court's direction in this regard. Pakistan had subsequently told India that three of the seven arrested ones -- Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi, Zarar Shah and Abu-al-Qama -- had refused to provide their voice samples invoking self-incrimination clause (not giving evidence against themselves) in the law before the court.
Besides these three, the four other whose voice samples are being demanded by India are: Hamad Amin Sadiq, Shahid Jamil Riaz, Jamil Ahmed and Younas Anjum. India has been insisting for their 1voice samples' as it wants to match them with the `recorded' voices of the four persons who had been passing instructions to attackers from their Pakistan-based control room during 26\11. The `voice samples' will also help Indian sleuths in connecting certain dots which emerged during various intercepts.
Terming Pakistan's latest dossier to India as its "unreasonable demand", the home ministry official said it was nothing but only a "delaying tactic" on the part of Islamabad. Pakistan had demanded post-mortem reports of all 166 Mumbai terror victims and guns and clothes of terrorists, besides machines of boat and ruck-sack bags used by attackers.
The FBI investigation details and American terrorist David Coleman Headley's account have clearly pointed out presence of four LeT terrorists in control room during 26\11. Though Headley's account given to the NIA does not have any evidence-value as it was not allowed to be recorded under the prescribed law, his inputs will aid Indian agencies in further investigation.
The NIA, in its Headley's interrogation report, stated that the American Lashkar terrorist could recognise voices of Abu-al-Qama, Sajid Majid and Abu Qahafa. The agency in its 106-page report says: "Headley could not recognise the fourth voice. He believes that the person giving instruction to the terrorists at Chabad House was Sajid Majid. Sajid instructed the terrorist to kill everybody including women in the Chabad House. Abu-al-Qama was the person giving instructions to terrorist at Taj".
Headley also told his NIA interrogators in June that it was Abu Qahafa who told the attackers that "the entire Muslim Ummah (Muslim nation) was looking upto them and that they should not fail them". Quoting Sajid, Headley told the Indian agency that Abu Hamza was also present in the control room, though he could not recognise his voice.
Read more: `Hand over voice samples of LeT terrorists' - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Hand-over-voice-samples-of-LeT-terrorists/articleshow/6921485.cms#ixzz15ELXBvrS
Vishwa Mohan, TNN, Nov 14, 2010, 06.43am IST
NEW DELHI: India will reiterate its demand with Pakistan, asking it to hand over 'voice samples' of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists who have been in jail for their involvement in the 26\11 terror attacks and arrest the other key players including Hafiz Saeed and Sajid Majeed. New Delhi will send its formal communication to Islamabad ahead of the second anniversary of the Mumbai carnage.
"It will be second such request to Islamabad after Union home minister P Chidambaram raised the issue with his Pakistani counterpart Rehman Malik during their meeting in June. The matter had also come up as a follow-up during foreign minister-level talks in July," said a senior government official.
Although Malik had then promised to look at India's demand favourably, he later took recourse to judicial processes stating that his government would have to follow the court's direction in this regard. Pakistan had subsequently told India that three of the seven arrested ones -- Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi, Zarar Shah and Abu-al-Qama -- had refused to provide their voice samples invoking self-incrimination clause (not giving evidence against themselves) in the law before the court.
Besides these three, the four other whose voice samples are being demanded by India are: Hamad Amin Sadiq, Shahid Jamil Riaz, Jamil Ahmed and Younas Anjum. India has been insisting for their 1voice samples' as it wants to match them with the `recorded' voices of the four persons who had been passing instructions to attackers from their Pakistan-based control room during 26\11. The `voice samples' will also help Indian sleuths in connecting certain dots which emerged during various intercepts.
Terming Pakistan's latest dossier to India as its "unreasonable demand", the home ministry official said it was nothing but only a "delaying tactic" on the part of Islamabad. Pakistan had demanded post-mortem reports of all 166 Mumbai terror victims and guns and clothes of terrorists, besides machines of boat and ruck-sack bags used by attackers.
The FBI investigation details and American terrorist David Coleman Headley's account have clearly pointed out presence of four LeT terrorists in control room during 26\11. Though Headley's account given to the NIA does not have any evidence-value as it was not allowed to be recorded under the prescribed law, his inputs will aid Indian agencies in further investigation.
The NIA, in its Headley's interrogation report, stated that the American Lashkar terrorist could recognise voices of Abu-al-Qama, Sajid Majid and Abu Qahafa. The agency in its 106-page report says: "Headley could not recognise the fourth voice. He believes that the person giving instruction to the terrorists at Chabad House was Sajid Majid. Sajid instructed the terrorist to kill everybody including women in the Chabad House. Abu-al-Qama was the person giving instructions to terrorist at Taj".
Headley also told his NIA interrogators in June that it was Abu Qahafa who told the attackers that "the entire Muslim Ummah (Muslim nation) was looking upto them and that they should not fail them". Quoting Sajid, Headley told the Indian agency that Abu Hamza was also present in the control room, though he could not recognise his voice.
Read more: `Hand over voice samples of LeT terrorists' - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Hand-over-voice-samples-of-LeT-terrorists/articleshow/6921485.cms#ixzz15ELXBvrS
Thursday, November 11, 2010
No place for corruption...A Raja's ouster from the Union Cabinet is almost clear
Raja on thin ice as opposition set on ouster
Vishwa Mohan & Pradeep Thakur, TNN, Nov 11, 2010, 12.59am IST
NEW DELHI/CHENNAI: With the Opposition set to shut down Parliament to force the ouster of telecom minister A Raja in light of the CAG's indictment of his role in the 2G spectrum scam, his term in office looks precarious.
As the Opposition paralysed both Houses and made plain its intent to continue doing so till the DMK minister remained in government, there were indications that Congress was planning to take up the matter with the telecom minister's political boss, M Karunanidhi.
Sources in the government acknowledged that the CAG's ``pinpointed'' indictment of Raja in the Rs 1.7 lakh crore 2G spectrum scam may have rendered his stay untenable, and indicated that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh may be constrained to speak with the TN chief minister after his return from the G20 summit in Seoul on Friday.
Pranab Mukherjee, finance minister and government's chief troubleshooter, had a meeting with the telecom minister who has resolutely proclaimed his innocence but has lately been looking beleaguered in view of the CAG report and adverse remarks by the Supreme Court on a petition alleging inaction in investigating the spectrum scam.
Karunanidhi has so far stonewalled discreet suggestions from Congress that Raja be asked to step down to dispel the darkening cloud of corruption over UPA-2. The DMK chief argued that the telecom minister needed to stay in view of the asssembly elections scheduled for next year.
But with the CAG report adding to the opposition's already formidable armoury, Congress feels the need for swift action.
Before the censure from CAG, Supreme Court had expressed its annoyance with his continuation in government in the face of allegations of a scam on his watch.
BJP-led opposition forced both Houses to adjourn by raising slogans against corruption in spectrum allocation, hosting of Commonwealth Games and the Adarsh housing society scam. They demanded Raja's resignation and a parliamentary probe into the allocation of spectrum.
Protests resumed as soon as the Houses reconvened, with the opposition again targeting Raja. Sources in the opposition said they would carry on the agitation till their demand for Raja's ouster was met.
In Chennai, opposition AIADMK ramped up its demand for Raja's scalp even as top DMK leaders rushed to defend him.
"Why should he (Raja) resign? How can you compare him with Kalmadi and Chavan, as inquiry committees confirmed the two leaders' role in the respective irregularities? Whatever Raja did was based on Trai norms. The CBI investigation is on, let it end first," said DMK MP TKS Elangovan.
However, there was a sense of unease in the lower rungs and apprehensions that the albatross of corruption may prove expensive during the elections. "Raja issue is a cancer. If our leader doesn't take action against Raja immediately, the party will definitely lose the upcoming election. The issue has also become a weapon for the opposition to attack us," said Srinivas Perumal, a party worker from Nagercoil.....http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/ml.asp?Ref=VE9JQ0gvMjAxMC8xMS8xMSNBcjAwMTA1&Mode=Gif&Locale=english-skin-custom
Vishwa Mohan & Pradeep Thakur, TNN, Nov 11, 2010, 12.59am IST
NEW DELHI/CHENNAI: With the Opposition set to shut down Parliament to force the ouster of telecom minister A Raja in light of the CAG's indictment of his role in the 2G spectrum scam, his term in office looks precarious.
As the Opposition paralysed both Houses and made plain its intent to continue doing so till the DMK minister remained in government, there were indications that Congress was planning to take up the matter with the telecom minister's political boss, M Karunanidhi.
Sources in the government acknowledged that the CAG's ``pinpointed'' indictment of Raja in the Rs 1.7 lakh crore 2G spectrum scam may have rendered his stay untenable, and indicated that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh may be constrained to speak with the TN chief minister after his return from the G20 summit in Seoul on Friday.
Pranab Mukherjee, finance minister and government's chief troubleshooter, had a meeting with the telecom minister who has resolutely proclaimed his innocence but has lately been looking beleaguered in view of the CAG report and adverse remarks by the Supreme Court on a petition alleging inaction in investigating the spectrum scam.
Karunanidhi has so far stonewalled discreet suggestions from Congress that Raja be asked to step down to dispel the darkening cloud of corruption over UPA-2. The DMK chief argued that the telecom minister needed to stay in view of the asssembly elections scheduled for next year.
But with the CAG report adding to the opposition's already formidable armoury, Congress feels the need for swift action.
Before the censure from CAG, Supreme Court had expressed its annoyance with his continuation in government in the face of allegations of a scam on his watch.
BJP-led opposition forced both Houses to adjourn by raising slogans against corruption in spectrum allocation, hosting of Commonwealth Games and the Adarsh housing society scam. They demanded Raja's resignation and a parliamentary probe into the allocation of spectrum.
Protests resumed as soon as the Houses reconvened, with the opposition again targeting Raja. Sources in the opposition said they would carry on the agitation till their demand for Raja's ouster was met.
In Chennai, opposition AIADMK ramped up its demand for Raja's scalp even as top DMK leaders rushed to defend him.
"Why should he (Raja) resign? How can you compare him with Kalmadi and Chavan, as inquiry committees confirmed the two leaders' role in the respective irregularities? Whatever Raja did was based on Trai norms. The CBI investigation is on, let it end first," said DMK MP TKS Elangovan.
However, there was a sense of unease in the lower rungs and apprehensions that the albatross of corruption may prove expensive during the elections. "Raja issue is a cancer. If our leader doesn't take action against Raja immediately, the party will definitely lose the upcoming election. The issue has also become a weapon for the opposition to attack us," said Srinivas Perumal, a party worker from Nagercoil.....http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/ml.asp?Ref=VE9JQ0gvMjAxMC8xMS8xMSNBcjAwMTA1&Mode=Gif&Locale=english-skin-custom
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
American terrorist David Coleman Headley: Mystery continues....
Did US sit on info Headley gave on 26/11?
New Delhi Is Likely To Send A Set Of Questions To DC Regarding His Past
Vishwa Mohan\TNN
New Delhi: As the United States’ response to Indian concerns over David Coleman Headley has still left a few questions unanswered, New Delhi is likely to seek further clarifications from Washington by sending it a set of questions on the American Lashkar terrorist’s past in due course.
The US, in its one-page response to India about the finding of its review of the Lashkar terrorist case, on Monday admitted for the first time that “some information relating to Headley was available” to its government officials prior to “the Mumbai attacks”. It, however, stated that “it was not sufficiently established that he (Headley) was engaged in plotting a terrorist attack in India”.
Referring to the one-page report, an Indian government official said the US response was silent on when and why his connections to the US government ended. “There is a crucial question whether the US knew about Headley’s terror links when he had visited India in March last year,” said an official.
The US Director of National Intelligence, James R Clapper, had initiated the review into Headley’s US government connections after reports in October that two of the Lashkar terrorist’s ex-wives had informed the American authorities between 2005 and 2008 about his terror links.
The DNI office in its statement on Monday said: “The review finds that the United States government did not connect Headley to terrorism until 2009, after the attacks on Mumbai. Had the US government sufficiently established he was engaged in plotting a terrorist attack in India, the information would have most assuredly been transferred promptly to the Indian government.”
The Indian clarification may also include a question on why there was no mention in Headley’s passport that he had changed his name.
Officials here said that had there been any indication about Headley changing his name from Dawood Gilani and that he was a Pakistani-American, it would have definitely alerted Indian immigration officials during his multiple visits here.
The US, however, in its response took refuge in the “policies and procedures” that existed at the time in America. It mentioned that the “new watchlisting policies and procedures” were enacted much later — after the Christmas Day bomb scare in December last year.
The DNI statement said: “Since the December 2009 attempted terrorist attacks on the US, the Obama administration has focused on information sharing reforms — new watchlisting policies and procedures have been enacted, as well as an increased focus on the pursuit of seemingly desperate and unrelated information regarding reports on individuals and their activities.”...http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/ml.asp?Ref=Q0FQLzIwMTAvMTEvMTAjQXIwMTMwMA==&Mode=Gif&Locale=english-skin-custom
New Delhi Is Likely To Send A Set Of Questions To DC Regarding His Past
Vishwa Mohan\TNN
New Delhi: As the United States’ response to Indian concerns over David Coleman Headley has still left a few questions unanswered, New Delhi is likely to seek further clarifications from Washington by sending it a set of questions on the American Lashkar terrorist’s past in due course.
The US, in its one-page response to India about the finding of its review of the Lashkar terrorist case, on Monday admitted for the first time that “some information relating to Headley was available” to its government officials prior to “the Mumbai attacks”. It, however, stated that “it was not sufficiently established that he (Headley) was engaged in plotting a terrorist attack in India”.
Referring to the one-page report, an Indian government official said the US response was silent on when and why his connections to the US government ended. “There is a crucial question whether the US knew about Headley’s terror links when he had visited India in March last year,” said an official.
The US Director of National Intelligence, James R Clapper, had initiated the review into Headley’s US government connections after reports in October that two of the Lashkar terrorist’s ex-wives had informed the American authorities between 2005 and 2008 about his terror links.
The DNI office in its statement on Monday said: “The review finds that the United States government did not connect Headley to terrorism until 2009, after the attacks on Mumbai. Had the US government sufficiently established he was engaged in plotting a terrorist attack in India, the information would have most assuredly been transferred promptly to the Indian government.”
The Indian clarification may also include a question on why there was no mention in Headley’s passport that he had changed his name.
Officials here said that had there been any indication about Headley changing his name from Dawood Gilani and that he was a Pakistani-American, it would have definitely alerted Indian immigration officials during his multiple visits here.
The US, however, in its response took refuge in the “policies and procedures” that existed at the time in America. It mentioned that the “new watchlisting policies and procedures” were enacted much later — after the Christmas Day bomb scare in December last year.
The DNI statement said: “Since the December 2009 attempted terrorist attacks on the US, the Obama administration has focused on information sharing reforms — new watchlisting policies and procedures have been enacted, as well as an increased focus on the pursuit of seemingly desperate and unrelated information regarding reports on individuals and their activities.”...http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/ml.asp?Ref=Q0FQLzIwMTAvMTEvMTAjQXIwMTMwMA==&Mode=Gif&Locale=english-skin-custom
Sunday, November 7, 2010
American terrorist David Coleman Headley's interrogation report...as claimed by NIA
'26/11 terrorists planned to attack Mumbai police HQ'
TNN, Nov 2, 2010, 03.39am IST
NEW DELHI: Had the 26/11 attackers landed during the day on Mumbai's coast, the Mumbai police headquarters at Crawford Market would have also been attacked on the first day of the carnage.
The 10 Pakistani terrorists including Ajmal Kasab — the lone arrested attacker — landed ashore on November 26 night and therefore they moved to CST as per the Lashkar's Plan B.
This was shared by American Lashkar terrorist David Coleman Headley with interrogators of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in June. He also told the Indian sleuths that originally, 13 attackers — including an Indian (possibly from Maharashtra) who was considered a good "asset" — were trained for the attack, but Lashkar commander Sajid Majid later dropped three of them from the mission.
"One Indian, possibly from Maharashtra who was considered an asset, was finally dropped as Sajid wanted to use him elsewhere. I have no information as to what happened to this Indian boy," Headley is believed to have told the NIA team which questioned him in the wake of the American terrorist's plea bargaining with US prosecuting agencies.
Under the plea bargaining, the US agency had accepted his demand of not being extradited to India, Pakistan or Denmark.
During his questioning, Headley also gave details of Lashkar's attack on IISc in Bangalore where an IIT professor M C Puri was killed. He told the NIA team that the entire operation was executed by LeT's commander Abu Hamza. Another terrorist Abdul Aziz had supervised this operation in December 2005.
Headley, who has been under the witness protection programme of the US agency, had also told interrogators that he, on being asked, could "identify the persons and locations" in India, Pakistan, US and Denmark that he had mentioned during his questioning.
Officials here, however, believe that the NIA's interrogation report does not have any evidence value as per Headley's plea bargaining agreement. "The US had, in fact, not even allowed the NIA the video or audio recordings of the interrogation proceedings," said an official.
'CDs of Bajrangi’s hate speech used to incite Lashkar cadre'
TNN, Nov 3, 2010, 04.10am IST
NEW DELHI: Use of videos of alleged atrocities on Indian Muslims during the Gujarat riots by terror groups to motivate jihadis had never been a secret, but how one particular CD -- Babu Bajrangi's video -- clicked with trainers to send an instant message among trainees, including a New Zealander convert, is something which Indian sleuths had never heard of.
This was revealed to them by none other than American Lashkar terrorist David Coleman Headley who had not only been trained watching the CD in terror camps in Pakistan but had also seen how even the New Zealander got enraged watching the video and vowed to visit India for jihad.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) -- which questioned Headley in Chicago in June -- has also mentioned in its 106-page interrogation report about these training programmes and the presence of the convert from New Zealand in one of the terror camps in Pakistan.
Headley had told NIA: "Sajid, Muzzammil and Abu Qahafa (all Lashkar commanders) showed me a number of CDs of atrocities on Indian Muslims. Babu Bajrangi's videos of Gujarat riots were also shown (during one of the training programmes)."
In the video referred to by Headley, the right-wing Bajrang Dal leader Babu Bajrangi was shown spitting venom against Muslims in Gujarat during the 2002 riots. He purportedly said on camera during the riots that he would not spare a single Muslim, no matter what he had to do for this.
Headley told the NIA that he and fellow jihadis not only got arms training and various techniques used by spies but also learned how to be a leader in any mission.
According to his disclosure, the Lashkar organises specific training programmes on leadership by conducting various seminars. "This course is called Dhaura-e-Tadribul Musaleen. During this Dhaura, speeches were given by Hafiz Saeed, Andur Rehman Makki and others," he said.
He also mentioned that during one of the seminars, Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) chief Maulana Masood Azhar had come and given a long speech on waging jihad against India.
Read more: 'CDs of Bajrangi’s hate speech used to incite Lashkar cadre' - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/6861274.cms?prtpage=1#ixzz14XaoWfRw
TNN, Nov 2, 2010, 03.39am IST
NEW DELHI: Had the 26/11 attackers landed during the day on Mumbai's coast, the Mumbai police headquarters at Crawford Market would have also been attacked on the first day of the carnage.
The 10 Pakistani terrorists including Ajmal Kasab — the lone arrested attacker — landed ashore on November 26 night and therefore they moved to CST as per the Lashkar's Plan B.
This was shared by American Lashkar terrorist David Coleman Headley with interrogators of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in June. He also told the Indian sleuths that originally, 13 attackers — including an Indian (possibly from Maharashtra) who was considered a good "asset" — were trained for the attack, but Lashkar commander Sajid Majid later dropped three of them from the mission.
"One Indian, possibly from Maharashtra who was considered an asset, was finally dropped as Sajid wanted to use him elsewhere. I have no information as to what happened to this Indian boy," Headley is believed to have told the NIA team which questioned him in the wake of the American terrorist's plea bargaining with US prosecuting agencies.
Under the plea bargaining, the US agency had accepted his demand of not being extradited to India, Pakistan or Denmark.
During his questioning, Headley also gave details of Lashkar's attack on IISc in Bangalore where an IIT professor M C Puri was killed. He told the NIA team that the entire operation was executed by LeT's commander Abu Hamza. Another terrorist Abdul Aziz had supervised this operation in December 2005.
Headley, who has been under the witness protection programme of the US agency, had also told interrogators that he, on being asked, could "identify the persons and locations" in India, Pakistan, US and Denmark that he had mentioned during his questioning.
Officials here, however, believe that the NIA's interrogation report does not have any evidence value as per Headley's plea bargaining agreement. "The US had, in fact, not even allowed the NIA the video or audio recordings of the interrogation proceedings," said an official.
'CDs of Bajrangi’s hate speech used to incite Lashkar cadre'
TNN, Nov 3, 2010, 04.10am IST
NEW DELHI: Use of videos of alleged atrocities on Indian Muslims during the Gujarat riots by terror groups to motivate jihadis had never been a secret, but how one particular CD -- Babu Bajrangi's video -- clicked with trainers to send an instant message among trainees, including a New Zealander convert, is something which Indian sleuths had never heard of.
This was revealed to them by none other than American Lashkar terrorist David Coleman Headley who had not only been trained watching the CD in terror camps in Pakistan but had also seen how even the New Zealander got enraged watching the video and vowed to visit India for jihad.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) -- which questioned Headley in Chicago in June -- has also mentioned in its 106-page interrogation report about these training programmes and the presence of the convert from New Zealand in one of the terror camps in Pakistan.
Headley had told NIA: "Sajid, Muzzammil and Abu Qahafa (all Lashkar commanders) showed me a number of CDs of atrocities on Indian Muslims. Babu Bajrangi's videos of Gujarat riots were also shown (during one of the training programmes)."
In the video referred to by Headley, the right-wing Bajrang Dal leader Babu Bajrangi was shown spitting venom against Muslims in Gujarat during the 2002 riots. He purportedly said on camera during the riots that he would not spare a single Muslim, no matter what he had to do for this.
Headley told the NIA that he and fellow jihadis not only got arms training and various techniques used by spies but also learned how to be a leader in any mission.
According to his disclosure, the Lashkar organises specific training programmes on leadership by conducting various seminars. "This course is called Dhaura-e-Tadribul Musaleen. During this Dhaura, speeches were given by Hafiz Saeed, Andur Rehman Makki and others," he said.
He also mentioned that during one of the seminars, Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) chief Maulana Masood Azhar had come and given a long speech on waging jihad against India.
Read more: 'CDs of Bajrangi’s hate speech used to incite Lashkar cadre' - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/6861274.cms?prtpage=1#ixzz14XaoWfRw
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