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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 27, 2016 Since their relationship lasted over many years, it was multi-faceted, I imagine. In many aspects they held similar views, in others their views differed Dr Anita Bose Pfaff, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose’s daughter
INDIA N E W R E P R E S E N TAT I V E
India strongly committed to United Nations: Akbaruddin NEW YORK: Pledging India’s commitment to the UN, new permanent representative Syed Akbaruddin assured Secretary General Ban Ki-moon of his support in helping the world body achieve its goals. While presenting his credentials to Ban as India’s new permanent representative to the UN, Akbaruddin also promised him of his fullest support in the body’s quest for peaceful political solutions for all the problems. Receiving the credentials, Ban welcomed his appointment as the top Indian diplomat to the UN and appreciated the significant role India plays at the powerful world
body as a long-trusted partner of multilateral system. The former high-profile spokesman of the Ministry of External Affairs reiterated India’s commitment to the UN and assured the secretary general of his support in helping the UN achieve its ideals and priorities Ban had set out for 2016, including that of Agenda 2030 and the quest for peaceful political solutions for all problems, an official statement said. Akbaruddin, a 1985 batch IFS officer, is India’s 21st Permanent Representative at the UN and succeeds Asoke Mukerji who demitted office on December 31. Akbaruddin had previously
capacities, promoting friendly ties across the globe. He has also served as an international civil-servant at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Vienna from 2006-2011. In that capacity, he worked as Head of External Relations and Policy Coordination Unit and also as the Special Assistant to the Director-General of the IAEA. In his first few speeches soon after this arrival early this month, Akbaruddin urged the UN to show a common resolve to rise above semantic definitional differences and work on the long overdue Comprehensive Convention on International terrorism. - PTI
served at the Indian Mission to the United Nations as First Secretary during 1995-98 and focused on the UN Security Council Reform and Peace-Keeping. Prior to this appointment, he was the chief coordinator of the India-Africa Forum Summit — a milestone event with participation of all 54 African states held in October, 2015 in New Delhi. Immediately before that, he was the official spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs from 2012 to 2015. He is known for his effective use of social media for diplomacy outreach. Akbaruddin has represented India’s interests in various
PRESENTING CREDENTIALS: Ambassador Syed Akbaruddin, right,
the newly appointed Permanent Representative of India to the United Nations, presents his credentials to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon at UN headquarters in New York, on Monday. - Reuters
‘Attacks in Paris, Pathankot against fundamental values’ corded the honour of being chief guest at India’s Republic Day celebrations for the fifth time. When the French Infantry troops march in step with Indian troops in the parade (today), they will make history yet again by being the first-ever foreign contingent to do so, he said. “This is not just history in the making, it is a testimony to the enduring bonds between our two civilisations and our two people, it is a tribute to our long-standing and strategic partnerships. “It is emblematic of our two national mottos: “Liberty, Equality, Fraternity” and “Satyameva Jayate”, coming together, with the power to inspire the world to achieve the universal ideals of peace and justice,” the president said.
President Pranab Mukherjee said the dastardly terror attacks in Paris and Pathankot have underlined the urgency for countries like India and France to jointly combat this existential threat to humanity and human civilisation
NEW DELHI: President Pranab Mukherjee has said that terror attacks on Paris or Pathankot are against fundamental values of liberty and freedom. The president made these comments at a banquet he hosted in honour of French President Francois Hollande at the Rashtrapati Bhavan on Monday. Appreciating the French President for his leadership and resolute action in the wake of the dastardly terror attacks in Paris in November last year, a Rashtrapati Bhavan spokesperson quoted Mukherjee as saying that these determined steps show France will “not let terrorists succeed.” “India appreciates the support and solidarity expressed by France for India in the wake of the attacks in Pathankot. “Whether in Paris or Pathankot,
AT-HOME RECEPTION: President Pranab Mukherjee with French President Francois Hollande and Prime Minister Narendra Modi waves during an At-Home reception hosted by him on the occasion of 67th Republic Day at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi on Tuesday. - PTI
terrorist attacks on democracies such as India and France are an attack against fundamental values of liberty, freedom and universal brotherhood. “Terrorism is a global threat and it poses a threat to all nations. No cause can justify terrorist acts. It is imperative that the world act in unison against terrorism, without political considerations,” the president said. Intolerance The president, the spokesperson said, added the two countries must fight resolutely for freedom against the forces of intolerance, extremism and terrorism. “The dastardly terror attacks in Paris and Pathankot have underlined the urgency for countries like India and France to jointly combat this existential threat to
M Y S T E R I OU S D E AT H
humanity and human civilisation,” he said. Mukherjee added that the growing strength of India-France strategic partnership in defence, space, civil nuclear energy and security “demonstrates high mutual trust and understanding” between the two countries. The president said friendship between India and France is driven by a remarkable similarity in the ideals and aspirations of our people. “Our civilisations have interacted with each other over the centuries, united by a shared vision of the world we want to live in- a world that is premised on individual liberty, freedom and equality, a world that respects pluralism and democracy, a world that seeks tolerance and peaceful co-existence,” Mukherjee said. He said the deep bonds of our
time-tested friendship are only set to strengthen in the years ahead anchored as they are in this rich, unshakable foundation. Cooperation The president said while mutual cooperation between the two nations in science and research and other sectors is growing, he was glad that the French government and captains of their industry are actively partnering India “in our ambitious developmental initiatives, infrastructure, smart cities, clean energy, railways and skill development.” He also talked about Hollande’s visit to the country as the chief guest of the Republic Day parade and the importance India attaches to the invited country. The president said France was the only country to have been ac-
Challenges He said India has begun the New Year “with fresh hopes and dreams and a resolve to jointly overcome the challenges facing us.” “We live in difficult times characterised by violence, fundamentalism and inequality. But, we also live in times of brilliant innovation, of great creativity, of unparallelled global interaction,” he said adding the French President’s visit “heralds new beginnings in scaling new heights in India-France bilateral relationship and in the common quest for peace, stability and prosperity for all.” Mukherjee congratulated Hollande on the successful organisation of the Paris climate summit as he recalled that thousands of Indian soldiers hailing from Punjab and Haryana fought France’s battle during the First World War and close to ten thousand of them today lie buried in scattered cemeteries in France, having made the supreme sacrifice for the freedom of France. - PTI
DETECTED BY IAF RADAR
Mysterious balloon-shaped object shot down in Barmer
INVESTIGATE: Police men
investigate after an unidentified balloon-shaped object picked up by the Indian Air Force’s radar was intercepted and shot down over Barmer on Tuesday. - PTI
JAIPUR/NEW DELHI: A mysterious balloon-shaped object was on Tuesday shot down by a Sukhoi-30 fighter aircraft in Rajasthan’s Barmer district, bordering Pakistan, after the IAF radar detected it on a day the country was celebrating the Republic Day. Indian Air Force officials said the object was flying in from the western sector and was shot down Tuesday morning. “Between 1030 and 1100 hours today, an unidentified balloon shaped object was picked up by IAF radar. An IAF fighter was launched which intercepted the object and brought it down. Further investigation is underway,” an IAF spokesperson said. No one was hurt nor was any damage caused to the property in the area, IAF spokesman said in Jaipur. The incident happened in Barmer, nearly 500km from Rajasthan capital Jaipur, where some villagers have reported an incident of certain metal pieces falling down from the sky. Police said a team led by Additional SP Jassaram Bose found about five pieces of a triangle kind of metallic objects but it was not an explosive material. These pieces were handed over to IAF, police said. - PTI
S I G N E D P R O C L A M AT I O N
Netaji’s daughter wants Arunachal comes under President’s rule DNA test of ashes kept in Renkoji temple NEW DELHI: Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose’s daughter Dr Anita Bose Pfaff wants a DNA test to be conducted to establish whether the ashes kept in a Japanese temple are her father’s, but believes that the 1945 aircrash in Taipei was the “most likely cause” of his death. “I believe that the plane crash is the most likely cause of his death,” Pfaff said when asked whether she believes in the theory that her father died in an air crash near the Taihoku aerodrome in Taipei on August 18, 1945. However, she said she wants a DNA test of the ashes kept in an urn at a Buddhist temple in Tokyo to ascertain whether the remains belong to the freedom fighter. “A DNA test could provide proof, provided that the bones are not too badly charred for extracting DNA,” Pfaff, the only child of Subhash Bose and Emilie Schenkl, said in an interview from her home in Stadtbergen, Germany. Bose family sources said the 73year old German economist, who is likely to visit India next month, may urge the government here to talk to Japan for conducting DNA test of the remains kept in the Ren-
koji temple in Tokyo. On whether the recently declassified documents sufficiently proved Netaji’s death in the aircrash, Pfaff said “while I have only looked at a few files, I get the impression that a death certificate is not contained.” Asked about her opinion that Bose was not treated with as much respect as were leaders like Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru, Pfaff said: “That certainly seems to be the case for the official treatment. But the general public, the so-called man in the street, however, seem to have kept his memory alive in a very touching way. It was a shame how the Indian government treated the INA veterans for decades.” To a question about Nehru’s approach towards Bose, she merely said, “Since their relationship lasted over many years, it was multi-faceted, I imagine. In many aspects they held similar views, in others their views differed.” On whether Netaji’s birthday should be declared a national holiday, she said, “I believe there are better ways of keeping Netaji’s memory alive than a national holiday.” - PTI
NEW DELHI: Arunachal Pradesh on Tuesday came under central rule with Indian President Pranab Mukherjee giving assent to the Union Cabinet’s recommendation on such a course following political instability in the state. Official sources said the President signed the proclamation two days after the cabinet held an unscheduled meeting on Sunday to recommend that the northeasten border state be brought under central rule. Minister of State for Home Kiran Rijiju had said the cabinet was forced to take the decision because of a Constitutional breakdown as six months had lapsed between two sessions of the state Assembly. On Monday, Mukherjee called Home Minister Rajnath Singh and put some queries to him on the need for the imposition of President’s rule even as Congress, the ruling party in the state, met him and opposed the cabinet decision. The party urged the President not to give assent to the cabinet decision saying the issue was before the Supreme Court which has decided to hear the Congress petition on Wednesday. Other major opposition parties had also attacked the Centre’s decision saying it amounted to “murder” of democracy while the BJP said the crisis was of Con-
POLITICAL INSTABILITY: Leader of Congress in Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge with party lead-
ers Ghulam Nabi Azad, Kapil Sibal and V. Narayanasamy submitting a memorandum to President Pranab Mukherjee on Arunachal Pradesh issue, in New Delhi on Monday. - PTI
gress’ making because it had lost numbers in the Assembly. Arunachal Pradesh has been rocked by a political crisis since December 16 last year when 21 rebel Congress MLAs joined hands with 11 of BJP and two independents to ‘impeach’ Assembly Speaker Nabam Rebia at a makeshift venue, in a move branded as “illegal and unconstitutional” by the Speaker. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court decided to hear on January 27 the Congress plea challenging the Cabinet decision. The petition seeking urgent
hearing was mentioned before Chief Justice T. S. Thakur, at his residence, who directed the matter to be listed for hearing on Wednesday. The Union Cabinet’s decision was based on state Governor Jyoti Prashad Rajkhowa report. Up in arms against Tuki, 21 rebel party MLAs, including 14 disqualified a day before, with the help of BJP and independent legislators, congregated at a community hall after the state Assembly complex was ‘sealed’ by the local administration, and ‘impeached’ Rebia in an impromptu session
chaired by Deputy Speaker T Norbu Thongdok. Twenty seven MLAs in 60-member Assembly, including the Chief Minister and his ministerial colleagues, boycotted the proceedings. A day later, in a bizarre turn of events, opposition BJP and rebel Congress MLAs congregated in a local hotel to “vote out” Chief Minister Nabam Tuki and to “elect” a rebel Congress MLA in his place but the Guwahati High Court intervened to keep in “abeyance” decisions taken at the rebel “session”. - PTI