BENAZIR BHUTTO
Bhutto seeks Indian help for restoration of democracy

Former Pakistan Prime minister Benazir Bhutto, who was in India on a three-day private visit urged India to use its influence on the US and other world powers for early restoration of democracy in Pakistan. Ms Bhutto, who met several Indian leaders, including Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, home minister L K Advani and external affairs minister Jaswant Singh, supported a bilateral dialogue between New Delhi and Islamabad to resolve a gamut of issues. She is reported to have said at a meeting with Mr Advani that General Pervez Musharraf had missed a chance to buy peace with India at the Agra summit. Referring to the Agra Summit, Mr Advani told Ms Bhutto that General Musharraf was not interested in peace but wanted to serve the interest of his domestic constituency by repeatedly asserting that he had fought for Kashmir. In her meeting with external affairs minister Jaswant Singh, Ms Bhutto exchanged views on the developments in Afghanistan, Indo-Pak relations and the global campaign against terrorism.

EDUCATION
Lok Sabha passes bill making education a fundamental right

The Lok Sabha unanimously passed a Constitution amendment Bill making education for children in the 6-14 year age group a fundamental right. The amendment was passed by 346 for and none against after a debate lasting almost four hours. Human resource minister Dr Murli Manohar Joshi said that the amendment was a ‘revolutionary’ step as it would make it the duty for parents to send their children to school but would not penalise them for not doing so. Mr Joshi said government was also making efforts to make education free for girls up to graduation and professional courses like engineering and medicine for girls belonging to scheduled tribes.

On the demand for making primary education available to all, the minister said he would discuss with political parties on the measures to achieve this goal. He said as of now the task of making elementary education a fundamental right could not be envisaged in view of the “enormity of numbers”. There are over 15 crore children in this age-group, of which 36 per cent are below poverty line.

Participating in the discussion, leader of the Opposition Sonia Gandhi, while welcoming the Bill, pointed out that there were some lacunae like putting the entire onus on the parents to ensure education for their children. She said there was no point in making education a fundamental right “if the quality was poor and not good” and added that it should promote secularism and be within the tenets of the constitution.

AIR INDIA
Mascarenhas gets CBI’s clean chit

JUST three days before his retirement age, suspended Air India chief Michael P Mascarenhas got a clean chit from the CBI, clearing him of the charges of corruption and undue favours to Air India’s UK-based general sales agent (GSA) Welcome Travels. The CBI has maintained that there was no malafide intention on his part in increasing the productive link incentive (PLI) of London-based agent from 5 to 7 per cent.

In its 30-page report, submitted to the civil aviation ministry, the CBI, however, said that “such action as the ministry may deem fit” could be taken against the suspended regional director in London P K Sinha, commercial director H K Oberoi, and his deputy K Behari for failing to make a “correct mathematical calculation of flight reduction from London.” While recommending action against the three officials and giving clean chit to Mr Masecarenhas, the CBI report made it clear that “it is only a mathematical error and no criminal intent is involved.”

Shortly, after being cleared of charges, the government reinstated Mr Mascarenhas as the managing director of Air India. Reacting to the decision of the government, Mr Mascarenhas said it would be ‘morally’ wrong for him to stay beyond the age of 58 as he himself was responsible for bringing down the age of retirement in Air India from 60 to 58. Stating that Air India was the first public sector undertaking to bring down the age of retirement, he said other undertakings followed it. “There is no question of my going a day beyond the age of 58,” he said. He added that he would retire on November 30 when he reaches 58.

NEPAL
Emergency declared as Maoist rebels strike terror

Emergency was declared in Nepal with army launching land and air strikes against Maoist rebels, who struck terror over the last weekend. The Nepalese government has issued Ordinance, providing for life imprisonment and confiscation of property of those who, directly or indirectly, support terrorist activities. The step was taken after Maoist rebels resorted to violence breaking a four-month-old truce.

India, expressed its support for the emergency measures with Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee speaking to Nepalese King Gyanendra and extending whatever assistance the Himalayan kingdom required in the wake of declaration of emergency to tackle Maoist violence. During a telephonic conversation, Mr Vajpayee gave India’s support to the emergency measures. The leaders agreed that enhanced vigil should be maintained along the India-Nepal border, said an external affairs ministry spokesperson. The prime minister assured the king that border security personnel on the Indian side would extend full cooperation to their Nepalese counterparts, said the spokesperson.

INDO-THAI TIES
MoU on information technology and services signed

India and Thailand have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on information technology and services and agreed to further strengthen bilateral relations in diversified areas. The MoU, envisaging enhanced bilateral cooperation in the IT sector, was signed by information technology minister Pramod Mahajan and
Thai foreign minister Surakiart Sathirathai in the presence of Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee and his Thai counterpart Thaksin Shinawatra.

The two leaders held one-on-one discussions on a wide range of issues, including the situation in Afghanistan, global campaign against terrorism, besides other regional and international issues of mutual concern. The Thai leader, who was on a four-day visit in India, discussed measures to diversify and strengthen bilateral relations on a wide range of areas, particularly in trade, economic and scientific cooperation.

The proposal for holding an India-Asean summit also figured during
the parleys. Thailand has been supportive of such a summit. A decision on the proposal is expected to be taken at next year’s Asean summit in Cambodia.