India plans to open Consulate General in Jaffna New Delhi, Mar 8 (UNI) India plans to open a Consulate General in Jaffna in Northern Sri Lanka.
Presently India has a Consulate in the Central province of Kandy, besides the High Commission in Colombo.
This was conveyed by Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao to Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse in Colombo yesterday, External Affairs Ministry spokesman Vishnu Prakash said here today.
The Foreign Secretary who concluded a three-day official visit to Sri Lanka today, said elimination of terrorism and holding of elections had provided Sri Lanka an historic opportunity to initiate a process of political reconciliation where all communities could live in peace and harmony.
The Sri Lankan President appreciated India’s substantial assistance for the rehabilitation and reconstruction of Northern and Eastern Sri Lanka, resettlement of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and extension of 425 million US Dollars Lines of Credit for railway projects in Northern Sri Lanka.
The President said about 70,000 IDPs remained in the camps, many of their own volition.
Spurt in security demand after 26/11; 107 requests from pvt sector
Addressing the annual press conference here, Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) Director General Niraj Ranjan Das told the media that his force has so far provided security cover to just two Information Technology (IT) sector units from the 33 listed as 'priority'.
''Our priority sectors are IT, power and oil and only after going into the threat perception involved, vulnerability of location and type of industry of the request we decide on providing security,'' he said adding that these parameters are decided on the basis of our assessment and intelligence inputs.
Mr Das, however, added that the final bow is taken only after clearance from the government (Home Ministry), and that after nearly one year of 'empowerment' only two units have been 'covered' by it - Infosys in Bangalore.
''After the 26/11 attack there was rise in demand for security cover and in public sector, where we are already deployed, they are asking for more forces.'' Mr Das denied that there was any change in the training pattern, in the post 26/11 era, saying training to CISF personnel is upgraded every three months with the heads of all the six training centres meeting and deciding upon the new curriculum.
''We adopt the latest trends prevalent, depending upon the field requirement, and adopt as per growing needs,'' he added.
The DG also informed that security cover from two organisations -- HMT Srinagar and HAL Pimpri -- have been withdrawn due to non-payment of dues.
AICC women urge for smooth passage of Women's Bill
Mahila Congress president Prabha Thakur appealed to all those politicians, especially from the Samajwadi Party, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), who had expressed themselves against the Bill on the issue of bringing in a "quota within the quota" for the disadvantaged sections, to contribute in the passage of the legislation.
She said the Bill would reserve 33 per cent seats for women in the Lok Sabha and state Assemblies. Any amendment in the present draft could be discussed with all parties.
''Whenever the Congress was in power at the Centre, the party has taken the steps for women empowerment. Earlier, Mr Rajiv Gandhi worked on the reservation for women in local bodies and the Panchayti Raj. Now Ms Sonia Gandhi has given us this present,'' Ms Thakur told UNI at a thanksgiving rally for Ms Gandhi and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. It was organised by the Mahila Congress in support of the Women's Bill being presented in the Rajya Sabha today.
AICC General Secretary Mohsina Kidwai said the Congress had presented the legislation in a democratic manner. "It is the moral duty of these political parties to make correct selection of women at their level. Still, if they are protesting the Bill, we can have a discussion on it later,'' she added.
Minister of State for External Affairs Parneet Kaur pointed out that the Bill was being introduced on the centenary of the International Women's Day.
Voting on Women's Reservation Bill put off
Bill continuing, the Rajya Sabha today could not take up for voting
the controversial and historic legislation that was introduced
amidst unprecedented ruckus created by the opponents in the Upper
House earlier in the day.
The House has been adjourned till tomorrow.
The Bill, which is being vehemently opposed by the Samajwadi
Party, the RJD and the BSP for not providing quota to weaker and
backward sections withing the 33 per cent reservation, was slated
for voting at 1800 hrs.
The Constitution Amendment Bill, which provides for 33 per cent
reservation in Lok Sabha and state Assemblies, was moved in
the House earlier in the day as opponents of the Bill went
berserk, tore down the copies and threw the pieces at the Chair.
The members also smashed the wires of two microphones and
shouted slogans.
As soon as the House began proceedings after the fourth
adjournment, at 1600 hours, the SP, RJD, LJP and the BSP
members were up on their feet protesting the Women's Bill.
Vice-Chairman P J Kurien, sensing the mood of the House,
adjourned it for fifth time till 1800 hrs.
In the meantime, the Prime Minister spoke to Members of different
political parties.
However, when the House again met at 1800 hrs, Mr Kurien
announced adjournment of the House till tomorrow before the
opponents of the Bill could create any scenes.