VHP international President Ashok Chowgule asks Aamir if he apologised to Modi

(Agency)

The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) has sought a clarification from actor Aamir Khan if he had apologised for his March 2005 statement on the Gujarat riots before meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently.

In a letter to Aamir Khan on Saturday, VHP’s working president (External) Ashok Chowgule said the actor was signatory to a statement in 2005 which had held Mr. Modi directly responsible for “the act of genocide” in Gujarat.

“If you still hold on to this view point, we are surprised that you decided to meet a person whom you have called such vile terms… The question now arises whether you have apologised to Mr. Modi for signing the statement. From your Twitter comments, we do not read that you have apologised,” Mr. Chowgule said.

He said if the actor had not apologised and yet met the Prime Minister it would “breed a huge sense of cynicism among the people” as they would wonder if he was seeking any special favours from the present government. The VHP functionary said, in his letter, that he would like to hear from Mr. Khan on the issue.

Bhiwandi court summoned Rahul Gandhi on October 7 for his remarks against RSS

(Agency)

New Delhi: A Bhiwandi court in Maharashtra on Friday summoned Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi for his remarks against the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh. While addressing a Lok Sabha election rally, Rahul had linked the RSS with Mahatma Gandhi's killing.
The RSS had filed a criminal application against Rahul over his recent remarks.
On March 6, while addressing a party rally at Sonale sports ground in Bhiwandi, Rahul had said that the RSS shot Mahatma Gandhi and now they were using his name to campaign for elections.
Rahul has been asked to appear before the court on October 7.

India asks UN Military observers to vacate Delhi premises

(PTI)

New Delhi, July 8: India has asked the UN Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) to vacate the government bungalow to “rationalise” the presence of the group which government says has “outlived its relevance”.

Asserting that it has been India’s “consistent and long- standing view that UNMOGIP has outlived its mandate”, Spokesperson in the External Affairs Ministry Syed Akbaruddin said they have “monetised” various facilities extended to the organisation.

UNMOGIP was given the bungalow free of charge 40 years ago.

“We have asked the UNMOGIP to vacate the government bungalow on Purana Qila Road which they have been occupying free of charge. This is in line with our effort to rationalize the UNMOGIP presence in India. As part of this exercise, we have also monetized some of the facilities that UNMOGIP had been availing free of cost till now,” he said.

Indian stand is that UNMOGIP’s role has been overtaken by the Simla Agreement and the consequent establishment of the Line of Control.

Asked if any deadline has been given, Akbaruddin said, “These are diplomatic communications and in diplomacy you are aware that these things are worked out quietly behind the scenes and once it is worked out we will let you know. It is a decision that we have taken that they will need to vacate.”

Explaining further what he meant by the term “rationalize UNMOGIP presence in India”, he said, “We are in budgetary season and everybody is tightening their belts.”

“Rationalisation means that you pay for what you get, he said, adding that it also means monetisation of services that is provided.

“And as far as the UN is concerned, I am certain it is an organisation with adequate resources with no paucity of funds. So we should not be bothered about it too much,” he said.

UNMOGIP in New Delhi is currently based out of a Type VII bungalow in Purana Qila Road.

Officials said the UN organisation was free to take any private property on rent.

UNMOGIP observers have been located at the ceasefire line between India and Pakistan in Jammu and Kashmir since 1949 and supervise the truce between the two neighbours.

As of May, UNMOGIP has 40 military observers, 23 international civilian personnel and 45 local civilian staff.

The observer group is financed by the United Nations regular budget and appropriations for biennium 2014-2015 are USD 19.64 million.

The small UN mission has its main offices in J&K capital Srinagar and in Pakistani administered Kashmir capital Islamabad as part of a UN Security Council resolution to supervise the ceasefire in the divided region.

New Delhi has argued that the UN had little role to play after India and Pakistan signed the Simla Pact in 1972 under which the two countries agreed to resolve all disputes including Kashmir bilaterally.

Pakistan, however, has frequently called for third-party involvement to settle the dispute in Kashmir.

The military authorities of Pakistan have continued to lodge complaints with UNMOGIP about ceasefire violations in Kashmir.

The military authorities of India have lodged no complaints since January 1972 and have restricted the activities of the UN observers on the Indian side of the Line of Control. They have, however, continued to provide accommodation, transport and other facilities to the observers.

(Additional inputs from Agencies)