Deoband meet urges terrorists, Maoists to lay down arms

November 3rd, 2009 DEOBAND - Renowned yoga guru Swami Ramdev Tuesday sought to promote his method of keeping fit and dispel misconceptions about it at the gathering of clerics and followers at the historic Islamic seminary here. Ramdev was the first non-Muslim cleric to address the annual convention of Islamic seminaries under the auspices of Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind at the seminary, known for its influence over bulk of the Sunni Muslims across the country.

October 31st, 2009 more images more imagesNEW DELHI - Reacting sharply to Home Minister P. Chidambaram's comment that the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) till recently considered Maoists as "comrades in arms", the Left party's head Saturday said he "has chosen to ignore the history of the Maoist movement".

October 31st, 2009 more images more imagesNEW DELHI - The Communist Party of India-Marxist Saturday said Maoists cannot be equated with the Laskhar-e-Taiba or the Jaish-e-Mohammed militant groups. We have always held that the Maoists have to be fought ideologically and politically apart from resort to firm administrative measures when they indulge in violence, CPI-M general secretary Prakash Karat said in a statement.

October 27th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Trinamool Congress chief and Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee Tuesday demanded that the central government launch an army operation in Maoist-affected Lalgarh region of West Bengal and if required impose president's rule in the state. "We want an army operation.

October 14th, 2009 LUCKNOW - Over 10,000 clerics and scholars from around the world are expected to meet at the Darul Uloom Deoband in a three-day Islamic conference commencing Nov 1. Convened by Jamait-ul-Ulema-e-Hind chief Maulana Mehmood Madni, the meet is expected to discuss the challenges facing the Muslim community, including reservation for Muslims in government jobs in India and alleged framing of false cases against Muslim youth in terrorism-related incidents, a key aide of Madni said.

October 10th, 2009 BANGALORE - Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Monday affirmed the government's determination not to succumb to the increasing threat of Maoists but ruled out the use of the army against them. "It shows the measure of challenge we face.

July 26th, 2009 KATHMANDU - Nepal's Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal Sunday dismissed reports in the Nepali and Indian media that his government was on an arms-shopping spree in India, saying they were "baseless rumours". Summoned by a parliamentary committee Sunday to clarify his coalition government's stand on making fresh arms purchases from India and other internal issues, the communist leader said his government would not do anything to endanger the ongoing peace process.

June 24th, 2009 KATHMANDU - Closely watching the battle in India's West Bengal state between security forces and tribals backed by Indian Maoists, Nepal, the survivor of a decade-old Maoist uprising, Wednesday said the neighbouring country's decision to ban the Left radicals was its own internal affair. "It is the decision taken by a sovereign country," said Shankar Pokhrel, Nepal's information and communications minister who is also the spokesman of the communist-led government that came to power last month after the fall of the country's first Maoist government.

June 22nd, 2009 NEW DELHI - The Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) Monday opposed a ban on the Maoists, saying that declaring the Leftwing rebels as terrorists was no solution, and political and administrative measures should be used instead to check their growth. Reacting to the union home ministry's declaration of the Communist Party of India-Maoist as a terrorist outfit, CPI-M general secretary Prakash Karat said that the "Maoists must be combated politically and administratively".

June 22nd, 2009 NEW DELHI - The Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) Monday said it was against a ban on the Leftwing outfit Communist Party of India-Maoist and the rebels should be tackled instead through political and administrative measures. Reacting to the union home ministry's declaration of the CPI-Maoist as a terrorist outfit, CPI-M general secretary Prakash Karat told reporters here that the "Maoists must be combated politically and administratively".

June 22nd, 2009 KOLKATA - Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee Monday accused West Bengal's ruling Left Front of being in cahoots with the Maoists saying the Communists had used the rebels to win the polls in the western districts. "The Left used Maoists to rig the elections and now they are saying Maoists helped the Trinamool.

June 20th, 2009 BANGALORE - Spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravi Shankar Saturday said Maoists in West Bengal's Lalgarh are willing to sit at negotiating table if their basic demands for water and electricity are met. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, who is the founder of the Art of Living foundation, Friday talked to rebel leader Chakradhar Mahato and asked the group to lay down their arms.

May 13th, 2009 KATHMANDU - CPN-UML senior leader Madhav Kumar Nepal toady met caretaker Prime Minister Prachanda and urged him to assist them in the formation of new government. At the meeting held at Maoists senior leader Dr Baburam Bhattarai's residence in Pulchowk, Nepal said: "I have urged Prachanda to participate in the to-be-formed new government for taking the peace process to the logical conclusion." However, Prachanda said they would not involve and assist in the government formation unless President Ram Baran Yadav corrects his move to reinstate Army Chief, General Rookmangud Katawal.

April 27th, 2009 KATHMANDU - Nepal Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has urged CPN (UML) chairman Jhala Nath Khanal to support the government's decision to sack Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Rookmangad Katawal. The move came after Khanal met Dahal at his residence on Monday morning to propose an option acceptable to both the Maoists and the Nepali Congress (NC).

April 22nd, 2009 KOLKATA - Suspected Maoists triggered four landmine blasts Wednesday targeting the police in Salboni area of West Midnapore district, police said, adding that no one was injured. Superintendent of Police (West Midnapore) Manoj Verma told IANS on phone that the blasts occurred in the Salboni police station area when a police party had gone to fetch the bodies of the two Communist Party of India - Marxist (CPI-M) activists who were killed by the Maoists Monday.