National
Extradition treaty with Malaysia soon
By Our Special Correspondent
NEW DELHI, JAN. 22. The Union Cabinet today decided to sign and ratify an extradition treaty with Malaysia, which it hopes could help clear legal hurdles in the early extradition of Ottavio Quattrocchi, prime accused in the Bofors case.
Declining to comment on whether the treaty was proposed in the context of Mr. Quattrocchi's extradition, the Government spokesperson said any person accused or convicted of an extraditable offence could be extradited under the proposed treaty.
Any offence punishable with imprisonment for a period of more than a year would be an extraditable offence. Even an attempt or a conspiracy to commit such an offence or even abetment to the commission of such an offence would be considered extraditable. Offences of fiscal character would also be extraditable offences.
The extradition could be sought irrespective of whether the offence was committed before or after the treaty came into force.
The Cabinet also cleared a special scheme to encourage States to undertake reforms in the irrigation sector by providing them loans on liberal terms if they agreed to rationalise the water rates within five years.
Both general and special category reforming States would be eligible for more loans under the Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme. While in the special category States, the programme would be fully sponsored by the Centre, in the general category, the Centre's share would be increased to 80 per cent. At present, the Centre's share for the programme in special category States was 75 per cent and in the general category States 66 per cent, with the balance picked up by the States.
In addition, the Cabinet approved a new programme to expedite irrigation projects that were almost complete but languishing for want of funds for the final works. About 20 to 25 projects would be taken up. A sum of Rs. 500 crores has been earmarked for the programme in the current financial year itself.
Besides, the Cabinet decided to accede to the Convention on Physical Protection of Nuclear Material which provides for international cooperation in protecting nuclear materials against theft or unauthorised diversion.
The accession to the convention has become an important step in the fight against terrorism, particularly in the wake of recent fears over the possibility of nuclear terrorism. The convention came into force in 1987 and so far 70 countries have acceded.
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