Sunday, August 9, 1998
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N A T I O N |
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Uttarakhand: Roorkee faces
uncertain future |
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RLM gears up to topple Rs
1625 cr WB loan for better water supply |
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Producers' death: police
theory contested |
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Uttarakhand: Roorkee faces uncertain
future ROORKEE, Aug 8 — This town which boasts of one of the oldest technical universities, is agog with political activity these days because of its uncertain future due to the proposed merger of Hardwar district in the newly proposed Uttarakhand state. The announcement of the central government to include Hardwar in Uttarakhand took most of the people here by surprise. While most politicians, except those of the BJP, are opposed to the move, the business community is divided. The state president of the Samajwadi Party, Mr Ram Sharan Dass, who hails from the nearby Saharanpur town has accused the BJP of “ playing with the sentiments of the people of this area”. Mr Dass maintained that the issue of the inclusion of Hardwar had been purposely raised by the BJP in order to delay the creation of Uttarakhand. He announced here today that the SP would decide its course of action after the Lok Tantrik Morcha’s August 9 rally in Lucknow. He said even the residents of Vikas Nagar tehsil of Dehra Dun district did not want their area to be merged in the Uttarakhand . Mr Harpal Sathi, BJP MP from the Hardwar (reserve) parliamentary seat, on the other hand, observed that the final decision regarding the inclusion of Hardwar would be taken after considering the sentiments of the people. The opposition of the Lok Tantrik Congress and the Jan Tantrik Bahujan Samaj party to the move and withdrawal of support from the BJP-led government have further provided a fillip to the proposal. The Jan Tantrik Bahujan Samaj party at a meeting in Mohalla Sati, here, resolved today to oppose the proposal tooth and nail. Workers of the Lok Tantrik Congress are already up in arms because its state president, Mr Naresh Aggarwal, who is also a minister in the Kalyan Singh government has opposed the move in writing. Many residents feel that
they have little cultural and social affinity with the
hill people. Just because the government is keen on
keeping the Kumbh area intact, Hardwar was being
transferred to Uttarakhand, they add. |
RLM gears up to topple BJP govt LUCKNOW, Aug 8 (PTI) — The Rashtriya Loktantrik Morcha (RLM) today said it had begun the ground work to “topple” the Vajpayee government and sought help from all in this regard. RLM leader Laloo Prasad Yadav said he along with Mr Mulayam Singh Yadav, who was today appointed RLM president, had started the ground work to oust the BJP-led government at the Centre. “We are doing a lot of ground work and are quite hopeful of toppling it soon. Earlier, we used to make our plans public but this time we will act first,” Mr Laloo Yadav told reporters here. Asked whether they would take the Congress help in toppling the government, he said help from all quarters in this regard was welcome. Mr Mulayam, however, said the Congress would have to take an initiative in this regard. On his alleged involvement in the fodder scam, Mr Laloo Yadav said he was dragged into the case due to political vendetta. Meanwhile Samajwadi Party
chief Mulayam Singh Yadav was today appointed president
of the newly-formed Rashtriya Loktantrik Morcha (RLM). |
Change Pak blasphemy law : Bishop
Lobo NEW DELHI, Aug 8 — Bishop of Islamabad and Lahore Antony T. Lobo today demanded drastic amendments in Pakistan’s blasphemy law saying it was “very vague” and could be grossly misused. “Practically anyone can be charged anytime under the law which leaves no scope for intention of the person involved,” he said at a meeting on “the current situation in Pakistan” here adding that nearly 60 persons have been condemned to death under the law in last three years. The bishop, here as part of an apostolic visitation to seminaries in India, claimed that trial under the law is never fair since courtrooms are packed with fundamentalists who intimidate and pressurise judges and lawyers. “When somebody is accused, mobs do not even wait for the police or a trial, but take law in their hands and beat him to death,’’ he said adding that fundamentalism was on the rise in the country. However, the bishop said it was not only the minorities but also the Muslims who were victims of the law which attracted international attention after a priest committed self-immolation to protest award of death sentence to a fellow Christian recently. On nuclear explosions undertaken by India and Pakistan, Bishop Lobo said, “very threatening comments made here (in India) after the Pokhran tests” led to Pakistani nuclear explosions. The bishop said some
initiative s taken by a group of intellectuals, artists
and media persons have made a small beginning towards
promotion of understanding between the two people. The
efforts must be intensified, he stressed. |
Rs 1625 cr WB loan for better
water supply NEW DELHI, Aug 8 — Delhi would get a World Bank loan of Rs 1625 crore for augmenting water supply system in the capital, Delhi Chief Minister Sahib Singh Verma said here today. Addressing a press conference, he said a team of World Bank officials had recommended the sanctioning of this loan, which was the largest amount to be sanctioned to any government in the country following the imposition of the economic sanctions by the USA. Mr Sahib Singh said, that the WB officials, while criticising the water distribution system in the capital, were impressed with the condition of water being supplied to the residents. He said that the disbursement of the loan would commence in a couple of months and the projects would start before December. The Chief Minister also announced the setting up of a water regulatory scheme for tariff. Mr Verma said of the total amount, Rs 664 crore was likely to be released immediately for certain priority projects to strengthen water distribution network in the city. He said about Rs 960 crore would be spent on the setting up of water treatment plants and spreading parallel lines for supplying water for drinking and other purposes. Part of the World Bank assistance would also be utilised for hiring engineering and consultancy services, he said. The Chief Minister said
water supply would improve considerably with 24
reservoirs nearing completion and 19 more to be taken up
very soon. |
Producers' death: police theory
contested NEW DELHI, Aug 8 — The father of Zee TV Assistant Producer Rajiv Raja has challenged the police theory that Rajiv sexually molested and smothered to death his colleague Monica Malik and then committed suicide on Wednesday. Father of the deceased Ashok Raja told this correspondent that there were certain discrepancies in the police theory and added that a "third person was involved in the incident." He said the police was yet to recover the bottle from which Rajiv consumed organic phosphorous and the bottle of kaju feni which Rajiv reportedly drank was brought from Goa more than five years back. "My dogs always start barking whenever a family member enters the house. Although Rajiv is said to have been in the garage the dogs did not start barking. I feel that somebody else must have parked the car in the garage with both the bodies inside", he said. Mr Raja said his son died before Monica since at the time of taking the bodies to the hospital, Rajiv’s body had become stiff while Monica’s was still warm. According to Monica’s brother, she had called up home through her cellular phone at 12.30 midnight. "Monica said that she will be coming home late. She did not tell from where was she calling". The police is trying to find out where Rajiv and Monica had gone after leaving the party at the hotel at about 11.30 pm. The place where the friends went is yet to be identified. One of the organisers of the party told the police that neither did Rajiv nor Monica had liquor at the hotel and both of them looked cheerful. According to Joint Commissioner of police Amod Kanth Rajiv committed suicide by taking poison. He might have consumed kaju feni. The bottle was found in the garage. "The kind of injuries Monica sustained indicated that she was sexually assaulted. The bodies were recovered from the rear seat which indicated that after consuming liquor both might have tried to do something", Mr Kanth said. However Rajiv’s
father points out a glaring discrepancy. He said in the
Rajiv’s report the time of death was about 3 a.m. In
Monica autopsy report death time was 4 a.m. this shows
that Rajiv was dead before Monica. |
Trinamool, BJP differ on deportation issue CALCUTTA Aug 8 (PTI) — Differences between the BJP and ally Trinamool Congress over the issue of deportation of Bangladeshis, took a new turn today with West Bengal BJP President Tapan Sikdar, saying Trinamool founder Mamata Banerjee was afraid of losing Muslim votes. "This is a sad side of politics. Everybody, including Ms Banerjee suffer from a fear psychosis of losing Muslim votes," Sikdar said when asked for his views on why Banerjee held a different view on the issue. Sikdar, who was briefing newsmen on the first day of the BJP’s two-day state committee meeting, said Banerjee, however, had no differences with his party on the definition of an infiltrator. "She also feels that the problem should be solved. It is on some aspects of the procedure for deportation that she has her own views." Describing the suggestion of granting work permits to Bangladeshi settlers as impractical, he, however, agreed to her suggestions that India and Bangladesh should sort out the infiltration issue at a bipartite meeting. Condemning what he described as false propaganda on the issue by the Left Front in West Bengal, he said the BJP state unit would request the Maharashtra government to publish a white paper on the issue to apprise the public of the facts. "Even the Trinamool Congress team which visited Mumbai has found nothing wrong. Some Bengali-speaking people there, however, are feeling threatened because of false propaganda by the Left Front, especially the CPM," Sikdar said. The state BJP, he said,
would invite Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Gopi Nath
Munde to West Bengal to address seminars, symposia and
conferences to apprise the people of the reality. |
Kakrola deaths: DC’s probe
indicts DDA New Delhi, Aug 8 — The one-man inquiry committee, which probed the death of 10 children due to the drinking of contaminated water in South-West Delhi, has come down heavily on the Delhi Development Authority (DDA). The Deputy Commissioner, Mr K. Narasimhan, who probed the death of these children in Kakrola, said the DDA had shifted the jhuggi dwellers from Janakpuri without providing for them minimum civic amenities in resettlement area which resulted in the death of these children. The interim report was submitted to the Chief Minister of Delhi, Mr Sahib Singh Verma, late last night. While unofficial reports stated that 12 children died after drinking contaminated water, the Deputy Commissioner’s report has fixed the number of deaths in the slum cluster at seven. As many as 73 adults and children were taken ill. “The possibility that the source of infection was the water tanker cannot be ruled out”, the report said. The interim report has said the DDA Executive Engineer had admitted that the shifting was done without constructing drains, sewers or providing other civic amenities in the resettlement area. The report said the jhuggi dwellers were shifted during the monsoon when people are vulnerable to gastroenteritis and cholera. The report said that the probable source of the disease was contaminated water supplied through water tankers, but no definite conclusion could be reached until laboratory reports on the water samples were received. The Deputy commissioner has said the final report which would affix liability for the Kakrola deaths and make appropriate recommendations, can be given only after receipt of medical and laboratory test results. The final report will be given on conclusion of the criminal investigation being carried out by the police against the private contractors who were supplying water to the slum cluster and the reports of medical examination of body fluids and the laboratory test report of the water samples are received. The interim report has
observed that it was the DDA that had shifted the 608
jhuggis from C-2 B Janakpuri. It has further observed
that it was the DDA which had made arrangement for the
water supply to the slum cluster through private tankers
and that Delhi Jal Board was not responsible for
supplying water. |
Jethmalani set to repeal ULCRA NEW DELHI, Aug 8 — The Union Minister for Urban Affairs and Employment, Mr Ram Jethmalani, today said he would take up with the Cabinet to repeal the Urban Land Ceiling Regulation Act (ULCRA) and introduce law on foreclosure on mortgage securitisation through ordinances. Participating in a workshop on Housing and Urban Development Strategies for the Next Millennium, organised by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) here today, Mr Jethmalani admitted that his constant effort to repeal the Act through the Committee on Housing has not produced any result. He said despite his sending separate letters to each member of the committee, no favourable response has been received. Assuring that he would do whatever possible to get deemed export status to construction activities which is very logical, Mr Jethmalani , however, said he was not fully satisfied with responses and initiatives by the private sector in the housing sector. “ We should not only look at the next millennium but the immediate future as well. In my policy, I have spelt out the need for creating two million housing units in the country by the end of the year. But such assurances can go haywire if construction activity is not picking up”, he said. Recognising
the importance of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in the
housing sector to raise about Rs 1,50,000 crore to build
more than 41 million units to cover the backlog, Mr
Jethmalani said the government does not have that kind of
financial resources.” It has to come from the
financial institutions and the private sector “ , he
said adding that the government can only provide land and
laws. |
Sarkar for talks with rebels AGARTALA, Aug 8 (PTI) — Suspected militants of the banned National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) have kidnapped 20 persons in the past one week from different parts of the state, even as Chief Minister Manik Sarkar said his government would not be a hindrance if militants wanted direct talks with the Centre to solve the insurgency problem. “I will be very happy and will even arrange a meeting with the central government if militants come forward for a dialogue,” Mr Sarkar told newsmen last night after his arrival from New Delhi. Both the state and central governments have an open mind on negotiations with insurgent leaders, he said. He, however, made it clear
that the demand for an independent Tripura or the attempt
to separate the North Eastern region from the rest of the
country was “not right and can never be
accepted”. |
‘Decentralise’ functioning of CRPF NEW DELHI, Aug 8 — With the Central Reserve Police Force expected to grow in the next five years, the former Director-General of the force Dr S. Subramanian has advocated decentralisation and a task-oriented administrative restructuring. Speaking at a seminar on “CRPF in the year 2003” in the Capital today, Dr Subramanian said that the CRPF today was over-centralised. “To meet the demands of the tasks enunciated effectively and efficiently, there is a need for decentralisation.” He said that by the year 2003 AD, the strength of the CRPF should be raised to a strength of 2.5 lakh personnel. The former Chief Justice of India, Justice J.S. Verma, opined that human rights should be a priority for the force which has to interact extensively with civilians in times of distress. Air Commodore Jasjit Singh (Retired) while speaking on “Security scenario in India in the year 2003” said that in the next five years the force must look ahead and tackle the problems arising out of disturbances. He observed that the force
of the nature of the CRPF had to do multifarious duties
and the task did become challenging at times. |
Quattrocchi ready to be interviewed NEW DELHI, Aug 8 (PTI) — Ottavio Quattrocchi, Italian businessman who is wanted by the CBI and is facing arrest in the Bofors payoff case, today said he was “ready and willing” to be interviewed in Kuala Lumpur to clear his name “once and for all”. In a statement released by Spotlight, which claims to be his public relations agency, Quattrocchi whose application for quashing the arrest warrant in the case was rejected by the Delhi High Court earlier this week, said “I am not a fugitive from justice and I have never attempted to evade questioning. Quattrocchi left India a
few years ago before the arrest warrant against him was
issued by a Special Court here. |
79 PhD degrees awarded NEW DELHI, Aug 8 — The annual convocation of the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi, was held here today at Dogra Hall. The Chairman of Mahindra and Mahindra Ltd, Mr Keshub Mahindra, was the chief guest. This year 79 Ph.D, 20 five year integrated M.Tech, 433 M.Tech, 13 M.Des, 9 DIIT, 53 M.Sc, 3 MSR, 14 five-year integrated M.Sc in mathematics and computer applications and 273 B.Tech degrees were awarded along with various medals and prizes. In addition, distinguished alumni awards for 1998 was presented by Prof Arogyaswami Paulraj. Stanford University, USA and Mr Vinod Mahandroo, president, IBSS Group, Applied Materials, US. Prof V.S. Raju, Director
of IIT, Delhi, presented a report of the institute’s
achievements during the past academic year. |
Woman kills 3 sons, commits suicide VARANASI, Aug 8 (PTI)
— A 30-year-old woman killed her three minor sons
and then hanged herself at Bhagwanpur village in the
district, the police said today.A family quarrel was
stated to be the reason behind the incident. The
woman’s husband has absconded, the police said. |
| In
brief Councillor
held for gambling Freak baby dead Tagore’s
death anniversary 8 activists held
in Manipur Chennai-bound
train derailed |
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