Monday, December 21, 1998
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India, Russia to sign 7 pacts NEW DELHI, Dec 20 — Russian Prime Minister Yevgeny Primakov today cautioned that the US decision to halt military strikes against Iraq could be "temporary." Schism deepens in Hurriyat BICKERING within the Hurriyat Conference is intensifying with all the six leaders in its executive committee sticking to their own line and threatening the fragile unity of the amalgam of 23 organisations. |
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Give concession to disabled, IA told NEW DELHI, Dec 20 — The Supreme Court has directed Indian Airlines to give concessional air tickets to the people suffering from above 80 per cent Locomotor disability by treating them on a par with the blind.
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India ‘failed’ to
use Hindi for unity J&K
Govt makes list of migrants’ properties Pirated
CDs worth Rs 1.5 cr seized Christians,
Muslims to join hands Jaya
for special Parliament session on economy Haryana,
Bihar not to set up human rights panels Three
gangsters killed in Bombay |
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India, Russia to sign 7 pacts NEW DELHI, Dec 20 — Russian Prime Minister Yevgeny Primakov today cautioned that the US decision to halt military strikes against Iraq could be "temporary" and said the use of force against any country should be only with the consent of the UN Security Council. Mr Primakov, who arrived here this evening on a two-day official visit, told reporters at the Delhi airport that "Russia is categorically opposed to the use of force. The halt of air strikes may be temporary". Answering to a question on the US decision to stop the missile strikes against Iraq, Mr Primakov, said, "we are satisfied that the use of force has ended." "But our basic position has not changed that use of force should be only with the consent of the Security Council," he added. The Russian Prime Minister was received at the airport by External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh, Foreign Secretary K. Raghunath and Indian Ambassador in Russia S. Lambah besides senior civil and military officials. The visit of Mr Primakov, in the backdrop of the Iraqi crisis and the Pokhran nuclear tests, marks the importance Moscow attaches to New Delhi in a new world order dominated by the USA. Mr Primakov’s visit to India, which would formally take off with a ceremonial welcome in the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhavan tomorrow morning, is the first ever by the head of a government of the permanent five countries (P-5) of the United Nations after India put forward its claim to the elite nuclear club and it signifies Russia’s intention to set aside apprehensions by the West and continue with the age-old friendship with New Delhi. Mr Primakov, who is leading a high-powered delegation consisting of eight ministers, will oversee the signing of seven fresh agreements, including a broad-based 10-year defence pact providing for military-technical cooperation between the two countries. The existing defence partnership agreement between the two countries expires on December 31, 2000. The two sides will also sign a long-term accord on trade, economic, industrial, financial, scientific and technical cooperation as part of their efforts to deepen and broad-base their continuing friendship. With New Delhi engaged in sensitive nuclear negotiations with the USA and Russia leaning heavily on Washington for its economic revival, Mr Primakov’s visit is expected to send a strong signal to the world about the two countries’ preference for a multi-polar world devoid of US dominance. From Moscow’s viewpoint, Mr Primakov will have an opportunity to reassert Russia’s resolve to pursue an independent foreign policy. Indications about Russia’s independent stance on India was available within weeks of the Pokhran tests with Moscow agreeing to set up two 1000 MW light water nuclear power reactors in Kudankulam in Tamil Nadu. It also went ahead with the sale of state of art cryogenic engines for India’s space programme. The first of the seven engines arrived in Chennai in September. Mr Primakov’s visit was initially not planned for this year as the Russian President, Mr Boris Yeltsin, was scheduled to arrive here in December. Mr Yeltsin however, postponed his visit due to illness. Mr Primakov will hold talks with the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, and other senior officials during the next two days and discuss the entire gamut of Indo-Russian relations. The two leaders are expected to discuss ways and means of improving the trade mechanism and deepening economic cooperation with the purpose of doubling the trade turnover within the next few years and developing new areas of mutual trade, technology transfers and to taking up of new joint ventures between the two sides are also expected to be taken up. Bilateral trade between the two countries has deteriorated over the past few years and from 5 billion dollars, it has come down to $ 1.5 billion currently. Russia also plans to expand purchases of Indian foodstuffs and medicines. For this, Russia proposes to use thousands of crore of rupees accumulated through the repayment by India of old Soviet debts. The signing of the defence pact will also give a boost to the Russian defence equipment manufacturers as India is the biggest buyer of Russian equipment, including spares for its armed forces. Sale of modern tanks, electronics surveillance hardware and advanced submarines and aircraft are also expected to be taken up by Mr Primakov. A memorandum of understanding and a protocol for cooperation in oil exploration in the two countries and in the steel sector are also expected to be formalised during the visit. The Russian Prime Minister will be accorded a ceremonial welcome at Rashtrapati Bhavan tomorrow. Mr Primakov will later call on the President, Mr K.R.Narayanan, who will host a lunch in honour of the Russian leader. Mr Primakov is scheduled to meet Mr Vajpayee for about two hours in the evening after which the proposed agreement would be signed. The Russian Prime Minister is also scheduled to meet the Congress President, Mrs Sonia Gandhi and a former Prime Minister, Mr I.K.Gujral. Mr Primakov will also meet
captains of Indian industry at a meeting organised by the
Confederation of Indian Industry on Tuesday. |
Schism deepens in Hurriyat BICKERING within the Hurriyat Conference is intensifying with all the six leaders in its executive committee sticking to their own line and threatening the fragile unity of the amalgam of 23 religious and militant organisations, informed sources said.Recently, the 48-hours fast by JKLF leader Yaseen Malik has been criticised by certain sections of the organisation who felt Malik was seeking to “steal” the show. Sources within the Conference are worried as Malik has managed to grab attention, sidelining even the chairman of the amalgam, Syed Ali Shah Geelani, who also represents the Jamaat-e-Islamia (JEI) in the organisation. JEI sources have confirmed Geelani even faced a near revolt from the Majlese-Shoura (representative body of JEI) for his criticism of the party chief G.M. Bhat. Even though a truce was announced between Geelani and Bhat after a two-day meeting of the JEI recently, the sources wondered “how long would the peace” between two stalwarts continue as it would be hard for Geelani, who has much political experience, to forget the “insult”. The Muslim Conference represented by Prof Abdul Gani Bhat, a chief spokesman for the amalgam, is also unhappy with the functioning of the Hurriyat. However, Hurriyat spokesman in Delhi Abdul Majid Bandey sought to dismiss reports of bickering and said the conglomerate was achieving desired results. To make matters worse for Hurriyat, former Chairman and Mirwaiz of Kashmir Maulvi Umer Farooq has asked his party cadres to open all closed offices in the valley. Umer, who was virtually thrown out of the chairmanship last year following his announcement of holding unconditional talks with the Centre, is reportedly unhappy with the present leadership. The sources said a power struggle was brewing within the organisation, with the JKLF, People’s Conference and the Muslim League evolving a joint front to overshadow Awami Action Committee (AAC) President Mirwaiz Umer Farooq, who enjoys a good degree of public support. Ever since Geelani took over reins from Umer, the Hurriyat Conference is finding few takers in the international fora leading to a financial crunch. Official sources have confirmed that the sympathisers in Britain, USA and Canada are finding it difficult to manage funds from non-resident Kashmiris. The sources said Hurriyat was not “saleable” now in the international fora as it was in 1993, because the donors feel cheated as Hurriyat had hardly done anything other than demanding “plebiscite” as instructed by its mentors across the border. The donors have also started questioning the account of funds already provided, which if probed, might open a pandora’s box much to the discomfort of the leadership, the sources said. The Hurriyat leadership is also facing a CBI probe on the donations received from foreign nationals and governments. Besides this, public mood in the valley suggests the Hurriyat should engage in a dialogue with the state government. The people felt that if the Hurriyat leaders could enter into a dialogue with Pakistan or its “stooges”, why could not they open talks with the state government. As confusion reigns
supreme in the Hurriyat with internal strife threatening
its unity, analysts said time was ripe to bring the
various constituents to the discussion table for talks
within the constitutional framework. |
Give concession to disabled, IA told NEW DELHI, Dec 20 (PTI) — The Supreme Court has directed Indian Airlines (IA) to give concessional air tickets to the people suffering from above 80 per cent Locomotor disability by treating them on a par with the blind. “Bearing in mind the discomfort and harassment a person suffering from Locomotor disability will face while travelling by train, particularly to far-off places, we are inclined to issue direction to the IA to grant them the same concession which the airlines is giving to those suffering from blindness,” a Division Bench of the court said. The court granted the relief while disposing off a writ petition filed by Javed Abidi bringing to the court’s notice the hardships faced by disabled persons while taking flights from one place to another. Attorney-General Soli Sorabjee contended that the economic condition of the airlines was such that it was not feasible to grant any further concession to any other category of disabled people. He said the airlines was considering the question to withdraw such facilities to several group of citizens or to move the respective departments of the government to get the reimbursement. The Bench comprising Mr
Justice K. Venkataswami, and Mr Justice G.B. Pattanaik,
agreed that the economic capacity was a germane
consideration while deciding. |
Amartya meets mother SHANTINIKETAN, Dec 20 (PTI) — Nobel laureate Amartya Sen today had an emotional reunion with his mother, Amita, at his home ‘Pratichi’ after arriving to a red carpet welcome at Bolpur railway station. Hundreds of people, young and old from all walks of life, waited patiently for hours at the railway station to welcome Mr Sen home, as he arrived by a special eastern railway saloon car attached to Shantiniketan Express at 12.25 p.m. The crowd broke into a spontaneous applause as the cheerful-looking Nobel laureate alighted from the saloon. Mr Sen smiled and waved back. A red carpet was rolled out for him under tight security as senior police officers escorted Mr Sen out of the platform through a special “Amartya gate” installed in his honour. He was received at the station by Viswa-Bharati Vice-Chancellor Dilip Sinha, senior university officials, office-bearers of the Bolpur Municipality and local political leaders. A group of students for Sen’s alma mater, Patha Bhavan, were also present holding banner, welcoming ‘Amartya sir’. Mr Sen was admitted to the school founded by the country’s first Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore in 1942 and passed the ISC examination in 1951, topping the merit list. Mr Sen then boarded a white Contessa, provided by the West Bengal government, especially brought from Calcutta, to drive VVIPs like the President and the Prime Minister during their visits here. An eight-car convoy sped
for ‘Pratichi’ where he had an emotional
reunion with his 87-year-old mother. |
Christians, Muslims to join hands NEW DELHI, Dec 20 (IANS) — A prominent cleric who led the recent protests against anti-Christian violence in India has said that Muslims and Christians would jointly take on hardline Hindu groups if the BJP-led government fails to protect minorities. According to Alan De Lastic, Archbishop of Delhi, there has been “more violence against the Christian community” in the nine months since the BJP-led coalition took office “than in the 50 years since Independence.” He also said that hardline Hindu groups had become more hostile towards Christians than Muslims. “But we do not know the reason. We will not be intimidated also. We have to preach the good news.” He claimed that the Christians have “proportionately done more for India than any other community”, pointing out that “most of the schools and hospitals are run by Christians.” De Lastic, who led a nation-wide protest by the community early this month, said, “I can say we have partially succeeded in turning the attention of the general public as well as the government to the issue.” “Those who want to establish and spread their ideology should not indulge in physical violence. They should not stop others from accepting the faith according to their beliefs,” he said, referring to the spate of attacks in the recent months on Christian missionaries who had been accused of proselytising activities by the BJPs radical Hindu associates. Asked about the statements by some Muslim leaders urging a closing of ranks by Christians and Muslims, De Lastic said, “If they (the BJP and affiliated groups) are against the minorities, we have to unite.” He said as the ruling party, the BJP “should do something to stop” groups like the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and the Bajrang Dal. However, he added, “I will never accuse the Sangh Parivar for all anti-Christian activities till it is proved.” “But in certain cases they have themselves owned it publicly. We disagree with their ideology and their statements,” he said. The bishop praised the Shiv Sena for taking a stand against female foeticide and said there are “fields where we (Christians and Hindu groups) can fight together against issues which are harming our society.” De Lastic denied that Christian missionaries were using either force or inducement to persuade Hindus to become Christians. “It is not true. I do not think forceful conversion is taking place. But if anybody wants to accept a particular religion, he cannot be prevented,” he asserted, adding that “these accusations are to be proved.” Meanwhile, a delegation of the Indian Orthodox Church has called on President K.R. Narayanan and expressed serious concern over the attack on Christian institutions and places of worship. The delegation led by Job
Mar Philexinos, Metropolitan of Delhi, met the President
recently and pointed out that these attacks created a
sense of insecurity among the minorities and it was a
threat to the democratic system and against the best
traditions of the country. |
India ‘failed’ to use Hindi for unity NEW DELHI, Dec 20 (PTI) — The country has failed to use Hindi language as an effective tool to bring about national integration, Union Home Minister LK Advani said today. Presenting the eighth Vyas Samman instituted by the KK Birla Foundation to noted Hindi writer Govind Mishra here, Mr Advani said Hindi could have been the single source of unity in the country in the post-independent period. “Unfortunately, we have not paid enough attention to this aspect of Hindi language,” he said. Mr Advani said under the British Raj, India had well accepted Hindi as the national language but things began to change only after the country achieved Independence. “It is surprising that a hue and cry was raised against Hindi after we attained freedom. No state had expressed aversion to Hindi in the pre-independence period,” he said. The Vyas Samman was
conferred on Govind Mishra for his work. ‘Panch
Anganon Vala Ghar’ (a home with five courtyards).
The award is given for the best work in literature
published in the past 10 years. |
J&K Govt makes list of migrants’ properties NEW DELHI, Dec 20 (UNI) — As per the directions of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), the Jammu and Kashmir Government has prepared a district-wise list of the properties left behind by the migrant Pandits in the Kashmir valley which they could verify to check whether their property interests were duly recognised and acknowledged in the list or not. NHRC sources said the state government’s decision was informed by the Advocate-General of the Jammu and Kashmir Government, Mr M.A. Goni, to a three-member Bench of the commission, headed by the NHRC chairperson, Justice M.N. Venkatachalaiah. The commission was hearing a complaint filed by the Kashmiri Samiti, Delhi, and the Doda Vichar Manch and many other organisations, alleging brutal killings and gross violation of the human rights of the Kashmiri Pandits. Accepting the suggestion made by the complainants, the Advocate-General said he would ensure that the district or tehsil-wise list of such properties would be made available for public inspection, both at the office of the Relief Commissioner, Jammu, and at the office of the Resident Commissioner, the sources said. Meanwhile, Mr Pyare Lal Kaul, advocate of the International Human Rights Protection Council, Jammu, and the All-India Kashmiri Samaj, New Delhi, complained about the non-payment of the pension and other retirement benefits. Mr Kaul also took strong objection to the use of the word “doles” for the amount being paid by the state government to the displaced minority community of the state. He submitted that “the people displaced in the wake of ongoing terrorism in Kashmir, were not receiving any “doles” from the state government and the use of the contemptuous term against them in the reply filed by the government shows the treatment of indignity accorded to them”. The sources said before
proceeding further on the issues, the commission would
like to discuss the matter with the Chief Secretary and
the Advocate-General of the state government and the
counsel representing various parties. The
Advocate-General had been asked by the commission to
arrange the meeting, the sources added. |
Pirated CDs worth Rs 1.5 cr seized NEW DELHI, Dec 20 — In a large haul of pirated compact discs (CDs), the Delhi Police today claimed to have seized audio CDs worth Rs 1.5 crore and arrested eight persons in North West Delhi. The raids were conducted by the police team at an illegal compact disc "plant" operating in the basement of a house in the Rohini area yesterday. Nearly 30,000 CDs were seized, the DCP (North West), Mr Satyendra Garg, said here today. The basement was also being used as a godown and distribution centre of pirated CDs, he said. Mr Garg said investigations had revealed pirated and pre-recorded CDs were manufactured at Panipat in Haryana and were being supplied to dealers and retail outlets in Delhi and other neighbouring states. The raids were carried out following a complaint by an official of the music company "Music India Ltd" that pirated cassettes were being distributed from the raided premises, he said. The CDs were found to be pre-recorded with popular Hindi film and non-film songs. A large number of inlay cards, cellophane paper, screen printing frames and two CD printing machines were also seized, he said. The arrested persons have been identified as Lalit Kattar, Sudesh Yadav, Anil, Rakesh, Balwant, Krishan, Manjit and Niranjan. The main accused, Puneet Jain, who had taken the basement on rent was missing. The arrested persons were his employees. They have been booked under various sections of the Copyright Act for cheating, forgery and criminal conspiracy. Mr Garg pointed out the
seizure of this kind was perhaps the largest ever in
India. He said more seizures and arrests were likely in
the near future. |
Jaya for special Parliament CHENNAI, Dec 20 (PTI) — The AIADMK chief, Mr Jayalalitha, today suggested convening of a special session of Parliament next month to evolve a consensus on ‘bold legislations’ to arrest the slowdown in the country’s economy, which, she said, was on the “brink of disaster”. Warning that the country would plunge into economic depression unless immediate corrective action was taken, she appealed to all political parties, particularly the BJP and the Congress, to set aside their differences and work in a ‘spirit of cooperation’ to save the nation. Expressing concern over the negative trends being shown by various segments of the economy, in a statement here, Ms Jayalalitha said the special session should be convened in mid-January with the support of leaders of opposition parties to exclusively focus on the economic crisis. ‘I appeal to the Congress party and the BJP to ensure that their bickering do not harm the people. In particular, I expect the Congress to be true to its history and ensure that legislation needed for economic stability and expansion gets passed,’ she said. Regretting that ‘even at this hour of crisis,’ several political leaders were ‘busy scoring political points’ over each other, she said, ‘mere name-calling will not help, neither will boasting about each other’s capacities and future’. Without naming any party,
she said some parties appeared to be looking forward to
an economic crisis to gain political advantage. Such an
attitude did not reflect well on the sincerity of their
commitment towards the nation. |
Haryana, Bihar not to set up NEW DELHI, Dec 20 (PTI) — Governments of Bihar and Haryana have ruled out setting up of state human rights commission saying it would lead to “sheer duplication” of the functions of the National Human Rights Commission. “The Bihar Government is of the view that existence of the NHRC at national level makes it redundant to establish a similar authority at the state level,” Bihar Home Secretary said in a communication to the NHRC in response to a letter from the commission chairperson in October. He said the complaints received through the NHRC were promptly looked into and suitable action taken and that a nodal officer had been designated in the Home Department to attend to such complaints. “In this background, no useful purpose would be served by the constitution of state human rights commission,” the Home Secretary said. In his communication to
the NHRC, Haryana’s Under Secretary (Home) said
“the state government after careful consideration
has decided that there is no need of setting up of a
state human rights commission”. |
Three gangsters killed in Bombay MUMBAI, Dec 20 (PTI) — Three gangsters were killed in police encounters and a shoot-out in the metropolis since last night. A Chhota Rajan gang member Pradeep Lodh, was killed in a police encounter near the Central Railway workshop at Bhoiwada early today. In another encounter, a member of the Amar Naik gang was killed in North-East Mumbai. The police laid a trap around a bar on information that members of the gang would visit the bar manager to collect Rs 3.5 lakh. In the third incident, a
member of the notorious Abu Salem gang was shot dead and
his three accomplices injured when assailants fired at
them in Chembur in North-East Mumbai last night. |
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| Corporator dies of burns MUMBAI: Mumbai corporator Meena Bhagman More, who was set on fire by three Congress activists, died in hospital on Sunday, the police said. More (30), who belonged to the Nagri Vikas Aghadi floated by dissident Shiv Sena MLA Ganesh Naik, had received 80 per cent burns on December 14 when she was set ablaze following an altercation over delay in construction of a common water tap in a slum. The four accused, including Yogendra Pande (45), Rakesh Tiwari (35) and Bapi Bhattacharya alias Bangali (40), identified by her in the FIR as well as stated by the police as Congress activists, and the fourth Mohammed Kasim Budhukhan (30), were arrested. — PTI Veteran journalist passes
away Christian priest
fined Famous astrologer
dead National workshop
on women begins Low-intensity
blast Ramzan moon
sighted |
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