Sunday, November 8, 1998
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Rebel
Congress, BJP nominees file papers |
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 CALCUTTA: Smoke billows from the over 100-year-old Mackinnon Mackenzie building on Stand Road in Calcutta, which caught fire on Saturday. — PTI 130 rescued from building on fire CALCUTTA, Nov 7 — A fire swept through a landmark building in central Calcutta early today damaging some corporate offices and injuring five persons, one seriously, while fire-fighters rescued 130 from the four-storeyed structure. The building houses the offices of the SAIL, UTI, ICI, IFCI and Railway Recruitment Board. |
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CBI challenges Laloo’s stay in
guest house PATNA, Nov 7 — The CBI yesterday filed two separate affidavits in the Patna High Court challenging the “stay” of two former Chief Ministers — Mr Laloo Prasad Yadav and Mr Jagannath Mishra — in a Bihar military police guest house. Concern over misuse of
paramilitary forces Gen
Malik relinquishes charge AMU
closed sine die Romesh
in judicial custody Interim
bail of Salim Khan confirmed |
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Rebel Congress, BJP nominees
file papers JAIPUR, Nov 7 — A near revolt situation has cropped up in the Congress party over distribution of tickets for the ensuing Vidhan Sabha elections in Rajasthan. A former Speaker of Vidhan Sabha and at least four former ministers, besides several former MLAs, ignoring the high command decision, have filed their nomination papers as Independents. Former Vidhan Sabha Speaker and veteran Congress leader Poonam Chand Bishnoi has filed his nomination papers from the Bhinmal constituency. Former minister Damodar Acharya too has jumped in the fray from his old constituency Nagaur. In Jaipur former minister Shriram Gotewala revolted after party ignored his claim for a ticket from the Kishanpole constituency of Jaipur. He has filed his papers as an Independent with fan fare on Friday. After filing his papers he told newsmen that there was no respect for public service in the party. Likewise former minister Surendra Vyas too was unhappy that the high command ignored his claim for candidature from Malpura. He filed his papers yesterday as an Independent. The former union minister Daulat Saran too has revolted against the party and has thrown his hat in the poll arena as an Independent. Several former MLAs like Jagdish Tiwari (Bassi), Chenaram (Nagaur), Bhalu Khan (Churu), Radhey Shyam Godara, Bhimraj Bhati (Pali), Prem Singh (Bhinmal), Rameshwar Chaudhary (Nawa), Babulal Bairwa (Kathumar), Ram Karan Gujar (Kotputali), Neelam Sharma (Ajmer-West) have also put in their papers in revolt to denial of tickets. Not that the BJP is completely free from dissension, but the number of those jumping in the fray against the official nominees is less as compared to the Congress party. Only one former minister, Kundanlal Miglani, has filed his papers in protest against denial of ticket from Shri Karanpur. Former MLAs flouting party discipline are: Kishan Kogta (Masuda) and Rewati Koli (Weir). PTI: The BJP would leave six Assembly seats in Rajasthan for the Bharatiya Rashtriya Lok Dal (BRLD) to contest the November 25 elections, the BJP chief, Mr Raghuveer Singh Kaushal, has said. The seat sharing agreement with the BRLD is likely to be finalised, Mr Kaushal told reporters. The BJP would leave Taranagar, Sangaria, Nohar, Sardarshahar, Mandawa and Laxmangarh for the BRLD, headed by Mr Om Prakash Chautala, he said. The BJP nominees on the six seats would withdraw their nomination papers, he said. The BJP had earlier announced leaving the Degana seat for an Independent while issuing its list of 199 candidates for the 200 member state Assembly. Altogether 2569 candidates have filed their nominations in 200 constituencies of Rajasthan. In all 1706 candidates
filed their papers yesterday, the last day for filing of
nominations, an Election Department official said. |
CPI releases list of nominees NEW DELHI, Nov 7 (UNI) — The Communist Party of India has fielded 55 candidates for the November 25 Assembly poll in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Delhi. It will contest 34 Assembly seats in Madhya Pradesh, 20 in Rajasthan and three in Delhi. The names of the constituencies in MP are Dimmi (SC), Dabra, Guna, Malhera, Chitrakot, Gurh, Mangawan, Gopadbanas, Nowrozabad (ST), Anuppur (ST), Sohagpur, Lundra ST), Sitapur (ST), Bagicha (ST), Tapkara (ST), Saria, Kaighora, Masturi (SC), Raipur town, Bhatpara, Bhanupratapur (ST), Keshloor (ST), Dantewada (ST) and Konta (ST), Dhamda, Danegarh (SC), Baihar (ST), Pangar (SC), Jabalpur cantonment, Parasia (SC), Ghoradongri (ST) and Govindpura-Bhopal in the last assembly elections, the party won the Dantewada and Konta seats, both reserved for the tribal community. In Rajasthan, the party has put up candidates in Gogunda (reserved), Sarada (reserved), Chittorgarh, Jaisalmer, Masuda, Beawar, Kishangarh, Kishanpole, Jamwa Ramgarh, Sikar, Khetri, Ramgarh, Tijara, Tibbi (reserved), Ganganagar, Karanpur, Jodhpur, Kota, Nadwai and Kaman. In Delhi, the CPI will
contest Mandawli, Gole Market and Mangolpuri (SC) seats. |
Symbol issue led to SAD retreat NEW DELHI, Nov 7 — Pressure from Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee and other senior BJP leaders on the Shiromani Akali Dal to field its nominees under the symbol of lotus and stiff opposition to the idea from within the party compelled its leadership to abandon the plan to contest election in Delhi and Rajasthan. The justification given by the SAD leaders to change its decision to contest elections on ground of changed scenario emanating from the Congress’ move to rope in its leaders accused in the 1984 riot is a mere eye-wash. The party’s alibi that as the BJP had allotted only four seats and thus there was no point in contesting election to make a marginal presence in Delhi was also not convincing in the backdrop of the negotiations that its leaders were having with its ally for the share of seats. The SAD had narrowed its demand from 10 to five seats in Delhi. The BJP had agreed to give four and, with a bit of pressure it could have been forced to give on more. Sources said though the BJP’s senior leaders had left the symbol issue to the leadership of the SAD following opposition from its workers, they stepped up the moral pressure in its favour in the last two days. The support to the idea of contesting on BJP symbol by the prospective SAD nominees made the issue more complex for the leadership. The turnaround of the BJP leaders on the issue is said to have come after Mr Badal and the SGPC President Gurcharan Singh Tohra came to the conclusion in favour of contesting on the SAD’s symbol of a scale. A section in the SAD feel that the volte-face of the BJP leaders came only after they got wind of the convergence of mind of Mr Badal and Mr Tohra against the BJP banner. The BJP was, perhaps, counting on differences in the SAD on the issue to turn the situation in its favour. It is learnt that Mr Vajpayee and the Union Home Minister, Mr L.K. Advani and the Delhi Chief Minister, Mrs Sushma Swaraj, tried to persuade Mr Badal and Mr Tohra several times over personally and through emissaries to put up SAD candidates on the BJP symbol. The BJP leaders reasoned with the SAD leaders that the Congress would gain at the expense of both parties in the eventuality of SAD nominees contesting on the symbol of scale. Sources said the reason for the SAD leadership not to contest was a calculated move in the given political situation and was multi-layered. One, leadership of the two parties were wary of the BJP’s middle class vote bank vis-a-vis the Congress nominees in the eventuality of SAD nominees contesting on the symbol of scale. Secondly, SAD leadership would have to suffer loss of face in its in Punjab if the party nominees contested on BJP symbol. Thirdly, the SAD leadership was not sure where the allegiance of its nominees would lie in the Vidhan Sabha after they won on BJP’s symbol. This had the potential to embarrass the leadership at a possible crucial time. This feeling was strengthened as the leadership was not sure of returning any of its candidate to the Vidhan Sabha on its on steam. Fourthly, the party was already plagued with factionalism and it could possibly be magnified by its decision to contest election in such a surcharged atmosphere. In a face-saving measure
senior leaders of the Delhi unit of the SAD yesterday
held a meeting to work out a strategy to convince the
party cadre on the change of stance by the leadership. |
SAD decision upsets Punjabis
in Rajasthan SRIGANGANAGAR, Nov 7 — Despondency seemed to mark the mood of Punjabi voters in Sriganganagar and Hanumangarh districts today with decision of the SAD (B) to opt out of November 25 Assembly elections in Rajasthan. A number of Akali party workers who came across this correspondent yesterday felt that the SAD (B) had sacrificed the interests of the party unit in Rajasthan. Mr Surjit Singh Kang, Rajasthan state unit Akali Dal, president, called it a deceitful act on the part of the BJP. When contacted at his residence at Kesrisinghpur, Mr Kang said there was widespread resentment among party workers with the announcement of the decision. He accused the BJP of failing to keep its promise of allocating six Assembly seats in the state. Mr Kang said during the last parliamentary elections, the party had surrendered its claim for Sriganganagar seat on the assurance of Mr Bhairo Singh Shekhawat, the Chief Minister, that the party candidates would be accommodated on six of 11 seats in Sriganganagar and Hanumangarh districts during the ensuing Assembly poll. Venting his anger on Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, Mr GS Brar, a long-time party sympathiser at Sriganganagar, accused him of bargaining the interests of Punjabis. According to Akali Party sources, the SAD Rajasthan state unit had laid claim of six Vidhan Sabha seats to field Akali candidates this time. The state unit president had urged Mr Badal to press the BJP leadership at Centre to allocate Karanpur, Kesrisinghpur, Sangaria, Pilibanga, Raisinghnagar and Suratgarh to the party. These six seats are believed to be Sikh dominated. Sikhs make up 40 to 45 per cent of population in these areas. The state BJP was reportedly willing to give Kesrisinghpur and Karanpur seats to the SAD (B) in the adjustment of seats. A grudge here is that the Punjabis in the state had no right to purchase land. Mr Partap Singh, manager in a bank here, said a number of times Akali leaders in Punjab had been asked to raise the matter with their counterparts in Rajasthan but nothing had happened. During the Vidhan Sabha
poll in 1990, the SAD (A), led by Mr Simranjit Singh
Mann, had fielded seven candidates in these two border
districts which have sizeable Sikh voters. Although the
SAD (A) candidates lost at the hustings, they received a
good response from Punjabi voters of the area. |
Withdraw or face action, Cong warns
rebels NEW DELHI, Nov 7 — Concerned by the large number of rebels who have entered electoral battle in the forthcoming assembly poll, the Congress today warned action would be taken against them in case they did not withdraw. Although a firm number of such candidates has not been announced, reports emanating from Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Delhi indicated that several party members who have been denied ticket decided to contest. ‘‘In some assembly constituencies, some Congress members have filed their papers against the official candidates. We appeal to all to withdraw otherwise action will be taken against them,’’ the party spokesman, Anil Shastri said here today. That the party had to issue an official warning itself indicated the gravity of problem, specially in states where the Congress expects to do well in the forthcoming hustings. Several people raised the banner of protest yesterday itself with one aspirant in Delhi choosing to stage a ‘dharna’ in front of 10, Janpath, residence of the Congress President, Mrs Sonia Gandhi. ‘‘Those who have filed their papers against the official candidates have to withdraw. They are duty-bound to support the official candidate and ensure their victory,’’ the spokesman said. Asked if the rebellion had something to do with the manner in which the party selected candidates, the spokesman said due process was followed and denied there could be any mistake in it. However, he admitted, there could be a few cases in which lack of proper information could have led to grant of party ticket. For instance in MP, while it was claimed that 18 ministers were dropped, the final list showed that only six of them were axed. The Congress had earlier decided to apply strict norms in selecting candidates and to deny nominations to those who are convicted in criminal offences or lost the last elections by over 10,000 votes. The criterion was, however, relaxed in several cases apparently under pressure from senior leaders. Meanwhile, the Chairman of the AICC Media Department, Mr Shivraj Patil today objected to the recent statement of the Union Home Minister, Mr L.K. Advani, giving a clean chit to the Delhi Chief Minister, Mrs Sushma Swaraj, whose name has been allegedly linked to Romesh Sharma. Without naming any one, he said, ‘‘Before investigation in this case a responsible person in the government is exonerating persons against whom allegations are levelled. The (BJP) Spokesman is implicating others before investigations. We don’t expect this kind of thing.’’ Mr Patil also announced the appointment of Mr Mani Shankar Aiyer to the panel of spokespersons which at present has Mr Shastri and Mrs Ambika Soni. The Congress today ruled out making the reported political links of Romesh Sharma, the alleged front man of Dubai-based don Dawood Ibrahim, an issue in the coming elections to the Delhi Assembly. “Our poll issues are the problems of the common man and how we intend to tackle them if we come to power. And most certainly Romesh Sharma does not figure in that,” Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee (DPCC) President Sheila Dikshit told Eenadu TV in an interview. Denying that the Congress had any role in the “smear campaign” linking city Chief Minister Sushma Swaraj with the property dealer-turned-politician, Ms Dikshit said, “I cannot recall a single Congress leader who had said anything about the Romesh Sharma episode.” Ms Swaraj had recently appealed to Congress President Sonia Gandhi, urging her to prevent her partymen from indulging in a “smear campaign.” On the alleged links between Sharma and former premier Rajiv Gandhi, Ms Dikshit said even if he had met him, it could have been a “very casual” meeting and “that does not establish anything apart from the fact that a meeting took place.” She said the coming poll was not a battle between her and Ms Sushma Swaraj as was being made out by the media. “The media may put it so but I think it is a battle between two ideologies and two political parties,” she said. Accusing the BJP of politicising the Romesh Sharma issue, the DPCC chief said, “If they are not guilty, why are they (doing) all this?” She also denied any personal meeting with Sharma. “It is a matter being investigated. Let the truth come out. Maybe, some political figures were involved. But beyond that, it certainly does not interest me or my party,” she said. She dismissed the “outsider” tag attached to her saying “Delhi is a cosmopolitan city.” “I think 80 or 90 per
cent of people living in Delhi today have emigrated from
somewhere or the other. I can claim to be an inhabitant
of Delhi for the simple reason that I was educated here,
I was bred here,” the DPCC chief said. |
Ahluwalia continues tirade NEW DELHI, Nov 7 — Continuing his tirade against the party, former Rajya Sabha MP from Bihar S. S. Ahluwalia has fired another salvo, stating that instead of replying to issues raised by him the Congress chose to serve on him show-cause notices. In another letter yesterday to Congress President, Mrs Sonia Gandhi, which was released to the Press today, Mr Ahluwalia questioned the recent remarks by Delhi Pradesh Congress chief Shiela Dikshit describing some Delhi leaders who are allegedly involved in the anti-Sikh riots as “men of experience”. Mr Ahluwalia said his pain was not just because he is a Sikh but because of being a human being who did not want to remain a mute spectator. He once again raised the issue of Congress support to the Rashtriya Janata Dal and the party opposing the imposition of Central rule in Bihar, charging that the government there was involved in corruption and misrule. The inclusion of Mr H K L
Bhagat, Mr Sajjan Kumar, Mr Dharamdas Shastri and others
who were allegedly involved in the 1984 riots in
Delhi’s election campaign committee had showed that
the Congress instead of taking action against these
individuals was giving important assignment to them
which, Mr Ahluwalia claimed, had resulted in further
alienation of the Sikhs. |
Vinod, Gauthami to campaign for
BJP NEW DELHI, Nov 7 — The Chief Minister of Punjab, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, and the MP from Gurdaspur, cinestar Vinod Khanna, among others will campaign for the Bharatiya Janata Party for the forthcoming assembly elections in Delhi. The chairman of the Election Committee of the Delhi unit, Mr V K Malhotra, addressing newspersons here today said that the star campaigners of the party would be present in strength in the Capital during the campaign period. Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee, Union Home Minister, L K Advani, Union Human Resource Development Minister, M M Joshi, and firebrand leader, Uma Bharati will campaign for the party. Also, to lend glamour to the campaign, film stars Gauthami and Vijaya Shanti, will be present. For the third day today, the Delhi unit of the BJP had to grapple with rebellion as the convenor of the South Indian cell, Mr Sashidharan, was expelled from the party for “anti-party activities”. The president of Narela district, Mr Mahender Nagpal, today also reportedly resigned from his post. Mr Nagpal is a member of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi. Mr Vijay Kumar Malhotra today admitted that about 20 persons from the party had rebelled which include three sitting MLAs. The MLAs are Mr Jagdish Lal Batra from Kasturba Nagar, Mr Inder Raj from Narela and Mr Ram Pal Kirana from Karawal Nagar. Mr Malhotra said, “Now that the last date for filing of nomination papers is over, we appeal to all these BJP enthusiasts who have filed their papers to withdraw from the contest. After all, there can be only one candidate of a party for a single constituency.” Mr Malhotra stated that the party would take action against the rebels if they did not withdraw from the contest by November 9, the last date for withdrawal. In the meeting of the campaign committee with the party candidates today, the candidates were told to strictly adhere to the model code of conduct. The candidates have also been asked to be on the look out for the violation of the code by the Opposition and report the matter to the the senior party leaders. Meanwhile, the Janata Dal and the Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) headed by Mr Simranjit Singh Mann plan to constitute a joint campaign for the Delhi Assembly poll. Mr Jaswinder Singh Virk, President of the Delhi State Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) told The Tribune here today that all public meetings during the campaign will be addressed by the leaders of the two parties. He said that the posters printed for the campaign will have photographs of the leaders of the two parties. The President of the Delhi Pradesh Janata Dal, Mr Satish Yadav, said that the aforesaid proposal was awaiting the approval of their leader, Mr Sharad Yadav. Mr Yadav said that senior JD leaders, Sharad Yadav, H D Deve Gowda, S R Bommai and Ram Vilas Paswan had indicated their willingness to campaign for the candidates in the Delhi Assembly polls. Mr Yadav said that the party has always championed the cause of the poor and the downtrodden. A special feature of the JD campaign in Delhi is a ‘Samaajik Nyay Chetna Rath’ (chariot for creating awareness on social justice). He said that this tempo turned chariot would carry their leaders to various parts of Delhi besides the 52 assembly segments where the JD is fielding candidates. The Janata Dal has left
the Vishnu Garden seat for the SAD (Amritsar) and the
Gole Market seat for the CPM, Mr Yadav said. |
Corruption to be poll plank NEW DELHI, Nov 7 — The BJP will focus on issues of corruption, criminalisation of politics, internal security and pseudo secularism and performance of its governments in the state as well as at the Centre in the coming Assembly elections. Briefing newspersons, the BJP General Secretary, Mr M. Venkaiah Naidu, said the party was preparing a central statement on issues which would be released by the party President, Mr Kushabhau Thakre, on Tuesday at a Press conference. Asked if the price rise would not be an issue, Mr Naidu said that the party will explain to the people reasons behind such a price rise and moreover prices had already started witnessing a downward trend. “We are not worried on this count”, he said. The party had prepared an elaborate programme of election campaign in which Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee, Union Home Minister, L.K. Advani, other cabinet ministers along with senior party leaders would participate, Mr Naidu said. The BJP would tell the people about numerous scams which took place during the previous Congress and the United Front governments, the BJP spokesman said. Accusing the Congress of going back on its code of conduct evolved at Pachmarhi a few months ago, Mr Naidu asked the Congress to explain its links with Romesh Sharma who was made an AICC member in 1984 by none other than the former Prime Minister, Mr Rajiv Gandhi. Mr Naidu said this fact
had been admitted by Romesh Sharma and the BJP was not
making any allegation but was only stating a fact.
“Let the Congress deny it”, he said. |
CBI challenges Laloo’s stay in guest house PATNA, Nov 7 (PTI) — The CBI yesterday filed two separate affidavits in the Patna High Court challenging the “stay” of two former Chief Ministers — Mr Laloo Prasad Yadav and Mr Jagannath Mishra — in a Bihar military police guest house. In the affidavits, the CBI alleged the two former Bihar Chief Ministers had tried to tamper with the evidence and questioned the justifiability of the circumstances under which they were lodged in the BMP guest house. Mr Rajendra Singh, counsel for Mr Yadav, said the court had no jurisdiction to decide as to where an accused should be kept. “The authority totally rests with the state government”, he told the court. A single Bench of the Patna High Court, headed by Mr Justice MY Iqbal, is likely to pronounce its judgement on the bail applications of Mr Yadav and Mr Mishra after hearing the replies of CBI counsel Rakesh Kumar on Monday. The two former Chief Ministers had moved for regular bail in case no RC 64 (A)/96 after their bail applications were rejected by Special CBI Judge SK Lal on October 30. The instant case relates to fraudulent withdrawal of Rs 97 lakh from the Deoghar treasury. The arguments on the petitions of Mr Yadav and Mr Mishra ended yesterday. The bail application of RJD MLA RK Rana will be taken up for hearing on Monday. Requesting for bail to Mr Mishra, Supreme Court lawyer RK Jain told the court, “It will be a travesty of justice if his client was refused bail as the main accused Shesh Muni Ram, the Regional Director of the Animal Husbandry Department is already on bail’’. He quoted several Supreme Court judgements to prove his point that if the main accused was granted bail other co-accused were entitled for bail by “right”. He told the court that another major accused Jagdish Sharma, MLA, who as the Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee had tried to block the vigilance inquiry had also been granted bail by the court. Mr Jain questioned the authority of the CBI Special Judge in denying bail to his client and said if the high court refused bail to his client “it will amount to reviewing the ruling of the apex court which has already granted bail to Mishra in an identical case no RC 20 (A) /96”. Mr Jain told the court recommendations made by his client for extension of service to Mr SB Sinha, Joint Regional Director of the Animal Husbandry Department had nothing to do with facilitating the loot of public money from the Deoghar treasury. As a public representative
Mr Mishra’s recommendation was a routine affair and
this did not prove his guilt as the state government was
the ultimate authority to act on his recommendation. |
Concern over misuse of paramilitary forces GUWAHATI, Nov 7 (UNI) — Union Ministry has expressed serious concern over the “gross misuse” of central paramilitary forces despatched for counter insurgency operations in the north eastern region. Union Home Secretary B.P. Singh, in a meeting of the Chief Secretaries and police officials of the north eastern region, made open his displeasure on the subject. “Just about one third of the paramilitary forces operating in the north eastern states are actually deployed in the counter insurgency role. The bulk of the forces are still deployed for guarding VIPs, vital installations and for ordinary law and order situation. This needs to be reviewed. Paramilitary forces must be used as strike arm of the state police,” he said. An annoyed Home Secretary ordered the DGPs of the region to completely stop the misuse. “At least 75 per cent of the paramilitary forces must be used in the counter insurgency operations. The Chief Secretaries have been asked to drastically reduce the security cover of the VIPs. We expect at least 25 per cent reduction of the VIP security,” said Mr Singh. He further said continued and extensive deployment affected their operation preparedness. He added that there had been an increasing demand for more and more security forces. To effectively incapacitate the insurgents by hitting hard their fund raising capacity, the Home Secretary ordered to nab those assisting them in mobilising funds and detecting and seizing their assets. Meanwhile, 17 battalions
of the India Reserve Battalion will be despatched to the
North East after the Union Home Ministry today unveiled a
stern new action plan to combat insurgency. |
Gen Malik relinquishes charge NEW DELHI, Nov 7 — General V.P. Malik, PVSM, ADC, Chief of the Army Staff and Colonel of the Sikh Light Infantry, today relinquished charge of Colonel of the regiment. He handed over the charge to Major-Gen Anil R. Raikar, VSM, Commandant Indian Military Training Team, at a function held to celebrate the golden jubilee celebrations of the 4th Battalion of Sikh LI. General Malik took over as Colonel of the regiment in June, 1990, when he was General Officer Commanding of 8 Mountain Division. During his eight years’ tenure, the regiment has achieved greater glories and laurels. The regiment has the honour and pride to produce him as a first ever-Chief of the Army Staff. General Malik commanded
10th Battalion of the regiment from 1974 to 1977 whereas
Major-General Raikar has the distinction of raising and
commanding 14th Battalion from 1988 to 1993. |
AMU closed sine die ALIGARH, Nov 7 (PTI) — Aligarh Muslim University has been closed sine die and the students have been advised to vacate the hostels “with immediate effect”, an official notification said here today. The notification issued by Vice-Chancellor Mahmood Rehman said “the decision to close the university has been taken in the wake of the strike by the junior doctors in support of their demand for higher salary and reinstatement of a doctor suspended on charges of criminal assault on a Dalit girl.” “The law and order situation in the university has been found deteriorating for the past several weeks and on November 4 extensive damage was caused to the university property,” it said. The office of the university proctor has also been destroyed in the fire started by the miscreants, the notification said. Meanwhile, the police and
para-military forces, including the Rapid Action Force,
continue to camp in the university premises as a
precautionary measure. |
Romesh in judicial custody NEW DELHI, Nov 7 — A Delhi court today remanded self-styled politician and Dawood Ibrahim’s aide, Romesh Sharma, to 14 days’ judicial custody. The Crime Branch of the Delhi Police today produced Romesh Sharma before the Metropolitan Magistrate, Mr K.S. Mohi, and requested for judicial custody. Mr Ahmed Khan, public prosecutor for the Crime Branch, pleaded that as the investigations had been completed, Romesh Sharma should be sent in judicial custody. Romesh Sharma was arrested
by the South Delhi police on October 20 from his
residence in Mayfair Garden in South District. Fourteen
cases were registered against him by the Delhi police. Of
them, two cases were transferred to the CBI. |
130 rescued from building on fire CALCUTTA, Nov 7 (PTI) — A fire swept through a landmark building in central Calcutta early today damaging some corporate offices and injuring five persons, one seriously, while fire-fighters rescued 130 from the four-storeyed structure. The blaze broke out around 2 a.m. on the second floor and soon spread to third and fourth floors of the 100-year-old Mackinnon Mackenzie building housing the offices of the SAIL, UTI, ICI, IFCI and Railway Recruitment Board. The Strand Road building, which also houses offices of metro railway and eastern region’s oldest freight forwarding agency Blacker and Company, did not suffer major damage, Fire Brigade Deputy Director Baren Sen said. He said his team rescued 130 persons trapped on the terrace after the flames spread quickly because of wooden partitions. UTI Zonal Managar D.K. Goswami said his office was damaged, but the repurchase of UTI units would not be hampered by the mishap. Moloy Dasgupta of Blacker
and Company said his office was completely damaged
stalling freight forwarding operations. |
Interim bail of Salim Khan confirmed MUMBAI, Nov 7 (PTI) — Mumbai High Court today confirmed the interim bail granted to noted script writer Salim Khan on October 23 in a case registered against him for allegedly keeping in captivity animals protected under the Wildlife Act. Hearing an anticipatory bail application of Khan, Justice F.I. Rebello, however, directed the script writer to evolve within four weeks a scheme for protection of environment and animals of endangered species. Noting that Khan was a writer, the Judge observed in his presence that he could use the might of his pen to further the cause of protecting wild animals. On October 15, a black buck, a peahen and two spotted deer were found at Salim’s farmhouse in Panvel Taluka of nearby Raigad district. While the animals were being transported by forest officials to Sanjay Gandhi National Park here, the black buck died on the way. The court dealt elaborately with the existing state of flora and fauna of Raigad district and the need to protect it. It also took on record various measures undertaken by the government in this regard, including the 48th amendment to the Constitution to protect the flora and fauna of the state. The judge also heard the
bail application of Salim’s driver Babloo Singh and
granted him interim bail for a period of four weeks. |
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| Classical singer Abhisheki
dead PUNE: Noted classical singer Pandit Jitendra Abhisheki died here on Saturday after a prolonged illness. He was 68. He is survived by his wife, a son and a daughter. Abhisheki had received several prestigious awards, including the Padmashree. He was admitted to a hospital about a month ago as he was suffering from diabetes, according to family sources. — PTI Ecofriendly refrigerant
soon Campaign against
Harsh Vardhan LIC, GIC staff to
go on strike TTDC bus tours to
Tirumala Army relief for
Bodos, Santhals 5 killed in
building collapse 2 Army men
kidnapped Psychotropic
substance seized Artist Gauri
Bhanja dead Revenue staff
strike on Nov 10 |
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