Friday, November 20, 1998

Vande Mataram issue: fatwa by Islamic varsity

LUCKNOW, Nov 19 (PTI) — The controversy over recitation of "Saraswati Vandana’’ and "Vande Mataram’’ in Uttar Pradesh government schools today took a new turn with a noted Islamic scholar today asking all Muslim parents to withdraw their wards to protest against the state government’s "arbitrary and unconstitutional’’ order in this regard.

"Muslims can make great sacrifices but would not tolerate insult to the religion", Ali Mian, Rector of Bdarul-Uloom Nadwa-tul-Ulema (an Islamic university), told reporters here.

The government’s decision "violates all democratic and secular principles of the Constitution", he said.

The Deeni Talimi Council, which governs some 20,000 madarsas in the state, would call on the state Governor on November 27 to protest against government’s decision. The council would also meet the President and the Prime Minister to express its views.

The government order issued in April 14 last year stipulates that schools would begin with ‘Eesh Vandana’ (prayer of the god) followed by "Hitopadesh’’ and "Bodhvakvya’’ (moral teachings).

However, state’s Primary Education Minister Ravindra Shukla, said, "this has been a very old tradition in schools all over the country and there is nothing new in reciting ‘Saraswati Vandana’ and ‘Vande Mataram’,’’ he said.
The minister said the controversy over the state government’s move was being "masterminded’’ by vested interests.

The Muslim ulemas have taken umbrage at the government order and a resolution was passed at a meeting at Deoband (Saharanpur) on November 12 to resist the government decision.

The convener of the Babri Masjid Action Committee and a prominent lawyer Zafaryab Jilani says without a proper government order stating specifically that "Saraswati Vandana" and "Vande Mataram" would be recited in schools, it cannot be mandatory.

"Let the state government issue specific orders and we would have the option of going to the court", he added.

MEERUT: The Union Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Mr Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, has criticised those opposing the singing of “Vande Mataram” and “Saraswati Vandana”.

The Congress President, Mrs Sonia Gandhi, too had criticised the singing of Saraswati Vandana and her leadership would only cause “cultural pollution”, Mr Naqvi told reporters here yesterday.

Referring to the recent “fatwa of the Deobandi maulvi” to members of his community not to sing “Vande Mataram” and “Saraswati Vandana”, Mr Naqvi said such people were under the misconception that their recital would endanger secularism.

Mr Naqvi said “I am prepared to be a kafir a thousand times, but continue to recite “Vande Mataram” and “Saraswati Vandana”. Those who oppose it have no proper knowledge of Islam. He added that no one would be forced to sing these”.

Declare national languages 'official'

NEW DELHI, Nov 19 (PTI) — Major BJP allies today demanded that all languages listed in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution should be declared official languages.

Participating in a national conference on "Declaring all national languages as official languages" here, leaders from various political parties said the Centre should make available all infrastructure development facilities for developing these languages.

Addressing the conference, organised by BJP ally, the Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK), Commerce Minister R.K. Hegde said the Centre would decide on granting official status to the 18-national languages once the proposed high-level panel on the issue submits its report.

Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee has given an assurance that once the report is submitted, a decision will be taken in line with the ruling coalition’s commitment in the national agenda, Chemical and Fertilisers Minister S.S. Barnala told the conference.

However, Mr Hegde told reporters later that there were "practical difficulties" in implementing the proposal. "If we find that the proposal cannot be implemented in all states simultaneously, let us go gradually".

Ceasefire deadline in Nagaland extended
Tribune News Service

NEW DELHI, Nov 19 — Security forces have once again decided to extend the ceasefire deadline from November 15 to January 15 and suspend operations against the NSCN (K).

This has been done in response to appeals by the Naga IIoho, the church, NSF, NPMHR, Peace Council and public leaders. The decision has been taken in view of the coming festive season and Christmas. It is hoped that state leaders would persuade the NSCN (K) to accept the Centre’s offer of ceasefire.

The NSCN (K) leadership has been advised to contact with local security forces commanders to work out mutually acceptable modalities for the temporary “suspension of operations agreement” in their respective areas.

It may be recalled that following the ceasefire between security forces and the NSCN (IM) from August 1, 1997, the operation to flush out the NSCN (K) was suspended. In Tuensang district on April 7, 1998 the NSCN (K) attacked a security forces’ convoy resulting in 26 casualties provoking security forces to recommence operations against the group.

BJP blames Cong on 10 counts
Tribune News Service

NEW DELHI, Nov 19 — The BJP holds the Congress responsible for institutionalising corruption even at the cost of India’s security to benefit its leaders.

Mr Venkiah Naidu, BJP general secretary said here today releasing a list of 10 capital crimes allegedly committed by the Congress.

The Bofors case was a “classic example of Congress perfidy”. The nation’s security was compromised to enable the Congress leadership to make money, he pointed out.

Its list of Congress’ crimes includes, gifting of a third of Jammu and Kashmir to Pakistan, demoralising India’s defence in 1962 and in Sri Lanka, murder of democracy for perpetuating dynastic rule and suspension of fundamental rights by imposing emergency, fanning fires of terrorism and colluding with anti-India forces to keep itself in power, promoting underworld dons and criminalising politics, massacring innocent people to satiate the blood lust of Congress leaders, encouraging pseudo-secularism, appeasing fundamentalists and pandering to minoritism, compromising country’s security and making the country an open house for infiltrators and devaluing institutions for promoting the interests of the Congress leadership.

Mr Naidu said “under pressure from Lord Mountbatten, Jawaharlal Nehru delayed the sending of Indian troops to Jammu and Kashmir and gave sufficient time to the Pakistani invaders to advance up to Srinagar. Then the valiant Indian troops had gained the upper hand and were on the verge of driving out the Pakistanis. Pt Nehru succumbed to international pressure and agreed to a humiliating UN-dictated ceasefire as a result of which Pakistan got illegal control over a third of Jammu and Kashmir. Pt Nehru took the issue to the UN against the advice of Sardar Patel; India continues to pay the price of that folly.”

“Nothing was done by the then Congress Government to prepare the defence forces to defend India borders. As a result, when the Chinese aggression occurred in 1962, the aggressors met with little resistance. Our brave jawans were made to face the well-armed aggressors virtually with outdated weapons and inadequate clothing. The Congress first funded the LTTE and then sent in the IPKF on a disastrous military mission, thus severely damaging the Army’s morale.”

Delhi BJP: infighting not over
Tribune News Service

NEW DELHI, Nov 19 — Infighting in the Delhi unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party is far from over and at least two incidents of party activists revolting against the leadership have come to light.

Despite the former Chief Ministers of Delhi, Mr Sahib Singh Verma and Mr Madan Lal Khurana, announcing that they had buried the hatchet, it was not the case in the rank and file of the party.

The first incident, which has prompted Mr Sahib Singh to condemn it, involves the BJP candidate for Nasirpur Assembly constituency.

Mr Vinod Sharma nearly came to blows with a party worker from Nasirpur at the party office at 14 Pandit Pant Marg yesterday afternoon.

The party worker had reportedly come to the party office to complain to the president of the Delhi BJP, Mr Mange Ram Garg, over an alleged attack on him by Mr Sharma’s supporters.

Mr Sahib Singh Verma while admitting that the incident was “unfortunate”, said that it should not have taken place.

A worker at Mr Vinod Sharma’s office, however, denied the incident and said that these were mere allegations.

Mr Mange Ram Garg said that the Nasirpur incident issue had been resolved and “party workers there are working to ensure victory for our candidate.”

Referring to the other incident in which the office-bearers of Mehrauli mandal, one of the rally sites of Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee yesterday, had tendered their resignation, Mr Mange Ram Garg said that issue also had been sorted out.

Four office-bearers of the BJP’s Mehrauli mandal, including the vice-president, had submitted resignation to protest their “insult” at the Prime Minister’s rally yesterday in Khanpur where they were denied entry. The district had organised the election meeting.

Mr Mange Ram Garg today claimed that the Congress election plank of rising prices of essential commodities including pulses, had been rendered “meaningless by making pulses available at lower rates, by normalising the situation of availability of onions at lower prices and by curbing the prices of other commodities.”

The five BJP candidates from Assembly constituencies in Sadar are Mr Avinash Sahni from Moti Nagar, Prof P.K. Chandla from Kamla Nagar, Mr Hari Kishan from Sadar, Mr Bhola Nath Vij from Model Town and Mr Raghuvansh Singhal from Timarpur.

Mr Khurana said “there is no problem between us”.

Mr Khurana tried to set at rest speculations over continuing differences by stating that both leaders were not being seen together because of the programme prepared by party office. “The party has to decide where they want to utilise our services. From our side, it is not an issue,” he said.

He posed three questions to the Congress. The first is about ration cards not being issued to slum dwellers during the Congress rule in the 80s. The second is about the Congress not having made any efforts to make Punjabi the second language in the Capital and thirdly, the cholera deaths in 1987 which claimed 800 lives in the trans-Yamuna area when the Congress was in power in the Delhi Metropolitan Council and at the Centre.

Sonia’s Gole Market poll rally tomorrow
Tribune News Service

NEW DELHI, Nov 19 — The Congress president, Mrs Sonia Gandhi, would address an election rally on November 21 in the Gole Market constituency from where the Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee chief, Ms Sheila Dikshit, is contesting.

Ms Dikshit, who is likely to be Chief Minister if the party is voted to power, is contesting against the sitting Bharatiya Janata Party MLA and cricketer, Mr Kirti Azad.

The rally by the Congress president would be the second by Mrs Sonia Gandhi for the forthcoming Delhi Assembly polls on November 25. She is scheduled to address another rally on the last day of campaigning, November 23, in East Delhi.

Mrs Sonia Gandhi’s choice of the Gole Market area for the rally, Congress leaders said was, an indication of the party president’s approval of Ms Dikshit as the Congress nominee for chief ministership.

Sources in the DPCC said the BJP candidate was posing quite a challenge to Ms Dikshit and the party has roped in Mrs Sonia Gandhi to secure victory for the Congress candidate.

The Gole Market electorate were unaware of the Congress candidate till last day of the filing of the nominations. Moreover, the sitting MLA, who was sure to get the BJP ticket, had begun the door to door meeting with electorate, days before officially filing the nominations.

With work in the Assembly segment to woo the electorate, Mr Kirti Azad has been meeting the people of all walks of life throughout the day.

However, Ms Dikshit is not able to give “ample” time in meeting the electorate of the Gole Market Assembly segment as she has the “bigger” responsibility of ensuring victory for the Congress in the polls.

Meanwhile, the Congress has complained to the Delhi Chief Electoral Officer, Mr O.P. Kelkar, about the beating up of its workers in Timarpur Assembly segment by the workers of a rebel candidate, senior party leader, Mr Jag Pravesh Chandra, said.

He said the Congress had written to the Chief Electoral Officer demanding the arrest of those behind the attack on Congress candidate, Mr Jagdish Anand’s workers in Timarpur.

He alleged that the attack was the handiwork of rebel Congress worker Surender Singh Bitto, who had been expelled from the party for six years for “anti-party” activities.

Two Congress workers were injured seriously in the attack, he said, adding that hundreds of Congress workers were sitting on a “dharna” in Timarpur to demand the arrest of culprits.

The party today expelled another rebel candidate, Mr Ram Singh, for six years for contesting against the party nominee in the Badarpur constituency.

The “poor turnout”at Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee’s public meeting yesterday was indicative of the people’s decision to vote out the BJP, Congress leader, Mr Brij Mohan said.

Centre’s ads: EC writes to Cabinet Secy

NEW DELHI, Nov 19 (PTI) — The Election Commission today took serious note of large government advertisements on the eve of elections and asked the Cabinet Secretary to refrain from issuing publicity ads.

Commission sources said it had written to the Cabinet Secretary pointing out the regular large advertisements highlighting the achievements of the Central Government in some of its departments and organisations.

Referring to the release of some advertisements in the petroleum sector, the commission took serious note of it and wrote to the Cabinet Secretary for advising the Ministries and Departments concerned to refrain from issuance and publication of any such advertisements.

The Commission also directed that these advertisements should stop immediately and public sector units should release advertisements only after declaration of poll results on November 28, the sources added.

The Commission said repoll in any of the constituencies in the four states going to polls on November 25 will take place on November 27.

The Commission has conveyed his decision to the Chief Electoral Officers (CEOs) of Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Delhi and Mizoram, a Commission spokesman said.

Don’t vote for Cong, BJP: Mann
Tribune News Service

NEW DELHI, Nov 19 — The President of the Shiromani Akali Dal (Amristar) and member of the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee, Mr Simranjit Singh Mann has urged the Sikhs not to vote in favour of “anti-minority” parties as the Congress or the Bharatiya Janata Party.

Mr Mann who is in the Capital for a day to address joint public meetings with the Janata Dal in the Vishnu Garden Assembly segment said that the BJP had denied the Punjabi language its due in Delhi. “They have abused thousands of Punjabis in Delhi by scrapping it from the syllabus in Delhi schools.”

Enumerating the failures of the BJP, Mr Mann said that the party had not kept its word on punishing the perpetrators of the 1984 riots. “They had enough time to take action against the accused”.

Mr Mann said that the hoarding of essential commodities by the BJP cadres and inaction under the provisions of the Essential Commodities Act was a conspiracy to hold the country to the ransom by traders and ‘hoarders’.

Mr Mann said that his party was not moved by the crocodile tears of the Congress. “Our benchmark for judging the work of the Congress and the BJP in the Indian perspective is actions, not promises. Anyone who projects the Congress as a supporter of the Sikhs is a traitor to the cause of the minorities,” Mr Mann said.

Mr Mann alleged that the BJP and the RSS were giving arms training to the youths in Punjab.

He said that the decision of a few factions of Akali Dals to hand over “Siropas” to senior Congress and BJP leaders is nothing short of “pre-election sycophancy.”

BJP irked at Trinamool decision

CALCUTTA, Nov 19 (PTI) — Irked by its electoral ally, the Trinamool Congress’ move to observe a black day on December 6 in protest against the Babri mosque demolition, the BJP today urged the party to reconsider its decision "in greater interest of relations between the two partners".

Reacting to the Trinamool Congress Working Committee decision to wear black badges on December 6, BJP’s state general secretary Rahul Sinha said, "There is absolutely no use raking up an issue particularly prior to the assembly elections in four states".

"As an allied partner, the Trinamool Congress should not have raked up an issue while there is no move to construct any temple at the Ayodhya site", Mr Sinha said, "price rise is the relevant issue and not Ayodhya’’.

Indicating a run-on of a chill in its ties with the BJP, the Trinamool Congress Working Committee has put its seal of approval on the decision of Mamata Banerjee to resign from the coordination committee of the BJP-led alliance at the Centre.

The committee also approved Mamata’s decision to observe a "black day" on December 6 in protest against the demolition of the Babri Masjid.

It was also decided that TMC workers would wear black badges on December 6 in protest against the ‘attack on the secular fabric of the country’.

In yet another move that could embarrass the Vajpayee government, the Trinamool Working Committee meeting also decided to launch a movement against price rise.

Keeping in mind that this month’s assembly poll in the four states might set off fresh political alignments, the TMC working committee has decided to call a meeting of ‘like-minded allied partners’ here on December 10 to chalk out further course of action at the national level.

Appeal against CAT order
NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court on Wednesday allowed an appeal by a Joint Secretary in the Defence Ministry against an order of the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) dismissing his claim for an additional two-year service as per the recommendations of the Fifth Pay Commission enhancing the retirement age to 60. A Division Bench, comprising Mr Justice Arun Kumar and Mr Justice Manmohan Sarin, allowing the appeal of Mr M.S. Sokhanda said, “We are unable to agree with the reasons given by the CAT in the impugned judgement.” It added, “Two years’ additional service makes a difference in the amount of pension to a government employee.” — PTI

Kirpal Ruhani Mission head awarded
NEW DELHI: Sant Rajinder Singh, head of the Sawan Kirpal Ruhani Mission, has received the International Distinguished Leadership award from the Illinois Institute of Technology, USA. The President of the institute, Mr Lew Collens, presented the award for his “outstanding dedication to promoting human unity and world peace as a spiritual leader, author and teacher.” — TNS

Indian film wins global award
NEW DELHI: A film about a unique experiment of natural regeneration of barren land in Central India, “Roots of Datia,” has won the special jury award for the best film on ecology at the recent Ecotouring film festival in Targovista, Romania. Produced and directed by well-known filmmaker K. Bikram Singh, the 30-minute film was commissioned by the External Publicity Division of the External Affairs Ministry. The film relates to a 10-year experiment in Datia district of Madhya Pradesh, where a well-known non-governmental organisation — Development Alternatives — proved that barren land will regenerate itself naturally if there is no human or cattle interference. — UNI

Cellphone’s ring costs Rs 500
LUCKNOW: A bureaucrat’s cellphone that rang at an inopportune moment in the high court cost him a fine of Rs 500. The official, Mr Basant Lal Singh, Chief Marketing Officer of the State Food and Civil Supplies Department, was also found to have entered the court without a pass. The incident took place when a Division Bench of the Allahabad High Court was hearing a public interest petition against the soaring prices of essential commodities. — UNI

Komala is ‘International woman’
NEW DELHI: Noted bharatanatyam danseuse Komala Varadan has been selected as the “International Woman of the Year” by the Cambridge-based International Biographical Centre (IBC). Varadan has been honoured for her versatility as a dancer, painter, photographer and writer, an IBC press note said here. She is the recipient of several awards in the past, including the Kalaimamani Award of the Tamil Nadu Government, ‘Rajyotsava Award’ of the Karnataka Government and Delhi Administration’s ‘Sahitya Kala Parishad Samman’. — PTI