Tuesday, October 6, 1998
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SAD forms Delhi unit, Sarna rebels NEW DELHI, Oct 5 — The Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal), Delhi unit, which was formed today, witnessed dissension moments after the names of the members were announced. Clinton
writes to Vajpayee on deferring visit |
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I am being framed by Centre: Mulayam NEW DELHI, Oct 5 — The Samajwadi Party (SP) chief, Mr Mulayam Singh Yadav, today charged the BJP-led coalition government at the Centre with trying to divide the country. Debate on Art 356 essential, |
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BJP nominees in Nov NEW DELHI, Oct 5 — The central election committee of the Bharatiya Janata Party will meet here from November 1 to 3 to decide the list of candidates for the ensuing Assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Delhi and Mizoram. SC directive to states on
prisoners’ wages 5
held, KLF wing busted in Delhi Breach
in Ghaggar floods villages Notice
to Centre on ‘misuse’ of planes
Ahluwalia
cross with Congress over Bihar National
AIDS policy endorsed Ten
charged in train blasts case Minister
refuses new portfolio Police
firing: CM transfers 8 cops IYC
convention from Oct 26 |
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SAD forms Delhi unit, Sarna
rebels NEW DELHI, Oct 5 — The Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal), Delhi unit, which was formed today, witnessed dissension moments after the names of the members were announced. Mr Avtar Singh Hit was appointed the President of the Delhi unit with four other members to prepare for the Delhi Assembly poll on November 25. However, one of the nominated member, Mr Paramjit Singh Sarna, distanced himself from the body. Mr Sarna was one of the four nominated members of the Delhi unit along with Mr Inderpal Singh Khalsa, Mr Mahinder Singh Matharoo and Mr Avtar Singh Autopin. The setting up of the Delhi unit was announced here by SAD general secretary, Mr Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, MP. He had been specifically sent by the SAD President and Punjab Chief Minister, Parkash Singh Badal to set up the Delhi unit in view of the Assembly poll. Mr Avtar Singh told The Tribune that he would talk to Mr Sarna and find an amicable solution to the objections raised by him. He said that the differences expressed by Mr Sarna would be sorted out. Mr Sarna’s move to distance himself from the newly formed body has been supported by three other members of the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee including the general secretary of the DSGMC, Mr B.S. Walia. A former president of the DSGMC, Mr Sarna, in a release alleged that the nomination of the Delhi unit members was “an undemocratic act, scuttling inner democracy of the party.” While stating that only nine out of the 51 members of the DSGMC attended the meeting, Mr Sarna alleged that the Delhi unit members had been “imposed” on them. He urged the SAD high command to “review” the decision of Mr Dhindsa and “reconstitute” the Delhi unit in a transparent manner. Singling out the newly appointed Delhi unit president, Mr Sarna said that the “leader of the Delhi unit should be a person of clean image and non-controversial.” Mr Dhindsa said the Delhi unit president would set up a working committee comprising seven to 10 members and they would decide on Akali Dal’s political prospects in the forthcoming Assembly poll. Ruling out any alliance with the Congress in Delhi Assembly poll, Mr Dhindsa, said that the party was open on the issue of contesting the election with the BJP. He, however, added that the outcome of any possible alliance would depend on the outcome of the proposed talks between the Prime Minister Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee and the SGPC chief, Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra. Mr Dhindsa indicated that
Sikhs had considerable hold in at least 18 of the 70
Assembly constituency in Delhi. He added that the Delhi
unit would decide in the coming days the constituencies
where the party had significant hold before holding talks
with the BJP. |
I am being framed by Centre:
Mulayam NEW DELHI, Oct 5 — The Samajwadi Party (SP) chief, Mr Mulayam Singh Yadav, today charged the BJP-led coalition government at the Centre with trying to divide the country. While accusing that the Vajpayee government of trying to frame charges against him and his party colleagues, the former Defence Minister said if the BJP-led coalition government remained in power for a longer time, India would lose Kashmir to Pakistan. He pointed out that in the past few months the issue had already come on the international arena due to the wrong policies of the Central government. He accused the BJP of bringing about a divide among two communities in the country, specially in Jammu and Kashmir. In the past, there was no divide among the two communities in the state, but ever since the coalition government had come to power concerted efforts had been made to bring about this feeling in the people living there. Mr Yadav also charged the Vajpayee government with trying to finish him off politically by framing charges against him. Both Mr Vajpayee and the Home Minister, Mr L.K. Advani were colluding with central agencies to put him and his party colleagues, specially party General Secretary Amar Singh, in trouble. “In the past six months, central agencies, including the Intelligence Bureau (IB), Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) and Enforcement Directorate have been used to keep a tab on me and party General Secretary Amar Singh,” he told newsmen here. He said his security was reviewed every month and not annually as in the case of others enjoying special security status. “This is being done with a special purpose... may be to deny me the security cover like it was done in case of my party colleague Azam Khan,” he alleged. He took exception to the Prime Minister’s remark that “mafia raj” was prevalent in Bihar after President K.R. Narayanan returned the Union Cabinet recommendation for imposition of President’s rule in the state. Mr Vajpayee had violated
the dignity of his office by making such comments, he
added. |
Clinton writes to Vajpayee on deferring visit NEW DELHI, Oct 5 (PTI, UNI) — US President Bill Clinton has informed Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee of his decision to defer his forthcoming visit to South Asia including India. An External Affairs Ministry spokesman said today in response to a question that the Prime Minister has received a letter from Clinton covering a wide range of concerns, he, however, did not elaborate. Mr Clinton is also understood to have spelt out in detail reasons for his decision to postpone the trip which also included a visit to Pakistan. Commenting on a report from Washington about Mr Clinton writing to Mr Vajpayee on disarmament and security issues, an External Affairs Ministry spokesman said "we confirm that the letter has been received." However, he added, the Prime Minister had already spelt out India’s policy on the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT), nuclear disarmament and nuclear proliferation in his speeches to the UN General Assembly and the Asia society during his recent visit to the New York. The spokesman said
"we would be responding to it in due course." |
Debate on Art 356 essential: Jaya CHENNAI, Oct 5 (PTI) — A nation-wide debate on the use of Article 356 of the Constitution is essential as it is the only available instrument to preserve national integrity, AIADMK general secretary Jayalalitha said here today. Even while stressing the need for a nation-wide debate on Article 356, I reiterate that the Karunanidhi regime should be removed from power for having paved the way for the infiltration of alien forces into Tamil Nadu,” she said in a statement. Supporting the continuance of Article 356, she said “in the absence of this provision in the Constitution anarchy will rear its head in the country and national security will be in jeopardy. State governments will become emboldened to do anything against the interests of national security,” She criticised DMK president and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi for “harping on his opinion” that state governments should not be dismissed using Article 356, the provision should not find place in the Constitution and there was no need for a nation-wide debate on it. When the MG Ramachandran Government was dismissed in 1980, it was Mr Karunanidhi who had pointed out that the AIADMK secured only two seats in the Lok Sabha elections held then and quoted it as a “sufficient ground for dismissal and pressed for the dismissal of the MGR Government”. “What moral authority does Mr Karunanidhi now have to say that Article 356 should not be invoked against any state government”, she asked. Ms Jayalalitha alleged Article 356 was used to dismiss two state governments when Mr Murasoli Maran was a minister in the V.P. Singh Cabinet during the National Front rule at the Centre in 1989-91. It was Mr Karunanidhi who
had allegedly supported the dismissal of four state
governments in the aftermath of the Babri Masjid
demolition in 1992, she added. |
BJP nominees in Nov NEW DELHI, Oct 5 — The central election committee of the Bharatiya Janata Party will meet here from November 1 to 3 to decide the list of candidates for the ensuing Assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Delhi and Mizoram. Briefing newspersons, the BJP General Secretary, Mr M. Venkaiah Naidu, said the party’s state units have been asked to finalise their respective recommendations by October 30 so that they could reach here with their respective lists for final approval by November 1. Mr Naidu said the CEC would take up Madhya Pradesh and Mizoram on November 1, Rajasthan on November 2 and Delhi on November 3. The candidates for byelections in Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Bihar, Himachal Pradesh and Punjab would also be decided, he said adding that the party would also finalise the candidate for the lone Lok Sabha byelection in Bharooch, Gujarat. The BJP central leadership has also asked the four state units due for Assembly elections to set up manifesto committees and get the draft ready by November 20 so that the central office bearers could meet here on November 23 to finalise these drafts. “The state units would release their respective manifestos after the nominations are announced in their states”, Mr Naidu said. Meanwhile, the BJP high command has also decided to appoint election campaign committees for these four states. Mr Naidu said the party would step up its campaign against the “jungle raj” in Bihar. He drew attention to the latest alleged case of a gang rape of a minor by the close relatives of a former Chief Minister. “The culprits are moving freely in Patna”, he stressed. The BJP leader said the party would persuade the Government to bring out a white paper on the use and misuse of Article 356 by the previous governments so that it could be presented during the coming winter session of Parliament. “We want a debate on this issue both inside and outside Parliament”, he said. Mr Naidu said the party would launch a massive mass awareness campaign on Bihar throughout the country after the festival season. He said the campaign would focus on views of various political parties on this issue. Quoting from some surveys, Mr Naidu said one such opinion poll has showed that 70 per cent of the respondents supported imposition of President’s rule in Bihar. According to other survey, 50 per cent of the respondents were in favour of the use of Article 356 in Bihar, he pointed out. The BJP also distributed a 15-page booklet titled “Laloo-Rabri regime’s ‘Jungle Raj’ must end” to mediapersons. The document said Bihar today has become a happy hunting ground for criminals who operate without any hindrance or fear. “Murder, rape, arson, loot, kidnapping and extortion have replaced rule of law.....Bihar has become the hotbed of Marxist-Leninist extremist activities and the retaliatory cruelty of private armies in as many as 13 districts”, it said. The document said Bihar
has come to symbolise corruption in public life and
“a state that was a model of good administration
till the early sixties, is now the worst administered
state in the country”. |
SC directive to states on prisoners’ wages NEW DELHI, Oct 5 (PTI) — The Supreme Court has directed state governments to formulate laws to set aside a portion of wages earned by the convicts to be paid as compensation to deserving victims of their offences. “The state governments should make law for setting apart a portion of the wages earned by the prisoners to be paid as compensation to deserving victims of their offences”, the court said. Such compensation should either be paid direct to the victims or through a common fund to be created for this purpose or any other feasible mode, the judgement said. The order was issued in a recent judgement by a Division Bench comprising Mr Justice D.P. Wadhwa and Mr Justice K.T. Thomas on a bunch of appeals by some state governments challenging the respective high court orders denying them permission to deduct a portion of prisoners’ wages for meeting the expenses for their food and clothing during jail term. The appeals among others
were filed by Gujarat, Kerala and Rajasthan against their
respective high court judgements ruling that “denial
of wages at such rate (to the prisoners) would be an
infringement of the constitutional protection against
forced labour”. |
5 held, KLF wing busted in Delhi NEW DELHI, Oct 5 (PTI) — The Delhi police today busted the operational wing of the outlawed Khalistan Liberation Front (KLF) in the Capital with the arrest of five robbers and seizure of arms and ammunition from their possession. Parvinder Singh, alias Babba, Gulpinder Singh, alias Pinda, Sukhpinder Singh, Pankaj Saini, alias Pinki, and Piaz Ahmed, alias Babu, were arrested after brief resistance from near the Yamuna velodrome yesterday, the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime), Mr Karnal Singh, told newsmen. Two rifles, a 12-bore gun, five pistols, eight magazines and 348 rounds were recovered from their possession. During interrogation, the
robbers confessed their affiliation to the KLF and said
they took orders from dreaded ultras, Daya Singh Lahoria
and Davendar Bhullar, both of whom are presently in jail. |
Breach in Ghaggar floods villages SRIGANGANAGAR, Oct 5 — Following a breach in Ghaggar, a number of villages of the Anoopgarh area of this district were submerged yesterday causing wide-spread damage to crops and property. The floods left many houses collapsed. The BSF was called to help the local authorities in relief operations and evacuation of thousands of people. The worst-affected village is Vinjore where the residents woke up to the sound of water splashing against their doors. Eventually, the entire village was inundated. The residents could be seen perched on the roofs. The district administration has pressed into service a number of boats to ferry people to safer places. The other villages that have been affected include Chak 6 MSR, 28 A, 12K, 13K, 62/2 G.B., 29 A, 31 A and 32 A. The state Irrigation Minister, Mr Gurjant Singh and some other officials have rushed to the affected villages. The Ghaggar has been
rising above the danger point following unseasonal rain
during the past week, according to Ghaggar flood control
sources. |
Notice to Centre on ‘misuse’ of planes NEW DELHI, Oct 5 (PTI) — The Delhi High Court today issued notice to the Centre on a petition seeking a CBI inquiry into the alleged misuse of defence aircraft by the former Defence Minister, Mr Mulayam Singh Yadav, and recovery of Rs 200 crore from him, various central ministries, state governments, political parties. The notices were issued by a Division Bench comprising Justice Y.K. Sabharwal and Justice K.S. Gupta to Cabinet Secretariat, Defence Ministry, Finance Ministry, Chiefs of Army and Air Force asking them to file replies by January 14, the next date of hearing. The petitioner, Mr B.L. Wadhera, alleged that Mr Yadav during his tenure as defence minister had incurred expenses to the tune of Rs 23.60 crore on “misusing” defence aircraft for “political purposes as distinct from his bona fide duties”. Mr Wadhera alleged that the former defence minister had made 307 such trips most of which were to Lucknow, his political base. He said various Central and state government departments which availed the services of defence aircraft on different occasions had not paid over Rs 64.57 crore due to them as on May 31 this year. Referring to present
defence minister’s statement to a local daily that
about Rs 200 crore were due to various political parties,
ministries and state governments the petitioner sought a
thorough probe into the massive use of defence aircraft. |
Insurgents' training in Bhutan worries India NEW DELHI, Oct 5 (PTI) — India today expressed concern over reports of insurgents using Bhutan as a training ground for their activities in the north-eastern states. This was conveyed to visiting Bhutanese King Jigme Singye Wangchuck during his meeting with Home Minister L.K. Advani soon after his arrival here on a four-day official visit. Wangchuck also had separate meetings with Defence Minister George Fernandes, Army Chief General V.P. Malik and Foreign Secretary K. Raghunath. The two sides held wide-ranging discussions to further upgrade bilateral relations with focus on enhancing economic and political ties. An External Affairs Ministry spokesman said "the visit of his majesty and his discussions with various leaders would serve to strengthen the long-standing and close ties of friendship and cooperation between India and Bhutan." Replying to a question, he said the complete range of bilateral issues figured during the parleys Mr Vajpayee had with the Bhutanese leader. This is Wangchuk’s first visit to India since he introduced major constitutional reforms in Bhutan. He had last visited India in May 1998 when he stopped over on his way back from Male after attending SAARC summit. During his stay, he is
scheduled to meet President K.R. Narayanan,
vice-President Krishna Kant, Prime Minister Atal Behari
Vajpayee and Congress president Sonia Gandhi. |
Ahluwalia cross with Congress over Bihar NEW DELHI, Oct 5 (PTI) — Former Union Minister S.S. Ahluwalia has hit out at the Congress leadership for opposing President’s rule in Bihar saying this had caused frustration among partymen in the state and elsewhere. In a letter to Congress president Sonia Gandhi, he demanded that the party should reverse its stand on the crucial issue forthwith keeping in mind the present political scenario in Bihar and sentiments of Congressmen. The decision to oppose use of Article 356 in Bihar went against the party’s Pachmarhi declaration that it will not fight shy of fulfilling its constitutional obligations, Mr Ahluwalia, a Rajiv loyalist and former Rajya Sabha member from Bihar, said. He said the stand taken by the Bihar Governor for the imposition of President’s rule was ‘impartial’ judicious, correct and the need of the hour. But unfortunately, our party forgot the moral and constitutional responsibilities and opposed invoking of Article 356 for the sake of opposition. There were several
occasions earlier also for imposition of President’s
rule in Bihar, he said, adding common Congress workers
feel that “we lack the courage to rise to the
occasion because we do not want to antagonise the
Laloo-Mulayam leadership for our short-term gains”. |
National AIDS policy endorsed NEW DELHI, Oct 5 — The National AIDS Committee meeting chaired by the Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Mr Dalit Ezhilmalai here today endorsed the draft national AIDS policy. An apex body on policy issues concerning HIV/AIDS, the committee called for strengthening the AIDS prevention and control programme in the country, especially in the rural areas. The meeting, attended by the Health Ministers of Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra, MPs and senior officers of the ministry said that HIV/AIDS was no longer only a public health issue, but also a development issue which needed to be addressed collectively. Mr Ezhilmalai urged all elected representatives to lead the community in the fight against AIDS. He said the medical fraternity needed to change its attitude towards AIDS patients. The Project Director, Mr
J.V.R. Prasada Rao, gave of the highlights of the draft
national AIDS and blood policy. |
Ten charged in train blasts case CHENNAI, Oct 5 (PTI) — Ten members of two Islamic fundamentalist groups were today chargesheeted at a magistrate’s court at Erode in Tamil Nadu for a bomb blast on a Coimbatore-bound train on December 6 last. The blast on the Cheran express was one of three synchronised on-board explosions on three trains apparently timed to coincide with the fifth anniversary of the demolition of the disputed structure at Ayodhya. Two persons were killed in this blast and four others injured. The other blasts were at Tiruchirappalli (Pandiyan Express) and Thrissur (Alleppey Express) which killed 10 people and injured 72 others. Among those chargesheeted by the special investigation team of the state crime branch-CID was Erwadi Kasim, president of ‘Islamic Defence Force’, who has already been arraigned in a few other cases involving fundamentalist violence. According to the chargesheet, the investigation showed that the three train blasts were the handiwork of the Islamic Defence Force and All India Jihad Committee. The conspiracy, it said,
was hatched in the city office of the All India Jihad
Committee where the IDF also clandestinely functioned.
Several documents in this regard were also recovered. |
Minister refuses new portfolio PATNA, Oct 5 (PTI) — Bihar Minister Deonath Prasad has refused to accept the new portfolio allotted to him in yesterday’s reshuffle by Chief Minister Rabri Devi charging RJD president Laloo Prasad Yadav with "pandering to caste interests." Mr Prasad was divested of Science and Technology portfolio and made state’s Law Minister. Mr Prasad told reporters that a coterie in the ministry had taken umbrage at his recommendation for removing Mr Bharat Bhushan Prasad Yadav as director of the Science and Technology Department on the ground that he was allegedly involved in the Bihar combined engineering test scandal. "The caste interests combined against me and saw to it that I was divested of the Science and Technology portfolio which has been allotted to Chandrika Rai, who belongs to the same caste as the officer", Mr Prasad charged. He said he had requested RJD president to "rise above caste considerations as it will harm the interests of the party." Asked if his action was
revolt against the party leadership, the Minister said,
"I am in the RJD and will continue to be loyal to
it....I will, however, not keep silent in the face of
injustice." |
Police firing: CM transfers 8 cops NAGPUR, Oct 5 (UNI) — Maharashtra Chief Minister Manohar Joshi has transferred eight policemen, including Additional Superintendent S.K. Padavi, in connection with Saturday’s police firing in Bhandara district in which two Shiv Sainiks were killed and ordered a magisterial inquiry into the incident. Addressing a press conference in Bhandara last night, Mr Joshi announced a compensation of Rs 1 lakh to the families of those killed and Rs 5,000 each to those injured. He also directed DGP Arvind Inamdar to inquire into the corruption charges against Bhandara SP Prashant Burade. Mr Joshi had airdashed to Andhalgaon in Bhandara to make an on-the-spot assessment of the situation in the wake of the firing which left two dead and 51 others wounded. He was accompanied by Deputy Chief Minister Gopinath Munde, and Shiv Sena leader Subhash Desai. Violence had broken out at
Andhalgaon during the Shiv Sena-sponsored “rasta
roko” called in protest against the failure of the
police to arrest those involved in the massacre of four
members of family in April. |
IYC convention from Oct 26 NEW DELHI, Oct 5 — “Change for prosperity” is the theme of the national delegation convention being organised by the Indian Youth Congress (IYC) on October 26 and 27 in the Capital. Addressing a press conference here today, the President of IYC, Mr Manish Tiwari, said the convention is being held after a period of 12 years. “All state office-bearers and district presidents will participate in the convention,” he said. He said the convention
would take stock of the situation and formulate
appropriate strategies to ensure that our polity
refocuses itself on the primary goal of development and
progress with the “empowerment of young people being
central to the whole process.” |
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| 2 held for burning maid MUMBAI: Two students have been remanded in magisterial custody till October 18 after they allegedly burnt a housemaid (17) at Dombivli in Thane district on Saturday. The suspects, both 15, have been sent to the children’s home at Bhiwandi, a senior inspector said on Monday. The duo have been charged with murder under Section 302, IPC, besides Section 452 for trespassing the residence of the housemaid and under Section 34 for abetting each other in the commission of the crime. — PTI Mayors for model corporation Act Vayalar Award 2 youths drowned Baby found in bin CM hospitalised |
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