Sunday, October 11, 1998
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Arjun, Tiwari bury the hatchet NEW DELHI, Oct 10 — Winds of unity seem to be blowing across the Madhya Pradesh Congress, which faces an acid test during the forthcoming Assembly polls. Salman
held, let off on bail |
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Shah to stage protest at UN office NEW DELHI, Oct 10 — The Jammu and Kashmir Democratic Freedom Party President, Mr Shabir Ahmed Shah, will hold a demonstration against alleged human rights violations and state repression at the United Nations office here on Monday.
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Sensitising Delhi cops NEW DELHI, Oct.10 — The National Commission for Women will conduct a gender sensitisation programme for senior officers of the Delhi Police in mid-November.
Rawat
opposed to panel on US Nagar Councillor’s
spouse beaten up Delhi
drive against ‘private’ taxis Convict
attacks judge SP
‘not to extend support to Cong’ |
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Arjun, Tiwari bury the hatchet NEW DELHI, Oct 10 — Winds of unity seem to be blowing across the Madhya Pradesh Congress, which faces an acid test during the forthcoming Assembly polls. The first signs of a new found unity in the Madhya Pradesh Congress were visible today with two bitter opponents, Congress Working Committee member, Mr Arjun Singh and the State Assembly Speaker, Mr Srinivas Tiwari, agreeing to work together. Mr Arjun Singh and Mr Tiwari, who is considered close to Mr Shyama Charan Shukla and Mr Vidya Charan Shukla, jointly met the Congress President, Mrs Sonia Gandhi, here today and vowed to fight communal forces in Madhya Pradesh. In a statement issued later, the leaders said when a decisive battle had to be waged against communal forces, they consider it their duty to unitedly work for the Congress victory. The leaders said they were aware of their responsibility towards the Congress and Mrs Sonia Gandhi at this critical juncture and promised to work for the victory of the party. Both leaders hold influence in the Rewa area. Although Mr Arjun Singh had failed to win from Rewa in the 1996 Lok Sabha elections and shifted to the Hoshangabad constituency during the 1998 general elections, he retains considerable influence in the region, party observers said. Fighting the incumbency factor and bringing together several warring factions in the state unit are two major tasks before the Congress’ central leadership. Today’s development is a step in this direction. Mrs Sonia Gandhi has been stressing on the need to remain united during her several meetings with leaders from Madhya Pradesh. It was her decision to retain Mr Digvijay Singh as the Chief Minister in the face of strong reservation from several detractors like Mr Arjun Singh, Mr Kamal Nath, the Shukla brothers, Mr Madhavrao Scindia. According to party observers, prior to the 1993 Assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh, the party held a conclave of state leaders at Dawra which became a show of unity. It ultimately paved the way for the Congress regaining power in the state. The Assembly elections in Delhi, MP, Rajasthan and Mizoram are being seen as a test case for Mrs Sonia Gandhi. It is the first time the Congress will be going to polls after she took over as the party President. The Congress is hopeful of
regaining power both in Delhi and Rajasthan, from the BJP
and is putting extra effort to retain it in MP, the only
state in Hindi-speaking areas where the party is in
power. |
Shah to stage protest at UN
office NEW DELHI, Oct 10 —
The Jammu and Kashmir Democratic Freedom Party (JKDFP)
President, Mr Shabir Ahmed Shah, will hold a
demonstration against alleged human rights violations and
state repression at the United Nations office here on
Monday along with his party colleagues. "We would also be lodging our protest against the nuclear weapons of both India and Pakistan", the JKDFP President said. "But now that both New Delhi and Islamabad have become equal powers after their respective nuclear explosions, they should try to make a new beginning by resolving the Kashmir issue", he said. "May be that we can come out with a solution to the problem which has been bedevilling Indo-Pak relations for the past 50 years", Mr Shah said. Mr Shah, who adopted a cautious stand on most controversial issues, said peace in the South Asian subcontinent would not be established till a solution to Kashmir was not found. Welcoming the resumption of Indo-Pak Foreign Secretary level dialogue, Mr Shabir Shah stressed that the Kashmir problem could not be solved without inclusion of the true representatives of the people of Kashmir from both sides. When asked about Pakistan Foreign Secretary, Shamshad Ahmed’s recent statement that Islamabad was representing the interest of the Kashmiri people, Mr Shah said Islamabad "cannot represent us without consulting us", adding that he "at least has not been consulted on the issue". On the issue of foreign mercenaries coming into the state, Mr Shah, who has been opposing the use of the gun for resolution of the Kashmir issue, said that "they (meaning foreign mercenaries) may be crossing the border with the people of the Pakistan occupied Kashmir as friends". "Let us not talk of
this, but we must concentrate on establishing peace in
the troubled state", Mr Shah said adding his party
was trying to evolve a consensus among the people of the
valley, Jammu and Ladakh region. |
Salman held, let off on bail JAIPUR, Oct 10 — During the shooting of the film “Hum Saath Saath Hain” at Mandore Gardens in Jodhpur on yesterday a police party descended suddenly on the scene and arrested film stars Salman Khan, Saif Ali, Tabbu, Sonali Bendre and Neelam. The stars were whisked away in an air-conditioned mini bus. While all this was going on unsuspecting onlookers thought it to be a part of the shot of the film. It was only after the stars disappeared from the set that they realised that it was a real life scene. All five stars were arrested on a charge of illegal shooting of black bucks and chinkara in Gudha Vishnoian near Jodhpur on October 1 at midnight. Besides the hunting being illegal its graveness was compounded by the fact that the offence was committed in a Vishnoi village. Vishnois are known for their love for wildlife and undertake protection of black bucks a religious faith. A Vishnois reported at the forest outpost next day that some persons had come to their village and killed two black bucks and one chinkara. Following the report that killed black bucks which were abandoned by the hunters after being given a chase by the villagers were still lying in the forest officials seized the carcasses and launched a search for the culprits on the basis of the number of the Gypsy used in hunting. The Gypsy was subsequently impounded and the driver was arrested. He confirmed that the chinkara was carried away in the Gypsy. Blood stains marks and hair of the dead animal were also seen in the vehicle. The driver revealed the names of the film stars involved in the shooting. The post-mortem examination report of the animals confirmed that they were killed by bullet shots. On the basis of the statement of the driver the Forest Department registered cases against Salman Khan, Saif Ali, Tabbu, Sonali Bendre and Neelam. After ascertaining that the film stars were behind the killing forest officials accompanied with a large police posse, including Additional Superintendent Ashok Patni, reached Mandore Garden on Friday and arrested the film stars. The accused stars were taken to Forest Department building and were subjected to interrogation till 9 p.m. While interrogation was going on papers seeking anticipatory bail to Salman Khan and Saif Ali were submitted to officials. When the three actresses came to know that no papers were moved for anticipatory bail on their behalf they broke down and started crying. After seven-hour grilling the actresses were presented before a Magistrate at his residence at 9 p.m. who granted them bail on furnishing surity worth Rs 50,000 each. While granting interim
bail to Salman Khan and Saif Ali the Magistrate ordered
officials concerned not to arrest them till Monday on the
condition that both would not leave Jodhpur without prior
permission of the court and they would not go out of
Ummed Bhavan Palace even for shooting without informing
the police. |
Rushdie hurt at being rejected by India NEW DELHI, Oct 10 (PTI) — Booker Prize winner controversial British author Salman Rushdie, on whom Iran recently lifted “fatwa” (death sentence), has said he has been “hurt” and “humiliated” by the country of his birth, India, which treated him as a “persona non grata” and his next novel is about saying goodbye to the country. “The biggest loss to me is that my relationship with India has been thoroughly damaged...India banned the book (The Satanic Verses) without even people having read it...They prevented me from going to India and I still am banned from entering the country”, Rushdie said in an interview to weekly magazine, Sunday, in its latest issue. Rushdie had been living a furtive life since 1989 under police protection in Britain following death sentence issued by late Iranian leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini for blaspheming Islam in his book “The Satanic Verses” until Iran announced the lifting of “fatwa” on September 24. Recalling the painful ordeal during nearly 10 years of his dreadful life, he said what also hurt him was the fact that there was nothing like the European campaigns (in his favour). “Is this the reward for a lifetime’s work? It’s like being a divorcee, in which one person doesn’t want to get divorced and is left alone”. “They (India) won’t give me a visa. Despite the fact that I have a right to go there, that I have an NRI status by virtue of being born there, and despite the fact that I have my property there”. Quoting a “humiliating” incident when he was hurt personally, Rushdie said he was not permitted to enter the Nehru Centre in London despite having done “some service to the state (India)”. He said he was also hurt during the 50th anniversary celebrations of India’s Independence at the Indian Consulate in New York when he felt it was “painful to learn that the country I was born in has such a prejudice against me”. Rushdie said he was informed he “was a persona non grata”. Maintaining that he was treated (by India) with disdain, Rushdie said even the filming of “Midnight’s Children” was not permitted in the country. “It has changed my relationship with India forever. I am not expecting anything from India anymore”, he said with a note of regret. And there was a sense of deep regret too when he said “what is it about India? Why are they so uninterested in people who work with love for it? What all this has done is changed my relationship with India”. Describing himself as a stubborn person, he said it was the conviction that the cause was just which kept him fighting for nearly 10 years. Rushdie said his next novel is about saying goodbye (to India). “I felt I was leaving the country and would never come here. I will never write about India again after this”. Saying that he was now used to disappointments when it came to India, the writer sounded negative when asked if he was hopeful of the Indian Government lifting the ban on his books. However, a relieved Rushdie said he did not have any immediate plans now, saying “I have no ground plan yet. But I am relieved my children can grow up having an ordinary family life...My mother doesn’t have to worry...Sisters can relax”. On his wife Marianne
leaving him, Rushdie said “it was a dreadful
marriage...It was correct that it should have
ended”, adding “for the past eight-and-a
quarter years I have lived with a very good woman”,
he said about Elizabeth. |
Sensitising Delhi cops NEW DELHI, Oct.10 — The National Commission for Women will conduct a gender sensitisation programme for senior officers of the Delhi Police in mid-November. The programme is inspired by the success of a similar week-long workshop conducted by the Commission in Bihar in August-end. Ms Leena Mehendale, Joint Secretary in the NCW told The Tribune News Service that the commission has asked the Delhi Police to shortlist senior officers to attend the workshop. She said that although theoretically, gender sensitisation entails sensitisation of both men and women, the workshop would focus on sensitising male police officers towards women victims. She said that the Member Secretary of the commission, Mrs Binoo Sen and other members would address the senior police officers during the programme. Commenting on the conduct of an average Indian policeman, Ms Mehendale said that policemen are very rude to women while writing their First Information Report (FIR) or listening to their complaints. Ms Mehendale said that the police needs to change its attitude towards women. Citing an instance, she said that two constables of the Nagpur Police convicted for raping a woman complainant in the police station took the hackneyed and convenient plea that the woman was of a loose character. Mr Sewa Dass, Additional Commissioner of Police, (Crime Against Women) said that the programme would benefit more than 60 Deputy Commissioners of Police (DCPs), about 150 Assistant Commissioners of Police (ACPs) and a few inspectors. He said that the week-long workshop would also be open to Station House Officers (SHOs). Each unit of the Delhi Police would be asked to depute one or two officers to attend the workshop. Ms Kiran Bedi, Joint Commissioner, Police (Training) who was entrusted charge of the Police Training College, Jharoda Kalan in June-end said, “Anything which makes police people sensitive and makes a particular social issue better understood would improve performance. Such issues fall in the realm of social policing”. “Ms Bedi said that
courses on gender sensitisation are equally necessary for
women”. |
Pak's apology for Indian jawan's death JODHPUR, Oct 9 (PTI) — Pakistan has expressed regret over firing by its rangers which killed an Indian jawan and injured two others at the Bakasar sector in Rajasthan's Barmer district, the Inspector-General of the BSF, Mr Bakshish Singh, said. The Commanding Officer of the Pak Rangers has tendered a written apology for Thursday's unprovoked firing on a BSF patrol which was searching for pillars burried in the sand, he told PTI. The BSF personnel were put
on the maximum alert along the Indo-Pak border after the
incident. |
Rawat opposed to panel on US
Nagar NEW DELHI, Oct 10 — Former Congress MP, Mr Harish Rawat, who hails from the hills of Uttar Pradesh, today opposed the George Fernandes headed three-member panel formed to go into the issue of Udham Singh Nagar district. In a statement issued here Mr Rawat, who is also former vice-president of Congress Seva Dal, said the move was a “conspiracy” to suppress the demand for a separate Uttarakhand state and said he was opposed to the district’s exclusion. Stating that Udham Singh Nagar district was an integral part of the proposed state, Mr Rawat said the formation of the panel by the Centre was to save the Vajpayee government. Mr Rawat said the Fernandes panel violated Article 3 of the Indian Constitution and wanted to know under which provision can a Chief Minister other than one whose States boundaries are affected have a say in such a matter. Mr Rawat said the
Shiromani Akali Dal argument on the issue would
‘spread hatred’ and ‘hurt the sentiments
of the people of Uttarakhand’. |
Councillor’s spouse beaten up NEW DELHI, Oct 10 — The husband of a councillor was reportedly beaten up by the agitated residents of Jagatpuri in East Delhi after he tried to pacify them on the issue of long power cuts in the area. The incident took place late last night near the residence of Ms Kanchan Bhaskar, the MLC from Krishna Nagar. The police said the residents had gathered near Ms Bhaskar’s home to seek an explanation for the erratic power supply and her “inability” in solving the problem despite being the member of the ruling party. According to the police, a mob of 50 persons of Jagatpuri raised slogans, when Ms Kanchan Bhaskar’s husband, Mr Sitaram Bhaskar, came out to explain the situation, the residents became angry and reportedly began to pelt stones. Later, a few of them beat up Mr Bhaskar with bamboo sticks, the police said. They struck several times on his heads and legs. The injured Sitaram crawled inside the home even as the mob continued pelting stones, the police added. The councillor reported
the matter to the police following which seven persons
were arrested. |
Delhi drive against
‘private’ taxis NEW DELHI, Oct 10 — The Delhi Government is planning to take action against owners of private vehicles who use them for commercial purposes. The private vehicles include Maruti vans and Tata Sumos. According to a Transport Department official, a large number of vehicles registered under the private category are plying as taxis and for other commercial purposes. The Transport Department is likely to launch a drive from next week. The registration of vehicles violating the rules may be cancelled and the vehicles impounded. The official pointed out that at many taxi stands in the Capital private vehicles can be found parked and the customers are given private vehicles when they ask for taxis. By adopting this practice, the owners evade paying tax. As per the rules, the impounded vehicles would be released only after the tax for running them for commercial purposes along with the penalty is paid, the official said. He said that action would
also be taken against taxi stands where such vehicles
were found parked. |
Convict attacks judge THANE, Oct 10 (UNI) — A Thane judge who sentenced a 30-year-old accused from Bhiwandi to life imprisonment in a murder case was attacked with a chappal by the latter at the district court here. The incident, which occurred at the fag end of the day yesterday, was not the first of its kind in the court premises. According to reports, the accused, who had allegedly murdered another youth from the town over a love affair last year, was convicted by Additional Sessions Judge D.N. Bargande and sentenced to life imprisonment. As the accused was being taken out of the courtroom, he picked up his chappal and hurled it at the judge. According to reports, the judge ducked and the chappal hit the wooden barrier in the court. The Thane Nagar police has
registered a case and recorded the statement of court
personnel, including the Registrar, who has been asked to
lodge the complaint. |
SP ‘not to extend support to Cong’ CHINSURAH (WB), Oct 10 (PTI) — The Samajwadi Party (SP) will not extend support to the Congress in the event of it forming a government at the Centre, SP leader Amar Singh said today. “Despite having
principles, the Congress has ill motives which will harm
the country, while the BJP is an unprincipled party with
ill motives,” he told reporters at Nalikul in
Hooghly district. He was referring to CPM general
secretary Harkishen Singh Surjeet’s statement in
this regard. |
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| Mental disorders rising in
Kerala THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The number of persons with mental disorder is rapidly increasing in Kerala with about 10-20 per cent of them suffering from different kinds of mental illness, says a study. According to a survey conducted by the State Mental Health Authority (SMHA), mental disorders among 10 out of every 1000 persons were of serious nature, warranting treatment. Meanwhile, a recent “severe mental morbidity survey” had revealed the spread of the disease in 13 to 14 districts in the state covering at least 13,200 households, 60 per cent of them rural. — PTI Situation tense in Dhalai Molester’s
nose severed 10 years’ RI
for two Muslim MPs meet on
Oct 31 Cheaper grains,
courtesy Sena Bandh disrupts
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