Tuesday, October 27, 1998
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JD crisis may blow over BANGALORE, Oct 26 — Crisis in the ruling Janata Dal Legislature Party in Karnataka over the leadership of Chief Minister J. H. Patel appears to be heading towards a solution. Manmohan
for cutting govt expenditure |
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BJP destroying secular fabric: Sonia BIKANER, Oct 26 — Congress President Sonia Gandhi today charged the BJP-led government with destroying the secular fabric of the country and asserted that her party would not allow any such move.
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States to certify fund use THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, Oct 26 — The Union Minister of State for Rural Areas and Employment, Mr Baba Gouda Patil, today announced that the state government would now have to submit “fund utilisation certificate” along with a letter from Member of Parliament from the districts concerned to avail funds from the Centre under the Employment Assurance Scheme. Inadequate
staff costs DEO dear IA
Deputy Manager arrested Asha
enthrals Delhi music lovers Call
India Hindustan, says Thackeray UGC
to examine Jamia proposal Tomato
prices will take a month to stabilise: minister India,
Bulgaria sign trade agreements Ban
on processions by casteist bodies recommended |
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JD crisis may blow over BANGALORE, Oct 26 (UNI, PTI) — Crisis in the ruling Janata Dal Legislature Party (JDLP) in Karnataka over the leadership of Chief Minister J. H. Patel appears to be heading towards a solution. An indication to this effect was given by Mr Patel himself when he expressed satisfaction over the "positive outcome" of the talks held between a group of senior ministers led by Deputy Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and former Prime Minister H. D. Deve Gowda, behind whom the dissidents have rallied. According to party sources, the ministers had convinced Mr Deve Gowda that it would not be legally and technically possible either to postpone the legislature session slated for October 29 or hold the JDLP meeting prior to it, as demanded by the dissidents in a memorandum submitted to Mr Patel and the party high command. Mr Siddaramaiah, who had another round of discussion with Mr Deve Gowda today, told newsmen that the latter would get back to him after talking to legislators available in the city. Meanwhile, in a letter to party president Sharad Yadav, Mr Patel explained the difficulty in acceding to the demand of the dissidents and urged him to fix a date for the JDLP meeting after the legislature session. Mr J. H. Patel today urged Janata Dal president Sharad Yadav to fix any date after the adjournment of the legislature session beginning on October 29, for convening a meeting of the Janata Dal legislature party (JDLP) to discuss the issues raised by dissident legislators. In a letter to Mr Yadav, a copy of which was released to the press here, he said that by fixing the date, "any apprehension regarding the convening of the JDLP meeting" could be avoided. Referring to the letter received from party secretary general Bapu Kaldate, Mr Patel said he would have certainly agreed to Mr Yadav’s suggestion to postpone the legislature session. But could not do so due to certain legal and technical difficulties. The Governor was out of the state and speaker Ramesh Kumar was also not in town, he added. On Mr Yadav’s suggestion that the issue be settled in the legislature party itself, Mr Patel said his suggestion was "very appropriate and most welcome". He termed as "erroneous and far from the truth," reports in a section of the press that he was defying Mr Yadav’s directions. The dissident legislators, in their memorandum, had asked Mr Patel to seek a vote of confidence in the JDLP before the session. Mr Patel said the legislature session would be very short and when in was originally convened, the present situation (in the party) had not arisen. Now the idea is to face the legislature session unitedly and convene the JDLP meeting immediately after the session is adjourned to sort out the issues raised in the memorandum," he said. He hoped Mr Yadav would appreciate the above suggestion which was made in the best interests of the party, its unity and image. In their memoradum to Mr Yadav, the dissident MLAs had requested him to direct, Mr Patel to convene and emergency JDLP meeting to prove his strength. Mr Patel also noted that when the legislature was convened "the present situation was not expected." The Karnataka unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) today ruled out supporting any faction in the event of a split in the ruling Janata Dal and reiterated its demand for dissolution of the state assembly. Participating in a meet-the-press programme here, BJP state unit president B. S. Yediyurappa said the government was in "coma" and it should allow the people to decide who should rule them next. He said the two-day
executive meeting of the BJP beginning here tomorrow
would take a decision on moving a no-confidence motion
against the J. H. Patel government during the assembly
session beginning on October 29. The meeting would also
decide on the strategy to be adopted if Mr Patel sought a
vote of confidence. |
BJP destroying secular fabric: Sonia BIKANER, Oct 26 (UNI) — The Congress President Sonia Gandhi today charged the BJP-led government at the Centre with destroying the secular fabric of the country and asserted that her party would not allow any such move. Kicking off the party's election campaign for the November 25 Assembly elections in Rajasthan, she said the Congress prevented the BJP's attempts to "destroy" the secular fabric by changing the educational system, adding that her party was committed to retain the country's tradition which respected all religions. She said the BJP had neither a policy nor any definite programme whereas the Congress had everything required to protect the nation's unity and integrity. Charging the BJP government with adopting wrong priorities and resorting to populist policies to divert the people's attention from basic issues confronting the nation, Ms Gandhi said the government could not even handle the post-Pokhran situation. She said the government could not tackle sharp reactions in the international arena in the wake of the nuclear tests, adding it hindered the process of development in the country. The AICC president expressed her unhappiness over the ongoing debate in various international fora on the country's domestic and internal issues. She also expressed concern over the eroding faith of people on different political parties, which she felt was because of non-fulfilment of commitments and promises made by leader of various political parties. She maintained that she would not make any promises for the November 25 Assembly elections at this state "but my party would show to the people the difference between the Congress and other political parties". In her 15-minute speech, Ms Gandhi recalled that the Congress had enough vision and will power to implement policies and programmes for the betterment of people, adding it had vast experience to run the government effectively. She said her party did posses enormous talent and experienced leaders in every state capable of implementing people's programmes and resolving problems of the poor and downtrodden. Referring to the Prime Minister's version over the price rise, she said: "It was not weather and the Congress policies" which was responsible for the steep rise in prices of essential commodities like onions, potatoes and others, but New Delhi's failure to curb and prevent corruption and adulteration. She said the government could not bring to book culprits of adulteration in edible oils, adding that instead of taking appropriate steps the government had ordered banned the sale of oil causing losses to farmers. The Congress chief also blamed the Shekhawat government in Rajasthan which said acted as a "silent spectator" even though injustices were meted out to farmers. She alleged that the state government could not even put forth the point of producers of Bikaneri bhujia and papad when the Centre had decided to levy tax on this cottage industry produce of the state. She also stated that the state government had not taken any action on the demand of setting up a power plant and university in Bikaner. Ms Gandhi also charged the
BJP government in the state showing apathy and inaction
in providing relief to people in 18 drought-hit districts
in the state. |
Manmohan for cutting govt expenditure NEW DELHI, Oct 26 (PTI) — India should maintain a growth rate of about 8 per cent per annum for the next 25 years, curtail government expenditure and control subsidies if it is to become a key global player in the next millennium, former Finance Minister Manmohan Singh said here today. "There is no hope if the state and central governments do not cut their expenditure, tax reforms are not made, subsidies are not controlled, public sector units continue to make losses and growth rate does not increase," he said, addressing a two-day national delegate convention of the Indian Youth Congress. The former Finance Minister said at least 32 per cent of the national income would have to be invested as against the present 28 per cent. He said policy makers would have to focus their attention more on underdeveloped states like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Orissa, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. "In the changed global economic scenario, governments have come to play the role of facilitators and are no more a source of prosperity," Mr Singh said. "India will have to think afresh and initiate changes if it wants to be taken seriously and desires to be a major global player in the next millennium," he said. The former Finance Minister said the country would have to create one crore additional jobs every year if the unemployment problem had to be tackled on a war footing. Expressing regret over the poor literacy rate, Mr Manmohan Singh said enough wealth should be generated to eradicate poverty, unemployment and ignorance and to provide decent civic amenities, including health and safe drinking water. With 10 lakh cases pending in various courts, the judicial system too was badly in need of reforms, he said. The economist-turned-politician called for a new approach to governance, including decentralisation and removal of the instruments of harassment and control to root out corruption. Lauding the successful model of the Ralegaon Siddhi village in Maharashtra under the leadership of noted social activist Anna Hazare, Mr Singh said," we need to mobilise the civil society against corruption and to ensure accountability of state functionaries." In his address on the occasion, former Union Minister N.D. Tiwari urged the youth to prepare for the next millennium. Matinee idol and former MP, Sunil Dutt said the country had enough of sloganeering and the need of the hour was some real work at the grassroots level. He also asked the Youth Congress workers to desist from physical confrontation with the party’s opponents and fight them on the ideological plane. Youth Congress president
Manish Tewari also addressed the meeting which resolved
to oppose the "anti-people" policies of the
BJP-led central government. |
Laloo, Mishra to surrender tomorrow PATNA, Oct 26 (PTI) — Former Bihar Chief Ministers Laloo Prasad Yadav and Jagannath Mishra said today they would surrender before a CBI court here on Wednesday in compliance with the Supreme Court directive in connection with a conspiracy angle case of the fodder scam. Mr Yadav and Mr Mishra would apply for regular bail after surrendering in court. The Supreme Court had on September 25 asked Mr Yadav and Mr Mishra to surrender after rejecting their prayers against the July 24 Patna High Court judgement upholding the surrender order issued by the trial court against them in the case. The case (RC 64 (A)/96) relates to fraudulent withdrawals of more than Rs 92 lakh from the state treasury by Bihar Animal Husbandry Department officials. The CBI has filed a chargesheet in the case. Of the five regular cases, including one relating to the alleged amassing of disproportionate assets, instituted against Mr Yadav in the multi-crore scam, the CBI has already filed charge sheets in two and investigation was in progress in the other two. Mr Laloo has already
secured regular bail in three of the cases.1 |
States to certify fund use THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, Oct 26 — The Union Minister of State for Rural Areas and Employment, Mr Baba Gouda Patil, today announced that the state government would now have to submit “fund utilisation certificate” along with a letter from Member of Parliament from the districts concerned to avail funds from the Centre under the Employment Assurance Scheme (EAS). The Rural Areas and Employment Ministry took the important decision for the fund utilisation certificate and attestations by the legislators a condition for the states to avail Central funds at a meeting of its parliamentary consultative committee, in which MPs, cutting across party lines, charged that the states were not implementing the EAS as per provisions and purpose for which it was originally initiated. A number of MPs expressed concern that the states were also not forthright in giving information on the way the Central funds were spent by them under the EAS. Briefing reporters on the details of the Parliamentary Consultative Committee meeting, Mr Patil cautioned that the Centre might stop the release of funds to states if they did not followed the directive for submitting the utilisation certificate with letter from MPs from every district. In response to suggestions from the members to involve the NGOs in the states where the EAS funds were not utilised properly, the minister said that the proposal would be examined in all seriousness. The EAS was launched in the country on October 2, 1993, as it was felt that, notwithstanding the presence of Jawahar Rozgaar Yojana, a programme specifically to tackle the problem of acute unemployment and underemployment was needed in the backward pockets of the country, especially during the lean season and in times of distress caused by crop failure, natural calamities, etc. The main objective of the EAS was to provide about 100 days of assured manual employment in lean agricultural season, at statutory minimum wages, to all adult persons who needed and sought employment. Also, the works taken up are to be economically productive and labour intensive, and which related to social and community works. The scheme is demand-driven and therefore no fixed allocations are made for the districts/blocks. Funds are released depending on the demand for supplementary employment and the actual utilisation of funds in the blocks. While lauding the implementation of the Panchayat Raj in Kerala — the state which has become a model for other states in areas like literacy rate — and the quality of people’s participation in the development programmes here, the minister and the numbers of the parliamentary committee expressed concern over non-implementation of the Panchayat Raj system in certain states, especially Bihar and Assam. The participants in the meeting expressed the view that absence of the Panchayat Raj systems had led not only to virtual non-delivery of rural development programmes in the errant states and also caused widespread corruption and the misuse of the funds. Expressing concern over Bihar and Assam not showing inclinations to hold Panchayat elections — the issue was presently pending before the Supreme Court — Mr Patil said that his ministry would soon find legal ways for early judgement from the apex court. Mr Patil said that the members of the parliamentary committee and his ministry was of the view that rain water should be harvested and recycled to the fields. They expressed the need for a programme under the EAS. Also, the ministry expressed the view that plantation of trees under the EAS should be in tune to the climate of the respective areas. In another significant development, the ministry announced giving Rs 100 crore to HUDCO as equity for the central agency to help it in the construction of nine lakhs houses for the families below poverty line in the country. The ministry had targeted to provide 13 lakh houses by the end of this financial year as per the decision of the Atal Behari Vajpayee-led government to construct 20 lakh houses. The ministry has roped in the HUDCO to shoulder some of its assignment to raise the houses. It plans to construct the remaining houses from its own funds. It also aims to rope in the services of the private sector for the housing project. With regard to Kerala, the ministry plans to construct 1.5 crore houses in the current financial year with the help of other agencies and the Ministry of Urban Affairs and the state government. To a question the minister
said that there was a move to merge all three watershed
development programmes: Drought prone areas programme
(DPAP), Integrated Wasteland Development Project (IWDP)
and the EAS run by the Ministry of Rural Areas and
Employment. |
Inadequate staff costs DEO dear SRIGANGANAGAR, Oct 26 — Owing to inadequate staff in the Defence Estate Office (DEO) at Bikaner, the Army authorities are finding it difficult to contest land acquisition cases in various courts “properly”. According to official sources, the Army authorities are facing about 5,500 court cases in various courts of this district relating to land acquisition from private persons for setting up cantonments at Hanumangarh and here. Official sources said most of the cases were not being contested properly as the DEO based at Bikaner had only a skeleton staff of 14 members against the requirement of at least 50. Mr BL Narang, Defence Estate Officer, while talking to TNS said in the absence of proper staff the entire money being spent for contesting the cases was being wasted as the DEO had been losing most of the cases. He added that lakhs of rupees had been spent so for contesting these cases. Mr Narang said the long distance between Bikaner and Sriganganagar was also a big hurdle in defending the court cases properly. He added that most of the cases were going to the higher courts, even to the apex court of India, thus burdening the Army authorities with making payments to senior advocates of the country. He pointed out at present the DEO was facing a financial crunch. Due to the lack of proper funds, most of the cases remained undefended. He disclosed that Air Force authorities had recently wasted lakhs of rupees by publishing Section 4 and 6 notices under the Land Acquisition Act for acquiring 50,000 bighas of land for constructing an air strip at Thukrana near Bikaner in various newspapers without prior sanction of the Government of India. He said such acquisition was irregular and now the Air Force authorities had no money to make payments to the newspapers for the advertisements published in them. Mr Narang said at least 25
members were required in group ‘C’ and 10
members in group ‘D’ in the Defence Estate
Office to deal with the huge number of court cases
properly. He added he had written to the higher
authorities regarding the need to have more staff a
number of times but without any success. |
IA Deputy Manager arrested NEW DELHI, Oct 26 — A Deputy Manager of Indian Airlines, Anil Kumar, was arrested from Indira Gandhi International (IGI) airport in a cheating case by the officials of the Foreign Regional Registration Office (FRRO). Mr Anil Kumar was going to Canada on Saturday along with a woman, Jasbir Kaur and her son, Jaspal Singh, by the Canada Airlines. He introduced the woman and her son as his wife and son. He got made a passport of the woman and her son which suggested that they were of the same family, the DCP said. The woman was reportedly married three years back to Gurnam Singh, who lived in Canada. She wanted to go to Canada to meet her husband but she was not getting visa. When she contacted the deputy manager, he allegedly promised her to take her to Canada. On Saturday, when he was
going to board the flight along with the woman and her
son, the officials of the Canada Airlines checked their
passports and other documents and called the officials of
the Immigration Department who arrested him, the DCP
said. |
Asha enthrals Delhi music lovers NEW DELHI, Oct 26 (PTI) — Asha Bhonsle cast spell on the capital last night as she enthralled Delhiites with her repertoire of songs. The “Dus Hazar Ath Sau Ashaon Ke Pal” (10,800 moments of Asha) made music lovers of the capital dance, sing along and cry as the versatile singer presented her most famous numbers, including “O Mere Sona Re”, “Jhumka Ghira Re”, “Piya Tu Ab To Aza” and “Janam Samjha Karo”, before a boisterous crowd which took some time to get into the groove. The three-hour-long show on a high-tech stage at the Jawaharlal Nehru stadium got off to a flying start with Asha welcoming the aficionados with her evergreen “Dil Cheeze Kya Hai”. This was the first live solo concert of the younger of India’s most famous singing sisters in more than a decade in the capital. The singer paid special tributes to her late husband R.D. Burman, recalling through anecdotes his musical genius. She also imitated in a tribute the singing styles of Noor Jehan, Shamshad Begum, Geeta Dutt and her elder sister Lata Mangeshkar, who she said was the “Tadapda Suraj” (blazing sun) of Indian music, and even cracked a joke at the expense of US President Bill Clinton before singing her evergreen number “Monica O’ My Darling”. With a voice which refuses to age Asha Bhonsle sang her wide repertoire ranging from “Dum Marro Dum”, “Bhawnra Nadaan Hai” to the recent “Rangeela Rai” and “Sapne Mai Milta Hai” (from Satya). She was asked to sing an
encore to her recent super hit “Dil Le Gayi, Le
Gayi” at the end of the show, surely winning the
hearts of Delhi’s music lovers as she has been doing
all these years. |
Call India Hindustan, says Thackeray MUMBAI, Oct 26 (UNI) — The Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray today said the country belonged to the Hindus and should be called “Hindustan” and not “Bharat”. Addressing Shiv Sainiks from Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Delhi at the Shiv Sena Bhavan in Dadar here, he told them to call themselves “Hindustanis”. He claimed that Hindus did not enjoy true freedom in the country and regretted that the Hindu religious leaders did not attempt to spread the teachings of the faith unlike the Christian and Islamic missionaries. On the recent controversy regarding “Saraswati Vandana”, he questioned why the secularists in the country do not object to Christian religious teachings in Catholic schools. “The rules should be same for everybody”, he added. Mr Thackeray said secularism was not feasible in India. He said civil war was
imminent if the BJP-led government at the Centre was
dislodged. |
UGC to examine Jamia proposal NEW DELHI, Oct 26 — The University Grants Commission will soon examine Jamia Millia Islamia’s proposal of setting up a centre for women development studies. Prof. H.Y. Siddiqui, Head
of the Department of Social Work, who has drafted the
proposal said it would be assessed on November 3 by a
two-member expert committee constituted by the UGC. The
committee comprises Dr Pam Rajput, Director, Centre for
Women Development Studies, Panjab University, Chandigarh
and Prof. Kamini Bansali of SNDT University, Bombay. |
Tomato prices will take a month
to NEW DELHI, Oct 26 — The spiralling prices of tomato and potato would take at least a month to normalise, the Delhi Civil Supplies Minister, Ms Poornima Sethi, said here today. The prices of the two vegetables have shot up in the past three days. While potato is selling at Rs 20 to Rs 25 a kg in the open market, tomato is priced much higher at Rs 35 to Rs 40 per kg. The retail price of onion, despite imports and sale at subsidised rates, has not come down. Onion was being sold at Rs 50 to Rs 60 per kg today. Ms Poornima Sethi said, "The unseasonal rainfall in Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh which damaged crops is the reason behind the spiralling prices of tomato in the Capital." Since tomato is a highly perishable item and the shelf-life of tomato is only two days so there is no question of any hoarding taking place for it," Ms Sethi said. She said among the pulses,
arhar is the worst affected by rainfall. |
India, Bulgaria sign trade agreements NEW DELHI, Oct 25 (UNI) — Giving a major boost to bilateral relations, India and Bulgaria today signed an agreement on the promotion and protection of investments. The two countries also signed an agreement for cooperations between their trade promotion organisations and a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for exchanging trade statistics. The accords were signed at a ceremony in the presence of Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee and visiting Bulgarian President Petar Stoyanov. Earlier, Mr Vajpayee and Mr Stoyanov had wide-ranging discussions on matters of mutual interest and international issues. The Prime Minister also hosted a lunch in honour of the visiting dignitary. Mr Stoyanov, who is here
on a six-day visit, will leave for Agra tomorrow. He will
also visit Udaipur and Mumbai, before returning to Sofia
on Friday. |
Ban on processions by casteist CHENNAI, Oct 26 (UNI) — The all-party meeting convened by the Tamil Nadu government to discuss measures to check caste clashes in the state today recommended a ban on processions organised by casteist organisations which have a potential to incite violence. The resumed meeting, chaired by Chief Minister, M. Karunanidhi and attended by leaders of more than 40 political parties, adopted a resolution to this effect. Representatives of the AIADMK and Janata Party staged a walkout after picking up a wordy duel with the Indian National League leader M.A. Latheef and criticised some of the resolutions. Briefing newsmen on the deliberations and resolutions adopted at the meeting, Mr Karunanidhi said AIADMK’s former minister M. Sathiamoorthy and Janata Party president Dr Subramaniam Swamy staged the walkout. The meeting also decided to initiate stern action against cast-based organisations/associations which incited violence and also against leaders found guilty. The meeting, through
another resolution, also recommended banning of posters
and wall writings which were provocative in nature and
tended to incite violence and stern action against those
who were responsible for these, Mr Karunanidhi said. |
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| Judicial custody for blast
accused COIMBATORE: Seven prime accused in the serial bomb blast cases, including Mohamed Ansari, general secretary of the banned Al-Umma and Siddiq Ali, son of Al-Umma’s founder S.A. Basha, were on Monday remanded in 15 days judicial custody and shifted to Salem central prison from here. The accused, who were arrested at Rajahmundry on October 11, were in police custody and were produced before a judicial magistrate who remanded them in judicial custody. Sixty persons were killed and over 200 injured in the serial blasts. — UNI Lamba to head Haryana RJD CM’s
directive to BSEB Nobel for
naturalists sought Cardiologist
stabbed to death Sahara to launch
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