tribuneindia...Spotlight

			Wednesday, September 2, 1998
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Akash test-fired
BALASORE, Sept 1 (PTI) — Akash the multi-target surface-to-air missile developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), was test-fired from the interim test range (ITR) at Chandipur near here tonight, official sources said. The sources said the missile was launched at 2013 hours. This was the first time that it was fired at night.

Chhattisgarh Bill
BHOPAL, Sept 1 (UNI) — The Vidhan Sabha today ratified by voice vote the Madhya Pradesh Reorganisation Bill, 1998, which provides for carving out a separate Chhattisgarh state. During the two-day special session convened here to consider the reorganisation Bill, the members discussed the provisions clausewise and also made several suggestions. Some of them even demanded creation of Mahakaushal, Vindhya Pradesh and Bundelkhand states.

Pillai case
NEW DELHI, Sept 1 (PTI) — The Supreme Court today stayed till further orders operation of a trial court order asking the CBI to probe the alleged conspiracy behind the custodial death of biscuit tycoon Rajan Pillai in July, 1995. A three-Judge Bench comprising Chief Justice M.M. Punchhi, Mr Justice K.T. Thomas and Mr Justice M. Srinivasan, during the mentioning of a special leave petition (SLP) filed by the CBI, stayed operation of the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate’s order. Earlier, the Delhi High Court had upheld the CMM’s order directing the CBI to forthwith register a case and begin probe into the conspiracy angle as alleged by Nina Pillai, widow of Rajan Pillai, in her complaint.

Flood situation
SILIGURI, Sept 1 (PTI) — The flood situation in north Bengal worsened today with almost all major rivers in spate and the power situation on the verge of collapse. The District Magistrate, Malda, Mr M.V. Rao said the Ganga, Mahananda and Fulahar were flowing at danger level. Fifteen persons have died in the floods in Malda so far. The Army, BSF and civil defence personnel were working on war footing to tackle the situation in Malda, he said.

Minister threatened
MUMBAI, Sept 1 (PTI) — Adequate security would be provided to Housing Minister Suresh Jain and Housing Secretary V.P. Raja following threats received by them over Sena-BJP ruling alliance’s scheme of providing affordable houses to 40 lakh slum-dwellers in the metropolis, Chief Minister Manohar Joshi said here today. "There were some anonymous calls", he said when asked to specify on the nature of threats. The entire matter would be looked into by the City Police Commissioner, Mr Joshi said.

Lanka poll
CHENNAI, Sept 1 (UNI) — The Sri Lanka Minister of Justice, Constitutional and Ethnic Affairs, Prof G.L. Peiris, today said the Kumaratunga government was considering holding of a snap presidential election as one of the four options in the wake of the opposition United National Party (UNP) blocking the draft constitutional devolution package presented to Parliament. Addressing a press conference here, he said the other options being considered by the government to break the impasse on the vexed issue were holding of parliamentary elections, combining both the presidential and parliamentary elections, or holding of a non-binding referendum under Article 86 in the north-eastern region.

Panel term
NEW DELHI, Sept 1 (UNI) — The term of the inter-ministerial committee examining the implications of the Supreme Court judgement relating to former Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao in the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha bribery case has been extended two months from September 9. As it is "likely to take some more time to finalise its report", according to an official notification. The committee, examining the judgement in the case filed by Mr Rao against the Union Government, including the Central Bureau of Investigation, was set up vide notification on June 25.