Tuesday, September 15, 1998

• Delhi Speaker’s adieu to politics
• More strains in BJP-ADMK ties
• SC issues notice to Goa CM
• Dawood accomplice

CWC to discuss poll strategy
Tribune News Service

NEW DELHI, Sept 14 - The Congress Working Committee (CWC) will meet here tomorrow to discuss preparations for the forthcoming assembly poll in four states and take up organisational agenda left over from the Pachmarhi conclave.

The Congress President, Mrs Sonia Gandhi, has begun a exercise aimed at the forthcoming assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Delhi and Mizoram, with observers completing preliminary assessment in these states.

This will be the first occasion when the Congress goes to the polls after Mrs Sonia Gandhi assumed leadership of the party, which is currently in power in two of these four states — Madhya Pradesh and Mizoram.

For the present, there is a debate in the party on whether the Congress should have an alliance with the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), in Madhya Pradesh or go it alone. The BSP has pockets of influence in many areas in of Madhya Pradesh.

The Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister, Mr Digvijay Singh, who was in the Capital today told newspersons that he was open to the suggestion and that the final decision would be taken by the party high command.

There are reports that the BSP is seeking a share of 100 out of 320 seats in the forthcoming assembly polls, while the Congress may not like to part with more than 50 seats, party sources said.

In any case, the Congress as per its Pachmarhi declaration would prefer to shun alliances but, if necessary, go in for them as a dominant partner.

This is in contrast to the previous tie-up the Congress had with the BSP during the assembly poll in Uttar Pradesh in 1996. At that time, the Congress contested 125 of the 425 seats conceding the rest to the BSP.

Both in Delhi and Rajasthan, the Congress party feels it is close to power. In both states the BJP has been the ruling party and the Congress leaders hope that they can turn the tide in favour of the party.

The CWC is also expected to take up the agenda on organisational matters that could not be finalised at Pachmarhi, due to paucity of time and difference in perception on many issues.

One of the suggestions was whether the Congress should also create a cadre. At Pachmarhi, many leaders were of the opinion that while the party remains committed to being a party of the masses, it also needs to develop its own cadres.

There is growing realisation that there is need to convert the crowds into votes at the time of elections, something that could not be done in the previous general election despite Mrs Gandhi having attracted large crowds during campaigning.

TMC not to merge with Congress

CHENNAI, Sept 14 (PTI) — Ending speculation about its return to the Congress, the Tamil Maanila Congress (TMC) today ruled out merger with any party, deciding to retain its separate identity and aim for power in the state by 2001.

"The reasons for which the TMC came into existence in 1996 were still valid and, therefore, it wanted to retain its separate identity," TMC spokesman B.S. Gnanadesikan told reporters briefing about resolutions to this effect passed by the party’s executive committee yesterday.

He said the resolutions also emphasised the TMC’s determination to oppose corruption and ostentation in public life, "politicisation of the administration" and check the influence of "cattiest and communal forces" on the government.

Besides opposing these trends, the party would take all efforts to bring in TMC rule by 2001, Gnanadesikan said.

This is the first time that the party has talked about "TMC rule", avoiding the phrase often used — "Kamaraj rule".

The TMC’s decision to retain its separate identity comes in the backdrop of the continuing silence on the part of the Congress high command on its leader G.K. Moopanar’s offer of "constructive coordination" with the Congress, and in the wake of strained relations with the DMK.

Another resolution criticised the ruling DMK for allegedly "rigging" cooperative elections and demanded holding of fresh polls, Gnanadesikan said.

He alleged that DMK MLAs or their relatives had cornered plum posts in cooperative institutions, "making a mockery of the principles of the cooperative movement.

Tribal language writers get awards

NEW DELHI, Sept 14 (UNI) — The Sahitya Akademi has conferred its second Bhasha Samman Award on Dr Doman Sahu ‘Samir’ (Santali), Dr James Dokhuma (Mizo) and Dewi Singh Kongdup (Khasi) for their contribution to the development of tribal languages.

The award, instituted last year for recognising creative and research work in languages that have no statutory or institutional recognition, was presented by noted Tamil writer Ashokamitran at a function here last evening.

It carries a plaque and Rs 25,000 each.

The Akademi also honoured 21 translators in different languages for their valuable contribution to literary exchange in the country. The translation prize winners are Kirtinath Hazarika (Assamese), Rameswar Shaw (Bengali), the late Narinder Sharma (Dogri), Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak (English), Prasad Brahmatt (Gujarati), J.L. Reddy (Hindi), Neerpaje Bheema Bhat (Kannada), Yeshwant S. Palekar (Konkani), Navin Choudhary (Maithilli), Atoor Ravi Varma Shiva Shamsher Rasaily (Nepali), Jugal Kishore Dutta (Oriya), Karanjit Singh (Punjabi), Nrisingh Rajpurohit (Rajasthani), Shyam Vimal (Sanskrit), Hiro Shewkani (Sindhi), T.S. Sadasivam (Tamil), B.K. Easwar (Telugu) and Prakash Fikri (Urdu).

The translation prize carries Rs 10,000 and a scroll.

Teenage pregnancies lowest in India

CALCUTTA, Sept 14 (PTI) —India and Pakistan are among the countries with the lowest teenage pregnancy rates recording less than 16 per cent of such cases in the world, a UN report has said.

Around the world most such pregnancies, whether within marriage or out of wedlock, are unplanned and pose a high risk to a woman’s health, the state of the world population report, 1998, says.

In Asian countries, where the levels of teenage pregnancy depend on early marriage and fertility expectations, the figure of unplanned adolescent pregnancies ranges between 23 per cent and 41 per cent in the Philippines, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Thailand.

In Latin America and the Caribbean, levels of unplanned or unwanted pregnancy range between 20 and 52 per cent, while in the sub-Saharan Africa the figure is 58 per cent, the report by the United Nations Population Fund says.

“Most such mothers are themselves the children of early mothers and the effects are strongest in poor families and may also be the result of learned behaviour,” the report says.

Indian in race for Booker

NEW DELHI, Sept 14 (UNI) — Indian writer I. Allan Sealy’s ‘The Everest Hotel’ is among the probables to win the 1998 Booker Prize nominations to be announced tomorrow in London.

Sealy’s new novel, published last month, was summoned by the Booker jury for consideration. Every leading publishing house can send two books to the Booker jury, but the jury, on their own, are also empowered to call for any book.

“It is a singular honour for Allan Sealy to have his book summoned by the Booker jury,” Tarun Tejpal, one of the directors of India Ink, the publishers of ‘The Everest Hotel’ said.

Winning a place among the six shortlisted titles alone means great focus and attention to the author ensuring sales for the book.

If ‘The Everest Hotel’ which narrates life in the foothills of the Himalayas shaped by the change of seasons, is shortlisted, it will be the second consecutive time that an Indian is nominated. Arundhati Roy, who won the nomination last year for ‘The God of Small Things’, went on to win the coveted literary prize. ‘The God of Small Things’ was also published by India Ink.

The other Indians who have won nominations in the past are Anita Desai, Rohinton Mistry, Salman Rushdie, Ruta Prawer Jhabwala and V.S. Naipaul, a Trinidad and Tobago national of Indian descent.

Anita Desai was nominated twice, first in 1980 for ‘Clear Light of Day’ and again in 1984 for ‘In Custody’. Rohinton ‘Mistry’s ‘Such a Long Journey’ won the nomination in 1991.

Mumbai-born and London-based Rushdie’s novels ‘Shame’ (1983), ‘The Midnight’s Children’ (1987), ‘The Satanic Verses’ (1988) and ‘The Moor’s Last Sigh’ (1995) were shortlisted. He won the prize once for ‘The Midnight’s Children’.

In 1994, Rushdie also won the ‘Bookers of Bookers’, a special prize for the best of the first 25 years of Booker prizes.

Ruth Prawer Jhabwala, a Jew married to an Indian architect Cyrus Jhabwala, won the prize in 1975 for ‘Heat and Dust’. Naipaul won nominations in 1971 and 1979 for ‘In a Free State’ and ‘A Bend in the River’, winning the award for the former.

‘Talks with USA over CTBT on’

NEW DELHI, Sept 14 (PTI) — India is willing to “go forward” towards signing the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) provided the question of its linkage to disarmament is worked out, Prime Minister’s Principal Secretary Brajesh Mishra said today.

“Our security interests have now been taken care of. According to the advice we have from experts and scientists, we don’t need any more (nuclear) tests. So we can go forward towards the CTBT. Now remains the question of linkage to disarmament”, Mr Mishra told Eenadu television.

However, he made it clear “We are not very close to signing the CTBT. Negotiations are going on with the USA and some other countries’’, according to the transcript made available by the television network.

Indicating that PM’s special emissary Jaswant Singh may have another round of talks with US Deputy Secretary of State Strobe Talbott in New York during the UN General Assembly session later this month. He said, “there is still some ground to be covered (regarding the CTBT)”.

Mr Mishra termed as “quite misleading” an impression that New Delhi is seeking concessions from Washington in return for joining the treaty. “We have not asked for any concessions nor have we asked anybody to recognise us as a nuclear weapon state”.

Gujral on UNESCO committee

NEW DELHI, Sept 14 (UNI) — Former Prime Minister I.K.Gujral has been nominated to a high-powered committee set up by UNESCO to award an individual or an organisation for outstanding work for furthering the cause of non-violence and tolerance.

The six-member committee includes Rev. Archbishop Desmond Tutu and former United Nations Secretary General Boutros-Boutros Ghali, among others.

The $ 40,000 award has been instituted by Mr Madanjeet Singh, writer and former diplomat who was associated for a long time with UNESCO.

Mr Gujral said the jury would meet in Paris on September 24. The former Prime Minister is leaving for Paris on September 23 on a three-day visit.

Dropsy under control, says minister
Tribune News Service

NEW DELHI, Sept 14 — Admissions of dropsy patients into various city hospitals is on the decline. In the past 24 hours, seven persons with symptoms of dropsy were admitted into various hospitals in the Capital as compared to 22 on Saturday.

The Minister of Health in the Delhi government, Dr Harsh Vardhan, told The Tribune that the disease which claimed 58 lives in the Capital since August 5 was “under control”. He said in the past 24 hours, no death was reported from any hospital and in the past four days, one death was reported from Lok Nayak Jaiprakash Narain Hopsital.

The minister said 635 samples of oil had been lifted. Of these, 534 had been tested and 246 found to be contaminated, he said.

The minister said that of the 245 dropsy patients registered in the glaucoma cell in Guru Nanak Eye hospital, 29 were diagnosed as suffering from glaucoma. Timely help had prevented irreversible damage to eyes, he added.

According to the dropsy control room of the Delhi Government, 247 dropsy cases still were under treatment in city hospitals. Of the 2,481 dropsy admissions made since August 5, 1,815 patients have been discharged and 291 have left against medical advice.

BJP for more govt, party interaction
Tribune News Service

NEW DELHI, Sept 14 — Terming the performance of the coalition government as "satisfactory" after the first over four-hour review meeting between party officials and the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee along with party ministers, the Bharatiya Janata Party today said such meetings would be held more often for greater interaction between the party and the government.

The meeting, held last night in the capital, was presided over by the BJP President, Mr Kushabhau Thakre. The party general secretary, Mr M. Venkaiah Naidu, briefed newspersons about the meeting. The Central Government had performed better than expected from it, Mr Naidu said.

The last night's meeting was a follow-up of the recommendations of the sub-committee suggesting closer understanding between the party and the party-led government, Mr Naidu said adding that the sub-committee was set up at the Gandhinagar session of the party. It submitted its reports at the national executive committee meeting held last month at Jaipur.

The BJP leader said issues like the coming Assembly elections in Delhi, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Mizoram, free movement of foodgrains from one state to another, Tata Airlines proposal, price rise, mustard oil crisis were taken up at the meeting.

However, Mr Naidu denied that Bihar was discussed at the meeting.

The Prime Minister, who wanted that the present stock of mustard oil should be checked and released as it could not be held back indefinitely, told the meeting that the CBI inquiry into the mustard oil adulteration would be expedited, Mr Naidu said.

On the free movement of food grains, Mr Naidu said the Prime Minister supported the idea but informed that some states were opposed to it because of local compulsions. Mr Vajpayee expressed concern over sudden rise in edible oil prices following a ban on the sale of mustard oil. He said that traders were taking advantage of the ban and hoarding the commodity resulting in the creation of artificial scarcity.

The ongoing party campaign to highlight achievements of the BJP-led government and to counter rivals’ disinformation propaganda against the coalition government also figured during the meeting, Mr Naidu said adding that Mr Vajpayee and the Union Home Minister, Mr L.K. Advani would take the opportunity to inform the people about the government’s achievements when they jointly address the MDMK rally in Chennai tomorrow.

Similarly, Mr Advani would highlight the Government’s achievements when he undertakes a trip to Karnatka and Andhra Pradesh to participate in the Hyderabad liberation golden jubilee celebrations on September 17, he said.

Party functionaries and the BJP ministers would tour 400 districts of the country by October end as part of their nation-wide campaign to educate people on the Government’s programmes and performance, Mr Naidu said.

SC issues notice to Goa CM

NEW DELHI, Sept 14 (PTI) — The Supreme Court today issued notice to Goa Chief Minister Wilfred D’Souza on a petition by his predecessor challenging the Mumbai High Court’s interim stay on the Speaker’s ruling disqualifying the Chief Minister and nine others under the anti-defection law.

A three-Judge Bench comprising Chief Justice M.M. Punchhi, Justice G.B. Pattanaik and Justice S. Rajendra Babu issued the notice to Mr D’Souza returnable by four weeks on petitions filed by Pratap Singh Raoji Rane and Speaker Thomazinho Cordozo.

The Panaji Bench of the Mumbai High Court on September 7 set aside the order of Goa Assembly Speaker Thomazinho Cordozo disqualifying Chief Minister Wilfred D’Souza and nine other MLAs under the anti-defection law and termed the Speaker’s findings as "partisan and vitiated.’’

More strains in BJP-ADMK ties

CHENNAI, Sept 14 (PTI) — The love-hate relationship between the BJP and the AIADMK may come under further strain when Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee attends a rally organised by the MDMK, one of the constituents of the AIADMK-led front, here tomorrow as AIADMK supremo Jayalalitha is likely to go ahead with a parallel rally in Tiruchirapalli.

Being held to mark the 90th birth anniversary of DMK founder C.N. Annadurai, the MDMK rally, being attended by top BJP leaders, including Home Minister L.K. Advani, is seen by the AIADMK as an exercise in undermining Jayalalitha’s importance in the BJP-led coalition at the Centre.

Leaders of various other constituents of the BJP-led coalition will also be attending the MDMK rally, which may not be to the liking of Jayalalitha.

The AIADMK supremo had planned a victory rally of the front in Dindigul early August, which was to have been attended by Vajpayee and others but she called it off as the BJP-AIADMK ties ran into rough weather.

China for bilateral solution to Kashmir

CALCUTTA, Sept 14 (PTI) — China today said that the Kashmir issue should be solved through bilateral talks between India and Pakistan in the spirit of the Simla agreement.

Avoiding any reference to third party intervention on the issue, China’s Ambassador Zhou Gang said, the problem had evolved over the years and "should be solved bilaterally on the principles of the Simla agreement."

The Ambassador dismissed accusations that China posed the biggest threat to India. "Do not believe in those accusations, which are totally baseless. India is our immediate neighbour and even today the ideals of ‘Hindi Chini Bhai Bhai’ exist among the common people," he said.

China was for strengthening Sino-Indian ties based on the principles of peaceful co-existence and nuclear disarmament and had never posed any threat to its neighbours, including India, Pakistan and Bhutan, Mr Gang said.

"It is the task of both the Chinese and Indian government to do their best in resolving difference, if any, to improve bilateral relations," he said.

The Ambassador was speaking at interactive session with members of the Bharat Chamber of Commerce here.

Delhi Speaker’s adieu to politics
From Our Correspondent

NEW DELHI, Sept 14 — The Speaker of the Delhi Assembly, Mr Charti Lal Goel, today announced his decision to retire from active politics.

“I have completed 71 years of my life and after a great deal of introspection and soul-searching , I have reached the conclusion that politicians who have crossed the age of 70 years should pave the way for younger generation to come forward in politics and public service”, Mr Goel said in a statement here today.

Expressing gratitude to BJP national leaders and party workers for “unstinted support and cooperation” during his 36-year-long political life, Mr Goel said the remaining part of his life would be devoted to “ support and uphold the banner of the BJP”.

Dawood accomplice
From Our Correspondent

NEW DELHI, Sept 14 — An accomplice of Dawood Ibrahim was arrested today by the Delhi Police from Bandra in Mumbai.The arrested person has been identified as Ahmed Rehman Mehmood alias Papa . He worked as a carrier for Dawood Ibrahim and had been to Dubai 35 times, the police said.

3 activists held in Manipur
IMPHAL: At least three activists of the United National Liberation Front (UNLF) and the Kuki National Front (KNF) have been arrested from different parts of Manipur, official sources said on Monday. Two UNLF activists were arrested by the Army from the Thambalkhong area in Imphal east district on Saturday. One KNF activist was arrested from the Kangpokpi Bazar area in Senapati district on Sunday. — PTI

2 TN students top Hindi exams
NEW DELHI: Two students from the non-Hindi speaking state of Tamil Nadu have topped the lists of certificates in Hindi and diploma this year. V. Nagarajan and Vidhya L. have secured over 90 per cent in the Hindi examinations conducted by the Central Hindi Directorate in May through English, Tamil, Malayalam and Bangla media at 50 centres in India and abroad, an official press note said here on Monday. It said 400 students from non-Hindi speaking regions have secured distinctions in the exam. — PTI

Modernisation of government presses
NEW DELHI: The Urban Affairs Ministry has taken up the task of modernisation of government presses at Rashtrapati Bhavan and Faridabad in the current financial year. A press note from the ministry said that 16 government presses had been modernised so far. — PTI

The blind pin flag on PM
NEW DELHI: A delegation of the National Association for the Blind met Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee on the occasion of the all-India Flag Day for the blind on Monday and pinned a flag on him. The Prime Minister made a voluntary donation for the cause. The delegation, led by honorary general secretary of the association T. Vyas, also apprised Mr Vajpayee of the problems faced by the visually handicapped persons. — UNI

AP seeks Rs 200 cr as relief
ITANAGAR: Arunachal Pradesh has sought Rs 200 crore as central assistance for restoration of infrastructure facilities damaged by the recent floods and relief to the affected people, the leader of a central team visiting the state, Mr P.K. Misra, said. Chief Minister Gegong Apang, during his meeting with the team on Sunday, emphasised the need for both long and short-term restoration measures as most of the vital installations in the state had been damaged. — PTI

Rail traffic restored
JALGAON: Rail traffic between Chinchpada and Khatgaon on the Surat-Bhusawal route, which was disrupted for several hours on Sunday following derailment of nine wagons of a goods train on Saturday, was restored on Monday morning. Two wagons of the train, carrying urea bags were damaged following the derailment. No one was injured. — PTI

Protest against Hazare’s jailing
NASIK: Members of several social organisations and political parties staged a day-long dharna here on Monday to express their support for social activist and anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare undergoing a three-month imprisonment in Pune’s Yervada Central Jail. Hind Mazdoor Kisan Panchayat leader Shantaram Chavan, Janata Dal general secretary Manohar Ahire, Nasik District Scrap Material Traders Association president Nissar Niyaj and Chhatra Bharati Activists were among those who participated in the dharna. — PTI

Employees’ stir affects work
KOHIMA: Work in state government offices was partially affected as the week-long pen down and tool down agitation, called by the Confederation of Nagaland State Service Employees Associations (CANSSEA), began on Monday. The confederation went for the third phase of the agitation despite state government claims that four of the five demands made by the CANSSEA were fulfilled. — PTI