Tuesday, January 12, 1999
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SC refuses stay in Jaya case NEW DELHI, Jan 11 — The former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu and AIADMK leader, Ms Jayalalitha, got some respite today when the Supreme Court, while admitting an appeal of the Tamil Nadu Government declined to stay the High Court order directing that the Tamil translation of trial court record be supplied to her and other accused in corruption cases. Orissa orders judicial probe |
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Oppn condemns PM's remarks NEW DELHI, Jan 11 — Opposition parties today attacked Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee for giving a clean chit to the Keshubhai Patel government in Gujarat and suggesting a debate on religious conversions saying that this had exposed the BJP’s hidden agenda.
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Laloo for viable third front NEW DELHI, Jan 11 — Former Bihar Chief Minister Laloo Prasad Yadav today asserted that a viable third front could be formed with the Rashtriya Lok Tantrik Morcha as the nodal front since both Janata Dal and the United Front which were performing that role in the past had almost become extinct. Four more ministers quit in
Arunachal Gujral
refutes Niloufer's charge Shekhar’s
finesse evident in "Elizabeth" Women’s
reservation and Cong woes Police
team rewarded for nabbing mishap suspects Delhi
BJP divided on power crisis |
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SC refuses stay in Jaya case NEW DELHI, Jan 11 — The former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu and AIADMK leader, Ms Jayalalitha, got some respite today when the Supreme Court, while admitting an appeal of the Tamil Nadu Government declined to stay the High Court order directing that the Tamil translation of trial court record be supplied to her and other accused in corruption cases. Ms Jayalalitha and Ms N.S. Sashikala, her one-time associate, are accused of getting land at cheap rates from TANSI (Tamil Nadu Small Industries Corporation Limited) exercising their political influence. Both, along with Mr V.N. Sudhakaran and Mr J. Elavarasi, are facing cases under the prevention of Corruption Act for possessing assets disproportionate to their known sources of income The corruption cases were initiated on a complaint by the Janata Party president, Dr Subramaniam Swamy (now political ally of Ms Jayalalitha). The Bench comprising Mr Justice G.T. Nanavati and Mr Justice D.P. Mohapatra, while granting leave to the Tamil Nadu Government against the High Court Judgement, declined to grant stay. Counsel for the state government Shanti Bhushan submitted that the provisions of Section 207 of the Criminal Procedure Code did not contemplate that the accused was entitled to translated copies of trial court record and documents in the language the accused understood. He further submitted that counsel for the accused knew English well and could conduct the cases even if the record was in English. However, Justice Nanavati
observed that a fair trial required that the accused be
provided the Tamil version of the documents pertaining to
the trial of the case. Since the court had to examine the
question of law regarding entitlement of the accused for
getting documents translated in the language the latter
understood, the court admitted the appeal. |
Anjana case CUTTACK, Jan 11 (PTI) — The political upheaval over the alleged gangrape of Mrs Anjana Mishra continued to rock Orissa for the second day today, even as the police nabbed one of the three accused persons last night. The state government has ordered a judicial inquiry into the case. The Superintendent of Police, Mr Satyajit Mohanty, told mediapersons here that Padia Sahu, in his twenties, had been picked up from the Nuabazar area of city. The accused who worked as an automobile mechanic at Godisahi near Barang was alleged to be the main accused in the case. The scooter (No OAC 246) which was used by the culprits during the alleged crime, had been impounded. A distraught Anjana met the acting Chief Justice of the Orissa High Court, Justice Sushanta Chatterjee, yesterday. The Orissa High Court Bar Association today demanded a CBI probe into the case. The meeting felt that the attack was pre-planned and called for immediate investigation by the CBI. Mrs Anjana, accompanied by a journalist friend, Sutanu Guru, was on her way from Bhubaneswar to Cuttack to meet her lawyer on Saturday night when her taxi was intercepted by three scooter-borne men near Barang. They forced out the driver and drove the car into a jungle where she was allegedly criminally assaulted by all three, while Guru was held at gunpoint. The Orissa Government ordered a judicial inquiry into the case under the Commission of Inquiry Act, even as she moved the High Court seeking a CBI probe into the incident. The judicial inquiry would be headed by a sitting Judge of the High Court and would probe into several allegations made by Mrs Anjana, Home Secretary Sanjeev Hota told newsmen. Bhubaneswar. Mrs Anjana, who alleged that she was gangraped by three persons near Barang while on her way to Cuttack on Saturday night, had said that though she had sought police protection before leaving the city, her personal security officer did not accompany her. Mr Hota said the inquiry commission would probe into the charge along with her allegation that a police patrol vehicle which signalled the car to stop as she was being abducted did not pursue the vehicle as well as her claim that the rapists referred to Chief Minister J.B. Patnaik and former Advocate-General Indrajeet Roy while committing the crime. Mrs Anjana has been fighting a legal battle against the former Advocate-General for the last 18 months whom she has accused of having attempted to rape her in July 1997. The Janata Dal, the CPI and the CPM today called a 12-hour Orissa bandh on Wednesday to protest what they called the "total breakdown of law and order in the state and to demand protection for women". The decision to call the bandh was taken at a meeting of the leaders of the three parties held at the Janata Dal headquarters here. It was stated that a series of incidents like the R. Udayagiri flare-up, the murder of leader of anti-liquor agitation Urmila Kanhar in Sundergarh district, gangrape of two social workers of a NGO in Jharsuguda district, rape of two girls in Baliapal in Balasore district and police firing in Regional Engineering College campus in Rourkela in recent months painted a "gory picture" of the law and order situation in the state. In a joint statement, state president of the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI), Sishir Hui, secretary of the Democratic Women’s Organisation Tapasi Praharaj and president of the Students Federation of India (SFI), Suresh Panigrahi said the Anjana Mishra incident proved that women were "totally unsafe" in the state. They said that the Chief Minister, who had completely failed to provide protection to a woman in distress, should resign immediately. The BJP MP, Mr Bikram Keshari Deo, also demanded that the Chief Minister, who holds the Home portfolio, should resign. NEW DELHI: A national voluntary agency on Monday deplored the alleged gangrape of Mrs Anjana Mishra fighting an attempted rape case against former Orissa Advocate-General. The "barbaric
act" on Saturday night is a testimony to the
"failure of law and order and proliferation of crime
and violence against women in Orissa" the chairman
of the agency, "sankalp", Dr Ajaya Kumar
Mishra, said in a memorandum to the Prime Minister. |
Oppn condemns PM's remarks NEW DELHI, Jan 11 (PTI) — Opposition parties today attacked Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee for giving a clean chit to the Keshubhai Patel government in Gujarat and suggesting a debate on religious conversions saying that this had exposed the BJP’s hidden agenda. The Congress said Mr Vajpayee’s statements gave credence to reports that the BJP’s hidden agenda had surfaced and termed them as attempts to divert attention from attacks on Christians in Gujarat. In a more forthright criticism, the CPM and the Janata Dal said the Prime Minister’s remarks would further encourage communal forces. Congress spokesperson Girija Vyas told reporters here the suggestion for a country-wide debate on conversions was "irrelevant" as framers of the Constitution had already gone into the issue in detail and incorporated relevant sections relating to it. The Janata Dal said the Prime Minister’s suggestion was an indirect way to "protect violent communal forces indulging in atrocities on minorities". The CPM said Mr Vajpayee had "virtually" given credence to attacks on the Christian community in Gujarat by calling for a debate on conversions. "It is indeed unfortunate that the Prime Minister under oath to uphold secular tenets of our Constitution has chosen not to outrightly condemn these attacks," the party politburo said. LUCKNOW: Lok Dal President Ajit Singh today accused the BJP of masterminding attacks on minorities, especially the Christian community in Gujarat, recently and said this was being done "systematically and in a planned manner." The condemnation of attacks on Christians was ridiculous as "the BJP was masterminding all these acts", he told reporters here. "The party simply wants to terrorise the minorities in the country", he said. He also criticised the Shiv Sena for trying to "communalise the forthcoming Indo-Pak cricket series" and said this needed to be condemned by everyone. Referring to the ongoing controversy in Uttar Pradesh on the leadership issue, the Lok Dal leader said: "The BJP high command should better resolve it at the earliest otherwise it would adversely affect the working of the state government." The "casteist" politics had eaten the very development and peace of the state and the common man was the worst sufferer, he said. He said his party was
concentrating on strengthening its mass base and would
emerge as a potential challenge to the ruling BJP in the
state. |
Laloo for viable third front NEW DELHI, Jan 11 (UNI) — Former Bihar Chief Minister Laloo Prasad Yadav today asserted that a viable third front could be formed with the Rashtriya Lok Tantrik Morcha (RLM) as the nodal front since both Janata Dal and the United Front which were performing that role in the past had almost become extinct. Mr Yadav released from Patna Jail last week is on a first visit to the Capital was talking to newspersons soon after his arrival. The prospects of building a third alternative minus the RLM could be wishful thinking as the morcha has the requisite infrastructure in the Hindi heartland states of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Madhya Pradesh. With the morcha as the base, the front could be forged with the help of parties which believed in secularism, federalism and social justice, Mr Yadav said. In a veiled attack on some Left party leaders who preferred to have the third front minus the Rashtriya Janata Dal, Mr Laloo Prasad Yadav said the front was not a "zamindari" of any party, adding that these parties had presence only in West Bengal and Kerala. The RLM supports the Left parties but theirs leaders were making irresponsible statements. Mr Yadav was referring to CPI (M) leader Sitaram Yechuri and CPI leader Jalaluddin Ansari's recent statements that the third alternative should be formed without the corrupt Rashtriya Janata Dal. Stating that coalition politics has come to stay in this country, Mr Yadav said neither the BJP nor the Congress could hope to form a single party government in the near future. Mr Yadav clarified that the morcha's support to the Congress to topple the BJP government at the Centre did not mean that it backed the misdeeds of the Congress in the last fifty years. The morcha had asked Ms Gandhi to form an alternate government at the Centre and extended unconditional support to the endeavour. But for reasons best known to her the Congress had shied away from forming the government, he said. The former Bihar Chief Minister also made it clear that the RJD had no alliance with the Congress in Bihar and that his party and allies had working majority in the state assembly. He was apparently reacting to Bihar Congress leaders' frequent threat to withdraw support to the Rabri Devi government. Stating that these disgruntled Congress leaders were misleading Congress President Ms Sonia Gandhi Mr Yadav said these leaders had been "veteran losers" in successive elections and who were denied party tickets. The RJD had won all four assembly elections while the Congress had finished poor fourth in all the constituencies. Mr Yadav said he had no plans to meet Ms Sonia Gandhi during his stay in the Capital. He would meet morcha president Mulayam Singh Yadav and chalk out the morcha's future course of action. He also made it clear that no political arrangement is possible without Mr Mulayam Singh Yadav in an obvious reference to the Congress move to drive a wedge between him and the Uttar Pradesh leader. Mr Yadav said despite the resounding victory of his party in the recent Koderma assembly elections in South Bihar the BJP government had gone ahead with the division of Bihar by introducing a Bill in Parliament. The division of Bihar he warned would lead to division of the country. The RJD, he said had accepted the move to divide Bihar as a major challenge and would go all out to ensure that the state remained undivided. The attempt meant disrespect up the federal character since the Bihar assembly had passed a resolution against the division. Criticising the attack on Christians in Gujarat, the former Bihar Chief Minister apprehended a similar pattern in South Bihar where the Christian missionaries were working for the welfare of the tribesmen. Flaying Prime Minister
A.B. Vajpayee for advocating a national debate on
religious conversions, Mr Yadav said the whole country
was aware that conversions were due to poverty,
unemployment and illiteracy. The poor are disrespected in
the Hindu society and therefore they convert to religions
where they secure self respect. |
Four more ministers quit in Arunachal ITANAGAR, Jan 11 (PTI) — Four more ministers of the Gegong Apang government in Arunachal Pradesh resigned today, dealing another blow to the beleaguered Chief Minister who faces a confidence vote on January 18. The resignation of the ministers, including three of Cabinet rank, came a day after the ruling Arunachal Congress split swelling the ranks of rebels who formed a new outfit, the Arunachal Congress (M). With this, the total number of ministers who have resigned has risen to 17, while seven belonging to the Nyishi community resigned on Saturday and six yesterday. The ministers, who resigned today are Mr C.T. Mein, Public Health Engineering, Mr Lijum Ronya, Forest, Mr Kento Ete, Cooperation (all Cabinet rank) and Mr Tsering Gyurme, Minister of State for Industries, according to Mr Takam Sanjay, spokesman for the Arunachal Congress (M). The rebels had claimed yesterday the support of 31 legislators, including four of Congress and five independents, in the 60-member House. The Arunachal Congress enjoyed a strength of 56 before the split. Meanwhile, the ministers, in a letter to the state Governor, Mr Mata Prasad, complained that the Chief Minister was yet to accept their resignations. The letter said they were not invited to attend a Cabinet meeting held on January 9 to discuss recommending the dissolution of the Assembly, which they felt, was "unusual" since the Chief Minister had not accepted their resignations. It said they were present
in Itanagar on that day but were not informed about the
meeting. |
Gujral refutes Niloufer's charge New Delhi, Jan 11-- The former Prime Minister, Mr I.K. Gujral, has strongly refuted Ms Niloufer Bhagwat's allegation that he and his son were connected with certain arms' dealers. Condemning Ms Bhagwat's "slanderous and baseless" allegations, Mr Gujral dared her to make public how he or any of his relatives was even "remotely involved" in any acquisition of arms by the government during her husband's tenure or earlier. He said Ms Bhagwat was "far too young to know" that in the 70's, when Mr Gujral was Ambassador to the Soviet Union, all defence supplies from that country were transacted strictly on Government to Government account and there was no scope for any agent to come in. Following is the text of Mr Gujral's rebuttal: "Smt Niloufer Bhagwat, wife of the former Naval Chief, in her interview with The Tribune has taken exception to my non-participation in the ongoing controversy between her husband and the Government. While I wish such ugly scenes were not witnessed by the public, I am unable to appreciate as to why the lady wishes that I too must participate in the mud-slinging match since I have nothing to do with the issues or the persons concerned. While I can understand Mrs Bhagwat's disturbed state of mind, it is unacceptable that she should choose to make slanderous and baseless allegations against me or my son. "While strongly rebutting these false allegations, I would urge her to perform her patriotic duty as wife of the ex-Naval Chief to either convey the material she must be aware of to the Prime Minister or come out and make public where myself or any of my relatives was even remotely involved in any acquisition of arms supplies by the Government of India during her husband's tenure or in the past. "I have not spoken regarding the issues pertaining to governmental action regarding Admiral Bhagwat since I am not obliged to comment on each and every decision of the Government, which, I believe, could have handled the entire matter more aptly. "Mrs Bhagwat was perhaps far too young to know that in 70's when I was Ambassador to the Soviet Union, all defence supplies from that country to India were transacted strictly on Government to Government account and there was no scope for any agent to come in. "While strongly
rebutting her wild charges, I would like to express my
distress at the sight of verbal missiles flying round,
which are causing immense harm to the nation's vital
interests. I also must say that India was well served
during my tenure and earlier, by valiant men and the
Chiefs of the Armed Forces. Their dignity and morale are
part of our heritage that must be preserved." |
PIL on Bhagwat's sack: hearing
today NEW DELHI, Jan 11 — A public interest litigation seeking a high-level probe under the supervision of the Delhi High Court into the sacking of Admiral Vishnu Bhagwat as the Navy chief was filed here today. The case would come up for hearing tomorrow. The PIL filed in the High Court by advocate Wing Commander H.M. Sethi (retd) sought the court’s direction to the Centre to "divulge reasons, grounds and charges" which led to the dismissal of the naval chief. Describing the sack order as "arbitrary and illegal", the petitioner further sought specific direction to the government to restore Admiral Bhagwat to his post with "due honour" if charges levelled against him were not found to be "true and he was exonerated" by the probe. "The probe so ordered and convened should have specific terms and reference covering whole gamut of problem being faced by the Defence service headquarters with the Ministry of Defence (MoD), the petitioner said, adding the government and other agencies, including the media, should be restrained from issuing any statement on the subject during the pendency of the case. "The unfortunate episode has left indelible mark on the discipline and morale of the fighting forces" and the sacking "mystery is so far shrouded in suspicions, doubts and conspiracy," Wg Cdr Sethi claimed. The petition said the unabated and unchecked allegations and counter allegations had already opened a "Pandora’s box of the serious maladies and ills ailing the defence set up and the most strained relations between the service headquarters and the MoD at administrative, functional and decision-making level." There was much more than what "meets the eye" in the controversy about rejection of Vice-Admiral Harinder Singh’s case for the post of Deputy Chief of Naval Staff and the sacking of Admiral Vishnu Bhagwat "giving birth to series of questions of public interest", it said. "If the reasons/charges leading to sudden and abrupt dismissal of the naval chief were so grave in nature and in national interest, why he was not subjected to disciplinary proceedings and made to face court martial under the Navy Act," it asked. "If it was not found expedient to court martial, the sacked Chief, as can be made out from the statements of the respondent (government) in the media, why a show-cause notice, a mandatory requirement under the law, was not issued to him," the petition said. It said the termination of
Admiral Bhagwat without resorting to the laid down
statutory provisions under the Navy Act, was
"violative of the Article 14 (equal rights) of the
Constitution and natural justice." |
Shekhar’s finesse evident in
"Elizabeth" HYDERABAD, Jan 11 — Shekhar Kapur’s Elizabeth, screened as the inaugural film of IFFI 99, is striking for its intensely enacted spectacular melodrama and the “audacity” of the director as a man of creative vision. Centring round the formative period of the indomitable spirit of one of the outstanding women rulers in the world history, Elizabeth I of England, who reigned from 1558 to 1603, Shekhar Kapur demonstrates rare penchant for personal interpretation of the historical persona which, quite naturally, has raised hackles of historians in the West. The film, on the contrary, has received tremendous popular response in the West for the same reasons. The film begins with the death of Henry VIII and succession to the throne by the Catholic fanatic Mary. Her early death puts her bloody brief rule to a sudden end, paving the way for Elizabeth to unexpectedly inherit the crown. She ascends the throne at the age of 25 by which time she has been having a wild and lusty relationship with Lord Dudley. Her close advisors want her to marry as it was then thought to be impossible for a woman to reign without the guiding hand of a husband. Complex as a person, with a very traumatic childhood, execution of her mother and brutal treatment to her stepmother as childhood memories, she grows into a self-willed, shrewd and a resolute person. Shekhar Kapur, free from any historical preconceptions, puts the question of her virginity during the early five years of her reign, as something of a myth. Besides having physical relationship with her lover Lord Dudley Elizabeth is sustained by her vanity as she fiddles with a host of marriage proposals and professions of love from foreign princes and noblemen. But then it was a smart game she plays to master the situation. Caught in a web spun by men and women with intrigues up their sleeves, and the religious command from the Vatican calling for her assassination, being a Protestant heretic, Elizabeth transforms into a person of steely nerves and enormous self-will. She acquires the finesse of statecraft with quiet confidence that eventually baffles her advisors, including her lover. Near the end of the film she is the master of the situation. She decides not to marry; also decides to turn publicly into a “Virgin Queen” by adopting thick white make-up and a red wig. She becomes the monarch in the real sense and declares she is now wedded to England. She could now be the wily coquette but with no prying eyes daring to question her. Shekhar Kapur interprets the transformation of Elizabeth, master of her secret emotions, and her growth into a colossal personality through a vision that, as he said after the screening of the film, was his own. “I wanted to free Elizabeth I from the bonds of history,” he said. The director may have deviated from some of the historical facts but he has worked on his interpretation of Elizabeth’s personality with admirable finesse and the kind of craftsmanship that comes naturally to a creative mind. Australian actress Cate Blanchett plays the role of Elizabeth with great sensitivity. Every detail in the picturisation has been meticulously devised. Like a hard task-master and perfectionist to the core, Shekhar Kapur would, as he said, not rest till about 20 takes of a shot have been canned. The result of this enormous effort is for everybody to see; the film is in the running for Oscar award. Later, in a discussion,
when asked how come he walked into the arena of British
history he said: “I accepted the offer because it
was crazy to ask an Indian to do it. I thought let this
madness be met with madness and accepted the
challenge.” |
Women’s reservation and Cong woes NEW DELHI, Jan 11 — Having amended the Constitution to provide one-third reservation to women in party echelons, the Congress is working on a time-bound plan to ensure the act is converted into deed but the problems have just begun. The debate in the party has been two-fold - whether to effect changes from the top or start at the grass root level and give responsibility to women so as to fulfil the constitutional requirement which came into force last December. Aware of having made a commitment, the Congress President Mrs Sonia Gandhi has drafted a four-member panel which will assist her in ensuring that the task is completed in the shortest possible time with the available members. The primary task of this panel, which includes CWC members, Mr P.A.Sangma and Mr Ahmed Patel, chairman of the AICC Foreign Affairs Department, Mr K.Natwar Singh and Mr R.D.Pradhan, is to shortlist the candidates from among the members of the 1000-odd AICC and PCCs. The role of the panel is said to be advisory and the report is expected to be presented to the party chief by the end of the month, party sources said. It is in this backdrop that the plan to restructure the AICC set-up and other frontal organisations have been put on the hold. The entire exercise is to not only to ensure up to 33 per cent reservation for women, but also the 20 per cent for backwards, minorities and other communities as well as the greater role for professionals in the organisation both at the national and state-level, party members said. While most states have started the exercise, some have expressed inability to find adequate numbers to be promoted and given responsibility without affecting the seniority. In fact, the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee president, Mr Amarinder Singh did acknowledge the problem stating that the “requisite talent is not active”. However, the PCC has asked all Districts to start work to identify such people, he said. Similarly, the Maharashtra Pradesh Congress chief, Mr Prataprao Bhonsale, wanted a clear set of guidelines from the party high command as to how to go about it. Finding the numbers alone is not the problem but the right type of people with requisite experience and seniority in the party. “After all you cannot have a rank junior in a decision-making body while several other seniors are left out,” a senior leader said. However, the Mahila Congress President, Mrs Ambika Soni does not agree with the theory that there are not enough women or with experience who could be accommodated. “You have to first give people the responsibility and only then can they measure up to it.” she said, adding that the Mahila wing was shortly holding an all-India meeting here to discuss their problems with the Congress President. She said one of the issues was of dual-membership since the Mahila Congress technically had a separate membership and did not automatically qualify for the AICC/PCC. Apart from this, the party constitution was amended to raise the strength of the Congress Working Committee to 23. This means that the President will have to appoint at least six more women to make its composition equal to one-third. At present the CWC has 17 members including the Congress President and Mrs Meira Kumar. Since the total strength goes up, greater representation has to be given for women. Already names of several members are doing rounds for possible induction into the CWC and they include, Dr Najma Heptulla, Mrs Vidya Stokes, Mrs Omen Deori, Mrs Hemprabha Saikia, Mrs Margaret Alva, Mrs Ambika Soni among others. The possibility of the Delhi Chief Minister, Mrs Shiela Dikshit, of making it also exists. Then there is the plan to revamp and fill vacancies at the PCC level. As it is Mrs Dikshit has expressed desire to give up the post of President of Delhi Pradesh Congress. In Rajasthan, the PCC chief has become the Chief Minister while in Madhya Pradesh, Mrs Urmila Singh, who headed the state unit has become a Minister in the Digvijay Singh Cabinet. Another area which the Congress President has to look into is the demand for change of the leader of Legislature Party in Himachal Pradesh. It may be recalled that the incumbent, Mr Virbhadra Singh, had put in his papers after the party nominee and his wife, Mrs Pratibha Singh lost from Mandi parliamentary constituency last year. Though he continues to be the CLP leader, his resignation has not been technically rejected. Soon after the recent AICC session in Delhi, several MLAs sought for a change of leadership. If Mrs Stokes, who is an MLA is accommodated in the CWC then it is possible that the CLP may go to someone else in the event of the high command agreeing for a change. There are several
aspirants to the post including Mr Ram Lal, who did a
stint as the state Chief Minister earlier. His claim is
being backed by some influential sections within the
party. |
Police team rewarded for nabbing NEW DELHI, Jan 11 — The Delhi Police has rewarded the police control room team which arrested the suspects of yesterday’s accident in which five persons were killed and three injured. The team constituted Inspector, Jagdish Chander Pandey, Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI), Ram Avadh, Constables, Sunder Pal and Shyam Singh. “Asadharan Karya Puraskar” would be rewarded to the inspector, Rs 2000 with a commendation certificate to ASI and Rs 1500 with commendation certificates to the constables, according to the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Mr Sunder Goel. A speeding BMW car had yesterday morning mowed down seven persons, killing four, including personnel of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Delhi Home Guard and had injured three others in the Lodhi Road area of South Delhi. Those killed were identified as Rajan Kumar of 86th Battalion of the CRPF, Ram Raj, Peru Lal, both of Delhi Home Guard, Abdul Nasir and Gulab. The injured, were admitted to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences. Another victim, who was yet to identified had left from the site of accident, the police said. The accident occurred at 4.50 a.m. when the CRPF personnel and the Home Guard were on duty at the Lodhi Road. They were interrogating Gulab Rai, Manoj, Nasir and another person who is yet to be identified. The police suspect that the CRPF/Home Guard personnel were hit after they had asked the driver of the speeding vehicle to slow down for checking. The vehicle’s broken registration plate of the front side was recovered from the accident site. The police later seized
the vehicle and arrested its occupants, identified as
Rajiv Gupta, Sidhrath Gupta, Sanjeev Nanda, Manik, Shayam
Singh Rana and Bhola Nath. |
Delhi BJP divided on power
crisis NEW DELHI, Jan 11 — Differences have surfaced in the Delhi BJP over the proposed agitation on the ongoing power crisis in the city. At a meeting of office-bearers, party leaders expressed their apprehensions over immediate agitational attitude. “An agitation at this stage will send a wrong message to the common man as it was just a month ago that we were in power,” a senior BJP leader said. Supporters of the former Chief Minister of Delhi, Mr Sahib Singh, are worried as an agitation would lead to direct responsibility of the Sahib Singh government for the power crisis. City BJP chief, Mr Mange Ram Garg, however, has decided to go ahead with a dharna against the city government for its failure to do anything on the electricity front during the past one month. The date of the dharna
which is expected to be staged sometime in third week of
this month has not been finalised. |
1 lakh looted from factory
employee NEW DELHI, Jan 11 — Two snatching incidents were reported today from the different parts of the Capital during the past 24 hours. In the first incident, three motorcycle-borne youths snatched a bag from factory supervisor Nand Ram Gupta containing Rs 1 lakh. Mr Gupta works in a private unit in Saboli Industrial Area in the North-East Delhi. The incident occurred when the victim was returning home from his factory on his scooter last evening, the police said. In the second incident, five persons travelling in two different autorickshaws were waylaid by four men in the Mandawali area of East Delhi. Later they took away their luggage after beating them up. The victims, Mohammad Hasan, Mohammad Alauddin, Moham-mad Nooruddin, Mohammad Rahimuddin and Mohammad Sahabuddin, reported the matter to the police. They were admitted to
Swamy Dayanand Hospital by the police from where they
were discharged after first aid. |
Tributes paid to Shastri NEW DELHI, Jan 11 (PTI) — President K.R. Narayanan, Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee and Congress President Sonia Gandhi today offered floral tributes at the samadhi of late Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri on his 33rd death anniversary. Former President Shankar Dayal Sharma also visited the samadhi of the late leader at Vijay Ghat, on the banks of the Yamuna, to offer his tributes. Senior Congress leaders Rajesh Pilot and Oscar Fernandes and Delhi Minister Yoganand Shastri also paid their respects to the second Prime Minister of India. The entire Shastri family, including the late leader’s two sons, Anil and Sunil Shastri, were also present. Bhajans were recited to
mark the occasion. |
Raj Kumar's fans damage govt cars BANGALORE, Jan 11 (PTI) — At least 14 vehicles, including cars of Karnataka ministers, were damaged when a protest by fans of matinee idol Raj Kumar against the alleged slighting of the veteran actor by Chief Minister, J.H. Patel at the Hampi University convocation last week, turned violent here today. Nine vehicles parked in the compound of the state secretariat were damaged by the angry demonstrators. A few cars of ministers were also targeted. Police Commissioner L. Revannasiddaiah confirmed that five vehicles near the Janata Dal office were damaged. The police said incidents of stone-throwing were reported from certain parts of the city. A number of arrests had been made and several vehicles impounded. Patrolling had been intensified. The situation was under control, Mr Revannasiddaiah said. Raj Kumar fans alleged that their hero has been "insulted" by Mr Patel. The Chief Minister's office has denied reports that he refused to allow Raj Kumar to sing in response to a damand by his fans at the convocation. The office said Mr Patel
had great regard for Raj Kumar and had done nothing to
hurt him. |
8 killed in Navy aircraft crash CHENNAI, Jan 11 (PTI)
— At least eight persons were feared killed when an
aircraft of the Indian Navy crashed this evening at
Kandigai in Tamil Nadu's Vellore district, the police
said. Two persons, however, managed to escape. The Avro
plane was on a training sortie from INS
"Rajali" in Arakkonam. |
Sukh Ram’s plea referred to larger Bench NEW DELHI, Jan 11 (PTI) — The Delhi High Court today referred two review petitions of former Union Communication Minister Sukh Ram to a larger Bench to decide if the Supreme Court ruling in the JMM case regarding sanction for prosecution of MPs would have "retrospective" effect. Mr Justice D.K. Jain referred the petitions to the Acting Chief Justice of the High Court saying a larger Bench should hear the matter on this question of law. Additional Solicitor-General (ASG) Madan Lokur on Friday had contended that the Supreme Court judgement in the JMM case would not have retrospective effect as the apex court had not given any specific ruling in this regard. Mr Sukh Ram had in his
review petitions challenged a lower court order here
taking cognisance of the CBI charge sheets in two
"corruption" cases on the ground that the
agency had not obtained prior sanction, necessary as per
the apex court ruling. |
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| Shiv Sena to oppose
Vidarbha NAGPUR: Maharashtra Chief Minister Manohar Joshi has reiterated Shiv Sena’s opposition to the formation of a separate state of Vidarbha and said his party would not allow any division of the state. Several leaders of the United Maharashtra Movement had shed blood to keep the state’s identity and hence the possibility of carving out a separate state of Vidarbha was ruled out, Mr Joshi told reporters here last Sunday night. On the Sena’s opposition to Pakistan cricket team visiting India, Mr Joshi said there was no question of the party softening its stand on the issue. — PTI Jaybala
gets bravery award Acharya Kelkar
dead 5.70 lakh cases
pending in HC 11 die in road
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| Punjab
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