Monday, June 14, 1999
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Talks with Naga rebels likely soon KOHIMA: The next round of peace talks between the Government of India and Naga rebels, now represented by the National Socialist Council of Nagaland are likely to be held next month either in India or Norway. Third front likely before Aug 15, says Gowda CHENNAI, June 13 —A Former Prime Minister and senior Janata Dal leader, Mr H.D. Deve Gowda, today said a clear picture on the formation of a third front to provide a national alternative to the Congress and the BJP was likely to emerge before August 15. |
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Who is the owner of the treasure? NEW DELHI, June 13 — Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s fabled treasures taken away by the British in the 18th century is facing an ownership squabble with an Attari-based trust along with an Amsterdam-based descendant of Maharaja Duleep Singh staking claim to the precious jewels.
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Public prosecutors’ selection stayed NEW DELHI, June 13 — The Central Administrative Tribunal has stayed the selection process for additional public prosecutors by the Union Public Service Commission for the Delhi Government on three separate petitions filed before it. Stand vindicated, says Jagmohan |
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Talks with Naga rebels likely
soon KOHIMA: The next round of peace talks between the Government of India and Naga rebels, now represented by the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (IM) are likely to be held next month either in India or Norway. Informed sources here said that emissaries of the Union Government, who met the two leaders, Mr Isak Shishi Swu, Chairman of the NSCN (IM), and its general secretary, Mr T.H. Muivah, who have exchanged fresh correspondence in this regard, would soon announce the date. Mr Swaraj Kushal, MP from Haryana and one of the main negotiators, has suggested June 29 or 30 as the date. The two NSCN (IM) leaders who are now touring their stronghold in Nagaland and meeting various leaders, are yet to declare whether they would meet this month in India. So far, all talks with this banned organisation have been held in foreign countries, the previous one held in March this year in Amsterdam. Sources in Delhi said that the next round of talks would not be at the level of the Prime Minister and if the Naga leaders, whose organisation was banned way back in 1967, insisted, the talks could be held in a neutral territory in July. Mr Swu and Mr Muviah, who have travelled openly after the Union Government approved their so-called ‘clandestine’ visit, have sneaked in from Bangladesh. These two leaders are in contact with the Governments of China, North Korea and other countries. After the death of the legendary hero of the Naga tribes, Z.A. Phizo, these two have created a vast organisation, which has been fighting for the freedom of Nagaland or for a greater Nagaland. Some observers of the Nagaland peace efforts here had feared that since the two sides had taken a tough position on the vital question of sovereignty of Nagaland, these talks might just break down, bringing the ceasefire to a halt. Four Indian Prime Ministers, Mr P.V. Narasimha Rao, Mr Deve Gowda, Mr Inder Kumar Gujral and Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, who met these leaders during the past four years, had asserted that the talks would be held within the framework of the Indian Constitution. On their part, the NSCN (IM) leaders told TNS at their hideout that the issue of sovereignty was non-negotiable. These Marxist Christian leaders, however, added that the talks would be held without preconditions and both sides would continue till some tangible results were reached. If these leaders stay away from the talks or discontinue the ceasefire, they would lose much of the ground they have gained. “People’s desire for peace is so strong after nearly 50 years of fighting that they can not take this risk”, a senior Army officer said. The state Governor, Mr O.P. Sharma, who has seen the end of militancy in Punjab, the Chief Minister, Mr S M Jamir, besides the army commanders are monitoring the activities of the rebels and trying to hold the ceasefire on a daily basis. Both term ceasefire as a good achievement, but feel that the NSCN (IM) is not keeping its word as extortions and tax collections go on. “Only we are trying to fight this menace”, they contend. A senior Congress
leader, Mr Jamir, who has been the Chief Minister of
Nagaland five times, also had detailed discussions with
Home Ministry officials in Delhi. He also met the
Congress President, Mrs Sonia Gandhi, two days ago to
apprise her of the developments. |
Who is the owner of the
treasure? NEW DELHI, June 13 — Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s fabled treasures taken away by the British in the 18th century is facing an ownership squabble with an Attari-based trust along with an Amsterdam-based descendant of Maharaja Duleep Singh staking claim to the precious jewels. The General Sardar Sham Singh Attariwala Trust has claimed “if any missing jewels from the Punjab royal treasury is found in the Swiss bank vault which is going to be opened soon, then it rightfully belongs to the trust.” The Swiss bank vault reportedly belongs to Catherine Duleep Singh, daughter of Maharaja Duleep Singh, the last ruler of Punjab, before it was annexed by the British. She placed the papers in the Swiss vault before her death at Buckinghamshire in England, according to a news report. Mr Beant Singh Sandhanwalia, the last “recognised” heir of late Maharaja Duleep Singh, who now lives in Amsterdam, claimed the contents of the Swiss safe box would prove that the diamond (Kohinoor) belonged to him. However, according to the general secretary of General Sardar Sham Singh Attariwala Trust, Col Harinder Singh Attari (retd), the rights to the treasure are “historically” well established and are on record. Col Harinder Singh Attari explained that General Sham Singh Attariwala was not only very closely related to Maharaja Ranjit Singh by virtue of his daughter being married to the grandson of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, Kunwar Nao Nihal Singh, but was the most trusted generals of Maharaja Ranjit Singh. “Soon after the annexation of Lahore the entire Sikh treasure and jewels were moved to the haveli (castle) of General Sham Singh Attariwala which stood in the centre of the Attari fort,” Col Attari said. “These missing jewels and the entire treasure was taken away from the Attari haveli loaded on several mules establishing the quantum it could have been,” he added. The daughter of Maharaja Duleep Singh visited India and came to Attari and conveyed her implicit desire to bequeath the entire assets of Maharaja Ranjit Singh to the Attari family, considering the relationship and their loyalty and sacrifice rendered to save the Sikh empire against heavy odds, Col Attari claimed. He stated that late Mahindra Singh of Attari, one of the descendants of General Sham Singh Attariwala, had moved an appeal before her Majesty, the Queen of British Empire, in 1960s for restoring the said treasure and jewels. Col Attari said they had subsequently moved the matter regarding the transfer of the property of Maharaja Duleep Singh before the former Speaker of House of Commons, United Kingdom, Mr Grieffs. The trust desires to display all items related to General Attariwala including the flag of the Sikh army under his command during the battle of Sabraon which is said to be lying at the London museum, in the museum proposed to be set up at his memorial in Attari, he added. The family of Attariwalas trace their ancestry from the Bhatti Rajputs of Rajasthan whose forefathers had migrated to Punjab from the neighbourhood of Jaisalmer. Talking about General Attariwala, Col Harinder Singh Attari said General Sham Singh’s father Nihal Singh was so loyal to a Maharaja Ranjit Singh that according to a local legend when the Maharaja fell seriously ill at a place called Wanicke, Nihal Singh went around his bed seven times praying to God to pass his master’s illness on him. It is said from that day Maharaja Ranjit Singh regained his health and Nihal Singh died soon after. Nihal Singh’s son
Sham Singh had caught Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s eye at
an early age by his dash, vigour and soldierly qualities.
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Third front likely before Aug
15, CHENNAI, June 13 (PTI) —A Former Prime Minister and senior Janata Dal (JD) leader, Mr H.D. Deve Gowda, today said a clear picture on the formation of a third front to provide a national alternative to the Congress and the BJP was likely to emerge before August 15. He told a press conference here that the front might include some parties which had earlier supported the BJP government, however, he declined to elaborate further. Mr Gowda said he expected political regrouping after the Lok Sabha elections as there was every possibility a “fractured mandate” and a coalition government once again being in power. He said the Janata Dal’s political affairs committee and national executive would meet next month to formalise alliances with other parties in different states. On Bihar, he said JD
leaders were prevailing upon state unit leaders to strike
an alliance with the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD). “It
is better if the Janata Dal aligns with the RJD to keep
the BJP at bay,” He added. |
Police told to book travel
agency NEW DELHI, June 13 — A Delhi Court has directed the police to register a case of cheating against a travel agency and probe whether it was defrauding people of money on the pretext of providing lucrative jobs in Canada. Metropolitan Magistrate Rajnish Kumar directed the Greater Kailash police to register a case against World Link Centre (WLC) on the complaint filed by Bal Mukund of Maharaj Garh District in Uttar Pradesh alleging that the agency had cheated him of Rs 53,500 on the promise of providing him a job in Sea Cruise Enterprises (SCE) a shipping company in Canada, and later threatened to kill him if he demanded his money back. Mr Bal Mukund in his
complaint alleged that WLC owners Nandkumar, his brother
Madan Lal and sister Asha Singh had promised him a job in
the SCE with a salary of $ 24,000 a year on a payment of
Rs 1.25 lakh. |
Public prosecutors’
selection stayed NEW DELHI, June 13 — The Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) has stayed the selection process for additional public prosecutors (APPS) by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) for the Delhi Government on three separate petitions filed before it. Vacation Bench member K Muthukumar recently stayed the process of appointments for 61 post of APPS, for which the UPSC conducted written examination on June 6, on petitions filed by three candidates — Arun Kumar Mishra, Anoop Kumar Gupta and Alam Khan — alleging that selections for these posts were made in May 1998. The member said “it
is directed that status quo in respect of petitioners may
be maintained and the results of the final selection, if
any, already finalised or yet to be finalised, be held in
abeyance till next date” of hearing on July 2. |
Stand vindicated, says Jagmohan NEW DELHI, June 13 (PTI) — Unruffled by his shift from the Telecom Ministry to Urban Affairs Ministry, Jagmohan has held firm that he did “no wrong” in the Telecom Ministry and that his action against “defaulting” telecom operators was vindicated by legal opinion. “I believe in doing the right thing and forgetting the rest,” Jagmohan told PTI in an exclusive interview when asked if he considered his `shift’ to the new ministry as a punishment and whether he felt betrayed. “Allocation of portfolios is the prerogative of the Prime Minister. Anyway Urban Affairs was always my love and I had given this indication to the Prime Minister when I was inducted in the Cabinet,” he said a day after taking charge of the new ministry. Categorically denying that he discriminated against private cellular operator Koshika Telecom while terminating its licence for three circles for non-payment of licensing dues while giving this concession to others, Jagmohan said “all the cases were referred to the Attorney General and action was taken only after his advise.” “There can’t be two sets of laws in the country. When I disconnect a common man’s phone for delay of even a day in payment of bill, how can big companies go scot free even after defying the extended days for payment,” he said. Asked why he extended the effective date of licence period for payment of fees in the case of ‘Srinivas Telecom’ but denied an extension to Koshika, which wanted approval to raise money through fully convertible debentures (FCDs) in the international market, the minister said “Srinivas’ case was referred to AG (Auditor General) and Attorney General. Telecom Ministry acted accordingly.” Countering private telecom operators’ argument that his summary action could deter foreign investment, Jagmohan said nobody could be allowed to violate contracts as this would send the wrong signals. Jagmohan declined to be drawn into reports relating to his differences with the Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee dating back to February where the latter’s intervention had enabled an extension for payment of licensing fees arrears to private telecom operators. He declined to comment on reports relating to his differences with the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) on this issue. He, however, denied that lobbying by private operators had anything to do with his shift from the Telecom Ministry saying “nothing of that sort”. On the new telecom policy, Jagmohan said “we had already started working on various facets of the new policy, including ways to attract foreign direct investment.” “Even asking defaulting operators to pay was part of the new policy. Other than this nobody has any complaint against me,” he said. Jagmohan said his
performance in the Telecom Ministry should be judged in
totality. “It can’t be just in terms of the
licensing fee issue,” he said. |
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| 3,000 criminals rounded
up NEW DELHI: In a massive offensive against criminals, Delhi police has rounded up over 3,000 suspicious and potential lawbreakers from all over the Capital during the past three days, an official spokesman said here on Sunday. Those arrested included notorious characters, robbers and auto-lifters, besides other petty criminals, the spokesman said. A lot of stolen goods, illegal arms and lifted vehicles have been recovered from some of these persons, he added. — PTI 3 drowned in boats’
collision Freedom fighter
dead 5 held for dowry
death Bus set ablaze
by Dalit workers ‘Year of
Sanskrit’ celebrations Guitarist
Ganguli dead 35,000 HIV cases
in Delhi IT men raid
forest officer’s house |
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