M A I N   N E W S

Pandya withdraws resignation
Gujarat crisis blows over

GANDHINAGAR, June 15 (PTI) — Gujarat Minister of State for Home Haren Pandya today withdrew his resignation from the Keshubhai Patel Ministry.

In a statement issued here this evening, Mr Pandya, who also holds the Information portfolio, said he had withdrawn his resignation following a request by the Chief Minister, state BJP president Rajendrasinh Rana and other party leaders at a meeting held here earlier in the day.

He said the leaders expressed confidence in his working to maintain law and order in the state and the Chief Minister did not accept his resignation.

Mr Pandya had submitted his resignation to Mr Patel yesterday saying that he was being pressurised to take action against honest police officials who had recently arrested the brother of state Deputy Minister Purushottam Solanki in connection with a case of attempted murder of a cable operator.

Piqued at his brother’s arrest, Mr Solanki had yesterday announced that he would stay away from office and today’s Cabinet meeting in protest against the "police conspiracy" to involve his brother in the ongoing tussle for supremacy between cable operators in Ahmedabad.

Mr Pandya said he was told at the meeting that the party was fighting the unlawful elements.

The government had also supported his stand on not compromising with principles and it would continue to do so, Mr Pandya said.

Meanwhile, state BJP spokesman Bharat Pandya said the controversy over the Home Minister’s resignation had now ended.

Fiji Army to restore statute

SUVA, June 15 (AFP) — Fiji’s military pledged today to restore the country’s multi-racial constitution in a setback for coup leader George Speight’s attempt to ensure that top political posts are reserved for indigenous Fijians.

The announcement by the military, which revoked the constitution after declaring martial law last month, came just hours before a top level Commonwealth delegation arrived to press for a timetable for the restoration of democracy.

Military spokesman Colonel Filipo Tarakinikini said the country was determined to meet its international obligations under the Commonwealth’s Harare declaration on governance which requires just and honest government.

Soon after Mr Tarakinikini spoke a Commonwealth delegation led by Australia and New Zealand Foreign Minister Alexander Downer and Phil Goff arrived here.

Mr Tarakinikini said they aimed to convince the delegation that the martial law government was aiming to achieve a just and far government under the Harare declaration.

Asked if this meant a return to the 1997 constitution, he replied: “We’ve never said otherwise. With some review of course in order to address the aspirations that are being raised by this uprising that led to this coup. Whether we use the 1997 constitution as the framework on which to build or the 1990 constitution or even the 1970 constitution.”

Reuters: Meanwhile, commonwealth ministers urged the restoration of democracy in Fiji shortly after arriving on Thursday in the South Pacific nation where ultra-nationalists have held 31 political hostages since a May 19 coup.

The ministers from Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia and Botswana will not hold talks with coup leader George Speight, whose hostages include Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry, but plan to meet military, church, tribal and community leaders tomorrow.

“It is our hope that those discussions will contribute to the restoration of constitutional rule and democratic government,” the ministers said in a statement on arrival.

The military warned on Thursday that the coup was crippling Fiji’s economy and would slash revenue by 200 million Fiji dollars. It said it planned to introduce a mini-budget which would cut expenditure by 182 million Fiji dollars.

“We need to do this, firstly, to ensure the effective maintenance of law and order and the safety of all citizens and their properties,’’ said Colonel Filipo Tarakinikini.

Fiji’s two economic mainstays, tourism and sugar, have been badly hurt by the coup, with resort hotels closing due to falling occupancy and Indian sugar farmers refusing to cut cane. Mr Tarakinikini said the few Indian sugar cane growers willing to return to the fields would be given army protection. Union workers in Australia, Fiji’s largest trading partner, are also refusing to handle cargo to or from the country.

WELLINGTON: Fiji’s military chiefs, who are ruling under martial law, have resumed talks with armed rebels, according to reports from the capital Suva on Thursday.