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| Thursday, August 3, 2000, Chandigarh, India   
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Bill on Jharkhand moved
amid uproar 8 items of Longowal accord implemented NEW DELHI, Aug 2 — There are no reports of seething discontent in Punjab over the implementation of the Rajiv-Longowal accord, the Minister of State for Home Affairs, Mr Vidyasagar Rao informed the Rajya Sabha today. Koirala’s assurance on security concerns Manmohan for review of FCI procurement HC dismisses INS plea on Manisana wage board |
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| Dr Kalam to be Chief Patron of science city New Delhi, Aug 2 — Dr A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, Principal Scientific Advisor, to the Prime Minister, has agreed to be the Chief Patron of the science city project and give his vision for the development of the futuristic institution in Punjab. Bangaru Laxman files papers PM inaugurates optical fibre link Ramoowalia flays
FCI decision Dalai Lama to address World
Peace Summit HC modifies
bail order against Kalra
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Bill on Jharkhand moved amid uproar NEW DELHI, Aug 2 (PTI) — A Bill to create separate state of Jharkhand, to be carved out of Bihar, was moved in the Lok Sabha today with two key allies of ruling NDA strongly opposing the measure and Opposition RJD and CPM demanding it be referred to a Parliamentary Committee. Even before Home Minister L.K. Advani moved the Bihar Reorganisation Bill for consideration, Mr Devendra Prasad Yadav (JD-U) raised a point of order that the measure did not have an “adequate” financial memorandum and hence it be referred to a Joint Parliamentary Committee or a select committee. He was supported by Mr Prabhu Nath Singh (Samata), Mr Basudeb Acharia (CPM) and Mr Raghuvansh Prasad Singh (RJD). The Home Minister said the Bill had financial memorandum similar to the other statehood Bills. Besides, he pointed out that the government had created a unit in the Planning Commission headed by the Deputy Chairperson to go into matters relating to the rest of Bihar consequent on the creation of Jharkhand. This, he said, had happened for the first time in the history of reorganisation of states. Initiating discussion on the Bill, Mr Thomas Hansda (Cong) said that creation of Jharkhand was a long pending demand of the local people and appealed to all concerned not to raise any controversy over its creation. Referring to the underdevelopment of the Jharkhand areas, Mr Hansda wanted the Centre to act fast to rectify the situation. He cautioned that if this was not done, there would be severe problems in the proposed state. On demands from certain parties like the RJD that there should be a special package for the rest of Bihar, he said such a package should be given to Jharkhand. “You have to take care of those who are hungry and not those who are well fed,” he said. Mr Karia Munda (BJP) said the people of the Jharkhand region had been exploited and neglected in social, economic, educational and political spheres for the last 50 years despite their contribution towards Bihar’s development. Mr Subodh Rai (CPM) opposed the Bill saying creation of the proposed state would neither be in the interest of the people of Jharkhand nor that of the country. Mr Prabhunath Singh (Samata) supported the Bill and demanded a special package for speedy and overall development of Bihar after Jharkhand state was carved out. |
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North India in Parliament NEW DELHI, Aug 2 — There are no reports of seething discontent in Punjab over the implementation of the Rajiv-Longowal accord, the Minister of State for Home Affairs, Mr Vidyasagar Rao informed the Rajya Sabha today. In a written reply to a question from Mr Kartar Singh Duggal, he said Rajiv-Longowal accord included 11 items, of which 8 had already been implemented. The three items which remain to be implemented are the All-India Gurdwara Act, territorial claims and sharing of river water, the minister said. As regards the All-India Gurdwara Act, the Ministry of Law, had prepared a draft bill in 1986 in pursuance of the accord. All state governments were requested to give their views regarding the enactment of an All-India Gurdwara Act. In response thereto, the Punjab Government has sent another draft bill in 1993, Mr Rao said adding that there has been no unanimity on this so far. Meanwhile, Chief Commissioner, Gurdwara Elections, Chandigarh has prepared a draft Bill on his own which has been circulated to the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, Amritsar, the National Commission for Minorities and the State Governments concerned for their views and suggestions which are awaited, he said. With respect to territorial claims between Punjab and Haryana, the Centre would like the states concerned to amicably sort out their differences over the issue and would be willing to help in the matter, the minister said. The Ravi Beas Waters Tribunal is seized of the issue regarding the sharing of river water between Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan, Mr Rao said adding that the Union Ministry of Water Resources also intended to convene a meeting of the Chief Ministers concerned. Compensation to farmers: During 1990-91, the Central Government had released a sum of Rs 7 crore to the Punjab Government for paying compensation to the farmers whose land was acquired for fencing/flood lighting purposes, Mr Rao informed the Upper House. The work of fencing and flood lighting on the Indo-Pak border in Punjab sector was taken up under the Punjab action plan, he said adding that the Government had utilised 44-feet-wide strip of land for this purpose. The fencing and flood lighting works covered a length of 451 kms and 465 kms, respectively, he said. ISI outfits on Nepal border: The Central Government is aware and concerned about the ISI misusing the Nepalese territory and the open Indo-Nepal border, the Minister of State for Home Affairs, Mr I.D. Swami informed the Rajya Sabha today. Measures have been taken to enhance cooperation with Nepal, particularly with regard to implementing effective border management, the minister said adding that the agencies concerned of the two governments were in constant touch. There are also bilateral institutional mechanisms, such as joint working group on border management and Home Secretary-level talks, the minister said. |
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Koirala’s assurance on security concerns NEW DELHI, Aug 2 — As Kathmandu today assured New Delhi that its territory would not be permitted to be used by Pakistan’s Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) agency, Indo-Nepal ties assumed renewed momentum with the two sides agreeing on steps to remove irritants in bilateral ties. The visiting Nepalese Prime Minister, Mr G.P. Koirala, gave the assurance of his country’s cooperation to counter anti-Indian ISI activities during the discussions that he had with the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, the Union Home Minister, Mr L.K. Advani and other leaders. The visiting Prime Minister’s positive response came when the Indian side conveyed its concerns over the misuse of open Indo-Nepal border by Pakistani intelligence agencies for launching activities inimical to India’s interests to the delegation led by Mr Koirala. Both the countries reiterated their determination to work jointly to fight the scourge of terrorism, a senior External Affairs Minister told mediapersons here. The official-level talks, held yesterday evening at Hyderabad House, were comprehensive, wide ranging and cordial, the official said adding that the two Prime Ministers directed their Home Secretaries to meet regularly to review and expand cooperation between the law enforcement agencies. New Delhi has also agreed to consider Kathmandu’s plea for waiver of special additional customs duty of 4 per cent imposed by it on Nepalese goods favourably. Nepal has agreed to allow import of Indian cars subject to self-certification by Indian manufactures and the vehicles being Euro-I compliant. On Nepal’s desire to have a review of the 1950 Indo-Nepal Treaty, the two Prime Ministers directed their Foreign Secretaries to continue their discussions. The two Foreign Secretaries are expected to meet within the next six months. For developing vast water resources for generation of hydro-power in Nepal, the two sides agreed to take couple of steps. The two Prime Ministers directed their Water Resource Secretaries to address some unresolved issues during their meetings. The two countries have agreed to cooperate in improving physical facilities and infrastructure at important border points starting with three major border crossings at Raxaul-Birganj, Sanauli-Bhairhawi and Jogbani-Biratnagar. They have also decided to cooperate in development of infrastructure including transportation and communication links in adjoining districts of India and Nepal. It was agreed to jointly set up a small or medium sized hydro power project in Nepal besides cooperation in developing the dairy industry in the Himalayan Kingdom with the involvement of national dairy development boards. |
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Manmohan for review of FCI procurement NEW DELHI, Aug 2 — The Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Dr Manmohan Singh today urged the government to examine afresh the methodology of fixing remunerative prices for farmers, review procurement operations of the Food Corporation of India and provide guidance to farmers on more remunerative farming system. Dr Manmohan Singh suggested that the time had come for decentralisation of procurement and grant of more power to farmer cooperatives and state agencies. Expressing his views during a debate on fall in the prices of agricultural produce, Dr Manmohan Singh said prices which farmers are entitled to for their agricultural produce are very important”. He pointed out that in the past two years, the prices of soyabean, tea, paddy or even wheat had not been what it should be. He also suggested a quarterly commodity survey of domestic and international prices of agricultural products and emerging trends. He said the government should release a white paper outlining credible strategies that it proposed to adopt by 2001 when quantitative import restrictions would be a thing of the past. Dr Manmohan Singh said the government had an obligation to improve the basic data with regard to agriculture scene in the country. He said the problem of farming community could not be resolved by price manipulation and there was a need for reforms in marketing system. “If we don’t have rural electrification, we cannot modernise cold storage facility”. He urged the Agriculture Minister to draw a national plan to modernise cold storage facilities in all parts of the country. He said the role of agriculture universities required to fresh examination. Mr Venkaiah Naidu (BJP) said the farming community in the country was agitated over the steep fall in the prices of agricultural products. He suggested that the ministry in consultation with the Ministry of Agriculture should carry out a crop wise assessment on a day to day basis. He wondered why restrictions prevailed on the movement of foodgrains within the country. |
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HC dismisses INS plea on Manisana wage board NEW DELHI, Aug 2 (PTI) — The Delhi High Court today dismissed the Indian Newspaper Society (INS) petition challenging the tentative proposals of the Manisana Singh Wage Boards for journalist and non-journalist employees of the newspaper industry, saying that it has become infructuous after the submission of the final report by the board. Mr Justice Manmohan Sarin said since the Wage Board had submitted its final proposals to the Centre on July 25, “the petition has become infructuous and nothing survived in it”. The INS had challenged the tentative proposals on the ground that the Wage board had slashed two classes of employees and proposed scales of class VI to class VIII categories, putting extra financial burden on the newspaper managements. Additional Solicitor-General Mukul Rohtagi told the court that the proposals challenged by the INS were not final but only tentative. Newspapers Employees Coordination committee counsel Krishan Mahajan said the INS petition was premature and did not survive any more after submission of the final report by the Wage Board. The court, however, gave liberty to the INS to challenge the final proposals if it felt aggrieved by them. |
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Dr Kalam to be Chief Patron of science city New Delhi, Aug 2 — Dr A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, Principal Scientific Advisor, to the Prime Minister, has agreed to be the Chief Patron of the science city project and give his vision for the development of the futuristic institution in Punjab. Dr Kalam conveyed his acceptance of the request of the Punjab Government to the Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, at a meeting held at Kapurthala House here last evening, official sources said here today. Dr Rajan Kashyap, Principal Secretary, Science and Technology and Environment, was present at the meeting. The 70-crore science city project will have one module devoted to Information Technology, which would come up by December 2001. Dr Kalam will also give his suggestions regarding the 52-crore Sardar Swaran Singh national institute of renewable energy and the Punjab Technical University to enable establishment of linkages between the institutions and others at national and international levels, the sources said. Dr Kalam also promised to give his advice for the setting up of an Indian institute of technology or an Indian institute of information technology in Punjab, which would help making Punjab an information technology destination for industry. Mr Badal also discussed with Dr Kalam a report prepared by a committee headed by Dr Suresh K. Sinha on sustainable agricultural development in Punjab. |
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Bangaru
Laxman files papers NEW DELHI, Aug 2 — Bharatiya Janata Party President designate Bangaru Laxman, who filed his nomination for the party’s highest post today morning, said he would work to evolve a mechanism for better coordination between the government and the party. Talking to newspersons after 11 sets of nomination papers were filed for him, Mr Laxman said that he would have detailed discussions with his party colleagues for evolving a mechanism for better and effective coordination between the party and the government. The Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, was the first to file nomination papers in favour of Mr Laxman on behalf of the Parliamentary party which was followed by nominations from 10 state units. “We want to take the party nearer to weaker sections particularly Dalits, minorities, other Backward Classes and women”, the sixtyone year old Dalit leader from Hyderabad said, adding that he would concentrate on expanding the party base to make it a formidable force. Besides the nominations by the Parliamentary party, nominations were also filed on behalf of state units including those of Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, West Bengal, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Delhi. The nominations close on August 7 evening with scrutiny taking place the same day as also withdrawals. |
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PM inaugurates
optical fibre link NEW DELHI, Aug 2 — The Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, today inaugurated the optical fibre network of the PowerGrid Corporation between Delhi and Chandigarh through video conferencing from his residence. “The setting up of the optical fibre network is a good steps towards providing low cost and quality service,” Mr Vajpayee said inaugurating the network, which is a part of the corporation plans to establish linkages with international optical fibre network. The Governor of Punjab, Lt-Gen (retd.) J.F.R. Jacob and Haryana Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala were at the Chandigarh end of the link during the inauguration of the network. Speaking on the occasion, Lt-Gen (retd) Jacob said the network will bring about economic benefit to the whole region. Mr Chautala said Himachal Pradesh had 22,000 MW surplus power and sought the Centre’s nod for the joint utilisation of the excess power by Himachal Pradesh, Haryana and Punjab. Union Power Minister P.R. Kumaramangalam said the network would solve the “bandwidth” problem for Internet operations by IT companies. |
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Ramoowalia flays
FCI decision New Delhi, Aug 2 — Mr B.S. Ramoowalia, MP and president of the Lok Bhalai Party, through a special mention in the Rajya Sabha today raised the issue of FCI’s latest decision not to purchase paddy in Punjab. Initiating the debate, he questioned the wisdom of FCI’s sudden withdrawal from this old procurement. Practice and instead asking Punjab to buy paddy under the minimum support price system. According to a press statement, Mr Ramoowalia said that the minimum support price of foodgrains often do not keep pace with inflation as the farmers pay for very high inputs for paddy produce in the shape of increased price of urea, diesel, DAP, pesticides and other items. |
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Dalai Lama to
address World Peace Summit NEW DELHI, Aug 2 — Dalai Lama, spiritual leader of Buddhists, will deliver the keynote address at the closing session of the
Millennium World Peace Summit being sponsored by the UN. The summit of religious and spiritual leaders, beginning August 28, will be presided over by the UN Secretary-General, Mr Kofi Annan. According to Dr Bhupendra Kumar Modi, the coordinator for the Indian subcontinent, Dalai Lama had accepted the invitation at the Indian contingent’s persuasion. Dalai Lama, a leading religious personality of the present era, is the spiritual head of the Mahayana Buddhist tradition of Tibet. Evolved out of Tathagat Buddha’s universal message of Dhamma, it formed integral part of Indian ethos. More than 100 religious and spiritual leaders from various faiths are likely to join the Indian delegation which will also include 200 observers. Addressing the world population through a telecast and the net from the UN General Assembly Hall, revered leaders from all parts of the world will demonstrate their determination to eliminate causes that lead to war by signing a united declaration of world peace. |
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HC modifies
bail order against Kalra
NEW DELHI, Aug 2 (PTI) — The Delhi High Court today modified its bail order
against Rajesh Kalra, an alleged bookie, who was arrested along with film actor Kishan Kumar in connection with the match-fixing case and granted him liberty to move within the National Capital Region (NCR). Justice R.S. Sodhi, modifying the strict conditions in the bail order of Kalra, said the prayer in his petition “appears to be reasonable” and he would not need trial court’s permission to move within the
NCR, which includes adjoining areas of Delhi’s border states of u p, Haryana and Rajasthan. The court, while granting statutory bail to Kalra in June after the police failed to file the charge sheet against him within stipulated 60 days period, had imposed strict conditions on him including restricting his movement to National Capital Territory (nct) of Delhi. Kalra’s counsel told the court his client
normally resided in Noida, which falls in Uttar Pradesh and every time he had to seek permission from the trial court to go there. Besides, Kalra’s parents were residing in Rewari in Haryana and he could not visit them without the court’s permission, the counsel said. Since both these areas fell within the
NCR, Kalra should be granted liberty to move within its limit, he said. Kalra, who was
allegedly working for London-based bookie Sanjeev Chawala, was arrested in April this year after the match-fixing controversy came to light. He was granted bail in June after staying in judicial custody for 60 days as the police failed to file charge sheet in the case. |
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All-India weather NEW DELHI, Aug 2 — Monsoon has been active in Himachal Pradesh. Rainfall: Rain or thundershowers have occurred at most places in Himachal Pradesh, at many places in Jammu and Kashmir and the hills of west Uttar Pradesh, at a few places in Punjab and east Uttar Pradesh and at isolated places in Haryana. Weather was mainly dry in the rest of the region. Chief amounts of rainfall in cm are: Haryana: Kalka 1, Himachal Pradesh: Kangra 9, Ghamroor and Nadaun 5 each, Gohar, Pandoh and Sarkaghat 3 each, Dehragopipur, Kahu and Sundernagar 2 each and Arki, Guler, Kasol, Paonta, Renuka and Shimla 1 each, Jammu and Kashmir: Jammu 3 and Quazigund 2, Punjab: Batala, Dasuya, Nangal and Nawanshahr 2 each and Ludhiana and Samrala 1 each and Uttar Pradesh: Banbasa 9, Balrampur 4, Bansi, Bahraich, Dehradun, Katerniaghat, Regoli and Turtipar 3 each, Haripur, Khadda, Palliakalan and Uttarkashi 2 each and Banda, Ballia and Joshimath 1 each. Forecast valid until the morning of August 4: Rain or thundershowers will occur at many places in Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir and the hills of Uttar Pradesh, at a few places in Punjab and east Uttar Pradesh and at isolated places in Haryana, south Rajasthan and the plains of west Uttar Pradesh. Weather will be mainly dry in north Rajasthan. Heavy rainfall warning: Heavy rain is likely at isolated places in Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir and the hills of west Uttar Pradesh during next 48 hours. Forecast for Delhi and neighbourhood valid until the morning of August 4: Partly cloudy sky with possibility of thundery development and light rain in some areas. Farmers weather bulletin for Delhi: (forecast valid until the morning of August 4): Light rain is likely at a few places. Outlook for the subsequent two days: No major change. |
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