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| Tuesday, May 1, 2001, Chandigarh, India   
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Truce panel for Nagaland soon CANDIDATE
OUTSTANDING Russian minister’s visit on May 3 Promise on masjid
was sincere: Rao NDA doors ‘not closed’ on Mamata |
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BJP rally: Govt misused machinery Mobile courts for disabled Sikhs ‘migrating’ from J&K Jet package for
Tirupati devotee
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Truce panel for Nagaland soon Kohima, April 30 The CSB would consist of five representatives each from the Centre and the NSCN (K) with the board’s Chairman being nominated by the Centre. Giving details of the ground rules, defence sources said the ground rules would be valid only for Nagaland. Enforcement of the ground rules would be the responsibility of the Centre. However, they would be jointly implemented by the Centre and the NSCN (K). Contentious issues related to the implementation of the ground rules would be resolved by the CSB. The NSCN would not undertake offensive operations like ambush, raid, sniping and attack, leading to death, injury or damage of property against anybody. There would be no offensive operation or attack leading to death or damage of property of the NSCN by the Indian Army, paramilitary forces and the police. However, the central government reserved its right to continue operations against all other militant groups who were not a party to the ceasefire. The NSCN would notify to the CSB about their designated camps where all their armed cadres would be located within three months. In the interest of promoting the peace process, there would be no movement of uniformed personnel outside the designated camps. The movement of NSCN cadres from one designated camp to another would be carried out for mutually agreed purposes and with informations to the security forces and the CSB under modalities finalised by them. The NSCN would refrain from blockade of roads and communications and any other activity that would disturb public life and create problems in the functioning of the government at the local and state levels. It would also refrain from extending any form of support or assistance to the other militant groups. During the course of the ceasefire, the NSCN would eschew from acquiring any additional arms and ammunition or military equipment. The NSCN would stay away from extortion, forcible collection of money and supply and intimidation of individuals, including government officials. Patrolling by the Army, paramilitary forces and the police would continue to prevent infiltration of militants and arms as before. The protection of convoys and patrolling of roads would continue to be undertaken by the security forces and they would retain the right to enforce measures necessary to uphold the laws of the land and prevent any disturbance to peace, the sources added.
UNI |
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CANDIDATE
OUTSTANDING Kolkata, April 30 Though born and brought up in a typical Sikh family, Mr Sohanpal is more of a Bengali than a Punjabi. He speaks Bengali and acts like a traditional Bengali person. He regularly attends prayers at the gurdwara. At the same time, he does not miss the opportunity for offering pujas at the Kali temple. He speaks Gurmukhi among people of his own community but at home, the language of expression is Bengali. A life-long bachelor, Mr Sohanpal, lives in his ancestral house at Kharagpur town, where he was born on January 11, 1925, in a low-middle class Sikh family. His father, Bishan Singh Sohanpal, hailed from Ludhiana. During the anti-partition movement in Bengal in 1905, he arrived at Kharagpur in search of a job and ultimately settled down there after enrolling as a worker at a railway workshop. And since then, there has been no going back to Punjab. After the death of his parents and two brothers, he continues to live at the ancestral house with a brother, besides nephews and sisters-in-law. “When I was a student at Midnapore Collegiate School during the Quit India Movement, I was inspired by Mahatma Gandhi and became a member of the Congress party,” he recollects. Initially, he was a part-time politician and for his livelihood, he would work in a motor mechanics shop. But afterwards, he became a full-timer and engaged himself totally in party work. Mr Sohanpal will be contesting for the eighth time from Kharagpur town constituency Midnapore, some 150 km from Kolkata, which he been representing since 1972 as Congress candidate. This time, the CPM has chosen a lecturer of a local college, Prof Lalji Pandey, to fight against him. He defeated the previous, CPM candidate, Mr Kalidas Nayak, in two successive polls since 1987. Mr Sohanpal has been chosen unanimously by the Congress and the Trinamool Congress. The main contest for the seat will be between the Congress-Trinamool combine and the CPM. Mr Sohanpal was a minister in the Siddhartha Shankar Ray government during 1972-76 in West Bengal. He held the Transport, Jail and Parliamentary Affairs portfolios. |
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Russian minister’s visit on May 3 New Delhi, April 30 Briefing newspersons, a spokesman of the Ministry of External Affairs said this would be the first visit to India by a Russian Foreign Minister after a gap of five years and Mr Ivanov’s visit is taking place at the invitation of External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh. During the discussions between the two Foreign Ministers, not only regional and international issues would be taken up but entire gamut of bilateral ties, including defence and economic relations would come under a thorough review. Situation in Afghanistan would be discussed in the light of latest developments. Mr Jaswant Singh will brief Mr Ivanov about the talks that were held on the Afghan issue between India and Iran during Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee’s visit recently. Mr Ivanov would apprise the Indian leaders about the recent meeting of the Shanghai-5. Pakistan has been very keen to join the Shanghai-5 grouping which consists of Russia, China and the three Central Asia republics. Significantly, an Indo-Russian working group on Afghanistan was set up during Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit last year in October. The first meeting of the working group on Afghanistan was held in Moscow last year and the second meeting is likely to be held soon in New Delhi. Recently, the Northern Alliance led by Ahmad Shah Masood has been gaining lot of attention in Europe and the USA. While Mr Jaswant Singh will give his assessment of the situation in Afghanistan on the basis of talks that he held in Teheran and Washington, Mr Ivanov will apprise New Delhi of Moscow’s understanding of the ground realities in war-torn Afghanistan. There is a growing understanding between Moscow, Teheran and New Delhi on Afghanistan and a strategy to effectively tackle the “Talibanisation” of the strife-ridden country is likely to be discussed between Mr Ivanov and Mr Singh, sources said. Relations between India and Russia are characterised by continuity, trust and mutual understanding and another significant dimension was added during Mr Putin’s visit when the two countries decided to enter into a strategic partnership. In this context, international terrorism and cross border terrorism would be taken up during the talks as both India and Russia are equally hit by this growing phenomenon. On the bilateral front, Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee’s proposed visit to Russia in the third quarter of this year will also figure. During the visit of Russian President Vladimir Putin in October last year, the two sides had broadly agreed on an annual summit. Bilateral trade, which stood at $ 1.6 billion during 1999-2000, and defence ties will also come up for review with both sides trying to find avenues to further improve them. Mr Ivanov, who is being accompanied by an official delegation comprising of senior officials from the Russian government, would also call on President K.R. Narayanan, Mr Vajpayee and other high level dignitaries. |
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Promise on masjid
was sincere: Rao New Delhi, April 30 Since the matter was under litigation no effective steps could be taken in fulfilling it, Mr Rao told the Liberhan Commission, probing the sequence of events leading to the demolition of the disputed structure. “It was not an empty promise, but a crucial, important and sincere promise. But, how could the structure be rebuilt in accordance with the law when the matter was under litigation,” the former Prime Minister said. Mr Rao was expressing his helplessness while replying to a question posed by the Muslim Personal Law Board counsel on why no effective steps were taken to fulfil the commitment made by his government in his address to the nation in the aftermath of demolition. The former Prime Minister said “all that was possible at that moment was to make a commitment that demolished structure should be rebuilt....anything beyond that was not possible as a litigation was continuing.” He said the Cabinet had not given any instruction to the then Attorney General Milan Banerjee to inform a Supreme Court Bench, which met on the evening of December 6, 1992, that the situation was too hostile for it to pass any instruction for the demolition of the temporary temple structure put up by the kar sevaks in place of the Babri Masjid. “The supervening part of the demolition should not distract from what could be said of the decision that both existed. The whole matter was under litigation so whatever happened may have political
repercussions, but ultimate result was that we will have a mandir and a masjid. That was the essence of the Cabinet decision,” Mr Rao said. The former Prime Minister denied the charge that “double speak” on the part of the Congress or his government led to the demolition of the disputed structure and his Cabinet colleagues were critical of his way of handling the vexed problem. Mr Rao dismissed the then Home Secretary Madhav Godbole’s charge levelled in his book “Unfinished Innings” that in the December 6 Cabinet meeting after the demolition some of his cabinet colleagues were critical of his (Rao) approach of “soft-peddling, being inactive and indecisive” on the issue. “In that anguished meeting the remarks made by my colleagues were characterised more by anguish and also a kind of helplessness. Anger at how the country had been betrayed. That is what could read from their remarks,” Mr Rao informed the commission. |
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NDA doors ‘not closed’ on Mamata Kolkata, April 30 Dr Joshi said: “Mamata herself decided to quit the ministry and as we have not opened the doors to force her out of the NDA, so we are not closing these on her to re-enter.” “But I must say that she has made a great mistake in withdrawing herself from the Cabinet and soon she will realise what mistake she has made”, the BJP national committee leader said. However, Mr Tapan Sikdar, BJP central minister from West Bengal, stated categorically that there was no chance of Ms Banerjee return to the government but the BJP would certainly welcome others from
the TMC. Mr Sikdar said Ms Banerjee exposed herself fully in betraying Mr Vajpayee, for which the people of Bengal would not forgive her. He said her dreams of becoming the Chief Minister of Bengal would never be fulfilled. On the contrary, her betrayal would help the CPM come to power once again, following divisions in anti-Left votes, he added. Dr Joshi yesterday addressed three public meetings in and around Kolkata in favour of BJP and its allies candidates. He will be addressing several other meetings today before leaving for Guwahati, where the BJP and the AGP formed an electoral understanding against the Congress and the Left parties. |
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Ghaggar barriers’
removal: funds needed Hanumangarh, April 30 To protect the area from floods the Irrigation Department has decided to widen the flow route of Ghaggar by removing the barriers illegally put up by the cultivators. For the plan, which is proposed to be carried in the next three or four days, the department require about Rs 50
lakh, but it does not have any amount. The department has decided to borrow money to start the project. The plan of widening the flow route of Ghaggar is under consideration for the past six years. On June 8, 1995, the state government had issued a notification in this connection. The cultivators moved the court against the government decision. The court directed the government to issue an amended notification on May 8, 1996. After considering the writs filed over the notification the high court and then the Supreme Court gave the orders of removing the barriers, considering these illegal. The Irrigation Department has served notice on the cultivators, who have put up barriers in the flow route to remove these within seven days. Reportedly, the farmers are not removing the barriers even after getting the notices. So, now the department would have to remove barriers from Talwara Lake in the district to Anoopgarh in Sriganganagar district, covering a distance of about 150 km. According to sources, the bulldozers required would be borrowed from the Indira Gandhi project site. The diesel to run them would also be borrowed. The authorities are saying that all payments would be cleared after the sanctioning of the budget. But will the statement hold true can be ascertained from the fact that the department had undertaken various projects about two years ago, but the payment to the contractors involved in the projects have not been made yet. Now the contractors have decided to move the court and have served a notice on the department in this regard. Meanwhile the authorities are saying that the payments would be made as the expenses for removing the barriers would be charged from the respective farmer. If they fail to do so their water supply would be cut, the department said. |
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$ 5 bn ADB aid for India New Delhi, April 30 Announcing this at a press conference here, Mr Kalus Gerhaeusser, Senior Programme Officer and Mr Frank J. Polman, Resident Representative of the New Delhi office of the ADB, said the focus states for this year’s lending would be Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Kerala. West Bengal would also be given an assistance of $ 260 million for the transport sector. The ADB team had worked out a three-year rolling plan for 2002-2004 under which India will receive $ 1.1 billion to $ 1.2 billion per annum. The ADB has decided to lend $ 1.6 billion to India in the fiscal 2001, which includes $ 500 million for the reconstruction of Gujarat, making it the largest recipient of the Bank’s assistance. This is way above the next highest lending to China and Indonesia. “Some details of lending for 2001 is broadly: $ 500 million for Gujarat, $ 300 million for other transport infrastructure, $ 240 million for western transport corridor, $ 260 million for West Bengal (mostly road sector) and $ 300 million for Madhya Pradesh (power sector). The team of the Manila-based multilateral institution had a series of meetings with officials of the Ministry of Finance, businessmen, executing agencies, state governments and other donors. |
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BJP
rally: Govt misused machinery Dehra Dun, April 30 Private bus operators were also forced to ferry BJP workers from the nearby villages and townships to the rally venue. A private bus operator told The Tribune that driver and conductor of his bus were picked up the local police last night and kept in the police station along with the bus. In the morning two policemen accompanied them to bring BJP workers from Raipur. Large number of policemen, teachers, employees of other government departments were asked to make their attendance at the rally. They were threatened that if they failed to mark their presence at the rally they would be suspended from the service. |
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Mobile courts for disabled New Delhi, April 30 The experiment, said to be the first of its kind, will also safeguard the interests of the disabled in states which do not have a full-time Disability Commissioner. Dr Uma Tuli, Chief Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities, is confident the first mobile court will be held in July. The objective of dispensing justice to the disabled close to their doorstep through mobile courts also finds a mention in the action plan proposed by her office. “To save disabled persons the trouble of making several trips to hospitals for a disability certificate we have decided to ask District Collectors to organise a medical board to give them certificates when they come to the mobile courts” she said. Dr Tuli said they planned to involve state authorities and non-government organisations to screen the cases and ensure the presence of the respondents at mobile courts. “They will send us the summary reports in advance. We plan to hold a court for three days and attend to 30 cases in a day. Mobile courts will have the powers equivalent to civil courts. The matters will be settled depending on the merits of the case. We plan to appoint part-time and full-time counsellors who are present at the mobile courts,” she added. She said the areas for conducting mobile courts would be identified in consultation with several persons, including Secretaries, Social Welfare, Education, Urban and Rural Development, Health, Surface Transport, Finance and Industries, District Collectors and panchayat heads. “We would like to hold courts in rural areas where persons are either not aware of their rights or do not have the means to commute. We plan to hold six courts initially and then follow up cases in these courts,” she added. Enumerating the advantages of mobile courts, Ms Anuradha Mohit, Deputy Chief Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities said, “It will save disabled persons the trouble of sending petitions by registered post. Sometimes, people send incomplete petitions without annexing important documents. In 70 per cent cases, it is difficult to make head or tail of the petitions. We plan to have counsellors on voluntary basis who can help them draft petitions.” Ms Mohit said it was the first time that a mobile court for the disabled was being held in the world. “Hong Kong and Australia have Equal Opportunities Commissioners and Sweden has a disabilities ombudsman who has similar powers as the Chief Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities,” she said. |
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Sikhs ‘migrating’ from J&K New Delhi, April 30 He said the central team after visiting Mahzoor Nagar had made several promises but none have been fulfilled so far. Similar promises were made after the Chattisinghpura killings. Stating that a Sikh delegation from the valley met him recently, he said the government has not taken enough measure to restore the confidence of the community. He alleged that several battalions of security personnel have been withdrawn from Jammu and Kashmir for the smooth conduct of Assembly poll in four states and one union territory. |
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Jet package for
Tirupati devotee New Delhi, April 30 The special package valid till September 30, 2001, arranged by Jet Airways in association with Andhra Pradesh Tourism aims to provide its passengers a convenient and well-organised experience at Tirumala Hills. Passengers availing this package will be entitled to a pick up and drop service from and to the airport by a 24-seater high-tech coach, visits to Tirumala, Tirupati and other local temples, a sound and light show at the Chandragiri Fort, prasadam and coach. |
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Informers
to check power theft Hanumangarh, April 30 |
300 columns for Assam At least 300 columns of security personnel, comprising the Army, paramilitary and police forces, will be on duty. This was decided today in the operational group meeting of the unified command which met at Narengi and worked out plans in view of escalating poll related violence which saw the ULFA targeting the AGP. The meeting discussed measures that the security forces would take to negate chances of any interference by the militants thereby creating a safe environment for the people to exercise their franchise fearlessly. UNI 11 hurt in clash Jaya’s appeal BDR issue |
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