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Saturday,
May 19, 2001, Chandigarh, India  
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Gogoi sworn in Assam
CM Jhinjholi BJP meeting ends with 7-point plan |
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Post-poll BJP meeting begins
tomorrow Sonia to
name Pondy CLP leader Lyngdoh
appointed CEC DMK to boycott Governor’s
Address Uzbek smuggler’s plea
rejected PIL seeking Brajesh’s removal
dismissed Pak order not to raid ‘jehadi’
outfits Tipnis visit to boost Indo-China
ties Taliban ‘smuggling out’
artefacts India hails Mitchell report on W. Asia Uttaranchal fiscal Bill passed Sahani sworn in Sikkim Governor YC to observe Rajiv’s death anniversary Tathagat clears NET at 13
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Buddhadeb sworn in Bengal
CM Kolkata, May 18 Also present were the country’s prominent software and hi-tech personnel in response to Mr Bhattacharyya’s call for private participation in the rapid development of software industry in the state. The Trinamool Congress and the Congress boycotted the function. But the BJP and the rebel Trinamool Congress leader, Mr Ajit Kumar
Panja, were present. Mr Jyoti Basu witnessed the oath-taking ceremony sitting in the front row along with other CPM leaders. Corporate czars like Mr Ratan
Tata, Mr Dhirubhai Ambani, Mr S.K. Birla and others could not be personally present due to the late receipt of the invitation. A 49-member ministry with 34 ministers of cabinet rank and 15 state ministers, had been sworn in at Raj Bhavan by Governor Biren J. Shah. The ministry includes 15 new faces from various partners of the nine-party front — including the
CPM, the CPI, RSP, Forward Bloc and the DSP. Shortly after the oath-taking ceremony the Chief Minister said his first task would be the eradication of poverty and solving unemployment problems. He said he wanted more private sector participation in the rapid industrialisation and declared the government would grant special incentives to NRIs and other new investors. Later, addressing government employees in front of Writers Buildings, he appealed to them to restore normal work culture in offices. He said his government would look into all genuine grievances of the employees but warned that they would not tolerate militancy in the name of trade unionism. Though the distribution of portfolios among the partners will be officially finalised in a day or two, it is certain that all important departments like Home (Police & General Administration), Finance, Health Municipal Affairs, Education, Information and Culture will remain with the
CPM. Mr Asim Dasgupta will remain the Finance Minister and Mr Subhas Chakraborty will hold the Transport and Sports portfolio. Nirupan
Sen, the newly elected CPM member from Burdwan, has been made second-in-command to the Chief
Minister. Kamal Guha, Chhaya Ghosh, Kalimuddin Sham (FB) and Amal Roy, Biswanth Chowdhury and Amar Chakraborty
(RSP) and Kironmoy Nanda (DSP) have been sworn in as Cabinet
ministers. |
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Gogoi sworn in Assam
CM Guwahati, May 18 The state Governor, Lt-Gen S.K. Sinha
(retd), administered the oath of office and secrecy to the ministers at a function at the Raj Bhavan here. Of the 17 ministers, 13 are of the Cabinet rank and four are ministers of state. There are two women ministers — Dr Hemoprava Saikia of the Cabinet rank and Ms Rupam
Kurmi, a minister of state. Prominent among the Cabinet ministers are — former Chief Minister Dr Bhumidhar Barman, Mr Sarat
Barkatoki, Dr Ardhendu Dey, Mr G.C. Langthacha and Mr Rameswar
Dhanowar. AICC general secretaries, Mr Kamal Nath and Mr Jagdish
Tytler, newly elected MLAs, MPs and party workers were present at the ceremony. Senior civil, police and army officials attended the function.
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Jhinjholi BJP meeting ends with 7-point plan New Delhi, May 18 The meeting of the BJP general secretaries (organisation) held from May 16 and chaired by party president K. Jana
Krishnamurthi, drew an elaborate plan for boosting the party’s image which suffered in the wake of the party’s dismal performance in the recently held Assembly elections. The meeting stressed the need to “work hard to expand our base further, improve our image and move forward along with our allies”, BJP general secretary Narenda Modi said, briefing newspersons about the meeting here today. In an open admission of the party’s poor performance in the Assembly elections, Mr Modi said it was felt that there was a need to review the electoral strategy of the BJP with particular emphasis on Kerala in the light of the party’s failure to win a single seat in West Bengal and Kerala and none to happy performance in Tamil
Nadu, Assam and Pondicherry. The meeting, which was not only addressed by Union Home Minister
L.K. Advani, but also by RSS joint secretary Madan Das Devi, “strongly felt that groupism and indiscipline should not be allowed to mar the identity of the party and timely steps should be taken to deal with these effectively”. In an obvious effort to nip the possible criticism of the party leadership, particularly of Prime Minister Atal Behari
Vajpayee, in the bud, Mr Advani said: “ We have to see that nothing is done or happens in our organisation to make people think that we have become more like other political parties and loosing our
identity”. Mr Advani, in defence of Mr Vajpayee, said: “Many parties have on the basis of idealism accepted our leadership in the personality of Mr Vajpayee and are working together in running the government on a common
agenda”. Mr Jana Krishnamurthi said though the BJP did not have much stake in the
recently held Assembly elections in five states but everywhere it wanted to improve its position. “While we succeeded in entering the Assembly in
Pondicherry, we once again failed to get our representative elected to the Kerala Assembly, the BJP president said, adding that “we must review our strategy in Kerala and carefully plan our work in the next five years there”. “We will be facing various elections commencing from Uttar Pradesh elections. We have high stakes in all these elections. Keeping that in view, we will have to gear up our organisational machinery in all these states”, he said, adding that “soon the central leadership will be sitting with leaders in all these states and draw up a suitable strategy”. The party also decided that steps and programmes should be taken up to activise more primary members and units so that grass root-level activities were
maximised. In an attempt to bridge the gap between the central leaders and others, the meeting directed central, state and district leaders to undertake constant tours of their respective area of work. In a bid to improve the image of the party, the BJP also decided to strengthen media centres at the central office level and at state offices. The RSS joint secretary stressed the need for dedication, devotion, careful and successful management of human
organisation, training of ideologically-“oriented cadre, instilling discipline and submerging one’s individuality in the organisation to make it more effective and efficient”. |
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Post-poll BJP meeting begins
tomorrow Mussoorie, May 18 The two-day meeting is likely to see a franck exchange of views on bridging the gap between the government and the party organisation. Since the BJP is in power, the top leaders in the organisation are not happy with the functioning of the government as party decisions are sometimes overlooked by BJP leaders in the government to keep the NDA partners intact. Party leaders feel that the BJP should consolidate its mass base in the Hindi-speaking areas rather than putting up its stake in non-Hindu-speaking areas in the South and the East. They have to use more effective tactics in the forthcoming state Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, Uttaranchal and Punjab. These states are politically more important for the party to maintain its grip on national politics. These elections are due by the end of this year (in Punjab by February, 2002). But the present political situation in these states does not seem to be in favour of the BJP. In Uttar Pradesh, the Samajwadi Party led by Mr Mulayam Singh Yadav and the BSP led by Ms Mayawati are likely to pose a big challenge to the ruling party. The Mussoorie meet of the working committee of the BJP is likely to discuss the issue of Uttar Pradesh elections seriously. As far as Uttaranchal is concerned, it may not be of much importance for the BJP at the Centre but winning the Assembly elections after the delimitation of constituencies would really boost the morale of party workers in north India. The Election Commission has initiated the process of delimitation of constituencies in the hill state and it is expected that the election in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Uttaranchal would be held at the same time. Most BJP workers in this state and a sizeable number of MLAs from the ruling party are not happy with the performance of Mr Nityanand Swami as Chief Minister. Since Mr Ajit Panja, Mr Ajit Singh and some leaders of the breakaway group of the RJD have shown their interest in joining the NDA, the party working committee is likely to give its formal nod to the BJP leaders in the government to get them to become a part of the NDA and strengthen the Central Government. The Prime Minister has already given a clear indication of ministerial expansion and the above leaders are likely to get a suitable berth in it. The other major issues that are likely to be discussed at the meeting include the dismal performance of the AGP-BJP alliance in Assam, the gradual re-emergence of the Congress, the possible entry of defectors and splinter groups in the BJP and drawing a clear policy on strengthening the organisation. |
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Sonia to
name Pondy CLP leader Pondicherry, May 18 Announcing this, AICC General-Secretary Ghulam Nabi Azad said an unanimous resolution entrusting the task to Mrs Gandhi was moved by former Chief Minister V. Vaithilingam and seconded by former Tourism Minister N.
Rengaswami. “It was unanimously adopted by all 11 elected congress legislators,’’ he told a press conference
here. Mr Azad said he, along with senior party colleague, Mr Motilal
Vohra, held individual discussions with all 11 elected members to know their views.
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Lyngdoh
appointed CEC New Delhi, May 18 “The government has issued a Presidential notification under Clause (2) of Article 324 of the Constitution appointing
J.M. Lyngdoh, Election Commissioner, to be the Chief Election Commissioner of India with effect from the afternoon of June 13, 2001,” an official press note said today. Another notification has also been issued appointing Personnel Secretary
B.B. Tandon as Election Commissioner in place of Mr Lyngdoh. Sixty-two-year-old Lyngdoh is the first person from the North-East to occupy the Constitutional post, whose tenure is six years or up to the age of 65 years, which ever is earlier. Born in
Shillong, Mr Lyngdoh was appointed Election Commissioner on March 1, 1997.
Mr Tandon, an IAS officer of the 1965 batch of the Himachal Pradesh cadre, who was due to retire on June 30, will take over on the elevation of Mr
Lyngdoh. On the government’s decision to elevate him to the CEC post, Mr Lyngdoh had said yesterday that “I have been already with the commission for over four years and we three commissioners are all equal in status. You may call me first among
equals.” Mr Gill had succeeded Mr T.N. Seshan as CEC and had vigorously pursued electoral reforms.
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DMK to boycott Governor’s Address Chennai, May 18 The DMK legislature party, which met here this morning and adopted a resolution to this effect, said the Governor’s action was totally in violation of the Constitution as she had accorded sanction to file criminal cases against Ms Jayalalitha after satisfying herself that there were enough grounds to proceed against the AIADMK supremo. The resolution pointed out that “the same Governor has now appointed a Council of Ministers headed by a convicted person to advise her in the administration.” DMK President and former Chief Minister M.Karunanidhi, talking to newspersons after the legislature party meeting, said the DMK had no plan to move the court to challenge the Governor’s action. Mr Karunanidhi evaded a direct reply when asked about the difference between Kerala Governor S.S.Kang, who expressed reservations over swearing in convicted Kerala Congress(B) leader R.Balakrishna Pillai as minister in the new A.K.Antony Cabinet, vis-a-vis the action of his Tamil Nadu counterpart. Mr Karunanidhi, who announced the election of his party General Secretary K.Anbazhagan as the leader of the DMK legislature party, said he had requested the latter to take up the post as he himself wanted to take up party work to give a new impetus to the party. Answering a question, he said he would continue to be a member of the House and would take part in debates in the Assembly whenever required. Asked whether he expected the Jayalalitha government to file cases against him, the DMK chief said there was nothing to proceed against him but he was ready to face any case. Asked what would happen to the special courts constituted by the DMK government to try corruption cases against Ms Jayalalitha and some of her colleagues in the erstwhile AIADMK ministry, Mr Karunanidhi expressed the hope that the law would take its course. He refused to attach much significance to the new Chief Minister’s proposed meeting with the Prime Minister. “It is only a convention,” he said.
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Uzbek smuggler’s plea rejected New Delhi, May 18 A Division Bench of Chief Justice Arijit Pasayat and Mr Justice S. K.Agarwal said there were no merits in her petition. On April 23, Mr Justice R.C. Chopra had rejected her appeal against the trial court’s order. A week ago, the Division Bench heard arguments from both sides and said a summary of further submissions (if any) may be filed. Kozireva is in judicial custody since her arrest and has been detained under the Conservation of Foreign Exchange and Prevention of Smuggling Activities (COFEPOSA) Act, 1974. On April 11, Additional Sessions Judge R.L. Chugh had remanded her in custody of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The Uzbek national was arrested on August 28 last year while allegedly trying to smuggle 81,000 yards of Chinese silk worth Rs 1.56 crore in 27 bags. She has also been accused of cheating and conspiring with some Customs officials. “The allegations are false because it is practically impossible to carry so many bags through the green channel,” she said in her earlier petition before the high court. Kozireva’s counsel Ashutosh challenged her remand stating that she was detained under the COFEPOSA and, hence, could not be sent to police custody without the Centre’s permission. He also argued that Kozireva was detained without stating any grounds which is a mandatory condition for detaining anyone under the COFEPOSA. She does not understand English or Russian in which her detention orders were served, he said, and thus her detention is illegal. The CBI maintained that Kozireva’s custody is required to unearth the modus operandi adopted by Customs officials who had allegedly helped her to smuggle Chinese silk into the country. It is also probing Kozireva’s possible links with former Chairman of the Central Board of Customs and Excise (CBCE) B.P. Verma who was till recently in CBI’s custody.
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PIL seeking Brajesh’s removal dismissed New Delhi, May 18 A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Arijit Passayat and Mr Justice D.K.Jain said they were not “inclined to entertain the petition as the matter is before the inquiry commission and Parliament is also seized of it.” A PIL filed by Mr K.V.S. Murthy, who claims to be a freedom fighter, and three others, sought the removal of Mr Mishra, alleging that his name had “figured” in the statement of former BJP president Bangaru Laxman in the Tehelka tapes. Mr Murthy, arguing the case personally, said to ensure “hassle free” probe by the Justice Venkataswamy Commission and avoiding any “pulls and pressure from behind the curtain”, issuing a direction by the court for Mr Mishra’s removal was necessary. “This may enable the commission to gift people of India, a report based on a free and fair inquiry,” he said. The Bench said the petitioners’ apprehension that the probe would not be free and fair was based on presumption, more so when a retired Supreme Court judge was heading the commission. Mr Murthy said he was not casting doubt on the commission’s integrity but apprehended that its report might be “doctored” after being submitted to the government. The Bench said: “The apprehension is based on surmises and conjecturs.”
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Pak order not to raid ‘jehadi’ outfits New Delhi, May 18 Quoting senior Pakistan government officials, The News said after the “recent closed door discussions with the heads of leading ‘jehadi’ organisations, the police and other law enforcement agencies had been told not to raid or use force against any jehad-related facility in the country”. Another monthly from Islamabad, The Newsline, said: “This unpublicised agreement between the “jehadi” organisations and the government agencies smoothly functioned on Eid-ul-Azha when the authorities allowed them to collect animal hides worth tens of crores of rupees, and, on their part, these bodies restrained their workers from setting up camps used to propogate jehad.” Reports also said while genuine political activities, like May Day rallies or demonstrations by the Alliance for Restoration of Democracy (an umbrella body, including Pakistan People’s Party and Jamaat-e-Islami), were not being allowed, “jehadi” outfits were carrying out their activities in an “unabated manner”.
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Tipnis visit to boost Indo-China
ties New Delhi, May 18 Air Chief Marshal Tipnis is expected to discuss various bilateral issues, specially those concerning the air wings of the two countries. The week-long visit beginning May 20 will be the first-ever by the head of the Indian Air Force in 51 years of diplomatic relations between India and China. “The visit will also be yet another sign of normalcy in India-China defence exchanges,” official sources said adding this would be the first highest-level visit since military-to-military ties were normalised last year after the deep chill
following Pokhran tests. The sources said frequent high-level exchange of visits would enhance mutual understanding and confidence between the armed forces of the two Asian giants. The visit comes close on the heels of the military exercises code-named “Operation Poorna Vijay” conducted in western Rajasthan and parts of Punjab in which the IAF was a major participant. He is scheduled to have talks with his Chinese counterpart,
commander of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF), Gen Liu Shunyao and call on senior officials of the PLA apart from visiting some military facilities of the PLAAF in south-west China. |
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Taliban ‘smuggling out’ artefacts New Delhi, May 18 “Taliban officials are known to be wheeling and dealing in the international markets to find better prices for the artefacts they possess,’’ reports Pakistani magazine Herald in its latest issue. While the Taliban destroyed the Bamiyan statue of Lord Buddha in March this year and were responsible for the collapse of Chakri Minar, senior officials were involved in the smuggling of “antiques and artefacts’’ out of Afghanistan. The report said the police and officials were actively involved in smuggling. It added that the Taliban’s policy of preserving Islamic identity was just a facade. Police officials, along with smugglers, had dug up life-size a statue of Buddha from a mound in Deh-i Sebz subdivision of Kabul province and tried to smuggle it out of the country, said the report. They were, however, arrested and handed over to Maulvi Mohammed Nasim Haqqani, a subdivisional head. But inquiries revealed that both the smugglers and the statue vanished three days after they were handed over to the Kabul administration. According to the report, another Taliban regular, Mullah Mohammed Yousaf Mohali, was also involved in the illegal excavation at Deb-i Sebz area. He, along with his associates, had also taken away some precious antiques from the areas. Quoting senior Taliban officials, the magazine said: “Excavation on the mounds and in ancient graveyards are being conducted in connivance with the Culture Ministry.’’ Extensive excavation has taken place around Kabul city, Khak-i-Jabbar, Chaharsiab and Karta. The magazine said antique trade had penetrated into the higher echelons of power. One such influential antique smuggler is Naseer Badoz, who is known to have obtained documents containing inventory of Afghanistan’s archaeological sites, which were drawn up by French, Italian and Russian archaeologists during the 1920s. All stolen relics were smuggled via the Torkham regions. In 1999, a seven-foot-tall Buddha statue was transported to Peshawar and sold to an international trader. According to reports the Taliban had uncovered a woman’s statue in Bamiyan. The statue is being transported to Peshawar.
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India hails Mitchell report on W. Asia New Delhi, May 18 Asked for a comment, a spokesman of the Ministry of External Affairs said that while the recommendations of the committee would contribute towards defusing violence, the joint Jordanian-Egyptian initiative proposal for facilitating a comprehensive and lasting peace in the area was an appropiate mechanism to relaunch the West Asia peace process and end the crisis. “The Jordanian-Egyptian initiative deserves the wholehearted support of the international community” the spokesman said. |
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Uttaranchal fiscal Bill passed Dehra Dun, May 18 The Opposition jointly brought an adjournment motion demanding a high-level inquiry by a committee of members of the House into the misappropriation of funds by senior bureaucrats during the formation of the state. Raising the issue, opposition MLA Munna Singh Chauhan alleged that a huge amount was spent on the renovation of residences of ministers and bureaucrats without inviting tenders. Replying to this, the leader of the House, Mr Nityanand Swami, assured the House that an inquiry would be initiated into the matter. |
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Sahani sworn in Sikkim Governor Gangtok, May 18 Soon after taking the oath, the Governor was given a guard of honour and Chief Minister Pawan Chamling
introduced the Assembly Speaker, Council of Ministers and other dignitaries to Mr Sahani.
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YC to observe Rajiv’s death anniversary New Delhi, May 18 According to Youth Congress chief Randeep Singh
Surjewala, the “padyatra” will be taken out from the IYC office to Veer Bhoomi on May 21. A seminar is also being held by the YC on ‘Panchayati
Raj’ on the same day. The medical camp, which will be held on May 20, will be inaugurated by Delhi Chief Minister Shiela
Dixit. Youth Congress activists will also hold programmes in state capitals. |
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Tathagat clears NET at 13 New Delhi, May 18 After completing his post-graduation in Physics from Patna University in 1999 at the age of 11 years and 10 months, Tathagat has been trying to join the Tata Institute for Fundamental Research (TIFR) or Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) as a researcher, but they wanted him to clear the NET first. Being underage, the UGC initially did not grant him permission to appear for the test and required the intervention of the Human Resource Development Minister.
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25 rly stations
to get face-lift New Delhi, May 18 |
1 killed in rly platform blast Kolkata, May 18 The victim, stated to be a passenger, was yet to be identified, the sources said.
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SHUKLA IS POLICE ACADEMY DIRECTOR TWO LANDMINES DEFUSED IN TRIPURA FARDEEN CAN LEAVE CITY FOR SHOOTING TWO ULFA REBELS KILLED INDORE-PUNE TRAIN SOON 8 KILLED IN BUS-LORRY COLLISION VILLAGER GETS Rs 99 LAKH WINDFALL TRAIN PASSENGERS LOOTED HANUMANGARH |
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