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| Sunday,
June 10, 2001, Chandigarh, India   
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WBHRC questions NHRC’s jurisdiction Indian royalty’s silence on Nepal intriguing PM’s get-well-soon
letter to Mehdi Hasan PM undergoes
physiotherapy |
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NCP not to join NDA Congress to
raise Rs 50-cr fund Jethmalani denies discussing
Bofors 275 IMA cadets commissioned Nadeem dares cops
to reveal proof Salman moves court to
get dues Hisar students’ padyatra to Delhi
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WBHRC questions NHRC’s jurisdiction Kolkata, June 9 A former Chief Justice of Rajasthan High Court, Justice Mukherjee feels if they could how proved the massacre at Chota-Angaria in Birbhum on the eve of the recently held state Assembly poll in West Bengal, the unsolved mystery of the mass killing would have been solved by this time. He admits that in many cases they stand helpless and silent observer to the large scale violation of the human rights in the society as they have very limited powers. In an exclusive interview with The Tribune, Justice Mukherjee spoke out in details about the activities of the commission and the need for extending its jurisdiction. Following are the excerpts of the interview: Q: Sir, why this Human Rights Commission? We have in our system adequate legal as well as administrative safeguards against any violation of our constitutional rights these are the police, the supreme court and the high courts etcetera. Are these not enough to protect people’s interest? Why then again a separate commission like the Human Rights Commission at the cost of the public exchequer? A: Yes, that’s there but that’s not enough. There are still deprivations, injustices and violations of human rights and the commission’s utility is very much relevant to the protection of the human rights of millions of helpless and hapless people in the society. And that is why the convention and protocol had come up at the instance of the UN. Q: What is human right? A: Human right is a conglomeration of rights which are basically necessary for a man or woman to live with proper dignity — mere animal existence is not enough — the state’s duty is to provide to the individual not only the religious and ethnic freedom but also a guarantee to this protection against torture and persecution as the Germans did during the Nazi’s regime to the Jews, and Polish at their concentration camps. Q: Are all human rights constitutional rights? A: Not necessarily. The fundamental rights can not guarantee all internationally recognised human rights. There are rights to live with dignity, to have access to the deciding authority to know why they are denied of the basic human rights and facilities, to have facilities of a sustained development. In the international charter of human rights, there are also the right to have social security and social justice to all, and a right to have employment, medical facilities etcetera, which can not be made a part of our fundamental rights. Q: Now about your functioning vis-a-vis National Human Rights Commission. Can NHRC interfere with your activities? I raise the question because there was much controversy on your role vis-a-vis NHRC’s role with regard to the probe into the human rights violation in Midnapore district in the wake of large scale violence and criminal activities by the CPM and Trinamool Congress which had rocked the state on the eve of the Assembly election? A: Yes, that was unfortunate. We had taken up the case first to inquire into the Chota-Angaria incident in which 13 persons were killed mercilessly and the police and the district administration stood not only as silent spectators but sided with the political party in power. But the NHRC mistook the topographical position of the place for another of Keshpur where it had taken up an inquiry into an incident. But the NHRC has no jurisdiction over the state matter where SHRC exists nor is the SHRC answerable to the NHRC. And accordingly, I protested. I did protest when the NHRC insisted that we should refrain from making any separate probe into the killing at Chota-Angaria. Anyway, the matter is now being looked into by the CBI. But still I hold the view that the mystery of the mass killing at Chota-Angaria would have been resolved by this time if we could have continued with the probe. Q: You say you want the power and jurisdiction of the human rights commission should be extended and widened but to what extent? A: No, I don’t mean the commission should be a superpower in the society. But I feel the commission should have jurisdiction over all types of violations of human rights, like dispute between landlords and tenants, atrocities on women, matters relating to service like denial of job to the sons and daughters of employees who die in harness etcetera. |
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Indian royalty’s silence on Nepal intriguing New Delhi, June 9 Is it deliberate or there is something more than meets the common eye? These are some of the questions doing rounds here as well as in the Shangrila kingdom of Nepal. Neither political leaders nor scions of the erstwhile rulers, who have matrimonial as well as business links with the royalty of Nepal have gone public on the murder of the entire family of former Nepal King Birendra Bir Bikram Shah. No memorial services have been held nor statements issued to the media. Congress leader Madhav Rao Scindia, Dr Karan Singh, Bharatiya Janata Party minister Vasundhra Raje, Maharaja of Jodhpur Gaj Singh, Fateh Singh Gaekwad and many others have not offered their comments. The Maharaja of Jodhpur was the local guardian of Princess Shruti when she was at school in Ajmer and also of Prince Nirajan when he was in Banglaore. While the Indian royalty chose to maintain a silence, the conspiracy theory going around in knowledgeable circles points out that the main cause of the assassination was not Devyani with whom Prince Dipendra was in love but the cancerous growth of Maoist movement in western Nepal over the past few years. Maoists have been on a constant march, taking away land and agricultural business of the feudal interests who are powerful in the ruling circles. Vital landed interests of the royalty, including the Ranas who ruled over Nepal for 200 years till power went out of their hands in the fifties and more so after the establishment of constitutional monarchy in nineties, was under threat. Despite requests from the elected government and other influential circles, former King Birendra was not willing to allow the use of the Nepalese army to quell the Maoist uprising. The government also tried to raise a paramilitary force and legislation necessary for the creation of such a force was passed by the Nepalese Parliament, but the King dragged his feet and declined to give his assent. Prince Dipendra is said to be in favour of using the Army for tackling Maoists and even King Gyanendra is also credited to have the same view. At this stage, some kind of planning may have begun and Prince Dipendra may have been egged on stoking his male ego to act by influential people whose landed interests in the Terai region and in western Nepal were being taken away by Maoist forces. Meticulous planning must have gone behind the massacre as taking arms within the royal palace was strictly monitored. Knowledgeable sources aver that Prince Paras and Crown Prince Dipendra were thick friends and the two along with some select few may have made the plan. Stories of Prince Dipendra being drunk and high on drugs do not offer convincing answers as it would be impossible for a drunken person to kill so many in such a short time, knowledgeable sources said. |
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PM’s get-well-soon
letter to Mehdi Hasan New Delhi, June 9 In a letter to Hasan, who is recovering from a stroke that hit him a few months ago, the Prime Minister said, “While wishing you good health, I also hope that you will soon be able to come to India again, and among other things visit Luna in Rajasthan, the village of your birth ”. Recalling the “concert of melliflous ghazals” at his residence in 1978 when the Pakistani singer was in the Capital, Mr Vajpayee said “ I’ll be too happy to welcome you to my home once again”. “Your music, like the music of many great artists in India and Pakistan reminds us of the many common bonds of culture and sprituality that unite the two countries ”, the Prime Minister said. “I was threrefore, deeply touched by your statement published in a recent article in the Dawn newspaper, which echoes the sentiment of all your Indian fans ”, the Prime Minister said, quoting Hasan, who had said, “Music and poetry know no boundaries.(Jo haq Pakistanion ko meri ghazalon pe hai, wohi Hinudustanion ko bhi hai. Unho ne mujhe kam pyar nahin diya ”.) “I join millions of your fans in India in praying for your speedy and complete recovery, so that the world of music may continue to have one of the greatest living exponents around for a long time to come”, he said. |
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PM undergoes physiotherapy Mumbai, June 9 Mr Vajpayee, who is recuperating in Breach Candy Hospital here, had a South Indian breakfast of idli and sambhar followed by a lunch of chapatis, vegetables, rice and daal, hospital and official sources said. No visitor has been allowed to meet Mr Vajpayee, even as ‘get-well’ messages and cards were pouring in from governors, chief ministers as also spiritual leaders, they said. RJD leader Laloo Prasad Yadav telephoned Mr Vajpayee to wish him a speedy recovery.
PTI
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K.C. Pant talks to Congress leaders New Delhi, June 9 He said that a forward movement had to be seen in terms of interaction with various sections of people. He would meet leaders of various political parties separately. He said that he would visit Kashmir again to hold negotiations with the leaders of various political parties and sections of people. Mr Azad and Mr Mukherjee had been deputed by party President Sonia Gandhi to discuss about the recent initiatives of the government regarding Kashmir. They were apprised by Mr Pant about his recent visit to Jammu and Kashmir and his discussions with leaders of various political parties. He is also expected to meet members of the Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha. Mr Pant said that he had informed the Congress leaders about the discussions he had in the state. He said that the purpose of his visit to the valley was to have the opinion of different sections of people. However, the Hurriyat had refused to meet him. About the meeting with Congress leaders, he said they had agreed to meet again whenever necessary. To a question on the response from militant organisations, Mr Pant said that he could not speak for them. Talking of the Congress stand, Mr Mukherjee said that the normalcy should be restored first. “There is no this or that side. Everybody has only one side that normalcy should be restored,’’ he said. Mr Mukherjee, however, said that the success of the efforts could be measured by the “overall impact’’ which had been positive so far. He refused to say if the talks would succeed. |
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NCP not to join NDA New
Delhi, June 9 Mr Anwar said the People’s Front policy of equidistance from the Congress and the BJP was in line with the NCP ideology. “We will consider the proposal of joining it if it comes from the People’s Front,” he told reporters here today. About party leader P. A. Sangma’s statement that the NCP might support the NDA government in the event of any crisis, Mr Anwar said the former Lok Sabha Speaker’s remark should be read in the backdrop of the party’s commitment not to let Congress President Sonia Gandhi become the Prime Minister of the country. Mr Anwar also ruled out the possibility of the NCP joining hands with the BJP in Maharashtra to form an alliance government in the state. “These (media reports) are all baseless rumours. The NCP is not going to align with the communal BJP at any level,” he said. On the party’s strategy for the forthcoming Uttar Pradesh Assembly poll, he said a seven-member committee had been formed to work out the party’s strategy. Earlier, addressing a convention organised by the Delhi unit of the party, Mr Anwar reiterated the party’s resolve to make efforts to stop Italian-born Sonia Gandhi from becoming the Prime Minister of the country.
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Congress to raise Rs 50-cr
fund New Delhi, June 9 For the election-related expenses, the party favoured state funding of elections saying that the government should take the necessary steps in this direction. The decisions were taken at a Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting today which was presided over by Congress President Sonia Gandhi. The meeting, which lasted for over an hour, discussed the report of the committee on party funding headed by Dr Manmohan Singh. The CWC, which accepted all the
recommendations of the committee, authorised Mrs Gandhi to take steps to get the recommendations implemented at the earliest. The committee had been set up by Mrs Gandhi with the objective of bringing greater transparency, accountability and integrity in the financing of party activities at all levels. Briefing about the CWC meeting, Congress spokesman Anand Sharma said that while the Congress was convinced about the need of system of state funding of elections, the issue had to be pursued by the government. The committee, he said, went into non-election related funding at national, state and district levels. The Congress plans to raise resources for corpus fund from a variety of sources including active members, AICC and PCC delegates, Congress chairpersons of boards, autonomous bodies, MLAs, MPs, Members of Zila Parishads and aspirants for party nominations for elections. The corpus fund, which would be raised in two years, would also accept contributions from business houses according to the existing laws. The Kerela model, where the money is accepted through coupons, has also been accepted. The Congress, Mr Sharma said, would play a “pro-active leadership’’ role in bringing about fundamental change in the way both elections and the normal party activities are funded in the country. After the meeting, Mrs Gandhi had a separate meeting with some office-bearers from UP. |
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Jethmalani denies discussing Bofors New Delhi, June 9 Speaking to PTI from Mumbai over phone, Mr Jethmalani termed as “absolutely false” the official version that during a high-level meeting in July 1999, he had consented to chargesheeting of Hindujas on the basis of available material. However, official sources had stated that the meeting had also decided that after additional documents were made available by the Swiss authorities, a supplementary chargesheet could be filed. “I am surprised that the officials said the then Law Minister discussed the chargesheet. Nothing of this kind ever happened. Ministers do not discuss chargesheets,” Mr Jethmalani said. “As far as I remember I was once asked by someone, most probably the Prime Minister, whether a dead man could be chargesheeted.” |
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275 IMA cadets commissioned Dehra Dun, June 9 Lt-Gen Yuvraj Mehta, PVSM, AVSM, Commandant, IMA, reviewed the passing out parade of Gentlemen Cadets. Brig R.K. Gupta and Major-Gen Jatendra Singh, Deputy Commandant, IMA, accompanied the Commandant during the review of the parade ceremony. Military dignitaries from the USA, Bangladesh and Poland were present on the occasion as special guests. As many as 104 Gentlemen Cadets from 91 technical graduates and nine university entry scheme courses, 99 Gentlemen Cadets from 6 SCO Course and 72 Gentlemen Cadets from TES-3 (10+2) entered the Indian Army as officers. For the first time in the history of the IMA since its inception in 1932, academy Under Officer Gurjeet Singh Brar commanded the parade breaking the old tradition of commanding of the parade by general Gentlemen Cadets. He was awarded the silver medal for standing first in the order of merit in the technical graduate course by the Commandant of the IMA. Son of Lt Col Kartar Singh, Under Officer Brar was born on February 8, 1979, at Udhampur and completed his schooling from KV School, Bathinda, and went on to complete his B.Tech degree from Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, in electronics and telecom. The Gentleman Cadet excelled in service subjects, academics, sports and extra-curricular activities. The IMA Commandant praised his all-round performance during his address to the Gentlemen Cadets. He has been posted in the core of signals in Arunachal Pradesh as his first assignment. Later, talking to The Tribune Under Officer Brar said his top priority would be to assist the Army with his technical knowledge. He was of the view that in the years to come the Indian Army will be one of the top armies in the world as far as technical advancement was concerned. The Bihar Regiment gold medal was awarded to Senior Under Officer Manju Nath for standing first in the order of merit in the SCO course. He comes from a civil background. His father is a farmer and mother a housewife. He has done his graduation from Karnataka University, Dharwar. He is being commissioned into the 44 Armoured Regiment. In his address to the passing out cadets, General Mehta admired the smart bearing and confidence of the cadets who marched into the most honourable, adventurous and challenging of all the professions. It demanded a perfect blend of intelligence and character, he said. He further said their motherland and the men whom the young officers command expect them to be honest, truthful and fair in all their dealings. He asked them to uphold and cherish the values integral to the uniform not only in words, but also in deeds. Later, the cadets entered the Chetwood Hall crossing the “antim pag” thereby becoming officers. In an oath-taking ceremony held just opposite to the Chetwood Hall, the cadets pledged to dedicate themselves to a life of service, sacrifice and commitment to the security of the nation. At the end of the parade, the long-awaited pipping ceremony was held in the presence of parents, Army officers and civil personnel. The cadets threw their caps in the air and expressed their joy at becoming officers in the Indian Army. New Delhi, June 9 The successful candidates have qualified for admission to the Army, Navy and Air Force wings of the NDA for the 106th course and Naval Academy (Executive Branch) for the 26th course commencing from July. The candidature of all candidates is provisional, subject to their submitting the requisite certificates in support of date of birth and educational qualifications. The last date for submission of proof of passing the qualifying examination is June 20.
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Nadeem dares cops to reveal proof New Delhi, June 9 Nadeem, who has been recently discharged from the extradition case by the House of Lords, has been the prime accused in the murder of music baron Gulshan Kumar outside a temple in suburban Juhu in Mumbai on August 12, 1997. “For the past four years, I have been throwing a challenge to the Indian police to bring out in the open if they had recorded any telephonic conversation between me and any underworld don”, Nadeem, who has been in London since the murder, told Zee TV in an interview to be telecast tomorrow. Accusing the police of falsely implicating him in the case, he claimed that the charge that he had links with underworld don Abu Salem was “absolutely false and baseless” and the entire case had been examined by British courts, which made it clear that “I am, in no way, connected to the underworld”. When asked why was he not returning to India, he said: “Are you not respecting the British court findings which cleared me as innocent.” “Mein bekasoor hoon lekin bewakoof nahin hoon (I am innocent but not a fool),” he said. Nadeem, who had been shown as an absconder in the case before the trial court in Mumbai, said: “Even if I had a difference of opinion with Gulshan Kumar, it does not mean that I would kill him. He was like a father figure to me.” When asked if the relationship between him and Gulshan Kumar had soured as the latter had failed to promote a private album by him, he said: “All these are baseless. I say he used to promote the talents.” Asked if he had enmity with Gulshan Kumar due to competition in the music industry, he said: “There was absolutely no competition and there would be no competition against Nadeem-Shravan for another 100 years.” Describing himself as a “law-abiding citizen who never even broke any traffic signal,” Nadeem said: “The police officers who have been putting innocent people behind bars, must be punished.” The trial, which could not progress due to India’s request with the British Government for Nadeem’s extradition, which has since been turned down by British courts, would commence on June 18 before the Sessions Court and the prosecution is likely to examine 226 witnesses including cine stars and a playback singer.
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Salman moves court to
get dues Mumbai, June 9 Salman’s father and script writer Salim Khan, who holds power of attorney on behalf of his actor-son, moved a petition on June 8 before Justice A.P Bhangale, who directed that copies there of be served on the prosecution and the accused. The court will give its ruling on Salman’s plea after hearing the prosecution and the accused on June 11. Salim contended that his son had entered into an agreement with the film’s producer Nasim Rizvi on September 13, 1999 to perform in the movie for a monetary consideration of Rs 1.50 crore. Accordingly, Rs 1.25 crore was paid to Salman from time to time and the balance amount was outstanding. The actor has urged the court to condone the delay in seeking the balance payment due to him as he was preoccupied in professional work. The actor urged that he had earlier approached the court receiver to release Rs 25 lakh but the latter had asked him to move the court.
PTI
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Hisar students’ padyatra to Delhi New Delhi, June 9 The students submitted a memorandum to the Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Human Resource Development and Director of the Indian Council of Agriculture and Research, highlighting their demands. They also demanded the filling of all vacant posts in the Agriculture Department and lifting of the ban on fresh recruitment. The memorandum also highlighted the tussle between the students and the university authorities and sought the Centre’s intervention in resolving the deadlock. |
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