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Thursday,
February 7, 2002, Chandigarh, India  
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UTTAR PRADESH ELECTIONS BJP exploiting terror issue: Sonia
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Lok Janshakti promises jobs
Activists to fast for rights
of challenged Curbing dropout rate India, Nepal to
jointly fight terrorism, crime Cop reveals ex-judge’s links with Shakeel
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UTTAR PRADESH ELECTIONS Meerut, February 6 Besides this, the BJP has discarded test candidates and given ticket to new faces. The party, therefore, is faced with rebellion in the cadres. However, visit of Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee — Prime Minister, may soothe ruffled feelings of the party workers in some areas. The BJPs poll ally Mr Ajit Singh also faces difficult task. He has to contend with division amongst Jat voters which the INLD of Mr O.P. Chautala would cause. Mr Chautala seems to selected his candidates seriously especially in the Hastinapur (R) constituency. As the Samajwadi Party seems to have suffered setback in the area, both the Congress and the Bahujan Samaj Party have made gains. The Congress seems to be sitting pretty well in Hastinapur (R) and Meerut (Cantt.) seats. A visit to Hastinapur revealed that the Gujjars — a dominant community in the area which had sided with the BJP in the 1996 Assembly elections is thinking differently. The Congress has enlisted the support of its MP from Meerut to woo Gujjar votes while his younger brother Mr Kartar Singh Bhadana is a Minister in the Chautala cabinet, is working for the INLD. Out of seven candidates in Hastinapur, six are new faces. The INLD has put up Mr Gopal Kali who had won this seat once as a BJP nominee. The Congress candidate, Mr Vinod Megha is also new in the poll arena. The BJP has put up a woman Ms Geeta Parkash. His father Mr Jagru Singh who once was a legislator from Hastinapur (R) now is in the Congress and helping the party to improve prospects. The BJP denied ticket to its setting MLA Atul Kumar, who now has turned rebel. Mr Yogesh Verma of the Bahujan Samajwadi Party is also a new face. Mr Prabhu Dayal Balmiki of the Samajwadi Party is also sailing in the same boat, being a green-horn. In the Lok Sabha poll, the Congress had secured 36.23 per cent of votes in Hastinapur against 25.46 per cent by the BJP. In the 1996 poll the BJP won from Meerut city, Sardhana, Kharkhoda. Hastinapur and Meerut Cantonment. The party is now on a sticky wicket in Meerut Cantonment and Hastinapur (R). Political observers opine that Meerut Cantonment has always been a citadel of the BJP. But this time the BJP has not nominated its sitting MLA Amit Aggarwal. Instead the party has given the ticket to Mr Satya Parkash Aggarwal. The Congress candidate Mr Romesh Dhingra is proving a difficult rival for the BJP. The Samajwadi Party and the BSP are not in a very strong position. In Meerut city, the BJPs sitting MLA, Mr Laxmikant Vajpayee, is trying his luck again. He seems to be facing a triangular contest against Mr Yusuf Quereshi of the Congress and the BSP candidate. Much depends on the last moment alignment of Muslim and Punjabi votes. Mrs Mohsina Kidwai, a former Congress Union Minister, who once represented Meerut parliamentary seat is trying to woo Muslim voters. But much depends if the Muslims choose to go the BSP way. The Ajit Singh’s party had won Kithore and Sival Khas seats under the banner of the Kisan Kamgaar party. But Sival Khas slipped out of its hands in a byelection immediately after the general election and the seat was won by BSP candidate. In Kharkhoda, the BJP has put up Mr Jaipal Singh Gujjar a Minister in the Rajnath Singh Ministry. He polled 34365 votes and won the seat in 1996. The Congress candidate, Mr Dhoom Singh, trailed to second position by polling 28828 votes. The Congress has given the ticket to a new face Mr Ompal Hoon from here. The SP has put up Mr Satyavir Tyagi, the BSP, Mr Haji Yakub. The Gujjar voters who had overwhelmingly sided with the BJP are now a divided lot. In villages like Bicholi, Dhanota, Piplikhera and Alipur, the voters do not hide their disenchantment with against the ruling party. |
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BJP exploiting terror issue: Sonia Jaitpura (UP), February 6 “Why did the Prime Minister not say that people are waiting for the Supreme Court verdict. All political parties agree to this ,’’ she said, addressing a well-attended rally at Jaitpura, which is located between Rampur and Moradabad covering 14 Assembly seats. Accusing the BJP of raising the issue of terrorism as a pre-poll tactic, Ms Sonia Gandhi said, “Indira’s party knows how to defend the nation. No single party has the right to decide on patriotism”. Alleging that the UP government was exploiting the issue of terrorism, Ms Sonia Gandhi said fingers were being raised at all madarsas. “While those committing offences should be punished, it is wrong to paint everyone with the same brush,” she said. Underlining the role of madarsas in India’s independence struggle, Ms Sonia Gandhi pointed out that several eminent leaders of yesteryear, in fact, were educated in these institutions. In what can be seen as an effort to woo the minorities, Ms Sonia Gandhi said her party was in favour of extending reservation for members of such communities and promised special measures for the welfare of artisans. Rampur and Moradabad are predominantly Muslim areas. Moradabad is also known as the land of brasswares. She said though the Rajnath Singh government had decided to give reservation to the Most Backward Castes with an eye on the poll, the Congress had supported the move. Ms Sonia Gandhi said the party even favoured reservation for the poor among the upper castes. In a satirical remark, the Congress President questioned the credibility of the BJP for giving lessons on patriotism and referred to the coffin issue, saying that “no one can teach patriotism, specially those who had struck dubious deals in the purchase of coffins for jawans.” On the Indo-Pak stand-off, she said these were problems not between two communities but between two nations. In a veiled criticism of the Samajwadi Party, she said “those talking loud on secularism had not supported the Congress move to keep “communal forces” away from power at the Centre.” Maintaining that Mr Rajnath Singh had been brought as a “mask” to cover the failures the BJP government, Ms Sonia Gandhi said casteist and communal forces were posing a threat to the composite culture of UP. ``The rule of the BJP-led government in UP has been marked by corruption and compromises,” Ms Sonia Gandhi said, while calling upon the electorate to “teach them a lesson.” Asserting that only the Congress can deliver the goods, she said the Assembly poll would decide the future of the state. The Congress, she said, was not only the biggest political party but had governments in 11 states. The rally was addressed by senior Congress leaders — Mr N.D. Tiwari, Mr Ghulam Nabi Azad besides local MP Begum Noor Bano. Slogans hailing Ms Sonia Gandhi and Ms Bano also had advice for voters who would be using electronic voting machines for the first time. “Noor Bano ki awaz par, pehla batan dabana haath par,” read the slogan below the main dais. Ms Sonia Gandhi arrived here after addressing gatherings at Shahjhanpur and Bareilly. |
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Lok Janshakti promises jobs New Delhi, February 6 The party is contesting 30 seats in Punjab, 33 seats in Uttaranchal and 18 seats in Uttar Pradesh in the forthcoming Assembly elections. Party President Ram Vilas Paswan was conspicuous by his absence as he is busy campaigning for the party in Punjab. Party national spokesperson Ram Vir Singh Bidhuri said Mr Paswan had addressed public meetings at Amritsar, Gurdaspur, Narod Mehra, Patiala and Phagwara yesterday. He said the party wanted to contest 19 more seats in Uttaranchal but could not do so due to deficiencies in filing of nomination papers. The party manifesto for Punjab mentions setting up of a software centre at Gurdaspur and a separate cell in the Chief Minister’s office for
redressal grievances of the NRIs. The party has also promised to take revolutionary steps to ensure that the agriculture sector meets European standards. Other promises made by the party include extending special help to Punjab farmers to prepare the soil in accordance with the demands of the international market and gain direct entry into the international market. It would also give 24-hour power supply free of cost to farmers who sow non-traditional crops to meet the demands of the
international market. A special cell would also be set up to guide farmers on ways of protecting the crop. The party has also promised to introduce a separate insurance scheme for the welfare of drivers in the transport sector. The party would also put an end to toll tax and give concessions to municipalities to raise loans by issuing bonds. Similar concessions would be provided in the stock market. The state government would also have 20 per cent partnership in the shares. The party would also empower gram panchayats to approve projects upto Rs 25 lakh for power, water and sanitation. The party would also ensure that the wages for labourers be at par with the wages of ordinary employees of any European country. The party wants to pattern Uttaranchal on the lines of Switzerland and promote growth of medicinal plants and tourism. It would also give interest-free loans to rural women to enable them set up cottage industry and equal pension to all revolutionaries of the state. Besides, the state government will provide for the families of revolutionaries who sacrificed their lives. In Uttar Pradesh, the party plans to encourage farmers to export their agricultural produce, set up special self-employment centres and a “Mazdoor Club” for labourers. The party will also campaign for relaxation of visa norms to enable trained and skilled youths get jobs abroad. |
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Chhote Miyan to counter
Bade Miyan Mumbai, February 6 The Congress is in touch with Govinda’s Number One Entertainment Limited Company here for utilising its services for the election campaign, according to senior Congress leader Murli Deora here today. “We have requested Govinda’s troupe to render national and patriotic songs,” Mr Deora said. There was no immediate word from Govinda that he had agreed to campaign for the Congress. Amitabh Bachchan has been campaigning in Uttar Pradesh in a subtle political campaign for Samajwadi Party candidates.
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Activists to fast for rights
of challenged New Delhi, February 6 Disabled Rights Group (DRG) Convener, Javed Abidi said here that activists of various non government organisations working in the field of disability would protest against the rampant neglect of the
disability sector. Citing instances of inaction of Dr Uma Tuli, Chief Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities (CCPD), he said that the CCPD was not available in office for two-and-a-half months and was busy organising Abilympics. “You cannot stall the progress of the disability sector like this. It is impossible to monitor visitors to the new CCPD office in Noida but the number of visitors has decreased.” Mr Abidi mentioned discrimination reportedly suffered by the Deputy Chief Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities, Anuradha Mohit and said that “she was is on the verge of resigning.” He pointed out that since the Deputy Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities, Rahul Ganguly resigned, the post has not been filled. Denying the allegations, Dr Uma Tuli said that Rahul Ganguly left preferring a teaching assignment in the USA where his family is based. She said that the post had not been filled as the procedure is long. She said that the Deputy Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities, Anuradha Mohit was reporting for work regularly. “She has neither resigned nor shown any inclination do so. All activities were going on and representatives of 26 states trained in access audits. Since I joined last April, I have visited 24 states personally to monitor implementation of the CCPD,” Dr Tuli said. Reacting on other allegations including her inaction in giving directions to DTC, Dr Tuli said, “The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has intimated that their Science and Technology mode has approved of the design for DTC
buses. I have already given directions through the State Commissioner, Disabilities, Delhi, M K Mishra to make some buses and bus stops disabled friendly. Directions have been given to design accessible buses. Following access audits, Talkatora Stadium, Ashok Yatri Niwas, Shastri Bhawan, Nirman Bhawan, Delhi University, New Delhi Railway Station, Priya Cinema have been made barrier free.” Denying the charge of absenteeism, Dr Tuli said, “I have been in office every single day except when I was away on state visits. Abilympics is a government project and is part of the disability agenda.” Mr Abidi drew attention to the status of employment for the disabled and said that 1707 posts had been identified for the disabled out of 76,266 in Group A, 2302 posts out of 74,475 in Group B, 91,165 posts out of 22,72,903 in Group C and 61,015 posts put of 12,92,409 in Group D. He pointed out that disabled persons had been declared unqualified for various jobs including that of social worker, Hindi Officer, Information Officer, Editor, Public Relations Officer, Research Officer, Training Officer and Sales and Marketing Officer. Representatives from the Blind Persons Associations, Swavalamban, an association of Parents of Slow Learners and Delhi Association for the Deaf also drew the attention of the media to problems faced by the visually challenged, mentally challenged and hearing impaired. |
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Curbing dropout rate Bhopal, February 6 The primary and middle schools in rural Madhya Pradesh, numbering over one lakh, will have parent-teacher associations which will function as ad hoc committees of gram sabhas under the provisions of the Madhya Pradesh Panchayat and Gram Swaraj Act. Directives have been issued to district collectors to hold the first meeting of parent-teacher associations on February 24. Thereafter, a meeting of the associations will be held every month. The headmaster of the school, with the consent of the president, could convene a meeting of the association. The associations will be responsible for the enrolment of children in the school, regular attendance of the teachers and students and making efforts to improve the academic quality All teachers of the schools as well as the parents and guardians of the students will be members of the association. The president and vice- president of the association will be elected. |
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India, Nepal to
jointly fight terrorism, crime New Delhi, February 6 Kathmandu assured New Delhi that it would extend all help in fighting terrorism and crime, including along the Indo-Nepal border, Home Secretary Kamal Pande told reporters after holding wide-ranging talks with his Nepalese counterpart Keshav Rajbhandari here. Mr Pande said India too would extend assistance to Nepal to put an end to Maoist violence which has claimed hundreds of lives in the past few months. The two-day Home Secretary-level talks, which began today, focused on several key issues, including cooperation in combating crime and terrorism along the Indo-Nepal border and a legal framework for the purpose. Responding to questions, Mr Rajbhandari said a decision had been taken to constitute a committee to make travel between the two countries easier for students and minors. Meanwhile, at least 20 Maoists were killed in clashes with security forces and more than 80 terrorists arrested in various parts of Nepal over the past two days.
PTI, UNI |
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Cop reveals ex-judge’s links with Shakeel Mumbai, February 6 Deposing before a special court, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Ambadas Pote said the alleged telephonic talks revealed that the then Sessions Judge J.W. Singh had hired goons in lieu of judicial favours to recover his money amounting to Rs 40 lakh from a chit fund operator. The cop told special public prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam that in February 1999 he got a tip-off that gangster Shakeel frequently dialled a cell phone number. The calls were traced to the mobile telephone of advocate Liyakat Ali Shaikh. The witness informed the court of judge Abhay Thipsay that on March 25, 1999, he had intercepted a telephone talk between J.W. Singh, Shakeel and Shaikh which revealed nexus of judiciary with underworld. Necessary permission had been obtained from competent authority to intercept the calls.
PTI |
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Scholarship
for DD scribe New Delhi, February 6 |
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Naxals set 2 phone exchanges on fire Hyderabad, February 6 |
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G.D. Birla award New Delhi, February 6 Recipient of several national and international awards, Dr Hasnain’s research interest ranges from baculovirus (an insect virus) gene expression to understanding the prevention of cell death to molecular pathonogenesis and intervention using malaria and TB as a model, a press note from the K.K. Birla Foundation said here today.
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