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Wednesday,
March 27, 2002, Chandigarh, India  
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Leaders 'misled' about
'92 kar seva in Ayodhya Allies “can’t dictate” BJP on Sangh ties Gujarat Govt likely to give report today Probe into Gangapur firing
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Editors’ guild to probe coverage Two Pakistani ultras held Pak fuelling terrorism in J&K: Pallone Judge seeks transfer of Red Fort case UP, Bihar Legislature poll on May 2 Minister using
public money to make sex calls? Protests against POTO
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Leaders
'misled' about '92 kar seva in Ayodhya New Delhi, March 26 Mr R.N. Srivastava blamed BJP leaders L.K. Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi and organisers for giving a false assurance to the district administration in Ayodhya that kar seva would remain peaceful and no harm would be done to the disputed structure on December 6, 1992. Deposing before the Liberhan Commission of Inquiry probing the demolition, Mr Srivastava, who was in charge of the security of the disputed structure on the fateful day, said no intelligence agency gave any report that kar sevaks would storm the complex. “On December 5, 1992 Advaniji and Joshiji assured us that the kar sevaks will behave in the way which will not amount to violating the court’s order (about symbolic kar seva) and they will not damage the structure. We had met them asking that as the number of kar sevaks had increased tremendously so there was need to check them.’’ Mr Srivastava, who was suspended following the demolition, claimed that the district administration had implemented a number of measures for the security of the disputed structure as per the decision taken by the state government on the recommendation of the Centre. “We were not expecting such a situation (demolition) because all along we were given to understand that it will be a peaceful symbolic kar seva. The organisers had assured us that it would be symbolic kar seva and not entail any construction work. No damage will be caused to the structure.’’ Besides the organisers’ assurance that they would ensure that the kar seva remained peaceful and no violation of the court’s order take place, the peaceful rehearsal of kar seva on December 5, 1992 also convinced the district administration. “Moreover, the conduct of kar sevaks in July 1992 when it was stopped on one call also led us to believe that the kar sevaks would obey their leaders and do the karseva as planned.’’ He said that the intelligence reports received before December 6, 1992 suggested that explosives might be brought inside the disputed complex in shape of “puja samgri (prayer material)’’, terrorists could attack it with rockets or ISI agents might infiltrate. Though a team of Intelligence Bureau was posted in Ayodhya on the occasion and the district administration was in touch with the Central intelligence agencies, at “no time were we informed that a number of kar sevaks would storm the disputed structure,’’ he said. “There were three types of intelligence reports. One was explosives may be brought inside the temple complex in the shape of puja samagri (material). Second was there might be a terrorist attack by rocket and third, ISI people may infiltrate,” he told the commission probing the demolition of disputed structure at Ayodhya on December 6, 1992. However, he maintained that there were no reports that the kar sevaks would storm the disputed structure. Mr Srivastava said, the SSP Faizabad, who interacted with the IB personnel stationed in Ayodhya, informed him about the reports. The SSP had reported to him about these facts after collecting the inputs from central intelligence agency, state intelligence and local intelligence units, he said. The retired bureaucrat said he was not interacting with the central intelligence team at that time but suggestions given by them were discussed at the Chief Minister’s level and were passed on to him for implementation. Asked by the commission whether the crowd on December 6 was unmanageable, Mr Srivastava said, “since we were led to believe that the kar seva would be symbolic and peaceful, we cannot say the crowd was unmanageable”.
PTI, UNI |
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Allies “can’t dictate” BJP on Sangh ties New Delhi, March 26 Virtually endorsing the Parivar’s stand on the Ayodhya issue, the Samata Party leader has also favoured its solution through dialogue “as courts cannot decide on questions left behind by history.” “It is for that party (BJP) to decide on the nature of its relationship with the Sangh Parivar. As part of the NDA, we have committed ourselves to a certain programme. Our (allies) concern should be to ensure that the programme is not diluted,” Mr Fernandes told PTI in an exclusive interview here. He was responding to a question on the apprehensions raised by some allies, including his own Samata Party leaders, on the close relationship between the BJP and Parivar. Mr Fernandes said ideally the Ayodhya issue should be resolved through a dialogue between the parties concerned. Describing the Ayodhya imbroglio as a “complex issue”, he said, “All of us should be making efforts to ensure that it is resolved at the earliest.” Asked whether he favoured a judicial settlement of the issue, he said, “Questions left behind by history cannot be decided by courts.” He added that courts at best could only decide on the title suit but not on what happened centuries back. “Ideally it should be solved through a mutual give and take (between Hindus and Muslims),” he said. Asked about the RSS’ recent resolution at its all-India general council meeting in Bangalore asking the Muslims to earn the goodwill of the majority community to ensure their safety in the country, he said, “We should not go by the rhetoric.”
PTI |
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Gujarat Govt likely to give report today New Delhi, March 26 “The state Home Secretary called up the commission on Tuesday to say that the report is being sent and is expected to be submitted to the commission by tomorrow. If the report is submitted in time, it will be considered at the full commission meeting scheduled on Wednesday,” sources in the commission said. Dismissing the preliminary report of the Gujarat Government as “perfunctory with lots of gaps,” NHRC Chairperson Justice J.S. Verma had asked it to file a comprehensive report by tomorrow, failing which it would rely on the information gathered by the commission during its recent visit to the state. During a three-day visit to Gujarat, Justice J.S. Verma and senior commission officers met riot victims, government functionaries, representatives of voluntary organisations and members of the Opposition. |
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Police opens fire on mob Ahmedabad, March 26 However, no one was injured in the firing, the police said here today. A mob tried to set afire houses and kiosks in the curfew bound areas of Baroda city, they said. In the city, two persons, including a woman, were injured when an explosive was thrown at an
autorickshaw in Bapunagar labour dominated area late last night. Curfew in the city is in force without relaxation for the sixth the day today in six police station areas of Kalupur, Dariapur, Shahpur, Karanj, Haveli and Vejalpur. Meanwhile, curfew also continued in Prantij town, Himatnagar, Modasa of Sabarkantha district, Chhota Udepur, Jambusar, Borsad and Anand owing to the volatile situation. The Army continued patrolling in the curfew-bound areas of the city and Baroda. There is no let-up in violence and group clashes in parts of the south, central and north Gujarat, the police added. Meanwhile, noted social activist Swami Agnivesh today described the communal violence in Gujarat as a “pre-planned conspiracy” and demanded a ban on the RSS, VHP and Bajrang Dal and imposition of President’s rule in the trouble-torn state.
PTI |
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Probe into Gangapur firing Jaipur, March 26 Home Minister Gulab Singh Shaktawat told the Assembly at the end of an acrimonious exchange between the Congress and BJP members that the probe would be conducted under the Commission of Enquiry Act, 1992. However, the BJP members, who were also demanding disciplinary action against “guilty’’ officials, staged a walkout from the House. The House was adjourned twice earlier after slogan-shouting BJP members disallowed business to be conducted. Meanwhile, curfew continued in the town where the police fired to disperse a stone-throwing mob that wanted to conduct a ‘yajna’ on the route of a Moharram procession.
UNI |
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Editors’ guild to probe coverage New Delhi, March 26 The team, comprising B.G. Varghese, former Editor, Hindustan Times, Dileep Padgaonkar, Executive Managing Editor, Times of India and Aakar Patel, Editor Mid Day, will visit Ahmedabad, Godhra and other affected areas in Gujarat from March 30 to April 4, a guild press note said here today. Organisations and individuals who have information on the intimidation of media, and also of sensational and biased coverage by the media are requested to send the material, including photographs and video tapes, etc to the Editors Guild of India, 2/11 INS Building, Rafi Marg, New Delhi. |
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Two Pakistani ultras held Lucknow, March 26 “Their arrest came close on the heels of the arrest of three Lashker-e-Toiba men from Hapur last week,” Mr Pandit said. Ashraf and Mazhar were held near Chinhat where they had gone to “pick up” one of their accomplice. The third, however, could not be nabbed.
UNI |
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Pak fuelling terrorism in J&K: Pallone New Delhi, March 26 “I strongly oppose the US decision of military sales to Pakistan as Islamabad still continues to support acts of terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir and other parts of the region”, Mr Pallone, who was member of the ‘India Caucus’ said. “As much as I have been happy to see General Musharraf and Pakistan play a significant factor in the US effort in the fight against terrorism, I am still very concerned about the fact that Pakistan continues, in my opinion, to be supportive of terrorism and insurgency in Kashmir”, he said, speaking at a meeting organised by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) here. “Musharraf will like to have double standards. He has repeatedly said the insurgents in Kashmir are freedom fighters and not terrorists and has put a different ideology on it... We have to continue to point out that that is not acceptable”, Mr Pallone said. Referring to the perception that Pakistan was growing closer to the USA after September 11 incident, he said: “Indo-US relation has always been uphill till Pokhran-II. After the decline thereafter, it has recovered now and is up once again. It is progressing on a positive note.” “Lifting of economic sanctions post-September 11 meant a greater possibility of a relationship with regard to defence relationship, space and research related to outer space and with regard to energy”, he said. |
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Judge seeks transfer of Red Fort case New Delhi, March 26 “I do not want to try this case,” Additional Sessions Judge M.S. Sabharwal said at the outset of the proceedings, expressing his displeasure over Ashfaq’s remarks last week. Mr Sabharwal, who had earlier warned Ashfaq against such behaviour, sent the file to District and Sessions Judge H.R. Malhotra seeking transfer of the case to another court. Mr Malhotra issued production warrant against the accused and fixed April 11 for hearing the matter. Ashfaq, who once allegedly abused an investigating officer in the court, created a scene in the court on the last date of hearing by shouting at the Judge on the issue of removal of his chains. At the fag end of the proceedings on March 20, Ashfaq had
shouted," I will not get justice from this court.” He was joined by his Indian wife and co-accused Rehmana Yusuf Farooqi whose voice also became louder. However, they were immediately removed from the courtroom by the securitymen. In fact, Ashfaq has moved an application before the court seeking removal of his chains. Even those allegedly involved in the attack on Parliament House were without chains, he submitted in his application. The police is yet to file a reply to his plea. In his bail application too, he had alleged that he was being discriminated against as he was a Pakistani national. Fifteen months after the audacious attack on the Red Fort, arguments on charges began in the case on March 6.
PTI |
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UP, Bihar Legislature poll on May 2 New Delhi, March 26 The vacancies are being caused by the retirement of 11 sitting members in Uttar Pradesh on May 5 and 8 and in Bihar on May 6. According to the commission, poll notification will be issued on April 4 and the last date for filing nominations will be April 11. While scrutiny of nominations will take place on April 12, the last date for withdrawal of nominations will be on April 15. Polling will be held on May 2 and counting of votes will be taken up on May 5. The process will be completed before May 7. The seats falling vacant in Bihar are the Darbhanga, Patna, Tirhut and Kosi Graduates constituencies and the Saran, Tirhut, Darbhanga and Patna Teachers constituencies. In Uttar Pradesh the vacancies to be filled are from the Lucknow, Varanasi, Allahabad-Jhansi, Agra and the Meerut Division Graduates Constituencies and the Bareilly-Moradabad, Lucknow, Gorakhpur-Faizabad, Varanasi, Meerut and Agra Division Teachers constituencies. |
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Minister using
public money to make sex calls? New Delhi, March 26 Rajya Sabha member Biplab Dasgupta in a letter to the Prime Minister claimed that he had documentary evidence to show that Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilisers Satyabrata Mukherjee had made such calls as an MP from West Bengal and later as a minister. “The minister seemed to be spending nights doing nothing but making dirty calls,” Mr Dasgupta said in the letter released to the media here today. The minister was not immediately available for comments.
PTI |
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Protests against POTO New Delhi, March 26 The All-India People’s
Resistance Forum
(AIPRF), Bharatiya Kisan Union (Ekta) People’s Front, Saheli, Nepal Ekata Samaj, Workers’ Solidarity Forum, AIFTU and Samajika Nyaya Morcha also took part in the protest. |
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