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Thursday,
June 6, 2002, Chandigarh, India  
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IMA cadets
get ‘call to battle’
ITBP
embarks on modernisation Deshmukh fails to win back Left allies BJP may
stake claim in Maharashtra |
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Rioters join ‘ahimsa yatra’ Blackwill
meets Advani, Jaswant More
perks for Leaders of Oppn, Speaker
CPM
seeks Sinha’s resignation Decision
on Kalraj Mishra likely on June 8 Sinha, Marandi have narrow escape Tax filing simplified Seminar
on state of animal houses Row over
verdict on 2 Kolkata doctors Uttaranchal
CM for quake-proof buildings Russia
gives clean chit to HAL Commission
hiked for kerosene dealers
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IMA cadets get ‘call to battle’ Dehra Dun, June 5 Delivering his closing day address titled “call to battle”, to the Gentlemen Cadets in the hallowed Chetwode Hall here today, Lieut-Gen T.S. Shergill, P.V.S.M., Commandant, IMA, told them that many in the past had heard this call “and as the dark clouds on the horizon of this sub-continent threaten, with the drumming of thunder of war”, they would want to join their units “to be ready to fight”. “All through history, people have heard these trumpets calling out to the brave but only those have triumphed who were prepared”, the Commandant told the future Army leaders. “Questions will keep resounding in your minds — what will war be like? How will I feel? What must I do to be prepared?”, Lieut-Gen Shergill said and added that the young officers could develop confidence to succeed once they managed to get used to the abnormalities of war, and treated these as normal. Stating that confusion too formed an integral part of any battle, Lieut-Gen Shergill said “orders, counter orders and counter orders” mainly contributed to this. “This will be the normal order of things and let it not surprise you or confuse you. There will be a surge of relief when you get the final orders to fight and a good deal of excitement. Your men will say — thank God the Generals have made up their minds; it is better to go in and get it over with than be bored to death by their dithering!”, he said. Complimenting the Gentlemen Cadets for having been given a leave after the ceremonial passing out parade (on June 8), the Commandant said most of them might have to prepare for battle. “You must prepare yourself for battle. As in everything, start with your mind, clear it of all baggage. When you are on leave, meet your parents and loved ones and here too, try and display the true nonchalance of a warrior; grand-standing as a hero before you even get to the battle lines will only upset those at home and create one more worry for you to carry to the battlefield. Go to the temple or house of your Gods and be blessed by the pure spirituality of your beliefs and like a true warrior, pray for the righteousness of your cause without even a tinge of religious or sectarian animosity.” Putting forward a probable battle scenario before the military leaders of tomorrow, Lieut-Gen Shergill said it was not only essential to imbibe the values of military leadership and get to know men and command but also keep track of latest weapons and weapon systems. Reminding the cadets of the great Army traditions, Lieut-Gen Shergill said they should go to battle as a warrior and return as such. “A warrior battles warriors and always protects women, children and civilians. We do not need the Geneva Conventions to tell us this as the concept of a true warrior is embedded in the psyche of our ancient civilisation. Go to battle as a warrior and return as a warrior of honour. Do give orders to your command in this regard and see that your orders are obeyed,” he emphasised. Concluding his address with the “code of the warrior”, the Commandant told the Gentlemen Cadets to bear in mind the academy’s credo, inscribed in letters of gold in the Chetwode Hall. Earlier in the day, the Commandant gave away medals and trophies to distinction holders in various activities such as academics, weapon training and sports. A total of 573 Gentlemen Cadets belonging to 110 Regular, 93 Technical Graduates Course, SCO-8, TES-5 and Gentlemen Cadets of friendly foreign countries, including Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal and Mauritius, will pass out of the academy on June 8 to become Army officers. |
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ITBP embarks on modernisation New Delhi, June 5 “We are prepared to thwart all the threats posed by heightened terrorism... But we are also conscious of the fact that there is always scope for improvement and hence we have embarked on modernisation and strengthening of the force,” ITBP Director-General S.C. Chaube said after flagging off an ITBP expedition team to the Sudarshan mountain, near Gangotri. “Already we have finalised the procurement of Karl Gustaf machine guns and INSAS series of armaments, besides deep-search metal detectors, explosive detectors and other equipment like night-vision devices to enhance the fire power of the force to tackle insurgency and protect country’s border,” he said. The ITBP had also procured lightweight equipment and high-altitude clothings for the jawans posted in high-altitude border outposts, Mr Chaube said stressing that there was no shortage of funds for procuring operational equipment for the force. The ITBP chief said the force was also strengthening itself by adding 38 companies more to its existing battalions. “While 38 companies have already been raised, rest of the companies will be in position in the next three years,” Mr Chaube said. At present 11 battalions of the ITBP were deployed in Jammu and Kashmir in counter-insurgency operations, he said. In line with the recommendations of the Group of Ministers led by Union Home Minister L.K. Advani, each battalion of the ITBP had adopted a village and its personnel were involved in improving the hygiene, environment and other amenities in the villages and imparting education to village folks, besides extending health care, etc, Mr Chaube said. |
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Deshmukh fails to win back Left allies
Mumbai, June 5 With Deshmukh facing confidence vote by June 14 following his government losing majority in the 288-member state Assembly, he met leaders of the Left Front partners the Peasants and Workers Party and the CPM who refused to give a categorical assurance to him that they would support his government. It was re-induction of Tatkare into the cabinet that prompted the withdrawal of support by the PWP which had accused him of plotting the party’s nominee for the Raigad Zila Panchayat Chairmanship. NCP President Sharad Pawar who was today closeted with party legislators, claimed party MLA Vinay Kore had retracted his earlier letter to the Governor about withdrawing support to the DF government. But another NCP MLA Shirish Kotwal submitted a letter to Governor P C Alexander withdrawing support to the ruling coalition, taking the strength of rebel NCP MLAs to four. Mr Pawar and Deputy Chief Minister Chhagan Bhujbal, a senior NCP leader, in an apparent attempt to dissuade party MLAs to defect, cautioned the rebel legislators that they would attract the provisions of the Anti-Defection law. The NCP had already submitted a letter to Assembly Speaker to take action against these MLAs, Mr Bhujbal said adding the process to disqualify them had already been initiated by the Speaker. The PWP and the CPM told the Chief Minister that their parliamentary board would meet sometime before June 11 to take a decision in this regard. Mr Pawar, however, clarified that Tatkare’s induction was not the only matter with the Left Front allies. “There are other issues as well”, he said without divulging details.
PTI |
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BJP may stake
claim in Maharashtra New Delhi, June 5 Party Spokesman Sunil Shastri said the Vilasrao Deshmukh-led coalition was itself to blame for reducing the government to a minority. Claiming that the BJP or Shiv Sena did not play any role in destabilising the government, he said, “The Shiv Sena-BJP alliance will form the government if it has enough numbers and the coalition will last for the rest of the term.” To a query whether the BJP will stake claim to lead the coalition, he said it was already settled. “Shiv Sena will lead,” he remarked. |
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Rioters join ‘ahimsa yatra’ Palanpur (Gujarat), June 5 The monk is 83-year-old Acharya Mahapragya who is the driving force behind the proposed ‘University for Non-Violence’ in the land of Mahatma Gandhi. ‘Ahimsa Vishwavidyalaya’, billed as the only university in the world to promote peace, will be set up soon in Mehsana district. Acharya Mahapragya is the successor of the legendary Acharya Tulsi. Gujarat Assembly Speaker Dhirubhai Shah is taking up with the state government the case of land allotment at Saranga, Mehsana district, for the proposed university, BJP Rajya Sabha member Jayantibhai Barot, said here yesterday. The acharya is clear about the university’s objectives and offers practical solutions to cases of violence. ‘’With practice, we can bring about chemical changes in our body and mind so as to change our conscious and subconscious at the level of psychology itself,’’ the acharya says. “Not by speeches, but by behavioural patterns, can this be achieved. Science cannot be ignored, as it has discovered many truths. And peace cannot be achieved by religion alone. Only by a synthesis of science and religion can we eliminate the reasons of violence and bring about peace,” he explains. The acharya, is at present on a three-year peace rally across Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra. Hindu and Muslim rioters, who were fighting with each other in Ahmedabad until last month, have joined his 4,000-km-long ‘Ahimsa
Yatra’. Politicians cutting across party lines are flocking to him. Even at his ripe age, he is moving on an average of 14-km a day and has already covered 1,200-km on foot. The rally began at Sujangarh, Churu, Rajasthan, on December 5 last year when war clouds triggered by the December 13 terrorist attack on Parliament, had not yet begun to gather. Nor was Gujarat on the brink of a communal holocaust. Acharya Mahapragya has been joined by nearly 110 Jain monks and saints, besides dozens of others who will participate in the yatra every day for short distances despite the sweltering heat. Supercop K.P.S. Gill, Security Advisor to Chief Minister Narendra Modi, has approached the acharya to patronise a project in the worst-affected Gomtipur area of Ahmedabad. The acharya has received messages of support from Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee and Union Ministers L K Advani and Maneka Gandhi, Rajasthan Governor Anshuman Singh and Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, Gujarat Education Minister Anandiben Patel and Rajya Sabha MP Jayantibhai Barot.
UNI |
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Blackwill
meets Advani, Jaswant New Delhi, June 5 Mr Armitage and Mr Rumsfeld are expected to arrive here for one-day visits on June 7 and 9, respectively during which they will be meeting Mr Advani and Mr Jaswant Singh. |
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More perks for Leaders of Oppn, Speaker
New Delhi, June 5 The salaries and allowances of officers of Parliament and Leaders of Opposition in Parliament (Amendment) Bill, 2002, and the salaries and allowances of officers of Parliament (Second Amendment) Bill, 2002, were among five Bills assented to and notified in the Gazette, an official statement said. The first amendment Bill entitles the Lok Sabha Speaker and the Deputy Speaker and the Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman and each Leader of the Opposition to the same sumptuary allowance as given to the ministers by amending the Principal Acts of 1953 and 1977. The second amendment amends the Principal Act of 1954 to enhance pension for MPs who do not complete four years from Rs 2,500 per month to Rs 3,000 per month with retrospective effect from September 14, 2001. The other three Bills: The All-India Institute of Medical Sciences (Amendment) Bill, 2002, the National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (Amendment) Bill, 2002, and the Sugar Development Fund (Amendment) Bill, 2002, the statement said. All five Bills were passed during the Budget session which ended on May 17 and have been notified in the Gazette.
UNI |
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CPM seeks Sinha’s resignation New Delhi, June 5 Pointing out that the High Court had last week quashed the government notification exempting Mauritius-based foreign institutional investors (FIIs) from paying tax on capital gains in India under the Double Taxation Avoidance Treaty, it said the verdict had vindicated its position and Mr Sinha had “no grounds to remain in office any longer”. Two years ago, the CPM had demanded Mr Sinha’s resignation “for his blatant and brazen advocacy of providing a safe haven to FIIs through the Mauritius route,” the party Politburo said in a statement. It said the Mauritius route “has been used extensively by the FIIs to avoid paying taxes in India and siphoning off massive amounts of foreign exchange out of the country. The loss to the country’s exchequer may be much more than what was estimated in 2000”. The party demanded immediate plugging of the Mauritius route and punishing “All those involved in facilitating such brazen loot of the country”. |
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Decision
on Kalraj Mishra likely on June 8 New Delhi, June 5 Mr Mishra had announced his resignation during the meeting of state party executive in Lucknow on June 1. The party’s central leadership has since then been non-committal about its acceptance, saying that the decision will be taken at the right forum. The matter will be taken up with Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee when he returns later today from his four-day tour to Kazakhstan. According to a party spokesman, the meeting of the office-bearers will take up the issue but only after senior party leaders, including Mr Vajpayee, Home Minister L.K. Advani and BJP president Krishnamurthy deliberated on the issue. Mr Mishra took the party by surprise when he offered to resign owning responsibility for the party’s debacle in the recent Assembly elections in the state and citing differences among senior party leaders. His outburst was seen as significant as it came after the installation of a BSP-BJP alliance government in the state. Mr Krishnamurthy had said he was yet to give any thought to the resignation and a decision would be taken soon. He also dismissed the possibility of a replacement for Mr Mishra citing the same reason. The BJP president discussed the issue with Mr Advani yesterday. Former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Rajnath Singh, in charge of state party affairs, had also been called here in this connection. When contacted, Mr Rajnath Singh denied any differences in the state party affairs and hoped things would be cleared soon. He also met senior party leaders in the wake of the ‘resignation episode’ and said he was of the view that Mr Mishra’s resignation should not be accepted. |
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Sinha, Marandi have narrow escape
Ranchi, June 5 The incident occurred in front of mediapersons when a staff member shut the door of the helicopter with Sinha, his wife and Marandi on board. The moment he shut the door the glass panes came off. The helicopter, hired for helping Sinha catch a Delhi flight from Ranchi, however, took off after the panes were refitted. Lensmen at the airstrip said they were abused by the pilot, who also tried to snatch their cameras. The personal secretary, when asked about the pilot’s behaviour, said photography of airstrips and airports was not allowed. The Deputy Commissioner apologised to the mediapersons for the pilot’s behaviour.
PTI |
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Tax filing simplified
New Delhi, June 5 “With a view to further simplify procedures for small-tax payers, it has been decided that non-corporate tax payers, whose total income for 2002-03 is up to Rs 2 lakh will have the option of filing their return in the old Form No 2D Saral,” the Finance Ministry said in a press note. Under the existing Income Tax rules, non-corporates other than charitable or religious trusts and persons covered under One-by-Six scheme, are required to file their returns in Form No 2 if the income is from business or profession and in Form No 3 if income comes from other sources. Persons filing their returns in Form No 2 and Form No 3 need not furnish the general information as specified in the forms, the press note said. The move comes after representations from various quarters about the complications involved in filing tax returns. The clarification also comes after Finance Minister Yashwant Sinha discussed with Income Tax Commissioners the complexities involved in filing returns through the Saral form.
PTI |
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Seminar
on state of animal houses New Delhi, June 5 Ms Maneka Gandhi who heads the animal welfare division in the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation told TNS that the main objective of holding the seminar was to learn from each others experiences, to know the laws regarding experiments on animals and look at potential for further improvement. The CPCSEA is an apex statutory body comprising heads of major national institutes engaged in scientific research. It has a mandate of looking at animal houses and experiments on animals and to see that these are of international standards. Sources in the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation told TNS that 25 scientists were expected to make presentations on the state of animal houses, kind of experiments on animals and the alternatives to experiments on animals. |
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Row over verdict on 2 Kolkata doctors Kolkata, June 5 The doctors had been charged with negligence of duties and giving an improper treatment to
Anuradha, wife of Dr Kunal Saha, an NRI in the USA, leading to her untimely death. The ‘judgement’ delivered on May 29 after a four-year-long legal battle, shuttling from lower court to the Supreme Court and back between the aggrieved husband and the doctors that ultimately justified allegations of the dereliction of duties against some
doctors. Kunal Saha, himself a medical practitioner in Ohio, filed a criminal case at Alipore court in November, 1998, shortly after Anuradha’s death at Mumbai Breach Candy Hospital against the three
doctors-Mukherjee, a consultant in medicine, Halder, a dermatologist and Abani Roy Chowdhury of medicine. Anuradha was under their treatment from May, 1998 onwards during her stay in the city for attending a family marriage when she suddenly fell sick. At the later stage, she was, however, taken to the hospital where she died. Dr Mukherjee and Dr Halder had been granted bail while Dr Roy Chowdhury was acquitted for the lack of evidence. The counsels for the accused said they would file petitions in the higher courts against the judgement. Dr Kunal Saha’s lawyer also declared they too would go to the high court and the Supreme Court against the judgement which they remarked was not enough for the crimes the doctors had committed. The Indian Medical Council
(IMA), which has been pleading in favour of the punished doctors, alleged that they had been wrongly penalised and denied that there had been any negligence as such on the part of the doctors that led to the unfortunate death of
Anuradha. |
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Uttaranchal
CM for quake-proof buildings Dehra Dun, June 5 |
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Russia
gives clean chit to HAL Bangalore, June 5 The Russian Aircraft Corporation MiG (RAC MiG) had sent a communication to the HAL, issuing a clarification that there was no truth in the last month’s Russian media reports, HAL Chairman and Managing Director N. R. Mohanty said. Leading Russian daily ‘Izvestia, quoting unnamed Russian military experts, had reported that certified quality spares imported from Russia were being re-exported by the HAL to Algeria and Vietnam, while the IAF was being supplied with “cheap and uncertified spares picked from former Warsaw Pact countries in Eastern Europe and CIS nations”.
PTI |
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Commission
hiked for kerosene dealers New Delhi, June 5 An official press note issued said the commission for wholesalers (holding Form XIII) would be Rs 204 per kilolitre and for other wholesalers (not holding Form XIII) would be Rs 161 per kilolitre, effective from midnight of June 4 and 5. The revision, however, was recommendatory in nature and subject to approval by the state governments. It said the wholesalers having Form XIII were those dealers who were required to have adequate land space for underground tankage and barrel filling capacities while dealers only with barrel filling facilities fell under the category of ‘other wholesalers’. It said the retail prices of kerosene under the public distribution system (PDS) would consequently go up by 4 paise per litre. It said the new rates were based on the recommendation of the committee of the Marketing Directors of oil companies and Executive Director, Petroleum Planning and Analysis Cell. |
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