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Monday,
July 15, 2002, Chandigarh, India  
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Yashwant
to attend ARF meet in Brunei BJP woes
not yet over Left to
raise Vaiko issue in Parliament Kalam vows
to end poverty in fifteen years Lucknow, July 14 The Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Ms Mayawati, is writing her own revenge story: she is targeting all those leaders who had formed a breakaway BSP group, by the name of Jantantrik Bahujan Samaj Party JBSP, around five years ago. Back at the helm of affairs, Ms Mayawati, is out to settle a score with these leaders. |
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Maneka
was removed ‘to please Sonia’ Sonia
writes to PM on Gujarat camps IAF may
acquire AJTs soon Murder
accused killed in custody
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Yashwant to attend ARF meet in Brunei New Delhi, July 14 With cross-border terrorism continuing to plague Indo-Pakistan relations and the issue expected to figure prominently at the meeting to be attended by the USA, Russia, China, Japan, the European Union and other key countries, Mr Sinha’s task of conveying his country’s concerns will be under popular scrutiny. The terrorist incident at Kasimnagar in Jammu, cross-border terrorism and infiltration from Pakistan will be some issues which Mr Sinha would have to put across to the international diplomatic community assembled at Brunei as comparisons with his immediate predecessor Jaswant Singh are bound to be drawn both in the domestic and international circles. Ahead of that, the External Affairs Minister will have meetings with
British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw when he arrives here on July 19 and US Secretary of State Colin Powell during his two-day visit to India and Pakistan from July 27. The minister is expected to have a second meeting with Mr Powell a few days later in Brunei on the sidelines of the ARF meeting where a number of leading international players are expected to be present. With a change of guard in the MEA, observers aver that the new External Affairs Minister is expected to perform a tactical “balancing act” shifting away from the popularly perceived “pro-US” tilt. Giving indications of his approach, Mr Sinha has said India will be “very, very careful” in its dealings with Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf who has been reneging on his pledge to stop infiltration of terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir. The minister has also ruled out the prospects of an early resumption of dialogue with Pakistan till it gave ample proof of dismantling terrorists’ infrastructure in that country. Mr Sinha’s programme, who is likely to leave on July 30, is still being fine-tuned and bilateral meetings with key leaders are in the process of being worked out. The inaugural session of the ARF is slated for July 31 followed by the Post- Ministerial Conference the next day. The issue of terrorism will undoubtedly be a major subject on the agenda as this will be the first major gathering of foreign ministers of the key countries since the September 11 terrorist strike in the USA. Though the USA has asked Pakistan to dismantle terrorist camps on its territory and permanently end infiltration of militants in Jammu and Kashmir, New Delhi is wary of Washington’s attempt to do a balancing act towards Islamabad. While stating that it understood India’s concerns on Pakistan-sponsored terrorism and infiltration, the USA has, at the same time, also been playing a crucial role in facilitating financial aid of over $ 8 billion to Pakistan by the World Bank, IMF and other financial institutions, officials stressed. Should a country which is seen as a focal point of terrorism in the region be rewarded only because it suited Washington at this point of time, is their common refrain. Mr Powell’s remarks that India should take more steps to de-escalate the situation have also come under scrutiny with India driving home its stand that the onus was on Pakistan to take credible and visible steps to end infiltration and terrorism permanently. Both Mr Sinha and the new Foreign Secretary, Mr Kanwal Sibal, are said to be having reservations over “undue over importance” being given to the USA in the current Indo-Pak stand-off. |
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BJP woes not yet over New Delhi, July 14 The presidential elections along with the ensuing vice-presidential elections, in which the Bharatiya Janata Party is likely to have its way, will only postpone the woes of the ruling party combine to some extent as the Opposition led by the Congress has lined up a whole list of issues, ranging from the Gujarat situation to disinvestment, to corner the government. The arrest of MDMK leader Vaiko under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA) and the alleged misuse of the law for political considerations by the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa is bound to be raised from within the ranks of the NDA. The continued terrorist killings in Kashmir and the standoff with Pakistan will resurface in the discussions and it will be External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha who will do all the explaining with regard to Pakistan. The proposal to impose Central rule in Jammu and Kashmir to ensure free and fair polls will also throw up an interesting debate. Members are also expected to join ranks when the Bill to nullify the Election Commission order, making it mandatory for candidates seeking election to Parliament or state assemblies to furnish details about their assets and criminal records, is taken up. Differences in the House will surface when the Congress takes up the CBI raids on the Tehelka office premises and the arrest of a couple of its journalists. The proposed bifurcation of the Eastern Railway zone will see constituents of the NDA — Samata and Trinamool — oppose each other and Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee will have to use his persuasive skills to keep them cool. The aftermath of the Gujarat riots will be raised by the Congress, with party President Sonia Gandhi already highlighting the poor condition of relief camps set up for refugees of the minority community. The government has lined up 37 important Bills, including several economic legislations, which it hopes to get passed this session. The government will make another attempt to steer through the Bill for 33 per cent reservation for women in state assemblies and the Lok Sabha and the Lok Pal Bill to look into any corruption charges being raised against those in high places, including the Prime Minister. The session will conclude on August 14 and will have 23 sittings spread over 31days. |
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Left to raise Vaiko issue in Parliament New Delhi, July 14 The parties will ask the government to clarify whether the arrest of Mr Vaiko under POTA was a misuse of the law by the Jayalalithaa government, CPM leader Somnath Chatterjee said after a meeting of the parliamentary party here. “If the law has been misused, then what action does the Centre proposes to take. If it is not, then how is Mr Vaiko’s party part of the government,” he said, adding that the Prime Minister and the Deputy Prime Minister were “keeping quiet” on the matter and should clarify the Centre’s stand. He said probably the NDA coalition could “sacrifice the MDMK because they had less number of MPs than the
AIADMK”. PTI |
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Kalam vows to end poverty in fifteen years Bangalore, July 14 A third of the country’s population lived below the poverty line and his first priority would be to remove poverty, Dr Kalam said addressing students at Sri Bhagawan Mahaveer Jain College. The presidential candidate of the NDA and the Congress paid a visit to the city with barely 24 hours left for the election. In his message to the youth, Dr Kalam said: “Sweat, sweat and sweat and like an electron work hard.” Dr Kalam, who chose this city as his last stopover before the election, continued his mission to visit schools and colleges to inspire the youth to lead the country on the path of development. About his latest research, he said: “It is about young minds... about how to ignite the minds of the people to work for the country. I am convinced that the ignited mind is the most powerful resource in the whole world. If I can ignite your mind, the country will prosper.” The schoolchildren sang a song of youth along with Dr Kalam. The song concluded with a pledge: “I will keep the lamp of knowledge burning to achieve the vision — Developed India.” More than 300 students participated in the interaction. Dr Kalam was accompanied by Dr Kota Harinarayana, former Director of the Aeronautical Development Agency which coordinated the development and realisation of the multi-role Light Combat Aircraft.
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Mayawati
out to settle score with defectors Lucknow, July 14 The revenge story started taking shape as soon as Ms Mayawati was sworn in Chief Minister. She made it clear to the BJP, major ally of the BSP in the government, that she would not take any leader in her Cabinet who had joined the JBSP. She struck to her words. Despite requests from the BJP, she did not take any JBSP leader in the ministry. It may be recalled that in 1997, at least 19 legislators broke away from the BSP to form the JBSP. This new political outfit supported the BJP-led government and in lieu all of them were made ministers. The BSP moved the court against this, but the case is still pending. The arrest of Raja Gajnaffar Ali, a former Haj minister in Rajnath Singh’s government, is the beginning of the second chapter of this revenge story. Raja, a BSP leader had masterminded the split in the BSP to form the JBSP. Police officials see a case of political vendetta in this arrest. The probe into the minority scholarship scam had been going on for past one year. FIRs had been lodged against 25 persons. Raja’s name was not there in the initial report. It was a late inclusion, said a senior police official. How and why Raja’s name found mention in the FIR no one knows, he said. Raja’s case is not an isolated case. The two other former ministers and JBSP leaders under Mayawati’s firing line are Markandey Chand and Ram Asrey Kushwaha. Both of them were initially BSP leaders, but later joined the JBSP at the insistence of the Raja. Armed with the Lok Ayukt report, Ms Mayawati is all set to nail them. The Lok Ayukt had indicted both these former ministers on corruption charges and the files were sent to the state government for further action. Even the Lucknow Bench of Allahabad High Court had given a ruling against Mr Chand. But the files were swept under the carpet by the then Chief Minister, Mr Rajnath Singh. Not only this even the high court directions were overlooked in this matter. Ms Mayawati is, however, keen to take the skeletons out of the cupboard. All those ministers who had been found guilty by the Lok Ayukt would be punished, said the Chief Minister with an obvious reference to Mr Chand and Mr Kushwaha. It is matter of days when these ministers, too, would be arrested, she said. |
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Maneka was removed ‘to please Sonia’ Bhopal, July 14 Mr Dheeru was addressing a press conference after announcing the merger of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi’s Ajeya Bharat Party into Shakti Dal here today. He was president of Ajeya Bharat Party’s state unit. He said when Ms Maneka Gandhi quit the Janata Party, he joined the Ajeya Bharat Party on the Maharishi’s promise to build an outfit for the development of the state. Describing Ms Maneka Gandhi as an honest politician, Mr Dheeru claimed that Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee and other party leaders were also annoyed with her as she always opposed the “wrong policies” of the BJP. She had, for instance, criticised the Narendra Modi government’s partisan attitude towards riot victims in Gujarat and was also critical of the Centre’s policy of privatisation, he said. |
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Sonia writes to PM on Gujarat camps New Delhi, July 14 In a letter to Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, Ms Gandhi said she was receiving reports that the victims residing in the camps, most of them poor, were still urgently in need of continued food rations, shelter during the monsoon and fair compensation. “The compensation paid so far has gone to only a small percentage of the victims and is grossly inadequate. You are aware that many of the affected people have lost their sources of livelihood as well as their homes. Adequate compensation and loans for reconstruction are therefore an urgent necessity,’’ Ms Gandhi said. She said a host of other obvious measures like proper sanitation at the camps, provision of potable drinking water and medicines, guaranteeing children’s education, counselling and legal intervention were also equally necessary and should have been comprehensively introduced long ago. “Yet, very little or nothing has been done in this direction,’’ she said. The Leader of the Opposition urged the Prime Minister to make a thorough review of the situation and direct the state and central governments to immediately undertake the necessary measures before the monsoon set in. |
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IAF may acquire AJTs soon
New Delhi, July 14 Defence sources said the government was considering every aspect of the recommendations made by the Price Negotiations Committee (PNC), which submitted its report earlier this year. “Once the government accepts the recommendations of the PNC, India will buy a limited number of Hawk jets on an outright basis to add to the bite of the IAF”, they added. The 1-billion-pound deal has been hanging fire since mid-80s when the need for AJTs was felt by the IAF. Subsequently, two AJTs — British Hawks and French Alfas — were shortlisted by the IAF to meet its longstanding need of advanced trainers. In the meantime, France stopped manufacturing Alfa jets, prompting India to zero in on the British jets. After thorny negotiations, the two sides decided to set up the PNC as India had reservations about the price quoted by Britain. The PNC took more than two years to make its recommendations. “These recommendations are now with the government, which is expected to take a decision any time now”, the sources added. Originally, India had planned to but 66 AJTs. However, the possibility now was that India would go in for the purchase of “a limited number of aircraft, costing about Rs 60 crore apiece, on an outright basis”. Some aircraft might be assembled or licence-produced in India since Britain had agreed to the transfer of technology, the sources added. The IAF has, been urging the government to take an early decision on the AJT deal. The need for AJTs has been accentuated by a spate in the crashes of MIGs over the past one year. The IAF had, in May, withdrawn for some time the MIGs from training duty after one of the aircraft crashed on the civilian population near Jalandhar.
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Murder accused killed in custody
Vijayawada, July 14 Circle Inspector N. Venkatreddy said Kodeboyana Srinivasa Rao, alias Budda Santhan, had tried to snatch a revolver from a Sub-Inspector during interrogation around 3.30 a.m. and opened two rounds of fire, forcing the sentry constable to return the fire, which killed him on the spot. Santhan, who was arrested along with two others and produced at a press conference here yesterday, had made a startling confession that TDP leader E. Satyanarayana, the media cell in charge of the TDP city unit, had been pestering him since November to finish off his close friend Vangaveti Santhan, son of former Congress legislator Vangaveti Chalapathi Rao. Santhan was being questioned to reveal the names of all those involved in the conspiracy of murdering Satyanarayana. He was also involved in several cases, including the murder of another history-sheeter, Nageswara Rao, in 1998. Santhan’s body was shifted to Government General Hospital, where his mother-in-law alleged that the police had killed him to prevent the disclosure of the names of politicians allegedly involved in the murder. Close on the heels of killing four dacoits in an encounter in neighbouring Guntur district, the Vijawada police shot dead another history-sheeter, V. Durgaprasad, on June 8. Satyanarayana was hacked to death, allegedly by Santhan and his friend Muralikrishna, in broad daylight on July 10.
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