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Wednesday,
October 23, 2002, Chandigarh, India  
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VHP steps up attack on Mishra 5-yr Plan to wait for PM-RSS meeting Kisan morcha threatens rally BJP concerned over
J&K stalemate
ITBP deployment
temporary |
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DMK holds rally against Jaya Indo-US air forces hold exercise
USA to play active role 10 babies die in Bengal hospital Ultra plotting
to kill Advani shot by police
US University
Fair from today Sharma’s remand
extended till Nov 5 PM to address
rally on Oct 25
PM to celebrate Divali in Cambodia Japanese special envoy meets Advani, Sinha Drug traffickers
gang busted Panel to check fraud NGOs
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VHP steps up attack on Mishra New Delhi, October 22 “The handling of the Ayodhya issue by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) during the Shiladaan programme in March this year specifically made a dent in Mr Vajpayee’s image,” VHP’s international working President Ashok Singhal said addressing a press conference here. “What happened during those 15 days (in the run-up to Shiladaan programme in Ayodhya) has definitely spoilt the Prime Minister’s image...Mr Brajesh Mishra was pulling the strings of the whole show without taking Mr Vajpayee into confidence,” Mr Singhal said. Ducking a pointed question whether his statement implied that Mr Vajpayee was a “very weak Prime Minister”, Mr Singhal said the Prime Minister could regain his image and also bridge the gap between his government and the Sangh Parivar by “punishing the guilty” and taking steps to resolve the Ayodhya issue. To another question whether only the removal of Mr Mishra from the PMO would help resolve the differences, Mr Singhal said “that was for the government to decide.” Earlier, Mr Singhal asked the Congress to stop the “hate and violent” campaign launched by it against VHP international general secretary Praveen Togadia for using “indecent language” against Ms Sonia Gandhi and warned that “there will be problem across the country if anything happened to the VHP leader.” Maintaining that leaders in general should avoid using indecent language, Mr Singhal said it was the Congress which should first seek a public apology for using such language against the Sangh Parivar. “They (Congress) have abused us as rapists, murderers and killers of Mahatma Gandhi, but we never indulged in any violent protest...Their most revered leader and former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi had also on occasion used indecent language. Let the Congress first apologise, then we will consider about our apology,” he said. “I hope they (Congress) will stop the hate campaign forthwith,” he added. |
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5-yr Plan to wait for PM-RSS meeting New Delhi, October 22 Yesterday’s meeting of the Union Cabinet, which was to discuss the Plan (which, among other things, pegs the disinvestment figure at Rs 60,000 crore during the plan period), was called off because of indifferent health of the Prime Minister. Well-placed political sources today told The Tribune that the Prime Minister was likely to meet Mr Sudarshan in the next few days. This meeting may take place as early as October 25. If this does not work out then the meeting would have to be delayed by a few more days for a mutually convenient date. Mr Sudarshan is coming here tomorrow and is scheduled to remain in the Capital till October 25, after which he would leave for Indore. The meeting, whenever it takes place, is likely to be attended by Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani and RSS joint general secretary Madan Das Devi, who is in charge of political affairs. Human Resource Development Minister Murali Manohar Joshi and Samata Party President and Defence Minister George Fernandes may also be invited for the meeting. Mr Fernandes is unhappy with certain aspects of the government’s disinvestment policy and has already had a meeting regarding this with Mr Sudarshan. Significantly, there has been a major shift in the RSS stand over disinvestment and the sangh leadership is coming round to the view that disinvestment does not go contrary to its stand on “Swadeshi”. The Disinvestment Ministry is also understood to be preparing a dossier for public circulation, highlighting that the “Swadeshi” movement is not endangered by disinvestment as most of the companies sold through disinvestment process so far have been purchased by Indian companies only. Sources also disclosed that if the Union Cabinet meeting were to take place before the Vajpayee-Sudarshan meeting, the Tenth Five-Year Plan would not figure on the agenda. |
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Kisan morcha threatens rally Alwar (Rajasthan), October 22 The state president of the morcha, Mr Attar Singh Bhadana, while making the announcement, said the move was with an aim to organise the farmers and caution the government to give up its “anti-farmer” policy. The announcement was made at a public meeting of farmers organised by the morcha. Also embedded in the campaign will be the BJP’s “go to the villages” launched through out the country. Addressing the gathering Professor Shinankar alleged that the Rajasthan Government had failed to redress the farmers’ grievances. The farmers financial condition had deteriorated and there had been reports of suicides and deaths in the state due to the recent drought. The state government had deliberately not picked up wheat, fodder and other relief materials made available by the Centre, he added. He goaded the farmers not to depend on the government. The farmers should come out, hold panchayats and initiate trials against the State Chief Minister. The morcha is against Mrs Sonia Gandhi’s public speech in which she had praised the state government’s functioning, including its handling of the famine during her visit to the state a few days ago. According to him, the ruling party has failed to implement its poll promises. It had promised to reduce power tariff from 50 paise per unit to 35 paise, but instead it increased it to more than a rupee per unit. While the power
tariff and prices of other agricultural inputs had increased the rate of the produce of the farmers remained the same. The morcha leaders stated that the state government had not implemented some of the Central schemes like Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojna, Kisan Credit Card and Kaam Ke Badle Anaaj. Those who spoke on the occasion included Mr Madan Lal Saini, Rao Shiv Rattan, BJP MP from Alwar, Dr Jaswant Singh and Mr Balwan Singh. |
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BJP concerned over
J&K stalemate New Delhi, October 22 Talking to newspersons here, party spokesman Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said the people of the state had given a historic mandate which was a victory of democracy over terrorism. This should not go waste because of petty party politics. Mr Naqvi said the BJP was hopeful that the parties would resolve the issue keeping national interest above all and a democratic and national government, which stood by the country’s Constitution, would soon come into being in the state. “We want the Congress, the PDP and all elected representatives in the state to respect the victory of democracy in the state and the sacrifices of the people for it and rise above vested political interests,” he said. Asserting that the people had ensured the defeat of terrorism, he accused the Congress and the PDP of sacrificing the victory of democracy for selfish political interests. |
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ITBP deployment
temporary New Delhi, October 22 The ITBP men have been deployed to guard the national highway, the lifeline of Kashmir Valley. “Earlier, the BSF was put in charge of guarding the national highway, which was of strategic importance to the Indian Army, but after they were redeployed we have been entrusted with the job. And we are confident of doing a good job,” Mr Chaube told a group of journalists on the sidelines of the Director-General’s insignia parade to mark the 40th raising day of the force. Addressing the jawans on the occasion, Mr Chaube said the ITBP was well-equipped to handle any new challenge. “In the last one year our forces have been equipped with a lastest weapon system,” he said. Recently, the most modern INSAS rifles have been provided to the ITBP personnel in place of the SLRs to increase their fire-power and also to improve mobility in high-altitude region. The strength of ITBP was also being raised this year. “Due to the extensive cadre review of the force, taken up with the active support of the Ministry of Home Affairs, an additional 30 companies will be raised, so that 5,000 new posts can be created,” Mr Chaube said.
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DMK holds rally against Jaya Chennai, October 22 At a public rally in Chennai, the DMK general secretary, Mr K. Anbazhagan, presented a sword to Mr Stalin, declaring that “after Karunanidhi, Stalin will write the history”. Mr Stalin told reporters that the agitation was the first phase of protest against the “anti-people” policies of the AIADMK government. The protests, in which more than 25,000 cadres courted arrest, were meant to signal opposition to the various measures taken recently by the state government, including power tariff hike, the PDS rice price increase, termination of the services of road workers and the ordinance banning forcible conversions. The DMK claimed that more than 75,000 of its workers were arrested all over the state, but the police authorities said about 27,0 00 persons were detained. All of them, except those arrested for specific offences, were released. The agitation brought into focus the rift between Mr Stalin and his elder brother, Mr Azhagiri, who along with his supporters stayed away from the protest rally in
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Indo-US air forces hold exercise Agra, October 22 After the first round of transport aircraft exercises the USA would be looking forward to involving fighter planes in the next phase, the schedule for which is still to be worked out. The two countries are also looking forward to involving the helicopters in the next phase of exercises. Hinting at the probability of the two air forces holding fighter exercises, Col Jeffery L Levault, Director of Operations, Anderson air base in Guam, said the schedule could be worked out by the Indo-US Joint Air Force, Army and Navy steering committee meeting to be held in the Capital on November 14 and 15. India is to hold the first ever fighter exercises with France early next year when French air force Mirage-2000 will hold joint manoeuvres with the Indian Mirage-2000. Mr Levault is the highest ranking US observer at the just underway Indo-US Air transport exercise Cope India-2002 being held at Indian Air Forces’ largest transport base here. About 150 US and approximately 300 Indian personnel today took part in formation flying and para-dropping. The two forces were also involved in precise heavy dropping. While the USA used five of its Hercules C- 130 to help the Indian forces in paradropping, the IAF put to use its seven AN-32 and two IL-76 aircraft. During the exercises the Americans have unfolded for the first time, station keeping equipment for controlled formation flying — the presence of which could have avoided the crashes as witnessed during the Naval flypast in Goa last month. This is the fourth in the series of joint exercises which Indian and the US forces have been undertaking. After the first exercise in Agra, Exercise Balance Iroquois-02,earlier in May this year, two exercises were held in Alaska. However this is the first time that only air forces of the two countries are participating in any exercise. |
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USA to play active role New Delhi, October 22 The meeting is the eighth Conference of the Parties (COP-8) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The Kyoto Protocol is a treaty that grew from the years of negotiation in that framework. It will impose mandatory reductions in carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions that are linked to global warming. The Bush administration opposes the Kyoto Protocol on the grounds that its reduction targets will cause serious damage to the US economy, according to a note issued by the US Embassy here. “We will be following protocol issues,” Mr Watson said at a news briefing in Washington before his departure for India. “We are certainly not going to interfere, but we will be watching very carefully, obviously to protect our national interests”, he said. Mr Watson said the New Delhi meeting will also be the first opportunity for US experts to explain the Bush administration policy on climate change, announced by the president last February. The plan commits the USA to cutting greenhouse gas intensity by 18 per cent over the next 10 years. The initiative also supports an enhanced research effort and expands funding devoted to climate change. |
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10 babies die in Bengal hospital Kolkata, October 22 This time, 10 babies died, not in any city hospital, but in Burdwan government hospital, about 70 km from Kolkata, on October 19 and 20. The deaths were due to septicaemia. This time also, allegations of negligence by doctors and nurses and of lack of proper medical equipment for treatment were levelled. Yesterday, Congress and Trinamool Congress workers and supporters staged a dharna in front of the hospital in Burdwan against the deaths. Congress Seva Dal volunteers in Burdwan also stormed into the hospital and ransacked parts of the hospital. The Health Minister, Dr Surya Kanto Mishra, said he had asked for a report from the hospital superintendent and reiterated that the guilty would be brought to book. The Chief Minister, Mr Buddhadev Bhattacharjee, regretted that such a large number of babies had died in the hospital. He said he had asked the Health Minister to hold a probe and take appropriate steps. The victims’ families alleged that the children had been left unattended for long hours after being brought to the hospital, which had caused their death. The hospital authorities refuted the allegations, but the doctors alleged shortage of medical equipment like oxygen, blood and life-saving drugs in the hospital. According to the deputy superintendent of the hospital, they had tried to send the patients of Kolkata, but lack of an ambulance and other transport facilities stood in the way. The CPI(M) Secretary, Mr Anil Biswas, said he had asked the district party office to send him a detailed report of the babies’ death at the hospital. |
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Ultra plotting
to kill Advani shot by police Ahmedabad, October 22 Thirty-year-old Khan was picked up from the state transport bus terminus here on September 27. Since then, he was in police custody for interrogation. “Late last night, he was being taken to a spot near the Vidyanagar High School bus stand by a crime branch team headed by SI K.M. Vaghela around 2 a.m. to confirm the location where he and his accomplices had killed a police Constable ,” the police said. As soon as they reached the spot, Khan snatched Vaghela’s revolver and tried to flee and “also opened fire”. In the ensuing encounter, the terrorist was grievously injured and rushed to Civil Hospital where he was declared dead.
PTI |
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US University
Fair from today New Delhi, October 22 Representatives of 10 American universities will offer detailed information about their institutions and programmes at the fair. The participating universities include American University, Washington DC, California State University, Chicago, California, Savannah College of Art and Design, Georgia, St. Joseph’s University, Pennsylvania, State University of New York, Buffalo, New York, and Temple University, Pennsylvania. |
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Sharma’s remand
extended till Nov 5 New Delhi, October 22 Metropolitan Magistrate J.P. Narayan extended the judicial remand of R.K. Sharma and his co-accused Shree Bhagwan, Pradeep, Ved Prakash, Ved Sharma and Satya Prakash for another 14 days. DCP Mukund Upadhyay said charge sheet against the accused would be filed any day before October 28. Pradeep, in a hand-written complaint, alleged that his family members in Najafgarh had been tortured and harassed by officials of the Delhi police crime branch. |
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PM to address
rally on Oct 25 New Delhi, October 22 BJP national President Venkaiah Naidu and others from the NDA constituents were also expected to address the rally, Delhi Pradesh BJP President Madan Lal Khurana said at a meeting of the party’s workers. Mr Khurana said the party had constituted nine more cells on the lines of the Sikh cell that was set up yesterday. The prominent among the new cells were those for backward classes and sports. New Delhi, October 22 Official sources said here today that Mr Vajpayee would take part in the first-ever India-ASEAN summit in Cambodia on November 5. From Cambodia, the Prime Minister will proceed to Laos. |
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Japanese special envoy meets Advani, Sinha New Delhi, October 22 Mr Mori, who is currently in India as special envoy of his country’s Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, today met Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani and External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha. Mr Mori was supposed to call on Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee to deliver a personal letter from Mr Koizumi but could not do so as Mr Vajpayee has cancelled all his official engagements for a couple of days. Instead, Mr Mori delivered the letter to Mr Advani, Foreign Office spokesman Navtej Sarna told reporters. During his 40-minute meeting with Mr Sinha, Mr Mori discussed a wide range of bilateral and international issues. |
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Drug traffickers
gang busted New Delhi, October 22 The arrested suspects were identified as Mohammad Yaqoob Meer, a truck driver, who was a resident of Anantnag and Mushtaq, owner of a restaurant in the walled city. The value of the seized narcotics is about Rs 1 crore in the international market. The NCB received an intelligence report that a Kashmir-based gang involved in illegal trafficking of narcotics will enter the Capital with hashish and that the consignment would come in a truck (JK-01-A-8636). A team of NCB was deployed at the Singhu Border. The truck was found parked near the toll tax naka at the border. The search of the truck resulted in the recovery of the hashish concealed in three packets. |
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Panel to check fraud NGOs New Delhi, October 22 “Our department has set up the S Satyam Committee NGOs, which will submit its report within six months”, Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment Mr Satyanaryan Jatiya told newspersons here today. The minister said nobody would be allowed to misuse public funds by floating fictitious NGOs. “Howsoever big he or she may be, nobody can be allowed to float any fictitious NGO as the funds they receive are public money”, he said. |
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BID TO BREAK INTO AMITABH’S HOUSE EMINENT PUNJABI WRITER DEAD 5 GIRLS SOLD IN TRIBAL DISTRICT |
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