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Thursday,
April 17, 2003, Chandigarh, India  
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PM, Advani behind UP oppression: Amar
BJP: cases against Mulayam vendetta |
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Race on
for J&K Governor’s post Pak most irresponsible: Sibal
133 Rly employees given awards
Pawar re-elected NCP chief 11 Naxals surrender SP to file cases against Maya Cong grappling with
Karunakaran issue
Palamu still under curfew Criminal-minister
nexus in Bihar Cases against Ranveer Sena chief set aside
Below normal monsoon likely Sankalp yatra flagged off NRI doc’s divorce plea rejected Chambal dacoit evades police, visits temple
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PM, Advani behind UP oppression: Amar New Delhi, April 16 Lashing out at Chief Minister Mayawati for slapping cases against Opposition leaders in the state, Mr Amar Singh asserted that the controversial tapes had been prepared by “BSP insiders.” He went a step ahead to point out that the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister was behaving like a mad elephant. “She (Mayawati) is behaving like a ‘madmast’ (intoxicated) mad elephant and is crushing everyone coming in her path,” Mr Amar Singh said while addressing a conference here. He alleged that the rule of oppression in Uttar Pradesh had “blessings of Mr Vajpayee and Mr Advani” and there was “absolute hand of BJP in the happenings in the state.” “Mr Vajpayee and Mr Advani have surrendered before Mayawati just to save the alliance with the BSP in view of the coming Lok Sabha elections,” Mr Amar Singh alleged. The SP, he said, would respond to the slapping of cases on its leaders by organising a “cycle yatra” in Uttar Pradesh from April 19 to May 12. Challenging Ms Mayawati to arrest Mr Mulayam Singh Yadav and himself, Mr Amar Singh said he would hold Mr Vajpayee and Mr Advani responsible if any such thing happened. He pointed out that while “baseless cases” were being lodged against SP leaders, “several persons accused of heinous crimes like murder were in the government or close to it.” |
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BJP: cases against Mulayam vendetta New Delhi, April 16 “It definitely seems to be political vendetta and we will not like anybody to use the power to settle scores with opponents,” BJP general secretary Pramod Mahajan said here. However, he hastened to add that this battle was not started by Ms Mayawati. “During the past couple of months, the SP had committed the same crime by releasing two cassettes of private meetings of Ms Mayawati, doctored or otherwise,” he said, adding: “Naturally, the battle has begun.” he added. On the slapping of sedition charges against VHP leader Praveen Togadia by the Rajasthan Government, Mr Mahajan said it reflected the “bankruptcy of the state government.” “There is a tradition of distributing symbolic weapons. Trishul is not a weapon of mass destruction but a symbol of devotion,” Mr Mahajan told newspersons here. |
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Race on for J&K Governor’s post New Delhi, April 16 Mr K Padmanabaiah, the Centre’s interlocutor on the Naga issue, Dr B. P. Singh and Mr A. S. Dulat are the top contenders for the post, sources said. The Centre is seeking the opinion of the state Chief Minister, Mufti Mohammed Sayeed, on the appointment of the new Governor in place of Mr Girish Chandra Saxena, whose term expires by the end of this month. The Centre is in the process of finding replacements for six outgoing Governors, including Mr Saxena. The names of many veteran BJP leaders, including former party Chief Jana Krishnamurthy, Mr Kailashpati Mishra and Mr Pyarelal Khandelwal, are being considered. However, there is a consensus that Mr Kapoor should not be disturbed at this critical juncture as the elections are round the corner. Mr Kapoor was the Chief Secretary of Jammu and Kashmir during 1990-91. Mr Padmanabaiah, during his tenure as the Home Secretary, was actively involved in tackling militancy in the state while Mr Dulat, a former chief of RAW, is known for his close proximity to several top Kashmiri
leaders, including separatists. UNI |
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Pak most irresponsible: Sibal New Delhi, April 16 “They (Pakistan) continue to foment violence in India and sponsor terrorism against it. Is that being responsible. In fact, I would say that Pakistan is probably the most irresponsible country in the world,” Foreign Secretary Mr Sibal told a television channel. Mr Kasuri on Tuesday had warned India of massive retaliation if it tried to launch a pre-emptive strike on Pakistan, contending that Islamabad had a more advance missile programme than New Delhi. He also described as “irresponsible” comments from External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha that there was a stronger case for military action against Pakistan than Iraq if the criteria for it was having weapons of mass destruction, export of terrorism and absence of democracy. Mr Sibal said Pakistan was also irresponsible because of the volatile mixture of international terrorism, Islamic fundamentalism and weapons of mass destruction. “They are the last people to talk about India being irresponsible”, he said. Meanwhile, Pakistani Foreign Office in Islamabad is trying to clip the wings of Information Minister Sheikh Rashid who frequently makes out-of-turn comments on foreign affairs, including those pertaining to India, causing much embarrassment to the country. The Foreign Office issued a statement on Tuesday saying only the President, the Prime Minister and the Foreign Minister were authorised to make statements on foreign affairs. The statement did not mention Mr Sheikh Rashid by name but the target was obvious. And he got the message, but asserted, “Yes, I make undiplomatic statements, keeping aside the norms of diplomatic decency just to pinch the neighbouring country.” He said Indian leaders understood only that language and pointed out that they were talking of pre-emptive strike against Pakistan. Anyway, he said, he enjoyed the confidence of Prime Minister Zaffarullah Jamali who had given him the authority to speak for the country. As the Information Minister, he claimed, he had the authority to be the spokesman of the country.
PTI, UNI |
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133 Rly employees given awards Chennai, April 16 The function also marked the completion of 150 years of the Railways. The awards comprised a citation, a silver medal and a cheque of Rs 5000. The lucky eight women whose names were approved for the awards by the Railway Board from nominations sent by 16 zones include Saraswati Saha, Head Clerk in Eastern Railway, Srimathy Vasudevan, Senior Section Officer (Accounts), Southern Railway, Mithali Raj, Senior Clerk,South Central Railway, Shashi Bala Shrivastava, Deputy Controller of Stores, Central Railway, Kanchan Charan, Divisional Security Commissioner, South Eastern Railway, Jagathatri Ray, Senior Divisional Medical Officer, South Eastern Railway, Manmohan
Ahluwalia, Accounts Officer, Railway Board and Kavita Saraswat, Director, Planning, Railway Board. While Saha has been honoured for winning gold medals in 200 metres run in Busan Asian Games held in 2002 and other achievements in sports, Vasudevan has been recognised for facilitating completion of targeted gauge conversion projects. Mithali Raj is an outstanding woman cricketer from South Central Railway and Shashi Bala Shrivastava has been recognised for
contributing to sale of 73 crore as Deputy Controller of Stores, Central Railway. Jagadhatri Ray has been closely associated with
upgradation and work in the Cardiology Department at Central Hospital, South Eastern Railway. Manmoham Ahluwalia’s efforts for revising and updating important railway codes has fetched her due credit .Kanachan Charan’s exemplary supervision leading to arrests have earned her the award. |
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India’s fastest train this year Chennai, April 16 Addressing recipients of railway awards and a distinguished gathering of serving and retired railwaymen at a function at Kamraj Memorial Hall at Teynampet here on the completion of 150 years of the Railways
today, Mr Kumar said they plan to meet the expectations of passengers by introducing trains which cover a distance of 150 km per hour. He said the Railways need to fence rail tracks and adopt other measures as track
upgradation and instal signals in drivers cabins before starting high speed trains which exceed the existing speed of 130 kmph. Referring to the safety paper on Railways tabled in Parliament Recently, Mr Kumar said the main objective of presenting a paper was to encourage an informed public debate on safety. He assured the gathering that the Railways was doing its best to address various aspects of safety. Giving the railwaymen a pat on the back for working in adverse conditions, the Railway Minister said gatemen at level crossings were beaten up by road users who try to assert their identity and status. ``I salute railwaymen and the nation should salute them. Accepting the suggestion of the Minister of State for Railway, Mr Bandaru Dattatreya, Mr Kumar announced that Bholu- the symbol adopted as the official mascot to mark the 150th year of the Railways would continue to be the symbol of the Railways. Bholu was among the various symbol designs proposed by Ahmedabad- based National Institute of Design in consultation with the Public Relations Directorate, Railway Board. Speaking on the occasion, Mr Bandaru Datatreya said:
“Not many organisations see their existence for 150 years. This is a very significant moment for Indian Railways.” |
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Pawar re-elected NCP chief New Delhi, April 16 The elections of members of the Working Committee will be held at the National Committee meeting here on May 30. NCP Central Election Authority Chairman T. P. Peethambaran Master said 25 nominations papers from different parts of the country, including Assam, Kerala, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Bihar, Maharashtra and Jammu and Kashmir proposing Mr Pawar for the second term were received. Mr Pawar will assume the charge at the party’s two-day National Convention at Talkatora Stadium in New Delhi for May 30.
UNI |
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11 Naxals surrender Hyderabad, April 16 Akula Indraiah (30), a district committee member, who was responsible for blasting a state-owned RTC bus near Chinthagudem in Warangal district in which 14 tribals were charred to death and 17 others sustained burns in November, 2002, is among the surrendered Naxals. Addressing a press conference, the DGP said Rs 5,000 would be given to each surrendered Naxal as immediate financial assistance, besides land for cultivation, house sites and assistance through banks for their livelihood as per government norms. Five women, including a commander, among the surrendered Naxals belonged to north Telangana districts, he said. The cases booked against the surrendered Naxals would be withdrawn after they were reviewed by a high level committee, he said.
PTI |
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SP to file cases against Maya
Lucknow, April 16 Party state general secretary Shivpal Singh Yadav told reporters here, "We would probably file the cases at Hazaratganj police station tomorrow giving ample evidence in connection with the cases." He said the party is prepared to force the issue if the police refuse to register the cases.
UNI |
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Cong grappling with
Karunakaran issue New Delhi, April 16 Party chief spokesman Jaipal Reddy said that the Congress will take a comprehensive view on the
issue. "There is no doubt that we have a serious problem in the party unit in Kerala,” he said. Party chief Sonia Gandhi today held consultations with Mr R. K. Dhawan and Mr Ghulam Nabi
Azad, who were central observers sent to Kerala, as also party general
secretary Ambika Soni on the issue. There is a feeling among a section of AICC leaders that the party may not take any action against Mr Karunakaran to not give him of any halo of “martyrdom.” They, however, maintained that the authority of the high command had to be asserted. AICC general secretary Vyalar Ravi, who was among
the candidates elected to Rajya Sabha from Kerala, met Mrs Gandhi today. AICC secretary Ramesh Chennithala also met Congress president. Referring to the allegations levelled by UP
Chief Minister Mayawati against senior party leader Motilal Vora, the Congress today said that Ms Mayawati had no regard for either political decency or constitution. |
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Palamu still under curfew Daltonganj (Jharkhand), April 16 No untoward incident has been reported from anywhere in Panki since last night but the curfew was not being relaxed as a precautionary measure, District Magistrate Subodhnath Thakur said. Curfew was imposed in Pankhi last evening.
PTI |
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Criminal-minister nexus in Bihar Patna, April 16 Haque’s close links with the criminals were alleged during interrogation by the police on the kidnapping of a school boy from Pataliputra the police station area on April 5, the police said today. The three criminals also alleged before the Patna and Nalanda police that they had links with the Jharkhand RJD MLA Sanjay Yadav. Investigation into the case is on and the police will probe all aspects, Deputy Inspector General of Police (Provision) and Bihar police spokesman Rituraj said here. Ashu was kidnapping along with his driver here while returning after dropping his cousin to school, was recovered from Utrawa village under Rahui police station in Bihar’s Nalanda district on April 12.
PTI |
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Cases against Ranveer Sena chief set aside Patna, April 16 Taking a serious view of the fact that the Bihar Government did not consider the application of Mukhia, the Division Bench comprising Mr Justice S.N. Jha and Mr Justice B.N.P. Singh observed that it was a “dead order”. The bench delivered the order after hearing a habeas corpus writ petition filed by Mr Mukhia. Mr Mukhia in his representation before the government had challenged the detention order on the plea that it had lost its utility as it was served on him five years later despite the fact that it was an emergency provision.
UNI |
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Nepal minister visits Bihar Patna, April 16 The Nepal minister carried out an aerial survey of the perennially flood-affected areas. He also held talks with senior state officials regarding the flood menace. |
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Below normal monsoon likely New Delhi, April 16 He said there was “only 3 per cent probability of excess rainfall and 14 per cent probability of near-normal rainfall.” The projections by the IMD come at a time when 18 states in the country are coping with drought or drought-like conditions. Dr Kelkar said the monsoon forecast was given 40 days ahead of the usual time due to the introduction of a new eight-parameter model. Experts said below-normal monsoon would drastically affect the states’ finances, forcing the governments to borrow more or float government bonds in the market. Observers said a below- normal rainfall would result in an increase in the inter-state water disputes. They said the possibility of Haryana raking up the SYL canal issue and curbing the flow of water to Delhi in the coming months could not be ruled out. The Economic Survey said the 13.6 per cent fall in foodgrain output to 183.2 million tonnes, the lowest since 1996-97, was mainly due to the decline in the kharif production from 111.5 million tonnes last year to 90.3 million tonnes this year, showing a decline of 10.09 per cent. The rabi foodgrain output is also likely to drop to 92.9 million tonnes as compared to last year’s 100.5 million tonnes, a drop of 7.5 per cent. The effect of drought is expected to be severe and production may fall to 15.4 million tonnes as against last year’s 20.5 million tonnes, it added. |
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Sankalp yatra flagged off Bhopal, April 16 The firebrand sadhvi was talking to reporters before the launch of her “sankalp yatra” at Pandhurna in Chhindwara district this morning. The yatra was flagged off from a Hanuman temple at Jam-Sanwli village by a Dalit woman, Ms Sugandha, in the presence of the Union Law Minister, Mr Arun Jaitley. She refused to comment on the VHP leader, Mr Praveen Togadia’s observation that he would repeat the Gujarat experience in Madhya Pradesh also and reiterated: “We shall contest on the issue of development as the Congress has badly failed in the state in this respect”. |
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NRI doc’s divorce plea rejected New Delhi, April 16 Rejecting the plea of Parminder Singh for divorce from his wife, Harjit Kaur, whom he married in January, 1990, a Bench comprising Mr Justice K.G. Balakrishnan and Mr Justice P.V. Reddy also rejected his contention that she had deserted him after marriage. Another ground raised for the divorce was that Harjit Kaur had suppressed the fact that she was a divorcee at the time of marriage. The court said there was no suppression of the fact of her having divorced her first husband. Harjit Kaur had contended that Parminder’s mother had written a letter to her father stating that he was also legally divorced. Harjit had stayed with her husband for about two years from March 1990 to February 1992 in Germany and did not return after she came back to India. |
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Chambal dacoit evades police, visits temple Bhopal, April 16 Nirbhay operates in the Chambal valley of Madhya Pradesh and the adjoining areas of Uttar Pradesh. Reports said the Uttar Pradesh police had received information about Nirbhay’s intention to visit the Badi Mata ka Mandir in Oraiya district of Uttar Pradesh and heavy deployment of police and PAC had been made to nab him. The scourge of Chambal, however, managed to reach the temple and install the huge metal bell there. He was reportedly at the temple for about an hour. While leaving, Nirbhay was said to have left a letter there saying that if anybody tried to remove the bell, he would turn the entire district into a cremation ground. The reports said he also performed pooja at the temple, offered prasad to the deity and distributed it among farmers in the fields nearby. Nirbhay Gurjar was in the news last year following a claim made by a Deputy Superintendent of Police of Bhind district Priyanka Mishra that the dacoit had put a reward of Rs 10 lakh on the head of the BJP MP from Bhind Ramlakhan Singh and of Rs 5 lakh on the head of
Mishra. |
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