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Thursday,
July 3, 2003, Chandigarh, India  
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Best Bakery acquittal miscarriage of
justice: NHRC
Naidu speaks of his initiatives Plea to Sibal on video film Indian Navy to assist
Mauritius |
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News Analysis Bihar admits Bangladesh infiltration No resentment in Railway Board:
chief Good sowing of pulses, oilseeds
likely Held for entering House on forged ID
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Best Bakery acquittal miscarriage of justice: NHRC New Delhi, July 2 “The Gujarat Government must appeal against the verdict and if it does not, the relatives of the victims, complainants, can also seek permission of the court and file an appeal against the acquittal,” Justice Anand told NDTV. Asked if he thought prima facie the verdict was a miscarriage of justice and a fit case for appeal, the former Chief Justice of India said, “I think so.” The NHRC chief said an appeal must be filed in a case like this, more particularly when most of the witnesses had turned hostile and the rest of them were not even examined. About the role of the police during the post-Godhra riots, the NHRC chief said, “It is under question because it was one of those cases which the commission had earlier recommended to be handed over to the CBI.” Asked whether the case should be handed over to the CBI, he said though the state government couldn’t directly do so after the judicial verdict, “the High Court can direct it. Even the Gujarat government can make a request to the High Court.” “Yes, certainly,” he said when asked whether there was need for a fresh inquiry into the case. Justice Anand said the NHRC was planning to send a full team to Gujarat to get more details on the trial, according to a release issued by the TV network. He also suggested adoption of the Justice Malimath Commission recommendations to give protection to witnesses. “The commission has recommended greater protection for witnesses. This needs to be done at once so that what happened in the Best Bakery case is not repeated.” Regretting that the biggest problem in ensuring justice for riot victims was lack of political will, he said, “If the state government wants it, then justice can always be done. Unfortunately, politicians don’t always show the necessary will.” —
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Naidu speaks of his initiatives New Delhi, July 2 Mr Naidu, who is currently in a spot over the allegations of financial irregularities during his tenure as Rural Development Minister, is known for his tactical moves. That is why the circulation of an eight page document highlighting the “major initiaitves” of Mr Naidu in the last one year on the completion of his one year in the office is a significant pointer to the ongoing tussle within the party. After circulating the document yesterday, the party leaders made a serious effort today to counter the media reports that Mr Naidu would quit the party post after the Lok Sabha elections. The BJP President, who is on a foreign trip to the USA and Britain, has already spoken with Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee over the alleged financial irregularities and is understood to have expressed his readiness for a probe. Already there are specualtions in the BJP over Mr Naidu’s real intentions behind his assertion that he was not “aspiring” for anything. A leader on the conditions of anonymity has pointed out that the present BJP President may have to make way for Deputy Prime Minister L.K. Advani to take over the reins of the party close to the Lok Sabha elections. But another section in the party said the question of Mr Advani becoming the party President again was not on cards as neither the Prime Minister would relieve the former nor the Deputy Prime Minister would himself like that. Mr Naidu, who draws his main political strength from Mr Advani, was recently caught in a controversy when he said that the BJP would contest the next Lok Sabha elections on twin mascot of “vikas purash” represented by Mr Vajpayee and “lauh purash” represented by the Deputy Prime Minister. Even before Mr Naidu could manage the controversy, allegations of financial irregularities have started appearing in the media and that is what has taken him by surprise. With a view to counter the negative media campaign, Mr Naidu’s reluctance to stick to posts was sought to be publicised. Mr Naidu’s secret of his phenomenal rise in the party has been that he has never lost an opportunity to convey to the party and RSS leaders an impression that he is not keen for posts or privileges. At the time of his taking over the reins of party after the uncermonious removal of his predecessor K Jana Krishnamurthi, Mr Naidu had made clear to the Prime Minister, the Deputy Prime Minister and the RSS leaders that in case the party high command asked him to step down then he would not accept any other post and would like to serve the party as an ordinary member. |
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Plea to Sibal on video film New Delhi, July 2 Mr Tarlochan Singh pointed out that many Sikh organisations had approached the US authorities saying that by showing Sikhs as terrorists would create a permanent hostility towards the Sikhs who have settled in that country. |
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Indian Navy to assist
Mauritius New Delhi, July 2 Mr Sinha concluded his Mauritius visit today with a joint statement which clearly outlined the roadmap for a strategic partnership between the two countries. Following significant decisions have been taken today by the two countries:
Significantly, during his one-to-one meeting with Mauritian Deputy Prime Minister Paul Berenger, who is due to take over as the Prime Minister in the existing rotational system, Mr Berneger told Mr Sinha that after taking over as Prime Minister the first country he would like to visit would be India. India welcomed suggestion of Mauritius to convene a conference of political leaders from countries with large community of persons of Indian origin (PIO) on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly meeting in New York or CHOGM this year. It was agreed that Mauritius would take initiative in this regard. India offered its assistance to facilitate this conference. Mr Sinha went on record stating at a press conference in Mauritius today that India would continue to provide assistance to Mauritius in the areas of defence and security. “We are satisfied about the follow-up action which has been initiated on a number of issues that were identified for cooperation during the visit of (Prime Minister) Anerood Jugnauth to India in January this year.” |
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News Analysis New Delhi, July 2 Mr Prasad’s elevation as the Defence Secretary has led to at least two IAS officers posted with the MoD itself being superseded besides other officers senior to him in the service being overlooked for the post. The government had on Monday announced a major reshuffle in the Secretary-level postings in various ministries with some Additional Secretaries also being promoted to the post of Secretaries. Although there was no surprise in Mr Prasad being made the Defence Secretary as the Defence Minister, Mr George Fernandes, had apparently personally sought his appointment. There were definitely some rumblings in the service as this posting is generally reserved for a very senior officer who has either earlier already served as a Secretary in the government or has remained a Chief Secretary in the states. As a result despite the Appointments Committee of Cabinet (ACC) clearing the names for new posting two days ago it could still take some more days for Mr Prasad to assume his new office in the South Block despite it being just a few minutes walk from his present office in the North Block. He is presently the OSD to the Deputy Prime Minister, Mr
L.K. Advani. Sources in the MoD said the delay in Mr Prasad taking over as the new Defence Secretary would be due to the fact that there was at least one more officer, who was a batch senior to him, who would have to be shifted out of the ministry first before he could assume the office. A senior officer would definitely not like to work under an officer junior to him, they pointed. As per the present situation Mr
N.S. Sisodia, Secretary, Defence Production, will have to be moved to another ministry before Mr Prasad assumes the new office. Mr Sisodia is an IAS officer of the 1968 batch. A decision on his movement out of the MoD is expected to be taken by the government in the coming few days when the ACC meets again. This will also lead to a delay in orders being issued for Mr Subir
Dutta, the present Defence Secretary being made as Member, Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). Due to retire on August 31, his name has principally been cleared for being the Member of the UPSC. The sources also pointed out that to make way for Mr Prasad, another officer, who was a batch senior to him, also had to be moved out. Mr Dhirendra Singh, who was from the Karnataka cadre was shifted as Secretary, Ministry of Disinvestment, from being Special Secretary (Procurement) in the
MoD. This infact would be the first time that such a complexity had arisen in the reshuffle mainly due to the seniority factor leading to the shifting of the officers. Incidentally, Mr Prasad is also the junior most officer among the 1969 batch IAS officers who has landed himself with a plum assignment ahead of at least nine other officers said to be senior to him. His services has been sought specially by the Defence Minister as he was an Additional Secretary in the MoD at the time of the Tehelka expose and enjoys a good rapport with the minister. The present Defence Secretary was also secretary in the MoD at that time before being elevated to his present posting. |
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Bihar admits Bangladesh infiltration Patna, July 2 “As many as 228 Bangladeshis have been deported and 290 others arrested in the last 30 years since 1972”, U.P. Verma, Panchayati Raj Minister informed the legislature. He was answering on behalf of the state government on a question over illegal Bangladesh nationals in the state raised by member of the opposition BJP of the House B.K. Singh. Mr Verma admitted that according to state intelligence reports, illegal Bangladeshis had been residing in four districts of the state, namely Kishanganj, Purnia, Katihar and East Champaran. The opposition member was, however, not happy with government figures maintaining that the numbers were much higher than what the government admitted. “Over 30 lakh Bangladeshi nationals had been living in seven districts of the state”, B.K. Singh alleged. He sought reply from the government over the matter. |
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No resentment in Railway Board:
chief New Delhi, July 2 In his maiden interaction with mediapersons as the Chairman of the board, Mr R.K. Singh said there was no truth in reports that Member (Mechanical) Sampat Dasarathy had put in his papers in disgust. Mr Dasarathy is the seniormost member in the board after Mr I.I.M.S Rana who retired as Chairman of the board on June 30. “The entire Board would function as one team,” he said. Responding to a mediaperson’s observation that his appointment has created unpleasentness in the board, Mr he said, “I beg to differ with you. There is no unpleasantness. In a family they can be differences but there can be sorted out.” He said his name was cleared for the post by the Cabinet Committee on Appointments which is headed by the Prime Minister. Before taking over as Chairman of the board, Mr R.K. Singh was General Manager of Northern Railway. |
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Good sowing of pulses, oilseeds
likely New Delhi, July 2 The total area under the rice crop reported so far is 30.2 lakh hectares compared to 35.3 lakh hectares during the corresponding period last year. In coarse cereals, the total area under cultivation reported so far is 4.70 lakh hectares compared to 13.8 lakh hectares in the corresponding period last year. Kharif pulses, which accounts for 48 per cent of the total area under pulses and about 37 per cent of the total annual production of pulses in the country, the area covered so far is 4.44 lakh hectares compared to 7.95 lakh hectares last year. Sowing of kharif oilseeds ( groundnut, seasame, sunflower, soyabean and castor) has taken place in only 9.1 lakh hectares so far compared to 20.2 lakh hectares covered in the corresponding period last year. However, the area under cultivation is almost on a par with that of last year’s in the cases of sugarcane, jute and cotton. While in sugarcane, the area coverage is marginally lower (38.7 lakh hectares) than last year’s coverage area (38.9 lakh hectares), area under cotton has in fact increased to 13.61 lakh hectares as compared to 12.25 lakh hectares in the corresponding period of the previous year. As per the latest reports from states, the area sown under jute is 7.5 lakh hectares, which is on a par with last year’s coverage. “With the monsoon covering large parts of central and western areas of the
country, sowing of coarse cereals, pulses and oilseed is likely to accelerate in the coming days”, an official statement said. |
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Held for entering House on forged ID New Delhi, July 2 The suspect was arrested from his residence at Izhar Apartments, Gaffar Manzil, Jamia Nagar, in the South district area. He was arrested after a rigorous search for the past two months. He is a permanent resident of 277, Bhagat Singh Nagar, Knoch, Jalon in Uttar Pradesh, Deputy Commissioner of Police (New Delhi) Manoj Kumar Lal said. The DCP said the suspect received his early education in his village in Jalon and graduated from Bundelkhand University in 1994. Saiyed Nusrat Ali claimed to have joined Jansatta in Mumbai and finally shifted to Delhi in 2001. He managed to procure PIB Accredition Card number 1823 for 2002 fraudulently. He again tried to obtain the Press Gallery Card for 198th session of Parliament by forging the signature of Shekhar Gupta, Editor of The Indian Express. Earlier, Nusrat Ali succeeded in getting this pass issued for 193th, 194th, 195th, 196th and 197th session of Parliament through same modus operandi. During inquiry it was found that no such employee was working in the Indian Express in the name of Saiyed Nusrat Ali. He was booked in a cheating case reported in the police station, Parliament Street, in 1997 when he forged signature of Mr Ram Vilas Paswan, then Minister of Railways, Mr Bhanu Pratap Singh Verma, MP from Jalon, and Mr S.M. Abdul Faheem, then Additional P.S. to Minister of Railways, with a view to facilitating allotment of government house to an employee of Central Railway. This case is pending trial in the court. He was produced before the court and sent to police remand for two days, the DCP said. |
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