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Thursday,
August 7, 2003, Chandigarh, India  
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Govt under attack for favouring Kosovo martyr’s kin rue govt
apathy Pak told to change
negative mindset HC stays summons to Orbit
official North India in Parliament CVC Bill full of
anomalies: Cong Punjab to bring out booklet on development |
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People’s Bill moved in
Lok Sabha Tripathi forced Madhumita to
abort Kargil fund still unused in MP Indian peacekeeping contingent best Dwivedi decries Advani’s poll proposal SC to hear Laloo’s plea on passport
today
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Govt under attack for favouring
Star News New Delhi, August 6 Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad turned down the demand to stop permission to Star News for temporary uplinking saying the matter was under consideration. Not satisfied with the reply of the minister, Opposition members staged a walkout, at the end of the four-hour long debate on the calling attention motion on CAS and criteria for uplinking for foreign channels. Mr Prasad said “We will give them a fair and transparent consideration .... should I stop midway when the consideration is on.” He said, “We have written seven letters and asked 46 questions to Star News. “If we feel the present guidelines require eligibility criteria to be tightened up, we will do it,” the minister said, while ruling out regulator for broadcasters. He said regulator was part of the Convergence Bill. Earlier participating in the debate, Opposition leaders charged the government of giving preferential treatment to Star News owned by media king, Rupert Murdoch, by allowing it to flout all norms and giving repeated extensions to the channel. He was allowed to float a dummy or a paper firm and the directors of this ‘Indian’ firm did not have any right over the editorial content which was violative of the uplinking rules, the Opposition members alleged. The Opposition members charged that the government was allowing repeated extension to the Star News to modify the equity holdings of the Indian firm. They asked the government why the same condition of 51 per cent Indian equity in the FDI had not been laid for the electronic media as done in the case of the print media. The Opposition members also asked the government to go into the finances of the MCCS, which was running the business with merely Rs 4 crore, while the minimum investment of Rs 200 crore was required to create an editorial setup. |
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Kosovo martyr’s kin rue govt
apathy New Delhi, August 6 If it weren’t for a few relatives and friends, the irreparable loss caused by the death of her husband, Border Security Force (BSF) Deputy Commandant Satish Menon, would probably go unnoticed. “He served the country unto death,” she says proudly. Menon, a member of the UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo, was killed in sniper fire at Leposavic village just outside Kosovo’s capital Pristina on Sunday night. He will be cremated at Nigambodh Ghat here on Friday. After the news of Menon’s death, the government-allotted quarters, the family’s home for the past eight years, seem to have brought in everyone except government officials. “Visits?” asks a shocked Geeta, Menon’s younger sister. “No government official has even made a phone call to commiserate with the family. Neither the Central Government nor the Kerala Government has bothered to enquire about the family.” (Menon was a native of Kerala). According to Geeta, even a big story in Malayalam daily Mathrubhumi about Menon’s death hasn’t moved the Kerala Government to even make a telephone call. Leela, while being shocked at the government’s attitude, is all praise for BSF and UN officials. “The BSF fraternity has visited us and taken up the cremation as its responsibility. The UN people are doing their duty by taking care of his body,” says Leela. Menon’s septuagenarian mother, ailing from a back problem, is being flown to New Delhi from Kochi in Kerala for the last rites. “Satish was her only son and the family’s main support,” says a worried Geeta. “We were shocked because he had called on Sunday night, saying that he would visit us soon. And the next thing we know is he is killed by some militant,” says Leela, narrating the chain of events on the fateful night. “He served in Jammu and Kashmir for five years and used to recount spine-chilling tales of offensives and improvised blasts. For him to be killed in a foreign land is a great irony,” says Leela. Menon was the first UN policeman in Kosovo to be attacked since the province was brought under UN observation in 1999. Leela says she will stay on in Delhi, but for the moment she can’t think beyond Friday, when her husband will be cremated. —
IANS |
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Pak told to change
negative mindset New Delhi, August 6 MEA spokesperson Navtej Sarna gave a restrained yet sharp response to his Pakistani counterpart, Mr Masood Khan, for the latter’s recent statements that Indian minorities were not safe and terrorist training camps were being run in India. It is understood that Mr Sarna’s hard talk, obviously cleared from the top in South Block, is reflective of an assessment of the Vajpayee government that mandarins of Islamabad have, of late, been speaking with a forked tongue. The Vajpayee government has inputs suggesting that Pakistan’s foreign policy makers are divided: the hardliner camp, headed by President Pervez Musharraf, and the softliner camp, headed by Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali. It is a matter of debate whether this division in Pakistan’s echelons of power is real or contrived. In response to a question, Mr Sarna said the government was “disappointed” by the tone and substance of comments made by Pakistan’s foreign office spokesperson, Mr Masood Khan, on August 4. On the charge regarding India running terrorist training camps, the spokesperson said: “The less said about the spokesperson’s egregious comment on terrorist training camps in India, the better. At least, he deserves high marks for originality of invention.” The MEA’s approach towards Pakistan is going ahead with the peace process step-by-step and its advice to Islamabad is that the estranged neighbour should drop its negative mindset vis-a-vis India. Diplomatic sources here say that the renewed sabre-rattling between the nuclear powers had intensified, particularly after Pakistan’s fire-breathing fundamentalist leader Maulana Fazal ur Rahman’s visit to India last month. Sources said Pakistan’s Foreign Secretary Riaz Khokhar was in General Musharraf’s hardliner camp while Foreign Minister Khurshid Kasuri was adopting a softline approach, along with Prime Minister
Jamali. |
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HC stays summons to Orbit
official New Delhi, August 6 The stay order was passed by a Bench, comprising Ms Justice Usha Mehra and Mr Justice Pradeep Nandrajog, yesterday, the counsel for Orbit Resorts consultant Prem Kumar Chaudhary said today. The court issued a notice to the Vigilance Bureau of the Punjab Police with a direction that it should file its reply by August 21 to the petition by Mr Chaudhary, challenging his summoning to Chandigarh for examination. The bureau had sent Mr Chaudhary two notices, summoning him to join the investigation at Chandigarh and bring with him all relevant documents regarding Orbit Resorts, including its original plan and investment details. The bureau, in its reply to an earlier petition by arrested officials of international food chain company Wimpy, had alleged that the firm’s London-based Managing Director Kanwal Sidhu had made huge investments in business concerns of the Badal family, especially in Orit Resorts at Gurgaon. It had alleged that these investments were nothing but illegal transactions of the ill-gotten money of Mr Badal and his family. Mr Chaudhary’s counsel said his client had contended that the notice issued by the Punjab Police under Section 160 of the Criminal Procedure Code was illegal as nobody could be summoned beyond the limit of the jurisdiction of the police station where a person was residing. He said Mr Chaudhary had informed the Punjab Police that he was willing to record his statement at a nearby police station in Delhi. |
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North India in Parliament New Delhi, August 6 During the visit of the President, members of the Kashmiri migrant community submitted a memorandum, listing various demands related to their welfare, such as protection of their properties, employment opportunities, enhancement of cash relief and redressal of grievances of migrant employees, the minister told the House. Action had been initiated to redress their grievances. Many states had made reservation for admission of Kashmiri migrants in their professional or technical institutions. The Delhi Government had revised upwards the cash relief of Kashmiri migrants, the minister said in his written reply. The Jammu and Kashmir Government had enacted two Acts in 1997 related to the protection and maintenance of properties left behind by Kashmiri migrants. The redressal of grievances of Kashmiri migrant employees was the responsibility of the state government, he told the House. In reply to another question, the minister said it was proposed to review the instructions applicable to the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC) members for issuance of passports. As per existing instructions, verification of applications of employees and members of the SGPC and of Sikh preachers, ragis and granthis was done by the Ministry of Home Affairs before issuing passports to them, Mr Swami said. There were specific norms for opening post offices in remote hilly and desert areas, including in Himachal Pradesh, in which all three parameters — distance, population and income — had been relaxed vis-a-vis those prescribed for normal areas, Minister of State for Communications and Information Technology Thirunvukkarasar told the Lok Sabha in a written reply. |
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CVC Bill full of
anomalies: Cong New Delhi, August 6 Initiating the debate on behalf of the Congress in the Rajya Sabha Mr Ashwani Kumar, MP from Punjab, said his party supported efforts to ensure probity in public life and incorruptibility of public officials. He, however, cautioned that the Bill which was a sequel to the Supreme Court judgement in the Vineet Narain case was unlikely to be an effective legislative instrument on account of the many anomalies apparent in the Bill. In particular, Mr Kumar referred to Chapter III of the Bill relating to the power and functions of the CVC wherein the statute restricts the CVC from giving any direction to the CBI or to the vigilance department of various corporations and government departments inconsistent with the instructions of the government. This, Mr Kumar said, robs the CVC of an effective role to bring to logical conclusion prosecutions in corruption cases. With reference to the procedure for appointment of the vigilance commissioners, Mr Kumar stated that the said appointments must invariably be made by consensus between the Prime Minister, the Home Minister and the Leader of the Opposition. Mr Kumar pointed out that as presently worded, it was possible for the government of the day to ignore the recommendation of the Leader of the Opposition in the matter of such appointments. On the other hand, he argued that there was need to ensure that excessive power was not vested in any individual because it is now firmly established that absolute power corrupts absolutely. Subsequently, yielding to vociferous demands of the Opposition, Deputy Chairperson Najma Heptulla adjourned the House till tomorrow. |
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Punjab to bring out booklet on development New Delhi, August 6 Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh apprised the committee of the work done by his government in the past year and a half. Senior party leader Manmohan Singh, AICC general secretaries Mohsina Kidwai and Oscar Fernandes, besides PCC chief H.S. Hanspal were present at the meeting. The Chief Minister informed the committee about the steps taken by the state government for the welfare of various sections. Sources said about 50 per cent of the promises in the manifesto have been discussed in the two manifesto committee meetings held so far. The central leadership suggested that the state leaders should publicise the work done by the government. There was a realisation that the work done by the government was not getting adequate publicity with the focus being mostly on the anti-corruption drive. The meeting of the coordination committee will be held on August 8. The meeting is likely to discuss the the issue of growing indiscpline in the party. The sources said that the high command has taken note of critical statements of a senior party leader but has decided against initiating any action immediately in view of the “fluid” political situation in the state. A senior AICC leader said Congress President Sonia Gandhi had laid emphasis on discipline at the Shimla Vichar Manthan Shivir and had asked the partymen to desist from airing their grievances publicly. |
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Rein in critics, Punjab Cong MPs urge Sonia New Delhi, August 6 In a memorandum submitted to Ms Gandhi, Mr Brar, Mr R.L. Bhatia, Mr Balbir Singh, Mr S.S. Dillo, Mr Gurcharan Singh Galib, Mr Charanjit Singh Channi, Ms Preneet Kaur and Mr Ashwani Kumar expressed concern over certain party men publicly criticising the state leadership and giving the impression of dissidence in the Punjab Congress Legislative Party. “Strict disciplinary action must be taken to curb such efforts to malign the image of the Congress at the behest of the BJP, which is trying to destablise the Punjab Government,” they said. They alleged that these party men were playing into the hands of the Akali-BJP leadership for their political agendas and diluting the state government’s drive against corruption, which would adversely affect the party’s image and its stand on the issue, keeping in mind the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections. |
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People’s Bill moved in Lok Sabha New Delhi, August 6 While introducing the Bill, Minister of State for Law and Justice P C Thomas scotched fears that that another provision relating to waiving the residential status of candidates contesting Rajya Sabha polls would alter the character of the council of states. The Amendment had already been approved by the Rajya Sabha and had also found favour with the Parliamentary Standing Committee and most political parties. Mr Pawan Kumar Bansal of the Congress said there was nothing wrong in allowing candidates from contesting the Rajya Sabha poll from any state as this was the case with the election to the Lok Sabha poll as well. Mr Bansal took this opportunity to take on Deputy Prime Minister L.K. Advani, who had proposed synchronising the coming Lok Sabha polls with polls to the state Assemblies. He opposed the suggestion saying that the life of the Assemblies should be left to the political dynamics in the respective states as, otherwise, no-confidence motions and money Bills would have no meaning. |
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Tripathi forced Madhumita to
abort Lucknow, August 6 She wrote in the letter that she was carrying Tripathi’s child. And it was not her first pregnancy. She was pregnant earlier twice but was forced to undergo abortions by Tripathi, the letter hinted. Madhumita was six-month pregnant when she was shot dead in her Paper Mill Colony residence here by two assailants. “Did I not dream of having a baby for four months? You may refuse to accept the child but as a mother how can I do that? Should I murder the child after bearing it in my womb for six months? Did you not think of my pain? You treated me like a commodity,” Madhumita writes She questioned as to why she was being pressurised to abort the baby after being assured for four months of pregnancy that she could have the baby. The letter narrates another occasion when she was earlier assured of having the baby, but was later forced to abort. The letter is now part of important dossier with the CBI, which the local police had seized, along with her diary. Madhumita wrote that she was being used as prostitute. “I used to stay with you (Tripathi) at night like a vaishya (prostitute) but was thrown out in the morning. Par phir bhi mujhe aap se milna pasand hai (Still I felt happy meeting you),” she wrote in Hindi. A senior CB CID official, the state government agency which was earlier entrusted with the investigation, said that the letter reflected that Madhumita had surrendered to a man who had helped the family members of the slain poetess from time to time. “Because of your kindness I believed that you will share all my responsibilities. Once you got a job for my brother, my family started trusting you....You became not only my but my entire family’s guardian.” But her brother is no longer in job. “The day the government fell, he lost job,” the letter says. The letter reveals Tripathi was involved with another woman Pandey. “You could not resist yourself and got associated with another woman, ‘Pandey’,” it says. |
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Kargil fund still unused in MP Bhopal, August 6 Mr Baudha told Mr Lakshman Singh Gaud of the BJP that over Rs 12.85 crore had been received from the fund. Out of this, over Rs 4.7 crore had been disbursed to the families of the Kargil martyrs while Rs 3.05 crore had been transferred to Chhattisgarh after the bifurcation of the state. The Home Minister said that an amount of Rs 8,80,79,951 (inclusive of interest) was still lying in the bank. The state government had also received Rs 30.19 lakh for the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund, Rs 46.93 lakh for the Army Welfare Fund and Rs 23.18 lakh for the National Defence Fund. All these
amounts had been deposited in the respective funds, the minister said. |
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Indian peacekeeping contingent best New Delhi, August 6 The Deputy Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen J.B.S. Yadava, after felicitating the 27 Rajput Battalion, which returned here from the UN Mission in Ethiopia-Eritria after a one-year assignment, said, “I can say with pride that we are the best. In fact, the UN Secretary-General has acknowledged the performance of the Indian troops”. He said even other forces comprising the UN peacekeeping force had given in writing that the Indian contingent was par excellence. Reacting to a specific question about India’s stand on international affairs, he said the government’s policy was in accordance with Chapter six of the UN charter and the troops were sent only after a very careful and comprehensive selection procedure. Earlier, while addressing the troops at the NCC Garrison Parade Ground here, he commended them for maintaining the country’s traditions and reputation in the international arena. |
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Dwivedi decries Advani’s poll proposal New Delhi, August 6 Terming the suggestion as “loose thinking,” Mr Dwivedi said it was devoid of any merit and reflected poor understanding of “our constitutional scheme.” “It is fraught with grave consequences for our parliamentary-cum-federal system of governance,” he said. Mr Dwivedi, a former Additional Solicitor General of India, said the Vajpayee government could advance the Lok Sabha poll but any talk of deferring or advancing Assembly poll or constitutionalising the simultaneity of parliamentary and Assembly poll was constitutionally untenable and ran counter to the metaphysics of the parliamentary system. “Mr Advani’s proposal is the hangover of the BJP’s fascination from its Jan Sangh days for a fixed term and unitary-cum-presidential system,” he said. |
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SC to hear Laloo’s plea on passport
today New Delhi, August 6 Chief Justice V.N. Khare, before whose Bench the matter was mentioned by Yadav’s counsel B.B. Singh today, constituted a three-judge Bench to be headed by Mr Justice S.N. Variava to hear his petition. Yadav, facing trial in seven fodder scam cases, filed the petition yesterday for the release of his passport which he had surrendered to the trial court as pre-condition for the grant of bail in October, 1997. The former Chief Minister pleaded that he had been chosen as member of the delegation which had been invited to Islamabad by the South-Asian Free Media Association. |
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