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Saturday,
September 27, 2003, Chandigarh, India  
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Terror threats dampen Navratri gaiety Article 370 challenged in SC George’s continuance demoralising Army, says Congress
Cong writes to PM on Advani’s discharge IA to resume discounts Rallies banned in city of processions |
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| PM’s press conference to be telecast live EC reviews poll preparations 45 per cent turnout
in Solapur Judicial remand for Ghatkopar blast accused
Undertrial
shot on court premises
SGJC ex-members express regret before SC Hearing in
Raja Bhaiya case adjourned Jagmohan’s sops to promote tourism among students
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Terror threats dampen Navratri gaiety Mumbai, September 26 An organiser of dandiya ras celebrations here said while cola companies and FMCG manufacturers had reduced sponsorships in the past two years, dandiya organisers had roped in gutka manufacturers. Movie stars who traditionally made an appearance at such celebrations around midnight will be absent this year as most celebrations wind up by 10.30 most nights. However, some are hoping that an actress or two would make a short appearance on four nights when the restrictions on the use of loudspeakers have been extended till 11.30 pm. Dandiya ras, in which groups of men and women dressed in ethnic finery click elaborately decorated sticks to dance and music, is popular among the prosperous Gujarati community in Mumbai. “The restrictions have hurt our business as there is no time for people to participate in the celebrations,’ says Avinash Pathak who provides music and sound systems for dandiya ras celebrations in Mumbai. The government has, however, relaxed restrictions so that festivities continue till midnight on Saturday, the second day of the festival and the eighth and ninth days. On Thursday, the Bombay High Court ordered the police to monitor the use of loudspeakers across the city. The Bombay Environmental Action Group and Association of Medical Consultants have posted volunteers armed with decibel meters to respond to emergency calls from members of the public. A telephone helpline is also being circulated among the public. Even as the sound of music has been literally toned down, revelers have to contend with higher security. Following last month’s car bombings that claimed 52 lives, the Mumbai police has deployed more than 3000 police personnel to ensure security. Not surprisingly, members of the Gujarati community are going to the neighbouring state for the nine-night festival. |
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Article 370 challenged in SC New Delhi, September 26 A Bench comprising Ms Justice Ruma Pal and Mr Justice P.V. Reddi after brief hearing ordered the listing of the petition after the Dusehra vacation with the direction to the petitioner that they should place more material before it to show why notices be issued to the Centre on the issue. The petitioners have named both, the Centre and the Jammu and Kashmir governments as respondents. They have sought in abrogation of Article 370 contending that it was included in the Constitution as a temporary measure considering the circumstances prevailing vis-a-vis Jammu and Kashmir at the time of its framing even though the provision was contrary to its basic structure. The petitioners said that Jammu and Kashmir, which was merged with India, did not have any different status than the other 500 odd princely states, which had merged in the Indian Union after the independence. Referring to the separate Constitution for Jammu and Kashmir, the petitioners said there could not be two separate Constitutions in a sovereign country. |
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George’s
continuance demoralising Army, says Congress New Delhi, September 26 Referring to the reported remarks of Mr Fernandes about the morale of Army being affected by
references to defence scams, Congress chief spokesman Jaipal Reddy accused him of using “morale” as a shelter to defend himself against allegations related to defence purchases. “It is evident that he is using morale as a shelter to defend himself,’’ Mr Reddy said. The spokesman said Mr Fernandes had not replied to the charges levelled against him during the no-confidence debate in Parliament. “His silence is the ultimate proof of his guilt,’’ Mr Reddy said. He said the Congress would continue to talk about “defence scams’’ both in the Assembly elections and the Lok Sabha poll because the party was concerned about the national security. “Mr Fernandes would be in fool’s paradise if he thought that he would deter the Congress from raising defence scams,’’ he said. Referring to the Tehelka expose, he said while action had been taken against Army officials named in the tapes, the political leaders had not been made accountable. He said that Congress criticism of defence purchases was “not out of prejudice against an individual but out of a deep conviction that the defence was at stake.’’ |
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Cong writes to PM on Advani’s discharge New Delhi, September 26 In a letter to Mr Vajpayee, Mr Dasmunsi said the CBI should go for a revision against the discharge order passed by the Rae Bareli special court “in order to uphold the rule of law, the Constitution and respect for all faiths and places of worship.” Describing the demolition of the Babri mosque as a “heinous crime,” Mr Dasmunsi said incident of December 6, 1992 was an attempt to destroy the national unity. |
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IA to resume discounts New Delhi, September 26 The decision has been taken after clearance from the Ministry of Civil Aviation. The ministry had been under pressure following the earlier decision to withdraw the discounts offered to senior citizens and students. As per the revised rules senior citizens will now have to stay for at least two nights in the place they are visiting to get a 50 per cent discount. Also, students from the North East can avail of discounts up to Kolkata and back besides place of study. Faced with huge losses on discounted tickets, Indian Airlines had in July introduced riders to concessions for senior citizens, stipulating a minimum seven-day stay in their destination. They were also asked to purchase return tickets seven days in advance. Airline officials say they had tried to convince the government that the discounts were not only a huge drain on the airline’s revenue but benefited wrong people. The airline reportedly prepared profiles of people in various professions and businesses who profited by availing of the senior citizens discount to attend conferences or meetings and got the full fare reimbursed from other quarters. |
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Rallies banned in city of processions Kolkata, September 26 The court ruling said political parties and other organisations could hold processions in the city only on Sundays and other holidays in specific areas without disturbing the traffic. Permission of the police will be needed for holding processions on the streets. Though the people of Kolkata have welcomed the High Court’s judgment, the ruling CPI (M) and other Opposition parties, including the Congress, Trinamool Congress and several trade unions have criticised it alleging that it would curtail their democratic rights. The CPI (M) state secretary and politburo leader, Mr Anil Biswas, said the judgment was unfortunate and neither desirable nor applicable. The Kolkata High Court Judge, Mr Justice Amitava Lala, who was stranded in the traffic jam on Wednesday along with another Judge, Mr Justice Kalyan Jyoti Sengupta, also issued a suo motu contempt notice to the city traffic police chief and other personnel concerned. He directed them to appear before the court to explain why such “uncivilised and unruly action” had been taken on that day. |
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PM’s press conference to be telecast live New Delhi, September 26 The half-an-hour telecast will commence at 8.30 a.m. on the national channel (DD-1), a Doordarshan statement said. Doordarshan will also telecast a TV report on various engagements of the Prime Minister in New York from 11.30 a.m. to 1200 noon on Sunday, on the national channel. In view of this, programmes scheduled earlier against these time slots on the national channel will not be telecast.
— UNI |
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EC reviews poll preparations New Delhi, September 26 Mr Lyngdoh, along with Election Commissioners T. S. Krishnamurthy and B. B. Tandon, had a day-long meeting with the chief secretaries, chief electoral officers and top police officers of these five states. The commission, among other things, reviewed the status of photo identity cards, requirement of voting machines , central paramilitary forces, location of the polling stations and the requirement of observers during the poll, commission sources said. The three-member panel also focussed on the law and order situation in these states. Based on the inputs given by state officials, the commission will seek paramilitary forces from the Centre. |
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45 per cent turnout in Solapur New Delhi, September 26 In Solapur, where Dairy Development Minister Anand Deokate is pitted against BJP’s Pratapsinh Mohite-Patil, there was heavy polling in the rural areas while the urban localities saw a poor turnout. Bypoll to the seat, necessitated after Chief Minister Sushilkumar Shinde vacated it, was being seen as the first test of popularity of the Congress-NCP-led coalition government since Mr Shinde took over the reins in the state. There are 10 candidates in fray. In Karnataka about 62 to 65 per cent turnout was recorded in the Hungund and Vemagal Assembly constituencies where there was a virtual straight contest between the Congress and the All-India Progressive Janata Dal. In Hungund, where five candidates are in the fray, the Congress has fielded Gouramma, wife of Congress member S R Kashappanavar whose death necessitated the bypoll, while the AIPJD has put up Krishna, son of Byregowda, whose death led to the by-election in Vemagal, apparently to cash in on the sympathy factor. Electronic voting machines were used in the by-elections to the six constituencies where counting of votes will be taken up on September 29. In the Birmaharajpur constituency of Orissa, about 60 per cent voters exercised their franchise to elect their representative from among the four candidates in the fray, including Ms Pushpanjali Pradhan, wife of the BJD’s Baishnab Pradhan, whose death caused the bypoll.
— PTI Judicial remand for Ghatkopar blast accused Mumbai, September 26 Designated POTA Judge A.P. Bhangale sent Sayed Hanif, his wife Fahameeda and Ashrat Ansari to judicial custody. They will be lodged at the Arthur Road Central Jail here.
— UNI |
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Charges against Salman on October 6 Mumbai, September 26 The charges could not be framed today as public prosecutor R S Khandekar informed Magistrate S Y Sishode that he had not yet received papers from the Sessions Court. Salman’s lawyer Dipesh Mehta pleaded that the High Court had dropped the charge of culpable homicide not amounting to murder against Salman and directed the Magistrate to frame other charges. The court observed that it was “very unfortunate” that no police officer from the police station concerned had come to the court. Salman is charged under various sections of the IPC, including causing death by negligence and rash driving. The actor, clad in denim jeans and black shirt, arrived in the court, accompanied by his sister. He stood calm and composed before the judge.
— PTI |
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Undertrial
shot on court premises Jharsuguda (Orissa), September 26 The gunmen first hurled a bomb at Kanta Das, an undertrial prisoner, as he alighted from a police van on the premises of the court of Additional District and Sessions Judge here, injuring him critically, before firing at him. They then hurled a couple of bombs which exploded as panic-stricken people started running helter-skelter. Das, who was injured seriously, was rushed to the district headquarter hospital here where he was pronounced dead.
— PTI |
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Dev Anand turns 80, working on script
Mumbai, September 26 The residence of the actor was streaming with visitors who dropped in to wish the thespian. However, many had to return disappointed after they were informed that the octogenarian was away in New York working on the script of his new film, according to the actor’s staff. Born on September 26, 1923, in Gurdaspur in Punjab to a well-to-do advocate, Devdutt Pishorimal Anand, the actor went on to graduate in English literature from Government College, Lahore. His love for acting saw him leaving his hometown. However, lady luck failed to smile at the young man, who initially took up a job in the Censor Department of the Army, reading out letters of soldiers’ to their families, an experience he says had left him rich in emotions and provided an insight into the hearts and minds of men. After his initial years of struggle, Dev went on to star in his debut film “Hum Ek Hain” in 1964, which, however, failed to make its mark on the box-office. However, it was at Prabhat Studio that he met the talented Guru Dutt and struck a rapport soon, with each making a pact that if Dev were to produce a film, Dutt would be a director and if Dutt were to turn film maker, Dev would be its hero. His first success came with the film “Ziddi” (1948) with the actor never having to look back
thereafter. — PTI |
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SGJC ex-members express regret before SC New Delhi, September 26 Advocate Dipankar Gupta, appearing for former SGJC members — Mr Kashmir Singh, Mr Dara Singh and Mr Raghbir Singh — told a Bench comprising Mr Justice Y. K. Sabharwal and Mr Justice Ashok Bhan that he regretted on behalf of his clients for the error. The court had on September 5 sought affidavits from the three and the Punjab Government in this regard. The Punjab Government, Mr Kashmir Singh, Mr Dara Singh and Mr Raghbir Singh had appealed against the high court’s August 14 order quashing their appointments. |
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Hearing in
Raja Bhaiya case adjourned Kanpur, September 26 Observing that a similar case was pending before the Supreme Court which would come up for hearing next month, POTA Judge Shailendra Saxena adjourned the hearing in the case against Raja Bhaiya, his father Udai Pratap Singh and MLC Akshay Pratap Singh. Earlier, the court had exempted Udai Pratap Singh from personal appearance on medical grounds.
— PTI |
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Jagmohan’s sops to promote tourism among students New Delhi, September 26 Inaugurating the fifth International Travel and Tourism Mart (ITTM) 2003 here, Mr Jagmohan said the government had also invited opinion from the Principals of schools and colleges about the steps required to be taken to improve tourism among students. The minister said that a 50 per cent discount could be provided to any student or group of students undertaking journey to these sites. |
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