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Sunday,
October
5, 2003,
Chandigarh, India  
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RSS flays
rights panel for raking up Best Bakery case VHP trains gun
on Brijesh Mishra Decision
on quota belated, says Congress Mulayam gives clean chit to Chief Secy |
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Sonia sets
up committee on Solapur defeat Kerala
PCC chief summoned to Delhi Left Front to hold protests against HC
judgement News
Analysis
Landslides
continue in Uttarkashi Venkaiah asks Naxals to lay down arms Chautala
calls on Naidu Team to
probe blast near Tirupati AP minister's condition
improving
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RSS flays rights panel for raking up Best Bakery case
Nagpur, October 4 Questioning the propriety of the NHRC to approach the Supreme Court when the accused were set free because the main eye-witnesses turned hostile, RSS chief K. Sudarshan, in his annual address to the swayayamsewaks on the occasion of Vijayadashmi, blamed the NHRC for raking up the issue. Stating that the Human Rights body also asked the apex court to conduct retrial of cases outside Gujarat in apprehension that justice could not be rendered to the victims in that state, Mr Sudarshan asked “why had the NHRC kept mum to take cases to apex court of incidents of burning down the whole of Radhabai Chawl in Mumbai on February 1, 1993?” “In that case too, the accused were set free by lower court for want of evidence. Why did not NHRC come forward to take that case also to the apex court. Is it because those killed in the Radhabai Chawl episode were all Hindus?” Mr Sudarshan asked. He also flayed NHRC’s role during the 1984 riots in Delhi. “After the assassination of the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, thousands of Sikhs were killed by mobs, led by Congress leaders but almost all accused were set free, because the prime witness had changed her statement,” he said adding, “Why did the NHRC fail to take note of it. Will not the extreme concern for Muslims and Christians and utter disregard for Hindus by NHRC, make people question its impartiality?” Mr Sudarshan denounced Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Digvijay Singh for his reported call “unless the dalits completely come out of the Hindu fold, no struggle for emancipation can ever be won. The ideal of a Dalit movement should be carried out under the leadership of Christians.” “Some Church-sponsored elements, who had attended the dalit conference in Bhopal on January 12-13, 2002, have been running a similar campaign for long,” the RSS head said and added it has been their sinister motive to alienate the so-called dalit section from the Hindu society. “What is significant is the open support of the Madhya Pradesh Government to these elements. It highlights the fact that the government is least bothered about the looming terrible consequences for the society in its petty political gamble for mean electoral gains,” he said.
— PTI |
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VHP trains gun
on Brijesh Mishra
Ayodhya, October 4 “As long as Mr Mishra remains at the helm of affairs in New Delhi, it is fruitless to talk to Mr Vajpayee on the Ayodhya issue,” VHP President Ashok Singhal said. “He (Mishra) was responsible for the tight security arrangements during the ‘shiladaan’ programme here in March, 2001. Mr Mishra kept the Prime Minister and the Centre in the dark about the actual situation in Ayodhya and even Union Minister of State for Home I D Swami was unaware of the ground reality,” he told the media at Karsevakpuram here. Cautioning the administration against imposing curbs on the “movement of people in the name of security” during the VHP’s ‘Jan Jagran Yatra’ on October 17, Mr Singhal said “we will be forced to launch a stir in case of such an eventuality.” The yatra, aimed at “pressurising” the Centre to enact a law in Parliament facilitating handing over of the acquired land to Ram Janambhoomi Nyas for temple construction, would be peaceful, he said. A large number of ‘Ram bhaktas’ from across the country would start arriving here from October 12 for it. Rejecting reports that temple construction may start on the
acquired land during the yatra, he said “it is impossible to construct
a temple in a day.” |
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Decision
on quota belated, says Congress New Delhi, October 4 Addressing mediapersons here, party spokesperson, Jaipal Reddy said, “Our feeling is that this decision has been delayed. The Prime Minister, during his visit to Rajasthan a few months back, had promised to table a Bill in this regard in the monsoon session of Parliament. The Congress was willing to support the proposal.” Mr Reddy said if the NDA government was sincere on the issue, it would have brought an amendment proposal during the monsoon session. On the issue of privatisation of Indian Oil Corporation, Mr Reddy said, “We are opposed to the decision. We are opposed to the sale of government equity in the oil sector, which we consider strategic in nature.’’ |
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Reservation
a gimmick: CPM New Delhi, October 4 However, the decision merited consideration, it said and asked the government to initiate a national consultation process. The NDA government refused to act on this issue for all these years. The timing of the present Cabinet decision completely exposes this BJP-led NDA government’s insincerity and opportunism. “Finding its electoral fortunes rather
tenuous in the five states shortly going to the polls, the BJP has resorted to adding caste-based politics to its religious-based communalism as a means to improve its fortunes”, the statement said. |
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Mulayam gives clean chit to Chief Secy
New Delhi, October 4 According to informed sources, Union Minister of State for Home Harin Pathak sent a letter to Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav about a fortnight back, asking the state to share with it findings if any inquiry was conducted against Mr Akhand Pratap Singh on the basis of a complaint made to the Prime Minister’s Office by a state minister in December, 2001, levelling corruption charges against him. Meanwhile, Mr Yadav has given a clean chit to the Chief Secretary, saying: “We have thoroughly examined whatever papers we have received. The Chief Secretary was found innocent in the inquiry conducted by the government in the disproportionate assets case.” Mr Yadav said he had gone through the entire text of the Centre’s letter and no one should have any confusion on the issue as the Chief Secretary had been found “innocent”. On the jumbo size of his expanded Cabinet, the Chief Minister said, “if there was a small Cabinet, I would have become a mere clerk. Now I am an administrator and not a clerk in this Cabinet”.
— PTI |
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Sonia sets up committee on Solapur defeat New Delhi, October 4 Confirming the constitution of the committee, Mr Vora said they would reach Mumbai on Monday and proceed to
Solapur. “We have been winning the elections there. We will meet the people and find out what led to our defeat,’’ he said. The party high command set up the committee after Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee President Ranjit Deshmukh met Ms Sonia Gandhi at her residence this morning. |
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Kerala
PCC chief summoned to Delhi
New Delhi, October 4 Mr Muraleedharan, son of Mr Karunakaran who has been raising a banner of revolt against the Congress leadership, arrived here this evening. While Maharashtra PCC chief Ranjit Deshmukh came here on his own to explain the reason behind the Congress defeat in the Solapur Lok Sabha constituency, the party high command is understood to have been forced to summon Mr Muraleedharan after the ultimatum issued by the Karunakaran faction to replace Mr Antony by November 19. Mr Muraleedharan’s discussions with the party high command assumes significance as it comes ahead of the meeting of the Disciplinary Action Committee headed by Mr L.P. Shahi constituted to look into all aspects of the party’s defeat in Ernakulam, including the factional feud, scheduled for Monday. “I have been called for discussions and can say anything only on my return,” Mr Muraleedharan, reserving his comments on “factional politics” in the party, told the media at the Karipur airport near Kozhikode before leaving for Delhi.
— PTI |
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Left Front to hold protests against HC
judgement Kolkata, October 4 After the meeting, the front Chairman,
Mr Biman Bose, told newspersons that they would hold a convention in
the city on October 8 as a part of their campaign for creating public
opinion against the order. Mr Bose said Mr Justice Amitava Lala had
no right to curb the people’s rights to express their opinions and
grievances and various other fundamental rights sanctioned by the
Constitution. He declared that they would not obey the order. Mr
Justice Lala in a suo motu contempt notice served on the DC (Traffic)
and other policemen concerned issued a judgement on September 29
banning all processions, rallies, etc in the city between 8 am to 8 pm
on all working days. On Sundays and other holidays, the processions
could be taken out with the prior permission of the police. The
court’s Division Bench, comprising Mr Justice Aloke Chakraborty and
Mr Justice S. Mukherjee yesterday heard a writ petition filed on
behalf of the state government against the judgement but reserved the
ruling till the reopening of the court after the puja vacations. But
the Bench allowed the religious processions like Durga Puja, Lakshmi
Puja and Kali Puja to be taken out in the city during the idols
immersion. |
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News
Analysis New Delhi, October 4 Pakistan continues to be driven by its perceived need to counter India’s conventional superiority and nuclear capability which it
correlates with New Delhi’s aspirations of being a regional and global power. Pakistan, thus, wants to carry out more tests for its imported technology missiles despite lacking a credible weapon guidance system. Experts here point out that India and Pakistan are in a way involved in a race to accumulate missiles capable of carrying and delivering nuclear warheads. At the same time, one aspect which separates both countries and creates a big difference between their capabilities is that while New Delhi depends on indigenous technology for its missile development programme, Islamabad’s efforts remain largely imported through clandestine and devious means. Pakistan, like India, is placing emphasis on becoming self-sufficient for the production of its nuclear weapons and missiles. During the past several years, Pakistan has received assistance from both China and North Korea in this direction and it has continued to seek a variety of nuclear-related and dual-use items for weapons development. However, experts feel Pakistan has less of a military production infrastructure than India and is compelled to rely on outside support. India, on the other hand, with all its expertise in this field, is set to take a great leap with even Israel identifying this achievement. Israel, in fact, has expressed its willingness to work together with India to further develop missiles as it believes that New Delhi’s indigenous missile development programme is in a very advanced stage. It would help Israel achieve more in the field of missile development and in turn facilitate India in seeking assistance for developing nuclear submarines. What puts India in a league above Pakistan is that it has development and production infrastructures for both solid and liquid-propelled missiles. Further, it has strived to achieve independence from foreign suppliers and as such been able to overcome all kinds of restrictions. For comparisons, Pakistan, while attempting to develop Hatf-III missile, already has in its possession the short-range Hatf-I, which it is trying to market. The Hatf-I is based on the Chinese M-11 missiles, the Hatf-II has M-XII technology and the Ghauri on No Dong Medium-Range missiles of North Korea. Incidentally, the Hatf-III is also based on the M-11 technology. Pakistan also has in its possession Shaheen-I, which is a single stage, solid
propellant short-range missile and Shaheen-II, a road-mobile two-stage solid
propellant medium-range missile. Shaheen-II probably would be able to carry a 1000-kg payload over a range of 2,500 km. On the other hand, India recently decided to hand over the short-range (700 km) Agni-I and the medium-range (1,500 km) Agni-II missiles, both capable of carrying nuclear warheads. The decision to hand over the missiles to the 334 and 335 groups reflects that India already has some of them in possession and would be ready to deploy these, if needed for operation, within hours. Significantly, it allows India to strike all of Pakistan as well as many key areas of China. India has also in possession the Prithvi range of missiles. It is a short-range single-stage, liquid-fuel, road mobile, ballistic missile which has been developed in three different versions. Prithvi-I has been produced for the Indian Army and has a payload of 1,000 kg and a range of 150 km. Prithvi-II has a 500 kg payload, but an improved range of 250 km. It has been specially designed for the Indian Air Force. Another varient, Dhanush, is under trials for the Indian Navy and is similar to what has been developed for the Air Force. India is also developing the intermediate range Agni-III missile with a range of 3,700 km and a possible Agni-IV with a range of 4000-5000 km which would allow India to target Beijing. But these are apparently in the initial stages of development. Unconfirmed reports suggest that India is also in the process of converting the satellite launch vehicle (SLV) into an Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM). It is referred to as the “Surya”. Defence experts point out that the possession of ICBM is a key symbol in India’s quest for recognition as a world power. Most of the components needed for an ICBM are available with India’s indigenous space programme. India could convert its polar satellite launch vehicle (PSLV) into an ICBM within a year or two once a final decision is taken in this regard. Experts maintain that India’s nuclear programme is far ahead of Pakistan’s. A simple comparison to this, they say, is that when India conducted its second series of tests between May 11-13, 1998, at Pokhran, five underground nuclear devices were exploded and all were successful, but Pakistan was not able to achieve the same success rate. |
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Advani’s son weds fashion designer
New Delhi, October 4 The wedding was attended by close relatives of the Advanis and those from the bride’s side. While Jayant has a packaging business, Geetika is the daughter of Mr Sudesh Sachdev, also a businessman.
— PTI |
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Landslides
continue in Uttarkashi Uttarkashi (Uttaranchal), October 4 An aerial survey of the city portrayed a picture of natural disaster with many buildings buried under the debris. Hundreds of people have been evacuated from the danger points. A relief camp has been set up. No assessment to the loss of property could be made as landslides are still continuing. Senior officials to the state and district
administration were busy chalking out plans to deal with the situation. Talking to TNS, Dr R.S. Tolia, Chief Secretary of Uttaranchal, said, “An effective disaster-management policy of the state government has prevented casualties” Not even a single person has been injured in the massive landslides, he claimed. He said the state government had announced Rs 8.5-crore relief. Measures had been initiated to set up a special women hospital. “We have demanded Rs 100 from the Union Government as immediate relief,” he said. The most affected areas include the Mori area and Gyanshu Nala. Damages have also been reported due to flash floods in these areas. People have been brought to the relief camp at Ramlila grounds. Three hotels and at least 12 houses and government buildings have been buried under the debris completely. Around 100 buildings have been partially damaged. The hoteliers whose hotels have been damaged completely would be compensated for one-third of the damage. One third cost would also be provided through loans on easy instalments in addition to the government relief. The houses that had been destroyed would be given financial help, Dr Tolia said. Meanwhile, the District Magistrate of Uttarkashi district, Mr K.K. Pant, said the assessment of damages was being carried out. He said, “Around 1,200 persons have been affected due to landslides, out of which at least 400 persons have taken shelter in the government relief camps”. The city situated at the foothills of Varunavat hill on the banks of the Ganga Geologists of the Wadia Institute of Geology had pointed that heavy rains and cloudbursts had developed cracks in the rocks of Varunavat hill resulting in landslides. The Rishikesh-Gangotri road and a few other roads have been blocked. Traffic could not be revived on these roads. Local people said apple and potato produce was rotting causing heavy losses to farmers. On the other hand, a spokesman for the state unit of the Congress blamed that the Union Government had given only Rs 37.47 crore for disaster management during the current financial year. However, the total losses due to natural disasters in the state, leaving aside Uttarkashi, had already been assessed to the tune of Rs 106 crore. |
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Venkaiah asks Naxals to lay down arms
Visakhapatnam, October 4 Addressing a press conference here, he suggested that the extremist group should mobilise public opinion and come to power rather than threatening the people with weapons. He further stated that their ideologies were hardly popular among the masses. He condemned the recent attack on Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu as ‘barbarous’ and the justification of the act by the PWG as ‘further atrocious.’ Mr Naidu reminded the extremist groups that the government was ready to discuss issues with any terrorist outfit within Constitutional limits and cited the recent and ongoing discussions held with Naga militants and the Bodos as instances. He also took strong exception to the reported statement of the Andhra Pradesh Civil Liberties Committee, extending support to the attack on the Chief Minister. Mr Naidu suggested that the political parties come to a common understanding in condemning violent activities of terrorists and Naxalites. Though the BJP was in favour of enacting a legislation to acquire the undisputed land in Ayodhya, the lack of consensus among the NDA partners had become a stumbling block on this issue, Mr Naidu said. To a question, he said the party or the NDA government had not been thinking of introducing a uniform civil code in the country, despite repeated pronouncements of the apex court. Stating that he would not contest in the next Lok Sabha poll, the BJP President said the party would concentrate on the southern and North Eastern States to improve its strength. Mr Naidu replied in the negative when asked whether the party would rethink its alliance with the ruling TDP in Andhra Pradesh, following the defeat of its candidate in the Karwan assembly segment despite joint canvassing by the TDP and the BJP.
— UNI |
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Chautala
calls on Naidu New Delhi, October 4 Mr Chautala wished Mr Naidu speedy recovery and urged the youth engaged in terrorism to shun violence and join the task of nation-building. The meeting lasted about 30
minutes. |
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Team to probe blast near Tirupati Tirupati, October 4 A commission of inquiry, headed by a retired DGP of Uttar Pradesh, Mr Prakash Singh, would study the security lapses, DGP S.R. Sukumara said. Mr Prakash Singh would also recommend steps to strengthen security cover for the Chief Minister and other VVIPs. Mr Sukumara said the security apparatus at the hill shrine of Lord Venkateswara and other temples in the state would be further upgraded. The combing operation to nab the Naxalites of the PWG continued in the thick jungles of Tirumala Special armed constabulary personnel, holding modern weapons, were seen entering the forest area, while others were keeping watch on the main road. Meanwhile, the condition of TDP MLA R. Rajasekhar Reddy, undergoing treatment at the SVIMS, was showing signs of improvement. Mr Reddy, underwent a surgery and was responding to stimulants. He continued to be on a ventilator, a SVIMS press note said. The driver of the Chief Minister’s car, Raju, who was among the injured in the blast, was expected to be discharged within two or three days, hospital sources said.
— PTI, UNI |
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AP minister's condition
improving
Hyderabad, October 4 State Health Minister Dr Kodela Sivaprasad Rao and NIMS Director Prof Kakarla Subbarao, who visited the minister, said Mr Reddy had a comfortable sleep and his blood pressure and urine were normal. His chest X-ray was clear, with no fluids, and lungs had shown improvement. The fractured ribs and collar bone fracture were in the normal healing process. ''He is receiving antibiotics and pain killers. He is continuously being monitored for ECG, blood pressure and oxygen saturation. He is continuously receiving oxygen by face mask and nebulising now and then,'' Prof Subbarao said in a statement here today. Anaesthesia, orthopaedic, CT surgery and physiotherapy specialists were attending on him regularly, he added.
— UNI |
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