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BJP says no to repeal of POTA BJP hails PM’s peace offer India, China begin border talks Cong senses bids to topple its govts
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Czech defence equipment for Indian forces New Delhi, October 23 Czech Republic is the latest country to join India in the field of defence cooperation, with the two countries coming to an agreement over the supply of protective equipment in nuclear, biological and chemical warfare for the Indian armed forces, and the upgradation of T-72 tanks and MI series of helicopters. 78 terrorist camps in Bangladesh
Tax evasion worth crores detected Rights group allowed to move EC on sops Private party can move SC in
criminal case Senegal pays Rs 50 lakh to kin of slain driver Avoid clash over Sikh meeting, says forum
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BJP says no to repeal of POTA New Delhi, October 23 “POTA should continue and there is no question of repealing it. The law should be used by state governments more vigorously against terrorists and anti-nationals working against the country,” BJP President M. Venkaiah Naidu told newspersons here. “We are of the firm view that POTA should continue,” Mr Naidu asserted when asked to comment on DMK chief M. Karunanidhi’s demand for repeal of the Act. Welcoming the decision of the government to amend POTA making it mandatory for Central and state governments to accept the recommendation of the Central Review Committee, Mr Naidu said, “This would strengthen the sanctity of the legislation and serve as a check and balance over the misuse.” Meanwhile, the Centre will promulgate an ordinance in a week to amend the anti-terror law POTA for giving statutory powers to the Review Committee and make their decisions binding on state governments, an official indicated yesterday. Referring to the forthcoming Assembly elections in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Delhi, the BJP President accused the Congress of being “hell bent” on “misusing” the official machinery and wanted the Election Commission to be “extra vigilant” to see that its directives were not flouted. “We have analysed and concluded that to cover up its inadequacies and failures, the Congress governments in four states are violating the Model Code of Conduct and misusing the government machinery to gain last-minute advantage,” Mr Naidu said. Pointing fingers at the Election Commission, Mr Naidu said, “While the Election Commission was swift in asking the Central Government to postpone the North-East Development Council meeting, which was a developmental meeting, the Congress Governments in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh are openly flouting the EC directives.” Mr Naidu alleged that in Chhattisgarh school bags with the picture of the Chief Minister were being distributed while in Madhya Pradesh three new districts were created. “Even the picture of President A. P. J. Abdul Kalam was being used by the Congress Government in Madhya Pradesh for election publicity,” Mr Naidu said. On the BJP’s poll plank, Mr Naidu said the focus would be on the “feel good” factor about the Vajpayee government’s performance and the dismal performance of the Congress in the states ruled by it. He said the party would come out with a separate manifesto for each state going to polls. “Though there will be a broad highlight of the good work done by the Vajpayee government, the manifestoes will focus on the issues relating to each state.” Asked whether the foreign origin issue of Congress President Sonia Gandhi would be raised by the BJP during the course of electioneering, Mr Naidu merely said, “If somebody asks, we have to give a reply.” |
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BJP hails PM’s peace offer New Delhi, October 23 “Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee is known the world over as a man of peace. He has taken several bold and imaginative steps to improve India’s relations with many countries. Pakistan should not mistake this as a sign of weakness,” BJP President Venkaiah Naidu told newspersons here. While hailing Mr Vajpayee’s fresh initiative, Mr Naidu pointed out that “ultimately, the most critical issue in India-Pakistan relations is the issue of cross-border terrorism...A dialogue with Pakistan would be possible only when evidence can be seen on the ground to show that cross-border terrorism has come to an end.” |
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India, China begin border talks New Delhi, October 23 The talks between special representatives of India and China —National Security Adviser Brajesh Mishra and Chinese Foreign Minister Dai Bainggou — were held here in total secrecy in South Block, away from the media glare. Well-placed sources said Mr Mishra and Dai first held one-to-one talks for about half an hour which was followed by delegation-level talks. The special representatives’ talks are not scheduled for tomorrow. However, the significance of Dai’s India visit can be gauged by the fact that he would tomorrow call on External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha and Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. It is understood that the two sides expressed satisfaction over the tranquil borders between the two countries since they signed two agreements: first on the maintenance of peace and tranquility along the Line of Actual Control in the India-China border areas in 1993 and the second on confidence building measures in the military field along the LAC in 1996. It is understood that the Brajesh-Dai talks did not touch on highly contentious issues and the two preferred to talk on how to go about the talks. Dai led a seven-member delegation for the parleys with Mr Brajesh Mishra. The Chinese delegation included its Ambassador here Hua Junduo, Director-General from Asia Department Fu Ying and Director-General from the Policy Study Department Cui
Tiantai. |
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Cong senses bids to topple its govts New Delhi, October 23 Congress sources said disgruntled party leaders from these states were being given patient hearing by the central leadership with assurances that their grievances would be taken up after the Assembly poll. Promises of expansion of ministries have also been held out. The Congress high command had received reports of alleged efforts by a senior BJP leader at destabalising party governments by asking disgruntled Congress leaders in the three states to muster support for defections by November. “The BJP wants to create difficulties for us before the Assembly poll in five states,” a senior Congress leader said. With a section in the Punjab Congress having started raising demand for removal of Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh, Ms Kidwai yesterday called him to Delhi for detailed talks. Punjab Agriculture and Rural Development Minister Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, who is unhappy with the way the state government has dealt with the case faced by her, also met Ms Kidwai. Sources said the Congress leadership had learnt of a Punjab minister meeting a central BJP leader in the Capital some weeks ago. The infighting in Kerala and spat with the NCP in Maharashtra have also added to the worries of Congress leadership. Party leaders said that certain crucial decisions have been deferred till the Assembly poll in five states. |
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Czech defence equipment for Indian forces New Delhi, October 23 The agreement was reached during the talks Defence Minister George Fernandes had with Czech leaders, including Prime Minister Vladimir Spidia, in Prague. Mr Fernandes is on an official visit to the Czech Republic. Reports from the Ministry of Defence here said besides signing an agreement on defence cooperation, the two countries had also agreed to consider setting up a joint committee on defence cooperation, which would meet annually to enhance defence purchases between the two countries. The two sides also agreed to increase the role of the Bharat Earth Movers Limited in the production of Czech heavy duty Tatra trucks for the Indian Army. Reports said the Army had begun the process of procuring nuclear, biological and chemical warfare clothing for its frontline units and the Czech offer would be considered seriously. India is seeking to enhance its night-fighting capabilities and a tripartite agreement seems to be in the offing. The minister, leading a high-level delegation, also visited Ukraine to consider that country’s offer to supply spares for the Russian weapon system used by Indian armed forces. |
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78 terrorist camps in Bangladesh Kolkata, October 23 The meeting which was held as a follow-up action of the Indo-Bangladesh officials talks held recently in New Delhi and Dhaka, discussed elaborately various problems on the border of the two countries including infiltration, smuggling and the terrorist activities. The demand was made by the Director-General of the BSF, Mr Ajoy Raj Sharma, to his Bangladeshi counterpart at a meeting in Shillong , which the Bangladesh Rifles accepted. Senior BSF officials of West Bengal, Assam, Tripura and Meghalaya were present. Mr Sharma handed over a list of 78 terrorists camps located in border districts of Bangladesh to the delegation. Fugitive terrorists, mostly belonging to ULFA, NSCNL, MCC, TTLF and KLF have been operating in the India’s border states. ISI has been funding these terrorist groups. The issue of fencing the border with barbed wire, patrolling round the clock on both the sides and regular interaction between the countries for normalising the tension on the border were also discussed at the meeting. The meeting decided that a BSF team would visit some of border districts in Bangladesh. As a reciprocal arrangement, Bangladeshi defence officials would also visit West Bengal, Assam, Tripura and
Meghalaya. |
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Tax evasion worth crores detected New Delhi, October 23 The raids were conducted on Tuesday at the premises of the company, manufacturing gutka in the brand name of “Shyam Bahar”, including the premises involved in the transactions of supply of raw material, manufacturing, processing, packing and selling points, in Sitapur, Lakhimpur, Shahjahanpur and Lucknow. Documents pertaining to tax evasion worth about Rs 6 crore were seized, a DGCEI press note said here today. A case has been registered against the company. “During the operation, entire chain of manufacturing activities and the evasion route was covered. A large number of incriminating documents indicating a large scale systematic and organised evasion has been detected,” it said. Explaining the modus operandi adopted by the company, it said as per the sales tax provisions, the transporters are required in Uttar Pradesh to transport the goods with the invoice and the bilty else the transporter is liable to be arrested for unaccounted goods in transit. Hence transporters insist on the invoices for each clearance. |
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Rights group allowed to move EC on sops
Jabalpur, October 23 A Division Bench of the court comprising Chief Justice Rajaratnam and Mr Justice Dipak Mishra also asked the state government to pay within 14 days Rs 50 crore out of a total outstanding of Rs 184 crore to the Madhya Pradesh State Electricity Board. The high court orders came on a writ petition filed by the president of the Nagrik Upbhokta Margdarshak Manch, Mr P.G. Nazpandey, who had challenged the state government’s order of September 27 by which small farmers were given free power connections. — PTI |
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Private party can move SC in criminal case New Delhi, October 23 A Bench comprising Mr Justice Doraiswamy Raju and Mr Justice Arijit Pasayat in a judgement said the apex court could entertain a petition under Article 136 of the Constitution during the hearing of appeal by an interested party in a criminal case, if it could establish the apprehension of miscarriage of justice. “We do not have the slightest doubt that we can entertain appeals against judgements of acquittal by the high court at the instance of interested private parties also,” the court said. The ruling came in a murder case where the accused were acquitted by the Allahabad High Court. |
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Senegal pays Rs 50 lakh to kin of slain driver New Delhi, October 23 A spokesman for the Senegalese Embassy here said a cheque for Rs 50 lakh had been given to Bhagwanti, mother of the deceased driver Dilver Lal, as compensation and legal rights. “The embassy once again deeply regrets the unfortunate incident and acknowledges that no amount of financial settlement can replace a human life”, a statement issued by the embassy said. |
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Avoid clash over Sikh meeting, says forum New Delhi, October 23 Secretary of the forum, Mr R. S. Chatwal pointed out in a letter that the convention, which is scheduled for later this month in Mohali would focus on important issues and require dispassionate discussions. He said confrontations and challenges hurled at each other would complicate matters. Mr Chatwal said “we have past traditions of peacefully resolving more intricate problems before the community. Long discussions on Sikh Rehat Maryada spread over few years are well documented and available to us”. He further said the Sikh forum had appealed to both SGPC as well as Akal Takht to agree to the formation of a committee, which should deliberate in depth the issue
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Malkhan to contest poll Guna (MP), October 23 |
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