 |
|
BJP to do balancing act Geelani steps out to freedom
British sappers to join BEG celebrations
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 Charles relishes idlis at Dilli
HaatNew Delhi, October 30 Prince Charles today spent over an hour at Dilli Haat buying silks with Madhubani painting and Buddha’s motif, besides relishing organic food comprising ragi idlis, Amarnath pasta and Jhangore phirni. On his arrival, the Prince was treated with lychee squash after which he sat for the main course. 
Prince Charles meets physically challenged children.(28k, 56k) Prince Charles tastes Indian food during his visit to a stall at Dilli Haat in New Delhi on Thursday. — PTI photo Efforts to be made for success of peace moves
High courts to have more Judges Railways to set up mobile bridge testing labs
|
|
BJP to do balancing act New Delhi, October 30 While Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Deputy Prime Minister L.K. Advani are likely to seek mandate for the party on the basis of good governance and performance of the NDA government at the Centre, Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi and former Union Minister Uma Bharti are likely to hard sell party’s pet issue of “Hindutva”. According to party sources, a decision to this effect was taken at a meeting yesterday based on the separate inputs received from the party’s state units in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan and Delhi. “After Mr Vajpayee, Mr Advani and party president Venkaiah Naidu, maximum demand from the state units has come for Mr Narendra Modi,” a well-informed party leader said adding that “Mr Modi and Ms Uma Bharti will be natural Hindutva mascots of the party.” The decision of the party belies the repeated claims of the party bigwigs that the BJP’s main poll plank will be “good governance” and “developmental issues”. Meanwhile, according to the preliminary itenerary drawn for public meetings between November 18 to 28, Mr Modi, who brought a thumping majority for the party in Gujarat through his aggressive campaign on communal lines, is scheduled to address a minimum of 30 rallies in the four states, a majority of which in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. “Mr Modi is immensely popular in areas bordering Gujarat in Madhya Pradesh which has a sizeable Gujarati population. His popularity will definitely be used in that region, which has 71 seats,” another BJP leader said. The party has decided to use Mr Narendra Modi for six consecutive days in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, where the party feels that Hindutva issue could swing voters in its favour before he moves on the campaign in Rajasthan and Delhi. Among the top 10 leaders of the party, Mr Advani and Mr Naidu are likely to address maximum rallies, while Mr Vajpayee is likely to address about 20 meetings in four states. |
|
Geelani steps out to freedom New Delhi, October 30 Dodging a large posse of mediapersons, who had gathered at the prison to capture the emotional reunion of Mr Geelani with his family members, the DU lecturer was released from a gate used only by the Director-General, Tihar Jail. Mr Geelani, who was arrested on December 15, 2001, was immediately whisked away by civil right activist Nandita Haksar and his family members to an undisclosed location to avoid media glare. “We have taken him out from a different gate and he needs sometime to spend with his family members,” Mr Haksar, who had been camping outside the Tihar prison since last evening, said. Mr Geelani, who was sentenced to death by a POTA court, was acquitted along with Afshan Guru by the Delhi High Court yesterday while the death sentence of other two accused — Shaukat Guru and Mohammed Afzal was upheld. It had been an anxious wait for Geelani’s wife Arifa, who had come to the prison at the crack of dawn along with her son and father-in-law Mohammed Abdullah. While she refused to answer any questions of the mediapersons and kept looking anxiously at the exit gate of the prison, a jubiliant Mr Abdullah, however, said he knew from the very beginning his son would be released as there was no proof against him. Alleging that there were attempts on his life in Tihar Jail, where he was lodged as an accused in the Parliament attack case, acquitted Delhi University Professor Syed Abdul Rehman Geelani today said he is “alive” only because of the intervention of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and his “friends”. “I was attacked in the jail with sharp-edged weapons like knives and blades. I was almost poisoned in the jail. I do not know how I am alive,” Mr Geelani told reporters here. “I am here and in front of you because of some friends, whom I do not want to name, inside the jail and the NHRC,” he said. “There were many occasions when I was humiliated by the authorities in the jail, where I was put in solitary confinement,” Mr Geelani said. — PTI, UNI |
|
British sappers to join BEG celebrations Roorkee, October 30 "The president of the UK-based Bengal Sappers Association, Sir George Cooper, a retired four-star British General, would be attending the celebrations," Maj-Gen B.S. Dhaliwal, Colonel of the BEG, told The Tribune. "A host of others who had served with the regiment, including senior officers and family members of officers who have since passed away, have shown keen interest in attending the celebrations," an officer added. All members of the association are now above 85 years of age. Based in Britain, the Bengal Sappers Association (BSA), comprising those who once served with the Bengal Sappers, holds regular meetings and conducts other activities associated with the regiment. The BEG here, too, keeps in regular touch with the BSA through exchange of regimental news and keeping each other updated on developments in the group. The BSA organises a formal get-together at the Royal Engineers Mess and the Royal Engineers extends facilities to them for that. In fact, General B.S. Dhaliwal recently visited the UK, where he interacted with members of the BSA and also appraised them of the bicentenary celebrations. Prior to Independence, the Bengal Sappers carried the prefix "King George V's Own" before their regimental name. The BEG traces its origin to a company of Bengal Pioneers, raised in 1803 by Capt T. Wood at Kanpur, and has since then distinguished itself in the battlefield on numerous occasions, emerging as one of the most decorated groups in the world. The BEG's most striking link with its chequered past is the majestic war memorial, built in the early 1900s. Adjacent to the centre's Quarter Guard and the parade ground, the memorial is considered a masterpiece of oriental architecture. Made of red sandstone, the foundation stone was laid on November 12, 1907, by Viscount Lord Kitchner, then Commander-in-Chief of India. The inner minar, which towers above the parapet, is a replica of one of the towers of Ghuznee Fort, where during the first Afghan War in 1839, the Bengal Sappers won the first ever gallantry award awarded to an Indian soldier. The sappers also received the Battle Honour Ghuznee and Battle Honour Afghanistan. The surrounding cloisters and onion-shaped domes were designed by the College of Oriental Arts, Lahore. The memorial was completed in four stages and unveiled on February 26, 1927, by Field Marshal Sir William Birdwood, then Commander-in-Chief. |
|
Prince meets BEG
officers Roorkee, October 30 Prince Charles also autographed a copy of “Legends and Facts Extraordinaire” published by the BEG centre to mark the bicentenary. He kept two copies of the booklet, which details the profile and achievements of the Bengal Sappers, for himself. The insignia of the Bengal Sappers is the “Three-feather Plume” bestowed upon it by the then the Prince of Wales about a century ago and thereafter in 1906, the regiment’s name was changed from Ist Sappers and Miners to Ist Prince of Wales Own Sappers and Miners. |
|
Charles relishes idlis at Dilli Haat New Delhi, October 30 The dishes on plate were rajma ke kabab, ragi idli, navrang sprout solid rice, kuttu ke roti, besan chilla and suji dhokla. The dessert comprised ragi tartlets and Amarnath muffins. The Royal guest then took a stroll of the Haat and visited eight or nine stalls, which sell silk from various parts of the country. "He bought Benarsi silk with Buddha motif, Bihar silk with Madhubani painting and Karnataka silk with gold thread,’’ Managing Director of Delhi Tourism and Transportation Development Corporation (DTTDC) Rajiv Talwar said. The prized possession for the special visitor was Kashmir Pashmina which was passed through a ring to show its thinness to the prince. The DTTDC, which runs the Dilli Haat, proposed holding a fair of Indian food, arts and craft in the UK and the Prince readily agreed to inaugurate it. Mr Talwar said he would initiate the proposal with the Centre and the Delhi Government. The heir to the British throne is known for his love for organic food and eco-friendly lifestyle. He is the patron of the Soil Association and the UK organic movement, which was inspired by Sir Albert Haward. Meanwhile, Prince Charles took saw restoration work at the Humayun’s tomb which remains an awesome tribute to the Mughul era, long before the British arrived in India. The Prince walked down the pathways and saw sprawling gardens, fountains and water channels of Char Bagh. Meanwhile, Prince Charles called on Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee here. At the 20-minute meeting, Prince Charles talked about the ongoing programmes undertaken by the British Government in India. —
UNI |
|
Efforts to be made for success of peace moves New Delhi, October 30 Addressing the Naval Senior Officers’ Conference here today, the Defence Minister, stating that India is likely to commence joint exercises with China in the near future, pointed out although India would continue the peace process with Pakistan through dialogue but the problem of terrorism was likely to persist and “we should be prepared to deal with it effectively.” The minister asserted that the Navy has to play an all-important role in times to come and the country at large needed to be made aware of its role, importance and requirements to meet the challenges which layahead of them. While stating that he was aware of the shortage of platforms required to fulfil its responsibility, he said the government was committed to providing all assistance, budgetary or otherwise, to tide over this problam. He lauded the Navy’s state of preparedness during OP Prakram. He said the Navy had got international acclaim, which was borne out by the fact that a number of countries had requested joint exercises with them. |
|
High courts to have more Judges New Delhi, October 30 The disposal rate of 3,103 by each Judge of the Kerala High Court and over 2,900 by Punjab and Haryana High Court during the last year was “laudable”, Mr Jaitley told a press conference. The disposal rates by the Calcutta and Madras High Courts were also in the range of 2,900 per Judge, he said. This was much above the All-India disposal of 1,976 cases by each Judge in a year, the Law Minister said spelling out the Centre’s plan to improve the functioning of the judiciary and appointing more Judges on the basis of “triennial” review of the pendency of cases and requirement of Judges. “The government has decided to raise the Judges’ strength in High Courts from the existing 618 to 749, which will be 94 more than the sanctioned posts,” he said. He said at present 163 posts of Judge were lying vacant in various High Courts and if the proposed increase of 94 was taken into account, 257 Judges would be immediately required. Expressing concern over the growing pendency of cases, he said the government was “very serious” about bringing down the pendency in High Courts, which at present stood at 3.36 lakh. There was immediate requirement of 13 Judges each in the High Courts of Punjab and Haryana, Calcutta and MP, 12 in Patna and 11 each in Kerala and Orissa, he said. Asked as how much time the government would take to fill the vacant posts, he said the process for the appointment of 63 Judges was at the advanced stage and “sincere efforts” would be made to fill all vacancies in near future. “The results of the review have been communicated to the Chief Justices of all High Courts urging them to forward proposals for increasing the strength of Judges through the Chief Ministers of respective states,” he said. The matter has also been taken up with the Chief Justice of India, Mr
V.N. Khare, requesting him to advise the High Court Chief Justices to expedite the appointment process at their level, the Law Minister said. He also said setting up of 1,401 fast-track courts in various states out of the proposed 1,734 had been notified. |
|
|
Railways to set up mobile bridge testing labs New Delhi, October 30 The Railway Ministry which has been reiterating safety of railway passengers as its priority has approved the laboratories for all 16 zonal railways in the next five years. Two such units have been sanctioned with bucket, platform and pier
inspection units. These will facilitate access to difficult locations as top of the trusses and underside of girders. The decision to set up such laboratories with non destructive equipment was taken recently by the Railway Board. The laboratories will be set up with logistic support of the Lucknow-based Research Design Standard Organisation. Sources in the Rail Bhavan told TNS here yesterday that the laboratories will cost the government about Rs 30 crore. It is learnt that the bridge engineers in the laboratories will evaluate from time to time the strength, efficacy and life-cost cycle of the bridges. |
| HOME PAGE | |
Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir |
Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs |
Nation | Opinions | | Business | Sports | World | Mailbag | Chandigarh | Ludhiana | National Capital | | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail | |
