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Ramadoss promises DOTS
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report on 1984 riots or face uproar, says BJP New Delhi, March 24 The BJP today warned the UPA government of a stormy second half of the Budget Session of Parliament if it would not table the Nanavati Commission Report on the 1984 anti-Sikh riots and restore the tax rebates given earlier to women, senior citizens and government employees.
10-day night bazar
opened in Jaipur CBI told to probe rly
recruitments Teacher held for
sexually abusing boys Lack of funds stalled
police reforms 10 die in Naga
faction fight Demand to scrap
Maheshwar project Polluted air trapped
over Bihar Police to patrol
girls’ schools Theatre critic Nemichand
Jain dead 2 Muslim clerics refused entry
into USA Ghising named
caretaker administrator Hailstorms damage
crops Production warrant against Pappu Yadav Grandfather takes
Class XII exam Shortage of officers
in Army: Pranab Chinese PM to come
on April 9 Benazir’s India
visit put off
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Ramadoss promises DOTS cover by June
New Delhi, March 24 Ramadoss made this statement after flagging off an awareness run from the National Stadium here today morning to mark the World Tuberculosis Day. Over 500 schoolchildren took part in the run aimed at spreading the message that DOTS promised high cure rates for those afflicted with TB. Ramadoss said that the reach of the Revised National TB Control Programme (RNTCP) had been expanded. Ramadoss also laid the foundation stone for a new Food and Drug Administration Bhawan on Kotla Road. The building is being constructed as part of the World Bank assisted capacity building project for food safety and quality control and drugs. The total cost of the project is about Rs 355 crores. Meanwhile, AIDS Care Watch, a global campaign committed to reducing the number of HIV-related deaths in the current year, too, stressed the need for DOTS for TB for 5.1 million HIV positive persons in the country. Positive People for Care and Support actively involved in the campaign has said although antiretroviral drugs were critical for their physical well being, but these drugs could do little without nutritious food and additional therapies as DOTS, said president of Indian Network of People Living with HIV (INP+) K.K. Abraham. Bobby Ramakant, who has been working in the area of TB control in South Asia, said TB was the biggest killer of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLHWAs) who had a 50 per cent lifetime risk of developing the disease. Effective TB treatment can extend lives of PLHWAs by at least two to three years and carried a Rs 900 price tag although TB drugs were available free of cost to the patient through DOTS. Meanwhile, a panel of experts from Moolchand Hospital here have said more than 50 per cent HIV positive cases eventually develop tuberculosis and more than 5 to 25 per cent of all TB patients suffer from HIV. “These sputum positive cases will go on spreading the TB infection in the community if they are not diagnosed early,” said Dr K.K. Aggarwal, Senior Consultant, Moolchand Hospital.
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Miracle helped me:
Meera
New Delhi, March 24 And moments before the flight is ready to take off, the door is thrown open and in comes a rescue team, an answer to her prayers. Pakistani actress Meera’s rescue story was a scene straight out of movies. A tiring quest, twists of fate and finally the last minute miracle. “I owe it to Nizamudddin Aulia”, she insists, a day after she was detained at a Delhi airport. The experience of being detained for more than seven hours in not so friendly atmosphere even for Meera, the actress was nothing short of dramatic. She told the Tribune, “I was feeling miserable… there I was made to sit in one place, nobody allowing me to leave the airport until Bhatt sahab came to my rescue”. The actress is in the Capital on the invitation of Director Mahesh Bhatt. “It was embarrassing… she was not here for work, but to take part in a peace process and she was our guest and just because of a small human error she had to go through what was purely traumatic”, Bhatt said. A grateful Meera, who had given up the hope of being able to set foot in Delhi, can’t stop thanking God. “It was a miracle, I believe that I came here yesterday because Nizamuddin Auliya wanted me to come. How else could Bhatt saheb help me” She went on to add, “from the airport I went straight to the Dargah where Bhatt sahab gave me a dupatta to cover my head with. I have been to India and Delhi so many times, but never got a chance to visit the Dargah, so I really think that this was destined”. Bhatt, on the other hand, is quick to blame the “distrust” between India and Pakistan for the fiasco. “There is so much distrust between the two countries that it acquires legal manifestations. The countries, in trying to avoid mischief, are inflexible about the entry and exit points, which is why despite a multiple entry visa Meera was not allowed to disembark at Delhi”. Meera recalled that the authorities were so unrelenting that instead of putting her onto a flight to Mumbai, she was asked to return to Pakistan. “They would not even allow me to go to Mumbai… I was so scared”, she said. The actress was in the Capital to participate in an Indo-Pakistan peace march that got underway from Nizamuddin Dargah. The worst behind her, she is, however, happy to have been part of the peace process, “this is one of the most beautiful experiences of my life. To be the part of a mission to further the peace process between India and Pakistan is a matter of pride”. The actress will now return to Mumbai where she is currently wrapping up films. (Photo on page 1)
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Table report on 1984 riots or face uproar, says BJP
New Delhi, March 24 “The government is well-advised to table the Nanavati Commission Report at the beginning of the second half of the Budget session but if it is not done, it would become difficult for the House to function smoothly,” BJP Parliamentary Party spokesman V.K. Malhotra told newspersons here today, as the first half of Parliament’s Budget Session came to a close. Accusing the government of doing “injustice” to senior citizens, women and government employees by reducing their tax rebate, Mr Malhotra demanded that the rebate provided by the NDA government should be restored. “If the government does not do away with this injustice, it should be prepared to face ‘hungama’ (uproar) when the Finance Bill and the Supplementary Demands for Grants are taken up in the second half of the Budget Session,” he said. The BJP also took strong exception to the Congress’ description of the denial of US visa to Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi as a “national embarrassment”. “We do not require a certificate from the Congress on whose hands are blood stained....We are surprised over the Congress reaction. The Congress was responsible for riots in various parts of the country, including the anti-Sikh genocide in Delhi and those in Bhagalpur and Hyderabad,” former BJP president M Venkaiah Naidu said. Asserting that the issue of visa refusal to Mr Modi was a national issue and an
assault on the sovereignty, Mr Naidu said the government was bound to protect the Constitution and the rights and liberty of every citizen. Condemning the dismissal of Directors of 11 National Institutes of Technology (NITs), the BJP charged HRD Minister Arjun Singh with doing “nothing constructive” and only indulging in reversing the decisions of the previous NDA government. While welcoming the Cabinet decision to set up a National Commission for Children’s Rights, Mr Malhotra expressed hope that it would have experts as it members “instead of committed people.” |
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10-day night bazar opened in Jaipur
Jaipur, March 24 Inaugurated by Mrs Raje, the bazar extends from the starting point of Tripolia Bazar to Badi Chaupad in the heart of the city. Shops and stalls in this bazar will offer choicest consumer items for sale. The night bazar will remain open from 8 p.m. till midnight for all 10 days. Since crime has registered a phenomenal increase in this hitherto known peaceful city, the people, particularly jewellers, are feeling panicky as several members of this affluent community have been victims of serious offences, including thefts, dacoity, murder, and kidnapping, in the capital. While Mrs Sumedha Durlabhji, wife of well-known jeweller Rashmikant Durlabhji, and Mr Benidas Kotawala were kidnapped by criminals and later released, jewellery worth Rs 1 crore was stolen from the “gaddi” of jeweller Jagdish Tambi. Gold ornaments in large quantity were also looted from another jeweller’s shop on the Gopalpura bypass in January. The most heinous crime committed on Thursday was the murder of a jeweller by three anti-social elements who escaped with heavy cash and jewellery. A jeweller was robbed of cash and costly jewellery after anti-social elements administered him an intoxicated drink. |
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CBI told to probe rly recruitments
Mumbai, March 24 Mr Justice J.N. Patel and Mr Justice P.S. Bramhe of the Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court taking cognizance of a report by the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) yesterday directed the CBI to probe the matter and submit a report to it. A petition was filed by candidates who alleged irregularities and favouritism at the behest of the then Railway Minister, Mr Nitish Kumar, in recruitments for the posts of Assistant Station Master (ASM) and Goods Guard in 2003. Earlier, the HC had stayed the appointments to over 1,200 posts but later cleared these subject to the decision of the said petition. The Shiv Sena leadership is yet to decide on its future course of action on the matter though the party is expected to hit the streets on the issue. A senior party leader told this reporter that the court order was of concern to the people of Maharashtra. Activists of the Shiv Sena had attacked offices of the Western Railway last year after scores of candidates from outside the state were interviewed for Class III and IV posts. The Shiv Sena leadership is under pressure from its cadre to return to its sons-of-the-soil platform especially after the sacking of Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Nirupam from the party. Mr Nirupam was among the prominent north Indian faces who worked towards making the Shiv Sena friendly towards migrants to Mumbai. Earlier, the Central Vigilance Commission had verified the answersheets of more than 3.5 lakh candidates on the orders of the court. It was found that the carbon copies of candidates appearing for the written examination of the Railway Recruitment Board from Mumbai in 2003, were missing. In addition, the CVC in its report to the high court stated that a large number of candidates from Bihar and Jharkhand were indeed selected for the posts. The high court directed the CVC to handover all the relevant documents to CBI within four weeks. |
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Teacher held for sexually abusing boys
Hardwar, March 24 The matter came to light when a mid-day meal helper, Poonam Rastogi, posted at the primary school number 35, reported the matter to the police, stating that the teacher had been sexually abusing eight students of class five, including her son. In her report, Ms Rastogi said the children informed her last week that the teacher had been indulging in sexual misconduct with them during lunch hour for quite some time now. The man, Mohammad Mateen, was undergoing treatment at a city hospital after an accident yesterday when the police nabbed him. He has been kept under medical supervision and would be arrested soon after he is discharged from the hospital, said Hardwar SSP Abhinav Kumar. A case has been registered against the teacher, the police said. Taking serious exception to the teacher’s misdemeanor, the Education Department has suspended him with immediate effect, besides slapping a memo seeking explanation on the school administration. The victims reported that the teacher forced them into sexual misconduct and assaulted them if they resisted his attempts. The accused, now under judicial remand, is being tried under sections 294, 377 and 511, IPC, the police said. |
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Lack of funds stalled police reforms
New Delhi, March 24 The report was prepared on the basis of a comprehensive review of as many as 186 actionable recommendations by the Gore Committee, eight reports of the Dharma Vira Commission, five major recommendations by the Ribeiro Committee, 208 recommendations by the Padmanabaiah Committee, 62 recommendations by the Group of Ministers on national security and 158 recommendations by the Malimath Committee and so on. Apart from these, suggestions and comments of senior police officers in the country and other experts have also been incorporated in the report. “The ministry had asked me to go through the unimplemented recommendations so that certain important recommendations may be re-considered for implementation,” Mr Kamal Kumar told The Tribune from Hyderabad. Mr Kamal Kumar, however, revealed that a majority of recommendations were not implemented due to financial implications, requiring change in legislation and other constraints. Since the Indian Police Act came into existence in 1861, there is a need to have a fresh look at the reforms to practice them under the present circumstances, he added. In fact, the Dharma Vira commission’s report, the first-ever attempt to thoroughly review the police system in the country, suggested numerous recommendations to improve the efficacy of the police in its eight reports. The eight reports of the National Police Commission contain 291 actionable recommendations relating directly or indirectly to police reforms of which 86 require legislative action or major amendments in rules, 126 require action by the Central Government, 202 involve action by the state governments the 109 by respective Police Departments. Of these, 78 have financial implications and the rest have no financial implications in their implementation.
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Kohima, March 24 The police said 60 militants from the Isak-Muivah faction of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN) attacked a camp of the rival group led by S.S. Khaplang in Surohuto village, 190 km from here. The attack began at 5.30 a.m. “The fighting is still continuing,” police official Muthasuyi Chakesang told IANS on the telephone from Zunheboto. Senior NSCN (Khaplang) leader Kughalo Mulatonu said their cadres had killed 10 attackers. “It was an unprovoked attack and we have already inflicted heavy casualties,” Mulatonu said. Police official Chakesang, however, said they had confirmation of three NSCN (Isak-Muivah) cadres killed. “We have rushed paramilitary soldiers to defuse the situation. The casualty figures might go up as fighting is still on,” the official said. The two NSCN groups are operating a ceasefire with New Delhi — the NSCN (Isak-Muivah) currently holding talks with the government after entering into a truce in 1997. The Khaplang faction of the NSCN is yet to begin formal peace talks. — IANS
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Demand to scrap Maheshwar project
Bhopal, March 24 A rally held at Mandleshwar, near the project, today urged the government to scrap this “ruinous” project. The rally, held under the aegis of the Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA), was attended by about 10,000 persons from the villages affected by this project as well as the Upper Beda, Indira Sagar, Man and Sardar Sarovar projects. Women outnumbered men in the rally, which later turned into a public meeting. Addressing the meeting, senior NBA activist Alok Agrawal said the power generation from the Maheshwar project would be very costly and inadequate to meet the peak hour demand. Besides, he said, the project had been embroiled in serious financial irregularities as repeatedly highlighted in reports of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG). Movable and immovable properties of the company entrusted with the construction had already been attached by the Madhya Pradesh State Industrial Development Corporation (MPSIDC), Mr Agrawal said. |
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Polluted air trapped over Bihar
New Delhi, March 24 A satellite data analysis by NASA researchers revealed that a pool of polluted air particles form over the Indian subcontinent, particularly Bihar, during the winter season. Sources in the Environment and Forest Ministry, however, said meteorological and topographical features around Bihar could be responsible for polluted air getting trapped over the state. Burning of bio-fuels used for domestic purposes and coal by industries, besides vehicular emissions were responsible for the pollution. To control air pollution several steps have been initiated by the Centre and the State Pollution Control Boards, they said. |
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Police to patrol girls’ schools
Mumbai, March 24 Making this announcement in the State Assembly, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister R. R. Patil said the government had taken a tough stand on the issue. According to the police, acid was thrown on Joginder Kaur (13), an eight standard student of Loreto Convent school, at RCF Colony,
Chembur. The girl and her two friends sustained minor burns injuries when a man suddenly threw a polythene packet containing acid on her. The assailant, Arjun Nirmal (20), was caught by passersby and handed over to the police. Nirmal told the police that his employer had paid him Rs 300 to throw acid on the
girl. Nirmal’s employer, Mulchand Ranglani (32), was said to be sponsoring the girl’s education after the death of her mother. Ranglani reportedly told the police that he was upset after the girl rejected his advances. All girls were discharged after first aid. |
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Theatre critic Nemichand
Jain dead
New Delhi, March 24 He was 86 and is survived by wife Rekha Jain, a well-known theatre personality, a son and three daughters, including Kirti Jain, a former director of the National School of Drama. The last rites were performed at the Lodhi Road crematorium. A recipient of Padma Shri Award, Mr Jain was recently honoured by the Delhi Government’s Shalaka Samman. Born on August 16, 1919 at Agra, he actively participated in the Indian People’s Theatre Movement (IPTA) and retired as a professor from the NSD. He was also a drama critic for The Statesman for several years. Mr Jain, who received acclaim for his book “Rang Darshan”, a collection of critical essays on Hindi theatre, had shot into limelight for “Tar Saptak”, edited by Sachitanand Hiranand Vatsayayan “Ageya” during the 1940s. He was the editor of “Natrang”, a famous literary magazine focused on theatre since 1965. He also founded Natrang Pratisthan, a centre of research on theatre activities. The Sangeet Natak Akademi and the NSD mourned the death, describing Mr Jain as a pioneer of theatre movement in India. Eminent writers Mrinal Pande, Namwar Singh, Ashok Vajpayee, Kedarnath Singh, Krishna Valdev Vaidya and Rajendra Yadav also expressed grief over the demise of Mr Jain.
— UNI
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2 Muslim clerics refused entry
into USA
Lucknow, March 24 Sadiq, along with two other clerics, arrived at Chicago International Airport on March 17 to participate in a religious function, and was detained for hours and questioned by the immigration authorities, Sadiq’s son Kalbe Hussain told PTI here today. The cleric was subjected to intensive quizzing by the immigration officials and was allowed entry into Chicago only after the intervention of some of his close friends in London from where he had taken the flight to Chicago. Two other clerics Maulana Safi Haider and Maulana Askari, were, however, deported to India, Hussain said. He claimed that the treatment meted out to his father was the result of his participation in anti-US demonstration here in protest against American attack on Iraq. Prominent Shia cleric Maulana Kalbe Jawwad said that while Sadiq was questioned and almost denied entry, the president of the newly formed All India Shia Personal Law Board Maulana Athar has been touring the US without any hitch. Sadiq would be returning here on March 28 next to take part in the AIMPLB meeting, he said.
— PTI
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Ghising named caretaker administrator
Kolkata, March 24 This was announced in the Assembly yesterday by Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacherjee. The Chief Minister denied there was any yielding to Mr Ghising’s pressure. He said the decision to appoint Mr Ghising as the caretaker administrator had been taken to maintain peace and normalcy in the hills in view of the prevalent Maoist agitation in neighbouring Nepal.
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Hailstorms damage crops
Jaipur, March 24 The fields have been excessively inundated and the damaged crop has started rotting. Crops have been considerably ruined in about 12,000 hectares in 89 villages of Anupgarh and in over 7,500 hectares in 63 villages of the Gharsana area. Relief Minister Kirori Lal Meena stated that the state government had sanctioned Rs 5 crore in cash and over 7,000 tonnes of wheat against labour charges to provide succour to the sufferers. |
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Production warrant against Pappu Yadav
New Delhi, March 24 Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate
(ACMM) Ravinder Dudeja also sought explanation from the authorities of the Tihar jail, where he is presently lodged, for not complying with the warrant to produce him before the court today. The case was registered against Pappu Yadav on a complaint filed by the Registrar General of the Delhi High Court for giving a false affidavit in a CBI case against him. The ACMM asked the jail authorities to produce Yadav before him on April 7.
— PTI
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Grandfather takes Class XII exam
Canning (West Bengal), March 24 In fact at 70, the man looked old for that too. But Ramchandra Baidya, was there to appear for his first Higher Secondary
examination. For the record, Baidya has got grandchildren. "Age is no constraint for learning," he said. "Degree-ta pass korte chai (I want to be a graduate)," he said. |
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Shortage of officers in Army: Pranab
New Delhi, March 24 Answering queries, he said the Army had a shortfall of 12,099 officers followed by the Navy with 1,124 and the Air Force by 429. Risk factors involved in soldiering and increased availability of attractive and alternative employment opportunities had contributed to the shortage of personnel in the defence services, the minister said. He said several steps had been undertaken by the three services to fill up the vacant posts. |
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Chinese PM to come on April 9
New Delhi, March 24 During the visit, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and the Chinese Premier will hold discussions on bilateral ties and exchange views on regional and international issues of common interest. Premier Wen Jiabao will call on President APJ Abdul Kalam and interact with other senior leaders. |
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Benazir’s India visit put off
New Delhi, March 24 The two, who were earlier scheduled to come here today, are now expected to arrive on April 1. They will leave India the next day.
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