N A T I O N

CBI recommends FIRs against Sanjiv Kumar
Haryana officer had sought probes himself
New Delhi, May 16
The CBI has converted two of the five inquiries about alleged irregularities against suspended Haryana Director of Primary Education Sanjiv Kumar into regular FIRs, recommended imposition of major penalty on him in one case, closed the probe in another and stated that in the remaining one case investigation was in the final stage.

Hearing on Lalu-Rabri petition begins
Patna, May 16
A three-member Bench of the Patna High Court today started “fresh” hearing on Railway Minister and RJD president Lalu Prasad and former Chief Minister Rabri Devi’s petition challenging sanction for their prosecution in disproportionate assets case, an offshoot of multi-crore fodder scam.

PM gives govt 6 out of 10
New Delhi, May 16
As his government completes one year in office, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today gave six out of 10 marks to its performance but said he was not satisfied with it and emphasised the need for reform of government, political system and judiciary.

CBI recommends FIRs against Sanjiv Kumar
Haryana officer had sought probes himself
S S Negi
Legal Correspondent

New Delhi, May 16
The CBI has converted two of the five inquiries about alleged irregularities against suspended Haryana Director of Primary Education Sanjiv Kumar into regular FIRs, recommended imposition of major penalty on him in one case, closed the probe in another and stated that in the remaining one case investigation was in the final stage.

Similarly the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) in its status report submitted to the Supreme Court, along with a report by the CBI, has stated that in out of three departmental inquiries (DIs) against the officer, final reports had been submitted to the Chief Secretary of Haryana for follow-up action in two cases and modification of charges in one of the matter had been ordered.

The sum total of the statues reports of the CBI and the CVC, submitted to a Bench, headed by the Chief Justice, Mr R C Lahoti, which has rejected Sanjiv Kumar’s plea for investigation in all cases against him and in the JBT teachers’ appointment scam by a Special Investigation Team (SIT), seemed to have backfired on him after he had himself sought probe by these agencies in a writ petition.

The CBI said that it had converted the preliminary enquiry (PE) in the JBT teachers; appointment scam (2000) into a regular case and had registered a formal FIR in this regard. Sanjiv Kumar had alleged that former Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala had pressurised him to change the original selection list for appointing 3206 JBT teachers with a fake one consisting of candidates who had paid money to the powers that be.

The regular cases had been registered by the CBI against Sanjiv Kumar with regard to alleged irregularities committed by him in the purchases of various items for District Primary Education Project (DPEP), in a disproportionate assets (DA) case, while the probe relating to “corruption” in printing of text books for schoolchildren was in the final stage of investigation, the agency’s status report said

However, the CBI had closed the inquiry against the controversial IAS officer in the alleged misuse of official vehicle and mobile phone by him as no material had been found to initiate prosecution in the matter. The agency had also recommended to the Chief Secretary of Haryana to impose “major penalty” on the officer for alleged violation of rules in the appointment of certain staff in the DPEP.

The CVC said it had completed the probe in the cases of his “wilful absence from duty” between May 22 and June 26, 2001 and non-adjustment of advance of Rs 22,000 sanctioned to him when he was appointed election observer during polls in April/May 2001. It had also ordered the Chief Secretary to modify the charges against him in the case pertaining to the appointment of some employees when he was Project Director, Haryana Prathmik Shiksha Pariyojna Parishad (SPSPP) in 2002.

While rejecting Sanjiv Kumar’s petition for constituting a SIT to probe all his cases, the court said that it was “satisfied with investigations” into all matters entrusted to the CBI.

On Sanjiv Kumar’s allegations that he faced threat to his life and harassment by the Haryana Government, the court said with the change of guard in the state’s “political scenario had under gone a drastic change.”

Hearing on Lalu-Rabri petition begins

Patna, May 16
A three-member Bench of the Patna High Court today started “fresh” hearing on Railway Minister and RJD president Lalu Prasad and former Chief Minister Rabri Devi’s petition challenging sanction for their prosecution in disproportionate assets case, an offshoot of multi-crore fodder scam.

At the outset, Lalu-Rabri’s counsel P.N. Pandey and Chitranjan Sinha stated “basic facts” of the case before the new Bench, comprising Justice Ram Nandan Prasad, Justice Barin Ghosh and Justice M.L. Visa, constituted by the Acting Chief Justice of the Patna High Court Justice Nagendra Rai.

They told the court that an FIR against the duo in the case amounting to Rs 42.52 lakh was instituted on August 19, 1998. On March 10, 2000 the then Governor of Bihar A.R. Kidwai accorded sanction for prosecution of the two following which they surrendered on April 5, 2000, and Rabri Devi was granted bail.

The counsel also challenged the prosecution of Rabri Devi under the Prevention of Corruption Act which they said applied only to a public servant. But, since Rabri Devi was not holding any office between 1990 and 1996, when the alleged scam took place sanction for her prosecution under this Act was untenable.

They said senior advocate of Supreme Court P.P. Rao would argue in favour of Lalu tomorrow on law points. Additional Solicitor General Mohan Parasaran is appearing for the CBI.

As per the apex court directives, the verdict on the petition after day-to-day hearing has to be delivered before the court closes for the summer vacation. — PTI

PM gives govt 6 out of 10

New Delhi, May 16
As his government completes one year in office, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today gave six out of 10 marks to its performance but said he was not satisfied with it and emphasised the need for reform of government, political system and judiciary.

“I am not satisfied with what we have been able to do in terms of implementing new policy initiatives,” he said in a frank appraisal of his government’s working at the Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting here.

The Prime Minister said a journalist had recently asked what score he would give to himself and his government.

“And I said 6/10. For some, this may seem a reasonable mark to get but I have never been satisfied with a 60 per cent,” 72-year-old Oxford-educated Singh said, adding “I do sincerely believe that we can do better. In the coming year, that will be our endeavour”.

Manmohan Singh, who assumed office on May 22 last year, was full of praise for Congress President Sonia Gandhi for her “mature, humane and forward-looking leadership”, testimony of which was in the forging of UPA, its political resilience and durability and the alliance that exists today with Left parties.

“We have all been truly inspired by Soniaji’s courage, wisdom, forbearance and personal example of selflessness in leading our party and the United Progressive Alliance,” the Prime Minister said.

“We must pursue with greater vigour and conviction reform of Government, of public enterprises, of our political system and of the judiciary,” he said.

Describing as “historic” a transition from a government led by the BJP to one by the Congress, he said “it marks the return of our polity to the mainstream of pluralism and secularism that defined our national movement and core of our national politics over the past century”. Never before, Singh said, Congress had to deal with the challenge of forging a coalition and running a government on that basis through such unchartered waters.

Though Congress’ experience with running a coalition government was limited and to arrive at a Common Minimum Programme with so many diverse political parties was even more challenging, “yet, we have done well in making this experiment work,” Singh said.

“We have come through many trials of strength and tests of fire and our resolve to make the UPA work have been steeled by this experience. Our greatest contribution this past year to the political and social life of our country has been to bring the nation back to even keel,” the Prime Minister said.

“Our commitment to the common man, the ‘aam aadmi’, is not just a commitment to the economic well-being of our people but to their social, cultural and political empowerment,” he said.

“We have been able deliver on many of our promises and there is work in progress in many others,” he said.

Singh said a path-breaking legislation to protect the land rights of tribals is on the anvil.

The Prime Minister said the promised new deal for rural India would be based on a new programme on rural development called ‘Bharat Nirman’ which would outline a time-bound business plan for action in rural infrastructure for the next four years. — PTI

Illiteracy no ground for lesser term to rapist: SC
Legal Correspondent

New Delhi, May 16
In the backdrop of recent media reports on sudden spurt in rape incidents in many parts of the country painting a gloomy picture about protection of life and liberty of women, the Supreme Court has held that illiteracy is no ground for the courts to impose lighter punishment on a rapist.

In order to exercise discretion in reducing the sentence in rape cases, the statutory requirement was that the courts had to record “adequate and special reasons, in the judgments, not the fanciful reasons,” a Bench of Mr Justice Arijit Pasayat and Mr Justice S H Kapadia held, setting aside a Madhaya Pradesh High Court order reducing the sentence of a rape accused on the ground that he was an “illiterate labourer” from rural background.

The trial court had awarded Bapu Barkare, alias Dalip, sentence of seven years’ rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs 2,000 but the High Court had reduced it by seven months for reason that he was an uneducated labourer.

The MP Government, in its appeal before the apex court, said reduction of the jail term to the convict was “contrary to the law” even when the offence of rape had been established against him.

Allowing the appeal, the Supreme Court set aside the High Court order but remanded the matter back to it for fresh hearing after the counsel of the accused stated many other aspects of the case not considered by it.

However, the apex court laid down certain guile lines for the High Court, on how such cases should be proceeded against, saying rape was a serious crime against a woman and the sentence had to be as per the law and not “less than the prescribed minimum” under Section 376 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

The court said if a case for reducing the sentence was made out, “the reasons have not only to be adequate but also special. What is adequate and special reason would depend upon several factors and no straightjacket formula can be indicated. But what is applicable to trial courts regarding recording of the reasons for a departure from the minimum sentence is equally applicable to the high courts also.”

The only reason indicated by the High Court in this case that the accused belonged to rural area and he was illiterate, “can by no stretch of imagination be considered either adequate or special. The requirement of law is cumulative,” Bench said while directing the High Court to decide the matter by taking these factors into consideration.

AIADMK wins both byelections
Tribune News Service

Chennai, May 16
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa today received the much-needed shot in her arm as her ruling All-India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) won both the Assembly byelections with comfortable margins.

The party clearly demonstrated its electoral supremacy against the combined opposition in the Democratic Progressive Alliance (DPA)-led by the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) as its nominees won from the Kancheepuram and Gummidipoondi Assembly constituencies where byelections were held on May 14.

Ms T. Mythili of the AIADMK retained the seat held earlier by her late husband by defeating Mr B. M. Kumar of the DMK by a margin of 17, 436 while AIADMK’s Mr K.S. Vijayakumar, son of the former slain legislator, defeated the DMK nominee, Mr B. Venkatachalapathy by a larger margin of 27, 162 votes.

The results stunned the Opposition while it was also a personal triumph for Ms Jayalalithaa as she had extensively campaigned for the elections.

The DMK-led DPA was over enthusiastic about the byelections as the AIADMK-BJP combine failed to win even a single parliamentary seat out of the total of 39 in Tamil Nadu in the last Lok Sabha polls.

The DPA had felt that the anti-state government wave was continuing and seven Union Ministers, including high profile Union Finance Minister P. Chidambaram had campaigned for the DMK candidates for the byelections.

Brimming with confidence as her electoral tie-up with the BJP had snapped after the Lok Sabha polls and her party made it alone, Ms Jayalalithaa today said,“The byelections to the two seats were free and fair. If elections were conducted in a fair manner, this could be the outcome.”

Jaya’s assets case adjourned

Bangalore, May 16
The Special Court, trying the two disproportionate asset cases filed against Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa and four others, today adjourned the hearing to May 25 after rejecting the defence counsel’s plea seeking three weeks time to study the documents.

Judge A.S. Pachhapure expressed severe displeasure when N. Jyoti, appearing for Sashikala, close aide of Jayalalithaa, and others sought a three week adjournment citing that he had to study the documents.

A comment by Jyoti that the court had not furnished them the copies of second charge sheet and other documents pertaining to the London Hotel case angered the judge, who took exception to the adjournment plea, and remarked: “I am not going to hear such things. You are taking everything by instalments - arguments and documents.”

The judge reminded the counsel that he had already issued a direction in the open court to furnish all documents.

Making known his displeasure, Pachhapure initially insisted that he would continue hearing from tomorrow, but relented after senior counsel K.T.S. Tulsi, appearing for Jayalalithaa, pleaded that “this sort of confrontation is not conducive for trial” and requested for a reasonable time to go through the records.

Earlier, Mr Tulsi completed his arguments seeking the clubbing of Rs 66.65 crore disproportionate asset case and the London Hotel case for trial.

Jyoti’s arguments remained inconclusive.

Jyoti alleged that the prosecution had violated the undertaking given to the court to produce witnesses and arrested accused and a separate charge sheet on the hotel case was filed by police. — PTI

CPI for panel on Telangana demand
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, May 16
The demand for a Telangana state got a boost with the CPI not outrightly rejecting the demand for a separate state carved out of Andhra Pradesh.

The CPI, however, suggested that a high-powered committee should be constituted by the Union Government to look objectively into all issues concerning the demand for a separate Telangana state.

This is contrary to the stand taken by the CPM, which has outrightly rejected the demand like the Telugu Desam Party. However, the BJP joining the issue has renewed its demand for the creation of a separate Telangana state clearly indicating a rift with Chandrababu Naidu.

“Our party suggests that a high-powered committee should be constituted by the Union Government to go objectively into all the issues including the causes and effect of backwardness and developments, allegations of neglect and discrimination, as also the issue of separate statehood for Telangana or an integrated statehood with legal and constitutional safeguard, so as to find a final solution,” the CPI said in its reply to the UPA committee formed to look into the Telangana issue.

The committee was formed by UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi under the chairmanship of Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee. Union Ministers Raghuvansh Prasad Singh (RJD) and Dayanidhi Maran (DMK) are the other members of the committee.

The committee held its first meeting before the recently concluded Parliament session and it has written to all the constituents of the UPA for their reply on the Telangana issue.

The CPI rejected the suggestion of a Second States Reorganisation Commission (SRC), saying that it could have repercussions in other states.

“The Andhra state committee of our party had suggested second Reorganisation Commission to look into this issue and settle the matter.

BJP plays down outburst of Marandi, Bhandari
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, May 16
The BJP today played down the outburst of party vice-president Babulal Marandi over the Jhankhand unit president’s appointment and former Gujarat Governor S S Bhandari’s criticism over the handling of post-Godhra riots by Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi.

“State leaders are in touch with him (Mr Marandi). The differences will be resolved amicably soon,” BJP spokesperson Prakash Javadekar told newspersons here.

The former Jharkhand Chief Minister Babulal Marandi had couple of days back threatened to quit the party if the party high command did not revoke the appointment of Mr Yadunath Pandey as Jharkhand BJP unit president.

The lone BJP Lok Sabha MP from the state had also openly criticised party’s national general secretary and in charge of Jharkhand Rajnath Singh for bull-dozing his way in appointing Mr Pandey as state unit president.

Reacting to Mr Bhandari’s criticism over the handling of post-Godhra riots, the BJP described it as his (Mr Bhandari’s) individual opinion and that the party’s view on the issue is different and oft repeated.

“Whatever he (Mr Bhandari) has said is before you and we have also seen it. But party’s view is different, which is well known,” Mr Javadekar said.

Meanwhile, the BJP took a dig at the UPA government over the manhandling of Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee in Kolkata yesterday and wanted to know whether the Centre would show cause the West Bengal Government for lapse in security arrangements there.

“Mr Mukherjee himself told mediapersons that those who had manhandled him were not Congress workers, but some other elements... If that is so, it is a serious matter,” Mr Javadekar said.

The BJP spokesperson wanted to know whether the UPA government, which created a hue and cry over the alleged attack on Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav in Vadodara in Gujarat recently, would now seek the West Bengal Governor’s report on the incident and sent letter to the West Bengal Government under Article 355.

Expansion within a week, says Gaur
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, May 16
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Babulal Gaur today said that long-delayed expansion of his Council of Ministers would take place within a week.

“Shivraj Singh Chauhanji is taking over as state BJP President today, so within a week’s time you can expect the Cabinet expansion,” Mr Gaur, who has three empty slots to fill in his Cabinet, said here.

Answering a query whether the two ministers who had attended former Chief Minister Uma Bharti’s meeting in Amarkantak would be removed, he said; “It is impossible that anybody will be removed on this count. The only criterion that will be followed for any reshuffle will be the performance of the ministers in the past six to seven months.”

The Chief Minister said Social Welfare Minister Narain Singh Khushwaha, who was reported to have attended a child marriage function, would not be removed.

Platform ticket to cost Rs 5
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, May 16
The Railway Ministry has decided to increase the price of platform ticket from Rs 3 to Rs 5 with effect from June 1.

The Railway Board has issued a commercial circular directing all railway zones to print the new tickets on priority and ensure supply to all stations well in time. The circular says: “Till such time the tickets are printed, old stocks may be used with rates corrected with stamp.”

The circular has been issued to General Manager Commercial of Central Railway, Eastern Railway, Northern Railway, North Eastern Railway, North Frontier Railway, Southern Railway, South Central, South Eastern Railway, Western Railway, East Central Railway, East Coast Railway, North West Railway, North Central Railway, South East Central Railway, South West and West Central Railway.

Chairman Railway Board, R.K. Singh told TNS here on Monday that the increase in the rate of platform ticket will improve the quality of service at the ticket counter. He explained that most of the time, Rs 3 change is not available and this results in loss of time at the counter. He expressed the hope that the increase in platform ticket rate would also serve to prevent crowding at 8000 stations across the country. “Often, one finds that five people come to see off one passenger. If the passenger is a senior citizen, it is understandable that he is seen
off,” he said.

Rlys to review decision on reservation fee
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, May 16
The Railway Ministry today developed cold feet in issuing a notification on its decision to revise the reservation fee charged for mail and express trains. Instead, the ministry decided to review the decision.

According to the decision, the revision in reservation fee would come into effect from June 1. Despite the concurrence of its Finance Directorate and justification of the proposed revision as a “marginal adjustment aimed at meeting the operating cost”, the Railway Ministry decided to review the decision and hold back the notification.

Sources in the ministry said the board had decided that no extra charge would be realised from passengers who had bought reserved tickets in advance, that is before June 1. As per the decision, there would have been no change in the reservation fee charged for tickets issued for passenger trains. 

Minister to accompany PM to Sariska

New Delhi, May 16
Union Minister of Environment and Forests A. Raja and senior officials from the ministry will accompany Prime Minister Manmohan Singh when he visits the Sariska Tiger Reserve on May 23 to assess for himself how bad the situation there is.

Meanwhile, a 15-day wildlife census began today in Sariska where all tigers are feared to have been killed by poachers. Besides forest staff, experts from institutes like the Wildlife Institute of India, are participating in the exercise to arrive at the correct picture of the status of tigers in Sariska, a project tiger reserve. A waterhole count is also scheduled on the full moon on the May 23-24 night at Ranthambhore and Sariska.

In the 2004 census, between 16 to 18 tigers were counted in Sariska and 40 in Ranthambhore. While no pug marks have been sighted in Sariska for quite some time now, a few tigers are also feared to have been killed in Ranthambhore. A census to ascertain the exact situation in Ranthambhore began on May 6 and initial reports say a few tigers and their pug marks have been sighted there. — TNS

Manipur Govt bows to Lup’s demand
Manjula Bhattacharyya

Imphal (Manipur), May 16
The Chief Minister of Manipur, Mr Okram Ibobi Singh, finally bowed before the Apunba Lup on the issue of replacing Bengali script in school textbooks with the Meitei Mayek.

The state Cabinet at a meeting yesterday officially approved the decision to replace Bengali script with the Meitei in phases.

Initially from the next academic session, the Meitei script would be introduced in class I and II and subsequently the same would be introduced till the university level in the next one decade.

The Cabinet also decided to introduce Roman script for the adivasis residing in the state in school textbooks who were opposed to replacing Bengali script with Meitei Mayek.

The decision by the state government followed a month long protest by Apunba Lup on this issue, which took violent forms.

The Apunba lup had burnt the district library, damaging property worth Rs 10 crore, damaged the railway reservation counter and threatened economic blockade.

The banned militant outfit, Kenglipek Communist Party (KCP), supporting the movement, threatened MLAs and ministers with dire consequences if the Bengali script was not replaced with Meitei Mayek.

People of Manipur witnessed the second such violent protest by the Apunba Lup after the organisation paralysed the normal life in the state last year on the issue of the alleged rape and murder of Manorama Devi by Assam Rifles jawans.

Manorama Devi was protesting against the Armed Forces Special Power Act (AFSPA) imposed in Manipur.

Following the protest, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh during his visit to Manipur last year announced the formation of a committee to review AFSPA.

So far the Meitei Mayek script is concerned, it was introduced in Manipur three centuries ago by then king who was influenced by a Bengali missionary, Santidas Gossain, who came from Sylleht, now in Bangladesh, to preach Vaishnabism there.

The Manipur Assembly in 1980 passed a resolution to replace Bengali with Meitei, but did nothing to implement the same in practise in past 25 years leading to such violent agitation by the Apunba Lup.

The Apunba Lup today has demanded the state government publish a white paper on the Cabinet decision to replace Bengali with Metei so that it could analyse the government's intention and necessary steps on this issue as pointed out by them during the meeting with the Chief Minister a week ago.

New procedures for Australian student visas
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, May 16
New procedures have been introduced from today for Indian and Nepalese students applying for Australian student visas through education agents and for direct applicants.

“The new streamlined procedures are expected to make it easier for students to file their applications,” said Mr John Fisher, First Secretary and Head of Public Affairs at the Australian High Commission.

Under the new procedures, students are encouraged to apply electronically through agents. Additional agents are expected to be added to the list in the near future. The procedure is not currently available in Nepal.

For paper applications through agents, the procedure to follow is for agents to file papers with the Australian High Commission’s business partner, TT Services (TTS), across the country. Agents have to ensure that the application is valid before filing it. the applications. The TTS will then issue medical forms. Applicants choosing to file applications themselves will continue to do so through the TTS.

These new arrangements for student visas will help offices in Australia and India to process and finalise a large volume of applications in a short period. Applications should be lodged 6-12 weeks prior to the course commencement date. 

8 killed in explosion

Bangalore, May 16
Eight persons, including three children, were killed and ten seriously injured when crackers stored in a house exploded in Hassan, 200 km from here, in the early hours of today, the police said.

According to reports reaching here, the house owner was allegedly engaged in illegal manufacture of crackers.

The pile of cracker stocks exploded at about 3 am and the cause of the mishap was being investigated, the police said.

In the impact of the fire, an LPG cylinder also burst into flames, damaging the house, the police said.

The injured have been hospitalised. — PTI 

Design of stamp papers changed
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, May 16
The government has approved the new design of non-judicial stamps ranging from Re 1 to Rs 25,000. The measure is aimed at countering the menace of fake stamp papers.

The production and supply of these new stamp papers have started in a phased manner. Security Printing Press, Hyderabad, has started printing of stamps up to Rs 20 and India Security Press, Nasik, has started printing the stamps in the denomination of Rs 50, Rs 100 and Rs 500, a Finance Ministry press statement said.

All these stamps were being sent to the states. The stamps in the denomination of Rs 1,000 and Rs 5,000 were under printing and would be dispatched in the near future in a phased manner. Further, the stamps in the denomination of Rs 10,000 to Rs 25,000 were in the process of design and printing, the statement added.

The new stamps were printed on special security paper with special security inks and techniques in printing. 

Research project on journalism after Independence
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, May 16
Madhya Pradesh is going to undertake a research project on journalism in post-Independence India. It will lay special focus on Hindi and vernacular journalism.

Announcing the project here today, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Babulal Gaur said Asia’s lone national university in media studies, Bhopal-based Makhanlal Chaturvedi National University of Journalism, had been entrusted the task of pioneering the research project.

The project, which would be launched by Vice-President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat on May 30 in Bhopal, would undertake an in-depth study into all aspects of journalism in post-Independence India like publication, printing, place of publication, language, periodicity, sphere of content and presentation, editor, publisher, printer, circulation, dimensions of development, expansion and technological advancement and other related issues, Mr Gaur said.

Senior journalist Achuytanand Mishra, who is coordinator in charge of the project, said after collecting the basic data, the project would focus on print media’s political, social and economic concerns.

He said the analysis and documentation of the compilation on post-Independence India’s journalism would be done statewise and language-wise in three phases.

Sikhs reject Mann’s proposal to settle turban issue

New Delhi, May 16
An all-party Sikh meeting over the French ban on turbans today rejected proposals to press for ‘’strong economic measures’’ against Paris to win exemption but vowed to step up lobbying for diplomatic initiatives to end the deadlock.

Representatives of the Akali party of hardline Sikh leader Simranjit Singh Mann suggested the Indian Government suspend purchase of airbus, artillery guns, submarines and Mirage fighters till France exempted Sikhs from its secularity law banning overt religious symbols, including turbans, at its schools.

“This is uncalled for. We are not here to interfere with our country’s defence requirements. We should only stick to finding out diplomatic and legal solutions to the issue,” Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) chief Paramjit Singh Sarna, who convened the meeting here, said.

Leaders belonging to the SAD the SGPC, the Sant Samaj and several other Sikh groupings from across the country, however, unanimously agreed to request the Indian Government to allow one-to-one meetings at the official level between an Indian delegation led by a Sikh political representative and French leaders.

“We urge the government to allow a delegation led by a Sikh political leader as an official representative of the community to hold meetings with French leaders as part of New Delhi’s diplomatic initiatives with Paris,” Mr Sarna said. — UNI

Resettle bar girls, says NCW

Mumbai, May 16
The National Commission for Women (NCW) chairperson Girija Vyas today advised the Maharashtra Government against a “hasty” ban on the dance bars in the state without a comprehensive rehabilitation programme, given the poor economic and educational background of the female dancers employed there.

Addressing a press conference after meeting a delegation of bar girls here, Dr Vyas, who is on her first visit to the city after being appointed as NCW chairperson, said even Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh was positive on the NCW’s suggestion.

Answering questions on whether the ban was justifiable, Dr Vyas said it was a matter of study.

‘’What the NCW is concerned with is that the decision should not be taken in a haste without any notice to the bar girls. A dialogue between the government and the bar girls’ association should continue so that the women are not left in the lurch considering their financial and educational background. A mere ban will not be a solution”.

Dr Vyas said the NCW was in the process of studying the humanitarian and legislative point of view to rehabilitate the bar girls and would submit its recommendations to the government soon. — UNI

Policemen demand bribe from SP

Tiruchirapalli, May 16
Four police personnel, including a Sub-Inspector, attached to the highway patrol police wing, were suspended on bribery charges here today.

Police sources said following large-scale complaints that highway patrol police were demanding bribes from truck drivers on the Tiruchirapalli-Thanjavur highway, Superintendent of Police Thamarai Kannan made a surprise check last night. He posed as a truck driver and as he drove on the highway, he was intercepted by the highway patrol police team near Thuvakudi on the outskirts of the city. The police team demanded a bribe from the SP, not recognising him.

The SP caught the policemen red-handed, including Balasubramanian, Sub-Inspector and Head-Constables Paranjothi, Masilamani and Abdul Kareem.

Mr Thamarai Kannan ordered the suspension of the four, today. — UNI

Wildlife advisory board set up in Uttaranchal
Tribune News Service

Dehra Dun, May 16
Uttaranchal has set up its first wildlife advisory board to be headed by Chief Minister ND Tiwari. Wildlife filmmaker and conservationist Mike Pandey is among the special invitees for membership of the board which includes 31 members and 22 special invitees.

The board has been constituted with a view to providing counsel and helping the government in formulation of policy matters concerning wildlife, its conservation and preservation activities in the state. While the Chief Minister would be the Chairman of the board, the Forest and Environment Minister Navprabhat would be the Vice Chairman of the board.

The members of the board include MLAs Kunwar Singh, Shailendra Mohan Singhal, Badrinath MLA Anusuya Maikhuri, DGP Kanchan Choudhary Bhattacharya, a representative from the Forest Research Institute, a representative from the Zoological Survey of India, Chief Wildlife Warden Srikant Chandola, a Rajiv Gandhi Foundation representative among others.