Tuesday, August 4, 1998
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N A T I O N |
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spotlight today's calendar |
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Rajya Sabha concerned over
Pak firing |
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TN CM to attend meeting |
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Draft Bills on new states
approved |
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Rajya Sabha concerned over NEW DELHI, Aug 3 — Rajya Sabha members today expressed concern over the Pakistani forces continuing shelling in the border regions of Jammu and Kashmir, specially at a time when India was trying to find a peaceful solution to the outstanding problems between the two countries. The issue was raised by Mr Ram Gopal Yadav of the Samajwadi Party who pointed out that many civilians and Defence personnel had been killed in the shelling from across the border and that a large number of people were leaving their villages, specially in Poonch, Kargil and Rajouri. He said it was unfortunate that the Pakistani troops had resorted to firing when the Prime Ministers of the two countries were holding talks on resolving the problems between the two countries at Colombo. He said Pakistan was engaged in a proxy war with India. He was joined on the issue by Mr Ghulam Nabi Azad (Cong) who said that it was a matter of concern and that Government should take this matter seriously. There had been a lot of shelling in the Kargil and Uri sectors over the past few months, he pointed out. Mr Gurudas Das Gupta of the CPM said the continued shelling from Pakistani troops should be condemned and also called upon the people of Pakistan to take measures to bring their government to senses. This, he said, was important as it would be the common man in both the countries who would suffer in the event of a war. Mr S.R. Bommai (Janata Dal), while sounding critical of the government, wanted to know the truth about the talks held between Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee and the Pakistan Prime Minister, Mr Nawaz Sharif. He said that while the Indian Prime Minister was giving a ray of hope, his Pakistani counterpart was dubbing the talks as a wasteful exercise. Mr S. Virumbi of the DMK
said that while all parties had forgotten political
differences on the national issue, the government should
be careful over making policy statements on security
matters. He also wanted that the Home Minister, Mr L.K.
Advani, should clarify his statement which he made in
Baroda yesterday and said that he should have refrained
from making such statements. |
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TN CM to attend meeting on Cauvery CHENNAI, Aug 3 (PTI, UNI) — Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi will participate in the meeting of Chief Ministers of Cauvery delta states convened by Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee in New Delhi on August 6 to find an amicable solution to the vexed Cauvery water dispute. An all-party meeting held here today unanimously decided that the Chief Minister should attend the meeting in New Delhi and passed a resolution in this regard. Another resolution urged the Centre to notify in the central gazette, the draft scheme prepared by it to monitor the implementation of the Cauvery tribunal’s June, 1991, interim award, directing Karnataka to release 205 TMC ft of water annually to Tamil Nadu. Earlier, presiding over the meeting, attended by all major parties, including the AIADMK, the TMC and the BJP, Mr Karunanidhi asked the party leaders to say whether he should attend the Chief Ministers’ conference, while inviting suggestions on the stand to be taken by Tamil Nadu on the merits of the modified draft scheme prepared by the Centre. He expressed reservations about the modified scheme, saying some of its proposals might affect Tamil Nadu’s interests. Mr Karunanidhi informed participants that the draft scheme envisaged setting up of a Cauvery water authority and the revised draft scheme had suggested that if any of the riparian states failed to implement the tribunal award, the authority would take over the maintenance of all the dams across the river "till the required time". He said Karnataka and Kerala had opposed the above clause in the revised draft scheme as it was favourable to Tamil Nadu. "However, it is to be decided whether this clause could be removed from the revised draft scheme since Tamil Nadu has always been insisting on the concept of state autonomy", he added. The Chief Minister said the revised draft scheme also envisaged setting up of a review committee comprising the Union Water Resources Minister and the Chief Ministers of the riparian states. The committee Chairman (Water Resources Minister) would be vested with the powers to grant an interim stay on the tribunal award if any of the states raised an objection. "This might affect Tamil Nadu’s interests", he added. The revised draft scheme also suggested that all members of the review committee should be present if any of the decisions taken by the authority needed to be reviewed. "This might become impracticable", Mr Karunanidhi felt and said the review committee could take its decisions either by consensus or by a majority. "In any case, I solicit your opinion on all these issues", he added. Earlier, Mr Karunanidhi
personally greeted the leaders of all the parties on
their arrival at the meeting venue and shook hands with
them. |
Meghalaya CM wins trust vote SHILLONG, Aug 3 (PTI) — The seven-day old B.B. Lyngdoh Ministry in Meghalaya today won a confidence vote in the state assembly. The United Democratic Party-Congress-led coalition, the Meghalaya Parliamentary Forum (MPF), won by voice vote boycotted by the Opposition. The entire Opposition — the Hill State People’s Democratic Party (HSPDP), the Garo National Council (GNC), independents and the BJP — staged a walkout shortly after making speeches. The one-day special session was called by Meghalaya Governor M.M. Jacob to enable the MPF ministry to prove its majority on the floor of the House. In the 60-member Assembly, the MPF has a strength of 49 MLAs while the United Democratic Party has 20 members and the Congress 25. The People’s Democratic Movement (PDM), which has three legislators and an Independent, have also extended support to the present government. The four-member Lyngdoh Ministry was sworn in on July 27. While Mr B.B. Lyngdoh was sworn in as the Chief Minister, Mr D.D. Lapang was sworn in as the Deputy Chief Minister. The two other cabinet ministers are Mr Chamberline B. Marak (Congress) and Mr H.B. Dan (United Democratic Party). Participating in the discussion on the confidence vote, the Deputy Chief Minister, Mr D.D. Lapang, said the Congress and the UDP had to come together, forgetting their political differences to serve the state. Mr Lapang said the present coalition ministry would provide a stable government to deliver the goods to people. Mr A.H. Scott Lyngdoh
(UDP) said that the UDP-Congress alignment was an outcome
of too much pressure from members of the constituents of
the earlier combine in which the government was unable to
function. |
Delhi Govt asked to
file affidavit on NEW DELHI, August 3 — The Delhi High Court today asked the Delhi Government to file an affidavit by Wednesday on the measures being taken to improve the law and order situation in the Capital. A Division Bench comprising acting Chief Justice Mahinder Narain and Justice Mukul Mudgal took a serious view over the Centre sitting on the files pertaining to the request for additional police personnel. Hearing a public interest writ on the "deteriorating" law and order situation in the Capital, the Bench asked the central government standing counsel Rakesh Tikku "Why the government is sitting on the files for demand of additional police (by the Delhi Government) for many years?" The court asked the Centre to clarify as to how many times the issue of additional police personnel was raised by the Delhi Government with it. The court had on July 23 issued direction to the Centre, the Delhi Government and the Police Commissioner what actions were being taken in view of the state of "lawlessness" which seemed to have affected the National Capital Territory. Lawyer Rajiv Awasthi in his petition had sought direction to the central and state governments and the city police chief to file "status reports" on the steps being taken for ensuring safety of citizens following the spate of dacoities and robberies in the Capital since the past few days. Meanwhile, the Union Home Secretary, Mr B.P. Singh, last week reviewed the law and order situation in the Capital. While stating that there was no shortage of man power in the Delhi Police he said, "Still we have sanctioned 17 more police stations and recruitment of 4,200 personnel." The Capital witnessed a
spate of robberies and dacoities in the past three months
and statistics showed a 100 per cent rise in robberies in
the city in May, 73 per cent in June and 53 per cent in
July over the previous year. |
Draft Bills on new states approved NEW DELHI, Aug 3 (PTI) — The Union Cabinet today approved draft Bills for creation of new states of Vananchal, Chattisgarh and Uttaranchal, but deferred another Bill to confer full statehood on Delhi. The proposed Uttaranchal state would include Udham Singh Nagar and pilgrim town of Hardwar, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Madan Lal Khurana told reporters here. A provision was made in the Uttar Pradesh Reorganisation Bill, 1998, for protecting properties of the people in Udham Singh Nagar district, he said. Mr Khurana said the Cabinet also decided to set up a special cell in the Planning Commission for studying financial viability of Vananchal and Bihar from which it would be carved out as a new state. The draft Bills for creation of new states would be forwarded to President K.R. Narayanan for his approval as per constitutional requirement, he said, adding that after this, these would be forwarded to respective states for endorsement. The Bill on Delhi was deferred on the issue of areas to be included in the full-fledged state. Replying to questions, he
said a Bill would be brought soon for giving statehood to
Pondicherry. |
'B', 'C' classes in Tihar jail go NEW DELHI, Aug 3 — The distinction between "B" and "C" class prisoners lodged in Tihar Jail has been abolished, says the Minister of Jail in the Delhi Government, Mr Harsharan Singh Balli. Addressing a press conference, Mr Balli said following the Justice Santosh Duggal committee report, an entirely different system of classification based on functional needs was being started. Delhi is the first state to take this progressive measures in prison, he said. "The new prison Act and a model jail manual were being prepared by a committee to incorporate modern concept of the prison management," he added. Mr Balli said a separate jail to lodge only women prisoners was being constructed and is likely to be commissioned by the end of this year. "Perhaps for the first time, there would be a jail where the inmates and prison staff would be exclusively female," he said. "During the last two years, the examination results for National Open School and Indira Gandhi National Open University have showed about 80 per cent successful candidates. Prisoners are preparing for MBA degree and also opting for computer courses. Fortyseven prisoners have appeared in the MBA examination held on July 26, 1998," Mr Balli said. The introduction of cultural and sports activities on large scale has been a part of the reformatory steps apart from running vocational courses in the jail. The factory complex and its newly opened various units will train prisoners in various trades so that after their release from prisons, the prisoners would become economically independent and help their families, he said. Mr Balli informed that
there has been a substantial improvement in health and
medical care to the prisoners. As against six doctors on
duty in 1995, now the health centre has 75 doctors and
125 para-medical staff. |
Prasar Bharati Bill worries
Opposition NEW DELHI, Aug 3 — Opposition members in the Rajya Sabha today expressed concern over the fate of the Prasar Bharati Bill in the House, specially since it was not figuring in the list of business despite having been passed by the Lok Sabha. The members from the Congress and Left parties were particularly worried since the government was maintaining ‘silence’ over the Bill being introduced in the House. The matter was raised during zero hour by the Chief Whip of the Congress in the House, Mr Pranab Mukherjee, who pointed out that since the Bill was a government business it should have taken precedence over other matters. He demanded to know when the government was going to bring the Bill to the House. The Congress leader said, “We have to fix our schedule for discussing the Bill”, and pointed out that there was just one day left before this session of Parliament came to an end. He was joined on the issue by another Congress leader, Mr Vyalar Ravi and by Mr Biplab Dasgupta of the CPM and Mr Gurudas Das Gupta of the CPI. Mr Gurudas Das Gupta expressed fears that the government might promulgate an ordinance after bypassing the House by not bringing the Bill to the House which is scheduled to adjourn tomorrow. They wanted a direct response from the government. Leader of the House Sikander Bakht, without giving any firm commitment, said, “Depending on how we are placed with our business, we can decide”. This did not satisfy the
Opposition members, who continued to vociferously demand
a firm commitment. |
Sonia flays BJP’s economic policy NEW DELHI, Aug 3 (PTI) — Congress President Sonia Gandhi today criticised the economic policies of the Vajpayee government, saying that these were leading to a “slow down” in economic growth and rising prices in the country. “The biggest failure of the BJP-led government was its failure in accelerating the economic growth and checking price rise in the country,” Mrs Gandhi said while speaking at the second all-India girl delegates’ convention organised by National Students Union of India (NSUI). Inviting youth, particularly the girls, to play a leading role in social transformation and nation building, she called upon them not to be obsessed with politics as there were several challenges confronting the nation. She called upon the girl delegates to spread the message of the Congress for afforestation and against social evils like dowry, sati etc. Describing the youth as
the present and the future of the country, Mrs Gandhi
said the party in its manifesto in the last Lok Sabha had
promised a uniform education system for all Indians for
their better future. |
Newspaper boom in Mizoram AIZWAL, Aug 3 (PTI) — Even as the debate over the adverse impact of television on people’s reading habits continues all over the world, a small Indian state nestling among the hills of the North-East has taken to newspaper reading in a big way. Mizoram, with a population of seven lakh and an area of 21,000 sq km, is witnessing a newspaper boom with at least 40 dailies and about the same number of periodicals being published in the state. Besides, there are local journals published by more than 500 branches of the Young Mizo Association (YMA) in their villages or localities. There are more than 20 dailies and about 18 periodicals in the capital town of Aizwal alone, including the lone English daily — “Highlander” — published and edited by Charlie Lalkhawliana, a former leader of the underground Mizo National Front (MNF). Till December, 1996, at least 103 newspapers from Mizoram had been registered with the Registrar of Newspapers for India. And still, the district magistrates of three districts — Aizwal, Lunglei and Chhimtuipui — continue to receive a number of applications from people who intend to bring out new newspapers and periodicals. However, the newspaper boom has had adverse effects on the social lives of the people with some publications concentrating on explicitly sleazy sex stories, alleges Mr V.Z. Kaia, publisher of ‘Zonunmawi’ daily. Some others also indulge in distorting facts or giving false information to the public, he says. Police officials also complain that “certain journals” even indulged in whipping up communal passions by publishing false reports. However, according to Mr D.R. Zirliana, president of the Mizoram Journalists Association (MJA) and Editor of “Mizo Aw” daily, newspapers and the quality of journalism have come a long way since the time of disturbances in the state during 1966-1986. “Media has become more free and more refined after peace came to the state in 1986. Earlier, journalists were thrown into prisons by the authorities for giving publicity to the cause of insurgents,” he says. According to senior
journalists, the Mizo National Army (MNA) of the late
Laldenga also indulged in torturing or
“eliminating” journalists who refused to
“toe their line.” |
Social assistance scheme amended NEW DELHI, Aug 3 (PTI) — The government today announced a series of amendments to the national social assistance programme raising the lump sum benefit given to households below the poverty line on the death of the breadwinner from Rs 5000 to Rs 10,000 in case of natural death. Making a statement in the Lok Sabha, Minister of State for Rural Development Babagouda Patil said that since poor households had more than one breadwinner, under the national family benefit scheme (NFBS) the primary breadwinner (man or woman) shall henceforth be defined as a member whose earnings had substantially contributed to the household income. The term “household’’ shall also include minor brothers/sisters in case of death of an unmarried adult, he said. The benefit under the national maternity benefit scheme had been raised from Rs 300 to Rs 500. He said the assistance
under the three schemes of the programme would now be
sanctioned and disbursed in the meetings of the gram
sabha by gram panchayats/block level functionaries.In
case of the urban areas, elected local self-government
officials were to be involved in the process of
sanctioning and disbursement of assistance. |
Presidential form of govt ‘needed’ BANGALORE, Aug 3 (PTI) — Union Commerce Minister Ramakrishna Hegde today called for switching to the presidential form of government and suggested a national debate on the issue. In his address, read out in absentia at a seminar on ‘Regional parties and a stable union government’ here, he said “sordid politics” should not hinder a government in functioning for its full five-year term, hence, the need for a change. Some regional parties were engaged in a “shameless pursuit” of a lion’s share of power in a coalition government, he said, and wondered how any government could be stable “if they use intimidating tactics to achieve that goal”. If a coalition government, including the regional parties, were to be successful, the partners should have mutual understanding and collective responsibility, he said. Mr Hegde said the people, fed up with a single-party rule, had started encouraging different parties. But the change had left them disenchanted. He said though seven
parties had been recognised as the national parties, not
even one could claim that it represented people from
Kashmir to Kanyakumari. |
HC order to Delhi on children’s home NEW DELHI, Aug 3 (PTI) — The Delhi High Court today asked the state government to provide food, clothing, medical and other facilities to Madipur children’s home as was being done earlier and directed it to submit a “policy report” on their rehabilitation. A Division Bench of Acting
Chief Justice Mahinder Narain and Mr Justice Mukul Mudgal
also directed the state government to file a residential
plan of a new home at Narela in north Delhi while
continuing the interim stay on shifting of the Madipur
home to Narela till further order. |
| In
brief Security tightened for bandh Fast against Doda
killings Devi Lal takes
oath as RS member CPM bandh hits
life in S. Tripura 4 die in
jeep-truck collision Raha is foundation
secy-gen Opposition walks
out of House |
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