Sunday, December 6, 1998

AICC joint secretary, 13 others expelled from Congress
JAIPUR, Dec 5 — Mrs Usha Meena, MP and joint secretary of the AICC has been expelled from the Congress along with 13 others for anti-party activities during recent Vidhan Sabha elections in Rajasthan.

31 join Gehlot ministry

JAIPUR, Dec 5 (PTI) — Mr Ashok Gehlot today constituted a two-tier ministry by inducting 31 ministers four days after he was sworn in as Chief Minister of Rajasthan.

Acting Governor N.L. Tiberewal administered the oath of office and secrecy to the new ministers at a simple ceremony on the lawns of Raj Bhawan.

Those sworn in included 18 Cabinet Ministers and 13 Ministers of State.

The Cabinet Ministers are Mr Banwari Lal Bairwa, Mr B.D. Kalla, Mr Bhikha Bhai Bheel, Mr Choga Lal Bakolia, Mr Chandanmal Baid, Mr C.P. Joshi, Dr Chandrabhan, Mr Gulab Singh Shaktawat, Mr Harendra Mirdha, Kamla Beniwal, Mr Khet Singh Rathore, Mr Kishan Motwani, Mr Praduman Singh, Mr Ram Singh Vishnoi, Mr Ram Kishan Verma, Shanti Dhariwal, Tayyab Hussain and Ms Zakia Inam.

The Ministers of State are Mr Abdul Aziz, Mr Bhagraj Choudhary, Ms Beena Kak, Chandra Shekhar Khairthal, Daya Ram Parmar, Mr Dipendra Singh, Mr Hari Singh Khumber, Mr Heeralal Indora, Ms Indira Mayaram, Dr Jitendra Singh, Master Bhanwar Lal Meghwal, Mr Parsadi Lal Meena and Rajendra Choudhary.

Sushma quits as MLA, retains MP’s post
Tribune News Service

NEW DELHI, Dec 5 — The former Delhi Chief Minister, Mrs Sushma Swaraj, today resigned from her membership in the Delhi Legislative Assembly.

Mrs Swaraj had been elected to the Assembly in the November 25 elections from the Hauz Khas Assembly constituency.

Mrs Swaraj, in her resignation letter to the Speaker of the Delhi Vidhan Sabha, said she was tendering her resignation as Member of the Assembly of the National Capital Territory of Delhi with “immediate effect”.

While quitting the Assembly, Mrs Swaraj has chosen to retain her South Delhi Lok Sabha seat.

She was the Information and Broadcasting Minister with additional charge of the Communications Ministry before taking over as Delhi Chief Minister, just 40 days before the poll.

The President of the Delhi BJP unit, Mr Mange Ram Garg, expressed surprise on hearing the news of Mrs Sushma Swaraj’s resignation as an MLA.

“Mrs Swaraj did not consult me. After she was projected as Chief ministerial candidate, the newly elected MLAs were keen that she becomes the Leader of the Opposition in the House,” Mr Garg said. “The change of guard was wrong and it has been proved by the electorate in the elections,” he admitted.

Mr Garg pointed out that during Mrs Swaraj’s meeting with the South Delhi district workers recently “she had indicated that she may go back to the Centre.” Many wanted her to remain in Delhi, he said. “We have to look at Mrs Swaraj’s resignation in terms of the Centre since right now each MP is crucial at the Centre but the situation is not same in the state,” he explained.

The Delhi Chief Minister, Mrs Sheila Dikshit, said that this was expected and “she (Mrs Swaraj) had no care for Delhi. She had come here to mislead the people.”

The spokesman of the Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee (DPCC), Mr Brijmohan, said that the resignation by the former Chief Minister of Delhi and MLA from Hauz Khas was “expected”. “Mrs Sushma Swaraj stands exposed. Her intention was only to mislead the electorate of Hauz Khas,” he said.

Criticising the BJP leadership, Mr Brijmohan said this reflected that there is no leadership at the state level in their party. “The rank and file is confused and divided. She has no moral right to represent the South Delhi Parliamentary seat since Hauz Khas falls under it,” he added.

Mrs Sushma Swaraj’s Congress opponent for the Hauz Khas Assembly constituency, Dr Kiran Walia, said that by abandoning the constituency, Mrs Swaraj has betrayed the people. “She never had the interest of the people of Delhi at heart,” she said.

Dr Walia said that the decision of Mrs Sushma Swaraj to resign as MLA had resulted in an unnecessary expenditure to the exchequer. “She should have never contested these elections if she had wanted to quit.”

“Mrs Swaraj had lost the elections and she had managed to win by unfair means and it was not her mandate,” Mrs Walia alleged. Dr Walia stated that if the party wants, then she will contest for the Hauz Khas seat.

Victory against odds at Longewala
Tribune News Service

“INSHA ALLAH we will have breakfast at Longewala, lunch at Ramgarh and dinner at Jaisalmer,” announced Brig Tariq Mir, Commander 51 Brigade, Pakistan Army to his men. But he was proved wrong by men of the Alfa company of 23 Punjab Regiment led by Major Kuldip Singh Chandpuri, MVC, in the 1971 Indo-Pak conflict.

In the Thar desert is Longewala, about 15 km from the border. Its importance lies in the fact that it dominates the road junction and the water point at its South-East base. Also routes of ingress from the North-West from boundary pillars 635 to 638.

How come the regiment was successful against staggering odds? The answer is simple. The will and determination to hold on at all cost by Major Chandpuri and his men dashed Brig Tariq Mir’s hopes to ground.

Marked maps and documents seized suggest Pakistanis’ destination was Jaisalmer. The composition of their vehicle column indicated that they had planned to stay for a while. In addition to various administrative vehicles they also included drilling rigs and a number of tractors and trailers.

This was not to be. Not only were they pushed back across the border but our forces advanced into Pakistan. They left behind on the battlefield 37 tanks, nearly 200 vehicles and over 100 dead. The body of an army dog was also found on the battle field, presumably brought by the Pakistani forces to locate mines.

Brig K.O. Kharbanda, 3 Gorkhas, who commanded the battle of Longewala recalls on December 5 at about 4.30 a.m. the enemy came in for the attack. The tanks were leading, followed by wave after wave of infantry, shouting their war cry of ‘Ya Ali’. The artillery and MMG fire on the post increased in volume. Kuldip shouted to his men ‘Hold fast boys.’ From the nearby trench came the reply “Don’t worry sahib, we promised you, we would teach them a lesson and we will.” This brave soldier then gave out the war cry: ‘Bole So Nihal, Sat Sri Akal!’, It was taken up by all and soon the post resounded defiantly with the war cry. Surrounded, cut off and outnumbered they might be, but definitely they were not down hearted.

The enemy approached closer and closer and still the anti-tank guns did not open fire. Suddenly one, then the other fired and two tanks went up in flames. Havildar Baldev Singh and his men of the RCL anti-tank detachment were largely responsible for the fact that the enemy did not press home an armoured attack. They had limited ammunition and made every round count. So skilfully did they use their weapons that enemy was led to believe there was a major force on the post. An enemy tank that became over enthusiastic and came too close was knocked out. They had a good number of kills to their credit. Two members of the RCL teams were decorated with the Sena Medal. L/Nk Mathura Dass and Sept Bishan Dass (Posthumous).

Our medium and light-machine gun and rifle fire was taking their toll. Pakistani infantry were dropping all over the place. They wavered, then halted and eventually broke down. They started pulling back. Burning tanks were left on the battle field. Enemy infantry casualties could not be accurately assessed as the Pakistani Infantry (38 Baluch Regiment consisting of Baluchis and Pathans) were very courageous and initially evacuated their dead and wounded even at the cost of further casualties. A rough estimate of 15 to 20 was arrived at by cross checking. Their first attack has been beaten back. “Bole So Nihal, Sat Sri Akal !”

All night the enemy kept on probing. Mainly the infantry, but occasionally with armour. Too adventurous tank commanders either scuttled back after a near miss or remained burning on the battlefield. The RCL boys made every round count. Kuldip just could not understand why the enemy was not using his armour boldly. Anyway, he was thankful, since a bold concentrated attack would mean the end of him and his men.

Enemy prisoners of war later said that they believed that the single-wire fence was the inner marking of a mine field. As such they expected, a mine field in front of the post, recalls Brig Kharbanda.

Advani foresees no snap poll
From K V Prasad
Tribune News Service

ONBOARD BSF AIRCRAFT, Dec 5 — The Union Home Minister, Mr Lal Krishan Advani, today said he did not foresee the possibility of a snap poll in the country and denied there were differences between the BJP and the Sangh Parivar on election issues.

“There are no basic differences (between the BJP and Sangh Parivar) and ours is a movement and organisation where voice or views of one leader irrespective of whether others are convinced, have to be accepted it,” Mr Advani said in the context of the recent discordant voices being heard within the Sangh Parivar on issues.

Mr Advani was talking to correspondents on his way back from Aurangabad where he went to lay the foundation stone of a hospital and partake in the golden jubilee celebrations of a Marathi weekly.

On the recent opposition from the Swadeshi Jagran Manch over the issue of throwing open up of the insurance sector, Mr Advani said: There are situations which call for even unorthodox responses and there is bound to be a measure of discussion.”

The Home Minister sought to blame the media for playing up these “discussions and debate” as differences and dissent, claiming that by doing so, the media got, a “good news copy”.

On the Insurance Regulatory Authority Bill, he said there was unanimity on the issue in the Cabinet and among the allies in the government.

Tackle 30 m pending cases, Narayanan
tells judges

NEW DELHI, Dec 5 (PTI) — President K.R. Narayanan today expressed serious concern over a backlog of 30 million cases in various courts in India and said the Government and judiciary should take steps to tackle them on a war footing.

Speaking at the all-India seminar on judicial reforms here, the President said, “Each of the 30 million arrears represent the delay and denial of justice to the people.”

“The Government and judiciary itself must apply their minds more seriously than hitherto in order to tackle this enormous backlog of undisposed cases,” Mr Narayanan said.

He said despite the advent of public interest litigation (PILs), the citizen’s access to law remained limited due to the enormous costs involved in the process of litigation and the unending process of appeals available.

Touching on several judicial reforms that were required, the President said, “The law as it affects women and the weaker sections of society needs to be reformed And where there are laws already enacted, they must be faithfully followed by the executive and judiciary.”

Among those who participated in the seminar organised by the Supreme Court Advocates-on-record Association, were Chief Justice of India A.S. Anand, Urban Affairs and Employment Minister Ram Jethmalani, Union Law Minister M. Thambi Durai, Attorney-General Soli Sorabjee, President of the advocate’s association P.H. Parekh and Judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts.

Chief Justice A.S. Anand said, “The over-flowing dockets of the courts all over the country should not, however, be taken as a sign of failure of the system but a sign of faith in the administration of justice by those who are involved in litigation.”

Mr Sorabjee also expressed concern over the huge backlog of cases in the courts and said justice delayed could no longer result in denial of justice.

Mr Justice Anand said the huge backlog of cases at all levels of judicial hierarchy “is a product of persistent and prolonged neglect of the judicial institutions for the last about 50 years.”

He said the ratio of judges to a million population has remained almost the same though there has been a population explosion, urbanisation and industrialisation of the country leading to higher number of litigations.

AICC joint secretary, 13 others expelled from Congress
From Our Correspondent

JAIPUR, Dec 5 — Mrs Usha Meena, MP and joint secretary of the AICC has been expelled from the Congress along with 13 others for anti-party activities during recent Vidhan Sabha elections in Rajasthan.

Expulsion of Mrs Meena has been ordered by the president of Sawai Madhopur-Karuli District Congress Committee, Mr Murari Lal Vashisht.

Mr Vashisht had earlier served show-cause notices to all persons for their anti-party activity against the official Congress candidates. As none of these persons responded to the show-cause notices within the prescribed 24 hours the DCC President expelled them from the party for six years.

Those expelled from the party along with Mrs Meena include ex- MP Ram Kumar Meena, ex-MLAs Rishikesh Meena and Shravan Lal Koli, ex-Zila Pramukh Natthu Singh, ex pradhans Shiv Charan Meena and Ramji Lal Jain. The district Chairman has also dissolved block Congress Committees of Hinduan, Sapotra and Karauli for the same reason.

Mr Vashisht’s action has evoked resentment amongst supporters of the expelled Congress men who are questioning the authority of the DCC to expel an all-India office bearer.

But DCC president says that the AICC is being informed about his decision. He expressed hope that AICC would take acts of indiscipline by these persons seriously. PCC spokesman at Jaipur, however, said that he was not aware of the DCC’s decision.

Moreover, no district president had the authority to expel a national level office-bearer.

4 killed, 16 injured
NEW DELHI: Four persons were killed and 16 injured when two tempos collided on Mansingh Road on Friday night. The accident occurred at 1.15 a.m. when a Tata-407 tempo (DL1C-0864) ferrying a band party was hit by another tempo (DL1C-8000) near Mansingh Road crossing in the Tughlak Road area of New Delhi district. The deceased were identified as Krishan Pal, Shish Pal and Narender. A case has been registered. — FOC

Prasad is IGNOU Pro-VC
HYDERABAD: Prof V S Prasad, Director, Dr B R Ambedkar Open University, has been appointed the Pro-Vice Chancellor of Indira Gandhi National Open University, New Delhi, for a period of three years. He will take charge on December 10, an official release said here on Saturday. Prof Prasad had earlier worked as Director, Distance Education Council of Indira Gandhi National Open University, from 1995-1997. He is associated with Dr B R Ambedkar Open University since its inception. — PTI

Pre- Independence era gun found
LUCKNOW: An artillery gun of antique value has been found in a field in Uttar Pradesh’s Kannauj district, a Home Department spokesman said here on Saturday. The gun, weighing four quintals, was discovered by farmer, Ahibaran Singh, while working in his field on Friday under the Bishungarh police station area, he said. Local people believed that the gun, 4.2 feet long, might have belonged to Kishangarh Estate of the pre-Independence era, he added. — PTI

Silent movie artiste dead
BANGALORE: Kamalabhai, who had acted in some 40 silent movies, died here on Saturday following a brief illness, family sources said. She was 86. Kamalabhai, wife of veteran Kannada actor late R Nagendra Rao, acted as heroine in her first silent movie “Radhe Shyam”. Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce president K C N Chandrashekhar has expressed grief over her demise. — PTI