Thursday, December 17, 1998

‘Way paved’ for Cong’s return
NEW DELHI, Dec 16 — A former general secretary of the All-India Congress Committee, Mr Devendra Nath Dwivedi, today suggested that the country could move towards a bipolar party system provided the BJP shed its communal bias. In an interview with this reporter on the eve of a special AICC session beginning here on Friday, Mr Dwivedi said the result of the assembly elections had “paved the way for the return of the Congress to the centrestage”.
Fourth man held in corporate case
MUMBAI, Dec 16 — One more person has been taken into custody in connection with Monday’s incidence in which a lady corporator was sought to be burnt at Navi Mumbai in Thane district following an altercation over delay in installation of a common water tap in a slum area.

Hyderabad: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu dedicates ASCI-Hinduja Institute of Health Care for Management Education at Banjara Hill in Hyderabad on Wednesday. Sri Chand P. Hinduja, Chairman, Hinduja Group, and M. Narasimham is also seen in the picture. — PTI

JMM case: SC dismisses review petition
NEW DELHI, Dec 16 — The Supreme Court today dismissed the Union Government’s petition seeking review of an earlier judgement in the multi-crore JMM MPs’ bribery case, saying that an “inordinate delay” of over seven months to file the review petition could not be condoned.

‘Way paved’ for Cong’s return
From K.V. Prasad

Tribune News Service NEW DELHI, Dec 16 — A former general secretary of the All-India Congress Committee (AICC), Mr Devendra Nath Dwivedi, today suggested that the country could move towards a bipolar party system provided the BJP shed its communal bias.

In an interview with this reporter on the eve of a special AICC session beginning here on Friday, Mr Dwivedi said the result of the assembly elections had “paved the way for the return of the Congress to the centrestage”.

Mr Dwivedi said the session was being held at a time when people had shown their preference for the Congress and its leader, Mrs Sonia Gandhi.

The primary agenda would be the ratification of amendments to the party’s constitution, including raising the term of office-bearers from two to three years and increasing the number of CWC members.

Asked if the assembly results indicated that the country could be heading towards the bipolar party system, Mr Dwivedi said it could be interpreted that people had rejected the recent phenomenon of adopting the ‘non-political route to power by resorting to religion-based and caste-based politics.’’

For this, the BJP would have to “shed its communal bias”.

Mr Dwivedi was of the opinion that the “Third Force” or those with a regional outlook were losing support and these results had indicated that the electorate had merely issued a “letter of intent in favour of the Congress and much remains to be done” before it regained the position of a dominant party which was in a position to shape the nation’s destiny.

He believed that coalition politics did not suit India and the country could not afford another experiment.

“It has been difficult to keep even one party together. There is a history of splits. How can one keep several political parties together,” he asked.

Interpreting the results, he said they showed that people wanted to return to normal politics based on the issues and problems facing the country and on secular concerns like good governance, proper management of economy, check on the prices, law and order and civic amenities.

Observing that the recent elections had cast a shadow on the “legitimacy of the government at the Centre”, Mr Dwivedi said this problem was on account of lowering the degree of institutionalised mechanism.

Drawing a parallel, he said, even as the US President, Mr Bill Clinton, was facing impeachment, he had concluded a visit to Palestine representing the entire might of his country. “Nobody has questioned his authority”, he said.

Mr Dwivedi said the Pachmarhi session had enabled the Congress to discuss the challenges before it and have a look at its basic ideology.

He said after 1996, the party suffered a crisis of identity having played second fiddle to parties which were otherwise opposed to it. ‘’There was need for ideological clarity and reiteration of our fundamentals,’’ he said.

Praising the leadership of Mrs Sonia Gandhi, he said ever since she took over as the party president, all decisions were taken only after due consultations with CWC members and the rank and file.

JMM case: SC dismisses review petition

NEW DELHI, Dec 16 (PTI) — The Supreme Court today dismissed the Union Government’s petition seeking review of an earlier judgement in the multi-crore JMM MPs’ bribery case, saying that an “inordinate delay” of over seven months to file the review petition could not be condoned. A five-Judge Constitution Bench headed by Chief Justice A. S. Anand while dismissing the application for condonation of delay said “the application contains no reasonable or satisfactory explanation”.

The government was seeking review of the April 17 judgement of a five-Judge Constitution Bench which had held that MPs who had accepted bribe and voted in Parliament could not be prosecuted as they enjoyed immunity under Article 105(2) of the Constitution.

The government through Additional Solicitor-General R.N. Trivedi said that the delay in filing the review petition was due to the “paucity of staff”.

The Bench, however, said “delay occurring due to paucity of staff is hardly any ground for condonation of delay. Application for condonation of delay is dismissed. Accordingly, the review petition is barred by time”.

In the April 17 judgement, the apex court had held that MPs and MLAs were public servants and had said that those legislators giving bribes would attract prosecution under the Prevention of Corruption Act. The court had also ruled that legislators taking bribes but not voting in the legislature or Parliament would also be liable for prosecution.

Fourth man held in corporate case

MUMBAI, Dec 16 (PTI) — One more person has been taken into custody in connection with Monday’s incidence in which a lady corporator was sought to be burnt at Navi Mumbai in Thane district following an altercation over delay in installation of a common water tap in a slum area.

Three Congress activists had been arrested on Monday night following the incident.

Meanwhile, the condition of the corporator Meena More, belonging to Nagri Vikas Aghadi, floated earlier this year by sacked Shiv Sena Minister Ganesh Naik, continued to be critical, sources at the Maseena Hospital in Central Mumbai told PTI today.

Meena (30) suffered 80 per cent burns after she was torched by three persons identified by her in the first information report (FIR) as Congress activists Yogendra Pande, Rakesh Tiwari and Bapi Bhattacharya. Navi Mumbai police confirmed they were Congress workers.

The accused, who were remanded to police custody till December 18 by a local magistrate yesterday have, however, denied that they set Meena on fire.

One, Mohammed Kasim Budhukhan (30) was arrested last night, police said adding his political affiliation was not known.

NAGPUR: The torching of a lady corporator in Navi Mumbai by Congress workers had its echo in the Maharashtra Legislative Council today, as the Treasury Benches clashed with the Opposition over the point of propriety on the incident, resulting in two adjournments.

The Opposition did not allow Ms Neela Desai (Shiv Sena) to raise the point and amidst noisy scenes, the House was first adjourned for ten minutes followed by another for 12 minutes before question hour.

When calm prevailed after the House reconvened, Ms Desai condemned the “devilish tendency” of those involved in the ghastly incident.

Objecting to the point of propriety, the Leader of Opposition, Chhagan Bhujbal denied that Congress workers were involved in the incident. “Such incidents which have brought disrepute to the humanity should be condemned and the suspects should be dealt with iron hand”, he added.

Statutory housing board for Delhi
Tribune News Service

NEW DELHI, Dec 16 — The Delhi Government today announced the setting up of a statutory housing board for the Capital and promised the regularisation of unauthorised colonies.

The measure as well as steps to check the price rise, growing pollution and augmentation of transport facilities, were announced by Lt-Governor Vijay Kapoor in his address to the first session of the Delhi Assembly today.

Listing out the government’s efforts to augment the housing sector, he said the board would enable the administration to participate directly in the construction of houses and invite private participation in the “removal of housing shortage” in accordance with the Centre’s guidelines.

About the price rise, the Lt-Governor said the prices of essential commodities, particularly vegetables, had already started going down with effective steps initiated by the new government.

Promising a transparent, efficient, responsive and accountable government, he said a system of interaction with people would be established through functional committees and constituency committees.

The Lt-Governor also promised appropriate action against all those involved in the 1984 riots.

He said the NCR plan would be implemented and its objective to create a common economic zone pursued in order to minimise the migration to Delhi.

As part of the steps to improve the security scenario, the government would take up the augmentation of the police with the Centre, he said.

On the transport front, he said the augmentation of Delhi Transport Corporation would be done on the basis of safety, efficiency and economy.

Govt rules out ‘hot pursuit’

NEW DELHI, Dec 16 (PTI) — The government today ruled out adopting the policy of hot pursuit in response to Pakistan’s concerted effort to aid and abet terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir and other parts of the country, External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh said today.

Responding to a supplementary in the Lok Sabha during question hour, the minister said the policy of hot pursuits was not under the consideration of the government, though there was no let up in Pakistan’s attempts to sponsor and perpetuate terrorism in this country.

For several years, terrorists recruited, trained, financed and armed in Pakistan and the occupied Kashmir (PoK) had been infiltrating into India, Mr Singh said, adding Pakistan had also been providing sanctuary to known anti-India elements and declared fugitives of India.

He said Pakistan had been provided detailed documentary evidence to establish the incontrovertible and irrefutable fact of its sponsorship of terrorism in India.

India had consistently demanded of Pakistan that it should forthwith cease these activities and show its sincerity and close down training camps in its territory and hand over the terrorists and fugitives who had been provided sanctuary there, the minister said.

Asked what steps India had taken to get Pakistan declared as a terrorist state, he said the government had made known to the international community Pakistan’s official sponsorship of terrorism and as a result of this, there was widespread international recognition of these activities by that country.

Asked whether India had brought this to the notice of the USA during the talks that the External Affairs Minister had with Deputy Secretary of State Strobe Talbott, he said it figured in the context of international terrorism.

When some members raised the issue of protocol in External Affairs Minister holding talks with a junior functionary of the US Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee intervened briefly, saying the question of protocol should not be allowed to come in the way of meaningful dialogue on important issues.

Mr Singh told the House that the government had no proposal to review the Indo-Sri Lanka accord.

He replied in the negative when Ranjib Biswal, MP, asked through a written question whether the government had a proposal to review the accord.

Appeal in Kalkat case dismissed

NEW DELHI, Dec 16 (PTI) — The Delhi High Court today dismissed the government’s appeal against its earlier order quashing the appointment of Lieut-General H.R.S. Kalkat as General Officer Commanding (GOC)-in-Chief of the Eastern Command.

A Division Bench comprising Mr Justice Y.K. Sabharwal and Mr Justice K.S. Gupta said there was no “infirmity” in the order of Mr Justice Vijender Jain quashing the appointment of Gen Kalkat.

The Bench observed that the October 16, 1992, circular of the Army Headquarters fixing criteria for the selection of Army Commanders on which the government placed its reliance for selection of Mr Kalkat to the post neither had the approval of the President nor that of the government.

Dismissing the government appeal, the Bench said the Army Commander’s post was not a “selection” post, hence seniority-cum-fitness and not seniority-cum-merit should have been the criteria as laid down in the October 20, 1986, notification issued by the President for the selection of Army Commanders and the Vice-Chief of Army Staff.

With the dismissal of government appeal, Lieut-Gen R.S. Kadyan, who was superseded by Gen Kalkat, would be eligible for appointment in his place as the single Judge had in his order said.

CPM names new politburo

NEW DELHI, Dec 16 (PTI) —The CPM central committee today unanimously elected the party’s new 17-member politburo by inducting six new leaders and retaining veterans including Harkishan Singh Surjeet, Jyoti Basu, E.K. Nayanar and Sailen Dasgupta.

The party Congress in Calcutta two months ago had directed the new central committee to elect the politburo by the year end, as elections to certain state units had not been completed at that time.

The new faces in the politburo are Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar, West Bengal state unit secretary Anil Biswas, his senior colleague Biman Basu, CITU General Secretary M.K. Pandhe, the new secretary of the Kerala unit Pinarayi Vijayan and veteran leader from Andhra Pradesh M. Hanumantha Rao.

Humiliated man sets himself afire
NAGPUR: Unable to bear the humiliation of being paraded naked, a 35-year-old man has committed suicide by setting himself afire in Vakilpeth under the Imambada police station area here, the police said. Kishore Namdeorao Dhengre, a contractor, who set himself ablaze on Monday, died at a hospital here on Tuesday. Vinod Zade, a cycle shopkeeper, and his three servants have been arrested for beating and humiliating Dhengre by parading him naked for failing to pay the rental of a bicycle he had hired, the police said. — PTI

Minister ‘fired’ shots
BHUBANESWAR: The Orissa Assembly was thrown into turmoil on Tuesday after a senior Janata Dal member Ashok Das, alleged that a Cabinet minister had fired two rounds from a revolver in a city hotel on Monday. Raising a point of order in the midst of a debate on the drought situation in the state, Mr Das demanded that the Chief Minister, Mr J.B. Patnaik, should make a statement on the issue in the House. “I am making this allegation with all responsibility while offering to quit public life if my charge is proved to be untrue”, the JD leader said. — PTI

Film academy gets affiliation
NOIDA: The valedictory function for students of the 21st batch of the Asian Academy of Film and Television (AAFT) was held at Marwah Film and Video Studios, Film City, Noida. Eighty students who completed their education and training in production, direction and TV journalism, acting and presentation were awarded the diploma on this occasion in the presence of Mr Subhash Ghai, noted film director, Mr Shiv Sharma, former Director-General of Doordarshan, and Mr Hafiz Abdel Rehman, Minister Plenipotentiary in the Embassy of the Republic of Sudan. — FOC

Antiques, idols stolen
FAIZABAD: Valuable antiques and a crown studded with precious stones worth several thousand rupees have been stolen from an ancient Jain temple near here, the police said on Tuesday. According to the FIR, the theft was discovered by the priests of the temple near Raunahi police station, about 25 km from here, on Tuesday morning. In another incident, precious Astadhatu idols of Lord Ram and Laxman, weighing about 60 kg, were stolen from the Baradari Bangla Temple near the famous Hanuman temple in Ayodhya on Monday, the police said. — PTI

6 held for Purnea killings
PATNA: At least six persons were taken into custody on Tuesday for incidents of violence in Purnea district in which seven tribesmen were killed on Sunday. District Magistrate Dipak Kumar Singh told PTI that the district administration had taken punitive action against those responsible for preventing the incidents. — PTI

MP Govt’s awards for youths
BHOPAL: To strengthen the secular and cordial foundation among the younger generation of the state, the Madhya Pradesh Government will institute five annual awards for the youths. The awards named after Kabir, Shankracharya, Guru Nanak, Gautam Buddha and Rahim will be conferred on the youths excelling in maintaining the secular fabric of the society, officials said. Apart from a cash of Rs 1 lakh the award winners would let a government job. The General Administrative Department will invite applications in January and the awards will be announced every year on October 31. — UNI

Gang of auto thieves busted
NEW DELHI: With the arrest of three suspects, the north district police claims to have busted a gang of vehicle thieves. The suspects, Parminder Singh, alias Pammi, of Punjab, Vikram Singh alias Kala and Satish Kumar of Delhi, were active in south, west, north west and north districts of the Capital, the police said. They had reportedly stolen vehicles from the Punjabi Bagh, Maurice Nagar, Roop Nagar, Sarai Rohilla, Kashmiri Gate, Civil Lines, Hari Nagar, Janak Puri, Tilak Nagar, Pashim Vihar, Rajouri Garden and Rohini areas. The police has recovered 35 vehicles. — FOC