Tuesday, December 22, 1998
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N A T I O N |
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spotlight today's calendar |
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Bills on new states today Cong
defers decision on Patents Bill |
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Sever ties with RJD: Bihar
Cong men
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Shatrughan Sinha awaits
recognition Top
Bihar BJP leaders suspended Amartya
Sen for sensible culture Scribes’
wage panel meeting CBI
‘vacillating’ on supply of papers |
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Bills on new states today NEW DELHI, Dec 21 — A confrontation between the BJP and its ally, the Shiromani Akali Dal seems to be on the cards with the government proposing to introduce Bills for the creation of states including Uttaranchal with Udham Singh Nagar district as part of it. With the Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Mr Madan Lal Khurana, announcing today the states reorganisation Bills in respect of Uttar Pradesh (Uttaranchal), Madhya Pradesh (Chhattisgarh) and Bihar (Vananchal) would be introduced in the Lok Sabha tomorrow, the Shiromani Akali Dal activated itself. Mr Prem Singh Chandumajra, SAD MP from Patiala, said here his party would oppose “tooth and nail’’ the attempts to introduce the Bill pertaining to the creation of Uttaranchal/Uttarakhand since the proposal included the district of Udham Singh Nagar. “The Political Affairs Committee of SAD had resolved to oppose the Bill if it includes the district and we are bound by it,’’ Mr Chandumajra told TNS. Mr Chandumajra, who is also the Chief Whip of the SAD Parliamentary Party, said he was trying to enlist support of like-minded parties on the issue. Mr Chandumajra said he had already talked to the Trinamool Congress leader, Ms Mamata Banerjee, who agreed to support the SAD demand. He said the main objection was as to where was the need to introduce the Bill regarding creation of Uttaranchal when the high-powered committee headed by the Defence Minister, Mr George Fernandes was yet to submit its report. “We do not object to the Bills concerning Bihar and MP reorganisation, but will surely oppose the UP Bill tomorrow,’’ he said. The high-powered committee set up by the Prime Minister during October this year, includes the Defence Minister, the Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal and the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister, Mr Kalyan Singh. The committee met just once during last month. “The committee has not even visited Udham Singh Nagar district nor has it ascertained the views of the people residing in the area or even talked to the gram panchayats,’’ he said. Identifying the districts to be included in the new state, the government decided to retain both Udham Singh Nagar and Hardwar. It may be recalled that the UP Assembly had recently passed the Bill excluding Hardwar district. Meanwhile, sources close
to Mr Fernandes said the committee was likely to hold
some more meetings before finalising its report. The
report may then be taken up during discussion of the
Bill, the sources said. |
Cong defers decision on Patents Bill NEW DELHI, Dec 21 (PTI) — The Congress tonight deferred a decision on the controversial Patents Bill on which the BJP said there was "unanimity’’ within its members in the Rajya Sabha that the legislation should be passed in the House tomorrow. As protagonists and opponents of the Bill put forth their views strongly in the presence of Congress President Sonia Gandhi, it was decided after a two-hour meeting of the extended Legislative Affairs Committee that top leaders will meet tomorrow morning to take a final decision whether to lend support to the Bill in its present form. The Congress support to the Bill is crucial because the BJP is in minority in the Rajya Sabha. A meeting of BJP MPs in the Rajya Sabha discussed the Bill when some members were understood to have expressed reservations over "hurrying’’ with the measure. But Parliamentary Affairs Minister Madan Lal Khurana said the MPs "unanimously’’ agreed to support the Bill for its passage. Last week, at a similar meeting, Industry Minister Sikander Bakht had reportedly threatened to resign if the Bill was not allowed to be introduced in the Upper House. However, the party spokesman had denied any such threat. "No decision today. We will be meeting tomorrow morning", Ms Gandhi told reporters soon after the deliberations. The meeting was called following serious differences in the party on the measure with pro-reforms sections led by Manmohan Singh and Pranab Mukherjee calling for support to the legislation so that it could be passed on Tuesday. Though agreeing with the
pro-reforms lobby that India should keep its commitment
to the World Trade Organisation as agreement in this
regard was initialled by previous Congress Government,
the opponents felt that the Bill needed to be fine tuned. |
Row over special court
issue CHENNAI, Dec 21 (PTI) — Even as the centre and Tamil Nadu Government differed on the authority for referring corruption cases against a former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, Ms Jayalalitha, to special courts, trial in the "Pleasant Stay Hotel" case, in which she is the prime accused, commenced here today. As soon as the court commenced the day’s sitting, counsel for the AIADMK leader moved a petition before the Judge Mr V Radhakrishnan, under Section 309 of the Cr.PC, to adjourn the proceedings citing a Central communiqué to the state government relating to transfer of cases from one court to another. Counsel said the Centre had, in its communication, stated that it was contemplating consulting the Madras High Court Chief Justice about issuing a fresh notification under Section 4(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act (PCA) on setting up of special courts. Mr Radhakrishnan is one of the three special judges trying cases of corruption against Ms Jayalalitha, some of her ministerial colleagues, IAS officers and others during the AIADMK rule between 1991 and 1996. Ms Jayalalitha’s counsel contended that the Centre’s letter of December 18 followed Attorney-General Soli Sorabjee’s contention in the Supreme Court a day earlier that the Tamil Nadu Government did not have the authority to transfer corruption cases from one court to another. Contending that it might not be proper to proceed with the case in view of Mr Sorabjee’s submission and the Centre’s letter, Mr Ashokan contended that the Tamil Nadu Government had sought to exercise powers under Section 4 (2) of the PCA, which it did not possess while issuing the April 30, 1997, order. Dismissing the petition for adjournment on the ground that the Supreme Court had not issued any stay, the Judge directed commencement of the trial and asked the prosecution to produce its witness, Director of Vigilance III, in the Union Department of Personnel and Training, Samant Rai, the only one to depose today. The Judge also dismissed a plea to adjourn proceedings on the ground that the order dismissing the petition would be challenged in the Madras High Court. The investigating agency,
Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption, has cited
70 witnesses in the case, which relates to illegal
exemption allegedly granted by the AIADMK regime in 1994
for the construction of a seven-storeyed hotel building
at Kodaikanal. |
Sever ties with RJD: Bihar Cong men NEW DELHI, Dec 21 (PTI) — Senior Bihar Congress leaders today told the party high command to immediately withdraw support to the Rabri Devi government and sever all ties with the Rashtriya Janata Dal in the state. The Bihar leaders, who met party President Sonia Gandhi here, emphasised that the party had suffered badly due to its ties with the RJD. "The revival of the Congress is not at all possible until it severs its relations with the party led by Laloo Prasad Yadav," they said. A memorandum submitted by them to Mrs Gandhi said if the Congress failed to make an early announcement of ending its ties with the RJD, it would cost the party dearly in the event of dissolution of the state assembly by the BJP-led Centre. In such an eventuality, the BJP would get the benefit and the Congress would continue to suffer, they said, adding there was a strong possibility of the early dissolution of the assembly and, therefore, there was a need for early action. The Bihar leaders said if the Congress withdrew support to the Rabri Devi government, it would help the party as the upper castes and minorities, who were "fed up" with the RJD, would return to the party. Prominent among the signatories to the memorandum included Vijay Shanker Dubey, Kripanath Pathak, Shyam Sunder Singh Dheeraj, Narendra Kumar, N. Agendra Jha, Ghanshyam Singh, Shiv Chandra Jha, Surendra Prasad Tarun and Padmasha Jha. It was pointed out in the memorandum that it was "baseless and misleading" to say that the break-up of party’s ties with the RJD would benefit the BJP. It also rejected the suggestion that the RJD would support the Congress in the formation of an alternative government at the Centre in the event of the fall of the Vajpayee government. The RJD would have no option but to support the Congress if the BJP-led coalition was ousted, it said, adding state politics was quite different from that of the Centre and the severing of ties in Bihar would have no impact at the Centre. The memorandum pointed out that the Congress failed to clarify its position in the aftermath of the Babri demolition and the Bhagalpur riots which weakened its position. This resulted in the alienation from the Congress of Yadavs and Muslims who shifted to the RJD in Bihar and others, particularly those belonging to upper castes turned to the BJP, it said. Finding itself in a
"pitiable condition", the Congress joined hands
with Laloo Prasad Yadav, they said, adding this cost the
party dearly and it lost its identity in the state. |
Shatrughan Sinha awaits recognition NEW DELHI, Dec 21 (PTI) — Cinestar-politician Shatrughan Sinha today ruled out the possibility of his resigning from BJP for not being inducted in the Vajpayee Government. His recent utterances on the issue were meant only to drive home the point that he was not less qualified than others to get a Cabinet berth, he told PTI in an interview. “This is the first time and hopefully the last time that I have joined any party (BJP),” Mr Sinha, MP, said adding that earlier he had supported leaders like former Prime Ministers VP Singh and Chandrasekhar but never joined their outfits. “I am not a shuttlecock in politics to be tossed around as an opportunist,” he said. He, however, said as long as the issue of continuing in the BJP was concerned “tomorrow the party may not find me good enough or I may withdraw from politics.” About his being disappointed on not being accommodated in the Union Cabinet, Sinha said “it has disturbed me as well as my supporters particularly in Bihar, but, I do not intend to question the Prime Minister’s wisdom because it is his prerogative to choose his team.” On his congratulating Congress President Sonia Gandhi for her party’s “spectacular” victory in the November state assembly elections, Sinha said “that is my character. I call a spade a spade,” But nothing more should be read into his sportsmanship gesture,” he said. On his closeness to Home Minister L K Advani and if that was a reason for his not getting a Cabinet berth, Sinha said “it’s fine! I cannot change my respect (for Advaniji) in exchange for a position. I have always held him in high esteem in politics as in films I was inspired by Raj Kapoor and in social life by Loknayak Jayprakash Narayan.” “It was at his (Advaniji) command that I joined BJP,” he said adding this does not diminish his loyalty towards the party. Replying to a question about why none of the film stars, who joined political parties, have been inducted in the ministry, Sinha said “I do not know about other parties or individuals, but, I joined BJP as a simple worker leaving my Bollywood career which was in good swing. Hence my presence in the party is not only in the capacity of a cinestar. I have toiled not less than others in garnering support for the party.” Condemning the violent protest against screening of the controversial film “Fire”, Sinha said if there was any resentment against the movie, the agitation should have been directed against the censor board, which cleared it. But, he also criticised
the supporters of freedom of expression like Dilip Kumar
and Shabana Azmi for their silence when action was taken
against the play “Me Nathuram Godse Boltay” or
“Satanic Verses”. |
Top Bihar BJP leaders suspended PATNA, Dec 21 (PTI) — In a major clampdown on growing dissidence, the BJP today suspended three senior Bihar leaders, including a former president of the state unit, and recommended disciplinary action against two MPs from the state for alleged anti-party activities. The state BJP President, Mr Nand Kishore Yadav, announced the suspension of the party’s former state unit chief, Mr Tarakant Jha, Chairman of the National Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes Commission Kameshwar Paswan and senior member of the state Legislative Council Yashodanand Singh. Mr Yadav said the three leaders had been served with show-cause notices asking them why action should not be initiated against them for breaking party discipline. The notices, returnable within a fortnight, would be considered by the state disciplinary action committee headed by Mr Durgadas Rathod. The state executive had also recommended disciplinary action against Mr Lalmuni Chaubey and Mr Janardan Yadav (both MPs) to the party President, Mr Kushabhau Thakre, he said. These leaders had recently floated separate forums like the "Mithilanchal Vikas Manch" and the "Bihar Vikas Manch" and openly criticised the party leadership. "Bihar Vikas Manch" leaders Janardan Yadav, Lalmuni Chaubey, Kameshwar Paswan and Yashodanand Singh had recently accused the party general secretary and in charge of Bihar, Mr K.N. Govindacharya, of trying to divide the party on caste lines. Leaders of the two forums
had charged the party’s national leadership,
particularly Mr Govindacharya, with being instrumental in
the debacle of the party in the recent assembly
byelections. |
Amartya Sen for sensible culture SHANTI NIKETAN, Dec 21 (UNI) — Nobel laureate Amartya Sen wants India to recognise the plurality of its traditions and not to close the window to other cultures. Addressing a meet-the-press here last night, Prof Sen, who returned home on a brief vacation, said tolerance was part of Indian history and it was very important that “we recognise the value of Indian culture without denying the importance and richness of other cultures”. “This has got relevance when there are attempts to close the windows to other cultures, all of which synthesised into the great Indian tradition,” he said. Replying to a question, Prof Sen said great thinkers like Rabindranath Tagore did not want Indian culture to be fragile as it has been a confluence of Hindu, Muslim, Christian and other civilisations. The diversity of Indian culture need not hamper a deeper understanding of one’s own tradition, he added. Advocating a tolerant and liberal policy, Prof Sen said the country’s strength lay in its democracy which has a history of tolerance. The Nobel laureate said he did not want to be dubbed as belonging to any particular ideological straitjacket although “I feel myself belonging to the Left”. “There is a danger in trying to summarise an analysis which is ultimately converted into a slogan neglecting many things,” he said adding that although he supported many of the Left convictions, it had been experienced in the past that many Leftists were hesitant to embrace such crucial concepts like gender equality for a developed society. “What we require is a broad, varied and balanced view,” he said. Prof Sen reiterated that
the country must not fail to recognise the importance of
human resource development and basic education which were
pre-requisites to economic development. |
Scribes’ wage panel meeting NEW DELHI, Dec 21 (UNI) — The next meeting of the wage boards for journalists and non-journalists has been convened at Delhi between January 18-22. The meeting is likely to be the last though no official word in this regard was available. A board source said that a meeting after the January 18-22 session was also likely if any of the parties — either the employers or the employees — wish to file a rejoinder. This, if convened, could be in continuation of the meeting already convened. The last meeting of the
boards was held in Delhi on December 11, 12 and 14. |
CBI ‘vacillating’ on supply of papers PATNA, Dec 21 (PTI) — The RJD President, Mr Laloo Prasad Yadav, who was produced before the special court today, charged the CBI with vacillating on the supply of documents to him in a conspiracy angle case of the fodder scam. Mr Yadav told the court of Designated CBI Judge S.K. Lal that the investigating agency had not supplied all documents relied upon by it for his prosecution in the case. He said he had handed over to the CBI all documents considered to be “voluminous ones” in the case No. RC 20 (A)/96 when he was holding the office of the Chief Minister. Though the charge sheet in
the case was submitted long back all documents were yet
to be made available to him, he contended. |
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| Social worker on fast AHMEDNAGAR: Noted social worker Jatanbai Manekchand died on Sunday after observing “Santhara” (fast unto death). She was 55. Jatanbai was an active campaigner of “Jeevanraksha Abhiyan” (an agitation against killing of animals) and associated with several Jain social organisations. — PTI ‘Cannibal’
cop sent to lines Angry male posts
lethal mail Naxalites attack
police camp Deer-unfriendly
govt bans new parks Ragged to death Tamarind for teeth 21 detained for
Guwahati blasts Smart screen for
focused viewers |
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