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Centre seeks report NEW DELHI, Dec 28 — The Centre has sought a report from the Gujarat Government on the recent attacks on Christian missionary schools in the state. Stating this, Union Home Secretary B.P. Singh told reporters here that state governments had been instructed to deal strongly with any incident against minorities. BJP, Cong condemn Singhal's
remarks |
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Normalcy restored in Ahwa VALSAD, Dec 28— Normalcy has been restored in the riot-torn Ahwa town and adjoining villages in Dangs district in Gujarat where violence involving tribal Hindus and Christians left at least 23 persons injured since Friday.
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Defence Ministry denies
rift Jain
blames Rao govt for slow probe No
move for change in UP leadership IMA
plans directory on quacks Security
strengthened in Delhi Patent
application for Terminator Gene |
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Attacks on Christian schools NEW DELHI, Dec 28 (PTI, UNI) — The Centre has sought a report from the Gujarat Government on the recent attacks on Christian missionary schools in the state. Stating this, Union Home Secretary B.P. Singh told reporters here that state governments had been instructed to deal strongly with any incident against minorities. Churches and missionary schools were attacked and vehicles torched in Surat and Dangs districts of south Gujarat yesterday. GANDHINAGAR: Meanwhile, the Gujarat Government today said it had prepared an action programme to bring normalcy in tourble-torn Dangs, even as an uneasy calm prevailed in the state's tribal-dominated southern district after a spate of communal violence since December 25. Minister of State for Home Haren Pandya said here that a joint meeting was held yesterday at Ahwa, the district headquarters of Dangs, between leaders of the Catholic Church of North India and the Hindu Dharma Jagran Manch, an 11-point programme for Communal amity was prepared at the meeting, which also formed a 30-member peace committee. The 11 points included maintenance of law and order, condemnation of violence, helping the police in arresting culprits, refraining from taking help from outsiders and preaching one's religion without hurting the sentiments of others or maligning other religions. "The committee also appealed political parties to retrain from fomenting any trouble," he added. The minister, who returned from AHWA today after a two-day stay there, said 38 persons had so far, been arrested in connection with the communal violence that erupted in the tribal district in south Gujarat since December 25. He said seven persons were injured in a shoot-out on Christmas Day between two communities. The police burst teargas shells and resorted to lathicharge in a bid to subdue the agitators. "The situation there is now under control," he added. Meanwhile, about 150 Congressmen, including Gujarat Pradesh Congress president C.D. Patel and leader of the Opposition in State Assembly Amarsinh Choudhary, were prevented by authorities from taking out a rally at Ahwa this afternoon. The rally was being organised in protest against what they described as "increasing incidents of atrocities on the minorities." According to official sources here, both Mr Patel and Mr Choudhary were detained and released immediately at about 3 p.m. NEW DELHI: Archbishop of Delhi Alan De Lastic sought Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee's intervention for putting an end to atrocities against Christians in Gujarat, noting such attacks were continuing unabated even after the community's dialogue with Mr Vajpayee. Seeking Mr Vajpayee's intervention, he said, "please see that peace is restored, till peace and harmony is restored, celebration of the birth of Chirst loses its force and meaning." A citizens' group also today sought Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee's intervention to "help stop the recurring and growing attacks" on Churches and Christian missionary institutions in the country. Condemning the recent "attacks" on Churches and missionary schools in Surat and Dangs districts of Gujarat, convener of the Citizens' Committee for Secular Action N.D. Pancholi flayed the "provocative accusations" repeatedly being made against the Christian missionaries by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP). JAIPUR: Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) executive president Ashok Singhal today saw foreign hand behind spurt of "Christian violence" and alleged that the Churches had launched a sustained campaign in India and abroad to project Hinduism and India in a bad light. At a press conference here, Mr Singhal who is in the town to participate in the three-day meeting of the VHP governing body, Board of Trustees and Central Executive which began today, termed as misleading reports of recent incidents of attacks on Churches at some places in Gujarat. He said that factual situation was that it were Hindu tribals and religious places which were attacked by Christians. He said that reported incident of burning of Bible at I.P. School in Rajkot district was also wrong. He said that newspapers in Gujarat had published different stories about these incidents while newspapers elsewhere in the country had carried different version and this fact was enough to speak about the situation. Mr Singhal said that Christian militancy has been at a rise for the past two to three years but had been intensified during the past two to three months. He alleged that actually violence was being resorted by those who had been out for propaganda of Christianity in the country. Mr Singhal said that he
had information that some Christian leaders had come into
the country from other countries to fuel the violence and
motive behind it was to bring unity among various rival
sub sects of Christians to create conducive atmosphere
for conversion and evangelization programme in the
country. |
BJP, Cong condemn Singhal's
remarks NEW DELHI, Dec 28 — The Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party today criticised the statement of the VHP leader, Mr Ashok Singhal terming the award of Nobel Prize to Prof Amartya Sen as part of a "Christian conspiracy." While the Congress condemned the statement, saying it reflected "petty mentality", the BJP said the party "disapproves" of the same, and considers it as "improper". The Congress spokesperson, Dr Girja Vyas, said: "It (the statement) reflects petty mentality. We condemn it and consider it not proper." She was speaking at a routine press briefing here today. The VHP leader was quoted to have said in Jaipur yesterday that the Nobel Peace Prize to Prof Amartya Sen was part of a "Christian conspiracy to propagate their religion and wipe out Hinduism from this country." Mr Singhal had said considering the present state of the country, the award to Prof Sen was clearly "politically motivated, like the Peace Prize to Mother Teresa earlier". The Congress said it was unfortunate that while the country felt proud that an Indian had been selected for the award, the VHP leader felt otherwise. The BJP, too, distanced itself from the statement made by a prominent leader of the Sangh Parivar. The party spokesman, Mr K.L. Sharma, said: Amartya Sen and Mother Teresa fully deserved this honour and if somebody criticises conferring of Nobel Prize on them, it is not proper. We disapprove of it. He said the award to Prof Sen was a matter of pride for the country and the BJP joined the nation in felicitating Prof Sen for his achievement. Ms Vyas said the Congress condemned the attack on minorities and Christians in Gujarat. A state Congress team had been deputed to study the problem. She said such attacks were on the rise despite the Congress drawing the attention of the state government towards the same. The BJP spokesman said the
party would like law to take its own course and all
culprits involved in the incidents must be caught and
punished |
Normalcy restored in Ahwa VALSAD, Dec 28 (PTI) — Normalcy has been restored in the riot-torn Ahwa town and adjoining villages in Dangs district in Gujarat where violence involving tribal Hindus and Christians left at least 23 persons injured since Friday. Churches, missionary schools and houses of Christian missionaries were the target of attacks by the miscreants protesting against the alleged ongoing conversions of tribals to Christianity. They also set ablaze vehicles at Subir, Gadhvi, Divankhedi and Nadagkhadi villages since Friday when the violence first broke out and continued till Saturday. Police had to lob tear-gas shells and resort to lathi-charge to disperse rampaging mobs of Hindus and Christians on Friday who indulged in heavy stone-pelting at each other. Gujarat Home Minister, Haren Pandya, who was camping at Ahwa yesterday, said 19 persons from the two communities had been arrested so far in connection with the violent incidents. The police sources here today said that in the past 24 hours there has been no report of any violence. Meanwhile, a 31-member district peace committee, headed by the District Collector, was formed with equal number of Hindu and Christians representatives to work for peace. The district authorities as a precautionary measure have banned taking out of any rallies or holding of demonstrations in Ahwa and the adjoining villages rocked by violence. NEW DELHI: The BJP today condemned the attack on churches and missionary schools in Gujarat but felt that these incidents were being blown out of proportion. "Any effort to spoil the mutual relations between various communities was not proper. We are opposed to it and we condemn it’’, party’s vice-president Krishan Lal Sharma told reporters here. Stating that the clashes were being blown out of proportion and exaggerated, Mr Sharma accused the Congress of trying to fish in the troubled waters and thus precipitating the situation in the state. "Everybody should be careful and ensure that nothing was done to spoil the communal harmony and peace,’’ he said. Asked whether he condemned the VHP and the Bajrang Dal for the act, Mr Sharma said the group behind these incidents was yet to identified. Nevertheless government should take firm steps against those involved in such incidents. He said some people had already been taken into custody and the state Chief Minister and the Home Minister were making all-out efforts to restore peace and mutual confidence among different communities. The CPM also condemned attacks on Christian missionary schools in Gujarat and charged the state government and centre with conniving in "permitting if not encouraging such attacks". In a statement here demanding that the BJP-led government take immediate action and uphold the rule of law in the state, the CPM politbureau said "the strident stand taken by the VHP signals that the saffron brigade is gearing for more organised and premeditated violence against minorities." It alleged that the "systematic attacks" were continuing despite assurances to the contrary given by Union Ministers and added that the Home Minister should take cognizance of the violence and take necessary action. Accusing the "saffron combine" of being bent on establishing a rabidly intolerant variant of Hindu society, the CPM appealed to people to rise against its "provocations." The National Commission for Minorities has summoned Chief Secretary and Director-General of Police of Gujarat to ascertain from them the action taken by the Gujarat government for ensuring protection of Christians in the state. In a letter to the state
Chief Minister, Chairman of the (NCM) Dr Tahir Mahmood
said we are at a loss to understand why the government
had not so far succeeded in protecting such a microcopic
section of citizens,whose population is less than half a
per cent of the total population, of the entire
community. |
Defence Ministry denies rift NEW DELHI, Dec 28 — In what seems to be a rebuff to the Naval Headquarters, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) today denied reports of interference and rift with Service Headquarters. Reacting to stories appearing in various newspapers regarding the differences between the Ministry of Defence and the Service Headquarters of the three wings of the Armed Forces, over the appointments of senior officers, the Ministry today said that such information was not based on facts and that it was untrue. While there is already a controversy on over the appointment of Vice- Admiral Harinder Singh as the Deputy Chief of Naval Staff, there have also been reports of a stand-off between the MoD and the Army Headquarters in the cases of Lt-Gen R.S. Kadyan and Lt-Gen M.R. Sharma. The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) had on December 9 appointed Vice-Admiral Harinder Singh as the DCNS, to which Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral Vishnu Bhagwat had objections and had refused to accept the appointment on the basis of certain clauses in the Naval Act. It created an unprecedented situation, where a Chief of a wing of the country’s Armed Forces had refused to accept the appointment made by the highest decision making body of the government. The ACC for appointments in Armed Forces consists of the Prime Minister, the Home Minister and the Defence Minister. The release issued by the Ministry today said, “ reports in a section of the media have projected the cases of Lt-Gen R.S. Kadyan and Lt-Gen M.R. Sharma as instances of interference by the Defence Ministry and rift with the Army Headquarters. Nothing could be farther from truth.” The release said that in both cases, the Defence Ministry and the Army Headquarters have been in total consonance. The two cases are instances of individual officers’ dispute with the Service Headquarters and the Defence Ministry. To project these cases as a face-off between the Defence Ministry and the Army is incorrect. In the case of Vice-Admiral Harinder Singh also, reports of interference by the Defence Ministry are baseless. The Defence Ministry’s intervention came at the express direction of the Calcutta High Court. The court had said that the case shall not be handled by the Chief of Naval Staff, but it shall be handled exclusively by the Defence Ministry. The release also added that the reports of the Defence Minister accompanied by Attorney-General and the Chief of Naval Staff meeting the Prime Minister were also incorrect. “It is only proper that in matters of such nature, facts should first be verified with the Ministry,” it said. Incidentally, there were also reports floating that Vice-Admiral R. Ganesh, who is among the senior most Vice-Admirals, had not been considered at all for the post of the DCNS. According to sources, his name was definitely not in the panel as he was presently serving a tenure outside the Navy and in such a situation he could not be considered for the post. Vice-Admiral Ganesh is
presently the Director-General of Coast Guards, which is
a tenure-based post, having a term of three years. |
Jain blames Rao govt for slow probe BHOPAL, Dec 28 (PTI) — Justice Milap Chand Jain, who probed the conspiracy angle of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi’s assassination, has alleged the Narasimha Rao government did not want the commission to complete its work at a fast pace. To delay the functioning of the one-man commission, attempts were made to get "flimsy" public interest litigations (PIL) filed in courts, Justice Jain told mediapersons here last night. "All PILs were dismissed by the High Court, but because of them, the commission’s tenure had to be extended from four years to five years," he claimed. "It was strange that instead of the litigants, it was the CBI which had appealed in the Supreme Court against the High Court decision to dismiss these litigations," he said. Replying to a query on his probe into the killing of Rajiv Gandhi, Justice Jain said he did not get adequate cooperation from the government regarding specific documents and evidence. Stating that the government had asked him to submit an interim report immediately, Justice Jain said he needed two to three months more to probe into some issues, including the causes behind the suicide of Sivarasan and Shanmugam, two accused in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination. Regretting that the government was yet to initiate any action on the basis of the recommendations made by the commission, Justice Jain hoped the multi-disciplinary monitoring agency set up by the government to take action on the recommendations of the commission would discharge its duties properly. "Despite numerous obstacles, I gave priority to the voice of my conscience while performing the commission’s work," he said, adding the commission report was totally impartial. He said no conclusion made by him in the interim report had been changed in the final report. Justice Jain said he had suggested to the government to amend the Commissions of Inquiry Act to make it mandatory to implement recommendations made by various commissions. It was imperative the
recommendations made by the commissions were implemented
as valuable time and government funds were spent on
these, he added. |
No move for change in UP leadership NEW DELHI, Dec 28 (PTI) — The BJP today made it clear that there was no move for a change of leadership in Uttar Pradesh nor was there any possibility of the state going in for mid-term polls. Party Vice-President Krishan Lal Sharma told reporters that he had spoken to Chief Minister Kalyan Singh on his reported statement about the possibility of a mid-term poll in case of a change in leadership. Mr Sharma said the Chief Minister told him that his remarks about mid-term polls were in response to a question. The BJP leader also ruled
out any move to replace the state Chief Minister as
reported in a section of the Press. |
IMA plans directory on quacks HYDERABAD, Dec 28 — In order to save millions of consumers from following a victim to quackery, the Indian Medical Association has decided to compile a directory of quacks in the country. The association, which has been pressing for a legislation against quackery, has called upon members in its 1700 branches to identify unqualified medical practitioners. Briefing mediapersons here on the second day of IMA’s national conference, the IMA general secretary, Dr Prem Aggarwal, said: “We’ll now take the role of plaintiffs and being specific cases of quackery to the notice of the police. If the police does not act on our complaint, we’ll even file cases in the High Court.” He said the Delhi High Court, acting on a complaint against quacks, had passed three strictures questioning the inaction of the Delhi Government. Dr Aggarwal said: “We’ve also decided to file cases against medical institutes and organisations which issue fake degrees.” He pointed out that although the law provided for punishment against quacks under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, the Medical Council Act, the Magic Remedies Act, Keen to Human Body Act and Forgery, the government did not take action against quacks. Dr Aggarwal said the doctors had suggested that blood donation be encouraged to meet the 35 per cent shortfall in the availability of blood. He said, the IMA had pledged that all its branches would act as catalysts in promoting blood donation in their area. He said some areas did not have a blood bank even within a radius of 350 miles. Doctors at the conference suggested rational use of blood. They felt that whole units should be used sparingly and direct tranfusion avoided to minimise the risk of AIDS and other cantagious diseases. Dr Aggarwal told TNS that while Punjab and Haryana had at least 8,000 and 4,000 quacks respectively, Himachal Pradesh had about 2,000. He said blood shortage
existed in some districts in Haryana and remote areas of
Punjab and Himachal. |
Security strengthened in Delhi NEW DELHI, Dec 28 — The Union Minister of Home Affairs, Mr L.K. Advani, said here today that spate of murders and robberies in capital gave a wrong impression across the country. “Whenever, such incidents occur, Delhi comes in limelight as it is the national capital”, he said. Mr Advani said that he had assured the Lt Governor of Delhi, Mr Vijay Kapoor and Police Commissioner, V.N. Singh that lack of security force personnel would not come in the way of checking the spiralling crime in Delhi. He told them that they would be provided adequate number of para-military forces to deal with the situation. The efforts made by the Delhi Police to check crime in the city failed to deter criminals from looting a bank. The cases which were reported in the past 24 hours include a dacoity, two cases of attempt to murder and robbery. A branch of Punjab and Sind Bank was looted by armed men in Najafgarh area of South West Delhi this morning. More than Rs six lakh was looted by dacoits in a daring daylight crime, sources said. The incident took place at Najafgarh despite tight security at Jharoda Kalan, which is only a few kilometres away from the place which Mr Advani visited today. In the second case, six unindentified men entered a doctor’s house in the Mayur Vihar area and after stabbing his 17-year-old servant, escaped with valuables in the doctor’s Maruti car last night. The incident took place yesterday night at 9.30 pm when Dr Anurag Tandon — an ENT specialist —returned to his Mayur Vihar house. In yet another incident, two persons robbed a cashier of a branch of Super Bazar in Trilokpuri, R D Verma while he was going to deposit the money with the Khicripur branch tis morning. The duo threw chilli powder in the eyes of Mr Verma and decamped with the bag containing Rs 39,000 and a cheque of Rs 1.3 lakh. Security in the Capital was beefed up yesterday with the deployment of four companies of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF). Three companies of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) were deployed today and four companies of the CRPF would be deployed tomorrow. Hundred constables of Delhi Police have been deployed in Saket in addituion to Omni Motor Cycles and PCR vans to restore confidence of the residents of the colony where two double murder cases occurred within 48 hours. Private watchmen of the colony were provided “checking tool boxes” to the chowkidars in the colony. Senior Police officers of the District briefed the watchmen. This was done following the directions by Mr L.K. Advani at a meeting with the Delhi Lt Governor, Mr Vijay Kapoor and top officials in the wake of the double murder of elderly couple in Saket area of South Delhi. Law and order situation in the Capital was reviewed at a high-level meeting here today between Chief Minister, Ms Sheila Dikshit, legislators and the Police Commissioner, V. N. Singh. The meeting which was presided over by the Chief Minister, was also attended by Chief Secretary Mr Omesh Saigal and Home Secretary (Delhi), Mr Ashok Nath. It was decided at
today’s meeting that police station level committees
should be constituted which would be headed by the local
MLA as chairman. The MLA’s role would, however, be
only of advisory nature. Greater coordination between the
police and the committee was stressed upon at the
meeting. |
Advani grants 1 cr to CRPF Welfare
Fund NEW DELHI, Dec 28 — Union Home Minister, L.K. Advani, today announced a grant of Rs one crore towards the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) Welfare Fund. This grant has been given for the rehabilitation of widows and personnel crippled for life while carrying out their duty.Addressing the 59th CRPF Day Parade at the Jharoda Kalan Group Centre here today, Mr Advani said that most personnel of the country’s oldest paramilitary force were deployed in difficult areas like Jammu and Kashmir and North-East and the government was committed to remove the difficulties faced by them. Mr Advani lauded the CRPF for its efforts in improving the internal security scenario which “was the primary responsibility of the state”. In his address, the CRPF Director General, Mr M.N. Sabherwal, expressed concern over the little training time the personnel were getting due to constant deployment and called for making state police force more effective to decrease their dependence on the CRPF. He said that the Force should also be expanded by raising additional battalions to fulfil its responsibilities. Mr Sabherwal pointed out that inspite of working continuously in difficult areas the Force personnel have always exhibited their dedication and courage for the security and integrity of the country. Fifty-nine CRPF personnel were killed in action in 1998. Earlier, Mr Advani decorated officers and jawans with gallantry and distinguished medals out of which five medals were presented posthumously. The Home Minister also presented best Group Centre (GC) trophy to GC Ajmer-I, best cost effective and financial discipline trophy to GC Guwahati, best battalion trophy to 20 Bn and best operational Bn in J&K to 26 Bn and best operational Bn in North East to 96 Bn. The parade was commanded
by Commandant R.N. Mishra. There were nine contingents
including one mahila contingent, besides RAF mobile
contingent, tableaux, dog squad, medal winners of Asiad
and the gallantry medalists of the Force were also part
of the parade. A cultural programme was also presented on
the occasion. |
Patent application for Terminator Gene NEW DELHI, Dec 28 (PTI) — A patent application has been filed in India for the “Terminator Gene” by the USA and Delta and Pineland Company (DPL), who jointly hold the US Patent on the technology. Keeping this in view, the Patent Amendment Act should incorporate the non-granting of patents to genes, cells and parts of cells to stop the “Terminator Gene” patent from being operational in India, said an expert. The government should not amend the existing patent laws in a hurry under US pressure and ensure that the technology was not granted a patent, Suman Sahai of Gene Campaign, a non-governmental organisation, said. With an exclusive marketing right (EMR), the terminator gene under an American patent would automatically get permission to be used and marketed in India as the technology, patent application for which was in the “Mailbox”, would ultimately be granted a patent in India, she said in a press note. The terminator technology
had been licensed to Monsanto, the company which was in
the centre of a storm for conducting
genetically-engineered cotton trials in India. |
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| 13 of family die in mishap PONDICHERRY: Thirteen persons of a family were killed and 10 others injured when the van in which they were travelling was hit by a lorry at Kannigapuram near Tindivanam in Villuppuram district of Tamil Nadu on Monday. According to the police, 22 members of the family hailing from Salem were on their way to Chennai when the lorry collided head on with their vehicle, killing nine, including a child, on the spot. Four more victims succumbed to their injuries on the way to the Tindivanam and Villuppuram government hospitals. The condition of nine of the 10 injured was stated to be serious. — UNI Liberhan sworn in as Andhra
CJ Rogue which
trampled 18, shot 449 sex workers,
pimps arrested Delhi smog mainly
due to vehicles |
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