Monday, November 23, 1998

Cyclone snaps communication links
MIDNAPORE, Nov 22 — Road and power communications were disrupted in Midnapore district owing to the cyclonic storm that lashed the coastal areas this morning, district control room sources said.

Romesh's links will be exposed, says Advani
Tribune News Service

NEW DELHI, Nov 22 — The Union Home Minister, Mr L.K. Advani, today declared that India would defeat Pakistan in proxy war and "all the godfathers of Romesh Sharma, alleged frontman of Dubai-based underworld don Dawood Ibrahim will be brought to book."

Addressing a rally at Ajmal Khan Road here, he maintained that the country’s security atmosphere had deteriorated due to Islamabad’s continuous abetting and aiding of terrorism.

Mr Advani addressed a series of election meetings in different parts of Delhi including Sultanpuri, Bawana, Kamla Nagar, Sadar, Yamuna Vihar, Gita Colony, Mandawali and Hauz Khas.

"Security has definitely improved in the last eight months. Even the situation in Kashmir is much better," he said.

On the Romesh Sharma case, he said, "We are keen to unravel the whole truth behind his case and all his godfathers will be exposed. Sharma, who is currently in judicial custody, used to brag that he has high connections. We will expose them," he added.

Mr Advani charged that corruption at high places during the Congress regime had compromised the country’s security which "is evident from the fact that Dawood Ibrahim from Dubai could manipulate politicians and bureaucrats through Romesh Sharma".

The Union Home Minister said the BJP-led government at the Centre had undertaken several development steps to establish ‘su-raj’ in the country.

Mr Advani said the eight-month-old Vajpayee ministry had worked with "perfect honesty and transparency" to make the country more secure and eradicate the menace of corruption.

Dismissing Congress President, Sonia Gandhi’s criticism of the BJP’s governance, he said she was a foreigner and "does not have to teach us how to run the government".

Cyclone snaps communication links

MIDNAPORE, Nov 22 (PTI) — Road and power communications were disrupted in Midnapore district owing to the cyclonic storm that lashed the coastal areas this morning, district control room sources said.

The storm snapped communication links along the Digha-Kharagpur road and the Digha-Calcutta road uprooting trees at several places. The sources said telecommunication links were also snapped as a result.

The worst-affected areas were Contai II, Contai I, Digha, Ramnagar, Egra, Khejuri II, Nandigram I and II, the sources said.

Subdivisional Officer of Contai Kartik Chandra Bhattacharya said five-metre high tidal waves lashed the coastal zone of Digha whipped by a wind speed of 120-140 km. The sea shore was partly damaged as a result.

There was no trace of 20 fishing trawlers, with 100 fishermen, who had gone for deep sea fishing yesterday, Digha police station sources said.

About 7,000 persons had been shifted from the coastal areas in different places of the district and sheltered in 20 relief camps.

The storm had caused damage to the paddy and vegetable crops, the control room sources said. Over 8000 mudhouses were completely destroyed in the district mostly in Contai and Haldia.

Reports from North 24 Parganas said 950 houses were fully damaged in Sandeskhali I and II, Hingalgunj, Meenakha and Hasnabad blocks of Basirhat subdivision in the district.

District Magistrate Arun Mishra said 2500 houses were partly damaged.

The storm had caused 40-50 per cent damage to standing crop and 30-40 per cent damage to fisheries, he said. About 700 families were evacuated in Hingalgunj.

Naveen ready to accept reasonable solution

BHUBANESWAR, Nov 22 (PTI) — President of Orissa’s Biju Janata Dal Naveen Patnaik, facing a challenge from dissidents to his leadership, today said he was ready to accept any "reasonable solution" as hard negotiations continued to end the current crisis in the party.

"I am prepared to accept any reasonable solution to the impasse,"’ Mr Patnaik said here as leaders of warring factions in the BJD stepped up their efforts for a reconciliation.

BJD sources said hard negotiations centred on two issues — dissidents demanding the lifting of suspension on their leader Bijoy Mohapatra and two MPs and expulsion of five MLAs and withdrawal of cases filed by rebels challenging the disciplinary action taken by Mr Patnaik who was also the Union Minister for Steel and Mines.

Senior dissident legislator V. Sugnana Kumari Deo, Mr Braja Kishore Tripathy, MP, and Mr Panchanan Kanungo, MLA, held talks with Mr Patnaik last night where both sides stressing the need for creating a congenial atmosphere for working out a rapproachement.

Parleys also continued in both camps as the mediators were likely to meet again, the sources said.

Neither Mr Naveen Patnaik nor Mr Bijoy Mohapatra was directly taking part in the negotiations but were being kept posted by their supporters.

Although the mediators had not given up hope to evolve an acceptable formula to end the crisis, a prominent party legislator said there was little hope of an early breakthrough as both sides were maintaining a rigid stand.
Mr Mohapatra, the sources said, was prepared to accept any dignified solution to the impasse.

CBI pulled up for sparing Rao’s son

NEW DELHI, Nov 22 (PTI) — Why did the CBI not charge sheet former Prime Minister Narasimha Rao’s son Prabhakar Rao in the Rs 133 crore urea scam case is the question being discussed in legal circles.

The question has also been raised by Special Judge V.B. Gupta who ordered the framing of charges against eight accused in the case last week.

“Prabhakar Rao, who is also alleged to have received kickbacks in the scam, has been left out by the investigating agency for reasons best known to them,” Mr Gupta observed in his 161-page order.

The court pulled up the CBI for not naming the ‘big person’ as accused and directed the agency to file a status report within two months if there was sufficient material to proceed against Prabhakar Rao, who was earlier given a clean chit by the probe agency.

The CBI had “absolved” Prabhakar Rao, who was interrogated in connection with the scam, saying there was no material evidence against him.

“Prabhakar Rao was questioned on the basis of a statement of Dubai-based Indian businessman Rajender Babani but the statement could not be corroborated,” CBI counsel V.N. Ojha had told the court.

However, the court did not accept Mr Ojha’s submission.

“On the basis of this (Babani’s) statement, Sanjeeva Rao has been made an accused in this case... whereas Prabhakar Rao has been left out....,” the court observed.

Mr Ojha’s point was also contradicted by Prakash Yadav’s counsel Ashok Arora on the basis of a remand application filed by the CBI which accused Prabhakar Rao of receiving his ‘share’ in the deal through hawala channels from Dubai.

Mr Yadav, son of former Union Fertilisers Minister, Ram Lakhan Singh Yadav, who had alleged that a ‘big person’ was involved in the urea scam, later alleged that the ‘big person’ was none other than Prabhakar Rao.

“The then Prime Minister may or may not be involved in the case, but his son Prabhakar Rao is certainly involved in the scam,” his counsel Mr Arora alleged in the court.

Accusing the CBI of deliberately protecting the ‘main accused’, Mr Arora had urged the court to direct the agency to ‘complete’ the probe and file a fresh charge-sheet in the case.

Army men beat up four cops

KOCHI, Nov 22 (PTI) — About 50 army soldiers, who came to see the reel life "Soldier", a Hindi blockbuster now running in a theatre here, beat up four policemen when they were prevented from standing in the ladies’ queue.

The four policemen — Radhakrishnan, Jose, Eliyas Paul and Udayan — have been hospitalised, the police said, adding they had received multiple injuries.

Police sources said when the Army men stood in the ladies’ queue, the women protested and complained to the police. When the policemen told them to move over to the men’s queue, they became angry and started hitting them, the police said.

Most of them ran away as more policemen came on to the scene. The police arrested 10 persons and handed them over to the naval police.

The Army jawans were from "INS Magar", which arrived here from Goa for the joint Army, Navy and Air Force exercise.

Delhi doctors defer stir
Tribune News Service

NEW DELHI, Nov 22 — Over 6,000 resident doctors working in different hospitals of the Capital deferred their indefinite strike till the end of this month.

The doctors' move follows an appeal issued by the Union Health Ministry that it would issue an order relating to the emoluments after voting in Delhi takes place on November 25.

The ministry, which had sought the advice of the Election Commission, was informed that it could not issue any notification till the completion of voting.

A spokesperson for the striking resident doctors, Dr Ajay Kumar, said: "We have only deferred the strike. We will wait and see what the ministry order states before deciding on the future course of action."

The resident doctors are seeking an increase in the pay scales, better working conditions and uniform implementation of the residency scheme.

During the day today, the city hospitals wore a deserted look as hardly any new patients were admitted and none of the routine surgeries were performed.

Cong, BJP play Chhattisgarh card
From K.V. Prasad
Tribune News Service

BHOPAL, Nov 22 — The battle for ballots in the Chhattisgarh region of Madhya Pradesh in the assembly elections this time has acquired a new dimension with the BJP promising "one vote, two governments".

The BJP, main political rival of the ruling Congress Party in the state, is attempting to take credit for the proposed formation of a new state of Chhattisgarh, and has focused its campaign on this issue.

The BJP campaign managers are rubbing their hands in glee as they see in it an opportunity to woo the voters of the proposed state of Chhattisgarh and rest of Madhya Pradesh. The slogan "one vote, two governments" which is prominently plastered at several places here is to indicate that by casting one ballot, the electorate will vote for two governments, something that has never happened before.

The ruling Congress on the other hand, is in no mood to allow the Opposition to steal its thunder. Having paved the way for the proposed formation by ensuring its passage in the state assembly, the Congress is seeking credit for the smooth manner in which the Bill granting statehood was cleared. Through a special session of the assembly.

The concentration on the Chhattisgarh region can be gauged from the fact that leaders of both the parties, have campaigned, including by the Congress chief, Mrs Sonia Gandhi and the Home Minister, Mr Lal Krishan Advani among others.

At stake are 90 assembly seats from the region which is considered to be a traditional Congress bastion. In the 1993 assembly elections, the Congress had won 54 seats while the BJP took 30. The BJP leaders estimate that the electoral fortunes of their party in the region would be on the up following the promise of the Vajpayee government to introduce the Bill creating the state in the winter session of Parliament.

Congress leaders have been vocal in their attack on the BJP. Both the Chief Minister and party's secretary in charge of MP have decried attempts by the BJP to engage in slogans which they say reflect the mentality.

The Chief Minister, Mr Digvijay Singh, was quoted to have said in a dismissing manner that the BJP slogan of "one vote two governments" reflected "traders mentality" while AICC secretary Mr Ramesh Chennithala has stated that the slogan was like marketing a consumer durable product.

The Congress campaigners hark upon the BJP's central government's inability to control prices of essential commodities and also not taking any action against hoarders and traders.

The attempt seems to divert the attention from the manner in which the BJP is running away with the credit from the Congress for the proposed state.

While that may be known only after results of the November 25 poll start pouring in next Saturday, the showing of the Congress during the 1998 Lok Sabha elections indicates that it is the BJP which enjoys clear advantage.

It remains to be seen if the voters of the Chhattisgarh region are influenced by the campaign or not and if in eight months they have changed their preference.

Till then the political parties are continuing to trade charges and take credit as to which one of them had done the most for the mineral rich region bordering Andhra Pradesh, Orissa and Bihar.

Onion rules Delhi poll scene
Tribune News Service

NEW DELHI, Nov 22 — The highly priced tear-jerker priced onion and the brutal murder of a Samata Party candidate dominated the fortnight-long campaigning for the Delhi Assembly poll slated for November 25.

Where Bollywood’s present and former superstars had less impact on the voters, onion held centre-stage.

However, the killing of Ved Singh, Samata Party candidate from the Nangloi Jat assembly constituency, hung like a spectre of death in an otherwise lukewarm campaign.

From pavement to politics, the onion has come a long way to become the common symbol for opposition parties, including the Congress, in their fight against the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for the November 25 Assembly poll.

Confined to the kitchen until a few months back, the onion has been used in various forms as a political weapon during the campaign.

Even as campaigning comes to an end tomorrow, various political parties have begun their assessment of the number of seats they are likely to win in the 70-member Delhi Assembly.

As the two major political parties in the Capital, the BJP and the Congress, traded charges about the rising prices of onion, candidates tried to bring colour to their campaigning within the model code of conduct.

Although most of the candidates relied on the “traditional” method of door-to-door campaigning, some like the Congress candidate from Mandawali tapped the Internet to reach out to the people. The BJP candidate from Minto Road had published his biodata in a “comic” form.

Allegations of candidates violating the model code of conduct have been received by returning officers of various Assembly constituencies. Some complaints are about muscle power being used by the opponents while the others are about posters, banners and flags being put up in the localities.

For the first time, the Delhi poll scene witnessed a major pre-election violence with the killing of the Samata Party candidate besides several “skirmishes” between supporters of various political parties.

The killing of Ved Singh exposed the rift between former Chief Ministers of Delhi, Mr Madan Lal Khurana and Mr Sahib Singh Verma. The murder also showed the divide between the Samata Party, whose candidate was Ved Singh and the BJP, which Ved Singh left a day before the last date for filing his nomination papers.

Abhay Chautala faces daunting task
From Chander Parkash
Tribune News Service

SANGRIA (Rajasthan), Nov 22 — As a result of the emergence of new political alignments after the battle lines for the November 25 Assembly elections in the state were drawn, Mr Abhay Chautala, grandson of Mr Devi Lal, has been facing a daunting task in this Assembly segment bordering Haryana.

With both Mr Chautala, who is contesting as an alliance candidate of the Indian National Lok Dal (INDL) and the BJP, and Mr Krishan Kumar Jakhar, rebel BJP candidate, using the flag of the BJP for wooing the voters, the electorate is confused.

In the absence of any senior leader of the BJP campaigning for Mr Chautala, a major chunk of the BJP rank and file in this segment has thrown its weight behind Mr Jakhar. Mr Jakhar, who is nephew of the Union Agriculture Minister, Mr Som Pal, is being actively supported by the Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Bansi Lal.

Mr Chautala is also facing opposition from a close relative from his own clan, Mr Partap Singh, who has been spearheading a campaign against his brother, Mr Om Parkash Chautala, for promoting family interests. Mr Abhay Chautala is also facing opposition from the sitting MLA and former state Irrigation Minister, Mr Gurjant Singh, who is again trying his luck from this Assembly segment as an Independent, and the Congress candidate, Mr KC Bishnoi.

Hectic campaigning by the Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, and his wife, Mrs Surinder Kaur Badal, son Sukhbir Singh Badal and nephew Manpreet Singh Badal for Mr Chautala will bring some Punjabi, particularly Sikh, votes into the kitty of Mr Chautala. But the decision of not contesting the Rajasthan election by the Shiromani Akali Dal taken by Mr Badal and other party functionaries has divided the Akali workers of the state. The Akali workers are now supporting candidates with whom they have a “personal equation” instead of toeing the party line.

A major chunk of Sikh voters is supporting Mr Gurjant Singh who wields considerable influence in the area and was instrumental in the formation of the BJP government in the state in 1993. Mr Gurjant Singh, who is very close to Chief Minister Bhairon Singh Shekhawat is depending on his individual following and a section of SAD workers’ support.

Where rebels hold the key
From Jatinder Sharma
Tribune News Service

JHUNJHUNU, Nov 22 — Rebel candidates of the Congress and the BJP are likely to influence the outcome of the assembly elections in this district bordering Bhiwani and Mahendragarh districts of Haryana.

Changing loyalties frequently appears to be a common feature among politicians of the district which forms part of the Shekhawati region. They do not hesitate to change parties when denied ticket. Interestingly, many of them were favoured by the electorate in the past.

Activists of the BJP, the Congress and the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) from the neighbouring districts of Bhiwani, Mahendragarh and Rewari are actively involved in the electioneering. The BJP activists, led by Education Minister Ram Bilas Sharma, could be seen canvassing support in Khetri, Surajgarh, Pilani and Sikar.

Jhunjhunu, like other parts of the Shekhawati region, has also been considered a stronghold of the Congress, but the BJP appears to have made inroads into the Jhunjhunu and Surajgarh Assembly segments. In the 1996 byelection, the BJP candidate, Dr Mool Singh, had trounced the powerful Congress candidate, Mrs Sumitra Singh.

But the BJP, under its revised strategy, has shifted Dr Mool Singh to Pilani, from where it has never won any election. Mrs Sumitra Singh, who was denied ticket by the Congress this time, is trying her luck as an Independent in Jhunjhunu.

The presence of Mrs Sumitra Singh in the fray has disturbed the calculations of the Congress candidate, Mr Brijender Singh.

The BJP, with a view to wooing minority voters who have a considerable strength in the district, has fielded Mr Ghulam Mohd Mansuri, an ex-MLA from Jaipur and chairman of the minority cell of the pradesh BJP.

The former PCC chief and sitting MLA, Mr Ram Narain Chaudhary appears to be ahead of his rivals, Mr Sanjiv Chaudhary of the INDL and Mohd Farooq of the BSP in Mandawa Mr Farooq is a cousin of the late union minister, Mr Ayub Khan. Mr Ram Narain has represented this constituency five times.

The Congress and the BJP candidates in Khetri, Dr Jitender Singh and Mr Bhagirth Singh, face a serious threat from the rebels. The presence of Mr Hazari Lal, an ex-MLA in the fray has made the contest triangular. The rebel candidate in Pilani, Mr Inderjit Bhalothia has created problems both for the Congress and BJP candidates.

Deputy Chief Minister Sunder Lal, who won as an Independent in 1993 and joined the BJP later, is facing a tough challenge from the bureaucrat-turned politician Hanuman Prasad of the Congress in the Surajgarh (R) constituency. Mr Sunder Lal was first elected from this constituency on the Congress ticket in 1972. He successfully contested the 1980 elections as an Independent. But, he is yet to neutralise the influence of ex-minister Babu Lal Khanda who is in the fray as a rebel candidate.

The situation in the Navalgarh segment, too, is not very different. Here, both the Congress (sitting) candidate and his BJP rival are having a tough time due to the presence of the rebel candidates.

Meanwhile, the local police led by the SDM and the DSP raided the room of Mr Sis Ram Ola, MP, in Hotel Shakhawati Heritage here. Mr Ola was not present when the police allegedly broke open the lock of the room and searched his luggage. Mr Ola has lodged a complaint with the Election Commission.

The police earlier raided Hotel Shekhawati Shiv and searched all rooms, including those occupied by foreign tourists.

The District Magistrate, Dr Manjit Singh, told Tribune News Service that the searches were conducted on a tip-off that Rs 40 lakh had been brought from Delhi to manipulate the elections. He, however, clarified that no orders were given to the police to search the room of Mr Ola. He said he had ordered an inquiry into the incident.

No unconditional support to Cong,
says Nayanar

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, Nov 22 (PTI) — The CPM promise of issue-based support to the Congress is for the “limited purpose” of ousting the BJP from power and there is no question of extending it unconditionally to sustain that party in power for long, Politburo member E.K. Nayanar has said.

“There is no question of unconditional support to the Congress or forming an alliance with that party as we have serious differences with it on the economic and political policies”, Mr Nayanar, Kerala Chief Minister told PTI here.

“At the same time, it is the political necessity of the times to bring down the BJP Government, which called for broader unity of secular and democratic forces” he said.

Cong candidate’s office set afire
Tribune News Service

NEW DELHI, Nov 22 — The election office of the Congress candidate from the Patel Nagar Assembly segment, Mr Ramakant Goswami, was set on fire allegedly by supporters of the BJP late last night.

A beat constable alerted the fire brigade and the police. Two Congress workers, who were sleeping inside the office, were rescued by the police, a note said.

The election agent of Mr Goswami, in a complaint to the Patel Nagar police, alleged that the BJP workers were responsible and claimed that anti-social elements had been brought from outside by the BJP candidate to create terror, the note added.

Meanwhile, former Chief Minister of Delhi Sahib Singh Verma today urged people not to vote for a party whose members were involved in the Naina Sahni murder case and various scams.

Mr Sahib Singh, who was instrumental in the victory of the senior BJP leader from the Outer Delhi parliamentary constituency, Mr K.L. Sharma, appealed to the voters to support the BJP.