Thursday, October 1, 1998
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Steps to hold talks with ANVC
leaders SHILLONG, Sept 30 — In a bid to nip in the bud the rapidly growing militancy in Meghalaya, the state government has initiated steps to negotiate with the Garo insurgent outfit of the Achik National Volunteers Council. CWC meeting
on poll strategy next month |
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No
need for fresh debate on Article 356: Surjeet |
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DMK never offered support to Cong:
TN CM TIRUCHIRAPALLI, Sept 30 — DMK President and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi today said he had never stated that his party would extend outside support to the Congress if it formed an alternative government at the Centre. Dasehra
greetings from President Sena
sore over poll pact with BJP Charge
sheet filed against 22
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Steps to hold talks with ANVC leaders SHILLONG, Sept 30 (PTI) — In a bid to nip in the bud the rapidly growing militancy in Meghalaya, the state government has initiated steps to negotiate with the Garo insurgent outfit of the Achik National Volunteers Council (ANVC). Several measures have been initiated at unofficial levels to hold discussions with the well-entrenched ANVC, which has spread its activities and also recently initiated alliances with several insurgent outfits from neighbouring states, according to official sources. “Feelers have been sent to top ANVC leaders for talks and to ascertain their exact demands. Though they have been active for quite some time, we don’t know what exactly they want”. A major cause of worry was ANVC’s recently initiated alliances with insurgent outfits of other North-East states including the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (I-M), the National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) and the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA), the sources said. As state Chief Secretary H.W.T. Syiem put it, the ANVC, which has been operating hand-in-glove with the NSCN (I-M), ULFA, the NLFT and some insurgent outfits of Manipur, needs to be dealt with at the earliest. Added to the menace of the ANVC, the state is also threatened by growing activities of the HNLC, an ASI outfit. “Though insurgency is at present in a nascent stage in Meghalaya, the problem may soon get out of control unless it is nipped in the bud”, he said. Mr Syiem said the ANVC was alarmingly growing in number and consolidating its base, while the HNLC was a comparatively smaller outfit but getting to be increasingly active. The ANVC seems to have earned considerable support among the local people. Besides fighting against alcoholism and gambling in hill areas, the ANVC has also been raising its voice against atrocities against women, according to volunteers of a non-governmental organisation (NGO) here. The problem has become more complicated as Meghalaya has long been used as a safe haven by underground insurgent elements from neighbouring North-Eastern states. Once an abode of peace and
tranquillity, the state now witnesses frequent
abductions, killings, extortion and clashes by the local
insurgents. |
Silent revolution by village
womenfolk BANGALORE: A silent revolution is taking place on the outskirts of the country’s silicon valley. The revolutionaries are not hi-tech experts but the saree clad women of the Bidadi area. The womenfolk of this non-descript village on the Bangalore-Mysore highway is setting an example for others to emulate. Dolakshi, a 42-year-old woman is a case in point. Having availed of a government loan of Rs 25,000, Dolakshi started poultry farming in the village and currently sells around 200 birds a week, yielding a net profit of Rs 10 per bird. Dolakshi is not aware about Monica Lewinsky as she does not subscribe to a newspaper at home. But she is awakened enough to leave the decision of her daughters’ marriage to them. She has two daughters, the elder one is pursuing course in commerce while the younger one is studying in Class XII. “I will not come in the way of their academic ambitions”, Dolakshi says, adding that she would support them to pursue higher education. The success story of Dolakshi is not an isolated case. The village today has the enviable record of achieving 75 per cent literacy among women and has trained workers in activities like tailoring, papad and agarbatti manufacturing. The tailoring programme, conducted by the Mahila Samriddhi Centre of the village, is of six months’ duration and has helped many a woman, both from within and outside the village to set up her own small-scale establishment. The state government, which has donated the three tailoring machines to the centre, plays its bit by helping the women display their products in trade and craft fairs. Development of Women and Children in Rural Areas (DWARCA), a sub-scheme of the Integrated Rural Development Programme (IRDP), has also played a significant role in heralding a social transformation. Under this scheme, the government provides a loan of Rs 25,000 to a group of 10 to 15 women in the village for setting up tiny units. In Bidadi, the DWARCA group has set up a garment manufacturing establishment and the women in the group make products like falls, petticoats, blouses, etc. The income accruing from these is distributed equally among all members of the group. The group in this village earns an income of approximately Rs 10,000 every six months, which is over and above the Rs 25,000 that is repayable to the government over a period of six months. Another DWARCA group in a nearby village has 11 members which are involved in sheep rearing. Each sheep costs Rs 1,850 and after six months, the sheep is sold for Rs 2,500. On being asked about what happens to the profit, a member said, “It is saved so that if a problem arises in the future we need not ask our husbands for money”. Namma Magalu Namma Shakti (our daughter, our energy), — another government sponsored scheme — has also had its impact on the lot of the common girl child in the area. The scheme seeks to achieve women’s empowerment through financial assistance in collaboration with the Life Insurance Corporation (LIC). An amount of Rs 2500 is deposited by the government at the local office of the LIC for the beneficiary. Any girl child meeting (IRDP) income norms (annual income of parent not exceeding Rs 11,500) is eligible for the scheme. From the sixth year onwards, the girl gets an annual dividend of Rs 200, which increases to Rs 300 by the time she becomes 17 years. This has been done to ensure continuous education of the girl child. At the age of 18, the girl is paid a lumpsum of Rs 4410, provided she is not married. During 1997-98, in Channapatna taluk alone, 857 girls availed of the scheme. The government had, however, set a target of 1000, which could not be achieved due to paucity of funds. Bidadi may not be a true
reflection of the general scenario in rural India. But it
is certainly worthy of emulation. As one government
official remarked, “Unless the initiative comes from
within the community, not much can be achieved. The state
can at best play a supplementary role”. |
CWC meeting on poll strategy
next month NEW DELHI, Sept 30 — With the dates for elections to Assemblies in four states having been declared, the Congress is expected to schedule a meeting of its Working Committee towards the middle of next month, party sources said today. The party high command has already directed the state units to put in place the Pradesh Election Committee (PEC) latest by October 10 which is expected to forward its recommendations to the AICC. Assembly elections are due to be held on November 25 in Delhi, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Mizoram with the Congress hopeful of regaining power in the first two states, the sources said. However, the crucial question of striking alliances with the Bahujan Samaj Party, especially in Madhya Pradesh, is still open despite the announcement by the BSP to field candidates on all Assembly seats both in Delhi and MP. Although at the Pachmarhi conclave, majority of party leaders were against entering into any alliance, a section of the party still feels that by having strategic understanding, the Congress could gain in the short term. In MP, the state where the Congress is in power, the Chief Minister, Mr Digvijay Singh favours an alliance but some senior leaders like Mr Madhavrao Scindia and Mr Arjun Singh are credited with the view that the Congress should go it alone. As part of the preparations, the Congress President, Mrs Sonia Gandhi, has constituted teams of central observers for each state who have already made preliminary assessment of the areas assigned to them. In order to have a wide data base, the party has decided to ask these observers to prepare lists of possible candidates in addition to the one that is to be forwarded by the state units. According to party sources, the state units are pressing for an early selection of candidates so that they get at least one clear month to canvass support. The last date for
withdrawal of candidature is November 9 and polling is
scheduled for November 25. |
No need for fresh debate on Article 356: Surjeet NEW DELHI, Sept 30 (PTI) — The CPM today said there was no need to have a fresh debate on Article 356 as the issue had been discussed at various official fora, including the Supreme Court, and several recommendations made which had now to be acted upon. CPM general secretary Harkishen Singh Surjeet said the BJP" cannot muster enough courage now to reiterate its demand for the dismissal of the Bihar Government. They (BJP) know they can’t get this decision approved in Parliament." Mr Surjeet said following a long-drawn national debate, a broad consensus had emerged that only in cases where the unity of the country was threatened could such a provision be "sparingly used." The Supreme Court had justified the dismissal of the Uttar Pradesh Government following demolition of the Babri Masjid in Ayodhya as it was a fit case of unity and integrity being threatened, he said. To a question on the Left parties’ demand for the dismissal of the Kalyan Singh government after the BSP withdrew support, he said "the demand was raised as the state government had lost its majority and there was every possibility of horse-trading then which was proved correct later." Meanwhile, in an article in the forthcoming issue of "People’s Democracy", Mr Surjeet said the Bihar case was "an eye-opener" which exposed the BJP’s "designs to misuse power to further its nefarious communal authoritarian agenda." UNI adds: The SAD, today made it clear that it was totally opposed to the imposition of President's rule in Bihar under any circumstances. "Our position is clear. We are opposed to the use of Article 356 under any circumstances. We have already taken a stand on the issue and we will stand by it, Union Minister Surjit Singh Barnala said. Mr Barnala was replying to questions on the SAD stand if the Union Cabinet decided to send the recommendation for dismissing the Rabri Devi government to President KR Narayanan once again. Mr Barnala said no
decision had been taken with regard to sending the
recommendation back to the President and that "we
are all awaiting the arrival of Prime Minister Atal
Behari Vajpayee tomorrow. The Union Cabinet is expected
to meet and possibly consider the issue, soon after his
return from an eight-day visit to the United States and
France. |
DMK never offered support to Cong: TN CM TIRUCHIRAPALLI, Sept 30 (PTI) — DMK President and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi today said he had never stated that his party would extend outside support to the Congress if it formed an alternative government at the Centre. Such comments were attributed to him by some journalists, he told reporters here. Besides, he said, the Congress had also not approached him for DMK support to help it form an alternative government. In reply to a question, he said he was not in favour of a national debate on the use of Article 356 of the constitution providing imposition of President’s rule in a state. However, he said "discussions (on the issue) cannot be avoided in extraordinary circumstances such as anti-national activities". Home Minister L.K. Advani and the BJP had suggested a national debate on the use of Article 356 after President K.R. Narayanan returned the Cabinet recommendation for the imposition of President’s rule in Bihar. The Cabinet subsequently
decided to drop its recommendation. |
Dasehra greetings from President NEW DELHI, Sept 30 (UNI) — The President and the Vice-President have greeted the people on the occasion of Dasehra. The President, Mr K.R. Narayanan, said in a message: “May this festival strengthen us to overcome the divisions and disharmonies of our time and usher in a new era of unity and fellowship.” The Vice-President, Mr
Krishan Kant, said in his message: “May the festival
fill the lives of the citizens with joy, peace and
prosperity and strengthen their resolve to establish good
as a sovereign principle.” |
Sena sore over poll pact with BJP MUMBAI, Sept 30 (PTI) — The Shiv Sena, an alliance partner of the BJP in both the state and the Central Government, is sore over the latter’s unwillingness for an electoral pact with it in the forthcoming assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh, Delhi and Rajasthan. “Even though we are ready to accept the role of BJP’s younger brother outside Maharashtra, the leadership of that party has shown no interest in forging an alliance with us anywhere except in Maharashtra,” senior Sena leader and Rajya Sabha member Satish Pradhan said here today.“ They can have seat adjustments with someone like the Samata Party in Delhi, then why not with us? Are we pariahs?” he asked. “I have discussed the issue with BJP President Kushabhau Thakre recently”, Mr Pradhan said, adding, that, “he has shown a positive response.” However, the Shiv Sena was
determined to contest assembly elections in several
constituencies in these three states on its own, he said. |
Charge sheet filed against 22 KANPUR, Sept 30 (UNI) — The Kerala police have filed a charge sheet against 22 persons, including a former minister and two IPS officers, before the First-Class Chief Judicial Magistrate court here in connection with the case relating to the killing of five activists of the Marxist-led Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) in a police firing at Koothuparamba on November 25, 1994. The first three accused who figure in the charge sheet are Communist Marxist Party (CMP) leader and former Cooperation Minister M.V. Raghavan, Deputy SP Hakkim Bathery and Deputy Collector T.T. Antony. K. Padmakumar and Ravatha Handrasekhar (both IPS officers) and 11 constables and Kannur Additional District Magistrate Govindan Nambiar are among the 19 persons included as co-accused in the case. The detailed charge sheet
was filed before Magistrate A. Haris yesterday by Deputy
Inspector-General of Police (Northern Range) Sekharan
Miniyodan, who was heading the special team which
investigated into the case. The case was registered on
the basis of the findings of the Justice Padmanabhan Nair
Commission of Inquiry. |
Calling person 'Bhindranwale' defamatory THRISSUR, Sept 30 (PTI) — Does describing your neighbour as "Bhindranwale", after the late Sikh militant leader, amount to defamation? Yes, a judge here has ruled and asked a resident of Mullurkkara in Thrissur district to pay a compensation of Rs 1.60 lakh to his neighbour for naming the latter as "Bhindranwale" alias K.P. Muhammad in a police complaint. Mr Muhammed filed a defamation case against Mr Krishnan Kutty, who had made the ‘defamatory’ imputation in his complaint against him in the Vadakkanchery police station in 1990. The police, too, registered the FIR and named the accused as "Bhindranwale" alias Muhammed. The controversial name was repeated in the police records transmitted to the court. Contending he had been defamed in the eyes of friends and colleagues, Mr Muhammed demanded an apology, but Mr Krishnan Kutty did not oblige. First Additional Sub-Judge
K. Abdul Rahiman, in his judgement yesterday, rejected
Kutty’s contention that "Bhindranwale" was
the name of a revered Sikh priest and that calling a
person by that name would not amount to defamation. |
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| EC allows phasing out of
old vehicles NEW DELHI: The Election Commission on Wednesday allowed the Delhi Government to go ahead with the implementation of the Supreme Court directive on phasing out old commercial and transport vehicles in the Capital. “While the elections to state legislative assemblies have been announced and the model code of conduct is in force, the Election Commission does not have the slightest hesitation in giving its approval to any consequential action, including extending the facility of a financial package to owners of old vehicles that the Delhi Government is required to take to implement the court orders,” the commission said. — PTI Election declared null and
void Films to mark
start of island fest Project for
Vrindavan widows Anna Hazare
withdraws fast Award for Verghese
Kurien 8 gun factories
unearthed Jail officials
booked |
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