Thursday, October 8, 1998

BJP decries Celeste’s remarks on Kashmir
NEW DELHI, Oct 7 — The BJP today took exception to the US Ambassador, Mr Richard F. Celeste’s statement on Jammu and Kashmir ‘not being an internal issue’.
Care for a walk? take
Taj route
AGRA, Oct 7 — The Uttar Pradesh Government has developed six strategic ‘tilas’ (mounds) in the east of the Taj Mahal to provide a better view of one of the seven wonders of the world.
Ugandan woman allowed
to return
NEW DELHI, Oct 6 — A terminally ill Ugandan woman suffering from AIDS and facing trial for alleged smuggling of heroin was today granted permission by the Delhi High Court to return to her country.

• BJP not to project anyone as CM
• Liquor salesman shot dead
  

BJP decries Celeste’s remarks on Kashmir
Tribune News Service

NEW DELHI, Oct 7 — The BJP today took exception to the US Ambassador, Mr Richard F. Celeste’s statement on Jammu and Kashmir ‘not being an internal issue’.

Reacting to the US Ambassador’s statement yesterday in Pune, the BJP Vice-President, Mr K.L. Sharma, said India had time and again maintained that Jammu and Kashmir was an integral part of India. The USA should keep in mind that the issue was to be sorted out between India and Pakistan, he said, adding that New Delhi was against third party intervention.

Now that New Delhi and Islamabad had agreed to talks on various issues, including Jammu and Kashmir, no effort should be made to create confusion at the international level, Mr Sharma asserted.

Commenting on media reports that international terrorist Osama Bin Laden had come to acquire nuclear weapons, Mr Sharma asked the Centre to maintain a keen watch over developments in Jammu and Kashmir.

Referring to reports that Bin Laden had acquired nuclear weapons from its sources in certain Central Asian countries and was waiting to push in battle-trained mercenaries into Jammu and Kashmir, Mr Sharma said it was a matter of concern if the reports were true.

The BJP leader said the government should evolve foolproof security arrangements in the state. The Centre should take no chance in matters having a direct bearing on the Kashmir situation, he said.

Meanwhile, diplomatic sources said the US Ambassador’s statement during a press conference in Pune was misreported. The US Ambassador had consistently maintained that ‘resolution of these issues can only be achieved between the Governments of India and Pakistan’, the sources added.

Care for a walk? take Taj route

AGRA, Oct 7 (PTI) — The Uttar Pradesh Government has developed six strategic ‘tilas’ (mounds) in the east of the Taj Mahal to provide a better view of one of the seven wonders of the world.

‘Kaviyon ka tila’ (poets’ mound), ‘Shahjahan ka tila’ (Shahjahan’s mound), ‘vraj tila’ (vraj mound), ‘nyaya tila’ (mound of justice), ‘paryavaran tila’ (environment mound) and ‘smriti tila’ (memory mound), developed recently by the Forest Department are spread in 53 hectares in the north-eastern side of the monument.

While taking a team of visiting journalists for a stroll on the track along these mounds, 500 metres from the monument, yesterday, state Forest Minister Raghuvar Dayal Verma said plans were under way to make the recently developed place a “must for tourists coming to Agra.”

The trail — a brainchild of the Forest Department — has been named ‘Kaviratna Pandit Satyanarayan taj nature walk’ and has already been drawing several tourists, he said.

Verma said beside a large number of tourists thronging the ‘nature walk’ for glimpses of the Taj from different angles, the place has become a jogging trail for city residents.

Created at an estimated cost of Rs 13 lakh, the ‘nature walk’ includes plantation of medicinal plants along with normal broad leaves plantation which have more oxygen content, Verma said.

The Forest Minister said the nearby Mathura refinery had sponsored an additional 31 hectares to be undertaken for inclusion in the nature walk.

The department had taken care to see that the natural surroundings were not disturbed while mounds were raised in the walking track, he said, adding that it took two years to develop the area.

He said adequate security arrangements were made inside the 8 km track keeping in view that a majority of visitors were foreigners.

Meanwhile, the country’s second biological park aimed at developing a breeding centre for rare ‘Asiatic lions’ will be opened near the Taj Mahal, according to a senior forest official.

“The centre has agreed to provide Rs 3 crore for the UP Government proposal to develop the park (biological park) inside the walking trail created recently near the Taj,” Dr R.L. Singh, state chief wildlife warden, told visiting journalists here yesterday.

At present, the only biological park in the country was at Nandan Kanan in Orissa’s Cuttack district.

He said the Asiatic lions were in demand around the world and as such their strength needed to be increased. The remaining lions in the zoological parks across the country would be brought in the proposed ‘lion house’ in the biological park for breeding.

Food Day to focus on women

NEW DELHI, Oct 7 (UNI) — This year’s World Food Day celebrations will have “women feed the world” as its chosen theme to highlight the superior role of women in agricultural production and food security.

World Food Day on October 16 marks the anniversary of the founding of the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the UN 53 years ago.

According to FAO director-general Jacques Diouf, the battle for food security can be won only if the invaluable contribution made by women is recognised and if the social,political and economic context empowers them to develop their potential as farmers, actors of development and human beings.

Dr Diouf points out that 186 countries that participated in the FAO-hosted World Food Summit in 1996 had agreed on the need to raise women and their rights to a priority position on the development agenda to make food security for all a reality. He says this year’s World Food Day celebrations highlighting the role of women in farming and food security will sensitise national governments and communities.

FAO statistics prove that it is women who really feed the world. On a global scale, women produce more than half of all the food that is grown. In Asia, they provide from 50 to 90 per cent of the labour to rice cultivation.

In South-East Asia and the Pacific as well as Latin America, women’s home gardens represent some of the most complex agricultural production systems known. In sub-Saharan Africa and the Caribbean, women account for the production of 80 per cent of the basic foodstuff.

Across much of the developing world, rural women provide most of the labour for farming — from soil preparation to harvest. After the harvest, they are almost entirely responsible for operations such as storage, handling, stocking, marketing and processing.

In countries in economic transition, the percentage of rural women working in agriculture ranges form about a third in Bosnia and Herzegovina to more than half in Poland.

Women in rural areas generally bear the primary responsibility for nutrition of their children, from gestation through weaning and throughout the critical period of growth. In addition, they are the principal food producers and prepares for the rest of the family.

However, their contribution is poorly understood and often underestimated. Work in the household (including food production and preparation) is often considered to be part of a woman’s duties as wife and mother, rather than an occupation to be accounted for in both the household and national economy.

Outside the household, a great deal of rural women’s labour, whether regular or seasonal, goes unpaid and is, therefore, rarely taken into account in official statistics.

Social practices, too, are not favourable to them. In most countries, women do not own the land they cultivate. Discriminatory laws and practices for inheritance of and access and ownership of land are still widespread. These handicaps have contributed to an increasing “feminisation” of poverty, the FAO points out.

If food security for all is to become a reality, decisions that affect future generations must be based on the perceived needs and priorities of these women today, the FAO Director-General says.

Manipur Press up in arms

IMPHAL, Oct 7 (PTI) — The Press in Manipur has locked horns with the state government over an official commandment on how to cover news relating to militancy.

A recent Manipur Government office memorandum detailing dos and don’ts for the Press has angered the media which has asked the government to withdraw the order failing which it will take up the matter with the Press Council of India.

The memorandum, issued on October 1 by the Chief Secretary to the state government, Mr H. Jel Shyam, along the guidelines of the PCI, had asked the Press in the state to refrain from publishing “seditious and anti-national propaganda” in the newspapers.

“There is no question of publishing seditious or anti-national propaganda in the Press”, said a senior member of the All Manipur Working Journalists Union (AMWJU), the biggest body of scribes in the state.

“What we are publishing is news fit for consumption of the common people”, he said, pointing out that the basic aim of the newspapers was to inform the public in an objective manner.

According to the dos and don’ts circulated here, newspapers would not give prominence to the Press releases given by underground groups, not publish boycott calls of national events like Independence Day or sensational news without verification.

The Chief Secretary said the government had noticed that “certain sections of the Press have been indulging in seditious and provocative publications in newspapers” and added that the Press was expected to “conduct itself in keeping with certain norms of professionalism university recognised.”

Mr Jel Shyam also circulated “some of the well-accepted ethical norms as laid down by the Press Council of India and relevant provisions of the law besides guidelines issued from time to time on dos and don’ts for the Press”.

“In the present delicate atmosphere, the need to curb such irresponsible publication has become imperative,” said Mr Jel Shyam, adding the Centre had asked the state government to take necessary action against the publication of seditious material by the media.

Reacting sharply, the AMWJU at an emergency meeting on October 4 appealed to all groups to respect the “right-to-edit” of all editors working in Manipur.

The PCI norms of journalistic conduct had made it very clear that there could be “no news blackout” if statements released by groups had news relevance, the AMWJU statement said.

Ugandan woman allowed to return
Tribune News Service

NEW DELHI, Oct 6 — A terminally ill Ugandan woman suffering from AIDS and facing trial for alleged smuggling of heroin was today granted permission by the Delhi High Court to return to her country.

After doctors described 35-year-old Dorothy Mamirimu’s survival chances as slim, a Division Bench comprising Mr Justice Y.K. Sabharwal and Mr Justice K.S. Gupta allowed her deportation on “humanitarian” grounds.

The Ugandan woman was granted bail with the direction that Dorothy furnish a personal bond of Rs 10,000 and two sureties of the like amount before the trial court.

The court accepted the suggestion of Ugandan High Commission in naming their national Gurdiyal Singh and his NRI employee Vinod Mehra to stand surety for her subject to the satisfaction of the trial court.

The Bench made it clear that today’s order passed in peculiar circumstances in view of the “terminal stage” of the accused’s disease and purely on “human consideration.”

The Ministry of Home and the Department of Revenue Intelligence which though did not object to the deportation of Dorothy, expressed the fear that international drug mafias might use patients with similar diseases as carriers and seek their deportation.

The court adjourned her trial “sine die” with direction that Ugandan government and the two sureties suggested by them would ensure Dorothy’s return to India, if she survived.

Sareen appeals for more funds
Tribune News Service

NEW DELHI, Oct 7— The Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal S.K. Sareen today said that an investment in a strong Air Force was an investment in peace and security.

In his message on the eve of the 66th anniversary of the Indian Air Force, Air Chief Marshal Sareen while pointing out that to achieve this objective rapid modernisation of IAF’s equipment was inescapable, hoped that the government would appreciate the force’s plans for the purpose. He was confident that necessary funds would be made available to the IAF to enable it to retain the essential technological edge vital for continued deterrence value.

He said, in the past year, there had been radical changes in the security environment of the country. The demonstrated nuclear deterrent capability in the neighbourhood and the government’s strident pursuit of the national security interest had underlined the importance of a strong and effective Armed Forces.

Development in technology continue to revolutionise warfare. This had manifested itself in the sharp end of air power making it the pre-eminent factor in any conflict situation. A nation’s air power by virtue of its deterrence capability was a measure and guarantor of its security. Therefore, " an investment in a strong air force, was an investment in peace and security," the Air chief said.

Air Chief Marshal Sareen reiterated that in the years, the exploitation of space based resources for the conduct of air operations will assume increasing importance. Success in the future wars would depend on the ability to deploy space-based resources for tasks such as surveillance, battlefield management and communications.

"The necessity to progress from an `Air Force’ to an `Air and Space Force’ by deploying space based systems, was growing in importance every day," he added.

UP frees cinema houses from tax

LUCKNOW, Oct 7 (PTI) — The Uttar Pradesh Government today exempted cinema houses in cities with a population above three lakh from paying entertainment tax.

This would not only encourage the opening of more cinema houses but also help in raising the state revenue, an official release said, adding the decision was taken after today's Cabinet meeting presided over by Chief Minister Kalyan Singh here.

The cinema houses set up at a cost of Rs 50 lakh would get 30 per cent exemption in entertainment tax, while those built for over Rs 50 lakh would get 50 per cent exemption for three years, an official release said.

The cabinet also decided to accord guarantee on the loan provided by the Indian Tea Board for raising tea gardens in the Almora and Chamoli districts of Uttaranchal region.

The government accorded guarantee on the Tea Board loan amounting to Rs 252.80 lakh for developing tea gardens in 299 hectares each in Kausani (Almora) and Nauti (Chamoli).

The Cabinet decided to give five per cent rebate on the sale of Khadi during this year and sanctioned release of Rs 2037 crore pending as default payment against rebate given during the previous years.

Bhatti: give onions as festival advance

MUMBAI, Oct 7 (PTI) — Noted humourist and the brain behind many a rib-tickling TV serials Jaspal Bhatti has found a unique way to highlight the sky-high prices of onions.

Bhatti today wrote a letter to Commissioner of Police R.H. Mendonca to provide him "security guards as he wants to purchase 10 kg onions from the market".

"Onions have become so precious that carrying onions is a risk to life. Onions can be looted on the way", says Bhatti.

Bhatti also demanded from the government that onions should be given as an "incentive and as festival advance" to all government employees.

"Banks should also give soft loans to purchase onions", said Bhatti who last week organised a procession in Chandigarh grain market carrying onions amidst tight security.

PCOs in border areas planned
Tribune News Service

NEW DELHI, Oct 7 — The Ministry of Defence and the Department of Telecommunication (DoT) plan to set up 87 satellite-based PCOs in border areas with reduced STD charges. These PCOs will provide voice and fax facilities to soldiers and civilians in these areas. A suitable and cost-effective mechanism has been devised for the running of these facilities which will enable the soldiers to keep in touch with their families.

The places selected for establishing the PCOs include one in Kuwarbat in the Rann of Kutch, 37 in the far-flung areas of the eastern sector, seven in the remote areas of Uttar Pradesh like Joshimath, Harsul and Malari, two in the Pooh and Karcham areas of Himachal Pradesh and the remaining 40 in the areas of Jammu and Kashmir that include places like Chushul, Niari, Nimu, Machhal, Turtuk, Thoise, Batalik and Chungtash.

These 87 mini M-satellite terminals are in addition to the three terminals already functioning in the Siachen sector. In addition to being a big morale booster for jawans in the far-flung areas, these PCOs will also provide much-needed communication link to the residents of a number of isolated villages located in close vicinity of these Army units and detachments.

The other areas of strategic alliance like sharing of optical fibre cable (OFC) backbone and satellite network are also under active consideration. The encouragement for this has been provided by the Minister for Defence and the Minister for Communications, both of whom were members of the ministerial committee which approved the action plan of the IT Task Force. Once the on-going dialogue fructifies, it will result in optimum resource utilisation; larger spread of infrastructure and services; reduction in the capital cost and effective “networking”.

Shetty pledges to donate organs
Tribune News Service

NEW DELHI, Oct.7- Film star Sunil Shetty pledged donation of his organs while signing the donor card launched by the Indraprastha Apollo hospital and the Liver Transplant Society of India here.

Releasing the card at a function held at India Habitat Centre here today, Mr Shetty said, “This gesture makes a lot of sense. It would help not only our near and dear ones but lots of persons who are suffering from disorders that need organ transplant. I’m definitely going to be a major part of the programme.”

The card was released by Mr Shetty after it had been released by the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi, Mr Vijai Kapoor. It is aimed at encouraging donation of organs by brain dead persons.

Replying to a question on whether it had become fashionable for film stars to support social causes, Mr Shetty said, “I’ve not come here for media attention. We get enough of it.”

The Lieutenant Governor said that he was happy to be associated with this noble cause. Mr Kapoor said that organ donation is the opposite of cannibalism.

Mr Kapoor expressed the hope that all States would soon adopt the Transplanting of Human Organs Act, 1994.

He hoped that the forthcoming film on the theme of heart transplant would reach a wide audience and convey the desired message.

Addressing the gathering, the Chairman of Apollo Hospitals Group, Dr Prathap C Reddy said that as a philanthropic gesture, all staff members of Apollo hospital have pledged organs by signing the donors cards and registering their names in the organ registry,

He said that the national registry had been set up in Delhi and Chennai and would maintain a list of willing donors and their blood group. This would enable the doctors to get in touch with the donors and save time.

Dr Reddy said that at present, only 11 States had adopted the Act and Hyderabad was expected to adopt the legislation before Divali.

Commenting on the unavailability of organs, Dr Reddy said that for 3,50,000 patients who needed kidneys, only 3000 were available. He said that about 85,000 persons died in road accidents every year and if their families gave their consent on organ donation, a lot of persons could get a new lease of life.

Dr Redddy hoped that the government would grant entertainment tax exemption to the film ‘Ek Tha Dil Ek Thi Dhadkan’. Produced by Shahrukh Sultan Mirza and Dhirubhai Shah, the film is based on the theme of heart transplant.

A few frames of the film which were shown to the gathering at the function had appeals for organ donation from cine stars like Madhuri Dixit, Shahrukh Khan, Akshay Kumar and Anil Kapoor. The film is scheduled to be released in November end.

Largest animal lab faces closure

HYDERABAD, Oct 7 (PTI) — Work at the National Centre for Laboratory Animal Sciences (NCLAS) here, the country’s largest supplier of research animals, has come to a halt following the introduction of new regulations on animal experimentation taking effect tomorrow.

In spite of opposition from academics and industry, the rules framed by a committee headed by Ms Maneka Gandhi, Minister of State for Welfare, has been implemented without much debate.

The new rules give full control of animal experimentation in the hands of the committee under Ms Gandhi, an ardent animal activist. The committee will have power to suspend and revoke experiments if it finds that animals are subjected to cruelty.

A senior scientist of the NCLAS told PTI “we will not be in a position to breed and supply laboratory animals for anybody as the current rules insist on prior registration of both the breeder and the user”, a procedure they say involves so much paper work that will leave little time for research.

Institutions handling research animals have been given 30 days to get themselves registered. There are some 200 research laboratories in the private and public sectors which conduct experiments on animals to develop new drugs or for other biomedical research.

The NCLAS was created in 1988 at a cost of Rs 10 crore by the Indian Council of Medical Research and the Department of Biotechnology to cater to the needs of the biomedical community and the pharmaceutical industry. It supplies annually about 50,000 laboratory animals to 175 institutions in India for carrying out basic and applied biomedical research.

“Many projects which depend on our animals will suffer and may lead to a loss of several crores already invested in these investigations,” NCLAS scientists say.

Fire claims two lives
Tribune News Service

NEW DELHI, Oct 7 — Two persons including a 12-year-old boy died, while five others receiving serious burns in two separate fires in the Capital last night.

In the first incident in the Mongolpuri area in North West Delhi, a 35-year-old woman and her son were found dead inside their house. Her 10-year-old daughter received 35 per cent burns. The police has ruled out foul play. Electric short-circuit is reported to be the cause of fire.

According to the police, the incident occurred around 10.30 pm when Madhuri and her children were at home while her husband Kedar Nath was away.

The fire started from the ground floor house and soon it engulfed their one-room house. Madhuri and her son Sunil died while Sushma was later rushed to the Sanjay Gandhi Memorial Hospital. Her condition is stated to be serious.

In another incident in the Shahbad Daulatpur area of South West Delhi, four persons, including a house wife received serious burns when 40 containers of thinner stored outside a house caught fire.

According to fire officials, the thinner was to be used in a printing factory next week. The police has not ruled out foul play. Somebody could have thrown a burning matchstick on the containers, the police suspect.

In the incident, most of the victims received third degree burns as they were sleeping near the containers. A 35-year-old housewife, identified as Rita received 80 per cent burns and is stated to be in a critical condition.

‘Systematise knowledge of medicine’
Tribune News Service

NEW DELHI, Oct 7 — The Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Mr Dalit Ezhilimalai has underlined the need for bringing codified knowledge on traditional medicinal products in the public domain to pave the way for providing protection from patents to the existing products.

The codification of documented and oral knowledge systems and inter-country exchange of information had assumed urgency in view of the recent grant of patents by developed nations in Asian countries, Mr Elzhilimalai told the Asian Regional Seminar on Intellectual Property Issues in traditional medicines jointly organised by World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) in cooperation with the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Industry and ASSOCHAM here today.

An area of concern, the minister said that , was the adoption of methodologies and mechanism for the protection of the existing knowledge banks in the field of traditional systems of medicine.

“What needs to be protected from piracy is not only the medicinal products but also the guiding philosophies methods of treatment and process of manufacturing the products”, he pointed out.

Highlighting the importance of benefit sharing the minister said that various NGOs in India had expressed serious concern and proposed various mechanisms of benefit sharing.

The issues which needed resolution include form and mechanism of benefit sharing, the related regulatory aspects. This becomes more complicated when benefit sharing cuts across national boundaries, he said.

Director of WIPO, Mr Richard Owens pointed out that under WTO rules the emerging trading forces require minimum standards of intellectual property rules in a broad majority of medicinal systems.

BJP decries Congress hesitation
on CBI probe

BHOPAL, Oct 7 (UNI) — The Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Ms Sushma Swaraj, today questioned the Congress Government’s hesitation to order a CBI probe into the gangrape of nuns in a tribal village of Jhabua district.

"A high level inquiry is necessary to take the issue to its logical conclusion,’’ she said while addressing a press conference here.

Referring to the charges levelled by some Congress leaders that organisations like the Rashtriya Swayam Sewak Sangh (RSS), the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and the Bajrang Dal may be behind the incident, Ms Swaraj reiterated that an inquiry had become essential in the light of such allegations.

Asked about VHP Secretary B.L. Sharma Prem’s reported statement justifying the incident, the Union Minister said the VHP had condemned the incident.

Alleging rise of atrocities on women in Madhya Pradesh, she said soon after the Jhabua incident, four tribal girls were gangraped in Bastar district.

The minister said her party would object to the Congress’ refusal to order a CBI inquiry into the incident.

She said AICC secretary Ramesh Channithala’s allegations that Governor Bhai Mahavir Singh was making public remarks against the Digvijay Singh government were ‘baseless ’ and said his language was objectionable.’’

"The office of the Governor is above party politics,’’ she added.

Ms Swaraj is here to address the party’s divisional rally.

INDORE: With the arrest of a prime accused on Tuesday, the number of those arrested in connection with the nuns case, has gone up to 12, police said on Wednesday.

Inspector-General of Police (Indore zone), Pannalal said most of those arrested were suspected of raping the nuns.

RJD to block Vananchal Bill

PATNA, Oct 7 (PTI) — RJD president Laloo Prasad Yadav today asserted that his party would block the passage of the "Vananchal Bill" in Parliament in its coming session and called for a people’s movement to thwart attempts to divide the state.

"We will leave no stone unturned to block the passage of the bill.... Bihar is dear to us and its bifurcation will not be allowed," he said addressing a meeting of RJD presidents and office-bearers of 18 districts of the proposed state.

He said "with the creation of Vananchal the power would go into the hands of communal exploiters and not the tribals.... The step will not mitigate the sufferings of the Adivasis but only compound it.’’

Speaking at the meeting, the RJD district presidents expressed concern over neglect of the region by successive governments, but in the same vein opposed the bifurcation of the state.

The RJD leaders charged the BJP with "plotting to divide the state for political gains," and said a division would result in "isolation of Adivasis from the mainstream making them vulnerable to exploitation by the mafia and money-lenders."

Today’s meeting came in the backdrop of an all-party conclave called by Bihar Minister Aklu Ram Mahto recently to mobilise public opinion against his party’s avowed stand against the division of Bihar.

The RJD president contended that Centre’s "faulty policies" were responsible for the backwardness of the tribal plateau region.

Mr Yadav said while Article 356 of the Constitution was "an instrument to demolish a popularly-elected government," Article three was a "tool for demolishing a state in the name of reorganisation."

Addressing the meet, party’s spokesman Shakeel Ahmed Khan advocated creation of "greater Jharkhand" comprising 26 contiguous districts of Bihar, West Bengal, Orissa and Madhya Pradesh.

The meeting adopted a resolution thanking both Houses of the state legislature for disapproving the "Bihar Reorganisation Bill" and requested the president to reject the Bill and not send it to Parliament.

Shoot orders issued in Biharsharif

BIHARSHARIF, Oct 7 (PTI) — Shoot-at-sight orders have been issued against rioters in the trouble-torn Biharsharif town of Nalanda district late this evening as the situation worsened with communal clashes claiming yet another life, taking the toll to three, officials said.

The Inspector-General of Police (Administration), Mr Neyaz Ahmed, said in Patna that shoot-at-sight orders were issued against 'rioters and trouble-makers'.

The situation in the town deteriorated further with the recovery of a headless body and a woman receiving multiple stab wounds in the heart of the city.

Mr Ahmed said 16 companies of paramilitary forces were deployed in vulnerable pockets of the town which witnessed intermittent firing and bomb explosions.

A woman with multiple stab injuries was admitted to the local Sadar Hospital. More than 70 persons were arrested by the police for creating trouble.

The Chief Minister, Ms Rabri Devi, reviewed the situation with high officials in Patna and ordered immediate compensation to the families of those killed in the violence.

Meanwhile, in a fax message to the Governor, Mr Sunder Singh Bhandari, the Defence Minister, Mr George Fernandes, in whose constituency the disturbances have taken place, demanded that the former direct the state government "to rise above narrow electoral considerations and take immediate steps to safeguard the lives and property of all people irrespective of caste and creed".

The former Union Minister and senior CPI leader, Mr Chaturanan Mishra, demanded a judicial inquiry into the riots.

BJP not to project anyone as CM
Tribune News Service

NEW DELHI, Oct 7 — The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party in Delhi will not project anyone as chief ministerial candidate for the November 25 Assembly election in Delhi.

The state unit president Mr Mange Ram Garg said here today that a nine-member election manifesto committee headed by Prof O P Kohli and a 62-member campaign committee headed by Prof V K Malhotra had been formed.

The BJP would launch the election campaign here with the Prime Minister Mr A B Vajpayee addressing a rally on October 24, Mr Garg said.

The focus of the election campaign would be on the achievements of the BJP government during its five-year rule in Delhi and also of the BJP-led coalition at the Centre in the last few months.

Liquor salesman shot dead

NEW DELHI, Oct 8 — Five unidentified persons shot dead a salesman of a liquor shop of DTTDC and injured his helper in Kirti Nagar in West Delhi on Tuesday evening.

According to the police, the suspects came to the shop and asked for the keys of cash box at gun point. But the victims resisted and foiled the robbery bid following which the suspects shot at Inderjeet Singh, a salesman and Sripal, a helper. The bullet hit Inderjeet in the backbone and Sripal in thigh.

The victims were taken to Ram Manohar Lohia hospital where Inderjeet was declared brought dead and condition of Sripal was stated to be serious, the police said.