Monday, September 14, 1998

Jaya threatens to sue newspapers
CHENNAI, Sept 13 — AIADMK supremo J. Jayalalitha today took exception to her name being ‘indirectly’ linked by some newspapers with the duping of depositors by a city-based jewellery shop and threatened to sue them.

Dara Singh Jat sabha chief
NEW DELHI, Sept 13 — Wrestler and film actor Dara Singh was elected national president of the All-India Jat Mahasabha, in the Capital today.

CPI conclave begins today
CHENNAI, Sept 13 — The 17th congress of the Communist Party of India, beginning here tomorrow, is expected to formulate its political strategy for the coming days, especially on supporting initiatives to forge a “secular, democratic alternative” to the BJP-led government.

Paswan hints at new alignment

RANCHI, Sept 13 (UNI) — Former Railway Minister and senior Janata Dal leader Ram Bilas Paswan today hinted at the possibility of a realignment of forces in Bihar with pressure building up to sack the Rabri Devi government in the state.

Talking to newspersons here, Mr Paswan reiterated his party’s commitment to stand for the ouster of Mr Laloo Prasad Yadav-led Rashtriya Janata Dal from power in Bihar. His party would not hesitate to share a common platform with the "anti-Laloo forces" in the state. But the JD would not compromise with communalism and corruption, he added.

He said the state was "a fit case" for imposition of President’s rule and had all the parameters for invocation of Article 356.

Describing Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee as "the weakest Prime Minister" and his government as "a daily wage government", he said it was "unfortunate" that the government in Bihar which was allegedly responsible for the prevailing anarchy and constitutional breakdown was allowed to continue in power till date. He charged the BJP led coalition government with having entered into a deal with Mr Laloo Prasad Yadav in the wake of the constant threat of withdrawal of support from the AIADMK.

Mr Paswan also charged the BJP-led government with having failed to implement its pre-election slogan of an "able Prime Minister and a stable government", besides the party had also failed to live up to its promise to eradicate "Bhook, Bhaye and Bhrastachar."

Giving a deadline of September 21, he said the BJP government at the Centre would face the people’s wrath if it failed to dislodge the Rabri Devi government by then.

The Dal which had so far not opened its front against the Atal Behari Vajpayee government would ensure that it was dismissed if it failed to intervene in Bihar, he added.

He reiterated to support an alternative Congress government at the Centre in the event of the fall of the Vajpayee government and clarified that the support extended would be "unconditional". He, however, refused to comment on the United Front’s stand in this regard saying "I can say only about my party".

Demanding dismissal of the Manohar Joshi government in Maharashtra for its reported rejection of the Shrikrishna Commission report on Mumbai riots. Mr Paswan also called for immediate action from the Bihar government on the report submitted three years ago on the Bhagalpur riots in which he claimed over 2000 persons were killed.

"Mr Yadav should practice what he preaches", said Mr Paswan reacting to RJD supremo Laloo Prasad Yadav’s stand in connection with the Shrikrishna Commission report. Mr Yadav has demanded dismissal of the Manohar Joshi government in Maharashtra and arresting of Shiv Sena Pramukh Bal Thakre in the wake of the report on the Mumbai riots.

“Cong wiser from mistakes”

NEW DELHI, Sept 13 (PTI) — Senior Congress leader Arjun Singh said today the party under Sonia Gandhi’s leadership would “never do things that would call for an apology” as it had “learnt from its past mistakes.”

“The Congress has learnt from its past mistakes and I pledge, under Sonia Gandhi’s leadership we will never do things that would call for an apology,” Mr Arjun Singh said in an apparent reference to the demolition of the disputed structure at Ayodhya in 1992 when the Congress was in power at the Centre.

He was addressing a minority convention here organised by the Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee (DPCC).

Referring to the coming Assembly elections in four states — Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Mizoram — he said the minority community would support the Congress in throwing out the BJP from power.

While accepting resolutions of the minority convention, DPCC president Sheila Dixit said after the Pachmarhi convention the party had found a new direction under the leadership of Sonia Gandhi.

Congratulating AICC president on the Pachmarhi declaration, convener and DPCC general secretary Hasan Ahmed said it would go a long way in infusing confidence in the minorities.

Criticising the parties supporting the Vajpayee government, president of Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee (UPCC) Salman Khursheed said “we (Congress) will never join hands with those who either supported the BJP in the past or are supporting them now.”

Former Union Minister Gulam Nabi Azad, who inaugurated the convention, demanded resignation of Maharashtra Chief Minister Manohar Joshi for failure to implement the Srikrishna Commission report which probed the 1992 Mumbai riots.

Sharing views of party leaders, Mohsina Kidwai quoted Congress president Sonia Gandhi that “the minorities had never drifted away, but the Congress somewhat distanced itself from them”.

The gathering in the Talkatora indoor stadium was confused for a while when a section of the audience tried to intervene while Mr Arjun Singh was addressing.

DPCC president Sheila Dixit welcomed Samajwadi Party leader Mahefus Ali from east Delhi, who joined the Congress along with his supporters.

Govt besieged with allies’ demands
From K.V. Prasad
Tribune News Service

NEW DELHI, Sept 13 — With the Atal Behari Vajpayee Government besieged with demands from its alliance partners for dismissal of at least four state governments, the Centre will have to weigh its options carefully, especially in view of BJP’s pronounced stand on “misuse of Article 356” in the past.

High on the list is the plea to dismiss the Rabri Devi Government in Bihar on the grounds of failure of law and order a demand made by the Samata Party. This demand now also has the endorsement of the BJP, at the level of its national President, Mr Kushabhau Thakre.

Apart from Samata, two other allies of the BJP, the AIADMK in Tamil Nadu and the Haryana Lok Dal (Rashtriya) have placed similar demands with the Centre against the M. Karunanidhi and Bansi Lal governments, respectively.

In addition to these, there is a never-ending pressure from the Trinamool Congress leader, Ms Mamata Banerjee, which in the recent past led to the Union Home Ministry despatching a team there to assess the law and order situation in West Bengal.

Outside of it, the BJP government in Uttar Pradesh has come under attack from its opponents, mainly the Samajwadi Party. UP Chief Minister Kalyan Singh also has enough opponents within BJP ranks, including Mr Rajnath Singh.

Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee has said the Centre will soon take a decision on the demand for dismissal of the Rabri Devi Government. It has to be arrived at taking into consideration the above-mentioned demands as well as the ruling of the Supreme Court in the S. R. Bommai case.

Primary to it is the need for ratification by Parliament of the imposition of President’s rule in any state invoking Article 356 of the Constitution. Considering the present strength of each party in the Lok Sabha, the government may well have to do a balancing act.

Even if it manages to get a Presidential notification ratified in the Lok Sabha, the ruling coalition will run into trouble in the Rajya Sabha, where it does not enjoy majority.

Apart from it, sources in the Government feel that after the reversal suffered by the ruling alliance in the M. K. Bezbaruah transfer case, the Centre would not like to rush into doing anything that could once again give birth to another controversy.

Another aspect that needs to be taken into account is the response of the President. The United Front Government had to be embarrassed when Mr K R Narayanan sent back its decision to dismiss the Kalyan Singh Government in Uttar Pradesh for reconsideration.

The ruling coalition has of course found support from the BJP whose President, Mr Thakre who said the party had advised the Central Government to sack the RJD Government in Bihar immediately.

The Union Home Minister, Mr Lal Krishna Advani, too clarified that the Centre would make use of Article 356 if it was necessary.

While asserting that the BJP stood by its conviction that it would not misuse the Constitutional provision for the sake of saving the government, he said in Jhinjholi during a party camp yesterday, that the Centre would not hesitate imposing President’s rule if it became necessary.

The Congress, the principal opposition party in the Lok Sabha, has maintained that it does not think that law and order in Bihar had deteriorated to an extent that it required the Centre’s intervention.

Similarly, other opposition parties like Samajwadi Party, an ally of the RJD in the Rashtriya Loktantrik Morcha, and the CPM have warned the Centre against making any move to dismiss the Rabri Devi Government, which enjoys two-thirds majority in the state Assembly.

Jaya threatens to sue newspapers

CHENNAI, Sept 13 (PTI) — The AIADMK supremo, Ms J. Jayalalitha today took exception to her name being ‘indirectly’ linked by some newspapers with the duping of depositors by a city-based jewellery shop and threatened to sue them, if they dared to name her or her associates directly.

In a statement here, she condemned such newspaper reports and said she never met the owners of the jewellery shop. “Neither me nor my associates/party had any links with the jewellery shop concerned.”

“By taking the matter to court, it will not only be easy to find out the persons behind the fraud but also help the depositors get back their money”, Ms Jayalalitha said.

She recalled that such insinuations against her were made in newspapers when the jewellery mart founder and present owner’s father died more than a year ago.

Follow Mahavira’s tenets: Sonia

NEW DELHI, Sept 13 (PTI) —The Congress President, Ms Sonia Gandhi, today asked the people to follow the path of truth, non-violence, brotherhood and forgiveness preached by Lord Mahavira to overcome the prevailing social, economic and religious problems facing humanity.

Speaking at a function organised to mark Universal Brotherhood and Forgiveness Day here by the Delhi Jain Mahasabha, Ms Gandhi said the teachings of Lord Mahavira had an impact not only on Indians, but on entire mankind.

Mahatma Gandhi, the Father of the Nation, had also adopted principles advocated by Lord Mahavira during the freedom struggle to unite people against British imperialism, she said.

Without referring to any particular party, she criticised exploitation of people in the name of religion, and said though there were several religions in the country, one could not be separated from the other as they were an inseparable part of our country’s composite culture.

These sections were also trying to ‘wrongly’ reinterpret history to suit their polity, she said.

There should be a balance between social, scientific and spiritual matters for a better social order.

Lauding the role of the Jain community in the country’s progress, Ms Gandhi said unity and integrity of the nation was possible only in a secular India.

Dara Singh Jat sabha chief
Tribune News Service

NEW DELHI, Sept 13 — Wrestler and film actor Dara Singh was elected national president of the All-India Jat Mahasabha, in the Capital today.

At the All-India Jat Conference here, Mr Yudhveer Singh was elected the general secretary of the mahasabha.

The conference, which was attended by scores of delegates from all over the country, was presided over by freedom fighter, Mr Uday Singh Man and conducted by Mr Nathu Singh Pradhan, a press release issued by the All-India Jat Sammelan Aayojan Samiti said.

Among others president of the Bharatiya Kisan Kamgar Party, Mr Ajit Singh, former union minister, Mr Natwar Singh, Haryana Lok Dal MP, Mr Kishen Singh Sangwan and former Governor, Ms Chandravati attended the conference, the release said.

BKKP president, Mr Ajit Singh, urged the Jat community to unite.

The speakers paid tributes to Mr Charan Singh, Sir Chhotu Ram, Maharaja Suraj Mal, Sardar Bhagat Singh and all those leaders who contributed to the uplift of the society.

CPI conclave begins today

CHENNAI, Sept 13 (PTI) — The 17th congress of the Communist Party of India (CPI), beginning here tomorrow, is expected to formulate its political strategy for the coming days, especially on supporting initiatives to forge a “secular, democratic alternative” to the BJP-led government.

The political resolution to be adopted at the six-day congress, of which a draft has already been circulated among state units, is likely to emphasise the need for such an alternative, given the growing unease among Left parties about the long term implications of letting the BJP-led regime go on.

“Our objective is to bring forward a secular democratic alternative, and to see that the shift to the Right is halted and the country shifts towards the Left,” the draft says.

The conference assumes significance as the CPI might utilise the occasion to concretise its attitude towards the Congress.

Unlike the CPM, the CPI has so far not taken a concrete position with regard to the Congress heading the secular alternative at the Centre.

As a party leader put it, the CPI should not let the Congress “usurp” the ‘political space belonging to the Left”, as the congress “dreams of bringing a two-party polity”. The draft says, “The position and role of the Congress in the emerging scenario has to be carefully noted.”

Presidential govt ‘not fit’ for India
CALCUTTA: Participating at a seminar, “should the Constitution be reviewed after 50 years of Independence”, on Sunday senior politicians of the country cut across party lines to advocate that presidential form of government was not suited for the Indian democracy. The panelists were of the view that the required changes in the Constitution should be made within the existing system only. — PTI

Production of Insas LMG begins
NEW DELHI: The indigenous 5.56mm ‘Insas’ (Indian Small Arms Systems), Light Machine Gun (LMG) has cleaner all tests and its bulk production has commenced, Defence Ministry sources said here on Sunday. At least 750 ‘Insas’ LMGs have already been delivered to the Indian Army and by the year end, regular supply of the weapon to the troops will start and would be completed by 2002-03, the sources said. The design of ‘Insas’ series of weapons is comparable to the most modern weapons being used by the armies in European countries. — UNI

NLFT releases 3 hostages
AGARTALA: Activists of the banned National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) have released three persons, including a student and a CPM activist, from captivity, the police said on Sunday. They were released after alleged payment of ransom. The NLFT has not released Ranjit Reang, son of a CPM, MP, Mr Bajuban Reang and Pradip Reang, a government doctor. — PTI

Rajiv Gandhi Memorial Award
CALCUTTA: Danseuse Mamata Shankar and lawyer Geetanath Ganguly were among those selected for the Rajiv Gandhi Memorial Award-1998, convener of the Rajiv Gandhi Memorial Committee, West Bengal, Shyamal Banerjee, said on Saturday. The nominees would receive the awards at a function in Calcutta on November 8. — PTI

Vizag blaze probe completed
VISAKHAPATNAM: Justice S.C. Jain Commission, inquiring into the blast and fire at Visakhapatnam refinery of Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) on September 14 last year in which 60 persons were killed, completed its probe here on Saturday. This was stated by D.V. Subba Rao, counsel for HPCL. He said the commission would continue its inquiry at Delhi from October 5 to 10. — PTI

CM orders release of 109 lifers
CHENNAI: The Tamil Nadu Government on Saturday ordered the release of 109 prisoners who had been sentenced to undergo life imprisonment and have completed 10 years of the term. An official press note said here that Chief Minister M.Karunanidhi had ordered that the 109 lifers fulfilling this norm be released on September 15, the birth anniversary of DMK founder leader late C.N. Annadurai. — PTI

Free houses for displaced families
BHOPAL: The Madhya Pradesh Government has decided to provide houses free of cost to 518 displaced families from Bangladesh living at Mana camp, Raipur. The decision was taken by the state Cabinet at a meeting this week under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Digvijay Singh. The families have been living in seven camps for several years, and there have been demands that they should be given ownership of one-room houses and the plots on which these will be built. — UNI