tribuneindia...Spotlight

			Thursday, April 1, 1999
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UP minister resigns
LUCKNOW, March 31 (PTI) —In a jolt to the Kalyan Singh ministry, Uttar Pradesh Minister of State for Family Welfare Devendra Singh Bhola today tendered his resignation, charging the Chief Minister with being "corrupt", "partisan" and "influenced" by bureaucrats. Mr Bhola, who announced his resignation on the floor of the Assembly as soon as the House began its session in the morning even as the Speaker disallowed him from making a statement, claimed the Chief Minister was "functioning under the influence of bureaucrats".

Pak denies claim
ISLAMABAD, March 31 (AFP) — Pakistani Defence Ministry officials today dismissed an Indian report alleging a clash between the two countries’ troops on Siachen glacier. No such incident took place yesterday and there was, therefore, no question of any casualties on the Pakistani side, they said. Officials in New Delhi had said Indian troops killed two Pakistani soldiers while resisting an attempt to capture a strategic post.

Agnivesh re-elected
NEW DELHI, March 31 (PTI) —Social activist Swami Agnivesh has been re-elected chairperson of the United Nations Trust Fund on Contemporary Forms of Slavery. Agnivesh, who is chairperson of Bandhua Mukti Morcha was elected for the next three-year term at the meeting of the fund at Geneva from March 24 to 26.

Labourers killed
SURAT, March 31 (PTI) — Three contract labourers were killed when a loader-crane gave way at Alang shipbraking yard in Bhavnagar district yesterday. The trio hailed from Uttar Pradesh and Orissa, a report received here today said.

Darjeeling bandh
DARJEELING, March 31 (UNI) — Hundreds of tourists continued to be stranded in this hill station following the Gorkha National Liberation Front-sponsored indefinite strike which entered its third day today. The front has called the strike demanding the immediate arrest of assailants of top party leader and councillor-elect Rudra Kumar Pradhan on Sunday.

Navyug teachers
NEW DELHI, March 31 (PTI) — School teachers owing allegiance to the Navyug School Teachers Welfare Association started their "non-cooperation movement" today in support of their demands, including increase in pay scales and departmental promotions.

Trust to aid widows
NEW DELHI, March 31 (PTI) —A trust has been set up here to assist poor widows to provide education to their children. The Shrimati Pushpa Wati Loomba Memorial Trust, inaugurated by Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee yesterday, has been established by a London-based NRI businessman Raj Loomba and its patrons include Ms Cherie Blair, wife of British Prime Minister Tony Blair, a press note from the trust said today.