tribuneindia...Spotlight

			Friday, April 2, 1999
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Vote-on-account Bill passed
NEW DELHI, April 1 (PTI) — Lok Sabha Speaker G.M.C. Balayogi declared the appropriation vote-on-account Bill as deemed to have been passed by the Rajya Sabha yesterday, paving the way for payment of salaries to government employees. Mr Balayogi subsequently sent the money Bill for President's assent averting what could have been a constitutional crisis because of its non-approval by the Rajya Sabha before adjourning on March 19 for a three-week recess.

Speaker walks out
BANGALORE, April 1 (PTI) — Karnataka Assembly Speaker Ramesh Kumar today walked out of the House in a huff accusing the ruling Janata Dal of having embarrassed him after being virtually put on mat by the Opposition and the dal over a breach of privilege motion moved by a CPM member. The Speaker remained isolated after Revenue Minister B. Somasekhar, against whom Mr G.V. Srirama Reddy had moved a breach of privilege motion, demanded a ruling whether an administrative matter fell under the ambit of privilege, the arguments of which was supported by opposition members.

House adjourned
LUCKNOW, April 1 (PTI) — The Opposition in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly today forced adjournment of the proceedings and demanded the resignation of the Kalyan Singh government over the alleged exclusion of parts of Jammu and Kashmir from a map given along with the geography question paper for class X state board of examinations. The House was adjourned for half-hour as members of the Samajwadi Party and the Congress demanded a clarification from the government on the charges levelled by Mr Devendra Singh "Bholey" against Mr Kalyan Singh.

22 LTTE men killed
COLOMBO, April 1 (PTI) — At least 22 LTTE militants were killed in renewed fighting between government troops and the rebels in Sri Lanka's strife-torn north, a defence statement said here today. Twentyone guerrillas were killed when the troops ambushed a large group of LTTE men at north-eastern Nedunkerni on Tuesday, it said, adding that the rebels were on way to nearby Oddusuddan when the clash took place.

Judge appointed
CUTTACK, April 1 (UNI) — President K.R. Narayanan today appointed Mr Justice Arijit Pasayat as the acting Justice of the Orissa High Court. Mr Justice Pasayat, a pioneer in the Lok Adalat movement in Orissa, will take over from the Acting Chief Justice Susanta Chatterjee, who retired yesterday.

PM's visit
AGRA, April 1 (PTI) — Preparations are on in full swing for the visit of Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee to his birthplace Bateshwar in Bah Tehsil of Agra district on April 6. Mr Vajpayee is scheduled to inaugurate a tourist complex and a railway project, apart from addressing a public meeting and visiting his brother-in-law who resides in the temple town, 70 km from here, Agra District Magistrate R.K. Tiwari said.

Revised fares
NEW DELHI April 1 (UNI) — The revised fares, freight and other charges as proposed in the 1999-2000 railway Budget became effective from today, official sources said. The parcel and luggage rates had also been revised from today the hike in fares of all classes of trains, excluding second class in ordinary and suburban trains, were proposed in the Budget presented in the Lok Sabha by Railway Minister Nitish Kumar on February 25.

Trial bus service
DHAKA, April 1 (PTI) — A trial run for a direct commercial bus service between Culcutta and Bangladesh capital Dhaka will be held on April 6. A 20-member Bangladeshi delegation will hold talks with their Indian counterparts to sort out details of the service covering 360 kms, three-quarter of which is within Bangladeshi territory.