Sunday, August 8, 1999
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Kumaramangalam must
resign: CPI Fresh dispute between DMK, MDMK |
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EC freezes "chakra"
symbol NEW DELHI, Aug 7 — The Election Commission today froze the symbol "chakra" reserved for the undivided Janata Dal as an interim arrangement till the coming general elections.
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Sex ratio imbalance in
Punjab BJP to contest 11 seats in Kerala Retired Colonel murdered Byelections for 3 more Assembly
seats Proceedings against Manekshaw
stayed Shortlived joy of female coolie Congress to honour freedom
fighters Code violation case against Sinha |
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Kumaramangalam must resign: CPI NEW DELHI, Aug 7 — The CPI today joined the chorus against the Union Power and Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Mr P.R. Kumaramangalam, for his "derogatory remarks" against the President while the BJP rose to his defence. Close on the demand of the Congress yesterday that the President, Mr K.R. Narayanan should dismiss Mr Kumaramangalam for "casting aspersion" on him during a television debate earlier this week, the CPI today said the minister should resign for his remarks against the President. The Congress, which had played a videotape of a debate in which the participants included the CPM leader, Mr Sitaram Yechury, former Attorney-General Ashok Desai and Mr Kumaramangalam, apart from the anchor, said the statement of the minister who was holding the office purely at the pleasure of the President was "unbecoming". During the conversation, Mr Desai had mentioned the role of the President during these times when a caretaker government was in office as that of a watchdog. Reacting to it, the minister said a watchdog should not bite. Today, the CPI National Secretary Mr D Raja, said Mr Kumaramangalam should resign for making derogatory remakrs against the President. "The President has come under adverse criticism because they (BJP-led government) think he is not giving a free hand to the caretaker government,’’ Mr Raja said. Meanwhile, the BJP joined issue with the Congress, stating there was no need for the dismissal of Mr Kumaramangalam and claimed that the party had the highest regard for the constitutional head. Terming the Congress
demand as "irresponsible", the BJP General
Secretary, Mr Venkaiah Naidu said in Coimbatore that it
might not be responded to. |
Fresh dispute between DMK, MDMK CHENNAI, Aug 7 (PTI) — A fresh dispute erupted between the DMK and the MDMK over the identification of constituencies today, threatening the unity of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in Tamil Nadu. The dispute has arisen over identifying two of the five seats earmarked for the MDMK, with the alliance leader and DMK President Mr M.Karunanidhi firmly rejecting the MDMK’s demand for two out of four constituencies of its choice, and instead offering two out of three other seats. "There is no scope for allotting any of these four (Thanjavur, Tiruchengode, Tirunelveli and Tiruchendur) that they want," he told reporters. However, Mr Vaiko stuck to his guns. "There is no option for us but for these four constituencies. If there is any indication that two out of these four will be given to us, we will sign the seat-sharing agreement immediately." He made it clear that the "ball is in the DMK’s court". Asked if the parties had reached a dead end, Mr Vaiko said: "There is no going back. You can draw your own conclusions." Earlier, Mr Karunanidhi said the MDMK had been asked to choose two out of Gobichettipalayam, Pollachi (SC) and Karur. The MDMK, which only yesterday accepted the DMK’s offer of five seats, is expected to get the three seats it had won in 1998 — Sivakasi, Tindivanam and Palani. The present dispute is over the remaining two. Earlier, Mr Karunanidhi
wondered why the MDMK was reluctant to accept a reserved
seat (Pollachi). "When the BJP is willing to take a
reserved seat, why can’t the MDMK?" he asked. |
Buzz among scientists as eclipse draws near NEW DELHI, Aug 7 (UNI) — A six-member team of scientists from the National Physical Laboratories (NPL) today left for Vadodara in Gujarat to study various changes in atmosphere before, during and after the August 11 solar eclipse, the last celestial event of the milllennium. The scientists also plan to study water vapour and ultraviolet radiation at various levels between the sun and the earth in Delhi for the first time, using sophisticated gadgets like the sun photometre. The head of the team of the radio and atmospheric sciences division in the NPL, Dr S.L. Jain, said the team would camp in the Physics Department of M.S. University at Vadodara. These studies could revalidate the earlier data and analysis made on the changes recorded in ozone variations in the stratosphere and consequent changes in the ultraviolet radiation on the earth, he said. It was noticed in earlier studies that ultraviolet radiation increased on the earth’s surface just before the solar eclipse and decreased immediately after. The levels got normalised after a few hours of the phenomenon. With environmentalists all over the world raising a hue and cry against the practices that affect the earth’s ozone umbrella, studies of ozone both in the vertical and horizontal columns had become imperative, particularly during celestial events. Ozone depletion and continuous exposure to the ultraviolet radiation lead to skin cancer, cataract and other inveterate discorders. Experiments with microbarograph to measure gravity waves following variation in the atmospheric pressure are also being undertaken at Vadodara, the scientists revealed. Besides this, changes in
water vapour levels at near infra-red radiation
wavelengths through the vertical column between the sun
and the earth would also be monitored. In normal course,
water vapours are only one or two parts per million in
the stratosphere and about 5,000 to 6,000 parts on the
earth’s surface when measured exponentially on
normal days. |
EC freezes "chakra" symbol NEW DELHI, Aug 7 (UNI) — The Election Commission today froze the symbol "chakra" reserved for the undivided Janata Dal as an interim arrangement till the coming general elections. The commission also
decided to recognise the two "splinter" groups,
headed by Mr Sharad Yadav and Mr H.D. Deve Gowda as
national political parties. They would be entitled to all
facilities enjoyed by the undivided party. The two groups
had been asked to submit lists of three free symbols each
by tomorrow so that one each could be allotted to them
for contesting the coming elections. |
Sex ratio imbalance in
Punjab NEW DELHI, Aug 7 — “The prosperous states of Punjab and Haryana have the dubious distinction of the lowest female-male ratio not only at the time of birth but through all ages,” said Ms Vibha Parthsarthy, Chairperson, National Commission for Women at a national workshop on “Gender bias: female foeticide/infanticide” here on Saturday. She said female foeticide had created serious imbalances in the sex ratio in some districts in the country. “In some districts, the girl-boy ratio has even dropped below 80.” Delivering the keynote address, she said female foeticide had emerged as a phenomenon due to new technology and collaboration of medical practitioners. She said detection of the sex of an unborn child needed a partnership of modern technology and medical professionals who were under oath to protect and not snuff out lives. Mrs Parthsarthy said mobile vans in Punjab and Haryana were available to “render this disservice to humanity and terminate a certain type of pregnancy.” Inaugurating the workshop, the Delhi Health Minister, Dr A.K. Walia said: “Medical professionals and midwives involved in such despicable practices should be put behind bars. This will act as a deterrent.” The President of the Medical Council of India, Dr Ketan Desai, said the ethics committee of the Council would take strict and prompt action against individuals accused of sex determination or selective female foeticide. The General Secretary of the Indian Medical Association, Dr Prem Aggarwal said the IMA had directed all its members to refrain from conducting sex determination tests and dissuade those who sought such services. Ms Geetha Athreya, a
UNICEF officer, assured the IMA its support in
disseminating the message. The IMA and the UNICEF would
join hands to organise regional workshops including one
at Chandigarh. |
BJP to contest 11 seats in Kerala THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, Aug 7 (UNI) — The BJP will contest 11 of the 20 Lok Sabha seats in the elections in Kerala, leaving the rest to the partners of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), including the Janata Dal (Sharad Yadav) and the Lok Shakti. The BJP spokesman, Mr K. Raman Pillai, told newsmen here today that there were nine constituents, including the BJP, in the NDA in the state. The BJP would contest 11 seats, the Janata Dal (Sharad Yadav), the Samata Party and the Lok Shakti two each and the Bharatiya Labour Party (BLP), the Socialist Revolutionary Party (SRP) and the National Democratic Party (NDP-Kidangoor) one each. The other constituents, including the Kerala Vikas Party, would support the candidates of the NDA. Besides the partners of the NDA, parties such as the Priyadarshini Congress, the Indian Communist Party, the Social Justice Party, the Social Action Party and the Thozhilali Janadhipatya Party had also announced their support to the NDA. Mr Pillai said the selection of candidates for the BJP would begin today. The BJP has not won even a single seat, so far, either in the Assembly elections or the Lok Sabha elections in Kerala. However, in some constituencies it had succeeded in getting more votes than the winning margin of the successful candidates. CHENNAI (PTI): BJP
General Secretary Venkaiah Naidu said on Saturday that
his party’s electoral tie-up with the Lok Shakti
would continue in Karnataka even as he asked the
party’s allies “to base their claims on ground
realities”. Mr Naidu said the party’s state
unit, however, had reservations about going together with
the Janata Dal (Sharad Yadav). |
Retired Colonel murdered NEW DELHI, Aug 7 — Col Brij Bhushan Gupta (retd), was found murdered in his house in South Extension here this morning. The police suspects the involvement of one Brij Lal, husband of an employee of the deceased. The suspect belongs to Mathura and is reportedly absconding, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Sudhir Yadav said. He said the police received a call at 4.30 am that Colonel Gupta had been murdered in his room. When the police reached there, Colonel Gupta was lying in a pool of blood out-side his bedroom. He was taken to hospital where he was declared brought dead, The police was not sure about the motive of the murder. There was no ransacking. He said Colonel Gupta lived along with his wife, Mrs Shashi Gupta and their granddaughter on the ground floor of a three-storey building in South Extension. He was dealing in shares and had an office in the garrage where a woman, Sushma, had been working as an attendant for the past three years. She had been given a room in the building where she lived with her husband, Brij Lal. The husband of the attendant was unemployed and allegedly a drug addict. She did not have good relation with him, the DCP said. The police said Sushma left the house yesterday and informed Colonel Gupta on telephone that she had left the job. She also advised him to make security arrangements. The police said Brij Lal came last evening and went upstairs to his room. Colonel Gupta and his wife did not stop him. At about 4.30 am Mrs Gupta got up and went to Colonel Gupta’s room for prayer. At that time he was asleep. A few minutes after, she heard her granddaughter screaming she rushed and found her husband in a pool of blood. She also saw a man
running out of the house. |
Byelections for 3 more Assembly seats NEW DELHI, Aug 7 (PTI) — The Election Commission (EC) today decided to hold byelection to three more Assembly seats, one each in Jammu and Kashmir, Madhya Pradesh and Tripura, along with the Lok Sabha elections. The three Assmebly consituencies going to polls are Bijbehara (Jammu and Kashmir), Guna (Madhya Pradesh and Santirbazar-ST (Tripura). The commission has decided to fill these vacancies through simultaneous poll with the schedule for the elections to the Lok Sabha, a press note released by the commission stated. The commission had
earlier announced byelections to 15 Assembly
constituencies in eight states, including Pondicherry.
The 15 Assembly seats are: Langate (J and K), Manawar-ST
and Alirajpur (both MP), Alungtaki-ST (Nagaland),
Ludhiana north (Punjab), Nathan and Thiruvattar (Tamil
Nadu), Bawan-SC (UP), Bussy (Pondicherry) and
Ashokenagar, Patharpaqtima, Shyampukur, Mahishadal,
Sabang and Raghunathpur-SC (all West Bengal). |
Proceedings against Manekshaw stayed MUMBAI, Aug 7 (PTI) — The Mumbai High Court has stayed the investigation proceedings launched by the police against Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw who faced allegations of committing fraud on investors in his capacity as the non-executive Chairman of the Nagarjuna Investments Company. Admitting a petition filed by the Field Marshal urging for setting aside the first information report lodged against him, Mr Justice D.K. Trivedi, in an interim order yesterday restrained the police from proceeding against Field Marshal Manekshaw until the matter was finally heard and disposed of. The FIR was lodged last year by Mr G.N. Patil, a resident of Sangli, who alleged he had not been paid dividend on the investments made by him in the company. Counsel for Field
Marshal, Mr Mahesh Jethmalani, argued the company had
been wound up before the complaint was filed and hence
the aggrieved investor should have approached the
official liquidator for refund of money invested by them. |
Shortlived joy of female coolie NAGPUR, Aug 7 (PTI) — She tried to foray into man’s domain. But for Shobha Gokul Vijaykar, it was a shortlived joy. Circumstances shattered her dreams of becoming Central Railway’s first female coolie. A mother of five and widow of a licenced porter at the Nagpur railway station, Shobha entered the male bastion as a coolie, but abruptly ended her career within five days. Shobha, as the story goes, had applied to the recognised licenced porters’ union, an affiliated outfit of the Hind Mazdoor Sabha (HMS), some six months back, making her intentions clear of entering her husband’s profession. After informal discussions with union office-bearers, she decided to go ahead with her plans. As feminine hands started lifting luggage of passengers on July 17 last, she hardly knew what was in store. As the news spread about her working at the railway station, a section of porters alerted the railway authorities about the “unauthorised” person. The Station Superintendent (SS) of Nagpur railway station immediately called the union office-bearers and ordered them to stop her from working. The SS, Mr Vijay Bhatnagar, told PTI that Shobha was doing the job without any authorisation. There was no provision in the rules for a widow of a licenced porter to succeed him. The badge would not be transferred in her name, he added. According to Mr Kamal Singh Thakur, secretary of the porters’ union, a porter was entitled for a complimentary pass for self only and one privilege ticket order (PTO) was given to the porter and his spouse. But unfortunately the laws did not provide for employment to the widow on compassionate grounds. The coolie fraternity had mixed reactions about her joining them. They watched her with curiosity wondering whether she would be able to lift the luggage. A section of porters who did not like the idea were instrumental in her removal, Mr Thakur alleged. Mr Bhatnagar was apprehensive about her capacity and possible exploitation at the hands of bad elements on platforms. Nagpur Division PRO Suhas Lokhare said the administration was now exploring the chances of transferring her husband’s licence to her. The Senior Divisional Commercial Manager has written to the higher authorities in Mumbai, seeking clarification on the issue. Meanwhile, after abrupt “discontinuation”, Shobha has not come to the railway station and confined herself to domestic work in a north Nagpur locality. It remains to be seen
whether she will be allowed to work as a female
coolie” at the Nagpur station. |
Congress to honour freedom
fighters NEW DELHI, Aug 7 — The Congress President, Mrs Sonia Gandhi, will honour 58 freedom fighters at a function to be organised by the Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee (DPCC) here to celebrate “Quit India Day” on August 9. The DPCC President, Mr Subhash Chopra, said Mrs Gandhi would honour the freedom fighters by offering them shawls and citation letters. Meanwhile, DPCC media
committee chairman, Mr Jag Pravesh Chandra, today stated
that the former Chief Minister of Delhi, Mr Sahib Singh
Verma, was not a “charismatic” leader and
“in the Outer Delhi parliamentary constituency the
BJP could win only four out of 21 seats during the
Assembly elections”. |
Code violation case against Sinha HAZARIBAGH (Bihar), Aug 7 (PTI) — The district administration has registered a case against Union Finance Minister Yashwant Sinha for allegedly violating the model code of conduct for elections. An official spokesman said the case registered by the police here last night charged the Finance Minister with leading a procession of over 1,000 devotees in the town in violation of Section 144 of the Cr PC, already in force in the district. The spokesman said Mr
Sinha should have taken permission for leading a
procession, comprising 18 trucks fitted with
loudspeakers, for a stretch of 2 km. |
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| Killer shot dead by
victim’s father FATEHPUR (UP): A dreaded dacoit, who murdered a girl after barging into a house, was shot dead by the father of the victim. The Khaga police said Namkai, who was wanted in 30 cases of murder, dacoity and loot, sneaked into the house of Gopal, the gram pradhan of Mukhurwapur. The dacoit shot dead Gopal’s daughter. Enraged, Gopal took his revolver and shot dead Namkai. — UNI Search on for kidnapped
RSS leaders Curfew lifted in
Ahmedabad Security beefed
up in Tripura Derailed train
disrupts traffic 5 labourers
electrocuted Power ministers
seek more funds Jagannath Temple
property |
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