Monday, August 23, 1999

Jaya fails to turn up for rally
VILLUPURAM, Aug 22 — The much publicised joint rally of Congress president Sonia Gandhi and AIADMK chief Jayalalitha here failed to materialise this evening, robbing the event of its spectacle, as Ms Jayalalitha did not turn up.

DMK vows to work for scrapping Art 356
CHENNAI, Aug 22 — The ruling DMK in Tamil Nadu today vowed to "continuously" take steps for scrapping Article 356 which, it said, was against the principles of federalism and democracy, and also pledged to protect minorities’ interests.

Use of portraits a mistake: CEC
PONDICHERRY, Aug 22 — Chief Election Commissioner M.S. Gill today said it was a ‘mistake’ to use portraits of chiefs of armed forces at a BJP election meeting but with Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee admitting the error and directing future correction the ‘matter should end.’

Sikh electorate with us: Cong
NEW DELHI, Aug 22 — The Congress today claimed that Delhi’s Sikh electorate was with them and the decision to field Mr Jagdish Tytler from the Sadar Lok Sabha parliamentary constituency would not have an adverse impact on the party’s chances.

Ranganath Misra cautions against divisive forces
NEW DELHI, Aug 22 — Former Chief Justice of India, Mr Ranganath Misra, who is also a Rajya Sabha MP, has cautioned that divisive forces were at work and were trying to interfere with peaceful elections in the country.

ISI game plan for Muslim areas
NEW DELHI, Aug 22 — Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence is trying to establish its bases in the Muslim-dominated areas in the country to foment trouble during the forth coming Parliamentary elections.

NHRC directs govt to order CBI probe
NEW DELHI, Aug 22 — The National Human Rights Commission has directed the government to order a CBI inquiry into the alleged killing of a youth by the Punjab Police in a “fake encounter” and asked the state government to pay an interim relief of Rs 2 lakh to the victim’s family.

JMM (S) promises separate state
RANCHI, Aug 22 — The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (Soren) has promised to work for the creation of an exploitation-free separate Jharkhand state in its manifesto for the coming Lok Sabha polls.

BJP for raising IT exemption limit
NEW DELHI, Aug 22 — BJP today said it will press for raising the income tax exemption limit to Rs one lakh a year in the next budget and the defence outlay to at least three per cent of GDP from about 2.1 per cent now.

HC contempt notice to Delhi Govt
NEW DELHI, Aug 22 — The Delhi High Court has taken a serious view of the authorities’ failure to imply its order regarding the installation of shaheed Bhagat Singh’s statue, lying in a cement depot for over 20 years, and issued contempt notices to the state government and Municipal Corporation of Delhi.

Cong releases Karnataka list
NEW DELHI, Aug 22 — Former Union Minister Mrs Margaret Alva and former Chief Minister of Karnataka S. Bangarappa have been named in the Congress list for the state which was released late yesterday.

India to strive for N-disarmament: PM

NEW DELHI, Aug 22 (PTI) — Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee today asserted that India would continue to strive for complete global nuclear disarmament and said values of non-violence and spiritualism could bring peace and stability despite political chaos.

India had moved a resolution in the United Nations seeking complete disarmament and destruction of all nuclear weapons during Rajiv Gandhi’s prime ministership to have a world devoid of violence, he said while inaugurating the birth centenary year of Jain Acharya Shri Anand Rishi Maharaj.

"Such a mission may not become a success instantly. Efforts are still on for complete disarmament and peace as non-violence is the greatest dharma (religion)", he said.

However, non-violence did not mean surrendering to attack, he said, adding religion permitted the use of weapons for self-defence during armed attacks or threat thereof.

Mr Vajpayee said religion and spiritual values had always brought stability to the country since time immemorial despite political turbulence. "Governments have come and gone but the message of unity and harmony given by saints and spiritual leaders has enabled us to overcome many crises", he said.

"If politics divides people, it is religion which unites them. Politicians should realise that it is important to unite and not to break", he said.

Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, who was the guest of honour, said the message of "live and let live" conveyed by Jainism is more relevant in present conditions.

Expressing concern about the spread of materialism and consumerism, Mr Vajpayee said people were still searching for peace and happiness despite material benefits. "True happiness is different from materialistic pleasure," he said.

Stressing the need for curbing materialism, he said though the government could always impose expenditure tax and take similar measures against materialistic path, only religion was capable of bringing about a transformation.

Stating that it was virtually impossible to be anti-religion, he said many of the problems being faced by the people could be effectively solved by following the path of non-violence shown by Lord Mahavira.

Mr Vajpayee said mass awareness was necessary to combat social evils like drinking, smoking and slaughtering animals.

The Prime Minister released a booklet on "Good conduct" at the function, organised by the All-India Shwetamber Sthanakwasi Jain Conference.

The functionaries of the conference requested Mr Vajpayee to take measures for bringing out a postage stamp in memory of Anand Rishi Maharaj.

Mrs Dikshit said the Delhi Government had already decided to constitute a committee for the 2600th birth anniversary of Lord Mahavira.

Jaya fails to turn up for rally

VILLUPURAM, Aug 22 (PTI) — The much publicised joint rally of Congress president Sonia Gandhi and AIADMK chief Jayalalitha here failed to materialise this evening, robbing the event of its spectacle, as Ms Jayalalitha did not turn up.

Ms Gandhi, who waited for over 45 minutes for Ms Jayalalitha, ultimately gave up and went ahead with her address to the largely attended public meeting.

Ms Jayalalitha was scheduled to campaign in parts of Chennai and Chengalpattu enroute to Villupuram, 160 km from Chennai.

Speaking at the meeting, the AIADMK Villupuram district secretary S.S. Pannerselvam said Ms Jayalalitha wanted to come but was caught "in a sea of humanity" while canvassing for South Chennai Congress candidate V. Dhandayuthapani near Chennai.

As she was unlikely to reach Villupuram in the next few hours, Ms Jayalalitha was not participating in the meeting, he announced.

Congress and AIADMK workers may have been disappointed over the joint meeting failing to materialise, but the large gathering had its share of spectacle when Ms Gandhi and her son Rahul landed by a helicopter close to the venue, drawing thunderous applause from the crowd.

Meanwhile, TNCC president Tindivanam K. Ramamurthee, speaking to reporters at the Chennai airport, said Ms Gandhi spoke to Ms Jayalalitha over mobile phone when the latter was near Chengalpattu.

Mr Ramamurthee, who accompanied Ms Gandhi, said even though Ms Jayalalitha had started at 3.30 pm she had encountered huge crowds on the way which delayed her arrival at Villupuram.

Asked if Ms Gandhi would again visit Tamil Nadu for campaigning, he said, "Positively". There would be a trip after September 5 during the second phase of electioneering and Chennai could be one of the venues, he added.

Ms Gandhi later left for New Delhi for Chennai.

BJP "committed" to Ram mandir

NEW DELHI, Aug 22 (PTI) — The BJP is committed to the three contentious issues of Ram mandir, abrogation of Article 370 and the Common Civil Code even though it has not come out with its own manifesto and agreed to abide by the agenda drawn up by the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) which had put a moratorium on them.

"We work with a bifocal vision. We are neither breaking out of our commitment to those issues nor are we apologetic about our stand," party ideologue and general secretary K.N. Govindacharya said.

"With the BJP yet to traverse some more distance to attain the steering position in Indian politics, we decided that in this interregnum of transition we should commit ourselves to the document of the national agenda for governance formulated on the basis of a consensus among all the partners of the NDA," he told PTI in an interview.

He said nobody doubted the party’s commitment to the three issues but "our approach is perfectly in tune with national interests, social integration and economic prosperity".

On the BJP projecting Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee rather than the party in the elections, Mr Govindacharya said: "It is neither adherence to personality cult nor a distraction from the basic philosophy and style of functioning of the party."

He said Mr Vajpayee was an "unprecedented asset to the party" and that as he was a leader of world stature, he "reflects the thought, functioning and ethos of the party too. So his projection is based upon the acknowledged performance and he is the perfect emblem for transmitting the ideology and idealism of the party."

On Congress President Sonia Gandhi coming into the race for the prime ministership having filed her nomination papers from Bellary, he claimed that Mrs Sonia Gandhi voluntarily refused to accept Indian citizenship in 1973 as well as in 1978 and this made her image less credible to the Indian voters. "This was not being fabricated or raked up by any party. It had become one of the issues of this election," he said.

Pawar indirectly targets Sonia

SHIROL (Kolhapur), Aug 22 (UNI) — Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) president Sharad Pawar today indirectly targeted Congress president Sonia Gandhi saying that during the past 50 years the Congress had led the country ‘’successfully’’ without help from any person of foreign origin.

"This process should continue to keep the country’s pride and self-respect intact’’, he said at an election rally at Shivaji Chowk here to canvass support for his party candidates.

Mr Pawar said the country would again witness a hung Parliament and his party would play a vital role in government formation at the Centre.

Criticising the Vajpayee government, he said it had failed on all fronts, including economic and agriculture and also failed to protect the country’s borders. ‘‘It has, therefore no right to ‘beg’ for votes in the name of providing a stable and able government’’, he added.

He said the Indian soldiers were successful in flushing out Pakistani intruders, but the government was wrongly taking credit. The Kargil intrusion was not planned by Pakistan in a few days but at least six months in advance and the rulers totally failed to anticipate this.

Mr Pawar charged that Maharashtra’s cooperative movement, which was developed by late Chief Ministers Yashwantrao Chavan and Vasantraodada Patil and others, for the uplift of the poor, was destroyed by the Shiv Sena-BJP government in the state.

Several farmers in the state had committed suicide because of the government’s apathy towards their problems and the people were put under the burden of about Rs 40,000 crore loan, he said.

"Till the vertical spilt in the Congress, I had approached the electorate for votes as a Congressman. After the spilt, I am appealing to the voters as a real Congressman, the follower of Mahatma Gandhi, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi, Yashwantrao Chavan and Vasantraodada Patil,’’ Mr Pawar said.

DMK vows to work for scrapping Art 356

CHENNAI, Aug 22 (PTI) — The ruling DMK in Tamil Nadu today vowed to "continuously" take steps for scrapping Article 356 which, it said, was against the principles of federalism and democracy, and also pledged to protect minorities’ interests.

"Article 356 is merely a carbon copy of Article 35 enacted in 1935 by the British and as a first step the Centre is duty bound to immediately amend the Article based on the judgement in the Bommai case by the Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court," the DMK said in its election manifesto released at a public meeting here this evening.

DMK president M. Karunanidhi released the manifesto and the first copy was received by party general secretary K. Anbazhagan.

Welcoming the manifesto of the NDA which had promised federal harmony, the DMK, one of the constituents of the NDA, said it would continuously struggle for "wholesome and genuine" federalism with autonomy for the states and for amending the Constitution for this purpose.

Reiterating the party’s commitment to protect minorities, the manifesto said, "No harm will be caused to any one due to religious fanaticism and if at all any harm is caused, the DMK will rise to protect the affected and will not be reluctant to make any kind of sacrifice".

Proclaiming that the DMK would safeguard the rights of minorities as enshrined in the Constitution, the manifesto said, "No one will be cast aside, fairness and justice will be rendered to all and there will be no discrimination".

It was not acceptable to the DMK that the reservations should not exceed 50 per cent and that the economically better-off creamy layer among the backward classes was not eligible for reservation. "These concepts are contrary to social justice", it said.

Therefore, the power to determine the percentage of reservation should be delegated to the state governments. Since the creamy layer concept was based on economic criterion, it should be removed and all persons belonging to the backward classes, irrespective of their income, should be made eligible for reservation, it said, adding that the party would insist that the Constitution should be suitably amended for this purpose.

It promised to take appropriate steps as necessary to ensure 69 per cent reservation permanently in admissions to all central educational institutions.

Use of portraits a mistake: CEC

PONDICHERRY, Aug 22 (PTI) — Chief Election Commissioner M.S. Gill today said it was a ‘mistake’ to use portraits of chiefs of armed forces at a BJP election meeting but with Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee admitting the error and directing future correction the ‘matter should end.’

"It was a mistake... With the Prime Minister’s admission and direction for future correction the matter should end," he told reporters here when asked to comment on the use of a backdrop showing the services chiefs murals during an election meeting of Mr Vajpayee in Karnal on Friday.

"I would suggest that all parties now move on to debating serious issues that should help the voters make the best choice," Mr Gill said.

The CEC said he had read newspaper reports on the issue and noticed that the criticism was immediately accepted by BJP General Secretary Narendra Modi who also spoke about the Prime Minister’s anger and direction that such a backdrop should not have been used.

Earlier, talking to reporters in Chennai on his arrival from New Delhi, Mr Gill ruled out any increase in campaign timings as being sought by some political parties.

The present practice of ending the campaign at 10 pm would continue, he said.

Sikh electorate with us: Cong
Tribune News Service

NEW DELHI, Aug 22 — The Congress today claimed that Delhi’s Sikh electorate was with them and the decision to field Mr Jagdish Tytler from the Sadar Lok Sabha parliamentary constituency would not have an adverse impact on the party’s chances.

The Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee President, Mr Subhash Chopra told newspersons that the Sikh community had been given adequate representation in civic bodies and the legislative assembly by his party.

He said that the compensation for the victims of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots was given only after a Congress government was formed in Delhi under Mrs Sheila Dikshit.

Mr Chopra pointed out that Mr Sajjan Kumar would be ‘actively’ campaigning and the denial of ticket to Mr Kumar would not affect the poll prospects of Congress candidate from Outer Delhi, Mr Deep Chand Sharma. The DPCC chief also announced that besides Mr Mateen Ahmed and Mr Ram Singh Netaji, both MLAs, Mr Jai Kishan, Corporator from Najafgarh has extended his support to the Congress.

Blaming the Bharatiya Janata Party for a host of problems faced by the people, Mr Chopra said "the opportunistic coalition politics of the BJP has led the country to the brink of disaster."

Ranganath Misra cautions against
divisive forces
Tribune News Service

NEW DELHI, Aug 22 — Former Chief Justice of India, Mr Ranganath Misra, who is also a Rajya Sabha MP, has cautioned that divisive forces were at work and were trying to interfere with peaceful elections in the country.

In a statement here, he said while the country had not yet completely got out of the Kargil episode the north-eastern states were already experiencing "the diverted wrath of the inimical neighbour. Divisive forces are at work even to interfere with peaceful elections. Violence would disrupt the electoral process and adversely affect the democratic ethos". He also suggested the formation of citizens’ groups throughout the country to ensure peace.

Mr Misra said all political forces must pledge to maintain peace and tranquillity and allow the electoral process to go through without any dislocation. "Citizens’ groups should be formed throughout the country to ensure peace prevails", he added.

ISI game plan for Muslim areas

NEW DELHI, Aug 22 (PTI) — Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) is trying to establish its bases in the Muslim-dominated areas in the country to foment trouble during the forth coming Parliamentary elections.

Under a new gameplan, the ISI has been trying to establish its bases in Hyderabad, Western Uttar Pradesh, North Kerala, Himachal Pradesh and parts of Tamil Nadu besides Mumbai suburbs, official sources said.

Arrest of a suspected militant belonging to the Lashkar-E-Toiba outfit in Hyderabad is just a “tip of the iceberg”, they said.

Under the new modus operandi of the ISI, the militants first get involved in the “local activities” in order to evade any possible arrest by the police.

The Delhi Police also arrested three terrorists recently along with 50 kg of deadly RDX. These persons were planning to disrupt electioneering in the capital.

The suspected places, where the ISI is believed to have sent these militants are Hyderabad, Kurnool (Andhra Pradesh), Kannur (Kerala), Mewar (Haryana), Bagpat, Muzzafarnagar, Amroh, Meerut, Morradabad (Uttar Pradesh) and suburbs of Mumbai.

The ISI is also trying to stoke the embers of militancy once again in Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, and has even targeted peaceful Himachal Pradesh by pumping in the fortunes earned from poppy trade and is also attempting to create a communal wedge in the Jammu and Doda areas, the sources said.

Buoyed with huge profits from poppy cultivation along the Pak-Afghan border, the ISI was ready to pump in several crores of rupees to revive militancy, the sources quoted a Pak-based arrested militant, Shamas-ul-Haq, resident of Balochistan, as having confessed.

The sources said Lashker-E-Toiba militants had also been asked to move to the higher reaches of Jammu to foment communal trouble in the region and increase their presence along the Indo-Pak border.

They attributed suicidal attacks on the camps of security forces to the larger presence of foreign mercenaries in the valley.

The ISI has also directed militants to target Jammu city after establishing bases in the two states, another militant Bashir Ahmed was quoted as having said by the sources.

The militants have claimed that a number of “Darasgahs” (Islamic schools) have been set up in Chamba and Kangra in Himachal Pradesh where militants take refuge after sneaking into the state, they said adding the large-scale infiltration was also taking place from Peer Panjal range “with an eye on Jammu”.

The arrested militants asserted that the ISI was not able to play the religion card anymore with the Afghan youth as some of them after returning from Kashmir had praised India for its secular policies, the sources said.

Killing of youth in ‘encounter’
NHRC directs govt to order CBI probe

NEW DELHI, Aug 22 (PTI) — The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has directed the government to order a CBI inquiry into the alleged killing of a youth by the Punjab Police in a “fake encounter” and asked the state government to pay an interim relief of Rs 2 lakh to the victim’s family.

The commission has also asked the Department of Personnel of the Union Government to direct the CBI to undertake the investigation to identify the motive behind the killing of Kashmira Singh and to bring those responsible to book, NHRC sources said.

NHRC’s order came following a complaint by the victim’s father, Mr Ajit Singh, that a police party had “forcibly entered his house and seized him and his son, who was a member of youth wing of the Akali Dal”.

Mr Ajit Singh alleged that he was thrown out from a jeep, in which they were being taken away, while the Tarn Taran police “killed” Kashmira Singh in a “fake encounter” on the night of March 14, 1997, the sources said.

The SSP of Tarn Taran, however, in a report submitted to the NHRC, asserted that Kashmira Singh was a member of a gang of the “Khalistan Commando Force” (Panjwar).

The SSP stated that when the police tried to arrest Kashmira Singh at Pandori Pukman village near Hoshiarpur, he attacked the police party with a sword causing injuries to three policemen. The report said police fired in self-defence, as a result of which Kashmira Singh was killed.

Based on the report of its investigation team, the commission concluded that the claim of the Tarn Taran police that Kashmira Singh was killed in self defence and in a “genuine” encounter was not credible. “Rather the evidence suggested that the victim was killed in a pre-planned way”, the sources said.

The commission has also asked the Punjab Government to order a thorough probe by the CBI into the case.

JMM (S) promises separate state

RANCHI, Aug 22 (PTI) — The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (Soren) has promised to work for the creation of an exploitation-free separate Jharkhand state in its manifesto for the coming Lok Sabha polls.

Releasing the party’s manifesto here yesterday, JMM (S) Chief Sibu Soren said the party would have to take recourse to intensive mass movement to ensure the creation of a separate Jharkhand state as the BJP, even if voted to power at the Centre, would never grant statehood to the 18 predominantly tribal districts in the region.

Besides the statehood issue, the party manifesto stressed on the preservation of the distinct cultural identity of the Jharkhandi people, measures to facilitate speedy implementation of the Bhuria Committee’s report in tribal Bihar and mounting pressure on government for evolving a clear policy regarding the rehabilitation of the people displaced by development projects in the region.

The JMM (S) Chief also announced the names of the party candidates for two more South Bihar seats of Ranchi and Koderma. While Mr Premchand Mahato would be fielded from Ranchi, Mr Bhagwat Rana would be the party nominee from Koderma.

With the announcement of these two candidates, the JMM (S) candidature for nine out of the 14 South Bihar seats stands finalised. The party has already announced its candidates for seven other South Bihar seats — Chatra, Palamu, Lohardagga, Singhbhum, Godda, Rajmahal and Jamshedpur.

BJP for raising IT exemption limit

NEW DELHI, Aug 22 (PTI) — BJP today said it will press for raising the income tax exemption limit to Rs one lakh a year in the next budget and the defence outlay to at least three per cent of GDP from about 2.1 per cent now.

Emphasising the need of additional resource mobilisation efforts to offset the expenditure on Kargil operations, the party’s economic cell convener Jagdish Shettigar told PTI this could be done through voluntary efforts and reining in expenditure.

"We will press for raising the exemption limit to at least Rs one lakh," Mr Shettigar said, adding "we asked the government to raise the limit in the last budget but it could not be done due to compulsions of keeping the fiscal deficit under check."

Talking about better tax compliance to raise the government’s resources, Mr Shettigar said the party would strive for ‘political consensus’ and improving the farmers’ lot for eventually taxing the agriculture income.

He, however, disfavoured tapping of black money for additional resource mobilisation to meet defence expenditure, saying as a matter of principle "we are opposed to tapping black money".

"We are also not in favour of voluntary disclosure of income and other such schemes," he said, adding, even otherwise there was a great scope for better tax compliance.

To buttress his argument he said if the government could ensure taxes from all the over six lakh people earning more than Rs one lakh a month, it could garner at least Rs 30,000 crore a year.

Mr Shettigar said the BJP government had brought around 20 lakh more people under the direct tax net through the one-by-six scheme under which anybody fulfilling conditions like owning a car, telephone or having travelled abroad should compulsorily file income tax return.

It was strange that Delhi had more than six and a half lakh car owners but the number of tax payers was less than six lakhs whereas in Chennai the number of tax payers was more than double the number of car owners, Mr Shettigar said.

This brings to light the massive tax evasion and called for revamping of the tax administration. The BJP would work towards this end to ensure better tax compliance, he said.

He also expressed concern over misuse of and leakages in subsidies and said the government should rationalise subsidies to ensure these benefited targeted the poorer sections of the society.

Public Distribution System is one area where there was a substantial leakage of subsidy and this required to be totally revamped, he said adding PDS failed to benefit the daily wage earners who were not capable of buying their fortnightly ration from these outlets.

As a result, shop owners were reaping the benefits from subsidised food meant for the poor, he added.

HC contempt notice to Delhi Govt

NEW DELHI, Aug 22 (PTI) — The Delhi High Court has taken a serious view of the authorities’ failure to imply its order regarding the installation of shaheed Bhagat Singh’s statue, lying in a cement depot for over 20 years, and issued contempt notices to the state government and Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD).

Justice R. Ramamoorthy asked the Chief Secretary of the Delhi Government and the MCD Commissioner to file reply by November 19, as to why contempt proceedings should not be initiated against them for failing to install the statue of the great revolutionary at Bhagat Singh Market near Connaught Place in the capital till date, despite the court order on October 12, last year.

The petition filed by advocate Rajinder Nischal said the court had ordered the Delhi Government and the MCD to install the statue within eight weeks.

The 17-ft high metallic statue, acquired by the corporation at a cost of over Rs 1 lakh in 1977-78, has been lying in a cement depot.

Cong releases Karnataka list
Tribune News Service

NEW DELHI, Aug 22 — Former Union Minister Mrs Margaret Alva and former Chief Minister of Karnataka S. Bangarappa have been named in the Congress list for the state which was released late yesterday.

As per the list, Mrs Margaret Alva would be contesting from the Kanara Lok Sabha constituency, while Mr Bangarappa would be contesting from Shimoga. The Congress has also decided to field film star Ambarish and former Janata Dal leader A. Siddaraju from the state.

This will be the first occasion that Mrs Alva would be trying her luck with the electorate. In all her previous stints in Parliament she had been a Rajya Sabha member from the state.

Death sentence for killing daughter
NEW DELHI: A Delhi court has sentenced a 35-year-old man to death for killing his minor daughter after raping her about two years ago. Additional Sessions Judge Sunita Gupta, who found accused Janesh, a resident of Rajpur road, guilty of rape and murder of his 17-year-old daughter, also slapped fine of Rs 13,000 on him. “Keeping in view the brutal act of the accused, it will not be sufficient to award him sentence of life imprisonment as this will not leave a proper effect on society,” the judge said. — PTI

Beach sand-related cancer
NEW DELHI: There is no increase in cancer cases or deformities at birth in people of Kerala exposed to high natural background radiation from beach sands rich in radioactive thorium, studies have shown. The first study, which started in 1990 and was conducted by the Regional Cancer Centre in Thiruvananthapuram and the environment assessment division of the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre in Mumbai, measured gamma ray levels both inside and outside houses in this regard. — PTI

Cattle census: SC raps AP Govt
NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court has pulled up the Andhra Pradesh Government for not being able to start the process for conducting cattle census despite the court giving several opportunities to it since April, 1998. A three-judge Bench said the casual manner in which the state government was conducting itself was creating doubts about its sincerity” towards the completion of the census. — PTI

Railway reservation complex opened
NEW DELHI: A computerised reservation system consisting of four terminals in a newly-constructed complex at Sarai Rohilla has inaugurated by the General Manager, Northern Railway, Mr S.P. Mehta, on Saturday. The passenger reservation system complex will now be able to deal with 800 requisition slips every day. At present, the reservation system are available at 146 locations with 659 reservation windows, where computerised reservation and cancellation facilities can be availed. — TNS

Influx of Bangladeshis
GUWAHATI: On an average 1,000 Bangladeshis cross over to India illegally through its porous boundary every day, a recent Home Ministry survey reveals. According to a senior official of the ministry, the survey found that on an average 3 lakh Bangladeshi infiltrators enter India annually and according to a rough estimate. The total number of illegal Bangladeshis in India is between 1.2 crore to 1.5 crore. — UNI

3 commit suicide in Rajasthan
JHUNJHUNU (Rajasthan): — Two women and a man have committed suicide by throwing themselves before train at Ratansahar in the district, the police said here on Sunday. The three, who reached the Ratansahar railway station by a car on Saturday abandoned the vehicle before ending their lives. No suicide note was found. — PTI

4 burnt to death
HOSHANGABAD: In a bizzare case of revenge, four persons acquitted of a murder charge, were burnt to death in a bus by the rival group near Hirnakhedi village between Itarsi and Seoni Malwa, 35 km from here, on Saturday, the police said. Five persons, accused of a murder of a member of the Kanjar community a few years back and recently acquitted by a court, were travelling in a bus when angry members of the community stopped it and asked them to get down. They then set the bus on fire and pushed the five inside it. The fifth, however, escaped. — PTI

Payments recovered from ex-CJ
GANGTOK: The Sikkim High Court has recovered all excess payments made to former Chief Justice S.N. Bhargava following a Union Law Ministry directive. In January this year, Joint Secretary to the Ministry of Law, Justice and Company Affairs P.K. Agarwal had directed the Registrar of the high court to recover all excess payments made to Justice Bhargava after all necessary adjustments against the arrears payable to him on account of salary and pension. — UNI