Friday, December 31, 1999
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6 graduates attempt
self-immolation |
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 Activists of the Shiv Sena demonstrating outside the Pakistan Embassy in New Delhi on Thursday decrying the role of Pakistan in the hijacking of the Indian Airlines plane. — Photo by Vijender Tyagi.
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Fernandes cancels visit
to Siachen Epilepsy no ground for divorce Y2K viruses on the prowl More autonomy for CRPF, BSF Term of Liberhan panel extended TMC pulls out from ministry |
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6 graduates attempt self-immolation BHUBANESWAR, Dec 30 (PTI) — Six (eight according to UNI) teachers training graduates allegedly set themselves on fire suffering burn injuries outside the official residence of Orissa Mass Education Minister during a demonstration to press for relaxation in age-limit for recruitment as ‘Shiksha Sahayaks’ by the state government. A police officer and 10 others also suffered burns while trying to douse the flames outside the house of the Minister, Mr Nabin Chandra Narayan Das, near the busy Station Square area, Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) Sunita Kakran said. The six graduates suffered 25 to 30 per cent burns. The angry demonstrators, later pelted stones at the Minister’s residence and squatted in front of it shouting anti-government slogans. The six, who had been unemployed for years after completing the Certificate of Teachers (CT) training course, were demonstrating along with others when they suddenly poured kerosene on their clothes and set themselves afire, the ASP said. Chaos prevailed in the area with other demonstrators shouting for help following the self-immolation bid. A Sub-Inspector of Kharavela Nagar police station, Mr Bibhu Prasad Sahu, and at least 10 demonstrators came to the rescue of the six, suffering minor burn injuries, he added. The flames were soon put out and the injured were rushed to Capital Hospital for treatment. A truckload of policemen and a fire brigade were rushed to the spot after the incident as other demonstrators stoned the Minister’s house. Two of those injured in the self-immolation bid were later shifted to the S.C.B. Medical College hospital at Cuttack as their condition deteriorated, hospital sources said. Later, the Minister told reporters that the government had decided to fill 12,686 posts of ‘Shiksha Sahayaks’ by recruiting CT-trained personnel strictly on merit. But the bone of contention had been the demand of the Unemployed CT Action Committee that the age-limit should be relaxed to help some of the unemployed to which the government did not agree, he said. The government had invited applications by January 5 from the CT-trained persons as also from unemployed B.Ed. persons for filling the posts, Mr Das said. The Minister said he had discussed the demands with the association members at least five times, the last being on December 27, and had asked them to wait. "I told them that the government would try to accommodate as many persons as possible without relaxation of age since it could be challenged in a court of law," he said. The police said cases
would be registered against the demonstrators who
attempted self-immolation. |
Thakre to quit after 2-yr term CHENNAI, Dec 30 (UNI) — Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President Kushabhau Thakre today said he would step down as party president on the conclusion of his two-year term although the party constitution had been amended to give effect to a three year term for all elected posts, including that of the party president at the national council meet which ended here yesterday. Addressing mediapersons to sum up the conclusion of the national executive and national council meetings, he said though other people might differ in their interpretation of the presidential term, he would stick to a two-year term only as he was originally elected for that tenure. "My interpretation is that my term is over. It is not an extension for me. I am happy about it," he said. The constitutional amendment would however come into immediate effect, he explained. Asked about the proposal to constitute a coordination committee of the party to liaise with the government, Mr Thakre said the national council had empowered the parliamentary board to coordinate with the government. The powers of the parliamentary board, which was originally meant to oversee election work, had been enlarged by the council, he explained. In the states where the party was in power, state-level bodies would coordinate with the government, he explained. Separate bodies would be constituted to coordinate at the district level, he added. The council decided to renew party membership once in six years and gave up an earlier proposal to have life-membership. Mr Thakre said the council decided to extend the term of the elected presidents from two to three years as the organisational election process itself took about six months leaving hardly 18 months for the elected president to function. Asked whether the exit of former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Kalyan Singh from the party would have any impact, Mr Thakre said no important party leader had left the party along with Mr Singh. Out of 91 districts in UP, only one district president had left the party along with him. Not even one MLA had followed Mr Singh, Mr Thakre claimed. Parrying questions on whether the party had given up contentious issues such as the Ram temple, common civil code and abolition of special status to Kashmir as outlined in the party manifestos since 1984, he said the party was committed to its idealism and ideology. It would follow the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) agenda, the guiding principle of the BJP-led coalition at the Centre. One had to adapt oneself to the changes according to political developments, he explained. "We have to reinterpret our work according to the new situation", he added. The national executive and the council had a free deliberation and the leaders went back satisfied about the outcome. There was no dilution of any of the party’s ideologies, he told a questioner. Stating that the BJP was now a party of governance, he quoted Union Home Minister L K Advani’s words yesterday that "partymen should not be prisoners of dogmas". The Chennai declaration clearly stated what the party was and what it wanted to do in the years to come. "Alliance parties also came to us knowing what the BJP was", he said. There is a clear
directive to the government, the people and the party
workers in the Chennai declaration, he said adding that
it would serve as a guidebook to take the party to the
future. |
Sarat Chandra India’s
novelist NEW DELHI, Dec 30 (UNI) — Sarat Chandra Chatterjee, the famous Bengali novelist, whose writings reflected the prudery and prejudices of the feudalistic conservative society of early 20th century Bengal, is India’s novelist of the century. In an open ended online poll, where the surfers were given the choice to vote as per their own choice, Sarat Chandra Chatterjee polled 7,456 votes to emerge the winner. The poll was conducted by www.meghdutam.com, India’s first monthly English literary magazine on the Net. Following closely was the writer of ‘The Sword of Tipu Sultan’ and the ‘Return of the Aryans,’ Bhagwan S. Gidwani. He polled 7,377 votes. A total of 68,326 votes were polled since polling began on May 1, 1999. The polling came to a close on December 25. The writer of well-known novels like "Malgudi Days" and "The Guide," R.K. Narayan polled 5,218 votes to get the third position. Hindi writer, Munshi Premchand came fourth while Nobel Laureate, Rabindranath Tagore was fifth. Sarat Chandra Chatterjee’s novels — be it the autobiographical four-part novel "Srikant" or the eternal love story "Devdas" won appreciation in equal measure from critics and the readers alike. A true reformist himself, Sarat Chandra’s works such as "Charitraheen," "Grihadaha," "Palli Samaj" and "Swami," reflected the conservative society of early 20th century Bengal — particularly the plight of the young widow. Bhagwan S. Gidwani wrote "The Sword of Tipu Sultan" to rehabilitate a national memory, a ruler who fought against British power and died valiantly on the battlefield. His recent novel, "Return of the Aryans" is a brilliantly written book tracing the birth and the beginning of the roots of Hinduism prior to 8000 BC, and the origin of Aryans in India in 5000 BC. R.K. Narayan will
perhaps be best remembered as the creator of the idyllic,
archetypal Indian town Malgudi, which nestles on the
banks of the Sarayu river and thrives with simple people
and their small dreams. Be it the adventures and
experiences of the little boy Swami or the controversial
love story of Raju guide and dancer Rosy in "The
Guide", Malgudi provided the backdrop to all.
"Waiting for the Mahatma" is considered as R.K.
Narayan’s most "political" novel. |
Fernandes cancels visit to Siachen NEW DELHI, Dec 30 (UNI) — Defence Minister George Fernandes’ plan to welcome the dawn of the new millennium in the world’s highest battle field — Siachen — along with the troops stationed there had to be cancelled late tonight because he has to be in the Capital to attend the Cabinet meeting tomorrow. The Cabinet is meeting every day to take stock of the developments in the hijacking of the Indian Airlines plane. Mr Fernandes, who spent Christmas with soldiers in a forward base at remote Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh, was to leave for Siachen tomorrow to be with the troops in the "most hazardous battle field". At Hunder, the Defence
Minister was to lay the foundation stone for the second
hospital for Siachen which, after its completion in early
2001, will provide facilities for treatment of battle and
weather casualties. |
Epilepsy no ground for divorce NEW DELHI, Dec 30 (UNI) — The year is ending on a happy note for epileptics, with epilepsy being removed as a ground for divorce for the reason as it is medically proven to be fully curable. The Marriage Laws (amendment) Act passed by Parliament in the just-concluded winter session has become operative with immediate effect having received President's assent. The act deletes the word ‘epilepsy’ from Section 5(ii)(c) of the Hindu marriage Act 1955 and Section 4 (iii)(b) of the Special Marriage Act 1954. Similarly, a law for relaxing procedures relating to notaries and providing for removal of notaries on conviction has become effective with the notaries (amendment) act amending the principal legislation of 1952 getting presidential approval. The amendment provides
for rationalisation of the procedure for renewal of
certificate of practice every five years and the exercise
of the functions of the protem judge, Magistrate,
commissioner and arbitrator by a notary when so directed.
It also provides for removal of the name of a notary on
conviction by a court for any offence involving moral
turpitude or for failing to get certificate renewed, and
enhancing to one year (from the present three months) the
quantum of punishment for representing falsely as a
notary for doing any notarial act in contravention of
Section 9 of the Act. |
Y2K viruses on the prowl NEW DELHI, Dec 30 — A number of computer viruses could get activated during the millennium roll over and in the next few days, computer experts warned today. Some of the viruses which could get activated include Chinese fish, W97/Caligula.A, W97M/Chack.H, W97/Marker.A, November_17th.300.A, Helper.F, Bureo, Pathogen, they said. These viruses could get activated on December 31 to January 4. Some of the data lost due to these viruses could be recovered Stellar Information Systems, a release said. Moreover, a virus disguised as Y2K bug fixer, "W95.Babylonia", which infects Windows platforms, is invading a number of computers connected to the Internet. "W95.Babylonia" is the first of a new class of viruses that automatically downloads new components via the Internet, two IT majors Computer Associates and Network Associates said. The new virus infects
Windows platform and will attempt to infect every
executable and help file in the users Windows
environment. |
More autonomy for CRPF, BSF NEW DELHI, Dec 30 — The Union Home Ministry has decided to give financial powers to the chiefs of Central para-military forces to procure machinery and equipment up to Rs 50 lakh. In an order issued earlier this week, the ministry had enhanced the powers for procurement of machinery/equipment from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 50 lakh in order to bring it at par with those relating to clothing, tentage and stores. Similarly for trial evaluation of new machinery and equipment before introduction in the force, the financial power stands enhanced to Rs 10 lakh from the earlier Rs 5 lakh while for fabrication of bus bodies it will be Rs 50 lakh per annum. In respect of approved peace equipment table items, the ministry decided that powers upto Rs 50 lakh shall be delegated to the directors general and of varying dimension to principals of training colleges/recruitment centres. Till the last fiscal
year, the provisioning and procurement power delegated to
the heads of central para-military forces was limited. |
Term of Liberhan panel
extended NEW DELHI, Dec 30 — The Centre has extended the term of the Liberhan Commission of Inquiry probing the destruction of the Ramjanmabhoomi-Babri Masjid structure at Ayodhya in 1992 till June next year, according to an official announcement. The commission, whose term was to end by December this year, was set up on December 14, 1992. It is headed by Mr Justice Manmohan Singh Liberhan, who is at present the Chief Justice of the Andhra Pradesh High Court. The terms of reference include circumstances leading to the demolition of the structure on December 6, 1992 and identify forces responsible for it. As per a fresh
notification issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs, the
commission will submit its report on or before June 30,
2000. |
TMC pulls out from ministry PONDICHERRY, Dec 30 (PTI) — In a move which might prove fatal for the DMK-led coalition government in Pondicherry, the TMC today pulled out of the ministry with its lone nominee, Local Administration Minister Theni C. Jayakumar, resigning. However, the TMC whose
support is vital for the survival of the Janakiraman
ministry, deferred a decision on the withdrawal of
support to the government. |
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| UP Govt orders probe into
firing LUCKNOW: The Uttar Pradesh Government has ordered a judicial inqiry into a police firing incident at Khanpur in Ghazipur district which left one person dead and 17 injured. A Home Department spokesman said the police had resorted to firing on Wednesday when a mob which laid a siege at Khanpur police station turned violent. They were demanding the release of culprits allegedly involved in the murder of a person in the Patarhi area on December 26, he said. — PTI Night curfew in W.
Tripura extended 3 killed in wall
collapse 4 held for
kidnapping 4 killed in
jeep-truck collision Temple priest
shot Advanced
communication system |
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