Tuesday, July 27, 1999
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N A T I O N |
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spotlight today's calendar |
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Navy thwarted Pak with
blockade threat |
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Flood situation in Bihar
grim Pro-NDA group looks to Hegde,
Fernandes Mother Teresa’s canonisation
initiated ‘BJP unleashing intellectual
terror’ Five injured in violence Donating organs to save lives Jaya: PM involved in telecom scam |
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Navy thwarted Pak with
blockade threat NEW DELHI, July 26 — India seized the initiative from Pakistan in the Kargil conflict with the effective deployment of Indian Navy fleets, adequately close to Karachi, poised not only to hit its "soft under-belly" but to impose an effective trade blockade at its only port. The tactical deployment of the combined eastern and western fleets, a strategy worked out at the Naval Headquarters ensured that India not only seized the initiate from Pakistan but also secured maritime front in case of any escalation. The Navy played a more important strategic role which sent out strong signals to Pakistan to mend its ways or the all important blockade of the Karachi port, the lifeline of that country, was in the offing by the Indian Navy. The strategic deployment of Navy battle groups was aimed at the "soft underbelly" of Pakistan at sea as its survival depends on the sea where its lifeline "dangles precariously". "We remained poised for retaliation. The deployment was also to prevent incidents similar to those of 1965 when Pakistan had attacked Dwaraka", senior Navy sources said. With Pakistan’s entire oil supply and foreign trade coming via sea, its war making machinery and survival hinges on the ability to maintain sea lanes open, they said, adding Pakistan with only two ports had oil storage for seven days. The deployment and exercises presented Pakistan with the prospect of a naval blockade that would have crippled its war-fighting machinery and economy, they said, adding with the balance of power at sea in favour of India, the maritime front had a strategic influence on the Kargil conflict too. An effective naval blockade would have pulverised Pakistan’s economy which was already in a shambles. The economy would have come to a grinding halt with a deleterious impact on its armed forces too. Referring to the maritime dimension and oil supply route to Pakistan, they said Pakistan had only two ports with tanker traffic, only one state-owned tanker, four refineries and stocks for a week, while the oil use by military was the same as that in the civilian sector. India, on the other hand, had 11 major ports, more than 55 state-owned tankers, 22 refineries and stocks for over 30 days. While the naval formations moved right up to the mouth of the Gulf, the aircraft carrier was also kept in a state of preparedness with seven days notice to meet any eventualities. In addition, the amphibious units of the army were also moved from Andaman and Nicobar Islands, they said, adding the Navy carried out continuous surveillance. Asked how close were the naval groups from the Pakistani territorial waters, they said though they were at quite a distance, the positioning was close enough for an effective strike against vital targets. "Strangulation at sea may be slow but it is definitely deadly", they said. India has set in motion the process for production of an indigenous nuclear submarine while the Indian Navy is looking for force-multipliers capable of quick-reaction strikes, electronic warfare and surveillance, authoritative sources in the navy said today. The highly classified nuclear submarine project has already started and was coming up well, the sources said adding that designs had been finalised and Rs 30 crore already allotted for the project this year. The government would decide whether these nuclear-propelled submarines, capable of carrying nuclear weapons, would actually do so. Besides this project, several other major projects were under way, including ‘Project 75’ at Mazagon Docks to initially produce two submarines in five years for which required money had already been sanctioned. The letter of intent for this project was issued in 1996. There most modern
frigates, dubbed as "frigates for the next
century" with highly sophisticated and potent weapon
systems on board, were being produced under ‘Project
17’, they said and expressed hope that
"Brahmaputra" class warships being produced in
Calcutta Dockyard would be commissioned by this December. |
Kargil ‘turning point’ in Indo-US ties NEW DELHI, July 26 (UNI) — The Union Home Minister Mr L.K. Advani, today declared that the Kargil factor had been a turning point in Indo-US relations, ushering in an era of friendship and cooperation between the two largest democracies. The USA had now come to realise the serious implications of Pakistan waging cross-border terrorism in India, he said addressing members of the Regional Council of the Indo-American Chamber of Commerce here. While thanking the USA for its support to India on the Kargil episode, he said the present utterances of that country had instilled a sense of confidence among the people of the two countries. The Home Minister listed two factors which had brought about the change in the US attitude towards India: the bus diplomacy and the statesmanship displayed by External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh. "The year 1999 has turned out to be a watershed in Indo-US relations." The post-Pokhran-II economic sanctions witnessed India’s relations straining with the USA but the Kargil episode had changed the situation. He said since the BJP government "is under attack for the casualties suffered in the Kargil conflict, we wish to remind that we lost over 1800 security personnel in Jammu and Kashmir sector and 1500 in Punjab during the last decade of proxy war which has bled the nation.’’ Mr Advani said the Kargil episode had revived a sense of patriotism in the people as never before throughout the country. He expressed the hope
that the changed atmosphere would help promote trade and
commerce between the two countries, irrespective of
whichever government came to power after the elections. |
Arrest warrants against Devi Lal NEW DELHI, July 26 (PTI) A city court today issued non-bailable arrest warrants against former Deputy Prime Minister Devi Lal for failing to appear before it in connection with a hawala-related income tax case. Chief Metropolitan Magistrate R K Gauba issued the arrest warrant returnable on September 10, as neither Mr Devi Lal nor his counsel appeared before the court when the case was called for hearing several times. The CMM, who took strong exception to the absence of Mr Devi Lal, also issued notice to his surety for September 10. "If a former Deputy Prime Minister of the country does not cooperate with the court, it will erode people's faith in the judiciary," the CMM observed. "You can't take the court for granted," he said. Earlier, on May 4, the CMM had ordered trial of Mr Devi Lal, Mr Kalpnath Rai and Mr Buta Singh for "wilfully" not furnishing details of their alleged "Hawala Scam Income" to the Income Tax Department despite being served summon. The CMM had rejected their plea for dropping of criminal proceedings against them as there was nothing on record to justify their failure to cooperate with the IT authorities. However, the criminal proceedings against BSP leader Arif Mohammad Khan were dropped on the ground that he was not in possession of the documents sought by the IT authorities as the same were the CBI custody. The IT authorities had issued summons to the accused in August 1996 seeking details of their assets to ascertain if they had concealed certain details in order to evade tax. But they did not submit the required details. The main plea taken by them was that they had already been discharged in hawala case and they could not be tried for the same again. However, the court had
rejected their plea saying, "The question is not
whether these accused did receive the money from Jain
brothers as alleged by the CBI.... But whether they could
refuse or omit to respond when called upon by the IT
authorities acting in discharge of their duty...." |
Flood situation in Bihar grim PATNA, July 26 (PTI) — The overall flood situation in Bihar remained grim today with 12 more deaths reported from the districts, taking the death toll to 135 as the major rivers continued to crossing the danger mark, official sources said today. Ten persons were feared drowned when their boat capsized in the Hayaghat block of Darbhanga district yesterday, the sources said. While two bodies had already been recovered, search continued to locate the other bodies. According to the Central Water Commission report the Bagmati was flowing 105 cm above the danger mark at Hayaghat and 45 cm at Benibad, while the Adhwara group of rivers crossed the red mark by 60 cm at Ekmighat in Darbhanga. Two deaths were reported from Khagaria district today due to floods, the sources said. State Water Resource Department sources said the Kosi inundated vast countryside areas in Supaul and Khagaria as the left embankment of the river developed seepages at various locations due to heavy pressure of tide. Precautionary measures were being taken by engineers to stop further damage to the embankment. The Punpun which had posed flood threat to low-lying areas in Patna and Aurangabad districts still maintained rising trend in Shreepalpur and crossed the danger level by 160 cm following heavy rains in its catchment areas. State Relief and Rehabilitation Department sources said effective steps were being taken to send relief materials to the flood-hit people with the help of over 1,500 boats. Over 4 million persons
were affected in the current spell of floods that had so
far damaged standing crops and other property worth over
Rs 7 crore. |
Pro-NDA group looks to Hegde, Fernandes BANGALORE, July 26 (PTI) — Even as confusion prevails in the camps of both factions of the Janata Dal in Karnataka over their political future, the pro-NDA faction is looking at Lok Shakti and Samata Party leaders Ramakrishna Hegde and George Fernandes, respectively, to bail them out while the anti-NDA group is pinning hopes on the BJP to come to its rescue. The activities in both camps, which touched the peak following the split, and the dismissal of eight ministers by Chief Minister J H Patel and dissolution of the state assembly, registered a slump today. The pro-NDA leaders, including Patel have been hoping that the Hegde-Fernandes combine would not let them down and ensure the faction entry into the NDA, maintaining that the issue had been left to these two leaders. Patel exuded confidence today that Hegde and Fernandes would succeed in their efforts to strengthen the NDA and Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee. On the other hand, the anti-NDA faction, headed by former Premier H. D. Deve Gowda, was keenly watching the statements of BJP national and state unit leaders. In another development, three ministers of the Patel Ministry — M.C. Nanaiah, B.A. Moideen and Jayaprakash Hegde — called on Governor Khursheed Alam Khan. Nanaiah, speaking to
newsmen at Raj Bhavan, said the trio did not want to be
branded as supporters of any group and would try to unite
both the factions of the party. |
Mother Teresa’s canonisation initiated CALCUTTA, July 26 (UNI) — Archbishop of Calcutta Henry D’Souza today officially initiated the beatification and canonisation of Mother Teresa for conferring sainthood on her at St Mary’s Church near the Mother’s house here in presence of hundreds of nuns of the Missionaries of Charity. Addressing the gathering, the Archbishop described the ceremony as "opening session of the Diocesan inquiry into the life, virtues and reputation of sanctity of the servant of God Mother Teresa in an official manner.’’ Father Brian Kolodiejchuk, a priest of the Missionaries of Charity and approved by the Archbishop as postulator, Sister Nirmala and all officials present took the oath for undertaking the process. Father Brian said the second session would be held on July 28. "All of us in the Missionaries of Charity are overjoyed. We are eagerly looking forward to Mother's sainthood. Mother always wanted to be a saint and also wanted us to be saints," said Sister Nirmala, who succeeded Mother Teresa on March 13, 1997, as the Superior-General of the missionaries of Charity. Mother Teresa, who died
on September 5, 1997, would be the fourth Indian to be
canonised. Sister Alfanso, Father Elias Phevera of Kerala
and Father Joseph Vaz of Goa were the others to have been
granted sainthood. |
‘BJP unleashing intellectual
terror’ NEW DELHI, July 26 — Senior Congress leader Rajesh Pilot today charged that the BJP-led government was unleashing “intellectual terror” by questioning the patriotism of those who are raising queries about the Kargil episode. “What we are witnessing is that the BJP is indulging in intellectual terror and dubbing all those as anti-national who are asking questions as to how did the Kargil intrusion occur,” Mr Pilot said at the daily press briefing of the party here today. Mr Pilot also objected the government’s attitude of putting the Army ahead to answer the questions instead of the political leadership replying to them. “Do not destroy the institutions,” he pleaded. The Congress leader also expressed doubts over the efficacy of the K Subramanhyam committee appointed by the government to go into the Kargil issue. He said in absence of statutory powers the committee would get little cooperation from various agencies of the government. He said the BJP government was taking credit for Operation Vijay and its success in Kargil which was purely a victory of the Army. “The government has failed and it was the Army which kept up the pride.” Mr Pilot charged that
the periodicity of Army patrolling in Kargil sector was
reduced from once every month to once in three months
only because the government slashed the budget. |
Five injured in violence AHMEDABAD, July 26 (PTI) — Five persons were injured when a mob pelted stones at members of a particular community today, forcing the police to burst 19 tear gas shells to quell the rioters in Nagorivad locality of Shahpur in the city where clashes had claimed two lives and left several injured last week. Incidents of violence were also reported from the Mirzapur and Gheekanta road areas where rioters set ablaze a couple of kiosks. However, the situation has been brought under control, police claimed. The cause of the sudden flare-up in Shahpur area was yet to be ascertained, the police said, adding that no case had yet been registered in this connection. Dariapur, Kalupur,
Shahpur and Vejalpur areas of the city had been rocked by
violence since Tuesday last. |
Donating organs to save lives NEW DELHI, July 26 (UNI) — For the parents of two-year-old Sanjay of Kancheepuram in Tamilnadu, it was nothing less than a miracle to see their only child, suffering from a congenital liver disorder, being brought back from the jaws of death through organ transplant. This was made possible with Sanjay’s father Kandaswamy, a small time businessman, donating 30 per cent of his liver for the transplantation, shaking off superstitions and misbeliefs associated with such donations. Sanjay was seen chirping with enthusiasm, sitting with his smiling parents at a gathering here organised to highlight the importance of organ donation to save the lives of suffering millions in the country and abroad. Initially, no one had a clue that Sanjay had undergone such a harrowing time as he was playing with the other kids, being as naughty and active as any other. He had undergone the surgery on November 15 last year. The difficulty in finding a donor was highlighted by Ms Rani Jethmalani, the lawyer-daughter of Union Minister Ram Jethmalani. She says: “I was almost declared dead with end-stage liver disorder following an attack of the deadly hepatitis-B with no suitable donor coming forward to save my life, both in the country and abroad. At last, I was saved by a donor in England where the liver transplant took place on December 17, 1997, of course at a huge cost”. Having once again resumed her vocation, she has vowed to spread the message across the world for donating the organs before or after death. “A single human being could save six lives by donating eyes, lives and kidneys after death”, she added. Ms Jethmalani has constituted a “liver transplant support group” recently and gained support of surgeons and social activists to popularise the idea of donating organs to save lives. In India alone, as many as 45 million persons are infected with hepatitis-B and 15 million with hepatitis-C, all related to liver disorders exhibiting jaundice, odema, fatigue and other serious symptoms, and a lot of them needed transplant surgery. As many as 10,000 liver transplants were needed for children alone. However, only eight could be done during the past two years with four each taken from live and cadaver donors, despite the coming into force of the Organ Transplant Act, 1994, which, however, prohibits commercialisation, she said. She regretted that even with open declaration in favour of organ donation by top religious leaders, including the Dalai Lama, superstitions coupled with lack of awareness, ethical values in sharing human organs and costly nature of the surgery had been hampering the people from coming forward for organ donations. Mrs V.K. Shourie recounted the ordeal she had to undergo to find a donor for her husband, Dr Vinay Kumar Shourie, a dentist who was diagnosed in November, 1998, as requiring a liver transplant. Even after a long wait of more than eight months, no donor could be found. However, a telephone call from Dr A.S. Soin, at Indraprastha Apollo Hospital, when they were planning to leave for Singapore to search for donors provided a ray of hope. The surgery was performed after the donor liver was brought all the way from Chennai by another surgeon, Dr M.R. Rajasekhar, who had cut short his holidaying in Mumbai for the mercy mission, she added. The crowd burst into spontaneous cheering as her husband was introduced. He, in turn, thanked his wife for the support. Today, the couple have joined a dedicated band of “hope” workers to carry forth a mission — launching a massive movement to convince the people of the need for donating their organs to save the suffering humanity. But for Mrs Mousumi Ghosh, 34, the nightmare continues. A chemical engineer in a Calcutta firm, she quit the job to rush to Delhi to save the life of her six-year-old son, Soumya Deep. While she was found to be acceptable as a donor, it remains a Herculean task for her to mobilise the resources for such a costly and major surgery. Her husband, who is also an instrumentation engineer, also could not raise the money. In desperation, the
couple had even approached some off the Ministries for
relief. They had been spending a lot in the treatment of
biliary atresia (obstructive jaundice) the child had been
suffering from since his third year despite undergoing
several other surgical interventions. The date for liver
transplant surgery was yet to be fixed with finances
still to materialise. |
Jaya: PM involved in telecom scam CHENNAI, July 26 (UNI) — Former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister General Secretary J Jayalalitha today alleged that the Rs 50,000-crore telecom scam had taken place with the full knowledge and connivance of Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee. In a statement here, she said changes were effected in the new telecom policy to benefit private cellular and basic operators at the behest of the PMO. "It is learnt that a few individuals in the PMO and the PM’s household have garnered huge sums as they were acting hand in glove with the private operators, demanding changes in the telecom policy", she said. After the Prime Minister
took charge of the communications portfolio from Mr
Jagmohan, a secretary in the PMO was virtually asked to
draft the new policy for meeting all the demands of the
private operators, Ms Jayalalitha alleged. |
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| 2 coins of
Aurangzeb’s era found HUBLI: Two ancient coins belonging to the period of Mughal emperor Aurangazeb have been found at Yalagi village in Gulbarga district by a research scholar of Karnataka University. The researcher, Mr Sanganagouda G. Dhavalagi said one was a silver coin minted at Bijapur in the state and the other was a copper coin minted at Surat in UP. — UNI 5 of family killed in
road accident Mahe hero passes
away Eight die in bus
collision Adivasi Sena to
contest 20 seats ‘Apemen’
brothers attract visitors ‘Pop does
not dilute folk singing’ 47 missing
villagers found NHRC
‘benevolence’ towards undertrials |
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