Sunday, June 13, 1999

‘PM to decide on more alliances’
HYDERABAD, June 12 — The BJP has left the decision to forge new alliances with other parties, including the Telugu Desam in Andhra Pradesh, to Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, according to BJP General Secretary Sushma Swaraj.

New Shatabdi ‘will boost tourism’
NEW DELHI, June 12 — The former Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister, Mr Shanta Kumar, today asked the Minister of State for Railways to inaugurate the new Shatabdi on the Kangra valley rail line during the last week of this month.

SAD's Delhi unit revamped
NEW DELHI, June 12 — The executive of the Delhi unit of the Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal) was today reconstituted.

Simultaneous LS, assembly poll sought in Manipur
IMPHAL, June 12 — Eight major opposition parties in Manipur today demanded simultaneous Lok Sabha and assembly elections in the state to reduce expenditure and avoid security problems.

The taped text of the Pak conspiracy in Kargil

Full text of the conversation between Lt-Gen Mohd Aziz, Chief of General Staff of Pakistan, and Gen Pervez Musharraf, Chief of Army Staff, Pakistan, which has been taped. The conversation (in Urdu) took place on May 26 and May 29. The following is the English translation:

Conversation on May 26

Pak end: Lt Gen Mohd Aziz, Chief of General Staff

China-end: Gen Pervez Musharraf, Chief of Army Staff.

Gen Musharraf: I am sorry the line is busy now.

Lt Gen Aziz: Can I hold? Salam-ale-qum Sir.

Gen Musharraf: Wale-Qum-Salam.

Lt Gen Aziz: Sir, there is a call from Pakistan. Gen Pervez Musharraf.

Gen Musharraf: Yes sir.

Lt Gen Aziz: Gen Aziz Khan will speak.

Gen Musharraf: Yes.

Lt Gen Aziz: Sir, Col Hassan.

Gen Musharraf: Yes Hassan.

Lt Gen Aziz: Sir, how are you?

Gen Musharraf: Grace of God.

Lt Gen Aziz: Sir, please speak, Hello.

Gen Musharraf: Thank you.

Lt Gen Aziz: Sir, Salam-ale-qum.

Gen Musharraf: Yes Aziz, how are you?

Lt Gen Aziz: Very fine, Sir. How is the visit going?

Gen Musharraf: Yes, very well. OK. and, what else is the news on that side?

Lt Gen Aziz: Ham-dul-ullah. There is no change on the ground situation. They have started rocketing and straffing. That has been upgraded a little. It had happened yesterday also and today. Today high altitude bombing has been done.

Gen Musharraf: On their side, in those positions?

Lt Gen Aziz: In those positions, but in today’s bombing about three bombs landed on our side of Line of Control. No damage, Sir.

Gen Musharraf: Is it quite a lot?

Lt Gen Aziz: Sir, about 12-13 bombs were dropped, from which 3 fell on our side, which does not appear to be a result of inaccuracy. In my interpretation, it is a sort of giving of message that if need be we can do it on the other side as well. It is quite distance apart. Where the bombs have been dropped, they have tried to drop from a good position where they are in difficulty, from behind the LoC but they have fallen on our side of the LoC. So I have spoken to the Foreign Secretary and I have told him that he should make the appropriate noises about this in the Press.

Gen Musharraf: They (Indians) should also be told.

Lt Gen Aziz: That we have told, Foreign Secretary will also say and Rashid will also say. He will not, generally speaking, make any such mistake about those other bombs falling on the other side, our stand should be that all these bombs are falling on our side. We will not come into that situation. the guideline that they have given, we have stressed that we should say that this build-up and employment of air strike which has been done under the garb of.... Actually they are targeting our position on the LoC and our logistic build-up, these possibly they are taking under the garb having intention for operation the craft (?) Line of Control, and this need to be taken note of and we would retaliate in kind .... is what happened? So, the entire build up we want to give this colour.

Gen Musharraf: Absolutely OK. Yes, this is better. After that, has there been any talk with them? Any meetings etc?

Lt Gen Aziz: Yesterday, again, in the evening.

Gen Musharraf: Who all were there?

Lt Gen Aziz: Actually, we insisted that a meeting should be held, because otherwise that friend of ours, the incumbent of my old chair, we thought lest he give some interpretation of his own, we should do something ourselves by going there.

Gen Musharraf: Was he little disturbed. I heard that there was some trouble in Sialkot.

Lt Gen Aziz: Yes. There was one in Daska. On this issue there was trouble. Yes, he was little disturbed about that but I told him that such small things keep happening ...(?) and we can reply to such things in a better way.

Gen Musharraf: Absolutely.

Lt Gen Aziz: There is no such thing to worry.

Gen Musharraf: So that briefing to Mian Saheb that we did, was the forum the same as where we had done previously? There, at Jamshed’s place?

Lt Gen Aziz: No. In Mian Saheb’s office.

Gen Musharraf: Oh I see. There. What was he saying?

Lt Gen Aziz: From here we had gone — Choudhary Zafar Saheb, Mehmood, myself and Tauqir. Because before going, Tauqir had spoken with his counterpart. We carried that tape with us.

Gen Musharraf: So, what was he (Indian counterpart) saying?

Lt Gen Aziz: That is very interesting. When you come, I will play it for you. Its focus was that these infiltrators who are sitting here, they have your help and artillery support, without which they could not have come to J and K. This is not a very friendly act and it is against the spirit of the Lahore Declaration. Then Tauqir told him that if your boys tried to physically attack the Line of Control and go beyond it.... and that the bombs were planted on the Turtok bridge and the dead body received in the process was returned with military honours and I said, I thought that there was good enough indication you would not enter into this type of misadventure, and all this build up that you are doing — one or more brigade strength and 50-60 aircraft are being collected, these are excuses for undertaking some operations against the various spaces, so I had put him on the defensive. Then he said the same old story. He would put three points again and again that they (militants) should not be supported, and without your support they could not be there, they have sophisticated weapons and we will flush them out, we will not let them stay there. But this is not a friendly act.

Gen Musharraf: So, did they talk of coming out and meeting somewhere?

Lt Gen Aziz: No, no, they did not.

Gen Musharraf: Was there some other talk of putting pressure on us?

Lt Gen Aziz: No. He only said that they (militants) will be given suitable reception. This term he used. He said, they will be flushed out, and everytime Tauqir said that please tell us some detail, detail about how many have gone into your area, what is happening there? Then I will ask the concerned people and then we will get back to you. So whenever he asked these details, he would say, we will talk about this when we meet, then I will give details. This means, they are possibly looking forward to next round of talks, in which the two sides could meet. This could be the next round of talks between the two PMs which they are expecting it....Sir, very good thing, no problem...

Gen Musharraf: So, many times we have discussed, taken your (PM’s?..) blessings and yesterday also I told him that the door of discussion, dialogue must be kept open and rest, no change in ground situation.

Lt Gen Aziz: So, no one was in a particularly disturbed frame of mind.

Gen Musharraf: Even your seat man?

Lt Gen Aziz: Yes, he was disturbed. Also, Malik Saheb was disturbed, as they had been even earlier. Those two’s views were that the status quo and the present position of Gen Hassan (?) no change should be recommended in that. But he was also saying that any escalation after that should be regulated as there may be the danger of war. On this logic, we gave the suggestion that there was no such fear as the scruff (tooti) of their (militants) neck is in our hands, whenever you want, we could regulate it. Ch. Zafar Saheb cooed, very well. He gave a very good presentation of our viewpoint. He said we had briefed the PM earlier & given an assessment, and those very stages of the military situation were being seen, which it would not be a problem for us to handle. Rest, it was for your guidance how to deal with the political and diplomatic aspects. We told him there is no reason of alarm and panic. Then he said that when I came to know seven days back, when Corps Commanders were told. The entire reason for the success of this operation was total secrecy. Our experience was that our earlier efforts failed because of lack of secrecy. So, the top priority is to accord confidentiality, to ensure our success. We should respect this and the advantage we have from this would give us a handle.

Gen Musharraf: Rest (baki), is Mian Saheb OK?

Lt Gen Aziz: OK. He was confident just like that but for the other two. Shamshad as usual was supporting. Today, for the last two hours the BBC has been continuously reporting on the air strikes by India. Keep using this — let them keep dropping bombs. As far as internationalisation is concerned, this is the fastest that has happened. You may have seen in the Press about UN Secretary General Kofi Annan’s appeal that both countries should sit and talk.

Gen Musharraf: This is very good.

Lt Gen Aziz: Yes, this is very good.

Gen Musharraf: OK, Bye.

Conversation on May 29 Pak end: Lt. Gen Mohd. Aziz, Chief of General Staff China end: Gen Parvez Musharraf, Chief of Army Staff.

Pak end : This is Pakistan. Give me room no.83315 (same room number). Hello.

China end: Hello Aziz.

Lt Gen Aziz: The situation on ground is OK, no change. One of their MI-17 arms (?) was brought down. Further, the position is, we had approached to our position, it was brought down. Rest is a development. Have you listened to yesterday’s news regarding Mian Saheb speaking to his counterpart. He told him that the spirit of Lahore Declaration and escalation has been done by your people. Specially wanted to speak to me thereafter. He told Indian PM that they should have waited instead of using the Air Force & all other means. He (Nawaz) told him (Indian PM) that he suggested Sartaj Aziz could go to New Delhi to explore the possibility of defusing the tension.

Gen Musharraf: OK. Lt Gen Aziz: Which is likely to take place, most probably tomorrow. Gen Musharraf: OK.

Lt Gen Aziz: Our other friend (Lt Gen Ziauddin, DG ISI...?... or could be United States) might have also put pressure on. For that, today they will have a discussion at Foreign Office about 9.30 and Zafar Saheb (Lt Gen Saeeduz Zaman Zafar, GOC 11 Corps & Acting Chief) is supposed to attend.

Gen Musharraf: OK.

Lt Gen Aziz: Aziz Saheb (Sartaj Aziz, Foreign Minister) has discussed with me and my recommendation is that dialogue option is always open. But in their first meeting, they must give no understanding or no commitment on ground situation.

Gen Musharraf: Very correct. You or Mehmood (GOC X Corps, Rawalpindi) must have to go with Zafar. Because, they don’t know about the ground situation.

Lt Gen Aziz: This week, we are getting together at 8’0 clock because meeting will be at 9.30, so Zafar Saheb will deliberate it. We want to suggest to Zafar that they have to maintain that they will not be taking about ground situation. All that you say. So far as the ground situation is concerned. Subsequently, DGMO’s can discuss with each other and work out the modus operandi.

Gen Musharraf: Idea on LoC.

Lt Gen Aziz: Yes, Hint is that, given that the LoC has many areas where the interpretation of either side is not what the other side believes. So, comprehensive deliberation is required. So, that can be worked out by DGMOs.

Gen Musharraf: If they are assured that we are here from a long period. We have been sitting here for long. Like in the beginning, the matter is the same - no post was attacked and no post was captured. The situation is that we are along our defensive Line of Control. If it is not in his (Sartaj Aziz’s) knowledge, then discuss it altogether. Emphasise that for years, we are here only. Yes, this point should be raised. We are sitting on the same LoC since a long period.

Lt Gen Aziz: This is their weakness. They are not agreed on the demarcation under UN’s verification, whereas we are agreed. We want to exploit it.

Gen Musharraf: This is in Simla Agreement that we cannot go for UN intervention.

Lt Gen Aziz: Our neighbour does not accept their presence or UNMOGIP arrangement for survey for the area. So, we can start from the top, from 9842 (NJ 9842). On this line, we can give them logic but in short, the recommendation for Sartaj Aziz Saheb is that he should make no commitment in the first meeting on military situation. And he should not even accept ceasefire, because if there is ceasefire, then vehicles will be moving (on Dras-Kargil highway). In this regard, they have to use their own argument that whatever is interfering with you. That we don’t know but there is no justification about tension on LoC. No justification. We want to give them this type of brief so that he does get into any specifics.

Gen Musharraf: Alright.

Lt Gen Aziz: In this connection, we want your approval and what is your programme.

Gen Musharraf: I will come tomorrow. We are just leaving within an hour. We are going to Shenzhen. From there, by evening, we will be in Hong Kong. There will be a flight tomorrow from Hong Kong. So, we will be there at Lahore in the evening, via Bangkok flight.

Lt Gen Aziz: Sunday evening, you will be at Lahore. We will also indicate that, if there is more critical situation, then it (Sartaj visit) should be deferred for another day or two. We can discuss on Monday and then do.

Gen Musharraf: Has this MI-17 not fallen in our area? Lt Gen Aziz: No Sir. This has fallen in their area. We have not claimed it. We have got it claimed through the Mujahideen.

Gen Musharraf: Well done.

Lt Gen Aziz: But topwise side, crashing straight before our eyes.

Gen Musharraf: Very good. Now are they facing any greater difficulty in flying them? Are they scared or not? This also you should note. Are they coming any less nearer?

Lt Gen Aziz: Yes. There is a lot of pressure on them. They were talking about greater air defence than they had anticipated. They can’t afford to lose any more aircraft. There has been less intensity of air flying after that.

Gen Musharraf: Very good. First class. Is there is any build-up on ground?

Lt Gen Aziz: Just like that but the movement is pretty sluggish and slow. One or two are coming near no.6. Till now only one call sign in which one has not reached the valley so far. Now the air people and the ground people will stay back and then the situation will be OK.

Gen Musharraf: See you in the evening.

Gentlemen cadets ready for challenges
From Gaurav Choudhary
Tribune News Service

DEHRA DUN, June 12 — As thousands of Indian troops confront a storm of artillery and machine guns to protect nation’s territorial integrity, the Indian Military Academy (IMA) today rolled out another batch of determined and professionally trained Army officers, to take on the ‘enemy’.

The Gentlemen Cadets (GCs), who "passed out from the IMA today are", " all fired up" and are "prepared to be in the thick of action".

"It would be a great opportunity to be motivating and leading troops in Kargil where there is a threat to the nation’s territory," a newly commissioned officer told The Tribune. " We have been trained for one-and-a-half years in the IMA for such situations and its is a tremendous challenge which all of us are looking up to," said Lt Vijay Hooda of 6 Sikh Light Infantry.

The IMA passing out parade function of 104 regular, 87 technical graduate and seventh university graduate courses today was marked by the usual sense of euphoria patriotism, character and dynamism.

After the gutsy performance of ‘Kadam Kadam Badhayeja’ and the National Anthem, the drums suddenly stuttered to a silence. There was an expectant pause before the GCs threw their caps up in the air and shouted with joy for they had become Lieutenants, fully commissioned officers of the Army.

In all 508 GCs, including 16 foreign GCs passed out today.

The function started with an impressive parade in which the GCs smartly marched in front of the ‘proud gaze’ of their parents and relatives.

GOC-in-C, Central Command, the Lt-Gen Surjit S. Sangra, who took the salute, cautioned enemies, "Territorial integrity of our sacred land will be maintained at all costs."

"We have maintained and preserved our frontiers all these years. Our adversary has once again attempted to alter the Line of Control in Kargil sector of Jammu and Kashmir," Lt-Gen Sangra said.

He also gave away the Sword of Honour and Gold and Silver medals to the 104 regular and 87 technical graduates.

Lt Vijayant Singh of the 84 Armoured Regiment was awarded the Sword of Honour and the Gold medal for being the best all round Gentleman Cadet and standing first in the order of merit from the Regular course.

Lt H.S. Lidder of 114 Armoured Engineering Regiment was awarded the silver medal for standing second in the order of merit from the regular course. Lt Rohit Kapoor, of 38 Assault Engineering Regiment was awarded the silver medal for standing first in order of merit in the Technical Graduate course.

The parade ended on a nostalgic note as the GCs took the final step inside the Chetwode Hall of the IMA, in which is boldly inscribed: " The safety, honour and welfare of your country come first always and everytime. The honour, welfare and comfort of the men you command come next. Your own ease, comfort and safety come last, always and every time."

The parade was followed by the traditional pipping and the oath taking ceremony. GCs were commissioned into full fledged officers by their proud parents who removed the covers to the two stars on the pips of their wards.

Saga of bravery

NEW DELHI, June 12 (UNI) — The recapture of a key position in the Batalik sector yesterday by Capt Amol Kalia and 13 of his men, all of whom died, was one of the bravest acts seen in the Kargil Sector in the ongoing operations against Pakistani soldiers and Mujahideens.

Twentyfive Pakistani soldiers were killed before the 14 Indian troops from the Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry and Parachute Commandos laid down their lives on the north-western slopes of the position at a height of about 16,000 feet after seven hours of intense fighting.

According to Army spokesman Col Bikram Singh, the Pakistanis were well-entrenched and had made a number of field fortifications. Since the infiltrators had covered most of the approaches by fire, the Indian troops, in the face of intense shooting and heavy odds, scaled the objective and reached the top, employing specialised mountaineering techniques.

The enemy counter-attacked the position during the early hours yesterday in which the light machine gun detachment personnel accompanying Capt Kalia were killed.

Capt Kalia was seriously wounded but showing exemplary courage, he picked up the LMG and charged at the Pakistanis, killing four of them. Later, he succumbed to injuries.

“In this operation, Capt Kalia along with 13 other ranks made the supreme sacrifice in the highest traditions of the Indian Army. But for the selfless devotion to duty marked with exemplary courage displayed by these gallant soldiers, the recapture of this vital position would not have been possible”, Col Bikram Singh said.

Work on border fencing being expedited

GANDHINAGAR, June 12 (UNI) — Work on fencing of the international border in Gujarat and Rajasthan and on floating observation posts in the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Kutch is being expedited in view of repeated attempts by Pakistan’s ISI-backed men to sneak into India from this relatively peaceful zone.

Fencing work is being taken up on an urgent basis along the 1,000-km-long Indo-Pak border in Rajasthan and 512-km-long border in Gujarat, according to highly placed Border Security Force sources here. Two districts of Gujarat — Kutch and Banaskantha — share 322 km and 190 km of the land border with Pakistan.

The BSF is also planning to strengthen observation posts along the 1,600-km-long marine border. About 950 km of the coastline is in close proximity with Pakistan.

Pakistan has been mostly using the border with Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab and Rajasthan to push in infiltrators. Geography, the hostile weather and the inhospitable Rann of Kutch are natural barriers preventing large-scale Pakistani intrusion from this area.

However, with increased Army activity in the northern states bordering Pakistan, Pakistan is now concentrating on Gujarat to push in ISI-backed infiltrators, the sources say.

Follow-up
Uphaar tragedy — awaiting justice
From Rahul Das
Tribune News Service

NEW DELHI, June 12 — Two years to this date, Friday, the 13th day of June, indeed proved unlucky. The fire tragedy in South Delhi’s Uphaar cinema claimed 59 lives.

The irony of the superhit movie “Border” on the battle of Longewala in the 1971 India-Pakistan war being screened at Uphaar cinema then and the war-like condition at Kargil now, has struck an emotional chord for those who lost their near and dear ones.

Anguished parents and relatives are distraught over the lackadaisical approach of the authorities towards their plea for strengthening the fire services and the medical trauma services in the Capital.

“Little seems to have changed since the tragedy as cinema halls across the Capital continue to flout the fire safety norms and other mandatory provisions,” Mrs Neelam Krishnamurthy, who lost her daughter Unnati and son Ujjwal in the incident, said.

“The 13th of June — what a day

Others were at fault but we had to pay

At the end, what can I say that we miss

You night and day”

(Ms Payal Bhalla, who lost her father in the incident, expressing her anguish through her poem “For my loving father”)

Almost 18 months after the incident, the criminal case registered against the owners of Uphaar cinema hall, and other accused was finally committed to the Sessions Court for trial by the metropolitan magistrate, Mr Brijesh Sethi.

So far, the court of the Additional Sessions Judge, Mr L.D. Malik, has heard the arguments on the framing of charges against seven of the 16 persons named in the chargesheet.

The magistrate, before committing the case, observed prima facie facts of all acts and omissions by the management of Uphaar cinema, MCD, Fire, DESU officials are interwoven with each other.

In all there are 16 accused in the case including Sushil Ansal, Gopal Ansal, the owners, S.N. Dandona, a retired engineer of the PWD, Shyam Sundar, MCD official, N.D. Tiwari, H.S. Panwar and Surinder Dutta an employee of the Delhi Fire Service. They have been charged under section 304-A (causing death by negligence), 337 (causing hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others) and 338 (causing grievous hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others) of the Indian Penal Code.

Other accused have been charged under Section 304 (Culpable homicide not amounting to murder), 337 and 338 of the IPC. The chargesheet against all the accused were filed in the court on November 15, 1997, and the court took cognisance of the chargesheet on January 19, 1998.

The case was initially investigated by the Delhi Police. However, when questions were raised about the role of the Licensing Department, the case was transferred to the CBI, which took over investigation on July 23, 1997. The CBI while chargesheeting the 16 accused had also recommended departmental action against 38 persons in the Public Works Department (PWD), Delhi Vidyut Board (then Delhi Electric Supply Undertaking), Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), Delhi Fire Service and the Licensing Department.

The chargesheet said a few days before the incident there was a fire which had started on account of a short-circuit in the DVB transformer. Both transformers had burnt and hot gas had entered the auditorium. It says that there were no casualties then as it was a late night show and the people had already left the theatre.

It was also pointed that 17 temporary permits were issued to Uphaar during the last 13 years without the statutory authorities caring to inspect the premises even once. While these authorities defended the issuance of temporary licences on grounds of a high court stay on suspension licence, it subsequently emerged that the stay was valid only for four days in 1983.

Apart from the criminal case, the relatives of the victims formed the Association of Victims of Uphaar Tragedy (AVUT), which filed a civil suit urging the court to award ex-gratia punitive damages to the tune of Rs 11.8 crore, at the rate of Rs 20 lakh per deceased, to the next of kin of the victims. They also sought Rs 10.3 crore as ex-gratia compensation to those who received injuries.

The suit, filed by the AVUT and nine others, also sought Rs 100 crore as damages to set up a centralised accident and trauma service centre in Delhi. Liability for 50 per cent of the damages rests with the Ansals. Justice Devendra Gupta of the Delhi High Court has fixed the case for final disposal on day-to-day hearing in July.

Justifying the huge amount prayed for in the suit, Mr K.T.S. Tulsi, Senior Advocate, said liability ought to be established through payment of damages, and the quantum of damages ought to be so huge that it would not make any economic sense for officials or companies to flout the laws individually or in conspiracy with each other. This is the only way of holding them accountable for their acts of omission and commissions.

The case is not so much about the Uphaar tragedy as it is about averting hundreds of Uphaars, Mr Shekhar Krishnamurthy, who lost both his children at Uphaar theatre, said.

‘PM to decide on more alliances’

HYDERABAD, June 12 (PTI) — The BJP has left the decision to forge new alliances with other parties, including the Telugu Desam in Andhra Pradesh, to Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, according to BJP General Secretary Sushma Swaraj.

Addressing a press conference here today, she said a decision in this regard would be taken only after consulting BJP’s state units.

On the Congress projecting itself as a single party which could provide stability to the country, she said the days of single-party rule were over.

The Congress was also in the process of forging an electoral alliance with other parties, she said, adding, "it (Congress) is also holding the talks with parties like the AIADMK, the BSP and the RJD".

Referring to the Goa elections, Ms Swaraj, who is here to attend BJP’s state-level women’s convention, said though Goa was traditionally a Congress stronghold, the BJP had improved its position with 10 seats.

On the Congress criticism of the government on handling of the Kargil issue, she said it should not be politicised and should be viewed in the national perspective.

She said the BJP was fully committed to according 33 per cent reservation to women in legislative bodies.

"The BJP would continue to fight within Parliament and outside for 33 per cent reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and state legislative assemblies", Ms Swaraj explained.

New Shatabdi ‘will boost tourism’
Tribune News Service

NEW DELHI, June 12 — The former Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister, Mr Shanta Kumar, today asked the Minister of State for Railways to inaugurate the new Shatabdi on the Kangra valley rail line during the last week of this month.

Mr Shanta, who met Mr Ram Naik here, thanked the minister for introducing this train. He said with this tourism in Himachal would get a boost and passengers would be able to reach various resorts within a short time.

The minister informed him that though it was not possible to introduce a new Shatabdi between Pathankot and Delhi, the railways had added five coaches to Pooja Express and one special coach would be added to the train from Pathankot, a press statement from Mr Shanta Kumar said today.

The minister informed that another demand for a computerised reservation centre at Palampur had been accepted.

Mr Shanta Kumar also demanded that the weekly Jammu-Rajdhani should stop at Chakki Bank so that Himachalis could also benefit from it.

SAD's Delhi unit revamped
Tribune News Service

NEW DELHI, June 12 — The executive of the Delhi unit of the Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal) was today reconstituted.

Reconstitution of the executive had become necessary due to recent developments in the party and "hijacking" of the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) by a rival faction at an "unauthorised" meeting, the President of the SAD's Delhi unit, Mr Avtar Singh Hit, said here yesterday.

He said the SAD President, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, had appointed Mr Paramjit Singh Bakshi as the new chief of the youth wing of the SAD's Delhi unit.

The six Senior Vice-Presidents appointed are Mr Bhupinder Singh Anand, Mr Harmanjit Singh; Mr Surjeet Singh; Mr Shamsher Singh Sandhu; Mr Vasdev Singh and Mr Gurbax Singh Bindra.

Mr Trilok Singh Anand, Mr Santokh Singh, Mr Bhag Singh, Mr Rajinder Singh, Mr Hari Singh and Mr Ashok Gupta were appointed Vice-Presidents.

Mr Kuldeep Singh Bhogal has been appointed Secretary-General, while Mr Ravinder Singh Khurana, Mr Jasbir Singh Kaka and Mr Kanwal Kuldeep Singh Bindra have been made General Secretaries.

Simultaneous LS, assembly poll sought in Manipur

IMPHAL, June 12 (PTI) — Eight major opposition parties in Manipur today demanded simultaneous Lok Sabha and assembly elections in the state to reduce expenditure and avoid security problems.

Members of the Congress, the JD, the RJD, the Samata Party, the CPI, the CPM the Manipur Peoples Party (MPP) and the Kuki National Assembly sat on a six-hour dharna in support of their demand and later addressed a public meeting.

Former Chief Minister and senior Congress leader Rishang Keishing told the meeting that the state required fresh mandate immediately as the W. Nipamacha Singh-led the United Front ministry had “utterly failed in all spheres.”

Mr Keishing, who had been Chief Minister for over 14 years, said the worsening law and order and financial mismanagement in the state had caused “extreme burden” on common people.

The present ministry had gone against the mandate as it was formed by former Congress MLAs who defected and formed a new party called the Manipur State Congress Party, he said, claiming that the Opposition demand for simultaneous poll was the popular demand.

Senior MPP leader R K Ranbir Singh who said there should not be frequent elections in a poor state like Manipur.