Saturday, June 19, 1999

Declare Kargil disturbed area, says Bhim Singh
NEW DELHI, June 18 — Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party chief Bhim Singh today asked the government to declare Kargil district as disturbed area in order to provide full authority to the defence forces to deal with infiltrators and the security of the region.

Bonded labour: India signs ILO resolution
NEW DELHI, June 18 — Though India is among the 174 countries which adopted a landmark resolution against the worst forms of child labour in Geneva yesterday, a leading activist has raised doubts about New Delhi’s sincerity in tackling the problem.

2 Chhota Shakeel gangsters held
NEW DELHI, June 18 — The Delhi Police today claimed to have arrested two gangsters of the Chhota Shakeel gang, who allegedly made bids on the life of former Mumbai Mayor and Shiv Sena member Milind Vaidya in Mumbai twice.

No time-frame for Operation Vijay

HYDERABAD, June 18 (PTI) — Union Home Minister L.K. Advani today said the upcoming Lok Sabha elections would be held as per schedule and said it would be "unrealistic" to fix a time-frame for completion of the ongoing military operations against infiltrators in Jammu and Kashmir.

"The elections will be held as per schedule. It does not matter even if military strikes have to be continued for some more time", Mr Advani told reporters here.

He said India was keen to see that the conflict did not escalate but was prepared for "any eventuality".

"It is only a matter of time before Pakistani aggression is completely foiled", Mr Advani, who addressed a public meeting at Nalgonda town yesterday, said.

Pointing out that it was difficult to have a time frame for completing the operations to push back the intruders, the Home Minister said "Pakistan has been waging a proxy war for the last ten to fifteen years. Did anyone ask the previous governments as to how long it will take to end it?"

Pakistan’s three-pronged strategy to "resurrect the dying militancy, internationalise Kashmir issue by dragging it to the United Nations and to change the Line of Control (LoC) by military force badly boomeranged", he said.

"Instead of being able to internationalise Kashmir issue, Pakistan now finds itself totally isolated.

Even the traditional supporters of Pakistan have "publicly and firmly" asserted that it was on the wrong side, Mr Advani said. "The restraint shown by our security forces has greatly contributed in realisation among international community that Kargil situation is a case of pure aggression by Pakistan", he added.

Mr Advani denied that the government had dropped its guard" resulting in its failure to detect the Pakistani build up along the LoC.

"There is no question of dropping our guard. If it were so, the government would not have taken such swift action", he said.

Mr Advani said he did not foresee the possibility of Pakistan opening up new battle fronts and said "we like this conflict to remain limited and are taking all steps to effectively push back the aggressors."

UGC lists 15 ‘fake’ universities

NEW DELHI, June 18 (UNI) — The University Grants Commission today identified 15 unrecognised universities and cautioned students against pursuing education through them.

The universities are: Maithili University/Vishwavidyalaya, Darbhanga, Bihar, Mahila Gram Vidyapith/Vishwavidyalaya (Women’s University) Prayag, Allahabad (UP), Varanaseva Sanskrit Vishwavidyalaya, Varanasi (UP)/Jagatpuri, Delhi, Commercial University Ltd., Daryaganj, Delhi, Indian Education Council of Uttar Pradesh, Lucknow, Gandhi Hindi Vidyapith, Prayag, Allahabad, National University of Electro-Complex Homeopathy, Kanpur, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose University (Open University), Achaltal, Aligarh (UP), DDB Sanskrit University, Putur, Trichi, Tamil Nadu, St John’s University, Kishanattam, Kerala, United Nations University, Delhi, Vocational University, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh Vishwavidyalaya, Kosi Kalan, Mathura (UP), Maharana Pratap Shiksha Niketan Vishwavidyalaya, Pratapgarh (UP) and Raja Arabic University, Nagpur.

Under the UGC act these fake institutions have no legal entity to call themselves university/vishwavidyalaya and to award degrees. The degrees, diplomas or certificates awarded by such fake institutions are not treated as valid for academic or employment purposes, UGC a release said.

In case of doubt before getting enrolled for various higher education courses, students may check up with the UGC whether such an institution is duly established by law and is recognised by the commission.

‘One rank, one pension’ soon
From Girja Shankar Kaura and Rahul Das
Tribune News Service

NEW DELHI, June 18 — The long pending demand of ex-servicemen for ‘one rank, one pension’ is awaiting the Cabinet’s approval.

Having agreed in principle to the ‘one rank, one pension’ scheme, the BJP led coalition government is likely to give its approval to it soon.

According to reports, the Ministry of Defence has already prepared a detailed note for the Cabinet’s approval and just the final nod is awaited.

Various organisations of ex-servicemen have been demanding ‘one rank, one pension’ for several years.

The National Front which in its manifesto for elections in December, 1989, had promised the grant of ‘one rank, one pension’. After it had set up, an official committee to examine its modalities.

The committee expressed the opinion that the acceptance of the demand was not feasible, as acceptance would mean repeated re-computation of pensions whenever emoluments were revised.

Another reason cited was that conceding the principle of retrospective application would lead to a similar demand from Central Government staff and have a snowball effect.

Also, the records of a large number of pensioners might not be readily available. The government eventually came to the conclusion that it was not possible to agree to the demand.

However, it was felt by the government that the Armed Forces pensioners who retired prior to January 1, 1986 deserved special dispensation and that there was a need to improve their lot by a one time increase in their pension. The reasons cited were the truncated service tenures of defence personnel, and the fact that there had been occasions when pensionary awards applicable to the civil side were either not extended to the Armed Forces or were extended much later.

The National Front Government formulated and approved a scheme for granting an ad-hoc ex-gratia increase in pension of those pensioners who had retired before January 1, 1986.

Before the orders executing the ad-hoc ex-gratia scheme, could be issued, a new government headed by Mr Chandra Shekhar came to power and decided to review the scheme and recommended postponement.

A need was felt for a re-examination in greater depth and, accordingly, a High Level Empowered Committee (HLEC) under the chairmanship of the Defence Minister was set up by the Government on September 26, 1991 to review the existing pension structure and other retirement benefits of defence service pensioners and, keeping all relevant consideration in view, to evolve a feasible approach for improving their retirement benefits.

The HLEC recommended that the existing disparities in pension be narrowed down by the grant of a one-time increase in pension to pre-1986 defence pensioners. The recommendations of the HLEC were accepted by the government and necessary orders sanctioning the scheme were issued by the Ministry of Defence on March 16, 1992.

Nine categories of defence pensioners who were earlier not covered under the government order dated March 16, 1992 were also subsequently sanctioned a one-time increase in pension vide instructions issued on February 25, 1994.

Sikhs to observe ‘green day’ on July 4
Tribune News Service

NEW DELHI, June 18 — As part of the Khalsa Environment Project, Sikhs in the Capital will observe July 4 as green day and plant 50,000 saplings.

Secretary of Sarab Sanjha Khalsa Third Centenary Environment Trust Pushpinder Singh said during the tercentenary celebration year they had set a target to plant two lakh saplings in Delhi.

He said devotees visiting gurdwaras were being urged to register for free saplings.

Saplings were being offered free of cost to the devotees at the major gurdwaras.

Migration along Rajasthan border

JAIPUR, June 18 (UNI) — With increased movement of the Pakistani army along the border several hundred families living in hamlets and small villages in Jaisalmer, Barmer, Bikaner and Sriganganagar districts have started moving to safer places.

Rajasthan has a 1070 km border with Pakistan, the major part being with Jaisalmer and Barmer. Bikaner and Sriganganagar have about 200 km of border.

Declare Kargil disturbed area, says Bhim Singh
Tribune News Service

NEW DELHI, June 18 — Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party chief Bhim Singh today asked the government to declare Kargil district as disturbed area in order to provide full authority to the defence forces to deal with infiltrators and the security of the region.

Addressing newspersons after his four-day visit to Kargil district, Prof Bhim Singh asked the government to allow the Indian armed forces to cross the Line of Control (LoC) and take control of the entire Skardu area which alone would stop Pakistan’s repeated attempts to send infiltrators on our side of the border.

Prof Bhim Singh said no single Kashmiri youth from either side of the LoC was participating in the Pakistani operation in the Kargil sector.

Stating that the local state administration had failed to provide help to the displaced people of the region, he said the local migrants should immediately be provided sufficient ration, clothing and shelter.

Bonded labour: India signs ILO resolution

NEW DELHI, June 18 (UNI) — Though India is among the 174 countries which adopted a landmark resolution against the worst forms of child labour in Geneva yesterday, a leading activist has raised doubts about New Delhi’s sincerity in tackling the problem.

The convention, signed during the course of International Labour Conference (ILC), seeks immediate halt to the use children in utterly exploitative conditions such as bonded labour, prostitution, drug peddling and hazardous activity involving use of dangerous machinery, equipment and chemicals.

Though India’s official delegation expressed willingness to ratify the convention, child labour activist Kailash Satyarthi, convenor of the Global March Against Child Labour last year, said India had put "unnecessary thrust" on the question of poverty in the sub-continent.

"It is not poverty which engenders child labour, but child labour which contributes to adult unemployment and general deprivation," the activist said today.

Buttressing his point, Mr Satyarthi said India had some 60 million children in full-time employment while around 65 million adults were jobless.

2 Chhota Shakeel gangsters held

NEW DELHI, June 18 (PTI) — The Delhi Police today claimed to have arrested two gangsters of the Chhota Shakeel gang, who allegedly made bids on the life of former Mumbai Mayor and Shiv Sena member Milind Vaidya in Mumbai twice.

The duo, Zuber Sheikh alias Tubrej (28) and Fazal Mohammad Sheikh, alias Mani Angamatu (26), were arrested yesterday from outside Pragati Maidan, Deputy Commissioner of Police Ashok Chand told reporters. Chhota Shakeel is a frontman of underworld don Dawood Ibrahim.

Following a specific information that the duo will assemble outside Pragati Maidan, in the heart of the city, to meet one of their contacts, a trap was laid and they were arrested, Mr Chand said, adding two loaded .32 bore revolvers, along with 11 live cartridges, were seized from them.

On sustained interrogation, the accused persons confessed that they, along with two others, were involved in the attempt on the life of former Mumbai Mayor and Shiv Sena member Milind Vaidya on March 4 this year outside his Mori Road residence at Mahim, the DCP claimed.

While Mr Vaidya was injured, three persons were killed and three others injured in the shootout, he said.

Mr Vaidya was targeted earlier also by the same gangsters on December 17 last year at Bandra junction, but were unsuccessful, Mr Chand said, claiming that both the attacks were masterminded by Chhota Shakeel based in Lahore, Pakistan.

"In fact, the instruction of Shakeel to Zuber Sheikh was to target Shiv Sena members, especially those who were indicted by Srikrishna Commission constituted after the 1992 Mumbai riots", Mr Chand said.

Ministers donate one month salary
JAIPUR: Rajasthan ministers have decided to donate a month’s salary to the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund for the welfare of the families of Kargil martyrs. The decision was taken at a meeting of the council of ministers, chaired by the Chief Minister, Mr Ashok Gehlot, here on Thursday. The Cabinet also paid homage to the soldiers and decided to provide government jobs to the widows of martyrs. — PTI

‘Goa revolution day’ celebrated
PANAJI: Rich tributes were paid to the martyrs and freedom fighters, who had made supreme sacrifices to liberate Goa from foreign rule, to mark the 53rd anniversary of ‘‘Goa revolution day’’ on Friday. It was on this day in 1946 that a peaceful mass movement was launched for the liberation of Goa from Portuguese rule on the call given by Ram Manohar Lohia at Margao. Forty freedom fighters were honoured on the occasion, including 14 posthumously, at the state level function held at Azad Maidan here in front of the martyrs memorial. — PTI

NESMA in Nagaland
KOHIMA: Nagaland Government on Friday promulgated the Nagaland Essential Services Maintenance Act (NESMA) prohibiting strikes in government offices for next six months. A notification issued by the Chief Secretary, Mr A.M. Gokhale said the on-going agitation by employees was being prohibited in exercise of the power conferred by Sub-Section (1) of Section (3) of NESMA, 1978. — PTI

Potency drug
NEW DELHI: Scientists are doing research on a potent synthetic drug that could not only act as a spermicidal agent but prevent men from contracting various sexually transmitted diseases (STD), claimed Lucknow-based Central Drug Research Institute Director C.M. Gupta. He said the male pill, to be introduced soon, had undergone laboratory tests on rats. It would be sent for toxicity tests shortly. — UNI

Youth dies saving 9 rafters
GANGTOK: He rescued nine others from the jaws of death but could not save himself. Prem Pariyar (23), a river rafting guide, met with watery grave in the turbulent Teesta after rescuing seven adventure tourists and two of his assistants on June 8, when the raft they were sailing turned turtle. He was the only earning member of his family. — PTI

Robber shot dead
MUMBAI: A notorious robber belonging to the Khajura gang was shot dead in an encounter on Friday. The police encountered Vijay Kadam (25) at the General Arun Kumar Vaidya marg in Goregaon East, a suburb of Mumbai when he came to loot the Paris beer bar. Vijay was rushed to the Bhagwati Hospital where he was declared dead on admission. — UNI

Extremist held in Bihar
GAYA (Bihar): The police arrested a self-styled zonal area commander and accountant general of the banned Maoist Communist Centre (MCC) Sitaram Ravi Das, who had masterminded the Senari massacre and other extremist attacks in central Bihar. Superintendent of Police Anil Palta said here on Friday that the group had planned to attack two other villages in the district to create a fear psychosis in the minds of the public. — UNI