Friday, October 1, 1999
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No move to sack Kalyan Singh:
Thakre NEW DELHI, Sept 30 — The BJP President, Mr Kushabhau Thakre, today dismissed speculations about an imminent change in the Uttar Pradesh leadership saying the party had no complaints against the state Chief Minister, Mr Kalyan Singh. Minor changes don’t discredit
witness: SC |
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 The President, Mr K.R. Narayanan, at an exhibition of stamps from various countries on Mahatma Gandhi in the Capital on Thursday. — Photo by Vijender Tyagi.
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Jethmalani contests Sibal’s
contention NEW DELHI, Sept 30 — Union Law Minister Ram Jethmalani, today challenged Congress spokesman, Kapil Sibal’s contention that the President was bound to call the largest single party and its leader to form the Government. Vajpayee seeks votes for Arun
Nehru Joshi’s
assurance on Indira National Centre BJP
distorting facts on WB Govt:CPM Man
kills sadhu to avenge sister’s rape Bank
official, mother commit suicide Course
for disabled |
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No move to sack Kalyan
Singh: Thakre NEW DELHI, Sept 30 — The BJP President, Mr Kushabhau Thakre, today dismissed speculations about an imminent change in the Uttar Pradesh leadership saying the party had no complaints against the state Chief Minister, Mr Kalyan Singh. Reacting to reports that the Chief Minister could be sacked for not taking active interest in the election campaign in the state, Mr Thakre told newspersons here that the reports were incorrect. He said contrary to reports, Mr Kalyan Singh was working actively to ensure that Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee returns as the Prime Minister and some differences that had cropped up in the State BJP unit were not big enough to hurt the BJP’s chances at the hustings. On Mr Kalyan Singh failing to attend some election meetings in the state, Mr Thakre said the Chief Minister had cancelled his appointments only on one particular day as he was not feeling well. He said, after reading disturbing reports about Mr Kalyan Singh, he had talked to party functionaries in the State and he was told that the Chief Minister had resumed his campaigning. He said the support for Mr Vajpayee in the state was overwhelming and this lone factor had negated any local issues from hampering the party’s poll prospects. He also dismissed allegations that the party had sidelined Mr Kalyan Singh during the election campaign. He also claimed that many sections of society in UP, who were against the BJP, were today lending their support for Mr Vajpayee. Mr Thakre also did not agree with the assessment in some quarters that the BJP by rallying around Mr Vajpayee was encouraging personality-based politics. Contrary to the Congress, which had thrust Mrs Sonia Gandhi on the people in the name of dynasty, Mr Vajpayee had won the people’s support purely on his track record and merit. He had emerged as the people’s leader and he was not being thrust upon the people, Mr Thakre said. On the Vishwa Hindu Parishad’s reiteration to build a Ram temple at Ayodhya, Mr Thakre said the BJP was bound by the common agenda of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and it had nothing to do with individual party’s agenda. When asked if the BJP agreed with Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah’s views to convert the Line of Control (LoC) in Kashmir as an international border, Mr Thakre said the BJP stood by the unanimous resolution passed in Parliament which said that India had to secure the Pakistan-occupied part of Kashmir. He said though Mr Farooq Abdullah’s National Conference (NC) was supporting the NDA, it had its own manifesto and agenda which was different from that of the NDA. Giving his assessment on the general election, Mr Thakre said he, after touring a large number of states and several constituencies, was confident that the BJP-led NDA was heading towards a comfortable majority in the 13th Lok Sabha. Mr Thakre singled out the Congress for criticism saying the party had indulged in one of the most irresponsible campaigns of all times. “The Congress
campaign was issueless. It was an exercise in political
negativism. It touched a new low in terms of
irresponsibility. It was only intended to perpetuate a
family rule as a substitute for political
performance”, he remarked. |
Minor changes don’t discredit witness: SC NEW DELHI, Sept 30 (PTI) — In a ruling that would help the prosecution in many criminal cases, the Supreme Court has held that trial courts should not doubt the veracity of the evidence given by an eyewitness even if there were minor discrepancies in his narration of the incident. “When an eyewitness is examined at length it is quite possible for him to make some discrepancies. No true witness can possibly escape from making some discrepant details,” Justice K.T. Thomas said in a recent judgement. Dismissing the appeals of two convicts in a murder case, the Bench comprising Justice Thomas and Justice M.B. Shah said. “Perhaps an untrue witness who is well tutored can successfully make his testimony totally non-discrepant. “But courts should bear in mind that it is only when discrepancies in the evidence of a witness are so incompatible with the credibility of his version that the court is justified in jettisoning his evidence,” the Bench said. The Apex Court said it was a common practice in trial courts to make out contradictions from previous statements of a witness for confronting him during cross-examination. He said no doubt Section 155 of the Evidence Act provided scope for impeaching the credit of a witness by proof of inconsistent statement made by him earlier. Justice Thomas said: “But a reading of the Section would indicate that all inconsistent statements are not sufficient to impeach the credit of the witness.” The case pertained to a murder in a moving bus and the case was decided on the basis of the evidence given by the driver and conductor of the bus. The Apex Court said the evidence of the conductor and the driver of the bus evinced credibility and added “They are the most natural witnesses for the murder which took place inside the bus.” The Supreme Court has also ruled that change in the venue of the trial or Judge trying a case should not result in examination of evidence afresh as it would “inflict untold inconvenience” on the witnesses. This ruling was given by
the Court while rejecting an application by an accused in
a case under Terrorist and Disruptive Activities
(Prevention) Act (TADA) seeking repetition of the trial
process de novo as there was a change in the venue of the
trial. |
Basu fires salvo at Vajpayee CALCUTTA, Sept 30 — On the concluding day of the campaign here, Mr Jyoti Basu fired a salvo against the BJP saying Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee was heading an “uncivilised party - a party full of criminals”. Mr Basu warned the people that if, despite this, they voted the BJP to power they would be digging their own graves. The Trinamool-BJP combine’s campaign-star, firebrand Mamata Banerjee reacted by saying “I pity that old man (Basu). Now he realises that his dreams of sitting in the prime minister’s chair will never be fulfilled”. Ms Banerjee said that an NDA government under Mr Vajpayee was a reality and the Trinamool Congress would join the government to strengthen Mr Vajpayee. Mr Basu has addressed a total of 15 meetings in the past one month despite his age and frail health. At an election meeting on Wednesday evening in south Calcutta, the chief minister said this was his “last appeal”. The next time “I’m not coming to you to ask for your vote”. Mr Basu asked the people to vote for Left party candidates to help them form a third front of anti-BJP and anti-communal forces. He hoped that a third force would be forged by all nationalist parties coming together. Meanwhile, Mr Vajpayee, on the last leg of his election tour in West Bengal addressed four meetings — three in the districts and one in south Calcutta (Ms Banerjee’s constituency) and expressed the view that after the election the Bengali people themselves would bring down Mr Basu’s 23 year long ‘misrule’. It had been possible for Mr Basu to stay in power because there was no alternative. But now the Trinamool-BJP combine was an alternative and they would run the Bengal government under Ms Banerjee’s leadership, he said. Of the 42 Lok Sabha seats from Bengal the Trinamool-BJP held eight and the Congress one. The remaining 33 were held by the Left Front. Poll experts predict that in this election the Trinamool-BJP combine will bag at least 18 seats, the Congress five and the Left parties 19. The Left parties have criticised these predictions as unreliable. Mr Anil Biswas and Mr Biman Basu, two Marxists leaders, in a joint statement, said the CPM and its partners would win more seats and would take the initiative in the formation of a third front. They, however, did not mention the number of seats they would win. Ms Mamata Banerjee too said she did not believe in numbers game but was confident that the days of the Jyoti Basu government itself were numbered. Congress stalwart Siddhartha Shanker Ray, the candidate in Calcutta North-West seat, shared the view of Ms Banerjee, saying there was a wave in Bengal against the Marxists and in favour of the Congress. He said Mamata Banerjee was Congress too — dissident Congress and her victory meant the victory of the Congress and anti-Marxist forces. But he blamed Ms
Banerjee for bringing communal forces to Bengal. |
Jethmalani contests Sibal’s
contention NEW DELHI, Sept 30 — Union Law Minister Ram Jethmalani, today challenged Congress spokesman, Kapil Sibal’s contention that the President was bound to call the largest single party and its leader to form the Government. Describing Mr Sibal’s pronouncement as "constitutional nonsense", Mr Jethmalani said the Congress spokesman was misguiding people and tendering wrong advice to the President. Pointing out that the President is to appoint a Prime Minister who in his opinion is reasonably assured of a majority in Parliament, Mr Jethmalani cited a ruling of the Supreme Court which said the President will necessarily act without the advice of the Council of Ministers in the matter of choice of Prime Minister, restricted though this choice is by the paramount consideration that he should command a majority in the House. The largest party leader would only be invited if his party was large enough to comprise a majority on its own, Mr Jethmalani claimed. Referring to the famous British authors Griffith and Ryle, he said the authors in their book "Parliament" have stated that if after a general election, no party commands overall majority in the House of Commons, there may be a period of negotiations between the parties before it becomes clear whom the Queen should send for. The Law Minister also commented on Mr Sibal’s statement a few days ago that the Italian businessman, Mr Ottravio Quattrochi, who is charged with taking commission in the Bofors case, could not be tried under the Prevention of Corruption Act as he was not a public servant. Mr Jethmalani said the Congress spokesman had forgotten sections 8 and 9 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 corresponding to the old sections 162 and 163 of the Indian Penal Code which expressly punish private persons who are not public servants if they obtain any money for influencing a public servant to do some official act. Similarly, Mr Jethmalani said if a public servant committed an offence, a private person can abet the commission of that offence and be punished accordingly. Mr Jethmalani also
protested against Mr Sibal’s allegations against
Defence Minister George Fernandes, saying the purported
letter written by a Brigadier on the Kargil intrusions
had been found false. |
Vajpayee seeks votes for Arun Nehru RAE BARELI, Sept 30 (UNI) — Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee today lambasted the Congress for bringing down his government and imposing an expensive and uncalled for elections on the country and said the wind of change had already started blowing in the country. Addressing an election meeting at the government Inter-College grounds here on the last leg of his campaigning he sought a "people’s mandate" for a full five-year term. Making an appeal to vote for BJP candidate and former Union Minister Arun Nehru, Mr Vajpayee cautioned people: "If one vote can lead to the fall of my government, one vote can also lead to its formation." "Reiterating that the BJP was committed to change the face of the country for the better in these five years, he said, "you had given me five years but they were reduced to 13 months." "We want to usher in a new era of social justice and prosperity — an era in which there will be no economic disparity, he said, adding "we will also strive for bringing the suppressed and the neglected classes on a par with others and grant reservation to women in parliament and the state legislatures." Asserting that only the BJP and its allies could provide a stable and honest government at the centre which was the need of the hour, he said only a government with a firm determination could save the country from internal and external threats. "We have proved our mettle during the Kargil conflict," he added. "When we snapped out ties with Ms Jayalalitha because of charges of corruption against her, the Congress immediately associated itself with her, Mr Vajpayee said. The Prime Minister asserted that his party would make India self-dependent in defence matters and recalled that he had gone to Pakistan on a peace-mission but "our neighbour attacked us treacherously." Mr Vajpayee said we wanted peace but "we would never bow down to international pressures in matters relating to India’s security and integrity." "We forced the enemy to move out of the Line of Control and told them candidly that they would have to give up terrorism if they wanted peace on the border," the Prime Minister said. Mr Vajpayee regretted that his government was forced to go at a time when there was a change for the better in the country’s economy. The industries had begun to work and there was also a record production of foodgrain. The most unfortunate thing was that his government was toppled without having an alternative, he said. The Prime Minister pointed out that when his government was installed, the situation was entirely different. "The prices were rising, industries were getting sick and foodgrain had to be imported," he said. Mr Vajpayee said now that the election trends had already indicated that the BJP and its allies were far ahead of their rivals,"our opponents were getting frustrated and desperate and levelling baseless charges and using uncivil language against us." The Prime Minister in the opening sentences of his speech sought to counter the attack of Ms Priyanka Gandhi on the BJP nominee from the constituency, Mr Arun Nehru. Ms Priyanka Gandhi in her speeches had asked the people how they had allowed Mr Nehru to enter the constituency. Mr Vajpayee said "when I set foot on the soil of Rae Bareli, I was a little hesitant, thinking, I might not be taken to task for visiting the place," and then in an emphatic voice added, "the whole country stretching from Kanya Kumari to Kashmir constituted one family — the family of mother India (Bharat Mata) and in a democracy no one can impose a restriction on the coming and going of another person." "This is not the language of a democratic set up," Mr Vajpayee said. The BJP candidate, Mr
Arun Nehru, in his brief speech said "Atalji
symbolised the unifying forces while others believed in
disintegration." The BJP general secretary Narendra
Modi also addressed the gathering. |
Joshi’s assurance on Indira National Centre VARANASI, Sept 30 (UNI) — Union Human Resource Development Minister Murli Manohar Joshi today said the central government was studying the Delhi High Court direction regarding Indira Gandhi National Centre for Arts (IGNCA) and would take suitable action to restore public character of the centre. The Delhi High Court has given the go-ahead to the Centre to take "appropriate action’’ against the IGNCA and the government is preparing to issue notices to the trusties to explain why the IGNCA should not vacate its premises. Dr Joshi told newsmen here today that Congress president Sonia Gandhi and her coterie had converted this Centre into private property of "Nehru-Gandhi dynasty’’ by changing the rules and restricting role of the president and central government in its functioning. He said Mrs Gandhi was made life president of the centre which was established by the generous support of the then Narasimha Rao government. He alleged that the only unfinished task of Mrs Sonia Gandhi was to include Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi on the board of trustees and then a national property would have finally been converted into property of a dynasty. The BJP leader alleged that Mrs Sonia Gandhi would use the ‘trust experience’ in the national politics too and a democratic and egalitarian polity of the country would be converted into a dynastic rule. Dr Joshi, however, refused to make any comment on whether the central government would take back 23 acre land given to the trust and take over the building and assets. Dr Joshi said of late the Congress had realised that it could not win the Lok Sabha elections and therefore was adopting a strategy to "defeat the BJP’’ with the help of other pseudo secularist parties. He claimed that even if the Congress and Mr Mulayam Singh’s Samajwadi Party joined hands in the last phase of the election, the victory march of the BJP alliance would not be halted. He said as indicated in the pre-poll and exit-poll surveys, the National Democratic Alliance would secure a comfortable majority in the Lok Sabha and would provide a stable government for the next five years. Dr Joshi said the negative politics of the Congress would not succeed and the people would vote in a positive manner in favour of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). Dr Joshi ridiculed the statements made by Mrs Sonia Gandhi that she would complete the unfinished task of her husband Rajiv Gandhi. "The country wants to know whether Mrs Gandhi would try to strengthen the dynasty and cover up the Bofors pay off,’’ he said. He demanded that the Congress and the Samajwavi Party should announce their defence and nuclear policies so that the people could compare it with the policies of the BJP alliance. "We are preparing India to play an active role in world affairs as a world power,’’ he said. Science and technology were the means to make India powerful and prosperous, he added. Regarding contradictory statements made by the BJP leaders about the construction of Ram Mandir at Ayodhya, Dr Joshi said that views expressed by Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee were the most authentic and final in this matter. Dr Joshi later left for
Ghazipur to address election rallies there. |
BJP distorting facts on WB
Govt:CPM NEW DELHI, Sept 30 —The Communist Party of India (Marxist) today accused the Bharatiya Janata Party of “falsification” on the performance of the West Bengal government saying that this was reflective of the desperation of BJP-Trinamool alliance. Reacting to a statement of the BJP spokesman of September 28, the CPM Politburo said the BJP’s claim was not true that the per capita income in West Bengal was lower than the national average. The actual position was that the per capita income in West Bengal at constant prices in 1997-98 was Rs 2866, which was higher than the national per capita income at constant prices of Rs 2761, the CPM asserted. “In fact among the major states, West Bengal’s place has risen to the 5th position”, the CPM added. The BJP statement makes the false charge that state spending on education was Rs 360.84 was less than the national average of Rs 390.64, the Politburo said adding that contrary to it, the actual state spending on education in West Bengal was Rs 735.73 which was much higher than the national average of Rs 390.64. Challenging the BJP’s contention of road development in West Bengal being the poorest in the country, the CPM said the fact was that road length in terms of kms per sq. km of area was 0.84 which was above the all India average of 0.55 kms.
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Man kills sadhu to avenge
sister’s rape GREATER NOIDA, Sept 30— A sadhu was shot to death by a man in a crowded area to avenge his sister’s rape and subsequent suicide, allegedly committed by deceased sadhu. The Police said that the deceased Sapoornanand used to live in Kasna village of Greater Noida. According to information, the sadhu had gone to Raju’s house in same area. After staying in the house for some days, the sadhu reportedly raped Raju’s sister and fled from there. The next day, Raju’s sister, committed suicide. Today Raju shot to death
the sadhu in a market where the latter had come for some
purchase. The police later arrested Raju and recovered
the pistol used in crime. |
Bank official, mother commit
suicide NEW DELHI, Sept 30 — An Assistant Manager of Dena Bank, Ms Sheela Sharma, and her 55-year-old mother committed suicide at the latter’s residence in the Shalimar Bagh area of North-West Delhi last night. The police received a call early in the morning saying that two women had committed suicide in flat number A-60, Kala Apartment, Shalimar Bagh. When the police broke open the door and found Sheela hanging in the drawing room and her mother in the bedroom. Sheela’s three-year-old daughter was found alive. The police said that
inspection of the spot suggested that both had consumed
poison before hanging themselves. The area SDM is
conducting an inquiry.as not in a position to run the
family in her salary. |
Course for disabled NEW DELHI, Sept 30 — The National Institute of Social Defence under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has started a six-month certificate course on care for disabled senior citizens. The course was introduced in August as part of the activities to observe 1999 as the Year of the Older Persons. The Project Director of
the course, Mr Rafiq-ur-Rehman, said the course is aimed
at proper and systematic management of the needs of the
elderly persons. We got about 180 applications for 25
seats. We shortlisted applicants genuinely interested in
community social welfare programmes. There is no fee for
the course”, he informed. |
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| PWG men kill
minister’s relatives DALTONGANJ: Armed People’s War Group (PWG) activists shot dead two brothers-in-law of Bihar Minister for Labour Employment and Training Awadesh Kumar Singh at Sidhara village in Palamu district before blowing up their house on Wednesday night officials said on Thursday. The Deputy Commissioner said the militants stormed the house of the minister’s brothers-in-law and pumped bullets into the chests and head of the victims — Bhrigunath Singh and Ajay Singh. Both died on the spot. —PTI 10 get life term for
murder Memorial to
Kamaraj 21 sentenced to
life White tiger
inbreeding |
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