Monday, October 11, 1999
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N A T I O N |
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weather  spotlighttoday's calendar |
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Samajwadi Party expels
top leader Tyagi Indora to head INLD group |
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Santushti complex a security
hazard: MoD NEW DELHI, Oct 10 — The controversial Santushti commercial complex on defence land near the Prime Minister’s official residence is a security hazard as it provides "rendezvous for espionage activities", a Ministry of Defence document said.
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Laloo warns party men
Front’s defeat: TNCC rejects
Jaya’s claim
Violence,
arson in Sikkim |
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Samajwadi Party expels top leader
Tyagi NEW DELHI, Oct 10 — The Samajwadi Party today expelled its former General Secretary and former Member of Parliament K.C. Tyagi from the organisation for anti-party activities. The decision to expel Mr Tyagi was taken at the meeting of the Central Parliamentary Board (CPB) of the party, which met at the party office today. The meeting also reviewed the performance of the party in the just-concluded Lok Sabha elections. The party, despite a major erosion of vote bank and a fall in its vote percentage, won as many as 26 seats in UP. It was second only to the BJP which won 29 seats. According to party General Secretary Ram Gopal Yadav, who is also the brother of the party chief, Mr Mulayam Singh Yadav, the meeting also decided to end with immediate effect, the terms of all office-bearers of the party state units. However, it retained party president in UP Ram Saran Das and General Secretary Shiv Pal Singh Yadav, who is also Mr Mulayam Singh Yadav’s brother. The terms of the
office-bearers of all frontal organisations of the party,
such as Yuvjan Sabhas and the women’s wings, have
also been ended to enable their reconstitution. |
Indora to head INLD group NEW DELHI, Oct 10 — The newly elected members of the Indian National Lok Dal today chose Dr Sushil Indora, MP from Sirsa, as the leader of the parliamentary party in the Lok Sabha. The five newly elected members held a meeting here under the chairmanship of the INLD chief and Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala. Ms Kailasho Saini was elected Deputy Leader of the parliamentary group. Mr Surender Singh Barwala was elected Chief Whip and Mr Ajay Chautala Whip of the parliamentary party. Capt Inder Singh, MP from Rohtak, was elected secretary-cum-treasurer of the party in the Lok Sabha. PTI adds: The National Conference (NC), which has decided to join the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government at the Centre, today said talks were on regarding the induction of a party MP into the council of Ministers, but asserted that the allocation of the portfolio was the Prime Minister’s prerogative. "It is for the Prime Minister to choose his ministers," NC Lok Sabha member from Srinagar Umar Abdullah told reporters here, adding talks were on regarding the induction of a party MP in the government. Mr Umar Abdullah, who arrived here along with three other newly elected party MPs to participate in the NDA meeting, said the party had not demanded any particular portfolio. "We have no portfolio in view," he said. NC President and Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah, who was originally scheduled to lead his party MPs at the NDA meeting, did not come to the Capital due to ill health, party sources said. Asked about the
NC’s expectations from the new government, Mr Umar
Abdullah said the party had a long-standing demand for a
special package for Jammu and Kashmir. |
Santushti complex a security hazard: MoD NEW DELHI, Oct 10 (PTI) — The controversial Santushti commercial complex on defence land near the Prime Minister’s official residence is a security hazard as it provides "rendezvous for espionage activities", a Ministry of Defence (MoD) document said. The document said a high-ranking MoD official had recommended an immediate closure of commercial activity and eviction of all "ineligible" allottees whose lease term had expired in March last year. "Gross and blatant irregularities" were committed in running the complex which was earlier under the control of the Air Force Wives Welfare Association (AFWWA), the document said. It said an inquiry was ordered after receiving "oral" information about certain "undesirable" activities in the complex with "possible threat to national security and having dangerous implications". The document said "although the MoD Chief Security Officer, who conducted the inquiry, did not find any evidence of undesirable activities, he has concluded that the existence and maintenance of Santushti complex is a security hazard and his implied recommendation is to wind it up forthwith." The Delhi High Court has also said the MoD should take immediate steps to "throw" out all non-eligible occupants from the complex and refused to grant further six months time to the ministry. The continuance of "illegal" occupation of shops by "high-profile" people was challenged in the high court through a public interest litigation by advocate B.L. Wadhera. Meanwhile, MoD in a fresh affidavit on Friday informed the court that it had already issued notices to all shop owners to vacate the complex within a period of six months which would expire in November. Adjourning the hearing
to December 6, the court in an oral direction said the
"illegal" occupants should be thrown out from
the complex. |
Hits and misses of exit polls NEW DELHI, Oct 10 — The exit polls are here to stay if the projections by the pollsters and the final results of the general election are any indication. While the trend projections at the national-level were much near the mark, at the state level, the pollsters could not fathom the mood of the electorate. Two agencies C-Voter and Insight were able to predict the seats for the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance within the margin of error. However, for the Congress and its allies and others the projections of pollsters went haywire. Mr Yashwant Deshmukh of C-Voter and Mr G.V.L. Narasimha Rao of the Development and Research Services (DRS) said there were differences in their projections and the final outcome. However, the pollsters were able to gauge the mood of the electorate and predict the trend, which is more important than the actual number seats projected for each particular party or alliance, they told Tribune News Service. The Insight/Star TV predicted that the BJP-Akali alliance in Punjab would completely sweep the poll in Punjab, which came as a cropper as the Shiromani Akali Dal could manage to win only two of the 13 seats in the state. The C-Voter/Jain TV, however, predicted rout of the BJP-SAD alliance in Punjab. However, the C-Voter failed in its prediction for Gujarat where it had claimed that the BJP would suffer losses. The Development and Research Services (DRS)/DD predicted that the saffron wave would completely sweep the state. The BJP secured 20 of the 26 Lok Sabha seats in the state. The pollsters faltered in their predictions in UP. While Insight-Star TV predicted 48-52 seats for the BJP, the DRS stated that the BJP would get 46 seats. The C-Voter, however, stated that the BJP would lose up to 30 seats. The final tally from the state reads 29 seats for the BJP, 26 for the SP, 14 for BSP, 10 for the Congress and six seats for others and Independents. Andhra Pradesh was another state where the exit poll predictions went haywire. The DRS predicted heavy gains for the Congress and the Insight in its exit poll analysis stated that the BJP-TDP alliance would sweep the poll. The TDP-BJP won 36 seats and the Congress five. At the national level, the C-Voters/Jain TV exit poll projected gave 291 seats for the NDA, 147 seats for the Congress and its allies and 87 seats for others. The Insight/Star TV exit poll projection stated 295-305 seats for the NDA, 145-155 seats for the Congress and 85-95 seats for others. While the exit poll conducted by the DRS/Doordarshan projected 287 for the NDA, 174 for the Congress and 77 seats for others. The final results of the 13th general election, however, were 296 seats for the NDA, 134 for the Congress and 107 for others. Mr Yashwant Deshmukh of C-Voters, told Tribune News Service that the verdict of the people had shown pollsters were right in assessing the mood of the people and were able to predict the final outcome. "The marginal difference in the number of seats as predicted by C-Voter and the final tally reinforces the reliability of Exit polls, which were questioned by the politicians," he said. However, Mr G.V.L. Narasimha Rao of the DRS said the difference in the projection and the final result was primarily because of the local factors. The future elections in the country, Mr Deshmukh said would be fought by two main electoral allies and the regional parties would play a crucial role in it. While Mr Rao emphasised
the need for "sample spread across the country
rather than increase sample size" for better
projections, Mr Deskmukh said "quantitative sample
and qualitative analysis" would give more accurate
projections. |
Laloo warns party men PATNA, Oct 10 (PTI) — RJD President Laloo Prasad Yadav today warned his party men against indiscipline following criticism of party’s Working President Ranjan Prasad Yadav by Bihar minister Shyam Rajak and defeated RJD nominee from Patna Ramkripal Yadav. The RJD President said he had taken serious note of the criticism and would take suitable action against Mr Ramkripal Yadav and Mr Rajak, who told a private TV channel that the party’s Working President was to be blamed for the defeat of Mr Laloo Prasad Yadav in Madhepura and Mr Ramkripal Yadav in Patna. The two are considered close to Mr Laloo Prasad Yadav. "I have full
respect for Ranjanji who has made an immense contribution
to the RJD .... He is part of our family and my old
friend. I will not tolerate anyone slinging mud against
him," the RJD chief said in a statement. |
No. 13 proves lucky for Vajpayee again! NEW DELHI, Oct 10 (PTI) — The number 13 is not as ominous as most make it out to be. At least, not for Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee and his BJP-led coalition, which continues to believe otherwise. Mr Vajpayee will be sworn in on October 13. The first BJP-led government at the Centre lasted only 13 days in 1996. Then, Mr Vajpayee's second innings as Prime Minister in 1998 also lasted only 13 months from March 1998 to April 1999. He will now be Prime Minister in the 13th Lok Sabha. And, Mr Vajpayee comes in for a third term as new Prime Minister on that date after a victorious win by the National Democratic Alliance whopping nearly 300 seats in the 545 member Lok Sabha. A jubilant L.K. Advani announced today that Mr Vajpayee will be sworn on October 13, and indication that number 13 for the BJP-led government rings the bell of success. October 13 in the Hindu
calendar is the fourth day after the new moon —
Chaturthi, which is auspicious enough for the new
government to bring the country back on the rails. |
Front’s defeat: TNCC rejects Jaya’s claim CHENNAI, Oct 10 (PTI) — The TNCC today rejected AIADMK leader Jayalalitha’s claim that the Congress party’s failure to project a Prime Ministerial candidate had led to the defeat of their alliance in Tamil Nadu and instead blamed her for spoiling the front’s prospects. In a statement TNCC General Secretary K. Sakthivel said Jayalalitha’s failure to share an electoral platform with Congress President Sonia Gandhi had certainly created a "negative" impact on the front’s chances. He said the Congress tradition had been to seek votes on basis of its principles and programmes and never had it projected anyone as a prospective Prime Minister before the elections. The convention had been to let the Congress Parliamentary Party elect its leader after the polls. Blaming AIADMK volunteers for not doing enough to ensure Congress candidates’ victory, Mr Sakthivel said. "Jayalalitha had ‘dumped’ on the Congress only those constituencies in which the alliance had very little chance", he alleged. Another reason was the
AIADMK fielding nominees who did not know Tamil and were
mired in corruption cases. |
CTBT issue: India on strong
wicket NEW DELHI, Oct 10 — The US Senate’s refusal to ratify the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) resulting in President Bill Clinton’s discomfiture offers an opportunity to the Vajpayee government to prepare its strategy for maximising the national interest on this vital issue having a direct bearing on the country’s security. With the Vajpayee government all set to assume charge next week with a fresh popular mandate, the stage is set for preparing ground for "creating the widest possible consensus domestically" so that the national interests could not only be protected but furthered internationally . The External Affairs Minister, Mr Jaswant Singh, had clearly outlined the country’s stand on the CTBT last month when he told the UN General Assembly in New York that "India was engaged in discussions on a range of issues including the CTBT". "These discussions are in process and will be resumed by the newly elected government. Our position remains consistent. We remain ready to bring these discussions to a successful conclusion." "Naturally, this requires the creation of a positive environment as we work towards creating the widest possible consensus domestically", Mr Jaswant Singh had said while outlining the country’s approach on the issue. The Clinton Administration, faced with a possibility of defeat of the CTBT in the US Senate, is in trouble. The appeal made by Mr Clinton yesterday to the Senators to postpone a vote on the CTBT, has to be viewed in this background. Despite the US President’s numerous assurances to his political opponents, the Senate is not yet ready to ratify. The issue becomes more clear in the words of the US Secretary of State, Ms Madeleine Albright. She had said the postponement of vote on the CTBT would not be for a long period. "It would be a very bad signal for this treaty to be voted out in terms of diplomatic activities that I must carry on with India and Pakistan and the discussions with our NATO allies who are in favour of it. The signal would be that the USA would not be in a leadership position on non-proliferation issues", Ms Albright stated yesterday. Since the US President is very keen to get the signatures of both India and Pakistan on the CTBT, it would be prudent for New Delhi not to rush in for signing the treaty and instead evolve a strategy for exploiting the differences within the US on the treaty to India’s advantage. The Indo-US dialogue on security, non-proliferation and related issues has to begin between Mr Jaswant Singh and the US Deputy Secretary of State, Mr Strobe Talbott where New Delhi has an excellent opportunity to unfold its strategy. Many important US
officials from Washington are expected here in the coming
weeks. With the visit of Mr Clinton to India early next
year being a strong possibility, New Delhi appears to be
on a strong wicket. |
Violence, arson in Sikkim GANGTOK, Oct 10 (PTI) — Large-scale violence marked return of the Sikkim Democratic Front to power in the state with shops being damaged, vehicles burnt and houses attacked even as Chief Minister designate Pawan Chamling alleged the incidents were an attempt to "tarnish" his party's image. "I have already issued strict instructions to the law enforcing agencies to deal with the situation firmly and effectively, he said in a statement. Incidents of arson and
alleged attacks on opposition supporters were reported
from Singtam, Pakyong, Namchi areas of the state. |
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| 3 PWG militants killed HYDERABAD: Three militants of the banned People’s War Group (PWG), including a Dalam leader, were killed in an encounter with the police at Kaluvalathippa village in Anantapur district of Andhra Pradesh, on Saturday. The police said on Sunday that following a tip-off, the Special Enforcement Police rounded up a Naxal hideout and asked the Dalam members to surrender. When the extremists opened fire, the police returned the fire, killing three militants. — UNI 4 kids die of
‘mysterious’ disease 3 Bodo militants
shot 25-yr-old gives
birth to triplets Church to be
rebuilt |
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