Wednesday, October 20, 1999
|
N A T I O N |
|
weather  spotlighttoday's calendar |
 |
 |
|
|
Lok Sabha’s 8-day
session starts today 28 take oath as ministers in
Maharashtra |
 |
 New Delhi: Former Union Minister Madan Lal Khurana joins the immersion of goddess Durga's idol in the river Yamuna, in New Delhi on Tuesday. PTI photo
|
|
Sushma not keen on
Bellary Communication Ministry loses
glitter
MP officials in the dock Motor congress continues stir Ray keen to be WBPCC chief Make
krishi kendras efficient: minister |
||||||
 |
|||||||
Lok Sabha’s 8-day session starts today NEW DELHI, Oct 19 (PTI) — The Lok Sabha is all set to commence a fresh term from tomorrow with the elections having broken a decade-long jinx of a hung Parliament and a multi-party combination given a clear majority to form the government. The first two days would be devoted to oath-taking by the newly elected members with pro-tem Speaker Indrajit Gupta conducting the proceedings. Mr Gupta, the senior most member in the House, will take over as pro-tem Speaker at a ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan shortly before the 13th Lok Sabha begins tomorrow. Ever since 1989, Lok Sabha elections have returned only a hung verdict. The highlight of the eight-day session would be election of the Speaker and the vote on the motion of thanks to the President’s address to the joint sitting of the House on October 25. The Speaker’s election is scheduled for October 22 and according to present indications the incumbent G.M.C. Balayogi of Telugu Desam is likely to get a second term in view of the clout his party is expected to wield following its decision to give outside support of 29 MPs to the BJP-led NDA government. Mr Balayogi’s election as Speaker in the last Lok Sabha was dramatic when he rushed in from Hyderabad just before the deadline to file his nomination as a quid pro quo for Telugu Desam extending support to the minority Vajpayee government. Interest will now be centred on who will get the Deputy Speaker’s post — the ruling side or the Opposition. In the last Lok Sabha, the post had to be conceded to the main Opposition Congress as the BJP did not want a division in the ruling combine. Other highlights of the session will include the maiden entry of Mrs Sonia Gandhi, who was targeted by the BJP and its allies on account of her foreign origin and her possible accession to the post of Leader of the Opposition. Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee will be the first Prime Minister outside the Nehru-Gandhi family to occupy the highest political office for a third time. Both Houses of Parliament will discuss the President’s address containing the policies and programmes of the new government which will have to be adopted. The session is likely to
end on October 29. |
28 take oath as ministers in Maharashtra MUMBAI, Oct 19 (PTI) — A 28-member Congress and NCP-led multi-party ministry, headed by Mr Vilasrao Deshmukh, took over the reins of administration in Maharashtra with the Chief Minister, inducting 12 Cabinet ministers and 14 ministers of state today. At a simple function at Raj Bhavan this afternoon, Governor P.C. Alexander administered the oath of office and secrecy to 12 Cabinet-rank ministers — six from the Congress, five from the NCP and one from the Peasants and Workers Party (PWP) — and 14 ministers of state. Mr Surusingh Naik, Mr Patangrao Kadam, Mr Hussain Dalwai, Mr Ashok Chavan, Jayant Awale and Shivajirao Moghe (all Congress), Padamsinh Patil, Vijaysingh Mohite, Madhukar Pichad, Ajit Pawar and Vikramsinh Patankar (all NCP) and Ganpatrao Deshmukh (PWP) were sworn in as Cabinet ministers. Those sworn in as Ministers of State were Vasudhatai Deshmukh, Kripashankar Singh, Rajendra Darda and Chandrakant Shiwarkar (all Congress), Vimal Mundada, Hemant Deshmukh, Sunil Tatkare, M. P. Hirani and Rajendra Shingne (all NCP), Nawab Malik (SP), Minakshi Patil and Mohan Patil (PWP), Dada Jadhavrao (JD-Secular) and Surekha Khumbare (RPI-Gavai). Mr Deshmukh and Deputy
Chief Minister Chhagan Bhujbal were sworn in yesterday. |
Sushma not keen on Bellary NEW DELHI, Oct 19 (PTI) — Ms Sushma Swaraj, who gave a tough fight to Sonia Gandhi in Bellary, today said she was not keen on contesting again the seat vacated by the Congress President. "I will not contest again from Bellary. I had gone there under special circumstances to fight Sonia Gandhi and not the Congress", she told PTI when asked to comment on Sonia’s decision to vacate Bellary seat and retain Amethi. Terming her decision to resign from Bellary as "routine", she said she had been able to explode the "myth" that Bellary was the safest constituency for the Congress as it had returned the party in all Lok Sabha elections so far. Ms Swaraj, who lost to
Sonia by over 56,000 votes, said she got lead in two
assembly segments. |
Fervour, gaiety mark Dasehra NEW DELHI, Oct 19 (UNI) — ‘Dasehra’, marking the end of the nine-day Navratri festival, was today celebrated throughout the country with religious fervour and enthusiasm. A report from Mysore said Karnataka Chief Minister S. M. Krishna inaugurated the festivites by offering puja to the traditional ‘nandidwaja’ in front of the Mysore Palace. Security guards fired 21 rounds in the air as the procession began. Tableaux depicting the state’s heritage and development also formed part of the procession, the star attraction of which was Project Tiger. A report from Hyderabad said Ram Lila and other cultural programmes were organised to mark the occasion in Andhra Pradesh. The celebrations were preceded by the traditional Ayudha Puja in various factories and work places. In Bihar, incessant rain marred the festive mood, a Patna report said. Several puja pandals in Jamshedpur, Katihar, were damaged in the strong winds and very few devotees ventured out. In Ranchi, and other
places in southern Bihar, which have a considerable
Bengali population, for which Durga Puja is the main
festival, heavy rain played spoilsport. |
Communication Ministry loses glitter NEW DELHI, Oct 19 — The Communication Ministry will lose much of its glitter following the Government’s decision to carve out a new ministry and a department in the same sector — the Information Technology Ministry and the Department of Telecom Services. The most happening thing of the 21st century, Internet, and e-commerce would come under the ambit of the IT Ministry, which the Prime Minister has retained with himself for the present. The Ministry also encompasses the National Informatics Centre, which is headed by the Director-General, Mr N. Seshagiri. According to reports the creation of the IT Ministry is only the beginning and the government is planning to make it the nodal ministry for all Infotech related sectors. This would mean that some of the high technology sectors like the Direct to Home services under the Information and Broadcasting Ministry would come under the ambit of the newly created Ministry. Some more areas from the Communication Ministry would also have to be hived off to the IT Ministry. The National Telecom Policy is also of the opinion that there should be a convergence of technology in the field of communications and broadcasting and this objective is likely to be achieved by the IT Ministry. Similarly all bluechip public sector telecom companies like the MTNL, VSNL and Telecommunications Consultants would come under the purview of the Department of Telecom Services. The appointment of an IAS officer, Mr Vinod Vaish, as the Secretary of the new department has already created heartburn amongst the officers of the Indian Telecom Services and their union has threatened to launch a protest against the move. The Indian Telecom Services Union is of the opinion that the post should have been rightfully entrusted to an officer of their cadre. The new department, apart from having control of the top telecom companies, would also have under its charge the prestigious Centre for Development of Telematics, the Indian Telephone Industries and the Hindustan Teleprinters Ltd. The department would also be responsible for execution of works, purchase and acquisition of land debitable to capital budget pertaining to telecom. All financial sanctions relating to telecom services would be regulated by the new department. At the moment there is considerable overlapping of interests among the Department of Telecommunications, the Department of Telecom Services and the IT Ministry. For instance, while Internet has been made the responsibility of the IT Ministry, the spread of communication highway in the country is being undertaken by the DoT. The Communication
Minister, Mr Ram Vilas Paswan, recently spoke about a
proposal to launch “Internet dhabas” in the
country. Issues like these would have to be sorted to
ensure the smooth functioning of the three departments,
the sources said. |
Basu criticises telecom
policy CALCUTTA, Oct 19 — Mr Jyoti Basu has lashed out at the new telecom policy of the Vajpayee government which, he said, “will help the private operators at the cost of the government exchequer”. Mr Basu, who is at present holidaying at the sea-resort of the Sunderbans in South 24 Parganas, today sent a telegram to Mr Vajpayee urging him not to go ahead with the decision to implement the telecom policy in the “larger interests” of the country. The CPM and other Left
parties have decided to go launch an agitation all over
the country from October 21 against the Centre’s new
telecom policy. The Congress will also join hands with
the Left parties on the issue. |
Designer products for pets! NEW DELHI, Oct 19 (PTI) — It’s no longer a woman’s — or a man’s for that matter — prerogative to sport a well-groomed look as a whole range of products for animals — from designer dog coats to herbal beauty creams, deodorants and moisturisers — have hit the market. This growing market for animal grooming products has not only prompted departmental stores to set up separate sections for them but also many exclusive pet shops have come up in the past two years catering to the pets very needs. “From munchies and combs to fancy collars and leashes, or health food for pets, we offer everything a pet needs — all under one roof,” says Mohan Kumar, owner of a pet shop, noting “it is the vet’s advice and the customer’s goodwill that has led to a spurt in the demand for such products”. “Pet owners are fast becoming aware of the need for grooming the animal as leaving it dirty can not only be harmful for the pet but also for the whole household,” says Mr Gautam Grover, President, People for Animals, Delhi chapter. “Since it is not possible to make available all medicines and animal products to pet owners at the clinic, the pet shops are proving to be of great help,” says Dr Surinder Singh, a vet, adding that they not only help keep the pet clean and healthy but also the germs at bay. The range of products varies according to the seasons for in summer and monsoon when animals are plagued by ticks, special shampoos are available while in winter it is warm and chic dog coats which adorn the shelves of pet shops, says Camillia Satija, who has been selling pet products for the past 20 years. While protein-rich food is also available for fishes and exotic birds, it is the faithful dog, who has the widest variety of products ‘dedicated’ to its upkeep. For aquariums even coloured stones are available to give them a ‘marine’ look. Though there is no direct advertising being done for the pet products, owners are going in for them mainly on their vet’s advice. They are also widely sold at dog shows. “The market for such products has increased as people are now realising that even their pets need good care and for that they do not mind spending a little bit of money,” Satija says. “The products available till now were mostly imported and being expensive were never able to become popular with customers”, says Dr Singh. Also, as Indian pets are used to fresh food, the tinned dog food never sold that well as locally prepared ones, says Grover, adding that whole wheat vegetarian brand of dog biscuits and chews are not locally available and are very popular with the pet owners. However, with items like
dog sleep baskets coming for Rs 850 and a sack of dog
food priced at Rs 700, the market for animal products is
somewhat restricted to the upwardly mobile class. |
MP officials in the dock BHOPAL, Oct 19 — Slowly, the noose is tightening round the necks of several officials of the all-India and Madhya Pradesh cadres for their alleged complicity in the plunder of the forest wealth of Bastar. The CBI investigation against them is said to be at an advanced stage. The CBI was directed by the Supreme Court to investigate the matter and prosecute the culprits. This was after the state government had expressed its inability, through an affidavit sworn by Chief Secretary K.S. Sharma, to start an inquiry against the accused, comprising wealthy timber merchants, powerful politicians and influential bureaucrats. The CBI has registered two FIRs. The accused include Mr Narayan Singh, IAS, (former Commissioner of Bastar division), over six Additional Collectors who had been posted at Bastar between 1992 and 1996, a Congress MLA, a former BJP MLA and several others. The major allegation against the officials is that they “abused their respective official position and bestowed undue favours” on land owners and others and “illegally accorded permission in their favour for felling a large number of valuable timber trees on the basis of forged and fabricated documents and in utter disregard of the provisions of the Madhya Pradesh Protection of Aboriginal Tribes (Interest in Trees) Act, 1956, and Madhya Pradesh Land Revenue Code, 1959.” In flagrant violation of these provisions, the poor illiterate tribals of Bastar were made to sell their land at throwaway prices. The purchasers were timber merchants and local politicians, both tribal and non-tribal. They then acquired permission, again in violation of the law through the complicity of district officials, to cut the trees standing on the tribals’ lands and made money. The tribals did not get any thing out of this. In the Supreme Court a public interest litigation was moved by the S.R. Hiremath, President, National Committee for Protection of Natural Resources with the prayer to protect the forest wealth of Bastar region. Following a Supreme Court directive, the Lokayukta constituted a three-member committee comprising a retired district judge, a retired secretary to the Madhya Pradesh Government and a retired Chief Conservator of Forests to go into the matter. The state government
later placed under suspension 40 of its officers and
initiated action against 78 others. |
Motor congress continues stir NEW DELHI, Oct 19 — The relay fast by members of the All-India Motor Transport Congress (AIMTC) today entered its third day even as the officials of the Surface Transport Ministry held deliberations with office bearers of the organisation. According to a release issued here by the AIMTC, the newly appointed Secretary in the Ministry of Surface Transport, (Road wing) Mr Ashok Joshi, held discussions with the AIMTC delegation led by its president O.P. Aggarwal over the issue. The AIMTC has decided to suspend all work with effect from 6 am on Thursday. The AIMTC has demanded the immediate withdrawal of the hike in the prices of diesel. It has also demanded the withdrawal of toll charges. The AIMTC contention is that when the government is collecting road tax cess on diesel and the central road fund, where is the need for collecting toll charges. According to the
statement, the delegation, was assured that their demands
would be taken up with the Petroleum Ministry. Mr Joshi
was, however, non-committal regarding the withdrawal of
toll charges. |
Ray keen to be WBPCC chief CALCUTTA, Oct 19 — Mr S.S. Ray has been lobbying to become President of the West Bengal Pradesh Congress Committee (WBPCC) in place of the present incumbent, Mr A.B.A. Ghani Khan Chaudhury. The former Punjab Governor, who remained silent for the past 10 days after his defeat in the Lok Sabha poll by the Trinamool Congress candidate, Mr Sudip Bandopadhyya, from the Calcutta North-West seat, is once again active in politics. He has been busy meeting his old party colleagues and young leaders to seek their help in this regard. Mr Priya Das Munshi, MP, Mr Saugata Roy, MLA, and at least seven other MLAs have already decided to support him. However, others like Mr Somen Mitra and Mr Abdul Mannan are against Mr Ray’s entry into the state Congress as President. Mr Ray, a former Indian
Ambassador to the USA, has been out of politics for over
a decade, but he is now back in active politics. |
Make krishi kendras
efficient: minister NEW DELHI, Oct 19 — Minister of State for Agriculture, Hukamdev Narain Yadav has called upon the agricultural scientists to give greater emphasis on transfer of new technologies to the farmers. In a meeting to review the activities of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research here yesterday, Mr Yadav called for close monitoring of krishi vigyan kendras and make them more responsible and efficient. Expressing concern at the availability of spurious quality of fertilisers and pesticides, Mr Yadav said it not only damaged the current crop but also the soil for future generations. The meeting was attended
by the Director-General of ICAR, Dr R.S. Paroda and other
senior officials of the council. |
‘Illumination week’ concludes NEW DELHI, Oct 19 — The “illumination week” organised by the All-India General Secretary of the Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal), Mr Onkar Singh Thapar, to mark the victory of the National Democratic Alliance concluded here last night. On the concluding day of
the ‘illumination week’ held at Shaheed Bhagat
Singh Marg, a fireworks show and festive activities like
dholak beats and folk dances were organised, a release
issued by Mr Thapar said. |
| H |
|
||
| Artificial muscle
developed NEW DELHI: An artificial muscle that can turn and twist just like a human muscle is all set to change the world of surgery in the next century. A catheter fixed with such muscles can reach a pre-determined spot like the brain, which is otherwise difficult, finding its way through a complex network of arteries and veins. They can also be used in areas ranging from actuators in aircraft to toys, Mr Keiichi Kaneto, Professor at the Kyushu Institute of Technology, Japan, who developed this muscle, said — PTI Vice-President’s
visit cancelled Retrospective of
Ray’s films Badrinath to be
closed from Nov 20 CM assures
Gorkha Hill Council Flower-seller
beaten to death Tax evasion
detected Last jewellery
show of millennium |
 |
 |
| Punjab
| Haryana | Himachal Pradesh | Jammu & Kashmir | Chandigarh | | Editorial | Business | Sport | | Mailbag | Spotlight | World | 50 years of Independence | Weather | | Search | Subscribe | Archive | Suggestion | Home | E-mail | |
