Sunday, October 24, 1999
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Accused shifted funds:
CBI |
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Pawar rules out rejoining
Congress Strike threat by bus operators
Rabri’s brother threatens to
quit RJD ITBP, Doordarshan on warpath 96 cr to be spent on HP farmers
HPCC seeks OBC status for Jats Conference on arthroplasty |
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Accused shifted funds: CBI NEW DELHI, Oct 23 — The CBI has alleged that the Swedish Arms Manufacturer, A. B. Bofors, continued to retain W. N. Chadha and paid him heavy commission despite knowing the policy of the Government of India not to have middlemen. The Bureau, which filed its first charge sheet in the Rs 1437 crore gun deal and alleged kickbacks in it, also charged that the firm went to the extent of entering into fresh consultancy agreement with A. E. Services of the United Kingdom in November, 1985 allegedly at the behest of Ottavio Quattrocchi who has been described as a "family friend of the then PM". The CBI said that despite being asked in May, 1985 to dispense with the services of agents, Bofors responded only in March, 1986 and maintained that Anatronic Corporation of Chadha was for providing administrative services. It charged that prior to August, 1985 Quattrocchi had contacted on Mr Myles Stott of A. E. Services, who entered into consultancy with Bofors in November, 1985 to pay 3 per cent of fee of total value of contract on pro-rata against each payment. The agreement would cease by April 1, 1986 if the contract of purchase of the field guns was not awarded to Bofors. The Government of India signed the letter of intent on March 14, 1986. Basing its case on the documents, the bureau said that SEK 504,63,996 (Approximately 7.3 million US dollars) which was exactly 3 per cent of the advance paid by the Government of India to Bofors on September 3, 1986, to Swiss Bank account 18051-53 in Nordfinanz Bank, Zurich. It said A. E. Services transferred 71,23,900 US dollars to account number 254.561.60 W of Colbar Investments Limited, Panama with Union Bank of Switzerland, Geneva in September, 1986. Further $ 79,43,000 were transferred to account 488.320.60 X of Wetleson Overseas at Union Bank of Switzerland in July, 1988, from where in May, 1990 an amount of $ 9.2 million was transferred to account 123983 of International Investment Development Company, Ansbacher, Guernsey, Channel Islands. The accounts of Colbar investments and Wetleson Overseas were being controlled allegedly by Quattrocchi and his wife Maria, whose role is still being investigated. The bureau further alleged that within 10 days of the receipt in Guernsey, the entire amount of $ 9.2 million was further channelised to various accounts in Switzerland and Austria. Bofors, the bureau said, also had consultancy agreement with Svenska since 1978 which enjoined upon Bofors to pay a commission to Svenska Inc in respect of any contract signed in India, Sri Lanka and Nepal. The agreement was modified from time to time and in January, 1986, it was agreed that 3.2 per cent of ex-works value would go to Svenska (2.24 per cent on advance and 0.96 per cent on pro-rata against delivery payments). The bureau alleged that while Chadha had denied connection or knowledge with Svenska, he had full power of attorney with right to open and operate account of Svenska and also substitute anybody else's name in place of his own. Basing its investigations on the Swiss bank accounts documents it received, the bureau said that it clearly established that a total amount equivalent to SEK 19,21,56,200 (approximately $27 million) was paid by Bofors to Svenska between April, 1986, and March, 1987, and the same was credited to the account of Win Chadha with Swiss Bank Corporation, Geneva. The Bureau said that it
had been established through investigations that agents
continued to exist and were paid huge sums of commission
and charged that the assurance by Bofors that they did
not have agents was false. |
Pokhran tests: Army ‘‘not consulted’’ NEW DELHI,,Oct 23 (PTI) — Armed forces were "not consulted" by government before the nuclear tests in Pokhran in May last year, a retired General said today. "This momentous decision was taken solely on the advice of clever scientists and bureaucrats who lacked constitutional responsibility or accountability. The military chiefs had not been consulted about a matter, which had far reaching security consequences," Lt-Gen (retd) Eric A. Vas said while delivering the Field Marshal Cariappa Memorial Lecture here. General Vas maintained that Pokhran-II underground nuclear tests were followed by "a period of confusion with several ministers making irresponsible and contradictory statements. "In April 1998, to fulfil its election manifesto and also to offset criticism or irresponsible ad hocism, the government appointed a Special Task Force (STF) under the chairmanship of Mr K.C. Pant to make recommendations on a proposed National Security Council," he said. General Vas said there was an urgent need to reform and integrate the Defence Ministry and three service headquarters, implying that such occurrences did not recur. Stating that the STF recommendations should be examined by the government, he sought a high-level review of all aspects of intelligence and involvement of ruling and opposition parties in the selection of top officials of security and intelligence agencies. The General, who earlier was General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Eastern Command, said after the operations in Sri Lanka (Op Pavan) and in Maldives (Op Cactus), ‘‘many MPs belonging to different political parties were unhappy with the politico-military decision making system.’’ They openly spoke of the need for some institutionalised form of security advisory board, with the BJP mentioning in its poll manifesto such issues like setting up of a national security council and reviewing of India’s nuclear strategy. When BJP-led government came to power last year, Defence Minister George Fernandes ‘‘was quick to sense the resentment underlying the relationship between civil servants of his ministry and the military. ‘‘However, no one spoke of the equally urgent need to modernise the antiquated defence system at the service headquarters/Defence Ministry level,’’ General Vas said, adding the Arun Singh report on reforming the defence system ‘‘continued to gather dust in the cupboards of South Block’’. Referring to Rajiv Gandhi’s premiership, he said after the Sri Lanka and Maldives operations, ‘‘a strategic shift’’ occurred in the traditional role of the armed forces who were ‘‘now being ordered to defend India’s interests beyond our geographical borders’’. ‘‘This radical change of role was decided without even a debate in Parliament. It was done on the whims of an immature PM based on the perceptions and advice of bureaucrats who lacked responsibility or accountability,’’ he said. The General, to improve
and reform the defence system, stressed on creating a
separate Secretariat of the National Security Council to
ensure efficient managerial support. |
President launches anti-polio drive NEW DELHI, Oct 23 (PTI) — President K.R. Narayanan and First Lady Usha Narayanan today administered oral polio drops to five children to formally launch the fifth annual pulse polio immunisation (PPI) programme. Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare N.T. Shanmugam, Delhi’s Health Minister A.K. Walia and representatives of Japan, Germany, the UK and international donor agencies, including the World Health Organisation, the World Bank, UNICEF, the United Nations Population Fund and Rotary International, were present. The first national immunisation round will be held tomorrow, when more than 13 crore children under five years are expected to be immunised across the country. The Rs 500-crore intensified anti-polio drive this year will witness additional immunisation rounds. Unlike the past when
there were two rounds of pulse polio immunisation —
one in December and another in January — there will
now be four PPI rounds — on October 24, November 21,
December 19 and January 23 next year — Shanmugam
said. |
Pawar rules out rejoining Congress NEW DELHI, Oct 23 (PTI) — NCP leader Sharad Pawar has ruled out his re-entry into the Congress saying "a second rung of leadership" with Priyanka and Rahul was getting ready and had no regrets over damaging the Congress’ prospects in Lok Sabha elections in Maharashtra. "I don’t see any possibility (of returning to the Congress) that is out of question. A second line leadership is getting ready. Sonia to be followed by Priyanka, Priyanka by Rahul, the booking is quite heavy there," he told "Janata Ki Adalat" programme on Star Plus, a release by the network said. He said the Congress would have won 40 Lok Sabha seats from Maharashtra and the "government here would not have been Vajpayee’s but Sonia Gandhi’s and we would have not allowed that. That’s why whatever we did, was in the nation’s interest." Mr Pawar said the Congress lost the Lok Sabha elections because of Sonia’s foreign origin issue. About her winning from two constituencies, he said there was a "world of difference" between becoming an MP and the country’s PM and added that if people wanted her to become the Prime Minister the party would not have got just 112 seats. Mr Pawar said he had no "personal animosity" with Sonia Gandhi but was of the view that to run the country "we need people of capacity and experience and one who is close to the people. Foreigners do not have this closeness, that’s our experience." However, he justified his party’s coalition with the Congress in Maharashtra saying there was no question of Sonia Gandhi becoming Chief Minister. "No government
could have been formed in the state without the
NCP’s support. On one hand was Bal Thackeray, on the
other the Congress.... It was difficult for us to go with
Thackeray. Going with the Congress was a political
compulsion. We forged an alliance on the basis of two
things — minimum agreed programme and half a share
in the government," he said. |
Strike threat by bus operators NEW DELHI, Oct 23 — Private bus operators, functioning under kilometre scheme of the Delhi Transport Corporation, today threatened to go on strike on November 1 to press for their demand of doubling the rate from Rs 10 to Rs 20 per KM since the DTC had also doubled its fares. The bus operators are on a relay dharna-cum-fast since yesterday in front of AICC headquarters here, demanding intervention by Congress President Mrs Sonia Gandhi. The owners of 2500 private buses claimed that they had been instrumental in bringing the Congress to power in Delhi in the last Assembly elections. The president of the Rashtriya Parivahan Panchayat, Mr Ramesh Dalal, which is spearheading the agitation, said they should not be held responsible for the DTC’s failure and financial loss. The DTC's loss is only due to corruption and mismanagement. He said at present the DTC was getting about Rs 3000 from every bus and private operators under the KM scheme were being paid Rs 2250 by the DTC. After hiking the fares, the DTC was earning Rs 6000 per day from every bus. "We are demanding
only Rs 4450 per day for a bus. The DTC will still earn
more than Rs 1500 a day if it accepts our demand,"
Mr Dalal said. |
Scribes’ wage panel report by Dec 31 NEW DELHI, Oct 23 (UNI) — Union Minister of State for Labour Muni Lall today reiterated that the government was firm in its commitment about the announcement of the Manisana Singh Wage Boards' final report by December 31, this year. Talking to a delegation of the Delhi Union of Journalists (DUJ) and the Delhi State Newspaper Employees Federation (DSNEF) today, he conceded that there was an inordinate delay in the announcement of tentative proposals of the wage boards. When reminded about repeated assurances in the past by his predecessors, he said it is a word from a bureaucrat and not a politician. He further said that he had talked to the Wage Boards' Chairman Manisana Singh in the morning and told him to expedite the report. Earlier in the day, employees of newspapers and news agencies staged a dharna at the Indian Newspaper Society (INS) building. The delegation submitted
a memorandum to the INS, protesting against delay in
finalising the tentative proposals and final
recommendations of the wage board. |
Rabri’s brother threatens to quit RJD PATNA, Oct 23 (UNI) — Bihar Chief Minister Rabri Devi’s brother, Mr Anirudh Prasad, alias Sadhu Yadav, today threatened to quit the Rashtriya Janata Dal unless action was taken against five ministers who allegedly conspired to defeat party candidates in the Lok Sabha elections. "I will quit the party if the five ministers who hatched a conspiracy to ensure the defeat of several candidates and were involved in tarnishing the image of RJD President Laloo Yadav are not dropped immediately’’, Mr Sadhu Yadav told UNI here. He said he would talk to Mr Laloo Yadav tomorrow and if he did not agree to drop the five cabinet ministers immediately, he would leave the party. The persons targeted by Mr Sadhu Yadav are Road Construction Minister Illiyas Hussain, Education Minister Jay Prakash Narayan Yadav, Public Health Engineering Department Minister Munsi Lal Rai, Energy Minister Rabindra Charan Yadav and Health Minister Mahavir Prasad. He accused the ministers
of indulging in corrupt practices and siphoning off funds
to ensure the defeat of party candidates in the
elections. |
ITBP, Doordarshan on warpath NEW DELHI, Oct 23 — The Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) today decided to take Doordarshan head on for banning telecast by chiefs of paramilitary forces by instructing all its permanent stations along the Indo-China international border to unplug the Doordarshan’s transmission. The ITBP Director-General, Mr Gautam, Kaul, decided to take this extreme step, which has the potential of ballooning into a major controversy, after the Prasar Bharati refused to give him time to address his troops stationed in the remote regions along the Indo-China border, on the occasion of the raising day of the force, which falls tomorrow. As a result, the ITBP has also decided to extend invitation to the other private channels to cover its raising day celebrations in Dehra Dun and telecast it for the benefit of its troops. Till now it was mandatory for all ITBP permanent stations to only beam Doordarshan channels and the viewing of other private channels was not allowed. However, the decision to allow the stations to tune to any of the private channels came after Doordarshan refused the ITBP time for the second year in running. The ITBP had sought a time of five minutes for the address of its DG to his troops on Doordarshan. The paramilitary force was also ready to take the time on payment, but Doordarshan did not agree. Officials of the ITBP were told that the Prasar Bharati had taken a policy decision to allow just the heads of the three wings of the armed forces to address their troops on Doordarshan. It banned the use of the official media by the heads of all other forces, including the paramilitary forces. The ban has come into force for the past two years. Before that the heads of all paramilitary forces were also allowed to address their troops on Doordarshan. As per reports, Mr Kaul has written to all permanent stations in his jurisdiction in the Himalayas stating that the ITBP personnel were under no compulsion to view only Doordarshan programmes and can request change of channels giving their options for other private channels. This will affect 190 television stations of ITBP necklaced in the inner Himalayas and providing news and information through satellite communication. The ITBP had strongly protested and said the paramilitary forces were as much constitutional institutions as the armed forces, and the Director-Generals of the paramilitary units had been using Doordarshan to address their forces stationed all over the country as well as the general public. When contacted, Doordarshan officials said they had no comments to offer and added that they were only implementing the policy decision taken by the Prasar Bharati board. When pointed out that being a national force, the ITBP could not unplug the Doordarshan, specially since it was stationed in the sensitive areas along the Indo-China border, the officials said it was for the government to look at this aspect. However, the spokesman for the ITBP said when Doordarshan was not bothered to give us time so that our Director-General could address the troops stationed in the remote regions of the country, then why should we feel obliged to tune to the national broadcaster only. When pointed out that
the ITBP was apparently adopting strong arm tactics, the
spokesman agreed and said that it was now up to
Doordarshan to come to a compromise. |
96 cr to be spent on HP
farmers NEW DELHI, Oct 23 — Himachal Pradesh has fixed a target of 17.02 lakh tonnes (LT) foodgrain production for current financial year. The Himachal Pradesh Agriculture Minister, Mr Vidya Sagar, who met the Union Minister of State for Agriculture, Mr Hukam Narain Dev Yadav, told him that out of a total 55.67 hectares, 6.21 lakh hectares, had been brought under cultivation in the state. Mr Sagar said 16 lakh tonnes foodgrain production had been recorded last year and with hybrid varieties of seeds, improved latest implements and tools, and other incentives, per hectare yield would register growth. He said Rs 96 crore would be spent to provide facilities and incentives to the farmers in the state during the current financial year. He demanded a special
central package for checking soil erosion in the state. |
HPCC seeks OBC status for
Jats NEW DELHI, Oct 23 — The Haryana Pradesh Congress Committee (HPCC) today demanded that Jats, Jat Sikhs, Bishnois, Tyagis and Rors in the state be accorded OBC status. In a statement issued here, the HPCC President, Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda, said that when Jats had been accorded OBC status in Rajasthan and Delhi, there should be no discrimination against them in Haryana. He said that the Gurnam Singh Commission set up by the state earlier had already recommended inclusion of Jats, Jat Sikhs, Bishnois, Rors and Tyagis among others, in the list of OBCs. He said the Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala should clarify whether or not he was going to implement these recommendations and accord OBC status to these communities. Complimenting the
Congress President, Mrs Sonia Gandhi for her forthright
announcement at Jaipur during an election rally that the
party would accord such a status to Jats, Mr Hooda said
the Chief Minister of Rajasthan, Mr Ashok Gehlot and
Delhi Chief Minister, Mrs Sheila Dikshit should be
congratulated for taking a positive step in according OBC
status to Jats in their respective states. |
Basu softens stand towards
Vajpayee CALCUTTA, Oct 23 — West Bengal Chief Minister Jyoti Basu has expressed a diametrically opposite view on the implications of Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee’s contention regarding secularism and national unity. Mr Vajpayee, on his assumption of office, underscored the need for strengthening secularism and national unity among people of different castes and communities. The CPI (M) politburo took a tough stand vis-a-vis Mr Vajpayee, describing his words as "meaningless" in view of the apprehension created among the minority communities by his party’s "Hindutva line." But Mr Basu expressed satisfaction over the Prime Minister’s determination to strengthen "unity in diversity." The Chief Minister’s attitude towards Mr Vajpayee indicated a marked change and is likely to set in motion a process of reconciliation as far as the Centre-state relationship is concerned. The change in Mr Basu’s attitude towards the Prime Minister became quite apparent during a telephonic conversation between the two leaders. While Mr Vajpayee inquired about Mr Basu’s health, the latter went out of his way to hail his remarks on national unity after assumption of the office. "This is a welcome development as many persons in your party do not believe in the principle of unity in diversity", he told Mr Vajpayee. The Chief Minister had earlier written a letter congratulating him for becoming the Prime Minister. Mr Basu even expressed his eagerness to meet him at an early date to discuss the fate of the state’s pending projects. The Chief Minister’s reconciliatory gesture towards Mr Vajpayee is in sharp contrast to the confrontationist stand he adopted in 1998, describing his government as "uncivilised and barbaric." Mr Basu had then refrained from sending any congratulatory message to Mr Vajpayee and even initially declined to meet him. There has also been simultaneous change in the veteran Marxist’s attitude towards his bete noire in West Bengal, Ms Mamata Banerjee, after she took over as the Union Railway Minister. Mr Basu’s hope that she will do some good work as the Railway Minister has also evoked a positive response from the Trinamool Congress leader. "I welcome the Chief Minister’s stand and expect full cooperation from the state government to ensure the completion of pending railway projects," she observed before her departure for Delhi. The tune of reconciliation set in motion by Mr Basu has prompted others like state Transport Minister, Subhas Chakraborty and Urban Development Minister Ashok Bhattacharya to seek Ms Banerjee’s cooperation and help to expedite work on the state projects. Mr Chakraborty has gone a step further and sent a fax message to the Trinamool Congress supremo on her assumption of office. He also intends to have a detailed discussion with her on the pending railway projects. "We have no dispute with Ms Mamata Banerjee. Our differences are on a political level. We can always talk in West Bengal’s interest and I hope she will play her new role well," he observed. All this indicates that Mr Basu and his loyalists do not want the Left Front government to adopt a confrontationist stand which marked its relationship with the Centre during Mr Vajpayee’s tenure as the Prime Minister last time. The state CPM, however, is somewhat uncertain about the strategy it should adopt regarding Ms Banerjee in view of the changed political circumstances at the national level. The party knows that the Trinamool Congress will gain considerable political mileage before the next Assembly poll if she is successful in expediting work on the pending projects. The party, therefore, intends to intensify its "stir for early completion of the projects" so that it can claim credit in the event of their completion. Ms Banerjee too is facing a dilemma. Her enhanced status as the Union Railway Minister will require her to spend more time in Delhi than in Calcutta. Naturally she may not be able to giver her full attention to her party, already beset with organisational problems. Her immediate aim, is to capture the Calcutta Municipal Corporation which goes to the polls next year. The CPM is aware of Ms
Banerjee’s intentions, but wants to follow a
cautious policy of "wait and watch."— ANI |
Conference on arthroplasty NEW DELHI, Oct 23 — The first international conference on arthroplasty (the science of joint replacement) is beginning on October 30. The two-day conference, being organised by the Asia Pacific Arthroplasty Society, will be inaugurated by Mumbai-based orthopaedic surgeon, Dr Dholakia. The secretary of the society, Dr Ashok Rajgopal told TNS here today that the latest developments in arthroplasty will be discussed during the meeting. He said that over 250
delegates from India and abroad were expected to
participate in the conference. The list of participants
includes over 22 specialists from Australia, Japan,
Singapore, Taiwan, USA, UK and Italy. |
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| Netaji ‘did
not’ die in air crash CALCUTTA: The high-powered Netaji Probe Steering Committee, formed recently to assist the third inquiry commission to investigate the mysterious "disappearance" of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, has reiterated that Bose did not die in the 1945 air crash. Addressing mediapersons here on Friday after a two-day meeting of the 11-member committee, its Secretary-General and Forward Bloc MP Debabrata Biswas, Netaji Research Foundation Chairman V.P. Saini and Dr Purabi Roy, leading research scholar on Netaji’s mysterious disappearance, refuted the reports of two government commissions — the Shah Nawaz Khan Commission of 1956 and the Khosla Commission of 1970 — that Netaji indeed died in an August, 1945, crash in South Asia. — UNI Anand Sharma bereaved Naxalites behead
youth Man poisons
daughters, kills self Police team
attacked 8 killed in
truck-car collision Lightning kills
three Woman kills 4
children, herself |
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