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| Tuesday, February 22, 2000, Chandigarh, India  
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Clinton
visit, analysts differ Parliament debate on
‘Water’ sought Vajpayee’s signal to allies Cong move to drum up support ISI hand in train fire: Digvijay 2 special observers for Haryana SP shifted on EC’s directive
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Moroccan PM arrives,
visit to boost trade Cong assails govt’s foreign
policy
Media must take
‘corrective’ steps Scribes boycott PM’s
function, probe ordered Police told to open mahila
stations
|
Clinton visit, analysts differ NEW DELHI, Feb 21 — The visit of US President, Mr Bill Clinton, to India should not be viewed from a Pakistan centric perspective, analysts said here today. "India should be indifferent to whether Mr Clinton visits Pakistan or not," said former Foreign Secretary, S. K. Singh. However, Mr S. K. Arora, former Indian Ambassador and member of the BJP Foreign Affairs Committee, chose to differ. "The US President’s visit to Islamabad would have direct implication in India-Pakistan relationship. It would legitimise the rule of military ruler Gen Pervez Musharraf," he said. Mr Romesh Bhandari, former Governor and Foreign Secretary, said, "we should not view Mr Clinton’s visit to New Delhi from the Pakistan centric point of view." The Deputy Director of Institute of Defence Studies and Analysis Commodore C Uday Bhaskar said the United States of America could set benchmarks for Pakistan to achieve before proceeding to Islamabad. The analysts were taking part in a panel discussion on "Indo-US relation and Clinton’s visit to India," organised by Delhi Study Group. The panelists agreed that it was for the US administration to decide whether Mr Clinton should visit Islamabad or not and they would consider the Indian public opinion. The US opinion and the message it would send out to the global community before taking any decision. While the panelists differed on the Pakistani factor, they agreed that the issue of concerns for the two vibrant democracies was terrorism and they could cooperate. The economic cooperation between the two countries would be mutually beneficial, the panelists said. Tracing the reasons for the mutually antagonistic relationship between the USA and India in the past, the analysts said the two countries could forge a mutually beneficial relationship in the post cold war era. On the issue of security concern, Cdre Bhaskar said the two countries should enter into a relationship which would protect their national security interests. "Since the May 1998 nuclear explosion, there has been a considerable change in the US attitude towards India. The fact that the visit of US President is taking place, itself indicates the shift in the approach of the world’s only superpower," he said. During the visit, he said India should not address the nuclear issue that we send out the message that New Delhi is against disarmament. "India should continue to express its views of total disarmament and Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) should not come in the way of expressing India’s concerns for global arms race," he said. India should also try to
win over allies in European Union, China, Japan and
Russia just like it is trying to win over the USA, he
added. |
Parliament debate on ‘Water’ sought NEW DELHI, Feb 21 (UNI) — The Kashi Sanskriti Raksha Samiti, which has launched a tirade against Deepa Mehta’s "Water", today said there was an "international conspiracy" to malign Indian culture and demanded a national debate on the issue and discussion on the script of the controversial film in the coming session of Parliament. Dr Kaushal Kishore Mishra, spokesman for the Samiti, alleged at a press conference here that there was an international conspiracy to destroy the ancient culture and traditions of Kashi, which symbolised Indian ethos. Film-maker Deepa Mehta was merely being used as a tool. Asserting that they would not allow the shooting of the film "anywhere in the country", he said the samiti members had met Home Minister L.K. Advani for 45 minutes today and demanded that the script be taken up for discussion in the Parliament session beginning on Wednesday. When pointed out that the government had cleared the script and some objectionable parts had been removed from it the spokesman said that by removing "one or two words," the meaning and message did not change. "Our fight is against the basic theme of the film which denigrates Kashi and the widows of Kashi. The theme remains unchanged." Mr Mishra said Parliament should discuss the issue in its entirety, including whether any such foreign film which denigrates Indian culture, should be allowed to be made in India. He said Deepa Mehta was a Canadian national, although born in India, and therefore, could not claim benefits for freedom of expression under the Indian Constitution. On the invitation given
to Deepa Mehta by the Governments of Madhya Pradesh and
West Bengal for shooting of the film, he reiterated that
the samiti would not allow the film to be made anywhere
in the country. "They are all playing politics. The
film won’t have the same appeal and realism it would
have by being shot in Kashi. They all know that at the
end of it they would try to prevail upon the people of
Kashi to allow the film. But we won’t allow
that." |
Vajpayee’s signal to allies NEW DELHI, Feb 21 — By addressing a rally at Palwal on Sunday, ignoring the objections of BJP leaders, both at the Centre and in Haryana, the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, has given a subtle signal to his partners of the ruling National Democratic Alliance. The Prime Minister’s presence at Palwal is seen as a move to placate the INLD leader, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, who had made a prestige issue of it. The ostensible reason for Mr Chautala’s insistence on taking Mr Vajpayee to Palwal was that it would help him to influence not only the campaign in Palwal but in the adjoining three seats as well. However, observers see in this move a design against a former Bansi Lal regime minister, Mr Karan Dalal, who is contesting as the BSP-backed candidate after having been denied a ticket by the ruling INLD-BJP alliance. Mr Dalal, after leaving the Haryana Vikas Party, had chosen to join the BJP and had thrown a personal challenge to Mr Chautala asking him to contest against him from Palwal. Thereafter, Mr Chautala manipulated the denial of BJP ticket to Mr Dalal as also allocation of the seat to the INLD. Sunday’s visit was the second round of Mr Vajpayee’s campaigning in Haryana. There were to be three rounds. However, the initial campaigning, scheduled for February 11 (Hisar and Panipat), was washed out by rain. Palwal was the only INLD base to be addressed during the visits. His other stops were Panipat, Ambala and Ballabgarh, being contested by BJP candidates. The campaign for the final round of polling for the elections for four state Assemblies being over strobelights are now focused on the post-poll scenario, in which it is becoming evident that the NDA will be faring well. The success of BJP’s NDA partners in Orissa, Bihar and Haryana will focus political attention on management of the alliance. Mr Vajpayee’s gesture to Mr Chautala is being viewed in this context. Significantly, Mr
Chautala did not accompany Mr Vajpayee in the first round
of campaigning in Haryana on Thursday last. Instead, he
chose to host the TDP leader and Andhra Pradesh Chief
Minister, who also campaigned in the state the same day. |
Cong move to drum up support NEW DELHI, Feb 21 — In an effort to drum up support both from like-minded and ‘secular’ parties against the "unveiling of the hidden agenda by the BJP-led government at the Centre, the Congress plans a twin-pronged move to counter it. With the Budget session due to begin on Wednesday, the Congress plans to move an adjournment motion in Parliament on the controversial lifting of ban by the Gujarat government on its employees attending RSS camps and other related matters. Party sources said, during the past two months the BJP-led government had raked up several issues which showed that the hidden agenda was now being implemented and pointed to the rescinding of the Gujarat government order on the RSS, the attack on shooting of the film "Water" and withdrawing book on history by the Human Resource Department, as cases in point. While on one hand the party could move an adjournment motion in Parliament thereby finding out where the BJP stood vis-a-vis its ‘secular’ allies, on the other hand the Congress President Mrs Sonia Gandhi might write letters to leaders of various political parties eliciting support and opinion.’ Ever since the Gujarat government withdrew its order which banned its employees’ participating in RSS shakas, the Congress has been protesting the move. The Congress led by its President, Mrs Sonia Gandhi, had courted arrest protesting on the issue. The party has also been appealing to BJP’s ‘secular’ allies to question the move by the BJP government in Gujarat. Yet another point of contention is the decision of the government to set up a Committee to review the Constitution. The Congress has opposed it and proposes to raise the matter during the forthcoming Parliament session. Meanwhile, the party today discounted reports of any challenge to the leadership of Mrs Sonia Gandhi in case of reversals in the elections to Assemblies in four States. Replying to a question as to what prompted the MP Chief Minister, Mr Digvijay Singh to state that there was no challenge to her leadership, the AICC spokesman, Mr Ajit Jogi said that he was only reacting to "baseless reports" in the media on it. A senior party leader
said today that the Congress had found a fresh lease of
life under Mrs Sonia Gandhi and if the results of the
Assemblies were not favourable then the General
Secretaries in charge should be made accountable as also
the entire CWC which had the final say in the
distrubition of party ticket. |
ISI hand in train fire:
Digvijay NEW DELHI, Feb 21 — The Union Minister of State for Railways, Mr Digvijay Singh, today said that the fire that claimed the lives of 18 passengers in Punjab Mail on Saturday was "hundred per cent sabotage." He said that the hand of some ISI agents in the mishap could not be ruled out. Dismissing initial news reports that the fire was caused due to carelessness on the part of some cigarette-smoking passengers, the minister said, "This is a terrorist act. I am not ruling out the involvement of some ISI agents." In a statement issued on Saturday, the Railway Minister, Ms Mamata Banerjee had said that although the cause of the mishap could not be ascertained immediately, the possibility of sabotage or mischief could not be ruled out. BHUSAWAL, (PTI): The Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS), Mr Sarat Chandra Gupta, inquiring into the Punjab Mail fire, recorded the statements of several witnessses, including those injured and the railway personnel, for the second day on Monday. According to the Divisional Railway Manager (Bhusawal Division), Mr Arimardan Singh, the Commissioner was ascertaining whether the fire was caused due to passengers’ negligence, short circuit, internal or external sabotage. The commissioner had examined the in charge of Savda and Duskheda railway stations, guard of the train R. Bari, gatemen Ashok Onkan and Rajaram Oneha, among others. The commissioner visited the injured persons at the railway hospital here and recorded their statement. The CRS will send his
report in two parts to the government and the inquiry
will take place in Mumbai, where the CRS is based. |
2 special observers for
Haryana NEW DELHI, Feb 21 — The Election Commission today decided to depute two of its senior officials as special observers to ensure a "fair and peaceful poll" in Haryana tomorrow. The EC unanimously asked its Principal Secretary, Mr A.N. Jha, to be based at Rohtak and its Secretary, Mr K.J. Rao, at Hisar. These officers would be in regular touch with the commission, the EC said. Meanwhile, in another order, the EC today directed that the officer in charge of the Sadar police station in Koderma district of Bihar be placed under suspension and disciplinary action taken against the official. It also ordered the replacement of the SP, Koderma, and the SDPO by tomorrow morning in consultation with the Chief Electoral Officer of Bihar. The EC also removed the Sub-divisional Officer (Civil) and the Returning Officer of the Koderma Assembly constituency while directing that the state be given full central paramilitary security. The EC order follows the February 14 incident when a central observer, Mrs Kalpana Mittal Barua, faced a serious threat while returning from Hazaribagh from a violent mob. "Mrs Barua, who was accompanied by a small CISF team, handled a most dangerous situation in a calm and courageous manner. But for her conduct on the occasion, the consequences could have been grave. It may be mentioned that Mrs Barua’s batchmate in the IAS, Mr Krishnayya, a former DM in the state, had died while discharging his duty due to a mob attack", the EC said. The EC viewed the
incident as a "clear breakdown" of the law and
order machinery and held that the police officers
concerned remained passive spectators. |
SP shifted on EC’s directive PATNA, Feb 21 (PTI) — The Bihar Government today shifted the Superintendent of Police of Koderma, Mr Sidhu Hembrom, on the Election Commission’s directive in connection with the attack on a poll observer at a village in Koderma district on February 14. SP Jitendra Prasad would replace him, state’s Director-General of Police K.A. Jacob said. He said the Subdivisional Police Officer of Koderma was also being transferred following the EC directive. Earlier during the day, the EC ordered action against three police and one civil officers in Koderma district in connection with the attack on a poll observer Kalpana Mittal Barua. The observer’s vehicle was allegedly attacked by some RJD supporters while she was returning from Hazaribagh. The commission ordered
suspension of officer in charge of Koderma Sodar police
station and disciplinary action against him. |
Naval refit programmes delayed OVER 75 per cent of refits and repair of naval vessels undertaken by the Naval Dockyard, Mumbai, could not be completed within the stipulated period, leading to an escalation of costs and non-availability of ships. A recent Comptroller and Auditor General’s review states that of the 123 refits undertaken at the dockyard between 1992 and 1997, only 28 refits could be completed within the stipulated period. Consequently, 82 ships overstayed in the dockyard for 2384 dock days, entailing an additional expenditure of Rs 5.11 crore on dry docking. besides, a random review of six refit cases revealed additional manpower expenditure of Rs 27.83 crore. In at least two other cases, refits were undertaken without properly evaluating the material state of ships, the utility of the repairs and the residual life of the ships, leading to infructous expenditure of Rs 4.53 crore. Operational availability of ships is dependent on the facilities available in the Naval Dockyard for repair or refit of ships according to prescribed refit circles and lifespan. The cycle includes short, normal, medium and long refits, depending on the servicability of the ships. Schedule for completion of refits is determined in consultation with Naval Headquarters after taking into account the force level, requirements of the fleet and the capacity of the repair organisation. The review brought out that norms prescribed for carrying out different types of refits were not followed and the schedule drawn up by Naval Headquarters was not adhered to. The delay in the executing the refitment of ships was attributed to non-availability of spares, shortage of dry-dock slots and additional requirements detected during dry-docking, which ‘’reflected deficiency’’ in planning and material management processes. Of the total 123 refits undertaken, 27 took double the stipulated period, while 21 refits exceeded the scheduled period by 50 per cent. Of the 83 short-term refits, only 20 were completed on time, while 26 took more than double the stipulated period. This led Naval Headquarters to plan additional refitment time for 34 ships, which made ships non-available to the Navy for periods ranging from 45 days to two and a half years. Select review cases revealed that refitment of INS Dunagiri took 40 months against the scheduled period of 12 months. Yet defects relating to the main condensers and turbo alternators were not attended to while carrying out repairs. Further prolonged docking of the ship led to large-scale-corrosion, development of holes and damage to the structure, which were detected after the ship left the dock, requiring another refitment docking and additional manpower expenditure of Rs 4.52 crore. INS Taragiri, docked at Mazagaon Docks Limited for underwater hull work, recabling and other ‘’hot repairs’’ was detained for two years beyond the stipulated period on account of non-supply of materials by the Naval Dockyard, entailing additional cost of Rs 9 crore. The medium refit of INS Sindhudurg was stretched by 38 months, thereby consuming 32,811 extra man-days with a financial implication of Rs 1.8 crore. The delay has been attributed to defective planning, failure to procure required material and additional work package. Further, three months after the ship left the dock, an emergency refit had to be carried out to rectify defects at an additional cost of Rs 1.32 crore. The normal refit of INS Nipat was undertaken without ensuring the availability of trained manpower and critical spares. Though it was pointed out that lack of technical expertise would lead to undue delay, no effort was made to get the assistance of Russian experts who were available during the said period while carrying out repair work on another ship. The refit was delayed by 20 months involving additional 21,071 man days. Besides the ship went in for another emergency refit within two months. The medium refitment cycle of INS himgiri had been delayed by 10 years and instead, normal refitment was commenced. This was converted to medium refitment, poor evaluation led to reduction of the life of boiler tubes to just 12 months instead of the prescribed 6 years, requiring another refit. The ship was detained for 48 months against the scheduled time of 12 months, involving additional manpower expenditure of Rs.8.10 crore. Delay in refit of
another ship led to non-availability of a dock slot for
INS Deepak due to which normal and short refits could not
be carried out. This led to deterioration of the
ship’s condition beyond redemption and it was
decided to decommission the vessel. Despite this, normal
refit was taken up later and Rs 1.23 crore spent on it.
The ship was ultimately decommissioned, rendering the
expenditure on it unfruitful. |
Moroccan PM arrives, visit to
boost trade NEW DELHI, Feb 21 — Moroccan Prime Minister, Mr Abderrahmane Youssifi arrived here this evening on a five-day visit to India. Mr Youssifi would be accorded a ceremonial reception in the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhavan tomorrow. The Moroccan Premier, whose visit is expected to enhance bilateral trade and relations between the two countries, would have far-reaching talks with the Indian leadership, including President, K.R. Narayanan and Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee. During the visit, the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and the Moroccan Enterprises Association (Confederation Generale Des Enterprises du Maroc, (CGEM) would sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to set up a joint economic business council. Mr Youssifi is leading a delegation comprising businessmen from various fields, including real estate, pharmaceutical, information technologies, and construction and public works. His visit comes at a time when bilateral ties between India and Morocco have shown an upward trend. The Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, visited Casablanca last year during which the two countries signed three agreements, including one on promotion and protection of investments. Indo-Moroccan ties on the economic front have been strong ever since Chambal Fertilisers of India and OCP of Morocco signed a major joint venture agreement in 1997. The $ 230 million project is the largest financial commitment ever made abroad by an Indian company. The Moroccan Prime Minister during his interaction with Indian leadership is also expected to raise the issue of India’s recognition of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR). India’s recognition in 1985 to the former Spanish colony came even as a long-pending referendum on the future of Western Sahara is awaited. A vote was originally scheduled for January 1992 to decide whether SADR should be incorporated into Morocco, which controls the territory, or become independent, as called for by the Algeria-based Polisario Front. The UN Secretary General, Mr Kofi Annan reported last December that there seemed "little possibility of holding the referendum before 2002 or even beyond". A UN mission for the referendum in Western Sahara, comprising some 300 military observers, troops and civilian police have been trying to organise the referendum while monitoring a ceasefire between Morocco and Polisario since September 1991. The Moroccan Prime
Minister, according to diplomatic sources, is expected to
impress upon the Indian leadership that his country has
continued to play a moderate role within the Organisation
of the Islamic Conference (OIC) while adopting a neutral
stand with regard to the issue of Kashmir and calling
upon India and Pakistan to resolve the issue bilaterally
on the basis of the Simla Agreement. |
Cong assails govt’s
foreign policy NEW DELHI, Feb 21 — The Congress today sought to remind the BJP-led government of the completion of one year of the Lahore Declaration and expressed shock at the "cavalier and reckless manner’’ in which the government had conducted its foreign policy. The Congress alleged that the government was holding the foreign policy a "hostage to the saffron party’s electoral fortunes’’ and said even in the visit of US President Bill Clinton the concern seemed to be on whether the dignitary would visit Pakistan or not. Mr Natwar Singh, Chairman of the AICC Foreign Affairs Department, drew parallel to the claim of the External Affairs Minister, Mr Jaswant Singh, on the Lahore Declaration and the 1938 Munich Pact signed between then British Prime Minister, Neville Chamberlin and German dictator Adolf Hitler. "In 1938, Chamberlin waved the pact at 10, Downing Street (official residence of British Premier) and termed it as peace in our times. But weeks later World War II broke out," Mr Natwar Singh said, adding, that three months after the Lahore Declaration in 1999, the Kargil war broke out. He said although India signed the Simla Agreement in 1972, then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi did not lower her guard against Pakistan and there was no war for 27 years. In another statement,
the AICC spokesman, Mr Ajit Jogi, said that the
observations of both the Prime Minister and the External
Affairs Minister after the Lahore bus trip were "way
off the mark’’. |
Media must take
‘corrective’ steps NEW DELHI, Feb 21— Media must take internal corrective steps to remove the aberrations which creep into journalism from time to time, the Information and Broadcasting Minister, Mr Arun Jaitley, said today while reiterating that an independent media was the lifeline of a vibrant democracy. Mr Jaitley said the success of a media organisation should not be judged only on the commercial basis and added that good journalism was possible only in a free market. He stressed that the freedom of expression should not only remain confined to the management but should percolate down to the journalists. He was speaking after inaugurating a two-day journalism festival ‘Expose-2000’ organised by the Indian Institute of Mass Communication. The minister said the good thing about Indian journalism was that there were no ‘rogue’ television channels or newspapers and if there were any, they got marginalised on their own. He said the development
of multi-media avenues provided both a great challenge
and vast opportunity for journalists, especially young
ones entering the profession. Training institutes must
reorient their programmes for equipping mediapersons for
these new challenges, he added. |
Scribes boycott PM’s function, probe ordered NEW DELHI, Feb 21(PTI) — Print and visual journalists today boycotted a function of Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee at Vigyan Bhavan alleging "harassment" by security and Textile Ministry officials, which prompted the PM’s office to order an inquiry into the incident. Nearly 36 scribes strongly protested against the denial of entry into the prestigious convention centre, where Prime Minister launched technology mission on cotton, despite showing their accreditation cards issued by the government. Agitated journalists complained that organisers also did not acknowledge the faxed invitations from the Press Information Bureau and told many newsmen that no- body would be allowed without ‘proper’ invitations, leading to the boycott. A senior official attached to the Prime Minister’s security had insisted that nobody be allowed to the venue without proper invitation cards and some officials of the Textile Ministry prevented journalists’ entry into the hall. A PMO spokesman Ashok
Tandon announced that an inquiry had been ordered into
the incident. |
Police told to open mahila
stations NEW DELHI, Feb 21 — The Union Home Secretary, Mr Kamal Pande, today asked the Delhi Police to open ‘mahila’ police stations in each district of the Capital. The Home Secretary said since the cases of crime against women were on the rise in the Capital, it had become almost necessary to open police station for women in each of the nine districts of the Capital. Besides, at least two women constables should be posted at each police station, he said. While inaugurating the
UHF Digital Radio Trunked System at control room of the
Delhi Police, he asked the senior officer to visit the
police stations from time to time to see the work of
their juniors. The SHOs and beat constables should keep
vigil on the movements of the criminals so that they
could not commit crimes. The complainants should be given
a duplicate copy of the complaint just after it was
lodged, he added. |
Journalist dead NEW DELHI, Feb 21 — Assistant Information Officer, Shyam Sharma (53), who was posted at the Press Information Bureau here died yesterday following a heart attack. He was a former
correspondent of The Tribune, Chandigarh, and posted at
Ambala. |
|
Bahu woos Saharsa voters SAHARSA (Bihar), Feb 21 (UNI) — Mrs Lovely Anand has returned to her "sasural’’ (in-law’s house) to fight yet another electoral battle, this time for the Bihar Assembly, after being vanquished at Vaishali during the Lok Sabha elections last year. She is being opposed by Finance Minister and ruling Rashtriya Janata Dal candidate Shanker Prasad Tekriwal, Congress nominee Kiran Jha and Samajwadi Party nominee Umesh Dahalan besides rebel rjd candidate Arun Kumar Yadav. This is the fourth time Mr Tekriwal is trying to prove his mettle in the electoral arena. He has already notched up a hattrick win. Mrs Anand is hoping that the recent visit by Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee today along with other senior leaders of the nda would give a last-minute boost to her campaign that had been lacklustre so far. Electioneering of other candidates had also been, by and large unspectacular. For the Congress candidate, party president Sonia Gandhi had addressed a meeting here on February 12. Mr Tekriwal is seeking the voter’s support on the basis of his efforts to develop the area during his tenure as a minister and mla for the past ten years. He is also banking upon the support of Yadav voters and his own Marwari caste who account for a sizeable portion here. Mrs Anand is busy apologising to the people for her party’s earlier support for the rjd and asks them to support their "daughter-in-law’’. Her husband, Anand Mohan Singh, belongs to Saharsa. Congress nominee Kiran Jha, belongs to a family of Congress leaders, who had represented the areas several times. She is trying to draw on Brahmin voters, who account for about 20 per cent of the electorate. Altogether, 15
candidates are in the fray from this prestigious seat,
where a total of 2,19,198 electorate would give their
mandate in 312 polling stations. |
Paswan ‘not in race’ for chief ministership PATNA, Feb 21 (PTI) — Senior JD (U) leader and communications Minister Ramvilas Paswan today said he was not in the race for chief ministership in Bihar and added that the NDA, if elected to power, would elect its Chief Minister by the end of this month. "There is no dispute over who will become the CM... I have already said I am not in the race," Mr Paswan told reporters. Refusing to say whether he would accept the responsibility of a CM if the NDA so desired, he said "I have already made it clear what I wanted to say." He disagreed with a reporter that the results of the assembly poll would be a referendum on the functioning of the Vajpayee Ministry. "There are several factors like anti-incumbency, law and order and development which affect voters’ behaviours," he added. Condemning the attack on JD U president and Civil Aviation Minister Sharad Yadav by alleged supporters of RJD chief Laloo Prasad Yadav in the Madhepura yesterday, Mr Paswan alleged "Laloo is masterminding such attacks out of sheer desperation". He demanded immediate removal of the District Magistrate and the Superintendent of Police, Madhepura. Apprehending poll irregularities, Mr Paswan urged the Election Commission to install close-circuit televisions in all the counting centres in Bihar. The Commission should ensure all possible measures for a free and fair poll and the installation of close circuit TV would be a fair mean to monitor the counting process, Mr Paswan told reporters here. He also urged the Election Commission to remove all officials having any "political inclination" and monitor the deployment of central forces for the third phase of polling in 108 constitutencies in Bihar tomorrow. He alleged that the ruling Rashtirya Janata Dal (RJD) had unleashed a reign of terror in the state after losing its popularity and hence was now attacking leaders of other parties to create a fear psychosis among them. Large-scale rigging
during the polling in Danapur and Raghopur, where RJD
supremo Laloo Prasad Yadav was in the fray, contradicted
the Election Commission’s claim of holding a free
and fair poll in the state, he said. |
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