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| Monday, February 28, 2000, Chandigarh, India  
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Coalition era here to stay: PM 12 Bihar dons elected to Assembly
Vintage car rally in Delhi US Presidential visits down the
years Shanta advocates presidential form
of government UF close to majority 13 women elected to Orissa
Assembly |
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BSP’s offer on support Clear stand on BSP, LCP tells BJP Malaysia may relax visa rules for
Indians Navy to buy 4 destroyers Security for 16 Bollywood stars Villagers get Internet savvy CPM meeting on new programme PWG rebels burn bus in AP Govt for White Paper on PSUs 2 Somalians arrested Dogs maul boy
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Coalition era here to stay: PM LUCKNOW, Feb 27 (PTI) — Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee today said the coalition era had come to stay and political parties would have to learn to work together for economic and all-round development. "You have the example of Bihar Assembly elections where no political party could get the majority," he said, adding, "This is the coalition era and we will have to develop the habit to work together." "The political parties in coalition governments will have to work on a common minimum programme aimed at economic emancipation and all-round development of the country," he told a farmers rally at Bakshi ka Talab rural segment of his Lucknow constituency after launching several developmental and welfare projects. "You will have to sink petty differences to work for the development and welfare of the country," Mr Vajpayee told political parties, adding, "Differences do creep in a family." Stressing the need to weed out corruption from the administration, Mr Vajpayee said, "It is not at the top only but at lower levels also." "The administration needs to be toned up in such a manner that it functions to the satisfaction of the people and latter develops confidence among them," he said. Mr Vajpayee said his government was committed to promoting agriculture-based industry and favoured an increase in the export of agricultural products. "European countries have a good market for different agriculture, horticulture and floriculture produce and various steps are underway to ensure that produce like fruits, green vegetables and flowers are exported and farmers get remunerative prices," he said. With many developed nations discouraging the use of chemical fertilisers and switching over to green manuring, Mr Vajpayee said India, with its tremendous potential, would also like that newer agronomic practices were introduced and use of green manure increased. He asked developed countries to contribute to the progress of developing ones and not impose conditions which hindered their growth. Stating that India was committed to protect the interest of developing nations at international fora, Mr Vajpayee said New Delhi had made it clear at the recent WTO meet at Seattle that it will not accept any condition which goes against its national interest. He allayed fears that the ongoing economic reforms would result in large scale unemployment. "The economic reforms will (rather) open new avenues of employment," he said. Earlier, the Prime
Minister dedicated to the people the new homeopathy
college building and the newly-constructed Gomti Nagar
railway station besides laying the foundation stone of
several other projects in his constituency. |
12 Bihar dons elected to Assembly PATNA, Feb 27 (UNI) — With wisdom yet to dawn the electorate in Bihar, the law-breakers’ dream of becoming the law-makers turned a reality. Even jail birds, who had an easy access to the electoral fray blowing the democratic norms to the wind, did not have to face much difficulty in entering the state legislature. From the crime world to the portals of democracy is a queer journey and at least 12 underworld dons in the state have done it in the recent election to the state legislature. BJP nominee from Ichagarh constituency Malkhan, alias Arvind Kumar Singh, who was a sitting MLA and facing no less than four cases, including that of an attempt to murder, romped home defeating Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) candidate Sudhir Mahato by 12,764 votes. Dreaded don in the north Bihar and eastern Uttar Pradesh Suraj Bhan Singh, involved in umpteen murder cases and now lodged at Beur Central Jail, notched up victory from Mokamah Assembly constituency as an Independent candidate defeating his nearest rival Minister of State for relief and rehabilitation Dilip Singh of the RJD by more than 60,000 votes. RJD candidate from Tarapore Assembly constituency Shakuni Chaudhury, was named in the murder of six persons during the counting of votes in 1995. However, chalked up a convincing victory defeating his nearest Samata Party rival Rajiv Kumar Singh by a margin of 30,000 votes. Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM-Soren) candidate from Jugsalai constituency Dulal Bhuiyan, a sitting MLA, and facing nine criminal cases, including murder and attempt to murder, emerged winner defeating his nearest BJP rival Mangal Ram by a margin of more than 42,000 votes. Another hardcore criminal and a gangster famous as a professional kidnapper Rama Singh, now lodged in jail for his involvement in several murder cases, coasted to a facile victory on the Janata Dal (U) ticket defeating his nearest RJD rival Munshi Lal Rai by a margin of more than 40,000 votes. Samata Party nominee Sunil Pandey, who was wanted in umpteen cases ranging kidnapping and attempt to murder in central Bihar, won from Piro Assembly constituency defeating his nearest RJD rival Kashinath Yadav by a margin of more than 3550 votes. High-profile RJD leader and brother-in-law of Mr Laloo Prasad Yadav, Anirudh Prasad, alias Sadhu Yadav, had a smooth sailing defeating his nearest Bihar Peoples Party (BPP) rival Subhas Singh by more than 10,000 votes. Former Union Minister of State for Home Taslimuddin and RJD candidate from Kishanganj Assembly constituency had at least 16 cases registered against him and served jail terms four times, and managed to defeat Congress nominee Rafiq Alam by a margin of more than 13,000 votes. Leave aside murder and kidnapping cases, several heavyweights contesting the election were involved in the fodder and bitumen scams. While RJD supremo Laloo
Prasad Yadav, involved in the Rs 950-crore fodder scam,
emerged with flying colours from both Danapur and
Raghopur Assembly constituencies defeating his nearest
BJP rival Ramanand Yadav and Janata Dal (U) rival Vishun
Deo Rai by a margin of more than 18,000 and 25,000 votes.
Former state Road Construction Minister Illyas Hussein,
now lodged in Beur Jail on the charge of his involvement
in the bitumen scam, won fron Dehri defeating his nearest
BJP rival Gopal Narayan Singh by a margin of 12,787
votes. |
Vintage car rally in Delhi NEW DELHI, Feb 27 (PTI) — The grand old cars of the Capital participated in the millennium’s first "Statesman Vintage and Classic Car Rally", here today. In a rally, which was flagged off by the Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal A.Y. Tipnis, a record number of 110 vintage cars took part, a press note from the organisers, The Statesman newspaper, said here. The seniormost entrant in the 37-year-old rally, which is the focal point of a movement to preserve old cars from decay, was a Rover that took to roads way back in 1906. The competition was divided in three categories — Vintage (pre-1940 model cars), Classic (as specified in international register) and post-war (1940-60 models). The century’s first such fiesta saw celebrated products from Rolls Royce, Bentley, Packard, Cadillac, Lagonda, Lancia — to name the few — take the road along with the homely makes like Austin, Morris and Ford, the press note said, adding that even home-made Landmaster and Baby Hindustan were on view. Many of the cars have
interesting stories to tell as some of them were
originally owned by the likes of industrialist JRD Tata.
While, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru and Mahatma Gandhi
travelled in a couple of them, Home Minister L K Advani
has driven one of them, it said. |
US Presidential visits down the years NEW DELHI, Feb 27 (PTI) — A visit by an American President has always evoked lot of interest though for the common man it has had little political or economic impact and the only things that remain in memory are the controversies generated or interesting highlights of the visits, say old timers. With a new presidential visit around the corner, and the first in the post-cold war period, the air is agog with excitement and expectations. Even as experts analyse the pre-visit pros and cons of President Bill Clinton setting his foot on Indian soil, experts recall the past visits by US heads of state. Clinton’s visit was preceded by Jimmy Carter’s in 1978, Richard Nixon (1969) and Dwight Eisenhower a decade earlier. While the visits of the former Presidents made little impact on the political and economic fields, old timers seem to remember them more for anecdotes and incidents that marked their visits and hogged the headlines. Says Political Scientist Imtiaz Ahmed, "Jacqueline Onassis Kennedy, who came here as the First Lady was the biggest crowd puller, who left a lasting impression. Not only for her exquisite beauty but also for the popularity her husband and US President John Fitzgerald Kennedy enjoyed". Jacqueline played Holi with Jawaharlal Nehru, India’s first Prime Minister. Jimmy Carter’s visit in January, 22 years ago is only remembered for a whisper to his aide that was picked up by the microphones and promptly reported the next day, says a senior journalist. Carter was about to begin a public speech when a question cropped up on providing India, American nuclear material. The President then whispered to his Secretary of State Cyrus Vance, "We will send them a cool, blunt, letter". But the microphone was switched on and what was supposed to be strictly confidential became instantly public. Though the incident sparked red faces among the American entourage it did not however upset his meeting later with Premier Morarji Desai nor derail the latter’s visit to the USA next June, says the journalist. A village near here was named after him — Carterpuri — but his mother, Lillian Carter, who served as a nurse in Delhi’s Safdarjung Hospital, was more popular than him, says he. Eisenhower drew large crowds as the first US President to visit India, recalls former diplomat and senior journalist Kuldip Nayyar. It took him almost an hour to reach Rashtrapati Bhavan from the airport. In fact, the mobbing of his motorcade drew the ire of Nehru who angered at the inability of the traffic police and security men to control the situation, got out of the car and himself pushed aside the milling crowds. However, Eisenhower found it amusing and remarked, "What a lively non-violence!", it was reported. The memory of
Nixon’s visit was as shortlived as his insignificant
one-day visit and hardly got recorded in the annals of
history, says T.V. Venkatachalam, Executive Editor of
National Herald. |
Shanta advocates presidential form of government PUNE, Feb 27 (PTI) — Union Minister for Consumer Affairs Shanta Kumar today advocated presidential form of government instead of the existing parliamentary form. "I am firmly of the view that the parliamentary form of government does not suit India as it only breeds instability and corruption", the minister said. He said the post-Independence era had witnessed multitudes of problems and the "lopsided policies of successive governments has pushed several states to the point of economic bankruptcy". He said: "Amendments are needed in the Constitution to ensure that government once elected lasts full term. Lest it will only be a criminal waste of time and energy". Talking to mediapersons he said the Centre would soon take a decision to exclude income tax payers from the ambit of public distribution system. The minister said the government was seriously considering stopping the income tax paying public to take benefit of this scheme which is primarily meant for the benefit of the economically weaker sections of society. "Instead of giving
the benefit of PDS to the tax payers, it is better to
increase the quota of the rations to those who are living
below the poverty line", he added. |
UF close to majority IMPHAL, Feb 27 (UNI) — The ruling United Front government in Manipur further inched towards the majority-mark winning altogether 28 out of 57 seats, results of which were declared so far today, but all the three alliances kept trying to muster adequate support on way to formation of the government. With the result of three more seats in the 60 member Assembly yet to be declared, the Manipur State Congress Party (SMSCP)-led UF was just three short of the majority. The MSCP today won the Saikot seat taking its individual tally to 22 when Mr Chungkhosei was declared elected defeating his MPP rival Mr T.N. Haokip by 2112 votes. The JD(U), a partner of the BJP-led Manipur Democratic Alliance, opened its account in the state winning the Singhat seat thus taking the combined tally to eight. Meanwhile, A. Rajbhavan communique said the Chief Minister and MSCP President, Mr W. Nipamacha Singh, the Deputy Chief Minister, Mr L. Chandramani Singh and the Union Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports, Mr Th. Chaoba Singh called on the Governor Mr Ved Marwah to discuss the post-poll scenario. In continuation of the consultation process, the Governor also met the state BJP President, Mr H. Bhubon Singh and a former Speaker, Mr H. Borobabu, separately. The communique said the Governor met a senior advocate of the state Mr A. Nilamani Singh to discuss legal aspects. Earlier, the MSCP General Secretary, Mr Umananda Singh, claimed that the UF was already well above the magic figure with the support of 34 MLAs after having roped in few from the NCP, the Manipur Peoples Party (MPP) and the RJD. However, MPP sources, who categorically denied that there was-any split within the party, said they along with the SDF partner Congress would even join hands with the BJP, if necessary, to prevent Mr Nipamacha Singh-led government from coming to power. "We are hundred per
cent confident of forming the government and we are going
to stake claim by tomorrow", Mr Singh said. The SDF,
comprising the Congress, the MPP and the JD(S) has so far
bagged only 15 seats, which is not even half the majority
mark. |
BSP’s offer on support BIKANER, Feb 27 (UNI) — The BSP supremo, Mr Kansi Ram, said today that his party was ready to offer "conditional support" to the RJD in forming government in Bihar. Talking to reporters here the BSP chief said if RJD leader Laloo Yadav was prepared to ban the Ranbir Sena, then his party would extend support to Mr Yadav in constituting the government in Bihar. However, if a minority government was installed then the possibility of a snap poll could not be ruled out in Bihar, next year, he said. Mr Kanshi Ram, charged the pro-BJP media with propagating "jungle raj" in Bihar and said the Laloo-Rabri Devi government had failed to contain the "injustice" meted out by the Ranbir Sena to the Scheduled Castes in the state. He said a countrywide
agitation would be launched from March 15 against the NDA
government’s decision to review the Constitution. |
End caste-based politics: Kalyan AGRA, Feb 27 (PTI) — Former UP Chief Minister and Rashtriya Kranti Dal President Kalyan Singh today launched a strong attack on the caste-based politics and called for an end to the neglect of the interests of the poor, the working class, the rural folk and the backwards. Addressing a big rally on his first visit to Agra after the formation of his new party, Mr Kalyan Singh said the present system should be "overthrown" and one that would help establish a just society should be brought about. "Real democracy will come in the country when power goes to the 55 per cent backwards and the 75 per cent poor in the country because it is they who constitute the majority of the Indian population," he said. Analysing the causes of the poverty of farmers, the former CM said the main reason behind it was the low price of agricultural produce and the high rates of finished products coupled with neglect of villages by successive governments. Stressing the need for the decentralisation of power as well as economy, he said only a struggle against the established order, in which "a handful of people belonging to the upper castes are ruling the roost", would bring about a better society. Referring to the circumstances of his leaving the BJP, Mr Kalyan Singh said he still did not know why he had been expelled from the party even after resigning and proposing R.P. Gupta’s name for the chief ministership as asked to. "After much thought," he said, "I have come to the conclusion that I was removed from the party because bjp leaders could not accept the fact that a farmer’s son should hold the office and that I did not belong to the same caste as (Prime Minister) Atal Behari Vajpayee." Launching a personal attack on Mr Vajpayee, Mr Kalyan Singh said there was "no cleverer politician" than him. The BJP, he claimed,
preached one thing and did another and had a number of
masks which hid its real identity. |
Arjun’s poser to PM, Advani NEW DELHI, Feb 27 — A senior Congress leader, Mr Arjun Singh, today sought to know from the Prime Minister and the Union Home Minister whether they shared the vision of the RSS Sarsang Chalak, Mr Golwalkar. Mr Arjun Singh questioned as to what should the country infer from this silence and believe that both Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee and Mr Lal Krishan Advani were not in a position to say that they share or do not share the vision of Mr Golwalkar. He quoted Mr
Golwalkar’s vision as: "The foreign races of
Hindustan must either adopt the Hindu culture and
language, must learn to respect and hold in reverence the
Hindu religion, must entertain no idea but those of
glorification of the Hindu race and culture i.e. of the
Hindu nation and must lose their separate existence to
the Hindu nation, claiming nothing, deserving no
privileges, far less any preferential treatment —
not even citizen’s rights. |
Navy to buy 4 destroyers ON-BOARD INS DELHI, Feb 27 (UNI) — The Indian Navy will have four more Delhi-class missle destroyers — which will add punch to its blue water capabilities and combat capability, said the Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral Sushil Kumar here today. Presently the Navy has two Delhi-class warships — "INS Delhi" and "INS Mysore" and the third in the series "INS Bombay’’ is expected to join the fleet soon. "We are going for three more such destroyers," Admiral Kumar told newsmen on-board destroyer "INS Delhi", after witnessing Indian Navy’s Annual ‘‘Springex’’ exercise somewhere in the Arabian Sea off the Goa coast. The building of three more Delhi-class ships is part of Project 15-Alpha. The Navy also has plans to build five more frigates under the Project 17. The induction of indigenously build ships will enhance India’s capabilities. "INS Delhi" and "INS Mysore" are the new class of destroyers built at the Mazagon Dockyard Ltd. The ships are equipped with most modern anti-ship, anti-aircraft and anti-submarine weapon systems and carries two Sea-King helicopters on board which gives an added offensive capability. To a query about the plans to build an indigenous air defence ship (ADS), Admiral Kumar said, "It will be built at the Cochin Shipyard." Currently the Navy is carrying out study of designs. "The ADS will be ready in the next seven to eight years," Admiral Kumar said. Currently the Cochin Shipyard is building up desired infrastructure to roll out the ship. Vice-Admiral Madhvendra Singh, the Flag Officer-Commanding in Chief of the Western Naval Command said Cochin Shipyard could go to any agency regarding consultancy services. Apart from the USA, France, Russia, Britain, and Spain has expertise in air defence ships. India’s sole aircraft-carrier ‘INS Viraat’ is currently under refit, while another carrier ‘INS Vikrant,’ which served the Navy for 37 years has been decommissioned. To a query about
acquiring aircraft carrier "Admiral Gorshkov"
from Russia, he said: "We have examined the
requirements and the features of the ship and the final
decision has to be taken by the government." |
Security for 16 Bollywood stars MUMBAI, Feb 27 (PTI) — Close on the heels of murderous assault on film producer Rakesh Roshan, 16 personalities of the silver screen have been provided round-the-clock police security even as 32 applications have been received by Arms Branch of the police commissionerate here for weapon licences. Some of the film personalities already holding licences have urged for more weapons as threats by the underworld seem to have "focused" on the film industry, police sources told PTI. Among the film celebrities who have been provided with security guards are Melody Queen Lata Mangeshkar, actors Shah Rukh Khan, Amitabh Bachchan, Dilip Kumar and Govinda, actor-turned MPs, Vinod Khanna, Shatrughun Sinha, producers Subhash Ghai, J.P. Dutta, B.R. Chopra, Yash Johar, Manmohan Shetty, Bharat Shah and television personality Shekhar Suman. The threats of extortion
by the underworld to the film personalities have now
taken a different hue. Instead of demanding ransom
amounts, actors were being coerced to sign films
allegedly financed by the underworld. |
Villagers get Internet savvy DHAR (MP), Feb 27 (UNI) — Shyamalal, an illiterate farmer in the sleepy hamlet of Dehrisaria in Dhar district, browses the internet not to gain access to the various dot.coms but to get first hand information of the price of potatoes. "This magic box is a handy equipment in preventing the dominance and exploitation of the local traders", he says expertly manoeuvring the mouse at the "gyandoot" centre. Farmers in Bagadi village were getting the rate of Rs 300 per quintal from local traders for their potato crop. On getting the rate slip from the "soochnalaya" (information centre) made available through the net, they could not believe that the current rate in the Indore mandi (market) was Rs 400 per quintal. They then decided to take their produce to Indore. Apart from posting the price of potatoes, the net caters to a variety of needs of the villagers. A bemused Shankarlal says, "I had applied for a Scheduled Caste application form six days ago and an on-line reply three days later asked me to collect my form". "How can something which took years of corridor hopping finish off in days?" he says trying to get himself abreast with the high-speed technology. The "soochnalaya" set up in Dhar district was a refreshing change from the hackneyed thinking that information technology is only for the elite. Wired for as low as Rs 25 lakh, the government has plans to gradually increase the number of "rural infocrats". State Industry and Information Technology Minister Narendra Nahta said, "The thrust of our information technology policy unveiled last year was on filtering the recipe of the technology to the lowest rung of the populace." The cost of each centre was merely Rs 75,000, he said and added that more such soochnalayas would be established through funds mobilised from panchayats, private investors or people availing of bank loans. Another major problem which beset the farmers was that of getting land records, the minister pointed out and added that the problem had been greatly rectified with the establishment of the "village net" centres. The gyandoot villages in 31 gram panchayats acted as communication links between the government and the villagers, he said and added that routine complaints like the non-functioning of hand pumps, irregular teacher attendance could be flashed through a mere click of the mouse. The network had also connected MY Medical College Hospital, Indore, with the Dhar hospital and some primary health centres to bolster the medical delivery system. By bridging the
rural-urban schism, the Dhar experiment has clearly shown
a paradigm shift in the arena of information technology
through a minimum investment", Mr Nahta stated. |
Clear stand on BSP, LCP tells BJP LUCKNOW, Feb 27 (UNI) — The Loktantrik Congress Party, (LCP) a partner in the ruling BJP-led coalition in Uttar Pradesh, today asked the BJP to lift the veil over its relations with the BSP. The BJP should make its intention clear about whether it was interested in an understanding with the BSP so that the LCP could decide its strategy, party President and state Energy Minister Naresh Agrawal told a Press conference. The BJP, instead of supporting the LCP candidate in Kannauj byelection, supported the BSP candidate. As a result, the number of votes polled by the LCP candidate was very small. The BJP should have been forthright if it had any objection to the choice of the LCP candidate, he said. "They deceived us when we had put so much trust in them.’’ He said the BJP was free to go in for an understanding or alliance with the BSP and the LCP would then be in a position to decide on its own strategy. Mr Agrawal said he had apprised BJP state President Om Prakash Singh about the "treachery’’ of the BJP. Although he had denied the charge, yet the election results had proved this to be true. Mr Agrawal also took exception to Chief Minister Ram Prakash Gupta’s statement that the party faced a defeat because of the allies. The Chief Minister and all his colleagues should analyse and review the defeat. He should have made remarks in this connection only after the meeting of the BJP and its allies on March 1, he said. He pointed out that the Chief Minister had held the allies, insisting for tickets in Bihar, as the cause of the defeat of the BJP there. "Maybe he has no information about Orissa and Haryana,’’ he commented. He said the Chief
Minister’s decision not to contest elections had
sent a wrong message among voters. |
13 women elected to Orissa Assembly BHUBANESWAR, Feb 27 (UNI) — As many as 13 women have made it to the Orissa Assembly this time, the highest in its history. Eight are from the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), three from the Congress and two from the BJP. Of them, Ms Nivedita Pradhan, Bijaylaxmi Patnaik, Bishnupriya Behera, Anjali Behera, Draupadi Murmu and Mamata Madhi are debutants. A total of 56 women were in the fray. Prior to this, eight women were elected in 1995 assembly elections, seven in 1977, five each in 1957 and 1980, four each in 1961,1967 and 1974 and two women in 1952 Assembly elections. However, the 1971 poll had thrown up a all-men House, with not a single member of the fair sex getting elected. Speaker C.D. Samantra, Deputy Speaker Bibhuti Bhushan Singh Mardaraj and former Lok Sabha MP and senior Congress leader Anadi Charan Das were among the prominent leaders who suffered defeat at the hands of the women candidates this time. While BJD candidate Usha Devi defeated Assembly Speaker C.D. Samantara at Chikati, Deputy Speaker Bibhuti Bhushan Singh Mardaraj lost to Ms Bijay Laxmi Patnaik (BJD) at Khandapara. At Binjharpur, Ms
Pramila Mallik of the BJD squashed the five-time Lok
Sabha MP Anandi Das at Binjharpur by more than 20,000
votes. |
Malaysia may relax visa rules for Indians PUNE, Feb 27 (PTI) — The Malaysian Government is planning to relax visa rules for Indian tourists keen on visiting the country, according to Minister of Culture, Arts and Tourism of Malaysia, Dato Abdul Kadir Haji Sheikh Fadzir. The minister told reporter here yesterday that he had held discussions with his Indian counterpart in this connection and the response was very encouraging. Mr Fadzir said Malaysia also had plans to fly special planes to India to boost tourism and added that if both Malaysia and India relaxed visa rules, it would improve the flow of tourist traffic in both the countries. He also held detailed discussions with officials of the Aviation Ministry on the need to increase passenger flights to Malaysia in this regard. "The officials were
enthusiastic but said the only hitch was that there was a
shortage of planes. Hence, we have suggested to them that
Malaysia will fly special airlines to India and the cost
sharing can be worked out between both the
countries", Mr Fadzir said. |
CPM meeting on new programme NEW DELHI, Feb 27 (PTI) — The CPM today began deliberations on finalising the draft of its revised party programme at a meeting of its politbureau which also discussed the post-poll scenario in states where assembly elections were held recently and President Bill Clinton’s visit. Coming against the backdrop of the elections in assemblies of Bihar, Haryana, Orissa and Manipur, the politbureau, which began its two-day meet today, also examined ways of forging an alliance of "secular parties" in Bihar. Stating that if secular parties had fought unitedly their votes would not have split, senior CPM leader Sitaram Yechury said "all these (secular) parties would have to do some introspection". Meanwhile, the central secretariat of the CPI met here today and reviewed the outcome of the results of the Assembly elections in the four states. On reported threats
about the CPM’s de-recognition as a national party
in accordance with the election laws, its leaders said
the party had not yet received any notice from the
Election Commission. |
PWG rebels burn bus in AP BHADRACHALAM (Andhra Pradesh), Feb 27 (UNI) — Naxalites of the banned People’s War Group (PWG) set ablaze an Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation bus bound for Artagudem in Khammam district of Andhra Pradesh late last night. The police said three militants, along with some tribals waylaid the bus by placing felled trees across the road. After asking the lone passenger, the conductor and the driver to get down, they broke open the diesel tank and set it ablaze. This is the second such incident in Bhadrachalam agency division within the span of one week. The militants pasted
posters of a naxal bandh in south Jagdalpur of Madhya
Pradesh and demanded a judicial enquiry into the Koyyur
encounter. |
Govt for White Paper on PSUs NEW DELHI, Feb 27 (PTI) — The government will soon issue a White Paper on public sector undertakings (PSUs). This was stated by Minister of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises Manohar Joshi at a consultative committee meeting held recently, an official press release said today. Expressing concern on the overall financial performance of the 48 operating PSUs under his ministry, Mr Joshi said 32 out of these 48 enterprises reported loss in 1998-99 while 45 enterprises together ended the year with an aggregate loss of Rs 411 crore. The government has also agreed to provide fresh infusion of Rs 619 crore and financial restructuring of Rs 2,228 crore for these PSUs, he said. To mitigate the hardship
of the employees in these units, the government has also
decided to introduce a voluntary retirement scheme which
was otherwise not permissible in these units. |
2 Somalians arrested NEW DELHI, Feb 27 (UNI) — The CBI today arrested two Somalians in the city and seized 400 gm of brown sugar and Rs 50,000 in counterfeit currency. A CBI spokesman said the two Somalians, Fathima Ali Ahmed and Abidi Ali Hussain, were remanded in judicial custody till March 10 by the Duty Magistrate. A joint team of the CBI
and the Delhi police had seized heroin worth Rs 23 crore
last week. |
Dogs maul boy KANNUR (Kerala), Feb 27 (UNI) — A seven-year-old boy died after being mauled by dogs in a shocking incident at Panthackal near Thalassery in Kannur district of Kerala today. The boy, Fijaz, has gone
to see his friends playing cricket in a paddy field near
the Navodaya school there. He was standing alone in the
field when the others had gone to drink water. When five
dogs pounced on him and bit him to death. |
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