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| Friday, March 17, 2000, Chandigarh, India  
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Support
price of wheat raised 3 Punjab ultras held, RDX seized Lawyers firm on demand |
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2-yr RI for former AIADMK
minister Concern over Pak missile reports
Youth stabbed to death on Id eve Army to ‘market’
retiring staff PTI, UNI staff appear before wage
board Brar seeks package for Punjab Mann opposes move on water
resources
|
Support price of wheat raised NEW DELHI, March 16 (UNI) — The government today announced an allround increase in minimum support prices (MSP) of wheat, barley, gram, rapeseed/mustard and safflower seeds for the rabi season 1999-2000. Apart from accepting the suggestions of the Agriculture Price Commission relating to barley, gram, rapeseed/mustard and safflower, the government had decided to increase the MSP of wheat by Rs 25 at Rs 575 per quintal though the commission had recommended last year’s price of Rs 550, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pramod Mahajan told newsmen after the Cabinet meeting. Last year also the government had increased the MSP over and above the commission’s recommendation. Replying to a question, Mr Mahajan said various state governments had demanded MSPs ranging between Rs 600 and Rs 700 per quintal of wheat. The following are the minimum support prices of all commodities (prices for the previous year were quoted within brackets): Wheat — 575 (550) Barley — 430 (385) Gram — 1015 (895) Rapseed/Mustardseed — 1100 (1000) Safflower — 1100 (990) The Cabinet also approved inclusions and amendments in the central list of other backward classes (OBCs) in different states. The changes pertained to
the states of Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Delhi, Gujarat,
Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya
Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Uttar Pradesh,
West Bengal. The central OBC list has more than 90
castes. |
3 Punjab ultras held, RDX
seized NEW DELHI, March 16 — The Delhi Police arrested three Punjab militants of the Khalistan Zindabad Force (KZF), who were reportedly involved in a bomb blast at Sirhind in Punjab on March 2, and seized 32 kg of RDX. The militants, Sukhdev Singh Mithoo, area commander and Satbir Singh alias Sunny, a member of the outfit, were arrested on March 13 from International Transport Company at Sanjay Gandhi Transport Nagar in North West Delhi. On the basis of the information provided by them during interrogation, the deputy chief of the outfit, Purshottam alias Kala was also arrested from Sanjay Gandhi Transport Nagar, the Delhi Police Commissioner, Mr Ajai Raj Sharma, said. The outfit has its base in Jammu, where its deputy chief lived. The police recovered 32 kg of RDX, four hand grenades, one Pakistan-made pistol with one magazine, 63 live cartridges, five ABCD timers, 15 detonators, three pencil timers and four nine volt batteries were seized from their possession. The Commissioner said
the police received information that the militants came
to the Capital on trucks. A vigil was kept on Singhu
border and at Sanjay Gandhi Transport Nagar. Analysis of
toll tax records gave valuable clues about movements of
the militants trucks. |
Sarson da saag, makki di roti for Clinton MUMBAI, March 16 (PTI) — Traditional American burgers and cheese-layered pizzas would have to take a side bow as India’s very own "sarson da saag", "makki di roti" and "murgh Kandahari" occupy centrestage at the elaborately laid out buffet table for US President Bill Clinton when he arrives at The Oberoi hotel here on March 24. The hotel, overlooking the wide expanse of the Arabian Sea, is stirring with activity as it gears itself to tackle the taste buds of "All the President’s men" when they set foot in the metropolis next Friday. The US President can choose from authentic Indian curries, fiery Mexican flavours and a continental cuisine, dished out by a special team of expert chefs at The Oberoi and in consultation with a US delegation. Even as Mr Clinton strikes deals and negotiates contracts, back at Kandahar, the Indian restaurant at the hotel, he could bite into wholesome Punjabi fare, including "sarson da saag" topped with dollops of butter and accompanied by freshly baked "makki di roti", according to hotel sources. For the more adventurous ones in the entourage, there would be the spicy flavours of the Malabar coast to the rustic Rajasthan fare to choose from. For those who just cannot do without the fiery stuff there would be Casa Mexicana, the hot Mexican restaurant at the hotel, churning out interesting variations of the "fajita special" tossed along with chicken, lobster, red snapper and vegetarian "fajitas." The Brasserie, the
elegant coffee shop at the hotel, would offer the
hamburger and milk shake with the combination of the
flavours of Europe for the Rhodes scholar and his special
team. |
2-yr RI for former AIADMK
minister CHENNAI, March 16 — Ms Jayalalitha’s AIADMK suffered yet another judicial reverse today when former handlooms minister, Mr E. Madhusoodhanan, was convicted by a special court on corruption charges in the multi-crore, free dhoti-saree scam during the erstwhile AIADMK regime, and sentenced to two years’ rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs 20,000. He is the fifth AIADMK
leader in recent weeks to receive a prison term under the
Prevention of Corruption Act. The others include the
former Chief Minister, Ms Jayalalitha, convicted in the
Kodaikanal Pleasant Stay Hotel case, former minister and
sitting MP, Mr Selvaganapathy, in the same case, Mr
Sedapatti Muthiaih, former Speaker of the state assembly
in the disproportionate wealth case, former minister Mr
Nagoor Meeran, and Ms G. Mallika, former AIADMK MLA. All
of them have filed appeals in the Madras High Court, and
Mr Madhusoodhanan is also expected to follow suit. |
Lawyers firm on demand NEW DELHI, March 16 (PTI) — Striking city lawyers today remained firm on their demand for suspension of three senior police officers and decided to continue their three-week-long agitation till their demand was met by the government. Rejecting the suspension of three junior police officials and transfer of two ACPs, the Delhi High Court Bar Association Secretary, Mr Anoop Bagai, said that the capital’s various bar associations at a meeting decided to continue the agitation as they expressed dissatisfaction over the government action. Mr Bagai said the relay fast by the lawyers in front of the high court would continue. However, the situation would be reviewed on March 20 to chalk out a future course of action, he said. The striking lawyers
today decided to organise a protest march to Parliament
on March 22, coinciding with US President Bill
Clinton’s address to the joint sitting of
Parliament. |
Concern over Pak missile reports NEW DELHI, March 16 (PTI) — Members in the Lok Sabha today voiced serious concern over reports that Pakistan had deployed nuclear-tipped missiles aimed at cities in India and said flooding the country with fake Rs 500 notes was a deliberate attempt to destabilise India’s economy. Raising the issue during the zero hour, a BJP member, Mr Shivraj Singh, said the reports were based on satellite images taken by US scientists and appealed to the government to take up with US President Bill Clinton the issues of Pakistan’s threat to India’s security and terrorist activities backed by Inter-Services Intelligence. A Congress member, Mr
Priyaranjan Dasmunshi, said the British High Commission
had put up a notice that it would not accept Rs 500
currency notes, fake versions of which were being flooded
into India as part of larger conspiracy by the ISI and
certain other foreign forces to destabilise the economy. |
Question that may haunt Musharraf NEW DELHI: Who had former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s lawyer Iqbal Radh bumped off at a crucial stage of the case before the anti-terrorism court is a question that may haunt chief executive Gen Pervez Musharraf when he tries to convince US President Bill Clinton to at least "facilitate", if not "mediate", a resumption of dialogue with India. In many eyes both inside Pakistan and outside, General Musharraf himself is suspect no 1 because of the zealous manner in which he is going about using the judicial system to eliminate prospective centres of power in Pakistan. Depriving Mr Nawaz Sharif of a competent legal counsel could seal the former Prime Minister’s appointment with the hangman. Another former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto who also can emerge, once again, as a contender for power is being hounded, now with the assistance of Interpol, for economic offences that could put paid to her political career. With such circumstantial evidence arraigned against him, General Musharraf should find it difficult to present a case for the legitimisation of his role when President Clinton asks him for a date for the restoration of democracy in Pakistan. Going by past experience, however, if he is able to quote a date in the not too distant future and is able to efface himself in an appropriate fashion even while retaining control over the levers of political power in Pakistan in keeping with the tradition of the "troika" within which the Chief of the Army Staff wielded influence during the tenures of both Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif, he could become acceptable to the USA. But the Radh killing has put a blot on this script. If he was eliminated as part of General Musharraf’s gameplan, even the US President would not be able to easily turn a blind eye to this blatant act of internal terrorism and agree to use his good offices as either a "facilitator" or "mediator" to get India to talk to him. The conspiracy theory or the "unseen hand" prognostication has some currency in Pakistan. The fact that General Musharraf went to an unknown destination soon after landing in Karachi to meet a person or persons unknown before he launched his coup against Nawaz Sharif could mean that a bargain was struck at the time. It also indicates the existence of a coterie of backers. If General Musharraf is not involved in the Radh slaying, is someone in the coterie the mastermind? This element adds uncertainty to General Musharraf’s ability to convince Mr Bill Clinton of his inclination to deliver on promises to act to curb terrorism in the region (presuming, of course, that the US President has any real interest in seeking such guarantees) or to convince anyone that he is earnest to return Pakistan to democracy in the foreseeable future — supposedly the main reason why Mr Clinton chose to visit Pakistan. So far as India is
concerned, there is even less reason to put any reliance
on any assurances from Pakistan that it will curb
cross-border terrorism which appears to be the bottomline
for the resumption of any dialogue, with or without a
"facilitator". However, the case is different
in regard to the USA, which has always enjoyed the trust
of Pak rulers. And if General Musharraf does not heed the
advice of Mr Clinton, the USA has to rethink its
relations with Pakistan. — (ADNI) |
Youth stabbed to death on Id eve AHMEDABAD, March 16 (PTI) — Tension gripped the sensitive areas of the walled city after a 32-year-old youth was stabbed to death and two others were injured in two separate incidents today even as the authorities beefed up security in the locality in view of Bakr Id festival tomorrow. A mob armed with lethal weapons attacked the youth and his friend belonging to minority community when they were carrying fodder on their motor cycle in Madhupura, the police said. The deceased was a resident of Dariapur, the police said adding the injured, Naeem Akhtar Ghulam Rasool Mallik, had been hospitalised where he was stated to be out of danger. No arrests had been made in this connection so far, the police said adding the situation was under control. A similar stabbing incident was reported from the Narol area on the outskirts of the city and the injured had been admitted to hospital. City Police Commissioner P.C. Pande had rushed to Gandhinagar to brief Home Minister Haren Pandya about the stabbing incidents and review the security arrangements in the city in view of Bakri Id tomorrow. Security had been beefed in the walled city areas following threat by some outfits that they would not allow trucks carrying goats, sheep and buffaloes to enter the city. The stabbing incidents
also rocked the Gujarat Assembly with agitated Congress
members led by Leader of Opposition Amarsinh Chaudhary
staging a walkout. |
Army to ‘market’
retiring staff NEW DELHI, March 16 — The Army could in the near future consider allowing a greater access to the "outsiders" to its establishments so that "They can see for themselves the high quality of training that goes into ‘making soldiers’ in a bid to attract more recruiters looking for highly motivated, disciplined manager. "A visit to any of Army’s nearly 50 Category A or B institutions like the NDA, IMA or Staff College would be an eye-opener for outsiders and enable them to better understand the professionalism that is engrained in soldiers so that they can be more sure while recruiting and retiring Army men," the Chief of the Army Staff, Gen V.P. Malik, said at a seminar — Human Resource in Ex-defence Officers, here today. Army men are able to easily adapt to a dynamic environment and are better prepared to handle changing situations, which makes them an ideal workforce for the corporates, he said. "They say business is nothing but a war fought with different weapons. So the best idea is to take people who have seen real war," General Malik said. A better interface is required between the services and industry so that soldiers who hang their boots after a stint in the armed forces can be gainfully employed, the Army Chief said. But a better idea would be for soldiers to get over fears of taking financial risks and think in terms of starting their own enterprise, which would not only be more remunerative, but they can also generate employment for others like them, he added. Echoing the Army Chief’s sentiments, the President of the Indian Association of Tour Operators, Mr Subhash Goyal, said soldiers should seriously consider self-employment. "Instead of becoming job seekers, Army men should rather become job creators," Mr Goyal told the seminar organised by the Directorate General of Resettlement. Stating that tourism
would be the industry of the future, he said Army men had
a lot of experience in managing places that could become
favourite tourist destinations and asked them to look at
encashing opportunities in adventure tourism. |
PTI, UNI staff appear before wage board NEW DELHI, March 16 (UNI) — Representatives of PTI, UNI and other newspapers employees today appeared before the Manisana Wage Board and pressed for upward revision of its tentative proposals besides changing its date of implementation to September, 1996, when the payment of Interim Relief began. The UNI Employees Federation (UNIEF) urged the Board to lower the revenue slab for news agency from Rs 30 crore to Rs 25 crore to place UNI on a par with PTI in category I A. Other demands included restructuring of Dearness Allowance on the basis of all-India price index, upgradation of scales restoring parity with the UGC grades, granting of weightage increment commensurating length of service and enhanced educational allowance for children even for higher classes. Office-bearers of the Kerala UNI Employees Union also joined the representation. The PTI Employees
Federation pressed for three weightage increments instead
of two and upward revision of the tentative proposals. |
Brar seeks package for Punjab NEW DELHI, March 16 — The Centre should grant special package to Punjab as the Union Budget was "anti-farmer and anti-poor", the Faridkot MP, Mr Jagmeet Singh Brar, said today. The government should roll back hike in urea prices and the subsidy cut as they harm the interest of the farmers and the people living below the poverty line, Mr Brar said while taking part in the discussion on the Union Budget. Mr Brar, who is also the convener of the Congress Parliamentary Party in Punjab said the state was facing resource crunch and the hike in urea prices would affect the farmers badly. The Centre should release a package of Rs 1,500 crore to the state, Mr Jagmeet Singh said, adding that the state government was having a debt of Rs 26,000 crore. He also urged the
government to remove the ban on increasing the
procurement prices of rice and wheat as they were
detrimental to the interest of farmers. |
Mann opposes move on water
resources NEW DELHI, March 16 — Mr Simranjit Singh Mann, MP from Sangrur and senior Akali Dal leader plans to write a letter to Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, to express reservations on the proposed move to transfer water resources from the state list to the concurrent list. Mr Mann told TNS here today that he took this decision after the Minister of Water Resources, Mr C.P. Thakur, replied to him in Parliament that he would table the proposal at a meeting of the state Chief Ministers scheduled for April 3. Terming the proposal as
"dangerous", Mr Mann said that they will not
allow the Centre to usurp whatever little powers the
state government has. |
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