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| Thursday, May 18, 2000, Chandigarh, India  
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Govt for talks with Assam ultras CBI raids DD
staff houses Sukhoi deal: CAG pulls up ministry NGO shows the way Academy award for Harkishan Singh Extradition of hijackers:
CBI seeks Interpol help |
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| Efforts to remove pension anomalies NEW DELHI, May 17 — Efforts were being made to bridge the gap in payment of pension to defence personnel retiring before and after January 1, 1996, the Defence Minister, Mr George Fernandes, said today.
PM lauds speech of Manmohan NEW DELHI, May 17 — The Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, today praised the Congress leader, Dr Manmohan Singh, for his speech on cutting down non-merit subsidies and asked the parties to rise above political differences on economic issues. IT Bill sanctions
‘e-governance’ Sri Lanka seeks
KPS Gill’s services Murder of
40 drivers, cleaners: 5 held Wage board work
not complete yet Cabinet’s decision on IES, ISS promotions
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Govt for talks with Assam ultras NEW DELHI, May 17 (PTI) — Home Minister L.K. Advani today said that the government was ready to talk to any insurgent group involved in militancy in Assam or any other part of the north-east. But it would be better if state governments take the initiative in this direction, the minister said while replying to a short duration discussion in the Rajya Sabha on the internal security situation in the north-eastern region. Mr Advani also said that if Foreigners’ Act was extended to Assam it would help in checking illegal migration to the state from a neighbouring country. He said the
Foreigners' Act had helped other states to detect and deport thousands of illegal immigrants every year. But this Act was not applicable to Assam where the illegal Migrants Determination by Tribunal Act (IMDT) was applicable and the state had been able to detect only very small number of such immigrants. Mr Advani said if all the political parties were in favour of extending the Foreigners’ Act to Assam, “we shall be happy”. However, leader of the Opposition Manmohan Singh said the problem of illegal immigrants in Assam had already been taken care of under the Assam accord during the prime ministership of Rajiv Gandhi. |
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CBI raids DD
staff houses
CHENNAI, May 17 (UNI) — The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) officials today conducted simultaneous raids in the residences of Doordarshan officials, including two Regional Directors, in Chennai, Bangalore, Pondicherry and Hyderabad and seized “relevant documents” relating to irregularities in the allotment of commercial slots. The cases related to irregular allotment of slots worth Rs 1 crore, CBI sources said. No arrest had been made. Some office premises were also searched by the CBI sleuths. The case relates to serving as well as some retired officials, the sources added. |
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Sukhoi deal: CAG pulls up ministry NEW DELHI, May 17 (PTI) — The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has pulled up the Defence Ministry for delay in induction of the Sukhoi-30MK, pointing out that only eight fighters had been received so far against an expected 20 and that these too were only air defence versions. “Not even a single upgraded SU-30MK multi-role aircraft has been delivered till the beginning of this year, despite an investment of Rs 2,432 crore and delay of 24 months,” the CAG said in its latest report on defence services. In a scathing attack, the CAG said “The ministry had opted for an uncertain route of joint development which proved not only delay prone, but also rendered the entire upgradation of these aircraft within the country significantly complex both in terms of technology and management.” India had signed an agreement in 1998 with the manufacturer for the supply of 40 SU-30MK aircraft and associated equipment at a cost of Rs 5,122 crore and an additional expenditure of Rs 1,188 crore for indigenous development and import of avionics system. The contract provided for supply of eight SU-30K air defence aircraft in 1997 and 32 upgraded SU-30MK multi-role aircraft between 1998 and 2001. The induction programme of multi-role aircraft has already been delayed by 18 to 24 months and is likely to be further delayed, the CAG has said. The CAG said the delay would hit the Air Force’s fleet renewal. “The Air Force will have to either live with the depleted force level or will be compelled to use an ageing fleet despite heavy expenditure,” it said. The report said the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) had failed to develop and supply the key avionics sub-systems in time and the ministry also failed to ensure timely procurement and supply of western avionics to the manufacturer to equip the SU-30MK for giving it a multi-role capability. “The divided responsibility for procurement of the systems and their integration has blurred the responsibility of the manufacturer towards producing an integrated state of art multi-role aircraft system,” it said. The development and production of key avionics systems like mission computer, display processor, radar computer, taken up by the DRDO and associated production agencies has been delayed by 30 months and certain sub-systems are still in development stage. The CAG said the delay had compelled the ministry to re-schedule the delivery of 22 partially-upgraded and 10 fully upgraded versions of SU-30MK multi-role aircraft. The ultimate upgradation of the already received eight SU-30K air defence aircraft has also been delayed, it said. The report said as per the revised schedule only six of the fully-upgraded versions are to be supplied by manufacturers in place of the original 10, adding that even this revised schedule was not likely to be met. |
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NGO shows the way DAHOD (Gujarat), May 17 — They count their blessings in trickles of water. Inhabitants of Doki, Rentia and villages adjoining the Sukhi river near Dahod town have to walk miles in the oppressive heat to fetch water. Water is a scarce commodity here and needs, patience and perseverence to be accessed. Women, men and children line up with pitchers and copper utensils at the river everyday to meet their water requirements. Every week, they take turns to dig one metre deep holes in the dry bed of the river to access water. It takes at least one hour to fill one pitcher. Water scarcity only compounds the problems of Dahod, which has the dubious distinction of being the poorest tribal district in the state. In sharp contrast to the ordeal of the women here are the ‘water content’ villages of Mahudi in the same district and Polapan, a tribal village in the southernmost part of south Rajasthan in Banswara district. Thanks to the interventions in water resource management by the N M Sadguru Water and Development Foundation, a national NGO in Chosala village here, villagers have enough water for both irrigation and drinking. As Vijay Sandia, the assistant programme officer of the Foundation working in Polapan says, “all wells have water. Of the 19 wells, 17 have water due to watershed development programmes which include appropriate soil and water conservation and massive plantation”. Villagers here are unperturbed by the drought situation. Such steps have also served to check migration to Surat, Ahmedabad and the industrial towns of Valsad and Vapi. Polapan with a population of 1000, has sufficient water for drinking and irrigation. Till 1993, Polapan, which shares a border with Gujarat, was almost barren. Confronted with problems of earning a livelihood, young and able-bodied villagers migrated to various places in Gujarat for most part of the year. Villagers say that Polapan had less than a thousand trees and bushes and only two of its 14 wells had water. Sadguru’s interventions have changed the face of the village. As a result, today when Gujarat is in the grip of in worst drought, wells in Polopan have water that will last till the next monsoon. Bunding, a technique of holding and storing rainwater, has worked wonders and has taken care of sufficient water supply for irrigation. This serves as a source for recharging wells. Encouraged by this, villagers are now growing lady fingers, toor daal, maize and a variety of beans. This has assured them self sufficiency and they go to Zahlod and Salora to sell their yield. The village today has over two lakh trees and all the 120 households have enough fuel wood and timber. In Mahodi village (Dahod), barely 25 to 30 km from Rentia, Sadguru, in partnership with the community has constructed a series of check dams to collect rainwater for irrigation. Mr Harnath Jagawat, Director of the foundation, says that the organsiation has adopted 350 villages in Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. “We plan to adopt another 300 villages,” he told newspersons. |
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Academy award for Harkishan Singh NEW DELHI, May 17 — Noted author, Prof Harkishan Singh and theatre personality Mrs Sheila Bhatia, will be conferred with Param Sahit Sarkar Sanman by the Punjabi Academy for their outstanding contributions to Punjabi language, literature and culture. Addressing a press conference here today, the
Secretary of Punjabi Academi, said they were being honoured for their outstanding contribution to the literature, language and culture. He said they would be presented cash of Rs 1,11,000, citation, plaque and shawl. The award would be presented by the Delhi Chief Minister, Mrs Sheila Dikshit, on Thursday. Mrs Sheila Bhatia has written over 20 operas in Punjabi and had also successfully staged all these operas. Her notable operas includes “Chann Badlan Da”, “Heer Ranjha”, “Jeevan ki Hai”. She has also worked as Director with the National School of Drama and the Delhi Art Theatre. Prof Harkishan Singh has done multi-facet work towards Punjabi language. His notable works include “Jhalak Majithe Rang Di”, “Rasik Rasik Gun Gaveh”, “Meethey Har Gun Gao”, “Ratana Ratan Padarth”. He has also written illustrious biography of Jassa Singh Ahluwalia and Prof Puran Singh. Besides these two personalities, six others would be presented with Param Sahit Satkar award, Mr Rawali Singh added. |
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Extradition of hijackers: CBI seeks Interpol help NEW DELHI, May 17 (PTI) — The CBI, which is probing the IC-814 hijacking case of Indian Airlines to Kandahar in December last, has approached Interpol for issuance of a “red corner” notice against five hijackers and two of their accomplices. Agency sources said the CBI, after obtaining warrants against seven persons from a designated Court in Patiala, have approached Interpol for issuance of the “Red Corner” notice against them. The persons are five hijackers Ibrahim Athar, Sunny Ahmed Aqzi, Zahoor Ibrahim, Shahid Akhter Sayed and Shakir and their two accomplices Yusuf Azhar and Abdul Rauf, the sources said. Yusuf Azhar, and Abdul Rauf are believed to be key conspirators behind the hijacking of the plane from
Kathmandu on Christmas eve to Kandahar in southern Afghanistan. The agency sources said all seven persons are believed to be in Pakistan and the CBI would ask Interpol to seek their extradition from that country. Pakistan is a signatory to Interpol. |
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Efforts to remove pension anomalies NEW DELHI, May 17 — Efforts were being made to bridge the gap in payment of pension to defence personnel retiring before and after January 1, 1996, the Defence Minister, Mr George Fernandes, said today. Replying to a calling attention motion in the Lok Sabha, Mr Fernandes said the gap had been reduced to a considerable extent but a minor difference still existed. Some proposals with regard to their pension were being made and these would be placed in the Cabinet, he said. The Defence Minister said the successive governments had not been able to introduce one-rank-one-pension for defence personnel, due to various reasons. Mr Fernandes regretted that the government was unable to construct more hospitals for lack of funds for treatment of ex-servicemen numbering about 15 lakh in the country. He dismissed the charge that money received by the National Defence Fund or the Army Central Welfare Fund had been diverted to the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund. Currently the National Defence Fund had a total amount of Rs 472.56 crore and the Army Central Welfare fund had Rs 262 crore, he said. Giving an account of the facilities extended to defence personnel after the Kargil war, Mr Fernandes told the members that the government had raised the ex gratia amount to Rs 10 lakh for a jawan losing his life in a conflict. He said jawans disabled in the war had been given Rs 5 lakh each and the amount for those injured ranged from Rs 3 lakh to Rs 6 lakh depending on the extent of invalidity. The government, he said, was providing Rs one lakh each to two children of a jawan losing his life in the war for their education. Mr Fernandes announced that the government had removed the ceiling that bereaved families of jawans would get a maximum financial assistance of Rs 10 lakh. Now they could get any amount considering the help extended by state governments and non-governmental organisations during the Kargil conflict, he said. The government was also considering raising the family pension from Rs 1,000 to Rs 2,000 of the deceased jawans, he said, adding that each bereaved family was entitled to get a petrol pump or a gas agency. Mr Fernandes said the government would give a consolidated amount from the National Defence Fund to all those defence personnel who suffered in the previous wars in the past 50 years. |
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North India in Parliament NEW DELHI, May 17 — There was no move to withdraw the special status given to displaced Kashmiris, the Minister of State for Home Affairs, Mr Vidyasagar Rao replying to a question raised by Mr Janeshwar Mishra in the Rajya Sabha. The minister said as intimated by the Jammu and Kashmir government, the issue of return of Kashmiri migrants was on top of its agenda and they were in the process of finalising an action plan for early and safe return of the migrants to the valley. Separately, a social interaction programme has been initiated under which some migrants have visited the valley so as to pave the way for their return to the valley. Replying to another question raised by Mr C.M. Ibrahim in the Rajya Sabha, the minister said a total of 1154 lives were lost to militancy in different parts of the country during January to April 2000. Thirtyfive persons belonging to Sikh community were massacred by the terrorists in Chatti Singhpora village in Jammu and Kashmir on the intervening night of March 20-21, 2000. Replying to another question raised by Mr R.S. Gavai, in the Rajya Sabha, the minister said some madarsas were being run in Kangra and Chamba districts of Himachal Pradesh. Labour: The Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Mr Muni Lall, informed the Lok Sabha that there were 80.85 lakh employees covered under the ESI scheme in March 1999, as against 66.13 lakh in March 1996. Replying to a question raised by Prof Baba Singh Rawat, the minister said the number of persons covered under the ESI in Chandigarh was 28,350, Haryana 3,56,300, Himachal Pradesh 48,600, Jammu and Kashmir 17450 and in Punjab 4,00,200. About the number of posts vacant in ESI institutions with Chandigarh Administration (12), Haryana (80), Himachal Pradesh (4), and Punjab (171). Power: The Minister of State for Power, Mr Jayawanti Mehta, informed the Rajya Sabha that State Electricity Boards and Union Territories owed Rs 12,424.30 crore to the NTPC as on December 31, 1999. Replying to a question raised by Mr Brahmakumar Bhatt, the minister said Jammu and Kashmir owed Rs 47324 lakh, Haryana Rs 38557 lakh, Punjab Rs 1140 lakh, Himachal Pradesh Rs 931 lakh. Defence: Replying to a question by Mr Ramachandraiah Rumandla and Dr Alladi P Rajkumar on whether more than 600 civilians whose properties were taken over by the Army and Rashtriya Rifles for setting up posts for counterinsurgency operations in Kashmir were approved by the Delhi High Court for compensation, the Minister for Defence, Mr George Fernandes, informed the Rajya Sabha that normally it was the responsibility of the state (government) concerned to pay the rentals in respect of private properties occupied by security forces on counter insurgency operations in the state. However, after due consideration of the circumstances, the
ministry has decided to pay the rentals for all such properties occupied by the Army and Rashtriya Rifles in Jammu and Kashmir. |
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PM lauds speech of Manmohan NEW DELHI, May 17 (PTI) — The Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, today praised the Congress leader, Dr Manmohan Singh, for his speech on cutting down non-merit subsidies and asked the parties to rise above political differences on economic issues. A day after Dr Manmohan Singh spoke on the need for fiscal responsibility on the part of the Centre and the states, Mr Vajpayee told the Lok Sabha that Dr Manmohan Singh’s speech in the Rajya Sabha yesterday was “far-sighted” and should be “read carefully.” “If we don’t rise above the party lines, we don’t see much future for the country,” Mr Vajpayee said while thanking the members at the close of the Budget session. Ruling out any rollback of prices of foodgrains under the Public Distribution System (PDS) and fertiliser subsidy cut, the Prime Minister said the government was left with no option but to take “hard decisions” to restore financial health of the economy. Taking a dig at the Congress, he said the party had the experience of being in power and now that they were in Opposition, they should play a constructive role for “I don’t see any hope of their coming to power.” |
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IT Bill sanctions ‘e-governance’ NEW DELHI, May 17 (PTI, UNI) — Parliament today passed the information technology Bill seeking to give legal framework to e-commerce with the Rajya Sabha approving it by a voice vote. The Lok Sabha had passed the Bill yesterday. Information Technology Minister Pramod Mahajan told the Rajya Sabha today that he will write to the Union Home Minister and the states that the police officers dealing with cyber crimes should be educated in computers so that people were not unnecessarily harassed. Replying to the debate on information technology Bill, 2000 which gives legal recognition for transactions carried out by means of e-commerce, Mr Mahajan conceded that there would be misuse of the legislation by police. “If the police do excesses, they should be punished”, he added. With the granting of legal sanction, digital communication could become part of valid parliamentary record, he said adding CD-rom could be tabled in the House instead of voluminous paper document. With the passage IT Bill which gives legal sanction to e-governance and digital signature, Mr Mahajan said he would not be surprised if India also moved on to e-Parliament in 10 years. However, members in the Rajya Sabha today demanded effective safeguards against Internet and wanted compulsory registration of cyber cafes to discourage its misuse. |
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Sri Lanka seeks
KPS Gill’s services
NEW DELHI, May 17 (PTI) — Haunted by LTTE onslaught on Jaffna, the Sri Lankan government has invited former Punjab Police chief K.P.S. Gill to advise it on anti-terrorist measures, particularly in Colombo. While the supercop, credited with crushing terrorism in Punjab, declined to divulge the exact nature of the new assignment, Colombo is believed to have sought his assistance in strengthening security measures for VVIPs in Colombo, where the separatist Tamil outfit had successfully carried out several assassinations and suicide attacks in the past. Mr Gill was first approached for the job by Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar a couple of weeks back. Mr Kadirgamar is also believed to have requested for Gill’s services during his meetings with Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee and Home Minister L.K. Advani. Describing his agenda in Colombo as “informal”, Mr Gill, who is scheduled to leave for the Sri Lankan capital in a day or two, said he would be meeting government officials, policy makers and academics “concerned with the ongoing ethnic conflict” in the Indian Ocean island. |
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Murder of
40 drivers, cleaners: 5 held
BHOPAL, May 17 (UNI) — The Madhya Pradesh police has arrested five of the 11 members of an inter-state gang said to be involved in the murder of more than 40 truck drivers and cleaners in different parts of the country. Inspector-General of Police Nandan Dubey told mediapersons on a tip-off the police arrested five culprits from the Safia College Road in the state capital yesterday. The accused have confessed killing of drivers and cleaners and decamping with goods loaded in the trucks in several states, including Punjab, Haryana, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and
Maharashtra, he said. |
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Wage board work
not complete yet
NEW DELHI, May 17 (UNI) — The Government will implement within the “shortest possible period the
recommendations of the Manisana Wage Board for Journalists and Non-Journalists” once the report is received. According to Minister of State for Labour and Employment Muni Lall, the wage board which was set up six years ago in September 1994 had sought some more time to finalise its report as its work had not been completed. |
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Cabinet’s decision on
IES, ISS promotions
NEW DELHI, May 17 (UNI) — The Union Cabinet has reiterated the decision taken by the Centre in 1961 and in 1972 not to associate the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) in matters of promotion in the Indian Economic Service (IES) and Indian Statistical Service (ISS). The decision of not involving the UPSC in these promotion matters was taken during the Cabinet meeting yesterday, an official spokesperson said today. |
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Indian student rescued NEW DELHI, May 17 (PTI) — Satyanarayan Raghunath Mishra, an Indian student who was rescued by the Russian security forces from the troubled Chechnya region after he had gone missing for two years, today denied involvement with any Muslim terrorist outfits there saying he was in fact held hostage for ransom. “After surrendering to the Russian forces I came to know that I have been branded by the Russian forces as a Muslim terrorist fighting along with the Chechnya rebels in the troubled region”, as horrible with the Islamic terrorists, he said he had been forced to change his name to Abdul Mallik and asked to read Koran with them every day. |
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