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| Thursday, June 15, 2000, Chandigarh, India   
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Congress seeks CBI
probe into Nawada massacre
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fund for senior citizens mooted NEW DELHI, June 14 — The National Council for Older Persons yesterday considered a five-year plan of action to implement the National Policy on Older Persons announced last year. Pak poet tense over visa extension Gujarat CM rejects minister’s resignation UP probe against 30 IAS, IPS officers ESIC Inspector arrested Fake medical degrees’ racket
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Pak offer propagandist: India NEW DELHI, June 14 — India today described the latest Pakistan proposal for a nuclear restraint regime “essentially propagandist” and asked Islamabad to create a proper environment for the resumption of a bilateral dialogue. In response to a question on the latest Pakistan’s proposal on a nuclear-restraint regime, a spokesman for the Ministry of External Affairs said there was nothing new in the proposal which “is essentially propagandist”. India’s security concerns extended well beyond South Asia and “our security policies are not country-specific”, the spokesman said adding it would not be appropriate to look at restraint and transparency in the security-related matters in the narrow framework of India and Pakistan. Indian security policies had always been based on restraint, rationality and responsibility, the spokesman pointed out. India’s security concerns had a much broader canvas, he said. “In the nuclear field, we have a commitment to no first use, a moratorium on nuclear testing, avoiding an arms race and the concept of credible minimum nuclear deterrent”, he pointed out. Eight paragraphs agreed to in the memorandum of understanding, signed between the Foreign Ministers of India and Pakistan during Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee’s visit to Lahore in February, 1999, contained essential elements for promoting peace and security between India and Pakistan both in nuclear weapons as well as in conventional weapons fields, the spokesman said. A roadmap was agreed between the two countries earlier but the comprehensive dialogue process was derailed by events in Kargil, the spokesman said adding it was for Pakistan now to create a proper environment which needed to be put in place for the process to start by stopping cross-border terrorism and hostile propaganda against India. Issues of security were part of the comprehensive dialogue process, he stressed. In another development India on Wednesday accused Pakistan’s present military regime of indulging in deceptions by denying its military units the elementary right of trust and honour. India said Gen Pervez Musharraf regime was not ready to disclose the actual number of casualties suffered by Pakistan during the Kargil conflict. In response to questions regarding Mr Sharif’s statements to the Pakistani media on Pakistan’s aggression in Kargil last year, a spokesman of the Ministry of External Affairs said the former Pakistan Prime Minister’s statements only reconfirmed what had been known all along that the Pakistan army had planned this misadventure, that it were Pakistan’s regular troops and not the so-called Mujahideen that were sent across the Line of Control in the Kargil sector. “The second and more worrisome aspect is that of deceptions, more particularly and tellingly, against the armed forces and the people of Pakistan themselves by the present regime attempting to perpetuate the untenable myth of “so-called
Mujahideen, of not disclosing the actual casualties suffered by Pakistan’s military units, thus denying them the elementary right of trust and honour which is due of all military forces anywhere in the world”, the spokesman said. The spokesman said India was hopeful of “positive developments” in the Sierra Leone hostage crisis as a result of the stepped up diplomatic efforts to secure the release of 21 Indian troops held captive by the Revolutionary United Front (FUF) rebels in Pendembu, east of Kuiva. He said an Ecowas delegation was scheduled to travel to Kailahun to talk directly with the RUF for securing the release of the 21 Indian peacekeepers of the Unamsil. This was confirmed by the special representative of the UN Secretary General.
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Rajesh Pilot’s death: bus driver booked JAIPUR, June 14 (PTI) — The driver of the Rajasthan State Road Transport Corporation bus involved in the collision with the jeep driven by Congress leader Rajesh Pilot has been booked under various provisions of the IPC for negligent driving, the police has said. The driver Ram Dhan Meena, who was driving the bus bound for Mathura, was arrested immediately after the mishap on Sunday in which Pilot and his security guard Hari Singh were killed and three others, including a Congress legislator from Sikrai Mahendra Meena, injured. Superintendent of police, Dausa, Amarjeet Singh said the roadways bus was overtaking a tanker when it hit Pilot’s vehicle coming from the opposite direction. It was apparently a negligent act because the driver of the bus ignored the jeep coming from the opposite direction. The impact of the collision which completely smashed right front portion of Pilot’s jeep, was also indicative of a negligent act, he added. Meanwhile, the police, investigating the case, has started questioning eye-witnesses while forensic experts have started conducting their studies to find out the cause of the accident. The investigation would try to recreate the scene of the accident to find out what exactly happened at the precise moment, police sources said. Following his arrest the driver has been suspended from his job by the roadways management. Meanwhile, the urn containing the ashes of Congress leader Rajesh Pilot, who died in a road accident on Sunday, would be immersed in Pushkar Lake. The ashes will be placed at state party offices at Bharatpur, Dausa and Jaipur tomorrow to enable his supporters and
well-wishers to pay their last tribute to the departed leader, a state PCC press note said here today. They will be taken from Delhi by senior party leaders in a chopper and condolence prayers held at the respective district offices and state headquarters. |
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Pilot’s vacancy in CWC may
not be filled soon NEW DELHI, June 14 — The vacancy caused by the demise of Mr Rajesh Pilot may not be filled soon going by the fact that the party has already started the process of holding organisational elections. Party sources said although there was pressure on the leadership to fill vacancies in the highest policy-making body of the Congress, the central leadership prefers to wait. The CWC has 22 members, including the Congress President, half of whom are elected by the AICC delegates who, in turn, are elected by
Pradesh Congress committees during organisational poll. The Congress President, Mrs Sonia Gandhi, has so far not nominated any person to fill the
vacancy caused by the departure of Mrs Meira Kumar, who had quit the party earlier this year. There are reports that the Congress may prefer to nominate Mrs Rama Pilot, MLA, widow of Rajesh Pilot, for the
by-election to the Dausa parliamentary constituency as and when it is held. Congress seeks CBI
probe into Nawada massacre PATNA, June 14 (PTI) — The Congress, a partner in the ruling coalition in Bihar, today demanded a CBI probe into the recent Nawada carnage and asked the Rabri Devi government to
constitute a task force to prevent the recurrence of caste clashes in the state. Bihar PCC President Chandan Bagchi, who visited Apsad village in Nawada where 12 upper caste persons were massacred on Sunday, said the coordination committee of coalition partners should
not immediately to take stock of the situation and discuss ways and means to improve the law and order situation. Asked whether the Congress would withdraw support to the Rabri Devi Government if it failed to take steps to improve law and order, Mr Bagchi said: “We are part of the government and we will ensure that the situation is conducive and there is no crime.” He also demanded a CBI probe into the killing of five Yadavs in Rajiv Bigha village in Nawada early this month. |
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Welfare fund for senior citizens mooted NEW DELHI, June 14 (UNI) — The National Council for Older Persons (NCOP) yesterday considered a five-year plan of action to implement the National Policy on Older Persons (NPOP) announced last year. The plan of action 2000-2005 spells out a charter of action to be implemented by various ministries and departments concerned. According to the draft plan unveiled by the Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment Maneka Gandhi here today, an inter-ministerial committee would be set up to coordinate the implementation of the NPOP. The plan also envisaged the setting up of a senior citizen welfare fund at the Centre. The action plan aimed at providing assistance to the Panchayati Raj Institutions for providing institutional and non-institutional services to older persons. Assistance would also be given for setting up resource centres on ageing across the country. It said states would be asked to issue multi-purpose identity cards to senior citizens and also to identify the nodal department to coordinate and monitor implementation of the NPOP. |
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Pak poet tense over visa extension NEW DELHI, June 14 (UNI) — Pakistani poet Aftab Hussain, who has sought asylum in India, says the extension of his visa up to July 31 has only added to the uncertainty about his future. “I have been kept on tenterhooks for such a long period and I am living in a tense situation,’’ a visibly disturbed Hussain said. Hussain fled Pakistan following harassment by the military regime for having published Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee’s book of poems in his country. Since then he has been living in Delhi and has sought asylum in India. His visa was due to expire tomorrow (June 15). He, however, said he was still hopeful that the Indian Government would consider his application for asylum on humanitarian grounds following assurances by the External Affairs Ministry and the Home Ministry. “There may be some positive development.’’ Hussain said he applied for a 15-day extension of his visa yesterday so that he could plan about his future. The visa was instead extended by one and a half months prolonging the period of uncertainty. He wanted the uncertainty to end. He said he had been confined to Delhi and was not permitted to go anywhere else although he would love to see places like the Taj. His movements had become restricted. About his family back home, Hussain said he had no contact with them. Although he had received a letter from them which neither had the address nor the name of the sender, he recognised it from handwriting. “They are still being harassed.’’ Hussain said he would very much like to get asylum in India as he is “only a poet” and had always tried to
promote healthier and friendly relations between India and Pakistan through his writings. He feared that the ISI which hounded him out of his country, might get him here since he was against the military regime in his own country and wanted the return of civilian rule. He, however, said he would return to Pakistan if the civilian rule is resorted there. “I love my country and my people. I
will go back if the situation returns to normal.” Fleeing to India after facing persecution in Pakistan was a “natural and spontaneous decision” for Hussain although he said that if he was not given asylum, he would consider going to any other country but never to Pakistan as along as ‘the unlawful’ military regime is there. Asked whether he had met Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, Hussain said he did not want to meet any political leader and in the process politicise the whole issue. |
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Gujarat CM rejects minister’s resignation GANDHINAGAR, June 14 (PTI) — Gujarat Minister of State for Home Haren Pandya today resigned in the wake of the controversy over the arrest of a brother of a deputy ministerial colleague but Chief Minister Keshubhai Patel said he would not accept his resignation. Mr Patel told reporters here that Mr Pandya had submitted his resignation as the Minister of State for Home and not as a Minister of State for Information. “I will not accept his resignation and I have asked him to continue as Minister of State for Home”, Mr Patel said. Mr Patel said Mr Pandya had not mentioned any reasons for his resignation, but ruling BJP sources said he took the step as he was being “pressurised” to get a case of attempt to murder withdrawn against a brother of Mr Purshottam Solanki, Deputy Minister for Labour and Employment, resulting from a cable war in Ahmedabad city recently. The Chief Minister said he would inform the high command about the episode. Asked about the reconsideration of the case against Mr Solanki’s brother, Mr Patel said the matter was sub judice. |
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UP probe against 30 IAS, IPS officers LUCKNOW, June 14 (PTI) — The Uttar Pradesh Government has ordered a vigilance inquiry against 30 IAS and IPS officers as part of a stepped-up drive against corruption in high places. The state government has taken serious note of complaints of corruption in high offices of power and vigilance inquiries are pending against 21 IAS and nine IPS officers, state Chief Secretary Yogendra Narain told PTI here. Warning of stern action against all house found guilty of corruption charges irrespective of their clout and position, Mr Narain said a vigilance inquiry was also going on against one IPS officer for his alleged links with Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). The Chief Secretary, however, refused to divulge the name and post of the IPS officer whose role was under scrutiny for his alleged ISI links. So far, the government had suspended 138 state officials following the recommendations of the Vigilance Department, he said, adding sanction for prosecution of 237 other officials had been granted. Prosecution sanction had been given against 78 officers in the Forest Department followed by 41 doctors and 29 engineers in the state’s Public Works Department, he added. State officers who were facing vigilance inquiries also included 27 state public service commission officers, nine in the forest services and two Provincial Police Service (PPS) officers, the Chief Secretary said. |
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ESIC Inspector
arrested NEW DELHI, June 14 (PTI) — The CBI has arrested an Inspector working with the Employees State Insurance Corporation at
Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh for allegedly demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs 5,000 from a person for clearing his bills of contract. In another case, the CBI has arrested a person for allegedly impersonating as a CBI officer and demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs 20,000 from the Civil Surgeon and Medical Superintendent of the Area Hospital, promising to help him in a case, agency sources here said. The CBI arrested an Administrative Officer with New India Assurance Co in Ongole after sleuths allegedly caught him while accepting a bribe of Rs 3,500 from the complainant for settling his claim. |
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Fake medical
degrees’ racket NEW DELHI, June 14 — The Delhi police unearthed a racket of fake medical degrees with the arrest of Balwant Rai Arora (75) from Uttam Nagar in West Delhi. The police seized 10 blank fake degrees and a few other documents from his possession, the police said. The accused ran a parallel medical college, Delhi Medical College, in his residence at Vipin Vihar in Uttam Nagar in West Delhi. He had been involved in this racket for the past five years. He reportedly issued medical degrees of MBBS, BUMS, BDS, BAMS, RMP and MD. He charged between Rs 1100 and Rs 1,800 for each degree. He had given these degrees to about 100 persons from Haryana, Himachal and UP. He has been remanded in police custody for two days. |
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