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| Tuesday, June 27, 2000, Chandigarh, India   
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Meeting
of Chief Secys, DGPs on June 28 India derecognises Saharvi
Republic Free phone scheme challenged BJP on defensive over Maneka,
Jagmohan Pak deploys units to handle
N-missiles |
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3 PNB officials held Bassi to take charge as UT IG on
June 30 Bail for former TN Chief Secretary Cong flays PM’s remarks on
attacks Security ordered for industrialist Army chief felicitates
mountaineers Defence year book released Tarkunde to get Thomas award Elephant was not a baby: director Heavy rain likely in Sikkim
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Meeting of Chief Secys, DGPs on
June 28 NEW DELHI, June 26 — The Centre has called a meeting of Chief Secretaries/Directors-General of Police here on Wednesday to review the internal security scenario in the country. The day-long meeting will be inaugurated by the Union Home Minister, Mr L.K. Advani, and would discuss the recent happenings in various parts of the country which reveal support of Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) to militancy in India. According to reports available, the ISI has been fomenting trouble in various parts of the country, including explosions and recent attacks against minorities, especially Christians. The reports also suggest that several organisations in the country were being supported by the ISI and the meeting would discuss steps to be taken to curb its activities, a spokesman for the Home Ministry said. The meeting would stress upon the need to have proper border management and patrolling at the state level. In this regard, the requirement of the central para-military forces would be assessed and states would be urged to make optimum utilisation of forces deployed in their respective states. Matters relating to upgradation and strengthening of the state police, revamping of state intelligence set-up, enacting anti-terrorism laws, and measures to deal with illegal immigration would also be taken up for discussion. Reports also suggest that the ISI and its agents were recruiting illegal immigrants, especially from Bangladesh, to carry out subversive activities in India. The recent bomb blast at Red Fort in Delhi has been linked to a illegal migrant from Bangladesh, sources in the Home Ministry said. According to reports,
apart from immigrants, the ISI has been using Pakistan
and Sikh militants to carry out subversive activities by
providing them training in that country. |
India derecognises Saharvi
Republic NEW DELHI, June 26 — In an unprecedented diplomatic step, India today derecognised the Saharvi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR). Making the announcement, the Joint Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs in charge of the West Asia and North Africa (WANA), Mr Rakesh Kumar, said the decision had been taken "keeping in mind all aspects of the evolving situation in the region". Mr Rakesh Kumar said that the decision had been taken as discussions were already on between the parties concerned to find a solution. The decision to derecognise is with immediate effect. "India continues to keep in touch with developments in line with its support for UN efforts and the warm and friendly relationship traditionally existing with all parties concerned", he said. India, in its 53 years of independent history, has never derecognised any state but the case of the SADR is entirely different as talks for the resettlement of the Saharvis has been going on between all principal parties under the UN aegis for more than a decade. In 1988, Morocco and Polisario accepted a settlement plan for resolving the Western Sahara conflict and it was approved by the UN Security Council in 1991. The objective of the plan was to enable the people of Western Sahara to exercise the right of self determination but the promised referendum has been postponed many times. The UN settlement plan is once again gaining momentum with the representatives of Morocco and Saharvis scheduled to meet in London at the end of this month. The SADR, which was recognised by New Delhi in 1985, has been informed that if they desire, they can continue to function as Polisario, which is the liberation front of the Saharvi people. Saharvis inhabit the great Sahara desert — a region surrounded by Algeria, Morocco, Mauritania and other countries in the African continent. The South Block is awaiting the Polisario’s response, Mr Rakesh Kumar said. Spain, which once had colonised the entire Sahara desert, had abandoned the area in the late seventies thus leaving Mauritania and Morocco to claim the territory which is rich in minerals and oil. While Morocco staked its claim to two thirds of the area, Mauritania to the rest one third. Saharvis, tribal people inhabiting the region, at the instance of some regional and international powers actively supported by the Soviet lobby, also staked claims to the area and formed the Polisario Liberation Front to liberate the area from the occupation of Morocco. Initially, the Polisario
received support but with changes taking place in the
Soviet world, the support for the Front started eroding. |
Free phone scheme challenged NEW DELHI, June 26 (PTI) — The Supreme Court today issued notices to the Union Ministries of Communication and Finance on a PIL challenging Communication Minister Ram Vilas Paswan’s decision to give free telephones to 3.2 lakh employees in his ministry allegedly at a loss of over Rs 200 crore. A vacation bench comprising Justice K.T. Thomas and Justice M.B. Shah, while issuing notices, indicated that similar cases pending before several high courts could be transferred to the apex court so that a uniform ruling could be given. The public interest litigation (PIL) filed by an NGO Common Cause through counsel Kamini Jaiswal alleged that the Communication Minister’s decision to give free telephone connections to its employees would cause a loss of Rs 126 crore on the non-recurring expenditure front and an annual recurring loss of Rs 100 crore. The bench mentioned about the stay granted on the scheme by Kerala High Court and said the counsel could move an application for transfer of all such cases pending in the high courts to the Supreme Court. The petitioner also alleged that the free telephone scheme would also cause a loss of interest on security deposits amounting to Rs 11 crore every year, the petitioner said. The NGO cited newspaper reports and contended that the Finance Ministry should be asked as to whether its approval or concurrence was obtained before it was announced. The petitioner said there were indications that the Ministry of Finance has not been consulted nor was their concurrence secured in the announcement of such a concession which would cause huge loss of revenue to the government. While seeking cancellation of the scheme, Common Cause apprehended that this free telephone scheme would give rise to similar demands from other departments and ministries of the union government. It said the decision was taken, ostensibly at the level of political leadership of the Ministry of Communication, to grant free telephones to employees of Department of Telecom and Department of Telephone Services. He said under the scheme even employees who would be sent to other departments on deputation would also be entitled to free telephone. Paswan had announced
last month about the decision to give free telephones but
Finance Minister Yashwant Sinha had said he was against
giving free telephones to telecom employees saying
"proper user charges should be paid by
everyone". |
BJP on defensive over
Maneka, Jagmohan BHOPAL, June 26 — Observance of the 25th anniversary of the imposition of Emergency in the country by the BJP has been made rancid by the presence of Ms Maneka Gandhi and Mr Jagmohan in the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance government at the Centre. Senior BJP leaders have fanned out in the country to remind the people of the horrors of the Emergency imposed by then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on June 25, 1975. Wherever they go, they are invariably asked by mediapersons about the presence of some of the Emergency heroes in the Atal Behari Vajpayee government. They do not appear themselves convinced with the explanations they offer. Ms Maneka Gandhi was the wife and active companion of late Sanjay Gandhi whose name had become synonymous with the Emergency atrocities. Mr Jagmohan, then a bureaucrat in the coterie of Sanjay Gandhi, had earned the nickname of "butcher of Turkeman Gate" for brutally killing an unspecified number of persons in the name of removing encroachments. (Later, as Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, Mr Jagmohan was a willing instrument in the removal of the democratically elected Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah and installing, in his place, Mr G.M. Shah, who had not only never contested an election but had, as General Secretary of the People’s Conference, pleaded that Kashmir should go to Pakistan). Here is a sampler from former Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhairon Singh Shekhawat’s press conference in Bhopal (on Sunday). Asked about the presence of Ms Maneka Gandhi and Mr Jagmohan in the Union Cabinet, Mr Shekhawat first said that they had realised their mistakes during the Emergency. When reminded that Ms Maneka or Mr Jagmohan had never regretted what they had done during the Emergency, Mr Shekhawat said that they might not have said it in so many words but they did feel what they had done was wrong. Aren’t they the turncoats who had the best of the Emergency and are now having the best of the times by aligning with the anti-Emergency forces? "It is not correct to say so" was Mr Shekhawat’s lame reply. To a question that
Balasaheb Deoras, then RSS chief, had written to Indira
Gandhi supporting her 20-Point Programme, Mr Shekhawat
said that support to a particular programme did not mean
support to Emergency or to the perpetrator of the
Emergency. |
Pak deploys units to handle N-missiles NEW DELHI, June 26 (PTI) — Within less than a year of the Kargil conflict, Pakistan has raised an artillery unit in Rawalpindi to handle its latest long-range ballistic missile — Ghauri-III — and has granted the responsibility to another unit for M-11 missiles it has acquired from China, according to reports received here. Both these missiles are nuclear-capable and Islamabad claims that Ghauri-III has a range of 2,500 to 3,000 km which covers even a faraway Indian city like Bangalore, the reports say. While Ghauri-III has not yet been test-fired, Islamabad claims to possess this missile in its arsenal. It is a liquid-propellant missile and akin to the North Korean Taepedongs, security experts quoted these reports as saying. The reports say that Ghauri-III is capable of carrying an 800 kg warhead. Pakistan has raised a "new unit" in Rawalpindi to specifically handle this missile. The responsibility of Chinese M-11 missiles, 84 of which have been acquired from China, has been given to the 155 composite rocket regiment of the 2 Artillery Division. The M-11s having a range of 280 km can carry a 500 kg warhead, experts told a workshop organised by the security think-tank, Security and Political Risk Analysis (SAPRA) here. The experts said that Islamabad, which has the potential of making 20 to 25 nuclear warheads of the uranium variety, was likely to start producing an average of two plutonium warheads a year within the next two years. On Pakistan’s plutonium-producing capabilities, they said the Khushab reactor, situated at Joharabad in Punjab province, has the capability to produce 5 to 10 kg of plutonium a year. As much as 8 kg of plutonium is required to produce a warhead, they said quoting the reports. Islamabad has officially described the Khushab reactor to be an experimental one for production of isotopes and other peaceful purposes and has not placed it under the safeguards of the International Atomic Energy Association (IAEA) on that plea. However, the reports say that this reactor, unlike the Chashma Nuclear Power Plant is suspected to be meant to produce miniaturised nuclear weapons for being fitted into the missiles clandestinely procured from China and North Korea. Pakistan’s military ruler, Gen Pervez Musharraf, has been visiting the Khushab reactor periodically since he took over as the Army chief in October 1998. Pakistan, which fired
Shaheen-I missile in May last year, is also claiming to
upgrade it and has already displayed Shaheen-II during
its national day parade on a six-axle trailer. |
3 PNB officials held NEW DELHI, June 26 — The Delhi Police arrested three officers of the Punjab National Bank (PNB) and four directors of the M/S Continental Spinners Limited on charges of cheating the bank to the tune of Rs 6.85 crore. The bank officers are the Manager of the Sadar Bazar branch of the bank in North Delhi, B.L. Verma, the Manager (loans) posted at the Daryaganj branch in Central Delhi, S.P. Dixit, and Technical Officer posted in Siliguri, S. Sarkar. The directors of Continental Spinners Limited are Nandi Verdhan Jain, Rajya Verdhan Jain, Hersh Verdhan Jain and Yesh Verdhan Jain, the police said. The police said the bank had sanctioned a loan of Rs 6.85 crore to Continental Spinners Limited company. The company in connivance with the arrested bank officials allegedly misappropriated the loan with alleged intention to defraud the bank. When loan was issued the
officers were posted at Sadar Bazar branch of the PNB. |
Bassi to take charge as UT IG
on June 30 NEW DELHI, June 26 — Mr Bhim Sain Bassi, a 1977-batch IPS officer, will be the new Inspector-General of Police, Union Territory of Chandigarh. He will assume charge on June 30, when the term of the present IGP, Mr S.K. Singh, ends on superannuation. The appointment of Mr Bassi was confirmed by a Home Ministry spokesman here today. Mr Bassi who hails from Delhi belongs to the AGMUT cadre and has had several stints in the Capital and Arunachal Pradesh. Joining the service in 1977, Mr Bassi served as Assistant Superintendent of Police in Pondicherry before moving over to Arunachal Pradesh as Superintendent of Police of three districts including Ziro and Bomdilla. From 1984, he served in Delhi Police as an Additional Deputy Commissioner in New Delhi. He also served as the Deputy Commissioner of Police, North district, before joining the Intelligence Bureau. Recently, Mr Bassi completed advanced training programme in public administration from the Indian Institute of Public Administration. A keen sportsman, Mr
Bassi also represented Delhi in National Shooting
Championships in Air Pistol category. |
Bail for former TN Chief Secretary NEW DELHI, June 26 (PTI) — The Supreme Court today granted interim bail to former Chief Secretary of Tamil Nadu N. Haribhaskar who has been convicted along with a former minister and six others in the Rs 10 crore colour TV scam. A vacation Bench comprising Justice K.T. Thomas and Justice M.B. Shah said it would be proper to grant them interim bail during the pendency of their appeals in the Madras High Court challenging the trial court verdict. Appearing for the state
government Additional Solicitor General Altaf Ahmed said
it apprehended that if the accused was freed on bail he
would resort such tactics as to delay the hearing of the
case, which the high court wanted to complete in two
months. The Bench said in the event of the petitioner
resorting to such delaying tactics the state government
could move the Supreme Court for cancellation of the
interim bail. |
Cong flays PM’s remarks
on attacks NEW DELHI, June 26 — The National Commission for Minorities which held a full meeting today had a visitor in Archbishop Cyril Mar Baselios as they got down to discuss the recent attacks against the community in various parts of the country. The commission’s decision to initiate a dialogue between the majority and the minorities especially the Christians, was welcomed by the Archbishop, according to the NCM Vice-Chairman, Mr Tarlochan Singh. He said the Archbishop responded positively to the commission’s move to improve the atmosphere in the country especially in the wake of repeated attacks against the community. Mr Tarlochan Singh said the Archbishop was willing to participate in such a discussion anywhere in the country with leaders of different communities. The commission, he said, would initiate the dialogue as soon as it held individual meetings with leaders of other communities. Meanwhile, the Congress today criticised and contested the statement of the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, that incidence of attacks on Christians were isolated incidents. "It is unfortunate
that the Prime Minister made such a statement as it would
encourage such elements. It belittles the seriousness and
enormity of the crime committed so far", the party
spokesman, Mr Anand Sharma, said. |
Security ordered for industrialist NEW DELHI, June 26 (PTI) — The Supreme Court today ordered the Director-General of Bihar Police to provide special security to an industrialist from Siwan who had alleged that he faced death threats from RJD MP Mohd Shahabuddin. Taking serious note of the case, a vacation Bench comprising Justice K. T. Thomas and Justice M. B. Shah said. "The Director-General of Police, Bihar, is directed to accord special security to the industrialist, Viren Pande." It said: "The Director-General will take all necessary steps to protect the petitioner" and noted that it was giving this direction despite the industrialist saying that he did not have faith in the state police. Pande has alleged that he has been threatened by Shahabuddin, who is the MP from Siwan, as he refused to pay Rangdari Tax (protection money) demanded by the MP. He said as the MP
belonged to the ruling party in the state, he did not
have faith in the ability of the police to give him
security and had prayed to the court that the Central
Government should make arrangement for his security. |
Army chief felicitates
mountaineers NEW DELHI, June 26 — A 36-member mountaineering expedition from the Punjab Regiment that successfully scaled Mount Abi Gamin, was felicitated by the Chief of Army Staff, Gen V.P. Malik, at a function here today. Complementing the members of the expedition for their outstanding performance, General Malik expressed satisfaction over the manner in which the expedition was planned and concluded in spite of difficult conditions. Underlining the importance of such activities, General Malik said the spirit of adventure, confidence and team spirit that formed an integral part of soldiers personality, were some of the benefits, one got from such expeditions. He advised officers and men to accept such challenges more frequently for which the Army Adventure Cell at the Army Headquarters was fully equipped. Abi Gamin, a 24,130 ft high peak in the northern region of Chamoli district and part of the Zaskar Range in the Garhwal Himalayas, was scaled by the mountaineers on June 1. Among the first to reach the peak were Major Sanjeev Soni, Subedar Shankar Singh, Havildar Shamsher Singh, Havildar Hardial Singh and Lance Naik Baltej Singh. The expedition was flagged-off from New Delhi on April 30 by the Director-General, Infantry, Lt-Gen Shankar Prasad. Kamet and Abi Gamin are
located in the central Himalayas and at the culminating
point of the Zaskar Range. They are situated on the
watershed of the upper Alaknanda and Dhauli rivers
between the famous Manna and Niti passes on the
Indo-Tibetan border. Abi Gamin is the second highest peak
in the region after Kamet. Abi Gamin was majored by
Richar Strachy in 1948 and the credit for the first
ascent goes to Frank Smythe. The Indian ascent was led by
Major M.D. Jayal in 1965. |
Defence year book released NEW DELHI, June 26 — Chief of the Army Staff, Gen. V.P. Malik today released the millennium year Indian Defence Year Book at a function held here. Edited by Lt-Gen (Retd) R.K. Jasbir Singh, this year book contains internal, global and regional security environment, national security and Defence analyses, Defence expenditure, strategic and operational development, current conflicts, modernisation, Defence research, force levels, Defence industry, international military cooperation and who’s who. It is also a general guide to the weapons and equipment in use by the armed forces. General Malik lauded the efforts of the editor and said that the year book contained in depth analysis and information which was equally useful for higher and middle level officers. It would also help the officers posted in far-flung areas to access quality information and keep abreast of professional developments. Published by a Natraj Publishers, Dehradun, the book provides an authentic update on progress made in indigenisation of defence production, Military-Industry partnership and the performance of the Defence Public Sector Undertakings. Editor, Lt-Gen R.K.
Jasbir Singh, PVSM, an elected member of the United
Service Institution of India, served with the Neutral
Nations Repatriation Commission in Korea and United
Nations in Congo. In 1971, he commanded an Infantry
Brigade, which bore the brunt of the Pakistani Offensive
in the Western Sector. Later, he commanded 15 Corps in
Jammu and Kashmir and retired as the Military Secretary
at Army Headquarters. |
Tarkunde to get Thomas award BANGALORE, June 26 (PTI) — Justice V.M. Tarkunde has been chosen for the prestigious M.A. Thomas National Human Rights Award for the year 2000. Instituted by the Vigil India Movement in memory of its founder president Rev Dr M.A. Thomas, a leading human rights activist, the award honours and recognises individuals or organisations who have made significant contributions in the field of human rights, a press note issued by the Movement said. It consists of a cash prize of Rs 1 lakh and a citation. Justice Tarkunde was
chosen unanimously by a three-member jury consisting of
Mr Kuldip Nayar, MP and veteran journalist, Justice P.P.
Bopanna, former judge of the Karnataka High Court, and Mr
K.C. Abraham, a noted Asian theologian. |
Elephant was not a baby: director THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, June 26 (UNI) — Was Kannan, the baby elephant which has made Union Minister and animal lover Maneka Gandhi take up cudgels against the film industry, just six months old when it performed in a Bollywood film? While the minister is convinced that the elephant was just six months old which, according to her, is equal to a three-month human baby, T.K. Rajeev Kumar who directed the Arvind Swami-Manisha Koirala starrer ‘Raja ko Rani se Pyar ho Gaya’ says the tusker was twenty months old when the scenes were shot in 1997. In a plot that is almost filmic, it is now the ghost of the elephant itself that continues to haunt the filmmakers, and the minister. For few know that Kannan, for whom controversies and fame came together, died six months ago reportedly due to over-eating. And Mrs Gandhi is not the only minister who has been given a tough time by this elephant. Kannan, which had earlier performed in two Malayalam films, had kicked up a political controversy in January this year, putting Education Minister P.J. Joseph in an elephantine quandary. Kannan was one of the 117 caparisoned elephants at the Gajamela (elephant parade) on January eight at Thodupuzha, the home town of Mr Joseph, who along with other organisers believed that the event would get a place in the Guinness Book of World Records. But the little elephant, which belonged to Kottankulangara Devaswom, went berserk, reportedly after it was harassed by some mischievous elements, resulting in a stampede and the killing of one person and injuring several people. The little elephant was given in offering to the Kottankulangara temple after the death of his owner, Mani Malyath of Thiruvalla. Under his previous owner and later under the temple authorities, he won many fans through two films Pattabhishekam and Sammanam. He was also a regular in gajamelas and receptions with his naughty ways and mannerisms. While the fire-brand protector of animal rights and her People for Animals’ Mumbai branch has vowed to prevent the theatrical release of the film, the producers have already got the censor certificate for the release, slated for the end of July. According to Mrs Gandhi, the baby elephant has been made to do certain acts which are a clear violation of provisions of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972. She also told zeenext.com in an interview that the producer had not sought permission from the concerned authorities to use animals. She says a baby elephant would have learnt tricks only through beating and whipping. The award-winning filmmaker disagrees. "When the film was shot in 1997, the elephant was a 20-month-old and was very much in the public with his exploits", says Rajeev Kumar. He says the charges of cruelty were baseless because the 180 shots involving the elephant had been shot and developed with the help of computer software called Bones and Muscles’ with which one can make the picture of an elephant cry or wink the eyes, smile or walk. For example, there is a scene where the elephant is running in front of the Gateway of India, but the elephant was only taken to Chennai with due permission and documents from the owner. For the bathing shots of the elephant in a specially-made pool, we took a few shots when it was taking bath and made the graphics with the help of computer, he says. "A veterinary doctor was always with the elephant and we had obtained sanction from the Elephants Welfare Association. We produced all the required documents before the Central Board of Film Certification which also has wildlife experts as representatives", Rajeev says. "We have removed a
scene where the little elephant is seen taking out a
liquor bottle, but the board had not suggested any cut,
he clarified. |
Heavy rain likely in Sikkim PUNE, June 26 (PTI) — Forecast valid until the morning of June 28. Rain or thundershowers are likely to occur at many places in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam and Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura, sub-Himalayan west Bengal and Sikkim, Konkan and Goa, coastal Karnataka and Kerala, at a few places in Gangetic West Bengal and Lakshadweep and at isolated places over the rest of the country outside Rajasthan, West Madhya Pradesh, north Gujarat and north madhya Maharashtra where the weather will be mainly dry. Heavy rainfall warning: Heavy rain is likely to occur at isolated places in Andaman and Nicobar Islands and sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim during the next 48 hours. The trough on sea level chart passes through Punjab, south Uttar Pradesh, north-west Bay and thence south-eastwards to north Andaman Sea. A trough on sea level chart runs from south Maharashtra coast to Karnataka coast. A cyclonic circulation extending up to 2.1 km a.s.l. lies over north Pakistan and its neighbourhood. The cyclonic circulation between 3.1 and 5.8 km a.s.l. over the north Gujarat region and its neighbourhood has become less marked. The western disturbance as an upper air system over Jammu and Kashmir and its neighbourhood has moved away in the last evening. The south-west monsoon has been active in sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim. Rain or thundershowers have occurred at many places in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Assam and Meghalaya, Konkan and Goa and coastal Karnataka, at a few places in Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura, Gangetic West Bengal, plains of Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, east Madhya Pradesh Kerala and Lakshadweep and at isolated places in Bihar plains, madhya Maharashtra, coastal Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and interior Karnataka. Mainly dry weather prevailed over the rest of the country. Chief amounts of rainfall in cm are: Jalpaiguri 7.1, Maya Bandar 5.7, Canning town 4.9, Port Blair 4.5, Darjeeling 4.0, Shimla and Panambur 3.4 each, Gorakhpur and Mahabaleshwar 3.0 each, Alibag 2.7, Dibrugarh and Ratnagiri 2.3 each, Agumbe 2.1 Minicoy 2.0, Kozhikode 1.3, Bareilly and Tuni 1.2 each, Mana 0.9, Agartala 0.8 and Patna, Pune, Ramgundam and Belgaum (Sambra) 0.4 each. The day temperatures
were appreciably above normal in Kashmir and were above
normal in some parts of Gujarat. They were below normal
in some parts of Punjab. |
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