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| Tuesday, July 4, 2000, Chandigarh, India   
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Councillor threatens to commit
suicide VHP’s conversion plans for W.
Bengal |
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19 killed by lightning in
Ballia dist Home Secy to visit Nepal today Vajpayee govt’s stand on
Lanka endorsed Pranab not in race for party chief Advani’s presence at Erode
flayed
Identity crisis haunts tribals All-India weather
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Councillor threatens to commit suicide NEW DELHI, July 3 (PTI) — In a dramatic act, a Municipal Councillor today climbed atop a multi-storeyed building in South Delhi and threatened to commit suicide if the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) did not stop its on-going demolition drive. Atif Mohammad Khan climbed the Jogabai tower in the Jamia Milia University area around 10 am and threatened to jump if the demolition being carried out in Toba colony did not stop immediately, police sources said. He was reportedly carrying a can of kerosene with him, sources said. The fire brigade has positioned its vehicles nearby to meet any eventuality. Ambulances have also been kept on stand-by. When contacted, Joint Commissioner of Police Amodh Kanth told PTI that the demolitions were on and it was for MCD to decide whether to continue it or not. Khan had earlier climbed a tower in South Delhi last year in support of some demands. About 20 persons including a dozen police personnel were injured when a mob agitated over the demolition of an unauthorised mosque and other structures pelted stones at them in South Delhi today. The incident occurred this morning when a demolition squad of the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) accompanied by police went to the Toba colony area to remove encroachments including the ‘Noorani masjid’, police sources said. Subsequently a mob gathered in the area and started pelting stones on police personnel, injuring about a dozen of them, Joint Commissioner of Police Amod Kanth said. Police used tear gas and water cannons to disperse the mob and went ahead with the demolition of the unauthorised structures, including the mosque. Police and fire brigade
sources also persuaded the councillor to climb down from
the tower at around 4.30 pm. |
VHP’s conversion plans for W.
Bengal CALCUTTA, July 3 — The conversion spree of the minority communities into Hindus by the BJP’s Sangh Parivar outfit, Vishwa Hindu Parisad, continues unopposed in the Marxist ruled Bengal. Yesterday, six persons belonging to a minority community people were ‘ceremoniously’ converted at the Bangiya Arya Pratinidhi Sabha Hall at College Street in central Calcutta by the VHP about which neither the administration nor the police had any prior knowledge. These converted persons were not only given Hindu names but equal ‘status’ with the Hindus. The State Chief Secretary, Mr Manish Gupta, said he had asked the police to inquire into the matter. But legally, the government can’t do anything if it is not forcible conversion. The Home Department has a report that recently, about 90 Christian tribals had been converted in Malda WBPCC President Ghani Khan Chowdhury’s district in north Bengal by the VHP. The VHP has chalked out
a detailed plan to convert persons from the Backward
Classes into Hindus in the next one year in the Bankura,
Purulia, Midnapore, Murshidabad, Howrah and in Coochbehar
districts in North Bengal. |
19 killed by lightning in Ballia dist BALLIA (U.P.), July 3 (PTI) — Ten more persons were killed and 12 injured in Ballia and Maharajganj districts after being struck by lightning, raising the toll since yesterday to 21, official sources said today. Eight persons were killed and 12 received burn injuries due to lightning in Ballia district, District Magistrate C.M. Srivastava told PTI here. Two persons were killed and seven injured after lightning hit them at Kothibhar in Maharajganj district yesterday, police said. Mr Srivastava said 11
persons were killed and 11 injured yesterday by lightning
in Ballia district. |
Home Secy to visit Nepal
today NEW DELHI, July 3 — The Union Home Secretary, Mr Kamal Pande, will lead a delegation to Kathmandu, Nepal, tomorrow to discuss among other things measures to check activities of elements inimical to the security of both countries. During the four-day visit, Mr Pande will hold meetings with his Nepalese counterpart, Mr P.P. Pokharel, and review the progress of decisions taken in the last meeting held in New Delhi in June, 1998, a Home Ministry spokesman said today. The two sides will also discuss checks needed to curb cross-border activities, including infiltration of militants and smuggling of arms, ammunition, explosives, narcotics substances and fake currency. The visit of the Home Secretary to Nepal is part of a series of high-level exchanges between the two countries for strengthening the traditionally friendly relations between the two countries. Mr Pande, who is being
accompanied by officials of the ministry, will also call
on the Home Minister of Nepal. |
Vajpayee govt’s stand on
Lanka endorsed CHENNAI, July 3 — The two-day conference sponsored by Mr Vaiko’s MDMK in Erode town ended late yesterday with the participants from the NDA seemingly happy and satisfied with the outcome. A galaxy of central and state leaders representing various constituents of the NDA addressed the rally, each having his say on the Sri Lankan ethnic conflict, but in the end virtually endorsing the Vajpayee government’s stand that the minority Tamils are given their legitimate rights within a united Sri Lanka. On the eve of the conference, there had been apprehension that the MDMK and the PMK — the two pro-Eelam partners of the NDA — might embarrass the central government through a resolution on the Tamil Eelam issue, but the resolution adopted yesterday thanked the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, and his government for their "correct stand on the ongoing conflict in Sri Lanka". The Prime Minister, Mr L.K. Advani, whose participation in the conference had drawn protests from the Congress in the state, in his speech sought to project the "twin threats of terrorism and secessionism" from "agents of our neighbours." He sought caution in offering solutions to the Sri Lankan ethnic problem. Mr Advani had reason to be satisfied that the conference had sent out a message to the Opposition that it could not drive a wedge among NDA partners over the Sri Lankan issue. The speeches of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, Mr M. Karunanidhi, and the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, Mr Chandrababu Naidu, also may have had the desired effect on the conference. Mr Naidu pleaded for giving up controversial issues, while Mr Karunanidhi avoided any reference to controversial issues, including his Czechoslovak solution for the Sri Lankan issue, and expressed confidence that the NDA would continue to function smoothly. The much advertised black-flag demonstration against the Union Home Minister by the Congress virtually ended in a flop with Mr Advani advancing his arrival in Erode by a few hours. The police arrested the state Congress president, Mr Elangovan, and hundreds of Congressmen for trying to take out a march. They were later released. Mr Elangovan claimed that the moderate resolution adopted by the conference on the Sri Lankan Tamils issue was a victory for his party’s stand. PMK founder-leader Ramdoss used the occasion to reiterate his demand for the creation of Tamil Eelam and attacked critics of such a solution. But he also assured that his party would not create problems for the NDA government. Another resolution supported the review of the Indian Constitution and suggested that the review should look into ensuring the continuity of Parliament and state Assemblies for their full terms. The conference adopted several other resolutions seeking more powers to the states. For Mr Vaiko the
conference was a personal triumph as he was able to get
the participation of many NDA leaders notwithstanding the
controversy about the intentions of the rally. |
Pranab not in race for party chief BANGALORE, July 3 (PTI) — Senior Congress leader and CWC member Pranab Mukherjee said today that he was not in the race for the party President’s post, elections for which are scheduled later this year. Asked by reporters at Doddaballapura, near here, if he was contesting, Mr Mukherjee said: "There is no question of my contesting. I am not interested". He said he did not subscribe to the view that under Sonia Gandhi’s leadership the Congress had "declined". Mr Mukherjee said he did
not believe that India had entered an era of coalition
governments. "Only since 1996 have the electorate
given a fractured verdict," he pointed out. |
Advani’s presence at Erode flayed NEW DELHI, July 3 — The Congress today criticised the presence of Union Home Minister, Mr L. K. Advani, at the rally organised by the MDMK at Erode on Sunday and stated that the tenor of speeches there showed "alarming trends". The party said the Home Minister spoke from the same platform at Erode as did the MDMK chief Mr Vaiko and the PMK leader Dr S. Ramdoss. He termed it as a
"serious development" and "alarming trends
which the BJP leader was directly or indirectly
supporting elements which threaten unity and sovereignty
of the nation", he said. |
Amendments in Cr PC mooted NEW DELHI, July 3 (UNI) — The Centre has decided to move necessary official amendments to the Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Bill, 1994. The amendment Bill is long pending in the Rajya Sabha. The Bill seeks to amend certain provisions of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, on the basis of the recommendations made by the Law Commission and the National Police Commission. It seeks to provide for speedy trial of the cases, thus bringing relief to the litigating public. The Bill was examined by the parliamentary standing committee on Home affairs, which had submitted its report. The report was examined in the Ministry of Home Affairs and the government okayed the recommendations of the standing committee. Meanwhile, the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908, has been amended in 1999 to provide inexpensive, speedy and proper justice to the common people on the basis of recommendations made by the Justice Malimath committee, the Law Commission’s reports and the report of the Committee on Subordinate Legislation. The amended provisions
have not been enforced following opposition by lawyers
all over the country. |
Identity crisis haunts tribals DAMANJODI (Orissa), July 3 — The tribals living in the Panchpatmali hills of Koraput district, Orissa, displaced by the bauxite mining activity of the National Aluminium Company Limited (Nalco) are in search of a new identity. They are striving to keep their tribal identity intact and at the same time are trying to find a new meaning to life in the urban social milieu introduced by mining the activity. "We cherish our past. But with no forest cover left and no land to cultivate, we can hardly practice the kind of livelihood our forefathers did," says Gourimani Gouda. The native population of Damanjodi mostly comprises of tribals. The important tribes in this area are Gadaba, Paraja, Kandha, Koya and Sunki. The traditional occupation of the local population has been cultivation and allied agricultural activities, apart from hunting. With each family consisting of number of members, the tribals voiced their anger against Nalco for providing meagre employment opportunities to them. Another tribal woman Asmati said the company has provided job to only one member of the displaced family. However, each family has number of members. An average family in these tribal hamlets consists of seven members. "Many youths are unemployed. There are no other source of employment apart from the Nalco. With little land to cultivate many have taken to liquor," she said. To set up the mines and refinery complex, Nalco acquired 7419.8 acres. The company officials said only 596 families were displaced and employment has been provided to 482 persons. The open cast mines are situated at a height of 4,000 feet above sea level and the mining activity has been in operation since 1985. Two well-planned rehabilitation colonies with all basic amenities have been created for the displaced families, the officials said. While the lives of tribals now revolves around Nalco, there is certain amount of resistance and protest against the company’s presence. Gourimani Gouda, a 30-year-old tribal woman, who was one of the early female workers to join the company, has not been able to find a suitable match for herself. "Few proposals come as I rebelled and joined the company," she says with an air of regret. The company officials say that tribal do not report to work for days together after they get the pay packet. They spend their money in liquor which is brewed locally, the officials added. Sociologists have stated that different modes of protest including silent ones takes place whenever the identity of a community comes under question. The excessive addiction to liquor by these tribals could be interpreted as one of those silent modes of protest - an act of destroying themselves, rather than seeing their culture vanish before their own eyes. Lest the tribal culture vanishes from the living memories of these tribals themselves, Nalco has undertaken a project to record the history, culture and their social milieu. "Tribals here
follow oral tradition and Nalco wants to preserve the
historical past and rich tradition of these tribal
communities," the General Manager, Personnel and
Administration, Mr B. N. Swain, said. |
Vikrant museum at Oyster Rock MUMBAI, July 3 (PTI) — The stalemate over conversion of decommissioned aircraft-carrier Vikrant into a maritime museum was resolved today with all the parties to the dispute agreeing to dry docking of the glorious warship at Oyster Rock off Mumbai shore, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Chhagan Bhujbal announced here. "The state government will write to the Defence Ministry today itself asking it to stop the process of issuing tenders to scrap and dispose of the ship", Mr Bhujbal told reporters after presiding over a meeting of representatives of Tata Consultancy Services, Mumbai Port Trust, fishermen and top bureaucrats. Earlier, the union government had set a deadline of July six to float tenders for scrapping and disposing of Vikrant. The project converting the 700-feet long 14,552 tonne aircraft carrier into a maritime museum at Jamshedji Bunder had run into rough weather following stiff opposition from the fishing community and naval authorities on grounds of technical and economic feasibility. Fishermen were opposing the dry docking of Vikrant at Jamshedji Bunder claiming it would affect their livelihood. Both navel authorities and the fishing community have agreed to dry docking of the Vikrant at Oyster Rock and TCS will prepare the feasibility report for the new site within the next 2-3 days, Mr Bhujbal said. Mr Bhujbal said the earlier estimate of Rs 76 crore to convert Vikrant into a maritime museum will shoot up by another Rs 10 crore. "But keeping in mind the feelings of countrymen, saving Vikrant is important and government will ensure that there is no shortage of funds for the projects", the Deputy Chief Minister said. The project of
converting the ship into a maritime museum was cleared by
the erstwhile Shiv Sena-BJP government, which had given
Rs five crore to the Navy for refitting of the
aircraft-carrier. |
All-India weather PUNE, July 3 (PTI) — Rain or thundershowers are likely to occur at most places in Konkan and Goa, coastal Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, coastal Karnataka and Kerala, at many places in Andaman and Nicobar islands, South Orissa, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Madhya Maharashtra, Marathwada, Vidarbha, Rayalaseema, interior Karnataka and Lakshdweep and at a few places over the rest of the country outside Gangetic West Bengal and north Orissa it where will be at isolated places, according to the forecast issued by central observatory. Heavy rainfall warning: Heavy rain is likely to occur at isolated places in south Orissa, southeast Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat region, Konkan and Goa, Vidarbha, Andhra Pradesh, coastal Karnataka and Kerala during the next 48 hours. The south-west monsoon
has been vigorous in Gujarat region and Konkan and Goa
and active in coastal Andhra Pradesh. Rain or
thundershowers have occurred at most places in Saurashtra
and Kutch, at many places in sub-Himalayan West Bengal
and Sikkim, west Madhya Pradesh, coastal Karnataka and
Kerala, at a few places in Andaman and Nicobar islands,
Assam and Meghalaya, Bihar plains, plains of Uttar
Pradesh, east Madhya Pradesh, Marathwada, Vidarbha,
Telangana and Rayalasema and at isolated places in the
hills of west Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, east Rajasthan,
Madhya Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and interior Karnataka.
Mainly dry weather prevailed over the rest of the
country. |
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