 |
| Thursday, August 10, 2000, Chandigarh, India   
|
Extradition of Pinto secured NEW DELHI, Aug 9 — In a significant development in the Rs 133 crore urea scam, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has secured extradition of London-based Brazilian businessman A. E. Pinto, a key accused in the case, to India, CBI sources said here today. Freedom after 13 yrs of captivity HC seeks record of Mulayam’s flights Bacha Khan, 8 accomplices held |
|
| MPs seek solution
to floods NEW DELHI, Aug 9 — Members in the Lok Sabha today expressed grave concern over recurrent floods in various parts of the country and sought a permanent solution, besides increased financial assistance, to bring relief to the affected people. BJP to strengthen base in South President, PM mourn Nijalingappa’s death CMs to decide water, power sharing Production of AJTs by 2004-end |
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Postgraduate
called for sweeper’s post! NEW DELHI, Aug 9 — Faux pas by a Delhi school or a local employment exchange proved to be a major embarrassment for postgraduate Davinder Singh Panesar, when he was asked to appear before an interview panel for the post of part-time sweeper. Chhattisgarh Bill passed Missing defence file traced YC march against BJP govt
|
|
Extradition of Pinto secured NEW DELHI, Aug 9 — In a significant development in the Rs 133 crore urea scam, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has secured extradition of London-based Brazilian businessman A. E. Pinto, a key accused in the case, to India, CBI sources said here today. A CBI team would soon leave for the United Kingdom to bring Pinto to India for trial, the sources said. Pinto’s extradition is crucial for the CBI as he could provide details on how money changed hands in securing the deal and who were the key persons who swung the deal in favour of Karsan Limited. Pinto has been accused by the CBI of having received kickbacks of about Rs 7 lakh in the scam, the sources said. Pinto, an agent of the Turkish firm M/s Karsan Limited, was arrested by the London police on December 11, 1997, at the request of Interpol, New Delhi, following issuance of a warrant of arrest on November 11, 1997, by the Special Judge here. Pinto was finally ordered to be extradited to India after about a two-and-a-half year legal battle. The two other accused in the case, Mr Tuncay Alankus and Mr Cihan Karanci, arrested on the request of the CBI in Geneva, have already been extradited to India on October 3, 1997 and at present are in judicial custody in Delhi. The CBI has alleged that Pinto, who had introduced key accused Sambasiva Rao to the Karsan company (which made him its agent in India), had received the money from Turkish firm in his account during the scam period. Besides these two Karsan officials, the CBI had chargesheeted seven persons including former NFL Chairman C. K. Ramakrishan and its Executive Director D. S. Kanwar. Former Prime Minister P V Narasimha Rao’s kin Sanjeeva Rao and former Union Minister Ram Lakhan Singh Yadav’s son Prakash Yadav are also among the accused facing trial. |
|
Freedom after 13 yrs of captivity NEW DELHI, Aug 9 — Emaciated, sick and fearful, 23-year-old Badri has spent the past 13 years in “prison”. Not because he committed some offence but because one of his relatives tricked him into the hands of a carpet manufacturer in the Sarai Pitha area of Badhoi district in eastern Uttar Pradesh. Having been rescued a few days back by a team of South Asian Coalition on Child Servitude (SACCS), Badri today has tuberculosis and night-blindness. The child-bride he married 13 years ago has also deserted him after losing hope of his return. Badri is lucky to have been rescued along with eight other children from the confines of carpet manufacturers by a raiding team of SACCS. “There are at least 3 lakh children working in the carpet industry, 70 per cent of whom are bonded labourers,” says Mr Kailash Sathyarthi, chairperson of SACCS. The problem is most acute in the Mirzapur-Banaras-Allahabad belt and entire families from poverty-stricken areas of Bihar land up in hands of carpet industry mafia. In Badri’s case, his two younger brothers Roudhi (13) and Nanade (12) were also lured into meeting their elder brother whom they had never seen. The two also ended up as bonded labourers. Mr Satyarthi says that despite best efforts they did not get any cooperation from the district administration to rescue the boys. “Then we decided to act ourselves”. While four boys were rescued from Badhoi on July 28, three were rescued from a place in Allahbad district on August 3. “The carpet factory owners must have succeeded in hiding many others,” Mr Satyarthi admits. Nand Kishore, who was rescued from the Jangijanj area of Badhoi, says that he was never allowed to come out of the four-walled enclosure during his five-year work as labourer. “We worked 16 hours a day. It was nothing less than a prison where 17 of us worked, ate, relieved ourselves and slept,” he narrates. Not surprisingly then, four of the nine boys rescued have tuberculosis. While seven are from Saharsa district in Bihar, one each is from Darbhanga and Madhubani. Though the Bonded Labour Abolition Act specifies three-year jail term for offenders, Mr Satyarthi says that not one person has served a three-year prison term so far. This despite the government itself
admitting that there are at least 12 lakh child workers in the country, many of them bonded
labourers. |
|
HC seeks record of
Mulayam’s flights NEW DELHI, Aug 9 (UNI) — The Delhi High Court today asked the Defence Ministry to submit records relating to the use of IAF planes by former Defence Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav. During his 18-month tenure, Mr Yadav logged in 1,440 hours and 55 minutes of flying in defence aircraft. A total of 307 trips cost
exchequer Rs 23.60 crore. “Besides being a drag on scarce resources, such misuse of official aircraft adversely effects the defence preparedness,” said a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by advocate B.L. Wadehra. “The wanton use of scarce defence resources is against the national interest,” said the
PIL. The government has taken no action so far to recover the dues. Except the Prime Minister, no other dignitary is entitled to make use of VIP flights for personal purposes. On November 4, 1996, Mr Yadav took several of his relatives to Vaishno Devi shrine in Jammu, using an Avro plane and a Chetak helicopter. The trip on record was marked “official”. “If the use of aircraft for private and political purposes was marked ‘official,’ it amounted to misuse of position and power,” the PIL
said. |
|
Bacha Khan, 8
accomplices held CUTTACK, Aug 9 (UNI) — The Orissa police has arrested Bacha Khan, a notorious inter-state criminal from Bihar, along with eight of his gang members and seized huge quantity of arms and ammunition from them. According to information reaching the state police headquarters here today, the criminal, who was active in Orissa, Bihar and Madhya Pradesh border districts for over a decade, was apprehended by the Rourkela plant site police on August 4 last following a raid on the Rambaibadi Muslim basti. Bacha Khan, alias Rakesh Singh, had been evading arrest since 1990, is reportedly involved in about 40 criminal cases, including six murder cases, five attempt to murder, 11 robbery and 10 dacoity and arms Act cases now pending against him in three states. |
|
MPs seek solution to floods NEW DELHI, Aug 9 (UNI) — Members in the Lok Sabha today expressed grave concern over recurrent floods in various parts of the country and sought a permanent solution, besides increased financial assistance, to bring relief to the affected people. Initiating the debate on the flood situation in the country, Mr Ramjilal Suman (SP) said the country had incurred a loss of Rs 18,70,999 crore annually over the past five decades because of recurrent floods. The area affected by floods increased from a mere 10 million hectares in 1951 to 34 million hectares by 1978 and it was still enlarging. Large-scale deforestation during the past 50 years had brought down the forest cover to 19 per cent, according to official estimates, but non-governmental surveys had estimated that the country had merely 12 per cent forest cover. Desiltation of river-beds had not been carried out for decades resulting in the rise of river beds while construction of big dams had led to change in the course of rivers, he observed. Mr Suman suggested implementing the garland plan by connecting river basins and arranging for water harvesting to contain floods. Water should also be canalised from water-abundant areas to drought prone areas, he said. Participating in the debate, Mr Maheswar Singh (BJP) said the reason for floods vary in hilly areas and plains. In the hills, floods were caused by cloud bursts as it
happened in Kinnaur district of Himachal Pradesh recently. In hilly areas, the correct assessment of damages was not made as the water level goes down by the time central teams reach the site. Preliminary estimates suggest that the recent floods in Himachal caused a loss of Rs 2000 crore, besides claiming more than 100 lives, he said. He urged the government to find out reasons for the flash floods from China so that preventive action could be taken up in future. He sought a financial assistance of Rs 500 crore to bring succour to the flood-hit people of the valley. |
|
BJP to strengthen base in South NEW DELHI, Aug 9 — The new BJP president, Mr Bangaru Laxman believes the imbalance between the leadership and the party cadres has arisen because the latter have been kept “totally in the dark.” “It is important that the understanding at the top trickles down to the lower rungs of the BJP organisation which is cadre based,” he observed and stressed that the “feelings of the workers have to be communicated to the leadership as well.” It is obvious the gap in the two-way communication has fuelled the BJP cadres in adopting a strident approach to some of the policies and programmes of the Atal Behari Vajpayee government which needs to be bridged. The first Dalit president of the BJP is determined to overcome these lacunae by having a constant interface with the party cadres along with taking up other pressing tasks like gearing up for next year’s Assembly elections in several important states. Mr Laxman is categoric that distancing the party from the three contentious issues of Ram Mandir, uniform civil code and scrapping of the Article 370 helped the BJP in getting a clear mandate in the 1999 general elections. “Strongly denying that the party had side stepped these issues for the sake of power, the BJP president contended “it is the wish of the people.” Buttressing his argument, Mr Laxman said “just compare the electoral verdict of 1998 with 1999. In 1998, we went with our own programme. What was the mandate we got. It was a fractured one.” “In 1999 we revised our porgramme,” and then “it was a clear mandate,” Mr Laxman asserted. The BJP chief, said he would strive to strengthen coordination and understanding, besides establishing a better understanding between the government and the BJP cadres. The salient aspects of the policies and programmes have to necessarily percolate down to party workers, Mr Laxman said. Listing his priorities, Mr Laxman said “the most important task before me is the ensuing Assembly elections scheduled for early next year in UP, Assam, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu and Kerala”. Asked if the party will contest the Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh with Mr Ram Prakash Gupta as the Chief Minister, Mr Laxman avoided a direct answer saying “I don’t say that but that is the arrangement today.” Disagreeing with the popularly held belief that the BJP has reached a plateau in North India, Mr Laxman said “I don’t think we are more than 50 per cent in the North. The remaining 50 per cent ground is yet to be covered. Therefore, there is scope even in North India. But, yes, states in the North-East, East and South deserve special attention. And it will be my endeavour to devote energy to those areas”. Asked if the party under his stewardship would be able to assert itself on policy matters particularly with stalwarts like Mr Vajpayee and Mr L.K. Advani at the helm of affairs in the government, Mr Laxman replied in affirmative. Elaborating, he said “the party has been expressing its free and frank opinion whenever it has found the need to do so. You must have seen that even before the government acted or reacted to the Kashmir autonomy issue, the BJP had expressed its opinion. The government gave due weightage to it. Therefore, if such a situation arises requiring the party’s intervention it will perform,” Mr Laxman added. |
|
President, PM mourn Nijalingappa’s death NEW DELHI, Aug 9 (PTI, UNI) — President K.R. Narayanan, Vice-President Krishan Kant and Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee today condoled the death of Mr S. Nijalingappa, former Karnataka Chief Minister who died last night. In a letter to the departed leader’s son, Mr N. Umakant, Mr Narayanan said “I mourn the death of this great son of India and convey my heartfelt condolences to you, and other family members and countless admirers, associates and followers of Nijalingappa,” In his condolence message, Mr Vajpayee said Nijalingappa was among the old guard of national politics who would be remembered for his active role in the freedom struggle and later as the Chief Minister of Karnataka. Expressing grief at the passing away of the veteran Congress leader, Human Resources Development Minister Murli Manohar Joshi said, “Nijalingappa set high standards of probity in public life. Gandhian to the core, he was uncomprising when it came to upholding principles and high morals.” BANGALORE: Karnataka Chief Minister S.M. Krishna on Wednesday announced that a massive irrigation would be taken up in the arid zone of Chitradurga and its neighbourhood as a befitting tribute to Nijalingappa. Talking to newspersons here, he said it had been an unfulfilled dream of the elder statesman that his native district of Chitradurga where farmers depended purely on rain for agricultural activities should get some sort of irrigational facilities. The state Cabinet would shortly formulate a project and name it after Nijalingappa. Chitradurga: A steady stream of mourners filed past the body of S. Nijalingappa at his residence here on Wednesday. Grief-stricken people here and from nearby places came in large numbers to pay their respects to Nijalingappa, whose body was being kept at his house. His body was later cremated. The Karnataka Government has announced a three-day state mourning. |
|
CMs to decide water, power sharing NEW DELHI, Aug 9 — The Centre proposes to hold a meeting of Chief Ministers and ministers of states concerned of the northern zone to undertake an
in-depth study of relevant issues relating to sharing of water and power and evolve consensus on mutually agreeable parametres, the Minister of State for Power, Ms Jayawanti Mehta, told the Rajya Sabha today. Replying to a question by Dr Mahesh Chandra Sharma, he said to settle the issue of claims of Haryana and Rajasthan for a share of power generated in the Anandpur Sahib hydel project, Mukerian hydel project, Thein Dam project, Upper Bari Doab Canal (UBDC), Stage II, and Shahpur Kandi hydel scheme, an agreement was drawn up on May 10, 1984, amongst Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan and the Central Government for making a reference to the Supreme Court on the question of entitlement of Haryana and Rajasthan in these projects and to determine the share of each state. The minister said the Anandpur Sahib and Mukerian hydel project as well as Upper Bari doab canal (UBDC) stage II are under operation in Punjab. In order to arrive at an amicable settlement, the Ministry of Water Resources had convened several meetings with the states concerned. However, no consensus could be reached. Thereafter, the subject was also discussed in the meetings of the Northern Zonal Council held in October 1997 and
February 1999. In the meeting held on February 28, 1999, it was resolved that separate conference of Chief Ministers and Ministers of State be held. The minister said that the meeting scheduled for April 1999 could not be held due to tercentenary celebrations in Punjab and general elections but the meeting was now proposed to be convened. A preparatory official meeting has been held in New Delhi on July 29,1997, he said. J-K projects: An MoU has been signed on July 20, 2000, between the Centre and the Jammu and Kashmir Government for execution of seven hydro-electric projects in central sector through the NHPC, the Minister of State for Power, Ms Jayawanti Mehta told the Rajya Sabha. She said that in addition to 12 per cent free power, the state government will get 15 per cent central share of unallocated quota at bus bar rates to meet its need for winter peak requirements from those projects. Balance power will be distributed among the beneficiaries of the region according to the Centre’s policy. In addition to the above projects, the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation is also implementing the Dulhasti power project, the latest estimated cost of which is Rs 3559.77 crore. Barrage completed: The Minister of State for Water Resources, Ms Bijoya Chakravarty, told Mr Rattan Lal Kataria in the Lok Sabha that the construction work of Hathni Kund in Yamuna Nagar of Haryana has been completed. The barrage was formally dedicated to Haryana on July 9, 1999, she informed. Industrial centre: The Minister of Small Scale Industries and Agro and Rural
Industries, Ms Vasundhara Raje informed the Lok Sabha that rural growth centre has started functioning in Bawal, Haryana. She said that of the 71 growth centres planned throughout the country, 68 have been sanctioned by the Centre for implementation by the state governments. Twenty six of these have begun functioning as allotment of industrial plots has commenced, she added. |
|
Production of AJTs by 2004-end NEW DELHI, Aug 9 — Defence Minister George Fernandes today informed the Rajya Sabha that an agreement to acquire British Hawk Advanced Jet Trainers (AJTs) would be settled “in the next few weeks”. He said that India would be buying 100 AJTs and the indigenous production of the aircraft in India would commence by the end of the year 2004. Replying to a question in the Rajya Sabha the Defence Minister said that “between signing of the contract and the start of production it will take 48 months”. The production starting in 2004 would get completed in 10 years. The minister said price negotiations had commenced with M/s British Aerospace for the AJT and the delivery schedule of the aircraft would be settled during the negotiations in the coming weeks. Replying to supplementaries during question hour, Mr Fernandes did not agree that lack of AJTs was the reason behind the accidents involving defence aircraft. “It is not merely because of AJTs,” he said. He, however, said AJTs should have been secured long time back. The matter is under discussion but no decision has been taken. Replying to the main question on conversion of Sukhoi-30 aircrafts to its full potential, Mr Fernandes admitted that there had been a delay on that front. “But I won’t call it inordinate delay.” He said the delay in the project was not only due to delay in development of indigenous avionics and computer system but also due to other factors, such as delay in acquisition of avionics from Western sources and delay in import clearance from Russia. The minister said conversion of SU-30 into a multi-role aircraft was being done in Russia by Russian technologists inter alia involving integration of indigenously developed avionics and computer systems and certain avionics of Russian and Western
origin. He said the DRDO was entrusted with the task of developing the radar computer, mission computer and display processor which had since been done. However, programmable Signal Processor which was to be developed by the DRDO could not be developed by them and would now be procured from Russia. Mr Fernandes expressed the hope that the country would procure four SU-30s by 2001, 12 by 2002 and 16 by 2003 and upgrade the existing eight SU-30s by 2004. |
|
Postgraduate called
for sweeper’s post! NEW DELHI, Aug 9 — Faux pas by a Delhi school or a local employment exchange proved to be a major embarrassment for postgraduate Davinder Singh Panesar, when he was asked to appear before an interview panel for the post of part-time sweeper. The embarrassing letter was the first interview call letter Davinder Singh Panesar got in six years after he registered with the Sub-Regional Employment Exchange, Pusa, in the Capital. Davinder, who has done his MA in Punjabi, was recently asked to appear before an interview panel for the post of “part time sweeper” by Ramjas Senior Secondary School, Anand Parbat, New Delhi. A copy of the interview call letter is in the possession of The Tribune. The letter states “reference to your application/name sponsored by the employment exchange. The interview for the post of part-time sweeper in the school will be held.....please bring your certificates at the time of interview. No TA/DA will be paid for attending the interview.” Davinder Singh said, “I was completely dazed when I received this letter. I do not know whether it is a faux pas or a crude joke.” |
|
Chhattisgarh Bill passed NEW DELHI, Aug 9 — Parliament today paved the way for the creation of a separate state of Chhattisgarh with the Rajya Sabha adopting the Madhya Pradesh Recommendation Bill 2000. The bill has already been passed by the Lok Sabha. Congress leader Suresh Pachouri said Chhattisgarh had immense mineral, water, forest and other resources which could be utilised for the development of the new state. Union Home Minister, Mr L.K. Advani, expressed the confidence that the historic step would contribute to the development of the area which had a large tribal and backward population. He said Chattisgarh had a population of 1.75 crore and cannot be called a small state. |
|
Missing defence
file traced NEW DELHI, Aug 9 (PTI) — The missing key Defence Ministry file on barring middlemen in defence deals was traced after months of search in a ministry cupboard unopened for the last nine years, according to Central Vigilance
Commissioner, N. Vittal. The file dated October 1989, after the Bofors controversy had erupted, had been asked for by the CVC which was asked to probe all major defence deals after 1989. |
|
Prosecution of judge okayed MUMBAI, Aug 9 (PTI) — The Maharashtra Government has sanctioned the prosecution of suspended sessions court judge
J.W. Singh under the Prevention of Corruption Act. Opening the case before designated judge
A.P. Bhangale, public prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam today placed before the court the sanction orders received yesterday. |
|
New law panel NEW DELHI, Aug 9 (UNI) — The Cabinet has decided to reconstitute the Law Commission headed by Justice B.P. Jeevan Reddy with effect from September 1. Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pramod Mahajan said no decision had been taken on who would comprise the new commission. |
|
YC march against
BJP govt NEW DELHI, Aug 9 — The Indian Youth Congress today organised a “Quit BJP — Save India” march in the Capital to highlight the failure of the government in handling the Kashmir situation, and protect the pilgrims to Amarnath cave. The IYC president, Mr Randeep Surjewala, addressing the marchers said “the present government has failed in every sphere. The prices are rising, law and order situation of the country getting worse day by day, terrorism is on the rise, peace talks with Kashmir militants have failed.” Mr Surjewala alleged that front organisations of the BJP like the RSS, the VHP and the Bajrang Dal were involved in senseless attacks on minorities to tarnish secular credentials of the country. Meanwhile, Congress president Mrs Sonia Gandhi led the Delhi Congress workers to take a pledge near Gandhi’s Samadhi to oppose the designs of communal and fascist forces. Congress workers also staged a dharna outside the samadhi against the Centre’s move to withdraw subsidy to the khadi industry which, the state Congress unit said would lead to large-scale unemployment among weavers, workers and spinners in the Khadi Gram Udyog Centres in the country. Deploring government move on withdrawing subsidy to khadi industry, Mr Surjewala said in the name of liberalisation, the BJP government was trying to destroy even the very symbol of India’s freedom struggle.” |
 |
| Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir | Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs | Nation | Editorial | | Business | Sport | World | Mailbag | In Spotlight | Chandigarh Tribune | Ludhiana Tribune 50 years of Independence | Tercentenary Celebrations | | 120 Years of Trust | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail | |
