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| Saturday,
September 9, 2000, Chandigarh, India   
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‘Left Front’ behind clashes CM visits Rajkumar’s wife EC reserves order on CPM plea |
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Govindacharya gets study leave Israeli DG (Defence)
meets Advani VHP to go ahead with temple construction Eco-friendly method to check ‘kurri’ SC order on J&K
medical exams Heavy rain in
eastern UP likely Govt bans pirated films on cable
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‘Left Front’ behind clashes CALCUTTA, Sept 8 — The Defence Minister, Mr George Fernandes has held Mr Jyoti Basu’s government responsible for mishandling the law and order machinery in the trouble-torn Midnapore district, where political clashes, involving the CPM and the Trinamul Congress have taken over 100 lives recently. He, however, refused to spell out if he would recommend for the application of Article 356 or the declaration of some districts as “disturbd area” as demanded by the Trinamul Congress and the BJP. Mr Fernandes, who is also the chairman of the NDA, today visited the trouble-torn areas of Keshpur and other places of Midnapore to make an on the spot study of the law and order situation. He came to the city today as an emissary of the Prime Minister to study the situation. From the Calcutta airport, he flew to Midnapore in a helicopter and drove straight to the affected areas. He was accompanied by Mr Sudip Bandopathyya, MP, TMC. At Midnapore Circuit House, he was received by the Union Minister of State for External Affairs, Mr Ajit Kumar Panja. The Defence Minister met the local people and members of those killed in armed attack of the CPM. He also saw the damage and destruction done to the lives and properties of the minorities and backward class people. After visiting the trouble areas, Mr Fernandes told newspersons that he was shocked to see the damage done to the poor villagers, who belong to the minorities’ community. He said it was imminent that the state law and order machinery failed to properly handle the situation. Mr Fernandes, however, said he would submit his report to the Home Minister, Mr L.K. Advani about his visit to the district. He regretted that he could not visit other affected districts like Bankura., Hooghly and Birbhum due to shortage of time. The Defence Minister did not meet Mr Basu nor did he ask for any report from the government. |
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Ex gratia for PoK migrants NEW DELHI, Sept 8 — Fiftythree years after Independence, the Centre has decided to pay an ex-gratia amount of Rs 25,000 each to the displaced families from the Pak-occupied-Kashmir (PoK) in 1947 and for eligible families, who fled from the Chhamb Niabat area in Jammu and Kashmir during the 1971 Indo-Pak war. “The Government has decided to pay an ex-gratia relief of Rs 25,000 per family to those displaced from PoK in 1947,” a Home Ministry spokesman said here today. The relief in respect of PoK would be paid to those who “did not migrate during the crucial period between September, 1947, and December, 1950; where the head of the family did not migrate with the family during the crucial period and where displaced persons families did not stay in camps,” he said, adding that “the relief will be subject to the condition that the income of the head of the family did not exceed Rs 300 per month at that time in respect of these three categories.” The rural settlers who were not paid rehabilitation assistance of Rs 1000 in the past but were granted lands by the Jammu and Kashmir Government, the relief would be proportionately scaled down to Rs 7000, he said. In the case of ex gratia to families from the Chhamb Niabat area, it would be paid to only those families already registered with the Jammu and Kashmir Government, he said. The government had also decided to pay compensation of Rs 5,000 per kanal to the displaced persons from PoK subject to the maximum limit of Rs 25,000 per family. The rate of land deficiency at the rate of Rs 5,000 per kanal would be maximum rate and permissible only to those families in whose areas the rate of land was Rs 5,000 per kanal or more. Where the cost of land was less than Rs 5,000 per kanal, the payment would be made at the actual prevailing rates in the area, the spokesman said. |
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CM visits Rajkumar’s wife BANGALORE, Sept 8 (UNI) — The Karnataka and Tamil Nadu Governments today decided to continue with the present strategy to secure the safe release of Kannada film star Dr Rajkumar and three others held hostage by forest brigand Veerappan since July 30. An indication to this effect was given by the Chief Ministers of the two states after a 90-minute discussion here on future strategies in the wake of emissary R.R. Gopal’s failure to secure the release of the hostages. Briefing newspersons Karnataka Chief Minister S.M. Krishna and his Tamil Nadu counterpart M. Karunanidhi said it was decided at the meeting to expedite proceedings of the Supreme Court to get the stay on the release of 121 detenues in Karnataka vacated. Earlier, Mr Karunanidhi, who arrived here by a special aircraft, was accompanied by his Cabinet colleagues Arcot Veeraswamy (Health) and Aladi Aruna (Law) besides other state government officials. The police took into custody six persons who shouted slogans in favour of Dr Rajkumar and against Tamils and Mr Karunanidhi when he visited the actor’s residence here today. Mr Karunanidhi met Dr Rajkumar’s wife Parvathamma and his two sons. Later, speaking to newspersons Mrs Parvathamma said Mr Karunanidhi had conveyed to her that he and Mr Krishna were taking all steps to secure the release of Dr Rajkumar. She said she was satisfied with the measures being taken by the two states. Telugu mega star Chiranjeevi, Tamil film hero Arjun and Kannada star Ravendran also called on Mrs Parvathamma. Meanwhile, life in the city remained unaffected as the “Bangalore bandh” called by the Karnataka Rakshana Vedike, a group of pro-Kannada organisations, in protest against the delay in securing the release of Dr Rajkumar, evoked poor response. |
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EC reserves order on CPM plea NEW DELHI, Sept 8 — The CPM, facing threat of derecognition as a national party, today got a breather as the Election Commission reserved its order after party representatives made a strong plea that the present political reality should be taken into consideration before deciding the issue. Appearing before the full bench of the Election Commission comprising the Chief Election Commissioner, Dr M. S. Gill and the Election Commissioners, Mr J. M. Lyngdoh and Mr T. S. Krishna Murthy, the CPM leaders pleaded that the provisions with regard to national political parties provided for in the Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968, should not be applied in the “present political reality”. “We are the third largest political party having representation from West Bengal, Kerala, Tripura, Tamil Nadu and Bihar in the Lok Sabha,” the party General Secretary Mr Harkishen Singh Surjeet and leader of the party in the Rajya Sabha, Mr S. Ramachandran Pillai told the commission. After about 45 minutes of hearing, Dr Gill reserved the commission’s order and asked the CPM to file a written submission on the issue by September 15. During the submission, Mr Pillai said his party should be treated as a national party owing to the fact that it was the third largest party in the 540-member Lok Sabha with 33 MPs. “We urge the commission to consider the party’s stature and significant role played by it while reaching a decision,” he said. Mr Pillai wanted that the criteria of one member for every 25 members in the Lok Sabha from a state to enjoy the status of a state party be applied for granting national party recognition. The CPM presently had 33 members in the Lok Sabha, 21 of them from West Bengal, eight from Kerala, two from Tripura and one each from Tamil Nadu and Bihar. It also had members from Kerala, West Bengal, Tripura and Andhra Pradesh in the Rajya Sabha. Under the present Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, any party which had to retain its national party status should either acquire 6 per cent of the total votes polled in four states in the general elections or should have one MP for every 30 MPs in four states or should have an MLA for every 25 MLAs in four states. Interjecting during the arguments, Dr Gill said the commission had amended the symbols order in 1996-97 and could give it another hard look in the light of the larger issues of public importance raised. The views of other political parties could also be sought on the matter, he said. But, as symbols order stood at present, the CPM did not
fulfill the laid down criteria, which were quite liberal, Dr Gill added. The CPM, however, contended that the symbols order was framed in 1968, when one political party held sway over the national polity. The situation was vastly different now with several political parties competing for votes. |
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Govindacharya gets study leave NEW DELHI, Sept 8 — Denying media speculation about his being dropped from the new party President’s list of office-bearers, Bharatiya Janata Party General Secretary K.N. Govindacharya today said that he was proceeding on study leave. Talking to newspersons in his room at the party headquarters, Mr Govindacharya said that he was going to study the impact of globalisation on countries like India in the civilisational context. He said that the BJP President, Mr Bangaru Laxman, had granted him two years' study leave to undertake a project on which “I have been working for the past few months”. “I have asked Mr Laxman to keep me as a member in the National Executive if the party so desires so that I can keep abreast with the developments in the party,” he said. While Mr Govindacharya was seen trying to convince that there was nothing wrong between him and the party high command, sources said that Mr Govindacharya, who enjoys a close rapport with the cadres of the party, has been asked by the RSS leadership to undertake a damage control exercise. Mr Govindacharya, who has been the party General Secretary for the past 12 years, said that he had applied for the study leave in May this year to the former President, Mr Kushabhau Thakre, but his request had been granted now. Mr Govindacharya, who also performed the role of party ideologue for almost 15 years, said that the government “is performing well under the given constraints that it inherited”. From the days of GATT negotiations via Dunkel Draft to forming of WTO, he said he had been following the developments. The interest grew when he went to Rajasthan and other parts of the country where small-scale units were facing closures, he pointed out adding that in Rajasthan alone, 600 small-scale units had closed. |
Israeli DG (Defence)
meets Advani NEW DELHI, Sept 8 — The Israeli Director-General (Defence), Maj Gen (retd) Amos Yaron today called on the Union Home Minister, Mr L. K. Advani, at his office here. Though the meeting, which lasted for about half-an-hour, was termed as a courtesy call by the visiting Israeli official by a spokesman of the Home Ministry, it assumes significance in the wake of the growing relationship between the two countries in security-related areas. According to sources, a high-level Israeli Home Department team is likely to visit New Delhi this month-end to discuss the modalities and to finalise the joint working group mechanism with India. |
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VHP to go ahead with temple construction NEW DELHI, Sept 8 — The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) has alleged that a priest had been killed by some persons in Tripura because he had refused to convert to Christianity. Dr Pravin Bhai Togdia, international Secretary-General of the VHP, said here that Gurudev Shantikali Sriji, chief priest of one of the sects, was shot dead in his ashram, 30 km from Tripura on August 28. Citing reports by locals lodged with the police, he said the priest had been repeatedly threatened by the persons to stop the worship of Kali. Dr Togdia, who along with VHP leader Onkar Bhave and Dr Surendra Jain of Bajrang Dal, today met Minority Commission members, said any dialogue with Christian leaders would be held only after they seek forgiveness for hurling “baseless” accusations against the VHP and the Bajrang Dal. Declaring the VHP’s intention to go ahead with the construction of Ram temple, the leaders said the date of the construction process would be decided by Kumbh Sansad, to be held in Allahabad in January. |
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Eco-friendly method to check ‘kurri’ DEHRA DUN, Sept 8 — A perilous weed “lantana camara” or “kurri” which is a big threat to the environment and bio-diversity of the hilly and semi-hilly areas of North India has now come to the rescue of economically weaker sections of Garhwal, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir and other parts of the country. Thanks, to the young botanists of Dehra Dun-based Himalayan Environmental Studies and Conservation Organisation (HESCO) who have developed environment friendly and economically viable techniques to control this weed. With the initial help from the Forest Research Institute (FRI), HESCO, is successfully utilising the stalk of “lantana for making furniture and beehives. Besides this, the organisation has also developed a mosquito repellent from its leaves and a herbal medicine from its roots. Dr Anil Prakash Joshi, Director of HESCO says ‘lantana’ is a native of America which was introduced in India by the British as a hedge plant. Since then it has spread its roots in 1000 hectares of fertile land in the country causing immense threat to the crops. The basic problem from this weed is that no other plant germinates where it grows because of the toxic affect of leaves”. He further says “The dense growth of “lantana” is the possible hide — out for the wild animals who attack
human beings and livestock. It also kindles fire in the forests.” Various methods are adopted to control the growth of this weed but the most effective and result oriented is cutting the weed manually. An Australian bug released on the weed can eat the roots and leaves but this method of biological control is not effective because the bug attacks other plants also. Various chemicals can also stop the growth of “lantana” but they are not eco-friendly. “The best method to control the growth of this weed is to cut them manually for proper commercial utilisation. Resembling bamboo and cane, the furniture and baskets made from “lantana” are far less expensive, more durable and termite resistant. This has not only generated employment opportunities for the rural people but also prevented their migration to the plains, who otherwise had no choice but to go out in search of the work“, says Dr Joshi. A sofa, including a table made from this weed is sold for Rs 1500 per set in the market which is even less than half of the price of sofa-set made from cane. Lantana furniture is thus in the reach of lower middle and middle-class. The aromatic nature of “lantana” leaves led to the development of mosquito repellent. HESCO scientists observed that the “lantana” bush rarely harbours mosquitoes. They managed to keep the mosquitoes away by burning a mosquito — repellent cake made out of the world’s worst weed. The Malaria Research Centre in New Delhi has recently cleared the approval for manufacturing mosquito repellent cake giving remarks that it is 70 to 80 per cent effective for keeping mosquitoes away. The HESCO has also successfully launched “lantana beehives” on the pattern of
wall hives which were traditionally used for bee-keeping in the hilly areas. “The new technique is very effective and costs only Rs 70 per beehive box whereas the most commonly used beehives boxes these days cost Rs 500 per box. The super and root chambers of “lantana beehive” preserves its traditional look,” says Dr Kiran Rawat, Women Co-ordinator of the HESCO. The organisation mobilises village communities of Garhwal and Himachal Pradesh to use their local resources in an effective sustainable income-generating way. So far the HESCO has trained more than 500 persons for using various technologies — from simple pickle making and juice processing to herbal medicines and furniture making. |
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SC order on J&K
medical exams NEW DELHI, Sept 8 — A three-judge Bench of the Supreme Court headed by Chief Justice A.S. Anand today directed that all writ petitions and appeals with regard to post-graduate entrance examinations for admissions to various medical courses pending before the two wings of the Jammu and Kashmir High Court should be clubbed together. “Our direction to the competent authority to conduct the next entrance examination shall be faithfully and punctually complied with, notwithstanding any order or direction made to the contrary by any of the Benches of the High Court of J&K in any writ petition or appeal. The said entrance examination shall be conducted within two months from the date of this order”, the judges ordered. The judges further directed that all eligible candidates whether in the earlier selection list or not should be entitled to take part in the said examination. “Rules relating to the reservation of seats, to the extent permissible in law and applicable, shall be respected by the authorities. |
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Heavy rain in
eastern UP likely NEW DELHI, Sept 8 — Monsoon has been active in eastern Uttar Pradesh. Rainfall: Rain or thundershowers have occurred at most places in eastern Uttar Pradesh and the hills of western Uttar Pradesh, at a few places in the plains of western Uttar Pradesh and at isolated places in Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab and eastern Rajasthan. Weather was mainly dry in western Rajasthan. The chief amounts of rainfall in
cm. are: Haryana: Chhachhrauli 2, Himachal Pradesh: Paonta 1, Punjab: Gurdaspur 4 and Dasuya 1 and Uttar Pradesh: Basti 10, Bansi, Kakrahi and Regoli 8 each, Mukhlishpur 6, Elginbridge, Kalpi, Kakardharighat, Neemsar and Palliakalan 5 each, Bahraich, Chandradeepghat and Rudraprayag 4 each, Chillaghat, Hanuman Setu, Hamirpur, Lucknow (control room), Mohana and Shahjina 3 each, Ayodhya, Banda, Ballia, Dehra Dun, Ghazipur and Sultanpur 2 each and Ankinghat, Bani, Balrampur, Birdghat, Bhatpurwaghat, Dabri, Gorakhpur, Joshminath, Kanpur, Katerniaghat, Narora and Turtipar 1 each. Forecast valid until the morning of 10th: Rain or thundershowers will occur at many places in eastern Uttar Pradesh, at a few places in Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir and western Uttar Pradesh and at isolated places in the rest of the region. Heavy rainfall warning: Isolated rain is likely in eastern Uttar Pradesh during the next 24 hours. Forecast for Delhi & neighbourhood valid until the morning of 10th: Partly cloudy sky with possibility of thundery development in some areas. Farmers’ weather bulletin for Delhi: Forecast valid until the morning of 10th: Thundershowers are likely to develop at a few places. Outlook for the subsequent two days: No large change. |
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Govt bans pirated films on cable NEW DELHI, Sept 8 (UNI) — In a move that is bound to bring cheer to the ailing film industry, the government today barred cable operators from telecasting pirated material pertaining to feature films and other software. In a hurriedly called press meet, the Information and Broadcasting Minister, Mr Arun Jaitley, announced the amendment of the rules under the Cable Television Network (Regulation) Act, 1995, which was amended in the monsoon session of Parliament and had already received the presidential assent. Under the amendment of the rules, cable operators could only show on their local channels material which belongs to them or for which they had valid copyright. This amendment, if stringently implemented, can provide succour to the film industry. Most cable operators continued to show pirated films, blaming this on the fact that they would lose subscribers who could then switch to those operators who showed the latest films. |
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