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| Thursday, September 28, 2000, Chandigarh, India   
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Over 1 lakh TMC men court arrest IT sleuths seize Rs 6.9 cr
from stars Smuggler-ISI nexus exposed in Bihar EC to revise voter lists Militancy in Tripura abates: Centre |
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Hospital readies itself for PM's surgery MPs discuss Bihar’s development Carry I-card if flying to Nepal Sonia
to visit Bengal today Security beefed up for
Dasehra Rajkumar appeals
against bandh New tourism policy within a month Two Haryana gangsters held Aviation Ministry made party to PIL NHRC indicts
enforcement wing Jail term for govt official Padma awards go up to 100 Calcium for boys, salt for girls
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Over 1 lakh TMC men court arrest CHENNAI, Sept 27 (UNI) — Former
union ministers P. Chidambaram, S.R. Balasubramaniam, Jayanthi
Natarajan and Dhanushkodi Adityan and leader of the Opposition in the
Tamil Nadu Assembly S. Balakrishnan were among the over 100,000 Tamil
Maanila Congress (TMC) volunteers who courted arrest as part of the
party’s “jail bharo” agitation in protest against the
‘’anti-people’’ policies of the central and state
governments. While the TMC claimed that over one lakh party workers
were taken into custody in all the 234 assembly constituencies in the
state, the police said about 35,000 people were arrested. The
picketing agitation was to highlight a 15-point demand, which included
a fair price for farm produce. The TMC sources said the police
refused to arrest all volunteers in an attempt to downplay the
magnitude of the anti-government protest. While Mr Chidambaram was
arrested in Karaikudi, Mr Balasubramanian and Ms Natarajan were
arrested in the city. Mr Balakrishan was arrested in Mudukulathoor. Meanwhile,
Janata Dal (Secular) state president G.A. Vadivelu, who went to the
Annanagar constituency to greet the TMC workers, was arrested while
returning in his car, a party press note said. |
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IT sleuths
seize Rs 6.9 cr from stars MUMBAI, Sept 27
(UNI) — The Income Tax (IT) Department seized cash and jewellery
amounting to Rs 6.91 crore during its raids on film personalities,
Minister of State for Finance (Revenue) V. Dhananjaya Kumar said
today. “Cash, jewellery and goods worth Rs 6.91 crore were seized
from them,’’ Mr Kumar, who is in the commercial capital since
yesterday to hold review meetings with the IT, customs and excise
departments, told reporters. “We are awaiting more information on
the raids’’, he said. Mr Kumar, who was accompanied by senior
revenue officials, said 28 bank lockers were also sealed by the IT
Department, in the process, for carrying out further
investigations. “We are receiving more and more information and at
this stage, everything cannot be disclosed’’. Thirty three
premises including bungalows, flats and offices of at least nine film
personalities, were raided by the IT sleuths. The film industry has
reserved its comment. Among those whose properties were raided are
leading stars Salman Khan, Aishwarya Rai, Rani Mukherjee, Urmila
Matondkar and Amrish Puri, besides directors Yash Chopra, Karan Johar
and producer Yash Johar. |
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EC to revise voter lists NEW DELHI, Sept
27 (UNI) — The Election Commission today announced the schedule of
countrywide revision of electoral rolls, except Assam and Jammu and
Kashmir, with January 1, 2001 as the qualifying date. A separate
schedule has been decided for summary revision of rolls in Assam and
Jammu and Kashmir. In Assam, elections to local bodies are expected to
be completed by the end of November while a separate schedule was
decided for Jammu and Kashmir considering the special conditions
obtaining in the state. “The schedule for these states will be
announced in due course,’’ Mr K.R. Prasad, secretary to the
commission, said. Meeting under Chief Election Commissioner Dr M.S.
Gill, the full commission also decided to have a fixed calendar for an
annual revision and designated the second Saturdays and Sundays and
fourth Saturdays and Sundays as the campaign dates for field
operations during future such annual exercises. “The commission drew
on the excellent results of the pulse polio campaign,’’ Mr Prasad
said. As per the schedule announced by the commission, November 2 has
been fixed as the date for publication of draft electoral rolls and
claims and objections could be filed till November 30. The four
special campaign dates are November 11, 12, 25 and 26. December 30 has
been fixed as the date for disposal of claims and printing of
supplements with the final publication of electoral rolls slated for
January 2, 2001. On the specified campaign dates, the commission
will provide the citizens service close to the threshold level of
contact. Besides, it has provided for mandatory acknowledgement for
each application as well as assistance to electors in filling up the
forms. The commission has decided to give special attention to
removal of electors who have shifted from the relevant polling station
or those dead. While including new electors, cases of those applying
for inclusion for the first time on attaining the age of 18 years will
be checked with reference to particulars of other family members and
electors in the same address. For applications from older persons,
particular care will be taken so that their names are deleted from
rolls in other polling areas. The commission has also decided to
make efforts to further improve its programme for computerisation of
electoral rolls. The process has already been completed in most states
and union territories where district-level infrastructure has been set
up for updating and maintenance, Mr Prasad said. |
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Militancy in Tripura abates: Centre NEW DELHI, Sept
27 — The Centre today claimed that the efforts put in by it to
contain militancy in Tripura had started yielding results with a
considerable fall in the number of terrorist-related incidents this
month. “The efforts put in to contain militancy in Tripura have now
started yielding results. Security forces in the state have fought
back militants and other criminal elements in a forceful way in the
recent past,” a spokesman of the Union Home Ministry told reporters
here. There had been many encounters leading to the killing or arrest
of extremists, recovery of a large number of weapons, rescue of
kidnapped persons, tracking down of many criminals involved in
registered cases, etc., he said. “Since August 10, as many as 15
NLFT militants have been killed and a large number of weapons,
including one AK-47 rifle, one stengun, many pistols/revolvers and
country-made guns have been recovered along with ammunition and
various other articles, Indian and Bangladesh currency, documents,
etc,” he said, adding that recently, on four consecutive days from
September 16, there were successful encounters in various districts of
Tripura. The spokesman said the government had made the arrangements
to ensure that the Puja festival passed off peacefully in
Tripura. The situation in Tripura has been a cause of concern for
some time. Violent activities of tribal militant groups, including the
NLFT and ATTF, continued unabated. Kidnappings in the state had become
a cottage industry, with the state accounting for almost 70 per cent
of kidnapping incidents in the entire North-East. The situation had
become more dangerous with the emergence of Bengali militant groups
like the United Bengali Liberation Front and Amra Bengali leading to
the situation of ethnic divide among the communities in Tripura. The
Centre has been closely monitoring the situation there. The Union Home
Minister, Mr L.K. Advani, had visited Tripura on March 27 and 28,
which was followed by Home Secretary Kamal Pande’s visit on June 7
and 8. The Centre has provided the state with 158 companies of
central para-military forces, besides liberal assistance for the
modernisation of police forces, reimbursement of security-related
expenditure and sanction of three India Reserve Battalions. The NLFT
and the ATTF have been declared as ‘unlawful associations’ under
the provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967. |
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Smuggler-ISI nexus exposed in Bihar PATNA, Sept 27 —
The state police is in awe after the seizure of huge cache of Pakistan
Army’s arms and explosive materials in the neighbouring districts of
the state’s capital in the bast two days. The intelligence wing is
having the last laugh as it has been repeatedly warning the police of
the growing clout of the ISI and the deep-rooted nexus between the
extremists and smugglers in Bihar. This has established that fact that
Bihar is fast emerging as the “node centre” of South Asian arms
trade. The police is on red alert following the seizure of a
sophisticated automatic carbine, a powerful tank bomb and 30
cartridges of the Pakistan Infantry, Lahore unit, from Vaishali
district, 30 km away from Patna on Sunday. The seizure strengthens the
suspicion of the ISI backing. A notorious gangster and his wide were
caught along with the arms. Nearly 5,000 kg of explosives were
recovered from different hideouts in Nawada district, 75 km away from
Patna on Monday. The high quality explosives are enough to destroy
half of the state. Only 200 kg of it can raze Patna to dust. The
three revelations in the wake of all these seizures have sent shivers
down the spine of the state police. First, it has been revealed that
arms were meant for killing some “big names” in the state itself.
Second, the connection of Pakistan’s ISI in the supply of arms has
been almost established. Third, the state is not only being used as
the “storage and safe passage” but huge quantities of arms are
being manufactured and supplied to other states. Along with the
explosives, bomb making accessories were also recovered. According to
reports, illegal arms manufacturers of Munger district are providing
arms to the West Bengal ultras. Nawada is another arms making centre. Interestingly,
the arms seized on Sunday were said to have been supplied to the
gangster by a Purulia-based arms supplier at throw away price. A
carbine was purchased at a cost of Rs 80,000. Many border areas of
Bihar, UP and West Bengal may have pockets of illegal arms trade. The
border areas are soft spots and the lack of coordination between the
police of these states make their escape easy. The throw away rates at
which the arms are being supplied to the criminals sparks off the
possibility of “sabotage” masterminded by the ISI. |
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Hospital readies itself for PM's surgery MUMBAI, Sept 27 —
The Breach Candy hospital, which has been always a favourite of film
stars and politicians, is readying itself to receive Prime Minister
Atal Behari Vajpayee who will undergo knee- replacement surgery on
October 9 or 10. The exact date of the surgery will depend on the
state of Mr Vajpayee's health, hospital authorities say. U.S.-based
Chitranjit Ranawat, a specialist in knee surgery, will conduct the
operation. Mr Vajpayee will stay in the hospital for five or six days
for post-operative care, hospital authorities say. Authorities have
cleared the entire seventh floor of the 173-bed hospital for use of
the Prime Minister and his entourage. A special entrance has been
opened for the Prime Minister's use so as to minimise inconvenience to
other patients, hospital sources say. Apart from the operation
theatre where the surgery will be performed, an Intensive Care Unit
(ICU) has also been kept ready. Hospital sources say key aides from
the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) will be on hand
round-the-clock. According to sources at the state secretariat, a
suite will also be kept ready at Raj Bhavan (Governor's House) in case
it is required for the Prime Minister to put up there after he is
discharged from hospital. The Special Protection Group (SPG) that is
responsible for the Prime Minister's security, will provide special
passes to the hospital staff, the sources said. Restrictions will also
be placed on the entry of visitors to the hospital. Naval divers and
police personnel will cordon the sea off the hospital as a
precautionary measure. Fishing boats and swimmers will not be allowed
inside the security cordon, police officials said. Mr Vajpayee
suffers from severe deterioration of the knee joints brought about by
his advanced age. During the surgery the entire knee will be replaced
with an artificial joint that will be brought from the U.S, doctors
say. Though he will not suffer any pain and will be able to walk from
the next day after the surgery, Mr Vajpayee will be required to
undergo physiotherapy before he can resume a normal life, doctors
say. Dr Ranawat will be assisted in the operation by a team of Indian
and American doctors. "An anaesthetist will accompany Dr Ranawat
from the U.S.," a doctor from Breach Candy told IANS. The other
members of the team include Dr NanduLaud, former professor of
orthopedic surgery at the Sion hospital, and Dr F. E.Udwadia, chief
physician, Breach Candy hospital. Personal physicians of the Prime
Minister will also be on hand. Breach Candy Hospital, which is run by
a charitable trust, commenced operation in 1952. Over the years, it
has played host to film stars, politicians, ambassadors and other
dignitaries, hospital spokesman Cyrus Engineer said. Former President
Neelam Sanjiva Reddy was admitted here for treatment. Amitabh Bachchan
was another famous patient. He was admitted to the hospital after an
accident during the shooting of the film 'Coolie' in 1980. — IANS |
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MPs discuss Bihar’s development NEW DELHI, Sept 27 — Members of Parliament (MPs) from Bihar belonging to various parties met here today to discuss development of the state after its bifurcation for the creation of Jharkhand. “We have decided to sink our political differences in the larger interest of the backward state,” Union Agriculture Minister and Samata Party leader Nitish Kumar and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) President Laloo Prasad Yadav told reporters. “We discussed all issues relating to the state’s development, including its backwardness, infrastructure, international airport, irrigation and power projects,” Mr Yadav said. The meeting, which was attended by Bihar Chief Minister Rabri Devi, felt that a massive infrastructure development fund should be created to improve road and rail traffic, tone up telecommunications and strengthen health facilities to bridge the widening gap between Bihar and other states. It was felt at the meeting that immediate steps should be taken to improve the credit-deposit ratio of various nationalised banks in Bihar as on an average the banks collected Rs 3,000 crore to Rs 5,000 crore annually from the state but only two-thirds of the amount was spent. The meeting was arranged at the initiative of Mr Nitish Kumar, heading an eight-member steering committee, set up for the speedy development of Bihar after the creation of Jharkhand. Prominent among those who attended the meeting were Minister of State for Railways Digvijay Singh (Samata), Mr Shyama Singh (Congress), Mr Devendra Prasad Yadav (JD-U), Mr Raghuvansh Prasad Singh (RJD) and Mrs Abha Mahato (BJP). |
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Carry I-card if
flying to Nepal NEW DELHI, Sept 27 — From October 1, any Indian citizen over the age of 10 years, travelling between India and Nepal by air would have to prove his identity through either Indian passport, photo-identity card issued by the Centre or a state government or the Election Commission or an emergency certificate issued by the Embassy of India in Nepal. “All Indian citizens who want to travel between India and Nepal by air must ensure that they are in possession of any of these documents to avoid inconvenience to them at the airport,” an official press note said here today. Possession of Rs 500 denomination Indian currency notes in Nepal is an offence under Nepalese law (under section 5 of its Foreign Exchange Regulation Act) since June 26, 2000, the note said, advising the Indian citizens travelling to Nepal not to carry any Rs 500 note with them. |
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Sonia
to visit Bengal today NEW DELHI, Sept 27 — Congress chief Sonia Gandhi will
visit flood-affected areas of West Bengal tomorrow.
Party spokesman Ajit Jogi told reporters here that the
chief of party’s West Bengal unit, Mr Pranab Mukherji, had
talked to Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee and state Chief
Minister Jyoti Basu on the issue. |
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Security beefed up for
Dasehra NEW DELHI, Sept 27 — The Delhi police has made tight security arrangements for Ram Lila and
Dasehra celebrations in the Capital following intelligence reports that militant outfits may disrupt the festivities. Certain areas in the Capital like central and north districts are considered sensitive as historical Ramlilas and
Dasehra are celebrated in these areas and VIPs like the President, the Vice-President, the Prime Minister and the Chief Justice of India visit there during celebrations, police sources said. According to sources, 10 companies of paramilitary forces will be deployed in all nine districts of Delhi during the celebrations. The sources said being sensitive areas, these districts had demanded more paramilitary forces. These areas had sought more force keeping in mind the bomb blast incidents at the Red Fort and Chhatta Rail Chowk near the Old Delhi railway station in 1995. Several people were injured in these incidents. A Kashmir-based militant organisation and the Khalistan Zindabad Force had owned responsibility for the blasts. Thereafter, the police had been making tight security arrangements for all Ramlilas and
Dasehra celebrations. Ram Lila celebrations at Ram Lila Ground near Turkman Gate and the Red Fort near Parade Ground are historical and these places fall in the walled city area of north and central districts. Besides security personnel, volunteers and anti-sabotage personnel would be deployed in sensitive areas, the sources said. The central district had demanded six additional companies while the north district had asked for seven companies. The Deputy Commissioner of Police, North, Mr M.S. Upadhye, said threats were always there during Ramlilas and Daseras. Checking would be made in parks, markets and other busy and important areas in the districts. “But Ram Lilas at the Red Fort, Parade Ground and Dangal Ground will be covered extensively”, he said. |
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New tourism policy within a month NEW DELHI, Sept 27 — The Union Tourism Minister, Mr Anant Kumar, today said the new tourism policy would be announced within 30 days. “The final draft of the new tourism policy is ready and would be announced within a month,” he told The Tribune at a function held to mark the World Tourism Day. “We are only incorporating the information technology related aspect to it. Otherwise, the policy is ready,” he said. Asked about the 100-days time period set by him for the policy announcement at a tourism conference organised in Agra earlier this month, he said, “I did a mistake then. The policy would be announced within 30 days.” Sources said the policy would touch upon liberalisation of visa policy, taxation rate in the tourism sector and the integration of IT in promoting tourism. In the Capital, several functions were organised to mark the tourism day. The World Tourism Organisation has chosen this year’s theme as “Information and Nature.” Keeping up with that theme, the ministry launched several IT-based facilities for the visitors to the country. At the domestic terminal of Indira Gandhi International Airport, the minister inaugurated Hotel Information Kiosk which would allow tourists to make online room reservation using touch screens. A virtual reality CD-ROMs on the Taj Mahal and Khajuraho was also launched today. Mr Anant Kumar said similar virtual reality CD-ROMs on Hampi and Konarak would be released soon. The national portal on tourism — www.tourismofindia.com — was also launched which would provide one click information to all tourism related information to tourists. Tourist guide system HARK (Handy Audio Reach Kit) was also launched today. The system which consists of a wireless audio transmitter and audio receiver with headphones which will be installed in museums, zoos, monuments, art galleries and other places of public interest to provide information. A portfolio on the monastries of Ladakh, which has photographic reproductions by eminent historian Benoy K Bhel and Sangitika Nigam, was also released today. Mr Anant Kumar said the tourist inflow into the country had increased this year compared to last year. The country currently ranks 43rd on the world list of international arrivals with merely 2.3 million tourists arriving here. |
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Two Haryana
gangsters held NEW DELHI, Sept 27 — Two gangsters of Haryana, who allegedly had links with a Dubai based extortionist, Fazlu, were arrested by the Special Cell of the Delhi police from the Lajpat Nagar area of South Delhi where they reportedly went to threaten a businessman for ransom. The gangsters were identified as Kishan, alias Darshan, and Hemant, alias Ravi, from Rohtak. Two of their accomplices, Prakash Chauhan and Vijay from Delhi, have also been arrested, the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Special Cell), Mr Ashok Chand, said. The police seized one .32 bore revolver, two country-made pistols, one knife and 10 cartridges from their possession. Besides, a Maruti and a scooter were seized. |
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NHRC indicts enforcement wing NEW DELHI, Sept 27 — The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has directed the Centre to pay interim relief of Rs 50,000 to a victim of Enforcement Directorate atrocities. This is the first time that the Commission has ordered compensation for human rights violation by the ED. Sources in NHRC said that a case was brought to its notice in December, 1997 by one Prabhakar L Mehta. The petitioner alleged that officers of the ED, Mumbai raided his residence and took him and his wife to the office of the directorate at 1.30 pm. While his wife was released at night, he was was kept in custody. He alleged that the ED officers forced him to furnish false statements as a witness in its ongoing investigations. He was assaulted, tortured and denied food and water. Replying to a notice issued by the Commission, the ED said that it did not find any substance in Mr Mehta’s complaint. The Commission then asked its investigation division to conduct an independent inquiry.The investigation division’s report upheld the complaint of the petitioner. The Commission forwarded Mr Mehta’s petition alongwith a report of its own investigation wing to the Commissioner of Police, Mumbai to register a case under the provisions of law. The Commission also issued a show-cause notice to the Directorate of Enforcement to explain as to why immediate interim relief under Section 18(3) of the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993 should not be awarded to the victim as his human rights had been violated by a public servant. The ED had contended that a case based on a complaint made by the petitioner was pending in the court of the Additional Chief Metropolitan
Magisrate, Mumbai the NHRC could not grant interim relief as this would seriously prejudice the case.
Aviation Ministry made party to PIL NEW DELHI, Sept 27 (UNI) — the Delhi High Court today made the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism a party to a public interest litigation
(PIL) which challenged the government’s decision prohibiting journeys by high court judges by private airlines. The Ministry’s response must come in by October 24, said a Division Bench of Chief Justice Arijit Pasayat and Justice D.K. Jain. On September 6, the Court had asked the Centre as to under which provision it had issued a circular last year restricting high court judges entitled for leave travel concession
(LTC) claim to travel by Indian Airlines only. The court had questioned why a bureaucrat should decide how the judges travel. It said the government wants the judges to travel by the national carrier even when it is discourteous towards them. The court had also directed the Airports Authority of India
(AAI) to state the protocol for judges vis-a-vis politicians and bureaucrats at airport lounges. It had also asked the
AAI to furnish details since January this year to show how many times the Indian Airlines flights were on schedule. The
PIL filed by one P. Kumar challenged a circular issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) and said that Indian Airlines gives preference to politicians over other passengers during flights and at airport lounges, especially in small towns. In the previous hearing, the Law Ministry said in an affidavit that the High Court judges (salary and conditions of service) Act confers powers on the Centre to make rules regarding their services, including travel allowance. However, if there are good and sufficient reasons to justify travel by private airlines, the question relating to the judges can be considered on merits of each case, it said. Padma awards go
up to 100 NEW DELHI, Sept 27 (UNI) — The government today raised the number of Padma awards from 60 to 100, excluding posthumous awards to foreigners and non-resident Indians (NRIs). The increase has been done on the basis of recommendation of the awards committee. Padma Vibhushan will be given to 20 personalities, Padma Bhushan to 30 and Padma Shri to 50, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pramod Mahajan told reporters after a Cabinet meeting. Padma awards were instituted in 1954 and except for a brief interruption during 1978-79, these awards were announced every up to 1992. They were frozen in 1993 following a public interest litigation challenging their constitutional validity. Hence no announcement of Padma awards were made from 1993-1996.
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Jail term for
govt official NEW DELHI, Sept 27 — An official of the Delhi Government, Mr Ashok Kumar, has been imprisoned for accepting a bribe of Rs 5,000 for processing an application form for a Scheduled Caste certificate. He was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment and a fine of Rs 5,000 was imposed on him and another three years imprisonment with a fine of Rs 5,000 under Section 13(1)(d) of Prevention of Corruption Act, a CBI press note said. The accused is a clerk posted in the office of the SDM of south Delhi, the release said.
Calcium for boys, salt for girls DEHRA DUN, Sept 27 — Do you want to have a baby boy? Did you know that a modification of your diet can ensure this? Though it sounds unbelievable a study showed that diet could determine sex with a 96 per cent success rate. The study was conducted on 7,810 patients, including 6,400 patients opting for a boy and 1,410 for a girl. Boys were born in 6,208 cases (97 per cent) and girls in 1335 (95 per cent). The study conducted by Dr Rajan S. Joshi of King George’s Medical College, Lucknow showed that modification of four basic elements in the diet — sodium, potassium, calcium and magnesium, two months before the planned conception followed by a specific time period for intercourse in the target cycle yields a 96 per cent success rate. According to Dr Joshi, the ratio of potassium, calcium, magnesium has an effect on the molecular biology of the receptor sites on pellucid membrane around ova. Thus, if a woman is given a high calcium, high magnesium, low sodium and low potassium diet for a period of six to eight weeks prior to conception, her receptor sites attract only the X-sperms and repels the Y-sperms, resulting in a conception of female child. On the other hand, a high sodium, high potassium, low calcium and low magnesium diet for the same period prior to conception ensure that only the Y-sperms are attracted and the X-sperms are repelled resulting in conception of a male child. He however, adds that the ratio of potassium to calcium and magnesium is only important, while the sodium contribution represents the natural physiological means of controlling potassium metabolism by acting on the suprarenal glands. The timing protocol is combined with the diet method as Y-sperms are lighter and they swim faster than the heavier X-sperms. Therefore, if the intercourse happens immediately after ovulation there is a probability of abundance of Y-sperms and vice-versa if intercourse happens 24 hours of more before ovulation. Dr Joshi says, “This method helps in detecting cases of sub-fertility due to ovulation disorders and hastens up the treatment schedule of sex selection. Diet planning also helps the mother and child to remain healthy”. The patient has to start the treatment modality roughly two months before she wants to conceive. A diet plan is prepared after the blood test report for serum sodium, serum potassium (for male child), blood pressure recording, weight and date of last mensuration. The patient remains on a prescribed diet she conceives. As the diet and the supplement takes at least six to eight weeks to act on the ovaries, the contraception has to be used till the patient finishes her first two menses. “The entire method is totally safe, non invasive and economical but should be done under the consultation of a doctor”, says Dr Joshi.
Rajkumar appeals
against bandh
CHENNAI, Sept 27 (PTI) — Abducted Kannada thespian Rajkumar has come out against the timing of the Karnataka bandh called for tomorrow, saying it would cause inconvenience to people on the day of Dasehra and expressed hope that he would be freed during the festival. In an audio cassette sent through a colleague of emissary r r gopal, who is in the forests talking to fugitive Veerappan, Rajkumar said Dasehra was an important festival of Karnataka and it would not be appropriate to organise a bandh during the Chamundeshwari festival. “I am not totally opposing the bandh. Organising a bandh on the festival day would pose problems to the people. I am only appealing that no inconvenience should be caused to anybody,” he was quoted as saying in a press release from Gopal’s magazine ‘Nakkeeran’ here today. The bandh has been called by the Rajkumar fans’ association and some Kannada organisations to put pressure on the government for early release of the actor, who is in the captivity of Veerappan since July 30. In his taped speech, addressed to his family and fans, Rajkumar said: “By the grace of Goddess Chamundeshwari, i think i will be back during the festival.” The thespian said he would be all right if his wife Parvathamma took care of her health and appealed to his fans not to cause any problem either to the people or the government. Nakkeeran Associate Editor A Kamaraj, who issued the press release, quoted Gopal as saying that he was holding talks with Veerappan and was confident of a positive outcome. Gopal set out for the forests on September 20 on his fourth mission since the kidnap crisis began. Krishna had yesterday appealed to the organisers to reconsider their call for the bandh citing the Dasehra celebrations. Kamaraj said both the Chief Ministers of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka had been apprised of the arrival of the cassette. Meanwhile, a Bangalore report said Karnataka Home Minister M Mallikarjuna Kharge listened to the cassette and held consultations with senior police officials. The audio cassette is the fifth to come from the jungles since the crisis began. Navaratras festivities commence from tomorrow in Mysore and organisers of the bandh have exempted that city from the protest. BANGALORE: About 10,000 armed police and other forces, including the
RAF, today mounted a tight vigil in Karnataka ahead of Thursday’s 12-hour state-wide bandh called to exert pressure for securing the release of Kannada thespian
Rajkumar from the captivity of forest brigand Veerappan. Eight companies of Central forces, including seven of Rapid Action Force
(RAF), 155 platoons of Karnataka State Reserve Police, civil police and Home Guards had been deployed as the law and order enforcing machinery went into top gear. Briefing reporters, Karnataka Director-General of Police
C dinakar said security arrangements had been made keeping in view the law laid down by the Supreme Court and the directions given by the Karnataka High Court on Tuesday. Mr Dinakar said the police did not expect any violence but ‘if violence takes place, we will handle it firmly’. |
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