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| Sunday, October 8, 2000, Chandigarh, India   
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ISI may call meeting of ultras Sena can topple
NDA govt: Thackeray India to bid for more Mirages Tigress’ killing:
probe ordered Israel’s help offer ‘welcome’ Set example,
RSS chief tells ministers Set up swadeshi church: RSS |
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Rajkumar wife’s
appeal to bandit
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ISI may call meeting of ultras NEW DELHI, Oct 7 — The emerging cooperation and understanding among India, the USA and Russia on the issue of international terrorism has alarmed Afghan and Pakistan-based militant outfits. While India, Russia and the USA have decided to exchange sensitive information on various terrorist organisations, reliable reports from Islamabad and Peshawar suggest that the ISI is proposing a meeting of some of the chiefs of the terrorist oufits soon. A structured cooperation between New Delhi and Washington already exists in form of a Joint Working Group on counter-terrorism. But what has triggered the panic button at the ISI headquartrs in Islamabad is the growing convergence of views among Moscow, Washington, Beijing and New Delhi. The second meeting of the Indo-US Joint Working Group on counter-terrorism was held in Washington in the last week of last month. The two sides decided to share experience, exchange information and coordinate approaches and action, officials of the Ministry of External Affairs pointed out. The joint statement, issued on October 5 at the conclusion of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to India, has taken a holistic view of the growing menace of the problem. “The two sides consider the growing menace of international terrorism, extremism, ethnic separatism, trans-border organised crime and drug trafficking as a significant threat to international peace and stability”, the joint statement said. With this perspective, the two countries decided to set up an Indo-Russian Joint Working Group on Afghanistan. Islamabad knows full well that the Russian President has taken a serious view of Pakistan’s overt and covert support to different terrorist organisations operating from the Afghan soil. Even before coming to India, the Russian President had sent his special envoy, Mr Sergei Yastrzhembsky, with a message to Pakistan’s Chief Executive, General Pervez Musharraf. Russian officials stressed that Mr Yastrzhembsky had conveyed to Islamabad that Moscow was expecting that Pakistan should match his words with deeds. Russia has full information about the extent of Pakistan’s involvement and support to international terrorism, the Russian envoy is believed to have told his interlocutors during his stay in Islamabad. While the content of Mr Putin’s letter for General Musharraf are now known, diplomatic sources said that the Pakistan’s Chief Executive’s face fell upon reading the letter in the presence of the Russian envoy. Mr Yastrzhembsky, who is Mr Putin’s adviser on Chechnya, made very clear to Pakistani rulers that now Islamabad cannot deny its role in aiding and abetting acts of terrorism. While Mr Putin sent a tough message to Islamabad, he is believed to have detailed discussions with the Indian leadership on the issue of international terrorism. Mr Putin told the Indian Parliament, Russia welcomed the concept of forming a collective front to fight the menace with the participation of all interested states. Russia, which also has a strategic partnership with China, is also discussing a joint strategy to counter terrorism with Beijing. Washington is also in touch with Moscow, Beijing and New Delhi on the issue. While on the one hand Russia, India, China and the USA are actively working on getting the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism and the Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism adopted at the UN, the growing cooperation among these four capitals would go a long way in meeting the most serious challenge to international peace and stability. |
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NEW DELHI, Oct 7 (PTI) - India will be bidding for additional multi-role Mirage 2000 jet fighters from France which, coupled with the indigenous production of updated Su-30 MKI, would give the country a strategic and tactical edge in the region, according to Air Chief Marshal A.Y. Tipnis. “The licenced production of the Su-30 MKI would commence very soon after the completion of the initial lot of 50 in Russia and would enable the Air Force to finalise its Vision-2020 long term perspective planning”, the Chief of Air Staff told newsmen in the backdrop of tomorrow’s celebration of Air Force Day. The Air Chief said upgradation of Su-30’s was being done to the IAF’s specifications and that the first lot of such aircraft would roll out by the end of next year. “These upgraded aircraft would have capabilities as no other Sukhoi including those in service with the Chinese air force and would have super manocuverability and thrust vector capability”, he said. Though the
IAF had just signed an agreement for purchase of ten Mirage 2000s, “We are making additional bids for few more, which with Su-30’s would give us interim capability till LCA becomes operational”, he said. India has sought some “specific changes” in the purchase of Hawk advanced jet trainers which were under study by manufacturers British Aerospace. These included specific guarantees to safeguard against sanctions. “We expect the new deal to be through by end of the year”, he said. The Air Chief said the deal to acquire in-flight refuelling aircraft for the Air Force would also be finalised by the end of the year. He said the upgradation programme of the IAF’s mainstay MiG-21 series of aircraft had finally been fine-tuned after suffering from delays. “Two prototypes have been
flight tested in Russia and we hope to start indigenous production of upgraded MiG-21’s by middle of next year”, Mr Tipnis said. On acquisition of the AWACS, the Air Chief said the Air Force had not found the two Russian aircraft brought on lease suitable and was exploring the market elsewhere. Air Chief Marshal Tipnis denied that there was any “clash of ego” with his former Army counterpart saying though there could be disagreements on specific issues, “it does not come in the way of the three forces working together”. |
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Tigress’ killing:
probe ordered HYDERABAD, Oct 7 (UNI) — The Andhra Pradesh government has ordered a crime branch-cid inquiry into the gruesome killing of a 13-month-old tigress in the Nehru Zoological Park, on the outskirts of the city last night. Chief Minister n. chandrababu Naidu, who held a meeting of the Forest and Zoo officials at the secretariat here in the wake of the killing in the Safari park area in the zoo, yesterday directed that departmental inquiry should be initiated and stringent action taken against those involved in the incident. Meanwhile, four watch and ward staff were placed under suspension, pending the inquiry. The miscreants scaled the walls of the safari park, broke open one of the five cages, chopped off the head of the tigress and escaped with its skin and nails which have big commercial value and aphrodisiac the market. |
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VISAKHAPATNAM, Oct 7 (UNI) — Union Minister of State for Home Vidya Sagar Rao yesterday said India was “very keen” on taking Israeli assistance to combat cross-border terrorism. Replying to queries at a press conference here, he said during the recent visit of Home Minister L.K. Advani, Israel had expressed its readiness to extend assistance on security related aspects. Referring to the hostage crisis involving Kannada film star Rajkumar, he said “we are always ready to help the two states.” Denying reports that the intelligence wings of the states and the Centre were not coordinating, particularly in exchanging information on the ISI and other terrorist outfits, he said the Centre had been sharing information with the states on a regular basis. Besides sharing a part of the security expenditure of the states, the Centre had increased the annual budget for modernising the police force to Rs 1000 crore. The budget would be reviewed every three years and the allocation arrangement would continue for a decade, Mr Rao added. Now it was for the state governments to come out with concrete schemes and seek funds for the purchase of modern weapons, vehicles, communication systems and training personnel to meet the requirements, Mr Rao said. While the North-Eastern states and Jammu and Kashmir were given total reimbursement, other Naxal infested states like Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Bihar were getting funds to some extent. The terrorist meance could be tackled if the states came out with comprehensive development schemes. Complimenting Andhra Pradesh police for inducing confidence among the public against the Naxals, he said the mindless violence and ‘boycott calls’ by the Naxalites had not deterred the people from participating in the elections. Neither it had prevented the government from pursuing developmental programmes, he added. Mr Rao also urged Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu to evolve comprehensive schemes to make use of the 1.35 crore farm labourers in the state for watershed development programmes. He said Andhra Pradesh topped other states by implementing 24 per cent of 10,000 watershed programmes in the country. He also called for amending the laws to ensure decentralisation and provide more powers to the panchayats. Sena can topple NDA govt: Thackeray MUMBAI, Oct 7 (PTI) — Shiv Sena, an ally of BJP-led NDA government at the Centre, today warned that it has the power to topple the government and should not be taken for granted. “We also can throw tantrums on the matter of allocation of portfolios and other issues,” Sena supremo Bal Thackeray said while addressing the annual Dussehra rally of Shiv Sainiks at Shivaji Park in central Mumbai. “But we are extending an unstinted support to Atal Behari Vajpayee only because the fall of the NDA government will lead to a civil war instead of mid-term poll,” he said. “Keeping in view the national interest and threat from Pakistan we are supporting the government and continue to do so,” Sena chief said. “But we should not be taken for granted. Like Andhra Pradesh Chief Minsiter and TDP leader N.Chandrababu Naidu, Sena also has the strength to topple the government”, he said. Coming down heavily on new BJP president Bangaru Laxman’s call to partymen to reach out to Muslims, he said “Why only appeasement of Muslims. Do not forget Hindus on whose support we have assumed the power.” Why Muslims are being singled out. The party should also invite Christains, Sikhs and Jains in its fold, Mr Thackeray said, adding if Muslims want to stay in the country, they must adhere to the constitution and laws of the land. Mr Thackeray criticised Congress president Sonia Gandhi for visiting the site of landslide tragedy in the metropolis where Muslims were killed recently. Sena chief vehemently opposed the demand for a separate state of Vidarbha.
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Set example,
RSS chief tells ministers NAGPUR, Oct 7 (PTI) — RSS chief K.C. Sudarshan said today that government functionaries were the “biggest” consumers of petrol and that ministers should initiate measures to cut expenditure between 10 to 25 per cent, “if they are really concerned about the rise in fuel prices”. At the annual gathering of volunteers on the occasion of Vijaya Dashmi here, Mr Sudarshan said government functionaries were the biggest consumers of petrol. Yet, the Government was battling to reduce the losses due to a hike in the fuel prices by oil-producing nations. The RSS chief also disapproved of a cavalcade of vehicles accompanying a minister and asked for a reduction of vehicles in a minister’s convoy which would automatically reduce the expenditure on petrol. The losses incurred by the government has gone up from Rs 12,000 crore to Rs 23,500 crore, he lamented. He stressed the need for opting for an alternative fuel for vehicles. Ethanol made from molasses and sugarcane peels can be an alternative fuel and Brazil has begun its use. Thailand too, was following suit, he said. If we adopt the same technology, India can save up to Rs 5,000 crore in foreign exchange, Mr Sudarshan said and added we would not have to depend on oil imports. He said two such projects, one in Maharashtra and another in UP, were sanctioned but “no one knows” when these will start production. He asked Christians in the country to set up a Swadeshi Church on the lines of the Orthodox Syrian Church and the Marthoma Church of Kerala. He complimented the major section of Christians for being patriotic to the nation and asked them to dissociate themselves from the stranglehold of foreign churches. He made a scathing attack on foreign churches and accused them of hatching a political conspiracy to destabilise the nation. “Why are these foreign churches allowed to carry on their activities on our soil”, Mr Sudarshan asked and said India should follow China which drove away all the foreign churches from its soil to set up its own church. Citing an example, the RSS chief said a move was initiated in 1962 when three priests Rev Fathers William, Rodrigues and Das tried to establish an Indian church. He accused the Baptist Church of playing havoc in Tripura where local Hindus were allegedly driven out and tribals harassed in the name of Christianity. The tribal Hindus were terrorised to stop them from worshipping Hindu deities, women prevented from applying vermilion mark and also from wearing bangles, Mr Sudarshan claimed. Four RSS activists were kidnapped in Tripura at the behest of the church, a Hindu saint Baba Shantikali was killed and a hostel for tribal youths run by the VHP in Anand Bazar was set on fire by Christians, Mr Sudarshan alleged. The church did not stop here, it wanted the entire mountainous Tripura region to be declared as a sovereign nation, he added. “The Sangh is being projected as anti-Christian and anti-Islamic in the world for past two years. The burning of copies of Bible in Rajkot, theft of Bible from a Kerala church, intimidation of an American missionary couple in Allahabad by Bajrang Dal activists and criminal assault on nuns in Orissa and Bihar actually did not take place”, Mr Sudarshan said. None of the Hindu organisations were found guilty in a criminal assault on a nun in Jhabua (MP), killing of Staines and his two sons in Orissa and attack on mission schools in Agra, he claimed. On the contrary, terrorist outfit the Deendar Anjuman was allegedly behind the bomb blasts in Churches in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Goa, Mr Sudarshan said and flayed the “so-called national English press” for criticising the Sangh in their editorials. Talking about the global conference of all religious heads in New York recently, Mr Sudarshan said Vatican had opposed the declaration signed by about 1000 delegates which placed all religions on a par. Cardinal Joseph Ratjinger of Vatican, who read out the 36 page response of Roman Catholic head Pope, had said “by placing all the religions on a par, we are crossing the limits of tolerence”, Mr Sudarshan added. |
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NAGPUR, Oct 7 (PTI) — The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) today asked Christians in the country to set up a Swadeshi Church on the lines of the Orthodox Syrian Church and the Marthoma Church of Kerala. Addressing the annual Vijayadashmi gathering of volunteers at Reshimbagh here, RSS chief K.S. Sudarshan complimented the major section of Christians for being patriotic to the nation and asked them to dissociate themselves from the stranglehold of foreign churches. He made a scathing attack on foreign churches and accused them of hatching a political conspiracy to destabilise the nation. “Why are these foreign churches allowed to carry on their activities on our soil”, Mr Sudarshan asked and said India should follow China which drove away all the foreign churches from its soil to set up its own church. Citing an example, the RSS chief said a move was initiated in 1962 when three priests Rev Fathers William, Rodrigues and Das tried to establish an Indian church. He accused the Baptist Church of playing havoc in Tripura where local Hindus were allegedly driven out and tribals harassed in the name of Christianity. The tribal Hindus were terrorised to stop them from worshipping Hindu deities, women prevented from applying vermilion mark and also from wearing bangles, Mr Sudarshan claimed. Four RSS activists were kidnapped in Tripura at the behest of the church, a Hindu saint Baba Shantikali was killed and a hostel for tribal youths run by the VHP in Anand Bazar was set on fire by Christians, Mr Sudarshan alleged. The church did not stop here, it wanted the entire mountainous Tripura region to be declared as a sovereign nation, he added. “The Sangh is being projected as anti-Christian and anti-Islamic in the world for past two years. The burning of copies of Bible in Rajkot, theft of Bible from a Kerala church, intimidation of an American missionary couple in Allahabad by Bajrang Dal activists and criminal assault on nuns in Orissa and Bihar actually did not take place”, Mr Sudarshan said. None of the Hindu organisations were found guilty in a criminal assault on a nun in Jhabua (MP), killing of Staines and his two sons in Orissa and attack on mission schools in Agra, he claimed. On the contrary, terrorist outfit the Deendar Anjuman was allegedly behind the bomb blasts in Churches in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Goa, Mr Sudarshan said and flayed the “so-called national English press” for criticising the Sangh in their editorials. Talking about the global conference of all religious heads in New York recently, Mr Sudarshan said Vatican had opposed the declaration signed by about 1000 delegates which placed all religions on a par. Cardinal Joseph Ratjinger of Vatican, who read out the 36 page response of Roman Catholic head Pope, had said “by placing all the religions on a par, we are crossing the limits of tolerence”, Mr Sudarshan added. |
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Flood situation
improves CALCUTTA, Oct 7 (UNI) — Barring North 24 Parganas district, flood waters eased off in West Bengal improved today even as the death toll crossed the 1200 mark. However, more than 21 million persons in 171 blocks and 69 municipalities under nine districts were the badly affected by the floods, Finance Minister Asim Dasgupta said. He confirmed 1790 deaths and said 103 persons were missing. Murshidabad accounted for the highest death of 618 and 49 missing, followed by Birbhum with 228 deaths and 10 missing, Nadia 130 deaths and 44 missing, Burdwan 72 deaths, Hooghly 27 deaths, Midnapore 13, North 24 Parganas six and Howrah three. Dr Dasgupta said the total damage, which was initially estimated at Rs 3089 crore, had now crossed Rs 4000 crore and the government would increase its demand from the national centre for calamity management (NCCM) to over Rs 1000 crore from Rs 962 crore. |
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Will puja cheer flood-hit Bengal? CALCUTTA, Oct 7 — The five-day puja festival in Bengal, coming to an end tomorrow, has not been any meaningful and cheerful to some 10 million people in the flood-ravaged districts. They are still homeless and helpless and they mostly depend on the meagure mercy of the government. Of the five flood afflicted districts (incidentally, these were the troubled districts only recently following political clashes between CPM and the Trinamool Congress which Ms Mamta Banerjee wanted be declared as “disturbed areas” by the Centre), only in the towns in Midnapore, Burdwan and Birbhum, some seven community pujas could be arranged against 96 in last year. In many areas, pandals were erected and images of Durga booked but at the last moment, the puja committees decided to step out from organising the pujas. Instead, they set up gruel kitchens jointly with The Ramakrishna Mission in arranging food for the starved flood victims. In Calcutta and other places, the pujas were observed with usual gaiety and festivity with the illumination light and colour and the city drew some 20 to 25 million people every day on an average from other areas. Quite a large people from other states and even abroad have come over to Calcutta to be present at the Bengal’s most colourful annual religious festival and the rains could not dampen their puja spirit. On the Mahasaptami day, however, they could go out in large number to the city’s numerous puja pandals as the weather looked shining, bright and cheerful. This year, over 5000 community pujas were held in and around the city. Mr Jyoti Basu is out of the city. He does not have any faith in God. But his wife, Kamal Basu has. She is left in the city to be the part of the Bengali’s religious festival. But the Marxist Basu preferred staying out in the sea-resort at Raichok in south 24-parganas, allowing the Deputy Chief Minister, Buddhadev Bhattacharyya and the Finance Minister, Asim Dasgupta to handle the relief operations of the millions of flood-victims. For Railway Minister, Ms Mamata Banerjee and other Trinamool Congress leaders including Ajit Kumar Panja, Union Minister of State for External Affairs, the pujas had not been of much enjoying till last evening over their resignation from the Vajpayee government. Both Ms Banerjee and Mr Panja tendered their resignations against the recent price hike of petrol, diesel, kerosene and LPG which they opposed. But as the issue was settled at Mr Vajpayee’s intervention, like many of her followers, Ms Banerjee will now be a part of the festivity today and tomorrow. Ms Banerjee herself said she had a plan to visit at least 20 puja pandals in south Calcutta and be part of the festival with others. Mr Panja already left for Puri yesterday night to spend few days in the sea resort. He, however, did visit almost all the puja pandals in his constituency in North more for nursing his voters even during the crisis period, ignoring what was going to happen about their resignation. Former Bengal Chief Minister and Punjab Governor, Siddhartha Shankar Ray is now in the city from Delhi to be present in Bengal’s most significant religious festival. Accompanied by his wife, Maya, he visited many puja pandals during last three days, ignoring rains. As to him, the pujas have special meaning, special significance. Finance Minister, Asim Dasgupta alleged that till today, they had not received any fund from the Centre for the flood victims, though they had sent a demand for immediately sanctioning Rs 961 crore. The state government with its limited resources, however, have been doing whatever best possible for them for rescue and relief work of the flood victims. Central study team visited the flood-hit districts and the Union Agriculture Minister, Mr Nitish Kumar also met Mr Jyoti Basu in Calcutta after his aerial survey in the affected districts and made categorical assurances of adequate central assistance for the flood victims. But still nothing evolved so far, Mr Dasgupta alleged. |
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Rajkumar wife’s
appeal to bandit BANGALORE, Oct 7 (PTI) — Mrs Parvathamma, wife of Kannada filmstar Rajkumar, today pleaded with forest brigand Veerappan to release the actor and two other hostages held captive by him. In a message broadcast over AIR today, she said many days had elapsed since her husband was kidnapped. “I came home after being in hospital. You have still not released him (Rajkumar). You can imagine how pained I am (that Rajkumar is still in captivity),” Mrs Parvathamma said in the message, which was broadcast four times. She was in hospital for over a week last month after complaining of chest pain. Addressing Rajkumar, she said the family could only pray for his release. “I am sure we will be reunited very soon by the grace of Goddess Chamundeshwari,” she said. Rajkumar’s daughter, Poornima, in her message over AIR to the actor, expressed confidence about his release. “I am not requesting anybody to release you. I am confident that you will come back on your own. You don’t need anybody’s mercy. You yourself are a
god. Nobody can do any harm to you,” she said. |
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