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| Wednesday,
October 11, 2000, Chandigarh, India   
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Uma seeks apology from magazine Rao, Buta Singh to be sentenced today PIL filed against
Rao’s conviction 1,000 ADMK workers held Jaya justifies protests |
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EC urges Centre to withdraw plea on code Maharashtra, Centre want Rajan's extradition Flag marches in Biharsharif 3 more emissaries join Gopal Centre extends treaty with Nagas Rail services remain disrupted Dalai Lama gives
talisman for PM
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Uma seeks apology from magazine NEW DELHI, Oct 10 (PTI, UNI) — Firebrand
BJP MP Uma Bharti today marched to the local office of “The Week” demanding apology for an interview published by it quoting her saying that she was once in love with her party colleague
K. N Govindacharya but the weekly stood by the interview. In an unusual protest, the 41-year-old
MP went to the second floor of the weekly’s office in the INS building which houses the offices of several news organisations and said she would sit on dharna till the magazine apologised. Ms Bharti, who denied having ever given such an interview, maintained that it was a “conspiracy’’ but Managing Editor of the publication Philip Mathew said “The Week” stood by the interview and there was no question of apology. After about five hours, during which the entrance to the weekly’s office was blocked by Ms Bharti’s supporters, she called off her protest after talking to a representative of the publication. “The publication of the interview was the saddest day of my life after my mother’s death. But my faith in God and humanity has in no way lessened because of this,
’’ she said. After staging a dharna, Ms Bharti, accompanied by Party Vice President Madan Lal Khurana along with nearly 50 party volunteers, held a press conference just outside the gate of the publication. Talking to newsmen, she said, “It shows that there is some deep rooted conspiracy against me’’. She said , “I can alone fight with any regime, so they have attacked me with the worst weapon any women is worried about’. She, however, admitted that she should have nipped this sort of dirty rumour about 10 years back. In response to a question Ms Bharti said that she could have moved against the publication in the press council but she did not intend to do so as she had many friends in the media. She, however, made it clear that the publication would have to publish an apology for carrying out such a
malicious article against her. On the other hand, “The Week” sources said that they stood by the interview, done in the normal course by the magazine’s Lucknow correspondent with Ms Uma Bharti at Kedarnath. The magazine had offered to publish her version. The sources also said they failed to understand the demand for an ‘apology’ from the magazine. The article, they said, was a faithful version of the interview. The magazine was in touch with Ms Uma Bharti and was happy that the dharna had ended. Meanwhile, the
BJP today sought to play down the controversy over an interview purported to have been given by Uma Bharti to news magazine “The Week” saying it accepts her version that she had not given any such interview. Party Vice-President Jana Krishnamurthy told reporters “the most affected person has denied and said she never gave the interview, the party accepts that”. He was replying to questions on the interview in which Ms Bharti had purportedly said she was in “love” once with party colleague K.N. Govindacharya. Asked whether this had harmed the party, he said “I will say this has harmed the party as such but certainly Ms Uma has basis to say that she has been harmed the most.” However, he declined to answer any questions regarding the interview. “I will not answer any question on the basis of the interview which has been denied,” he said. Rao, Buta Singh to be sentenced today NEW DELHI, Oct 10 (UNI) — Former Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao and his ex-Cabinet colleague Buta Singh will be sentenced tomorrow for offences of corruption in the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) MPs’ bribery case. Mr Rao’s lawyer is bracing up to keep him out of jail. Additional Sessions Judge Ajit Bharihoke will pronounce the
sentence. The former Prime Minister has been found guilty for offences of corruption under the Prevention of Corruption Act (PCA). He can be sent to jail for maximum seven years and minimum six months. “If the sentence is for less than three years, then Rao is entitled for an interim bail. We will also appeal for review in the trial court itself,’’ said senior advocate R.K. Anand. “If it is for more, then he goes to jail and will approach the high court for appeal against the trial court’s order.’’
For Buta Singh, if the sentence is for more than two years, he can be barred from contesting elections for six years under the Representation of the People Act. On September 29, Rao and Buta Singh were convicted for criminal conspiracy and corruption when a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court held them guilty in the JMM MPs’ bribery case and fixed October 11 for deciding the quantum of sentence. The case relates to the bribing of opposition MPs to defeat the July 28, 1993 no-confidence motion against the then Congress government headed by Rao. The verdict was in the light of the fact that about Rs two crore had been deposited in the Nauroji Nagar (south Delhi) branch of Punjab National Bank in the accounts of then four Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) MPs two days after the defeat of the no-confidence motion. The JMM leaders were subsequently discharged. Also, Buta Singh had admitted in the court that he had arranged a meeting between Rao and the then JMM MPs at the official residence of the Prime Minister few days before the
vote. Mr Rao and Buta Singh have been convicted for having committed offences under Section 120B IPC (criminal conspiracy) read with Sections 7, 12, 13(2) and 13(1)(d) of the PCA as well as substantive offences under Section 12. PIL filed against
Rao’s conviction NEW DELHI, Oct 10 (UNI) — A public interest litigation (PIL) plea was filed in the Supreme Court today seeking that Mr Shailendra Mahato’s confessional statement during trial court proceedings should not be made a basis for sentencing former Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao in the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) MPs’ bribery case. The PIL filed by Mrs Komireddi Jyothi Devi, an ex-MLA belonging to Rao’s native district in Andhra Pradesh, said Mr Mahato could not have been made an official approver and hence the judgement for convicting Rao could not be based on his testimony. Mr Mahato’s statement that money was deposited in all accounts of the JMM MPs at Punjab National Bank and former Union Minister Buta Singh’s confession that he took all four MPs to the residence of Rao was the main ground for convicting Rao and Buta Singh. The PIL said Mr Mahato’s evidence against Mr Rao as a prosecution witness holds no credence. So the conviction in a judgement which bases its conclusion on his evidence becomes baseless and illegal. |
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1,000 ADMK workers held CHENNAI, Oct 10 (PTI) — About 1000 aiadmk activists were taken into custody from various parts of Tamil Nadu today even as a report of suspected aiadmk workers setting ablaze a state transport corporation bus at Amaravathi in Kumbakonam last night, protesting the conviction of their leader Jayalalitha in the Tansi cases, was received by the police here. For the second day today, the police took into custody scores of aiadmk activists who tried to block road traffic in various parts of the state protesting the special court judgement. The police said 180 aiadmk workers were taken into custody from two different places in the city when they attempted to squat on the road. A Tirunelveli report said 160 aiadmk activists, including Mr s. karuppasamy, mla, were taken into custody in the district while a similar number were arrested in Coimbatore for trying to block road traffic. At Amaravathi village, miscreants asked the passengers of the bus to get down before setting it ablaze. The bus coming from Manargudi was gutted, the police said, adding that aiadmk Valangaiman block Secretary A Gurumoorthy and four other party activists were arrested in this connection.
EC urges Centre to withdraw plea on code NEW DELHI, Oct 10 — In the wake of Assembly polls in five states early next year, the Chief Election Commissioner Dr M.S. Gill, has urged Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee that the Government withdraw its petition pending before the Supreme Court against the EC on the implementation of the model code of conduct. In a letter to Mr Vajpayee in the last week of September, Dr Gill said that an all-party meeting called by the Commission on this contentious issue earlier last month had yielded the unanimous agreement that the code of conduct should be implemented from the date of announcement of polls, as espoused by the EC. The Government in its petition pending before the Apex Court since 1997 has contended that the code, which restricts announcement of populist schemes and use of official machinery for election campaign, be enforced from the notification of the polls and not from the date of announcement of polls. Referring to the September 16 all- party meeting on the issue, Dr Gill pointed out that the Congress party and a number of other major national and regional parties were happy with 30 days gap between announcement and notification of elections, others like the BJP had said that the EC should try to reduce the gap to about 15 days. Stressing that the gap had never exceeded a month, Dr Gill said “as you will see, on this short point, the difference between the two positions, is not a substantial and essential one. The Commission has always been sensitive to the opinions of recognised political parties, particularly the national ones, and will keep the views expressed in this meeting in mind, at the time of deciding future elections.” “I would, therefore, suggest for your consideration that since for the first time in 50 years, we have a clear publicly known position, of the Government of India and the Election Commission, resolving issues by discussion and broad agreement, you may like to suggest to the Law Minister, the advisability of withdrawing this appeal against the Punjab High Court judgement filed by the Government of India before the Supreme Court in October 1997.” The Centre had in 1997 appealed to the Supreme Court against a Punjab and Haryana High Court judgement, which upheld the EC’s view that the model code of conduct should be implemented from the date of announcement of the poll schedule. PTI adds: While the Apex Court had given the necessary directions and “closed the matter” on the Commission’s supervision and control over staff during elections, the petitions filed by few state governments against the photo identity card and its use had also been dismissed by the Supreme Court, he said. |
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Maharashtra, Centre want Rajan's extradition NEW DELHI, Oct 10 —The Centre today asserted that it was as keen as the
Maharashtra Government for the extradition to India of underworld don Chhota Rajan from Thailand, where he was seriously wounded in a shootout on September 15. "The
Governments of India and Maharastra are very keen about the extradition of Chhota Rajan,” a Home Ministry spokesman told newsmen here. While maintaining that there was “perfect coordination” between the Ministries of Home Affairs and External Affairs, and the Maharastra Government, he said, “The papers pertaining to the extradition of Chhota Rajan has been received directly by the Ministry of External Affairs yesterday from the Maharastra Government.” Rejecting the Thailand authorities' claim that they were still awaiting an official response from the Indian Interpol, the spokesman said as soon as the information was received that Chhota Rajan was present in Bangkok and had been involved in a shootout, the CBI sent a message on September 18 to the Thai Police, bringing to its notice the fact that an International Red Corner Notice stood issued against the gangster in 1995. “The thumb impression (identification mark) in the Red Corner Notice has matched with that of Chhota Rajan,” he said, adding that already a Maharastra Police team was in Bangkok to interrogate Chhota Rajan and also the three persons who allegedly attacked Rajan. According to sources, the CBI had on September 29 written to the Maharashtra Government requesting that necessary extradition papers may be sent. The extradition papers have, however, been received by the Ministry of External Affairs only yesterday. |
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Flag marches in Biharsharif BIHARSHARIF (Bihar), Oct 10 (PTI) —Tension continued to prevail in the curfew-bound town, with incidents of arson and looting reported from several places overnight, even as the Army and the central paramilitary forces (CPMF) staged flag marches today to control the situation, official sources said. Stage Home Secretary U.N. Panjiar told PTI that armed desperadoes targeted public and private property in defiance of the curfew regulations. He said offices of the District Rural Development Authority and the Sales Tax Department, besides six shops belonging to members of a particular community, were set ablaze by rioters last night in Ramchandrapur locality of the town. However, no fresh incident of violence was reported early today, as three columns of the Army, eight companies of the CPMF and 10 companies of the Bihar Military Police patrolled the streets of the town, which is the headquarters of Nalanda district. A woman was killed and three persons were injured in police firing yesterday as rampaging hordes belonging to a particular community took to the streets, indulging in arson and violence. Trouble began on October 8 after thousands of kar sevaks started the construction of a temple at a disputed site after having installed there on October 4 an idol of Goddess Durga, which was removed yesterday. Enraged by the removal of the idol and the partial demolition of the construction, residents started vandalising public and private property, leading to the imposition of a curfew yesterday. Chief Minister Rabri Devi said in Patna that the situation in Biharsharif was under control and curfew had been clamped as a precautionary measure. She told PTI that five senior IAS and four IPS officers had been stationed in the town to assist in maintaining law and order. She said the culprits had been identified and would not be spared. Meanwhile, the state’s Director-General of Police, Mr K.A. Jacob, who is camping here, said nearly 50 persons had so far been arrested for fomenting trouble. Senior Samata Party leader and Union Agriculture Minister Nitish Kumar, while urging the people to exercise restraint, demanded a high-level probe into the alleged administrative failure that led to communal tension. Meanwhile, the controversial independent MP from Purnea, Rajesh Ranjan, alias Pappu Yadav, was detained and later released by the police in the curfew-bound town today, official sources said. Yadav, along with his associates, was briefly detained by the police while on a visit here to take stock of the situation. The sources said Yadav was released after Mr U.N. Panjiar and Mr K.A. Jacob intervened. Yadav and his aides left the town under a police escort. |
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3 more emissaries join Gopal CHENNAI, Oct 10 (UNI) — The 73-day-old hostage crisis involving Kannada filmstar Rajkumar took a turn with three more emissaries, including Tamil Nationalist Movement (TNM) leader P. Nedumaran, leaving for the forest this morning along with ‘Nakeeran’ Editor R.R. Gopal to negotiate with Veerappan. Other members of the reinforced team of emissaries are rights activist Prof P. Kalyani of Villupuram, and Pondicherry PUCL Secretary Puduvai G. Sugumaran top police sources said here today. Even as Mr Gopal, the official emissary, was all set to enter the woods on his fifth mission, a decision to despatch additional emissaries was taken at a high-level meeting attended by officials of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka here last night. Speculations of Mr Nedumaran and Mr Sugumaran joining the mission to rescue the hostages were rife ever since the TNM leader, having a close rapport with the two Tamil extremist outfits — the Tamil National Liberation Army (TNLA) and the Tamil National Retrieval Force (TNRF) received and audio cassette from the brigand. The time of departure of the team synchronises with the hearing of the cases related to the release of TADA detenus and Tamil extremists lodged in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu prisons, respectively, coming up before the supreme Court tomorrow. The release of 121 TADA detenus, languishing in Karnataka jails, and the five Tamil extremists, languishing in Karnataka jails, and the five Tamil extremists in Tamil Nadu prisons, is being demanded by Veerappan in bargain to set free the hostages. |
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Centre extends treaty with Nagas CALCUTTA, Oct 10 — The Centre has agreed to extend the non-aggression treaty with the Nagas for another six months to bring peace in the militancy-infested north-eastern (NE) states, particularly, Nagaland, Manipur and Assam, defence sources at Calcutta Fort Williams, Army headquarter of North-Eastern region, disclosed. This will be effective from October 16. The Home Ministry has been making attempt to bring the Naga militant outfit, the National Council of Nagaland (NSCN), to the negotiating table for the past two years. But so far, there has been no positive response from the militants. Still the Centre does not want to give up the effort and accordingly, decided to extend the treaty for another six months, Home Ministry sources said. The problems of the insurgency and the involvement of the ISI in the region had been discussed recently at the Home Ministry’s Parliamentary Consultative Committee. At a meeting of the Chief Ministers of seven NE states in Delhi last month, the issue was also raised and the meeting also endorsed the government’s decision to continue the peace-making attempt. The NSCN, which had been the strongest militant group in the region for the past one decade, was divided in 1993 after strong differences between two divergent units — one headed by the Khaplang and another by Muiva — the uncrowned leader of the NSCN till early ‘90s. It has been officially stated that the NSCN has a direct link with the ISI and other militant groups in the region — United Liberation Front of Assam ( ULFA), Boro Terrorist Gang (NDFB), Tribal Liberation Front of Tripura ( TLFT) and the newly formed Kamtapuri Liberation Front (KLF). These outfits have been involved in kidnapping, demanding ransoms and often merciless killing of innocent people and the army personnel in the region which have been a matter of grave concern for the state governments and the Centre. At one stage, the government went for the policy of “gun for gun” but peace in the region was disturbed further because of the innocent killings and the action was soon abandoned. The Centre then suggested that attempts should be made to bring these militant groups to a negotiating table and the activists be brought back to the mainstream. The Assam Chief Minister, Mr Prafulla Kumar Mohanta, and the former Lok Sabha Speaker, Mr P.A. Sangma, took the initiative in the peace-making effort, but their attempts fell through. And since then the Army was empowered to handle the peace-making effort jointly with the state governments and the efforts are still on without having any positive results so far. Mr L.K. Advani will soon meet the CMs of the NE states once again with a package of peace-deal to permanently solve the militancy problem, according to the Home Department sources. |
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Rail services
remain disrupted NEW DELHI, Oct 10 (PTI) — Rail traffic on the Haridwar-Laksar section remained disrupted for the fifth day today following an agitation by farmers who held up trains movement at various stations, a Northern Railways press note said here today. The agitating farmers had targeted stations in Punjab, severely disrupting Railway traffic, it said. Trains were being diverted via Jakhal, Dhuri and Bathinda sections or via Bhiwani, Hisar and Bathinda, the press note said adding that “since the situation is volatile, the current position of diverted and short terminated trains is liable to change in the last minute’’. Traffic to the Gurunanak Thermal Power house as well as movement of essential supplies to Punjab has been affected due to the agitation. |
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Jaya justifies protests CHENNAI, Oct 10 (PTI) — AIADMK General Secretary Jayalalitha today justified the widespread protests by her partymen against yesterday’s special court’s verdict convicting her and five others in the Tansi land case and condemned their arrest. “I strongly condemn the Karunanidhi government for large-scale arrests of the
AIADMK cadres after the special court judgement was delivered”, Jayalalitha said. Demanding the release of her partymen, she pointed out that no action had allegedly been taken when DMK partymen damaged buses at Madurai recently. She alleged that Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi was giving “wrong figures” about the number of
AIADMK cadres taken into custody. Several buses were damaged in various parts of the state and party volunteers held picketing agitations as soon as the special court pronounced its judgement convicting Jayalalitha, her close friend Sasikala and others in the case. |
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Dalai Lama gives
talisman for PM NEW DELHI, Oct 10 — The Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, has given a talisman for Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee’s quick recovery and long life. The Dalai Lama, who was on his way to Europe, stopped over at the Capital and passed on the talisman — a white scarf — to Bharatiya Janata Party leader, Prof Manohar Lal
Sondhi. The Tibetan leader, during his interaction with Prof Sondhi, wished the Prime Minister a long life and speedy recovery. |
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