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| Thursday, October 19, 2000, Chandigarh, India   
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HC admits Buta’s plea George for
scrutiny of defence deals Will IAF take blame for crashes? Is govt under RSS
influence, PM asked ‘Probe’ fertiliser project deal |
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SC raps Karnataka
in Veerappan case Cyclone may
cross AP coast
today Randeep
Surjewala held in Lucknow Himachal woman
to get award No private aid
for police: SC Cong leaders seek
action against Brar Amar Jyoti for Jallianwala Bagh Kamala Advani opens
ITBP’s exhibition ASI, UNESCO to hold workshop
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HC admits Buta’s plea NEW DELHI, Oct 18 — The Delhi High Court today admitted for hearing the appeal filed by the former Union Minister, Buta Singh, against the sentence in the JMM MPs pay-offs case and issued show-cause notice to the CBI. A former Prime Minister, P.V. Narasimha Rao, also sentenced to three years’ rigorous imprisonment and fine in the case, would move the high court next week. Mr Justice R.S. Sodhi will hear the matter on November 7, a day before the interim bail granted by the Special Judge, Mr Ajit Bharihoke, expires. The trial court had suspended the operations of the sentence till November 8, allowing the two convicts to appeal in higher courts. The trial court had sentenced Rao and Buta Singh to three years’ rigorous imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 2 lakh each and on failing to pay the amount, to undergo further imprisonment of six months Mr Justice Sodhi, admitting the appeal, said the court “will not suspend” the fine imposed on the convicts. The court made this observation after CBI counsel A K Dutt said the trial court, while granting bail to the convict, had power only to suspend the sentence of imprisonment under Section 398 of the CrPC but not the fine. The CBI counsel contended that the agency would like to argue on this point before the appeal was admitted. However, counsel for Mr Buta Singh told the court that his client was ready to deposit the fine amount in the trial court when granted bail and would have no objection to that even now. Buta Singh, challenging his conviction, claimed that the trial court had “erred” in holding him guilty of bribing four JMM MPs and “failed” to consider that the “prosecution had not been able to bring any incriminating evidence” against him. Rao’s counsel Lovkesh Sawhney said the appeal by the former Prime Minister might be filed next week after senior advocate R.K. Anand, who fought his case in the trial court, returns from abroad. Buta Singh, in his petition, further said, “there was neither any direct nor circumstantial evidence to draw the inference of criminal conspiracy” against him. He said his conviction was entirely based on the “uncorroborated testimony” of approver Shailendra Mahato, one of the four JMM leaders. The trial court failed to appreciate that the approver himself was “unworthy of any reliance” because he had innumerable times told “lies” on this issue, Buta Singh in his petition alleged. The approver’s testimony was required to pass two tests — that he (the approver) was creditworthy and his statement was corroborated with material evidence with reference to the specific allegation against the accused, it said. |
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George
for scrutiny of defence deals NEW DELHI, Oct 18 — Defence Minister George
Fernandes today warned about the deteriorating security environment in
India’s immediate and extended neighbourhood and called upon the
Defence Forces for continuous efforts to monitor and analyse
developments in the region in a detailed and focussed manner. Addressing the annual combined Commanders’ conference here the Defence Minister said the Group of Ministers was expeditiously considering the recommendations of the task forces that had been set up after the Kargil conflict to look into areas of intelligence apparatus, internal security, border management and defence management. The minister said cross-border terrorism was growing rapidly, both in magnitude and sophistication. He stressed on the geo-strategic importance of the Central Asian republics and countries in the sub-Saharan African region, particularly the Indian Ocean rim states, and the ASEAN countries which lay in India’s extended neighbourhood which were important to New Delhi’s security interests. The Defence Minister said the expeditious modernisation of the armed forces and the acquisition of state-of-the-art weaponry was a high priority for the government in the light of the Subramaniam Committee report on Kargil. He called for mandatory and time bound scrutiny of all major defence deals, past and proposed, to ensure utmost transparency. Such a system would put to rest numerous allegations of irregularities in different defence deals, he added. Mr
Fernandes pointed out to agreements that had been concluded for the transfer of technology for the indigenous production of T-90 tanks and Sukhoi 30 MKI fighter planes, acquisition of 10 Mirage-2000 planes and the aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov. He said the acquisition of the Advance Jet Trainer (AJT) Hawk was underway and the government had approved the construction of an indigenous air defence ship. The Defence Minister asked the Commanders to ensure that defence expenditure was cost effective and delays were avoided. Measures had been taken in the last two years to streamline procurement procedures and arrive at quick decisions. Mr Fernandes said the world was now poised for another revolution in military affairs with information technology and advanced military systems set to transform the very nature of war. He said in this context there was now a growing recognition of the role that India can play in ensuring regional and global peace and security in the emerging polycentric world. A militarily strong India backed by a vibrant economy was the need of the hour. The Defence Minister congratulated the armed forces for the victory in Kargil and the professionalism shown by the Indian UN peacekeeping force in Sierra Leone. He noted that India had emerged from the Kargil conflict as clear victor both in military and diplomatic terms and it now had a new standing among the world and the major powers were now ready to open new vistas of cooperation with New Delhi. Mr Fernandes exhorted the Commanders to evolve ways and means of overcoming the various problems that confront the armed forces and national security. |
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Will IAF take blame for crashes? NEW DELHI, Oct 18 — At a briefing in the Air Headquarters here recently, the Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal A.Y. Tipnis, asserted that there was no problem with the MiG fighter aircraft and that they would continue to serve the Indian Air Force (IAF) at least till the end of this decade. The rate at which these Russian-built aircraft have been falling from the Indian skies, how many would be left with the IAF at the end of the decade, ask defence experts. It would also be pertinent now to dwell upon how many pilots would be ready to take to the skies in these aircraft by the end of the decade? The crash rate of the MiGs this year is already eleven. In the past six months, the IAF has lost eight MiG-21s, six helicopters and four other aircraft, an unenviable record for any air force. The crash of Monday, which involved two MiG-21 fighters in a mid-air collision and claimed the lives of two young pilots and a child and a crash of Mi-17 helicopter in the Eastern sector, focus on the fact that there is something lacking with the pilots flying these aircrafts. Experts say that although the Air Headquarters would not admit that the training of the pilots has been slack, but there is no denying the fact that the more and more fighter aircraft have been diving into the ground due to “pilot error”. Even Air Chief Marshal Tipnis had explained that this was happening as the pilots were suddenly being asked to fly MiGs, which are very high-demand aircraft, after getting training on low-demand ones. He had also admitted that despite the “best training “ being imparted to the pilots, they were somehow not being able to cope with the sudden high demand of flying the MiGs. Not wanting to be identified, a former senior IAF officer said in this context, it would be important to ask that if there was something lacking with the training or with the pilots. Since the IAF asserts that there was nothing missing in the training, then is it that it has lowered the standards for selecting the pilots? The experts wanted to know how would the inquiry started yesterday by the IAF help it bring down the rate of crashes. The findings of this inquiry committee would be kept under wraps and not made public. How far would that be prudent, specially since the concern in the public about the crashes was rising. At this rate very few people would be willing to send their wards to do service with the IAF, they pointed out. According to them, most of the inquiries have pointed to deficiencies in training of the pilots as one of the primary reasons for accidents. The IAF has been compromising on standards. With few youngsters keen on taking up a flying career with the Air Force, the authorities have been forced to choose from the borderline cases, they say. Incidentally, a recent internal study report of the IAF has pointed out that most of the pilots involved in crashes were those with a lower flying aptitude. This again brings us to the point that the IAF has lowered the standards for selecting the pilots. According to analysts, a relatively low aptitude, together with the demands for a high-skill aircraft like the MiG could prove to be very dangerous. The MiGs are being used to impart the stage-III training to the pilots which puts pressure on them after getting the initial training on aircraft like Kiran, which are sub-sonic in nature. Not wanting to be quoted, a senior serving officer said that a lot of things would improve if the AJTs were inducted as early as possible. But apparently, there has still not been any movement on that front, with negotiations stuck on the price without any consideration for those being killed in the crashes. |
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Is govt under RSS
influence, PM asked NEW DELHI, Oct 18 — The Congress today said that Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee should clarify if he agreed with Home Minister L.K. Advani’s remarks about the influence of the RSS on the NDA government. Reacting to Mr Advani’s remarks yesterday where he compared the relevance of the RSS to the Vajpayee regime with Mahatma Gandhi’s to the Nehru government and Jayaprakash Narain’s to Morarji Desai’s Janata Party dispensation, the Congress spokesperson, Mr Anand Sharma, said that the PM should come clean on the issue. “The PM must reply to the nation whether he and his government accept the situation where the country is to be divided between those who accept Mahatma Gandhi as the Father of Nation and those who accept and
revere the moral authority of the RSS,’’ he said. Since the Home Minister’s remarks on RSS influence is on the governance of the country and not merely on the BJP, the country has the right to know if the government’s policies are based on RSS agenda, Mr Sharma maintained. Pointing towards the NDA partners, Mr Sharma said that the silence of the BJP allies in the NDA government on an issue of such critical import was intriguing. Asking them to explain their stand, Mr Sharma wondered if they had foresaken secular principles for the sake of power. “This is the first time that the Father of Nation has been compared to the RSS. It is a confirmation that the Central government accepts RSS supremo K Sudarshan’s provocative exhortation to the Muslims and Christians,’’ Mr Sharma said. “All this shows that the Home Minister subscribes to the views expressed by Mr Golwalkar on democracy and his questioning the patriotism of Muslim and Christian minority in India,’’ he added. Accusing the NDA of doublespeak, he said that while Mr Advani revers the RSS, the President of the BJP, Mr Bangaru Laxman, deliberately underplays the importance of the RSS and its influence in determining BJP policies. Speaking to newsmen yesterday, Mr Advani dwelt on the BJP’s “historical bonds” with the Sangh. “No one in the erstwhile Jan Sangh or the BJP has ever tried to distance from the Sangh. How could we disown an organisation with which we have been associated since our childhood?” the Home Minister asked. |
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‘Probe’ fertiliser project deal NEW DELHI, Oct 18 — The Oman-India Fertiliser Project undertaken by the Oman India Fertiliser Company
(OMIFCO) would result in a collasal loss of Rs 15,000 crore to the country, the Janata Party president, Mr Subramanian Swamy claimed and demanded a CBI probe into the deal. “If the Prime Minister has nothing to hide, he should refer the deal to the CBI for a probe,” he told reporters here today. He said he had written to the Central Vigilance Commissioner, Mr N.
Vittal, to inquire and order a probe. In a press note, he said India and Oman and their nominated companies
(Kribhco) and the Rashtriya Chemicals and Fertilisers Limited (RCF) from the Indian side, and the Oman Oil Company had signed an MoU on July 20, 1994. The Oman Oil Company was to supply natural gas and Kribhco and RCF were obliged to purchase the entire production of urea at a price that would have ensured at least 10 per cent IRR on equity, he said. The project went a midway change as the international urea prices took a dip from 1997 onwards, he said adding that this sustained depression coupled with the downgrading of India’s credit rating and Asian crisis undermined the project, led to imposition of stringent conditions by the arranging banks, which had increased India’s liabilities without commensurate claims on Oman, making the project “complete unviable” and a “drain on India’s resources”, he said. |
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SC raps Karnataka
in Veerappan case
NEW DELHI, Oct 18 (PTI) — Placing the Karnataka Government on the firing line, the Supreme Court today sternly asked it to show by tomorrow the reasons why it ignored all political demands made by forest brigand Veerappan, but agreed only to drop TADA charges against his 51 associates in a bid to free kidnapped kannada film star Rajkumar. “Precisely state on what basis Karnataka Government came to the conclusion that Rajkumar will be released after 51 of his associates are released on bail,” a three-Judge Bench comprising Mr Justice S.P. Mr Bharucha, Mr Justice D.P Mohapatra and Mr Justice Y.K. Sabharwal told the state
government counsel. The court wanted to know why the state government ignored Veerappan’s demand on the Tamil language being made compulsory in Karnataka schools, release of the Cauvery waters and unveiling of a statue of Tamil poet Tiruvalluvar in Bangalore, but agreed to the demand for release of the TADA detenues. However, Mr Salve said it was beyond the scope of judicial review to question in which manner a government acts faced with a situation like this. |
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Cyclone may cross AP coast today HYDERABAD, Oct 18 (PTI) — The Andhra Pradesh Government today put its official machinery on high alert and has taken precautionary measures to meet any eventuality as the cyclonic storm over the Bay of Bengal lay centred at 370 km east off the Nellore coast and is likely to cross the coast by tomorrow. The Army and Navy had been asked to stand-by and three IAF helicopters were being requisitioned for possible evacuation of people from the low-lying areas of South coastal districts, state Chief Secretary P.V. Rao said after a high-level review meeting here today. A team of officials, armed with wireless sets, fanned out in the vulnerable districts for round the clock monitoring and also to ensure smooth coordination in the event of a communications breakdown due to the cyclone. Control rooms had been set up at all coastal district headquarters and cyclone shelters were provided with food, medicine and other essential commodities. As a result of the cyclone, heavy to very heavy rains, accompanied by gales up to a speed of 100 kmph, were likely to lash Nellore, Prakasam, Guntur and Krishna districts. |
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Randeep
Surjewala held in Lucknow CHANDIGARH, Oct 18 —The All-India Youth Congress President, Mr Randeep Singh Surjewala, was among 10,000 volunteers arrested by the Uttar Pradesh police following a demonstration outside Raj Bhavan in Lucknow, today. The volunteers led by Mr Surjewala, and the state President, Mr Swamyprakash Goswamy, were also attacked by the police while they were on their way to submit a memorandum to the Governor, Mr Suraj Bhan, at Raj Bhavan and arrested later, a statement issued by the party spokesman, Mr Subhash Gupta, said. He condemned the attack by the Uttar Pradesh state police during a scheduled demonstration of about 50,000 Congress volunteers at Raj Bhavan. Mr Gupta added that the BJP-led government had used police and force against peaceful demonstrations by the IYC volunteers in the past and this time had been no exception. The press note stated that addressing the gathering at Lucknow during the demonstration, the former Union Minister, Mr Arjun Singh, the AICC General Secretary, Ms N Kidwai, the state President, Mr S Jaiswal, among others highlighted the inefficient administration which had taken a toll on the lifestyles of the common man. Mr Surjewala highlighted the democratic character of the Indian National Congress and its commitment to democratic norms. He added that no government could use force and coercive measure to win over the public to establish progressive credentials. |
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Himachal woman
to get award NEW DELHI, Oct 18 (UNI) — The prestigious Stree Shakti Puraskar for 1999 has gone to five women — one each from Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Kerala and Tamil Nadu — who have triumphed over difficult circumstances and established rights of women in various fields. The awardees are Ms Kinkri Devi of Sirmaur, Himachal Pradesh, Ms Lilatai Pradkar of Indore, Madhya Pradesh, Mr Brahamcharini Kamla Bai of Nagaur district, Rajasthan, Ms K.V. Rabiya of Malappuram district, Kerala and Ms Chinnapillai of Madurai, Tamil Nadu. The awards, instituted in 1999 after five eminent women in Indian history — Devi Ahilya Bai Holkar, Kannaki, Mata Jijabai, Rani Gaidinliu and Rani Lakshmi Bai — carry a cash prize of Rs 1 lakh and a citation each, an official press note said. |
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No private aid
for police: SC NEW DELHI, Oct 18 — A three-judge bench of the Supreme Court has ruled that a statutory investigating agency like the police cannot be directed to obtain financial assistance from private parties for meeting the expenses required for conducting the investigation. The judges gave this ruling while setting aside the Single Judge and Division bench directions of a high court to the police to collect funds for the expenses of investigation from a private company before it in a litigation alleging that it had been cheated of Rs 9 crore by the other company before the court. The Bench comprising Mr Justice K.T. Thomas, Mr Justice R.P. Sethi and Mr Justice S.N. Variva in their unanimous judgement held: “Financial crunch of any state treasury is no justification for allowing a private party to supply funds to the police for conducting such investigation.” |
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Cong leaders seek
action against Brar NEW DELHI, Oct 18 — The paddy crisis has brought factionalism in the Punjab Congress to the fore. Several Congress leaders today sought disciplinary action against Mr Jagmeet Singh Brar for welcoming Centre’s relief package for the farmers of the state. They said the relief package was not Rs 350 crore as he has been made out but only Rs 100 crore. “Instead of sympathising with the farmers and criticising police brutalities, Mr Brar was lauding the government,” they alleged. |
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Amar Jyoti for Jallianwala Bagh NEW DELHI, Oct 18 — Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas, Ram Naik informed Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal here today that the Centre had decided to install a “Amar Jyoti” at Jallianwala Bagh in memory of the martyrs of the freedom struggle. The Amar Jyoti would be similar to the Amar Jawan Jyoti installed at the India
Gate. This was conveyed to Mr Badal when the Chief Minister called on him at Shastri Bhavan this morning to thank him for obtaining the clearances for the Bathinda Refinary project. |
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Kamala Advani opens
ITBP’s exhibition New Delhi, Oct 18 — Mrs Kamala Advani, wife of Union Home Minister L. K. Advani, today inaugurated an exhibition organised by the ITBP’s Himveer Wives Welfare Association here. Mrs Advani showed keen interest in the products displayed in the exhibition and appreciated the activities of the family welfare centres of various ITBP units and training centres. Various handicraft items made in the welfare centres of the units of the force have been displayed in the exhibition. The exhibition will remain open for public up to October 21. |
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ASI, UNESCO to hold workshop NEW DELHI, Oct 18 — The Archaeological Survey of India and UNESCO’s World Heritage Centre will hold a three-day workshop in Hospet, Karnataka to discuss issues related to nine world heritage monuments in India. The workshop is scheduled to begin on October 22. A press note issued by UNESCO here today said that the Minister of State for Tourism and Culture, Mr Anant Kumar, is expected to attend the workshop. Site managers of Hampi, Pattakadat, Ajanta, Ellora, Elephanta, Konark, Mahabalipuram, Thanjavur and the churches and convents of Goa will discuss problems of status and management, maintenance, conservation, tourist infrastructure, landscaping, chemical preservation and heritage awareness campaigns. |
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