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| Tuesday, November 7, 2000, Chandigarh, India   
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Bhattacharya sworn in BJP
meeting on Uttaranchal CM Clashes, lathi charge mark bandh 11 killed in
clashes |
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Third front: Basu asked to take charge Marandi vows to make Jharkhand model state Law panel for curbs on police powers BJP legislator
shot dead Customer care Paswan's priority Sikhs
hopeful of justice in riots case Commissioner’s
removal sought 2 infants die after
getting polio drops? School
teachers to visit Japan
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Bhattacharya sworn in CALCUTTA, Nov 6 — Mr Buddhadev Bhattacharya was sworn in today as Chief Minister of West Bengal at a colourful function at the banquet hall of Raj Bhavan. The Governor, Mr Viren Shah, administered the oath of office. Mr Bhattacharya (56), a CPM whole-timer, will be the seventh Chief Minister of the state since Independence and the second Marxist Chief Minister after Mr Jyoti Basu, who served for 24 years. He is also the youngest Chief Minister of the state after Mr Siddhartha Shankar Ray, who became the Chief Minister of West Bengal in 1972 at the age of 52. A CPM MLA from Jadavpore constituency in South Calcutta, Mr Bhattacharya was the state’s Home Minister and Minister for Information and Culture in the Basu cabinet. For the past one year, he was Deputy Chief Minister to the ailing Chief Minister. After he was sworn in, Mr Bhattacharya took the blessings of Mr Basu. He said he would take Mr Basu’s advice from time to time in completing the unfinished task of the government and seek the help and co-operations of all. He hoped would get due cooperation from the Centre. Mr Basu was present at the swearing-in ceremony as a special guest along with a host of other prominent dignitaries, including some from Bengal’s cultural and literary world, where Mr Bhattacharya himself also belongs as a writer. Mr Basu looked much relaxed and sat in a specially arranged seat by the side of the Governor. But the Trinamool Congress and the state BJP boycotted the function as a mark of protest against Mr Bhattacharya’s failure as Home Minister to protect the innocent people at Keshpur and Pingla of Midnapore district from the onslaught of the CPM. Violence broke out again in the areas on Saturday in which three Trinamool Congress supporters were killed and seven others kidnapped. Afterwards at a separate function at Netaji indoor stadium, the out-going Chief Minister was accorded a warm send-off by his cabinet colleagues. Earlier, Mr Basu was driven from his official residence at Salt Lake to Raj Bhavan by his close associate, the Transport Minister, Mr Subhas Chakraborty, through a long 12-km route decorated with colour and festoons, hundreds of followers lined up on both sides of his motorcade. |
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BJP
meeting on Uttaranchal CM NEW DELHI, Nov 6 — Union Home
Minister and BJP’s number two leader L. K. Advani today held
consultations with senior BJP leaders Kedar Singh Fonia and Swami
Nityanand to arrive at a decision on the selection of the Chief
Minister of Uttaranchal, which would awake to statehood on November 9. Former minister Fonia and sitting MLC Nityanand met Advani this afternoon and discussed the formation of the government in the state. The two BJP leaders, however, declined to disclose what transpired in their meeting with Mr Advani. Mr Nityanand merely told the waiting newsmen that a party meeting at Dehra Dun on November 8 would decide everything, including the Chief Minister. Asked whom they would prefer as Chief Minister, a sitting MLA or somebody else, Mr Nityanand said, “Whatever decision the party takes would be acceptable to all of us.” In his bid to reach a consensus, Mr Advani is likely to meet other senior leaders from the Uttaranchal region, including Mr B. C. Khandoori, MP, and Mr Ramesh Pokhariyal Nishank, a legislator, to ascertain their views on the government formation. The BJP’s central leadership is caught in a self-created web on the chief ministership issue by setting the benchmark that only an elected representative can aspire to be the Chief Minister of Uttaranchal. The three legislators eyeing the Chief Minister’s chair are Mr Nishank, Mr Fonia and Mr Bhagat Singh Koshyari. Mr Nishank is an erstwhile protege of former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Kalyan Singh, who after being expelled by the BJP has charted his own course. Mr Nishank also faces certain charges of corruption. Mr Fonia is a Scheduled Caste leader and has served as the Minister of Tourism. |
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Clashes, lathi charge mark bandh SRIGANGANAGAR, Nov 6 — As many as three persons suffered serious head injuries and four others on other parts of the body as a result of clashes and a lathi charge resorted to by the police during the nearly complete bandh organised by activists of the Kisan Sangharsh Samiti and political parties in this and neighbouring Hanumangarh district to press the authorities concerned to release adequate water in the Bikaner canal after its full repair. A number of trains on the Bathinda-Sriganganagar section could not reach their respective destinations while long queues were seen at different points on National Highway 15 as hundreds of activists of the samiti and political parties, including the ruling Congress, organised a bandh in different parts of these two districts. The police resorted to a lathi cahrge on the agitators at Purani Dhan Mandi and Sukhadia Circle. More than 12 agitators were taken into preventive custody. Three agitators were booked for causing hurt to a shopkeeper. All business establishments except hospitals, chemist shops, petrol stations and banks remained closed while there was very thin presence in government offices. The agitators did not allow vehicles of Rajasthan Roadways, Punjab Roadways , Pepsu Roadways and Haryana Roadways to ply in these two districts. Even the private buses remained stationary. The bandh was supported by the BJP, Leftish parties, labour organisations, commercial organisations, social organisations and members of the Bar Association. The bandh was organised in protest against the indifferent attitude of the authorities
concerned regarding making arrangements for water in the Bikaner canal, known as the lifeline of Rajasthan. For the past many years due to less water in the Bikaner canal, which originates in Punjab, farmers of Rajasthan had been facing acute shortage of water for irrigating their fields. Agricultural land had been turning barren in the absence of adequate quantity of water for irrigation, the agitators alleged. The bandh was so successful that even tea stalls and cigarette selling kiosks remained closed in the city. Even three-sheelers did not ply on city roads. The agitators alleged the Rajasthan Government was not releasing adequate funds for carrying out repair work on the Bikaner canal. Activists of the samiti and political parties, who formed groups, also succeeded in organising complete bandhs in other towns of these two districts. 11 killed in
clashes MUBARAKPUR (Azamgarh), Nov 6 (PTI) — Sectarian clashes claimed 11 lives and rendered 32 others injured here last night following which an indefinite curfew was clamped on the town, and the police and the Rapid Action Force (RAF) deployed to restore peace, officials said today. They said the situation was tense but under control as the police, Provincial Armed Constabulary and the RAF carried out intense patrolling. The frenzied mobs of Shias and Sunnis which went on the rampage also destroyed the telephone exchange here, cutting off the town from the rest of the state. Police pickets had been set up under the supervision of district police officials who were keeping a strict vigil on the situation, the sources said. Violence erupted last night after Shia and Sunni groups used fire arms and hurled crude bombs against each other. The affected areas included Pura Rani Bakhri, Badi Ajanti and Mubarakpur crossing. Meanwhile, Additional Director-General of Police Gyaneshwar Jha said in Lucknow that the clashes were a fallout of sectarian trouble dating back to January when a clash between the Muslim sects had left three dead. LUCKNOW (UNI): The Uttar Pradesh Government on Monday announced compensation of Rs 1 lakh each to the families of those killed in secterian clashes in
Mubarakpur. |
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Third front: Basu asked to take charge CALCUTTA, Nov 6 — The president of the Punjab Lok Bhalai Party and a former union minister, Mr B.S. Ramoowalia, met Mr Jyoti Basu yesterday at the Chief Minister’s residence at Salt Lake and volunteered his services for the formation of a third front under his leadership. Talking to The Tribune, Mr Ramoowalia said Mr Basu had welcomed him and told him that he would soon be meeting the former Prime Minister Mr V.P. Singh, Mr I.K. Gujral, Mr Chandra Shekhar and Mr H.D. Deve Gowda, to expedite the formation of an anti-BJP in the interest of the country. Mr V.P. Singh had phoned Mr Basu on Friday and invited ‘him to take over the formation of the anti-BJP front Mr Chandra Shekhar was in Calcutta on Saturday. He did not meet Mr Basu but told mediapersons that he too was keen to talk to Mr Basu in this connection. Mr Ramoowalia said Mr Basu had agreed to visit Punjab soon and meet the leaders of all secular parties in the region and to invite them to join hands against the BJP and other communal forces which were destroying the country. The Marxist leader advised me to work in the interest of the nation and Sikhs, in particular, who had done so much for country’s freedom, Mr Ramoowalia added. |
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Marandi vows to make Jharkhand model state PATNA, Nov 6 — “I belong to a poor and tribal family and now as a Chief Minister should send a good message to the masses that their own rule has been established in the Jharkhand and that should make them shun the path of violence and join the mainstream”, this was stated by Babu Lal Marandi, the would be Chief Minister of Jharkhand, in an exclusive telephonic interview with ‘The Tribune’ on Monday. Speaking about his priority to make Jharkhand as model state, he said he would offer open talks to the MCC and other extremist groups and would urge the masses not to seek their patronage. Admitting that barring three or four districts, rest of Jharkhand is in the grip of the extremist problem, he maintained that the state of Jharkhand “is meant for poor and tribal lot” and he has been chosen to send this message clear and loud. That is why, there is not a single problem that can not be solved through talks. He, however, denied that there would be any resource crunch for the new state. Maintaining that there is no dearth of money in Jharkhand, he, however, maintained that for certain key sectors, he would seek assistance from the Centre. He refused to seek any special package like the rest of Bihar. On being asked about the probable problems from the JMM side, he maintained that he accepted the contribution of the JMM in the struggle for Jharkhand and that is why he wanted the JMM to join the government. He denied any tension between him and Mr Shibu Soren. Commenting on rumours of troubles in the Jharkhand ministry formation and portfolio allocation, Mr Marandi refuted that there was any crisis. “We will solve the problem with talks if and ever the problem arises”, he said. Talking about his priorities, he said he would work to improve the roads, power, water, irrigation and would pay special attention to check the migration of tribals from Jharkhand. For that he said special steps would be taken to provide jobs to them. He finally hinted at a reasonable and balanced Cabinet. Mr Marandi maintained that Jharkhand state would have brotherly elation with rest of Bihar and soon, the BJP would clear the misgivings and ill-will regarding the so called differences between tribals and non-tribals. |
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Law panel for curbs on police powers NEW DELHI, Nov 6 — An amendment to the code of criminal procedure relating to the arrest of criminals to trim the powers of the police have been recommended by the Law Commission. The recommendations were made in an 80-page consultation paper drafted on the observations and guidelines of the Supreme Court in the cases of Joginder Kumar vs state of Uttar Pradesh and D.K. Basu vs West Bengal, the Chairman of the Law Commission, Justice B.P. Jeevan Reddy said. Unveiling the report Justice Reddy said the consultation paper did not deal with arrest under Section 151 of the Criminal Procedure Code. It suggested a ban on arrests under Sections 107 to 110. The paper recommended that provisions relating to bail in the code of criminal procedure required to be liberalised and no arrest or detention should be made merely for the purpose of questioning. Justifying the bigger role of NGOs, Justice Reddy said representatives of registered NGOs should be entitled to visit police stations and a custody record should be maintained at every police station for their inspection. The Chairman of the Law Commission said the major recommendations of the consultation paper was that no person should be arrested for offences which are at present treated as bailable and non-cognizable. The court should instead issue summons to the accused to be served through court procedure and not be through a policeman. He said in respect of offences at present treated as bailable but cognizable, no arrest should be made at the police station or before the magistrate as and when called upon to do so unless there were strong grounds for the same. Further these should be given in writing and communicated to the higher police officials as well as the magistrate concerned. The Chairman said that expression “bailable” should be omitted in respect of these offences and they should be termed simply as cognizable offences. Offences punishable with up to seven years imprisonment which are at present treated as non-bailable and cognizable offences should be treated as bailable cognizable offences. The paper also proposed amendments in Section 124 of Cr PC and others. No change has been recommended in the existing laws where the offences are punishable with more than seven years’ imprisonment. The paper also recommended a need for amendment in Section 172 of the code regarding the manner of maintenance of diaries by the police and district enforcement department. |
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BJP legislator
shot dead SAHARANPUR, Nov 6 — A BJP legislator from Sarsawa constituency, Nirbhai Pal Sharma was shot dead by a group of assailants just a couple of hours after midnight at his residence in the city today. The assailants, according to sources, had allegedly been hired by his political rivals. More than 18 suspected persons armed with weapons entered the MLA’s residence on the Delhi road and first shot at his personal guard and later fired at Nirbhai Pal Sharma killing him on the spot. His security guard survived the attack and has been admitted to a local hospital. He is stated to be out of danger. The Chief Minister of UP, Mr Rajnath Singh, rushed to Saharanpur after receiving the news of Sharma’s death. He met the family of the deceased leader and paid tributes to him. Most of the markets, schools, colleges and other business establishments remained closed in the city today. Investigations and efforts are on to nab the culprits. Tensions have grown in the city as the mayoral election to the municipal corporation is slated for the third week of this month. The UP Chief Minister ordered an inquiry into the murder. |
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Customer care Paswan's priority NEW DELHI, Nov 6 — The Minister of Communications, Mr Ram Vilas Paswan, today said that the redress of public grievances and customer satisfaction in telephone services would be given priority by the government in the emerging competitive environment in the telecom sector. Addressing the members of the Consultative Committee attached to the Ministry of Communications, here, the minister said that the registration fee for new telephone connections had been reduced from Rs 3000 to Rs 2000 in urban areas and from Rs 1000 to Rs 500 in rural areas. He stated that the other customer friendly measures include making available free application forms for telephones, simplification of application forms by November 15, installation of telephones within 15 days of the issue of the OB number in all feasible cases, and second telephone connections. He said call centres were being set up in all parts of the country to provide information and meet customer requirements and resolution of their day-to-day problems at a single point. Telephone adalats would be held every three months at the level of the GM/CGM in the district headquarters to solve customer grievances expeditiously and maintain transparency. Referring to the rectification of faults, the minister said that an Expert Committee was set up to suggest remedial measures. The decisions which have been taken based on the committee report include the following : a customer can buy his own telephone instrument and a rebate of Rs500 will be given on installation charges; similar arrangement is also being worked out for existing customers; the life of the telephone instrument has been reduced from the existing 10 years to five years; all paper core cables in which most of the faults occur will be replaced by jelly-filled or optical fibre cables over a period of three years; 5/10 pair distribution points (DPs) on the customer premises will be provided to avoid faults due to overhead drop wire; pagers will be given to outdoor staff in a phased manner in all urban and rural areas where paging services are available. |
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Sikhs
hopeful of justice in riots case NEW DELHI, Nov 6 — Recent action against some
high-profile accused in various cases have raised the expectations of
the Sikhs of finally getting justice in the 1984 riots, in which over
3,000 Sikhs were massacred, the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management
Committee (DSGMC) President, Mr Avtar Singh Hit, said. The conviction of former Prime Minister P. V. Narasimha Rao in the JMM bribery case, the Indian Government’s crackdown on alleged cricket match-fixers and bookies, and the stand taken by the apex court in the actor Rajkumar hostage crisis have increased public confidence in law, and Sikhs now have great expectations from the ongoing Justice Nanawati probe, Mr Hit told newsmen yesterday. The DSGMC urged the government to ensure the safety of the witnesses of 1984 riot cases. “If the Indian Government has given an opportunity to the riot survivors to relate their sufferings before the new inquiry, it is duty-bound to ensure their safety because of their witness against powerful people,” he said. Appointed in May, 2000, the Justice Nanawati Commission aims at probing the circumstances that led to the breakout of the 1984 riots following the assassination of the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. The DSGMC chief also took strong exception to a proposed pilgrimage of Sikh shrines in Pakistan by a delegation led by his opponent Paramjit Singh Sarna. “The pilgrimage to Pakistan is against the stand of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee that has refused to recognise the Pakistani management of our shrines and, therefore, officially suspended religious tours to that country,” Mr Hit, a staunch loyalist of Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, said. |
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Commissioner’s
removal sought DEHRA DUN, Nov 6 — The district panchayat has come
out openly against Mr B M Vohra Commissioner, Garhwal division
alleging that he has amassed property beyond his known sources of
income. Talking to media persons here, today Mr Ramsharan Nautiyal.
President, District Panchayat has demanded a CBI enquiry into the
matter. He has also written a complaint to the PM demanding his
immediate removal from the present post. Giving details information of the property purchased him and his family members, he said it is unfortunate that the commissioner used his power to accumulate property. He said Mr Vohra has purchased 1135 square metres of land on Rajpur Road on June 16, 1998 for Rs. 1,87,500 and had constructed a house worth more than Rs 25 lakh on it. Mr Vohra’s daughter, Seema Vohra had purchased 437 sq. metres of land in the name of Brigadier LN Sabarwal for just Rs 28 thousand in the same area. Both the registeries were greatly undervalued. He alleged that the undervaluation had resulted in heavy losses to the state exchequer. He said Mr Vohra’s wife Kamla Vohra, purchased 3965 sq. metres of land on 19.3.1990 in Dhulkot village near the city for Rs 41,5000 only. The officer got constructed a road leading to his house from the funds of the PWD department and encroached on the surrounding land of the forest department. The estimated cost on the road is Rs six lakh. The total market value of the property is more than Rs one crore. Further Mrs Vohra and her daugher Pooja Vohra purchased 2023 sq. metres of land for Rs. 98000 only and 3155 sq. metres of land for Rs 1,40000 in the same village on March 29 this year. Mr Nautiyal said that Mr Vohra has also purchased properties worth crores in Ranikhet (Kumaon) and Ghaziabad (UP). Mr Vohra has served for more than 14 years in the Kumaon and Garhwal regions. Misuse of official power was also alleged saying he was using four official vehicles and five telephones at his office and residence. When contacted Mr Vohra denied all the charges and said they were being raised by those with a personal grudge. He said Mr Nautiyal was dismissed from his present post following an enquiry on July 11 this year. He was reinstated on July 25 on court orders. Asked about the properties amassed by his family members he said one of his daughter is in the USA when she runs an Internet company and could afford to buy property. He, himself is from a businessman family in Bombay. The plots at Ranikhet and Ghaziabad were allotted to him by the government two decades ago for Rs 32000 and Rs 36000 respectively. He said the allegations were baseless and he was ready to face any enquiry. |
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2 infants die after
getting polio drops? RAIGARH (CHHATISGARH), Nov 6 (UNI) — Two infants died soon after being administered polio drops in Rajpur block of Sarguja district here. Additional Collector S. Dhananjay while denying any wrongdoing said the children had died natural deaths and the deaths had nothing to do with the polio drops. While one-year-old Amit was suffering from pneumonia, the other child, Ranjit, also of the same age had died due to persistent vomiting, he said. The Collector also refuted rumours that the drops which had been administered had their dates expired. |
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School
teachers to visit Japan NEW DELHI, Nov 6 — Thirty school-teachers from
different parts of the country are proceeding to Japan to participate
in the month-long Japan-South Asia Youth Friendship Programme
organised by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). Teachers from the northern region who have brought glory to their schools are Archana Gupta, Parvinder Kaur and Partibha Goel from Delhi, Rajesh Kumar Sharma and Ashok Kumar Sharma from Theog ad Sirmour in Himachal Pradesh, Arshad Maqbool Lone and Rudal Duby from Budgam and Udhampur in Jammu and Kashmir and Renu Bala Sahontra and Deepchand Kardam from Jind and Faridabad respectively. The programme which began with ASEAN countries in 1984 was extended to seven South Asian countries and African countries in 1991. While attending an orientation programme at Samart Hotel on the eve of their departure, the teachers said they were excited about their visit. Mr Rajesh Kumar Sharma, a 31-year-old chemistry teacher at Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya, Theog told TNS here that this is the first time that his school is being represented. “I’m keen on understanding their teaching methodology and school discipline,” he said. Mr Ashok Kumar Sharma, a 34-year-old Physics teacher from JNV, Nahan, Sirmour district said he learnt of his selection on October 16. “It is a wonderful feeling,” he exclaimed. Ms Ekta Bhardwaj, a 28-year-old science teacher from Government Senior Secondary School, Samrala, Ludhiana, said that she learnt of her selection on October 25. Ms Kulwinder Kaur who teaches science and mathematics in Government High School, Granagan, Ropar said that her Principal asked her to apply for the programme. Ms Anjana Kumari, a resident of Chandigarh who teaches in Government High School, Mianpur Changer, Ropar district said that she received the good news on October 21. Ms Renu Bala Sahontra, a 30-year-old science teacher of JNV, Khunga Kothi, Jind said that she is looking foward to learning about Japanese teaching techniques, culture and nation-building. |
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Postal strike NEW DELHI, Nov 6 (UNI) — More than six lakh postal workers across the country, demanding better wages and increments, will go on an indefinite strike from early next month. The postal federations have said the “indefinite strike is forced on the postal workers because of the violation of the written agreement signed between the postal board and the representatives of the joint council action in May in the presence of Communications Minister Ram Vilas Paswan and state Communication Minister Tapan
Sikdar”. |
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MLAs held for
locking Assembly doors BHOPAL, Nov 6 (PTI) — Thirtysix BJP and BSP MLAs were arrested here today on charges of locking the doors of the state Assembly building, Vallabh Bhavan, demanding immediate solution to the power crisis in the state, official sources said. Earlier, BJP members stalled the proceedings of the Assembly, including the Chief Minister’s hour, and forced adjournment of the House on the issue.
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