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| Tuesday, November 21, 2000, Chandigarh, India   
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No special status for Uttaranchal Bangarappa case: SC sets aside HC order WB CM to meet PM, President Bomb scare on bus near PM’s house Myanmar to curb anti-India groups Jogi to shift remains of daughter to Raipur |
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Delete Kesri’s name: HC Rs 531.76 cr drought relief for Orissa Hizb ultra
with 2.5 kg RDX held Crashed chopper pulled out Biseshwar Khan is
pro-tem Speaker Advani’s no to
J&K trifurcation 8 dacoits
among nine killed
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No special status for Uttaranchal DEHRA DUN, Nov 20 — Mr Nityanand Swami, Chief Minister of Uttaranchal, has failed to convince his “political bosses” to get the special category status for the new state during the current financial year. On the other hand the Uttar Pradesh Government has failed to transfer the assets to the new state in time, which has created financial problems for Uttaranchal. The state exchequer is almost empty except for a few crores of rupees already earmarked by the UP government to develop infrastructure in the capital for the normal functioning of the state government. The Chief Minister met Mr K.C. Pant, Deputy Chairman, Planning Commission, on November 16 in New Delhi and demanded special category status for the state. He insisted on providing central assistance on the formula comprising 90 per cent grant and 10 per cent loan. The standard formula adopted by the Planning Commission to provide central assistance to the states was generally 30 per cent grant and 70 per cent loan. Sources close to Mr Pant disclosed that the commission was likely to give only Rs 172 crore for externally aided projects during the current financial year. This amount includes only those projects, which had already been started in the state. Although Mr Swami also demanded Rs 500 crore as share from the central taxes and Rs 500 crore as small savings, apart from Rs 300 crore as a special grant, but Mr Pant had shown his inability to provide this much amount during the current financial year. At the same time he did not rule out the possibility of granting special status to the state in the next financial year provided the planning commission has enough funds. Mr N.C. Saxena, Secretary in the commission, is likely to hold meetings with the Chief Secretary of Uttaranchal to prepare a report on the financial situation of the state. The meetings are scheduled for December and January next year. Without this report the commission will not be in a position to commit anything to Uttaranchal. |
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Bangarappa case: SC sets aside HC order NEW DELHI, Nov 20 (UNI) — In a major setback to former Karnataka Chief Minister, the Supreme Court today set aside an order of the state High Court crossing the charge sheet filed against him by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in the disproportionate assets case. A Bench comprising Mr Justice
K.T. Thomas and Mr Justice R.P. Sethi directed the Bangalore Special Court, where the charge sheet against Mr S.C. Bangarappa had been filed, to proceed in the case. While allowing an appeal by the cbi against the High Court order, the Bench passed a stricture on a single judge of the High Court for quashing the impugned order in contravention of the legal provisions of the law. |
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WB CM to meet PM, President CALCUTTA, Nov 20 — West Bengal’s newly appointed Chief Minister Buddhadev Bhattacharya will visit Delhi on November 30 to meet the President, Mr K.R. Narayanan, and the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee. It will be Mr Bhattacharya’s first visit to the Capital as Chief Minister after he was sworn in on November 6 in place of Mr Jyoti Basu. Mr Bhattacharya said that during his meeting with them, he would register his protest against the Centre’s non-sanctioning of funds for millions of flood victims in districts of the state. Talking to The Tribune, Mr Bhattacharya said he expected a humanitarian response from Mr Vajpayee to the plight of the victims and hoped that the state would get adequate financial assistance from the Prime Minister’s Flood Relief Fund. He said the state government had spent Rs 600 crore on the rescue and rehabilitation of flood victims. Mr Bhattacharya said he had no plans to meet any other Central ministers now and instead of going to Delhi once again, he would prefer visiting the districts and meeting the people to help solve their problems. He said he would soon visit North Bengal districts and hold talks with the district officials to discuss the law and order situation in the Darjeeling-Duars-Jalpaiguri-Coochbihar area where the ULFA and the Kamtapur Liberation Organisation (KLO) were operating jointly and killing innocent people. |
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Bomb scare on bus near PM’s house NEW DELHI, Nov 20 (UNI) — A bomb scare today gripped passengers of a bus plying near the Prime Minister’s house but the “explosive” turned out to be a “comfortable” seat cushion. The bus (route no. 610) on the R K Puram Anand Parbat route that passes by the race course road on which Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee’s official residence is located, was evacuated near the Chanakya cinema after some passengers noticed what looked like a canvas bag lying under the the rear seat. The suspicious “bag” was pointed out by students of the Sarojini Nagar Senior Secondary School returning after classes. The bus was immediately stopped and the passengers ran out of the bus when it was found that the “bag” had no claimants. As the scared passengers demanded that the police be called, Sandeep Kumar, a helper on the bus that runs under Delhi Transport Corporation km scheme, gathered courage and looked at the the “bomb” closely. It was an anti-climax when he found that it was a seat cushion the bus staff had used as a pillow while sleeping on the rear seat the previous night. |
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Myanmar to curb anti-India groups NEW DELHI, Nov 20 — In a categorical assurance, Myanmar today declared that it will not allow any country, power or group to use its territory or islands against India. The Foreign Minister of Myanmar, Mr U. Win
Aung, who is here as part of the official delegation of the State Peace and Development Council of Myanmar, General Maung Aye, told a group of newspersons at an exclusive interaction that “we will not let any country or power to use our land or island for military purposes” against India. Mr U. Win Aung was replying to questions which ranged from reported use of Coco islands by China, cross-border terrorism, shipments of arms, pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi to insurgency movements in the North Eastern states to return of democracy in Myanmar. On Coco islands, the visiting Foreign Minister denied that China had any installations or base there and said that Yangoon would not alow its land or island to be used against India. On the issue of cross-border terrorism and drug trafficking, Mr U. Win Aung said General Maung Aye had assured his interlocutors at every level that Myanmar “is determined not to let anyone use its territory to make trouble against India”. “We have existing cooperation at military level” to tackle the problem of shipment of arms to insurgents in the North East, the Foreign Minister pointed out adding that “we will exert every effort not to let arms cross border”. It will be done through intelligence gathering, police action and intensive patrolling on the 1400 km long borders, he said. Speaking warmly over long-standing ties with India, Mr U. Win Aung said a Constitution for his country was in the process of being prepared which would ensure the return of democracy. When asked about the fate of the pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu
Kyi, who has been under detention for the past so many years, the Foreign Minister said “time will come”. Pressed to specify the time frame for her release, Mr U. Win Aung declined to give any exact timetable for return of democracy which will lift restrictions on Ms Suu Kyi saying “that we are happy that it will not be before long time”. Giving details of the Constitution which is under discussion presently, the Foreign Minister said initially “there is going to be a role for military in the Constitution.” “Democracy comes with responsibility and rule of law”, he said adding that the military wants to ensure peace,development and stability. “We also want to ensure that there was no military coup in future”, he said. “We don’t want the return of anarchy”, Mr U. Win Aung said explaining the reasons for delay in bringing back democratic system. There are going to be 135 national regions in Myanmar where there will be local legislatures, governors and other democratic institutions, he said. Earlier, the Exteranal Affairs Minister, Mr Jaswant Singh called on the visiting General Maung Aye, who is the second most powerful man in Myanmar. The leader of the opposition, Ms Sonia Gandhi also called on General Maung Aye. |
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Jogi to shift remains of daughter to Raipur BHOPAL, Nov 20 — The Chhattisgarh Chief Minister, Mr Ajit Jogi, has decided to shift the remains of his daughter, who committed suicide in May, from Indore to Raipur, the capital of Chhattisgarh. The move has dismayed political and administrative circles here. Permission for exhuming Anusha Jogi’s body and its transportation is reported to have been granted by the Indore district administration on the basis of a no-objection certificate (NOC) issued by the White Church. The application for necessary permission was moved by Mr Jogi’s medical practitioner wife Dr Renu Jogi on the letterhead of the All-India Congress Committee (I) Media Department, Mr Jogi was in-charge of the AICC Media Department before he was sworn in first Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh on November 1. Mr Jogi was Collector of Indore for several years in the eighties and was said to have made property there. Dr Renu Jogi was a doctor in Indore while Mr Jogi used to stay mostly in Delhi. In his capacity as AICC spokesperson, Mr Jogi was in Indore to oversee Congress president Sonia Gandhi’s visit on May 12 when 20-year-old Anusha was said to have hanged herself in the bathroom of the official residence of the Jogi. Anusha was studying in the USA and had come to Indore only a month or so previously. She did not leave any suicide note. Anusha’s body was buried in the Azad Nagar cemetery attached to the White Church. Reports received here indicate that Anusha’s body will be exhumed in the next few days and placed in a new coffin before it is transported by air to Raipur. |
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Delete Kesri’s name: HC NEW DELHI, Nov 20 (PTI) — Delhi High Court today ordered deletion of former Congress president Sita Ram Kesri’s name from a case related to the party allegedly receiving Rs three crore as donation from some foreign companies in early nineties in violation of the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA). A Bench comprising Chief Justice Arijit Passayat and Mr Justice D.K. Jain ordered deletion of Kesri’s name after a lawyer appearing on his behalf said there was no point in continuing his name in the list of respondents after his death. The court, meanwhile, directed the CBI to file a status report on the progress of the investigation into the case. The court expressed surprise over the delay by the CBI in filing the report though the Centre in its affidavit in July last year had stated that the investigation had been handed over to the agency. The court was hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) accusing the Congress party of receiving donations from four companies based in Carribean islands in violation of the FCRA as the Act prohibits political parties from taking any money from foreign sources. Mr Kesri was named as respondent in the PIL filed by a Patna-based journalist Madhuresh because he was Congress treasurer when the money was allegedly received by the party. Petitioner’s counsel Prashant Bhushan contested Congress party’s and government stand that the companies which donated the money were having shares by NRIs, and therefore the provisions of the FCRA were not applicable in this case. |
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Rs 531.76 cr drought relief for Orissa NEW DELHI, Nov 20 (UNI) — The Centre has released Rs 531.76 crore to Orissa to extend relief to the drought-affected people in the state. This follows several representations by Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik to Prime Minister Atal Behari Vaypayee. According to a spokesperson of the PMO, the relief amount was in addition to the Centre’s decision to offer 20 kg of rice every month at BPL rates to entire population of the eight worst affected districts of Orissa. An amount of Rs 41.05 crore was released as the central share of the Calamity Relief Fund, besides, the government has released a total of Rs 350.17 crore under various rural employment schemes to generate employment opportunities for the drought affected people. The Centre has also released Rs 53.55 crore to sink new tubewells and augment the supply of existing ones. The Ministry of Water Resources has released Rs 38.48 crore towards speedy implementation of various minor irrigation schemes in the drought affected areas. The central government as a special gesture, sanctioned an allocation of Rs four crore under the national old age pension scheme for 50,000 additional destitute persons. The government has also released Rs 39.37 crore as the second installment of the food for work programme to Orissa. |
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Hizb ultra
with 2.5 kg RDX held NEW DELHI, Nov 20 (UNI) — The Delhi police today said it had pre-empted disturbances in the Capital during Ramzan with the arrest of a hardcore Hizbul Mujahideen militant with 2.5 kg of the RDX. The police said Mohammed Rafi, the Pakistan-aided terrorist, had been asked to carry out explosions during the month of Ramzan. Acting on a tip-off, sleuths of the Crime Branch of the Delhi police arrested Mohammed Rafi, a resident of Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir, along with the RDX as soon as he landed at New Delhi Railway Station yesterday. Rafi, who has worked for the ISI as an agent, was also assigned to blow up railway tracks. The 22-year-old terrorist was involved in the attack on the camp of the 16 Rashtriya Rifles in Kashmir on August 14 this year, in which three soldiers were killed, they said. Further investigation into the case is being carried out, the police said. |
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Crashed chopper pulled out NEW DELHI, Nov 20 (UNI) — The Mi-8 helicopter that crashed in the marshes of the Rann of Kutch on November 12 was winched out today and transported to the Air Force Station at Bhuj, an Indian Air Force spokesman said here. The recovery of the Mi-8 was vital to find out why it had crashed when it was supposedly in good mechanical condition. There was also some speculation that it might have been shot down while flying close to the border. Seven persons from the BSF and the IAF were killed while five survived the crash. The helicopter requisitioned by the BSF for patrol had suddenly crashed after coming down to a height of 50 metres to inspect some suspicious fishing boats. The main portion of the chopper was pulled out by a Mi-26, the world’s largest helicopter, after a massive operation late this afternoon. The IAF spokesman said the Court of Inquiry team was presently at Bhuj. For the past one week, senior IAF officers from the South Western Air Command (SWAC) had been at the site to find ways to pull out the helicopter with the fuselage intact. Since November 13, teams were collecting evidence from the crash site. The Court of Inquiry team also assembled and visited the place. |
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Biseshwar Khan is
pro-tem Speaker RANCHI, Nov 20 (UNI) — CPI leader Biseshwar Khan was sworn in today as the pro-tem Speaker for the four-day maiden session of the Jharkhand Assembly, which begins from
tomorrow. Mr Khan,the septuagenarian leader and nine-time legislator from the Nala Assembly constituency, was administered the oath by Jharkhand Governor Prabhat Kumar here. He would administer the oath of office to the 81 legislators of the Jharkhand Assembly tomorrow. The House will elect its Speaker on November 22, the second day of the session. |
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Advani’s no to
J&K trifurcation NEW DELHI, Nov 20 (PTI) — The Home Minister, Mr L.K. Advani, today rejected an RSS-backed proposal for trifurcation of Jammu and Kashmir on ethnic lines saying that it was ‘‘a remedy worse than the disease’’. ‘‘I do not regard this (trifurcation) as a solution. We would like the entity of Jammu and Kashmir to remain as it is today,’’ he asserted. Referring to his meeting with leaders of the RSS-backed Jammu and Kashmir Nationalist Front here, he said he told the delegation that if they had ‘‘any problem of discrimination or neglect by the state government these should be dealt with independently’’. The Front leaders, who met Mr Advani along with the BJP President, Mr Bangaru Laxman, had demanded trifurcation of the border state with statehood to Jammu and Union Territory status for Ladakh. They had claimed that their ‘‘identity and aspirations were being sacrificed’’ and alleged discrimination against them. 8 dacoits among nine killed CALCUTTA, Nov 20 (PTI) — Eight dacoits were among nine persons killed, 25 injured and more than Rs 1 lakh looted in separate incidents in West Bengal today. Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Headquarters, r.k. roy, said eight dacoits were killed in an encounter with the police when a gang of 12 bandits were fleeing after looting several houses at Asachhia in Nadia district. Four of them escaped before the police arrived. |
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