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| Sunday, December 3, 2000, Chandigarh, India   
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I have been receiving threats: Naval chief Industry alleges government apathy Decks cleared for Jaiswal 2 Bangladeshis held
for beating cops
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Chhattisgarh session
from Dec 14 Guru Teg Bahadur
memorial sought Disabled Day
observed
NEW DELHI, Dec 2 — The Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral Sushil Kumar, today gave indications he had been receiving threats over the past few months but chose to dismiss them as minor incidents which had to be taken in stride. Briefing newspersons on the eve of Navy Day and just a day after an unidentified man intruded into the residence of the Chief of Naval Staff and shot at and injured a guard, Admiral Sushil Kumar said men from armed forces did keep receiving threats but they were occupational hazards and should be taken in the stride. “In a profession like ours, we have opted for a career which is essentially risky and hazardous. There may have been threats but that’s part of my job. Threats are part of out life but we cannot be deterred by that,” he said. He added, “We keep getting threats for being involved in various operations, specially those against the militants,” but that did not mean that we stop doing our jobs. He said it was a minor incident and that it should not be sensationalised so much. He went to say that all details would come out only after the Board of Inquiry completed its inquest. Reports yesterday had said Admiral Sushil Kumar had been receiving threats for the past few months, specially since the Navy Commandos, Marcos, had been deployed in the anti-militant operations in Jammu and Kashmir. The reports said the threats had increased over the past few months. Admiral Sushil Kumar said seeing the increasing signs of tension in the region he conceived the Navy would have to play a greater role and that it would have to be well prepared. He added that it would have to be versatile, flexible and be able to respond to any kind of situation. While pointing out that the Navy had a big role to play in the stability of the nation, he said since globalisation was setting in it would mean greater international trade for the country. Security would be a great denominator of the growth of the country. He was of the view that India’s self-image had risen and was being seen as one that had restraiant, quality to maintain status quo, goodwill and harmony. Seeing the Navy’s role in this as very important, Admiral Sushil Kumar said it would have to ensure stability in the region. The Navy had to not only protect India’s maritime interests but also go beyond that. “We would like to deter anyone who tries to destabilise the country. The Indian Navy will have to be the enabling instrument of the nation in the Indian Ocean. We will have to show that in the maritime dimension India’s interests are protected. we are the stabilising force in the region. We are monitoring our interests,” he said. Commenting that the Indian Ocean was the ocean of the next century, he said the year ahead was one of the great challenges which was why the Indian Navy would have to apply force multipliers and change doctrinally. He disclosed the Navy would be commissioning a powerful destroyer INS mumbai, the missile frigate Kirch, a corvette Kulish besides six other ships in 2001. The Navy also proposes to acquire four TU-22 missile capability long-range maritime patrol aircraft. The other ships to be commissioned in 2001 are the INS Betwa, the Tillan Chang, Teressa and Tarmugli which will be deployed in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and survey ships Darshaka and Survekshak. INS Mumbai and Kirch are proposed to be launched on the same day. “In the context of our maritime interests, we are adequately equipped’” he said when asked whether the Indian Navy had achieved blue water status. He said just as all navies did the Indian Navy too aspired to develop a nuclear submarine. On the advance technology vessel (ATV) project, he said he would not like to comment since it was a classified programme. He said the navy was keen to acquire the aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov from Russia but it would take at least three years to make it operational. The Indian Navy, he said, was in a different league as it was among the few navies of the world which could operate aircraft carriers and nuclear submarines. |
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Industry alleges government apathy BHIWADI (Rajasthan), Dec 2 — The country appears to be making much out of information technology, but the industry here is caught in the web of the “hidebound” approach of the Rajasthan government. The immediate cause for exasperation among the business community is the long-drawn process of formalities which hampers rapid transaction and smooth flow of business. The industry here, which has been agitating against the government’s decision of introducing 18A and 18C forms, under the banner of the Bhiwadi Manufacturers Association (BMA), has said that in case the provisions continue, a large number of units will be forced to close or shift the place of business. An office-bearer of the BMA, Mr Ashwani Mehta, told TNS that the organisation had made several representations to the authorities concerned on the issue, but in vain. The captains of the industry had also met the authorities individually, but the government continued with its ostrich like approach by sticking to its guns. The argument of the BMA, the only industry-related organisation for the units in the Bhiwadi Industrial complex, is that the industry has to send 18 A forms to the supplier along with the order. Many a time the order is cancelled or the supply is not made for one reason or the other. But the forms remain with the supplier, who may not return the same. Under such circumstances the industry is unable to give a proper account of forms to the Sales Tax Department and becomes vulnerable to penalties. There is another angle to the problem. If the supplier sends incomplete forms by omitting some information, the goods are detained and penalty is imposed. Although it is a lapse on the part of the supplier, the industry suffers. Besides, if the form is lost by the driver during
transshipment, or the truck driver fails to show the 18A form at the check-post, the industry is penalised. The argument of the BMA is significant as the Bhiwadi Industrial area is the most advanced and the most revenue-earning industrial estate of Rajasthan. In these days of e-mail, fax and website, orders are often placed through such means of communications, but forms cannot be sent as they are required in original. Hence, the supply is delayed. Moreover, if the supply is made without the form during an urgency, the industry has to suffer and pay penalty. In these days of e-commerce, such forms of restrictive nature are anachronisms, the BMA says. The quantum of penalty is 30 per cent of the value of the goods, which often, in real terms is a big amount. Industrialists allege that this has become a means for corrupt practices and harassment to them. The BMA has expressed the view that although the government remained apathetic to its demands, it provides the forms in limited numbers. Also, at times the forms are not available with the Department resulting in inordinate delay in the supply of goods. According to the BMA, as per form 18A, a declaration is required to be given that the importer of the goods from outside the state is liable to pay tax as per law to the government “on the sale thereof”. It means that the 18A form is only required when the imported goods are sold as they are. But the industry imports raw material for manufacturing purposes and not for re-sale. It pays tax on the sale of finished goods. Hence, no 18 A forms should be required for import of raw material from outside the state. The industry purchases raw material for manufacturing and not for trading purpose. It pays tax on the sale of the finished goods. A former president of the BMA, Mr B.M. Mittal, said the industry here was unevenly placed in competition with its counterpart in Delhi, the reason being that the industry in Rajasthan had to pay taxes at two points: at the time of procuring the raw material and at the time of selling the finished products. |
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Decks cleared for Jaiswal NEW DELHI, Dec 2 — The decks have been cleared for the unanimous election of Mr Sriprakash Jaiswal as the Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee chief, with Mr Sujan Singh Bundela announcing his decision to withdraw from the fray after a two-hour meeting with Congress President Sonia Gandhi. Announcing the decision in the presence of Mr Jaiswal here today, Mr Bundela said that they would unitedly fight "communal and casteist forces" in the state. Although Mr Bundela had repeatedly announced his decision to contest, the "rapprochement" came about after yesterday’s meeting with Mrs Gandhi at which Mr Jitendra Prasada and Begum Noor Bano were also present. Talking to TNS, Mr Bundela said that Mrs Gandhi was addressing the issues raised by Mr Prasada during his poll campaign. He said the Congress President was also now readily accessible to the grass-roots workers. The rapprochement apparently came at the initiative of Mrs Gandhi who had called dissident leaders for talks. Mr Bundela, who was first to be contacted on behalf of Mrs Gandhi, indicated that he could take a final decision on withdrawal of his candidature only after Mr Prasada was included in talks. Senior Congress leaders were keen to avoid a contest in the politically important state of Uttar Pradesh where the party is not in a good shape. While the party had rallied behind Mrs Sonia Gandhi during the organisational elections, mainly due to the Nehru-Gandhi factor, the contest for the PCC chief in Uttar Pradesh could have been a close one. "This would not have given the right message to the electorate who are looking towards Congress with hope," a party leader said. It is learnt that during the talks, Mrs Gandhi also assured the dissidents that the complaints regarding UPCC list would be redressed and the Congress workers left out would be suitably accommodated. The dissident leaders were also assured that the further additions in the UPCC would be made by Mr Jaiswal in consultation with Mr Bundela. Mr Bundela had earlier this week withdrawn his name, announced by the Chair in the Lok Sabha, in favour of Mrs Gandhi for moving adjournment motion on farmers for which he was thanked by senior Congress leaders and Mrs Gandhi. |
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2 Bangladeshis held
for beating cops NEW DELHI, Dec 2 — The Delhi police claims to have arrested two Bangladesh nationals from Jagatpuri area of North-East Delhi on the charge of beating a head constable and a Delhi Home Guard personnel. They were reportedly involved in several crime cases. The accused were identified as Abdul Kanun and Mohammad Dalal. Their third accomplice Zakir absconded. A cash amount of Rs 10,000 and some jewellery had been
recovered from them. The police said the injured head constable and Home Guard personnel were on patrolling duty in Jagatpuri area last night when they saw the accused armed with iron rods moving on the road. When they asked them to stop, they tried to run away. However, they chased and caught Abdul Kanun. The other two accused, who were armed with iron rods, attached the two. Due to commotion, residents of the area got up, following which Dalal and Zakir managed to escape. But Abdul Kanun could not escape from the clutches of the head constable. Dalal was arrested following the interrogation of Kanun. During interrogation they disclosed that they used to commit burglary in Preet Vihar and Shakarpur areas. |
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Priyanka: I’ve done it, grandpa! PATNA, Dec 2 — “You are lucky your granddaughter was saved...” a doctor at Tata Medical Hospital (TMH) at Jamshedpur said to a trade union leader, Dr M.K. Akhauri. Around 18 years later, the saved child, lovingly called Mimmi, did India proud winning the Miss World title. Her maternal grand uncle, Dr Akhauri was all thanks for the doctor yesterday for making this day possible in his life as the world’s darling and his baby, Priyanka Chopra, rang him up from a London hotel yelling on the phone, “I’ve done it, grandpa, didn’t I tell you I would bag the crown?” Jharkhand has it. Jamshedpur made it again as after the south movie super star Mahadevan, it has given another star to the celebrity world. Eighteen years ago the Miss World was battling for life in the TMH as the umbilical chord got trapped around her in her mother’s womb. The doctor, Daval Das Gupta, took a great risk and operated upon Priyanka’s mother Madhu without taking the consent of the relatives who were not there at that time. The nation must know this as it will teach a lesson to the thousands of doctors who take refuge in the procedural and legal wrangles to sidetrack work. The grandpa of Priyanka was too happy to share his memories of his “little baby” on Friday at Jamshedpur telling, “I didn’t sleep for a minute as I was glued to the TV set all night. She was not born a stunning beauty, but an average girl growing into a beautiful one”. He said Priyanka had assured him three months back that she would bag the crown. Even the Femina people were very confident of her but her parents were very nervous about the final outcome. “Both of them had stopped their private practices to assist their daughter in her efforts”, Dr Akhauri said. The parents of Priyanka were doctors in the Navy and now do private practice at Bareli. |
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Chhattisgarh session
from Dec 14 RAIPUR, Dec 2 (UNI) — The first session of the Chhattisgarh Assembly will begin at the historic Raj Kumar College’s Jaspur Hall here from December 14. Governor Dinesh Nandan Sahay has summoned the session, which will have a total of three sittings — on December 14, 15 and 19. According to official sources, the ‘Vidhan Sabha’ members will be administered the oath and the election of the Speaker will also be held during the session. There are 90 members in the
assembly. Chief Minister Ajit Jogi is not a member of the House. |
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Guru Teg Bahadur
memorial sought NEW DELHI, Dec 2 — The Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, today asked the Centre to construct a national memorial of Guru Teg Bahadur in Delhi so that the youth could take inspiration from his supreme sacrifices for the cause of maintaining the unity and integrity of the nation. Mr Chautala was speaking to a large Sikh gathering at gurdwara Rakab Ganj, here, on the occasion of the martyrdom day of Guru Teg Bahadur. Paying tributes to the Sikh Guru, Mr Chautala said that the Guru had sacrificed his life to save the country as also the Hindu religion and humanity. He said that three generation of Guru Teg Bahadur had sacrificed their lives and set an example. According to a press note, Mr Chautala was honoured with a siropa, a modal replica of Gurdwara Harmandar Sahib and a set of books on the life and teachings of Guru Teg Bahadur. |
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Disabled Day
observed NEW DELHI, Dec 2 — The Northern Railway Physically Handicapped Welfare Association (NRPHEWA) has urged the government to make provision for employment for all physically handicapped persons. Speaking at a function held on World Disabled Day, Mr Onkar Singh Thapar, former general secretary, Shiromani Akali Dal, recalled the contribution of the handicapped in nation-building. Mr Thapar, who is also the president of the association, emphasised that the handicapped needed to be encouraged. The function, organised here by NRPHEWA, was presided over by Mr Lal Behari Tewari, MP. Among those who spoke were Ms Anuradha Mohit Dubey, Chief Commissioner, and Prof Kiran Walia, MLA. |
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