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| Tuesday,
December 5, 2000, Chandigarh, India   
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Babri
Masjid: uproar in LS More CRPF men for Assam Dalit leaders resent discrimination North India
in Parliament Cong threat to stall proceedings |
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Gujral discharged from hospital WB told to pay 2 lakh to undertrial ‘Army men had to bribe rly staff’ Uttaranchal poll to be electronic: Gill Herbs from Bihar land in metros After Diana, it’s Diya from Hyderabad 3 UP ministers
join Janshakti
Babri
Masjid: uproar in LS NEW DELHI, Dec 4 — Two days ahead of the eighth anniversary of the Babri Masjid demolition, the Congress today stalled the proceedings in the Lok Sabha, demanding the resignation of Union Ministers, Mr L.K. Advani, Dr Murli Manohar Joshi and Ms Uma Bharati for their alleged involvement in the episode. Demanding the resignation of the three ministers, who have been chargesheeted by the CBI in the Babri Masjid demolition case, the Congress members, led by Mr Jaipal Reddy, forced the adjournment of the House, first for 90 minutes till lunch, and on resumption for the whole day, by demanding that the Speaker immediately take up the issue during zero hour. Raising the issue during zero hour, Mr Reddy cited the example set by Mr Harin Pathak, who had quit the Vajpayee government after being chargesheeted in connection with a killing during the riots in Ahmedabad. The Speaker, Mr G.M.C. Balayogi, said Mr Reddy’s notice was under his consideration and the House should move on to take up other matters. At this, the Congress members rushed to the well demanding that the issue be taken up then and there. Amid the din, members of the Left parties and the Rashtriya Janata Dal members were on their legs seeking resignation of the Railway Minister, Ms Mamata Banerjee, holding her responsible for the train mishap in Punjab. The Speaker did not admit the adjournment motion on the rail accident, saying that the minister had ordered a judicial inquiry and had given full details to the House. Not letting their demand to be derailed, Mr Reddy insisted that “no matter is more important. The House must take up the issue here and now”. It was improper for the ministers to continue in office, he added, even as the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, and the Home Minister, Mr Advani, looked on. The Speaker on his part said how could the Congress raise the issue when the notice to the effect was under his consideration. Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Pramod Mahajan said Mr Reddy had not given the zero hour notice, provoking the Congress members to raise slogans demanding the resignations of the ministers. Finding that the Congressmen were in no mood to relent, the Speaker adjourned the House till 2 p.m. When the House reassembled after lunch, the Opposition members again trooped into the Well of the House. Seeing no let up in the din, the Speaker adjourned the House for the day. |
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More CRPF men for Assam NEW DELHI, Dec 4 — The Centre today decided to release 18 additional companies of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) to Assam for augmenting the security forces deployed to counter militancy in the state. The Union Home Ministry’s decision follows a request from the Assam Government for 27 companies of central forces to deal with militant activities on a strong footing, official sources said here. During the current year 1,740 militants have already surrendered as compared to 251 in 1998 and 676 in 1999. The increased number of surrenders clearly illustrate demoralisation and disillusionment of militant cadres with the directionless leadership of the cadre, the sources said. As many as 303 militants have been killed till November 30 this year as against 212 in 1999, while 309 civilians lost their lives in militant attacks during the same period as compared to 220 in 1999, they said. Meanwhile, a strategy group comprising senior representatives of the Army, paramilitary forces, state police and intelligence agencies which exist at the state level to work out broad strategies for formulating counter-militancy measures met in Guwahati yesterday and reviewed the law and order situation in Assam. The meeting presided over by the state Chief Secretary decided to continue with the pro-active and people-friendly counter-militancy strategy, ensure a visible presence of the security forces in sensitive areas and dominate the affected areas both during daytime and at night. The strategy group decided to reintroduce a system of nakas and checking/frisking at various places in the state. This would be done in a people-friendly manner without causing harassment to the ordinary citizen, the sources said. Among other major decisions of the strategy group include setting up of a special task force to nab militants indulging in cowardly killings, imposing restrictions like banning the movement of vehicles at night and curfew along a 10-km stretch on the international border and seeking greater co-ordination with the police forces of neighbouring states like West Bengal, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland and Manipur to deny sanctuary to these militants. Besides, the group wanted the state government to recommend to the Centre that a 20-km border belt in West Bengal adjoining the state be also declared a disturbed area, to launch a specific media campaign to seek public cooperation against senseless killings by the militants and organise village defence/support groups in sensitive locations. |
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Dalit leaders resent discrimination NEW DELHI, Dec 4 — With party Vice-President Sangh Privya Gautam declining to accept an offer of chairmanship of the Safai Karamchari Commission, the resentment over discrimination against Dalits and backward classes persons in the party and the government is growing within the BJP. While Mr Gautan was offered the post of the Commission a few weeks ago, reluctance of the party Vice-President to accept it emanates from his assessment that the BJP was not only ignoring his claim to a ministerial berth but was also giving a rough treatment to Dalits and persons belonging to backward classes. The post of the Chairman of the Safai Karamchari Commission has been lying vacant ever since the three-year term of the former chairman, Mr K. Muniyappa expired. Mr Muniyappa’s term was controversial as he was busy touring his own state of Karnataka and had failed to take any major initiative. The Prime Minister is said to be of the view that Mr Gautam, who is known for his dynamism, would be able to impart the necessary verve to the commission which was set up in 1993. The party high command, after making a Dalit the BJP President, had become somewhat complacent thinking that the new party President, Mr Bangaru Laxman would be able to attract minorities and Dalits to the party. Mr Laxman has, however, failed to make an impact, as the two-month-long party campaign to attract the minorities, Dalits and other oppressed sections of society has not got a positive response. In Uttar Pradesh, however, the party high command preferred to have a Rajput as the Chief Minister and high caste Brahmins on the president of the state unit, the Governor and the Chief Secretary. This decision had led to resentment among the Dalit and backward community MLAs and MPs. The feeling among the MLAs and MPs is that the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, and others are ignoring the interests of the Dalits. Instead of bringing in Mr Gautam in the Cabinet, he is being offered the chairmanship of Safai Karamchari Commission, a party leader said. “Just because he was born in that community, he is being offered that post”, the leader said. Meanwhile, the backward class leaders in Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh have also started gearing up to counter the increasing influence of upper castes in the party. They have decided to organise a series of rallies in UP. The first such rally was held at Ranth in Hamirpur district. The rally was addressed by the Union Minister of Youth and Sports Affairs, Ms Uma Bharati and the UP Tourism Minister, Mr Ashok Yadav. There have been no OBC leader in the top positions of the party after the former UP Chief Minister, Mr Kalyan Singh, was sacked, they have been telling their followers. |
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North India
in Parliament NEW DELHI, Dec 4 — As much as 81.18 per cent of agricultural land in Himachal Pradesh is unirrigated and the percentage of irrigated agricultural land is lower than the national average, Minister of State for Agriculture, Mr Shripad Y. Naik informed the Lok Sabha today. While only 7.06 per cent of agricultural land in Punjab remains unirrigated, in Haryana it was 23.79 per cent and in Jammu and Kashmir it was 57.30 per cent, Mr Naik said. Keeping in view the need to bring additional areas under irrigation, the government has proposed to take various policy and programme initiatives, he said. These include revision of the National Water Policy (1987), Command Area Development Programme, preparation of National Perspectives for transfer of water from surplus basins to water deficit areas, water management practices, promoting efficient and economic use of water for various purposes, emphasis on water conservation through various methods including the use of latest technologies, and peoples’ participation in management of water for diverse uses, he said. The revised funding pattern under the Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme with effect from the current financial year is in the form of Central Loan Assistance (CLA) on 2:1 (Centre-State) basis for general category states and in 3:1 ratio for special category States of North-Eastern Region, hilly states of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Sikkim as well as for drought prone districts of Orissa, the minister said. Replying to another question, the minister said Central Assistance of Rs 7.62 crore had been released through various schemes to Himachal Pradesh during the year 1999-2000 to increase the productivity of degraded lands for increasing agricultural and bio-mass production. While Haryana got Rs 2.45 crore during the last financial year, Punjab was given an assistance of Rs 1.23 crore. Package for paddy growers in Haryana: For increasing the production and productivity of cereal crops (rice and wheat), Integrated Cereals Development Programme (ICDP) has been implemented through which special incentives were provided to the farmers in Haryana, Minister of State for Agriculture, Mr Shripad Y. Naik informed the Lok Sabha. In a written reply to a question from Mr Kishan Singh Sangwan, he said, in order to provide more flexibility to state, Macro Management Mode of Agriculture had been introduced from October 2000. So far post-harvest concessions are concerned, the Ministry of Food has announced some concessions for paddy growers in Haryana which include relaxation of the specifications in respect of damaged, discoloured, sprouted and weevilled grains upto a maximum limit of eight per cent instead of three per cent provided under the uniform (FAQ) specifications and the paddy conforming to the above specifications will be procured at Minimum Support Price. The other concessions were: out turn ratio for custom milling of such paddy will be 64 per cent for raw and 65 per cent for parboiled rice and it will be the responsibility of the state government to get the paddy milled and deliver rice strictly conforming to the uniform specifications well within the current kharif marketing season, Mr Naik said. These concessions were announced on the basis of the report of a Central Team which had visited the affected districts of Haryana, collected samples and got them analysed in the laboratory, he informed. Tunnel in Rohtang pass: The Geological investigation for the proposed alignment of tunnel in Rohtang Pass in Himachal Pradesh has just been completed, Minister of State for Road Transport and Highways Major General (retd) B.C. Khanduri informed the Lok Sabha. The minister, however, said at this stage it is too early to indicate the time frame for the construction of the tunnel. Waiting list for Telephone Connection: As many as 2,02,864 persons are on the waiting list for telephone connections under different categories in Punjab as on October 31, 2000, the Minister of State for Communications, Mr Tapan Sikdar, informed the Lok Sabha. While 91,939 persons are on waiting list in Haryana, there are 42,581 persons on waiting list in Himachal Pradesh and 30,489 persons in Jammu and Kashmir, he said. There are 40,85,673 persons on the waiting list as on October 31, 2000 across the country. The Ninth Five Year Plan (1997-2002) of Department of Telecommunication envisages grant of telephone connection to all wait listed persons in the country by March 31, 2002, with the participation of private sector complementing the efforts of the department, the minister said. In reply to another question, Mr Sikdar said as many as 1,204 electronic telephone exchanges were functioning in Punjab (including in Chandigarh), 882 in Haryana, 727 in Himachal Pradesh and 289 in Jammu and Kashmir. Letter boxes in villages: A total of 10,638 villages with a population of 300 and more in Punjab have letter boxes, while letter boxes have been installed in 6,759 villages in Haryana, in 6,222 villages in Himachal Pradesh and in 2,995 villages in Jammu and Kashmir, the Minister of State for Communications informed the Lok Sabha. |
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Cong threat to
stall proceedings NEW DELHI, Dec 4 (UNI) — The Congress today indicated that it would stall proceedings in both Houses of Parliament until its demand for a discussion on the need for resignation of the three Union Ministers chargesheeted in the Ayodhya case was accepted by the government. The ministers are Home Minister Lal Krishna Advani, Human Resource Development Minister Murli Manohar Joshi and Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs Uma Bharati. Speaking to mediapersons, AICC spokesperson Margaret Alva regretted that her party colleague S Jaipal Reddy, who had given notice under Rule 184 of the Lok Sabha to discuss the issue, was not allowed to raise the matter. As long as the CBI was under the Home Minister, the investigation in the Ayodhya case involving Mr Advani was not possible as he himself had been chargesheeted, she said. Gujral discharged from hospital NEW DELHI, Dec 4 — Former Prime Minister Inder Kumar Gujral was discharged today evening after extensive tests from the Escorts hospital where he was brought in yesterday following complaints of chest pain. Mr Gujral, who developed chest pain in Kathmandu where he had gone to attend the first meeting of the Citizen’s Commission for South Asia, was flown home yesterday and admitted to the ICU of the Escorts hospital. Mr Gujral was discharged around 8.30 p.m. after he was examined by a team of specialists, led by Dr Naresh Trehan, according to hospital sources. “He has undergone all tests, including angiography and CT scan, which are okayed. He is now perfectly fine,” doctors attending Mr Gujral said, adding that he has been advised rest for sometime before returning to his normal routine. The Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, spoke to Mr Gujral today and inquired about his condition. |
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WB told to pay 2 lakh to undertrial NEW DELHI, Dec 4 — A three-judge Bench of the Supreme Court comprising Chief Justice, A.S. Anand, Mr Justice M.J. Rao and Mr Justice V.N. Khare has directed the state of West Bengal to pay by way of donation Rs 2 lakh to the Howrah-based Missionaries of Charity (Brothers) where a lunatic undertrial, Ajoy Ghos, languishing in the state jails for nearly 40 years, is presently lodged. The missionary cares for the poorest of the poor, the sick and dying destitutes irrespective of religion, cast, creed and colour, free of cost and depends upon donations from generous persons. A letter from the missionary stated that it would take care of Ajoy Ghos and the services would be completely free. The state need not pay for his expenses, the letter pointed out. Referring to the missionary’s letter, the judges ordered in their interim direction, “We make it clear that our direction is not to hurt the sentiments of the Missionaries of Charity expressed in their letter but in appreciation of it and this payment is not being made by way of expenses for taking care of Ajoy Ghos but only with a view to assist the Missionaries of Charity to carry on with the good work they are doing.” The judges, while directing the donation to be paid within six weeks, noted that the Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate had made no efforts to take any action in the case of the unfortunate lunatic undertrial languishing in jail since 1962. Even medical treatment was provided to him only after the high court intervened. “The Superintendent Presidency Jail, Calcutta, even later on took no action to send the medical reports of the physical and mental state of Ajoy Ghos from 1964 to 1983 and thereafter till 1995. There may be many like Ajoy Ghos languishing in West Bengal or other jails of the country. There has been a complete violation of the statutory provisions”, the judges said expressing anguish. “We could have directed some interim compensation to be paid to Ajoy Ghos but considering his present state of mental and physical health, that would be of no avail. He has no relatives either. We are conscious of the fact that money award can be calculated only to make good finacial loss. It is not an award for the sufferings already undergone which are incapable of calculation in terms of money”, the judges added. The court asked the counsel for West Bengal and the amicus curiae appointed in the public interest case to suggest such guidelines as may be adopted for stopping the type of sufferings undergone by Ajoy Ghos, which would be considered at the final disposal of the matter. |
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‘Army men had to bribe rly staff’ GUWAHATI, Dec 4 (IANS) — In a damning indictment of corruption prevalent in the country, the Defence Minister, Mr George Fernandes, has said Army officers had to bribe railway staff to get tickets for trains bound for Jammu and Kashmir so that they could join their units on the front during last year’s Kargil conflict with Pakistan. “I was told by officers, including Majors, that they paid up to Rs 100 extra to railway staff for getting reservations,” Mr Fernandes said, while delivering a lecture at Guwahati University in Assam’s capital Dispur. “The Army officials identified themselves and also (told the railway staff) that they were going to the battlefield and may not come back alive,” he said. “You pay a bribe to get everything done and that is a worrying trend.” Mr Fernandes also attributed the economic backwardness and lack of development in the insurgency-affected north-eastern region to “corruption and lack of integrity” among political leaders. “Corruption and lack of integrity are acting as blocks in the development process in the north-eastern states,” said Mr Fernandes, who was speaking on the theme of “North East for India’s security and development”. The Defence Minister said the rise in unemployment in the country was one of the primary reasons behind insurgent movements, particularly in Jammu and Kashmir and the seven north-eastern states of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya, Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland and Tripura. “Unemployment is the mother of all insurgencies and we have found how educated unemployed youths of the country are being used by Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) to fight a proxy war against us,” said Mr Fernandes. “The unemployed youths were being paid for such tasks by the ISI,” he said. There are an estimated 150 million unemployed youths in India, of whom 40.3 million are educated professionals. He said insurgency in the North East has been a matter of serious concern with rebel groups showing no signs of relenting. “Extortion, kidnapping, and killings have been going on in the region and in Assam, the level of violence unleashed by the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) and a section of Bodo militants has scared off all private investments that may have been attracted (to the state),” he said. More than a dozen rebel groups are active in the North-Eastern region, with demands ranging from greater autonomy for tribal groups to the creation of independent homelands outside the Indian union. |
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Uttaranchal poll to be electronic: Gill DEHRA DUN, Dec 4 (UNI) — Uttaranchal’s first Assembly elections would be completely electronic with photo identity cards made mandatory, said Chief Election Commissioner M.S. Gill here today. Speaking to mediapersons after meeting Chief Minister Nityanand Swami and senior government officials, he said Uttaranchal, after Haryana, would become a model of electronic voting. Mr Gill, who was here to discuss the delimitation process in Uttaranchal, said the state Assembly had 22 members and after the delimitation, the strength would go up to 70. The Election Commission would make all efforts to complete the process at the earliest, he added. Mr Gill said the team of senior government officers, who had opted to come to Uttaranchal was extremely good. “Given a choice, I would also love to come to this beautiful state,’’ he said in a lighter vein. Mr Gill said there was an urgent need for running a Rajdhani train from Dehra Dun to Delhi as ministers, mlas, officials and other people would frequently travel to Delhi for work. “The Chief Minister was informed about it,’’ he added. |
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Herbs from Bihar land in metros PATNA, Dec 4 — What’s common between the markets of Khari Bawli of Delhi, Bara Bazar of Calcutta, Avenue Road of Bangalore and G.B.N. Road of Chennai? They all sell in bulk various medicinal herbs from the forests of Bihar, clandestinely loaded and transported there. The endemic products are procured from the jungles of Bihar in hundreds and sell like hot cakes, fetching lakhs to the smugglers. As a result of the mad rush, these herbs are on the verge of extinction in Bihar. Bihar has a massive potential for medicinal herbs based industry. The forests of the Kaimur plateau region of north-western Bihar abound in them. However, the incessant, illegal and uncontrolled cutting of trees and their products has threatened their existence. Traders from Calcutta, Delhi and Varanasi have their agents on the prowl in the region. Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi and West Bengal are wholesale purchasers of these medicinal herbs. They are transported to herbs bazaar and from there the Ayurvedic drugs manufacturing companies buy them in bulk. The modus operandi is simple. The local tribesmen, who do not have job opportunities, are lured into the trade. They identify the herbs. The agents hire them on a paltry sum and the local police and forest officials are naturally ‘propitiated’ in advance for their ‘patronage’. According to a research by the Indian National Trust for the Welfare of Tribals (INTWOT), on an average, two tonnes of herbs are loaded in each truck and the smugglers load about 10 trucks in one batch. It is estimated that they earn Rs 2 lakh to Rs 5 lakh for a truckload. Chirchiri, anwala, itarare, stawar, amaltas, kronch, among others are in great demand. Kutri, which is supposed to help in overcoming impotency, is the most sought after herb and is mostly taken away to Delhi and Punjab. The lack of local medicine industry is the prime cause of its illegal exports to other states. Owing to a lack of administrative vigil, the plants are being illegally cut and the endemic flora of the region faces extinction. According to the survey of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), more than 23 medicinal plants in the Indian sub-continent are on the verge of extinction. The illegal and bulk destruction of these medicinal plants is a matter of national concern. |
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After Diana, it’s Diya from Hyderabad HYDERABAD, Dec 4 (IANS) — Diya Mirza, who was crowned Miss Asia-Pacific at Manila on Saturday night, is the second girl from Hyderabad to win an international beauty pageant. Diya recorded a unique hat-trick when she walked away with the crown two days after Priyanka Chopra won the Miss World title. Lara Dutta currently holds the Miss Universe title. Diana Hayden was the first Hyderabad girl to win an international beauty pageant when she was crowned Miss World three years ago. “I was praying for my daughter. I was confident that she would bring laurels to the country,” said an elated Deepa Mirza, Diya’a mother. She regretted the fact that her ill-health prevented her from accompanying her daughter to Manila. Deepa said Diya spoke to her over the telephone before the final round of the pageant began. “She was confident of winning the title and sought my blessings,” Deepa said. The proud mother said confidence and hard work were the secrets of Diya’s success. “She always believed in herself and worked hard to achieve the goal,” Deepa said. |
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3 UP ministers
join Janshakti LUCKNOW, Dec 4 (UNI) — The Janata Dal (Pandey group), a partner in the ruling BJP-led coalition in Uttar Pradesh, today announced its merger with the Janshakti. The decision was taken at a conference in Pratapgarh district yesterday, leader of the group and Khadi Industries Development Minister Raja Ram Pandey told reporters here. Besides him, the other members of the JD (Pandey gruop) in the Assembly — Mr Ramasrey Paswan and Mr Rampal Rajvanshi — are also ministers. |
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