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| Wednesday, December 13, 2000, Chandigarh, India   
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Govt hardens stand on postal stir Houses paralysed for 7th day Hindujas summoned in
Bofors case Cabinet clears highway project North India in Parliament |
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Paswan: Janshakti to contest all elections Involve grassroots
in decision-making: Pant 45,000 polluting units
to shut down in Delhi Kher drags Zee
to court 18 crocodiles
found dead MCI asked to
include unani study in MBBS Food packs to carry details
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Govt hardens stand on postal stir NEW DELHI, Dec 12 (PTI) — Hardening its stance, the government today warned the postal employees of stern action if they did not resume duty immediately even as unions declared their resolve to continue with the indefinite strike which has paralysed the services across the country for the past eight days. “I appeal to postal employees to return to their work. We do not want to take any difficult decisions but also we do not want the public to suffer,” Communication Minister Ram Vilas Paswan told newsmen after the fresh round of talks between unions and Postal Secretary B.N. Som. Asked if the government would invoke ESMA (Essential Services Maintenance Act) to break the strike, Paswan said “Wait till tomorrow,” While referring to the Delhi High Court directive to inform it of measures taken by the Centre to resolve the strike to press for wage-related demands. “We have agreed to most of the internal demands. But no decision can be taken having a bearing on other departments for which we will have to wait for the outcome of the meeting of group of ministers (headed by Home Minister L.K. Advani),” he said in an obvious reference to demands relating to wages and pension. He emphasised that government was willing to talk to unions on their demand but they also should resume work. “We can’t allow them to cause hardship for the public”. |
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Houses paralysed for 7th day NEW DELHI, Dec 12—Parliament remained paralysed for the seventh day today with a determined Opposition refusing to relent and forcing the adjournment of both Houses on the Ayodhya issue. A meeting of the leaders of the political parties called in the morning by the
Speaker, Mr G.M.C. Balayogi, failed to bring around the opposition parties to end the impasse in Parliament. Opposition members continued the din in both
Houses, leading to adjournments for the day within minutes of the members assembling. The Opposition in the Lok Sabha demanded the resignation of the Prime
Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, for his controversial remarks on the construction of a Ram Temple. In the Rajya
Sabha, the Chairman, Mr Krishan Kant’s efforts to bring around the Congress-led Opposition to let the question hour proceed proved
futile. The Opposition members refused to allow discussion on anything other than the Ayodhya issue. Congress members were most vocal and pressed their demand for a discussion on the issue. Congress member Suresh
Pachouri, leading the protest, said that it was unfortunate that no decision had been taken on
discussion on the Ayodhya issue till now and it should be taken up immediately. Mr Kant made attempts to pacify the members and kept calling to the members to take their seats, which was of no avail.
Unable to pacify members, the Chairman adjourned the House till tomorrow. In the Lok Sabha also, there was no end in sight to the week-long impasse as members from the Samajwadi Party, Bahujan Samaj Party and others stormed the well, raising slogans, “pradhan mantri isteefa do” (Prime Minister resign). The House witnessed noisy scenes with slogans and counter-slogans being raised by the Opposition and Treasury Benches over the Ayodhya issue. The Opposition members, shouting slogans, trooped into the Well of the House as soon as Deputy Speaker P.M. Sayeed assumed his seat. The Treasury Bench members also got up and began raising slogans in favour of the Prime Minister to counter the Opposition. Nothing was audible in the resultant bedlam in the house. The din continued for around two minutes before the Deputy Speaker adjourned the House for the day. Though what happened today was no different from what had been happening for the past six days, unlike the other
days, today the House was in full strength and before the arrival of the Deputy Speaker all members were seated
peacefully, giving the impression that the House might take up its normal proceedings. But it was not to be. Hindujas
summoned in Bofors case NEW DELHI, Dec 12 — Special Judge Ajit Bharihoke today took congnizance of a supplementary CBI charge sheet against the Hindujas and issued summons for the three London-based industrialists brothers — Mr S.P. Hinduja, Mr G.P. Hinduja and Mr P.P. Hinduja — to appear before the court on January 19. The judge also ordered the charge sheet to be clubbed together with the main charge sheet in the Bofors case. He said this while disposing of a Hindujas’ application stating that the CBI charge sheet against them was incomplete and improper. Cabinet clears highway project NEW DELHI, Dec 12 — The Union Cabinet today cleared the proposal for the construction of highways linking four metros, transfer of surplus power from the eastern to the deficit western region and gave a fomal approval to the Indo-Russian treaty on legal assistance. The Cabinet also approved revised cost estimates of Rs 218.42 crore for four-laning of the NH-1 from Karnal to the Haryana-Punjab border. The project, aided by the World Bank, was initially sanctioned at an estimated cost of Rs 287.22 crore. Announcing the decision taken at a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), presided over by the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, the Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Mr Pramod Mahajan, said the Rs 30,300 crore metros-linking project was part of the National Highway Development Project. The Cabinet also gave formal approval to the Indo-Russian treaty on legal assistance and legal relations concerning civil and commercial matters. 
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North India in Parliament NEW DELHI, Dec 12 — Punjab has mobilised Rs 2,10,09,802 during the current financial year (up to October, 2000) through deposits under the small savings schemes by Post Office Savings Bank, the Minister for Communications, Mr Ram Vilas Paswan, informed the Lok Sabha. In a written reply to a question from Mr Ravindra Kumar Pandey, the minister pointed out that the deposits had only been increasing and that the question of non-cooperation of postal employees and lack of proper advertising did not arise. While Haryana had mobilised deposits of Rs 1,17,75,513, Himachal Pradesh had mustered Rs 49,90,046, Jammu and Kashmir Rs 36,94,100 and Chandigarh had managed Rs 8,21,007. Central aid for preservation and development of forests: As much as Rs 334.15 lakh have been released by the Centre to Himachal Pradesh till November, 2000, during the current financial year for preservation and development of forests, the Minister for Environment and Forests, Mr T. R. Baalu, informed the Lower House. The total amount proposed to be released to Himachal Pradesh during 2000-01 was Rs 421.07 lakh, the minister said in a written reply to a joint question from Mr Bhartruhari Mahtab and Mr Ramanaidu Daggubati. While Haryana had got Rs 324.65 lakh as against the proposed release of Rs 350.48 lakh, Punjab had been given only Rs 49.34 lakh as against the proposed release of Rs 414.96 lakh and Jammu and Kashmir had got Rs 347.27 lakh against the proposed allocation of Rs 918.25 lakh, the minister informed. Central assistance for power generation from NCES:
The Centre has released Rs 10.06 crore during the current financial year to Punjab under various programmes for power generation from non-conventional energy sources, the Minister of State for Non-Conventional Energy Sources, Mr M Kannappan, informed the Lok Sabha. While Himachal Pradesh had been paid Rs 5.89 crore, Haryana had been extended Central assistance of Rs 3.57 crore and Jammu and Kashmir Rs 3.49 crore. In a written reply to a joint question from Mr Suresh Ramrao Jadhav and Mr Ramdas Athawale, the minister said the government envisioned a major role for non-conventional energy sources in the energy sector in the coming decades. For this, the minister for Non-Conventional Energy Sources had formulated a draft renewable energy policy statement. Among the goals envisaged in the draft policy statement for 2012 is to increase the share of non-conventional energy in the additional installed capacity to 10 per cent, or 10,000 mw in the next 12 years. The minister informed that various rural energy and solar energy programmes were being vigorously implemented by the states. The initiatives taken by the states for power generation from non-conventional energy sources included resource assessments and introduction of conducive policies by 14 states for wheeling, banking, third-party sale and buy-back of power, he added. Certain states provided modest capital subsidies; sales tax exemption, sales tax exemption/deferment and other infrastructure, including power evacuation facilities for non-conventional energy projects, he said, adding that land was also allotted on concessional terms. Damage caused by flood:
At least 100 human lives were lost due to a flood in Himachal Pradesh this year, which caused havoc in three districts of the state, the Minister of State for Agriculture, Mr Shripad Y Naik informed the Lower House. The Centre had extended to the Himachal Government Rs 50 crore as ways and means advance and Rs 50 crore as advance from normal Central assistance, he said. In Punjab seven persons were killed in floods this year which affected seven districts of the state, the minister added. |
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Paswan: Janshakti to contest all elections NEW DELHI, Dec 12 — The Union Communications Minister, Mr Ram Vilas Paswan, today said his newly formed party, the Lok Janshakti, would contest all elections as and when they were held. Speaking to TNS after a press conference held to announce Mr Ram Vir Singh Bidhuri’s entry into the party as national Vice-President and spokesman, Mr Paswan said, ‘‘Our party manifesto will be ready before January 1. The manifesto will address issues of rural infrastructure, technology, health, education and population.’’ Mr Bidhuri, who resigned from all posts and the primary membership of the Congress, announced his decision to join the Lok Janshakti. Mr Paswan said his party would benefit from Mr Bidhuri’s political experience and reputation of being committed to social causes. ‘‘He belongs to a Gujjar family and is known for his development-oriented policies.’’ Mr Paswan said he wanted to bring together farmers, Dalits and persons from backward classes to create a force that was above caste and creed and addressed issues of population, health, education, unemployment, corruption, irrigation and power. He said a large number of ‘‘disillusioned’’ Congress workers from all over the country would assemble at Vithal Bhai Patel House on Sunday afternoon and formally join the Lok Janshakti. He said the party would soon emerge as a leading political force which would champion the cause of the common man. Mr Bidhuri said his association with Mr Paswan dated back to the time when the latter was the Vice-President of the Janata Dal. He said Mr Paswan had been working tirelessly for the upliftment of weaker sections of society. |
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Involve grassroots
in decision-making: Pant NEW DELHI, Dec 12 — The Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission, Mr K.C. Pant, today called for evolving systems and processes necessary to engender a cooperative spirit and to enable the vulnerable and marginalised sections of society to have a say in the decision-making process at the grassroots level. Inaugurating the National Workshop on Community Driven Management and Decentralisation, organised jointly by the Planning Commission, the UNDP, the World Bank and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, he said it was also necessary to encourage local initiatives and the culture of self help. Mr Pant said the government should commit itself to improving the involvement of the people at the grassroots level in the development process. This, he added, would pave the way for timely implementation of the development projects and also help in overcoming avoidable obstacles. He said Panchayati Raj institutions, vehicles for political education and training in leadership, had to play a multi-faceted role. Decentralisation had to lead to releasing, harnessing and channelising energies of the people towards bringing about a social transformation aimed at every member of society occupying rightful place in the social, economic and political firmament, he added. He said the success of the Panchayati Raj institutions would depend on the impact they would have on social transformation, including empowerment of women, the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and other communities. He said empowerment of gram sabhas through local community participation was necessary for the success of the Panchayati Raj. |
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45,000 polluting units
to shut down in Delhi NEW DELHI, Dec 12 (UNI) — Some 45,000 polluting industries will be closed down in the Capital by January 3, 2001, in pursuance of the Supreme Court orders, but the overwhelming majority of these units are of ‘‘insubstantial nature and virtually do not exist on the ground,’’ Union Urban Development Minister Jagmohan said here today. The number of genuine units, those which had been earlier allotted alternative plots in industrial estates, are only 6,586, he said. The closure would be effected through sealing of premises, cancellation of ad-hoc licences and withdrawal of water and power connections for industrial use, Mr Jagmohan said at a press conference. |
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Kher drags Zee
to court MUMBAI, Dec 12 (PTI) — Film actor Anupam Kher has filed an arbitration petition in the Mumbai High Court seeking a direction to restrain M/s Zee Telefilms Ltd from continuing the game show “Sawal Dus Crore Ka” without him as one of the hosts, on the ground that the company had committed a breach of contract. The actor filed the petition on December 7, raising apprehension on the basis of press reports that he would be removed from anchoring the show. However, on December 9 Zee Telefilms Ltd informed him officially that his services were being discontinued. In view of this development, Kher urged the high court yesterday seeking permission to amend the petition since the had already been removed from the show. The actor has raised a grievance that Zee Telefilms Ltd could not terminate his services without giving him 60 days clear notice, which was one of the conditions of the agreement between them on October 13. Anupam Kher pleaded that on his part he had not committed any breach of the agreement either orally or in writing and that Zee had not raised such a grievance while terminating the contract. |
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18 crocodiles
found dead KANNUR, Dec 12 (PTI) — Eighteen crocodiles, which were among the reptiles and animals impounded by forest officials at the Parassinikkadavu snake park here on Sunday, were found dead while being transported to a pond in the park, a top wildlife official said today. “The reptiles were found dead this morning when forest officials were transporting them to a pond in the park”, Mr Mehar Singh, regional wildlife conservator, told reporters here. Denying that the deaths were caused by injuries while catching them, he said it could be caused by stress. |
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MCI asked to
include unani study in MBBS NEW DELHI, Dec 12 — The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has asked the Medical Council of India to include the basic principles and concepts of Indian systems of medicine and homoeopathy (ISMH) in the MBBS syllabus. Sources in the ministry said the aim of the proposal was to sensitise allopathic doctors about the ayurveda, unani and homoeopathic systems. The topics would be covered through seminars but there will be no credits for these modules. The Department of ISMH has already prepared the module to be covered in the first three years of the MBBS. |
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Food packs to carry details NEW DELHI, Dec 12 — The government has amended Prevention of Adulteration Food (PFA) rules making it mandatory to indicate on the labels of packed and bottled food articles details of the manufacturer, manufacturing unit and the importer. Currently labels contain the address of the registered office of the manufacturer and or even a shorter address of the manufacturer. However, this does not provide adequate information to the consumers as well as to the authorities responsible for food safety. Therefore, the name and complete address of the manufacturer and his unit, and that of the packing/bottling unit in case this is done separately even though franchise, will now have to be indicated on the label. Similarly, the name and address of the importer will also have to be indicated on the label of imported foods and if imported food is packed or bottled in India, the country of origin of the food article and the name and complete address of the importer and the premises of the packing or bottling in India, would also have to be mentioned. These additional requirements were found necessary to facilitate expeditious identification of the source of the problem when any issue concerning food safety needs to be addressed or monitored. |
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One killed during
film shooting MUMBAI, Dec 12 (PTI) — A film worker was killed and another injured when they accidentally came in contact with blades of a giant fan during the shooting of a Hindi movie at the state government-run Film City at Goregaon here yesterday, the police said. According to the police, the fan was being used to create special effects for a storm scene in the film “Devdas”, starring Shah Rukh Khan and Aishwarya Rai. |
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