N A T I O N

Review move on truce extension: BJP
HYDERABAD, Jan 20 — The BJP today urged the Centre to review the decision to extend the unilateral ceasefire in Jammu and Kashmir in view of the continuing violence and increasingly desperate attempts by militant groups to sabotage India’s peace initiatives.

Hindujas’ questioning vital: lawyers
NEW DELHI, Jan 20 — The interrogation of the Hinduja brothers, almost 14 years after the Bofors pay-off case came to light, is “extremely significant” legal experts said.

NHRC report on carnage in 3 days
KOLKATA, Jan 20 — The National Human Rights Commission Director-General (Investigation) Mr Y. Srivastava, today said he would submit his report on the alleged massacre in Chhota Angaria village in Midnapore district within three days.

BSF troops mounted on camels position themselves outside Rashtrapati Bhavan during the rehearsal of “Beating the Retreat” ceremony in New Delhi on Saturday. — Reuters photo

Speaker gheraoed, tenders apology
BHOPAL, Jan 20 — The Madhya Pradesh Assembly witnessed ugly scenes on Friday. Speaker, Mr Shreenivas Tiwari, was gheraoed in his chamber for over two hours by the Opposition enraged at Mr Tiwari’s brusque refusal to allow a discussion on a rape/murder case. 

Hawking’s visit lucky for disabled youth
NEW DELHI, Jan 20 — A semi-literate youth suffering from bilateral polio was the first to benefit from the disabled-friendly environment created at Qutab Minar in honour of the legendary wheelchair bound physicist, Prof Stephen Hawking, on Monday.

Mahakumbh not always after 12 years
ALLAHABAD, Jan 20 — As Jupiter, the planet which determines the period of Kumbh, takes 11.85652 years to revolve round the Sun, the belief that Mahakumbh at Prayag comes after 12 years need not always be correct, according to the calculations based on astronomy.

Agitating scribes slam Tandon
KUMBH NAGAR, Jan 20 — Mediapersons sitting on a dharna in protest against the police lathi-charge on journalists yesterday shouted slogans against Uttar Pradesh Development Minister Lalji Tandon today.

• Chennai-Allahabad kumbh special
  

Govt urged to hold talks with Pandits
NEW DELHI, Jan 20 — The Kashmiri Samiti, an organisation of Kashmiri Pandits, has said before starting any peace negotiations with militant outfits or Pakistan, the government should talk to Kashmiri Pandits who have been displaced from their place of birth.

Geelani alleges ‘custodial killing’
NEW DELHI, Jan 20 — Senior Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani has condemned “custodial killing” of Mushtaq Ahmed Bhat, an activist of the Muslim League.

2,000 kids to take part in R-Day parade
NEW DELHI, Jan 20 — About 2,000 children from 10 schools are participating in the Republic Day parade this year. Six schools from Delhi and four schools from Allahabad, Imphal, Nagpur and Thrissur will show their talent on Rajpath.

Review move on truce extension: BJP

HYDERABAD, Jan 20 (PTI) — The BJP today urged the Centre to review the decision to extend the unilateral ceasefire in Jammu and Kashmir in view of the continuing violence and increasingly desperate attempts by militant groups to sabotage India’s peace initiatives.

“It is time to think hard on the proposal to extend ceasefire beyond January 26 as Pakistan has not ceased to abet terrorism”, party President Bangaru Laxman told a press conference here.

Stating that the “masters across the border had not displayed any intention to reciprocate Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee’s gesture”, he said it was time to review the situation, crush militancy with an “iron hand” and give a “fitting reply” to militant groups.

He disagreed with the view that the BJP's call for reviewing the ceasefire decision would undermine the initiative by the All-Party Hurriyat Conference (APHC) for resuming the dialogue.

“Even without the ceasefire, Hizbul Mujahideen had come forward for a dialogue. Let Hurriyat’s efforts (for resuming talks) continue along with stern measures to crush militancy”, the bjp President said.

The ceasefire initiative has succeeded in isolating the ISI-backed extremist outfits from the people of Kashmir and demonstrating the country’s firm commitment to the process of dialogue in Kashmir, he said.

“Having failed to deflect India from its course by several acts of violence, the militants recently made a cowardly bid on the life of Mr Farooq Abdullah. This shows their desperation”, Mr Laxman said. 

Hindujas’ questioning vital: lawyers
From R. Suryamurthy
Tribune News Service

NEW DELHI, Jan 20 — The interrogation of the Hinduja brothers, almost 14 years after the Bofors pay-off case came to light, is “extremely significant” legal experts said.

“They have been evading the court for the past 14 years and had engaged in protracted litigations, which delayed the transfer of crucial documents for several years,” Mr B.L. Wadhera, a senior Supreme Court lawyer told The Tribune.

The Hindujas, rated as one of the richest families of Indian expatriates in UK, have been charged with receiving pay-offs in the 155mm gun deal with the Swedish firm A.B. Bofors, were interrogated by the CBI today at the CBI headquarters for more than three hours.

The CBI in the charge sheet has alleged that the Hindujas had received 81 million Swedish kroners ($ 10 million) from Bofors which bagged the Rs 1437 crore gun contract in 1986.

Decks for the appearance of the Hinduja brothers — G.P. Hinduja, P.P. Hinduja and S.P. Hinduja — were cleared after the CBI, which filed the charge sheet, asked the immigration authorities not to detain or arrest them on their arrival in India. The business tycoons came to the country after almost a decade long self-imposed exile.

The three brothers have been charge sheeted under Section 120-B (criminal conspiracy) of the IPC and under sections 5(2) and 5(1)(d) of the Prevention of Corruption Act.

Another senior counsel of the Supreme Court, Mr P.N. Lekhi, sharing the views said: “Their interrogation would throw light on the numerous bank account, where the Bofors pay-off was deposited before being passed on to other beneficiaries.”

“It is a golden opportunity for the investigating agency to get to the bottom of the case, as the Hinduja brothers could provide several clues to the jigsaw puzzle of the case,” said another senior Supreme Court lawyer B. Bhattacharya.

Mr Wadhera said: “The Hinduja brothers had made every effort to scuttle transfer of bank documents. In India, they talked about investing Rs 20,000 crore for the industrial development of the country, and left the country only to move the Swiss court to restrain the transfer the documents as there was law and order problem in the country.”

The CBI charge sheet said 81 million Swedish kroners were deposited in three accounts in the Credit Suisse Bank, Hanover Manufacturers Trust and Swiss Bank Corporation of which 31.98 million Swedish kroners were deposited in Swiss Corporation under the code name, Lotus; 37.03 million Swedish kroners in Hanover Trust under the code name, Tulip and 11.7 million Swedish kroners in Credit Suisse under the code name, Mont Blanc. All accounts were held by McIntyre Corporation, which is owned by the Hindujas.

Asked about the significance of the Bofors case, which continues to evoke much interest across the country, Mr Lekhi said: “The case brought out the nexus between the persons at the highest level and the businessmen. It shook the conscience of the nation and the then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi lost the election after the case came to limelight.”

From the political perspective; he said the case gave ammunition to the Opposition to rally around and attack the Gandhi family.

Mr Wadhera said: “Bofors is mother of all scams. Had the guilty been punished, so many scams which took place later could have been prevented.”

The charge sheet against the Hinduja brothers came almost a year after the first one filed by the CBI on October 22, 1999 naming Kuala Lumpur-based Italian businessman Quattrocchi, NRI businessman Win Chadha, former Defence Secretary S.K. Bhatnagar, then Bofors company chief Martin Ardbo and the company itself as accused.

The CBI had alleged that Bofors paid kickbacks to various persons including Hindujas, Quattrocchi and Chadha for securing the contract for supply of 400 Bofors 155 mm Howitzer guns to India.

The agency alleged that this was in breach of the conditions put by the Indian government that there would be no middlemen or payment of commission in the deal.

However, Hindujas on September 28, had said in London that they had given statements under oath to the Swiss investigating judge that the funds received by them from Bofors company had no relation to the gun deal with India, in support of their contention of non-involvement in the case.

After receiving Swiss bank documents late last year, the CBI has been pressing the three Hinduja brothers to come to India for assisting it in the investigations.

The Hindujas, who had maintained that they had no involvement with the Bofors gun deal and had mounted a legal challenge in Swiss courts against transfer of bank documents to India, had offered to talk to the CBI in London or Geneva.

“The CBI has already been informed of these facts and of our cooperation in the matter of this inquiry,” Hindujas had said in a statement in London on September 28.

NHRC report on carnage in 3 days

KOLKATA, Jan 20 (UNI) — The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) Director-General (Investigation) Mr Y. Srivastava, today said he would submit his report on the alleged massacre in Chhota Angaria village in Midnapore district within three days.

“We are on a fact-finding mission and will submit our report to the NHRC within three days,” he told reporters here.

He, however, refused to comment on whether there was any carnage or killing at the village on January 4. “I will give my report and am not going to disclose it,” he added.

Yesterday, he told a news conference in Midnapore that there was some incident at the village and even some persons might have been killed. He said he would also report to the NHRC about the reservation expressed by the state human rights commission on the investigation. He and his deputy, dig Investigation, NHRC, Mr Shivaji Singh, today called on West Bengal Chief Secretary Manish Gupta and Director-General of Police Dipak Sanyal. Mr Gupta described the meeting as a courtsey call.

Mr Sanyal said Mr Srivastava had agreed with the view of the state police. “We have been telling you that there was an incident at the house of Abdur Rahman and some persons might have been injured or killed but we cannot confirm since there was no proof,” Mr Sanyal told reporters.

He, however, said that the state police had some names which could be linked to the incident. “Once we arrest those persons we will come to know about the incident but at the moment we cannot confirm whether some persons were killed because of lack of evidence.

Gowda opposes fixed term for Lok Sabha

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, Jan 20 (UNI) — Former Prime Minister and Janata Dal (Secular) leader H.D. Deve Gowda today termed “totally impractical” the suggestion of Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee for a fixed term for the Lok Sabha and state Assemblies.

“What is condemnable is not only the suggestion, but also the misuse of the official forum by the Prime Minister to air his personal views,” he said at a meet-the-Press programme of the Thiruvananthapuram Press Club here.

Mr Gowda ridiculed Mr Vajpayee for making the suggestion at the golden jubilee celebrations of the Election Commission (EC). “The EC is an autonomous body. Making such a suggestion at its function is nothing but misuse of the forum made available to him.”

Elaborating why and how the suggestion of Mr Vajpayee was impractical, he said such a system would not work in the coalition-dominated political set-up at the Centre and at the state-level. Since the 1996 election mandate, it had become clear that the coalition set-up was here to stay. It was the repeated snap poll in 1998 and in 1999 that might have prompted the Prime Minister to suggest a fixed term for the Lok Sabha.

But, the practical difficulty was that the Prime Minister would have to be allowed to continue in power even if he was voted out of office, Mr Gowda said, adding that: “If the suggestion of Mr Vajpayee is to be accepted, the same Lok Sabha cannot elect another Prime Minister.”

Even if a minority government was in power, it could run the nation without the support of the Lok Sabha. The net result was that the Prime Minister could not push through the measures which his government would decide.

Mr Gowda came out strongly against criminalisation of politics, and vowed that his party would not field any person facing criminal charges in the coming Assembly elections in five states. 

Speaker gheraoed, tenders apology
From N.D. Sharma

BHOPAL, Jan 20 — The Madhya Pradesh Assembly witnessed ugly scenes on Friday. Speaker, Mr Shreenivas Tiwari, was gheraoed in his chamber for over two hours by the Opposition enraged at Mr Tiwari’s brusque refusal to allow a discussion on a rape/murder case. The gherao was lifted only after the Speaker acknowledged his “mistake”, tendered an apology and even offered to resign.

An adjournment motion on the attempted rape of a Scheduled Caste woman in the night of January 16 and the subsequent murder of two persons, who had identified the culprits in a village in Sidhi district was moved by the BSP members, Mrs Vidyavati Patel and Dr. I.M.P. Verma, who alleged a conspiracy to hush up the matter and demanded a discussion in the House. The Leader of the Opposition, Dr Gauri Shankar Shejwar (BJP), lent his support to the BSP members’ demand and alleged that those indulging in atrocities on weaker sections enjoyed protection from the influential persons.

Mr Tiwari brusquely refused permission for a discussion, declared the House adjourned till February 19 and retired to his chamber. All Opposition members rushed after him and squatted in front of the two gates of the Speaker’s chamber virtually detaining him inside. All the time the MLAs were shouting slogans referring to the corruption cases pending against the Speaker in the Madhya Pradesh High Court and the Supreme Court through two different petitions.

As the Opposition gave no indication of lifting the gherao, the Speaker’s staff was said to have contacted the Chief Minister. Mr Digvijay Singh then brokered a compromise between the Speaker and the irate Opposition. At his initiative the leaders of political parties in the Assembly met the septuagenarian Speaker who broke down before them and admitted that he had committed a mistake. Mr Tiwari apologised to them and even offered to resign. While the BJP leader of Opposition, Dr Gauri Shankar Shejwar, kept mum, the other party leaders were said to have turned down the Speaker’s offer to resign.

Mr Digvijay Singh then told Opposition MLAs, squatting outside, what had transpired between the Speaker and the party leaders and persuaded them to accept the Speaker’s apology. The gherao was lifted after more than two hours. The Assembly stands adjourned to February 19. 

Hawking’s visit lucky for disabled youth
From Tripti Nath
Tribune News Service

NEW DELHI, Jan 20 — A semi-literate youth suffering from bilateral polio was the first to benefit from the disabled-friendly environment created at Qutab Minar in honour of the legendary wheelchair bound physicist, Prof Stephen Hawking, on Monday.

British physicists came to Qutab Minar only the next day. Well-known paraplegic and disability rights activist, Javed Abidi, also came to the monument with his wheelchair bound colleague, Aqeel Qureshi.

The 20-year old tourist, Sawarmal, hailing from Sikar in Rajasthan, was lucky to have come to Qutab Minar on the right day when red-carpet ramps had been put up for Professor Hawking’s reception. The youth was spotted by the Director of the Institute for Physically Handicapped, Mr Sharad Ranga, who happened to be supervising the arrangements. When Mr Ranga approached the youth, he found that he was suffering from bilateral PPRP (post polio residual paralysis which involves hip, knee and ankle contracture). Despite acute deformity, the youth had come to see the world heritage site with his relatives.

Used to being left out, he was waiting in front of Alai Darwaza for his relatives to return when Mr Ranga approached him. He could hardly believe his luck when the IPH Director promised that he would be taken around in a wheelchair. His eyes lit up when a security guard of the Archaeological Survey of India walked up to him and offered to take him around in the wheelchair. Sawarmal went up the 5 ft ramp leading to the iron pillar, to Alai Darwaza (one of the most treasured gems of Islamic architecture) and came down the Imli gate from the ramp. The security guard then deposited the wheelchair at the entrance where video camera tickets are issued.

Mr Ranga who had promised him a wheelchair said the youth came to the institute for examination and assessment and registration two days later. He is expected to pick up the wheelchair soon.

Under the Assistance to Disabled Persons Scheme, the institute gives wheelchairs to needy persons whose monthly income is less than Rs 5000. Persons whose income is in the range of Rs 5,000 to Rs 8,000 can get a wheelchair at half the cost.

Mahakumbh not always after 12 years

ALLAHABAD, Jan 20 (UNI) — As Jupiter, the planet which determines the period of Kumbh, takes 11.85652 years to revolve round the Sun, the belief that Mahakumbh at Prayag comes after 12 years need not always be correct, according to the calculations based on astronomy.

Talking to UNI here, Nehru Planetarium Director Pramod Pandey said the positioning of Jupiter and the Sun was vital to determine the period of every Kumbh. Also, with the arrival of every Mahakumbh, there was a deficit of some years as against the popular perception of 12 years (since Jupiter’s revolution time is less than 12 years).

“When Jupiter completes an orbit of the Sun, the period where the rotation finishes is considered to be the Kumbh season. But again, only when the Sun too enters a particular zodiac, as per religious beliefs, does the festival begin,” Mr Pandey said.

As per tradition calculations for the Kumbh at Prayag, Jupiter should be in Taurus and the Sun in Capricorn; for Kumbh at Ujjain, Jupiter in Leo and the Sun in Aries; for Kumbh at Nasik, Jupitier and the Sun in Leo; for Kumbh at Hardwar, Jupitier in Aquarius and the Sun in the Aries, Mr Pandey said.

Since the deficit keeps increasing, every seventh Kumbh comes after the gap of 11 years, he said. In 1954, there was a Mahakumbh in Prayag and the next one took place in 1965.

Keeping in view the religious sentiments of the people, the Nehru Planetarium is showing a film on “Astronomy and Kumbh”.

Agitating scribes slam Tandon

KUMBH NAGAR, Jan 20 (UNI) — Mediapersons sitting on a dharna in protest against the police lathi-charge on journalists yesterday shouted slogans against Uttar Pradesh Development Minister Lalji Tandon today.

Mr Tandon, also in-charge of the Kumbh Mela, had come to the National Media Centre to know about yesterday’s incident and talk with mediapersons sitting on the dharna.

The situation worsened when Mr Tandon said he was not aware of the attack and asked for deputing three or four journalists to brief him about the whole episode.

At this, the journalists became agitated and said “it was unfortunate that even after 24 hours of the ugly incident, the minister was not aware of the facts”.

Chennai-Allahabad Kumbh special
Tribune News Service

NEW DELHI, Jan 20 — Northern Railways will run a special train (615D/616D) on the Chennai-Allahabad-Chennai route.

The train 615D will leave Chennai on January 22 and return from Allahabad on January 26. The train has 18 sleeper class coaches. It will halt at Naini, Manikpur, Satna, Katni, Jabalpur, Itarsi, Amla, Nagpur, Balarshah, Warangal, Vijaywada and Gudur. It will leave Chennai at 2.30 p.m. on January 22 to reach Allahabad at 4.30 a.m. on the third day.

The return will leave Allahabad at 10 a.m. on January 26 to reach Chennai at 9.30 p.m. the second day.

Z-category security for Mamata

KOLKATA, Jan 20 — Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee’ complaint to Home Minister L.K. Advani on “the CPM plan to kill her”, has promoted the ministry to provide her special security.

Ms Banerjee met the Home Minister yesterday in Delhi and formally submitted a complaint to him about the life threat. Mr Advani directed the Home Secretary, Mr Bimal Pande, to provide Z-category protection to Ms Banerjee, which the President, the Prime Minister and he himself enjoy.

Home Minister also asked the West Bengal Chief Minister, Mr Buddhadev Bhattacharyya, to arrange for her safety during her stay in Kolkata.

Ms Banerjee had been attacked recently allegedly by the CPM at her public meeting in Garbeta. She sustained injuries on her leg.

Mr Jyoti Basu and Mr Bhattacharyya however, denied there could be any threat to Ms Banerjee’s life from the CPI (M).

Mr Basu alleged Ms Banerjee was levelling false charges against the CPI (M). He warned the party would not launch agitation but also go to Supreme Court if President’s Rule was imposed on the state. Left Front leaders have already launched meetings in the city and districts to arouse feelings of protest against the Trinamool Congress and the BJP-led NDA Government.

CPI (M) politburo, which met yesterday in Bhubaneswar, expressed concern at Centre’s attempt to impose President’s Rule in West Bengal.

Govt urged to hold talks with Pandits
Tribune News Service

NEW DELHI, Jan 20 — The Kashmiri Samiti, an organisation of Kashmiri Pandits, has said before starting any peace negotiations with militant outfits or Pakistan, the government should talk to Kashmiri Pandits who have been displaced from their place of birth.

Asserting that no compromise could be made with the Pandits’ right to return to their land of birth, Mr C.L. Gadoo, president of the samiti, said any government which failed to up hold the sovereignty of the country would face the wrath of its people.

Claiming that the ceasefire had exposed the minority community of Jammu and Kashmir to attacks by militants, he said the government was trying to evolve a solution to the problem by ignoring the Pandits. Mr Gadoo said despite the ceasefire, militants had stepped up violence.

Expressing his concern at the plight of the Pandits he said the future of the Pandits was directly related to the future of the country. He said there was no instance in recent history where people had become refugees in their own country.

The government’s peace initiative was discussed at a seminar organised by the samiti here today.

Geelani alleges ‘custodial killing’
Tribune News Service

NEW DELHI, Jan 20 — Senior Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani has condemned “custodial killing” of Mushtaq Ahmed Bhat, an activist of the Muslim League.

According to a press release of the Kashmir Awareness Bureau here, Mr Geelani, who is in the Capital for medical treatment, said Mr Bhat was arrested by SOG personnel on January 19 and killed in a “fake encounter.” Mr Geelani demanded the release of Mr Masrat Alam Bhat, general secretary, Muslim Leage; 

2,000 kids to take part in R-Day parade
Tribune News Service

NEW DELHI, Jan 20 — About 2,000 children from 10 schools are participating in the Republic Day parade this year. Six schools from Delhi and four schools from Allahabad, Imphal, Nagpur and Thrissur will show their talent on Rajpath.

According to sources, the newly formed states of Chhattisgarh and Uttranchal will be represented by their folk dances, Chattisgarhi and Chholia, respectively. Kalaripayattu, the martial art of Kerala and tgang-ta, a unique art of sword and spear fighting from Manipur will be some other attractions.

NATIONAL BRIEFS

Freedom fighter Palod dead
NASIK: Freedom fighter and senior Congress leader Shriram Shankarlal Palod died at Lasalgaon on Friday following a brief illness, according to his family sources. He was 87. Palod played an important role in the formation of Lasalgaon Merchants’ Bank, Lasalgaon Nutan Vidya Prasarak Mandal and also held various posts in the Congress. — PTI

Murder case: 2 COPS suspended
PATNA: Two police officers of the special branch were suspended in connection with the recent murder of seven persons at Rosera in Samastipur district. IG (special branch) A.K.Gupta said here on Friday that those suspended were Police Inspector Subhash Chandra Sharma and Sub-Inspector Siyaram Sharma, both posted at Rosera. The suspended officers were found guilty of not informing the state headquarters about the murder at Rosera. — UNI

Tusker kills man, daughter
JALPAIGURI: Tension gripped Nepachhapur Tea Garden, close to a forest in this district, after a Tusker trampled to death a 42-year-old man and his six-year-old daughter. The elephant entered the village on Wednesday night and attacked the man’s thatched hut killing the child on the spot and critically injuring him and his wife, the Divisional Forest Officer of Wildlife Division-II, Mr Rasu Das, said here on Saturday. — PTI

Cops suspended for helping jailed MLA
PATNA: Five official bodyguards of the jailed independent MLA of Bihar, Munna Shukla, have been suspended for allowing him to roam about freely, Director-General of Police R.R. Prasad said on Saturday. The policemen were suspended for allowing the MLA to go to Lalganj despite being in judicial custody, Mr Prasad said. — PTI

Vijayaraje stable
NEW DELHI: Senior BJP leader Vijayaraje Scindia, admitted to Apollo Hospital with meningitis, was reported to be in a “stable” condition, though not yet out of danger on Saturday. However, the 81-year-old former MP continues to be on life support systems. She was admitted to the medical intensive care unit of Apollo in unconscious state on January 2. — UNI

Assam ultras gun down five
GUWAHATI: Suspected NDFB militants gunned down five persons, including three BLT overground activists, at separate places in Lower Assam’s Bongaigaon and Dhubri districts yesterday, official sources said on Saturday. Three BLT members were shot dead at Tangrabari village in the Bongaigaon district. Militants also gunned down two woodcutters belonging to the minority group in Srigram forest of Dhubri district. — UNI

Kerala JD (U) chief resigns
KOCHI: President of the Kerala unit of the Janata Dal (U), Mr K. Chandrasekharan, on Saturday said he had resigned from his post. He said he had faxed his resignation letter to the party President, Mr Sharad Yadav, on Saturday morning. — PTI

COPS open fire to disperse mob
MYSORE: One person was killed and two were injured when the police opened fire to disperse a violent mob at Bandalli, near Hanur, in Chamarajanagara district of Karnataka on Friday. The police said four police personnel and some villagers were injured in stone throwing indulged in by the mob, which blocked the inauguration of the Primary Health Centre (PHC) there in protest against the non-inclusion of the name of the landowner who had donated the site for the PHC in the invitation card. According to the police, the firing was resorted to as a lathi charge failed to bring the situation under control. — UNI