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| Friday, February
9, 2001, Chandigarh, India   
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A special report Saleem pulled out alive
with miners’ bodies Technology strategic factor: Fernandes Police plan to check ‘killer’ buses |
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New AC train for Maharashtra NEW DELHI, Feb 8 — A new air-conditioned luxury train on the lines of ‘Palace on Wheels’ will start running soon in the Maharashtra sector as a joint venture between the Indian Railways and the government of Maharashtra.
Pondicherry Cong leaders meet Sonia WB Cong seeks Sonia’s permission In grief they share their experiences Panel on modernising
Railways set up Suchitra Mitra elected Sheriff Seven officers suspended Deshpande: bomb theory mischievous 8 cops killed Advani opens mela on tribal art
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A special report NEW DELHI, Feb 8 — Rajmata Vijayaraje Scindia’s lifelong associates had never thought that she would not allow her only son and senior Congress leader Madhavrao Scindia to touch her body during her last journey. The lighting of pyre by Mr Scindia contrary to the Rajmata’s wishes has brought into sharp focus the moral and legal dereliction of duty of the executors and the witnesses. The will was released to the Press yesterday, the 14th day of the demise of Mrs Scindia. Asked whether the non-compliance to a significant clause of the Rajmata’s will was a lapse on the part of the executors and the witnesses, Mr Alok Kumar, counsel for Sardar Angre in the matter of the will said: “It is unfair to her will and wishes alright but neither her Private Secretary, Sardar S.C. Angre nor her chartered accountant, Mr S. Gurumurthi, were aware of the contents of the will. After making the will, the Rajmata sent its copies in sealed envelopes to Mr Gurumurthi, Sardar Angre’s wife, Mrs Raj Rajeshwari Devi and the UK based Solicitor firm, Messers Lovell White and King. She had told Sardar Angre’s wife to hand over the envelope to Mr Angre after her death. Mr Angre came to know of his designation as one of the executors only after he opened the envelope following the cremation. It is not necessary for witnesses to know of the contents of the will. I do not know if Mr Gurumurthi knew that he was one of the executors.” Asked why the envelope was not opened after Rajmata’s death as desired, Mr Kumar said, “Its never done. It is against human conduct.” Sardar Angre, an old associate of the Rajmata told TNS, “I got a copy of the will in my hands only on January 27 after the cremation. My wife who had been
entrusted with a copy of the will gave it to me. The Rajmata had asked her to hand it over to me after she was no more. Mr Gurumurthi who also had a copy of the will was somewhere in South India when the Rajmata died.” Asked what purpose the will had answered when the executors had not been able to prevent Mr Scindia from lighting the pyre, Sardar Angre said, “Nobody ever had an idea that the Rajmata would not allow her son to even touch her body after her death. The last rites as the “gaya shradh” and the “brahmakapali” as willed by the Rajmata are yet to be performed. I will go and perform the “brahmakapali” at Badrinarain myself. It has to be done within a year. “I cannot prevent Mr Scindia from performing the last rites. I do not know if Mr Scindia knew about the contents of the will.” Mr Alok Kumar who has been handling Scindia’s cases for a long time said that they would ensure that the last rites are performed according to Rajmata’s wishes. Commenting on the case, Mr Vivek Sood, a Supreme Court lawyer said, “The executor is an officer entrusted with the duty of implementing the will. Admittedly, Angre’s wife had a copy of the will and so did Gurumurthi. Knowing fully well that the cremation is held soon after death, the Rajmata would have definitely told somebody to ensure that her son was not permitted to light the pyre and who else can it be other than the executors? From these circumstances, it seems difficult to believe that her close associates did not have knowledge of the will and its contents especially in view of numerous litigations between the Rajmata and Mr Scindia. If Mr Scindia knew of the contents of the will, then he has committed a wrong. |
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Saleem pulled out alive
with miners’ bodies PATNA, Feb 8 — “Yeh khuda ka karisma hei”! Thousands of miners and the relatives of the trapped miners of the Bagdigi mines of the BCCL exclaimed in unison after the mine rescue team brought to the surface one of the trapped miners Saleem along with three bodies of his colleagues in the morning. But the tale told by Saleem exposes the criminal neglect on the part of the rescue team and BCCL management whose timely help could have saved the likes of many Saleems. After the Navy divers returned to their homes, the relatives had accepted the fate of the trapped miners and were demanding only the bodies, but now the safe return of Saleem has brought back some hopes. However the recovery of three more bodies have dampened the spirits as Saleem said four of his colleagues died of hunger in front of his eyes. Saleem was found unconscious, according to BCCl officials, and was rushed to the hospital where he was saved and is now in a position to narrate his tale. He has reportedly said he along with four of his colleagues had rushed to the haulage point of the level one after they saw the heavy gush of water approaching. Four of his colleages died one after one of hunger in front of his eyes and he could sustain himself drinking the water that was everywhere. The body of Chhotu Miyan, Brij Mohan Singh and Chandradev Harijan were found from near the place Saleem was found. Saleem too could have met with the same fate if he was not traced today as he was without food for the last seven days. The fact that came prominently to the fore during the rescue operation is that the rescue team did not have proper knowledge of the mine pit they were exploring otherwise they could have traced the miners earlier. Naturally the mining map was not updated and that is why the Navy divers refused to continue the search and returned home yesterday. Also the mine had poor communication network otherwise the trapped miners could have conveyed the distress message or the divers could have reached their voices to them. Moreover, the recovery of the bodies of the three of the four colleagues has also almost sealed the fate of miners being alive. The relatives are angry over the BCCL people as they believe that many of them could have died of starvation rather than flooding of the mines. Now that seven days have passed, there being anyone alive is a distant possibility. |
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Technology strategic factor: Fernandes BANGALORE, Feb 8 (PTI) — Defence Minister George Fernandes today made a strong plea for international cooperation on a joint venture basis to make available military and civil aviation benefits to the common man in the “shortest possible time,” at lower cost and with higher safety standards. Delivering the presidential address, after inaugurating an international seminar on “aerospace technologies: development and strategies,” being held as part of “Aero India 2001”, near here, he appealed to scientists and experts to identify strategic areas where international cooperation was feasible and possible. Mr Fernandes said technology was increasingly being viewed as an important strategic factor and recognised as a fundamental element of economic growth. Therefore, he noted, there was need to initiate programmes, which were technology-based, to meet future applications and explore joint funding, “as they are cost intensive.” Mr Fernandes said the country had made substantial progress in self-reliance in satellite and launch vehicle technology and added with the launch of GSLV in the near future, a major milestone of indigenous geo-synchronous launch capability would also be achieved. He said with the newer applications of space emerging, it would have to be developed, operationalised and sustained. Saras, a 14-seater transport aircraft is also nearing its first flight and the country has been looking for partners in developing and producing 100-120 seater medium range transport aircraft, according to Mr Fernandes. Some of these programmes would benefit with agreements of co-development and co-production, he said and added that “In fact, for any country, certain programmes become viable only with international partnership.” The Defence Minister said international cooperation in technology development, both in the area of military and civil aviation, would in fact lead to strong interaction among people from different parts of the globe. |
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Police plan to check ‘killer’ buses NEW DELHI, Feb 8 — Alarmed by the recent spate of deaths of schoolchildren by the rash driving of bus drivers who give scant regard to rules and norms, the Delhi police has drawn out an elaborate strategy to control such mishaps. School authorities and the state Transport Department has been issued directives to strictly adhere to norms while providing jobs and licences to drivers of buses, according to the Additional Commissioner of Police (Traffic), Mr Maxwell Periera said. Simultaneously, the traffic police has launched a drive in the Capital during which the licences and other relevant documents of drivers and vehicle owners would be thoroughly scrutinised. In most of the accidents, either blue-line buses which are driven by untrained drivers or buses hired by the school authorities for transportation are involved. In a recent accident a class VIII student of Kulachi Hansraj School in Ashok Vihar was injured when he fell down from the footboard of his school bus. His left leg was severely damaged. A surgeon attending on him said the boy might not be able to walk normally. The accident occurred due to the alleged negligence of the driver, who reportedly drove the bus while the students were boarding it. Consequently the victim fell down and his leg suffered multiple fractures. In another accident yesterday, 25 students of Guru Harkishan Public School were injured when their bus collided with a tempo in Punjabi Bagh area of North-West Delhi. The bus driver has been arrested on the charges of negligent driving. |
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New AC train for Maharashtra NEW DELHI, Feb 8 — A new air-conditioned luxury train on the lines of ‘Palace on Wheels’ will start running soon in the Maharashtra sector as a joint venture between the Indian Railways and the government of Maharashtra. Sources in the Ministry of Railways said that a Memorandum of Understanding to this effect was signed between the ministry and the Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation here yesterday. The train will run on Mumbai-Ratnagiri-Sindhudurg-Goa-Pune-Aurangabad-Ajanta and Ellora-Nasik-Mumbai route. The train, the third of its kind in the country will primarily aim at showcasing the tourism assets of Maharashtra and the beautiful Konkan coast, its art and culture, its world heritage sites of Ajanta and Ellora, its crafts and cuisine. The project was announced by the Railway Minister, Ms Mamata Banerjee, in her Budget speech for the current year. |
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45 lakh pilgrims take
dip at Sangam KUMBH NAGAR, Feb 8 (PTI) — An estimated 45 lakh pilgrims took the ritual dip at the Sangam till noon today on the occasion of ‘Magh Poornima’ even as devotees continued to arrive here in large numbers. Mela district magistrate Jhivesh Nandan said the bathing continued peacefully and there was no report of any untoward incident from anywhere. About 70 lakh pilgrims were expected to take holy bath in the Sangam till late in the evening, he said. Devotees in large numbers had started gathering at the Sangam ghats since last evening, he said, adding the ritual bathing began shortly after midnight. Mela administration had made elaborate arrangements to ensure safety of pilgrims, coming from all parts of the country. Movement of heavy traffic had been restricted on roads leading to the Sangam and all entry points to the mela area sealed and security personnel deployed in strength.
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Pondicherry Cong leaders meet Sonia NEW DELHI, Feb 8 — The Congress, facing difficulty about its next course of action in Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry after the PMK joined hands with the AIADMK, today held parleys with its state leaders some of whom were strongly opposed to a truck with the PMK which was seen as a supporter of the LTTE. AICC General Secretary Ghulam Nabi Azad, in charge
of party affairs in the two states, held separate talks with leaders from Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry, who have been summoned to the party office. Declining to divulge details of the discussions, Mr Azad said the talks were still inconclusive and likely to go on for two more days. Replying to a question, he said the party did not have any immediate plans to talk to AIADMK supremo Jayalalitha. Tamil Nadu PCC president E.V.K S. Elagovan also did not confirm if any central leader would go to Chennai soon to meet Jayalalitha. Party leaders from Pondicherry, including Chief Minister P. Shanmugam, PCC chief V Narasyanasamy and party MP M.O. H. Farooq also met party president Sonia Gandhi and briefed her about the political situation. |
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WB Cong seeks Sonia’s permission KOLKATA, Feb 8 — Congress Legislative Party in the state urged upon the AICC President, Mrs Sonia Gandhi, to allow them to join hands with Ms Mamata Banerjee against the ruling CPI(M)-led Left Front in the forthcoming state assembly elections. Otherwise, they would en masse leave the Congress and join Trinamool Congress within one month’s time, the MLAs threatened. An ultimatum to this effect, duly signed by 20 Congress MLAs, including Mr Atish Sinha, leader of the Opposition and Mr Saugata Roy, a prominent MLA as well as secretary of the WBPCC, was sent to Mrs Sonia Gandhi yesterday. Already over 35 MLAs, including Mr Subrata Mukherjee, presently, Kolkata Mayor, Mr Sultan Ahmed, Mr Satya Ranjan Bapuli, Mr Ambika Banerjee, Mr Pankaj Banerjee and others formally have left the Congress and joined the Trinamool Congress. Nearly 30 others are waiting to join at the earliest. At present, of the total 77 Congress MLAs, over 50 are siding with Ms Mamata Banerjee, defying the AICC’s directives of not joining any party of which the BJP is a partner. But most of the sitting Congress MLAs and the party’s state leadership feel that the ground reality insists them to join hands with Ms Banerjee for ousting the CPI(M) from power. “The AICC’s stand against the BJP in all-India level has now become meaningless and in the state like West Bangal, the people, in general, want a change and that change is only possible if all the anti-Left parties stand united and fight against the CPI(M) jointly, said Mr Satya Bapuli, the oldest sitting Congress MLA who only recently joined hands with Ms Banerjee. Incidentally, the BJP general secretary, Mr Kailashpati Mishra, now in Kolkata, said they would welcome any attempt by Congress to join hands with Ms Mamata Banerjee in her fight to dislodge the CPI(M) from power. He said they would not mind if the Congress was still opposed to the BJP even after joining hands with Trinamool Congress. |
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In grief they share their experiences AHMEDABAD, Feb 8 – A fortnight has passed, but the memories of the earthquake are still fresh and etched in the minds of the people of this state. It has transformed the lives of many. Time seems to have come to a standstill. “It (the quake) is as fresh as if it only a few hours back,” said Mr Rakeshbhai Vaghela, resident of a high-rise apartment in the city. “We were planning to enjoy the Republic Day holiday, by organising a family get-together and were busy preparing for it. Suddenly, the building started shaking and things hung in the walls started falling. I ran down the stairs along with my wife and my four-year-old son,” Mr Rakeshbhai, a sixth floor resident said. “Since that day, my wife and children have not entered the house. The very need to climb the stairs frightens them and they feel that the stairs are swinging. Even, I do not feel comfortable climbing them, but I have no option but to climb and take the important item”, he said. In Bhuj alone, according to a conservative estimates 150,000 houses have to be built and around Rs 3 billion would be needed to establish civic amenities in nine towns of the district. In Ahmedabad, the hope of owning a house have crashed with the quake, but housing loan records do not indicate that. Though they do not have a house of their own, they would have to re-pay the house-building loans. “How can the banks be insensitive…don’t they know what has happened to the city,” said R.H. Parikh, whose house in the Mansi apartment came crashing down. And, others who have lost their property too, are unlikely to get anything back as most of them have not insured them against quake. Despite the passage of two week, very few people of the high-rise buildings sleep in their homes. Community kitchens have sprung up with people sharing their sorrows and happiness in the open. The conversation, which begins to self-motivate and overcome the trauma, invariably ends up in narration of events and personal experience of the fateful day. Harish, a class IV student, said “I do not know what happened that day. Everything in the house was falling and the building was swinging. As we rushed down the staircase, it was swinging. I have never experienced anything like that before.” UNICEF has said that the government should reopen schools, as it would help children overcome the trauma. And, the schools in the state are being reopened in a phased manner. In the quake-affected areas of Kutch district, many schools have collapsed and in Ahmedabad several school buildings have been declared unsafe. About two lakh schoolchildren have been affected by the quake in Bhuj district alone. Over 900 primary schools have suffered extensive damage and nearly 400 classrooms have flattened. The state Cabinet has decided the mass promotion of students of class I to IX on the basis of their half-yearly semester performance. The board exams of class X and XII have been postponed to April 3 and students will be allowed to take these exams till June 2001. “I do not want to send my children to school. If the quake strikes again, I do not want my children to die in the school,” Bharat Shah, a parent of two children said. Doctors said the post-quake trauma patients should seek the help of psychiatrists, as any oversight might lead to long-term complications. “Usually the level of suicides among people who have lost relatives and property in earthquakes is very high,” said Dr K.M. Patel. Psychiatrists say survivors could face the prospect of battling with severe trauma for months as they struggle to piece together their shattered lives. |
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Panel on modernising
Railways set up NEW DELHI, Feb 8 — The Chief Executive Officer of the UK-based Worldtel Limited, Mr Sam Pitroda, who is chairing an advisory committee set up by the railways, has promised to take a fresh look at ways of tapping the locked potential of the railways. Mr Pitroda, who is here to participate in the Delhi Sustainable Development Summit, told mediapersons that the committee would look at new ideas and innovations to initiate a comprehensive process for modernisation of railway system and launching a new system for resource mobilisation. Mr Pitroda, who headed the science and technology missions during Rajiv Gandhi’s regime, said he had sought details on the Railway Ministry on areas as cost reduction, revenue generation, asset management, operation, efficiency, technology and value-added services. Mr Pitroda, said he was just beginning to learn more about the Railways. “Ignorance is my asset.” He said increase in fares had been the usual way of generating revenue. “We will see how it can be done by tightening the management, improving efficiency, using railway assets as hospitals and land.” |
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Suchitra Mitra elected Sheriff KOLKATA, Feb 8 — Ms Suchitra Mitra, who took over yesterday as first woman Sheriff of Kolkata said that she would try her best to help the needy. Ms Mitra is known to the music-world and Bengal’s cultural societies as an exponent of Tagore’s song who once had pleased Mahatma Gandhi and personalities like Roma Rolla, Bertrand Russel and many other luminaries of the world. Pandit Nehru and his daughter, Indira Gandhi were also admirers of her sweet melody. Suchitra Mitra loved Tagore song and spent her entire life singing it and she says she will die for it. She would like to be remembered as a lover of Tagore song after her death, she added. But, of late, Ms Mitra was devoting some time in various welfare activities, particularly, for the poor and down-trodden womenfolk and got herself associated with various voluntary organisations. She also took part in the Leftist cultural movement in Bengal which was demanding more rights and freedom for the women. After being sworn-in as Sheriff of Kolkata, Ms Mitra said she was delighted to be in this prestigious chair, which once great luminaries like C.R. Das, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, J.M. Sengupta held. She now feels she will get some opportunities to meet people from various walks of life and hear their problems. |
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Seven officers suspended SRIGANGANAGAR, Feb 8 — The Rajasthan Government has suspended seven officers of the Irrigation Department for alleged lapses leading to the loss of nearly 1 million cusecs of water in the state following an inquiry. The state is already reeling under a severe drought, which has affected its 21 districts, for the third consecutive year. The officers include one Superintending Engineer then posted at Chandigarh, besides two Xens, two Sub Divisional Officers and two junior engineers posted at Pong Dam and Harike Barrage in Punjab. Sources revealed that the officers had failed to ensure that the state received its share of water from Punjab. The department is presently trying to ascertain the exact amount of loss in terms of loss to crops besides the damage caused to various water augumentation schemes underway in the state. It was alleged that the officers not only failed to ensure the monitoring of the water but also did not inform their superiors that the state was being shortchanged. Areas like Sriganganagar, also known as the granary of Rajasthan, are largely dependent on canal water from Punjab. Officers revealed the fact-finding mission which went to investigate the matter, found that the gauges installed to measure the flow of water to the state at Pong Dam and Harike Barrage, “were faulty and had reportedly been tampered”. The gauges had been “fixed” to show that the state received its share of water everyday, the record maintained at the two sites and the report sent to the department also read the same. Sources point out that the officers reportedly connived with the Irrigation officials from Punjab to “sell the water to influential farmers along the canal or let it flow unregulated into Pakistan.” However, officers are reluctant to bite the second theory since only excess water during monsoons is allowed to flow to the neighbour’s side. Mr Radhey Sham, local MLA, who claims to have unearthed the racket, said the suspended officers no matter what plea they come up with could not make up the loss suffered by the state on account of parched land and throats. Mr Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, leader of the Opposition, visited Sriganganagar today and talked to farmers along the canal besides discussing the issue with the Punjab and Rajasthan Irrigation officers posted at Harike Barrage. He said the
government had done nothing to alleviate the suffering of the people |
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Deshpande: bomb theory mischievous NEW DELHI, Feb 8 — Noted Gandhian Nirmala Deshpande today termed as mischievous the bomb theory of Babri mosque demolition attributed to her and accused the then Uttar Pradesh Government of being hand-in-glove with the kar sevaks in pulling down the disputed structure in Ayodhya. Deposing before the Liberhan Ayodhya Commission, Ms Deshpande said statements attributed to her by a section of press and a witness were mischievous. Quoting Ms Deshpande, RSS chief K S Sudershan had said that bomb might have been used for demolition of the structure. Ms Deshpande had later denied this saying that she had never talked about any bomb being used to demolish the structure. Ms Deshpande said she did not hear any explosion at the time when dome of the mosque fell. The mosque did not fall from the top but seemed to fall on its side from the base. She said police and administration looked on as if they were in league with the organisers. 8 cops killed GUWAHATI, Feb 8 (UNI) — At least nine persons, including eight policemen, were killed by suspected Dimacha militants near Umrangso early today. According to preliminary reports received here, the security personnel, belonging to the Assam Police Battalion, were ambushed while they were travelling in the interiors of the North Cachar hills. |
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Advani opens mela on tribal art NEW DELHI, Feb 8 — Union Home Minister L.K. Advani today inaugurated a six-day long “swadeshi vanvasi mela (national exposition on tribal art)”. The mela is being organised by the CBMD and the ABVKA, two non-government organisations with the support of TRIFED, a public sector undertaking of the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Ministries of Environment and Forests and Rural Development. Inaugurating the exposition, Mr Advani said people living in forests had played a vital role in the process of development of our country and culture. Their contribution in almost all states was very significant and their cultural heritage and social values need to be preserved.
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