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| Tuesday, February 20, 2001, Chandigarh, India   
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Rao blames Kalyan govt Entry rules to decide seniority Cong-AIADMK pact uncertain Urea scam: HC sets terms for bail More aftershocks rock Kutch |
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Gujarat returning to normal International Fleet Review lauded Penury forces family to sell girl NCP, SP stay away from Cong meeting Over 51,000
farmers court arrest 2 scribes among 4 die in
mishap
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Rao blames Kalyan govt New Delhi, February 19 Deposing before the Liberhans Commission, probing the sequence of events leading to the demolition of the disputed structure at Ayodhya on December 6, 1992, Mr Rao blamed the then Uttar Pradesh Government for the lapse in making proper safety arrangements. Mr Rao’s deposition assumes significance in the wake of the allegations that he as the then Prime Minister had failed to protect the disputed structure. Though he did not receive any written report regarding
inadequate security arrangements from the discussion he held with the then Union Home Minister, Mr S. B. Chavan, after the latter’s visit to Ayodhya, the former Prime Minister said he got the impression that there was some lapse in the security
arrangements. “And, this impression I carried till the end.” Mr Rao said while responding to the clarification sought before the commission. Mr Rao, however, could not provide any written report about the security lapse. “In the government we do not go on a written report on every matter. We hold discussions and form an impression,” the former Prime Minister said. Asked about the steps he had advised to Mr Chavan to take to remove the “inadequacies”, Mr Rao said “I did not have to give him any instruction. It was his job and he was doing it. Moreover, it was only the duty of the state government to rectify the lapse once pointed out by the Centre. The Home Minister kept writing to the Chief Minister, but until the last my impression continued that the rectification was not done properly.” When asked about the details of any specific advice or steps suggested by the Home Ministry regarding security of the disputed structure that the state government did not implement, the former Prime Minister said, “My memory is being tested here. The correspondence regarding this is available in the Home Ministry with the Uttar Pradesh Government. Some of it was also there in the White Paper published by my government on the Ayodhya subject.” Mr Rao said he had sent more than 20,000 paramilitary personnel for the protection of the disputed structure. Moreover, I got any number of commitments from the state government to protect the structure. The commitment given by a constitutional head of the government were clear and unequivocal and given at several fora.” The former Prime Minister also blamed the sants for the failure of talks on the Ayodhya issue, saying that the Dharma Sansad had unilaterally announced the date for “kar seva” before the third round of parleys scheduled in November,1992. “At the end of October,1992 itself, they (sants) unilaterally conducted the meeting of the sansad and fixed the “kar seva” for December 6,1992,” he added. As a result of the unilateral decision taken by the sansad the negotiations broke, he said. “When the two sides came for the meeting on November 8,1992, the other side (Muslim leaders) said since the sants had fixed the date for the “kar seva”, there was no point in continuing negotiations,” he said. Mr Rao’s deposition before the commission was marred with confusion as the counsel for the former UP Chief Minister, Mr Kalyan Singh, on whose application the former Prime Minister was summoned, stated that he did not want to press his application for examining Mr Rao. Mr B. B. Saxena, counsel for Mr Kalyan Singh, and other counsels said they did not want to examine Mr Rao as a witness, but would like him to clarify certain things in case he was examined as a commission’s witness. The commission said it had not formed any opinion on any point at this stage nor did it require any particular clarification from Mr Rao. Therefore there was no need for examining him as a commission’s witness. However, since the witness was present in the court, an opportunity was given to all counsels if they wanted any clarification from him. Entry rules to decide seniority New Delhi, February 19 “Even though an employee cannot claim to have a vested right to have a particular position in any grade, but all the same he has the right of his seniority being determined in accordance with the rules which remained in force at the time when he was taken in the cadre,” the Bench said. Dealing with a case concerning the entry of Deputy Tehsildars into the cadre, Mr Justice Pattanaik, writing the judgement for the Bench, said the question of redetermination of the seniority in the cadre on the basis of any amended criteria or rules would arise only when the amendment in question was given a retrospective effect. “If the retrospectivity of the rule is assailed by any person then the court would be entitled to examine the same and decide the matter in accordance with law,” he said. If the retrospectivity was upheld by a court then the seniority could be redrawn up in accordance with the amended provisions of the employees “who are still in the cadre and not those who have already got promotion to some other cadre by that date”, he said. Mr Justice Pattanaik said “if any rule or administrative instruction mandate drawing up of seniority list or determination of inter se seniority within any specified period then the same must be adhered to unless any valid reason is indicated for non-compliance thereof.” Keeping in mind the amendment of service rules effected in September, 1992, the Bench said the seniority of Deputy Tehsildars in Andhra Pradesh appointed between April 10, 1980 and September 1992 was required to be determined in accordance with the pre-amended rules. PTI
Cong-AIADMK pact uncertain Chennai, February 19 Emerging from the hour-long meeting, senior Congress leaders Pranab Mukherjee and Gulam Nabi Azad told newspersons that they would report the outcome of the talks to Mrs Gandhi and the Congress (I) Working Committee would take a final decision on the issue. The two parties are traditional allies and fought the 1999 Lok Sabha elections together. Mr Mukherjee and Mr Azad, who earlier held a 90-minute discussion with TMC President G. K Moopanar at his residence briefed Mr Moopanar again after the talks with Ms Jayalalitha and apparently discussed the options open to the two parties. Talking to reporters at Mr Moopanar’s house, Mr Mukherjee said the two parties would work together and evolve a joint electoral strategy. He said he would not like to say anything on the outcome of the talks at this juncture. “You will know when the Congress Working Committee takes a final decision’’, Mr Mukherjee told media personnel. In contrast to his response to the media that he had cordial and useful talks with Ms Jayalalitha during the first round in January last, Mr Mukherjee, when asked whether he was happy about the outcome of the talks, said it was not a question of being happy or unhappy.
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Urea scam: HC sets terms for bail New Delhi, February 19 While hearing the bail application of Brazilian national A. E. Pinto, who allegedly had acted as a middleman to secure the contract to the Turkish firm, Karsan, in 1995, Mr Justice
R .S. Sodhi said if the accused gave a guarantee to refund Rs 133 crore to the government then only his bail plea could be considered. The court made it clear to Pinto’s counsel that his client was extradited by a London court only after it found that there was a “prima facie” case against him. “If he is released on bail, there is every
likelihood of his jumping it and going out of the country,” the court observed. However, Pinto’s counsel Mr Bahar U. Barqi contended that his client was not a party to the second contract, signed by two Karsan executives — Tuncay Alankus and Cihan Karansi — with National Fertilizers Ltd
(NFL) officials in November,1995, in which the latter agreed to make full payment in advance for the supply of 2 lakh tonnes of urea. Pinto had only negotiated the first contract, signed in July the same year, according to which the payment was to be made after the urea supply was made by Karsan, Mr Barqi claimed, and added that the London court had not said that there was a “prime facie” case
against him. The court allowed two days to Pinto’s lawyer for placing before it the extradition order passed by the London court.
PTI |
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More aftershocks rock Kutch New Delhi, February 19 The tremors with magnitude ranging between 3.0 and 5.1 were recorded from 1.19 a.m. to 10.09 a.m. taking to 373. Dr S.K. Srivastava, Additional Director-General, IMD, told UNI that aftershocks would not subside till tremors measuring less than 4.5 on the Richter scale are recorded for three days at a stretch. “Going by the trends following any major earthquake, the aftershocks are expected to subside only if no tremor of more than 4.5 intensity is recorded for 72 hours.’’
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Gujarat returning to normal ANJAR, February 19 Businessman are opening their shops and vendors have surfaced along the business areas. The old walled city areas of Bhuj and Anjar which suffered the brunt of the quake, however, wear a deserted look as the victims prefer to live in tented accommodation on the outskirts where the relief material is easily available. Those whose houses have suffered damages but have not collapsed prefer to pitch their tents in front of their structures. Various government agencies and social organisations are removing rubble from the congested areas to clear the lanes. In Bhuj, rubble is being removed from the congested walled city area where the maximum number of deaths were reported. Those supervising the removal work say that some bodies are still buried under the debris but cannot be taken out as their kith and kin had left the town and moved to nearby areas where their relatives lived. Akbar, an autorickshaw driver, who lost a family member said, “Sahib
pet bhi to bharna hai”. In Anjar, 237 Engineer Regiment of the Army is removing debris. Col Rajesh Tyagi said around 300 bodies had been removed from the walled city area of Anjar and work was still going on. “We remove the rubble only after the owner of a house asks for a favour from us. But we are clearing the roads and lanes”, he said. Anjar town has been divided in three parts for carrying the rubble removal work by 500 men of the Engineering Regiment along with the Reliance Group. The Army teams along with local officials are surveying the extent of damage caused to the structures which had not fallen. But there are no clear instructions about what to do about the rubble of the houses which totally collapsed. In Rapar, the areas along the main roads are brimming with activity. People can been seen returning to their daily chores. In Gandhidham, a port city of Kandla, is also returning to normal. |
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cr for Gujarat schools New Delhi, February 19 This follows review of the damage of the state education system by the HRD Minister, Dr Murli Manohar Joshi, with the Gujarat Education Minister, Mrs Anandiben Patel, and the Higher Education Minister, Mr Bharatbhai Barot, in Ahmedabad yesterday. Senior central and state officials took part in the meeting. Nearly 300 learning centres are being started in the worst affected talukas. These would help the children to come out of the trauma and prepare them from going back to school as soon as possible. These centres would have
crèches and provide ready-to-eat-food. The HRD Ministry has given Rs 2.83 crore as the first instalment for this under the Education Guarantee Scheme and alternative and innovative education. The District Primary Education programme is being expanded to six new districts in Gujarat-Surendranagar, Kutch, Savarkantha, Junagarh, Jam Nagar and Bhav Nagar. Assistance will be given to rebuild the damaged district institutes of education and training at Ahmedabad, Bhuj and Patan. The CBSE will postpone the Board examination for two weeks in the worst affected areas of Bhuj and Ahmedabad. The students will have the option to appear in the regular examinations in nearby centres or to take a separate examination two weeks later. The Kendriya Vidyalays in the state will be able to admit about 10,000 students. The HRD Ministry will also give financial
assistance for the re-construction of Girls Secondary and Higher Secondary schools along with hostel facilities in minority areas which have been severely affected. The state government is to identify NGOs for running girls hostels which could be located in rented buildings nearby for which the HRD Ministry will provide maintenance cost at the rate of Rs 5,000 per student annually and the non-recurring cost. Educational Consultants India Limited, will prepare a project proposal for a state-of-the-art technical institute at Bhuj. A project proposal for R. D. Gargi Pharmacy College at Lakhatur to be located at Surenderanagar will also be prepared. Schemes for Women and Child Development Department pertaining to Gujarat will include 24 ICDS projects, construction of 10 hostels for working women with a day-care centre and opening of 50 short stay homes for women and girls who have no social support system. Besides, there would be a grant of Rs 50 lakh for training women, grant-in-aid of Rs 20 lakh to voluntary organisations and 200
crèches for children. 1 more builder arrested Ahmedabad, February 19 Vijay Mafatlal Solanki was arrested last night, the police said today. At least five persons were killed in the collapse of the multi-storey Jashoda Park Apartment and many residents were injured. Meanwhile, the police has asked all the city builders whose multi-storeyed structures collapsed in the earthquake, killing a large number of people, to surrender themselves.
PTI
Parliament adjourned New Delhi, February 19 Members observed silence for the victims of the Gujarat earthquake. The Lok Sabha paid tributes to sitting members Jitendra Prasada and Nisha Chaudhury, wife of former Gujarat Chief Minister Amarsinh Chaudhury, both from the Congress. The former members included Ms Vijayeraje Scindia, Mr V.N. Gadgil, Mr Yashwant Singh Kushwah, Mr Ram Kanwar Berwa, Mr Manubhai Shah, Mr Bhawani Lal Verma, Ms Sushila Nayar and G. Lakshmanan. Both Houses met briefly after the President addressed them formally opening the Budget session. In the Lok Sabha obituary references were made by Speaker G.M.C. Balayogi and in the Rajya Sabha by Chairman Krishan
Kant. Kant’s donation New Delhi February 19 |
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International Fleet Review lauded Mumbai, February 19 Japan also said it wishes to strengthen bonds with India. “We sincerely feel that India is our true friend and will remain one for ever. Japan always wants to promote ties with peace-loving nations,” Capt Kenji Matsubara, who heads the Japanese Navy’s Escorts division, told newspersons here. With the
completion of the International Fleet Review, naval teams of 29 countries, which took part in it, were preparing to leave for their homes. Capt Paul S.Holmes, Commanding Officer of the USS Cowpens, an Aegis cruiser of the Ticonderoga-class, said “It was a real good show. Thirty countries had come together and it was unique.” The US Navy was led by Commander of US seventh fleet Vice Admiral James W.Matzger. “Practically the goals of the review in my
perspective have been achieved,” Captain Holmes said, adding that “I must compliment those who planned the event for their warm hospitality.” He also complimented Indian Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral Sushil Kumar, and Vice Admiral Madhvendra Singh, Flag Officer Commanding-on-Chief of Western Naval Command for hosting the review.
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Penury forces family to sell girl Bolangir, February 18 Her three-year-old daughter, Hema has been sold for Rs 5,000 so that her sick husband and three other children could survive. Lalita, who belongs to Kunda Budula village in Bolangir district, said “We borrowed Rs 2,500 from Ram Mangaraj of nearby Mamia village and my husband was admitted to the Government Hospital Titilagarh. He left the hospital after nine days when all the money had been spent,” she said. The family, which does not have a BPL card, borrowed another Rs 1,000 and Rs 1,500 from Mangaraj later. But as they could not repay the loan, they handed over their three-year-old daughter to Mangaraj. The deal was formalised through a written document on February 6 in the presence of four other witnesses. “I badly needed the money for my husband’s treatment. If the head of the family survived, the family will survive. I am a poor woman, how can I look after the children alone?”, the crestfallen woman said. The Tandis, however, are a disillusioned couple today. The money they had received in exchange for their child has been exhausted, but Shyamlal’s sickness persists and to top their sorrow, Hema no longer belongs to them. Mangaraj, when questioned about the child, confirmed the deal. “I was moved by the couple’s plight and we intend to adopt Hema as our daughter”, he said.
PTI |
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NCP, SP stay away from Cong meeting New Delhi, February 19 Apart from “bungling by the state government in handling Gujarat earthquake, and the ceasefire in Jammu and Kashmir, the Opposition decided to raise the issue of UP Government’s “prevarication” in issuing fresh notification following judgement of the Allahabad High Court in the cases against three Union Ministers, including Mr L.K. Advani. The meeting decided to nail the government on a host of issues, including prices of agricultural commodities, disinvestment, situation in the North-East and the foreign policy. Briefing mediapersons, the Congress spokesman, Mr Jaipal Reddy, alleged that the unprecedented tragedy in Gujarat had been compounded by bungling of the state government. He said prices of all agricultural commodities were crashing leading to a slump in the grain market. Describing the situation in Jammu and Kashmir as disturbing, Mr Reddy said the state continued to bleed more and more with each passing day. Leaders of all parties who attended the meeting discussed the situation arising from the Allahabad High Court judgement. The judgement, they felt, did not question the CBI chargesheet. They pointed out that the technical defect could be easily checked by a fresh notification. “The meeting felt that the UP Government was prevaricating in the issue,” Mr Reddy said. The Opposition decided to take up the issue of disinvestment, including that in Maruti Udyog Limited. The situation in the North-East and the issue of formation of new ministry in Manipur are also likely to come up for discussion. The issue of “PDS getting dismantled” and those pertaining to foreign policy would also be raised by the Opposition. Mr Reddy said that the NCP and the SP did not attend the Opposition meeting as they had their own commitments. |
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Over 51,000 farmers court arrest Mumbai, February 19 The farmers, in response to a call given by the Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) President, Mr Mahendra Singh Tikait, had gathered at Azad Maidan in South Mumbai in large numbers from across the country to lodge their protest against liberalisation and globalisation. Earlier, the police used water cannons and resorted to a mild lathicharge to prevent the farmers from moving towards the port. All of them were released immediately Deputy Commissioner of Police Ashok Kamte, said.
PTI
2 scribes among 4 die in
mishap Sriganganagar, February 19 Those killed were identified as Krishan Raj Purohit of the Rajasthan Patrika, Anil Parchi from the Bhaskar, Mr Vijaypal Singh, advocate, and Mr Banwari Lal, driver of the car. Those injured were Mr Kuldip Gupta (Punjab Kesri) ,Mr Narinder Dharnia (advocate) and Mr Ram Kumar. The condition of Mr Kuldip Gupta was stated to be
precarious. As a mark of respect for those killed in the accident, the Pilli Banga market remained closed
today. According to the police, they were returning from Bikaner after attending a wedding.
A condolence meeting of the District Journalists Association will be held here tomorrow |
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