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| Tuesday, February 27, 2001, Chandigarh, India   
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Nanavati panel for
area-wise probe
Cong kisan rally flop, says BJP |
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Sonia: Gujarat Govt discriminating in
relief Manipur Deputy Speaker quits Leopard cub skinned in AP J&K minority parties for trifurcation Bodies of officer, JCO airlifted from
Siachen Electricity circle told to pay 1,500 to consumer North India in Parliament Germany: truce responsible step Govt consulting SC on Bench in South
Orders at end of session worry students
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Nanavati panel for area-wise probe New Delhi, February 26 The Commission also directed the Central Government to file an affidavit within two weeks stating how many files pertaining to the Justice Ranganath Mishra Commission with regards to Delhi incidents were in its possession. The directive was given in response to an application by Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) which contended that the government had filed before the commission only 11 of the 106 files connected with the Delhi incidents. The commission also observed that if the Central Government did not have any of the remaining 95 files in its possession, it must find out as to where these were at present. The DSGPC counsel also filed another application seeking commission’s directive to the Delhi Police to file 48 wireless log books which could be relevant to the inquiry. The Delhi Police had already filed about 100 log books before the Commission. The Commission also directed the counsel of the Central Government and the Delhi Police to file the documents relating to the incidents in New Delhi and Central Delhi on the priority basis. The Commission decided to begin the inquiry with the New Delhi and Central Delhi police districts as these were the least affected areas during the 1984 riots and therefore the parties concerned would be able to file the relevant documents in the minimum time. The Commission fixed March 14 for next hearing on the applications of the DSGMC. UNI |
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Deposed Fiji PM meets Vajpayee New Delhi, February 26 “It will be an uphill task to bring normalcy in the country as so much damage has been done to the national economy and racial relations,” he told newspersons after meeting Mr Vajpayee. He said that after the first coup in 1987, no effort had been made to improve racial relations or any adequate legislation enacted to provide protection to Indians. “We cannot let this happen for the second time,” he said. The appeals court in Fiji’s capital Suva will deliver its verdict on March 1 on the validity of the 1997 Constitution, which the military had abrogated. Stating that he had apprised Mr Vajpayee of the latest situation in Fiji, Mr Choudhry said the Fijian authorities had launched an ethnic cleansing drive against people of Indian origin by sacking them from government services and police forces. Mr Vajpayee assured Mr Choudhry that the Indian Government would give “full consideration” to some of the proposals made by him. Mr Vajpayee said the government was considering what maximum assistance could be provided to Fiji in the information technology sector. |
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Cong kisan rally flop, says BJP New Delhi, February 26 Referring to the results of recent byelections, BJP spokesman Prof Vijay Kumar Malhotra said the NDA had won eight of the 11 seats, results of which were declared recently. The Congress, he said, had managed to win only one seat and that too “through rigging and booth-capturing.” The BJP was planning to move court over the election of Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Ajit Jogi, he said. Pointing out that all places where byelections were held were rural and dominated by farmers, the spokesman said people, including farmers, had not believed the Congress allegations against the government. Referring to Uttar Pradesh, Mr Malhotra said the Congress candidates had lost their deposit in all three constituencies where byelections were held. Talking of yesterday’s rally, Mr Malhotra said that there were few farmers in the gathering and the numbers were far less than those claimed by Congress leaders. Reacting to questions about the charges of corruption made by Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Ajit Jogi in the BALCO disinvestment, the BJP spokesman said Mr Jogi had been making such allegations earlier also. He said Mr Jogi had levelled similar charges in a deal involving sale of land in Madhya Pradesh during the tenure of present Chief Minister Digvijay Singh. He also quoted certain observations made by Mr Digvijay Singh on the allegations. Reiterating Disinvestment Minister Arun Shourie’s statement that Mr Jogi should come forward with the names of persons who were benefited in the BALCO deal, he said the government would ensure full probe if any names were given. |
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Sonia: Gujarat Govt discriminating in relief New Delhi, February 26 Participating in a discussion on the situation caused by Gujarat earthquake, she said: “I heard serious complaints of discrimination in relief and rehabilitation measures undertaken in the state for those affected by the earthquake. I have been to villages where I myself heard from the affected people that relief was linked to political affiliations as well as caste and religion”. The BJP members were immediately on their feet vehemently protesting over these remarks “how can you say like that”. On being constantly interrupted, a visibly annoyed Mrs Gandhi remarked “I am saying it because I have seen it. I am by nature magnanimous and I am simply saying what I have heard”. She said the Congress believed in constructive criticism and pointed out the state administration was found wanting in substantial measure on providing relief to the affected persons. On her visit to the affected areas, Mrs Gandhi said she encountered typical examples of red tapeism and this had to be cut so that the people are given timely assistance. She also said there was delay in clearing the debris because a notification was required from the state administration before clearing operations could be undertaken. Mrs Gandhi said the magnitude of help that was coming from outside was not tangibly being felt in the state. She called for a strict system of accounting so that distribution of relief was equitable. “While we welcome the setting up of the national committee for disaster management, we feel it will be of great help if a permanent, professional agency equipped with the best managerial personnel and technology is created to deal with such calamities”. Given the increasing number of calamities, she felt states should declare an adoption policy. Many of the Congress-ruled state governments were ready to adopt villages and talukas but first Gujarat should have a policy. Mrs Gandhi said the Orissa cyclone and the Gujarat quake had left a large number of people orphans. The government could think of a national foundation for these children.
PTI, UNI |
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Imphal, February 26 Mr Raina told newspersons here that Mr Thoiba Singh was elected leader to the new outfit Democratic Federal Party of Manipur (DFPM) and asked the Speaker S. Dhananjay Singh to recognise it as a separate entity in the state Assembly. He said the DFPM would support the people’s front coalition ministry headed by Mr Radhabinod Koijam. Mr Raina said he and Mr Thoiba Singh broke away from the FPM, which has four members in the House, in protest against the “lack of transparency” of the top party leaders. He said he had submitted his resignation to the Speaker.
PTI |
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Leopard cub skinned in AP Hyderabad, February 26 The cub was skinned and its nails and other parts were removed in the thick forest in Umri village in the
Naxal-infested Adilabad district last week. The incident came to light only yesterday, officials of the Forest Department said today. The officials who recovered the carcass of the cub and sent it here for a post-mortem said the killers, who had been identified, were absconding. In another incident, a female leopard was found dead at Sreeramamulapally village in Karimnagar district two days ago.
UNI |
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J&K minority parties for trifurcation New Delhi, February 26 In a memorandum to Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, Panun Kashmir Chairman Dr Ajay Chrungoo, Ladakh Buddhist Association President Tsering Samphel and Jammu and Kashmir Nationalist Front convenor Tilak Raj Sharma demanded a separate state of Jammu and Union Territory (UT) of Ladakh. Besides, the areas north and east of the Jhelum in the Kashmir valley should be granted the UT status for the rehabilitation of the Kashmiri Hindus and all those who wanted to live under a dispensation without the limitations of Article 370, which accorded a special status to Jammu and Kashmir, they said. It was for the first time in the history of the state that the three representative organisations, one each from its existing regions, had come together on a single platform, the leaders said. The leaders also refuted the “false propaganda being made in certain quarters” that their demand was motivated solely by the consideration of saving their cultural heritage within the Union of India. The genocidal attrition of the Kashmiri Hindus in the valley through a ‘jehadic campaign’, continuing marginalisation of the Buddhists in all spheres of development and undermining the demographic character of Ladakh through forcible conversion of Buddhists and the stepmotherly treatment to Jammu had “strengthened our fears that the leadership of a particular linguistic and religious group in the state wants every other group to either toe its line or vanish,” they said. The minority leaders also blamed the Centre for initiating any serious efforts during the last 50 years to address the genuine regional aspirations in the state. On the other hand, there had been a systematic denial of employment opportunities to the Ladakh and Jammu regions. They said the Centre’s intervention resulted in the creation of the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council, but its functioning had been hamstrung by the present state government, which professed secularism, was “actually pandering to the interests of a particular linguistic and religious community.”
UNI |
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Bodies of officer, JCO airlifted from
Siachen Chandigarh, February 26 Major N.J. Reddy of 2/3 Gorkha Rifles was killed on February 24 when he fell into a crevice while on patrol in the glacier. According to a regimental officer, he was the only son of his parents. An alumnus of Sainik School and the National Defence Academy, he had been commissioned about four years ago. He belongs to
Secunderabad. The other casualty was Naib Subedar Madhavan Nand of 20
Kumaon, who had died on February 22 while stationed at a forward post. He belongs to Jawahar
Nagar, near Haldwani, in Uttar Pradesh. According to sources, the mortal remains of three other personnel from the glacier have been airlifted here this month. |
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Electricity circle told to pay 1,500 to consumer Hanumangarh, February 26 According to an information, Mr Subhash Chand of Rawatsar had lodged a complaint against the AEN, Rawatsar, of the Rajasthan State Electricity Circle and the president of the Rajasthan State Electricity Circle, Jaipur, of unnecessary harassment because of irresponsible attitude. In his complaint, Mr Subhash Chand said in November, 1998, the Electricity Department issued a bill of wrong amount to him for which he registered a complaint. The settlement committee of the department gave a decision on his complaint and he paid the amount ordered by the committee. In January, 1999, the department sent a bill of Rs 4,100 to him and on January 4, 1999, his
electricity connection was disconnected. When he approached the electricity
office, the connection was reinstalled. But on January 15, 1999, the department repeated the act and the connection was again disconnected. On his meeting, the authorities the connection was reinstalled on January 18, 1999. On March 16, 1999, the AEN himself came to cut the connection, while the last date to pay bill was March 18, 1999, the complainant said the Electricity Department kept on issuing wrong bills because of their carelessness. In his complaint, Mr Subhash Chand said in this entire episode his was suffered mentally and he lost reputation in society. He demanded an amount of Rs 50,000 for the mental torture and Rs 1,500 be spent on registration of the complaint. The opposite party accepted its mistake but said the situation occurred due to a fault in the computer and not because of negligence. The Consumer Court rejected the plea of the department saying that it was not a technical fault and computer would show the figures according to the feedback data. In its decision, the court came heavily on the department saying that the department was not able to control its officials and that was the reason why they followed their own rules and regulation. The court has ordered the Rajasthan State Electricity Circle to pay Rs 1,500 within a month to the complainant. |
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North India in
Parliament New Delhi, February 26 Replying to a question by Ms Chandresh Kumari, the minister said the Himachal Pradesh Government had requested the Centre to declare the Trans-Giri area as tribal. The proposal of the state government was examined and it was found that the scheduled tribe population in Trans-Giri is only 0.12 per cent of the total population of that area. Hence, it is not eligible to be declared as tribal area. In reply to another question, the minister said the opinion of expert bodies to grant Scheduled Tribe status to Gaddis and Gujjars of the areas merged with Himachal Pradesh have not been received as yet. He said the agencies concerned have been reminded of expediting their reports. The Union Civil Aviation Minister, Mr Sharad Yadav, informed the Lok Sabha that there was no proposal to construct an airport at Kurukshetra in Haryana. He was responding to a question by Mr Ratan Lal Kataria, who also wanted to know whether the government had conducted any departmental study in this regard. The Minister of State for Road Transport and Highways, Mr B. C. Khanduri, informed the Lok Sabha that 185 proposals regarding development and improvement of national highways under the Annual Plan 2000-01 were under examination. Of these, Chandigarh has one, Haryana has 9, Himachal Pradesh has 7, Jammu and Kashmir one and Punjab 7, the minister said. In response to a question by Mr Pawan Kumar Bansal, the minister said the government was collecting information on whether the buses in Chandigarh are adequate to meet the needs of the people. The Minister of State for Communications, Mr Tapan Sikdar, informed the Lok Sabha that
this triggered a chain reaction as the Opposition members started raising slogans and plunged the House into chaos. exchanges in the hilly and inaccessible areas during the current financial year. Of these, 75 would be set up in Himachal Pradesh, the minister said, adding that the procurement action has already been taken. |
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Germany: truce responsible step New Delhi, February 26 Germany has also signed an agreement with India to institutionalise a regular security dialogue at the Defence Minister and the Chiefs of Staff level to focus on new emerging threats and risks. The initiation of the security dialogue would focus on new emerging threats and risks posed by terrorism, ethnic conflicts and proliferation of weapons of mass destruction into unsafe hands. Germany would be the second major power in Europe after France and third globally after the USA with which India would now have a regular security oriented dialogue in what is seen here as a new drive towards broader engagement on global security issues. The visiting German Defence Minister Rudolf Scharping on conclusion of his week-long visit here said there were a lot of chances and challenges in India which could be used to promote better relations between the two countries. Speaking at a news conference here the German Defence Minister hoped that Pakistan would respond to new regional peace initiatives. He added that Berlin was of the view that every country and organisation interested in the peaceful development of globe should try and convince Pakistan about the peaceful settlement of the Kashmir issue. He held three rounds of intensive talks with his Indian counterpart George Fernandes and also met External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh and National Security Adviser Brajesh Mishra. He was cautious on resumption of military cooperation between the two countries which was suspended after the 1998 Pokhran blasts. Asked if Berlin was ready to resume weapons sales to New Delhi, especially whether it would bid for the major naval submarine building project and collaboration on the MBT Arjun engines, Mr Scharping said it would be a “step by step decision”. Saying that though Germany and India had no common borders, the German Defence Minister described the region between the two countries as a “very unstable region” and commented that unlike Washington his country was alive to threats posed by terrorism and ethnic divide. He said Berlin was interested in the development of cooperation structures in the Asian region in line with those of Europe for crises management in this region. |
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Govt consulting SC on Bench in South New Delhi, February 26 “We are in the process of consulting the Supreme Court on the need for setting up its Benches in the South and in the far-flung regions of West India. I agree that setting up of such Benches will in no way affect the dignity of the apex court,” he said during question hour. Mr Jaitley said the non-filling of vacancies of judges, inadequate strength of judges, increased number of cases on account of awareness of the rights on the part of citizens and enactment of numerous laws were some of the reasons behind the pendency of cases in different courts. He said two posts of Supreme Court judges, 106 posts of high court judges and 1,400 posts of judges in subordinate courts had been lying vacant. |
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Orders at end of session worry students Hanumangarh, February 26 The students say that they have been asked to pay about Rs 1,000 as computer fee, which is an unexpected burden on their parents. Also, it is not possible to prepare for computers in such a short time, they say. The orders say that if the practical examinations are not cleared the fee will have to be deposited again. Students are of the view that with their preparing for computer now, the studies of other subjects will be affected. Students have requested the SDM to look into the matter and demanded that the computer education be made compulsory only from the next session.
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PATKAR BRAZILIAN TEACHER WINS KALINGA PRIZE |
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