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| Wednesday, March 7, 2001, Chandigarh, India   
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Jaya’s offer puts Cong in
bind Justice Party to form third front RJD rebels short of
numbers
CRPF soldier cremated |
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Ceasefire in NE
likely: Advani BJYM constitutes
Keseria Vahini Advani assails Pak’s response to
ceasefire Fair demands rights for sex workers Govt ‘prisoner of bureaucracy’ Child porn: chargesheet filed Town to make way for Tehri
dam 2 killed during
Id celebrations Hurriyat opposes
Taliban’s action 8-year-old raped
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Jaya’s offer puts Cong in
bind New Delhi, March 6 The party remains in a dilemma over its strategy in Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry with the Tamil Maanila Congress (TMC) yet to declare whether it was opting for the AIADMK-led alliance or going for a third front. Indications, however, are that with Ms Jayalalitha’s offer today of 45 seats to TMC-Congress combine in Tamil Nadu, the TMC will opt to go with the AIADMK. It’s a do and die battle for the TMC this time as its future as a regional party in Tamil Nadu would largely depend on the assembly poll outcome. This only complicates the situation for the Congress, which cannot think of a viable third front in Tamil Nadu without the TMC. In Pondicherry, the alliance scenario is equally difficult for the Congress as the AIADMK has not only declared its alliance with the PMK but even offered it chiefministership for two-and-a-half years. The Congress, which has categorically ruled out participation in a government with the PMK for its pro-LTTE leanings, finds itself in a bind. The Congress has rejected the AIADMK suggestion that the alliances in Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry should be delinked. Such a scenario would be to the disadvantage of the Congress which will be contesting alongside the AIADMK-PMK in Tamil Nadu and against them in Pondicherry. Senior Congress leaders are in constant touch with the TMC, which is having a crucial meeting in Chennai to decide its final course. Even the DMK has not closed its doors on the TMC, but the latter is unlikely to dump the Congress to join the DMK-led NDA. The Congress high command has summoned Tamil Nadu PCC president Elangovan and some other leaders for talks on the electoral understanding with the AIADMK-led alliance. AICC officials said that a decision could be arrived at by tomorrow. The party leaders have noted the “concillatory mood” of Ms Jayalalitha, who has offered 45 seats to the TMC-Congress combine and has offered to give up her party’s claim to head the government for two-and-a-half years if the alliance was voted to power. However, Ms Jayalalitha’s virtually giving second spot in the alliance to the PMK in Tamil Nadu and
Numero Uno position in Pondicherry have made it a difficult choice for the Congress . |
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Justice Party to form third front Chennai, March 6 Briefing reporters about the general council’s decision here, NJP founder President
A.C. Shanmugham made a renewed appeal to TMC president G.K. Moopanar to lead a third front. He said his party was opposed to both the DMK-led front and the AIADMK-led front and claimed that if a third front was formed it would emerge as a winning front. Power would also be shared among all partners in the front, he added. The NJP was already heading the Tamil Nadu Democratic Front here, he pointed out. Mr Shanmugham said Mr Moopanar’s delay in arriving at an early decision on the issue of alliance had cost him dearly, with the Dalit Panthers of India joining the DMK front last night. He also appealed to the Left parties in the state to leave the AIADMK front and join the third front. UNI |
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RJD rebels short of numbers New Delhi, March Dissident spokesman Nagmani said here today that five more legislators had established contact with the rebels, indicating that the breakaway faction still did not have adequate support to stake a claim to form an alternative government in Bihar. He asserted that the dissidents would step up their campaign after Holi. The support of 38 legislators is required to forge a legitimate split in the RJD and a total 122 MLAs are needed to form a government in the state. The dissident camp received a shot in the arm from the unconditional offer of support of the NDA partners having a strength of 83 MLAs. A faction of the Congress led by Ms Vina Sahi has also urged the party high command to keep the options open. Ms Sahi has been spearheading a crusade against an alliance with the RJD. The role of the Independent legislators will also be crucial in the event of formation of an alternative government. Mr Nagmani claimed that more Laloo supporters were trying to contact him and his followers in Bihar to extend support to dislodge the Rabri Devi-led coalition government. Mr Laloo Yadav’s image as a crowd-puller had taken a severe beating and the poor attendance at a Patna rally was a clear indicator of lack of faith in the government, Mr Nagmani said. He said the dissidents were waiting for an opportunity to strike the final blow against the government.
UNI |
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CRPF soldier cremated Hanumangarh, March 6 It is to be mentioned that in Rampura village of Tripura the militants the National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) had killed 12 soldiers of the fourth battalion of the CRPF on March 3. The soldiers were on a special operation in the area when at around 7 a.m. on Saturday the militants attacked. Subash and 11 other soldiers were killed. The cremation of Subash took place in his ancestral village, Sikrori, yesterday with full state honours. The District Collector, the SP, dignitaries of the area and a large number of persons attended the cremation. Born to Nandram Burdak Subash joined the CRPF in October 1991. On Sunday when the news of his death reached the village the atmosphere turned sombre. People from the neighbouring areas started visiting Sikrori even before the body of the martyr was brought to Bhadra tehsil headquarters. The District Collector, Mr J.P. Chandellia, the SP, Mr M.C. Meena, went to Sikrori and paid their tributes. His elder brother, Mr Krishan Kumar, consigned the body to flames. Subash has left behind his family, including a seven-year-old daughter, Sunita.Q
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Ceasefire in NE
likely: Advani Kolkata, March 6 This was indicated by the Home Minister, Mr L.K. Advani, during his two-day visit to the region last week. Mr Advani met the Chief Ministers of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Tripura, Meghalaya, Manipur, Nagaland, Mizoram and Sikkim in Guwahati during his stay there and discussed the law and order problems vis-a-vis the recent spurt in militant activities in the area. Mr Advani said talks were in full swing with insurgent groups. Several militant outfits active in the region, including ULFA, have been getting assistance from the ISI. This has been the cause of great concern for the respective state governments as well as the Union Home Ministry. Initially, the government followed a tough line of approach with the militants and accordingly, a large contingent of paramilitary forces were deployed in the area to tackle the situation. But the line of action did not yield fruitful results. On the contrary, in states like Nagaland, Mizoram and Tripura, the problem has worsened. However, a peace agreement was signed with NSCN (Aizak-Muiva group) in Nagaland which has proved to be fruitful to some extent. The Chief Minister of Manipur, Mr Radhabinode Kaizam, has been suggesting that the same “peace method” be adopted towards other militant groups active in the region. The Chief Minister of Assam, Mr Prafulla Kumar Mahanta and the Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister, Mr Mukut Mithi, are opposed to the unilateral ceasefire step against the militants who have been responsible for killing over 800 persons, kidnapping at least 50
government officials, businessmen and civilians in the region during the past three years. |
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BJYM constitutes
Keseria Vahini New Delhi, March 6 While in West Bengal, the outfit would be called the Booth Suraksha Committee, in rest of states, these would be known as Keseria Vahini, the BJYM President, Mr Shivraj Singh Chouhan, informed yesterday at a meeting of office-bearers and pradesh presidents. Keseria Vahinis have been constituted for stopping booth capturing, rigging of votes and assisting voters, Mr Chouhan said adding that vahini members have already been imparted training. Condemning the Taliban regime for destroying statues, Mr Chouhan said the BJYM’s state units would be holding protest rallies between March 7 to 15 against the Taliban act. In Delhi, Mr Chouhan will lead the protest rally from India Gate to Rajghat and later submit a memorandum to United Nations Office requesting them to check Taliban from such barabric acts and also to persuade UAE, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan to derecognise the Taliban regime in Afghanistan. The BJYM has also asked its members to refrain from celebrating Holi in protest against Taliban’s actions . Advani assails Pak’s response to ceasefire Port Blair, March 6 “Pakistan’s response to this initiative has been inadequate,” Mr Advani told a press conference here when asked whether there had been positive signals from across the border to New Delhi’s declaration of unilateral ceasefire in Jammu and Kashmir, which has now now been extended till May end. “The only response Pakistan has given is to stop firing across the border. But it has not stopped aiding and abetting militant outfits like the Lashkar-e-Toiba and Jaish-e-Mohammad (which are) based there,” he said. Outlining the government’s three-pronged strategy to counter militancy in the country, he said this involved giving a boost to developmental activities whether in the North-East, Jammu and Kashmir or anywhere else to prevent the youth from being weaned away from the mainstream, and towards militancy. Without naming Pakistan, he said another segment of the strategy was to mobilise international opinion against “a country which has been aiding and abetting cross-border terrorism, which is a crime not only against humanity but also against the civilised society.” The minister described as a “very serious matter” the demolition of Buddhist statues in Afghanistan by the ruling Taliban militia and said, “No words can be too strong to condemn this attack.” He said the entire world has been outraged by this “heinous crime”. PTI |
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Fair demands rights for sex workers Kolkata, March 6 The three-day fair which was inaugurated at Salt Lake stadium by the newly-appointed woman Sheriff of Kolkata, Ms Suchitra Mitra, renowned Rabindra Sangeet exponent, is being attended by over 5,000 sex workers of the country and from abroad. The participating countries include Nepal, Bhutan, Pakistan, Cambodia, Indonesia, Myanmar and Malaysia. This is the first time that such an “unusual fair” has been organised in the country. It has been organised by the Durban Mahila Samanwaya Committee (DMSC), a social welfare organisation, which has been fighting for the cause of sex workers. Incidentally, prostitution is still legally banned in most of the countries of the world. Inaugurating the fair, Ms Mitra spoke in favour of the demands of the sex workers and said they also had the right to live in society as human beings. She regretted that so far the government had done very little for their welfare. |
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Govt ‘prisoner of bureaucracy’ Jaipur, March 6 When the BJP was trounced and the Congress captured three-fourths of the Assembly seats in the last election, Mr Mathur has aspired to become the CM of the state for the third time, but the high command brushed him aside and nominated Mr Gehlot. In a bid to assuage the hurt feelings of Mr Mathur and other senior party leaders, Mr Gehlot offered them assignments with ministerial rank. Mr Mathur was made Chairman of the Administrative Reforms Commission (ARC). He took the job seriously and has since submitted six reports and four others are ready for submission to the government. But his initial enthusiasm seems to have died down due to the alleged ‘humiliating’ behaviour by the government: “Not a single report has been implemented so far by the government. On the other hand, many steps are being taken which go contrary to the recommendations made by the ARC”, laments Mr Mathur. He told this correspondent yesterday that while accepting the assignment, he had told the CM that he would take up the job only when he was assured that the ARC’s recommendation, if necessary, will be scrutinised only by the Cabinet and that the terms of reference will not bind the commission to a limited area. “Only after the CM agreed to my terms did I work seriously and toured other states and prepared 10 reports concerning augmenting revenue and minimising the expenditure in government. But the four reports submitted long ago have not even been considered by the government and are being tossed among bureaucrats from one departure to another”, he said. Mr Mathur said that the Chief Ministers of other states like Maharashtra, Kerala, Karnataka and Delhi, obtained these reports from him and appreciated them. “Even Union Minister for Finance Yashwant Sinha wrote a letter appreciating the recommendations of the commission but in our own state, it is not being taken with due regards and seriousness”, he added. Mr Mathur alleged that despite assurance to the contrary, ARC’s reports were handed over to bureaucrats for examination. “In a government run by a political party, the guiding force must be the basic thinking of the ruling party itself. If bureaucrats are to guide the government, what is the difference between President’s rule and an elected government? I am sorry to say that the present government is being governed not by the ministers but bureaucrats. This is humiliating and I am not going to tolerate it, he declared. The ARC recommended amalgamation of house tax, land and building tax and urban assessment into one single tax to give relief to the common man from the inspector raj and augment revenue at the same time. In another report on economy on motor vehicles, the ARC’s recommendations are expected to yield a savings of Rs 335 crore per annum. But these recommendations are still being examined and Mr Mathur is told that officers do not agree with them. Even his suggestion that the recommendations for unification of taxes relating to land and houses may be given a try in at least one district is not acceptable to the government, “What is the fun in dragging on in the commission then and prepare more reports”. The government is behaving like a colonial government. It is not ready to listen even to good pieces of advice. I cannot tolerate this and have made up my mind to talk to the CM in plain terms. If the government is to treat our reports like this, I am not willing to continue anymore”, he told. |
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Child porn: chargesheet filed Mumbai, March 6 William Marty (59) and his wife Loshiar Marty (57) were produced before Additional Metropolitan Magistrate Usha Iyer who committed the case to sessions court for trial after the cops filed the charge sheet. The couple was arrested on December 9 here on the charge of luring children with money, attractive clothes and free rides to perform sexual acts. The pornography movie was allegedly sold by them for a good price to people abroad. On February 5, the Additional Metropolitan Magistrate had rejected their bail on the ground that the allegations against them were serious and investigations were in progress. The couple put up a defence that in Switzerland they stripped off when they went to take bath on a beach. They claimed to have visited India as tourists and said they were falsely implicated in the case.
PTI
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Town to make way for Tehri
dam Dehra Dun At the meeting, senior officials discussed ways and means to ensure vacation of the town to expedite the ongoing project work already which has been delayed. The Centre seems to be very keen that the town is finally cleared and the displaced people settled either in the adjoining New Tehri town or along the foothills near Rishikesh or Dehra Dun. The delay has been caused by opposition to the dam’s construction by social activists and prominent environmentalists such as Medha Patkar and Sunder Lal Bahuguna. When a big quake hit Garhwal in 1991, they intensified their campaign saying that the construction of such a big dam in the quake-prone area was fraught with grave danger. Local traders and other residents of the town, who have been living there for generations do not wish to leave it, obviously for emotional reasons. The agitationists have also been arguing that if the dam is hit by a powerful earthquake the ensuing flow of water from its reservoir will wash away the downhill major towns of Rishikesh and Hardwar. The latest quake in the hills in March, 1999 seemed to have helped in hardening their stand. However, the government and the dam authorities have been trying to allay all fears on this account. The Centre had, at one time, even appointed a technical committee to go into the oft-debated safety aspects of the dam to end the controversy regarding the safety of the people. Even as the government has been defending its case, local anti-dam activists have also been trying to stall the project work on the ground that the government’s rehabilitation package for the oustees has been quite insufficient. Over a decade ago, the Centre had rehabilitated some of the Tehri dam oustees at Rishikesh, New Tehri, Bhaniawala and Dehra Dun by giving them plots for constructing houses. But by and large, the oustees are not happy with the rehabilitation package. Thus, the fresh move by the government to displace the people who continue to stay in the old Tehri town may prove to be a Herculean task. |
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2 killed during
Id celebrations New Delhi, March 6 Attired in their colourful best, Muslims, including children, flocked mosques and shrines since early morning to offer prayers as the police kept a strict vigil in vulnerable areas. In the national Capital, the main prayers were held at historic Jama Masjid and Fatehpuri Masjid. Devotees chanted verses from the Holy Quran and greeted each other on the occasion. The celebrations took an ugly turn in Moradabad where two persons were killed and three injured in a firing incident at Sambhal town. A member of a particular community, protesting rituals performed by the other community near his house, opened fire resulting in the killings, to police said.
PTI |
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Hurriyat opposes
Taliban’s action New Delhi, March 6 A Hurriyat spokesman said here today that the APHC stood for religious tolerance and respect to all religions. He said the beliefs of people should be respected. The spokesman said such an action was against modern-day ethos. The Taliban’s action has drawn world-wide condemnation with even Pakistan urging it to stop the demolition of statues.
The Hurriyat leaders are likely to meet in Srinagar this week. |
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8-year-old raped Greater Noida, March 6 According to the police, Bhura, the old man, called Sweety to his residence last evening when she had gone to a nearby shop for some purchase. The girl went upstairs to him. Bhura took her to the roof top on an excuse of giving her a chocolate and raped her. When the girl cried, she was threatened to be thrown down. After the incident, the man ran away from the village, The girl reached her house and told the incident to her father who lodged an FIR. |
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