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March 18, 2001, Chandigarh, India   
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Economic reforms may be
derailed NDA has lost right to rule :
CPI Govt ready to face
trust vote: Advani Cong groups in WB likely to
reunite Don’t woo back Mamata:
Paswan |
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Trinamool can fight poll on its own: Mamata BJP rejects seats
offered by Trinamool TDP sits pretty in new situation CPM criticises PM’s
address HP BJP rebels meet Krishnamurthi CBI ready for trial of Hindujas Kerala ex-minister
convicted, jailed ITBP SI gets National
Adventure Award Liquor auction to end in
Uttaranchal Cong moves resolution on agriculture Mock exercise sends admn into a
tizzy Govt to auction assets of Irrigation Dept Panther, leopard killed in
Uttaranchal Cancer drives family to suicide ‘Patient’ robs eye specialist
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Economic reforms may be
derailed New Delhi, March 17 Finance Minister Yashwant Sinha’s “feel-good” Budget may be shorn of all unwelcome measures if the Opposition continues with its stonewalling techniques. Some measures that constitute the second phase of economic reforms include the proposal to bring down government equity ceiling in nationalised banks from 51 per cent to 33 per cent, the Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management Bill, Electricity Bill, the proposal to make it easier for companies to hire and fire labourers and the Money Laundering Bill. The government has talked about corporatising the ports, the Railways, introducing the Competition Law Bill for fair competition among companies and big-ticket disinvestment of public sector units. Going by the mood of the Opposition, the government is unlikely to take any measure that would require voting. This means Bills like the one on reducing government equity in nationalised banks, plans to corporatise ports and Railways, the Money Laundering Bill and Competition Bill could be put on the backburner. The Balco controversy has not died down yet and it is unlikely that the government would go ahead with its disinvestment plans. Official sources said the government’s immediate concern is to get the Finance Bill passed. Before that, the Railway Budget and Vote-on-Account have to be passed. However, amidst the gloomy scenario, the Union Finance Minister, Mr Yashwant Sinha, is still optimistic. He is confident that the government would be able to move ahead with the reforms process. Speaking on the sidelines of the annual RBI Board meeting here, Mr Sinha said he did not anticipate any derailment of the reforms attempted in the Budget. “The reforms programme is not a question of majority....I think we are more learned, meaner, fit and determined to carry the reforms process further”, he said. On the fate of the Finance Bill, the minister said as long as the BJP-led coalition had majority in the Lok Sabha, it could be passed. Commenting on the deliberation at today’s board meeting, Mr Sinha said the key issue now was implementation of policies outlined in the Budget and ongoing projects. He said the government would not allow administrative and bureaucratic bottlenecks to come in the way of reforms. The Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Mr Pramod Mahajan, was also confident that the Finance Bill would pass without any hitch. Industry observers, however, do not share the government’s optimism. They refer to the comments of a former Finance Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, immediately after the announcement of the Budget proposals. He was not very charitable in his remarks. |
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NDA has lost right to rule: CPI Hyderabad, March 17 “The NDA Government has no moral right to continue and should resign forthwith in view of the grave corruption charges against several leaders of the ruling party and other individuals,” CPI General Secretary A.B. Bardhan said in his inaugural address at the National Executive committee two-day meeting here. Asserting that the judicial probe ordered by the Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee into the defence deal scandal has no “relevance and value” in view of the clear evidence of the alleged involvement of top leaders and defence officials shown through the Tehelka videotapes, he wondered how long the ruling dispensation at the Centre would like to continue. He said the demand for the resignation of the NDA Government has come not only from “political parties but also from the people of the country.” Mr Bardhan also asked the NDA allies, including the TDP, to exercise their mind properly and decide “if they want to save the NDA alliance or protect the country’s security which is at stake following the expose.” In his hard-hitting speech, Mr Bardhan questioned as to how the ruling party, which claims to go to the bottom of the allegations through an inquiry and come out with facts, was seeking to give a “clean chit” to Mr George Fernandes even before the inquiry had commenced. Mr Bardhan took exception to the BJP spokesman reportedly saying that Mr George Fernandes would be back in his post after a “few months” and said this itself raised doubt over the sincerity behind the judicial probe ordered by the government. Mr Bardhan also referred to the RSS labelling Mr Bangaru Laxman as not being a “swayamsevak” and wondered how the organisation RSS “which breeds such people in it absolves itself by making such comments.
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Govt ready to face
trust vote: Advani New Delhi, March 17 “The government is chosen by the people. If the Opposition thinks we (NDA) do not have the majority, let them move a no-confidence motion. Everything will then be crystal clear,” Mr Advani said at a meeting of BJP activists here. “Let the Opposition come to Parliament on Monday and participate in the debate,” he said, adding that “doodh ka doodh aur pani ka pani nikal jayega (milk will be separated from water) and we will come out as clean as milk”, Mr Advani said amid applause. Stating that the nation was being misled by “unsubstantiated talk”, he said the fact that people from a fictitious company go around meeting top political leaders and armed forces personnel “is of concern” and “this is a wake up call for us.” “What Tehelka (web portal) has shown is that some people make tall claims about their connections with senior leaders. But does this implicate the top leaders,” he asked. But on this basis, the Congress said the government was corrupt and it should resign, he said castigating the Opposition parties for making baseless charges.
PTI
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Cong groups in WB likely to
reunite Kolkata, March 17 Leaders of both groups now hope they could get united to fight against the CPM in the forthcoming Assembly polls in the state. But since the Trinamool Congress has already declared its list of candidates for 223 seats, of the total 294, the adjustment of seats with the Congress (I) is possible only in the 71 seats. In the remaining seats also, the TMC agreed to allow the BJP 39 seats where the Congress (I) will have to fight alone and the TMC will play a neutral role. On the other hand, the TMC will now have to reconsider its stand with the KPP and the JMM. Initially, Ms Banerjee agreed to allow the JMM and the KPP (Kamtapur People’s Party) some 15 seats. But the KPP wanted more seats than six to which TMC agreed. But with the JMM an agreement was already reached on eight seats — mostly in the tribal areas in Midnapore, Purulia, Bankura and Birbhum districts in South Bengal. And now if Ms Banerjee comes to an electoral understanding with the Congress (I) against the CPM, she will have to reconsider her stand on seat adjustment with the BJP, the JMM and the KPP. However, everything would depend on the TMC’s future relations with the BJP vis-a-vis the Congress(I) Ms Banerjee and other TMC leaders are returning to Calcutta today from New Delhi. Since the resignations of both Ms Banerjee and Mr Ajit Kumar Panja, Minister of State for External Affairs, have been accepted by the Prime Minister, there is no scope for both to return back to the government after the resignation of the Defence Minister, Mr George Fernandes. But what relations the TMC will now maintain with the BJP is yet to be seen. Mrs Sonia Gandhi has invited Ms Banerjee to return to the Congress(I), which is not possible for her. But she will be ready to come to some sort of understanding with the Congress(I) in the state to fight against the CPM in the forthcoming elections and that too will not be at the cost of the TMC. Mr Kamal Nath, AICC(I) general secretary in charge of West Bengal, originally a resident of Calcutta, who still runs his power transformer manufacturing units in the state. He is quite conversant with the ‘groupism politics’ of the Congress in the state. He knows it will not be an easy task for him to bring both the Congress(I) and the TMC on one platform to fight against the CPM. But in many seats, a proper adjustment on seats could be possible. TMC leaders, particularly Mr Pankaj Banerjee, chairman of the policy making body, and Mr Sovondev Chattopadhyya, feel their initial proposal for ‘one to one fight’ against the CPM is not now possible. The scope had been allowed to slip because of the Congress(I)’s reluctance to join with TMC with the BJP as partner. But now since the TMC is no longer a partner of the NDA, politically there could be no problem for both the TMC and Congress(I) alliance against the
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Don’t woo back Mamata: Paswan Kochi, March 17 Speaking at a press conference, Mr Paswan, came down on Ms Banerjee, saying that every two or three months she used to “create problems” for the government, and described her as another Jayalalitha, the AIADMK supremo. The Trinamool chief had exploited the NDA, he charged, and alleged what she wanted from the Railways for her home state Bengal, she had achieved. “Peenae walo ko peenae ka bahana chahiyae” (those who want to booze, need only an excuse to do so). She wanted to leave the alliance and the Tehelka charges came in handy, he said. When asked about his name figuring in the portal’s tapes along with the Home Ministry in a scandal pertaining to the border fencing, Mr Paswan denied the allegations, saying that the Telecom Department had nothing to do with border fencing. Asked if he would file a defamation suit against the dot.com company, he replied in the negative.“ The government had decided to order an enquiry, let it bring out the truth,” he said. When asked to comment on Mr George Fernandes’ resignation, Mr Paswan said he was not in favour of the resignation. The Opposition, which had raised a hue and cry over the Tehelka tapes, should now allow Parliament to function, he said. He ridiculed the RJD chief, Mr Laloo Prasad Yadav, who had been chargesheeted in the fodder scam, for seeking the resignation of the BJP government. He said his party would agitate in Bihar for the resignation of the Rabri government.
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Trinamool can fight poll on its own: Mamata Kolkata, March 17 Though Ms Banerjee publicly reiterated TMC’s decision to fight against the CPM jointly with the BJP, leaders of both parties were quite doubtful about the practicality of any such joint poll move after the resignation of Ms Banerjee and Mr Ajit Kumar Panja from the Vajpayee government vis-a-vis TMC’s pulling out from the NDA in the wake of the present controversy. BJP leader Tapan Sikdar, Union Minister of State for Communication, now in the city, regretted that Ms Banerjee could leave the NDA at the time of crisis, which was not a friendly gesture for her. Mr Sikdar was, however, happy that at last Ms Banerjee’s “drama of resignation” could come to an end. She sent resignation twice and made similar threats of resignation at least four times only for political gain, he alleged. But this time by accepting her resignation, Mr Vajpayee put an end to the drama, the BJP leader remarked. He ridiculed her claim of competency for fighting a lone battle against the CPM. Mr Sikdar, however, said the state BJP would not withdraw on its own from its electoral adjustment with the TMC. If the TMC broke the tie, the BJP would contest on all 294 seats and welcome other like-minded parties to join them, said a BJP state committee leader. Both TMC and BJP leadership met separately in the city today to prepare an alternative poll strategy of their respective parties in the changed political situation following the TMC’s withdrawal of support from the Vajpayee government. State Congress leaders, now in the city, also held meetings and discussed new poll strategy against the CPM in the changing political situation. The Congress leaders hoped it would now be possible for them to fight against the CPM jointly with the TMC. But since the WBPCC president, Mr Pranab Mukherjee and other leaders were away in Bangalore, no fruitful discussions could take place. Mr Mukherjee and Mr Priyaranjan Das Munshi said in Bangalore that they were now ready to accept Ms Banerjee’s leadership to jointly fight against the CPM. Mr Mukherjee said talks could begin with the TMC leader about their poll strategy after they returned to Kolkata at the end of AICC session on Monday. On the other hand, the TMC leaders today held a closed-door meeting at Mr Sudip Banerjee’s residence in Central Kolkata to discuss the party’s new poll strategy. But it was made evidently clear at the meeting that they would not approach the Congress. Talks could only start if the Congress came forward and initiates talks, said a closed aide of Ms Banerjee.
BJP rejects seats
offered by Trinamool Kolkata, March 17 Briefing newspersons here after the committee meeting, state BJP President Ashim Ghosh said the party would send a list by tonight incorporating 18 new seats in exchange for the ones allotted to Trinamool chief Mamata Banerjee for reconsideration. Among the new seats demanded were Toofanganj, Alipurduar, Dhupguri and Kumargunj in North Bengal and Kulti, Purbasthali, Dantan, Jhalda, Kharagpur town, Joynagar and Behala West in South Bengal. The meeting, attended by Minister of State for Communications Tapan Sikdar and Minister of State for Fertilisers Satyabrata Mukherjee, despite the present differences between the Trinamool and the BJP following the former’s decision to quit the NDA and withdraw support, hoped that the alliance at the state-level would continue.
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TDP sits pretty in new situation New Delhi, March 17 Whether it is the present coalition or any other arrangement, nothing can survive without the support of the TDP. As of now, the TDP supremo, Mr Chandrababu Naidu has thrown his lot with the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee. In the process he has not reacted to the gesture by his friends in the erstwhile United Front. It is too early to talk about an alternate front, has been the refrain in the party camp. The TDP has nothing to say on the formation of the People’s Front chaired by CPI-M veteran Jyoti Basu. The importance of the TDP is underlined by the fact that it has a chunk of 29 seats in the Lok Sabha, a figure that can tilt the balance in the House in anybody’s favour. The ruling coalition is left with a strength of 300 in the 545-member Lok Sabha after Ms Mamata Banerjee withdrew the support of the nine-member Trinamool Congress. If the five seats of the PMK are discounted, then the figure comes to 295. Realising how crucial the support of the TDP is for its survival, the Prime Minister all through the crisis has been keeping a direct line with Mr Chandrababu Naidu. According to TDP sources, the Prime Minister is understood to have spoken to Mr Naidu at least a dozen times. Mr Naidu is reportedly of the opinion that the government should not dilly-dally in the matter as it concerns national security. He wants an independent probe into the expose. Since the Prime Minister has met all demands of the TDP, there is no immediate danger of Mr Naidu parting ways with the BJP-led coalition. Under the new arrangement, the TDP is likely to make use of its stronger position to leverage major economic concessions for Andhra Pradesh. The advantage of remaining outside the Government would also ensure that the TDP has the best deal. However, there is one section of the party which believes that all is not hunkydory for the TDP. Under the new dispensation, the party would be more closely identified with the Bharatiya Janata Party. Argument of outside support would not count among the public as the world now knows that the BJP-led coalition has been kept alive only by Mr Naidu. To that extent the TDP would have to share bricks and bouquets with the Prime Minister.
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CPM criticises PM’s
address New Delhi, March 17 Describing the government’s decision to institute a judicial probe by a sitting or a retired Supreme Court judge as an “eyewash”, the CPM Polit Bureau said here that the Vajpayee government was trying to “buy time” and using “delaying tactics” to bail out of crisis in which it finds itself at present. In a statement, the Polit Bureau said while Mr Vajpayee’s address was a “self-adulation” exercise, his appeal for a debate in Parliament was unacceptable in face of the government’s “obstinate stance and its determination to defend the culprits”. “Having lost credibility and the moral authority to govern the country, the entire Vajpayee government must quit. Nothing less is acceptable to the people of the country”, the statement said. “It is deplorable that in its bid to defend the indefensible, Mr Vajpayee adopts an offensive approach and accuses the opposition of indulging in tactics aimed at destabilising the country,” the CPM said. The CPM said the NDA had “prejudged” the inquiry by retaining Mr George Fernandes as its convener and promising to reinstate him after the probe was over. “This clearly conveys that the inquiry will be a mere eyewash”, the statement said. |
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HP BJP rebels meet
Krishnamurthi New Delhi, March 17 Mr Krishnamurthi told The Tribune that the MLAs, including four ministers, discussed with him their demands and agreed to abide by the decision of the BJP high command. The rebels arrived here on Thursday after the Himachal Pradesh Assembly, which is having its Budget session, went in for a 10-day recess. Though it was being felt that the rebels would lie low till the BJP-led government at the Centre fully came to grips with the problems created by the expose, the rebels seem keen on an early solution to their demands. Sources said that the rebels want to use the Assembly recess period to put their case before the high command afresh and seek some concrete assurance. “The BJP high command’s atitude would determine what posture the rebels adopt when the Assembly reconvenes on March 26,’’ a party leader indicated. He said that the rebels may adopt a belligerent attitude in the Assembly. However, having already crossed the rubicon by publicly demanding the removal of the Chief Minister and general secreary in charge of Himachal Pradesh NarendraModi, the rebels would themselevs be looking for some “honourbale’’ way out. For all their tough posturing, the rebels realise that both their demands are unlikely to be conceded. Sources said that efforts were being made to find a way out for both the sides and some RSS leaders from the state were making concerted efforts in this direction. |
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CBI ready for trial of Hindujas New Delhi, March 17 Counsel for the CBI N. Natrajan told Justice S.K. Agarwal that the agency was ready to move a formal application before the designated court to separate the trial of S.P. Hinduja, G.P. Hinduja, P.P. Hinduja, former Defence Secretary S.K. Bhatnagar, former Bofors agent Win Chadha and the Swedish gun company from that of Quattrocchi and Ardbo.
The court fixed March 23 for the next hearing. UNI |
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Kerala ex-minister convicted, jailed Thiruvananthapuram, March 17 Balakrishna Pillai, who represents Kottarakkara in the state Assembly, is the first political leader in the state to be jailed on corruption charges. The prosecution case was that in pursuance of a conspiracy entered into by Balakrishna Pillai, while serving as the Power Minister in the Congress-led government in 1984-85, and Kesava Pillai, chairman, Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB), power was diverted to the Bangalore-based Graphite India Limited from October, 1984, to May, 1985, without the approval of the state Cabinet. This action had caused undue pecuniary benefits to the company at a time when the state was facing power shortage. His surrender came nearly a fortnight after the Kerala High Court upheld the conviction and the sentence of Balakrishna Pillai by the Inquiry Commissioner and Special Judge, Thiruvananthapuram, Mr N.K. Balakrishnan, in the Graphite case. Mr Kesava Pillai also surrendered before the vigilance court along with the former minister and was sent to the Central Jail. A Division Bench comprising Mr Justice P.K. Balasubramaniam and Mr Justice T.M. Hassan Pillai cancelled the bail bonds of the accused and ordered them to surrender before the Special Judge.
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ITBP SI gets National
Adventure Award New Delhi, March 17 Thirtysix-year-old Sange Sherpa, a resident of Darjeeling in West Bengal, joined the ITBP in 1992 as a Head Constable. He had more than half-a-dozen successful summits to his credit, to include the Mt. Everest thrice i.e. in 1992, 1996 and 1999, Aqtash in 1993, Jaonli in 1994 and Nanda Devi in 2000. Mr Sherpa was the only mountaineer not only in India but probably in the world, who had scaled the Mt Everest from all the three faces i.e. Indo-ITBP Mt Everest 1992 from South Col, ITBP expedition Mt Everest 1996 from North Col and Millennium India Mt Everest 1999 from Kangshung face, an ITBP press note said here today. |
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Liquor auction to end in
Uttaranchal Dehra Dun, March 17 The new system of issuing licences for a fixed amount for different cities, towns and villages will bring down the liquor prices and yield Rs 220 crore during 2001-2002, Rs 15 crore higher than the current financial year. According to Mr Nityanand Swami, Chief Minister of Uttaranchal, the new excise policy of the BJP-led government was brought forth to reign in the powerful liquor contractors who had divided among themselves the various regions and were gaining from auctions because of a mutual understanding. The result was stagnation in excise collection or even fall in revenue in various districts. He admitted that the liquor syndicates, fed by black money, political connections and underworld patronage, made the Excise Department’s a task difficult during auctions. These syndicates made it very difficult for small bidders to enter the field since auctions in a district were held in one lot - separately for country made liquor and Indian made foreign liquor (IMFL). The requirement of a bank statement and other assets, besides deposit of a heavy sum when the hammer fall in the auction, was beyond the reach of smaller bidders to be left out. The consumers also had to pay a very high price because of the monopoly of contractors in a given city or district. The rates were arbitrary and the consumers had little choice regarding the selection of brand. Prices fluctuated at the whim of the contractors. Now the state government will fix the fee for licences, separately for country-made liquor and the IMFL and different in all cities and the towns. Only a domicile of Uttaranchal will be eligible to apply for getting a licence. The government’s policy is to give more employment opportunities to the domiciles of the state. Further, it aims at weaning away consumers from country-made liquor and the IMFL hard drinks and instead encourage beer drinking at cheaper rates which, in turn, would net in a higher total revenue. The licence fee shall vary from Rs 50,000 to Rs 25 lakh which has been fixed at estimated sale of liquor in a fixed in the capital. One person can get shop. The highest licence fee has been a maximum of two licences for the IMFL and three licences for the country-made liquor. |
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Cong moves resolution on agriculture Rajiv Gandhi Nagar , March 17 Congress President Sonia Gandhi has been harping on the step-motherly treatment being meted to the farmers and the
agriculture sector by the corruption ridden-BJP-led NDA government. She attributed the absymal state of affairs in the agriculture sphere to the lop-sided priorities of the BJP-led coalition government over the past three years, subjecting the farmers and khet mazdoors to endless suffering. Moving the resolution on agriculture, former Agriculture Minister Balram Jhakar regretted that the farmer, who has done the country proud was being made to lose confidence, dignity and self-esteem. The farmer’s voice is not being
heard. He charged the NDA government of giving a go-by to the fundamental and enduring contribution made by the Congress to the agriculture sector. Speaking on the resolution, Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee President Amarinder Singh stressed the central agencies must be actively involved in procuring foodstocks, otherwise farmers would be in serious trouble. He was emphatic that the state governments did not have the wherewithal to deal with the problem of plenty and it would be a travesty of justice to penalise the farmer. He said it should be the
responsibility of the Union Government to create the necessary infrastructure
to store foodgrains and see how to sell the same. Irrespective of the form of government on the Raisina Hill in New Delhi, the Centre must deal with surplus foodgrains in keeping with the overall national commitment rather than trying to pass the onus on an ill- equipped state government. It was important to pay remunerative prices of foodgrains well in advance, he added. Mr Amarinder Singh moved an amendment in this regard, which was incorporated in the resolution on agriculture. Underlining the need for radical reforms to promote faster growth, the resolution said such reforms must focus effectively and directly on the well-being of the farmer and the khet mazdoor, the workers in both organised and unorganised industry, the SC/STs and in general the poorest sections of society. It said disinvestment and privatisation would be carried out in accordance with clear policy priorities and transparent modalities, not as an assault on the public sector but in the interest of ensuring that the Congress heritage of a mixed economy reflects changing requirements and evolving priorities. The government holdings in public sector undertakings, which had a consistent record of making profits would not be reduced below 51 per cent. Nor would the government holdings in nationalised banks drop below 51 per cent.
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Mock exercise sends admn into a
tizzy Hanumangarh, March 17 According to sources, today afternoon, an information was sent from the SP office that 10 persons were killed and 20 injured when a bus of Rajasthan Roadways fell into a river at Masitawali head, under the jurisdiction of Tibbi police station, after striking against an electricity transformer. It was also said two other persons were killed when a “jhugi” caught fire, because of the current from a transformer. As the information was spread, the staff of the Tibbi police station was the first to reach the spot. The information was further announced on the loudspeaker from Rasuwal Gurudwara, receiving which residents of nearby villages, including several swimmers, came to the rescue of passengers. On receiving the information that current was flowing from the transformer the Electricity Department at Rawatsar cut off the electricity connection. Mr M.C. Meena, SP, also reached the spot. Official from the Irrigation Department, district administration, fire brigade and an Army man carrying a life jacket were the others to reach the spot. Sources revealed that when it was told that it was rehearsal, people heaved a sigh of relief. |
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Govt to auction assets of Irrigation Dept Hanumangarh, March 17 According to sources, in the orders issued for the constitution of the committees, it was said if the reserved price of land and buildings would be less than Rs 50 lakh, the Additional Engineer would be Chairman of the committee and other members would include the Executive Engineer, Financial Advisor, Secretary concerned of the local improvement trust, Superintendent of the PWD and the SDM. In case, the reserved price of assets would be more than Rs 50 lakh, members of the committee constituted would be of the same rank as those in the committee constituted for auction of assets of a value of less than 50 lakh but the Chairman would be the Chief Engineer (Irrigation) or the Chief Engineer (Project areas) in case of a project. |
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Panther, leopard killed in
Uttaranchal Dehra Dun, March 17 According to forest officials, a panther which suffered pelvic injuries succumbed to death. The panther sustained injuries after it was caught in a trap laid in the Rajaji Park. Two persons identified as Viren Malik and Jyoti had been arrested under the Wild Life Protection Act in this regard. Both were employees of a farm house in the Rajaji Park, where a trap was laid down early this week in which the panther was caught. As the panther tried to free itself from the trap, it broke some limbs in the pelvic region of the body resulting in internal bleeding causing death. In another incident, a leopard was found dead in Gaina village of Pithoragarh district. The nails of the leopard were gauged. Post-mortem reports revealed that the leopard also died of excessive internal bleeding. The forest officials were of the view that the animal died in a fight with another animal. |
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Cancer drives family to suicide Bhubaneswar, March 17 SBI Deputy General Manager Akhilananda Mahapatra (40) and his wife, Swapna (35), ended their lives by hanging themselves from ceiling fans. The bodies of their two little daughters, Elisa (11) and Elona (8), were also found hanging from ceiling fans. The police has recovered two suicide notes left by the couple where they had cited the reasons for ending their lives. Mr Arun Sharangi,(SP), said it was a case of suicidal hanging. The police, however, suspects that the youngest daughter, Elona, may have been strangled and then hanged before the couple committed suicide. Mr Mahapatra had been recently transferred to Bhubaneswar on health grounds. There he came to know that he was suffering from liver cancer.
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‘Patient’ robs eye specialist Sriganganagar, March 17 Dr Kirti Dhingra, the victim, told mediapersons that two young men rang the door bell of her house at 4.30 am and when she opened the door one of them said that his eye was paining and requested for some treatment. They also said that they had to appear for an examination at 7 a.m. He complained of pain and asked her to give a prescription. She went into her bedroom to get a pad but the duo followed her inside and woke up her mother who was sleeping and pointed a gun towards her head. By this time, a third accomplice had joined them. He brought her daughter and son who were studying in an adjacent room inside the bedroom and directed her to hand over all valuables to them. |
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Chidambaram floats TMC forum Gold bars worth Rs 13 cr seized Nanda’s pleas dismissed Warfare exercise by India, Singapore CBI probes girl’s abduction Food poisioning claims 3 lives |
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