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March 27, 2001, Chandigarh, India   
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BJP chief
rules out Laxman's resignation from RS BJP men still
demoralised? Cong: Sonia never called
PM ‘gaddar’ |
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HC notice to
Mishra on J.K. Jain’s plea Govindacharya shoots 500 letters “Dithering puts India behind Pak” ‘Vaidya’ fails to bring
boy back to life EC bans cutouts, erection of arches VP kicks off Left’s poll campaign Row over Raveena’s selection for award Policy on disasters in offing Re-employed army men seek parity Bihar to have women’s panel Clinton to visit Gujarat in April Inter-faith dialogue to boost tolerance Car hijackers’ gang busted, 4 held RSS favours VHP stand on Tehri Firing over land dispute, 13
held Leh on
railway reservation map Laparoscopic surgery workshop opens Textile workers threaten stir
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BJP chief
rules out Laxman's resignation from RS NEW DELHI, March 26 Even as Jana Krishnamurthi,
who came to attend the office for the first time after being ratified
as the party President by the BJP National Executive, ruled out Mr
Laxman’s resignation from the Rajya Sabha, the top party leadership
has decided to revert to the low-key style of party functioning which
lays emphasis on content than on form. The decision to elevate Mr
Jana Krishnamurthi to the party’s top post was taken after
considerable deliberations within the Sangh Parivar as well as between
Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, Union Home Minister L.K. Advani,
Human Resource Development Minister Murli Manohar Joshi and former
party President Kushabhau Thakre, party sources pointed out, adding
that Mr Laxman was the first BJP President who was not a RSS pracharak. Incidentally,
Mr Laxman was not the collective choice of the party but of Mr
Vajpayee, who was of the view that by bringing a Dalit as the
party’s top leader would help the party to expand the BJP’s
electoral base. The first step that Mr Krishnamurthi took to restore
the confidence of the ordinary party worker was to go back to occupy
the room, the table and the chair used by Mr Advani and Mr
Thakre. The room, which was specially prepared by Mr Laxman, would be
used for meeting high-profile guests like foreign diplomats, the Prime
Minister or the Home Minister, Mr Krishnamurthi instructed his office
staff. Later, he held a meeting of the party’s General Secretaries
to discuss the BJP affairs. Like in the old days, when he used to be
available to the media, Mr Krishnamurthi met journalists today and
told them that he would hold a press meeting soon to share his views
with them. Earlier, the BJP ruled out any alliance with the Asom Gana
Parishad (AGP) in the coming elections to the state assembly alleging
that the ruling party had a “secret understanding” with the
Surrendered United Liberation Front of Assam (SULFA). The party,
which is likely to go it alone in the state, also accused the Congress
of entering into a “secret deal” with ULFA. “The BJP wants to
liberate Assam from ULFA and SULFA. We shall be contesting on the
plank of ‘Surakshit Assam, ikasit Assam’ (secure and developed
Assam)”, party General Secretary, Mr Narendra Modi, told newsmen
here. He said the party would fight the elections in Tamil Nadu and
Pondicherry under the DMK’s leadership while in Kerala it would
align with smaller parties. “In Tamil Nadu, we have been allotted
21 seats and the Chief Minister, Mr K. Karunanidhi, is looking after
the coordination while in Pondicherry, talks are on for seat sharing
with the DMK”, Mr Modi said. “In Kerala, we want to make our
presence felt and we are having alliance with smaller parties”, he
said. Mr Modi claimed that the mood in the party was “upbeat” and
the National Executive, which concluded here yesterday, felt that
there was no erosion in the faith of the workers or the public in the
party’s credibility in the wake of the Tehelka expose on
corruption. Asked whether the Tehelka episode will cast its shadow on
the BJP’s electoral prospects, he said, “The issues in Assembly
elections were different”. Mr Modi asked Trinamool Congress leader
Mamata Banerjee to come out clearly on her stand on the issue of
sharing seats with the BJP. “The BJP is not waiting for any one. We
are making all preparations but we have not closed our door. It is for
Ms Banerjee to decide how she is to dislodge the Left Front government
in the state”, he said. |
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BJP men still
demoralised? New Delhi, March 26 It was men and women from the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD), who, waving green flags, were visible throughout the rally venue. In fact, at the rally gates photographs of Haryana Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala and INLD patriarch Devi Lal found the pride of place along with those of Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee. Mr Chautala’s efforts at mobilising supporters were praised by several NDA allies, including BJP leaders. Apart from the sizeable presence of the INLD workers, Lok Janshakti supporters were also present in large numbers at the rally. Mr Chautala, who was loudly cheered by the assembled crowd, spoke at length after the other NDA Chief Ministers had spoken. The only NDA ally not present at the rally was the DMK but the BJP leaders said MDMK leader Vaiko was representing the DMK. It had been announced earlier that DMK leader T.R. Balu would address the rally. Though the BJP had made efforts to mobilise workers, even the party leaders admitted that the rally would not have been a success without the presence of supporters of the NDA allies. Observers here said the morale of the BJP workers was still not fully restored from the affects of the Tehelka expose though the party was making strenuous efforts to regain its old sheen. The Tehelka tapes had shown former party President Bangaru Laxman accepting money for party funds from fictitious arms dealers. The rally, however, was successful in conveying the unity in the NDA and its faith in the leadership of Mr Vajpayee. The NDA leaders said the esteem of the country had risen in the international arena after Mr Vajpayee became the Prime Minister. Crediting him with making the country powerful, they praised him for leading the country to victory in the Kargil conflict. Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah even said that any lasting solution to the Kashmir problem could be found only under the leadership of Mr Vajpayee. One common feature in all speeches was an unrelenting attack on the Congress. Satisfied with the rally, the NDA leaders announced that similar rallies would be held in other parts of the country. Mr Vajpayee would address a rally in his constituency of Lucknow apart from some other places in the country. |
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Cong: Sonia never called
PM ‘gaddar’ New Delhi, March 26 Party spokesman Anand Sharma said the BJP leadership had used words like anarchist and fascist against the party. “Unfortunately, the shoe fits them better,” Mr Sharma retorted. The Congress, he said, had an abiding faith in democracy. Calling upon the BJP to do some soul-searching, he said that the Congress did not need a certificate from those indoctrinated to the RSS which had a fascist, communal and exclusive agenda. Pointing out that Congress president Sonia Gandhi had not called Mr Vajpayee as “gaddar” at the party’s Bangalore session, Mr Sharma said that the issue was being distorted by the BJP to suit its aims of diverting people’s attention from the Tehelka expose. He said the Congress was discharging its responsibility as an Opposition party. “It is the duty of Opposition to take up issues and form mass opinion,” he said. Reacting to the setting up of one-man commission of inquiry on the Tehelka expose, Mr Sharma said the government had not waived the Officials Secrets Act which would render the whole
exercise without teeth. He said no criminal cases had been launched against those shown taking money in the Tehelka tapes. Mr Sharma said as Mr Vajpayee had already talked of reinduction of former Defence Minister George Fernandes after the inquiry was over in four months, he was pre-empting the inquiry. Questioning how men posing as arms dealers had access to corridors of power and sensitive areas, Mr Sharma asked what the Intelligence Bureau was doing. All this had raised a question mark over the competence of Home Ministry, he said. Regarding the party’s alliance with the Trinamool Congress in West Bengal, he said the Congress leader Kamal Nath was in touch with Trinamool leader Mamata Banerjee over the issue. |
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HC notice to Mishra on J.K. Jain’s plea New Delhi, March 26 Mr Justice Vijender Jain also issued notices to Cabinet Secretary, Home Secretary, Director Intelligence Bureau (IB), former RAW Secretary and now Officer on Special Duty (OSD) in Prime Minister’s office S.D. Dulat, Director General Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan and Sports Minister Uma Bharati. The court, while fixing next hearing on the petition for May 7, directed all respondents to file replies within four weeks. Additional Solicitor-General K.K. Sud, who accepted notices on behalf of Cabinet Secretary, Home Secretary and Raw, said, “we will like to seek instruction from the government if there is RAW report (against Jain) and if any intelligence report is subject matter of judicial review.” The court on March 23 had ordered Jain to delete Prime Minister’s name from the list of respondents before seeking a notice saying there was no allegation against him in his writ. Arguing on the amended petition after deletion of Prime Minister’s name, Jain’s counsel P.N. Lekhi alleged that Mishtra was “responsible for preparing the report because Jain TV was investigating into allegations that he (Mishra) has been using his clout for feathering his family nest.”
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Govindacharya shoots 500 letters New Delhi, March 26 In a five-page letter on the party’s letter head sent to about 500 eminent persons in the country, Mr Govindacharya said reforms in the past five years “have resulted in an increase of rural poverty and plight of the
peasantary, decrease in employment opportunities, skewed and disadvantageous work opportunities for women less skilled youth”. The letter, dated March 24, is bound to cause serious embarrassment to the BJP and the NDA government. The BJP National Executive meeting, which concluded here yesterday, has hailed the economic policies of the NDA government. Incidentally, Mr
Govindacharya, who is a member of the National Executive, chose to remain absent at the meeting. The path of free marketism in the past 15 years had “led us to blind alley of indiscriminate
globalisation”, Mr Govindacharya said in his open letter. Pointing out that the removal of quantitative restrictions
(QRs) from next month would further damage the health of the economy, once the BJP ideologue has questioned the very logic of staying within the
WTO. Eversince the country signed the WTO, “our problems have been compounded. The national economic sovereignty has been compromised.... Small-scale industries have suffered a lot and our industries have not been able to compete”, Mr Govindacharya said. |
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“Dithering puts India behind Pak” New Delhi, March 26 While India brought out its draft Nuclear Doctrine with much fanfare more than two years ago with National Security Adviser and Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, Brajesh Mishra and security expert K. Subhrahmanyam holding a press conference, it has not been able to finalise it. On the other hand the recommendations of the Kargil Review Committee also seem to have been sidelined and overburdened bureaucracy, specially some officials continue to hold positions to which they are unable to do justice. As a result, the government despite showing great enthusiasm and keenness to improve the security set-up in the country has not taken action on this front, say experts. They view that the government under pressure from certain officials and ignoring specific recommendations of the Kargil Review Committee has done exactly the same as the successive governments in the country have been doing over the years. There is still no decision as to who would be the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) despite the Group of Ministers studying the recommendations of the Kargil Review Committee having given its go ahead for the creation of the post. Besides, the National Security Adviser and the Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister continues to be the same person and there is no work for the National Security Council set up in April 1999. Experts point out that with this kind of political indecisiveness it was no surprise that Pakistan had managed to steal march over India. Reports from Islamabad, quoting the Jane’s Intelligence Review stated that India moved at a slower pace in deciding and completing delivery systems, evolving procedures, tactics and doctrine for nuclear use as well as for ensuring effective control over nuclear forces. Pakistan, on the other hand, moved quickly to implement effective systems and procedures for its more modest nuclear arsenal. Jane’s was quoted by “The News” as pointing out that Indian nuclear policies and forces are controlled by its political leadership, scientists from the Atomic Energy Commission and the Defence Research and Development Organisation. The political leadership has not fully thought through specifics of nuclear use or doctrine and does not view such weapons as possessing military utility and discounts the possibility of them being used on the battlefield, it said. Experts point out that recommendations of the Kargil Review Committee become redundant as India despite carrying out the tests earlier than Pakistan has lagged behind. Besides they also point to the resistance being put up by certain officials in relinquishing a certain position as the reason for the delay. The Kargil Committee while pointing out that the successive Indian Prime Ministers had failed to take their own colleagues, the major political parties, the Chiefs of Staff and the Foreign
Secretaries into confidence on the nature of Pakistan’s nuclear threat and the China-Pakistan nuclear axis had recommended that the National Security Adviser should be separate from the Principal
Secretary to the Prime Minister. It said that a second line of personnel be also inducted into the system as early as possible and groomed for higher responsibility and that India must bring out a white paper on the Indian nuclear weapons programme, all which has not been done as yet leave aside bring out the Nuclear Doctrine, point out the experts.
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N-programme not Pak-specific, says India New Delhi, March 26 In response to a question related to Jane’s Intelligence Review’s observation that Pakistan was ahead of India in nuclear
capability, a spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs said: “Firstly, India’s nuclear programme is not country-specific, and secondly, we do not subscribe to any proposition of any arms race here”. “Let it be clearly understood that India’s minimum credible deterrent, based on proven indigenous technologies and under civilian control, effectively addresses any threat to the country’s security and integrity”, the spokesman said adding that “there need be no ambiguity or any doubt in this regard”. |
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‘Vaidya’ fails to bring
boy back to life Hanumangarh, March 26 Claiming that he will give a new life to the child, who died of a snake bite on Friday, he dug out the body from the grave and performed an operation. The operation started on Saturday evening and came to end yesterday when he declared that he was not able to revive the child as the body was kept in grave for more than 12 hours. Meanwhile, the district collector has ordered the SDM, Sangaria, to investigate the incident. Rinku, son of Mr Subhash Soni, a resident of ward No. 8 of Tibbi, died when a snake bit him while he was playing in front of the house. He was buried in the evening. On Saturday, somebody told them about a vaidya who had a “prescription” to revive the dead within 72 hours of the death. The parents approached the vaidya who dug out the body of the boy from the grave. A large number of people gathered to watch the “miracle” as he started operating on the body in artificial lights. When he cut the nose of the boy, blood flowed out which made him express hope. He claimed that the blood would soon begin to circulate in the body. The crowd spent the whole night at the cremation ground and yesterday morning, he declared that the body could not be revived as it had been buried for more than 12 hours. He said he would have given a new life to the child had he not been buried. The body was buried again. This was the third such incident. Earlier such attempts were made at Sangaria and Tibbi
tehsils. |
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EC bans cutouts, erection of arches New Delhi, March 26 The Commission has asked the CEOs of West Bengal, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Assam and Pondicherry to ensure that there would be no cutouts, gates and arches erected by candidates, political parties or their supporters. In a three-page letter, the EC has directed that rules against writing of slogans, pasting of posters, campaigning material, etc, on public and private walls shall be strictly enforced, as per local laws that are prevalent and ensure that no large processions accompany a candidate when he goes to the office of the Returning Officer to file his nomination or goes for attending the scrutiny proceedings or the proceedings relating to allotment of symbols. “Not more than three vehicles (excluding vehicles of security personnel accompanying any leader or candidate) should be allowed to go in caravan on the roads during the election period,” the letter said. “Taking advantage of the loop-holes in the existing laws, particularly the absence of any ceiling on the election expenses by political parties, the election campaigns by political parties and candidates and their supporters have become highly expensive, setting at naught the limits of election expenses fixed by law for the contesting candidates. “Often, huge cutouts, multi-coloured and multi-dimensional, of leaders of political parties and candidates are erected on busy roads, inter-sections and highways, etc. Each of such cutouts costs thousands, and sometimes lakhs. Similarly, big gates and arches are built on the main highways and roads, despite the fact that the Commission had prohibited the erection of such cutouts, gates and arches, etc, by its order dated September 2, 1994,” it said. The copy of the letter, which has also been forwarded to the Chief Secretaries of the four states and Union Territory, has asked the CEOs to immediately instruct Returning Officers and all others concerned to ensure that the Commission’s directions and instructions are strictly observed and complied with by all political parties, candidates, etc. For this purpose, they should invoke all local police and municipal Acts and other relevant laws, it said, adding that any lack of effort on their part which may result in violation of the Commission’s directions and instructions would be seriously viewed by the Commission and dealt with by it
severely, it said. The Commission also asked the CEOs to hold meetings with all recognised parties at their level to bring to their notice its directions and instructions for strict observance on their part. |
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VP kicks off Left’s poll campaign Kolkata, March 26 Addressing a big rally at the Calcutta brigade parade ground last evening, he demanded Mr Vajpayee’s resignation. “After Tehelka’s corruption expose, the Vajpayee government should not have any moral right to remain in power”, Mr V.P. Singh remarked. Though the CPM, on its own began its electioneering some time back, the joint poll campaign of the Left front, formally began yesterday in the presence of Mr V.P. Singh and Mr Jyoti Basu. Mr V.P. Singh said he was certain about the Left front coming to power in the state once again as there was no better alternative. He warned the people against the BJP and other communal forces, which had been ruining the nation. Mr Basu’s main target of attack was Ms Mamata Banerjee, whom he accused of conspiring “in dividing West Bengal into pieces.” “She had not only brought the communal BJP into our state, she has now joined hands with the Kamtapur People’s Party (KPP), Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) and other reactionary forces against the state”, Mr Basu alleged. Mr Basu further alleged that Ms Banerjee was an agent of the ISI and demanded a probe into the corruption charges made against her as Railway Minister in the Tehelka documents. He ridiculed that leaders of various parties with criminal background were now joining together against the Left front for their narrow political interests. Mr Basu felt the Left front would once again be voted to power because the people realised that only the front government could do good to them. The Chief Minister, Mr Buddhadev Bhattacharyya, warned the people against the “crimes” that TMC and other communal parties had been committing in disturbing the peace and progress of Bengal. |
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Row over Raveena’s selection for award New Delhi, March 26 There were reportedly serious differences between the members of the jury, which is said to be smacking of political overtones, over the selection of a particular actress for the best
actress award, leading to the resignation of at least one member and a walkout by two others . There are allegations that despite several other stronger contenders in other films, Raveena Tandon has been selected for the coveted category for her role in the Kalpana Lajmi film, “Daman”. Incidentally, she had not only campaigned for the BJP, the leading party in the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government, but one of the jury members was also alleged to be her relative. Jury members, Pradeep Krishan, Madhumita Raut and Sashi Anand, walked out during the final meeting in protest over inconsistencies in selection of awardees. The jury is headed by Ms Vyjayanthimala Bali, said to be close to the BJP and also includes a sitting BJP MLA from Orissa and the Panchjaanya Editor Tarun Vijay. Raveena’s campaign trail with the BJP during the previous general election may have swung the choice in her favour, even though her name did not appear in the final shortlist recommended by the 16-member jury. The jury viewed 129 feature films in 13 languages and dialects, separately watched by four panels. The names of the winners are scheduled to be announced on Tuesday. It is learnt that, when the shortlist for the final selection was recommended, neither Raveena nor her film “Daman” figured in the list. However, Raveena’s name was pitchforked from nowhere when the jury met for the last time on Sunday. The panel which watched “Daman”, had in fact, termed the movie as “dangerous” as it portrays the husband as a psycopath inflicting heavy domestic violence. A shocked jury member, who resigned, said that “ all decisions on most of the categories appeared to have been pre-decided and there appeared to be a cartel working for Raveena”. |
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Policy on disasters in offing Dehra Dun, March 26 He said the policy had been drafted after careful examination of the consequences of the Gujarat earthquake in consultation with experts. The current policy was announced in 1971. The new disaster-management policy aims at providing better emergency services to the patients and the needy during the time of a big accident or a natural disaster. He advocated the use of helicopter services in the hilly areas of the country for speedy relief operations. Dr Dawe has asked the Union Government to bring out an effective legislation to enable the states formulate a responding system to the Central body. Modern communication systems should also be provided to the rescue teams, he suggested. Replying to a question, he said the present policy was city oriented and it lacked plans for the rural areas. He claimed that the new policy was common and precisely hospital oriented, giving the facilities of surgery, hospitalisation, food etc. on the spot and later shifting the patient to the nearest hospital. He also stressed upon the need to modernise the ambulances in the country. When asked about the common practice of using the antibiotics by doctors in the country, he said the government should bring a legislation to check the unnecessary use of antibiotics. The antibiotics should not be sold on the medical shops without the prescription of an expert doctor, he said adding that the doctors should use the antibiotics only in case of emergency as their use lead to many side-effects on the human body. Dr Dawe said, there was also a need of changing the current medical education system in the country. It should focus on practical rather than textual concepts. The students of MBBS should also be trained to give emergency relief to the patients during the time of a big accident or natural disaster. Dr Dawe was here to attend a seminar on orthopaedics at the Himalayan Institute of Medical Sciences,
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Re-employed army men seek parity New Delhi, March 26 Had these officers, who sought re-employment before May 30, 1998, and are still serving, sat at home after retirement they would have got a pension of Rs 5,200 and a DA of Rs 3500. In uniform, they earn Rs 9,183. In contrast, their colleagues who took re-employment after May 30, 1998, carry home Rs 22,736. “Cheapest, qualified, experienced, disciplined and dedicated labour” is how these disgusted officers describe themselves. Having fought the country’s wars, many of them have taken the battle to courts and pleaded their case that they are entitled for all the benefits of the Fifth Pay Commission. To add to the despondency, officers re-employed before May 30, 1998, are retiring two years before their colleagues. So, at the same time you have one set of officers, of the same rank, retiring at 56 and another group leaving at 58. And, making matters worse is that the Navy and the Air Force, following representations, here brought parity in the retirement age of re-employed officers while the Ministries of Defence and Finance are dilly-dallying with the case put forward by the Army. “When there is so much difference in perks, privileges and status between the same stream of officers having the same service and competence, the whole working atmosphere gets fouled up. It is so unethical and un-soldierly”, Lt-Col S.P.S. Rekhi, who challenged the re-employment scheme in court and managed a stay on his retirement last year, told UNI. The officer, who was commissioned in Defence Minister Jaswant Singh’s regiment, Central India Horse, said it was depressing that the government should behave in such a way with army officers who are in the evening of their lives. He said what people were forgetting was that army officers retired much earlier than their counterparts in other careers, faced risk through their entire working life and had a bleak chance of growth in the force as the pyramidical structure of service did not accept that many at higher ranks unlike the civil services. The present scheme of re-employment in the armed forces has led to other problems. Officers are re-employed in a rank lower than that from which they retired. This despite the Fifth Pay Commission recommending that an officer should be re-employed in the rank in which he retired. They are further demeaned by the Army allotting them a Captain’s accommodation. Also, they are given only one month’s leave while all officers, except the re-employed, get two months. “Early retirement is a service requirement. It is necessary to stress that retired re-employed officers are young, just above 50 years, physically fit, mentally healthy, experienced and knowledgeable. They are much below the age of officers above the rank of Colonel in service. There are only about 25 per cent officers who progress above the rank of Colonel. The main thrust of formation of the policy should cater to this major lot of 75 per cent officers who retire early”, Colonel Rekhi said.
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Bihar to have women’s panel Patna, March 26 The assurance came after several women MLAs, enraged over the increase in atrocities on the fairer sex, rushed into the well, demanding the constitution of a women’s commission as promised by the Chief Minister over two years ago. Leader of the Opposition Sushil Kumar Modi wanted to know what happened to Chief Minister’s assurance in the House over two years ago regarding the constitution of a women’s commission. This led to the women MLAs rushing to the well demanding setting up of the commission.
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Clinton to visit Gujarat in April Mumbai, March 26 As US President, Mr Clinton had visited India in last March and covered New Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Rajasthan and Agra during the five-day stay in the country. He will visit Bhuj in the worst-affected Kutch district of Gujarat as part of the American Indian Foundation (AIF) programme. The exact dates of Mr Clinton’s visit are yet to be announced, but sources at the US consulate here confirmed that the former President would be visiting in the first week of April. The exact programme will be known in the next couple of days. Mr Clinton is also expected to visit Ahmedabad, which was badly affected by the quake, besides Kolkata, where he will pay a visit to Mother Teresa’s “Missionaries of Charity.”
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Inter-faith dialogue to boost tolerance New Delhi, March 26 “There is a popular feeling that Christians are not ready for inter-faith dialogues. Several Christian leaders are known for engaging in dialogue with other communities. If dialogue can ensure better understanding between various religious communities we are ready for it,” Dr Ipe Joseph, General Secretary of the National Council of Churches in India
(NCCI), an umbrella body of 29 different member churches, Dr Ipe Joseph told newsmen after a meeting with the full-bench of the NCM headed by Justice M. Shamim here. Dr Joseph said Christians felt deeply hurt when anyone accused them of being foreigners. During the meeting the NCCI delegation also raised the issue of attacks on minorities, particularly Christians and non-inclusion of Christians and other minorities in the SC/ST list of the 2001 census. Expressing happiness over the suggestion of the commission for a dialogue, NCCI President Geevarghese Mar Coorilos said, “We are highly impressed with the fact that the commission is not only focussing on the minority groups but also the majority community.” Today’s agreement in principle for inter-faith dialogue by the two major Christian communities is a big boost as the Christian bodies had time and again expressed strong reservations over the participation of the RSS, the VHP and the Bajrang Dal. |
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Car hijackers’ gang busted, 4 held New Delhi, March 26 The accused, who are reportedly involved in five car hijacking and murder cases, belonged to different states. They have their connections with criminals in Nepal to whom they reportedly disposed of their robbed vehicles, Joint Commissioner of Police Suresh Roy said. The gang came to light with the arrest of Dhirender. Other accused, Shibu Nair, Manoj Kumar and Virender were arrested following interrogation of Dhirender. Three others Dheeraj, Ajay and Daleep are absconding. The modus operandi of the gangsters was to hire a vehicle for long distances. While on the way they served drinks mixed with drugs to the driver who would become unconscious after taking the drink. The accused used to kill the driver while he being unconscious, he said. To dispose of the vehicle the accused used to drive it to Nepal where they had contacts. Mr Roy said on March 17 an injured person and body of a driver were found from a garbage in Mayur Vihar. The questioning of the injured gave clue about the gang of car hijackers. The injured was identified as Munna Lal and the dead as Banwari Lal. The deceased worked as a driver with a tourist company. Further interrogation of Munna Lal revealed that the accused hired a vehicle from Jhotwar in Jaipur and Banwari Lal was driver of that vehicle. They were served intoxicants after which the driver was killed. During investigation of the case the police got address of one of the accused and arrested him from Bareilly. |
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RSS favours VHP stand on Tehri Dehra Dun, March 26 He said the committee should include technical experts, environmentalists and religious leaders to study various aspects of the project. The filling of water which was scheduled to start from March 31, should be stopped until a common opinion was drawn on the issue. Meanwhile, the leaders associated with the VHP have decided to join Mr Ashok Singhal’s indefinite fast scheduled from March 30. According to Mahant Ramchand Paramhans of Digambar Akhara, the Uttaranchal Government’s decision to fill the dam with water by stopping the main current of the Ganga would diminish the religious significance of their pilgrimage centres — Varanasi, Hardwar, Allahabad etc. With less than a week’s time left for the filling of the water the opposition from the Hindu fundamentalists has forced both governments to hold indoor meetings with the VHP leaders to pacify them. Firing over land dispute, 13
held Hanumangarh, March 26 Police sources said Ms Sunita, a widow, had a land dispute with her elder brother-in-law, Mr Devindra. She alleged that a piece of land belonging to her on Rawatsar road was illegally occupied by him. He had constructed a shop there. Yesterday she visited the shop with some men who broke the boundary wall constructed on the disputed land and threw out the goods. On this, Mr Devindra opened fire on them. No one was hurt.
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Leh
on railway reservation map New Delhi, March 26 In a fitting tribute the Army dedicated the highest computer-based railway Passenger Reservation System (PRS) at Leh to the indomitable spirit of the jawans. The terminal is directly connected to Delhi and it would facilitate advance rail reservation and enable the jawans to travel in comfort. In the northern region, the Army has embarked upon these unique defence-backed projects to set up PRS terminals at remote locations in Jammu and Kashmir. The Northern Railways has been collaborating in this venture to alleviate the rail travel related problems of the jawans. The first terminal commenced functioning at Badamibagh Cantt, Srinagar on May 10, 1998. Laparoscopic surgery workshop opens New Delhi, March 26 Immediately after the inauguration, the first laparoscopic surgery was performed by Prof Roger Motson. With live demonstration facilities, more than 200 surgeons and paramedical staff attending the workshop benefited from the professional skills of this world renowned expert in this field. Other eminent surgeons attending the workshop included Dr P.K. Chowbey, Consultant Surgeon at Gangaram Hospital, and Dr Pradeep Kumar of Apollo Hospital. Dr Chowbey holds a Guinness Book Record for the maximum number of gall bladder operations done by this new method in the world. Surgeons of the hospitals are doing laparoscopic surgery for many abdominal conditions. In laparoscopic surgery, very small holes are made on the abdominal wall, through which telescopes and long instruments are passed into the abdomen. The telescopic camera is connected to a television monitor and operations are done under high magnification, thus helping to prevent injuries and blood loss. All over the world, more than 90 per cent of gall bladders are removed by this method only, allowing patients to resume normal activities within a short time. 
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Textile workers threaten stir New Delhi, March 26 The Joint Action Committee of the Textile Workers in a letter to the Prime Minister and the Union Textile Minister said “In case the government fails to convene an official meeting of the trade unions to discuss the issue before the second phase of Parliament,
scheduled to start from April 16, the trade unions will be compelled to draw a country-wide agitation.” Four trade unions, INTUC, HMS, AITUC and CITU, which have signed the letter said of the 119 mills of the NTC, 76 could be made fully operational after revival. The 76 mills comprise 25 already working and 51 partially working which can be made operational after revival. |
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Bhagwati appointed
UNHRC chief New Delhi, March 26 Mr Bhagwati who was appointed on March 19, will be heading the committee which has 18-members or state parties to the international covenant on civil and political rights which came into force on March 23, 1976.
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Free-sale sugar quotas released New Delhi, March 26 It has released 10.50 lakh tonnes for April, 11 lakh tonnes for May and 10.50 lakh tonnes for June as quotas for indigenous free-sale. With 2.16 lakh tonnes of levy sugar quota already released for each of these months, the total quantity of sugar available for internal consumption will be 12.66 lakh tonnes for April, 13.16 lakh tonnes for May and 12.66 lakh tonnes for June, respectively. |
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