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| Thursday, March 29, 2001, Chandigarh, India   
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Cabinet nod for CDS soon Clinton arrives on April 3 Chokila’s circular on
Tehelka routine: govt Mathew’s reply not received: Home US Embassy simplifies visa
process Wheat export target 5 m tonnes: Shanta |
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Pandemonium in Rajasthan House Mamata in dilemma over seat-sharing MP House adjourned ahead of schedule Bangladesh assurance on missing RSS men NHRC: address wives of dead with dignity Tapovan ‘forerunner’ in spread of education Uttaranchal Govt’s bid to pacify Singhal Rlys forms joint venture company 65 Cong workers detained Boy rescued Maharaja Ranjit Singh Award
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Cabinet nod for CDS soon New Delhi, March 28 As per available reports, the Ministry of Defence has already completed its work on the preparation of a Cabinet note, as per the recommendations of the GoM and a final clearance to it is expected at the next meeting of the Union Cabinet. The Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, after consultations with the Defence Minister, Mr Jaswant Singh had yesterday given directions that not only the recommendations of the GoM but also the various measures should be taken for reforming the national security system. Sources in the Ministry of Defence said that once the Cabinet gave its clearance to the proposals then the work would start on preparing the firm proposals for the clearance from the Ministry of Personnel and finally from the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC). The sources said that although it was still not clear who could be the Chief of Defence Staff, but possibly the post could initially go to the Army. But before that the ministry would have to sort out various issues, including the name for the post, its functions and the tenure of the post. According to reports, it could still take some time before the final functions of the CDS, its tenure, its area of responsibility, whom will he report to and whether or not the post would be rotational between the three forces was decided. Only after all this was decided would the final proposals go to the Ministry of Personnel and then to the ACC. Chief of the Army Staff Gen S. Padmanabhan today held an over two-hour-long meeting with National Security Adviser Brajesh Mishra as part of stepped up measures to lay the groundwork for establishing the post of Chief of Defence Staff. The meeting, the sources, said was followed up by a marathon meeting of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, chaired by Naval Chief Admiral Sushil Kumar. The meeting, which was attended by the other two services chiefs, is understood to have discussed measures to set up combined services procurement board and other major recommendations of the Group of Ministers (GoM) on ‘Management of Defence’. |
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Clinton arrives on April 3 New Delhi, March 28 Arriving here on the night of April 3, Mr Clinton will proceed straight to Ahmedabad next morning where he will interact with the NGOs, state government officials and other important personalities. Next day on April 5, the former US President will visit Bhuj and then proceed to Mumbai where he will meet business leaders and political personalities during his two-day stay in the finance capital of the country. On April 7, Mr Clinton will proceed to Kolkata where he will pay a visit to Mother Teresa orphanage and will have meetings with other important personalities in the city. Mr Clinton is visiting India at the invitation of the American-India Foundation which was set up in the wake of earthquake in Gujarat. Back in Delhi on April 7 from Kolkata, Mr Clinton will be a guest at a dinner hosted by Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee. Next day on April 8, Mr Clinton will pay a visit to Rampur in Uttar Pradesh where he is expected to visit a developmental project which is being financed by an NRI businessman. Before leaving New Delhi for London on April 10, Mr Clinton will attend a dinner hosted by the American-India Foundation on April 9. |
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Chokila’s circular on
Tehelka routine: govt New Delhi, March 28 Terming the news items related to Ms Iyer’s circular as “inaccurate and ill-informed”, a spokesman for the Ministry of External Affairs said: “The message sent by the Foreign Secretary to diplomatic missions abroad was a routine advisory circular summarising contents of the Prime Minister’s broadcast to the nation and steps taken by the Defence Ministry. It also suggested responses to questions from interlocutors abroad.” A news report from Islamabad had reportedly asked Indian missions to defend it in the Tehelka expose and present it as a “conspiracy” to destabilise it. The main
Opposition party- the Congress- had criticised the Vajpayee Government for the above letter, saying that never before had this kind of letter been written on a purely internal matter. The Congress said that the Indian foreign missions had never been “abused” to defend a ruling dispensation. To a question as how often the Foreign Secretary sends such circulars, the spokesman said the Foreign Secretary addressed circulars to heads of Indian missions abroad “all the time”. Asked whether any Indian diplomat had expressed surprise over the circular, the spokesman said, “I am not aware of it”. The thrust of the letter was that the Tehelka operation was all about a “fictitious deal” and did not involve any actual defence product. |
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Mathew’s reply not received: Home New Delhi, March 28 “We have not got the reply (from Mr Mathew) so far,” a Home Ministry spokesman said while reacting to reports in a section of the Press quoting the suspended official’s “reply”. To a question whether Mr Mathew’s suspension even before the receipt of his reply to the show-cause notice handed to him by the ministry was as per rules, the spokesman said, “The ministry’s action was within the rules... suspension is no punishment.” Mr Mathew, a Director in the ministry, was suspended on Monday four days after he was issued a show-cause notice listing several charges. Mr Mathew joined government service in 1975 as a direct recruit Section Officer. Prior to his posting as Director in the Ministry of Home Affairs in September 1988, he worked in different ministries in different capacities. The show-cause notice had charged that despite being a government servant, Mr Mathew had actively participated in political activities and associated himself with the activities of political parties/organisations having political undertones/overtones. Mr Mathew was also charged with involvement in an incident of leakage of classified information for which a probe is separately being conducted, violating Conduct Rules meant for government servants and entering into several transactions of immovable and movable properties without prior or subsequent intimation to the government as required under the Conduct Rules. An inquiry against Mr Mathew was ordered on March 22 in the wake of a Delhi newspaper report alleging that a conspiracy to carry out the expose was hatched in his office to “discredit and bring about the collapse of the Vajpayee government.” |
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US Embassy simplifies visa
process New Delhi, March 28 In a press note, the Public Affairs Office of the US Embassy said any applicant over the age of 60 and under the age of 16 need not come in person. “They may send their signed applications and documents with a representative. If we need to interview them, the applicants’ representatives will be notified”, the note said. Other categories who need not come in person include any applicants who can show they have had a multiple entry US visa issued in the past five years, applicants travelling on official travel for the Government of India, employees of companies who are part of the Business Express Programme, H1B and L visa
applicants who can present an original notice of approval and who are sending supporting documents in with their applications and any applicants who have made multiple trips to western Europe or Canada in the past five years. |
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Wheat export target 5 m tonnes: Shanta New Delhi, March 28 As against the economic cost of Rs 830 incurred on procuring, carrying and storing one quintal of wheat, India has been selling the same quantity at a price of Rs 415 per quintal. The logic of the government is that the movement of foodgrains would at least clear up storage space and save the amount incurred on carrying and storing cost. “Export is an effective option for the liquidation of surplus stocks. There is no doubt, a gap between economic cost and issue price for export. This gap, however, is notional if it is compared with the savings effected in more than two years carrying cost. In addition, the Food Corporation of India receives payment on a stock which otherwise would have proved to be a blocked asset with interest and storage paid for it”, according to the Union Minister for Food, Mr Shanta Kumar. By the end of the current fiscal ending March 31, India is estimated to have exported two million tonnes or even more quantity of wheat at Rs 4150 per tonne. Though the export issue price is nearly half that of the economic cost of the foodgrains, the FCI earned Rs 830 crore from the sale. With the minimum support price of wheat being increased again by Rs 30, the government expects procurement to go up this year and could touch more than 19 million tonnes. Mr Shanta Kumar said the government hoped to export around 5 million tonnes of wheat next year. The step is being taken because the money realised by the FCI on exports can be pumped into operations and thus put to a better use. The foodgrain is saved from getting damaged due to long storage period. Liquidation would vacate precious storage space and in the ultimate analysis benefit both consumers and farmers. The export of wheat is being seen as a healthy sign considering the fact that between 1996 and 1999, there was an import of about three million tonnes. For the next fiscal year, it has been decided that the FCI would make available wheat to exporters at a price determined by a process of open tendering. The tenders would be invited by FCI. As on January 1, 2001 in central pool stocks there were 45.74 million tonnes of foodgrains against the buffer norms of 16.8 million tonnes. On April 1, 2001, against the buffer norm of 15.8 million tonnes, the stocks would be 46 million tonnes. It is estimated that the procurement of wheat would be around 19 million tonnes and for carrying the surplus stocks, stocks beyond the buffer norms, would lead to an outgo of additional subsidy of around Rs 6000 crore. Like in the case of wheat, plans are also afoot to step up exports of rice. Last year the export of rice began late and was around 1,23,000 tonnes as against the authorised 20 lakh tonnes. In the case of rice, the FCI has accepted the tenders quoting the highest rate of Rs 6750 per
tonne. |
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Pandemonium in Rajasthan House Jaipur, March 28 The Budget session of the state legislature began with the Governor’s Address yesterday in the new Vidhan Sabha building. However, the Governor had to address only the Treasury Benches as the Opposition boycotted the first day session in protest against the hike. The main Opposition party did not come to the House while MLAs of other parties walked out of the House after making speeches condemning the government for raising the tariff at a time when the state was reeling under drought for the third consecutive year. When the House assembled today the Opposition demanded the withdrawal of the hike and did not allow question hour to begin. When the MLAs did not relent, the House was adjourned for two hours. As soon as the House met again at 1 p.m., the Opposition shouted slogans like “kum bijli aur poora paisa, nahin chalega” (power shortage and more money will not be allowed), “mulya vriddhi wapas lo” (withdraw the price hike) and kisan virodhi sarkar murdabad” (down with anti-farmer government). When there was no let up in slogan-shouting, the Deputy Speaker asked the Treasury Benches to proceed with the agenda. The motion of thanks was then moved amidst the din though nothing was audible in the press gallery. After the motion of thanks was moved, MLAs belonging to the ruling party started raising counter slogans. After that the Deputy Speaker adjourned the House for three hours. When the House assembled for the third time at 4 p.m., the situation was no different. Opposition members again went to the well of the House raising slogans. They then walked out from the House declaring that they were boycotting the proceedings. The House completed the agenda for the day, including the tabling of supplementary demands and approving the same. Tomorrow, the annual Budget for the year 2001-2002 will be presented. |
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Mamata in dilemma over seat-sharing Kolkata, March 28 Her action, which her own colleague Ajit Kumar Panja and others criticised as “very queer”, does not justify her continued war against the Marxists nor gives any reason. On the contrary, her present actions and high-handness would help the CPM to come back to power. And oddly enough, Ms Banerjee is now facing dilemma over sharing of seats with the Congress. She would begin her seat-sharing talks with the Congress, although she has not cancelled her agreement with the BJP, after finalising Trinamool’s list of candidates on as many as 223 seats and allotting 39 to the BJP, eight to the JMM, six to the KPP and five or six to other minor non-left parties. She began talks with the Congress with only 10 seats in her hand, while the Congress still has 44 sitting MLAs in the fray. The state Congress wanted seat-sharing with the Trinamool much earlier on only one condition that the latter should severe relation with the BJP, which Ms Banerjee did not do at that time. And only lately, after finalising seat adjustments with the BJP and others, she sought seat-sharing with the Congress. Being a national party, the Congress will claim maximum number of seats, at least 100-150, but Ms Banerjee will not allow more than 40-50. Moreover, she wants seats like Sealdah (which Mr Somen Mitra, a very loyal and veteran leader has been winning since 1972) and Kandi (Murshidabad) belonging to Mr Atish Sinha, leader of the Opposition in the Assembly, for her own people. In fact, she has already announced her party’s candidates on those two seats. And this is too much for the hardcore Congress leaders to swallow. But she would not yield. Mr Mitra, Mr Sinha and others today left for New Delhi to persuade Mrs Sonia Gandhi and other AICC leaders not to agree to any condition. These leaders made it clear before their departure that if the AICC responded to Ms Banerjee’s demand and settle with 10-50 seats, they would defy the AICC and set up candidates on all 294 seats. |
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MP House adjourned ahead of schedule Bhopal, March 28 The House has virtually not functioned since March 19. Ruling Congress members had chided the BJP members on the Tehelka disclosures on that day. The BJP members had retaliated citing scandals of the Congress regimes. The House had to be adjourned following on uproar from both sides. Questions hour was, however, held. The next day the BJP, which is the main opposition party, did not allow even question hour to be held and demanded the Digvijay Singh government’s resignation if it was unable to ensure power supply and drinking water to the people. The BJP members had moved to the well of the House shouting slogans and displaying placards and even surrounded the Speaker’s dais. After a few brief adjournments, the House was adjourned for the day. The same story was repeated the next day and the day after. The BJP members were adamant on their demand that the state government should either ensure power and drinking water supply or resign. Amidst the din created by the BJP members, Speaker Shreenivas Tiwari has asked Finance Minister Ajay Mushran to move the supplementary Budget demands which he had done and these were supposedly adopted by a voice vote. A few Bills were also carried through in the similar manner. Today the House was adjourned sine die without going through the concluding formalities like the singing of the national anthem and delivering the post-budget speeches. Over two dozen eunuchs were present today in the visitors’ gallery. After the House was adjourned, they held a clapping demonstration in the central hall shouting slogans against the BJP-led Central Government. They were led by Shabnam Mausi, the only eunuch member of the House, who had arranged passes for them. |
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Bangladesh assurance on missing RSS men New Delhi, March 28 This was conveyed by the Union Home Minister, Mr L.K. Advani when the Director-General of the Bangladesh Rifles (BDR), Maj. Gen A.L.M. Fazlur Rahman, called on him here at his North Block office. The Union Home Minister also raised the issue of kidnapping of four RSS leaders from Tripura in August 1999 and their alleged confinement in Indian militant camps inside Bangladesh. Major-Gen Rehman is leading a Bangladesh delegation for the biannual DG, BSF-DG, BDR border talks. The DG, BDR promised to take all necessary action to ascertain their whereabouts if they are in Bangladesh. Earlier in the day, the Director-General, BSF, Mr Gurcharan Singh Jagat also expressed concern over illegal migration from Bangladesh to India and other Trans Border Crimes. Bangladesh Rifles Director-General, who leads a 12-member delegation, raised the issue of non-ratification of the 1974 Delhi Agreement and urged India to allow “unfettered movement” through the Tin Bigha corridor. Admitting that there may be “some contention” between the two “neighbours” despite “our sincerity and positive attitude to maintain peace and harmony”, he said the two forces would try to solve problems which sometimes created irritants. Maj-Gen Rehman cited the main problem of the non-ratification by India of the 1974 Delhi agreement, signed by then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and her Bangladesh counterpart Sheikh Mujibur Rehman, to resolve the “inherited border-related disputes”. Major-Gen Rehman also raised the issue of use of Tin Bigha corridor saying the people of Bangladesh had been complaining about restrictions by India. |
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NHRC: address wives of dead with dignity New Delhi, March 28 Acting on a proposal sent by the Uttam Environment Awareness Mission (UEMA), a non-government organisation of Jammu and Kashmir, the commission has directed that expressions such as “wife of late,
zauja mahroom, dharampatni swargiya or wife of shaheedvir (for those whose husbands sacrificed their lives for the cause of the nation) be used in official records instead of expressions such as widow, “vidwah” and “bevah”. In its verdict pronounced yesterday, the full bench of the commission said the NGO requested a change in existing nomenclature for addressing widows in records of revenue departments, schools, employment exchanges and other spheres of life. The NGO said such words be declared as “dead words” for the unfortunate women who have lost their life partners.
Tapovan ‘forerunner’ in spread of education Hanumangarh, March 28 Mr Chadellia was speaking as the chief guest at the annual function of Swami Keshwanand Memorial Public School, in Sangaria here on Monday. The collector said this was an era of competition so we must pay attention to the overall development of the children, to prepare them for any future opportunity. He said by doing this, the children would be able to contribute to the progress of society and the country. He appreciated the efforts of the school and said a Bill to provide the status of a deemed university to Swami Keshwanand Gramuthan Vidyapeeth should be prepared. Presiding over the function, the Chairman of the institution, Mr Abhay Singh, Chautala, said the institution was making efforts for spreading education. He also talked about the future plans of the school. The Principal of the school read the annual report at the function. The Chief Guest and the President distributed prizes to the students. The students of the school presented a cultural programme. Ms Damyanti Beniwal, District Council Chief, and Mr Ratan Singh Lamba, SDM, Sangaria, also attended the function.
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Uttaranchal Govt’s bid to pacify Singhal Dehra dun, March 28 When contacted, the Power Minister said the government had already spent crores on this project and any delay in shutting the tunnels to fill the water would cost Rs 1 crore daily to the government. He said there was no scientific basis of the Ganga waters getting polluted. Sources close to the Chief Minister said he had asked Mr Koshiyari to initiate talks with the VHP leader and convince him not to go ahead with his agitation. However, the sources disclosed that the talks were not fruitful. Mr Singhal had reiterated his threat to launch the agitation. Meanwhile, the Chief Minister, Mr Nityanand Swami called on Mr Murli Manohar Joshi, Union Human Resource Development Minister, here today and asked him to use influence to pacify Mr Singhal over the issue. |
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Rlys forms joint venture company New Delhi, March 28 Sources in the ministry said a shareholders’ agreement to this effect was signed between the Ministry of Railways and M/s Gujarat Pipavav Port Limited (GPPL) at Rail Bhavan today in the presence of the Railway Minister, Mr Nitish Kumar. As per the agreement, the Member, Traffic, Railway Board, will be the ex-officio Chairman of the company. Mr R. K. Thapool, Member, Traffic, in the Railway Board has been appointed the first Chairman of the company. The chairmanship of the company will vest with the Railways as long as the Ministry of Railways and its PSUs hold 26 per cent of the shares of the company. The project includes gauge conversion of a 250 km-long section from Surendranagar to Rajula city and a 14-km stretch of new line from Rajula city to the Port. The cost of the project is estimated to be Rs 294 crore. The project is expected to be completed within a year. The company will have a debt/equity ratio of 1:2. Sources in the ministry said till the completion of the project, the shareholders will lock in their shares. |
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65 Cong workers detained New Delhi, March 28 The police arrested them when they tried to proceed towards Parliament after breaking the police cordon. A tussle was reported between the police and the demonstrators when they were stopped. However, nobody was injured. Later the activists were released. The demonstrators were addressed by the Indian Youth Congress President, Mr Randeep Singh Surjewala. |
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Boy rescued New Delhi, March 28 The boy, Shakeel, was kidnapped last week from the hospital where his father was admitted. While the boy was sleeping outside ward number four and his mother was attending his ailing father, the accused kidnapped him. The accused, Usha (35) and Rekha (30), lived at Majnu Ka Tila and they were neighbours, the police said. During interrogation Usha said she had no issue after 10 years of her marriage. She had a desire to become a mother. To fulfil her desire she took this step. Rekha helped her in committing this crime, she told the police. |
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Maharaja Ranjit Singh Award New Delhi, March 28 The award would be given on November 13, the birthday of the Sher-e-Punjab, the Chief Minister said after chairing a state-level concept committee meeting last night. The committee met to finalise the plans for the bicentennial celebrations of Maharaja Ranjit Singh. Mr Badal said various research works throwing light on the biography of the Maharaja in Persian available in different quarters should be translated in Punjabi and published by Punjabi University, Patiala. He said the university would also publish a bibliography of the works on Maharaja and his times. Mr Badal said an exhibition of paintings and artifacts would also be shown in France. The last flag of Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s rule, which is with a
Scottish national in Scotland should be brought to Punjab for public display, he said. |
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