 |
| Wednesday,
April 4, 2001, Chandigarh, India   
|
Justice eludes ’84 riots victim SP threat to pull out of DF
govt Market scam: govt open to JPC probe Front to intensify anti
- NDA campaign Mulayam reiterates phone
tapping charge |
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Govt acted ‘swiftly’ on Tehelka issue Madhvendra is Navy Vice-Chief Cong flays BJP pact with AGP Defence structures built along border: ministry No joint campaign with MDMK: BJP Rift in Uttaranchal BJP widens 1,000 fast-track courts to be set up : Jaitley Cong clears 81 names for
Kerala poll HC pulls up cops for not cooperating Militants force
closure of schools Janshakti to contest assembly poll
|
|
Justice eludes ’84 riots victim New Delhi, April 3 Mr Harminder Singh Sikand, a resident of Amjher village in Jabalpur district, has approached the Justice Nanavati Commission probing the ‘84 riots to restore his farm and house from which he was forcibly evicted by some trespassers who alongwith a mob of 500 came to the adivasi village had attacked and burnt the house of the only Sikh resident of the village. Despite taking a legal recourse and also approaching various political leaders for help and support, 75-year-old Sikand has not yet received any kind of relief and rehabilitation from the Madhya Pradesh Government. In an affidavit submitted to the commission, he accused the Tehsildar of Kundam district and other district authorities in Jabalpur of misdeeds and preventing all his attempts to get compensation for the property lost by him. He alleged that despite his continuous petition since 1985 for resettlement, the district authorities did not take any notice. The Tehsildar had wrongly reported in 1994 that there was no loss of property to Mr Sikand in the 1984 riots. The officials claimed in a letter in 1995 that he had removed the trespasser from the property, which was valued at Rs 5 lakh with an annual income of Rs 50,000, and offered its possession to the victim. However, when Mr Sikand went to take the possession of the farm, he found the trespassers still at his property and they were staying in his home. He alleged that the Tehsildar in connivance with the trespassers had started the review of the ownership of the property and was sending notices to him at wrongful addresses to get the case decided in favour of the trespassers. Meanwhile, when the property was damaged by an earthquake which rocked Jabalpur in 1997, the Tehsildar granted the earthquake relief to the trespassers. However, the counsel of the victim could take the possession of the property through his counsel in December 1997, it was in badly damaged state and when reported to the district authorities they refused to take any action against the guilty personnel. During this period the trespassers had got a bogus and fraudulent registration deed of the property in their favour from the previous owner and when they were evicted they also filed a review petition, he said. Apprehending threat to his security at the farm, the victim has approached the commission for a proper inquiry into the whole episode and speedy relief and rehabilitation to him in view of the enormous mental trauma suffered by him.
UNI |
|
|
SP threat to pull out of DF govt Mumbai, April 3 “We do not want to be a defunct constituent of an insensitive government which does not honour fundamental promises given to the electorate at the time of poll,” SP spokesman Majid Memon said today. In a statement here, he said the SP was dissatisfied with the manner in which the DF was functioning for the Past one-and-a-half-year. The SP has only one member in the 288-member lower House. Party legislator Nawab Malik is the Minister of State for Housing in the Vilasrao Deshmukh cabinet. PTI |
|
Market scam: govt open to JPC probe New Delhi, April 3 “ I want to make it crystal clear that the government is not averse to a probe by a JPC,’’ Mr Mahajan told newspersons here when he was asked to react to a Congress demand for the setting up of a parliamentary inquiry. He said it was up to the presiding officers of the two Houses to decide on the criteria and procedures in consultation with the government. “The Congress is a principal opposition party and if there is a demand from parties for a JPC probe, we are not against it,’’ he said. The Congress on Saturday, commenting that the scam was a classic clone of the 1992 one, both in style and scale, had demanded the setting up of a JPC to investigate the ‘broker-banker-politician link’ and go to the bottom of the multi-crore stock market scandal.
UNI |
|
Front to intensify
anti - NDA campaign New Delhi, April 3 The front leaders today held a two-hour meeting to discuss the broad parameters of the common agenda and set up a five-member committee to finalise it by April 17, when it would hold its first mass rally at Azamgarh. The leaders want to hold consultations with other opposition parties before this. Among those who attended the meeting, the second after its formation, were former Prime Ministers
H.D. Deve Gowda and V.P. Singh, veteran Marxist Jyoti Basu, CPM General Secretary H.
S. Surjeet, CPI leader A.B. Bardhan, Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav, Abani Roy (RSP), Debabrata Biswas (AIFB). Describing the NDA as a “government of scams”, Mr Surjeet said, “What we have to do in Parliament we will discuss with other
opposition parties and take a common stand on the demand for removal of the government.” He said several scams had come to light after the Tehelka expose, and added “if the government was ashamed it would have resigned.” Asked if the front would approach any of BJP’s allies, like the TDP, for its fight against the government on the issue, Mr Surjeet said, “We have not seen any move indicating that the TDP wants that as of now.” Elaborating on the common agenda, Mr Mulayam Singh Yadav said the committee to draft the programme would comprise
V.P. Singh, Deve Gowda, Harkishan Singh Surjeet, A.B. Bardhan and he himself. Mr Surjeet said while formulating the common agenda, it would be ensured that parties which express willingness to join the front have “some commitment..... so that it does not end up as a hotch-potch arrangement.” To a question why the RJD was not present at the meeting, he said, “The RJD is part of the morcha, but has not been able to attend the meetings because of prior engagements.” Asked about the front’s electoral tactics in Assam, Mr Surjeet said the front partners would not have any alliance with the ruling Asom Gana Parishad. Mr Basu also came down heavily on the Vajpayee government for its opening the floodgates for foreign imports by removing the quantitative restrictions on 715 items. |
|
Mulayam
reiterates phone tapping charge New Delhi, April 3 “Mulayam Singh Yadav is not in the habit of uttering something which has no substance,” he said when asked the basis of his allegation. Asked to release the list of those leaders whose telephones had been tapped on the directions of a senior official in the PMO, Mr Yadav said he would reveal the names at an appropriate time. He was also non-committal if he would disclose the names in Parliament. “But I will definitely disclose the names,” he hastened to add. On Sunday in Lucknow, the Samajwadi Party chief had alleged that the telephones of leaders of the main opposition parties were being “bugged” on the instruction of a senior official in the PMO in the wake of the
Tehelka expose. He was in the city to attend a meeting of the newly-formed People’s Front. He is the convener of the front.
UNI |
|
Govt acted ‘swiftly’ on Tehelka issue Tiruchirapalli, April 3 Addressing a NDA public meeting here last night, he said the Union Government did not, at any point of time, say that the charges contained in the tapes were false, and instead had taken suitable remedial action. No other government in the past had acted so swiftly in such matters, he claimed. Mr Advani said the government had an open mind on matters pertaining to defence. The late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi had once remarked that corruption was a global phenomenon, but she had justified the corrupt practices of her government. Whereas Mr Vajpayee had introduced the Lok Pal Bill to ensure a corruption-free government, he pointed out. Referring to former Defence Minister George Fernandes, Mr Advani said he had opposed his resignation because of his excellent performance during the last three years. He called upon the people to choose a party like the DMK which was committed to provide a
corruption-free and efficient government in the state. In his address, Mr Fernandes said when he took charge as Defence Minister, the issue of purchase of weapons by previous governments had come to the fore, and therefore he wanted a detailed inquiry into the purchases to be conducted from 1989. The former Defence Minister said he knew fully, well that the bold steps taken by him to eliminate the role of middlemen in defence purchases would lead to situations like Tehelka, and claimed that it was a conspiracy hatched by the Congress to topple the BJP-NDA government at the Centre. He alleged that the Tehelka tapes had been prepared by drunken men and the journalist of the portal should have checked the veracity of the statements before making it public. By not doing so, he had compromised his journalistic ethics, he said. Speaking on the occasion, BJP President Jana Krishnamurthy took strong exception over the reported statement of Congress President Sonia Gandhi that the Prime Minister had betrayed the people. Ms Gandhi did not have any moral right to make such a statement, he said. MDMK General Secretary Vaiko said though his party had decided to contest the coming Assembly elections on its own, it had decided to continue its support to the NDA at the national level and to work for the victory of the BJP candidates in the election. Mr S. Thirunavukkarasu, general secretary of the MGR-ADMK, in his address, expressed concern over the parting of ways of the DMK and the MDMK, and appealed to Mr Advani and Mr George Fernandes to use their influence to bring the two parties around. In his address, DMK leader and state Law Minister Aladi Aruna said as per the provisions of the People’s Representatives Act, AIADMK General Secretary J. Jayalalitha, who had been convicted in corruption cases, could not contest any election for the next six years.
UNI |
|
Madhvendra is Navy Vice-Chief New Delhi, April 3 As a cadet, he was awarded the Binocular for standing first in the Overall Order of Merit and the Telescope for being the best All-Round Cadet. Later, he was also awarded the coveted Sword of Honour on being adjudged the best all-round Midshipman of the Fleet. He specialised in gunnery and has also undergone the advanced gunnery course at the Royal Military College of Science, Shrivenham, United Kingdom. He is a graduate of the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington, and a postgraduate of the Naval War College, Newport, USA, and National Defence College, New Delhi. He has commanded the Missile Frigate Talwar, Naval Academy at Kochi, Missile Destroyer Ranvir and the Aircraft Carrier Viraat, besides holding important staff and training appointments, both afloat and ashore. As a Flag Officer, he has served as Chief of Staff of the Western Naval Command, the Chief Instructor (Navy) at the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington, and as the Flag Officer Commanding, Western Fleet, prior to taking over as the Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Policy and Plans) at the Naval Headquarters in June, 1994. On promotion as Vice Admiral on January 2, 1995, he took over as Controller, Warship Production and Acquisition, at the Naval Headquarters and later took over as the Deputy Chief of Naval Staff. He was appointed as the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Southern Naval Command, on October 23, 1996, and took over as Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Naval Command, premier operational command of the Navy, on March 31,1998. Vice-Admiral Madhvendra Singh has twice been commended by the Chief of the Naval Staff and is a recipient of the Param Vishist Seva Medal and the Ati Vishist Seva Medal for distinguished service of a very high order. |
|
Cong flays BJP pact with AGP New Delhi, April 3 “By going for an alliance with the AGP, the BJP has only exposed its unethical and opportunistic politics. Till recently all senior BJP leaders attacked the Mahanta regime for its all round failure and today they are going in for an alliance,” Assam Congress President Tarun Gogoi told reporters here. Claiming that Home Minister L.K. Advani was playing a “pivotal” role in bringing about the alliance, Mr Gogoi said “Mr Advani should clarify whether he subscribes to the AGP’s ideology like that of commitment to right to self determination”. He said such commitments of the AGP only meant that it had “very little difference with the ULFA and therefore Home Minister needs to explain his stand on these issues”. AGP chief and state Chief Minister P.K. Mahanta yesterday said in Guwahati that his party has received a proposal from the NDA, including the BJP, for such an alliance adding that the AGP will shortly take a decision on this.
PTI |
|
Defence structures built along border: ministry New Delhi, April 3 In response to a question, a spokesman of the Ministry of External Affairs said the construction of defensive structures along the international boundary in Jammu and Kashmir and in other sectors was “undertaken by our security forces from time to time”. “Our forces will continue to construct such defensive structures as are needed”, the spokesman stressed. “The nature and type of structure is obviously based on security requirements”, the spokesman said adding that in this context Pakistan’s infiltration of terrorists into the state of Jammu and Kashmir has to be taken into account. |
|
No joint campaign with MDMK: BJP Chennai, April 3 Addressing a press conference, he said the party would campaign against all parties which were opposed to the DMK-led alliance in the state. Mr Krishnamurthy’s assertion is considered significant in the context of the MDMK’s statement that it would contest all 234 assembly seats, barring the 21 the BJP was contesting. The MDMK would also campaign for the success of the BJP nominees, Mr Vaiko had said after the DMK and the MDMK broke ties following irreconcilable differences between the two parties over the allotment of constituencies. Mr Krishnamurthy noted that Mr Vaiko himself had told him and Home Minister L.K. Advani that he was not expecting any reciprocal arrangement from the BJP. Mr Vaiko had said his party would continue its alliance with the NDA at the Centre. The MDMK has two ministers in the Vajpayee Council of Ministers. Mr Krishnamurthy said his party would not mediate between the DMK and the MDMK to sort out their differences.
UNI |
|
Rift in Uttaranchal BJP widens Dehra Dun, April 3 Just two days after rebel legislator Lakheram Joshi gave up all
privileges enjoyed by a MLA, another senior leader Manoharkant Dhyani, member of the Rajya Sabha came out criticising Nityanand Swami for lack of leadership and administrative qualities. He said: “Swami’s greatest drawback is that he knows very little about the hill state. Without taking into confidence, the hill folk of the state it is virtually not possible to run the affairs of the state. Broadly speaking the government lacks orientation. Not only from the Opposition, now the government is coming under political attacks by the outspoken party leaders of the BJP too. Last week, when Murli Manohar Joshi, Union Minister of Human Resource Development, visited Dehra Dun, a number of MLAs and other senior leaders criticised the functioning of the state government. Lakheram Joshi feels that if the non-performance of the Swami government continues for a few more months, the party will lose its roots in the state. People are already coming out openly in the streets against the Swami government. Hardly a day passes when there is no demonstration or rally against the government in the capital and other parts of the state. It is worth mentioning that Nityanand Swami was pick-chosen by the party high command as the first Chief Minister of Uttaranchal despite the fact that he was least disliked within the state unit of the BJP. Now, after five months of the formation of the government, the BJP leaders have come to realise that no landmark achievement has been made by the Swami government. All important issues, the transfer of assets from the parent state UP, the delimitation of constituencies the grant of special economic status to the hill state, the setting up of boards/corporations, the setting up of a planning commission etc. are pending without serious attempts for consideration. The new state excise policy has almost failed to fetch the targeted amount of Rs 220 crore. Out of the 1100 liquor shops in the state, the government has been unable to give licences to quite a number of shops. Moreover, reports from the upper Himalayan regions say that people have come out openly against the opening of liquor shops at various locations. More than two dozen shops have been forced to close down by activists of the Mahila Manch. The quota of liquor has not been provided to the licence holders, even after three days of the allotment of licences. Economic observers say the excise collections from licences will virtually fall to Rs 150 crore by the end of March 2002. This will be Rs 55 crore less than the last year collections. As a whole, Nityanand Swami has not been able to develop a knack of managing the finances of the state from own resources. Still after the refusal of Union Minister Arun Shourie to grant special economic package to the state, all ministers are keeping an eye at the Centre and the Finance Minister is delaying the Budget unnecessarily. |
|
1,000 fast-track courts to be set up: Jaitley New Delhi, April 3 This will be in addition to the 446 such courts, which have been set up so far. In the first year, these courts are expected to dispose of all 1.8 lakh cases involving undertrials and take up sessions cases involving serious offences, which have been pending for two years or more in which the accused people have been on bail. The government spends about Rs 361 crore per year on the
maintenance of these undertrials, who have either been refused bail or are unable to furnish sureties. “The fast-track courts will be required to dispose of 14 sessions trial cases in a month or 20 to 25 criminal and civil cases,” Mr Jaitley said while addressing a news conference here. “The scheme will thus effect substantial savings in expenditure on jails.” He said the need for such courts stems from long-pending cases in every state. They would continue to function till March 31, 2005. However, some states are not setting up the recommended number of fast-track courts, resulting in a shortfall of 285 courts. The 11th Finance Commission recommended a provision of Rs 502.9 crore for the creation of 1,734 additional courts for disposing of cases in district and subordinate courts. The scheme involves the appointment of ad hoc judges from among retired sessions and additional sessions judges or those posted from among the Bar members. Giving details, Mr Jaitley said Uttar Pradesh has been recommended to set up 242 fast-track courts. While 63 have already been set up, 163 more are in the process of being set up. In Maharashtra, 12 such courts have been set up and 110 more are in the process of being set up. In Bihar, 37 have been set up, while 146 will be set up in the next three months. Similarly, Gujarat is setting up 166 such courts in the next three months, West Bengal is setting up 46 in addition to 13 set up so far (as compared to 152 recommended) and Jammu and Kashmir is setting up 43 such courts.
UNI |
|
Cong clears 81 names for
Kerala poll New Delhi, April 3 Party spokesman Jaipal Reddy said today that the list would be made public after a decision regarding seven remaining seats was taken. Answering a question about a possible alliance with the Left parties in Assam, the spokesman said the party was set to win on its own in the state. He said the party continued to have reservations about forging an alliance with the PMK in Tamil Nadu. Meanwhile, demanding an explanation from Finance Minister Yashwant Sinha over the appointment of former Chairman of Central Board Customs and Excise (CBCE)
B.P. Verma, the spokesman said the affair was most sordid in the bureaucratic history of India. “ The most important question is how Verma came to be appointed chairman of the CBCE,’’ the spokesman said, adding that the CVC had gone to senior Finance Ministry officials against his appointment. |
|
|
HC pulls up cops for not cooperating Mumbai, April 3 Hearing a petition filed by an undertrial urging early trial, Mr Justice D.K. Trivedi, on March 31, warned the police to forthwith cooperate with prosecutors or face action for dereliction of duty. He directed the
Commissioner of Police M.N. Singh to issue circulars to all 80 police stations in the city asking senior police inspectors to respond immediately to the queries forwarded by the prosecutors. The Judge also directed Deputy Commissioner of Police S. Jagannathan to file an affidavit by April 11, informing that the circular had indeed been issued. The court was hearing a petition filed by undertrial Salim Akbar Ansari who was arrested on February 3, 1999, on a charge of making preparations to commit dacoity and has been languishing in jail since then because he could not avail himself of bail on account of financial constraints.
PTI |
|
|
Militants force
closure of schools Imphal, April 3 The sources said Little Flower High School, St Joseph’s School and St George School have been closed down for an indefinite period following the demand for payment of a huge amount from certain underground organisations. The school authorities have notified that the institutions would remain closed till further orders. Sources in the schools said on condition of anonymity that certain insurgent outfits had demanded a huge amount from these institutions. PTI |
|
|
Janshakti to contest assembly poll New Delhi, April 3 Assembly elections in West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Pondicherry, Kerala and Assam are scheduled to be held on May 10. “Five-member committee to arrive at a seat adjustment for the poll with the NDA constituents and allies have been formed,” said Mr Ramvir Singh Bidhuri, national vice-president of the party. |
 |
| Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir | Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs | Nation | Editorial | | Business | Sport | World | Mailbag | In Spotlight | Chandigarh Tribune | Ludhiana Tribune 50 years of Independence | Tercentenary Celebrations | | 121 Years of Trust | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail | |
