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April 8, 2001, Chandigarh, India   
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PM, Advani to campaign in Tamil Nadu GSLV relaunch on April 18 Clinton man with ‘a good heart’
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| Alternative fuel: Delhi to move SC New Delhi, April 7 With doubts about the availability of compressed natural gas to meet the demand, the Centre and the Delhi Government are planning to urge the Supreme Court to allow buses to be run on low sulphur diesel also. Tehelka tapes bundle of lies: George PM should have quit: VP He
touched them personally 60 pc polling in Haidergarh byelection '97
Jabalpur quake still yielding ‘revenue’ Third front unlikely in Uttaranchal Ex-judge to probe Siwan killings Fissures appear
in PDF Bihar’s changing demography Oppn stalling passing of budget: MC chief
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PM, Advani to campaign in Tamil Nadu Chennai, April 7 State BJP General Secretary L. Ganesan told reporters here today that the campaign of the three leaders would begin on April 23, the last day for the filing of nominations in the state, and said Mr Naidu had planned to campaign for nine days in the state alone. Mr Ganesan expressed hope that the DMK, heading the NDA in the state and Mr Vaiko’s MDMK would patch up the differences and work together for the elections. His party would, however, not mediate in the dispute between these two parties, he said. It was possible that NDA convener George Fernandes would have made an attempt to resolve the differences between the DMK and the MDMK, but he was not aware about the outcome of such an effort, Mr Ganesan added. Mr Ganesan said the BJP Parliamentary Board would clear the list of candidates for 21 Assembly and one Lok Sabha seat (in Tiruchi) on April 9 in Delhi, and the list would also have minority and women members. The state unit had already finalised the list of candidates, he informed. Mr Ganesan felt sorry for the Congress being given an ultimatum by the PMK in Pondicherry, asking it to come to an agreement on electoral alliance in two days. By issuing an ultimatum to the Congress the PMK founder leader, Dr S. Ramadoss, had effectively taken over the leadership of the secular front from AIADMK General Secretary J. Jayalalitha, though Ms Jayalalitha was the leader of the Opposition alliance, he pointed out. He also ‘expressed happiness’ that Ms Jayalalitha had approached the Madras High Court to stay her conviction in the Tansi land deal case to enable her to contest the election, as the question of her filing nomination papers was a matter of conjecture at various levels. Asked whether TMC rebel leader P. Chidambaram supporting the NDA in Tamil Nadu was a prelude to his admission into the BJP, Mr Ganesan said his party was opposed to anyone joining his party just for seats. “Now that nominations are being finalised let us see what happens next”. Answering another question, he said the Tehelka expose would have no effect on the prospects of the NDA in Tamil Nadu. He also did not give much credence to the opinion polls which predicted a landslide victory for the AIADMK led alliance.
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GSLV relaunch on April 18 Bangalore, April 7 Announcing the revised schedule, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) said the window for the launch would extend up to April 25. In a setback, the first launch attempt on March 28 was aborted just a second before lift-off after it was detected that one of the strap-on boosters did not develop the required thrust. After a detailed analysis, it has now been found that defective plumbing in the oxidiser flow line of the engine had resulted in one of the strap-on boosters not developing the required thrust, ISRO said in a press note here. This had escaped detection during testing and resulted in reduced flow of oxidiser to the engine, it said. ISRO said the
anomalous engine was being replaced with a standby engine but added that all other systems of the vehicle were found to be healthy. The first launch attempt was aborted one second before lift-off by the Automatic Launch Processing System which detected that one of the strap-on motors did not develop the required thrust. The vehicle was, however, safely disarmed immediately after the mission was aborted, as worked out in advance in such
contingencies, and the systems were brought into action to protect it. According to ISRO, it carried out a detailed analysis of the data obtained during the five seconds’ operation of the four strap-on motors during the countdown sequence, examination of the records of engines, tear down analysis of the disassembled engine and the extensive simulations.
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Clinton man with ‘a good heart’ Kolkata, April 7 “Mr Clinton is a very good man with a very good heart. He wants to do good for the people,” was Sister Nirmala’s first reaction about Mr Clinton, who visited the Missionaries of Charity global headquarters here. The former US President prayed at the tomb of the Mother and placed a bouquet of white gladiola. He also joined in the chorus with the sisters as a hymn “Make me a channel of Your peace”, a traditional one written by St Francis of Assisi, was sung. Mr Clinton spoke about several problems, including AIDS, with the sisters during his brief stay at the headquarters. Meanwhile, Mr Clinton said today that the USA was trying to liberalise child adoption laws and would collaborate with the Missionaries of Charity’s work for children. “We are trying to make laws in the USA easier to adopt children,” the goodwill ambassador told newsmen after his hour-long visit to Sishu Bhavan, an orphanage run by the Missionaries of Charity. “I met Mother in 1996 at the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington and had promised her that I would come to Kolkata. I liked the children and would love to meet them more often,” he said. |
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Confusion over Clinton’s visit Jaipur, April 7 During his visit to the state last year as head of the US Government, Mr
Clinton had enjoyed the hospitality of Raj Vilas Hotel. This time, too, he will be staying there. Adjudged as one of the world’s best hotels, Raj Vilas, has made elaborate arrangements for the guest whose stay had brought it on the world map. Sources say that Mr Clinton will drive straight from the Sanganer airport to City Palace and spend some time at the musuem there which is regarded as a treasure house of art, crafts and history. On his way to and from City Palace, the former US President will have a glimpse of Hawa Mahal. During his last visit he could not visit these places. Mr Clinton’s daughter had visited these places and it is understood that he has made a programme to visit these places only on her recommendation. Though City Palace is taking all steps to make his visit a memorable one, the sources there were not ready to either confirm or deny whether Mr Clinton will be visiting City Palace. After visiting the palace, Mr Clinton is supposed to drive down to Raj Vilas Palace for the night. No one knows about his programme for Monday. Nayla village had left an indelible impression on Mr Clinton’s heart where he had danced with local women amid a shower of flowers. Nayla village was then promised a permanent Internet connection, but it has not yet happened. No one knows whether he will go to see the real Nayla as it stands today — a dirty village with unmotorable roads. |
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Alternative fuel: Delhi to move SC New Delhi, April 7 “Apart from the CNG there can be another clean fuel. With light vehicles on CNG and heavy vehicles on low sulphur diesel should be allowed,” the Delhi Transport Minister, Mr Pervez Hashmi, said. The Union Petroleum Minister, Mr Ram Naik, said 0.05 sulphur diesel had been accepted worldover and the government had submitted that it was clean fuel. The apex court had referred to the Bhurelal Committee to explore the possibility of running public transport system with 0.01 per cent sulphur content. Mr Naik said it could not be made in India. It had to be imported from Switzerland and would cost an extra Rs 5 per litre. Total requirement of CNG in Delhi stood to the tune of 1,335,000 kg a day as against its present availability of 1,95,000 kg. As many as 17,500 buses run on Delhi roads, including school buses, tourist ones, and those from other states. The total number of taxis is placed at 12,000 and three-wheelers at 22,000. |
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Was CNG cylinder spurious? New Delhi, April 7 Eight persons were injured in the explosion that took place at a CNG filling station at Dilshad Garden in north-east Delhi. The injured were admitted to a government hospital from where they were discharged today, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police Anil Kumar Ojha said. He said the case would be transferred to the agency concerned to find out whether the cylinder was an original one or not. The CNG cylinders are being supplied by Ashok Leyland and Telco companies. The manufacturing is done in Chennai, an employee of mother filling station of a Indraprastha Gas Limited (IGL) said. After this incident, people in Delhi are apprehensive of travelling in the CNG vehicles. Mr Ashok Malik, a resident of Sarita Vihar, said “I fear travelling in CNG buses as such an incident can occur again. If it occurs in crowded buses of Delhi, several people will be killed”. Mr Narender Sinha, a resident of north-east Delhi, said, “I will purchase my own scooter instead of travelling in the CNG vehicles. Travelling in CNG
vehicles is very risky”. However, thousands of diesel vehicles have been changed into the CNG mode following the Supreme Court order which had banned plying of diesel vehicle in the Capital after March 31. This was the second such incident. The first incident of a cylinder explosion in a CNG vehicle took place in Mumbai a few weeks ago, killing four persons. Both
explosions took place in private cars reportedly due to the installation of spurious cylinders. The IGL Managing Director, Mr Rajeev Sharma, visited the blast spot and said, “It is certain that the blast was the result of a spurious cylinder. It had welding marks all over which confirms that it was not original”. The original cylinders are “seamless tubes” made of alloyed steel, akin to the “oxygen cylinders”. They can withstand pressures upto 350 bars, although the CNG is stored at 200 to 250 bars. They are not made of separate sheets. The IGL has decided to start checking the cylinders of all CNG vehicles before filling gas in them as a safety measure. The company has cautioned the CNG users against the use of spurious cylinders as these could be hazardous. However, employees at the CNG filling stations have different views. They said it was the duty of the users to purchase cylinders from original agencies. |
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Tehelka tapes bundle of lies: George Vijayawada, April 7 “Our Army has been made to look as a bunch of boozers and willing to sell the country by the tapes. If a half a dozen people fall a prey to this kind of enticement, it does not mean that the entire Army is full of holes”, Mr Fernandes lamented while participating in a meet-the-press programme of the Press Club here. He said “Tehelka has only exposed a few drunken people... Each one talking beyond his brief, talking out of turn, talking about deals never made, talking about making crores and crores of rupees. All because two people were lying to them that Rs 40,000 to Rs 50,000 crore were there in London, available for investment here, for starting hospitals in their names.” Accusing the opposition parties of launching a very sustained disinformation campaign based on lies, even after knowing that they were lies, Mr Fernandes said “When the tapes were released Congress members were there in strength”. If those who took the tapes were really sincere in what they meant they should have come to me or the Prime Minister or the President, who was the supreme commander of the armed forces. Instead the tapes were shown on all television channels.
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PM should have quit: VP New Delhi, April 7 “Such a step would go a long way in establishing the principles of constructive
responsibility in a vibrant parliamentary democracy,” Mr V.P. Singh said in an interview with UNI here. Mr Vajpayee should have paved the way for someone else from the National Democratic Alliance to lead the government, he said. Mr Vajpayee should uphold the principle of accountability in high offices, particularly in the Prime Minister’s Office and mete out exemplary punishment to those involved in the scam, he added.
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He
touched them personally New Delhi, April 7 — When I visited Mr Devi Lal’s house after he became the Deputy Prime Minister, the “Tau” took me around the house and summoned a photographer to make the occasion memorable. (Dhot Ram, resident of Alipur village in Gurgaon) — I called to inquire about Mr Devi Lal’s health when he was undergoing an operation in the USA in the late eighties. Mr Devi Lal was the Haryana Chief Minister at the time and several areas of the state were facing drought. The first question he asked was, “Has it rained?” (O.P. Bhardwaj, former PWD and Health Minister, Haryana) — Mr Devi Lal visited our village in 1977 as Chief Minister after a flood came in the area. He joined us in constructing the bundh. (Kuldeep Chauttani, resident of Jhajjar) — He refused to sit on any special seat and occupied my charpoy strewn around with cowdung when he visited our house. He started several schemes for the backward. (Chander Singh, from Jhajjar) — He was childlike and a family man. He took me to walks in my schooldays. (Rakesh Verma, an old family friend) — Mr Devi Lal took special interest in Haryana culture. He
encouraged me every time I met him and got himself photographed with
me. (Jaikishan, ragini singer from Sonepat). |
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60 pc polling in Haidergarh byelection Haidergarh (Barabanki), April 7 District Magistrate Anita Raj Singh said there was no other report of any untoward incident and the polling was peaceful. Complaints were, however, lodged with Election Commission observers by Samajwadi Party (SP) and Bahujan Samaj Party leaders about irregularities in about 12 polling stations, she said, adding that elaborate security arrangements were made to prevent any disturbance and violation of the model code of conduct during the polling. She said BSP MLA from the neighbouring Bacharawan Assembly constituency Shyam Sundar Bharti was taken into custody on charges of attempting to intimidate voters.
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'97
Jabalpur quake still yielding ‘revenue’ Bhopal, April 7 The May 20, 1997, earthquake had killed 39 persons and damaged, wholly or partially, a large number of houses. Soon thereafter, the government levied a 5 per cent surcharge on commercial taxes to provide succour to the earthquake-affected. According to information provided by the state government in the recently concluded budget session of the Assembly, the surcharge had yielded Rs 206.99 crore till December last year. Besides, the state had received Rs 45.76 crore from the Centre and another Rs 9.5 crore from public contributions. Of this, the state government disbursed Rs 39 lakh to dependants to those killed, Rs 9.03 lakh to the injured and Rs 108.42 crore as assistance to those whose houses had been damaged and on renovation of government buildings. The balance is still lying with the government while people are still paying the 5 per cent surcharge supposedly for relief to the earthquake victims of Jabalpur. Similarly, the Chief Minister’s Kargil Relief Fund had received nearly Rs 2.85 crore, out of which only about Rs 1.72 crore had been used. The balance, with the interest accruing on the principal amount, had been lying “safe” in the bank, Chief Minister Digvijay Singh had recently announced. |
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Third front unlikely in Uttaranchal Dehra Dun, April 7 Most political parties, including the BSP, the CPI, the Uttarakhand Kranti Dal, the Uttarakhand Jan Vikas Party and the Mahila Manch have not yet made up their mind to be a part of the third front in the state. Mr Chauhan held two rounds of talks with leaders of these parties last month. They were unable to reach a consensus on certain issues. When contacted, the MLA admitted that there were certain differences among the parties but said hopes were still alive. After the formation of the new party, he would gear up the campaign to put things in the right direction. Except for the UKD and Mr Chauhan as an individual, no other party has a considerable influence among the hill folk. Going alone may prove fatal for all of them, including Mr Chauhan. Political observers say there are some differences between the Left parties, particularly the CPI, which has not been able to make up its mind to oppose the Samajwadi Party in Uttaranchal. Since the CPI and the SP have an understanding at the national level with each other it becomes difficult for them to act against each other in the state. Moreover, the first elections in the new state will take more than the expected time. The Election Commission is yet to start the process of delimitation of the constituencies. The BJP-led government in the state has not yet forwarded the list of five MLAs to the commission who will assist in the process of delimitation. Mr Chauhan is hopeful that when the process of delimitation starts in the state, the political parties will come out seriously to plan their strategies. And realising the present scenario of politics in the state, there is no option before these parties except to form a united third front. They cannot go alone or join hands with the Congress or the BJP. Quite obviously, Mr Chauhan himself is not ready to give weightage to the SP. And the BSP, too, has its intentions clear against this party. But the main problem before the BSP is that a few of its leaders are not ready to give Mr Chauhan the credit of forming the front. Certain leaders within the BSP have also objected to accept Mr Chauhan as the leader of the front. Their point of view is that the BSP has two MLAs in the interim Assembly while Mr Chauhan is alone. On the other hand, a few other BSP leaders favour going it alone in the poll by consolidating their base in the new state. The Dalit vote bank in the state is 20 per cent approximately. After analysing the current political scenario in Uttaranchal, it seems that Mr Chauhan will have to work hard to convince the like-minded parties to join hands against the Congress and the BJP leaving behind the Samajwadi Party alone. |
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Ex-judge to probe Siwan killings Patna, April 7 Bihar Home Secretary U.N. Panjiar said today that the state government had on Friday notified constitution of the one-member judicial commission. The state government has asked the commission to submit its report on the nine-point terms of reference concerning the encounter within six months, Mr Panjiar said. Mr Panjiar said the judicial inquiry would go into alleged misbehaviour of policemen with the then Siwan District Magistrate and the DIG, Saran range, at the Siwan Circuit House, the subsequent encounter and participation of the UP police in that encounter. The commission had also been asked to probe the causes that led to a virtual police revolt against Mr Shahabuddin. The state government had ordered a simultaneous probe by the CID barely a few days after the encounter. Mr Shahabuddin’s followers, including state ministers and even opposition parties, had questioned the justification of the police encounter at Pratappur village. Even RJD supremo, Mr Laloo Prasad Yadav, had gone on record terming the encounter as a “conspiracy to eliminate Shahabuddin.” The state government had already provided ex-gratia of Rs 1 lakh each to the dependents of those killed during the police operation at Pratappur.
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Fissures appear
in PDF Chennai, April 7 In a statement here, Mr Somasundaram, a former AIADMK minister, said his party was also against the inclusion of the Janata Dal (secular) in the front since there were “corruption charges” against
JD (S) leader Deve Gowda. The party, through one of the resolutions passed at the secretaries meeting of the PTADMK held today, also condemned the haphazard growth of caste-based parties in the state. Another resolution said it was the party’s firm policy to oppose both communalism and corruption. Recently, the PDF was launched in the city, with PTADMK taking the lead. Former AIADMK minister, K. Rajaram was elected president of the front, consisting of nearly 35 small and big parties. The
JD (S), which walked out of the AIADMK-led front, was one of the constituents of the PDF, officially to be launched shortly. Mr Somasundaram was absent when Mr Rajaram was elected President of the PDF.
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Bihar’s changing demography Patna, April 7 Amidst the general landscape of adverse male-female ratio in Bihar, some “demographic islands” emerge where the male-female ratio is favourably adverse to the weaker sex. According to the latest Census reports (provisional) of 2001, Bihar’s male-female ratio is 1000-921. This was 1000-907 in 1991. However, some pockets are emerging, as evident from the latest figures where females outnumber the males. Siwan district stands out as a classic case of the interplay of social dynamics with demographic reality. Siwan’s male-female ratio was 1000-1017 as per the 1991 Census figures. It has been pegged at 1000-1033 according to latest Census. The socio-political fact-file of the district tells all about the unexpected demographic reality of the area that has recently hogged national limelight. Siwan has been the land of first migrants of the state who drifted as far as Mauritius, mid-east and even Andaman Nicobar Islands. That’s why the district always had male-female ratio in favour of the females as the males migrated in search of jobs. In the 80s, however, the males recovered but after that the region fell in the hands of the mafia and finally, an MP from Siwan, Mohammad Shahabuddin, established his terror rule in the district. That triggered off the migration of males in large numbers, not for jobs only but also for the sake of life and safety. There are families here in Siwan where all male members have migrated either muddle or far east or to Punjab, Haryana and Delhi. The gun culture, cult of crime-based living and unparalleled-unbridled regime of the “satrap” has forced the young males to flee away. The adjoining district of Gopalganj, the home district of Chief Minister Rabri Devi, too, qualifies in the same category. The male-female ratio here as per the latest Census is 1000-1005. It was 1000-968 in 1991. The region has all socio-political traits of its neighbour. The out-migration from Gopalganj district is also alarming. Another classic case is that of the border districts along the Indo-Nepal and Indo-Bangladesh borders. Kishanganj, for example, has seen massive out-migration of males from the district. The growing criminalisation of the region and the massive influx of gun-totting goons, allegedly ISI agents (ISI-backed dons), and Islamic fundamentalists have forced the young and old males alike to flee their homes to save their lives. The male-female ratio that was 1000-933 in 1991 has shot up to 1000-940 in 2001. |
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Oppn stalling passing of budget: MC chief Hanumangarh, April 7 Addressing a press conference here last evening, Ms Midha said when she took over the reins of the municipal council about 15 months ago, the aim of her party was to work for the development of the city. Giving information about various projects completed during her rule she said that most of the developments were done in the wards of BJP councillors and even then they were not satisfied and were framing baseless allegation of discrimination. The Chairperson said the opposition councillors were trying to show to the public that they were working for the progress of this city, but in reality they had no interest in the development and only for their personal interests they were opposing the Budget. She further said in the meeting called for passing the Budget, there were 20 votes each against and in favour and with her decisive vote the Budget was passed, but the opposition councillors by threatening the Executive Officer forced him to prepare the report of cancellation of the Budget.
AGP-BJP pact on seat sharing New Delhi, April 7 |
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