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Monday,
May 14, 2001, Chandigarh, India  
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Involve Gilgit, Baltistan:
Qureshi
Non-execution of HC order contested Fakhruddin Ali
remembered |
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Involve Gilgit, Baltistan: Qureshi New Delhi, May 13 “The people of this region have to be taken into confidence before arriving at any solution. These are the worst-affected areas where the law of land is absent,” Mr Qureshi, presently undergoing treatment here, said. “New Delhi will have to hold talks with Pakistan as it is not an issue of Jammu and Kashmir only, but also of a population of nearly 65 lakh living in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and Gilgit and Baltistan, illegally occupied by Islamabad,” Mr Qureshi, who surrendered in December last year, said. In a veiled attack on the pro-Pakistan lobby in Kashmir, Mr Qureshi said: “The issue is not only Kashmir as projected by some vested interests, but also the area from Gilgit to Lakhinpur in Jammu.” Replying to a question on the nomination of Mr K.C. Pant is the Centre’s interlocutor to hold talks with Kashmiri groups, he said: “Dialogue in any form is welcome. He should visit the valley and see for himself that Kashmiris are craving for peace.” Mr Qureshi, who has formed the Jammu and Kashmir Democratic Liberation Front (JKDLF), said: “History has been a witness that no dispute has been solved with violence. At the end, a solution will emerge only through dialogue.” Mr Qureshi has already expressed his willingness to hold talks with Mr Pant if his party was invited for the parleys. In a veiled criticism of the Hurriyat Conference which has objected to Mr Pant’s invitation for discussions on restoration of peace in the state, he said: “Peace has to be restored before the issue is resolved.” Mr Qureshi said he had no regrets over his decision to return from a self-imposed exile from Amesterdam after over two decades. “During my four-and-a-half month stay in the valley, I have found that the state government led by Mr Farooq Abdullah is also causing unnecessary hurdles in the path of restoration of peace,” Mr Qureshi claimed. He alleged that the state government was not paying any attention towards imparting proper education to the new generation and making “little efforts” for generating employment. “If the state government fails in providng basic facilities to the citizens, it loses its moral ground to stay in power,” he said.
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Malgudi man and his legacy THE maker of Malgudi, popularly known as Malgudi man, R.K. Narayan, is no more. The 94-year-old novelist, short story writer breathed his last in a Chennai hospital on May 13, 2001. Narayan came on the literary scene in the 30s of the 20th century alongwith Mulk Raj Anand and Raja Rao, the group is known as the triumvirate of Indian English fiction. In 1935 Narayan published “Swami and Friends”; Mulk Raj Anand’s “Untouchable”. And Raja Rao published his “Kanthapura” in 1938. The publication of Narayan’s first novel in England was also the start of Narayan’s life-long friendship with the famous novelist Graham Greene. Malgudi has ever been associated with RKN and Narayan has told us about the genesis of Malgudi in his autobiography “My Days”. “On a certain day in September, selected by my grandmother for its auspiciousness, I bought an exercise book and wrote the first line of a novel... Malgudi with its little railway station swam into view, all ready made, with a character called Swaminathan running down the platform peering into the faces of the passengers....” After that early start, Malgudi got a viable place in the geography of Narayan’s imagination which created an inquisitive tendency in the minds of its readers to locate it, in this material world of ours. After getting a bachelor’s degree, Narayan worked for a time as clerk, school teacher, journalist, script writer in a film studio, and what not and finally decided, like Ruskin Bond, to become a full-time writer and earn his honest penny through it. From 1935 onto the end of the 20th century he went on describing and narrating with equal aplomb life’s little ironies happening in the heart of the little township of Malgudi. Very rarely he strayed away from this township as he never got a happy response from his readers. A case in point is the lukewarm reception to his “Waiting for Mahatma”, because most of the actions in the novel happens outside Malgudi. Human relationships, more particularly familial relationships constituted a core theme in Narayan’s novels. In addition to it he had a marvellous eye for the incongruities of Indian life and character — “Vendor of Sweets” and “The Financial Expert”. He had the same avidity for the bizarre details of ritual and ceremony, for superstition, folk legends, temple processions. He preferred childlike characters, who saw the world as larger than life, strange and wonderful. Most of the times, RKN got carried away by the momentum of his imagination. Four dominant symbols provide the parameters of his fiction — the temple, the village, the Malgudi town and the river Sarayu. He developed Malgudi as a symbol of whole of India and the river Sarayu became a witness to the history being enacted on its banks. Malgudi is peopled with men and women who believe in the doctrine of Karma, rebirth and rich mythical past. In the oeuvre of his work Gandhi is a living presence and Narayan presents him as a character in one of his novels. The early makings of India — five-year Plans, family planning campaigns find ready listeners and are the current topics of discussion in Malgudi. Even in the 60s many of his characters follow Gandhian ethos and try to live up to the Gandhian way of life — Jagan in “The Vendor of Sweets”. His novel “The Guide” got him the recognition he deserved much earlier. Anyway this novel got him many prizes and surprises, honours and medals, Padma Bhushan and membership of the Rajya Sabha and later on nomination for the Nobel Prize in Literature, etc. Since then (1958) there had been no looking back for Narayan. Quite a number of universities in India offer special papers on Narayan and students all over India, enjoy doing doctorates on his major novels. RKN’s vision of life is essentially ironic. He accepted the reality as it presented itself. He possessed the qualities which were needed for ironic treatment of his experience — objectivity, distance, detachment, dispassion and, of course, discipline. In novel after novel Narayan employed irony of the situation and character with remarkable ease and success. His is the typical ironic attitude of serene acceptance. In his writing career of over 50 years RKN made a sustained use of myths in his novels. He used not only the literary myths but he also tapped the tradition by making use of local legends, folklore as well as primitive rituals. This ample use of myths in his novels speak of his faith in ancient Indian values and his pride in the rich spiritual heritage. Over the years RKN has had a fairly steady and wide readership at the popular level. For decades Malgudi has been perceived as a quintessential Indian town, ordinary and almost uneventful, where shopkeepers ply their easy-going trades, idlers sit around gossiping, crooks go on cheating the gullible people — all in a gentle and unchanging rhythm. Somehow, Narayan’s Malgudi has not been able to keep pace with the developments in various fields in India and abroad. The people of Malgudi are still to hear about computers, The IT revolution, e-commerce, dot-com And they are way behind in their thinking because they are stuck in the time warp of Gandhian values, five year plans and family
planning and India has touched the 100 crore figure, in population and has become a force in IT revolution. With RKN’s going away the Malgudians will have to wait till another Narayan-like figure comes on the scene and adopts Malgudi for his literary endeavours. A heartfelt thanks Narayan for keeping us absorbed in the life and times of Raju-Rosie, Raman-Daisy, Chandran, Jagan, Sampath, Swami, Ramani, for over 60 years. |
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Non-execution of HC order contested New Delhi, May 13 The case in question concerns a 36-year-old disabled woman from Baijnath, in Kangra (Himachal) who was running a PCO booth on the premises of the Institute for Physically Handicapped (IPH), which also houses the office of the CCPD. In July 95, she was asked to vacate the premises by the institute. The IPH dismantled it in her absence and re-erected it on the pavement outside the institute. She began operating the booth the same month. She was assured protection against encroachment, but the Delhi Municipal Corporation (MCD) demolished the booth on February 12, 1999. After pleading her case before the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, the CCPD and the MCD Commissioner, Ms Rajni Bala filed a case in the high court in early 2000. While suggesting a “pragmatic and humanistic approach” to find a solution to the controversy in the dispute, the high court in its order dated July 28, 2000, directed the institute to find any place which could be allotted to the petitioner. The court further stated that the allotment would be purely on a temporary basis and would be subject to the decision of the MCD about allotment to physically handicapped persons. Ms Rajni sent a reminder to the IPH in mid-August for the allotment of space. In reply, institute Director Sharad Ranga conveyed the authorities’ decision to provide her space near the boundary wall of the institute on a temporary basis. The letter dated October 30, 2000, further
clarified that she would make her own arrangements for security and safety of her equipment and furniture. It stated that the space would be provided on submission of an undertaking and a surety bond in the prescribed proforma. Ms Rajni was disappointed with the IPH’s offer for the booth. The stalemate had denied her means of livelihood. She felt that since the space being offered was behind the institute, it would go unnoticed. The IPH Director, however, told The Tribune that since the proposed space faced the main gate of Shakti Sadan, it would not make any difference to her business. Mr Javed Abidi, convener of the DRG, contended that the construction of the booth was a costly affair. “Why should Rajni invest in a booth that is not commercially viable? The IPH is at fault for not giving her a viable option.” Ms Rajni drew attention to the avoidable delay on part of the IPH in replying to her letter. “Why are they asking for a surety bond when the IPH offered me the place in 1991?” She said. Mr Abidi said: “This is a clear breach of the high court order. We have taken it up as a test case. This is happening at the doorstep of the CCPD and the IPH. If they cannot resolve this issue, what will they do for the disabled population? We are challenging the office of the CCPD. The high court has ruled in her favour. They should perform the function of a disability hawk. What are they waiting for? Why doesn’t the CCPD hold an emergency hearing?” Mr Sharad Ranga said his predecessor had asked Ms Rajni to apply to the MCD for a booth. “It is for the MCD to give her a booth.” Deputy Chief Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities, Anuradha Mohit said the CCPD issued a notice to the IPH on a petition moved by Mr Rajni. She said the CCPD was following preliminary procedures and was about to list the case for hearing when it learnt that Rajni had move the high court. “We cannot do anything in a matter which is sub-judice before a court higher than ours,” she explained. |
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Fakhruddin Ali
remembered New Delhi, May 13 A prayer meeting was held at the mazar (mausoleum) of the late President here. After the recitation of the Quran, wreaths were placed on the mazar on behalf of President
K. R. Narayanan, Vice-President Krishan Kant and Congress President Sonia Gandhi. A velvet “chaadar” on behalf of Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee was also presented. Mr Badr Ahmed, son of the late President, and other family members and MPs Dr Sayeed Farooq and Dr
A. R. Kidwai were present. |
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Case against Govinda
ad Dhar (MP), May 13 Chief Judicial Magistrate P. C. Sharma asked the police to register cases against film star
Govinda, Mumbai-based Managing Director of a soft drink company, actress Meeta Vashistha and director of Star Plus channel under Sections 500 and 501 of the IPC for telecast of an advertisement in which courts and advocates were shown in an objectionable light.
UNI |
| Farmers not getting MSP for
barley Hanumangarh, May 13 The farmers have 60000 metric tonnes of barley in stores, but the target fixed by government for purchase is of only 7000 metric
tonnes. Following advice of the Agriculture Department, the farmers of the area sowed barley in place of wheat, due to shortage of water and produce was of about 660000 metric
tonnes. According to sources while under Indira Gandhi Canal Project 1145.20 metric tonnes of barley was produced in the Bhakhra Canal area the yield was of 64,812 metric
tonnes. The government purchased only 500 metric tonnes upto last month at the minimum support price of Rs 500 per quintal and after this it stopped the purchase. A ray of hope was seen when the matter was raised in the Assembly and the CM made the announcement of again starting the purchase, but the situation was not encouraging as the barley is not getting sold at minimum support price. According to sources because of finanical crisis the government is facing, it is difficult that government purchase would start and if it happens not many would be benefited because government target and purchase was not big. The farmers are getting Rs 350, per quintal, but they are not ready to sell barley at this price. According to sources the government has fixed the target of purchasing 7410 metric
tonnes. 10-year jail for rapist Hanumangarh, May 13 |
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Congress camp
jubilant New Delhi, May 13 “The results are a reflection on the performance of the Central Government,” Congress President Sonia Gandhi said at her residence after greeting thousands who had gathered outside as news started flowing of Congress victories. “The results of the elections in five states would certainly have an impact at the Centre,” a visibly happy Mrs Gandhi said. Certain policies of the Centre, she pointed out making an indirect reference to the BJP’s defence that the Assembly elections were mainly fought on local issues, had impact at the state-level also. As an example, she referred to the problems faced by farmers because of the Centre’s policies. Mrs Gandhi expressed her gratitude to the electorate of five states for placing their faith in the party. Distributing sweets and keeping a tab on the latest figures, senior party leaders held consultations among themselves to decide on the leadership issues in Kerala, Pondicherry and Assam. Observers from the high command are likely to leave for respective state capitals tomorrow to facilitate the election of CLP leaders. While in Assam, the high command seems to have made up its mind to endorse PCC chief Tarun Gogoi’s bid for chief ministership, in Kerala the opinion seems to be favouring Mr
A. K. Antony. Though for the record, senior party leaders say the final decision on the leadership issue in Kerala would be taken by the Congress President. With senior Congress leader K. Karunakaran throwing in his hat in the race for chief ministership, the high command would have a lot of manoeuvring to do in the next few days. The party general secretary and in charge of Kerala, Mr Ghulam Nabi Azad, will reach Thiruvananthapuram tomorrow to sort out the leadership issue. Congress leaders were specially jubiliant over the party performance in Pondicherry where the party humbled both the DMK and the AIADMK-led alliances. The Congress would now be looking for support from the AIADMK to form the government in Pondicherry. It was, however, not all good news for the Congress. The party’s worries in Uttar Pradesh continued to mount as it lost the Shahjahanpur Lok Sabha seat to the Samajwadi Party. In West Bengal, the party’s tally is likely to hover around 30 which is a let down from the 55 seats it was “sure” of winning. However, compared to its ally the Trinamool Congress, which contested over 200 seats, the party’s performance is relatively better. The party did not have much at stake in Tamil Nadu where it contested only 15 seats in alliance with the AIADMK which has swept the polls. Senior party leaders were quick to ascribe the victories to the leadership of Mrs Gandhi. |
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NDA puts up brave
face New Delhi, May 13 The BJP parried questions over the stability of the coalition at the Centre and dismissed the results in the state assembly elections as not the real reflection of the prevailing situation in the country. It was confident that the assembly poll results would have no effect over the present composition of the NDA and that there was no danger of any member deserting the coalition. The BJP President, Mr K. Jana Krishnamurthy, today claimed that even as NDA allies were badly mauled in elections to Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Kerala Assemblies, the strength enjoyed by the alliance in Parliament would remain intact. The number of MPs supporting the Vajpayee government would remain unaffected as the Trinamool Congress had quit the NDA before the elections and the Asom Gana Parishad, which had no Lok Sabha member, had joined the alliance, he said. Mr Krishnamurthy said the BJP expected the Left Front to win a majority in the West Bengal Assembly as ‘Mahajot’ against the front failed to take off and the ‘wrong strategy’ was adopted by Trinamool Congress chief Mamata
Banerjee. In his home state of Tamil Nadu, he could not see any factor other than the people’s preference for a change. He had not seen any perceptible negative factor against the DMK or a positive factor for the AIADMK during electioneering, the BJP President added. Mr Krishnamurthy said he did not think that the Congress was a big gainer in the elections except in Kerala where it benefited as it was on the right side of ‘electoral oscillation’. The BJP’s hopes of entering the Kerala Assembly failed. In Tamil Nadu and West Bengal, the Congress gains were minimal as it was a minor player there, he added. In Assam, he said he was not ready to concede anything at the moment as there was a neck and neck race. The margin of the winner would be slender in the state, he added. He said parallels should not be drawn between the BJP’s alliance with the AGP in Assam and the BJP-JKD (U) tie-up in Karnataka in the last Assembly elections. |
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Police opens fire near booth, 1 hurt Patna, May 13 Repolling was held at 774 voting centres, spread over Patna, Madhepura, Siwan, Gopalganj, Kaimur, Saran, Rohtas, Aurangabad and Nawada districts. State Director-General of Police R.R Prasad said a person was injured when security forces resorted to fire to ward off anti-socials near a polling booth at Sihi village in Patna district. Mr Prasad said security forces opened fire at Siswan village in Siwan district to disperse booth grabbers. However, nobody was injured in the incident. He said 83 people had been arrested so far and five rifles, two guns, two pistols and numerous live cartridges seized from them. A report from Dehri-on-Sone, quoting district control room sources, said repolling in 40 polling booths in Rohtas district was going on peacefully. Sources said repolling was also smooth in six polling booths located in extremist-dominated area of Kaimur hills in the district. Meanwhile , in a separate incident three policemen were injured, one seriously, when their patrolling vehicle overturned at Sihi village in Patna district, the police said.
UNI |
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CPM activist killed in clash Kolkata, May 13 The police said the Congress and Trinamool Congress activists attacked CPM supporters when it was announced that their candidates were leading. The district CPM committee had planned a bandh on Monday at Ranaghat in protest against the killing.
UNI |
LEOPARD CUB DIES IN COLONY NAXALS KILL TDP ACTIVIST MAN POISONS SELF, FAMILY TO DEATH FOUR DIE OF SUFFOCATION WATER SCARCITY: 30 HEAD OF CATTLE DIE
HANUMANGARH SUICIDE: An Assistant Station Master on Thursday committed suicide by jumping in front of a running train. The deceased, Mr Ved Prakash Yadav, belonged to Rewari and was posted at Bathinda. The body was handed over to the relatives after a post-mortem examination. |
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