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Sunday,
June 3, 2001, Chandigarh, India  
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People’s
Front ‘alternative’ to BJP, Congress LCA
test-flown ahead of schedule
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Karmappa issue Kisan Pradesh issue
Epidemic
outbreak threat looms large Uttaranchal
teachers left in lurch Expelled
AIADMK leader arrested 3 crushed
to death Gholap,
wife booked in assets case
Board exceeds revenue target 3 cases
settled Posts
lying vacant in Sanskrit school
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People’s Front ‘alternative’
to BJP, Congress New Delhi, June 2 Consisting mainly of the Left parties and enjoying the confidence of Mulayam Singh Yadav-led Samajwadi Party, the People’s Front in the hope of major political realignments sometime later, kept its doors open for all other “secular parties” including some of the NDA partners while saying that both BJP and the Congress were responsible for the economic mess in the country. The front leaders, who had met earlier this week to work on its agenda, met here again today to formally release its programme. While expressing satisfaction over the progress being made by the front, its leaders said the poll results in UP would bring about major political realignments. Releasing the programme here, its Chairman, Mr Jyoti Basu, said: “Ours is not a gathering of ex-Prime Ministers. We want the people to be with us. We would find out the reactions of secular political parties and people to our programme, based on which further discussions will take place.” Declaring that the UP elections were the main political challenge, Mr Basu and other leaders, including CPI General Secretary A.B. Bardhan, said: “UP is half India. The poll results there will bring about major political realignments.” “We will gather forces in the state along with the biggest force the Samajwadi Party, and it will not be difficult to defeat the dark forces,” CPM General Secretary Harkishan Singh Surjeet said while referring to the BJP. Former Prime Minister V.P. Singh, Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav, RSP leader Abani Roy and Forward Bloc’s Debabrata Biswas were also present on the occasion. The front programme, although not as elaborate as that was of the one-time United Front, has the same political message - of being anti-BJP and anti-Congress. It accused the Congress of compromising with the communal forces and initiating harmful economic reforms and rampant corruption. It said that the party has “forfeited its position to protect India today and transform its future positively.” Stating that all parties except the “communal parties” like JP and the Shiv Sena were welcome to join the front, Mr Bardhan said: “We have never termed the NDA allies as communal. They have forged an opportunistic alliance with the BJP for power.” The front leaders also accused the BJP of surrendering India’s economic interests to imperialism and abandoning its long-standing non-aligned policy by toeing the US line. “Secularism is under attack and federalism is not being strengthened,” Mr Harkishan Singh Surjeet said. Stating that “most productive forces of the country including farmers, workers and youth” were being marginalised, Mr V.P. Singh said: “apart from the UP elections, our major thrust would be how we respond as a people. A vigorous campaign and struggle would be launched so that people come forward.” Mr Mulayam Singh Yadav said the Shahjahanpur Lok Sabha byelection which his party won was an “indication of the people’s desire for change.” |
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LCA test-flown ahead of schedule Bangalore, June 2 The LCA Technology Demonstrator (TD-1), which took to the skies for the first time on January 4 this year, took its 12th successful flight. LCA’s Programme Director (Flight Testing), Air Marshal P Rajkumar, and LCA programme director, Kota Harinarayana, told a news conference here the 12 flights were completed with flawless precision without any incident. “The LCA TD-1 behaved extremely well and all test objectives were met. Both pilots were very pleased with the handling qualities of the aircraft”, they said. The first six flights were flown by Wing Commander Rajiv Kothiyal and the remaining six by Wing Commander Raghunath Nambiar. LCA TD-2 would fly before August 15, the Independence Day, Harinarayana said. TD-3 is scheduled by the end of this year followed by product variants. LCA was expected to enter the Defence services during 2005-2006, he said. Though it was originally estimated to take 15 flights to complete the first phase of testing, the task was completed in 12 flights only because of adoption of global positioning system and modern flight techniques among others, Air Marshal Rajkumar said. “Large number of parameters are being eliminated”, Harinarayana said, adding, he expected to complete the LCA task in 30 per cent less time given the present indications. Asked about the response to LCA from neighbouring countries, Harinarayana said China and Pakistan were closely watching the aircraft. “China has brought out a small report summarising various reports pertaining to LCA. I am sure Pakistan is also watching”, he said. An estimation put the value of LCA at $ US 17 million, he said, adding, the target was to bring it down to US $15 million. He said LCA, presently, had an indigenous content of 70 per cent. “We are confident of taking it up to 80 per cent”. On future international collaboration for LCA, he said it was for the Centre to take a decision in this regard.
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Karmappa
issue Kolkata, June 2 The present Karmappa, now in exile following dispute over his succession, has been undergoing medical treatment in a government medical institute in Himachal Pradesh under strong military security. Mr Chamling said, “The people of Sikkim want Karmappa back in Gangtok without any further delay but his fate now lies in the hands of Mr Vajpayee. I have written a number of times to him and Mr L.K. Advani, seeking their help but so far no positive result has emerged. A section of the people in the monastry had challenged the legitimacy of the Karmappa’s claim. It wanted another Karmappa to be in his place. But the Chamling government and others accept his legitimacy. At Calcutta Press Club last evening, he avoided answering questions relating to Mr Subhas Ghising’s demand for Gorkhaland in Darjeeling. He said: “It is a matter where I am no where, but I feel the Centre, the Bengal Government and Mr Ghising should sit together and resolve the Gorkhaland issue.” Mr Chamling has been in Kolkata for the past week along with his Cabinet and other senior government officials in the campaign for “re-building and re-shaping a new developed Sikkim”. “I have been assured of positive help and assistance from Mr Buddhadev Bhattacharyya and the state’s industrialists and business community for the over all development of our tiny hill state”, Mr Chamling said. The Chief Minister said the Centre had already granted Rs 50 crore for setting up a small airport at Pakyon near Gangtok which would be completed within the next two years. He hoped Sikkim would soon again establish its air-link with Bagdogra. Mr Chamling said: “Tourism, power, education and health are our priorities and the government will encourage private participation to a large extent for over all development in these sectors.” |
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Kisan Pradesh issue
Muzaffarnagar, June 2 Mr Chautala was addressing a gathering in the Government Intercollege grounds. This was the third in the series of rallies being organised by the Sangarsh Samiti for the formation of separate Kisan pradesh comprising 22 districts of Uttar Pradesh. If the number of people in the rally were an indication, Mr Chautala seems to have gained a foothold in western Uttar Pradesh. People sat for five hours in sweltring heat to hear leaders. The INLD Chief made it clear that he and his party had no political motive in supporting the move for a separate Kisan pradesh. He only wanted to help the western Uttar Pradesh people considering them as their elder brother. Mr Chautala criticised Mr Ajit Singh for his changing stand on the issue of a separate pradesh. He alleged that Mr Ajit Singh was on the one hand talking with the Congress and on the other hand was shaking hands with Mr L.K. Advani, Union Home Minister, Mr Chautala went on to say that if Mr Ajit Singh was sincere in his declaration that he had obtained an assurance from the Home Minister about the formation of a separate Kisan pradesh, he should get a resolution passed from the Uttar Pradesh Assembly. Mr Chautala told the people of the western Uttar Pradesh that if they were united, nobody could stop the formation of Kisan pradesh. He gave an instance of Uttaranchal which was formed with the sacrifices and unity of the people there. He asked the organisers for a Kisan pradesh rally that they should not leave the movement in midway. Mr Chautala told people that if they were sincere in mission then they should vote such parties to power which could guarantee them a separate pradesh. Although, the people from Uttar Pradesh had turned out in large numbers yet a large number of CID men were visible making arrangements and controlling crowds. The UP Government had deployed minimum number of police required for the occasion. The Haryana Minister, including Dr M.L. Ranga, and Mr Jaswinder Singh Sandhu, were also present. Mr Virender Verma, a former Governor, who presided over the function asked Mr Chautala to use his good offices to get Jats declared as a backward caste. Mr Verma disclosed that the issue of formation of a separate pradesh was as old as 1953 when 97 MLAs from western UP had sent a signed memorandum for the formation of a separate pradesh to the UP assembly. Others who addressed the gathering included Mr Laxmi Narayan and Mr Sardar Singh, two Ministers of the Haryana and Mr Neki Ram Garg-President of the UP Beopar Mandal. |
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Epidemic
outbreak threat looms large Gandhinagar, June 2 Ironically, the battlelines are already drawn and it is a war between the government authorities racing against time to contain the damage the rains could bring and the weatherman who, emphatically, has predicted an early monsoon this season. The rains, likely to have advanced from the due date of June 15 to a week earlier on account of cyclonic disturbances, pose a serious threat to the public at large even though these come as a blessing for the parched land where water paucity has already taken its toll. Already the two recent spells of rainfall have led to a meteoric rise in the number of cases reported at health centres, forcing the government to sit up and take notice and the health authorities to pull up their socks and swing into action. Almost as a reaction to the cases coming in from different pockets of the district, the government has announced an “operation health programme” to check outbreak of an epidemic though a little late in the day. A World Bank-aided project, it encompasses a series of preventive measures to be launched against water-borne and monsoon related diseases with the participation of doctors, specialists and a large number of health employees. The Secretary, Department of Health and Family Welfare, Mr SK Nanda, said under the plan, the department would pump in adequate medicines at the three hospitals, 10 community health centres, 37 primary health centres, dispensaries and sub-centres to combat the spread of the epidemic. In addition, 400 sweepers will be pressed into service to clear monsoon water from the debris of the houses, this being the biggest challenge the department faces at this time. “If we can deal with this effectively, half our battle is won,” he adds. However, this won’t be easy and the epidemic could well have its roots in the debris. |
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Uttaranchal
teachers left in lurch Dehra Dun, June 2 According to information available with the state government the Mehra Committee in its fresh orders had asked both the Uttaranchal and Uttar Pradesh governments to go ahead with the process of transfer of employees, who had not opted to be posted in either of the states. This clearly meant that those teachers who had opted for Uttar Pradesh had been left in lurch. The last date fixed by the state government to file options was June 15. Although, the Uttaranchal Government was ready to send back these employees to Uttar Pradesh but the parent state was unnecessarily delaying the process. A senior IAS officer of the state government told The Tribune that with the fresh orders of the committee, the doors for their return had been closed. The committee set up under the chairmanship of retired IAS officer G.N. Mehra, passed the orders last week reversing the earlier orders of demanding options. The Uttar Pradesh Government had earlier filed an application before the committee through its Chief Secretary demanding not to send back those teachers who during the time of their posting had offered to work in the hilly areas. Following the application, the committee passed orders that those employees who had opted for hilly areas during the time of their posting would be considered employees of the Uttaranchal Government as 90 per cent of the hilly areas had been transferred to Uttaranchal. The committee in its orders had also urged the Central Government to settle the dispute between the two states by issuing common orders under Section 73 (2) of the Uttar Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2000. |
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Expelled AIADMK leader arrested Chennai, June 2 A police party from Srivilliputhur, from where Mr Thamaraikani had unsuccessfully contested the May 10 Assembly elections as an Independent against his son, picked him up at 11 a.m. A case was registered against Mr Thamaraikani under Section 506 (2) of the IPC for having allegedly threatened an Independent Councillor and the AIADMK district secretary during the election campaign. He was later taken to Srivilliputhur. Mr Thamaraikani, who burnt a portrait of Chief Minister and AIADMK supremo J.Jayalalitha at his room, told newsmen before being whisked away that he was arrested only to prevent his joining the DMK tomorrow as announced earlier. “I will obtain bail and definitely join the DMK,” he added. Mr Thamaraikanni’s arrest is the fifth after the newly elected AIADMK government began its crackdown against political opponents.
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3 crushed to death New Delhi, June 2 In another hit-and-run case, a resident of Lado Sarai in South Delhi, Omed Singh, was killed by a vehicle on Arbindo Marg. In yet another incident, four-year-old Manisha was crushed to death by a jeep in Chanchal Park in the Nangloi area of West Delhi last evening. |
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Gholap, wife booked in assets case Mumbai, June 2 It deals with the purchase of powerlooms worth Rs 11 crore alleged embezzlement of funds to the tune of Rs 4.5 crore
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Board exceeds revenue target Hanumangarh, June 2 In the Pilibangan mandi, the market fee collection was Rs 167.75 lakh in 1999-2000, which increased to Rs 188.06 lakh in 2000-2001. In the Goluwala mandi, the increase had been of 3.94 per cent as Rs 67.92 lakh was collected as revenue. In
Sadulsahar, the fee collection had been to the tune of Rs 129.09 lakh with a rise of 28.78 per cent compared to last year. The Nohar mandi was the only case from where the collection had seen a downward trend. The maximum revenue was collected from the Hanumangarh market. |
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3 cases settled Hanumangarh, June 2 According to sources, in the first case, dispute was over a shop in the town among the Saharan family members. The second case was over a residential piece of land in Nai Abadi on the Rawatsar road and the third over a land of 15 beegha. Both these cases had been pending since 1992. All the three pieces of land were seized by the SDM on November 15, last year, in fear of the situation turning out of hand. |
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Posts lying vacant in Sanskrit school Hanumangarh, June 2 As there is no other school or college for higher studies in Sanskrit within 70 km area and this school does not have facilities, aspirants who want to learn Sanskrit are deprived of knowledge. Graded in 1987, the Sanskrit school is without Principal for years. Boundary of the school is half constructed and there is a shortage of rooms. The water tank built in the school does not fulfil the requirement of students. The school does not have sufficient furniture and mats. Though it is the oldest Sanskrit school in Hanumangarh and Sriganganagar districts, yet the students have to go to the Sanskrit college in Sangaria or college in Bikaner, which are at a distance of 70 km and 216 km, respectively, from the village. Last year there were 347 students in the school. Though the posts of the Principal and an assistant teacher have been lying vacant, results of the board examinations are satisfactory. |
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