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Saturday,
June 9, 2001, Chandigarh, India  
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Centre not to recall TN Governor: Advani Swamy seeks stay in Jaya cases Babri case: framing of charges on June 22 |
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Sonia writes to PM
CBI begins probe against Mascarenhas 100 Gujarat MLAs have 4 to 8 kids |
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Traces of Musharraf’s liberal moorings Shahi Imam hails Musharraf’s remarks Firing case: panel summons Chief Secretary CWC meeting today Sivakumar is Oppn choice for Pondy Speaker Sushma to visit Los Angeles
Steps to upgrade air services Sen is India’s
envoy to Turkey Fake currency
notes racket unearthed 19 bonded labourers freed
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Centre not to recall TN Governor: Advani Chennai, June 8 Talking to newspersons at Chennai Airport, he said Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee had already made a statement in this regard. “The Governor had acted on her own. The Centre has no role to play (in it),’’ Mr Advani said when reporters persisted with the question. He said only a court could decide the issue. “I believe the issue is before the court,’’ Mr Advani said alluding to the spate of Public Interest Litigations before the Supreme Court challenging Ms Jayalalitha’s appointment as Chief Minister and the court referring the case to a larger Bench. Mr Advani’s assertion on the recall of the Governor came after the BJP state unit and the party’s ally, the DMK, asked the Centre to call back Ms Beevi. On whether there was any move to ban the Al Umma and the Jihad Committee in the country, Mr Advani said the matter was under the consideration of the Centre. Ms Jayalalitha had urged the Centre to ban the organisations when she met the Prime Minister, besides Mr Advani, earlier this week in New Delhi. The Home Minister ruled out holding elections in Kashmir under international supervision as demanded by the Hurriyat Conference. “The country has been holding free and fair elections in Kashmir. There is no need for an internationally-supervised election,’’ he asserted. Mr Advani, who was to attend the annual general meeting of the Madras Chamber of Commerce besides addressing party workers here, said in reply to a question that his visit had no special political significance.
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Swamy seeks stay in Jaya cases Chennai, June 8 In his petition, he said her appointment as Chief Minister had created a ‘’ridiculous situation’’ in law. She was now the accused/ appellant in the appeals and also the administrative head of the prosecuting authority. In such a situation, the state government could not be expected to effectively put up a fair and unbiased defence in the appeals filed by her, he contended. Dr Swamy said as such if the appeals were allowed to be heard and decided before this court and the Supreme Court handed down its verdict on the constitutional validity and legality of her appointment as Chief Minister, it was strongly apprehended that there would be miscarriage of justice. “Since the state machinery will be under the direct supervision of Ms Jayalalitha, there are chances of the appeals not being decided objectively as the respondents may deliberately submit flawed responses and this subjective factor is bound to play an important role resulting in failure of justice’’, he said.
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Babri case: framing of charges on June 22 Lucknow, June 8 Special CBI judge Srikant Shukla passed the order as only 16 accused were present in the court today and observed that it would not be practical to frame charges in phases and directed all accused to appear in the court on June 22. The court also warned that if any accused remained absent on that day it would be presumed that he had jumped his bail. Earlier, the counsel for two of the accused R.N. Srivastava and D.B. Rai, the then DM and SSP of Faizabad, moved an application seeking a month’s time to approach the high court against the special court’s order dated May 4. The court, while rejecting their application, directed Mr Srivastava and Mr Rai to personally appear before the court on the next hearing. The special court had on May 4 dropped proceedings against 21 accused, including union ministers L.K. Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi and Uma Bharti, until the defect in the government notification for constituting the special court was rectified. The court had also ordered that the proceedings against the remaining 26 persons would continue in the special court. Meanwhile, the then Faizabad district police chief, Mr D.B. Rai, one of the accused in the Ayodhya case, in an application before the special court today sought the court’s directive to the CBI to separate his case and also prayed for a speedy disposal. He said the ongoing trial had put a heavy financial burden on him which he was unable to bear, charging the CBI with unnecessarily dragging the case and said the case was likely to go on for many years.
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Babri case: Sonia writes to PM New Delhi, June 8 In a letter to the Prime Minister Mrs Gandhi expressed “distress” over the lack of action by the Central and Uttar Pradesh Governments in the issue. Mrs Gandhi said the CBI had sent a communication more than a month back to the Department of Personnel and Training, recommending that the Central Government should advise the Uttar Pradesh Government to rectify the infirmities in the notification under which the Ayodhya case was transferred to a Special Judge. The case involves senior BJP leaders including Home Minister L.K. Advani. “We have been told that no action has been taken so far in this matter either by the Central Government or by the Uttar Pradesh Government,” Mrs Gandhi said. “I strongly urge you to kindly initiate the necessary steps to remove the shortcomings in the earlier notification of 1993 so that justice is allowed to take its own course,” she added. Mrs Gandhi’s letter comes after earlier Congress appeals have not yielded result with the UP Chief Minister Rajnath Singh ruling out issuing fresh notification. The letter, which seeks to pin down the responsibility for not issuing the notification on the Centre, has been written when the time limit set by the court for issuing notification is about to expire. Addressing mediapersons here today, Congress spokesman Anand Sharma said the High Court had said that the infirmity was technical and the UP Government could correct it by issuing a fresh notification. |
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CBI begins probe against Mascarenhas New Delhi, June 8 The PE was registered yesterday by the Anti-Corruption Unit of the CBI after a request was received from the Ministry of Civil Aviation to probe into the matter, an agency spokesman said. Mascarenhas was placed under suspension on May 23 following an internal probe and a CAG report that showed the airline had shown undue favour to a general sales agent in London. The case was subsequently referred to the CBI. The vigilance wing of the Air India had submitted a report in October 2000, pointing to several irregularities in giving performance-linked incentives, which were substantially altered to give undue benefits to Welcome Travels in London. Corruption at top level had cost Air India Rs 350 crore and the suspension was on account of both indictment of Air India by the Comptroller and Auditor-General of India and the Chief Vigilance Officer of the Ministry. |
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100 Gujarat MLAs have 4 to 8 kids Ahmedabad, June 8 However, an information booklet of the Gujarat Assembly revealed that 100 MLAs in the Legislative Assembly, whose members are unanimous in their support to the “two-children family” norm, have four to eight children while a mere 70 MLAs have two siblings and less. One member, Mahendra Masharoo of the BJP, is a bachelor. The Chief Minister, Mr Keshubhai Patel is a father of six children while the Leader of Opposition Mr Amarsinh Chaudhary, has five children. Other leaders, including two from the BJP and the Congress, have eight children while the Assembly Speaker, Mr Dhirubhai Shah, has four children. A senior official in the Gujarat Assembly, on condition of anonymity, said while it was necessary to control the population in the country, it was an irony that majority of those having more than two children would pass the Bill forcing others to have only two children. UNI |
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Traces of Musharraf’s liberal moorings New Delhi, June 8 The Pakistan Chief Executive comes from a family with unshakeable mystical (Sufism, Tasawwuf) beliefs that transcended religious divides to focus on the “unity of being” (apart from God nothing exists), reveals a book “Tazkirah-i-Ghausiah”, which was first published in 1918 by Qazi Mohtashimuddin, General Musharraf’s maternal great grandfather. The Sufi influence from his father’s side was even stronger, as the General is believed to have come from a family of Sajjadanashins (caretakers of Sufi shrines). The book provides an insight into the religious beliefs of the Musharraf family and also puts into perspective the controversial attempts by the General to adopt the Turkish model of secular governance, which was strongly opposed by the clergy in Islamic Pakistan. “Tazkirah-i-Ghausiah” is a biographical compilation on the life and times of the famous Sufi saint Syed Ghaus Ali Shah Qalandar Qadri, pieced together by a favoured disciple. “Mohtashimuddin had joined the liberal spiritual order of the Sufi saint,” says Dr Nisar Ahmad Faruqi, professor of Arabic and an expert on mysticism. “The perpetual rights to publish the book were granted to Qazi Mohtashimuddin and his progeny by Syed Gul Hasan Shah, the Sufi saint’s “jaan-nasheen” (successor),” Mohtashimuddin’s son Qazi Muizuddin reverentially wrote in the foreword to the book in the 1965 reprint. Ghaus Ali Shah Qalandar Qadri was breast-fed by a Brahmin woman, and considered her husband, Ram Snehi, his adopted father. Gul Hasan records (first person, Qalandar Qadri’s words) in the book: “One day we started for Hardwar for a holy dip at the Kumbh, and to recite the ‘Gayatri Mantra’ which was taught to me by my (adopted) father Ram Snehiji from his death-bed. He had asked me to recite the mantra on the banks of the holy Ganga... When the auspicious time for the bath arrived, I tied a ‘dhoti’ around my waist, put a ‘tika’ on my head, and with a ‘kamandal’ in hand reached Har Ki Pauri. “I tried to pass myself off as a Kannujiah Brahmin, but was recognised by a Hindu who took me aside and said: Miyan Sahib, is there a difference between your beliefs and ours. God is the same everywhere. It is unfortunate that different communities practise different religions...but if you follow the path of truth, the goal is the same. “When the Hindu was through with his sermon, I told him that I had bathed for my (adopted) father’s salvation... Then I started reciting the ‘Gayatri Mantra’...” Dr Faruqi says Sufism allows tremendous space and freedom in religious beliefs. Qalandar Qadri, he says, was a symbol of religious tolerance. “General Musharraf should visit his mazar in Panipat (Haryana) when he returns to his roots.” General Musharraf has already said he would like to visit the dargah of Khwaja Muinuddin Chisti at Ajmer. “If he does, he will only be reinforcing the belief that he holds modern secular values of religious tolerance in keeping with his family traditions,” Dr Faruqi says.
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Shahi Imam hails Musharraf’s remarks New Delhi, June 8 While addressing the Friday congregation, Shahi Imam said violence was not solution to any dispute. It is the time for sincere and responsible persons in Pakistan and India to come forward and ponder honestly over how to take the sub-continent towards progress and prosperity. Hailing the recent efforts of the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, Shahi Imam said the efforts would succeed only if both sides adopted flexible approach, keeping ground realities in mind. He said the Indian Muslims had a higher stake in the betterment of Indo-Pakistan relations. The Muslim community in India welcomed any move for improving bilateral ties, Shahi Imam said. Shahi Imam of Delhi Jama Masjid met Gen Parvez Musharraf in Islamabad last month along with Pro Akhtarul Wasey, Director of Zakir Hussain Institute of Islamic Studies, Jamia Millia Islamia and Mr Rahat Mahmood Choudhary, member of Maulana Azad Education Foundation. |
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Firing case: panel summons Chief Secretary Bhopal, June 8 This was disclosed here today by the Commission Chairman, Mr Dileep Singh Bhuria, who had earlier visited Mehndikheda and found the police firing unwarranted. Mr Bhuria told mediapersons that the Collector of Dewas district had constituted a task force for the demolition of encroachments. The ancestral house of tribesmen in several villages were demolished as the district administration felt that they had used timber unauthorisedly. Mr Bhuria said the Collector, Superintendent of Police and DFO of Dewas had accompanied him when he toured the affected villages. As they charged the tribesmen with illicit felling of trees, he expressed his desire to visit the house of the DFO at Dewas to see for himself that the DFO had not used the timber unauthorisedly. The SC/ST Commission Chairman said not only the DFO but the Collector and the SP also quietly disappeared from his entourage after that. Mr Bhuria was also critical of the Madhya Pradesh Governor, Dr Bhai Mahavir, for his utter failure to discharge his constitutional obligations to protect the interest of the tribesmen. He said the Governor of a State had been given exclusive powers under the Fifth Schedule of the Constitution for protection of the interests of the tribesmen. He was “sorry” that the Governors in the country, including the Madhya Pradesh Governor, had not fulfilled their responsibilities. Mr Bhuria said the Central Government had recently sanctioned diversion of forestland which had been occupied by the poor prior to October 24, 1980 for cultivation and residing. Involved are over 1.42 lakh families — 80 per cent of them tribesmen and the rest belonging to the SCs, the OBCs and others. |
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CWC meeting today New Delhi, June 8 The meeting to be presided over by Congress President Sonia Gandhi is also likely to discuss the party’s preparations for the forthcoming Assembly elections in UP, Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir. Despite the intentions of senior leaders, the party units in these states have been not been able to declare the list of PCC executives. The question of political funding has assumed extra importance for the Congress ever since former BJP President Bangaru Laxman was seen accepting money for his party from fictitious defence dealers in the Tehelka expose. |
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Sivakumar is Oppn choice for Pondy Speaker Pondicherry, June 8 DMK convener R.V. Jankiraman said here that the decision to field Mr Sivakumar, a former Speaker, as the NDA candidate was taken this morning at a meeting of the legislators of the alliance.
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Sushma to visit Los Angeles New Delhi, June 8 “It will be a confidence-building exercise..... co-productions and inviting Hollywood film-makers to shoot in Indian locales are areas which can be explored,” Ms Swaraj told reporters here today. Giving out her itinerary during the tour of Tokyo, Washington, New York, London and Los Angeles, Ms Swaraj said she would be delivering the keynote address at the USA-India business dialogue on June 19 which would be focusing on knowledge trade, with main thrust on IT and entertainment. The FICCI delegation includes Bollywood bigwigs like Subhash Ghai, Yash Chopra, Yash Johar, K.K.N Barjatiya, and Secretary, Information and Broadcasting, Mr Pawan Chopra. The delegation would also be meeting Motion Pictures president Jack Valenti, besides managements of Miramax, the biggest buyer of Indian Films, Universal Studios to look at the new techniques in film-making and Sony Entertainment. The fortnight-long visit will begin on June 11.
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Steps to upgrade air services Rajahmundry, June 8 Laying the foundation stone for upgradation works at the Madhurapudi airport about 15 km from here, he said steps would be taken to modernise air traffic services at the Chennai and Kolkata airports after completing the modernisation process at the Delhi and Mumbai airports. The government has increased the allocation enhanced funds to Rs 500 crore from last year’s Rs 400 crore for the development of airports in the country. It had taken a decision to encourage more private participation in the aviation sector and those at Cochin (Kerala), Devanahalli (Karnataka) and Shamshabad (Andhra Pradesh) had been opened up to the private sector. Mr Yadav said it had also been decided to hand over the management of four major airports in the country to private parties on lease. The Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation Prof S. Chamanlal Gupta, participating in the function as a guest of honour, said the government’s decision to encourage more private participation was guided by the fact that private managements would be able to enforce its system of ‘reward and punishment’ to bring about efficiency. Even while urging the airport authorities to be more people friendly, the minister cautioned that terrorism and threat to airport security always loomed large, and this needed constant vigil. Lok Sabha Speaker G.M.C. Balayogi said the upgradation of the Madhurapudi airport would boost trade and traffic of this region. Airports Authority of India Chairman D.V. Gupta, said upgradation works at the airport taken up at a cost of about Rs 9 crore, consisted of strengthening of the runway, construction of a new apron and a taxi track. The works would be completed by April 2002, he added. Mr S.B.P.B.K. Satyanarayana Rao, Lok Sabha member, who presided over the function, said besides increase in trade and traffic, the airport could be better utilised for exporting flowers abundantly grown in this region to various destinations in and outside the country.
Sen is India’s
envoy to Turkey New Delhi, June 8 Mr Sen, currently a Joint Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs in charge of Central Asia, will take over from Mr M.K. Bhadrakumar, a spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs said here today. Mr Sen is expected to take up his assignment shortly. The spokesperson further said that Mr Dinesh Kumar Jain, who is currently India’s High Commissioner in Brunei, will replace Mr Virendra Gupta as country’s High Commissioner in Tanzania. |
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Fake currency
notes racket unearthed New Delhi, June 8 The accused, Kamil Ahmed, Neeraj Kumar and Manoj Kumar had been reportedly involved in this racket for the past three months. They had strong network in Delhi and Uttar Pradesh and had distributed lakhs of rupees, the police said. The police recovered Rs 4 lakh fake currency notes, a computer and other equipment used for printing the counterfeit notes. The computer was installed at Rajpur Khurd village near Mehrauli in South Delhi. The police received an information that three persons were involved in the racket of counterfeit currency in Preet Vihar. A decoy customer was sent to exchange the fake currency notes with the original ones. The accused agreed to exchange the fake currency notes at Tikona Park in the Preet Vihar area. The main accused, Kamil, came along with Rs 15000 fake currency notes of 100 denominations to be exchanged for Rs 5000. As he was exchanging the fake currency notes from the original ones he was arrested. Neeraj and Manoj were arrested from Mehrauli where they were reportedly busy in printing the fake currency notes, the police said. |
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19 bonded labourers freed Kancheepuram, June 8 The labourers were freed yesterday following a complaint filed by a voluntary organisation about an illegal practice which had reportedly led to the death of a woman worker at the kiln in Palur last week. Police said 20 persons, belonging to Pudukottai village, near Usilampatti, in Madurai district, had joined as daily labourers at the brick kiln after taking Rs 15,000 from the kiln owner Krishna Kumar. They were subsequently treated as bonded labourers, with the owner not paying them properly. Ten days ago, Azhagammal, one of the labourers in the team, died allegedly due to starvation. A few days later, another woman labourer, Panchammal, was admitted to hospital on account of illness. In the meanwhile, the Pudukottai-based United Village Development Association filed a complaint in this regard with the newly-appointed District Collector Rajaraman, who took steps for the immediate release of the labourers.
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2 employees robbed of Rs 7 lakh New
Delhi, June 8 |
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Animal
board reconstituted New Delhi, June 8 Former Chief Justice Guman Mal Lodha has been appointed Chairman and Mr S. Chinny Krishna as Vice President. The other members include the former Chief Secretary to the Government of Punjab, Mr R.S. Mann and Dr Sandeep Jain from Ludhiana. The first board meeting of the committee will be held on June 15, where “Prani Mitra” and “Jeev Daya” Awards will be given. |
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