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Tuesday,
June 26, 2001, Chandigarh, India  
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Shankaracharya
for Ram Temple at Ayodhya Mishra’s
US visit to boost bilateral ties Securities
scam: JPC probes CSE officials today Liberhan
panel rejects MP’s plea Curfew
reimposed on Imphal |
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Pakistan
envoy meets Mulayam Pension
liability not ‘so alarming’ Devyani
‘did not visit’ Dehra Dun
Commissioner
held for accepting bribe 12
killed as jeep falls into khud Delhi
University student commits suicide Complaints
panel set up |
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Shankaracharya for Ram
Temple at Ayodhya New Delhi, June 25 “Ram Temple already exits there. The court would find it difficult to change the status quo. Any verdict, which is not in favour of the temple
construction would not be welcomed”, Shankaracharya of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam Swami Jayendra Saraswati told The Tribune. Narrating the role he played more than a decade ago in persuading the then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi to open the locks of the “temple”, the Shankaracharya said he felt sad when the Babri Masjid structure was demolished. “Ram is being worshipped at the site for so many years. If any attempt was made to remove the idol of Ram, it would be dangerous to the country,” he said. Asked if the VHP actions were influenced by forthcoming assembly poll in Uttar Pradesh, the Shankaracharya replied in negative. About the VHP’s threat to go ahead with the construction of temple any day after Shivratri next year (February 2002), the Shankaracharya said, “The matter has been agitating the minds of the people for long and should not be kept pending.” On the issue on conversion, he said, “I am totally opposed to conversion and re-conversion.” “Conversion to Christianity and Islam poses a threat to not only the culture, but also the security of the state,” he said. Asked about the adverse remarks about religious prosecution in the country in the recently released US report on religious tolerance, the Shankaracharya said “the report has been prepared by persons with vested interest.” “Schools should rather have lessons on moral studies and Sanskrit should be made a compulsory subject,” he said. Stating that he had met the Prime Minister yesterday to bless him after his recent knee operation, the Shankaracharya said he had also discussed about the measures to be taken for the protection of cow in the country. He said the Prime Minister had assured him that he would constitute a commission to look into the issue and take steps for the protection of cows. Stating that he had also shown the correspondence received from the Chinese authorities for his visit to China, the Shankaracharya said Mr Vajpayee also favoured his trip to Beijing. Though the Chinese wanted him to visit them on October 10, he had told them that in view of “chaturmasya” and “dasehra” festivals, a convenient date would be finalised after his return to Kancheepuram, he said. Asked whether he would discuss the Tibet issue with Beijing, the Shankaracharya said like Jammu and Kashmir was part of India, Tibet was part of China. The Shankaracharya was critical of government’s foreign policy. During his stay here, the seer would also inaugurate a seminar on “Sri Adi Sankara’s advaita philosophy: current challenges in the context of globalisation” and also address diplomats tomorrow. He would also visit Amarnath on June 27. |
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Mishra’s US visit to
boost bilateral ties New Delhi, June 25 While Mr Mishra will meet US National Security Adviser Condelezza Rice, Secretary of State Colin Powell, and Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, among others, some essential groundwork for expanding institutional cooperation between the two democracies will be done by Joint Secretary (USA) in the Ministry of External Affairs, Mr Jayant Prasad, who will head the Indian delegation at the third round of the Indo-US Joint Working Group (JWG) on counter-terrorism beginning today. The two-day session of the working group on counter-terrorism, at its first meeting since the Bush administration assumed charge, is expected to enlarge and expand cooperation between the two countries on issues such as proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and evolving of a counter-proliferation strategy. A proposal to set up centre for counter-terrorism in India is also expected to get the nod at this meeting. The two sides are also likely to discuss the implications of the possible use of weapons of sensitive grade by terrorist groups and find ways to prevent the transfer of such weapons to these groups. New Delhi and Washington have been alarmed at reports that some terrorist groups may eventually resort to the use of chemical and biological weapons and the JWG is expected to evolve a strategy to counter such an eventuality. From June 27, Mr Prasad will head the delegation at the next round of the JWG on UN peacekeeping. The two-day-long discussions on UN peacekeeping are expected to intensify bilateral cooperation in this area, as Washington seeks to redefine its role at the UN in the changing international environment. The coming Indo-Pakistan summit and the security situation in South Asia; particularly in Sri Lanka are the issues expected to figure prominently at discussions which Mr Mishra is to conduct with top officials of the US administration. Evolving international issues and the emerging security paradigm around the proposed US missile defence system will be taken up when Mr Mishra meets Ms Rice. Even as Mr Mishra will be conferring in the US Capital, the US administration will be exchanging notes with the Leader of the Opposition, Mrs Sonia Gandhi, on several issues of bilateral and international significance. |
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Securities
scam: JPC probes CSE officials today New Delhi, June 25 The committee, headed by Mr Prakash Mani Tripathi, would quiz CSE Executive Director Tapas Datta, General Manager Gautam Bhattacharya and Secretary P. K. Ray. The committee, which heard the submission of Business Standard Editor T. N. Ninan today, has summoned as witnesses SEBI, RBI, Madhavpura Bank and Unit Trust of India beginning July 10. On July 10, SEBI officials have been called as witness, the next day RBI and Madhavpura Bank officials will depose and the next two days’ submissions will be made by UTI officials. Detailing about the submission made by Mr Ninan, the JPC Chairman said the financial daily Editor had put the scam to the tune of Rs 5,000 to Rs 6,000 crore and pointed out that the regulatory authorities could have understood the phenomenon much earlier. Mr Tripathi said Mr Ninan also said that with the modern communication network in place in stock exchanges, there should be a review in the number of stock exchanges. “In India, there are a large number of stock exchanges and a review is necessary,” the JPC Chairman quoted Mr Ninan as saying. He also threw light on “badla” and “rolling collection system” in stock exchanges, Mr Tripathi said, adding “whatever he told us confirmed the things we already knew and felt about the scam.” Mr Ninan also pointed out that the scam is not ups and downs of stock market but it is about from where the money comes from and where does it go, he said. To a question whether the probe report will be submitted during the forthcoming Monsoon Session, Mr Tripathi said “we would try to submit the report by August 31, the day the Monsoon Session ends.” Briefing newspersons, Mr Tripathi said the interaction with CSE officials would give the committee a “good idea” about what lay wrong in the stock exchange. |
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Liberhan
panel rejects MP’s plea New Delhi, June 25 Justice M.S. Liberhan rejected his submission and said the commission as a fact-finding committee had powers to be represented through a counsel and law had already been settled in this regard. Mr Katiyar, who was a Lok Sabha MP during the demolition of the disputed structure at Ayodhya on December 6, 1992, in his submission said there was no provision in the Commission of Inquiry Act for the panel power to be represented through a counsel though he was ready to answer all questions put to him. The commission was visibly unhappy when Mr Katiyar remained evasive to questions about his association with RSS and the organisation’s hierarchy. Regarding RSS, he said the commission should put on record the book “Bunch of Thoughts” jointly authored by Sadashiv Rao, Madhav Rao and Golwarkar. Though the BJP MP said he was proud of having been an RSS ‘pracharak’ between 1977 and 1982, he refused to elaborate on the organisational structure of the sangh, saying that he could not recall it. The question, he said, should be addressed to the RSS office-bearers. When asked by the commission’s counsel if he considered Mughal rulers as foreigners, Mr Katiyar said a book written by famous religious scholar Ali Mian’s father suggested that Babar had sent his commander to create havoc in Ayodhya, Aurangzeb got destroyed the temples at Kashi and Mathura. Mr Katiyar, who was a founding member of the Bajrang Dal at Ayodhya, said the outfit was formed with the blessings of Paramhans Ramchandra Das to support the movement for the construction of the Ram Temple at Ayodhya and associate itself with the problems regarding ownership of temples at Kashi and Mathura. “RSS is an organisation of nationalists and patriots,” he explained, stating that the reasons of his association with the organisation.
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Curfew reimposed on Imphal Imphal, June 25 People came out in large numbers during the eight-hour curfew relaxation period from 5 am in both the districts to purchase essential items, they said. Banks operated for four hours from 9 am, while employees attended offices up to 1 pm, the sources said. Meanwhile, the government has closed all educational institutions throughout
Manipur for one week from today in view of the tense situation in the state, the sources said. In Thoubal district, the curfew was relaxed for 13 hours from 5 am. Meanwhile, hundreds of women launched sit-in protests in several parts of the valley against the
Centre-NSCN (I-M) ceasefire extension to Manipur during the relaxation of indefinite curfew, official sources said today. Policemen and commandos dispersed the protesters in different parts of the valley, sources said, adding that local clubs at interior valley also organised processions and protests. Indefinite curfew was imposed in three valley districts since Monday last following large-scale violence which claimed 13 lives and witnessed torching of the Assembly building and Chief Minister’s Secretariat among other public property. Meanwhile, the Assam Governor
Lieut-Gen S. K. Sinha (retd) said here today that the recent violence and protests in Manipur and other north-eastern states was a fallout of the Centre’s “initial mistake” in agreeing to geographical limits for the ceasefire with the NSCN (IM). He also said that influx of people from across the border (Bangladesh) was primarily responsible for insurgency “at least in Tripura and Assam.” “It was a mistake on the part of the Government of India to have agreed to geographical limits by confining the ceasefire initially to Nagaland only,” General Sinha said at a seminar on ‘Addressing conflicts in India’s North-East’ organised by the Institute for Conflict Management.
PTI |
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Pakistan
envoy meets Mulayam New Delhi, June 25 Mr Qazi has been meeting leaders of various political parties in India ahead of the summit-level talks between Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee. The Pakistan High Commissioner said the idea behind the exercise was basically to brief Indian
politicians about the “thinking in Pakistan”. Exuding confidence that the proposed meeting between President Musharraf and Mr Vajpayee will set the ball rolling for long lasting peace between the two neighbours, Mr Qazi said “the meeting will mark the beginning of a new ear in Indo-Pakistan relations”. Observers here say that the Pakistan High Commissioner is undertaking the exercise with a view to creating a conducive environment ahead of the summit-level talks and aimed at conveying a message that President Musharraf was “serious” about Indo-Pakistan dialogue. Mr Qazi has already held meetings with Congress President Sonia Gandhi, CPI General Secretary A.B. Bardhan, CPM politburo member Sitaram Yechury and former Prime Minister, I.K. Gujral. Mr Mulayam Singh Yadav declined to divulge any details about the content of the meeting with the Pakistan High Commissioner, and said it was a “courtesy call”. |
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Pension
liability not ‘so alarming’ New Delhi, June 25 According to the Working Group on Pension Liability, headed by Controller-General A.M.Sehgal, who presented the report to the Union Finance Minister, Mr Yashwant Sinha, here today, there is a need to reduce the pension liability of the Centre by switching over to the funded system. Contribution from employees could restrict pension liability to Rs 29,500 crore by 2009-10 as against Rs 21,400 crore in the last financial year, Mr Sehgal said after presenting the report. Pension liability to GDP ratio can come down to about 0.5 per cent by 2009-10 (assuming an average annual GDP growth of 9 per cent) from the current 0.96 per cent, he said. Mr Sehgal said the liability could be Rs 29,500 crore if the inflation rate remained 6 per cent but would increase to Rs 31,700 crore if the inflation rate averaged 8 per cent. The figure would be Rs 33,500 crore if the inflation rate touched 10 per cent, he added. The report notes that the medium-term impact of the Government of India’s pension liability was not so alarming, as might have been apprehended. The report recommends that modern methods of estimating pension liability based on actuarial calculations need to be adopted. It recommended that a format be adopted for better management information system. The report said to determine future liability, it was important to know the age profile of the pensioners/family pensioners. However, this information was not available in most departments. Consequently, longevity tables of LIC could not be utilised for estimating future pension liabilities. To overcome this difficulty, it was decided that each department may presume mortality rate of 5 per cent among pensioners and 10 per cent among family pensioners to arrive at estimates of future pensioners/family pensioners. As most of the departments had information regarding recruitment of man-power in previous years, they were advised to take that into account for determining number of future retirees. |
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Devyani
‘did not visit’ Dehra Dun Dehra Dun, June 25 On hearing the news of her presence in this farm house, The Tribune regularly visited the area for three days, but did not get any evidence of her arrival. On the third day of the visit, a middle-aged man was found at the main gate of the farm house talking to the local people. Asked about Devyani’s presence in the farm house he hesitated to reply. However, he later disclosed that Devyani had not visited the Doon valley for the past six years. She last visited the farm house with her mother Ms Usha Raje and aunt Vasundhra Raje in 1995. But Mrs Vasundhra Raje visited the farm house on April 6, 2001, and stayed here for two nights. He further disclosed that Devyani used to spend most of her time with one of her school time friends, who lives in Rajpur near Dehra Dun during her last few visits in the early ‘90s. Her friend also denied the reports that Devyani had visited the Doon valley after the royal massacre in Nepal and revealed that she called her three days after the incident. She was very nervous and almost crestfallen. “Although she did not give any hint whether she was pregnant or not she burst into tears saying she had to live for the future of Nepal”, added Devyani’s friend. |
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Aamir not
keen on joining politics Kolkata, June 25 Aamir has been visiting the country’s major cities to see for himself the audience reaction to his mega-film, “Lagaan”, which had its commercial release last week. He is the producer as well as the protagonist of the film. He flew down to the city yesterday from Mumbai and left for Hyderabad this afternoon. He has plans to visit Delhi, Chandigarh, Amritsar and other cities in northern India where “Lagaan” is being shown. Aamir was mobbed by fans in all cinema houses he visited to grace the public reaction to his film. He now looks forward to producing more such films. |
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Commissioner
held for accepting bribe New Delhi, June 25 A.R. Purwar, an officer of the Indian Revenue Service, 1971 batch, and serving as Income Tax Commissioner (Appeals), was arrested from Piramal Chambers in Mumbai for allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 50,000 in his office from an income tax assessee, a CBI note said here today. The accused was produced before the designated court and remanded in CBI custody till June 27, it said. In a follow-up action searches were conducted at the residential premises of the accused unearthing assets like a flat at Satellite Park, Ahmedabad, flat at Income Tax Colony, Patparganj, New Delhi, flat at Vijay Nagar, Indore, 390 sq yards plot at Agra, bank accounts in 13 banks, 45 expensive watches, PPF accounts comprising Rs 15 lakh, shares, NSCs, Indira Vikas Patras worth Rs 7.5 lakh, it said. Jewellery, including diamond encrusted gold and platinum ornaments (under valuation), 45 bottles of expensive foreign liquor and well-furnished flat indicated lavish lifestyle, the note said. The search also revealed that the Commissioner had privately travelled abroad 16 times during his career with his wife and two daughters to many countries including USA, UK, Canada, UAE, Hong Kong, Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore, it said. |
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12 killed as jeep falls into
khud Dehra Dun, June 25 The accident took place when the driver of the jeep proceeding to Ramtoli from Chamoli lost control of the vehicle while negotiating a turn, the Superintendent of Police, Chamoli district, Mr S.S.
Negi, said. PTI |
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Delhi University
student commits suicide New Delhi, June 25 The student, Arun Kumar, committed suicide inside his locked car parked near his house in Rohini in north-west Delhi. The air-conditioner had burnt out due to overheating. A half empty bottle of Baygon was lying inside the car, the police said. No suicide note was found. The police said Arun Kumar, who was the son of a retired employee of the DTC, left his house yesterday morning saying that he was going to meet his friend. But after a few hours his car was found parked in the locality where he lived. The police broke open the window pane of the car and found him dead. |
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Complaints
panel set up New Delhi, June 25 The department said any victim could lodge a complaint with the committee and it would ensure that it was redressed within a specific time period. The complaints Committee has been constituted following instructions by the Ministry of Personnel Public Grievances and Pensions. |
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