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| Saturday,
June 30, 2001, Chandigarh, India   
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India, Nepal to share border
intelligence Indo-China
experts’ meeting ends Kargil
weigh’s on Vajpayee’s mind
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Army on
alert in Manipur
Dhindsa
extends support to Manipur MLAs Bangla men
kill Indian farmer Remove imbalances in party bodies:
ex-cm Shatabdi’s suspension not related to safety List of
12,000 docs on Internet National
award for ITBP SI Probe
ordered into death of witness
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India, Nepal to share border
intelligence New Delhi, June 29 The two friendly neighbours also agreed to hold regular meetings of the Interpol units of India and Nepal to expedite disposal of pending cases on both sides. These agreements were reached during the fourth Indo-Nepal joint working group (JWG) meeting, which concluded here at the North Block. The Nepalese delegation was led by the Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Home, Mr Tika Dutta Niraula, and the Indian side was led by Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Home Affairs, Mr Surendra Kumar. During the two-day meeting, both sides reiterated their determination not to allow the use of their respective territories for activities directed against each other. They also reviewed developments since the last meeting of the JWG, and had a useful exchange of views on various aspects of effective management of the Indo-Nepal border, an official note said here. The two sides agreed to expedite procedural aspects of improving infrastructural facilities at the border checkposts. They also agreed to commence expert-level discussions on a legal framework for cooperation in criminal and civil matters and to review extradition arrangements. The Indian side, while appreciating the improvements in the security arrangements at the Tribhuvan International airport in Kathmandu, from where an Indian Airlines plane was hijacked to Kandahar on December 24, 1999, emphasised the need for early computerisation of immigration facilities. During the meeting it was agreed that Home Secretary-level talks between the two countries would be held in New Delhi at the earliest. The fifth meeting of the JWG would be held in Kathmandu at mutually convenient dates. The meeting adopted a resolution condoling the tragic deaths of Nepal King Birendra Bir Bikram Shah and other members of the royal family. The Nepalese delegation also called on the Union Home Secretary Kamal
Pande. |
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Indo-China experts’ meeting ends New Delhi, June 29 Briefing newspersons about the ninth meeting of the India-China expert Group of Diplomatic and Military officials which concluded yesterday, a spokeswoman of the Ministry of External Affairs Nirupma Rao said here today that “the process of reconciliation is proceeding very well”. Both sides reaffirmed their intention to proceed with the process of clarification and confirmation of the LAC on the basis of the Agreement on the Maintenance of Peace and Tranquility along the LAC in the India-China border areas signed in 1993, Mrs Rao said, adding that the meeting was held in a friendly and constructive atmosphere. The two sides had exchanged the maps depicting the LAC, as perceived by the two sides respectively, in the Middle sector of the India-China boundary in Beijing in November last year during the eighth meeting. In reply to a question as when the two sides would begin the process of clarification on the 1597-km-long western and 1126-km-long eastern sectors of the bilateral border, Mrs Rao said obviously when work on the middle sector was completed to the mutual satisfaction. The discussions were held amid positive indications that the two sides were very keen to accelerate the pace of negotiations to resolve the long-standing boundary question. While the Indian side was led by Director (East Asia) in the Ministry of External Affairs Vijay Gokhle, the Chinese delegation was led by Deputy Director for Asia Department in the Chinese Foreign Ministry Sun Guo Xiang. The two sides also exchanged views on matters of bilateral interest which included the holding of the first meeting of the Eminent Persons Group which was set up for intensifying, deepening and strengthening of existing bilateral ties. The 30-member Group, consisting of eminent persons from different walks of life, including intellectuals, academics, scientists, former Ambassadors, businessmen and industrialists, is being headed by former Minister of State of External Affairs Raghunandal Lal Bhatia from the Indian side and by former Vice-Foreign Minister Liu Shuqing from the Chinese side. |
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Kargil weigh’s on Vajpayee’s mind New Delhi, June 29 On the one hand Mr Vajpayee is not that enthused as he was before embarking on his historic bus journey to Lahore and on the other hand, he also does not want to miss the opportunity as he has asked the Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICCSR) chief, Mr Manohar Lal Sondhi, to go ahead with vigour to prepare the seminar of the Indo-Pak social scientists on July 9 and July 10, sources said. While the response for the two-day seminar from Lahore, Karachi, Islamabad and Peshwar is overwhelming with over 150 reputed institutions sending their willingness to participate in the event, it appears that the Indian High Commission in Islamabad has yet not received encouraging signals from the South Bloc. When contacted, Professor Sondhi declined to comment on lack of signals from the South Bloc but he confirmed that over 100 participants from Pakistan have sent their acceptance. The ICSSR chief said not only the response from the four cities in Pakistan was beyond expectations but there was an earnest desire among journalists, economists, historians, political scientists and other academicians to break new grounds for preparing a new landscape rather a new route map, for the bilateral ties. Quoting from an abstract of the paper which would be read by Mr S. Akbar Zaidi at the seminar, Professor Sondhi said this paper argued that “since it is improbable that the Kashmir issue is going to be resolved to everyone’s satisfaction in the near future, it is perhaps important to consider other measures which can move the two countries towards better relations, and also, possibly, help in dealing with the Kashmir issue”. There was a realisation that the two countries, which were among the poorest and the least developed nations of the world, could not afford to sustain the logic of the past five decades and the two would have to make a fresh beginning if they wished to give a new meaning to the life of ordinary citizens, Professor Sondhi said. Another idea which had been advanced was the setting of a regional parliament for South Asia on the lines of European Parliament, he said. It was proposed that recommendations of the seminar would be presented to the two leaders either here or in Agra so that both Mr
Vajpayee as well as Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf did not lack ideas as they learnt the act of peace, the ICSSR chairman said. There was a strong feeling among the social scientists in Pakistan that their economy could not move forward on the global pattern if the regional economies of South Asia did not integrate, he pointed out. |
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Army on alert in Manipur Imphal, June 29 Official sources said the police and Manipur Rifles personnel were on full alert in Imphal and surrounding places. Security forces had also been deployed at all vulnerable points. Thousands of people launched sit-in protests in interior parts of the state during an 11-hour relaxation of indefinite curfew from 5 am this morning. The official sources said thousands of women defying prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the CrPC gathered at Wangjing area in Thoubal district and launched sit-in protests against the Centre-NSCN (IM) ceasefire extension to the state. Reports said the persons in small groups also launched sit-in protests in different parts of the valley, including Thangmeiband, Chingmeirong, Khagempalli, Keisamthong and others in greater Imphal area defying prohibitory orders. Reports also said over 30 youths shaved their heads at the Basikhong area in Imphal east district today as a mark of respect to 14 persons killed on June 18 in police firing during anti-ceasefire procession. So far, over 200 youths had shaved their heads in the state. However, no untoward incident was reported from any part of the state.
PTI |
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Dhindsa
extends support to Manipur MLAs New Delhi, June 29 Mr Dhindsa assured them that he would convey their concerns to the Prime Minister and their demands would to put forth in the next NDA meeting. A seven-member delegation representing various political parties, including the Speaker of Manipur Legislative Assembly, Dr S. Dhananjoy Singh, a former Chief Minister, Mr R.K. Dorendra Singh, a former Deputy Chief Minister, Dr L. Chandramani Singh, a former state Finance Minister, Mr H. Lokhon Singh, a former Health Minister, Dr Nimalchand Luwang, Dr Loken Singh and Mr Zatawan met the Union Minister
here. |
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Bangla men kill Indian farmer Agartala, June 29 The miscreants attacked Sachi Munda (40) with sharp-edged weapons after crossing the border at Gournagar when he was ploughing in his field yesterday. They fled before neighbours could come to Munda’s rescue, the police added. Efforts were also on to contact the Bangladesh Rifles, counterpart of the BSF in the neighbouring country, to stop recurrence of such incidents, the police said.
PTI |
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Remove imbalances in party bodies:
ex-cm New Delhi, June 29 Mr Virbhadra Singh, who was here to meet AICC General Secretary Mohsina
Kidwai, told The Tribune that co-option of some of his supporters in the state PCC was not sufficient to remove past misunderstandings and a balance had to be created in the state Congress election committee, disciplinary action committee and the PCC office-bearers. He termed these committees as “one-sided.” Angry over the way appointments were being made by the PCC chief Vidya Stokes “almost on a daily-basis without consulting him,” he said he also had strong reservations over the way in which the splinter group of the Himachal Vikas Party had been allowed to join the Congress. Asserting that he was not against Ms Stokes being the PCC chief as she was the choice of party President Sonia Gandhi, Mr Virbhadra Singh, however, added that it was up to the PCC chief to “rise above petty group considerations and take everyone along.” “I will give full cooperation and unstinted support to strengthen the party on the basis of fairness and justice,’’ he observed. Mr Virbhadra Singh, who is the CLP leader, alleged that a deliberate attempt was being made by certain Congressmen to weaken party MLAs in their constituencies. The former Chief Minister said the organisational elections, “which had been marked by rigging, had caused widespread resentment among the party workers.” He said election-related complaints had come from 28 blocks which had been heard “by the
high-command.” Expressing satisfaction at the move, he hoped that the Congress high command would take appropriate action for the redress of grievances. Sources in the AICC had recently hinted that supporters of Mr Virbhadra Singh who had filed election appeals, would be co-opted in the
PCC. He pointed out that appeals were not only concerning PCC membership but also delegates of DCCs and block committees. “By touching only the
PCC, things are not going to be resolved totally,” he asserted, adding that “such a step would lead to a working relationship within the party if not total unity.” |
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Shatabdi’s suspension not related to safety New Delhi, June 29 In a two-page clarification titled “LHB coaches-perceptions and facts” circulated at a press conference here today, Northern Railway stated that the recent instances of train uncoupling was not dangerous for passengers. “In case of uncoupling, the train brakes are automatically applied and the train comes to a halt,”the statement reads. Replying to question on the status of the train, the Northern Railway General Manager, Mr S. Dhasarathy, said, “There is nothing wrong with the technology. The experts from the Almostom LHB are examining how to make them suitable to the Indian social conditions. The few instances of uncoupling, which have taken place, indicate teething problems during adoption of new technology.” Asked how soon the imported coaches would be restored on the train, Mr Dhasarathy said, “I will be able to tell you only on Sunday when the Vice-President of the German firm, ALMSTOM LHB, Mr Klumpf arrives with a seven-member team of engineers. Apparently, these problems appear minor.” |
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List of 12,000 docs on Internet New Delhi, June 29 Addressing a press conference, the DMC President, Dr Ranjit Roy Choudhary, said the list would be made available on the Internet and the patients could identify the best doctor available nearest to their homes. |
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National
award for ITBP SI New Delhi, June 29 The award was presented to him by the Union Finance Minister, Mr Yashwant Sinha at a glittering ceremony held at Vigyan Bhavan yesterday, an ITBP press note said here
today. |
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Probe ordered into death of witness Mumbai, June 29 The commission has served notices to state Chief Secretary V. Ranganathan, Director General of Police Subhash Malhotra and Mumbai Police Commissioner M.N. Singh asking them to explain in an affidavit under what circumstances Balsara died. The respondents have been asked to submit their statements. The commission has asked Mr Ranganathan, Mr Malhotra and Mr M.N. Singh to send their replies along with a copy of post-mortem report. |
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TV scribe set free Chennai, June 29 |
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