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| Monday,
July 2, 2001, Chandigarh, India   
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Krishnamurthy seeks
Central rule in TN Central team meets
Governor Decision evokes mixed response
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Cong
suspends MLA for slapping SP Pak
security team arriving today Musharraf
critical of fundamentalists ‘Kaho
na...’ eyeing Guinness Book Man
tries to set wife on fire, held
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Krishnamurthy seeks Central rule in TN Chennai, July 1 Addressing a press conference here, BJP President Jana Krishnamurthy said: “Imposition of President’s rule in the state might not be in the conventional sense of law and order breakdown. But the fact is that the state government has chosen to do a thing, which no other state in the country has done, by arresting two central ministers”, he said. Asked whether it would be that easy to impose President’s rule in the light of Bommai judgement, he said the Supreme Court had not prevented the Centre from using Article 356, but had only said such a presidential proclamation should be ratified by both Houses of Parliament. He said the main opposition, the Congress, had condemned the manner in which Karunanidhi was arrested and the arrest of two central ministers. If democratic norms and practices had to be preserved the whole Opposition should extend support for invoking Article 356 in Tamil Nadu, he said. The state unit of the party had adopted a resolution demanding President’s rule in the state. Mr Krishnamurthy said the state government had “upset the constitutional balance” between the Centre and the state governments when it chose to defy the Constitution by arresting the two central ministers. “When the state government has chosen finally to defy constitutional function and tradition, that state government cannot be allowed to seek protection of the Constitution’, he said. On the remarks of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister
Jayalalithaa that the two union ministers were behaving “like street rowdies”, Mr Krishnamurthy said “Jayalalithaa may brand (that) anybody, but the fact remains that they were central ministers”. “If she has any objection there are constitutional remedy that is to approach the President and the Prime Minister”, he said but added that it was for the Union Cabinet to decide. On Jayalalithaa’s statement about the arrests, he said it was for the people to judge the incidents that had happened. On the Chief Minister’s remarks that Union Minister Murasoli Maran had not cooperated with the police, he said even if it was accepted for the sake of argument, it did not justify the way Mr Karunanidhi had been treated. The police was well aware that Mr Maran was a Union Cabinet Minister, he said. On Ms Jayalalithaa’s yet another remark that Prime Minister had chosen to speak to the Chief Secretary, he said the Prime Minister was known for his manners. The very fact that he spoke to the Chief Secretary showed he could not speak to her. Earlier, in his opening remarks Mr Krishnamurthy described Mr Karunanidhi’s arrest and subsequent happenings as “unfortunate and deserving all condemnation”. He said if there had been a case against Mr Karunanidhi, nobody would have had any objection to the government proceeding against him. In fact, the former Chief Minister himself had stated that he was ready to face any inquiry. “But the manner in which Mr Karunanidhi was harassed at the time of his arrest indicates an authoritarian rule. Heaven would not have fallen if he had not been arrested at 2 a.m. It could have been done late in the morning or evening,” he said.
PTI |
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Central team meets Governor
Chennai, July 1 The three-member central team led by special secretary Mukund B. Kaushal held a 30-minute meeting with the Governor and also called on State Chief Secretary P. Shankar and top police officials. They also met Union Industry and Commerce Minister Murasoli Maran at Apollo Hospital, where he is undergoing treatment after yesterday’s arrest, before leaving for Vellore to meet Environment Minister T.R. Baalu, detained there. Mr Fernandes and the two other NDA leaders — Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilisers Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa and BJP leader V.K. Malhotra — visited Mr Karunanidhi at the Central Prison here, and also Mr Maran at Apollo Hospital. Earlier in the day, the Governor sent her report to Union Home Secretary Kamal Pande before the deadline of 9 a.m. set by the Union Government. Justice Fathima Beevi, in her three-page report has given a factual account of yesterday’s arrests of Mr Karunanidhi and the two Union Ministers, according to Raj Bhavan sources. She is believed to have refrained from offering her own comments on the developments. Meanwhile, BJP president Jana Krishnamurthy said his party would consider the state unit’s demand for imposition of President’s rule in Tamil Nadu. He stated this after a meeting of the BJP’s state unit. The DMK-led NDA has called for a bandh tomorrow in Tamil Nadu in protest against the arrests.
UNI |
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Decision evokes mixed response New Delhi, July 1 Mr Jain told TNS here today that the Governor had not done anything to necessitate her recall. “If she has defended all that happened yesterday, she is perhaps convinced that what happened was justified. I have no reason to say that she did not make her own assessment. She has been a first rate judge and commands respect in judicial circles. I have no reason not to accept her version. Why should she dance to the tunes of the Central Government?” he
asked. Mr Jain said it is wrong to run two Constitutions in the country. “Simply because, a former Chief Minister is involved, there is so much hue and cry. Everyday, people in villages are treated worse than this and treatment to the downtrodden and the weaker sections is allowed,” he added. Ms
Jethmalani, Chairperson, Women’s Action Research and Legal Action for Women
(WARLAW), an NGO, said, “I am really surprised that she failed to act like a fair-minded and impartial Governor who wants to maintain the federal Centre-state equilibrium. I do not know anything about the contents of the report but if she has not been objective as is being alleged then as a former woman judge of the highest court, she has shaken the confidence of the masses in the judiciary. I hope that there will be no serious confrontation and that the matter can be resolved without a new threat to democracy.” Ms Jethmalani said Ms Fathima Beevi did not abide by the constitutional “dharma” which was enjoined on every citizen, including the Governor to strive for national excellence. “Nobody takes the chapter on Fundamental Duties seriously. When the Election Commission had held that Ms
Jayalalithaa was not eligible to contest elections, she should not have been sworn in as Chief Minister. As the custodian of the Constitution which is unequivocal terms enjoins on every citizen including the Governor to strive for national excellence, she should not have sworn her as CM. The Cabinet’s decision to recall her is unfortunate but unavoidable in the given circumstances,” she added. |
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‘Dismiss’ Jaya govt New Delhi, July 1 The front has demanded the immediate dismissal of the Jayalalithaa government and the imposition of President’s rule in Tamil Nadu. Mr Bitta told Tribune News Service here that the arrests of the mediapersons were unjustified and posed a grave threat to the freedom of the Press. He said the Jayalalithaa government had been putting pressure on the bureaucracy and other agencies to blow its own trumpet. He expressed the apprehension that Ms Jayalalithaa’s intimidatory policy to dictate her own terms could result in the total failure of the system. He said Ms Jayalalithaa was misusing her power to settle scores with her political rivals. |
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Naidu supports govt decision to recall Fathima Hyderabad, July 1 “We will support any decision taken by the NDA government”, Mr Naidu told reporters at the inauguration of Indian Business School (ISB) here. Mr Naidu was reacting to a question whether he would support the decision taken by the government to recall Tamil Nadu Governor following her “failure to fulfil the constitutional obligation in wake of the arrests of Mr Karunanidhi, Mr Murasoli Maran and Mr T. R. Baalu”. Without elaborating further, Mr Naidu said: “Law will take its own course” and offered no other comments on the developments in Tamil Nadu. Mr Naidu, during his campaign trial for local body elections at Tirupati yesterday, had described the arrests as “political vendetta and the circumstances surrounding the event as “most painful” and “unfortunate”. “There was no need to arrest Mr Karunanidhi at that hour and such vengeful acts would serve no purpose in a parliamentary democracy”, he had said.
PTI |
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Uneasy calm ahead of
bandh
Chennai, July 1 The police said it had not received any reports of violence in the state today and that a constant vigil was being maintained. All efforts were being taken by the government to prevent any violence during the bandh tomorrow, police sources said. Seventy buses were damaged and over 10,000 DMK activists were taken into preventive custody across the state since the violence erupted. A Union Home Ministry team was here today to make an on the spot study of the situation in the state following yesterday’s arrests. DMK General Secretary K. Anbazhagan today appealed to the people to support the bandh for the ‘restoration of democracy’ in the state. The neighbouring Kerala and Andhra Pradesh governments have suspended all bus services to Tamil Nadu in view of the volatile situation in the state.
PTI |
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Chautala
flays arrest of Karunanidhi Saharnpur, July 1 The Haryana Chief Minister, who was talking to mediapersons shortly after addressing public meeting of Kisan Pradesh Sangharsh Samiti condemned the incident saying that it was direct attack on democracy. In case anybody was guilty, it was for the court of law to decide.
UNI |
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Self-immolation bid by DMK man Bangalore, July 1 DMK’s Rajajinagar block secretary M. Muthaiah doused his clothes with kerosene and tried to set himself afire while participating in a demonstration organised by the party in association with the BJP Mahila Morcha this morning. “The smell of the kerosene, brought in bottles, spread when it was poured. That alerted the constables,’’ a police spokesman said. About 50 members of the morcha were staging a dharna in front of a statue of Mahatma Gandhi, demanding the dismissal of the Jayalalithaa government and the immediate release of Mr Karunanidhi along with other senior party leaders, currently detained in Chennai. Meanwhile, the Bangalore Tamil Sangam condemned the arrest of the 78-year-old Dravidian leader. An emergency meeting of the sangam executive demanded that the Tamil Nadu Government should immediately release him, according to a press note.
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DMK man dies after watching arrest on TV Coimbatore, July 1 Kalapatti councillor Gnanavel, 42, was admitted to a private hospital last evening following brain haeomorrhage after seeing the visuals of the arrest on television.
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Cong suspends MLA for slapping SP Jaipur, July 1 According to reports received here the Collector of Ajmer, Ms Usha Sharma, had convened a meeting of the Vigilance Committee on Saturday in her office. During the meeting Mr Singaria started speaking aggressively about what he called the deteriorating law and order situation in the district. All top officials, including the Collector and Superintendent of Police Alok Tripathi, besides the MLAs of the district, were present. Eyewitness reports say the Collector Ms Usha Sharma urged the MLA to keep his remarks reserved for Sunday when the meeting to discuss law and order situation was fixed. Mr Singaria, however, did not stop and charged that the SP was responsible for communal riots in Nasirabad, Beawar and Sarwar in the recent past. He also expressed anger on the transfer of police officials belonging to SC and ST indiscriminately and alleged that Mr Tripathi was behind the same. He particularly mentioned the case of Meghwal, DSP, Kekri, who was posted there on the desire of Mr Singaria by the government, but was transferred by Mr Tripathi subsequently. When the Collector again intervened to stop him, Mr Singaria got upset and rushed straight to the SP and slapped him on his face. Additional SP Vasudeo Bhatt intervened instantly when the MLA was just to slap the SP again, but he misbehaved with him too. The MLA removed the official badge from the uniform of the Additional SP. The scuffling MLA was separated from the SP with great difficulty by others present at the meeting. After this the SP left the meeting and went straight to his office which is by the side of the meeting venue. Mr Singaria followed him and staged a dharna outside the SP’s office and dared the police to arrest him. There Mr Singaria was declared arrested by Additional SP (City) Satbir Singh, but the MLA refused to move to the police station. A case against the errant MLA was registered under Sections 151, 353 and 186 etc. on the basis of the complaint filed by ADM Ashfaq Hussain at the Civil Lines police station. Meanwhile, a large number of Congress workers assembled on the spot and prevented the police from taking Singaria to police station. Singaria even refused to furnish a bail. The MLA accused that the SP of using derogatory language against his community. Finally a case under Section 323 and 341 of the IPC was registered against the SP on behalf of the MLA. The news of the incident spread quickly in police circles of the city creating anger against the MLA. Several police personnel surrendered their weapons in protest and applied for mass casual leave and threatened to boycott the mess, wear black badges and even go on strike if immediate action against the MLA was not taken. The gazetted officers of the district dropped the idea of going on mass casual leave after the news of suspension of the MLA from the ruling party reached Ajmer. The Ajmer City Congress convened an emergency meeting of its office-bearers where the district administration was condemned and decision taken to meet the CM on the situation. In a swift action, however, immediately after being informed of the incident by the district administration Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot suspended Mr Singaria from the ruling Legislature Party and informed about the same to the PCC chief, Ms Girija Vyas. Ms Vyas in turn suspended the MLA from the primary membership of the party. A press note of the PCC said the party took a serious view of the conduct of its MLA and had decided to suspend him from the membership of the party. The PCC chief also appointed a three-member inquiry committee under the Chairmanship of former PCC chief Ram Narain Chaudhary MLA. Vice-President Rampal Upadhyaya and General Secretary Mahendra Singh will be other members of the committee. |
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Pak security team arriving today New Delhi, July 1 The team, to be headed by senior Pakistani government official Hamid Peer, will visit various places in the Capital, Agra, Jaipur and Ajmer Sharief. It will return to Islamabad within a day or two. The team members, besides taking stock of the security scenario, will hold discussions with senior External Affairs and Home Ministry officials about the place of General Musharraf’s stay in New Delhi and Agra and the venues of the official functions in these two places, the sources told UNI. The team will also see the arrangements being made at the President’s ancestral home in Darya Ganj, besides the Taj and the Dargah of Khwaja Moinudeen Chisti — the places he is likely to visit apart from his official engagements. On his return to Pakistan, Mr Peer is likely to submit a report to President Musharraf’s office. The exact composition of security and other officials in the President’s team will somewhat depend on the views of the team. During its short stay in India, the team will review the security measures at the airport, Rashtrapati Bhavan, venues of official functions, the
ancestral home of General Musharraf — “Neharwali haveli” — and the route to be followed by the President in the Capital. It would then proceed to Agra, Jaipur and Ajmer Sharief. The visit by the team follows the short trip of Pakistani High Commissioner to India, Mr Ashraf
Zehangir Qazi, to Islamabad during which he is understood to have briefed the President about his deliberations with various ministers and senior government officials as a prelude to the summit. Mr Qazi returned to India only a couple of days ago. The team has been authorised to finalise the schedule of the President’s visit with the Indian officials. The Pakistani security officials are likely to hold talks with senior officers of the Delhi police and other security agencies about the security drill to be observed during the President’s visit. Similarly, they will also talk to the police in Agra, Jaipur and Ajmer. The team will visit the three luxury hotels in Agra — Amar Vilas, Jaypee Palace and Mughal Sheraton — which have been shortlisted for General Musharraf’s stay and the summit meeting. They are likely to give their opinion about the best among the three for the President’s stay and the one most suited for the summit and other official functions. Massive security arrangements in all four cities have been made by the security agencies, which include the Delhi police, the Rajasthan police, the Uttar Pradesh police, the Rapid Action Force, the Central Reserve Police Force, Home Guards and some other paramilitary forces.
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Musharraf critical of fundamentalists New Delhi, July 1 Speaking at a conference in Islamabad President Musharraf “pointedly asked the bearded audience why they felt the need of challenging India constantly and promising to the Pakistani people that they would soon fly the green flag over Red Fort”, reports Pakistani weekly newspaper The Friday Times. The paper said Gen Pervez Musharraf “spoke from the heart and the mind” and his message was critical of some of the attitudes in Pakistan adopted mostly by people who were attending the conference on Prophet Mohammed. Departing from his written speech, Musharraf asked the audience as to “what is the need of this empty boasting when the country is in a delicate situation economically and there is hardly a shred of unity or consensus on anything at home?” He was referring to the verbal outbursts of his Deobandi warriors of Kashmir jehad when he questioned the wisdom of using violent language against the states which were the origin of the foreign investment, Pakistan desperately needed, the paper opined. President Musharraf said himself he was a veteran of the Kashmir war and knew exactly where Pakistan was headed in its policy, but there was no need to spoil Pakistan’s economic chances by making violent statements about it, The Friday Times said. The President believed that though Pakistan was the most important state in the world of Islam, it was weak and troubled. It was the duty of all Pakistanis to first become strong and then challenge the world. Till then, Pakistan had to walk in step with the rest of the world, instead of asking the rest of the world to walk in step with it. In a veiled attack on certain fundamentalist groups, which were threatening to carry out attacks on the United States of America and other powers of the world, President Musharraf made a special point saying Pakistan is in such a weak position at home that making hostile statements about the big powers is not only useless but also a disincentive to foreign investments. The paper commented that, in fact, the economists should compute in terms of millions of dollars the amount of investment the country has lost each time they have published their mediocre jingoistic diatribes against India in particular and the world in general. It said Musharraf, barring his recent statement against the NMD, has exercised a lot of unwanted caution while addressing a nation used to the grotesqueries of military braggadocio.
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Anti-truce stir intensifies Imphal, July 1 Official sources said over 5,000 persons, including women and children, gathered and moved in a procession at Kakching, the subdivisional town in Thoubal district. The protesters shouted slogans like “we say no ceasefire,” “save Manipur territory” and “we will shed blood for our territory”, the sources said. Sources said widespread sit-in protests were also reported from Greater Imphal, including Chingamakha and Pishum Oinam Liekai, and other parts of the state in spite of heavy deployment of security and other paramilitary forces. No arrest was reported from any parts for defying prohibitory orders, sources said.
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‘Kaho na...’ eyeing Guinness Book Mumbai, July 1 Neither for raking in the “moolah” nor for the successful launch of Hrithik Roshan, but for winning a record number of awards. At the last count, the Roshan clan — Rakesh Roshan, his son Hrithik Roshan, brother music director Rajesh Roshan — and a host of other technicians associated with the film have so far garnered 92 awards. “Yes, we have approached the Guinness Book of Records,” Rakesh Roshan said here today. James Cameron’s biggest grosser “Titanic” finds a mention in it for winning 11 Academy Awards, he said. Rakesh Roshan’s office in western suburb of Santacruz these days is busy getting letters from all organisations that have given awards to the film. Roshan will start shooting for his next venture “Koi Mil Gaya”, starring Hrithik and Preity Zinta from October. For the film-maker, all awards are very dear to him. His biggest reward? “It’s my son Hrithik”, Roshan said.
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Man tries to set wife on fire, held Greater Noida, July 1 According to information available from the police headquarters, Pawan, a shopkeeper of Gautampuri under Dadri police station, Greater Noida, recently developed illicit relations with Chanchal, a teenaged girl of the area. Pawan’s wife Suman resented his affair with the girl. After a heated exchange between husband and wife, Pawan dragged her to the kitchen and poured kerosene on her. When he tried to strike a match to set her afire, his daughters Neha (13) and Deepika (11) snatched the matchbox from their father and started shouting. Later, Pawan was arrested by the police on the basis of an FIR lodged by and sent to jail. |
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