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Saturday,
August 11, 2001, Chandigarh, India   |
Autos,
taxis go off road No
differences with BJP: Shiv Sena |
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Work on
delimitation complete: CEC New Delhi, August 10 The preliminary work for the delimitation of the Assembly seats in Uttaranchal has been completed and the first meeting of the Commission with the newly appointed Associate Members of the delimitation committee will be held here on August 13, the Chief Election Commissioner Mr J.M. Lyngdoh said today. VHP
chief’s memory ‘fails’ before panel NORTH INDIA IN
PARLIAMENT |
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Quota
for SCs in PVT sector favoured Wonder
boy’s talent questioned CEC for
simultaneous poll in UP, Uttaranchal Rajasthan
to deport illegal Bangladeshis Controversy
over Kolkata’s birthday DoD
notices arbitrary, claim Hindujas Ketan
Parekh arrested
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Autos, taxis go off
road
New Delhi, August 10 There were chaotic scenes at the railway stations, the ISBT and airport where the passengers had to wait for hours to find some form of conveyance. A large number of schoolchildren were also forced to take a holiday because of the strike. The one-day strike was supported by bus operators, who, however, continued to ply their vehicles but marched in a procession to express their resentment over the inadequate fuel supply. The operators alleged that they had to wait for several hours at CNG filling stations which resulted in business losses. The operators said as a result of this they were able to run the vehicles only for 15 to 20 days a month as the rest of the time was spent at the filling stations. Most of them had taken huge loans to either have their vehicles converted or buy new ones. “Many of us are finding it difficult to pay the monthly instalments what of feeding our families”, an auto rickshaw driver said. The transporters have now formed a Joint Action Committee under the convenership of former Delhi minister Harcharan Singh Balli to spearhead the agitation. With almost 90,000 autorickshaws and taxis off the roads, the traffic was much smoother. Motorists were particularly happy as the normal traffic snarls during rush hours were missing. Meanwhile, Delhi Chief Minister, Sheila Dixit has written a letter to Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee, expressing concern over the situation and the confusing signals being sent out by the Petroleum Ministry which was now propogating the use of LPG in view of the inadequate supply of CNG. The Chief Minister pointed out that the cost of conversion of vehicles to alternative fuels was immense and the Delhi Government was unable to bear the extra financial burden as it had already spent a considerable amount on getting vehicles converted to CNG in deference to the Supreme Court
order.  |
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No differences with BJP: Shiv Sena Mumbai, August 10 The decision was taken at a meeting of the Shiv Sena’s Parliamentary Party held at the residence of the Sena chief in Bandra. All 15 members of the Lok Sabha and Mr Sanjay Nirupam, Mr Adik Shirodkar, Mr Pritish Nandy and Mr Satish Pradhan of the Rajya Sabha were present. Mr Nirupam, in the eye of a storm for his allegations about the involvement of officials from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) in the UTI scam, was given “necessary directives” about floor coordination among the NDA partners and maintaining intra-party discipline. Briefing reporters after the meeting, Mr Anant Gite, the parliamentary party leader, said: “As far as we are concerned there are no differences left with the BJP”. However, he said the official stand on the status of the Sena-BJP alliance would be declared by Mr Thackeray and the BJP leaders at a “proper time”. To a question whether the relations between the two parties in the wake of Mr Nirupam’s attack on the PMO were still under strain, Mr Manohar Joshi, Union Heavy Industries Minister said: “I do not want to make any comment”. On the proposed code of conduct being worked out for the NDA constituents, Mr Joshi said: “We will formulate our view on it when it is made available”. Mr Gite said the Sena MPs would now be breaking their silence in Parliament and continue to air their views on the issues concerning “small investors, Hindutva and farmers”.
UNI, PTI |
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Work on delimitation complete:
CEC New Delhi, August 10 The Commission will discuss the broad principles for delimitation and the results of the preliminary exercise it has undertaken on the basis of population of 1971 will be shared with the Associate Members, Mr Lyngdoh said at a press conference here. He said that within a few days the Commission was likely to finalise the draft proposal for the newly delimited constituencies which would then be formally published. The public can make suggestions for modifications, etc in the draft proposals. In terms of the Uttar Pradesh Reorganisation Act, the Union Government has nominated five Associate Members -Kedar
Singh Phonia, Mr Mohan Singh Rawat, Ajay Bhatt, K C Singh ‘baba’ and Mr Harbans Kapoor - to assist the Election Commission of India in the matter of delimitation of the 70 constituencies for the new state. The Associate Members shall have no right to vote or sign in decisions of the Election Commission. They will, however, assist the Commission in a consultative capacity and can give their suggestions and proposals which have to be included in the draft publication as appropriate. Meanwhile, a two-day conference to discuss the details and strategies for the special intensive electoral rolls revision programme concluded here today. |
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VHP chief’s memory
‘fails’ before panel New Delhi, August 10 Irritated that his request to finish his deposition as soon as possible was not heeded by the commission, Mr Dalmia, who was quite forthcoming during the earlier three days of hearing, adopted a non-cooperative approach this afternoon and said he was unable to recollect due to failing memory or gave briefest possible answers. “I don’t remember. Memory fails me,” was his most frequent response. Asked why the VHP, whom he represented at the National Integration Council meeting, and the BJP chose to boycott its meeting on November 23, 1992, he said: “I don’t remember I boycotted any meeting.” However, confronted by commission counsel with media reports of the VHP boycott, he said: “If you say so I will accept it.” Regarding when Dharam Sansad or Kendriya Marg Darshak Mandal decided to fix December 6 date for karseva, he gave his usual answer about not remembering it. About the then Chief Minister Kalyan Singh meeting Ayodhya movement leaders, his reply was similar. Asked whether he would contradict the report that he had not met Kalyan Singh during that period, he quipped: “I do not remember. I may or may not have met him.” Similar was his reply to questions regarding discussions which led to the postponement of the kar seva in July 1992, his speaking to media about the movement, his going to Ayodhya in July and Rajmata Vijayaraje Scindia and other leaders attending meetings on the issue. When probed why he did not remember things now while his memory served him better earlier, Mr Dalmia said: “I think it is natural that sometimes one remembers even events of childhood. But that does not mean that one remembers everything.”
UNI |
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NORTH INDIA IN
PARLIAMENT New Delhi, August 10 The stocks as on July 1, 2001, stood at 116.86 lakh tonnes in the FCI godowns in Punjab and Chandigarh, the minister informed. With a view to promoting sports in Himachal Pradesh, the Sports Authority of India (SAI) is implementing its SAI Training Centres Scheme in the state. At present, there are two such centres — one at Bilaspur and another at Dharamsala, the Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports, Mr Ponnu Radhakrishnan, informed the Rajya Sabha in a written reply. The Himachal Pradesh Government has chalked out plans for the development of horticulture in the state under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme on Macro Management in Agriculture-Supplementation/ Complementation of the state’s efforts through work plans. An outlay of Rs 578 lakh has been earmarked for the purpose during 2001-02, the Minister of State for Agriculture, Mr Shripad Y. Naik, told the Upper House in a written reply today. The Ministry of Railways has decided to establish a computerised rail ticket booking centre in the district headquarters of Kullu or Manali in Himachal Pradesh, the Minister of State of Railways and Parliamentary Affairs, Mr O. Rajagopal, told the Rajya Sabha today. Nine railway stations in Punjab have been selected as ‘Model Stations’ for provision of upgraded passenger amenities, Mr Rajagopal informed the Rajya Sabha in a written reply today. While six stations have been selected in Haryana as ‘model stations’, two stations in Jammu and Kashmir and one railway station in Himachal Pradesh has been selected
as ‘model stations’ the minister told the House. |
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Quota for SCs in PVT sector favoured New Delhi, August 10 Participating in a debate on a private member’s Bill, they said despite provision for reservation in government services, SCs and STs remained backward due to faulty implementation and “negative” attitude of the upper section of society. Accusing the government of not fulfilling its assurances on job reservation, Mr Pravin Rashtrapal (Cong) said people belonging to SCs and STs had no other option but to depend on job opportunities as they lacked in resources and skills. Stating that six states had Acts on job reservation, he said separate legislations on reservation could work as powerful instruments to empower SCs and
STs. PTI |
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Wonder boy’s talent
questioned Patna, August 10 The DST Secretary, Mr V. Ramamurthi, has admitted that it was a mistake to send Tathagat to Germany. He also admitted that it was an error not to have checked his credentials and send him on the basis of his talents flashed in the media. Some senior most teachers in Patna’s prestigious colleges also doubt Tathagat’s talents and genius. The Vice-Chancellor of Patna University and former Principal of Patna Science College, Mr K.K. Jha, who had got an opportunity to judge the genius of the “wonder boy,” said whatever he had achieved till now was not by his talent but by the legal battles. He maintained that he had failed to explain some simple physics questions. |
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CEC for simultaneous
poll in UP, Uttaranchal New Delhi, August 10 To a question Whether it will not amount to paying salaries and allowances to the MLAs for five and a half months more if the Assembly elections are held only in early March, 2002, Mr Lyngdoh said “that is somebody elses business”. He further added that “We would like to take our own time and We do not want to hurry things up.” To a specific question whether the Assembly poll in Uttar Pradesh and in the newly formed Uttaranchal will be held simultaneously, the Chief Election Commissioner said “we would like to hold simultaneous poll in Uttar Pradesh and Uttaranchal.” He, however, hastened to add that it might be difficult to put the two together as delimitation exercise in Uttaranchal was likely to be completed sometime by the end of this year. The confusion about the conduct of Uttar Pradesh elections before October this year or before March next year has arose due to the fact that the Uttar Pradesh Assembly did not have its first sitting for about five months after its constitution in October 1996. The House was placed under suspended animation and President’s rule was re-imposed as no party was in a position to form the government. The Chief Election Commissioner, addressing his maiden press conference after he assumed the charge of the office in June, had said that “The Commission is of the view that the five-day tenure of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly ends on March 26, 2002, on the basis of the first sitting of the House as per Article 171 of the Constitution.” The issue has been challenged before the Allahabad High Court and its Lucknow
Bench. |
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Rajasthan
to deport illegal Bangladeshis Jaipur, August 10 This was stated by the Home Minister, Mr Gulab Singh Shaktawat, here on Wednesday. A survey of the migrants was done last year which revealed that 2563 Bangladeshis were unauthorisedly living in the state. Of these 2191 were found to be living in the state capital alone, he added. Eviction notices were issued to the migrants living in jhuggis along the railway line in Jaipur, but were not enforced as displacing them from one place to another was no solution to the problem. In fact they would have to be sent back to Bangladesh, the minister said. The minister said the deportation would be implemented with the assistance of the BSF. Before deporting them an order from the District Magistrate would have to be obtained. |
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Controversy
over Kolkata’s birthday Kolkata, August 10 According to the official almanac of the British-ruled Indian administration, August 24, 1690, was taken as “birthday of Kolkata” — the day Job Charnock first landed in the tiny village, called Sutanuti, which later become Calcutta after converging with two other villages, Govindapur and Kalkutta. It was the day of the beginning of the British-owned East India Company in India which was taken as well the beginning of the British Raj in the country. So far, no one challenged this date of the “birthday” of Kolkata. In fact, the day is being observed every year as Kolkata’s birthday and in 1990, Kolkata’s 300th year birthday celebrations had been observed in a befitting manner as per the accepted theory of Kolkata’s birthday. But now, when the city is going to have another birthday celebration soon, a public interest litigation has been filed at the Kolkata High Court on behalf of the descendants of zamindar, Sabama Chowdhry and family, the original owners of old Kolkata, challenging its date of birthday. The Chowdhurys were the owners of the three villages — Sutanuti, Govindapur and Kalkutta — which were leased out to East India Company in perpetuity on a nominal rent. It has written in the affidavit that Job Charmock could not be the founder of Kolkata. Nor could August 24, 1690, be accepted as the city’s birthday. An individual cannot be accepted as the founder of a city. Moreover, Kolkata could not have its birthday with the beginning of the ruling of East India Company, the affidavit stated. The affidavit further states that Kolkata had its existence much before the landing of Job Charnock in Sutanuti village and the city should be much older than 300 years. Hence, the city’s birthday celebration should not be observed on a wrong date of August 24, the affidavit said. The case will come up for hearing next week. |
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DoD notices
arbitrary, claim Hindujas New Delhi, August 10 “We have legal recourse open to us,” Chairman of Ashok Leyland and the consortium bidding for airlines R.J.Shahaney said from Chennai and added that “we have replied to the show cause notices issued by the Department of Disinvestment (DoD) on our bids for the two airlines.” The DoD had asked the consortium to show cause as to why it should not be disqualified from participating in the bidding process for IA and AI as the Hinduja Group was under probe by the CBI for its alleged involvement in the Bofors deal. He, however, declined comment on whether the group would press for its case in court in case the governnment decided to disqualify their bid for wresting control of both AI and IA, slated for privatisation.
PTI |
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Prakashchand
Hinduja allowed to go abroad New Delhi, August 10 Special Judge S.L. Khanna accepted the bond accompanied by a bank guarantee of Rs 15 crore from the State Bank of India and allowed Prakashchand, who was granted bail on January 19 but refused permission to go abroad along with his two brothers Srichand and Gopichand, to go out of the country. He was asked by the court to return back to India by October 1. Mr Khanna, while allowing the counsel for the accused to examine the documents supplied to them by the CBI, fixed September 3 for arguments on charge.
PTI |
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Ketan Parekh
arrested Mumbai, August 10 He
was arrested this evening after daylong interrogation at the CBI’s
security and fraud cell office here, CBI sources said. Parekh will be
produced before a court in Ahmedabad tomorrow.
PTI |
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New Delhi, August 10
