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Friday,
August 24, 2001, Chandigarh, India  
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SAARC joint declaration issued SP shifted, murder case against SHO Govt to monitor
madarsas: Advani Probe tapes’ leakage: Cong Drama in LS over forged
letter NORTH INDIA IN PARLIAMENT |
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Prabhakar’s surety withdraws CBI files FIR against ex-IAF officer Transporters
in Delhi to go on strike Strike hits AIIMS
working RLD Secy quits
in protest Wanted criminal shot in encounter Sonia approves office-bearers of Mahila Cong
SAARC joint declaration issued New Delhi, August 23 The 15-point joint statement issued at the end of a two-day meeting to evolve a common front on WTO issues, reiterated India’s stand that implementation issues, which were a fallout of the Uruguay round, should be resolved upfront without any extraneous linkages. The declaration also called for increased market access opportunities to be provided by the developed countries to facilitate industrialisation in developing countries by eliminating trade distorting subsidies, non-tariff barriers and unreasonable protectionist measures. The statement expressed disappointment “on the lack of any meaningful progress, despite a clear decision in May, 2000, by the WTO General Council that these issues have to be addressed and decisions taken for appropriate action not later than the Fourth WTO Ministerial Conference. “Any further delay was likely to erode the credibility of the multilateral trading system among the developing and the least developing countries,” it said. In agriculture, SAARC ministers emphasised the need for substantial reductions in tariffs and tariff escalations, reduction in domestic support and elimination of all forms of export subsidies given by developed countries to facilitate greater market access for agricultural products of the developing countries. The statement also called for a moratorium on anti- dumping, anti-subsidy and safeguard measures, resorted to by importing countries on exports from developing and least developing countries until
January 7, 2007. The statement voiced concern that Uruguay Round of Agreements and their implementation had further accentuated inequalities and disparities between the developed and the developing countries. It said relevant provisions of the TRIPS agreement relating to meaningful transfer and dissemination of technology by the developed to the developing countries should be effectively operationalised. “Greater flexibility and clarity were also required so as to ensure affordable access to essential medicines and life saving drugs in keeping with public health concerns of the developing countries,” it said, adding that “nothing in the TRIPS agreement should prevent governments from taking measures for protecting public health”. Meanwhile, commerce ministers of SAARC countries, who are here to devise a common strategy for the Doha WTO Conference, today met Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee.
PTI, UNI |
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SP shifted, murder case against SHO
Meerut, August 23 The police said SHO Satish Kumar Rai and two constables were suspended from service and the Baghpat SP was transferred for the firing incident, which occurred while the political climate heats up ahead of the crucial Assembly elections in UP. DIG Arun Kumar said that the situation in the village was tense but under control. He said the police had asked the villagers to make a list of those missing after the incident so that a search could be launched for them. Baleni residents claim five
persons died, but the police maintains only two were killed in the firing, which happened after a
siege of the station over the demand for release of a few arrested villagers. A high-level inquiry committee of the Samajwadi Party (SP), after touring the village, demanded today that a murder case be registered also against the district SP. The main opposition party in the state said all guilty police personnel should be sent to jail. Rajya Sabha MP Shivpal Yadav, who led the committee, claimed while talking to reporters that 10 persons were killed in the firing. SP President Mulayam Singh Yadav will attend the condolence meeting to be held on August 27 in Baleni village, Mr Shivpal Yadav said. He also demanded a judicial inquiry into the matter. Workers of the Samajwadi Party on Thursday staged a dharna at Jantar Mantar in Delhi to protest against the “brutal killings” of innocent people in the police firing and demanded the dismissal of the state government.
UNI |
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Govt to monitor madarsas: Advani New Delhi, August 23 While interacting with members of the Parliamentary Consultative Committee attached to his Ministry, Mr Advani promised that the government would look into the sudden mushrooming of these madarsas. He also stated that the Centre would be consulting the West Bengal government on the sprouting of madarsas in border areas, particularly along the Indo-Nepal border. The Home Minister agreed with the averments of some members that teachings of these schools should be modernised in keeping with the modern times. Mr Advani told the Committee that while countering Pakistan ISI’s proxy war against India, 101 ISI-backed modules were busted across the country during 1998-2001. While busting these modules, 19 terrorists, including six Pakistanis, were killed and 321 arrested.
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Probe tapes’ leakage: Cong New Delhi, August 23 Congress chief spokesperson Jaipal Reddy said the party was not against investigative journalism and the media had the right to information. He said Tehelka had apparently given only one copy of the transcripts and tapes to the Venkataswami Commission, a copy of which was subsequently forwarded to the Defence Ministry. “Who is responsible for the supply of videotapes?” Mr Reddy asked. He said somebody in the Defence Ministry must take responsibility for the leakage because the commission, on its own, had denied responsibility for the leakage. Referring to Mr Mahajan’s statement today in which the minister said the Home Ministry would examine if a case existed against Tehelka for using certain methods to nab the guilty, Mr Reddy asked why it was still unclear whether there was a case against Tehelka or not. He said Mr Mahajan had tried to give a clean chit to Mr Fernandes apparently to silence rumblings in the NDA or prejudice decision by the judicial commission. Accusing the government of double standards, Mr Reddy said there were “open and shut” cases against former BJP President Bangaru Laxman, former Samata Party chief Jaya Jaitley and Samata Party functionaries including Mr R.K. Jain, but no cases had yet been registered. While the Tehelka controversy had been raging for the past six months, the government had never said it would examine if a case could be made against the BJP or Samata Party leaders. “The government seems to be following one standard for these leaders and another for Tehelka,” Mr Reddy said. |
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Cong minister to file case against Tehelka Guwahati, August 23 Mr Barkotoky told UNI today that if the notice was not returned within 10 days, he would file a Rs 5 crore defamation case against the portal, which had accused him of bribing Ms Sanghamitra Bharali, the woman whom Mahanta, allegedly married in Mumbai, to speak out. The minister alleged that Tehelka.com was used by Mr Mahanta to escape the bigamy charge, as he was facing a serious revolt from within the party over the issue. Claiming innocence, Mr Barkotoky has vowed to teach the portal a lesson. The bigamy charge saw acrimonious scenes at the AGP executive meeting, which had a day-long discussion on the subject. Mr Mahanta faced some embarrassing moments there, but the meeting eventually termed the “bigamy scandal” a conspiracy. The Tehelka.com report had given a new twist to Mr Mahanta’s alleged second marriage to Ms Bharali, as it blamed the Congress Government of being vindictive. The portal alleged yesterday that Mr Barkataki paid Rs 15 lakh to Ms Bharali, an employee at the Assam Assembly Secretariat, to talk about her “marriage” to Mr Mahanta.
UNI |
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Samata MP told to leave LS New Delhi, August 23 While the Speaker has been trying his best to conduct the proceedings of the House in a disciplined manner for the past few months, Mr Balayogi had to take the step as Mr Singh refused to resume his seat for almost 10 minutes despite innumerous
observations from the Chair. At last when his repeated pleas with the member fell on deaf ears, an
exasperated Balayogi then asked Mr Prabhu Nath Singh to leave the House or sit quietly and raise whatever he wanted during the zero hour. The action came close on the heels of an all-party meeting convened by the Speaker to discuss the unruly behaviour of members of the House particularly a incident of yesterday when Treasury Bench members led by Samata Party MPs came into the well of the House on Tehelka issue leading to the adjournment of the Lok Sabha till 2 p.m. The meeting today morning decided that members who enter the well of the House and create disorder would invite automatic suspension for a week. |
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Drama in LS over forged letter New Delhi, August 23 Participating in the discussion, Mr Dasmunsi opposed disinvestment in Air India on the ground of national interest and lack of transparency and quoted the letter purportedly written by the Cabinet Secretary to the Prime Minister to substantiate his argument. Within hours, Disinvestment Minister Arun Shourie announced that the Cabinet Secretary has informed that he has not written any such letter. He has confirmed it is a forged letter. The PMO has also said it has not recieved any such letter.” |
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NORTH INDIA IN PARLIAMENT New Delhi, August 23 In Haryana, a storage loss of 730 metric tonnes of wheat was reported during the period, the minister further informed. In reply to another question, the minister said various measures had been taken by the government to reduce losses, including the adoption of 50 kg packaging in a phased manner and improvement in size and quality of gunny bags. The quantum of food-grain losses during the post-harvest period at the farm level due to insects, rodents, moisture, birds and micro-organisms in Punjab and Haryana is not known, Mr Chauhan informed the Upper House today in a written reply. A committee headed by Dr V.G. Panse, in its report, had estimated annual post-harvest food-grain losses in various stages at 9.33 per cent, Mr Chauhan further informed the House. An estimated 8,716,000 tonnes of basmati rice has been produced in Punjab during 1999-2000, the Minister for Agriculture, Mr Ajit Singh informed the Lok Sabha today. In Haryana, 2,594,000 tonnes of basmati rice was produced while in Himachal Pradesh, 120,400 tonnes was produced. The corresponding figure in Jammu and Kashmir stood at 391,100 tonnes, the minister informed. Software exports from Haryana, through the Software Technology Parks of India (STPI), during 2000-01, stood at Rs 1,450 crore, the Minister for Parliamentary Affairs and Information Technology, Mr Pramod Mahajan, told the Rajya Sabha in a written reply today. Software export from Punjab through STPI during the same period stood at Rs 50
crore. |
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Prabhakar’s surety withdraws Dehra Dun, August 23 Preetpal, in an application before the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Nainital, yesterday pleaded he was withdrawing his surety for Prabhakar as he was unable to furnish a bond of Rs 50,000, police said. Preetpal, who hails from the Haldwani area of Nainital district, pleaded before the court that he had agreed to give surety to Prabhakar in the bail plea only at the behest of his relatives and he did not know Prabhakar personally. Prabhakar, admitted to a private nursing home in Haldwani following a suspected brain stroke, is recuperating in a hospital, doctors said. Meanwhile, the authorities in Haldwani sub-jail have sent back the bail order of the Uttaranchal High Court regarding the release of Prabhakar, stating that the former test cricketer was never in jail custody. PTI |
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CBI files FIR against ex-IAF officer New Delhi, August 23 It alleged that Group Captain S.P.S. Rajkumar — the then Chief Logistics Officer — and Flt Lt K.M. Arjun, both working at Air Force Station, Tughlakabad, entered into a criminal conspiracy with Delhi Paper Products Pvt Ltd of Kapashera, Daya Chand Engineering Industries of Muzaffarnagar and others to cheat the government while purchasing duplicating papers, photocopying papers and welding electrodes in 1999.
UNI |
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Transporters
in Delhi to go on strike New Delhi, August 23 BJP leader Madan Lal Khurana, who is supporting the strike, told reporters here today that a dharna would also be held on August 28 at Rajghat, where the affected drivers and transporters would assemble along with their families to express their anguish over the CNG crisis.
UNI |
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Strike hits AIIMS
working New Delhi, August 23 Though faculty members and senior doctors were pressed into service this morning, work in most of the departments and emergency services was affected. Workers, who had also gone on flash strike yesterday following the clash, today rejoined the service.
UNI |
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RLD Secy quits
in protest Lucknow, August 23 Mr Kadri claimed that there was resentment in the RLD over Ajit Singh’s decision to join the NDA and said many of the party legislators were also planning to leave the party. Mr Kadri told newsmen that he had merged his Samajwadi Sabha with the RLD in August, 1997, on the “promise” that it would have nothing to do with the BJP. Mr Ajit Singh had signed a written assurance to this effect, Mr Kadri said adding that “now he had gone back on his promise because of the lure of power”.
PTI |
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Wanted criminal shot in encounter Hanumangarh, August 23 The police has arrested, Manu Aggarwal, an accomplice of Bablu for investigations. According to the police an informer gave a tip off about Bablu’s presence in the Dhani of Jai Mohammad near Hanshia village under the Goluwala police station. On getting the information, SHO, Pilibangan, Mr Ram Niwas accompanied by a police party reached there. Bablu opened firing at the police party. The police asked Bablu to surrender, but when he continued firing the police returned the fire. On this, Bablu tried to escape and entered the fields where he was shot dead. The police recovered some cartridges a Pakistan-made pistol and a suitcase with Rs 18,000 It also impounded the jeep in which Bablu had come. Police sources said, Bablu was a history-sheeter and was among the list of top 10 criminals of Rajasthan. About 24 cases of murder, looting and dacoity were registered against him at places in Rajasthan and the surrounding states of Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab and Delhi. According to the police documents found from the site of the encounter revealed Bablu’s association with militants of Jammu and Kashmir.
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Sonia approves office-bearers of Mahila Cong New Delhi, August 23 According to the Mahila Congress chief Mrs Chandresh Kumari, MP, five new Mahila Congress state presidents have also been appointed. The newly appointed state presidents of the Mahila Congress are Ms Shanta Singh for Andaman and Nicobar, Ms Nagamma Keshavmurthy for Karnataka, Ms Manorama Sharma for Uttaranchal, Ms Usha Sinha for Bihar and Ms Saraswati Hembram for Orissa. In Karnataka, while Mr Allum Veerabhadrappa would be the PCC chief, Mr Shamnur Shivashankarappa has been made the treasurer. |
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Lochan Buxi dead New Delhi, August 23 Mr Buxi, who retired as Station Director from All India Radio in 1981, took to the promotion of Punjabi art and culture. He authored several books and won prestigious awards like the Best litterateur Award of the Punjabi Academy. He was also honoured by the Academy of Art and culture, Government of Jammu and Kashmir. The bhog ceremony will be held in Gurdwara Akali Baba Phula Singh on August 26 in the Capital’s Old Rajinder Nagar. |
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