 |
Tuesday,
August
28,
2001, Chandigarh, India  
|
Sikhs contest census figures in Delhi Letter issue: probe embarrasses govt LS passes Bill on MPs’ salary Cong: PM misleading people on Ayodhya Charge sheet
against Tyagi, 17 cops |
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
NORTH INDIA IN PARLIAMENT Cops’ transfer sought ‘not on instigation’ Hepatitis C virus breakthrough 8 held for
parading Dalit woman naked Doctors ‘reluctant’ to treat mishap victims Tusker gives tough time to cops Punjabi writer Bedi dead HC intervenes to end AIIMS strike
Baba Siri Chand’s birthday celebrated
|
|
Sikhs contest census figures in Delhi New Delhi, August 27 Of the Delhi’s total population of 1.33 crore, the census states that there are 599,557 Sikhs, 1338297 Muslims and 117,701 Christians . Contesting these figures, Mr Manjit Singh, member of the DSGMC, said during the 1995 Delhi gurdwara elections the electorate rolls — with persons over 21 years — showed 3.26 lakh Sikhs in Delhi. “Even though we do not agree with these figures in the electoral rolls, but even if these are taken as the base, the population of the Sikhs in Delhi is much more than what has been stated in the census,” he said. Mr Manjit Singh, who is also a member of the newly formed Delhi Minorities’ Commission, said he had made a complaint to the Prime Minister on the “flaws” in the census and would bring the flaws to the notice of other authorities concerned. “We will wait for two-three weeks and if we receive no response from the Prime Minister, we will chalk out protests, or even challenge the census legally as such flaws would cause considerable harm to the interest of the community in Delhi,” he said. Stating that Delhi has the largest concentration of Sikhs outside Punjab in a city, he said during the elections the estimates by political parties were that Sikhs constitute 10 per cent of the Delhi population. “And we also go by that estimate. If the government does not take measures to rectify the anomaly, we would undertake census operation for our community in some sample areas to expose the flaws,” he said. On the issue of granting second language status for Punjabi in Delhi, he said the matter had been pending before the Home Ministry for a long
time. |
|
Letter issue: probe embarrasses govt New Delhi, August 27 Demanding that the issue raised by Congress member Priya Ranjan Dasmunshi be referred to the Privileges Committee, the members said the government by its decision to institute a CBI inquiry was trying to undermine the right of MPs to voice their views by threatening them with such a probe. The government on its part said it was leaving the matter for the Speaker, Mr G.M.C. Balayogi, to decide. Mr Balayogi told the House that he would call a meeting of leaders of political parties and sort out the matter. Former Prime Minister Chandra Sekhar, CPM leader Somnath Chatterjee, Congress member Mr Shivraj Patil, RJD member, Raghuvansh Prasad Singh and BSP leader, Mayawati were among those who raised the issue. They felt that the dignity of the Lok Sabha was being lowered by ordering an inquiry by an agency outside it when the matter had been mentioned in the House. Responding to members’ concern, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pramod Mahajan defended the government’s action saying that the probe was sought by Congress member Dasmunshi. The controversy over the letter surfaced on August 23, when the Disinvestment Minister Arun Shourie referred to the letter in Mr Dasmunshi’s possession as “forgery” and announced a CBI inquiry into it. Raising the issue during zero hour Mr Dasmunshi said the government’s decision on the CBI probe was “shocking” and a new tradition was being set by the government. Mr Chandra Sekhar took exception to the fact that Mr Shourie had instituted an inquiry without consulting the Speaker. The government, he said, was displaying “childish behaviour” by involving CBI and subjecting the Congress member to queries from the investigating agency. Both Mr Chandra Sekhar and Mr Chatterjee said the matter should be referred to the Privileges Committee. Former Speaker and Congress member Shivraj Patil said a breach of privilege was being committed by instituting a CBI probe. If such a trend continues, it would become very difficult for members to discharge their duty in the face of a threat of an inquiry, he
said. |
|
LS passes Bill on MPs’ salary New Delhi, August 27 The Salary, Allowances and Pension of MPs (Amendment) Bill was discussed by members for over two hours before it was passed by voice vote. Moving the Bill for consideration and passage Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pramod Mahajan said Parliament had 24 times in the past amended the Act governing salary and perks of MPs. “Parliament is well within its rights to legislate the matter”, he asserted. |
|
Cong: PM misleading people on Ayodhya New Delhi, August 27 Congress chief spokesperson Jaipal Reddy said the Prime Minister’s statement was not based on facts and the government had not been talking to any significant Muslim group. Describing the Prime Minister’s clarification in the Lok Sabha today as wishy-washy, Mr Reddy said Mr Vajpayee, of late, had been indulging in political brinkmanship on the issue. “His statement at Lucknow was unwarranted. It is primarily an election ploy for UP elections,” Mr Reddy said. The spokesman said since December last, the Prime Minister had been off and on indulging in Hindutva stances. “It is bad not only for the person occupying the Prime Minister’s office but very harmful from the viewpoint of India’s polity. The statement has not only caused consternation among the minorities but also among the secular-minded people of the country,” he said. The Prime Minister, Mr Reddy alleged, was more interested in satisfying the VHP. Mr Reddy said the Babri Masjid Action Committee had contradicted Mr Vajpayee’s statement. |
|
|
Charge sheet against Tyagi, 17 cops Mumbai, August 27 They were charged with opening fire at Suleman Bakery here on January 9, 1993, killing eight persons on the spot. They were also charged with attempt to murder yet another person, who succumbed to injuries sustained in the firing. The 1000-page charge sheet was filed by investigating officer Prahlad Sonawane.
PTI |
|
|
NORTH INDIA IN PARLIAMENT New Delhi, August 27 An amount of Rs 16 lakh has been provided for Haryana under the scheme during the same year, the minister further informed. An amount of Rs 4,407.39 lakh has been provided to Punjab as grants-in-aid, including arrears under the Family Welfare Programme during 2000-01, the Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Mr A. Raja, informed the Rajya Sabha in a written reply. The Family Welfare Programme is being implemented in all states and Union Territories and assistance is given for the infrastructure sanctioned in the states and the family welfare services, the minister informed. For Haryana, an amount of Rs 5,298.90 lakh had been sanctioned during the year, the corresponding amount for Himachal Pradesh stood at Rs 3,248.97 lakh. The amount sanctioned for Jammu and Kashmir stood at Rs 2,453.41 lakh, the minister told the House. Twenty-five establishments in Punjab are defaulters of Rs 10 lakh and above under the EPF scheme as on March 31, 2001, Dr Jatiya told the Lok Sabha in a written reply. In Haryana, there were 37 such defaulting establishments as on March 31, 2001, while in Himachal Pradesh there were six establishments, the minister further informed. In response to a separate question, Dr Jatiya informed the House that 3,74,100 workers are covered under the ESI scheme in Punjab as on March 31, 2000. While in Haryana 3,70,850 workers are covered under the scheme, 47,200 workers are covered under the ESI scheme in Himachal Pradesh. The corresponding figures in Jammu and Kashmir and Chandigarh are 13,450 and 34,200 respectively, the minister said. |
|
Cops’ transfer sought ‘not on instigation’ Chennai, August 27 The submission was made in a counter affidavit filed before the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) in response to a notice issued by it on applications filed by the three police officers challenging a fax message from the Union Home Ministry to the state government requisitioning their services. “The Union Government did not act on the instigation of Maran and Baalu,” the affidavit said, adding that “the decision to take the officers on central deputation was arrived at only for reasons based on their service profiles and experience and that their services are required for sensitive assignments.” The CAT Bench, comprising its Vice-Chairman Justice S.S. Subramanian and administrative member S. Bapu, posted the matter to September 17 after the Union Ministers, who had also been named as respondents in the applications, sought time to file their affidavits. The transfers could have been challenged only if the officers were relieved by the state government on the basis of the Centre’s request. Till date the Centre had not passed any order in this regard, the affidavit said. The Centre said the applications against the fax messages, which were inter-governmental communications in nature, were wholly irregular and improper. The whole exercise lacked bona fides.
PTI |
|
Hepatitis C virus breakthrough Hyderabad, August 27 Talking to newspersons here today, Prof Guntaka, who is currently with the University of Tennessee, Memphis, USA, said the discovery of the strain could lead to the invention of some drug or vaccine to prevent the HCV virus, which causes either the dreaded liver cancer or liver cirrhosis or both in one-third of the affected. As of now, no drug had been developed anywhere in the world to treat people already afflicted with the HCV virus, caused only through blood transfusion, he added. Stating that the best possible way to control the virus was to strictly monitor the blood collected at the blood banks, he said such steps had already been taken in the USA and other western countries. Prof Guntaka said the comparison of the Indian sequence with other strains indicated that although the Indian virus showed resemblance to the Japanese virus, there were distinct differences. The HCV genome is a single-stranded RNA molecule, which codes for a single protein of about 3,000 amino acids which was processed into several structural and non-structural regulatory proteins. There were at least 20 different strains which existed around the world and most of them had been sequenced, he said. It was estimated that more than 20 million persons in the country were already carrying the HCV and more than 50 per cent of the infected individuals had developed chronic infection. The sequenced Indian strain of the HCV has been submitted to the US-based GenBank last week.
UNI |
|
8 held for
parading Dalit woman naked Bangalore, August 27 Additional Director-General of Police (Law and Order) M.D. Singh told UNI that the accused had been released on bail by the court. The accused had contended that a month ago a Dalit boy had eloped with a Nayaka girl and the victim had helped them. The Nayakas were hurt over the incident as it was against their custom. Eight persons, including the boy’s father, went to the victim’s house last evening, abused and assaulted her and her husband. Later, they stripped and paraded her on the streets of the village. Cases of rioting and outraging the modesty of woman had been registered. Mr M.D. Singh said they would be arrested again as one more assault complaint had been filed against them by the victim’s brother.
UNI |
|
Doctors ‘reluctant’ to treat mishap victims New Delhi, August 27 The Minister for Health, Delhi Government, Dr A.K. Walia said, “This is indeed very disturbing that doctors are being charged under Section 304. We are after all dealing with a human body and anything can go
wrong. As doctors we try to do our best for the patients”. He was speaking at a discussion on medico-legal aspects of treatment organised by the DMA on Saturday. “This trend of booking doctors for causing death due to negligence has demoralised
them. We want to sensitise doctors about the various points relating to legal issues, post-mortem protocols, as well as procedures followed by the police before the arrest”, Dr Grover said. The doctors assembled at the discussion opined that they should not be booked under Section 304 or 302. “It is unfair that we should be held responsible for the death of a patient, the time between the accident and the treatment, the golden hour, is vital to the life of the victim”, said Dr Munjal. Referring to the practice of autopsy, to determine negligence on the part of the doctors, Dr Bishnu Kumar, a former professor of forensic science at the Maulana Azad Medical college said, “No doctor can and should foray into the realm of asserting whether negligence has been committed or not. Professional misconduct cannot be ascertained. Doctors should not give opinions which are beyond their domain”. The Additional Commissioner of Police, Mr Qamar Ahmed, who was also present said, “The doctors should perform their duty according to the order issued by the Supreme Court. They should maintain necessary documentary proof and not conceal anything from the police”. |
|
Tusker gives tough time to cops New Delhi, August 27 It took at least six police control room (PCR) vans and a score of policemen over two hours to bring the elephant under control and finally escort it back to its home near the Yamuna. Thousands of residents of the congested locality watched from a safe distance as the policemen, with the help of the two mahouts, struggled to chain the elephant to a thick tree trunk in the area. The elephant during its frenzy had destroyed two jhuggis and injured a minor girl. The police said the two mahouts, Deen Mohammed and Yusuf, had been arrested on charges of negligent conduct with respect to an animal, causing hurt by act and endangering life and causing mischief. According to the police, the two-hour-long drama started around 7 a.m. while the 16-year-old elephant, Rangeela, was being taken to Pahar Ganj to participate in a religious procession. While on its way through the congested lanes, there was a minor accident with a tempo which enraged the animal. While the tempo driver sped
away, the elephant started venting its ire on the nearby locality. There was utter chaos as the residents and onlookers scurried for safety. The PCR vans which rushed to the spot soon realised the danger of an elephant running amock and used the heavy tow chains to prevent him from causing further damage. It was only after the elephant was securely chained to a thick tree that the residents returned to their homes. |
|
Punjabi writer Bedi dead New Delhi, August 27 Dr Bedi authored many books, including “Punjabi Lokdhara Vishwa Kosh” a collection of Punjabi folklore in 10 volumes. He held the post of General Secretary in the Punjabi Sahitya Sabha and brought out Punjabi’s first tri-monthly, Punjabi Lok Wave. He won many coveted awards, including the Punjabi Academy Samman, Delhi. Dr Bedi is survived by his wife, three sons and two daughters. The bhog ceremony will take place on September 2. |
|
HC intervenes to end AIIMS strike New Delhi, August 27 A Bench comprising Chief Justice Arijit Pasayat and Mr Justice D.K. Jain also issued notices to the Health Secretary, the Health Minister in his capacity as the AIIMS Director and the AIIMS Karamchari Union. They have been asked to file their replies by August 29. Another Bench headed by Mr Justice Devinder Gupta had taken a suo motu action and referred the matter to the Chief Justice’s Bench.
UNI |
|
Exhibition of Nizam’s jewels
New
Delhi, August 27 A 185-carat diamond, 22 perfect
Colombian emerald drops, a seven-strand pearl necklace, rings, armbands, gem-encrusted turbans and belts, all part of the priceless treasure of
the Nizam dynasty will be inaugurated by prime minister Atal Behari Vajpayee
at the National Museum on August 29. Among the glittering jewels of erstwhile
Nizam, people would be keen to see “Jacob diamond”, twice as big as
Kohinoor and worth Rs 400 crore.
PTI |
||
|
Baba Siri Chand’s birthday celebrated New Delhi, August 27 The celebrations that ended last night included chanting of Vedic hymns, along with recitation from the holy Guru Granth Sahib scriptures, according to Baba Virsa Singh, a religious leader. Hundreds of people took `amrit’ for initiation as Khalsa at the Gobind Sadan on August 25. |
 |
| Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir | Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs | Nation | Editorial | | Business | Sport | World | Mailbag | In Spotlight | Chandigarh Tribune | Ludhiana Tribune 50 years of Independence | Tercentenary Celebrations | | 121 Years of Trust | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail | |
