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Tuesday,
January 8, 2002, Chandigarh, India  
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Rajasthan
policy on religious places upsets Sikhs Herb to
visit Chandigarh today Delicacies
which keep soldiers going |
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Cherie Blair visits
NCW office Centre
extends MACOCA to Delhi BJP asks
govt to abandon SAARC India
for ‘MFN status’ to Afghanistan Advani’s
security upgraded Sonia sends CMs copies of Robert Vadra’s notice Laloo
granted provisional bail Threat to ‘Most Wanted’:
caller arrested
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Rajasthan policy on religious places upsets Sikhs Pushkar (RAJASTHAN) A number of Sikh leaders told The Tribune here that the construction at the historic gurdwara built in memory of the first Sikh guru, Guru Nanak Dev, here had been delayed for a decade or so because the authorities concerned did not give permission. As now the government had accorded the permission, they would complete the construction of the gurdwara in a short period, they added. The gurdwara’s earlier building was not big enough and was in a dilapidated condition. A new building with a large community kitchen and main hall has been planned for the gurdwara. The gurdwara complex is located near the bus stand on the main road leading to the town. They have also applied for permission to built another gurdwara in memory of Guru Gobind Singh at Gobind Ghat. It is believed that both Sikh gurus visited the “ghat” along with their followers. Mr Chinder Singh, Granthi of the Gurdwara Guru Nanak Dev, said the government had allotted the land for the gurdwara near “Gau Ghat”. But the permission was being awaited to start the construction work, he added. He said there were only five Sindhi Sikh families here. Mostly, Sikhs came from Quota, about 200 km from here, for the “kar sewa” at the gurdwara under construction in memory of Guru Nanak Dev. The “sewa” was being performed by Baba Lakha Singh and Baba Balwinder Singh from Quota, he added. Two acres had been added to the gurdwara’s earlier land. It was sold to the gurdwara authorities by a local woman at a price of Rs 17.50 lakh per acre much less than the prevailing market rate of Rs 30 lakh per acre, Mr Chinder Singh said. It is said that Guru Nanak Dev had held a dialogue with local Pandits on many social and religious issues. This place is famous for its Pandits and also for Temples. The famed temple of Brahma, which is said to be the only one in the world is located here. In fact, the town has more temples than ordinary houses. Though the town has become popular as Pushkar but its full name is Pushkar Raj. It is famous for its cattle fair world over. Foreign tourists turn up here in thousands in the last week of November to enjoy the beautiful landscape of the area and camel rides. But even after becoming popular all over the world, the town lacks civic amenities and other facilities. The government has not paid due attention towards this town. |
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Herb to visit Chandigarh today New Delhi, January 7 Sources in the Canadian High Commission told TNS here today that the Punjab-born minister would visit the office of the Canadian High Commission in Chandigarh. He would then address audience on ‘Canada and India: A Growing Partnership’ at the Confederation of Indian Industries tomorrow. He would also visit Punjab Communications Limited. Listed on Mr Dhaliwal’s itinerary are meetings with the Minister for Science and Technology, Mr Chiranji Lal Garg, and Punjab Governor, J.F.R Jacob, Punjab Chief Minister, Parkash Singh Badal will host a dinner in honour of Mr Dhaliwal. The Canadian minister will have a breakfast meeting with Mr Badal. He will also meet the Minister for Corporation, Punjab, Mr Ranjit Singh Brahmpura, in the forenoon. The Speaker of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha, Mr C.S. Atwal, will honour Mr Dhaliwal the same day. Sources in the Canadian High Commission here said Mr Dhaliwal met Minister of State for External Affairs, Omar Abdullah and Agriculture Minister, Ajit Singh today. He also called on Minister of Coal and Mines, Ram Vilas Paswan. Mr Dhaliwal interacted with leaders of the Sikh community at a lunch hosted by the Canadian High Commissioner, Mr Peter Sutherland. He attended a dinner hosted by Minister of Power, Suresh Prabhu. Visits to Bangalore and Chennai are also listed in Mr Dhaliwal’s official programme. Mr Dhaliwal was appointed as Minister for Fisheries and Oceans by the Canadian Prime Minister, Mr Jean Cheretien, on August 3, 1999. He was first elected to the House of Commons in 1993, representing the federal riding of Vancouver South. In 1997, he was re-elected. He also held the portfolio of national revenue from June 1997 to August 1999. He was an active member of the Prime Minister’s Team Canada Trade Mission to India and had also led the Canadian observer presence for presidential elections to the Dominician Republic. A commerce graduate from the University of British Columbia, Mr Dhaliwal, has more than 25 years’ experience in private and public sector. He is a life member of the India Cultural Centre of Canada, located in Richmond, B.C. He has received recognition from the Khalsa Diwan Society and the South Asian Lawyers Association. He was honoured with a citation from the Canadian Red Cross Society for his work in assisting Kurdish refugees. |
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Delicacies
which keep soldiers going Lucknow, January 7 All such dishes are served hot to these real life heroes and it takes not more than 10 minutes to prepare it, thanks to the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) which is working day in and day out to preserve soldiers food by developing latest food processing techniques. The DRDO has brought the samples of these foods at Tech Vision-2002, an exhibition of latest science technologies at Indian Science Congress at Lucknow University here. Unfortunately enough, these are not for the commoners. The scientists at Defence Food Research Laboratories (DFRL), Mysore, have prepared ready-to-eat food products that are supplied to the soldiers posted at difficult locations. Along with the food the soldiers are also supplied with mini-stoves with fuel balls that can heat the preserved food in a minimum time. The sooji halwa and vegetable pulao are supplied in such packets which can be put on hot water for 10 minutes and the food inside gets hot and ready to eat. The cooked chapatis are packed in air-tight polythene bags and are to be heated on a platter. According to Dr P.M. Parmeshwariah, a scientist at the DFRL, the laboratory has also prepared emergency flying ration which is wrapped in a small polythene bag. It contains chapatis, rice, vegetable curry and a sweet dish. “A meal provides around 1200 calories and is sufficient for a soldier for a day,” says Dr Parameshwariah. The DFRL has also prepared a chocolate-size soft bar by compressing cereal. “It can provide enough energy for a day and we tell the soldiers to carry it with themselves for if they are stuck up somewhere, they can depend on it,” the scientist says adding that the processed food is not prepared by general public. “But we welcome industries to learn the technology from us and prepare food for general public,” he adds. It’s not only the food processing that comes to the rescue of the soldiers but the research by Defence Agricultural Research Laboratory (DARL), Pithoragarh, has changed their lives to some extent. The scientists of the DARL have successfully grown vegetables in the Leh area which are many times the size of vegetables one gets on the plains. The vegetables grown in Leh were also part of the exhibition. A six-foot long melon, four feet long bottle gourd, a pumpkin weighing around 20 kg and many more ‘giant’vegetables were exhibited there. Dr Ranjit Singh, a scientist at the DARL said that they had started growing vegetables in Leh recently. “It has many advantages now. The soldiers get fresh vegetables and that too in bulk. Moreover the cost of transportation is being saved.” The scientists have developed an herbal medicine for skin ailments like leucoderma and psoriasis — the soldiers generally develop during their postings at positions. The ointment is given free of cost and even the general public can get it by writing to the Director,
DRDL, Pithoragarh, Uttaranchal. |
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Herbal beverage for troops at high altitude New Delhi, January 7 “DRDO has set up an industry at Leh to make juice, sauce and jam out of the fruit of seabuckthorn, also called the wonder plant, due to its wide range of useful properties,” R.V. Swamy, Chief Controller, R and D, DRDO, told reporters today. Explaining the reason behind the name “wonder plant,” Swamy said the fruit of the plant had a high vitamin C content — 300 mg per 100 gram in contrast to 50 mg of vitamin C per 100 gm found in orange — besides containing vitamin A, E and flavanoids (compounds which serve as anti-oxidants). The beverage, apart from being nourishing, had a freezing point of -22° which helps it to remain in liquid form even in sub-zero temperature of the Leh region, he said. |
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Cherie
Blair visits NCW office New Delhi, January 7 During her one-hour meeting with the NCW Chairperson, Ms Vibha
Parthasarathi, Ms Blair discussed the issue of domestic violence in India and the UK. She is said to have shown keen interest in the commission’s efforts to find out if various organisations were following the apex court’s directions on combating the problem of sexual harassment at workplace. She said the sexual harassment of women at workplace was not uncommon in her country either. Ms Parthasarathi described their interaction as “fruitful, warm and relaxed’’ and said Ms Blair, a practising barrister wanted to know more about a few broad areas, including the status and contents of the Domestic Violence Bill, the participation of women in governance at the local level following 33 per cent reservation in the Panchayati Raj system and the kind of training being given to them by the commission. The wife of the British High Commissioner in India accompanied Ms Blair.
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Centre extends MACOCA to Delhi New Delhi, January 7 Delhi Police Commissioner Ajai Raj Sharma today said a notification on MACOCA was issued by the government last week and the Act would come in force in Delhi once special courts were set up. He was addressing the annual press conference of the Delhi Police. Mr Sharma said MACOCA helped the Maharashtra Police in a big way to check organised crimes and the need for extending the Act to Delhi was being felt for a long time. “We had been demanding it for long that MACOCA be extended to Delhi as criminals are making attempts to establish organised crimes in the Capital.’’ He said MACOCA would enable the police to provide protection to witnesses who in the past were hesitating to give statement in favour of the prosecution. Under the Act, phones could be intercepted and confession recorded before a Deputy Commissioner of Police could be admissible in the court. About the use of the Prevention of Terrorism Ordinance (POTO) against terrorists, the police chief said
POTO was used against the culprits of the December 13 attack on Parliament and would be used against anti-national elements in future as well. He said POTO was an ordinance, but MACOCA was an Act and this would really help the police in putting the Act in use against criminals.
UNI |
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BJP asks govt to
abandon
SAARC New Delhi, January 7 “The Government of India would be well advised to strengthen bilateral relationships and to pay more attention to sub-regional cooperation until Pakistan changes its
attitude”, Mr Shastri said. “This kind of change, we believe, is possible when a truly
democratic regime in Pakistan is able to dismantle the ISI terrorist network”, Mr Shastri said in a written statement. At present, in view of Pakistan’s hostility towards India and its unrelenting support to cross-border terrorism, the government should take more effective measures to ensure that capacity of Pakistan-sponsored agencies to encourage terrorist activities in India is curtailed, Mr Shastri said. He said this could be achieved by a policy of progressive disengagement with Islamabad and by preventing the ingress of Pakistani citizens into India. Even while admitting the adoption of a revised agreement on terrorism at the Kathmandu summit according to which all the seven members pledged to fight terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, Mr Shastri said: “It remains to be seen whether Pakistan will implement this agreement in letter as well as in spirit. |
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India for ‘MFN status’ to Afghanistan Bangalore, January 7 Noting that New Delhi had offered $ 100 million line of credit to the war-ravaged nation he said India would establish six schools and six polyclinics in different cities of Afghanistan in the next few months. India, Mr Lambah said, would start an information technology institute in Afghanistan, offer scholarships and also help revive Kabul University. Afghanistan had sought India’s help in the areas of education, health, agriculture and IT, he said. Talks were on with a couple of airlines to start civilian flights between India and Afghanistan, he said, adding that it would be a reality once Kabul Airport was repaired and US sanctions against that country lifted.
PTI |
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Advani’s security upgraded New Delhi, January 7 This is for the first time that the government has taken such a step for any Union Minister. Sources said the decision was taken after several wireless intercepts suggested that militants were desperately trying to carry out a suicide attack on Mr Advani either at his residence or his cavalcade. The elite “Black Cats” of the NSG which had been withdrawn following a government review last year, have taken back their positions with the Home Minister.
PTI |
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Sonia sends CMs copies of Robert Vadra’s notice New Delhi, January 7 The communication of the Congress President’s office, while not carrying any comment, carries the requisite details. AICC sources said copies of the notice had been sent so that Mr Robert Vadra’s name was not misused. The notice says that two have not been authorised to misuse Robert’s fair name and they have no access to him. The newspaper notice says that its purpose is to prevent innocent people from becoming victims of such persons. |
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Laloo granted
provisional bail Patna, January 7 After hearing both sides, the single judge bench of Mr Justice Narayan Rai granted provisional bail to the RJD chief, currently in judicial custody in another conspiracy angle case, RC 68 A/96, of the fodder scam. His counsel P.N. Pandey told newsmen that the provisional bail was granted to his client on the basis of the provisional bail given to him by the Supreme Court on December 14 in connection with the largest conspiracy angle case RC 47 A/96 of the fodder scam. Earlier, the CBI designated court had rejected the bail application of the RJD chief on December 24.
UNI |
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Threat
to ‘Most Wanted’: caller arrested Chandigarh, January 7 After receiving the threat, “India’s Most Wanted” promptly informed the Varanasi police. Mr Satyendra Tiwari, incharge of the Special Operations Group, got into action and, within a few hours, traced the call to the residence of Sunny, alias Samrej Ahmed. |
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’84
riots: Sikh was burnt alive
at Paswan’s house New Delhi, January 7 |
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