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Saturday,
January 12, 2002, Chandigarh, India 
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EC plays spoilsport 22 Pakistanis listed as voters
LJP announces list of 23 candidates |
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New Delhi, January 11 The Congress today released the list of candidates for the Assembly elections in Manipur where it has decided to go alone. E-mail threat to Delhi CM TA bills burden on exchequer “Lagaan” sweeps Zee Cine awards
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EC plays spoilsport Lucknow, January 11 EC sources said here today that the request of the Chief Minister had been turned down by the commission as the model code of conduct was in force in the state and the organising of the “khichadi bhoj” would amount to “inducement of voters” under the provision of the IPC, by way of offering free meal to people. “The Representation of People’s Act too forbids such kinds of feast”, sources said adding the commission viewed it as a means to influence the electorate ahead of the Assembly poll scheduled next month. Mr Rajnath Singh had organised the “khichadi bhoj” last year at his official residence to mark ‘Makar Sankranti’ and had also offered donations to the poor and needy people. The EC has also stopped the distribution of blankets and tricycles by Bachchan during the programmes held in his honour in Rampur and Azamgarh, the sources said. The Rampur administration was asked to take prompt steps to stop the distribution of the blankets and other equipment during a function yesterday, they said adding all District Magistrates had been asked not to allow such activities till the completion of the election process in the
state. NEW DELHI: The Election Commission yesterday said it would “in all circumstances” ensure free and fair Assembly elections in Punjab, Uttaranchal, Manipur and Uttar Pradesh. Allaying fears about uncertainty regarding the conduct of free and fair Assembly elections in the wake of a war-like situation in the border districts of Punjab, the Chief Election Commissioner, Mr J.M. Lyngdoh, said he had asked all 430 central observers to be extra vigilant in ensuring the smooth conduct of elections. The first internal briefing of the central observers for the 650 Assembly constituencies in the four states took place on Thursday. Poll observers, mostly of the rank of Joint Secretary and Directors had been drawn from the Centre and states. Sources in the EC said the observers had been asked to start monitoring the situation in the states and be in touch with the district authorities. Mr Lyngdoh told newspersons that although Punjab and UP were difficult, observers had been asked to take extra precautions in politically sensitive VIP constituencies. The poll panel comprising the CEC, two Election Commissioners and three Deputy Election Commissioners has already taken action against officers in Punjab and UP for violations in poll preparations, he said. He said the commission has sent 17 observers to Punjab to ensure the electronic voting machines (EVMs) were kept in lock and key and not tampered with or fiddled. Mr Lyngdoh was referring to the apprehensions expressed by certain parties that the EVMs might be manipulated. Mr Lyngdoh said the commission’s attention had been drawn to malpractices in preparation of electoral rolls in Punjab and UP. Referring to the recent EC directive to Punjab Chief Minister, Parkash Singh Badal to reduce his motorcade for the campaign, the CEC said that Mr Badal had already tendered an apology and reduced the cavalcade. Answering to a question on the Punjab Chief Minister’s letter to the Prime Minister complaining about the commission’s “one-sided and partial attitude,” Mr Lyngdoh said the Election Commission did not bother about such things. |
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22 Pakistanis listed as voters Muzaffarnagar, January 11 The official disclosed that during revision of rolls in Kairana Assembly constituency in Muzaffarnagar district 3,300 voters were found to be bogus. The inquiry to weed out bogus voters was demanded by the Samajwadi Party (SP) and other opposition parties. The inquiry has also found that these people had voted in both panchayat and municipal committee elections. Some of them were even ration card holders. The district administration is panicky over the show cause notices being served on the guilty employees. Furthermore, the Pakistani nationals have been found to have applied for loans from some banks. The scandal becomes more serious in the background that the district is considered to be a hotbed of ISI activities. The inquiry was conducted by Tehsildars and Naib-Tehsildars in various
talukas. |
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Politics? No, never, says Amitabh New Delhi, January 11 “I have not said anything political. I have not said anything about politics since I left politics. I joined politics on emotional notes and I soon discovered that emotion has no room in politics,” he told NDTV on Star News. Bachchan was a Lok Sabha member during the Rajiv Gandhi regime. Asked if his sharing the platform with Samajwadi Party leaders like Mulayam Singh Yadav and Amar Singh just before the Assembly elections in UP did not mean in any sense that he was entering politics, Bachchan pointed out that he had also done so with Balasaheb Thackeray and other politicians. “Just because I am on the same platform as a politician, does not mean that I am going back to politics. All these instances are just occasions where some social work is being done....” he added.
PTI |
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LJP announces list of 23 candidates Dehra Dun, January 11 The party will have no alliance with any other party. Candidates for the remaining 47 seats will be announced in two lists shortly, LJP state unit president P.K. Agarwal told reporters here yesterday. Mr Agarwal will contest from Rajpur in Dehra Dun, Mrs Khushnuda Begum from Lakshman Chowk, also in Dehra Dun, Mr Krishna Pal Sharma from Rishikesh, Mr Amar Sagar from Sahaspur, Mr Sanjay from Vikasnagar and Mr P. Gupta from Hardwar city, according to the list. Mr Agarwal said pro-poor issues would be part of the LJP’s manifesto.
UNI |
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Cong releases list for Manipur poll New Delhi, January 11 The list includes former state Chief Minister Rishang Keishing and two women candidates. Announcing the list at a news conference here, AICC secretary in charge of the state’s affairs Mani Shankar Aiyar said the party was confident of forming the government in Manipur. “No candidate will be projected as the prospective Chief Minister,’’ he said, adding that the issue would be decided after the elections.
UNI |
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E-mail threat to Delhi CM New Delhi, January 11 The police was immediately informed and a case registered after the message was received last evening. The help of some experts was been sought to trace the origin of the e-mail.
TNS |
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TA bills burden on exchequer Hanumangarh, January 11 Crores of rupees are being spent in name of TA bills from the state treasury. Though the Finance Department has been issuing directions to keep a check on these bills, their number is increasing every year. The employees of various departments allegedly make tours for their personal work. Thus, they not only save their holidays as they are on government duty, but it is also beneficial financially as the expenses are borne by their department. Forged bills are also allegedly submitted. This way, while the employee gets a handsome amount, the TA bills amount to
lakhs. In the district, during the financial year 2000-2001, the TA bills of the various offices under the office of the Chief Engineer of Irrigation Department amount to Rs 20 lakh approximately. The amount is Rs 75,000 in case of the offices of the District
Collectorate, Rs 35,000 in District Transportation Office, Rs 33,000 in District Council, Rs 20,000 in District Supply Office, Rs 50,000 in PHED and Rs 40,000 in Excise Department. This amounts to Rs 23,43,000 in the departments of the district. Sources said every year, lakhs of rupees are paid to employees of the Forest Department,
PWD, DRDA, Panchayat Samiti and other departments against TA bills. As per the directions of the Finance Department, record of employees’ visits should be maintained. The Head of the Department should state the purpose of visit, but it is allegedly not being done. At times, employees are specially sent on a visit when only a letter has to be sent. The sources said when the Assembly is in session, the number of messengers is at its peak. They said the higher officials in the state capital tell the officials at district headquarters to send the information through special messengers. |
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“Lagaan” sweeps Zee Cine awards Mumbai, January 11 Gowarikar, who is now in US campaigning for the prestigious Oscar awards, bagged awards for best story and direction. The film, which competed among others with blockbusters like “Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham” and “Gadar”, was also judged the best movie of the year. Actor-producer Aamir Khan was awarded the best actor award, while Gracy Singh, who played role of ‘Gauri’ in the film bagged the best female debutante award. Award for the best musician went to A.R. Rahman, while best female playback singer award went to Asha Bhonsle for her ‘Radha Kaise Na Jale’ number. Javed Akhtar got the best lyricist award for the same song. Tabu was adjudged the best actress for her unconventional role of a bar dancer in “Chandni Bar” at a glittering function held here.
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