Saturday, January 12, 2002, Chandigarh, India




National Capital Region--Delhi

THE TRIBUNE SPECIALS
50 YEARS OF INDEPENDENCE

TERCENTENARY CELEBRATIONS
image
N A T I O N

EC plays spoilsport
Stops Rajnath’s ‘khichadi bhoj’
Lucknow, January 11
The Election Commission has refused to allow Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Rajnath Singh to host a “khichadi bhoj” on January 14 and filmstar Amitabh Bachchan to distribute blankets and tricycles in the state, describing them as means to influence the electorate.

22 Pakistanis listed as voters
Muzaffarnagar, January 11
About 22 Pakistani nationals have been found to be registered as voters in various Assembly constituencies of Muzaffarnagar district.

Amitabh BachchanPolitics? No, never, says Amitabh
New Delhi, January 11
Amitabh Bachchan today categorically ruled out re-entry into politics and said sharing platform with Samajwadi Party leaders in UP was not to endorse their political stance but for a “social cause”.

LJP announces list of 23 candidates
Dehra Dun, January 11
A first list of 23 candidates for next month’s Assembly elections in Uttaranchal has been announced by the Lok Janshakti Party (LJP), which will contest all 70 seats on its own.


EARLIER STORIES

 
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu offers a shawl
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu offers a shawl to Bharat Ratna Ustad Bismillah Khan, noted shehnai maestro, in Hyderabad on Friday. — PTI 
Cong releases list for Manipur poll
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
New Delhi, January 11
The Delhi police today stepped up security around the Delhi Chief Minister, Ms Shiela Dikshit, following a mysterious e-mail message received by the Supreme Court here threatening to eliminate her.

TA bills burden on exchequer
Hanumangarh, January 11
While the state government has been stressing the introduction of information technology in various sectors, the government departments in the district still depend on manpower for sending and receiving messages.

“Lagaan” sweeps Zee Cine awards
Mumbai, January 11
Ashutosh Gowarikar’s “Lagaan” tonight swept the Zee Cine awards for the year 2001, bagging nine awards, including the best movie of the year award. Gowarikar, who is now in US campaigning for the prestigious Oscar awards, bagged awards for best story and direction.

Video

Dara Singh, an accused of the brutal 1999 slayings of an Australian Christian missionary, says he will run in next month's elections in Uttar Pradesh.
(28k, 56k)

Top








 

EC plays spoilsport
Stops Rajnath’s ‘khichadi bhoj’
Tribune News Service and agencies

Lucknow, January 11
The Election Commission has refused to allow Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Rajnath Singh to host a “khichadi bhoj” on January 14 and filmstar Amitabh Bachchan to distribute blankets and tricycles in the state, describing them as means to influence the electorate.

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.Top

 

22 Pakistanis listed as voters
K.G. Dutt

Muzaffarnagar, January 11
About 22 Pakistani nationals have been found to be registered as voters in various Assembly constituencies of Muzaffarnagar district. A senior district official told The Tribune on the telephone yesterday that a high-level probe had revealed that 10 government employees in the district were involved in the registration scandal.

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.Top

 

Politics? No, never, says Amitabh

New Delhi, January 11
Amitabh Bachchan today categorically ruled out re-entry into politics and said sharing platform with Samajwadi Party leaders in UP was not to endorse their political stance but for a “social cause”.

“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. PTITop

 

LJP announces list of 23 candidates

Dehra Dun, January 11
A first list of 23 candidates for next month’s Assembly elections in Uttaranchal has been announced by the Lok Janshakti Party (LJP), which will contest all 70 seats on its own.

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. UNITop

 

Cong releases list for Manipur poll

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.

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. UNITop

 

E-mail threat to Delhi CM

New Delhi, January 11
The Delhi police today stepped up security around the Delhi Chief Minister, Ms Shiela Dikshit, following a mysterious e-mail message received by the Supreme Court here threatening to eliminate her.

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 Top

 

TA bills burden on exchequer
Pankaj Shukla

Hanumangarh, January 11
While the state government has been stressing the introduction of information technology in various sectors, the government departments in the district still depend on manpower for sending and receiving messages.

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.Top

 

Lagaan” sweeps Zee Cine awards

Mumbai, January 11
Ashutosh Gowarikar’s “Lagaan” tonight swept the Zee Cine awards for the year 2001, bagging nine awards, including the best movie of the year award.

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. PTITop

Home | 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 |