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Sunday,
April 14, 2002, Chandigarh, India  
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Support to
Modi upsets riot-hit
Advani hints at party revamp Army Chief
dedicates memorial to martyrs
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B.N.
Kirpal to be next Chief Justice BSP-BJP
govt in UP soon?
Caught
between two fires Vittal
for using IT to curb corruption
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Support to Modi upsets riot-hit Ahmedabad, April 13 “It is terribly upsetting that a man who was responsible for systematic attack on the minority community has not been sacked”, Aslam Khan, who has lost four family members in the communal riots that followed the Godhra massacre, told The Tribune at the Shah Alam relief camp here. Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee’s visit and the subsequent reports about the possible removal of Mr Modi had given us new hope, but BJP’s unanimous decision to retain him as the Chief Minister has left us in the lurch”, he said asking that ‘Can we expect a man, who was grossly responsible for the massacre to help us with relief and rehabilitation?” Another riot victim, Firoz, alleged that it seemed they (BJP members) want us also to die in the camps itself. Mr Modi, after his resignation offer was rejected by the BJP, had stated that he would now re-dedicate himself to wipe the tears of the riot-victims. “Does he want to wipe off our tears or wipe us off?”, he asked. “If he (Modi) really wants to wipe off our tears, let him arrest those leaders of the VHP and the Bajrang Dal who were responsible for the attack on innocent people. Can he dare to arrest them? Let him arrest one VHP leader, I bet he (Mr Modi) will not remain as Chief Minister for a single minute thereafter”, an emotionally choked Firoz said. Many riot-hit people even dub the resignation offer by Mr Modi and the subsequent rejection by the BJP leadership as a political gimmick. What else it could be than a political gimmick to retain Mr Modi as Chief Minister despite demands for removal from one and all and his indictment by the National Human Rights Commission and the National Minorities Commission, Mr Attaullah Khan, a social worker, asked. The worst thing to happen is that the man (Mr Vajpayee) on whom we had great hopes has himself let us down by going out of way to protect Mr Modi, a visibly upset Khan said adding that “our tears won’t go waste, the Almighty will definitely punish the guilty, if not today, at least tomorrow we will wait for that day.” |
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Gowda seeks Modi’s removal Ahmedabad, April 13 If any morality is left in him (Mr Modi) then he should resign, otherwise he should be removed, Mr Gowda told a press conference here after touring some of the relief camps of the riot-affected people in the city. There is no question of sparing those behind the Godhra killings, but at the same time no one can justify the backlash on the minorities, Mr Gowda said. |
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Christian Council assails PM’s speech
New Delhi, April 13 In a statement here, council president Joseph D’ Souza and Secretary General John Dayal said the speech and “all its insinuations” were an “invitation to mass violence and disintegration of the country.” “In cold-blooded cynicism, Vajpayee has in one swoop defamed world religions, Islam and Christianity an condoned state terrorism, forgiven Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi... and sought to convert the bigotry and hate campaign of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and the Vishwa Hindu Parishad into votes for the Bharatiya Janata Party,” it said.
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Advani hints at party revamp Panjim, April 13 Emerging out of a long self- imposed hybernation, Mr Advani chose to address mediapersons himself to brief about his intervention at the ongoing National Executive session and declared that the party should not be “needlessly apologetic” about its ideological beliefs. Mr Advani made a forceful intervention for providing a boost to the sagging morale of the party leaders, telling them that “we should return from Goa with renewed confidence and strengthened resolve to buck the recent setbacks and emerge, in keeping with our proud track record as a qualitatively stronger party and a qualitatively better government.” Appealing for strengthening the party at all levels, Mr Advani said it should be done “if necessary by inducting some of our talented colleagues in the government into party work. We should also comprehensively strengthen the party at the state level, especially in those states that will go to the polls next year”. Mr Advani said the changes in the party would be effected after the present session of Parliament when a major reshuffle was expected. Taking note of growing indiscipline in the party the three-time BJP President said:”If necessary, there should be some deterrent action in some cases of gross indiscipline”. Asked if he would go back to the party, Mr Advani declined to give a direct reply. At the same time, Mr Advani, known for his balanced statements, took enough care that the NDA boat was not rocked, reiterating his faith in the common agenda. Giving a pep pill to the party leaders and the cadre, he said that they should not get disheartened with the recent electoral setbacks as this had even happened in the past and each time the party had emerged stronger. Lashing out at the Congress for pursuing the politics of votebank, Mr Advani made an effort to put the blame of many ills faced by the Vajpayee government on the Congress.
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Army Chief dedicates memorial to martyrs Noida, April 13 “And a town of 4 lakh persons coming together to pay tribute to its heroes since 1990 is remarkable
gesture worthy of emulation by other towns throughout the country.” General Padmanabhan said we must remember that there must have been many more brave sons...those who were wounded, or are missing. “We must remember and salute them also”. “By building a Shaheed Memorial Noida had done itself a great honour, by honouring the brave soldiers, airmen and sailors. I salute you Noida. You have done a great honour to the brave sons. I salute your guiding spirit. Other parts of the country would do well to emulate this
spirit of Noida”. “I am grateful to the next of kin of the fallen heroes who will no doubt inspire the coming generations, the General added. The COAs said all those who were associated with this project deserve our thanks and gratitude for their involvement, contribution of ideas and funds. And all those who worked together to visualise and to complete this project. The Shaheed Samark Society formed in 1998, conceptualised the memorial. The society comprise, representatives of ex-servicemen, the Noida and Greater Noida authorities and the captains of the industries. Earlier priests from four faiths - Hindu, Muslim, Sikh and Christianity offered prayers. The three service chiefs, Gen S. Padmanabhan (Army) Admiral Madhvendra Singh (Navy) and Air Chief Marshal S. Krishnaswamy (IAF) laid
wreaths at the samark in strict military tradition, and saluted the martyrs when audience also stood and observed a two-minute silence. Later parents and kin of the martyrs also laid wreaths at the
samark followed by patriotic songs from children of Army Public School. A souvenir was also released by the Chief of Army staff. |
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B.N. Kirpal to be next Chief Justice
New Delhi, April 13 He will succeed Chief Justice S.P. Bharucha. “In exercise of the powers conferred by Clause (2) of Article 124 of the Constitution of India, the President is pleased to appoint Mr Justice Bhupinder Nath Kirpal, Judge of the Supreme Court, as the Chief Justice of India with effect from May 6, 2002 (forenoon),” a notification issued by the Law Ministry said today. Mr Justice Kirpal, who will be the Chief Justice of India till November 8 this year, at present is heading the 11-judge Constitution Bench hearing the question as to who constitute minority under Article 30(1) of the Constitution. Born on November 8, 1937, Mr Justice Kirpal received most of his formal education in Delhi and obtained his law degree from Delhi University. He started his practice in 1961. After 18 years at the Bar, Mr Justice Kirpal was appointed Judge of the Delhi High Court on November 20, 1979. He was appointed the Chief Justice of the Gujarat High Court on December 14, 1993. He was elevated to the Supreme Court of India on September 11, 1995.
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BSP-BJP govt in UP soon? Lucknow, April 13 The ADC to the Governor admitted that the visit was not planned. “Raj Bhavan received a sudden request around noon about Mr Goel’s inclination to meet the Governor. Mr Goel reached here by the evening flight from Mumbai and left on Friday morning,” he said. The Governor was tight-lipped about the meeting. But he admitted that it was not a routine meeting. “Mr Goel wanted some clarifications, which I gave. Only this much I can say at this moment”, he told press persons today. Speculation is rife that a BSP-BJP government could be formed in UP in the next few days. The BSP leaders, who were hopeful that Mayawati’s coronation could take place on April 14, Ambedkar Jayanti, now say that the coalition government could be formed by April 20. Though the BJP is divided over the issue of the formation of government in collaboration with the BSP, the anti-BSP voice had started losing its sting. Even the state president of the party, Mr Kalraj Mishra, who had said that if the BJP formed a government with the BSP, it would be finished, said on Friday that everything now depended on the Central government. “If the Central Parliamentary Board of the BJP feels that the party should yet again join hands with the BSP, then as a dedicated soldier, I would obey this order,” said Mr Mishra. But, the pro-BSP camp was elated. Mr Om Prakash Singh, former minister in the Rajnath Singh cabinet said: “Mr Goel’s visit to Lucknow and his meeting with the Governor is clear indication that he had come all the way from Panaji to fathom political waters of the state. Surely, he was not here to discuss the weather.” It is expected that Mr Goel will give his report at the National Executive meeting being held in Goa where UP is expected to be on the agenda. |
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Caught between two fires Patna, April 13 The most dangerous part of fire in rural areas is that crops of the farmers are damaged by the ultras and extortionists. The left wing ultras have fixed up levies in the name of individual farmers. In case they fail to pay the amounts their crops are assigned to flames in retaliation. Mutual conflicts also make one party invite the Ultras’ or the local goons to settle scores by torching other’s crops. In large areas of Bhojpur and Jehanabad districts, infested with extremism, the wheat and other rabi crops are being harvested under the police protection. The Ultras collect “toll or levy” from the farmers that is paid in the form of a certain percentage of the total crop harvested. The villages have been provided with armed forces during the harvesting season so that the Ultras do not attack poor farmers who are not willing to pay the levy. However many farmers have to pay for their ‘obduracy’ as ultras torch their crops. |
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Vittal for using IT to curb corruption
Visakhapatnam, April 13 “Besides this, steps should also be taken to sensitise people against the dangers of corruption,’’ Mr Vittal said talking to mediapersons at the Vizag Journalist Forum here last evening. Next week, he would publish what he called the ‘’vigilance intensity index’’, which would contain data regarding prosecutions and penalties recommended. The availability of such an index for the first time in the country would send positive signals to the world about the efforts being made to check graft in India, Mr Vittal said. Mr Vittal called upon all government departments involved in purchases to place tender information on websites, which, he said should form part of publication requirements. Mr Vittal said the Government should enact a legislation to ensure forfeiture of property amassed through corruption. But this suggestion had been pending with the Centre since February 4, 1999, he lamented. A total exemption of Income Tax up to Rs 5 lakh and a flat tax system of 20 per cent above the limit should be introduced to so as to fight tax evasion and black money, he suggested.
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In video: Paramilitary
forces called in as fresh violence strikes Ahmedabad city. (
