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Wednesday,
May 22, 2002, Chandigarh, India  
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Fidayeen’s next target is Ayodhya: Intelligence Pak failed to fulfil expectations: PM
War is no solution, Surjeet tells PM BJP: time
for final settlement with Pak |
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Madanjit Southern Naval Command chief Probe allegations against Sonia: HC Nation remembers Rajiv Gandhi
Gujral backs Narayanan Army man held on espionage charge CBSE Class XII results on
May 23, 25 Dorjee accorded ‘spiritual authority’
Gujarat peaceful
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Fidayeen’s next target is Ayodhya: Intelligence Lucknow, May 21 A highly-placed police official in the DGP’s office told The Tribune that the intelligence report says that members of a suicide team have entered Uttar Pradesh and are likely to create trouble on June 2 — the day of ‘purna ahuti’ in Ayodhya. Over five lakh people from all over the country, are expected to assemble at Kar Sevak Puram in Ayodhya on that day. The ‘purna ahuti’ will mark the culmination of the ‘Ram naam jaap’ campaign by the VHP. Senior VHP leaders like Ashok Singhal and Pravin Togadia are also expected to attend the ‘yagya’. Senior police official admits that this time an attack on the complex was more imminent than ever before. Even the DGP Mr R.K. Pandit, said that possibility of any attack by a suicide squad was high during religious congregation. He refused to be specific but said everything was likely to pass off peacefully. Alarmed at the report, the state government has ordered regular frisking of people at the Faizabad-Ayodhya border and surveillance has been increased on the local hotels and lodges. Besides this, a drive is on to identify nouveau riche among the minority community and those residing in Faizabad. The local intelligence unit has been asked to furnish all these reports within a week’s time, said the official. “We cannot wait till June 2. Fidayeen can strike even before that,” said the official. Barricades have been erected in and around the complex, which has been put under a three-tier security cover. A surprise drill was also carried out on May 16 to check the security. However, the increase in security in and around Ayodhya has irked the VHP saints as they claimed that the district administration was unnecessarily harassing people. The in charge of Uttar Pradesh and Uttaranchal, Mr Purshottam Narain Singh, said the VHP wanted to conclude the ‘yagya’ in a peaceful manner. “If government adds impediments in the name of security and prevent Ram sewaks from reaching Ayodhya, then we will be forced to defy the security,” he said. It may be recalled that in March, just before the shiladaan, the administration had imposed restrictions in Ayodhya and Faizabad. The restrictions were opposed by the residents and the saints alike. Infuriated over imposition of recent restrictions, the VHP president, Mr Ashok Singhal, has asked senior BJP leader Lalji Tandon, who is also minister in the Mayawati government, not to stop Ram sewaks from reaching Ayodhya. He has even threatened repeat of December 6 incidents. The police officials are not perturbed over this threat. “For us the primary concern would be to save the Ram Janmabhoomi complex from any Fidayeen attack, he said. |
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Pak failed to fulfil expectations: PM New Delhi, May 21 During a meeting with visiting Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharazi, he pointed out that terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir from across the border was continuing unabated despite Pakistan’s pronouncements to fight the scourge. According to an External Affairs Ministry spokesperson, the current Indo-Pak tension figured prominently during the 35-minute meeting between the Prime Minister and Mr Kharazi.
UNI |
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War is no solution, Surjeet tells PM New Delhi, May 21 During his hour-long meeting with Mr Vajpayee here, the CPM leader also impressed upon the Prime Minister that India’s emphasis should be on convincing US President George Bush to put pressure on Pakistan to stop sponsoring cross-border terrorism. Today’s meeting was the third in the series that the Prime Minister has been having with major opposition party leaders on formulating a response to terrorism in the wake of the May 14 Kaluchak massacre. The Prime Minister has already met Congress president Sonia Gandhi and the CPI general secretary A.B. Bardhan. Mr Surjeet told mediapersons that he had informed the Prime Minister that it was the USA which had to play a responsible role and the government should try to convince President Bush to come around to India’s point of view. Mr Bardhan during his meeting with Mr Vajpayee yesterday had impressed on him the need to step up the diplomatic offensive and take economic measures instead of waging a war. Mr Surjeet pointed out that as far as the intention of the USA was concerned it would desire to see an “independent Kashmir” so that it could gain a foothold in the strategically placed region. Giving more autonomy to the state was the only solution to the problem, the CPM leader told the Prime Minister. He said the issue of the presidential candidate did come up during the discussion but he did not refer any name. The CPM, along with other major Left parties had already advocated a second stint for President K.R. Narayanan in Rashtrapati Bhavan, Mr Surjeet said. The People’s Front was expected to meet tomorrow to discuss the issue, the CPM leader added. |
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BJP: time for final settlement with Pak Hyderabad, May 21 Ruling out third-party intervention in the event of a war with Pakistan, he told newspersons here that India should embark on the task of eliminating cross-border terrorism with or without support from any other country. Criticising the US stand, he recalled that the USA had waged a war against the Taliban soon after the September 11 terror attacks and said it was ironic that it was now advising India to exercise restraint. Asked whether the BJP favoured a hot pursuit of terrorist camps across the Line of Control, he said it was for the government to decide in what manner the task should be carried out, adding that people wanted prompt action to put an end to cross-border terrorism. The Vajpayee government was aware of the expectations of the people, he added. He said the various initiatives of the Centre such as bringing paramilitary forces under the Army’s command and consulting the Opposition parties were part of the preparations for “suitable action”.
UNI |
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Madanjit Southern Naval Command chief New Delhi, May 21 Presently the Chief of Personnel at the Naval Headquarters, Vice-Admiral Madanjit Singh will take over his new appointment by the end of this month. A gunnery specialist, Vice-Admiral Madanjit Singh was commissioned into the Indian Navy in January, 1966, and has held various key appointments in the Navy. He has had the unique distinction of commanding five ships, including the frigate, INS Ganga, and the aircraft carrier, INS Viraat. Earlier, he looked after Policy and Tactics and was the Director of Staff Requirements at the Naval Headquarters for two stints. The Admiral was also the leader of the Navy team at Nigeria from 1980-83 for setting up an Officers Training Academy. An alumnus of the National Defence Academy, Pune, he did the staff course at DSSC, Wellington, in 1977 and graduated from the National Defence College, New Delhi, in 1991. |
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Coastal security
beefed up Mumbai, May 21 Western Naval Command sources said the Navy had been put on high alert and all ships and submarines as well as the shore establishments of the Navy were maintaining strict vigil. The WNC is the premier operational command of the Navy and the Western Fleet comprises aircraft carrier INS Viraat, Delhi-class destroyer ships, powerful Godavari-class frigates, Rajput-class destroyers, tankers and patrol vessels besides submarines.
UNI |
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Probe allegations against Sonia: HC New Delhi, May 21 “Respondent number two (Cabinet Secretary) take steps for further inquiry, and if required, take assistance of the Indian Embassy in Italy,” a Bench comprising Mr Justice Devinder Gupta and Mr Justice S. Mukherjee said after perusing an affidavit filed by the government. “The affidavit does not deal with the aspects highlighted in the writ petition and the ownership of the commercial establishments,” the court said while fixing next hearing of the case on August 27. Janata Party President Subramanian Swamy, in a Public Interest Litigation (PIL), had sought probe into the alleged smuggling of Indian antiquities from Chennai in 1993 to an agent of the two shops, Etnica in Rivolta, a suburb of Turin, and Ganpati in Orbassano, the home town of Mrs Sonia Gandhi in Italy. Mr Swamy had alleged that the shops were owned by the mother and sister of the Congress President. Regarding investigation sought by Mr Swamy into the alleged link of Mrs Gandhi with former Soviet Union’s
intelligence agency KGB in a separate PIL, government counsel Jayant Bhushan told the court that an affidavit, the copy of which was supplied to Mr Swamy, had been filed in the registry. As Mr Swamy said the government had not said anything about the KGB in the reply, Mr Bhushan said, “We have said something on this also.” Hearing of this PIL was also adjourned till August 27 with a direction to Mr Swamy to file his counter.
PTI |
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Nation remembers Rajiv Gandhi New Delhi, May 21 People planted saplings, donated blood, marched for peace and joined all-religion prayers throughout the country on the day which is observed every year as Anti-Terrorism Day. Addressing a rally in the Capital, Congress President Sonia Gandhi described the Gujarat riots as part of a larger conspiracy by certain elements to send India into a cauldron of communal hatred. Lok Sabha Deputy Speaker P.M. Sayeed administered a pledge to Lok Sabha employees in Central Hall of Parliament and Union Minister of State for Home I.D. Swami administered the pledge to the staff of his ministry to oppose all forms of terrorism and violence and to promote peace and social harmony. Functions were organised all over the country to mark the day which is also observed as “Sadhbhavana Divas”. At the Rajiv Gandhi Memorial in Sriperumbudur, about 40 km from Chennai, hundreds of people paid floral tributes. Debates, seminars and symposia on terrorism were held in schools and colleges in Madhya Pradesh. In Delhi, youth Congress workers were administered a pledge to strengthen the democratic and secular foundations of India. Ms Sonia Gandhi and the entire Delhi Cabinet, led by Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, visited “Vir Bhoomi”, the samadhi of Rajiv Gandhi, and paid floral tributes. Congress workers joined all-religion prayers at the party’s headquarters in various states. In Andhra Pradesh, Mahila Congress activists took out a peace rally and attended all-religion prayers at Gandhi Bhavan, the state party headquarters in Hyderabad. State Chief Secretary K. Swaminathan administered a pledge to secretariat staff to fight terrorism. A “vanamotsava” was organised in Bangalore, where Karnataka Chief Minister S.M. Krishna planted a sapling to mark the anniversary. The medical wing of the state Congress organised a free medical check-up camp at the party’s office in Bangalore. In Maharashtra, a pledge to fight terrorism was administered by Governor P.C. Alexander to employees of Raj Bhavan and state reserve police force personnel. In Mumbai, Mr Prakash Rajdev of the Rajiv Vikas Kendra staged a sit-in near the statue of Rajiv Gandhi at the Cooperage Grounds, demanding the arrest of LTTE chief V. Prabhakaran, who is accused of masterminding his assassination.
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Gujral backs Narayanan New Delhi, May 21 While the CPI had pitched for Mr Narayanan yesterday, the CPM today came out in his support. Urging all political parties, and the ruling NDA in particular, to reach an understanding on the issue, he said it was the responsibility of all to see that the nation was not divided on choosing the person to the highest office at a time when the country was facing a serious problem from across the border. Mr Gujral said the need for a consensus was more important than ever before. |
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BJP disfavours second term for Narayanan
Kochi, May 21 |
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Army man held on espionage charge Kanpur, May 21 Naib Subedar Mohammad Yunus, an employee with the Central Ordnance Depot here, was picked up by the Army authorities for interrogation as he was suspected to have a role in providing secret documents and sensitive information to the ISI agent Mohammad Anwar. Subedar Razi Hasan, presently posted in Defence Security Council in Shillong, was summoned for interrogation by the Army authorities here.
UNI |
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CBSE Class XII results on
May 23, 25 New Delhi, May 21 The dates for Class X results would also be announced shortly, a CBSE note said today. For the first time, these results will be available through the interactive voice response system (IVRS) at telephone numbers (011) 4308600 and 4392800 providing access to 60 lines. The phone-in service will be available from 2 a.m. on the schedule date. The results will also be available on the CBSE website, cbseresults. nic.in.
UNI |
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Dorjee accorded ‘spiritual authority’ Gangtok, May 21 Shamar Rimpoche, mentor of the rival claimnant for the 17th Karmapa’s post, ‘handed back’ the spiritual authority ‘formally to the 19-year boy monk Dorjee at a glittering ceremony in Kalimpong’s Sri Divakar Vihar Buddhist institute of higher learning, about 80 km from here, on Sunday last, a spokesman of the faction Hishey said today. Shamar Rimpoche had floated Dorjee’s candidature in the early 90s for the 17th Karmapa’s post after he fell out with his other two living ‘regents’ of the Rumtek monastery on the issue of finding a ‘genuine successor’ of the 16th incumbent following his death in 1981.
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Gujarat peaceful Ahmedabad, May 21 Official sources said the decision to pull out the Army deployed in the state following the outbreak of communal violence soon after the Godhra train carnage was taken in view of the tension on the Indo-Pak border.
UNI |
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Heatwave toll rises to 776 New Delhi, May 21 |
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REKHA ALLOWED TO GO ABROAD DALIT BURNT ALIVE BY MOB FIRE IN CRACKER FACTORY KILLS TWO 6 DIE IN ROAD ACCIDENT 4 OF FAMILY KILLED, HOUSES GUTTED 11 GET LIFE TERM IN JHARKHAND LEOPARD KILLS 6-YEAR-OLD DACOITS LOOT BUS PASSENGERS HINDI WRITER BARAITH DEAD SPEAKER LEAVES FOR POLAND |
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In an indication
of normalcy in Gujarat, marriages are taking place in the jam-packed relief camps.
In video (
