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Sunday,
June 2, 2002, Chandigarh, India  
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Fractured
mandate in Goa
Pay for
flood data, India tells Pakistan |
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Kalraj
quits party post Forces stage flag march in Ayodhya Mayawati
resurrects old quota rule Charges
framed against Sukh Ram
Tribals
being forced out of villages: Patkar Decision
on transfers upheld PWG emissaries put onus on govt PF Commissioner suspended Communal clash leaves
14 injured Cong
training camp begins NHRC
report: CPM tells Centre to act Muslims
‘being marginalised’
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Fractured mandate in Goa Party position in
Goa
Total seats
40
Results declared BJP 17 Cong UGDP NGP NCP Panaji, June 1 The BJP won 17 seats while the Congress ended up with a tally of 16. As many as 21 seats are needed to form a government. The BJP, as the single largest party with 17 seats, can count on independent candidate from Velim, Phillip Neri Rodrigues, who has won with its support. The Congress suffered a series of setbacks. State unit president Nirmala Sawant was defeated by the MGP candidate Pandurang Madkaikar from her Cumbarjua constituency. In Valpoi Congress candidate and sitting MLA Venkatesh Desai was also defeated by the BJP. As the results indicate the United Goans Democratic Party (UGDP) and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) have upset the Congress calculations in many constituencies. It is also evident from the figures that in place like Tivim, Siolim and St. Andre, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) has eaten a large chunk of Congress vote bank while the UGDP has wrested Benaulim, Taligao and Cortalim from the Congress. Voters in Goa also rejected defectors like former Congress and BJP candidate Sheikh Hassan Haroon, former state ministers Somnath Zuarkar, Sanjay Bandekar, Churchill Alemao, Mauvin Godiho and Ramakant Khalap all of the Congress. However, some of the defectors like Ravi Naik Congress, Fransis D’Souza (BJP), Fransisco Sardinha Congress and Dayanand Narvekar (Aldona) have won. Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar expressed confidence that the BJP would be invited to form the next government. “My party has emerged as the single largest party. The BJP welcomes the support of non-Congress parties”, he said. In North Goa, the Hindu bastion, the BJP won nine of the 19 seats — Panaji, Mandrem, Tivim, Mapusa, Siolim. Dhargarlim, Bicholim, Pale, Valpoi. In South Goa, the party secured eight of the 21 seats — Savordem, Fatorda, Priol, Sanguem, Vasco, Margao, Cancona, and Curchorem. The Congress has bagged nine seats — Loutlim, Curtorim, Ponda, Marmagao, Navelim, Cuncolim, Shiroda, Quepem, Poiguinim in South Goa, whereas seven seats — Pernem, Mayem, Calangute, St. Andre, Aldona, St. Cruz and Poriem in North Goa. The UGDP and MGP front (both parties had a tie-up in the election) has bagged five seats, while the UGDP won the Benaulim and Cortalim in South Goa and Taligao in North Goa, the MGP bagged Madkai in South Goa and Cumbarjua in North Goa. Independent candidates Phillip Neri Rodrigues from Velim South Goa has won with the BJP support whereas Dr Wilfred D’Souza contesting on the NCP ticket has retained his bastion of Saligao in North Goa.
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Oscar sent to Panaji New Delhi, June 1 The party, which won 16 seats in the 40-member Assembly, is attempting to bring together “secular parties” to form the next government in the state. AICC Secretaries Ramesh Chennitala and Subodh Kant Sahay are already in Goa and are monitoring the situation, party General Secretary Ambika Soni said. Asked if the Congress would make attempts to form the next government along with like-minded parties, she said the results have just come in and “we are analysing the results.” In Goa Mr Oscar Fernandes will contact the UGDP, which has three seats and the MGP which has won two seats. |
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Pay for flood data, India tells Pakistan New Delhi, June 1 At a meeting of the Permanent Indus Commission (PIC) here yesterday, India demanded Rs 38 lakh from Pakistan, a move which left Pakistan’s Joint Commissioner Shiraz Jameel Memon surprised and fuming. Well-placed sources here disclosed to “The Tribune” that the Pakistani side pleaded for cooperation from India as New Delhi has been doing all these years, but Indian Joint Commissioner A C Gupta did not budge. New Delhi has been making flood data available to Pakistan free of cost all these years. But the Indian stand this time had been hardened by the brazen encouragement shown by Pakistan to cross-border terrorism against India. The Indian side made it clear to Pakistanis that such “humanitarian” gestures would no longer be shown by India to Pakistan. When the Pakistanis insisted that the money being demanded by India was “too hefty” and suggested a more reasonable payment, India stuck to its guns. The Indus system flood data is extremely vital for Pakistan which requires it latest by July 1 every year. To complete the diplomatic symbolism, the Pakistani side came here and left via Dubai. Another indication of the deteriorating Indo-Pak situation was available today when the British authorities today abruptly ordered the closure of British Council Library here and conveyed to the students undergoing various courses that refund would be sent to them by mail. It is understood that the USA is sending a special plane here tomorrow to ferry back non-essential staffers in the embassy here. Significantly, the pro-Musharraf faction of the Pakistan Muslim League (Qaide-Azam), led by Syed Kabir Ali Wasti has written identical letters to prominent Indian politicians like Ms Sonia Gandhi, Mr A.B. Bardhan, Mr Harkishen Singh Surjeet, Mr Mulayam Singh Yadav and Mr V.P. Singh, stressing the need for dialogue between the two countries. The letter has taken exception to Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee’s statement recently issued from Manali that India should have reacted immediately after the December 13 attack on Parliament House. “It lays bare the Government of India’s intention to destroy Pakistan. From this statement we gather the impression that the leaders of the two countries were not disposed or willing to listen to the voice of reason. What is at stake is the likelihood of nuclear weapons going off either wantonly or through the misreading of signals. Nuclear weapons do not discriminate between a war-monger and a peaceful person. “... We invite you to work for peace and avoid likely war in this noble cause. I seek cooperation and positive
response to my proposal. The delegations consisting of important leaders of opinion from Pakistan should visit India and reciprocally Indian political leaders of substance may visit Pakistan to create a moment for peace and goodwill. You will find me ready and willing to come to New Delhi with a delegation of political leaders of all parties in Pakistan as soon as they hear from you.” |
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Kalraj quits party post Lucknow, June 1 Mr Mishra announced his resignation during the opening session of the two-day BJP state executive, which began here this morning, in the presence of Union Human Resource Development Minister Murli Manohar Joshi, BJP Vice-President Kailashpati Mishra, former Chief Ministers Ram Prakash Gupta and Rajnath Singh among others. The announcement was made by Mr Mishra after a brief, but critical, speech citing reasons for the debacle. He blamed indiscipline and difference of opinion among the leaders for the defeat. Mr Mishra said state Senior Vice-President Satyadeo Singh would look after the party till a new president was elected. But he added that he would chair the meeting of the executive on the request of the members. Mr Mishra refused to relent even after senior leaders, including Mr Rajnath Singh and Mr Lalji Tandon, along with several members of the executive, tried to persuade him to withdraw his resignation. Earlier, in his hour-long welcome address to the state executive, Mr Mishra made a critical remark about persisting difference of opinion among the BJP leaders and said, “Someone had to be the scapegoat taking the responsibility for the defeat, hence I am resigning from the post”. The two-day state executive, which is being attended by almost all the 176 members and some special invitees, was also likely to discuss the compulsions of the leadership to join hands with the BSP.
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Forces stage flag march in Ayodhya
Ayodhya, June 1 The flag march, by units of the Rapid Action Force, anti-riot squads and the Fire Brigade, was the second in the last three days. Meanwhile, batches of Ram sevaks continued to pour in the temple town by different modes of transport to participate in the ‘yajna’. The authorities have sealed the borders of the district and check posts have been set up at different places to regulate the flow of crowds and check the entry of anti-social elements, official sources here said. The devotees are being allowed in the town after thorough frisking, they said adding that there was no restriction on their entry. Security had been beefed up in view of terrorist threat perception, sources said. A ‘dharm sabha’ was organised today at the Karsevakpuram in which top VHP leaders participated. The ‘purnahuti
yajna’ would be held tomorrow at Karsevakpuram after which a procession, with the ashes of the
‘havan’, would be taken out for immersion in the Saryu. PTI |
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Mayawati
resurrects old quota rule Lucknow, June 1 The decision to revive the old reservation policy was taken at a Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Mayawati here. Later, briefing newspersons, state Chief Secretary D.S. Bagga said at present there were over 28,700 government vacancies in the state, which had to be filled soon. He said the government was reconsidering the recommendations made through the 2001 amendment and would decide on this issue later. Mr Bagga maintained that due to the stay on the implementation of the reservation policy, a deadlock persisted regarding appointments in the government jobs, including 522 posts recommended by the Union Public Service Commission. A new reservation policy was adopted by the state government on September 15, 2001, providing quota within quota for the Most Backwards among the SC and OBC community amending the 1994 law. However, the new policy was challenged and the Supreme Court had issued a stay order on the implementation of the policy in December, 2001. With the scrapping of the new policy and reviving the old one, the court is also likely to dismiss the case and now appointments could be made under old reservation policy.
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Charges
framed against Sukh Ram New Delhi, June 1 Special Judge V. K. Jain ordered for framing of charges against Mr Sukh Ram, accused of accepting a bribe from Chairman of the Haryana Telecom Division Devender Singh Chaudhury for allotting 3.5 LCKM (lac conductor kilometres) of additional PIJS cables. The court also framed charges against Mr Chaudhury, accused of bribing a public servant for favour. The order for the allotment of the LCKM was passed by Mr Sukh Ram on November 3, 1995. Another order passed by Mr Sukh Ram on May 8, 1996, for additional purchase of four LCKMs of PIJS cables came under scrutiny. This is the second case in which charges had been framed against Mr Sukh Ram. Earlier charges were framed in the disproportionate assets case filed by the CBI in the court. Both the accused had been charged under 120-B of the IPC and 7, 12, 13 (1) (d), 13 (2) of the Prevention of Corruption (PC) Act for conspiracy, illegal gratification, accepting bribe and abuse of official position.
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Tribals being
forced out of villages: Patkar Bhopal, June 1 This was happening even as the Supreme Court had asked the state government to file an affidavit by June 1 on the status of resettlement and rehabilitation of the families going to be affected at a height of 95 meters. She charged Madhya Pradesh with trying to evade the issue because it had first endorsed what the Central Government had stated in its affidavit before the Supreme Court. The apex court, however, insisted that each state concerned, and the grievances redress authorities (GRAs) of each state should file separate affidavits. The apex court directive came as a sequel to the notices served on the states concerned last week in the case filed by the NBA against the decision to raise the dam height from 90-95 m (plus 3 meters hump) without first ensuring resettlement of the affected families as laid down by the apex court in its earlier order. The next hearing has been fixed for June 3. Shanti Bhushan, appearing for NBA, told the Bench of Mr Justice Sam Variava and Mr Justice Suresh Hegde that GRA of Maharashtra had expressed reservations about the resettlement of those already affected at 90 m height. The judges observed that they were concerned about the people affected by the project and their resettlement Ms Patkar said the affected people would launch a “satyagraha from June 30 and did not rule out a conflict between them and the authorities if the latter went ahead with their highhandedness to evict them from the villages. |
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Decision
on transfers upheld Jaipur, June 1 Through the ruling Mr Justice P.P. Navalekar dismissed a bunch of 45 writ petitions moved separately by state government servants who had been transferred. The petitioners had challenged two circulars issued by the state government in August, last year, that led to their transfer. The judge observed, “The policy (of transferring them) was in public interest and for efficacious discharge of the administrative functions and, therefore, cannot be said to be a policy framed without taking into consideration the interest of the public in general.” “The decision taken by the state government in transferring the petitioners is in accordance with the law and does not require any interference by the court,” ruled Mr Justice Navalekar of the high court’s Jaipur Bench while delivering judgement on the case on Wednesday. The court noted that “the policy decision — under the circulars — taken by the state government could not be termed arbitrary, unfair, unreasonable or against the constitutional and the legal provisions.” The judge remarked that “whenever there is a clash between personal and public interest, the court shall uphold public interest.”
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PWG emissaries put onus on govt Hyderabad, June 1 “We are accepting the responsibility bestowed on us by the PWG to act as its representatives and talk to the government. After setting modalities and ensuring that conducive
atmosphere prevails, we will leave the ground to PWG leadership to carry forward the process,” they told a press conference here. Asserting that there were no preconditions for talks, Rao and Gadar, both executive members of the All-India League for Revolutionary Culture (AILRC), said they were optimistic about the final outcome as people were yearning for peace and it was because of the growing public pressure that the government had agreed to initiate talks. They, however, said “no police officer or bureaucrat should be present during the talks”. It should be a political process and the decisions should be taken at the political level”. Signalling the first direct talks with the government, the PWG yesterday named Gadar and Rao as its representatives for talks. While the government is yet to respond to the development, the emissaries said they expected Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu to invite them for talks so that modalities could be worked out to create a congenial atmosphere.
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PF Commissioner suspended Kolkata, June 1 Simultaneously, orders were issued by the Central PF Commissioner, Mr Ajay Singh, for transferring about 20 other commissioners serving in regional offices across the country for revamping and streamlining the organisation. However, officially it was said that the transfers were a routine matter. A news item in this regard, published in an English daily in the city today, caused an uproar and tension about the safety and security of the money of lakhs of employees who had been depositing a portion of their salary in the PF. The Central PF Commissioner, however, assured that the employees' money was fully secured and there was no cause for anxiety. Mr Ajay Singh ordered a probe into the audit of 2500 exempted PF trusts following the suspicion of involvement of certain rouge brokers in duping these trusts and some urban cooperative banks operating in the western region of the country. The Central PF Commissioner said the suspension of the PF officials, would be linked to the auctioning of shares seized from a city-based jute company in 2001. Shares worth Rs 300 crore had been seized from the company, which when sold through an auction fetched a paltry amount of Rs 3.5
crore. |
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Communal
clash leaves 14 injured
Bangalore, June 1 Trouble erupted late last night when the procession was stoned
after a group belonging to a community objected to it being taken out
in front of their place of worship, the police said.
The police said 12 platoons of the Karnataka State Reserve Police
and City Armed Reserve had been deployed and prohibitory orders
imposed in the affected locality.
Curfew was imposed in Tilaknagar and part of Mico Layout in the
city. PTI |
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Cong training camp begins Bhopal, June 1 These are the questions which are often asked by the Sangh Parivar and the answers to these are now being sought, by the All-India Congress Committee (AICC). Under the direction of the AICC, a three-day conclave of Congressmen from all over the country began here today to churn out satisfactory answers to these and 24 other such questions. The exercise is being held under the high sounding nomenclature “high level national training camp”. Large contingents from almost all Pradesh Congress Committees have arrived to attend the training camp. Those invited to address them include Prof. Mushirul Hassan, Dr Arjun Dev, Shabnam Hashimi, D.R. Goyal, John Dayal, Prof Imtiaz Ahmed, Mohit Sen, Prof Gopi Chand Narang, A.J. Philip, G.M. Banatwala, Justice A.M. Ahmadi, and Madhu Kishwar. The list of the Congress leaders is headed by Najma Heptullah. Mr Mani Shanker Aiyer, who is said to have culled up the questions, said in the inaugural function that a charter would be published at the conclusion of the deliberations. Some of the other questions are: Why do Indian Muslims cheer Pakistani teams at sports meets? If there have been cases of Muslim shrines being shifted to other locations in Islamic countries such as Saudi Arabia, why not in India? Why build expensive Haj Manzils for Muslim pilgrims and subsidise their Haj pilgrimage to the tune of several hundreds of crores of rupees? Why should Hindus adopt family planning when Muslims resist it? |
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NHRC report: CPM tells Centre to act New Delhi, June 1 “It (NHRC report) has found the state government complicit in the violence. The report states that there was a comprehensive failure of the state to protect the constitutional rights of the people of Gujarat,” a statement issued by the party’s Politburo said here. |
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Muslims ‘being marginalised’ New Delhi, June 1 |
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Prasad
to meet Arafat New Delhi, June 1 Owing to the inability of External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh to go personally, Mr Vajpayee has nominated Mr Prasad on the recommendation of Mr Jaswant Singh. |
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Queen’s party
live on DD Mumbai, June 1 A BBC press note said here that an amazing line-up of stars, including Sir Paul McCartney, Arthena Franklin, Sir Cliff Richard, Eric Clapton, Sir Elton John and Ricky Martin would perform.
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Charge
sheets filed in Roy Barman kidnap case Kolkata, June 1 Of the 42, 16 who could not be arrested are either in Pakistan or Bangladesh. They are in the wanted list of the police in Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Bihar in connection with terrorist activities, including the American Center attack. Those arrested are in police custody. They are Aftar Ansari (alias Farhan Malik), Abdur
Rehman, Sadaquat, Jamail Ahmed, Chunnu alias Mohmad Tasleem, Altab
Queresi, Vidon Tapadiya, Happy Singh and Jamaludin Ahmed. Two others Asif Reza Khan and
Zahir, alias Wajed, had been killed in an encounter with the police at Hazaribag (Bihar) in October. |
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