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July 19, 2002, Chandigarh, India
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Contractors
turn on the screws New Delhi, July 18 The Association that has nearly 600 contractors as members is also enraged at the alleged murder of their colleague earlier this week. Its president Purshottam Lal alleged that unbundling was done without any home work with the result that confusion prevailed among the contractors on their role and utility for the private distribution companies. He said both Tata Power and Bombay Suburban Electric Supply (BSES) needed to sort out certain crucial issues with the contractors. |
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FOLLOW-UP Rohtak, July 18 The Chief Warden, Dr Amar Singh Verma, who was present with the Registrar at the time of the incident, has resigned and has been replaced by Dr Ishwar Singh, Head of Fine Arts Department. Dr Sat Pal Singh Dahiya was earlier replaced as Registrar and reverted to his parent Department of English. Dr Ajay Kumar Rajan, Reader in the Institute of Management Studies and Research (IMSAR), has been appointed officiating Registrar. Mr Ishwar Singh Sharma has reportedly been suspended on the basis of a preliminary inquiry conducted by the Pro Vice-Chancellor into the June incident. The PRO Vice-Chancellor, it is learnt, said in his findings that Mr Ishwar Singh Sharma resorted to violence while dealing with the Registrar who holds a very senior position in the university. The inquiry report has described it as an act of gross misconduct and indiscipline on the part of the Deputy Chief Security Officer. He has also been charged with flaring up the incident among the employees and tearing away the report written by Dr Sat Pal Singh Dahiya. The Vice-Chancellor has ordered that Mr Ishwar Singh Sharma will not have any access to official records and his entry into the Administrative Block of the university has been banned. “His entry into Administrative Block will be allowed only when ordered by the Registrar to meet him or other authorities,” the suspension order said. Interestingly, the Pro Vice-Chancellor has not reportedly recommended any action against other partners in the scuffle. Many former presidents and office-bearers of the M.D. University Non-Teaching Employees Association, led by Mr Rajbir Singh Rahar, Radhey Shyam Sharma and Shanti Lal Malik, today called on the Vice-Chancellor, Pro Vice-Chancellor and the Registrar to protest against the suspension of Mr Ishwar Singh Sharma and described the action as “one-sided”. They demanded a strict action against Dr Sat Pal Singh Dahiya, Dr Amar Singh Verma and immediate reinstatement of Mr Ishwar Singh Sharma. Mr Rajbir Rahra told the ‘NCR Tribune’ that they would report the matter to the governor and Chief Minister if no action was taken against Dr Dahiya and Dr Verma. |
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PGIMS Forensic Dept under scanner Rohtak, July 18 The Department of Forensic Medicine in the PGIMS has been in the eye of storm for more than a year. This is because the head of the department was promoted as professor just 18 months after he had passed his PG degree whereas the minimum essential experience required is 11 years as per the Haryana Medical Education Service Rules and MCI Regulations. The PG degree of the head of the Forensic Medicine Department is also not recognised by the MCI. When the head of this department was given officiating charge as the Dean and Director of the institute, many eyebrows were raised. A complaint was lodged with the MCI and the comments of the Haryana Government and the M.D.University had been sought. However, the then officiating academic officer had refuted the allegation of non-recognition of the PG degree of the head of the Forensic Department. The head of the Forensic Department, while officiating as the Director, had applied to the MCI for inspection of his department for the grant of recognition to the PG degree. It is on his request that the MCI has fixed inspection of this department on July 21, the day on which the MD examination of forensic medicine is scheduled to be held. Senior members of the faculty told the ‘NCR Tribune’ that if the PG degree in Forensic Medicine at PGIMS was recognised, where was the need now to apply to the MCI for inspection — which costs lakhs of rupees to thee institute — and recognition.. Fear has gripped the department and its head has opted out to be the internal examiner and an associate professor, who holds a recognised PG degree, has been made the convener-examiner in his place. As per the MCI norms and MD University Ordinances, it is mandatory that the head of the department should be one of the internal examiners. |
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Unlocking
the secret of the Iron Pillar New Delhi, July 18 Almost after 1,600 years since the pillar was erected, scientists at the Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur, have claimed that they have unravelled the mystery – why it has not corroded over the years. They have discovered that a thin layer of “misawite”, a compound of iron, oxygen and hydrogen, had protected the cast-iron pillar from rust. The protective film took form within three years after the erection of the pillar and has been growing slowly since then. After 1,600 years, the film has grown just one-twentieth of a millimeter thick, according to R Balasubramaniam of the IIT. In a report published in the journal “Current Science”, Mr Balasbramanian said the protective film was formed catalytically by the presence of high amounts of phosphorous in the iron — as much as one per cent against less than 0.05 per cent in
today's iron. The high phosphorous content is a result of the unique iron-making process practised by ancient Indians, who reduced iron ore into steel in one step by mixing it with charcoal. Such has been the mystery of this Iron Pillar that it fascinated writers over the centuries. Awestruck by the advanced metallurgy technique of ancient India, several writers have mentioned the uniqueness of the Iron Pillar. This Pillar is estimated to have been cast in the Gupta period, i.e., about 1,500 years ago. The Pillar is 7.32 metres in length, tapering from a diameter of 40 cm at the base to 30 cm at the top, and it weighs about six tons. It has been standing in the open for more than a millennium in the heat, dust and rain. Yet, it has not rusted. This kind of a rustproof iron had not been smelted anywhere else in the world until the invention of stainless steel a few decades ago. |
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Tantrik
bid to rape married sisters Rewari, July 18 The Tantrik, who would often hawk his wares around many part of the village, asked the sisters that he had come there to treat them at the behest of their father-in-law Ram Singh, who happened to be out of the village that day. Krishan Singh, husband of Bala Devi, who is in military service, and Ishwar Singh, husband of Suman Devi, who is a factory worker, were also at work in remote places. The Tantrik first took Suman Devi inside a room and bolted it. He made an attempt to rape after making her believe that she would be cured of her fits only if she cooperated with him in the act. Soon, he came out of the room, leaving Suman Devi in a trance. He then made advances to Bala Devi, unrobed her and tried to violate her also at knifepoint. However, Bala Devi wriggled out his clutches and raised a hue and cry. The miscreant took to his heels immediately. Later Ram Singh, along with his daughters-in-law, made a complaint to the Kosli Police which have registered a case under Sections 376 (rape), 511 (attempt to commit an offence punishable with imprisonment for life), 506 (criminal intimidation) and 508 (Act caused by luring a person to believe that he/she will be rendered an object of the divine displeasure) of the IPC against the accused Karan Singh who is stated to be absconding. Earlier, Karoli village had shot into limelight on July 10 when a skull and some bones were recovered by the police from a field following which a case of murder and destruction of evidence under Sections 302 and 201 of the IPC was registered against a Delhi policeman (head constable) and his associates. |
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Bid to hustle Dalits out
of village Faridabad, July 18 It is learnt that the ‘upper’ caste community leaders held a panchayat in the village and announced the social boycott of the ‘Dalits’ residing in the village. Several ‘Dalits’ identified as Lakhmi Des Raj, Tota Ram, Babu Ram and Tek Chand and several other members of the community today called upon the Deputy Commissioner here and submitted a memorandum. In the memorandum, they alleged that the ‘upper’ caste residents have declared that members of the ‘chamar’ community in the village would not be allowed to take flour, fodder, water from the village. Besides, they would not be allowed to use their fields to ease themselves. These decisions were announced in a panchayat held on Wednesday. It is reported that the relations between the two communities got strained after an incident of alleged molestation of a woman by a member of the ‘upper’ caste recently in the village. The ‘Dalits’ alleged that it was a case of an attempt to rape, but the police had not taken a proper action. They said that taking up the case with the police by them had left the ‘upper’ caste angry and frustrated. So, the dominant community decided to boycott them socially. It is also reported that the issue had sparked off a tension between the communities and if no steps were taken, it could become a law and order problem. The Deputy Commissioner has assured the ‘Dalits’ of prompt action and appealed to them not to leave the village. Meanwhile, a team of officials have rushed to the village to solve the issue and get the `boycott’ decision withdrawn. |
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IN PARLIAMENT New Delhi, July 18 The proposal was at a very preliminary stage, she said and added that the Central Electricity Authority had been assigned the work of formulation of the preliminary conceptual feasibility report for consideration of the project by the Delhi Government. The total amount of money that remained outstanding as unpaid dues to the MTNL till December 2001was Rs 51,60,464. Of this, the Delhi Government owed Rs 10,994, the central government Rs 1,12,827, Defence Ministry Rs 30,147, embassies Rs 59,523, private parties Rs 4,92,566 and the rest was statutory, the Minister of State for Communications and Information Technology, Ms Sumitra Mahajan, said in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha today. Various steps were being undertaken by the MTNL to recover the outstanding dues from consumers, she said. She said that the consumers were informed on telephone about the outstanding dues. In case of non-payment within the specified time period, all outgoing calls would be disconnected after informing the consumer. Registered notices were sent to consumers who fail to pay the dues in time. There were about 1,78,001 cases pending in the Delhi High Court according to the available data till December 2000, the Minister of Law and Justice, Mr K. Jana Krishnamurthi, informed the Lok Sabha today. The government was considering amendments to the existing laws to ensure early dispensation of justice. These included simplification of substantive laws and procedural laws on the basis of the recommendations and advice of expert bodies like the Law Commission. He added that the two amendment Acts in the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908, provided, inter-alia, for fixing a timeframe for submission of written statement, early examination of witness by commission, restriction of the number of adjournments to the three to a party to a suit and delivery of judgement within 60 days after the hearing is over. As many laws adopted the procedure prescribed under the Civil Procedure Code, the amendment to the code would have a much wider salutary effect on reducing delays in courts. In a written reply to the Lok Sabha, the Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas, Mr Santosh Kumar Gangwar, said that the BPCL had not received any complaints of underweight cylinders from the distributors and that strict quality checks and regular inspections were carried out while bottling LPG to ensure that no underweight cylinders were delivered. The Minister of State for Road and Transport, Maj-Gen (Retd) B. C. Khanduri, said that the road bridge at Dwarka did not fall on a National Highway and that the ministry was responsible for the construction of road overbridges falling on National Highways only. There were no constructions going on the National Highways in the NCT of Delhi. |
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Declare
Haryana drought-hit: CPM Rohtak, July 18 The joint meeting of both the Left parties held here on Wednesday adopted several resolutions ranging from downsizing of government departments, shortage of power and water, the Qasim Nagar carnage and the situation arising out of the BJP aggressively embarking on the communal agenda. The meeting criticised the Chautala government for blindly implementing the disastrous policies of the BJP-led central government. The Left parties severely criticised the government’s policy of downsizing the departments, rendering more than 4,000 Minor Irrigation Tubewell Corporation (MITC) regular employees jobless. More than 12,000 employees from various departments have been retrenched in the recent past. The meeting lambasted the bogus official claims towards creation of new job opportunities. The government and its administration were accused of being totally insensitive in the face of rising miseries of the people. The law and order machinery had been totally paralysed and vital organisations connected to education and health were being deliberately dismantled under the auspices of the privatisation policy. Mr Inderjit Singh, state secretary, CPM, told newspersons that the recently adopted norm pertaining to teacher-taught ratio in school education was also severely criticised at the meeting. He said the government had drastically increased the teacher-taught ratio in government schools to 1:70 from the existing 1:35 and also increased the number of periods to be taken by each teacher. This anti-education policy, he said, had been ostensibly adopted with the intention of declaring thousands of schoolteachers as surplus. Both the Left parties had decided to hold a state- level convention against communalism next month at Hisar to counter the BJP’s strategy of dividing the people on communal and caste lines with the motive of diverting the attention of the people from the consequences arising out of its anti-national policies of surrendering to country’s interests to US imperialism. In this context, the rejection of the forensic report of the Railways in relation to the Godhara incident by the Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister, Mr L. K. Advani, was severely condemned. The Left parties strongly feel that a judicial inquiry by a sitting judge of the Supreme Court has become necessary as the forensic report gives a clear indication of the fire in the train coaches having been ignited from within the compartment rather than by an outside mob as propagated by the state and central government. In another resolution, the meeting demanded immediate abolition of the unjustified and exorbitant toll tax being collected from vehicles plying on the national highways as the vehicle owners were already paying road tax and other taxes. |
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Shot in
the arm for beleaguered Medical Suptd Panipat, July 18 In fact, at a well-attended meeting here today, the hospital staff decided to form the Hospital Staff Protection Committee with a view to protecting the interests of the hospital and countering the disinformation campaign launched by vested interests. Terming the allegations against Dr Randhawa as “baseless”, the Chairman of the committee, Mr Ishwar Singh Deswal, said the committee would endeavour to protect the interests of the employees. Meanwhile, a meeting of the government doctors of the district is likely to be held in a day or two and the future course of action against vested interests, bent on maligning the medical fraternity, will be chalked out. It may be recalled that the dharna by the manch, the brainchild of two persons whose spouses were Staff Nurses at the hospital, was organised allegedly to press the higher authorities to take stern action against the MS for irregularities, including massive financial bungling. In fact, the dharna saw the coming together of several strange bedfellows in politics. While the BJP councillor, Mr Harish Sharma, is the president of the manch, his bete noir, Mr Suresh Baweja, a Congressman, is its general secretary. Several leaders invited by the organisers to take part in the dharna deserted the place when they came to know it was being staged against Dr Randhawa, an upright administrator and noted surgeon. The local Congress MLA, Mr Balbir Pal Shah, who usually avoids such dharnas, made a “guest entry”, if the press note issued by the organisers is to be believed. Dr Randhawa, while refuting allegations against him, said the dharna was organised by the duo to put pressure on him in a house allotment case. Going into the background of the case, Dr Randhawa claimed that the house in question was “inadvertently” allotted to Staff Nurse Neelam Kataria. Mr Ashok Kumar, Operation Theatre Attendant, who was senior to Ms Kataria, then approached the Punjab and Haryana High Court, which reportedly allotted the house to Mr Ashok Kumar. However, Ms Kataria obtained a stay for four months. Now the court had summoned the records of the case and it was for it to decide, Dr Randhawa said, while alleging that Ms Kataria’s party was pressing him to allot the house to her. Expressing his desire to face any inquiry by an independent agency to bring out the truth about the alleged irregularities in the functioning of the hospital, the MS threatened to move court against what he called “blackmailing tactics”. He said he would also apprise the Director-General, Health Services, about the plot to defame him. |
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Mob goes on rampage in Meerut over Meerut, July 18 The mob was protesting against poor power supply and refusal of the authorities to remove a Junior Engineer of the UP Power Corporation whom they alleged was responsible for plunging their locality into darkness. Chaos prevailed in the city for at least an hour since noon. The mob gathered at the Begun Bridge substation first. Later, it blocked the Delhi-Dehra Dun Highway, Garh Road and other three roads connecting this main commercial centre to the rest of the city. Members of the mob soon turned violent and started beating up pressers-by and motorists. They smashed windows of cars and buses that passed through the area. These residents were demanding the removal of the Junior Engineer of Begun Bridge substation. The protestors alleged that the JE had involved in a conspiracy for a month in exchange of money and had been keeping their area dark. They alleged that the power meant for the Lal Kurti market and locality had been shifted to the area of Begun Bridge and Abu Lane market. The City Magistrate, Mr Satish Kumar, reached the scene of violence and tried to control the situation. When be failed, he informed the District Magistrate, Mr P. V. Jagmohan, who rushed ADM City J. P. Singh and SP City Vinod Kumar to the spot. The residents still insisted on the removal of the JE from the substation before they dispersed. Seeing the situation turning out of control, SP City Vinod Kumar send Circle Officer of Katwali area to bring the Executive Engineer of the UP Power Corporation. The Executive Engineer then announced the removal of the accused JE. By that time, windows of eight cars, two buses, 17 two-wheelers were damaged and 15 persons were injured. The residents said that the due to the poor power supply, the water supply had also been affected for over a month. |
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Mind-healer
to reveal secret of self-improvement New Delhi, July 18 Partnering him in his public programmes are corporate giants like Standard Chartered Bank, ITC Hotels and Leela Kempinski Hotels, Sita Travels and Hertz. The well-acclaimed motivator is in the same league as Carnegie and Harris and has his audience mesmerised and asking for more all over the world. After listening to him, blue chip clientele like Lufthansa, Perfetti, Gillette, Nestle, SmithKline Beecham, Godrej, Chrysler Daimler and many more feel recharged and rejuvenated, ready to compete in today’s environment once again! Recently, Singapore’s Radio FM aired one-minute positive attitude messages of Mr Khera’s for a complete month. Mr Khera’s simple anecdotes, real life learning drawn out of his own life experiences and the personalised interaction during the programmes keeps the participants spell-bound for the entire three-day schedule. More than 17,000 people have benefited across the globe from these programmes. He feels that the success formulae are based on the law of sowing and reaping. “Sow a thought and you reap action. Sow an action and you reap a habit. Sow a habit and you reap a character. And what is character? Nothing but a sum total of our habits.” Having set up Qualified Learning Systems Inc a few years ago with offices in New Jersey, USA, Singapore and New Delhi, Mr Khera now sets his vision on setting up the country’s first platform committed to social uplift through the path of “freedom through education and justice”. His own passionate drive for ethics and integrity for society and the country you live in propel his social messages! |
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FARIDABAD Faridabad, July 18 Several persons, including some minor girls, have adopted certain tough means to please the gods. It is reported that at least five girls, aged between 10 and 15 years, are on indefinite fast in Palwal, Hassanpur and Hathin subdivisions in the district. Twelve-year-old Kamal Kumari, a resident of Dhatir village, has been on indefinite fast for the past four days. According to villagers, she has declared that she would not eat anything till the rain comes. Several villagers have also joined her in her prayers. Similarly, four minor girls have been on fast at Pathwari temple in Baindoli village of Hassanpur subdivision. ‘Hawan’ and ‘yagya’ have also been held at various places. Darbar on July 24:
Besides, arrangements would be made to prepare and issue backward class (SC/ST) certificates and driving licences on the spot. The authorities would also entertain applications for various schemes of self-employment and issues relating to land and revenue disputes. Officials and heads of the departments have been asked to be present at the darbar. Lok
Adalat:
She said similar Lok Adalats would also be held on August 16 and September 20. These will be headed by Mr S. C. Goyal, Additional Sessions Judge. MDU land:
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Karamcharis hold MCF responsible for death of two
Faridabad, July 18 The victims - Shreechand of Sikri village and Bishan of Banchari village - died after they inhaled poisonous gas while cleaning a sewer in Chawla colony of Ballabgarh at about 7.30 pm on Wednesday. Three other employees - Suresh, Moolchand and Veer Singh - fell unconscious. All five were rushed to a hospital but Shreechand and Bishan died before they reached there. The Haryana Nagarpalika Karamchari Sangh has said that the incident is a result of carelessness on the part of the MCF. A sangh spokesman said that had the MCF provided the safety kit to the victims as was demanded, the tragedy could have been averted. TNS
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NCB in the dock for burning drugs New Delhi: The Pollution Control Board (PCB) and the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) may get embroiled in a legal battle over the burning of seized drugs on the banks of the Yamuna last month with the former serving a notice on the enforcement agency. The board has charged the bureau with increasing the pollution level in the city. However, the NCB officials said that they had burnt the drugs after seeking the requisite permission of the courts. According to the notice, the NCB had released toxic fumes and contributed to the already dangerous pollution levels in the city by burning huge quantities of drugs on the banks of the Yamuna. The PCB notice pointed out that burning of drugs was in gross violation of the existing rules under which even the burning of leaves was banned in the open.
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Cops, villagers foil bid to free criminal from bus Jhajjar, July 18 According to information, three Faridabad policemen brought Dalip Singh, accused in around 10 cases of murder and dacoity, in Tis Hazari courts in the morning from Rohtak jail. When they were returning to Rohtak in a Haryana Roadways bus, a Maruti Esteem car blocked their way near Jakhoda village. Five armed youths alighted from the car and stormed the bus. They engaged in a scuffle with the policemen escorting the criminal. All of them came out of the bus in the melee and tried to escape along with the handcuffed Dalip Singh. However, the escorting policemen showed remarkable courage and did not let them escape for about 45 minutes. The accomplices of Dalip also shot at two policemen, Praveen and Suneel, who had snatched the keys of their car in the meantime. When they realised that the cops would not let them go, they tried to stop a passing car and escape in it. But when their every effort was foiled, they jumped into a canal running along the highway. In the meantime, some fellow passengers and villagers arrived on the scene and succeeded in overpowering the handcuffed Dalip while his accomplices managed to escape. Both the injured policemen were admitted to the hospital and accused was sent to the jail in Rohtak. Driver shot dead:
Youth shot dead: A youth was shot dead at Bohar village last night. Mr Azad Singh, brother of the victim, stated in the FIR that he, along with his brother, Dharampal, was lying on cots in the courtyard of their house on Wednesday. Two youths entered their house at around 11.45 pm and asked about Dharampal, who was a contractor at Maharani Kishori Devi College here. He alleged that both the youths took out their pistols and fired on Dharampal who later died while being taken to the PGIMS. The assailants escaped along with their two accomplices who were waiting for them on two motorcycles outside the house. The police have registered a case under Sections 302, 450 and 34 of the IPC.
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Servant
helps three to rob house New Delhi, July 18 The youths planned to rob the house in connivance with the servant who had been working with the victim for the past two years. The incident occurred last afternoon when no male member was present in the house. The businessman’s two daughters-in-law were present in the house. The robbers entered the house on the pretext of meeting the servant. The servant offered them tea and biscuits. Just after taking tea and biscuits, they overpowered both the daughters-in-law of the businessman and decamped with the booty. They did not ask for the keys to the cupboard where the jewellery and cash were kept, as the servant was aware of the place where it was kept. While leaving the house, they cut the telephone wire so that the women could not inform the police or the businessman who was away at his workplace. Instead of police verification, the businessman had jotted down the address of the servant and taken his fingerprints. While fleeing after the crime, the servant had taken these away, the police said. Eight cheat banks using credit cards:
Wife behind man’s murder:
The accused, Ajeeta (24) (wife of the deceased), Bhim Dutt (20) and Bhuwan Chand (23), all residents of Usmanpur, were nabbed. During interrogation, the three confessed to the crime. The police said that Bhim Dutt wanted to marry Ajeeta and since Vipin (Ajeeta’s husband) was acting as a stumbling block, the trio decided to kill him. |
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Farmer killed for Rs 60,000 Noida, July 18 According to the police, Om Prakash, 25, resident of Fatehi Khalsa village, had left his village on Sunday with 100 bags of wheat. When Om Prakash, alias Pappu, did not return by Monday his relatives reported the matter to the police. The Babugarh police recovered his body from a tractor- trailer parked opposite a crusher in Kuchesar on the Champala-Bankhanda road. He was identified from the papers found on him. He should have had about Rs 60,000 as sale proceeds for the 100 bags of wheat sold by him. The money was not found on his person, the police said. The police said certain criminals must have robbed Om Prakash of the money. OC
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Retired Wing Commander shoots self New Delhi: Retired Wing Commander, K.N. Sinha, reportedly committed suicide by shooting himself in his right temple with his licensed weapon at his residence in Sainik Farm in South Delhi today. The Wing Commander (81) had been suffering from intolerable Sciatica pain for the last six months. He would sometimes tell his wife that he would commit suicide by shooting himself when the pain became unbearable. Besides, he suffered from a blood deficiency, the police said. When the commander took the extreme step, his wife was in another room. When she heard the shot, she rushed to the commander’s room and saw him lying on the floor with blood oozing from his head.
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Industry urges scrapping of NPA Ordinance Gurgaon, July 18 The national vice-president of the PHDCCI and founder president of the GCCI, Mr P. K. Jain, who runs an industry, said here that the timing as well as the provision for doubling of the prison term for cheque bouncing could not have been more insensitive and out of tune with the harsh realities of the present times. The national economy was currently going through the longest spell of acute recession. The GCCI hoped that the government learnt to distinguish between what constituted occasional cases of wilful defaults from the defaults, which the industries and business had been forced to commit on account of the factors over which they had no control, he added. He argued that if an industry faced liquidity crunch, as was the case at present, the national interest demanded that a very considerate view of the situation had to be taken to ameliorate the problem rather than working out ways to seize the assets and remove the directors. Drastic options were already available, anyway, to deal with the mala fide intentions on the part of firms and businessmen. What was more likely to happen under the present adverse conditions was that the industrial units might be left with no option but to borrow from some such institutions, especially the foreign ones, which might not hesitate to take recourse to seizing the assets and removal of directors or other such measures if the payments were not made according to the exact schedule. This was not the best way to deal with industrial financing, which, by its very nature, contained elements of uncertainty and risk. According to him, the present policy as manifested through the NPA Ordinance and the zeal to increase the prison term for bouncing of cheques in the present circumstances might mean a steep decline in entrepreneurial activities based on bank borrowings in the long run. In the short term, the economy would be flooded with debt-trapped units. He cautioned that the collapse of once vibrant economies of the Latin American countries like Argentina and Brazil took place due to such reasons and the present approach might not take very long to place India in a similar situation where most of the assets of Indian industry would be under outside control while the entrepreneurs would receive the most harassing sort of penal treatment, he added. He said that the case of the ordinance needed some reflection on other counts. The Indian industry was yet to come to terms with the harsh realities of abrupt opening up of the country’s economy to global competition. The Indian banking system continued to operate in a manner that very often led to denial of investment or working capital to an industrial unit when it was most needed. The Union Finance Ministry had decided to shift away from the policy of encouraging saving through tax exemption. The financial institutions had entered the lucrative field of commercial banking, sidelining in the process their original charter of accelerating productive industrial investment. Despite some positive changes, the administrative system governing industrial operations remained complex and unfriendly in approach at the grass-root level, he said. The ordinance in the present perspective could virtually act as the proverbial last straw on the camel’s back, he added. |
Innovation
is the name of the game as New Delhi, July 18 Combining the qualities of one to create a better and a new fabric seems to be the mantra of designers the world over. The reason why good old Khadi seems to be in for a partial, if not complete, makeover. Designer Deepika Govind today rolled out ‘Tencel Khadi’, made from Tencel cellulose fibre and Khadi. Amalgamating the two fabrics has been done to give Khadi a lasting and more contemporary feel. Says the designer, Deepika Govind, “Tencel has tremendous synergy with Khadi in terms of fabric properties. Like Khadi, it is pure cellulosic fibre though it is man- made. Being suitable for varied climates, the very lightweight fabric is soft. Tencel gives Khadi a tactile feel, controlled wrinkling and also does away with the need for starching”. Govind has created the new weave in association with the Karnataka Khadi Board (KKB). The CEO of the KKB, Dr Boregowda, pointed out, “It has been the interest of the board to support new developments in the Khadi sector, mainly to make Khadi amenable for design and open new markets”. For the designers Tencel Khadi also spells a boon. It is easier to cut through and shape in the desired styles easier than ever. Its soft touch properties and drape make it easier to work with. It lends a better drape and look to the designed garments. The economics offered by the garment is again something to look forward to. It is cheaper than pure Khadi, offering more benefits and more versatility. The Tencel Khadi also indicates good news for those who wish to keep the spin alive after the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi, immortalised it during the freedom struggle. As the Secretary, Ministry of Textiles, Mr S. B. Mohapatra put it, “ It is extremely encouraging to see that multinational majors are taking active interest in furthering the cause of Indian fashion. This new development with Khadi, which is a legacy of Mahatma Gandhi, will indeed give a boost to the efforts of the government to spread the usage and awareness of Khadi’s many advantages”.
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