 |
Saturday,
August 24, 2002, Chandigarh, India  
|
SPECIAL STORY Top Delhi cop held on rape charge Drop ordinance on petrol pumps: Sonia Land allotment as per rules: minister
CBI ‘favoured’ Quattrocchi |
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Tehelka: govt asked
to file affidavit Modi’s tirade against CEC ‘outrageous’
Mayawati renews ties with rakhi brother Fruit-processing body formed in Doon 15 tribal persons re-converted Karan Singh decries South custom
|
|
SPECIAL STORY New Delhi, August 23 According to reports here, the MEA has advised the Army establishment to call off the proposed visit of the Chief of Army Staff due to some differences cropping up between the two countries in the recent weeks. Although the exact details were not available, reports suggested that some differences had emerged between the countries during the recent ASEAN Regional Forum summit held in Brunei earlier this month which had prompted the MEA to advise the Army establishment to call off the proposed visit of the Chief. Earlier reports had also suggested that the Army Chief’s visit to China had been cancelled. However, the Army establishment had gone about denying the reports saying that the visit had not been cancelled off but had been postponed. As per the earlier programme, General Padmanabhan was supposed to visit China from July 29 but it was postponed and slated for September. Although the final dates for the visit were still to come, sources suggested that it might happen in the first week of September. But now with the MEA advising against the visit, it is unlikely to come about in the near future. The Indian delegation at the ASEAN meeting was headed by Minister of External Affairs Yashwant Sinha and he had held an exclusive meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxian in Brunei. One of the issues that came up during the meeting was the prospective visit of Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee to China later this year. One of the recent issues of concern for China has been the coming together of India and the USA for the patrolling of the Malacca Straits. But as per the official briefings, China had not raised any concern on it during the meeting between the two ministers. India and China have in the past had differences over the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with accusations of its being altered by the other. Reports said that another argument against t he visit of the Army Chief was that there had been no reciprocal high-level visit from China following the visit of the Former Chief of Air Staff A Y Tipnis. There was also an opinion that since Prime Minister Vajpayee and Defence Minister George Fernandes were slated to visit that country, there was no need for the Chief of the Army Staff to also go there. Incidentally, the last time a PLA chief visited India was in April, 1998, when Gen Quanyou Fu, who still heads the army, came to Delhi as part of a high-level delegation. However, a senior PLA officer visited Delhi earlier this year. |
|
Top Delhi cop held on rape charge Dehra Dun, August 23 Director General of the Uttaranchal police P.D. Raturi said the medical examination of the woman had confirmed rape and Sharma, who is in charge of the Delhi Armed Force, was produced before a local court which sent him to 14-day judicial custody. UNI |
|
|
Drop ordinance on petrol pumps: Sonia New Delhi, August 23 In a letter to the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, Ms Gandhi said the Congress had opposed recent blanket order for the cancellation of all petrol pump allocations made since January 1, 2000. “Such an order obviously suffers from several legal disabilities and is unjust to genuine allottees like families of the Kargil martyrs and widows. This order also amounts to an attempt to wash over irregularities made in the allotment of pumps to undeserving persons for extraneous considerations. We have, instead, been demanding an impartial high level inquiry so that the irregular allotments, the considerations for which they were made and the persons responsible can be pin-pointed,” Ms Gandhi added. In this context, she said, the recent news item stating that the BJP-led government plans to issue an ordinance terminating dealerships of all pumps was “extremely disturbing.” Ms Gandhi said the ordinance would legitimise a defective executive order of blanket cancellation that was perceived to be motivated by a desire to protect persons and authorities who had committed irregularities. “It will tantamount to covering up and compounding a faulty, ill-motivated decision by another one that is even more flawed and suspect, she said. Ms Gandhi said the proposed ordinance would also pre-empt the high courts across the country and the Supreme Court from issuing orders on merits on the petitions filed by allottees before them. “Now that the matter is before our judiciary, they should be allowed to look into not only the legitimacy and motive behind the executive blanket order of cancellation but also the need or otherwise of a thorough inquiry into the allocations before such an order was issued,” she said. Interestingly, while demanding inquiry into the petrol pump allotments in the Parliament, the Congress had asked the government to bring in a legislation to enforce the Prime Minister’s order of cancelling petrol pumps allotments. Asked about the change of the Congress stance, the party’s chief spokesman, Mr Jaipal Reddy, said the party had also sought an inquiry into the process of allotments. “We continue to insist on an inquiry,” Mr Reddy said. |
|
Land allotment as per rules: minister New Delhi, August 23 Talking to newsmen after attending the hour-long ‘bhumi pujan’ and ‘shilanyas’ ceremony of the VHP-backed ‘Dharmayatra Mahasangh’ headed by senior BJP leader Mange Ram Garg, the minister said, “Over 2,000 institutions, including newspapers, schools, hospitals and cultural organisations, have been allotted land in the Capital. Most of these organisations have a long record of public service,” he said. He said allotments made to several sangh-affiliated institutions were as per the norms and in consultation with finance and other departments concerned. “No queue has been jumped,” he said, adding that the government was planning to allot plots to the CPM-backed Centre of Indian Trade Union and the Hind Mazdoor Sabha. “We have allotted land to churches and Christian organisations, but nobody has highlighted them”, he said. Interestingly, Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee and Tourism Minister Jagmohan, along with VHP international president Ashok Singhal are the three patrons of the mahasangh, which has been given a 485 sq metre plot in the prime Rouse Avenue. |
|
CBI ‘favoured’ Quattrocchi New Delhi, August 23 During arguments on Hindujas’ plea for quashing the CBI charge sheet, their counsel Ram Jethmalani showe to Special Judge Prem Kumar a copy of a Red Corner Alert notice issued by the Interpol against Quattrocchi and his wife Maria and claimed Maria had visited India in November 1993 but the CBI did not question or arrest her. However, CBI counsel US Prasad refuted Mr Jethmalani’s charge on the ground that the Red Corner Alert notice was issued in February 1997, almost four years after Quattrocchi left India. The CBI could not have arrested him or his wife in 1993 on the basis of the notice issued in 1997, he clarified. He reiterated the CBI’s stance that the agency did not have any evidence against the Italian businessman in July 1993 and the same was received only in January 1997.
PTI |
|
Tehelka: govt asked
to file affidavit New Delhi, August 23 The other document relates to the defence procurement procedures. During his deposition, tehelka.com investigation Editor Aniruddha Bahal had said the portal had procured certain confidential defence documents from Col. Anil Sehgal and Defence Ministry assistant P. Sashi. Commission Counsel Dayan Krishnan had sought the recall of four witnesses, including Col. Sehgal and Mr Sashi in the light of Mr Bahal’s revelations. He had also sought to recall two others, Maj Gen (retd) S.P. Murgai and alleged defence middleman Sudhir Choudrie on different grounds.
UNI |
|
|
Modi’s tirade against CEC ‘outrageous’ New Delhi, August 23 Congress spokesman Jaipal Reddy said the attack was reprehensible and entirely misplaced because the decision on Gujarat was taken by three Election Commissioners and not by Mr Lyngdoh alone. He said Mr Modi was attacking a constitutional institution which could not give reply. “The Prime Minister is supposed to ensure that the dignity of the constitutional office was protected and defended. We don’t know what has happened to the Prime Minister,” Mr Reddy said. The spokesman said it was the decision to send the Gujarat issue to the President that had emboldened Mr Modi to continue his vicious campaign against the CEC. He also sought an explanation from the NDA allies on their silence on the “objectionable conduct” of Mr Modi. Maintaining that democracy would be in serious jeopardy if the constitutional posts were attacked, Mr Reddy said Mr Modi should be reined in. “The BJP would be completely responsible for obnoxious behaviour of Mr Modi,” he said. On the return of land in Andhra Pradesh by BJP president Venkiah Naidu, Congress spokesman Anand Sharma said Mr Naidu had returned the land after “expose” and the Congress would press for an inquiry. Meanwhile, Congress President Sonia Gandhi would address a rally here tomorrow to target the NDA government on various “scams.” Meanwhile, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) today said Mr Modi was “unsuitable” for the Chief Minister’s office. The CPM’s reaction came in the wake of Mr Modi’s remark made in Ahmedabad yesterday where he reportedly said it seemed that Mr Lyngdoh was being guided by another of his community — Ms Sonia Gandhi. In a statement, the CPM party politburo said today that it was further shocking to learn that the national leadership of the BJP who acted as the mentors of Mr Narendra Modi should remain silent and refuse to condemn his remarks. |
|
|
Mayawati renews ties with rakhi brother Lucknow, August 23 Mr Tandon has been rakhi brother to Ms Mayawati for the past many years, but she tied the rakhi only when the BJP and the BSP formed government as alliance partners. Mr Tandon is not upset over this unpredictable behaviour of Ms Mayawati. “Bahena hoti hi aisi hai (Sisters are like this only)”, he told The Tribune yesterday. In the morning all bureaucrat - brothers of the Chief Minister lined up outside 5, Kalidas Marg, the official residence of the Chief Minister. The Principal Secretary, Mr PL Punia, was first to whom Ms Mayawati tied the rakhi. In all,Ms Mayawati tied the rakhi to at least 12 officials. And in turn, the brother officers paid anything between Rs 501 and Rs 1001 to the Chief Minister. “What else an officer can give to the Chief Minister,” said an officer and added: “Moreover, a brother’s love for her sister cannot be measured in terms of money.” The show then shifted to 12, Mall Avenue – the official residence of Mr Tandon. The Chief Minister’s cavalcade reached there at around 12.20 pm. Mr Tandon received the Chief Minister at the portico and took her inside. She stayed there for almost an hour and left smiling ear to ear. |
|
|
Fruit-processing body formed in Doon Dehra Dun, August 23 The entrepreneurs announced the formation of the Uttaranchal Fruit Processing Association (UFPA) yesterday at a workshop on Fruit and Fruit Processing in Uttaranchal. The workshop was organised by the Himalayan Environmental Studies and Conservation Organisation (HESCO), a voluntary body working for the introduction of appropriate technologies in the Himalayan region. Men and women from various parts of Uttaranchal, engaged in manufacturing of pickles, squashes and jams by processing of citrus fruits and other locally available fruits and flowers, draws the government’s attention to their plight, besides also adopting a strategy for the storage and marketing. Tikaram Pathak from Kotdwar, Vishveshwari Devi from Joshimath, Raghu Kandwal from Tehri Garhwal, Ms Kala Bisht from Ambiwala (Dehra Dun) and Prakash Joshi from Ranikhet (Almora) explained their problems to Sanjeev Chopra, Secretary, Horticulture and Fruit Processing, who was present on the occasion. Urging the participants to improve marketing skills, Mr Chopra told them that the government would lend a helping hand by exhibiting their products at trade fairs and shilp kendras. Explaining the backdrop of the launch of the fruit-processing endeavour in the region, Dr Anil P. Joshi, founder of the HESCO said the activity grew as an offshoot of rehabilitation efforts launched after the occurrence of natural calamities in the hills. He said men and women pushed into adopting an economic activity to ensure their survival had become a full-fledged entrepreneurs. Dr Joshi said the government could also help in transportation of fruits, diseases control measures, nursery raising, diversification of crops and establishment of cold storage. He said standardisation and marketing of the finished products was also the need of the hour and that the government could help as a facilitator. |
|
|
15 tribal persons re-converted Kolkata, August 23 The re-conversion was done secretly and silently yesterday by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) at a ceremony after undergoing legal procedure at a Malda court in the presence of senior BJP and VHP leaders with the chanting of hymns from the religious scriptures and observance of other procedures. Mr Chowdhury and the district Congress leaders had no knowledge about the incident. The police and the local administration were also totally unaware of the ceremony, which passed off peacefully. In April last 25 tribal persons had been converted similarly at the place but at that time, there were much uproars following stiff resistance from the police and the local CPM leadership. District president of the VHP Parmeshwar Mukherjee and secretary Kishore Das who had conducted the “conversion ceremony” told mediapersons that they would continue their effort to bring back those poor and helpless tribal persons who had been forcefully baptised as Christians. They themselves were now coming forward in large number seeking their rescue, the VHP leaders claimed. Chief Minister Buddhadev Bhattacharjee and the CPM leadership strongly resented the VHPs “conversion” of tribal persons to Hinduism. Mr Bhattacharjee directed the police to take firm action against those VHP leaders who were trying to disturb peace in the name of religion. He also asked for a detailed report of the incident. In Bengal such thing would not be allowed to take place, the Chief Minister warned. The Christian missionaries working in the district in various social welfare activities categorically denied there was any attempt by them to convert the tribal persons into Christianity. They admit some village people had joined the missionaries willfully and were now involved in various welfare activities. CPM leadership in the district, which sent a report to Alimuddin Street, alleged that the VHP and BJP had been engaged in a nasty game in the name of religion and fanning violence. Mr Jiban Moitra, district president of the party demanded immediate arrest of the VHP president and secretary and other leaders who were directly involved in the “conversion” of the tribal persons. |
|
Karan Singh decries South custom New Delhi, August 23 In a statement issued here today Dr Karan Singh said, “The practice of drugging children and burying them alive for a short while, ostensibly to propitiate local deities, will come as rude shock to millions of Hindus in the country and round the world”. Demanding an immediate ban on the “barbarous” practice he added, “Whatever the origin or antiquity of this custom, it is highly objectionable and should be banned immediately”. |
|
Current drought ‘worst’ in century New Delhi, August 23 “More than 75 per cent of the area has been affected by the drought of immense proportion. The calamity is worse than that of 1918”, he said. Stating that the time has come to prepare for the rabi output to make up for the loss in kharif production which is estimated to decrease by 12 per cent. |
|
IAS officer booked Patna, August 23 |
 |
| 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 | | 122 Years of Trust | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail | |
Indian sculptor Dipankar Dutta works on a statue of Nobel Peace Prize-winner Mother Teresa in
Kolkata on
Friday. Dutta plans to hold an exhibition of his statues of Mother Teresa in
Kolkata shortly. Albanian origin Mother Teresa founded the Missionaries of Charity in
Kolkata in 1950 to look after the poor and needy. The Vatican is considering the case for the eventual canonisation of Mother
Teresa who died in 1997. 
Videos
