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Thursday,
November 14, 2002, Chandigarh, India  
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Cong likely to retain most MLAs in Gujarat BJP all set for Gujarat poll Bell for co-production in India India, Croatia sign accords |
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Indo-US ties reach
strategic pedestal Plaza shootout: report submitted to NHRC
Probe into starvation deaths ordered UT ‘indifferent’ to Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan Cane crushing: UP farmers meet Kalam UP bypoll: BJP meeting on Nov 17 Bengal lawyers resent court
fee hike Two held with foreign currency
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Cong likely to retain most MLAs in Gujarat New Delhi, November 13 The party’s central election committee, which met here yesterday, has finalised candidates for nearly 90 of the 182 seats in the state. The CEC would meet again on November 16 to decide the remaining candidates but, it is unlikely to declare all its candidates in a hurry as it has not get finalised seat-sharing arrangement with like-minded parties in the state. The last date of filing nominations is November 25. PCC chief Shankersinh Vaghela is unlikely to contest the poll but his son Mahendra Singh is seeking party ticket from Samihari. CPL leader Amarsinh Chaudhary’s son, Tushar Chaudhary, is aspiring for the Bardoli seat. AICC sources said the decision on ticket distribution to family members of Gujarat Congress leaders would be taken by party president Sonia Gandhi. They said that Mrs Gandhi would campaign in Gujarat in the first week of December and address about 10 rallies in the state. The Congress is also preparing a charge sheet against the Modi government in Gujarat. Party leaders said that nearly 50 of the 54 MLAs in the state are likely to be repeated. They said winnability was the main criterion in deciding candidates and the party may even relax its norms of deciding candidates in certain cases. Gujarat Congress leaders are keen to have an understanding with the Lok Janshakti Party of Mr Ram Vilas Paswan. Talks are also being held with the CPI and the Nationalist Congress Party. However, the Congress leaders of the state are willing to leave only a few seats for the partners. Meanwhile, the Congress today accused the BJP of “communal” election propaganda in Gujarat which violates the election code of conduct. The BJP is trying to challenge the fundamentals of the constitution, Congress spokesman Anand Sharma said. He said the “threat” from the Sangh Parivar continues unabated and hoped that people of the state will see through the “diabolic agenda.” |
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BJP all set for Gujarat poll New Delhi, November 13 The high command’s confidence was further enhanced last night when former state Chief Minister Keshubhai Patel along with Textile Minister Kashi Ram Rana addressed a massive rally in Surat. The decision of Mr Patel and Mr Rana, who are said to be
anti-Modi, to join the gaurav yatra has paved the way for the finalisation of party candidates for the coming electoral battle. The Election Commission’s decision today to ban the Vishwa Hindu Parishad’s scheduled yatra from November 17 has not unnerved the party but emboldened the state unit, a party leader said, adding that “we shall exploit” even this to our advantage. The party has taken exception to Chief Election Commissioner J. M. Lyngdoh’s statement that he would not permit the use of Godhra railway station in the election campaign. This is flagrant misuse of the EC’s authority, a senior leader observed here and added that they would challenge it. While 60 nominees for 182 Assembly seats were cleared on Sunday, it is expected that names of over 100 candidates would be announced by November 17 when the BJP Parliamentary Board meets here. But the party would not declare all names till the last day of nomination. |
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Bell for co-production in India New Delhi, November 13 Bell Helicopters of the USA has submitted a proposal to the government for starting co-production and global marketing of its 407 high-altitude light helicopter which can also be used in the attack mode. According to Mr Max Wiley, Executive Director, Asia Pacific of Bell Helicopter Textron, teams from his company have visited Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) in Bangalore. While the government is evaluating the American company’s proposal, the teams from the company are satisfied with the facilities at HAL. “We are having talks with HAL. The business relationship will be beneficial for both HAL and us since it involves worldwide distribution of the helicopter,” Mr Wiley said at a meeting on Indo-US cooperation in the defence sector organised by FICCI here today. He said the helicopter had a high performance record in high-altitude areas. Two Bell 407 are currently in the possession of the Jammu and Kashmir Government. Bell is also currently undertaking the next generation development of the US Army’s OH 58 D helicopter. Mr Wiley is part of the 12-member delegation from the US defence industry which is visiting India to seek co-production, co-development and licensed production of military hardware with Indian companies. The delegation members belong to top-notch companies like Lockheed Martin Aeronautics, Honeywell, Sikorsky Helicopter, Raytheon Corporation, Ultralife Batteries, ITT Industries Night Vision, AM General Corporation, United Defence, L-3 Ocean Systemts, Asia Connections Incorporated and Northrop Grumman. The American side told its Indian counterparts at the FICCI meeting that the USA was taking major steps to make licence approval quicker since the long process had seen American companies lose out to their competitors. The recent military-to-military cooperation, including joint exercises, had helped in this regard. “From the tactical standpoint, India will have access to the latest technology,” Mr Serge Buchakjian, senior-vice president of Honeywell and leader of the US delegation, said. For India’s Advance Light Helicopter (ALH) project, Honeywell was giving its latest T-800 engine, he said. The US defence industry is offering a range of hardware including maritime patrol aircraft, combat fighter aircraft, avionics, night vision equipment, armoured combat vehicles, self-propelled artillery, advanced combat vehicle technologies, naval guns and missile launch systems. A former Deputy Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen Arjun Khanna (retd), said India and the USA had a tremendous scope in developing radars, surveillance systems and night vision equipment and since the two countries had common aims, inter-operability should be the abiding factor of any joint production. Upgradation of India’s weapon systems was yet another area where the two countries could concentrate on. Member of Parliament Prithviraj Chauhan, who is a member of the Standing Committee on Defence, said while there were still some apprehensions about US companies participating in the Indian defence sector due to national security concerns, the day was not far when foreigners could have ownership of firms here. He said the US military hardware industry was today being invited by India to become partners and not as mere sellers of equipment. |
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India, Croatia sign accords New Delhi, November 13 The accords were signed in the presence of visiting Croatian President Stejpan Mesic and Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee after the two leaders held wide-ranging discussions on bilateral issues, besides exchanging views on regional and international issues of mutual concern. Mr Mesic, who is on a five-day visit, shared India’s concerns on terrorism and underscored the need for the international community to sustain the intensity of its campaign against the scourge. Mr Mesic, who is accompanied by several ministers and 20 prominent Croatian businessmen, spoke of the immense potential the two countries had in enhancing economic cooperation in diversified fields. The two sides agreed to send delegations to each other’s country to improve business ties.
PTI |
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Indo-US ties reach
strategic pedestal New Delhi, November 13 The setting up of the group was agreed to by the two governments during the two-day visit of US Under Secretary of Commerce Kenneth I Juster which ended today. According to sources, some finer points of defence, security and intelligence-related aspects of the High Technology Cooperation Group were discussed by Mr Juster with Defence Minister George Fernandes and Prime Minister’s Principal Secretary and National Security Advisor Brajesh Mishra. This is the first time ever when the USA, which had imposed harsh sanctions on India in the wake of India’s nuclear tests in May 1998, has agreed to take its cooperation with India to such sensitive areas as space and high technology. Mr Juster was non-committal whether the Bush administration would make the necessary amendments in US laws to seek a waiver of the mandatory approval from the US Congress for the supply of space and defence related equipment. At the end of Mr Juster’s important visit, the two countries issued a joint statement on high technology commerce and reaffirmed their common interest in preventing proliferation of strategic goods and technology. The Group’s next meeting would be held in Washington DC early next year. |
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Plaza shootout: report submitted to NHRC New Delhi, November 13 The report was submitted today following the commission’s directive on November 6 to the police that a report be submitted within a week on the encounter after questions were raised over the authenticity of the encounter. To support its claim, the police mentioned in the report the entire sequence of events, beginning from the intelligence inputs until the shooting down of the terrorists — Dawood Ali and Ezaz Ahmed. It claimed that the two had been identified as Pakistani nationals on the basis of diaries, other documents and a mobile phone recovered from them, sources said. According to the police, intelligence sleuths and the police had been on the lookout for the terrorists for about three months before the Ansal Plaza encounter and that they had managed to give a slip at least twice. Besides these main evidences, the police also attached versions of several eyewitnesses on the day of the encounter to convince the human rights body that the encounter was not “stage-managed”. |
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Probe into starvation deaths ordered Bhopal, November 13 The House was discussing a call-attention notice moved by Mr Narendra
Birthare, Mr Lakshmikant Sharma and Mr Narottam Mishra (all BJP) on the starvation deaths in Pohri tehsil of Shivpuri district. Revenue Minister Hazarilal
Raghuvanshi, in his long reply, denied starvation conditions in the district and attributed the deaths to disease and old age. The minister was fumbling for words when the BJP members asked pointed questions in this regard. The Chief Minister then came to his rescue and made the suggestion that a House committee be constituted to probe into the starvation death reports, not only in Shivpuri district but in the Ganjbasoda area of Vidisha district also. In his delayed response, Mr Gaur said it would be a committee headed by a Congress member and its findings could be anticipated even in advance. He said the leader of the Opposition should head that committee. The Congress members were quick to point out that the constitution of the committee was the prerogative of the Speaker. The Speaker Mr Shreenivas Tiwari, then asked the leader of the Opposition if he agreed to the constitution of the committee. On Mr Gaur’s replying in the affirmative, he asked both the sides to give him the names from their sides to be included in the committee. |
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UT ‘indifferent’ to Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan New Delhi, November 13 Launched in 2001, the SSA aims to ensure the enrolment of all children by 2003. It will further strive to see that all children complete five years of primary schooling by 2007 and eight years of elementary schooling by 2010. The pre-project activity includes house-to-house survey to identify children not going to school and drawing the annual plan for Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan. The SSA annual plans have been received from all states except Punjab, Goa and Manipur. Among the UTs, only Lakshadweep has submitted the annual plan for the SSA, according to the Secretary, Elementary Education, HRD Ministry, Mr S.C. Tripathi. Mr Amit Kaushik, Director, Department of Elementary Education and Literacy, Ministry of Human Resource Development, told TNS that Chandigarh had “not got off the ground” in initiating pre-project activity which preceded Sarva Shikhsa Abhiyan. The annual plan and the perspective plan are, therefore, nowhere in sight. Chandigarh is to get Rs 9 crore over the next five years for the SSA, of which Rs 7.2 crore will be the Centre’s contribution. Meanwhile, the department received the annual district plan for the financial year from the Punjab Government on Monday evening. The Principal Secretary (Education), Punjab Government, Mr K.K. Bhatnagar, is said to have assured the department that it will submit the perspective plan very soon. The annual district plan spells out the areas of focus of setting up schools, construction of buildings, training of teachers and distribution of textbooks. The perspective plan presents an outline of the direction the state government will take for the SSA from 2002 to 2010. Sources in the department told TNS that the Centre sanctioned Rs 55.17 crore to Punjab last year as the first instalment. The state government released Rs 9.7 crore. “We have to release another Rs 55 crore as the second instalment of last year (2001-02). The total plan size of the past financial year was Rs 130 crore, of which our contribution was Rs 100 crore,” he said. Mr Kaushik pointed out that Haryana had a distinct advantage over Punjab with its experience of executing the World Bank assisted District Primary Education Programme (DPEP) in seven of the 19 districts. “The SSA will build on that experience. The DPEP covers 273 districts in 18 states and is focused on children in the age group of 5 to 11 years. The SSA’s drive is on elementary education in the 6 to 14 age group,” he said. The Tenth Plan allocation for Haryana over the next five years (2002-07) is Rs 978.5 crore, of which the Centre’s contribution would be Rs 733.8 crore, he said. Sources in the department said they had approved annual district plan of Rs 74.12 crore for Haryana in this financial year. “We have released the first instalment of Rs 27 crore in September. We will release the balance Rs 27 crore after the initial instalment has been utilised,” he said. Haryana submitted its annual district plan as well as its perspective plan. The perspective plan needed some fine-tuning. “The state government has promised to send the perspective plan by December. After they send the plan, we will send an appraisal team to Haryana,’’ he said. Budgetary allocation for Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan for this financial year is Rs 1,680 crore. Over the Tenth Plan period, the allocation for the SSA is Rs 17,000 crore. The money for the SSA will be given over the next five years according to the size of the state and the magnitude of the problem. “While Rs 1,500 crore will be given to Punjab over the next five years, Uttar Pradesh will get about Rs 7,000 crore, Bihar Rs 4,000 crore and Madhya Pradesh Rs 3,000 crore,” he stated. |
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Cane crushing: UP farmers meet Kalam New Delhi, November 13 In a memorandum to the President, the delegation pointed out that out of the 52 mills in the state, only two private sector mills had begun crushing operations. Mr Malik said it was unfortunate that 22 public sector mills and 26 cooperative mills had not yet commenced crushing operations, which otherwise should have started in October. The resultant circumstances had forced farmers to sell their produce to local crushing units at meagre prices, ranging between Rs 35 and Rs 45 per quintal. This is far below the statutory minimum price (SMP), fixed by the Centre at around Rs 70 per quintal. The state advisory price (SAP), on the other hand, is more than Rs 95 per quintal. Mr Malik said farmers had not been paid arrears to the tune of Rs 400 crore. |
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UP bypoll: BJP meeting on Nov 17 Lucknow, November 13 Legislature party leader Lalji Tandon told UNI here today that all MLAs and MLCs would attend the meeting.
UNI |
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Bengal lawyers resent court fee hike Kolkata, November 13 Lawyers of the High Court and other courts will observe a fast on November 18, demanding immediate rollback of the hike. Reacting to the lawyers’ strike call, state Judicial Minister, Nisith Adhikery said the lawyers had nothing to lose due to the fee enhancement as people who wanted legal protection would have to pay the enhanced sum. The minister requested the lawyers to call off the strike. Mr Adhikery argued that there had been no increase in court fees in the state since 1970. He said court fees in all other states were still much higher than in the West Bengal and there was no reason why these should not be
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Two held with foreign currency New Delhi, November 13 A woman Bano, who was holding passport No E-0900421, was arrested for concealing bundles of foreign currencies like Saudi Riyals and Qatar Riyals in her rectum. She had concealed the currencies in the hollow pipes of her stroller bag. A male passenger who was to board the same flight was also found to have foreign currency worth Rs 1.75 lakh. He had concealed it in the rectal. |
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