 |
Monday,
December 2, 2002, Chandigarh, India  
|
‘ISI fomenting trouble from B’desh’ Strength respects strength: Kalam
IRRIGATION SCAM Blackwill’s J&K visit begins today Banks
have lost confidence: Jaswant |
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Awareness drives mark AIDS Day
Veerappan urged to extend deadline
Row over control of maidan Lawyers meet CJ on transfer of judge Sanjay Dutt
to appear in
court today Probe into assets of Raja Bhaiya begins Sitar maestro denied plot for institute Rajnath Singh hurt in
mishap
|
|
‘ISI fomenting trouble from B’desh’ New Delhi, December 1 Besides making “extensive inroads” into Bangladeshi organisations like the Jamaat-e-Islami, Harkat-ul-Jehad-al-Islami and several other “anti-Awami League organisations”, the book says ISI operatives, “in association with Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI), continue to provide assistance to various Indian insurgent groups present in Bangladesh”. External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha had last week told the Lok Sabha about ISI activities in Bangladesh to foment anti-India passions and aid and abet Indian insurgent groups based in that country. The 188-page publication, entitled ‘Pakistan’s Involvement in Terrorism Against India’, gives several instances of the alleged ISI activities and says that the “strong links” between ISI and Indian insurgent outfits like ULFA, the All-Tripura Tiger Force, National Democratic Front of Bodoland and those belonging to Manipur and Nagaland, “for several years” have now been “firmly established”. Stating that after the US-led operations in Afghanistan, Al-Qaida elements had taken shelter in Bangladesh, Mr Sinha had told the Lok Sabha that a large number of madarsas had also sprung up along the Indo-Bangla border. New training camps had been established by major insurgent groups in different parts of Bangladesh, the book said. Maintaining that ISI officers were “tutoring” insurgent leaders and activists about military and psychological warfare, it said many of them were in possession of “travel documents (forged or otherwise) of Bangladeshi origin. Some of these have been prepared with the active assistance of ISI operatives in Bangladesh”. It said the so-called commander-in-chief of ULFA, Paresh Barua, who was still based in Bangladesh, had visited Pakistan in March 2000 “on a fake passport in the name of Kamaruzzaman Khan. A Pakistani High Commission official in Dhaka ostensibly arranged the visit”. PTI |
|
Strength respects strength: Kalam Daman, December 1 Emphasising that “the strength respects the strength,” Mr Kalam justified the country’s expenditure on Defence matters saying “the economic and political freedom of the nation is very important.” The President’s comments came while interacting with the students of the Coast Guard Public School here after presenting ‘colours’ to the sentinels of the Indian Maritime Force. The main architect of Pokhran II nuclear tests of 1998, Mr Kalam brushed aside queries on nuclear non-proliferation stating “India is now a nuclear weapon state.” Asked about the country’s Defence expenditure, he said, “We spent a fraction of an amount on defence compared to our neighbours.” Lauding the role of Coast Guard in protecting the country’s seas, the President said, “500 years ago Daman was taken by foreigners who came by sea route, because of our weakness, disunity and many issues of smaller kingdoms.” Mr Kalam, whose vision is to make India a “superpower by 2020”, exhorted students to “think big”. “A young mind ignited with a mission is the most powerful of country’s resources,” he said. The President, during his interaction with students, asked them to have a “role model” in life even as he showed keen interest in answering their queries. Asserting that the country’s space programme was a result of vision of legendary scientist Vikram Sarabhai, Mr Kalam recalled that a politician like C. Subramanian, along with M.S. Swaminathan, made the country “self-sufficient” in foodgrains. The students also rendered ‘My Mother’, a poem penned by the President. Mr Kalam later recited his poem ‘Song of Youth’.
PTI |
|
IRRIGATION SCAM New Delhi, December 1 This is the second sanction against Mr Thungon who the CBI alleged had received Rs 8 lakh as bribe in a benami account for getting the Planning Commission approve a Rs 4.1-crore project for the upgradation of minor irrigation projects in Lucknow. Earlier, the President had given his nod for the prosecution of Mr Thungon and another senior Congress leader Sheila Kaul for alleged bunglings in allocating shops during their tenure as ministers in the Urban Development Department. CBI sources said after getting the sanction, the process for filing charge sheet against Mr Thungon in the scam had been initiated. It said the Union Finance Ministry had released Rs 1 crore for the project in 1994 out of which Rs 50 lakh was withdrawn by a senior official of Nagaland state’s Irrigation Department for making some purchases for the upgradation of the irrigation projects. The CBI claimed that during searches in Nagaland neither any receipts were found nor any material purchased from the money could be located. Meanwhile, Mr Thungon was not available for comments. The CBI claimed that investigations revealed that the state irrigation official had issued a demand draft of Rs 10 lakh in favour of Thanu Thungon, who subsequently transferred Rs 8 lakh through a cheque to an account operated by Prem Kumar in the same bank. The CBI claimed that according to the witnesses examined and the opinion of handwriting experts, Prem Kumar was none other than Mr P.K. Thungon. The agency also claimed that it recovered a portion of Prem Kumar’s chequebook from the residence of Mr Thungon during a raid in connection with the housing scam. PTI |
|
Blackwill’s J&K visit begins today New Delhi, December 1 Mr Blackwill, accompanied by a five-member US delegation during his three-day visit, would arrive in Srinagar on the first leg of his visit during which he would be briefed by Corps Commander of 15 Corps Lieut-Gen V.B. Patankar. The next day he would be visiting some of the forward posts in north of Kashmir which have been the worst affected due to the incessant and unprovoked shelling by Pakistani troops before leaving for Jammu where he would call on Governor Girish Chander Saxena. He would also meet Chief Minister Mufti Mohammed Sayeed. On December 4, the US Ambassador would be meeting the Editors of prominent local dailies and is also likely to visit Raghunath Temple. An advance team from the US Mission was in the valley to line up engagements for the Ambassador who would be flying into the border state in a US Air Force plane.
PTI |
|
Banks have lost confidence: Jaswant
Indore, December 1 Answering questions at a function organised by the BJP’s economic cell here, the minister said, “The level of self-confidence among the banks has gone down after the scrutiny of their activities by the CBI, CVC and CAG.” “Nowadays, the banks believe in keeping their money in the bank itself rather than giving it to the customer to avoid problems,” he said, adding that this was not a good situation and not acceptable. The Finance Minister said he would ensure that banks regained their confidence and worked accordingly. He also lamented the behaviour of some bank officials with small customers in comparison to big ones and advised them to treat all customers equally. Commenting on the working of stock exchanges, he said even today their role was not beneficial to the small investors who looked for an assured income. He said he was making efforts to ensure that the stock exchanges worked in a manner that it assured a guaranteed income to the fixed income group.
PTI |
|
|
Khalsa project may halt for want of funds New Delhi, December 1 The Parkash Singh Badal government, which had announced that the Centre would contribute liberally for its completion by December 2004, conceived the Rs 210-crore project to showcase Punjab’s rich cultural heritage as a striking and lasting outcome of the year-long tercentenary celebrations in 1999. The construction work on the project would have stopped long ago had the state government not contributed Rs 15 crore during this financial year to ensure that work continued. “However, if funds are not made available soon, the work on the project is bound to come to a grinding halt,” the Punjab Chief Minister, Capt Amarinder Singh, informed MPs from Punjab earlier this week. The project is caught up in such a precarious situation that no one knows from where the required fund of Rs 155 crore will come for its completion within the stipulated period. Up to September 30 a total of Rs 55 crore has been spent on the construction as well as designs of the project’s exhibit contents. But only the bare structure of the complex has come up so far. Mr Badal had also enlisted support of the BJP, his party’s ally, and also of the Vajpayee government at the Centre for the dream project named “Ajooba” or a wonder. For this purpose, a National Committee was constituted under the Chairmanship of the Prime Minister, which had sanctioned Rs 100 crore for the celebrations and connected projects. The state government has sought a special grant of Rs 100 crore from the Centre to carry out the project which it said would also enrich the Indian cultural heritage. The Chief Minister had already met the Union Tourism Minister, Mr Jagmohan, in this regard. Spread over an area of 100 acres, ‘Ajooba’ is conceived to bring “to life the splendid stories of heroism and martyrdom that defy the limits of human endurance and imagination and thus, give the visitors a virtual reality and a walk-through experience”.
UNI |
|
Awareness drives mark AIDS Day New Delhi, December 1 According to a report by the AIDS Research and Control Organisation (ARCON), India, China and other Asian countries will together account for 20 million HIV positive people by 2007, as against the present UNAIDS and the World Health Organisation figure of 7.2 million. Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik led the longest ever signature pledge on AIDS awareness to mark the day. The six-km long banner displaying slogans on the awareness of the disease, was put up in the middle of a busy road in the city to allow about 1,00,000 people to put their signatures. The 5,500-metre long pledge is likely to adorn the pages of the Limca Book of Records as the world’s longest signature campaign against AIDS and HIV. In Manipur, one of the worst affected states in India, the World AIDS Awareness Fortnight was organised today at the NCC ground, Imphal, with the theme being “Stigma and Discrimination: Live and let live.’’ Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu launched an AIDS prevention education programme aimed at covering school and college students to mark the World AIDS prevencion Day today. In Delhi, Chief Minister Shiela Dikshit had announced the setting up of a separate ward for AIDS in each government hospital in the city to tackle the growing scourge. The Indian Red Cross Society organised a painting and slogan competition today in Delhi to impress upon the youth the need for treating the AIDS victims with compassion and to help them live their lives with dignity. Meanwhile, rallies, processions and seminars involving school children as well as sex workers marked the observance of World AIDS Prevention Day in West Bengal today. In Jammu, as part of its programmes to mark the World AIDS Day, the Army Field Organisation organised programmes to educate and create awareness amongst troops and their families on the facts of the disease.
UNI |
|
7 civilians, 2 Army men die in clash Guwahati, December 1 The clash took place when nine personnel of the Assam Regiment, who were in civil dress, conducted search operations to apprehend some extremists. The villagers, however, attacked them with sharp weapons in which a Major and a jawan were killed and another jawan was injured. The Army personnel, in self defence, resorted to firing in which seven civilians fell to the bullets and as many were injured.
UNI |
|
|
Veerappan urged to extend deadline Chennai, December 1 The state government’s problem, cropped up as a result of the rejection by the Kollegal Magistrate Court yesterday of a bail application of Mani on the ground that it did not come under its purview because of the serious nature of the two cases, one regarding alleged supply of explosives to Veerappan and the other relating to the supply of weapons. A fresh application seeking the release of Mani is to be filed before the Mysore District and Sessions Judge on tomorrow. The high power committee set up under the chairmanship of Karnataka Home Minister Mallikarjuna Kharge to monitor the Nagappa hostage crisis met the Bangalore yesterday to review the situation. The Nagappa family is reported to be deeply worried over the prolongation of the crisis with no immediate solution is sight. The Tamil Nadu Government has been taking a tough stance with its Special Task Force (STF) unrelenting in its operations to capture Veerappan. The Director-General of Police, Mr B.P. Nailwal, has reiterated that Mani, against whom the state police had registered three cases in connection with his role as an emissary during the abduction and release of Kannada movie star Rajkumar two years ago, would be arrested if he entered Tamil Nadu. |
|
Row over control of maidan Kolkata, December 1 The maidan belongs to the Defence Ministry and Fort Williams is the custodian of the land. But the area is maintained by the state Public Works Department (PWD), whereas, the local police takes care of the law and order problems in the maidan area. The state government, however, now claims that legally it owns the maidan though the land had been handed over to Fort Williams during the Second World War for security reasons. But the situation now has changed and the government should have its “full control”, demanded the state PWD Minister, Mr Amar Chowdhury. The minister warns that the state will hesitate to go to the Supreme Court claiming its legal ownership. He feels that at least some of the maidan area can be utilised “commercially” to fetch extra funds for the depleted state coffer for meeting at least some part of the huge expenses being spent on the maintenance and the policing of the maidan. Fort Williams, however, has refused to leave the “ownership” of the maidan. It has opposed the commercial use of the maidan in any form and warned that any such step would be opposed “militarily”. The issue had been raised more than once during Mr Jyoti Basu’s tenure of Chief Ministership but no settlement could be reached. Former Prime Minister, V.P.Singh had once agreed in principle on the proposal of handing over some of the maidan area adjoining the Monument and Curzon Park to the state PWD, which has been the venue for meetings and rallies of different political parties. The proposal, however, did not materialise. But the state government now once again asserted its claim in the wake of receipt of several proposals from various commercial organisations for using the maidan land for commercial purposes like holding of fairs, circuses, exhibitions and other festivals. The police has been charging a nominal rent from the organisers for holding such fairs. But now the PWD, wants that special levies and taxes be imposed for using the maidan and accordingly, more commercial organisations be invited to use the land during the winter. Fort Williams has strongly opposed the proposal since it will not only destroy the greenery of the maidan and its beauty, but also create law and order problems. The Society for Beautification of Kolkata and various other social welfare organisations have opposed any commercial use of the maidan. On the contrary, they want more steps be taken to preserve the beauty and the greenery of the maidan. Political parties, however, want that some part of the maidan should be earmarked as meeting place and they be allowed to use the area for holding meetings and rallies. |
|
Lawyers meet CJ on transfer of judge Guwahati, December 1 “The Chief Justice gave us a patient hearing and assured to talk to the Supreme Court Chief Justice on the issue, if required”, the Guwahati High Court’s Bar Association Secretary, Mr Apurba Sarma said here. Mr Sarma said he and the association’s President, Mr A.C. Barbora, called on the Chief Justice and expressed “resentment” of the entire lawyers’ community over the reported move. Mr Naolekar admitted that he was informed about the transfer and if required he “may confer” with the Chief Justice of India. The Bar Association has called for an “extraordinary” meeting tomorrow to decide the future course of action in view of the reported transfer of the judge. The Asom Gana Parishad Secretary of the legislature party, Mr Dilip Saikia, meanwhile, has written to the President and the Prime Minister with a request to interfere and put an end to the “unfortunate” move to transfer allegedly “tainted” judges to the Guwahati HC. Referring to the move to transfer another judge of the Punjab High Court, Mr Saikia said “appointment of these two tainted judges have hurt the sentiments of the people of the North East and regarded as an insult to the region”.
PTI |
|
Sanjay Dutt
to appear in court today Mumbai, December 1 On a plea by defence lawyer Farhana Shah, Designated Judge P.D. Kode had exempted the accused until today and they were directed to appear tomorrow. The exemption was granted on conditions that they would not tamper with evidence or maintain contact with absconding accused. The CBI has already submitted oral arguments and will file written submissions on December 9.
PTI |
|
Probe into assets of Raja Bhaiya begins Pratapgarh, December 1 The managing committee of National Urban Cooperative Bank, where the MLA and members of his family had allegedly deposited a huge amount of cash, has been suspended for not rectifying the audit objections and making payments in contravention of rules and regulations, they said. Additional District Magistrate K.K. Chaudhary has been appointed administrator of the bank replacing the committee, the sources said.
PTI |
|||||
|
Sitar maestro denied plot for institute Kolkata, December 1 The disappointed maestro conveyed this decision, alleging that he had waited for three years with an application for land but neither Chief Minister Buddhadev Bhattacharjee, nor Minister concerned Ashoke Bhattacharyya had not sent a reply to the application. Ustad Khan said he would now build the foundation either in Pune or Mumbai and in both places he had offer of suitable plot from the Vilash Rao government. He said he had heard so much about promotion of cultural activities by the Bengal Chief Minister, which had inspired him to set up the foundation in the name of his late father, a renowned sitarist. The sitarist also decided to hold the coming centenary celebration of Enayet Khan on February 7 in Mumbai which was planned earlier in Kolkata. On that occasion, the famous Sarod maestro, Pandit Ali Akbar Khan, would be honoured with the prize of the Enayet Khan Foundation on the completion of three years. The Chief Minister said he had no knowledge about the application of Pandit Bhilayet Khan for a plot for an institute. But Ashoke Bhattacharyya admitted he had received an application from the maestro for 10 cuttah plot. But it was not possible for them to provide any land to him at Salt Lake. However, we can now provide the lands at EM by-pass near Salt Lake for the proposed institute, which, if the sitarist agreed might apply for, said the Minister. |
|||||
|
Rajnath Singh hurt in mishap Ahmedabad, December 1 The car of Rajnath Singh, who was canvassing in the area, met with an accident that left him and three others injured. They have been admitted to a hospital nearby where doctors attending on him stated his condition was stable, party sources said, adding that the driver, his security personnel and a journalist were injured. PTI |
|||||
USA BUYING INDIAN
ANTHRAX KITS SWISS COUPLE URGE FOR BAIL CORPSES MISSING FROM GRAVEYARD BEAR KILLS WOMAN IN UTTARANCHAL HEROIN WORTH RS 1 CR SEIZED |
 |
| 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 | |
