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Sunday,
January 5, 2003, Chandigarh, India  
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A new
India emerging: Nathan
BJP summons top UP
leaders to Delhi Kalam for global space
cooperation |
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Army
denies reports on casualties CWC
members to plan HP campaign New HP
industrial policy welcomed Himachal page: Dhumal hails Central package for industry Salman
case: witness’ statement not recorded Report corruption, says Ajay Chautala
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A new India emerging: Nathan
New Delhi, January 4 This figured during a 45-minute meeting Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee had with Singapore President S.R. Nathan, who is here on an eight-day State visit. The two sides are awaiting report of a joint study group which undertook a feasibility study of a comprehensive economic cooperation agreement. The report is expected to come out in April, External Affairs Ministry spokesman told reporters. He said the two sides shared concerns on global terrorism which included cross-border terrorism. The concerns voiced by ASEAN countries in the wake of the terror attack on Bali were also shared, he said. They spoke of historical linkages between the two countries and India’s greater involvement in the ASEAN region. External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha also called on the Singapore President. Observing that India has undergone a transformation in recent years, Nathan today said a lot of progress had been made in the last ten years with trade liberalisation and investments from abroad taking place. “We are seeing a new India emerging - not only from Singapore but also from the region,” he told reporters after his ceremonial reception at Rashtrapati Bhavan. The relations between the two countries are characterised by warmth, trust and mutual understanding. Singapore is India’s largest trading partner and the largest investors among the ASEAN countries. It was decided to explore possibilities of bilateral cooperation for investment in
Combodia, Laos and Vietnam. President A P J Abdul Kalam welcomed the visiting dignitary at the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhavan this morning.
UNI |
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BJP summons top
UP leaders to Delhi Lucknow, January 4 Highly placed sources said these leaders had been summoned allegedly after Ms Mayawati had a talk with Deputy Prime Minister L.K. Advani over statements by Mr Katiyar on cultural nationalism quoting Dr B.R. Ambedkar. Moreover, even Mr Rajnath Singh criticised Ms Mayawati for “neglecting” farmers and suggested him to hold kisan panchayats. State party spokesman Hridaya Narain Dixit told this reporter that the meeting could “give new directions” to these leaders. The BJP leaders are expected to meet the national party President Venkaiah Naidu and Mr Advani. Of late a war of attrition had started between the two major allies — the BJP and the BSP — as leaders of both parties had issued statements against each other levelling charges of violating the ethics of coalition politics. Mr Katiyar, who had embarked upon a 12-day yatra, held meetings at divisional headquarters propagating “cultural nationalism” quoting Dr Ambedkar. Political circles are agog with speculation that with this move the BJP was trying to bring the Dalits under Hindutva fold weaning them away from the
BSP. |
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BJP opposes ‘certain’ Kelkar proposals New Delhi, January 4 |
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Kalam for global space cooperation Bangalore, January 4 Dr Kalam stressed the need for an “international force” to protect and preserve the space assets for mankind even as experts from across the world discussed the future vision of the space programme to ensure sustainable development. History was created twice at the 90th Indian Science Congress, which for the first time held an exclusive one-day Space Summit and was also addressed for the first time by the President in addition to the usual opening remarks by the Prime Minister. Dr Kalam expanded on the need for global cooperation in space to mitigate the sufferings of the human beings after the initial remarks by Union Minister of State for Space Vasundhara Raje and Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Dr K. Kasturirangan drawing the roadmap for such a cooperation. “If you have knowledge, let others light their candles at it,” Dr Kalam said stressing on the need for cooperation and highlighting that the advantage of space science and technology today was its highly inter-disciplinary nature, cutting across institutional borders. Calling for a 50-year perspective plan on harnessing space technology for the
well-being of the humankind, he said space-technology was central to and enjoyed special links with major aspects of socio-economic development, including information technology, infrastructure such as power, education and healthcare, agriculture, strategic industries and geo-strategic initiatives. In her inaugural remarks in the morning Ms Raje called for a fresh look into the regulatory framework in space technology as their applications would converge to become the information superhighway of the future. The summit saw experts from China, Malaysia, Thailand and the USA sharing the vision of respective countries on the future space programmes besides an expert from the United Nations Committee on Peaceful Use of Outer Space.
UNI |
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Army denies
reports on casualties New Delhi, January 4 While pointing out that the laying of mines along the border was a deliberate and scientific effort by the Indian troops, Army spokesman Brig Shruti Kant said recent reports regarding the Army suffering heavy casualties due to the mines were not correct. He also pointed out that demining process was under way in the border areas and forces stationed there were undertaking the process very carefully. He said 28 per cent of an estimated one million mines laid in border areas had been recovered. “Mines are being recovered by resorting to a combination of manual, explosive and mechanical means”, he said. Army’s reaction came as a result of the reports that it would leave a large number of mines
unrecovered, which would endanger the lives of thousands of villagers living in the border region. Stressing that mine recovery would be undertaken by adopting 100 per cent safety precautions, the spokesman said the prevention of casualties both to the Army and civilians was the bedrock of this elaborate demining plans chalked out. To minimise casualties during
demining, he said: “additional protective gear and mechanical equipment is being procured”. All troops involved in mine-laying operations had been reconstituted in the same configuration as during the ongoing demining process. Stressing that 100 per cent clearance would be achieved, the Army spokesman said no time limit could be prescribed for the whole demining operations as “mine-recovery operations are not a time-bound operation”. Incidentally, it is for the first time that the Army has indicated that Operation Parakram saw armed forces planting a record number of mines to delay enemy’s advance and to disorganise its offensive plans. These are almost double the number of those strewn in the 1971 operation. Other measures, he said, were also taken, like putting up warning signs indicating danger, verbal caution given to villagers and informing the state and district administration including the local police about the operation. The spokesman said so far during the placement of mines there had been 81 casualties and 242 persons had been injured. He attributed these accidents to human error, defective mines and fuses, stray cattle entering minefields and adverse or extremes vagaries of terrain and climate. The Central Government has sanctioned Rs 66 crore for Punjab and Rs 54 crore for Rajasthan as compensation. A board of officers, which include the state government representatives had been instituted to work out the compensation that would be paid to the farmers. “The compensation is being calculated on the basis of cultivable land that was used by the Army during Operation
Parakram”, he said. |
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CWC members
to plan HP campaign New Delhi, January 4 Realising that the BJP had already upped the ante with an aggressive poll campaign, the Congress has decided to assign specific responsilbilities to CWC members. Mr Ahmed Patel and Mr Motilal Vora are among the senior leaders who would be actively associated with the poll campaign in the state. The biggest worry for the Congress high command remains the factional divide in the state Congress. PCC chief Vidya Stokes and CLP Leader Virbhadra Singh, who have been called to Delhi, will have joint meetings with the central leaders on January 6. Sources said a CWC member was likely to be based at Shimla during campaigning to give thrust to the party’s poll effort. The move is also aimed at countering the BJP strategy which is being monitored by BJP general secretary Arun Jaitley through his frequent visits to Shimla. The Congress is also planning to hold rallies of CWC members in different parts of the state before January 15. The sources said former Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh may be appointed chairman of the campaign committee, which would be decided soon, in an effort to remove the grievance of his supporters who want a bigger role for him. Supporters of Mr Virbhadra Singh have told the party high command that projecting him as the Chief Ministerial candidate would tilt the scales in favour of the Congress. They also want a greater say for their leader in ticket distribution. However, unwilling to project any one as Chief Minister, the party high command is looking for a formula that will satisfy both the groups and ensure enthusiastic participation of all senior leaders in campaigning. Meanwhile, some MLAs loyal to Ms Stokes today met Congress President Sonia Gandhi. The sources said they apprised Mrs Gandhi of the “successful” visit of party general secretary Mohsina Kidwai to the state. MLAs loyal to Mr Virbhadra Singh were also in Delhi and met Mrs Kidwai. Ms Stokes also met Mrs
Kidwai. |
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New HP industrial policy welcomed New Delhi, January 4 In a statement, Mr Shastri said the National Democratic Alliance government at the Centre was committed to the development of the hill states. The creation of Uttaranchal and direct contribution of Rs 1,500 crore to Himachal was just an example of the Vajpayee government’s resolve to ensure development of hill states. “No direct contribution by the Central Government has been made during Congress rule,” he stated. The concessions like 100 per cent exemption on excise duty and income tax for 10 years to all new industries coming up in the notified industrial estates of Himachal and Uttaranchal along with capital investment subsidies and transport subsidy would encourage private investors. The new policy also takes care of environmental concerns also as certain polluting industries had been excluded and the new industrial policy should also be
viewed from the point of view of giving boost to the development of infrastructure, horticulture, floriculture and tourism. |
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Salman
case: witness’ statement not recorded Jodhpur, January 4 The prosecution refused to record the statement of Pusa Ram Chaudhary, witness to the discovery of a piece of tail and hair of the chinkara (black buck) allegedly killed by Salman Khan. Chaudhary, who had not responded to court’s earlier summons, appeared before the court of Chief Judicial Magistrate Narsing Das Vyas, only after the issuance of arrest warrant against him. However, without ascribing any reason, the
prosecution said it did not wish to record his statement. Another witness Shiv Chand Bohra, a Forest Department employee, told the court when cross-examined by the defence lawyer that the film star’s friend Udai Raghawan surrendered Bollywood actor’s revolver and a rifle to the forest officials but no independent witness was present on the occasion. Raghavan told the court that he
himself had written the arms recovery report. Another witness Om Joshi, also a Forest Department employee, stated that the arms were surrendered in his presence. Another Forest Department employee Amrit Lal told the court that inspection of the Gypsy allegedly used by Salman Khan in poaching, was made in his presence. The inspections found hair and blood stains of killed animals and also bullets from the vehicle on October 7 and 10, in 1998. Mahendra Vyas, a witness,
corroborated this story. The prosecution decided not to record statement of another witness Santosh. The defence lawyer raised an objection regarding prosecution not showing recovery of arms in all poaching cases against the actor.
PTI |
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Report
corruption, says Ajay Chautala New Delhi, January 4 In a message to youth wing workers in the new year in the party organ “Jan Sandesh,” Mr Chautala said they should report any corrupt practice coming to their notice. He said such information could be sent to him in Delhi or to the Chief Minister’s residence in Chandigarh. The MP said one lakh youth INLD workers had pledged their eyes for donation and they had participated in several blood donation camps besides campaigns for cleanliness, and planting trees. |
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Curfew relaxed Ahmedabad, January 4 |
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BJP men held Indore, January 4 New flight Lucknow, January 4 |
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Maneka's move
New Delhi, January 4 |
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