 |
Friday,
January 31, 2003, Chandigarh, India  
|
EC to
issue poll notification today Kalam,
others pay homage to Bapu Sonia
warns against communal forces Advani
arrives in Thailand today Afzal
allowed to appear in court Vasundhara
launches campaign against Gehlot |
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Mamata
still hopeful Jaitley
rules out change in POTA Blackwill
meets Advani Chautala
backs UP farmers’ stir Sena
chief creates key post for son IT
raids on business house Hoax
bomb call halts Amritsar Shatabdi
|
|
EC to issue poll notification today New Delhi, January 30 Polling will be held for 65 Assembly constituencies in Himachal Pradesh and 60 each in three northeastern states on that day. Three constituencies of Himachal Pradesh — Lahaul-Spiti, Kinnaur and Pangi Bharmaur — will go to the polls in June. The last date for filing nominations is February 7. The papers will be scrutinised the next day and the last date for withdrawal of candidature is February 10. Counting of ballots will be held on March 1. The term of the present Assembly in Himachal Pradesh was due to expire on March 11, Meghalaya on March 8 and Nagaland and Tripura on March 22. Simultaneously, byelections will be conducted in eight Assembly constituencies spread over seven states — two in Uttar Pradesh (Gauriganj and Haidergarh) and one each in Jammu and Kashmir (Pampore), Tamil Nadu (Sattankulam), Jharkhand (Poriyahat), Karnataka (Humnabad), Maharashtra (Bhokarden) and Assam (Ratabari). The Humnabad byelection in Karnataka has been ordered as the election of sitting member Subash Kallur was declared void while the Poriyahat seat in Jharkhand fell vacant following the resignation of Mr Pradeep Yadav. The byelection in the Ratabari constituency of Assam was caused due to the death of Independent MLA Rasan Choudhury. The Pampore Assembly constituency in Jammu and Kashmir fell vacant following the killing of People’s Democratic Party member Abdul Aziz Mir last month. The Sattankulam byelection in Tamil Nadu was caused by the death of erstwhile Tamil Nadu Congress representative S.S. Mani Nadar. Of the two byelections in Uttar Pradesh, the Haidergarh byelection was necessitated following the resignation of former Chief Minister Rajnath Singh after his election to the Rajya Sabha, while Noor Mohammad’s death left the Gauriganj seat vacant. |
|
Kalam, others pay homage to Bapu New Delhi, January 30 Vice-President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, Deputy Prime Minister L.K. Advani and Congress President Sonia Gandhi paid homage to the Father of the Nation by observing two minutes’ silence at Gandhi Samadhi in Rajghat. The leaders took part in an inter-religious prayer meeting during a solemn function at Gandhi Samadhi in the morning. Some Union Cabinet ministers, Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit and Maharashtra Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde also laid floral wreaths in memory of Mahatma Gandhi, who invoked “satyagraha and non-cooperation” as a mode of protest. Mohan Das Karam Chand Gandhi, advocate of peace who has motivated several across the globe in fighting against colonialism, won kudos from one and all and on his death anniversary. Diplomats, VIPs and Rajghat Samadhi Samiti Chairman paid their homage to the remarkable social revolutionary of the 20th century. Later, a Defence Ministry function was held which was attended by the President, the Vice-President, the Prime Minister and the Deputy Prime Minister, among others. At another function, Union Tourism and Culture Minister Jagmohan inaugurated an exhibition on Frontier Gandhi: “The Life of Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan — The Non-violent Revolutionary” at the National Gandhi Museum around 11 am this morning. The exhibition will be open to the public till March 31 and contains 100 photographs, speeches and writings of Badshah Khan besides a chronological record of the period. On 5 Tees January Marg, which houses the Gandhi Smriti and Darshan Samiti, a special commemorative prayer meeting was held. |
|
Sonia warns against communal
forces New Delhi, January 30 Speaking at a function organised at the AICC headquarters to pay homage to Mahatma Gandhi on his 55th death anniversary, she said elements who had killed Mahatma Gandhi and were trying to destroy his ideology were not being resisted adequately. She called for a renewed pledge to stand by the ideals of the Father of the Nation. Mrs Gandhi said attempts were being made to rock the foundations of the nation laid by the freedom fighters. Without naming any political party or organisation, the Congress President said those behind the Gujarat violence and those involved in the killing of the Father of the Nation and the 1992 tragedy shared the same ideology. She said the communal forces today threatened the secular and democratic fabric of the country and were bent upon destroying the principles of non-violence and truth which Gandhiji stood for. Mrs Gandhi asked party members to prepare themselves for a long struggle to fight communalism and said they had to work in a manner that the Congress emerged as a party of the poor and the downtrodden. Describing the disinvestment and privatisation policies of the government as “anti-people” and “anti-poor”, she accused the NDA government of selling off profit making PSUs at throwaway prices as a result of which the rich were getting richer and the poor were suffering. On the stand-off between Iraq and the USA, Mrs Gandhi said all peace-loving nations should get together to prevent any attack on Iraq as shocks of a war would be felt the world over. She said any unilateral military action against Iraq should be condemned by all peace-loving nations. “There should be no military action against Iraq as the war will not remain confined to one area and its after shocks will be felt the world over. All peace-loving nations should get united and condemn any attack on Iraq. It would be a great service to humanity,” she said. The Congress President said the issue should be resolved through a peaceful dialogue under the ambit of the United Nations. |
|
Advani arrives in Thailand today New Delhi, January 30 Mr Advani, who is leading a six-member delegation, including Union Home Secretary N Gopalaswami, is scheduled to arrive in Thailand tomorrow. Security-related issues, steps to enhance the over $ 1 billion bilateral trade and creating a free-trade zone will top the agenda of Mr Advani’s talks. Mr Advani would meet Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and Deputy Prime Minister and Law Minister Wissan Kreya-Ngam during his three-day stay in that country. India has been discussing with Thailand a treaty for mutual legal assistance and transfer of convicted offenders, besides ways to combat drug trafficking and smuggling of arms. The Deputy Prime Minister will reach Singapore on Sunday where he will meet President S R Nathan, Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong and other officials, including the Home Minister. His talks with the Singapore leadership will focus on bilateral trade, the Asean Summit in Bali in October and security issues. While Singapore is a major investor in India from the South-East Asian region, Thailand has 26 joint ventures with Indian companies. |
|
Afzal allowed to appear in court New Delhi, January 30 A Division Bench comprising Justices Usha Mehra and Pradeep Nandrajog allowed Afzal’s application, put up through the Jail Superintendent, and accordingly ordered that he be present on February 3. On January 27, the court had refused to admit Afzal’s appeal challenging his death sentence, after the prosecution raised an objection to the affidavit filed in support of the plea. After Delhi police counsel Mukta Gupta said the affidavit had not been verified properly, the judges told Afzal’s counsel Colin Gonsolves to correct the “technical error” before putting up the petition on February 3. Ms Gupta said Afzal’s signature was verified by a public notary vouching that the signatory was present for executing the document while Afzal had been in jail all along. The signature of a detenue has to be verified by the Jail Superintendent. With Afzal’s plea, the last of the convicts to approach the court, all four convicts — Afzal, Shaukat Hussain, S.A.R. Geelani and Afsan Guru — have appealed in the High Court.
UNI |
|
Vasundhara
launches campaign against Gehlot Behror (Rajasthan), January 30 Unveiling the statue of Kargil martyr Dalip Singh Raghav ahead of her public address in the presence of hundreds of villagers, Ms Scindia virtually served notice to Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot saying,‘‘The people of Rajasthan will not spare the Congress government, which failed to take adequate measures to tackle the drought situation despite a huge Central package.’’ ‘‘More than Rs 4,500 crore have been allocated by the Centre to Gehlot government in the past four years to meet the drought situation and for various drinking water projects, but the Chief Minister miserably failed to utilise them and instead tried to shift the blame on the Vajpayee government,’’ she said, adding ‘‘If he (Mr Gehlot) can’t be accountable to the people of Rajasthan, he should step down immediately.’’ The function had elements of drama too, with the family members of the Kargil martyr accusing Mr Durg Pal Singh Chauhan, former Director-General of Police, who is putting himself in line for getting a BJP ticket in the next Assembly poll, trying to hijack the function at their expense. ‘‘My family has spent about Rs 1.5 lakh to erect the statue of my martyr husband and the canopy over it from the compensation I got from the Centre under the assurance that Mr Chauhan will pay us the money spent. However, we are in dire straits following his refusal,’’ wife of the Kargil martyr Asha Devi told newspersons. When contacted for his comments, Mr Chauhan dubbed the reports as baseless. On the other hand, when Ms Scindia’s attention was drawn to this fact, she preferred to play it down by merely saying ‘‘Wait for eight more months, our (BJP’s) MLAs will pay all money spent by the martyr’s family.’’ Later, speaking to newspersons, Ms Scindia said her priority would be to take along all sections of people, within and outside, the party and from the state unit team having a blend of youth and experience. Conceding that a great challenge was ahead in leading the party to success in the coming poll, Ms Scindia said she was confident of taking on the challenge with the full support of the party workers. |
|
Mamata still hopeful Kolkata, January 30 The Trinamool Congress leader had waited anxiously till the last moment for an invitation from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) for a Cabinet berth. The Sahara airlines had been also told to book a seat for her to New Delhi. Party sources said this arrangement had been made following Ms Banerjee’s talk with the NDA convener and the PMO a day before the swearing-in ceremony. But unfortunately, no phone call came either from Mr Fernandes or the PMO to the TMC leader. However, later in the night, Mr Fernandes called her to tell her that she would be taken in during the next re-shuffle some time after the Budget session, when there would be changes in the portfolios of the NDA allies, a TMC leader close to Ms Banerjee said. But it had been made clear to Ms Banerjee that in no case she would get back Railways and she would have to be satisfied either with Coal & Mines or Civil Aviation Departments. BJP sources disclosed that the Prime Minister was willing to take back Ms Banerjee once again and the BJP chief, Mr Venkaiah Naidu, supported him. The last-minute discussions on Cabinet re-shuffle at the Prime Minister’s residence on Tuesday night and the following morning, the BJP chief had pressed for Ms Banerjee’s re-induction as he felt in the forthcoming Panchayat elections in Bengal, the party could go ahead well with the TMC as partner against the CPM, which the new state BJP president, Mr Tathagata Roy, had also been pleading for. But the Deputy Prime Minister, Mr L.K. Advani, had suggested they should think once again before deciding to invite Ms Banerjee to join the ministry in view of their past experiences about her erratic behaviour. Mr Advani had also pleaded that Ms Banerjee would have to accept either Mr Ajit Kumar Panja or Mr Sudip Bandopadhyya as second member in the Cabinet from the TMC, which the Prime Minister had also endorsed. Both Mr Vajpayee and Mr Advani had committed to take Mr Panja back in the Cabinet long ago for his loyalty, sincerity and past experiences in the government. But still he could not be taken in because of technical difficulties following his ‘unnecessary victimisation’ in the party. Mr Vajpayee and Mr Advani now wished that Ms Banerjee should immediately settle the matter with Mr Panja and return to the Cabinet with him honourably. Mr Panja was out of the town and not available for any comment, while Ms Banerjee refused to say anything on her return to the Cabinet. |
|
Jaitley
rules out change in POTA New Delhi, January 30 “POTA is a legal instrument against terrorism and the judiciary is there to take care of its misuse by the official machinery,” he said while talking to mediapersons after assuming office here. Mr Jaitley said the two pronged changes, in the worldwide economy and technology, impacted laws and in that context his ministry would be setting in motion the process of adjusting Indian laws in keeping with the global changes as also making new laws to give impetus to various reforms, including the second-generation economic reforms.
UNI |
|
Blackwill
meets Advani New Delhi, January 30 During his 30-minute meeting with Mr Advani, Mr Blackwill is understood to have discussed Iraq, besides bilateral matters, according to the US Embassy here. |
|
Chautala
backs UP farmers’ stir Sisoli (Muzaffarnagar), January 30 Mr Chautala visited the village to support BKU supremo Mohinder Singh Tikait, who is fighting a battle against the Uttar Pradesh Government led by Ms Mayawati on behalf of the farmers. The Haryana Chief Minister declared the unequivocal support of the Indian National Lok Dal to the agitation. Mr Tikait has been leading the agitation of the farmers for over a month, demanding the payment of arrears to sugarcane growers of western Uttar Pradesh and remunerative price of sugarcane to the farmers. It was in this connection that clashes had taken place a few days ago between agitating farmers and the police in Kakra village. Mr Tikait had led group of farmers on January 24 to the district courts in Muzaffarnagar, where farmers allegedly attacked some district officials and police personnel. The police, in turn, allegedly attacked Mr Tikait, who was rushed to Civil Hospital. Mr Chautala also condemned the police assault on Mr Tikait and blamed the Mayawati government for compounding the problem. |
|
Sena chief creates key post for son Mahableshwar, January
30 Thackeray, who retained the post of chief of the 37-year-old organisation, justified Uddhav’s election to the post saying it was based on popular demand and common
consensus. Uddhav, whose election was announced at the two-day party conclave here, said his name was proposed by his cousin, Raj Thackeray and all reports of a rift between them were false and baseless.
PTI |
|
IT raids on business house Patna, January 30 Sources in the IT Intelligence Department said today that the documents seized during the raids hinted at links and collaboration of the group with some foreign firms and the matter was under examination.
UNI |
|
Hoax bomb call halts Amritsar Shatabdi New Delhi, January 30 The train resumed its journey at 6.25 pm after the Delhi police gave clearance to the railway authorities. The call turned out to be a hoax. Divisional Railway Manager, Delhi region, Northern Railway,
V.K. Aggarwal, told TNS here that the train was stopped at 4.53 p.m., 23 minutes after it began its journey from the New Delhi railway station. He said the Station Manager of Delhi area got a call from the SHO in charge of Delhi station area at 4.42 pm that there was a bomb aboard the train. He said the police has traced the call and called the caller to the police station for interrogation. The caller, however, reportedly denied having made the call. |
 |
| 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 | |
In video (
