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Monday,
February 10, 2003, Chandigarh, India  
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Freedom of Press meant for editors, not owners: Gujral
Sonia to visit Kolkata today |
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Indian, French jets begin exercise India to acquire high-altitude copters
Rebels beat two Dalits to
death BJP’s criticism: Maya seeks Advani’s
help Bharat Ratna for Kalpana
sought
AIADMK, Cong in straight contest Tight security for PM’s visit
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Freedom of Press meant for editors, not owners: Gujral New Delhi, February 9 In his valedictory address at the end of a two-day conference on ‘Media and Right to Development’ organised by the Press Institute of India at Teen Murti here, Mr Gujral drew attention to emerging trends as diminishing role of the editors and technological advancements in the once obsolete media. "I noticed that the role of editor has very much diminished and market forces have become stronger. As Information and Broadcasting Minister, I used to say that there is a distinction not between small and large newspapers but between important and non-important newspapers." While drawing attention to the issue of credibility, Mr Gujral said once media reached a stage where it ceased to be believed, it lost its purpose. The former PM said the electronic media had made a great contribution to ‘Track-II diplomacy’ for better relations between nations. Addressing editors, veteran journalists, participants from abroad and students of journalism, Mr Gujral said, "I can understand why you publish a newspaper because its your livelihood. But why you read newspaper is a question all of us must ask ourselves." He recalled that when he was jailed during the freedom struggle and denied access to newspaper, the only thing he would smuggle into the jail was newspapers. He also looked back at the days in the Hailey College of Commerce in Lahore where they used to bring out a war newspaper. He also referred to a newspaper ‘See,a Rakshak’ he and his wife published for a year in 1962. Mr B.G. Verghse, member of Prasar Bharti, said it was a shame that India had lagged behind in the development of community radio when compared to neighbours like Nepal and Sri Lanka. "The government has hung on to this monopoly. We need a community radio which is for, by and of the people," he said. Proposing a vote of thanks, vetern journalist and PII trustee Prabhash Joshi said the presentations made by participants would be published in ‘Vidura,’ a media magazine, brought out by the Press Institute of India. |
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Media has become ‘commercialised’ New Delhi, February 9 “Medha Patkar and Arundhati Roy should first look for sponsors who will give out full-page advertisements in newspapers and air a two-hour programme on their struggles if they want to
be successful,” he said. He drew attention to full-page advertisements announcing Amitabh Bachchan’s 60th birthday. Not a single newspaper made mention of the birth centenary of Jayprakash Narain the same day, he added. A former Chief Justice of India, Justice
J.S. Verma, stressed the need for active participation of people in the running of a democracy. |
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Sonia to visit Kolkata today Kolkata, February 9 Welcoming the move, the CPI General Secretary, Mr
A.B. Bardhan, said they were glad that Ms Sonia Gandhi at long made a move to bring all non-BJP parties together against the RSS and VHP’s fresh attempt to construct the temple before settling the issue in the Supreme Court. He said the CPI would extend all support to Ms Sonia Gandhi in her move to stop any construction either by the VHP or the Babri Maszid Action Committee. The Congress President is arriving here tomorrow to address a public meeting at the brigade parade ground, where she will once again urge upon all other secular parties to stand united against the BJP and other fundamental forces which have been ruining the nation, said the
WBPCC(l) chief, Mr Pranab Mukherjee. This will be her second visit to Kolkata after 1991 Assembly elections which the Congress leadership wants to utilise as an attempt to rejuvenate the party in the state, now in the shamble, said Mr Somen
Mitra, a Congress leader. The CPI leadership today exchanged views with the Bangladesh Community Party
(BCP) on the problem of infiltration and other matters of mutual interest. A delegation of the
BCP, led by Monjual Ashan is now in Kolkata to discuss problems with various political parties on the infiltration and other problems which had been straining the relations between the two countries. |
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Indian, French jets begin exercise New Delhi, February 9 The exercise, codenamed ‘Garuda’, will have Mirage 2000 jets from the French and Indian Air Forces performing complicated manoeuvres, including in-flight refuelling and mock combat operations. India last conducted aerial exercise with foreign combat aircraft in 1962, when US air force jets had visited the country for a war-game shortly after the border conflict with China. The French air force chief, Gen Richard Wolsztynski, is visiting the country to witness the exercise and to hold talks with senior Indian military officials. General Wolsztynski will meet his Indian counterpart, Air Chief Marshal S. Krishnaswamy, here tomorrow before travelling to Gwalior on February 12. Preparations for the exercise got underway on February 6, shortly after the French team arrived in Gwalior. The French air force has sent an 80-member contingent with four Mirage 2000 fighters, an air-to-air refuelling aircraft and a transport aircraft. The IAF is fielding at 120-member team with Mirage 2000 and MiG-21 fighters, transport aircraft and helicopters. Gwalior is the home base for the IAF’s two Mirage 2000 squadrons, which played a key role in operations to evict Pakistan-backed intruders during the Kargil conflict in 1999. The two sides are expected to fly over 100 ‘sorties’ or missions during the exercise, but IAF officials are particularly excited about the prospects of Indian pilots gaining experience in air-to-air refuelling. The French pilots are expected to gain from their exposure to the IAF’s Russian-designed jets like the MiG-21, officials said.
IANS |
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India to acquire high-altitude copters New Delhi, February 9 According to reports, US helicopter giant Bell, the company which claims to have pioneered high-altitude medium and heavy helicopters as well as gunships, and Anglo-Italian firm Agusta Westland are in the race for the deal. The project has been accorded top priority by the government in view of continued flare-ups along the Line of Control. |
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Rebels beat two Dalits to
death Patna, February 9 The Left wing rebels, in the meantime thrashed two Dalits to death in Gaya district and chopped off limbs of other two Dalits in a ‘jan adalat’. The extremists after declaring them criminals, delivered death sentence to two and disability to other two on Friday night, the police said. The killers had abducted four Dalits from Kosla village and after their trial in ‘jan adalat’ passed a verdict to kill two and cut the arms of remaining two”, the Gaya SP, Mr R. Shankaran, said. The bandh call has alerted the cops. The Indian Railways have beefed up security after the strike threat. The MCC, demanding huge extortion money, had earlier forced a multinational firm engaged in road construction to cease work. Oriental Structures has been entrusted with the ambitious project of four-lane road construction in Bihar under the Prime Minister’s dream project named Golden Quadrilateral Expressway. The project plans to link the four corners of India with four-lane expressways at the total cost of Rs. 40,000 crore. “The MCC is reportedly demanding 10 per cent of the total cost as extortion money and the company is reliably offering six”, the sources told. |
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BJP’s criticism: Maya seeks Advani’s
help New Delhi, February 9 Ms Mayawati told reporters that it was decided at the meeting that an interaction between the Chief Minister and state BJP leaders would be held here later this week to sort out differences. State BJP leaders like UP BJP President Vinay Katiyar have flayed the Mayawati government on a number of issues including use of POTA against jailed Independent legislator Raja Bhaiyya and his father Udai Pratap Singh. Mr Katiyar remained persistent in his criticism even after the BJP high command had recently asked him to tone down his attacks. The BJP central leadership feels that action against Raja Bhaiyya would endanger its support base amongst members of the Thakur caste. |
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Bharat Ratna for Kalpana
sought New Delhi, February 9 Speaking at the function organised by the Punjab Engineering College Old Boys Association in her memory, its president Amarjit Singh Kohli proposed her name for the award, which was then seconded by the audience. Kalpana had pursued her degree in aeronautical engineering from Punjab Engineering College, Chandigarh, in 1982. Mr S.C. Sharma, Head of Department of Aeronautical engineering urged the government to rename PEC as Kalpana Chawla PEC Institute of Engineering and accord it a university status. Mr V.S. Malhotra, who was the head of the Aeronautical Engineering Department during Kalpana’s term at the college read out a message he had received from her on January 25 during her sojourn in space. The message read, “The path from dreams to reality does exist. May you have the vision to find it, the courage to get onto it and the perseverance to follow it”. President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam in his message, which was read out at the function, said, “I am sure the space flight endeavours of Kalpana Chawla will always be remembered and will serve as an inspiration for the younger generation to dream and to be able to touch the stars”. |
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AIADMK, Cong in straight contest Chennai, February 9 The DMK, the BJP and other Opposition parties in the state have not entered the fray. Both AIADMK and Congress candidates belong to the Nadar community dominating the constituency. There are a number of independents contesting the by-election, but they all belong to the also-ran category. For the Congress, the poll will be a guide for its image in the state politics in the aftermath of the merger of the Tamil Maanila Congress of the late
G.K. Moopanar, with the parent body. The Sathankulam seat was held by TMC member, Mani
Nadar, whose death caused the by-election. He had won the seat with the support of the AIADMK. The by-election will also provide a pointer to the popularity of the Jayalalithaa government, which has lately come under strident Opposition attack. |
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Tight security for PM’s visit Kanpur, February 9 Additional Director-General of Police (Security) R.K. Bhatia reviewed the security arrangements. In addition, 10 companies of the Provincial Armed Constabulary and the STF, 400 gazetted officers and six officers of the rank of SP will help the local police.
PTI |
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Paliganj killing: 3 booked Patna, February 9 Ahmedabad, February 9
Gaza, February 9 |
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