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Sunday,
May 25, 2003, Chandigarh, India  
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Cane price: SC notice to Punjab All villages to have power in 4 years: PM Rebel MP spoils Mamata party Ultras’ entry: Congress seeks explanation Mufti meets Sonia on Cong conclave
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Venkaiah cautions BJP on Cong tactics Cong plays down Arjun Singh’s remarks Ajat Shatru Singh joins Congress Pro-domicile protests turn violent
I resigned on moral grounds: Ramachandran Chennai tops in CBSE exams, Chandigarh 2nd Criminal involved in 50 murders held
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Cane price: SC notice to Punjab New Delhi, May 24 A division Bench comprising Mr Justice N. Santosh Hegde and Mr Justice Shivaraj V. Patil, while sitting in vacation, issued the notice to the Punjab Government, seeking its reply to a special leave petition (SLP) challenging the High Court’s March 27 order. The SLP was filed by Nahar Sugar and Allied Industries Limited (NSAIL), based at Amloh in Fatehgarh Sahib district, seeking the Supreme Court’s intervention in the matter as an identical issue raised by the Uttar Pradesh Cooperative Cane Federation (UPCCF) against an order of the Allahabad High Court was referred to a Constitution Bench by the apex court. When NSAIL counsel Rakesh Dwivedi said an important question of law, whether states have power to increase the price over and above the one fixed by the Centre, was involved in the matter, the Bench said a Constitution Bench was seized of the issue and the SLP filed by the
company would also be referred to it. Challenging the constitutional validity of the Punjab Government’s memo of February 20, fixing the state agreed price (SAP) of sugarcane at Rs 100 per quintal, the NSAIL said this was done in pursuant to an amendment made by the state in the Punjab Sugarcane (Regulation of Purchase and Supply) Act, 1953, in March, 1999. “The company is feeling aggrieved by the notification of March 5, 1999, issued by the state government, amending the Rule R 12(1), and the memo of February 20, 2003, fixing the SAP of sugarcane at Rs 100 per quintal, over and above the price fixed by the Central Government under the Sugar (Control) order, 1966,” the SLP said. As per the amended rule, sugar mills or their agents in the state would not purchase the sugarcane at a price below the minimum price fixed by the Sugarcane Control Board for the relevant year. The SAP “shall be fixed” by the board after having consultations with representatives of all sugar factories. The notification was challenged by the NSAIL mainly on the ground that there was no statutory basis for the Punjab Government to fix the SAP over and above the statutory minimum price (SMP) fixed by the Central Government. The company said while admitting its petition, the High Court on the one hand declined to grant stay on the Punjab Government’s order and on the other, it had already directed the sugar mills to pay the SMP fixed by the Centre even when the matter was pending before the court for adjudication. The apex court, while granting leave on the UPCCF’s petition, had also observed that there was no statutory basis for fixing SAP by the states for the sugarcane over and above the price fixed by the Centre, the SLP claimed. The Centre has fixed the SMP for sugarcane at Rs 69.50 for an average 8.5 per cent sugar recovery from a quintal of cane. For an added 0.1 per cent recovery there would be a hike of 82 paise. |
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All villages to have power in 4 years: PM
New Delhi, May 24 Assuring the states of financial and technical assistance to improve the delivery of power to consumers, Mr Vajpayee said, “In return, I expect an even strong response from the states... Malpractices, corruption, inefficiency and theft of electricity have to be banished from the power sector.” Addressing Power Ministers from states, executives of central power utilities and SEBs, Mr Vajpayee said the Centre was giving the highest priority to hydroelectric power as the present stalled capacity of 27,000 MW was inadequate to meet peaking power shortage, and hoped the 50,000 MW of additional capacity in the sector would be created by the 12th five-Year Plan. Mr Vajpayee expressed concern over shortage of power and wastage of electricity in the country and said not only energy conservation measures were needed, but generation also should be doubled in the next 10 years. The Central Electricity Authority had completed a ranking study of 399 hydroelectric schemes with a potential of 107,000 MW, he said, adding that the present initiative through 162 schemes would open up investment opportunities. Mr Vajpayee said long-awaited projects like Tehri, Indira Sagar and Naptha Jhakri were likely to be commissioned shortly. He said the government had already taken measures to accelerate the pace of execution of hydroelectric power projects through adoption of a three-stage clearance process. As part of the 50,000 MW hydroelectric initiative, the Power Ministry prepared feasibility studies for 162 projects in 16 states, to be completed by central power utilities like the National Hydroelectic Power Corporation, North-Eastern Electric Power Corporation, state utilities and other organisations. PTI |
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Rebel MP spoils Mamata party Kolkata, May 24 After a prolonged waiting at party office, in Tiljala, the Trinamool Congress leader was told around 2 p.m today by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) that no member from her party would be inducted into the ministry in the present reshuffle. Last night, however, the BJP chief, Mr Venkaiah Naidu, personally phoned Ms Banerjee on behalf of the Prime Minister and invited her to come to New Delhi tomorrow evening for oath-taking. She was told that she would get the Coal Ministry. She was also informed that Mr Vajpayee had already invited Mr Sudip Bandopadhyya, rebel Trinamool Congress MP to join the Cabinet as the second member from the party with a portfolio of minister of state. This had angered Ms Banerjee who has been considering Mr Bandopadhyya’s suspension for anti-party activities. Ms Banerjee told the BJP chief that as the Trinamool Congress chief she had no knowledge about Mr Bandopadhyya’s joining in the ministry. Moreover, the party did not approve of his inclusion in the Cabinet, she added. Meanwhile, Mr Bandopadhyya said it did not matter if Ms Banerjee was opposing to his induction into the
Cabinet. Being a loyal member of the NDA, he has decided to join the ministry, he stated. The meeting was convened this morning and it was decided that Ms Banerjee would not join the ministry as mark of protest against the Prime Minister’s invitation to Mr Bandopadhyya to join the ministry without their consent or knowledge. A fax message was immediately sent to the PMO that the party would want Mr Khondaker Ahmed or Mr Dinesh Trivedy as a second minister from the party and not Mr Bandopadhyya. In New Delhi, Mr Vajpayee discussed Ms Banerjee’s letter with Mr L.K.Advani and other senior ministers and leaders including Mr Yashwant Singh, Mr George Fernandes and Mr Venkaiah Naidu. Later it was decided to drop the proposal for calling Ms Banerjee or any other member from the Trinamool Congress to join the ministry. It was immediately conveyed to the Trinamool Congress office. |
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Ultras’
entry: Congress seeks explanation New Delhi, May 24 “The discovery of the presence of militants in Hilkaka indicates that no lessons have been learnt from Kargil. This is a case of criminal negligence and the government owes an
explanation,” party spokesperson, Jaipal Reddy told newspersons. “We are shocked and distressed to note that 100 km of Indian territory was under the occupation of militants for four years and they were operating deep inside Indian territory,” he said. Mr Reddy said the Congress demanded that the government come forth with a detailed explanation as how the militant outfits like LeT were operating from this place with impunity. Major-Gen Hardev Lidder, head of the Romeo Force of Rashtriya Rifles, who is leading Operation Sarp Vinash, had told a group of visiting newspersons in Surankote that only 30 per cent of the Hilkaka area had been mopped and the operation was continuing in this remote and inaccessible area. Apart from a huge cache of arms and ammunition and 7000 kg of ration, the Army had seized handwritten notes on the preparation of chemical weapons, which indicated the kind of training and experiments on chemical warfare being carried out in this remote area of Poonch district. Of the 183 terrorists of 10 different factions present in the area, Major-Gen Lidder admitted that only 62 terrorists had been killed so far and 94 hideouts had been smashed. |
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Mufti meets Sonia on Cong conclave New Delhi, May 24 Ms Gandhi reportedly assured Mr Sayeed of favourable consideration of measures to help people of the state to come out of the morass. Mr Sayeed urged the Congress President to consider reservation of some seats in professional colleges in the Congress-ruled states for students from Jammu and Kashmir. A special case was made out for the preferential treatment of children of those Kashmiri Pandits, who were staying in the valley braving all challenges during the past 13 years, a government press note said. He hoped that Congress Chief Ministers would consider measures to promote tourism in Jammu and Kashmir. Mr Sayeed also discussed arrangements for the conclave beginning May 30 to have a six monthly review of the functioning of the Congress governments and deliberate on political situation in the country. The two leaders during the 40-minute meeting also discussed political scenario of the state with special emphasis on the functioning of multi-party coalition government and the implementation of the common minimum programme. |
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Venkaiah cautions BJP on Cong tactics New Delhi, May 24 “Congress is desperate to divert the attention of the people from its failures and miserable performance in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Delhi. Let us not allow it,” Mr Naidu said while addressing a national-level meeting of the in-charges of various cells of the party. Charging that the Congress governments in these four states have become “symbols of non-performance and corrupt regimes”, the BJP chief asked the in-charges to make an indepth study of Congress performance in each of the states and collect the needed data so as to present before the people on the eve of elections. “In these states, the Congress has failed on all fronts, even in tackling the basic issues like potable water, electricity, roads, relief work in drought affected areas, protection to women and Scheduled Castes... The meeting was held to review the performance of various cells of the party. |
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Cong plays down Arjun Singh’s remarks New Delhi, May 24 Confronted with a volley of questions on Mr Arjun Singh’s remarks on groupism in the party and that the party should be ready for coalition arrangements, Congress spokesperson Jaipal Reddy denied the existence of any groups in the party at the national level and said the Bangalore AICC session had clarified the Panchmarhi resolution on pre-election tie-ups and post-election alliances. The Congress has had pre-election tie-ups in states like Tamil Nadu and post-election alliance in states like Maharashtra, Jammu and Kashmir and Kerala, where the party has coalition governments with different parties, Mr Reddy pointed out. Asked if Mr Arjun Singh’s remarks had caused an embarrassment to Congress President Sonia Gandhi, the spokesperson said, “You are at liberty to comment”. Mr Arjun Singh’s observations have been noted and the party would talk to him, Mr Reddy said. |
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Ajat Shatru Singh joins Congress New Delhi, May 24 Mr Ajat Shatru Singh said he decided to join the Congress as he felt that only a national party could help in the development of the state and not a regional party. The announcement of his entry into the party was made by AICC general secretary Ambika Soni in the presence of Jammu and Kashmir PCC president Ghulam Nabi Azad and party spokesman S. Jaipal Reddy. Ms Soni said Mr Ajat Shatru Singh met party President Sonia Gandhi today while Azad hailed his joining the party saying that it would strengthen the party as also secular forces in the state. |
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Pro-domicile protests turn violent Ranchi, May 24 The police had to resort to a lathi charge to disperse the violent pro-domicile activists gathered in front of the (JPSC) office. SP Varun Mishra was injured when the agitators hurled missiles on the security forces, police sources said. About 12 protesters, including some candidates collecting duplicate admit cards for the next week’s teacher’s recruitment test, were also injured in the scuffle. Violence broke out when the pro-domicile activists forcefully tried to stop the issue of duplicate admit cards for the recruitment examination of about 10,000 primary teachers, scheduled on May 27. The authorities stopped issuing duplicate admit cards immediately after the violence broke out. Today was the last date of issuing the cards. UNI/PTI |
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I resigned on moral grounds: Ramachandran Chennai, May 24 “I resigned on moral grounds and to cooperate with the Prime Minister,” he told a crowded press conference here, adding that there was no pressure from any quarters, including from Mr Vajpayee or Deputy Prime Minister L. K. Advani.
PTI |
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Chennai tops in CBSE exams, Chandigarh 2nd New Delhi, May 24 The overall pass percentage this year has declined by 1.51 per cent with 68.02 per cent students clearing their exams compared to 69.53 per cent last year. Girls have taken a lead over the boys this time. While 68.55 per cent girls have cleared the Class X exams, boys gave recorded a pass percentage of 67.49. Last year, the boys with a pass percentage of 68.55 per cent managed to outshine the girls. A total of 5,54,335 candidates appeared for the exams conducted at 2,519 centres across the country, of which 1,33,504 candidates have been placed under compartment. |
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Criminal involved in 50 murders held New Delhi, May 24 Various police forces in the country had been on the trail of the criminal, identified as Deepak Jat, of Ghaziabad, for the past four years. He had been the most active in the North-East and Nepal where a large number of car dealers were his clients, DCP (Central) Arvind Deep told reporters. He said the modus operandi of the Deepak Jat gang was very gruesome — it used to hire taxis and private cars for fun trips and then used to kill the drivers of vehicles and dispose of their bodies, and sell vehicles in Nepal.
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3 shot in Patna Patna, May 24 |
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MULAYAM SINGH BEREAVED SAMATA MLA HELD
IN BIHAR INNOVATIVE CARDIAC SURGERY CDs ON GUJARAT CARNAGE SEIZED KIDNEY RACKET BUSTED, 2
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