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Sunday,
June 15, 2003, Chandigarh, India  
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36 BSP
MLAs ‘in touch’ with SP Pace of
talks with China on LAC slow: Pant No
bargain on Ayodhya: Imam
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Jaya’s
remarks against Pope irk bishops Kalam to
visit Kashmir Sonia
submits to priest’s terms Ludhiana
train fire unusual, says Nitish
River
Authority meeting tomorrow 431 pass
out of IMA Arrest
warrant against Cong MP BJP
welcomes Akali unity
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36 BSP MLAs ‘in touch’ with SP
Lucknow, June 14 “At least 36 BSP legislators are ready to switch their loyalties. They simply want an assurance from us that they will be given SP ticket, in the Assembly poll,” SP state unit President Ram Saran Das told reporters here. He said Ms Mayawati’s claim that some SP MLAs were in touch with her was a “white lie”. Claiming that the alliance government in the state had been reduced to a minority, he said the government was short of the half-way mark by “at least 10 to 15 MLAs”. “Why is the Chief Minister shying away from holding an Assembly session if she is so sure of her majority,” Mr Das asked. He said the Chief Minister’s statement that she would not convene the session of the House under any circumstances was reflective of her “autocratic attitude”. Mr Das said the opposition would unitedly oppose the Mayawati government. Meanwhile, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati today said the next expansion in her 13-month-old ministry would take place after she received a green signal from the junior partner of the ruling coalition, the BJP. “I will hold talks with BJP Legislature Party Leader Lalji Tandon before fixing the date of the proposed expansion,” she revealed. Talking to newspersons, she said the next expansion would be held only to induct BJP ministers after the resignation of the Rashtriya Lok Dal MLAs from the ministry. Earlier, state BJP President Vinay Katiyar had stated that the expansion of the Mayawati government to fill the BJP quota of ministers would be held after June 18 when he completes his Jan Jagran Yatra (Public Awareness March). Ms Mayawati, however, made it clear that the BSP would accord a “warm welcome” to the RLD MLAs, who were ready to join the government. “We are not eager to engineer a split in any party, but if any of the MLAs want to join the party, they are welcome,” she said. Ms Mayawati said Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav was aware of the rift in his party and was floating the rumours of collapse of her government to keep his flock together. “Mr Yadav is fully aware of the frustration among his party MPs and MLAs. He knows that his party is on the verge of split and is spreading such rumours only to keep the interest of his party alive with the help of smaller parties,” she said. Ms Mayawati said over 24 SP MLAs were in touch with her and were ready to resign from their seats and come out in support of her government in case such a need arose. She said the withdrawal of the support by 14 RLD MLAs made no difference as 13 legislators had come to the BSP fold after the formation of her government last year.
PTI, UNI |
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Maya rules out fresh trust vote Lucknow, June 14 |
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Pace of talks with China on LAC slow: Pant New Delhi, June 14 Speaking at an interactive Session on “Prime Minister’s China visit and India-China relations”, Mr Pant pointed out that the unsettled boundary dispute remained the most important issue between the two countries with a fallout on all aspects of ties between them. His statement assumes significance as the Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee is due to visit China beginning June 22. Mr Pant, who is also member of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), said India should continue pointing out its concerns to the Chinese about Beijing’s “deep and sustained” military relationship with Pakistan, particularly in the area of nuclear and missile cooperation. “The picture would not be complete without a reference to India’s well-known concerns about China’s deep and sustained military relationship with Pakistan, the most serious aspect of which is in the area of nuclear and missile cooperation. We should continue pointing out our concerns to the Chinese while at the same time take steps to secure our interests,” he said. Emphasising that the security dialogue between the two “overt nuclear weapon powers” was an “urgent necessity” and “no longer a luxury,” Mr Pant said both countries had adopted a forward-looking approach to the security dialogue which had been extended to include the subject of international terrorism. “Our shared interests encompass a range of activities that include the scourge of terrorism stoked by religious radicalism. India and China...cannot be passive spectators in this changing environment.” Expressing happiness at the steady growth of Sino-Indian economic relations since early 1990s, Mr Pant said with the accession by China to the WTO, coordination between the two countries in WTO negotiations could be highly effective in achieving their objectives. Even though China had supported India’s submissions on some issues (like investment), both countries were far from having a regular framework for consultations. |
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No bargain on Ayodhya: Imam
New Delhi, June 14 The Imam alleged that the secret meeting took place between the Maulana and the Shankaracharya in Lucknow on June 7 to solve the Ayodhya tangle. He said the board was constituted with the sole purpose of protecting ‘Shariah’ (Islamic law) and guiding Muslims on the ‘Sharee’’ issues, but some vested interests, taking advantage of the confidence of the Muslims in the board, were bargaining on the Babri masjid issue.
UNI |
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Jaya’s remarks against Pope irk bishops
Chennai, June 14 “We, the catholic bishops of Tamil Nadu, express our hurt and displeasure over the disrespectful criticism against the Pope by the Chief Minister,” the council said in a statement. “As the leader of the worldwide Catholic Christians, he has the right to express his concerns over the difficulties that the Christians are facing in certain parts of India today,” the TNBC said, adding that the Pope had only raised his voice against an “obvious violation of human rights regarding religious freedom.” As a worldwide religious leader, the Pope, who had been functioning as the “conscience keeper of the world,” had always raised his voice against the violation of human rights and war, it added.
PTI |
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Kalam to visit Kashmir New Delhi, June 14 This is the first visit of to a President to Jammu and Kashmir after five years. The presentation of colours will be done in Srinagar while the university convocation is to be in Jammu, official sources said. He is likely to meet children in all three regions of the state, sources said. During the visit, he would also be having an interaction with the MLAs, the first such dialogue after the assembly elections held earlier this year, the sources said. The President’s detailed schedule is expected to be finalised soon.
PTI |
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Sonia submits to priest’s terms Pushkar, June 14 With rose petals, a coconut and other puja material at hand, she sat cross-legged at the Gau ghat of the famous Pushkar lake, shuffling uneasily as the pandit spun the web of a story to seek Rs 1.50 crore for starting a dharamshala and an ashram. As a visibly surprised Ms Gandhi looked on, he began narrating how a court decision had been pending for more than an year in a case relating to the land on which the dharamshala was proposed to be built. “Yes, yes. I shall look into the matter,’’ she said, warding off the pleas. The pandit resumed chanting the mantras only after Ms Gandhi assured he would get the promised money.
UNI |
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Ludhiana
train fire unusual, says Nitish New Delhi, June 14 The freak fire which engulfed few compartments of the train killing 38 persons is being probed by Mr Bhupendra Singh, Commissioner Railway Safety (North Eastern Region), who in his preliminary report failed to point out any conclusive reason behind the fire. The minister said it was a preliminary report and the actual reason would be known only after the forensic report was out. The minister evaded questions on whether it was sobotage but said that the train which caught fire within two or six minutes after leaving the station was indeed an “unusual’’ incident.
UNI |
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River Authority meeting tomorrow New Delhi, June 14 Issues such as the operation and maintenance of assets created over the past 18 years, creating public awareness and ensuring people’s participation in cleaning and keeping rivers and lakes pollution-free are likely to figure at the meeting. The main objective of the National River Conservation Plan (NRCP) is to maintain the wholesomeness of the water quality of major rivers by implementing pollution abatement schemes. The meeting will be attended, among others, by Union Minister for Environment and Forests T.R. Baalu, who is also the Vice-Chairman of the NRCA, Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission K.C. Pant, Minister for Finance Jaswant Singh, Minister for Water Resources Arjun Sethi and Minister for Urban Affairs and Employement Anant Kumar. The chief ministers of 18 states, several members of Parliament and experts, who are also members of the NRCA are also likely to attend the meeting. The Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, is a special invitee. At the meeting of the NRCA held in March, 2001 under the chairmanship of the Prime Minister, it was decided to adopt an integrated approach for the river cleaning programme with future works being shared on a 70:30 basis between the Central and state governments. The approved works under the NRCP extend to 157 towns along 31 stretches of polluted rivers in 18 states. It involves a total cost of Rs 4,064 crore with the Government of India share of Rs 3,464 crore. As many as 763 projects with a value of Rs 2,460 crore have been sanctioned under the NRCP. This is in addition to the 261 projects sanctioned under GAP Phase-I. The total expanditure incurred till March 31, 2003 under the NRCP is Rs 1236.67 crore, including the state’s share. |
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431 pass out of IMA
Dehra Dun, June 14 “The men you are now going to command are the best in the world,” the Defence Minister, who was the chief guest and reviewing officer at today’s passing out parade, told the newly qualified Gentlemen Cadets at the Chetwode Square of the Indian Military Academy. Army officers from foreign countries who met him had been saying that they wished they had such men to command, he added. Before his address, the Defence Minister gave away awards to the winners of the Spring Term 2003. The prestigious ‘Sword of Honour’ for the 112 Regular Course was awarded to Battalion Under Officer Antony Joseph while the gold medal was bagged by Academy Adjutant Raj Singh Duhan. The silver medal and bronze medals were won by Battalion Cadet Adjutant Ajit Khatri and Battalion Under Officer Antony Joseph respectively. The silver medal awarded to the cadet standing first in order of merit from Technical Graduates’ Course was bagged by Junior Under Officer Rajinder Singh, while the silver medal awarded to cadet standing first in order of merit from the Technical Entry Scheme was given to Wing Cadet Adjutant Gagan Singh. In all, 431 cadets, including 14 foreign cadets, passed out at today’s
parade. They became fully commissioned officers of the Army once they crossed over the “Final Step” engraved at the entrance of the famous Chetwode Hall of the Academy.
UNI |
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Arrest
warrant against Cong MP Ranchi, June 14 The CBI special court of Mr P R Dass while hearing the regular case turned down a petition moved by Mr Singh for quashing the prosecution and for procuring anticipatory bail. The judge instead ordered the issuance of the arrest warrant. The court after hearing the case on June 12 had reserved its order which was delivered yesterday.
UNI |
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BJP welcomes Akali unity New Delhi, June 14 “The unity of the two factions is a positive development in Punjab,” BJP spokesperson and general secretary M.A. Naqvi told ‘The Tribune’ here. Mr Naqvi, however, did not wish to elaborate whether his statement meant that the unification of SAD and the SHSAD would have a positive impact for the Akalis in the coming panchayat poll in Punjab. |
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