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Thursday,
June 19, 2003, Chandigarh, India  
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‘Deserted’
wives of NRIs meet Swami
Significance
of PM’s China visit All 17
bodies of miners retrieved
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Muslim
Board says not aware of proposal Uttaranchal
minister quits over Zenie case Kelkar
for revamping IRS transfer policy
Meeting on CAS rates ends in stalemate
Aircraft crashes, pilots safe New era for Indian Navy SC seeks
order denying bail to accused Shilpa’s
father asked to surrender
Veteran
actor Jankidas dead
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‘Deserted’ wives of NRIs meet Swami New Delhi, June 18 “My husband came here during holidays only to enjoy. Is this for what I was married to him?” asked Ms Balbir Kaur, who has been married to Kulwant Singh, an NRI in England, for more than a decade. In their marriage spanning about 12 years, they have not lived together continuously for more than 20 days at a stretch and she has never visited the UK. “I am dependent on my parents for sustaining her two children, aged 5 and 11 years, born out of wedlock, as the in-laws have refused to share the burden,” she said with tears rolling down her cheeks. Ms Balbir Kaur’s shattered dream is only one face of the thousands of unsung voices submerged in the garb of social and parental pressures. Talking to The Tribune, the Mohali girl said despite the fact that Kulwant Singh was her distant relative, she had to undergo mental trauma each day as she had been left to fend for herself. “A few years after the marriage I came to know that my husband was married to a German woman. As he was repeatedly avoiding coming to India, I filed a case against him, but the court in Punjab failed to take congnisance of the fact that he was married to a foreign national even though I provided the proof,” she said. “Later we reached a compromise in 1995 and he decided to stay here for a few days and left with the promise to return.....which has not been fulfilled till date,” Ms Balbir Kaur said, adding that “now I have come to know that he has a Jalandhar girl for his live-in partner”. Her voice of anguish is not alone in a state which has one of the largest NRI population and families take pride in getting their daughters married off to a foreign-settled youth. Even grooms holding Indian passport, who are employed abroad, legally or illegally, sometimes get re-married with foreign girls for regular stay there and desert their Indian spouses here denying them of any financial support. Where Indian brides succeed in living for some duration of time with their NRI husbands abroad, they are sent back home, single or pregnant, on some pretext or the other, and on their arrival back home they are deprived of their travel documents which disables them to re-enter the adopted country of their husbands. The Lok Bhalai Party head, Mr B.S. Ramoowalia, who led the delegation of the distressed women said: “These fraudsters have hidden designs, masked faces and reliable character. Strong measures should be taken and legislations like the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act should be extended or similar enacted in Punjab to nab the culprits.” In their memorandum to the Union Minister, they urged the government to take measures to enable them get justice quickly and nab culprits at the earliest, before they ruin the lives of other young girls. |
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UK to introduce new visa stamp New Delhi, June 18 A statement issued by the High Commission said the new sticker would be issued from mid-September to all non-EU citizens who were granted extension or variations of stay in the UK. Entry clearance will be phased in over two years for nationals of countries not currently subject to a visa regime. Citizens of these countries would continue not to need a visa for visits of less than six months’ duration. A complementary provision to help people planning to stay in the UK for more than six months is also being introduced. From November, those travelling from outside the European Economic Area and planning to stay for six months or more will have to apply for entry permission before travel. The requirement to obtain entry clearance for longer stays will be introduced initially in 10 of the affected countries from November 13. |
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Significance
of PM’s China visit New Delhi, June 18 Diplomatic observers here told The Tribune yesterday that Mr Vajpayee’s visit assumed significance in view of New Delhi and Beijing finding themselves in the same boat with regard to international security and political equations that had undergone dramatic changes in the wake of September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in the USA and the Anglo-American military operation in Iraq that ousted President Saddam Hussein from power. Mr Vajpayee’s China visit, the first by an Indian Prime Minister since a decade, is taking place at a time when there have been confabulations about the possibility of a China-Russia-India axis to counter the increasing influence of the USA across the globe. Sources in the Vajpayee government say that the Prime Minister’s China visit have strategic overtones despite the fact that “no major breakthrough” is expected regarding the decades-old Sino-Indian border dispute and China’s continuing not-so-covert tactical and military cooperation with India’s arch-rival, Pakistan. It is understood that though the projected scenario of a China-Russia-India axis is still a far cry, it can not be totally ruled out in future. That is
largely because Beijing has been apprehensive of the increasing US presence in South Asia and Central Asia (which China believes to be its backyard) as well as Middle-East and South-East Asia. There are classified reports that the USA has been maintaining some 15,000 of its troops in Pakistan in the name of fighting Taliban and Al-Qaida cadres since 9/11, though Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf has firmly denied such reports. This issue has been a major irritant in Sino-Pakistani relations. At the same time, China, known to adopt a wait-and-watch approach in its diplomacy rather than manifesting knee-jerk reactions, is unlikely to change gears in its tactical relationship with Pakistan. China requires Pakistan’s support and cooperation for ties with the Muslim world as well as ensuring better access to Central Asia, a region of tremendous geo-political significance and vast natural resources. Diplomatic observers here said the Chinese leadership was of the view that its new emerging relationship with India should not be viewed from the prism of its existing relationship with Pakistan. |
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All 17 bodies of miners retrieved
Hyderabad, June 18 After inquest by revenue officials, the bodies were handed over to the relatives. Minister for Transport M Damadar Reddy will distribute cheques to the tune of Rs 13.7 lakh to next of kin of the deceased towards benefits from the company, besides Rs 6 lakh each as exgratia to the bereaved family members this evening.
UNI |
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Muslim Board says not aware of proposal
Lucknow, June 18 AIMPLB leaders, including its chief Rabe Hassan, have already rejected the Shankaracharya’s reported “verbal’’ proposals by Muslim representatives during his June 7 talks here. The VHP is also said to have objected to the Shankaracharya’s move. Meanwhile, AIMPLB sources said they had no idea whether the Shankaracharya had “couriered’’ them any proposal to renew talks with the Muslims over the Ayodhya tangle. According to news reports, Shia cleric Maulana Kalbe Sadiq has said the Shankaracharya’s new proposal has been dispatched on June 16. The Shia leader, however, himself received a setback when his suggestion to postpone the Saturday’s meeting of the Babri Masjid Committee was rejected by other members. Maulana Sadiq has earlier stepped down from the committee and later retracted his resignation within one day. According to sources, preliminary talks between AIMPLB chairman Hassan and the Shankaracharya here on June 7 were mainly focussed on the “clearance of hurdles to the Ram Temple construction in Ayodhya’’. “Muslim leaders have outrightly rejected the offer made by the Shankaracharya to leave the claim on the disputed site. The Shankaracharya said he would be sending another proposal soon,’’ sources added. The proposal or formula mooted by the Shankaracharya before Muslim leaders includes construction of a Ram Temple in Ayodhya and a mosque about 15 km away from the temple. The Shankaracharya also proposed to transfer all Muslim historical sites controlled by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to the AIMPLB. The sources said Muslim leaders had strongly objected to the idea of handing over Muslim historical sites to the board, saying that it was against Constitutional norms. “If such a thing were to happen, the nation would face another round of communal disturbances,’’ the sources quoted them as having said. The VHP has also taken strong exception to the reported verbal proposal of the Shankarancharya to Muslim leaders. “The seer had not taken into consideration the sentiments of ordinary Hindus in this matter,’’ VHP sources alleged.
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Uttaranchal minister quits over Zenie case
Dehra Dun, June 18 The minister announced his resignation in the House at 3 p.m., before the parliamentary committee could give in its report to the Speaker on the case. Mr Rawat had been linked to Zenie, an unwed mother, who gave birth to a boy in Doon Hospital on June 9, with the Opposition hinting his involvement in the case. The minister, who also handles the state’s Food and Civil Supplies portfolio, said a copy of his resignation had been sent to the Chief Minister and another to the Governor. Announcing his resignation in the House, Mr Rawat broke down, saying he was “innocent’’ and was prepared for a CBI inquiry into the matter. He said Beena Sajwan, who ran an NGO, had brought Zenie to his house last week and asked him to help her get a job. “This happened in the presence of my wife, who helped her with food and clothes and sent her to the Nari Niketan.’’ Admitting that he came to know about the rumours about his involvement with the girl, he said the allegations against him were “a conspiracy hatched by the Chief Secretary, other senior officials and his colleagues in the Congress’’. Opposition leader Bhagat Singh Koshiyari, replied that the Opposition did not believe in “character assassination’’. However, all evidence pointed towards Mr Rawat. He said it was unfortunate for the state that Rawat believed that his own colleagues had hatched a conspiracy against him. Demanding a discussion on the issue in the House, the Opposition leader said: “The government has no moral right to stay in power.’’
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Kelkar for revamping IRS transfer policy New Delhi, June 18 Among other important suggestions made by Dr Kelkar include, vetting of vigilance records/ACRs for postings in investigative wings and setting up of a Grievances Cell under the direct supervision of the Revenue Secretary, Finance Ministry sources said here today. The recommendations assumes great significance as the transfer policy of the IRS came under severe attack after the recent transfer-for-money scandal involving the personal assistant of former Minister of State for Finance Gingee Ramachandran. Dr Kelkar has suggested setting up of an IRS Placement Panel on the lines of the Civil Services Board (CSB) and replicating the External Affairs Ministry’s model of station tenures. Stations would be classified as ‘A’, ‘B’ and ‘C’ category postings, on the degree of hardship. All metros will be classified as ‘A’ category postings, state capitals will be classified as ‘B’ category and other stations would be classified as ‘C’ category postings. |
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Meeting on CAS rates ends in stalemate New Delhi, June 18 The meeting convened by Secretary, Information and Broadcasting Ministry, Mr Pawan Chopra, here this afternoon lasted two hours. The sources said that the cable operators’ inability to notify subscription rates of pay channels by June 15 could attract harsh legal provisions. Such provisions would apply to anybody who violated the provisions of the Cable Network Regulation (Amendment) Act. “If the pay channels don’t spell out the rates by July 15, they either go free-to-air or get blocked.” The sources said that the broadcasters were trying to look at immediate benefits, quoting exorbitant rates. The MSOs are reported to have suggested access to most sought-after and rival channels as Star Sports, ESPN, Sony TV, Set Max, Star Gold, Zee Cinema and Discovery Channel at cheap rates as this would encourage people to buy set-top boxes. The broadcasters are reported to have quoted a wholesale rate of Rs 170 for viewing all 30 pay channels. This would be a burden on the consumer who has to pay Rs 72 every month (cable service) for 60 to 70 free-to-air channels besides Rs 26 (entertainment tax). He would also have to pay a monthly rental of Rs 30 for set top box for viewing pay channels. According to the proposal mooted by the broadcasters, the retail price for viewing all pay channels works out at Rs 300 and a consumer would, therefore, have to part with Rs 450 every month with all the aforesaid expenses. |
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Aircraft crashes, pilots safe
Chennai, June 18 Sqn Ldr R.S. Nadedkar and Sq Ldr Raj Vaid were flying the aircraft, 14 km east of Air Force Station, when it force landed on a field near the old Mahabalipuram road after its engine developed a snag. Both the pilots are safe. A court of inquiry has been ordered. A rescue helicopter was sent to the site and the pilots were brought back to the Tambaram Air Force Station.
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New era for Indian Navy New Delhi, June 18 With INS Talwar under its belt, India today became the second country after Russia to have warships with stealth technology. It would not only give the Navy capability of deep penetration without being detected by the enemy radars but would also effortlessly fill the gap created by the decommissioning of the Leander Class frigates. It would prove to be the mainstay of the Navy till the Project 17 Class frigates were commissioned in the coming years. Based on the design by the Severnoye Bureau, the frigates were built at the Northern SY in St. Petersburg and would also be modified at a later date to incorporate the supersonic cruise missiles
‘Brahmos’. What will give India the advantage is not only the stealth features of the 3850 tonnes displacement frigates but the vertical launch missile system on board. It also has the facilities to harbour the helicopters which makes it an extremely competitive frigate in all senses. Primarily designed for Anti-Submarine Warfare
(ASW) the 124.5 metres frigates are also equipped with advanced guidance missiles to neutralise surface and aerial targets. It has a range of 4,600 miles at 20 knots and 1,600 miles at 30 knots with an endurance limit of 30 days on the trot. Complementing a crew of 180 the frigates have one surface search
(NATO:Palm Frond) and one air and surface search (NATO:Top Plate) radars. Reports suggest that it is fitted with Bharat
APSOH, hull mounted sonars which provide it with active search and attack capabilities. It also has a SSN-137 variable depth sonar and French towed array
sonars. Among the weapons it has eight universal vertical launch cells for the
Klub-N anti-ship and submarine missiles whose fire control is provided by a 5P10 radar fitted above the bridge. In the air defence role, the Shtil-1 medium-range surface-to-air missile with a single 3S-90 launcher is fitted forward of the bridge. The Shtil system uses either the SA-N-7 or the SA-N-12 surface-to-air missile of which at least 24 can be carried on board. Guidance and target illumination for these missiles is provided by four MR-90 Orekh radars. The frigate also has the capability to carry at least eight of the Igla-1E (SA-16) portable air defence missiles. The frigates get another lethal weapon in form of the one 100mm A-190 (E) gun which used against ship and shore-based targets. It has the capability of firing 60 rounds per minute to a limit of 15 km. The fire is again controlled by the 5P10 radar. For the close in weapon system role the frigate is fitted with two Kasthan Air Defence Gun and Missile system. The induction of INS Talwar is a major step towards modernisation of the Indian Navy but it has been delayed by over 18 months due to various faults with the frigates. The Indian Navy had refused to take the delivery of the frigates till such time all faults were rectified. |
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SC seeks order denying bail to accused New Delhi, June 18 A Vacation Bench comprising Mr Justice R.C. Lahoti and Mr Justice Brijesh Kumar issued the direction to this effect while hearing a Special Leave Petition (SLP) by bank employee Sukhdev Singh for regular bail. His counsel D.K. Garg was given a week’s time to place the High Court’s order before the apex court by the Bench while adjourning further hearing on the bail petition. Challenging the High Court order rejecting his plea for regular bail, Mr Sukhdev Singh, in the SLP, had claimed that no money was paid to him by Mr Narendera Kumar, who had lodged a complaint with the Punjab Police that he had paid Rs 2 lakh to the accused for arrangements to send him to the USA. The petitioner alleged that the complaint was lodged against him at the behest of Punjab Police SP (Operation) S.P.S. Bawa “who was also involved in the matter”. He submitted that regular bail was denied to him by the High Court even after it had granted him anticipatory bail earlier. The High Court had rejected his petition for regular bail on May 19, holding that he could not present himself for investigation before the police as per its direction, while granting him anticipatory bail on July 31, last year. |
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Shilpa’s father asked to surrender Ahmedabad, June 18 Mr Shetty who was denied bail by the High Court yesterday, withdrew his bail application after the court expressed its mind to reject his plea. Mr Shetty’s counsel
S.V. Raju told the court that his client would prefer surrendering before the Umra police investigating the case or the Surat city Police Commissioner to “avoid media glare”.
PTI |
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Veteran
actor Jankidas dead Mumbai, June 18 Jankidas, as he was popularly known, was suffering from heart ailment for quite some time and was discharged from a local hospital two days ago. The veteran actor had acted in more than 1,000 films since the silent era. He was the first production designer in the Indian film industry and had designed several films, including ‘Pathar Aur Payal’ and ‘Warrant’. He was recipient of many national and international awards. In May 1996, he received the lifetime achievement award instituted by Indian Motion Pictures Producers’ Association. As production designer, Jankidas took Madhubala in Sohrab Modi’s ‘Daulat’ in 1947. He introduced Meena Kumari in Nanabhai Bhatt’s ‘Hamara Ghar’ and Mala Sinha in ‘Hamlet’, produced and directed by Kishore Sahu. Jankidas also introduced Khushboo in Sunil Dutt’s ‘Dard Ka Rishta’. Jankidas also wrote several books on the film industry. His popular books are ‘My misadventures in filmland’ and ‘Acting for beginners’.
PTI |
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Santhal girl marries dog!
Chinsurah (WB), June 18 District officials today said marrying boys and girls with canines was a common practice among Santhals and was supposed to protect them against danger.
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