Friday, August 22, 2003, Chandigarh, India





National Capital Region--Delhi

THE TRIBUNE SPECIALS
50 YEARS OF INDEPENDENCE

TERCENTENARY CELEBRATIONS
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N A T I O N

CCS may give green signal to AJT deal
New Delhi, August 21
With the Cabinet Committee on Security scheduled to meet here on Saturday, Union Defence Minister George Fernandes is hopeful that the green signal will be given for acquiring the direly needed advanced jet trainer for the Indian Air Force.

PM failed to respond to charges, says Cong
Boycott of George Fernandes to continue
New Delhi, August 21
The Congress today accused the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Bihari Vajpayee, of failing to respond to the charges levelled by the party during the debate on no-confidence motion in the Lok Sabha and indicated that its “boycott” of the Defence Minister, Mr George Fernandes, would continue.

Atal didn’t write to Indira, says BJP
New Delhi, August 21
Refuting the allegation that Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee had
written a letter to then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi during the Emergency seeking pardon to gain release from prison, the BJP termed it as “the biggest lie of the year.”

All-party team from Maharashtra meets Vajpayee
New Delhi, August 21
An all-party delegation of Maharashtra leaders, including Lok Sabha Speaker Manohar Joshi, met Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee today and demanded Rs 6,000 crore Central assistance for Mumbai for tackling the problems of slums and traffic.

Dahej natural gas terminal to start from January
New Delhi, August 21
The Petroleum Minister, Mr Ram Naik, said today that the liquified natural gas terminal at Dahej would become operational from January 2004. Replying to questions during question hour in the Lok Sabha today, Mr Naik said the construction of the terminal would be over by December.

Pak cooperation on fishermen not enough, RS told
New Delhi, August 21
India today accused Pakistan of not extending the level of cooperation shown by Sri Lanka in the release of fishermen who had strayed into their waters. However, a delegation from Islamabad is visiting the country soon to hold talks on the repatriation of Pakistani fishermen lodged in Indian jails.



Katrina Kaif
Model Katrina Kaif poses during the launch of a new range of jewellery in Mumbai on Thursday. Kaif makes her Bollywood debut in 'Boom,' which will be released across India by August-end.
— Reuters

EARLIER STORIES
 

A model displays jewellery during a preview of a fashion show in Mumbai on Thursday. Designers from Thailand, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Sri Lanka will showcase their bridal collection alongside Indian designer during the three-day Bridal Asia 2003 show beginning September 29 in New Delhi. — Reuters

Eminent singer/composer Bhupen Hazarika and film director Kalpana Lajmi
Eminent singer/composer Bhupen Hazarika and film director Kalpana Lajmi at a Press conference on their forthcoming film 'Kyon?' in New Delhi on Thursday.
— PTI

Centre gets week’s time to decide on Pak prisoners
New Delhi, August 21
The Supreme Court today gave a week’s time to the Centre to take a decision for releasing Pakistani prisoners from Rajasthan jails who are still detained after completing their sentence for cross-border infiltration.

Immediate talks with Pakistan ruled out
New Delhi, August 21
Foreign Secretary Kanwal Sibal today virtually ruled out “immediate” talks with Islamabad as suggested by Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf.
Asked to comment on General Musharraf’s reported statement that he wanted to start the dialogue process “immediately”, Mr Sibal said, “He (General Musharraf) says so as this suits him.

Ayodhya case: charges on September 3
Rae Bareli, August 21
The special court hearing the Babri mosque demolition case today fixed September 3 for framing of charges against Deputy Prime Minister L.K. Advani and seven other accused.

Report on Sikkim flawed, says MEA
New Delhi, August 21
India today described as “flawed” a report of Chinese official agency mentioning Sikkim as a country.
A spokesman of the Ministry of External Affairs said “It is obviously a flawed report which does not even include India in the list of neighbouring countries of China bordering Tibet.”

War museum yet to get land
New Delhi, August 21
The Urban Development Ministry is yet to allot land for the National War Museum and National War Memorial, the proposal for which has been hanging fire for more four decades now.

Ashwani presents his book to Sonia
New Delhi, August 21
Mr Ashwani Kumar, Congress Rajya Sabha MP from Punjab, today presented a copy of his book “Law, ideas and ideology in politics: Perspectives of an Activist” to party President Sonia Gandhi.


Bengal bandh turns violent
Subhrangshu Gupta
Kolkata, August 21

Over 2,000 persons were arrested from different parts of the state today during the 24-hour Bengal bandh called by the SUCI and the CPI (M-L). Two persons were reportedly killed in the South 24-parganas following clashes between CPM and SUCI supporters. Over 100 persons were injured in a police lathicharge and brickbatting during the violent incidents. The bandh had been called to protest against the recent hike in electricity bills, education fees, hospital charges and various other anti-people steps taken by the Left Front Government.
In video (28k, 56k)

 

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CCS may give green signal to AJT deal
T.R. Ramachandran
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, August 21
With the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) scheduled to meet here on Saturday, Union Defence Minister George Fernandes is hopeful that the green signal will be given for acquiring the direly needed advanced jet trainer (AJT) for the Indian Air Force (IAF).

The relevant papers for the acquisition of 66 Hawk British AJTs at a cost of £ 1 million is already with the Cabinet.

Mr Fernandes had indicated last week that the fresh proposal of the Ministry of Defence with regard to the AJT might be taken up at the next meeting of the CCS. The monsoon session of Parliament concludes tomorrow.

However, authoritative sources said even though the Union Cabinet and the CCS were scheduled to meet on Saturday, one could say for sure if the AJT Hawk acquisition would be on the agenda and if it was on the agenda whether the same was taken up and cleared.

Intense controversy has dogged the acquisition of the AJT for nearly two decades. In an exclusive interview to The Tribune last month, Mr Fernandes had alluded to allegations of kickbacks involving the BAe in the American media. At the same time, he had stressed without elaborating that “someone” was trying to bring major procurement for the armed forces to a standstill.

Mr Fernandes had maintained that despite the pitfalls he was willing to “stick my neck out again because I have a responsibility which I have to fulfil.”

Fresh questions have arisen about acquisition of the BAe’s Hawk AJT which had been rejected by the British Royal Air Force. Now, with most glitches having been overcome, including the sidelining of the Czech L-159 B AJT, the way appears to have been paved for acquiring the BAe Hawk. However, if the IAF is to consider another AJT, then it will have to go through the highly cumbersome and time-consuming process once again leading to a delay of another two to three years.

Since 1984, the IAF has underlined the need for an AJT. The graduation to MiG-21 has been rather fatal with more than 40 pilots being killed in excess of 100 crashes in the last decade. There has been a public outcry against the ageing MiG 21s which have been variously dubbed as flying coffins.

The MiG 21 fighters were inducted in the IAF in 1963. Details of IAF court of inquiry into MiG crashes have revealed that most of the crashes were due to technical snags and a substantial number attributed to pilot error.

There is no doubt that with Assembly elections in four states in the Hindi heartland due in November and general elections in the later half of the next year, there is an element of circumspection in the government. Besides, strategic defence purchases have invariably hit a serious roadblock with accusing fingers being pointed at agents and manufacturers.

Significantly, the Central Vigilance Commission has informed the Defence Minister that it has decided to close the inquiry into any pending cases of acquisitions and purchases by the armed forces.
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PM failed to respond to charges, says Cong
Boycott of George Fernandes to continue
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, August 21
The Congress today accused the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Bihari Vajpayee, of failing to respond to the charges levelled by the party during the debate on no-confidence motion in the Lok Sabha and indicated that its “boycott” of the Defence Minister, Mr George Fernandes, would continue.

The Congress spokesman, Mr Satyavrat Chaturvedi, said the no-confidence motion was brought after looking at the working of the government for four years. “The Prime Minister’s reply was disappointing. The Treasury Benches spent the time narrating tales but did not answer the questions raised. It was obviously difficult for the government to give a satisfactory reply as it has failed on all fronts and has not been able to impelement its promises,’’ Mr Chaturvedi added.

He said the Congress expected the Prime Minister to today speak on issues which had exercised the Opposition and had created an atmosphere of suspicion. “But he did not feel it important,” the spokesman said.

He expressed concern at the “low level of language and allegations” levelled by the Treasury Benches, specially when the Congress president, Ms Sonia Gandhi, was speaking during the no-confidence debate. “The Prime Minister failed to check his colleagues. Those advising others should do some soul-searching,” Mr Chaturvedi said.

He said if the government failed to come up with a satisfactory reply on the issues raised, the Congress and other Opposition parties will go the masses.

On the proposed Bill on the nationwide ban on cow slaughter, the Congress spokesman said the government did not feel it necessary even to consult its own allies. He said while some of the BJP allies were opposed to the idea of nationwide ban on cow slaughter, the Congress objection was merely whether the Parliament had a right to legislate such a law.

To a question on the boycott of Mr Fernandes, Mr Chaturvedi said the party had not changed its earlier policy.
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Atal didn’t write to Indira, says BJP
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, August 21
Refuting the allegation that Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee had
written a letter to then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi during the Emergency seeking pardon to gain release from prison, the BJP termed it as “the biggest lie of the year.”

“There cannot be a bigger lie. It is the biggest lie of the year. There is no such letter,” BJP parliamentary party spokesman V.K. Malhotra when asked about the allegation levelled by some RJD leaders in this regard.

Stating that may be some persons who were incarcerated might have written letters seeking apology, Mr Malhotra said over 1.40 lakh people were imprisoned during the Emergency and several of them refused to take parole even on the death of their relatives or marriage of children.

Lok Sabha Speaker Manohar Joshi is examining the contents of a letter purportedly written by Mr Vajpayee, which was sought to be read out by RJD leader Raghuvansh Prasad Singh in the House during the debate on no-confidence motion.

On the opposition of the Bill to ban cow slaughter by the DMK in the Lok Sabha today, the BJP spokesperson said his party was surprised over the opposition by key NDA partner at the introduction stage itself.

He was responding to a question on why the DMK, despite being a coalition partner and party to the Cabinet decision to bring in the legislation, had opposed the Bill.
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All-party team from Maharashtra meets Vajpayee
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, August 21
An all-party delegation of Maharashtra leaders, including Lok Sabha Speaker Manohar Joshi, met Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee today and demanded Rs 6,000 crore Central assistance for Mumbai for tackling the problems of slums and traffic.

The delegation told the Prime Minister that the state government was ready to spend Rs 12,000 crore and sought Centre’s help for the remaining amount in the Rs 18,000 crore projects like metro rail, freeway, connectivity through sea from the western side and link road.

The Speaker said at a joint news conference with Maharashtra Chief Minister Sushilkumar Shinde that the Prime Minister had taken keen interest and assured to look into the problems of slum dwellers and traffic.

Mr Shinde said 55 per cent of Mumbai’s 6 million population lives in slums. To improve the conditions of the slums and to rehabilitate and resettle the slum-dwellers, the state required relaxation in the Coastal Regulatory Zone norms and making available salt land space to rehabilitate the dwellers.
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Dahej natural gas terminal to start from January
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, August 21
The Petroleum Minister, Mr Ram Naik, said today that the liquified natural gas (LNG) terminal at Dahej would become operational from January 2004.

Replying to questions during question hour in the Lok Sabha today, Mr Naik said the construction of the terminal would be over by December.

Regarding the bids opened during the first three rounds of the National Exploration and Licensing Policy (NELP), the minister said 16 foreign companies and Indian firms had submitted their bids.

The bids for the fourth round closes on September 30, he said.

He said the public sector oil companies were doing “extremely good work” and were tapping the overseas oil exploration market. In fact oil PSUs had invested Rs 3,900 crore in Sudan, he added.

Mr Naik said seismic surveys had given good indications of hydrocarbon availability in the Cambay Basin near the Kutch.

It was, however, yet to be established, whether commercial reserves of oil and gas existed.

He said oil PSUs had entered into contracts with foreign national oil companies for ensuring crude supply to the country.

“With a view to ensure security of supplies, the oil PSUs have entered into term contracts for crude supply with national oil companies of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the UAE, Malaysia, Iran and Lybia”, Mr Naik added.
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Pak cooperation on fishermen not enough, RS told
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, August 21
India today accused Pakistan of not extending the level of cooperation shown by Sri Lanka in the release of fishermen who had strayed into their waters. However, a delegation from Islamabad is visiting the country soon to hold talks on the repatriation of Pakistani fishermen lodged in Indian jails.

“We have received the fullest cooperation from Sri Lanka unlike Pakistan where that cooperation was not forthcoming,” said the External Affairs Minister, Mr Yashwant Sinha, in the Rajya Sabha.

He said the government was trying to work an institutional arrangement between New Delhi and Colombo in this regard. There are 93 Pakistani fishermen and 338 civilians lodged in Indian jails. On the other side, there are 868 Indian civilians and 319 fishermen in Pakistani jails, Minister of State for External Affairs Digvijay Singh told the Rajya Sabha during question hour.

Since there is no maritime boundary between the two countries, fishermen stray across into each other’s side. A six-member delegation from Gujarat is in Pakistan to facilitate the repatriation of the fishermen.

Despite Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf declaring there were no Indian prisoners of war in his count7ry, families of 54 Indians have sought permission to visit jails across the border to look for their relatives.
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Centre gets week’s time to decide on Pak prisoners
Our Legal Correspondent

New Delhi, August 21
The Supreme Court today gave a week’s time to the Centre to take a decision for releasing Pakistani prisoners from Rajasthan jails who are still detained after completing their sentence for cross-border infiltration.

Attorney-General Soli Sorabjee admitted that the detention of these prisoners after their completing the sentence was without any order, but their release was not possible as the Pakistan Government had refused to take them back.

He told a Bench comprising Ms Justice Ruma Pal and Mr Justice P.V. Reddy that the government would take steps to either expell them or detain them in separate camps as provided under the Foreigners Act.
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Immediate talks with Pakistan ruled out
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, August 21
Foreign Secretary Kanwal Sibal today virtually ruled out “immediate” talks with Islamabad as suggested by Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf.

Asked to comment on General Musharraf’s reported statement that he wanted to start the dialogue process “immediately”, Mr Sibal said, “He (General Musharraf) says so as this suits him. By talking about dialogue, he wants to sideline our concerns about terrorism emanating from that country. Why doesn’t he say that he will put an immediate end to cross-border terrorism.”

Talking to reporters on the sidelines of a seminar here, the Foreign Secretary said Pakistan was yet to positively respond to its offer for resumption of overflights and introduction of additional buses between Lahore and Delhi.
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Ayodhya case: charges on September 3

Rae Bareli, August 21
The special court hearing the Babri mosque demolition case today fixed September 3 for framing of charges against Deputy Prime Minister L.K. Advani and seven other accused.

The court gave time till August 27 to the CBI and the accused, including Mr Advani, Union Minister M.M. Joshi, UP BJP chief Vinay Katiyar, former Union Minister Uma Bharti, to submit papers in support of their arguments.

Counsel Mridul Rakesh, who concluded his arguments, cited three cases pending in the Supreme Court of a similar nature. He said from the video-films and statements of several witnesses, it was proved that his clients were not present at the site when the mosque was demolished. The defence counsel said in one of the cases registered by the SHO of the area, the time of demolition was mentioned as 10.00 am while in another case, it was mentioned as 10.32 am. — PTI
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Report on Sikkim flawed, says MEA
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, August 21
India today described as “flawed” a report of Chinese official agency mentioning Sikkim as a country.

A spokesman of the Ministry of External Affairs said “It is obviously a flawed report which does not even include India in the list of neighbouring countries of China bordering Tibet.”

The spokesman asserted that Sikkim was an integral part of India and that a process had been started by which the north-eastern state would cease to be an issue in Sino-India relations.

He was asked about a report by Xinhua from Tibet which said “Sharing long borders with a number of neighbouring Asian countries like Nepal, Sikkim, Bhutan and Myanmar, Tibet boasts geographical advantages in expanding border trade.”
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War museum yet to get land
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, August 21
The Urban Development Ministry is yet to allot land for the National War Museum and National War Memorial, the proposal for which has been hanging fire for more four decades now.

In a reply to a written question in the Lok Sabha today, Defence Minister George Fernandes said after the matter had been discussed with the Ministry of Urban Development, a proposal sent by the Service Headquarters, was pending with it for further action for land allotment.

The minister said the idea was conceived in 1960. However, the land allotted near Dhaula Kuan in Delhi was not cleared from the environmental angle. Later the ministry offered three adjacent plots of land near India Gate complex for the museum and the memorial but the piece of land measuring 17.616 acres was found to be insufficient by the Service Headquarters. It was then proposed to make the National War Memorial in the Central Vistas near India Gate and the National War Museum outside Delhi in the National Capital Region.
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Ashwani presents his book to Sonia
Tribune News Service

Mr Ashwani Kumar, Congress Rajya Sabha MP from Punjab, presents a copy of his book to party President Sonia Gandhi
Mr Ashwani Kumar, Congress Rajya Sabha MP from Punjab, presents a copy of his book to party President Sonia Gandhi in New Delhi on Thursday.

New Delhi, August 21
Mr Ashwani Kumar, Congress Rajya Sabha MP from Punjab, today presented a copy of his book “Law, ideas and ideology in politics: Perspectives of an Activist” to party President Sonia Gandhi.

Senior party leaders Arjun Singh, Mohsina Kidwai, Ahmed Patel besides some senior media persons, were present at the brief function held at Ms Gandhi’s residence.

Mr Ashwani Kumar said that the book was dedicated to former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi who was “an inspiration”.

He said that the writings in the book were inspired by Rajiv Gandhi’s idealism and values in politics and his contribution in laying the foundation of a strong and vibrant India.

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BRIEFLY

KARISMA KAPOOR’S MARRIAGE AROUND DASEHRA
MUMBAI:
Bollywood actress Karisma Kapoor’s wedding with Delhi-based businessman, Sanjay Kapoor, would be held here in October. We will not be having an engagement ceremony,” the actress’ father, Randhir Kapoor, said here today. “We propose to have the marriage around Dasehra”, he said, adding that the wedding ceremony will be held in a traditional manner. — PTI

PLAYING TABLA FOR GUINNESS RECORD
JALNA:
Prasad Shriram Choudhary (28), a music teacher, has entered into the Guinness Book of World Records for continuously playing ‘tabla’ for 46 hours. A certificate to this effect was sent to Mr Prasad on August 7 after it had recognised his world record on April 15-16, this year. — UNI

CITY GEARS UP FOR TRYST WITH MARS
KOLKATA:
Scientists here are gearing up for the Earth’s tryst with Mars when it will come to the closest-ever (about 55,758 million km) to the Earth in about 60,000 years on August 27. Mars will be visible at its brightest from August 27 evening till dawn on August 28. Mr B.K. Mandal, Director, Positional Astronomy Centre Kolkata, said the exact epoch of the event would be at 1518 hrs IST while the planet’s apparent diameter would be 25.11 arc seconds. — UNI

MIXED RESPONSE TO BIHAR BANDH
PATNA:
Rail and road services were disrupted in many places during the CPI-ML (Liberation) sponsored dawn-to-dusk Bihar bandh which evoked mixed response on Thursday. Train services in Patna-Gaya, Muzaffarpur-Gorakhpur, Darbhanga-Patna and Kiul-Jhajha sections of the East Central Railway were disturbed by the agitators, Railway sources said. — PTI
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