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Monday,
October
6, 2003,
Chandigarh, India  
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SAD to contest 4 seats in Delhi PM urges doctors to be compassionate
Pak propaganda makes India see red Hindu-Muslim accord on Marad issue Church mission literacy goes Hindu way |
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Amarmani sent to jail Charges against Salman today
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SAD to contest 4 seats in Delhi New Delhi, October 5 The meeting was attended by the SAD President, Mr Parkash Singh Badal along with party’s Delhi unit chief, Mr Avtar Singh Hit, Mr Kuldip Singh Bhogal, Mr Inderpal Singh Khalsa, Delhi BJP president, Mr Madan Lal Khurana and senior leader Vijay Kumar Malhotra. The four seats, where the SAD has agreed to put up its candidate, is a significant climbdown by the Akali party as it had earlier insisted on contesting 10 seats. After tough negotiations and a series of meetings, the two parties at their fourth meeting have agreed on the number of seats that the BJP would allow the SAD put up its candidates. However, it was agreed that the SAD candidates would contest on the BJP symbol. The broad category of constituencies have been identified amongst which four would be finalised depending on how strong the nominated candidate is. The constituencies identified are Ashok Nagar or Adarsh Nagar; Geeta Colony or Gandhi Nagar; Jangpura Bhogal and Vishnu Garden or Tilak Nagar or Rajouri Garden. These constituencies have a strong presence of Sikh voters, who can tilt the electoral fortune in favour of any party. However, the crucial factor which will decide the fate of the Akali candidate will be the kind of cooperation extended by the BJP, especially its workers. SAD party sources said past experience had not been a memorable one. Even in the Delhi Municipal Corporation poll, the BJP gave few seats to the Akalis, but the “non-cooperation” by BJP workers cost them dear. Only one Akali candidate, Mr Onkar Singh Thapar, managed to get himself elected despite odds. The elections are crucial to the BJP and the Congress both in consolidating the Sikh votes in the Capital. The former Punjab Congress President backed by SAD Delhi chief Paramjit Singh Sarna managed to defeat the SAD candidate in the DSGMC poll. The Assembly poll is seen as a replay of the tussle. Further, in the last Assembly poll, seven Sikh candidates won on the Congress ticket, ending the so-called boycott of the party by the electorate since the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. While the Congress would attempt to consolidate its gains in the last Assembly poll and the DSGMC, the BJP would keenly try to winover its traditional ally. With Sikh sentiments against the Congress now past memory, the elections would indicate the progressive approach adopted by both parties, especially to woo the minority community. |
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PM urges doctors to be compassionate New Delhi, October 5 The Prime Minister said an understanding between doctors and patients could go a long way in mitigating the sufferings of people. At the same time, negligence should not be tolerated. Mr Vajpayee observed that there was need for good hospitals with modern facilities. He described the AIIMS as an institution of excellence and said he had seen it grow as a patient, as a person confined to a room in the hospital during the Emergency and was now trying to see it as the Prime Minister. He inaugurated an extended OPD block, an emergency ward, a private ward block, the extended building of Dr B.R. Ambedkar Institute Rotary Cancer Hospital. He also laid the foundation stone of a cardio-thoracic and neuro-sciences tower. He said the addition of various facilities on Vijayadasami Day which marks the victory of good over evil, should also mark the victory of health over disease. |
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Pak propaganda makes India see red
New Delhi, October 5 Government sources, who have read “more than the usual” anti-India rhetoric in President Musharraf's recent statements including the one accusing New Delhi of playing “dangerous” games in Pakistan, Kashmir and Afghanistan, feel that it is his latest “propaganda innovation” against India. “They must know that we can retaliate in a big way and they should know that,” we had told a Canadian newspaper Toronto Star. “They (Indians) should never presume that they can do things and they can go unchecked”, he said, adding that the “risk of full-fledged conflict with India can never be ruled out on South Asia.” “However, what is dangerous is whether there will be a conflict between India and Pakistan which can then lead on to a nuclear exchange,” he said. His latest threatening references to his country's nuclear capability give an impression that the “General's fingers are restive to press the button on the slightest pretext,” the sources said. They noted that Musharraf has threatened a number of times, and subsequently denied, to use the nuclear bomb “if war was imposed on Pakistan”. The sources said General Musharraf's aggressive postures could be related to his coming under intense pressure from hardliners and religious groups in Pakistan and the USA and its allies voicing their frustration over his failure to curb the Al-Qaida and the Taliban.
— PTI |
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Hindu-Muslim accord on Marad issue Thiruvananthapuram, October 5 The agreement also covered most outstanding issues raised by the Hindu outfits, who took up the case of the affected Araya community, whose eight members were killed in the violence. “The understanding reached today could be taken as a model by the nation,” a beaming Mr Antony told reporters. Mr Antony said all proposals agreed upon by the two sides, including the demand for a CBI probe into the conspiracy and inter-state and terrorist links behind the incident, would be placed before the Cabinet. The talks were mediated by eminent Gandhian P. Gopinanthan Nair. The parties to the accord included leaders of the BJP, Hindu Aikya Vedi, Araya Samajam and VHP on one side and IUML ministers P.K. Kunhalikutty and M.K. Muneer on the other. The latter were authorised by various Muslim outfits to represent the community. The 10-point accord included enhanced compensation for the kin of the victims (Rs 10 lakh each), seriously injured persons (Rs 5 lakh each) and others injured (Rs 3 lakh each). The government would also provide one dependent of each victim with job. Assistance would also be made available to those who had lost their dwellings and equipment in the violence. All cases registered in connection with the agitations by various outfits following the carnage would be withdrawn, according to the accord. The government would also take steps to set up a coast guard station at Beypore and a new police station at Marad. A package for an all-round development of the Marad region would also be taken up. The Chief Minister said the agreement could be reached due to a give-and-take approach from leaders of both communities.
— PTI |
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Church mission literacy goes Hindu way Thiruvananthapuram, October 5 This sparked off protests among various sections on the alleged move to ‘Indianise the churches’ and also ‘Christianise a Hindu tradition.’ Fr Geevarghese Erakkath, Vicar of the St Geroge’s Orthodox Syrian Cathedral, here said “we faced stiff opposition initially, but the response from the people is encouraging.’’ After the Holy Mass at the one of the oldest churches here this morning, 53 children, including one from a Hindu family, were initiated into the world of letters by a group of priests, teachers and elders, who braved a strong campaign that the ritual was ‘anti-Christian.’ Against the backdrop of an oil painting of Jessus Christ, children sat on the laps of ‘Ezhuthasan’ to write Holy words from the Bible, instead of writing ‘Hari Sri...’ as per the Hindu tradition. “There is nothing wrong in it. We adopted a tradition by making suitable changes to suit our beliefs,’’ Church’s Youth Movement President George Varghese told UNI. A teacher-turned vicar, Fr Erakkath admitted that he himself was initiated into the world of letters by a Hindu priest by writing ‘Hari, Sri...’ “It’s wrong to say we are Christianising a Hindu ritual. It is part of our great tradition.’’ Despite plans to organise the event in an elaborate manner with pictures of gods and goddesses of all religions adorning a podium erected on the premises of the cathedral, he was forced to conduct it in a modest way. As the function was progressing, the Cathedral Action Council activists distributed notices at the church entrance headlined “A Saraswati Pooja in a Church?’’ “We are not physically obstructing the event as it might lead to a conflict between the Christian and Hindu communities,’’ said Mr K.M. Simon, a retired government employee. Similarly, Prof P.M. George, Dr Elsy Philip and many others felt that the ritual was ‘anti-Christian’ and it could not be justified. However, many others differ from the view. Peter Paul, a labourer from Muttada in the city who brought his daughter for the ceremony, said it was good that the church itself initiated such a step. “My first child was initiated into the world of letters on Vidyarambham day itself three years ago by a retired teacher.’’ “It is not the Hindus alone who celebrate the occasion. My three children were initiated into the world of learning on Vijaya Dasami day,’’ Abeymon P. Abraham of Mallappally in neighbouring Pathanamthitta. Last year, a Hindu girl was initiated into the world of letters by the khateeb of a mosque near Thrissur on the occasion of Vijaya Dasami. Three-year-old Jisha was made to write the ‘first letters’ on slate by Khateeb Alhafiz Fatahudin Hansi of the Cheraman Juma Masjid at Kodungallur, one of the earliest mosques in the country dating to the 7th century. Disputing the argument that it was wrong on the part of the church authorities to select Saraswati Puja day for the event, Jyoti said Vijaya Dasami was the most auspicious occasion for such an event. “My two-year-old son Eappan will be initiated today,’’ she added. Fifty six-year-old Fr Erakkath hoped that the protests would soon die down and other churches in the state would also follow suit. “In any case, Vidyarambha is not a new concept as far as Christians are concerned. We have been doing it for a long time as per the request of the believers.’’
— UNI |
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Amarmani sent to jail Lucknow, October 5 The CBI had to produce the Samajwadi Party legislator before the remand magistrate after his remand expired today. The order to send him to jail was passed by Duty Magistrate Raj Narayan Singh who also ordered the CBI to produce him before the special CBI court tomorrow. Later, the CBI counsel told reporters that the investigating agency wanted Mr Tripathi to remain in the CBI remand for another 15 days for further interrogation. However, Mr Tripathi's counsel pleaded that the CBI or the police remand could not be extended beyond 15 days and so his client be sent to jail. He contended that the CBI could question Mr Tripathi even in jail, with the special permission of the court concerned. The CBI Special court will also hear the bail petition of Mr Tripathi and the anticipatory bail petition of his wife Madhumani tomorrow. Both are accused in the murder of poetess Madhumita Shukla, who was shot dead at her Paper Mill Colony house here on May 9 this year. The investigation into the murder was initially assigned to the state CB-CID but was later handed over to the CBI after Madhumita's family expressed doubts over the “fairness” of the probe.
— UNI |
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Charges against Salman today Mumbai, October 5 Magistrate S.Y. Sishode was earlier scheduled to frame charges against Salman on September 26, but the public prosecutor failed to present the case papers, saying these had not arrived from the Sessions Court, which was hearing the case earlier. The Judge had taken strong objection to the absence of police officials involved in the investigation in the court and directed the prosecution to be ready for framing charges against the actor on October 6. Salman is facing charges of negligence while driving and causing death under the Indian Penal Code.
— UNI |
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MOUNTAINEER KILLED, 17
STRANDED 3 INJURED IN BOMB BLAST REMAND FOR DAWOOD’S BROTHER GANGOTRI YATRA PUT OFF |
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