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Sunday,
October
12, 2003,
Chandigarh, India  
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CBI raids against Maya beyond SC brief, says
Cong More gestures from China likely Gorshkov deal likely before PM’s Russia visit
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Of American wizardry and Iranian realism
2 Cong, 1 CPM leaders join
BJP Rs 4 lakh relief for Godhra victims’
kin Bihar ministers amassing money, says Rabri Hand over DDA to Delhi, demands Sheila Dikshit Himachal to celebrate rail centenary Pre-arrest bail can be
granted after chargesheet, says SC Film producer arrested for assaulting policemen Justice Rao takes over as member of rights panel Pak prisoners go on fast
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CBI raids against Maya beyond SC brief, says
Cong New Delhi, October 11 Responding to queries about the reported remarks of party general secretary Nawal Kishore Sharma supporting CBI action against Ms Mayawati Congress chief spokesman Jaipal Reddy said the raids were not justified per se. “Only those raids are justified which are strictly warranted as per the Supreme Court directions in the Taj Corridor case,” he said. The spokesman said the CBI was an instrument of Centre and could not probe assets of a former Chief Minister unless directed by a court or approached by the concerned state government. Mr Sharma had informed the party that he was “misquoted”, Mr Reddy said. He said the CBI had also conducted raids against relatives of Ms Mayawati and an impression had been created that the raids were “indiscriminate”. Asked about the Amarinder Singh government conducting raids on associates of former Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, Mr Reddy said the party had made a pledge to people of the state to expose the corrupt. “The Punjab Government is fulfilling its responsibility,” he said. Mr Reddy refused to comment on Ms Mayawati’s allegations against foster son-in-law of Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. |
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More gestures from China likely New Delhi, October 11 Though Vajpayee government sources here decline to say what more gestures are expected from China and precisely when, it is understood that Beijing would be making the necessary changes in its official map in near future reflecting India’s sovereignty over Sikkim. Besides removing Sikkim as a foreign country on its foreign ministry’s official website (www.fmprc.gov.cn) ahead of a meeting of Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao in Bali earlier this week, the Chinese Government had also deleted its description of Sikkim which was offensive to New Delhi. The website, which had till recently put Sikkim in its list of foreign countries, described the north-east Indian state as follows: “China does not recognise India’s illegal annexation of Sikkim.” This reference also has been deleted from the website. Sikkim had merged with India way back in 1975, a move which had angered China. The Chinese gesture comes a fortnight before the crucial first-ever meeting of permanent representatives from the two sides here on October 23 to discuss the boundary dispute. Principal Secretary to Prime Minister and National Security Adviser Brajesh Mishra and Vice- Minister Dai Bingguo, who is the number two in the Chinese Foreign Ministry are the special representatives. The Chinese move, it is understood, is an index of its appreciation of the need for adapting its foreign policy in view of the changed security and strategic scenario in the post 9/11 developments. There are signals that Beijing is more eager and ready than ever before to improve its relations with its giant neighbours like Russia and India. Since last year, foreign ministers of Russia, China and India have made it an annual practice to meet on the margins of the United Nations General Assembly meeting and exchange notes. With Russia, China has settled its border dispute which, at one point of time, threatened to degenerate into an armed conflict between the two powerful nuclear nations. Having put the border dispute behind them, Moscow and Beijing are now working closely not only in trade and economy spheres but also such sensitive areas as defence and space. There is no reason why China cannot repeat its Russia experiment with India and put behind the memories of the 1962 Sino-Indian war. This is clearly reflected in the Sino-Indian trade figures. Last year, the India-China bilateral trade was pegged at an impressive $ 5 billion. And if the first seven months of this year are any indication, the Sino-Indian bilateral trade is going to cross the $ 7-billion mark. Interestingly, these are Chinese figures which also show that India is better placed than China in the balance of trade equation. |
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Gorshkov deal likely before PM’s Russia visit New Delhi, October 11 “We hope to finalise the project by this year,” Victor
Chernov, Military Attache at the Russian Embassy here, told newspersons, adding that this could be possible during Mr Vajpayee’s visit. He, however, hastened to add that it was a “complex” deal. Differences on price as well as various other aspects of the deal had delayed the acquiring of the Russian aircraft carrier. The two sides were finalising political and economic declarations, a joint statement and working on about 20 documents for Mr Vajpayee’s visit, a senior Russian diplomat said. It would be Mr Vajpayee’s third meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in four months. The two leaders had met in May when Mr Vajpayee visited the Russian city of St.Petersburg and again in New York on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly session last month. Ahead of the Prime Minister’s visit, First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Vyacheslav
Trubnikov, would arrive here this Sunday for consultations with Foreign Secretary Kanwal Sibal on global challenges. Russian Defence Minister Sergey Ivanov would visit India in November. Asked about Israel’s growing defence ties with India, Chernov said “Israel is a competitor for Russia. It is an active player here”. The military attache spoke about the prospects of a trilateral deal between India, Russia and Israel on AWACS. He sought to allay apprehensions over the Indo-Russian joint production of the 295-km range supersonic Bramhos cruise missiles, saying that there was no violation of international norms and laws. India and Russia are exploring the possibility of joint production of the fifth generation fighter aircraft. Senior Russian Embassy officials said both sides were working hard to ensure that Mr Vajpayee’s summit with Mr Putin gave “an additional powerful impetus” to bilateral cooperation in areas of mutual benefit and interest. |
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Of American wizardry and Iranian realism New Delhi, October 11 Culturally too, it was easier to relate to director Ali Shah Hatami's 'Gipsy' than to the all-American 'Finding Nemo', because the former story could have very well been set in India. The simple superstitions that the playing of a particular melody could bring rain in a parched region, that killing a particular bird is a sin against God were the stuff that many in India instinctively believe in. The story is set in Talkhak village whose inhabitants believe that killing a lark takes prosperity away from the earth. But young Rassul does exactly that, to earn a little money for his widowed mother. Drought envelops the village and a musician with divine powers is invited to the village to summon rains with his instrument, a Dotar. The ceremony is disrupted by the arrival of Rassul with his hunted larks. Then starts the discredited boy's journey through the desert to bring back the musician. His travails keep viewers spellbound for the 90-minute duration. Director-screenplay writer Hatami had gained international recognition with his "Sharpnels in Peace", which received two prizes in Giffoni Film Festival in 2001. Mohammad Ahmadi's picturisation of the stark countryside of Iran and Fardin Khalatbari's music are the highlights of the film. Interacting with the Press through an interpreter, Hatami explained how as a playwright he was always fascinated by every person's journey into the inner realm of his own psyche. * * 'Finding Nemo' is set for a Diwali release in India. Naturally, its entry in the festival has many people lining up for tickets. Director Andrew Stanton has been associated with animation through landmark Disney/Pixar features such as 'Toy Story', 'A Bug's life', 'Toy Story-2' and 'Monsters Inc.' He utilises that expertise to make 'Finding Nemo" a marvelous experience. It narrates the exploits of a heroic buffoon fish who finds itself in troubled waters when it defies the advice of its single parent Marlin. The adventure goes through twists and turns all the time. The film is a marvel of the mastery over animation that the USA has obtained down the decades. What Disney did with paint and brush is done infinitely better through the use of computers. * * When 'The Soul Keeper' was added to the day's menu by removing 'Suckces' not much was known about this Franco-Italian production, but what a powerful film it proved to be! Based on the true life story of a Russian girl, Sabina, who was treated at the beginning of the previous century by Carl Jung himself, it was a psycho-analytical masterpiece by director Roberto Fanenza. The mentally disturbed girl is cured by Jung through the then novel methods expounded by Freud. Jung's life is close to ruins because the girl falls in love with him. But the worst does not happen. Sabina trains in psychiatry herself and goes back to her native country, to work with schoolchildren. The 'mad' Stalin devours her like many thousands of other Russians and it is her story that becomes a symbol for the need to care for the mental suppression of every child. * * While a varied fare is ladled out in the auditoria at Siri Fort, a small enclosure outside becomes a lively venue for enlightening discussion on various aspects connected with cinema. Yesterday, the stress was on the need to draw up a National Film Policy. Veteran film-maker M. Bhaktavatsalam exhorted the NFDC to involve itself more actively in promoting good cinema. Mr Rakesh Munjal, editor of the quarterly 'Kathachitra', was critical of the fact that the policies pursued by the mainstream Hindi cinema dominated the film policy in the country. Film-maker-actor Mohan Sharma castigated Doordarshan for having only one slot for regional cinema on the national channel. Mr Sudhir Nandgaonkar, Director of the annual festival at Mumbai organised by the Mumbai Academy of Moving Image (MAMI) pointed out that MAMI happened to be the only independently run film festival in the country as it did not get any state or central government grant. |
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Amitabh has a quiet birthday Mumbai, October 11 The megastar’s father, poet Harivanshrai Bachchan, passed away in January this year and hence Amitabh decided to keep his birthday celebrations simple. His fans from all parts of the country converged on both houses of the Bollywood icon waiting to catch a glimpse of him. However, a security blanket thrown around the bungalows kept them from coming near the main gates. The men and women who had come from Solapur, Nagpur, Indore, Karnataka and other places were told by the security personnel that Mr Bachchan was relaxing. They had brought with them souvenirs and photos illustrating the chequered life of the superstar. Some of them also carried banners reading “tum jeeyo hazaro saal”. For the last several years, whenever he is in town, the Big B has always acknowledged the appreciation of his fans by making a brief appearance on the terrace of his “Prateeksha’’ bungalow every Sunday evening at 5.00 pm as well as on his birthday. His admirers were hoping that their icon would not disappoint them this time. —
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2 Cong, 1 CPM leaders join
BJP New Delhi, October 11 Mr Beg and Mr S. Krishna Kumar were welcomed to the party fold at a function here by Deputy Prime Minister L.K. Advani and BJP President M. Venkaiah Naidu. Mr Naidu said Mr Sengupta could not come to Delhi today. He said Mr Sengupta, who retired from the Rajya Sabha recently, had met him in Kolkata and expressed his desire to join the party and “I have decided to accept him”. When Mr Sengupta was a member of the Rajya Sabha, he had attended a dinner meeting hosted by the Prime Minister for NDA MPs some two years back causing embarrassment to the Left party. The party president described Mr Beg’s rejoining the party as “homecoming”. Beg was a senior leader of the party and had been a minister of state in the Janata Party government in 1977. He had left the party for Congress a few years ago. Mr Krishna Kumar said he was joining the BJP after serving the Congress for 23 years as the BJP was “the party of the present and the future”. Attacking the Congress leadership, including that in Kerala, he said narrow group politics was “decimating” that party and “failure” to ensure discipline had made the leadership a “laughing stock” of the people. |
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Rs 4 lakh relief for Godhra victims’ kin Ahmedabad, October 11 Nearly 20 months after the train carnage, the RCT has been able to decide only six cases even as evidence of claimants has been taken in 40 cases while in 13 cases no person has come forward to claim compensation, sources in the tribunal said. Hearing on the cases has been completed and the RCT will pronounce its orders on October 13. A senior official of the RCT, on condition of anonymity, said one of the reasons for the delay was the absence of a full-time (judicial) member who was finally appointed in March this year. The official said such compensation cases are decided by a Division Bench of the tribunal and the presence of a full-time member was important for proper proceedings. Another problem faced during awarding compensation in the case was that many VHP kar sevaks were reportedly travelling without ticket and hence their names did not figure in the reservation charts, another official said. Moreover, the DNA reports of 13 victims who were burnt beyond recognition were awaited to establish if they were kar sevaks or among other passengers. —
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Bihar ministers amassing money, says Rabri Patna, October 11 While addressing a two-day meeting of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) national council, Ms Rabri Devi offered to relinquish her office following the lackadaisical attitude of her party’s ministers and legislators. She chided her Cabinet colleagues and legislators for not discharging their duties honestly. She said the
inefficiency of the ministers and legislators was sending a wrong signal among the party workers and the common people in their constituencies. The Chief Minister said the ministers and legislators were indulging in amassing money and other luxuries. She said they had reached at the pinnacle of riches despite starting their journey from misery. —
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Hand over DDA to Delhi, demands Sheila Dikshit New Delhi, October 11 The Chief Minister, who was speaking on “People Oriented Governance” at a seminar organised by the AICC’s Vichar Vibhag Department here, said her government would work towards providing houses to around 40 lakh
jhuggi-dwellers in the city if it was voted back to power. She said the state government was handicapped in implementing any such scheme as the land was with the Centre. “The DDA should come under the Delhi Government and the municipalities should also be fully handed over to it, she said. Ms Dikshit said property tax in the Capital would be paid from April according to owner’s own assessment as per a laid-down criteria. |
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Himachal to celebrate rail centenary New Delhi, October 11 Packaged under the theme of ‘Shimla - a journey to the past,’ the events include a vintage car show, cultural festival, painting exhibition and golf competition at Naldera. The Kalka-Shimla railway section completes 100 years on November 9. The state is also hosting the para-gliding pre-world cup at Billing in Kangra district from October 28 to November 1. State Tourism and Civil Aviation Minister Maj Vijai Singh Mankotia said here that the Tourism Department had simultaneously launched a drive to spruce up historical buildings in Shimla, including the famous Gaiety Theatre. Shimla, which was once the summer capital of British India, will be showcased in its ancient splendour with programmes also to be staged in the backdrop of Vice-regal Lodge. The finale on November 15, on the pattern of Beating the Retreat, will have bands from the Army, Navy and Air Force. A commemorative stamp will be released to mark the centenary of the Kalka-Shimla section. Mr D.P.S. Sandhu, spokesman, Northern Railway, said the local population along the stations falling on the 96-km track would be involved in the celebrations. The event will also be promoted abroad. He said that the Railways was working on a steam-engine tourism package which could be offered to tourists. The Railways would run a special train driven by a 80-year old steam locomotive refurbished by the Railways from Shimla. |
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Pre-arrest bail can be granted after chargesheet, says SC New Delhi, October 11 This ruling was given by a Bench comprising Mr Justice N. Santosh Hegde and Mr Justice B. P. Singh while granting anticipatory bail to a couple accused of harassing their daughter-in-law for dowry. “In our opinion, the Courts of Sessions, High Court or this court has the necessary power vested in them to grant anticipatory bail in non-bailable offences under Section 438 of the Criminal Procedure Code even when cognizance if taken or chargesheet is filed provided the facts of the case require the court to do so,” the Bench said. Setting aside an order of the Patna High Court rejecting their pre-arrest bail plea, it said the object of Section 438 of the Criminal Procedure Code was to prevent undue harassment of accused persons by pre-trial arrest and detention. The Bihar Government counsel argued that since the trial court had taken cognizance of the offence, Section 438 could not be used for granting anticipatory bail even by the apex court. He had contended that the only remedy available to the appellants was to approach the trial court, surrender and thereafter apply for regular bail under Section 439 of the code. Mr Justice
Hegde, writing for the Bench, said: “If the arguments of the state is to be accepted then in each and every case, where a complaint is made of a non-bailable offence and cognisance is taken by the competent court, then every court under the code including this court would be denuded of its power to grant anticipatory bail under Section 438 of the code.” The Bench said it did not find any restriction under Section 438 in regard to exercise of power to grant anticipatory bail in a suitable case either by the Court of Sessions, High Court or the apex court even when cognisance was taken or chargesheet was filed. “The fact, that a court has either taken cognisance of the complaint or the investigating agency has filed a chargesheet, would not by itself, in our opinion, prevent the concerned courts from granting anticipatory bail in appropriate cases,” he said. The gravity of the offence was an important factor to be taken into consideration while granting such anticipatory bail so also the need for custodial interrogation, the Judge said. —
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Film producer arrested for assaulting policemen Mumbai, October 11 The High Court had issued a warrant for Grover’s arrest in a case filed by a film distributor following his failure to pay dues a few years ago, the police said. When the court official along with two constables went to Grover’s house with the warrant, they were beaten up by him and his wife, they said. A case was filed against them and were arrested yesterday, they said. Later they were released on bail, they added. Following their release on bail, Grover, who has produced films like “Dhaal” and “Balma”, was sent to Byculla jail in connection with the case filed by the distributor.
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Justice Rao takes over as member of rights panel New Delhi, October 11 A source in the NHRC said that he started his practice in 1964 as an advocate in the high court of Andhra Pradesh and was appointed as the Additional Public Prosecutor of Andhra Pradesh in July 1997. He was appointed as a permanent Judge of the Andhra Pradesh High Court in July 1986 and was later transferred to the Karanataka High Court in November 1997. He was appointed as the Chief Justice of the Karnataka High Court on March 9, 1999, and held the position till his retirement on June 26, 2000. |
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Pak prisoners go on fast Jaipur, October 11 Detained at a police camp outside Alwar jail since September 18, after being brought from various jails in the state, they have been refusing food since Thursday evening, district officials said. The 13 had been moved to Alwar following a directive from the Centre that Pakistani prisoners in the state who had completed their sentences should be moved to a “camp’’ till their repatriation. The Centre had acted following a Supreme Court ruling. According to officials, the Pakistanis were hopeful that they would be sent back to their country on September 30, but this did not happen as the Pakistan High Commission was reluctant to identify them, primarily because most of them were held on espionage charges.—
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