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Minister’s move
irks IA pilots EC gets tough on
code violators Digvijay lashes
out at Centre India, Canada
share stand on terrorism
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LeT, JeM assume
new identities Sena not to allow
Indo-Pak matches in Delhi High Altitude
award for jawans mooted NHRC asks Home,
Defence to take action on aid
Cong seeks
details of assets from aspirants Sushma allays
dengue fears
Order reserved
on Sarabhai’s petition 9 children
buried alive PIL in Ayodhya
case: hearing next month Intelligence
outfit chief may get extension
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Minister’s move irks IA pilots New Delhi, October 24 In a letter written to Labour Minister Sahib Singh Verma, Mr Rudy has asked the Labour Ministry to examine ways to ensure that the pilots lose their status of being ‘ordinary workmen’. The move, if implemented, would declare any strike by the IA pilots illegal and give the management a chance to enforce stiff punitive measures, including dismissal from service. According to reports, in the letter written recently by the Minister of State of Civil Aviation, it has been suggested to the Labour Minister that the recommendations of the Second National Commission be followed even in the case of pilots. The commission had recommended that several “better off sections of the employees” like airline pilots could not be categorised as ordinary ‘workmen’. Confirming the letter, sources in the civil aviation sector disclosed that the suggestion had also been accepted “in principle” by the Labour Ministry. However, to bring about any such changes, the government would possibly have to bring about an ‘ordinance’. Although pilots of the Indian Airlines have not reacted officially, they have said the move is only aimed at them as the pilots of the privately run airlines would not go on strike. Besides, they pointed out, they were being paid almost the same emoluments if not better and so there was no cause for them to protest. The pilots refused to spell their plan of action but said the move of the Civil Aviation Minister was aimed at only further affecting the interests of the Indian Airlines. They pointed out that for the past two years, there had been no trouble from the pilots and this move would inflame passions. The Civil Aviation Ministry move comes at a time when the pilots of the Indian Airlines have improved their productivity. From the total number of 2700 hours per year that the pilots put during the year 2000-2001, their flying hours have now increased to 3200 hours per year. The suggestion was earlier rejected by the unions on the grounds that not only would it create unrest in the public sector airlines but also as it was seen as an attempt to give backdoor entry to about 800 employees of Alliance Air into the Indian Airlines. Pilots said that the move was against the norms of the International labour Organisation (ILO), to which India was a signatory. |
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EC gets tough on code violators
New Delhi, October 24 The commission’s action came in the wake of findings by a team of EC officials which visited the state recently. The commission also ordered special door-to-door verification of electoral rolls in the constituency from October 27, which would be completed within a week. The constituency is represented by Speaker Sriniwas Tiwari. The commission also ordered the removal of the Collector in Harda district and the Deputy Superintendent of Police in Rewa following allegations of violation of the model code of conduct. Acting on a complaint that school bags with photographs of Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Ajit Jogi were being distributed in the state, the EC also directed the immediate stoppage of the procurement and distribution of such bags. In a communication to the state Chief Electoral Officer, the EC sought by October 27 the list of officers who had violated the instructions. The commission had also received complaints regarding the distribution of spectacles under a government programme by the wife of the Chief Minister at official functions organised at Jashpur and Bastar. The commission directed the Chief Electoral Officer to seek explanations from the Collectors of Jashpur and Bastar and send it to the commission by fax by October 27. The commission said the Collector of Jashpur had travelled with the Chief Minister in a private helicopter requisitioned for election duty by the Chief
Minister. — PTI |
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Digvijay lashes out at Centre
Bhopal, October 24 “I have never seen such a mean and petty-minded government at the Centre. Madhya Pradesh is now a victim of gross discrimination by the BJP-led NDA rule and proposals for projects worth crores of rupees are gathering dust”, he told reporters. “It is shocking the East-West and North-South corridor under National Highway Development Project does not touch Madhya Pradesh despite its geographical location, Mr Digvijay Singh said, adding “Union Ministers’ representing the state did not bother to promote the issue.” Projects proposed to be implemented at a cost of Rs 300 crore to strengthen national highways passing through Madhya Pradesh have been lying with the Centre for a long time, while no money is being released for the Central Road Fund whose resources have been exhausted in the state, he said. Charging the Centre with causing huge loss to Madhya Pradesh by not revising coal royalty, he said the state had also suffered a loss of nearly Rs 4,000 crore following the 11th Finance Commission recommendations. Attacking the Centre for ‘contradictory’ remarks about Madhya Pradesh, the Chief Minister said: “It was unfair on the part of Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee to claim that progress has stopped though Union Ministers’ and Planning Commission have hailed its efforts.” Mr Singh castigated Ms Bharti for using “indecent and abusive” language against him and branding him as “cunning an hypocritical”, and said “she should have taken up corruption charges against him to Lokayukt and Central Revenue agencies”. “If Uma Bharti and her BJP colleagues had evidence about alleged corruption to the tune of Rs 15,000 crore it showed inefficiency of the Central Revenue Department”, he said. He said, the BJP and other ‘fascist’ organisations were spreading “lies and untruth” about his government and the “so-called chargesheet” against him was “misleading”. Replying to a query about the High Court’s order to pay Rs 50 crore to Madhya Pradesh State Electricity Board, he said the decision was not against the government’s policy to give free power to farmers and the poor. He said Rs 50 crore would be deposited with MPSEB within the stipulated time period, and added efforts were on to ensure uninterrupted power supply during Diwali. About the state’s debt burden, the Chief Minister said compared to other state’s, Madhya Pradesh’s share has decreased as its debt share was about 19 per cent as against the national debt average of states at 24.33 per cent.
— PTI |
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India, Canada share stand on terrorism New Delhi, October 24 This was decided at the talks between the visiting Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien and Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee here this evening. The talks were followed by a banquet which Mr Vajpayee hosted in honour of his Canadian counterpart at Hyderabad House. After the talks, a joint statement was issued which said the two countries would strengthen government, commercial and civil society linkages. The two leaders expressed their national stands on nuclear disarmament and underlined the need to increase international cooperation to prevent the proliferation of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery. The two countries agreed to enhance their strategic dialogue on all these issues. They noted the progress in bilateral relations since re-engagement and welcomed the announcement of increased Canadian representation in India, through the establishment of a Consulate General in Chandigarh, upgrading of the Canadian Consulate in Mumbai to a Consulate General and the appointment of a trade representative in Chennai. New Delhi and Ottawa agreed to strengthen cooperation in the global campaign against terrorism. |
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LeT, JeM assume new identities New Delhi, October 24 Despite the ban imposed by the Pervez Musharraf regime on January 12 last year, “they have effectively regrouped and are operating their respective networks as openly as before though under new names”, Pakistani monthly ‘The Herald’ has reported. The other two outfits were Sipah-e-Sahaba and Lashkar-e-Jhangvi. Quoting intelligence reports prepared to assess the situation after the ban, it said the move had “failed” to check either the activities or the “relentless” funding of these terror outfits from “all corners of the world”. “Even in cases where Pakistani missions abroad are aware of the identities of the financial sponsors of these organisations, the military government has been able to do little to stop the relentless financing of terror in Pakistan”. While US Congressional Research Service has expressed serious concern over continued proliferation of terrorist outfits in Pakistan, a known strategic expert, Leon Hadar, of the US-based CATO Institute, has noted that the real war against terrorism should be fought “not in Iraq, but Pakistan”. Regarding the new names the outfits had adopted, the Pakistani monthly said JeM was operating as ‘Khadam-e-Islam’, LeT as ‘Jamaat-ud-Dawa’, Sipaha-e-Sahaba as ‘Millat-e-Islamia’ and Lashkar-e-Jhangvi as ‘Tehrik-e-Jafaria Pakistan’. The report said JeM’s finances “are currently being handled by five men from Lahore and Sheikhupura who have a network of donors spread across several countries”. They were identified by Pakistani intelligence agencies as Hafiz Tariq
Masood, Qari Ehsan and Shabaz Haider of Lahore and Qari Abdul Hafeez and Mohammad Taiq of
Sheikhupura, it said. — PTI |
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Sena not to allow Indo-Pak matches in Delhi New Delhi, October 24 Maintaining that Islamabad was aiding and abetting cross-border terrorism, Sena’s northern India chief Jai Bhagwan Goyal in a statement here said, “we will not tolerate any India-Pakistan match on the Indian soil so long as Pakistanis continue to play with the lives of innocent Indian citizens.” Party workers would not allow any match between the two countries to be played in Delhi and elsewhere in northern India, Mr Goyal asserted.
— PTI |
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High Altitude award for jawans mooted
New Delhi, October 24 The government has received a proposal of giving this medal keeping in mind Indo Tibetan Border Police personnel who have to serve in high altitude areas only, Mr Advani said in his speech at the 42nd raising day celebration of ITBP here. He said the government would also soon announce the formation of a field unit of the ITBP as troops from this force always had to serve in difficult conditions. “In other para-military forces, a jawan is given an easy posting in the field after serving in difficult terrain. But with the ITBP, no such option is available as they do not have a field unit,” he said adding formation of the field unit would give the jawans of the force some relaxation before they move on to another high altitude terrain. The Deputy Prime Minister said some more proposals for the betterment of the jawans of the ITBP had been cleared by the Home Ministry and were awaiting the final nod from Finance Ministry. Earlier, Mr Advani presented 31 medals to officers and jawans of ITBP who had shown exemplary courage while fighting militancy in Jammu and Kashmir. Among others present at the function were ITBP Director-General
R.C. Aggarwal, Ministers of State for Home Haren Pathak and Swamy Chinmayanand and heads of several central police organisations.
— PTI |
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NHRC asks Home, Defence to take action on aid New Delhi, October 24 The ministries have been asked by the NHRC to report back on this within eight weeks. The NHRC had received seven complaints from relatives of those who were killed in the terrorist attack on a Army camp at Kaluchak, Jammu, last year. The NHRC had intervened in the matter as the complainants, on behalf of the next of kin of the deceased, sought commission’s intervention for appropriate compensation to them. |
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President, PM extend Divali greetings New Delhi, October 24 In a message, the President said, “May this festival of lights radiate happiness and prosperity in every home across our country. On this auspicious occasion let the lamp of compassion, love and righteousness be lit.” “May this festival bring peace, prosperity and happiness in the lives of all”, the Vice-President said. In his message, the Prime Minister said that the festival gives the inspiration to fight against all odds and move forward on the path of progress and prosperity. Lok Sabha Speaker Manohar Joshi and Congress President Sonia Gandhi also greeted people on the occasion. Wishing peace and prosperity throughout the nation, Ms Gandhi said Divali was an occasion for new beginnings. “May each diya we light be a flame that burns bright in homage to those who have sacrificed their lives for our country, a flame of compassion for all those who are suffering and a flame of solidarity with the victims of injustice and oppression all over the world,’’ she said. |
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Cong seeks details of assets from aspirants New Delhi, October 24 Party spokesman Anand Sharma said as per the directions of the Election Commission, a contesting candidate for Parliament or state legislature had to furnish requisite information in an affidavit to be submitted to the returning officer concerned along with the nomination papers. |
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Sushma allays dengue fears New Delhi, October 24 Union Minister of Health Sushma Swaraj held talks with Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit and Health Minister A.K. Walia today and assured them co-operation in fighting dengue. Dismissing rumours of the spread of a mysterious fever, Ms Swaraj told mediapersons that all cases of the mysterious fever were of dengue. Asserting that public health was an issue that should not be politicised, she said the two governments were working in tandem with the Municipal Corporation of Delhi. The Delhi Pradesh BJP, led by its President Madan Lal Khurana, criticised the Delhi Government for not taking adequate steps. |
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Order reserved on Sarabhai’s petition Ahmedabad, October 24 Additional City and Sessions Judge
P.B. Desai reserved the order after hearing the arguments of public prosecutor and Sarabhai’s advocate. Opposing the bail plea, the prosecution submitted that the offence registered against the accused was of a “very serious nature.” It later told reporters that Sarabhai would not be arrested until the court delivered its orders. It said considering the seriousness of the offence, custodial interrogation of the accused was required as there was a mala fide intention to deceive the complainant and others. Stressing on the “intention” of the accused, it said that they had told the complainant and others who were interested in going to the USA along with dance troupe to tell the US Consulate General in Mumbai that they were “members of Darpana Academy and they had travelled abroad earlier for similar shows.”
— PTI |
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Lucknow, October 24 The children, in the age group of four to 14 years, along with the woman went to the river side in Ramdas Ka Pura village in Basai Mohammedpur this morning to dig earth, he told reporters here. The injured have been admitted to hospital. An ex gratia relief of Rs 50,000 has been announced for the kin of the deceased.
— PTI |
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PIL in Ayodhya case: hearing next month Lucknow, October 24 A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Tarun Chatterji and Mr Justice
I.M. Quddusi today directed listing of the said PIL before the Chief Justice during his next visit to the Lucknow Bench in November. The PIL, filed by People’s Union for Civil Liberties on October 15, also challenged the role of the CBI in handling of the case and pleaded that the matter be referred to a larger Bench as it involved an important legal matter.
— PTI |
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Intelligence outfit chief may get extension New Delhi, October 24 The NTFO, which was created as part of the K. Subrahmanyam Committee recommendation, is headed by Mr R. S. Bedi who is popularly known as ‘Billy Bedi’. |
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