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’84 riots panel
summons Cong leaders, cops Charles shares Kalam’s vision on development |
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Troops sent forms
for proxy voting Parties agree to
check cross-voting in RS poll EC allows Prasar
Bharti to launch news channel Cong MP candidates likely today SC dismisses plea
for CBI probe against minister Sappers, Navy to
be comrades-in-arms Vohra meets
Advani
Fifth Battalion
celebrates 150th Raising Day Collectors
removed for code violation B.B. Lyngdoh laid
to rest
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’84 riots panel summons Cong leaders, cops New Delhi, October 29 Issuing notices under Section 8-B of the Commission of Inquiries Act to them and nine other persons, Justice Nanavati directed them to appear before him on November 10. The commission directed them to
produced evidence in their defence if they felt that the inquiry against them might “prejudicially affect their reputation”. Summons were issued to Kamal Nath and Sathe on the submissions of two witnesses — Mukhtar Singh and Ajit Singh — who had deposed on oath before the commission alleging that they had been leading a mob that had attacked Gurdwara Rakabganj near Parliament House, after the assassination of Indira Gandhi by her two Sikh security guards. The mob had attacked two Sikh youths, leading to their death. Dharmdas Shastri was summoned on witnesses’ statements that he was leading a mob in the Patel Nagar and Rajinder Nagar areas of the Capital. Kanth and the then SHO of the Pharganj area, K.K. Manan, was summoned for allegedly arresting 16 sikhs, including five children and four women, instead of providing protection to them when they had fired in the direction of the murderous mob in self defence. Gautam Kaul was the Additional Commissioner of the Delhi police in 1984. The Central Government had awarded Kanth and Manan President medals later. The 1984 Carnage Justice Committee, formed by several eminent citizens, had pleaded to the commission for the revocation of the presidential decoration of these officers. The commission was set up by the NDA government to probe the riots afresh after some Congress leaders, who were accused in several cases, were acquitted by the courts due to lack of evidence. |
| Charles shares Kalam’s vision on development
New Delhi, October 29 “This extraordinary bond has deep historical roots, but is acutely modern in many of its manifestations. That modern relationship is driven by a healthy and shared perception that both countries have a lot to gain from building it further”, he said at a reception hosted in his honour by the British Council here. Observing that India and the UK were trading with each other and investing in each other as “never before”, the Prince, who arrived here on a nine-day visit to the country, said he had been told that bilateral trade had grown by an astonishing 16 per cent in the first six months of this year. “But it is perhaps in the sharing of people and knowledge that our relationship is so unusual and so strong”, he said referring to the 1.3 million Indian-origin residents in the UK. Prince Charles, who called on President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam early this morning, cited the President’s emphasis that knowledge has “always been the prime mover of prosperity and power” and said “I believe that herein lies one of the keys to our successful and close partnership.” Dr Kalam explained to the Prince his vision to make India a developed nation by 2020. He also spoke about his concept of PURA (providing urban opportunities in rural areas). The heir to the British throne began his visit by attending an Asian Summit on Youth Entrepreneurship and Employment here. He lauded the work done by the Bharatiya Yuva Shakti Trust (BYST). The trust, he said, had made a great leap in producing 900 young entrepreneurs from socially weaker sections. The BYST is a voluntary organisation committed to fostering the spirit of entrepreneurship among young people. He also visited the stalls put up by Sri Lanka, the UK and the International Labour Organisation. Dressed in a dark blue suit, the Prince recalled his visit 10 years ago for a similar occasion. The Prince is on one of his longest royal tours of Delhi,
Haryana, Jaipur, Jodhpur and Mumbai. As part of his day’s itinerary, the Prince took a royal ride in the Delhi Metro and described it as one of the most modern metro rail projects in the world, which would reduce the pollution level of the Capital by 50 per cent after completion of the first phase in 2005.
— PTI, UNI
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Mumbai gears up to greet Charles Mumbai, October 29 The next in line to the British throne will immerse himself in history when he sounds the clapper board to herald the shooting of “The Rising”, a film based on the 1857 uprising. The movie based on the first major war of independence is billed as an Indo-British co-production is being fronted by Bobby Bedi in India. The shooting of the film will begin after Prince Charles kicks off the first shot. Among others, the movie has Amir Khan playing the role of Mangal Pandey, the sepoy who fired the first shot in the 1857 mutiny that heralded the beginning of the uprising against the British. “The Rising” tells the story of Hindu and Muslim soldiers joining hands against the British to protest against use of cartridges greased with the fat of cows and pigs. According to Bedi, “The Rising” is the story of Mangal Pandey and his friendship with a British commanding officer. Pandey was eventually executed by the British after the revolt was crushed. The film being made in English and Hindi has Hollywood actor Toby Stephens, villain of the James Bond film “Die Another Day”, essaying the role of the British officer. Apart from kicking of the film’s shooting, Prince Charles will visit the Churchgate railway station in downtown Mumbai and interact with famous dabbawallas of Mumbai, who deliver tiffins to lakhs of people in the city. Though with little education, the dabbawalas have been honoured with the Sigma Six management system for the way in which they transport lakhs of tiffins using multi-coloured codes. Only one in several thousand tiffins are lost and the “dabbas” reach in time for lunch at thousands of offices. The empty tiffins are returned home at the end of the day. An official team of the British Government has already held a meeting with Maharashtra Government officials two weeks ago to chalk out the itinerary of the visitor. Also on the itinerary of Prince Charles is the commercial dockyard. The Prince’s other programmes include a seminar with IT experts and a meeting with businessmen. The highlight of his stay in Mumbai will be an event at the Mumbai commercial docks to demonstrate links between the British and Indian Navies. |
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Troops sent forms for proxy voting New Delhi, October 29 According to a decision of the Election Commission, these forms should be sent to the respective Returning Officers by November 3 for elections to be held on November 20 and by November 13 for the elections on December 1. The forms would allow the soldiers to take part in the democratic process by exercising their franchise through proxy. Earlier, those in the defence forces were not able to cast their votes due to their deployment in far-flung areas and ineffectiveness of the postal ballot system. To facilitate the soldiers’ participation in the election process, the government had recently brought about amendments in the election laws. The amendment facilitates exercise of franchise through nominated proxy by “electoral power of attorney”. In order to vote by proxy, the service voters have to be first registered with the respective DEOs/EROs by filling Form 2. A service voter and his/her spouse, if ordinarily residing with him, may nominate any one of his blood relations as proxy on Form 13F. This form is required to be countersigned by the Commanding Officer or a Notary or a First Class Magistrate. The completed form is to be sent to the Returning Officer concerned by the last date of making nominations. The proxy can physically vote on behalf and as per the instructions of the service voter. The person selected as proxy should be an eligible voter and cannot act as proxy for more than two elections. |
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Parties
agree to check cross-voting in RS poll New Delhi, October 29 The consensus emerged at an all-party meeting convened by the Law Ministry here on electoral reforms. According the Law Minister Arun Jaitley, the meeting agreed to adopt a procedure whereby every ballot paper would be numbered and would bear the name and signature of the legislator casting vote. The legislator would show his ballot paper after voting to his party agent present at the polling station. “The respective party could also seek the permission of the Returning Officer to inspect the ballot papers of its legislators after polling,” Mr Jaitley said, adding this would help parties to take disciplinary action against those legislators, who had voted against the party whip. Mr Jaitley said the parties agreed to defer, till the next session of Parliament, other issues listed on the agenda, which included amendment of the Constitution to confer upon the Election Commissioners protection from removal from office and charging the salaries and allowances of the Chief Election Commissioner and the Election Commissioners to the Consolidated Fund of India. On the issue of enhancement of the security deposit for contesting Parliamentary and Assembly elections, the Law Minister said political parties were of the view that this issue could be deliberated after the conclusion of the coming Assembly polls in five states. |
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EC allows Prasar Bharti to launch news channel New Delhi, October 29 “On the assurance of the Chief Executive Officer, Prasar Bharti that the Model Code of Conduct will be followed in letter and spirit by Doordarshan, the commission expects that the Prasar Bharti Corporation will ensure maintaining neutrality, objectivity and fairness of the public broadcasts/telecasts during this sensitive period,” the commission said today in its communication to the Secretary, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. “The commission is also satisfied by the assurance given that the inauguration of the channel will not be done through any political person in view of the prevailing Model Code of Conduct,” the commission said. The Election Commission’s decision in this regard comes a day after Mr Sarma met the Chief Election Commissioner
J.M. Lyngdoh and explained the background and the basis for starting the 24-hour news channel. “The commission does not wish to say anything on the need for or the timing of the opening of such a news channel, ostensibly to provide more news and information to the viewing public,” it said in its letter, adding that “In the context of the current elections to the Assemblies of five states, the commission is concerned about the possibilities of the news and related programmes of the state-owned media being misused.” It may be recalled that early this month the commission had received complaints apprehending that the proposed news channel could be used in a manner which is likely to give an unfair advantage to the ruling coalition. |
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Cong MP candidates likely today New Delhi, October 29 The Congress Central Election Committee met at the residence of party President Sonia Gandhi for eight hours today to clear the candidates for the Assembly poll in Madhya Pradesh and Mizoram. The list of candidates for Mizoram is expected to be declared later this week. Party general secretary in charge of Madhya Pradesh, Ambika Soni said the committee had cleared 190 candidates in the state which has 230 Assembly seats. The decision on the remaining 40 seats has been left to the party’s screening committee for the state. |
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SC dismisses plea for CBI probe against minister New Delhi, October 29 A Bench comprising Mr Justice N Santosh Hegde and Mr Justice B.P. Singh dismissed a special leave petition (SLP) against the Punjab and Haryana High Court order, rejecting a writ petition seeking a CBI investigation into the matter. Accepting the plea of Punjab’s Advocate-General (AG) Harbhagwan Singh that trial in the case was already going on in a Taran Taran court, which had already examined some of the prosecution witnesses, the court said this was not the stage for considering such a plea. The writ petition in the High Court for a CBI probe was filed by one Naunihal Singh. The High Court had directed the Punjab’s Additional Director-General (Crime) to probe the matter. After the investigation, seven persons were charge-sheeted in the case, the AG told the apex court. Not satisfied with the High Court order, Naunihal Singh had filed an SLP in the Supreme Court. |
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Sappers, Navy to be comrades-in-arms Roorkee, October 29 This unique exercise is part of activities charted out under a “tri-service affiliation” between the Bengal Sappers, the naval ship and the nearby Air Force Station, Sarsawa. Officers at the BEG Centre here told The Tribune that this was the first venture of its kind in the armed forces. The affiliation was aimed at providing a broader platform for interaction between all ranks of different services for a better understanding of one another’s functioning, traditions and combat potential. “The unique distinction has been conferred upon the Bengal Sappers on the eve of its bicentenary,” a senior officer said. The BEG, which was celebrating 200 years of its existence at its Regimental Centre here in a big way, had a long and chequered history of participating in operations in Asia, Europe, Africa, South-East Asia, West Asia and China. INS Brahmaputra was commissioned into the Indian Navy in March 1958 and took active part in the 1965 and 1971 Indo-Pak wars. It was decommissioned in 1986. On April 14, 2000, the Navy inducted a new guided-missile frigate and, in keeping with naval traditions, christened it INS Brahmaputra. The Sarsawa Air Force station was set up in 1970 and has two helicopter units deployed. Its squadrons have been in the thick of operations Meghdoot in Siachen, Pawan in Sri Lanka, Rakshak in Punjab and Vijay in Kargil. “By affiliation we mean that the BEG will carry out certain aspects of training, adventure and social activities jointly with their counterparts in the aforementioned establishments,” the officer said. “Further, all personnel belonging to the Naval ship and the Air Force station would be considered Bengal Sappers and all facilities and benefits available to us would also be extended to them, and they would reciprocate,” he added. The idea of tri-service affiliation was mooted by a former Colonel of the BEG, Lieut-Gen Ravi Chaddha, who wrote to the chiefs of the other two services in this regard. The naval and air chiefs accorded their approval and the charter was formalised in 2002. The charter states that the affiliation’s raison d’etre would be promoting better understanding of each other’s strength with the aim of synergising the combat potential through cross attachment of officers and other ranks, visiting each other’s training institutions and attending exercises and seminars. Joint sponsoring of sports and adventure activities, extension of coaching facilities to each other, attending raising days and other occasions and visits of senior serving as well as retired officers to foster the spirit of comradeship are also on the charter. |
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New Delhi, October 29 Emerging from the hour-long meeting, also attended by Union Home Secretary N. Gopalaswamy, he told mediapersons that the Hurriyat, had responded positively to the nomination of Mr Advani for holding talks with it. He said the meeting deliberated over finalising modalities for holding talks with the Hurriyat. The Centre last week nominated Mr Advani to hold talks with the Hurriyat, which had refused to meet Mr Vohra, for restoration of peace in the state. Mr Vohra, who has held talks with a cross-section of society in Jammu and Kashmir sans the Hurriyat, is understood to have given his assessment about the ground situation and response of other groups in the state.
— PTI |
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Fifth Battalion celebrates 150th Raising Day New Delhi, October 29 The battalion traces its origins
to December 28, 1852, when it was raised at Laskar
(Gwalior) as 4 Gwalior Infantry. At that time the battalion formed part of the state forces of Mahadji
Scindia, ruler of Gwalior. Prior to Independence the battalion had participated in the Sino-Japanese War 1903-1905 and in the First and Second World Wars with distinction. After independence the battalion was rechristened 14 Kumaon
(Gwalior). It had since then participated in practically operations, including the ongoing counter-terrorist operations in Jammu and Kashmir. The battalion became part of the Mechanised Infantry Regiment and was redesignated 5 Mech Inf (14
Kumaon) in 1981. The highlights of the celebrations included an impressive parade, ‘Barakhana’ with troops and their families and a sainik sammelan which was addressed by the Commanding Officer of the Battalion, Col P.C.
Thimmaya. |
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Collectors removed for
code violation Raipur, October 29 “Following the directives of the Election Commission, Chief Secretary Suyogya Kumar Mishra directed Jashpur Collector B.S. Anant and Bastar Collector
L.N. Suryawanshi to immediately hand over charge to the next seniormost officers of their district,” a top official said here. |
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B.B. Lyngdoh
laid to rest Shillong, October 29 The body of
Lyngdoh, who died here on Monday, was brought from his residence in the Laitumkhra area to the Garrison ground where Governor
M.M. Jacob, Chief Minister D.D. Lapang and other leaders paid their last respects.
— PTI |
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Theft, a devotional act Train passengers looted 15 held for cow slaughter in UP 2424-hour prayer for world peace Abducted boys’ bodies found |
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