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Key Abdul Telgi accomplice
held Fernandes hands over Red Fort to ASI Katiyar on his way out in
UP New US entry-exit
procedures New Delhi, December 22 After the September visit of Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, India and Israel today came together again to forge closer defence ties and held extensive negotiations on various issues including initiating joint efforts in the field of defence production, particularly in missile, surveillance and anti-terrorism warfare technology. |
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Liquor scam: Naidu not to face
probe Today in Parliament
Mufti rejects Pakistan’s objections to Baglihar project Youth Cong holds
protest Sarabhai allowed
to visit Mumbai
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Key Abdul Telgi accomplice
held
Mumbai, December 22 Vijay Desai, who allegedly acted as marketing manager of Telgi’s syndicate, was arrested by the SIT and grilled in Pune. Vijay was absconding for one and half years after the Pune police exposed the fake stamps and stamp paper racket, the sources told PTI. From Vijay, the SIT expected to get details of financial dealings of Telgi, sources said. According to them Vijay chalked out retailing strategy for insurance, revenue and share transfer stamps business of Abdul Karim Telgi and helped the scamster spread his business in financial centres like Ahmedabad, Delhi and adjoining areas. Vijay helped Telgi conduct surveys of major cities like Mumbai, Surat, Ahmedabad, Jaipur, Indore, Delhi to assess ‘business potential’ and prepare retail marketing strategies for these places, the sources said. “Just before the fake stamps scam was exposed by Pune Police in August last year, Telgi was so impressed by the market potential of Ahmedabad that he had chalked out a massive plan to make the city his second major business centre after Mumbai and had even expressed desire to shift the producing centre there,” an SIT official said. NASIK: Suspended General Manager of India Security Press Gangaprakash Chaudhari and its suspended Works Manager Mahendra Singh were on Monday remanded in CBI custody till December 30 in connection with the multi-crore fake stamp paper racket. The two were produced before Additional Sessions and District Judge A.K. Gunjotikar by CBI officials, according to CBI counsel A.K. Singh. Chaudhari, who was brought to Nasik Road on Sunday for interrogation and Mahendra Singh, who was suspended by the Union Finance Ministry, were brought to Nasik court amidst tight security. Both Chaudhary and Mahendra were arrested under various sections of the IPC and the PAC, respectively, the counsel said and added that if required the former would be subjected to a lie detection test in New Delhi. Chaudhary was allegedly involved in selling of stamp printing machinery from the ISP as a scrap in 1997 to Telgi and had also met Telgi in Mumbai in 1998 for his promotion as the General Manager. He was arrested by the CBI at Hyderabad on December 19. BHOPAL: The CBI’s two teams, which were briefly in Madhya Pradesh, probed the links that the Dilip Singh Judeo ‘cash-on-camera’ scandal had with this state but the investigation had no connection with the fake stamp paper scam. Reacting to certain newspaper reports about ‘Telgi-related raids’ at several places, CBI sources said no team came to this state for probing the stamp paper racket. On Sunday, CBI officers questioned some persons here with regard to the former union minister’s case and also interrogated many people at two to three places within Hoshangabad district. Some documents were seized. —
PTI, UNI |
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Fernandes hands over Red Fort to ASI New Delhi, December 22 Marking the occasion, Fernandes gave to Tourism and Culture Minister Jagmohan a symbolic memento inscribed with the picture of the Red Fort, in front of the marvellous structure in stone. Unveiling the ceremonial plaque at ‘Lahore Gate’ in the fort to record the moment for posterity, Fernandes recollected that the armed forces spent a long time in the fort engaged in national security, but it is now time for the ‘Lal Qila’ to be opened up for tourists from across the world. It was another rite of passage for the fort, built by Mughal ruler Shahjahan as a royal residence within his capital Shahjahanabad, and later a symbol and seat of power for the British Empire in India. After Independence the British army, which had occupied the fort since 1858, handed it over to the Indian Army, whose units stayed in the military garrison. —
PTI |
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Katiyar on his way out in
UP New Delhi, December 22 Mr Katiyar, who was appointed the BJP president few months back for keeping the Vishva Hindu Parishad in good humour, has failed to take every section of the state unit along, sources pointed out adding that his sheer arrogance has contributed to his possible removal from the important post. What has proved to be the proverbial last straw on Mr Katiyar’s back is his recent grand party for the VHP leaders which has apparently not gone well with the party bosses. In the wake of the recent victory of the party in three states, the party is thinking of focussing on developmental issues in place of the Ram Temple issue and in that context Mr Katiyar has outlived his utility, sources pointed out. Mr Katiyar, who was the chief of the Bajrang Dal at the height of Ram temple movement in early ninties of the last century, has rather been a prisoner of the issue which catapulted the BJP to power both in Lucknow as well as in New Delhi. Another reason for his removal is being attributed to behind the scene efforts to resolve the Ayodhya issue which may circumvent the In this background, leaders like Mr Katiyar or even VHP top functionaries like Mr Ashok Singhal Acharya Giriraj Kishore and Mr Praveenbhai Togadia had become redundant, the sources pointed out. Names of persons who may replace Mr Katiyar are presently being discussed and any one single leader has yet not been finalised. However, former BJP minister Om Prakash Singh, former organising secretary Ramji Singh and former BJP Panchayat Cell chief Vibhuti Naryan are being mentioned as a replacement for Mr Katiyar. Learning from the Madhya Pradesh experience, the BJP high command might also decide to send Minister of State for Home Affairs Swami Chinmayanand to Lucknow to give an edge to the party’s profile for the next Lok Sabha poll, the sources said. |
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New US entry-exit
procedures New Delhi, December 22 The US embassy here stated today that by fall 2004 applicants for US visas at Embassies and Consulates General around the world will also provide biometric information at the time of the visa interview. The process is designed to be both accurate and non-intrusive, will take only a few seconds to complete, and all information collected will be stored in secure databases. When travellers holding US visas arrive in the United States, as part of the routine entry screening, their fingerprints will be captured in an inkless process and a digital photograph will also be taken. The information collected will be checked against a database and used to determine that the traveller does not pose a threat to the USA. After October 2004 when visa applicants around the world will also have their fingerprints recorded, the entry process will also be used to verify the individual’s identity and compliance with visa and immigration policies. When visitors depart the USA the process will be repeated creating a complete travel record. US visit and the use of biometric identifiers in the visa application process are designed to enhance the security of US citizens and visitors, expedite legitimate travel, ensure the integrity of the immigration system, and safeguard foreign travelers’ personal privacy. |
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India-Israel discuss defence ties New Delhi, December 22 Major General Amos Yaron, Director General in the Israeli Ministry of Defence, who is here with a 11-member Israeli Defence delegation, held a one-to-one-meeting with Defence Secretary Ajay Prasad during the day. Later delegation level talks were also held in which top officials from both sides were present. Maj Gen Yaron, who is on a two-day visit here, also held meetings with Army Chief Gen NC Vij and the Chief of the Air Staff S Krishnaswamy. He will call on Defence Minister George Fernandes, Naval Chief Admiral Madhvendera Singh and Secretary, Defence Production Uma Pillai tomorrow. The talks of the Israeli delegation, which comprises heads of major Israeli arms export companies and officials, also focused on on-going Indo-Israeli projects like the Phalcon Airborne Radar, missile development, radar avionics and anti-terrorism warfare equipment. |
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India’s trained manpower is its strength, Chandigarh, December, 22 These views were expressed by Prof V. S. Ramamurthy, Secretary, Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, in an interview with TNS here today. Professor Ramamurthy was in town to attend the two-day Conference of Nanotechnology organised by the Indian National Academy of Engineering (INAE) which opened at the CISO here today. The conference is being attended by eminent scientists from India and abroad who will present about 100 papers on different aspects of nanotechnology. Professor Ramamurthy said India’s strong point in the field of its trained manpower was today recognised worldwide. They were not only skilled but also innovative. That was why they were in demand everywhere. “If you are well-trained and skilled, you will be in demand somewhere or the other. Even an Indian mason can do well in the Middle East”. So the lesson of the whole episode was that greater emphasis should be placed on training people. That was why the government was trying to increase the number of ITIs in the country. Professor Ramamurthy said there was nothing special in the ITIs. “Their hostels are as dirty as you will find in any Indian university or institute. But it is the work culture….It is the quality of education and an inherent faith in the system that distinguishes them from other institutes. Even the son of a Principal cannot gain admission there if it is not merit”. He said he could not understand why academic bodies like Panjab University not follow the same culture. “Punjabis are known to be not only hard working but also innovative. They should insist on quality and transparency. The annual examinations must take place on time and evaluation should be foolproof”. Professor Ramamurthy said the government was doing its best to promote science. “There are two aspects to it: one was create awareness about science and the other was to create avenues for pursuing scientific careers. In this context, 2004 has been declared as the Year of the Scientific Awareness. The government will strive to take science to non-scientific population though seminars and exhibitions etc,” he explained. Professor Ramamurthy was of the view that nanotechnology was the future of mankind. The incredible advancement of microelectronics, over the years leading to present-day ICs of deep submicron feature size (near 100 nm) has, by and large, followed a trend that is famously referred to as Moore’s law. While this impressive pace of progress of microelectronics is expected to continue for some more years, the next breakthrough in miniaturisation, experts believed, will come through altogether new technologies, being referred to as nanotechnology. This new approach which aims at manipulating matter at the atomic or molecular level will again revolutionise the way human beings work, communicate and live. The birth of nanotechnology is generally attributed to Richard Feynman, the Nobel laureatre physicist and his now famous speech in 1959 entitled “There is Plenty of Room at the Bottom”. This concept was perhaps the beginning of man’s quest for ultimate
miniaturisation.
Thoughts on creation of molecular computer Chandigarh, December 22 The creation of such a molecular computer was first suggested by Prof Richard
Feynman, Nobel laureate physicist, in 1959. In his lecture at the conference today, Prof David A. Hodgson, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Warwick, pointed out that there was a major problem facing any molecular computer i.e. individual molecules were implicitly unpredictable. "Living cells are molecular machines and have had to solve this problem. They do so by self-repairing. Thus, a plausible Feynman molecular computer must be
self-repairing," he said. Professor Hodgson described the molecular basis of life, the central dogma and how gene expression is controlled in bacteria. The information storage capacity of DNA to perform computations was sought to be used by another scientist Adelman. The final section of the paper explored the possibility of generating a true molecular computer based on genetic switch circuits in bacteria. Besides Professor Hodgson, the paper was authored jointly by Prof Gerald G. Oswenson, Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council, Swindon, Prof Martyn Amos, Schools of Biological Sciences and Engineering and Computer Science, University of Exeter, and Prof Alan M. Gibbons, Department of Computer Science, King's College, London. |
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Liquor scam: Naidu not to face probe Hyderabad, December 22 Admitting the petitions filed by former Excise and Prohibition Minister T. Nageswara Rao and Andhra Pradesh Beverages Corporation Limited former Managing Director Veerabadraiah, Mr Justice C.Y. Somayajulu dismissed the complaint filed by Congress functionary and advocate Krishna Kumar Goud against the Chief Minister and 17 others. The complaint alleged abuse of power and criminal breach of trust in the purchase of liquor from distilleries for Andhra Pradesh State Breweries Corporation Limited (APSBCL) at an inflated rate, causing loss to the exchequer to the tune of Rs 550 crore. The Judge quashed the direction of Special Judge (ACB and SPE cases) Ananthasayanam Prasad to ACB Director-General A.K. Mohanty to inquire into the role of Mr Naidu, Mr Nageswara Rao and others in the purchase of liquor. Holding that the complainant had failed to establish direct link between the “offence” and the “offender,” the Judge said the complainant had not shown how the accused were directly involved in the offence alleged against them. Describing the entire episode — from filing of complaint to the Special Judge’s reference of the matter to the ACB Director-General for inquiry — in cricket parlance, the Judge said “the complainant had bowled at an empty wicket and asked the umpire (Special Judge) to obtain the opinion from the third umpire about the fate of the batsmen who were not at the wicket (the unknown accused in this case).” Special Judge Ananthasayanam Prasad had, on December 12, directed Mr Mohanty to inquire into the complaint and submit a report before January 29. —
UNI |
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Today in Parliament New Delhi, December 22 The Bill also provides additional benefits and allowance to sitting and former members and their dependents. As the per the Bill, all former MPs irrespective of their period of membership in Parliament will now be entitled to pension. With effect from the commencement of the Act, a pension of Rs 3,000 per month will be paid to those who have served the Provincial Parliament. A pension of Rs 1,500 will be paid each month for a five-year period to the spouse or any dependent of a member who dies during his term. The Bill, which accepts several recommendations of the Joint Committee of both Houses of Parliament, allows the spouse or companion or relative to join an ailing MP for air travel subject to adjustment against the 32 air journeys entitled in a year by such members. The MPs, who have had to fly by Indian Airlines for official purposes, will now have the option of using private airlines. Speaker congratulates Khurana The announcement of ‘appointment’ of Rajasthan Governor came from a surprising quarter when Lok Sabha Speaker Manohar Joshi congratulated former Delhi Chief Minister Madan Lal Khurana as he entered the Lower House. “How can a Governor come to the House”, the Speaker remarked as the BJP leader entered the House. Perhaps realising that he had committed a faux pas as the official announcement of Mr Khurana’s appointment was yet to be made, Mr Joshi said: “I would like to congratulate Khurana as Governor to Rajasthan”. Soon after, the Speaker was joined by other members in extending their congratulations with IUML leader E Ahamed jocularly remarking: “Can we MPs stay in Raj Bhavan when we come to Rajasthan”. Mr Khurana, who led the Delhi BJP in the Assembly poll, had stepped down as the president of the state unit and had also resigned from his Assembly seat. He presently represents the Delhi Sadar parliamentary constituency in the Lok Sabha. Walkout over Haj issue The entire Opposition staged a walkout in the Lok Sabha protesting against government’s refusal to remove restrictions on subsidies for Haj pilgrims. Members from the Congress, Left parties, the Bahujan Samaj Party, the Samajwadi Party, the Rashtriya Janata Dal and the Muslim League walked out during Zero Hour, condemning the government’s decision to impose conditions on providing subsidies to Haj pilgrims in the current season. The walkout came immediately after Civil Aviation Minister Rajiv Pratap Rudy told the Lok Sabha that the three conditions imposed by the Union Cabinet for a Haj pilgrim to get subsidy would continue. Supplementary demands for grants passed Finance Minister Jaswant Singh said the bureaucracy in the country had not kept pace with the economic reforms. Replying to a discussion in the Rajya Sabha on the second batch of Supplementary Demands for Grants for 2003-04, he said the bureaucracy had not kept pace with policy changes. India, he said, had sought large investments in power generation and other infrastructure sectors but the inflow had been below expectation. He, however, said the country was moving from an economy of want to that of plenty. The Rajya Sabha later approved Rs 7,660.21 crore extra spending by the government in the current fiscal, including Rs 2,300 crore towards compensation to the state-run Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) for advancement of rural telephony. The Bill was passed by the Lok Sabha last week. The supplementary demands include 42 grants of various ministries but a cash outgo of only Rs 4887.91 crore as the remaining Rs 2771.96 crore would be met through savings, enhanced receipts and recoveries by various ministries. Initiating the discussion, the Leader of the Opposition, Dr Manmohan Singh said the economy did not seem to be moving on a high growth path. Mr Pranab Mukherjee said one of the ways to remove the revenue deficit was to use foreign exchange reserves productively. He hailed the Indian foreign exchange reserves crossing the mark of 100-billion-dollar mark. The efficient use of forex will also make the export sector more competitive, he said. Dr Bimal Jalan (Nominated) said it was not an easy task to reduce the fiscal deficit. He called for simplifying laws and removing procedural complexities. Induct British Hawk
at earliest, says PAC The Public Accounts Committee of Parliament directed the government to initiate timely action to procure the British-built Hawk Advanced Jet Trainer at the earliest. The committee’s report, tabled in both Houses of Parliament, noted that the non-availability of the AJT coupled with unsuitability of the MiG-21 aircraft for transitional training role continued to cause a large number of training-related accidents besides adversely affecting the combat training of pilots. It further noted that despite efforts being under way since 1984, procurement of AJT could not be decided upon even after 19 years. |
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Mufti rejects Pakistan’s objections to New Delhi, December 22 Talking to newsmen here after the release of the State Development Report, he said Pakistan has unnecessarily raised objections to the Baglihar projects, which would help the state to overcome its power shortage. “There is no storage plan at Baglihar. So Pakistan’s objection is not justified,’’ he further stated. Pakistan had threatened to take legal recourse to stop India from going ahead with the power project. A high-level technical team from Pakistan visited the site last month to make spot study of the project. The Chief Minister said that he had pleaded with Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee to take up with the Pakistani leaders the issues relating to the Tul Bul project, where work had to be stopped due to Islamabad’s objection. He said there was an urgent need to store the water by constructing a barrage. This would also help Pakistan during the lean season. —
UNI |
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Youth Cong holds
protest New Delhi, December 22 Led by IYC chief Randeep Singh Surjewala, the activists raised slogans against the Central Government and criticised it for the recent hike in the prices of petrol, diesel and kerosene. An IYC spokesman said the Delhi Police lathicharged and manhandled dozens of IYC activists. |
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Sarabhai allowed
to visit Mumbai Ahmedabad, December 22 Additional City and Sessions Judge P B Desai permitted Sarabhai to visit Mumbai on December 24 but directed her to report to the Naranpura police on her arrival on December 25. On December 15, the dansuese had moved an application seeking permission to visit Mumbai on December 24 and several places, including Mumbai, Delhi, Trichur, Hyderabad and Kolkata, during January, 2004. While granting anticipatory bail to Sarabahi, on October 29, the court had directed her to seek
permission for travelling out of Gujarat. Later, on November 17, the court had also rejected her plea for “modifying” the anticipatory bail conditions that restricted her travelling out of Gujarat and country. —
PTI |
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PANDEY SPEAKER OF CHHATTISGARH PRIESTS HACKED TO DEATH MADHUMITA CASE TEACHER COUPLE ARRESTED 2 HARIJAN BOYS BEATEN TO DEATH HEROIN SEIZED |
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Defence Minister George Fernandes today handed over complete possession of the sprawling Red Fort Complex to the Archaeological Survey of India and Tourism Ministry for developing it into a world heritage site and opening up to tourists, 56 years after the Army occupied it.
In video (
Chandigarh, December, 22
Chandigarh, December 22
