Mumbai, March 4
With less than two months to go for the Lok Sabha elections, the ruling Democratic Front in Maharashtra is making the most of a complaint of kidnapping filed against former Maharashtra Chief Minister Narayan Rane and Deputy Chief Minister Gopinath Munde of the Shiv Sena and the Bharatiya Janata Party, respectively.

The complaint dates back to June 2002 when the Democratic Front government led by then Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh was heading for a split with several ruling coalition MLAs attempting to break away. The attempt by the opposition Shiv Sena-BJP to topple the government flopped as they could not woo enough MLAs from the ruling coalition to break either the Congress or the Nationalist Congress parties. While seven NCP MLAs were disqualified under the anti-defection law, the lone Congress MLA, Mr Padmakar Valvi, in the saffron camp alleged that he was kidnapped. In his complaint, Mr Valvi alleged that he was abducted by activists of the Shiv Sena-BJP and kept at the Matoshree Club, allegedly owned by the Thackeray's from June 5 to 12.

Mr Valvi further alleged that his attempts to escape in an auto-rickshaw parked outside the premises were foiled by Mr Rane and Mr Munde personally along with their associates. The Congress legislator subsequently made an appearance at a press conference along with Mr Vilasrao Deshmukh and alleged that he was ill-treated by the opposition leaders before he could successfully escape.

The Maharashtra police is now on overdrive in investigating Mr Valvi’s case. On Wednesday, Mr Rane, Mr Munde, Shiv Sena leaders Bala Nandgaonkar and Ravindra Shendge were taken into the custody of the Mumbai metropolitan court and released on a bail of Rs 5000 each.

Though the charge sheets against them were filed in November 2002, the police arrested them only on Wednesday. The police told the court that the accused were not arrested so far as they “were top political leaders and arresting them could cause a law and order situation”.

Denying the charges, both Mr Rane and Mr Munde blame their arrests on political considerations. “They are trying to frame us. It’s a political conspiracy,” Mr Munde told reporters here.

Mr Rane, Mr Munde and the other accused have also been charged with committing atrocities against Dalits since Mr Valvi is a member of the Scheduled Tribe.

New Delhi, March 4
Keen to enlist the support of intelligentsia ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, the Congress is seeking the opinion of the educated classes all over the country about issues of their concern.

Congress MP Ashwani Kumar, who heads the AICC Vichar Vibhag Department, said the party would for the first time come out with an ‘empowerment document’ and a ‘vision statement,’ which would contain the Congress agenda for the future.

Mr Kumar, who is also a spokesman of the party, said the vision statement and empowerment document would be in addition to the party manifesto and these would be released by Congress president Sonia Gandhi.

He said the empowerment document would focus on the steps the party had envisaged for the welfare of weaker sections including the Dalits, tribals, women and minorities. The vision document would be the party’s blueprint for the future of the country.

Mr Kumar, who has organised conventions with the intelligentsia in Godavari (Andhra Pradesh), Jalandhar, Ghaziabad and Jaipur, said interactive conventions would now be held in Mumbai, Bangalore, Ahemdabad, Goa, Cochin and Chennai.

He said that the Congress was going all out to enlist the support of academicians, lawyers, journalists, doctors, entrepreneurs and other professionals, considering that the coming elections were a defining moment in the country’s politics.

New Delhi, March 4
Even as the BJP is busy parading Bollywood stars at 9 Ashoka Road, the Congress is said to be in touch with the tinsel world’s charishma — Karisma Kapoor — to join the party.

According to party sources, serious efforts are being made and the actress is likely to join the party in a day or two.

If senior party leader T. Subbarami Reddy is to be believed, the party has in store a few “surprises” for the media. While introducing Shakti Kapoor to the media from the party’s platform on Tuesday, Reddy had said: “Don’t worry we have in store many a surprise for you. Wait till Friday.”

Meanwhile, speculations are also rife that another Bollywood actress Mahima Chowdhary and small screen star Shekhar Suman, who had sometime back attracted BJP’s ire for imitating Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, are also likely to be inducted into the party fold.

The Congress move to romp in film stars is widely seen as an ‘inspiration’ from its archrival BJP, which has been admitting film stars for the past several weeks and successfully reaping media coverage.

In another significant “behind the door” development, senior Congress leaders are said to be busy persuading former cricket captain Kapil Dev to contest from the Outer Delhi constituency. Though Kapil has expressed unwillingness to jump into active politics, the party sees in him a reply to BJP’s strongman Sahib Singh Verma.

New Delhi, March 4
The Congress today took exception to the appointment of CBI Director P.C. Sharma as a member of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) in view of his "dubious past".

Congress spokesperson S. Jaipal Reddy said as CBI chief Mr Sharma had "connived" to sabotage the Ayodhya case and save Deputy Prime Minister L.K. Advani in the Babri Masjid demolition case.

Mr Sharma, it was stated, also failed to file an appeal against the lower court order in this case and deliberately dropped the charge of criminal conspiracy against Mr Advani. In addition, Mr Reddy charged that the former CBI Director colluded with the guilty in the Tehelka case.

The Congress spokesperson said Mr Sharma had turned a blind eye although senior leaders were shown taking money on camera. Not content with protecting the guilty, Mr Reddy said, the CBI chief tried to prosecute the Tehelka team under the Official Secrets Act.

"It is a great worry that a person of such dubious reputation has been appointed to the NHRC", Mr Reddy said, adding that there were reports that the NHRC Chairman, Justice A.S. Anand, had also expressed his reservations about Mr Sharma’s appointment. He said it was for the government to confirm or contradict these reports.

New Delhi, March 4
BJP leaders today embarked on a damage-control exercise over the reported statement of Deputy Prime Minister L.K. Advani at Palwal yesterday urging voters not to go for smaller and regional parties in the larger interest of the nation.

Party President M. Venkaiah Naidu and Union Minister Arun Jaitley today blamed it on the media for "over- interpretation" of Mr Advani's statement at the public meeting.

"He (Mr Advani) never appealed the voters to either vote for the BJP or the Congress. In fact, his statement meant that at the national level there were only two options — one alliance led by the BJP and the other by the Congress," Mr Naidu told newspersons here.

It was obvious that the BJP leaders were making a conscious attempt to downplay the statement as it could irk NDA's alliance partners, many of whom are regional players.

Addressing a rally at Anbaj Mandi, Palwal, Mr Advani had appealed to people to vote for national-level parties in the coming Lok Sabha election and not go for smaller and regional parties in the larger interest of the nation.

Patna, March 4
Janata Dal(U) President and Defence Minister George Fernandes today blamed the RJD government in Bihar for the stagnation in developmental activities despite all efforts by the Centre to set it in order.

Addressing a rally held in connection with the induction of more than 3,600 political activists, who resigned from the NCP and joined the JD(U), Mr Fernandes rued that the NDA had failed to fulfil its election pledge to impose President's rule in Bihar owing to certain constitutional provisions as well as lack of majority in the Rajya Sabha.

He emphasised that dislodging of the RJD government and installation of a new government, committed to cooperate with the Centre in respect of development, should figure in the priority agenda of any government which comes to power at the Centre.

Lucknow, March 4
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav, who had shown more inclination towards national politics than state, will contest the next Lok Sabha elections along with three or four of his ministerial colleagues.

Mr Yadav may contest from the Sambhal parliamentary constituency, the seat he had vacated after he was sworn in as Chief Minister. Samajwadi Party sources suggest that besides Mr Yadav, his son Akhilesh Yadav will contest from Kannauj, from where he was elected last time.

"The party may field Transport Minister Reoti Raman Singh against Union HRD Minister Murli Manohar Joshi from Allahabad," the sources said adding that Allahabad could expect a close contest as the Congress and the BSP might also field heavyweights.

The sources said Food and Civil Supplies Minister Ashok Vajpayee might contest from Shahabad in Hardoi district. Two more ministers Usha Verma and Om Prakash Singh might contest from the Hardoi and Ghazipur parliamentary constituencies, respectively.

State president of the party Ram Saran Das told The Tribune that the party would field winnable candidates. "The road to power in the Centre passes through Uttar Pradesh and therefore the party has set a target to win a minimum of 60 seats in the state," he said.

New Delhi, March 4
The elections to the Lok Sabha from the state of Tripura will be held on April 22 instead of April 20 in view of the tribal festival ‘Baba Gariyapuja’, the Election Commission announced this evening.

The dates for filing of nominations, scrutiny, last date of withdrawal of nominations and day of counting will remain the same as announced earlier on February 29, the commission said.

A representation had been received by the commission from the state government and other political parties about ‘Baba Gariyapuja’, which is an important tribal festival.

New Delhi, March 4
In a major development signifying tri-continental cooperation, India, Brazil and South Africa today began the first meeting of the trilateral joint commission to identify areas of common interest between the three countries.

The first meeting of the India-Brazil-South Africa (IBSA) Dialogue Forum is being co-chaired by External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha, Brazilian Foreign Minister Celso Amorin and South African Foreign Minister N.C. Dlaimini-Zuma.

Foreign Secretary Shashank and his counterparts from Brazil and South Africa had met here yesterday to finalise the agenda for the meeting.

The visiting foreign ministers are scheduled to call on Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee this evening. Tomorrow, they will address business meetings being organised separately by FICCI and CII.

At the end of their deliberations tomorrow, the Foreign Ministers are expected to announce the creation of a fund for fighting poverty and hunger in the three countries. "The fund is likely to be operationalised under the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)," Mr Shashank said .

The forum, set up in June last year, has already proved its efficacy by providing leadership to developing countries at the World Trade Organisation (WTO) talks in Cancun, Mexico, in September and succeeded in defeating an attempt by developed countries to impose a lopsided trade regime.

South African President Thabo Mbeki and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva have both visited India since the formation of the dialogue forum.

Mr Shashank said senior officials of the three countries had last month met in Brazil and identified certain areas for cooperation. These are: science and technology, information technology, transportation, tourism, trade and investment, human resource development and energy.

The three foreign ministers are likely to issue a "New Delhi Plan of Action" containing specific proposals for trilateral cooperation.

At the two-day meeting, the three sides will exchange views on setting up of free trade area among them.

IBSA provides an effective forum for South-South cooperation. New Delhi believes it has vast potential for shaping a debate on globalisation issues and influence their course so that globalisation becomes a positive force for the benefit of developing countries.

The IBSA Dialogue Forum is aimed at giving a clear message that it is possible for countries of the South to come together and “concretise" South-South cooperation, Dr (Mrs) Dlamini-Zuma said.

Mrs Zuma who kickstarted the year-long celebrations of the 10 years of South Africa’s freedom from Apartheid here last night, said at a news conference that all three countries of the IBSA Dialogue Forum could use it (the forum) to their mutual advantage.

Describing India as a "trusted" and "all weather friend" which had always stood by South Africa, Dr (Mrs) Zuma said that even though relations between India and South Africa were very good, both countries needed to work hard to further improve the ties.

New Delhi, March 4
In a substantial relief to drug users, the Supreme Court has held that no special permit is required for the possession of any prohibited psychotropic substance within the limit specified under the rules if it is meant for personal use as a medicine by the person carrying it.

Setting aside the sentence of 10 years imprisonment to a person from Kerala, who was found guilty of possessing 25 ampoules of manufactured drug, Buprenorphine Hydrochloride (Tidigesic) of two ml each along with three syringes, the court said the Union Government was empowered by rules to permit and regulate such matters as per Section 9 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.

“Rule 66 itself permits possession of psychotropic substance below a specified quantity and subject to the conditions stated therein... no separate permit is required to be issued to the person possessing such substance to the extent mentioned in the rule,” a Bench of Mr Justice N. Santosh Hegde and Mr Justice B. P. Singh ruled.

Holding that the drug recovered from accused Sajan Abraham in October 1993 by the police was within the permitted limit of Rule 66 of the NDPS Act, the court said from the evidence it was clear that it was being carried by him for his personal use.

The court said if a person was found to be carrying such drugs for his personal use within the permitted limit, he would not be liable to be punished under Section 21 of the NDPS Act, which provides for stern punishment extending up to 10 years’ jail term for contravention of law relating to the manufacture, possession, sale, purchase, transport, interstate imports and exports and use of the medicines from the psychotropic substance.

Mumbai, March 4
A local court today convicted actor Anil Kapoor’s wife Sunita of unauthorised construction in her garage within the premises of a housing society and sentenced her to undergo two months simple imprisonment and fine of Rs 5,000.

Talking with newspersons here, he said he never believed in violence and had never supported the LTTE’s activities in Tamil Nadu. “I support the LTTE only for being the sole representative of the Tamils in Eelam,” he reasoned.

Besides the United Nations and the European Union, the entire world had accepted the LTTE as the sole representative of the Tamils in Sri Lanka and one could not support the cause of the Tamils without supporting the LTTE, Vaiko clarified.

Deprived of their rights and privileges for the past five decades, the Tamils on the island were being treated like second class citizens, he said.

To a question, Vaiko charged Sri Lankan President Chandrika Kumaratunge with sabotaging the peace process. The fact that she had joined hands with the Janata Vimukthi Peramuna, which was against extending basic rights to the Tamils, showed that she would not be interested in finding a peaceful solution to the crisis.

In the event of Kumaratunge coming to power in the April elections, she would not only discontinue the peace process but also try to find a military solution to the crisis, he warned.

He said he was always for peace and his party had contributed to peace in the state in the past 10 years. When he was released on bail after 19-month detention under POTA, there was not a single instance of violence, he pointed out.

Explaining the reasons for pulling out of the NDA, Vaiko said when the party became an alliance partner, the Vajpayee government was sincerely implementing the common minimum programme (CMP). After some time, the Sangh Parivar started “dictating” terms and the government started “deviating” from the CMP.

When issues like the Article 370, the Common Civil Code and Ayodhya, which were put on the back burner but later pushed through the back door, it became increasingly uncomfortable for the MDMK and other parties, he said.

Condemning the Vajpayee government for amending the Representation of the People Act, which sought to bar those who were convicted under POTA even for a day or fined just Rs 10 from contesting elections for six years, Vaiko said it was a “pity” that Vajpayee was unaware of the amendment when he brought it to his notice.

Ruling out truck with the BJP under any circumstances in future, he said even the DMK had made it clear that it would not align with the party in the future.

Mumbai, March 4
The Bombay High Court has ordered the Central Board of Film Certification to issue a certificate to documentary film “Aakrosh”, which is based on Gujarat riots.

Giving their verdict on Wednesday, Justice A.P. Shah and Justice Dharmadhikari of the Bombay High Court felt that film should be made available for public viewing.

The film was denied a Censor Certificate by the Censor Board and the Film Certification Appellate Tribunal. The Information and Broadcasting Ministry had even banned the film on September 24, 2003.

“Aakrosh”, which deals with the Gujarat riots in 2002, has won many international awards.

Bhopal, March 4
The Madhya Pradesh government does not agree with the findings of the post-Babri demolition Bhopal-Ujjain riots inquiry commission that senior civil and police officials had failed in providing timely advice and guidance to the District Magistrate. The government has, however, accepted the commission’s finding that the District Magistrate and the Superintendent of Police had not discharged their responsibilities.

Incidentally, Ms Nirmala Bunch, who was the Chief Secretary at the time of the riots, is now the Principal Adviser to the Chief Minister, Ms Uma Bharati.

The report, with observations of the government, was tabled in the Madhya Pradesh Assembly today. According to the report, 142 persons were killed and 809 injured in the riots. The loss of property as per the claims made before the commission was to the tune of Rs 35.87 crore while the government had estimated the loss at Rs 9.05 crore.

The riots had broken out on the morning of December 7,1992 (a day after the Babri Masjid was demolished). For its failure to control the riots the BJP government of Mr Sunderlal Patwa was dismissed and the state was placed under the President’s rule on December 15. A one-man judicial commission of inquiry, presided over by retired high court judge K.K. Dube was constituted on December 22, 1992, to go into the causes of the riots and suggest preventive measures for future.

The commission submitted its report in March, 2000, but the Congress government of Mr Digvijay Singh did not table it in the House for its own reasons.

The commission observes that the local intelligence agency was “quite unaware of the deep injury to the local Muslims and it does not appear to have access to those sources which really mattered and which were to guide communal violence”.

Most of the police officers and the Collector did not expect that the Muslims would take to violence. The Collector and the Superintendent of Police as also the other police officers could not grasp the gravity of the situation. “The history of Bhopal had been that even on flimsy grounds citywide riots would start”, Justice Dube notes.

The commission observes in conclusion that Bhopal, being the capital, is the seat of the ministry and bureaucracy. The higher officers have the power of superintendence over the District Magistrate and they can also independently pass orders which they deem fit in the interest of the law and order.

New Delhi, March 4
A 14-member high-level Vietnamese delegation, led by Vice-Defence Minister and Chief of General Staff,

Vietnam People's Army, Sr Lieut Gen Phung Quang Thanh today met Defence Secretary Ajay Prasad and the three Service Chiefs at South Block here.

The Vietnamese delegation met Chief of the Naval Staff and Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee, Admiral Madhvendra Singh, Chief of Army Staff, N.C. Vij, Chief of Air Staff, S. Krishnaswamy and discussed matters concerning the training of Vietnamese armed forces personnel, defence cooperation between the two and global terrorism.

Kolkata, March 4
Bangladesh will not allow the ISI and other terrorists to use its soil for any terrorist activities  against India and other neighbouring countries, newly appointed Bangladesh High Commissioner to India Ennayeth Uddhin told newspersons here today.

Basti, March 4
Following the death of two students in police firing in Babhnaan under Gonda district yesterday, a bandh was observed in the district headquarters here and Babhnaan today.

Sources here said the students staged a demonstration and demanded immediate arrest of the police officers allegedly involved in the police firing and a compensation of Rs 20 lakh each to kin of the dead.

The shops at both the places remained closed and the streets virtually deserted, sources said.