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Decision on Uma deferred
to September 4
I will not regain CM’s post, Uma tells RSS
Sonia’s bid to mollify Maharashtra Mulayam’s threat to convene House |
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New Delhi, September 1 The Centre today renewed its offer for talks with the Hurriyat, saying that a dialogue was the only way for a solution to the outstanding issues. “We have always said we believe in talks.
22 pairs of trains introduced
Law panel seeks views on protecting witnesses
India, USA to work against terrorism
Australian General’s visit to boost defence ties
India committed to UN peacekeeping operations: Patil
Salvi to hear Bilkis case
SC asks DGHS to fill 160 vacant seats
Panel on free education set up
CBSE to start grading system
Maharashtra CID to probe attack on Editor
Action plan to break khadi-khaki nexus in UP
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Decision on Uma deferred
to September 4
Bangalore, September 1 The Judicial Magistrate (First Class) in Hubli deferred a decision on the Uma Bharti case to Saturday. Earlier in the day, the Judicial Magistrate Mr Mohammed Ismail, rejected a Karnataka Government plea asking for a week’s time to decide on dropping of charges in the case, and said that he would issue orders at 3 p.m. However, at 3 p.m. when the Assistant Public Prosecutor asked for a certified copy of the rejection order so that the could appeal against it in a higher court, the magistrate deferred orders and indicated that he would hold another hearing on Saturday. In Bangalore, launching the agitation, Mr Advani slammed the Congress for the cases against Ms Uma Bharti, accusing Chief Minister Dharam Singh of doing flip-flops and contradicting himself on the issue. “Whatever is happening is because of directions from New Delhi. The statement (by Dharam Singh) that this case was entirely between the courts and Uma Bharati is a lie,” he said. He was later released. Other BJP leaders, including party president Venkaiah Naidu, vice-president Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, and workers and leaders from Maharashtra also participated in the agitation. BJP leaders said the objective of the agitation was three-fold. One, to demand Uma Bharti’s release, two, to press for an apology for the `insults’ to Veer Savarkar, and three, demanding the dropping of tainted ministers from the UPA Cabinet. The National Flag was prominently waved by Mr L.K. Advani while launching the ‘satyagraha. The state Congress charged the BJP with abusing the National Flag for political purposes Several Congress workers sat in dharna in another part of the city. Confusion continues on what the Karnataka Government’s intentions are. While it had submitted to the High Court that it intends to abide by a 2002 Cabinet decision withdrawing the charges against Ms Uma Bharti, the request by the APP for more time to decide has made it easy for the BJP not only to ridicule the government’s ‘flip-flop’ but also points to possible interventions and directions from the Congress high command. |
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I will not regain CM’s post, Uma tells RSS
New Delhi, September 1
Vishwa Hindu Parishad Vice-President Giriraj Kishore, who had met the firebrand BJP leader two days ago at Dharwad Jail, confirmed this fact to The Tribune.
“I don’t think she will go back to Madhya Pradesh politics. She will extensively tour the country and would prefer an organisational role”, Mr Kishore said here today. Asserting that Ms Bharati can play a “better role in the organisation”, Mr Kishore said she was both “Hindi-speaking and a ‘sannyasin’, who command lot of respect in the society”. Asked whether the VHP wanted her to replace incumbent President M. Venkaiah Naidu in the wake of the Lok Sabha poll debacle, he said, “We have no objections if she becomes the party President. She is committed to the Hindu ideology”. “She is always suitable for the top job wherever she is”, Mr Kishore, who was closely associated with the former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister during the Ram Janambhoomi movement, asserted. Mr Kishore’s statement assumes great significance as the RSS and the BJP have denied news reports emanating from Nagpur, where the RSS Headquarters is situated, that the Sangh wanted Ms Bharti to be made the President of the BJP. The RSS had on Monday termed as “completely baseless” reports that it favoured Ms Bharati replacing Mr Naidu as the BJP President. “The reports are completely baseless and figments of imagination. The question of (who will be) the President of the party has never been discussed by the RSS in any case”, Sangh spokesman Ram Madhav had said. BJP Vice-President Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi had termed the news reports as “mischievous” and “baseless”. Meanwhile, BJP General-Secretary Shivraj Singh Chauhan said today that the party would decide on his future course vis-a-vis Ms Uma Bharti only after the court pronounced its decision on the case pending against her in a Hubli court. “Party will take a collective decision after the Court verdict comes,” he said while refusing to speculate whether or not she would retain Chief Ministership in Madhya Pradesh. |
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Sonia’s bid to mollify Maharashtra ex-PCC chief New Delhi, September 1 Mr Deshmukh has been disenchanted with the Congress ever since he was removed as PCC chief and has gone public with his criticism of the party. There have been reports that Mr Deshmukh was being wooed by the BSP. This created panic in the Congress, which is faced with a tough battle in the next month’s Maharashtra Assembly elections. Mr Deshmukh refused to talk to the Press after this meeting. It is learnt that Mrs Gandhi heard out his grievances and promised redressal. A section in the AICC believes Mr Deshmukh might be bargaining for a greater role in the Maharashtra poll. Earlier, AICC General Secretary in charge of Maharashtra Margaret Alva and PCC president Prabha Rau had got in touch with Mr Deshmukh when they learnt of his moves. The party was understandably worried as Mr Deshmukh has a substantial support base in the Vidarbha region where the Congress fared poorly in the last Lok Sabha elections. The BSP, on the other hand, made significant gains in this region and played a spoiler for the Congress-NCP combine. Realising the gravity of the situation, Mrs Gandhi’s political secretary Ahmed Patel rushed to Maharashtra from Kerala yesterday to speak to Mr Deshmukh and persuaded him to meet Mrs Gandhi.
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Mulayam’s
threat to convene House Lucknow, September 1 Broadening the controversy over the language university yesterday, the CM charged the Governor with disrespect for the Indian languages. Recalling Governor T.V. Rajeswar’s Independence Day speech in which he had underlined the importance of learning English for development, Mr Mulayam Singh Yadav said that this statement on such a significant day was an insult to the Indian languages. The Governor apparently has supporters both amongst the BJP and the Congress. BJP chief Kehari Nath Tripathi said yesterday that the Governor was free not to sign any ordinance. Mr Tripathi said that the university was an example of the ruling party’s vote bank politics and definitely not the need of the hour. He also pointed out that if the present government managed to set up the university the BJP would close it down if it came to power. AICC General Secretary Salman Khursheed said instead of accusing the Governor of sabotaging the university, the Chief Minister should respect his point of view. Mr Khursheed said it was not justifiable to make Mr Azam Khan the Pro-Chancellor for life, as the Governor is always the Chancellor of state universities. Meanwhile, the city of Varanasi observed a complete bandh on Monday to protest against the minister at the centre of this controversy. Last week Mr. Mohd Azam Khan had said that the Maharaja of Kashi, who was also the life-long Pro-Chancellor of Sampoornanand University at Kashi, faced no protest as he was a British agent. Effigies of the minister were burnt at prominent places in the city. A Bill for the Urdu university to be set up at Rampur, an Assembly constituency represented by Mr Khan, was tabled in the Vidhan Sabha in early August but deferred on the last day. While no official reason to defer the Bill was provided, it was clear that Governor T.V. Rajeswar had taken exception to the controversial clause. A fortnight later the Cabinet approved an ordinance for the university retaining the clause for having Mr Khan as the Pro-Chancellor for life.
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Centre renews talks offer to Hurriyat
New Delhi, September 1 “We have always said we believe in talks. Talks are the only way which can help solve intricate issues,” Home Minister Shivraj Patil told reporters after a meeting with a 17-member delegation of Pakistani Parliamentarians. Asked about his comments on the reported refusal by the hardline faction of Hurriyat, led by Syed Ali Shah Geelani, for holding talks with the Centre, he said “Moderates are wise people. We rely on the understanding and wisdom of the moderates...we don’t attach much
importance to rumours.” So far two rounds of talks have been held between the Hurriyat and then Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani. The third round which was proposed to be held in July-August, could not be held as the Hurriyat expressed its unwillingness. To a question on the reported invitation by Pakistan Foreign Minister Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri to the Hurriyat for meeting him
during his visit to New Delhi, Mr Patil said India would not tell the Pakistan minister what to do and what not to do.
— UNI
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22 pairs of trains introduced New Delhi, September 1 Four pairs of trains have been extended and frequency of five pairs of mail/express trains has been increased. Apart from this, speed of 10 trains of the northern zone will be increased and nine trains will get new stoppages. Nine pairs of Sampark Krantis proposed to be started have Hazrat Nizamuddin as starting point and will link it with Secunderabad (tri-weekly), Madurai in (bi-weekly), Kochuveli Kerala (weekly), Madgaon in Goa (weekly), Bandra (bi-weekly), Chitrakoot (tri-weekly), Durg (bi-weekly), Jabalpur (tri-weekly) and Ahmedabad (tri-weekly). Five pairs of Sampark Kranti trains will link New Delhi with Bhubaneshwar (bi-weekly), Guwahati (bi-weekly), Ranchi (bi-weekly), Darbhanga (bi-weekly), Udhampur (tri-weekly). Three pairs of Sampark Kranti trains will link Delhi Sarai Rohilla with Jodhpur (tri-weekly), Sealdah (bi-weekly) and Kathgodam (daily). Mr Jaruhar said there was a provision of Rs 25 crore in this year’s Budget for providing passenger amenities in trains. This is the first time that a combined timetable has been prepared for three of the 16 railway zones. These are Northern Railway, North Central Railway and North Eastern Railway. Mr Jaruhar said this had been done to save passengers the trouble of leafing through three separate timetables for travelling across the three zones. The General Manager told mediapersons here that passengers aboard the Sampark Karntis would have the benefit of a dedicated crew from the starting point to the destination, besides the public address system. Mr Jaruhar said the Northern Railway had earnings of Rs 1120 crore till July this year, Rs 50 crore higher than what it achieved in the corresponding period last year. He said the Northern Railway would focus on doubling of and improvement in terminals. While two new platforms had been introduced at the Hazart Nizamuddin railway station, the Chandigarh, New Delhi, Sarai Rohilla and Varanasi stations had been identified for improvement of terminals. Doubling work had been sanctioned at six places — two stretches each on the Ghaziabad-Moradabad route, Jammu-Pathankot route and Sultanpur-Bharoli route. A new line between Chandigarh and Morinda, part of the Chandigarh-Ludhiana line, would be completed in this financial year. Replying to a question, the General Manager said the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation was in the process of developing a co-branded rail credit card, which would also serve as an identity card for boarding the train after making reservation on the Internet. The timetable has been released two months behind the scheduled annual release on July 1 as the Railway Budget was presented in July this year. The price of the timetable (Rs 25) remains unchanged, but it is replete with additional information regarding passenger amenities at stations, concessions under various categories, procedure for cancellation of unused reservation and refund. Sources in Northern Railway said the preparation of the timetable had been preceded by meetings with Chief Transportation Managers and Chief Commercial Managers, Passenger Marketing, of all zones. Every division meets its passenger associations, formulates a proposal and sends it to the zonal railway headquarters. The zonal railway headquarters are then called by the railway board. This is followed by an all-India timetable conference.
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Law panel seeks views on protecting witnesses
New Delhi, September 1 The Supreme Court in several pronouncements, including the one in the Best Bakery case, have highlighted the need for legislation on anonymity of witnesses and witness protection programmes. In a move to overcome the legal lacuna, the Law Commission has sought the opinion and suggestions on its consultation paper “Witness Identity Protection and Witness Protection Programme”. The paper aims at ensuring that evidence of witnesses that has already been collected in a criminal case at the stage of investigation is not allowed to be destroyed by intimidating witnesses when the case comes up for trial. The consultation paper is divided into four parts. The first part is general, dealing with the need for a new law on protection of witnesses in criminal cases. The second part is a comparative study of law case and statute on the anonymity of witnesses in United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand and the Canada, South Africa, USA. This part deals with the decision relating to the trial before the International Criminal Tribunal in Yugoslavia and Rwanda, and the statutes and rules applicable to those proceedings. The third part also deals with the witness protection programmes in various countries. The questionnaire is given in the last part which seeks responses on issues relating to the witness’s anonymity and issues relating to witness protection programmes. The commission, which has placed the paper in its website, has sought suggestions and observations by the end of November. |
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India, USA to work against terrorism
New Delhi, September 1 The Indian delegation was led by Ms Meera Shankar, Additional Secretary (International Security) in the Ministry of External Affairs. The US side was led by Coordinator for Counter-Terrorism in the US Department of State Ambassador J Cofer Black. Both delegations included an inter-agency/inter-ministerial group of officials dealing with counter-terrorism and law enforcement. The discussions included an assessment of the current international terrorism situation, a review of the US-led operations in Afghanistan and of the trends and concerns about the situation in South Asia, including cross border terrorism. The two sides shared assessments about the increase in arms and narcotics trafficking in the region and the linkages between trafficking in narcotics and financing of terrorism. The destabilising impact of these linkages was a matter of growing concern to both countries. Both sides agreed that, even as the challenge posed by international terrorism continues to mutate, it is important for the international community to strengthen counter-terrorism cooperation to effectively meet this challenge, a press note issued by the US Embassy here said. |
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Australian General’s visit to boost defence ties
New Delhi, September 1 The Australian Defence Force Chief was accorded a ceremonial welcome here this forenoon following which he met Air Chief Marshal S. Krishnaswamy, Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee, and Army Chief N.C. Vij. According to Australian High Commissioner to India Penny Wensley, Australia’s broad-based bilateral relationship with India continued to strengthen and General Cosgrove’s visit would give further impetus to bilateral defence links, particularly the focus on efforts to deepen the ongoing dialogue and cooperation on strategic issues. India and Australia share maritime security interests in the Indian Ocean and are both increasingly engaged in regional and bilateral dialogues on defence and security matters — making General Cosgrove’s visit and his discussions all the more timely. Both countries share a robust commitment to the war on terrorism and enhanced stability within the Asia-Pacific region in addition to their traditionally strong links based on shared democratic values and military heritage. Indo-Australian defence relationship has developed strongly over the past few years and both sides looked forward to exploring increased opportunities for defence cooperation. General Cosgrove, who arrived here yesterday, was scheduled to meet Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee and Defence Secretary Ajay Vikram Singh during his New Delhi stay besides meeting the Indian Service Chiefs. In addition to New Delhi, General Cosgrove will visit the Army Training Command at Shimla and Headquarters of Northern Command at Udhampur. |
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India committed to UN peacekeeping operations: Patil
New Delhi, September 1 “India is one of the largest contributors to the UN peacekeeping operations which shows our commitment towards the ideals of the world body,” Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil said while inaugurating an eight-day seminar-cum-training programme for senior police officials from 18 countries to prepare them for UN peacekeeping operations. “It is a matter of satisfaction that a large number of Indian officers take part in such operations and we reaffirm our commitment to peacekeeping,” he added. The Union Home Minister also said the UPA government would consider a suggestion by Ms Kiran Bedi, Civilian Police Advisor to the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations, to reserve 30 per cent of the positions for women. Underlining the need for the UN CIVPOL training programme, the minister said peacekeeping was “not an easy task because there is a need to fulfil demands of the UN. This is where training comes handy”. The training programme being organised by the ITBPF in its UN CIVPOL
Training Centre here, is being participated by 32 senior police officers from 18 countries, including Pakistan, China and Russia. Seven officers belonging to various paramilitary forces are representing the Indian side. The seminar will provide a platform for the participating countries to share their experience with regarding to peacekeeping missions. |
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Salvi to hear Bilkis case
Mumbai, September 1 Registrar-General R.C. Chavan told reporters that Salvi would hear the case from tomorrow at the Mazgaon court. All accused persons in the Bilkis rape case have been brought to Mumbai and lodged at the Arthur Road jail. The Bilkis rape case and the Best Bakery case are two cases pertaining to the 2002 Gujarat riots that have been shifted from Ahmedabad to Mumbai by the Supreme Court. The Bilkis case was shifted to Mumbai last month after the victim and the CBI expressed apprehension about witnesses being intimidated if the trial was held in Gujarat. Among those arrested in the case include six police officials who have been accused of destroying evidence by disposing of victims of a massacre near Panivela village in Gujarat’s Dahod district. |
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SC asks DGHS to fill 160 vacant seats
New Delhi, September 1 Acting on two petitions filed by students, who had figured in merit list prepared by the Central Board of Secondary Education for the AIMQ, a Bench comprising Mr Justice Y.K. Sabharwal, Mr Justice D M Dharmadhikari and Mr Justice P.K.I. Balasubramyan ordered that the DGHS would complete the “extended but limited” counselling by September 8 and the successful candidates would take admission by September 13. Of the 160 vacant seats, 122 were in MBBS and 38 in BDS, the DGHS informed the court today. Students, who got BDS in the second round of counselling, could avail this opportunity to get into the MBBS course but could not use it to change the Dental college they were studying in, it added. Seats remaining unfilled after the extended second round of counselling by the DGHS would go to the state kitty, the court said and asked the states to take timely steps to complete the admission process before September 30. |
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Panel on free education set up
New Delhi, September 1 Interacting with young innovators who were recently in Japan to attend an international fair as part of a joint programme by the Department of Science and Technology and the CII, Mr Sibal said, “A committee has been formed under my chairmanship which will present its report on this aspect.” Describing as “shameful” the case of a poor child with extraordinary achievements in education finding it difficult to pursue studies due to lack of funds, he said the matter needed serious consideration. Mr Sibal said it was the young people in their twenties and thirties who would take India into the next century. India enjoyed an advantage with respect to the age of its population, as 50 per cent of it was young, he said. |
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New Delhi, September 1 Inaugurating the CBSE-Intel Science Exhibition at Laxman Public School here, Mr Ganguly said under the new system, students’ overall performance in all walks of life, including extra-curricular activities like painting, music and art, would be considered to develop the overall personality of students. He said the CBSE would check the intense pressure to score maximum marks in examinations and replace it with a student-friendly syllabus. He said the CBSE was consulting all agencies concerned like the state governments, academic institutions and school authorities to implement the new system in an efficient and amicable way. Mr Ganguly said regional-level exhibitions had been organised at Guwahati, Chennai, Allahabad, Chandigarh, Ajmer and Delhi. The exhibition had been organised to observe 2004 as the year of Scientific Awareness. — UNI
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Maharashtra CID to probe attack on Editor
Mumbai, September 1 The police has so far arrested 17 persons, including leaders of the Shiv Sena,
in Sindhudurg district of Maharashtra for allegedly beating up the journalist. Wagle and his colleague, Yuvaraj Mohite, were attacked allegedly by Shiv Sena activists on Saturday morning. The Editor, who has had several run-ins with the Shiv Sena in the past, had addressed meetings against Shiv Sena leader Narayan Rane in the area hours before the assault. |
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Action plan to break khadi-khaki nexus in UP Lucknow, September 1 An extraordinary meeting to review the situation was necessitated by a sudden spurt in crime which even dampened the celebrations of the Samajawadi Party-led coaltion completing a year in office as on that very day, five members of a family were murdered in the state capital. Besides, several kidnappings for ransom in Lucknow, Kanpur and Varanasai have exposed the government’s claim of an improved law and order situation.
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India to train Afghan diplomats
New Delhi, September 1 The MoU was signed by External Affairs Minister K. Natwar Singh and visiting Afghanistan Foreign Minister Abdullah Abdullah after their delegation-level talks.As per the MoU, the Foreign Service Institute of India and the Institute of Diplomacy in Afghanistan will extend mutual cooperation, according to a Ministry of External Affairs spokesman. The Afghan diplomats will be trained by the Foreign Service Institute of India. |
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K.M. Sahni is new Labour Secretary
New Delhi, September 1 Ms Meenakshi Datta
Ghosh, IAS (AGMU:70), Project Director, National Aids Control Organisation, has been posted as Adviser, Planning Commission at the level of Secretary to the government, an official press note said today. Dr Pramod Kumar Mishra, IAS (GJ:72), Additional Secretary in the Home Ministry, has been posted as Member Secretary, NCR Planning Board under the Urban Development Ministry, it said. Mr Pradeep V
Bhide, IAS (AP:73), Joint Secretary in the Department of Disinvestment, has been posted as Additional Secretary in the Home Ministry in place of Dr
P.K. Mishra, it added. |
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Krishnaswamy to visit Israel tomorrow
New Delhi, September 1 With Israel emerging as one of the biggest partners of India in the field of defence over the past few years, the visit of Air Chief Marshal. |
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