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Sangh, BJP to sink differences
BJP to launch campaign on Soviet agent’s charges
CPM faces embarrassment
Talks will send message of peace, say Kashmiri leaders
Rain claims 58 lives
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Guru Granth Sahib’s ‘prakash utsav’ celebrated
Kolkata, September 21 Inaugurating a national seminar on the occasion of the 400th year of installation of Guru Granth Sahib here on Wednesday, the Bengal governor, Mr Gopal Krishna Gandhi, remembered the great contribution of Guru Granth Sahib in nation building by bringing together the people of different classes, irrespective of their caste, creed and religion into one brotherhood.
ISRO to put 10 satellites into orbit
Sonia to visit J&K in October
3 new varieties of forage
PM's house on high alert
Justice
B.K. Roy transferred to
BJP pays Rs 20 lakh fine for bandh
Protest against Punjab police action
Bihar cops on fast
Contract teachers held
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Sangh, BJP to sink differences
New Delhi, September 21 According to sources, this meeting could take place either before the Vijayadasami address of RSS chief K. S. Sudarshan in the second week of October at Nagpur or soon after it. The RSS is keen to hold such a meeting as early as possible as its leaders feel that since the Sangh “had never interfered” in the day- to- day political and organisational decisions of the BJP, the remarks made by Mr Advani has led to unnecessary “speculation and interpretation” in the media, which is damaging for both the Sangh and the BJP. When contacted, RSS spokesperson Ram Madhav confirmed that such a meeting would be held soon to clear the air. “Yes. We (RSS and BJP leaders) will sit and talk as early as possible,” Mr Madhav told The Tribune here. When asked, who are the leaders from the RSS and the BJP likely to participate in such a meeting, he said “no decision has been made so far on the structure and procedure to be adopted for such a meeting.” “Since Mr Advani has talked about the perception or an impression that has gained ground that no political or organisational decision can be taken without the consent of the RSS functionaries, we (the RSS) feel the need to discuss it,” he said asserting that “the Sangh had never interfered on the day to day functioning and decisions of the BJP.” Mr Madhav indicated that such a meeting could take place between Sangh leaders and “ BJP leaders concerned” either individually or collectively away from media glare. |
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BJP to launch campaign on Soviet agent’s charges
New Delhi, September 21 The party said the matter was further compounded by the CPM allegations that the Congress had received money from the American intelligence agency, the CIA, as claimed by former US Ambassador Daniel Patrick Moynihan in his book. Talking to newspersons after a meeting of BJP general secretaries held at party President L.K. Advani’s residence, BJP spokesman Sushma Swaraj said the party would launch a week-long nationwide campaign from September 25 which will last till October 2 to inform the people about the gravity of the revelations made by the book and demand a clarification from the Congress and the Communists. |
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CPM faces embarrassment
Kolkata, September 21 The CP(M)’s three “young” politburo members of West Bengal, Mr Anil Biswas, Mr Biman Bose and Mr Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, who used to consider the late Mr Dasgupta as their political guru, now came out jointly in protesting Mitrokhin’s allegations, calling them “false, fabricated and malicious” and they had threatened to go to the court filing the defamation suit against the authors, printer and publishers for falsely maligning a respected and dedicated Marxist leader. It is said the trio had been nurtured by the PDG for heading the three key posts in the party and the government after Mr Jyoti Basu’s tenure of chief ministership. The late Dasgupta had been an important politburo member and the party secretary in Bengal for the long two decades at a stretch till his sudden death in Beijing in November, 1982. The Marxists trio, it seems, was now determined to protect the great image of their leader as their sacred duties by all means. Oddly enough, neither Mr Prakash Karat nor any other politburo members came out in publicly protesting the KGB’s charges against Mr Promode Dasgupta. Mr Biswas warned that either the writer would immediately formally apologise and rectify the ‘mistakes’ ,or they would take legal steps and also organize a mass campaign against the selling of the book in the country. The state government would also be asked to ban the book in
Bengal. |
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Talks will send message of peace, say Kashmiri leaders
New Delhi, Sept 21 Careful about the wording of the "joint document" that was to be released today, the leaders decided to it to give it to the media tomorrow after evolving "total consensus." Sources said that document is likely to express gratitude to the governments of India and Pakistan for facilitating the participation of PoK leaders in the talks in Delhi. The document is likely to express committment of the people on both sides to strengthen the ongoing peace process for a resolution of the issue. It is also likely to call for efforts for return of migrants who had to leave the state due to violence. After the talks resumed this morning, the leaders decided to constitute a four-member committee to draft the joint document. However, the document could not be finalised till late in the evening as amendments were suggested from time to time. Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah did not come for the evening session though his party leader was present. Former PoK Prime Minister and President Sardar Muhammad Abdul Qayyum Khan said later that the talks would send a message of peace to the people of the two countries. He said Kashmiris wanted to be facilitators in peace between India and Pakistan. Mr
Qayyum, who has come to India for the first time since the country's Independence, said tension over Kashmir had hurt the presitge of both countries in the international arena. He said talks among the civil society leaders of the two sides could help in making the situation normal. He suggested holding such meetings in other places including different regions of Jammu and Kashmir. He said a solution to the vexed issue will come by showing political courage and taking steps which generate mutual confidence. Answering queries, Mr Qayyum said irrespective of stated positions of the two governments which may be reiterated, the dialogue process must continue. He also favoured suggestions about Indian government talking to Hizbul Mujahideen. |
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Rain claims 58 lives
Hyderabad, September 21 Heavy rains lashed the coastal Andhra and parts of the Telangana region for two days since the cyclonic storm crossed the coast at Kalingapatnam in Srikakulam district on Monday. The two major rivers of the state, Godavari and Krishna, were in spate, prompting the authorities to press into service the Indian Air Force helicopters to rescue people in the marooned villages. The road and rail services and power supply were severely disrupted in several areas and scores of villages were inundated by floodwaters. The coastal district of west Godavari bore the brunt of nature’s fury, accounting for 15 deaths, followed by Krishna (8), Khammam and east Godavari (7 each),
Srikakulam, Nalgonda and Mahaboobnagar (3 each), Visakhapatnam and Guntur (2 each),
Warangal, Vizianagaram and Medak (1 each). The IAF copters were deployed to evacuate people stranded in floodwaters in Khammam and east Godavari districts. The Godavari water entered the temple town of Bhadrachalam in Khammam district where the water level crossed the third warning mark of 55 feet last night. The Chief Minister undertook an aerial survey of the worst affected areas in
Khammam, Krishna, West Godavari and east Godavari districts and reviewed relief measures with the district authorities, making stopover at
Bhadrachalam, Vijayawada, Eluru and Rajahmundry towns. As many as 30 trains were cancelled and 12 others were either diverted or rescheduled on the Secunderabad-Kazipet-Vijayawada-Visakhapatnam sections of the South-Central Railway as tracks were flooded at several places. Over 60,000 persons were rendered homeless and crops over several lakhs of acres were
damaged. |
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Guru Granth Sahib’s ‘prakash utsav’ celebrated
Kolkata, September 21 The seminar was organized by the Jadavpore University’s History Department, where the Guru Nanak Chair was already opened for facilitating the students in undergoing an in-depth research and study on the Sikh history and the contribution of the Sikh people and their leaders in the country’s national movement, the unity and the sovereignty. Over hundred eminent Sikh scholars and other prominent personalities of the city’s Sikh community were invited at the seminar where Mr Saran Singh, a former IAS and presently the president of the Kolkata’s Sikh Cultural Centre, and Mr Tarlochan Singh,
chairman, National Commission for minorities, were also present as special guests. The Vice-Chancellor, Prof Asok Nath Basu, presided. Welcoming the guests, Mr Himadri Banerjee said it was for the first time that such a seminar was being held in the city, which is known for its rich Sikh population. The Sikh people in the state had played a prominent role in the national movement by sending the Sikh jathas for the Akali movement in the 1920s and onwards. Mr Saran Singh invited all the Sikh people in Kolkata and elsewhere in the state to make a joint endeavor
for spreading the advice and sermons of the great Guru Gobind Singh, Guru Nanak and the other great people who taught how to live in the society sacredly and harmoniously. |
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ISRO to put 10 satellites into orbit
Bangalore, September 21 Disclosing this here yesterday at an international conference of Satellite User’s Interference Reduction Group (SUIRG), ISRO Chairman Dr G. Madhavan Nair, also disclosed that CARTOSAT would be launched in December or January. He also maintained that the tie up with the Ariane Space Agency would continue despite the delay in the schedule for the launch of the upcoming satellite 4 EA. The ISRO Chairman said there was an increasing demand for more satellites on the Ku and EXT.C frequency bands. He said ISRO had already orbited a satellite with transponders in both these bands to serve the educational needs of the country under the name of EDUSAT and that more such satellites were in the offing. Mr Nair said at present there were eight operational communication and meteorological satellites in five orbital slots under the INSAT programme. He said besides increasing the number of operational satellites, ISRO also wanted to increase its present on-orbit capacity of 144 communication transponders to 250 to meet increasing domestic as well as demands of surrounding areas. Speaking about the issue of interference in satellite communications, the ISRO Chairman said with the launch of more satellites, this was bound to increase and needed to be addressed immediately. He said SUIRG must, on its part, advance techniques for detection and removal of interference emissions. He said the automated identification of transmitting terminal being pursued by SUIRG would be very useful in future, if accepted by major manufacturers of VSAT systems. The SUIRG Chairman, Mr Bob Ames, called for effective procedures to reduce interference in communications.
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Sonia to visit J&K in October
New Delhi, September 21 Mrs. Gandhi’s presence at such a programme in any other state would generally be dubbed as “routine” but the visit to Kashmir assumes significance as it comes at a time when the first half of the power-sharing arrangement between the Congress and the Mufti Mohammad Sayeed-led PDP is to end on November 2. According to this arrangement, the PDP was to head the coalition for the first three years and the Congress would take over for the second half of the state Assembly’s six-year term. Coming as its does in the run-up to the expected
change, Mrs Gandhi’s programme will help gauge the mood of the party and and the people in general. It will also provide an occasion and the platform to the Congress President to indicate her decision on the power-sharing arrangement since she has the final word on the matter. The Congress President has, so far, maintained a studied silence on this issue. All she has done is to advice the more enthusiastic elements in the party to refrain from speculating on the leadership change since Jammu and Kashmir is no ordinary state. AICC General Secretary Ambika Soni, who has held several rounds of consultations with state leaders and party workers on this issue, maintains that “nothing has happened to change the terms of its arrangement with the PDP”. On his part, J&K Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed has publicly stated that he will stick to his side of the bargain and step down on the stated day. As the November 2 deadline draws closer, the clamour for change is also getting louder. The state Congress unit has been building pressure on the Central leadership for the installation of a Congress nominee as the next Chief Minister. They have been arguing that the Congress leadership should not forgo this opportunity if it wishes to strengthen the party in the state. Although several leaders, including former PCC chief Mohammad Shafi Quereshi and party leader Saifuddin Soz, are in the race, Union Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad remains its first choice. According to the state unit, Mr. Azad has the adminsitrative skills and stature required for this job. Mr. Azad, on his part, has been making frequent trips to the state. Only yesterday, he was in Jammu to attend a meeting of the state unit’s executive committee. Although the meeting was called ostensibly for the selection of MLC candidates, the real purpose was to get a feedback from the state unit. |
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3 new varieties of forage
New Delhi, September 21 The high-yielding varieties of forage crops are essential to meet the feed requirements of animals in the country. The ICAR said the BL-180 variety of Berseem had been identified for the north-western plains and north hill zone due to its consistent superiority for green fodder, dry matter and seed yield over the check varieties. The forage is suitable under irrigated conditions and matures in 260-265 days. The average yield of the BL-180 under normal conditions is 625 q/ha of green fodder and 3.4 q/ha of seed yield in the north-western zone. It is capable of supplying green fodder late in the season when there is scarcity of it. The JHO 99-1 (single cut) variety of oat has been identified for the north hill zone. Developed by Indian Grassland and Fodder Research Institute (IGFRI), Jhansi, this variety is suitable for cultivation in temperate and sub-temperate areas during the rabi season. It is moderately to highly resistant against leaf blight, moderately resistant to nematodes and grasshoppers and matures in 150-155 days. The research body said the RO-19 (multicut) variety of oat had been identified for national level across the zones because of its high-yield potential, quality parameters and resistance to major diseases and pests. The variety has been developed by the All-India Coordinated Research Project on Forage Crops at Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth, Rahuri, and is suitable for winter season under irrigated conditions. |
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PM's house on high alert
New Delhi, September 21 However, it turned out to be a non-issue after the Qualis was intercepted and the youth held, police sources said. At around 2.30 pm, a Special Protection Group (SPG) deployed at the 7, Race Course Road, the residence of the Prime Minister, spotted occupants of a Qualis filming the premises, the sources said. Before the SPG personnel could act, the vehicle sped away, creating an alarm. A message was immediately flashed on the Police Control Room (PCR) for intercepting of the vehicle. The youth were MBA students of an institute here and were not aware that filming of the premises was not allowed, they said, adding their identity was established and they were allowed to go.
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Justice
B.K. Roy transferred to Sikkim HC
New Delhi, September 21 Mr Justice Roy, against whom some Judges of the Guwahati High Court as well as the Bar Association there had allegedly sent communications to Chief Justice of India raising certain objections on his style of functioning, had been asked by the President of India to assume charge of his new assignment on or before September 30. Mr Justice Roy had been Chief Justice of Punjab and Haryana High Court from October 14, 2002 from where he was transferred to Guwahati High Court in controversial circumstances on February 4, 2005. Mr Justice Dinedra Biswas will be the acting Chief Justice of Guwahati High Court, the release said. |
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BJP pays Rs 20 lakh fine for bandh
Mumbai, September 21 The Supreme Court had last week upheld the fine. The cheque was sent to State Chief Secretary R Prem Kumar from the party office here, according to BJP sources. Yesterday, the Sena had coughed up the fine. The high court, acting on a PIL, had last year asked BJP and Sena to pay Rs 20 lakh each as fine for damage caused to public property during the bandh. |
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Protest against Punjab police action
Jaipur, September 21 Mr Harish Bhalla, father of Ragav, alleged that Punjab Police personnel who came in plain clothes along with two constables of Rajasthan Police manhandled members of his family. He alleged that the cops also beat them up brutally when they objected to the unauthorised entry of the police to their house. Reacting to this, the family friends of the Bhallas gheraoed the police station of the area and protested against the highhandedness of the Punjab police team. |
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Bihar cops on fast
Patna, September 21 Bihar State Policemen’s Association president Jitendra Narain Singh warned that the agitation would be intensified if their nine-point charter of demands were not met. “We will organise a dharna on September 30 to draw attention for our demands and after that, we will go on mass casual leave on October 18 (the day of first phase of Assembly poll in the state),” he added. Earlier this month, constables wore a black ribbon on their uniforms for four days. |
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Contract teachers held
Bhopal, September 21 The government wanted to invoke Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) but the Law Department had advised against it on the ground that school education was not included in the list of essential services. The government is now said to be toying with the idea of declaring school education as essential service at the next Cabinet meeting likely to be held on Friday. |
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