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Gujarat riot relief: govt asked to file
action taken report
Tributes paid to Indira
Thai Princess gets Indira peace prize
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1,047 get Indira scholarships
Rs 125 cr spent on holding poll
Book on Mahatma released
Kudos to EC adviser
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Gujarat riot relief: govt asked to file
action taken report
Ahmedabad, November 19 “The government is directed to produce the report as early as possible,” said the judges while passing an order on the application filed by the Jan Sangharsh Manch, a rights body, requesting the commission to pass appropriate orders in view of the Gujarat government’s order, enlarging the scope of inquiry to be conducted by it. The then Chairperson of the NHRC Justice J.S. Verma had deplored the Narendra Modi government on its “inability” to prevent the Godhra carnage and the riots that followed. Justice Verma, who had visited Gujarat in March, 2002, had remarked that the riots reflected “inaction” and “inefficiency” and “abdication of responsibility” on the government’s part. Later in July, 2003, the commission had filed a special leave petition in the Supreme Court under Article 136 of the Constitution, seeking a retrial in the Best Bakery case on grounds of miscarriage of justice on account of intimidation of witnesses and victims. It had also sought the transfer of four other riot cases for trial outside the state. Meanwhile, the term of the Nanavati-Shah Commission, probing the Godhra train carnage and subsequent communal riots in Gujarat in 2002, has been extended by six months.
— PTI |
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Tributes paid to Indira
New Delhi, November 19 Besides, Vice-President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Congress President Sonia Gandhi, Delhi Lieut-Governor B.L. Joshi, Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit offered floral tributes at the Shakti Sthala memorial amid the slogans of ‘Indira Gandhi Amar Rahen.’ Union Ministers Shivraj Patil, Priyaranjan Dasmunsi, Sis Ram Ola, National Commission for Women Chairperson Girija Vyas, Congress leaders Mohsina Kidwai, Margaret Alva, Jagdish Tytler, Naveen Jindal, Ashok Gehlot and the late Prime Minister’s close confidant R. K. Dhawan were among those who attended the prayer meet at the memorial. In Parliament House, the Prime Minister, Mrs Gandhi, Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee, Leader of Opposition and BJP chief L K Advani, a number of senior ministers and MPs offered floral tributes to Indira Gandhi. |
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Thai Princess gets Indira peace prize
New Delhi, November 19 Receiving the 18th prize at a function at the Durbar Hall of Rashtrapati Bhavan, the 50-year-old Princess said the books of Jawaharlal Nehru apart from various other titles on Indira Gandhi inspired her. Presenting the prize, the President said the bilateral ties between India and Thailand had been built on a strong foundation of ancient, historical, religious and commercial links. Pointing out the link between peace, disarmament and development, as signified by the prize, Dr Kalam said, “One of the main causes of disruption of peace is terrorism. The answer to prevention of terrorism lies in creating a prosperous, happy and peaceful society. Here I find the work of the Princess useful”. The Prime Minister in his address said India and Thailand were jointly seeking a future in which “our shared past and current commonalties fuel our search for a more cooperative tomorrow”. Dr Manmohan Singh said the life and work of the Princess proved that she “is a great citizen of the world.” “She is both an admirable representative of the Thai people, and an outstanding symbol of a great resurgent nation.” Ms Gandhi, who is also the Chairperson of the Indira Gandhi Memorial Trust, showered praise on the Princess saying, “We are honouring a greatly gifted personality with whose country India has shared a very intimate cultural relationship for centuries.” The Thai Princess, who is committed to the improvement in the standard of education and uplift of children in rural areas, said development should be well balanced in such a way that natural resources are protected. The Princess, who earlier had a 30-minute meeting with the President, is the winner of Magsaysay Award for public service and was appointed by UNESCO as its “Goodwill Ambassador for the Empowerment of Minority Children and the Preservation of their Intangible Cultural Heritage” last year. A scholar of Pali, Sanskrit, Cambodian and several other languages, and a gifted practitioner of traditional Thai musical instruments, she is currently the Director of the Department of History at the Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy. Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dixit, who is also the Secretary of the trust, announced that the Indira Gandhi Peace prize for 2005 would go to Afghanistan President Hamid
Karzai. |
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1,047 get Indira scholarships
New Delhi, November 19 A total of 1,047 scholarships were presented on the occasion. |
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Rs 125 cr spent on holding poll
Patna, November 19 The combined expenditure to hold elections in February and the current phase stands at Rs 250 crore. The expenditure includes the amount spent on movement and redeployment of paramilitary forces for the elections and the counting of votes, which will take place on November 22. Even though, the sources said, the money was drawn from the non-Plan fund, the fact remains if government was formed after the February poll, the same would have been spent on developmental activities. During his recent visit to Bihar, the Prime Minister, Mr Manmohan Singh, had a dig at the Governor of Bihar, Mr Buta Singh, for his recommendation of President’s rule. It has been a cruel joke on the people of Bihar, who had been promised development by all key political parties, to see an additional Rs 125 crore going to the elections for the second time in eight months. All contesting parties and combinations have been blaming one another with neglecting Bihar in terms of development. |
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Book on Mahatma released
New Delhi, November 19 He said there was need to assimilate the teachings of Mahatma Gandhi in every sphere of activity. “Alternative to peace is war... Alternative to friendship is enmity... And the world cannot progress with these alternatives,’’ he said while releasing the book titled ‘Global Vision of Mahatma Gandhi’ authored by eminent Sarvodaya leader and Gandhian scholar Dr Ratan Das at a simple ceremony in Parliament House here. |
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Kudos to EC adviser
Patna, November 19 The
curtain on the four phase of polling, which began on October 18 in 243 seats, came down today with both the arch rivals, Mr Lalu Prasad Yadav and Mr Nitish Kumar casting their votes in Patna and Baktiarpur respectively. |
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