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Did MP’s visit cause stampede?
Stampede toll soars to 224
130 cops to control 25,000 devotees
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Muslims decide to keep
Id low-key affair
Rahul Gandhi visits Jodhpur
Muslim ‘alienation’ worries Cong
‘Subsistence allowance can’t be denied to suspended employees’
No stand-off with Army, asserts Antony
HC: Woman can’t claim right to live in her in-laws’ house
Justice Bhan given warm farewell
Curbing infiltration first priority: Kumawat
Advani rues less response in rural areas
Bollywood goes on strike
Flaws in traditional comparison behind lowering status
Bodos drop ‘sovereignty’ demand
NDA govt ‘okayed’ secret killings in Assam
No jobs for Uttarakhand activists
Rizwanur case: Cops get bail
Curfew back in Kandhamal
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Did MP’s visit cause stampede?
Jodhpur, October 1 Though several theories were in circulation, the strongest so far was providing a special path to MP Jaswant Singh Bishnoi for paying obeisance in the temple led to the commotion. He bypassed the over 2-km long queue of devotees. There were eyewitnesses stating about 25 youths, protesting against his visit, pushed ahead in anger causing the stampede. Sham Lal, one such devotee admitted in Mahatma Gandhi hospital, told The Tribune that Bishnoi was given a special pass to go through the part of the corridor reserved for women. "This angered us and a group of youths raised slogans. The cops escorting him stopped the movement of other devotees. As soon as Bishnoi came out, some youths pushed forward and caused the stampede,” he said. Magan Singh, in charge of security wing of the temple trust, said he got a message on the wireless about unruly youths who were pushing their way. "The stampede occurred when I was answering the call," he said. According to some, a group of youths slipped on the path that had become slippery due to spilling of coconut water. As they slipped, other devotees lost balance, leading to a major pile up of bodies on the narrow path to the temple. There are others who feel that rumour about a wall collapse or the spotting of a bomb on the path led to the stampede. It has also been claimed that it could be a power failure that led to the stampede. Magan Singh said there was a power failed when the stampede was in process. "The devotees pushed each other in panic and broke the central railings. The darkness added to the chaos as no one could see where he was going and who he was trampling,” he said. Though Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje had ordered a judicial probe to be headed by a retired judge, the report will be completed in three months only. A team of district administration officials inspected the site this morning for preparing their report that would be submitted to the committee probing the stampede.
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Stampede toll soars to 224
Jodhpur, October 1 Jodhpur divisional commissioner Kiran Soni Gupta said the fresh cases of death came to notice today when the relatives of the dead reported them to the authorities which verified them and found true. Gupta said the 77 dead were taken away by their kins directly to either private hospitals or crematorium on the day the tragedy had struck the temple when 147 deaths were confirmed. Although the temple reopened today, the turnout of devotees was much thinner than on the first day of Navaratri festival yesterday, officials said. More than 100 police personnel were deployed along the route to the temple located in the 15th century fort. Over 55 persons, who sustained injury in the stampede, are being treated in various hospitals, they said. Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasudhara
Raje, who had visited the stampede site yesterday, has ordered a judicial probe into the incident. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi went to the stampede site today, met those injured in the incident and assured them of all possible help from the
Centre. — PTI
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130 cops to control 25,000 devotees
Jodhpur, October 1 Sources revealed that there were only 130 cops to control around 25,000 devotees at the Chamunda Devi temple in the Mehrangarh Fort. But the
IG, Rajeev Dasot, has his argument: “There were only 80 cops last year.” Although a compensation of Rs 3.40 lakh to the next of kin of those dead has been announced, is there any guarantee that such a tragedy won’t happen in future? Raja of Jalori Gate colony, who lost both his sons in the stampede, had this question writ large on his face when senior BJP leader Bhairon Singh Shekhawat visited him. “I used to see the world through their dreams. Now I am rendered blind,” he rued. There are many with similar tales of woe, but there are also some who showed remarkable courage to stay alive. Pawan Singh, a welder under treatment at the Gandhi hospital, said he bit his arm to remain conscious. “I was on top of two bodies and three or even more were lying dead on me. I could not think of anything else, so I bit myself to remain conscious. I even kept slapping my friend,
Mathura, so that he would stay alive,” he said.
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Muslims decide to keep
Id low-key affair
Jodhpur, October 1 The city Khateeb and Imam Kazi Mohammad Ayub and Maulana Hifj-ur-Rahman, respectively, announced that Id won’t be celebrated with much fanfare his time. They said the Muslim community was by the side of their Hindu brothers and would extend all possible help. An appeal printed on a white paper, asking for simple Id festivities, was also being distributed. “Islam teaches us to assist others in their adverse times and our whole community is with the Hindus,” said Maulana Asdulaah Khan, head of a sect of Muslims here. Meanwhile, the Marwar Muslim education and welfare panel handed over Rs one lakh to the Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje for the help of the victims’ families.
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Rahul Gandhi visits Jodhpur
Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi visited the city this evening and offered condolences to those killed in the Chamunda Devi temple stampede.
He also visited the injured at the Gandhi hospital, the temple where the incident occurred and the Kalam Colony. Meanwhile, Chamunda Devi temple was opened for devotees this morning but very few visited the place.
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Muslim ‘alienation’ worries Cong
New Delhi, October 1 Although he chose his words carefully, AICC general secretary Digvijay Singh drew attention to the questions being raised about the police encounter at Jamianagar and said these needed to be clarified. “Questions are being raised by the residents and several Congress leaders about this encounter... we should respond to them,” he said today but was quick to add that the Congress had not taken a public stand on this issue because of the sensitive nature of the case. While underlining the need for clearing all doubts about this incident, the senior Congress leader also reiterated the party’s firm resolve to root out terrorism and added that nothing should be done to undermine the efforts of the security agencies, which are battling terrorists. Digivijay Singh’s tentative and careful enunciation of a widespread unspoken fear among a section of Congress leaders is reflective of the confusion in the party on the issue of terrorism which is now firmly on the political centrestage. The UPA government has to visibly demonstrate that it has the requisite political will to fight terrorism after the recent spate of bomb blasts and the BJP’s shrill campaign that the ruling coalition is “soft on terror”. On the other hand, the party has to worry about growing alienation of the minorities as the investigations into the blasts has pointed a finger at the banned organisation SIMI while all those arrested belong to one community. Given the overwhelming public mood, the Congress has taken a tough stand on terrorism but, given the lurking fears among its members, it is also looking at ways of how it should address the larger issue of providing confidence to the minorities who are feeling the heat after the recent incidents. It was to assuage their hurt feelings that senior Congres leaders Kapil Sibal and Salman Khursheed visited Jamianagar after the Batla House encounter while the local MLA Parvez Hashmi has raised the concerns of the local residents with Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Diskshit. In order to give the impression that it is even-handed in its approach, the Congress is also keeping up its attack against the Sangh Parivar, particularly the Bajrang Dal, for its role in the recent attacks on Christians in Orissa and Karnataka. At the same time, there is a view that the Congress should approach Muslim leaders to explain their position and making them a partner in this “fight against terror.” “We need to assure them that this fight is not targeted against any one community but is against errant individuals,” said a senior UPA minister.
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‘Subsistence allowance can’t be denied to suspended employees’
New Delhi, October 1 The tribunal, allowing the plea of a suspended chief statistical adviser of the Income Tax Department said, "Even though the applicant (Tushar Ranjan Mohanty) has not sought this relief, this aspect needs to be looked into, if it is correct, because subsistence allowance cannot be denied." The panel, headed by member Meera Chhibber, found merit in Mohanty's appeal, which seeks revocation of his suspension. Mohanty, a resident of Delhi, approached the tribunal after being suspended on March, 2008, alleging that he had been neither informed about the reason for his suspension nor subsistence allowance had been paid to him. Taking note of the chargesheet filed against Mohanty, the panel said:"It is clear that he was suspended as disciplinary proceedings were contemplated against him.Disciplinary proceedings have already been initiated.Moreover, Mohanty has himself produced the order where it is clearly stated that the applicant was placed under suspension for alleged misconduct." Mohanty was charged with insubordination, exceeding his authority, misuse of public funds, unfaithfulness and untrustworthiness. — PTI
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No stand-off with Army, asserts Antony
New Delhi, October 1 “Do not read too much into the issue, there are no differences between the government and the services. They are also part of the government. The issue of restoring parity is being examined at the appropriate level,” he said. Earlier, the three service chiefs — Admiral Sureesh Mehta, General Deepak Kapoor and Air Chief Marshall F.H. Major — had noted some problems and anomalies in the government order on pay hike. “Pointing out anomalies was a natural act. As far as we are concerned there are no differences,” said Antony. His comments, made on the sidelines of the defence accounts department function here today, assume importance as a ministerial committee headed by Pranab Mukherjee is expected to give its report to the Prime Minister in the next two weeks. The committee was formed on Saturday. Antony and finance minister P. Chidambaram were named as the other two members of the three-member committee, which will look into the four core issues. Separately, the Prime Minister while returning back to India spoke to reporters on the aircraft. “Concerns of the forces have been brought to the attention of the Government. The committee will look into all aspects of the problem,” he said.
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HC: Woman can’t claim right to live in her in-laws’ house
New Delhi,October 1 Upholding an injunction order passed by a civil judge in favour of the in-laws of Neetu Mittal, Justice Shiv Narayan Dhingra dismissed an appeal filed by her claiming that being their daughter-in-law she had every right to stay in their house. "A woman has her rights of maintenance against her husband or son/daughters. She can assert her rights, if any against the property of her husband, but she cannot thrust herself (upon) the parents of her husband nor can claim a right to live in the house of the parents of her husband against their consultation and wishes," Justice Dhingra observed in a judgement
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Justice Bhan given warm farewell
New Delhi, October 1 Chief Justice K.G. Balakrishnan and other judges of the apex court were among those who attended the function organised by the SC Bar Association on the sprawling lawns of the court. Customarily, every retiring SC judge sits on the CJI bench on his last working day, but Justice Bhan had the opportunity twice -- yesterday and today. He was accommodated on the CJI Bench yesterday as there was a possibility of the court having the Id holiday today. Addressing the function, the CJI said he had the ''great privilege'' of getting ''intellectual advice'' from Justice Bhan on the judicial side as well as on administrative matters and at the collegium that was responsible for appointment of judges. Justice Bhan, who has been a Judge of the apex court for over seven years, is expected to succeed Justice M.B. Shah as the head of the National Consumer Commission. The retiring Judge gave an emotional speech, giving details of the memorable events in his life, taking the attentive gathering through his childhood and his long and illustrious association with the legal fraternity at the apex court in Punjab and Karnataka.
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Curbing infiltration first priority: Kumawat
New Delhi, October 1 Kumawat, a 1972-batch IPS officer of the Andhra Pradesh cadre, known for plain speaking, said, “We are very much concerned over repeated infiltration bids along the border. My first priority is to make the sensitive Indo-Pak border invulnerable to such acts. Security along the border will be enhanced.” Asked about the situation along the Indo-Bangladesh border, he said, recently a DG level meeting was held in Dhaka and he was told that the Bangladesh Rifles was quite keen to cooperate with us which was a welcome gesture.
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Advani rues less response in rural areas
New Delhi, October 1 “Terrorism is a new form of war against India. If there is a war on India, are only urban people concerned?” he questioned. “Every citizen should understand that only a strong government, guided by a clear perspective and possessing the necessary political will, can fight this menace.”
— PTI
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Bollywood goes on strike
Mumbai, October 1 Shootings at several outdoor locations and studios at the Film City in suburban Mumbai were halted as representatives of industry associations went around ensuring that members did not return to work. Though the technicians are present at every location, they have decided not to work till producers meet their demands. “Our non-cooperation movement will be on till our demands are met,” Dinesh Chaturvedi, general secretary, Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) said. According to Chaturvedi, 22 unions representing various sections of the film industry are participating in the strike. According to Chaturvedi, the industry, which pays crores of rupees to the top stars, often defaults on the payment of the workers, technicians and junior artistes. “Our people are employed on daily wage basis and do not have any provident fund or gratuity like office workers,” Chaturvedi added. The unions are also demanding that the producers hire only members of the unions and not hire outsiders. The FWICE pointed out that the technicians employed by film units pay Rs 600 per day while those working on television serials get Rs 500. However, many producers do not pay their workers on time even though they get work on an intermittent basis. “Though we have contracts which state that workers have to be paid within 60 days after completing assignments, payments are delayed,” Chaturvedi said. The workers are also demanding that they be paid overtime if they exceed eight hours of work. Often they have to work for 12 hours or more but are not paid anything extra. According to reports, several top film stars, including Amitabh Bachchan, Abhishek Bachchan and Shah Rukh Khan, had to cancel their commitments today because of the strike. Work has come to a halt at every major production house, including Balaji Telefilms and Filmistan Studios.
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Flaws in traditional comparison behind lowering status
Chandigarh, October 1 Sources reveal that the pay panel in its report had formulated a historical tabulation of scales of military and civil officers in which the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel has been shown against the junior administrative grade (JAG) instead of the non-functional selection grade (NFSG) of the civil services. The pay of a Lt-Col was shown as Rs 1700-900 while that of the NFSG was shown as Rs 2000-2250 under the table for the 3rd pay panel. Experts, however, say that there were three NFSG grades in the 3rd pay panel, out of which only the highest one has been “conveniently” reproduced in the table. The two other NFSG grades were Rs 1650-1800 and Rs 1800-2000 and the Lt-Col’s grade was placed between them. Both these grades were shifted to Rs 14,300-18,300 by the 5th pay commission, while Lt-Col was granted Rs 15,100-18,700. The sixth pay panel, however, placed Lt-Col along with JAG in the band of Rs 15,600-39,100 instead of NFSG (Rs 37,400-67,000) in which the erstwhile closest counterparts of Lt-Col were shifted. Another anomaly reflected in the tables relates to the rank of Captain, which in turn had a cascading effect on higher ranks, sources said. While the rank of a Captain has been shown against senior time scale (STS) in the 3rd pay panel tables, it has been shown against junior time scale (JTS) bunched with Lieutenant under the FPC tables. Experts point out that there was no recommendation of down gradation of Captain from STS level by the fourth or the fifth pay panels, and the same is a self-created equation by the sixth pay panel with no official back-up. The non-addition of rank pay into basic pay of service officers for equivalence purposes is also refuted by some experts. Maj Navdeep Singh, author of a book on military benefits, says that rank pay was carved out of basic pay by the first pay panel and it had recommended the same integrated scale of Rs 2,300-5,100 for 2nd-Lieutenant to Brigadier, with rank pay as the differentiating factor. To say that rank pay is not to be added for status would mean that all ranks from up to Brigadier enjoy the same status. A group of officers set up by the government after the 5th pay commission had recommended that an Army officer in his 14th year of service should have parity with an NFSG officer of the civil services. Several retired officers also point out that special army instructions issued by the ministry of defence clarify that rank pay is a part of basic pay for all purposes.
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Bodos drop ‘sovereignty’ demand
Guwahati, October 1 Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi today said the NDFB, which has been in truce with the government of India forces since May 25, 2005, had agreed to find a solution within the framework of Indian Constitution dropping their demand for ‘sovereignty’. He said senior leaders of the NDFB, who held discussion with the Centre and the government of Assam representatives in New Delhi yesterday, submitted the fresh charter of demands. Its earlier demand charter that included ‘sovereignty’ for Bodo people in Assam had been rejected by the Centre, which also threatened to scrap the ceasefire pact with the outfit if it persisted with its demand for ‘sovereign Bodoland’. The centre also extended the truce with the militant group by another three months on expiry of the earlier extension yesterday. In view of the possibility that the NDFB may scale down its demand to a separate state for the Bodo tribe, Gogoi said the Assam government would also oppose any demand for a separate state to be carved out of Assam. He, however, said the state government was in favour of granting more autonomy, development funds to the existing Bodoland Territorial Autonomous District Council (BTADC) to solve the issue with the NDFB. The National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) was formed on October 3, 1986. The outfit was originally established as the Bodo Security Force under the leadership of Ranjan Daimary. On November 25, 1994, the name was changed to the NDFB. The NDFB was formed with the purported objective of securing a ‘sovereign Bodoland’ in the areas north of the Brahmaputra. Meanwhile, the Assam government has in principle decided to withdraw cases barring those related of heinous crimes like murder, pending against surrendered ULFA militants.
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NDA govt ‘okayed’ secret killings in Assam
Guwahati, October 1 The Congress reaction came in the wake of the senior BJP leader and former Deputy Prime Minister L.K. Advani endorsing a poll-tie with the AGP to put up a joint fight against Congress in the next General Elections. Senior Congress leader and chief minister Tarun Gogoi today alleged that the then NDA government where Advani was the home minister and Deputy Prime Minister had full knowledge about the ‘secret killings’ of kin of ULFA members in Assam during Mahanta’s tenure. “Mahanta wouldn’t have dared to indulge in secret killings without the approval of the then Central government. Otherwise, why didn’t Advani in the capacity of union home minister try to stop it (secret killings) when flagrant violation of human rights was unfolding in Assam,” Gogoi said. He alleged that the BJP had given clean chit to Mahanta who was rapped by Justice K.N. Saikia Commission of inquiry for facilitating ‘secret killings’ and hence it was now willing to have election alliance with the AGP after the latter had cleared the deck for reunification with the AGP (Progressive) led by Mahanta. “Advani accused me of being soft towards ULFA after I had become the chief minister in 2001 and that was apparently because I had stopped secret killings of kin of ULFA members,” Gogoi revealed Regarding concern raised by Advani over the illegal migration from Bangladesh to Assam, Gogoi said it amounted to shedding crocodile’s tears as official records showed that Advani in the capacity of home minister did nothing concrete to solve the problem of illegal migration.
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No jobs for Uttarakhand activists
Dehra Dun, October 1 "A corpus fund of Rs 2 crore would be created for giving financial assistance to the aandolankaris,” he revealed. On the eve of the Uttarakhand Shaheedi Diwas, observed to mark the incident of firing on activists demanding Uttarakhand state at Rampurtirana (Muzzafarnagar), Khanduri said the government would identify the aandolankaris and photo identity cards would be issued to them so that they could be accorded proper treatment during government functions etc.
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Rizwanur case: Cops get bail
Kolkata, October 1 Judge Madhusudan Ghose heard the plea of the police officials for three hours in a crowded court before granting them bail. The three police officials of Kolkata Police were charged by the CBI, along with four others, of abetting computer graphics teacher Rizwanur Rahman to commit suicide. These policemen, however, will have to appear before the CJM’s court on October 27 along with other accused, Ashoke Todi, his brother Pradip, Anil Sarogi and Pappu.
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Bhubaneswar, October 1 Though Koche declined to specify whether the arrested persons included some BJP and RSS activists, unofficial sources claimed that a couple of local leaders of saffron outfits were among those held. The centre today dispatched 1,000 personnel of paramilitary forces to the violence-hit Kandhamal district in Orissa in the wake of fresh communal clashes there. The authorities seemed to have come down heavily against trouble makers. The Chief Minister has warned that the guilty would be punished “very severely”. — PTI
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