Monday, October 18, 1999
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N A T I O N |
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Letter on UT sparks
protests in Manipur |
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Cong can decide on
alliance: Jaya Transporters begin relay fast
NHRC justifies ‘limited’
probe BJP’s vote share lower |
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Letter on UT sparks protests in Manipur IMPHAL, Oct 17 (PTI) — Opposition Congress, the CPM and the DRPP in Manipur demanded a "thorough inquiry" into an official letter on the creation of a union territory out of the state even as Chief Minister Wahengbam Nipamacha Singh convened a meeting of senior government officials to discuss the issue. Expressing anguish at the letter, dated October 7 and circulated by the state Director of Education to principals of all government colleges in the state, on "creation of a union territory under Article 230 and 239-A of the Constitution of India for the tribal people of outer Manipur," the Chief Minister summoned the meet to give a prompt reply to the Union Home Ministry clarifying the state government’s position in the matter. The letter in question, official sources today said, was circulated to collect certain information following a query from the Union Home Ministry after the Manipur-based All-Tribal Students Union Manipur (ATSUM) submitted a memorandum to President K.R. Narayanan demanding creation of a union territory out of the hill districts, they added. The Congress, the CPM and the Democratic Revolutionary People’s Party (DRPP) have condemned the letter, which was circulated on instruction of the state secretariat following a query from the Home Ministry and have sought a clarification from the Chief Minister. Their statements yesterday also demanded a "thorough inquiry" into the issue. The letter, circulated on instruction of the state secretariat, asked the principals to furnish session-wise enrolment of students, total number of reserved seats for SC/ST candidates, percentage of reservation out of the total enrolment and actual number of admitted students during the 1997-98 and 1998-99, the sources said. The Congress expressed doubts whether the memorandum had the consent of all sections of the hill people and said it would oppose any move to "break up" Manipur. In its statement, the CPM wondered why the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister L. Chnadramani Singh were kept in the dark about such an important issue and wanted an immediate clarification from the government. The newly-formed DRPP
demanded that the ATSUM be banned claiming it had become
"non existent" as it had lost the support of
the Kuki Students Organisation and the All-Naga Students
Association, Manipur. |
Arjun Singh hits back at Kesri NEW DELHI, Oct 17 (PTI) — Senior Congress leader Arjun Singh today hit back at Sitaram Kesri for holding a "coterie" led by him responsible for the party’s worst poll debacle and said "all talks about coterie are a figment of a frustrated mind." "One can try to give rational answers to issues based on realities and facts but it is not possible, however, to address an obsession from which some people suffer," Mr Arjun Singh said in a statement "regretting accusations of the former party chief." Mr Arjun Singh made it clear that party president Sonia Gandhi "is a leader who takes decisions herself after going through an elaborate democratic exercise" and said "all this talk about a coterie is a figment of a frustrated mind". The CWC member said he was both "amazed and distressed" by the public accusation made by Mr Kesri against him in a TV interview "defying all well defined bounds of party propriety and discipline." "Coming from a former party president, it makes it more regrettable," Mr Arjun Singh said refusing, however, to join issue with Mr Kesri publicly saying decency, decorum and discipline prohibited him from doing so. Mr Kesri, during a TV interview, had said "people like Arjun Singh, who have no link with workers were calling the shots in the party." The former Congress
chief had said it was not fair to blame Sonia Gandhi for
the party’s poor show at the hustings as "this
coterie led by Mr Arjun Singh neither bothers about the
organisation, nor is it concerned about national
interest". |
Pak children adore Sachin NEW DELHI, Oct 17 (UNI) — Sachin is their idol. They also play cricket like the children of any other cricket playing country. They also clap when arguably the world’s best batsman Sachin Tendulkar scurries fours and sixes of the balls of Alan Donald, Courtney Walsh, Warne, Fleming and McGrath. But they are in a piquant situation when Sachin thrashes the bowling of Shoaib Akthar and Wasim Akram. They do not want him to be out either, said a group of school children from Pakistan. Every batsman in the team aspires to bat like him, said Raheel, the captain of the city school cricket team from Pakistan. Asked what did fascinate them in India, Ashif quipped, "saree", saree-clad girls are beautiful. Most of them are fans of three Khans of Bollywood — Shah Rukh, Salman and Aamir. They watch Indian films on satellite channels. One of them said, "I like Urmila and her Rangeela dance. We will watch ‘Mast’ tonight. They are hooked on to the MTV and V Channel like the children of our country. Asked about the recent developments in their homeland, they refused to comment. But the boys said, "Our families back home are safe. We are in constant touch with them. A group of 30 children, including three girls and four officials, are here on an exchange programme with the Salman Group of Schools. They participated in the Salman International Athletics Meet held on October 12 at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium. They also played two cricket matches with the Salman School team. They visited Agra. Fatehpur Sikri is more fascinating than Taj Mahal, said Amir. Like any other school
children they were thrilled to meet External Affairs
Minister Jaswant Singh at the felicitation ceremony,
organised in their honour, Mr Jaswant Singh even gave
away little memorabilia to each student. |
India's response guarded NEW DELHI, Oct 17 (PTI) — India tonight reacted guardedly to Pakistan Chief Executive Gen Parvez Musharraf's announcement of pulling back forces from along the international border with India and expressed willingness to talk to any regime in Pakistan provided cross-border terrorism was stopped. Asked to comment on General Musharraf's announcement, National Security Adviser Brajesh Mishra told Star News that Directors-General of Military Operations of both countries met in Attari in July last and the two sides agreed that they would pull back from the Line of Control in Kargil. But Pakistan went back
on it and now General Musharraf was not talking of
pulling back from the LoC but the international border,
Mishra said. |
Cong can decide on alliance: Jaya CHENNAI, Oct 17 (UNI) — All-India Anna DMK general secretary J. Jayalalitha today said it was for the Congress to decide on continuing its alliance with the AIADMK in Tamil Nadu. As far as she was concerned, her party has a "good alliance" with the Congress, she said during an informal chat with reporters at the party headquarters here, on the occasion of the 28th founding day of the AIADMK. I do not know why it (the alliance) should not continue in the coming Assembly elections also," she said. Stating that the Assembly election in the state, due in March 2001, was likely to be advanced, Ms Jayalalitha said she had reliable information from government sources that the Chief Minister and DMK President M.Karunanidhi was thinking of advancing the elections. Hoping to capitalise on his party’s alliance with other parties. She demanded that the
hike in the diesel price should be rolled back. |
Transporters begin relay fast NEW DELHI, Oct 17 — Transporters began a relay fast in the Capital today to press for their demand of rolling back of the diesel prices. The transport operators have threatened an indefinite strike from October 21 if the price of diesel is not rolled back by the government. The agitation by the All India Motor Transport Congress began with a march towards Janpath. The marchers raised slogans against the steep hike in diesel prices. The relay fast by 32 AIMTC members was held at Jantar Mantar. According to the AIMTC secretary-general, Mr J M Saxena, similar fasts were undertaken all over the country. If the government does not roll back the price of diesel to what it was on October 5, the indefinite ‘chakka jam’ from 6 a.m on October 21 was imminent, he said. Mr Saxena claimed that all organisations affiliated to the AIMTC had confirmed their support to the indefinite ‘chakka jam’ if the government did not take a decision by October 20. BHUBANESWAR (PTI) : The Orissa Government has invoked the Essential Services Maintenance Act to deal with the state-wide strike by private bus operators which entered its third day today, official sources said. Though no report about the arrest of any bus owner had been received till now, the district collectors and regional transport officers have been directed to requisition vehicles under the Orissa Requisition of Omnibus Act, 1984, to arrange for alternative transport for the harried commuters, official sources said. Instructions were also issued to the district authorities last night to initiate necessary action against the striking bus operators, they said. The bus owners have demanded an eight paise per km increase in fare on normal routes and 10 paise per km on hill routes in view of the recent hike in the price of diesel. Both sides have hardened
their stand after a meeting between a senior government
officer and the representatives of the All-Orissa Private
Bus Owners’ Association ended in a stalemate
yesterday. |
NHRC justifies ‘limited’ probe NEW DELHI, Oct 17 (UNI) — The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has justified limiting its investigation in the Punjab mass cremation case to only 2,097 unidentified or partially identified bodies illegally cremated by the Punjab Police at Amritsar district during the height of militancy in the state. Reacting to Amnesty International’s criticism that the NHRC has shied away from its task by arguing that it can have only a limited role in ensuring redress to the affected families while acting under the Supreme Court’s direction, NHRC Secretary-General S. Gopalaswami said the NHRC was a statutory body which has to act in accordance with the law. He said under the protection of the Human Rights Act, 1993, the NHRC could not investigate human rights violations which had occurred more than a year ago, however, the Supreme Court after hearing a couple of petitions regarding the alleged illegal cremation of thousands of bodies by the Punjab Police between 1984 and 1994 empowered the commission to investigate the case even after a lapse of many years. "However, the NHRC has to act as per the provisions made by the Supreme Court in its order and the legal interpretation of the apex court’s judgement was clear that the commission should inquire into the matters relating to the alleged unlawful cremation of 3097 bodies, which was investigated by the CBI, in the police districts of Amritsar, Tarn Taran and Majitha," he said. The NHRC had initiated the probe following the Supreme Court order of December 12, 1996, which led to research proving illegal cremation by thousands of bodies by the police after claiming that they were unidentified during the days of militancy. However, Amnesty International felt that the Supreme Court order on the issue had given the NHRC the authority for a full and thorough probe into the pattern of "disappearances and extra-judicial executions" in Punjab and the January order of the NHRC would severely restrict its role in providing redress to the victims. In a recent report
titled "India: A vital opportunity to end impunity
in Punjab," Amnesty International had expressed
dissatisfaction over the self-proposed "minimum
role" the NHRC had been playing in probing the
alleged excesses and suggested setting up of an
alternative body for a "thorough
investigation." |
BJP’s vote share lower NEW DELHI, Oct 17 — With the winners elected to the Lok Sabha on the ‘first past the post’ system, the percentage of votes polled by various political parties often takes a back seat except in academic discussions and analysis by parties itself. Notwithstanding the fact that the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance came to power at the Centre this time around, it is the Indian National Congress that has increased it national vote share while the BJP has reduced it share as compared to the 1998 general elections. As per the statistics released by the Election Commission recently, the Indian National Congress got 28.42 per cent of votes across 453 seats it contested across 31 States/Union Territories where as it was 25.28 per cent across 477 seats during last year. Compared to this the BJP vote share had gone down nationally from 25.59 per cent in 1998 (while contesting 388 seats in 28 States/UTs) to 23.70 per cent (contesting 339 seats in as many States/UTs). Of course, the variables that cannot be quantified is the nature of alliances/seat adjustment these political parties had. The BJP-led the National Democratic Alliance while the Congress had tie-ups in States like Bihar, Tamil Nadu and party in Uttar Pradesh with Mr Ajit Singh’s Lok Dal. Among the seven national parties, barring the Communist Party of India whose vote share grew marginally from 5.18 per cent in 1998 to 5.38 per cent this year, the vote share of all others including the Bahujan Samaj Party, the Communist Party of India, and the Janata Dal went down. However, in the case of the Janata Dal which contested this time under different banners of United and Secular, the percentage would be more if the votes share is added as compared to last time. The Janata Dal got 3.25 per cent vote share in 1998 where as this time the JD (United) got 3.05 per cent and JD (Secular) 0.92 per cent. In Punjab, the ruling Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal) got 28.59 per cent of votes polled this year on the nine seats it contested whereas the party registered 32.93 per cent votes on eight seats it contested in 1998. The Congress which contested on 11 seats saw an increase of seven per cent in vote share recording 38.44 per cent in 1999 as against 25.85 per cent in 1998 (on eight seats). Among the other parties, the BJP which had a vote share of 11.67 per cent in 1998 got 9.16 per cent of votes this time. The party had contested three seats on both occasions. The Bahujan Samaj Party, which allied with the Congress in 1998, had 12.65 per cent votes whereas this time around it fell down sharply to be at 3.84 per cent. However, there was a rise in the vote share of both the CPI and CPM. The former had 3.74 per cent this time as compared to 3.40 per cent last time while the latter had 2.18 per cent this time as against 1.06 per cent in 1998. It is interesting, while political parties attributed the flip-flop on Bansi Lal as being one of the factors for Congress debacle in Haryana, figures show that the party gained in term of votes share. The Congress polled 34.93 per cent of votes this time as against 26.02 per cent, a neat jump of nearly 9 per cent. On both occasions the party contested on all 10 seats. The BJP which had a tie-up with the Indian National Lok Dal, also gained logging 29.21 per cent (from five seats) as against 18.89 per cent (from six seats). The ruling INLD had a vote share of 28.72 per cent this time (from five seats) while in 1998 it had recorded 25.90 per cent (from 7 seats). Unlike last year, the INLD went alone last year. The Haryana Vikas Party of Mr Bansi Lal, an ally of the BJP in 1998 lost vote share this time despite a tie-up with the Bahujan Samaj Party. The HVP which had 11.60 per cent (four seats) vote share this time ended with just 2.71 per cent (two seats). The BSP too lost lot of ground. If it had 7.68 per cent of vote share in 1998 it came down to mere 1.93 per cent. The party contested three seats on both occasions. In Himachal Pradesh, this year the BJP cornered 46.27 per cent of votes (three seats) while its ally the Himachal Vikas Congress got 12.37 per cent of votes (one seat). Last year the BJP got 48.60 per cent (three seats) while the HVC had 4.05 per cent (one seat). The Congress which got 45.37 per cent of votes polled in 1998 came down this year to 39.52 per cent. In Chandigarh, the
Congress got 47 per cent of votes polled this year while
the BJP got 45.07 per cent. Last year, the Congress got
38.70 per cent and the BJP 42.36 per cent of votes. |
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| Study on unemployment
problem NEW DELHI: On the request of the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Planning Commission has decided to get a study done on the problems of agricultural economy and unemployment in the border districts of Punjab. This has been done because Punjab has 554 km of international border with Pakistan in Amritsar, Gurdaspur and Ferozepore which have faced the brunt of two large-scale wars during 1965 and 1971 and a decade long trans-border terrorism. Due to an active international border, the physical and social infrastructure in these districts is less developed. — INFA Army officer moves court 15 IAS officers
shifted 1 killed, 12
hurt in clash Tanker carrying
acids overturns 9 killed in
Karnataka 2 juveniles
arrested for robbery Mumbai among
fastest growing cities 3 killed by
lightning |
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