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Tuesday,
October 23, 2001, Chandigarh, India  
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ITBP to induct ‘Karl Gustav’ rocket
launchers PSLV C-3 launched
successfully AIADMK front wins 4 posts, Stalin
leads Centre to give Rs 725 cr to
Orissa |
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SC raps Capt Satish Sharma
PM declines to cut down Haj subsidy Mirpuris face displacement Tehelka tapes not accurate, says Jaya Jaitly
Visas for 40 more Sikh families President condoles advocate’s
death Panel finds lacunae
in UPSC exam system Eight held for sexually abusing minor girl Sharad Patnaik
is Orissa PCC chief Jogi not ST,
says panel VHP: govt biased against
non-Muslims Nepalis allege
harassment
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ITBP to induct ‘Karl Gustav’ rocket
launchers New Delhi, October 22 Disclosing this to The Tribune on the eve of ITBP’s 40th Raising Day celebrations, Director-General S.C. Chaube said under the modernisation plan, it had been decided to equip all frontline outposts in the borders with ‘Karl Gustav’ rocket launchers by the end of 2003 to enhance the firepower of the force to check infiltration and effectively counter enemy attack. By the end of 2003 the 11000-odd ITBP men deployed in various states for counter-militancy operations and internal security operations would be provided with 5.56 Insas Rifles with high-velocity bullets. “At present the ITBP men are using 7.62 self-loading rifles, the fire power of which is much inferior to Insas Rifles,” Mr Chaube said. The jawans were also being provided with automatic grenade launchers, bullet-proof jackets and `patkas’ besides other sophisticated equipment for high-altitude operations, the ITBP chief said. Stating that no expansion had taken place in the ITBP for the past 15 years, Mr Chaube informed that the Union Home Ministry had recently cleared a proposal for recruitment of 38 companies in the next two years in a phased manner. “This means each of our 19 border battalions will have two additional companies each and the overall strength of the force will rise by another 5000, giving much-needed relief to the overburdened existing force,” Mr Chaube said. As per the expansion plans, 13 companies would be inducted this year, 13 companies in 2002 and the remaining 12 companies in 2003, he said. “The additional recruitment will help us in relieving the five reserve battalions, which have also been deployed for combat operations and internal security duties,” he said. To remove stagnation on promotion prospects of the officers and jawans in the force, the ITBP Director-General informed that a proposal for cadre review had been sent to the Union Home Ministry for approval, which was in the advanced stage of consultation. “We are hopeful of an early acceptance of the cadre review proposal which would mean creation of one Additional Director-General post, two Inspector-General post and five Deputy Inspector-General post,” Mr Chaube said adding this would help enhance promotional avenues from top to bottom. On the line of “one border one post” recommended by the Group of Ministers on the revamping of Security Management headed by Home Minister L.K. Advani, the ITBP was likely to be deployed all along the Indo-China border. “Although a final decision has not been taken in this regard, in all probability, the ITBP is likely to be deployed there (Indo-China border),” Mr Chaube said. The ITBP, which is celebrating this year as “jawans’ year”, has undertaken several welfare measures, including construction of more houses for them and giving access to them and their families better medical treatment, besides taking measures for improving operational environment, he said. The ITBP men are at present performing various duties. They are posted in high-altitude border outposts, deployed in Jammu and Kashmir for anti-militancy operations,
deployed for VVIP duties, besides their “quick reaction teams” manning sensitive civilian airports like Mumbai and Chennai to thwart any terrorist attack. |
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PSLV C-3 launched successfully Chennai, October 22 “The mission was a perfect success with the vehicle placing into orbit the three satellites — Indian, German and Belgian — as planned”, they said. The much awaited lift-off took place at 10.23 am from SHAR amidst worries about weather playing truant. PSLV C-3 was initially scheduled for a lift-off last month, but a variety of factors led to the delay. The three satellites carried by PSLV C-3, on its fifth mission, are India’s Terrestrial Experimental Satellite (TES), Belgiam’s PROBA and German Space agency DLR’s BIRD. PSLV’s last flight (PSLV C-2) was on May 26, 1999, when the 294-tonne, four-stage vehicle placed three satellites including a 107-kg Korean and 47 kg German in Orbit. PSLV which is integral to India’s commercial satellite launch programmes is capable of placing satellites of 1200 kg class into as high as 820-km high polar sun-synchronous orbits. SHAR sources said that the mission team of ISRO was monitoring the health of the satellites and evaluating the launch data. SRIHARIKOTA: The ISRO chief, Dr K.Kasturirangan, today described the successful launch of PSLV-C3 as a new star born on India’s firmament. “There will be more stars. But this star will outshine others’’, an extremely delighted Dr Kasturirangan said. “Today’s success proved that nobody is second to us in achieving the capability,’’ he remarked and profusely thanked the entire ISRO family for their dedication, commitment and high degree of professionalism. “it’s a matter of great satisfaction that the PSLV has repeatedly shown its reliability in its performance’’, he added. LUCKNOW: Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee congratulated the country’s space scientists for the successful launch of the third operational Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C-3) today. He said the launch of the three remote sensing satellites through the vehicle was meant for ‘’peaceful purposes’’. He hoped that India would achieve many more milestones in the field of remote sensing.
PTI, UNI |
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AIADMK front wins 4 posts, Stalin leads Chennai, October 22 The AIADMK secured Salem, Coimbatore and Tirunelveli, while its ally TMC retained the Tiruchirapalli Mayorship. The DMK won the Madurai Mayoral post. Counting was stopped in 19 wards in Chennai following a complaint by Mr Stalin that AIADMK men, led by its Chennai secretary Karate R. Thiyagarajan entered the counting centres and disrupted the process early this morning. Mr Stalin, who was leading by about 40,000 votes, alleged that AIADMK workers had intimidated the counting officials to declare their nominees as winners in the council wards. In several wards, where DMK nominees were declared elected, officials had started recounting of votes at the behest of AIADMK candidates, he alleged. AIADMK’s Jayarani won the Tirunelveli Mayorship defeating incumbent Uma Maheswari of the DMK by a margin of over 10,000 votes, while its nominees in Salem and Coimbatore Suresh Kumar and T. Malaravan were on their way to victory. In Tiruchirapalli, Charu Bala Thondaiman of the TMC, an ally of the AIADMK, was leading her rival by over 2,000 votes. Of the 62 Chennai Corporation Ward results declared so far, the DMK has secured 28, AIADMK 26, TMC three, BJP and CPI one each and independents three. Mr Stalin has polled 2,26,189 votes as against Balanganga’s 2,05,437 votes. H. Vasanthakumar of the Congress polled 37,769 votes while M. Manoharan of the MDMK 7,553 votes.
PTI |
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Centre to give Rs 725 cr to Orissa New Delhi, October 22 During a meeting Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had with Union Rural Development Minister Venkaiah Naidu here today, it was decided to provide further funding under various schemes in the state for their effective implementation. A substantially enhanced funding of Rs 350 crore will be given under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana to provide connectivity to rural areas of the state. Another one lakh beneficiaries would be provided assistance under the National Old Age Pension Programme in the backward areas, while additional funding will be provided under the National Family Benefit Scheme. One lakh houses would be provided under the Indira Awas Yojana to poor families who have been affected in the recent floods in the state, state government sources said. Similarly, two lakh tonnes of rice would be provided under the food for work programme, they said.
PTI |
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SC raps Capt Satish Sharma New Delhi, October 22 The castigation against the minister was made by a Bench of Mr Justice G.B. Pattanaik and Mrs Justice Ruma Pal last week by upholding a Delhi High Court judgment cancelling 300 such allotments and dismissing appeals by Mr V. Purushotham Rao and others against the impugned judgment. The court directed the appellants, who were operating the allotments made in their favour between 1993 and 1994 even after the high court judgment by virtue of an interim order of the court, to wind up their respective businesses by the year-end. In 1996, the apex court itself had cancelled 15 such allotments by the minister to the relatives of his personal staff or sons of ministers and relatives of the chairman and members of oil selection boards, on a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by Common Cause, on the grounds that the allotments had been made arbitrarily and were motivated by extraneous considerations. The court had then imposed an exemplary fine of Rs 50 lakh on Captain Sharma for his arbitrary act and also directed the CBI to institute a case against him for the breach of trust. This order was, however, recalled by allowing a review petition by Captain Sharma. The high court in the impugned judgment on a PIL filed by the Centre, came to the conclusion that the allotments had been made on account of political patronage or extraneous consideration. The high court observed the a large number of persons to whom allotments had been made belonged to the affluent class of society and not to the class which might deserve such compassion. The allotment of public property, the court held, had been doled out in an arbitrary and discriminatory manner and the appellants were beneficiaries of such arbitrary orders of allotment.
UNI |
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PM declines to cut down Haj subsidy New Delhi, October 22 The proposal, which was discussed at the Union Cabinet meeting recently, was rejected, and it was agreed to continue subsidy of over Rs 18,000 per pilgrim for air travel, Chairman of the Central Haj Committee Tanvir Ahmed said. He said each pilgrim would be charged only Rs 12,000 as air travel charges. The government provides more than Rs 110 crore in subsidy to the pilgrims each year. The Finance Ministry wanted gradual elimination of the Haj subsidy, and this year it wanted the subsidy to be slashed by 50 per cent. However, Civil Aviation Minister Syed Shahnawaz Hussain strongly favoured the continuation of the Haj subsidy. Mr Tanvir Ahmed said Mr Vajpayee was taking personal interest in Haj arrangements. He said arrangements had been completed for boarding and lodging of the pilgrims.
UNI |
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Mirpuris face displacement New Delhi, October 22 According to classified reports received here today, more than 20,000 expatriate Mirpuris living in the UK have signed a petition to bring the dispute of Mangla dam extension to the International Court of Justice. For about six months Mirpuris have been protesting against Pakistan’s plan to raise the height of the controversial dam, which is a major source of irrigation, water and power to the country. President of Mirpur Bar Association Raja Zulfiqar, an advocate, has gone on record saying that during his recent visit to the UK he met a member of the British Parliament and 25 legislators who assured their firm support in this regard. Also, the 30-member anti-Mangla dam committee comprising overseas Pakistanis is all set for raising voice against the move. It may be mentioned that the Pakistan Government has told the PoK government that it will pay Rs 20 billion for the resttlement of people who are being displaced. Earlier, the PoK government had said that the project had been initiated without taking Muzaffarabad into confidence. The Mangla dam is constructed on the Jhelum near Mirpur city. When construction work on this project began in early 60s, thousands of families were rendered homeless and jobless because the then Ayub Khan government refused to employ them on the construction work. |
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Tehelka tapes not accurate, says Jaya Jaitly New Delhi, October 22 In an application filed before the Venkataswami Commission probing the expose, former Samata Party President Jaya Jaitly said that there were “material discrepancies” between the tapes and the transcripts. Ms Jaitly’s claim follows her earlier charge that the tapes were “doctored”. The Commission has called for a response from tehelka.com regarding Ms Jaitly’s plea. In her application, Ms Jaitly underlined the need for getting the “true, accurate and genuine depiction” of the contents of the tapes. This, she said, was necessary for effectively presenting her case before the Commission. |
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Visas for 40 more Sikh families New Delhi, October 22 He said the waving of the visa fee by the government had provided a relief to the Sikh families waiting to come to India after fleeing the war-torn Afghanistan. The government had deputed a special officer to meet the increasing rush of the Sikh to obtain visa. More than 1,000 families were stranded in Peshawar and efforts were on for providing them with visas, he added. |
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President condoles advocate’s
death New Delhi, October 22 The messages of Mr Narayanan, Mr Kant and Mr Jaitley were read out today at the “rasam pagri” ceremony. Union Civil Aviation Minister Shah Nawaz Hussain and Union Minister for Shipping Ved Prakash Goel, besides judges of the Supreme Court and high courts were among those who attended the ceremony. President Narayanan, in a brief message to Mr Adish C. Aggarwala, Central Government counsel in the Supreme Court and son of the deceased, said: “May you be given the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss.” Vice-President Kant, in his message to Mr Adish C. Aggarwala, said: “Mr Harish Chandra Aggarwala was an eminent lawyer and a socially aware citizen who treated his profession as an instrument to serve the society.” AICC General Secretary and former Union Minister Kamal Nath, in his message to Mr Aggarwala, said: “The commitment of your father to public service and his writings will be monuments for the future.” |
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Panel finds lacunae
in UPSC exam system
New Delhi, October 22 The Chairman of the committee Prof Y.K. Alagh, handed over the report in the commission office in the presence of the committee members. The committee found that while the system of recruitment to the higher civil services continues to be seen as fair, unbiased and successful in identifying the bright young minds across a widening social base, the present system did suffer from certain inherent weaknesses and deficiencies which are susceptible to exploitation by a determined candidate who has mastered the system through repeated attempts. The social cost of the examination under the present regime was also found to be highly excessive. In general, the committee has designed a scheme aimed at identifying younger candidates with the desired qualities of heart and mind for taking the civil services away from the perceived negative influences and shaping them into instruments of reform while ensuring continuity, stability and security. The UPSC Commission will make its recommendations on the new scheme suggested by the committee to the government after due consideration. It is not likely that the changes recommended will have any significant implications for the Civil Services Examination 2001 due to be notified in December this year, an official statement said here this evening. |
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Eight held for sexually abusing minor girl Hanumangarh, October 22 Narrating her tale in front of the Superintendent of Police, the girl said two years ago her brother got an electricity shock and her parents took him to Bikaner for treatment, leaving her in the custody of her maternal uncle. From there, Krishan Godara and Rohitash coaxed here into accompanying them to some place and raped her there. She was 15-year-old at that time. She came back after a few days but again was taken away by the same persons. She said she was taken to different places in the district and
Sriganganagar, where she was raped by many persons. She underwent this agony for about 18 months. Yesterday a local person took her to the SP where she narrated the whole episode. Medical check-up of the girl has been conducted and she is one-month pregnant. The police has arrested
Rohitash, Krishan Godara, Vijay Garg, Subhash, Dinesh Sharma, Sehdev, Krishan Lal and
Vimla. A case has been registered. |
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Sharad Patnaik
is Orissa
PCC chief
New Delhi, October 22 Mr Patnaik, at present vice-president of the Pradesh Congress Committee, replaces veteran Congress leader Janaki Ballabh Patnaik who had stepped down from the post three days ago. While the leadership defended his appointment, saying they had brought in a ‘youth’ leader to take on Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, his detractors feel that the backward classes have been let down.
PTI |
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Jogi not ST,
says panel
New Delhi, October 22 The commission, while directing the state government to conduct the verification of genuineness of the ST certificate of Mr Jogi, also directed that criminal action be taken against him in this connection. A report on the action taken is to be submitted to the commission within 30 days, the commission observed in its decision on a petition filed by one Sant Kumar Netam of Uslapur village in Bilaspur district of Chhattisgarh alleging that Mr Jogi was not a tribesman.
UNI |
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VHP: govt biased against
non-Muslims New Delhi, October 22 In a letter to External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh, VHP president V.H. Dalmia reminded him that the Union Government had sent special planes to evacuate the people of Indian origin in Kuwait. However, no such effort had been made in case of Afghanistan now, he said. Mr Dalmia expressed hope that Mr Jaswant Singh would urgently take steps to save the lives of Indians living in Afghanistan.
UNI |
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Nepalis allege
harassment Banbasa (Uttaranchal), October 22 Mr Hari Acharaya, member of the Nepal Parliament alleged that the Indian authorities were violating the Indo-Nepal treaty of 1950 by demanding the domicile certificates of Nepali youth seeking jobs in India. The workers shouted slogans against the Indian Government, local police and the customs authorities. They submitted a memorandum to the local customs authorities in this connection to forward it to the Prime Minister. |
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