 |
Friday,
November 23, 2001, Chandigarh, India  
|
Oppn refuses to put questions to George Govt warns Pakistan again
PM explains Afghan
concern |
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
NORTH INDIA IN PARLIAMENT Ayodhya: V.P. Singh blames BJP, VHP Govt trying consensus on Women’s Bill Trinamool to move
no-trust motion Forest guards to get automatic weapons Joshi inaugurates
Abilympics RSS outfit drags
Sonia to court RJD leader seeks
special facilities for Laloo in jail Calcutta Book Fair on January 30
|
|
Oppn refuses to put questions to George New Delhi, November 22 Terming the reinduction “as a scandal in itself,” party chief spokesman Jaipal Reddy claimed that Mr Fernandes had promised not to come back to the Cabinet till his name was cleared by the Venkatswami
Commission. Asking how Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee had reinducted Mr Fernandes, Mr Reddy said that it was an assault on the high traditions of Indian democracy and had no precedent. “It was also an affront to the Venkatswami Commission which the government had appointed unilaterally when the Opposition was asking for a JPC probe,” Mr Reddy said. The Congress has given notice for discussion under Rule 184 which entails voting. “We are determined to pursue the matter,” Mr Reddy said. Maintaining that the Tehelka expose was unprecedented in many ways, he said that while Army officers had been punished, bureaucrats and politicians had gone scot-free. A united Opposition in the Lok Sabha today caused acute embarrassment to Defence Minister George Fernandes and the government by refusing to put questions to Mr Fernandes on the charge that he was occupying the chair of the minister “illegally”. Agitated remarks on the issue from members of the Congress, Left parties and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) forced Speaker G.M.C. Balayogi to adjourn the House till 2 p.m. It started when the Speaker called Mr Prabodh Pant (CPM) to put his question but he declined to do so saying, “I don’t like to put a question as (Mr
Fernandes) is illegally occupying the chair.” This provoked the Speaker to observe that by doing so Mr Pant was setting a new precedent but the member stuck to his stand. A similar scenario was enacted when the Speaker called upon Mr G Putta Swamy Gowda (Congress) to put a supplementary to Mr Fernandes. Mr Gowda said, “Even though it is my right to put a question, I don’t want to put my question because he (the Defence Minister) is illegally occupying the chair.” In the midst of this chaos, Mr Prahlad Patel (BJP) said he wanted to ask a supplementary from Mr Fernandes but the minister told the Speaker that he could not reply as he was unable to hear anything. |
|
Govt warns Pakistan again New Delhi, November 22 Replying to questions in the Rajya Sabha, the External Affairs Minister, Mr Jaswant Singh said, Pakistan must realise that its continued sponsorship of the cross-border terrorism and of groups that practise violent and obscurantist ideologies would eventually threaten its own internal stability. “Pakistan must end its sponsorship of the cross-border terrorism in India,” he said. The government would also continue to effectively and appropriately bring to the attention of the international community facts pertaining to Pakistan’s continued sponsorship of the cross-border terrorism, he added. He said the government had on several occasions reiterated India’s commitment to establishing good-neighbourly relations with Pakistan and resuming the composite dialogue that sought to build trust and confidence, establish a stable structure of cooperation and address outstanding issues. The External Affairs Minister, however, asserted that India would continue to play a leading role in developing widespread international consensus against terrorism. He observed that narrow, segmented or unifocal approaches to India-Pakistan relations would not contribute to good-neighbourly relations with Pakistan. Meanwhile India has conveyed to Bangladesh its serious concern over the reports of violence, particularly against minorities, in that country after the October 1 elections. In reply to another question the minister said a number of incidents of attacks on the life and property of minorities, molestation of women and damage and destruction of ‘puja pandals’ and temples had been reported and according to the Bangladesh media, the scale and intensity of violence were “unprecedented.” The incidents had created an atmosphere of insecurity and many Bangladeshis were reported to have crossed over to India. He said India’s High Commissioner to Bangladesh had raised the issue with Bangladesh Minister of State for Religious Affairs. Mr Brajesh Mishra, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, had also visited Dhaka on October 26-27 and discussed the matter with the Bangladesh authorities. |
|
PM explains
Afghan concern New Delhi, November 22 The External affairs Minister, Mr Jaswant Singh, today told the Rajya Sabha that the letters were addressed to the leaders of Canada, China, France, Germany, Iran, Italy, Japan, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, the United Kingdom, the USA and Uzbekistan. In the letter, Mr Vajpayee said future political dispensation in Afghanistan should not be allowed to export terrorism. The Prime Minister also emphasised the urgency of tackling these issues in an international framework including countries that have legitimate interests and influence over those matters and the importance of reconstruction and rehabilitation in post-conflict Afghanistan. The government had also announced $ 100 million worth of assistance for Afghan reconstruction. |
|
NORTH INDIA IN PARLIAMENT New Delhi, November 22 **** Widening of National
Highway The Minister of State for Road Transport and Highways (independent charge), Mr B.C. Khanduri, told the Lok Sabha today that the government was aware of the increasing traffic congestion in Delhi-Faridabad section of the National Highway Number 2. He said as a remedial measure for decongestion of Delhi-Faridabad 4 lane section of the National Highway-2, steps taken include widening of congested 12 to 16.5 km to six lane, construction of six-lane ROB (Road-over-Bridge) near Apollo Hospital and widening of bridge at Jaitpur near Badarpur from six lanes to 8 lanes. **** Suffering of Afghan
Sikhs and Hindus The Minister of External Affairs told the Lok Sabha that a large number of Afghan nationals are living in India due to prolonged civil conflict in Afghanistan. He said all Afghan nationals, including those of Indian origin, who came to India with valid travel documents/passports are being allowed to stay unhindered. He said they are being granted annual visa extensions. The minister said 275 Afghan Sikh/Hindu families from Afghanistan presently in Pakistan intend travelling to India. Their requests to travel to India are being considered sympathetically. A large number of
applications had already been cleared for grant of visa. The government had also waived visa fee for these applicants. He added that the government was working actively along with other countries, for restoration of peace and stability in Afghanistan to facilitate creation of conducive conditions for their early return. **** Training of J & K terrorists in Pakistan Replying to another question in the Lok Sabha, the External Affairs Minister said the government had apprised the international community of facts pertaining to Pakistan’s sponsorship of cross border terrorism in Jammu & Kashmir and other parts of the country. He said the issue had been raised during meetings with foreign leaders. |
|
Ayodhya: V.P. Singh blames BJP, VHP New Delhi, November 22 Deposing before the Liberhan commission of inquiry into the December 6, 1992 demolition of the disputed structure at Ayodhya, Mr V.P. Singh blamed the VHP for going back on its written commitment and the BJP for its efforts to get political mileage from the Ayodhya dispute. He also charged the Congress with committing the biggest mistake of allowing the “shilanyas” at the disputed area and thereby giving “a root and place to the dispute which was in the air only.” He said at the time of “shilanyas,” the VHP leaders had made a written commitment to then Union Home Minister Buta Singh that they would abide by the court order on the issue, but “their backing out from this commitment was the basic cause of all problems that we are facing.” He also accused the BJP of using falsehood in their work for Lord Ram. They had categorically assured the Janata Dal before elections in 1989 that Ayodhya was neither on their political agenda nor in their main manifesto to get political mileage of an alliance with the JD, but suddenly, when it suited them, they not only brought it on their agenda but also became its leader with the “rath yatra”, he said. “Similarly, the BJP government led by Mr Kalyan Singh in Uttar Pradesh gave affidavits that all measures would be taken to secure the disputed structure. In spite of all these assurances, none of these was implemented, rather they were deliberately violated,” he said. The former Prime Minister brushed aside the version of BJP and VHP leaders that they were unable to control the psyche of the kar sevaks which ultimately led to the demolition of disputed structure. “They first build the psyche of people and when something happens they don’t take the responsibility,” he
said. |
|
Govt trying consensus on Women’s Bill New Delhi, November 22 Responding to queries from women members on when the Bill would be introduced in the Upper House, the Prime Minister said his government was committed to the legislation’s passage in Parliament. The Prime Minister said the Bill had already been introduced in the Lok Sabha and if the Business Advisory Committee (BAC) of the Rajya Sabha so desired, it could introduce it in the Rajya Sabha too. “But the government would like to reach a consensus before moving in this direction,” he said. Earlier, women members from various political parties led by Ms Jayapradha Nahata (TDP) demanded that the Bill be introduced as early as possible. They said the introduction of the legislation was being delayed unnecessarily. |
|
Trinamool to move
no-trust motion Kolkata, November 22 The Leader of the Opposition, Mr Pankaj Banerjee (TMC), said the motion was aimed at the massive failure of the government on all fronts during its one year tenure with Mr Buddhadev Bhattacharyya as Chief Minister. Mr Banerjee hoped that they would get legal as well as moral support of the Congress, the BJP and other parties in the Assembly. Congress leader, Atish Sinha, however, said so far there was no decision of supporting the TMC in moving the no-confidence motion against the state government. |
|
Forest guards to get automatic weapons Dehra Dun, November 22 Stating this here today, Dr R.S. Tolia, Principal Secretary, Forests and Wildlife, said organised gangs of poachers and smugglers with international links, were operating in the state. In order to face this threat the state government was likely to bring about an amendment in the forest manual, enabling the state government to provide automatic firearms and more powers to the forest officials. The proposed amendment would enable the forest guards to use firearms in case of an emergency after taking the higher officials, of not less than the rank of a Forest Ranger, into confidence. The Forest Ranger will give the information to the SDM and the local police to lodge an FIR and begin magisterial inquiry. The present forest manual does not allow the forest officials to open fire at the criminals. |
|
Joshi inaugurates
Abilympics New Delhi, November 22 Inaugurating the regional Abilympics for the north and central regions at Talkatora Indoor Stadium here today Dr Joshi said his ministry would extend maximum support possible to the cause of the disabled who constitute about 10 per cent of the population. He cited the example of Stephan Hawking who was one of the most eminent scientists in the world despite multiple disabilities. Dr Joshi expressed the hope that the Indian contingent would give an impressive performance in the 2003 Abilympics. Abilympics, the Olympics of abilities of persons with disability, is an international event and was first held in Japan in 1981. It is held every fourth year to discover the talent of disabled persons with disabilities and to encourage them to participate in the economic activities of the society. |
|
RSS outfit drags
Sonia to court New Delhi, November 22 Issuing notices to all AICC members, including Ms Sonia Gandhi, Additional Sessions Judge P. S. Teji fixed December 24 for further proceedings in the case.
PTI |
|
RJD leader seeks special facilities for Laloo in jail Ranchi, November 22 “We perceive a serious threat to his life in jail as many hardcore undertrial prisoners who were arrested during Mr Yadav’s tenure in Bihar are lodged there,” RJD Legislature Party leader in Jharkhand Assembly Girinath Singh said.
PTI |
|
|
Calcutta Book Fair on January 30 Kolkata, November 22 Touted as the second largest book fair in the world after Frankfurt, the Calcutta Book Fair, which will step into its 27th year, would be participated by a record number of over 500 publishers and book sellers from across the country and abroad. Apart from The Netherlands, a number of European Union nations, including France, Germany, the UK, Belgium, Italy and Sweden, have already confirmed their entry into the mega event, which was visited by a record number of over 2.5 million people last year.
UNI |
 |
| Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir | Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs | Nation | Editorial | | Business | Sport | World | Mailbag | In Spotlight | Chandigarh Tribune | Ludhiana Tribune 50 years of Independence | Tercentenary Celebrations | | 121 Years of Trust | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail | |
A
profile of Milan Singh, a singer with a difference who
released her new album Dil Luteya recently.
(
Kerala
University holds an exhibition of centuries-old scriptures
on leaves or "Talapatra".
