Friday, July 17, 1998
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Post-Pokhran steps taken NEW DELHI, July 16 — Steps have been initiated to meet the new requirements of the armed forces in the wake of India becoming a nuclear state... DSGMC to move SC on helmet issue New Delhi, July 16 — The Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) is planning to move the Supreme Court against the “helmet must” ruling for pillion riders in the Capital... |
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PM for better use of resources NEW DELHI, July 16 — Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee today expressed concern over lower yields of major crops in the country and called for higher investment in agriculture research for achieving 5 per cent growth in the sector during the current Plan period...
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Vinod
Khanna on film council NEW DELHI, July 16 — Renowned litterateur U.R. Anantha Murthy, veteran filmmakers Sunil Dutt and Ramanand Sagar, and members of Parliament Jaya Prada and Vinod Khanna are among the 39 members of the newly-constituted Film Development Council set up in the wake of recognition of cinema as an industry... Resolution sought on Bluestar NEW DELHI, July 16 — Shiromani Akali Dal MP, Mr Prem Singh Chandumajra, today said the Lok Sabha should adopt a resolution condemning Operation Bluestar... AIADMK demands notification on Cauvery waters NEW DELHI, July 16 —The AIADMK today launched a fresh offensive against the Vajpayee government when 26 MPs belonging to the party and its allies demanded that his government notify the scheme to implement the interim award of the Cauvery waters tribunal... Widow's right to maintenance 'pre-existing' NEW DELHI, July 16 — The Supreme Court has held that the right to maintenance of a Hindu women flows from the social and temporal relationship between the husband and the wife... 2 JD MLAs from Orissa expelled BHUBANESWAR, July 16 (UNI) — In a significant political development, two Janata Dal MLAs in Orissa were expelled from the party for anti-party activities... Protest against inflation NEW DELHI, July 16 — For the second time in the past seven days, the Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee today demonstrated against the spiralling prices of essential commodities... Notice against RJP MP NEW DELHI, July 16 — A BJP member in the Lok Sabha today gave a notice of breach of privilege against RJP member Anand Mohan in the light of media reports that the latter had carried a firearm and two knives into the House... Digvijay’s plea on Chhatisgarh NEW DELHI, July 16 — Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Digvijay Singh today appealed to the Centre to take immediate steps for the creation of Chhatisgarh state...  |
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Post-Pokhran steps taken NEW DELHI, July 16 (UNI) — Steps have been initiated to meet the new requirements of the armed forces in the wake of India becoming a nuclear state, Defence Minister George Fernandes told the Lok Sabha during question hour today. He told Mr Vilas Muttemwar that a proper assessment had been made by the government and steps initiated to ensure that the three armed forces were able to discharge their duties efficiently and effectively in view of the new scenario. Mr Fernandes assured the member that the Navy was also fully capable of discharging its duties in the new situation. He, however, agreed with Mr Muttemwar that some naval ships had retired after completing their life span and some others were on the verge of retirement, but asserted that adequate force levels were maintained either through indigenous construction of ships or through import for urgent requirements. Mr Fernandes asserted that proposals regarding induction of new technology in the navy were being processed in line with the role of the Navy to safeguard India’s maritime interests. The Defence Research and Development Organisations had undertaken limited series production of indigenous pilotless target aircraft (PTA) — Lakshya — to meet the urgent requirements of the Air Force, the Navy and the Army. Two such aircraft were scheduled to be delivered to the Air Force by August, Mr Fernandes said. He said the technology for producing Lakshya was being transferred to Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, the bulk production agency, to meet further requirements of the three services. Mr Fernandes said its nuclear programme was only for the purpose of defence and in no way posed a threat to “any of ours neighbours, including China”. He said during question hour that China, which was already a nuclear-weapon state since the sixties, was also assisting Pakistan in its nuclear and missile programmes. He said China was illegally occupying 38,000 sq km of Indian territory in Jammu and Kashmir. Apart from this, under the so-called Sino-Pakistan “boundary settlement” of 1963, Pakistan had illegally ceded 5,180 sq km of Indian territory in occupied Kashmir to China. Mr Fernandes said out of a number of missiles procured from abroad in 1994, a few had misfired. Reasons for the same were being investigated. |
| PM for better use of resources NEW DELHI, July 16 (PTI) — Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee today expressed concern over lower yields of major crops in the country and called for higher investment in agriculture research for achieving 5 per cent growth in the sector during the current Plan period. “Let us accept the fact that much of the progress in Indian agriculture has happened because of our hard-working and enterprising farmers”, Mr Vajpayee said, adding that the growth in the sector had to mainly come through productivity increase by application of science and technology. Speaking at the 69th annual general meeting of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), Mr Vajpayee told the gathering there were “many homes in the country where persistent hunger is still a reality” and called for less bureaucratic and more farmer-friendly approach. “We need to take a self-critical view of what the government has achieved and is yet to achieve in the farm sector”, the Prime Minister said, adding that the achievements in the sector had so far been very modest when seen against the inherent potential of Indian agriculture. “Though governmental policies and programmes have helped, far more could have been achieved on the farm front had all our agencies adopted a less bureaucratic and more farmer-friendly approach”, he said. Mr Vajpayee said a GDP growth target of 7 to 8 per cent during the Ninth Plan period was not possible unless a growth rate of 4 to 5 per cent was achieved in the agriculture sector. He said besides higher investment in agriculture research and education there was also a need for better utilisation of the financial and human resources “that are already available with us.” He said the national agenda for governance of the BJP and its allies had accorded the highest priority to the agricultural and rural sector. “This commitment has already found reflection in the enhanced allocation for this sector in the current budget”, he added. |
| DSGMC to move SC on helmet issue Tribune News Service New Delhi, July 16 — The Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) is planning to move the Supreme Court against the “helmet must” ruling for pillion riders in the Capital. The president of the DSGMC, Mr Jaswant Singh Sethi, said they would move the apex Court as wearing of any headgear by women was against the ethos of Sikhism. He said the DSGMC was at present reimbursing the fines imposed by the Delhi Traffic Police for violating the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. The exemption sought for Sikh women, Mr Sethi said had been accepted by the Delhi Chief Minister and the Lieut- Governor. But so far no effort had been made to grant this exemption, he added. The Punjab and Haryana High Court had last week made it mandatory for pillion riders to wear helmets. The order of the court was similar to the Delhi High Court directive to the Delhi Police in November last to enforce the Motor Vehicles Act rule which makes it compulsory for pillion riders to wear helmets. |
| India rejects US- Beijing offer Tribune News Service NEW DELHI, July 16 — Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee today rejected outright the recent joint communiqué issued by the USA and China indicating their intent to mediate between India and Pakistan, saying it was “highly objectionable”. Replying to supplementaries in the Rajya Sabha, the Prime Minister asserted that India would not accept any outside intervention in the resolution of differences among South Asian nations . “The South Asian countries are themselves capable of maintaining peace and tranquillity in the region... These countries can resolve their differences through mutual discussions’’, he said, referring to the joint statement issued by Washington and Beijing at the end of President Bill Clinton’s visit to China last month. Earlier, Minister of State for External Affairs Vasundhara Raje told the House that India was keen to normalise relations with China and the USA. |
| Vinod Khanna on film council NEW DELHI, July 16 (UNI) — Renowned litterateur U.R. Anantha Murthy, veteran filmmakers Sunil Dutt and Ramanand Sagar, and members of Parliament Jaya Prada and Vinod Khanna are among the 39 members of the newly-constituted Film Development Council set up in the wake of recognition of cinema as an industry. The council, chaired by Information and Broadcasting Ministry Secretary P.G. Mankad, comprises six representatives of film-related organisations, six ex-officio members and 27 others. According to the terms of reference, the council will suggest ways and means for the sustained and all round development and growth of the film industry and recommend ways for improving and upgrading the technological and qualitative aspects of the Indian cinema. Meanwhile, organisations of the film industry in Delhi have hailed the inclusion of film personalities in the council as it is felt that this will help in creating a better understanding of the ills plaguing the industry in the country. The council, which has a term of one year, will also consider the existing legislations, policies and procedures including fiscal and credit related ones, relevant to the film industry and recommend suitable initiatives to meet the requirements of this sector, and review measures for enhancing the productivity of the workforce. |
| Resolution sought on Bluestar Tribune News Service NEW DELHI, July 16 — Shiromani Akali Dal MP, Mr Prem Singh Chandumajra, today said the Lok Sabha should adopt a resolution condemning Operation Bluestar and extend sympathies with the families of those who were killed in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. Raising the matter through special mention under Rule 377 in the House, the Patiala MP said both these actions were a result of the opposition of the Shiromani Akali Dal to the imposition of emergency and also seeking greater share for Punjab. |
| AIADMK demands notification on
Cauvery waters NEW DELHI, July 16 (UNI) —The AIADMK today launched a fresh offensive against the A.B. Vajpayee government when 26 MPs belonging to the party and its allies, including Union Ministers, called on him this morning and demanded that his government notify forthwith the scheme to implement the seven-year-old interim award of the Cauvery waters tribunal. The charter of demands submitted to the Prime Minister in a 12-paged memorandum signed by AIADMK general secretary J. Jayalalitha, includes enactment of constitutional amendment for legal protection to 69 per cent reservation for SC’s, ST’s, and OBC’s in educational institutions in Tamil Nadu and setting up of a committee to study the feasibility of treating all 19 Indian languages, including Tamil, as official. Leader of AIADMK Parliamentary Party R. Muthiah told mediapersons after the meeting that the Prime Minister has agreed to look into these demands. The delegation included MPs from the AIADMK, Pattali Makkal Katchi and the Janata Party. Petroleum Minister Vazhapadi K. Ramamurthy, who had signed the memorandum, could not be present at the meeting as he had to attend Parliament. Law Minister M. Thambi Durai, Banking Minister K.N.R. Janardhanam and Health Minister Dalit Ezhilmalai were present. The MPs belonging to the MDMK, were, however, not part of the delegation, indicating that the party’s relationship with the AIADMK continued to be strained. Official sources said the BJP and the MDMK members from Tamil Nadu met Mr Vajpayee separately and pressed the same demand. The demand for notifying the scheme assumes significance since the Central Government has to report to the Supreme Court on July 21 about the progress made in notifying the scheme pending for over a year. The Central Government has sought as many as five adjournments in the past one year in the Supreme Court in the case. CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi on Thursday appealed to the Prime Minister to finalise and notify before July 21, the scheme for the implementation of the interim award of the Cauvery waters disputes tribunal. In a letter to Mr Vajpayee, a copy of which was released to the press here, he urged the Prime Minister to instruct the Attorney General to inform the Supreme Court that the Centre would comply with its earlier commitment on the issue when the case come up for hearing on July 21 without seeking further adjournment. Meanwhile, Karnataka Chief Minister, J.H. Patel has renewed his plea to the Prime Minister not to take any decision on the Krishna and Cauvery river waters disputes that would "harm the interest of the state." He has appealed to the Prime Minister not to yield to pressure from "any group or party on the Cauvery issue". |
| Widow's right to maintenance
'pre-existing' NEW DELHI, July 16 (UNI) — In a significant judgement, the Supreme Court has held that the right to maintenance of a Hindu female flows from the social and temporal relationship between the husband and the wife and that right in the case of a widow is a "pre-existing right." "And this pre-existing right of a Hindu widow was enshrined in the Castries Hindu Law long before the passing of the Hindu Women's Rights to Property Act, 1937, and the Hindu Married Women's Right to Separate Maintenance and Residence Act 1946. The two acts merely recognised the position as was existing under the Shastric Hindu Law and gave it a "statutory backing," the court observed. The ruling was handed down by a Division Bench comprising Mr Justice A.S. Anand and Mr Justice V.N. Khare while allowing an appeal. The appeal arose out of a property dispute between a son, his widow mother on one hand and other family members of the deceased father on the other, who had willed his properties, including agricultural land in their favour. The appeal was directed against a judgement of the Madhya Pradesh High Court. |
| 2 JD MLAs from Orissa expelled BHUBANESWAR, July 16 (UNI) — In a significant political development, two Janata Dal MLAs in Orissa were expelled from the party for anti-party activities. Janata Dal state president Ashok Das sacked Mr Jogendra Behera and Mr Duryadhan Majhi from the party late last night. He also communicated the matter to Dal leader in the assembly Nurshingha Mishra. The expulsion came in the wake of a move by a section of Dal MLAs to switch over to the Biju Janata Dal (BJD). Recently four senior Dal leaders and former ministers sprang a surprise when they joined the BJD. Dal sources said the action against the two MLAs were taken as at least five party MLAs had expressed their desire to join the BJD with the expulsion of two MLAs from the party the strength of the Dal in the state assembly had reduced to 12. PTI adds: The crisis over the induction of four senior Janata Dal leaders into the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) persisted with two leaders defending party president Naveen Patnaik and demanding disciplinary action against those berating his decision. President of the Biju Mahila Janata Dal, women’s wing of the party, Ms Kamala Das and party general secretary Balabhadra Majhi defended Mr Patnaik’s decision saying the leaders were longtime associates of late Biju Patnaik. "We are writing to the president to initiate disciplinary action against the leaders who have been writing letters to him (Patnaik) condemning him", they told a news conference here saying the letters written by BJD general secretary Pradip Maharathy and MP Prabhat Samantaray to Mr Patnaik were in "bad taste." |
| Protest against inflation Tribune News Service NEW DELHI, July 16 — For the second time in the past seven days, the Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee today demonstrated against the spiralling prices of essential commodities and erratic electricity supply in Delhi. The demonstration took place near the Delhi Vidhan Sabha today where slogan were raised against the BJP-led Delhi Government. The DPCC chief, Ms Sheila Dikshit, and her supporters later courted arrest. At least 20,000 persons participated in the demonstration. There was heavy police bandobast near the Vidhan Sabha where barricades had been erected to prevent the demonstrators from entering the Secretariat. Mr Dikshit said: “We will continue with our agitation till the government does not take immediate action to control the price rise which has made essential commodities out of reach of the common man.” |
| Notice against RJP MP NEW DELHI, July 16 (PTI) — A BJP member in the Lok Sabha today gave a notice of breach of privilege against RJP member Anand Mohan in the light of media reports that the latter had carried a firearm and two knives into the House. Mr Satya Pal Jain, in his notice, said the recovery was reportedly effected when Mr Anand was taken to hospital after he received injuries when forcibly evicted from the House by marshals on July 14 on the orders of Speaker G.M.C. Balayogi. The BJP member raised the issue during zero hour but was told by Mr P.M. Sayeed, who was in the Chair, that his notice was under consideration of the Speaker. Mr Rajesh Pilot (Congress) and Mr B.C. Khanduri (BJP) expressed serious concern over the report that Mr Anand was carrying arms. Demanding the government came out with the truth, Mr Pilot said if the report was true, it would lower the dignity of the House. Mr Khanduri, while supporting Mr Pilot’s contention, wanted the house to take a decision on the issue. |
| Digvijay’s plea on Chhatisgarh NEW DELHI, July 16 (UNI) — Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Digvijay Singh today appealed to the Centre to take immediate steps for the creation of Chhatisgarh state and denied he was engaged in a running feud with Governor Bhai Mahavir. Addressing a press conference here, he said he had met Home Minister L.K. Advani this morning and requested him that Chhatisgarh should be created before the assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh later this year. Mr Advani had told him he would soon bring out the report of the Cabinet sub-committee on the creation of new states. |
| In
brief Sanjay Dutt turns singer MUMBAI: Debonair actor Sanjay Dutt has now joined the bandwagon of singing stars after flexing his muscles on celluloid. The actor recorded a song “Aye shivani” at a suburban recording studio here on Wednesday under the baton of music director duo Jatin-Lalit. The song is from “Khubsoorat” film being directed by Sanjay Chhel — PTI Woman burns herself, kids to death NEW DELHI: A woman burnt herself and her two sons to death while her daughter suffered severe burn injuries at Kakrola village in west Delhi on Thursday, fire brigade officials said. Roshni (25), and her sons, Mohit (5) and Ajit (4) died, her daughter Mamta (9) is battling for life at the Safdarjung hospital with 80 per cent burns. — PTI Ban on PWG extended HYDERABAD: The Andhra Pradesh Government on Thursday decided to extend the ban on the People’s War Group (PWG) Naxalites for one more year. The ban was first imposed in 1992 by the then Congress government. — PTI New Delhi Cong Seva Dal chief NEW DELHI: Mr Satbir Singh was appointed chairman of the Delhi Pradesh Congress Seva Dal on Wednesday. Mr Manmohan Bhatti, Mr Rajendra Gupta, Mr Madan Bora, Mr Vijay Kumar and Mr Ashwani Dhivan were made district chairman, while Mr K. Balakrishnan, Dr Satpal Prabhakar and Dr L.O. Sharma were appointed district chief organisers. — PTI Samajwadi Party leader fined CALCUTTA: The Calcutta High Court has imposed a fine of Rs 5000 on Samajwadi Party leader Vijoy Upadhyay for contempt of court. A Division Bench on Wednesday held that Mr Upadhyay would undergo a simple imprisonment for a month if he failed to pay the amount within three days to the West Bengal Pollution Control Board. — UNI Syndicate’s decision nullified KOCHI: The Kerala High Court has nullified a decision of the Kerala University Syndicate which prevented the members of other backward communities from applying for various posts earmarked for a particular community. Mr Justice K.S. Radhakrishnan held on Thursday that there was no such provision either in the university statute or in the state service rules. — UNI  |
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