The Tribune...Spotlight

			Friday, July 17, 1998
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Badal's effigy burnt
NEW DELHI, July 16 (PTI) — Uttarakhand activists under the banner of the Lok Panchayat today burnt an effigy of Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal near Jantar Mantar here protesting against Akali Dal's demand to exclude Udham Singh Nagar from the proposed Uttaranchal state. The activists led by Lok Panchayat president Sardar Than Singh Josh also raised anti-Badal slogans and shouted that Udham Singh Nagar would remain an integral part of Uttaranchal. Addressing the activists, Mr Josh said the demand to exclude Udham Singh Nagar was "baseless, illogical and totally wrong."
7 hacked to death
HYDERABAD, July 16 (UNI) — Seven persons, including a former sarpanch of the ruling Telugu Desam Party (TDP), and a village administrative officer were hacked to death by the Naxalites of the banned People's War Group (PWG) and Praja Pratishatana at Vempeta village in Kurnool district of Andhra Pradesh, early today. The attack was a sequel to a temple land dispute in the village, the police said.
No test-firing
NEW DELHI, July 16 (UNI) — Test-firing of the miniaturised nuclear warhead-tipped improved ballistic missile Agni is not scheduled, the Defence Ministry said today. "There is no truth in reports that test-firing of the upgraded version of the intermediate range ballistic missile (Agni) is to take place in August," a Ministry of Defence spokesman stated categorically.
White Paper
NEW DELHI, July 16 (PTI) — A White Paper will be presented in Parliament, explaining the status and stages of implementation of various railway projects, the government today announced in the Lok Sabha. The White Paper would be presented in the last week of the present Budget session, Railway Minister Nitish Kumar said in response to a question.
INSAT-2E
NEW DELHI, July 16 (UNI) — India is all set to launch an advanced Indian National Satellite-2E (INSAT -2E) by December this year to enlarge the telecom network in the country, Prime Minister A.B. Vajpayee informed the Rajya Sabha today. In a written reply to Dr Alladi P. Rajkumar, the Prime Minister said INSAT-2E is the last satellite in the second generation INSAT series, prepared by ISRO.
Pappu Yadav's party
PATNA, July 16 (PTI) — Expelled president of the Bihar unit of the Samajwadi Party Rajesh Ranjan, alias Pappu Yadav, today floated a new regional party to "strengthen all anti-Laloo forces and mount a concerted effort to pull down the Rashtriya Janata Dal regime. Mr Yadav, a former Lok Sabha member from Purnea, told a news conference that his Bihar Vikas Party would strive for polarisation of political forces opposed to the RJD led by Mr Laloo Prasad Yadav.
Benazir Bhutto
LAHORE, July 16 (AFP) — An accountability court here today issued non-bailable arrest warrant against former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, court officials said. The warrant was issued by two-judge Accountability Bench of the Lahore High Court (LHC) as Ms Bhutto, accused in a corruption case filed by the government, failed to comply with summons to appear before the court, they said.
33 die in UP floods
LUCKNOW, July 16 (PTI) — At least 33 persons were killed in Uttar Pradesh floods since last evening while the Army was called in after a major breach in a dam triggered flash floods in Burhi Gandak river in Kushinagar district today. The Army was evacuating marooned villagers on a war-footing as several villages in the vicinity of Pipra-Piprasi dam in eastern Uttar Pradesh were inundated following flash floods.
Ansari expelled
NEW DELHI, July 16 (PTI) — Rebel Congress MLA from Jammu and Kashmir Maulvi Iftekar Ansari, who joined the Farooq Abdullah Ministry after the 1996 assembly elections, was tonight suspended from the party with immediate effect for anti-party activities and violation of party discipline. Announcing the decision, AICC general secretary Tariq Anwar said Mr Ansari had been asked to show cause within a week as to why disciplinary action should not be taken against him for violating party discipline.
J&K situation
NEW DELHI, July 16 (PTI) — Home Minister L.K. Advani today reviewed the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir with Governor G.C. Saxena, Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah and senior state government officials. The meeting was attended by Defence Minister George Fernandes, Chief of Army Staff Gen V.P. Malik and Union Home Secretary B.P. Singh.