Monday, July 20, 1998
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CPM asks govt not to sign
CTBT NEW DELHI, July 19 — The CPM today asked the Vajpayee government to immediately announce that India would not weaponise and deploy nuclear weapons and refrain from signing the CTBT... Rajiv case: CBI urged to probe missing links NEW DELHI, July 19 — A key witness before the Jain Commission today urged the government to direct the CBI to further probe the “gaps and missing links” in the conspiracy behind Rajiv Gandhi’s assassination... |
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Laloo
denounces CAG report |
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Accused’s ISI links not probed: minister CHENNAI, July 19 — The Union Power Minister, Mr P. Rangarajan Kumaramangalam, today alleged that many of those arrested in connection with the Coimbatore serial bomb blasts were foreign nationals and charged the Tamil Nadu police with not probing their Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) connections... NHRC order on factory deaths NEW DELHI, July 19 — The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has directed the Uttar Pradesh Government to register a criminal case against the owner of a factory, where eight persons died in an accident... Godse play may figure in House MUMBAI, July 19 — The controversial Marathi play, “Mee Nathuram Godse boltoy” (I am Nathuram Godse speaking), allegedly glorifying Mahatma Gandhi’s assassin, would find an echo in the ensuing monsoon session of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly beginning tomorrow... Prohibition in Nagaland may go NEW DELHI, July 19 — Financially hard-pressed by a budgetary deficit of over Rs 350 crore, coupled with an overdraft of over Rs 170 crore as on April 1, the Congress Government in Nagaland is contemplating lifting prohibition, state government sources said... House panel for raising Delhi police strength NEW DELHI, July 19 — To check deteriorating law and order situation in the Capital, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs has recommended the raising of Delhi Police force strength and equipping it with the latest weapons... IGNOU team to study operations NEW DELHI, July 19 — A seven-member team has been constituted to review the operations relating to study material distribution of the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), Vice-chancellor Dr A.W. Khan, said here today... Passing Class XII exam at age of 13 JAIPUR, July 19 — Thirteen-year-old Govind Jajoo of Jaipur has achieved the distinction of passing the senior secondary board examination at this tender age...  |
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| CPM asks govt not to sign CTBT NEW DELHI, July 19 (PTI) — The CPM today said it was for the Congress to decide if it wanted to dislodge the BJP-led government at the Centre and take initiative in that direction. Party general secretary Harkishen Singh Surjeet, in reply to a question at a press conference on whether the CPM would extend support to form government at the Centre, said "they (Congress) should realise where they stand. They have to keep their party alive. It is not for us to take any initiative. It is for them to do that." Charging the BJP with "surreptitiously and openly" pursuing its "communal agenda", Mr Surjeet said it was clear that the national agenda was "merely for public consumption". He said while construction work for the proposed temple was going on in Rajasthan and Ayodhya. "Efforts to spread communal poison have found a new expression" in the recent attacks on Christians, "pernicious attempts" by the VHP at mass conversions of in the northeast and "penetrating" of the educational system in states run by the BJP. Charging the Congress and the BJP with trying to kill the women's reservation Bill, Mr Surjeet condemned government's decision to defer its introduction and asked all parties who promised 33 per cent reservation for women to fulfil that commitment to accept the Bill. Mr Surjeet, who met reporters after a three-day meeting of the Central Committee, said the political resolution to formulate the party's future strategy had been drafted for adoption at the 16th congress in Calcutta this October. The draft will be translated into all languages and circulated to members for discussions, suggestions and amendments prior to the Congress. To a question on the Left projecting a third alternative to the BJP and the Congress, Mr Surjeet said "we are now preparing to project an alternative to the BJP. The situation is still not ripe for an alternative for change." Stating that National Front and the United Front were experiments in that direction, he said "we have no misconceptions about these fronts and we were prepared that some may leave and others may join," he said. About the formation of new states, Mr Surjeet said the government had "opened up a new divisive issue" with demands for new states getting a fillip in different parts of the country. He said while the Centre had no plans to develop backward areas and, its intention to grant Statehood to Vananchal, Uttaranchal and Chhatisgarh, would "unleash divisive forces to divert people’s attention from real issues." Castigating the government for "back-breaking price hike" and "surrendering economic sovereignty", he said the CPM would launch a nationwide agitation from mid-August in which "jathas" from different states would culminate in a massive rally here in September. The CPM also asked the Vajpayee government to immediately announce that India would not weaponise and deploy nuclear weapons and refrain from signing the CTBT "surrendering" to imperialist forces. "The CPM warns the government that the people will not tolerate such surrender to imperialist pressures to sign a discriminatory treaty," said Mr Surjeet mounting pressure on the government ahead of tomorrow's talks between India and the USA on nuclear disarmament following Pokhran tests. Mr Surjeet said the government should take immediate initiatives to improve relations with neighbouring countries and reduce tension in the region aggravated by "BJP's nuclear jingoism". He said all party state units would launch a mass campaign on the nuclear issue soon culminating on August 6, the "Hiroshima day". CALCUTTA: Former Prime Minister Chandra Shekhar today said the Congress should initiate a dialogue with the CPM for the formation of an alternative government at the Centre as the Marxists had offered their support to the party. The Congress leadership should talk to the CPM and make some understanding on the issue of formation of an alternative government since the "continuance of the ruling BJP-led coalition would create more problems for the country," he told a 'meet-the-press' programme here. The former PM, however, made it clear that he would not take any initiative in bringing other parties together as people attached meaning to it. But if the others take the initiative I shall extend full co-operation. Asked if he would talk to West Bengal Chief Minister Jyoti Basu on the issue, the former Prime Minister replied that he was not in favour of giving "unsolicited advice" since the CPM leader did not seek his help. Admitting that he could not counter the BJP, Chandra Shekhar said his was a lonely voice. "If I see the danger signal, it is my duty to raise the voice," the SJP leader said, adding he would undertake a programme shortly to visit every nook and corner of the country and make people aware of the dangers facing the country. The veteran leader said whenever the Congress leaders met him he tried to convince them of the danger of letting the BJP continue in power. Describing the formation of the Rashtriya Loktantrik Morcha by Mr Mulayam Singh Yadav and Mr Laloo Prasad Yadav as a step in the right direction, Chandra Shekhar said apart from the Congress and the CPM, other political parties who believed in secular principles should work together to dislodge the Vajpayee government. Coming down heavily on the BJP-led government, he said instead of solving the existing problems, the government was adding more to it. It also announced decisions without knowing their implications. The announcement for the formation of four new states, introduction of Women's Bill without discussion were some of the cases in point, he said. The former Prime Minister sharply criticised the Vajpayee government for conducting the nuclear tests, saying it created differences with neighbouring countries and isolated India. |
| CBI urged to probe missing
links in Rajiv case NEW DELHI, July 19 (PTI) — A key witness before the Jain Commission today urged the government to direct the CBI to further probe the “gaps and missing links” in the conspiracy behind Rajiv Gandhi’s assassination. In a letter to Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, witness Ramesh Dalal said: “The gaps and missing links in the evidence can be established if your government gives a direction to the CBI first to register a case of conspiracy and then to investigate (it) further. ”Stating that media leaks on the Jain Commission’s final report had suggested that the one-man panel wanted a further probe into the role of controversial “godman” Chandraswami, Mr Dalal claimed that a journalist, Mr Rajender Jain, knew about such a conspiracy and alleged that he was found dead before he could appear before the panel. Mr Rajender Jain was found dead in his West Delhi residence in January. Claiming that Mr Rajender Jain was the “missing link” who could throw light on the conspiracy, Mr Dalal urged the Prime Minister to order a probe to get to the truth behind the scribe’s death. Mr Rajender Jain’s death “is a very fit case (to be investigated) to fill the gaps and missing links in the Jain Commission report”, he said, adding that a recent crime news-related programme in a private television channel on Mr Rajender Jain’s death also pointed towards certain clues behind Mr Rajiv Gandhi’s assassination. |
| Pak has ‘lost
control’ over terrorists NEW DELHI, July 19 (PTI) — Pakistan has lost control over the terrorists it trained for the “jehad” (crusade) in Kashmir and Afghanistan and they might be responsible for the acts of violence in Karachi and other cities in the country, a Pakistani media report has said. “The intelligence agencies have failed in keeping track of any possible linkage between the military training imparted to different groups for Kashmir and Afghanistan and acts of terrorism committed in Pakistan,” noted journalist Ezaz Haider wrote in Pakistani weekly The Friday Times. Haider said the recent acts of violence in the country had highlighted the need for those at the helm of affairs in Islamabad to review their policies vis-a-vis Kashmir and Afghanistan. “Though the authorities are fast in blaming the Indian intelligence agency — RAW — for these violent acts, it also highlights the weakness of our own agencies in curbing it,” Haider said. The source of unrest in Pakistan was Afghanistan — from where these terrorists procure funds and weapons, Haider said. “Afghanistan plays a very important role in the unrest of Pakistan as this region is mostly heavily armed,” he said, adding, “The government has not been able to stop smuggling from traditional tribal belts.” Sectarian terrorists, who kill people of other sects, had active links with religious parties within Pakistan. |
| Laloo denounces CAG report PATNA, July 19 (PTI) — Rashtriya Janata Dal President Laloo Prasad Yadav today termed as "stage-managed and politically-motivated" the report of Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) on the alleged misuse of government aircraft, "beyond norms" supply of furnishing materials and financial mismanagement. "It is a new trend that the CAG has started putting blame on a Chief Minister or his former cabinet colleagues for expenses on furnishing materials and use of government aircraft," the former Chief Minister told reporters. Stating that the CAG report for the year ending March 31, 1997 "smacks of a vendetta" against him, Mr Yadav said "it is a glaring example of the fact that the CAG has started working against conventions...it is a mala fide and sinister campaign against me." "The CAG earlier had been criticising or indicting the state government officials or its departments for misuse or irregularities but it is for the first time that its report has apparently referred the name of a Chief Minister," he said. Mr Yadav said he would explain his position before the Public Accounts Committee of the state legislature as and when required. The CAG in its report tabled in the state Assembly on July 10 had "revealed" that "beyond norms" supply of furnishing materials was made to the former Chief Minister and other members of his erstwhile cabinet. The report said test-check of records (May and June 1997) of four divisions of state Building Construction Department revealed that the divisional officers procured furnishing materials worth Rs 23.45 lakh and issued the same to former Chief Minister and 20 ministers during 1990-95 which was far in excess of the prescribed scale. The CAG also reported "misuse" of aircraft by Mr Yadav and several colleagues of his erstwhile cabinet, besides "detecting" financial irregularities in some departments. Ridiculing the charge of misuse of state aircraft, the RJD president said "they are meant for use by CM, ministers and officials and there is no substance in such allegations." |
| Accused’s ISI links not
probed: minister CHENNAI, July 19 (PTI) — The Union Power Minister, Mr P. Rangarajan Kumaramangalam, today alleged that many of those arrested in connection with the Coimbatore serial bomb blasts were foreign nationals and charged the Tamil Nadu police with not probing their Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) connections. Presiding over a ‘guru pooja’ organised by the RSS here, Mr Kumaramangalam said the accused must be foreigners as they did not have any proper names or addresses. However, this angle was not at all investigated by the police, he alleged. He criticised the arrest of a large number of activists of the Sangh Parivar outfits in connection with the violence in Coimbatore prior to the serial blasts. Alleging that there were forces in Tamil Nadu functioning as stooges of external forces, he said a literal ‘war’ was on between patriotism and treason and called upon the Sangh Parivar to work in a planned and determined way to defeat the anti-national forces. Citing the serial blasts as an example of the external plots against India, he said some forces wanted to prove to the world that India could not hold democratic elections. This was the reason why Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated in 1991, leading to postponement of the poll, and an attempt was also made on the life of BJP leader L.K. Advani at Coimbatore, he said. Mr Kumaramangalam said the ISI was capitalising on the poverty of some Indian citizens and instigating them to commit treacherous acts. Mr Kumaramangalam, who joined the BJP on the eve of the February, 1998, elections, deplored the ‘malicious propaganda’ against the RSS that it was behind the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi. The controversy over the Marathi play glorifying Nathuram Godse came in handy for its detractors, he said, denying that the RSS was against the Father of the Nation. |
| NHRC order on factory deaths NEW DELHI, July 19 (UNI) — The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has directed the Uttar Pradesh Government to register a criminal case against the owner of a factory, where eight persons died in an accident, and asked the management to pay compensation to the families of the victims. Sources in the NHRC said here today that on a complaint that the premises of Jyoti Capsules in Kanpur where eight workers, including seven women, died in January, has restarted production of the hazardous chemicals without meeting the safety requirements, the commission directed the state government to ensure that the factory was not allowed to start production again till all safety measures were in position. On former MP Subhashini Ali’s complaint, the NHRC had issued notice to the District Magistrate of Kanpur on April 20, 1998, and also sent its team led by Chaman Lal to conduct an on the spot investigation and advise it about the nature of the steps required to be considered. The team, after visiting the site of the accident and meeting the victims’ families, the factory owner and district officials, reported that the mishap was the result of an explosion caused by a leak from one of the hexane containers on January 4 this year. |
| Godse play may figure in House MUMBAI, July 19 (PTI) — The controversial Marathi play, “Mee Nathuram Godse boltoy” (I am Nathuram Godse speaking), allegedly glorifying Mahatma Gandhi’s assassin, would find an echo in the ensuing monsoon session of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly beginning tomorrow. The Congress, which could not chalk out its strategy for the coming session as factionalism in the party came to the fore following official nominee R.D. Pradhan’s defeat in the recent Rajya Sabha elections from the state, has taken up the issue and mounted pressure on the Shiv Sena-BJP Government. The issue would prominently figure in both Houses of the state legislature along with another burning matter of tabling the Srikrishna Commission report, political observers here said. Chief Minister Manohar Joshi said the election of the new Chairman for the Legislative Council and the tabling of the Srikrishna report were important items on the agenda for the ruling alliance. |
| Prohibition in Nagaland may go NEW DELHI, July 19 (PTI) — Financially hard-pressed by a budgetary deficit of over Rs 350 crore, coupled with an overdraft of over Rs 170 crore as on April 1, the Congress Government in Nagaland is contemplating lifting prohibition, state government sources said. The proposal was mooted by the Addition Chief Secretary and Finance Commissioner, Mr Lal Thapa, in a meeting at Kohima with representatives of NGOs and senior excise officials. The meeting was attended, among others, by representatives from the Nagaland Baptist Church Council and the Naga Mothers Association under whose pressure a total prohibition laws were enacted in the state in April 1990. The prohibition laws cost the Nagaland Government an estimated revenue loss of Rs 59 crore during 1990-91. The revenue loss was now being assessed at over Rs 100 crore, the sources said. |
| House panel for raising Delhi
police strength Tribune News Service NEW DELHI, July 19 — To check deteriorating law and order situation in the Capital, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs has recommended the raising of Delhi Police force strength and equipping it with the latest weapons. In its latest report, the committee has pointed out that there was an urgent need to augment the strength of the Delhi Police, otherwise the situation in the National Capital might go out of control. Expressing dismay on the fact that the Centre is considering a proposal to set up 19 police stations against the requirement of 59, the committee feels that due to the shortage of police personnel, the existing force is required to work for more than 12 hours a day without getting a weekly off, affecting their overall performance. For round-the-clock watch on criminals, there is a need for 4350 head constables and 8700 constables. However, Delhi Police has only 1180 head constables and 2472 constables, thus putting extra pressure on the police force, the committee was informed. The committee noted that the present strength of the police was not adequate. |
| Passing Class XII exam at age of
13 JAIPUR, July 19 (PTI) — Thirteen-year-old Govind Jajoo of Jaipur has achieved the distinction of passing the senior secondary board examination at this tender age. Govind passed the Class XII examination, conducted by the Rajasthan Secondary Board, as a private candidate.He had secured 80 per cent marks in the Class X board examination held in 1996, his father, K.D. Jajoo, told newsmen yesterday. Aiming to be an IAS officer, Jajoo is inspired by late Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri and former Election Commissioner T.N. Seshan, his father said. IGNOU team to study operations Tribune News Service NEW DELHI, July 19 — A seven-member team has been constituted to review the operations relating to study material distribution of the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), Vice-chancellor Dr A.W. Khan, said here today. Announcing this at the two-day meeting of regional directors, Dr Khan said that the team would suggest measures for timely despatch of study material. According to a press note, Dr Khan said, “The team will suggest means for providing the student support through improved delivery system and identify the monitoring channels.” The information centre of IGNOU is also being restructured. It has been decided to double the staff strength at the information centre. |
| In
brief 4 sisters die in roof collapse KANPUR: Four sisters were killed and their mother and another sister injured seriously in a roof collapse following heavy rain in the Philkhana area of this district of Uttar Pradesh late on Saturday night, the police said here on Sunday. The victims were aged between two and 16. The injured have been hospitalised. — PTI Dubai-based poet honoured MUMBAI: “Literature is the soul of Indian culture through which one can convey the message of peace and harmony”, Maharashtra Chief Minister Manohar Joshi observed here on Friday night. Presenting the Sahyog Foundation Award for Sindhi literature to Dubai-based poet Moti Prakash, the chief minister said the contribution of Sindhis to the development of nation was remarkable. Among those who addressed the gathering were Gobind Malhi, eminent writer, Vishwanath Sachdev, Editor of Navbharat Times and D.K. Raikar, Deputy Editor of Loksatta. — PTI Rotten eggs made kids ill CHENNAI: The Tamil Nadu authorities on Saturday admitted that serving of rotten eggs in noon meal centres in Virudunagar, Thanjavur, Ramanathapuram and Tirunelveli districts had caused illness among children. More than 200 children had taken ill after they consumed the eggs served in these centres during the past few days. Following this, the state government terminated the contract of three private firms, which had supplied the rotten eggs to these centres and given the contract to the Tamil Nadu Poultry Corporation (TAPCO). — UNI River dolphins’ number dwindling NEW DELHI: The number of rare river dolphins, found in the Ganga, Brahmaputra and Chambal rivers, is dwindling alarmingly, falling from 3,500 in 1992 to just 1,000 to 1,200 at present, calling for urgent steps for its conservation. However, despite figuring in the critical list of endangered species, officials say there is no immediate threat of the animal getting extinct, official sources said. The Centre has taken steps to protect the river dolphin, including bringing it under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, and banning its hunting by law. — PTI Warrant cancelled NEW DELHI: Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Sangeeta Dhingra Sehgal on Saturday cancelled the non-bailable warrant issued earlier to former Union Minister K. Krishna Kumar in a FERA violation case. The warrant was withdrawn after Mr Krishna Kumar appeared before the court and explained his non-appearance before the investigating authorities was because of non-receipt of communication about the date. — UNI  |
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