Friday, August 6, 1999
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Sonia hits out at Pawar's party PUNE, Aug 5 — Congress President Sonia Gandhi today launched a sharp attack against the Sharad Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party saying people would never support those who stabbed true Congressmen in the back. Defensive govt for debate on corruption NEW DELHI, Aug 5 — In a bid to take the sting out of a combined Opposition attack on its Telecom bailout package to private operators, the Bharatiya Janata Party today dared its opponents to a national debate on corruption. |
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NCP denied charkha as symbol
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Compensation for martyrs hiked NEW DELHI, Aug 5 — Continuing in its efforts to improve welfare measures for the families of defence personnel, the Government today raised the amount of compensation for the families of soldiers killed in war or a war-like situation to Rs 10 lakh from the existing Rs 7.5 lakh. Tiwari
to head Cong campaign panel Ball in BJP’s court: JD
(Sharad) Union Govt seeks more time HC censures Delhi police Kargil to cast shadow on Jammu
seats New Haj law needed: PM Bhaura to contest from Bathinda Channel (V) targets urban youth Copter service to Vaishno Devi
soon 30 Indian mammals in endangered
list Decision to dump Gujral flayed |
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Sonia hits out at Pawar's party PUNE, Aug 5 (PTI) — Congress President Sonia Gandhi today launched a sharp attack against the Sharad Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), saying people would never support those who stabbed true Congressmen in the back. Launching the party's election campaign in Maharashtra from Bhor Taluka in the district, Mrs Sonia Gandhi, without naming Mr Pawar, said: "Jinko humne apna samjha unhi logone hamare saath dhoka kiya (those whom we regarded as our own betrayed us)". Mrs Sonia Gandhi, who spoke in Hindi, also attacked the ruling Shiv Sena-BJP alliance in the state and said "these people who project themselves as the followers of Chhatrapati Shivaji are only trying to discredit the great warrior by their selfish motives and wrong policies." She said Shivaji was a great secular leader, who had respect for all religions and creeds, but some parties were misusing his name and fomenting communal hatred for political gains. Blaming the BJP-led government at the Centre for the Kargil conflict, the Congress President said Pakistan dared to send intruders to Kargil and other areas only because it knew that the Government of India was "very weak and inept". The country had to pay a
very heavy price because of the government's folly, Sonia
said, adding what the government did amounted not only to
"criminal negligence but a grave sin" as a
large number of soldiers were martyred in the process. |
Defensive govt for debate on
corruption NEW DELHI, Aug 5 — In a bid to take the sting out of a combined Opposition attack on its Telecom bailout package to private operators, the Bharatiya Janata Party today dared its opponents to a national debate on corruption. The offer came on a day when the Communist Party of India (Marxist) raised fresh questions on the telecom deal and senior Congress leader and party General Secretary, Mr Pranab Mukherjee, denied he had urged Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee to show "largesse of this magnitude" to the private telecom operators. The new package, which is presently being heard by the Delhi High Court, allows private operators to switch over to a revenue sharing arrangement from August 1, from the present licence fee regime. The operators have to pay 35 per cent of their licence fee due by August 15 and the remainder dues by January 31, 2000. Releasing two more documents which the Government claimed as the basic foundation of its new telecom package, the CPM Politburo member, Mr Sitaram Yechury, challenged the arguments put forward by the Prime Minister’s Office. He said that in pushing through the new telecom package, the Government had not only ignored the opinion of the President, the judiciary, the Election Commission and the Attorney General but also went against the advice of the Group on Telecommunications headed by External Affairs Minister, Mr Jaswant Singh. In another twist to the controversy on the telecom deal, Mr Pranab Mukherjee, whose letter to the Prime Minister asking him to redress the grievances of cellular operators was being quoted by the Government as an example of the Opposition leader’s double speak, today wrote another letter to Mr Vajpayee explaining his position. In his letter he said that on June 5, 1999 he had written to the PM in his capacity as an MP and had stated that the cellular operators were being harassed by the Department of Telecommunication and their grievances should be looked into by TRAI instead of DoT. Mr Mukherjee said he had never imagined that the spokespersons of the BJP would have access to official documents and alleged that the distinction between official and party considerations had been lost by the caretaker government. He said contrary to the BJP’s claim that he favoured the new policy, the fact was that "my concerns expressed in the letter did not even obliquely suggest that you should package a deal with the telecom industry to give them a largesse of this magnitude." "I never stated, nor did I imply that the Government of India should suffer public loss by giving substantial benefits to the telecom operators by way of largesse," he clarified. Mr Mukherjee also forwarded copies of his letter to the President and the Chief Election Commissioner. The BJP on its part said the Opposition, especially the Congress, by pointing its finger at the Prime Minister had highlighted its own failings. Party spokesman, Mr Arun Jaitley, said starting with the Jeep scandal of 1948 in which the Congress made money from the purchase of jeeps for the Army (the jeeps on reaching India were found unserviceable and the Army refused to accept them) to the urea scandal in the mid nineties, the 45 years of Congress misrule was a saga of scams and scandals. He said two Prime Ministers of the Congress were under cloud, and one of them was facing prosecution. The Congress President too had connections with the Bofors deal and Mr Ottavio Quattrochi was Mrs Sonia Gandhi’s gift to the nation, he said.
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NCP denied charkha as symbol NEW DELHI, Aug 5 — Denying the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) the use of the "Charkha" symbol, the Election Commission today recognised the party of "Amar, Akbar Anthony" — Sharad Pawar, Tariq Anwar and P.A. Sangma — as a state party in the Union Territory of Andaman and Nicobar Islands and gave it the option of putting forward a fresh application indicating its preference of three symbols, one of which will be reserved for its exclusive use in the Bay of Bengal island territory. The NCP in fact became a victim of a long-forgotten political action of Mr Pawar himself, in December 1986, when in a mammoth rally at Nagpur he, as president of the Indian Congress (Socialist) — better known as the Congress (S) — merged his party in the presence of late Rajiv Gandhi, into the Congress (I). The Election Commission’s today’s verdict specifically said, Mr Pawar had also forfeited his right over the "charkha" symbol, which is now frozen. The "Charkha" — the spinning wheel — was the symbol on the Congress tricolour during the freedom struggle and India’s national flag was a take-off on the flag of the national movement, with the "Ashoka Chakra" replacing the "charkha". Due to historical reasons, however, the Congress was allowed to use its traditional flag. In 1969, both the Congress (O) and the Congress (I) used the flag. In 1978 too, both factions laid claim to it. In that split, while the "hand" was allotted as the election symbol to the Congress (I), Congress (S), which was prohibited from using the name "Indian National Congress" (which was assigned to Mrs Indira Gandhi’s party) was allotted the "charkha" and recognised as Indian Congress (Socialist) by an order of the then Election Commissioner, Mr S.L. Shakdher. Having quit the Congress after kicking up dust over Mrs Sonia Gandhi’s "foreign origin" and having named their party as the Nationalist Congress Party, Pawar, Anwar and Sangma, who were elected members of the Congress Working Committee at the time of their departure, were keen to cash in on the "charkha" symbol. The EC’s order today put paid to this hope. Worse, while according recognition to the party led by Mr Sharad Pawar on the basis that a residual Congress(S) unit still existed in Andaman and Nicobar Islands as a recognised party which has now merged into NCP, the EC has given the party recognition only as a state party whose symbol will be essentially reserved only in that island territory. By convention, when a symbol is allotted to a state party in a particular state or union territory, that party is given preference over others for the use of the symbol in other parts of the country as well. Agencies add: The Commission, however, allowed a common symbol to NCP under the Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968, and asked the party to submit a list of three symbols, in order of its preference, anyone of which may be reserved for it by the Commission in Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The Indian National Congress led by Mrs Sonia Gandhi had staunchly opposed allotment of the "charkha" to the NCP saying that the symbol formed part of the Congress tricolour. The order was passed by Chief Election Commissioner, Dr M.S. Gill, and the two other commissioners, Mr G.V.G. Krishnamurty and Mr J.M. Lyngdoh. In an apparent reference to the Congress plea about the party tricolour, the Commission noted that various political parties have adopted certain flags in their party constitution. Henceforth it would like to examine the designs and colours of flags of various political parties, at the time of registration. At an appropriate time, the Commission would even like to go into the question of flags adopted by the already registered parties so that any similarity in their flags or their similarity with other national symbols or insignia did not create confusion in the minds of the general public. The Commission said that it reaffirmed the principles laid down by it in the judgement in the case relating to Rashtriya Janata Dal and six other judgements that in the event of the split of a recognised political party, splinter groups would have to register themselves as a new political party and will have to contest the general elections as such. They would gain
recognition only according to their poll performance in
general elections. |
Nod for ACP scheme for central staff NEW DELHI, Aug 5 (PTI) — The Union Cabinet today approved India's signing of the international convention for the suppression of terrorist bombings. This was stated by Information and Broadcasting Minister Pramod Mahajan while talking to reporters here today. The convention was adopted by the United Nations on December 15,1997. It has been opened for signature by all states from January 12, 1998, till December 31, 1999, at the UN headquarters in New York. The convention makes it an offence to intentionally deliver, place, discharge or detonate an explosive or a lethal device against a place of public use, government facility or a transportation system or infrastructural facility. Mr Mahajan said India had suffered the menace of terrorism supported from across international borders. Countless persons had been killed or maimed in terrorist attacks, including terrorist bombings. The government, therefore, attached top priority to strengthening international consensus against terrorism. The adoption of the UN convention for suppression of terrorist bombings would help this objective, he said. The convention also makes it mandatory that such criminal acts are under no circumstances justifiable by considerations of politics, philosophy, ideology, race, religion or any such grounds. The convention is to be ratified by the state concerned and will be applicable from the 30th day of the deposit of the instrument of ratification. So far, 36 countries, including Russia, the UK, the USA, Japan, Italy, France and Germany have signed the convention. The states have to enact the pursuant legislation to establish jurisdiction and notify the crime. The scheme for assured career progression (ACP) for central government employees was also approved by the Cabinet. The scheme envisages two time bound financial upgradations on the completion of 12 years and 24 years, respectively, to mitigate hardship and stagnation in cadres. Where regular promotion is not possible due to lack of adequate promotional avenues. The scheme is expected to benefit more than 4.2 million central government employees. Mr Mahajan said the government had obtained clearance from he Election Commission prior to the approval. He said the issue of the ACP came up for discussion in the Cabinet meeting on July 19. It was decided at the meeting to seek the Election Commission's clearance before approving the scheme. Mr Mahajan said the scheme had been drafted after taking into account the views of all central government departments, the recommendations of the Fifth Pay Commission and after detailed discussions with central trade unions. It is relevant to mention that the government had signed an agreed settlement with the staff unions on September, 11, 1997, in which two financial upgradations under the ACP scheme were agreed to in favour of group C and D employees. The proposal approved by the Cabinet today gives upgradation of all group B, C and D employees and the benefit has also been extended to the holders of isolated group A posts, some of whom have not got any upgradation in their entire service span. The detailed instructions to operationalise the ACP scheme are likely to be issued within the next one week, Mr Mahajan said. The Cabinet also approved a "revised polio eradication strategy by the year 2000", under which there would be four rounds of polio immunisation instead of the present two between October and January. In addition, in February and March next year, two additional pulse polio immunisation (PPI) doses would be provided in Assam, Bihar, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal. The government also doubled the expenditure for polio immunisation to Rs 442.16 crore during the current year. The expenditure during 1998-99 was Rs 220 crore. The tentative dates for the pulse polio immunisation (PPI) rounds would be October 24, November 21, and December this year and February 27 and March 26 next year. These dates were
finalised after consultations with state governments, but
would be revised, if necessary. |
Compensation for martyrs hiked NEW DELHI, Aug 5 — Continuing in its efforts to improve welfare measures for the families of defence personnel, the Government today raised the amount of compensation for the families of soldiers killed in war or a war-like situation to Rs 10 lakh from the existing Rs 7.5 lakh. In an official release the Ministry of Defence said that the increased ex- gratia compensation had become effective from May 1, 1999. In case of death during border skirmishes and action against militants, terrorists and extremists, the compensation would be Rs 7.5 lakh. The government had
recently approved a package of welfare measures for
families of defence personnel who laid down their lives
in the Kargil operations and for those injured. |
Tiwari to head Cong campaign
panel NEW DELHI, Aug 5 — Senior Congress leader, Mr N.D. Tiwari was today appointed the Chairman of the National Campaign Committee of the Indian National Congress for the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections. Mr J.B. Patnaik and Mr G. Venkataswamy are the co-chairmen of the committee while, Mr Ghulam Nabi Azad is the coordinator. The committee includes
all members of the Congress Working Committee (CWC),
Presidents of Pradesh Congress Committees (PCC) and
Congress Legislative Party (CLP) leaders. |
Ball in BJP’s court: JD
(Sharad) NEW DELHI, Aug 5 — The Sharad Yadav-led Janata Dal, which has been attempting to gain entry into the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA), today said that the merger of the Samata Party and the Lok Shakti with it was complete and now the ball was in the BJP’s court. Talking to reporters here, senior Janata Dal leader Ram Vilas Paswan, in what seems to be an attempt to mollify BJP leaders, said that the decision now lay with the BJP. "On our part, we have adopted a positive attitude and we will not react to whatever the Karnataka BJP unit says," the Janata Dal leader said. Mr Paswan, however, added that the newly formed "janata parivar" would hold its meeting in Bangalore on August 7 after a rally to decide its future strategy. All senior leaders including Mr George Fernandes and Mr R.K. Hegde were expected to attend it. Incidentally, both Mr Fernandes and Mr Hegde had earlier said that following their parties, merger with the Janata Dal, they were part of it and the BJP would have to accept them together or go its own way. Mr Paswan was critical of the Deve Gowda-led Janata Dal, saying that it had submitted a forged list of office-bearers to the Chief Election Commissioner to stake its claim for the election symbol "chakra". Mr Paswan presented about 20 Janata Dal office-bearers from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh to prove his contention that the rival faction had presented a forged list. The leaders claimed that their signatures had been forged by the Deve Gowda faction on the papers submitted to the Election Commission. Mr Mohan Prakesh,
official spokesman of the faction, circulated a list of
names claiming that the rival group had included 48 names
of those in the Uttar Pradesh Janata Dal list, who had
left the party long ago and had joined other parties.
Similarly, the list of 24 Janata Dal members from Bihar
presented to the commission included 22 partymen who had
left it and had been active members of the Laloo Prasad
Yadav-led Rashtriya Janata Dal and certain other
political outfits. |
Recovery of dues from ex-PMs NEW DELHI, Aug 5 (PTI) — The Centre today sought more time from the Delhi High Court to place before it the facts on the recovery of over Rs 13.57 crore from four former Prime Ministers for using IAF aircraft for personal purpose saying that it could not take coercive measures at this stage. "At this stage when the elections have been announced, the government does not propose to take any coercive measures as it will be construed in a different manner, in different quarters, by different people," Solicitor-General S. B. Jaisinghani told a Division Bench comprising Mr Justice Arun Kumar and Mr Justice D. K. Jain. Stating that some steps had been taken in the past on the recovery of the money, Mr Jaisinghani said if the government initiated action at this stage when the election process was on, it would give a "wrong impression" that this was being done under some political consideration. The court was hearing a public interest litigation (PIL), seeking recovery of the dues from Rajiv Gandhi, Mr Chandra Shekhar, Mr P. V. Narasimha Rao and Mr H. D. Deve Gowda for using IAF planes for personal purposes. The petition filed by advocate B. L. Wadhera alleged that Rs 5.92 crore were due from Mr Chandra Shekhar, Rs 5.52 crore from Mr Rao, Rs 1.86 crore from Rajiv Gandhi and Rs 26.46 lakh from Mr Gowda. Seeking all details from the government, the court said it was not aware under which provisions the aircraft were used by the Prime Ministers for non-official purposes and what were the rules and the criteria for charging money from them. The court had in March
issued notices to the Ministries of Defence and Finance
and the Chief of Air Staff directing them to file a
status report about the expenditure on the use of IAF
planes by Prime Ministers when on unofficial tours. |
HC censures Delhi police NEW DELHI, Aug 5 (UNI) — The Delhi High Court today censured the Delhi police and passed strictures against it for harassment and inconvenience caused to general public due to erratic VIP motorcade movement in the Capital. The high court issued show-cause notices to the Centre and the Commissioner of Police on a public interest petition which highlighted how the police was ‘unnecessarily’ challaning the citizens for coming in the route of VIP motorcade and directed them to cite reasons for the harassment to citizens by September 13. A visibly furious Division Bench comprising Chief Justice S.N. Variava and Mr Justice S.K. Mahajan observed, “what is the problem if the Prime Minister travels like a common man. If there is a security threat to VIPs, then take them by helicopters. But don’t disturb the common citizens.” When counsel for Delhi Police V.K. Shali tried to defend the actions of the personnel in disturbing the traffic during the VIP movement, Mr Justice Mahajan said, “Don't’t try to tell us what is happening. Don’t try to justify the actions.” To the clarifications of Mr Shali that he was not justifying but only explaining the problems faced by the police due to the threat perception to the VIPs, the judge remained unconvinced and said, “You are trying to justify the actions of the police, when it was at fault.” The Chief Justice asked Mr Shali to explain where in the world it happened that whole traffic was brought to a standstill if the Prime Minister was moving. “Where in the world it happens that VIPs are given such treatment”. Mr Justice Mahajan then questioned him why was petitioner Shreekant Gupta, a Reader at the Delhi School of Economics, challaned. “Just because he was going ahead of the VIP (Delhi Lt Governor) on his motorcade’s route, as if he is a thief or a robber”. Mr Shali again tried to defend the police by saying that he (the petitioner) was driving roughly and negligently. The response made the judge furious and forced him to observe, “Mr Shali, I have not heard you talking even one word about the interest of common man. You are throughout trying to defend the police force for its actions which are not justified. “If a person is just trying to go ahead of the VIP convoy, you call it negligent driving,” he observed. “Every Tom, Dick and Harry is given VIP security these days. Every second car has a red bulb on it. Even an SDM is moving with a siren and red bulb on his car. Just because he is a bureaucrat, not qualify him for such facilities,” he observed. Talking about the regular violation of traffic rules by these VIPs, Chief Justice Variava said: “No matter who is the VIP, he has to follow the traffic rules. Why will he pass through red lights. Traffic rules are same for every body”. Mr Justice Mahajan asked the Delhi police counsel to place the provisions which say that the VIPs were entitled to flout traffic rules and not observe them at all.” He also asked for the names of persons who had been given VIP security due to threat perception. The petitioner’s counsel submitted that every day eight to 10 persons were challaned for falling in the line of the VIP route. Central Government counsel H.S. Phoolka said it was true that several people who were not authorised to use red bulb or sirens in their vehicles were flouting the norms. However, he objected to
the inclusion of the Lt. Governor in the array of parties
in his personal capacity and urged the court not to issue
notices to him. The judges accepted the plea of Mr
Phoolka. |
Kargil to cast shadow on Jammu
seats NEW DELHI, Aug 5 — The real impact of the Kargil conflict would be felt in the two parliamentary constituencies of Jammu and Udhampur, which are likely to witness a multi-cornered contest. These Hindu dominated seats, with a large population of ex-Servicemen and the most affected by militancy, have traditionally been a Congress stronghold. In the last Lok Sabha poll, the BJP candidates, Mr Vaid Vishnu Dutt and Mr Chamanlal Gupta, won these two seats with a convincing margin. However, the party will find it difficult to repeat its performance. The Kargil conflict and infighting in the BJP and the Congress, the emergence of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and Mufti Mohammed Sayeed’s People’s Democratic Party (PDP) along with the traditional contender for these seats the National Conference will make the contest worth watching. The head of the NCP’s Jammu and Kashmir unit Thakur Randhir Singh told TNS that the performance of the NCP, which is keen on contesting the two seats, would determine the outcome of the poll here. “The two BJP MPs have failed to deliver the goods. The Kargil conflict has exposed the rhetoric of the BJP as the people of these constituencies have borne the brunt of the militancy in the state. The killing of Hindus by militants in these areas had not abated and the people are looking for an alternative party,” Thakur Randhir Singh said. A founder member of the Congress party in Jammu and Kashmir Thakur Randhir Singh left the party with which he was associated for about 40 years, to join the NCP. The NCP would raise the issues concerning the welfare of the ex-Servicemen — about 5 lakh of them reside here. It would demand the formation of a special border force (like the Ladakh Scouts) from among the villagers living in Kathua and Kargil, who would be acclimatised with the weather and terrain. It would also ask the government to enhance the pension of widows from the previous wars and draw the attention of the government to the poor civic amenities in these areas, he said. The people of these two seats Thakur Randhir Singh said, were disillusioned with the National Conference and the BJP for their failure to deliver the goods. The Congress, with splits at the state-level lacks good leaders and grassroots workers. Mufti Mohammed Sayeed’s PDP, with its call for an “unconditional dialogue with militants” would not go down well with the people of these parliamentary seats. The NCP, with its call for practising value based politics, would present itself as an alternative before the people, the state unit chief said. The electorate of Jammu
and Udhampur would have a difficult choice in selecting
the winner as each one of them would be offering an
alternative, which they would have to view in terms of
the Kargil conflict and the proxy war with Pakistan. |
New Haj law needed: PM NEW DELHI, Aug 5 (PTI) — Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee today suggested that a new Haj Act should replace the 40-year-old law to take into account the changes in rules regarding the administration of the annual pilgrimage both in India and Saudi Arabia. “If changing the Haj Act is necessary, it is important to know in which direction these amendments are required. My government is not in a hurry. This issue should be discussed and debated by all concerned thoroughly to help the government decide in this regard. “Mr Vajpayee said after inaugurating the All-India Conference for Haj-2000 here. “A decision would be taken only after the elections when a new government comes to power. It is difficult to say who will form the next government but whoever comes to power should make this Act up-to-date taking into account the new situations and problems,” he said. “A fresh Act is required to take into account these important changes. However, we still have to collectively resolve a number of issues before bringing in a new Act,” Mr Vajpayee said. He warned all those connected with organising the pilgrimage to the holy cities of Mecca and Madina in Saudi Arabia that “there is no room for party politics in Haj management.” While it has been the responsibility of the government to ensure proper arrangements for the Hajis (pilgrims). “There should be no politics in this. Governments will come and go but Haj will continue”, the Prime Minister said. Assuring that the government would provide all assistance to regularly improve the Haj arrangements. Mr Vajpayee said for this a constant feedback was required from the pilgrims. “I want every Indian Haji to return happy and contented carrying with him one of the most precious memories of his life.” Computerised data on the pilgrims, their accommodation, flight allotments and movement within Saudi Arabia was now available and Haj committees at the central and state levels were involved in selecting the best possible accommodation for the Hajis, he said. “In India people are known for respecting and taking care of pilgrims. More difficult the pilgrimage is the more spiritual benefit the pilgrim attains,” the Prime Minister said. Earlier Haj Committee
(India) Chairman Tanveer Ahmad pointed towards several
measures which had been taken to provide better
facilities for the Hajis and said five embarkation points
in the country had been identified to transport the
pilgrims to Saudi Arabia. |
Bhaura to contest from Bathinda NEW DELHI, Aug 5 — In its first list of Lok Sabha candidates released today, the Communist Party of India has fielded Mr Bhan Singh Bhaura from Bathinda. Former Union Home Minister Indrajit Gupta and senior Communist leader Geeta Mukherjee have been renominated from Midnapore and Panskura parliamentary constituencies in West Bengal, a CPI press release said. The CPI is also fielding Mr Chaitram from Shimla reserved constituency in Himachal Pradesh and Mr Manish Kunjam from Bastar in Madhya Pradesh. The CPI is contesting 9 Lok Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh. Mr Ved Prakash Ved (Muzaffarnagar), Mr Bihari Lal (Banda), Mr Sagir Ahmad (Padrauna), Prof Dipak Malik (Varanasi), Mr Ram Badan Yadav (Ghazipur) and Mr Atul Kumar Anjan (Ghosi) figure in the CPI’s first list. The party will put up three more candidates from UP, the release said. In Tamil Nadu, the CPI
is contesting the two seats of Coimbatore and
Nagapattinam. The party has also fielded Mr Christopher
Fonseca and Mr Naryan Palekar from Panjim and Marmugao
constituencies of Goa respectively. |
Channel (V) targets urban youth NEW DELHI, Aug 5 — Channel (V), a leading music television channel, is all set to become India’s first ‘youth’ television channel with programming primarily aimed at aspiring urban ‘youth’ across the country. Steve Smith, Managing Director of the channel said, “We decided to relaunch channel on realisation that music is just one of the things that touch the lives of today’s urban youth. They are also passionate about fashion, adventure, careers, entertainment, relationships, sports and technology, among others. I’m sure youth audiences will find the new programming entertaining, exciting, adventurous, wacky, informative and something they can easily relate to.” Beginning August 9, Channel (V) will present 20 all new shows, 12 new VJs, new promos and an all new on-air look which it hopes will differentiate it from other channels that merely play back-to-back music videos. Says Suresh Bala, General Manager of Channel (V). The new-look Channel (V) opens up an entirely new avenue to advertisers which is single-mindedly focussed on youth audiences.” The new incarnation of
Channel (V) is supported by in-house production studios
set up recently in Delhi, Bangalore, Chennai and Calcutta
apart from the central production facility in Mumbai. |
Copter service to Vaishno Devi soon NEW DELHI, Aug 5 (UNI) — The much-awaited helicopter service to Vaishno Devi is in the last stages of finalisation, according to Pawan Hans chairman and managing director Major Gen A Natarajan. General Natarajan said official of the Vaishno Devi Shrine Board would be meeting Pawan Hans authorities here on August 9 to sign the agreement. Since the helipad at Katra had been constructed by the shrine board, it will be taking landing fees from Pawan Hans. The quantum of the landing fees and some other details will be decided at the meeting. He told newspersons here yesterday that the fare from Jammu to Katra would be around Rs 1200 with a 30 per cent discount for the return journey. But this would depend on landing fees that would be decided upon with the shrine board. A Bell helicopter would be used for the Vaishno Devi operations. Initially one helicopter would be deployed. General Natarajan said talks would be held with officials of the Kumaon and Garhwal Vikas Mandal Nigams for helicopter services to the valley of flowers Kedarnath, Badrinath, Hemkunt Sahib, Pithoragarh, Nainital and Ranikhet. The service for tourists and pilgrims was initially to take off on June 15 but because of landslides and forest fires it could not be carried out. He said Pawan Hans was
planning to put seven helicopters into service for those
needing it during elections. Each aircraft was expected
to fly 100 to125 hours. |
30 Indian mammals in endangered list NEW DELHI, Aug 5 (PTI) — India, having 30 mammalian species in the endangered list, ranks first in the world among nations with a high number of such species in the “threatened” category. It is followed by the USA and China, each with 29 mammalian species in the threatened category, in a list maintained by the Inter-national Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) in Geneva. The Indian mammalian
species in the endangered list include the Asiatic lion,
the Indian tiger, the leopard, the snow leopard, the
great Indian rhinoceros, the wolf, the Indian wild ass,
the Kashmir stag (hangul), the Indian dolphin, the Asian
elephant and the swamp deer, says Mr Gunavant M Oza,
General Secretary of the Baroda-based International
Society of Naturalists. |
Decision to dump Gujral flayed NEW DELHI, Aug 5 — The decision of the Shiromani Akali Dal to field its candidate from Jalandhar parliamentary constituency instead of backing former Prime Minister, I. K. Gujral, has evoked strong criticism from the Tohra group. National executive
committee member of the All India Shiromani Akali Dal,
Harinder Pal Singh, criticised the Punjab Chief Minister,
Parkash Singh Badal, for reversing the decision taken
during the last Lok Sabha polls to unconditionally
support Mr Gujral’s candidature. |
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| Subedar killed in ambush IMPHAL: A subedar of the Border Road Task Force (BRTF) was killed and five civilians, including three women were injured in an ambush by militants in the Pungdongbam area in East Imphal district on Wednesday, official sources said on Thursday. The incident occurred when armed insurgents opened fire on two BRTF trucks which were being escorted by security personnel. — PTI 4 suspended for signal
error Student ragged,
hospitalised Amrita Singh
withdraws apology 7 killed in
jeep-bus collision Chhota Shakeel
gang member killed Narrow escape
for Zee News staffer Transporters’
strike called off Matchbox unit
told to pay damages Dean’s son
held in marks scam |
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