Tuesday, August 17, 1999
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HSEB worker dies in
custody, 6 suspended Vajpayee is NDA's mascot |
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 Army Chief Gen. V.P. Malik complimenting Grenadier Yogendra SinghYadav of 18 Grenadiers, one of the youngest recipients of the country’s highest gallantry award, Param Vir Chakra, on the eve of Independence Day at the Base Hospital in New Delhi on Monday. —PTI
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Filing of papers picks up in Delhi NEW DELHI, Aug 16 — The filing of nominations for the Lok Sabha elections on September 5 picked up here today with 17 candidates, including senior Delhi BJP leaders Jagmohan, M.L. Khurana and Vijay Goel and Congress CWC member R.K. Dhawan filing their papers in their respective constituencies. The franchised who cannot cast the
ballot India,
Kazakhstan to sign pacts Trade Ministers of G-15 meet today
Shukla among Cong nominees in MP Army builds for winter TDP, BJP reach pact on seats
Show-cause notice to BJP’s
district unit 17 file papers in Delhi Release of 8 Pak POWs on cards |
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HSEB worker dies in custody,
6 suspended NEW DELHI, Aug 16 — An employee of the Haryana State Electricity Board (HSEB) died in a police station last night while he was being interrogated by the Delhi police for his alleged involvement in a fake currency racket. A magisterial inquiry into the custodial death of Mohinder Singh, (45), a resident of Adim Colony, Yamunanagar, has been ordered. Six police officials have been suspended for the incident and the SHO of Alipur police station, Mr Ajay Sharma, has been transferred, the Deputy Commissioner of Police, North-West, Mr Satyendra Garg, said. An Assistant Lineman with the HSEB, Mohinder Singh was picked up by the police from Jeedpur bus stand in North-West Delhi, for possessing Rs 500 denomination fake currency notes worth Rs 1.08 lakh. During interrogation, the police said Mohinder Singh kept on changing the names of the person from whom he had obtained the fake currency. First, he stated that he had got it from someone at Singhu border and later named his brother-in-law, Om Prakash. However, Om Prakash was let off after questioning as he could not provide substantial information. After Om Prakash was let off by the police, the HSEB lineman stated that he got the fake currency from Balwan Singh, a resident of Mukhmailpur village on the outskirts of Delhi. Balwan Singh could not be questioned as he was in judicial custody in connection with some other case. The conflicting statements by Mohinder Singh made the police suspicious and they continued to interrogate him. As the sustained interrogation of the lineman continued, his health started deteriorating and he was taken to Hindu Rao Hospital. The doctors at the hospital declared him "brought dead". The police has
registered a case of culpable homicide not amounting to
murder (Section 304 of the Indian Penal Code) and
wrongful confinement (Section 342 of the IPC) against the
six police officials — ASI Ram Phool, Head
Constables Shri Bhagwan and Ujjagar Singh, Constables
Satyawan, Shri Pal and Siya Ram. |
Cong ties up with Lok Dal in
UP NEW DELHI, Aug 16 — The Congress and the Rashtriya Lok Dal of Mr Ajit Singh have come to an electoral understanding in UP with the latter agreeing to contest from eight parliamentary constituencies. The Congress also admitted Ms Rita Bahuguna Joshi, Mayor of Allahabad, who quit the Samajwadi Party. She will also be the party nominee from Allahabad against the Union Human Resource Minister, Dr Murli Manohar Joshi. As per the pact, the Lok Dal will contest from Saharanpur, Bahgpat, Kairana, Bijnore, Mathura, Hapur, Chandouli and Amroha. The Lok Dal was earlier demanding at least 11 seats. The announcement was made by the party spokesman, Mr Kapil Sibal, at the daily press conference which was attended by the UPCC chief, Mr Salman Khursheed, the AICC secretary, Mr Anil Shastri and the Lok Dal vice-president, Mr Rasheed Masood. Mr Masood said as per the understanding, the Lok Dal would contest under its own symbol but under "one leader, one manifesto and joint campaign’’. Asked whether his party shared the viewpoint of the Congress which was reluctant to share power, Mr Masood said that the Lok Dal was willing to stay out. He said the objective of the Lok Dal was to defeat communal forces in the country and so the Congress was the only alternative. Regarding the manifesto, Mr Masood said although his party had independent views on some issues, since they were mostly related to UP the Lok Dal had no hesitation to accept the Congress manifesto at the national level. Most of the seats that the Lok Dal had got under the pact were for western UP. It is widely expected that Mr Ajit Singh, president of the Lok Dal would re-contest from Baghpath. In the 1998 elections, he lost to Mr Som Pal of the BJP. Ms Joshi, daughter of former UP Chief Minister late Hemvati Nandan Bahuguna, became a Mayor in 1995 after she won the municipal elections as an Independent. Two years later she joined the Samajwadi Party. Addressing the media, she said the reason for her quitting the Samajwadi Party was that in her opinion it had prevented the Congress from coming to power at the Centre after the fall of the BJP-led coalition. In addition, Ms Joshi said she was disappointed when the Samajwadi Party chief, Mr Mulayam Singh Yadav, adopted a negative attitude towards providing reservation for women in Parliament and state legislatures. Meanwhile, several UP Congress members today sat on dharna at the AICC protesting against the "faulty" distribution of tickets in the state. The UPCC general secretary, Mr Parveen Singh Aron, submitted a memorandum to the Congress president complaining that the UPCC chief Mr Salman Khursheed had joined hands with Mr Jitendra Prasada and CLP leader Pramod Tiwari to allot tickets to their "cronies". In another incident, a
party worker barged into the media briefing room while
the event was on and claimed that a particular candidate
from Hathras (reserved) ‘purchased the Congress
ticket’, much to the embarrassment of the spokesman,
Mr Sibal. However, the protester was whisked away by the
party watch and ward staff. |
Vajpayee is NDA's mascot NEW DELHI, Aug 16 — Two years ago in a controversial media interview a leading light of the BJP had described Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee as the party’s "mukhouta (mask)". At the launching of the National Democratic Alliance’s common manifesto for 1999 elections, it became evidently clear that the controversial "mask" of yore has graduated to become a mascot. The extremely well organised function on the lawns of 7, Safdarjung Road, which was Mr Vajpayee’s residence before he moved to the Prime Minister’s house (the bungalow is currently occupied by Mr Pramod Mahajan), was unique in more than one sense: For the first time a combination of parties is entering the Lok Sabha fray with a common manifesto; also for the first time a common, accepted leader is being projected by an alliance as the prime ministerial candidate. Last time too Mr Vajpayee was projected as the prime ministerial probable, but that was by the BJP alone. This time round, all the NDA allies have chosen to back him. Coming close on the heels of the manifesto released at the AICC office last Friday, comparison between the two political events is inevitable. As far as bandobust was concerned, the ruling alliance was much more articulate as compared to the near pandemonium at the Congress headquarters. However, the Press conference addressed by Mrs Sonia Gandhi provided better copy than Mr Vajpayee’s interaction with the media today. Mrs Sonia Gandhi did not hedge — she answered even inconvenient questions regarding Bofors and her foreign origins with alacrity. Mr Vajpayee chose to wink at inconvenient questions, especially the ones relating to the status of the Janata Dal (United) and the status of the parties like Jammu and Kashmir National Conference, whose candidates are pitted against the BJP in the forthcoming elections. A veteran scribe commented after the press conference that while Mr Vajpayee is an excellent public speaker, the BJP could do better to field Mr L.K. Advani at Press conferences because he is more candid and sharp in his answers. Mr Vajpayee, however, came out clearly on some issues and they reflected his statesmanship. One such issue was CTBT — he told a foreign correspondent that apart from the views of the NDA, consensus would be necessary from other political parties before India decides to sign the nuclear pact. Another was the question regarding the NDA’s proposal to bar non-natural born citizens from occupying high posts like Prime Minister — he insisted that even on this a consensus had to be evolved with other political parties. The media quizzed him about his opponent in the prime ministerial race. Relying on his ability to mix humour with serious politics, he said "Yeh bada teda sawal hai (the question is not straight). I cannot give a direct answer to it". When pointed out that the super projection of his personality by the NDA was contrary to the opposition to personality cult hitherto adopted by the BJP, Mr Vajpayee said he was opposed to "personality puja" but added in a humorous vein that he will have to ask NDA’s publications department as to how this projection had taken place. Immediately thereafter, on a serious note, he stated that the alliance was seeking votes on the basis of its policies, programmes and performance of his government. Bofors haunted today’s Press conference as well. The Prime Minister said the government is waiting for the last set of papers and therefore it would direct the CBI to file a chargesheet in the court. "Kagaz mil rahe hain. Tezi se chal rahe hain (papers are moving and moving fast)", he commented. A word about today’s host, Mr Pramod Mahajan. Apart from putting up a grand show, he helped Mr Vajpayee out of a sticky situation. Both, the Prime Minister and the Home Minister, Mr Advani, sitting to the right of Mr Vajpayee, were at a loss for an answer when asked about the status of Mr George Fernandes, whose Samata Party has merged with the Janata Dal (United) — as JD(U)’s admission into NDA had not been finalised — without fumbling, Mr Mahajan pointed out that Mr Fernandes was present in his capacity as convener of the NDA and that was the reason why he occupied the chair to the left of Mr Vajpayee. The launch of NDA’s
election campaign was certainly a better show than that
of the Congress three days ago. However, there is a
lesson for the Congress — being in the Opposition,
it can use the licence of talking frankly — a
privilege denied to the ruling alliance, as the trappings
of power sometime prove to be fetters as well. |
Filing of papers picks up in Delhi NEW DELHI, Aug 16 (UNI) — The filing of nominations for the Lok Sabha elections on September 5 picked up here today with 17 candidates, including senior Delhi BJP leaders Jagmohan, M.L. Khurana and Vijay Goel and Congress CWC member R.K. Dhawan filing their papers in their respective constituencies. With only two more days to go for the nomination process to conclude, a total of 27 candidates have filed their papers in the Capital till date. BJP leader Jagmohan and Congress leader R.K. Dhawan filed four sets of nomination papers each in the New Delhi constituency. Others who filed their nominations in New Delhi today were Mr Ram Bhaj (covering BJP candidate), Mr Ram Kumar Azad and Mr M.R. Saran (both Independents). In the Delhi Sadar constituency, former Delhi Chief Minister and former Union Minister Madan Lal Khurana filed four sets of nomination papers. Mr P.K. Chandla, also of the BJP, filed his papers as the covering candidate. In the Chandni Chowk constituency, Mr Vijay Goel (BJP) filed four sets of nomination papers. Mr Chandan Singh of the BJP filed as the covering candidate. In South Delhi, Mr Ashok Kumar (Independent) filed his nomination papers. In outer Delhi, Mr Brahm Singh of the Bahujan Samaj Party, Sukhbeer Sharma of the Nationalist Congress Party and Independents Manohar Lal, Rajendar Singh Negi and Anil Gogia filed their nominations. In East Delhi, nomination papers were filed by the BSP’s Mohd. Nahid and the CPI(ML)’s Ravinder Nath Sharma. So far, no nominations
have been filed in the Karol Bagh constituency, where
Congress leader Meira Kumar is being pitted against Delhi
Mayor and BJP candidate Anita Arya. |
The franchised who cannot cast the ballot NEW DELHI, Aug 16 (PTI) — Posted away from their homes, nearly two million men in uniform may not have much of a say in the coming elections with the proposal of proxy voting instead of postal ballot still hanging fire. The Election Commission had in December 1997 recommended an ordinance to allow the services to cast their ballot by proxy, keeping in mind the logistical constraints of despatching and receiving postal ballot papers in time, but consensus has eluded the issue so far. Under the proxy voting system, the service voters, which include armed forces personnel, paramilitary forces, diplomatic and consular representatives of India abroad and other staff of embassies, would be permitted to authorise any adult members of the families to vote for them in their native place. “Proxy voting has been a longstanding demand of the armed forces and it is unfortunate that on the one hand we laud our services and on the other, we continue to disenfranchise them, says former Lok Sabha Secretary-General Subhash C. Kashyap. “Much precious time has been lost in implementing a good measure”, he says. But psephologist Surjit Bhalla says “instead of changing the rules, we need to change the system so as to make it more effective. However, according to Mr Kashyap, it is a perfectly legal demand, the constitutional provision being such that it neither allows nor disallows it. The Representations of the People’s act says voting shall be by ballot and no votes shall be received by proxy. But Section 60 of the same Act lays down that irrespective of the general provisions of the preceding section, special procedures may be provided by rules made under it to enable certain classes to vote by postal ballot. “As the right to vote is a basic constitutional right of every adult citizen, keeping in mind the requirements of our services, all we need is an ordinance to amend Section 59 and 60 of the RPA, 1951,” says Mr Kashyap. But the secrecy of the ballot would also have to be compromised with, says Mr Bhalla. “There may be more problems with the proxy voting system for all we know. How can a voter trust his wife or mother to vote on his behalf and there is no guarantee that they would vote for the party of his choice and in the process may endanger the prospects of their own representative. “All we need to do is pull up the postal system and make the system more foolproof, he says. But armed forces personnel disgruntled by the postal ballot are willing to give proxy voting a try. “Proxy voting will provide an effective means to elect candidates of our choice and certainly one can trust one’s family to execute the vote accordingly, says Maj (Retd) V.K. Arora. One needs to have that much of confidence in one’s family members and it is a good measure for personnel who have not voted in their entire career,” says Major Arora, who never got a chance to vote during 32 years of his service in the Army. “The postal ballot is ineffective and both the government and the Election Commission have accepted the same. Stipulations like the one that the ballot has to reach the Returning Officer at least an hour before the counting starts has led to a loss of many precious votes, says Mr R.B. Sharma, member of the Purva Sainik Seva Parishad, an organisation working in the interests of armed forces personnel. “A considerable number of armed forces personnel will have to go through the ineffective system as political parties are not giving the go ahead because of their ‘twisted’ election strategies. “Even Army records maintain a file on the next of kin of officers who are dependent and related to them which is updated each year and the same kith and kin can cast the proxy votes,” says Mr Sharma. While psephologists say the postal ballot has not made any considerable difference to the election outcome given the fact that very few reach on time, they hold that it is a good measure to increase voter particpation. “Although postal ballots have never altered a result in any constituency, it can step up voter particpation. And the concept of proxy voting, when given the go, should be aggressively promoted, says Mr Bhaskar Rao of the Centre for Media Studies. Psephologist G.V.L. Narasimha Rao agrees with him. “The election process in the country has suffered mainly because of poor voter turnout and proxy voting will step up participation leading to clearer results. States like Jammu and Kashmir, Assam and pockets in eastern India and Madhya Pradesh have recorded less than 40 per cent voting in the last elections with constituencies like Anantnag recording around 28 per cent voting. It is in such places that we need more voters and proxy voting is the best answer, he says. “While some parties
are opposing it on the principle that a caretaker
government should not take such a decision, the fact is
that the decision should be best left to a popularly
elected government which would lend greater legitimacy to
the decision”, says Mr Rao. |
Mayawati to contest from Akbarpur LUCKNOW, Aug 16 (PTI) — Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) vice-president Mayawati today said she would now contest the Lok Sabha elections from Akbarpur instead of the Basti (reserved) constituency as announced earlier. Speaking at a Press
conference here, Ms Mayawati said sitting MLA Lalmani
Prasad would be the party nominee from the Basti
constituency. |
India, Kazakhstan to sign pacts NEW DELHI, Aug 16 — India and the Republic of Kazakhastan will sign two bilateral agreements on mutual legal assistance and a visa-free regime for certain categories during the three-day official visit of the Kazakh Foreign Minister, Mr Kassymzhomart K. Tokaev, beginning tonight. The bilateral ties will get a decisive boost during Mr Toakev’s visit with the two countries likely to reach understanding on areas such as oil exploration and commerce, Ministry for External Affairs official said here today. Mr Tokaev would have extensive talks with the External Affairs Minister, Mr Jaswant Singh tomorrow and would call on the Prime Minister on Wednesday. The award for exploration of oil fields both on shore and off shore areas will figure prominently during the official talks. The Oil and Natural Gas Commission was awarded an exploration sector sometime ago, the official said. Kazakhstan like the other republics of Central Asia, figures prominently in the country’s foreign policy priorities, the official said, adding that political ties between India and Kazakhstan were excellent. Kazakhstan is being seen as an important source of energy supply to India and is being developed as an important factor in the country’s policy of energy security, the officials pointed out. The two sides would
discuss bilateral, regional and global issues.
Afghanistan and rise of islamic fundamentalism are a
cause of concern to both the countries. The two countries
will discuss ways to cooperate to counter the menace of
narco-terrorism, cross-border terrorism and gun runnning. |
Trade Ministers of G-15 meet today BANGALORE, Aug 16 (PTI) — Trade Ministers of the Group of 15 (G-15) developing nations meet here tomorrow to evolve a common strategy on major issues likely to figure at the WTO ministerial meeting at Seattle in November, amid pressure from developed nations to impose a fresh round of trade talks. Though a negotiated statement is not expected after the two-day meeting, official sources here said the group might try for a common stand on issues detrimental to developing nations at the seattle round. On its part, India would ask the group to jointly stall the move from developed nations for fresh trade talks even as several existing agreements were still facing implementation problems. The Indian delegation, headed by Commerce Minister Ramakrishna Hegde, would attempt to impress upon the other 16 member-states the importance of not allowing western nations to overload the agenda without first addressing implementation problems of existing WTO agreements. While Asian members like
India, Malaysia and Indonesia are vehemently opposed to
fresh negotiations, Latin American states like Brazil,
Argentina and Venezuela are reportedly not averse to new
issues being incorporated in the Seattle agenda. |
Warrants against 2 in Jessica
case NEW DELHI, Aug 16 — Two accused in the Jessica Lal murder case, Ravinder Krishan alias Titu, and Dhanraj were issued non-bailable warrants by Metropolitan Magistrate of a city court, Mr V.K. Khanna, today. The Magistrate has also extended the judicial remand of prime accused Manu Sharma and his associate Vikas Yadav till August 30. The Magistrate granted bail to another accused, Raj Chopra on a personal bond of Rs 25,000 and a surety of like amount after he surrenderd before the court today. Besides, the court has
supplied copies of the chargesheet and other documents
submitted to the court by the police to Manu Sharma,
Vikas Yadav, Harvinder Chopra, Manu’s uncle, Shyam
Sunder Sharma, former Test cricketer Yograj Singh, Coca
Cola Excutives, Amardeep Singh Gill and Alok Khanna,
Vikas Gill and Amit Jhingan. |
WAC bags 30 gallantry awards NEW DELHI, AUG 16 — Air Marshal Vinod Patney, the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Air Command (WAC) heads the list of 30 personnel of the Command awarded gallantry awards on Independence Day for the successful Operation Safed Sagar during the Kargil conflict. Western Air Command (WAC) is one of the most operational Command of the IAF with its area responsibility covering the entire northern part of the country. The entire air operations during the Kargil conflict were planned and meticulously executed by Western Air Command. Air Marshal Vinod Patney is the first officer of the IAF and the sole recipient of the Sarvottam Yudh Seva Medal (SYSM) for having commanded the entire air Operations in Kargil which ultimately proved to be the turning point in Operation Vijay. He thus becomes the most decorated serving officer in all three services. Air Marshal Vinod Patney is a graduate of the Royal Air Force Staff College and was commissioned as a fighter pilot in May 1961. During his long and illustrious career he held various Command and Staff appointments which include Air Officer Commanding, Jammu and Kashmir, Air Officer Commanding Air Defence Control Centre and Senior Air Staff Officer at Headquarters WAC prior to his present appointment as AOC-in-C, WAC, IAF. He has flown a number of fighter aircraft and took active part in the 1965 Indo-Pak conflict for which he was awarded VrC and 1971 Operations for which he was mentioned-in-despatches. Air Vice Marshal S.S. Dhillon, Senior Maintenance Staff Officer, Air Vice Marshal J.K. Pathania, Senior Officer-in-charge Administration, both at Headquarters WAC have been awarded Uttam Yudh Seva Medal (UYSM) along with Air Vice Marshal Narayan Menon, AOC Jammu and Kashmir. Sqn Ldr Ajay Ahuja, pilot of the MiG-21 that was shot down whilst trying to recover his buddy Flt-Lt K Nachiketa was awarded VrC. Sqn Ldr Rajeev Pundir, Flt-Lt S Muhilan, Sgt Prasad PVNR and Sgt Sahoo R K, crew of the Mi-17 helicopter that was shot down, were awarded Vayu Sena Medal for exemplary courage in the face of the enemy. During Operation Safed
Sagar that lasted for 49 days, only 25 per cent of its
forces were utilised by WAC. More than 6500 sorties were
flown which included over 550 strike missions, 150
reconnaissance missions and above 500 escort missions.
Helicopters carried out 2185 sorties in 925 hours of
flying to evacuate casualties and airlift weapons. During
the entire operation a 98 per cent serviceability of
aircraft, radars and ground equipment was maintained. |
Shukla among Cong nominees in
MP NEW DELHI, Aug 16 — The Congress today nominated a former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister, Mr Shyama Charan Shukla, from Mahasamund Lok Sabha constituency in Madhya Pradesh. Mr Shukla, elder brother of a former Union Minister, Mr Vidya Charan Shukla, was among the seven candidates whose name figured in the sixth list released by the party today. Mr Vidya Charan Shukla, who contested the previous elections from Raipur, wanted to shift to Mahasamund but in the battle between two brothers, the younger one lost the race. The Congress had earlier released a list of 33 candidates from Madhya Pradesh and with today’s annoucement completed the nominations for all 40 Lok Sabha constituncies. The party has so far announced 249 candidates. The party also renominated Mr Rajendra Singh, brother-in-law of a Former Union Minister Mr Arjun Singh from Satna parliamentary constituency. The ticket was given to him after Mr Arjun Singh decided to opt out of the fray. Mr Mahesh Joshi, a close aide of the MP Chief Minister, Mr Digvijay Singh, has got the nod to contest from Indore. Mr Chandra Mohan Nagori will contest from Gwalior, a constituency which was held by Mr Madhav Rao Scindia, who has since shifted to Guna. All 10 members of the
Congress party from the State in the dissolved Lok Sabha
have been renominated. |
Kargil sector NEW DELHI, Aug 16 (PTI) — Unmindful of the accolades being heaped on them for clearing the intrusion in record time, the men in olive green are now braving enemy shelling to fortify a front called Kargil. As the second coldest inhabited region of the world gets converted into a war zone with permanent posts, Army officials say defending the heights and building infrastructure for it is an uphill task — a job that defies human endurance. “It’s only end of an episode, the war continues,” says Col Gurmeet Kanwal, senior fellow, Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (IDSA). With barely any signs of de-escalation and reports that the enemy is still retaining posts within one km of their side of the LoC, Kargil-Dras is now a live border which would require permanent deployment, explains Maj Gen (retd) Ashok Krishna, co-director Institute for Peace and Conflicts Studies. “The complete wherewithtal to support the man at the top has to be created.” “At the very outset the pickets in the high altitudes will have to be fortified and stocked with enough ammunition, and ration so that the troops manning them are secure. “They have then to be connected by tracks and a communications grid established in the areas,” he explains. And most of this would have to be completed by mid-October before the Zojila pass closes for winter cutting the region off from the world, says Col Kanwal noting that besides developing access to the new posts from the national highway, a communications grid will also have to be put in place. “Engineers will have to build the roads and as a thumb rule each company post must have a motorable beaten track and each batalllion headquarters should be connected by gravel tracks, roads and bridges capable of withstanding heavy loads,” says Col Kanwal. In addition to all this access — foot or mule — will have to be developed to connect each possible picket, and where possible helipads constructed, for evacuation and connectivity when roads give way in the inhospitable terrain. All this work is going
on literally on a ‘war footing’ even as the
enemy continues to rain high explosives and has already
littered the area with anti-personnel mines which have to
be physically cleared, say official sources in the area. |
TDP, BJP reach pact on seats HYDERABAD, Aug 16 (PTI) — The stalemate over seat sharing between the ruling Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and the BJP in Andhra Pradesh finally ended today with the two parties sorting out problems in identification of constituencies. After five days of gruelling negotiations, often marked by open display of resentment by BJP activists over the alleged raw deal in allotment of seats, the two parties clinched the deal. As per the arrangement, the TDP would allot eight of the 42 Lok Sabha seats and 25 Assembly seats in the 294-member House to the BJP, the state unit of the BJP announced here. The talks were deadlocked on the Kakinada seat, with the BJP insisting on renominating film star Krishnamraju and the TDP refusing to concede the seat. Instead of Kakinada, the BJP has been offered a choice of Narsapur or Visakhapatnam. Apart from Rajahmundry, Secunderabad and Karimnagar, held by the BJP, the party has been allotted Tirupati, Mehaboobnagar, Hyderabad and Medak Lok Sabha seats. In the changed scenario,
the BJP has agreed to shift its MP Krishnamraju to either
Narsapur or Visakhapatnam while the TDP is likely to
field veteran leader M. Padmanabham, who recently
resigned as the state BJP Vice-President and joined the
ruling party, from the Kakinada constituency. |
Show-cause notice to BJP’s district unit TIRUCHIRAPALLI, Aug 16 (UNI) — Tiruchirapalli District Collector V. Moorthy has issued a show-cause notice to the district unit of the BJP seeking an explanation on whether the party had supplied notebooks to the electorate with the Prime Minister’s picture and the party’s symbol. Mr Moorthy, who is also the Returning Officer for Tiruchirapalli Lok Sabha constituency, from where Union Power Minister Rangarajan Kumaramangalam is seeking re-election, issued the notice following a complaint by the CPI(M) district unit. It had alleged that the BJP had violated the model code of conduct by supplying notebooks, at free of cost, with Mr Vajpayee’s picture in the cover and the party’s lotus symbol at the back. Talking to mediapersons, Mr Ilangumaran Sampath of the BJP, who is in charge of the constituency, said these notebooks were meant for party volunteers to make entries on election work. The notebooks might have mistakenly reached others, he added. The party had replied to
the notice, he said. |
17 file papers in Delhi NEW DELHI, Aug 16 — The filing of nominations for the seven parliamentary seats in Delhi picked up today with 17 candidates, including BJP leaders Mr Jagmohan, Mr Madan Lal Khurana and Mr Vijay Goel, and a Congress leader, Mr R.K. Dhawan. With two days to go for the nomination process to conclude, a total of 27 candidates have filed their papers. The polling will take place on September 5. A former Union Minister and BJP leader, Mr Jagmohan, and Congress CWC member, Mr Dhawan, filed four sets of nomination papers each for the New Delhi parliamentary seat. A former Delhi Chief Minister and former Union Minister, Mr Khurana filed four sets of nomination papers for the Delhi Sadar seat. The sitting BJP MP from Chandni Chowk, Mr Vijay Goel, filed the nomination papers. In outer Delhi, Mr Brahm Singh of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and Mr Sukhbeer Sharma of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) filed their nominations. In East Delhi, Mohd. Nahid of the BSP and Mr Ravinder Nath Sharma of the CPI-ML filed their nominations. In the only reserved
constituency of Karol Bagh, no nominations have been
filed so far. The Congress had announced the name of the
sitting MP Ms Meira Kumar for the seat. The BJP has
announced the name of the Delhi Mayor Ms Anita Arya. |
Release of 8 Pak POWs on cards NEW DELHI, Aug 16 (UNI) — India is working out details with the International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC) for return of eight Pakistani soldiers, who were taken as prisoners of war (POWs) during the recent armed intrusion in the Kargil sector. Senior officials of the External Affairs Ministry are finalising modalities for the return of the POWs as a “goodwill” gesture, the Indian Government offered to release the eight Pakistani POWs on the occasion of Pakistan’s Independence day. An official spokesman of the External Affairs Ministry said both India and Pakistan are signatory to the Geneva Convention on POWs and the ICRC is a designated agency for their exchange. In fact, Pakistan
Foreign Minister Sartaj Aziz had described India’s
decision to release the Pakistan prisoners as a
“positive step.” |
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| Atomic reactor for
N-submarine MUMBAI: The atomic reactor for India’s nuclear submarine, designed by the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) here, will be ready to be handed over to the Navy early next year, according to BARC sources. Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) Chairman R. Chidambaram, however, declined to comment. The nuclear propulsion power plant has been undergoing test at Kalappakkam near Chennai. The reactor will deliver steam which will be used by turbines to propel the submarine. — PTI Shailaja
is Secy, ISM&H Journalists
assaulted Ultras kill 3 in
Manipur 11 die in road
accidents |
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