Tuesday, August 31, 1999
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PM perks up campaigning NDA ‘biased’ towards
foreign finance |
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‘Pro-BJP wave sweeping
country’ NEW DELHI, Aug 30 — The Union Home Minister, Mr L.K. Advani said today that the country was witnessing a strong wave in favour of the BJP.
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S. S. Ahluwalia joins BJP Cong leaders meet Delhi Governor
Catholics blame Sangh Parivar Ex-minister chargesheeted |
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PM perks up campaigning NEW DELHI, Aug 30 — The Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, today perked up lacklustre campaigning in the Capital by targeting two commercial areas in South and Central Delhi. Traders being the traditional vote bank of the Bharatiya Janata Party, Mr Vajpayee’s rallies were well attended in both the Nehru Place commercial complex and the shopping centre of Karol Bagh. Kargil was the highlight of Mr Vajpayee’s speeches but he also peppered it with his government’s achievements on the economic front, the diplomatic front and the law and order side. Mr Vajpayee asked the Congress to come clear on its stand on forming a government on its own or a coalition. "The Congress manifesto has one thing, and now the Congress president, Mrs Sonia Gandhi, has started talking about sharing power," the Prime Minister said. Commenting on the shift of stand of Mrs Gandhi, the Prime Minister said the Congress had realised that it would not be able to form the government on its own and had started talking about coalition. Stating that the Congress had a poor record of supporting a coalition government, Mr Vajpayee said "We are having the third election in as many years because of the Congress as it cannot sit in the Opposition." There was no Sonia bashing relating to her foreign origin as has been the norm in all his speeches, but Mr Vajpayee did express concern at the Congress President’s secret visit to Bellary, where she is pitted against the former Delhi Chief Minister, Mrs Sushma Swaraj. Mr Vajpayee said the government had provided the highest security for Mrs Gandhi but her failure to take the security agencies into confidence on her visit to Bellary was a cause of concern. With both the areas being dominated by Punjabi population, Mr Vajpayee drew their attention to the presence of Mr S.S.Ahluwalia, who joined the BJP earlier today. Mr Ahluwalia did not speak a word but his presence was symbolic of the Sikh support for the party. Mr Avtar Singh Hit, President of the Delhi unit of the Shiromani Akali Dal was also there to lend support to the BJP. The Prime Minister gave a report card of his government and highlighted the return of peace in Punjab, and Jammu and Kashmir. He said Punjab which was hit by violence was today a symbol of peace and harmony. His government, he said was making efforts to restore normalcy in the North-East. Mr Vajpayee repeated most of what he said in Rewari in Haryana and Sikar in Rajasthan in his rallies there earlier in the day. He spoke about the Congress party’s silence on Article 356 and its failure to see the Kargil conflict in the right perspective. Referring to Rewari, where a Kargil hero’s widow was the BJP’s candidate, Mr Vajpayee said the area represented the aspirations and hopes of the country. The Prime Minister said unlike the Congress governments, which after every war and subsequent negotiation ended up parting with India’s land, his Government had won both in the Kargil war and on the diplomatic front. He said the international recognition for India’s stand on Kargil was a proof of the country’s diplomatic victory. Mr Vajpayee said his government had successfully overcome the South East Asian economic crisis and all economic indicators were healthy today. The stock market was booming, inflation was under check and adequate resources had been set aside for the social sector. The Prime Minister said his government could have done more but for its premature fall in the Lok Sabha. Having a dig at the Congress for toppling his government, Mr Vajpayee said if they had wanted they could have easily bought the extra vote that was needed to remain in power. The votes were available but there were no buyers, he added. In Karol Bagh, where the Prime Minister spoke at the sprawling Ajmal Khan Park, a huge crowd from the congested shopping complex came to hear him speak. Shopkeepers downing shutters at 7 p.m. and delayed their departure for home to hear Mr Vajpayee speak. The Karol Bagh reserved
constituency is seeing a clash of two women — Mrs
Meira Kumar of the Congress and Mrs Anita Arya of the
BJP. |
NDA ‘biased’
towards foreign finance NEW DELHI, Aug 30 — The Communist Party of India (Marxist) today attacked the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) for having a "blatant bias" towards foreign finance capital saying this would adversely affect the domestic industry. Claiming that the NDA’s "charter of commitments" released by the Finance Minister, Mr Yashwant Sinha, was "directed at pleasing big business houses and foreign capital", the CPM Politburo Member, Mr Prakash Karat, said it "refused to prohibit" foreign companies from setting up 100 per cent subsidiaries when they were in joint ventures with Indian companies in that field. Mr Karat, who released four party pamphlets for elections, said: "Even the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry and Confederation of Indian Industry have opposed this, but the NDA’s love for multinationals and foreign capital does not promise to fulfil the desires of domestic industry." The CPM leader said it was shocking that the Finance Minister had proposed to invest the hard-earned pension fund and provident fund in the stock market for speculation. "This is a dangerous proposal which will put at risk workers’ savings", he said. Asked about reported remarks against Mrs Sonia Gandhi by BJP leader, Mr Pramod Mahajan, he said the Election Commission should take note as the commission itself had earlier asked all parties to see to it that no sexist remarks were made during the poll campaign. Expressing hope that the differences between the CPI and the RJD over seat adjustments in Bihar would be sorted out, he said in Andhra Pradesh too the effort of Left parties would be to ensure that TDP-BJP alliance was not benefited. Mr Karat also released the full list of 73 party candidates, including two CPM-supported Independents from Kerala, and said it had retired its lone candidate in Karnataka as an understanding had been reached with Mr H.D. Deve Gowda’s Janata Dal (Secular). The party has also withdrawn its lone candidate from Himachal Pradesh. Replying to questions, he said the party had put up the 73 candidates which was same as earlier. Most of the candidates, especially on the sitting seats, had been repeated, he added. Mr Karat said five women
candidates had been nominated this time but added:
"We are not happy with this. We wanted to have more
women contesting the poll". |
‘Pro-BJP wave sweeping
country’ NEW DELHI, Aug 30 — The Union Home Minister, Mr L.K. Advani said today that the country was witnessing a strong wave in favour of the BJP. Addressing first rally in the Capital in support of Mr Sahib Singh Varma, the BJP candidate from Outer Delhi constituency and former Chief Minister of Delhi, Mr Advani compared the pro-BJP wave to the wave that led to the defeat of Indira Gandhi in Rae Bareilly in the 1977 Lok Sabha elections. "I’ve witnessed most elections since 1952. Some elections can be termed as elections of the wave or the wind. I’ve been to Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat and Bellary and the wind is very strong in favour of the BJP," he said. Describing the BJP as the nation’s first party, Mr Advani said the Vajpayee government had deservingly earned international appreciation for its stand on the Kargil issue. "For the first time in 50 years, Pakistan suffered a double defeat — from the soldiers on the front and a diplomatic defeat from India. Except for Pakistan and the Congress, Mr Vajpayee was praised by almost all quarters. Even the USA which had imposed economic sanctions on India after the Pokharan test openly supported India." Mr Advani said that Congress President was smug in the belief that she would file her nomination papers from Bellary, is rated to be the safest seat for the Congress. "She thought she would take the nation by surprise by filing her papers at the eleventh hour but Ms Sushma Swaraj sprang a surprise by turning up to file her nomination." Mr Advani said this time, the electorate was determined to bring Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee back. He said the NDA manifesto had spelt out very categorically that it would bring about an amendment to ensure that no person of foreign origin was allowed to hold the office of the President, Vice-President and Prime Minister. Mr Advani said the three
Congress leaders, Mr Sharad Pawar, Mr P.A. Sangma and Mr
Tariq Anwar chose to diassociate from the party as they
were opposed to the idea of her being fielded as the
Prime Ministerial candidate. The Union Home Minister said
even former US Secretary of State, Henry Kissinger could
not hold any high office as he was not of American
origin. |
S. S. Ahluwalia joins BJP NEW DELHI, Aug 30 — A Rajiv Gandhi aide and two-time Congress member of the Rajya Sabha from Bihar, Mr S.S. Ahluwalia, today joined the Bharatiya Janata Party. Mr Ahluwalia, who was introduced to mediapersons here by the Union Home Minister, Mr L.K. Advani, as a new member of the BJP family, attributed his decision to leave the Congress to Mrs Sonia Gandhi’s failure to apologise for the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. Mr Advani said Mr Ahluwalia’s decision to leave the Congress indicates that people were not happy with the Opposition party and it was the BJP, which was moving in the right direction. "The BJP is the party of today and tomorrow", Mr Ahluwalia, who was accompanied by a large number of supporters, told newspersons. Mr Ahluwalia, who has
been responsible for taking out an annual Rajiv Sandesh
Yatra from Delhi to Sri Perumbudur, said "today, I
can no longer associate myself with the Congress. The
ideology for which I have given three decades of my
political career, is dead. The Congress’ commitment
to service to humanity no longer exists". |
‘India should maintain strong
deterrent’ NEW DELHI, Aug 30 — The Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal A.Y. Tipnis, today emphasised on the need for continuing to maintain a deterrent position and said that the shooting down of the Atlantique aircraft had sent a clear message to Pakistan that it could not take liberties with India. The action will in fact lead to reducing tension as they will not dare similar trans-border ventures, the Air Chief said while inaugurating the Western Air Command (WAC) Station Commanders conference here. The conference, a biannual feature, has a special significance as it will delve on the lessons of the operation Safed Sagar in Kargil. Air Chief Marshal Tipnis congratulated all commanders for their professionally outstanding performance. He attributed the cause of the Pakistan Air Force being kept at bay to IAF’s strong posture. Giving indications of integrating India’s nuclear doctrine into the IAF, the Air Chief said that the force would have to move on to a higher plane, technologically and doctrinally, in fact into the realms of space, micro-miniaturisation, smart-weaponisation, computer-aided decision making, real time intelligence and many other frontier-breaking areas. Talking of the IAF acquiring the latest missiles being developed by the DRDO he said that besides the other capabilities the least would be the acquisition of strategically-hardened deterrence capability of the IAF. The Chief of Air Staff indicated about the modernisation plans of the force when he informed the commanders that the many long standing needs of the IAF were underway to being fulfilled. When fructified they would significantly enhance the training foundation, strengthen operational potential, quicken reaction and extend reach. He said the mental and physical standards of the personnel would have to keep pace to create the required leadership qualities at junior, middle and higher levels, training would have to ahead of the developments to meet these challenges. Training establishments would get the necessary support qualitatively in human and technological resource. Information management would be essential to build fire-walls against disinformation and accure the catalytic support of the media and the public, the Air Chief said. The Air Chief Marshal said the spiralling costs of equipment and training had placed greater responsibility on to preserve the IAF’s assets and be cost-conscious. He said the superior level of cooperation and coordination between the three services at all levels during the Kargil conflict had set a healthy trend for the future and must be maintained. Mrs Molina Tipnis,
President of the Air Force Wives Welfare Association
(AFWWA), addressing Presidents of the afwwa local units,
complimented the role played by them towards the cause of
the Kargil victims. |
‘High-handedness of police’ NEW DELHI, Aug 30 (UNI) — A high-level delegation of the Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee (DPCC) met Lt- Governor Vijai Kapoor here today and complained about the police ‘’high-handedness’’ against party workers and office- bearers ahead of the September 5 Lok Sabha polling. In a memorandum to Mr Kapoor, the DPCC leaders alleged that the party workers in several parts of the city had been called to the local police stations and ‘’threatened’’ not to work for the Congress and close down the election offices. These areas included Rajouri Garden, Paschim Vihar, Karol Bagh and some colonies in East Delhi. ‘’We do not have any problems about known bad characters being rounded up. But genuine party workers should not be booked under offences like breach of peace,’’ DPCC President Subhash Chopra said at a press conference. The memorandum also complained that slum-dwellers in some areas like Kalkaji had received demolition notices from the Municipal Corporation of Delhi. Also, a large number of ‘’musclemen’’ were being brought into Delhi from Haryana and Uttar Pradesh to intimidate the Congress workers and voters, the congress alleged. According to Mr Chopra, Mr Kapoor assured them that he would speak to Police Commissioner Ajai Raj Sharma and tell him that such things should not happen. He also informed the delegation that the city’s borders would be sealed three days before the polling day. Also, no demolition work would be allowed to be carried out before the elections. Delegation member Ramesh Sabharwal said the Police Commissioner had called only one all-party meeting on August 18 to discuss the poll-related security arrangements. No meetings had been called after that day despite requests from the Congress, he added. Replying to a question
about Union Urban Affairs Minister and BJP candidate in
New Delhi Jagmohan’s allegation that his Congress
rival R.K. Dhawan was distributing liquor in the slum
areas, Mr Chopra said: “Such a baseless allegation
only reveals Mr Jagmohan’s lack of confidence about
winning the election.’’ |
News analysis THE question of the viability of coalition politics is tending to become a central issue in the current political debate. Having categorically stated its position against coalitions both in its 1999 manifesto and the Panchmarhi Declaration, the Indian National Congress is undoubtedly in two minds — the on-board interview given by its President, Mrs Sonia Gandhi, to journalists travelling in the same flight as her to Hyderabad on August 27 being the latest example. The Congress manifesto released by her, had said “experience has shown that coalitions have never worked at the Centre” and categorically stated “choice now is between a coalition that has failed miserably and a cohesive Congress alternative”. In her latest interview, Mrs Sonia Gandhi indicated that her party had not foreclosed the option of coalition government in case the 13th Lok Sabha also turns out to be a hung House. The Bharatiya Janata Party and its coalition and alliance partners, now functioning under the joint banner of National Democratic Alliance, have clearly indicated that coalitions have come to stay. “We are proud that the NDA is representative of both national interests and regional aspirations — after all the NDA is nothing but a mirror image of our nation’s unity in multifaceted diversity, rich pluralism and federalism”, the NDA’s agenda for 1999 elections states. BJP spokesmen have gone on record to commit that in case the BJP gets a majority on its own, even then the government to be formed will be that of the NDA. By not issuing a separate manifesto and committing itself to the NDA agenda at the pre-election stage, the BJP has provided sinews to its propagation of coalition politics. The Left parties view the duel between the Congress and the BJP as an attempt at creating a bipolar polity, which they are opposed to. The CPI(M)’s 1999 manifesto states: “The strengthening of the democratic and federal system in our country requires a vibrant multi-party democracy. The CPI(M) rejects the contention that the choice for the people should be reduced to a BJP-led combination or a Congress alternative”. The CPI is more categorical, committing itself to the building of a Third Front. The CPI manifesto says: “It is the desire of both the Congress and the BJP to see the emergence of a two-party system. This sort of bipolarity is however unreal transformation... and will only bring about a shift to the Right in Indian politics”. While this debate rages across the country, it is to be noted that only in two of the 24 states — Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh — is the contest limited to a fight between the Congress and the BJP, the two major players in the national scene today. In all other states, some regional party or the other has a decisive presence and this has made both Congress and BJP turn towards regional players for alliance or adjustments. After providing one-party rule for 45 years the Congress’ preference for forming a government on its own is understandable. Also, the bitter experience of coalition politics at the Centre as well as in the states tends to suggest the supremacy of single party rule. However, the Congress itself is the product of a coalition forged during the national struggle for Independence. Ironically, its bete noire also grew out of coalitions which started evolving soon after Independence. When Mahatma Gandhi came back from South Africa he became the natural leader of the national movement because he united under the Congress banner a number of anti-British movements which till then had their respective, regional, bases. The formation of linguistic states in free India had its moorings in this “coalition”. Recognising the plurality of India, when Jawaharlal Nehru formed the interim government on the eve of Independence, he inducted as his Cabinet colleagues non-Congress stalwarts as well. One of them, Shyama Prasad Mukherjee, resigned from his government and this triggered off the first-ever anti-Congress undercurrent in India’s polity. Bharatiya Jana Sangh, the precursor of present day BJP, was formed by Shyama Prasad Mukherjee by uniting under one banner a number of groups operating in different parts of the country. Most of these groups had links with the Rashtriya Swyamsevak Sangh (RSS) but were not hitherto united as a party. The Bharatiya Jana Sangh could win only three seats in the Lok Sabha and one seat in the Rajya Sabha in 1952. However, it depended on its post-poll understanding with other groups in the Lok Sabha and the result was the coming together of 45 MPs under the chairmanship of Shyama Prasad Mukherjee in March, 1952, for the formation of a parliamentary entity called the National Democratic Party which included the MPs of Jana Sangh, Hindu Mahasabha, Akali Dal, Gantantra Parishad, Jharkhand Party, Tamil Nad Toilers Party and the Commonweal Party. The NDA of today apparently owes its origins to the NDP which existed as a parliamentary party in the first Lok Sabha. The Congress’
aversion to coalition politics perhaps also stems from
the fact that coalition politics came in India primarily
as an anti-Congress move. The experiment with Samyukta
Vidhayak Dal (SVD)-type coalitions was tried out in 1967
in order to keep the Congress out of power after it had
lost its predominant position in a number of state
assemblies. The politics of Grand Alliance, spearheaded
by the Congress (O) after the 1969 split, too was
coalition politics intrinsically opposed to the Congress. |
Catholics blame Sangh Parivar NEW DELHI, Aug 30 (UNI) — The failure of the CBI to arrest Dara Singh is responsible for the recent slaying of a Muslim trader in Padiabeda in Orissa and Union Home Minister L.K. Advani should own moral responsibility for this, two Christian organisations here said. In a statement here today, the organisations said urgent steps were needed by the central and state governments to apprehend Dara Singh and his accomplices and put a halt to the communalisation of tribal society. “The burning alive of trader Sheikh Rehman in Padiabeda in Orissa by fundamentalist activist Dara Singh has revived chilling memories of slaying of leprosy workers Graham Stuart Staines and his young song Timothy and Philip by the same man and his gang in Manoharpur on January 22, 1999,” the statement said. The recent slaying made
it clear that the Staines’ killings werenot the
result of a local outburst against missionaries and
evangelical activity but “an encompassing hatred
against the minorities which is the creed for which the
Sangh Parivar is known,” the statement signed by
All-India Catholic Union National Secretary John Dayal
and All-India Christian Council Chairman Joseph De Souza
said. |
Ex-minister chargesheeted MUMBAI, Aug 30 (UNI) — The general branch-CID of Mumbai police today filed a chargesheet against 11 persons, including former Social Welfare Minister Bababanrao Gholap in the alleged Rs 4.5 crore Awami Mercantile Cooperative Bank-fraud case. Mr Gholap, was produced at the Esplanade Metropolitan Court by the Mumbai police and later released on bail by additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate AAA Kidwai after he furnished a personal bond of Rs 1 lakh. The 10 others chargesheeted are Subodh Kadam, Khalid Asid Fakir Ahmed, Abdul Rahim Abdul Karim Mukri, Vitthan Kakoskar, Vijay Mehta, Raj Kirtikar, Anil Pagare (Gholap’s personal assistant), Haribhau Kedar, Rajaram Pathar and Pankaj Mehta. According to the
prosecution, they had conspired to draw funds from
Mahatma Phule Backward Class Corporation, Vasantrao Naik
Development Corporation and Lokshahi Annabhau Backward
Class Development Corporation were kept as fixed-deposits
at the Awami Mercantile Cooperative Bank, which was
facing liquidation. |
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| ISI-backed money racket
busted SIBSAGAR (Assam): The police claims to have busted an ISI-backed counterfeit money racket, seizing over Rs 2 lakh in fake currency and arresting five persons. A police party seized a counterfeit Rs 2 lakh of Rs 500 denomination on August 26 and arrested an official driver of the Joint Director of Health Services at Sibsagar in this regard. His disclosure statement led to the arrest of four more persons. — UNI Former Chief Secy dead 4 held in murder
attempt case Girl killed by
lightning Villagers kill
wolf 2 ultras nabbed
in Tripura One killed in
group clash |
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