Saturday, February 6, 1999
|
N A T I O N |
|
| weather n
spotlight today's calendar |
 |
 |
|
|
Lightning strike by AIR
announcers |
 |
|
|
Khurana: govt may fall
anytime Pant’s
stress on synergy Jehanabad
massacre was planned: Maneka PM
writes to Chinese schoolboy India,
Estonia sign 2 pacts Takht
chief urged to punish Badal |
|||||
 |
||||||
Lightning strike by AIR announcers NEW DELHI, Feb 5 (PTI) — Pay hike for subordinate engineering and programme staff of All India Radio (AIR) and Doordarshan stirred a hornet’s nest with AIR announcers going on a lightning strike this evening even as several other cadres of Prasar Bharati threatened a nation-wide mass agitation if their demands were not met within 15 days. "AIR announcers all over India have gone on a lightning strike from this evening as pay parity is not maintained while pay hike is given to transmission executives and programme executives", Arun Sinha, general secretary Akashvani Announcers Association, said in a statement. The action of the announcers came close on the heels of the United Forum of Prasar Bharati employees warned that if the pay parity issue of other cadres was not considered and discussed within 15 days from today, they would be on a nation-wide "mass agitation." "We have noted with great concern that other categories of staff have totally been isolated ignoring the legitimate demands for bringing in pay parity among all the association cadres of AIR and DD," Jagdhishwar Prasad, chief executive of the forum said. The Indian Information Service Association had also expressed "shock" over the government decision saying it has ‘’totally demoralised’’ the news personnel in AIR and DD. Earlier, Information and
Broadcasting Minister Pramod Mahajan, while announcing
the pay hikes, had said that the government would
sympathetically consider the problems of other cadres of
the electronic media but had not given any deadline. |
Call for ban on conversions SANT RAVIDAS NAGAR (Ahmedabad), Feb 5 (UNI) — The first session of the eighth Dharma Sansad (religious parliament) today unanimously passed three resolutions, demanding a total, immediate and legal ban on religious conversions, autonomy of all temples from government control and resolving to forge social unity among all sections of the vast Hindu society through eradication of social evils like untouchability and casteism. Addressing a press conference here in the evening, Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) Senior Vice-President Acharya Giriraj Kishore said the fourth resolution regarding construction of the Ram Janmabhoomi Temple in Ayodhya would be taken up for consideration during the course of the three-day conference. The conference commenced at 3.30 p.m. in the Karnamukteshwar Temple complex here, named as Sant Ravidas Nagar after the eminent saint. He said the Kendriya Margdarshak Mandal (central advisory board) of the VHP, comprising top Hindu religious leaders, also considered the Dangs issue. The recent incidents in this tribal district of South Gujarat were the handiwork of Christians themselves as they were unable to convert any more people due to increasing awareness among the local tribesmen, he added. Reiterating that the
entire affair was an "international conspiracy"
to malign the VHP and the Bajrang Dal, the Acharya
claimed that these activities got a fillip after Ms Sonia
Gandhi became the Congress President. |
BJP unleashing communalism: Sonia DAVANGERE (Karnataka), Feb 5 (PTI) — The Congress President, Ms Sonia Gandhi, today charged forces represented in the Vajpayee government and the BJP with "unleashing competitive communalism" and had a dig at the Prime Minister, saying a day’s fast was not enough to "atone for inherent communalism"of the ruling establishment. "Certain forces in the government and the BJP are unleashing competitive communalism, trying to outdo one another in targeting minorities, resulting in brutal killings and destruction of properties," she told a public meeting here. The government, she said, could not absolve itself of "shameful irresponsibility". "A day’s fast is not enough to atone for inherent communalism of the ruling establishment" she said in an obvious reference to Mr Vajpayee who undertook a fast on January 30 to foster communal harmony. Ms Gandhi said there was "every danger" of the Vajpayee government collapsing and asserted the Congress could not allow "petty political calculations" to come in the way of discharging its national responsibility. "The way things are going on in Delhi, there is every danger of the collapse of the government", she said. Ms Gandhi said there was no ruling alliance partner which did not express displeasure at the way the government was run and, "even within the ruling party as well as its sister organisations, there are deep differences". Addressing a state-level party convention here, Ms Gandhi called upon the party to set the ground for restoring "a stable, sane and sensible government" at the Centre by putting up a good performance in the coming Assembly elections in Karnataka and some other states. "The people have realised that there is a grave danger to their future from the shaky, quarrelling and unprincipled coalition", she said without naming the Vajpayee government. The Congress President, who virtually kicked off the party’s campaign for the Assembly polls in Karnataka due in November this year, lashed out at the Janata Dal government in the state for postponing the gram panchayat elections, charging that it was a "violation of the Constitution". "They (Janata Dal) sought an excuse to postpone the polls as they realised that they are bound to lose. It is violation of the Constitution. It is a cynical perversion of the constitutional provisions on Panchayati Raj", Ms Gandhi said. She said the Congress in
the last few years had suffered reverses in Karnataka
which was considered its fortress for decades. "But
we are on the verge of re-establishing ourselves." |
Shiv Sena against visa to Rushdie NEW DELHI, Feb 5 (PTI) — In a rare gesture of solidarity, the Shiv Sena today said it would join its "Muslim brethren" in opposing the visa granted to controversial Indian-born British author Salman Rushdie as his visit would only "create social tensions and vitiate peace." "We oppose the government’s decision to grant visa to Rushdie and we will join our Muslim brethren in protesting against it. People who hurt the religious sentiments of any community should not be allowed as it would only create tension and vitiate peace in the country," party’s Delhi unit chief Jai Bhagwan Goyal told PTI. Goyal said he saw no difference between Rushdie and noted artist M.F. Hussain who had painted the Hindu goddess of learning Saraswati in nude and subsequently apologised. When pointed out that Rushdie too had apologised and Iran had withdrawn the "fatwa" issued by its late spiritual leader Ayottolah Khomeini, Goyal said: "But what is the point in allowing him when Muslims are opposing his visit." He alleged that Rushdie had lampooned Balasaheb Thackeray in one of his books. "Moreover, if Rushdie
can be allowed, why not Bangladeshi author Taslima
Nasreen," Goyal asked. |
Jehanabad massacre was planned: Maneka NEW DELHI, Feb 5 (PTI) — The Centre today said that the recent Jehanabad massacre in Bihar was a "planned attack" which appeared to be more political and economic than social or caste-based. "The incident was a planned attack by some miscreants on innocent people who had no ostensible dispute with anybody", Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Maneka Gandhi told reporters here. She said a Director-level officer of the Scheduled Castes Division in the Ministry had come to this conclusion after his visit to Jehanabad for first-hand information about the killing of 22 Dalits on January 25. Ms Gandhi said the Centre had sanctioned Rs 15 lakh under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act to provide compensation to the victims' families and to meet cremation expenses. Stating that her ministry would extend maximum assistance to Bihar for the uplift of Dalits, she said non-governmental organisations (NGOs) too had a major role to play as central funds alone would not suffice. About the post-matric scholarships to SC/ST students, she said government had removed restrictions for eligibility of only two male children of a family. The scheme was proposed to benefit about 22 lakh SC and ST students in the country during the current financial year. She said the Centre had decided to continue the pre-matric scholarship scheme for children of scavengers to benefit 3.66 lakh students during the current year. She said the national overseas scholarship for SC/ST had been revived this year. The minister said the
scheme to provide hostel facilities to SC boys and girls
studying in middle schools, higher secondary schools,
colleges and universities had been approved for
continuation during the Ninth Plan. |
PM writes to Chinese
schoolboy NEW DELHI, Feb 5 — The birthday greeting mail received by the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, on December 25 included a letter from a Chinese school student, Zhu Zhenshou. Mr Vajpayee has replied to the schoolboy, the gist of the letter was released by the Foreign Office to the media today. "India and China share a long tradition of cultural contacts spanning centuries. We must carry forward this tradition", Mr Vajpayee’s letter said. The letter to Zhu Zhenshou further stated that "contacts and exchanges between children and the youth will promote friendship between our two countries and people". For the Chinese, there is, perhaps, a special significance for Mr Vajpayee’s birthday — the birth anniversary of the pioneer of the Chinese revolution, Mao Zedong (the modern spelling of Mao Tse-tung) falls on December 26. Incidentally, December 25 is also the birth anniversary of the founder of Pakistan, Mohammad Ali Jinnah. Mr Vajpayee’s decision to write to the Chinese schoolboy reflects the Prime Minister’s desire to engage China in a constructive dialogue. This letter is perceived as a first step in that direction. Earlier in the day, the
Defence Minister, Mr George Fernandes, echoed similar
sentiments from Chennai, saying India wished to engage
China in a meaningful dialogue. |
India, Estonia sign 2 pacts NEW DELHI, Feb 5 (PTI) — India and Estonia today signed an agreement to enhance cooperation in the field of science and technology and another on setting up of a joint business council to promote bilateral economic ties. The agreement on science and technology, first of its kind with any Baltic state, provides for setting up of a joint committee to identify the areas of mutual cooperation and provides for exchange of scientists. The agreements were signed by Human Resource Development Minister Murli Manohar Joshi and Estonian Foreign Minister Raul Malk in the presence of Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee and visiting Estonian President Lennart Meri. Earlier, Mr Meri, who was accorded a ceremonial reception in the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhavan, said Estonia is keen on further strengthening economic relations with India. Mr Meri, who is here on a
two-day visit, was warmly received by President K.R.
Narayanan and Mrs Usha Narayanan, Mr Vajpayee and his
Cabinet colleagues. |
Khurana: govt may fall anytime NEW DELHI, Feb 5 (UNI) — Former Union Minister Madan Lal Khurana has said the Vajpayee government could fall during or before the Budget session. "The way I look at it, it could fall during the Budget session or perhaps even earlier. It will be a tough climb for the BJP then to come back to power," the former Tourism and Parliamentary Affairs Minister who resigned in protest against attacks on the minorities, said. Mr Khurana, for the first time, identified BJP president Kushabhau Thakre and organising secretaries Govindacharya and Narendra Modi as some key representatives of the RSS lobby within the BJP who were working against Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee. "This has been happening for some time, established and dedicated workers were being constantly sidelined in a planned manner. Leaders like Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, Kalyan Singh, Madan Lal Khurana and Shanta Kumar were being sought to be steadily inactivated for reasons best known to the RSS," he said in an interview to the weekly ‘Outlook’ here. Mr Khurana said the Sangh Parivar had virtually launched a campaign against the government. "The way the parivar
has declared a war against the government, which even the
Opposition has refrained from doing, has put the
government in great difficulty. It was difficult to
fathom that some elements in the Sangh were describing
the Vajpayee government as having sold the nation." |
Takht chief urged to punish
Badal NEW DELHI, Feb 5 — The Delhi State Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) has appealed to Akal Takht Jathedar Bhai Ranjit Singh to summon and punish the SAD president, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, for defying the edict (hukamnama) issued in December end. In a statement issued here on Thursday, the president of the Delhi State SAD (Amritsar), Mr Jaswinder Singh Virk, said that “continuous violation of the edict has been painful and unfortunate.” The party has appealed to Mr Badal “to abide by the edict in letter and spirit as a humble Sikh.’’ Mr Virk said that the Delhi unit of the party had requested the Akal Takht Jathedar to punish Mr Badal as per Sikh traditions for violating the edict. He added that this punishment would range from ‘Tankhah’ (punishment for religious conduct) to ex-communication. He said that an appeal by
131 members of the SGPC and 10 executive committee
members of the pro-Badal group to reconsider the edict
and to then taking of the fight to the Gurdwara Judicial
Commission was a serious breach of the edict. |
Pant’s stress on synergy NEW DELHI, Feb 5 — Mr K.C. Pant, who took over as the Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission today, said there had to be a synergy between national security and economic planning. Mr Pant, who replaced External Affairs Minister, Mr Jaswant Singh, in the reconstituted Planning Commission said national security was not confined to military alone as finance, economics and trade were elements of security. The former Defence Minister, who was Chairman of the Task Force on National Security Council, said since India had become a nuclear weapons state it was all the more urgent to advance rapidly in the economic sphere. The aim of national security and economic planning was to ultimately ensure a better life for the people, he said. Other members of the commission, which was reconstituted yesterday, were also present when Mr Pant joined office today. While the External Affairs Minister, Mr Jaswant Singh and the Finance Minister, Mr Yashwant Sinha, would also be the Members of the Commission, other members of the reconstituted Commission are Dr Montek Singh Ahluwalia, Mr S.R. Hashim, who has been promoted from his earlier post of Secretary, Mr D.N. Tiwari and Dr S.P. Gupta. Mr N.C. Saxena would be the Secretary of the Planning Commission. Mr Pant said planning was a continuous process aimed at achieving a certain goal in the future. The more ambitious the goal, harder would be the effort to achieve it, he added. He said there was a need for the Centre, states and the panchayats to pool in their skills and resources to help achieve the goals agreed in the Ninth Plan paper. Mr Pant, who joins the Commission even as two years of the Ninth Plan have passed and the final draft is awaiting ratification by the National Development Council on February 19, felt the planning process would have to take into account the state of world economy, the fall out of the South East Asian meltdown and its impact on the country’s revenue. Under the current situation, the next three years of planning would require a massive effort to ensure that the goals of the Ninth Plan were met, Mr Pant said. He felt that the earlier 7 per cent growth target for the Ninth Plan and even the toned down 6.5 per cent target was quite ambitious in the present circumstances. India would have to achieve a 7 per cent growth rate over the next three years to achieve a 6.5 per cent growth rate in the Ninth Plan period. When asked how he would pilot the plan at the NDC meeting, especially when he was not involved in the preparation of the Ninth Plan till now, Mr Pant said planning was a team effort and individuals did not matter. He said he would have a look at the contours of the plan document before attending the NDC meeting. On his views about having
a five-year plan instead of an annual plan, the Deputy
Chairman said a five year plan gives a certain long term
perspective. In any case the annual plan was reflected in
the Budget and it was a question of perception. |
Kiran Walia, H. K. Gautam file
papers NEW DELHI, Feb 5 — The filing of nomination papers by candidates of various parties for the Delhi Assembly byelections came to an end today. The Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party candidates for the Hauz Khas Assembly constituency, Mrs Kiran Walia and Mr H.S. Gautam, filed their papers on the last day of filing of nominations today. Mrs Kiran Walia was accompanied by a small procession starting from Sudershan Cinema in Yusuf Sarai to the Returning Officer’s office at Mehrauli where she filed her papers amidst sloganeering and beat of drum in the afternoon. Mrs Walia, who gave a tough fight to former Delhi Chief Minister Sushma Swaraj in the recent Delhi Assembly elections, said she was confident of winning the elections this time. “It is a replay for
me,” she said adding that the byelections had come
“too soon”. |
Novel village scheme PFUTSERO (Nagaland), Feb 5 — Far from the madding crowd lies this sleepy hamlet which represents a progressive face of an otherwise far from developed state of Nagaland. The village is one of the 1045 that dot seven districts of the state, which till date had several industrial projects but most of them non-functional. “Infrastructure is what we do not have. There is problem of communication, transport in the absence of durable roads, inadequate power and the right climate for investment is not there” the Chief Secretary, Mr A.M. Gokhale told a group of visiting correspondents from Delhi. Yet, undeterred by this the state government with the help of local people is using central funds for a novel scheme of village development through traditional councils. Nagaland as in some other parts of the North-East has been kept out of the purview of the Panchayat Raj. A special Act was enacted in 1978 under which the councils are constituted every five years. However, instead of any direct or formal elections, the councils are constituted as per customary practices of each village which vary from tribe to tribe. The powers and functions of these councils are vast. Apart from the primary responsibility of administration of justice and maintenance of law and order, these councils are entrusted with the responsibility of development schemes, their supervision and implementation. One interesting aspect has been the concept of “community bus” scheme to overcome the problem of transportation. Nearly 150 such buses are owned by the village development councils. They also appoint the driver and the conductor with each household in a village contributing out of the Rs 2,000 per head they get from the government for development schemes. The government is also encouraging thrift and each village development board is given a matching grant against the funds and deposits mobilised in the form of fixed deposits with commercial banks. In addition, the boards are also generating resources on their own and have been able to invest such funds not only in acquiring fixed assets such as buildings and vehicles but also in savings instruments likely post office time deposits, the Rural Development Additional Director, Mr Imkonglemba explained. While this may be at the micro-level, the state government continues to reel under the impact of allocation of the Ninth Finance Commission. As Mr Gokhale put it: “It broke our back”. There is no industry worth its name in the state and the only newsprint paper mill at Tuli facing closure and the sugar mill near Dimapur not making a headway. Other projects like the plywood factory and brick-kilns not worth mentioning. While the Chief Minister,
Mr S.C. Jamir, said considering the fact that Nagaland
had just one hospital and two high school, 50 years ago
the state had achieved some progress, the bureaucrats
charge the “attitude of the central ministries”
as responsible for the slow-development compounded with
the lack of infrastructure. |
LAHDC threat to revive stir NEW DELHI, Feb 5 — The chairman of the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC), Mr Thupstan Chhewang, today said that they would meet the Prime Minister and Union Home Minister to seek their intervention in the proper functioning of the council failing which the demand for a separate union territory would be revived. Addressing a press
conference at the AICC Headquarters here today, Mr
Chhewang said a six-member delegation would meet the
Prime Minister and the Home Minister and apprise them of
the developments and seek their “effective
intervention’’. |
| H |
|
||
| Australian tourist raped JAIPUR: An Australian tourist was allegedly raped at a farm house here, the police said on Thursday. According to a complaint lodged with the police at Bagru town, near here, the tourist was raped on Tuesday night when she, with her friend, went to the farm house with two persons for getting cheap accommodation. One of the men allegedly raped her. — PTI Bandh hits life in
Darjeeling 5 killed in
accident Sandalwood seized Jail supdt shot
dead 63 landmines
unearthed |
 |
 |
| Punjab
| Haryana | Himachal Pradesh | Jammu & Kashmir | Chandigarh | | Editorial | Business | Sport | | Mailbag | Spotlight | World | 50 years of Independence | Weather | | Search | Subscribe | Archive | Suggestion | Home | E-mail | |
