tribuneindia...Spotlight

			Saturday, February 13, 1999
weather today's calendar

Motor spirit to be costlier in Punjab
CHANDIGARH, Feb 12 (UNI) — Motor spirit would become costlier in Punjab from February 16, following repeal of the Motor Spirit (taxation of sales) Act, 1939, by the state government. An official announcement here this evening said motor spirit would be taxable under the Punjab General Sales Tax Act, 1948, envisaging an enhancement in tax on petrol from seven paise to 10 paise per rupee, with same surcharge of 10 per cent as before. There would be no increase in the rate of tax on diesel. The rate of tax on diesel will continue at the rate of 4 per cent with 10 per cent surcharge under Punjab General Sales Tax Act, 1948, which already existed, the announcement added.

Onion export
NEW DELHI, Feb 12 (PTI) — The government today formally lifted the ban on onion exports but restricted its shipments to 25,000 tonne every month till May 11. In a notification issued this evening, the government also allowed an agency to be nominated by the Maharashtra Government to be a canalising agent for onion exports.

Anti-Rushdie rally
NEW DELHI, Feb 12 (PTI) — Demonstrators protesting grant of visa by the Indian Government to the controversial Indian-born British author Salman Rushdie today burnt his effigy and demanded immediate cancellation of his visa. The demonstrators assembled in front of Jama Masjid, after Friday prayers, and burnt an effigy of Rushdie, whom they described as anti-Islamic. Organised by the Mili-Etihaad Council, protesters raising anti-BJP slogans also denounced the BJP-led government’s move of allowing Rushdie with an assurance of providing security in India.

Insat-2E ready
BANGALORE, Feb 12 (FOC) — The two-tonne multipurpose satellite Insat 2-E, most advanced among the communication satellites ever built by the Indian Space Scientists to enhance the vibrant and self-reliant space application programme of the country will be put into the space in an exclusive flight of European Ariane Launch Vehicle in another six weeks. Eminent space scientist and Chairman ISRO Dr K. Kasturirangan announcing this at a press conference here today said the addition of Insat-2E will further expand and enhance India's communication programme, hailed as one of the largest domestic communication satellite systems in the world.

Gangster held
NEW DELHI, Feb 12 (PTI) — An associate of Uttar Pradesh gangster Shriprakash Shukla, who was killed in an encounter with the police in the outskirts of Delhi MP last year, was arrested from an MP flat here today, the police said. Rajan Tiwari (25), who was hiding in an MP’s flat at Ferozeshah Road, was arrested following a raid by a joint team of the Delhi police, UP Police and the Special Task Force (STF), Deputy Commissioner of Delhi police (crime) Karnal Singh told PTI.

Salman's trip cleared
JODHPUR, Feb 12 (PTI) — Actor Salman Khan, facing charges of poaching of rare black buck in a forest here, has been allowed by a local court to go abroad for participating in film shooting from February 5 to April 15. In a recent judgement, the District and Sessions Judge asked Salman to deposit his passport with the court as soon as he returned to the country in April.