Monday, January 25, 1999
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Keshubhai sees global plan
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Shivani was first strangled NEW DELHI, Jan 24 — The post-mortem report of principal correspondent of The Indian Express, Mrs Shivani Bhatnagar, who was brutally murdered yesterday, states that she was first strangled and then stabbed to death.
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Fight AIDS, PM asks states Cong
ready to go it alone in Maharashtra People
take politics ‘as circus’ Vinod
Khanna for awareness about liver transplant |
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Attacks on Christians DANG (Gujarat), Jan 24 (PTI) — The Gujarat Government is probing to ascertain whether the recent attacks on Christians in some parts of the state were triggered by "international conspiracy", even as "bitterness" created among the communities after the incidents is slowly subsiding, the state Chief Minister has said. "We have apprehension that there is some international conspiracy behind these incidents. We are looking into this aspect," Chief Minister Keshubhai Patel told PTI in an interview. Claiming that the "conversion" was the root cause of the violence, he said "it seems the remote district of Dangs has been selected as part of the conspiracy." Mr Patel said the situation in the backward areas of the district, which witnessed attacks on Christian missionaries and churches, was fast returning to normal and the administration has taken strict measures to maintain law and order. He said the authorities had been categorically asked to identify those responsible for the attacks and nab them without considering their religious affiliation. "We are making an all out effort to remove the bitterness between Hindus and Christians. Therefore, it has been decided people belonging to the two communities will rebuild the damaged religious places with community service. Dangs Superintendent of Police Manoj Sasidhar told a PTI correspondent, who recently toured the affected areas, that only about 25 villages falling between Ahawa and Subeer were hit by violence. However, the situation is now "fully under control", he said. District Magistrate Jagdish Prasad Gupta said those who had suffered losses in the attacks were being compensated and the administration was trying to ensure that damaged place of worship were rebuilt jointly by members of the two communities. He said 500 personnel of state reserve police force have been deployed in the affected areas to ensure peace. However, members of Christian institutions dismissed the government claim that the attacks were propelled by conversion. Principal of Deep Darshan Missionary School at Ahawa, sister Carman Borges said "our school was targeted by miscreants. No government official has so far come to us even to express sympathy." She termed as baseless the allegation that conversion was the reason for the attacks. "We will continue our work to teach the children and make people aware of the importance of education and health." Father Francis Gonsalves, who has come from Goa, said the government should come out with figures about alleged conversion instead of making baseless charges. Refuting the allegation of
attacks by Christians on temples, he said "we cannot
even think of attacking anyone. We want to live in
peace." |
Cong blames Bajrang Dal, Sangh
Parivar NEW DELHI Jan 24 — The Congress today accused the Bajrang Dal and the Sangh Parivar for yesterday’s ghastly incident in which an Australian Christian missionary and his two young sons were burnt alive, and said such events would harm the nation’s image. Quoting reports from the Orissa Chief Minister, Mr J.B. Patnaik, senior Congress leaders Arjun Singh and Pranab Mukherjee alleged that the whole incident was "pre-planned and executed" by the Bajrang Dal. There were many witnesses who tried to save the victims — Graham Stewart Steins and his two children — but were not allowed to do so by a mob. The police have rounded up nearly 40 persons so far. Condemning the incident, Mr Arjun Singh said the agenda of the Sangh Parivar was "murder, mayhem and intimidation" and the political parties should devise ways and means to halt these "barbaric attacks". They believed in one nation, one people and one culture and the incident was a fallout of this theory, he said. He further said the party President, Mrs Sonia Gandhi, on her return from a tour of Maharashtra was expecting a report from the AICC General Secretary, Mr Madhavrao Scindia, who had been sent to the spot. She had condemned the violence and fanaticism, and had directed the Orissa Chief Minister to bring the guilty to book and ensure security for the minority communities and all religious places. He said the Orissa authorities believed that an Etawah resident, Dara Singh, was behind the incident and were working to uncover the truth. CALCUTTA: Congress Working Committee (CWC) member Madhavrao Scindia on Sunday alleged that the forces unleashed by the BJP and the Sangh Parivar, including the Bajrang Dal, were responsible for the barbaric killing of an Australian missionary and his two sons in Orissa’s Keonjhar district. "It is high time Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee and Home Minister L.K. Advani realised the mistake of turning a blind eye to such activities in Gujarat," Mr Scindia, who visited Manoharpur village, the scene of Saturday’s incident where missionary Graham Stewert Steins and his two sons were burnt alive, told reporters at NSC Bose airport here on his way to Delhi. Mr Scindia, who was asked to rush to Bhubaneswar on way to the village in Keonjhar district by AICC chief Sonia Gandhi cancelling his Nagpur tour, said he would submit a report to the Congress President tonight. "The attackers are not human beings. These are the forces unleashed by the BJP and its Sangh Parivar. It is the greatest threat to the nation and our secular character is under attack," he said, adding the Vajpayee Government’s "soft-pedalling" the Gujarat issue must have encouraged these "communal elements" in other parts of the country. To a question, the Congress leader said the Keonjhar incident had no links with the Anjana Mishra case. "This is an isolated incident". "I am not at all happy at the gruesome incident that has taken place in either a Congress-ruled state or those under governance of some other parties," Mr Scindia said when asked what step the J.B. Patnaik Government had taken to check the Bajrang Dal activities. Calling for a long-term
measure to tackle the menace of communalism, the Congress
Working Committee member said he had talked to Hindu and
Christian communities in Manoharpur village "and I
came to know that the attack was pre-planned and the
attackers blew a whistle before dispersing raising
Bajrang Dal slogans," he said. |
Shivani was first strangled NEW DELHI, Jan 24 — The post-mortem report of principal correspondent of The Indian Express, Mrs Shivani Bhatnagar, who was brutally murdered yesterday, states that she was first strangled and then stabbed to death. The post-mortem, which was conducted at the AIIMS, clarifies that Mrs Bhatnagar was not sexually assaulted. The report points out that the assailants after strangling her, stabbed her in the neck and stomach which led to her death. The Union Home Minister, Mr L.K. Advani, and the Delhi Chief Minister, Mrs Sheila Dikshit, today attended the cremation of Mrs Bhatnagar. A large number of relatives, friends and mediapersons were present at the crematorium. The Delhi police appears to have made some breakthrough in the brutal murder. The needle of suspicion in the brutal murder of Mrs Shivani Bhatnagar is pointing towards Rajeev Bhatnagar, who had apparently given a wrong Chandigarh address. Taking a cue from the addresses entered in the diary maintained by the private security guards at the apartment complex, the police found that the address given by the visitor, Rajeev Bhatnagar, “311, The Tribune Colony, Sector 29-D, Chandigarh” was wrong. The police is believed to have questioned a few persons of the colony who used to frequent the Bhatnagar household. DCP (Crime) Karnal Singh said that investigations were continuing and “we are investigating from various angles”. The police which has already ruled out the motive of robbery and was looking into all angles to the case and had got a “definite” clue to the crime, sources said. Wife of the Legal Editor of the Times of India, Mr Rakesh Bhatnagar, Mrs Shivani Bhatnagar was found murdered by her brother-in-law, B.S. Bhatnagar. After failing to enter the house by using the duplicate key given to him, Mr B.S. Bhatnagar had called up Mr Rakesh Bhatnagar. It was only after Mr Rakesh Bhatnagar explained that the door was probably jammed that Mr B.S. Bhatnagar managed to enter the house, only to find Shivani dead in the bedroom while her son was wailing in the other room. Prime Minister Atal Behari
Vajpayee, Congress President Sonia Gandhi condemned the
gruesome murder. |
Fight AIDS, PM asks states NEW DELHI, Jan 24 (PTI) — The Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, today asked the state governments to launch an anti-AIDS movement and demonstrate political commitment to prevent and control the dreaded disease as also protect HIV-infected persons from social ostracisation. The Prime Minister’s letter, released here, also sought suggestions and proposals from the Chief Ministers on the nature of the nationwide anti-AIDS movement, besides information on the strategy they propose to adopt to tackle the epidemic. Citing epidemiological data, the Prime Minister said Maharashtra was by far the worst affected, while four other states — Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Manipur — were showing “unacceptably high prevalence” of HIV or AIDS. There is a tendency, based on wrong assumptions, to treat HIV or AIDS as a disease from the West which affects only certain sections of society like commercial sex workers and drug users, Mr Vajpayee noted. The experience of Thailand
and Uganda, he said, had demonstrated that with strongly
committed political leadership, it was possible to
prevent a catastrophe and bring down the level of the
epidemic with an effective and sustained campaign over a
period of two to three years. |
Cong ready to go it alone in Maharashtra NAGPUR, Jan 24 (PTI) — The Congress was prepared to go it alone in the next elections to the Maharashtra Assembly and would not allow itself to be browbeaten by the Republican Party of India (RPI) or the Socialist Party on the issue of alliance, state Congress chief Prataprao Bhosale said today. “The Congress can contest on its own and win in Maharashtra”, Mr Bhosale told reporters when asked about the RPI (Athawale) demand for 50 seats. “The Socialist Party can contest on its own. We can do without their support”, Mr Bhosale said about similar demands from that party. He said the Congress was ready to talk to whichever faction of the RPI approaching it. “The RPI represents a group that had been oppressed and wronged for long. Why talk about groupism in their party ?”, he added. The MPCC chief said it was
too early to talk about the number of independent MLAs
who would be given the ticket if they joined the
Congress. |
People take politics ‘as circus’ NEW DELHI, Jan 24 (PTI) — Lack of people’s participation in politics and no decisive judicial action against criminals have led to the degeneration of Indian polity, Defence Minister George Fernandes said today. Mainstream politics is suffering from a disease which arises out of a situation in which most of the people remain by-standers and take politics as a circus in which only bad people participate, Mr Fernandes said at the valedictory session of a national seminar on electoral reforms here. His suggestion about fixing a definite term for the Lok Sabha in case of a hung Parliament came in for criticism from noted jurist V.R. Krishna Iyer who said an “irremovable” Parliament would give rise to dictatorial tendencies. “Political stability is different from mechanical preservation of the status quo. What we require is reflection of changing views of the electorate,” Mr Iyer said. Mr Fernandes earlier sought the scrapping of the 10th Schedule of the Constitution on anti-defection, saying “it was not meant for instilling discipline in political parties but to encourage wholesale trade” of members of Parliament. Stating that he had been
opposing this provision since its inception in the
fifties, he said “if a leader has a right to lead
his party, the right to revolt should be granted to an
ordinary member. |
Vinod Khanna for awareness about
NEW DELHI, Jan 24 — “Miracle of modern medicine”, is how well-known lawyer Rani Jethmalani described her successful liver transplant as well as that of another two-year-old child. Cine-star and Member of Parliament from Gurdaspur, Mr Vinod Khanna, wished the child a long and healthy life. He hoped that awareness would be spread about the fact that liver transplant was possible in India and that the recipients could lead a normal life. Both Rani Jethmalani and the child’s mother shared their experiences with mediapersons here at a function organised by Nirmala Deshpande, MP, and president of the Akhil Bharat Rachnatmak Samaj. Rani Jethmalani said she
had got a lease of life after getting a transplant
abroad. |
Surajkund mela SURAJKUND, Jan 24 — Visitors to the Surajkund Crafts Mela can shop to their heart’s content this time with porters at their service. This paid-for assistance is being reintroduced in the fortnight-long fair scheduled to start from February 1. Organised by the Surajkund Mela authority under the aegis of the Ministry of Tourism, the mela will be inaugurated by the Haryana Governor, Mr Mahabir Prasad. The fair showcases the crafts, culture and cuisine of Indian states. The mela timings will be from 9.30 am to 5.30 pm everyday. Briefing media persons here on Sunday, the Commissioner and Secretary, Haryana Tourism, Mr Sanjay Kothari, said “To keep a check on the monopoly by craftspersons, the mela authority does not allow a craftsperson to participate more than three times.’’ He said the mela authority had decided to issue badges to the porters. He further said Andhra Pradesh had been chosen as the theme state for the mela. A replica of Hyderabad’s famous monument, Charminar forms the master motif of the mela. The structure has been designed by art director, Peketi Ranga. Ms Keshani Anand Arora, Managing Director, Haryana Tourism, said 309 craftspersons from various states were participating. “Of these, 139 are national awardees and merit certificate holders and 50 per cent are women.” Asked whether the mela authority had got a positive response from craftspersons of SAARC countries, she said, “Two artists from Nepal participated last year. They don’t come because of problems in customs clearance. We are trying to sort it out this year.” Mr Kothari said the total expenditure on the mela is estimated to touch Rs 70 lakh. Asked how much money the Haryana Tourism earned last year, he said. “This is not a commercial venture at all. We don’t charge a penny from the participants. They are given travel and daily allowance to meet their expenses. They only have to pay very subsidised rates for the meals.” Dr G. Anapama, mela
administrator, said 16 painters and five sculptors will
participate in the painters and sculptors workshop during
the mela. She added that the workshop will be held on the
grounds adjacent to the Sunbird restaurant. The workshop
which starts on February 2 will continue till February 13
and provide visitors an opportunity to see M.F. Hussain
and other senior artists sketching and painting on
canvas. |
HC seeks records in STC case NEW DELHI, Jan 24 (PTI) — The Delhi High Court has asked the CBI to place before it entire records relating to the alleged bungling by former State Trading Corporation (STC) Managing Director and other officials in various deals. A Division Bench comprising Justice Y.K. Sabharwal and Justice K.S. Gupta after perusing some files and two case diaries produced by the CBI on January 14, directed the agency to place before it all relevant files before February 17, the next date of hearing. The high court had directed the CBI to investigate the allegations against former STC MD B.K. Chaturvedi, its former Director (vigilance) I.D. Chaudhary, and three other officials, for “causing huge losses” to the corporation in the export of skimmed milk and import of rice and sugar in 1995-96. The court order came on a
writ petition by the People’s Union of Civil
Liberties (PUCL) which alleged that the STC entered into
a skimmed milk export deal worth Rs 6 crore with a
foreign company. The contract, however, did not
materialise and the corporation suffered a net loss of Rs
5 crore. |
Jan 26 'black day' for Dalits CHENNAI, Jan 24 (PTI) — A Dalit party in Tamil Nadu today decided to observe Republic Day and Independence Day as "days of mourning" in protest against the alleged "failure" of the state government to appoint Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribe candidates as per its own reservation policy. A resolution passed at a
meeting here of the Puthiya Tamizhagam headed by Dr K.
Krishnasamy, MLA, said January 26 and August 15 were
"black days" for Dalits as the state government
had failed to fulfil its promise of according 19 per cent
reservation to SC and ST candidates. |
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| 7 killed, 15 hurt in road
mishap COIMBATORE: At least seven persons, including a child and a woman, were killed and 33 injured, 15 of them seriously, when two state-owned transport corporation buses collided at a village in Erode district early today, the police said. Four of the victims died on the spot in the mishap, which occurred at Karapalayam near Kangeyam. The injured have been admitted to various hospitals in Kangeyam, Erode and Coimbatore. — PTI Postage
stamp on DRDO Marriage party
booked Anti-cancer drugs
from plants Signature campaign |
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