Thursday, July 1, 1999
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Sonia can’t ask questions in
RS: BJP NEW DELHI, June 30 — The BJP has said Congress President Sonia Gandhi should invite debate and discussion in a forum where she can participate. Two BKI men arrested NEW DELHI, June 30 — With the arrest of two activists of Babbar Khalsa International, the Delhi police claims to have averted bomb blasts in the Capital and Punjab. |
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Congress: Govt lacks
transparency |
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Congress women protest
near Pak mission Ramoowalia’s party registered
with EC IMA reiterates commitment Medical van for Delhi slums |
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Sonia can’t ask
questions in RS: BJP NEW DELHI, June 30 — The BJP has said Congress President Sonia Gandhi should invite debate and discussion in a forum where she can participate. Briefing newspersons here today, the BJP national Vice-President, Mr K.L. Sharma, said, “She is not a member of the Rajya Sabha. She has been demanding that a special session of the Rajya Sabha be convened to discuss developments in Kargil but she will not be able to raise any questions even if such a session takes place. The best forum where she could have raised questions were the two all-party meetings which she did not attend.” Mr Sharma said Mrs Sonia Gandhi was raising questions about Kargil for “petty political interests” without keeping in mind the interest of the country. He said that in doing so, the Congress President had been spoiling her image as well as that of her party. The BJP National Vice President said if the Congress claim of having in its possession 42 sensitive documents related to intelligence reports was true, the party should make them public instead of indulging in blatant blackmail.”They need not wait for a special session of the Rajya Sabha only for this purpose.” Asked why his party was opposed to convening a special Rajya Sabha session to discuss developments in Kargil, Mr Sharma said, “The reason is that there was no consensus on a special session at the all-party meeting convened on Monday. How does it matter whether discussion takes place at an all-party meeting or in a special session of Rajya Sabha? I don’t know whether the session will serve any purpose. The Rajya Sabha cannot censure the government. It is not within its jurisdiction.” Mr Sharma reiterated that the masses, political parties and the Press were well-informed of developments in Kargil. “Details of ongoing operations are being shared with the people and the media every single day by experts. Moreover, mediapersons have been given unprecedented access to the farthest points on the front.” The party’s national Vice President said the government was very clear about flushing out Pakistani troops and militants from the Indian territory. He said that talks with Pakistan could be resumed only if the latter agreed to vacate the Indian territory. He added that there was no scope for a third party mediation. Mr Sharma said his party
condemned the attack on the Indian High Commission
staff-member, Mr N.R. Doraiswamy, in Islamabad yesterday. |
Two BKI men arrested NEW DELHI, June 30 — With the arrest of two activists of Babbar Khalsa International, the Delhi police claims to have averted bomb blasts in the Capital and Punjab. The terrorists, Balbir Singh Bains and Sukhmander Singh, alias Sukhe, were arrested yesterday at ISBT in North Delhi. They had planned to explode bombs and carry out shootouts in Delhi and Punjab, the police said. Balbir Singh Bains is a resident of South Hall in the UK but originally belongs to Hoshiarpur in Punjab and Sukhmander is from Ferozepore. The police received information that terrorists were coming to the Capital by a bus from Punjab for indulging in terrorist activities. It kept surveillance at the ISBT and all buses coming from Haryana and Punjab were checked. They were arrested at 7.15 pm. Two kg of RDX along with two timer pencils were recovered from them. During interrogation Sukhmander Singh disclosed that in 1998 he came in contact with Balbir Singh Bains. He was motivated by Bains to work for militants organisation and was also directed to recruit Sikh youths for indulging in terrorist activities. He was introduced to terrorists Karamjeet Singh and Wadhawa Singh, chief of Babbar Khalsa International. The police said Karamjeet Singh and Sukhmander Singh told Wadhawa Singh that they wanted to cause explosions in Punjab and Delhi for which they needed RDX, arms and ammunition. Karamjeet Singh wanted to eliminate a DSP of the Punjab police for his role in killing a number of terrorists in the state. Sukhmander Singh had got the consignment from Wadhawa Singh and had come to the Capital along with Balbir Singh Bains to carry out terrorist activities. Balbir Singh Bains
disclosed that he is an active member of Babbar Khalsa
International. |
Congress: Govt lacks
transparency NEW DELHI, June 30 — The Congress today took “grave exception” to “lack of transparency” on the negotiations surrounding the Kargil issue. The party in a statement here, said on the one hand the Prime Minister had been asserting that there would be no negotiations with Pakistan until the intruders were driven out of Indian territory and on the other a former Pakistan Foreign Secretary, Mr Niaz A. Naik, had paid a secret visit to Delhi during which he met the Prime Minister. The Congress said as per reports in the media in these meetings, Mr Naik is said to have discussed modalities of providing a safe passage and other measures of quid-pro-quo. The party said it had been publicised both in India and Pakistan that Mr Naik’s visit to India was in response to similar secret visits by Indian envoys duly authorised by the Government of India. The apparent reference was to reports in a section of Pakistan Press that Mr R.K. Mishra was the Indian emissary to Islamabad. “It is extremely unfortunate that in a situation as critical as this, impinging on national sovereignty, our territorial integrity and the overall security of the nation, the government should be handled like this and the entire country, the political parties and the national media kept in the dark,” the Congress said. The party also took objection to the fact the people were to learn about this vital matter of national security from the Pakistani Press and their spokespersons. It said the government by resorting to this kind of amateurish approach had caused utter confusion among people and sent a wrong signal to the armed forces which were engaged in a battle against adversaries. “The cavalier disregard by a caretaker government of the sensitivity of the nation on a matter of national security deserves to be condemned in the strongest possible terms”, the party said. The Congress said it was dismayed that the government had refused to convene a special session of the Rajya Sabha and to set up an institutionalised mechanism for comprehensive political consultations and participation in discussion with the Opposition. To a question as to what
sort of institutional mechanism, the party had in mind,
the Chairman of the AICC Foreign Affairs Department, Mr
K. Natwar Singh, said since both India and Pakistan had
diplomatic relations the mechanism should be worked out
through the channel.
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YC asks UN to declare Pak
a rogue state NEW DELHI, June 30 — The Indian Youth Congress today urged the United Nations to declare Pakistan a “rogue” and “terrorist state.” In a memorandum to the United Nations office here, the “IYC President, Mr Manish Tewari, urged the UN Secretary General, Mr Kofi Annan, to declare Pakistan a “rogue, irresponsible and a terrorist state” for its acts of sponsoring terrorist activity in Kashmir, Punjab for over two decades and for violating the LoC. “The violation of the LoC clearly demonstrates that Pakistan is hell bent upon creating tension and promoting terrorism and violence world-wide”, the memorandum said. “Pakistan’s
support and encouragement to terrorist, religious and
fundamentalist organisations such as the one led by
Osama-bin-Laden and other terrorist organisations such as
the Harkat-ul-Ansar, the Laskar-e-Toiba and Al-Bag is
exposed in its recent aggression in the Kargil and Dras
sector and, therefore Pakistan army’s brazen act of
supporting and seeking support from terrorist
organisations to disrupt peace must be condemned by the
international community,” the memorandum added. |
Cong women protest near
Pak mission NEW DELHI, June 30 — Activists of the All-India Mahila Congress, led by its president, Ms Chandresh Kumari, today demonstrated near the Pakistan High Commission, to protest against its armed intrusion in Kargil. The marchers were stopped near the high commission and a delegation led by Ms Kumari, submitted a memorandum. The delegation included Ms Mabel Rebello and Ms Sudha Joshi, Ms Preetam Arora, all vice-presidents of the Mahila Congress and Ms Jamuna Devi, Minister for Women and Child Welfare in the Madhya Pradesh Government. The memorandum condemned the hegemonistic designs of Pakistan and the unethical manner in which the Pakistan-backed armed intruders and regulars perpetuated a cult of violence and terrorism in the Indian territory. The memorandum demanded
immediate withdrawal of intruders, immediate return of
the missing Indian Army personnel, mediation to resolve
bilateral issues, humane treatment to soldiers as
prescribed under the Geneva Convention. |
Ramoowalia’s party
registered with EC NEW DELHI, June 30 — The Lok Bhalai Party headed by a former Union Minister, Mr Balwant Singh Ramoowalia, has been registered as a political party by the Election Commission. Announcing this here today, Mr Ramoowalia said his party planned to contest from six of the 13 Lok Sabha constituencies in the forthcoming general elections. He said the Punjabi Bhalai Manch which was floated in November, 1997 had now been renamed as the Lok Bhalai Party. It was now a full-fledged political party with its headquarters in Ludhiana. Addressing a press conference, Mr Ramoowalia said his party would put up its candidates from Patiala, Sangrur, Ludhiana, Bathinda, Phillaur and Tarn Taran. He said the Lok Bhalai Party would work to ensure that there was no division in the anti-BJP and anti-SAD (Badal) vote in Punjab. Mr Ramoowalia, said that his party would hold talks with like-minded secular parties. To a question whether his party would consider alliance with the Sarb Hind SAD of Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra, he said it could be considered. Mr Ramoowalia said since the time he had formed a separate party, the former SGPC Chief had been making statements which were in the larger interest of “Panjabiyat” and nation. He said in the coming days, efforts would also be made to broadbase his party with the formation of state units in Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, Delhi and Rajasthan. Mr Ramoowalia also accused the Badal government of not performing in Punjab and claimed that the people of the state were unhappy. He also claimed that
nearly 80 per cent of the rural population was against
the SAD government and that its popularity had touched a
low. |
IMA reiterates commitment NEW DELHI, June 30 — On the eve of Doctors’ Day, the Indian Medical Association has reiterated its commitment to the welfare of society and its endeavour to provide compassionate service. Speaking on the eve of Doctors’ Day, the general secretary of the Indian Medical Association appealed to all sections of the medical community to keep in mind the Hippocratic Oath and serve the society with utmost care and compassion. Dr Aggarwal reminded doctors that earning livelihood was secondary to rendering kind and selfless service to the society. He pointed out that health care system in the country had come to be guided by commercial interests and this had affected the doctor-patient relationship. He called upon doctors to remember that compassion and kindness were the cornerstone of their profession. The IMA observes July 1
as Doctors’ Day every year to commemorate the birth
and death anniversary of its founding father, Late Dr
B.C. Roy. |
Medical van for Delhi
slums NEW DELHI, June 30 — The Delhi Chief Minister, Ms Sheila Dikshit, today inaugurated a mobile medical van donated by US-based Palriwala India Foundation (PIF) to cater to the health care needs of slum dwellers. The van has facilities
to provide integrated family welfare and health care
facilities. The van also has diagnostic and referral
facilities for tuberculosis, snake-bites, gynaecological
problems and provision of ante and post- natal checkups
and immunisation facilities. |
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| 5 policemen injured in
encounter GUWAHATI: At lest five police personnel, including an Additional Superintendent of Police, were injured in an encounter with suspected Bodo Liberation Tiger extremists at Rupchali in Barpeta district of Assam on Tuesday night, according to official reports. The extremists fired at the police party, led by ASP Rana Bhuyan,which was carrying out a raid on their hideout. This was the second attack on the police in the state in the past 24 hours. Extremists had blown up two vehicles with the help of a remote control device at Ranbiya in Kanpur district on Tuesday killing seven policemen and injuring 10 others. — UNI Bandh
hits life in South Tripura Gangotri glacier
receding Naxalites kill
constable Strike disrupts
train services ‘Entry’
into Guinness Book Endangered
species resurfaces Woman, 3 kids
commit suicide Special force
for Nepal border sought |
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