Tuesday, June 1, 1999
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BJP rejects George's
stand NSUI activists court arrest |
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Delhi Akalis welcome Tohra’s
party NEW DELHI, May 31 — The split in the Shiromani Akali Dal was today reflected in the Capital with the SAD’s Delhi unit welcoming the “expulsion of Mr Parkash Singh Badal from the Shiromani Akali Dal and the `election’ of Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra as the party president.”
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George to be blamed for
Kargil: Jaya Cong objects to EC over NCP name Laloo appears in court Special trains for Vaishno Devi Jaya appears in Tansi land case Police seek quashing of
Vikas’s bail |
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BJP rejects George's stand NEW DELHI, May 31 — The BJP today held an emergency meeting of its national executive to review the situation in Kargil. The meeting, which was presided over by party president Kushabhau Thakre, was briefed by serving Lt-Gen N.C. Vij and Air Vice-Marshal S.K. Malik. A resolution, adopted at the meeting, urged the international community to condemn Pakistan as it had crossed the Line of Control. The resolution said: The Line of Control was delineated by the two countries together in 1971. "You have seen that it is Pakistan which has crossed the line — this time not just by arming insurgents, not just by sending mercenaries, but by sending regulars from its army." Asked as when a political party had last been briefed by serving personnel, the party spokesman, Mr M. Venkaiah Naidu defended the step saying Mr Kushabhau Thakre had invited Defence Minister, Mr George Fernandes to brief the party meeting. He had brought defence personnel along. Urging the media not to raise such issues in the national interest, Mr Naidu said that if any party was interested to learn about the situation at the border, "naturally they would go to brief". The meeting was also addressed by Union Home Minister L.K. Advani, who told members that since the BJP-led government had been successful in tackling the militancy in Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan had decided to launch the Kargil operation. When asked the party’s view on Mr Fernandes’s statement giving a clean chit to the ISI and the Nawaz Sharif government, Mr Naidu said that the Pakistan Government was in full know of things. The resolution distanced itself from Mr Fernandes’s view saying it was the decision of Pakistan to occupy Indian territory which created the present situation. UNI adds: The Congress today said the air strikes should continue even if Pakistan Foreign Minister Sartaj Aziz arrives in India for talks. Chairman of the foreign department of the Congress K. Natwar Singh said his party welcomed talks but action against the intruders should continue. Mr Singh, who has handled the Foreign Ministry in the past, said Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee contradicted himself when he described the situation in Kargil as "war-like". Is this not an attempt to gloss over the views of India that the Pakistan Government was kept in the dark about the infiltration operations. This could not have happened because the current defence services chief happened to be ‘handpicked’ by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif when he chose to dispense with the services of Gen. Jahangir Karamat. He said handling of Kargil was ‘immature, naive and unprofessional’ and the Stinger missile which hit the IAF helicopter was provided to the infiltrators by the ISI. Asked about serving
officers of the Defence Ministry ‘briefing’ the
national executive of the ruling BJP, Mr Singh said such
a thing was ‘inconceivable’. I should think so
, was his answer to a question if it violated service
rules. The Prime Minister could have delegated some of
his colleagues to brief the executive, he remarked. |
NSUI activists court arrest NEW DELHI, May 31 — Activists of the National Students Union of India today demonstrated and courted arrest outside the Pakistan High Commission demanding unconditional release of Flt Lt K Nachiketa and an end to the proxy war in Kargil. A few activists who broke the barricade and courted arrest were later released, the police said. The NSUI President, Ms Meenakshi Natarajan, later submitted a memorandum to the Pakistan High Commission. Addressing the party workers she said the NSUI condemned the act of the ISI and the Pakistani armed forces for intruding across our border and also condemned the Pakistani Government for instigating and operating such activities. Talking to The Tribune, Ms Natarajan said the NSUI "demands Pakistan to clear and free the Kargil sector by stopping the proxy war, withdraw control from Pakistan occupied Kashmir, release Flt Lt Nachiketa unconditionally and pay compensation for the casualties". Cautioning Pakistan to change its ways, she said, "Let not our tolerance and large-heartedness be taken otherwise. We the student activists of the NSUI are ready to accept that even if the other is wrong he has a right to exist. But if our existence is questioned, we are prepared to face it boldly." She said a list of NSUI volunteers was being prepared who would act as a suicide squad and another list of persons who would help the injured personnel. "Blood donation camp and other measures to help the armed forces and thwart the evil designs of Pakistan are being made," the NSUI chief said. The NSUI was mobilising
the student community at all levels and the state and
district unit had started preparing the list of
volunteers, she said. |
More bombs defused in Chennai CHENNAI, May 31 (UNI) — The city police today averted a major disaster when they recovered a “box bomb” and six pipe bombs placed near a multi-storeyed building on the arterial Anna Salai road here, early today. Announcing this at a press conference here, Chief Minister M Karunanidhi said the police and bomb disposal squad swung into action and defused the bombs after the watchman of the building informed them about a suspicious looking object at 1.45 a.m. The powerful bombs were planted on the outside wall of the seven storeyed building, housing government offices and an Indian Overseas Bank (IOB) branch. The recovery of the pipe bombs comes close on the heels of detection of three powerful time bombs planted by the banned fundamentalists organisation, Al-Umma, targetting police establishments in the city, Tiruchirapalli and Coimbatore yesterday. Mr Karunanidhi said the involvement of Pakistani’s ISI or any other militant organisation in these incidents was not ruled out. He said a special investigation team (sit) of the state crime branch-CID police headed by inspector general of police Manoharan would investigate the bomb the cases. Though the cases had inter-state ramifications, as explosive devices were also seized from nearby areas of Kozhikode in Kerala on Saturday, there was no need for a CBI probe into them. He said the devices were planted in police offices and police quarters with a view to making the police “inactive” and to bring the state administration to a standstill. He said the Centre, through a message six months back, had brought to the notice of the state government that some leaders in the state, including himself and the Mayor of Chennai, Mr M.K. Stalin, were in the hit list of several fundamentalist organisations. However, he did not want any extra security cover for him, he said. Mr Karunanidhi said he suspected some “money power” patronising those, who planted the explosive devices. The devices were very “costly” and could not have been manufactured without some financial help, he said, adding that the seized explosives were not “RDX” variety. He said 75 persons had been arrested in Tiruchirapalli in connection with the case. He said the explosion
that rocked Victoria Students Hostel yesterday would also
be probed by experts. |
Delhi Akalis welcome
Tohra’s party NEW DELHI, May 31 — The split in the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) was today reflected in the Capital with the SAD’s Delhi unit welcoming the “expulsion of Mr Parkash Singh Badal from the Shiromani Akali Dal and the `election’ of Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra as the party president.” Addressing a press conference here today, the convener of the Delhi SAD, Mr Avtar Singh Autopin, said that they were happy about Mr Tohra being the new president of the “real Shiromani Akali Dal”. He, however, clarified that the Delhi SAD would continue to operate as an independent party. Delhi SAD member, Mr Paramjit Singh Sarna, stated that “Mr Badal’s expulsion would give new thrust and direction to the party. Mr Sarna stated that the
Delhi SAD would consider having an alliance with only
those parties which are not “alliance partners of Mr
Badal.” |
George to be blamed for Kargil: Jaya CHENNAI, May 31 (PTI) — The AIADMK today demanded the removal of the Defence Minister Mr George Fernandes, from the Cabinet, saying that he should be held entirely responsible for the “threat of war” looming large over the nation today. “It will be a danger to the country to allow George Fernandes to continue as Defence Minister,” AIADMK General Secretary, Ms Jayalalitha, said in a four-page statement here. Even after all these serious developments in Kargil and Dras sectors in Jammu and Kashmir, which had “adversely affected the nation’s security”, why was the Prime Minister still reluctant to remove Mr Fernandes from his post, she asked. “What dark secret lies behind the Prime Minister’s hesitation and unwillingness to divest Mr George Fernandes of the defence portfolio? What is the stranglehold, the vice-like grip that Mr Fernandes has over Mr Vajpayee?” she asked. Offering the AIADMK’s full support to all efforts taken in the interests of country’s security, Ms Jayalalitha said she had, as early as October last, pointed out that a major terrorist offensive in Kashmir was being made and had cautioned the government to be on the alert about the “nefarious designs” against India. Ms Jayalalitha claimed that both the Home Minister, L. K. Advani and Mr Fernandes had dismissed her word of caution, saying, “there was no evidence to substantiate them (sinister designs)”. The AIADMK supremo alleged that the security threat to the nation seemed to be of “no concern to them” and as a result of their “indifference”, the situation today had become “far too serious”. The AIADMK has also taken exception to the Centre not extending an invitation to it to attend the all-party meeting convened by the government on Friday last to discuss the infiltration issue in Jammu and Kashmir. “Are we not also citizens of India? Are we not interested in national security?” Ms Jayalalitha asked today. When 38 parties,
including the Shiv Sena, had been invited to the all-
party meeting, what was the basis for
“ignoring” the AIADMK. “Is the Shiv Sena a
national party?” she asked. |
Cong objects to EC over NCP
name NEW DELHI, May 31 — The Indian National Congress (INC) today raised objections over the adoption of the name “Nationalist Congress” party by the expelled leaders, the use of insignia/logo and urged the Election Commission to hear it before taking a final decision in the matter. A three-member Congress delegation led by party treasurer Ahmed Patel, today met the full Commission and said the adoption of the name “Nationalist Congress’’ by those who were expelled from the Indian National Congress will lead or was intended to lead to deception in the minds of the people. Briefing the media, Mr Kapil Sibal, Congress MP and leading jurist, who was part of the delegation, said the name was also an attempt to obtain benefit from the reputation of the INC Mr Anil Shastri, AICC Secretary was the other member of the delegation. The party also said the use of the Congress tricolour with a Charkha on the white stripe encircled by two oblongated circles and the words Indian National Congress cannot be allowed to be used by the “alleged Nationalist Congress Party either as a symbol or otherwise”. The Congress said under the law as established by the Commission in the judgements referred to the above, the Nationalist Congress Party was only entitled to adopt a “free symbol” as may be offered by the Commission since it cannot be recognised by the Commission as a recognised political party before it takes part in the forthcoming general election. The delegation also requested the Commission to take into account its representation in respect of the situation that had arisen on account of the alleged formation of the NCP. It drew on the various pronouncements made by the EC in the Rashtriya Janata Dal application for recognition as a national party and other similar applications filed by the Rashtriya Janata Party of Gujarat and the Trinamool Congress of West Bengal. The Congress urged that
“as and when and if an application is filed”
for the registration of a new party under the name of
Nationalist Congress Party and it seeks the allotment,
use of the insignia and logo of the INC, the party should
be given an opportunity to be heard before the EC takes a
final decision in the matter. |
Laloo appears in court PATNA, May 31 (PTI) — The RJD President, Mr Laloo Prasad Yadav today appeared in the court of the special CBI Judge Mr S.K. Lal in two conspiracy-angle cases of the multi-crore fodder scam. A former Bihar Chief Minister and the Bihar Jan Congress (BJC) Chief Patron, Mr Jagannath Mishra, however, could not appear before the court as he was in New Delhi. Mr Lal has fixed June 15 as the next date for their appearance. A former Union Minister,
Mr C.P. Verma, the Bihar Ministers — Mr Vidyasagar
Nishad and Mr Bholaram Toofani, the RJD MLA Mr R.K. Rana,
the Congress MLA Mr Jagdish Sharma and suspended BJP MLA
Mr Dhruv Bhagat also appeared before the court. |
Special trains for Vaishno Devi NEW DELHI, May 31 — Northern Railway has taken several steps to meet the summer rush of travellers going to the Vaishno Devi shrine after alighting at Jammu. A holiday special train between Nizamuddin and Jammu Tawi has been introduced which will run for five days a week up to July 10. The holiday special train 403 will leave Hazrat Nizamuddin at 11 pm from Tuesday to Saturday and reach Jammu Tawi at 12 noon the next day, a Northern Railway release said. Similarly, a holiday special, number 404, will leave Jammu Tawi at 11 pm from Wednesday to Saturday and reach Nizamuddin at 12 noon the next day. The train number 2403
Pooja Express has been augmented by adding six more
coaches on a permanent basis. This train is now running
with 24 coaches. |
Jaya appears in Tansi land case CHENNAI, May 31 (UNI) — Former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalitha, recovering from viral fever, today appeared before the special court in the Tansi land deal case (Jaya Publications), but the charges could not be framed against her and five others as former Minister Mohamad Asif a co-accused in the case, was reportedly unconscious. This is the fourth time, the charges could not be framed with one accused or the other not turning up before the court, on various grounds, including health. Mr Asif, who was admitted to a private hospital for a coronary heart ailment, was brought to the court premises in an ambulance on the orders of judge P Anbazhagan, but could not be produced before him as Mr Asif’s counsel said his client was unconscious and on oxygen support. After heated arguments between the defence and prosecution lawyers over Mr Asif being referred to the government general hospital here, the judge ordered that the accused be referred to the dean of the hospital for observation and report back to the court, as to whether or not he was in a position to understand the court proceedings. Later, the judge
adjourned the case to June 3. |
Police seek quashing of
Vikas’s bail NEW DELHI, May 31 — The Delhi Police today moved the High Court for cancellation of Vikas Yadav’s bail in model Jessica Lal’s murder case saying it has prima facie “suspicion” of his “involvement” in the crime. Vikas Yadav, son of Mr D P Yadav, a Rajya Sabha MP from Uttar Pradesh, was released on bail by a lower court here on Saturday. “We have reasonable suspicion of his complicity in the crime,” standing counsel Mr S S Gandhi submitted before a Vacation Bench headed by Justice Mukul Mudgal. The court adjourned the
matter to June 7 when police application for cancellation
of bail of three other accused would be taken up. |
ABVP burns Pak flag over Kargil BIDAR, (Karnataka), May 31 (UNI) — More than 200 activists of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) today burnt the national flag of Pakistan to condemn its support to infiltrators in the Kargil sector of Jammu and Kashmir. The workers, who came in
a procession, raised slogans against Pakistan before
burning the flag. No arrests had been made in this
connection. |
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| 10 killed in accident AMRAVATI: Ten persons, including two women and as many children, were killed and two injured when a jeep in which they were travelling collided with a truck near Vatfali village on the Yavatmal road, 45 km from here, on Sunday, the police said here on Monday. Seven persons were killed on the spot, while three succumbed to injuries in a hospital. — PTI IAS officer commits
suicide 7 killed in
group clashes CAT seeks reply
on officer’s transfer “Manda
Didi” dead Award for
hotelier, magician Package tours Cancer risk from
unleaded petrol |
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