Monday, June 21, 1999
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Govt must explain incursion: Cong GANGTOK, June 20 — Congress President Sonia Gandhi today said the government would have to reply to several queries on the Kargil issue to her party by virtue of its being the main Opposition in the country. Army chief thanks supporters NEW DELHI, June 20 — The Chief of Army Staff, Gen V.P. Malik, has thanked all those extending support to the Indian Army through their good wishes and contributions. |
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Letters to brave soldiers NEW DELHI, June 20 — Signed as ‘Ma’, the letter encourages the young soldiers battling it out atop the 15,000-foot mountains and says she anxiously awaits their victorious return home with open arms.
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Ex-servicemen seek employment NEW DELHI, June 20 — The government has failed to keep the promises made to war veterans and retired Army personnel from time to time, said ex-servicemen. Reforming
prisoners through education 8
killed in building collapse CID
to probe Naugachia rape case Funds
to save the tiger Suu
Kyi seeks women’s help |
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Govt must explain incursion: Cong GANGTOK, June 20 (PTI) — Congress President Sonia Gandhi today said the government would have to reply to several queries on the Kargil issue to her party by virtue of its being the main Opposition in the country. "Congress is supporting the steps initiated by government to drive out Pakistan-backed intruders and protect the country’s border, but it should not conceal any facts (on the Kargil issue)," she said. "Sarkar ko ek ek jawab dena hoga (the government has to give each reply)," Mrs Gandhi told a public meeting at the Paljor stadium here. "But we will not discuss these today. Our enemies should know that India is now speaking in one voice," she said. "Time has now come to be united and integrated for the sake of the country". Mrs Gandhi, who was on a brief tour of Sikkim, paid tributes to the soldiers who had sacrificed their lives in Kargil. Referring to the prevailing political uncertainty, she said for the last three years, the country’s development had suffered for want of political stability. Stating that the country had seen two elections, four governments and three prime ministers in the past few years, she appealed to voters to choose a government which would last five years, and said "it is Congress which can provide a stable government". Stating that the Centre’s policies changed with each government, she said "in the process the country became weak and the common people suffered." Mrs Gandhi alleged that non-Congress governments had paid little attention to unemployment problems, hydel power and the tourism potential of Sikkim. "For the development of the state, it is necessary to have one party’s government at the Centre and the state so that both can work unitedly without any hindrance," she added. The problems facing the
state relating to seat reservations, border trade and
other issues, as raised by the state Congress unit, would
be addressed with "goodwill", she said. |
Letters to brave soldiers NEW DELHI, June 20 (PTI) — Signed as ‘Ma’, the letter encourages the young soldiers battling it out atop the 15,000-foot mountains and says she anxiously awaits their victorious return home with open arms. This letter from an 89-year-old woman is amongst the hundreds of letters received every day as Indians of all ages and from all walks of life express feelings of solidarity with the soldiers in Kargil. The letters comprise handmade cards from children of all ages and hand-written letters from individuals, families and organisations, says Sanjaya Kaul of ‘People’s Action’, a group that has been inviting people to write a word for the brave jawans as a small gesture of their supreme sacrifice. The letters are also translated into vernacular languages by the senders for the soldiers to know how much they are valued by their compatriots, says Sanjiv Garg, also of People’s Action. The Indo-German Chamber of Commerce, Maruti Udyog Limited, Canon, as well as other private firms have sent in signatures of all their employees expressing a deep sense of gratitude towards the Indian soldiers, they say. The letters have been pouring in from all over the country via post and e-mail, they say, noting, “We want that through individual effort, we are able to effect policy changes and act as pressure group”. Television journalist Rajdeep Sardesai has written: “Every morning we wake up with tears in our eyes to think of the brave hearts who guard the high mountain passes against a brutal and inhuman enemy”. “It is cold there and I cannot help you in any way except by writing this letter. I am not even young enough to join the Army or the air force... If any of you visit Bangalore in the future, please contact me so that I can show my appreciation to your selfless sacrifices”, writes M.N. Rao, echoing a common sentiment expressed in a majority of the letters. Many have also enquired where they can send in money for the soldiers or their families, says Kaul. One letter links the “cricket mania and Kargil phobia” and says the least the Indian cricket team can do is to donate all money it got by way of awards and match fees to the Army Relief Fund. The letter, while drawing attention to some “shocking figures” reveals that an “Indian Air Force Flight Lieutenant is paid Rs 1,200 flying allowance per month and he is supposed to make 40 sorties in ageing MiGs. That is about Rs 25 per sortie after taxes. “If he dies fighting for the homeland, his family gets paid Rs 2 lakh. But a player in any World Cup match gets £ 3,000 — about Rs 2.1 lakh — irrespective of his performance”, the letter claims. “When flying over Kargil at 18,000 ft, he is just 1,000 ft above intruders armed with American Stinger missiles and can be easily shot down. Yet the top story in national newspapers is about India’s win over England”, the letter further states. Has the intelligent elite failed? it asks. People’s Action appeals to all Indians to send a message of comfort to their brothers in Kargil, the letters for which will be delivered to the Defence Ministry for onward distribution to the frontier posts. You may write to Sanjaya
at spanasia@vsnl.Com. or A-6 Preet Vihar, Delhi-92. |
Army chief thanks supporters NEW DELHI, June 20 — The Chief of Army Staff, Gen V.P. Malik, has thanked all those extending support to the Indian Army through their good wishes and contributions, including the retired soldiers and officers who have offered their services for the operation in the Kargil sector. “I have received a large number of letters from retired soldiers and officers who have offered their services for the operations in the Kargil sector in any capacity and without any pay. Their only request is to be able to serve the nation and the national cause,” the General’s message states. “We have also received enormous warmth and good wishes from people in India and abroad, including their contributions for our colleagues who have laid down their lives in the ongoing operations,” the message said. “I wish to thank
all our supporters personally through the media as it is
difficult to reply each and every letter. Such
overwhelming support from our people motivates all of us
in the Army, and other services and strengthens our
resolve to succeed in our mission,” the message
adds. |
Experts rule out N-war NEW DELHI, June 20 (PTI) — The ongoing conflict between India and Pakistan across the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir is unlikely to escalate into a nuclear war which could kill 100 million people, twice the number who died in World War II. Since there is no risk of even a full-fledged war, a nuclear war remains a far-fetched possibility, argues Air Commodore Jasjit Singh, Director, Institute of Defence Studies and Analyses (IDSA). Till now, the two countries have not extended their conflict to anything beyond the present conflict area. So, efforts have been made to ensure that the hostilities are confined to the present conflict area, says the Director of Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies, Mr P.R. Chari. However, he warns, the two countries are not mature nuclear states, as it has been just a little more than a year since they acquired the capability. “It is known that the most dangerous period is in the beginning (after the tests). So dialogue at this stage is imperative”, says Chari. The Lahore Declaration, he continues, suggests a set of six to eight confidence-building measures. But if there is no dialogue between the two countries and no understanding of what is in the other’s mind there could be trouble. Reacting to a statement from US-based pro-disarmament group — Physicians for Social Responsibility (PSR) — after the nuclear tests conducted by the two countries last year that “if either state finds itself in a militarily weak position after a conflict, one or the other might resort to nuclear weapons...”, the IDSA Director says the implication of this is that either country will have something vital to defend. India, he asserts, would like to keep the conflict limited to the Kargil sector. Precautions have to be taken. “We have alerted our defence mechanisms. But there is no reason why the conflict must develop into a fulfledged war...If Pakistan decides, it would be madness.” Lt Gen J.S. Aurora, the front-line hero of the 1971 war against Pakistan in what was then East Bengal, also emphatically rules out a possible Indo-Pak nuclear war. “If there is one we will destroy each other. We have not gone to that extent yet. The only possibility is that the ongoing conflict may become more widespread. But, even if there is war, I do not foresee the use of nuclear weapons.” The PSR had warned last year, “if either state finds itself in a militarily weak position after that conflict, one or the other might resort to nuclear weapons...With devastating local fallout effects”. Ira Helfand, strategic
analysis expert and former national President of PSR,
said: “The population density is so great there that
you could have huge number of people exposed to
radiation. |
Ex-servicemen seek employment NEW DELHI, June 20 (UNI) — The government has failed to keep the promises made to war veterans and retired Army personnel from time to time, said ex-servicemen. Speaking at a ‘Meet the Press’ function of the Confederation of Ex-servicemen Association at the IAF Station here yesterday, Air Marshal (retd) D.S. Sabhikhi said, “We need today is love, affection and care, but the neglect and pain hurt us.” “Even our main demand of ‘one rank one pension’ hasn’t been met despite three successive Prime Ministers giving assurance,” Air Marshal Sabhikhi added. Their main demands include employment to the next of kin of war widows, revision of pension of the disabled war veterans, employment up to the age of 60 for early retirees, one rank one pension and medical facilities for the retired personnel. Wg Cdr B.S. Mann said, “The pain and anguish multiply when we see a retired Subedar Major pulling a rickshaw or martyred Brigadier’s wife being offered a class IV job. But the discipline imbibed during our service has prohibited us to take the agitational course. And this is the reason why our concerns are left to wither away.” The ex-servicemen pointed out that 90 per cent of the retired defence personnel receive just 28 to 35 per cent of the pay they were getting at the time of retirement. The disability pension’of Rs 750 in 1986 is still being doled out in 1999. Also, war widows get just 22 per cent of the pay of their husband who died in action. The association acts as
an umbrella organisation for five associations viz, the
Air Force Association, Disabled War Veterans, Indian
Ex-servicemen League, Navy Foundation and the War Widow
Association. |
Reforming prisoners through education NEW DELHI, June 20 (PTI) — A new strategy of reforming prisoners in high-security Tihar Jail through education is bearing fruit if the performance sheet of inmate-students is any indication. More than 10 inmate-students appeared for the civil services examination this year and seven others qualified for the Master of Business Administration (MBA) course conducted by Indomat. “Starting of IGNOU/National Open School (NOS) centre has borne fruit with undertrials coming in numbers to enrol themselves in different degree and professional courses,” Ajay Agrawal, Director General (Prisons), told PTI here. The success of the strategy reform through education and education for rehabilitation can be gauged from the fact that none of the Tihar’s IGNOU students have returned to the jail after being released, he said adding, education has motivated them to pursue a career away from crime. The jail has a separate
academic ward, the first ever in the annals of the Indian
prison history, where IGNOU/NOS centres are situated
housing about 180 inmates registered in courses varying
from elementary to post-graduation. |
8 killed in building
collapse NEW DELHI, June 20 — The death toll in last night’s building collapse in Malkaganj in north Delhi has risen to eight today. Even as the rescue operation continued, Delhi Fire Service personnel said that at least three more people are still feared trapped in the debris of the four-storeyed building. The under-construction building had collapsed late last night hours after its roof was laid. Out of the eight deceased, five have been identified as Ramkali, Niranjan, Munna, Bunty and Kalu. Efforts are on to identify the others, police said. At least 37 persons are undergoing treatment at the Bara Hindu Rao hospital, of which 21 have been admitted to the ICU. Eight persons have been discharged. The Delhi government has announced a compensation of Rs 50,000 to the next of kin of those killed and Rs 25,000 to injured. Two cranes, bulldozers and cutters have been pressed into service to clear the debris and rescue those trapped inside, a DFS official said. The area police said that efforts are on to arrest the two builders, Bunty Verma and Shunty Verma, who were allegedly constructing the building "illegally". A case under various provisions of the Indian Penal Code have been registered against the builders. The building, apparently, could not bear the weight of the concrete as its base was weak and the structure collapsed, burying under its debris the labourers who were living there for the past several months. While some labourers
managed to come out on their own, at least a dozen
labourers were rescued by the police and the fire brigade
personnel late last night. |
CID to probe Naugachia rape case PATNA, June 20 (PTI) — Bihar Chief Minister Rabri Devi today announced a probe by the Crime Investigation Department (CID) into the alleged gangrape of female trainees at Naugachia in Bhagalpur district earlier this month. A high-level team of the CID would be constituted to inquire into the allegations of gangrape and submit a report within a month, a statement by the Chief Minister said. She said stern action would be taken against the officials if the Opposition’s charges of lapses on their part in connection with the incident were found to be true. A gang of antisocials had barged inside the premises of a college and looted valuables from female and male trainees of Bihar Education Project on June 4, official sources said. A fact-finding team of
the BJP led by Opposition leader in the state Assembly
Sushil Kumar Modi later visited Naugachia and charged
that several female trainees were raped by the gangsters
allegedly enjoying patronage of a ruling RJD MLA. |
Funds to save the tiger NEW DELHI, June 20 (PTI) — A consortium of public and private representatives in the USA has announced joint efforts to fund campaigns and projects worldwide to save the wild tiger. The US grants, part of the Rhinoceros and Tiger Conservation Fund, will sponsor education outreach and training, studies of tiger prey ecology, law enforcement and tiger arts festivals in Cambodia, Indonesia, Nepal, Russia and Europe. “We are awed by
their power, grace and beauty,” secretary of the
interior Bruce Babbitt was quoted in a USIS statement
announcing the grant. “Sadly, we have also
victimised these magnificent animals, destroying their
habitat and killing them to use their body parts in
portions,” he said. |
Suu Kyi seeks women’s help NEW DELHI, June 20 (PTI) — Myanmar’s pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi has sought the support of womenfolk to end military dictatorship in her country. “There is a great need for our women to use their capabilities to bring democracy and human rights in our country,” Suu Kyi said in her message read out at a function here last evening marking her 54th birthday. “Women are able to cope better than men in crisis situations. We should use this ability to bring peace and progress in our country,” Suu Kyi said adding, “It was no longer possible even for housewives to keep out of politics”. She also appealed to the international community to help the Myanmarese refugee “sisters” in several countries. Union Minister of State
for Youth Welfare Uma Bharti and Congress leader Mani
Shanker Aiyer, among other speakers on the occasion,
lauded the “courageous spirit” of Suu Kyi in
her non-violent struggle for the establishment of
democratic rule in her country. |
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| Deserter’s kin
quizzed BHIND: Family members of an Army deserter, who was arrested on June 13 in Kanpur on suspicion of maintaining links with Pakistan’s Inter Services Intelligence, were questioned by the police here on Friday. District Collector Muktesh Vashney said the special police team from Kanpur questioned the father and brothers of Zafar, who deserted the Army last year. The team also searched their houses. No objectionable material was found by the police in their possession, he added. Mohammad Zafar was originally a resident of Etawah district of UP while his father and brothers lived at Bhind and Mumbai. — UNI Naxals gun down mandal
chief IGNOU cancels
access points PIL against
nature park Mob lynches 3
criminals Rain death toll
15 NTPC staff to
donate Rs 66 lakh Tremor rocks
Arunachal, Assam |
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