Tuesday, March 9, 1999

Shatrughan offered role in Pak film
NEW DELHI, March 8 — Film star-turned-politician Shatrughan Sinha has been offered a role by a leading Pakistani producer in a film ‘Dosti’ on Indo-Pak friendship.

Prescot hands over Blair’s letter to PM
NEW DELHI, March 8 — India today emphasised the need for “matching responses” from the international community to help create a positive environment to address the nuclear issue.

Dinner issue: SC notice to Andhra
NEW DELHI, March 8 —The Supreme Court today issued a notice to the Chief Secretary of Andhra Pradesh on public interest litigation seeking a CBI probe into the alleged serving of meat of wild animals at a dinner which was attended among others, by Lok Sabha speaker G.M.C. Balayogi.

11 govt offices to be moved out of Delhi
NEW DELHI, March 8 — Eleven central government offices have been identified by the government for shifting out of Delhi as a measure to decongest the national capital, Urban Affairs and Employment Minister Ram Jethmalani told the Rajya Sabha today.

MPs mourn air crash deaths
NEW DELHI, March 8 — Both Houses of Parliament today mourned the death of 22 passengers, including 19 Indian Air Force personnel, in the AN-32 crash in Pappan Kalan in south-west Delhi yesterday.

‘Quota must for women to march ahead’
PM honours anti-dowry contest winners

NEW DELHI, March 8 (PTI) — The Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, today favoured special facilities and reservation for women in various activities, saying provision for equal treatment had not been able to empower them in a society plagued by discrimination.

The constitutional provision for equality was yet to be fully translated into practice as the required social changes to elevate the status of women failed to take place at an accelerated pace, he said at a function organised here to mark International Women’s Day.

Describing the steps taken so far for empowerment of women as ‘insufficient’, Mr Vajpayee said the women’s reservation Bill was introduced in Parliament despite stiff opposition from several quarters.

He also presented the Durgabai Deshmukh Award to ‘Steps Women’s Development Group’, an NGO from Tamil Nadu for its contribution to women’s empowerment.

The award, instituted by Central Social Welfare Board (CSWB) in commemoration of the 50th year of Independence and in the name of its founder chairperson, carries a cash prize of Rs 1 lakh and a citation.

The Prime Minister also presented awards to winners of anti-dowry competition organised by the National Commission for Women (NCW) among schoolchildren in the country.

He alleged that some people were opposing the women’s reservation Bill as they were interested in perpetuation of male supremacy in Parliament and state legislatures.

“Women are treated either as devi (goddess) or dasi (maid)”, he said.

Presiding over the function, the Minister of State for Women’s and Child Development, Ms Uma Bharti, said sharing of power by women would not be enough without giving them social status, honour and economic empowerment.

The Minister of State for Communications, Mr Kabindra Purkayastha, also spoke.

He presented a special cover on ‘dowry-free society’ to the Prime Minister, while Ms Bharti released a poster conveying a message against sexual exploitation of women.

The Secretary, Women and Child Development, Ms Kiran Aggarwal, the NCW Chairperson, Ms Vibha Parthasarathy, and the CSWB Chairperson, Ms Mridula Sinha, also addressed the function.

The Congress President, Mrs Sonia Gandhi, today said gender equality was a must for empowerment of women in India and asserted that her party was committed to their all-round development.

Speaking at a function to mark Women’s Day here, she said the Congress decision to grant 33 per cent reservation to women in all party posts was a step towards empowerment of women.

The Congress was also committed a legislation on women’s reservation Bill, guaranteeing them 33 per cent reservation in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies.

The Union Minister for Human Resources Development, Mr Murli Manohar Joshi, wife of the Vice-President, Ms Suman Krishan Kant, the Delhi Chief Minister, Ms Sheila Dikshit, and a CPI leader, Ms Geeta Mukherjee, were also present.

In the Lok Sabha, the government today said it was ‘fully serious’ in ensuring that the Bill providing for 33 per cent reservation for women secured parliamentary approval, but said consensus among political parties was necessary to achieve this objective.

There was need for consensus and not ‘bickering and acrimony’, the Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Mr P.R. Kumaramangalam, said following concern expressed during zero hour by women members over the fate of the Bill.

There was mild uproar in the House when the Samajwadi Party opposed the CPI, Trinamool Congress and BJP members, who demanded that the women’s Bill be brought in its present form in the Lok Sabha during the current session.

An agitated Mr Mulayam Singh Yadav (SP) said his party would oppose the Bill as it did not bring within its scope women belonging to the minority community, OBCs and downtrodden sections.

Meanwhile, the Rajya Sabha today passed a unanimous resolution demanding adequate representation of women in both Houses of Parliament and their greater involvement at all decision-making levels.

The 10-point resolution, marking International Women’s Day, was moved by Deputy Chairperson Najma Heptulla, who is also chairperson of the Parliamentary Committee on the Empowerment of Women.

Oppn seeks Khurana’s statement

NEW DELHI, March 8 (PTI) — An agitated Opposition in the Lok Sabha today vociferously wanted BJP member Madan Lal Khurana to make a statement explaining the circumstances in which he had to quit the Union Cabinet recently.

Raising the issue during zero hour, CPI leader Indrajit Gupta said that Mr Khurana had himself informed the Chair that he wanted to make a statement. He did not understand why Mr Khurana was not being allowed to do so, Mr Gupta said.

Supporting him, the Leader of the Opposition Mr Sharad Pawar, said that the entire House was waiting for Mr Khurana’s statement.

Deputy Speaker P.M. Sayeed observed that Mr Khurana was sitting in the House and he was free to make a statement, if he so desired.

Mr Sayeed informed the members that Mr Khurana had given a notice to the Speaker requesting permission for making a statement, but now he wanted its withdrawal with the consent of the House. Mr Sayeed, however, made it clear that he had not submitted his statement along with the notice.

When Congress members, P. Shiv Shankar and Rajesh Pilot, insisted that the matter was now the “property” of the House and it could not be withdrawn and he must make a statement, Mr Sayeed assured them that he would get back to them tomorrow.

Samajwadi Party leader Mulayam Singh Yadav said Mr Khurana was under a tremendous pressure and he was keeping silent as BJP leaders were threatening him.

He suggested that “you (Chair) should call him to your chamber and get a statement from him.”

RJD leader Laloo Prasad Yadav said that Mr Khurana was being pressurised not to make any statement.

Congress member Ajit Jogi said it was true that Mr Khurana was scared.

CPM leader Somnath Chatterjee said that he had information that he had sent his statement to the Speaker and sought his permission to read it out in the House.

How could the statement be returned quietly to him and suppressed, Mr Chatterjee asked.

Mr Indrajit Gupta repeatedly insisted that Mr Khurana was present in the House and he could be allowed to make his statement. Mr Khurana, however, did not respond.

Mr Sayeed said he could not compel any member to make a statement but he would look into Mr Basudeb Acharia’s contention that the matter was listed in Friday’s agenda.

Bhandari rules out resignation

PATNA, March 8 (PTI) — The Bihar Governor, Mr Sunder Singh Bhandari, today ruled out the possibility of his resignation after the Centre decided to revoke President’s Rule in Bihar.

"I have never thought of it," he replied tersely when approached by a group of newsmen after the announcement of the Centre’s decision to revoke Central rule.

Asked if he felt embarrassed by the Centre’s decision, he replied in the negative saying, "it is a political decision. I will continue to discharge my constitutional responsibilities".

On whether he would now invite Rabri Devi to form the government, he said that since the assembly was kept under suspended animation a "new establishment will have to be formed".

Claiming that law and order in the state under President’s rule had improved, he hoped that the new government would not be found wanting in that respect.

He said he would extend full cooperation to the new government.

Meanwhile, the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) today demanded immediate recall of the Governor, saying he had lost moral authority to continue in office after the revocation of President’s rule.

Black box to be sent to Chandigarh
Tribune News Service

NEW DELHI, March 8 — The vital black box of the ill-fated Indian Air Force AN-32 transport aircraft, which crashed near the Indira Gandhi International Airport yesterday killing 21 persons, will be sent to Chandigarh for decoding.

According to IAF sources, the court of enquiry being conducted by Air Commodore R V Kumar has begun to look into the cause of the crash after the aircraft had been cleared for landing, claiming the lives of all the 18 Air Force personnel on board and three civilians.

An IAF official said of the 18 IAF personnel, the bodies of seven personnel are still to be identified. After the post-mortem and other formalities are completed, the bodies will be handed over to the family members of the deceased.

An IAF spokesperson clarified that there were only 18 IAF personnel and not 19 as had been reported in certain sections of the Press. The confusion had been generated regarding a Flying Officer H S Grewal but it was later found that no such officer had boarded the plane.

Sources said although the pilot of the Russian built AN-32, Flt-Lt Mohit Abrol, had an excellent track record as a flier but the possibility of the pilot having made a calculation error while descending is not being ruled out. It is possible that by the time Flt Lt Mohit Abrol would have realised his mistake, it would have been too late to make any corrections.

IAF sources said Flt-Lt Abrol could have miscalculated the descent leading to the aircraft ploughing into the water tank after snapping overhead wires and an embankment in Pappankalan in South West Delhi.

The IAF officials said the plane had hit the cables after descending to a lower than required height, apparently due to poor visibility.

Sources point out that at about 8.12 am, the Air Traffic Controller spoke to the pilot and the pilot did not mention anything about engine problems or other technical hiccups.The AN-32, which is also called the workhorse of the IAF, is known to be a reliable aircraft and has performed well in difficult flying conditions. However, the chances that the ill-fated aircraft had developed a technical snag just before landing is also being looked into by the air crash investigators.

Shatrughan offered role in Pak film

NEW DELHI, March 8 (PTI) — Film star-turned-politician Shatrughan Sinha has been offered a role by a leading Pakistani producer in a film ‘Dosti’ on Indo-Pak friendship.

A decision on accepting the role will be taken after going through the script, Shatrughan, who accompanied Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee on his historic journey to Lahore, said in an interaction with a PTI journalists.

The film to be produced by Sarwar Bhatti of ‘Maula Jatt’ fame, will be based on friendship between the two neighbours, Shatrughan said, adding the offer was made during the trip to Lahore.

“I have asked for the script and will be visiting Pakistan next month to discuss the nitty-gritty of the venture,” the cinestar said.

Asked how he would deal with objection to the project from hardliners in his party, the BJP MP retorted “so far I have not broken any rules of the party. I don’t bother about any hardliners or softliners. It is our sincere effort to bring the two countries together.”

Criticising the opposition by Shiv Sena against a concert by ghazal singer Ghulam Ali and Indo-Pak cricket matches, he said such things were not good for any society.

To a question if censor board laws needed a fresh look, he said a debate was necessary since old laws continued.

“We still have people with no film background as members of the censor board,” he said.

Agreeing that the standard of Hindi cinema was falling, he said it was partly dictated by the demand of the audience.

Shatrughan expressed admiration for fellow film star and former Congress MP Sunil Dutt, who should be “an asset to any party”.

On reports that he was feeling unhappy on not being included in the Vajpayee ministry, he said “I do feel sad sometimes that people less deserving than me have found a berth in the Cabinet. However, this has not at any time made me want to leave the party. I take life as it comes.”

Prescot hands over Blair’s letter to PM
Tribune News Service

NEW DELHI, March 8 — India today emphasised the need for “matching responses” from the international community to help create a positive environment to address the nuclear issue.

This was conveyed to the visiting British Deputy Prime Minister Mr John Prescot, when he called on the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee here.

During the talks, Mr Vajpayee spelt out India’s thinking on the issue. New Delhi has made it clear that a conducive atmosphere is necessary for successful conclusion of negotiations on a range of issues with key interlocutors to pave the way for entry into force of the CTBT by September this year.

Mr Prescot handed over a letter to Mr Vajpayee from the British Prime Minister, Mr Tony Blair, which reflects his government’s interest in greater all-round cooperation with India.

The British leader’s visit is mainly aimed at bringing back on track Indo-British ties, which have come under strain in the aftermath of the Pokhran nuclear tests in May last.

Dinner issue: SC notice to Andhra

NEW DELHI, March 8 (PTI) —The Supreme Court today issued a notice to the Chief Secretary of Andhra Pradesh on public interest litigation (PIL) seeking a CBI probe into the alleged serving of meat of wild animals at a dinner which was attended among others, by Lok Sabha speaker G.M.C. Balayogi.

A Division Bench, comprising Mr Justice Sujata V. Manohar and Mr Justice R.C. Lahoti directed the Chief Secretary to provide a list of persons who attended the dinner in October last, hosted in honour of State Irrigation Minister T. Nageswar Rao at Marlakunta village in the vicinity of the Papikonda sanctuary.

The Bench while fixing further hearing on May 4, directed the Union Environment Ministry and other respondents to file their replies before April 20 in the matter.

The notice was issued on the suggestion of the petitioner Mr P. Pulla Rao, and Additional Solicitor-General Kirit N. Rawal, who contended that the state government was a necessary party.

The Bench also directed the Chief Secretary to state what steps had been taken and were proposed to be taken in the matter.

11 govt offices to be moved out of Delhi

NEW DELHI, March 8 (PTI) — Eleven central government offices have been identified by the government for shifting out of Delhi as a measure to decongest the national capital, Urban Affairs and Employment Minister Ram Jethmalani told the Rajya Sabha today.

Urbanisation: A total of 83 villages are proposed to be urbanised by the Delhi Development Authority and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), Mr Jethmalani said.

Telephones: A total of 53,864 cases were pending before Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited, Delhi, for providing new telephone connections as on February 28, Minister of State for Communications Kabindra Purkayastha told the Lok Sabha.

Fuel outlets: Oil companies proposed to allot 65 more retail outlets for petrol and diesel in Delhi, Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas S.K. Gangwar said.

MPs mourn air crash deaths

NEW DELHI, March 8 (PTI) — Both Houses of Parliament today mourned the death of 22 passengers, including 19 Indian Air Force personnel, in the AN-32 crash in Pappan Kalan in south-west Delhi yesterday.

“We deeply mourn this tragedy,’’ Deputy Speaker P. M. Sayeed said in the Lok Sabha while expressing a deep sense of sorrow over the accident.

In the Rajya Sabha, Chairman Krishan Kant said the loss of so many lives was indeed shocking and the loss suffered by the kith and kin of the deceased was irreparable.

Members in both Houses stood in silence as a mark of respect.

Police station blasted
HYDERABAD: Extremists of the outlawed People’s War Group (PWG) blasted a police station building, which was under construction, at Dichpally in Nizamabad district early on Monday. The police here said it was the handiwork of members of the Sirnipally Dalam. A wall of the building developed cracks under the impact of the explosion, detonated by gelatine type of explosives, the police added. The Naxalites fled into the forest, after the police opened 20 rounds of fire on them. — UNI

New database for Himalayas
NEW DELHI: Indian scientists are preparing a database to store information on biological and geological resources of the Himalayas. The database, to be completed within three years, will help planners model villages and towns in a eco-friendly way in the Himalayan region, Mr P.S. Ramakrishnan, scientist in charge of the project said. — PTI

Staines murder: 3 more held
KEONJHAR (Orissa): The Crime Branch of the state police has arrested three more persons in connection with the killing of Australian missionary Graham Stuart Staines and his two minor sons at Manoharpur village in Keonjhar district on the night of January 22. The police said all three suspects were arrested at Rimilidiha village on Friday night. They have been identified as Surath Naik, Trinath Naik and Peon Tudu. With this, the total number of arrests has gone up to 56, several of whom have since been released on bail. — PTI

Cong disrupts AP House
HYDERABAD: Main opposition Congress on Monday stalled proceedings for over an hour in Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly demanding a discussion on the alleged involvement of Telugu Desam leaders in printing and circulation of fake Rs 500 currency notes. Immediately after Deputy Speaker, MD Farooq disallowed the adjournment motion on fake currency notes, the Congress members rose in protest and demanded that the issue should be taken up setting aside the day’s agenda. — PTI

4 killed as bus overturns
AGARTALA: At least four passengers were killed when a bus overturned while trying to escape insurgents’ bullets near Bagma in Tripura’s west district on Monday. Police officials said that the driver lost control of the vehicle while trying to speed away as the insurgents opened fire. Some passengers were hit by bullets, they added.. — PTI

DGHC poll on March 17
DARJEELING: Nearly 4,50,000 voters will decide the fate of 127 candidates in the third elections to the autonomous Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council (DGHC) slated for March 17. — UNI