Friday, November 5, 1999
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‘Yatra’ ends
with pledge to end conversions |
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 A "rath" under the banner of the Sanskriti Raksha Manch arrives in Delhi on Thursday after a week-long journey from Goa. The group opposes the visit of Pope John Paul II. — PTI
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Jayalalitha leads stir on
diesel price Gehlot, detractors on warpath Priyanka may join politics: Sonia Gamang to stay: Cong CBI permitted to chargesheet Laloo Russian delegation in India for
defence tie-up Tribals begin sit-in against
conversions Rlys to hold meeting with ad
agencies SC order on prosecution, pension
rules Put off SAARC summit: India Pawar tows Sangma line on Congress India invites bids for supply of
howitzers Bhatti’s discount sale of
bribery gifts |
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‘Yatra’ ends with pledge to end conversions NEW DELHI, Nov 4 (PTI) — The much-hyped Goa to Delhi ‘rath yatra’ organised by the Sanskriti Raksha Manch, a Sangh Parivar outfit, to "expose" the alleged atrocities by the Church in Goa and other parts of the country, concluded peacefully here today on the eve of the Papal visit with a pledge to continue the campaign against religious conversions. The 1700-km march, which began from Goa on October 19 and passed through Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana, was received earlier in the day at Badarpur border by hundreds of activists on tempos and trucks. Thereafter, the Tata Sumo turned ‘rath (chariot)’ with six activists from Goa led by Bhujangrao Ghoghe passed through various localities in the city with activists raising slogans and banners welcoming the Pope, but asking him to stop conversions and "denigration of Hindu deities". A posse of police personnel maintained vigil all along the route to prevent any untoward incident. The ‘rath’ was splattered with slogans like "Rome nahin Ram chahiye’ and depicted alleged Portuguese brutality on Goans and other Indian subjects during colonial days. The march, which drew a flak from several quarters, concluded at a public meeting where speakers’ including senior VHP leader Acharya Dharmendra and BJP Rajya Sabha MP B.P. Singhal accused the Church of "fraudulent conversions". "A mere apology
will not do. The Pope should stop conspiring against
Hinduism," the Acharya said, adding the yatra was a
token protest and Hindu leaders will continue their
"struggle" against conversions. |
Cabinet security panel reviews situation NEW DELHI, Nov 4 (UNI) — The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) today viewed with serious concern the attack by Lashkar-e-Toiba militants at army headquarter in Srinagar. The CCS meeting, which was presided over by Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, is reported to have decided to step up anti-insurgency operations in the valley. The attack on army headquarter by Laskhar-e-Toiba in which seven army personnel were killed coincided with the three-day international congregation of the dreaded militant organisation in Lahore. India described as 'outrageous' Pakistan granting permission to the terrorist organisation to hold its conference in Muridke, stating it was evidence of that country sponsoring cross border terrorism. The meeting, which lasted for more than 45 minutes, was attended by Defence Minister George Fernandes, Home Minister L.K. Advani and Finance Minister Yashwant Sinha. Besides, Army Chief General V.P. Malik, Cabinet Secretary Prabhat Kumar and Principle Secretary to the Prime Minister Mr Brijesh Mishra were also present. MURIDKE (PAKISTAN): (Reuters): The Lashkar today said the attack by one of its suicide squads at army headquarter in Kashmir that killed at least eight persons was a "big success". "This was a very successful strike", Laskhar's chief Hafiz Mohammad Saeed told Reuters during the Islamic group's annual religious gathering attended by tens of thousands of people. "It is a big success in responding to the crackdown by Indian forces on unarmed Kashmiris", said Saeed, whose outfit is one of about a dozen groups operating in Kashmir. He said two of the four
"fidai" attackers were killed and two others
had returned to their hideout after yesterday's attack on
the Indian Army corps headquarter at Srinagar. |
Maj Purushottam was dedicated officer SENIOR journalist M.L. Kotru had visited the valley just two months back to do a feature. He met the Srinagar PRO Major Purushottam who has been killed by the militant outfit, Lashkar-e-Toiba, when the officer was unarmed and was briefing the visiting journalists. In his personal account Kotru has described Major Purushottam as a dedicated officer who brought a sense of zest to his job. Says Kotru, Major P. Purushottam, the Army PRO, who was killed in his office at the Srinagar Corps Headquarters on Wednesday evening, was an enthusiastic soldier, (Bihar Regiment) who brought to his job a sense of zest and commitment. His enthusiasm for his job and his service was writ large over the man, as I happily discovered, the only time I met him in the very office in which he was killed by militants one early September day this year. He had returned after a short leave following the hectic days of Kargil. That he knew the local press corps very well and at personal level too was evident the short time I spent with him before meeting the Corps Commander. In the 20 minutes I was with him he received at least six calls from local reporters who had wrongly been told by someone about a press conference to be taken by the Corps Commander about the same time I was scheduled to meet him. "As anyone who has operated in Kashmir, even occasionally as I have, during the past decade of terrorism, the local press has to unavoidably, I would say, maintain links with some of the militant outfits. How else does one explain the regular flow of hand-outs between the militant organisations and the Srinagar Press corps. The local press in particular has to out of sheer necessity not only maintain these links but indeed to nurture these. Anyone who tries to fall out of step must face dire consequences as some indeed have. The militants of Kashmiri origin, there are many of them still around, are the conduits between the various outfits and the media. It has been happening for years, even a lay observer of the Srinagar scene will tell you. "It’s quite likely to in the circumstances that the militants already knew that fell day about the Corps Commander’s Press conference, held before the attack on Maj Purushottam, at which the Commander enumerated the successes recently scored by the Army over the militants and of which a display of arms and ammunition captured from the terrorists was a part. It is also most likely that some of the journalists stepped into the Major’s room for a post-Press conference banter. His office is quite some distance away from the Corps headquarters and perilously close to the busy main highway running parallel to the Badamibagh Cantonment. The security at this point is nominal, a single drop-bar manned by a couple of soldiers and the PRO’s office within a couple of hundred yards of it. "I am not being wise after the vent but even on my first and only visit to the PRO’s office I was struck by the oddity of its location. And given the easy accessibility of the place and the Major’s warm personality I am sure that local journalists must always have had near-unchecked access to this room, part of an ordinary-looking old barrack. To break through this minimal security cordon at about the same time as the Press conference by the Corps Commander should not have posed a serious problem to the terrorists who I assume had foreknowledge about the timing the Press conference and general mood of relaxation that attends such occasions. Of course, the gunning down of the Army PRO within the precincts of the Corps headquarters can be a great morale-booster for the terrorists, particularly when spin masters are already telling us of the attackers being from the so-called newly formed death squads. "The message,
regardless, stands out loud and clear. The Pakistanis are
not planning any let-up in their depredations in the
State. If anything, they will embark on the series of
even more daring and desperate missions. And, then, where
is the need for the Army or the BSF to hold Press
conference almost on a daily basis to record the
‘successes’ of their various anti-terrorist
measures.." — ADNI |
News Analysis It is not all lost for the Janata Dal (Rashtriya) leader, Mr Laloo Prasad Yadav, and his wife, Mrs Rabri Devi, Chief Minister of Bihar, India’s most backward state. In the final round, if Mr Yadav’s party could not win any seat, the BJP lost three seats it held in the last Lok Sabha. Also the parties Mr Yadav supported, the Congress and the CPM won one seat each. The BJP lost two north Bihar seats, Bhagalpur to the CPM and Purnea to Mr Pappu Yadav, who is in jail for some of his deeds. The Congress wrested Raj Mahal. The Janata Dal (united) could gain only Khagaria. Rarely a party that came to power at the Centre just a month ago has lost left-out seats in a state where it was in an all-win situation. People got disenchanted so soon! The diesel price hike was one issue that bogged them. There could be some lesson for Mr Om Prakash Chautala nearer home in Haryana. The final tally for 54 the seats in Bihar is: the BJP 23, the Janata Dal (U) 18, the RJD 7, the Congress four, one seat to the CPM and one to Mr Pappu Yadav who might join the Janata Dal (U). In the Bihar plateau, the BJP, which was in the winning mode, in fact lost one seat. It could retain only 11 of the 12 seats it held. Election results mean many things in the trouble-torn Bihar. Mr Yadav has already broken his relationship with the Congress. This might endanger his government. The strategy being worked out by the Janata Dal (U) giants, Mr George Fernandes, Mr Ram Bilas Paswan, Mr Nitish Kumar and Mr Sharad Yadav, all Union Ministers, is to see to at that the Rabri Government falls but they do not wish to share any blame. They are scared of the people’s reaction. But they must have seen some light in the latest results from four seats. How far they succeed in removing Mrs Rabri Devi who along with her husband has enjoyed power for 10 long years is to be seen. The Yadav couple would like to go to the people during the Vidhan Sabha poll in February or March. An underdog image which Mr Yadav could play well might help him. Also, he plans to let the Congress divide the upper caste votes with the BJP, and thereby help him win more seats. Another factor that may help Mr Yadav is that there are too many aspirants for Chief ministership, at least seven, five from the Janata Dal (U) and two from the BJP. Even Mr Sharad Yadav, who has now purchased a plot of land in Madhepura and is building a house, claims that he is a real Bihari. This fight will become more sharp as the BJP and its ally, the Janata Dal (U) leaders are confident of winning not less than 200 out of the 324 assembly seats. This alliance had won in 200 Assembly segments during the Lok Sabha poll. Since they command prestigious position and important portfolios at the Centre, they may now promise Bihar a paradise. It is another matter that right from the legendary Babu Jagjivan Ram, not many have cared for the poor of Bihar, who only enrich Punjab and Haryana with their labour. This defeat of the BJP in North Bihar would also embolden the Janata Dal (U) leaders to demand a major share of the 324 seats so that they could claim chief ministership. This combination, which showed remarkable unity, as this correspondent saw, may not have that spirit when the Assembly poll is held. First the Vidhan Sabha would see many aspirants jump into the fray, and second, the tussle for the prime position to lead the state would mean getting the maximum number of Assembly seat contestants. It would be a herculean task for leaders of the BJP and the Janata Dal (U) in Delhi to present a cohesive picture to emerge victorious in the caste-torn state. In Bihar, the caste plays a much bigger role than in another part of the country. The poor who had seen some power and light during this regime and many of them voted for the first time during Mr Yadav’s earlier stint, may again get back to his social justice tag. At another level, the Left parties — the CPM, the CPI and the CPI (ML) — have realised that if they contest elections unitedly during the Lok Sabha poll, (only the CPM had joined hands with the RJD and the Congress), they could do better. The CPI had some understanding in Nalanda from where its candidate Mr Gaya Singh unsuccessfully contested against Mr George Fernandes, Defence Minister. Mr Yadav this time is keen to have a tie-up with all the Left parties instead of the Congress. He wants his image of a champion of the downtrodden once again polished and presented properly before the downtrodden. How would the CPI and the CPI (ML) react is yet to be seen. Indications are there that they would like to work for the Left unity and wean away the CPM from the RJD rather than joining hands with Mr Yadav. This could help them not only to win, but also save their image getting sullied. The attitude of the two powerful underground Left parties, the People’s War Group and the Maoist Communist Centre (MCC) is also to be watched. While boycotting election, they do play cool politics. And unless, the RJD throws away Mr Syed Shahabuddin, a leader, whom the CPI (ML) accuses of having eliminated two powerful former JNU student leaders, it cannot even think of helping the Janata Dal (Rashtriya). As one senior Bihar CPI leader put it: "Bihar could offer a lesson for other states if all the Left forces are united." Results could help repeat this in other states", he said and was confident of proving to be a major force in Bihar. Finally, it could be a
three or even four-cornered battle and Mr Yadav would be
too happy. |
Jayalalitha leads stir on diesel price CHENNAI, Nov 4 (UNI) — All-India Anna DMK (AIADMK) General Secretary and former Chief Minister J. Jayalalitha today led the state-wide agitation by the AIADMK-led front, demanding the withdrawal of the hike in the diesel price and condemning the increase in the bus fare and cement price in Tamil Nadu. The agitation was also to demand that the rice through the ration shops be supplied at Rs 2 per kg. This was the first time that Ms Jayalalitha had led an agitation after she lost power in 1996 and the second in her political career. She had led an agitation against the then Karunanidhi government 10 years ago in 1989. The AIADMK allies, the Congress(I), the Left parties, the Indian National League, the Dravida Kazhagam and the Muvender Munnetra Kazhagam, took part in the agitation. In a speech at the working class-dominated Mint area of the city, Ms Jayalalitha predicted the fall of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government at the Centre and the DMK government in the state by the year 2001. If the hike in the diesel price was effected before the Lok Sabha elections, the NDA would not have come to power at all, Ms Jayalalitha and several senior leaders of the front, including CPM State Secretary N. Sankariah and AICC Secretary Manishankar Iyer, said. Ms Jayalalitha alleged that the cement price was hiked in the state by the "benamis" of some DMK leaders and the Chief Minister was trying to protect the interest of six cement companies. Tamil Nadu Congress (I) Committee President Tindivdanam K. Ramamurthy, Indian National League (INL) General Secretary M.A. Lateef, Dravida Kazhagam (DK) General Secretary K. Veeramani, CPM State Secretary N. Sankariah and CPI Secretary R. Nallakannu were among those who took part in the demonstration in the city. AIADMK Deputy General Secretary K. Kalimuthu led the demonstration in Madurai. Former TNCC (I) President Kumari Ananthan also took part in the agitation, a Madurai report said. AIADMK MP, T.T.V.
Dinakaran led the agitation at Theni. |
Paradip turns into ghost town PARADIP, No 4 (PTI) — Paradip has turned into a ghost town with its 75,000 inhabitants yet to recover from the ghastly nightmare that visited them on "black" Friday. "Those who died are lucky. At least they don’t have to go through the misery we are facing here with no water, food or shelter. If there is a hell, it is here," says 54-year-old Ramaiah, who has been living in the Ghanagalia slum for the past 20 years. Bloated bodies are strewn about, most of them in highly decomposed state and beyond recognition with hardly anyone bothering about them. Even vultures are not around to feast on the corpses which litter the once bustling port township and its nearby areas in Orissa’s Jagatsinghpur district, worst-affected in Friday’s super cyclone. A handful of rescue workers, assisted by the locals, gather heaps of bodies in dumpers not knowing what to do with them. As dusk descends, an eerie calm prevails on the seashore. The waves roll gently at a distance with the sharp wail of stray dogs puncturing the silence. The port authorities and volunteers have cremated at least 200 bodies since Monday near the lighthouse point, ironically against the backdrop of a signpost which reads: Cremation is strictly prohibited on the sea beach. As entire families have been wiped out in many cases in the calamity, there is hardly anyone to wail over the demise of a near and dear one. Others, fighting the unbearable stench with carcasses in hundreds dotting the landscape, hardly take notice of the corpses floating around, including those in the sea. There are bodies everywhere, washed ashore from the sea or floating in creeks, rivulets or the vast expanse of water that has engulfed three-fourths of the sprawling Jagatsinghpur district. Anxious relatives, searching for missing persons as a 10-metre-high wall of water rushed into the township and nearby blocks of Ersama, Kujang and Tirtol from the sea on Friday night, are thronging the local police station. Till yesterday, the police had registered 365 cases of missing persons in the port town alone, DIG Gourganga Kinkar Das said. While the Jagatsinghpur district authorities say that they had located about 350 bodies, including 250 in the port town, the DIG said the total casualty could be much higher. With corpses floating everywhere, it was impossible to count, he said, adding that he apprehended that the toll could reach 5,000. The government had been able to establish contacts with the district and a few block headquarters in Jagatsinghpur and neighbouring Kendrapada districts with the Army moving in yesterday with ration trucks. But the remote panchayats were yet to be reached. Nrusingha Mohapatra, Kendrapada District Collector, said about 90 per cent of the villages in the district had remained marooned with people clamouring for relief. As against the requirement of 25,000 tonnes of food material, he had received only 3,000 tonnes for the entire district having a population of 12 lakh. The official casualty figure in Kendrapada, he said, was 49 with 12 others reported missing. The toll in the district could go up to 200, he said. The casualty was
minimised because steps had been taken to evacuate people
to educational institutions, government offices and
public institutions prior to the cyclone, he said adding
in some cases they were forcibly evacuated. |
Gamang to stay: Cong NEW DELHI, Nov 4 (PTI) — Congress today ruled out the replacement of Orissa Chief Minister Giridhar Gamang who has been under attack over the handling of the situation in the wake of the cyclone which devastated several parts of the state. "Where is the question to replace the Chief Minister? The primary job is to save the people and provide relief to them" in the wake of the natural calamity, AICC General Secretary Pranab Mukherjee told reporters. Mr Mukherjee’s statement assumes significance in view of the fact that a special session of the Congress Working Committee (CWC) is being held here tomorrow to take stock of the situation in the state and review relief operations there. All Chief Ministers of the Congress-ruled states have been invited to the meeting. Mr Mukherjee, who has just returned after visiting the state as part of a four-member AICC team, said: "Now is not the time to analyse the role of anybody ... What is needed is support of the whole country for the people of Orissa." The task of providing
relief and rehabilitation in Orissa was
"gigantic" as 1.5 crore people have been
rendered homeless and large number of affected people
would have to be provided food for quite some time, he
said. |
CBI permitted to chargesheet Laloo PATNA, Nov 4 (UNI) — Bihar Governor Suraj Bhan has accorded sanction to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for filing charge sheet in a conspiracy angle case of fodder scam against leading politicians of the state, including two former chief ministers, three ministers and several bureaucrats. Mr Bhan, also holding the charge of neighbouring state of Uttar Pradesh, permitted the CBI to file charge sheet against former Chief Ministers Laloo Prasad Yadav and Jagannath Mishra. He had given his consent after reviewing the CBI reports against politicians and bureaucrats. The charge sheet was expected to be filed in the designated CBI court here shortly. The CBI had sought permission from former Governor B.M. Lal and provided all related papers on the matter one-and-half month ago. However, he could not take the decision as he was superannuated in the meantime. Raj Bhavan sources said here that the related documents had reached the Governor's house here. The CBI was expected to
seek the nod of the Governor in a case related with
disproportionate asset, pending against Mr Yadav for a
long time. |
Russian delegation in India for defence tie-up NEW DELHI, Nov 4 (PTI) — A high-level Russian delegation arrived here tonight to hold talks with Indian leaders on military-technical cooperation as also sale of ammunition and defence equipment. The seven-member delegation, which includes Deputy Prime Minister Ilya Isifovich Klebanov, Minister of Atomic Energy I. O. Adamov, First Deputy Minister of Defence N.V. Mikhailov and Deputy Minister of Trade V.A. Pakhanov, was received by Defence Minister George Fernandes at the airport. The delegation on a four-day visit would participate in the Indo-Russian group on military-technical cooperation, whose previous meeting was held in Moscow last year. This is the first visit by a Russian delegation after the Kargil war in which issues relating to supply of ammunition and spares for 130 mm artillery guns and other weapon systems and upgradation of IAF’s MiG-21 BIS combat aircraft in Russia are likely to come up for discussion, defence sources said. An Itar-Tass report from
Moscow quoting the Russian government sources said the
delegation hoped to clinch deals for sale of weapons and
military equipment worth $ 3 billion. |
Tribals begin sit-in against conversions NEW DELHI, Nov 4 (PTI) — Tribal activists from across the country, owing allegiance to the Sangh Parivar, today began a three day sit-in here on the eve of the papal visit to draw the pontiff’s attention to ‘‘the objectionable activities of the Church and religious conversions’’. The 150-odd protesters, belonging to Bhil, Garasia, Gond, Meena, Konkan and other tribes and hailing from Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Delhi and Dadra and Nagar Haveli, alleged that conversions ‘‘posed threat’’ to their religion and culture. The activists, under the banner of the Bharatiya Janjati Sanskritik Manch, said they had requested the Vatican mission for an audience with Pope John Paul II ‘‘to apprise him of the evil effects of conversion on their religion, culture and social fabric.’’ Meanwhile, the Shiv Sena has said it will stage black flag demonstrations during the papal visit beginning tomorrow if Pope John Paul II does not apologise for alleged atrocities on Hindus during Portuguese rule in Goa and other places in the country in the 16th century. The decision to stage
demonstrations was taken at a meeting of the party
executive. |
Rlys to hold meeting with ad
agencies NEW DELHI, Nov 4 — The Railways and the corporate sector have decided to call a meeting of the country’s leading advertising agencies on Wednesday to chalk out ways of selling 26,000 sites for advertising at manned and unmanned level crossings. Earnings from the sale of these sites would be spent on upgradation of unmanned railway crossings and improvement of passenger amenities at railway stations. This decision was taken at the first meeting of the recently constituted task force comprising representatives from trade and industry and senior officers in the ministry. Sources in the Railways said it was proposed that the selection of bidders for the sites be done within 45 days of the meeting with the advertising companies. "The Railways is interested in the bulk sale of sites so that we can get the payment immediately. The advertising companies can purchase the sites in bulk and further retail it," sources said. An estimate on resource generation through site selling on commercial publicity routes can be worked out only after a feedback from prospective buyers, sources said. The Railways would discuss modalities with the advertising companies and find out if they are interested in buying sites at wholesale rates. "We would like to offer a site for Rs 10 lakh and get a one-time payment for advertising rights for a definite period between five to seven years. This contract may be extended," sources said. They pointed out that the financial crunch of the Railways was obvious as central budgetary support was declining. The private sector has been participating in various schemes of the Railways, including BOLT (build on lease and transfer) started in 1994, the own your wagon scheme started in 1992 and advertising at railway stations. Of the 7,000 railway stations, commercial publicity is visible in 150 A class stations, 450 B class stations and a few C class stations. The meeting chaired by
Mr Shanti Narain, Member, Traffic, Railway Board, was
attended by Executive Directors, Freight Marketing, Civil
Engineering and Land Management and representatives from
apex chambers of Commerce and Industry. |
NHRC working on plan for
Orissa NEW DELHI, Nov 4 — Former Chief Justice of India, Justice J.S. Verma, who assumed charge as Chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission today said the immediate priority before the commission was to give a serious thought to the calamity in Orissa and see what the NHRC could do about it. Justice Verma said he was holding a meeting of the secretary-general, members, the registrar and senior officers of the commission to work out an action plan for "favourable intervention" in Orissa. As a first step in this direction, the Chairperson and members had decided to donate two day’s salary and the staff a day’s salary towards the relief fund for the cyclone victims. Talking to media persons here today, Justice Verma said although the commission’s stature had grown over the years, senior bureaucrats were not aware of the powers of the commission. The Chairperson said the Supreme Court had been referring cases to the NHRC from time to time because the commission had an independent investigation wing which gave authentic investigation reports. Justice Verma said when the Central Government and the Punjab Government contested the intervention of the NHRC in the Punjab mass cremation case, the Supreme Court said the commission had been empowered to take up the case. He recalled that as a Judge of the Supreme Court, he had asked the commission to monitor the working of remand homes and mental asylums and look into starvation deaths in Orissa. Justice Verma said he would try to read more into the law to make protection of the Human Rights Act more effective. Justice Verma said more
state human rights commissions should be set up
especially in UP and Bihar where the need was greater. |
SC order on prosecution, pension rules NEW DELHI, Nov 4 (PTI) — The Supreme Court has ruled that the four-year time limit for launching prosecution against a public servant under pension rules cannot supersede the period of limitation prescribed under the criminal procedure code. This ruling was given by a Division Bench comprising Mr Justice K.T. Thomas and Mr Justice M.B. Shah while setting aside a Mumbai High Court order, quashing criminal proceedings against a retired engineer on the ground that pension rules did not allow launching of prosecution four years after the commission of the offence. Cr PC provides a three-year limitation period for launching of prosecution in offences punishable with imprisonment for a term exceeding one year but not more than three years. "It is apparent that as the offences for which the retired engineer is chargesheeted are punishable with an imprisonment for a term exceeding three years there is no period of limitation prescribed under the code," it said in a judgement pronounced on Monday. Limitation provided under pension rules framed by the state governments was only meant for the purpose of granting, withholding or withdrawing the pension and hence "its operation would be in the limited field of granting or withholding pension to the government employees", Mr Justice Shah said while writing the judgement for the Bench. Under the Maharashtra Civil Service (Pension) Rules, 1982, the government might order withholding or withdrawing a pension or any part thereof, if, in any departmental or judicial proceedings, the pensioner was found guilty of grave misconduct or negligence during the period of his service. The Bench said the rules
provided that future good conduct "shall be an
implied condition of every grant of pension and
government may withhold or withdraw a pension or part
thereof, if the pensioner is convicted of a serious crime
or is found guilty of grave misconduct". |
Put off SAARC summit: India NEW DELHI, Nov 4 — India has formally requested for the postponement of the forthcoming South Asian Regional Cooperation (SAARC) summit, scheduled to be held in Kathmandu later this month. In a statement, a spokesman for the Ministry of External Affairs, today said: " On account of the military coup d’etat in Pakistan and the consequent concern and disquiet expressed in the region and beyond, the Government of India has informed the SAARC Chairperson and Nepal, as the host country for the next summit, that in the interest of SAARC and for a productive meeting, it would be appropriate to defer the summit for the time being." The spokesman, however, expressed India’s lasting commitment to achieving socio-economic goals, envisioned by SAARC. India has informed the
SAARC Chairperson, Ms Chandrika Kumartunga, Sri Lankan
President and Nepal, the host country for the
postponement of the SAARC summit. |
Pawar tows Sangma line on Congress MUMBAI, Nov 4 (PTI) — NCP president Sharad Pawar today said his party should shun any understanding with the Congress outside Maharashtra. "We all feel the same way", Mr Pawar told a press conference here when his attention was drawn to Mr P.A. Sangma's statement that there would be no alliance with the Congress in any other part of the country in future. "Circumstances in Maharashtra have been exceptional", he added. Mr Pawar, who arrived here after a tour abroad, also put at rest speculations that the NCP would demand a further reduction in the size of the Democratic Front (DF) ministry led by Mr Vilasrao Deshmukh of the Congress. The Chief Minister had done his best to accommodate all factions of the coalition which had resulted in a jumbo-sized Cabinet, he said, adding that the NCP did not want to complicate the matters for Mr Deshmukh. The issue of an
oversized Cabinet, largest in the history of the state,
had rocked the DF government recently with the NCP
insisting on dropping of ministers leading to Mr
Deshmukh's sacking of six ministers to limit the number
from 61 to 55. |
Gehlot, detractors on warpath JAIPUR, Nov 4 — The honeymoon between the Chief Minister, Mr Ashok Gehlot, and his party legislators is over and a war of attrition has begun. After the recent debacle at the hustings it looks that it will not be smooth sailing for Mr Gehlot now. In fact, the Gehlot camp has been giving the impression that Mrs Sonia Gandhi has given him a clean chit and assured him that he need not worry about his job. But the goings on in the party tell an other story. Senior leaders like Mr Naval Kishore Sharma and the twice Chief Minister of Rajasthan, Mr Shiv Charan Mathur, too have broken their silence and both have started expressing their anguish over the functioning of the state government. Mr Ghelot, on his part, alleges that these leaders are conspiring against him. On Sunday last, Mr Gehlot appeared in "phone-in" question-answer programme with the public on AIR. His anger against these leaders can be assessed from his answer to a remark by a listener who had observed "the impression about you is that you are a good person and a gentleman." Mr Gehlot lost his cool and replied that such sort of propaganda is aimed at painting him as a gentleman who has no hold on the administration. "This is part of a well-thought out conspiracy against me," he alleged. While responding to this question, Mr Gehlot probably had in mind the remarks made by Mr Shiv Charan Mathur saying that Mr Gehlot was a gentleman but had no grip on administration. Similarly, one of the senior-most Congress leaders of Rajasthan and a former AICC General Secretary, Mr Nawal Kishore Sharma, has openly blamed Mr Gehlot for the debacle in the elections. He says that the "mishandling" of the Jat reservation issue by Mr Gehlot and son-performance of the state government have mainly been responsible for the party’s humiliating defeat, with its tally of MPs dropping from 20 to only nine in a year’s time. Mr Gehlot uses every possible occasion to claim that his government has done splendid job in the shortest time. His government took 108 decisions in a short period of six months but could not implement the same due to the Kargil war and Lok Sabha election. His detractors, however, are not convinced by his explanation. "What role had he to play in the Kargil war," they ask. But Mr Gehlot rejects all these arguments, saying that these have no value since they come from a person who himself has been removed from the chief ministership on account of incompetence. Mr Mathur in various interviews has gone on record recently to condemn the state government for raking the issue of bankrupt coffers of the state. "Do you think that even when you cry hoarse that you are bankrupt some one would come and offer you loans." Loans are given only to those who appear to be in sound financial health." By crying foul over it, the image of the state has been tarnished before the financing agencies beyond repair, he says. To placate both these leaders, Mr Gehlot had given them Cabinet ranks by appointing Mr Nawal Kishore Sharma as Chairman of Rajasthan’s Golden Jubilee Celebrations Committee and Mr Shiv Charan Mathur as Chairman of the Administrative Reforms Commission. Mr Sharma, however, has not even accepted the facilities linked with Cabinet rank. But Mr Mathur is fully
utilising the assignment and is calling top officials,
holding meetings of district-level officers and having
discussions with important personalities in different
fields. This has probably irked the Chief Minister and he
wants to cut Mr Mathur to size. Probably this is why he
does not bother even to acknowledge letters sent to him
by Mr Mathur in his capacity as Chairman of the
Administration Reforms Commission. This has further
annoyed Mr Mathur. |
NCW gesture to cyclone-hit NEW DELHI, Nov 4 — For those families in Orissa who do not have a single candle to light their homes, the National Commission for Women has decided to offer its premises for receiving donations. A Press release issued today by the commission said that the NCW had decided to offer itself as a centre for receiving worldwide relief for the victims of cyclone. Donations, including clothes, blankets, utensils, medicines, plastic sheets, candles and powder milk would be received at the office of the commission on Deen Dayal Upadhyay Marg. The NCW office will also be open on Divali to receive donations. According to the
release, Ms Sukeshi Oram NCW member from Orissa, who
demitted office recently has volunteered to receive
donations in Bhubaneswar and distribute there all over
the state. |
India invites bids for supply of howitzers NEW DELHI, Nov 4 (ANI) — India has invited bids from seven foreign firms for the sale and licensed production of at least 3000 to 4000 155 mm/52-calibre howitzers over the next two decades, according to a defence weekly. The Jane’s Defence Weekly report quoting Army sources said the modified requirement for both self-propelled and towed howitzers was being finalised. The Army would then invite Bofors, Giat Industries of France, LIW of South Africa, ODE of Singapore, Patria Vammas of Finland, Santa Barbara of Spain and Marconi Marine, Land and Naval Systems of Britain to submit their weapons for trial next year. However, all seven were not expected to respond to participate in the bid or the trial, the report added. The trials would include testing at the high altitude areas, the desert near Pokhran and at Artillery Centre and School Deolalai. Meanwhile, South African
Defence Minister Mosiuoa Lekota was quoted as saying that
India had raised a demand for LIW 155 mm/52-calibre towed
howitzers. |
Priyanka may join politics: Sonia AMETHI, Nov 4 (PTI) — Congress President Sonia Gandhi today hinted at her daughter Priyanka Vadra taking a plunge into politics. "Priyanka may be given some responsibility in the party organisation, if she likes," she told reporters here. Ms Gandhi, on a two-day tour of her parliamentary constituency to get a first hand knowledge of their problems, said Priyanka failed to accompany her as she was indisposed. "Priyanka will soon come to you," she told the local people. The Congress President said former Union Minister and MP from Rae Bareli Capt Satish Sharma might also be given some "responsible post" in the party. Ms Gandhi addressed
several meetings in different assembly segments of her
constituency saying she would raise in Lok Sabha the
problems plaguing Amethi. |
Bhatti’s discount sale of bribery gifts NEW DELHI, Nov 4 (UNI) — Well-known comedian film-maker Jaspal Bhatti is holding an inaugural discount sale of exclusive Divali bribery gifts in the Capital tomorrow. In an invitation for the event, Bhatti said the solemn festival of Divali had today degenerated into a festival of corruption and a mad race for bribery in the form of expensive gifts. The spoof artiste from
Chandigarh has held many such shows to expose corruption,
including taking out marches during elections. His
comical attacks against the bureaucracy, politicians and
the media have resulted in some very popular television
serials. |
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| 6 PWG Naxals surrender HYDERABAD: Six Naxalites, including a woman of the outlawed Peoples’ War Group (PWG), surrendered before the Andhra Pradesh Police Director General H.J. Dora here on Thursday. Of the six, five belong to Karimnagar district while another hails from Warangal district. — PTI Fire claims 2 lives Chavan’s
son-in-law found dead Malayalam
comedian dead 4 cops killed in
accident Kavi Shekhar
Award Harvard
University conference Plant that
boosts immune system Calcutta film
festival Raids on
SDO’s house, factory Forgery case
against engineer |
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