Wednesday, November 24, 1999
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N A T I O N |
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weather  spotlighttoday's calendar |
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Orissa Govt to submit
‘white paper’ on cyclone Advani warns Pak of Kargil-type
action |
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Air-hostess molested by
colleague Demand for census based on caste Don't target Sonia, Cong warns NCP Ex-minister Malviya joins RLD New UP BJP chief soon: Rajnath
Juliana seeks CM’s
intervention Redefine Cong ideology: Gadgil Karuna dares TMC Fire in factory, 5 killed Hotel workers’ right to
protest curtailed |
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Orissa Govt to submit
‘white paper’ BHUBANESWAR, Nov 23 (UNI) — The Orissa Government will submit a white paper on the October 29 super cyclone in the coming session of the state assembly beginning December 1. Special Relief Commissioner D.N. Padhi told newsmen here today that the white paper would cover all aspects of the cyclone that hit Orissa coast affecting as many as 12 districts. The entire cyclone affected areas had been divided into eight zones and a senior officer with working knowledge of the area had been put in charge of each zone for coordination in relief and rehabilitation work, he added. With the closing down of the emergency relief, the government had moved to undertake rehabilitation work in the affected areas, he said adding that the newly-appointed officers would oversee the day-to-day progress of the relief and rehabilitation work in their respective areas and report to the government. Mr Padhi said a World Bank team would visit the state on November 29 to assess the damage caused by the cyclone and decide the quantum of assistance needed for rebuilding the infrastructure of the state. Mr Padhi said the government had already released Rs 110 crore out of the Rs 200 crore central assistance it received for distribution among people whose houses had been damaged in the cyclone. He said the officials would be instructed to involve gram sabhas while categorising and enumerating the damaged houses. The Relief Commissioner said the authorities were consulting the engineering institute of Roorkee and other national technical institutes for building resistance proof houses in the cyclone-prone areas to ensure safety in case of a calamity in the future. He promised to provide blankets to all affected families within a week. As against the total demand for 25 lakh blankets, the government had placed order for 20 lakh blankets and expected to get the remaining five lakh from various other states and voluntary organisations. So far eight lakh blankets had been distributed, Mr Padhi said. On the allegation of the wrong distribution of blankets, he said he had no knowledge of any blanket or carpets being provided either by the USA or Germany for the cyclone affected people and strongly denied the allegation that any officer had received any of the stuff. Mr Padhi hoped to provide polythene sheets to all affected families after the stocks arrived next week. He said the government had placed orders for 1.33 lakh polythene rolls worth Rs 45 crore. So far it had received goods worth Rs 12 crore. He said polythene could not be distributed speedily as it was difficult to procure 25 lakh pieces required to meet the demand from the country in a short period just after the rainy season and at a time when the manufacturing units had already exhausted their stock. Meanwhile the death toll in the cyclone today rose to 9803 with three more deaths reported from Bhadrak district. Housing and Urban Development Corporation had approved a total loan assistance of Rs 490 crore for rehabilitation in housing. HUDCO Regional Manager Malay Chatterjee said the corporation had approved Rs 187.50 crore soft loan assistance for construction of 75,000 houses in 12 cyclone-affected districts. It had also decided to support five special building centres in the cyclone-affected areas with a grand assistance of Rs 75 lakh. Mr Banerjee said the
location of the centres would be decided by the
government. In addition to it HUDCO had decided to adopt
four villages as model villages with assistance of Rs 35
lakh each, he said. |
Fernandes was ‘misguided’ BHUBANESWAR, Nov 23 (PTI) — Senior BJP leader Rama Krushna Patnaik today disagreed with Defence Minister George Fernandes on giving a clean chit to the Orissa Government in management of relief operations and said the minister was probably misguided. "The statement of Mr Fernandes was superfluous and I think he was misguided," Mr Patnaik told a press conference here. The BJD leader, Chairman of the Relief Committee set up by the party, said the people of the cyclone-devastated villages were frustrated with Mr Fernandes’ statement. The Defence Minister, who heads the task force to coordinate rescue and relief operations in Orissa, during his recent visit to the state had said everybody, including the state government, was doing their best in providing relief to the affected people. Alleging large scale mis-appropriation of relief materials, particularly those received from foreign countries and international philanthropic organisations, Mr Patnaik sought a CBI probe into these misappropriations. The BJD leader
castigated the state government for the manner in which
senior officers engaged in relief operations were being
disturbed frequently. |
Advani warns Pak of Kargil-type action VARANASI, Nov 23 (PTI) — Union Home Minister L. K. Advani today warned Pakistan of a Kargil-like response if it did not refrain from cross-border terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir and border areas. "If Pakistan did not refrain from creating disturbances, a befitting reply would be given to it like that in Kargil," Mr Advani told reporters here. Mr Advani, here in connection with a function at the Buddhist pilgrimage centre of Sarnath, said the government would move Bills for granting statehood to Uttaranchal, Vananchal and Chhattisgarh in the winter session of Parliament. Outlining the government’s priorities, Mr Advani said an electoral reforms Bill and a national population policy were under consideration. On the BJP’s strategy in Goa, where the Congress Ministry is facing trust vote tomorrow, Mr Advani said his party would vote against the Faleiro Government but did not comment when asked if the BJP would join the next government in the state. The Home Minister rejected the Congress demand for President’s rule in Tripura. "Paramilitary forces in adequate numbers would be given to Tripura to check militancy there," Mr Advani said, adding the Tripura Chief Secretary met the Union Home Secretary in Delhi in this connection yesterday. On the issue of
appointing a new President for the UP, BJP in place of Mr
Rajnath Singh who was inducted in the Union Cabinet, he
said a decision in this regard would be taken soon by the
party leadership. |
Gaiety marks Gurpurb NEW DELHI, Nov 23 (PTI) — The 530th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev, the founder of Sikhism, was celebrated with religious fervour and traditional gaiety throughout the Capital today. Hundreds of Sikhs thronged various gurdwaras, tastefully decorated and illuminated, since morning and offered special prayers. The famous Bangla Sahib, Rakab Ganj Sahib and Seesh Ganj Sahib Gurdwaras witnessed big congregations on the occasion. At Gurdwara Rakab Ganj, Bhai Ranjit Singh, former Jathedar of Akal Takht, Amritsar, while offering homage to Guru Nanak urged the people to follow the path of peace, love, equality and brotherhood shown by the Sikh Guru. Union Ministers Arun Jaitley, Jagmohan and Ram Jethmalani and former Delhi Chief Minister Madan Lal Khurana were among those who were presented "siropa" (robe of honour) on the occasion. A laser show on the life of Sri Guru Nank Dev was shown to Devotees at Gurdwara Rakab Ganj. Guru ka langar (free community kitchen) was served to all visiting the gurdwaras. The Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, was presented with a "siropa" and a kirpan by the secretary-general of the Delhi unit of the Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal), Mr Kuldeep Singh Bhogal. Mr Bhogal, who called on the Prime Minister at his residence accompanied by several prominent Sikh leaders, also presented a portrait of Guru Nanak to Mr Vajpayee. The Prime Minister also paid tribute to Guru Teg Bahadur on the occasion of Martyrdom Day tomorrow. In a message, he said:
"Guruji's supreme sacrifice will continue to remind
us that one must live and die for noble values and for
principles which promote bonds of universal amity and
brotherhood". |
Air-hostess molested by colleague NEW DELHI, Nov 23 (PTI) — An air-hostess with the Indian Airlines was allegedly molested and harassed by her duty officer at the Indira Gandhi airport here when she went to get her duty rescheduled, police sources said today. The incident occurred on November 21 and the accused is absconding even as a case of molestation has been registered at the Palam police station in south-west Delhi, the sources said. According to the FIR, the 37-year-old hostess had gone to the bus terminal to meet roster clerk John on November 21 to reschedule her duty for the next day. However, when she requested him to change her schedule the latter allegedly started misbehaving with her. When she retaliated, realising that she was alone, he allegedly grabbed her. Hearing the cries of the air-hostess, other staff members rushed to John's room. He, however, managed to escape. A senior police official
at the Palam police station said Indian Airlines
officials had been informed about the case and they were
probing the matter. Efforts were on to trace John who had
not reported for duty after the incident, he added. |
Demand for census based on caste NEW DELHI, Nov 23 (UNI) — The National Union of Backward Classes, SCs, STs and minorities today demanded that the next Census should be based on castes so that the exact number of the country's community members be known. Addressing a press conference here, union leader D.P. Yadav, MP, said that as per the population of a particular section of society, one community should get the benefit of the reservation policy of the government. Referring to the proposed 33 per cent reservation to women in Parliament and the state assemblies, he said it was a "conspiracy" to retain deprive the women belonging to the backward, Muslims and other weaker sections of society. "Besides, the reservation of women is also aimed at reducing the number of MPs from backward classes as their total number has risen to 375 in Parliament, much to the discomfort of many." Mr Yadav expressed
anguish over the removal of Mr Rajendra Yadav, a
well-known writer, and eminent historian Romila Thapar
from the Prasar Bharti Board, saying that this betrayed
the "real intention" of the people ruling North
and South Blocks. |
Don't target Sonia, Cong warns NCP MUMBAI, Nov 23 (PTI) — The Congress today warned the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) that it would be compelled to "rethink" its tie-up with the party in Maharashtra if the latter persisted with its "attacks" on AICC President Sonia Gandhi. President of the Mumbai Regional Congress Committee (MRCC) Murli Deora, referring to the reported move of the state BJP to table a Bill directed against Mrs Sonia Gandhi in the forthcoming winter session of the state legislature, said if the NCP supported the Bill, the Congress would have no option but to reconsider its pact with the NCP. The Bill, which reportedly seeks to debar persons of foreign origin from occupying highest offices in the country, was also "outside the purview of state legislature", he said in a statement here. The NCP is a coalition
partner of the Congress in the Democratic Front (DF)
Government in the state. |
Ex-minister Malviya joins RLD NEW DELHI, Nov 23 (PTI) — Former Union Minister Satya Prakash Malviya today joined the Ajit Singh-led Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) saying he would like to work for the agricultural community. "I want to work for the farmers with Ajit Singh," Mr Malviya, once a close associate of former Prime Minister Chandra Shekhar, told reporters adding he was "unhappy with Chandra Shekhar's recent statement adopting a soft stand on Mulayam Singh." Introducing Mr Malviya,
RLD President Ajit Singh said Mr Malviya joining his
party would help in reviving the "Lok Dal of
yesteryear fame". |
New UP BJP chief soon: Rajnath VARANASI, Nov 23 (PTI) — Union Surface Transport Minister Rajnath Singh today said that the BJP high command had accepted his offer to relinquish the presidentship of party's Uttar Pradesh unit and that a decision would soon be taken about his successor. Mr Rajnath Singh told reporters here that he had communicated to the BJP high command about his intention to relinquish the presidentship of party's Uttar Pradesh unit and the "party leadership agreed to his offer". Answering a question he exuded confidence that the R.P. Gupta government in UP would complete its term "without any difficulty". He expressed the hope
that former state Chief Minister Kalyan Singh would
neither leave the party nor create any problem for the
BJP-led coalition in the state. |
Prasar Bharati in for major
changes NEW DELHI, Nov 23 — Major changes are expected in the entire structure of Prasar Bharati following the setting up of a three member commission to review its working. According to reports, the changes were expected specially since the team that had been set up for the review would be going into each and every aspect of the Prasar Bharati working and suggest changes to make it a professional organisation. The emphasis would be on ensuring the credibility and professionalism of Prasar Bharati. The Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, last night approved the setting up of the three-member commission. The committee, set up at the initiative of Information and Broadcasting Minister, Arun Jaitley includes Infosys Chairman and CEO N.R. Narayana Murthy, chief of the Discovery Channel in India Kiran Karnik and Mr Shunu Sen, known for his expertise in marketing. As per the reports, the committee would have three months to look into the organisational structure, legal framework, systems and other relevant areas and suggest changes accordingly to make Prasar Bharati a professional outfit. As a result, the sources said changes could be expected specially on the marketing and the programming side. A special marketing cell could be established to ensure that Doordarshan got back its share of the market which had plummeted down over the past three years following the arrival of private satellite channels. As per the surveys Doordarshan’s market share has come down from 48 per cent three years ago to 28 per cent at present. Prasar Bharati officials said the three members of the committee had been chosen with specific motives in mind. While Mr Narayana Murthy, who would be heading the committee is expected to outline the future path for the organisation, Mr Shunu Sen would be expected to provide inputs on improving DD and AIRs sagging marketing profile. Similarly, Mr Kiran
Karnik would be expected to suggest strategies to enable
both DD and AIR to regain audience-share and slipping
revenues. |
Juliana seeks CM’s intervention CHENNAI, Nov 23 (UNI) — Ms Juliana, who shot to limelight when she married septuagenarian celluloid actor Gemini Ganesan last year and fell out with him as quickly, is in the news again, this time seeking the intervention of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi. Ms Juliana, whom Ganesan married for the fourth time to the surprise of his family, friends and fans, lived with him in a flat in T.Nagar here for five months before their marriage was on the rocks. In a petition to Mr Karunanidhi, Ms Juliana said she had been surviving by selling her jewellery and other articles since she was "abandoned’’ by her husband 10 months ago. She said she had been leading a comfortable life in Singapore before Ganesan persuaded her to marry him and brought her here. Her problems began when her husband was hospitalised following an illness and members of his family did not allow her to meet him. His family advocate also informed her over the phone that the actor was not interested in living with her and offered her money for an out-of-court settlement. When she turned down the offer, they sent thugs who forcibly snatched away her "mangala sutra", Ms Juliana alleged. Meanwhile, Ganesan was taken to the USA for further treatment and even after his return, she was not allowed to meet him and she did not know his whereabouts, she said. Ms Juliana sought the intervention of the Chief Minister, who had been associated with the Tamil film industry for a long time. Earlier, Ganesan’s family had claimed that Ms Juliana had been torturing him as a result of which he took to excessive drinking. It was also alleged that
Ms Juliana had demanded Rs 50 lakh to agree to a
separation but Ganesan’s family agreed to pay only
Rs 7 lakh. |
Redefine Cong ideology: Gadgil NEW DELHI, Nov 23 (PTI) — In the wake of its worst electoral debacle, Congress President Sonia Gandhi has been asked to emulate Britain’s Labour Party leader Tony Blair who made dramatic changes in the party ideology and strategy to spectacularly ride back to power in 1997 after four consecutive defeats. The suggestion has been made by senior Congress leader V.N. Gadgil in a note presented to Mrs Gandhi stressing the need for modernising, remodelling and redefining the Congress ideology as was done by the Labour Party after 1987 in view of changed perceptions about "Hindutva" and "Secularism" among the people. "Harsh introspection was made by the Labour Party in a similar situation when it lost four consecutive parliamentary elections and was kept out of power for 18 years," Mr Gadgil said, adding that the "congress must learn from this British experience". Mr Gadgil emphasised the Congress must realise that 70 per cent of voters in the past four Lok Sabha elections had not accepted certain aspects of the party ideology and policy. In this regard, he wanted the party to "cultivate" the middle class which was the real opinionmaker. He also stressed the need to revise the party’s perception of the BJP which was "no longer a brahmin and baniya party". "We must also analyse why the party (BJP) which got only two Lok Sabha seats 14 years back has now 182 seats. The political reality is that "Hindutva" does appeal to a large number of Hindus". Asserting that this "reality" must be accepted before devising any strategy for revival of the Congress, Mr Gadgil also underlined that the BJP had won a majority of Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe seats of the Lok Sabha. Besides, it had also brought about deliberate changes accommodating many Backward Castes in the party structure and leadership, he said adding that "they had mobilised about 30,000 Dalits at the time of Kar Sewa at Ayodhya". Turning to the party’s basic policies, he said secularism was the "most controversial part" of the Congress ideology. "The best source of basic ideology of a party is, of course, its constitution....It mentions that the object of the Indian National Congress is to establish a socialist state based on a parliamentary system of government, but it does not mention a word about secularism." He noted that the party constitution was revised after Independence by no less a person than Pandit Nehru. Besides, the words
"socialism" and "secularism" have
acquired a peculiar connotation in India in the past 50
years, he said. |
Fire in factory, 5 killed NEW DELHI, Nov 23 (PTI) — Five labourers were asphyxiated to death in a fire at a foam factory in the Najaf Garh area of south-west Delhi late tonight, fire brigade sources said. The victims, who were brought out of the inferno by fire brigade personnel, were yet to be identified, the sources said. The labourers were rushed to Safdarjung Hospital where they were declared brought dead, the sources said. The cause of the fire, which broke out at 8.30 p.m., was not yet known and further investigation were on. About six fire tenders
were pressed into service to control the blaze, the
sources added. |
Hotel workers’ right to
protest curtailed NEW DELHI, Nov 23 — The Delhi High Court has curtailed trade unions’ right to hold demonstrations in front of hotels, saying being in the "hospitality" sector, hotels were different from other industries. A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice S.N. Variava and Justice S.K. Mahajan said yesterday: "Hotel is a hospitality industry and it has to ensure peaceful stay of guests. Any unsavoury incident may scare the guest away and destroy its image." The High Court order came on an appeal by the Asian Hotel Employees Union (AHEU) which had challenged the court’s earlier order, restricting the demonstration by its workers beyond 80 metres of Hyatt Regency’s boundary walls here. The employees had been agitating against the "sack" of certain union leaders and suspension of workers for trade union activities. A single-judge Bench on October 8 had allowed the union to hold a "peaceful" demonstration outside the 80-metre limit of Hyatt’s boundary without disturbing the entry and exit of visitors. The AHEU filed an appeal
against the order and wanted that it be allowed to
demonstrate at least across the Ring Road which passes
through just in front of the hotel. |
Karuna dares TMC CHENNAI, Nov 23 (PTI) — Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi today challenged the Tamil Maanila Congress (TMC) in the Assembly to seek the Governor’s sanction for prosecuting him and Highways Minister T. Kiruttinan for an alleged mega-scandal in the construction of highway bridges. Replying to the debate
on the first supplementary estimates for 1999-2000, Mr
Karunanidhi said unlike the previous regime, his
government did not interfere with the functioning of the
Governor, and the Opposition was free to move the Raj
Bhavan for sanction to prosecute him. |
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| Sunil Dutt hospitalised MUMBAI: Veteran actor Sunil Dutt, who is also the member of the Lok Sabha from the North-West Mumbai constituency, was on Monday admitted in the intensive care unit of Breach Candy Hospital in South Mumbai. When contacted Dutt’s daughter Priya said her father was admitted to the hospital to undergo certain tests. The family was concerned as he had developed severe back and neck pain with high fever. — UNI Kiarostami
praised at film festival Bandh disrupts
life in Tripura Rs 10-cr grant
for cyclone victims 9 killed in road
accident Dhindsa visits
Amritsar today Four girls
strangled to death Holiday
cancelled Doctor arrested |
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