Tuesday, November 30, 1999
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White Paper on ISI role
likely: Advani Foreign exchange Bill introduced |
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 Cine star and Rajya Sabha member Shabana Azmi arrives at Parliament to attend the first day of its winter session in New Delhi on Monday. — PTI |
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Air defence ship project cleared PM: do not capitalise on cyclone No hurry to sign CTBT, feel
experts
Filmmakers' plan approved Quota not to be expanded: Maneka ‘Boycott employers’ of
kid servants Railways’ apology for
ex-CJ’s death Implement Sutlej plan: Badal India, Turkey begin talks |
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White Paper on ISI role likely: Advani NEW DELHI, Nov 29 (UNI) — Home Minister L.K. Advani today said in the Lok Sabha the government was preparing a White Paper on the subversive activities of the Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) in India. Replying to supplementaries during the question hour, he assured that the government would bring it before Parliament at an appropriate time. He told Mr Adhir Chaudhury that the overstaying and disappearance of Pak nationals entering the country with valid visas was causing concern to the government. The Home Minister pointed out that Centre’s rules relating to immigration were delegated to the states for implementation. This often led to delays and discrepancies in monitoring the movements of Pak nationals entering on valid visa. Mr Advani said he had taken up with the West Bengal Home Minister the problem in the state of a large number of disappearance of visiting Pak nationals. He feared that such Pak nationals were sponsored by the ISI and were behind the subversive activities in the eastern states. Stating that the Centre was greately concerned over the Pak-sponsored terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir, inter-linked and externally sponsored subversive activities of militant groups in the north-east and the violence perpetrated by the Left wing extremist groups in the north-east, Mr Advani, however, claimed that despite these the law and order situation in the country was under control. In written replies to
questions from members, Mr Advani said the Centre was
taking all action to facilitate coordination of the
anti-terrorist operations of different states and to
improve flow of information useful for control of their
activities among the states. |
Foreign exchange Bill introduced NEW DELHI, Nov 29 — Brushing aside opposition by the Left parties in the Lok Sabha, the Government today introduced the Bill on foreign exchange management, Bill, which aims to consolidate and amend the law relating to foreign exchange. The Bill, along with the proposed legislation on prevention of money laundering, is expected to replace the existing Foreign Exchange Regulation Act (FERA) in keeping with the liberalisation measures initiated since 1991. The Bill faced opposition right at the introduction stage with the members of the CPM claiming that the proposed legislation would only help hawala operators and black money holders. The Bill was also opposed on the ground that the House did not have legislative competence to pass it as there were 259 newly elected members in the Lok Sabha who were not aware of the provisions of the legislation. Some members also objected to the Minister introducing the Bill before zero hour. They held that it amounted to setting a bad precedent. Mr Rupchand Pal of the CPM argued that the Bill had been brought forward on the basis of recommendations made by a standing committee of the previous Lok Sabha and it was necessary that the measure be considered afresh by the present House. He said the earlier Government had also failed to give its views on the report of the standing committee. Mr Basudev Acharya said the idea behind repealing FERA was intended to benefit hawala operators and it provided scope to siphon off money from India. He said the proposed legislation was not in the interest of the country and it should be dropped. A CPM member, Mr Moinul Hasan, challenged the Government’s stand that the country’s foreign exchange reserves were satisfactory and claimed that the current account deficit was 3.5 per cent of the GDP, which in other words meant that India was a net foreign exchange spender. Describing the charges levelled by the Left members as a "figment of imagination and baseless", Mr Sinha said the current account deficit for 1998-99 was less than one per cent of the GDP. He said despite the increase in prices of oil in the international market, the deficit would still be contained around 2 per cent of the GDP. He said the country’s foreign exchange reserves were at a comfortable $ 34 billion and added that in any case there was full convertibility in the current account in the country. On the legislative competence of the House, Mr Sinha pointed out that the very fact that the Bill was introduced in the 12th Lok Sabha showed that it was fit for consideration. On the report of the standing committee, the Finance Minister said that was an issue which would have to be decided by the Speaker. The legislation is
intended to facilitate external trade and payments and
for promoting orderly development and maintenance of
foreign exchange market in India. |
Prasar Bharati posts to remain
vacant NEW DELHI, Nov 29 — The large number of top posts lying vacant in the Prasar Bharati Corporation are likely to remain vacant till the committee, set up to review its functioning, submits its report. According to sources in Prasar Bharati, the committee headed by the Vice-President would be waiting for the committee headed by the Infosys chief, Mr Narayana Murthy, to submit its report before taking a decision on filling crucial posts in the Prasar Bharati, specially those on the Prasar Bharati Board. A number of posts, including that of the Chairman of the Prasar Bharati Board, which fell vacant following the death of eminent journalist Nikhil Chakravorty, have been lying vacant for sometime. Besides the post of the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Prasar Bharati, and also that of the Director General of Doordarshan have been lying vacant. While the Bharatiya Janata Party-led coalition had ensured the removal of the earlier CEO of the Prasar Bharati, Mr S.S. Gill, Doordarshan has been without a regular head for sometime now. Even the earlier DG of Doordarshan, K.S. Sarma had been holding additional charge of the post. Sources said that the Information and Broadcasting Ministry was of the view that since now a committee had been set to review the functioning of the Prasar Bharati, the posts, despite being sensitive in nature should remain vacant till such time it had submitted the report. The committee which is headed by Mr Narayana Murthy and also includes Discovery Channel head in India, Mr Kiran Karnik and Mr Shunu Sen, is expected to give its report within the next three months. The committee is expected to look into the working of Doordarshan and AIR and suggest measures to improve their sagging profile. The committee will go into each and every aspect of 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. Sources said that the committee had already had its first meeting and efforts were underway to identify the weak areas in the Prasar Bharati. The second meeting of the committee is expected to take place once Mr Narayana Murthy was back in the country. He was apparently away abroad and was expected to be back soon. Reports said that Mr Shunu Sen had also already prepared a backgrounder on the working of the Prasar Bharati and submitted it to the Information and Broadcasting Minister, Mr Arun Jaitley. The report submitted by him was basically about how to boost the revenue of Doordarshan and AIR. Mr Sen, apparently had thoroughly reviewed the regional channels of Doordarshan and suggested ways to strengthen them. He had reportedly closely monitored the working other regional channels like Sun TV and Enadu TV and compared them with the working of the regional channels of Doordarshan. He has suggested ways to strengthen these channels, which would ensure that the revenue of the Prasar Bharati increased. The market share of Doordarshan has over the past three years fallen sharply from 48 per cent to 28 per cent. Sources said till such time the new DGs for Doordarshan and AIR were appointed, there was a thinking underway to appoint acting DGs. However, permanent appointments for these posts would only be made after the review committee had submitted its report. According to reports,
earlier efforts were also made to appoint another
chairman of the Prasar Bharati Board in place of Mr
Nikhil Chakravorty, but all names suggested were not
acceptable to one or the other member of the committee
under the Vice-President. Besides Mr Krishan Kant, the
other members of the committee are Mr TVR Shenoy and
Justice PB Sawant, who is also the head of the Press
Council of India. |
Air defence ship project cleared MUMBAI, Nov 29 (UNI) — The Centre has cleared a project to build an air defence ship (ADS) spending Rs 2000 crore in two years, Admiral Madhvendra Singh, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Western Naval Command, said here today. Addressing a press conference on board the INS Mysore as part of the ongoing Navy week celebrations, Admiral Madhvendra Singh said the final designs of the project had been prepared. The project should be completed in 18 months. So far, no shipyard in the country has ever built an aircraft carrier. The Admiral said INS Virat was going through major mid-life refitting and would be out of the Cochin shipyard by the end of 2000. Communication, radars, lifts of the carrier were being changed, he added. The INS Viraat was commissioned in the Navy in 1959. After the refitting process, another 10 years would be added to Viraat’s life. The Navy was spending Rs 150 on the ship, he added. Asked about the much talked Vikrant maritime museum, Admiral Singh said the Maharashtra Government had provided Rs 5 crore for underwater repairs which would start shortly. The consultancy feasibility study undertaken by the government on the museum project is still on and it should be completed in the next two months. The warship was decommissioned in 1997 and had not been drydocked since 1993. For 36 years, prior to its decommissioning, INS Vikrant was Indian Navy’s most prestigious vessel and had performed a key role in the 1971 war against Pakistan. The Navy had proposed that the 704 foot by 128 foot hangar of the Vikrant be converted into a museum containing naval memorabilia. The entire project would cost Rs 75 crore including repairs. As the Navy was unable to meet any part of this cost, the naval authorities had approached the state government with a proposal to commercialise parts of the vessel. However, the matter had been pending with the state government and unable to take off due to various reasons. Admiral Madhvendra Singh
said the two limited series production of the advanced
light helicopter were expected to be delivered by mid
2000. The state owned Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd in
Bangalore has been developing the advanced light
helicopter in technical and design collaboration with MBB
of Germany. The development is in an advanced stage and
the naval version has successfully carried out landing
trials on board naval ships. |
PM: do not capitalise on cyclone NEW DELHI, Nov 29 (UNI) — Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee today asked all political parties not to make any political capital out of the Orissa cyclone in view of the coming assembly elections in the beleagured state. Intervening in the debate in the Lok Sabha on the Orissa cyclone, he said that the parties should rise above narrow partisan ends in going to the rescue and relief of the cyclone victims while the Centre would take appropriate decision on the holding of the elections at the right time. Clarifying the government stand, Mr Vajpayee said he had already announced on October 30 that the government had decided to treat the disaster as the national calamity of rarest of rare severity and had been providing funds accordingly to the state. The Prime Minister said all parties and the states should strive for rebuilding and revival of the affected state as a national responsibility without the considerations of political expediency. At the same time, he asked the Opposition to point out any lapses in extending assistance. The government, he said, would spare no effort to assist the beleagured state and there would be no dearth of funds. "Funds are available in plenty and even the neighbouring state governments and the international bodies are coming with assistance to the victims," he said. He said the Centre had provided funds to the state under various heads besides advancing plan assistance. The total amount advanced to the state was more than Rs 1200 crore. Mr Vajpayee desired that the state government make use of the funds provided by the Centre appropriately for the purpose. He, however, regretted that the state stopped using the Indian Air Force to the full. At the same time the need of the hour was to ensure that the state stood on its own. At this stage, Congress member N. Janardhana Reddy asked the Prime Minister to spell out the action plan listing out follow up measures as the Centre had treated the Orissa cyclone as a national calamity. The measures, he said, included provision of further assistance, relief and rehabilitation besides setting up early warning system which had been pending clearance with the Science and Technology Department and the Agriculture Department for the last four years. A permanment machinery to tackle such emergency situations was the need of the hour besides developing a national institute of disaster management which should give practical suggestions instead of remaining academic. Mr Rajesh Pilot said the
Members of Parliament should think of earmarking at least
Rs 10 lakh each from the discretionary funds to the
cyclone relief. |
RS mourns death of cyclone
victims NEW DELHI, Nov 29 — The Rajya Sabha today mourned the death of over 10,000 persons in the supercyclone which lashed the coastal Orissa recently. Describing the cyclone as unprecedented in the last 100 years, Chairman Krishan Kant noted that over 10,000 persons were reported to have been perished in the natural disaster which also left more than 15 million survivors "desperate and traumatised". "More than 10 lakh houses, countless cattle and catamarans have been destroyed," he said stressing that "rehabilitation on such a scale will be a daunting task and a test of our national resolve to meet such unprecedented challenges". Stating that the House was with the people of Orissa in their hour of grief, Mr Kant led the members in observing a minute’s silence as a mark of respect to the victims of the tragedy. Earlier, the house also
mourned the death of three of its former members —
T. Chengalvaroyan, Dr Sathiavani Muthu, who was a former
Union Minister and Dr Ramlal Parikh. |
Milk promotes cancer cells:
US doc NEW DELHI, Nov 29 — People who have milk should give it up altogether, according to Washington D C based physician and President of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PRCM), Dr Neal Barnard. The 46-year-old physician and researcher is here to promote nutrition and share his findings with students and faculty of 18 top medical colleges in Delhi, Mumbai, Calcutta, Chennai, Coimbatore, Bangalore, Ahmedabad and Lucknow. Dr Neal Barnard’s prescription may sound somewhat implausible to most Indians who were forced to have milk in their childhood. But evidence suggests that consumption of milk increases quantity of IGFR (Insulin-like growth factor), a dangerous compound in the blood. The presence of this compound has been proved to promote growth of cancer cells. He is of the view that consumption of milk can increase cancer risk. He prescribes soya milk or rice milk as substitutes for animal milk. According to Dr Barnard, consumption of milk soya and rice milk has gone up dramatically in the USA. "Ten years ago, soya milk tasted bitter. Now, they have perfected the technology and health stores in the USA have 35 different flavours of milk on display." Dr Barnard said the presence of fat in milk encourages production of free radicals which, in turn, attack the melanin producing cells. "This results in greying." He said consumption of anti-oxidants as citrus, oranges and green leafy vegetables can stabilise oxygen molecules in the blood stream. Dr Barnard pointed out that persons with joint pains, arthritis and asthma need to give up milk. Asked if giving up milk suddenly would have an adverse affect on the system, Dr Barnard said, "If I ask a person to cut down his intake of milk, it will be difficult for him to give it up altogether because he will continue to have a taste for it. If I ask him to give it up suddenly, his taste buds will adjust to some substitute." He said many people wonder wherefrom they would get calcium if they were to stop having milk. "Green leafy vegetables are as good or better than milk. The absorption factor in milk is very low. The absorption level is 32 per cent. Besides, it’s so low in iron that when people drink milk to support their diet, they can become anaemic. Dr Barnard suggests four food groups for discovering a healthier way to live. These are vegetables, whole grains, fruits and legumes. He favours pesticide free agriculture, intake of garden fresh fruits and vegetables and zero oil diet comprising baked or boiled vegetables. According to Dr Barnard, intake of Beta Carotene found in sweet potato, carrots and spinach and diet rich in Vitamin C and E can slow down the ageing process. He says the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine succeeded in including vegetarianism in dietary guidelines for American Federal Food Policy in 1995. Dr Barnard says a plant
based diet can help in preventing and reversing heart
diseases, reducing cancer risk and managing diabetes more
powerfully than drugs. |
No hurry to sign CTBT, feel experts NEW DELHI, Nov 29 (PTI) — The US Senate’s rejection of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty has increased India’s bargaining strength, say several experts who suggest that New Delhi should not sign it without "extracting its pound of flesh." "Whether or not New Delhi inks it, the treaty is in a limbo because it cannot come into force without the US Senate’s assent," says Prof Matin Zuberi, member of the National Security Council Advisory Board. "When the US administration has not been able to sell the treaty to its own Senate, why should we sign it at their insistence," says Dr Savita Pande, senior research fellow, Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses, suggesting that "New Delhi should not be in a hurry to sign it" without getting anything in return. "Even if India would not stand to lose anything by signing the pact, we should not sign the treaty until we extract our pound of flesh," says Dr Pande. According to her, India should be recognised as a nuclear weapons state, at least de facto, and be included in the nuclear suppliers group so as to bring within its reach the dual means technologies denied to it since the Pokhran test of 1974. Dr Pande is critical of the government’s position that it is trying to build a consensus on signing the treaty. "They could have given a more practical statement like China, which said it would review its stand on the CTBT after its ratification fell through in the US Senate." The treaty cannot come into force without the Senate ratification and there’s no historical record of a treaty being submitted before the Senate again without on amendment. "And the amendment of the treaty is not possible till it comes into force," explains Professor Zuberi citing reports that some experts in the USA are themselves of the view that the treaty be put before the Conference of Disarmament (CD) for review. "Indian policy has so far worked well in that it said would not come in the way of the CTBT," says Dr Pande noting that the treaty still is not linked to disarmament and is discriminatory — a view held by Ms Arundhati Ghose, who argued India’s case at the 1996 Geneva round of the CD. While Ms Ghose holds that the treaty remains unequal in application and should not be signed, Professor Zuberi points to the verification regime in the pact that would actually make a seemingly equal treaty unequal. "The verification
regime is so comprehensive and intrusive that it’s a
euphemism for spying," he says. |
Filmmakers' plan approved NEW DELHI, Nov 29 (UNI) — The Board of Prasar Bharati, in its first meeting after two of its members were retired, today approved a proposal by a group of filmmakers for producing programmes of a public service nature. According to Prasar Bharati sources, a presentation by the public broadcasting initiative in this regard was accepted by the board. Mr Rajiv Mehrotra made the presentation on behalf of the initiative, which also includes well-known filmmakers Mrinal Sen, Adoor Gopalakrishnan and Kiran Karnik, who is head of Discovery Channel, India. The funds for the programmes will come from independent agencies besides Prasar Bharati, and the initiative will also acquire programmes from other sources. Members who attended the
meeting today were Prof U.R. Rao, Dr Abid Hussain, and Mr
B.G. Verghese besides Prasar Bharti Chief Executive
officer Rajeeva Ratna Shah. The meeting which lasted
about three hours also discussed various other issues,
including the coverage of cricket by the national
broadcaster. |
Quota not to be expanded: Maneka NEW DELHI, Nov 29 (PTI) — There is no proposal to include more castes in the reservation category, Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Maneka Gandhi informed the Rajya Sabha today. SC/ST: The Ministry of Home Affairs has issued instructions to the Chief Secretaries of the states and union territories to pay more attention to ensure prevention of atrocities against the SC/STs, Ms Gandhi said in reply to another question. Telelink: A total number of 3,44,508 villages had been provided with telecom facility so far and 45,136 villagers would be linked with the facility during the current fiscal, Minister of State for Communications Tapan Sikdar said. Sail: Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL), which earned a profit in 1995-96, has suffered losses in 1998-99 because of slowdown in demand for steel, greater competition from import and enhancement in supplies in domestic markets and increase in input costs, Minister of State for Steel Dilip Ray said. Sati: Charan Shah, who jumped into her husband’s funeral pyre, was a case of suicide and not sati as neither the woman nor the villagers had performed any rituals before the incident in a village in Uttar Pradesh recently, Minister of State for Home Affairs T.D. Swami said in Lok Sabha today. The inquiries conducted by the District Magistrate and the Superintendent of Police revealed that Charan Shah was not pressurised or motivated by anybody to take the drastic step, he said. Power: It would not be possible to provide power to all consumers in the country by the year 2000, Minister for Power P.R. Kumaramangalam said. Border dispute: The government today said the border dispute between Maharashtra and Karnataka should be resolved primarily by the state governments concerned. The dispute, which is pending since the reorganisation of states in 1956, should be resolved by the state governments concerned "through discussions and mutual accommodation," Minister of State for Home I.D. Swami told the Lok Sabha in a written reply. Foreigners: As many as 1,42,382 registered foreigners, excluding refugees and Pak nationals, were residing in India as per available information on December 31, 1998, Minister of State for Home Affairs Vidyasagar Rao said. Cards: Tata Consultancy
Services had been entrusted with the task of preparation
of feasibility report regarding the multi-purpose
identity cards scheme in the country, Mr Rao said adding
that an advisory committee comprising senior officers of
the ministry and other central agencies concerned has
been constituted to interact with it. |
‘Boycott employers’ of kid servants NEW DELHI, Nov 29 (UNI) — The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) Chairperson Justice J.S. Verma today made a strong call to the people to socially condemn and boycott employers of child domestic labour as this practice was a severe violation of human rights. Apart from legal measures, awareness and commitment had to be raised among people to stop employing children for domestic purposes, he said while inaugurating a round table conference on domestic child labour in the capital. He expressed concern over the drastic increase in cases of violence against domestic servants. Referring to a recent incident in which a servant was allegedly thrown from a second floor building in South Delhi, he said the question was not whether the servant was thrown or threw himself but rather what was the provocation for taking such a step. The NHRC chairperson said though cooking was not scheduled as an hazardous occupation, it is definitely hazardous for children. Ms S. Bandyopadhyay,
Director, Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and
pensions, said a government servant can be dismissed from
job if the competent authority, after investigation,
finds the offence suitable for such a punishment, she
said. |
Railways’ apology for ex-CJ’s death CUTTACK, Nov 29 (UNI) — The railways has tendered an apology for the death of former Chief Justice of Sikkim High Court Jugal Kishore Mohanty due to negligence and lapses on the part of its staff during a train journey last year. An inquiry, conducted by Orissa High Court Registrar (Judicial) m. n. patnaik, had held three railway officials, including two station superintendents and a coach conductor, guilty of neglect in shifting Justice Mohanty to a hospital for immediate medical aid and showing disrespect to his body after his death. The inquiry revealed that though the retired chief justice suffered from angina pain soon after he boarded the Howrah-bound Dhauli Express at Cuttack on March 19, 1998 and was found unconscious at Jajpur road railway station, no medical aid was provided to him there. As the train reached Bhadrak station, Justice Mohanty was declared brought dead by the railway doctor. Admitting a petition, filed by the Bhanjanagar Bar Association, seeking action against the erring railway officials, a Division Bench of the Sikkim High Court had ordered an inquiry into the whole episode by the Registrar of the Orissa High Court. The inquiring officer
was also asked to recommend appropriate action, if it
transpired that there had been negligence on the part of
any authority or that disrepect was shown to the body of
late Justice Mohanty. |
Implement Sutlej plan: Badal NEW DELHI, Nov 29 — Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today urged the Centre for early implementation of the action plan to clean River Sutlej. The Chief Minister, who was in the Capital, today called on the Union Minister for Forests and Environment, Mr T.R. Baalu to discuss the issue and other matters. It was decided at the meeting to finalise early, different plans connected with the project. The requirement of land and the funding of the plans were also considered, according to a Punjab government release today. A meeting on the issue will be held on December 9, between the State government and the Centre. Today’s meeting was attended by Mr Badal, the Punjab Minister for Local Government, Mr Balramji Das Tandon, Mr N.K. Arora, Principal Secretary, Local Government and Mr Ramesh Inder Singh, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister. The Chief Minister also
called on the Union Minister for Human Resource
Development, Mr Murli Manohar Joshi, before leaving for
Chandigarh. |
India, Turkey begin talks NEW DELHI, Nov 29 — India and Turkey today began foreign office-level consultations, with the two countries focussing on bilateral, regional and international issues. The Under Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkey, Mr Korkmaz Haktnir and the Secretary (East) in the Ministry of External Affairs, Mr Nareshwar Dayal, held wide-ranging discussed bilateral issues, with the two sides also exchanging their perception and assessment on the recent military coup in Pakistan. Mr Haktnir called on the External Affairs Minister, Mr Jaswant Singh this evening. The visiting Turkish official would be calling on the Minister of State for Commerce, Mr Omar Abdullah and the Foreign Secretary designate, Mr Lalit Mansingh tomorrow. Mr Haktnir would also be
meeting the Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, Mr
Brajesh Mishra tomorrow. |
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| Woman held in rape case NASIK: A woman clerk, working in Samata Vidyalaya at Tehare village in the district, was arrested on Sunday in connection with the alleged rape of a librarian of the school by the Headmaster on November 18. The police said the clerk, who allegedly aided the Headmaster in bringing the victim to a lodge where she was raped, had been absconding since the incident. — PTI Karakoram
Pass linked by phone Pondicherry Cong
chief resigns 4 killed, 2
kidnapped by ultras Meet on
alternative medicines ‘Miniature’
Koran preserved UP Govt to
renovate temple Euro jackpot
‘winner’ held Ancient
inscription found Punjabi version
of book released |
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