Wednesday, September 1, 1999
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N A T I O N |
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Attack censorship
guidelines: Shabana Indian officials leave for
Washington |
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 Shabana Azmi with her husband Javed Akhtar at a Press conference of the National Award winning film "Godmother" in New Delhi on Tuesday. — PTI
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BJP govts mired in
corruption: Sonia Militant with 10 kg RDX nabbed Cong questions sugar deal Dara Singh to campaign Another Kargil in the offing |
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Attack censorship guidelines: Shabana NEW DELHI, Aug 31 (PTI) — Defence Minister and Samata Party President George Fernandes today threatened legal action against AIADMK supremo Jayalalitha for accusing him of preventing the Navy from apprehending drug dealers and gun-runners in the Andaman seas to help the LTTE. In a statement, Mr Fernandes said his party had already lodged a complaint in this matter with the Election Commission (EC) but Jayalalitha continued with her tirade claiming "I had personally told her that I had helped terrorists and gun-runners". "I wish to state categorically that the entire accusation is a figment of Jayalalitha’s fertile imagination and it seems that her propensity to propagate untruths has no limits," the statement, issued at a press conference here by party General Secretary Jaya Jaitly, said. The Samata Party justified Mr Fernandes’ remark about Congress President Sonia Gandhi and ruled out his tendering an apology saying he had not stated anything derogatory. "There is no question of apologising. He (Fernandes) only made a statement of fact. I don’t think he used any bad language against Sonia Gandhi", Mr Jaitly told reporters here. The issue, he said, is whether being a "mother of two children is enough of a qualification to be Prime Minister of this country. Since she (Gandhi) herself has offered no other qualification, parties and the public can only respond to what she herself says and demonstrates." NEW DELHI, Aug 31 (UNI, PTI) — Firebrand filmstar-turned-politician Shabana Azmi today said filmmakers should target the film censorship guidelines for problems faced by them rather than criticise Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) Chairperson Asha Parekh. Reacting strongly to personal attacks, Shabana said at a press meet here, she said it was ‘singularly unfair to pin the entire blame on Asha Parekh’. She said filmmakers should mobilise support for changing the guidelines if they were so aggrieved. Asked if she would raise a voice about this in Parliament, she said that it was important for the film industry to speak in one voice before anyone can take any intiative in this regard. The actress was speaking at a press meet organised by the Indian Women’s Press Corps which has organised the premiere of the film ‘Godmother’ in the Capital this evening. Others present at the meet were Shabana’s husband and lyricist Javed Akhtar, director Vinay Shukla, actor Milind Gunaji, music director Vishal Bhardwaj and executive producer Rajat Sengupta of Gramco Films. The film is being released commercially on September 3. Shabana, Javed, Vinay Shukla and Milind strongly defended the violence in the film — which won as many as six national awards —and said that it was necessary to the theme. Both Javed and Milind said if the depiction of violence creates revulsion, then it has achieved its objective. Appreciating the CBFC decision to pass her earlier film "Fire" without any cuts even after the controversy, she said "It was a bold decision. Personally I have had no problems with the board." Vinay Shukla, director of "Godmother", in which one scene had to be deleted following objections raised by Santokh Ben Jadeja whose life inspired the film, said the "film had not been trimmed. It remains more or less the same length." The movie, which is about a rural housewife’s gradual transformation into an underworld don after she enters into the political arena, deals with the subject of women’s empowerment. Defending that the power personified by Rambhi (played by Shabana) is structured to fit a man, Shabana said "initially her (Rambhi’s) actions are purely imitative" as her bodily gestures are that of her husband’s. She comes into her own later on." Actor Milind Gunaji, who
plays Rambhi’s husband in the film, said it was an
honour to act with her "who is a living legend of
Hindi films." |
Indian officials leave for
Washington NEW DELHI, Aug 31 — Signalling a growing Indo-US understanding, New Delhi and Washington will hold talks on Afghanistan which has become a fertile ground for international terrorism, posing a serious threat to world peace. As part of a pro-active policy, two senior officials of the External Affairs Ministry will leave tomorrow for Washington to hold talks with the US officials on Afghanistan. Mr Alok Prasad, Joint Secretary (US) and Mr Vivek Katju, Joint Secretary (IPA), will have several rounds of discussions with senior state department and National Security Council officials on Afghanistan developments. This is for the first time that India and the USA are holding dialogue on the Afghanistan situation. The two countries had opposing views on Afghanistan in the past and the bilateral discussion indicates convergence of views on the role of Taliban and their involvement with terrorism. Briefing newspersons, the External Affairs Ministry spokesman, Mr R.S. Jassal said the international community could not remain indifferent to the dangers which emanate from Taliban activities. Mr Jassal said the Indian Government had a dialogue with several countries, including France, Russia and the Central Asian nations on the Afghanistan situation. He said India had always maintained that there could not be any military solution to end the Afghan conflict. The spokesman also referred to the recent letter of the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, to the ousted Afghan President Mr Burhanuddin Rabbani in which he mentioned that peace in Afghanistan would be possible only when Pakistan ceases its interference in Afghan affairs. In fact, permanent
representative of India in the UN Kamlesh Sharma had
recently said Afghanistan, which the Taliban have
occupied, had become a breeding ground of international
terrorism. Terrorist groups find a safe haven on the
southern borders of Afghanistan. The Taliban controlled
areas have emerged as one of the largest producers of
narcotics in the world. |
Shift in Hurriyat’s stand NEW DELHI, Aug 31 — Kargil has been an eye-opener to many of the top Hurriyat leaders, with some of them covertly supporting the parliamentary elections and others like the APHC Chairman, Mr Syed Ali Geelani, trying to chalk out an independent course away from Pakistan for themselves. With the APHC Chairman giving a call for the boycott of the Lok Sabha polls and the Muslim Conference leader, Prof. A.G. Butt, expressing his reservations about such a call, the Hurriyat Conference is facing a major challenge. Mr Geelani, who has been an ardent champion of ties with Islamabad all these years, has gone on a media offensive. Within a period of 10 days, Mr Geelani has made available copies of two booklets explaining his position on Kargil to the media. In ‘Kargil- A short review’, Mr Geelani marks a departure from his earlier pronouncements and pro-Islamabad line. The futility of having Pakistan as sole guide and mentor and recent experience during Kargil conflict is acting as a catalyst in the Kashmiri politics. Mr Geelani has observed in his 32-page booklet that “during the last 51 year, weak policies of the Pakistani Government and its parasitic character reduced the issue from the international level to a border issue between the two countries”. Even the USA is not spared as the Hurriyat Chairman points out that “Pakistan has gained nothing but damage and loss over the last half a century by alliance with the USA”. “The American friendship distanced Pakistan from the other superpower of those times, the erstwhile Soviet Union. Russian enmity led to the veto of the resolution on Kashmir issues, thereby erecting Himalaya-like hurdles in its path,” Mr Geelani has observed. “The basic ingredient of the US policy is that all should become dependent on it, but the USA itself is friend of no one.” Giving a piece of advice to Islamabad, Mr Geelani has observed that “the disinterest and unchivalrous attitude demonstrated by the USA during the secession of East Pakistan should have made Pakistani rulers never look again towards the USA with covetous expectations.” “But unfortunately due to economic weaknesses Pakistan is dependent on these countries and its policies are rendered a useless appendage to the policies of these countries”, says Mr Geelani, coming down heavily on Islamabad. In an attempt to strike an independent line with an avowed objective of regaining confidence of the people of Kashmir, Mr Geelani says in his booklet that “let our benefactor countries realise that our struggle will continue whatever the hurdles”. All these years when Hurriyat supported militants drove Kashmiri Pandits out of the valley, no Hurriyat leader, including Mr Geelani, condemned the communalisation of the secular Kashmiri politics. Mr Shabbir Shah, who opposed attempts to divide Hindus and Muslims of Jammu and Kashmir, was expelled from the APHC. For the reasons behind Mr Geelani’s latest stand, the sources said Mr Geelani had realised that the present despensation in Pakistan cannot deliver results. The Hurriyat Chairman is
of the view that New Delhi and Islamabad would arrive at
an understanding on the Kashmir issue under the influence
of the USA, the sources said, adding that leaders like Mr
Geelani are preparing themselves for the post-election
scenario. |
BJP govts mired in corruption: Sonia NANDED, Aug 31 (PTI) — Congress President Sonia Gandhi today accused the BJP government at the Centre and in states of being “mired in corruption” saying serious charges had been levelled against the “Prime Minister’s Office itself”. Mounting a scathing attack on the ruling alliance at the Centre and the BJP-Shiv Sena government in Maharashtra, Sonia said these forces had entered into alliances and fronts to stay glued to their seats. In an apparent reference to the so-called “sugargate affair”, she told well-attended election meetings at Akola, Nanded and Latur in Maharashtra that “these governments are mired in corruption and serious charges of corruption have also been levelled against the Prime Minister’s Office.” She held Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee and Defence Minister George Fernandes responsible for “failure” to detect and deal effectively with the Pakistani intrusion in Kargil. In an apparent reference to reported remarks of Union Ministers Pramod Mahajan and George Fernandes against her, Sonia said this proved “beyond doubt” that the BJP and its allies did not respect women. The Congress President reiterated her party’s commitment to its manifesto, which promised a balanced development in rural and urban sectors, initiating welfare programmes for dalits, women, adivasis, minorities and youth. She appealed to the public to vote for the Congress and RPI group candidates, supporting the party in regional tie-ups, to usher in stable and strong government to realise the assurances given in her party’s manifesto. Earlier, senior Congress
leader S.B. Chavan flayed those who played a
“treacherous role” and forced elections on the
nation. He alleged that those who had supported Sonia,
later back-tracked for personal gains. MPCC chief
Prataprao Bhosle also spoke on the occasion. |
Militant with 10 kg RDX nabbed NEW DELHI, Aug 31 — The Delhi Police today claimed to have unearthed a plot to create disturbance during the election process in the Capital with the arrest of a hardcore Kashmiri militant of Harkar-ul-Ansar group and the recovery of over 10 kg of RDX from him. With the recovery of 10.65 kg of RDX from the Kashmiri militant, the police has so far recovered about 65 Kg of RDX in the recent past, which the police said was enough to create havoc in the Capital. “From the Kashmiri militant, Mohd Akbar Bhatt alias Gajali, who was the Operational Commander of Doda, Anantnag and Srinagar, we have recovered the RDX, two timer pencils and a wireless set. One of his associates, Shahnawaj, has also been arrested and Rs 2 lakh recovered from him. Efforts are on to nab another associate,” the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Special Cell, Mr Ashok Chand, said here today. Mohd Akbar Bhatt, 26, had taken part in operations in Afghanistan along with Taliban militants. He has taken part in various ambush operations involving security forces in Jammu and Kashmir, especially in the Doda district during the period when Operation Vijay was on in the Kargil sector. The DCP said that a team acting on a tip-off, laid a trap outside Delhi Zoo in the Nizamuddin area. Mohd Akbar Bhatt, who was carrying a bag containing explosive material, was waiting for his contact person to give the bag to him for keeping it in safe custody. The police said Mr M.A. Bhatt had come to Delhi on August 21 and had received the consignment and the money on August 27. He had come to explode the RDX in crowded areas during the election period. The contact failed to turn up and Mr Bhatt began to leave, when he was apprehended. Bhatt identified himself as Abdul Latif Mir, a businessman and he also produced an identity card to substantiate his claim. However, when his bag
was checked, the RDX, the timer and wireless set was
recovered. A diary containing names of 51 militants along
with their addresses who had been killed by security
forces in Jammu and Kashmir was also recovered from his
person. The money was to be distributed for the family
members of the militants who were killed. |
Cong questions sugar deal NEW DELHI, Aug 31— Demanding a “comprehensive” inquiry into the import of Rs 900 crore of sugar from Pakistan, the Congress today said the government’s arguments rejecting the charge of involvement of the Prime Minister Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee in the import were “specious and untenable”. Accusing the government of not stopping the import of Pakistani sugar from its ISI-controlled Army Welfare Trust even while the Kargil conflict was going on, Mr Sibal said sugar had also been imported from China although the country had a buffer stock of 10.4 million tonnes this year. “Did the government not know that the ISI-controlled Pakistani Army Welfare Trust would use the foreign exchange thus obtained from India for anti-India purposes”, Mr Sibal querried. He asked if it was true that the Indian sugar industry was adversely affected by this PMO-enforced dumping. “Why is the government not naming the Indian entity or entities that benefitted the most from this dubious arrangment”, the spokesman asked. “What is the R.K. Mishra connection in this? R.K. Mishra has not denied the charges levelled by the Congress. He has not denied that he has obtained extraordinary visa from the Pakistani High Commission in London. The Congress would like to advise Mr Mishra to hold on his passport and not lose it, however inadvertently”, Mr Sibal said. On the Kargil issue, Mr Sibal said the “Outlook” magazine in its September 6 issue vindicated the stand taken by the Congress that what is being claimed as a great achievement was actually a blunder of Himalayan proportions. Alleging the Defence Ministry did not act in the best interest of the nation, Mr Sibal said that Brig Surinder Singh had submitted a 68-page representation to the Defence Ministry on June 28,1999, which had all the details of the story of Pakistani intrusion in Kargil. Earlier, Mr Sibal referring to the government’s version that sugar import was done under Open General Licence, said this was started when there was a sugar shortage which continued till 1997-98. But when the production exceeded demand, the government should had either stopped it or increased the import duty to 220 per cent as prevailed in Europe or 240 per cent as in the USA, he said. The Indian import duty of 27.5 per cent is the lowest in the world, he claimed saying even the WTO allows 150 per cent duty on sugar. There were strong demands from the Indian sugarcane mills and 3.5 crore sugar farmers to stop imports as heavy stocks remained unsold, he said. The government obviously did not think it necessary to prevent import of Pakistani sugar from the ISI- controlled trust. It was significant that
when Mr Vajpayee gradually raised the import duty on
sugar to 27.5 per cent, the Pakistan Prime Minister
raised subsidies to the same level, he said. |
Dara Singh to campaign NEW DELHI, Aug 31 — Veteran Punjabi film actor and wrestling champion Dara Singh has been persuaded to breathe life into the Bharatiya Janata Party’s campaign in the capital. The BJP workers are confident that Dara Singh’s fame in wrestling will fetch them votes in Delhi, where wrestling is a popular sport. An active member of the BJP, Dara Singh is expected to address an election meeting in Khayala Village on Wednesday in support of Mr Sahib Singh Varma, former Chief Minister of Delhi and the BJP candidate for the Outer Delhi parliamentary constituency. Sources in the party said some party workers were also trying to persuade film star Govinda to spare time to campaign for Mr Sahib Singh Varma. The ongoing campaigning in Delhi has witnessed the participation of many a film stars from Mumbai. The party workers are confident that their glamour would sway atleast a star-struck section of the electorate. Sources close to Mr Varma said Dara Singh’s visit would be fruitful as he commands a universal appeal. “We have called him here not because he is a film star but because he is a national figure. Although he is the President of the Jat Mahasabha, his appeal transcends all barriers”. “He is likely to
compaign for the BJP candidates in all the seven Lok
Sabha constituencies in Delhi. In the last Lok Sabha
polls, Dara Singh had campaigned for former Chief
Minister of Delhi, Mr Madan Lal Khurana, in the Sadar
parliamentary constituency in Delhi.” |
Another Kargil in the offing NEW DELHI: Another Kargil appears to be in the offing following reports of sizeable infiltration of armed mercenaries from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir into the Kashmir valley. Informed sources said more than 1,500 mercenaries, a bulk of them Afghan war veterans and regular Pakistan Army commandos faking as ‘freedom fighters’, have crossed into the Kashmir valley in batches along Pir Panchal passes, and are bidding their time to trigger off another ‘Kargil like’ confrontation, this time in the valley. A majority of them are reported to be billeted in highland areas, and, in the process of digging deep in the pre-arranged hideouts "to strike at the right moment". An estimated 1,000 additional mercenaries are awaiting along the Line of Control (LoC) in the Pakistan-occupied part of Kashmir in the Poonch-Rajouri sector to take their turn to infiltrate into the valley, the sources added. The month of August, when highlands and mountain passes are thick with tall jungle vegetation and tall ripe crops providing easy cover to mercenaries, is considered an ideal time for infiltration into the valley. There are 13 passes in the Panchal ranges, separating the Jammu border areas, such as Rajouri and Poonch from the Kashmir valley, which the mercenaries use to stealthily cross into the valley. Most of these passes are unguarded, and are easy to cross in the summer. In 1965, it was through these passes that Pakistani armed infiltrators crossed unnoticed into the valley. By August 3, about two bridages’ strength of infiltrators had crossed undetected, and set up a base at upper Dhanawas, 16 km inside this side of the then ceasefire line, to launch regular operations three days later, resulting in an Indo-Pak armed confilct. During the past one month, there has been a sharp rise in encounters between the militants and the security forces. The attacks have been mostly on ‘static camps’ providing themselves easy targets to mercenaries, handling sophisticated weapons. The security forces have yet to evolve an appropriate counter-strategy to deprive militants of the advantage of the element of ‘surprise and mobility’, which they have been using with impunity to inflict casualties on the security forces. According to defence experts in Srinagar, an immediate objective of the mercenaries may be to disrupt the forthcoming elections by staging concentrated attacks on sensitive defence installations, and create serious law and order problems in the valley. Other observers, however, assert that mercenaries may not "raise their hand" immediately, and may act only after enlisting adequate local support to make a success of their operations. If at all the
mercenaries act, it may be sometime next month, when the
UN Session opens in New York, and Pakistan exerts to
raise the Kashmir issue in the world body. —
(IPA) |
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| Peon’s gesture to
Kargil heroes MUMBAI: Moved by the heroism of jawans during the Kargil crisis, Dashrat Kadam, a peon in the office of Maharashtra Governor P.C. Alexander withdrew Rs 5000 from his Provident Fund to donate the amount to The Army Central Welfare Fund. Kadam and his wife Rukmani on Monday called on the Governor at Raj Bhavan in south Mumbai and presented him with the cheque. — (UNI) Sonia’s
Rajasthan visit off Another BMW case
witness retracts Jessica Lal case
hearing on Sept 13 Death term for
killing tenant |
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