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Wednesday,
October 31, 2001, Chandigarh, India  
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George flays USA for creating Taliban Koshiyari sworn in Uttaranchal CM
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Anthrax scare at
Rashtrapati Bhavan Krishnaswamy
new IAF chief States pulled up for tardy progress Conversions feared at rally |
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Cong for another state
reorganisation panel Set up labour welfare boards : Yadav Kidnappers set new terms Anupam Kher
new NSD chief Patwaris’ transfer put off yet again Labourer dies as wall collapses CPM warns govt on POTO CBI clarification on arrest Joshi leaves for Mauritius Panel
term extended UP closes brick
kilns near Taj
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George flays USA for creating Taliban New Delhi, October 30 Delivering a special address at the international seminar — The Global Threat of Terror: Ideological, Material and Political linkages — Mr Fernandes said for the past 20 years (and not three years as reported by the New York Times yesterday) the USA was aware that Pakistan was training anti-India terrorists in the camps that they were now bombing. The Defence Minister said, ironically, Pakistan, which has been among the countries which not only harboured terrorists, but took pride in training them, has turned out to be the most loyal ally of the USA, next only to the UK, in the global action against terrorism. Perhaps there is some sort of poetic justice in this turnaround. It was the USA which collaborated with Pakistan in creating the Taliban militia to fight against the Russians and oust them from Afghanistan. Now it is again Pakistan that has become the cat’s paw for the USA to destroy the Frankenstein they jointly fathered. For Pakistan, which used the Taliban to pursue its own nefarious designs in India, this is perhaps the most bitter pill it has had to swallow in its 54 years of existence, Mr Fernandes said. The Defence Minister did not rule out the likelihood of India having to fight its own war against terrorism on its border once the USA-led alliance calls off its engagement in Afghanistan and goes back to its “five decade-old cosy relationship with Pakistan”. “There is yet no commitment made by the USA to be part of the war that India has been fighting against this (Pakistan-sponsored terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir) terrorism for over a decade, One should not, therefore, rule out the likelihood of India having to fight it own war against terrorism on its border once the US-led alliance calls off its engagement in Afghanistan, and goes back to its five-decade-old cosy relationship with Pakistan”. The Defence Minister said India’s experience in fighting terrorism for the past 20 years provides conclusive evidence that while Pakistan can sponsor terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir, the fight against such terrorist action was a long-drawn exercise which could test a nation’s patience. He said nearly 7,000 persons had to die on September 11 for the US leadership to acknowledge terrorism. The number of civilian and military lives claimed by these terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir would be more than 10 times those lost in Manhattan and the Pentagon, he added. “That Osama bin Laden and the Taliban are partners in a joint venture to conduct terrorist activities is an undisputed fact, never mind what their benefactors and beneficiaries may swear. But to believe the physical annihilation of Osama bin Laden and a part of the Taliban militia will put an end to global terrorism is to deliberately overlook the very dynamic aspect of terrorism”. He said the US attempts to capture Laden ‘dead or alive’ may end up as an unfulfilled wish. It’s other objective of installing a government that will re-establish democratic rule in Afghanistan will be a long-term gamble, the Defence Minister observed. He said the role now thrust by the USA on Pakistan to finish the Taliban should not only worry the leadership in Islamabad but also India as it could create civil and military disturbances in
Pakistan and strike at the very foundations of its nationhood. India and Afghanistan, he said, have had an age-old relationship. India therefore must insist on having a major role in helping in the reconstruction of the Afghan polity and in reviving the country’s polity. |
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Koshiyari sworn in Uttaranchal CM Dehra Dun, October 30 Mr Koshiyari and his Cabinet was administered the oath of office and secrecy by the Governor, Mr Surjit Singh Barnala, at an oath-taking ceremony held here at the pavillion grounds. Mr Harbans Kapoor, an arch rival of former Chief Minister Nityanand Swami was the new face inducted into the Cabinet. Five others, who were earlier ministers in the Swami government, Mr Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank, Mr Kedar Singh Phonia, Mr Ajay Bhatt, Mr Mohan Singh Rawat ‘Gaomvasi’ and Mr Narayan Ram Dass have been retained as Cabinet ministers. Former Forest Minister Matbar Singh Kandari and former Agriculture Minister Bansidhar Bhagat, who enjoyed a Cabinet rank, have been dropped. Four state ministers, Mr Narayan Singh Rana, Mr Teerath Singh Rawat, Mr Suresh Arya and Mrs Nirupma Gaur have also been dropped. Mr Koshiyari told TNS that there was a possibility of another expansion in the next few days as no state minister was inducted today. He said portfolios would be allocated to the new ministers by tomorrow. He ruled out any possibility of defection in the Legislature party following the dropping of Swami loyalists. Only one loyalist of Mr Swami, Mr Mohan Singh Rawat ‘Gaomvasi’, who was also a probable candidate for the Chief Minister’s post, had been inducted. Mr Koshiyari has maintained a regional balance by inducting four ministers from Garhwal region and two from the Kumaon region. He himself also belongs to Kumaon region. As far as the plains of Hardwar and Udham Singh Nagar are concerned, there is no BJP MLA from Hardwar while the lone BJP MLA from Udham Singh Nagar, Mr Tilak Raj Behar, is the Chairman of the Mandi Parishad and enjoys a Cabinet rank. |
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Exercise restraint, says Mori New Delhi, October 30 Shortly later, a spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs said in response to a question that India had always exercised restraint despite provocations by Pakistan’s cross-border terrorist activities against India for over a decade. |
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Anthrax scare at Rashtrapati Bhavan New Delhi, October 30 Officials at Rashtrapati Bhavan said the letter, addressed to an Officer on Special Duty (OSD), was opened by his private secretary who immediately sealed it and referred it to the police which sent it to the National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD) for examination. The report of the
NICD is awaited. However, the sources did not disclose from where the letter originated. The officer at Rashtrapati Bhavan was sent for medical examination and precautionary measures were adopted, including the cleaning of the room where the letter was opened.
UNI |
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Krishnaswamy
new IAF chief New Delhi, October 30 He is also the only fighter pilot in the country who has been conferred with the prestigious Agni Award for his contribution to defence research and development. He has also captained more than 30 varieties of aircraft and helicopters. He has had the rare distinction of commanding three air commands — Central, South-Western and Western. He was the Deputy Chief of Air Staff and is presently the Vice Chief of Air Staff. Air Chief Marshal A.Y. Tipnis will superannuate after 40 years of distinguished service in the IAF. |
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States pulled up for tardy progress New Delhi, October 30 “Only 793 fast track courts have so far been set up by the end of September 2001, although such courts were being set up under 100 per cent funding of the Central Government,” the Union Minister for Law, Justice and Company Affairs said inaugurating a day-long all-India conference of Law and Home Secretaries. Stating that the Centre would make a review of the progress of fast track courts at the end of the current financial year and warn that the states which were not implementing it properly and were apathetic then the Central Government would “divert funds for fast track courts from non-implementing states to the implementing states.” The minister called for setting up of all 1,734 fast track courts proposed by the Centre by December 31, 2001, in view of the staggering pendency of cases, especially the sessions cases in district courts. As per the Central Government’s plan five fast track courts would be set up in each district of the country. The Law Minister also expressed concern over the tardy progress in setting up of family courts under the Family Courts Act, 1984. “Only 85 family courts have so far been set up throughout the country,” he said, asking the states to set up one family court in all district headquarters during the current financial year. |
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Conversions feared at rally New Delhi, October 30 In a letter to Union Home Minister L.K. Advani yesterday, NCM chairman Mohammed Shamim said that the commission felt the meeting being organised at Ramlila Grounds on November 4 “could be a cause for a grave and serious provocation and could disturb the peace and harmony.” Stating that many international events have led to escalation in tension in our neighbourhood, Justice Shamim said, “It’s (the meeting’s) projection within our country and worldwide would weaken our resolve in the national aim of maintaining unity in diversity.” The NCM chief, therefore, wanted the government to take appropriate measures to ensure that national security at this “perilous juncture” is not affected by any community whether it be in a majority or minority. According to vice-chairman of the NCM Tarlochan Singh, the rally could turn out be a big law and order problem. “Under the Constitution, people are free to follow and preach any religion of their choice, but such a massive display by the minority community could well turn out be a big law and order problem,” Mr Tarlochan Singh told ‘The Tribune’ adding that according to reports available with the NCM, the AICSSO and LBC led by Ram Raj planned to ask about one lakh Dalit Hindus to abandon Hinduism and embrace Buddhism. “Even the highly respected Buddhist spiritual leader, Dalai Lama, and a members of the NCM representing Buddhists, Rev T. Klochen Tulku Rinpoche, have condemned such conversions”, Mr Tarlochan Singh added. |
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Cong for another state
reorganisation panel New Delhi, October 30 Party chief spokesman Jaipal Reddy said the Pranab Mukherjee committee went into the history of demand for separate statehood for Vidarbha and Telangana from the time of establishment of the State Reorganisation Commission in 1953. “The committee has come to the conclusion that though there are many valid reasons for the formation of two states, the reorganisation of existing states raises a large number of issues. This whole matter can be best addressed by another State Reorganisation Commission to be set up by the government,” Mr Reddy said. The Congress response assumes significance as it is in power in Maharashtra where demand for separate state of Vidharbha is being made for a long time. The party’s MLAs and MPs from Telangana have also been pressing the high command to support demand for a separate state. By its today’s decision on the controversial subject, the Congress has tried to throw the ball in the court of the government. |
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Set up labour welfare boards: Yadav New Delhi, October 30 In a letter to the State Labour Ministers, Mr Yadav has made a fervent appeal to complete the whole process at the earliest so that there is no further delay in providing welfare benefits to the construction workers. The Parliamentary Committee attached to the Labour Ministry and the trade unions have been critical about the delay in this regard, Mr Yadav said. Appreciating the ground work done by the six states Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi and Arunachal Pradesh, the minister expressed the hope that they would complete the requisite process at the earliest. There are about 17 million construction workers in the country who form a large vulnerable segment of workers in the unorganised sector. Under the Building and Other Construction Workers (regulation of employment and conditions of service) Act, 1996, state government is required to frame rules and constitute state advisory committee and welfare board. The Act and the Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Cess Act, 1996, are aimed at providing specific welfare facilities to construction workers. |
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Kidnappers set new terms Hyderabad, october 30 The new demands include setting free of two undertrial Naxals Manganna and Yadanna, putting an end to fake encounters, release of all political prisoners, an immediate solution to the ongoing State Transport Corporation strike and dropping of the Prevention of Terrorist Ordinance (POTO). Ten armed Naxalites had kidnapped Rao ( 54) and his son from their native village Koram in Karimnagar district, posing as security forces.
PTI |
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Anupam Kher
new NSD chief New Delhi, October 30 An alumnus of NSD (1973 batch), Kher has won several national and international awards for his contribution to Indian films and theatre. Chairman of Bhartendu Natya Academy, Lucknow, Kher has special interest in Indian theatre. A versatile actor, he has over 275 films and 100 plays to his credit. He has travelled all over the world with his play “Saalgirah”. Recipient of the special national jury award for his role in the film “Daddy”, Kher is preparing for his “One Man Show” scheduled to be staged in the last week of November. |
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Patwaris’ transfer put off yet again Hanumangarh, October 30 The patwaris of the Irrigation Department and employees on jobs relating to revenue were sent to Revenue Circle, Ajmer, after they were relieved on September 30, 2001, but were recalled. After this, they took charge in the Irrigation Department. In a decision taken on October 1, the state government had decided to relieve these employees on October 31. The government had ordered all these employees to report to the Secretary General Administration Department, on November 1. However, following the new orders, until the General Administrative Department transferred these employees to the Revenue Department, they will provide services in the Irrigation Department. |
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Labourer dies as wall collapses Hanumangarh, October 30 The incident took place when the labourers were digging the foundation of a shop. The victim, Devi Lal, was crushed under the wall and died on the spot. Mr Sanjeev Beniwal, MLA, demanded an aid for the next of the kin of the deceased from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund which was reportedly approved by the District Collector. A case has been registered in this connection. |
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CPM warns govt on POTO New Delhi, October 30 Addressing newspersons here yesterday after a two-day meeting of the party’s central committee, party general secretary Harkishan Singh Surjeet said: “If the government thinks it can push through such a law by taking advantage of the present international climate against terrorism, it is mistaken.” |
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CBI clarification on arrest New Delhi, October 30 A CBI spokesman, while denying the media reports about mismanagement of the entire case, said “the CBI received some unconfirmed reports on October 22 about the likely detention of Abu Salem Abdul Qayoom Ansari, other cases. “Immediately, the UAE authorities were contacted over the phone as well as by sending a fax to them requesting them to confirm this information”, the spokesman said. |
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Joshi leaves for Mauritius New Delhi, October 30 The month-long celebrations, coinciding with the 167th anniversary of the arrival of the Indian indentured labourers in Mauritius, will include exhibitions and laying foundation stone of a Mahatma Gandhi ayurvedic centre. |
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Panel
term extended New Delhi, October 30 The term of the commission will end on February 28, 2002. The Cabinet also decided to introduce an open ballot system for elections to the Rajya Sabha. |
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UP closes brick
kilns near Taj New Delhi, October 30 Counsel for the state government Ajay Agrawal stated before a Division Bench that orders in this reagard had been issued.
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AMITABH BACHCHAN
APOLOGISES SUSPENDED KERALA MLAS BEGIN FAST POISONOUS GAS CLAIMS 3 LIVES 3 ARRESTED FOR BUDGET LEAK |
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