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Sunday,
December 9, 2001, Chandigarh, India  
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Fernandes: vested interests delayed AJTs’ procurement Ayodhya solution before March 12: CM Dr Desai ‘voluntarily’ quits as MCI chief Laloo to appear before Ranchi court |
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Indo-US naval exercise soon 791
Gentlemen Cadets pass out from IMA UTTARANCHAL POLL West Bengal Government to change school syllabi Work on Tehri Dam resumes Ban on PWG, MCC a boost for state govts Bajrang Dal’s stir
threat to govt Amitabh to open FM channel Labourer seeks wages, gets poison Irregularities in fodder purchase alleged Telecom dist status awaited
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Fernandes: vested interests delayed AJTs’ procurement New Delhi, December 8 Launching the inaugural issue of the ‘Defence Digest’, a bi-monthly magazine dealing with military issues yesterday evening the Defence Minister said that people who wanted more ‘paybacks’ were probably responsible for the delay in the purchase of the AJT, a vital requirement for the Indian Air Force (IAF). “When prices become higher, paybacks become higher”, the Defence Minister said. Mr Fernandes’ comment came when Air Chief Marshal (retired) NC Suri, who is on the editorial board of the magazine, said that the price of AJTs had been fixed at Rs 864 crore when Air Chief Marshal L.N. Katre was the air chief in 1984-85 when the procurement of the trainer was given the green light. The price of 66 ‘Hawk’ AJTs that the
IAF is now to get is around $ 1 billion (Rs 4500 crore). The Defence Minister said from all inputs he had received, there was no other AJT but the Hawk. “We are hoping to have it soon,” he added. He said that before he resigned, following the Tehelka expose on defence deals, he had wanted to put India’s Defence procurement needs on the website but there had been opposition from vendors that it might be difficult for them to do business as they had different prices for ‘friendly countries’ and not-so-friendly countries. On the other hand, putting this kind of information on the website would provide transparency. “One needs transparency when national security is not involved. There is no secrecy behind possession of a weapon but in what calibration it is, is not for the public.” Defence Digest is edited by former United News of India General Manager and Chief Editor Virender Mohan. Besides Air Chief Marshal Suri, others on its editorial board include several senior retired personnel in uniform including Lt-Gen V.K. Sood, Vice Admiral S.C. Chopra, Air Marshal Lakhmir Singh and Maj-Gen Prem Khanna and police officer and security expert Arun Bhagat. Mr Fernandes, saying that there was an urgent need for a magazine like the Defence Digest to raise awareness of security matters among people, rued that matters like the National War Museum which he had proposed three years back still had not seen light of the day. “It becomes only the concern of one or two people not everybody’s, “he complained adding that the Urban Development Ministry’s offer of 32 acres in the capital was not suitable as more land would be required. He said after three and half years, armed forces personnel now had got the right of proxy voting. “In times to come the para-military personnel will also be included.” |
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George to spend Xmas with troops New Delhi, December 8 On Christmas night, the Defence Minister is scheduled to be in the world’s highest battlefield, the Siachen Glacier, where he had gone with Christmas cakes for the soldiers.
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Ayodhya solution before March 12: CM Lucknow, December 8 Speaking at a meet-the-press programme here, the Chief Minister expressed hope that Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee’s efforts to resolve the issue (before the deadline) would yield positive results. On being asked about the threat of the VHP to undertake the construction of the Ram temple after the expiry of the deadline, the Chief Minister said the government was committed to maintain status quo at the disputed site as directed by the Supreme Court. The security arrangements in and around the
Ram janambhoomi complex had been further tightened, he said. The Chief Minister said his party would not make the Ram temple an election issue and charged the opposition parties with trying to rake up the Ayodhya issue on the eve of elections in the state to derive political mileage. He said his government would bring a POTO like ordinance in the state if the legislation failed to get Parliament’s approval. Citing incidents of encounters with the terrorists in the state, he said a strict law was required to fight the menace. The BJP would go to the polls with stability, development and internal security as its main election planks. He would ask the voters to support him on the basis of his government’s achievements on all fronts, he added. He said though corruption would not be an issue at the poll, he would consider tougher ways to crack down on corruption if voted back to power. The BJP would enter into alliance with all its allies at the Centre and state to fight the poll in the state. Talks on seat sharing were on, he said adding that no decision had yet been taken on the number of seats to be contested by the BJP and denied there were differences over seat sharing.
PTI |
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Dr Desai ‘voluntarily’ quits as MCI chief New Delhi, December 8 The institute today received a communication from the Health Ministry that Desai had quit “voluntarily” two posts. Professor P. Venugopal, Chief of the Cardio-thoracic Centre at the institute today confirmed that he had been nominated on the institute and governing bodies in place of Dr Desai. Health Minister and institute President Dr C.P. Thakur is said to have got Desai’s resignation letter on December 3, according to a communication received by the AIIMS. With this, Mr Desai ceases to be the Chairman of the Standing Selection Committee of the AIIMS. Since the high court declared Desai guilty of corruption and irregularities, AIIMS faculty had been demanding Mr Desai’s resignation. The court had ordered Desai’s removal as President of the Medical Council of India and directed the CBI to prosecute him for his “involvement” in corrupt practices. The court also had observed that the apex body for doctors was a “den of
corruption”. |
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Laloo to appear before Ranchi court Patna, December 8 It was an administrative decision to fly him back to Ranchi by a service flight, they said. The RJD President, currently in Beur jail, had been flown to Patna from Ranchi in a state government aircraft on December 3 and was produced here in a disproportionate assets case, an offshoot of the fodder scam. The RJD chief is to be produced on Monday in the Ranchi CBI designated court of H.C. Mishra, where he had surrendered in a conspiracy angle case and had been remanded to 14 days in jail after his bail plea was rejected on November 26. RJD national spokesman Shivanand Tiwari said Mr Yadav would proceed to Ranchi though his cervical pain had aggravated and X-rays had confirmed that he was suffering from cervical spondylosis. The RJD chief was likely to return to Patna again on December 11 following the directive of a special court in Patna asking him and Bihar Chief Minister Rabri Devi to appear before it on December 13 for recording their statements in connection with the case against them. The examination of prosecution witnesses in the case was completed in the Patna designated CBI court of S.K. Mishra yesterday. Laloo was charged with having accumulated over Rs 47 lakh disproportionate to his known sources of income when he was the Chief Minister between 1990 and 1997.
PTI |
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Indo-US naval exercise soon New Delhi, December 8 The search and rescue exercise in which two Indian naval warships, a coast guard and an American naval aircraft will take part, is to begin from December 15. It will be the first such exercise after the post-Pokhran Indo-US freeze. Sources said they were hopeful that with the surrender by the Taliban, of their last stronghold Kandahar, more US naval warships currently engaged in the strikes could veer round to take part in the exercise. |
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791 Gentlemen
Cadets pass out from IMA Dehra Dun, December 8 Sense of great achievement was writ large on the faces of the Cadets, who passed out from the Academy’s Autumn Term after rigorous training. Indulgent hugs and discreet pecks on cheeks from family and friends marked expression of joy for these young officers. The passing out parade in front of the historic Chetwode Hall this autumn was unique in itself for two things. It was for the first time the passing out parade was inspected by Chief of Integrated Defence Staff Lt-Gen P.S. Joshi and the number of Cadets who passed out this year was the largest in the past one decade. In all 791 Gentlemen Cadets, including 14 Foreign Gentlemen cadets from Bhutan and Nepal, passed out this year. As many as 643 Gentlemen Cadets of 109 Regular Course, 40 of 92 Technical Graduates Course, 44 of 7 SCO course and 64 cadets of TES - 4(10+2) course passed out in the autumn term. General Joshi, who inspected the passing out parade led by Academy Under Officer Pawan Nehra, told the officers to be prepared for facing challenges ahead and wanted them to keep themselves abreast of the happenings around, especially in the field of Information Technology. Many of you, in a few weeks, would be in the battle field, your selfless service to the nation would prove how good a soldier you were, Lt-Gen Joshi said. It was also a nostalgic moment for General Joshi, who recalled how 39 years back he was, in the same Academy, eagerly awaiting for the parade to be over. “I feel honoured to be here with you,” he said. Appreciating the parents of the Cadets for encouraging their wards to join the Army, he said you had set an example for others and, I hope other citizens in the country too encouraged their wards to join the force. Sword of Honour for the best all-round Gentlemen Cadet from The Regular Course and the Gold Medal for Gentlemen Cadet standing first in order of merit from Regular Course went to Academy Under Officer Pawan Nehra. The Silver Medal for standing second in order of merit from Regular Course was given to Junior Under Officer Napoleon Nayak, Bronze Medal to Battalion Under Officer Mukund Bhardwaj. Silver Medal for Gentlemen Cadet standing First in order of merit from Technical Graduates Course was given to Junior Under Officer Mahesh Shelke. Lt-Gen Tajindar Singh Shergill, Commandant Indian Military Academy and other top officers of the Academy were present at the function. On the eve of the passing out parade yesterday, family members of the cadets and reporters had an opportunity to watch an English comedy, Tons of Money, staged by the Dramatic Society of Indian Military Academy. The artistes, which included Gentlemen Cadets and ladies of IMA did justice to their roles and helped create a light atmosphere. The play was directed by Lt-Col K.
Mukherjee. |
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UTTARANCHAL POLL Dehra Dun, December 8 The Election Commission has delimitated the present 23 constituencies into 70, which is likely to make it more difficult for the candidates. The Congress has already kicked off the election campaign with two public conferences held at Uttarkashi and Pithoragarh on November 23 addressed by Ms Sonia Gandhi. Despite being left behind in launching the poll campaign, the BJP has been observing caution in the selection of candidates considering various factors that are likely to offset its prospects. Caste equations within the BJP are a major concern for the leadership. Lack of capable tribesmen and Muslim leaders may put an adverse effect on the political calculations of the ruling party. With a sizable section of Muslim population in the area the BSP has a sitting Muslim MLA, Qazi Mohiuddin, to cater to the hopes of his party while the SP is likely to depend upon party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav’s charisma and film stars like Amitabh Bachchan, Raj Babbar etc. |
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West Bengal Government to change school syllabi Kolkata, December 8 Both the CPM leadership and the state government have now finally agreed to change the syllabi in schools. The Left Front’s Chairman, Mr Biman Bose, who is also a CPM Politburo member, admits a time has now come that the syllabi of schools should be amended and rewritten in the changing socio and political situations. The Chief Minister, Mr Buddhadev Bhattacharyya, too wants that the schoolchildren should be properly educated to cope with the realities of the life. He says the school students should be taught science, IT and software technologies as well as history and geography. “It is important to know the life and teachings of our national heroes and schoolchildren should also be acquainted with the history of the Communist movement vis-a-vis the lives and teachings of Lenin, Karl Marx and Deng Xiaoping,” says Mr Bhattacharyya. The state Health Minister, Dr Surya Kanto Mishra, at a seminar organised here recently disclosed the government’s decision to rewrite the syllabi of social science and health education in the secondary level (from Class VIII) in the light of sex education and health hazards, particularly against AIDS. |
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Work on Tehri Dam resumes Tehri (Uttaranchal), December 8 The authorities of the Tehri Hydro Development Corporation (THDC) shut down the two tunnels (P3 and P4) thus paving the way to fill the dam with the Baghirathi waters. The hut of Mr Bahuguna, near the bridge, was partially damaged. His wife and son, Rajiv Nayan Bahuguna, were busy shifting the household goods to a safer place. Mr Bahuguna who was in New Delhi for the past few days reached yesterday. Talking to the TNS he reiterated his stand to continue his agitation against the commissioning the project. He said, “The authorities of the THDC had violated the law by shutting down the tunnels as two cases are still pending before the Supreme Court against the commissioning the project”. The Balmiki slum of the old Tehri township was forcibly shifted to a safer place by the district authorities on Thursday. The bridge was opened for traffic till yesterday evening. But heavy vehicles, including cars, were not allowed to pass through it. The District Magistrate of Tehri, Mrs Radha Raturi, told the TNS that the bridge was too weak to sustain the flow of heavy traffic. When contacted the Chief Minister of Uttaranchal, Mr Bhagat Singh Koshiyari, said the government was committed in commissioning the project. He, however, said rehabilitation work was still going on and the authorities had been asked to take all possible care of the people who were being shifted to safer places. He disclosed that the Union Government had passed orders to cut down the trees from 1000 acres of forest between Hardwar and Rishikesh to enable the state government to allot land to the residents of Tehri. |
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Ban on PWG, MCC a boost for state govts Patna, December 8 The Bihar Government had banned the two organisations in 1986. Bihar officials and top policemen have been time and again telling the Union Home Ministry about the gravity of the PWG, MCC trouble and their suspected indulgence with anti-national forces like, ISI, drug mafia and international arms smugglers. The Home Ministry officials forced their state counterparts to accept that it was just a law and order crisis and should be handled by the state alone. |
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Bajrang Dal’s stir
threat to govt Lucknow, December 8 Dal National Convener Surendra Jain said here that if the government still remained silent over the reports of growing atrocities on the minority Hindus in Pakistan and Bangladesh, then his organisation would be forced to stop the services.
UNI |
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Amitabh to open FM channel New Delhi, December 8 Amitabh Bachchan will be inaugurating the channel with a special address for the people of Lucknow. The first show will also air an exclusive interview with the superstar. Radio City is a venture promoted by Music Broadcast Private Limited (MBPL) and had gained the licence for the FM channel broadcast following the auction carried out by the Prasar Bharati. |
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Labourer seeks wages, gets poison Sriganganagar, December 8 Fed up with the deceased’s
pestering for the small amount, Pappu, of Suratgarh village had
allegedly sent him the fatal liquor. The deceased consumed it,
following which he fell sick and later on breathed his last. Sources
said according to Mr Jas Ram, a brother of Dhanna Ram, the deceased
was hired by the father of the accused for a day last week. He was not
paid that day and went to the accused’s house for getting his due
time and again. This was resented by Pappu, who reportedly decided to
teach him a lesson. Yesterday morning, when he again went to the
latter’s house, he was assured that his dues would be paid by the
evening. Pappu went to the house of the labourers and allegedly gave
his seven-year-old son a quart of whiskey, a packet of eatables and
some cigarettes and told him that he was not able to arrange the money
but the dues could be settled this way. Dhanna Ram came from work in
the evening and consumed the whiskey. After some time he complained of
a burning sensation and started vomiting. He told his wife that he
suspected that Pappu had doctored his drink. He started for Pappu’s
house to complain to him but fell halfway and was rushed to the
government hospital, where he died. The sources said after initial
investigations, the doctors told the family members that he had
consumed-pesticide laced liquor. The police has registered a case
under Sections 302 and 328 of the IPC and Section 3 of the SC Act. The
body has been sent for a post-mortem examination. The accused is
absconding, the sources added. |
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Irregularities in fodder purchase alleged Hanumangarh, December 8 Now, the residents have again given a memorandum to the Regional Commissioner. They have alleged that a fodder depot was opened in their village, but they were never given fodder. They have also alleged the sarpanch got prepared false receipts and bungled government money. In another complaint, they alleged records showed that on June 20, a truck carried the fodder from the depot, but the same truck carried fodder from a depot in Bikaner. |
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Telecom dist status awaited Hanumangarh, December 8 Sources said under the National Telecommunication Policy the government had announced 386 telecom districts and after the district came under Sriganganagar telecom district in August. Though the customers did not face much difficulty because of the new facility of local dialing within a radius of 200 km, many administrative and financial decisions regarding the department were not being taken because of district being not given the status of a telecom district. The counting of the bills of the district is also done at Sriganganagar. The district has fulfilled all requirements for getting the status of a telecom district. |
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