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Manipur may come SILVASSA, Dec 17: Manipur may come under spell of President’s rule in the wake of raging.......more CBI charges DD official of NEW DELHI, Dec 17: The Central Bureau of Investigation has charged Director of Doordarshan’s Central Production Centre (CPC) R P Mathur and two others for fraud and bungling of lakhs of ....more Deadlock over delimitation DEHRA DUN, Dec 17: The delimitation process in the newly formed Uttaranchal state has reached a deadlock with Chief Minister Nityanand Swami declining to nominate five MLAs. ...more |
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NHRC seeks reply
from Haryana on ex-minister’s torture NEW DELHI, Dec 17: National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has sought reply form Haryana ......more Banerjee first RANCHI, Dec 17: Mr M M Banerjee is the first Advocate General of Jharkhand......more Army up to act tough NEW DELHI, Dec 17: After years of laxity, army is finally waking up to threat to cantonment land.....more CBCI chief slams THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, Dec 17: Catholic Bishops Conference of India (CBCI) president....more Army seeks industry’s NEW DELHI, Dec 17: The Indian Army has sought the help of industries involved in waste ...more |
Manipur may come under President’s rule: Advani SILVASSA, Dec 17: Manipur may come under spell of President’s rule in the wake of raging ongoing political crisis in the state. Indications to this effect were given by Home Minister L K Advani while talking to newsmen here yesterday. He said he had already talked to Congress president Sonia Gandhi seeking her party’s co-operation in this regard. Home Secretary Kamal Pandey who was asked to brief Sonia Gandhi, was later directed to discuss the issue with senior West Bengal leader Pranab Mukherjee. Advani said he would discuss the matter with Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee before the Government takes a decision. Government needs Congress support in Parliament especially in the Rajya Sabha where it does not have a majority to get the approval for any presidential proclamation to bring the state under Central rule. The north eastern state of Manipur has been rocked by a serious political crisis in the wake of divisions within the United Legislature Front coalition, headed by Chief Minister W Nipamacha Singh, which is seeking to unseat Speaker Dhananjay Singh who is supported by the opposition. Last month, the Speaker abruptly adjourned the Assembly sine die after the ruling side tabled a motion of no-confidence against him. (PTI) |
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CBI charges DD official of bungling lakhs of rupees NEW DELHI, Dec 17: The Central Bureau of Investigation has charged Director of Doordarshan’s Central Production Centre (CPC) R P Mathur and two others for fraud and bungling of lakhs of rupees in sanctioning of fake and forged bills during 1998-1999. CBI sources told UNI today that the case against Mr Mathur, Assistant Director in the CPC S Z Fazil and co-ordinator of a programme on Kashmir Asgar Khan was filed after raids in offices and residences of these officials on Friday. The case has been registered by the Anante Corruption Branch of the CBI. The two seniormost officials of the CPC allegedly caused a loss of Rs 8.90 loss to the exchequer by fraudulently sanctioning fake and forged bills in favour of Mr Khan, co-ordinator of ‘Shan-e-Kashmir’ during 1998-1999. The raids was carried out in connection with the CBI probe into the TV rights scam. It was during the investigation of that case that the agency sleuths came across this alleged bungling. The CBI sources said Mr Mathur and Mr Fazil in conspiracy with Mr Khan paid transport, boarding, lodging, customs charges and coordinator fee amounting to Rs 8.90 lakh to the co-ordinator on the basis of fake and fraudulent bills. While Mr Khan benefited Rs 8.90 lakh, the similar amount was lost by the department. The CPC officials are alleged to have accepted a ‘cut’ from the amount. The CBI charged them under Sections 120-B (criminal conspiracy), 420 (cheating), 467 (forgery) and 471 (using forged documents) of the Indian Penal Code and under the Prevention of Corruption Act. This is the sixth CBI case against dd officials in recent times. On November 13, the CBI raided the office and residence of former ICC chief Jagmohan Dalmiya and six top former and serving officials of the Doordarshan in connection with the probe into the alleged bungling in allotment of television rights of cricket matches since 1996. The sleuths of the premier investigating agency also carried out raids at the residential and official premises of certain private TV business houses. Simultaneous raids, which started in the wee hours of the day, were conducted in Delhi, Mumbai, Calcutta, Bangalore and Lucknow. Raids had been conducted at the premises of ex-Doordarshan officials Mr K S Sarma, Mr K Kunhikrishnan, Mr Rakesh Bahadur, Mr Sanjeev Datta, Dr P K Seth and Mr Anurag Mishra and Stracon India chief Siddharth Ray, Worldtel Inc, (United Kingdom), Worldtel India, Bangalore, headed Mark Mascarenhas and United Television, Mumbai. Alleged bungling amounting to several crore of ruppes were also done in the telecast rights of tennis since 1997. The raids were carried out under the overall supervision of Special Director G Achari. Apart from carrying out raids at the Doordarshan premises in the capital, raids were carried out at the premises of the former International Cricket Committee President in Calcutta, Mr Bahadur’s residence in Lucknow, Worldtel’s office and residence of Mr Mascarenhas in Bangalore and the Mumbai-based office of United Television (UTV). The raids were the fallout of the FIR registered by the anti-corruption unit after being satisfied that there was a prima facie case made out for investigation into the bungling, running into crores of rupees. The case was registered by the bureau last week. (UNI) |
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Deadlock over delimitation process in Uttaranchal DEHRA DUN, Dec 17: The delimitation process in the newly formed Uttaranchal state has reached a deadlock with Chief Minister Nityanand Swami declining to nominate five MLAs to asssist a cell set up by the Election Commission, saying only the Central Government can do so. "I am telling you that only the Central Government will nominate five MLAs (of Uttaranchal) to assist the new cell set up by the EC to begin the delimitation process in the newly carved state," Swami told PTI in an interview. Swami’s statement came 13 days after Chief Election Commissioner M S Gill asked the Uttaranchal Government to nominate five MLAs immediately to begin the process of delimitation in the state after holding talks with the Chief Minister here. "Jab Woh Mange Ge, To Hum De Deinge (whenever the Centre asks us to send the recommendations we will send)," said Swami, who is coming under attacks from the opposition for "dithering" on the issue. However, the Chief Minister quickly added "we are ready. We are not facing any problem in recommending the five MLAs". The EC had said the Assembly elections in the newly formed state could only be held after the completition of the delimitation process under the Uttar Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2000 under which the Assembly seats of the state will be from 23 to 70. Swami "clarified" that the State Government had not received any communication from the centre on the issue so far. Referring to the growing demand for making area instead of population as the basis for delimitation in Uttaranchal, Swami said "we are studying the law. Whatever is the right, will be done." When asked what is the State Government’s stand on this issue, the Chief Minister said according to the People’s Representative Act, the population is the criterion for the delimitation process. He also quoted Gill in this regard to strengthen his point. "What they (EC) will finally decide on the issue, we have to see," Swami said adding his Government would sympathically consider the sentiments and aspirations of hill people. Congress and other opposition parties in the state are demanding that the area should be the sole criterion for the delimitation process keeping in view the topographical features of Uttaranchal. To another question about who should be the first Speaker of the Uttaranchal Legislative Assembly, he said a consensus was being evolved in the state BJP party unit in this regard. "First we will go for consensus, but if it fails, then MLAs would elect the Speaker in a democratic manner," Swami said. Apparently referring to his detractors in the state party unit, he said "although in democracy people put their claims but the decision is taken on merit only." A section of MLAs including Lakhi Ram Joshi are unhappy as they feel they have been "ignored" by Swami. On his achievements during the past one month, he said "performance is satisfactory and we are moving ahead on our priorities." "There are reports that those who indulge in corruption and malpractices, are now frightened," he said adding "we have withdrawn gunners from those who indulged (illegally) in liquor and bajri trade." He said 40 new drinking water schemes in the hill region had been completed while 35 "partly damaged" water schemes were restored by his Government. Referring to education, he said "our teams comprising ministers and officers are on job. It is certain that they are moving in the right direction." (PTI) |
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NHRC seeks reply from Haryana on ex-minister’s torture NEW DELHI, Dec 17: National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has sought reply form Haryana Government on alleged torture of a former State Minister and his family members as part of political vendetta by the State Government. Taking cognizance of the complaint by Congress leader Tejinder Pal Singh Mann, NHRC directed the Karnal district Deputy Commissioner and top police officials responsible for the alleged human rights violation and misuse of power to appear before the Commission on January 3. Mann in his complaint alleged that his family members were illegally detained in prison in false cases, where they had to undergo the "uncontrolled tyranny" of the authorities which could be gauged from the fact that amongst the 15 persons arrested, only nine were produced before the magistrate after a gap of 40 hours. The rest were not produced for more than a week and were kept in "most inhuman and uncivilised conditions" and were subjected to "barbaric torture", he alleged. Mann, through his counsel also alleged that his wife who was also taken into custody at midnight met with "inhuman treatment and was subjected to filthy abuses". "The series of transactions indicating a course of action by the concerned authorities prima facie do not rule out the likelihood of systematic course adopted for the harassment of the petitioners, which if true, would be serious violation of the petitioners human rights," the NHRC said in its order. Stating that the authority was vested in the public servants concerned meant entirely for protecting the human rights and not intended for committing any violation thereof by misuse of public power, the NHRC said "it is necessary for the Commission to examine this aspect." Mann alleged he had become a political target of the State Government and repressive actions against him and his family members were being committed by the authorities at the instance and directions of the political rulers of the state so as to silence them as they belonged to opposition. "After Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) came to power in the state, the authorities started booking fabricated criminal cases against me and my family members at the instance of ruling political leaders," the petition to NHRC said. Mann said allegations against them ranged from committing robbery in their own house, in their own showrooms, involvement in village scuffle on a hearsay statement, misappropriation of loan which has already been repaid before schedule and obstruction to performance of public duty. The former State Minister also alleged that the cases were registered against him with a motive of tarnishing his image. (PTI) |
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Army seeks industry’s help
in waste NEW DELHI, Dec 17: The Indian Army has sought the help of industries involved in waste management machines and packaging to help control the "ever-increasing" problem of waste disposal in the Siachen region. Speaking at a discussion held yesterday at the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI) on ‘opportunities for waste management and disposal in the Ladakh-Kargil region’, Lt. Gen. Arjun Ray said waste management was one of the challenges faced by troops deployed in the siachen region. "Since the extremely low temperatures reduced the pace of bio degradation of the waste material, it would be nice if industries working in the field produced bio digesters and incinerators that could operate at such low temperatures." Lt. Gen. Ray said the region also faced problems of environmental degradation due to the increasing amount of discarded packing materials, food tins, parachutes, ammunition packaging, cartons, human excreta and left over food. "We want suggestions in producing suitable packaging material for food, ammunition and equipment, which could easily be disposed of. Lt. Gen. Ray said about one tonne of waste material was generated per person in a year in the region. "Even though the army has adopted various means to reduce the environmental degradation by laying down kerosene pipelines, providing land route maintenance and using Cheetah helicopters for retrieval of waste, it has been able to reduce the waste by only one third." He said the strategic location of the region and environmental hazards did not permit retrieval of the waste material through helicopters or roadways. Initiating the discussion, PHDCCI Environment Committee Chairman R H Dalmia said the chamber felt there was an urgent need to restore the pristine environment in the Siachen region that had deteriorated over time. "The business industry shall be keen to cooperate with the Army in setting up some constructive projects to maintain the environmental balance in the siachen region," he added. (UNI) |
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