Excelsior... Nation

Creation of new states, change of guard in
many states mark India 2000

NEW DELHI, Dec 30: The year 2000 was marked, among others by a change of guard of many states and the emergence of Uttaranchal, Jharkhand and Chattisgarh states.

Assembly elections were held in Bihar, Haryana, Orissa and Manipur, while Uttar Pradesh, Goa, Pondicherry and Meghalaya witnessed new leaders at the helm. The year also saw The exit of the longest serving Chief Minister, Mr Jyoti Basu of West Bengal, and also perhaps the shortest term of eight days for a Chief Minister, Mr Nitish Kumar of Bihar.

A large number of world dignitaries including US President Bill Clinton and Russian President Valadimir Putin visited India giving a push to the bilateral relations.

Many outstanding leaders in various walks of life passed away during he year. They included Bharat Ratna C Subramaniam, former Congress president Sitaram Kesari, Union Minister P R Kumaramangalam, senior Congress leader Rajesh Pilot, veteran CPI leader Geeta Mukherjee, well known cricketer Lala Amarnath, Urdu poet Ali Sardar Jafri, industrialist A Chidambaram, tabla player Ustad Allarakha, Dhrupad exponent Nasir Amiruddin Khan Dagar and former Governor Dharma Vira.

Following is a diary of national events during 2000 January 1: India enters 2000 without any Y2K problems.

3: Sixteen people killed in a mine blast in Jammu.

6: Five Pakistani hijackers of Indian Airlines IC 814 identified and their four accomplices arrested in Mumbai.

7: Subramaniam Committee on Kargil submits report, Karmapa Lama Ugyan Trinley Dorje escapes from China to reach Daharamsala.

8: Government reconstitutes Indira Gandhi National Centre for Arts Trust, Election Commission announces polling schedule for Bihar, Orissa, Manipur and Haryana Assemblies.

10: 31st International Film Festival of India Opens in Delhi.

11: T S Krishna Murthy appointed Election Commissioner.

13: Russian Deputy Prime Minister Viktor Khristenko arrives in Delhi

14: President confers Gandhi Peace Prize for 1999 on Baba Amte.

17: Port workers strike begins.

18: Singapore Prime Minister arrives in Delhi.

20: Industrialist M A Chidambaram dies.

22: Port workers strike ends.

22: At least 25 Pakistani soldiers are killed by Indian troops in Akhnoor sector in Jammu division, Prime Minister announces Rs 10,271 crore agenda for the north-east.

24: Constitution 79th amendment comes into effect extending reservation for scheduled tribes and castes for another ten years in Lok Sabha and Assemblies, Nigerian President O Obasanjo arrives in Delhi.

25: 506 gallantry and distinguished service medals announced, Government approves sale of Modern Foods India Ltd.

26: Nigerian President O Obasanjo is chief guest at Republic Day parade, Doordarshan launches Kashir and Gyan Darshan channels.

28: M S Verma appointed Chairman of TRAI.

31: Shooting of Deepa Mehta’s film Water disrupted in Varanasi. February 1: Dara Singh alias Ravinder Kumar Pal, accused in Graham Staines murder, arrested by Mayurbhanj Police.

2: Peter Bleach and five other Latvians convicted in Purulia arms drop case sentenced to rigorous life imprisonment, Jayalalitha sentenced for one year on corruption charges.

3: Renowned tabla player Ustad Allarakha passes away.

8: Indonesian President Abdurrahman Wahid arrives in Delhi, Infosys Chairman Narayana Murthy gets first national award for excellence in corporate governance.

12: At least 27 people killed in first phase of Assembly elections in Bihar and Manipur, Pandit Ravi Shankar gets French Civilian Award ‘Commandeur De La Legion D’Honneur.

13: Eleven member constitution review commission headed by M N Vekatachalaiah appointed.

15: Centre decides to freeze for another 25 years the number of representatives in Lok Sabha at 543.

18: Combodian Prime Minister Samdech Hun Sen arrives in Delhi.

20: 22 Police personnel killed in a Naxalite landmine blast near Narayanpur police station in Madhya Pradesh.

21: Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar prizes presented Salman Rushdie’s the ground beneath her feet bags best book award and Raj Kamal Jha’s the blue bedspread the best first book at the commonwealth writers prizes for Eurasia.

24: Lawyers observe nationwide strike.

25: INLD-BJP alliance in Haryana and BJD-BJP alliance in Orissa get majority in Assembly elections, while Bihar heads for hung Assembly.

29: Union budget presented in Lok Sabha.

March 2: United Front Ministry headed by Wahengbam Nipamacha Singh sworn in in Manipur Om Prakash Choutala sworn in as Haryana Chief Minister.

3: Samata Party leader Nitish Kumar sworn in as Bihar Chief Minister.

4: CPI leader Geeta Mukherjee dies.

5: BJD leader Naveen Patnaik sworn in as Orissa Chief Minister.

6: Meghalaya Chief Minister B B Lyngdoh resigns.

8: E K Mawlong sworn in as Meghalaya Chief Minister.

10: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar resigns Hindi author Nirmal Verma and Punjabi novelist Gurdial Singh declared Janpith winners.

11: RJD leader Rabri Devi sworn in as Bihar Chief Minister, K S Sudershan becomes RSS chief.

17: Pondicherry Chief Minister R V Janakiraman resigns.

19: US President Bill Clinton arrives in Delhi.

21: Clinton and A B Vajpayee sign vision statement, militants kill 35 Sikhs in Kashmir Valley.

22: INSAT 3B launched, Congress leader P Shanmugham sworn in as Pondicherry Chief Minister.

24: India’s hockey legend Udham Singh dies.

31: Turkish Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit arrives in Delhi.

April 4: CBI files chargesheet against Bihar Chief Minister Rabri Devi and her husband Laloo Prasad Yadav in the disproportionate assets’ case.

5: Rabri Devi and Laloo Prasad Yadav surrender before CBI designated court.

7: Delhi Police claim to have unearthed a cricket match fixing racket.

11: Indigenously developed missile Dhanush test-fired.

13: Centre accords international status to six airports.

20: Chandrachud committee report on match fixing tabled in Lok Sabha.

25: Death sentence on Nalini of Rajiv Gandhi assassination case commuted to life imprisonment.

27: RBI announces monetary and credit policy.

28: Major fire in Army ordnance depot at Sewar in Rajasthan.

May 1: Uzbekistan President Islam Karinov arrives in Delhi.

4: JKLF Chairman Yaseen Malik and four other Hurriat leaders released.

11: Nation-wide strike by trade unions against economic policies of the NDA Government, India’s population crosses one billion.

14: India extends ban on LTTE for two more years , Trishul missile test-fired from Kochi.

15: J and K Power Minister Ghulam Hasan Bhat and four others killed in bomb explosion near Mandipore.

17: Parliament approves Information Technology Bill.

21: Death toll in ethnic violence in Tripura reaches 45.

24: Noted lyricist Majrooh Sultanpuri dies.

26: Cabinet Committee on Disinvestment decides to divest 60 per cent in Air India.

27: Union Cabinet expanded.

28: President K R Narayanan begins six-day visit of China.

June 9: Former Olympian and footballer Noor Mohammed dies.

11: Senior Congress leader Rajesh Pilot killed in road accident.

14: Babu Parmanand appointed Haryana Governor, Meghalaya Governor M M Jacob gets another term.

16: Prithvi surface-to-surface missile test fired.

17: Lt Gen K M Seth appointed Tripura Governor Air Marshal Vinod Patney appointed Vice Chief of Air Staff.

21: Delhi Archbishop Alan De Lastic dies in car accident in Poland.

26: J and K assembly adopts state autonomy commission report recommending greater autonomy for the state.

July 4: Union Cabinet rejects J and K autonomy resolution, surface-to-air missile Akash test fired Prime Minister opens Tidel Park at Chennai.

5: Ten Royal Bengal tigers die in Nandakanan Zoological Park in Orissa.

6: National film festival awards announced, Mohanlal best actor.

10: Australian Prime Minister John Howard arrives in Delhi.

11: Amrita Pritam selected for highest Punjabi Literature Award of Shatabdi Samman.

14: Karnataka agrees to release 6000 million cubic ft Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu.

16: Longest lunar eclipse in 150 years seen in many parts of India.

17: 51 people killed in an alliance air crash near Patna Airport.

19: India’s first missile-firing submarine Ins Sindishastra commissioned in St Petersburg.

20: Dilip Kumar is selected for Indira Gandhi Sadbhavana Award.

25: Aruna Roy and Jockin Arputham win Ramon Magsaysay Award P T Usha announces retirement from international sports competitions.

29: Indian Army suspends operations against Hizbul Mujahideen in J and K.

31: Lok Sabha passes bill for creation of Chattisgarh state, Kannada film star Rajkumar and three others kidnapped by Veerappan, Centre and NSCN agree to extend ceasefire in Nagaland by one year, Justice B M Lal appointed MRTP Commission Chairman.

August 1: Lok Sabha passes bill for Uttarkhand state Urdu poet Ali Sardar Jafri dies, at least 21 people including 11 Amarnath pilgrims gunned down near Pahalgam.

2: Militants gun down more than 100 people in J and K Lok Sabha passes bill for creation of Jharkhand state

5: Lala Amarnath dies

8: Former Karnataka Chief Minister S Nijalaingappa passes away

10: At least 13 people including Hindustan Times Photographer Pradeep Bhatia killed in a car bomb blast in Srinagar

11: Dadasaheb Phalke Awardee P Jairaj dies veteran Gandhian Dr Usha Mehta passes away

14: Heavy weight boxer and Dronacharya Awardee captain Hawa Singh is dead

16: Fiji’s deposed Prime Minister Mahendra Pal Choudhary arrives in Delhi

18: Palestine leader Yasser Arafat arrives in Delhi

23: Union Minister P R Kumaramangalam passes away

24: Musician Kalyanji Shah is dead

25: Short range surface to air missile Trishul is test fired

30: Justice B P Jeevan Reddy appointed Chairman, Law Commission

31: 11th Finance Commission submits its report to Government. September 4: Cabinet approves plan for restructuring Chennai, Kochi, Bongaigaon and Numaligarh refineries

5: Film Director Hrishikesh Mukherjee chosen for Dadasaheb Phalke Award

7: Prime Minister arrives in New York for millennium summit

7: Election Commission derecognises Lok Shakti as a state party

13: Microsoft chief Bill Gates arrives in Delhi

17: Former Governor Dharma Vira is dead

19: Akash missile test fired

27: Centre decides to increase number of Padma Awards from 60 to 100 from next year

28: World’s highest observatory commissioned in Ladakh

29: Narasimha Rao and Buta Singh convicted in JMM case, Cabinet Committee approves appointment of T R Prasad as Cabinet Secretary

30: Gen S Padmanabhan takes over as Chief of Army Staff, Union Cabinet expanded, death toll on West Bengal floods crosses 750, CPI-M derecognised as a national party, Dr Sisir Kumar Bose, nephew of Netaji Bose, dies.

October 2: Russian President Vladimir Putin arrives in Delhi

4: Yogendra Narain appointed Defence Secretary

6: Dehra Dun chosen provisional capital of Uttaranchal

9: Jayalalitha and Sasikala sentenced to rigorous imprisonment in the TANSI land deal cases

9: Praful Bidwai and Achin Vanaik selected by International Peace Bureau for its annual peace prize

10: A B Vajpayee’s left knee joint is replaced in surgery

12: Special court announces three year sentence to Narasimha Rao and Buta Singh in the JMM bribery case

12: S K Vasal gets millennium world food prize

21: BJP pulls out of Goa Government

24: BJP leader Manohar Parikkar is new Goa Chief Minister, Congress leader Sitaram Kesri is dead

27: Writer and freedom fighter Manmatha Nath Gupta dies

28: West Bengal Chief Minister Jyoti Basu submits his resignation, BJP leader Rajnath Singh sworn in as UP Chief Minister, Canadian police arrests two Sikhs in connection with Kanishka bomb explosion

30: D N Sahaya appointed Chattisgarh Governor, S S Barnala Uttaranchal Governor, and Prabhat Kumar Jharkhand Governor

31: Chattisgarh becomes 26th state and Ajit Jogi to be its first Chief Minister.

November 3: Suraj Bhan is appointed Himachal Governor and Vishnu Kant Shastri as UP Governor

6: Budhadev Bhattacharya sworn in as West Bengal Chief Minister H K Dua, Ramoji Rao and P Sainath chosen for B D Goenka Award for excellence in journalism

7: Bharat Ratna C Subramaniam dies, Supreme Court blocks release of Veerappan’s aides from jail

8: Uttaranchal becomes 27th state, Nityananad Swamy sworn in as Chief Minister:

9: JKLF chief Mohammed Yasin Malik is arrested

10: Justice N Y Hanumanthappa appointed AP High Court acting Chief Justice

11: Minister of State for Defence Harin Pathak resigns

13: Indian airforce helicopter carrying 12 people crashes in Gujarat

14: Jharkhand becomes 28th state

15: Rajkumar is released by Veerappan after 107 days in custody, Sonia Gandhi is elected Congress president

16: Union Cabinet decides to bring down Government holding in nationalised banks from 51 to 33 per cent

22: A Padmanabhan resigns as Mizoram Governor

24: Chhota Rajan escapes from police custody in Thailand, Hizbul Mujahideen rejects Prime Minister’s ceasefire offer, Vice Admiral Raman Puri takes over as Deputy Chief of Naval Staff

26: Janata Dal(U) splits

28: Laloo Prasad Yadav remanded to judicial custody

29: Nelson Mandela and Grameen Bank of Bangladesh to share International Gandhi Peace Prize

30: Jagdev Singh Talwandi elected SGPC president, at least 12 people killed in cyclonic storm in Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry coast.

December 1: Priyanka Chopra crowns Miss World

2: Forty people killed when Howrah Express collides with a goods train in Punjab

4: Prime Minister rejects Mamamta Banerjee’s resignation from Cabinet

5: Justice Satya Brata Sinha appointed AP High Court Chief Justice

6: Justice A A Desai takes oath as first Chief Justice of Uttaranchal High Court, Government notifies recommendations of Manisana Singh Wage Board, Baba Amte is conferred Dr Ambedkar International Award for Social Change

7: ULFA militants gun down 26 people at Sonpura

12: Former Karnataka Chief Minister J H Patel is dead

13: Vikram Sood is appointed RAW chief

14: Opposition sponsored motion demanding resignation of three ministers defeated in Lok Sabha

15: Magsaysay Award winner and journalist Gour Kishor Ghosh dies

18: President K R Narayanan releases history in the making: 75 years of the Hindustan Times

19: Urban Development Secretary N N Mookerji is dead

20: Ottavio Quattrocchi is held and released in Kuala Lumpur 21: Delhi High Court clears Samba spy case accused

22: Lashkar-e-Tayyeba militants storm Red Fort and kill three soldiers

23: Chokila Iyer becomes India’s first woman foreign secretary

23: Centre agrees Kolkata for Calcutta

24: Viuswanathan Anand becomes world chess champion

25: Car bomb kills nine people in Srinagar, AP Minister B Veera Reddy dies

26: One terrorist suspected in the Red Fort case shot dead and another held in Delhi

28: Manubhai Shah is dead, Dhrupad exponent Nasir Aminuddin Khan Dagar dies in Calcutta, Amartya Sen conferred D Lit by Kerala University

29: Kashmiri separatist leader Hashim Qureshi surrenders before Delhi Police, Nepal assures India that its soil will not be allowed for anti-India activity, seven people killed in a hooch tragedy in Andhra Pradesh, Army holds flag march during Ranchi bandh, Election Commission restores national party status to CPI(M). (UNI)

2000 in AP: A year of triumph and travails

HYDERABAD, Dec 30: IT-savvy Andhra Pradesh presented a canvas of contrasting images in the year 2000 with the visit of US President Bill Clinton boosting its profile internationally while unprecedented rains and floods exposed chinks in civic management of ‘Cyberabad’.

While Andhra girl Karanam Malleshwari lifted the spirits of her home state by bagging bronze medal at Sydney Olympics to become the first Indian woman to win an olympic medal, the fall from grace of Hyderabadi cricketing hero Mohammed Azharuddin sent shock waves among his fans and sport lovers.

Consolidating his reforms agenda in his second term, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu earned international acclaim for his pro-active policies but had to face flak back home with combined opposition launching a prolonged agitation against what they call ‘World Bank dictated’ power sector reforms and hike in power charges.

While Clinton spoke of Andhra Pradesh as a ‘role model’ for the third world and World Bank Chief James D Wolfensohn described it as the ‘best managed state’ in the country, it was a familiar tale of starvation, crop loss and lack of work in a majority of the districts gripped by severe drought forcing an estimated ten lakh labourers to migrate.

Adding to the mosaic of paradoxes was the political relationship between TDP and BJP, the two ideologically divergent parties joining hands to keep congress at bay.

The alliance, driven by coalition compulsions, came under strain with differences cropping up on a plethora of issues including hike in prices of essential commodities, oil price, Eleventh Finance Commission (EFC) recommendations and Ayodhya.

The ruling TDP, a key constituent of NDA with 29 MPs in its kitty, was often set on a collision course with the Centre and has made known its displeasure over hike in prices of oil and essential commodities.

It also openly criticised Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee’s remarks on Ayodhya saying they were ‘unwarranted’ at a time when the issue was before the Supreme Court.

While refraining from issuing any threat of withdrawal of support, unlike the more strident Trinamool Congress, the TDP, however, asserted on several occasions that it would not tolerate any deviation from National Agenda for Governance (NAG).

It was on economic issues that the TDP-BJP friction was more pronounced. Naidu, whose support holds key to the stability and longevity of the central coalition, was peeved over the ‘inadequate response’ from the Centre, whether it was the farmers’ issue or financial assistance to tackle floods and drought.

Causing an embarrassment to the Vajpayee Government, Naidu led a protest against recommendations of the Eleventh Finance Commission (EFC) and convened a meeting of Chief Ministers of "aggrieved states" in New Delhi on August 21 to press for corrective measures.

Accusing EFC of "punishing progressive and performing states and rewarding fiscally imprudent states", the TDP Government argued that the state would stand to lose Rs 3,685 crores over five years following slash in its share of central revenues from 7.98 per cent to 7.13 per cent.

Naidu, who broke from populist past and introduced wide-ranging reforms, faced biggest challenge to his reforms agenda when opposition Congress and Left Parties spearheaded a mass agitation against power tariff hike.

The newly-set up independent Electricity Regulatory Commission recommended a 20 per cent hike in May, affecting all categories, to net Rs 1,095 crores annually.

The opposition-sponsored "Chalo Assembly" agitation on August 28 turned violent leading to death of three persons in police firing.

After stalling the Assembly proceedings demanding total rollback of hike in power charges, the Congress and CPI (M) legislators launched an indefinite fast on August 18, causing some anxious moments with health condition of some of the MLAs deteriorating at the hunger strike camp.

However, bowing to mounting pressure, the Government announced a partial rollback in june providing an additional annual subsidy of Rs 281 crores and restricting the average hike to 15 per cent. (AGENCIES)

2000 brought West Bengal to its political crossroads

CALCUTTA, Dec 30: Politics leapt into the dark alley of violence and stood on the crossroads ahead of Assembly elections while the helmsman changed and the skies opened up like never before to fill its cup of woes in rural West Bengal in the year 2000.

After remaining subdued for more than two decades in this left-ruled state, the situation started hotting up with a series of political clashes, murders and counter allegations both by the Left Front and the Trinamool Congress. A showdown at the hustings is expected and it could be a milestone for either of the political camps.

With the once powerful Congress losing much of its vote bank to the Trinamool Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party just getting a foothold, politics in the state rotated mainly around the Left Front and the Trinamool Congress, but given the currents and cross currents of local and national politics, there were chances aplenty that a realignment of forces might take place in the near future.

While the Trinamool, led by its firebrand supremo Mamata Banerjee, is in a fierce pursuit for power to end the 24-year-old Marxist rule, the Left Front has been on the defensive mobilising all its strength.

As the front, led by the CPI(M), lost much of its ground paying the price for its long rule, the Trinamool cashed in on the people’s disenchantment giving rise to intense rivalry and a high-pitch campaign the state has not had experienced for many years.

Making a fast dent into the urban areas, the Trinamool Congress, accusing the front of being a failure on all fronts, forged a remarkable success by gaining control of the prestigious Calcutta Municipal Corporation in a keen electoral battle that the party views as a preamble to its final assault to storm the State Secretariat.

Depending on Ms Banerjee’s charisma, the party, that successfully relegated the Congress to the third spot to represent the growing anti-left voters in the state, also snatched a sizeable number of municipalities and made significant inroads into the hitherto rural citadel of the CPI(M).

The mercury of the state politics soared to a dizzy height with the series of political clashes between the CPI(M) and the Trinamool Congress in Midnapore, Bankura and Hooghly districts that left several hundred people dead and evicted thousands from their hearths.

The Trinamool launched a virulent campaign alleging a reign of terror unleashed by the Left Front and a civil war-like situation to demand imposition of President’s rule in the state.

Alleging total collapse in the law and order situation, the party insisted that the front managed to remain in power only through machinations and muscle power and unless there was an election under President’s rule a change in the situation would not be possible.

The violence in Midnapore, hitting headlines everyday, warranted visits by Defence Minister George Fernandes and a National Democratic Alliance team following Ms Banerjee’s persuasion.

However, the Left Front saw a deep-rooted conspiracy in what it alleged was a calculated indulgence in violence and propaganda by the Trinamool Congress to force central rule by virtue of it being an NDA partner and to muscle its way into power.

The Left Front, particularly the CPI(M), received a setback when it lost the Panskura Lok Sabha seat in the embattled Midnapore district to the Trinamool Congress in a by-election in June last.

The seat, which was a virtual monopoly for the left since independence, was earlier held by CPI leader Geeta Mukherjee, whose death necessitated the by-poll.

The front candidate and former Rajya Sabha member Gurudas Dasgupta lost the electoral battle to Trinamool nominee Bikram Sarkar, a former IAS officer and a greenhorn in politics despite a headlong campaign by the front involving stalwarts like the then Chief Minister Jyoti Basu and former Prime Minister V P Singh.

While the Trinamool dubbed their victory as a people’s mandate against the "fascist rule" of the left, the front levelled charges of widespread rigging and booth capturing by the opponent. It alleged that being a Union Minister, the Trinamool supremo, alongwith a few former IAS officers, had influenced the local police to remain inactive against the rampant rigging and intimidation.

After the Trinamool Congress won a couple of Assembly by-elections to get entry into the State Assembly, it strengthened the demand for promulgation of Article 356.

The front leaders, including Mr Basu, vehemently opposed it saying incidents in a few districts did not warrant central intervention and that the overall law and order situation was much better than in other states. However, the national attention that Ms Banerjee could draw with her unrelenting campaign certainly kept some pressure on the ruling coalition in the state.

The central leadership of the BJP, which has been eying an expanded saffron base in the state with the help of the Trinamool, stood behind Ms Banerjee, but remained non-committal on the issue, being alert against any misadventure on the lines of Bihar.

However, continuing with her political campaign that a change in Government would retrieve the state’s lost glory, Ms Banerjee embarked on a series of railway projects in the state, apparently aimed at giving her an image of a leader dedicated to the development of the state.

A devastating flood that claimed more than 1500 lives in the state between September and October gave rise to a fresh bout of politics between the arch rivals following Ms Banerjee’s allegation that the calamity was man made. She alleged that it was not so much of rain but a sudden release of water from dams at the behest of the Government that caused the flood. The Government had done it only to divert the people’s attention from its misdeeds and escape imposition of President’s rule, she said.

The Left Front, on the other hand, accused the Trinamool of being an accomplice of the BJP-led Government at the Centre which had not released funds for the victims in the century’s worst flood.

The politics in the state hit the national headlines once again when Ms Banerjee and her party colleague Ajit Panja tendered their resignations from the Union Ministry in protest against the hike in the prices of petroleum products.

Apparently in a bid to counter the mileage the front would have gained by mobilising public opinion against the hike, Ms Banerjee criticised the Centre’s decision and demanded a roll-back of the prices of petrol, diesel and LPG.

She, however, withdrew her resignation after a few weeks after Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee decided on a marginal slash in the price hike of LPG. Ms Banerjee’s action invited the Left Front allegation that the Trinamool chief herself was a party to the decision of the price hike. (AGENCIES)

Decision on stripping Arjuna awards
after hearing cricketers

NEW DELHI, Dec 30: Sports Minister Uma Bharti has said that Government will take a decision on stripping tainted cricketers of Arjuna awards only after hearing them, but participants in a panel discussion expressed themselves against such a move saying "it may be going too far."

Maintaining that such an action could be pursued against players "dishonouring" the country, Bharti said "we have not withdrawn the award. We have served show cause notice on them as to why the award should not be withdrawn and have given them 15 days time so that they can give their version."

A final decision would be taken on hearing from them, she said participating in ‘Question Time India’ programme on BBC last night.

Replying to questions as to why the awards were being taken back from them before they were proved guilty in a court of law, Bharti said there was a condition that if the winner of the coveted award "dishonoured" the country, it could be withdrawn.

Maintaining that match-fixing was a "heinous crime", she said she had also written to the Law ministry to amend existing laws to put an end to the menace.

Noted journalist, N Ram said he was not happy with the move for withdrawing the award which were given to them in a different epoch.

"Let me join the people in requesting the Minister not to withdraw the awards. This maybe going too far," he said.

Ram, however, commended the Government for putting pressure on Cricket Board for taking action against the players. He said probably India was the only country where tough action was taken against tainted players whereas Australian players like Shane Warne got away without punishment.

Devendra Dwivedi said what was happening was against the rule of law. "There is a difference between prosecution and persecution. There should not be punishment with retrospective effect."

Khurshid said "it is not cheating. It is not a crime."

The Minister expressed surprise saying "if it is not a crime then what is it."

On Ayodhya, she said it was an important issue playing in the minds of people irrespective of whether it has "divided or united" them.

She said the temple issue had been playing an emotional and political role in the minds of the people. "It has to be sorted out not by political parties" because it could lead to fresh problems. The issue has to be resolved simultaneously with problems like poverty and unemployment."(PTI)

Disputing Ram’s contention that there was no archaeological evidence to prove that a temple existed at the disputed site, Bharti said the pillars of the structure had "symbols of idols" which could never exist in mosques.

She blamed Congress and other opposition parties for raking up the Ayodhya issue every year around December 6.

"They disturb Parliament one week before and after December 6," she said in an obvious reference to the recent stalling of the winter session for more than 10 days.

On Pakistan, she said "we have never avoided talking to Pakistan. But the very fact that Islamabad supported terrorism meant that the country was not interested in peace talks."

"Pakistan can’t talk to us through guns and goons," she said adding that cross border terrorism had to be stopped first to pave way for dialogue.(PTI)