Excelsior... Nation

King Birendra’s
aunt expresses shock
over killings

BARIPADA (ORISSA), June 2: Queen Bharati Rajyalaxmi Bhanj Deo, paternal aunt of slain Nepal King Birendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev, today ....more

Killing of whale
sharks banned

NEW DELHI, June 2: The slaughter of whale sharks on the Indian coastline has been banned - thanks to the award-winning film ‘shores of silence - .....more

President, PM greet Karunanidhi

CHENNAI, June 2: President K R Narayanan, Vice-President Krishan Kant and Prime Minister A B Vajpayee today .....more

Astronomical
observatory gets
satellite link

BANGALORE, June 2: Giving a boost to Indian astronomy, satellite link was established .....more

India will stand behind Nepalese people: BJP

NEW DELHI, June 2: BJP today expressed shock over the assassination of Nepalese King Birendra and several members of the royal family and said the ......more

Assembly polls have
demolished aspiration
of BJP: Gehlot

KANPUR, June 2: Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot today said that the recent Assembly elections in five state had demolished political....more

PM holds emergency
meet of CCS

NEW DELHI, June 2: Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee today held an emergency meeting of the Cabinet .....more

14 ‘misled’ absconding tribal children reunited
with parents

COIMBATORE, June 2: Fourteen tribal children, who had deserted their homes lured by....more

King Birendra’s aunt expresses shock over killings

BARIPADA (ORISSA), June 2: Queen Bharati Rajyalaxmi Bhanj Deo, paternal aunt of slain Nepal King Birendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev, today expressed shock over the brutal killing of the king, Queen Aishwarya and other members of the royal family at Kathmandu last night.

"We are trying to contact the royal palace in Nepal but have not been successful", the 71-year-old queen told PTI.

"I am not sure exactly what happened. I can say about it after I get all the details", she said.

Queen Rajyalaxmi, the daughter of late Nepal King Tribhuban Bir Bikram Shah Dev and sister of former King Mahendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev, had married the former king of Mayurbhanj, Pradip Chandra Bhanj Deo.

Pradip Chandra Bhanj Deo passed away on September 15 last year.

She said her only son Praveen Chandra Bhanj Deo was leaving for Calcutta today enroute to Kathmandu to represent her at the funeral.

Palace sources here said as per tradition, she was not supposed to go out of the palace for one year after the death of her husband. (PTI)

Killing of whale sharks banned

NEW DELHI, June 2: The slaughter of whale sharks on the Indian coastline has been banned - thanks to the award-winning film ‘shores of silence - whale sharks in India’ by wildlife film-maker Mike H Pandey, and the resultant media campaign.

The Environment and Forest Ministry put ‘whale sharks’ (rhincodon typus) in schedule one of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, earlier this week after a sustained follow-up by marine biologists and Non-Governmental Organisations based on facts revealed in the film, which won the Panda Award, known as the Green Oscars, and several other awards. Environment Ministry sources told UNI that the decision had been taken to provide protection to this rare and highly- endangered species because continued exploitation was leading to their speedy extinction.

Following media reports about the film, NGO Reefwatch Director Ms. Mitali Kakar and Marine Biologist Sarang Kulkarni had begun work for the shark’s protection and later sought help from Bittu Sehgal of ‘Sanctuary’ magazine which ran a strong national campaign for six months. Animal lover and Union Minister Maneka Gandhi was approached and Additional Inspector General Forests (Wildlife) S C Sharma prepared the file to add the species to schedule one.

The first to focus on a large marine species, the film is a hard-hitting account of the slaughter and trade of whale sharks on the western coast of India. Though their existence on Indian shores has been denied by experts, the film proved that whale sharks not only exist but are brutally hunted on the west coast.

Mr Pandey told UNI that he was horrified to discover that about 1200 of these whales were killed on Indian shores every year for the oil in their liver for waterproofing boats and for exporting shark meat and fins to south east Asia.

Made under difficult conditions in almost three years by Mike Pandey and his riverbank studios, the film was supported by the earth matters foundation which had begun an awareness campaign to save the whale shark, which is the largest fish on earth. Apart from the Panda Award, the film bagged the honour of knowledge award at the Ekotopfilm 2000 festival at Bratislava in the Slovak Republic.

Mr Sehgal told UNI that inclusion in schedule one will reduce the death rate by 90 per cent in the first year itself because landing the fish ashore could invite a seven-year jail term and it is too large to be butchered and made unrecognisable in the high seas.

The film revealed that the fishermen kill the sharks by harpooning them, generally targeting the smaller, more manageable ones. The Harpoon is attached to huge airtight drums, whose buoyancy prevents the sharks from escaping. After a struggle that might last hours, the exhausted shark is hauled in to shore where it is cut into pieces, some times while yet alive. Meat is sold by the fishermen for as low as re one per kg but those who export it earn more than forty times that price. The oil extracted from the liver and used for waterproofing boats and trawlers is sold for only Rs 20 a litre in local markets.

The film had shown that the whale sharks were not covered under the Wildlife Act. Their slow regeneration rate will soon render them an endangered species. These whales can be as big as 60 feet long and weigh 30 tonnes.

Mr Sehgal said its uniquely distinctive shape markings make a whale shark sighting a spectacular and unforgettable experience. It has distinctive random light-yellow stripes and dots on a dark grey skin. Despite its name, the whale shark is a not a whale (which would make it a mammal) but a fish (like all other sharks). It was so named because of its sheer size and feeding methods, which resemble that of whales. There are no accurate estimates of global whale shark populations, but it is estimated that more than 100 million sharks and shark-like fish are killed each year. (UNI)

President, PM greet Karunanidhi

CHENNAI, June 2: President K R Narayanan, Vice-President Krishan Kant and Prime Minister A B Vajpayee today greeted DMK supremo and former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi on the eve of his 78th birthday.

In their message, Mr Narayanan and Mr Kant wished the DMK leader good health and long life to serve the country for long.

Mr Vajpayee, while wishing the former Chief Minister good health and long life, said the latter had dedicated himself for the development of Tamil Nadu and the country.

For the last so many years, Mr Karunanidhi’s approach to politics has been constructive and marked by patriotic fervour, he added.

Union Home Minister L K Advani, in his greetings, said that Mr Karunanidhi, acknowledged to be talented in many fields, had chosen politics with the sole objective of serving the society.

Among his significant contributions were his endeavour to reform the society and national integration. He has carved a niche for himself in the realm of politics with his oratorical and writing skills, Mr Advani added.

Lok Sabha Speaker GMC Balayogi, in his message, said Mr Karunanidhi, a follower of rationalist leader "Thanthai" Periyar and Dravidian stalwart C N Annadurai, had dedicated his life for the upliftment of the downtrodden.

Samata Party leader and former Defence Minister George Fernandes, who also extended his greetings, recalled his longstanding association with the latter, especially while fighting the emergency imposed by former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. (UNI)

Astronomical observatory gets satellite link

BANGALORE, June 2: Giving a boost to Indian astronomy, satellite link was established today between Indian astronomical observatory — the world’s highest — tucked away at an altitute of 4,500 metres at Hanle in south eastern Ladakh in Jammu and Kashmir and a research centre near here.

The INSAT satellite link was established in the presence of J&K Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah at Hanle and scientists of Indian Institute of Astrophysics at the Centre for Research and Education in Science and Technology (CREST), Hoskote, some 35 kms from here.

With this, the two-metre optical infrared telescope installed at the national observatory would be remotely operated from the crest campus of IIA at Hoskote via a high speed, dedicated satellite link.

In his remarks, telecast through a video conference, Abdullah, who inaugurated the link between hanle and hoskote, congratulated IIA scientists. ‘It has been wonderful. We are proud of great effort put in by the scientists’, he said.

IIA scientists said the quality data provided by the telescope would enable them study in greater depth diverse problems related to various aspects of stars and stellar systems such as remote galaxies, supernovae, high redshift radio galaxies, gamma ray burst sources, large-scale structure of universe and cosmology.

Eminent scientist and IIA Governing Council Chairman Prof. B V Sreekantan, said the observatory had come up in a record period of three years. Rs 40 crore was invested in the project, including around Rs eight to ten crore for telescope. The observatory would be commissioned soon.

At a press conference later, Sreekantan said India had initiated talks with the US for collaboration for its project regarding the six-metre binocular observatory proposed at Hanle.

Stating that the binocular observatory project needed international collaboration as heavy investment was required, he expressed hope that the US would give its nod.

‘We have had preliminary discussions with the us’, he said, adding, not less than Rs 100 crore to Rs 200 crore would be required for the project.

For the Indian astronomical observatory, India had some collaboration with the US and Japan, Sreekantan said.

IIA scientists said the telescope would enable continuous studies covering half the globe - between Canary Islands and Eastern Australia.

Based on a comparative study of the meteorological and satellite data on the atmospheric conditions monitored at a number of Himalayan sites and after carrying out a standard astronomical site assessment programme, Hanle was adjudged to be the best site for study of celestial objects through a wide range of the electromagnetic spectrum, they said.

‘Hanle has low sky brightness, low atmospheric absorption and low atmospheric turbulence’, it was noted.

The observatory, scientists said, provided a unique environment for studies in geodynamics, geomagnetism, upper atmosphere and ionospheric and stratospheric research. (PTI)

India will stand behind Nepalese people: BJP

NEW DELHI, June 2: BJP today expressed shock over the assassination of Nepalese King Birendra and several members of the royal family and said the people of India will stand behind the people of the Himalayan Kingdom in their hour of grief.

Lauding the deceased king’s "stabilising role in Nepalese politics", party general secretary Narendra Modi said: "He maintained Nepal’s close links with India. As the only Hindu kingdom in the world, Nepal’s religious, cultural and civilisational connections with India have been deep and extensive."

Extending sincere condolences to the Nepalese people, Modi said, "we have no doubt that the Government of India will render all possible assistance to Nepal in their hour of need." (PTI)

Assembly polls have demolished aspiration of BJP: Gehlot

KANPUR, June 2: Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot today said that the recent Assembly elections in five state had demolished political aspirations of the BJP and had intensified problems before the NDA leadership.

Addressing a press conference here today Mr. Gehlot said that the Bharatiya Janta Party support base was eroding constantly while the congress had been improving its position in various parts of the country.

The Chief Minister said that the situation was that NDA allies were now moving away from the BJP and the ruling alliance was facing the threat of disintegration.

However, the Congress was not at all in haste for creating troubles for the NDA and wanted to see it succumb to its own pressures and infighting.

The senior Congress leader said that it was difficult to say now what would be consequences after the probable fall of the Vajpayee Government, only time would show whether an alternative Government would be formed or mid term election would be held.

However, the Congress was not in haste of coming into power, he added.

Besides, its internal affairs the Vajpayee Government also failed in dealing with the situation in Jammu and Kashmir and its policy in this regard was ineffective.

He said, might it be the Kargil episode or the post Kargil scenario, a situation of total confusion prevailed in the Centre’s attitude and this had made the situation in that troubled state more complicated. He said as many as 85 armymen, hailing from Rajasthan had laid down their fighting militants in the bordering state.

Same was the performance on the other domestic fronts and it was evident from the recent Assembly elections that the electorate in the states had rejected the NDA Government’s policies.

Expressing satisfaction over the Congress performance in these states Mr Gehlot said that the party had constantly been improving its position and would perform well even in the coming Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh.

He said that the party certainly needed to work hard for the desired results in this state and efforts for gearing up the party organisation and its cadre had already been initiated.

It was a fact that the Congress was the only nationalistic party with a broad support base and the partymen had just to make people believe that they were ready to take up their issues and fight.

Mr Gehlot arrived here this morning from jaipur. He was to inaugurate the 18th convention of the All India Marwari Sammelan besides participating in some other programmes before flying back to Jaipur this afternoon. (UNI)

PM holds emergency meet of CCS

NEW DELHI, June 2: Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee today held an emergency meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) to take stock of the situation in Nepal arising out of the killing of King Birendra, Queen Aishwarya and other members of the royal family in Kathmandu last night.

The 35-minute meeting was attended, among others, by External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh, Mr Brajesh Mishra, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, Foreign Secretary Chokila Iyer and Vice Chief of Army Staff Lt Gen Vijay Oberoi

Mr Singh briefed the CCS on the developments in the Himalayan Kingdom.

An official spokesman said after the meeting that the Government would make a statement later in the day.

Earlier in the morning, Mr Vajpayee spoke to Nepalese Prime Minister G P Koirala and expressed his deep shock over the killing of the Nepalese monarch and other members of the royal family. (UNI)