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Karunanidhi unhappy with CHENNAI, June 9: Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam president and former Chief Minister M Karunanidhi....more
‘Kashmir issue can’t UDAIPUR, June 9: BJP today said a solution to the vexed Kashmir imbroglio cannot be found by just ....more
PM expresses concern NEW DELHI, June 9: Expressing distress over the illness of noted Pakistani ghazal singer Mehdi .....more |
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Controversy over
Assam Governor’s clarification continues GUWAHATI, June 9: The controversy over the Assam Governor taking an unusual step of distancing himself from certain views expressed in his address to the State Assembly refuses to die down with the Chief Minister criticising him for making his views public.......more Govt to issue licence CHENNAI, June 9: The Union Government will soon issue licence to private laboratories to overcome lack of facilities in testing drugs made out of medicinal herbs.....more Gen Mehta urge DEHRA DUN, June 9: For the first time in the history of the Indian Military Academy (IMA), a Passing Out Parade (POP) was reviewed by a commandant of the Academy here today.....more MP Govt urges Centre BHOPAL, June 9: Madhya Pradesh Government has urged the Centre to waive off conditions regarding the distribution of ‘Pattas’ (mutation deeds) for quick regularisation of encroachment on forest lands in the state.....more Compensation hope HOSHIARPUR, June 9: Informal efforts of the Indian mission at Rome to pursue the Malta boat tragedy probe mission......more |
Karunanidhi unhappy with Centre’s stand on Governor CHENNAI, June 9: Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam president and former Chief Minister M Karunanidhi today contended that his party’s general council resolution urging the Centre to recall Tamil Nadu Governor M Fathima Beevi was based only on Union Home Minister L K Advani’s earlier statements. Apparently irked by Mr Advani’s assertion yesterday that the Centre would not remove the Governor for swearing in Ms J Jayalalitha, the former Chief Minister told newspersons here that the Home Minister himself had declared earlier that she could not become the Chief Minister. Besides, Union Law Minister Arun Jaitely had also asserted during the election campaign that the Governor could not swear in ms Jayalalitha as Chief Minister, as she was barred from contesting the elections in the wake of her conviction in corruption charges. On Mr Advani declining to go into the details of the DMK’s demand for recall of the Governor, citing the pendency of the case in Supreme Court, Mr Karunanidhi said "we are also waiting for the outcome of the case." Asked about reports that the Governor could pardon and rescind Ms Jayalalitha’s conviction and sentence if the state cabinet adopted a resolution to this effect, he merely said "I do not know." However, Union Minister and senior DMK leader Murasoli Maran, who was present, intervened and said the Supreme Court had already made it clear that it was not possible. On the Tamil Nadu unit of the BJP’s decision to drop its demand for the recall of the Governor on the advice of its high command, Mr Karunanidhi, indicated that his party would continue to press for it. Asked about the DMK fielding its candidate Sivakumar for the Speaker’s post in Pondicherry, he said a decision to this effect was taken jointly by the DMK and its allies, the Pudhuvai Makkal Congress and the BJP in the Union Territory. On MDMK general secretary Vaiko’s threat to file a case against him for allegedly making defamatory remarks against the former in the DMK general council meeting, Mr Karunanidhi said he was prepared to face the case, if Mr Vaiko chose to prosecute him based on reports published in a section of the press, contrary to what he had said. "My speech has appeared in party organ ‘Murasoli’ in its June six edition," he added. He refused to answer when asked about Tamizhaga Rajiv Congress president Vazhapadi Ramamurthy’s suggestion that the special task force could interrogate him on finding the hideout of elusive brigand Veerappan. (UNI) |
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‘Kashmir issue can’t be solved in single summit meet’ UDAIPUR, June 9: BJP today said a solution to the vexed Kashmir imbroglio cannot be found by just holding a summit meeting between Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Pakistan military ruler Pervez Musharraf. "A single meeting between the two leaders cannot find a solution to the Kashmir problem. Several such meetings would have to be held in future to arrive at any final resolution on the issue", BJP president Jana Krishnamurty said here. "It will be a great achievement if the the summit meeting between Vajpayee and Gen Musharraf forges greater trade and economic relations between India and Pakistan," Krishnamurty told reporters after inaugurating the two-day conference of the national executive of the Bhartiya Janata Yuva Morcha. Musharraf would be accorded a warm welcome on his arrival in Delhi as per Indian traditions, he said. The BJP chief said his party was ready for forthcoming Assembly elections including in Uttar Pradesh where ground realities were being assessed. Although tehelka expose did not affect the organisation, it certainly eroded partry’s image, he admitted. The party would wait for the report of the Venkatswamy judicial commission probing the revelations by the portal, and those found guilty by it would be punished, he added. On the resignation of former BJP chief Bangaru Laxman in the wake of teheleka expose, Krishnamurty said "if Laxman is found innocent in the judicial probe he would be given a new post equivalent to the party president". However, he said, Laxman would not be reinstated as the party chief. He said the central functionaries of the BJP would hold regular tours till October this year to strengthen the organisation. State leaders would also hold similar tours during which party workers would be given guidance in one-day meetings. Krishnamurty said he himself had started his tours and already visited Bihar and Madhya Pradesh.(PTI) |
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PM expresses concern over Mehdi Hasan’s health NEW DELHI, June 9: Expressing distress over the illness of noted Pakistani ghazal singer Mehdi Hasan, Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee today said he joined millions of his fans in India in praying for his speedy and complete recovery. Vajpayee, who is himself recuperating in a Mumbai hospital from a knee surgery, in an emotional letter to Hasan, recalled his concert at his New Delhi residence in 1978 and said he would be happy to welcome him to his home once again. Stating that he was distressed to know, from reports in the press, that he was unwell on account of a recent stroke he suffered, Vajpayee said, "the concert of mellifluous ghazals, which you were kind enough to present at my residence in New Delhi in 1978, is still fresh in my memory. This is true of all those who have savoured your music at the numerous concerts you have given in India during the past several decades." "I join millions of your fans in India in praying for your speedy and complete recovery, so that the world of music may continue to have one of its greatest living exponents around for a long time to come," the letter said. "While wishing you to get well soon, I also hope that you will soon be able to come to India again and, among other things, visit Luna in Rajasthan, the village of your birth. I’ll be too happy to welcome you to my home once again," he said. Vajpayee’s letter said, "your music, like the music of the great artistes of India and Pakistan, reminds us of the many common bonds of culture and spirituality that unite our two countries. "Its equal popularity on both sides of the border illustrates that a life of peace and goodwill, and a readiness to appreciate the best of each other, is the natural aspiration of our two peoples," the Prime Minister said. Vajpayee said that he was deeply touched by his statement published in a recent article in Dawn newspaper which echoed the sentiment of his Indian fans: "music and poetry know no boundaries. "Jo haq Pakistanion ko meri ghazalon pe hai, wohi Hindustanion ko bhai hai. Unho ne muje kam pyar naheen diya (Indians have the same right to my ghazals as Pakistanis have. They (Indians) equally love me."(PTI) |
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MP Govt urges Centre to waive
off conditions BHOPAL, June 9: Madhya Pradesh Government has urged the Centre to waive off conditions regarding the distribution of ‘Pattas’ (mutation deeds) for quick regularisation of encroachment on forest lands in the state. State Forest Minister Harvansh Singh told reporters here today that unless these conditions were withdrawn, it would not be possible for the State Government to issue these ‘Pattas’. "We cannot legally do it as per the present terms and conditions," he added. Mr Singh said pattas/mutation could not be entered in revenue records unless the status of the land was changed to non-forest land thereby preventing transfer of proprietory rights and depriving the beneficiaries of an opportunity to avail of taccavi loans. Referring to the condition that ‘Pattas’ be entered in revenue records only after completion of compensatory afforestation in cases of pre-1976 encroachments, he said the State Government was prepared to give an undertaking to complete such afforestation in five years to facilitate early distribution of pattas. The minister sought central assistance for the afforestation plan which, he said, would cost Rs 153 crore. Pointing out that the Centre had put a rider on eligibility criteria for regularisation of encroachments as on March 6, 1979, the minister said as per State Government’s proposal, based on the guidelines of 1995, eligibility was to be determined on the date of survey of encroachments in 1995. Change of criteria from 1995 to 1979 would render ineligible many encroachers who were otherwise eligible, he pointed out. Mr Singh urged the Union Government to reconsider its decision, disapproving the proposal for regularisation of encroachments between March 7, 1979 and October 25, 1980. He said the MP Government, in purusant to the State Governor’s policy statement in his address to the State Assembly in 1979, had decided to set the cut-off date as October 25, 1980 — the date on which Forest Conservation Act came into effect — for the regularisation of such encroachments. The Forest Minister said the State Government’s proposal would benefit 70,000 encroachers in Madhya Pradesh, while the Centre’s terms and conditions had restricted the number to just 36,000. Mr Singh said he has, in a letter to Union Environment Minister T R Baalu, requested for approval to the State Government’s request on the subject in toto. He said he also discussed the matter with Mr Dilip Singh Bhuria, Chairman of National Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Commission, and sought his help to ensure early settlement of the issue. The SC/ST Commission, to whom the matter was referred, after consultations with officials of the Union Ministry concerned and the State Government, had agreed with the state’s proposals, he added. Opposing the Centre’s condition to give ‘Pattas’ only to heads of families, Mr Singh called for acceptance of the state’s proposal to allot ‘Pattas’ to heads as well as adult members of families concerned. Mr Bhuria has reportedly assured the State Minister that a meeting of officials concerned of the Union and State Governments would be convened shortly to sort out the tangle. Commenting on Mr Bhuria’s reported statement that both Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh Governments should regularise forest encroachments by June 30, Mr Harvansh Singh said," we are prepared to do it within ten days provided the centre withdraws or amends the conditions." (UNI) |
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Compensation hope arises for
families HOSHIARPUR, June 9: Informal efforts of the Indian mission at Rome to pursue the Malta boat tragedy probe mission has generated a hope for compensation to the families of about 200 victims who died in the icy waters off the Malta coast on Christmas eve four years ago. Probe Mission Chairman Balwant Singh Khera, who has been pursuing the case relentlessly all these years to provide succour to the victims’ families, yesterday disclosed that an Italian lawyer has agreed to take up the compensation case on a 20 per cent commission if the families nominated a proxy through the mission. He said the laywer — Ezechia Paolo Reale — said Italian law allowed individuals to file a civil action suit to protect their rights if their (aggrieved parties) Government did not wish to get involved in the proceedings on behalf of the families. Mr Khera said the families could also apply for legal aid. As per the advice given by reale, the families should give a special proxy to the probe mission president who, in turn, would sign the necessary documents in the presence of the lawyer to enable him pursue the cases, he added. The Probe Mission President said he had convened a meeting of the families in the district Janata Dal office here on June 20 to complete the relevant documents so that the compensation cases could be filed in the Italian court as early as possible. Mr Khera said the hope for compensation was generated when Indian Mission’s Deputy Chief in Rome, V K Gupta, approached some Italian lawyers to inquire if the aggrieved families could approach courts through the probe mission for compensation. Mr Gupta made an informal effort in the direction on the suggestion of Bar Association in district syracuse and communicated the same to the Indian External Affairs Ministry through a letter in April, Mr Khera added. He said after Mr Reale stated that the defendents could apply to the Italian state for legal aid, the mission got going in the hope of at last getting some relief for the families. The Punjab Government had given a compensation of Rs 50,000 to some families in 1997, shortly after the tragedy was reported by the media. But most of the about 200 families who had lost family members had been left high and dry without any compensation nor any deterrent punishment to Indian travel agents who had sent the human cargo through illegal means for settling abroad. Mr Khera said the Italian lawyer held the opinion that if one or more victims’ families could sign a proxy authorising him to represent them, he could seek postponement of the case, provided the proxy was endorsed by a public notary. He said the case was being tried in syracuse and the Indian mission had informed that the list of persons suspected to have drowned and the statements of witnesses in english, were being sent to the public prosecuter in syracuse. (UNI) |
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