Another
challenge to Vajpayee NEW DELHI, Dec 29 : A new challenge has, in a swift turn of events, emerged for the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, with a section of the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) vehemently opposed to the continuance of Mr Madan Lal Khurana and Ms Uma Bharati as Union Ministers. Critics of the Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Mr Khurana, have sprung up not only in the BJP but also in the Akali Dal, the Samata Party and the AIADMK. And they have reportedly informed the Prime Minister that Mr Khurana is worse than a novice, while the Minister for Human Resources Development, Dr Murli Manohar Joshi , and his supporters within the BJP have taken strong exception to what they have termed as the "unsatisfactory behaviour" of the Minister of State, Ms Uma Bharati. Despite the success of Mr Vajpayee in bringing about a rapprochement between Dr Murli Manohar Joshi and his junior Minister, Ms Uma Bharati, the HRD Minister(Dr Joshi) is reported to be somewhat suspicious considering the fact that Ms Uma Bharati is not only unpredictable but also a defiant politician. Of course, Mr Vajpayee has dropped clear hints about his plan to expand the Union Council of Ministers sometime in January. But he has chosen not to divulge his mind on the demand for the removal of Mr Khurana and Ms Uma Bharati from his Ministry. Although the beleaguered Prime Minister has been found somewhat relaxed with the conclusion of the stormy winter session of Parliament, his perturbation is not over if one were to take into account the fact that Parliament’s session ended amid many uncertainties which continue to cast a shadow over the Vajpayee-led coalition’s ability to deliver good governance to the country. While the Government has already earned justified criticism for incohesiveness and adhocism , it is now becoming clear that the better part of its discomfort in running the administration efficiently and on sound management principles stems partly from the pulls and pressures it is subjected to by the "swadeshi lobby", which, according to political analysts, is really an euphemism for the RSS, and partly from its own vacillations and indecision. These analysts insist that the Government’s troubles are of its own making. Nothing illustrates this better than the manner in which the Government has handled the Women’s Reservation Bill, the Insurance Regulatory Authority Bill, the Patents(Amendments) Bill and the Statehood Bills. The Government would have been entitled to public sympathy and understanding if there was only one Bill or a minor parliamentary chore which was mishandled. But the Government’s ineptness has surfaced time after time in the winter session, naturally raising serious doubts about official performance. The Vajpayee Government has been unable to get even a single legislation mentioned in the national agenda of governance enacted. On the other hand, it has messed up even the programmes and policies behind which there was a wide measure of national consensus, leave alone agreement on the agenda. And criticism against Mr Madan Lal Khurana is not irrelevant. There have been occasions when he has proved to be a distinct liability for the Government.. And if the Government is made a laughing stock within and outside Parliament day after day, it might as well abolish the post of Parliamentary Affairs Minister and function without his blundering presence. This message has been conveyed to Mr Vajpayee by Mr Khurana’s adversaries. The Government reneged on its commitment to introduce the Patents Bill in the Lok Sabha and put off its adoption to the next session of Parliament. The official excuse was that a postponement would give members time to study the Bill’s provision - a feeble excuse conjured up as a diversion. The real reason was the Government’s apprehension that even with Congress support, the Government would be unable to ensure its smooth introduction, consideration and adoption given the hostility from the Left parties and the Rashtriya Loktantrik Morcha groups. The Government could get the Bill passed in the Rajya Sabha thanks to Congress solid support, and that too after it had made a virtue out of necessity by accepting an amendment from the Congress and fielding it as its own. Then, take the Vananchal Bill. The Lok Sabha had to be abruptly adjoured,and then sine die, in the face of ugly scenes staged by Rashtriya Janata Dal - Samajwadi Party members protesting against the bifurcation of Bihar. Apart from these two parties, there is ample evidence to suggest that even the Samata Party, a Government ally, is opposed to the creation of a separate State within Bihar, after the Bihar Assembly passed a resolution vetoing the idea. Was it not the Government’s moral obligation to first work out a consensus on the Bill and then bring it before Parliament ? The same goes for the Uttaranchal Bill also. The Bill has been introduced but the Government has yet to convince the Akalis to accept it. On the other hand, on the funny excuse of wanting to keep an ally in good humour, the Government has made a statement assuring the Akali Dal that suitable adjustments would be made to accommodate its wishes. If adjustments are on the cards, would it not have been more prudent for the Government to have come before Parliament with a Bill which had maximum backing ? |
||
Rally
by PSU staff JAMMU, Dec 29; Peeved over the Government’s indifferent attitude, the Joint Action Committees of both Government and Public Sector Employee today came with a fresh warning of bringing the essential commodities under the purview of ongoing strike in case their demands were not settled immediately. The Public Sector Employees Joint Action Committee, (PSEJAC) chairman, Mr Suresh Sharma gave this warning while addressing the employees massive demonstration here, the State Government Employees Joint Action Committee (EJAC) warning came in the meeting of its General House which had met to take the stock of the situation created after extending the strike call for a week yesterday. The EJAC leaders went a step further by saying that the water and power supply to the ministers and bureaucrats will be affected if the Government maintains its stoic silence on the employees demands. The Public Sector Employees held a massive protest rally at Ambphalla in which the Government was also warned of serious consequences for striking to its rigid stand. The demonstrators besides Mr Suresh Mehta were also addressed by Sawaran Singh. The EJAC teams went into the interior of the City to mobilise the employees support. It also decided to send the deputations to the districts of Udhampur, Kathua and other districts to garner the employees support. An EJAC handout issued here today also appealed the employees to maintain unity among their rank and file and not to budge from their stand till the seven point demand charter is settled. While addressing the PSU employees rally, Mr Suresh Sharma, chairman Public Sector Employees Joint Action Committee, (PSEJAC) warned the Government that situation will turn worse in case it sticks to its rigid stand. He said the confrontationist approach adopted by the Government has generated a lot of resentment among the employees and in case the demands are not settled immediately the PSEJAC will also involve the essential services in the strike which till date have been kept above its purview. He wondered that instead of finding an amicable solution to present impasse caused due to the strike the Government has taken a harsh stand which is going to complicate the situation day by day. He said, with this the faith of working class which was promised a better deal has shaken in the present Government. He said though Chief Minister is out side the country no sincere efforts are being made by his ministerial colleagues to contact him on phone to end the present crisis. He alleged that the indifferent attitude of the administration which is acting like a mute spectator has sent wrong signals among the working class. He maintained that PSEJAC does not believe in confrontation, but it was the State Government which forced the employees for such action. He said the Government will be responsible for all the consequences whatsoever. Meanwhile, the work remained completely paralysed in all the PSU units throughout the Jammu province on the ninth consecutive day of indefinite strike today putting the state exchequer to a heavy loss. The operation of S R T C bus services remained suspended on all routes within Jammu province and out side the state while the production in all its sister organisation has already come to a grinding halt. The PSU units which remained paralysed today include SRTC, JKHPMC, SFC, SICOP, SIDCO, JKPCC, JK Cement, JK S C/ST Corporation, Tourism Development Corporation, Silk Factory, JK Minerals, Sheep Wool Board, JK PCCF, Joinery Mill, Wool Combing, Agro Industries and Rosin and Turpentine Factory. An PSEJAC hand out claimed that gate meetings and demonstrations were also held in front of respective PSU units and offices. Meanwhile the employees of J&K Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe and Backward Classes Corporation Limited have extended their full support to the striking Public Sector Employees. The employees in a handout issued here today, said the Corporation will support the PSEJAC till its demands are solved. Our Kathua Correspondent reports that complete strike was observed by the Government employees in the town and Mufasil areas with medicare services also coming to stand still. The pathetic conditions prevail in all the district and sub district hospitals with OPDs and wards remaining closed. The employees held gate meetings and demonstrations in the town which were addressed by various EJAC leaders who included Messrs Kuldeep Sharma, Mohinder Singh, Raghbir Singh, Hari Singh and Ram Murthy. Total strike was observed in Rajouri district also where the work in the hospitals has been completely paralysed for over last ten days. Our Rajouri Correspondent reports that though a large number of patients have already deserted the hospitals in the district, there is even no body to look after the serious ones. The EJAC leaders have also decided to hold a rally in town on December 31. The work was completely hit in all the Government offices in Doda district on 11th consecutive day today. A joint employees forum handout issued here today said the employees staged a massive rally in the town and other tehsil headquarters to show solidarity with the EJAC strike call. They raised slogans against the Government and demanded that the demands put forth by employees leaders be immediately conceded. The total strike was also observed in Udhampur and Poonch districts Patients worse hit by
strike JAMMU, Dec 29: Situation remained grim in the Medical College and associated hospitals besides district and sub district hospitals in the entire Jammu province as entire staff didn’t attend to their duties for 11th successive day today in response to employees’ strike. There was strong resentment among the critical patients admitted in three Wards in the Medical College against striking employees and State Government in whose confrontation they had been sandwiched and forced to death. Only three Wards were functioning in 800-bedded Medical College having a total of 22 Wards. A critical patient Ram Parkash Sharma admitted in the Medicines Ward of Medical College was highly critical of Government for forcing the employees to go on strike and make patients suffer for no fault of theirs. Sharma, who remained admitted in the hospital as he had a serious complication, said that several serious patients had to leave the hospital as they couldn’t be administered dextrose or pain killer injections in the absence of nursing staff. Another patient admitted in the Surgery Ward, who underwent an Emergency operation, said he had to wait for two hours yesterday for an injection. He regretted that the Government have put the lives of several people at stake which was highly deplorable and condemnable. A senior doctor in the Medical College, pleading anonymity, said the striking State Government employees should have exempted the hospitals from the purview of strike in the interest of ailing people, who were worse hit by the strike. "Gaining something at the cost of innocent and poor people’s lives is no gain", he said. However, there were some patients and their attendants who squarely blamed the State Government for their plight on the ground that employees resorted to agitation after giving several warnings to the Government to concede their demands. "Only Government and not the employees were responsible for present mess in the hospitals", they said. The patients regretted that Government has failed to make any alternative arrangements for the patients and has left them to suffer or even die in the absence of proper medicare. It may be recalled that OPDs and operation theatres remained suspended in Medical College and its associated hospitals including SMGS hospital for 11th successive day today due to strike by the employees. Barring three, all other Wards were locked due to acute insanitation and non-availability of staff. Only Emergency, ICU, CCU, Burn Wards and Dialysis unit were functioning in the Medical College as they had been exempted from the purview of strike by the employees. In SMGS hospital also, only Labour Room and Pediatrics Emergency were working while most of the Wards were closed. The condition was no good in district and sub district hospitals, being run by the Directorate of Health. Reports reaching here from district headquarters said only Emergency services were being run by the doctors while all other services including routine operations have been suspended. Emergencies in all the hospitals were over-burdened due to strike as all patients were reporting in the Emergency. Several patients said they were forced to go for private treatment. Forced begging gang
busted JAMMU, Dec 29: Jammu Police have busted a gang engaged in forcing minor boys for begging. A five year old boy was rescued by the police from the clutches of gangster couple of Pune, who have been arrested. The rescued boy was identified as Daduf son of Ramia Bengali . The couple arrested by the police for forcing the minor to beg was identified as Iqbal Ahmed, 30 and Chaalbaaz, 35, residents of Pune. SSP Jammu Mr Ashok Gupta said police acted on the basis of an information given by a social worker that a minor boy was being forced for begging by an unidentified person at Residency Road and SMGS hospital. The social worker told police that every evening, the beggar used to collect money from the infant, who had multiple injuries over his body as he was regularly beaten by the accused. The SSP Jammu immediately flashed a message to City police, which swung into action and picked up the boy in injured condition. Police also succeeded in arresting Iqbal and Chaalbaaz who had been forcing the boy to beg. The couple used to snatch all the money begged by the boy. Police said during preliminary interrogation Chaalbaaz disclosed that she had married Iqbal, younger brother of her husband late Ramia after his death. She had six children during her two marriages. Though the couple claimed that Daduf was their son, police said they were investigating the case and didn’t rule out the possibility of kidnapping the boy. "Even if Daduf was their son, the couple was forcing him for begging after beating him mercilessly", police said, adding Daduf has been admitted in the Police hospital for treatment of the injuries inflicted on him by the couple while forcing him for begging. . People protest
against Bishnah police JAMMU, Dec 29: A Junior Engineer (JE) posted in the Irrigation Department at Samba kidnapped and repeatedly raped a minor girl at village Harsa Dabbar under the jurisdiction of Bishnah police station last night. The JE has gone underground allegedly with the connivance of Bishnah police. According to reports, the JE identified as Sardar Kulwant Singh son of Capt (Retd) Kartar Singh, a resident of village Harsa Dabbar kidnapped a minor girl Anju Devi from her residence in Dabbar village at 1900 hours last night. The Engineer held the girl to confinement throughout the night and repeatedly raped her till she was rendered unconscious. He left the girl outside the house at 1100 hours today in semi-unconscious condition and fled from the spot. The girl’s father and other family members, who were searching the girl, immediately informed the Bishnah police station after noticing the girl. A police party reached the spot and shifted the girl to hospital for medical examination. The girl told police and her family members that she was repeatedly raped by the Engineer in confinement till she lost her senses. She had also received multiple bruises on her body. The JE went underground immediately after the incident and hadn’t been traced till late tonight. There was strong resentment among the villagers who alleged the connivance of Bishnah police in shielding the accused Engineer. People alleged that SHO Bishnah police station Mr Jamrodh Singh intentionally gave sufficient time to the accused to escape from the village. They alleged that SHO was also trying to put pressure on father of the girl not to proceed with the case since the accused of heinous crime also belonged to his community. Local people have threatened to observe a bandh in Bishnah if the accused wasn’t arrested within 24 hours and put behind the bars. They appealed to State Police Chief Mr Gurbachan Jagat to check the nefarious designs of the police in shielding the culprits of most heinous crime of kidnapping and repeatedly raping a minor girl of the poor family.
VC removes HOD Geography
JAMMU, Dec 29: Putting at rest the controversy surrounding the Geography Department, the Vice Chancellor Jammu University, Prof R R Sharma has removed the Head of Department - Prof S S Chib. Prof Sharma also appointed Prof M N Koul as new Head of the Department, that had been in news for the past some time due to alleged harassment of students at the hands of Mr Chib. The name of Mr Koul had been recommended on the basis of his past experience. Prof Chib had been charged with exploiting and victimising the Post - Graduate students for clearance of their reports. The students had also alleged that the HOD had been demanding ransom from them for approval of the project reports. The students had been boycotting their classes. A delegation of the students also met the Vice Chancellor and apprised him of the deploring state of affairs in the Department. The delegations had voiced reservations over the working of Prof Chib. "Even teachers of Geography Department also tacitly endorsed charges against Mr Chib", said one of them on condition of anonymity. On December 20, Vice Chancellor, Prof R R Sharma had directed Prof Zahoor-ud-Din, Registrar to conduct an inquiry into the entire affair and report back within the shortest possible time. Prof Zahoor-ud-Din submitted his report the very next day. Ten students of the Department had submitted affidavits enlisting complaints against the HOD. They had alleged that Prof Chib was using his official position to victimise them. Based on the report, the Vice Chancellor after deliberations with officials took the decision to remove Prof Chib. Lashkar 'launching
commander' held SRINAGAR, Dec 29: Even as police today recovered the dead body of one more militant, who had escaped with critical injuries from the security force's operation at Nanil Anantnag on Saturday last, militants fired pistol shots on an employees of Border Roads Organisation at Amirakadal in the capital city. Unidentified gunmen have kidnapped and eliminated one more released militant in Kokernag area. In other militancy-related incidents across Kashmir valley since last evening, one girl got injured in a nocturnal shoot-out at Hajan while as militants attacked a BSF patrol in close vicinity of Sopore town. Police intelligence reports today claimed that during last night, militants fired towards the residential house of MLA Sonawari and the prominant counter-insurgent Kukka Parray at Hajan and his guard personnel returned the fire. In the exchange of fire, one girl, namely Ruhi daughter of Farooq Ahmed of Hajan got injured who rushed to the capital city and admitted at SMHS Hospital. Similar CID reports, which figured in today's bulletin of J&K Police Headquarters, said that during the search operation an encounter ensued between militants and security forces at Gadol village of Kokernag which was stated to be "going on." After thorough investigation EXCELSIOR, however, found that there was neither any encounter at Gadol nor had any militants fired upon the residence of MLA Sonawari Kukka Parray. SP Ganderbal Jagjit Kumar said that militants had fired a few shots at Hajan far away from Kukka Parray's house, in which the girl, namely Ruhi, had sustained injury. He claimed that there was neither any firing on the MLA's house nor had his guards returned any fire. Mr Parray, whose house had earlier been attacked by militants on December 14 last, was reportedly somewhere in Jammu or Delhi. Highly responsible official sources in south Kashmir denied that there was any encounter at Gadol or Nusu near Qazigund. These sources said that security forces had conducted a cordon-and-search operation at Gadol which concluded peacefully, without any shoot-out. Yet another police "intelligence" report said that militants had shot dead a civilian in Khiram area of Anantnag district whose dead body had been recovered today. EXCELSIOR sources, however, said that it was the dead body of a Kashmiri militant of Harkat-ul-Mujahideen which had been recovered at a place between Nanil and Khiram. The militant had escaped with critical injuries after three of his associates got killed in an encounter with security forces and SOG Anantnag at Nanil (Bijbehara) on Saturday last. With this, a total of four Harkat-ul-Mujahideen militants---including Saddam Hussain of Afghanistan and Raheel Abbasi of Pakistan -- have got killed in the Nanil operation. Official sources said that police today recovered the dead body of a released militant who had been kidnapped and later shot dead by unidentified gunmen during last night in Kokernag area of Anantnag district. His identity was being ascertained. At 1400 hours today, a militant appeared at Kokerbazar near Gurdwara in Amirakadal and fired a couple of pistol shots on an official of Border Roads Organisation. He sustained injuries. His colleagues rushed to the spot and took him to Military Hospital. He was identified as GN Roy of 32 Bn GREF. Eyewitnesses said that he was busy in shopping, wearing his uniform but unarmed, when a militant spotted him and fired upon him pistol shots. Last evening, militants hurled a handgrenade and also fired some AK-56 shots on a vehicle of BSF 21 Bn at Lalad, between Sangrama and Sopore. Troops retaliated and there was no damage from either side. Minor damage was caused to the vehicle. Militants also hurled a grenade towards a security forces picket at Heller, Arhama, in Anantnag district which missed the intended target and exploded on road without causing any damage. Police today conducted search of the area at Soibug in Budgam district where militants had attacked a Police Division builidng last evening. Official sources said that one disposable rocket was recovered which the militants had failed to fire. As already reported, militants hurled six rifle grenades and fired volleys of automatic fire continued for about one hour. Security forces conducted a search operation at Rangat Gali in Kupwara district and recovered a large quantity of arms and ammunition including one 107-mm rocket launcher, two 60-mm mortars, three RPG launchers, one UMG, forty 60-mm mortar bombs, 76 RPG rockets, 18 handgrenades, 20 rifle grenades, 24 remote control devices and over 4200 rounds of ammunition. Security forces apprehended a Hizbul Mujahideen militant Ghulam Mohd Bhat at Aglar, Goshbug and recovered from him 273 electronic detonators and 5 radio sets. Meanwhile, SOG Srinagar claimed to have apprehended Farooq Ahmed Wani son of Ghulam Mohd Wani resident of Gondipora, Beerwah, who was described as the "launching commander" of Laskkar-e-Toiba. Sources said that Farooq alias Abu Jabar was operating from Azad Basti, Natipora. SOG Srinagar also claimed to have apprehended a "harbourer" of the same militant outfit who was identified as Mohd Abdullah Wani alias Chacha son of Mohd Ismayeel Wani of Gulbarga Colony, Haiderpora Byepass. One loaded AK-56 rifle was claimed recovered from Farooq Ahmed Wani. Joginder’s book
released NEW DELHI, Dec 29 : Controversial former CBI Director Joginder Singh today talked about the heady days when he led the country’s premier investigating agency saying there was consistent pressure on him while probing the multi-crore fodder scam before he was given the marching orders. At every step there were invisible pressures. There was no insulation,he said at a function that marked the release of his book here today. In the book, Singh refers to various cases involving top political person-alities like Laloo Prasad Yadav, Jayalalitha, former Prime Minister P V Narasimha Rao and Rajiv Gandhi assassination case. He also talks about pressures on him in the fodder scam case to bail out Laloo Prasad Yadav and to implicate AIADMK chief Jayalalitha in several cases. Singh said he was feeling suffocated while heading the CBI as we were dependent on smiles and frowns of the powers that be. He claimed that he did not succumb to the pressures and asked for a written order (from Government) with regard to the course of action in the fodder scam case. Singh in his book has accused former Prime Minister I K Gujral of having pressurised him at a meeting on June 18, last year to give instruction for not arresting Laloo Prasad. "I said I will not do that unless the Government gives me the order in writing," he said. Apparently referring to CBI’s failure in getting charges framed in the Jain-Hawala case, Singh said "lack of evidence does not mean a case is not there." Singh said "the rampant corruption in the country is generating huge black money as a substantial portion of about Rs ten lakh crore allocated for developmental programmes annually was being misappropriated". He said he had planned to write a book on his experience as CBI Director from the day he took charge but was not able to deal with all the important cases in the book and might bring out its second part. Releasing the book, Defence Minister George Fernandes suggested setting up of an Ethics Committee for Lok Sabha on the line of Rajya Sabha which would not only examine complaints against public servants and MPs, but also their conduct. The Ethics Committee should be empowered to initiate suo motu action in corruption matters, he said adding such a body could act as an effective mechanism to curb corruption. To a query about the Bofors probe, Fernandes denied there was any attempt to suppress the investigation. At no point of time the Government has given an impression that the probe was being suppressed, he said.(PTI) Farooq arriving
today NEW DELHI, Dec 29: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah is arriving here from London tomorrow. Official sources said that Dr Abdullah will be in the Union Capital tomorrow as per his original schedule. NEW DELHI, Dec 29: The year 1999 will not come immediately at the stroke of midnight on December 31. The new year will have to wait for one more second. The clocks all over the world are to be slowed down simultaneously by one second to accommodate this extra second which arises due to a difference between the international time standard and the traditional astronomical time based on earth’s rotation Just before the clock ticks away into the final year of this millennium it will read 23H : 59M : 59S. After one second the reading will be 23 : 59 : 60 and yet after another second it will be 00 : 00 : 00 of 1999, P Banerjee, a senior scientist from the time and frequency division at National Physical Laboratory (NPL), here told. This adjustment, known as ‘leap second’, was necessary to carry out high-precision scientific studies like astronomical and geological obser-vations correctly, he said. In fact a specially designed software has been incorporated into NPL’s cesium atomic clock for carrying out the correction measures as NPL bears the responsibility of maintaining the Indian Standard Time (IST). (PTI) Militant nabbed with 2
grenades in Kishtwar town JAMMU, Dec 29: Police today apprehended a Pakistan-trained militant of Hizbul Mujahideen outfit from Masjid Bazar in Kishtwar tehsil of Doda district. The militant has been identified as Sajjad Hussain alias Hukal, a resident of village Star Wagon in Marwah. Two hand grenades were recovered from his possession. A police spokesman said the militant had sneaked into Masjid Bazar to trigger explosion in the crowded area with grenades. However, he was captured by the police before he could strike. The militant was immediately whisked away to a police station for sustained interrogation. Some disclosures were expected during his interrogation, the spokesman said. Joy ride ends in disaster; 16 killed AURANGABAD, Dec 29 : A joy ride ended in disaster when sixteen people, including eight school girls and a teacher, were killed on the spot and 27 injured, when a bus carrying them to a picnic, collided with a dumper near Bidkin village, 28 Kms from here, this morning, police said. The victims also included six labourers who were travelling in the dumper. The condition of three students — Shubhangi Subhash Shendre, Sujata Shinde and Shilpa Kesarkar— and a school peon Ravikant Taware, was stated to be serious. The other injured, including 16 others, were discharged after first-aid. According to the district Superintendent of Police, Premkrishna Jain, 92 tenth-standard students and ten teachers of Sahyadri Vidya Mandir at Bhandup in Northeast Mumbai, were proceeding to Aurangabad in two private buses, when the dumper dashed against one of the buses and overturned. The deceased students were identified as Seema Vasant Desai (15), Sapna Vasant Choughule (16), Ujwala Ashok Gawde (16) Archana Beerbhavane (15) Sarika Sudhakar Rasam (17), Praveena Tanaji Tamboli (15), Alka Pandurang Wagh (15) Pinky Manohar Mhatre (16). The teacher was identified as Chitra Vinayak Tamhane. Meanwhile, the Additional Collector Capt. Ramesh Mahajan has announced an assistance of Rs 10,000 each to the next of kin of six labourers who died in the accident. (PTI) CVC promises to eliminate corruption NEW DELHI, Dec 29 : Corruption by public servants will not be tolerated at any rate and every effort will be made to bring it to zero level, Chief Vigilance Commissioner (CVC) N Vittal said here today. There will be no tolerance of corruption related crimes. No loot of public money will be allowed. I will see that it is brought to zero level, He said at a function to release former CBI Director Joginder Singh’s book, 'Inside CBI'. Asked if he would initiate action regarding the alleged pressure by a former Prime Minister and some former Union Ministers on Singh in cases pertaining to fodder scam and former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalitha, the CVC Chief said I have not read the book. It is not clear. I don’t know which Prime Minister or Ministers Singh is referring to. Appreciating the effort made by Singh, Vittal said the book would give direction to initiate discussion on a serious issue like corruption. Referring to delay in granting sanction by the Government for prosecution of public servants facing corruption charges, Vittal said time limit would be fixed in this regard by CVC. He said the limit will be 60 days for those appointed by the President and 30 days for other public servants. He said since Supreme Court had conclusively laid down in JMM case that MPs and MLAs are public servants, it should be made mandatory for them to declare their assets annually This will work as a check on the Neta-Babu-Lala syndrome, He said apparently referring to the nexus between politicians, bureaucrats and businessmen.(PTI) |