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| Pilot flays
Advani for suggestion on special laws JALANDHAR, Nov 12: Union Home Minister L K
Advani’s suggestion that states should enact special
laws to deal with terrorism was an attempt to hide the
Vajpayee Government’s failure........more GORALHPUR,
Nov 12: The Japan
Government in collaboration with the Cultural Department
of the Uttar Pradesh Government would set up an
Indo-Japan.....more AMRITSAR,
Nov 12: Sikhs in
60 middle East countries would now be able to listen to
"Gurbani Kirtan" (hymns) from sanctum.........more HYDERABAD,
Nov 12: The World
Wildlife Fund (WWF), an international voluntary
organisation, has sought an inquiry by a Non-Government
Organisation (NGO) into the controversial dinner........more SARNATH
(U P), Nov 12:
"A Sarkari (official) affair a good idea but bad
execution an attempt to saffronise
Buddhism"—brickbats flew faster .........more INDORE,
Nov 12: Madhya
Pradesh Chief Minister Digvijay Singh says a second
coming of the Congress Government in the state after
November 25 Assembly elections.......more NEW DELHI, Nov 12: In a landmark direction, Delhi High Court today ordered the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) to pay a compensation of Rs two lakh.......more |
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PM launches PIO card scheme to woo NEW DELHI, Nov 12: Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee today launched Persons of India Origin (PIO) card scheme........more EC directs 4 states NEW DELHI, Nov 12: Election Commission today directed all the four states going to polls this month to seal their borders with neighbouring states and summoned Delhi Police Chief V N Singh.......more Hong Kong Don, 4 others BEIJING,
Nov 12: A Chinese
court today sentenced to death a notorious Hong Kong
underworld don and four of his accomplices and sent 29
others.......more CALCUTTA,
Nov 12: For the
first time, this year’s draft national health policy
will give age-old Indian System of Medicine and
Homeopathy its pride of place through a series of
programmes promoting the country’s rich heritage of
using medicinal plants to cure ailments..........more CHENNAI,
Nov 12: Rajmohan
Gandhi, grandson of Mahatma Gandhi today described as
‘wrong and misleading’ reports that he
supported Pakistan’s stand on Kashmir...........more NEW DELHI, Nov 12: The present-day Indian peninsula is a mosaic of four ancient blocks of land that were sutured and welded together millions of years ago, according to recent research findings.........more |
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Pilot flays Advani for suggestion on special laws JALANDHAR, Nov 12: Union Home Minister L K Advani’s suggestion that states should enact special laws to deal with terrorism was an attempt to hide the Vajpayee Government’s failure to curb anti-national forces, Congress leader Rajesh Pilot said here today. If the Government had the will, legislation already available was enough to enforce the rule of law and check terrorism, but the BJP had presented "a model of complete non-governance," Pilot told reporters here Advani had yesterday said in Lucknow that while the Centre was examining how police could be given more powers to deal with terrorism, the states too should enact special laws for effectively tackling the menace. The Congress Working Committee (CWC) member, who was here to campaign for party candidate Kanwaljit Singh Lali for the Adampur Assembly by-poll, said the BJP-led coalition had failed on both domestic nd foreign fronts due to ham-handed policies and "dual face of the main ruling party." (PTI) |
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GORALHPUR, Nov 12: The Japan Government in collaboration with the Cultural Department of the Uttar Pradesh Government would set up an Indo-Japan Cultural Centre-cum Mini Museum and Children’s Park at Kushinagar. Talking to newsmen here yesterday, chief of India operation, Mitsuo Yasadu said the project would be completed in two phases in two years and would cost about Rs 3 crore. The Japanese would work in the museum jointly with the Cultural Department of the State Government for three years and then hand it over to the State Government. The State Government has provided land for the construction of the museum and children’s park free of cost while other expenses would be borne by the Japanese Government. The construction of building would be done under the supervision of Japanese experts. Mr Yasada stressed the need for maintaining cleanliness at tourist places and improvement of roads to boost tourism. He said the Japanese had great regard for India due to its cultural heritage. Every Japanese wanted to visit Kushinagar at least once in life. They feel indebted to India for Buddhism, he added. (UNI) Gurbani Kirtan telecast on Punjabi channel begins AMRITSAR, Nov 12: Sikhs in 60 middle East countries would now be able to listen to "Gurbani Kirtan" (hymns) from sanctum sanctorum of the Golden Temple with formal inauguration of the "Punjabi World" channel here today. The telecast of the "Shabad Kirtan" (hymns) from the Temple started on experimental basis from November one, Punjab day. The idea is to start a telecast via satellite of Kirtan programme to coincide with he celebration of the 3000th birth anniversary of Khalsa in April next year, SGPC president G S Tohra said inaugurating the programme from the Temple complex. Tohra said the SGPC had signed another agreement with the Punjabi world channel to interlink its programme with Internet so that the telecast could not only cover the entire globe at three convenient timings suitable to viewers in the Indian subcontinent, the UK and Europe and the North American countries of Canada and the USA in the next one year but also to telecast it live directly from the Temple shortly. As the sanction for setting up an independent channel might take some time the committee in pursuance of the aims and objective of the project signed a six-year-agreement with the Punjabi World channel. Speaking on the occasion, Punjabi World channel chairman Kishore Motiana said besides the "Gurbani Kirtan" the channel would project programmes on Sikh religion, traditions and heritage as well as social-cum-developmental reforms, Sikh history and Punjabi culture. Motiana said the Punjabi world channel had been given a status of official channel to telecast live coverage of celebration of 300th anniversary of birth of Khalsa from Anandpur Sahib on April 14, 1999. (PTI) WWF for inquiry by NGO into dinner row HYDERABAD, Nov 12: The World Wildlife Fund (WWF), an international voluntary organisation, has sought an inquiry by a Non-Government Organisation (NGO) into the controversial dinner hosted recently in Khammam district of Andrha Pradesh where the meat of endangered species was allegedly served. WWF (India) Director Kamal Naidu in a letter to the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, said a resolution expressing "deep anguish" at the incident was adopted yesterday in an emergency meeting of the organisation. The resolution asked for a high level inquiry by NGOs to examine the act of charges, WWF spokesman said. It also recommended punitive action against those found guilty, he said, adding the WWF Director had asked officials to keep it informed about the developments in the dinner controversy. NTR-TDP President Lakshmi Parvathi and State Congress leaders had reiterated their demand of taking stern action against those involved in the controversy and urged the Chief Minister to drop all the ministers who attended the feast. Meanwhile, K V Satyanarayana, who hosted the dinner surrendered before forest officials yesterday. He was produced before a magistrate who remanded him to police custody, official sources said. (PTI) |
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| Buddha Mahotsav draws more brickbats than
bouquets SARNATH (U P), Nov 12: "A Sarkari (official) affair a good idea but bad execution an attempt to saffronise Buddhism"—brickbats flew faster than bouquets at the first Buddha Mahotsav organised with great fanfare recently at important buddhist sites in the country. Launched as a pathbreaking programme by the Union Tourism Ministry to put the "Buddhist circuit" in UP and Bihar on the world tourism map, the 16-day festival from October 24 to November 8 left many wondering if this mix of religion and tourism will work. While local Buddhist leaders voiced scepticism about the effects such extravaganzas would have on the quiet, religious environs of this suburb of Varanasi and other similar places, travel agents were upbeat about the idea and its potential for changing the face of tourism in the country. Union Tourism Minister M L Khurana, credited with pushing through the scheme with much enthusiasm, was definite that Buddhist sites like Rajgir, Sarnath, Bodhgaya, Kushinagar and Kaushambi could be developed into major tourist sites. "If the Vatican and the Mecca can draw millions of visitors from all over the world every year, why should not we develop our Buddhist sites and attract tourists from the predominantly Buddhist South-East Asian countries," Mr Khurana told UNI during the festival celebrations here. That the Tourism Ministry was on the right track was echoed by Mr Gerard Bogrand, a French tour operator who was in Sarnath to film the proceedings for showing to potential visitors back home. "Leave alone the South-East Asian states, even a country like France has some two to three million people involved in Buddhist seeking. A large number of them would be potential visitors to India because of their interest in Buddism," the Paris-based operator said. However, while the Tourism Ministry’s idea was good in principle, its execution was found wanting, Mr Bogrand said. "Logistics was the main problem here. From food to toilets to communication facilities, not much care seemed to have gone into the ground-level preparations. It would be better if the Government involves some tourism professionals in such ventures," he added. The official’s apathy offended some Buddhist invitees from overseas also. Monks from Myanmar following the Theravada sect found that no arrangements had been made for them to have their food before noon, as is prescribed for them. "There are many followers of the Thervada sect in India also. Thus, the officials should have known about our requirements. But, they seemed to be busier in looking after the various ministers attending the function than the delegates that they had invited," said U Maung Shwe, the leader of the delegation from Myanmar. That the criticism of the festival being a largely "Sarkari Affair" had struck home was reflected by Uttar Pradesh Tourism Minister Kalraj Mishra who told UNI that from next year, efforts would be made to make it a "public function". Also, while Rs one crore had been spent on developing the Sarnath-Gaya sector for the event this year, the allocation for next year would be increased, he added. "This time, it was an entirely official effort. Also, the preparations were done in a hurry and not much time was left to publicise the festival. From next year onwards, it would not remain only a Government effort but public participation would be invited. Details of such participation would be worked out over the year," Mr Mishra said. The Japanese, who have been pushing the Indian Government for developing Buddhist sites and have also funded some projects, also felt that the infrastructure needed upgrading. "Facilities like hotels and roads need improvement," a Japanese monk said. While foreign monks were largely supportive of the festival, the local ones voiced doubts about the Government’s new-found interest in Buddhism. Monk Dharamveera, convenor of the guest cell for the festival, alleged that panelists at the international seminar on ‘World Unity in Bauddha’s Tri-Ratna’, the highlight of the festival here, were "changed overnight to accommodate speakers with VHP leanings". Mr Kalraj Mishra, however, denied any such manipulation and said there was no attempt by the BJP to take political mileage out of the festival. A section of the local monks was also worried that such "jamboorees’ would end up spoiling the religious atmosphere at places like Sarnath. "Buddhism is about quiet contemplation and mindfulness. This should not be destroyed in the process of earning a few dollars more," said monk Tenzin Rigzin, teacher at the Central Institute of Higher Tibetan Studies here. Thus, as the Government goes ahead with its plans to make the Bauddha Mahotsav an annual affair and put India’s Buddhist sites on the world tourism map, it would do well to remember the principle of the "middle path" enunciated by the great teacher himself. (UNI) |
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If voted back to power
INDORE, Nov 12: Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Digvijay Singh says a second coming of the Congress Government in the state after November 25 Assembly elections will ensure a "never before" empowerment of the masses. Talking to UNI during his election trip to Dhar and Jhabua districts, Mr Singh said if voted back to power, he would give more rights to the common people to rid them of the burden of red-tapism. Claiming that the work done by the Congress Government had revitalised the state, which otherwise would be known as "backward", Mr Singh said several new opportunities and path-breaking openings in the fields of education, healthcare, industry and agriculture were made during his rule. Responding to a query about what were the criteria for judging the performance of his five-year tenure, Mr Singh said, "I can only say that whatever work I have done has been in the interest of the people of the state and all the decisions taken during the last five years are bound to have long-term benefits." Over the allegation of leader of the opposition in the Vidhan Sabha Vikram Varma that the ruling Congress had taken several controversial decisions by empowering the Cabinet sub-committees with the rights of the Cabinet, Mr Singh said the provision to constitute such sub-committees fell under the ambit of the Government rules. The previous BJP Government in the state had itself constituted such committees, he said. On Mr Varma’s statement that if the BJP came to power, it would review all decisions taken by the Cabinet sub-committees, including privatisation of power projects, Deobhog diamond mining and handing over of the Babai agricultural farm to the private sector, the Chief Minister quipped, "the BJP would be deprived from making any such reviews because the Congress is once again going to form a Government in the state." (UNI) |
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MCD student case NEW DELHI, Nov 12: In a landmark direction, Delhi High Court today ordered the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) to pay a compensation of Rs two lakh to the parents of an MCD school student who was crushed to death by an auto rikshaw last year while crossing the road for drinking water as the school did not have any. While holding the civic body responsible of concealing certain facts regarding availability of drinking water in the school, the High Court in its order noted that the "statements made by MCD in its affidavit and the report of the inquiry commission, which probed the incident, were contrary." A Division Bench comprising Justice Anil Dev Singh and Justice Mukul Mudgal directed the MCD to make the payment to the parents of the seven-year-old child, Anshu Sharma, within four weeks and fixed the matter for further hearing on November 30. The bench held that since the death had occurred due to the negligence on part of the school authorities, it was necessary that adequate compensation was paid in the case. "The school authorities owed a duty to provide adequate security to children so that any untoward incident could be avoided. The duty has not been performed by the authorities and for this reason adequate compensation must be awarded in favour of the parents," the judges observed. They ordered, "having regard to the facts and circumstances of the case as revealed from the report of the inquiry commission, we consider that a sum of Rs two lakh be paid by MCD to the parents." Anshu was crushed by an auto rikshaw on December 23 last year during school hours while crossing the road to get some drinking water as the MCD school had no water facility. The order, passed after taking note of the report of the inquiry commission which probed the incident, further said that the parents would be free, if they so wish, to take legal action against the MCD. The order came on a public interest petition filed by All India Lawyers Union (AILU) through its counsel Ashok Aggarwal seeking fixation of responsibility for the death of the child and payment of adequate compensation to the parents. The order noted that the counter affidavit of the MCD stated that there was no shortage of drinking water in the school and the question of the child crossing the road to drink water does not arise and said "this is contrary to the notings of the commission in its report of January 29 this year based on the preliminary inquiry conducted by the Additional Director Vigilance." According to the notings, the incident took place as adequate water was not available in the school, adding that though the process of installing water facility in the school was started in June, 1997, no tangible progress was made till December last year —the month when the incident took place. It was only after the death of the child that two handpumps were installed in the school, the commission report had revealed. The report had further stated that had there been water in the school, the incident could have been averted. "Therefore, is clear that statements made in the affidavit was meant to conceal the real reason leading to the incident and hence we are constrained to observe that the affidavit filed by Mr P C Arora, deputy education officer of MCD, does not disclose the true state of affairs and prima facie meant to conceal the true reason," the judges said. "It is not disputed that the child was allowed to go out of the school and this was because the child felt thirsty. In the circumstances, we are of the opinion that the incident took place because of the failure of the authority to provide water within the school premises and due to this they are liable to pay compensation to the parents," the order concluded. On the last date of hearing on October 23, the High Court had expressed its serious anguish over the manner in which the schools of MCD were being run and the insensitivity of principals and education department officials about the security of the children. The bench was also irked by the ‘vague’ reply of Mr Atar Singh, the principal of a MCD school whose child was crushed by an auto while crossing the road to get some drinking water, about the action taken in the case and observed, "now we know how the schools are run." To the question whether any action was taken against the gateman of the school or any other staff, the principal had stated that the statement of Chaukidar was recorded. When the counsel for mcd tried to intervene and reply to the court’s querries, Justice Singh, directing him not to interfere when the principal was being questioned, said "don’t try to hide the facts. We can imagine the situation in MCD schools." To the question of the court whether there was any drinking water in the school, the principal had in his deposition replied in negative. The judges followed it up by asking whether he wrote to any officials of the education department about the problem. The principal said ‘yes’ but had failed to susbtantiate. (UNI) |
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