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After
Mulayam, Jaya also says no to Cong Govt NEW DELHI, April 24: Political deadlock at the Centre persisted today with no breakthrough by Congress in its efforts to form a government even as West Bengal Chief Minister Jyoti Basu was again being mentioned as a possible compromise candidate for heading a non-BJP Ministry. To complicate matters further late tonight, AIADMK chief Jayalalitha said that a Third Front coalition supported by Congress from outside appeared to be the only workable alternative and there was a broad agreement among leaders of opposition parties that Basu was the best choice for heading it. A week after bringing down the Vajpayee government the stand-off among the opposition parties continued with the Samajwadi Party maintaining that there was no change in its stand of opposing both Congress and BJP, although earlier in the day there were hints that it was opposed less vehemently to the Congress. As pressure mounted on President K R Narayanan to resolve the political crisis, Congress president Sonia Gandhi engaged in hectic consultation with her senior party colleagues and MPs to find their views on the way the party should proceed. Party sources said later most of the MPs favoured a minority Congress government and efforts to avoid a mid-term poll. As Congress grappled with the task of garnering the requisite support, CPI-M said the process of helping the party to get the required numbers was on. However, in the event of Congress failing in its efforts the President was likely to call CPI-M as the third largest party and then other options could be considered. Asked about a media report that he could become a consensus candidate for the post of Prime Minister, Jyoti Basu, who had earlier rejected the suggestion, said the CPI-M politburo could decide the issue. However, CPI-M leader Harkishan Singh Surjeet said the question of Basu becoming the Prime Minister did not arise at present. CPI-M leader Somnath Chatterjee said in the event of Congress efforts to provide a government failing, the President was likely to call the CPI-M as the third largest party in the Lok Sabha and then other questions could be considered. Jayalalitha, who called on the President twice during the day and had a meeting with Basu, said the only workable alternative seems to be that of a coalition of the Third Front with Congress supporting from outside. She told reporters after a 45-minute meeting with Basu that opposition leaders had broadly agreed that in the event of Congress unable to lead a coalition or form a government on its own the best person for the top job was the veteran Marxist leader. Faced with the unrelenting stand of the Samajwadi Party (SP) and an apparent shift in Jayalalitha’s stance, Congress indicated it might consider the option of a coalition government. AICC general secretary Oscar Fernandes, who gave the indication to reporters after a meeting with Gandhi, however, declined to specify whether it would be Congress-led coalition or a Third Front led one with Congress supporting from outside. RJD president Laloo Prasad Yadav, whose party is a partner of SP in the Rashtriya Loktantrik Morcha (RLM), said he was very hopeful of the latter changing its anti-Congress stance. I am very hopeful. Just wait and see as talks are progressing in the right direction, Yadav said. A delegation of BJP and its allies led by External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh called on the President and later told reporters that it had been assured that the ongoing process of consultations with different parties would be completed shortly and BJP and allies were part of the process. Any alternative government must have the support of more than 270 MPs, Jaswant Singh told reporters. With the CPI-M politburo meeting here tomorrow former Prime Minister I K Gujral met Basu to persuade him to takeover the Prime Ministership. "I have told him that he should shoulder the responsibility," Gujral said. Faced with the refusal of the Samajwadi Party and the AIADMK to support a minority Government headed by Sonia Gandhi, Congress tonight indicated that it might consider the option of a coalition. The AICC general secretary, Oscar Fernandes, who gave the indication to reporters after a meeting with Gandhi, however, declined to specify whether he had a Congress-led coalition or a Third Front-led coalition with Congress supporting from outside. Fernandes, who is in charge of the Congress Working Committee, said the party has already stated that there are two options, one Congress Minority Government supported by others from outside and second being a coalition. If the first option fails, we might consider the second option as we need to keep in mind the changing situation, He said quickly adding that a clear picture will emerge only after Gandhi had consultations with Congress working committee members and other Congress MPs. However, Fernandes said the Party, at present, is of the view that the new alternative Government should be a Congress minority Government supported from outside by all other secular parties. During the day at least 180 Congress MPs, both from Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, met Sonia Gandhi and expressed their views. A similar indication was given by former Party president Sitaram Kesri. Kesri who met Gandhi along with other senior party leaders told reporters that we have to work according to the changing circumstances. I am sure Sonia will make all efforts to avoid mid-term polls. There was also an informal meeting of senior Congress leaders with Sonia Gandhi tonight, attended among others by Kesri, Arjun Singh, M L Fotedar, Tariq Anwar, Madhavrao Scindia, M S Solanki, Ghulam Nabi Azad and Ashok Gehlot. Party sources said that during their meetings with Gandhi several party MPs emphasised that the leadership should make all out efforts to avert mid-term polls and to ensure installation of a minority Congress Government. While some of them said that the party should explore all options to ensure a non-BJP Government at the centre, some others said the party should not agree to a third Front-led coalition with outside support from the party. These MPs felt that elections appeared to be the best option under the present circumstances. The question of Congress forming a minority government was not possible as it did not have the requisite numbers, Jayalalitha said. The AIADMK supremo said a Congress-led coalition was also ruled out as parties like Samajwadi Party, BSP, Forward Bloc, RSP and former Prime Minister Chandrashekhar have some objections. The Third Front coalition appeared to be the only workable alternative after taking into account the ground scenario, she said, adding now it is up to Congress president Sonia Gandhi to decide. During the day Jayalalitha had a hectic schedule of engagements as she met a number of opposition leaders including Sonia Gandhi, Mulayam Singh Yadav, Basu besides meeting the President twice. Asked about differences within the Third Front in the event of forming an alternative government, Jayalalitha said all these are not relevant. There appears only one possible alternative, that is a Third Front coalition with Congress supporting from outside. To a question on objections from CPI-M itself on Basu’s candidature, she said we have made our stand clear and CPI-M will have to take a decision. It is also for the Congress to decide whether to support Basu or not. The AIADMK supremo refused to divulge what transpired at her meetings with various leaders. Asked whether Mr Basu would agree to head the government, she said "it is upto CPI (M) to decide if they can spare Mr Basu and for Mrs Sonia Gandhi to decide whether to support him." During her 40-minute meeting with Mr Basu, she was accompanied by party colleagues S R Muthiah and Thambi Durai. The West Bengal Chief Minister was accompanied by his cabinet colleague Subash Chakraborty. Meanwhile, CPI(M) is likely to explore the possibility of forming a non-Congress coalition headed by West Bengal Chief Minister Jyoti Basu when its politburo meets tomorrow as chances of a Congress led Government appeared bleak in view of the opposition from Samajwadi Party and AIADMK. The Party, which has so far maintained that it will give outside support to a secular Government preferably led by the Congress, was of the view that in the event of Congress failing, the President was likely to call it as the third largest party. It would then have to consider other options. Earlier in the day, after an informal meeting of some of the politburo members, Basu when asked if he might head the new Government told reporters politburo will decide. During the United Front days the politburo had vetoed a proposal for his heading a coalition Government and Basu had subsequently described it as a historic blunder. Basu had earlier rejected the suggestion for his holding the top job in the current political situation. But, as the scenario changed, party sources said it was not entirely ruling out a Government headed by Jyoti Basu, who has been acceptable to most secular Parties. CPI-M Parliamentary Party leader Somnath Chatterjee said Congress had to make its stand clear before other possibilities could be examined. We have given letters of support to Congress. As of now we are committed to it. However, Chatterjee said, CPI-M will explore the option of a third alternative to avoid mid-term elections and to keep BJP out. Later, in the day AIADMK chief Jayalalitha said a Third Front Government looked like the only option And expressed her willingness to support it. Both Basu and party general secretary Harkishan Singh Surjeet stuck to their preference for Congress taking the lead in Government formation. We are trying to get the numbers (for Congress), they said. Samajwadi Party leader Mulayam Singh Yadav, who has refused to support a Congress-led government, had a meeting with Surjeet, Party sources said.(Agencies) |
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Talks
favoured with separatist leaders Excelsior Correspondent SRINAGAR, Apr 24: Even as the legislators, ministers and leaders of the ruling party are gunning for the rebelious Lok Sabha member Professor Saif-ud-din Soz for his defying the party whip of voting for the BJP-led government at the Centre, National Conference (NC) ally in the state Assembly Mohammad Yusuf Tarigami and his CPI (M) party have hailed Mr Soz’s initiative and described the BJP as "patently anti-Kashmiri". While addressing a rally of Democratic Youth Federation of Kashmir (DYFK) at Kulgam in south Kashmir today, MLA Kulgam and the CPI(M) state secretary Mohammad Yusuf Tarigami said that Soz deserved commendation for his "bold step" of disfavouring the BJP on occasion of testing the confidence motion in the Parliament. Tarigami, who was the NC-sponsored candidate from Kulgam in the October 1996 Assembly elections, stressed on the need for a strong Opposition to the NC and proposed that men like Saif-ud-din Soz, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, Sheikh Abdur Rehman and Muzzaffar Hussain Beg could fulfil that responsibility. As for the BJP, Tarigami alleged that the party was religiously and patently anti-Kashmiri and it had been duping the Kashmiris under the banners of Praja Parishad, Jan Sangh and BJP for the last half century. He contended that by forging an alliance with BJP at the Centre, Dr Farooq Abdullah and his NC had committed a Himlayan blunder. Tarigami claimed that NC government had failed on all fronts as there was flagrant corruption in the administration and the counter-insurgent Special Task Force (STF) had been nick-named as "Taasrai Force" for beating and torturing every Kashmiri. He alleged that "rate" of Rs 60,000 had been fixed for every Class 4th vacancy in the state. The CPM leader favoured the suggestion of talks with the separatist political leaders like Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Shabir Shah and Yasin Malik with the hope that the same could definitely yield positive results. Earlier, Mohammad Saleem, an MP from West Bengal, alleged that Dr Abdullah had set up friendship with the BJP just for promoting the political career of his son. He hailed Soz for going against the party whip and the BJP government. DYFK president Mohammad Ayub and general secretary of Kisan Tehreek Ghulam Nabi Malik also addressed the gathering. Meanwhile, senior Congress leader and the Lok Sabha member from south Kashmir Mufti Mohammad Sayeed also launched a campaign today with organising several political rallies in Anantnag district. Vast movement of Congress and CPM leaders, with dozens of flag-decorated vehicles, has set up the scene of an electoral campaign in south Kashmir, though the ruling NC leaders and ministers still continu |
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Militant killed in
Bandipore Excelsior Correspondent SRINAGAR, Apr 24: Even as militants today made yet another attempt to blow up the Uri-Wagoora power transmission line at Rawalpora, bomb disposal squad of Jammu & Kashmir Police swung into action and deflated the highly dangerous plan, thus averting what could have come as a major power crisis. In other militancy-related incidents across Kashmir valley since last evening, one militant was reported killed in Bandipore while as militants fired upon the residence of a mainstream political activist at Shopian in south Kashmir. It was at 1015 hours in the forenoon today that somebody spotted the explosive pouches tied to an electric tower at Rawalpora in the capital city outskirts. As the message reached the Police Control Room, the Bomb Disposal Squad (BDS) rushed to the site for action. Four explosive packets were found tied to the equal number of pillars and the same were connected to a programmed time device. The detonator was programmed to go off at 1300 hours. Even as the NHPC authorities were summoned and requested to disconnect the power transmission, they objected to the suggestion saying that the unscheduled cut could cause a major power crisis in and outside the Valley. Thereafter, the BDS experts accepted the challenge, climbed the steel-fabricated pylon and defused the bomb at the risk to life. People of the area praised them for averting a major possible crisis which could have certainly disrupted the entire power transmission system in and outside the Valley. Earlier, militants made a similar attempt to disrupt the Jammu-Srinagar power transmission system by way of causing an explosion at a transmission tower near Qazigund last year. Official sources said that one militant got killed in an encounter with security forces at Budkol, Bandipore and one AK-56 rifle was recovered from the spot. Reports from Shopian said that during last night militants fired some shots towards the residential house of a mainstream political activist, namely Ghulam Nabi Gatoo, at Shopian. The guard personnel retaliated the fire and there was no damage from either side. Army claimed to have apprehended a Hizbul Mujahideen militant with 4 hand grenades from Kaloosa, Bandipore while as STF Srinagar claimed to have apprehended a Harkat militant namely Meraj-ud-din Bhat of Tengpora, Batmaloo with one loaded pistol. LADY SPO, WOMAN ATTEMPT SUICIDE Reports available from Baramulla said that a female SPO, namely Shameema daughter of Mohammad Khalil Dar of Azad Gunj, sprinkled kerosene oil on her body and lit the same. With critical burn injuries she was admitted at SMHS hospital. It could not be immediately ascertained as to what led her to taking the extreme step. Another report from Shopian said that a housewife, namely Mehmooda wife of Mohammad Ayub Ganai, consumed some poisonous substance and made an abortive attempt of suicide. She was rushed to a hospital and treated there. Reportedly, she had strained marital relations with her husband. 2 KILLED IN SHOPIAN Reports from Shopian added that a speedy vehicle of security forces knocked down two young men at Hurram Hajipora. As one of them died on spot, another succumbed to injuries at hospital, reports said. However, official sources did not confirm the incident. MASSIVE ALAM PROCESSION Devotees of Shia community took out a massive procession of Alam and Tazia from interior Kathi Darwaza in Hari Parbat on occasion of 7th Muharram this evening. Official reports said that over 45,000 people participated in the procession while mourning the tragedy of Karbala. While reciting Nowha and Marsiya, the procession was called off at Imambara Hassanabad. Reports said that no untoward incident took place. Plot to kill newly elected NC MLC foiled; 3 arrested Excelsior Correspondent POONCH, Apr 24: Rashtriya Rifles and Poonch Police today foiled a militants’ plot to eliminate newly elected MLC of National Conference Ikhlaq Khan and disturb his public meeting at Surankote when they apprehended three militants-cum-IED experts in injured condition. SSP Poonch Mr J P Singh said police raided a militants’ hideout in Surankote after getting a specific information that a group of militants was assembling an IED to disturb the first public meeting of Mr Ikhlaq Khan and eliminate him in Surankote. He said a Surankote police station party led by SHO Mr Ved Parkash Samyal with the help of Rashtriya Rifles personnel raided the militants hideout where the IED was being assembled. Militants opened firing, which was retaliated by the police and Army personnel. During the exchange of firing, the IED being manufactured by the militants was blown up causing splinter injuries to all three IED experts, who were apprehended by the joint raiding party of police and Army and shifted to a hospital for treatment. Their identity wasn’t disclosed by the police sources. However, sources said, the trio were IED experts and known supporters of the militants. After being given the first-aid, the explosive experts were shifted to a police station and subjected to interrogation. On the basis of disclosures made by them, police recovered one rocket launcher, four kgs RDX, two batteries, two switch timers and two plastic boxes. The IED experts confessed their involvement in a series of IED blasts in Surankote and surrounding areas for the last five-six months which had caused extensive damage to Government property and killed a number of civilians. They also confessed that they had been directed by the militants to plant IED in the public meeting of Ikhlaq Khan to inflict civilian casualties and eliminate the newly elected MLC. Further interrogation of the militants is on. Meanwhile, Army smashed a militants’ hideout in a forest area in south east of village Chakan in Surankote tehsil during searches conducted this afternoon. Though militants managed to escape, security forces recovered a large quantity of arms and ammunition. The seizure include one Pika machine gun, one grenade launcher, attachment AK, seven hand grenades, 40 AK ammunition, five Pika belts with 75 rounds, two IED remote boxes, eight kg explosives and some small war-like stores. Troops continued searches in the Chakan forests to eliminate the militants responsible for dumping the explosives. No success had been achieved so far. A Defence spokesman said that recoveries made from the militants’ hideout was a great setback to the foreign mercenaries. Meanwhile, the Defence spokesman said that three IED experts were arrested by the Rashtriya Rifles personnel from Surankote in injured condition and then handed over to local police. |
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Partymen cautioned
against criticism NEW DELHI, Apr 24: Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee today cautioned his partymen against drawing hasty conclusions about the way President K R Narayanan is dealing with the current situation. Intervening in a discussion on the political situation at a joint meeting of the MPs belonging to the BJP and its allies, he advised them to "wait and not have any suspicion about the President." The members expressed concern over the abnormal delay by the President in taking a decision on an alternative arrangement, saying it was not good for the country, party spokesman M Venkaiah Naidu told newspersons later. He said a three-member delegation led by External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh, which called on the President, had told Mr Narayanan that the country had plunged into political uncertainty in the past ten days. This should end at the earliest. The delegation expressed its concern that seven days after the conclusion of the debate on the trust motion in the Lok Sabha, the President had given more time to Congress chairperson Sonia Gandhi to try and forge an alternative government. The President told the delegation that the Congress list fell short of the required strength. Therefore more time was given to the Congress. The delegation comprised of DMK leader Murosoli Maran and Mr Vaiko of the MDMK, apart from Mr Singh. Mr Jaswant Singh briefed the meeting about their talks with the President. Mr Naidu said the delegation brought it to the notice of the President that chances of the Congress forming a minority government had been exhausted and other options were being explored. The delegation pointed out that the Third Front experiment had failed earlier. The experiment of small component in the government, and large component outside as in case of governments of Mr Chandra Shekhar, Mr H D Devegowda and Mr I K Gujral could not last long. The delegation also said that the entire game was motivated by politics of care taker governments to take electoral advantage and requested the President not to accept this. Any alternative must have 270 plus margin which must be viable and stable. There has to be a common platform. BJP and its allies had the mandate of the people, besides fulfilling all these conditions, Mr Naidu added. When the delegation inquired whether the BJP and its allies were part of the process of consultation, the President replied in the affirmative. Asked about the criteria for the consultations, Mr Narayanan said that once the first round of consultation was completed, accretion of strength was required for Mr Vajpayee to be recalled. Mr Naidu said the delegation also pointed out that the Left parties which were trying to form a government did not even have a quorum strength in the House. The delegation, Mr Naidu said, expressed its unhappiness over the phraseology used in the communique issued by the Rashtrapati Bhawan last night. The official communique was different from what Congress chairperson Sonia Gandhi had told newspersons after meeting the President, it pointed out. (UNI) |
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Cong not afraid of
mid-term polls From B L Kak NEW DELHI, Apr 24: The political crisis triggered by the failure of the Opposition to form an alternative Government even 8 days after the BJP-led coalition was voted out in Parliament, has acquired new dimensions with the Congress president, Ms Sonia Gandhi, categorically ruling out her support to a Congress-backed Third Front Government. "A Congress-led coalition is understandable in the changed circumstances, but we are not for a Third Front Government which will have the Congress support", Ms Sonia Gandhi said in an interview. She took high tone as she posed: "What do they think of themselves and why should the Congress, which is the second largest party in Parliament, allow itself to be influenced by the whims and fancies of a smaller political outfit" ? Her obvious reference was to the Samajwadi Party and its supremo, Mr Mulayam Singh Yadav. Ms Sonia’s statement, vehemently opposing the proposal favouring a Third Front Government "at the cost of the Congress party", came after she told her party managers, namely, Mr Arjun Singh, Mr Sharad Pawar, Mr Pranab Mukherjee and Dr Manmohan Singh on Saturday morning that she would be the "last person to beg" for support from Mr Mulayman Yadav. "Nothing doing, don’t expect me to knock at the door of a person who is encouraging anti-Congressism", she angrily told Mr Arjun Singh when he wanted her to have a one-to-one meeting with Mr Mulayam Yadav. "We should not underestimate or ignore our numerical strength in the Lok Sabha . If the small number of Samajwadi Party MPs create a situation leading to fresh parliamentary polls, we should not be afraid of facing such a situation", Ms Sonia Gandhi argued. "I have already extended my hand of friendship not only to the Samajwadi Party but also to leaders of all secular parties", Ms Sonia said and hurriedly added: "Our party cannot, and should not, be expected to concede unreasonable demands, particularly the one which wants the Congress to keep quiet and just back a Third Front Government". The Congress president criticised Mr Mulayam Yadav for adopting double standards by deciding not to support a Congress Government. Answering a question, Ms Sonia said that the better option would be to go for a mid-term election if the Samajwadi Party and a couple of other smaller parties do not support the Congress move to form a Government. Voicing her satisfaction over what she termed as "constructive and purposeful" role being played by the West Bengal Chief Minister, Mr Jyoti Basu, and the Rashtriya Janata Dal chief, Mr Laloo Prasad Yadav, Ms Sonia Gandhi said that these two leaders did not insist on a Third Front-led coalition, simply because such an arrangement "is not possible without the Congress support". Mr Sharad Pawar,too, had an interesting piece of information: In view of the Samajwadi Party’s offensive, the Congress High Command has dismissed out of hand the possibility of a Third Front-led coalition. The Congress High Command has also turned down Dr Subramaniam Swamy’s proposal which wants the Congress to support or join a Government led by the Third Front. "In the changed situation", Mr Pawar said in an interview, "it would be better to go to the polls, follow the Pachmarhi declaration and revive the organisation". The Congress leadership, understandably, has taken strong exception to the manner in which the "gang of four" – Messrs Chandra Shekhar, George Fernandes, Mulayam Singh Yadav and Ram Vilas Paswan – sabotaged the efforts to install a Congress minority Government. On finding Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), the CPI(M), the CPI and the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) interested in the emergence of the Congress as the ruling formation at the Centre, the Defence Minister, Mr George Fernandes, used his old contacts to thwart the Congress gameplan to form a minority Government. Former Prime Minister, Mr Chandra Shekhar, fired his first salvo by opposing the candidature of Ms Sonia Gandhi for the Prime Ministerial gaddi. The Samajwadi Party general secretary, Mr Amar Singh, who is a rich businessman, was used to prevent Mr Mulayam Yadav from supporting the proposal for a Congress minority Government. And Janata Dal leader, Mr Ram Vilas Paswan, lent his support to these efforts with all the zeal of his new-found affection for Mr George Fernandes. Mr Chandra Shekhar, Mr Amar Singh and Mr Fernandes worked in unison and were able to woo Mr Mulayam Yadav not to extend the support of 20 MPs to the proposed Congress alternative. Mr Jyoti Basu cannot be faulted for his anger against the Samajwadi Party chief. Mr Mulayam Yadav had assured the CPI(M) leadership that he would support a Congress alternative, but backed out of the arrangement at the last minute, leaving the Left parties and the Rashtriya Janata Dal in a state of shock. |
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4 Pak Armymen killed in Akhnoor, Nowshera Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Apr 24: Indian troops gunned down four Pakistan Army personnel in Akhnoor and Sunderbani sectors during fierce exchange of gun-battle on the border. Three Pak Armymen were gunned down in Akhnoor sector while one jawan was shot dead in Nowshera. According to official sources, Pak troops resorted to unprovoked firing on Indian positions in Akhnoor sector and fired 4430 rounds of arms and 136 rounds of heavy caliber on Indian positions on Thursday night. Pak troops resumed firing on Indian positions again on Friday night and fired 2705 rounds of small arms and 50 rounds of heavy caliber on Indian positions. Indian Army retaliated and during fierce exchange of gun-fight three Pakistani soldiers were killed. Pak troops stopped firing after the killings of their three colleagues. Bodies of slain jawans were removed from the forward area by Pak troops. There was no casualty on this side during the cross-firing, the sources said. In Nowshera sector of Rajouri district, Pak troops resorted to small arms firing intermittently on Indian positions. Indian troops gave a controlled response. Pak troops fired 1345 rounds of small arms and 460 rounds of heavy caliber on Indian positions. A Pak Army man was killed in retaliation by Indian troops, the sources said. Sources said at both the places, Pakistan tried to push trained militants into Indian territory but their attempts were foiled due to timely retaliation by the Indian Army. Pak troops also resorted to firing in Sunderbani sector. However, there was no casualty on either side in the exchange of firing. The cross-firing continued for over four hours last night. |
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Teachers lock ZEO Kathua in office Excelsior Correspondent KATHUA, Apr 24: The agitated teachers of OBB, who were struggling for the release of their salary for the last seven months, locked Zonal Education Officer (ZEO) in his office chamber and paralysed the working of his office. In view of the developments, Deputy Commissioner has cancelled the leave of Chief Education Officer (CEO) and asked him to report to his office. According to official reports, the agitated teachers gheroed the offices of CEO and ZEO Kathua shouting slogans against both the officers for not releasing their salaries for last seven months. As CEO Kathua was not present in his office due to leave, the irate teachers marched to the office of ZEO Kathua and locked him in his office chamber. Led by teachers’ representatives Mr Vinod Dogra, Mr Rajinder Sharma and Santosh Khajuria, the teachers criticised the Government for its failure to provide salaries to OBB teachers and create the financial harassment among the teachers. They said the teaching community were forced to adopt confrontationist attitude with the Government and Education Department authorities and will take their struggle to logical conclusion. A delegation of OBB teachers also called on Deputy Commissioner, Kathua Mr Chaman Lal and apprised him of their problems. The Deputy Commissioner told the delegation that he had established contact with Commissioner/Secretary Education and Director Education to solve their salary problems. The DC also cancelled the leave of CEO Kathua and asked him to report to his office immediately in view of OBB teachers strike. Those who sat on dharna include Hardeep Bali, Ram Murti Verma, Vinod Bali, Geeta Devi, Neelam Kour, Padma and Suresh. |
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LUCKNOW, Apr 24: Muslim leaders today criticised Samajwadi Party (SP) president Mulayam Singh Yadav for creating ‘obstacles’ in the way of formation of a Congress-led ‘secular’ government at the Centre. Mulayam Singh, who kept urging the Congress to dethrone the Vajpayee government ever since it assumed power, now wants to grab power, renowned Shia leader Maulana Kalbe Hussain said addressing a meeting of Muslim intellectuals here. He claimed if mid-term polls are held, the SP would be wiped out. All India Muslim Majlis (UP) vice-president Mohammad Aslam accused the SP president of playing with the ‘sentiments of the Muslims’. Yadav has been accusing Congress of being responsible for continuation of the BJP-led government at the Centre and now that the Vajpayee government has fallen, he has become the biggest stumbling block in the formation of a Congress-led government, Aslam said in a statement. (PTI) |
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‘Vajpayee can be called again’ NEW DELHI, Apr 24: Former Union Minister Mohan Dharia today urged President K R Narayanan to invite Mr Atal Bihari Vajpayee again to form the Government if the opposition parties fail to secure the support of 272 MPs within the next three days. In a letter to the President, Mr Dharia said the opposition leaders had given a categorical assurance on the floor of the House that an alternative would be provided within five minutes immediately after the confidence vote was defeated. But the leaders had failed to fulfil their assurance even within the last seven days and had therefore, misled the House and the country. This must have reflected on the pattern of voting too. Mr Dharia said the Constitution also did not prohibit the President from again inviting Mr Vajpayee. In view of the special circumstances prevailing in the country, supported by some precedents from other countries, the President would be thoroughly justified in his action as the country could not afford fresh elections at this hour. He said the Congress Party’s task of securing majority in Parliament had become far more difficult following the decision by Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samaj Party to remain equidistant from the BJP and Congress and opposition by Forward Block and RSP. Many members were also not in favour of fresh elections. Re-inviting Mr Vajpayee would also check corrupt forces who suddenly withdrew support from the Government to serve their interests and were now forcing national parties to "dance to their tune." (UNI) Court directs IGP Jammu to arrest Sapna Mukerjee Excelsior correspondent JAMMU, Apr 24: Chief Judicial Magistrate Jammu, Mr B L Bhat today directed the Inspector General of Police, Jammu, to arrest Ms Sapna Mukerjee, a film and Television singer and her Manager Romesh K Shah and produce them in the court on May 20 in a cheating case lodged against them. The Court also ordered that in case both the accused give bail in the sum of rupees 10,000 with one surety in the sum of like amount to attend the court and to continue to attend until otherwise directed, they may be released. Film and T V singer Sapna Mukerjee and her Manager Romesh Shah were involved in a case under section 420 RPC on the basis of a complaint filed by K K Khosa, honorary secretary Jammu Club, wherein it was alleged that on the new year’s eve, Sapna contracted to perform here and for that purpose a payment of Rs 1.50 lakh was made to her in advance. The balance amount was also sent through the accused Manager. However, Sapna Mukerjee failed to honour the commitment and didn’t turn up. She again demanded more money and the Club paid Rs 3.20 lakh. She again failed to perform on the other selected date. In the complaint , it was mentioned that Sapna and her Manager cheated Jammu Club. She failed to keep the commitment and instead decamped with Rs 3.20 lakh. Prima-facie case under section 420 RPC has been made out against the accused. |
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