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Fund crunch delays Maneka Gandhi’s millennium gift to animal kingdom CALCUTTA, Dec 26: Construction work of Maneka Gandhi’s dream project and millennium gift to the animal kingdom,.....more Participation of people KOHIMA, Dec 26: All-pervading zest for peace among the people, stepped up factional clashes, large-scale participation ....more States directed to
prevent crime against women From B L Kak BJP likely to take U-turn CHENNAI, Dec 26: Having come to power at the Centre in alliance with 23 parties, BJP .....more |
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Lawmakers in dilemma over two-child norm NEW DELHI, Dec 26: As the country’s population crosses the one billion mark, a proposed bill seeking to bar people having more than two children ....more 2 Russian MiG-29 aircraft delivered to Bangladesh DHAKA, Dec 26: The first two of the eight MiG-29 Russian fighter jets, procured by Bangladesh from Moscow for 115 million US dollars, have ....more NEW DELHI, Dec 26: NEW DELHI, Dec 26: Hizbul Mujahideen, a prominent Kashmiri militant outfit, has denounced the hijacking of the Indian Airlines airbus and ruled out involvement of any Kashmiri militants in it. .....more 3 women charred to AGARTALA, Dec 26: AGARTALA, Dec 26: Three women were charred to death when a number of huts were set ablaze by suspected NLFT ultras in five villages of West Tripura district, police said today. ....more |
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Fund crunch delays Maneka Gandhi’s millennium gift to animal kingdom CALCUTTA, Dec 26: Construction work of Maneka Gandhi’s dream project and millennium gift to the animal kingdom, the biggest ever animal hospital and research centre in Asia off the Eastern Metropolitan Bypass near here, is being delayed by fund crunch. Being constructed over an area of 4.4 hectare at Kalikapur in North 24 Parganas district, Ashari, an acronymn for animal shelter, Hospital and Research Institute, would be a new landmark in Asia owing to its futuristic features and research base to prevent zoonotic diseases indirectly plauging the humans. But despite its scheduled inauguration in part by May 2000, the progress of the over Rs 3.5 crore project taken up in November last year by Union Minister Maneka Gandhi’s People For Animal (PFA) was slowed by fund crunch. The central grants for the project has so far been Rs 17 lakh while business houses like TATA Tea, ITC and Bengal Paper Mills besides a few individuals came forward with help. "The Centre has given US grants and the State Government has been extremely cooperative in leasing land for a pittance. But since this is the time to construct the sturctures before the approach of rainy season in Hune we require more funds now from all quarters to fulfil the project on time," said the Managing Trustees of PFA. A brainchild of Ms Gandhi and animal expert Debashish Chakraborty, Ashari is shaping up not as a composite animal hospital only for working animals like cows and sheep. It would be another "green world within the world" where besides animal care and shelter, multiple activities related to research for environmental purposes would be held. The entire complex would have alternative methods of water management by natural means like using turtles, recycling waste water, generating biogas, solar and wind energy. "And though work has not been held up exactly, we want to start the clinic part by may so as to reach succour to animals and their owners as soon as possible," says Mr Chakraborty. "Sooner it is started, better it is for all as it will prevent zoonotic diseases being spread from animals," Mr Chakraborty said, adding that boys in groups of 20 will be trained in the complex to fan out in villages and educate livestock owners on how to prevent zoonotic diseases and provide them back up support. (UNI)
Participation of people in polls marked 1999 in Nagaland KOHIMA, Dec 26: All-pervading zest for peace among the people, stepped up factional clashes, large-scale participation of voters in parliamentary elections despite threats and over-all sluggish economy marked 1999 in the trouble-torn Nagaland. The much expected peace talk process for a lasting settlement to the Naga political problem, however, seems to hang on to a fragile thread. The year began with a new hope with changing of Chairman of ceasefire monitoring group as per the demands of NSCN(I-M) and the arrival of top leaders of underground organisation. But over two years ceasefire between NSCN(I-M) and the centre, which came in August 1997, received a severe blow when Chief Minister S C Jamir’s convoy was ambushed, killing two of his security personnel. The ongoing peace process also received a beating when security forces closed down the NSCN (I-M) ceasefire monitoring cell office at Dimapur in the aftermath of the ambush because the underground organisation allegedly misused the facility. The state also witnessed over 75 per cent of voters participation in September parliamentary elections even as NSCN(I-M) asked the Naga people to boycott the Indian poll in Naga soil. The process was, however, vitiated by allegations of bogus voting, rigging by supporters of different political parties and disturbances by undergrounds. Despite a financial crisis dogging the state all through the year, the cultural scene of the state was alive, particularly with the year-long celebration of 35 years of nagaland statehood. The arrival of NSCN (I-M) Chairman Issac Swu Chishi and general secretary Th Muivah in May and the subsequent series of meetings with the representatives of various organisations as well as individuals, generated euphoria in Nagaland on the question of a lasting settlement to the decades-old problem of insurgency. The duo claimed that the Naga people have given their mandate to NSCN (I-M) collective leadership to resolve the issue through dialogue with the Government of India, and they clarified at a crowded press conference that they never talked about absolute or water-tight sovereignty, but Indian Government must respect Nagas’ historical rights. But statistics available with police and security forces revealed that after the departure of NSCN (I-M) top leaders and extension of ceasefire for another year in August, factional clashes involving all the three underground organisations — NNC (FGN), NSCN (K) and NSCN (I-M), suddenly went up in different parts of the state, putting a question mark on the much talked about process of unity and understanding among different groups. (PTI) |
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States directed to
prevent crime against women From B L Kak NEW DELHI, Dec 26: The Minister for Home Affairs, Mr LK Advani, has disclosed that his Ministry has started negotiations with the Ministry of Law on a proposal to amend section 376 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) to provide death as one of the punishments for the offence of rape. Even as the number of cases of sexual abuse of girls registered during 1996-1998 has not indicated an increasing trend, Mr Advani appears determined to pave the way for suitable amendments to section 376 of the IPC. He hopes that a comprehensive legislation on the subject would be introduced in Parliament during its Budget session in March next year. Mr Advani has stated that sections 376 and 376C of the Indian Penal Code, 1860, inter alia provide for stringent punishment for sexual offences involving minor females. In addition, sections 366A, 366B, 372 373 prescribe the punishment for procuration of a minor girl, importation of a girl from a foreign country, buying and selling of minors for purposes of prostitution, respectively. Yet, to quote the Home Minister, in 1998, the number of rape of girls below 16 years was 4059, as against 4083 in 1996 and 4414 in 1997. Mr Advani has pointed out that although the registration, investigation, detection and prevention of crimes, including crimes against women, is primarily the responsibility of State Governments and Union Territories, the Government of India does, from time to time, advise Governments in States and Union Territories to give "more focussed attention" to improving the administration of criminal justice system to ensure prevention of atrocities against women and other vulnerable section of the society. According to the Home Minister, the number of rapes in 25 States of India in 1998 was 14624, as against 14761 in 1997. Six Union territories accounted for 461 rapes in 1998 as against 569 in 1997. Lakshadweep is the only Union territory where no incidence of crime against women was reported during 1997 and 1998. Jammu and Kashmir State, as per the statistics available with Mr Advani, accounted for 166 rapes in 1997 and 178 rapes in 1998. This State, Mr Advani said, reported 12 dowry deaths in 1997 and 7 dowry deaths in 1998. If Madhya Pradesh accounted for the maximum number of rapes in 1998 (3354), Sikkim is the only State which reported 7 rapes in 1998 and an equal number in 1997, followed by Manipur with 9 rapes in 1997 and 13 in 1998. Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland and Sikkim reported "no dowry deaths" during 1997 and 1998, while Meghalaya reported a solitary dowry death in 1998. Uttar Pradesh also accounted for the maximum number of dowry deaths in 1998 (2229) and 1786 in 1997, followed by 1039 dowry deaths in Bihar in 1998, when Madhya Pradesh reported 598 deaths, followed by 500 dowry deaths in Andhar Pradesh, 433 deaths in Rajasthan, 420 deaths in Maharashtra, 309 in Haryana and 249 in West Bengal. India’s most populous State of Uttar Pradesh accounted for 1786 rapes in 1998 and 1605 in 1997, while the number of rape of women was put at 946 in 1997 and 869 in 1998 in Andhra Pradedsh, 1457 in 1997 and 1421 in 1998 in Bihar, 1246 rapes in 1997 and 1156 in 1998 in Maharashtra and 1255 rapes in 1997 and 1266 in 1998 in Rajasthan. The Union Territory of Delhi accounted for 544 rapes in 1997 and 438 in 1998 as against one rape case in Daman and Nagar Haveli in 1997. Statistics dished out by the Home Minister showed that there were 25638 incidents of crime committed against scheduled castes in the country in 1998. No incidents of crime against scheduled castes were reported from 8 States, namely, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya,Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura and West Bengal. Similarly, five Union Territories, namely, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Chandigarh, Dadar and Nagar Haveli, Daman and Diu and Lakshadweep also reported "no crime against scheduled castes) during 1998. Uttar Prtadesh topped the list, with 6511 incidents of crime against scheduled castes in 1998. Total number of incidents of crime against scheduled castes in Jammu and Kashmir was put at 17 during 1998, as against 5586 in Rajasthan, 4051 in Madhya Pradesh, 1884 in Gujarat, 1605 in Andhra Pradesh, 1562 in Tamil Nadu and 11 48 in Karnataka. Sikkim and Goa accounted for two each incidents in 1998. |
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BJP likely to take U-turn on contentious issues CHENNAI, Dec 26: Having come to power at the Centre in alliance with 23 parties, BJP is likely to take a virtual U-turn on contentious issues and affirm that it has no separate agenda in a document expected to be adopted at the two-day meeting of the National Council from December 28 proceeded by a national executive meet here tomorrow. In the wake of the hijacking of the Indian Airlines aircraft en route to Delhi from Kathmandu, the Council is likely to discuss the situation arising out of the threats by militants. It is expected to take serious note of this development as it concerns national security and threatens the sovereignty of the country, party sources said. The document outlining the party’s strategy in the coming millennium is part of its efforts to acquire a new look enabling it to strengthen its ties with other partners in the National Democratic Alliance by affirming that it has no hidden agenda. The Council would consider the report of the 10-member Jana Krishnamurthy Committee on amending the party constitution including restricting the tenure of party president to a single term of three years instead of the existing two-year tenure for two consecutive terms. This amendment would be also valid for state unit Presidents as also down to the district units. The meeting would also review the progress made by the country in the last 50 years and chalk out the tasks before the party and the country in the coming century. The document is expected to form the basis and outline the steps for enabling the party to reach out to all sections of Society. The document is expected to cover the entire spectrum of political and economic developments and specially the liberalisation policy of the Vajpayee Government. The Council meet, which is the first since the last Lok Sabha elections, is also expected to discuss how to further expand the party base and rectify the shortcomings which had led to its poor performance in what was perceived to be its stronghold, Uttar Pradesh. About 1400 delegates are expected to attend the meet including all central ministers and Members of Parliament as well as state unit presidents. Asked whether it would be a resolution or a declaration, party spokesman Venkaiah Naidu said, the final shape would be given at the national executive meeting which is to be held a day ahead of the National Council. (PTI) |
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NEW DELHI, Dec 26: Hizbul Mujahideen, a prominent Kashmiri militant outfit, has denounced the hijacking of the Indian Airlines airbus and ruled out involvement of any Kashmiri militants in it. Kashmiri Mujahids (militants) would never risk the lives of innocent for the sake of few associates, Chief of Hizbul Mujahideen Abdul Majid Dar said last night reacting to the hijackers’ demand for the release of Masood Azhar, leader of Harkat-ul-Ansar and some other Kashmiri militants. In a statement faxed to PTI, he said the demand was an attempt to implicate the militants in such false cases and part of a deep-rooted conspiracy. (PTI) |
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3 women charred to death as NLFT ultras set huts ablaze AGARTALA, Dec 26: Three women were charred to death when a number of huts were set ablaze by suspected NLFT ultras in five villages of West Tripura district, police said today. The armed militants set a number of huts at Promodnagar, Kariamura, Bishramganj areas and Vivekananda Palli on fire yesterday and fled before police arrived at the scene, they said. Charred bodies of two women were recovered from under the debris by police later, while another, who received severe burns died in hospital, the police said. About 200 inhabitants of the area fled their homes after the incident and took shelter elsewhere, they said, adding additional police force was deployed to maintain peace there. Irate locals today blocked traffic on the Agartala-Sonamura Road in protest against the NLFT attack, believed to be a retaliation to the setting afire of tribal huts by non-tribals on Friday, the police said. As many as 37 huts of tribals were set ablaze last week forcing 100 people to flee their homes after NLFT ultras killed three non-tribals, injured five and kidnapped two from Lakkhandhepa market in the district. (PTI) |
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