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Decision on AJTs NEW DELHI, Nov 26: The much-awaited decision on purchase of....more
Cong to stage rally NEW DELHI, Nov 25: Congress will stage a massive protest rally....more
Khurana will move NEW DELHI, Nov 26: Former Union Minister Madan Lal Khurana today....more |
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Tortured
elephant’s continuing agony KOCHI, Nov 26: Anil Kumar’s agony continues even a fortnight after the....more Kargil: Inside Story –
III
Ex-PM for quality NEW DELHI, Nov 26: Former Prime Minister I K Gujral...more
Govt committed for NEW DELHI, Nov 26: Union Law Minister Ram Jethmalani today said ....more Old woman gunned down AGARTALA, Nov 26: Armed tribal guerillas gunned down......more |
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Decision on AJTs soon: Fernandes NEW DELHI, Nov 26: The much-awaited decision on purchase of Advanced Jet Trainers (AJTs) would be taken soon, Defence Minister George Fernandes said today. The AJT for IAF is an immediate requirement and a decision based on its cost-effectiveness, indigenisation and life-span among others is expected soon, Fernandes told the concluding session of the five-day Air Force Commanders’ conference here. IAF has sought purchase of at least 60 AJTs for Stage-III training of pilots involving tactical and operational fighter aircraft flying. So far, the pilots have been graduating from sub-sonic Kiran or Iskara planes to supersonic MiG-21 trainers causing crashes and a lot of inconvenience. India has been negotiating purchase of British aerospace’s hawks and French-made alpha jets. The Defence Ministry has also referred to Russian-made MiG-at as one of the options. The Defence Minister told the conference that steps were underway to remove shortcomings. Negotiations on critical areas are at various stages and we are on the right track. Fernandes lauded the role of the IAF in Kargil and its relief operations in cyclone-hit Orissa. The demonstration of IAF capability in Kargil was marked by courage and innovation and proved that no challenge would be impossible for it, he said. Regretting that no systematic attempt was being made to create assets in the three services, he expressed optimism that whatever the challenges, the country would emerge stronger in every respect in the coming days. The Defence Minister regretted that despite continuing proxy war in Jammu and Kashmir and the critical situation in the Northeast, Proper appreciation of the security challenges before the country was still lacking. Earlier, Air Chief A Y Tipnis said several issues of concern, including strategic, operational, welfare and administrative were discussed during the conference. He expressed confidence that the outstanding issues would be resolved and the iaf would deliver the goods. (PTI) |
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Cong
to stage rally against Rajiv’s name in NEW DELHI, Nov 25: Congress will stage a massive protest rally here on November 29 against the inclusion of late Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi’s name in the Bofors chargesheet. The rally, to be attended by top party leaders including MPs, AICC and CWC members besides office bearers of the party’s Delhi unit, would also submit a memorandum to President K R Narayanan demanding deletion of the late leader’s name from column two of the chargesheet, city Congress president Subhash Chopra told reporters here today. Congress president Sonia Gandhi, however, would not take part in the rally. The inclusion of late Rajiv Gandhi’s name is part of the Central Government’s conspiracy to malign and humiliate the congress, Chopra alleged. The rallyists would march down from Ferozeshah Kotla to Rashtrapati Bhawan, he said. Dismissing reports of fissures within the city unit of the party, Chopra said, the whole party is united on the issue. The press conference was attended among others by senior party leaders Sajjan Kumar, Jag Parvesh Chandra, Deep Chand Bandhu and Jai Prakash Aggarwal. (PTI) |
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Khurana will move Lokayukta against hike in bus fares NEW DELHI, Nov 26: Former Union Minister Madan Lal Khurana today said he would move the Delhi Lokayukta to look into the alleged scandal behind the recent hike in bus fares in the capital, if Delhi Government did not stop private buses being run under STA permit from charging enhanced fares within a week. Talking to newspersons, he said that in the sworn affidavit before the Lokayukta he would disclose all the facts as to how the Delhi Government and private bus operators conspired to double the fares of blue line buses. Mr Khurana sent a letter to Delhi Chief Minister Shiela Dikshit yesterday, giving her a week’s time to take immediate action to ensure that blue line bus operators honour DTC passes for Delhi students and other commuters. He also demanded that the monthly permit fee from blueline buses be raised from Rs 1250 to Rs 40,000. Failing which, the former Union Minister said that he would sit on a dharnas at Old Secretariat to mobile public opinion against the fare hike by private buses which, according to him, was illegal and arbitrary. Mr Khurana said there seemed to be a conpiracy to benefit the private operators as the income of private buses had gone up manifold with the increase in fares, as done by DTC, since last month without bearing any social responsibility. (UNI) |
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Tortured elephant’s continuing agony KOCHI, Nov 26: Anil Kumar’s agony continues even a fortnight after the person whom he trusted the most, poured acid into his left eye, leaving him trumpeting in pain. The 28-year-old elephant stands forlorn with the antiseptic jensen’s violet solution trickling out of the injured eye, leaving a trail of blue. His mahout, who committed the atrocity, has been jailed. There is no chance of the tusker regaining his sight, vetenerary doctors say. He is now too scared even to lie down and allow the doctors administer medicines to the injured eye as it was in this position that his mahout, Prakashan alias Prabhakaran, poured the acid into the eye on October 15. The incident took place at Rayamangalam near Perumbavoor, about 30 km from here. The mahout had hit upon this cruel idea to prevent the sale of the elephant fearing that he would lose his job. He had been tending the pachyderm for the past eight years. The owner of the elephant, Olapurakkal Paulose Varghese, had bought him nearly 25 years ago, as a barely three-year-old baby. But now he was finding it difficult to maintain him. On that fateful day, the mahout, Prakashan had made the unsuspecting elephant lie down on his side and then poured formic acid into the eye. Leaving the tusker writhing and trumpeting in agony, he went off to avoid being called to help in rendering medical help. When he was finally located and brought to treat the elephant, he pretended it was only a minor problem and poured water only on the unaffected right eye. Veterinary Surgeon Dr K Radhakrishna Kaimal, who was immediately summoned, detected traces of acid and ruled that it needed urgent treatment. Ironically, Prakashan’s help had to be sought as the elephant was refusing to obey other mahouts. It was only after providing treatment for some days, that the owner lodged a criminal complaint against Prakashan who was arrested on November 15. He was produced before the Perumbavoor Judicial First Class Magistrate and remanded to judicial custody for 14 days. Sub Inspector K Venugopala Pillai of Kuruppumpady Police Station told UNI that Prakashan had been charged under Section 429, IPC (Cruelty Towards Animals), Section 406, IPC (Cheating) and Section 11(1)C, IPC (Prevention of Cruelty to Animals). The incident has shocked the people all over the state, known for their love for the lumbering behemoths, used in various capacities ranging from logging operations (to bring the felled logs from the forest ranges, a practice now banned) to taking part in temple processions. Dr Kaimal, retired dean of the Agricultural University, Thrissur, who had been handling elephants for more than four decades, said he was yet to come across such a brutality perpetrated by anyone, let alone mahouts, for nearly half a century. He wanted exemplary punishment to be handed down by the court to the accused. The surgeon, who is the consultant physician for the 46 elephants owned by the Guruvayur Devaswom and nearly 150 other pachyderms in private hands all over the state besides being an elephant owner himself, expressed surprise that any sane person would resort to such an act of cruelty. Mr Paul, the owner of the elephant said the accused mahout was known to have sadistic tendencies. In one such instance, he had chained an elephant close to the power switch board of a timber mill at Pulloot near Kodungallur to kill it and would have succeeded but for the timely intervention of the owner. Dr Kaimal said the elephant had to be put under sedation to examine the eye. There was little hope of restoration of sight in the affected eye as the acid had burnt the retina. Spca district Inspector K K Joseph, who also examined the tusker concurred with Dr Kaimal’s views. The antiseptic liquid, Jensen’s violet, was being frequently sprayed to avoid the access from spreading. The refusal of the elephant to lie down, for fear of further attacks, has made treating the affected eye very difficult, he added. Since the accused mahout is in jail, the tusker is being looked after by his assistant. Meanwhile, Spca Ernakulam district secretary and district veterinary officer Dr Vijayan said provisions of the Spca Act, 1960, would be invoked to recommend the harshest punishment to the accused. The Spca would also assist the police in the investigations. District Collector K R Vishwambharan, who is also the Spca district patron, has instructed Sub-Divisional Magistrates and the police to take a serious view of such incidents besides issuing special appeal to the people to report any such instance of cruelty to animals. This is significant as the temple festival season, where caparisoned elephants are an integral part of ceremonial processions, had just begun. But all these measures may have come a bit too late for both the hapless elephant and its owner. Mr Paul still wonders why the mahout Prakashan, who was even provided a small house close to his own residence, should have committed such brutality. He is also doubtful if he would ever be able to sell the elephant and rearing it without any income would be quite unthinkable. (UNI) |
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Govt committed for National Judicial Comm: Law Minister NEW DELHI, Nov 26: Union Law Minister Ram Jethmalani today said the Government was committed for creating a National Judicial Commission with full authority of appointment, transfer and removal. In his message to a seminar at the Indian Council of Jurists (ICJ), Mr Jethmalani said the present system was full of deficiencies which needed to be eliminated. The NDA manifesto had promised to set up the commission. The eminent jurists deliberated on various issues including democracy and stable Government and desirability of jurisdiction of the National Judicial Commission. Former Law Minister Shanti Bhushan favoured holding direct elections to the posts of Prime Minister at the national level and Chief Ministers in the States as the prominent jurists have started their debate to bring political stability into the system. Participating in the day long seminar Mr Bhusan said simultaneous elections could be held for Prime Minister, Chief Minister, member of Parliament and legislator by placing four boxes. The candidates securing maximum number of votes would become Prime Minister and Chief Ministers in States. It will facilitate to complete their tenure irrespective of the strength in the legislature and threat of no-confidence motion. The elections for the member of Parliament and member of the State legislatures could also be held at the same time by keeping four different boxes for the electorate to make their choices. Such a process would not only bring stability to the system but also reduce election expenses and corruption substantially, he pointed out. Justice P K Shyamsunder, Chairman of the National Commission for Backward Classes suggested amendment to the Representation of People’s Act to bar anyone chargesheeted for any non-bailable and cognisable offences to contest. This would help to keep unwanted and criminal elements out of the electoral fray. Former Chief Justice of Calcutta High Court D S Tewatia suggested amendment to the electoral laws preventing anyone from contesting for more than two terms. None should be allowed to contest for more than two terms and make politics a profession , he said. The speakers were divided on the issues of appointment to the higher judiciary. Senior supreme court advocate M N Krishnaswamy wanted delinking the executive from the role of appointment and transfer of higher judiciary. This would enhance the quality of judiciary, he felt. The appointments should be made by the President on the ‘collective advice’ of the Council of Ministers and the decision should be subject to judicial review. Justice S C Agarwal, however defended the present system of appointment of higher judiciary where the Chief Justice and five other senior Judges forming the selection committee. Mr Adish Agarwalla, ICJ convenor of the seminar in his address urged the need of appointing a National Judicial Commission for appointment and transfer of Judges for higher judiciary. Justice Agarwal, Ms Justice Sujatha Manahar and noted jurist Fali S Nariman and Justice Rohit Kochhar were among those honoured at the seminar for their outstanding services to judiciary. (UNI) |
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Old woman gunned down by tribal guerillas AGARTALA, Nov 26: Armed tribal guerillas gunned down an old woman and critically injured a Tripura State Rifles (TSR) jawan at Kamalpur in Dhalai district last night. Police said here today that the militants raided the house of the jawan and shot at him. While returning they raided another house and opened fire at its inmates injuring a woman, who later succumbed on way to the hospital. The jawan was also admitted to the G B Hospital. Security forces launched a search operation to nab the ultras. With today’s killing, tribal guerillas have killed 30 people, including 19 civilians, in Tripura during the past twelve days. Meanwhile, life was crippled at Ampi areas in South Tripura district following a 12-hour bandh called by all major political parties, including the ruling CPI(M) and opposition Congress, demanding setting up of a police camp in the areas in view of the rising militancy. Acting Chief Minister Badal Chowdhury said today that a TSR camp had been set up at Panchabati in West district, where tribal guerillas gunned down 18 people and injured 11 on November 14. Meanwhile, in separate incidents yesterday, militants released three hostages, kidnapped an aged man, while security forces arrested a hardcore militant. (UNI) |
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