Excelsior... Nation

Retrospective of
Satyajit Ray’s
films in Vienna

NEW DELHI, Oct 19: A complete retrospective of films by cine craftsman Satyajit Ray, the only Indian filmmaker to get an Oscar for lifetime contribution, has opened in Austria as part of the ongoing Vienna international film festival....more

UN approach to
Kosovo applicable
to Lanka: MDMK

CHENNAI, Oct 19: MDMK, a constituent of BJP-led NDA at Centre, today advocated the United Nations’ approach to conflicts in Kosovo and East Timor as a probable means of resolving the ethnic crisis in Sri Lanka, but stopped short of demanding un intervention in the island nation.....more

H V Sheshadri

RSS compliments
Vajpayee on his
leadership

NAGPUR, Oct 19: The Rashtriya Swayam Sevak Sangh (RSS)....more

J Jayalalitha

Jayalalitha to participate
in Guru Puja

CHENNAI, Oct 19: The All India Anna DMK (AIADMK) today.....more

TADA vanishes
but ghost lurks

GUWAHATI, Oct 19: Mantru Rudropaul was...more

Cyclone toll
mounts to 56

BHUBANESWAR, Oct 19: The death toll in the....more

10,000 lorries to
remain off the roads

COIMBATORE, Oct 19: Over 10,000 lorries and goods...more

ASSOCHAM prepares
strategy paper on
agriculture growth

NEW DELHI, Oct 19: To achieve five per cent growth...more

Retrospective of Satyajit Ray’s films in Vienna

According to noted critic Devendra Kumar who has been specially invited to attend the screenings, this is the first time that all films made by Satyajit Ray during his lifetime will be screened in a festival in Europe.

The Vienna international film festival which commenced on October 15 has in previous years held retrospectives of filmmakers like Roberto Rosselini and Jean Luc Godard.

Meanwhile, thirty documentaries and short films from India were screened at the Biennial Film South Asia 99 held in Kathmandu earlier this month and was inaugurated by renowned filmmaker Gulzar and Nepali Culture Minister Sharad Singh Bhandari. The four-day competitive fete was organised by the Kathmandu-based Himal Association and the South Asian Journal Himal.

A three-member jury headed by the internationally renowned Gautam Ghose adjudged the films, and the best fifteen films of the festival will be taken to other South Asian countries. (UNI)

UN approach to Kosovo applicable to Lanka: MDMK

We believe the situation in Sri Lanka is the same as in Kosovo and East Timor. We will not try to influence India’s policy in this regard, but will put forth our point of view, MDMK general secretary Vaiko told reporters.

He was answering a question on the possible effect on Indo-Sri Lankan relations of parties like the MDMK, PMK and DMK, which had all supported the Tamils’ struggle in Sri Lanka at different points of time, being part of the ruling coalition in India.

I am only saying that the UN’s approach to situations of internal conflict is changing, and sovereignty is no bar on the UN intervening there. The situation in Sri Lanka can also be viewed from this angle,’ Vaiko said, when asked if he was advocating UN intervention in the island nation’s affairs.

However, the situation in Kashmir could not be equated in any way with other problems in the world, as Kashmiris enjoyed all civil rights in India, he said. (PTI)

RSS compliments Vajpayee on his leadership

NAGPUR, Oct 19: The Rashtriya Swayam Sevak Sangh (RSS) today complimented Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee for his "deft and capable leadership" due to which the BJP come to the Centre-stage in the political arena.

"The coming together of TDP, DMK, Akali Dal, Shiv Sena, Janata Dal (United) and Trinamool Congress to form a National Democratic Alliance led by BJP showed that the party has come to command respect of its allies", RSS general secretary H V Sheshadri said here.

In a major deviation from the norm, Sheshadri addressed the gathering of Swayamsewaks on the 75th Vijaydashmi celebrations, besides RSS chief Rajendra Singh alias Rajju Bhaiyya.

He said the economic scenario in the country echoed the views of the Prime Minister that Kargil had taught some bitter lessons to us.

The Kargil message was clear that industrialists should come forward and tap the potential of younger generation in the establishment of research and development institutions. Youth should also be inspired to join armed forces, he said.

Security has to be accorded a top priority otherwise the unity and integrity of country will be in jeopardy, he said. (PTI)

TADA vanishes but ghost lurks

GUWAHATI, Oct 19: Mantru Rudropaul was picked up and thrown behind the bars when he was doing his routine work — cutting grass.

The daily-wages labourer residing in Karimganj sector near the Indo-Bangladesh border could little understand the charge which imposed on him a five-year detention — TADA.

Forcibly picked up by some BSF jawans in 1994, the young man recently came out of the jail. He should thank the lawyer who manouevered to free him, for absence of a bailor had been a major block on the path to the outer world for him and several others who landed up in prison on the same charge.

Despite the draconian law being withdrawn in 1996, Assam has nearly 1,000 TADA-related cases yet to be disposed of, leaving hundreds of innocent men languishing in captivity. The height of harrassment is evident from the fact that only 14 persons have so far been convited under TADA in the state since 1991 despite 26,000 arrests having been made on this count. In other words, only four of a total of 1,237 TADA-related cases were wound up with conviction orders.

Three years after Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act, known by its sobriquet TADA, was revoked, authorities in this border state retain the hangover and harrass any ‘suspicious’ person as if the act is still in force.

Notes well-known lawyer Shantanu Bharali: "All though no fresh case has been registered under tada since its nullification, the Government machinery continues to hold power to imprison anyone it chooses."

There are 400-odd TADA cases where the police is yet to give its final report. They even include major murder cases that had hit the headlines. "Even this year, the court registered 32 miscellaneous cases. This means people are still being picked up," adds Mr Bharali, who has been campaigning against TADA ever since its enforcement.

What makes matters worse for the ones who vegetate behind the bars is that their investigating officers earn promotional posts that lend them little time to spare for expedition of the TADA cases.

Admits IPS officer Bhaskar Mahanta, the Guwahati Superintendent of Police: "It is virtually impossible for an official of my cadre to take time off to prepare voluminous chargesheets under TADA. And unless the chargesheet is faultfree, the court would find loopholes. That means the cases would be further hanging fire."

It is not just the promotion of their investigating or the absence of a bailor that detains the arrested. For example, the case of Arjun Sharma. An aged milkman whose shed happened to be near an ULFA camp stored with ammunition, Arjun has booked under TADA and has been jailed since 1992. The law books would not permit his release untill two of his co-accused (all ULFA activists) are nabbed. The list of the co-accused originally totalled five, but three were later reported to have been killed.

Points out Mr Bharali: "Arjun’s family has deserted him. In one way it is good if he is not freed from jail. There he is assured at least of food. Once out, the old man would die of starvation." (UNI)

Cyclone toll mounts to 56

BHUBANESWAR, Oct 19: The death toll in the cyclonic storm that devastated parts of the Orissa coast early yesterday has mounted to 56 with Ganjam district alone accounting for 49 casualties, official sources said today.

The Southern district, which bore the brunt of the cyclone that ripped through the mainland at a speed of 200 kms per hour, had remained cut off till now with very little information trickling in.

Official reports received here said that Berhampur city alone witnessed 23 deaths, caused mostly by house collapse and uprooting of trees, as it remained encircled by flood waters of the Rushikulya and accumulated rain water.

Two deaths each were reported from the Gajapati, Khurda and Puri districts while one person was killed in Dhenkanal district due to wall collapse, the reports said.

Telecommunications links with Ganjam were yet to be fully established while the entire area remained without power for the second day due to collapse of seven electric pylons.

The flooded Rushikulya, which crossed the danger mark of 16.83 metres at Purushottampur yesterday, had climbed to 18.45 metres last night before beginning to recede.

Train services in the Khurda road division of South Eastern Railway had remained suspended following the calamity with long distance trains either terminated or controlled short of their destination, railway sources said.

Chief Minister Giridhar Gamang made an aerial survey of the worst-affected Ganjam district yesterday but could not land anywhere in Berhampur because of water-logging.

The Indian Air Force helicopters had started air-dropping food packets in marooned areas.

Union Minister for Mines and Minerals, Naveen Patnaik, had reached Berhampur for an on-the-spot assessment of the situation. He had a discussion with State’s Revenue Minister Jagannath Patnaik about release of adequate assistance from the national calamity relief fund.

The Revenue Minister, who on a visit to Ganjam district had been stranded by the cyclone, said the death toll might go up further.

He said seven days emergent relief was being provided to the affected people and if necessary it would be extended by another week.

The worst-affected areas in Ganjam were Berhampur, Aska, Chhatrapur, Gopalpur, Purushottampur and Hinjilicut.

Union Minister for Tribal Affairs Jual Oram and Union Minister of State for Surface Transport Debendra Pradhan were scheduled to make an aerial survey of the affected areas today, BJP sources said here. (PTI)

CPI-M accuses RSS of orchestrating anti
christian campaign

NEW DELHI, Oct 18: CPI-M today accused the RSS and its allied outfits of orchestrating an anti-Christian campaign before the forthcoming visit of Pope John Paul and demanded immediate steps to curb such propaganda.

The visit of Pope John Paul to New Delhi in the first week of November is being used as a pretext for a countrywide anti-Christian campaign orchestrated by the RSS and its allied outfits, CPI-M polit bureau said in a statement.

The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) has organised a yatra from Goa which would reach Delhi on the eve of the Pope’s

visit, it said, adding that the yatra is being used for anti-Christian propaganda.

The propaganda material which is being brought out by the VHP and other RSS outfits spew hatred against the Christian minority, it said.

Asking the Vajpayee Government to take immediate steps to curb the propaganda through activities like the VHP yatra, CPI-M said failure to do so would further damage the secular image of the country in the eyes of the world.

Charging the Government with being unable to take a firm stand on the issue as the RSS was involved, it said India is a multi-religious country and the head of any religion is free to visit the country to participate in religious functions.

This has never been questioned before. It is a sign of the changed circumstances that under the BJP-led Government hostile propaganda against a religious group is freely conducted contravening the laws of the land, it said. (PTI)