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NHRC directs UP Govt NEW DELHI, Apr 28: The National Human Rights Commission has directed Uttar Pradesh Government to make a payment of Rs five lakh as immediate ....more CM
to flag off first batch DEHRADUN,Apr 28: Uttaranchal Chief Minister Narayan Dutt Tiwari will flag off the first batch of pilgrims to the famous "Char Dhams" of the hill State ....more Book
capital honour NEW DELHI, Apr 28: More books, book shows, books on wheels, meet-the-author events and more e-books ....more COIMBATORE, Apr 28: To draw the attention of the Government, over 200 students of Coimbatore Medical College...more |
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CHENNAI, Apr 28: Air India’s flight on Singapore-Chennai-Mumbai sector (AI473) was suddenly cancelled this morning, Airport sources said here. ....more RJD
lathi rally to PATNA, Apr 28: A huge pandal has been erected at the Gandhi Maidan to accomodate lakhs of people who are likely to congregate at the venue for .....more Process initiated to declare pilots’ stir illegal: Govt NEW DELHI, Apr 28: Government has initiated a process in consultation with Labour Ministry for declaring the undeclared strike by Indian Pilots Guild ......more BJP skips Hindutva, opens poll campaign in Rajasthan CHARBHUJA, RAJASTHAN, Apr 28: With blessings from Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani, Bharatiya Janata Party Rajasthan unit chief ......more |
NHRC directs UP Govt to pay Rs 5 lakh in Agra shootout case NEW DELHI, Apr 28: The National Human Rights Commission has directed Uttar Pradesh Government to make a payment of Rs five lakh as immediate interim relief to the next of kin of a doctor who was shot dead by the State police in a case of "mistaken identity". Not agreeing with the State Government’s view that the compensation amount was "on the higher side", the NHRC said that it was "neither excessive nor unreasonable". On April 9 it asked the State Government to pay Rs five lakh to the next of kin of Dr Sonali Bose, a second year post-graduate student of S N Medical College, who was shot dead by the police on Agra-Mathura road while she was returning to Agra with a friend in a car. The rights body asked the State Government to send an action taken report by May 10, 2003 as it was an unfortunate case where the life of a young doctor was brought to an end in a shoot-out by the police which according to the State Government’s own response, was due to "negligence over-enthusiastic action on part of the concerned police officials". After considering all the facts and circumstances in the case, the NHRC had issued notice to the State Government to show-cause why immediate interim relief of Rs five lakh not be granted to the next of kin of the medical student. In response to the show-cause notice, the State Government had informed the NHRC that a sum of Rs 25,000 has been sanctioned to the family of the victim from the Chief Minister’s discretionary fund and both departmental action and criminal prosecution has been initiated against the delinquent police officials. However, the State Government had considered the award of immediate interim of Rs five lakh to be "on the higher side". Not agreeing to this, the NHRC observed, "a life which is battered and shattered by the action of the police, for which the State Government must be held vicariously responsible, cannot be compensated in terms of money. The payment of interim monetary relief is aimed at providing immediate relief by an order of making monetary amends for the wrong done due to the breach of public duty of not protecting the basic human right - right to life - of the citizen." It was the considered view of the commission that grant of Rs five lakh as immediate interim relief under section 18 (3) of the protection of human rights act, 1993 in the admitted circumstances of the case was neither excessive nor unreasonable. Earlier, taking suo-motu cognizance of reports in national dailies on July 2002 about the police shoot-out, the NHRC had issued notice to the Chief Secretary and the Director General of Police of the State on July 23 calling for a report on the action taken in this case. It was informed that in light of the investigations conducted by the Uttar Pradesh Government, the three erring policemen had been sent to jail and other, who prima facie had been found guilty, placed under suspension. The NHRC noted that the action taken by the State Government in registering the offence and prosecuting the errant police personnel made this case a fit one for the award of immediate interim relief under the protection of human rights act, 1993. (UNI) |
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CM to flag off first batch of Chardham Yatris DEHRADUN,Apr 28: Uttaranchal Chief Minister Narayan Dutt Tiwari will flag off the first batch of pilgrims to the famous "Char Dhams" of the hill State from the "Ashram Town" of Rishikesh on May 3. The portals of the Gangotri and Yamunotri shrines in the Garhwal Himalayas will reopen for pilgrims on May 4 next amid elaborate ceremonies. The Kedarnath shrine will reopen on May 5 and the Badrinath shrine on May 8. The first stopover for the yatra is the Westernmost shrine of Yamunotri. Dedicated to the Goddess Yamuna, it is perched atop the BandarPoonchh peak and is situated opposite Gangotri. According to a legend, this secluded spot was home to asit Muni. Among the major attractions of Yamunotri are the hot water springs. From Rishikesh , a 213 KM journey by road takes the pilgrims to Hanumanchatti from where the remaining 13 km to Yamunotri are covered on foot or by ponies. Along the right bank of the Bhagirathi stands the shrine of Gangotri dedicated to the Goddess. At a height of 3,042 metres, the shrine was constructed in the early 18th century by a Gorkha Commander, Amar Singh Thapa. The Temple is an exquisite 20 feet high structure of White Granite. The Kedarnath Temple, built in the 8th century A.D. By Adi Guru Shankaracharya, lies adjacent to an ancient Temple believed to be built by the Pandavas. The more than 1000 years old Temple has a lingam-the main idol, a statue of Nandi, the celestial Dull, and a "Garbh Griha". Behind the Kedarnath Temple lies the Samadhi or the final resting place of Adi Guru Shankaracharya . The Kedarnath shrine is one of the twelve "Jyotirlingas" of Kedar or Lord Shiva. Cradled in the twin mountain ranges of Nar and Narayan is the holiest of the four Dhams of Uttaranchal, namely Badrinath. Along the left bank of the Alaknanda, Badrinath is an important destination on the sacred itinerary of the devout. Once upon a time, the spot was carpeted with "Badris’ or Wild Berries. And hence was known as "Badrivan". The Temple dates back to the vedic times and is situated at an altitude of 3,133 metres. It is believed to have been built by Adi Guru Shankaracharya. Also known as "Vishal Badri," Badrinath is one of the Panch Badris (five badris), the other four being Bhavishya Badri, Yogdhyan Badri, Vridha Badri and Adi Badri. The one metre high image of Badrinath, finely sculpted in black stone is very attractive and shows Lord Vishnu seated in a meditative pose. The Char Dham Yatra ends every year in November when the Garhwal Himalayas become snowbound.(UNI) |
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Book capital honour recognition of Indian readers NEW DELHI, Apr 28: More books, book shows, books on wheels, meet-the-author events and more e-books are among activities planned this year as India celebrates New Delhi being declared the world book capital for 2003, the national book trust announced today. NBT Chairman B K Sharma told reporters the declaration was a recognition of Indian scholarship, publishing "and readers of India." The trust has been designated the nodal agency to promote events through out the year. Addressing a news conference, Mr Sharma said the Government has allocated Rs 25 crore to spend on various activities in this context. NBT’s own budget annually is about Rs 20 crore. The national capital is the world’s third city chosen for the honour since April 23, 2001— after Madrid, Spain and Alexandria, Egypt by the Paris, France-based United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural organisation, the International Publishers Association, the International Booksellers Federation and the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions. New Delhi will remain the world book capital up to April 22, 2004. India ranks sixth among nations in terms of book production, with publishing "Potential" of more than 70,000 titles a year by 15,000 publishers in 24 languages. Mr Sharma listed a number of Government and related agencies, including the National Council of Educational Research and Training, which would be associated in celebrating the year. The Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, for instance, has offered to hold seminars on e-publishing. The indian capital will be the scene of 44 book exhibitions from May 1-5, to attract children preparing for summer holidays. Special shops will also be set up to sell books at reasonable rates. The city’s social hubs, such as Dilli Haat and Pragati Maidan, will showcase Indian publishing at stalls or pavillions and a book mall. City schools, colleges and universities are being involved in the process as are politicians, including Legislative Assembly members and corporators. By tapping its potential now, Sharma said, India could well emerge as a world publishing leader in the near future. (UNI) |
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Process initiated to declare pilots’ stir illegal: Govt NEW DELHI, Apr 28: Government has initiated a process in consultation with Labour Ministry for declaring the undeclared strike by Indian Pilots Guild as "illegal" and take necessary action against its members, Civil Aviation Minister Syed Shahnawaz Hussain told Lok Sabha today. Responding to queries raised by some members during zero hour on the suspension of 27 pilots for their refusal to fly aircraft to SARS-hit Singapore and Hong Kong, Hussain said "we have initiated a process in consultation with the Labour Ministry to declare their undeclared strike illegal and take necessary action against them." "The members of the Indian Pilots Guild are not on strike but they are refusing to fly aircraft. They want written undertakings that none of the crew members accompanying them had visited the SARS-hit countries during the past ten days," he said. Despite these problems, Air India is expected to make a profit of Rs 100 crore this year against Rs 15 crore last year, Hussain said, adding the profit would have gone up to Rs 300 to Rs 400 crore this year but because of Iraq developments, the profit could go up to only Rs 100 crore. So far not a single flight to USA and Europe had been cancelled due to the Guild’s stir and executive pilots were operating these flights, he said, adding in the past one week altogether 37 flights bound for South-East Asian countries had been cancelled. Hussain said for the first time since 1974, action has been taken against the pilots. Talking about the Guild’s "non-cooperative attitude", Hussain recalled that its members had sought payment of Rs 75,000 for undergoing CAT III training for safe landing of aircraft in foggy weather. They also refused to go to Kuwait in view of Iraq developments, the minister said, adding no airline pilot had refused to fly aircraft to Kuwait. "And now they had taken this rigid attitude that they will not go to Singapore and Hong Kong," he said. World Health Organisation has not issued any circular that pilots should not fly to these countries, he said. Stating that passengers would not be allowed to suffer, he said Air India has made "full arrangements" for them. "Their (pilots) action has tarnished the image of Air India," he said, adding there was no justification for their action as each pilot was getting a total salary of Rs four to five lakh per month. Raising the issue, Samajwadi Party member Ramji Lal Suman said the pilots would not have adopted the agitational path if the Government had taken them into confidence. Air India and Indian Airlines had lost several crores of rupees on account of the pilots’ refusal to fly aircraft to SARS-hit countries, he said. (PTI) |
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BJP skips Hindutva, opens poll campaign in Rajasthan CHARBHUJA, RAJASTHAN, Apr 28: With blessings from Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani, Bharatiya Janata Party Rajasthan unit chief Vasundhara Raje has set out in a modified ‘Rath’ to jack up the political heat in this desert State. Starting from this Temple town in the South Rajasthan district of Rajsamand, she has embarked on a 70-day tour to the 200 Assembly Constituencies of the State. Her entourage was scheduled to pass through the Bhil-dominated Gogunda and Kotra tehsils of the district today. But as the "Maharani of Dhaulpur" began her journey through the hot and dry countryside yesterday there was no mention of Tridents, no talk about the arrest of Vishwa Hindu Parishad general secretary Praveen Togadia. The party’s campaign managers skipped the subject of Hindutva as well. Perhaps, the "Modi-fication" of her "Parivartan Yatra" will take place on May 8, when the party is mulling to bring in Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi to briefly join Ms Raje’s campaign trail. But on Sunday, as the party’s last vehicle sped off, only the media was talking about Dr Togadia’s Trishul. "I don’t want to comment on it," Mr Advani said when asked about the issue. Mr Advani, who flagged off the "Yatra", sought people’s support for the transformation of India and to achieve "Su-Raj" (Good Governance). Mentioning about the ruling NDA coalition at the Centre, he said such Governments should be formed in States also. "We are proud of the achievements of the Government at the Centre. If we could have such Governments in States also, then the vision of turning India into a developed nation by 2020 could be achieved," he said. Without mentioning the Congress allegation that the Centre was discriminating against the State in meeting the drought crisis, Mr Advani said never in the past had the Central Government provided so much help to States in tackling the natural calamity. In this context, he mentioned about the ambitious river interlinking project and the Kisan Credit Card Scheme also. Recalling his experience of the "Rath Yatras", Mr Advani dwelt upon the effectiveness of such campaigns in reaching out to the masses. Ms Raje and Mr Pramod Mahajan, party general secretary incharge of the election campaign, focused on the drought issue, the acute water crisis and irregular electricity supply in villages. "Ab Gehlot Ko Chunao Mein Paani Pilana Hai (now we have to defeat him in the elections), Mr Mahajan said while talking about the water crisis. Accusing the Gehlot Government of doing little on the drought front, he said the State Government was not even able to lift foodgrains for relief works. Though Government godowns were full of them. Ms Raje accused the Congress for failing on its election promises. Electricity supply was irregular, women had to travel long distances for water. The Government failed to arrest the migration of people or the death of cattle in villages, she alleged. "Foodgrain trucks are getting diverted to markets. People are not getting adequate work under the relief programme," she said, while seeking the people’s support to dismiss the Congress out of power. Braving the heat and dust-laden winds for over four hours nearly 20,000 people came to hear the leaders, but large numbers of them were seen leaving as Mr Advani began his speech. Reaction from the Congress was fast. Speaking in Ajmer, Mr Gehlot said the BJP did not have an issue to raise before the electorate. "They have no issue. It is my challenge, they do not have an issue against my Government," he said, listing out the "Achievements" of the Congress Government. (UNI) SC declines to discharge Bharat Shah NEW DELHI, Apr 28: The Supreme Court today declined to come to the rescue of film financer Bharat Shantilal Shah, who had sought quashing of the charge of conspiracy to eliminate film personalities in league with Dubai-based underworld Don Chhota Shakeel against him. Shah, film producer Nazim Rizvi and two others are being tried under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) for their alleged links with Chhota Shakeel. Disposing of the Special Leave Petition (SLP) against a Bombay High Court order directing the Trial Court to dispose of his application seeking discharge from the charge a bench of Mr Justice M B Shah and Mr Justice Arun Kumar said, "The High Court order is maintained and the Trial Court will hear the discharge application of Shah in accordance with law." Shah has argued that it is "Absurd" to frame charges of murder under section 302 of the Indian Penal Code since the film personalities, whose names figured in the prosecution’s affidavit, were still alive and urged the Apex Court to modify the charges. Earlier senior counsel Kapil Sibal contended that recording of evidence in the case was almost over and if his client was convicted, he would be doomed and would be left with no remedy. Senior counsel K T S Tulsi appearing for Maharashtra Government said that 72 witnesses had already been examined in the case and only four remained. The stage for entertaining such an application by Shah was well past. "In a case of conspiracy it is difficult to establish at this stage whether the charge ought to have been framed or not," The Apex Court Judges observed in their order. It may be recalled that the High Court had earlier rejected Shah’s plea to quash MCOCA and also dismissed an appeal against the Trial Court order which had refused to modify, alter and delete charges framed against him. (UNI) Udhav Thackeray on mission to make Shiv Sena national party NEW DELHI, Apr 28: Acting Shiv Sena chief Udhav Thackeray, visiting the capital for the first time after assuming the post, today kickstarted his party’s election campaign for this year’s Delhi Assembly polls, calling upon Shiv Sainiks to reach out to the commonman to solve their day-to-day problems. Mr Thackeray also declared that he wanted the Sena to spread out of Maharashtra and become a national party. In a speech unmarked by the fire and vitriol of his father Bal Thackeray’s tirades, the junior Thackeray, did not mention Ram temple and conversions, and characterised Shiv Sena’s Hinduism as just love for the country. "We have no enmity towards any religion. We are not against Muslims, but we are against those who do not love this country,"he said at function held by the Shiv Sena to felicitate him here. The Shiv Sena leader was hysterically cheered by hundreds of Shiv Sainiks during his speech. Mr Thackeray tried to shift the focus of the sainiks away from any debate on Hinduism at the moment to the more pressing problems of the people of Delhi and of other states going to polls this year. "As for Hinduism, debates will go on, and we are not going to abandon our Hinduism, but there are problems like drought in Rajasthan water shortage in Delhi and Maharashtra, and the farmers committing suicides in an agricultural economy, which need to be tackled immediately,"he said. He, however, came down heavily on the Congress and those calling Shiv Sena a communal organisation."How can the Congress term trishul diksha an act of ‘desh droh(sedition), while it supports a Government in Kashmir which was releasing terorists," he said. He appealed to all parties to support a bill on enforcing a Common Civil Code in the country to put an end to communalism. Mr Udhav Thackeray said Shiv Sainiks had carved out a niche for themselves in Maharashtra politics by rushing to the help of the needy people irrespective of their caste, creed and religion, without waiting for the Government aid to arrive. "In the same way, they should serve the people of Delhi in their our of need, if they wanted to win in elections,"he said. "Log kahte the dilli bahut door hain, par pata nahin ham kab dilli pahunch gaye,"(people had said Delhi was very far away, but in no time we reached the capital), he said expressing satisfaction and pleasure over his visit to the capital. Speaking at the function, Shiv Sena MP Subhash Desai said Mr Thackeray’s decision to come to Delhi after taking over as acting Sena chief has some significance. He has come to the heart of India with a call to spread out the party message in all directions. He advised Delhi Shiv Sainiks not to make Pakistan, Kashmir and Musharraf the only focus of their attention, "as there are other problems in the country which they had to take care of". Earlier, president of the Delhi Shiv Sena Jai Bhagwan Goel, while welcoming Mr Thakeray, presented him a bow and arrow, the Sena’s election symbol. The function was also attended by Union Minister for Power Anant Geete and Mr Satish Pradhan, Sena MP.(UNI) Mizoram CM dismisses political vendetta charge AIZAWL, Apr 28: Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga has dismissed talks of political vendetta in the criminal proceedings initiated against political rival and former Congress Chief Minister Lalthanhawla. Talking to UNI Mr Zoramthanga said the investigations against him began in 1997 when Mr Lalthanhawla was the Chief Minister. "Our Government has simply followed up the charges levelled against him in the Public Interest Litigation filed in 1997. On the contrary the present MNF Government has a few times been accused of going slow in the investigations. Even a rival political party like the Mizoram Poeple’s Conference(MPC) had led a delegation to me and urged to pursue the probe more vigorously," he added. Meanwhile, the fomer Chief Minister and Mizoram Pradesh Congress president pledged his innocence in the corruption cases. Speaking to UNI he said, "I am least bothered about the chargesheet. Let them do what they want. Only time will bring out the truth," he added. The chargesheet which came only days after the visit of Mr Imran Kidwai, AICC’s NorthEast in-charge, has fuelled rumours of a possible change of leadrship in the MPCC before the coming Assembly polls. Mr Lalthanhawla, in a bid to silence his detractors, told his supportes at a recent party rally that the PIL was an attempt to tarnish his image by a group of vested interests. "God willing we will march through the Assembly elections and win with a majority more than ever," he declared. Reiterating his non-involvement in the corruption cases he said "I did not recieve a single rupee from anyone." The 25-page chargesheet, submitted today, however, drew a list of his assets which include palatial houses in Aizawl, flats in several cities including New Delhi, all expenses paid foreign trips and a fleet of vehicles, jewelley and cash running into several crores. (UNI) Vajpayee will lead NDA during next polls, says BJP chief THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, Apr 28: BJP president M Venkaiah Naidu today said Prime Minister A B Vajpayee would continue to lead the BJP-led NDA in the Lok Sabha polls due next year and there was no proposal to advance the polls. "It is the wish of BJP and NDA allies" and Vajpayee would be projected as the next Prime Ministerial candidate at the elections, Naidu who is here in connection with the BJP state Committee meeting and organisational elections told reporters. Stating that there was no proposal before the party to advance the Lok Sabha election, Naidu said ‘we propose to hold them as per schedule’. Indicating that Ramjanmabhoomi issue would not be a major poll campaign material for the polls, Naidu said good Governance and development would be the poll plank of NDA. Admitting that construction of Ram Temple at Ayodhya was dear to the heart of BJP, Naidu said there was no agreement on it in NDA and so there was no forward movement in the matter. Naidu said consultation, Court Verdict or legislation were the three ways to resolve issue. ‘you cannot expect any solution immediately unless something happens on either of these areas", he said. Asked whether BJP had any understanding with AIADMK in Tamil Nadu, he said the party was in alliance with DMK and working together with that party at the Centre. "I do not have any new plans as of now", he said when asked about the future political plans in Tamil Nadu. Naidu said organisational elections of the party would be completed by September 30 and the new national president would be elected by the end of this year. He said the party has an objective of getting 300 seats during the next Parliament polls and two-third majority with NDA allies. "It is not an ordinary task. It is very difficult, but is not impossible", Naidu said adding that was the reason for fanning the party to all parts of the country. NDA Government was able to implement welfare as well development programmes during the last five years with limited majority than many of the previous Congress led Governments, Naidu claimed. (PTI) |
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