BJP Parliamentary board to discuss UP situation today

CHENNAI, Aug 25: The BJP Parliamentary board is meeting in New Delhi tomorrow to take stock of the political situation in Uttar Pradesh in the wake of Chief Minister Mayawati’s recommendation to dissolve the State Assembly, BJP president M Venkaiah Naidu said today.

Reacting to Ms Mayawati’s decision, he said the decision was "unilateral, unusual and unacceptable to the BJP, which is more or less an equal partner in the coalition."

All options would be explored, including formation of an alternative Government or keeping the State Assembly in suspended animation, he told reporters here.

Mr Naidu is cutting short his visit here and airdashing to New Delhi today. He had also instructed the BJP legislature party chief in up not to take any decision in this regard until the party Parliamentary board meets.

Mr Naidu had discussed the developments in up with Prime Minister A B Vajpayee over phone earlier today.

Mr Naidu said BJP legislature party leader in Uttar Pradesh Lalji Tandon had urged Ms Mayawati at the cabinet meeting not to take any hasty action.

Ms Mayawati informed the cabient of her decision to recommend the dissolution of the legislature towards the end of the meeting, he said.

Mr Naidu said he was in touch with the BJP leaders in the state and had instructed them not to take any steps till the Parliamentary board meets tomorrow.

"The party will keep in mind the party’s past experience with the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) Government before taking a decision tomorrow," he said.

Since no party had gained majority in the last Assembly Election, the BJP had decided to form a coalition Government with the BSP, he explained.

Mr Naidu refused to state whether the alliance with the BSP was over or not.

Mr Naidu said his party had not done anything to weaken the BSP, its coalition partner.

He also declined to state whether there was any major irritants between the two parties.

It may be recalled that the Taj Heritage corridor controversy, being probed by the CBI, had strained the relationship between the two parties.

Mr Naidu was informed of the developments in Uttar Pradesh while he was addressing a BJP election aides meeting from eight states in a city hotel here.

Party sources said Ms Mayawati might have been unsure of her own position in the Government which might have prompted her to recommend the dissolution of the assembly. (UNI)

Rain-related toll up to 22, as downpour continues in Gujarat

AHMEDABAD, Aug 25: With two more deaths in rain-related incidents reported in Gujarat overnight, the death toll in the second spell of monsoon reached 22 during the last 48 hours, as incessant rains continued to lash parts of the state today.

The weather office has predicted heavy rainfall at some places in the next 48 hours.

For a second time in three years, the first being on July 20, 2000, many parts of Ahmedabad were flooded yesterday, crippling normal life and paralysing all traffic. Rubber or inflatable boats were pressed into service in several areas to rescue the marooned people.

With the death of 88 people in the first spell that lasted two weeks, the total number of deaths in rain-related incidents like house collapse, electrocution, lightning and drowning in the current monsoon season in Gujarat has now reached 110. One death each was reported overnight in Nadiad town of Kheda and Khambat of Anand due to rain-related causes. Twenty people had died yesterday and several hundred removed to safer places in different districts.

In Ahmedabad, although the fury of rains has somewhat abated since last evening, its after-effects continued to wreak havoc on the commercial capital of Gujarat, throwing its normal life out of gear.

Ahmedabad, which was flooded with ten inches of rains yesterday, received another six inches overnight. The maximum rains in this spell have been received in Ahmedabad, Kheda and Gandhinagar districts, followed by Vadodara, Panchamhals, Sabarkantha and Mehsana, official sources said today.

Most educational institutions in Ahmedabad remained closed today as were several markets located in low-lying areas that continued to remain submerged in knee-deep water.

Shop-keepers and others were seen trying to pump out water. Telecommunications were also badly affected as telephone exchanges, too, remained marooned at some places. About a dozen houses had collapsed in Gujarat yesterday and several trees uprooted. Roads caved in and in some cases developed potholes.

In the wake of the heavy rains, the State Government has cautioned the district authorities to closely monitor the situation in areas around 70 dams, many of which were flowing close to danger mark.

Chief Minister Narendra Modi held a meeting of ministers and officials to assess the situation. He directed the district administrations to put their machinery in full gear in relief and rescue operations.

Vehicular traffic was severely affected and several trains including Ashram Express, Ajmer-Mumbai Holiday, Bareily-Bhuj Express, Dehradun-Okha Express, Suryanagari Express and Bikaner-Bandra Express were halted at either Ahmedabad or Nadiad stations due to the washing away of soil from under the tracks near Khodiyar, railway sources said. A number of state transport buses, too, were cancelled or delayed.

A UNI report from Vadodara said although the fury of rains had reduced, the Ajwal dam continued to flow more than one foot above the danger mark.

In Vadodara city, the Vishwamitra Rivulet, that passes through Vadodara, was flowing at 1.3 feet above the danger mark of 27 feet. More than 3,500 people had been removed to safer places, including nearly 1,250 in the city. The worst-hit areas in this cultural capital of Gujarat were Sanjaynagar, Valasia, Bapod, Akota and Alkapuri where many places remained water-logged. In the rural areas, Vaghodia and Savli were the worst-hit where 250 and 500 people were shifted to safer localities respectively. (UNI)

Shekhawat calls to remember those who struggled against foreign domination

NEW DELHI, Aug 25: Vice President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat today asked people of all communities to come together to remember the struggle against foreign domination and the values cherished by Guru Gobind Singh, Shivaji and Durga Dass Rathore, lamenting that these great men have so far been honoured only by their respective communities.

"In my long experience, I have seen that Durga Dass, Shivaji and Guru Gobind Singh are only remembered by Rajasthanis, Marathis and the Sikhs. These great men are beyond communities and everyone should follow the ideals and value systems they cherished," he said after Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani released commemorative coins in honour of veer Durga Dass Rathore at a function here.

Shekhawat asserted that communal colour should not be given to the accomplishments of personalities like Durga Dass, saying while he fought Aurangzeb, he also later gave shelter to his grand-daughter who had been sent to him for safe custody by the Moghul Emperor’s son Prince Akbar.

Advani recalled the deeds of valour, courage, dedication, loyalty, integrity and prudence of Durga Dass and said "by honouring such people, we honour the nation".

Finance Minister Jaswant Singh and Tourism and Culture Minister Jagmohan extolled the virtuous acts of Durga Dass towards maintaining the sovereignty of the former Marwar state. Durga Dass had also kept an infant Maharaja Ajit Singh in safe custody and later installed him on the throne of Marwar at Jodhpur.

Finance Minister said by releasing the coins in honour of Durga Dass "we are not idol-worshipping him but commemorating his value system and ideals which are relevant even till this date".

Jaswant Singh said the coins of Rs 100, Rs 10 and one rupee denomination bore the portrait of Durga Dass on one side and the Ashoka pillar on the other.

Jagmohan said the history of Rajasthan was marked by stories of valour, courage, loyalty and freedom and added that tourism ministry had launched large number of projects to beautify and maintain the historic cultural heritage treasures spread all over the state, as was being done in other parts of the country as well.

In his inimitable style, the vice president asked Jaswant Singh "not to act as a Finance Minister and help Jagmohan" in his mission to preserve and beautify India’s rich history to attract more and more tourists to these sites.

Maharaja Gaj Singh of Jodhpur was among other members of Rajasthani royalty who were present on the occasion. (PTI)

SJM to demonstrate to caution centre against WTO trap: RSS stalwart

PATNA, Aug 25: Rashtriya Swamyamsevak Sangh (RSS) leader K N Govindacharya today said a massive demonstration would be held on September 2 before Parliament to caution the Central Government against "the World Trade Organisation (WTO) trap to exploit third world nations economically".

Addressing a press conference here, Mr Govindacharya said the demonstration, to be held under the banner of Swadesdhi Jagaran Manch (SJM), would focus on the experiences of eight-year WTO regime in international trade.

"The developing countries had not been benefited from any of the agreements under the WTO," he alleged.

"In the forthcoming ministerial-level conference at Cancun in Mexico from September 10 to 14, India should desist from adding new dimension to existing negotiations and signing any agreement on agricultural produces," he observed and called for reviewing of agreements signed and negotiations done earlier.

Criticising the economic policies of successive Central Governments in power, irrespective of party affiliations, Mr Govindacharya said real wages had reduced over the years, poverty alleviation programmes had turned into an exercise in futility and plight of women had not improved.

He advocated for imposing quantitative restrictions on agricultural produces and small scale industrial sector to safeguard indigenous industries in the wake of threat from multi-national companies and emphasised on identifying the sectors to be opened for foreign investment.

Mr Govindacharya welcomed any individual committee to promote self-reliance and opposed the WTO "machination for subjugating the third world by rich nations’. (UNI)

People leave offices for homes in panic

MUMBAI, Aug 25: Panic prevailed in the metropolis following the blasts in the city with people running helter-skelter in downtown MUMBAI. Jamming of cellphone networks were also reported, adding to the confusion.

The suburban railway stations were crowded in the afternoon also, as many people working at different places in the city preferred to go back home and join their families.

Soon after the blasts, there was extensive jamming of the mobile phone network as the cell-phones showed ‘network busy’. It was even difficult to send SMS messages — which is one of the most reliable means of communication.

Though there were two blasts in the city, there were several hoax calls and reports of more blasts emanated from the rumour mongers.

As mumbaikars found it difficult to access the cellphone networks soon after the blasts, they were disgusted and blamed the cellphone companies. The mobile service operators, however, refused to comment.

The mothers at home were a worried lot as their kids could not reach home in time after the school hours particularly in south MUMBAI and south-central MUMBAI because of the traffic jam.

Some of the functions and scheduled press conferences were also cancelled.

The launch of ‘real good food chicken book’ compiled by Rashmi Uday Singh has been postponed in the wake of twin blasts in the city.

Similarly, a press conference of the Orient Information Technology which was to be held tomorrow has been cancelled following the blasts in the city.

People commuting in suburban trains and buses were seen discussing the sensational blasts and trying to get in touch with their friends who work in the locality where the blasts took place.

Also the memories of the 1993 serial blasts were revived in the minds of the Mumbaikars.(UNI)

| home | state | national | business| editorial | advertisement | sports |
| international | weather | mailbag | suggestions | search | subscribe | send mail |