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Advani plans to pen analysis of Indian politics NEW DELHI, Feb 13: A voracious reader and a political pamphleteer during the emergency, Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani plans to pen an analysis of political developments....more Sikkim
Govt clarifies GANGTOK, Feb 13: After remaining silent for over a fortnight on its alleged role in closing down a cable network in the State capital, the Sikkim ..more First-ever fusion of military band with Carnatic music NAGPUR, Feb 13: The fusion of a military band with traditional Carnatic instruments by corporal Rajaram, the first ever by an armed ...more 7
Dalits killed in NAWADA, Feb 13: A war of attrition between two groups of criminals left at least seven people dead and another injured ......more |
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Asia’s first aerospace
MUMBAI, Feb 13: A Rs 3.5-crore aerospace hall taking shape at the Nehru science centre at Worli is slated to be thrown open later this year to ....more Opposition walks out over Peruvembu liquor tragedy THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, Feb 13: The Peruvembu illicit liquor tragedy in which five people, including a woman, were killed last night rocked the .....more BJP releases election manifesto SHIMLA, Feb 13: The Bharatiya Janata Party today released its election manifesto, promising to continue struggle, if voted to power in the February .....more Arrack
distillers turn KARIMEDU, TAMIL NADU, Feb 13: For Latha, an illicit arrack distiller in this tiny hamlet, the word ‘run’ was synonymous ....more |
Advani plans to pen analysis of Indian politics NEW DELHI, Feb 13: A voracious reader and a political pamphleteer during the emergency, Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani plans to pen an analysis of political developments in the country since independence but is unable to pursue it for want of time. "I have been wanting to share my experiences in public life but I don’t have the time to do so," Advani, a former journalist, told PTI. The septuagenarian leader said he had received a couple of offers from some people for writing his biography or even an autobiography if he could spare some time. "I have not yet made up my mind," he said. Asked whether he would prefer a biography, Advani said, "then it would be more of my personal life including my days in Karachi. "My idea is to write an analysis of political developments in the country since independence. How Indian democracy and party system evolved, the experience of emergency, the shift from one-party rule to coalition politics etc," Advani said. Citing paucity of time as the "biggest constraint", Advani said, "the only time I wrote a lot was when I was in jail during emergency and after the fall of the Morarji Desai Government. I wrote five to six pamphlets for the underground movement during emere and concentration. Jansangh founder Deendayal Upadhyaya used to find time to write even while pursuing active politics. He made it a point to write daily." Advani, however, said he made it a point to take some time off his hectic schedule for his favourite passion of reading. Interestingly, he is currently reading a compilation titled ‘A passion for books’ - "a book lover’s treasury of stories, essays, humour, lore and lists on collecting, reading, borrowing, lending, caring for and appreciating books.", which he even took with him during his whirl-wind Himachal poll campaign launch yesterday. Movies are another weakness of the "iron man." During a recent tour to Thailand, he told his tour guide, "next time I come to your country, I would like to see the bridge over river Kwaii, which I had seen only on celluloid." Declining to comment on the failure of ‘Devdas’ to get an Oscar nomination, Advani said, "Lagaan, which was nominated last year, was a far superior film in terms of story and acting." The latest ‘Devdas’ was "spectacular, extravagant with good acting and music but Kiron Kher’s acting was the best." Asked about the latest movies he had seen, Advani said, "Company and Vivek Oberoi’s Saathiya." Advani recalled that in early 60s’ after a municipal poll debacle in Delhi, he had gone with his party colleagues to watch ‘Phir Subah Hogi’ and that he had left watching movies between 1942-57. "Subsequently, when I was staying with my uncle in Mumbai, I heard that a person died of shock after watching a movie. I decided to watch that horror movie `House of Wax’ and later saw many Alfred Hitchcock films," he said. (PTI) |
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Sikkim Govt clarifies stand on closure of cable TV network GANGTOK, Feb 13: After remaining silent for over a fortnight on its alleged role in closing down a cable network in the State capital, the Sikkim Government today clarified that it had not asked the network owner to shut down nor did it have any knowledge of the reason behind the suspension of cable operation. An official release said Sikkim Cable Television (SCTV) was not paying entertainment tax at the rate of 25 per cent of the total payment collected as subscription fees from the subscribers per month in accordance with the prescribed norms inspite of issuing several notices to them to this effect by the State Urban Development and Housing Department for the last four years. When the entertainment tax arrears ran to several lakhs, the UDHD had no choice left but to direct the SCTV to clear the outstanding dues within a stipulated date failing which the department would be constrained to take appropriate action against the defaulter as per the existing Government norms, the release said. The SCTV moved the high court in response. The clarification came in the backdrop of a heightened ‘cable war’ between the SCTV and newcomer Nayuma Cable Television resulting in snapping of wires by each other and blacking out of channels. Five persons including the owner of SCTV were arrested by the police late last month for allegedly roaming with weapons in the night and booked under the arms act. Following the incident, the SCTV suspended its operation and all its customers were taken over by Nayuma Network. Asking the public not to be carried away by ‘hearsay’, the Government said if the arrested individuals happened to be the owner and functionaries of the SCTV, it was a ‘pure coincidence’ and their arrest on charges of possessing illegal arms was not at all related to the self-imposed suspension of the network’s operations. The cable war between the two took a political turn with opposition Sikkim Sangram Parishad supremo Nar Bahadur Bhandari demanding CBI enquiry to look into the incidents leading to the arrest of SCTV owner under the arms act. He also alleged partisan role of the police and blamed the ruling regime for curbing the freedom of speech and throttling democracy. (PTI) |
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First-ever fusion of military band with Carnatic music NAGPUR, Feb 13: The fusion of a military band with traditional Carnatic instruments by corporal Rajaram, the first ever by an armed forces band the world over, gave an insight into the talent of the Indian Air Force band in blending the Western and Indian classical with folk music. In their first-ever performance in this orange city, the concert mesmerised the audience with their vast musical repertoire at the Vasantrao Deshpande memorial hall here last evening. The "men-in-blue" had, for the occasion, traded their uniforms for the traditional attire of Kurta-Pyjama. They rendered Muthuswamy Deekshitar’s popular composition "Vathapi Ganapathim Bhajeham..." in Raga "Hamsadhwani to the accompaniment of the Mridangam, Ghatam, Morsing, Manjira and Tabla , drawing a loud applause from an appreciative audience. The 90-minute concert began with the fanfare ‘battle of Britain’ (composed by godwin) to welcome Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief (AOC-in-C), maintenance command, Air Marshal D C Nigam. "Fame and glory", a melodious grand march, was conducted by Fl Lt G K Jena, the principal conductor, who is a classical violinist and accomplished Sarod artiste set the mood for the evening. He has performed with many musical groups, both at home and abroad. With its 60 members playing myriad instruments like the Piccolo, oboe, clarinet, cornet, French horn, saxophone, trombone, euphonium, bassoon, drums, timpani, xylophone and the traditional Indian instruments like the tabla, mridangam and flute, the air warriors belied the fact that they are warriors first and musicians later. The select movements from the popular musical ‘sound of music’, a lively scene of a typical medieval Persian market, an orchestral hungarian folk tune by Johannes Brahms in gypsy style, "the waves of the Danube "(1980) and the ever-popular title tune of the film "Titanic" kept the audience spell-bound. Besides Fl Lt Jena, the other conductors at the concert included warrant officer Augustine, Junior Warrant Officers A L Maxwell and K X Sebastian besides Sergeants job, Rana and P J Stephan. Formed at Kohat in north-western frontier in 1944 with one officer and 47 airmen, the air force band is on a countrywide tour. It arrived here after performing in Bangalore, Mumbai and Delhi. In his brief address, Air Marshal Nigam said it was the vision of the Chief of Air Staff that the skills of the Air Force band were to be presented to the general public. (UNI) |
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BJP releases election manifesto SHIMLA, Feb 13: The Bharatiya Janata Party today released its election manifesto, promising to continue struggle, if voted to power in the February 26 Assembly elections, for grant of due share to Himachal Pradesh under the provisions of the Punjab Reorganisation Act-1966. It said the party will lay its claim for legitimate share with Bhakra Beas management board and make efforts for transfer of the Shanan power house to Himachal. Releasing the manifesto at a press conference here, BJP leader Madan Lal Khurana, flanked by Himachal Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal and Union Rural Development Minister Shanta Kumar, said the manifesto would be implemented in letter and spirit. The party envisages generation of 10,000 mw power through direct investment of Rs 35,000 crore from Central Government and verious other agencies. The planned power generation programme undertaken for execution of hydel projects in the last five years will be completed by the year 2008 in all meaures, Prof Dhumal said. The manifesto promises an orderly rule and dynamic administration by the BJP Government which will decide public complaints within 45 days of their submission. The manifesto said reorganisation and creation of new districts in the State was on the panel and the government would set up administrative reforms commission to streamline the state level administration. The manifesto said registration of name in the employment exchange in the next five years will entitle every member for suitable employment. An additional investment of Rs 35,000 crore in power generating sector would be able to absorb five lakh youth by way of direct and indirect employment. The practice of giving Punjab pay scales to employees will continue if the BJP was voted to power. However, "anti employees" policy enunciated by the present congress Government in Punjab will not be followed, the manifesto said. It said a pregnant woman employee would be allowed a six months maternity leave till such time she gave birth to two children only. The package provided during operation Vijay and operation Rakshak in honour of martyrs to look after their families will be continued by the BJP Government. The BJP Government would provide all villages and urban localities with drinking water by the year 2008. The BJP promises to bring in alround prosperity in Himachal and for realising this ambitious objective the "Vision 2010" project has been drawn out, Prof Dhumal said. (UNI) |
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Arrack distillers turn a new leaf in Karimedu KARIMEDU, TAMIL NADU, Feb 13: For Latha, an illicit arrack distiller in this tiny hamlet, the word ‘run’ was synonymous with the police till recently. Now, she has overcome the fear of the Khaki-clad men so much so that she walks up to the nearest police outpost just to greet them. Latha’s household is among the 400 families in this dusty settlement, once a railway coal storage yard (hence the Tamil derivative ‘Karimedu’), which has renounced its notorious occupation. Empty drums and earthen pots lying half-buried in the thorny shrub jungle adjoining the village, north of Chennai, greets the visitor at present, a stark reminder of the infamous profession. Though they earned about Rs 50 lakh by bootlegging more than 30,000 litres of illicit arrack and 3000 barrels of fermented wash every month, the villagers are content with their rehabilitated status. The police facilitated jobs to 40 of them, who are earning anything between Rs 2,000 to Rs 3,000 now. "I have two children to take care of and am not able to make ends meet with this measly salary. But, I am living in peace now," says 30-year-old Latha, who is among the 39 beneficiaries identified by the police and employed as contract labourers in the Indian Railway freight subsidiary ‘Concor’ at Thiruvottiyur near here since November 2002. "Her alcoholic husband died a few years ago, leaving behind only the family trade of distilling arrack for her to eke out a livelihood. So we chose her as a priority beneficiary," Joint Commissioner of Police (North) C Sylendra Babu told UNI. Prabhu Das, whose wife is serving a one year term under the bootleggers act, had also been given employment, he added. Forty more villagers are likely to be absorbed in ‘Concor’ shortly, where the men are employed as loading and unloading workers and women as sweepers. While many others have set up petty shops or are engaged as house maids in the city, a sizeable number of them have reportedly shifted to neighbouring Vichur village, presumably to carry on the trade. Mr Babu, who conceived and implemented the rehabilitation programme under the guidance of Chennai Police Commissioner K Vijay Kumar, convinced senior officials of ‘Concor’ to provide jobs to some of the villagers, thus helping them join the mainstream. Interestingly, it was the British rulers, who had in the 1930s, encouraged this Telugu-speaking Adi Dravidar community, better known as the "criminal tribes" in the area, to distil arrack as a means to prevent them from indulging in crime. The trade flourished and was handed down from one generation to another despite introduction of prohibition in 1946. Police raids often resulted in very little success as even after being arrested, jailed and released, these men and women of Karimedu invariably returned to the profession of distilling arrack. The rehabilitation programme has also came as a boon for ‘Concor’, whose freight movement had been hit hard due to encroachments outside the facility’s gates by Karimedu villagers. Two gates, which open up to roads leading to the city, were closed for decades, thus forcing thousands of container lorries to take a circuitous route spending lakhs of rupees on precious fuel. "No sooner than ‘Concor’ expressed willingness to provide jobs to the villagers, we grabbed the opportunity to get the encroachments cleared," said additional Deputy Commissioner of police (prohibition and excise) R Chinnaraj, who headed the 20-member team which brought about the sea change in the village. The villagers also have in place a system to inform the police about activities of distilling and bootlegging in the village, says N Mallaya, the 70-year-old Panchayat president of Karimedu, who had himself indulged in the business in his early years. There has been some resistance from the labourers union of Concor to the recruitment of the villagers in large numbers, as it has reportedly deprived it of Rs 1,35,000 collected from job seekers. However, the involvement of the police in the process has silenced them, said Sub-Inspector of Police (prohibition and excise) S Seetharaman. While the police has successfully put an end to the illicit arrack menace in Karimedu, noticeable distilling activities have been reported in Vichur in neighbouring Chengai east district now. (UNI) NHRC moved against Jama Masjid Mgmt for denying disabled entry NEW DELHI, Feb 13: The National Human Rights Commission’s intervention has been sought to prevent the violation of human rights of disabled persons by the Jama Masjid management committee, which has imposed a blanket ban on their entry in the holy Minar. Social Jurists, a group of lawyers working for the downtrodden and marginalized sections of society, has complained against the committee for imposing a total ban on the entry of disabled persons into the holy Minar. Citing the case of one Manoj Kumar, a resident of Uttam Nagar suffering with 60 per cent orthopaedic disability, who was refused entry to the Minar on the ground that he was a disabled person, social jurist co-ordinator Ritu Jain requested the commission to issue directions to the Delhi Government of Delhi and Jama Masjid Management Committee not to discriminate against disabled persons and allow them entry to the Minar. Mr Kumar, along with his son, had visited the historic mosque on December 28 last year. When he tried to buy entrance tickets for the holy Minar, he was turned back due to his disability. They claimed that "because of some security measures, Yeh Viklang Nahin Ja Sakta." Even though Mr Kumar explained that when he could climb the main staircase of the mosque, he could climb the staircase of the minar as well, he was not given the entry ticket. When he asked to meet someone in the committee, he was told that there was nobody in the office. Mentally disturbed by this treatment, he sent a representation to Shahi Imam Maulana Abdullah Bukhari and the Jama Masjid Management Committee on December 30, requesting them to permit him and other disabled persons entry into the Minar. He also sent two reminders thereafter, but no response till date has been received from the committee. Ms Jain pointed out that the provisions of the persons with disabilities (equal opportunities, protection of rights and full participation) act, 1995 make it obligatory for the State and other authorities concerned to take steps to ensure barrier-free environment in public places, work places, public utilities, schools and other institutions. Nearly seven crore people suffer from some disability in the country and the act safeguards their right to equality, she said. "It is submitted that the management committee is not justified in imposing a blanket ban on persons with disabilities to enter the holy Minar at Jama Masjid. The mosque, including the holy Minar, is expected to be disabled-friendly and the management committee is not expected to have a harsh attitude towards disabled persons. Therefore, the aforesaid actions violate the human and statutory rights not only of Mr Manoj Kumar but also of disabled persons all over the world," the complaint said. The social jurist co-ordinator said the Jama Masjid was visited by people from all over the world, many of whom would be disabled. While in most of the countries, special attention was given to the problems being faced by such persons, it was unfortunate that in India, the authorities responsible for implementing the act were least bothered to fulfil their responsibility. "It is possible that the management committee is not conscious of the implications of their rules and actions. They should be made aware of the act and the consequences of its violation. The Delhi Government is also required to take note of these facts and ensure redressal of the grievances as highlighted in the complaint," she pointed out. (UNI) SC refuses to take up Centre’s plea on Ayodhya issue NEW DELHI, Feb 13: The Supreme Court today refused to take up before February 21 the Centre’s plea for hearing its application on the vacation of apex court’s order banning any kind of religious activity in the 77 acres of land in Ayodhya acquired by the Government after the demolition of the disputed structure in 1992. Solicitor General Kirit Rawal mentioned the matter before a bench comprising Chief Justice V N Khare, Justice S P Sinha and Justice A R Lakshamanan and requested the court to hear Government’s plea at the earliest. However, the court inquired as to when the matter has been listed and on being told it was for February 21, the court said it should come on that date. The Dharam Sansad organised by the VHP to chalk out plans for temple construction if the Government failed to hand over the undisputed land to the Parishad is slated for February 22. The Centre had moved the court on February four within hours of Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee meeting Kanchi Shankaracharya who had last year played a crucial role in the Ayodhya issue by holding negotiations with the parties involved in the dispute. The Government application sought vacation of the apex court’s March 13, 2002 order, by which on the eve of the controversial "Shiladaan" ceremony organised by the VHP, the court had banned any "kind of religious activity, including "Shiladaan", on the acquired undisputed land. Seeking an early hearing of a petition filed by Mohammad Aslam alias Bhure on which the Supreme Court had passed the interim stay order, the Government said as peace prevailed in the area, the ban order could be lifted. (PTI) BJP rebel vows to give tough fight in triangular contest SOLAN, Feb 13: Even as the BJP flags and banners dominated the streets of this agro-industrial town in the Shivalik hills of Himachal Pradesh, party president Venkaiah Naidu was informed about "the trouble maker" as soon as he arrived here to campaign for the February 26 polling for the next State Vidhan Sabha. The slogans of "Jai Sri Ram, Jai Sri Ram", echoed around the BJP candidate and sitting MLA Rajiv Bindal in the Solan Assembly constituency, as he seemed uncomfortable in responding to the querries about his rival and former Himachal Pradesh Minister Mohinder Nath Sofat, a rebel candidate. Mr Bindal had wrested the Solan seat from Dr Krishna Mohini of the Congress in the 2000 byelections, following the Supreme Court order for repolling. It was Mr Sofat, ousted from the BJP four months back, who had been instrumental in dethroning Ms. Mohini by filing a petition against her election by a single vote in the 1998 election. "It was me who filed the petition, after I was declared defeated by a single vote in 1998.... And I even kept silent when I was denied the ticket during the 2000 byelection," Mr Sofat said. His campaign banners read, "Anyay Karna Paap Hai, Anyay Sehna Paap Hai" (committing and tolerating injustice is a sin). On the other hand, Ms Mohini has vowed to retain the seat which she had lost in the 2000 bypoll after the Supreme Court gave a verdict for repolling. Concentrating more in villages, in the periphery of 15 to 30 kms of uneven terrains outside the town, the Congress female candidate was all out to convey that the BJP was falsely claiming on the developmental works "as the ruling party did not focus on rural development." The Congress is also all out to utilise the rebel BJP factor. "How could the party, which does injustice with its own workers, can help the people at large," asked Congress candidate Ms Krishna Mohini, who was defeated by the BJP MLA in the 2000 byelection by 3,537 votes. The Solan constituency holds about 60,000 voters and 93 per cent households of farmers which mainly grow tomatoes, serving the Northern India’s agro-based industry including the export-oriented units. The yield of tomato on these terrace fields is harvested althrough the year, with traders coming in here from as far as west bengal for the horticulture produce of the adjacent districts of Shimla, Mandi and Sirmaur as well which include peas and other vegetables. The Solan constituency and its neighbouring Assembly segments of Kasauli, Nalagarh, Doon, Arki and Dharampur in the Solan district comprise mainly of ‘Thakurs’ and ‘Brahmins’ who are either farmers or are in the service sector. (UNI) Multi-cornered contest on in most of the 60 seats AGARTALA, Feb 13: A multi-cornered contest will be witnessed in 55 of the 60 Assembly constituencies in Tripura which goes to polls on February 26. Although there are a number of smaller parties, the main tussle would be between the ruling CPI (M)-led Left Front, Congress-Indigenous Nationalist Party of Tripura alliance and BJP-led Tripura Ganatantrik Aikya Mancha (TGAM). As an NDA partner, the Trinamool Congress has a seat sharing arrangement with the BJP. The ruling Left Front and the Congress-INPT alliance has big stakes in the coming election. The CPI (M) led Left Front Government had ruled the State since 1977, except during 1988-1993 when the Congress-TUJS alliance wrested power from the Front. In the outgoing House, the CPI(M) alone has 38 seats while its partners RSP and CPI have two seats each. In the 60-member House, there are 12 Congress members, five INPT and one Congress supported independent. Only last year, the Tripura Upajati Juba Samity (TUJS)-a tribal based party-merged with the newly-formed indigenous Nationalist Party of Tripura. The INPT was formed after the merger of erstwhile militant outfit turned political party—Tripura National Volunters (TNV) and Indigenous People’s Party of Tripura. Of the 254 candidates contesting the election, a maximum number of 55 candidates belong to the ruling CPI(M), followed by Congress (42), BJP (21), Trinamool Congress (19), INPT (18), Nationalist Congress Party (12), Lok Janashakti Party headed by former Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan (10), Amara Bangali and CPI (ML—Liberation) (nine seats each), Janata Dal (United) (four), CPI and RSP (two seats each) and Forward Bloc (one). As many as 50 independent candidates are also contesting the election. In the last 1998 Assembly election, the total number of candidates stood at 270. The coming election will also see 16 women candidates in the fray, five less than the number in 1998. Six of the 16 women candidates belong to the main opposition Congress, followed by ruling CPI (M) (three) and BJP (one). The remaining are contesting either as independents or on smaller parties’ tickets. A keen and direct contest would be held in five important assembly segments. These segments are Khayerpur, Mandaibazar (ST), Asharambari(ST), Bagma(ST) and Ampinagar(ST). Such a direct contest is unprecedented in Tripura. Maximum number of eight candidates are contesting from the Radhakishorpur Assembly segments in South Tripura. Altogether 19,35,143 electors, including 9,32,991 female voters, will decide the fate of 254 candidates. Prominent among them are Chief Minister and CPI(M) politboro member Manik Sarkar, Finance and PWD Minister Badal Chowdhury, Education Minister Anil Sarkar, Tribal Welfare Minister Aghore Debbarma (all CPI(M)), two former Chief Ministers Samir Ranjan Barman and Sudhir Ranjan Majumder, Tripura Pradesh Congress president Birajit Sinha, opposition leader Jawahar Saha, former TPCC president Gopal Roy, INPT president Bijoy Kurmar Hrangkhawl and party’s general secretary Rabindra Debbarma, Shyama Charan Tripura (INPT), BJP State president Ranajoy Kumar Deb, Trinamool Congress president Amal Mallik and former minister Matilal Saha (Trinamool Congress). Dissident candidates of both ruling and opposition parties are also contesting the elections as independents. Former BJP leader Jishnu Debbarma, who recently joined the Congress, was contesting from Charilam constituency while former state Forward Bloc secretary Nisith Das was contesting from the Bordowali segment. Another FB leader was also fighting from the Banamalipur constituency. The ruling CPI(M) received a major blow before the coming polls after veteran CPI(M) leader and party’s former MLA Kartik Kanya Debbarma, who was the first woman tribal minister, joined the NCP. Meanwhile, People’s Democratic Front(PDF), a breakway faction of the ruling CPI(M), and Rastriya Janata Dal (RJD), headed by former Bihar Chief Minister Laloo Prasad Yadav, announced their support to the ruling Left Front candidates. (UNI) |
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