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Centre-State relations
de-politicised by NEW DELHI, May 10: Asserting that Vajpayee Government has "de-politicised and de-ideologised" Centre-State relations, Deputy Prime....more Assam
polarised GUWAHATI, May 10: The polarisation in Assam on the IMDT issue appears to be complete with the warring parties ....more Would
like to forget NEW DELHI, May 10: While the completion of five-years of the A B Vajpayee-led Government at the Centre ...more AICTE initiative to improve technical education standard CHANDIGARH, May 10: The All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) has launched ,.....more |
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Rumours linking me CHANDIGARH, May 10: She does not have a single release to her credit yet, but she has already created enough waves in the cut-throat ....more Kalyan
rules out LUCKNOW, May 10: Putting to rest all speculations regarding his rejoining the BJP, former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister.....more Comprehensive law a must to make parties accountable AHMEDABAD, May 10: Election Commissioner T S Krishnamurthy today underscored the need for enactment of a comprehensive law to deal with the . .....more SONIPAT, May 10: The northern railway has decided to opencity booking agencies in four cities under its Delhi division forthe.....more |
Centre-State relations de-politicised by NDA Govt NEW DELHI, May 10: Asserting that Vajpayee Government has "de-politicised and de-ideologised" Centre-State relations, Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani today said such a "conscious" approach had led to "smoother and harmonious" relations between the two. "I can state that the Centre’s conduct with all States has been completely even-handed. Our style of governance is highly consultative. I count it as one of our Government’s several successes that we have completely de-politicised and de-ideologised Centre-State relations," he said at the `India today’ Chief Ministers’ conclave. Castigating parties for sometimes adopting an approach of political untouchability, Advani said "ideological untouchability should be tabooed" when the question of national interest arises. "A qualitative change has occured in the Centre where many regional parties which have got together under the banner of NDA have played a major role in national politics .... NDA is a political manifestation of the social diversity of India," he said. This, Advani said, had given an alternative approach to the Indian polity and the rulers of the country as to how regional aspirations could be blended to have a national perspective. Chief Ministers including N Chandrababu Naidu (Andhra Pradesh), Rabri Devi (Bihar), Narendra Modi (Gujarat) and Manohar Prikar (Goa), besides Union Ministers and leaders of political parties were present at the gathering, where Goa was adjudged the best State in the overall category. "For the first time, the country has evolved a cohesive political platform capable of providing stable governance at the Centre and, at the same time, harmonising regional aspirations with a national perspective," Advani said. He said at times he faced criticism for having "a good functional relationship" with Chief Ministers of opposition-ruled States of West Bengal, Tripura and Jammu and Kashmir. "We have consciously adopted this approach because it is our conviction that the interests of the nation must always supersede all other considerations," he said, adding that strengthening of States would in turn strengthen federalism. Due to such an approach, the DPM said, impartial elections could be held to the assemblies of J and K, Tripura and Meghalaya. "Though our principal ally (national conference) lost in J and K, it was a victory for Indian democracy. The supporters of militancy were resoundingly rejected. The situation in the State is witnessing a hopeful turnaround," he said, adding it would be Centre’s endeavour to consolidate the gains in J and K in a sustained manner. In Tripura and Meghalaya too, he said the Centre provided all support, including sending of security forces, to tackle law and order during elections. In this context, "I told the West Bengal Chief Minister why this kind of a problem was being faced in the Panchayat Polls. He assured me all steps will be taken to ensure free and fair polls", Advani said. Referring to ‘bimaru’ States of Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, the DPM said these States, which accounted for 40 per cent of the total populace, have "historically been our ‘jujharu’ (strong and sound) States. They bore the brunt of foreign invasions for centuries, but also fought valiantly for freedom". The socio-economic revival of these States was "one of the strategic components or our strategy to make India a developed nation by 2020," he said. Advani also referred to the Eastern and Northeastern regions and said efforts should be made to "make east India the new food basket of our country". Opposing the view that States were "dragging reforms", he said many difficulties faced by various States "are genuine", but "some are created by competitive politics of parties opposing certain reform measures in States where they are in opposition". Advani also expressed serious concern over the "alarming decline" in the male-female ratio in the developed States of Punjab, Haryana, Maharashtra and Delhi, saying "most of the nearly 1.4 million `missing’ girls were victims of `son-preference’ and the resultant evil practice of female foeticide in these economically advanced States". (PTI) |
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Assam polarised over IMDT issue GUWAHATI, May 10: The polarisation in Assam on the IMDT issue appears to be complete with the warring parties trying to give a communal turn to the whole issue of illegal infiltration. If the confrontational attitude of the BJP and Congress are not enough, the radical organisations have also made it clear that till the next general election the centrestage of Assam politics will be occupied by the foreigner’s issue. Enjoying the fight from the sidelines is the All Assam Student Union (AASU), the actual force behind the whole movement and the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP), which is finally taking a clear stand to come out of the ambiguity. The radical Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and fundamentalist organisation like all Assam Muslim Student Union (AASMU) have threatened to give a communal colour to the whole episode. At present, the Congress, left and Muslim groups are opposing the Centre’s move to introduce a bill to repeal the act. On the other hand, all other parties led by the AASU are supporting the move. "We hail this move," AASU adviser Dr Samujjal Kumar Bhattacharya said. But the Congress is angry and Assam Government spokesman Ripun Bora said that party would not only oppose but also see to it that it is not passed in Parliament. "We will see to it that the bill cannot be passed. The act was never aimed at protecting and harbouring the foreigners," said Congress chief spokesman Sylvius Condpan. The cabinet decision of scrapping the IMDT has to be ratified by Parliament and the numbers are not on the side of the NDA to see it through in the Lok Sabha and needs a joint session for it. But the Centre hurriedly introduced the bill in the Lok Sabha yesterday catching the opposition on wrong foot. The repeal of the IMDT has been the single most important issue in Assam for past 18 years and the BJP is all set to take strong mileage out of it. "It shows that only the BJP is seriously concerned over the illegal migrant issue. Everybody offered lip services and it is we who have done it," according to senior BJP State president Rajen Gohain. The AASU is also cautious. "The repealing can be done only through Parliament and the BJP does not have the number. So a joint session is needed and we do demand a joint session of Parliament in this session to repeal the act," said Dr Bhattacharya. He, however, added that it was a good beginning. Similar sentiments were echoed by AGP leader Sarbananda Sonowal, who has been fighting a case in the Supreme Court seeking legal intervention to repeal the act. "We have all along been demanding this and the IMDT is the single biggest hurdle in throwing out the foreigners," he said. With the general election round the corner, the BJP with this political masterstroke has set the campaign agenda for the next general election in Assam. Congress state chief Brindabaon Goswami, however, strongly criticised Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi for his statement that the repeal of IMDT act would lead to a "dangerous" situation in Assam. Mr Goswami in a statement said such remarks from the Chief Minister speaks of his irresponsibility. Mr Gogoi on his part believes that the entire story of infiltration is exaggerated by the regional party camp. "Where is the figure. When the census is showing that population rise has come down, then how can there be infiltration," he said while talking to UNI here last night. However, a lengthy report given by former Assam Governor Lt Gen (Retd) S K Sinha to the President spoke of a demographic change in the State because of the unabated influx. It said that nearly 50 per cent of assembly constituencies were directly or indirectly "controlled" by Bangladeshi settlers. (UNI) |
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Would like to forget Gujarat events: PM NEW DELHI, May 10: While the completion of five-years of the A B Vajpayee-led Government at the Centre was a significant event, the Gujarat riots in 2002 were a sorry chapter the Prime Minister would like to forget. The credit for completing five-years by any non-Congress Government at the Centre went to all members of the 24-party National Democratic Alliance, says the Prime Minister describing it as the success of the coalition-experiment in Indian democracy. In an interview to the inaugural issues of the Hindi language ‘Sahara Samay’, ‘Sahara Time’ in English and the Urdu ‘Aalami Sahara’ magazines, Mr Vajpayee said besides the nation achieving the status of a nuclear-weapons nation, he felt immense satisfaction at several beginnings made during the period. These included the employment-generating schemes like the National Highways Project, PM Rural Roads Project and the Sampurna Gramin Rozgar Yojna. The holding of free and fair assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir were yet another notable achievement, Mr Vajpayee said. However, he said he would like to forget the "unfortunate events" that occurred in Gujarat last year. Rejecting any place for violence in politics, the Prime Minister referred to Praveen Togadia’s ‘Trishul-Diksha’ and Lathi-advocacy by Laloo Yadav and hoped that such symbols of violence, too, find no place in politics. The Prime Minister, who has often earlier expressed his disillusionment with politics, admitted that certain undesirable events in politics often led to such feelings. "But I am not an escapist", he said leaving it to the party leadership to decide whether he would continue to lead the Bharatiya Janata Party in the next Parliament elections. Mr Vajpayee described praise and criticism as integral to life and said one should work for the nation and the people without being influenced by these considerations. The Prime Minister said the quality of Indian politics was that all parties united as one whenever the country was faced with a crisis. He, however, regretted, that sometimes political differences reached down to the lowest levels. He further expressed confidence in the capability of the common Indian to turn the country into a world superpower. "Despite all obstacles, I am fully confident that we will be able to make this century the century of India...." (UNI) |
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Comprehensive law a must to make parties accountable AHMEDABAD, May 10: Election Commissioner T S Krishnamurthy today underscored the need for enactment of a comprehensive law to deal with the functioning of political parties and bringing about more transparency and accountability. "Such a law is necessary in order to compel the political parties to explain the source of their fundings, the kinds of expenditure that they incur and to hold them accountable for their activities," Mr Krishnamurthy said, inaugurating a two-day national workshop on electoral reforms and right to information hosted by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), a voluntary organisation here. The workshop has been organised against the backdrop of the Supreme Court judgement of March 13 which enables voters to obtain information on the financial background of a candidates contesting the elections as well the existence of any criminal record. The current laws and guidelines have certain loopholes which do not permit the holding of absolutely fair and transparent elections, Mr Krishnamurthy said. The people, too, have a poor opinion about the ways that parties are funded and how money and muscle power is employed during elections, he elaborated. However, Mr Krishnamurthy hastened to add that India enjoyed a reasonably good electoral system considering the large size of the country. But there was always a tremendous scope for improvement, he said, pointing out that no part of the world can claim to have a perfect election system. Mr Krishnamurthy also urged the political parties to undertake an exercise of self-introspection and "come out openly in the free market of electoral democracy and disclose your strengths and weaknesses and the steps you wish to take to improve your functioning." The Election Commissioner also expressed regret over the hesitation of the elite sections to exercise their franchise. The lack of interest shown by them often lead to the defeat of candidates who, otherwise, are noted for their unquestionable integrity, Mr Krishnamurthy pointed out. The Election Commissioner said the quest for a vibrant democracy may as well lead to a "vicious democracy if we fail to act". (UNI) |
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SONIPAT, May 10: The northern railway has decided to opencity booking agencies in four cities under its Delhi division forthe benefit of the passengers travelling in the incoming andoutgoing trains passing through these cities. These agencies would be opened on contract basis at Sonipat,Panipat, New Vijay Nagar (Ghaziabad) and Rohtak. This schemewould not only increase the income of the railways but providefacilities to the travelling passengers, official sources saidhere today. These private agencies would be authorised to book the parcelsand issue tickets to the prospective passengers and thecontractors of these agencies would be liable to send the booked]parcels to their respective railway stations and they will haveto arrange the vehicles for transporting the passengers who usedto purchase tickets from them. In sonipat city, one booking agency would be opened in sector14 whereas a similar agency would be opened in subzimandi atpanipat. The city booking agency would be opened in new vijaynagar (ghaziabad) which will be authorised to sell withoutreservation tickets. It will not be allowed to book the parcels. Rohtak city will have this agency in the model town areawhich will be authorised to sell tickets and book the parcels.The contractor of this agency will have to arrange the vehiclesfor the transportation of the passengers to the railway station. These agencies should provide employment to atleast 15 personsat each station as well as the facilities to the passengers andthe traders. The income of the railway would be increased by thefunctioning of these private booking agencies. Pti cor aka bs05101446 d Central para-military forces deployed for WB Panchayat Poll KOLKATA, May 10: With the run up to tomorrow’s Panchayat Polls in West Bengal turning gory leaving 19 political party activists dead, Central Para-Military Forces were being deployed in the State besides police to ensure a peaceful election. The rural polls will be held in 17 of the 19 districts of the State. Polls will not be held in Kolkata, which is a Metropolis, and Darjeeling where there is the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council. Over three crore voters are expected to exercise their franchise in 44186 booths to choose their nominees out of a total 1,38,774 candidates. Of them 1,17050 nominees are fighting for positions in Gram Panchayats, the lowest tier of local Government, 19,354 in Panchayat Samities and 2370 in Zilla Parishads. More than 6,000 candidates had already won the poll uncontested, an overwhelming majority of whom belong to CPI(M). The Trinamool Congress and its poll ally BJP alleged that 23,000 of their nominees were prevented from filing nominations due to CPI(M)’s ‘terror tactics’. The Marxists however denied the charge and said that TC and BJP had failed to put up their candidates in all seats due to their ‘organisational weaknesses’. Campaigning has been marred by attack on Union Minister Tapan Sikdar while two State Ministers Biswanath Chowdhury and Amar Chowdhury belonging to RSP, a left front partner, were heckled and their poll meetings disrupted allegedly by CPI(M) activists.(PTI) Plan to recharge ground water in Thar desert JAIPUR, May 10: Alarmed over the depleting ground water level in Thar desert posing a fresh threat of both human and cattle migration, the Central Ground Water Board is planning to draw a roadmap to recharge the depleted acquifers in Western Rajasthan with surplus water from the Indira Gandhi Canal and the flood water of Ghaggar river. Studies conducted by the board revealed that the ground water level in Thar region, covering 13 western districts of the State, had fallen by more than 50 metres in recent years due to over exploitation, particularly through traditional water spreading irrigation practices. A proposal to replenish the depleted acquifers through water lifting from the Indira Gandhi Canal during the lean season and diverting the flood water from the Ghaggar river has been discussed at a workshop organised by the board here on Thursday. Preliminary studies showed that about 71 billion cubic metres of water can be put into the empty acquifers in the Thar desert area. The study also showed that large areas in Ganganagar, Hanumangarh and Bikaner districts along the canal had become water logged. Besides, about one to 8 MAF (million acre feet) water is going to Pakistan during the lean season. "Thar desert’s survival and prosperity is linked to the successful implementation of the scheme for replenishing the depleted acquifers", said Ms Radha Singh, Additional Secretary in the water resources ministry. Rajasthan, having an area of 3,42,239 Sq. Km, covers 10.5 per cent of the country’s geographical area, but has only 1.15 per cent of the water resources. Thar desert, spread over 13 districts, lies to the west of the Aravalli hills and accounts for 60 per cent area of India’s biggest State. "Depleting ground water level also affected the quality of water with increased salinity, fluoride and nitrate", Ms Radha Singh told reporters on the sidelines of the workshop. Preliminary studies showed that water from the Indira Gandhi Canal can be lifted to heights ranging from 50 to 100 metres and fed into existing canals or tube wells. The feasibility report can be prepared if the Rajasthan Government showed keen interest in this project, she said, adding that the Central Government would also provide funds for it. Ms Singh said Rajasthan has no other option except to recharge its ground water level. "It would also be technically and economically viable ", she said. Even now, several towns and villages in Rajasthan are dependent on water supply through tankers. If urgent measures were not taken immediately, the depleting water level posed a threat of migration of human and cattle population as the entire population could not survive merely on water supplied through tankers, she warned. Ms Radha Singh clarified that repleshing the ground water in Rajasthan was not a part of the proposal to link all major rivers of the country, which , she said , was a long term plan. She said the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) had also shown a keen interest to fund the ground water recharging plan for Western Rajasthan.(UNI) 1984 riot victims threaten self-immolation JALANDHAR, May 10: Intensifying the ongoing stir against the Amarinder Singh Government’s "apathy" towards the rehabilitation and grant of compensation to 1984 riot victims, several of them today threatened self-immolation outside the Chief Minister’s residence in Chandigarh on June 3. Announcing this extreme step at a press conference here, Danga Peerrat Welfare Society(Punjab) president Surjit Singh and vice-president Harcharan Singh Channi said over 30,000 1984 riot victims had been waiting for the Government’s package of compensation and rehabilitation for years but the present Congress Government had virtually halted the process initiated by the previous Badal-led Akali Government. Around 12 riot victims were also present at the press conference to narrate their miseries. Mr Singh said that the previous Badal Government had announced the allotment of 3,600 houses and 227 booths, among other measures of rehabilitation of the victims families. However, after the change of the guard in Chandigarh, the present Amarinder Singh Government had not only abandoned the process initiated by the previous Government but also showed apathy towards the efforts made by their organisation for furthering the process. Mr Singh said the officials at the Chief Minister Office(CMO) even misbehaved with the organisation delegation which had gone to represent victims cases. Mr Singh and Mr Channi said that in the wake of the Government’s unjustified and apathetic gesture their organisation was left with no option but to take a conclusive course of action. Accordingly, the victims would proceed in a procession from Ludhiana on June 1 and would pay obeisance at the Akal Takht in Amritsar on the next day. The procession would reach Chandigarh on June 3 where they would hold demonstration at the CM residence and would commit self-immolation. Narrating their tales, Surjeet Kaur of Delhi said she had lost her husband, two daughters and son in the riots but she was yet to receive compensation. Another victim Baldev Kaur had lost her son but was still waiting for the Government’s sympathetic gesture. Harbans Kaur of Delhi virtually broke into tears at the press conference while narrating her tale of miseries, saying she had lost her husband and young son in the riots and she and her two teenaged daughters had no means of livelihood. Bibi Kashmir Kaur said the previous Government had allotted 200 houses for the victims families, however, the present Government had been serving notices to them to vacate the houses. (UNI) Elective surgeries stopped in Government hospitals CHENNAI, May 10: Ignoring the State Government’s warning, Government doctors today joined the agitation by medical college students against privatisation of medical colleges, by abstaining from performing ‘elective’ surgeries, partially affecting health services across the State. Expressing solidarity with agitating medical students, members of Tamil Nadu Government Doctors Association did not perform ‘elective’ surgeries today. However, emergency surgeries and the outpatients departments were not affected, association sources said here. Today’s agitation is part of an action plan announced by the association to press the Government to drop its move to allow private medical colleges. On May 14, the doctors would resort to a one-day strike and if the need arose an indefinite strike would be called from May 21, sources said. The Government had warned that ESMA would be invoked against doctors if they went ahead with their strike plan, saying they were in no way connected with the demands of medical students, whose agitation entered the 17th day, today. Even as the number of outpatients attending Government hospitals and health centres dropped considerably, an official spokesman claimed that between 20 and 25 per cent doctors did not attend to surgeries. Meanwhile, Dean of general hospital here, the biggest in the State, Dr Vijayalakshmi told reporters that all doctors and nurses had reported for duty and all departments in the hospital functioned normally. A report from Tiruchirappalli said the Director of Medical Education Ravindranath also issued a warning yesterday that ESMA would be invoked against those doctors not attending duty and new appointments would be made in their places. District collectors have been empowered to recruit doctors, the report said. Meanwhile, police today continued to arrest agitating medicos resorting to ‘road rokos’ and demonstrations in various parts of the State against the Government’s move to open medical education to the private sector, suspend stipend paid to them, hike in tuition fees and evict them from hostels. According to a Madurai report, medical college students, supported by civil assistant surgeons, state government teachers and Government employees staged a dharna before the medical college. Though the officials denied that operations had been suspended, three patients told PTI that the doctors had postponed the date of their operations. The officials, however said, the house surgeons were totally boycotting the work. In Coimbatore, about 50 students, including 9 women, of Coimbatore Medical College took out a two-wheeler procession while nearly 100 doctors staged a dharna at the Government hospital for a short period. (PTI) |
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