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Headlines
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News:
Rs 970-mn scam in Haryana Financial Corp unearthed
RS adjourns as members want to see lively Gujarat debate in LS
Pak goes to referendum; Musharraf says Oppn boycott rejected
UK lawyer to take riot case to the Hague
Hindu priest killed in Bangladesh
US imposes anti-dumping duties on India, two others
NBW against Reliance President stayed; to surrender on May 13
Govt taking steps for disinvestment of 32 PSUs
India sceptical about Pak assurance on Indo-Iran pipeline:US think tank
Nagamootoo recovering fast from crash
Ready and all decked up, JJ flyover waits for May 1
Bangladeshi writer seeks asylum in India
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Rs 970-mn scam in Haryana Financial Corp unearthed
Chandigarh,Tuesday, April 30, 2002: Close on the heels of detection of a multi-million cash-for-job racket in Punjab, Vigilance Bureau in neighbouring Haryana today claimed to have unearthed the biggest-ever scam of wrongful loss of over Rs 970-mn caused to the State exchequer allegedly by officials of the Haryana Financial Corporation (HFC).
"The officials of HFC in the period between 1993 and 1996 violated rules and regulations and awarded wrongful gains to beneficiary firms and shareholders, causing a loss of over Rs 970 mn to the state's exchequer," a spokesman of the Haryana Vigilance Bureau said here Tuesday.
"Wrongful loss had been caused by way of cheating, frauds, forgery, treating forged documents as genuine and misappropriation and misuse of official powers," he said.
The Bureau had recommended the recovery of the loss from the beneficiary firms and shareholders and also departmental action against the then HFC Managing Director.
A case had been registered at Ambala under various sections of the IPC and Prevention of Corruption Act against the erring officers and officials, he said.
The spokesman said "as per the enquiry conducted by the bureau, a loss of over Rs 113.0 mn was found to have been caused in Merchant Banking Scheme during 1994-96, Rs 386.9 crore in the leasing scheme in 1993-96, Rs 58.2 mn in sub-leasing scheme in 1995 and Rs 412.5 mn in sanctioning and payment of loan in the working capital in 1994-96". He said irregularities were also detected in dealings connected with public issues during 1995. "The concerned officials of HFC in connivance with the beneficiary firms manipulated the dealings," he said.
The amounts were released on the basis of forged documents without proper verifications and full amounts had been released instead of instalments to the firms without verification of documents and without ensuring proper verification of guarantees of the firms, the spokesman said.
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RS adjourns as members want to see lively Gujarat debate in LS
New Delhi,Tuesday, April 30, 2002: Rajya Sabha was adjourned today immediately after returning the Appropriation bill as the members wanted to be present in the Lok Sabha to listen to the discussion on the Gujarat issue.
As soon as Finance Minister Yashwant Sinha gave his reply to the discussion on the Appropriation bill and Agriculture Minister Ajit Singh was due to take up scheduled discussion on his ministry, Rajiv Shukla (LCP) suggested that the House should be adjourned to enable the members "to witness the interesting discussion going on in the other house".
Rama Shankar Kaushik, who was in the Chair, sought opinion of the members and after getting it adjourned the House an hour before schedule.
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Pak goes to referendum; Musharraf says Oppn boycott rejected
Islamabad,Tuesday, April 30, 2002: Pakistanis today voted in the controversial referendum sought by President Pervez Musharraf to extend his reign by five years, an exercise dubbed as unconstitutional and undemocratic by opposition parties but held legal by the Supreme Court.
Musharraf, who toured a number of polling stations in twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi, said the "large turnout" showed that the masses have rejected the boycott call of the opposition parties.
"People have divorced them (opposition) and they have no following among the masses," he told reporters after casting his vote along with his wife and mother at a polling booth in Rawalpindi.
The ballot paper, which seeks a 'Yes' or 'No' from over 70 million eligible voters to "the survival of local governments, establishment of democracy, stability and continuity of reforms, elimination of sectarianism and extremism, and accomplishment of Quaid-e-Azam's (Mohammad Ali Jinnah) concept, will you elect President General Pervez Musharraf as president of Pakistan?"
The results are expected to start pouring in tonight and analysts say Musharraf, who took control of pakistan in a bloodless coup in October 1999 is assured of a victory.
Police and soldiers were deployed at around 87,000 polling stations set up across the country including some at unusual places like gas stations, prisons, hospitas, railway and bus stations and commercial complexes.
Musharraf lowered the minimum eligibilty age for voting to 18 years and also allowed the voters to cast their ballot anywhere to faciliatate a large turnout which he wants as his stamp of legitimacy.
With the electoral list abolished, voters were asked to produce an identity card, driving license or official letter to exercise their franchise. Every one who voted had their hand marked by idelible ink.
Former Prime Minister and Pakistan People's Party leader Benazir Bhutto yesterday called for boycott of the referendum saying it was the last chance to save Pakistan from dictatorship.
"Power hungry Generals have destroyed democracy, democratic institutions, aspirations of the people and endangered the security and stability of the country.
"Apart from the constitutional aspect of holding a referendum, General Pervez Musharraf is not even eligible to take part in any election because he is not a graduate," Bhutto claimed.
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UK lawyer to take riot case to the Hague
(The Guardian)
Lawyers for three British Muslims who were hacked to death during riots in Gujarat said they would press for a Milosevic style trial of India's prime minister and other leading members of his government at the Hague.
Habibullah Akudi, who represents the families of the dead men, said that he was now preparing to take their case to the international court of justice.
A leaked report compiled by diplomats at the British high commission has blamed India's ruling BJP party for the continuing violence in Gujarat, in which at least 2,000 people, almost all of them Muslims, have died.
Mr Akudi yesterday said he would indict India's Hindu nationalist prime minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, for presiding over an "organised pogrom" against Gujarat's minority Muslim community. He also planned to name India's ultra-nationalist home minister, LK Advani, and Gujarat's controversial chief minister, Narender Modi. The case against them was "logical and viable", he said.
The three British Muslims who died in the riots were in India on holiday. They were Mohammed Aswat, and cousins Saeed and Shakil Dawood, all from Batley, West Yorkshire.
Privately, Indian officials are incandescent at Britain's role at the affair, and contrast it unfavourably with America, which has so far said little about the anti-Muslim violence.
They have pointed out that a large number of Gujarati Muslims live in the Blackburn constituency of foreign secretary Jack Straw, and have told sympathetic Indian journalists that Mr Straw is pandering to his "domestic lobby".
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Hindu priest killed in Bangladesh
Dhaka,Tuesday, April 30, 2002: A Hindu priest was allegedly killed by extortionists in a hill district of Bangladesh in continued violence against the minority communities in the country, police said.
The incident occurred on Sunday night even before any breakthrough had been achieved in the killing of monk Gyanojyoti Mohasthobir less than a fortnight ago.
Modal Gopal (45), a priest of Radha Madan Ashram in Manikchhari Upazila under Khagrachari hill district, was allegedly stabbed to death by a gang of criminals at the temple, police sources were quoted as saying by 'The Daily Star' today.
The criminals looted Taka 50,000 (around Rs 45,000) in cash and a gold statue from the temple, vernacular daily 'Prothom Alo' added.
The Daily Star quoting the temple authorities said murder of the priest was a sequel to a dispute over tolls demanded by some criminals. Police have arrested one person in connection with the incident.
The Hindu community in Khagrachari marched to protest the murder and demanded the culprits be brought to book.
Meanwhile, members of the Buddhist community announced a month-long agitation to press their demand for an speedy and fair probe into the murder of monk Mahasthobir.
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US imposes anti-dumping duties on India, two others
Washington,Tuesday, April 30, 2002: The United States has imposed anti-dumping duties on import of silicomanganese from India and two other countries setting a marging of 15.32 to 20.42 per cent for the Indian products.
US International Trade Commission (USITC) voted 5-0 to impose anti-dumping duties on India, Kazakhstan and Venezuela.
The dumping margins were set at 15.32 to 20.42 per cent for Indian exports, 247.88 per cent in the case of Kazakhstan and 24.62 per cent for Venezuela.
This was a "final decision," the Commission said.
Imposition of anti-dumping duties requires affirmative final determination both from the US Commerce Department that dumping occurred and from USITC that American industry was injured or threaened.
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NBW against Reliance President stayed; to surrender on May 13
New Delhi,Tuesday, April 30, 2002: A Delhi Court today stayed the Non Bailable Warrant issued against the Reliance Industries group President V Balasubramaniam for alleged violation of Official Secrets Act till May 13 after his counsel gave an undertaking that he will surrender before the court on the same day.
Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Sangita Dhingra Sehgal, while hearing the appeal for cancellation of the Non Bailable Warrant issued against Balasubramaniam, said the accused should surrender before the court at 1000 hours on May 13, CBI sources said.
Balasubramaniam and two other Reliance officials were named in the CBI compliant after the agency had recovered four sensitive secret documents pertaining to cabinet meetings in 1998.
The Court, after taking cognisance of the CBI complaint on April five, had summoned Balasubramaniam, group Vice-President A N Sethuraman and Corporate Affairs General Manager Shaker Adawal to appear before the court Monday.
The bail application of Sethuraman and Adawal, who were remanded to judicial custody till May 13, would come up for hearing in the court of Additional Sessions Judge R K Gauba Wednesday.
In its complaint, the CBI has charged Balasubramaniam, Sethuraman and Adawal of committing offences under section 120-B (criminal conspiracy) read with section 5(4) and 5(2) of the Official Secrets Act and filed a separate charge against Balasubramaniam under section 5(4) read with 5(2) of the Official Secrets Act.
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Govt taking steps for disinvestment of 32 PSUs
New Delhi,Tuesday, April 30, 2002: Government is taking steps for disinvestment of 32 Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs), including Air India and Indian Airlines, this year, Lok Sabha was informed today.
The annual target for 2002-03 is Rs 120 bn and other enterprises to be taken up for disinvestment include BPCL, HPCL, Maruti Udyog, Madras Fertilisers and NALCO, Disinvestment Minister Arun Shourie said in a written reply.
CRPF: Government has formulated a five year perspective modernisation plan to upgrade striking capability of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) by induction of modern and sophisticated weaponry and equipment at a cost of Rs 5.4275 bn, Minister of State for Home Vidyasagar Rao said.
It has also been planned to raise additional 64 battalions (including 7 Group Centres) and 121 companies of CRPF over five years involving an expenditure of Rs 23.5155 bn, he said.
Water: As many as 2413 schemes relating to Accelerated Rural Water Supply programme (ARWSP) were abandoned mid way after spending Rs 1.9375 bn in 19 states due to application of funds without adequate planning and scientific identification of water resources according to the Draft All India Review, Minister of State for Rural Development Subhash Maharia said.
As implementation of ARWSP is the responsibility of the state governments, the Draft All India Review on it by office of the Principal Director of Audit has been sent to them for taking necessary action including verification of all irregularities and discrepancies, Maharia said.
Gold: Occurrences of gold have been found off Subarnarekha river mouth off Orissa coast during seabed survey of the Exclusive Economic Zone, but since it is not of economic importance, Government does not propose to undertake mining at present, Ocean Development Minister Murli Manohar Joshi said.
Women: Government has initiated the process of reviewing the Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, 1986, in consultation with concerned ministries and departments on the basis of recommendations made by the National Commission for Women, Minister of State for Human Resource Development Sumitra Mahajan said.
Refugees: As many as 1,98,163 foreigners, including Tibetans and Sri Lankans, have sought refuge in India, Rao said.
Sea: Government is in the process of delineating the outer limits of the Continental Shelf for submitting India's claims on continental shelf in accordance with provisions of UN Convention on Law of the Sea, Joshi said.
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India sceptical about Pak assurance on Indo-Iran pipeline:US think tank
Washington,Tuesday, April 30, 2002: New Delhi remains sceptical of Islamabad's promises to ensure the sanctity of Indo-Iran gas pipeline through Pakistani territory despite Tehran's efforts to squeeze iron-clad written agreements from Pakistan, a prestigious US think tank says.
Regional stability is critical if such development initiatives are to be pursued, a panel constituted by Stanley Foundation - an independent think tank - has said.
"Until now, the major oil initiatives have run up against political deadlock."
"Whether it takes the form of a pipeline from Iran through Pakistan to India, or it takes other forms, energy will be the determining factor of a more concrete connection between regions," it said.
A land route for the Indo-Iran pipeline, thus far, is the only viable resolution both financially and technologically, it said.
But India has doubts about pipelines security throught Pakistani territory despite Iranian efforts to seek assurance from Pakistan that any disruptions in the oil supply would come out of its coffers in the form of subsidisation of frieghter deliveries to New Delhi, the panel said.
Technical and financial difficulties present themselvs with proposals for an underwater pipeline that skirts Pakistan's boundaries along the continental shelf, while the current solution of shipping oil by freighter is not economically efficient.
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Nagamootoo recovering fast from crash
Port of Spain,Tuesday, April 30, 2002: West Indies spin bowler Mahendra Nagamootoo is recovering fast from the injuries sustained in a vehicular accident in Guyana last Friday.
The 26-year-old was resting comfortably when members of his family and fellow West Indies cricketer, Jamaican Ricardo Powell, visited him at the St Clair Medical Centre, reported 'Trinidad Express'.
His mother Mavis Nagamootoo accompanied her son from Guyana and was joined by the Mahendra's brother Vishal (the Guyana wicket-keeper) and wife Pinky.
Vishal said his brother was very lucky to escape without greater injury. "If you see the bus which he was in, you would think that everyone had died. It was so twisted you wouldn't believe," Vishal was quoted as saying.
Despite the state of the wreckage, Vishal reported that no one else was hurt. Mahendra was asleep at the time of the accident. Vishal met with a similar accident earlier this year which kept him out of the 2002 Busta Cup.
Mavis said attending physician Dr Terry Ali had given a good prognosis as her son had not sustained any broken bones. She said Ali reported Nagamootoo had suffered a bruised rib, along with facial injuries. "They were very concerned about the cut on his head," she said.
The leg-spinner, who played in the first Test against India, has several stitches on his right temple and was put in a neck brace as a precaution.
He also has swelling around his right eye and was unable to speak much because of a cut on his tongue.
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Ready and all decked up, JJ flyover waits for May 1
(Indian Express)
As Mumbai gets ready to sleep after a tiring summer day, the JJ flyover is receiving finishing touches.
The longest elevated road in the city, covering 2.4 km and flying over 22 traffic signals on Mohammad Ali road, the JJ Hospital-Crawford Market flyover will be inaugurated on May 1 by former Chief Minister Sharad Pawar. Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh will preside over the function at 11:30 and Deputy Chief Minister Chhagan Bhujbal will be the chief guest.
>>From atop the 18-storey Haj House, the serpentine flyover looks elegantly laid out, a glittering river of light across the cityscape. Below that, BEST buses are honking to overtake an endless row of cabs blocked by pushcarts and the people who spill out from the small alleys. On May 1, traffic will just be zooming past the archaic facades of the Mohammad Ali road buildings. Peak-hour traffic time for the distance is expected to be cut at least by 15 minutes when the road opens to public on May 1.
Two years of work by scores of engineers and architects and hundreds of workers are coming to an end. People are already coming there to check out a new urban landmark which will become a part of their lives in two days. The young Kamle brothers who live near the Crawford Market have come to take a walk on the flyover with their friends. ‘‘We will never get to walk like this again, so we’ve been just doing it for the last few days,’’ says 16-year-old Girish Kamle.
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Bangladeshi writer seeks asylum in India
A controversial Bangladeshi writer, Taslima Nasreen, says she has asked the Indian authorities to grant her asylum.
Ms Nasreen, who is accused of blasphemy by Islamic radicals in Bangladesh, has been denied entry into the country by successive governments.
Talking to journalists on a visit to India, Taslima Nasreen said she was bored of living in the West for over a decade and would like to settle down permanently in Calcutta, the centre of India's Bengali community.
She said she needed a Bengali environment to let her creativity flourish.
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Sensex: 3338.16, +36.95
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Admin Message
Your letters
Re: Tree cut down at Grant Rd to provide visibility to restaurant
It is shameful that trees continue to get chopped down. Although the BMC
professes to disallow tree cutting, the BMC itself has been
cutting down trees.
In fact, a couple of months back, a full-grown tree outside my window at the
office, was chopped down by the BMC. It posed no danger to traffic, since
it was just three - four feet from our wall. Further, there is a
zunka-bhaakar stall just ahead that shows no signs of being removed, hence
it
is unlikely that the tree was cut to broaden the road. I tried to call the
local tree dept at the local BMC office and also the Tree Authority, but
the persons concerned were not available. There is no mechanism to log calls
so that they can revert to us. This shows a casual attitude
towards the welfare of trees. We need tree-lovers to be in such positions
and not some chair-warmer.
Pune traditionally has been a nature-loving city. The Municipal Corp used to
shift trees when they needed to widen roads. This is made possible
by trimming its branches, to reduce its weight. However, in the last decade,
rampant urbanisation has led to a drastic reduction of the tree cover
in and around Pune. Its ill effects are obvious to its residents.
Its high time that authorities realize that trees are the life of a city. I
don't need to go into their many benefits. However, a pertinent benefit is
their ability
to reduce pollution levels. If nothing else, that itself is a good reason
for growing more trees.
Regards,
Sanjay
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