No proposal to put restrictions on Madarsas
New Delhi,Friday, July 26, 2002: Government does not propose to put restrictions on Madarsas in the country, the Rajya Sabha was informed on Friday.
"There is no such proposal under consideration of the Government at present," Human Resource Development Minister Murli Manohar Joshi said in a written reply.
He was responding to a question whether Government proposed to put restrictions on Madarsas as had been done in Pakistan.
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Shoot-at-sight orders in Ranchi
Shoot-at-sight orders were issued and curfew extended to fresh areas in Ranchi on Friday even as anti-domicile groups called yet another bandh, the fourth in eight days, throwing normal life out of gear.
Police control room sources said shoot-at-sight orders were issued in the curfew-bound areas of Doranda, Hatia, Jagannathpur, Sukhdevnagar and Argora where large-scale violence marred the July 24 bandh by the pro-domicile groups.
Curfew was extended Friday morning to Sukhdevnagar and Argora areas. It was imposed in Doranda, Hatia and Jagannathpur areas on Thursday.
No reports of violence were reported from anywhere, control room sources here said.
The city wore a deserted look, with no vehicles plying and shops remaining closed.
While educational institutions were closed, the government offices registered thin attendance.
The anti-domicile group - Jharkhand Yuva Chatra Sangharsh Samiti - which called the bandh, its second after the July 18 call, claimed that it had the support of the Jharkhand Upekshit Manch, Jharkhand Chatra Sangharsh Morcha and 36 other anti-domicile organisations.
Twelve more companies of para-military forces have been pressed into service as a precautionary measure, the police said adding that the Rapid Action Force, Jharkhand Armed Police and CRPF were also deployed at sensitive points.
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PoK is worse than J&K, says Hurriyat
(PTI)
Attacking Pakistan's Kashmir policy, the Hurriyat Conference said the situation in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir was worse than in Jammu and Kashmir.
"The present government in PoK is worse than the Farooq Abdullah government," the Secretary-General of Hurriyat Conference's Pakistan chapter, Altaf Qadiri, was quoted by Pakistani newspaper Daily Times as having told reporters.
Peeved over the failure of the Pakistani regime to highlight the Kashmir cause at the international fora, Qadiri, who is also a JKLF leader, said: "If Pakistan takes any wrong step on the Kashmir issue, it would be at the behest of the present government in PoK, especially Sardar Abdul Qayuum and Sardar Sikandar Hayyat Khan, as they are using the issue as a political tool."
Virtually negating the work of Qayuum, who was appointed by Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf as the chairman of the Kashmir Committee earlier this year, Qadiri said, "We want a revolutionary command council established in PoK, which should include people from both sides of the Line of Control, to replace the present government which is deceiving the people of Kashmir."
Qadiri was accompanied by two other Hurriyat Conference leaders, Ashraf Saraf of the Muslim Conference and Yousaf Naseem of the People's Conference.
While the Muslim Conference is headed by present Hurriyat Chairman Abdul Gani Bhat in Jammu and Kashmir, the People's Conference is headed by Bilal Lone, son of Abdul Gani Lone.
Naseem objected to the speech of Qayuum at the recent seminar of the Organisation of Islamic Conference held at Sudan and said, "The OIC recognises the Hurriyat Conference as the true representative of the Kashmiri people but by delivering a speech at the OIC summit in Sudan as representative of Kashmir people, Sardar Qayuum has infringed upon the rights of the amalgam."
"Sardar Sikandar Hayyat and Sardar Qayuum are creating a mess as they build a parallel organisation against Hurriyat Conference. They are issuing statements detrimental to the Kashmir cause," Naseem said.
He said neither the PoK nor the Kashmir Committee has ever invited us for consultations on the Kashmir issue. They never bother how Kashmiris feel after the indifferent statements.
Earlier this week, a report from Islamabad had quoted senior Hurriyat leader in Pakistan Faiz Naqshbandi as telling reporters that "Qayyum had phoned Bhat and told him that the Hurriyat Conference should participate in the polls."
The statement provoked sharp reactions from Bhat who said "I want to make it crystal clear that Hurriyat Conference has never and will never take diktats from anyone. We decide at our forum what to do."
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Powell will ensure Pak acts on commitments with India
Washington,Friday, July 26, 2002: US Secretary of State Collin Powell would work towards easing Indo-Pak tensions by "encouraging dialogue", and also ensure that Islamabad keeps its commitments to end cross border terrorism during his South Asia visit commencing on Saturday.
"We are working to ease(Indo-Pak)tensions. Both sides in the dispute have said they want to engage in dialogue and lessen tension, and that is what Powell will to try to encourage," US State Department Deputy spokesman Philip Reeker told reporters here on Friday.
Reeker said the "goal of our meeting in both capitals (Islamabad and New Delhi) as it has been in the past is to work with both countries to make sure they both meet their commitment".
However Reeker could not specify what India's "commitment" is compared to Pakistan's promise to end crossborder terrorism permanently, close down the terrorist camps and action on India's list of wanted criminals.
Reeker said Powell would also try to appeal to President Musharraf to take steps to restore democracy in Pakistan.
"We put out a statement at the time of the announcement of elections (that) we hope to see those(democratic process) go ahead. We think that it is important for Pakistan's future".
"Our views on the need to return to democracy in Pakistan are well established, and we look toward to timetable towards election." he added.
He denied New York Times report that Powell is losing influence in the Government and may quit before the end of President Bush's term.
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Dutt-Shakeel tape heard in court
A special court on Thursday heard an audio cassette containing telephonic conversations between Pakistan-based gangster Chhota Shakeel and four film personalities, including actor Sanjay Dutt, which bared the alleged nexus of Bollywood with the underworld.
The cassette was played in the court in the presence of lawyers, accused and media persons. The prosecution had yesterday examined a witness who said that this cassette was seized in his presence.
The court of designated judge A P Bhangale is hearing the case involving alleged nexus of gangster Shakeel with film financier Bharat Shah, producer Nasim Rizvi, his assistant Abdul Rahim Allah Baksh and Dubai-based alleged hawala operator Mohammed Shamshuddin.
Police had recorded a 45-minute telephonic talk Shakeel had with Dutt and film makers Harish Sughand, Sanjay Gupta and Mahesh Manjrekar on November 14, 2000.
Dutt, in a long chat with Shakeel, asked the gangster why he was asking extortion amounts from actress Preity Zinta. He pleaded with Shakeel not to ask money from her.
Shakeel, in response to Dutt’s allegations, had told him that he had not asked any amount of money from Preity. On the contrary, he said, Preity Zinta had worked in his film Chori Chori Chupke Chupke for which he had paid her.
Hum yaar se aur jaan se kaisa paise maang sakte hain (How could I possibly ask money from a friend or a beloved), Shakeel told Dutt. Shakeel said someone was asking money from Preity in his name and denied that he had done so.
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London and Delhi sign accord for more cultural and eco links
London,Friday, July 26, 2002: London and New Delhi on Thursday signed a friendship agreement paving the way for stronger cultural and economic linkages between the two historic cities.
The agreement was signed by Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit and London Mayor Ken Livingstone at the new City Hall here.
Indian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom Ronen Sen and Britain's Roving Ambassador Lord Swraj Paul were present at the signing ceremony.
Speaking on the occasion, Livingstone said India would in the years to come be among half a dozen greatest economic powers and Britain would like to ensure that India does achieve that objective.
He said London has the largest Indian population in Europe--393,000--and this agreement will recognise the contribution made by the Indian community and London's multi-culturalism and vibrancy.
Terming the accord as an "important landmark" in the history of relations between the two cities, Dikshit said it would recall the significant contribution made by persons of Indian origin to social, cultural and economic life of London.
Lord Paul said the agreement would help promote exchange of business, cultural and tourism contacts between India and Britain.
Describing the current Indo-British relations as the best in the world today, he said "there are so many Indians who are experts on Britain and there are many Britons who know more about India than Indians".
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US yet to decide on sale of arrow missiles to India
Washington,Friday, July 26, 2002: United States has not taken a decision on allowing sale of the Israeli Arrow Missile system, built with American technology to India.
"US administration has not yet developed a position regarding the Arrow sale" Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld told the Senate Armed Services Committee here on Thursday.
Rumsfeld was replying to questions about reports in US media that India wanted to create its own missile defense system using technology derived from the joint U.S.-Israeli Arrow ballistic missile program.
State Department spokesman Richard Boucher had said earlier this week that the US was unlikely to give an early decision on the missile sale and said the matter was under America's "review".
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Rupee steady against US dollar in early trade
Mumbai,Friday, July 26, 2002: The Rupee ruled quietly steady against the US currency in extremely thin and listless early trade at the Interbank Foreign Exchange market today.
The domestic unit was quoted at Rs 48.6750/6850 per dollar in late morning deals after opening around the same levels, little changed from the overnight finish of Rs 48.6800/6850.
The forex spot trade remained quiet and range-bound due to lack of market moving factors, but the general outlook for the Rupee remains positive due to strong dollar supplies from exporters and foreign fund inflows, a dealer said.
However, dollar buying from state-run banks will prevent a sharp Rupee rise, he added.
In cross currency trades, the Euro was quoted at Rs 48.71/74, Pound Sterling at Rs 76.93/95 and Japanese Yen (100) at Rs 41.38/40.
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Auditing firms can be prosecuted for misconduct:Jaswant
New Delhi,Friday, July 26, 2002: The auditing firm of any company whose accounts do not "present a true and fair view of the affairs" in Indian operations can be prosecuted under section 233 of the Companies Act, the Lok Sabha was informed on Friday.
Asked if the government proposes to review audit norms in case of financial frauds committed by Indian companies, Finance Minister Jaswant Singh said in a written reply: "The concerned auditing firm can be prosecuted under Section 233 of the Companies Act or proceeded against for professional misconduct under Section 21 of the Chartered Accountants Act."
Of the companies in which such irregularities are detected, he said "If accounts do not present a true and fair view of the affairs of an Indian company, it can be prosecuted under Section 211 and/or Section 628 of the Companies Act".
In reply to another question whether the Comptroller and Auditor General (C&AG) would be asked to conduct an audit of Kendriya Bhandar, NCCF and Super Bazar, Singh said there was no such proposal at present.
"There is no proposal to have Kendriya Bhandar audited by the C&AG as the present system of having the accounts audited by a firm of Chartered Accountants is considered adequate".
He said C&AG had been entrusted with the superimposed audit of accounts of NCCF for the five year periods 1987-88 to 1991-92 and for 1995-96 and 1999-2000.
"Superimposed audit for the accounts of Super Bazar was conducted by the C&AG for the period 1981-82 to 1985-86".
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"Arun Shourie selling family silver": AITUC
New Delhi,Friday, July 26, 2002: Government's disinvestment policy on Friday came in for sharp criticism from All India Trade Union Congress which compared Disinvestment Minister Arun Shourie's reported move to sell stake in blue chip PSUs to a "Nawab selling family silver".
"Selling the family silver by the ruling Nawab Arun Shourie is reaching its peak with the proposal of raising Rs 51,300 crore by sale of stake in BSNL, ONGC, IOC, NTPC and GAIL, the five blue chip, highly profit making PSUs, and through strategic sale in eight other PSUs," AITUC said in a statement here.
It termed as misleading the Government's policy statement that "the disinvetment was meant for realising the amount of scarce public resources locked up in non-strategic PSEs for deployment in areas much higher on social and essential infrastructure."
"While most of the proceeds of disinvesment had gone to meet the revenue deficit, now the profit making and strategic PSUs are being divested together. The move of Government will fade these jewels in the long run," AITUC said.
Ridiculing Disinvestment Department's reasoning that sale of government equity was to reduce public debt, AITUC said "the facts are that the fiscal deficit has increased as a result of sale of equity, because the equity of the most profitable enterprises was sold, as a result of which the dividend forgone is more than the interest on capital accrued by the sale".
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Internal debt ratio rises
New Delhi,Friday, July 26, 2002: The internal debt to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) ratio has risen by about ten per cent in the last decade, Lok Sabha was informed on Friday.
It increased from 27.1 per cent in 1990-91 to 37 per cent in 1999-2000, primarily due to conversion of other liabilities like small savings and public provident fund into securities, Finance Minister Jaswant Singh told the Lok Sabha during Question Hour.
He said the total internal liabilities to GDP ratio had shown a marginal increase from 49.8 per cent in 1990-91 to 49.9 per cent in 1999-2000.
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BSE:Sensex opens sharply lower on Nasdaq fall
Mumbai,Friday, July 26, 2002: The sensex opened sharply lower and sought further lower levels at early stages on the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) today in the wake of fresh spate of sell-off triggered by a fresh setback in the Nasdaq Composite Index Thursday night.
The BSE Sensitive Index opened sharply down at 3079.33 as against yesterday's close of 3094.96 and later dropped to a low at 3050.46 before being quoted at 3057.22 at 10.30 am.
Investors which have been consistent sellers in view of a chain of negative developments including erratic monsoon and continued slide in global market in the last couple of months, resorted to heavy unloading following a severe beating in tech stocks yesterday that sent Nasdaq Composite Index reeling down by another 50.15 points.
The sentiment also was depressed in South East Asian markets with the Nikkei and the Hang Seng being quoted sharply down by about 295 points and 175 points in morning trading.
Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) which were net sellers to the tune of Rs 129 crore on Wednesday, also were believed to be heavy sellers in IT counters.
Heavyweighted stocks like Infosys Tech, Satyam Computers HCL Tech, NIIT, PSI Data and Hinduja TMT suffered a sharp setback on selling pressure.
HLL, RIL, Grasim Ind, HPCL, MTNL, Telco and others also witnessed heavy sell-off.
Among the top losers, HCL Tech were quoted down by 6.77 per cent, NIIT by 6.44 per cent, PSI Data by 6.38 per cent, Escorts by 6.32 per cent, Hinduja TMT by 4.71 per cent and Shri Rama Multi by 4.71 per cent.
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Hussain steals the thunder on opening day
London,Friday, July 26, 2002: A half-hearted Indian bowling attack was frustrated throughout the day by a stubborn knock by Nasser Hussain who set the stage for a big total for England with a fine unbeaten century on the opening day of the first cricket Test here on Thursday.
Hussain, who remained not out on 120 - his 11th Test hundred - led his team to 257 for four at the end of day's play after Zaheer Khan had sounded the first blow by dismissing opener Michael Vaughan in the second over of the innings with England yet to score.
In a controlled innings that was a good balance of attack and defence, Hussain, who struck 20 boundaries in his six-hour knock, ensured the hosts did not waste the advantage of having elected to bat first.
He was associated in two fine partnerships - a 71-run stand with Mark Butcher for the second wicket and a 145-run stand for the fourth wicket with the comeback man James Crawley who contributed a solid 64.
India, who went into the match with three seamers and one spinner, were well served by only two of their four specialist bowlers.
Zaheer Khan, who finished the day with figures of two for 53 from 22 overs, bowled an immaculate line and length and had the batsmen in trouble on a number of ocassions. He was ably supported by Anil Kumble who kept things tight from the other end.
But Ashish Nehra and Ajit Agarkar were listless and gave the England batsmen too many loose deliveries that helped them settle down after their nervous start.
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India could still be on top, says Wright
London,Friday, July 26, 2002: Indian coach John Wright said on Thursday the tourists could still be on top in the first Test after England knocked up 257 for four on the first day at Lord's.
"A couple of wickets early tomorrow and we are back on top," said Wright.
He said Indian bowlers stuck to their task very well on a good batting surface and the batsmen were looking forward to have make the most of it.
"It is a very good wicket and our batsmen are looking forward to it".
He however said he hoped Ajit Agarkar, who was not at all impressive with his bowling today, would come out with a better performance tomorrow.
"Ajit didn't bowl as well as he could have but he has bowled well on this tour. So we hope he would have a good day tomorrow," commented Wright.
However, Wright said it was difficult to say whether the team made a "wrong choice" by leaving Harbhajan Singh out.
"We sit together and make a decision and after we do so, the eleven go out there in the park and perform," he said.
The Indian coach said Lord's was a kind of wicket where batsmen, sooner or later, were sure to find the measure of the bowling.
"There was always a chance of one or two good batsmen taking advantage of good batting conditions," said Wright adding that "obviously we were happy when they were 78 for three".
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My choice for Wisden prize was Sachin: Waugh
: Former skipper Kapil Dev richly deserves the Wisden's Indian Cricketer of the Century award "but my choice was Sachin Tendulkar," Australia's Steve Waugh said here on Friday.
"There is no doubt that Kapil Dev is a fantastic cricketer who richly deserves the award as he is one of the best all-rounders I have played against. He was also a superb fielder during his prime days," Waugh told reporters after being named the brand ambassador of AMP Sanmar Assurance, which launched its operations in Western India.
"However, when Wisden asked me to name my choice, I voted for Sachin Tendulkar, because the two hundreds he scored in Sharjah against us a couple of years ago were breath-taking," the Aussie added.
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Tabu wins 2nd national award for best actress for Chandni Bar
Mumbai, July 25: It was while she was surfing the Internet looking for Bengali references which might help her prepare for her role in Goutam Ghose’s sequel to Satyajit Ray’s Aranyer Din Ratri, that Bollywood actress Tabu received a call saying she had won the National Award for Best Actress. Sharing the honour with Shobhana (for Mitr), Tabu has been honoured for her performance in Madhur Bhandarkar’s Chandni Bar, in which she played a bargirl named Mumtaz.
Tabu says she feels special for being given this award the second time (she won a National Award for her performance in Maachis previously), ‘‘because it is so early in my career that this has happened’’. She says it doesn’t feel any less special the second time round. ‘‘In fact, it probably feels more exciting because this is a really big honour.’’
For a girl who never expected much from a career she chose because she had a passion for acting, Tabu says this honour is a ‘‘dream come true for a small-town girl from Hyderabad’’. Her family will be delighted, says she. ‘‘My mother, who thinks I should get an award for every film I work in, will be particularly elated,’’ she adds, revealing that she will definitely attend the awards ceremony when it is held in New Delhi a few months from now. ‘‘That way I’ll get to meet the new President,’’ she adds.
Most importantly, she says the award comes as vindication for the film. ‘‘When it began, Chandni Bar was like a complete orphan. People wrote it off saying it would never work... It received so much bad publicity,’’ she remembers. She says she commits herself to a film only if she believes she will enjoy the process of making it. ‘‘Whatever else comes with it is a bonus,’’ she says.
Ironically, both times popular awards ceremonies passed her over for a Best Actress trophy, Tabu was felicitated with a National Award. Earlier this year, Kajol walked away with all the awards for her performance in Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham.
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