From Rediff.com

TN lifts ban on inter-state movement of paddy, rice

September 11, 2001

In a significant move, the Tamil Nadu government on Tuesday lifted the ban on the inter-state movement of paddy and rice.

Announcing the decisions taken at a cabinet meeting on Monday evening, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa told the state assembly that all restrictions would be removed with immediate effect.

All the check-posts on the state's borders would be closed and the personnel manning them would be reverted to their parent departments.

The ban on movement was being removed after 25 years, she said and described the government's decision as historic.

She announced that the government would adopt a parallel procurement policy for procuring short term Kurvai crop in the Cauvery delta.

Besides the state civil supplies corporation, which would set up direct procurement centres in the Cauvery delta, traders would also be allowed to procure paddy directly from the farmers.

Paddy procurement would commence on September 15, she said

The government would give an incentive of Rs 40 per quintal over and above the minimum procurement price announced for paddy by the Centre, she said.

The Centre had announced a floor rate of Rs 530 per quintal for Core variety of paddy and Rs 560 per quintal for 'A' variety.

Indigenous cryogenic engine to be ready by 2003-04

December 18, 2001.

The fully indigenous cryogenic engine being developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) would be ready by 2003-04.

Significant progress has been made in terms of erection and commissioning of the test facilities, realisation of the engine, production of liquid hydrogen from an in-house plant, initiation of qualification of engine and the fabrication of stage tankages and components.

There are no bottlenecks in the development of the indigenous engine other than the complexity involved in the technology, an official release said on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, detailed engineering works connected with the second launch pad at Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh has been completed and continuous progress is being made in the civil works, it said.

The required equipment has been ordered and government has allocated Rs 3.05 billion for the project, it said.

The Department of Space is using infrastructure already created at ISRO centres and those available in industries, national laboratories and academic institutions to the maximum extent, the release said.

An antenna test complex is also being built to enhance the availability of fabrication and test facilities, the release said.

US chopper was in international airspace: Admiral Blair

November 29, 2001

The flight of the American helicopter, which triggered a controversy after reports said it had entered airspace over Madras, was 'conducted entirely' on international airspace, Admiral Dennis Blair, Chief of US Pacific Command, said on Friday.

In his first official reaction to the episode, Blair also said the chopper, which took off from the US warship USS John Young and returned to its deck, had 'not flown over any Indian facility'.

Media reports had said that it had carried out a survey of the Kalpakkam nuclear plant in Tamil Nadu.

The ship, on a port visit to Madras, was outside the Indian territorial waters and the helicopter returned when it was still on those waters, he said.

"There was a misunderstanding on the procedure to be followed, but this is a kind of activity (a chopper flying before a ship docks at a port) is routine," he said.

"We are talking to our Indian colleagues to understand the procedures because we are looking forward to more port visits by our ships," Blair said.

The Pacific Command Chief said he had received reports from the warship on the episode and 'I have given orders to all units under me to follow international flight rules'.

Top Indian government sources had said on Wednesday that the chopper had not violated any law, as the ship from which it had taken off was about 50 nautical miles away from Indian territorial waters.

Blast at ordnance factory in Jabalpur

January 8, 2002

A blast rocked the ordnance factory at Khamaria on the outskirt of Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, on Monday night, a senior police official said.

Some buildings were damaged, but there was no casualty, Inspector General of Police Vijay Shukul said.

There was no one inside the factory when the explosion took place in its filling section, he said.

The reasons of the blast were being investigated, he said.

Sonia's son-in-law warns public against dealing with kin

by Ramesh Menon in New Delhi

January 7, 2002

Robert Vadra, son-in-law of Congress president Sonia Gandhi, has created a flutter of sorts by distancing himself from his father and brother.

In a public notice in newspapers a few days ago, he said that his father Rajinder Vadra and brother Richard Vadra had been promising jobs and other favours to members of the public.

The notice said that both were not authorised to do so and had no access to him.

The notice specified that the intent was to warn the public at large against being duped.

The notice was issued by Robert through his lawyer, Arun Bhardwaj.

In this regard, the office of Congress president Sonia Gandhi is to despatch a letter to all the offices of the party, office bearers and elected representatives with a copy of the notice.

According to a senior Congress leader, the party wants to ensure that Robert's name is not misused by his relatives.

Congressmen were being told not to entertain any requests by the two relatives or anyone else using Robert's name, the leader said.

Incidentally, when Robert married Priyanka at a simple ceremony in early 1997, there was talk of his family's Sangh Parivar links.

The Vadra family has had traditional links with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh for several years, which was an embarrassment for both Sonia and Priyanka.

In Uttar Pradesh's Moradabad town, the Vadra family has given out land in the mid-nineties to the RSS to run one of its schools.

The donation was made by Robert's uncle Om Prakash Vadra who continues to be associated with the school even today.

While the connection has not been an issue so far, with assembly elections to four states round the corner, Congress leaders fear that it might be raked up just to embarrass Congress president Sonia Gandhi, who will be the main campaigner, and Priyanka Vadra who us being seen as a Congress leader-in-waiting.

Delhi cops look for Hamas men

by Onkar Singh in New Delhi

January 7, 2002

Joint teams of Delhi and Uttar Pradesh police on Monday conducted raids at a number of places in and around the capital to flush out sympathisers of Hamas, a terrorist organisation active in Israel.

The raids were carried out in close coordination with the Intelligence Bureau and the Research and Analysis Wing.

The raids followed the arrest of three Hamas linkmen in Lucknow on Saturday. While two of them were Jordanians, the third was a Palestinian.

Senior Delhi police officers refused to say anything about the raids, but sources said that a number of people have been picked up for questioning.

Vajpayee denies talking shop with Musharraf

by Josy Joseph in Kathmandu

January 6, 2002

Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on Sunday denied Pakistan President General Pervez Musharraf's claim that the two leaders discussed the ongoing tension between the two countries during their stay in Kathmandu.

However, Vajpayee left a lot of unanswered questions about his meeting with President Pervez Musharaf in Kathmandu, by saying just that the meeting between the two leaders was a mere courtesy call by Musharraf.

The prime minister said nothing substantial was discussed with Musharraf.

The prime minister also did not say anything about the meeting between the foreign ministers of two countries.

Vajpayee told reporters that Musharraf's meeting with him was a mere courtesy call by the later.

He added that SAARC was not a venue for bilateral discussions. He did not say anything about the possibility of an immediate bilateral dialogue.

Musharraf had said that he hoped the contact in Kathmandu between the two, which he a 'breakthrough', would lead to immediate resumption of bilateral negotiations.

Not withstanding prime minister's assertions of 'nothing substantial' being discussed with the Pakistan president, there was enough indication that the two sides had discussed the present tension.

During the concluding session of the SAARC on Sunday morning, Pakistan Foreign Minister Abdul Sattar and his Indian counterpart Jaswant Singh and National Security Advisor Brajesh Mishra had repeated consultations before and after the summit.

After the summit, when the seven heads of states were leaving the venue after posing for photographs, Sattar was seen discussing point-by-point something from a paper with Mishra.

Noticeably, Vajpayee and Musharraf shook hands while leaving the stage.

During the opening session, Vajpayee had walked off without shaking hands.

On Sunday, after the summit ended Sattar went back to his foreign secretary and other officials to discuss the paper that he had earlier discussed with Mishra.

The Pakistani foreign minister returned once again to Mishra, who then took the paper from him, with a clear hand wave indicating that he was taking it to the prime minister.

When reporters asked about this exchange, Pakistan president laughed it off asking Sattar if he was exchanging any couplets with Mishra.

India must go for a 'decisive victory' over terrorism: Advani

December 23, 2001

Union Home Minister Lal Kishenchand Advani on Sunday suggested India must go for a 'decisive victory' over terrorism.

"Efforts are being made to spread a reign of terror in order to destabilise the country. We want a decisive victory over this," he told the convocation of Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agriculture University at Hisar in Haryana.

For achieving the goal, Advani said cooperation of security forces and administration alone would not help, but the entire country's cooperation was needed.

He said the government would neither hesitate to firm up its response to the situation arising out of the December 13 attack on Parliament, nor would allow it to be influenced by anyone.

"The government is fully committed to end the menace of terrorism. The Centre has neither hesitated from taking any decision nor has its decision been influenced by anyone," he said.

Ceasefire review: Manipuris adopt wait-and-watch approach

by Kiran Mahal in Imphal

July 10, 2001

The crisis in the Imphal Valley in Manipur seems to be simmering down, though sentiments in Imphal remain bitter in spite of the review ordered by the Union government of the ceasefire with the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (I-M).

Dharnas and sit-in protests by women's groups continued all over Imphal on Monday and Tuesday, though they were distinctly low-key as compared to the demonstrations over the weekend.

The United Committee of Manipur (UCM), which is spear-heading the agitation in the state, has vowed to keep the pressure on the central and state governments till the Naga ceasefire in its present form is not actually revoked.

The critical decision to review the Naga ceasefire in its present form was taken by Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Union Home Minister L K Advani at a high-level meeting on Sunday where the prime minister reiterated the Centre's assurance that the territorial integrity of Manipur would be maintained.

After the meeting, Union Minister of State for Home I D Swami had told the media that the entire agreement in its entirety would be reconsidered.

The review is expected to be completed by the end of July.

Despite this, people in Manipur are skeptical.

Dr Vaisali Thongam, a resident in Singjamei, said, "The demonstrations are going to continue all over the state till the Naga ceasefire is not actually revoked. Nobody is going to believe Sunday's decision (about the review) till the words are backed with real action."

However, state legislators have gone all out to welcome the Centre's decision.

Union minister Chaoba Singh, former Manipur chief ministers W Nipamacha Singh, Radhabinod Koijam and R K Dorendra Singh, former deputy chief minister L Chandramani Singh and Speaker S Dhananjay Singh have welcomed the Centre's decision.

Meanwhile, the UCM and other major groups, like AMUCO and AMSU, are holding a key meeting on Tuesday to discuss the Union government's decision and chart their future course of action.

Sources in Manipur said that low-key protests are likely to continue in the state till the ceasefire is not actually revoked.

However, consternation is growing in the Naga-dominated hill districts of Manipur and the Naga councils following the Union government's announcement of a review of the ceasefire.

The next round of talks between the Centre's emissary K Padmanabaiah and Naga leader I Muivah is expected to be a stormy one.

Congress candidate wins unopposed

November 9, 1998

R Aolepden, Congress candidate for the Mongoya assembly by-election in Mokokchung district of Nagaland, was declared elected unopposed.

District Commissioner (Mokokchung) C B Sonari, who is also the returning officer for the district, said the Congress stand-by candidate, Lanutemjen, withdrew his nomination papers today, leaving Aolepden as the sole candidate in the fray.

No other political party had fielded its candidate for the November 25 by-election.

Gujarat assembly scraps law on pension for former MLAs

Ashraf Sayed in Gandhinagar

September 1, 2001

In a bold and unprecedented move, the Gujarat legislative assembly on Friday voted unanimously to repeal a 12-year-old law that granted pension to former legislators.

The MLAs Pension Act of 1984 that was 'deemed to have come into force on August 8, 1989' becomes the first law to be repealed by the Gujarat assembly since its inception in 1960.

The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and the opposition Congress members showed rare unanimity in passing of the official bill moved by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Suresh Mehta to repeal the law though the Congress members did criticise the government for leaving former legislators in the lurch.

Interestingly, the Gujarat High Court had directed the state government to frame rules for payment of pension to former legislators.

But the Keshubhai Patel ministry expressed its inability to do so immediately citing preoccupation with relief work in the wake of the January 26 earthquake.

The state government was pushed into repealing the act after a former legislator and freedom fighter Mahendra Desai and some other leaders went on an indefinite hunger to press the issue.

When Mehta moved the official bill in the House, several Congress members accused the government of 'succumbing to pressure tactics' of the fasting leaders and backtracking on its promise to the Gujarat High Court.

The five-hour-long debate was marked by heated exchanges with some of the Congress members pleading the case of many former legislators who were living in pitiable condition. They argued that pension be given only to 'deserving formers MLAs'.

They also said that whereas other states had hiked salaries and allowances of legislators and enacted legislation to give pension to former MLAs, the Gujarat government was going the other way.

On the other hand, almost all BJP legislators wanted the government to scrap the act immediately to fulfil an electoral promise.

In his reply to the debate, Mehta said that since less than 1,000 former legislators had to be paid a monthly pension of between Rs 300 and Rs 600, the overall burden on the exchequer was not unmanageable.

However, he pointed out that it was a matter of principle - a question of whether legislators, who are elected to serve the people, should become a burden on them.

Naga militants, govt to meet in Atlanta on July 28

July 9, 1997

All the Nagaland extremist groups will meet in Atlanta on July 28 to find a solution to the insurgency which has been plaguing the state for nearly five decades.

Chief Minister S C Jamir said the Atlanta meeting would bring the heads of the Federal Group, the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (K) and the NSCN (Issac-Muivah) to a round table to interact among themselves. This would provide the state government representatives an opportunity to assess the militants' feelings, he said.

Jamir said efforts would also be made to identify areas to seek wider autonomy for the state within the Constitution.

The Atlanta meet, sponsored by the Baptist Group of America, would be attended by both the state MPs, Imachalemba Ao and Vizol, besides Jamir.

Narmada activists detained at Baroda, Domkhedi

August 24, 2000

Nearly 30 activists of the Narmada Bachao Andolan, including Justice (retd) Rajendra Sachar, were detained on Thursday morning at Baroda and over 500 at Domkhedi while they were on their way to participate in the Saga of Narmada programme.

The programme, scheduled for Thursday, was to appeal to the nation's conscience regarding the points raised by the people of Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Gujarat against the Sardar Sarovar Project and other dams in the Narmada valley.

On demanding to know the reasons for the police action, the activists were told that the Madhya Pradesh government had demanded their detention. "Breach of peace and other such atrocious reasons were also given," NBA activist Sanjay Sangvai said.

The police control room in Baroda confirmed the detention of people in Baroda.

Ahmedabad rath yatra is scene of communal harmony

June 23, 2001

The 124th procession of Lord Jagannath's traditional rath yatra (procession) in Ahmedabad on Saturday was a scene of communal harmony with Muslims welcoming it at several places along the route and some fasting praying for its peaceful passage.

The rath yatra was flagged off by Gujarat Chief Minister Keshubhai Patel from the Lord Jagannath temple in Jamalpur.

Caparisoned elephants and beautifully-decked up trucks carrying devotees formed part of the procession with the three trundling chariots being pulled by the devout amidst the singing of bhajans (hymns) and beating of drums.

Members of the Tajiya Committee of Ahmedabad welcomed the rath yatra at Kamalchowk area in Jamalpur and distributed 124 kgs of jalebis commemorating as many years of the procession in the city and also presented a memento (a picture of Mahatma Gandhi) to Mahant Rameshwardasji, chief priest of the Lord Jagannath temple in the city.

All through its route stretching to several kilometres and passing through some of the communally-sensitive areas in the walled city, Muslims made arrangements to welcome the rath yatra comprising chariots of Lord Jagannath, his brother Balabhadra and their sister Subhadra, commemorating the journey of Lord Krishna from Gokul to Mathura.

Many Muslims in the city had kept a fast, praying for peaceful passage of the rath yatra, even as lakhs of devotees thronged the streets to witness the procession.

Bangalore angels put their money where their heart is

by M D Riti in Bangalore

January 6, 2000

The man standing in the middle of the busy road, trying to flag down passing motorists seemed to be absolutely desperate. "Please help me save my wife, she's dying!" he was yelling to passersby. Businessman Jugnu Uberoi who was driving along stopped as soon as he saw him.

"My wife was bitten by a snake, and she is dying," the man said, clutching Uberoi's shirt sleeve. "She is in a nursing home nearby. But the doctors say that I must pay Rs 500 immediately...I don't have the money." Uberoi found out that the man was a street pushcart vendor, and that he lived in a nearby slum. He accompanied him to the nursing home - Sri Sai Clinic - verified from Dr M Gopal that the man's wife Shanthamma, 28, had really been bitten by a snake and was battling for her life.

He promptly revealed to the doctors that he was a founder member of 'Surakshaa', a voluntary group of Bangalore-based businessmen committed to helping the poor in medical emergencies. Shanthamma received treatment at once, and 'Surakshaa' happily picked up the tab of Rs 4,500.

'Surakshaa' is now a year old. This group, which has now set itself up as a non-profit trust, was formed by five fairly affluent businessmen who had heard several stories of how money, or the lack of it, had taken away precious lives. Interestingly, all five also either head or belong to social service organisations like the Rotary and the Lion's Club. "But all these organisations have specific systems to be followed before they release money," says Shashidhar Patil, industrialist. "There is no time for such formalities in emergencies."

In contrast, the reaction time of these five men is negligible. All of them publicise their cell phone numbers widely. You can reach Patil at 98450-14992, Vinay Bajaj at 98450-12027, Jugnu Uberoi at 98450-00291, Ajay Mallik at 98450-33802 and Bhasker at 98450-14992.

However, the people they help are often illiterate, without access to telephones and do not belong to the social strata where they would uninhibitedly call rich businessmen for help.

So, the group has come up with another alternative. They are raising awareness about their existence widely in doctors' circles in Bangalore. Any doctor who comes across a medical emergency calling for ready money contacts them directly. They have also have formed their own panel of doctors, whom they consult when lay people come to them seeking help. If a poor patient approaches them, they quickly refer the person to whichever doctor is available at that moment, in the specialisation called for.

They only pay the doctors or hospitals directly, never hand over cash to patients or their families. This way, they ensure that their money is used only for genuine medical emergencies. As soon as any one of them gets a call about an emergency, most often from their network of doctors, he quickly consults whichever of the other four is immediately available. As all five travel often, only two or three may be available in Bangalore at any given point.

"We only use our cell phones, so that we can respond to distress calls quickly," Bajaj toldrediff.com, when I sat in on one of their frequent meetings. As soon as they decide to finance a particular case, they immediately inform the doctor concerned on the telephone, and treatment is commenced at once.

All this takes less than two minutes. Sometimes, they get distress calls for accident victims. Then, one or two of them quickly rush across to the hospital where the victim is being treated and complete registration and other formalities.

For the first six months or more, the five men spent their own money. When they registered their trust, they had a kitty of just Rs 500. Then, they organised a small fund-raising dinner at a local five star hotel three months ago. Now they have Rs 1.8 lakh in their bank account. They have already spent about Rs 1 lakh over the past few months.

"We do not invest the money collected anywhere...everything is used in helping poor people,'' Mallik said.

The group has planned another major fund-raising show mid-January. They will also place piggy banks at various business and recreation centres all over Bangalore for contributions. For more information about either joining their organisation or becoming a patron, they can be reached at surakshaa@hotmail.com.

There are no administrative costs involved in their operations. They operate out of Mallik's office. All their running costs are borne by the business offices of the core group of members. "We want every paisa we collect to be used to help people in medical emergency situations," says Bhaskar.

"We would like to be a transparent conduit for businessmen who want to do charity but don't have the time for it," says Bajaj. "Our goal is to ensure that their money reaches the right people who need it. We do not restrict our assistance to particular hospitals or doctors. In fact, we would also like to reach out to the villages and small towns."

They hope to do this by widening their base - bringing more and more people into their fold - and also motivating like-minded citizens to start similar associations. They are willing to help any such individuals or groups.

They refuse cases of the terminally ill or patients with prolonged but predictable ailments, like cancer or AIDS. "There are so many organisations which are already helping such people, and so many doctors working closely with them," explains Patil.

However, it is not only money that these men give to 'Surakshaa'. Each one of them devotes at least an hour a day to it, in the form of liasing with doctors, visiting hospitals to pay bills, transporting the ill to nursing homes and spreading the word amongst their friends to get them involved.

"The satisfaction of saving a life is something that you cannot get out of anything else you do with your time," explains Patil. "We are so grateful that we can do this so often through 'Surakshaa'."

Tough as nails top cop vows to clean up Bangalore

by M D Riti in Bangalore

November 27, 2001

"Saar, the constable on duty outside the Vidhana Soudha not only fined me for no reason, but also manhandled me when I protested," said an aggrieved autorickshaw driver.

He waited indignantly, expecting at best, that the police officer in front of him would murmur a few conciliatory words, or at worst, note down his vehicle number and list him a troublemaker in the traffic records.

He certainly never expected Hmar Twlante Sangliana, Bangalore's new police commissioner, to actually repay him the money from his own pocket, and assure him that he would recover it from the constable in question.

But those who have known Sangliana for years now know that this tough Mizo cop will most probably do just that.

After all, did he not, when his own wife borrowed his office car to buy vegetables, book a case against her?

Not just that, when he was Deputy Commissioner Police (Traffic), Bangalore, he even seized the chief minister's car when he caught it committing a traffic violation.

From the very day he was anointed commissioner by S M Krishna's Congress government, Sangliana began his endeavour to clean up Bangalore.

He lost no time in announcing several ingenious schemes, and has already begun putting several of them into action.

He has, for example, given all the city's rowdies a deadline before which

they must surrender to the police. If they don't he has said that he will personally round them up.

Another of his schemes envisages every police station to be equipped with a big bell, which constables will toll hourly at night, to help citizens and the police pinpoint the time crimes are committed.

He also has plans to convert the city's most popular hangout -- Mahatma Gandhi road - into a traffic free carnival spot for two hours on one Sunday every month for the children of Bangalore.

On top of it, citizens giving information that leads to major murder cases in the city being solved will be given cash rewards of Rs 100,000.

And finally, police officers including him will work round the clock in shifts, so that the citizenry can always have access to officers of whatever rank they require.

Sangliana himself has reserved an hour of his time every day, between 3.30 pm and 4.30 pm, for the public to meet him.

Every police commissioner does this in theory, but Sangliana is actually making sure he is personally easily available to anyone who wishes to call on him at that time.

More than anything, Sangliana has always been known to be a perfectly transparent man, who does not hesitate to speak his mind aloud, never mind the consequences.

When Krishna appointed him as head of the Special Task Force to hunt down forest brigand Veerappan, he took everyone by surprise by saying the STF should be disbanded.

Veerappan, he said, should be treated like any other dacoit or killer, and hunted down by the local Mysore police in the course of their normal policing activities.

Similarly, he never hesitates to make politically incorrect statements, even if it means antagonising the powers that be.

For instance, he has, on his own, made a public announcement that he will not allow policemen to be used for bandobust duties.

"There are not enough of them to do good policing," he points out, "so why divert them for unnecessary functions?"

There will also be women at police control rooms to handle grievances pertaining to women in distress, he promises.

And the child beggars that dot all the city's traffic light intersections and commercial spots will be rehabilitated forthwith, he says.

Whether the government actually backs Sangliani to implement his ingenious remains to be seen.

But what has been seen is the Chief Minister S M Krishna earning himself some brownie points in the eyes of the citizens of Bangalore, for appointing a commissioner seemingly interested in making the city a better place to live in.

And the frequent refrain heard from common citizens in times of distress, "I shall report you personally to Sangliana," is more than ample testimony to the confidence the top cop inspires

No wonder, then, that the man already has two Kannada movies named after him.