Army stages flag march in Mrashtras Malegaon

NASIK, Oct 31 (UNI) Army, Rapid Action Force, State Reserve Police Force and Police staged a Flag March in Maharashtras Malegaon Tehsil where sporadic violence was reported despite strict imposition of curfew restrictions for the sixth consecutive day today.

A total of 13 people have been killed and more than 350 arrested since riots started last Friday when an SRP police official seized pamphlets, calling for the boycott of US products, being distributed to protest against the us attack on Afghanistan.

The anti-US protesters then pelted stones at the police, who lathi charged and opened fire to disperse the violent mob.

Police fired in the air to disperse a mob after a riot-scare in Kalwan and Nampur villages today.

Six shops were set on fire by miscreants in a similar incident in the satana tehsil last night.

Curfew was eased for the second day today for three hours till 1100 hrs this morning in malegaon and surrounding villages to enable locals to fill-in household necessities and other essentials.

It continues however till midnight, authorities informed.

Police said the situation in Deola and Antapur town, which was volatile with reports of looting and burning last night, was brought under control and curfew has been relaxed for a few hours.

Meanwhile, rumour mongers spread false news of stampedes and fresh riots throughout Nashik district during the day.

Bandhs, demonstrations and morchas to condemn the riots were staged at different places including Andarsul, Nandgaon, Sogras, Vadali Bhoi and Vinchur regions of the district, sources said.

Police said that the situation is returning to normal though tension prevails in the area.

In view of the prevailing tension, Congress president Sonia Gandhi and State Minorities Commission Chairman Amin Khandwani cancelled their Malegaon tour to avoid security problems.

PMC merges with Cong PONDICHERRY, Oct 31 (UNI) In a sudden political development here, the Puducherry Makkal Congress (PMC) today merged with the congress.

Addressing a press conference here, PMC founder and former Home Minister P Kannan said the decision to merge his party with the congress was endorsed at the general body meeting of the PMC held here today.

He said he had already talked to AICC president Sonia Gandhi in this regard when he met her in New Delhi a fortnight ago, following a call from AICC General Secretary Ghulam Nabi Azad that"all national-minded people should join the Congress.

"mrs gandhi told me to take an independent decision on the issue, Kannan pointed out.

The PMC leader said a formal function to celebrate the merger would be held on November 11, in which AICC leaders, including Sonia Gandhi would take part.

Till that date, the PMC office and other wings of the party would continue to function and would be dissolved only later, he added.

When asked to clarify whether he had played a leading role in the merger, Kannan said he was addressing the press conference as a Congress man.

Kannan said due to the extraordinary political situation prevailing in the Union Territory, and keeping the welfare of the people in mind, it was decided to merge the PMC with the parent organisation.

It was not only a political decision, but also a social compulsion, he claimed.

"Basically we were congressmen and were never against the congress", he said.

Following the decision taken at the general body meeting, the party had been merged with the Congress unconditionally with immediate effect, he pointed out.

Referring to the support of independent member Malladi Krishna Rao, Kannan said"Rao whole-heartedly supported the Congress.

He is not joining the party due to technical problems he is likely to face in the legislative assembly".

Kannan said he wanted to remain as a congressman hereafter.

Whatever happens, I will remain as a congressman for ever.

There will not be any other political path for me", he asserted.

Asked whether the difference of opinion which forced him to come out of the congrees was over, Kannan said as far as he was concerned it was over.

He also thanked Gandhi for appointing a person belonging to the backward class as Chief Minister of Pondicherry when several others only spoke about such matters but never bothered to carry out the same.

Replying to a question, Kannan said he would give a formal letter of merger to the speaker and the chief minister.

Asked whether the PMC office-bearers would get any posts in the congress, he said they would work as ordinary cadres.

PCC president V Naraynasami was very helpful in all the negotiations, Kannan said.

Babri Masjid demolition for upholding national self-esteem: Kishore NEW DELHI, Oct 31 (UNI) Vishwa Hindu Parishad vice president Acharya Giriraj Kishore today told the Liberhan Commission that the demolition of the Babri mosque was akin to wiping out the signs of British occupation after independence in 1947 and was aimed at upholding national self-esteem.

Deposing before the Commission, probing the December 6, 1992 demolition of the Babri mosque, Mr Kishore said "an independent nation removes a victory sign built by invaders like signs of Engish rule were removed from Delhi and outside in 1947.

Babar was an invader so it was natural that the victory sign built by him was demolished." Defending the VHPs proposal of 1988 in which the disputed structure was referred to as mosque like structure, Mr Kishore said that actually it was not a mosque but looked like one due to its structure.

Supporting this theory he said the disputed structure lacked minars and had statues of "Varah" and other deities on its walls and it was described as an "abode of angels." When asked if the idol of Ramlala was not removed on December 6, 1992 would the Hindus still have demolished the structure, the VHP leader said that for the construction of a new and grand temple old and delipadated temples are normally demolished.

However, if the idol in the old temple is movable it is removed and if immovable it is protected in situ.

Ramlala, being immovable, was not removed but protected by keeping a very strong object over it.

However, he evaded answering who took the decision regarding protection of the idols.

"No formal proposal was passed for this.

In emergency situations, immediate decisions are taken by the responsible people," he said.

Regarding the affidavits filed by the Uttar Pradesh government in November 1992 in which VHP leaders Chinmaya Nand and Rajmata Vijaya Raje Scindia had given written assurances that no harm would be done to the disputed structure during Karseva on December 6, 1992, he said that the VHP leaders had given the assurances in their individual capacities and not as representatives of the VHP.

He said the organisation had neither passed such a proposal nor authorised them to file an affidavit on VHPs behalf.

But since they were senior leaders, respecting their views the Margdarshak Mandal passed a resolution two days before December 6 for pursuing a symbolic Karseva only.

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