India should attack PoK: RSS

HYDERABAD, Oct 7 (UNI): The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh is of the view that India should not hesitate to attack Pakistan-occupied Kashmir so as to cut off the supply lines across the borders in view of continued terrrorism in the valley.

RSS national spokesman M G Vidya told newspersons here today that the country should tackle terrorism on its own without depending on others.

"Terrorism should be fought on our own terms." But the world nations were concerned only about the Taliban and Osama bin Laden, he regretted.

The spokesman said the RSS was happy with the stand taken by India in the post-US terrorist attacks scenario.

The government had taken right decisions at the right time.

Referring to the construction of Ram Temple at Ayodhya, Mr Vidya said the RSS would extend its full support to all the programmes of Vishwa Hindu Parishad on this.

He said prime minister A.B.Vajpayee would clear all the issues related to the construction of the proposed Ram Temple by March 12 next year.

"Let us trust him (Mr.Vajpayee)," he added.

To a question, he said the government was free to ban the RSS if it found any evidence against it.

The demand from certain quarters to ban the RSS had been a British hangover.

On the ban on the SIMI, he claimed that the demand for it came from the Congress-ruled Maharashtra.

Mr Vidya said the Sangh held two rounds of discussions with Christian organisations.

These talks, though introductory in nature, were fruitful.

The next round of talks would be held with a specific agenda after Diwali to find out their attitude towards other religions.

To a question, he said the RSS was not averse to holding talks with Mulsim clerics.

Hooch toll 27, over 30 serious CHENNAI, Oct 7 (UNI) The toll in the hooch tragedy in Tamil Nadu rose to 27, with nine more people succumbing to the killer brew today even as 30 others who consumed the illicit liquor were battling for their lives at the Stanley medical college hospital here.

State Director General of Police B P Nailwal visited the hospital, where at least 54 people, including 30 in a serious condition, were being treated after consuming the brew, suspected to be laced with chemicals, at a betrothal function at Kottur village in Thiruvallur district on the night of October five.

While two illicit arrack suppliers, including a woman, were arrested from Anangapathur village in connection with the incident yesterday, two more local vendors were at large.

Meanwhile, Thiruvallur district collector P Sivasankaran suspended Athivakkam village administrative officer G Ulaganathan in connection with the incident.

Fodder scam NDA silent over denial of prosecution against state employees RANCHI, Oct 7 (UNI) The National Democratic Alliance, which has demanded the ouster of the Rabri Devi government in Bihar, is silent over the denial of sanction for prosecution against about 100 state government employees whose names figure in the fodder scam.

The CBI had moved the Jharkhand Movernment seeking sanction against the employees before it formally filed a partial chargesheet in the case in May against some politicians, including two former chief ministers of Bihar Laloo Prasad Yadav and Dr Jagganth Mishra.

The CBI designated court taking cognizance of the chargesheet had issued non-bailable warrants against key conspirators, including the two former chief ministers of Bihar.

However the execution of the warrant was later stayed by the apex court.

According to the investigating agency, partial chargesheet had to be filed in the case as the Jharkhand government had denied sanction against the employees.

The Jharkhand government had denied sanction saying it was not a competent authority to sanction prosecution as official distribution of cadre of the officers and employees had not been finalised and the employees in question were still under Bihar government till formal bifurcation of the cadre.

The High Court on August 8 after hearing two writ petitions filed by the employees had ordered, quoting section 74 of the Bihar State Re-organisation Act 2000, that "a person holding or discharging duties of any post or office in connection with the existing state of Bihar prior to November 15, 2000, on and from November 15, 2000 shall continue to hold the same posts or office in the successor state under which the area fell and shall be deemed, on and from November fifteen 2000, to have been duly appointed to the post or office by the government of the appropriate authority in that successor state under which the posts or office falls".

Meanwhile, the CBI had moved the Jharkhand and the Bihar government and the centre in yet another fodder scam case which involves fraudulent withdrawls to the tune of Rs 46 lakh and had a horde of politicians including the two former Bihar chief ministers and bureaucrats as key conspirators.

Sources in the investigating agency said former chief minister and RJD supreme Laloo Prasad Yadav might be brought for trial to Jharkhand in the first week of next month.

The records pertaining to the 36 cases transfered to Jharkhand by the order of the Supreme Court were yet to be transfered here for trial.

Meanwhile, activities had gained momentum in the political circles here with the RJD planning a series of agitational programmes against the ruling NDA.

According to political observers here, a fresh polarisation of forces is on the cards with the possible re-entry of RJD supremo Laloo Prasad Yadav in Jharkhands political scene.

Mr Yadav known for his politican manipulations might strike a coalition of the anti-BJP forces, sources said.

Digvijay questions centres stand against ban on Bajrang Dal BHOPAL, Oct 7 (UNI) Madhya Pradesh chief minister Digvijay Singh today questioned the centres stand against imposition of ban on Bajrang Dal.

Talking to UNI here, he described as "unjustified" the centres response to his plea for a ban on Bajrang Dal and charged the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance government with adopting a "partisan view".

"They are concerned about Muslim fundamentalists but turn a blind eye to the Hindu fundamentalists whose activities are equally detrimental to the national integrity", he added.

The centre, while turning down his suggestion, has contended that the two organisations (Bajrang Dal and Students Islamic Movement of India) are not comparable.

Mr Singh said he did not agree with the union governments view, saying that the Bajrang Dal is no different from SIMI.

While welcoming the centres decision banning SIMI, Mr Digvijay Singh had demanded similar ban on the Bajrang Dal for indulging in anti-national activities.

He felt that Bajrang Dal was directly responsible for the existence of institutions like SIMI by instilling fears in the minority community.

Asked about reports that his statement had surprised central Congress leaders, Mr Singh made it clear that he had issued the statement after getting clearance from the All India Congress Committee(AICC).

To a question, the chief minister said his government would not allow the Bajrang Dal to hold any conference which tended to disturb the secular harmony of the state.

Delhi police files charge-sheet against JKMM activists NEW DELHI, Oct 07(UNI) The Delhi police has filed a chargesheet in a Delhi court against five activists of the Jammu and Kashmir Mass Movement (JKMM) and one of their associates for allegedly carrying out militant activities and raising war against the nation.

Metropolitan magistrate AK Sarpal taking cognizance of the charge-sheet fixed the next date of hearing on November 10 for scrutiny of the documents.

The charge-sheet has been filed against Feroz Ahmed Mir, MD.

Sayeed Tantrik alias Yusuf Ahmed Tantrik, MD.

Latif Hazan, Abdul Rashid Gujjari and their associate Inderjeet Singh Balli.

Accused Feroz and Sayeed were arrested on June 20 from Samir guest house at Ballimaran in Old Delhi with Rs 15 lakh.

They were here to carry out militancy and anti-national activities, the charge-sheet alleged.

On interrogation, these two confessed that four others were associated with them.

The other accused were arrested subsecuently from different parts of Delhi, it alleged.

All the accused had been lodged in Tihar jail in judicial custody.

The special branch of Delhi police has examined 15 prosecution witnesses before filing the charge-sheet, the police said.

Accused MD Latif Hazan and Inderjeet Singh Bali have filed bail petitions in the court, which would be heared by additional district and sessions judge SK Bhayana on October 8.

They had been charged under sections 121, 121a, 120b of the IPC for conspiracy, raising war against the nation and militancy.

Chidambaram unhappy over SECs manner of allotting symbols TIRUCHIRAPALLI, Oct 7 (UNI) Congress Jananayaga Paravai president P Chidambaram today expressed regret that the State Election Committee was not sticking to the norm of giving priority to recognised political parties while allotting symbols to candidates for the upcoming civic polls in Tamil Nadu.

"It seems the Commission is functioning like a machine.

They dont appear to know the basic rules mentioned in the Panchayati Raj Act," he observed, while talking to newspersons here.

Mr Chidambaram claimed that returning officers apparently acted on their own while allotting symbols to candidates, creating confusion across the state.

About the states politics, he stressed the need for a viable alternative to both the ruling AIADMK and the opposition DMK.

"People are unhappy with the two parties.

The mood is evident in the voter turnout, which was only 55 per cent last time.

Our partys main objective is to rally around the rest 45 per cent voters," he noted.

To a question, the former union finance minister said his party was ready to join the Third front in future elections.

Such a Front alone can become a viable alterative to the AIADMK and DMK, he added.

Talwandi walks out of PAC meet after being cornered CHANDIGARH, Oct 7 (UNI) In a surprising development in Akali politics, Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC) president and Shiromani Akali Dals (SAD) disciplinary action committee chairman Jagdev Singh Talwandi today walked out of the partys Political Affairs Committee (PAC) meeting here amid allegations and counter allegations.

Mr Talwandi opted to walk out of the meeting after SAD president Parkash Singh Badal acknowledged certain allegations levelled against the SGPC chief of issuing false statements to the media against party vice president Gurdev Singh Badal and secretary Kirpal Singh Badungar, party sources here told UNI after the meeting was over.

Raising the issue in the meeting, Mr Badungar criticised Mr Talwandi for giving statements against him and Mr Gurdev Singh Badal that they had been going to self-styled Saint Baba Piara Singh Bhaniarawala, presently arrested on the charges of possessing some damaged pages of the sacrileged Beer of Guru Granth Sahib.

It may be recalled that both Mr Badungar and Mr Gurdev Singh Badal had recently issued clarifications that they were not having any affiliation with Baba Piara Singh.

Mr Talwandi rose from his seat after he was cornered by Parkash Singh Badal, Gurdev Singh Badal and Mr Badungar, a senior party leader and PAC member said after the meeting.

Mr Talwandi came out of the PAC meeting twenty minutes after it began but was taken back inside the closed room by the chief ministers political advisor.

The SGPC chief walked out for the second time and ultimately left the venue, while the meeting continued for over an hour after his quiting.

Mr Talwandi refused to talk to the press on the issue, while coming out by saying that he had some important work out of the city.

Even as there was no formal media briefing after the PAC meeting, SAD general secretary Kanwaljit Singh told reporters that the Congress had conspired a dirty game of politics against them (the Akalis) as the Punjab elections were nearing.

He alleged that the Congress was behind the incidents of the sacrilege of the Guru Granth Sahib.

Install national govt, Swamy tells president CHENNAI, Oct 7 (UNI) Janata Party president Subramanian Swamy today urged president K R Narayanan to install a national government after seeking the resignation of prime minister A B Vajpayee "in the national interest." Addressing a press conference here, he said a crisis was now looming over India and the Vajpayee governmment was incapable of tackling the situation.

The national government should be headed by former prime minister Chandra Shekhar, according to him.

Dr Swamy claimed that India had compromised on terrorism after capitulating in Kandahar and whining impotently in face of terrorist attacks on Kashmir.

"No one took the prime minister seriously on terrorism in world fora." While the Amercians shared with the UK and even Pakistan the evidence about the involvement of Saudi fugitive Osama bin Laden in the Septemebr eleven attacks on America, India was not given that opportunity.

"If there is any lip service from the US, the UK and others, it is because India has a billion-plus population and not out of any consideration for the vajpayee Vovernment," he maintained.

India now looked hopelessly sidelined in the fight against terrorism, he added.

Asked to comment on Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Farooq Abdullah breaking down in the assembly while lamenting that his state was facing attack from Pakistan, Dr Swamy said Dr Abdullahs outbursts seemed to be a "cover up his incompetence." "He could have asked the centre to smash the terrorist camps in Pakistan during the Kargil operations but he did not," he said.

Dr Swamy also asked Congress president Sonia Gandhi to explain why her son Rahul was detained by the FBI in the US at Bostons Logan airport.

He also wanted to know what questions they asked him and the replies he gave.

He claimed that the Enforcement Directorate had in a letter sought his assistance in tracing Mr Rahul Gandhis foreign accounts, based on his earlier letter to the finance minister, identifying the source of Mr Gandhis funds from a tax haven.

The Janata Party leader hinted his tilt towards the DMK in the upcoming local-body polls in the state by saying that his party would support DMK candidate Ramachandran for the mayoral election in Madurai.

State Janata Party chief V S Chandralekha, however, claimed that this support was on individual merit.

The party will contest the local body poll in many places on its own, Dr Swamy said.

He also criticised state chief minister O Paneerselvam for being "subservient" to AIADMK chief and his predecessor J Jayalalithaa.

Pioneer, ET, IB director summoned on Tehelka victims plea NEW DELHI, Oct 6 (UNI) A Delhi court has issued summons to Pioneer, Economic Times and the Director of Intelligence Bureau (IB) on the defamation suit filed by Thomas Mathew, a director with the union home ministry, who was suspended in the wake of the Tehelka exposure.

Mr VK Gupta, a civil judge, has issued summons to the editor, publisher, printer of Pioneer Chandan Mitra and Economic Times editor Arindam Sen Gupta and its publisher and printer JM Aggarwal for appearing before the court on July 11 next year to defend the news reports published in their newspapers on March 22 and March 30 respectively.

The IB director has also been summoned to clarify the allegations in the articles, on the basis of which Mathew was placed on suspension pending inquiry.

In his application, Mathew said the allegations in the news reports were baseless and published without even getting a clarification from him.

The newspapers knew that the reports were false.

Both the newspapers deliberately published them to damage his reputation, he wrote in the complaint.

Mathew had claimed nominal Re one for the damage of his reputation, directives to the newspapers for not publishing any defamatory and libelous reports and news items against him in future and pay the cost incurred towards filing the suit.

Gujarat change showed BJPs acute nervousness: Digvijay BHOPAL, Oct 7 (UNI): Madhya Pradesh chief minister Digvijay Singh today said the change in the leadership of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party in Gujarat showed the "acute nervousness" of that party.

Talking to UNI here, he said it was amusing to see that a veteran leader(Mr Keshubhai Patel) with mass base, had been replaced by a novice who had no roots.

However, he said, these tactics would not pay any dividend to the BJP, which is fast losing its grounds.

Modi installed as Gujarat CM GANDHINAGAR, Oct 7 (UNI): A ten-member BJP ministry, headed by Mr Narendra Modi as 17th chief minister, was installed in Gujarat today.

The oath-taking function was boycotted by the main opposition congress and attended by several union ministers and senior BJP and NDA leaders.

The ceremony held amid tight security was marked by a large turn out of BJP workers and chaotic conditions.

Gujarat governor Sunder Singh Bhandari administered the oath of office and secrecy to Mr Narendra Modi and nine others as cabinet ministers.They all took the oath in Guajarati.

The cabinet ministers are:Mr Suresh Mehta, Nitin Patel, Fakir Vaghela, , Kaushik Patel, Purushottam Rupala, Kanji Patel, Narottam Patel, I K Jadeja and Mrs Anandiben Patel.

Those present at the function, held at the helipad grounds here, included union ministers including, Arun Jaitley, Suresh Prabhu, Vallabh Kathiria and Vijay Goel and NDA convenor George Fernandes.

UP chief minister Rajnath Singh,Himachal Pradesh chief minister, Prem Kumar Dhumal and their Haryana counterpart Om Prakash Chautala along with former BJP president Bangaru Laxman also attended the function.

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