NEW DELHI, Dec 2 (UNI) The combined opposition in the Lok Sabha will move an adjournment motion tomorrow on corruption issues involving minister of state for environment and forests Dilip Singh Judev and the alleged milking of the Public Sector Undertakings by six cabinet ministers.
Addressing newspersons here today, leader of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) Somnath Chatterjee said the adjournment motion in this regards will be submitted to the speaker's office tomorrow morning.
"It is unfortunate that the government has initiated a different course of investigation in the Judev case where they are now trying to find out how and through whom this corruption case was brought to the public notice instead of asking the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to interrogate the minister involved," he said.
Demanding a statement from prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on the report submitted by the CVC on the milking of PSUs, Chatterjee said the correspondence between the government and the CVC in this regard be made public.
He alleged that the government was misusing the nation's investigating agency CBI for its narrow political gains.
He said the entire opposition had also agreed to lodge its protest against demolition of the Babri Masjid on December 6 in the Lok Sabha.
Asked if UP chief minister Mulayam Singh Yadav would join the opposition on the demolition issue, Chatterjee said, "we hope Mr Yadav will not disagree with us though he has some compulsions of governance." Today's opposition coordination meet was attended by former prime minister Chandrashekher, Pawan Bansal (Congress), Ajay Chakraborty (CPI), Amar Roy Pradhan (AIFB), Beer Singh Mahato (RSP), Ramji Lal Suman (SP), Rashid Alvi (BSP), Dr Raghuvansh Prasad Singh (RJD), Ram Vilas Paswan (LJP), Sharad Pawar (NCP), Ali Mohammad Naik (NC), Francis George (Kerala), Ajit Singh (RLD), Mohale (JD-S) and BM Banatwala (ML).
Second innings for militant Zoramthanga AIZWAL, Dec 02 (UNI) He had sneaked into China for procuring arms, had escaped to Karachi to live for six years and is now all set to become the chief minister of Mizoram for the second successive term.
His success and policies might have given another chance to form the government in Mizoram, but Zoramthanga will go down the history as man who changed the landscape of Mizoram from being the most violent state to the most peaceful one, setting the trend for whole North East.
A hardcore militant and being the number two in the Mizo National Front (MNF) during its long fight against the Indian state, his ordeal in the jungles, escapades and hide out for two decades should be a plot for at least a dozen thrillers.
But the man has no airs.
Toughened by the struggles of jungles, his sole objective is to make Mizoram a model state for the whole nation and then bring about a lasting peace in the North East and becoming a messenger for peace for other militant groups also.
Born in 1944 in Samthang he worked as a school teacher briefly before joining the Mizo National Front (mnf).
Because of his education, he soon picked up ranks of the MNF and became a favourite of legendary militant leader Laldenga.
He and Laldenga had gone to China to broker arms deal and after the Independence of Bangladesh they managed to reach Karachi through Yangon and cooled their heels for six years at the mercy of the Pakistan government.
From there he launched the peace initiative, meeting the representative of the Indian government in countries like Thailand, Afghanistan, Iran and Switzerland.
In 1979 he was held captive by the Indian government, but he managed to escape to the jungles of Arkana to take the responsibility of the MNF as the vice- president.
It was he and late Laldenga who guided the peace process, which culminated into 1986 historic Mizo Accord and ensured every arm of the MNF cadres were returned to Indian government.
In the Interim government of MNF and Congress, he became a minister under the chief ministership of Laldenga.
When Laldenga died in 1990 Zoramthanga became the president of the party.
He has never lost an election and won from Champai constituency for five successive terms.
After sitting in the opposition for two successive terms, it was Zoramthanga who led the MNF to victory in 1998 humiliating the Congress.
Zoramthanga is also playing a catalytic role in bringing other militants groups of the North Eastern region to the negotiation table and attended several round of discussion with the NSCN leadership at Bangkok.
Congress accepts defeat in Mizoram AIZWAL, Dec 02 (UNI) The Congress today accepted defeat and decided to sit in the opposition making it clear that they would not make any effort to form a government with smaller parties.
Congress state president and three-time chief minister Lathanhawla told newsmen that he had accepted the verdict with all humility.
The results are surprising and I must say that it is an upset.
But we accept the electoral verdict and will sit in the opposition, he said.
The Congress secured 12 seats, six more than last time.
I am happy at the performance but surprised that we lost traditional strongholds like Changwte, Tuipang and Lawlngtali.
This is because of money power as both the MNF and BJP poured money against us, Lalthanhawla said.
He, however, made it clear that if there was any internal crisis and the government falls then the Congress would not hesitate to play an active role in forming an alternative government.
Akalis to launch stir from Dec 9 if Badal not granted bail CHANDIGARH, Dec 2 (UNI) A day after former Punjab chief minister and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Parkash Singh Badal and his son were sent to judicial custody in a graft case against them, the party today decided to launch agitation from December nine in front of patiala Central Jail where the father-son duo are lodged.
Announcing the decision taken by the SAD's Political Affairs Committee (PAC) here this afternoon, Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) president Gurcharan Singh Tohra, who described him as PAC spokesman, said the "anti-repression" agitation by the party would be preceded by a political rally on December eight on the occasion of Badal's birthday.
"Aakhand Path(non-stop recital of Granth Sahib for 48 hours) for the long life of Badal will start at Patiala's Dukhniwaran Sahib Gurdwara on December six and culminate on December eight when the rally will be held in the gurdwara complex," Tohra added.
On agitation's modus operandi, he said a group of A01 akali volunteers would hold a "dharna" in front of the jail daily till such a time the party president was released on bail, adding no protest sit-in would be launched in case the former chief minister was granted bail in the case tomorrow.
The bail applications of Badal and his son Sukhbir Singh Badal, a Rajya Sabha member and party general secretary, is listed for arguments in the Ropar special court tomorrow afternoon.
Special court judge SK Goel, while rejecting the Badals' plea for Interim bail, had fixed wednesday afternoon for arguments on their regular bail plea.
The SAD had earlier decided to celebrate the birthday of the party president at Ludhiana but Badal, after the court sent him and son to judicial custody till December 13, said the birthday bash had been called off.
When asked his date of birth, Badal quipped,"I do not remember two things...
My date of birth and how many times I had been to jail." Leaders take a break ahead of counting NEW DELHI, Dec 2 (UNI) Delhi's politicians left a bitterly-fought election behind today to relax in the cozy confines of their homes and in the company of relations ahead of Thursday's counting of votes.
Chief minister Shiela Dikshit, who reportedly received bruises on her neck in a scuffle with the supporters of her rival Poonam Azad, decided to spend the day at home.
"The CM has no engagements today.
She is relaxing at home with her family," said an aide of Dikshit.
State BJP chief Madan Lal Khurana, who is eyeing the chief minister's chair, went out to meet his relations.
"There is no party work for the chief.
He has gone out on a personal visit," said a party official.
A day after the election, the offices of both the Congress and the BJP wore a deserted look in stark contrast to the hectic activity throughout the last month.
The Congress state office on the Talkatora road came to life only for a few minutes today when its spokesman Jagdish Tytler dropped in.
The BJP office on Pant Marg did not receive any senior party leaders and the minor office functionaries spent a quiet day.
"We are not expecting any of our leaders to come to the party office today," said BJP state office secretary Jagdish Mamgain.
"There are only a few people here." The mood in the political circles depended on who believed in electoral predictions and who did not.
The Congress, which exit polls said will retain power, threw a party away at the GT-Karnal Road for journalists.
"We are hopeful of 40-45 seats," said a senior leader of the Congress.
State Congress president Ch.
Prem Singh, manifesto committee chairman JP Aggarwal and Desh Bandh Gupta, chairman of the Publicity Committee, came to the party.
Prem Singh said the elected MLAs of the party would meet to elect their leader once the results are out.
"Let the counting be over and we will decide our leader," he said.
