NEW DELHI, Nov 25 (UNI): Leader of the opposition in the Lok Sabha Sonia Gandhi, stating that the Congress had always followed the policy of constructive cooperation, today blamed governments for causing serious problems in legislatures by describing dissent as anti national and arbitrarily trying to impose their will.
Calling for a code of conduct to bring discipline and decorum in parliament and legislatures, the Congress president said the fundamental requirement was a government which worked through consensus and cooperation.
"It is when governments behave arbitrarily and try to impose their will without discussion, when they consider dissent as anti-national and approach the house with a closed mind that serious problems arise in the functioning of the legislatures.
We have a collective responsibility no doubt, but that extra responsibility falls on the government, Ms Gandhi said.
Speaking at the conference on discipline and decorum in parliament and state legislatures here, she said the Congress had followed the policy of constructive cooperation in the national interest although many believed the basic rule of parliamentary democracy was "where you stand depends on where you sit.
Ms Gandhi called for a concrete plan of action to restore to parliament and legislatures their diminishing dignity and lustre.
"It is true that guidelines for conduct already exist...even so, I believe that we, as a political class, need to give thought to an explicit code of conduct for legislators, both inside and outside the house, the Congress said.
"I accept that ultimately political parties themselves should guarantee discipline and decorum on part of their members.
But a code of conduct will also have a salutary, sobering impact, she added.
Pointing out to the sad fact that in the publics estimation there was no regard for parliament, she said the image projected to the people was one of disruption, indecorum and shouting matches.
She said the future of democracy and respect for legislature depended on the steps taken to rectify the situation.
Noting that the image of parliament did not match the reality, she said a great deal of the nations business was transacted in legislatures after deep study and consensual conclusions.
The Congress president said democracy was not about disruption but about debate and therefore it should be ensured that the scope for disruption was minimised and that for debate widened.
Much of the disruption, she said was the result of members having to jostle to secure a share of the limisted time available to bring up issues.
"It also needs to be recognised that a great deal of disruption arises from the reluctance of and procastination by the treasury benches to face the house on controversial issues.
Therefore, presiding officers need to assist the opposition in raising issues which may be uncomfortable to treasury benches, she said.
Ms Gandhi called for radically reorganising the standard sequence of business in parliament.
For exapmle, she said question hour could be shifted to the evening as this would enable the house, immediately on assembling in the morning, to take up for debate issues of public importance.
"Apart from thus emphasising the priority of matters of urgent national importance and ensuring that disruption does not pre-empt media covereage, such a move might also contribute to question hour not being abandoned, as so often, and most regrettably happens at present.
Ms Gandhi said to minimise dsiruption there should be an aboslute ban on entering the well of the house and the automatic enforcement of disciplinary action in the event of the fundamental rules being breached.
Any disturbance during the presidential address should be disallowed, she said.
In another suggestion, she said parliament could sit in the forenoons on saturdays and private members business could be shifted to these sessions.
Extending sittings upto 120 days could also considerably expand the scope for debate.
The Congress she said, was of the opinion that whenever any disruption occurred or the house did not meet on account of holidays, the lost time should be automatically compensated for by longer sittings or additional working days.
She said the question of giving more powers to the presiding officer to take disciplinary action needed more consideration.
"He often has to obtain the approval of the entire house or wait for the recommendations of the privilege committee before taking action against erring members, Ms Gandhi said.
When blatant disturbances take place in the presence of all members inside the house and the house itself is witness to the disturbances, there should perhaps be no need to refer the matter to the privileges committee for further investigation, she added.
Referring to the media Ms Gandhi said it should not function like a government gazette, blandly recording all that goes on.
There was more media attention when the house was thrown into disarray than when it went about its business in the usual way.
"The media is not be blamed for this.
But we have to devise ways in which the general public are being seriously and purposefully discussed.
Therefore, this conference might wish to consider practical steps for projecting, through the visual medium, the serious business of the house to the serious viewer.
Gujral condemns Pak for promoting terrorism GUWAHATI, Nov 25 (UNI): Former prime minister I K Gujral has criticised Pakistan for patronising terrorism in South Asia and said the post-Taliban Afganistan would have implications for the entire region.
Delivering the fourth Lachit Barphukan memorial lecture on "Indias relations with her neighbours" at the Guwahati university yesterday, Mr Gujral said that it was in Indias vital interests that Pakistan remains stable.
"It would be possible when Pakistani rulers distance themselves from narco-terrorism and fundamentalist beliefs in relation to not only the Taliban but also in Kashmir, Chechnya and Central Asia," he added.
"I hope that end of Taliban will cause a sobering impact on the Jehadi extremists of Pakistan and moderate the Pakistani rulers to think in a co-operative mood of its relationship with India," he said.
Mr Gujral stated that India and its neighbours had to join hands to curb terrorism and separatist forces.
"The SAARC nations had so far failed to go beyond their "vow" to fight terrorism collectively," he said.
Mr Gujral said development and stability of the North East was closely linked to Indias co-operation and understanding with Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Myanmar.
Peace and prosperity in the North East could not be ensured if the neighbouring countries do not help by opening border trade and transport links that would stimulate production forces and deter fissiparous tendencies, he added.
Governor Lt Gen (retired) S K Sinha, who is also the chancellor of the Guwahati University, said India could not ignore the recent developments in Afganishan in view of her close historic relations with that country.
Chief minister Tarun Gogois speech was read out inabsentia by state minister for home Pradyut Bardoloi.
Krishan Kant calls upon legislators to be examples to youth NEW DELHI, Nov 25 (UNI): Vice president and Rajya Sabha chairman Krishna Kant today called upon the legislators to ensure that collective and constructive perception were translated into "visible and enduring practices." Expressing serious concern at the Badlam created in the House by members, he said "We must remember, that the spectatcle of anarchy which we create in parliament and in the legislatures, profoundly influences the people, especially our young men and women in particular." He was inaugurating the one-day high level conference on "discipline and decorum in parliament and state legislatures" being attended by presiding officers, chief ministers, ministers of parliamentary affairs, leaders and whips of parties here.
Mr Kant said the parliamentary institutions act as the wellsprings of national and societal values ...
" If we wish to become leaders - and as peoples representatives that is a very legitimate expectation, we must speak to people through our personal example: an example of character, decorum, order, dignity, tolerance and accommodation." He said that there were a number of instances where members of both houses of parliament agreed on certain norms of behaviour and conduct.
There were resolutions that the question hour would remain inviolate except under the rarest of circumstances.
But instances of disruption of proceedings of the houses were continuing.
The vice president said that he was not advocating that legislatures exhibit the peace of the grave these institutions were not meant to be quiet places.
"I am all for members expressing themselves forcefully and even passionately.
But they must stop short of becoming, boisterous, libellous and personal," he advised.
Obstruction, he said, is an ordinary part of parliamentary procedure.
However such obstruction cannot be construed to mean physical obstruction.
It can only be confined to the realm of intelligent use of rules and procedures and points of order, discomfiting the government with hard but well argued criticism.
Referring to the criticism about the presiding officers not using their powers to check and discipline errant members and recalcitrant parties and groups, he said the presiding officer would weaken his or her arbitrational authority and expose himself or herself to debilitating criticism, if there was frequent punitive action.
While observing that the parliamentary system was under stress and needed to be resuscitated and revitalised, he asked the legislators to introspect if in the past few years the parliamentary institutions had slipped from the commanding heights where they once stood.
Why are these hallowed institutions the subject of scathing attack from diverse quarters? Why is there an impression gaining ground that the parliament and the legislatures are letting down the indian people? Why, our actions in the parliament and the state legislatures, are frequently at variance with the expectations of the indian people? There was need to look into it, he emphasised.
Laloo leaves Patna for maiden trip to Jharkhand as accused PATNA, Nov 25 (UNI): RJD supremo Laloo Prasad Yadav left the Bihar capital this morning for Ranchi to surrender before the designated CBI court in the fodder scam case.
Before leaving, the former Bihar chief minister vowed to launch an agitation against the centres "misdeeds".
Mr Yadav told mediapersons that he would continue his fight against the centre and said his absence would not create any threat to the RJD government in Bihar.
His wife and chief minister Rabri Devi saw him off as Mr Yadav left on a chariot named "Garib Chetna Rath".
Several ministers, party leaders and thousands of supporters were also present during the journey.
Mr Yadav said nobody could dare play mischief on him and claimed that he possessed enough resources to frustrate any such move.
The official residence from where the "surrender journey" began was crowded with ministers and MPs, including Raghubansh Prasad Singh, senior state government bureaucrats, officers and Congress leaders who had come to see him off.
Meanwhile, RJD spokesperson and Bihar excise minister Shivanand Tiwari said the Jharkhand government stood on a "soft soil and might fall at a light onslaught".
He warned Jharkhand chief minister Babu Lal Marandi to take care of his government.
Senior Congress leader and Bihar rural development minister Sanjay Singh, who joined Mr Yadav in his entourage, said he was accompanying him because of personal relations.
Earlier, ministers and legislators of RJD expressed solidarity in the leadership of Mrs Rabri Devi and assured Mr Yadav of keeping the party intact in his absence.
The cavalcade passed through the main roads of the state capital, causing traffic jams.
A senior bureaucrat said at least 500 vehicles joined the yatra and added that the entire Patna-Ranchi road might suffer traffic jam.
Bais hopes for early resolution of standoff on POTO BHOPAL, Nov 25 (UNI): Union minister of state for information and broadcasting Ramesh Bais today hoped that the standoff between the government and opposition parties over the controversial Prevention Of Terrorism Ordinance (POTO) would be resolved soon, paving way for the passage of its bill in the parliament.
Talking to UNI here, he said the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was trying its level best to evolve a consensus on POTO.
Prime minister Atal Behari Vajpayee had reiterated that there would be no no misuse of POTO, he added.
Though there would be no no difficulty in the POTOs ratification in the Lok Sabha, he pointed out that it could not not be passed in the Rajya Sabha without the oppositions support.
Whatever may be the final fate of POTO, he said, the BJP wanted to send a message to the people that it was committed to fight terrorism.
Defending the centre for promulgating the anti-terrorism ordinance, he said it was an urgent need of the hour.
"Existing laws are not not sufficient to effectively curb the growing menace of terrorism, he added.
Raj Bhawan at Nainital open for public NAINITAL, Nov 25 (UNI): Uttaranchal governor Surjeet Singh Barnala today declared the historic Raj Bhawan here open for general public.
At the function held to mark the opening of the 100-year-old statesque edifice for the people, Mr Barnala said, "this is a landmark day in the history of Nainital as well as the country as it will enable everyone to see the historic and one of the most beautiful buildings in the country.
"No one should be deprived of viewing such a wonderful part of our history, he said.
"The Kumaon Mandal Vikas Nigam will take the tourists on a 45-minute tour of the Raj Bhawan, said Kumaon commissioner Rakesh Sharma.
The Raj Bhawan has an area of 86.85 hectares of which 55 hectares is reserved forest and the remaining has buildings, gardens, golf course and other structures.
The foundation stone of the Bhawan was laid on April 27, 1897 and the building, modelled after the Buckingham Palace, was completed in March 1900.
The design was prepared originally by Mr Stevens and Mr FO Oertel but Mr HS Wilde Blood decided on many of the details.
The architecture of the building is described as "the early domestic gothic style.
It was inhabited by many British officials including Sir Harcourt Butler and Sir William Morris.
The Bhawan has a rich collection of 19th and 20th century weapons, trophies, medals and antique furniture.
The Raj Bhawan has the famous 18 hole golf course that was designed and constructed by the British army engineers.
Spread over an area of 50 acres amid hilly Sylvan landscape, it has an underground tunnel of 137.1 metres for draining out the water and is an engineering marvel.
Locals in Kumaon say the tunnel served as the hideout of Sultana Daku, the Indian Robin Hood, in bygone days.
In 1994, the golf course was opened for the public and now hosts many golf championships.
Dignitaries and Stalwarts who have graced the Raj Bhawan include Dr Rajendra Prasad, Tribhuwan Beer Bikram Shah of Nepal, Pt Jawahar Lal Nehru, Lal Bahadur Shastri, Sarojini Naidu, Indira Gandhi, Rajeev Gandhi, FM MK Cariappa, Govind Ballabh Pant, Lady Mountbatten, Jim Corbett, Piloo Mody and Yuvraj Digvijay Singh of Awargarh state among others.
The combined effect of the vividly green lawns, grey stone steps and old deodar trees is dignified and peaceful and a strong reminiscent of the English countryside.
Nestled Snugly at an altitude of 1938 metres on the outermost ranges of the Kumaon Himalaya in Uttaranchal, Nainital is one of the most popular tourist resorts in India.
Separation painful: Rabri PATNA, Nov 25 (UNI): "Being a wife I feel sad and hurt seeing my husband caught in a political trap and forced, under legal compulsion to surrender in a court of law", Bihar Chief Minister Rabri Devi said in a choked voice on Laloo Prasad Yadavs journey to Ranchi to surrender before a designated CBI court today.
The Chief Minister said though separation was painful she had to bear the trauma with a heavy heart.
Besides attending to matters of the state she would also have to look after her family members, Rabri Devi said, pointing towards her aged mother.
The chief minister said that she had dequate experience to run the government with the cooperation of ministers and officials in absence of her predecessor.
Asserting there was no threat to her government she said a core committee had been constituted to run the goverment in a "better manner".
Before leaving, Yadav alongwith his family members, offered special prayers to the household gods for their well-being.
Fernandes accuses Pak of having double standards on US strikes GANDHI NAGAR Nov 25 (UNI): Union Defence Minister George Fernandes today said Pakistan had adopted double standards on the ongoing United States-led strikes in Afghanistan.
Talking to reporters here, Fernandes, who arrived at south western air command headquarters en route to Kutch, said on one hand Pakistan was "fully" supporting the U.S.
In its war against terrorism while on the other hand they were also helping the Taliban as its men were found fighting along with the militia.
Fernandes said the total Defence budget was of rs 62,000 and a special provision of Rs 16,000 crore would be made in it for constructing three lakh houses for the defence personnel in next three years.
He further said the Advanced Jet Training Programme, which was delayed for the last 23 years, would be completed soon.
Need for code of conduct to check indiscipline in legislatures NEW DELHI, Nov 25 (UNI): In a harsh introspection of the plunging standards in parliament and legislatures, major political leaders today said the faith of the people in democratic institutions had been shaken because of increasing indiscipline and disruption.
Speaker after speaker at a conference on "discipline and decorum in parliament and state legislatures" said there is urgent need for evolving and implementing a code of conduct and a plan of action for ensuring smooth conduct of proceedings.
Leading the call for stringent time-bound steps for infusing discipline in parliament and state legislatures were Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and leader of the opposition Sonia Gandhi who said previous attempts in this direction had failed.
Vice-president Krishan Kant, Lok Sabha speaker G.
Balayogi, and Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairperson Najma Heptulla also agreed that there were ample rules of procedure but were not being properly observed or implemented.
While almost all speakers were agreed on putting a stop to the practice of members rushing into the well of the house, there were suggestions for more sittings, moving the question hour to the evening hour to allow other issues to be raised in the morning, and even having a sitting on saturdays.
Inaugurating the meet, Krishan Kant, who is also Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, called upon the legislators to ensure that collective and constructive perception were translated into "visible and enduring practices." He said "the spectacle of anarchy which we create in parliament and in the legislatures profoundly influences the people, especially our young men and women in particular." The revised edition of the volume on interpretation of the rules of procedure in parliament by Kaul and Shakhder, which has proved to be the most dependable anthology on the subject, was released on the occasion.
The conference in the central hall of parliament house is being attended by presiding officers, chief ministers, ministers of parliamentary affairs, leaders and whips of parties.
All the speakers said it was even more important for the elected representatives to set an example for the people, especially at a time when people are watching the proceedings live on television.
In her speech, Gandhi said the Congress party had always followed the policy of constructive cooperation but blamed governments for causing serious problems in legislatures by describing dissent as "anti national" and arbitrarily trying to impose their without discussion.
Raising the issue of womens representation, Heptulla said this could lead to greater discipline in the house.
Parliamentary Affairs minister Pramod Mahajan said lack adherence to rules of procedure and the generally apathethic attitude of members to the proceedings of parliament leading to frequent lack of quorum and interruptions were major factors that all political parties needed to ponder over.
Former prime minister Chandrashekhar nostalgically recalled the conduct of parliament during the time of then prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru and speaker Zakir Hussain and felt that indiscipline had only crept in during the last two to three decades.
He also said that the presiding officers at that time exercised greater restraint and therefore enjoyed greater respect.
Benazir arrives in capital NEW DELHI, Nov 25 (UNI): Former Pakistan prime minister Benazir Bhutto today arrived here on a four-day visit to hold talks with Indian leaders, including prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, on current Indo-Pak ties as well as situation in Afghanistan and South Asian Region.
Bhutto, who has been invited by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), was received by senior protocol officers as well as representatives of CII at the Indira Gandhi International airport.
Bhutto, who is living in exile in the United Kingdom, will also meet home minister L K Advani, External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh and Congress (I) president Sonia Gandhi.
The former prime minister is also scheduled to visit the Dargah of the Sufi Saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti on November 27.
Churchs statement in favour of Jogis tribal status questioned BHOPAL, Nov 25 (UNI): Union minister of state for information and broadcasting Ramesh Bais today said religious institutions like a Church should not interfere in the controversy over the tribal status of Chhattisgarh chief minister Ajit Jogi.
As the matter was pending before the High Court, he said the Church should have not have issued an "uncalled-for certificate in favour of Mr Jogi.
"We have faith in the judiciary and should wait for its verdict, he told UNI here.
He was referring to the statement of diocese of Jabalpur, which comes under the protestant Christian Church of North India, that its records show that Mr Jogis grandfather Dulare Jogi was a tribal.
Mr Bais, however, said that the Bharatiya Janata Party would go to the Supreme Court if the High Court upheld Mr Jogis stand.
He said it was a matter of investigation whether the religious conversion of Mr Jogis grandfather took place in Jabalpur or in Pendra road, his native place in Chhattisgarh.
Alleging that Mr Jogi could go to any extent to falsely establish his tribal identity, Mr Bais said the unfair methods adopted clearly showed that he was not a tribal but wanted to maintain the status for political mileage.
Mr Bais, who hails from Chhattisgarh, claimed that 60 legislators of the then-undivided Madhya Pradeh assembly had also lodged a complaint with the Congress high command earlier, questioning the tribal status of Mr Jogi.
Accusation of Talibanisation of education irrational: Bais BHOPAL, Nov 25 (UNI): Union minister of state for information and broadcasting Ramesh Bais today described as "irrational and "out of context the Congress plea that the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) at the centre was making attempts to Talibanise education.
Mr Bais was commenting over senior Congress leader Arjun Singhs accusation against the NDA in the Rajya Sabha over the deletion of certain portions from some history textbooks by the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) and Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE).
He told UNI that the NDA government strongly supported female education and prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee had already announced free education to the fairer sex up to the graduation level.
"How could the same government be accused of Talibanising education, he questioned, adding that the Taliban militia had even banned education for women in Afganistan.
Mr Bais said the BJP never imposed its Hindu agenda in the functioning of the union government.
Vajpayee urges adoption of code of conduct for legislatures NEW DELHI, Nov 25 (UNI): Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee today stressed the need for a code of conduct for the effective functioning of parliament and state legislatures, particularly in the present era of coalition governments Addressing the conference on "disclipline and decorum in parliament and state legislatures", he said a code became necessary because people had begun to lose faith in parliamentary and democratic institutions.
He said it was important that political competition did not damage parliamentary values, and political differences should be discussed in a manner that accepted traditions were kept up.
It is even more important for the elected representatives to set an example for the people, especially at a time when people are watching the proceedings live on television, he said.
Vajpayee noted that the world agrees that india is the biggest democracy, but often does not accept the contention that the country could resolve problems ourselves through discussion.
There is therefore need for evolving a consensus and parties should take steps to cooperate, he said.
Saying that both houses of parliament had functioned normally for the first 20 years after gaining freedom from the British Yoke, the prime minister said.
It was only later that sit-ins, slogan -shouting and even rushing into the well gradually became a regular practice.
Even interruption of the presidents or the governors address had become the rule of the day, and there is no implementation of the accepted norms and rules of procedure, he said.
It was necessary to take steps to restore the confidence of the people in their elected representatives and in the democratic values followed in the country.
India to ask Bdesh to stop atrocities on minorities KOLKATA, Nov 25 (UNI): India is likely to ask Begum Khaleda Zias Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) government to immediately stop atrocities on minorities and exodus of people from there.
Official sources said here that some eastern and north eastern states had already taken up with the centre the issue of influx of people from across the border and urged the BJP-led nda government to take necessary steps.
"Though the influx of people from across the border is yet to reach an alarming state, it may take serious turn if the atrocities on minorities in Bangladesh are not stopped mmediately," the sources said.
They said the influx of people from Bangaldesh had been creating problems along the border, which had already become vulnerable because of growing clandestine activities by Pakistans Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) and terrorist and maoist groups sponsored by the ISI.
The sources said though the centre had earlier sent the Prime Ministers Security Advisor Brajesh Mishra to Bangladesh after the BNP came to power, atrocities on minorities went unabated there.
The sources said in both West Bengal and Tripura, the Border Security Force (BSF) had been finding the problem of influx increasingly difficult as they were over burdened with border crimes and anti-terrorist activities.
"It is difficult for the BSF to treat these Bangladeshis just as infiltrators and push them back.
They are fleeing their country because of atrocities on them by BNP supporters and the BSF simply cannot deal with them in an inhuman manner," they pointed out.
The sources said there were at least a couple of incidents where the BSF jawans had opened fire on these Bangladeshis, who were fleeing their country and there was a huge uproar from various quarters against the killing.
They said West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee had recently taken up the issue of atrocities on minorities in Bangladesh with Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Home Minister L K Advani for appropriate actions.
"Bhattacharjee urged the two leaders to take up the issue with the bangladesh government immediately so that the problems of influx could be solved," the sources said.
They said Vajpayee had assured Bhattacharjee that he would take up the matter with the Bangladesh government and might send another emissary to Bangladesh to resolve it.
"I am confident that the Prime Minister will take appropriate action and I hope the matter will be resolved soon,"Bhattacharjee said.
Nehru opposed Indias induction in Security Council at Chinas cost NEW DELHI, Nov 25 (UNI): India, now making all-out efforts to become a member of the UN Security Council, would have joined the powerful body on the strength of support from both the super powers way back in 1955.
But the move was scuppered by none other than Jawaharlal Nehru himself who was keen to get first China accommodated in the UN body to avoid rancour with its powerful Himalayan neighbour, important documents contained in the recently published volume 29 of selected works of Jawaharlal Nehru reveal.
During the course of a conversation between Nehru and Soviet leaders on June 29, 1955, Mr Bulganin had said, ...We propose suggesting at a later stage Indias inclusion as the sixth member of the Security Council." To this, a cautious Nehru replied: "Perhaps Bulganin knows that some people in the USA have suggested that India should replace China in the Security Council.
This is to create trouble between US and China.
We are, of course, wholly opposed to it." In a stand that smacked of his Pacifist demeanour, Nehru contended that New Delhi was opposed to pushing itself forward to occupy certain positions because "that may itself create difficulties and India might itself become a subject of controversy." If India was to be admitted to the Council, it involved raising the question of the revision of the UN Charter, went the reasoning of Indias first prime minister.
"We feel that this should not be done till the question of Chinas admission and possibility of others is first solved.
I feel that we should first concentrate on getting China admitted...In our opinion, this (revision of the charter) does not seem to be an appropriate time for it." In a note on August one, 1955 on his visit to the erstwhile Soviet Union and other countries, Nehru reiterated his stand: "Informally, suggestions have been made by the US that China should be taken into the UN but not in the Security Council and that India should take her place in the Council.
We cannot, of course, accept this as it means falling out with China and it would be very unfair for a great country like China not to be in the Council." Nehru even went to the extent of saying that India was not anxious to enter the Security Council "at this stage", even though as a great country she ought to be there.
"The first step to be taken is for China to take her rightful place and then the question might be considered separately." The volume also highlights Nehrus rare sensitivity and compassionate concerns for individuals and his refusal to rely heavily on police reports about them.
An interesting instance is of an Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) student, Irfan Habib, later a distinguished historian, who was denied a government scholarship because of his "links" with Leftist groups.
Taking up Irfans cause, Nehru dashed off a missive to the then AMU vice chancellor Zakir Hussain on August 12, 1955.
Irfan "had been for some time past and was still a member of the Communist party and had participated in a number of activities as such and through associated organisations.
Also that some action had been taken against him by the university some time back.
"Irfan admitted all this...One must not judge young people too seriously and youthful enthusiasm must not be ignored.
Anyhow, in the balance I feel that we should decide in favour of Irfan Habib as a special case.
My main reason for so thinking is that he is a young man of intelligence and, I believe, integrity and both these qualities will no doubt influence his future growth." Another example is of an Argentine national, Di Tella, who was in India to marry an Indian girl and was asked to go back because he held Marxist views.
In a note to the home ministry on June one, 1955, he wrote: "But this individual apart, I do not like the way we dispose of human beings on such trivial evidence based on the ideas of some policemen about Marxist views." Nehrus concern for young Farooq Abdullah, then a medical student in the Jaipur Medical College, is vividly expressed in a letter of July 17, 1955, which also lays down the norms of behaviour for public figures.
"Some people foolishly imagine that because we have had differences with Sheikh Abdullah, therefore we are not favourably inclined towards his son or family.
This, of course, is not only absurd but is just the reverse of how we feel.
Personally, because Sheikh Abdullah is in prison,I feel, rather,a special responsibility that we should try to help his sons and family." Dhaka HC asks govts clarification on attacks on Hindus DHAKA, Nov 25 (UNI): A High Court bench in Bangladesh has issued a rule, asking the government to explain within four weeks why it should not be asked to take proper steps to protect the countrys religious minorities from terrorist attacks and harassment.
The court will hear on Tuesday the plea for punishment of persons, identified in investigations, for perpetrating pre and post-election attacks on the Hindu community and other incidents, following a petition by the state.
The bench of justice M A Matin and justice Marzi-ul Huq issued the rule on a writ petition filed by Ain-o-Salishi Kendra, a Non-Governmental Organization campaigning for human rights in Bangladesh.
The petition stated that since announcement of election schedule for October one parliament election, the religious minorities came under various threats, attacks and persecution, and were subjected to looting of their properties.
Women and children were also subjected to rape, the petition further said.
The petition, citing its own investigation and newspaper reports, sought the courts directive to the home ministry and police administration to perform their duties in view of their failure to discharge constituional obligations.
According to the writ petition, both the home ministry and the police administration failed to carry out their constitutional responsibilities by not taking necessary actions against atrocities committed against religious minorities.
The court should instruct the authorities to take actions, the petition said.
It also pleaded the court to instruct the authorities to provide appropriate compensation to the Hindu victims of terrorism and sought an investigation into the incidents of atrocities to identify the criminals.
The petition prayed for special protection of the victims, including the Hindus, of the ongoing repression and attacks.
Pak scientist wanted more Islamic states nuclearised NEW DELHI, Nov 25 (UNI): Pakistani intelligence is investigating alleged terrorist links of a scientist who once strongly advocated extensive production of weapons-grade Plutonium and Uranium enrichment with a view to equipping other Islamic countries with nuclear capabilities, an American newspaper has reported.
Dr Sultan Bashiruddin Mahmood is one of the two atomic scientists detained by Pakistans military intelligence service for questioning over the past six weeks about their alleged connections to Osama bin Laden and his Al Qaeda terrorist group, the Washington Post reported yesterday quoting senior Pakistani intelligence sources.
Both Dr Mahmood, who was once involved in Pakistans tit-for-tat nuclear tests, and Dr Abdul Majid acknowledge meeting bin Laden and Taliban leader Mullah Mohammed Omar during at least three visits to Afghanistan last year, but insist that the meetings were in connection with a relief agency they founded in 1999, the sources were quoted as saying.
The paper quoted senior Pakistani officials as saying that Dr Mahmood was at the centre of their investigation, which seeks to reconstruct his days since he resigned to protest a transfer in March 1999.
"Mahmoods personality profile combined with his meetings with Osama bin Laden, make a lethal blend," a senior intelligence official was quoted as saying.
The scientist, who had spent 28 years working in key jobs at Pakistans three most crucial nuclear facilities, was transferred to a less important desk job after he had vigorously advocated extensive production of weapons-grade plutonium and uranium enrichment with a view towards equipping other Islamic countries with nuclear capabilities, the paper quoted government officials as saying.
No specific Islamic country was mentioned in this context.
Pakistans powerful Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) agency argued that the transfer was necessary because Dr Mahmoods beliefs were too dangerous for him to be allowed to continue as head of the countrys Plutonium-producing plant near Khoshab in the Punjab region, the paper said.
The paper quoted a Pakistani nuclear scientist trained at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, as saying that "Mahmood was the strongest advocate of the view that only nuclear weapons could provide ultimate security to Muslim nations against infidel powers." " We want to be absolutely sure before giving a clean chit to nuclear scientists who had confessed to having met Osama bin Laden, Mullah Omar and several Al Qaeda leaders last year," a senior Pakistani official was quoted as saying.
" We are still not satisfied with their answers," an intelligence official was quoted as saying in explanation of why the two scientists had not been allowed to return home.
Pakistan president Pervez Musharraf "has ordered an extensive investigation in this matter and we cant let them go before we get to the bottom of this," the official was quoted as saying.
In an effort to allay international concerns about the security of Pakistans nuclear programme, Pakistani officials recently briefed a senior United States official on the status of the investigation of the scientists and their purported connections with bin Laden and Al Qaeda, the Post quoted sources as saying.
Pakistans chief government spokesman Gen Rashid Quereshi was quoted as saying the probe was continuing and "we will continue to investigate for as long as it is deemed necessary".
Asked whether the scientists were being held, Gen Quereshi replied, " I dont think they are in continuous detention." A western news agency report from Islamabad three days ago had quoted Gen Quereshi as saying that the two scientists had been freed.
The Post quoted senior intelligence sources as saying that neither scientist has been formally arrested while the investigation continues.
Dr Mahmood helped lead Pakistans efforts to enrich Uranium, while Dr Majid worked for Pakistans Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) until 1999.
Earlier this month, the New York Times reported that the US had brought pressure on Pakistan to remove Dr Mahmood in 1998 after American intelligence officials learned he had sympathies for the Taliban.
Dr Mahmood, a former top AEC official, retired shortly after the 1998 tests in a move which was ascribed at the time to his public criticism of suggestions that then prime minister Nawaz Sharif might sign the comprehensive test ban treaty banning the spread of nuclear weapons.
But officials in Pakistan recently told the Times that there had been US pressure to remove the scientist after American intelligence officials learned he had sympathies for Islamic militant groups, including the Taliban.
Parliamentarians divided on RS poll reforms move of govt NEW DELHI, Nov 25 (UNI): Parliamentarians are divided over the goverments proposed move to amend the Rajya Sabha election rules, which includes making voting open, with the Left parties saying it would undermine the federal structure and democratic system while the BJP supporting it on the ground of removing corrupt practices.
At a national debate on the proposed changes in Rajya Sabha elections, organised by the Capital Foundation Society here last evening, speakers assessed the pros and cons of removing the eligibility criteria of only a states resident contesting Rajya Sabha elections and abolishing the system of secrecy of voting.
Communist Party of India (Marxist) politburo member Sitaram Yechury said the proposed changes, which have been recently passed by the cabinet, would be against the ethos of the countrys federal structure as seats in the the Rajya Sabha, which is a representative body of states, should be filled from the members of a state only.
"If this provision is dispensed with, the Rajya Sabha will no longer remain a representative body of states.
In such case, what is the need of having the farce of a separate body.
We can abolish it and increase the seats in the Lok Sabha only," he said.
Moreover, it is generally seen that politicians who fail to win the Lok Sabha elections are brought in the Rajya Sabha through back door.
"Is this not a fraud to the people of the state as the people that they have rejected in open elections have been brought indirectly." Besides, secret ballot, which has been provided in the country from panchayat to presidential polls, is the fundamental right of every citizen.
The right to personal choice is fundamental in a democracy and not even a party could usurp it by issuing a whip.
Taking away this right by ensuring open ballot would be against the fundamental principle of democracy, he observed.
Mr Yechuri said the malaise of corruption, which has become rampant in the present system, could not be removed by legalising it.
"The political parties should not accept defeat in correcting corrupt practices in the Rajya Sabha polls.
Lets not legalise such practices which have wrong effect on the federal structure.
Moreover, such reforms would not affect independent MLAs, which are the largest groups whose votes are bought and sold," he asserted.
However, BJP MP T N Chaturvedi said such reforms were under discussion for the past 25 years by academics and right thinking people, especially in view of use of money and muscle power in the Rajya Sabha election.
Though the Rajya Sabha is a representative body of states, political parties need some experts for specific purpose and the provision of getting only a person from a particular state elected stand in the way.
The practical political necessity of the parties need to be considered and the provision should be done away with, he said.
Regarding open voting, Mr Chaturvedi said during the past two to three elections, it was seen that use of money power and threats had increased.
Justifying the proposed change to open ballot, he said purity of elections was of paramount importance than secrecy of ballot.
Eminent lawyer and Congress MP R K Anand explained the various legal provisions for the Rajya Sabha election and said the proposed reforms were meant to avoid corrupt practices.
He said free and fair elections was the life and bread of democracy and secrecy of ballot came afterwards.
Supproting the reforms, he said all Indians should be allowed to represent any part of the country as being a resident of a place did not inhibit a person from taking up welfare activities in some other place.
Presiding over the discussion, Mr M M Agarwal, independent member of Rajya Sabha from Uttar Pradesh, said the governments move was not for electoral reforms but to meet its own objectives.
Secrecy of ballot was of paramount importance in a democratic system and before changing this, people should think thrice as it could be misused, he said.
"Secret ballot is the most scientific method of election and one of the basic pre-requisite in the mature democratic process.
Secrecy, confidentiality, rational choice and vote by conscience should be maintained at all cost.
" "Open voting will result in a dilemma among electors, intimidation and also create an atmosphere of perpetual animosity," he felt and said secrecy of voting should be maintained at all cost.
Senior journalist and editor of Kal Chakra Vineet Narain said the motive behind this initiative should be carefully looked into.
Removal of corrupt practices was necessary, but that should be done after careful thinking, he felt.
Basic changes were needed to remove false and unethical methods, he said, suggesting that the number of seats for experts in the rajya sabha should be increased and politicians who have failed to get elected for the lok sabha be debarred from seeking election for the Rajya Sabha, he added.
Bihari Babu vs Chora Ganga Kinare Wala in UP polls LUCKNOW, Nov 25 (UNI): Bihari Babu may have lost out to Chora Ganga Kinare Wala in the tinsel world but the Bhartiya Janta Party thinks otherwise as far as the poltical arena is concerned.
The BJP plans to pitch cine star-turned politician Bihari Babu Shatrughan Sinha as its star campaigner in the next assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, if the state party sources are to be believed.
Planning for this is being finalised amid reports of Chora Ganga Kinare Wala Amitabh Bachchan being expected to campaien in favour of the Samajwadi Party for elections.
Rumblings in this regard have already started following the appointment of Sinha as the chairman of Uttar Pradesh Film Development Board which also gives him the status of a cabinet minister.
Sources close to chief minister Rajnath Singh told UNI that it was a personal endeavour of the CM to woo Shatrughan Sinha in order to utilise his services as the star party campaigner in the next elections.
His appointment is a sort of a prelude to a massive star war in the offing, political observers feel.
Shatrughan Sinha, popularly known as Shot Gun, had been the main BJP camapaigner in the last elections owing to his crowd pulling capacities and inimitable oratory.
Shatrughan Sinha, a BJP member in the Rajya Sabha from Bihar, had a successful stint as the main star campaigner in 1996 assembly elections in UP and the parliament elections in 1998 and 1999.
His recent outburst of disillusionment with the party had left the party leaders a bit disappointed but the initiative of Mr Rajnath Singh is likley to bring him back.
The need for BJP to have a star campaigner rose following a successful rally by SP president Mulayam Singh Yadav in Allahabad recently in which Amitabh and his wife Jaya Bachchan gave enough indications of coming out in support of the former.
In view of the fresh spell of stardom for "mega star" Amitabh Bachchan, the BJP leadership had been thinking to pitch someone "big" from the film world.
The wooing of Shatru is a part of this startegy.
Moreover, the BJP is worried over the connections of senior SP leader Amar Singh with Bollywood and it is widely speculated that film personlities like Ajay Devgan, Kajol, Raveena Tandon and many others may campaign for the SP while Raj Babbar is already a party MP.
On the other hand, Dilip Kumar and Sunil Dutt have been the traditional campaigners for the Congress.
The names of yesteryears dream girl Hema Malini and new angryman on the scene Manoj Bajpai are also taking rounds as possible star campaigners in the next elections.
Besides, the recent popularity of television serials have also broadened the scope of TV artists campaigning for different political parties.
Considering the high stakes involved in the next assembly elections in UP,such a star war is eagerly awaited by the public, irrespective of their political influence on the voters.
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