NEW DELHI, Oct 24 (UNI): Prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who is recovering from a viral infection that had forced him to take complete rest for the past few days, is scheduled to meet RSS and VHP leaders this evening.
"The prime minister is much better today.
Doctors, who have examined him this morning expressed satisfaction on the progress of his health condition", an official of the Prime Minister's Office said.
Minister of state in the PMO Vijay Goel said "There is marked improvement in his health condition.
He is meeting RSS leaders this evening and address the NDA rally tomorrow at Talkatora indoor stadium, organised on the occaion of completion of three years of the government".
Vajpayee, suffering from viral infection since last Sunday, has been taking complete rest on the advice of doctors.
He had cancelled all official engagements since then.
Jaya Jaitly asked to file 'review' petition NEW DELHI, Oct 24 (UNI) Delhi High Court today gave liberty to Samata Party leader Jaya Jaitly to file a 'review' petition for expunction of certain alleged factual errors in the court's earlier order dismissing her plea.
She had sought forensic examination of the Tehelka tapes and deposition of the portal's journalists at the Venkataswami Commission before her examination.
After hearing Jaitly's counsel Arvind Nigam at length on the alleged factual inaccuracies in that order, a division bench comprising acting chief justice Devinder Gupta and justice A K Sikri said the matter should be considered by the single judge who pronounced the order.
It directed that an appeal be filed by the petitioner within a week and heard by the judge on November one.
The bench, however, kept the case pending with itself and posted the matter for November 14, to decide any unsettled issue.
On September two, the High Court had issued notices on Jaitly's appeal seeking expunction of certain inferences drawn by the court in its order dismissing her plea.
The petition claimed that justice Manmohan Sarin in his June five order had also erroneously recorded certain statements which were not borne out by the records.
Justice Sarin in his order said: "From the foregoing, it would be seen that the petitioner accepts the meeting, which took place at the residence of the defence minister and donation was to be accepted on behalf of the party from those presenting themselves as arms dealers." "Further, she would intercede with the defence minister in case dealers were not short-listed by the officials and denied a fair opportunity to compete." "It may also be noted that other 8-B notices have also in their respective affidavits confirmed the factum of the meeting with the petitioner and filed affidavits as to what transpired, namely, Surinder Kumar Surekha, Maj Gen P S K Chaudhary has also filed his affidavit.
The deponents accept what has been depicted and recorded in the tapes, of course, subject to giving their own explanation for their utterances." "These findings were factually wrong and not even part of the transcripts of the tapes placed with the Commission." On June five, the High Court had dismissed her plea saying the petition had no merit and the court would not interfere with the working of the Commission.
"The Commission has the freedom to devise its own procedure, the approach adopted by the Commission cannot be faulted with or said to be violate of principles of natural justice or causing any prejudice to the petitioner or other notices," the order said.
Major scandal in Gurdwara properties in Pakistan NEW DELHI, Oct 24 (UNI): A major scandal of illegal sale of Gurdwara properties in Pakistan has come to light with the Pakistan government sacking Maj Gen(retd) Inayatullah Khan Nazi, chairman of the Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) for the multi million Dollar scam in the evacuees properties.
Gen Nazi against whom a high level probe has been ordered by the authorities is accused of involvement in the disappearance of 12 kilograms of gold from various Gurdwars along with Rs 16.5 million, which was given as donation by the Sikhs living abroad Pakistan press reports said.
Infact Gen Nazi's predecessor Lt Gen Javed Nasir, who fled the country with Rs three billion, has also been chargesheeted in the misappropriation of funds case.
He is reported to have collected funds for construction of 100-room hostel near Dera Sahib Gurdwara and later fled to the United States with the booty.
The probe panel will be headed by A M Mangel, (retd) judge of the high court.
Reports said that Gen Nazi was hand in glove with some Pakistan based Sikh groups in this bungling.
The name of K Lakhbir Singh rode, who lives in Faislabad, has also figured in the scam.
The former chairman of the ETPB Gen Nasir was the architect of the Pakistan Shiromoni Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee, who wanted to set up an alternative to the SGPC.
The press reports said that two of the officers of the ETPB,who had for years defrauded the state by underselling precious properties of Sikh charities were picked up by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), which mainly investigates corruption cases of politicians and officials.
Growth process has lost rhythm, buoyancy: Manmohan NEW DELHI, Oct 24 (UNI) Former finance minister Manmohan Singh today called for a review of exchange rate and tariff policies to correct the anti-export bias, saying that the policy framework in recent years has lost its growth momentum.
"The tariff policies and the exchange rate need a fresh look to get rid of the anti-export bias.
No country in the world has industrialised with an undervalued exchange rate," Dr Manmohan Singh said while inaugurating a seminar on "The Indian economy: a stocktaking" organsied by ASSOCHAM.
He said export growth appears to be petering out, having grown at 10 per cent to 12 per cent in recent years.
He noted that exports in recent years have contributed 1.5 per cent of industrial growth.
"The growth process has lost its rhythum and bouyancy since 1996," Dr Manmohan Singh, leader of opposition in the Rajya Sabha, said.
This was true with any parametre, be it GDP, industrial growth or agricultural growth.
Dr Manmohan Singh said it was difficult to understand as to why private investment, which has witnessed a sharp decline in the recent past, was not picking up despite a favourable macroeconomic framework.
He said given the high level of fiscal deficit it was difficult to increase public investment.
Therefore, private investment has to be given a push and added that it was the government's job to create a policy framework conducive to growth.
He said the two traditional constriants in the way of production of food and foreign exchange were no longer there.Inflation, even though it is likely to increase to 3.5 per cent to four per cent this year, would have to be in alignment with world inflation level as a result of globalisation of the Indian economy.
Dr Manmohan Singh said the low rate of inflation during the past few years was a heartening phenomenon.
The country also had a surplus foodgrain stock.
Malwa's opium becomes bone of contention between Cong, BJP BHOPAL, Oct 24 (UNI): The issue of banning opium cultivation in Mandsaur and other districts of Madhya Pradesh's Malwa region, which produces the largest opium crop in the country, is fast turning into a battle for supremacy between the ruling Congress government and the main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
While the Congress is leaving no stone unturned in advocating the ban, the BJP opposes it tooth and nail.
Madhya Pradesh home minister Mahendra Boudh told UNI the state government had made it abundantly clear that opium cultivation should cease.
With the intervention of chief minister Digvijay Singh, a proposal in this regard was sent to the centre a couple of years back but the latter was yet to react to the same.
For their part the farmers, who are not directly concerned with this political duel, simply have no intention of quitting opium cultivation.
Behind their stand lie the twin factors of opium being a cash crop and the peasants' tendency to secretly sell the produce for any price they quote.
Salman Khan gets bail after 18 days of re-arrest MUMBAI, Oct 24 (UNI): An additional sessions court here today granted bail to Bollywood actor Salman Khan, who was charge-sheeted in a hit-and-run case, after 18 days of his re-arrest.
While granting bail to Salman, who moved his fifth plea in this regard today, judge P B Baokar asked him to furnish a bond of Rs 20,000.
However, the judge refused to accept the bond until the related legal formalities are completed and approved by the court.
Asking the actor not to contact any prosecution witness, the court directed him to deposit his passport with the Bandra police till the completion of the trial.
The court said Salman could take the passport back whenever he wants on furnishing the details of his visit abroad.
Bandra police had initially booked the actor under section 304 (B) of the IPC, a bailable offence, after the car in which he was travelling ran over people sleeping on a pavement killing one and injuring four others on September 28, and released him on bail on a bond of Rs 950.
Salman was re-arrested on October seven after police decided to apply the stringent section 304 (2) of the IPC, culpable homicide not amounting to murder.
Senior advocate Harshad Ponda told the court that since the Mumbai police have already filed the chargesheet in the case and investigations are over, his client may be released on bail.
He argued there was no question of tampering with evidence and witnesses as his client is a popular actor and a well-known face in the city.
It is highly improbable that Salman would personally go and contact the witnesses unnoticed by anyone, he said.
Advocate Ponda pointed out that the applicant is a cine artiste for the last 14 years and is one of the main breadwinners of the family.
He said as an artiste, his presence in Mumbai was essential and pointed out that the trial will take a long time.
In such circumstances, he cannot be detained for an indefinite period, he said.
The re-arrest of Salman after releasing him on bail by the local police is illegal because his earlier bail was not cancelled, advocate Ponda argued.
He pointed out that the earlier bail could only be cancelled either by the sessions court or the high court.
It was also argued that detention of Salman was illegal.
Advocate Ponda also cited various cases and judgements of the Bombay High Court and the Supreme Court in support of his argument.
AIIMS, Safdarjung to start evening OPDs CHANDIGARH, Oct 24 (UNI): The All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Safdarjang hospital in the capital and Post Gradudate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PSIS), Chandigarh, will start 'evening' Out Patient Departments (OPDs) from December 1, world AIDS day.
Union health and family welfare minister, Shatrughan Sinha announced this yesterday, after inaugurating a Rs 8.38 crore general hospital at Panchkula where a Rs 2.13 crore CT scan had also been installed.
Sinha said evening OPDs should be started in premier hospitals to ease rush of patients and also to help people who could not visit in the morning.
Rebel RLD MLA suspended in UP LUCKNOW, Oct 24 (UNI): In order to curb the growing dissident activities in the Rashtriya Lok Dal, the party today suspended rebel MLA Samar Pal Singh for his anti-party activities.
Announcing this at a press conference here, RLD national vice-president Rameshwar Singh said that party president Ajit Singh had served the suspension letter to Singh at New Delhi this morning.
In the suspension letter to the rebel MLA, the party president has sought an explanation from the leader on his anti-party activities and a reply within next two weeks.
The party will decide on whether to expell the MLA after his reply.
Claiming that RLD was united and except for Samar Pal Singh no other MLAs are involved in the dissident activites, Rameshwar Singh maintained that the rebel MLA had no authority to ask the leadership to withdraw support from the UP government.
The dissident RLD leader had also made false charges against the two senior ministers.
However, Singh said that the party would reconsider its decision against the MLA if he tender unconditional apology to the central leadership.
Earlier Samar Pal Singh had criticised the party leaders and had demanded withdrawal of support from the government in view of anti-farmer attitude of the BSP and BJP.
Singh was annoyed for not inducting him in the state ministry.
Karnataka committed contempt of court: SC NEW DELHI, Oct 24 (UNI): The Supreme Court today observed that the Karnataka government had committed contempt of court by 'deliberately' not complying with its orders for the release of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu.
A three-judge bench, comprising chief justice B N Kirpal, justice Y K Sabharwal and justice Arijit Pasayat, deferred till October 29 the punishment to be awarded for the "act of disobedience".
The bench, was particularly irked by the excuse of farmers agitation, law and order problem and the 'doubtful' order taken by the Karnataka government for not implementing the court orders.
"If an elected government says that because of law and order situation it could not comply with our orders then let it (government) go," justice Sabharwal observed.
"Man made situations of law and order had to be condemned.
You cannot take political mileage out of orders.
We will not allow that," justice Pasayat said.
The court's observation came at the end of the hearing on two contempt petitions filed by the Tamil Nadu government against Karnataka chief minister S M Krishna, his water resources minister S K Patil and others.
The chief justice said, "If the state had any difficulty in implementing the orders, it should have approached us seeking clarification or modification of the orders.
But that was not done and our orders had been wilfully defied." The court also ridiculed the Karnataka chief minister for taking out a 'Padyatra' and the all party meeting passing a unanimous resolution of not releasing water "come what may".
The court said a constitutional functionary like the chief minister should have realised the consequences of not implementing the order.
"If every chief minister says 'come what may' we will not implement the orders of the court what will it lead to?" the court asked.
The court said there would be several cases which might arouse the emotions of the people and several such cases were pending before it.
"Therefore manmade situations to arouse emotions of the people cannot be a justification to defy our orders." The bench asked senior counsel Anil Diwan, appearing for the Karnataka government, "when you are not implementing our orders in this case why do you come to us for stay in other cases.
We will as well vacate those orders." Earlier senior counsel K Venugopal, appearing for the Tamil Nadu government, urged the court to direct Karnataka to release forthwith 25 TMC of water to makeup for the shortfall of release from September till October, impose a heavy punitive fine on Karnataka and issue a direction to the centre to ensure compliance of the orders.
He said Karnataka should not be allowed to "reap the benefit" by disobeying the court orders.
Diwan denied any disobedience of the court order much less a 'wilful defiance' by Karnataka and said despite its best intentions the state could not implement the orders because of law and order situation and agitation by the farmers.
When the court asked Solicitor General Harish Salve as to why the centre could not ensure compliance of its orders, he said the centre did not have any authority to implement the orders on inter state river disputes.
In case the court issued a direction to the centre to ensure compliance of its orders then it could act effectively under article 256 of the constitution as the direction of the court would become a law.
Rotten eggs thrown at Togadia's car NAGPUR, Oct 24 (UNI): Irate Congress activists today threw rotten eggs and tomatoes at a car carrying Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader Praveen Togadia outside the Sonegaon airport here this morning soon after he arrived from Mumbai.
At least two of the Congress activists who were protesting the comments he allegedly made against Congress president Sonia Gandhi during a rally in Gujarat's Kutch district recently, were injured in a scuffle with police and had to be hospitalised.
Police officer P K Roy suffered a leg fracture as he fell while trying to prevent the crowd from breaching the barricades to enter the airport terminal.
The activists staged demonstrations outside the airport building and the road in front of the Pride hotel nearby.
Congress MLA Nitin Raut led the demonstrators at the airport.
Togadia had arrived by the morning flight from Mumbai enroute to Dhamangaon in Wardha district where he is scheduled to address a rally later today.
The Sonegaon police has detained at least 18 Congress workers for questioning.
Christian schools in Pondy remain closed protesting TN ordinance PONDICHERRY, Oct 24 (UNI): All educational institutions, run by Christian missionaries in the Pondicherry and Karaikal regions of the Union Territory, remained closed today in protest against the Tamil Nadu government's ordinance prohibiting forcible religious conversions.
Several priests and teachers from various Christian institutions left for Chennai to take part in a fast being organised there to urge the Tamil Nadu government to withdraw the ordinance.
All the Christian schools in Pondicherry and Karaikal would function on Saturday next to compensate today's holiday.
BJP stages demonstration in favour of anti-conversion ordinance CHENNAI, Oct 24 (UNI): The youth wing of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) today staged a demonstration in front of the Memorial Hall here in support of the Tamil Nadu government's ordinance banning forcible conversion of religion.
About 60 youth wing workers shouted slogans in favour of the ordinance and hailed chief minister J Jayalalithaa for promulgating it.
BJP youth wing president Dakshinamurthy, BJP general secretary H Raja, MLA, and BJP former state unit president K N Lakshmanan participated in the demonstration.
Similar demonstrations were held in various parts of the state.
Jaswant Singh to be felicitated at BSE MUMBAI, Oct 24 (UNI): Union finance minister Jaswant Singh will visit the Bombay Stock Exchange, the premier bourse of the country, on Saturday.
This will be his first visit after he took over as finance minister from Yashwant Sinha.
Singh will be felicitated by the BSE as well as the Industry Association of India, official sources said.
Securities and Exchange Board of India chairman G N Bajpai and union minister of state for power Jaywantiben Mehta will be present at the function.
Indian paras find series of joint exercises beneficial AGRA, Oct 24 (UNI): The ongoing joint Indo-US defence exercise at Agra is part of a series of joint exercises aimed at augmenting the already impressive combat capabilities of the Indian paratroopers.
This is the third joint exercise to be held this year.
Balance Iroquois , held here only in May and the recently concluded Geronimo Thrust , in Alaska, featured both Indian and American paratroopers.
The ongoing exercise Cope India , features Indian paratroopers only.
Col Kuriakose of the paras, monitoring the exercise as the observer from army headquarters, told UNI the exercises were helpful as the paras were being exposed to American equipment and techniques and they had learnt a lot of new things.
Major Anil Gorshe of the 6th Paras, who had jumped on the first day of the exercise, told UNI that the aim was to get as many personnel to participate as possible.
Those selected for jumps were drawn from all the ten para battalions of the Indian army.
The landing zone had a red flag-the American technique of marking the landing zone.
A small fire, emitting smoke, was already lit in the drop zone.
The smoke, which is the only thing clearly visible to the pilot, is used to gauge the speed and the direction of wind, the para officers told UNI.
As the aircraft came into view and dropped their loads right around the 'impact point' marked by a red flag, all of them congratulated each other for achieving a perfect drop.
The paradrop was also smooth, with almost all the men landing in close proximity of the impact point.
One drifted some distance away.
Major SN Tiwari, also of the sixth paras, who had just returned after participating in the Alaska exercise, told UNI that it was most important that all the paratroopers land in close to the drop zone and hurriedly regroup for their mission.
Referring to the sole man who had dropped some distance away, he said in actual combat conditions, when the aircraft are at a higher speed, it was possible that some men may land up to a kilometre away from the landing zone.
They would take time in rejoining their comrades, thus disrupting their mission schedule.
Col Kuriakose spoke of the importance of the paratrooper units of an army and how quickly they could be deployed behind enemy lines to attack them from the rear and destroy their first line of defence.Also, they could disrupt his lines of communication and supply, as well as the chain of command by attacking supply bases and formation headquarters.
He, however, stressed the need for maintaining operational security, as the effectiveness of the paras depended on surprising the enemy.
He disclosed that the IAF had developed a new technique in which troops could be lifted from various peacetime locations, marshalled in the air and taken to the designated objective.
The paras are finding the scheme of exercises extremely beneficial.
Major Vineet Seth, who had also jumped on the first day of exercise, and was inspecting his men getting ready for the day's jump told UNI that it was 'a most interesting and informative experience.
Reports about the Alaska exercise indicate that the 80 Indian paras from the 50th independent para brigade who took part earned the admiration of their American counterparts from the 501st parachute infantry regiment.
The commander of the American regiment Lt Col Charlie Glenn said the Indians were "a professional group with lots of experience".
UNI learnt that during the exercise the Indians completed a series of day and night jumps as well as joint team squad and platoon ground attacks.
They also practised entering and clearing a hostile building.
The major highlight was the US weapons familiarization briefing.
The Indian troops learnt to operate the American M240b machine gun and the 60MM mortar launcher, while the Americans got to fire the Indian AK-47s.
The Indian paras are one of the oldest airborne units in the world, having their first formation_the 50th independent para brigade_raised in October 1941.
They were given the name Red Devils by the soldiers of the German 'Afrika Korps', against whom they fought in the African campaign of the second world war.
The name comes from their headgear- the Maroon Coloured Beret, which is now a trademark for paratroopers throughout the world.
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