|
|
|
|
|
| HOME | NEWS | ARCHIVES | |||
|
ELECTION 99
|
|
|
|
October 24 Militants strike in Jammu, 7 hurt In a deadly spurt in violence in the troubled border state of Kashmir, 15 persons, including 11 militants and a Border Security Force assistant commandant, were killed while 20 others were wounded in separate incidents. Bofors chargesheet was ready two months ago: Advani The home minister said the CBI had sought the caretaker government's permission to file the document in court, but Prime Minister Vajpayee had said it would be unfair to do so in the midst of an election. Rajiv Gandhi tried to kill Bofors probe: CBI The former prime minister had tried to scuttle a Swedish government probe into the alleged kickbacks in the Rs 14.36 billion gun deal with A B Bofors in 1986, according to the chargesheet filed in a New Delhi special court. US links Clinton visit to CTBT Energy Secretary Bill Richardson, who will visit New Delhi and Varanasi between October 26 and 28, said the tone and content of his trip and President Clinton's next year hinge on the progress the two countries make in their security and non-proliferation dialogue. India upbeat about ties with US "It is fair to say that the US has a much better understanding of our security concerns as a result of the changeover in Pakistan," National Security Adviser Brajesh Mishra said. THE COUP IN PAKISTAN India upset with soft US stand on Pak The softening of the US stand on General Musharraf became apparent when US official Bruce Riedley visited New Delhi recently to discuss the developments in Pakistan. Mishra rules out talks with Pakistan "Even when there was a civilian government we kept saying that unless cross-border terrorism is stopped, meaningful talks with Pakistan could not take place. The situation is the same today," the national security adviser told the US administration. 'Take peace offer at face value' Pakistan's High Commissioner for India Ashraf Jehangir Qazi urged New Delhi to accept General Pervez Musharraf's offer "for what it is" instead of "subjecting the gesture to microscopic scrutiny". THE REDIFF COLUMN Vengeance is Vajpayee's 'The BJP leadership is fully aware of Kalyan Singh's perfidious play. Although a decision about his fate is yet to be taken, senior leaders do not want to remove him. But Vajpayee is in no forgiving mood.' Capital Buzz. Gossip from the Delhi durbar. October 23 CBI files chargesheet in Bofors case The late Rajiv Gandhi's name figures in Column II [relating to dead persons] with the remark, "not sent up for trial". Former external affairs minister Madhavsinh Solanki has been spared. Vajpayee refuses to roll back diesel price hike "There is no proposal to change the 35 per cent hike," the prime minister clarified after a meeting of the BJP's parliamentary party. Transport stir enters second day The transporters said they would not call off the strike till the government rolls back the increase. Kargil's residents await winter with fear The government is providing a monthly stipend of Rs 200 per head for each family that had to migrate and whose homes were destroyed. This is in addition to the 10 litres of kerosene per family every month. 2 Coimbatore blasts fugitives arrested in Bombay The duo, which is believed to have been involved in several crimes in Tamil Nadu, has been handed over to the special investigation team of the Madras police for further investigations. THE REDIFF INTERVIEW 'We only want him [the Pope] to repeat that all religions are one and the same' 'He is going to come to the country, address his bishops, and tell them to go out and preach that Christianity is the only religion and Jesus Christ is the only solution on salvation,' says Seshadri Chari, editor of the RSS mouthpiece Organiser. THE COUP IN PAKISTAN Musharraf regime names provincial governors The governors are: Lieutenant General (retd) Aziz Muhammad in Punjab, Air Marshal (retd) Muhammad Azim Daudpota in Sindh, Lieutenant General (retd) Muhammad Shafiq in the North-West Frontier Province and Justice Amirul Mulk Mengal in Baluchistan. No such thing as 'good coup', says Canada Canadian Foreign Minister Lloyd Axworthy was answering critics of the Commonwealth sanctions against Pakistan. OTHER REPORTS 6 militants shot dead in Doda In an offensive that lasted two weeks, security forces have killed four Laskher-e-Toiba personnel, including one involved in the 1998 Chapnari killing, and two top leaders of the Hizbul Mujahideen. THE REDIFF COLUMNISTS Breast-Beating Over a Coup 'It's hard to believe in the virtues of democracy when democracy has given both countries the vast neglect, the sheer magnitude of problems, the craven people we are compelled to call leaders,' says Dilip D'Souza. Kerala's commies and their dirty tricks 'Communists the world over have never been known for their adherence to democratic norms,' says T V R Shenoy. October 22 Truckers take on govt, go off the roads Long queues of trucks lazed near roadside eateries and petrol bunks as operators across the country went on an indefinite strike from 0600 IST in a bid to force the government to roll back the diesel price hike. Only Gujarat and Bihar spoke of a poor response to the strike. 'There was intelligence failure certainly' Director General of Infantry Lieutenant General Shankar Prasad agreed that better intelligence could have prevented the conflict. Infantry incorporates Kargil lessons The infantry, which comprises more than a third of the Indian Army, is also focussing on enhancing its night-fighting capabilities because, as Lt Gen Shankar says, much of "modern-day warfare takes place in the night". Religious leaders decry hate campaign over papal visit "Do they want to win the world with hatred," asked leaders and scholars of various faiths who urged the Vajpayee government to ensure that no untoward incident occurs during the visit. Murder attempt on Kerala archbishop During a special mass in a church near Thrissur for the ordination of nuns, sulphuric acid was mixed with the wine given for Mar Jacob Thoomkuzhy's consumption. B R Chopra gets Dadasaheb Phalke Award While the cash component of the award has been doubled to Rs 200,000, Chopra will also receive a golden lotus, a citation and a shawl from President K R Narayanan at the 46th National Film Awards presentation next month. Jaitley recommends lifting ban on PTV The ban came into effect during the Kargil conflict. Even then the decision had invited a lot of ire from the elite and from sections of the political establishment. Banks, bourses gear up to beat the bug Eleven critical sectors, including power and telecommunications, will achieve Y2K compliance within 10 days, says the latest report of the National Y2K Action Force. But in order to avoid any eventualities, the government has drawn up contingency plans. THE COUP IN PAKISTAN Jamaat warns Musharraf against secular policies The party was reacting to a reported remark by the country's military leader that he admired Kemal Ataturk, the founder of modern Turkey, and considered him a role model. Top PML leaders meet in Islamabad, do not discuss Sharief's ouster from party With most members of Sharief's ousted Cabinet under house arrest and silent, the party talks grouped top figures who had escaped an anti-corruption drive by the 10-day-old military regime. US will urge Pak to end terrorism Karl F Inderfurth has also made it clear that the Clinton administration had neither any plan nor intention to waive the Pressler or Glenn Amendments. Sharief's son seeks US help "I write this statement to urge you to ask the coup leaders in Pakistan to release the prime minister and his family from illegal detention," said Hasan Sharief. Army purging pro-Sharief elements from ISI In the last one year, the deposed prime minister had made massive changes in the IB and also the Federal Investigation Agency for his own political sustenance. The ISI, which works for the armed forces, too had been brought under his control. THE REDIFF INTERVIEW 'Pawar would've made a better leader for the Congress' 'She is still not known in the country. That is her very big advantage. Maybe when she is known, that may become an even bigger disadvantage, I do not know!' says Cho S Ramaswamy in full form. OTHER REPORTS Vajpayee, Jinnah are two sides of the same coin: Nayanar There are extremists and liberals in all religions. The need of the hour is to defeat the spokesmen of intolerance, the Kerala CM and CPI-M leader said. Bill Richardson to discuss Ganga pollution The United States energy secretary will visit Varanasi, probably on October 27, and take part in a function organised by the Sankat Mochan Foundation, a non-governmental organisation engaged in the Ganga cleaning campaign. Vasectomy on deer kicks up row in Kerala When the deer population at a park near Cochin showed every sign of exploding, the authorities decided to get on with Operation Sterilisation. But animal lovers around raised enough of a stink to force the vets off. Payscales upped for college teachers in Bihar The pay packets of 17,000 university and college teachers will be fatter by at least Rs 2,000 a month following the Rabri Devi government's decision to implement the UGC payscale from January 1996. THE REDIFF COLUMNISTS Bellary orphaned 'In microcosmic terms, Bellary is India, a large ocean of underdevelopment vying with a small islet of prosperity, and in one stroke we are witness to what politicians -- regardless of profile -- actually mean when they promise development and welfare to their constituents,' says Saisuresh Sivaswamy. Let's forget 1962 'If Indians are in desperate search of a senior patron to speak on their behalf and rattle the American establishment, China can fit that bill,' says Ashok Mitra. October 21 Yatra demands that foreign missionaries 'quit India' The Dharm Jagaran Yatra, which will reach Delhi two days before the Pope's visit begins on November 5, has a single-point programme: reconversion of Christians to Hinduism. Major killed in J&K Five militants equipped with sophisticated weapons fired indiscriminately on a patrol party of the 11 Rashtriya Rifles, killing Major Gurpreet Singh. 2 soldiers, 1 militant killed in Kashmir The security personnel lost their lives when militants attacked an army camp at Handwara on Tuesday evening. THE COUP IN PAKISTAN India watching situation along border Army sources said some minor movements of small detachments from some "areas along the international border" had been reported, but these movements were "no substantive withdrawal". Musharraf releases Islamic militants The new military ruler has released more than 100 extremists whom the Nawaz Sharief government had arrested for protesting against Pakistan's withdrawal from Kargil in July. Pakistan ready for 'unconditional dialogue' On the CTBT, a foreign office spokesman said, "There is no change in our positive approach. We need an atmosphere free of coercion." Sharief accused of $100 million graft Every government since 1985 has taken power pledging a clean administration and promising to get the rich and powerful to pay tax in a nation of 135 million where less than 2% of people pay any income tax at all. Sharief's trial 'depends on nature of charges' Brigadier Rashid Qureshi said a probe has started into the charge against the deposed PM that he disallowed a plane with General Musharraf aboard to land in Karachi. US denies it is soft on Musharraf Assistant Secretary of State for South Asian Affairs Karl Inderfurth justified the administration's policy of engagement with Pakistan's military regime, insisting that the US wants it "to move in the right direction". OTHER REPORTS Brajesh Mishra leaves for Washington This follows the recent visit to India by two senior US officials, Bruce Reidel and M Daley, who met External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh and Foreign Secretary K Raghunathan and held extensive talks on bilateral relations and US President Clinton's proposed visit. 'Subject science to reform without delay or it will die' IIS Director Dr Goverdhan Mehta expressed concern about the terrible condition of scientific education and research in the country. Bihar flood situation worsens; toll 325 The Ganga has inundated fresh areas in Katihar district following incessant rains in the area over the last three days. Action to be taken on Srikrishna report The new Congress government will observe the rule of law with regard to the report that dealt with the Bombay riots of 1992-93, Congress spokesman Ajit Jogi said. Former Maharashtra minister Patrawala dead Marzban Patrawala, who won the prestigious Colaba assembly segment of the Bombay South Lok Sabha constituency, died of a massive heart attack at his Cusrow Baug residence. Freedom-fighter Ghulam Bhat dead He was one of the three MPs who represented J&K in India's first Parliament. Kumaratunga hurries Lanka into election The presidential election will be held late December, almost a year ahead of schedule, following her proclamation. THE REDIFF SPECIAL The mom who turned her sons into killers 'What makes Fatema Merchant so different is that she nurtured three sons, made gunmen out of them and gifted them, so to speak, on a silver platter to the underworld. Not satisfied with that, she became a conduit in their operations.' THE REDIFF COLUMNISTS Pawar-sharing 'In his undying quest for power, Sharad Pawar has made a career of throwing down the gauntlet before the Congress leadership -- as with Narasimha Rao post-Bombay riots, then with Kesri during the CPP elections -- only to meekly pick it up again. Succumbing to the first offer made does not a stalwart make,' says Varsha Bhosle. Why have Ananth Kumar and Mahajan hit terra firma with a thud? 'Much as secular sourpusses would like to delight in their plight, it is painfully obvious that while subtlety is not their strong point, neither the party nor the Parivar is daft to spike its stars of the future in so obvious a manner as to set tongues wagging,' says Krishna Prasad. Our poor are ignored: true or false? 'It doesn't make much sense for Amartya Sen to merely plead for more funds for education or health care or poverty alleviation. What is much more essential is to examine whether ... the existing delivery systems need to be revamped,' argues Arvind Lavakare. THE REDIFF DIARY Dilli Door Nahin! 'Delhi has such quaint names for its roads. Every name resounds with history. Akbar Road, Aurangzeb Road, Shahjahan Road... Luckily, the BJP hasn't so far tried to change the names of these roads on the ground that they take after foreign invaders.' October 19 16 killed as cyclone strikes Orissa Most of the people were killed either due to houses collapsing or trees getting uprooted as the storm, accompanied by wind speeds of more than 160 kph, hit the Ganjam coast late on Sunday night. THE PAPAL VISIT Rath yatra will pressurise Pope on conversions "We are not anti-Christian, but definitely against the Church because it refuses to Indianise itself and accept the culture and ethos of India," said Prof Subhash Velingkar, the Sanskruti Raksha Manch co-ordinator. Bajrang Dal demands apology from Pope Dal convenor Surinder Jain also demanded that the Pope agree to an open discussion on the "role of churches in defaming the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal". THE COUP IN PAKISTAN Military rulers release Pak ministers But the fate of former foreign minister Sartaj Aziz was not known. Commonwealth suspends Pakistan The eight-nation Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group said the suspension would be effective immediately and would remain till democracy is restored in the country. Military intelligence fears increase in ISI's terrorism According to seasoned hands, the military establishment that has taken over Pakistan will not try to "mount a direct confrontation at the border" and General Musharraf's unilateral declaration to withdraw troops from the border is an indication in that direction. Delhi unimpressed by Pakistani troop pullout India maintains that it is imperative for Islamabad to "stop cross-border terrorism and transgression of the Line of Control" for any meaningful dialogue. Resolve problems with India, US tells Pak The Clinton administration has suggested a series of steps to General Musharraf, including resolving his country's differences with India, which would determine the American attitude towards his regime. Musharraf offers a caretaker government with a difference The country has had five caretaker cabinets in the past 11 years of political turmoil, beginning from the last days of the longest-serving military ruler, General Zia-ul-Haq. THE REDIFF SPECIAL Pakistan Comes Full Circle Pakistan, particularly after 1959, has been a military state and only that... Irrespective of whichever form of government comes to power, or is projected as the main government, its attitude to India cannot change. Dr Savita Pande on the 'counter coup' in Pakistan. OTHER REPORTS Seven top foreign militants killed in Jammu A sector commander of the Harkat-ul-Mujahideen and an army jawan were among those killed in a fierce encounter in the border district of Poonch late on Sunday. India talks matters over with US Officials held wide-ranging discussions on the developments in Pakistan and President Clinton's proposed visit to New Delhi, besides steps to base "a forward-looking relation". Chiranjeevi's Hollywood film gets into trouble According to police in Aurangabad, some Muslims rioted after some pages of the Quran were torn and dipped in tea for an antique look for a scene in the film, Return of the Thief of Baghdad. The producer and director were arrested. No demand for science in India Research institutes face an acute shortage of talent, with brilliant young students going away into professional courses. PCI scolds J&K police for hindering journalists At a meeting in Bhopal, the Press Council reprimanded Inspector Sajjad Ahmed and Station House Officer Ghulam Nabi Dar of Srinagar for preventing Ishfaq-ul-Hassan and Abdul Qayoom of The Kashmir Times from covering a police assault on a group of people. THE REDIFF COLUMNS Look out! 'New serious internal tensions are likely in Tibet and Sinkiang provinces of China, Afghanistan, the Central Asian Republics, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Burma. India will not escape their ripple effect. A Maoist insurgency and other internal disorders in Nepal and a democracy movement in Bhutan are bound to spill over,' warns Major General (retired) Ashok K Mehta. 'Zia promised elections in 90 days and stayed for nine years' 'Whether Nawaz Sharief consulted corps commanders before dismissing Musharraf is not known. Obviously, he did not because Musharraf has been supported by the commanders. They are the ones who ultimately decide things in Pakistan, democracy or no democracy,' says Kuldip Nayar. Big boomerang theory 'Now that Pawar's dreams have been shattered, I find myself strangely unable to laugh. Instead, I feel sorry for Pawar,' says Vir Sanghvi. THE REDIFF DIARY Naidu and the Hundredth Monkey 'At long last, in Chandrababu, India has one politician who stands single-mindedly for the cause of good governance rather than the usual sordid mixture of self-interest, graft, power, caste, religion and downright criminality,' says Anvar Alikhan. Archives |
||
|
HOME |
NEWS |
ELECTION 99 |
BUSINESS |
SPORTS |
MOVIES |
INFOTECH |
TRAVEL CHAT | SINGLES | BOOK SHOP | MUSIC SHOP | HOTEL RESERVATIONS | MONEY EDUCATION | PERSONAL HOMEPAGES | FREE EMAIL | FEEDBACK |
||