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ELECTION 99
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November 1 Rescue and relief work begins in devastated Orissa The Sambalpur-Cuttack and Balasore-Bhubaneswar national highways were partially cleared by the army, which rescued 6,000 people marooned at Balasore. Bhubaneswar airport was made operational on Sunday afternoon. Power supply to the affected districts was yet to be restored. THE POPE'S VISIT Pope to celebrate Diwali with Mass The Mass, with a heavy accent on 'inculturation', will feature Indian dancers and prayers in several Asian languages, besides special recognition of Diwali. Deshmukh drops six ministers, allocates portfolios The ministers to be dropped were decided after three meetings between Congress and NCP politicians that lasted for most of the day. Mann, rights groups seek clemency for Rajiv's killers They argued that capital punishment violates human rights as well as the dignity and sanctity of human life. Moreover, they said, there is always the possibility of an error in human judgement. October 31 THE CYCLONE IN ORISSA Thousands feared killed, 15 million people marooned Power and communication links remained in disarray, hampering relief and rehabilitation work even two days after a super cyclone struck the Orissa coast. Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee declared it a 'national calamity'. Army, navy tackle relief on war footing The army's Operation Sahayata, headquartered at Bhubaneswar, is in full swing. The navy too is in the thick of things, rescuing stranded fishermen and ferrying medical supplies. Cyclone caused 'very heavy' damage Surface Transport Minister Nitish Kumar has said that all communications with the Paradip port still remained cut off. THE POPE'S VISIT Bajrang Dal warns of 'second phase of action' National convener Surendra Jain said that according a state reception to the Pope would send wrong signals "since he is coming here only to address a religious gathering". Church to call Krishna Kant's bluff "I am only paying a courtesy call on him as he is not feeling well," is Archbishop Alan de Lastic's version for the press. But sources said the archbishop would politely express his unhappiness at the vice-president's refusal to attend the inter-religion meeting. 'Who's the VHP for the Pope?' Responding to VHP chief Giriraj Kishore's terming the Pope a 'dacoit,' a spokesman of the Catholic Bishops Conference said, ''All I can say is forgive them my lord, for they do not know what they are saying or doing." Diplomat to represent India in all functions Indian Ambassador to Switzerland and Vatican K P Balakrishnan will represent New Delhi in all papal functions, including the inter-religious meeting. THE BOFORS CHARGESHEET Sonia flays government Speaking in Parliament, the Congress president said the chargesheet was filed for 'political reasons' and therefore the move was 'malicious'. Lekhi's petition will queer pitch Lekhi says he is moving the Delhi high court on his own, but few are willing to buy that. "How can he go against Advani? He may be doing so at the instance of the home minister himself," a senior advocate contended. THE COUP IN PAKISTAN Commonwealth unlikely to suspend Pak Commonwealth ministers who spent two days investigating whether Pakistan's military-led government intended to restore democracy have softened their stance, officials said. OTHER REPORTS Hegde in serious sulk, big trouble in JD-U "George Fernandes did not attend today's steering committee meeting and neither did Ram Vilas Paswan or Ramakrishna Hegdeji. At this stage, this does not augur well for the JD-U's survival," a party MP told rediff.com. Repoll peaceful in Bihar Elaborate security arrangements were on in and around the booths and polling progressed smoothly, officials said. Two BSF officials killed in J&K They were killed in an operation in Machoo on Friday night, Director General of Police Gurbachan Jagat said. Fatwa over gay Jesus play Corpus Christi by Terence McNally shows a gay Jesus betrayed by his lover Judas and crucified as 'king of the queers.' Tohra rules out patch-up with Badal Things stand today as they were at the time of split in the party, the former SGPC president said, adding that his party would continue to expose the corrupt, inefficient and anti-people regime currently in place in Punjab. Sonia sends agent to Moopanar His name is Aiyar. Mani Shankar Aiyar. Mickey versus the Indian mouse Toonz Animation India, a state-of-the-art firm based in Thiruvananthapuram, is producing an animated film based on a Panchatantra story. Osama bin Laden offers to leave Afghanistan The Afghan Islamic Press has been quoted as saying that the international terrorist had written a letter to the Taliban militia in this connection. THE REDIFF SPECIAL Musharraf will be no different 'Army generals may know everything about winning battles. But in the matter of running a country they lack experience. They soon find out that the danda, which works effectively in disciplining a small group of soldiers, does not work when governing a nation of millions,' says Admiral J G Nadkarni (retd). THE REDIFF COLUMNISTS The danger is in the numbers 'Can a religion that has flourished for thousands of years, that has grown to claim one of the world's largest religious followings -- can such a religion, such a massive institution, truly be threatened by a booklet? By whatever number of conversions happen every year in India?' asks Dilip D'Souza. French over Italian 'Sharad Pawar is sick and tired of everything Italian. So he has now decided to acquire a French connection.' Capital Buzz. Gossip from the Delhi Durbar. October 30 Hundreds feared killed as super cyclone devastates Orissa coast The state government called in the army and the air force to help carry out relief and rescue operations. "You cannot imagine the devastation," Chief Minister Giridhar Gamang said. Sonia's SPG cover extended for 10 years Both Vajpayee and Advani feel that considering the threat perception relating to the Congress president and her children, their security cannot be whittled down. Congress, NCP agree to prune ministry While the Congress will drop one minister of Cabinet rank and three ministers of state, the NCP will drop two ministers of state. But the names of the ministers to be dropped were not decided. THE POPE'S VISIT MP government scuttles VHP yatra again The Sanskriti Raksha Manch has now sought the intervention of President Narayanan to ensure that the Goa-Delhi yatra is allowed to continue. BJP decries protests, with a but Spokesman M Venkaiah Naidu said that while the Pope is welcome, there was a need to initiate a debate on conversions by inducement. Pope recalls Gandhi, Mother Teresa In one of his hardest-hitting speeches against the perceived ills of modern society, the 79-year-old pontiff said the technological revolution of the late 20th century had failed to bring with it spiritual and moral advancement. THE BOFORS CHARGESHEET Congress leaders rise to protect Rajiv from recoil The leading lights of the Delhi Congress, including Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, Sajjan Kumar and Jagdish Tytler, staged a dharna to protest against the inclusion of the late prime minister's name in the Bofors chargesheet. THE COUP IN PAKISTAN Sharief rejects regime's offer to leave Pakistan: wife 'We have been asked that we should leave the country and politics... But we want to make it clear that we are sons of this soil,' Kulsoom Nawaz, in her first public appearance since her husband was deposed, told women activists of the Pakistan Muslim League. Commonwealth blows hot and cold But the tone has changed gradually and the grouping of mainly former British colonies is now talking about engaging Pakistan and helping it back to democracy. Commonwealth laments lack of contact with Sharief The team of visiting foreign ministers said it wasn't allowed the promised phone call to the deposed prime minister. OTHER REPORTS Lok Sabha okays motion of thanks for President's address Home Minister Advani, who stood in for Prime Minister Vajpayee and replied to the debate, rejected the claim of some opposition members that the NDA government is a minority government. 3 killed, 12 injured in Kashmir Militants also fired rockets towards a police post in Chaudhary-Nar late on Thursday night. But no damage was caused. Revision of electoral rolls to begin on Jan 1 Chief Election Commissioner M S Gill said the work would be completed in seven days, in time for holding assembly elections in Bihar, Orissa and Manipur. Chidambaram dismisses doubts about N-potential The AEC chairman said there was hardly any reference to India's nuclear tests at the IAEA general conference, implying that the world knew India was a nuclear-weapons state. Japan rethinking sanctions against India "While listening carefully to India's stance on the CTBT and other matters, we must think over our measures taken since India conducted nuclear tests," Japanese Foreign Minister Yohei Kono said today. Take India seriously: Pallone "Unfortunately, there is often a tendency to lump India and Pakistan together, to see all developments in South Asia as a function of the conflicts between [the two nations]," the Democratic congressman said. Nayanar, Ponnuswamy cases beyond EC's jurisdiction Ponnuswamy had allegedly voted in the Chidambaram parliamentary constituency, though he was registered as a voter in Madras North. Thackeray pleads 'not guilty' in contempt case Barely half an hour after the Shiv Sena leader appeared in court, the police had to use their batons to disperse an irate mob of his partymen who obstructed the vehicle carrying local Samajwadi Party chief Abu Asim Azmi. Sadhu does a volte-face, says Laloo is all A much-subdued Anirudh Prasad alias Sadhu Yadav told newsmen that he had never criticised any minister or party leader and that he had referred only to some government departments. Tohra, Badal back at old game Yet another fight is on in the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee. The man who lived 10 years in an airport He could just be another traveller waiting for his flight. But he isn't. He has been waiting for his flight since 1989 at Paris's Charles de Gaulle airport. THE REDIFF COLUMNISTS A meeting with the PM 'Vajpayee was conscious of the enormous responsibility on his shoulders. He wanted all parties to sink their differences and work unitedly on this one-point programme: how to give a better deal to the people.' Kuldip Nayar chats up a relaxed and confident prime minister. The Q option 'The Congress, and more specifically its leader, must strive to keep Ottavio Quattrocchi away from Delhi at all costs. And the same goes for Win Chaddha,' says T V R Shenoy. When (and why) did Christians replace Muslims as the pet-hate of the saffron brotherhood? 'In the eyes of the world, "secular" India today perhaps seems only slightly different from Islamic Pakistan -- in its abrasive and aggressive intolerance of other religions -- and that's a real bad state to be in for the land of Gandhi, Buddha and Teresa,' says Krishna Prasad. October 29 THE POPE'S VISIT Pope to underline dialogue with other religions The document to be presented by John Paul II during the closing session of the Asian Synod in New Delhi next week will also stress the need for greater inculturation, a senior Church official said. VHP gives conditional support to visit Stating that the VHP was happy to welcome the head of the Catholic Church, the organisation, however, put forward three conditions in a memorandum to Prime Minister Vajpayee. VHP rathyatra stopped at Jhabua border District officials gave the VHP activists a notice informing them about the imposition of prohibitory orders in the area under section 144 of the CrPC. THE BOFORS CHARGESHEET Furore leaves Martin Ardbo unmoved "I cannot understand why they [the Indian government] are taking up the case again. It has only to do with politics. It is a closed chapter and should remain buried along with some of its protagonists," the former AB Bofors chief executive said. THE COUP IN PAKISTAN No compromise on Kashmir: Musharraf Asked if he planned to visit India, the general said any such move on his part would be hypocritical as long as Kashmir and other problems remain unsolved. Congressmen cajole Clinton to tighten screws A United States House of Representatives panel has urged the President not to use his newly acquired powers to waive nuclear-related sanctions "to allow the sale of any military equipment or services" to Pakistan. Commonwealth team to start Pak talks If the four ministers do not get the reassurances they want, they look set to recommend that Pakistan's temporary suspension from the 54-nation grouping of mainly former British colonies be confirmed. Sharief may be tried: Musharraf The army chief said, "There are charges, but they have not been finalised yet. I don't want to go into details." Courts will decide Sharif's fate: Musharraf The remarks came amid reports from Islamabad that Sharief spoke to his family on Wednesday for the first time since his government was overthrown. OTHER REPORTS Three killed as militants target J&K secretariat again A senior police officer said the militants fired eight to ten grenades, which fell around the building, killing one official of the education department identified as Abdul Salam Fafoo. Two others died in hospital. Mamata opposes move against citizens of foreign origin "We feel that the NDA government has earned the overwhelming goodwill of the voters and we do not want to do anything that may leave a bad taste in everyone's mouth," said Trinamul Congress MP Sudip Bandopadhyay. Govt may extend reservations to Christians, Muslims Moving a Constitution amendment bill in the Rajya Sabha to extend reservations for SC/STs for another 10 years, the minister said it was the Supreme Court which had denied reservation to those who had embraced Islam and Christianity. Another cyclone to storm Orissa Heavy to very heavy rainfall accompanied by gales reaching up to 200 kph is likely to lash the districts of Ganjam, Gajapati, Nayagarh, Puri, Khurda, Cuttack, Jajpur, Jagatsinghpur, Bhadrak, Kendrapara, Balasore and Mayurbhanj on Friday morning. Governor rejects Rajiv assassins' mercy plea Nalini, her husband Murugan, Santhan and Perarivalan are expected to file a fresh set of clemency petitions to the President within a week. No date fixed for Clinton's visit US officials denied that the President would be in New Delhi in February next year. The unfair case of the unknown Indian The French police, who showed alacrity in arresting an Indian on a complaint lodged by auto giant Peugeot, have allowed a Nazi collaborator to walk free. After 19 months in jail, British couple is acquitted of drug charge The case shot into the limelight owing to the intervention of the British consulate. Twenty-nine-year-old Alexia Stewart, one of the accused, is the daughter of Philip Stewart, director of studies in human sciences at St Anne's College, Oxford. THE REDIFF CHAT 'As any Indian, it is my dream to have a Pope from my homeland' John Dayal on The Rediff Chat. THE REDIFF DIARY Pawar, ah, he's a great guy! 'The next few days tortured me with similar situations but, like the true scribe of fortune I am, I set my jaw, scratched my chin and majestically threw around a few sparkling pearls of political wisdom.' Misadventures in Rajasthan! THE REDIFF COLUMNIST Justice, not Pope and pomp 'Does the Gospel of Thomas have any relevance for present-day Christians, irrespective of whether or not they claim Thomist origins? Certainly yes, if they have any integrity,' says Anil Nair. October 28 Militants on the run, claims army The Indian Army has killed and arrested "a record number" of terrorists in the post-Kargil period in Jammu and Kashmir, where an aggressive campaign is on against Islamic fundamentalism. EU team visits Jammu and Kashmir The delegation called on the acting chairman of the All-Parties Hurriyat Conference, Moulvi Omar Farooq. Only I can solve Kashmir tangle: Karan Singh "Today every second person professes to be an expert on Kashmir and hurriedly scribbles down something to get his/her book printed. Half of such writers would not even know where Kathua is," the former prince quipped. THE POPE'S VISIT All-faith meet to be highlight of papal visit According to Church authorities, the Pope will address and sit through an hour-long inter-religious meeting that will be attended by representatives of all living religions of India. Walkout in RS over anti-Pope propaganda As soon as the House assembled on Wednesday morning, Eduardo Faleiro (Congress) stood up to express concern at the tirade against the Pope by the VHP and the RSS. He urged Prime Minister Vajpayee to accord the Pope a welcome befitting a head of state. Tight security for Pope's visit: archbishop Referring to the threats of protests by the VHP, the archbishop said that while a few fanatical groups had opposed the visit, a large number of organisations and individuals had given a positive response. Pope may bring death to Orissa Christians Tribal Christians in certain pockets fear that Hindutva agents, who oppose the visit tooth and nail, will turn on them. THE REDIFF SPECIAL An old shutterbug and the hangman's noose 'What is amazing is that his eyes twinkle when he speaks. The government may have incarcerated him physically, but his spirit remains untouched.' A Ganesh Nadar meets Subha Sundaram, recently acquitted in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case after eight years behind bars. OTHER REPORTS Congress disrupts Parliament again The prime minister pointed out that Madhavrao Scindia, deputy leader of the Congress in the House, had given notice for a debate, only to withdraw it when the government accepted the demand. MPs' meet to discuss reservations The debate in Parliament on the 84th constitutional amendment, to extend reservations for scheduled castes and tribes for another 10 years, saw political parties question one another's commitment to the uplift of the downtrodden. US asks Pakistan to withdraw forces from LoC as well Secretary of State Madeleine Albright said, "This unfortunately is the time of year when there have been incidents on the Line of Control and what we would hope very much is that both sides do whatever they can to reduce tensions." Taxi strike in Bombay called off A delegation of the taximen's union led by Sharad Rao and general secretary A L Quadros met the chief minister at the government guest house at 1100 IST and decided to call off the strike. JMM-U wants new state before assmebly poll If the BJP fails to honour its commitment, the party will be forced to revive its old movement for statehood, said JMM-U secretary Prabhakar Tirkey. Ramesh, younger brother of Thackeray, dies He was 60 and a bachelor. The end came on Wednesday morning while he was asleep. Mosque sours Christian-Muslim ties in Israel Both Muslims and Christians have conveyed their displeasure as the government okayed the construction of a mosque close to a sacred Christian site in northern Israel. THE REDIFF COLUMNISTS Bulls in China Garden 'I have no reason to support Nelson Wang. I recognise him simply for what he is. A fine restaurateur, a sharp businessman, a soldier of fortune. But I am sad the institution he built, whatever be its technical flaws, was openly murdered in daylight,' says Pritish Nandy. Waking the dogs of war 'Despite the stench of RDX and other irritants arising from contiguous borders, there is now greater hope of developing equal and mutually beneficial relations between India and Nepal', says Major General (retired) Ashok K Mehta. October 27 Confusion costs Congress dear in Parliament Mismanagement on the floor of the Lok Sabha by deputy leader Madhavrao Scindia caused the party to lose a prime opportunity to enunciate its position on the recently filed Bofors chargesheet. Congress walks out on Bofors The government rejected the Opposition's demand to delete Rajiv Gandhi's name from the chargesheet, and claimed to have no political animus against the accused. Sonia seeks R K Anand's help to exonerate Rajiv Congress sources said Gandhi was impressed with the defence put up by Anand in various courts for former prime minister P V Narasimha Rao. Forces pull in 200 kg of RDX in J&K A defence spokesman said the explosive was to be used for disrupting the shifting of the state machinery to Jammu for the winter. Pak bid to capture Uri posts foiled Four Pakistani soldiers were killed in the shootout. Temple will be built at Ayodhya: VHP By 2002, the sanctum sanctorum will be ready and Ram's idol will be installed for public worship, the organisation claimed. Lalit Mansingh to be new foreign secretary India's high commissioner to the United Kingdom will replace K Raghunath, who has been on extension for the last two years, on December 1. THE COUP IN PAKISTAN 4 moderate civilians in Pak NSC An official announcement also named civilians as ministers of foreign affairs and finance and as attorney-general, giving the army-led administration a liberal face untainted by links to the two parties which have ruled Pakistan over the last decade. Citibank executive will now manage Pakistan Shaukat Aziz, 49, is viewed by his peers as a brilliant banker and by successive governments as a touchstone of the new thinking needed to turn around an economy dragging a millstone of debt. Musharraf's team is perceived as clean, hard-working Diplomats said Gen Musharraf, who seized power two weeks ago and is currently visiting Saudi Arabia and the UAE, has shunned high-profile figures from the ousted government of Nawaz Sharief and his predecessor Benazir Bhutto. New foreign minister is a hardliner on India Abdul Sattar faces formidable challenges, including normalising ties with India, resolving the flashpoint Kashmir dispute, and allaying Western fears on nuclear issues. Musharraf mum on Sharief's whereabouts "You will see later. Let time decide and Mr Sharief himself will see what we will do," the Pakistan Army chief said. A tale of unbridled avarice and graft Sharief skimmed hundreds of millions of dollars from public works, wheat imports, sugar exports and other government projects, the director-general of Pakistan's Federal Investigative Agency, Rehman Malik, has revealed. Musharraf on minor pilgrimage in Saudi The general held talks with King Fahd on Kashmir, Afghanistan and other regional and international issues. OTHER REPORTS Nobel laureate, Philippine bishops to skip papal address The Pope will be accompanied by an entourage of about 30 people, including Cardinal Josef Tomko, prefect of the Congregation of the Evangelisation of the People. Adhere to CTBT, Richardson tells India 'I ask, here and now, that India end production of fissile material and join us in urging immediate negotiations for a global Fissile Material Cut-off Treaty, strengthen its export controls, and restrain its missile programme,' the US energy secretary said. Clinton authorised to waive sanctions The US president signed the $268 billion defence-spending bill, which also gives him the authority to waive sanctions against India and Pakistan. US links co-operation to nuke issues 'The progress in non-proliferation issues will definitely lead to Indo-US collaboration in many vital sectors,' said Energy Secretary Bill Richardson, who arrived in New Delhi last night. SA novelist Coetzee wins Booker Among the contenders was Indian novelist Anita Desai. Dawood's men promise to hit back "Troubles don't touch us," came the voice on the telephone, disembodied, arrogant, all the way from Karachi. "We create them." Chhota Shakeel, gangster Dawood Ibrahim's alter ego, spoke on... THE REDIFF COLUMNISTS Fundie, and proud of it 'I solve my duvidha in mixed metaphors: I will fight the madcap battle when I get to that bridge. But as of now: Rah, rah, VHP!' Varsha Bhosle bares her heart and political beliefs. Will Vajpayee be the millennium man? 'Bridging the Hindu-Muslim chasm, which has remained deep despite a post-Partition generation coming up, is something that will be to Vajpayee's credit alone. And this is a process, I suspect, that has already been set in motion, and it is a question of time before a fait accompli is announced,' says Saisuresh Sivaswamy. October 26 Police foil bid to blow up J&K secretariat Four militants were killed and two jawans were injured in other incidents in the Kashmir Valley. India, UAE sign extradition treaty This removes the final hurdle in the deportation of about two dozen criminals, economic offenders and terrorists from the Gulf sheikhdoms. Congress to raise Bofors in Parliament Party president Sonia Gandhi insisted her late husband was innocent and said her colleagues would give a fitting reply in Parliament to these attempts to besmirch him. We will recover Bofors money, vows Sushma The former I&B minister said the law would take its own course in the case in which the late Rajiv Gandhi is an accused. Governor sends Rajiv killers' clemency plea to TN govt Governor Fathima Beevi, herself a former Supreme Court judge, will give her verdict on the petitions of Nalini, her husband Murugan, Santhan and Perarivalan after getting the Karunanidhi government's view. 34 killed in Meghalaya bus accident A one-year-old, who survived the accident, was yet to be claimed. The parents of the baby were feared killed. 27 pilgrims killed in Punjab bus accident Among the victims were 13 women and a child; 47 were injured. The Punjab Road Transport Corporation bus fell into a deep gorge near the Hangruwal barrier on the Chohal-Chintpurni road in Hoshiarpur district. French offer boosts Indian submarine plan 'Project 75', to develop the new sub, may pick up speed if the Indian Navy accepts the French offer. But no decision has been made yet. THE COUP IN PAKISTAN Musharraf visits Gulf states Army officials said the general, accompanied by Foreign Secretary Shamshad Ahmed, left at about 0900 hours Pakistan time in a small military aircraft for Saudi Arabia, where he will stay for two days before going to the UAE. A general's journey to Pakistan: the complete picture A correspondent visits an old haveli in Delhi that was once home to General Pervez Musharraf and meets some ghosts. OTHER REPORTS Pope's visit shows how much he cares for India: archbishop Interestingly, the Kerala unit of the VHP, unlike its other branches, will not be taking part in the anti-visit protests. Three injured in Pak shelling Official sources said Pakistani troops began unprovoked shelling from across the border targeting civilian and security force installations in the Uri sector of North Kashmir. State-Centre war of words delays help for Bihar flood victims Union Minister of State for Agriculture Hukumdeo Narayan Yadav stirred a hornet's nest by alleging that the Centre had not provided financial assistance to the flood-affected people because the Rabri Devi government had not asked for it. THE REDIFF SPECIAL The invisible sex Despite high literacy and a developed political consciousness, women in Kerala, a recent study says, are fast being edged out of the state's economy and shrinking work force. Archives |
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