Home   Contact Us                                                                            Dateline New Delhi, Saturday, Dec 6, 2003

Bihar DGP sacked, to appeal to SC (Go To Top)

         Patna, Dec 6: Taking the bull by the horns, the Bihar Government on Saturday sacked the state's Director-General of Police DP Ojha over what it called his intemperate remarks which were not in line with his stated responsibilities. Ojha apparently crossed the limit when he recently described jailed MP Mohammed Shahabuddin and a few other politicians from the State as criminals. While addressing a gathering at Sonepur last Friday Ojha had lamented that power in Bihar had gone into the hands of hoodlums. Earlier, Ojha had kicked up a political storm in the State by ordering the execution of an arrest warrant against Shahabuddin.

          RJD president Laloo Prasad Yadav yesterday said it was not expected of a senior officer to speak like a politician. "Rather than speaking his mind out, the DGP should concentrate on delivering the goods as the police chief," said Laloo. Ojha, however, refuted this charge, saying in a television interview that he would be submitting his resignation and taking his case to the Supreme Court. The state government has named W.H. Khan as the new DGP.

US Mishra takes over as CBI chief (Go To Top)

          New Delhi, Dec 6: The new chief of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Saturday called for a transparent probe into the multi-crore fake stamp paper scam. Uma Shankar Mishra, who replaced PC Sharma as the new CBI director, said he favoured one agency to probe the case. This fake currency, fake stamp papers should be investigated in totality. A Special Investigating Team (SIT) is currently probing the 660 million dollar scam in Maharashtra and Karnataka. More than 100 people across several states, including policemen, politicians and government officials, have been arrested for fraud in connection with the forged paper that is used for such transactions as property and business contracts.

          The near decade-old scam involves paper used in legal documents, known as stamp paper. Police and prosecutors say although the paper has been found across nine states, the real figure could be more than 10 times that.

BSF speeds up fencing work in Kashmir (Go To Top)

         Ragini Ustad Post (J-K), Dec 6: Since India and Pakistan implemented the Eid ceasefire along their frontier dividing Kashmir last month, the Border Security Force (BSF) has sped up border fencing work. India is erecting the fencing at huge costs to check infiltration of militants from Pakistan into Kashmir. With anti-personnel mines, stretches of electric wires supplementing the entire barbed wire fencing, lighting and patrolling, New Delhi hopes to check a 14-year rebellion in Kashmir which, it says, is driven by Pakistan. India has also purchased sensitive radars from the US and Israel to detect movement across the border.

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Pak warns India against fencing (Go To Top)

          Islamabad, Dec 6: Pakistan has reportedly warned India against fencing the Line of Control. The Daily Times quoted Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director-General Major General Shaukat Sultan as saying that, "Fencing is a violation of agreements. Kashmir is a disputed territory and no side could alter its status." Speaking to the BBC, he said Islamabad would use diplomatic channels to resolve the matter as it was keen on maintaining a sustainable peace in the region. "Efforts to destroy peace must be avoided," he added.

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          Fencing work at Ragini Ustad post, popularly known as the "Snow Post", on the Line of Control (LoC) or military ceasefire line, in Tanghdar sector of Kupwara district, has picked up pace after the ceasfire. Fencing work is almost through in the 35-kilometre stretch near the 742-km long LoC. Fencing was slow along the LoC due to shelling between Indian and Pakistani troops. New Delhi says Pakistan resorts to shelling to provide cover to infiltrators crossing into Kashmir.

         Islamabad objects to the fencing, though about 50-100 feet deep inside Indian held territory, along LoC saying it is not an international border. Ragini Post, 200 kilometres from Srinagar, was the worst hit during shelling leading to a large number of civilian casualties. Rajinder Singh, a BSF Commanding Officer at Ragini, said they are determined to complete the fencing. "It is going on throughout. We are going to continue laying it. And some stretches which cannot be laid now because of the snow and other conditions, we will keep laying it as soon as (weather) conditions permit. We intend completing the whole exercise by middle of next year," said Singh.

          The ceasefire went into effect from last month on November 26 on the International Border dividing Kashmir, Line of Control further north and the undemarcated positions on the Siachen glacier, the world's highest battleground, at the northern tip. Indian and Pakistani troops, who are in close proximity at several places along the 460 mile control line in the valley, exchanged gunfire nearly every day on one of the world's most militarised frontiers. Meanwhile, residents of Nai Basti, a village on the International Border in Jammu region, are jubilant after the ceasefire. The villagers, most of whom have their farm land very near the borders, are now freely working in their fields. But soldiers say they still have to be vigilant. Officials have confirmed that there has been no firing on the posts since the announcement of the ceasefire.

Border villagers a happy lot as ceasefire holds (Go To Top)

          Taghdar/Naibasti (J-K), Dec 6: Residents of border villages in Jammu and Kashmir are a happy lot these days as guns have fallen silent along the line of control with Pakistan. Indian and Pakistani troops, who are in close proximity at several places along the 460 mile control line in the valley, exchanged gunfire nearly every day on one of the world's most militarised frontiers. But since November 26, the troops of the two countries are observing a ceasefire on the International Border dividing Kashmir, Line of Control further north and the undemarcated positions on the Siachen glacier, the world's highest battleground, at the northern tip.

          Residents of Tanghdar village along the line of control are very happy as they can tend to their fields and graze their cattle along the fenced line without any fear of being caught in the exchange of fire. "It's a big relief for us. We have got a new lease of life ... Earlier we were too afraid to venture out from our house. We were not sure whether we would return safe or not. God forbid, if you have stayed here, you would have known it. There used to be a virtual stampede, whenever there was cross border firing," said Ghulam Nabi, who has agricultural land along the line.

          Mohammad Hanif, another villager, said: "We are very happy since the ceasefire was announced. Now we are so relieved that we can have our meals peacefully. Our children have grown up with the sounds of shelling and it has affected them so badly that they shudder even by the sound of bang on a door, thinking that there is a firing there." Similarly, in Nai Basti, another village close to International Border in Jammu region, people heaved a sigh of relief. They could be seen ploughing their fields fearlessly. Women and children could be seen roaming freely without any fear. "It's good. Now we have been able to go out. Our animals are also able to get fodder in the open," said Jhanko Devi, a resident of Nai Basti.

          Senior army officials have confirmed that there has been no firing on the posts since the announcement of the ceasefire. Both armies said they were committed to observing the ceasefire "in letter and spirit", which extends to the frozen wastes of the Siachen glacier where the two are locked in battle since 1984. The Himalayan region has been roiled by a revolt since 1989 which India blames on Pakistan-backed militants. Islamabad denies the charge. More than 40,000 people have been killed in the 14-year long violence in India's only Muslim majority state.

Vasundhara vows to keep promises (Go To Top)

          Jaipur, Dec 6: Newly-elected legislators of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Rajasthan on Saturday elected Vasundhara Raje Scindia as the new chief minister of the state. Later state Governor Kailashpari Mishra invited Scindia to form government on December 8. Scindia said she would fulfil the promises made by her party during the election campaigns. "It's not that I am just a leader of the party. I am the mouthpiece of the party. I am walking ahead of you people and will prove to be a boon to the party. We will try and fulfil all the promises we have made to the people here and work for the development of the people for the next five years," she said.

          The BJP had swept the rival Congress party from power in three Hindi heartland states in the Assembly polls held on December 1. Defying opinion polls, the BJP easily won Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh, in races decided by local issues such as electricity and water. Monday's elections showed the Congress, the secular party that dominated politics in the world's largest democracy for decades after independence from Britain in 1947, holding only Delhi. Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit met Congress leader Sonia Gandhi and said she would induct new ministers in her Cabinet. "We may include new ministers...let's see. We will decide after the meeting," she said.

          The Congress, which leads the national Opposition, ruled all four of the states that went to the polls. It was a tough blow to the party, whose Italy-born leader, Sonia Gandhi, is struggling to win acceptance as an alternative prime minister, and who trails Vajpayee in opinion polls. The BJP won the last major state election in riot-scarred Gujarat a year ago, with a hardline Hindu campaign that many feared would be repeated. Instead, it focused on economic management, good governance and targeting pivotal seats, which senior leaders say will also form the basis of its federal re-election strategy. On the economic front, the BJP-led coalition is widely expected to hand down a populist pre-election budget in the new year.

Another police officer remanded to custody in stamp scam (Go To Top)

          Pune, Dec 6: A local court has remanded a suspended senior police officer to magisterial custody till Monday in connection with the multi-crore fake stamp paper scam. Mohammed Chand Mulani, former Assistant Commissioner of Police, Pune, is accused of having accepted 1.5 million rupee bribe from Abdul Karim Telgi, prime accused in the scam. Special Investigating Team (SIT) probing the scam, has also taped a conversation between Mulani and Telgi's lawyer Rashid Kulkarni, who is also under arrest. Public prosecutor Avdoot Khimalkar on Friday said due to the ill health of Mulani, he was not produced before the court. Mulani is the eighth police officer to be arrested under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA). More than 100 people across several states, including policemen, politicians and government officials, have been arrested in connection with the forged stamp papers.

Nation-wide police alert on Babri anniversary (Go To Top)

          New Delhi Dec 6: Security has been beefed up across the country as Muslims observe a Black Day on Saturday protesting against the demolition of the 16th century Babri mosque in Ayodhya more than a decade ago. The Babri mosque was demolished on December 6, 1992 by a mob of Hindu zealots, triggering riots in which 3,000 people were killed.

         Police in Hyderabad has cautioned the public against rumour mongers. "If any anti-social element tries to spread violence, for that we have tightened security throughout the city. We have deployed additional forces. Three companies of RAF (Rapid Action Force) have also been called and are deployed in the south and north zone," R.P. Singh, police commissioner of Hyderabad, said on Friday. Though there were some minor clashes between the two communities in old city of Hyderabad when a youth pelted stones on vehicles, timely intervention of police avoided further violence.

          But in Varanasi, the picture is entirely different. Both Muslims and Hindus celebrated an Eid like feast together to spread the message of communal harmony on the eve of the anniversary of the mosque demolition. "A message of communal harmony should reach across Hindu and Muslim brothers. We are offering special prayers on this occasion for harmony," Shameem Ansari, a Muslim man, said.

          However, there is an atmosphere of tension across the country as the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) had earlier announced it would intensify its campaign for the construction of the temple at the disputed site in December. Under the programme, hundreds of VHP activists will travese the length and breadth of the country tying red and saffron coloured wrist bands to Hindus urging their support. The campaign is expected to target over 50 million Hindus.

          Hindus say the mosque was built by Mughal emperor Babar after destroying a temple built on the birthplace of Lord Ram. Muslims dispute this claim and want the Babri mosque rebuilt. The dispute has dragged on for years in courts which have banned any construction on the land until they settle the issue. A small makeshift temple stands on the debris of the mosque.

Buddhadeb sandwiched between comrades and Nasreen (Go To Top)
-by Gautam Ghosh

          Kolkata, Dec 6: Bengal's intellectuals are up in arms against the Left Front government for banning 'Dwikhandita' (Split into two), the third volume of Bangladeshi author Taslima Nasreen's autobiography, saying it is violative of a writer's freedom of expression and stands against India's democratic tradition. Chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, who took the crucial decision to ban the book following objections from some Muslim authors and clerics, has not been able to provide any logical explanation to justify the government's action, thereby fuelling the Opposition parties' suspicion that it aims at keeping the CPI(M)'s Muslim voters in good humour.

          Bhattacharjee has argued that Nasreen's adverse observations about Prophet Muhammad in her book may fuel communal passion and create law and order problems in the state. There are, however, very few takers of the argument among West Bengal's authors, poets and intellectuals who feel banning the book is not the right step to help maintain peace and order. The controversial volume deals with the author's private life and her intimate relationship with some Muslim authors and poets of Bangladesh as well as West Bengal. The book has also been involved in a litigation with a poet bringing a libel suit against her in the Calcutta high court. However, the ruling Left Front was prompted to ban the book only after some Muslim authors and religious leaders pointed out her "objectionable comments" about Prophet Muhammad.

          The chief minister's action has also been fully endorsed by the state CPI(M) leadership, but decried by the Trinamul Congress-BJP combine on the ground that it was politically motivated and aimed at protecting the party's Muslim support base. The main challenge to the Left Front's decision, however, has come from Bengal's intellectuals who have urged the chief minister to immediately lift the ban in keeping with India's democratic tradition. Signatories to a "joint appeal to the chief minister" include poets Nirendra Nath Chakraborty and Joy Goswami, Gyanpith award winner Mahasweta Devi, painter Paritosh Sen, Prof. Sukumari Bhattacharya, dramatist Bibhas Chakraborty, author Jaya Mitra and Prof. Sibnarayan Roy.

          According to informed sources, the Left Front government is under considerable pressure to rethink its decision on the issue. The state administration has even toyed with the idea of allowing the publisher to re-print the book after the two pages containing "objectionable references" to Prophet Muhammad. The stalemate, however, continues as both the author and the publisher have rejected the idea.

          Nasreen, who is now abroad, says she has been hurt by the state government's decision, but made it clear that she is not going to accept the ban. She has described the West Bengal chief minister as "an honest individual and lover of literature" who has obviously been "misled by others about the book." The fourth part of Nasreen's autobiography is expected to be released at the Calcutta book fair in January.

Corruption: An African example (Go To Top)
-by N Bhadran Nair

          Abuja (Nigeria) Dec 6: Corruption not an issue that agitates the people of India only, where a majority of the population still yearns for basic necessities like electricity, water, roads or jobs. In India, though the issue was thrown into focus yet again on the eve of Assembly elections by a sting operation, showing BJP's icon in Cchattisgarh Dilip Singh Judeo taking bundles of currency in return for some favour, the electorate thought otherwise. The pictures flashed on the teletubes across various news channels did not impact the voting pattern in the predominantly tribal state, if the result was any indication.

          Take the case of an engineer of the National Highway Authority of India, who was killed by the contractor mafia in Bihar, with the tacit nexus of corrupt officials, for taking up the issue of irregularities in the implementation of Prime Minister Vajpayee's dream project - the quadrilateral highway. Not a whimper within political or administrative circles, nor any public anger against the killing. It is only a loss to the poor family of the bright engineer!

          It was perhaps a coincidence that during the meeting of 54 heads of state or nations at the Nigerian capital of Abuja for the 13th CHOGM summit and when the leaders were discussing lofty ideals of transparency, good governance and the like, Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo had to sack one of his ministerial colleagues, Labour and Productivity Minister Alhaji Husaini Akwanga on charges of corruption. Nigeria carries the tag of the second most corrupt nation in the world given by Transparency International. The Indian delegation attending the CHOGM Summit too had a taste of it. Indian officials had to bribe a Nigerian security official to allow its visual media to cover the bilateral meeting between Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee and his Australian counterpart John Howard!

          As in India, every leader of worth speaks eloquently about curbing corruption in Nigeria. It is a drawing room subject for academics and journos. Newspapers are full of stories about corruption. Even visiting foreign dignitaries too chip in their "words of wisdom" to the Nigerians on how to rid of corruption, as President Festus Mogae of Botswana did at the Commonwealth Business Forum. Mogae professed solutions like strong partnership between private and public sector to eliminate considerably the scourge of corruption. The sacking and detention of Akwanga by the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission of Nigeria was for allegedly taking colossal sums of money for giving out a contract for National Identity Cards. Several other former Ministers and even a governor of a state are now under scanner in the case.

          The "disease" is all pervading in this West African nation that even the Senate is alleged to have bribed its members from the minority community for the last Sallah celebrations, in return for voting against a motion to impeach President Obasanjo. The official clarification for the generosity of giving two million Naira to 109 minority members is that it is "an advance not a gift".