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Arson, clashes in Ahmedabad's curfew-bound areas: 6 held Ahmedabad, May 11 (ANI): Fresh violence erupted in the curfew- bound areas of Ahmedabad on Saturday. At least eight people were injured in Babunagar area which was attacked by Muslim slum dwellers. Elsewhere, in the city's Dahilimda area, a junk processing unit and a saree printing centre was set on fire at a "kabadi" market. No one was reported injured. The fire brigade rushed to the spot and brought the blaze under control. Police officials said they arrested six rioters. "There were opposing groups of people--Hindus and Muslims. Police reached there in time and dispersed them. One house was burnt and a few people were injured in stone-throwing. We have registered cases and we will be arresting those people," Satish Verma, the newly appointed Additional Commissioner of Police of Ahmedabad city, said.(ANI) Legislators to visit Gujarat for ushering in peace
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to top New Delhi, May 11 (ANI): The National Democratic Alliance has called for early restoration of normalcy in the riot-scarred Gujarat. A delegation of legislators will be sent to that state to review the law and order situation there. This was decided at a meeting of the ruling coalition here on Saturday presided over by the Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee. "At the meeting, the members discussed the issue of Gujarat and it was recommended that strong measures be taken to restore normalcy there," Defence Minister George Fernandes, who is also the covenor of the NDA, told reporters later. He added that a "suggestion was also made that delegations of lawmakers visit the riot-hit state to help the people bring peace to the region." The violence in Gujarat has plunged the BJP-led NDA into a crisis with some allies and the Opposition accusing it of failing to act decisively to end the bloodshed. Fernandes said the NDA also authorised Vajpayee to nominate a candidate for the President's post in consultation with supporting parties. "The meeting also discussed the issue of Presidential elections and the previous elections in Parliament and to ensure the presence of all members of the NDA during proceedings in Parliament and other related issues," he said. Presidential elections in India are due in a few month's time with the expiry of term of the present incumbent K.R. Narayanan in July. The President of India is elected by proportional representation from an electoral college consisting of both Houses of Parliament and state legislatures.(ANI)
CJI's stress on in-built mechanism for solving economic cases Go to top New Delhi, May 11 (ANI): An in-built mechanism should be developed especially for settling the economic and infrastructural cases, with only criminal cases left under the purview of the Supreme Court. This was stated by Justice B N Kirpal, Chief Justice of India, while inaugurating the third international conference on Legal Reforms in Infrastructure jointly organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry and Bar Association of India, says a press release. In his first public appearance after taking over as the Chief Justice of India, Justice Kirpal said that laws should have simple procedures, which are easily understandable and must ensure speedy and quick disposal of cases. However, shortage of efficient manpower and litigation problems create obstacles in the path to carry out judicial proceedings, he added. The Chief Justice also said that arbitration cannot be a success story in India unless the parties involved are willing to enter into an arbitration agreement. This is because procedural delays pose serious problems and therefore amendments for fixed tenures of arbitration procedures should be brought about. Arun Jaitley, Minister of Law, Justice and Company Affairs in his address said that important infrastructure decisions should be passed on to the regulatory mechanism which should not be treated as promoting the bureaucratic and legalistic mindset but should aim at facilitating and promoting the sound business and commercial objects. In his address, Ajit Gulabchand, Chairman and Managing Director, Hindustan Construction Co Ltd, said that legal procedures dealing with the infrastructure sector has lost relevance as these were framed at a time when infrastructure sector was under the domain of the public sector alone. But with private and public partnership in the sector, new laws need to be adopted and the existing ones modified to attract investment in the core sectors of power, telecom and ports. Tarun Das, Director General, CII, in his welcome address, said that to encourage private sector participation in this sector, new set of rules along with a simple, transparent, contemporary and speedy legal and judicial system was the need of the hour. In his concluding remarks, Lalit Bhasin, General Secretary, the Bar Association of India, said, " A strong, vibrant and effective Judicial and Legal system is also a basic requirement for orderly development of Infrastructure. It is the Rule of Law in India which creates and generates confidence among foreign investors in India. Other things being equal, foreign investors would any day prefer India to China mainly because of our commitment to the Rule of Law".(ANI)
Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee addresses the first International Policymakers Conference on HIV/ AIDS in New Delhi.
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Inaugrating the conference, Prime minister Atal Behari Vajpayee lauded the initiatives undertaken by the country to combat the prevention of the disease."Early and correct diagnosis of HIV is critical for its ubsequent control and management. I am happy that in India, we have launched major initiatives, through our concerted focus on biotechnology research, to develop HIV diagnostic kits. Two of them are already in the market and are doing well both in India and in many other countries. We are willing to collaborate with other countries and to share these technologies with them," said Vajpayee. According to the National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO), India's chief AIDS control authority, nearly four million of the country's population is believed to be infected with HIV. Ninety per cent of the cases fall within the economically productive age group of 15 to 44.Data shows that one in four cases of HIV in India is among women and the number of new infections is expected to double every 14 months. Though work on the AIDS vaccine began in 2000 under the guidance of the New York-based International AIDS Vaccine Initiative, Indian analysts said this vaccine would not help South Asia as it was being developed to fight the African strain. The Indian vaccine is expected to be ready for use in seven years, but it will still be some more time before its positive effects come to light. Lack of awareness, absence of acurate data on infection rates, gender inequality and poverty are some of the crucial factors affecting a streamlined response to the epidemic in India.(ANI, MAY 11, 2002)
As curfew continues in violence-hit Ahmedabad, residents yearn for return of peace and normalcy.
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"No work at all. For the past two months we have been sitting without any work," said 35-year old Mohammad Ansari who lives by selling dry grass to cattle."Curfew has hit our work. We can't eat. Sometimes we have to sleep hungry. Often we don't get even milk to make tea. This violence should end as early as possible. It will be good for everybody," said Ramnivas Pandit, another resident. The worst hit due to curfew are the daily-wage earners. Girish Goswami, who works in a vegetable market is surviving without receiving any salary for the past two months."We are facing a lot of difficulties. There is curfew. We can't go anywhere. How to earn and eat?. It is a big problem. I work in vegetable market. They didn't give us salary for the past two months. All work has stopped," Goswami said. The Godhra carnage which triggered communal violence in the state has left more than 900 people dead. Those who have survived the riots, are staying as refugees in releif camps as they are afraid to return home.(ANI, MAY 11, 2002)
The NDA allies in New Delhi have authorised Prime Minister Vajpayee to suggest a presidential candidate.
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Fernandes said, " The meeting(of the NDA) was called to discuss the forthcoming election for the post of the President of India...The Gujarat situation also figured. The members emphasised on the need for taking concrete steps for an early restoration of peace. A parliamentary delegation, it was suggested, should also visit Gujarat to work among the masses for the restoration of peace." The Prime Minister will also consult the Opposition leaders on an unanimous candidate for the post of President of India. Today's meeting also took stock of the political situation in the country.
One killed, 150 shanties destroyed in Delhi slum fire
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to top New Delhi, May 11 (ANI): One person died and about 150 shanties were destroyed in a fire that broke out in a slum at Seelampur in north-east Delhi early on Saturday. The residents said they had lost all their belongings in the fire, which broke out at 2 a.m in Sadar Park area. "I have lost property worth 70,000 rupees. All I am left with are the clothes I am wearing," said Sonu, a victim. According to reports, it took over an hour for the fire tenders to bring the flames under control. Fire brigade officials said that explosion in liquified petrolem gas (LPG) cylinder triggered the blaze. "It was intense in the beginning but we managed to bring it under control," said Sandeep Duggal, a fire-fighter.(ANI)
BSP withdraws support to Rabri Devi govt
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to top Patna, May 11 (ANI): Bihar government's alleged failure to protect the Dalits in the state has prompted the Bahujan Samaj Party to withdraw its outside support to the RJD administration. The party has five MLAs in the Assembly. Mahabali Singh, a legislator and president of Bihar unit of BSP, said on Saturday that district presidents and executive committee members of the party met here on May 9 and 10 and unanimously adopted a resolution to this effect. Party supremo Kanshi Ram was requested to make the final announcement. He criticised the Rabi Devi government's inability to check the "continuing cycle of violence" on Dalits and said "we can't be mute spectators to the growing lawlessness in Bihar." "We provided", Singh added, "outside support to the RJD on the condition that the government would not be found wanting in administration of justice to Dalits." The recent killing of Dalits in Bhojpur, Patna and Gopalganj districts had "exposed" the chinks in the armour of the state administration, he added. However, BSP's decision would not affect the legislative position of the government in Bihar. In a House with an effective strength of 241, RJD has 113 seats, Congress 12, Revolutionary Party two and Independents eight.(ANI)
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(AHMEDABAD-ANI, MAY 11, 2O02) Nine weeks of violence is beginning to tell on the residents of Ahmedabad, where indefinite curfew in four areas forced them to stay indoors.Shops remained closed in most part of the city as five people were killed and 30 others injured in fresh incidents of violence.As policemen kept a tight vigil, people in Jamalpur area said that if the prevailing situation continued for long, they would soon die of hunger.
Story: (ANI, May 11, 2002) The ruling National Democratic Alliance partners today unanimously authorised Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee to decide on a presidential candidate. The term of President K R Narayanan comes to an end on July 24. Vajpayee is expected to hold discussion with both the NDA allies and supporing parties- TDP and BSP- before finalising the name of the candidate. The NDA convenor George Fernandes who briefed the press on the matter later said a parliamentary delegation would soon visit Gujarat.