http://www.indianexpress.com/res/web/pIe/ie/daily/19980615/16651304.html
Monday, June 15, 1998
SWAC complains of nasty treatment
Kumar Shakti Shekhar
AHMEDABAD, June 14: Even as Defence Minister George Fernandes warned the Civil Aviation authorities to make available air base facilities at the Ahmedabad airport `within 24 hours' starting from Saturday, the South Western Air Command (SWAC) officers complained of "nasty treatment from the airport authorities". The SWAC is present in a big in the state -- with a base at Vadodara and now at Gandhinagar -- they are being harassed by airport officials and some feel it was better at Jodhpur.
Senior SWAC officials aired the grievance that the Airport Authority of India (AAI) has not provided them 20 acres of land near the existing airport even though the request had been made more than a year back.
Although the space is necessary for SWAC to carry out its functioning in an independent manner, some minimum requirements are a must till this land is provided. But even those have been denied to them here.
SWAC needs a permanent parking space for at least two transport aircraft and one helicopter to protect the important installations in the area, but the government has yet to decide about this. Whenever, the officials need an aircraft to fulfill a commitment, it has to be flown from its base at Vadodara and after operation is over the aircraft has to be flown back to Vadodara.
Besides extra expenditure on fuel, the process is time-consuming and it also leads to inconvenience to the SWAC staff. In case of emergency situations, which arise more often than not keeping in view the strategic location, the officials land in a tight spot.
Air Vice Marshal M S Brar said that SWAC needs shelter for the aircraft on a temporary but urgent basis as it is not possible for them to build one overnight when an emergency situation arises.
He said, "SWAC needs minimal accommodation to function the basic infrastructure of small aircraft detachment."
However, senior airport officials when contacted said the proposal to provide 20 acres of land and other infrastructure facilities to SWAC is "under active consideration of AAI and a decision would follow shortly."
When reminded that Defence Minister George Fernandes had, on Saturday, given a deadline of 24 hours to Civil Aviation authorities, the airport officials said that today being Sunday no communication has arrived from their Delhi headquarters.
But this is not the end of the travails of SWAC staff. They do not even have an office or a store-room at the airport. They have to ferry the equipment from Gandhinagar and take them back after use. There would have been no need to take so much of useless pain if there was an office here, the officials said. Even worse, the crew after landing at the airport cannot change or take rest in the absence of any separate room for them.
They also feel they are being `harassed by the airport authorities' when it comes to letting them inside the airport. Every time they have to go to receive or see a VIP or VVIP off, they have to write a letter to the airport director (AD) seeking permission to allow the staff and the vehicles in the apron.
They complain that if the AD allows two vehicles inside, the gateman says he has been asked by him to allow only one. Or, on reaching the front gate the gateman asks them to go through the rear gate from where again they are sent back. And this happens when the distance between the front and the rear gate is about 5 km.
A senior SWAC official said that "this kind of harassment is very nasty and in the poorest taste and we do not deserve such a treatment from the airport authorities."
But, he said even the AD is not to be blamed because the civilian system is like that.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
Monday, April 28, 2008
Birds put up for sale at the Nal Sarovar sanctuary
http://www.indianexpress.com/res/web/pIe/ie/daily/19990520/ige20091.html
INDIAN EXPRESS FRONT PAGE
Thursday, May 20, 1999
Birds put up for sale at the Nal Sarovar sanctuary
Kumar Shakti Shekhar
NAL SAROVAR, May 19: A pelican for Rs 200. A Greyleg Goose for Rs 150. A flamingo for Rs 50. A Common Pochard for Rs 40. Small Egrets for Rs 10. And a variety of other water-birds for even less.
Welcome to the Nal Sarovar Bird Sanctuary! Here, poachers trap and sell rare birds to villagers for meat. From October to May, the season during which the migratory birds stay here, some 25 birds are daily caught, sold and killed for meat. All this at a sanctuary which is protected by the forest department.
Except for pelicans, the other birds are eaten by the villagers. Pelican meat is roasted to extract the fat, which is believed to cure arthritis.
The poachers belong to villages such as Shahpur, Nani Kathechi, Ranagadh, Darji, and Durgi, which are around the sanctuary. Generally, they sell the birds to other villagers, but they also pass the birds on to some trusted pheriwalas, who sell them in nearby talukas at much higher prices.
This is how the poachers catch the birds, mostly by night. They erect poles fitted with nets in the lake. One pole in the middle is tied to a cord, the other end of which is with a poacher, who sits, some 500 metres away, on one of the 360 islets in the lake. Some men drive resting birds towards the nets. Once some birds enter the net, the man on the islet pulls the cord. The pole falls. The birds are in the net.
This goes on from midnight to early morning. The captive birds, their wings entwined, are first kept in a boat and then packed in large sacks and taken to the villages for sale.
Poachers trap a few birds by day, too. This they do by placing nooses in the marshes. When a bird walks into a noose, the poacher pulls it tight and catches the bird, as it flutters its wings in frustration.
The Express Newsline team met two poachers carrying sacks stained with blood. They said there were four live flamingoes in the sacks. They agreed to part with the birds for Rs 40 each. They also revealed that they had caught 17 flamingoes and already sold 13 to villagers and pheriwalas. Ironically, this happened just a few yards away from the Flamingo Inspection Bungalow set up here by the Forest Department.
Flamingoes are listed under Schedule IV of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. Cruelty to these birds is punishable under section 51 of the Act which amounts to three years' imprisonment or a fine of Rs 25,000 or both.
But poaching is rampant in the sanctuary. It has been going on for a long time. Forest department officials make cursory patrols around the lake from December to March, when bird population is at its highest and tourists throng the place. Once the tourist season is over, the officials disappear.
When contacted, G.A. Patel, chief conservator of forests, Gandhinagar, who is in charge of the sanctuary, said migratory birds like flamingoes aren't found at this time of the year. He seemed oblivious of the fact that at least 10,000 Lesser Flamingoes, 2,500 Greater Flamingoes, 5,000 Little Egrets, 1,500 Painted Storks, and 1,200 spoonbills, to name a few, still inhabit the sanctuary.
Patel also said he had never heard of poaching at the sanctuary, even though he had served as district forest officer of the area in the past. On being told about what the Express Newsline team saw, he said, ``I don't deny that a few stray incidents could be taking place once in a while in some remote corner. But we are vigilant too.''
Patel said there was no water in the lake and, therefore, no migratory bird was to be found. But when reminded that there was knee-deep water in the lake, most suited for the birds to inhabit and mate, he said he would inquire into the poaching. He said he wondered how poaching could take place when an assistant conservator of forests, two range forest officers and other foresters are camping at the site.
The fact, however, is that no forest department official has been staying in the forest department bungalow in the sanctuary for the past few months.
Flamingoes migrate from Siberia during winter to Pakistan and India. In India they stay in Kutch and Nal Sarovar. They mate here and fly back home in April-May with their chicks. This could well stop if the poaching continues.
Copyright © 1999 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
INDIAN EXPRESS FRONT PAGE
Thursday, May 20, 1999
Birds put up for sale at the Nal Sarovar sanctuary
Kumar Shakti Shekhar
NAL SAROVAR, May 19: A pelican for Rs 200. A Greyleg Goose for Rs 150. A flamingo for Rs 50. A Common Pochard for Rs 40. Small Egrets for Rs 10. And a variety of other water-birds for even less.
Welcome to the Nal Sarovar Bird Sanctuary! Here, poachers trap and sell rare birds to villagers for meat. From October to May, the season during which the migratory birds stay here, some 25 birds are daily caught, sold and killed for meat. All this at a sanctuary which is protected by the forest department.
Except for pelicans, the other birds are eaten by the villagers. Pelican meat is roasted to extract the fat, which is believed to cure arthritis.
The poachers belong to villages such as Shahpur, Nani Kathechi, Ranagadh, Darji, and Durgi, which are around the sanctuary. Generally, they sell the birds to other villagers, but they also pass the birds on to some trusted pheriwalas, who sell them in nearby talukas at much higher prices.
This is how the poachers catch the birds, mostly by night. They erect poles fitted with nets in the lake. One pole in the middle is tied to a cord, the other end of which is with a poacher, who sits, some 500 metres away, on one of the 360 islets in the lake. Some men drive resting birds towards the nets. Once some birds enter the net, the man on the islet pulls the cord. The pole falls. The birds are in the net.
This goes on from midnight to early morning. The captive birds, their wings entwined, are first kept in a boat and then packed in large sacks and taken to the villages for sale.
Poachers trap a few birds by day, too. This they do by placing nooses in the marshes. When a bird walks into a noose, the poacher pulls it tight and catches the bird, as it flutters its wings in frustration.
The Express Newsline team met two poachers carrying sacks stained with blood. They said there were four live flamingoes in the sacks. They agreed to part with the birds for Rs 40 each. They also revealed that they had caught 17 flamingoes and already sold 13 to villagers and pheriwalas. Ironically, this happened just a few yards away from the Flamingo Inspection Bungalow set up here by the Forest Department.
Flamingoes are listed under Schedule IV of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. Cruelty to these birds is punishable under section 51 of the Act which amounts to three years' imprisonment or a fine of Rs 25,000 or both.
But poaching is rampant in the sanctuary. It has been going on for a long time. Forest department officials make cursory patrols around the lake from December to March, when bird population is at its highest and tourists throng the place. Once the tourist season is over, the officials disappear.
When contacted, G.A. Patel, chief conservator of forests, Gandhinagar, who is in charge of the sanctuary, said migratory birds like flamingoes aren't found at this time of the year. He seemed oblivious of the fact that at least 10,000 Lesser Flamingoes, 2,500 Greater Flamingoes, 5,000 Little Egrets, 1,500 Painted Storks, and 1,200 spoonbills, to name a few, still inhabit the sanctuary.
Patel also said he had never heard of poaching at the sanctuary, even though he had served as district forest officer of the area in the past. On being told about what the Express Newsline team saw, he said, ``I don't deny that a few stray incidents could be taking place once in a while in some remote corner. But we are vigilant too.''
Patel said there was no water in the lake and, therefore, no migratory bird was to be found. But when reminded that there was knee-deep water in the lake, most suited for the birds to inhabit and mate, he said he would inquire into the poaching. He said he wondered how poaching could take place when an assistant conservator of forests, two range forest officers and other foresters are camping at the site.
The fact, however, is that no forest department official has been staying in the forest department bungalow in the sanctuary for the past few months.
Flamingoes migrate from Siberia during winter to Pakistan and India. In India they stay in Kutch and Nal Sarovar. They mate here and fly back home in April-May with their chicks. This could well stop if the poaching continues.
Copyright © 1999 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
VHP's self-help way to end conversions
http://www.expressindia.com/news/ie/daily/19990208/ige08028.html
INDIAN EXPRESS FRONT PAGE
Monday, February 8, 1999
VHP's self-help way to end conversions
KUMAR SHAKTI SHEKHAR
AHMEDABAD, FEB 7: Realising that self-help is the best help, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad has decided to tackle the problems of illiteracy, ill-health and unemployment in backward areas of India, bypassing the Government and opening schools, hospitals, food distribution centres and sanskar kendras in 100 districts. The programme of social reform is also aimed at eradicating inequality, stopping conversions and speeding up reconversions.
To implement this plan, sadhus have been allotted areas -- mainly in Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, West Bengal, Manipur and Arunachal -- to adopt as their own; VHP workers will coordinate with the sadhus in their work.
Swami Chinmayanand Maharaj, MP, told The Indian Express that a study was being conducted by the VHP to identify the villages where the plan would be executed. Food distribution, he said, was a short-term solution; in the long run, only the employment generation programmes would pay off.
Chinmayanand, who has chosen to work in the predominantly adivasi Bastar area of Madhya Pradesh, said the advantages of fertile land and temperate climate had been wiped out by the lack of any Government programme to make the adivasis self-dependent.
He acknowledged, however, that the sadhus and the VHP had realised too late that a large chunk of society was illiterate and hungry. ``We thought that after Independence, it would be the Government's responsibility to help the downtrodden, but it neglected illiteracy and unemployment -- the main reason behind conversions -- in 70 per cent of the villages,'' he said, and added,``Yeh sab sarkar ki laparwahi aur hamari galatfahmi ki wajah se hua,'' (it was because of the Government's carelessness and our misunderstanding). The VHP was now certain, he said, that the Government would not be able to improve the condition of the downtrodden.
There are also plans to eradicate untouchability and inequality, under which the sadhus will eat with the Dalits and the adivasis. The intention is that the upper castes will be motivated bythis action.
Pravin Togadia, VHP's international general secretary, said the sadhus would now work to their full potential and on a large scale, to bring about social reform, especially eradication of untouchability. ``Till a few centuries ago, it was considered a sin for a Hindu to cross the sea. But it has changed. In the same manner, inequality will be removed,''he said.
Copyright © 1999 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
INDIAN EXPRESS FRONT PAGE
Monday, February 8, 1999
VHP's self-help way to end conversions
KUMAR SHAKTI SHEKHAR
AHMEDABAD, FEB 7: Realising that self-help is the best help, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad has decided to tackle the problems of illiteracy, ill-health and unemployment in backward areas of India, bypassing the Government and opening schools, hospitals, food distribution centres and sanskar kendras in 100 districts. The programme of social reform is also aimed at eradicating inequality, stopping conversions and speeding up reconversions.
To implement this plan, sadhus have been allotted areas -- mainly in Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, West Bengal, Manipur and Arunachal -- to adopt as their own; VHP workers will coordinate with the sadhus in their work.
Swami Chinmayanand Maharaj, MP, told The Indian Express that a study was being conducted by the VHP to identify the villages where the plan would be executed. Food distribution, he said, was a short-term solution; in the long run, only the employment generation programmes would pay off.
Chinmayanand, who has chosen to work in the predominantly adivasi Bastar area of Madhya Pradesh, said the advantages of fertile land and temperate climate had been wiped out by the lack of any Government programme to make the adivasis self-dependent.
He acknowledged, however, that the sadhus and the VHP had realised too late that a large chunk of society was illiterate and hungry. ``We thought that after Independence, it would be the Government's responsibility to help the downtrodden, but it neglected illiteracy and unemployment -- the main reason behind conversions -- in 70 per cent of the villages,'' he said, and added,``Yeh sab sarkar ki laparwahi aur hamari galatfahmi ki wajah se hua,'' (it was because of the Government's carelessness and our misunderstanding). The VHP was now certain, he said, that the Government would not be able to improve the condition of the downtrodden.
There are also plans to eradicate untouchability and inequality, under which the sadhus will eat with the Dalits and the adivasis. The intention is that the upper castes will be motivated bythis action.
Pravin Togadia, VHP's international general secretary, said the sadhus would now work to their full potential and on a large scale, to bring about social reform, especially eradication of untouchability. ``Till a few centuries ago, it was considered a sin for a Hindu to cross the sea. But it has changed. In the same manner, inequality will be removed,''he said.
Copyright © 1999 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
Reconversion goes on unchecked
http://www.hvk.org/articles/0502/48.html
Reconversion goes on unchecked
Author: Chandrakant Naidu Publication: The Hindustan Times Date: May 8, 2002
As the Sangh Parivar gloats over its success in communalising tribals in Gujarat, its attempts at doing the same in other states has worried minorities. In Orissa, the Parivar is on overdrive to reconvert tribal ChristiDhar, ans to Hinduism.
Even the Puri Shankara-charya helped re-convert nearly 80 Christians, at Manoharpur in Keonjhar district, where Australian missionary Graham Stewart Staines and his minor sons were burnt to death.
There have been frequent incidents of violence against Christians in the state. In July 1999, Father Arul Doss was murdered in Jamabani village. In August 2001, members of the Missionaries of Charity were attacked in Kandhamal district.
These incidents only intensified the conflict between the two communities. The Parivar has not done much to prevent conversion. But it has aggressively reconverted to expand its base.
VHP state secretary Gouri Prasad Rath says the Parishad is working towards the "upliftment of our own people" and not reacting to the missionaries.
"Unlike the missionaries who are resorting to allurements and fraud to convert the tribals, we are only welcoming back those who want to return to the Hindu fold voluntarily," says Rath.
In Jhabua and Dhar districts of Madhya Pradesh, bordering Gujarat, the Sangh Parivar has been operating for over 40 years. It runs hostels for the tribals. In 1998, four nuns were allegedly raped in this region triggering nation-wide protests.
But, on the political front, the BJP's gains were not commensurate with the efforts put into the communalisation of tribals.
The Jhabua-Ratlam Lok Sabha constituency returned a Congress nominee -- Kantilal Bhuria. The Congress also holds four of the five assembly seats in the belt.
With the creation of Chhattisgarh, a large chunk of the tribal population of Madhya Pradesh is now in the new state. Being reactive rather than proactive, the Parivar has failed to create substantial influence on the tribals in Chhattisgarh.
During the past three years, the VHP has opened about 600 schools for tribals in Chhattisgarh. Another 400 schools are being planned.
With the creation of Chhattisgarh, a large chunk of the tribal population of Madhya Pradesh is now in the new state. Being reactive rather than proactive, the Parivar has failed to create substantial influence on the tribals in Chhattisgarh.
During the past three years, the VHP has opened about 600 schools for tribals in Chhattisgarh. Another 400 schools are being planned.
(With inputs from Soumyajit Pattnaik, Kumar Shakti Shekhar and Venugopal Pillai)
Reconversion goes on unchecked
Author: Chandrakant Naidu Publication: The Hindustan Times Date: May 8, 2002
As the Sangh Parivar gloats over its success in communalising tribals in Gujarat, its attempts at doing the same in other states has worried minorities. In Orissa, the Parivar is on overdrive to reconvert tribal ChristiDhar, ans to Hinduism.
Even the Puri Shankara-charya helped re-convert nearly 80 Christians, at Manoharpur in Keonjhar district, where Australian missionary Graham Stewart Staines and his minor sons were burnt to death.
There have been frequent incidents of violence against Christians in the state. In July 1999, Father Arul Doss was murdered in Jamabani village. In August 2001, members of the Missionaries of Charity were attacked in Kandhamal district.
These incidents only intensified the conflict between the two communities. The Parivar has not done much to prevent conversion. But it has aggressively reconverted to expand its base.
VHP state secretary Gouri Prasad Rath says the Parishad is working towards the "upliftment of our own people" and not reacting to the missionaries.
"Unlike the missionaries who are resorting to allurements and fraud to convert the tribals, we are only welcoming back those who want to return to the Hindu fold voluntarily," says Rath.
In Jhabua and Dhar districts of Madhya Pradesh, bordering Gujarat, the Sangh Parivar has been operating for over 40 years. It runs hostels for the tribals. In 1998, four nuns were allegedly raped in this region triggering nation-wide protests.
But, on the political front, the BJP's gains were not commensurate with the efforts put into the communalisation of tribals.
The Jhabua-Ratlam Lok Sabha constituency returned a Congress nominee -- Kantilal Bhuria. The Congress also holds four of the five assembly seats in the belt.
With the creation of Chhattisgarh, a large chunk of the tribal population of Madhya Pradesh is now in the new state. Being reactive rather than proactive, the Parivar has failed to create substantial influence on the tribals in Chhattisgarh.
During the past three years, the VHP has opened about 600 schools for tribals in Chhattisgarh. Another 400 schools are being planned.
With the creation of Chhattisgarh, a large chunk of the tribal population of Madhya Pradesh is now in the new state. Being reactive rather than proactive, the Parivar has failed to create substantial influence on the tribals in Chhattisgarh.
During the past three years, the VHP has opened about 600 schools for tribals in Chhattisgarh. Another 400 schools are being planned.
(With inputs from Soumyajit Pattnaik, Kumar Shakti Shekhar and Venugopal Pillai)
Ancient Lothal crumbling under modern neglect
http://www.indianexpress.com/res/web/pIe/ie/daily/19981214/34851124.html
INDIAN EXPRESS FRONT PAGE
Monday, December 14, 1998
Ancient Lothal crumbling under modern neglect
Kumar Shakti Shekhar
LOTHAL, Dec 13: The government seems loathe to preserve Lothal, one of the most important sites of the Harappan culture, which flourished about 2500-1800 BC. Ruins which have withstood rain, floods, and storms for over 4,500 years are crumbling and may not survive for long, given the Archaeological Survey of India's (ASI) apathy.
ASI has not undertaken preservation work on the site for four years. The result is there to see.
The salt water in the dock, where ships from Persia used to anchor thousands of years ago, has eaten into the brickwork leaving large cavities. The boundary walls of the dock are falling; mud is washed into the dock during monsoon.
A little away from the dock is the ancient granary of the city: its once plastered walls stand with bricks exposed, and mud has collected inside it.
The scene at the acropolis, built at a higher spot, and said to have been occupied by the ruling class, is no better. Very soon it will crumble to the level of the buildings occupied by plebians.
The remains of the bathrooms, drains, and kitchen of the ancient city are close to losing all sign of what they once were.
The lower town, which was inhabited by ordinary people, is getting discriminatory treatment even now. The walls of the structure are about to fall as the plinth has caved in. Adjacent to it lies the bead-makers' kiln, where two huge pots, one red and the other black, lie partly exposed. Not realising its importance, visitors walk through the kiln, breaking some of the artifacts lying inside.
Although three guards have been employed at the site, there is no one to keep watch at night. In the absence of any fencing, visitors trample upon and the structures. Some even walk away with mementos of their visit: pot shards, bricks, coloured stones, shell ornaments. Doing this by night is much easier -- there are no guards on duty.
The terracotta figurines, images, pottery, weights, and pictographic seals -- which have been put inside a museum -- are no better taken care of. Visitors are rare, and the watchmen simply sit inside, smoking beedis.
``Occasionally, a goat or buffalo walks inside and chews up pages from the diary meant for visitors,'' one of them said, laughing.
D.R. Gehlot, superintending archaeologist, ASI, Gujarat Circle, said: ``The paperwork for restoring excavated structures is on. Actual work will begin in two months.''
Ghelot said the work would involve underpinning sunken walls, waterproofing parts of the dock and other structures, and pointing and strengthening the brickwork.
Asked why it took four years to decide, he said, ``We have to maintain other monuments, too. We take up [such work] priority-wise.''
Considering that Lothal is one of only three Indian sites of the Indus Valley civilisation, the sub-continent's oldest, age doesn't seem the criterion by which ASI sets its priorities for site preservation.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
INDIAN EXPRESS FRONT PAGE
Monday, December 14, 1998
Ancient Lothal crumbling under modern neglect
Kumar Shakti Shekhar
LOTHAL, Dec 13: The government seems loathe to preserve Lothal, one of the most important sites of the Harappan culture, which flourished about 2500-1800 BC. Ruins which have withstood rain, floods, and storms for over 4,500 years are crumbling and may not survive for long, given the Archaeological Survey of India's (ASI) apathy.
ASI has not undertaken preservation work on the site for four years. The result is there to see.
The salt water in the dock, where ships from Persia used to anchor thousands of years ago, has eaten into the brickwork leaving large cavities. The boundary walls of the dock are falling; mud is washed into the dock during monsoon.
A little away from the dock is the ancient granary of the city: its once plastered walls stand with bricks exposed, and mud has collected inside it.
The scene at the acropolis, built at a higher spot, and said to have been occupied by the ruling class, is no better. Very soon it will crumble to the level of the buildings occupied by plebians.
The remains of the bathrooms, drains, and kitchen of the ancient city are close to losing all sign of what they once were.
The lower town, which was inhabited by ordinary people, is getting discriminatory treatment even now. The walls of the structure are about to fall as the plinth has caved in. Adjacent to it lies the bead-makers' kiln, where two huge pots, one red and the other black, lie partly exposed. Not realising its importance, visitors walk through the kiln, breaking some of the artifacts lying inside.
Although three guards have been employed at the site, there is no one to keep watch at night. In the absence of any fencing, visitors trample upon and the structures. Some even walk away with mementos of their visit: pot shards, bricks, coloured stones, shell ornaments. Doing this by night is much easier -- there are no guards on duty.
The terracotta figurines, images, pottery, weights, and pictographic seals -- which have been put inside a museum -- are no better taken care of. Visitors are rare, and the watchmen simply sit inside, smoking beedis.
``Occasionally, a goat or buffalo walks inside and chews up pages from the diary meant for visitors,'' one of them said, laughing.
D.R. Gehlot, superintending archaeologist, ASI, Gujarat Circle, said: ``The paperwork for restoring excavated structures is on. Actual work will begin in two months.''
Ghelot said the work would involve underpinning sunken walls, waterproofing parts of the dock and other structures, and pointing and strengthening the brickwork.
Asked why it took four years to decide, he said, ``We have to maintain other monuments, too. We take up [such work] priority-wise.''
Considering that Lothal is one of only three Indian sites of the Indus Valley civilisation, the sub-continent's oldest, age doesn't seem the criterion by which ASI sets its priorities for site preservation.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
PASA crutch makes Govt task easier
http://www.indianexpress.com/res/web/pIe/ie/daily/19991012/ige12041.html
INDIAN EXPRESS FRONT PAGE
Tuesday, October 12, 1999
PASA crutch makes Govt task easier
KUMAR SHAKTI SHEKHAR
AHMEDABAD, OCT 11: The Prevention of Anti-Social Activities Act, 1985 (PASA), a preventive detention law in Gujarat, is being used frequently and with impunity by the Government and administration despite 90 per cent of the cases being quashed by Gujarat High Court.
Recently, the court had quashed an order of Rajkot Police Commissioner detaining advocate Hiten Ganatra under PASA for criminal breach of trust with Punjab National Bank. Ganatra was accused of forging documents. The court observed that an inordinate delay of seven months had been made in taking action.
Last year, the Government was forced to withdraw an order passed by Amreli district magistrate against Congress worker Virjihai H Chodvadia, after the court cautioned the Government to be prepared for severe strictures.
Even the Supreme Court rejected the detention order passed by Ahmedabad Police Commissioner in 1994 against Mustakmiya Jabbarmiya Shaikh. The SC observed that the power to detain a person under PASA ``should be exercised withrestraint and great caution.''
It said: ``A distinction has to be drawn between law and order and maintenance of public order, because most often the two expressions are confused and detention orders are passed in respect of activities which fall within the domain of law and order and which have nothing to do with maintenance of public order.''
Section 3 of PASA states a person shall be deemed to be `acting in any manner prejudicial to maintenance of public order' when such a person is engaged in or is preparing to engage in bootlegging, drug dealing, immoral traffic or property grabbing.
Interestingly, the number of PASA detenus increase in election years: the number of detenus in Ahmedabad was 141 in 1995, 508 in 1996, 300 in 1997, 377 in 1998 and 327 this year so far, though the number was 199 till July.
Former Chief Justice A P Ravani of Rajasthan HC says PASA is often used as a short-cut to maintenance of law and order rather than public order. ``If ordinary criminal laws are not satisfactory,they could be amended, but they should never be ground for use of PASA,'' he says.
However, Rajkot Police Commissioner S K Sinha says PASA has become an effective alternative to ``third degree methods'' and has prevented ``encounter deaths'' from taking place. He says it is difficult to check crime with the role of police, prosecution and judiciary being limited.
Surat Police Commissioner Kuldip Sharma says, ``PASA is resorted to because the existing system is too cumbersome, liberal and time-consuming to have any deterrent impact.'' If these drawbacks are removed from the existing system then many will get into serious trouble even for routine crime, he says.
Copyright © 1999 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
INDIAN EXPRESS FRONT PAGE
Tuesday, October 12, 1999
PASA crutch makes Govt task easier
KUMAR SHAKTI SHEKHAR
AHMEDABAD, OCT 11: The Prevention of Anti-Social Activities Act, 1985 (PASA), a preventive detention law in Gujarat, is being used frequently and with impunity by the Government and administration despite 90 per cent of the cases being quashed by Gujarat High Court.
Recently, the court had quashed an order of Rajkot Police Commissioner detaining advocate Hiten Ganatra under PASA for criminal breach of trust with Punjab National Bank. Ganatra was accused of forging documents. The court observed that an inordinate delay of seven months had been made in taking action.
Last year, the Government was forced to withdraw an order passed by Amreli district magistrate against Congress worker Virjihai H Chodvadia, after the court cautioned the Government to be prepared for severe strictures.
Even the Supreme Court rejected the detention order passed by Ahmedabad Police Commissioner in 1994 against Mustakmiya Jabbarmiya Shaikh. The SC observed that the power to detain a person under PASA ``should be exercised withrestraint and great caution.''
It said: ``A distinction has to be drawn between law and order and maintenance of public order, because most often the two expressions are confused and detention orders are passed in respect of activities which fall within the domain of law and order and which have nothing to do with maintenance of public order.''
Section 3 of PASA states a person shall be deemed to be `acting in any manner prejudicial to maintenance of public order' when such a person is engaged in or is preparing to engage in bootlegging, drug dealing, immoral traffic or property grabbing.
Interestingly, the number of PASA detenus increase in election years: the number of detenus in Ahmedabad was 141 in 1995, 508 in 1996, 300 in 1997, 377 in 1998 and 327 this year so far, though the number was 199 till July.
Former Chief Justice A P Ravani of Rajasthan HC says PASA is often used as a short-cut to maintenance of law and order rather than public order. ``If ordinary criminal laws are not satisfactory,they could be amended, but they should never be ground for use of PASA,'' he says.
However, Rajkot Police Commissioner S K Sinha says PASA has become an effective alternative to ``third degree methods'' and has prevented ``encounter deaths'' from taking place. He says it is difficult to check crime with the role of police, prosecution and judiciary being limited.
Surat Police Commissioner Kuldip Sharma says, ``PASA is resorted to because the existing system is too cumbersome, liberal and time-consuming to have any deterrent impact.'' If these drawbacks are removed from the existing system then many will get into serious trouble even for routine crime, he says.
Copyright © 1999 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
AAI officials take Advani for a ride
http://www.expressindia.com/news/ie/daily/19980715/19650274.html
Wednesday, July 15, 1998
AAI officials take Advani for a ride
Kumar Shakti Shekhar
AHMEDABAD, July 14: No one can even imagine that of all people, Home Minister L K Advani can be taken for a ride in the very state which he represents in Parliament.
It all happened when the Home Minister was on a one-day tour to Gujarat along with Civil Aviation Minister Ananth Kumar to inspect the various airports in the state and announce upgrading and modernisation plans for them.
Just about 48 hours before their tour was to take off, it was decided by Airports Authority of India (AAI) officials in Ahmedabad to include commissioning of state-of-the-art primary surveillance radar (ASR-9) and secondary surveillance radar (MSSR) manufactured by Westinghouse, USA, which were already commissioned on February 9 this year.
The proposal to include the commissioning in the ministers' itinerary was sent to concerned officials in Delhi which was cleared. However, this was kept a low-key affair as a result of which the staff at the airport were taken aback after they learnt about the "ceremony to be held onSunday".
It came as a shock to reporters also when the Civil Aviation Minister, while talking to them, "announced" that "two radars have been commissioned (read recommissioned) by Advaniji just a while ago". However, the radars were being tested since November 25 last year and declared operational on February 9. NOTAM (notice to air men) was also issued to this effect declaring that radar facility services could be availed of at Ahmedabad airport by aircraft worldwide. Interestingly, the radars were switched off for three hours from 1:30 pm to 4.30 pm for Advani to switch it on again and thus commission them.
However, the notice to air men issued this time stated that the radar services were being withdrawn temporarily to carry out maintenance work. Naturally, AAI could not have issued another NOTAM regarding their commissioning as the radars were already operational.
According to sources, AAI chairman D V Gupta expressed his displeasure even before Advani had pressed the button of the computers, butmatters had reached a point of no return. Besides the Home Minister being taken for a ride, around Rs 3 lakh spent on making arrangements for the function also was wasted. Advani was scheduled to spend one hour from 3.30 pm to 4.30 pm at the airport for the inspection work. Out of this, he spent about 25 minutes, from 3.45 pm to 4.10 pm, in the recommissioning of the radars, a time which could have been used for other constructive purpose.
Airport director R C Chitkara, when contacted, said the radars were made operational on February 9 and that they were, in fact, commissioned yesterday by Advani. He said, "Although the radars had started functioning five months ago, they were formally dedicated to the nation by the Minister."
He also said for the past five months, the radars were on test although a release issued by him clearly states: "Acceptance testing (of the radars) was done on November 19, 1997, and air calibration by AAI aircraft was completed on November 24."
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
Wednesday, July 15, 1998
AAI officials take Advani for a ride
Kumar Shakti Shekhar
AHMEDABAD, July 14: No one can even imagine that of all people, Home Minister L K Advani can be taken for a ride in the very state which he represents in Parliament.
It all happened when the Home Minister was on a one-day tour to Gujarat along with Civil Aviation Minister Ananth Kumar to inspect the various airports in the state and announce upgrading and modernisation plans for them.
Just about 48 hours before their tour was to take off, it was decided by Airports Authority of India (AAI) officials in Ahmedabad to include commissioning of state-of-the-art primary surveillance radar (ASR-9) and secondary surveillance radar (MSSR) manufactured by Westinghouse, USA, which were already commissioned on February 9 this year.
The proposal to include the commissioning in the ministers' itinerary was sent to concerned officials in Delhi which was cleared. However, this was kept a low-key affair as a result of which the staff at the airport were taken aback after they learnt about the "ceremony to be held onSunday".
It came as a shock to reporters also when the Civil Aviation Minister, while talking to them, "announced" that "two radars have been commissioned (read recommissioned) by Advaniji just a while ago". However, the radars were being tested since November 25 last year and declared operational on February 9. NOTAM (notice to air men) was also issued to this effect declaring that radar facility services could be availed of at Ahmedabad airport by aircraft worldwide. Interestingly, the radars were switched off for three hours from 1:30 pm to 4.30 pm for Advani to switch it on again and thus commission them.
However, the notice to air men issued this time stated that the radar services were being withdrawn temporarily to carry out maintenance work. Naturally, AAI could not have issued another NOTAM regarding their commissioning as the radars were already operational.
According to sources, AAI chairman D V Gupta expressed his displeasure even before Advani had pressed the button of the computers, butmatters had reached a point of no return. Besides the Home Minister being taken for a ride, around Rs 3 lakh spent on making arrangements for the function also was wasted. Advani was scheduled to spend one hour from 3.30 pm to 4.30 pm at the airport for the inspection work. Out of this, he spent about 25 minutes, from 3.45 pm to 4.10 pm, in the recommissioning of the radars, a time which could have been used for other constructive purpose.
Airport director R C Chitkara, when contacted, said the radars were made operational on February 9 and that they were, in fact, commissioned yesterday by Advani. He said, "Although the radars had started functioning five months ago, they were formally dedicated to the nation by the Minister."
He also said for the past five months, the radars were on test although a release issued by him clearly states: "Acceptance testing (of the radars) was done on November 19, 1997, and air calibration by AAI aircraft was completed on November 24."
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
We want Osho ashram to be a heritage site: Vinod Khanna
http://www.luyaru.narod.ru/article.html
"We want Osho ashram to be a heritage site"
Actor, politician, sanyasi... Vinod Khanna can switch roles with practised ease. For a brief while on Wednesday, he was " Swami Vinod Bharti" ( dressed in maroon robes) during a visit to Osho's birthplace. And on Thursday, he was back being Union Minister of State for Tourism and Culture. Excerpts from an interview by Kumar Shakti Shekhar: What's being done about Acharya Rajnish's ashram in Pune, better known as the Osho Commune? Two foreigners, an Englishman and Canadian, have taken over the ashram and have driven out the inner circle of 21 members appointed by Osho. We fear they will bring down the Buddha Hall. We want the ashram to be a piligrimage and heritage site. Secondly, we will be cautious about the copyrights on Osho's discourses, which are recorded in books, and audio and video cassettes. It is shameful that their copyrights are with foreigners. Anyone wanting to publish them has to pay royaity in dollars. Osho's books are like Bible and Gita to us. Do you plan to develop Osho's birthplace at Kuchwada in Madhya Pradesh into a piligrim centre? I am planning to set up an archive of Osho in Kuchwada. The sanyasis have bought the property and started restoration work of the house in which Osho was born on December 11, 1931. Osho's Japanese disciiiples have constructed an ashram which can house about 400 people. What is on the tourism front? We will develop 36 piligrimage circuits all over India in the next six years, with six circuits each year.Each circuit will involve a few states. For instance, the Buddhist circuit will inciude Bodh Gaya, Sarnatha and Sanchi in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh respectively. How does it feel being a politician? I am enjoying it and am very comfortable. This is probably because I am a satisfied man. Why aren't Hindi films doing well at the box office? Bad scriipts and piracy. Piracy has killed films. Even before the films are released, their VCDs are out in the market. I have recommended to the Information and Broadcasting Ministry to make piracy a non-bailable offence. What about underworld funding of films? Since the film sector has been recognised as an industry, banks are financing viable projects. So far, banks have financed Rs 300 crore in film-making. We are looking for cheaper interest rates.
( Hindustan Times, 2002/Dec )
"We want Osho ashram to be a heritage site"
Actor, politician, sanyasi... Vinod Khanna can switch roles with practised ease. For a brief while on Wednesday, he was " Swami Vinod Bharti" ( dressed in maroon robes) during a visit to Osho's birthplace. And on Thursday, he was back being Union Minister of State for Tourism and Culture. Excerpts from an interview by Kumar Shakti Shekhar: What's being done about Acharya Rajnish's ashram in Pune, better known as the Osho Commune? Two foreigners, an Englishman and Canadian, have taken over the ashram and have driven out the inner circle of 21 members appointed by Osho. We fear they will bring down the Buddha Hall. We want the ashram to be a piligrimage and heritage site. Secondly, we will be cautious about the copyrights on Osho's discourses, which are recorded in books, and audio and video cassettes. It is shameful that their copyrights are with foreigners. Anyone wanting to publish them has to pay royaity in dollars. Osho's books are like Bible and Gita to us. Do you plan to develop Osho's birthplace at Kuchwada in Madhya Pradesh into a piligrim centre? I am planning to set up an archive of Osho in Kuchwada. The sanyasis have bought the property and started restoration work of the house in which Osho was born on December 11, 1931. Osho's Japanese disciiiples have constructed an ashram which can house about 400 people. What is on the tourism front? We will develop 36 piligrimage circuits all over India in the next six years, with six circuits each year.Each circuit will involve a few states. For instance, the Buddhist circuit will inciude Bodh Gaya, Sarnatha and Sanchi in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh respectively. How does it feel being a politician? I am enjoying it and am very comfortable. This is probably because I am a satisfied man. Why aren't Hindi films doing well at the box office? Bad scriipts and piracy. Piracy has killed films. Even before the films are released, their VCDs are out in the market. I have recommended to the Information and Broadcasting Ministry to make piracy a non-bailable offence. What about underworld funding of films? Since the film sector has been recognised as an industry, banks are financing viable projects. So far, banks have financed Rs 300 crore in film-making. We are looking for cheaper interest rates.
( Hindustan Times, 2002/Dec )
Anti-Nuke Baluchis hijack Pak plane
http://www.indianexpress.com/res/web/pIe/ie/daily/19980525/14550474.html
Monday, May 25, 1998 -->-->-->
Anti-Nuke Baluchis hijack Pak plane
Kamal Siddiqi & Kumar Shakti Shekhar
ISLAMABAD/AHMEDABAD, May 24: A Pakistan International Airlines passenger aircraft was hijacked today by Balochistan nationalists but the plane was intercepted by a Pakistan air force jet and forced to land in Hyderabad, Sindh. The Fokker F-27 (PIA 554) flight from Gwadar in the Balochistan coastal belt to Karachi was carrying 24 passengers and 5 crew members. Airport sources in Ahmedabad said the plane violated Indian airspace and entered Gujarat before returning to Pakistan.
The hijackers, three tribesmen from Balochistan, are believed to be protesting against Pakistan's alleged plan to carry out nuclear tests in their homeland. Balochistan nationalist groups had staged demonstrations to protest against the planned nuclear test site of Pakistan which is situated in the Chagai Hills in Balochistan The plane, the sources say, entered Gujarat and flashed a message to Rajkot airport tower that it wanted to land anywhere in India. Airport sources in Delhi confirmed that permission for landing in Jodhpur orJaisalmer was also sought. But, the Indian authorities did not oblige the hijackers. Radars on the border had been put on alert.
Confirming the violation of Indian airspace by the Pakistani plane, airport officials in Ahmedabad revealed that necessary precautionary measures had already begun at Ahmedabad airport. Similar security arrangements were made in Mumbai too. The security arrangements were withdrawn when the officials received the message at 8.20 p.m. that the plane had flown to Pakistan. The flight took off from Gwadar at 6.30 p.m. after originating from Turbat and was scheduled to land at Karachi at 7.15 p.m. but finally landed at Hyderabad at 8.20 p.m.
Observers say that the hijacking comes at a critical time in Indo-Pakistan relations. Just prior to the 1971 war between India and Pakistan, an Indian Airlines plane was hijacked by Kashmiri militants and forced to land in Lahore. The hijacking sent tension between two countries and hostilities soon erupted.
Talks begin, hijackers seekpassage to Delhi
Pakistani authorities have began negotiations with the hijackers who demanded refuelling as soon as the plane touched down at Hyderabad. Reuters quoting Pakistan's state-run television said officials at Hyderabad airport established contact with the hijackers who wanted the plane be taken to New Delhi. Even as the officials were busy ascertaining the hijackers' demand besides refuelling, anti-hijack army commandos and police surrounded the plane in a possible operation to storm it. Security personnel took up positions and parked vehicles in front of the aircraft apparently to thwart it from flying again. Asked what kind of weapons the hijackers had, a senior official at the Hyderabad airport told PTI over telephone that they were carrying revolvers and possibly other weapons. The authorities have sealed off the airport and deployed fire tenders and ambulances to meet any eventuality.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
Monday, May 25, 1998 -->-->-->
Anti-Nuke Baluchis hijack Pak plane
Kamal Siddiqi & Kumar Shakti Shekhar
ISLAMABAD/AHMEDABAD, May 24: A Pakistan International Airlines passenger aircraft was hijacked today by Balochistan nationalists but the plane was intercepted by a Pakistan air force jet and forced to land in Hyderabad, Sindh. The Fokker F-27 (PIA 554) flight from Gwadar in the Balochistan coastal belt to Karachi was carrying 24 passengers and 5 crew members. Airport sources in Ahmedabad said the plane violated Indian airspace and entered Gujarat before returning to Pakistan.
The hijackers, three tribesmen from Balochistan, are believed to be protesting against Pakistan's alleged plan to carry out nuclear tests in their homeland. Balochistan nationalist groups had staged demonstrations to protest against the planned nuclear test site of Pakistan which is situated in the Chagai Hills in Balochistan The plane, the sources say, entered Gujarat and flashed a message to Rajkot airport tower that it wanted to land anywhere in India. Airport sources in Delhi confirmed that permission for landing in Jodhpur orJaisalmer was also sought. But, the Indian authorities did not oblige the hijackers. Radars on the border had been put on alert.
Confirming the violation of Indian airspace by the Pakistani plane, airport officials in Ahmedabad revealed that necessary precautionary measures had already begun at Ahmedabad airport. Similar security arrangements were made in Mumbai too. The security arrangements were withdrawn when the officials received the message at 8.20 p.m. that the plane had flown to Pakistan. The flight took off from Gwadar at 6.30 p.m. after originating from Turbat and was scheduled to land at Karachi at 7.15 p.m. but finally landed at Hyderabad at 8.20 p.m.
Observers say that the hijacking comes at a critical time in Indo-Pakistan relations. Just prior to the 1971 war between India and Pakistan, an Indian Airlines plane was hijacked by Kashmiri militants and forced to land in Lahore. The hijacking sent tension between two countries and hostilities soon erupted.
Talks begin, hijackers seekpassage to Delhi
Pakistani authorities have began negotiations with the hijackers who demanded refuelling as soon as the plane touched down at Hyderabad. Reuters quoting Pakistan's state-run television said officials at Hyderabad airport established contact with the hijackers who wanted the plane be taken to New Delhi. Even as the officials were busy ascertaining the hijackers' demand besides refuelling, anti-hijack army commandos and police surrounded the plane in a possible operation to storm it. Security personnel took up positions and parked vehicles in front of the aircraft apparently to thwart it from flying again. Asked what kind of weapons the hijackers had, a senior official at the Hyderabad airport told PTI over telephone that they were carrying revolvers and possibly other weapons. The authorities have sealed off the airport and deployed fire tenders and ambulances to meet any eventuality.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
Encroachment sparks controversy in Patan
http://www.indianexpress.com/res/web/pIe/ie/daily/19991015/ige15087.html
INDIAN EXPRESS FRONT PAGE
Friday, October 15, 1999
Encroachment sparks controversy in Patan
Kumar Shakti Shekhar
PATAN, Oct 14: Controversy simmers in this town over the encroachment upon a Muslim graveyard by a nearby temple, which has built a cow-shed in the graveyard. The local Wakf committee, which manages the graveyard, has approached the district magistrate with a complaint.
The temple, Kubreshwar Mahadev, is ages old. There is no refuting that. And the legality of the 19 acre graveyard, too, is not in question: the local Young Sunni Muslim Wakf Board has documents to that effect. Neither side disputes this. But tension has been brewing, according to board members, since 1992, when Kanhaiyagiri Maharaj took over as the temple priest. They allege he has been provocative, playing recordings of incendiary speeches over the public address system, and is backed by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP).
The immediate provocation is the construction of a cow-shed in the graveyard on October 2. The six cows and three calves in the shed were brought from the drought-hit Saurashtra region.
Mohammedali Kadri, former chairman of Gujarat State Wakf Board, alleged that this encroachment was being overlooked by the police. He said, ``Since the police did not do the needful and we did not have the courage to do anything, cows being an extremely sensitive issue, the Wakf Committee members and local Muslim leaders approached District Magistrate Himanshu Sheth on October 3.''
Kadri said Sheth had assured them that the encroachment would be cleared after October 9, as he would till then be busy with election work. He also said Sheth had arranged a meeting between local Hindu and Muslim leaders.
``But surprisingly, the district magistrate has involved VHP leaders in the talks even though they are nowhere in the picture,'' said Kadri. ``Muslims have nothing against the temple. In fact it is beautiful to see a huge temple and an Idgah close by. Nor do we have anything against the VHP, for that matter. What we are worried about is that VHP is being called for a discussion though they are not in the picture.''
Kadri said three rounds of talks had failed because VHP leaders insist that the encroachments should be regularised. He alleged that VHP leaders had threatened that riots would break out if that was not done.
The priest is obdurate. Sitting on a marble throne, devotees squatting at his feet, he roared: ``I'm sitting here, the temple is here -- this in itself is proof of my claims.'' Then, more careful, he added: ``My lawyer is better aware of the papers and the facts.''
About the cow-shed, he said: ``This temple is more than 1,500 years old. According to tradition there is always a cow-shed in front of a temple. So such a cow-shed must have existed in those times. If the land belonged to the Wakf Committee, why did it not fence the area?''
Both sides hurl allegations at each other. The Maharaj said Muslims went against him after he had a gambling den and an illegal slaughterhouse running in the graveyard removed. The Muslim leaders, on their part, allege that the Maharaj is a drug-trafficker.
Meanwhile, VHP district president, Prahlad Soni, distanced himself from the Maharaj's statement that the cow-shed would not go, come what may. He said he would abide by the district magistrate's verdict. But he insisted that of the 22 acre plot only three acres belonged to the Wakf committee, and the rest was either with the state government or the temple.
The district magistrate said he hoped a solution would be arrived at within a couple of days. When reminded that it was his duty to protect the committee land, he said, ``This is the reason why I have come into the picture. We will go to any extent to maintain public peace.''
But Muslim leaders said they did not feel assured on that count. ``We feel cheated, we are afraid the district magistrate might either keep procrastinating or give an order in the Maharaj's favour.''
While the allegations fly thick and fast, townspeople hope the controversy is resolved soon.
Copyright © 1999 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
INDIAN EXPRESS FRONT PAGE
Friday, October 15, 1999
Encroachment sparks controversy in Patan
Kumar Shakti Shekhar
PATAN, Oct 14: Controversy simmers in this town over the encroachment upon a Muslim graveyard by a nearby temple, which has built a cow-shed in the graveyard. The local Wakf committee, which manages the graveyard, has approached the district magistrate with a complaint.
The temple, Kubreshwar Mahadev, is ages old. There is no refuting that. And the legality of the 19 acre graveyard, too, is not in question: the local Young Sunni Muslim Wakf Board has documents to that effect. Neither side disputes this. But tension has been brewing, according to board members, since 1992, when Kanhaiyagiri Maharaj took over as the temple priest. They allege he has been provocative, playing recordings of incendiary speeches over the public address system, and is backed by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP).
The immediate provocation is the construction of a cow-shed in the graveyard on October 2. The six cows and three calves in the shed were brought from the drought-hit Saurashtra region.
Mohammedali Kadri, former chairman of Gujarat State Wakf Board, alleged that this encroachment was being overlooked by the police. He said, ``Since the police did not do the needful and we did not have the courage to do anything, cows being an extremely sensitive issue, the Wakf Committee members and local Muslim leaders approached District Magistrate Himanshu Sheth on October 3.''
Kadri said Sheth had assured them that the encroachment would be cleared after October 9, as he would till then be busy with election work. He also said Sheth had arranged a meeting between local Hindu and Muslim leaders.
``But surprisingly, the district magistrate has involved VHP leaders in the talks even though they are nowhere in the picture,'' said Kadri. ``Muslims have nothing against the temple. In fact it is beautiful to see a huge temple and an Idgah close by. Nor do we have anything against the VHP, for that matter. What we are worried about is that VHP is being called for a discussion though they are not in the picture.''
Kadri said three rounds of talks had failed because VHP leaders insist that the encroachments should be regularised. He alleged that VHP leaders had threatened that riots would break out if that was not done.
The priest is obdurate. Sitting on a marble throne, devotees squatting at his feet, he roared: ``I'm sitting here, the temple is here -- this in itself is proof of my claims.'' Then, more careful, he added: ``My lawyer is better aware of the papers and the facts.''
About the cow-shed, he said: ``This temple is more than 1,500 years old. According to tradition there is always a cow-shed in front of a temple. So such a cow-shed must have existed in those times. If the land belonged to the Wakf Committee, why did it not fence the area?''
Both sides hurl allegations at each other. The Maharaj said Muslims went against him after he had a gambling den and an illegal slaughterhouse running in the graveyard removed. The Muslim leaders, on their part, allege that the Maharaj is a drug-trafficker.
Meanwhile, VHP district president, Prahlad Soni, distanced himself from the Maharaj's statement that the cow-shed would not go, come what may. He said he would abide by the district magistrate's verdict. But he insisted that of the 22 acre plot only three acres belonged to the Wakf committee, and the rest was either with the state government or the temple.
The district magistrate said he hoped a solution would be arrived at within a couple of days. When reminded that it was his duty to protect the committee land, he said, ``This is the reason why I have come into the picture. We will go to any extent to maintain public peace.''
But Muslim leaders said they did not feel assured on that count. ``We feel cheated, we are afraid the district magistrate might either keep procrastinating or give an order in the Maharaj's favour.''
While the allegations fly thick and fast, townspeople hope the controversy is resolved soon.
Copyright © 1999 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
Ahmedabad gives colour to poll banners
http://www.indianexpress.com/res/web/pIe/ie/daily/19990827/ige27006.html
INDIAN EXPRESS FRONT PAGE
Friday, August 27, 1999
Ahmedabad gives colour to poll banners
Kumar Shakti Shekhar
AHMEDABAD, AUG 26: Every time a door closes, another one opens. So when Ahmedabad lost its position as the Manchester of India following the closure of its textile mills, an alternative trade arose: Preparing election material. And any doubts on the frequency of business have been cleared by the actions of politicians.
For the past three weeks, women and children in about 1,000 Chhipa households in Jamalpur area of Ahmedabad have been burning the candle at both ends cutting, stitching, folding and packing banners, flags, caps and scarves. The men, meanwhile, take care of the transportation, booking the goods on trucks and trains to different states to meet the deadline.
Their destination? Mainly Gujarat, of course, but also Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Delhi, Rajasthan, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh. Most orders have been placed by the Congress; the BJP, Samajwadi Party and Nationalist Congress Party are other customers.
The demand is heavy; the Chhipas express surprise over the number oforders placed from different parts of the country. In fact, the workload has caused cloth to vanish from the market, forcing the printers to order cloth from Rajasthan. Yasin Mandsourwala is printing materials only for the Congress in MP, Rajasthan and Gujarat. His clients include MP Chief Minister Digvijay Singh, Kamal Nath, Suresh Pachauri, Jaswant Singh, Balram Jakhar, Girija Vyas, Rajesh Pilot, T N Seshan and Urmilaben Patel.
Kadarbhai Chhipa (name changed) says till last year he had been supplying only to the Congress; this year, he's also printing for the BJP, Mulayam Singh Yadav, Laloo Prasad and Sharad Pawar.
All this is a long way, of course, from the dark days when the mills closed. The Chhipas, traditional printers, then set up operations at home to maintain their monopoly. They suffered a setback soon enough, when the EC code of conduct cracked down on printing of banners. The way out, they decided, was in expansion; the Chhipas started tapping opportunities in other states. ``It worked thelast time, and this year we have bagged 95 per cent of the printing contract in eight states,'' says Mandsourwala.
Their USP, he says, is their low rates: Chhipas reportedly charge 35 per cent less money than the others anywhere in the country. ``This has made us leaders in this field.'' Even if others get the contract, they finally approach the Chhipas, he claims.
What helps, the Chhipas say, is their technique, which cuts down on production costs. They are anyway well-versed in the art of matching chemicals with cloth to maximum effect. They use satin and poplin, which are cheap, but prefer satin as it catches the colours faster and more strongly. And the family tradition: All members of the family pitch in.
They have their favourites, of course; Mandsourwala is all praise for Digvijay Singh and shows a copy of the paper on which he had himself designed the banner and written the slogan `Desh ki suraksha, sthirta evam vikas ke liye -- Congress ko vote dijiye'.
Some printers, including Mandsaurwala,had even contacted Chandrababu Naidu but couldn't strike a deal because he was ``fussy about rates''. The contract eventually went to a printer from Hyderabad. And there is, as with every business, the risk of default on payment. Every year one or two candidates default; ``last year was the worst,'' he says.
Not surprisingly, given the EC code, the Chhipas are reluctant to give details of the quantum of work being done or the money changing hands.
But there's no denying that they've achieved a degree of comfort they could not have imagined when the mills shut down. Mandsourwala says, only half in jest, that till last year the Chhipas used to travel on sleeper class train tickets. ``The nature and urgency of work, however, has forced us to start going by plane.'' The Chhipas are flying high, just as their customers hope to do.
Copyright © 1999 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
INDIAN EXPRESS FRONT PAGE
Friday, August 27, 1999
Ahmedabad gives colour to poll banners
Kumar Shakti Shekhar
AHMEDABAD, AUG 26: Every time a door closes, another one opens. So when Ahmedabad lost its position as the Manchester of India following the closure of its textile mills, an alternative trade arose: Preparing election material. And any doubts on the frequency of business have been cleared by the actions of politicians.
For the past three weeks, women and children in about 1,000 Chhipa households in Jamalpur area of Ahmedabad have been burning the candle at both ends cutting, stitching, folding and packing banners, flags, caps and scarves. The men, meanwhile, take care of the transportation, booking the goods on trucks and trains to different states to meet the deadline.
Their destination? Mainly Gujarat, of course, but also Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Delhi, Rajasthan, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh. Most orders have been placed by the Congress; the BJP, Samajwadi Party and Nationalist Congress Party are other customers.
The demand is heavy; the Chhipas express surprise over the number oforders placed from different parts of the country. In fact, the workload has caused cloth to vanish from the market, forcing the printers to order cloth from Rajasthan. Yasin Mandsourwala is printing materials only for the Congress in MP, Rajasthan and Gujarat. His clients include MP Chief Minister Digvijay Singh, Kamal Nath, Suresh Pachauri, Jaswant Singh, Balram Jakhar, Girija Vyas, Rajesh Pilot, T N Seshan and Urmilaben Patel.
Kadarbhai Chhipa (name changed) says till last year he had been supplying only to the Congress; this year, he's also printing for the BJP, Mulayam Singh Yadav, Laloo Prasad and Sharad Pawar.
All this is a long way, of course, from the dark days when the mills closed. The Chhipas, traditional printers, then set up operations at home to maintain their monopoly. They suffered a setback soon enough, when the EC code of conduct cracked down on printing of banners. The way out, they decided, was in expansion; the Chhipas started tapping opportunities in other states. ``It worked thelast time, and this year we have bagged 95 per cent of the printing contract in eight states,'' says Mandsourwala.
Their USP, he says, is their low rates: Chhipas reportedly charge 35 per cent less money than the others anywhere in the country. ``This has made us leaders in this field.'' Even if others get the contract, they finally approach the Chhipas, he claims.
What helps, the Chhipas say, is their technique, which cuts down on production costs. They are anyway well-versed in the art of matching chemicals with cloth to maximum effect. They use satin and poplin, which are cheap, but prefer satin as it catches the colours faster and more strongly. And the family tradition: All members of the family pitch in.
They have their favourites, of course; Mandsourwala is all praise for Digvijay Singh and shows a copy of the paper on which he had himself designed the banner and written the slogan `Desh ki suraksha, sthirta evam vikas ke liye -- Congress ko vote dijiye'.
Some printers, including Mandsaurwala,had even contacted Chandrababu Naidu but couldn't strike a deal because he was ``fussy about rates''. The contract eventually went to a printer from Hyderabad. And there is, as with every business, the risk of default on payment. Every year one or two candidates default; ``last year was the worst,'' he says.
Not surprisingly, given the EC code, the Chhipas are reluctant to give details of the quantum of work being done or the money changing hands.
But there's no denying that they've achieved a degree of comfort they could not have imagined when the mills shut down. Mandsourwala says, only half in jest, that till last year the Chhipas used to travel on sleeper class train tickets. ``The nature and urgency of work, however, has forced us to start going by plane.'' The Chhipas are flying high, just as their customers hope to do.
Copyright © 1999 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
Quiet flows the liquor into State by GSRTC buses
http://www.indianexpress.com/res/web/pIe/ie/daily/19980512/13250984.html
Tuesday, May 12, 1998
Quiet flows the liquor into State by GSRTC buses
Kumar Shakti Shekhar
AHMEDABAD, May 11: Besides trains and airplanes, the State transport buses are also being frequently used to smuggle liquor bottles into Gujarat. Since the State has a long border with Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan and the Gujarat State Road Transport Corporation alone runs 9,000 buses to these neighbouring states, the police and the prohibition department are finding it almost impossible to check smuggling by the buses.
According to a senior official in the prohibition department, as it is not possible to check each and every bus and each and every passenger on them, smuggling is continuing on a large-scale. But, he said, on receiving information, raids are conducted time and again to keep a check on smuggling.
The official said smuggling by buses was not a new phenomenon, but its detection was difficult because Indian-made foreign liquors (IMFLs), unlike country-made liquors, did not send any strong aroma when sealed. He also said on most occasions, the conductors and drivers of the buses are themselves involved in the offence or are hand-in-glove with the smugglers.
His view was substantiated by A C Bhargava, executive director (vigilance) of GSRTC, who said on a tip-off that liquor bottles were being brought from Daman and Diu on the corporation buses, he sent a team on April 20 to conduct surprise check and recovered 279 bottles of liquor from three buses.
Giving the details of the recovery, he said with the help of local police, raids were carried out on April 22 on two buses at Keshariyaji bus stop under Una police station. The conductor of the bus running on the Diu-Rajkot route and belonging to the Limdi depot, was caught carrying 20 bottles of liquor. The conductor, Rajendrasinh Rana was arrested and a case under Section 66 B and 65 AE of the IPC was registered against him.
On the same day and on the same spot, another bus of the Dhol depot running on the Diu-Jamnagar route was raided. While conductor Bhavanisinh Gambhirsinh Jadeja was caught carrying three bottles, the driver Jaivirsinh Manubha Jadeja was found hiding five bottles under the diesel tank. A case was registered and both were arrested.
According to Bhargava, another raid was conducted on April 26 on a bus running on Daman-Vapi route and several passengers were found carrying IMFLs. While three bottles of IMFL were seized from Rajubhai Uttambhai Chaudhary of Ummargam under Vapi police station, 18 bottles were seized from Ramesh Magan Damor of Maroli, 19 from Durjansinh Jokhamsinh Rajput and Rajesh Mangalsinh Thakore of Udhna, Surat, 85 from Narsinh Ismail Pathan and Mumtaz Ismail Malik of Navsari and 114 bottles of IML and 12 bottles of country made liquor were seized from Manjulaben Rameshbhai Koli of Valsad.
Bhargava said, "such raids would continue to prevent misuse of GSRTC buses for anti-prohibition activities." The job of the law-enforcing agencies becomes easier if common people cooperate with them and inform them about any such activities," he added.
N C Dave, vice-chairman and managing director of GSRTC, said the Vigilance Department generally conduct surprise checks to detect ticket-less passengers and to find out whether the drivers and conductors were hand-in-glove with the passengers and purposely not issuing tickets.
Dave said detection of liquor smugglers was a `side-issue' for the corporation because it was not possible to cross-check information every time it was received. He also said since 42 lakh passengers travelled on GSRTC buses everyday, it was not possible to check them everyday. But he said the authorities certainly act promptly whenever they receive any concrete information.
But as the GSRTC and prohibition department authorities express helplessness in checking the menace, liquor smuggling by buses will go on in the State.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
Tuesday, May 12, 1998
Quiet flows the liquor into State by GSRTC buses
Kumar Shakti Shekhar
AHMEDABAD, May 11: Besides trains and airplanes, the State transport buses are also being frequently used to smuggle liquor bottles into Gujarat. Since the State has a long border with Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan and the Gujarat State Road Transport Corporation alone runs 9,000 buses to these neighbouring states, the police and the prohibition department are finding it almost impossible to check smuggling by the buses.
According to a senior official in the prohibition department, as it is not possible to check each and every bus and each and every passenger on them, smuggling is continuing on a large-scale. But, he said, on receiving information, raids are conducted time and again to keep a check on smuggling.
The official said smuggling by buses was not a new phenomenon, but its detection was difficult because Indian-made foreign liquors (IMFLs), unlike country-made liquors, did not send any strong aroma when sealed. He also said on most occasions, the conductors and drivers of the buses are themselves involved in the offence or are hand-in-glove with the smugglers.
His view was substantiated by A C Bhargava, executive director (vigilance) of GSRTC, who said on a tip-off that liquor bottles were being brought from Daman and Diu on the corporation buses, he sent a team on April 20 to conduct surprise check and recovered 279 bottles of liquor from three buses.
Giving the details of the recovery, he said with the help of local police, raids were carried out on April 22 on two buses at Keshariyaji bus stop under Una police station. The conductor of the bus running on the Diu-Rajkot route and belonging to the Limdi depot, was caught carrying 20 bottles of liquor. The conductor, Rajendrasinh Rana was arrested and a case under Section 66 B and 65 AE of the IPC was registered against him.
On the same day and on the same spot, another bus of the Dhol depot running on the Diu-Jamnagar route was raided. While conductor Bhavanisinh Gambhirsinh Jadeja was caught carrying three bottles, the driver Jaivirsinh Manubha Jadeja was found hiding five bottles under the diesel tank. A case was registered and both were arrested.
According to Bhargava, another raid was conducted on April 26 on a bus running on Daman-Vapi route and several passengers were found carrying IMFLs. While three bottles of IMFL were seized from Rajubhai Uttambhai Chaudhary of Ummargam under Vapi police station, 18 bottles were seized from Ramesh Magan Damor of Maroli, 19 from Durjansinh Jokhamsinh Rajput and Rajesh Mangalsinh Thakore of Udhna, Surat, 85 from Narsinh Ismail Pathan and Mumtaz Ismail Malik of Navsari and 114 bottles of IML and 12 bottles of country made liquor were seized from Manjulaben Rameshbhai Koli of Valsad.
Bhargava said, "such raids would continue to prevent misuse of GSRTC buses for anti-prohibition activities." The job of the law-enforcing agencies becomes easier if common people cooperate with them and inform them about any such activities," he added.
N C Dave, vice-chairman and managing director of GSRTC, said the Vigilance Department generally conduct surprise checks to detect ticket-less passengers and to find out whether the drivers and conductors were hand-in-glove with the passengers and purposely not issuing tickets.
Dave said detection of liquor smugglers was a `side-issue' for the corporation because it was not possible to cross-check information every time it was received. He also said since 42 lakh passengers travelled on GSRTC buses everyday, it was not possible to check them everyday. But he said the authorities certainly act promptly whenever they receive any concrete information.
But as the GSRTC and prohibition department authorities express helplessness in checking the menace, liquor smuggling by buses will go on in the State.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
Govt pleaders land Gujarat in trouble
INDIAN EXPRESS FRONT PAGE
Tuesday, July 20, 1999
Govt pleaders land Gujarat in trouble
KUMAR SHAKTI SHEKHAR
AHMEDABAD, JULY 19: A number of recent Gujarat High Court judgments, totalling about 500, have sent the State Government into a tizzy. The judgments, all similar, have revoked orders of land acquisition passed under the Urban Land Ceiling Act in the last several years.
At stake is land worth hundreds of crores, though a precise figure is not available because the Revenue Department is still collecting details. Officials also fear that in many cases where the Government had transferred land to individuals and institutions, the judgments could lead to a messy situation.
While the Government is trying to control the damage by filing appeals, fingers are being pointed at Government pleader Prashant Desai, appointed during the Shankersinh Vaghela regime, and three other Government lawyers who, it is alleged, furnished wrong information before the court.Eminent lawyer Girish Patel apprehends the judgments could create major law and order problems, as the original owners will try to take possession of land.``Those having money and muscle power may try to evict innocent people. They might even try to create evidence of possession with retrospective effect,'' he remarked.
Most of the cases were disposed of by Justice K R Vyas between May 5 and May 12, 1999. Besides Desai, assistant pleaders Satish Pandya, Tushar Sompura and Apurva Vyas represented the Government. The owners had challenged the orders passed by the authorities under the Urban Land Ceiling and Regulation Act, 1976.
The owners claimed the land was still in their possession. The Government advocates, it is said, corroborated it. As possession is nine tenths of the law and ULCRA had been repealed in March, the court decision was in favour of the owners, explained an officer.
But the Legal Department has found that the ``concerned Government Pleader had not clarified the facts of possession'' in at least 234 cases. A scrutiny of other cases is still on. An internal communication of the Revenue Department says: ``Upon verification of facts...aswell as from parawise remarks prepared by the authorities for the Government lawyers, it is clear that in most cases, the possession of the land was with the Government on the judgment dates.''
Besides, ``in a few cases, the Government had even disposed of the land. Thus, third party interest was in existence in these cases'', which could cause a huge financial loss and a lot of inconvenience to the Government. According to a senior Government officer, the cases raise the suspicion of collusion between Government advocates and the petitioners. Senior advocate Haroobhai Mehta, who says such collusion ``wasn't unknown'', describes the episode as ``shocking''. He, however, adds that ``matters can be rectified''. Such problems arise because Government lawyers are selected on political considerations, he says.
But, Prashant Desai says the allegations against him had been ``cooked up'', and the Government had not given him any instructions. ``I'm not sure of the assistant Government pleaders, but at least Iacted according to the Government Resolution of March 30, 1999, repealing the Urban Land Ceiling Act,'' he said, adding, ``In only three or four matters, I found that the possession of land was with the Government.'' Vyas said, ``We went by the Government Resolution repealing ULCRA.'' Sompura said he followed Desai's instructions, ``since he is our leader''. Pandya could not be contacted. Desai said he had now asked the Government to specify the cases in which possession was with it, the date when the possession was taken, and the area of land. ``But I am sure they won't give me anything.''
Copyright © 1999 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
Tuesday, July 20, 1999
Govt pleaders land Gujarat in trouble
KUMAR SHAKTI SHEKHAR
AHMEDABAD, JULY 19: A number of recent Gujarat High Court judgments, totalling about 500, have sent the State Government into a tizzy. The judgments, all similar, have revoked orders of land acquisition passed under the Urban Land Ceiling Act in the last several years.
At stake is land worth hundreds of crores, though a precise figure is not available because the Revenue Department is still collecting details. Officials also fear that in many cases where the Government had transferred land to individuals and institutions, the judgments could lead to a messy situation.
While the Government is trying to control the damage by filing appeals, fingers are being pointed at Government pleader Prashant Desai, appointed during the Shankersinh Vaghela regime, and three other Government lawyers who, it is alleged, furnished wrong information before the court.Eminent lawyer Girish Patel apprehends the judgments could create major law and order problems, as the original owners will try to take possession of land.``Those having money and muscle power may try to evict innocent people. They might even try to create evidence of possession with retrospective effect,'' he remarked.
Most of the cases were disposed of by Justice K R Vyas between May 5 and May 12, 1999. Besides Desai, assistant pleaders Satish Pandya, Tushar Sompura and Apurva Vyas represented the Government. The owners had challenged the orders passed by the authorities under the Urban Land Ceiling and Regulation Act, 1976.
The owners claimed the land was still in their possession. The Government advocates, it is said, corroborated it. As possession is nine tenths of the law and ULCRA had been repealed in March, the court decision was in favour of the owners, explained an officer.
But the Legal Department has found that the ``concerned Government Pleader had not clarified the facts of possession'' in at least 234 cases. A scrutiny of other cases is still on. An internal communication of the Revenue Department says: ``Upon verification of facts...aswell as from parawise remarks prepared by the authorities for the Government lawyers, it is clear that in most cases, the possession of the land was with the Government on the judgment dates.''
Besides, ``in a few cases, the Government had even disposed of the land. Thus, third party interest was in existence in these cases'', which could cause a huge financial loss and a lot of inconvenience to the Government. According to a senior Government officer, the cases raise the suspicion of collusion between Government advocates and the petitioners. Senior advocate Haroobhai Mehta, who says such collusion ``wasn't unknown'', describes the episode as ``shocking''. He, however, adds that ``matters can be rectified''. Such problems arise because Government lawyers are selected on political considerations, he says.
But, Prashant Desai says the allegations against him had been ``cooked up'', and the Government had not given him any instructions. ``I'm not sure of the assistant Government pleaders, but at least Iacted according to the Government Resolution of March 30, 1999, repealing the Urban Land Ceiling Act,'' he said, adding, ``In only three or four matters, I found that the possession of land was with the Government.'' Vyas said, ``We went by the Government Resolution repealing ULCRA.'' Sompura said he followed Desai's instructions, ``since he is our leader''. Pandya could not be contacted. Desai said he had now asked the Government to specify the cases in which possession was with it, the date when the possession was taken, and the area of land. ``But I am sure they won't give me anything.''
Copyright © 1999 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
Mystery shrouds RPF man's death
INDIAN EXPRESS FRONT PAGE
Thursday, December 17, 1998
Mystery shrouds RPF man's death
Kumar Shakti Shekhar
AHMEDABAD, Dec 16: A railway Protection Force (RPF) constable of Jodhpur Division, coming by Swaraj Janta Express from Mumbai on December 9, is taken to the Government Railway Police (GRP) office at platform number 1 at 2:30 a.m. He is beaten up by the GRP officials there and after half-an-hour, he is run over by a train and killed.
In the morning, GRP records the death as an accidental one. But eye-witnesses have another story to tell.
According to them, four GRP men took Rajesh Kumar Yadav, wearing khakhi trousers and a vest, to their office with his luggage. They beat him up. Sometime later, Yadav ran away from custody and jumped the tracks to reach platforms 2 and 3. About four people in plainclothes chased him.
Yadav ran between the tracks between platform nos 3 and 4 and crossed a standing train. When the men chasing him were about to catch hold of him, Yadav fell on track no 9 of the yard and immediately after that a goods train coming on it ran over him.
The GRP men immediately turned back and went to their office. Yadav's body, in two parts, was left there till 6 a.m., by which time three more trains ran over him.
According to J.J. Mewada, police inspector, GRP, the matter was reported to his office at 6:05 a.m. on phone by assistant sub-inspector (ASI) Narvashsinh Jitabhai from the yard. It was said that a man's body was lying between platform 2 and 4, with the luggage beside his body.
The police station officer, Prabhatsinh, ASI, registers the case (No. 111/98) as accidental death under CrPC 174 and deputes B.R. Maachi, sub-inspector, to inquire into the death. An identity card was found on Yadav's person and the RPF office here was informed of the matter. The body was sent for post-mortem to Civil Hospital.
According to sources, one Meena, ASI, RPF, Jodhpur Division, was also travelling with Yadav, but both of them were in different coaches of the train. Not knowing about the incident, when Meena reached Jodhpur, he was told that Yadav had not returned. He rushed back to Ahmedabad where the two were supposed to change trains.
After coming here, Meena learnt about the incident and went to the Hospital and recognised the body. On reporting the matter to the Jodhpur office, a team of four RPF men were sent to Ahmedabad to receive the body. The body was taken by Delhi Mail on December 10 for Yadav's native place in Rewari.
When contacted, S.K. Mishra, assistant security commissioner, RPF, Ahmedabad, said he had reported the matter to M.S. Vyas, ASC, RPF, Jodhpur. He said the department would extend all help to RPF's Jodhpur Division, falling under Northern Railway, if it institutes an inquiry into the incident. Meanwhile, all efforts to contact Vyas was futile.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
Thursday, December 17, 1998
Mystery shrouds RPF man's death
Kumar Shakti Shekhar
AHMEDABAD, Dec 16: A railway Protection Force (RPF) constable of Jodhpur Division, coming by Swaraj Janta Express from Mumbai on December 9, is taken to the Government Railway Police (GRP) office at platform number 1 at 2:30 a.m. He is beaten up by the GRP officials there and after half-an-hour, he is run over by a train and killed.
In the morning, GRP records the death as an accidental one. But eye-witnesses have another story to tell.
According to them, four GRP men took Rajesh Kumar Yadav, wearing khakhi trousers and a vest, to their office with his luggage. They beat him up. Sometime later, Yadav ran away from custody and jumped the tracks to reach platforms 2 and 3. About four people in plainclothes chased him.
Yadav ran between the tracks between platform nos 3 and 4 and crossed a standing train. When the men chasing him were about to catch hold of him, Yadav fell on track no 9 of the yard and immediately after that a goods train coming on it ran over him.
The GRP men immediately turned back and went to their office. Yadav's body, in two parts, was left there till 6 a.m., by which time three more trains ran over him.
According to J.J. Mewada, police inspector, GRP, the matter was reported to his office at 6:05 a.m. on phone by assistant sub-inspector (ASI) Narvashsinh Jitabhai from the yard. It was said that a man's body was lying between platform 2 and 4, with the luggage beside his body.
The police station officer, Prabhatsinh, ASI, registers the case (No. 111/98) as accidental death under CrPC 174 and deputes B.R. Maachi, sub-inspector, to inquire into the death. An identity card was found on Yadav's person and the RPF office here was informed of the matter. The body was sent for post-mortem to Civil Hospital.
According to sources, one Meena, ASI, RPF, Jodhpur Division, was also travelling with Yadav, but both of them were in different coaches of the train. Not knowing about the incident, when Meena reached Jodhpur, he was told that Yadav had not returned. He rushed back to Ahmedabad where the two were supposed to change trains.
After coming here, Meena learnt about the incident and went to the Hospital and recognised the body. On reporting the matter to the Jodhpur office, a team of four RPF men were sent to Ahmedabad to receive the body. The body was taken by Delhi Mail on December 10 for Yadav's native place in Rewari.
When contacted, S.K. Mishra, assistant security commissioner, RPF, Ahmedabad, said he had reported the matter to M.S. Vyas, ASC, RPF, Jodhpur. He said the department would extend all help to RPF's Jodhpur Division, falling under Northern Railway, if it institutes an inquiry into the incident. Meanwhile, all efforts to contact Vyas was futile.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
RPF probe yet to be complete
INDIAN EXPRESS FRONT PAGE
Politics
Business
Expressions
General
World
Sports
Leisure
States
Friday, May 14, 1999
RPF probe yet to be complete
Kumar Shakti Shekhar
AHMEDABAD, May 13: Five months after the death of Railway Protection Force constable Rajesh Kumar Yadav, who was run over by a train at the local railway station while trying to escape Gujarat Railway Police (GRP) men, neither the preliminary inquiry nor the departmental inquiry ordered into the incident have been completed. And the two GRP officers suspended pending inquiry have already been reinstated.
Additional Director-General of Police (Railways) Gurdayal Singh attributes the delay to the preoccupation of the inquiry officer with ``more urgent matters''.
Singh said the inquiry officer was waiting for Yadav's family, which belongs to Rewari in Haryana, to come to Ahmedabad and make a statement. This, when the family had, during a visit in January, made it clear that their statement would serve no purpose as they had no first-hand knowledge of the incident. Besides, all the eye-witnesses were here, they had said.
However, the four eye-witnesses -- RPF sub-inspector M.I. Khan and constables Ram Singh Yadav, Nathu Lal, and Munishankar Mishra -- have been examined by the GRP and their statements recorded.
It was in the wee hours of December 9, 1998, that when 28-year-old Yadav was pulled out from the Jodhpur-bound Saurashtra Janata Express, taken to the GRP office on platform number 1, and badly beaten. Suddenly, Yadav, who is said to have been inebriated, ran out of the room, with GRP constables in chase. As he ran towards the railway yard between platforms 3 and 4, Yadav was run over by a train.
The GRP constables turned back, quietly returned to their office, leaving Yadav's body on the track. Three more trains passed over it before the body was removed around 6 a.m. The police not only registered it as a case of accidental death, but also sent the body to Civil Hospital for post mortem as ``unclaimed'', although Yadav's identity card was found on his person.
After Newsline took up the case, two GRP men -- sub-inspector B.R. Maachi and assistant sub-inspector Prabhatsinh Mangalsinh -- were suspended on December 20. But, for some unexplained reason, K.H. Das, former superintendent of police (Railways), Vadodara, ordered their reinstatement on March 10, the day before he was shifted as SP, Computer Centre, Gandhinagar.
Singh said while Das's discretion to reinstate the two officers could not be questioned, ``he should not have posted them again at the railway police station.'' The two have since been transferred, Maachi to Gandhidham and Mangalsinh to Bhavnagar, so that they do not tamper with evidence, Singh said, and promised that the inquiry would be completed by month-end, even if Yadav's family doesn't appear before the inquiry officer.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
Politics
Business
Expressions
General
World
Sports
Leisure
States
Friday, May 14, 1999
RPF probe yet to be complete
Kumar Shakti Shekhar
AHMEDABAD, May 13: Five months after the death of Railway Protection Force constable Rajesh Kumar Yadav, who was run over by a train at the local railway station while trying to escape Gujarat Railway Police (GRP) men, neither the preliminary inquiry nor the departmental inquiry ordered into the incident have been completed. And the two GRP officers suspended pending inquiry have already been reinstated.
Additional Director-General of Police (Railways) Gurdayal Singh attributes the delay to the preoccupation of the inquiry officer with ``more urgent matters''.
Singh said the inquiry officer was waiting for Yadav's family, which belongs to Rewari in Haryana, to come to Ahmedabad and make a statement. This, when the family had, during a visit in January, made it clear that their statement would serve no purpose as they had no first-hand knowledge of the incident. Besides, all the eye-witnesses were here, they had said.
However, the four eye-witnesses -- RPF sub-inspector M.I. Khan and constables Ram Singh Yadav, Nathu Lal, and Munishankar Mishra -- have been examined by the GRP and their statements recorded.
It was in the wee hours of December 9, 1998, that when 28-year-old Yadav was pulled out from the Jodhpur-bound Saurashtra Janata Express, taken to the GRP office on platform number 1, and badly beaten. Suddenly, Yadav, who is said to have been inebriated, ran out of the room, with GRP constables in chase. As he ran towards the railway yard between platforms 3 and 4, Yadav was run over by a train.
The GRP constables turned back, quietly returned to their office, leaving Yadav's body on the track. Three more trains passed over it before the body was removed around 6 a.m. The police not only registered it as a case of accidental death, but also sent the body to Civil Hospital for post mortem as ``unclaimed'', although Yadav's identity card was found on his person.
After Newsline took up the case, two GRP men -- sub-inspector B.R. Maachi and assistant sub-inspector Prabhatsinh Mangalsinh -- were suspended on December 20. But, for some unexplained reason, K.H. Das, former superintendent of police (Railways), Vadodara, ordered their reinstatement on March 10, the day before he was shifted as SP, Computer Centre, Gandhinagar.
Singh said while Das's discretion to reinstate the two officers could not be questioned, ``he should not have posted them again at the railway police station.'' The two have since been transferred, Maachi to Gandhidham and Mangalsinh to Bhavnagar, so that they do not tamper with evidence, Singh said, and promised that the inquiry would be completed by month-end, even if Yadav's family doesn't appear before the inquiry officer.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
Birds put up for sale at the Nal Sarovar sanctuary
Birds put up for sale at the Nal Sarovar sanctuary
Kumar Shakti Shekhar
NAL SAROVAR, May 19:
A pelican for Rs 200. A Greyleg Goose for Rs 150. A flamingo for Rs 50. A Common Pochard for Rs 40. Small Egrets for Rs 10. And a variety of other water-birds for even less.Welcome to the Nal Sarovar Bird Sanctuary!
Here, poachers trap and sell rare birds to villagers for meat. From October to May, the season during which the migratory birds stay here, some 25 birds are daily caught, sold and killed for meat. All this at a sanctuary which is protected by the forest department.
Except for pelicans, the other birds are eaten by the villagers. Pelican meat is roasted to extract the fat, which is believed to cure arthritis.
The poachers belong to villages such as Shahpur, Nani Kathechi, Ranagadh, Darji, and Durgi, which are around the sanctuary. Generally, they sell the birds to other villagers, but they also pass the birds on to some trusted pheriwalas, who sell them in nearby talukas at much higher prices.
This is how the poachers catch the birds, mostly by night. They erect poles fitted with nets in the lake. One pole in the middle is tied to a cord, the other end of which is with a poacher, who sits, some 500 metres away, on one of the 360 islets in the lake. Some men drive resting birds towards the nets. Once some birds enter the net, the man on the islet pulls the cord. The pole falls. The birds are in the net.
This goes on from midnight to early morning. The captive birds, their wings entwined, are first kept in a boat and then packed in large sacks and taken to the villages for sale.Poachers trap a few birds by day, too. This they do by placing nooses in the marshes. When a bird walks into a noose, the poacher pulls it tight and catches the bird, as it flutters its wings in frustration.
The Express Newsline team met two poachers carrying sacks stained with blood. They said there were four live flamingoes in the sacks. They agreed to part with the birds for Rs 40 each. They also revealed that they had caught 17 flamingoes and already sold 13 to villagers and pheriwalas. Ironically, this happened just a few yards away from the Flamingo Inspection Bungalow set up here by the Forest Department.
Flamingoes are listed under Schedule IV of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. Cruelty to these birds is punishable under section 51 of the Act which amounts to three years' imprisonment or a fine of Rs 25,000 or both.But poaching is rampant in the sanctuary. It has been going on for a long time. Forest department officials make cursory patrols around the lake from December to March, when bird population is at its highest and tourists throng the place. Once the tourist season is over, the officials disappear.
When contacted, G.A. Patel, chief conservator of forests, Gandhinagar, who is in charge of the sanctuary, said migratory birds like flamingoes aren't found at this time of the year. He seemed oblivious of the fact that at least 10,000 Lesser Flamingoes, 2,500 Greater Flamingoes, 5,000 Little Egrets, 1,500 Painted Storks, and 1,200 spoonbills, to name a few, still inhabit the sanctuary.
Patel also said he had never heard of poaching at the sanctuary, even though he had served as district forest officer of the area in the past. On being told about what the Express Newsline team saw, he said, ``I don't deny that a few stray incidents could be taking place once in a while in some remote corner. But we are vigilant too.''
Patel said there was no water in the lake and, therefore, no migratory bird was to be found. But when reminded that there was knee-deep water in the lake, most suited for the birds to inhabit and mate, he said he would inquire into the poaching. He said he wondered how poaching could take place when an assistant conservator of forests, two range forest officers and other foresters are camping at the site.
The fact, however, is that no forest department official has been staying in the forest department bungalow in the sanctuary for the past few months.Flamingoes migrate from Siberia during winter to Pakistan and India. In India they stay in Kutch and Nal Sarovar. They mate here and fly back home in April-May with their chicks. This could well stop if the poaching continues.
Copyright © 1999 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
Kumar Shakti Shekhar
NAL SAROVAR, May 19:
A pelican for Rs 200. A Greyleg Goose for Rs 150. A flamingo for Rs 50. A Common Pochard for Rs 40. Small Egrets for Rs 10. And a variety of other water-birds for even less.Welcome to the Nal Sarovar Bird Sanctuary!
Here, poachers trap and sell rare birds to villagers for meat. From October to May, the season during which the migratory birds stay here, some 25 birds are daily caught, sold and killed for meat. All this at a sanctuary which is protected by the forest department.
Except for pelicans, the other birds are eaten by the villagers. Pelican meat is roasted to extract the fat, which is believed to cure arthritis.
The poachers belong to villages such as Shahpur, Nani Kathechi, Ranagadh, Darji, and Durgi, which are around the sanctuary. Generally, they sell the birds to other villagers, but they also pass the birds on to some trusted pheriwalas, who sell them in nearby talukas at much higher prices.
This is how the poachers catch the birds, mostly by night. They erect poles fitted with nets in the lake. One pole in the middle is tied to a cord, the other end of which is with a poacher, who sits, some 500 metres away, on one of the 360 islets in the lake. Some men drive resting birds towards the nets. Once some birds enter the net, the man on the islet pulls the cord. The pole falls. The birds are in the net.
This goes on from midnight to early morning. The captive birds, their wings entwined, are first kept in a boat and then packed in large sacks and taken to the villages for sale.Poachers trap a few birds by day, too. This they do by placing nooses in the marshes. When a bird walks into a noose, the poacher pulls it tight and catches the bird, as it flutters its wings in frustration.
The Express Newsline team met two poachers carrying sacks stained with blood. They said there were four live flamingoes in the sacks. They agreed to part with the birds for Rs 40 each. They also revealed that they had caught 17 flamingoes and already sold 13 to villagers and pheriwalas. Ironically, this happened just a few yards away from the Flamingo Inspection Bungalow set up here by the Forest Department.
Flamingoes are listed under Schedule IV of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. Cruelty to these birds is punishable under section 51 of the Act which amounts to three years' imprisonment or a fine of Rs 25,000 or both.But poaching is rampant in the sanctuary. It has been going on for a long time. Forest department officials make cursory patrols around the lake from December to March, when bird population is at its highest and tourists throng the place. Once the tourist season is over, the officials disappear.
When contacted, G.A. Patel, chief conservator of forests, Gandhinagar, who is in charge of the sanctuary, said migratory birds like flamingoes aren't found at this time of the year. He seemed oblivious of the fact that at least 10,000 Lesser Flamingoes, 2,500 Greater Flamingoes, 5,000 Little Egrets, 1,500 Painted Storks, and 1,200 spoonbills, to name a few, still inhabit the sanctuary.
Patel also said he had never heard of poaching at the sanctuary, even though he had served as district forest officer of the area in the past. On being told about what the Express Newsline team saw, he said, ``I don't deny that a few stray incidents could be taking place once in a while in some remote corner. But we are vigilant too.''
Patel said there was no water in the lake and, therefore, no migratory bird was to be found. But when reminded that there was knee-deep water in the lake, most suited for the birds to inhabit and mate, he said he would inquire into the poaching. He said he wondered how poaching could take place when an assistant conservator of forests, two range forest officers and other foresters are camping at the site.
The fact, however, is that no forest department official has been staying in the forest department bungalow in the sanctuary for the past few months.Flamingoes migrate from Siberia during winter to Pakistan and India. In India they stay in Kutch and Nal Sarovar. They mate here and fly back home in April-May with their chicks. This could well stop if the poaching continues.
Copyright © 1999 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
A mahayagya to fulfil mega desires
http://www.indianexpress.com/res/web/pIe/ie/daily/19990317/ige17139.html
Friday, September 24, 1999
A mahayagya to fulfil mega desires
Kumar Shakti Shekhar
AHMEDABAD, Sept 23: Man, they say , is a bundle of desires. And what better way to fulfil these wants -- which are as diverse as the desire for a son, a good monsoon and even heaven after death -- than appeal to God. The Shree Lakshyachandi Mahayagya, being held in the city from October 10 to 21, promises to fulfil all these wishes and more, say its organisers, Sanyas Ashram.
The 12-day mahayagya will also kill the germs and bacteria in the atmosphere, purify the air and decrease pollution level, they say.
Swami Vishwadevanandaji Maharaj, the Nirvan Peethadhishwar Acharya Mahamandaleshwar (chief) of the Ashram which has branches in Calcutta, Varanasi, Uttarkashi, Hardwar, Mehsana and Bharuch, maintains that this will be the biggest yagya after the one held by Lord Krishna centuries ago.
And in view of the scale, the preparations too are considerable. Giving details, he says the yagya area is about 400 x 400 sq ft and will have 1,008 yagya kunds. Two thousand aahutis will be offered in each kund per day in the midst of chanting of 1 lakh Durgasaptashadi shlokas. The aahuti will be performed by 1,008 families from India and abroad under the guidance of two acharyas and one assistant at each kund, he said.
Swami Abhedanandji Maharaj, organiser, said 4,80,384 kg of ghee, 72,576 kg of sesame, 36,288 kg of rice and 18,144 kg of barley will be offered in the havan during the 12 days. He said a huge kitchen would be set up to offer food and prasad to all the visitors.
He asserts that 3,000 highly qualified acharyas will get the mahayagya accomplished and adds that about 12 lakh visitors from all walks of life are expected to attend the grand event. He says more than 40,000 posts and equal number of bamboos are being used to prepare the yagya site. Already, eight arches and sundry cutouts have been put up in the city.
Swami Vishwadevanandaji says Gujarat Governor Sundar Singh Bhandari will inaugurate the mahayagya on October 10 in the presence of big industrialists, political leaders, saints and artists. ``In fact, we have invited President K R Narayanan and several Union Ministers also. But we doubt whether they will be able to make it because of the ongoing elections,'' he says.
``A huge sum will be spent in the yagya,'' he says. The event has been possible because of donations from the disciples. The brochure of the mahayagya shows that donors include people from London, Bristol, Lowbrow (UK), Bangkok, Singapore, New York, Las Vegas, Buffalo, Free Mont, Birmingham (USA) and Canada, besides many from different cities in India.
The palatial Ashram in the city is situated on the posh Ashram Road. Netizens can contact them at krushna@wilnetonline.net.
Swamiji says the yagya is important because of the fact that it is meant for the human beings and nature. ``The ingredients offered in the kunds will give out a smoke which will kill the germs and bacteria in the atmosphere and make the human beings feel happy and satisfied,'' he says.
The Maharaj also says, ``The yagya is aimed at pleasing Goddess Shakti. She will bless people and fulfill all their desires like a mother who gives everything to her son when she is in a happy mood.'' It will provide peace, mental and physical strength and prosperity to the visitors, he adds.
He says this mahayagya is different from all other yagyas like yoni, trikone and vartul which are for specific purposes as this is a chatustra yagya which is all-encompassing and fulfills all kinds of desires.
Copyright © 1999 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
Top
-->
-->
Printer-friendly page
-->
EXPRESSindia.comElections '99News Business Sports EntertainmentThe Indian Express The Financial Express Latest News Screen Express Computers Matrimonials Careers Lifestyle Mythology AstrologyE-Cards Graffiti Columnists Ebate Jewellery CerfkidsCorporate Results Info-tech Power
Friday, September 24, 1999
A mahayagya to fulfil mega desires
Kumar Shakti Shekhar
AHMEDABAD, Sept 23: Man, they say , is a bundle of desires. And what better way to fulfil these wants -- which are as diverse as the desire for a son, a good monsoon and even heaven after death -- than appeal to God. The Shree Lakshyachandi Mahayagya, being held in the city from October 10 to 21, promises to fulfil all these wishes and more, say its organisers, Sanyas Ashram.
The 12-day mahayagya will also kill the germs and bacteria in the atmosphere, purify the air and decrease pollution level, they say.
Swami Vishwadevanandaji Maharaj, the Nirvan Peethadhishwar Acharya Mahamandaleshwar (chief) of the Ashram which has branches in Calcutta, Varanasi, Uttarkashi, Hardwar, Mehsana and Bharuch, maintains that this will be the biggest yagya after the one held by Lord Krishna centuries ago.
And in view of the scale, the preparations too are considerable. Giving details, he says the yagya area is about 400 x 400 sq ft and will have 1,008 yagya kunds. Two thousand aahutis will be offered in each kund per day in the midst of chanting of 1 lakh Durgasaptashadi shlokas. The aahuti will be performed by 1,008 families from India and abroad under the guidance of two acharyas and one assistant at each kund, he said.
Swami Abhedanandji Maharaj, organiser, said 4,80,384 kg of ghee, 72,576 kg of sesame, 36,288 kg of rice and 18,144 kg of barley will be offered in the havan during the 12 days. He said a huge kitchen would be set up to offer food and prasad to all the visitors.
He asserts that 3,000 highly qualified acharyas will get the mahayagya accomplished and adds that about 12 lakh visitors from all walks of life are expected to attend the grand event. He says more than 40,000 posts and equal number of bamboos are being used to prepare the yagya site. Already, eight arches and sundry cutouts have been put up in the city.
Swami Vishwadevanandaji says Gujarat Governor Sundar Singh Bhandari will inaugurate the mahayagya on October 10 in the presence of big industrialists, political leaders, saints and artists. ``In fact, we have invited President K R Narayanan and several Union Ministers also. But we doubt whether they will be able to make it because of the ongoing elections,'' he says.
``A huge sum will be spent in the yagya,'' he says. The event has been possible because of donations from the disciples. The brochure of the mahayagya shows that donors include people from London, Bristol, Lowbrow (UK), Bangkok, Singapore, New York, Las Vegas, Buffalo, Free Mont, Birmingham (USA) and Canada, besides many from different cities in India.
The palatial Ashram in the city is situated on the posh Ashram Road. Netizens can contact them at krushna@wilnetonline.net.
Swamiji says the yagya is important because of the fact that it is meant for the human beings and nature. ``The ingredients offered in the kunds will give out a smoke which will kill the germs and bacteria in the atmosphere and make the human beings feel happy and satisfied,'' he says.
The Maharaj also says, ``The yagya is aimed at pleasing Goddess Shakti. She will bless people and fulfill all their desires like a mother who gives everything to her son when she is in a happy mood.'' It will provide peace, mental and physical strength and prosperity to the visitors, he adds.
He says this mahayagya is different from all other yagyas like yoni, trikone and vartul which are for specific purposes as this is a chatustra yagya which is all-encompassing and fulfills all kinds of desires.
Copyright © 1999 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
Top
-->
-->
Printer-friendly page
-->
EXPRESSindia.comElections '99News Business Sports EntertainmentThe Indian Express The Financial Express Latest News Screen Express Computers Matrimonials Careers Lifestyle Mythology AstrologyE-Cards Graffiti Columnists Ebate Jewellery CerfkidsCorporate Results Info-tech Power
Bhopal gas tragedy: Free treatment reinstated
http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/story.aspx?id=NEWEN20080039929&ch=2/2/2008%2012:01:00%20AM
Bhopal gas tragedy: Free treatment reinstated
Rate the Story
canvote='Yes';
function PopWindowNoScroll(URL,height,width)
{
hWindow = window.open(URL,height+width,"width="+width+",height="+height+",resize=no,resizable=no,scrollbars=no,menubar=no,status=no");
hWindow.focus();
}
function rateposition(show_imgno)
{
if (canvote=='Yes')
{
for (ui=1;ui"+Rems+""
canvote="No";
}
function rateoff(show_imgno)
{
if (canvote=='Yes')
{
for (ui=1;uiwait..."
RateFrameObj=document.getElementById("Rate_Frame");
dt= new Date();
RateLink="processrating.aspx?id=NEWEN20080039929&ratedas="+show_imgno+"&ch="+dt;
RateFrameObj.src=RateLink;
canvote="No";
}
}
NDTV Active
To read the biggest stories of the day on your mobile, type mobile.ndtv.com on your phone browser.
Also Read
Bhopal tragedy: Students protest in NY
Forums
Bhopal Gas Tragedy
User Name
Password
New User ? Sign In
Kumar Shakti Shekhar
Thursday, January 31, 2008 (Bhopal)
It was a wake up call for the Madhya Pradesh government and they reacted to an NDTV report faster than they did to a Supreme Court order. Children of victims of the Bhopal gas tragedy have had it tough, and while initially there was free medical treatment for them, it stopped later. After NDTV aired a fresh report on the issue, the administration got cracking and reinstated the programme.There is some good news for Rabia, still suffering from the lethal gas that crippled Bhopal over twenty years ago. After many months, she won't have to pay for her son's treatment.''They did not charge for making the treatment card. Earlier they used to charge. This free treatment should continue forever,'' said Rabia, gas victim.The government had stopped free treatment to the gas victims in July last year. The matter went to the Supreme Court. It said free treatment should continue but the government didn't budge.''We were forced to move the Supreme Court due to the ridiculous order of the state government. Despite the Supreme Court order, the government did not take any action. Finally, it flung into action when NDTV took the initiative in the matter. This proves that the Madhya Pradesh government takes even serious issues so lightly,'' said Abdul Jabbar, social worker. But what about victims like Vinita? An NGO spent Rs 1.25 lakh for a heart surgery on her son. There are many poor families who have spent their own money. But the question is, will they get a refund now?''It is upon the government to decide whether to refund the money. We only obey orders. Anyway, the earlier order was proper in that context,'' said Dr S K Parganiha, Superintendent, Shakir Ali Khan Gas Relief Hospital.Unfortunately, there is no one who can compensate suitably for the mental agony that the gas leak victims and their children have undergone in the last six months.
Bhopal gas tragedy: Free treatment reinstated
Rate the Story
canvote='Yes';
function PopWindowNoScroll(URL,height,width)
{
hWindow = window.open(URL,height+width,"width="+width+",height="+height+",resize=no,resizable=no,scrollbars=no,menubar=no,status=no");
hWindow.focus();
}
function rateposition(show_imgno)
{
if (canvote=='Yes')
{
for (ui=1;ui"+Rems+""
canvote="No";
}
function rateoff(show_imgno)
{
if (canvote=='Yes')
{
for (ui=1;uiwait..."
RateFrameObj=document.getElementById("Rate_Frame");
dt= new Date();
RateLink="processrating.aspx?id=NEWEN20080039929&ratedas="+show_imgno+"&ch="+dt;
RateFrameObj.src=RateLink;
canvote="No";
}
}
NDTV Active
To read the biggest stories of the day on your mobile, type mobile.ndtv.com on your phone browser.
Also Read
Bhopal tragedy: Students protest in NY
Forums
Bhopal Gas Tragedy
User Name
Password
New User ? Sign In
Kumar Shakti Shekhar
Thursday, January 31, 2008 (Bhopal)
It was a wake up call for the Madhya Pradesh government and they reacted to an NDTV report faster than they did to a Supreme Court order. Children of victims of the Bhopal gas tragedy have had it tough, and while initially there was free medical treatment for them, it stopped later. After NDTV aired a fresh report on the issue, the administration got cracking and reinstated the programme.There is some good news for Rabia, still suffering from the lethal gas that crippled Bhopal over twenty years ago. After many months, she won't have to pay for her son's treatment.''They did not charge for making the treatment card. Earlier they used to charge. This free treatment should continue forever,'' said Rabia, gas victim.The government had stopped free treatment to the gas victims in July last year. The matter went to the Supreme Court. It said free treatment should continue but the government didn't budge.''We were forced to move the Supreme Court due to the ridiculous order of the state government. Despite the Supreme Court order, the government did not take any action. Finally, it flung into action when NDTV took the initiative in the matter. This proves that the Madhya Pradesh government takes even serious issues so lightly,'' said Abdul Jabbar, social worker. But what about victims like Vinita? An NGO spent Rs 1.25 lakh for a heart surgery on her son. There are many poor families who have spent their own money. But the question is, will they get a refund now?''It is upon the government to decide whether to refund the money. We only obey orders. Anyway, the earlier order was proper in that context,'' said Dr S K Parganiha, Superintendent, Shakir Ali Khan Gas Relief Hospital.Unfortunately, there is no one who can compensate suitably for the mental agony that the gas leak victims and their children have undergone in the last six months.
Saturday, April 26, 2008
A Letter to Mr. Amitabh Bachchan
Respected Sir,
I am not addressing you as ‘Mr. Bachchan’ or even ‘Dear Sir’ or in any in other manner but specifically ‘Respected Sir’ because we are alumni and you were my senior in college. I will comment on your post later but first please permit me to say that I went to Kirori Mal College to graduate in English (Hons) between 1986 and 1989. I really missed your visit to the College in 1986 just by a few days before I got admitted there. But I saw your comments in the Visitor’s Register kept in the college common room above the canteen. I stayed in Room No. 66 of the college hostel, the corner room on the first floor, in which you probably also stayed. Daulat Ram, or Dolly as everyone addressed that hostel mess staffer, kept narrating your stories which have become myths in the hostel. All the freshers were fed with stories — like how you would scale the hostel boundary wall to see night show of films, how shy you were, how rarely you mixed with the inmates, etc. It was Dolly who had informed us that you had stayed in Room No. 66. And I felt so proud. I bragged about it to my parents and brothers, sister and friends. Then we were told that you asked for Dolly and hugged him when you visited the hostel in the summer of 1986. (Unfortunately, Dolly passed away a few years back.) Anyways, I don’t know how true the stories related to you are, but I certainly saw a photograph in a hostel album in which you are standing in the back row of the lawn tennis team members. Sir, the photo, if I remember correctly, was of 1958-1959. At the moment, I am at Bhopal, your Sasural. I have met your mother-in-law at Ansals a couple of times and interviewed her. Like when Abhishek had broken the news of his marriage in a flight from London. Both Abhishek and his Nani address each other as ‘Darling’. Interestingly, your mother-in-law’s minder’s name is ‘Vijay’, a name which you had kept in several of your superhit films. And my pet naрдоी is Bunty, a name associated with Abhishek in one of his superhit films.
Sir, these were some of the ways in which I feel associated with you, but please allow me now to comment on what you said: “But dignity is getting construed as relevant acceptance of wrong. How to correct that. I invite comment and debate.”
Saying something would be to showing ‘Deepak’ to ‘Suraj’. But since you wished, I would say that in such matters, one should go by his or her conscience and never feel guilty conscious about it.
More later.
(P.S. A query which may be doing rounds in everyone’s mind — Do you really write these posts yourself? And do you wake till that late to post your blog? Like, one post was written past 2 am and this one was written at midnight. Do you wake till this late? We thought you lead a very disciplined life — early to bed and early to rise!)
Sir, Good Night and Shubh Ratri.
I am not addressing you as ‘Mr. Bachchan’ or even ‘Dear Sir’ or in any in other manner but specifically ‘Respected Sir’ because we are alumni and you were my senior in college. I will comment on your post later but first please permit me to say that I went to Kirori Mal College to graduate in English (Hons) between 1986 and 1989. I really missed your visit to the College in 1986 just by a few days before I got admitted there. But I saw your comments in the Visitor’s Register kept in the college common room above the canteen. I stayed in Room No. 66 of the college hostel, the corner room on the first floor, in which you probably also stayed. Daulat Ram, or Dolly as everyone addressed that hostel mess staffer, kept narrating your stories which have become myths in the hostel. All the freshers were fed with stories — like how you would scale the hostel boundary wall to see night show of films, how shy you were, how rarely you mixed with the inmates, etc. It was Dolly who had informed us that you had stayed in Room No. 66. And I felt so proud. I bragged about it to my parents and brothers, sister and friends. Then we were told that you asked for Dolly and hugged him when you visited the hostel in the summer of 1986. (Unfortunately, Dolly passed away a few years back.) Anyways, I don’t know how true the stories related to you are, but I certainly saw a photograph in a hostel album in which you are standing in the back row of the lawn tennis team members. Sir, the photo, if I remember correctly, was of 1958-1959. At the moment, I am at Bhopal, your Sasural. I have met your mother-in-law at Ansals a couple of times and interviewed her. Like when Abhishek had broken the news of his marriage in a flight from London. Both Abhishek and his Nani address each other as ‘Darling’. Interestingly, your mother-in-law’s minder’s name is ‘Vijay’, a name which you had kept in several of your superhit films. And my pet naрдоी is Bunty, a name associated with Abhishek in one of his superhit films.
Sir, these were some of the ways in which I feel associated with you, but please allow me now to comment on what you said: “But dignity is getting construed as relevant acceptance of wrong. How to correct that. I invite comment and debate.”
Saying something would be to showing ‘Deepak’ to ‘Suraj’. But since you wished, I would say that in such matters, one should go by his or her conscience and never feel guilty conscious about it.
More later.
(P.S. A query which may be doing rounds in everyone’s mind — Do you really write these posts yourself? And do you wake till that late to post your blog? Like, one post was written past 2 am and this one was written at midnight. Do you wake till this late? We thought you lead a very disciplined life — early to bed and early to rise!)
Sir, Good Night and Shubh Ratri.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
