June 11, 1998 - Evening Transmission
The Finance Minister says sanctions by some countries following the nuclear tests will not affect overall economic development but agreed that these may have a marginal impact. Replying to the budget debate in the Rajya Sabha today, Mr. Yeshwant Sinha said, all ongoing projects will have no impact of sanctions this year. He said , only the United States has imposed legal sanctions as it had no other option under its law but it is yet to define the scope of sanctions. Washington is still working on these sanctions and many things are still "vague". Mr. Sinha said, the World Bank has also not rejected any Indian Project but has only deferred their consideration for assistance.
About the falling price of the rupee, the Minister said, fresh developments in the neighbourhood and Asia can not be ignored. He said, if India is to integrate its economy with other countries, it will have to pay the price for globalisation. While admitting that the wholesale price index has gone up, the Finance Minister categorically told the House that inflation will be kept under check through constant monitoring. He said, adverse weather conditions have been mainly responsible for the price rise of primary articles on the food front. But, all these are only seasonal factors and willnot have any long term impact on the price line.
Refuting the charge that the budget is anti-farmer, the Minister said that for the first time, Kisan Credit Cards will be introduced for easy credit from the Banks to the farmers. Stressing that all centrally sponsored schemes will be steamlined for better implementation, Mr. Sinha said a Task Force will be set up to define the development and non-development budget.
The value of the rupee is set to slide further in the wake of the Finance Minister's statement in the Rajya Sabha today that the effect of major currency tumbles will effect the rupee also. Over the last week, the South East Asian Markets have been falling regularly. Senior Finance Ministry officials concede that the rupee is in for some re-adjustment, but they refused to speculate how far the rupee will dip against the dollar.
New Delhi has now adopted a firm stand to deal with pressure from developed countries after a series of diplomatic and political initiative in the post-Pokharan phase. The Prime Minister today asserted that the Big powers should not presume that India can be cowed down through sanctions. Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee was intervening in the Rajya Sabha during question hour. Replying to a volley of questions, Mr. Vajpayee said, keeping the nuclear option open for ever would not have been in the security interest of the nation in case of any emergency.
Earlier, his junior colleage in the External Affairs Ministry, Ms. Vasundhara Raje said, India has already offered to have direct dialogue with Pakistan on all issues. She said, efforts have also been made to clear the misunderstanding with China.
The Prime Minister, Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee has said that the definition of nuclear weapon states should be updated in view of India's successfully conducting nuclear tests. In an interview to a Japanese Newspaper Takayaki Kasuga he described the sanctions imposed against India by some countries as totally uncalled for and unjustified. Justifying the nuclear tests he said, India had not violated any international obligations. He added that with the increasing integration of India into the World economy, the country represents tremendous opportunities which may be lost to those resorting to sanctions.
Britain with the backing of the United States has expanded the representation at tomorrow's meeting of the Group of eight industrialised countries by inviting some developing countries. Diplomatic sources said in London that Foreign Ministers from several developing countries like South Africa, China, Brazil and Sweden are likely to attend the meeting in London. The G-8 meeting would be the third international discussion on India and Pakistan nuclear tests in the last two weeks. With the P-5 meeting in Geneva paving the way for the UN Security Council meeting.
The US Secretary of States Madeleine Albright says that nuclear non-proliferation Treaty will not be amended to include India and Pakistan as nuclear States. She, however, welcomed New Delhi attitude on the fissile material cut off Treaty.
Analysts say, the United State Administration now appears willing to respond to the Indian government's non-proliferation proposals and prospects for a dialogue between the two countries have brightened. An indication to this effect was given by the Secretary of State Madeleine Albright when she addressed a meeting in Washington yesterday.
A high level central team is visiting to Kandla to assess the damaged created by the cyclonic storm. The Union Home Minister, Mr. L.K. Advani announced this at Kandla airport a shortwhile ago. AIR Bhuj correspondent reports that Mr. Advani visited the devastating site and gave careful hearing to the agitating people who lost their relatives in the tragedy.
The Information and Broadcasting Ministry's move to allow uplinking to private domestic TV channels has been held back by the Union Cabinet. AIR Correspondent understands, this follows certain objections raised by the Law Ministry. Legal experts in the Law Ministry have expressed the view that the proposal to allow uplinking by private companies in India might violate the 1993 judgement of the Supreme Court. The Judgement had said that private broadcasting in the country can not be allowed without setting up a public body to regulate the sector. The I&B Ministry sources say, it is only attempting to facilitate the process of allowing uplinking to Indian Broadcasters from their own soil to allow a level playing field. They said, the move became necessary as the Broadcasting Bill has not so far been approved by Parliament.
A comprehensive housing policy will be announced by the end of this month. This was stated by the Minister for Urban Affairs and Employment, Mr. Ram Jethmalani during Question Hour today. He said that houses of 220 square feet area will be built for the urban poor which may not be an attraction the rich. The Minister said that the private sector will be involved in a big way in the housing sector as the government does not have sufficient resources.
The Government intends to buy 22 small aircrafts to connect the North-East and other interior areas of the country. The Minister for Civil Aviation, Mr. Anant Kumar told the Lok Sabha during Question hour today that he will soon bring a proposal in the House for this purpose.
The Government has approved 36 proposals for grant of large areas for aerial prospecting under the provisions of the Mines and Minerals Act ,1957. These proposals covering an area of about 52 thousand square kilometres have been received from the state governments of Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Gujarat and Bihar. Stating this during question hour in the Lok Sabha today, the Minister of Steel and Mines, Mr. Naveen Patnaik said, these prospecting licences have been given to Indian subsidiaries or joint ventures of foreign mining companies and to Indian companies having technical collaboration with foreign companies.
* * * * * * * * * *
June 11, 1998 - Afternoon Transmission
Rescue and relief work continue on a war footing in the cyclone affected areas of Gujarat and Rajasthan as the death toll has gone upto 474 . AIR Bhuj correspondent Sailesh Vyas, reports that 400 people died in Kandla area alone while 65 deaths have been reported from Saurashtra. In Rajasthan, nine persons were reported killed in Barmar, Jalore and Bhilwada. Over a thousand people are injured. The killer cyclone moved towards Churu district in Rajasthan late last night. The death toll could go up as many people are missing in the coastal areas of Gujarat.This is the worst storm to hit the Western coast in the last 25 years.
The total damage caused to property in Gujarat alone is estimated to be 12 hundred crore rupees. Four relief camps have started functioning in Kutch district. Victims are being provided with rice and wheat. Five thousand food packets breads, biscuits and other essential items have been sent to Jamnagar.
The Government has announced financial assistance of fifty thousand rupees from the Prime Minister's Relief Fund to the next of kin of each of those killed in the cyclone. The Gujarat Chief Minister Mr. Keshu Bhai Patel and Assembly Speaker Dhiru Bhai Shah were among those who visited the affected areas.
The Home Minister, Mr. L.K.Advani will visit the cyclone affected areas in Gujarat today.
The Prime Minister, Mr.Atal Behari Vajpayee has appealed to the people to contribute generously towards mitigating the sufferings of the victims of the cyclone affected areas. Mr. Vajpayee also urged the people of Indian origin living abroad to contribute.
The President Mr.K.R.Narayanan has expressed distress
over the widespread loss of human lives and property.
The Comptroller and Auditor General of India has severely
criticised the political leaders and higher officials of the Defence Ministry
and the Armed forces for misusing service aircraft. In his report for 1996-97
submitted to Parliament the CAG said, the Defence Minister, other Ministers,
Chiefs of Staff and others used service aircraft for over 6500 hours, which
is not justified.
The CAG has also indicted the Navy for the tardy
pace of construction of frigates. The report castigates the Army for accepting
foreign technology for updating radars, which was costlier than indigenous
ones, spending 208 crore rupees more.
New Delhi hopes for a positive response from the
G-8 Foreign Ministers conference in London tomorrow on its initiatives
in the field of nuclear disarmament and dialogue with Pakistan. The gestures
made by India recently include the moratorium declared on nuclear test
and readiness to engage in negotiations on a fissile material cut off treaty
in the conference on disarmament in Geneva. An External Affairs Ministry
release said it will not accept any third party involvement of any nature
whatsoever in its dialogue with Pakistan on Kashmir and other issues.
The United States has reiterated that all issues including Kashmir between India and Pakistan should be resolved bilaterally. The American Assistant Secretary of State for South Asia, Mr. Karl Inderfurth told South Asia journalists that Washington is absolutely convinced that it is time for New Delhi and Islamabad to resume talks. The statement has come ahead of tomorrow's G-8 meeting in London.
It has been officially announced in Dhaka that the Bangladesh Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina is coming on a day's visit to New Delhi on Monday. Sheikh Hasina is likely to discuss with Indian leaders the situation arising out of the recent nuclear tests by New Delhi. She is also slated to visit Islamabad on the 24th of this month.
Parliament has passed the payment of Gratuity Amendment Bill which proposes to enhance the gratuity ceiling limit of one lakh rupees to two lakh fifty thousand rupees.The Lok Sabha adopted the Bill yesterday.The Rajya Sabha had approved the legislation last week. It also cleared the bill to requisite the services of Universities and other institutions employees for election duties. The Representation of the People Amendment Bill 1998 was approved by the Lok Sabha yesterday while the Rajya Sabha has already passed it.
Wheat procurement for the Central pool has touched 12.21 million tonnes during the current Rabi marketing season compared to last year's 8.76 million tonnes during the same period.
Punjab contributed the maximum with 6.12 million tonnes followed by Haryana with 3.12 million tonnes.
The term of the Leberhan Commission, inquiring into the demolition of the disputed structure in Ayodhya has been extended. The term of the Commission is to expire on the 30th of this month. This was announced by Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee in the Rajya Sabha. Making a statement on the preparations for the construction of a Ram temple in Ayodhya, Mr. Vajpayee asserted that his Government will go by the court verdict and no pressure will be allowed to come in its way. He revealed that the disputed site in Ayodhya is under the protection of the Central Government, and there is strict vigil round the clock. Mr. Vajpayee assured the House that no one will be allowed to tamper with the status of the site.
The BJP has alleged that the Congress party is trying to unsuccessfully gain political mileage from the Ayodhya issue. The party spokesman, Mr. Venkaiah Naidu said in New Delhi today that there is no dispute on Ayodhya now, as the Government has made it clear that it will go by the courts' direction.
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