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From: jalote@uiucdcsb.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.nlang.india
Subject: Re: News bullitin
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Date: Thu, 14-Feb-85 10:25:00 EST
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Posted: Thu Feb 14 10:25:00 1985
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Nf-From: uiucdcsb!jalote    Feb 14 09:25:00 1985


Subject: news bulletin

I. An Indian businessman Coomar Narayan reportedly confessed on Feb. 4
that he had been passing confidential information to French, Polish and
East German diplomats for the last 25 years and was being handsomely
rewarded for that.  The 15-page confession recorded in a closed session
in Delhi is the first admission in the spy ring scandal that was
exposed few weeks ago in India.

Over 15 people, including two deputy secreatries in the PM office and
in Defense ministries, clerks and other officials in President's office
and other departments, and three businessmen were reportedly arrested
after the ring was busted. Over 1500 people are reportedly being
questioned.

Deputy military attache in the French embassy left India because of
alleged involvelement. Last week France recalled its ambassador from
India as Indian sources claim that the French government has held him
morally responsible for the involvement of the deputy military
attache.

Following Narayan's confession, Indian government asked a East German
and a Polish diplomat to leave India. Two top government officials, the
Secretary for the Defense Production, MC Sarin and theh Additional
Financial Secretary AS Baijal were also asked to go on leave.

II. Assembly elections in 10 states and the union territory of
Pondicherry will be held on March 5. States going to the polls are
Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Gujarat, Karnatka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra,
Orissa, Rajsthan, Sikkim and Uttar Pradesh and Pondicherry Election
will be held for two days in Bihar, Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh. This
was announced by Chief Election Commissioner RK Trivedi. The ballots
will be counted on March 5 and all results will be announced by the
next day.

Election will not be held in Punjab even though the term of the
assembly expires in June. The same reason was given as the one given
for not holding the Lok Sabha elections namely that the situation there
was not yet normal enough to hold elections.

In a related development, the Himachal Pradesh Governor Hokishe Sema
dissolved the state assembly on January 23 on the recommendation of
Congress(I) Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh. The elections will be held
there also on March 5 along with other states.

III. An anti-defection bill was passed in both the hosues of the
parliament with rare unanimity.  According to the bill, a member of
Parliament or a state assembly will lose membership in the legislature
if the member either gives up membership in the party on whose ticket
the member was elected and joins another party, or is expelled from the
party under its constitution rules and regulation. Abstention from the
house or voting against party's directive will also subject him to
disqualification if the member does not have prior permission or fails
to obtain subsequent approval from his party within 15 days of such act
of abstention or voting. Splits or mergers are permissible under the
bill provided these are approved by one-third and two-thirds of the
members respectively of the concerned legislative parties.

Majority of the clauses in the bill were apparently arrived at
consultation with the opposition parties.

In the full bill, however, the Congress(I) government added additional
clauses which seek to extend disqualification to members following what
happens outside the parliament and the state legislature. These clauses
have been objected to by the opposition.  Janata leader Madhu Dandavate
accused Rajiv Gandhi's government of having violated the consensus
reached at the talks.

Members of the opposition as well as Congress(I) argued that this
clause could be misused by domineering party bosses into blackmailing a
dissenting member into submission.

IV. Another damage suit on behalf of about 1400 victims of the lethal
methyl isocyanate leak from Bhopal Union Carbide plant was filed in
Federal District court in New Jersey by a Newark based lawfirm.
According to the lawyer representing the victims, the plaintiffs had
asked that the suit be classified as a class action but he doubted that
the request will be granted because of the small number of plaintiffs.

In a related development, the Washington Post reported that a federal
court ruled against Union Carbide's contention that liability cases
arising out of the disaster should be tried in India and not in the
U.S.  Eighteen of the more than thirty cases have been consoildated, to
be heard at the Federal Court at New York.

V. According to Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister NT Ramarao, every
regional party heading a state must get representation in the central
government for better economic administration.  NTR added, "Our
constitution speaks about a federal union of states. There must be a
federal government at the Centre. One party rule does not benefit
anyone. The non-Congress governments in the states must be represented
at the Center."

In reference to Andhra, Ramarao said, "Suppose we have a majority in
the next assembly election.  How can we fulfill social welfare schemes
if we do not have our say at the centre which controls the purse?
Today, the politics is that of food and shelter. The 50% people living
below the poverty line have to be elevated."

Commenting on the constitution, NTR said, "more subjects should be
transfered to the states. The center has too many powers. After the
assembly elections, I shall convene a meeting of political parties,
intellectuals and others to discuss this matter."

In reference to his Bharat Desam party, Ramarao said, "I want regional
parties like the Telugu Desam in every state. They should come together
on the basis of a minimum time-bound program.  They should electe a
leader who will be the prime minister. In their own area, a particular
Desam will be supreme to administer the subjects delegated to the
states. This will make our country federal in structure."

The Chief Minister also added that after assembly elections, he would
make a tour of the country and explain the idea of Bharat Desam to
emphasize the idea of unity would be well served in keeping diversity."

VI. Dr. Laxmi Berwa of Volunteers in Service to India's Oppressed and
Neglected (VISION) called the apartheid policy of the government of
South Africa as "repugnant" and  "primitive", and had "no role in
civilized society." Berwa added, "My people, who are called as
"Harijans," have suffered inhuman and brutal oppression for over 2000
years at the hand of high caste Hindus. I, as one of them, can feel the
plight of the blacks in South Africa. "

Calling upon Indians to speak up against apartheid, Berwa said, "Recent
round of brutal oppression by the white minority government of South
Africa is unconscionable. All human beings irrespective of their
religion, color, race, caste, must speak against a system which
suppresses its own countrymen because they are black.  In America,
Asian Indians are approximately half a million strong, we have several
organizations and institutions. Time has come to take a stand and join
hands with black organizations in America and other organizations who
are supporting the rights of blacks in Africa..."

Sources: India Abroad, India Now and the New York Times.