INDIA ON Tuesday 

BJP ignores Vajpayee 
remarks on Modi 

What is India News Service, Tuesday, June 15, 2004, 1640 hrs

The BJP has ignored former prime minister Vajpayee's remarks against Narendra Modi, and ruled out the possibility of easing him out of the Gujarat chief minister's chair.

Vajpayee had hinted yesterday that the BJP's national executive meeting in Mumbai on June 23 and 24 might discuss Modi's removal for his failure to contain anti-Muslim riots after the Godhra burning of a railway coach carrying Hindu activists.

Defence minister Pranab Mukherjee said India would consider sending troops to Iraq only if the United Nations security council adopted a resolution to that effect. He attributed the Western presence in Iraq to "unilateral action taken by the USA and UK", and indicated that the Congress-led government would follow the parliament resolution adopted during the NDA administration. The resolution declared that India would go only by UN directives.

On the education front, the University Grants Commission announced an interim fee structure for medical courses. It has recommended an annual Rs 1.3 lakh for the MBBS course, and Rs 1 lakh for BDS. Two private colleges in Maharashtra have moved a bench of the Mumbai high court, saying they cannot afford to run courses on the government-recommended fee structure.

The Supreme Court has ruled that each state appoint a retired high court judge to fix medical college fees. In Karnataka, the government and the private colleges are locked in a battle on sharing seats. The government wants a 75:25 ratio, while the private managements are pushing for 50:50.

Maoist violence in Nepal continued Monday as a powerful bomb exploded near the house of a top police official. The rebels also kidnapped nearly 200 students from eight schools in eastern Nepal. They have banned screening of Hindi movies in central Nepal, and said vehicles with Indian number plates would not be allowed in several districts from June 15 to 21. The rebels are angry with the Indian security forces for arresting some of their most prominent leaders.

Police in Pakistan smashed an Al Qaeda ring and arrested 13 militants owing allegiance to Khalid Shekh Mohammed. They said the militants were part of a network responsible for recent violence in Karachi, and also the bid on the life of a top army general. Experts see the assassination attempt as a warning shot for Musharaff, telling him that not everyone in the country is marching in step with him.


Overall:

BJP stood by Modi: The party ignored Vajpayee's statement that the Godhra riots had cost it dear.

Pranab endorsed NDA line: He said India would send troops to Iraq only if the UN passed a resolution recommending such a move.

Nepal rebels targeted India: They have called for a week-long ban on India films.

Pakistan raided network: Police said they had blown up an Al Qaeda ring and arrested men responsible for the recent Karachi violence.