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Manmohan plans reforms
in police administration

What is India News Service, Friday, 5 November 2004, 2000 hrs IST

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh called upon the police service to resist \93politicisation\94 and \93criminalisation\94 and announced the Centre would set up a high-level committee to come up with credible, implementable suggestions for improving police administration.

\93We must pay attention to the question of morale of our police and security forces. We must pay attention to their honesty and discipline. We must take a hard look at the sources of their corruption and causes for their politicisation,\94 Dr Manmohan Singh said, addressing the annual conference of DGPs/IGPs and Heads of CPOs at Vigyan Bhavan here.

Drawing attention to the report of former Union Home Secretary N.N. Vohra on the so-called \93nexus\94 between politicians, criminals and the police, the Prime Minister said \93this poses an insidious threat to our society and economy. It is in your hands, as leaders of the police service, to resist such politicisation and criminalisation and restore to our police force the prestige and elan they once enjoyed.\94

\93I urge our political parties also to focus on this issue,\94 he said.

Naga problem close to solution, says Padmanabhiah: The decades old Nagaland problem is close to a solution as it may get resolved in two years, the Centre\92s interlocutor on the North-East, K Padmanabhaiah, said here.

'It's trilateral talk or no talk': For over a month, the Centre has been desperately trying for a breakthrough with the Hurriyat factions to resume the deadlocked dialogue process.

VHP leaders boycott RSS national meet: The RSS national executive meeting in Haridwar, which was expected to send a strong message of Hindu solidarity, began on a bitter note with the VHP leaders boycotting the two-day session over differences with the BJP on the Hindutva issue.

Mumbai ex-police chief gets bail in Telgi case: The Supreme Court today granted interim bail to former Mumbai Police Commissioner Ranjitsing Brahmajeetsing Sharma 22 months after his arrest under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crimes Act for his alleged involvement in the Rs 33,000 crore Telgi fake stamp paper scam by imposing stringent conditions on his movements.

No legislation on reservation, says Meira: The Centre has no proposal to bring legislation for reservation of jobs in the private sector but plans to involve industry in its efforts to boost employment. Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Meira Kumar today told the Editors Conference that there would be no legislation for reservation of jobs.

Bakery case: accused says activist threatened him: A day after the prime eyewitness in the Best Bakery case, Zahira Sheikh, levelled charges against journalist and activist Teesta Setalvad, an accused in the case, Dinesh Rajbhar, said that Ms. Setalvad had threatened him.

Muslim body to launch awareness drive against talaq: The All-India Muslim Personal Law Board will launch an awareness campaign against the \91triple talaq\92 issue and soon bring a model Nikahnama to curb the practice. 
 

States

Punjab will have 5 more reserve Assembly seats: Punjab will have five more reserve Assembly constituencies and one more reserve Lok Sabha constituency. The existing number of reserve Assembly segments in Punjab at present is 28.

Fall in female infanticide, thanks to rise in awareness: Intensive counselling, awareness campaigns and strict enforcement measures by the district administration against female infanticide have drastically brought down the number of abandoned babies at the cradle baby centre from 207 in 2003 to 133 in 2004.

Illegal colonisers, beware of eye in sky: An eye in the sky may well turn out to be a new nightmare for illegal colonisers in Punjab. Two satellites are set to give pictures on demand to the Punjab Urban Planning and Development Authority to allow it to pinpoint illegal constructions at the click of a button.

Volte-face by CPM, minister given clean chit: Within 24 hours of the party\92s decision to institute an inquiry into the charges made against Sports Minister Subhas Chakraborty for his links with Hatkata Dilip, an accused in 12 murder cases, the leadership suddenly did a volte-face with its secretary, Mr Anil Biswas, giving a clean chit to the minister.

Shinde sworn in AP Governor: Dalit leader and former Chief Minister of Maharashtra Sushil Kumar Sambhajirao Shinde was today sworn in as the 19th Governor of Andhra Pradesh.

TRS revives Telangana demand: With Maharashtra elections behind them, the relationship between the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) and Congress is set be tested in the coming days. The TRS has begun to mount pressure on its key issue of statehood for the Telangana region.



Neighbours

'Help restore democracy in Pakistan': Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz have congratulated Bush and said bilateral relations would further strengthen during his second tenure.

Pak Govt holds secret talks with Benazir: The Pakistan Government is holding secret talks with PPP chairperson Benazir Bhutto to seek her support for President Pervez Musharraf\92s decision to retain dual posts as a quid pro quo for the exiled leader\92s return to the country.

China denies withdrawing workers from Pakistan: A Chinese official has denied reports that Beijing has withdrawn its workers from Pakistan.

Norway to explore ways to take forward Lanka peace process: Norwegian Foreign Affairs Minister Jan Petersen is scheduled to visit Sri Lanka on a three-day visit next week "to explore" from the Government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) "possible ways" to take forward the peace process.

Imran sees Switzerland in Kashmir: Cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan has a suggestion on Kashmir. Is anybody listening?



View from abroad


Indians to light up Bush II White House: After the electoral fireworks, the light. Indian-Americans will have their 1st dibs in the Bush II White House at a Diwali celebration to be hosted by the President next week.

Briton charged in Mhatre murder: A 49-year-old British man has been charged with the murder of Ravindra Mhatre, who was Deputy High Commissioner at the Indian High Commission in Britain, nearly 20 years ago.

Overall:

PM put police reform on agenda: Manmohan Singh also told policemen to resist politicisation of their force.