NK'S POST

NK SINGH The Madhya Pradesh Government on Thursday announced an inquiry by the Central Bureau of Investigation to solve the mystery shrouding the death of a political worker at the residence of a leading Congress-I MLA at Gwalior recently. The Government decision, taken amidst reports that the State CID investigations had proved that it was not a case of suicide but a case of murder, caused unprecedented pandemonium in the State Assembly. Slogan-shouting opposition stalled the proceedings of the House for over two hours, alleging that by handing over the case to the CBI at this stage, the Government was trying to shield the ruling party member involved in the case, Mr Ramashanker Singh. The body of Mr Rajesh Bhatnagar was found in the compound of Mr Ramashanker Singh's bungalow at Gwalior on the night of March 30. The bullet that killed him was allegedly fired from Mr Singh's revolver. The State Government's announcement regarding the CBI inquiry into the sensational case c...

Bhopal NK SINGH Bhopal: The distribution of free foodgrain and milk to the gas-hit people of Bhopal, which commenced soon after they returned to their localities, has continued for the past four months, providing succour to a very large population distress. The Madhya Pradesh Government has already spent over Rs 6.4 crore on this. The state Government decided to distribute free food grain to affected persons on December 21 last year. According to official sources, the magnitude of this operation was so great that almost 500 officers and employees from various departments of the Government had to be mobilised to assist the district administration in organising this distribution. A large number of new ration cards had to be prepared and fair distribution ensured. In all, 212 fair price shops were assigned the distribution work and arrangements were made for supervising the work of these shops. Each individual was issued 9 kg of wheat, 3 kg. of rice, 500 grams of sugar and 500 m.1. of edi...

NK SINGH Bhopal: An attempt by a judge to protect civil liberty in the obscure tribal district of Jhabua has led to a confrontation between the judiciary and the police. The chief judicial magistrate (CJM) of Jhabua had issued warrants for the arrests of the SP and the DSP of the district in a case of police brutality. The Jhabua police retaliated by registering a case against the CJM for "causing an interruption in the duty of two constables". The CJM, Mr M. L. Sanghi has applied for anticipatory bail. He has also sought, ironically, police protection following a threatening letter received by him in court. Five policemen are at present guarding his residence at Jhabua. The cold war appears to be escalating into a regular tug-of-war with the Judicial Services Association and Police Association rushing to the aid of their comrades in distress. While the Madhya Pradesh Judicial Services Association has demanded protection for Mr Sanghi, police officers have also taken up cudge...

,Khandwa NK SINGH Bhopal:  Excavation work at Atoodh Khasa in Khandwa district of MP is expected to throw light on the missing links of various cultures in the country. Atoodh Khasa, 45 km from Khandwa, is situated on the right bank of the Kaveri, a tributary of Narmada. A regular survey done some years ago has shown that the village is one of the important chalcolithic sites south of Narmada. There is an ancient mound, occupying an area of about three sq. km. It is nearly 20 metres high and the top position is encircled by the remains of a fort wall. The mound is situated at the confluence of Kaveri and Amok. Earlier, a surface exploration of the mound and the river bank site yielded microlithic blades and other activities of the chalcolithic period. Black-and-red wares, both painted and non-painted, were also collected from the cuttings and exposed sections. The core of the mound contains proto-historic and historic pot shreds and antiquities. Stone sculptures have also been foun...

NK SINGH Bhopal: The Madhya Pradesh Government has decided to set up a directorate of claims to process and monitor the compensation claims of the victims of the Bhopal gas disaster. The main function of the Directorate will be to assess the individual losses and losses suffered by shops, commercial establishments and industries. The directorate will assess the requirements of proper rehabilitation, prepare proper documents in support of individual or institutional claims for compensation, and process and present compensation claims before the commissioner for the Bhopal gas victims who may be appointed under the Bhopal Gas Leak Disaster (processing of claims) Act, 1985. According to official sources, the State Government, by constituting this directorate, seeks to tackle the issue of preparation of claims of individuals and institutions who have suffered considerable losses in the trail of devastation left behind by the leak of poisonous gas from the Union Carbide factory. The Governm...

NK SINGH Bhopal: A local lawyer has moved the court seeking cancellation of the absolute bail granted to Mr. Warren Ander son, chairman of the Union Carbide Corporation, whose Bhopal pesticide plant killed over 2,000 persons last December. Mr. Anderson, who was arrested here in a dramatic manner on December 7 on several charges including the non-bailable Section 304 IPC (culpable homicide not amounting to murder), was released in an even more dramatic manner and later secretly whisked away to Delhi in a state aircraft. The local lawyer, Mr. Quamerud-din Quamer, has contended in his petition to the district and sessions judge of Bhopal, Mr. V. S. Yadav, that the police had neither authority nor jurisdiction to release an accused involved in a heinous crime of mass slaughter. If Mr. Quamer's petition succeeds, it may lead to several complications, including diplomatic problems. The United States Government had not taken kindly to the arrest of the head of one of its most powerful mul...

NK SINGH Bhopal:  The Madhya Pradesh Government has imposed a ban on all sorts of purchases in all departments in view of the alarming financial crisis existing in the state. The ban, it is reliably learnt. will remain in force till May 15. The ban, however, would not cover labour wages, salary, hospitals, hostels and essential services. According to official sources, circulars to this effect have been issued in view of the financial crisis Last week, the state Government was on the brink of bankruptcy as the cheques and bills issued by it were dishonoured by banks following the refusal of the Reserve Bank the overdraft to increase limit. April 25, 1985 Indian Express

NK SINGH BHOPAL: A delegation of the Union Carbide Employees Union, led by Mr Madanlal Ranji, waited on the Chief Minister, Mr Motilal Vora, here on Saturday and presented a memorandum demanding alternative jobs for the Carbide employees. The union suggested that the Union Carbide factory should be nationalised so that jobs were guaranteed to the employees. The memorandum, according to a union press note, also suggested that instead of closing down the factory it should be converted into a non- hazardous products manufacturing concern. April 21, 1985 Indian Express

NK SINGH Bhopal: The shadow of famine and death looms large over vast areas of Madhya Pradesh. Though there are no reports of  starvation deaths yet, a massive exodus of hungry farm workers and impoverished peasants has started from Chhattisgarh and the tribal districts of Dhar and Jhabua in West Madhya Pradesh. Reports, official as well as unofficial, reaching the state capital from districts paint a grim picture of desolution and destitution in the countryside. An erratic monsoon last year and almost total failure of winter rain have caused an unprecedented water scarcity in all the 45 districts of the state. Even more alarming is the apprehension in some circles that the drinking water scarcity may lead to an outbreak of epidemics. Every seventh village in the state suffers from an acute water crisis. Over 10,000 villages have been officially declared 'problem villages'. Residents of these villages have to walk to 10 km to get a pitcher of drinking water. The seriousness of ...

NK SINGH Bhopal: The MP Government has prepared a plan to provide mid-day meals to 14.86. lakh tribal students in the age group of six to 14 years during the Seventh Plan The mid-day meals program was started in 1966 for students of the tribal welfare department schools in the age group of six to 14 years in 16 districts of the state. Three lakh students benefited from the program then. The number of beneficiaries has reached over eight now. The program has been implemented in all the 45 districts of the state now. There are 14,168 feeding centres April 18, 1985 Indian Express