From: ramani@saathi.ernet.in (S.Ramani)
Newsgroups: misc.news.southasia
Subject: PTI - Congress Plenum, Bhutto Rules Out Martial Law In Pak
Date: 17 Apr 92 12:20:06 GMT


Source	: S.Ramani, NCST, Bombay
Date	: Thu, 16 Apr 92 19:04:55 +0530
Country	: India, Pakistan and Afghanistan

* Congress plenum - CWC
* Possibility of return to martial law in pakistan ruled out
* 9 killed as train rams into tractor near varanasi
* Bommai to decide on bihar janata dal crisis
* Congress plenum-chidambaram 
* Stocks intro
* Flare up in silver and gold prices
* Sport davis
* Afghan leader's escape barred, council takes over

				* * *

* Congress Plenum - cwc
      voting pattern showed a definite trend with a
'syndicate' type of alignment emerging in the congress,
according to observers.
     mr arjun singh and the maharashtra supremo, mr sharad
pawar, had joined hands for the cwc. observers say this
alliance, somewhat on the pattern of pre-1969 congress split,
might continue on other issues also.
     the voting pattern demonstrated that contestants from
bihar, karnataka, rajasthan, orissa and haryana have been
routed in the poll. this is attributed to panels of candidates
who got support of arjun singh--sharad pawar combine.
infighting among bihar leaders is said to have deprived the
state of a seat in the cwc.
     the bombay regional congress president, mr murli deora,
last night announced that he was retiring from the contest.
 
* Possibility of return to martial law in pakistan ruled out

      islamabad, april 16 (pti) the former prime minister and
opposition leader, ms benazir bhutto has ruled out the
possibility of return to martial law in pakistan and said
whenever the ruling islami jamhoori ittehad (iji) government
faced ''cracks'' in the colaition, its leaders would start
propagating that the army might take over again.
      ''the country has already seen three horrible martial
laws and i do not not see there will be another,'' ms bhutto
said while releasing a book at the karachi press club on
wednesday.
      ms bhutto said that the prime minister, mr nawaz sharif
could be ousted or even gain strength , but there was no
indication from any quarter to suggest that martial law was
round the corner.
      the former prime minister charged the iji leaders with
''blowing the bugles of martial law to intimidate the
democratic forces on the one hand, and frighten the iji ranks
in a bid to forge unity on the other.'''
      she accused the present government with by relying on
''fascist methods'' by instituting false cases against the
political leadership of the country and rigging elections to
disenfranchise people. 
 
* 9 killed as train rams into tractor near varanasi

      varanasi, apr 16 (pti) nine people were killed and
several injured when an allahabad bound train rammed into a
tractor trolley at a railway crossing between madhosingh and
katka railway station here today.
      information reaching the police headquarters here said
all the victims were on the way to attend a wedding ceremoney.
 
* Bommai to decide on bihar janata dal crisis
      new delhi, apr 16 (pti) janata dal leadership has left
it to the party president, mr. s.r. bommai, to take an
''appropriate decision'' on the bihar chief minister mr. lalu
prasad yadav's demand for replacing the party's state unit
president, mr. ram sundar das.
      party spokesman mr. hari kishore singh, told newsmen
that senior leaders of the party met at mr. bommai's residence
this morning and discussed the situation in the bihar unit.
      he said there was consensus at the meeting that the
party president should take the ''required action'' in the
matter.
      mr. singh said there had been differences of opinion
between the chief minister and the state unit president. there
had been a demand from mr das that the party take disciplinary
action against three state ministers and legislators.
      he said a number of party mps and mlas had demanded
action against the state party president mr. das in a
memorandum while no memoranndum had been received for
disciplinary action against the ministers and legislators.
 
* Cong Plenum: chidambaram 

      stating that a remarkable recovery had been made in the
economy, mr chidambaram said it was a problem of plenty now.
      the recent measures taken by government, including
relaxation in import of gold, had resulted in economic and
capital market boom. a number of proposals for establishment
of industries under various categories had been cleared and
once they started production, they would not only further
improve the economy but also create thousands of job
opportunities, he said.
      mr chidambaram called for stern action by state
governments against black marketeers and smugglers. the
central government was taking steps to strengthen the vital
distribution system, he said.
      mr tewari, while moving the resolution, said the
economic resolution would usher in a new era of economic
development.
      making a critical remark of the economic resolution, mr
keshava rao, an andhra pradesh congress-i leader, said any new
policy should aim at improving the living standard of the
poor. 
 
* Stocks news

      calcutta, apl 16:pti: there was no trading for the
second day today on the calcutta stock exchange as brokers
continued their protest against compulsory registration with
sebi and exorbitant fees fixed for the same.
      the president of the cse was away from the city at
present and hence no official comment on the latest position
arising from the brokers boycott was available. but it is
understood that the cse might submit a memorandum to the
authorities giving the difficulties that would face the
average broker member because of the new step. pti cor pd dkc
 
* Flare up in silver and gold prices

      bombay, april 16 (pti) both silver and gold flared up on
the local bullion market today with silver shooting up sharply
by rs 212 to rs 8750 per kg in a single day and standard gold
gained by rs 150 to rs 4775 per ten grammes.
      the recent flare up in silver is mainly on account of
heavy demand from industrial units manufacturing electronic
goods. the damand was unabated in the wake of poor arrivals.
seasonal demand for the marriage season was also on the upper
side. prices have gained by rs 535 per kg in only three
sessions of trading during the week affected by holidays.
      gold also rose sharply due to acute shortage of ready
stocks the sentiment was aided by reports the government was
actively considering to import gold for non-resident indians
(nri's) through the intervention of the state bank of india to
ensure transit safety.
      standard gold prices have risen by rs 225-per 10 grams
during the week from rs 4550 to rs 4775. 22-carat gold has
also moved up in unison from rs 4170 to rs 4376. silver flared
up from rs 8215 to rs 8750.
 
* Sport: davis

      new delhi, apr 16 (pti): mr r.k. khanna, secretary of
the all india tennis association (aita), today officially
announced gaurav natekar as the fourth member of the davis cup
team.
      gaurav had qualified yesterday when he won all his
matches in the selection trials against asif ismail, rohit
reddy and akash lamba.
      india is to play indonesia in the asia/oceana zone group
one final at jakarta from may one to three.
      the other members of the team are ramesh krishnan,
zeeshan ali and leander paes.
      naresh kumar is the non-playing captain-cum-manager of
the team.
      mr khanna said naresh kumar, zeeshan ali and gaurav
would leave on april 23 while ramesh krishnan and leander paes
would join them at jakarta.
      ramesh and leander are playing in a tournament in nagoya
in japan and will fly staright from there, mr khanna said. 
 
* Afghan leader's escape barred, council takes over

      kabul, april 16, reuter - a coalition of afghan generals
appeared to have taken power in kabul on thursday after
president najibullah tried to flee his embattled capital but
was turned back from the airport.
      the french government said najibullah had resigned as
president and head of the ruling watan (homeland) party, but
that was not confirmed in kabul.

			    *  End *