Ahemdabad

April 3 2002 PTI... Prime Minister Vajpayee today told Muslims of Gujarat that they were not alone at this time of crisis and the entire country was behind them.

"You are not alone at this time of crisis, we all are with you. The entire country is with you," he told the riot victims at the Shah Alam relief camp where nearly 8,000 Muslims affected by the communal violence have taken shelter.

In a hard-hitting and emotional outburst, Vajpayee said "Apne Desh Mein refugee ho Jana, Yeh Dil Ko Cheerane Wali Baat Hai (Becoming refugee in one's own country is something that pierces the heart).

He said India had prestige in the comity of nations for its pluralistic character which had been badly affected by this communal violence. He said "With what face, I do not know, I will go abroad after what all has happened here".

Cell phones banned in House-Pondy

Pondicherry

April 3 2002

The Pondicherry Assembly Speaker, M. D. R. Ramachandran, today said that no member should bring cell phones into the House.

He made an alternative suggestion that they switch off the phones.

Or, they could deposit the mobile phones in his chamber where the insstruments would be safely kept.

The necessity for the ruling arose when a member's mobile made ringing sound while the session was on.

90 kg free rice for fishermen in Pondicherry

Pondicherry

April 3 2002

Chief Minister N Rangaswamy today said 90 kg of rice would be distributed to each fishermen family in the union territory from April 15 as relief measure.

Intervening to a plea made by independent member Jayamoorthy in the House, the Chief Minister said the relief was being given to fishermen families who were affected when the Centre banned fishing for nearly 45 days last year.

Bill on smoking, spitting introduced in Tamilnadu

Chennai

April 4 2002

A bill making smoking and spitting in public places as a punishable crime was introduced in the Tamil Nadu Assembly today.

The bill provided for a fine Rs 500 for the first offence and a fine ranging from Rs 500 to Rs 1,000 and an imprisonment extending up to three months for subsequent offences.

The Tamil Nadu govt had banned smoking in public places in November last and also prohibited sale of Pan Masalas and Gutkha from January.

Kuwaiti girl calls on Jaya,and thanks her

Chennai

April 3 2000

Dhalal Falag Al Azmi, the Kuwaiti girl who was arrested for landing at Chennai airport using a forged passport and later released on bail, called on Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa at the Secretariat today morning.

The girl, who had eloped with Indian youth Khader Basha from Cuddapah in Andhra Pradesh, landed here using a fake passport on March 22 with a dream of leading a married life in India. She was arrested and lodged in the Vellore central prison on the charge of travelling with forged documents. She was released on Monday.

An official release said Azmi thanked the Chief Minister for ordering her release on bail and for asking the Central govt to grant her Indian citizenship.

Azmi and Basha requested Jayalalithaa to preside over their marriage for which the Chief Minister readily agreed.

Jayalalithaa presented the couple a gift, the release added.

Later, Dhalal Azmi, speaking in Arabic which was translated by Basha, told newspersons that the Chief Minister comforted her by saying that she need not worry for anything and that she (Jayalalithaa the C.M) herself would preside over their marriage.

Jayalalithaa also told her that her problem had been taken to the notice of the Central govt and that she hoped a favourable reply from the Centre.