NASHIK: Republican Party of India leaders Ramdas Athavale and R S Gavai have said that Dalits in the State would observe a `Black Day' on the 50th anniversary of independence on August 15, to demand the dismissal of the Manohar Joshi government for the police firing at Ghatkopar, Mumbai, recently.

Addressing a press conference on Monday, Athavale and Gavai said that the RPI was convinced that the Joshi government was anti-Dalit. They said that the RPI had already expressed scepticism over the judicial inquiry into the firing incident and wanted a (CBI) probe.

Dairy college students continue stir

PUSAD: The indefinite hunger strike, called by the students of the Dairy Technology College (affiliated to Punjabrao Krishi Vidyapeeth), Warud, to register their protest against lack of basic facilities in the college, entered the fourth day on Monday.

The striking students have in a statement said that the Dairy Technology College, the first of its kind in the State and fifth in India, was opened at Warud in 1992-93. Despite the fact that the second batch of the college will be completing the course soon, the management does not have adequate facilities for dairy plant, good college building, hostel, modern laboratory and library, they alleged.

Air Marshal Gupta to take charge

NAGPUR: Air Marshal Shanti Swaroop Gupta will take charge as the 23rd Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief (AOC-in-C) of Maintenance Command, IAF, here on August 1. He replaces Air Marshal G Gururani who retires after more than three and a half decades of distinguished service.

Prior to his appointment here, Air Marshal Gupta was the Air Officer-in-Charge Maintenance at the Air Headquarters in New Delhi. He has held various important command, staff and instructional appointments including that of Chief Engineering Officer, Commandant of Air Force Technical College at Bangalore and Air Officer Commanding of Air Force Station at Jalahalli.

Exclusion of private area from sanctuary

PANAJI: A proposal regarding exclusion of 16.59 sq kms of private area lying at the periphery of Bhagwan Mahavir wildlife sanctuary has been finalised and a resolution to this effect would be moved in the Goa legislative assembly.

The proposal was passed following the government's awareness regarding hardships faced by people who stay in the core area of the sanctuary, Minister for Forests Carmo Pegado told the Goa assembly during question hour today. The Minister said, as regards 34 families staying within the Cotigao wild life sanctuary, a rehabilitation scheme was being formulated.

Nashik district plan outlay is Rs 98.9 cr

NASHIK: The Nashik District Planning and Development Committee has sanctioned the district plan outlay of Rs 98.9 crore for the year 1998-99.

The decision was taken at a DPDC meeting under the chairmanship of the Nashik District Guardian Minister Sureshdada Jain. He said Rs 53.58 crore out of the total amount has been alloted for the tribal subplan of the district drawn for the year 1998-99 and also Rs 26.68 crore for non-tribal expenditure from the district plan.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.