The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

	Govt revises cotton MSP New Delhi, November 2 The government has revised minimum support price (MSP) price for medium staple cotton from Rs 2,800 per quintal to Rs 3,600 and for long staple cotton from Rs 3,300 per quintal to Rs 3,900 for the cotton season 2012-13. Commerce, Industry and Textiles Minister Anand Sharma held a review meeting for early commencement of MSP operations to stabilise cotton prices which have witnessed a sharp decline and are operating around MSP levels. A Commerce Ministry statement said the Cotton Advisory Board has estimated cotton production in the country at 334 lakh bales, consumption at 260 lakh bales and an exportable surplus at 70 lakh bales. Although domestic consumption is showing increasing trends, the sharp decline in global trade and increase in world stocks have imposed a downward stress on cotton prices, which is reflected in Indian cotton markets also. — TNS
	Tharoor takes charge as MoS HRD Tribune News Service New Delhi, November 2 Minister of State for HRD Shashi Tharoor today said it was extremely critical for the country to get the education and training part of the youth right if it wants to avoid the creation of Maoist cadres. Speaking to reporters after taking charge of his new job, Tharoor said, "If you get the education and training part right, we will be able to equip the youths take advantage of what the 21st century has to offer. But if we don't get it right, the danger is something like what we have seen with the Maoists, frustrated unemployed young men picking up the gun.” He said the ministry would see camaraderie between Pallam Raju, himself and Jitin Prasad and there will be enough work to do in education.
	Prez: Corridors of power should remain untainted Legal Correspondent New Delhi, November 2 President Pranab Mukherjee today called for keeping the corridors of power untainted for optimum utilisation of resources that would benefit the people and strengthen democracy. The functioning of the government should be transparent and fair in order to retain the citizens’ confidence in its policies and programmes, Mukherjee said in his inaugural address at the 11th All India Lokayuktas Conference here. Acknowledging the crucial role played by Lokayuktas in checking corruption, the President said only 19 states had such ombudsmen so far. He urged the other states to set up similar institutions at the earliest. Mukherjee asked the three-day conference, organised by Delhi Lokayukta Justice Manmohan Sarin, to discuss threadbare the extent of jurisdiction required for such bodies to banish corruption. This would help the Centre to finalise the model Lokayukta legislation to enable the states to have such bodies with uniform powers and jurisdiction. At present, Lokayuktas in various states had different powers and jurisdiction, he pointed out. Law Minister Ashwani Kumar said out-of-box solutions were necessary to fight graft in all its dimensions and ensure probity in public life. Supreme Court Judge RM Lodha said the government should comply with the recommendations of Lokayuktas in order to instill a sense of confidence among the people in governance and constitutional bodies. Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office V Narayanaswamy said the government was committed to putting in place the Lokpal to deal with corruption at the national level. Delhi Lt Governor said unfortunately it was a paradox that corruption was widespread in India where people were deeply committed to the religious principles.
	Singhvi back as Congress spokesperson New Delhi, November 2 The Congress today brought back Abhishek Manu Singhvi, a former AICC spokesman mired in a controversial CD row, as one of the leaders to put forward the party view in the electronic media. "He (Singhvi) has been brought back into the panel of leaders who participate (in debates) in the electronic media," AICC general secretary Janardan Dwivedi told reporters here. In April, Singhvi had resigned as party spokesperson and Chairman of Parliament's Standing Committee on Personnel, Public Grievances and Law and Justice after a sleaze video allegedly involving him went viral on social media sites. Subsequently, he was dropped from a list of leaders authorised by the Congress to participate in discussions on news channels. The Congress has nominated some leaders, including Union ministers, party spokespersons and MPs, to participate in discussions and debated on television news channels. — PTI
	Gorshkov delay: India to take up issue with Putin Tribune News Service New Delhi, November 2 The delay in the handing over of sea-borne aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov will be taken up in a "big way" during Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit next month and India may also consider imposing a penalty of around Rs 600 crore over the issue. The delay, officially conveyed by Russia on October 10, will mean the warship will be delivered at the end of 2013, which is almost a year behind the earlier scheduled date of December 4 this year. The delivery schedule of the already much-delayed 45,000-tonne warship had slipped after it encountered a “malfunction” in its propulsion system and boilers during sea trials in Russia. Russian Defence Minister Anatoly Serdyukov had conveyed the delay during his visit to India in October. Now, Indian officials want to take up the matter with Putin and seek his intervention in speeding up matters. Though nothing is decided officially, India may impose a "penalty clause” that is up to 5 per cent of the contract amount of $ 2.33 billion. If converted into rupees, imposition of the penalty would mean a setback of some Rs 600 crore to the deal, meaning Indian will be pay Rs 600 crore less for Admiral Gorshkov. Rs 600-cr penalty? Sea-borne aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov will now be delivered to India at the end of 2013, almost a year behind its earlier scheduled date of December 4 this year India is considering the option of imposing liquidity damages up to 5% of the contract worth over $2.3 billion (Rs 600 crore) over delays in supply of the warship In other words, India could end up paying Rs 600 crore less for Admiral Gorshkov, rechristened INS Vikramaditya
	Indian Ocean Rim Assn meet Khurshid: Pak must bring 26/11 attackers to justice Ashok Tuteja/TNS Gurgaon, November 2 Even as India and Pakistan looked set to resume cricketing ties, newly appointed External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid today asserted that there was no question of New Delhi diluting its stand that Pakistan must bring to justice the perpetrators of the Mumbai terror attack. Addressing the media after the Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional Cooperation (IOR-ARC) meeting here, he said: “We are certainly concerned about the accountability for the attack...there is no question of dilution in our stand.” India expected Pakistan to delivery on its frequently indicated promise that those behind the mayhem would be brought to account, he said. On the resumption of cricketing ties, Khurshid said he liked watching cricket. But these issues were best left to be decided by the people who have the authority and the mandate to do so. ''We should trust them (cricket board officials). It is not an irreversible or permanent decision.'' The minister, however, hastened to observe that that cutting off communication for a long period has never helped. A degree of aloofness was called for earlier with Pakistan and it was maintained. He was quite forthright in stating that ''we don't want the cloak to come to a standstill...it must move.'' India, however, was cautious and committed to accountability. ''We are committed to security of our people and a future that is not held hostage to the past.''
	Lanka says displaced Tamils rehabilitated Tribune News Service Gurgaon, November 2 Sri Lanka today informed India that it has completed the rehabilitation of nearly 2,96,000 Tamils displaced by the prolonged civil war that ended three years ago, thus meeting one of the major demands of New Delhi. The process of rehabilitating the internally displaced persons (IDPs) was completed last week, Sri Lankan Foreign Minister G L Peiris told External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid here at their bilateral meeting on the margins of the Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional Cooperation (IOR-ARC) meeting. The hardships faced by the Tamils displaced by the war against the LTTE had become a thorny issue between India and Sri Lanka with New Delhi insisting that they must be rehabilitated without any further loss of time. Political parties in Tamil Nadu had raised over the issue in the state, organising protest rallies on several occasions. During the talks, Peiris stressed that Sri Lanka saw India as an indispensable partner in the reconciliation process in the island nation, official sources said. He also pointed out that the economic growth in the Tamil-dominated Jaffna has shown an upswing of around 22 per cent last year. Peiris also admitted that the Sri Lankan government was having “some difficulties” in implementing some of the recommendations of the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission like those relating to land. Khurshid urged his Sri Lankan counterpart to fast-track the release of five Indian fishermen in Sri Lankan custody. Thorny issue The hardships faced by the Tamils displaced by the war against the LTTE had become a thorny issue between India and Sri Lanka with New Delhi insisting that they must be rehabilitated without further delay
	US joins as dialogue partner Gurgaon, November 2 The United States today joined the Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional Cooperation (IOR-ARC) as a dialogue partner as India pitched for more robust “cooperative regionalism” among members of the grouping. The Union of Comoros, an archipelago of four islands and several islets located in the western Indian Ocean, also joined the association as its 20th member. The ministers also approved Indonesia as the next vice-chair of the regional body after Australia takes over as the chair of the IOR-ARC next year. A consensus, however, eluded on re-naming the IOR-ARC, which in its current 'avatar', is seen as unwieldy and un-pronounceable. Lauding the consensual decision to induct the US as a dialogue partner, Khurshid underlined that it would enhance the global profile of the IOR-ARC. — TNS
	Khurshid takes on Kejriwal on graft Tribune News Service Gurgaon, November 2 In his first interaction with media after assuming charge as External Affairs Minister, Salman Khurshid today indicated that he would not get bogged down by the allegations of corruption levelled against an NGO run by him by India Against Corruption (IAC). “I am not sure that anyone is moving residence to my constituency (Farrukhabad) and if they are, they will be shifting their focus to one constituency. As a foreign minister, I represent the nation abroad, not a party. We have the responsibility to speak for India with or without banners. I don’t speak for any segment or a community,” he said in response to a question of the campaign against him by IAC chief Arvind Kejriwal in his constituency yesterday. He said as far as handling any dissent was concerned, there were a number of people and party officials who were mandated to deal with subjects under their purview. A foreign minister’s role was to represent India in the global arena rather than getting distracted by any dissent in the country. On the charges made against Congress president Sonia Gandhi and general secretary Rahul Gandhi by Janata Party president Subramanian Swamy, Khurshid said he was surprised to see the allegation. “Companies make amendments in their constitution...in this case, it is a non- profit making company formed under Section 25. Absolutely, there is no basis for any allegation. Rather, it should be seen as an example of good governance.” Asked about former Army Chief Gen V K Singh's demand that Parliament should be dissolved, he replied that he was free to say anything since he was a retired person now.
	IAC: Cong man disrupted Kejriwal press meet Tribune News Service New Delhi, November 2 India Against Corruption (IAC) today stepped up its attack on the Congress claiming that the man - Jagdish Sharma - who had disrupted Arvind Kejriwal's press conference on Wednesday was a Congress worker having close ties with party president Sonia Gandhi, her son-in-law Robert Vadra and son Rahul Gandhi. To support its claim, the IAC also released eight photographs of Jagdish Sharma with Sonia, Vadra and Rahul taken at different events. A statement issued by the IAC also maintained that “in such circumstances, any attack on our activists would have to be presumed to be at the behest of the Congress unless the contrary is proved”. “Jagdish seems to be a close aide of the Gandhi family. Has the Nehru-Gandhi family descended to Salman Khurshid’s level where they send goons to disrupt our meetings,” the IAC asked.
	UP to withdraw cases against Amar Singh Lucknow, November 2 Indicating of a possible patch-up, the Samajwadi Party government has decided to withdraw cases of money-laundering against former SP general secretary Amar Singh. In a local court, the police today filed its closure report in the case filed in 2009. The cases were lodged during the regime of Mayawati and were initiated on the complaint of a Kanpur-based businessman Shivkant Tripathi. The FIR had charged Amar Singh and film star Amitabh Bachchan of being involved in a major fraud to the tune of Rs 500 crore through money laundering. The complainant had accused Mulayam Singh Yadav’s then Man Friday of floating six companies in which 43 companies were amalgamated with the intent of siphoning off huge amounts of black money. — TNS
	Sena backs cable operators against digitisation Tribune News Service Mumbai, November 2 Cable television viewers in several parts of Mumbai continue to watch their favourite programmes without a set top box (STB) as several cable operators are defying government orders to stop broadcasting analogue signals. Backed by the Shiv Sena, the cable operators under the banner of Cable Sena are demanding that the deadline for digitisation of cable television be postponed till December 31. “Over 30 per cent of television viewers still do not have STBs and they will be deprived of entertainment if their signals are cut off,” says Mumbai legislator Anil Parab, who heads the Cable Sena. Parab said his organisation would move the Supreme Court if the Bombay High Court dismissed a plea to extend implementation of compulsory digital transmission of cable signals. The cable operators have received the support of Shiv Sena leader Uddhav Thackeray who warned against the Diwali festival being ruined for people without STBs. Cable operators, who are now being inundated with requests for new STBs, say it will take them several weeks to install the boxes at their subscribers' homes.
	Amid Bal Thackeray’s health fears, Uddhav calls Sena meeting Shiv Kumar/TNS Mumbai, November 2 Shiv Sena executive president Uddhav Thackeray today met the party's members of Parliament and legislators amidst concerns about the failing health of party leader Bal Thackeray. The hour-long closed door meeting came hours after the elder Thackeray's estranged nephew Raj, who heads the breakaway Maharashtra Navnirman Sena, held a long meeting with him. It was the MNS leader's fourth meeting with Bal Thackeray in less than a month. After the meeting, Uddhav sought to allay fears about the health of his father. “Everybody is worried about the Shiv Sena chief's health. So am I, but he is undergoing treatment and it is nothing serious,” he told reporters after meeting the party leaders. “The meeting was held to brief our MLAs about raising some important issues,” Uddhav said. The Shiv Sena's elected representatives later told reporters that the meeting was called to discuss the party's prospects in a number of areas in Maharashtra. Usually, Thackeray meets the party's elected representatives before the Maharashtra Assembly session. Bal Thackeray, who has been keeping indifferent health for a while, skipped the party’s annual Dassehra rally this year and addressed the party's faithful via video link. He told his followers that his health was failing. "I cannot stand up. I cannot walk. My body tires easily. It has become a laboratory for doctors," he had said and went on to exhort the Sena rank and file to support son Uddhav Thackeray and grandson Aditya. Apart from nephew Raj, Nationalist Congress Party leader and former associate of the Thackerays, Chhagan Bhujbal, also called on the ageing leader. Uddhav Thackeray himself is suffering from heart problems. Last July, he underwent angioplasty. He told reporters today that he would have to undergo surgeries for his heart in the future as well. Failing health Bal Thackeray has been unwell for a while and had skipped the party’s annual Dassehra rally Addressing party's faithful via video link, he told followers that his health was failing He went on to exhort the Sena rank and file to support son Uddhav Thackeray and grandson Aditya
	coal Blocks 13 owners to get de-allocation letters soon: Jaiswal Kolkata, November 2 Letters for de-allocation of 13 private coal blocks to their owners are likely to be sent soon after the Law Ministry gives its go-ahead, Coal Minister Sriprakash Jaiswal said today. These blocks were advised to be cancelled by the Inter-Ministerial Group (IMG) as companies failed to develop them within the stipulated time. "We are waiting to get the Law Ministry’s approval for the de-allocation letters for 13 blocks. We are expecting it anytime soon," Jaiswal said. As these letters are legal documents, the Coal Ministry thought it would be in order to take the Law Ministry's feedback first, he said. — PTI
	Assam’s rhino abode thrown open to tourists Bijay Sankar Bora/TNS Guwahati, November 2 Scores of tourists from England and Japan along with domestic tourists visited Kaziranga National Park (KNP), a 'world heritage site' and the famous abode of one-horned rhinoceros, yesterday as the park was thrown open for tourists. The current tourist season will last in Assam till March 31. Another tiny rhino habitat in Assam, Rajiv Gandhi Orang National Park in Darrang district, was also opened for tourists yesterday. Assam's Forest and Environment Minister Rakibul Hussain hoped that Kaziranga would continue to remain the main attraction for tourists, as it's a treasure trove when it comes to faunal and floral resources. In an attempt to encourage visits by local people in and around the park, the minister said the people from fringe areas of the park would be provided 90 per cent concession in entry fee. The minister also provided a computer to the local jeep safari association in Kaziranga. The park was visited by over 1.25 lakh tourists, including over 6,000 foreign guests, last season. KNP authorities expect the number to go up this season. This year the park was deluged in floods. A park official said that though the flood water has not completely receded, roads and bridges that were damaged had been repaired so that tourists can take elephant rides to see the rhino along with a variety of other animals and birds. The visitors would also be able to take the open jeep safari rides on designated routes inside the park which are clear of flood waters now, he said. Apart from the largest population of the one-horned Indian rhinoceros in the world, the KNP also has the largest population density of the Royal Bengal Tigers. The Rajiv Gandhi Orang National Park which is located between north Assam's Darrang district is also ready to receive visitors for the season. Called the 'Mini Kaziranga,' Orang National Park is considered as the oldest game reserve in Assam located on the northern shores of the Brahmaputra.
	Kovvada N-power plant Andhra Pradesh allows land acquisition despite protests Suresh Dharur/TNS Hyderabad, November 2 Brushing aside widespread public protests, the Andhra Pradesh Government has decided to go ahead with the acquisition of land for the 6,000-MWe nuclear power plant at Kovvada in the north coastal district of Srikakulam. The government has issued orders for acquiring nearly 2,000 acres, including 600 acres of private land, for the construction of light water reactors for the nuclear plant being set up by the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL). The project was approved by the Central government in 2005. The land acquisition order followed a proposal submitted by the NPCIL for acquiring 2,436.77 acres spread over five villages in Srikakulam district, bordering Odisha. The land will be utilised for reactors, township for NPCIL employees and rehabilitation of families displaced due to the project, the officials said. The district administration had requested the government to declare these villages a ‘project affected zone’. The move comes in the backdrop of raging protests over the Kudankulam nuclear power plant in neighbouring Tamil Nadu. The government has constituted an 11-member team and appointed 28 officials on contract for the purpose of land acquisition. The NPCIL will pay for the land and salaries to the acquisition staff while the state-run AP Power Generation Corporation will be the nodal agency to oversee the project. The proposed nuclear plant has raised local farmers’ hackles, with opposition parties and environmentalists arguing that it will cause pollution and large-scale displacement. “The proposed nuclear reactors at Kovvada are untested and could be unsafe. It is unfortunate that India has embarked on a nuclear adventure by opening the floodgates to foreign reactors, without ensuring that matching arrangements exist for an independent regulatory oversight. The Centre has shown utter disregard for public opinion,” said EAS Sarma, former Union Energy Secretary and noted environmentalist. The facility Kovvada is among first set of four sites chosen for setting up N-plants as part of civil nuclear deal with the US Rs 60,000-crore plant involves construction of six nuclear reactors Capacity of each unit varies from 1,000 to 1,250 MWe The project, being developed with US technical knowhow, requires 9,000 acres The state government has issued orders to acquire 2,000 acres, including 600 acres of private land
	Senior TDP leader dies in car crash Tribune News Service Hyderabad, November 2 Senior Telugu Desam Party (TDP) leader and former Union Minister K Yerran Naidu died in a car accident in his native Srikakulam district of Andhra Pradesh today. Naidu (55) was declared dead at 3.30 am after doctors failed to revive him. A four-time MP from Srikakulam, Naidu was the face of the TDP in New Delhi during the party’s hey days in the late 1990s. He had served as Rural Development Minister in the United Front government and the TDP’s floor leader in Parliament. The accident occurred when Naidu was returning home after attending a wedding in the coastal city of Vishakhapatnam. He was travelling in his friend’s SUV, while his bullet-proof vehicle was following them. Around 2 am near Ranashthalam, a petroleum tanker entered the highway and the car rammed into it. Four others, including TDP district president Chowdhury Narayanamurthy and the driver, were injured in the accident. A profusely bleeding Naidu was rushed to the Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences in Srikakulam. The doctors fought hard to revive him for over an hour, but failed in their efforts. Naidu would be cremated in his native village Nimmada tomorrow with full state honours. A large number of TDP workers, followers and general public thronged the village to have a last glimpse of the departed leader. The death of Naidu, who was associated with the TDP since its inception in 1982 and rose to become a member of its politburo, is a big blow to the regional party in the coastal Andhra. He had survived an assassination bid in 2004 by Maoists who triggered a landmine blast, targeting his vehicle in Srikakulam district. A lawyer by profession, Naidu was elected to the Assembly four times since 1983. He was first elected to the Lok Sabha from Srikakulam in 1996 and soon inducted into the Central Cabinet. He lost the election in 2009. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Congress president Sonia Gandhi, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy and leaders of various political parties condoled his death and recalled his services to the state. On hearing the news of his colleague’s death, a distraught Chandrababu Naidu announced a break in his ongoing padayatra and rushed to Srikakulam. Yerran Naidu A four-time MP from Srikakulam, K Yerran Naidu was the face of the TDP in New Delhi during the party’s heyday in the late 1990s He had served as Rural Development Minister in the United Front government and the TDP’s floor leader in Parliament Naidu would be cremated in his native village Nimmada on Saturday with full state honours