 |
|
Israeli envoy to visit Punjab
Pranab rules out troop reduction along LoC
Braving bullets for a cause
Enhance executive accountability, says Speaker
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
CPM leader Prakash Karat addresses media representatives after the CPM Politburo meeting in New Delhi on Sunday.
— Tribune photo by Rajeev Tyagi
Andhra CM’s suggestion on petroleum Bill
Low-cost flight to Aizawl inaugurated
Fresh snags delay rollout of Arjun battle tanks
CS directed to deal with contempt of court cases
Girl dies after teacher’s beating
Police suspects SIMI hand in Shramjeevi blast
TV breeding consumerism
Centre extends Nagaland ceasefire
Four peacocks die of suspected poisoning
Batra takes over as Railway Board chief
Law for elderly soon
|
|
Israeli envoy to visit Punjab
New Delhi, July 31 Ms Michal Gur-Aryeh, spokesperson for the Israeli Embassy here, told The Tribune today that Mr Danieli’s discussions with the Chief Minister and the Governor would cover a wide range of issues, including a sharp focus on agro-technology and IT. The Israeli envoy would be visiting Chandigarh, Amritsar, Jalandhar and Anandpur Sahib. One of the highlights of the visit will be the closing ceremony of the 4th Israeli Medical Cadets Programme, which is due to take place at Sri Dashmesh Academy in Anandpur Sahib from tomorrow until August 11. The programme involves a group of Israeli teenagers who are trained in first aid and emergency treatment (and who volunteer in Israeli hospitals as paramedics), who are coming to a school in Punjab to teach first aid to Indian students and teachers. Students and teachers from schools in New Delhi, Chandigarh, Anandpur Sahib and Badal village (Punjab) will participate in two weeks of emergency and first aid training. The teenagers from Israel will train their Indian counterparts in emergency treatments like first aid, resuscitation, injuries associated with climate conditions, head injuries, chest injuries, fractures and injuries from animals, shock, bleeding and different fields of medicine and science for application in their daily lives. In addition, Mr Danieli will open the exhibition “Israel: Archeology from the Air”, which comprises panels showing some of Israel’s best known archeological sites, at Punjab University Art Gallery. It is a little known fact that Israel has the highest number of known archeological sites per square kilometre in the world. |
|
Pranab rules out troop reduction along LoC
Kolkata, July 31 On the contrary, troop-deployment would be strengthened, he declared. Talking to newspersons on the eve of his departure to New Delhi, Mr Mukherjee last night expressed concern that militants had become active in Kashmir despite the on-going process of India's peace talks with Pakistan. He feared that militants would make fresh attempts to create disturbances in the Kashmir valley and elsewhere during the Independence day. The Defence personnel and all state governments, however, had been alerted to foil the militants attacks, the Defence Minister said. He said the terrorists of the Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashker-e-Toiba were active again which was disturbing the on-going peace process between India and Pakistan. He invited Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf to join hands with India in foiling the terrorist attempts to disrupt peace process. Mr Mukherjee was confident that if Pakistan acted honestly and sincerely, terrorism could be curbed in both countries. The Defence Minister was of the opinion that the recent Indo-US pact would help India enormously in tackling the militancy problem in
the country. He hoped the country's border disputes with both Pakistan and China would also be solved soon. Mr Mukherjee denied once again that by signing the treaties with the Bush Administration, India had sold her sovereignty to the USA as
the BJP and some other Left parties were now alleging. The treaties had been signed keeping in mind the mutual interest of both countries, he
asserted. |
|
Braving bullets for a cause
New Delhi, July 31 “The killings have to stop. Everyday people die in the Valley. It does not matter whether it is bullet from an Army man’s gun or a militant’s, but the bullets have to stop”, says the woman who has risked her own life to fight for the rights of the Kashmiri women and children. Ms Qazi, who runs the SSM College of Engineering in Baramulla, has been nominated for this year’s Nobel Peace Prize along with 90 others from the country. Born in 1962, Ms Qazi who graduated in law from Kashmir University is driven to empower women. “I began vocational courses for women in 1988. Just then the militancy raised its head and among the first targets were education institutions. For the next few years, I was engaged in a battle and was asked to close the college but I chose to go on”, she recalls. But refusing to comply had its own hazards, “my father, my brothers and my husband were kidnapped. They threatened to kill anyone who dared to unlock the college doors. But I did not give up. And finally in 1994 I managed to shift the college to its own campus in Patan”, says Qazi. The college ran into more trouble when the locals, at the behest of a religious leader, protested against educating women. “This religious leader for his own vested interests wanted the college shut, but I persevered. I opened a free school for the local children and made people realise the importance of education”, says the woman who today runs three more schools, self-help centres and six centres for training in crafts. “My biggest achievement has been getting people to embrace education,” claims Qazi who puts forth that “there is little help for women and children whose kin are believed to have been militants killed by the Army”. “There was a mass rape of 36 women in Kunanposhpura in 1991. I went there and was horrified to see that instead of support, these women were being subjected to sheer torture. Because they had been raped, people in the village had begun to maltreat them. I managed to procure 15 cows for them to start a diary farm. Today, it is a well-run farm with double the number of cows,” she adds. Pointing out that the women have suffered brutality not just physically, but also mentally, Qazi has been organising medical camps in the Valley. “Psychological diseases are on the rise. Education and proper medical care are one of the most essential needs of a Kashmiri woman today and this is what we are trying to provide,” she says. Having visited Kashmiri Pandit migrant camps outside of Kashmir, Qazi is perturbed that the younger generation of both the communities will harbour ill-will for each other unless the adult set an example of amity. Qazi, whose family has been steadfast in their support, says peace-loving Kashmiris have seen the worst. “First it was the bullets and the bombs and now there are diseases. Kashmir has the highest consumption of drugs for heart ailments and psychological disorders,” she laments. Born in a family of modest means, Qazi does not believe in giving alms. “Give education, it is the best weapon to fight evil”, she says, adding, “I have not done anything spectacular, I am only doing what I think I should do.” |
|
Enhance executive accountability, says Speaker
New Delhi, July 31 Inaugurating a conference of presiding officers of the legislative bodies in the country, Lok Sabha Speaker Chatterjee said the executive accountability to the legislature was crucial in parliamentary democracy and impressed upon that there should be focus on how to enhance accountability factor by strengthening the committee system. The Speaker said the role of committee on government assurances and departmentally related standing committees was pivotal and efforts should be made to secure implementation of government assurances. The concept of the executive accountability to the legislature was as old as Parliamentary democracy itself, the Speaker said adding it was primarily aimed at ensuring that the government of the day performs to the best of its ability for public good. Referring to the coalition politics, he said the wide array of diversities in the society as also the social, economic and
political compulsions of the day were bound to get reflected in the legislative chambers. “In a vibrant and pulsating democracy like ours it is but natural that some heat and dust was generated in the floors of the legislatures, especially in an era of coalition politics. “As presiding officers, all of us have to facilitate the smooth and orderly conduct of the business of the house. We have to enable the members to raise issues of topical importance, of course within the rules laid down for the purpose,” he said. “We also have to let all sections of the House participate meaningfully in the proceedings,” Mr Chatterjee said, adding it was a challenging task which warranted a judicious blend of wisdom, dignity and commitment to ideals of parliamentary democracy. Referring to developments in the Jharkhand Assembly where he had opposed judicial intervention, he said :“My prime consideration, as the Presiding Officer of the highest legislative body in the country, was the erosion of the independence of the legislature. I desired that the conference should discuss how the legislature and the presiding officers should address the issue if the court continues to pass such orders.” Noting that policies and programmes of the executives are constantly subjected to parliamentary scrutiny, he said: “We have introduced several innovations in the practices and procedures relating to the working of the two Houses with a view to safeguarding executive accountability to the legislature and bringing in more
transparency in governance”. On e-governance, he said the government had approved the National E-governance Action Plan for implementation during the year 2003-07 which seeks to lay the foundation and provide impetus for long-term growth of e-government in the country. The plan also seeks to create the right governance and institutional mechanism, set up core infrastructure and policies, and implements a number of mission mode projects at the Centre, state and integrated service levels to create a citizen-centric and business-centric environment for governance, he said. |
|
CPM still opposed
to Indo-US deal
New Delhi, July 31 Party general secretary Prakash Karat told reporters today after a Politburo meeting that his party had reservations over some contents of the agreement and the CPM would focus on what was harmful in the agreement in terms of Indian strategic and security interests. Mr Karat said the trend
of becoming a strategic
US ally, started by the
previous NDA government, continued and announced that the party would raise the objections on the recent agreements with Washington in Parliament tomorrow. Mr Karat ostensibly rejected the Prime Minister’s doctrine of reciprocity in defence of the nuclear deal and said “The Department of Atomic Energy should not be weakened while implementing the nuclear cooperation agreement on the basis of structured reciprocity”. The Prime Minister had assured Parliament that India would not give anything to the USA (on the basis of the nuclear deal) until it got something from Washington. The CPM Politburo, Mr Karat informed, emphasised the importance of maintaining India’s independence in developing nuclear technology for peaceful purposes. On Nepal, the CPM asked the government to reconsider its decision to resume arms supply to Kathmandu and said the Manmohan Singh-led government should also take a firm stand on the restoration of democracy in that country. “Three to four months have passed now and we have former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba being sent to prison on corruption charges for two years, student leaders arrested on sedition charges, the right of association of government employees suppressed and many activists put behind bars,” Mr Karat said. He stressed that there was a growing realisation among the people of Nepal that monarchy was incompatible with a democratic set-up and that the King and democracy could not go together. Mr Karat welcomed the agreement reached between the workers and management of Honda factory in Gurgaon but added that certain issues still remained unanswered. He wanted to know what would be the fate of the 60 workers who were still in jail and whether they would be taken back by the Honda company. He also wanted to know whether the Honda workers’ union would again be functional. The CPM stuck to its criticism of the UPA government for the “violation” of the Common Minimum Programme. In the context of divestment of BHEL, Mr Karat said there would be no compromise on the party’s principled stand of opposing disinvestment/ divestment in ‘navratna’ companies. |
|
Andhra CM’s suggestion on petroleum Bill
Hyderabad, July 31 In a letter addressed to the Union Petroleum Ministry, the state government said the proposed board at the state level should have the authority to give licences for city gas distribution and laying of pipelines within Andhra Pradesh. The Union Government could regulate inter-state pipelines through the Central Natural Gas Regulatory Board. Considering the huge gas reserves in the Krishna-Godavari basin
(K.G), the creation of a state-level board will help push industrial promotion and connect all backward regions of Andhra Pradesh as well cities and towns with a natural gas grid, the letter said. The Bill proposed by the Centre seeks to regulate laying of gas pipelines in the country by giving licences. Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh had already agreed in principle to appoint a regulator for fixing the gas prices, which would be of immense help to the state, the press note said. The state government would prepare a road map for the gas grid after conducting a detailed survey shortly. The state government has requested the Centre for sanctioning of an off shore Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) terminal project to be completed in 12 months as an interim solution for the upcoming four power projects producing 1499 MW, under implementation during the 10th plan. The state government has already initiated talks with the Gas Authority of India (GAIL), Reliance and Gujarat Petro Company for formation of a gas grid in Andhra Pradesh. |
|
Low-cost flight to Aizawl inaugurated
Kolkata, July 31 On its inaugural flight on Monday, a press party was taken to Aizawl from here and back in a 48-seater ATR 42 aircraft which took them 90 minutes to reach the inaccessible beauty spot on a high ridge adorned by picturesque scenery and calm and peaceful surroundings. There were no VIPs, no political personnel and no other dignitaries who are generally seen on such inaugural flights. But there were several common Mizo nationals living in Kolkata and elsewhere in the plains who got the opportunity to travel on the Air Deccan’s first flight to Aizawl at a promotional priced ticket of Rs 1499 : indeed an incredible lesser fare compared to the existing IA and other airlines fare of Rs 4,500 and above. The Air Deccan management has to undertake the economy drive for keeping the fare at the marginal in the larger interest of the poor people of Mizoram, particularly a large number of Mizo students who will frequently travel all the way to New Delhi, Bangalore and Chennai for higher studies. Incidentally, the literacy rate of Mizoram with its population of 3,00,000-odd has been almost 90 per cent — now the highest in the country. Mr Zoramthanga was present along with his Cabinet colleagues at the Lengpui airport on the 4,400-foot- high altitude, to formally receive the inaugural flight. This is the country’s lone state-owned airport which was formally opened by former Home Minister L.K. Advani in December, 1988. |
|
Fresh snags delay rollout of Arjun battle tanks
New Delhi, July 31 Though the previous NDA government cleared the first bulk production of 124 tanks, those models are being further subjected to additional performance trials by the army, which is not yet satisfied with the tanks. “During preparatory trials, certain systems have not met the acceptance criteria,” according to Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee. His comments assume significance as army has expressed dissatisfaction with the tanks during exhaustive operational trials. This is the second time in over three years that the Army has pointed out snags in the performance of the tanks, as earlier during operation
‘Parakaram’, the armoured crews had found faults with the tanks’ various systems. “These faults are being rectified,” Mr Mukherjhee said as the first batch of five Arjun tanks out of the production lot would be going for comparative trials with the Army’s just-acquired Russian frontline T-90 tanks. The minister said as part of new quality measures “more ruggedisation had been introduced in the tanks to withstand peak performance.” According to defence ministry sources, DRDO has already incurred an expenditure of about Rs 3,300 crore on the development and production of the Arjun tanks from 1976, when the cabinet gave the go-ahead for its development till date. Though the go-ahead for 125 tanks has been cleared by the government, only five tanks have rolled out, besides some more tanks, which were handed over to the Army for emergency trials before
‘Parakaram’. The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence has already expressed alarm over the delay in the project and even gone to the extent of calling for carrying out “performance audit” for DRDO to such sensitive national security programmes. It has also said that both DRDO and Ordnance Factory Board “cannot be absolved of their prime responsibility to ensure that production model of the Arjun tanks meets user requirements in every respect.” Stung by strong criticism, DRDO officials claim that Arjun tanks have superior armour defeating capability, day and night operational capability, remarkable mobility, high degree of immunity and fire on the move capability and excellent ride comfort.
— PTI |
|
CS directed to deal with contempt of court cases
Jaipur, July 31 Currently, there are as many as 158 cases of contempt of court pending only with this single Bench. All officers accused of not taking action in compliance with the orders of the court belong to the Indian Administrative Service with only one exception. They include the present Chief Secretary, Mr Anil Vaish, as also his immediate predecessor Mr R.K. Nair. Mr Vaish is involved in two cases of contempt while Mr Nair is involved in seven cases. However, the dubious distinction of committing the highest number of contempts goes to Mr C.K. Methew, Principal Secretary of Education, who is facing contempt proceedings in as many as 22 cases. The remaining officials accused of contempt had one to 11 cases each, said the sources. Interestingly enough, even the outgoing Law Secretary, Mr G.S. Hora, who belongs to the higher judicial service of the state, was also to face contempt proceedings. Legal luminaries in the capital are of the view that the incidence is strikingly high considering the fact that all petitions concerning contempt of court at this single Bench had been filed during a period of little over one year. In all there are nearly 2,000 cases of contempt at various levels lingering in the state High Court for more than a decade, maintained the sources. |
|
Girl dies after teacher’s beating
Samastipur, July 31 According to the FIR lodged by her father, the teacher of ‘Sahpur Basuna’ secondary school in the Bibhutipur block got angry with the Class VI student after he came to know of a quarrel the girl had with fellow students on Friday. The teacher lost his temper, threw her to the ground and beat her with a stick. Not satisfied with the punishment, he then made her sit under the blazing sun for the entire day, the FIR said. When Nutan did not return home till late evening, her relatives began to look for her and found the girl lying unconscious on the school ground and took her to the sadar hospital where she died yesterday. The victim’s father Laxmi Mahto lodged an FIR with Bibhutipur police station today naming the teacher as an accused. The teacher has absconded, the police said. Sources in the school, however, said that the girl was suffering from diarrhoea and the teacher had caned her “twice or thrice” after repeated reminders asking her to be obedient went unheeded. They claimed that the girl had no medical problem after the incident and had attended school for the rest of the school hours.
— PTI |
|
Police suspects SIMI hand in Shramjeevi blast
Lucknow, July 31 The blast in the general compartment of the train near a level crossing in Jaunpur district, which claimed 10 lives and caused serious injuries to more than 50 passengers, was caused by an ammonium nitrate-based explosive, ADG (GRP) V.K. Bhalla said here today. The explosive used was a pulp soaked in a mixture of ammonium nitrate and diesel assembled in a suitcase having a detonator attached to a timer clock.
— UNI |
|
TV breeding consumerism
Chennai, July 31 Mr Lakshmanan, assistant professor at MIDS, has conducted a study on “Television, globalisation and social change” to get an overview of the television channels in Tamil Nadu. He stated, “Satellite channels, which are more than 10 years old in the state, have brought many changes like increase in the consumption of Western products and change in lifestyle. Spawning beauty parlours, lifestyle stores and Western outlets were also part of the impact.” The study, conducted through interviews of many people working with the channels and people of different socio-economic strata, also revealed that television channels are stereotyped in Tamil Nadu failing to provide anything beyond soaps and cinema-oriented programmes. The study is critical of channels for being market driven and materialistic and providing less space for the real issues concerning the public. Mr Lakshmanan said, “They do not provide innovative programmes on education, art, culture and so on.” The soaps have also had an impact with many products like sarees being identified with the soaps and its characters, the study said. He said, ‘Many have become obsessed with soaps and they relate real life to the drama.” This has also led to marital strife and many trying to lead their lives beyond their means. The study also mentions the political connections of the channels. He said, “Except a few channels, all of them are controlled by political parties which use the medium to produce news in their favour.” While the most popular Sun TV group is owned by the Marans who have their allegiance to the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), the Jaya TV, as its name suggests, owes allegiance to the ruling All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK). The study suggested that with little efforts the content could be made more educative and development-oriented. |
|
Centre extends Nagaland ceasefire
New Delhi, July 31 This decision was taken after two-day talks between the two sides in Amsterdam which concluded yesterday. The Indian side was led by Centre’s interlocutor K. Padmanabhaiah. The NSCN (I-M) was led by its general-secretary T. Muivah. |
|
Four peacocks die of suspected poisoning
Gwalior, July 31 The dead birds found in a village in Gwalior-Chambal region included three males and a female. The tragedy was first noticed by a villager who reported it to the police. Police suspect poisoning to be the cause of the death of the birds, but a post-mortem report is awaited. Police have identified seven persons as responsible for the crime, although no arrest has been made so far. "When we reached the site of the incident, we saw the bodies of four peacocks - three males and one female. We have taken the bodies in our custody. Post-mortem is being done. Seven persons responsible for the crime have been identified and all of them would be tried under Sections 9 and 51 of the Wildlife Protection Act," said Anita Sharma, Station House Officer (SHO) at Tigra police station. Bodies would be handed over to the wildlife authorities after the post-mortem, added Ms Sharma. The peacocks had been killed allegedly for their meat, a lucrative delicacy sold at stiff price compared to that of other birds. The area has an abundance of peacocks and a number of them are killed every year by the residents for meat and feathers. Peacock, the national bird of India, is protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. However, poaching and illegal trade of their feathers continue. Destruction of habitats, poaching and contamination of food sources are the major factors leading the birds to the brink of extinction. The male Indian Peafowl, commonly known as the peacock, is one of the world's largest flying birds.
— ANI |
|
Batra takes over as Railway Board chief
New Delhi, July 31 “Improvement in passenger services alongwith ensuring security would be my priorities,” Mr Batra said, after taking over from Mr R.K. Singh at Rail Bhavan here. The new chairman, Mr Batra, who was the General Manager of East-Central Railway, Hajipur, supercedes at least two senior Railway Board members R.R. Jaruhar (engineering) and R.S. Varshney (staff).
— UNI |
|
Law for elderly soon
Patna, July 31 Ms Kumar told UNI here that the elderly required special attention and care and deserved better treatment from society. She said senior citizens were now more vulnerable than ever to various problems, including stress as nuclear families were fast growing. She said all facilities, including proper healthcare would be ensured to the elderly once such a law was in place. Ms Kumar said the government was also planning to formulate a comprehensive plan for the disabled. She said issues like three per cent reservation in government jobs, proper rehabilitation, adequate health and educational facilities for them, would draw special attention in the proposed plan.
— UNI |
| HOME PAGE | |
Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir |
Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs |
Nation | Opinions | | Business | Sports | World | Mailbag | Chandigarh | Ludhiana | Delhi | | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail | |
Video
