New Delhi, February 4
The government said today that Army’s hands were already full and that it could not be deployed to contain rising Naxal violence in the country.

Defence minister A.K. Antony, talking on the sidelines of Defence Financial Controllers’ Conference here, said: “I am totally opposed to the Army being moved against Naxal elements”. He stressed the Army could not be used against everything.... The forces are already coming in aid of the civil authorities.

The Army should be called in only as a last resort, the minister said.

However, the minister said the forces would not shy away in containing the menace and were already providing logistics support and training to police forces in Naxal-affected states.

The minister pointed out that it was the job of the police forces, including the para-military forces, to take on the Naxalites.

On recurring mishaps involving naval warships and submarines, Antony said the naval authorities had been asked to take necessary precautions to ensure that accidents did not happen as weapon platform come at a premium price tag. He described the deaths of sailors on board the Navy’s latest acquisition INS Jalashwa as tragic and sad.

Earlier, addressing the conference, the minister called upon officials to adopt a humane approach towards the requirements of ex-servicemen. This was necessary to highlight the fact that while the country acknowledges the sacrifices being made by jawans when they are in active service, it does not forget them after their retirement.

He said the mechanics of financial management and prudence should not be allowed to overshadow the human side of our work.

“The government attaches great importance to the welfare of ex-servicemen. The creation of an ex-servicemen’s welfare department in the ministry, headed by its own secretary, is an indication of the significance being attached to this area.

“I would like to call upon the Defence Accounts Department, which plays an important role in the management of pay and allowances and pensionary benefits, to approach the requirements of our ex-servicemen with all sensitivity and seriousness,” he said.

New Delhi, February 4
The age row involving Lieut-Gen V.K. Singh, who currently commands the Ambala-based elite 2 Corps and who is slated to be its next chief, has blown over with the authorities clearing the officer of any wrongdoing.

Ministry of Defence officials said here today that investigations had shown that in all of General Singh’s records since his commissioning, whether the ACRs (annual confidential reports) or annual medical reports, the date of birth has consistently been recorded as May 10, 1951.

Efforts were now underway to see why it took so long to rectify the records and why were they different with the Military Secretary’s branch.

Last month, it emerged that records with the Adjutant-General’s branch showed that Singh was born on May 10, 1951, while the records of the Military Secretary’s branch said he was born on May 10, 1950.

The Adjutant-General’s branch maintains records of officers from the time they enter the National Defence Academy (NDA) or the Indian Military Academy (IMA). The Military Secretary’s branch keeps records of officers’ promotions and postings.

When the discrepancy was pointed out, Defence Minister A.K. Antony’s office asked for an explanation from the Army chief’s secretariat, which in turn sought an explanation from the two record-keeping branches.

Chandigarh, February 4
With fresh inductions on the horizon, the Air Force has earmarked Rs 500 crore in the Eleventh Plan to modernise and upgrade its equipment maintenance infrastructure. Another Rs 100 crore has been sanctioned to improve maintenance facilities in operational units.

Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Maintenance Command, Air Marshal Gautam Nayyar, told The Tribune that with the IAF in the process of acquiring multi-role combat aircraft and medium helicopters, the required maintenance support infrastructure needed to be in place in advance. The IAF is acquiring 126 combat aircraft and 80 helicopters.

“The specialist technology and equipment for repair and maintenance would come along with the new aircraft, but in the meantime we need to build up the requisite infrastructure in our base repair depots,” Air Marshal Nayyar said. “We have asked our depots to prepare project reports so that the needful can be done by the government,” he added. He is in Chandigarh on an official visit to No.3 Base Repair Depot, the IAF largest helicopter maintenance establishment.

The Nagpur-based Maintenance Command has eight base repair depots located in various parts of the country which are responsible for the repair and overhaul of IAF equipment, including aircraft, missiles, radars, avionics and communication.

The Air Marshal said that the Rs 100-crore project to improve maintenance facilities in “Wings”, as IAF flying establishments are called, has already been sanctioned by the government. The IAF has over 45 Wings, each housing one or more squadron and lodger units. This would boost up the IAF’s first and second line maintenance capabilities.

The IAF is also undertaking several projects to upgrade its existing fighter fleet and extend the lifespan of its combat as well as transport aircraft. Jaguars, Mirage 2000, MiG 29 and AN-32 are among such aircraft. These projects are being taken up in collaboration with the aircraft’s original manufacturers.

On the indigenisation front, Air Marshal Nayyar said that it has not been a success story so far because of the limited volume of spares required. He said the offset clauses incorporated in new deals would give a big boost to the local industry because of the quantum of equipment involved.

Several top industrial houses in the country have expressed interest in the defence sector following the inclusion of offset clauses, which would enable the defence industry to build up a good base in the coming years, he added.

Referring to the shortage of technical officers in the Air Force, he said that the services are not getting the desired quality because of better avenues in the civilian sector. Even the recently launched schemes to tap students at the 10+2 level have not been of much help. “Perhaps the best way to stem the shortage of technical officers is the proposed Air Force Engineering College. Based on the patter of the Armed Forces Medical College, selected candidates would be granted a commission in the services on completion of their degree,” the Maintenance Command chief said.

New Delhi, February 4
When finance minister P.Chidambaram visits the Congress headquarters on Wednesday to hear the party’s suggestions for the upcoming Budget, he will be presented with a long “demand list” like reduction on interest rates on home loans and a raise in the income tax exemption limit.

The finance minister has held special consultations with his Congress colleagues for the past three years to get their specific inputs for the Budget. This time, however, the exercise has acquired extra urgency since the party is faced with a string of assembly elections this year which will be followed by the 2009 Lok Sabha elections.

Under attack for the rising prices of essential commodites and the food crisis, the Congress is on the desperate looking out for a face saver and is hoping that a “good” Budget will offset this criticism.

The AICC’s department of policy, planning and coordination (DEPCO), headed by senior leader Veerappa Moily, has already prepared a series of exhaustive reports detailing the party’s suggestions for a more “ people friendly” budget.

“This is an election year and we have to ensure that the promises made in the UPA government’s common minimum programme are implemented”, Moily told mediapersons today, emphasising that the Budget must not overlook the interests of the “aam aadmi”.

While keeping the focus on “inclusive growth”, Moily said the party would suggest that remedies for the ongoing agrarian crisis and suggest that subsidies for the farm sector should cotninue. “In a poor country like ours, subsidies are important to boost agriculture,” Moily pointed out. The Congress will also insist that the ban on futures trading in wheat and pulses should continue as there has been no let-up in the food crisis.

While seeking to protect the Congress’ traditional support base of khet mazdoors, rural populace and weaker sections, it is also trying to reach out to the middle classes, who have been the main beneficaries of economic liberalisation but are also known to be BJP supporters.

Taking a cue from the saffron party, the Congress will also make a special pitch for a reduction in the interest rate on home loans and a higher exemption limit on income tax, the two issues which are of special interest to the growing urban middle classes. “Home loans is an important issue before the aam aadmi and we will certainly raise it in our meeting with the finance minister,” Moily said, adding that there is a case of bringing down the intrest rates as these had gone up during the last four years.

New Delhi, February 4
The Supreme Court dismissed a petition against IT wizard N.R. Narayana Murthy for allegedly “insulting” the National Anthem by not following required protocol when it was played at a function of his company on April 8, 2007, in the presence of then the President A.P.J Abdul Kalam.

Since Murthy had expressed regret for not following the required protocol and apologised for the goof up, a Bench, headed by Chief Justice K.G. Balakrishnan refused to entertain a petition on the issue.

The petition was filed by a private organisation, Kanada Raksha Vakeelara Vedeka (KRVV), which alleged that Murthy had insulted the National Anthem by playing its instrumental version and not singing it as was required in any function attended by the President.

The court told the KRVV counsel C.M. Angadi that once Murthy had expressed regret and apologised, they should not unnecessarily “dramatise” the issue. Since the allegations against him were leveled on the basis of a later press statement made in connection with the incident, it was not “relevant” to the case, therefore no cause of action could be made on the basis of the same, the court clarified.

In the wake of the statement “no offence is made out” the Bench, having Justices C.K. Thakker and R.V. Raveendran as the other two judges, observed.

Murthy, who had issued a statement expressing regret soon after the incident, had said that it was not done intentionally but due to ignorance of the rules as some foreign delegates had attended the function and it was thought to play the instrumental version of the National Anthem rather then singing it.

Infosys had invited Kalam to inaugurate its corporate centre in Mysore and the cancellation of singing of the National Anthem in presence of the President had evoked sharp reaction from politicians and they had raised the matter in the Karnataka Assembly, seeking action against Naryana Murthy and other functionaries of the company.

New Delhi, February 4
The Congress and the CPM have condemned violence in Mumbai by workers of the Raj Thackeray-led Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), saying that such incidents were divisive stunts, which exposed lack of any concrete political programme.

Party spokesman Abhishek Singhvi said vandalism and violation of law and order by the activists of the Navnirman Sena was totally unjustified. He said stand of the MNS against the north Indian communities in general and Biharis in particular was against the very concept of India.

Asserting that such politics of prejudice should be nipped in the bud, Singhvi said, the narrow walls of intolerance couldn’t be allowed to be created. Singhvi also took a dig at the Shiv Sena, saying that its leaders had also made divisive statements in the past.

Replying to queries on the action taken against MNS activists, he said the police was investigating the case. Asked about outbursts of Raj Thackeray against Bollywood star Amitabh Bachchan, he said the party did not view the stand of the Navnirman Sena as an issue relating to any individual.

The party had said earlier that the Election Commission should review the recognition of parties that encourage parochial feelings.

The CPM has condemned the attacks on people belonging to North India in Mumbai and certain other places in Maharashtra.

In a statement, the party said it was a result of the propaganda and statements directed against Hindi-speaking people living in Mumbai by a parochial political outfit. The CPM, which did not name the political outfit, said the state government and the administration should take firm steps against such chauvinist elements and protect the life and property of all citizens living in Mumbai and the state.

Kolkata, February 4
Two members of the culling team, who were admitted to hospital, in South 24-Parganas have shown signs of suspected bird flu infection while fresh chicken deaths were reported from neighbouring Howrah city and culling operations on in some affected areas.

Animal Resources Development Secretary D. Chakraborty confirmed that Tarak Nath Haldar was admitted to M.R. Bangur Hospital in the city and his blood sample was sent to the NICD for examination but said there was no report of any human infection of avian inflenza.

Mohd Amin-ud-din was admitted to Budge Budge Rural Hospital yesterday, district chief medical officer, health, Sachidananda Sarkar told PTI.

The report of the tests conducted on them was awaited and doctors were monitoring their condition, the district report said.

Howrah District Magistrate Khalil Ahmed said 278 chicken had died in the past three days at Bokapara and Sultanpur in the Howrah Muncipal Corporation limits and samples had been sent for testing.

Chakraborty said as of now, 33.86 lakh birds had been culled and the operation was still on at some areas of Debra of West Midnapore and at Canning-II block in South 24 Parganas districts.

In most other areas, mopping up operation was continuing with police help within five-km radius of the affected areas in Bankura, Purulia, Burdwan, South Dinajpur, Birbhum, Murshidabad and some areas of North 24 Parganas districts. — PTI

New Delhi, February 4
A Sikh leader today refused to appear before the CBI for recording his statement in the 1984 anti-Sikh riot cases saying the agency was working under “pressure” and demanded replacement of the team probing the carnage.

President of All India Sikh Conference (Babbar) Gurucharan Singh Babbar, in a letter to CBI director Vijay Shanker, informed that he would not be joining the probe as the CBI team was working under pressure.

Claiming that Babbar had a “very-important statement”, supported by documentary evidence, to make, a press release issued by the organisation said Babbar will not join the CBI team until the CBI director replaced the team.

Earlier, additional superintendent of police (CBI) Manoj Pangarkar requested Babbar to join investigation today and record his statement. The CBI had issued him a notice under Section 160 of the CrPC and had asked him to join the probe on January 24, a date decided as per his convenience. He was then sent a second notice for today. — PTI

New Delhi, February 4
An official delegation of the European Parliament’s Temporary Committee on climate change is here as follow-up to the launch of international negotiations for a post-2012 framework on climate change at the UN conference in Bali.

The ten-member delegation, headed by committee chairman Guido Sacconi, will meet key officials, politicians, and experts. The delegation arrived here today. The delegation is scheduled to meet union ministers of environment and industry apart from Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee.

The EP delegation’s objective is to learn about the climate change challenges India faces and understand New Delhi’s position and plans, both at the domestic and international level, EU sources said today.

The European Parliament delegation’s visit shows its awareness of the crucial role that India will play in context of a future international climate agreement.

The European Parliament has recently adopted a resolution on the outcome of the Bali Climate Change Conference in which it considers the Bali Action Plan as a good basis for the negotiations process.

The EP resolution “welcomes the constructive approach to the negotiations taken by a majority of the developing countries and their commitment to engage in nationally appropriate mitigation actions in the context of sustainable development”.

At the same time, EP members also call on industrialised countries to lead by example and commit themselves to reducing emissions “by at least 30 per cent by 2020 and 60 - 80 per cent by 2050 compared to 1990”. The EP also calls “for an urgent review of EU bio fuels policy, with particular emphasis on the lifecycle sustainability of each bio fuel in terms of greenhouse gas reductions”.

Lucknow, February 4
Chief Minister Mayawati today once again sought to hand over the task of punishing the guilty in the police recruitment scam to the CBI. Her government had revoked the appointment of 18,884 police personnel following an inquiry that found massive irregularities

Addressing a press conference, Mayawati said a decision to this effect was taken at a Cabinet meeting today.

Admitting that she had promised her voters during the Assembly election campaign to send her political opponents to jail for corruption, she was seeking to hand the matter to the CBI, as she did not want to be accused of indulging in political vendetta.

Incidentally, this is the exact explanation she had extended for handing over the controversial BJP CD case to the CBI last week.

“A report submitted by a high level committee headed by the chief secretary has concluded that prima facie it appears that the then PWD minister (Shivpal Singh Yadav), two former state police chiefs, besides several high ranking police and civil officials were involved in the police recruitment scam”, said Mayawati.

According to her, the enquiry also found that most of the recruitments had been made in the absence of clear vacancies. “Prima facie evidence is there that the then Chief Minister exerted pressure for sanctioning posts of constables in the finance department”, she maintained.

Around 18,884 appointments of constables during the Mulayam Singh Yadav regime in the police, the PAC and radio departments were annulled after a preliminary investigation led by then ADG Shailajakant Mishra had confirmed grave irregularities in the appointments, including reported extorting of money and sexual favours.

However, the IPS officers responsible for the appointments were soon reinstated while a high level committee went into the extent of corruption and ramification of the recruitments.

Responding to the news of his name emerging as a key accused in the police scam that has now been referred to the CBI, then PWD minister Shivpal Singh Yadav said he was not scared as the matter did not concern the department he was then handling.

New Delhi, February 4
Keen to bring greater transparency in the National Rural Employment Guarantee Programme, the rural development ministry wants all wages to be paid to the beneficiaries through saving accounts in banks or post offices.

Having taken some initiatives earlier to streamline the ambitious programme, the ministry has also announced awards to acknowledge the outstanding contribution made by a registered civil society organisation in the effective implementation of the NREGA.

The ministry has decided to observe February 2 as Rozgar Divas every year to create awareness about employment being the best means of fighting poverty. The rural employment guarantee programme was launched on February 2, 2006 and wage employment has been provided to 2.57 crore rural households against demand of 2.61 crore by the end of December last year.

Ministry officials said 96 lakh beneficiaries under the NREGA already have a bank or postal account and the states have been told to cover all of them in the next two months in the 330 districts where the programme is being implemented at present. States such as Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Jharkhand and Tamil Nadu have taken a lead in opening saving accounts for the beneficiaries. By the end of 2008, the ministry wants to take the number of savings accounts under the NREGA to three crore. The NREGA will be extended to all the rural districts in the country in April this year.

Ministry officials said saving account was not only a means to bring greater transparency in the NREGA, but was also a way to empower the underprivileged sections. With BPL sections deriving maximum advantage of the NREGA, the savings account serves as a means of their “financial inclusion”, they said. “For a large number of beneficiaries, the savings account is introduced to the financial system. It also makes them aware of saving schemes,” a senior ministry official said.

While the system of cash payment is likely to continue in places where post offices or banks are not located at a convenient distance, the ministry’s experience has been that saving accounts help check malpractices.

With several people among the NREGA beneficiaries being illiterate, the state governments have been asked to facilitate the task of opening accounts. Ministry officials said action has been initiated by several states on the basis of the findings of draft CAG report on the NREGA.

They said the ministry had taken the initiative to go for an audit to know the shortcomings in the programme. The ministry also has introduced a knowledge sharing initiative - Nreganet - to help in lateral transfer of local solutions and exchanging ideas, experiences, and opinions.

Guwahati, February 4
A high-powered committee set up by the Assam government to find ways to fight growing threat of rhino-poachers in the Kaziranga National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site, has recommended for better cooperation between wildlife staff and the state police force to tackle well-equipped gangs of poachers that may have links with insurgents.

The committee, which has submitted its report to the government, has recommended for infusion of young blood in the frontline force in the rhino abode where half of the present employees are aged above 50 years.

The wildlife department has been asked to strike a good coordination with fringe villagers living on the periphery of the park to gather intelligence about poachers’ movement and equip the wildlife personnel with sophisticated weapons and gadgets to match the challenge posed by rhino-poachers.

According to the measures suggested by the high-powered committee, a wildlife personnel camp should be set up in every 2 km along the National Highway 37 that marks the southern boundary of the park.

However, the committee has not made any specific recommendation for recruiting more wildlife staff for the park that has only 400-odd field staff to man 860 sq km of wildlife protection area. It has, however, prescribed for constitution of a special task force to take care of protection of the park as well as other rhino habitats in the state.

Assam forest and tourism minister Rockybul Hussain has said the government would act promptly to implement the recommendations put forward by the high-powered committee “as security of Kaziranga is a matter of concern for all of us.”

Acknowledging that manpower shortage had been a major concern for the world-famous rhino habitat, Hussain says the staff strength in the park has not been raised in proportion to the increase in the Park’s area following six subsequent additions. Kaziranga’s area was increased to 860 sq km from the original 430 sq km in 1974 but a corresponding increase in manpower has not been effected.

The minister has demanded more stringent punishment for those convicted under the provisions of wildlife protection Act so that exemplary punishment could be handed to those engaged in heinous acts like rhino-poaching and aiding and abetting wildlife crimes. He has disclosed 19 arrests were made last year in connection with wildlife crimes related to the park, but that failed to act as much of a deterrent due to the poor conviction rate of wildlife and forest criminals.

New Delhi, February 4
The Babbar Khalsa International militants, arrested in connection with the blast at a cinema hall in Ludhiana in Punjab, have told the investigators that they had approached Naga outfits for the supply of arms and ammunition.

During their interrogation, the militants told the central security agencies that few Sikh youths had been tasked to kill political leaders, including Punjab Chief Minister Prakash Singh Badal, his son, Sukhbir, president of the All-India Anti-Terrorist Front M.S. Bitta and former state director general of police K.P.S. Gill, official sources said.

The arrested militants said the youths were being trained by Pakistan’s ISI in handling of arms and ammunition, including fabricating of improvised explosive devices, they said.

The militants also told the investigators that they had tried to contact NSCN insurgents for procurring of weapons, the sources said without elaborating whether the Punjab militants were able to strike a deal with NSCN cadres or not.

New Delhi, February 4
The ministry of civil aviation (MCA) today clarified that the Carver Aviation Academy located in Baramati,the constituency of agriculture minister and NCP chief Sharad Pawar was re-started after its management was overhauled.

The academy has been in news for the alleged distribution of fake pilot licences to candidates who had trained in flight schools in the USA and Canada.

MCA spokesperson said here today that the academy was re-opened after adequate action was taken against the previous management. The management of the academy had been given to a new set of people following which it had been re-opened, she said.

Media reports had suggested that the MCA had stepped in to reverse the decision of the inquiry committee which had suggested the closure of the academy after the fraud came to light. Directorate- general of civil aviation (DGCA) had decided to suspend operations of the academy after its inquiry found fraud and forgery in the manner in which flight-test certificates were issued to aspiring pilots.

The probe against the academy began in October last year when the Pune police took action against three employees of the five-year-old Carver Aviation Academy in Baramati, after its CEO Marc Carvalho filed a complaint against his chief flying instructor Capt A. Taxali of financial irregularities.

Taxali and three other senior employees were arrested and released on bail.Later, a high-level DGCA inquiry also indicted the CEO for a sweeping range of irregularities, including issuing fraudulent flight certificates to aspiring pilots, forging signatures and approvals.