New Delhi, April 10
Members of European Parliament (MEPs) have taken a serious view of lack of political freedom and economic development in Gilgit and Baltistan areas of the Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

Views of MEPs came into open at the two-day conference on “Constitutional, political and socio-economic conditions of Gilgit, Baltistan — northern part of Kashmir” that got underway in the European Parliament, Brussels on Tuesday this week.

The conference, organised by the International Kashmir Alliance (IKA) and attended by 10 MEPs, European academics, NGOs, and Kashmiris from both sides of the border, deliberated on state of political freedom in both sides of the Kashmir.

Baroness Emma Nicholson, a member of the European Parliament of the Liberal Democratic Party, pointed out that while Pakistan was seeking self-determination in Jammu and Kashmir, it was not even prepared to permit democracy on its side of the border.

The European Parliament adopted last year a report, authored by Emma Nicholson, which was negative of Pakistani government for suppression of human rights in Gilgit and Baltistan.

Nicholson lamented that the people of Gilgit Baltistan were even denied of their basic economic, social and political rights and stressed that she would try and help the deprived people of Gilgit Baltistan by taking help from international agencies such as UNICEF and WHO.

She also asked the government of Pakistan to grant civil, economic and political rights to the people of Gilgit Baltistan.

She talked at length about the EU resolution of May 24 last year on Kashmir and the impediments she encountered while preparing the report. She was extremely critical of the activities of the Kashmir Centre, Brussels.

Shaukat Ali Kashmiri, secretary- general of IKA, strongly appealed to the European Parliament to set up a fact-finding mission on the ground realities of Gilgit-Baltistan and PoK.

He also asked for a bus service between Gilgit-Baltistan and Ladakh in India and opening of crossing points as part of confidence -building measures between the two countries.

Syed Nazir Geelani, President of IKA, appealed to the EU and UN to take note of the grievances of the people of PoK in general and Gilgit-Baltistan in particular.

Mumbai, April 10
Filmmaker and actor Kajol’s father Shomu Mukherji died here today following a massive cardiac arrest. He was 65.

Mukherjee is survived by actor-wife Tanuja and daughters Kajol and Tanisha. The filmmaker, who was unwell for quite some time, breathed his last at 8.20 am at his residence.

Mukherji’s passing away on the eve of the release of “U Me Aur Hum”, the directorial debut of his son-in-law Ajay Devgan, cast a pall of gloom on the family. Family sources said the film would be released as per schedule.

Shomu, founder of the Filmalaya studios was a producer-director of films like “Ek Baar Muskura Do” (1972), “Nanha Shikhari” (1973), “Chhaila Babu” (1977), “Fifty Fifty” (1981), “Pathar Ke Insan” (1990) and “Sangdil Sanam” (1994). — PTI

New Delhi, April 10
The aviation sector in the country will now be regulated. An independent regulator will be in place for the aviation sector by October 2008.

The matter is already before Parliament, officials of the civil aviation ministry told reporters at the opening of the “Aerodrome India 2008”, an international aviation show here today.

The matter was presented to Parliament and was later referred to a standing committee. It was expected to be discussed during the second half of the budget session, when Parliament resumes after a recess on April 15. The recommendations of the steering committee would be available.

After clearance from Parliament, it would take about three months to set up the regulator. The regulator would look into aspects like aeronautical charges, user development fee, passenger fee and others.

A policy on greenfield airports would be announced shortly that would seek to minimise the delay faced by developers of new airports in getting approvals. The policy is being considered by the Cabinet and is expected to be announced this month.

The government was also planning to come out with a vision document “2020” for the aviation sector. At present, a group of ministers is looking into it.

The document will contain plans for airport infrastructure, connectivity, security and other related issues.

Meanwhile, the “Aerodrome India 2008” opened with 140 global players vying for attention of the fast growing Indian market.

New Delhi, April 10
The row over an MP being asked to get off an aircraft by its pilot refused to die down today with the Indian pilots’ body threatening to move the US Homeland Security Department and other global organisations to blacklist him for allegedly endangering flight security.

The Indian Commercial Pilots Association (ICPA) “will file a defamation suit against the MP,” its President Kapil Raina told reporters here.

He added the IUML lawmaker Abdul Wahab was responsible for “Level Four” threat by entering the cockpit. Wahab has, however, denied that he had entered the cockpit.

The ICPA also shot off letters to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel and Labour Minister Oscar Fernandes on the incident in which Wahab called the pilot a “glorified driver” after allegedly barging into the cockpit of an Air India aircraft two days ago.

It accused him of conducting a “serious” breach of security norms and endangering flying operations.

He said if no action was taken by the government, “we will approach the International Federation of Airline Pilots Associations and move the US Homeland Security Department”.

Reporting the matter to the US Department and the global pilots body could blacklist the MP and bar him from travelling on major international sectors.

Raina also said the Pilots Guild, which represents pilots of the private carriers, had also come out in support of the Air India pilot and “justified his action” in asking the MP to deplane. — PTI

New Delhi, April 10
Political parties of all hues today predictably welcomed the Supreme Court judgment on the 27 per cent quota for OBCs in centrally-run institutions of higher education.

Uttar Pradesh chief minister Mayawati added to the Congress party’s discomfiture by seeking extension of reservations for economically weaker sections of upper castes and minorities.

Having succeeded in forging a successful rainbow coalition of Brahmins, minorities and Dalits, the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief’s demand is primarily aimed at protecting her turf and at creating problems for the Congress, which is worried that today’s judgment could mean a loss of upper caste support for the grand old party.

Addressing a press conference here, Mayawati said she had written to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh saying the BSP will extend full support to the government if it moves a constitutional amendment providing quotas for economically weaker sections among upper castes.

She also wanted the Centre to redefine “creamy layer” to ensure that the poor students among the OBCs are not denied the benefit of reservations.

Although the Congress had little choice but to welcome today’s court order, there is underlying concern about the adverse political fall-out of this decision.

“The Congress could end up being a loser in this matter because the OBCs have never voted for us. On the other hand, the upper castes who have been with us could desert us,” remarked a senior Congress leader.

The party is, however, drawing solace from the Supreme Court’s order keeping out the creamy layer of the OBCs which one leader descried as “a balancing act.”

Congress leaders are hoping this aspect of the judgment will help them tide over the criticism it will face from the upper castes and middle classes.

On the flip side, the government could come under pressure from its allies on the “creamy layer” issue, as these suggestions have not been received well by them.

For the record, however, the Congress hailed the judgment as ''landmark'' and noted that the protests and ''motivated allegations'' on the issue of reservation have now been silenced.

''It's a landmark judgment, very significant as it upholds the most remarkable, laudable initiative of the government, of the Congress party,'' AICC spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi said.

Although there are some apprehensions about the Supreme Court’s decision on keeping out the “creamy layer”, the judgment has met with all-round approval.

While RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav described it as a historic decision, health minister Anbumani Ramadoss was also in agreement with the order but said he was disappointed at the exclusion of the creamy layer.

The CPM also welcomed the judgment and asked the government to take immediate steps to implement the quota from the coming academic year.

It also welcomed the court decision to exclude the creamy layer in the OBCs
from the quota.

New Delhi, April 10
The Bharatiya Janata Party today adopted a twin pronged approach on the tricky issue of reservation and welcomed the Supreme Court verdict.

While upholding 27 per cent quota for OBC students in higher educational institutions, it reserved its reaction on the creamy layer, but asked for inclusion of minority institutions in its ambit.

Talking to mediapersons, BJP spokesman Ravi Shankar Prasad treaded a cautious path on the tricky issue of creamy layer saying that it would formulate its stand on the issue after studying the judgement in detail.

“We welcome the judgement of the supreme court ... The BJP favours equity, social justice and benefit for the OBCs,” Prasad said.

He said the benefit of reservation should also be extended to minority institutions all over the country.

It seems strange that those who talk of Dalit Christians and Dalit Muslims are denying these benefits in their own institutions when as per Mandal formula there are OBC these communities as well, he said.

Till date the government of India has not explained as to why minority institutions have been kept out of reservation, Prasad said.

New Delhi, April 10
Businesses are arguably perceived to be the worst contributors to greenhouse gases emissions and global warming.

Understanding the need for business houses to be aware of good environment management strategies to gain long-term competitive advantage, Indian Institute of Management, Lucknow (IIM-L), is setting up a centre for business of climate change.

The centre will undertake studies and research and focus on environmental issues as well as their linkages to businesses.

“With this IIM-L will become the first B-school in India to have a centre of excellence focusing entirely on environmental issues and their linkages to businesses. Businesses are thought to be the worst culprits and there is an increasing pressure from the society on businesses to become environment friendly,” says Devi Singh, director, IIM-L.

And not just this, being environment savvy also means big bucks. In 2006, trade worth $30 billion took place in the carbon market that according to some experts is likely to grow to $1 trillion within the next 5-7 years.

With successful negotiations among 190 countries at Bali on post-2012 scenario, carbon markets are expected to see exponential increase in trading, says Sushil Kumar, chairman (agribusiness), IIM-L .

Indian businesses have already started facing pressures from various national and international bodies to raise their environmental compliance and reporting standards.

Industry specific or generic voluntary standards and norms such as ISO 14000, EMAS and global compact are also becoming popular.

“In the changed business paradigm, businesses managers need to develop understanding and appreciation of environmental issues facing the businesses. They need to be aware of environmental management strategies available to them and how these can be used to gain long-term competitive advantage,” adds Kumar.

The centre will carry out research to understand risk to businesses due to climate change, document best business practices being followed at the global level, carry out in-depth research on emission trading and suggest appropriate and feasible strategies to businesses for mitigating climate change.

Besides, it will also conduct studies on various emerging concepts like green consumerism, green businesses, carbon neutrality, carbon footprints and provide consultancy services to the corporate sector in the area of carbon markets and CDM.

Khadakvasla, April 10
The cradle of future officers for all three wings of the country’s armed forces, National Defence Academy (NDA) is celebrating its diamond jubilee this year.

The celebrations will culminate with a reunion of alumni between December 6 to 8 at the sprawling 6,000 acre campus of the academy and is expected to be attended by the President of India, Defence Minister and other senior Army officials. The President is expected to release a commemorative stamp on the occasion.

“The NDA has trained cadets from 23 other countries and we have invited alumni from there to attend the function,” Air Marshal T S Randhawa, Commandant of NDA, said. The institute, the first in the world set up to train officer cadets of all three armed forces, has trained over 30,000 men since its inception, he said.

The celebrations which kick-started earlier this year with a Desert Safari, where cadets covered over 6,000 km on road, will also have students undertaking an air expedition and a sailing expedition to four countries.

The institute has also been interacting with other military academies through the years and the training imparted at the NDA has been found to be among the best, Randhawa said.

“From the autumn term of 2008 we also plan to lay more emphasis on service training to produce the best product for the next stage,” he said.

Presently service training, related to the armed force in which cadets plan to enter, is for six months in the last semester of the three-year-long course prior to entering the respective military academy. — PTI

New Delhi, April 10
The BJP tonight announced its first list of 136 candidates for the Karnataka assembly election, fielding 80 new faces and dropping nine sitting MLAs.

The party’s chief ministerial candidate B.S. Yeddyurappa will contest from Shikaripura, a seat he has won five times earlier.

The party has given tickets to prominent turncoats Basavaraj Bommai, son of former chief minister S.R. Bommai, Bacchegowda, G.T. Devegowda, all of them former JDS leaders, and B.J. Jawali.

Tickets have also been given to L Revannasiddiah and M. Mahadev — both former IPS officers.

New Delhi, April 10
The National Security Guards (NSG), nation’s premier counter terrorism force, is yet to receive instructions from the ministry of home affairs (MHA) on its deployment during the Olympic torch relay here on April 17.

The director general of NSG J.K. Dutt said here today, “We have not received any instructions from the MHA. As and when these instructions are received, we will be prepared to discharge our functions. We are always prepared for such eventualities.”

Although the countdown has begun for the much awaited international event, the Indian Olympic Association and the MHA have chosen to keep mum over the preparations.

The IOA has so far announced that 35 athletes will run in the relay, including Sachin Tendulkar, Milkha Singh, Shiny Wilson, Anju Bobby George and P. Gopichand.

An official of Chinese Embassy here denied reports about the arrival of the Beijing’s Special Police Force, to form the first ring of the multi-layered defence shield around the Olympic flame.

Mumbai, April 10
With prices of essential commodities soaring, the Maharashtra government is planning some changes to the public distribution system (PDS) in the state in order to make food items available to the common man.

According to government sources, the food and civil supplies department is finalising a plan which would allow the PDS or ration shops to be thrown open to every citizen so that even people above the poverty line can avail of essential commodities like pulses and palm oil via these outlets.

The sources said the mandatory ration cards issued to even those people above the poverty line would be employed to issue oil and pulses to people.

Though the modalities are still being worked out, card holders may be allowed to attach special pages to their ration cards which would be marked for supplies collected.

In the past week, the authorities have begun a crack down on what they call “hoarders and profiteers”.

“We have made more than 45 raids and seized excess stocks held by the traders over the past two days,” an official of the food and civil supplies department said.

New Delhi, April 10
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was today awarded the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation’s (FAO) highest distinction - the Agricola Medal - for his contribution to agricultural and social development in India.

Singh is the first Indian Prime Minister to receive the honour. The medal was instituted in 1976.

Previous recipients of the medal include King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand, French President Jacques Chirac, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Chinese President Jiang Zemin, Pope John Paul II, President Hosni Mubarak of Egypt, Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar, and President Johannes Rau of Germany.

Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister reiterated the government’s and nation’s commitment towards the promotion of welfare of agricultural community in the country. He also expressed deep concern about rising commodity and food prices.

“Sharply rising food prices can slow down poverty alleviation, impede economic growth and retard employment generation. The global economy can also be hurt by this process,” he said.

“It is our sincere desire and effort to take Indian agriculture to a new level of knowledge-based development; a development that is inclusive, a development that is equitable, a development that is environmentally sustainable and a development that is regionally balanced. It is our goal to ensure both livelihood security and food security for all our people, paying particular attention to the needs of small and marginal farmers,” he added.

New Delhi, April 10
Amidst impending food crisis in the world and reports of large quantities of foodgrain like maize and corn being diversified for biofuel production, UN body Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) has urged the world to view challenges facing global food security and adopt cumulative actions to deal with the "emergency situation".

Diversification of maize towards biofuel was having an affect on food prices, FAO director-general Jacques Diouf said.

"We cannot let each country deal with the problem as per its needs. All dimensions have to be analysed before taking decisions. A decision needs to be taken at the structural level across the world, " he stressed.

Without naming the US, he said 100 million tonnes of cereals were being diverted for biofuel production in a country and the quantity was estimated to increase 12-fold by 2017.

New Delhi, April 10
Three submariners of the Indian Navy have created a history of sorts. They have become the first members of an organisation and the first Indians who have been to the South Pole, to have scaled Mount Everest and to have reached the North Pole.

The three - Commander Satyabrata Dam, M.C. Rajkumar and petty officer medical assistant Vikas Kumar - were part of a ten member of Indian Navy team who reached the North Pole last night.

The three joined an elite club of adventurers, who have successfully reached the North Pole, the South Pole as well as the Mount Everest.

“We are very happy and proud of having hoisted our national flag at the top of the world, said Commander Dam, leader of the ski expedition team, from the North Pole in a teleconference with the media here today.

In the last leg of Navy’s three poles challenge which comprises the South Pole, the North Pole and the Mount Everest, the expedition team reached the North Pole 8 pm Indian time yesterday.

The Navy has completed successful expeditions to the Mount Everest and the South Pole, respectively, in 2004 and 2006.

Rear Admiral Shekhar Sinha and principal director adventurous activity, S.C. Joshi termed the expedition as a historic endeavour, which has made the nation proud.

The team progressed to the desired goal facing numerous challenges en route. It was replete with hazards of high winds, freezing temperatures, polar bears, water leads, pressure ridges and variable sea drift.

The team had left India on March 24 and commenced the first leg of their journey at Oslo, capital of Norway. From Oslo the team flew to Longyearbyen and then onwards to the Arctic ice cap.

Other members of the team are Lt Cdr Avinash Khajuria, Surg Lt Cdr Ajay Sharma, petty officer medical Assiatant Rakesh Kumar. Brajindra Singh, Ramendra Pandey, Manoj Vats and Sonam Tamchos.

Mumbai, April 10
Hindi film ‘Krazzy4’ is set for release tomorrow with all song sequences after an advertisement-jingle composer and producer Rakesh Roshan reached a “settlement” today in a day-long drama shortly after the Mumbai High Court ordered deletion of two songs on plagiarism charges.

After a victory in the Bombay High Court, composer Ram Sampath reached a settlement with producer Rakesh Roshan and gave his consent for the movie’s release with all the songs, which were embroiled in the legal case.

Earlier in the day, High Court had upheld Sampath’s case prima facie, restraining Roshan from releasing the movie with the songs. Sampath had claimed that his tunes had been copied for two songs--‘Krazzy4’ (title song) and ‘Break-free’-and their remixed versions.

But in the afternoon, Sampath reached a settlement with Roshan, and both the parties approached Justice D G Karnik for revocation of his earlier order.

“I won the case, and then we settled the matter “inside the court,” Sampath told PTI. “We went back to the Judge, and got the (earlier) order vacated,” he added.

However, he declined to divulge the terms of the settlement. “Once we end the case formally, the settlement will be in the public domain,” the composer said.

Sampath’s case was that his tunes for the advertisement for Sony Eriksson cell-phones was copied by music composer and Rakesh’s brother Rajesh Roshan.

He moved High Court last week seeking damages of Rs 2 crore, and interim stay to the film’s release.

The court, in its interim order in the morning, accepted Sampath’s case that his tunes have been plagiarised.

“To my untrained ear, the music (in two works) appeared to be similar”, Justice Karnik had said. — PTI

BRIEFLY

Maoists gun down six accomplices
DEHRI ON SONE: Maoist ultras gunned down six accomplices in the forests of Kaimur hills under the Rohtas police station area for betraying and abandoning the banned outfit, Superintendent of Police G S Gangwar said here on Wednesday. The bodies were recovered near the Holibaghauti river on Wednesday morning.He said the victims belonged to Gaya district. The district's borders had been sealed and the Special Task Force had launched a manhunt for the killers. — UNI

TN initiates river linking
CHENNAI: The Tamil Nadu government has initiated steps for linking the rivers within the state to primarily serve as flood carriers, prevent flood waters going to sea and ensure its flow to the drought prone areas. As a first step, the government has decided to link the Cauvery-Agniar-South Vellar-Manimuthar-Vaigai-Gundar in two phases, link Tamiraparani-Karumeniar-Nambiar and Pennaiyar-Cheyyar rivers, PWD minister Duraimurugan said, while moving the demand for grants for his department in the state Assembly. — UNI

Man hacks infant to death
GAYA: A man hacked to death his infant son (18) and critically wounded his two daughters, aged 4 and 6, respectively, at Attubigha village following a quarrel with his spouse, the police said on Thursday. DSP Rajvansh Singh said Yadav, who was mentally unsound, committed the crime after a quarrel with his wife. The two injured children were rushed to Patna Medical College and Hospital in serious condition, he said. — PTI

4 Al-Umma activists jailed
TUTICORIN: Four activists of the banned Al-Umma have been sentenced to 10 years of imprisonment by a court in this district on various charges, including smuggling explosives and arms in 1992. Kovilpatti Sub-Court Judge Manjula on Wednesday convicted the four of attempt to murder, robbery, possessing and smuggling explosives and cheating. A fine of Rs 25,000 each was also imposed on them. During investigation, the police found that their car was loaded with explosives and arms.
— PTI