New Delhi, October 7
In a gesture of solidarity with the Palestinian cause, India today gifted to the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) a prized piece of land in the capital’s diplomatic enclave for building its embassy.

It also announced a grant of $10m as budgetary support to the PNA to help meet its immediate requirements and an additional $10m as assistance for development projects.

“India will continue to do all it can to assist Palestine in all its endeavours, including in capacity and institution building, “Prime Minister Manmohan Singh announced while laying the foundation stone of the embassy building at a ceremony he attended with visiting PNA President Mahmoud Abbas.

Singh, who earlier held wide-ranging talks with the PNA leader, said India favours a negotiated settlement that could result in a sovereign, independent, viable and united state of Palestine living within secure and recognised borders side by side 
with Israel.

The two leaders discussed a wide range of issues, including the peace process in West Asia.

“Earlier this year, we were shocked and dismayed by the violence in the occupied territories, including in the Gaza. We hope that wiser counsel will prevail and that the path of dialogue will remain the preferred path to realise peace in the region,” he said.

Appreciating India’s assistance and its decision to gift the embassy premises, Abbas said, “India is giving us support without us asking it. Whenever I come here, I am surprised to see more and more announcements of aid.

We hope God will give us an opportunity to establish independence so that an Indian Embassy could be built in Jerusalem.’’

The two sides also signed an agreement on the construction of a school in the name of India’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru in Abu Dees in Palestine. The gift underlines India’s consistent solidarity and commitment to an independent Palestine and is seen by many as a balancing exercise in view of New Delhi’s growing relations with Israel.

The visit comes at a time when the West Asia peace process has come under strain. However, India is seen by both Palestine and Israel as a trustworthy friend.

Abbas also met President Pratibha Patil, Vice-President Hamid Ansari, United Progressive Alliance (UPA) chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Leader of Opposition L.K. Advani.

New Delhi, October 7
Terming as “retrograde” many recommendations of the UGC Pay Review Committee (PRC), the Federation of Central University Teachers’ Association (FEDCUTA) today threatened a nation-wide agitation if their demands were not suitably addressed.

The association decried G.K. Chadha committee report as one that would breed hierarchies and sycophancy, and said education activities in the country would suffer demobilisation if teachers’ aspirations were left unmet.

The association is resenting the grant of lower pay band to readers, saying the central pay commission (CPC) has recommended pay band four for a grade that ends at Rs 18,300 and that gets an annual increment of Rs 400 or more. “The UGC PRC, however, has deliberately downgraded the pay scale of readers in pay band 3, denying them what is their due as per the sixth CPC. The readers qualify for pay band 4 as per CPC’s recommendations,” the association argues, rejecting the segregation of readers post into senior associate professor.

Aditya Naraian Mishra, who led the FEDCUTA delegation in a meeting with UGC chairperson S.K. Thorat today, told The Tribune, “For the reader, the PRC has introduced promotion to senior associate professor in the scale carved out of the existing readers’ grade. This demand was introduced last time also but the university teachers discarded it. How are we expected to accept the same recommendation 10 years later?” The association also rejected PRC’s recommendations to introduce senior professor and professor of eminence in universities, saying this was as good as “creating hierarchies”.

It further expressed shock at the PRC not making any provision for the restoration of promotion to professor under the career advancement scheme (CAS) as an avenue for third promotion in colleges.

“Our demand for the introduction of professorship in colleges has also been ignored by the PRC. Allowing professorship in postgraduate colleges is a hoax,” said Mishra, adding that the Chadha committee had not restored complete parity of librarians with teachers in terms of the CAS and retirement age, thus downgrading the scale and status of librarians in the higher education system.

The PRC’s idea of different increments, added the association, would encourage sycophancy in universities, and should not be encouraged. The PRC recommended annual increments at the rate of three and four per cent to teachers depending on their qualification.

The UGC met here for two days to take a view on the PRC report, which will now be submitted to the human resource development ministry for approval and implementation.

New Delhi, October 7
The Supreme Court has ruled that part-time industrial workers can challenge their dismissal, claiming protection under Section 25F of the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947, which prescribes the procedure for retrenchment.

“…a workman employed on a part-time basis but under the control and supervision of an employer is a workman in term of Section 2(s) of the Act, and is entitled to claim the protection of Section 25F thereof, should the need so arise,” Justices Tarun Chatterjee and Harjit Singh Bedi said in their ruling on October 3.

The Bench gave the verdict in a case (New India Assurance Co. Ltd. versus A. Sankaralingam) where the employer had challenged the Madras High Court verdict that had gone in favour of a part-time sweeper-cum-water carrier, who had been engaged on a monthly wage of Rs 130 from January 2, 1986 to March 15, 1989.

As the respondent part-time sweeper had worked for more than 240 days in a year, the provisions of Section 25F of the Act were applicable to the case, the judges noted.

A bare perusal of Section 2(s) of the Act, which deals with the definition of workman, and Section 25B, which talks about continuous service, would reveal that their applicability “is not limited to only full-time employees but all that is required is that the workman claiming continuous service must fulfil the specific conditions amongst others laid down in the two provisions so as to seek the shelter of Section 25F,” the judges said.

The insurance company had argued that the part-time worker was not entitled to the benefit of Section 25F of Act as he was not a workman within the meaning of Section 2(s) as in common understanding, a day must include a full day’s work and not a part-time employment.

The part-time employee had lost his case before the Industrial Tribunal, but won on appeal in the high court, which ruled that the two sections were not restricted to only full-time employees and quashed the Tribunal’s order.

Section 25F stipulates the notice period or the compensation in lieu of and the retrenchment compensation in the event of industrial workers being removed from their jobs.

Chandigarh, October 7
Close on the heels of the United States offer to sell 12 Harpoon anti-ship missiles to India, another deal between the two on smart munitions could be in the offing with India seeking over 500 hi-tech guided bombs.

The Indian government has sought 510 CBU--105 Sensor Fused Weapons (SFW), valued at about $375 million, Defence Industry Daily (DID), which monitors military procurements, has stated in its news brief issued today.

The package includes associated spares, aircraft modification and integration kits, software support, technical data, support and test equipment, personnel training as well as engineering and logistical support services.

In a release issued last week, USA’s Defence Security Cooperation Agency, which has notified the US Congress of the possible sale as required under law, stated that the proposed sale will help to strengthen the US--India strategic relationship and improve the security of an “important partner” which is a vital force for political stability, peace, and economic progress in South Asia.

The SFW, which will enhance India’s defensive capability to counter armoured threats, will also assist the Indian Air Force (IAF) to develop and enhance standardisation and operational ability with the United States. India will have no difficulty absorbing these missiles into its armed forces, the release added.

Each SFW bomb contains 40 projectiles, which scatter to cover an area of 30 acre, search for targets and fire the equivalent of a tank shell through the target’s top armour. The prime contractor for the SFW would be Textron Systems Corporation with GPS guidance kits, possibly from Lockheed Martin, being fitted to the bomb’s tail. Industrial offset as per Indian policy has also been proposed, though that would be a part of the contract negotiations.

A key element in the procurement, according to the DID brief, is aircraft integration that will require installation of MIL-STD-1760 interfaces in the designated aircraft. The interfaces will then have to be integrated with the aircraft’s ordnance management system.

Integration with Russian aircraft could pose additional challenges, which make the IAF’s Jaguar strike aircraft or the Mirage 2000 multi-role aircraft the most likely possibilities. The Mirage is the IAF’s preferred platform for high altitude precision bombing and was used to good effect in the 1999 Kargil operations.

Lucknow, October 7
Samajwadi Party (SP) national president Mulayam Singh Yadav today clearly ruled out the possibility of his party withdrawing support from the UPA government over the Batla House encounter.

Addressing a press conference at the conclusion of SP’s 2-day state executive meeting, Yadav blamed the media for “putting words in party general secretary Amar Singh’s mouth”.

According to Yadav, his party had extended support to the UPA after “much consideration”. He said it was a question of the country’s development, which, he said, was not negotiable. Why should any party shift from a “clear position to an unclear one”, wondered Yadav.

While Yadav made it clear that his party was not ready to rock the UPA boat by doubting the Batla House encounter, he dodged questions regarding the decision of slain Delhi police inspector M.C. Sharma’s family to return the SP’s cheque in protest against Amar Singh’s statement.

At the same time, the demand for a transparent judicial enquiry into the Batla House encounter and release of the innocent was one of the points of the party’s 14-point charter of demands for which it resolved to launch a 3-day agitation from October 21.

Charging the UP government of maligning the district of Azamgarh, Yadav said the government along with the media was projecting Azamgarh as the “nursery of terrorism”. Yadav said, “The fact, however, is that not Azamgarh but Pakistan is the centre of terrorism. They are sending trained militants to Kashmir”, said Yadav.

Yadav also questioned why there was no control over mischievous elements that were spreading communal violence in Maharashtra, Orissa, Karnataka and Gujarat. “Why was there no stern action against those who were targeting Muslims, Christians and churches?” asked Yadav.

The state unit of the SP is to launch a three-day “Dera dalo, ghera dalo” campaign in front of the district collectorates to press for their charter of demands, which includes the withdrawal of the Ganga Expressway project, restoration of students union and withdrawal of VAT among other things.

Commenting on seat adjustment with the Congress, Yadav wondered what was the hurry when the election was nowhere in sight. “The revision of electoral rolls would be completed by the end of January next year so where is the hurry”, pointed out the former Chief Minister.

Mumbai, October 7
Officials of media giant Yahoo are under the police scanner after a senior software engineer, Mohammed Mansoor Asghar Peerbhoy, employed at its Pune office was arrested for sending out emails to television channels minutes before the recent blasts across the country.

Cops from the anti-terror squad and cyber crime cell of the Mumbai police, and investigators from other cities where blasts occurred, are converging at Yahoo’s offices in Pune to scan computers and other equipment used by Peerbhoy. Several persons who had interacted with him in Pune have also been taken in for questioning. According to the police, the 31-year old techie is a computer expert and was one of the senior-most programmers at Yahoo.

Yahoo officials said they would be fully co-operating with investigators. “We are deeply concerned about these events and will fully cooperate with the law enforcement agencies as required,” a statement released by the company officials said.

Meanwhile, Mumbai’s Joint Police Commissioner Rakesh Maria told reporters after the arrest of Peerbhoy that he was being paid nearly Rs 20 lakh per month and had also visited the US several times.

Among those arrested along with Peerbhoy include two other software professionals, Mobin Kader Shaikh and Asif Bashruddin Shaikh. The trio was responsible for hacking wifi networks of various persons and sending messages, claiming responsibility for the blasts, on behalf of the terror group Indian Mujahideen.

Mumbai, October 7
Twenty suspected activists of the Indian Mujahideen (IM), arrested since September 23, were today booked under the stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA). The activists were later produced before MCOCA Judge V.G. Awchat, who remanded them in police custody till October 21.

They included Anique Shafique Sayed alias Khalid (27), Majid Akhtar Shaikh alias Naseem (26), Yasir Anis Sayed alias Huzafa (20), Farooq Sharfuddin Tarkash alias Abdullah (25), Faza-e-rehman Mus Khan Durani (23), Ahmed Bawa Abubakar alias Abu (33), Mohammed Ali Ahmed (44), Javed Mohammed Ali (19), Sayed Mohammed Noushad alias Sayedna (25), Afzal Usmani (32), Mohammad Sadik Usrac Shaikh (32), Mohd Arif Shaikh alias Arif Badar alias Laddan (38), Mohd Zakir Shaikh (26), Ansar Ahmed Badshah Shaikh (35), Arif Bashir Shaikh alias Hasan, Mohammed Mansoor Asgar Peerbhoy (31), Mubin alias Sakman Kadar (24), Mohammed Atique Mohammed Iqbal (25), Sastagir Phiroz Mujawar alias Afrosh (25) and Mohammed Akbar Ismail Chaudhary alias Sayed (28). Of these, the Mumbai Crime Branch and Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) yesterday arrested Mohammed Akbar Ismail Choudhary, Anees Shakil Sayyad, Majid Attar Shaikh and Farooq Shamsuddin Taraskar, all residents of Kondwa and Yasir Anees Sayyad, staying in Kasba Peth area of the city, from Pune, besides 15 others arrested since September 23.

They all were engaged in sending terror e-mails just before the blasts and handling the media wing of the outfit. City commissioner of police Hassan Gafoor and joint comissioner of police Rakesh Maria had said yesterday that the police had successfully nabbed some highly qualified persons, who were techno savvy and working with reputed computer companies in the city and other parts of the country. Some of the arrested accused had allegedly manufactured and planted bombs at Ahmedabad, New Delhi and Surat, they had stated. — UNI

Bhubaneswar, October 7
Sister Nirmala, Superior General of the Missionaries of Charity, Kolkata, today said the Orissa government should take strong steps to bring the violence under control in strife-torn Kandhamal. Sister Nirmala, who met Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik at his residence here, later told mediapersons that the situation in Kandhamal was not good. She hoped things would come to control, stating that “we have to support them through prayers and efforts”.

When asked whether she was satisfied with the steps taken by the state government to contain the violence in Kandhamal, she said taking strong measures were very important. On allegations that the minority community was involved in the murder of Swami Laxmananda Saraswati, Sister Nirmala said the Crime Branch of Orissa police would find out the truth. She also said the victims of Kandhamal, taking shelter in the relief camps, could not go back to their homes unless things were settled. Referring to the nun rape case, she said the state government was now trying to book the culprits. Sister Nirmala said, “She (the nun) will certainly cooperate with the Orissa police during investigation, provided there is proper atmosphere.”

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Patnaik, after holding a high-level meeting, directed the officials to keep a strict vigil on the situation prevailing at Kandhamal and restore peace in the district. — UNI

New Delhi, October 7
After sitting for days on the medical report confirming the rape of a Catholic nun in Kandhamal, the Orissa government has gone into an overdrive to ensure justice in the case.

Today, the state government sent feelers that it was keen to punish the guilty and wanted the victim to cooperate. Intensifying search operation for the nun in the capital, the Orissa government and crime branch officials said the case was fit for conviction and they wanted the victim to come out to identify the accused who had been rounded up.

In their zeal to trace the nun, they even met Archbishop Bhubaneshwar-Cuttack Rapheal Cheenath, who was visiting the capital today in connection with a meeting of the National United Christian Forum. Resident Commissioner of Orissa in New Delhi M. Satyanarayan admitted to The Tribune that he met Archbishop Cheenath to enquire about the whereabouts of the nun, who had reportedly left Orissa.

Only yesterday, the resident commissioner had met Archbishop of Delhi Vincent Concessao for the same purpose. He, however, got no clues from Archbishops who have sought to be left alone in the matter. “I told them I have no clue about where she is. How am I to know?” Archbishop Cheenath today told The Tribune.

Orissa resident commissioner, meanwhile, said the state government would continue to impress upon the Archbishops and the Church to help them find the victim.

He assured full protection to the Catholic nun and promised to facilitate her return to Orissa.

New Delhi, October 7
Lok Sabha speaker Somnath Chatterjee has disqualified H.T. Sangliana of the BJP and Ramswaroop Prasad of the JD (United) from the membership of the House.

Sangliana, a BJP MP from Bangalore North in Karnataka and Prasad, a JDU MP from Nalanda in Bihar were disqualified under the10th schedule of the Constitution, which specifies anti-defection rules.

The two had defied the respective whips of their parties to vote in favour of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s trust vote in the special session of Parliament on July 22.

The speaker issued disqualification orders on October 3.

New Delhi, October 7
The group of ministers (GoM) constituted to look into the controversial Right to Education Bill today held their first crucial meeting to discuss the nuances of the law ahead of the Parliament session on October 17.

The Bill, which guarantees free and compulsory education up to elementary level to children aged 6 to 14 years, had earlier run into trouble with the law ministry, which had problems regarding the funding structure for the law. Its implementation over the plan period would cost close to Rs 2 lakh crore, with the exact share of states and centre yet to be finalised.

The (GoM) reportedly had a “highly successful first meeting” today at the residence of HRD minister Arjun Singh, sources in the ministry said, adding that the Bill would be in time for the forthcoming session of Parliament.

The Cabinet had on August 8 referred the matter to the GoM, with the Prime Minister making it clear that the law should be passed within UPA’s tenure. The NDA regime had earlier failed to pass the law, which this time twice ran into trouble on issues involving the financial contribution of states.

Kapil Sibal, one of the four GoM members (including HRD minister Arjun Singh, finance minister P. Chidambaram, planning commissioner deputy chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia), had earlier referred to the “debate on role of states and their financial share in the matter” as the reason behind the matter being sent to the GoM.

HRD ministry sources today indicated that a lot of debatable issues had been successfully resolved in today’s meeting, and the way had been largely cleared for the final drafting of the Bill. “We had a very good meeting today,” said a highly placed HRD official. A Cabinet note is likely to be prepared soon.

New Delhi, October 7
Kanwar Rajendra Singh, 75, passed away today after a prolonged illness. K.R., as he was known to friends, is survived by his wife and a son.

He was a multi-faceted personality, a writer, a painter, a poet, a business executive of high distinction and the chairman of the India Foundation for PR Education and Research.

He started his career in journalism as staff correspondent of The Times of India. He moved to Hindustan Times as the Chief Reporter. Later, he ran an English tabloid, The Daily, in Bombay for five years as its executive director.

As a leading corporate communications executive, he handled challenging assignments for IBM in India and several other countries in Asia.

Kanwar Rajendra Singh won several awards, including the National Media Award and was currently the chairman of India Foundation for PR Education and Research. He was also the chairman of the governing body of Gargi College.

Kanwar Rajendra Singh also served with Birla Groups as the president of Birla Engineering Services, and handled diverse negotiations about Advance Light Helicopters in collaboration with a German aerospace company and the setting up of Birla Medical Technologies. He was on the board of directors of the three Birla companies for several years.

During the last few years, he was concentrating on the development of cancer treatment facilities in India and was the chairman and managing director of a Kirloskar Group of Company, dedicated to this cause.

BRIEFLY

Prints of ‘Alam Ara’ lost
CHENNAI: No prints of the country’s first sound film ‘Alam Ara’ are available with the National Archives of India, an information and broadcasting official said on Tuesday. The prints of the 1931 movie are lost, joint secretary of information and broadcasting ministry V.B. Pyarelal said at the inauguration of a seminar on Growing Power of Regional Cinema organised by Confederation of Indian Industry here. He said only pictures and media photographs of the movie were with the National Archives of India. “Currently we have some materials of the movie,” he added. — PTI

Salem notice to Monica
MUMBAI: Gangster Abu Salem has served a legal notice on actor Monica Bedi, saying that he was “deeply hurt” and “distressed” by her statements denying their marriage. Salem, in the notice, has claimed that the duo got married in a Mosque at Los Angeles in November 2000. Bedi, however, in several interviews had said that although she knew Salem for several years, they had never got married. Salem said that his anguish has been “multiplied manifold” since he is unable to communicate with Bedi. — PTI