New Delhi, March 13
Despite numerous measures, including the multi-crore debt relief, announced by the government to address problems of credit availability to farmers, a majority of them continue to depend upon non-institutional sources like moneylenders.

Rapping the government for not taking its recommendation on setting up of a Money Lenders Debt Redemption Fund, as suggested by the Expert Group on Agricultural Indebtedness, the Standing Committee on Finance has reiterated the creation of a corpus of Rs 100 crore to bring them out of clutches of private lenders.

Due to inadequate institutional finance, farmers at times have no alternative but to take loans from lenders at exorbitant interest rates.

The committee headed by senior BJP leader Murli Manohar Joshi, in its latest report to Parliament, stated that private money lending was the biggest hurdle in bringing farmers under the ambit of institutional financing.

“While the emphasis of the committee’s recommendations has been on setting up a Money Lenders Debt Redemption Fund, the government has merely chosen to inform about the proposed constitution of a task force to examine the matter relating to loans availed from private money lenders,” the committee lamented.

In its earlier proposal also the committee had suggested formation of the proposed fund, in view of the increasing dependence of rural households on money lenders for meeting credit requirement, as evident from the data of the National Sample Survey Organisation on rural indebtedness.

However, the government in its action taken reply stated: “In the Budget speech 2009-10, it has been announced to set up a task force to examine the matter relating to loans availed from private money lenders in greater detail and suggest the future course of action.”

The committee has termed this reply by the government as“evasive” with regard to emphasis made by it on taking measures. It now wants specific action on the creation of the fund for farmers.

Experts believe while announcing the Rs 60,000-crore debt relief for farmers, the government forgot to take care of crucial aspect of the debt phenomenon - the money farmers owe to private moneylenders. A NSSO survey said 76 per cent of rural households took loans from moneylenders.

In fact, debt owed to private moneylenders was estimated to be more than two-thirds of the total farm debt. 

New Delhi, March 13
Asserting that it has no interest in destabilising Pakistan, India today rejected Pakistan’s allegations of an Indian hand in yesterday’s serial bomb blasts in Lahore.

“it is unfortunate that by repeating such unfounded and unsubstantiated statements, officials in responsible positions in the Government of Pakistan put a strain on our bilateral relationship, instead of concentrating on dismantling the infrastructure of terrorism directed against India and adversely impacting Pakistan itself,” the External Affairs Ministry said.The suicide bombings in Lahore targeting an army convoy killed at least 57 persons.

The Lahore City Commissioner was quoted as saying in the media that India was behind yesterday’s bombings although he did not offer any evidence.

New Delhi, March 13
Dubbing paid news as an electoral malpractice, leaders of major political parties today suggested amendment to the Representation of People’s Act to effectively deal with the malaise.

Participating in a seminar on the issue that came to light after the Lok Sabha elections last year, Leader of the Opposition and BJP member Sushma Swaraj, CPM general secretary Prakash Karat and Congress spokesman Manish Tewari also emphasised the need for a self-regulatory mechanism for the media to end the menace.

The day-long seminar was organised jointly by four journalist organisations - the Editors’ Guild of India, the Indian Women’s Press Corps, the Press Association and the Broadcast Editors Association.

Swaraj said the Election Commission should also be given more teeth to deal with complaints of paid news.

Election Commissioner SY Qureshi admitted there had been complaints of how the visual and print media were indulging in the menace of paid news. However, there was no circumstantial evidence to prove that. The commission needed solid proof that could stand legal scrutiny, he added. In any case, the commission could intervene in the matter only if there was a legislation to empower it.

Karat said paid news must be declared an electoral malpractice.

Swaraj said the issue of paid news was expected to be discussed during the second part of the Budget session of Parliament next month. She said there were many instances in which newspapers and TV channels had demanded money from political parties for their publicity.

When Rajdeep Sardesai, Editor-in-Chief of the CNN/IBN news channel asked Swaraj if she was ready to name the newspapers that had demanded money, the BJP leader said she could do so when the issue was discussed in Parliament. Several senior journalists, including Kuldip Nayyar, TN Ninan, Neerja Chowdhury, S Nihal Singh and Mrinal Pande, who is now the Chairperson of Prasar Bharati, participated in the seminar.

New Delhi, March 13
Referring to Pakistan’s concerns over India’s involvement in reconstruction work in Afghanistan, a special envoy of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today said India was not in the business of having a proxy war in the conflict-torn nation.

“We are not in the business of having some kind of a proxy war in Afghanistan or carving out a base for ourselves,” Shyam Saran said.

Saran, who steps down from his post tomorrow, said India’s role in Afghanistan was limited to humanitarian issues and providing relief, economic reconstruction and facilitating human resource development there.

“We do recognise that unless these kind of needs of the Afghans are not met, there is always a chance that there would be a relapse into chaos and great distress,” Saran said at the inaugural Fletcher South Asia Colloquium.

Pakistan High Commission official Syed Zulfiqar Gardezi, who also participated in the colloquium, contended as Afghanistan’s immediate neighbour, Pakistan must have a say in the discussions on Afghanistan.

Responding to the contention, Saran said: “I do not think it is legitimate for any country to start defining its interests in a manner that transcends borders and has a veto on what is happening on the other side of the border.” — PTI 

New Delhi, March 13
The Supreme Court has taken serious view of the Jammu and Kashmir High Court for ordering removal of a science teacher affected by cerebral palsy and its mechanical and insensitive approach in the case. It also ordered reinstatement of the teacher and clarified that his removal would not cause any break in his service.

The HC chose a “rather unusual method” for assessing Syed Bashir-ud-din Qadri’s capability by summoning him to court and asking him questions, thereby unnerving him and worsening his speech disability, a Bench comprising Justices Altamas Kabir and Cyriac Joseph ruled in its verdict, setting aside the HC’s judgement.

“We are convinced that the “approach” of the local authorities as well as the high court was “too pedantic and rigid” and was not in consonance with the objects of the Jammu and Kashmir Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act, 1998 and the scheme of the state government to fill up certain percentage of vacancies with disabled candidates,” the Bench said.

Chandigarh, March 13
Union Minister of State for External Affairs Preneet Kaur today said she would call on Union Home Minister P Chidambaram later this month to try and get resolved the Sikh “black list” issue.

Addressing a ‘meet-the-press programme’ here, Kaur took up a slew of issues, including terrorism, ban on turban and attacks on Indians abroad. Reiterating India’s stand on terror, she said ties with Pakistan could not improve until the neighbouring nation dismantled all terror camps (targeting India).

Emphasising on India’s commitment and resolve to maintain peace and stability in the Asia Pacific region, Kaur said: “This does not mean that we will give up our efforts till those guilty of launching an attack on are brought to justice and the issue reaches a logical conclusion.” She said India had chosen to continue dialogue at a minimal level to convey own stand and concern over terror.

Expressing concern over the killing of minorities in Afghanistan and Pakistan, Kaur said India would seek Pakistan’s intervention in maintaining the safety of minorities. “We have taken the incident of beheading of Jaspal Singh strongly with Pakistan. The barbaric and heinous crime is condemnable. Our sympathies are with Singh's family.”

Also, she said New Delhi was committed to rebuilding infrastructure in Afghanistan despite attempts to dissuade Indians through incidents like the attack on its mission in Kabul in February.

About attacks in Australia, Kaur said India had taken up the issue with the Australians at the highest level. “In clear terms, Australia has been told that such incidents were not acceptable, after which several measures have been put in place to ensure that such incidents are not repeated.”

And regarding the ban on turbans in France, she said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had visited that nation in July last and the issue was likely to be resolved soon.

Mumbai, March 13
Differences have risen between the Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party ruling Maharashtra over the imposition of entertainment tax on IPL matches in the state.

While Chief Minister Ashok Chavan of the Congress is keen on levying entertainment tax, the NCP headed by Sharad Pawar is staunchly opposed to it. Pawar, who heads the Maharashtra Cricket Association, is a former president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India.

The contradictions within the government came to light earlier this week when Finance Minister Sunil Tatkare of the NCP stated that no entertainment tax would be levied on IPL matches. Chavan immediately contradicted his minister and said no decision has been taken yet in this regard.

Entertainment tax on IPL match venues would yield just about Rs 7 to Rs 10 crore, a small amount for a state like Maharashtra. However, observers say, both the Congress and the NCP are using this issue to score points over each other.

Seeing an opportunity to embarrass the government, the Opposition, Bharatiya Janata Party, has threatened to file law suits if no entertainment tax is levied on IPL matches.

BJP spokesman Madhav Bhandari alleged that the government was violating a Cabinet decision to levy tax on IPL matches. The party is demanding that Chavan clarify on the matter. The BJP has alleged that the Finance Minister was favoring Sharad Pawar and the Chief Minister has been unable to restrain his Cabinet colleague.

Balasore (Orissa), March 13
With an eye to develop a full fledged multi-layer Ballistic Missile Defence system, India is likely to test-fire its indigenously designed and developed Advanced Air Defence (AAD) missile from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) off Orissa coast tomorrow. 

The missile is capable of destroying any hostile ballistic missile at low altitude situation.The missile, a modified indigenously built ‘Prithvi, would first be lifted off from a mobile launcher from the ITR at Chandipur-on-sea and the interceptor AAD missile using a radio frequency seeker on-board would be blasted off from Wheeler Island about 70 km across the sea from Chandipur.

The missile would destroy the target in mid air over Bay of Bengal. — PTI 

Hyderabad, March 13
Andhra Pradesh will soon bring Information Technology and IT enabled Sector (ITeS) under the purview of the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) to ensure their unhindered development.A Bill proposing amendments to ESMA would be introduced in the ongoing Budget session, the state IT Minister K Venkat Reddy said.AP is one of the leading IT destinations in the country with over 1,300 big, medium and small IT and ITeS companies operating in the state, employing around 2.5 lakh professionals.

The application of ESMA would help IT sector insulate itself from disruptions due to agitations and shutdowns. “We need to spare the IT industry from disruption during agitations,” the minister said.

The government’s decision comes against the backdrop of IT industry feeling the heat of Telangana agitation and suffering frequent disruptions due to bandhs. The political uncertainty over future of Hyderabad, a major IT hub, has come as a dampener for many software companies.

There are reports that several IT companies have either put on hold or shelved their expansion plans for Hyderabad in view of the ongoing Telangana agitation.

Chennai, March 13
Describing Tamil Nadu as “a role model for the rest of the country”, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has said the state had attained new heights in rural 
development and agrarian transformation.

Inaugurating the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly and Secretariat complex, the Prime Minister made an appeal to legislators to treat it as a "sacred place to work for people's cause" and asked them to "ensure there was no wasteful use of public money". “They (legislatures) are places for upholding the ideals of our Constitution and indeed for bringing them into action. Legislators appraise contemporary legislation and enact new laws. To discharge their responsibility effectively, they should not only be alert and well informed but should also be alive to the basic concerns of Indian polity,” the Prime Minister said.