New Delhi, June 3
In the aftermath of the terrible Mangalore air accident, India is now contemplating introducing a “suitable legislation” in Parliament to strengthen Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). The aim is to turn the civil aviation regulator into a fully autonomous body with overriding authority on all aviation regulatory matters and improve airline safety mechanism in the country.

Following the first meeting of the newly constituted aviation advisory body-Civil Aviation Safety Advisory Council (CASAC)-Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel said the government would try to bring suitable legislation to further empower the DGCA.

Besides, Patel said the government was considering establishing an independent mechanism to probe accidents on the line of the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), which will separate the roles of the regulator and an investigator. The US-NTSB is an independent agency which investigates every civil aviation accident in the US. Three officials from the NTSB have joined teams from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Boeing to investigate the Mangalore air crash on May 22, in which 158 persons lost their lives.

“We have had a tragic accident. We should not be now found lacking on any front. We will do everything necessary to ensure an orderly growth of aviation in the country. The expectations are very high as the sector is growing,” Patel said.

CASAC, set up by the government a week after the Mangalore air crash, has been tasked to recommend best regulatory practices in air operations and other measures to beef up aviation safety.

Meanwhile, the horrifying lessons from the crash on the table-top runway of Bajpe airport has prompted the DGCA to inspect systems and facilities at 11 airports described as “critical”.

“While critical does not mean unsafe. It reflects on the topography of the area where these airports exist,” Patel said. Critical airports include those in Leh, Kullu, Shimla, Port Blair, Agartala, Lengpui, Calicut, Mangalore, Jammu, Patna and Latur. DGCA has sent teams to these airports for inspection and review of existing facilities, landing and navigational systems as also runways and recommend steps for improvements. Reports of these teams are expected soon.

As far as CASAC is concerned, four working groups will address different issues of safety in the sector. The groups will be on airworthiness, flight operations, aerodromes and air navigation. They will submit their recommendations to the DGCA for action.

The groups will furnish reports on enhancing safety to CASAC, which would meet once each month to review the progress in the areas. Suggestions of CASAC to further enhance aviation safety will be given top priority by the DGCA and the government Today’s meeting was attended by top executives of all major airlines, Airports Authority of India, other airport operators, ATC, pilots, engineers, representatives from International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), FAA, Boeing and Airbus. Noting that safety standards in India were good, Patel said ICAO and FAA were "satisfied with our procedures" after carrying out their safety audits.

New Delhi, June 3
Queue of former BJP stalwarts anxious for a home-coming will become longer as the season of return of the prodigals is about to begin in the BJP.

The latest applicant is former Law Minister Ram Jethmalani. The former Union Minister has reportedly sent in a written request to rejoin his parent party, thus joining the ranks of former BJP leaders like Uma Bharti, Kalyan Singh, KN Govindacharya and Jaswant Singh, who all seem to be having second thoughts about staying for too long away from their “Parivar”.

Jethamalani is reported to have put in his request through his long time friend and associate LK Advani. He is a founder-member of the BJP who framed its constitution when it was floated in 1980 and was then appointed its vice-president. In the late 1980s when he undertook to represent Satwant Singh and Kehar Singh, the assassins of Indira Gandhi, he was forced out of the BJP.

But when Atal Bihari Vajpayee became the Prime Minister, Jethmalani was back in the BJP, joining the NDA government as the Urban Development Minister and then the Law and Justice Minister. But he was soon eased out of the Cabinet. He contested 2004 elections against Vajpayee in Lucknow. His relationship with Vajpayee was never really on an even keel.

BJP spokesperson Nirmala Sitaraman avoided a direct reply when confronted with the question and refused to comment. Jethmalani did not respond to calls from The Tribune. However, BJP sources said Jethmalani was only one of the many former BJP stalwarts who seem to be regretting having quit the organisation. The most recent one was Jaswant Singh, expelled from the BJP, for writing a book “sympathetic” to the role of Mohammad Ali Jinnah in Partition.

Since he was offered a free lift by Advani in his plane while going to attend the funeral of former Vice-President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat recently, Singh seems to have had a change of heart and announced grandly that “The BJP is there in my blood.” Sources said Singh hoped to fill the Rajput void in his erstwhile party created by the death of a Rajput stalwart like Shekhawat.

Applications of Uma Bharti and Kalyan Singh have been pending with Gadkari for several months now. There are indications Gadkari may not be averse to reinvigorating the party by welcoming back old hands, But there are others who are resisting such suggestions. Resistance to Jethmalani is two-fold. One, they say, Jethmalani’s sole aim is to reenter the Rajya Sabha. Besides, he is considered a political loner.

New Delhi, June 3
The BJP is treading cautiously for its two-day national executive meet to be held on June 12-13 in Patna.

This is the first national executive meet that party president Nitin Gadkari will face since he was formally anointed in Indore. In Patna, he may have to confront several uncomfortable questions about his decisions, organisational matters and most importantly, relations with the party allies. The BJP is ruling Bihar as a junior partner of JD(U) under leadership of Nitish Kumar.

The BJP’s stance on caste-based census has started rankling the Parivar. Senior RSS leader MG Vaidya has now asked the BJP to clarify whether Gopinath Munde’s forceful plea for caste-based census in Parliament on May 7 were his individual views or that of the party.

Earlier another RSS leader, Suresh, alias Bhaiyaji Joshi, had opposed caste-based census encouraging former BJP president Murli Manohar Joshi to publicly oppose the party line and declare that he would raise the issue in Patna as well. Gadkari is also likely to face a barrage of questions on his handling of the Jharkhand issue where inordinate delay in withdrawing support from the Shibu Soren government humiliated the party.

There is also considerable uneasiness in the BJP circles over Gadkari’s inability to distribute work to new office-bearers nearly two months after announcing his team and over six months since he assumed office. But most important is the issue of relations with Nitish Kumar, who seems to get the better of the BJP in every litmus test. The BJP chose Patna as national executive meet venue to improve its poll prospects in Bihar and planned a rally at Gandhi Maidan on June 13.

New Delhi, June 3
On his ongoing visit to America, Union Human Resource Development Kapil Sibal today met US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and discussed bilateral cooperation in the field of education. The two spoke about the constitution of the proposed Indo-US education council.

Citing India’s commitment to raise gross enrolment ratio in higher education to 30 per cent by 2020, Sibal said the effort would require setting up of at least 700 new universities and another 35,000 colleges. It was in this context that Sibal welcomed the Singh-Obama knowledge initiative, adding that the India-US Education Council would help the cause by including academics, entrepreneurs and government representatives among members.

The minister invited the USA to be India’s partner in setting up one of the 14 innovation universities. “One such universities could be announced during the proposed visit of President Obama to India later this year,” Sibal said.The two leaders also discussed the use of ICT in enhancing teaching-learning capabilities, research collaboration in biosciences, nano-sciences and other spheres. They talked about the interest shown by US universities in establishing institutions in India.

Chandigarh, June 3
Taking umbrage to the development of a common curriculum in science and mathematics by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) and the Council of Boards of School Education in India (COBSE), the National Council of Education Research and Training (NCERT) has asked the board and council to keep off its territory.

Enraged by a formal invitation from the CBSE and COBSE asking the NCERT to “participate” in the process of framing a common curriculum, it clarified that the task was its sole responsibility.

In a letter written to the CBSE, NCERT’s acting director G. Ravindra has stated: “According to the national policy on education, framing a national curriculum is the NCERT’s responsibility. It is not the job of COBSE or the CBSE.”

According to him the council already had framed the National Curriculum Framework (NCF) in 2005, which took care of common syllabus.

“Its NCERT, which reviews the curriculum every five years and take decisions. The CBSE’s job is restricted to conducting exams and implementing examination reforms, not framing curricula,” said Ravindra.

Meanwhile, COBSE general secretary professor DV Sharma in his official statement has claimed NCERT’s opposition unnecessary as the school boards have every right to update their syllabus. “The boards had asked COBSE to take up the revision and then it was carried out. The NCERT had sent a representative to the consultation program,” he said.

New Delhi, June 3
A serving Lieutenant General, has been accused of sexual misconduct by the wife of a junior colleague. The woman, the wife of a colonel, has alleged that Lt Gen AK Nanda had molested her when she was accompanying her husband on an official visit to Israel some two weeks ago.

Late this evening, the Indian Army’s Public Relations wing issued a terse three-paragraph response, saying: “There are some allegations (against Gen Nanda). Preliminary investigations show that there are number of loopholes in the account of allegations. Further investigations are in progress”.

Gen Nanda, who is the Engineer-in-Chief of the Indian Army, had visited Israel along with a team of more than half a dozen officers. Since most airlines offer a free ticket to a companion, at least three officers had used this facility and taken their spouses along. This included the Colonel, who was technical secretary to Gen Nanda, said well-placed sources.

The colonel has since been transferred to Bhopal following his reluctance to work under Nanda in the aftermath of this episode. A new technical secretary, Col Sanjeev Dalal, has taken over the job.

The woman (name held back to protect her identity) on returning back to India complained to the Army Chief's wife Bharti Singh, the President of the Army Wives Welfare Association, who promptly put it up before Gen VK Singh. Just two months ago General VK Singh on taking over had asserted that any there would be no compromise with maintaining the image of the force and its “core values, ethos, and tradition will receive due attention”.

The PRO clarified “Lieutenant General AK Nanda has neither resigned nor has been asked to put up his resignation. He is holding the appointment of the Engineer-in-Chief”. In the afternoon certain news channels had quoted sources while claiming that General Nanda had resigned.

Meanwhile, sources said, all the Army officers who had gone to Israel had been questioned about the incident that form the allegations levelled by the woman.

Chandigarh, June 3
Haryana’s disgraced top cop SPS Rathore stays behind bars for another day, at least.

His plea for suspension of sentence in Ruchika molestation case was expected to come up for orders this morning, but was deferred by a day. Justice Ajay Tewari is now expected to pronounce the orders before Friday noon. Available information suggests the decision on Rathore’s fate was postponed as detailed order in the matter was in the process of finalisation.

It is believed Justice Ajay Tewari is referring to a number of case laws for reaching a definite conclusion on the issue of sentence’s suspension. As of now, there are no specific guidelines on the issue. Contesting Rathore’s plea, the CBI counsel Anmol Rattan Sidhu and Ajay Kaushik have all along been insisting that conventionally speaking a convict’s sentence is suspended only after he has undergone one third of the total sentence. Counsel for the complainant Pankaj Bhardwaj too has been arguing on the same lines. As of now, Rathore has been in for just over a week.

The other questions before the court are: Whether it is a case of revision or appeal? Rathore-wife-cum-counsel Abha Rathore has been claiming it’s a case of appeal, and not revision. An appeal lies against a fresh order, while a revision is filed against an already decided appeal. In case of an appeal against less three years sentence, the accused can be enlarged on bail. As the appellant court has enhance the sentence granted to the ex-DGP by one year, it’s a fresh order and appeal is maintainable, Abha has been arguing.

The court is also expected to decide whether the non-consideration of site plan, and defence witnesses, made a material difference to the case; and whether Rathore was liable to be enlarged on bail, as his petition stood admitted. Another issue before the court is whether Rathore was implicated due to inimical relationships.

Awaiting orders, a calm and composed Abha Rathore reached Justice Tewari’s courtroom at about 10.30 am. As the court was about to take a tea break, Abha asked Justice Tewari about the pronouncement, but was told to tarry a little. Justice Tewari added he was not too sure whether the order would be pronounced today itself, but efforts to finalise it were being made. Abha, and the media, patiently waited, as Justice Tewari coped up with the heavy workload of petitions filed during the vacations. Just after lunch, the parties were told to come for the pronouncement the next day.

Mumbai, June 3
Booker Prize-winning author and activist Arundhati Roy, who has been attacked for backing Maoists groups despite several incidents of violence, reiterated her support for the armed guerrillas. Speaking at a function organised by the Committee for the Protection of Democratic Rights, Roy justified the violent methods adopted by the Maoist groups.

“It ought to be an armed movement. Gandhian way of opposition needs an audience, which is absent here,” Roy said. She went on to say that the Naxal movement could be nothing but an armed struggle. “But I am not supporting violence,” Roy said.

The writer who has been attacked for allegedly calling the Maoist groups, Gandhians with Guns, denied the charges. Roy insisted that she called them Gandhian for their spartan lifestyle. Slamming the central government for attempting to deploy the Army against the Maoist groups, Roy said it amounted to militarisation of democracy. “We should all be aware that within the Congress there is a division of labour. Rahul and Sonia Gandhi are the good guys, and Manmohan Singh and P Chidambaram are bad guys. But there is consensus beneath all this.

The government's strategy is if you can't wipe them out then buy them out," she said. “You have an MoU on every mountain, river...MoUs signed by biggest corporations in the world who are waiting to gain hold of the resources," she said.

“If you read the business papers you will understand clearly which MNC is waiting for which land,” Roy said. “Maoists are at ….the….violent end of a spectrum of a dissent (about) this massive sale of land…. Whether it is Kalinganagar or POSCO, or Singur, or the Maoist movement, at the heart is land,” Roy said.

New Delhi, June 3
The term of the wage boards for working journalists and non-journalists and other newspaper employees has been extended till December 31 this year, according to a government notification.

The term of the wage boards under the chairmanship of Justice GR Majithia had come to end on May 23. However, Justice Majithia had sought an extension up to December 31 to submit his report.

“The Central Government hereby extends the term of the wage boards under the chairmanship of Justice GR Majithia up to December 31, 2010, so as to finalise the recommendations on or before December 31 without any further extension of time,” the notification issued yesterday said.

The boards were constituted three years back, in accordance with the provisions of the Working Journalists and Other Newspaper Employees (Conditions of service) and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1955, for the purpose of fixing or revising rates of wages in respect of working journalists and non-journalists and other newspaper employees.

The Labour Ministry had reportedly opposed giving extension to the wage boards and had insisted on setting up of a tribunal. — PTI

Mumbai, June 3
The BJP will showcase Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi as its model leader at a convention on good governance being organised here this weekend.

The conclave of CMs, named Suraj Sankalp, will be held at the Rambhau Mhalgi Prabhodhini Centre at Bhayandar on the outskirts of Mumbai. “The idea behind this exercise is to guide Chief Ministers and deputy Chief Ministers from BJP-ruled states on good governance,” a party spokesman said.

Modi, who despite his controversial past is being branded as a model administrator by the party, will show case his achievements in Gujarat and ask the leaders from other states to follow in his footsteps, BJP leaders say.

Among those scheduled to attend include the CMs of Karnataka, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh and Chhattisgarh where the BJP is in power. Deputy Chief Ministers from Bihar and Punjab where the BJP is a junior partner in a coalition will also be attending the conference, say party sources.

The brain behind the exercise is said to be BJP president Nitin Gadkari who wants to refashion the party as one oriented towards development, says a BJP leader. Former Chief Ministers and leaders of the BJP in Parliament and the states will be conducting sessions at the conclave.

The conclave will be on the lines of a training programme conducted for RSS office-bearers at the same venue. Senior ideologues from the BJP’s parent organisation have been roped in to prepare the agenda of the conclave, sources said.

Earlier, BJP leader from Goa Manohar Parrikar who is in charge of the conclave has been quoted as saying that the successes and failures of the party’s chief ministers will be discussed and remedial measures suggested. Report cards of the party’s leaders will be presented at the conclave though these would not be made public, Parrikar has been quoted as saying.

Guwahati, June 3
Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Navin Chawla today said the Election Commission (EC) was fully satisfied with the electronic voting machines (EVMs) and administrative procedures relating to their use.

The CEC, who was here to chair a meeting of election officials of northeastern states today, however, said the EC was concerned over rising allegations of use of money in elections and would gear up its monitoring mechanisms to tackle it.

On the issue of doubts aired by different quarters and court cases related to reliability of the EVMs, the CEC told newsmen here: “The EVMs cannot be tampered with. Neither the EC nor any private player is involved in making of EVMs. An EVM is not a PC-based system and works as a stand-alone machine.”

The CEC also informed that EVMs were picked up at random and rotated from state to state and hence there was no scope for manipulating these machines in favour of any particular candidate or party.

Election Commissioner Dr SY Quraishi, who also addressed the media along with the CEC, informed about the EC’s decision to adopt for the entire country an ‘innovative’ practice of live webcast of polling that was introduced in some constituencies of Arunachal Pradesh during the last Lok Sabha elections . He said that sitting in Delhi the commission was able to see live feed of the polling in stations in remote Arunachal Pradesh.

Regarding the next round of Assembly polls in Assam that are due in 2011, Quraishi said the appointment of Booth Level Officers (BLO) would be completed within the next two months and time-bound training would be given to them. The commission directed the Chief Electoral Officer and the District Election Officers in the state to review the condition of existing polling stations and find out if any additional or auxiliary polling station needed to be set up.

The CEC also called upon all the political parties to appoint Block Level Agents (BLA) so that they can work together with BLOs to ensure that the process of a preparation of electoral roll and photo-identity cards was error proof.

Chennai, June 3
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister donated his Gopalapuram residence in the city for converting it into a hospital for the poor, amid grand celebrations throughout the state, as the veteran leader turned 87 today.

The Chief Minister, who formed a five-member trust for the purpose of running the hospital, celebrated his birthday with family members, at the Gopalapuram residence.