|
|
|
|
|
Committed to security of Indians, says Karzai
CVC Appointment |
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
PM stresses on green regulatory policies
Godhra Riots
Buildings near RAW centre irk IAF
Indigenous UAV Nishant ready
for delivery
Insurers: Show us business, we will cover HIV+
India Inc offers jobs to Tihar inmates
NRIs can cast vote back home
CBI quizzes 3 Adarsh accused
|
|
Committed to security of Indians, says Karzai
New Delhi, February 3 Prime Minister Manmohan Singh met Karzai at his residence here and discussed a wide range of bilateral issues, including India’s developmental assistance and various new projects New Delhi proposes to undertake in the war-torn country. The PM is learnt to have voiced India’s apprehensions over the ongoing dialogue for reintegrating the “moderate” Taliban into the mainstream of the Afghan society and Pakistan’s attempt to meddle in the integration process to further its own strategic interests. The two leaders also discussed the prospective security situation in view of the proposed phased withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan that is expected to begin in July, sources said. The leaders of the two countries, both of which accuse Pakistan of harbouring militants behind terror attacks on their countries, discussed “the common threat faced by both societies from terrorism”, a joint statement issued by the two sides said. The two leaders agreed that this ran counter to the aspiration of their people. They also “agreed that the strategic partnership between India and Afghanistan is a positive factor for peace and stability in the region”, it added.
|
|
CVC Appointment
New Delhi, February 3 A three-member Bench headed by Chief Justice SH Kapadia also pointed out that both the Kerala Government, where he was chief secretary, and the Centre had apparently failed to initiate disciplinary proceedings against Thomas by ordering an independent inquiry into the charges of financial irregularities in the import of palm oil in 1991-92. Thomas was Food Secretary at the time of the import and had become Chief Secretary by 2008 when he was brought to the Centre as Parliamentary Affairs Secretary. The Bench, which included Justices KSP Radhakirshnan and Swatanter Kumar, said since the case was pending with a trial court since 2000, the government, either at the state or the Centre, could have conducted an inquiry before giving him a clean chit. The Centre had obtained a CVC clearance before appointing Thomas as Parliamentary Affairs Secretary. Arguing for the Centre, Attorney General GE Vahanvati today clarified there was no need for fresh vigilance clearance for the appointment of CVC as it was obtained at the time of the Secretary-level appointment. The apex court asked the AG about the then CVC ignoring several aspects, on which there could be no two opinions, while giving a clean chit to Thomas. The Bench listed the following factors that should have been gone into: Thomas was an accused in the chargesheet in the palm oil import case which was still pending, he had not approached the judiciary for seeking his discharge, the state’s request for proceeding against him was lying with the Centre even now and the Kerala High Court reportedly had certain remarks against him. Also, there was no finding of any departmental inquiry to show that there was no substance in the chargesheet against him. The AG and senior counsel KK Venugopal, who argued for Thomas, however contended that the Left Front government in Kerala, which had named him as an accused, itself had promoted him as Chief Secretary ignoring the case. At this, the Bench said the fact was that the case was pending and wondered whether going into the merits of the charges “was within the realm of the CVC… CVC is not the final authority in such matters.” As Venugopal argued that his client was a victim of political rivalry between the LDF and the Congress-led UDF in Kerala, the CJI remarked that due to this factor, “it was all the more obligatory on the part of the government to set up a disciplinary inquiry.” Arguing for the PIL petitioner, the Centre for PIL, counsel Prashant Bhushan said the CVC who cleared Thomas had taken a decision just on the basis of a note put up by the Department of Personnel, without going into the case file or other relevant material. The arguments will continue on February 7.
|
|
PM stresses on green regulatory policies
New Delhi, February 3 Addressing the Delhi Sustainable Development Summit organised by The Energy Resources Institute, he said incentives for sustainable development must encourage economic decision makers to act in an environmentally benign manner. For this he proposed a two-pronged strategy for it, putting in place a structure of regulatory policies and making the polluter pay. Standards, however, were not enough, he said. “They must also be enforced which is often difficult. It is also necessary to ensure that these regulatory standards do not bring back the Licence Permit Raj which we sought to get rid of in the wake of the economic reforms of early’90s,” he added. The PM said residual pollution could still be caused despite regulatory efforts, so there should be a provision of polluters paying for it. This, he said, would discourage polluters and also provide means of financing necessary corrective steps to counter the pollution caused.
|
|
Godhra Riots Ahmedabad, February 3 According to a news magazine that released details of the purported report of the Supreme Court-appointed SIT, Modi tried to water down the seriousness of the situation at Gulberg Society, Naroda Patiya and other places by saying that "every action has an equal and opposite reaction". The magazine, Tehelka, in a press release said that Modi, according to the report, had placed two senior ministers Ashok Bhatt and IK Jadeja in the Ahmedabad city police control room and the Gujarat state police control room during the riots with 'no definite charter'. The SIT report says it appears that the political affiliation of the advocates did weigh with the government for the appointment of public prosecutors. The SIT, according to the magazine, has concluded that allegations, which have been found to be true can't be further investigated under the law. The SIT has given its report in a sealed cover to the apex court. Meanwhile, BJP spokesperson Nirmala Seetharam, while questioning the authenticity of the report carried by the magazine, said these are more like allegations rather than the finding of the SIT. She said the party feels complete justice will be done for Modi and for it in the matter. On some of the points raised in the report, Seetharaman said the process of recruiting public prosecutors in Gujarat goes through a system where the District Magistrate and the Sessions Judge sit together and finalise a panel of names. The state government has nothing to do with this, she said.
— PTI
|
|
|
Buildings near RAW centre irk IAF
New Delhi, February 3 “This is a matter of concern to us...We have raised objection over this (construction),” Air Chief Marshal P V Naik told reporters here on sidelines of a seminar. He was replying to queries about whether the construction of hotels next to the ARC complex was a matter of concern for the IAF and whether it has raised objection over the issue. The IAF chief did not elaborate or specify as to whom the objections had been conveyed. As per rules, no construction activity is allowed within 100 metres of military air bases and technical areas, IAF officials said. The ARC base at Delhi Airport has aircraft such as IL-76, AN-32 and Gulf Stream besides some Mi-17 choppers which are used for gathering intelligence and carrying out airborne surveillance missions. Most of these planes are piloted by IAF personnel on deputation to ARC or by former IAF pilots, who are re-employed with ARC. At least 14 five-star hotels and other buildings are being constructed near the Indira Gandhi International Airport.
|
|
Indigenous UAV Nishant ready
for delivery
New Delhi, February 3 The Army will formally take delivery of a set of four such UAVs together with ground systems in the coming weeks. Dr Prahlada, Chief Controller, Research and Development, (Aeronautics and Services Interaction) explained that Nishant is capable of being launched from a hydro pneumatic launcher without the need of a runway. The system consists of air vehicle supported by ground control station equipment mounted on an existing “Tatra” series of vehicle of the Army. The UAV can be made to land at a particular spot with the help of parachutes and landing bags. The UAV is used in roles like battle field reconnaissance, surveillance, target tracking and pointing artillery fire in the correct direction. Nishant can carry cameras, sensors and even equipment to pick out communication. It can also be used for counter insurgency operations. The performance of the pay load sensors in particular has been better than even the imported UAVs with the Army, the DRDO spokesperson said. Nishant has been designed and developed by Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE), a DRDO laboratory specialising in UAVs.
|
|
Insurers: Show us business, we will cover HIV+
New Delhi, February 3 After Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad argued that “other sectors” must compliment the government’s efforts in responding to the HIV/AIDS epidemic, one of the tallest figures in India’s insurance sector reminded the minister that he must bring business sense to the table if insurance companies are to come in for mainstreaming HIV/AIDS in their schemes. Hitherto, the disease is excluded from the insurance cover while the government spends Rs 330 crore annually on providing care, treatment and support services to the People living with HIV (PLHIV). The rest of the burden is borne by the infected. “First, let us remember that insurance companies will come in where there is some business. I hope we will be able to drive commercial sense in providing insurance cover to PLHIVs,” S.B. Mathur, secretary general of the Life Insurance Council, a conglomerate of life insurance firms in India, today said. Some representatives of the insurance sector wanted to know why the government wants an insurance cover for the PLHIVs when it gives them free antiretroviral therapy and tuberculosis treatment. The fact is, the government does not cover the treatment cost of other infections and medical conditions the infected persons might face. For that to be borne, it has roped in insurance companies, many of who were present at the dialogue the Health Ministry organised today. Mathur said that though the government claims mortality and morbidity on account of HIV/AIDS had dropped significantly, that data had never been shared with the insurance sector.
|
|
India Inc offers jobs to Tihar inmates
New Delhi, February 3 The list - which includes big names like IDBI bank, Vedanta Group, Sterlite Foundation, Agarwal Packers, Jindal Steel and Flex shoes - will carry out the "campus selection" of the prisoners, who have received professional training during their term at the jail. "Ten companies have agreed to absorb some of our convicts when they get released from the jail. They include IDBI Bank, Vedanta Group and Agarwal Packers amongst others. We have done the profiling of 50 professionally qualified inmates. This campus selection, which is happening for the first time, will be conducted on February 5," said Sunil Gupta, law officer and spokesperson, Tihar jail said. The job placement is being done to help the prisoners earn and live with dignity.
— PTI
|
|
New Delhi, February 3 The rules make it clear that the NRIs would have to register as voters and be "physically present" with their passport on the polling day to exercise their franchise. There is no provision for postal balloting. "Every citizen of India staying in a foreign country, who has not acquired citizenship of a foreign country, and has completed 18 years of age as on January 1 of the year, can make an application for being registered in the roll for the constituency pertaining to the locality in which his place of residence in India as mentioned in the passport is located," said the notification prepared in consultation with the Election Commission. — PTI
|
|
CBI quizzes 3 Adarsh accused
Mumbai, February 3 The three, Adarsh society's general secretary RC Thakur, retired Brigadier MM Wanchoo and Congress leader K L Gidwani, were questioned at the CBI office here at Colaba. The agency confronted them with documents seized during searches on January 30, a day after registering the case against the 13 accused. Thakur and Wanchoo had allegedly conspired with others to illegally get the land alloted to the society.
— PTI
|
Will take ‘sanyas’ if benami deal proved: Yeddyurappa Jaya not on Twitter Self-immolation bid Tri-Valley students must get other options: India Mulayam warns Maya
|
| HOME PAGE | |
Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir |
Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs |
Nation | Opinions | | Business | Sports | World | Letters | Chandigarh | Ludhiana | Delhi | | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail | |
