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At SAARC, all eyes on Manmohan-Gilani meet
Advani is BJP’s natural choice for PM’s post: Rajnath
UP cane farmers have a field day; price up by Rs 40
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M’rashtra farmers seek better prices too
Amarnath yatra
PREPARING FOR COMMON ENGG TEST 2013
Tribunal quashes discharge of LMC troops
Khanduri fumes as Sonia set to flag off railway project
Possible to run all vehicles with biofuel in 10 years: Kalam
ICMR research awards for two PGI doctors
Award for Army team
Jaya to appear in court on Nov 22
Bhanwari case: Vital clues found
CBI to file FIR in Airbus deal
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At SAARC, all eyes on Manmohan-Gilani meet
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is leaving here tomorrow for the tiny Indian Ocean nation at the head of a high-level delegation to attend the SAARC Summit on November 10-11 and hold bilateral talks with all the South Asian leaders on the fringes. Officials say the schedule of the PM’s bilateral meetings is still being drawn up. However, the all-important meeting with Pakistan PM Yousuf Raza Gilani, it is understood, will take place on Friday. All eyes will obviously be on this meeting as has happened at all SAARC summits in the past, much to the discomfiture of other South Asian leaders. In fact, Maldives President Maldives President Mohammed Nasheed had given vent to his anger and frustration in this regard at the SAARC Summit in Thimpu in April last year. When a journalist recently asked Foreign Secretary Ranjan Mathai why the meeting between the PMs of India and Pakistan always overshadows the SAARC engagements, his prompt reply was “the question is, who makes it a big ticket event? I think I am looking at those responsible for that.’’ He was obviously alluding to the fact that it is the media which, instead of highlighting the SAARC issues, devoted its entire energy to the India-Pakistan engagement on the sidelines. Anyhow, the Singh-Gilani meeting will take place amid a positive environment in the bilateral relationship in the wake of recent positive developments though Pakistan has still not done much to bring to justice the perpetrators of the November 2008 Mumbai attacks. India was quite appreciative of Pakistan when it recently released an Indian Army helicopter that strayed into Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) just within a few hours of the incident. Gilani is also expected to convey to the Indian PM his government’s decision to grant the Most Favoured Nation (MFN) status to India, ending confusion over the issue. As far as the SAARC Summit is concerned, the meet is expected to witness the inking of four agreements among the member countries-India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Bhutan and the Maldives. The pacts include two on regional standards, one for the setting up of a rapid response mechanism to deal with natural disasters and the fourth to establish a SAARC Seed Bank. The SAARC leaders will also adopt a joint declaration. The theme of the summit is ‘Building Bridges’, in view of the fact that the SAARC countries have an ambitious plan on their agenda--linking the entire region through Railways, highways and waterways. In its more than 25 years of existence, SAARC has failed to make much headway and emerge as a strong regional grouping like the ASEAN or the European Union (EU), thanks to the India-Pakistan rivalry. Other countries in the region believe that the organisation can truly make a mark only if India and Pakistan, its two big members, resolve their bilateral differences and become engines of regional economic growth. Once the summit concludes on November 11, Manmohan Singh will be on a bilateral visit to the Maldives until the next day. India is likely to sign a counter-terror agreement with the Maldives. He will also be addressing the ‘People’s Majlis’, the Maldivian Parliament, before returning home sometime in the evening on Saturday.
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Advani is BJP’s natural choice for PM’s post: Rajnath
The support of friends overwhelmed Advani so much, he was seen wiping tears off his eyes on several occasions during the celebration of his birthday which was attended by party leadership - among them were former BJP president Rajnath Singh, Leaders of Opposition in both Houses of Parliament Arun Jaitley and Sushma Swaraj, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand Chief Ministers Shivraj Chauhan, Raman Singh and Arjun Munda, respectively. Advani’s most precious gift, however, came from Rajnath Singh who hailed the veteran’s innings in politics as exceptional and called him not a contender for party’s prime ministerial candidature but a “natural and eternal choice” for it. “When we read in the newspapers about Advaniji being a contender for the Prime Minister’s post, it hurts a great deal. Will a personality of such exception ever stake his claim for any such post? He is an obvious choice for it,” former BJP president said, inspiring emotions in Advani, who turned tearful occasionally today as leaders saluted his role. Arun Jaitley lauded him as a “leading light for the party and the country and a role model for the young in politics”. “We need Advaniji’s guidance for the good of the country and the world,” Jaitley said, while Rajnath recalled how before the 2009 General Election he had gone to seek the counsel of former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee on who should be the BJP’s prime ministerial candidate. “Atalji told me if anyone could be projected as a prime ministerial candidate, it had to be Advani,” Singh said, rekindling the debate around Advani’s political future and placing him firmly in the race for the top slot. Advani, who occasionally left the dais to gather his emotions following the compliments by party men, struck a note of humility on his day and urged colleagues to shun arrogance of power. “If you get a position of power, live it with humility and responsibility. Don’t be arrogant,” said the BJP leader, who halted his 38-day-long Jan Chetna Yatra against corruption to be with family and friends today. Advani attributed much of his political success to the RSS, saying he had been very fortunate to have the sangh for a family. “Family is the biggest institution and I have been very fortunate to be associated with the RSS, my family,” he said.
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UP cane farmers have a field day; price up by Rs 40
Government has asked the state’s sugar mills to start crushing within three days. The state government had last year arrested two sugar mill owners for ignoring government orders to commence the crushing. Announcing the decision taken at the cabinet meeting, Chief Minister Mayawati today said price for advanced variety of sugarcane had been increased from Rs 210 to 250 per quintal. For general variety of sugarcane, the price is Rs 240 now and for the late variety it has been fixed at Rs 235 per quintal, the CM
said, while highlighting her government’s commitment to welfare of the farmers. “Ever since my government took over in 2007, I have kept the interest of sugarcane farmers in mind in order to save farmers from the trap of money-lenders”, claimed Mayawati. She said the price hike compared favourably with Punjab where prices of various varieties of sugarcane have been increased to Rs 220, 225 and 230 respectively. Comparing sugarcane price fixed by her government to that fixed by Mulayam Singh Yadav’s government, Mayawati said the prices have increased by 65 per cent. “Besides increasing sugarcane prices, the government also cleared Rs 2,400 crore arrear to sugarcane farmers left by the previous government,” said Mayawati.
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M’rashtra farmers seek better prices too
Mumbai, November 8 "We began our protest from Monday midnight and the effect will be felt over the next few days," said Raghunath Patil, a leader of the organisation. However, according to dealers at the wholesale Agriculture Produce Marketing Committee at Navi Mumbai, there are no indications that supplies have been hit. The SSS is headed by Raju Shetty, a Kolhapur MP who enjoys tremendous clout in the districts of Kolhapur, Sangli and Satara which are the major sugarcane producing centres. These districts are also major suppliers of milk to western parts of the state including Mumbai, Thane, Navi Mumbai and Kalyan-Dombivli. Meanwhile, Maharashtra government has decided to negotiate with the agitating farmers. Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan has invited farmers for another round of talks later this week even as Shetty began an indefinite hunger strike at Baramati, the stronghold of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Sharad Pawar. At a meeting with Shiv Sena leader Uddhav Thackeray Tuesday afternoon, Chavan assured him that the Maharashtra government would begin talks representatives of the farmers. While the Maharashtra government has set the price of sugarcane at Rs 1,450 per tonne, farmers are demanding Rs 2,350 per tonne. Adding to the farmers' woes is a decision by Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar to punish sugar co-operatives that pay higher price than that set by the state government. "Most of the sugar co-operatives are controlled by politicians, so they do not want to pay higher prices to farmers," Shetty said in a statement.
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Amarnath yatra New Delhi, November 8 “You are on a very, very slippery wicket,” a Bench comprising Justices HL Dattu and CK Prasad told Agnivesh who sought quashing of the criminal complaint filed against him in Haryana. Senior counsel Gopal Subramanium, arguing for Agnivesh, said his client had already clarified that the remarks were made in the context of the arrangements for the annual yatra in Jammu and Kashmir and not against the pilgrims or the pilgrimage. “It was certainly not intended to hurt sentiments,” he contended. Unconvinced, the Bench observed that the statement of Agnivesh was widely reported by the print and the electronic media. “Does it not hurt the sentiments?” it asked. Having made the statement, Agnivesh “can’t go scot free. Investigation has to take place,” it clarified. People like Agnivesh who were in public service should be careful at least in future and as such quashing the FIR would not help, the Judges maintained. Further, “sentiments of the people can’t be taken for granted,” the Bench explained. Gopal sought to put the entire blame on the media by contending that it had distorted his client’s comments. Once Agnivesh realized that someone was trying to capitalize on the statement, he promptly issued the clarification, the senior counsel argued. Rejecting this contention, the Bench said Agnivesh came out with his clarification perhaps after achieving his purpose. “He should weigh his words 10 times before uttering anything as people from different walks of life undertakes the yatra,” it noted. As the Bench was reluctant to entertain the petition, the senior counsel sought a week’s time to file an affidavit, explaining the circumstances and the context in which the statement had been made and how the media gave it a spin, thereby showing that there was no need for any criminal prosecution of his client. The Bench agreed to hear the plea again on November 14.
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PREPARING FOR COMMON ENGG TEST 2013
New Delhi, November 8 The development follows a discussion between Minister of Human Resource Development Kapil Sibal and experts at Educational Testing Service in the US to share their research on aptitude testing with India, which plans to start a common exam for entry to all undergraduate level technical institutes, including the IITs, by 2013. “The major challenge before us in conducting the proposed common test for admission to all technical courses is to factor into the exam design India’s diversity and elements that will ensure parity across school boards. We also have to ensure there is no disadvantage on account of the rural-urban divide. The ETS has agreed to share with us its research on design of such examinations. We will look at that and take it from there. Research sharing will be at zero cost,” sources in HRD Ministry today told The Tribune. On November 18, ETS experts will be in the Capital to conduct a workshop on aptitude testing for the IITs and CBSE examination team. The workshop will deal with the challenges of designing and conducting a SAT-type test in India. Directors of all 15 IITs, chairmen, Joint Entrance Exam, chairman of GATE (which IITs conduct) and the CBSE’s core team will attend the workshop. “We do not have expertise in conducting aptitude tests. Our Joint Entrance Exam for entry to IITs tests subject knowledge and is restrictive. We hope to learn from the ETS in three fields -- organisation and management of the aptitude test as and when India introduces it; design of the test and processing of answer scripts,” Prof Sanjay Dhande, Director of IIT Kanpur today told TNS. At present, the AIEEE conducted by the CBSE for entry to technical colleges, is the largest entrance test in the country with about 11 lakh students appearing in it. The JEE is taken by around 4 lakh students a year. Once a common test is introduced, the scale of
testing would increase manifold as every student will take just one test for entry to the college system. WHY ETS
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Tribunal quashes discharge of LMC troops
Chandigarh, November 8 The soldiers were to be discharged on medical grounds on August 31, but the Tribunal, in an earlier order, had stayed the move just a day before they were to be struck off the rolls pending disposal of the case. The petitioners, all from the Artillery regiment, had claimed that their low medical category, and in some cases physical disability, has been attributed to or aggravated by military service and hence they should be retained in service and given “sheltered appointments” as per norms. A large number of petitions have already been filed before different High Courts and benches of the Tribunal on this issue. Those placed in permanent low medical category are being discharged even though they are willing to continue in service. Most such cases are from the Artillery. The Army had claimed that sheltered appointments, which involve work or office jobs that does not require strenuous physical activity, are not available, specially so when the concerned individual’s unit is located in field or high-altitude areas. Documents attached with some of the petitions reveal that about three per cent of the strength of the regiment of Artillery is placed in low medical category (LMC), out of which many are to be discharged. A letter issued by the Colonel , Records, Artillery, on March 3, recommended discharge of LMC troops on account of suitable positions not being available for them. Based on this, a dictum discharge order was received by artillery units that retention of LMC personnel in service has not been recommended by the Commanding Officers (COs) of the units and accordingly the approval of OIC has been accorded to discharge them on medical grounds. The petitioners contended that the foremost guiding principle prescribed for discharge of LMC troops is that all endeavours shall be made to allow personnel to complete minimum qualifying service for pension. They also claimed that discharge on medical grounds can be done only on the basis of opinion of the Release Medical Board (RMB) after the competent authority, that is the CO, certifies after conforming to stipulated procedures that there is no sheltered appointment in the unit or the LMC individual is surplus to the organisation. In these cases, there was no such certification. Further, the release medical board was held after the recommendations for discharge were issued. Benefits for injury sustained during leave
In a separate case, the Bench also ruled that military personnel who sustain injury while on leave and are consequently disabled are entitled to grant of disability benefits. Observing that military personnel are treated as on duty while on authorised leave, the Bench held that the interpretation of such rules should be liberal and welfare oriented. The Bench, while pointing out that civilian employees are fully protected against such instances while military personnel are dismissed from service, the Bench was of the opinion that if action can be initiated against military personnel for any alleged wrong doing while on leave, then benefits on disability should also be granted. Further, changes in lifestyle and the social environment since the pension rules were formulated have also brought in greater risk of injury.
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Khanduri fumes as Sonia set to flag off railway project
Dehradun, November 8 BJP has already launched a campaign to paint the Congress, the main opposition party, as wily and less than gracious. The party also believes that the timing of the foundation-laying ceremony, barely three months before the state votes for a new Assembly, was designed to provide electoral advantage to the Congress. That explains why BJP has gone on an overdrive to convince people that its efforts and lobbying finally forced the Congress to concede the project. The distance between Rishikesh and Karnaprayag is 135 km and it takes today approximately six to seven hours to cover the hilly stretch by road. For three to four months in a year, during rains, the stretch remains virtually closed because of landslides and the slippery roads. Worse, around 500 people are killed every year in accidents on this stretch.
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Possible to run all vehicles with biofuel in 10 years: Kalam
The centre was launched by Bosch, a global auto components major, with a proposed investment of Rs 140 crore over a ten year period at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore. "Bosch has to work in developing a fuel injection system for such an eventuality (all vehicles running on biofuel)", Kalam said, and also suggested to the company to develop a fuel injection system for a potential diesel engine which would run with 40 per cent water and 60 per cent diesel. Bosch said cyber-physical systems would address green technology and conserve energy in buildings. "The house of the future will know what current energy prices are and the local weather is like, and optimise its energy consumption according to the needs
of its occupants", the company said. — PTI
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ICMR research awards for two PGI doctors New Delhi, November 8 From the PGI, two awards went to Dr Deepak Kumar Bhasin for his outstanding research in the field of gastroenterology and Dr Sandeep Grover from the Department of Psychiatry whose work on the care of schizophrenics drew attention of the jury. Dr Bhasin received the Basanti Devi Amir Chand Prize for 2007. This is the earliest instituted award of the ICMR, founded in 1953 by late Major-General Amir Chand for significant research contributions by scientists in the field of biomedical sciences. Dr Bhasin, Professor of Gastroenterology, PGI, Chandigarh, received the award for his research work on "Management of multiple and large pseudocysts by endoscopic transpapillary drainage alone". Dr Bhasin's main areas of research are on helicobacter pylori, a bacterium that causes a range of gastrointestinal infections; and gastrointestinal endoscopy along with pancreatic pathologies and their endoscopic management. Dr Bhasin's extensive work has shown that a range of complicated pancreatic complications can be successfully without surgery. Another PGI doctor to receive an award was Dr Sandeep Grover, who was presented with the ICMR Tilak Venkoba Rao Award for outstanding work in the field of psychological medicine and reproductive physiology. Dr Grover, Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry, PGI, Chandigarh, was hailed for his research on the "Impact of psychiatric disorders on patients and caregivers". His main areas of research have been cost of care of schizophrenia needs of patients and family, attitude and knowledge about various psychiatric treatment modalities, quality of life of patients and caregivers, burden and care giving experience. Dr Grover's work on cost of illness of schizophrenia shows that cost of treatment of schizophrenia is similar to that of cost of treatment of diabetes mellitus.
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Award for Army team
New Delhi, November 8 The 4th Battalion of 9th Gorkha Rifles, which is a part of the Bhopal-based 21 strike corps, won top honours at the event, the Defence Ministry spokesperson said today. Lt Gen AK Singh, Army Commander, Southern Command, felicitated the team today. He said the event is a widely-known military competition conducted by the British Army and is held under adverse battle conditions in arduous terrain.
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Jaya to appear in court on Nov 22
Bangalore, November 8 Judge BM Mallikarjunaiah accepted Jayalalithaa's plea for postponing Tuesday's proceedings and fixed November 22 for the next hearing. The judge said Jayalalithaa shall appear before the court which would hear the case at the Parappana Agrahara Jail complex. Three other accused in this case, Sashikala Natarajan, close aide of Jayalalithaa, D Sudhakaran and Ilavarasi, were present in the court on Tuesday. Earlier B Kumar, senior counsel for Jayalalithaa, moved an application seeking deferment of the hearing to another date in accordance with the Supreme Court's directive last week.
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Bhanwari case: Vital clues found
New Delhi, November 8 The agency stumbled upon the camcorder and the computer during one of its searches in the case only to realise that data has been erased from them, sources in the agency said. Officials suspect that the camera and computer might have been used to film and store some controversial footage which could hold vital clues about the reasons behind the disappearance of Bhanwari.
— PTI
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CBI to file FIR in Airbus deal New Delhi, November 8 The agency has concluded its preliminary enquiry in the matter and sought the permission of the Civil Aviation Ministry to prosecute officials in the case, CBI sources said. It had started probing the deal last year as it came to light that clauses which governed setting up of an MRO (maintenance, repair and overhaul) unit, training centre and a warehouse, worth $17.5 crore by Airbus, were allegedly diluted by some officials. Sources said the sanction for prosecution had been sought recently and they were expecting a reply soon from the Civil Aviation Ministry. Refusing to divulge the names of the officials against whom the sanction had been sought, the sources said it was mainly those who were in the negotiation team and had put their signatures on the files. — PTI
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