The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

Now, sand mafia fires on police in MP

Panna (MP), March 10
Two days after a young IPS officer was killed allegedly by the mining mafia in Madhya Pradesh, a police team was today fired upon by some men suspected to be involved in illegal sand mining in Panna district.

The police said that according to preliminary reports, the team escaped unhurt.

The firing took place when a team led by Sub-Divisional Officer of Police JS Markam had gone to Ajaygarh, 40 km from here, this afternoon after it received reports of illegal sand mining in that area, it said.

The miners at the spot opened fire, the police said, adding that additional police reinforcements were rushed from the district headquarters.

In a horrific incident that has sparked outrage, 30-year-old IPS officer Narendra Kumar Singh was crushed under a tractor-trolley driven by a member allegedly belonging to the mining mafia on Thursday while he was trying to stop the vehicle carrying illegally quarried stones in Morena district in Madhya Pradesh.

Madhya Pradesh Industries Minister Kailash Vijaywargiya said in Bhopal today that the judicial probe into the killing of IPS officer Narendra Kumar Singh would reveal the truth.

"Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has already announced a judicial probe into the incident and it will reveal the truth about the tragic death of the young IPS officer," Vijaywargiya told reporters.

To a question on illegal mining in the state, he admitted that it was going on at some places but "not the way Congress is alleging".

Leader of Opposition in MP Assembly Ajay Singh charged the BJP government in the state with giving protection to mining and liquor mafia. — PTI

NCTC now battle of nerves between Centre, states
Ajay Banerjee/TNS

New Delhi, March 10
On Monday, when the Parliament’s Budget session commences, almost simultaneously, Union Home Secretary RK Singh, accompanied by the top brass of the intelligence and security agencies, will be locked in a crucial meeting with chief secretaries and DGPs to decide on the fate of the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC).

The Home Secretary has been tasked by Union Home Minister P Chidambaram to explain the Centre’s position to states opposing the NCTC. He will lay out all options to the states and address concerns, but is not expected to agree to whittle down the powers proposed for the NCTC, sources have indicated.

The NCTC proposed by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has faced criticism from states, who fear that the powers to arrest can be misused.

Some CMs have expressed their discomfort at the NCTC being proposed to be under the Intelligence Bureau - a body not answerable to legislative authority or judicial scrutiny. Originally, the NCTC was to be operationalised on March 1, but has been put on hold till ‘further discussions’.

Monday’s meeting will make for the first round of discussions. The Centre is not expected to budge from its stated stand: An NCTC without powers to carry out counter-terrorism operations and to arrest, is of no help.

The only compromise formula in sight is that the NCTC is made into an independent body like the National Investigation Agency (NIA) or the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). Even this may not be easy.

This woman is living proof that liver donation is safe
Aditi Tandon
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 10
In a country where people are still unsure about organ donation, Raunika Oberoi comes across as a harbinger of hope. At 36 when she was single, she had donated part of her liver to save her mother’s life. Today at 42 when she is married, has a son and is settled in Dubai, she is a full donor having pledged all her organs.

Raunika Oberoi with her mother and son.

“Every woman can give birth, but not every woman can give life,” said the donor whose mission is to dispel myths shrouding the idea of going under the knife to save someone else’s life.

Her family has an interesting association with organs. “My sister received both eyes. My mother received my liver. I am a full donor. It runs in our family,” said Raunika.

She was here to attend the Fortis International Liver Summit which concluded today with an appeal to the government to universalise the hepatitis B vaccine for every newborn.

India has about 50 million hepatitis B carriers. Of these, one fourth will develop cirrhosis of the liver and would require liver transplants to survive.

But liver donations are far and few. Over 50,000 persons need transplants annually in India, but 700 actually get them.

“Donors are crucial. People must understand that it is safe to donate a liver. It is the only organ that regenerates. We require 33 per cent of our liver to stay healthy. Donors have a 100 per cent survival rate,” said Dr Arvind Sahni from hepatology department, Fortis, Mohali.

But Raunika testifies that fears persist. When her mother Ramanjit Oberoi, settled in Chandigarh, was detected with autoimmune hepatitis (liver inflammation after the body's immune system starts attacking it), managing an organ was a huge challenge.

“I was in Australia at the time and doctors here gave my mother a year (to live). I underwent extensive tests and ultimately decided to donate a lobe of my liver after the tests matched. It was a tough decision as I was single and very young. But looking back, I will donate again and this time for anybody, knowing that it is life I am donating,” Raunika said.

Autoimmune hepatitis is nine times more common among women than men and has no symptoms. It can also happen to women who are not obese, not alcohol-dependent or who have no history of the disease.

Raunika’s mother just had an itching before she was detected with the condition. “Mom now teases me that while she gave birth to me, I gave her life. The transplant happened in 2007 and cost us over Rs 20 lakh,” Raunika said, adding that organ donation surgery is only as risky as childbirth.

It was a 16-hour surgery for her and a 22-hour one for her mother. “Four months after donation, I was back to work in Australia. A year later, I got married and had a son. That goes to say that organ donation is safe,” she said.

Samjhauta Blasts
Bomber Kamal Chauhan refuses to record statement
Rajinder Nagarkoti
Tribune News Service

Panchkula, March 10
In a major blow to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in the Samjhauta Express blasts, bomber Kamal Chauhan, who was recently arrested from Indore, refused to record his ‘confessional’ statement under Section 164 of CrPC before the magistrate in Panchkula today.

With this statement, the NIA was planning to strengthen the case against key conspirator Aseemanand and other accused.

Last week, the NIA had filed an application before the special NIA court in Panchkula and had sought permission from the court to record Kamal Chauhan’s confessional statement, but today, he told the court that he doesn’t want to record his statement.

NIA special public prosecutor RK Handa said he had earlier shown his willingness to record the statement.

Meanwhile, in a related development, Kamal’s counsel today moved an application alleging that Kamal was pressurised by NIA officials to confess his involvement in the blasts.

Anil Soni, one of the defence counsel, said the first statement made by Kamal Chauhan about his involvement in the blasts was made when he was in the custody of the NIA, but today, while in judicial custody, he refused to record his statement. It is a setback for the NIA, he added.

On June 20 last year, the NIA had filed a chargesheet against Swami Aseemanand, Sunil Joshi (now dead), Lokesh Sharma, Sandeep Dange alias Parmanand, Ramchandra Kalsangra alias Ramji alias Vishnu Patel (still absconding) for hatching a criminal conspiracy resulting in blasts in the train near Dewana railway station in Panipat district on February 28, 2007. The blasts resulted in 68 deaths.

A majority of those killed in the blasts were Pakistanis. Last month, the NIA had also arrested bomber Kamal Chauhan and the agency is expected to submit a supplementary chargesheet on March 20.

Budget session: BJP and its allies to formulate strategy today
Faraz Ahmad/TNS

New Delhi, March 10
With the Congress on the back foot after Assembly election reverses, the BJP is planning to put the Congress on the mat in the budget session commencing March 12.

Senior BJP leaders, including the two Leaders of Opposition in Parliament Sushma Swaraj and Arun Jaitley as well as BJP parliamentary party chairman LK Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi, Rajnath Singh and Yashwant Sinha will sit with BJP president Nitin Gadkari tomorrow at 11 am to chalk out the BJP strategy for the coming session.

NDA acting chairman LK Advani has also summoned NDA leaders in the evening to fine tune the Opposition plans, BJP sources said.

Those likely to attend include NDA convener Sharad Yadav, Shiv Sena leader Ananth Geete and Akali Dal leader Naresh Gujral as also Sushma and Jaitley. In this session, the BJP is hoping to encash the prevailing anti-Congress mood of state leaders Mamata Banerjee, Jayalalithaa, Naveen Patnaik, N Chandrababu Naidu and even Mulayam Singh Yadav and Mayawati and thereby endear itself to these leaders, ignoring their reluctance to join the NDA.

Arun Jaitley had developed a rapport with Trinamool leader Mamata Banerjee in the winter session, thwarting the government’s desperate last-day effort to secure the passage of its Lokpal Bill in the Rajya Sabha, with the active assistance of newsmen acting as intermediaries.

The BJP again capitalised on the Congress discomfiture by dropping its commitment to fight terror and instead joined hands with regional forces obstructing the launch of National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC) in all the state capitals.

Out of the 58 members retiring from the Rajya Sabha, 15 are from the Congress. After the biennial polls of the Council of States, scheduled for March 30, Congress numbers may come down to 12. The UPA is already in a minority in the Upper House.

The first and most immediate issue facing the government is the passage of the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Bill, 2011, pending for passage in the Rajya Sabha after the Lok Sabha had passed it in the winter session.

The RS was adjourned on the midnight of December 29 without pressing for the passage of the Bill despite the pressing demand of a united Opposition because the Trinamool had switched sides and joined hands with the Opposition. There are five Bills in the same category through which the UPA wants to redeem its image as a government committed to fighting corruption but whose success would puncture the BJP campaign against the government and therefore, the BJP is keen to scuttle these Bills.

Consensus eludes Cong on U’khand CM
SMA Kazmi
Tribune News Service

Senior Congress leader & Union Minister of Health Ghulam Nabi Azad in Dehradun on Saturday. — PTI

Dehradun, March 10
The Congress cannot afford to requisition the services of a Member of Parliament from the state as the next Chief Minister and risk two byelections. And there is no agreement among the newly elected legislators on the next leader among themselves.

The dilemma stared the Union Minister of Health, Ghulam Nabi Azad, in the face as he made a flying visit to ascertain the views of the legislators. Later, Azad told the media that since the Legislature Party had authorised the party president Sonia Gandhi to take a decision on the next CM, he would return to the national capital and apprise Sonia Gandhi of the legislators’ opinion on the issue. A decision is expected to be taken within the next 48 hours, possibly on Sunday itself, said Congress sources.

Most of the Congress legislators also left for New Delhi to intensify the lobbying for the new Chief Minister. As reported earlier, as many as six Congress leaders, among them three Members of the Lok Sabha, have thrown their hats in the ring. But with the hill state witnessing a sympathy wave for the outgoing BJP chief minister Major General ( retired) B.C. Khanduri following his shock defeat in the election, a section of the Congress is advising caution and has apprised the central leadership of the risk of losing the byelections, which would be necessitated to fill up the seats vacated in the Lok Sabha and the Vidhan Sabha.

On the other hand, the three MPs, Union Minister of State Harish Rawat, Vijay Bahuguna and Satpal Maharaj are senior leaders who enjoy following among sections of the newly elected legislators. Their camps hold the view that if the new government is able to take dramatic steps to improve the administration, it may not be all that difficult to make a fight of the byelections.

While the party MPs are lobbying hard for the post, the Congress leadership has been keen to look for a new leader from among the legislators. Uttarakhand Congress President Yashpal Arya, elected from Bazpur, Indira Hridayesh from Haldwani and Harak Singh Rawat are the front runners among the legislators for the coveted post.

In the 70-member House, Congress has 32 MLAs —four short of majority — with three Independents and one MLA from UKD (P), helping the party to reach the magic figure of 36.

Cabinet meet on 2G remains inconclusive
Girja Shankar Kaura/TNS

New Delhi, March 10
The Union Cabinet, which met today to take a decision on seeking Presidential reference on SC’s order on cancellation of 2G licences and auction of all natural resources, remained inconclusive.

The government is wanting to seek a Presidential reference under Article 143, asking Supreme Court to clarify on the constitutionality of the 2G verdict that struck down the first-come-first-served (FCFS) policy for allocating natural resources like airwaves as arbitrary and inherently flawed.

Sources said at the meeting chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, which went on for over two hours, divergent views emerged on seeking the Presidential reference and it was decided that the Solicitor General Rohinton Nariman be called for hearing his views before a decision is taken.

Sources said the Solicitor General would now give a detailed briefing to the Union Cabinet before a decision is taken to refer the matter for Presidential reference. Another meeting would be held maybe next week, where after the briefing from the Solicitor General, a decision would be taken.

The Supreme Court had said precious natural resources like minerals or airwaves that are allocated should be auctioned and the reference is planned to be sought under Article 143 of the Constitution as per which the President can seek clarification from the apex court on its judgments on issues of public interest.

The government has already filed a review petition in the apex court on March 2 challenging the constitutionality of the February 2 ruling scrapping 122 scam-tainted telecom licences issued during the tenure of jailed ex-telecom minister A Raja.

‘Waterman’ Rajendra Singh, 2 others quit PM-led Ganga body
Vibha Sharma/TNS

Rajendra Singh

New Delhi, March 10
“Waterman” Rajendra Singh today quit the National Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA), protesting Prime Minister Manmohan Singh-chaired authority’s “inability to achieve much” since its formation three years back.

According to Rajendra Singh, two other non-governmental members of the NGRBA Ravi Chopra and Rashid H Siddiqi have also sent resignation letters to the PM to voice objections to the government’s “continued negligence” of the holy river and express solidarity with noted environmentalist GD Agrawal, who is on a indefinite fast to press for cleaning up the Ganga.

Confirming his decision to The Tribune, Rajendra Singh said the authority, set up for comprehensive management of the basin and making Ganga ‘nirmal’ (clean) and ‘aviral’ (free flowing) befitting its national river status, met just twice since its formation in February 2009.

According to “Waterman”, the last meeting of the authority was held one-and-a-half years back.

The high-level authority chaired by the PM has as its members Chief Ministers of the states through which the Ganga flows — Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal; Union ministers of Environment and Forests, Finance, Urban Development, Water Resources, Science and Technology; and the Deputy Chairman, Planning Commission.

Now, Jet told to pay Rs 69-crore dues

New Delhi, March 10
After freezing the bank accounts of beleaguered Kingfisher Airlines, the service tax department has now served a notice on Jet Airways to pay up about Rs 69 crore as dues soon or face similar consequences, but the airline said it would do so by Monday.

Jet Airways has not paid a total of about Rs 69 crore worth of dues for January and February which they collected during this period, official sources said.

The amount was to have been paid by March 6, they said, adding that if they did not reply to the notice soon, "we will have to go for freezing of their accounts. We have to talk to the banks in the process of assessing the number of accounts they have."

When contacted, Jet's Senior Vice President (Finance) Mahalingam Shivkumar told PTI, “There has been some delay due to hike in oil prices and other costs.” — PTI

HP overtakes Goa on foreign tourists’ itinerary
Vibha Sharma/TNS

A view of the Ridge in Shimla

New Delhi, March 10
Foreign tourists are giving the beaches of Goa a miss to visit the pristine hills of Himachal Pradesh. A whopping 4.85 lakh foreign tourists visited the hill state in 2011 as against the 4.6 lakh that visited Goa in the same time period.

Foreign tourist arrivals (FTAs) to the hill state grew by 32,000 in 2011. “The beach state hosted 4.41 lakh foreign tourists in 2010 while Himachal played host to 4.53 lakh visitors from overseas,” says State Tourism Director Arun Sharma.

“This itself is a major achievement in a year beset with market recession and economic meltdown. We are expecting foreign tourist arrivals to exceed 5 lakh in 2012,” he shares.

“Himachal has come a long way in attracting foreign tourists. In 2005, a mere 2.07 lakh foreigners visited the state,” he says.

Heli-taxi services launched last year to improve connectivity in the hill state and regular flights to Kullu, Kangra and Shimla airports from Delhi have started paying dividends for the state’s tourism industry, says Sharma. “The opening up of tribal areas for foreign visitors for a fixed number of months has also contributed,” he says.

Numbers indicate a significant shift in the profile of foreign tourists vacationing in the Himachal. The state had so far been largely dependent upon guests from the UK, France and the US but
it has now started receiving visitors from Australia, Italy, Canada, Japan, Singapore and Saudi Arabia.

In 2011, the UK, the US and France were the main contributors to the state’s tourism sector followed by Australia. The most-favoured districts were Shimla, Kullu and Kangra and not just during summer and holiday seasons, but throughout the year. As far as specific hill stations were concerned, Shimla, Manali, Dharamsala, Mcleodganj, Kasauli, Chail, Dalhousie, Keylong, Palampur were visited by an estimated 4 lakh international tourists during the year.

Himachal, the first state to launch an electronic brochure in the country, is now working on increasing the average stay of tourists from the present two-and-a-half days by at least a day. This would increase average spending by least 20%.

UP poll verdict: Hope floats for Naidu
Suresh Dharur/TNS

Hyderabad, March 10
Once seen as a “king-maker” in the formation of the United Front and National Democratic Alliance governments at the Centre, the former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu may well be back in the business now.

The Uttar Pradesh poll verdict has revived the hopes of Third Front, a dream political venture of Naidu. The declining stocks of national parties like the Congress and the BJP in UP and the growing strength of regional parties across the country provides a perfect backdrop for the Telugu Desam Party supremo to bounce back into reckoning at the national level.

Naidu (62), who was the AP Chief Minister between 1995 and 2004, had played a key role in building UF and NDA coalitions at the Centre. He was also actively associated with the efforts to forge a political front of regional parties, backed by the Left, as an alternative to Congress and BJP.

“We will play a crucial role in the 2014 elections. The regional parties will have a major say in the formation of the next government,” Naidu said.

According to TDP sources, Naidu is already in touch with the heads of other regional parties, including Mulayam Singh Yadav and Naveen Patnaik, and the left parties to build the Third Front before the next General Election.

The “cooperative federalism” would be the key slogan of the alternative front in the next polls, the sources said. In the days ahead, the regional satraps are expected to speed up efforts to build the Third Front. “We understand that Mulayam has decided to concentrate on national politics. This augurs well for strengthening the Third Front,” sources said. The TDP, which was voted out of power in 2004, viewed the UP poll verdict as a reflection of the declining relevance of national parties and the rise of regional parties.