The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

	Gowda presents K’taka Budget Shubhadeep Choudhury/TNS Bangalore, March 21 Karnataka Chief Minister Sadananda Gowda presented the budget today in the state Assembly but got a big jolt due the BJP’s electoral debacle in the Udupi-Chikmagalur Lok Sabha bypoll. While Yeddyurappa and his loyalists today attended the Assembly - a step that was interpreted as a “climbdown” since Yeddyurappa was insistent that he must present the budget after being reinstated as the CM - the byelection defeat came as a blessing in disguise for the BJP strongman. By the time Gowda started reading the budget proposals in the Assembly, it had become apparent that the Congress candidate was romping home to victory in the crucial byelection held for the Lok Sabha seat. Gowda represented the seat before quitting the Lok Sabha to take over the reigns as the Chief Minister after Yeddyurappa resigned from the post. At Udupi-Chikmagalur, Congress candidate Jayprakash Hegde defeated Sunil Kumar of the BJP by more than 45,000 votes.
	Govt: SC verdict on gay sex acceptable R Sedhuraman Legal Correspondent New Delhi, March 21 The Supreme Court today said the government should resolve issues such as gay rights by making fresh laws after holding wide consultations, instead of leaving them to be decided by a couple of judges. A Bench comprising Justices GS Singhvi and SJ Mukhopadhaya made the remark after Attorney General GE Vahanvati clarified that the Central Government was of the view that the Delhi High Court verdict decriminalising sex among consenting adults of same gender was "perfect". At the same time, the government had no problem with the Supreme Court deciding the appeals against the HC verdict either way. The Bench pointed out that the government and the elected representatives had the advantage of involving a vast majority of the population in such matters, while the courts on being approached were bound to define the laws in a particular manner. "Such issues can't be dealt with by courts alone" as they could involve only a "miniscule" section of society while adjudicating cases relating to these, the Bench pointed out. The AG, however, said there were constraints in holding a debate on the issue as people were shy of discussing it. Also, a section of population was opposed to holding a discussion which would amount to exhibition of gay activities in the open. Unconvinced, the Bench said until recently people were also against the concepts of family planning or fashion parades. But things were slowly changing, it pointed out. The AG said Section 377 of the IPC, under which gay and lesbian sex was a crime attracting a maximum punishment of life term, had been introduced in Indian laws by the British rulers in the 1860s when English society was considered to be repressive. The provision was included at the instance of the Church without going deep into the issue. Prior to this, India did not have the concept of "against the order of nature" under which homosexual activities were treated as a crime, the AG said. He, however, acknowledged that there have been behavioural changes in society and homosexuality was no longer viewed as a sexual issue alone. The Bench wanted to know as to why the government was not revisiting archaic laws, instead of leaving such matters to the judiciary. In this context, the Bench also pointed out the increasing number of road accidents and the resultant pressure on the judiciary in view of related cases. The government should do something to prevent accidents, most of which involved high-speed cars, it opined. involve People Such issues can't be dealt with by courts alone as they could involve only a miniscule section of society while adjudicating cases relating to these. — SC Bench
	Sri Sri says govt schools breed Naxals, Sibal furious Tribune News Service New Delhi, March 21 Human Resource Development Minister Kapil Sibal today expressed surprise at spiritual guru Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s reported remarks that government schools were breeding Naxalism. He said he had himself studied in a government school and was no Naxal. Meanwhile, the All India Parents Association, Delhi, called for a public apology from the spiritual leader. Sibal said, “I was surprised when I read the comment. I have studied in a government school and I am not a Naxal. Many political leaders, renowned journalists and members of the judiciary have also studied in government schools. Are they all Naxals?” Expressing disbelief over the development, Sibal said, “I am sure the person to whom this is being attributed could not have said this. I don’t think someone who is sane could have said this.” Sri Sri Ravi Shankar had yesterday reportedly said, “It’s often seen boys from government schools are into Naxalism and violence. Those from the private education system are not into these things. They move ahead with an ideal (adarsh) and teachers are responsible for it. Government should not run any school, schools should be given to some other system (samstha).” All India Parents Association (AIPA), in a statement issued today, said it was shocked to hear the spiritual leader’s public statements. “AIPA strongly condemns the statement of Sri Sri Ravi Shankar and demands a public apology from him. AIPA hopes and expect that the spiritual leader must have realised that such a statement on his part is not only factually incorrect but also goes against the very letter and spirit of the Constitution,” Ashok Agarwal of AIPA said.
	Rail fare hike: Allies again embarrass UPA TMC pushes for rollback NC praises Trivedi’s ‘bold’ Budget Aditi Tandon/TNS New Delhi, March 21 The Congress-led UPA government faced another embarrassing moment in the Lok Sabha today when its two main allies, the Trinamool Congress and the National Conference, spoke in different tones on the proposed rail fare hike announced last week by the then Railway Minister Dinesh Trivedi. While the TMC members, sticking to the line dictated by party chief Mamata Banerjee, demanded a partial rollback of fare hike to seek relief for the second class travellers, the National Conference termed ousted Trivedi’s budget proposals as “bold”. The NC went on to take a dig at the TMC railway ministers (read Mamata Banerjee and later Trivedi) and alleged the Indian Railways had been reduced to state railways. “In 10 long years, this was the first time a Railway Minister took bold steps,” NC member from Anantnag Mehboob Beg said, referring to Trivedi’s budget proposals. Earlier, TMC chief whip in LS Kalyan Banerjee and MP Ratna De batted for withdrawal of fare hike for those travelling in the second class. The poor could not be burdened further as they were already reeling under spiralling prices, they said. NC’s Beg was however curt in asking the new Railway Minister Mukul Roy, who sat in the LS during the debate, on how he proposed to modernise the Railways without raising finances. “I don’t say people should be burdened with unnecessary hikes, but the government has to raise financial resources and tell us how it proposes to modernise the sick Indian Railways. Paying less should not mean that people’s safety will be compromised,” Beg said. The NC also took the opportunity to take a dig at TMC chief and former Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee and her predecessor, and said the Railways should not be treated as state railways. “I thought Jammu and Kashmir was the only state being ignored by the Railways. But now I see every state is being ignored. I just want to say that the Railways should not be treated as railways of a particular state. This is not a state railway. This is Indian Railways and justice must be done to all,” Beg said.
	Ex-Major General held in Adarsh housing scam Shiv Kumar/TNS Mumbai, March 21 The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested a retired Major General and detained another in connection with the Adarsh scam. Investigators picked up Major General (retd) AR Kumar from his Hyderabad home on Tuesday and is in the process of bringing him to Mumbai for questioning. Another former officer Major General, TJ Kaul has been detained for questioning. Investigators traced Kaul to Nashik after failing to locate him in Mumbai yesterday. According to sources, Kaul owns one flat in his name and is the benami owner of two flats in the controversial housing society. During his tenure as General Officer Commanding (GoC) Maharashtra, Goa and Gujarat, Kumar allegedly issued a no objection certificate (NoC) for construction of the Adarsh building. According to the CBI, a flat was allotted in the name of Kumar's son in the building for the service he rendered to the society promoters. So far, the CBI has arrested project promoter RC Thakur, retired brigadier MM Wanchoo and Maharashtra's former deputy secretary PV Deshmukh. Another accused Kanhaiyalal Gidwani was in judicial custody for bribing CBI officials to dilute charges against him.
	Asma moots Indo-Pak treaty for prisoner exchange 205-member delegation of Pak’s Supreme Court Bar Association arrives in India Perneet Singh/TNS Amritsar, March 21 Noted Pakistani lawyer and human rights activist Asma Jehangir today strongly advocated the need for a bilateral treaty between India and Pakistan to facilitate the unhindered exchange of prisoners who have served their jail term in the two countries but are still languishing in jails. Asma is part of the 205-member delegation of Pak's Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) that crossed over via Attari-Wagah land route for their India visit during which they will participate in various seminars on legal issues. Addressing the media along with SCBA president Yasin Azad, she said the number of prisoners, who have completed their jail term, was very high in both countries and it was high time that they signed a bilateral agreement to pave the way for their return to their homes. Besides these prisoners, there should also be a provision in the treaty for the release of those arrested under the Foreigner's Act as well as the ones nabbed for petty crimes. She said they would put across this point during the upcoming deliberations with their Indian counterparts in New Delhi. She also demanded that the boats of fishermen caught by both countries for breaching the sea border should also be returned to them. "Normally, these fishermen are released, but their boats are never returned, which leaves them unemployed on their repatriation," she averred. Replying to a query, she said the sentence of those arrested for minor crimes should be waived and they released by both countries without any further delay. Talking about Sarabjit Singh who is facing a death row in Pakistan, Asma said they were making all efforts to get the death sentence commuted not only of Sarabjit but also of hundreds of other prisoners facing gallows at the Kot Lakhpat Jail in Lahore. She said she was not in favour of capital punishment while revealing that nobody had been executed in Pakistan over the past three years. On violation of human rights in Pakistan, she said these violations are taking place in both countries, but those at the receiving end in Pak on this count were not getting much relief. She said there was a need for spreading more awareness among the common people so that the cases of human rights violations could be curbed. On Pakistan judiciary, she said the scenario has changed to a large extent, but still it needed bigger reforms. Among others in Pak delegation included Member of National Assembly Dr Harash, Mohammed Aijaz Khan, Abdul Sattar, Tariq Mahmood and Muneer A Malik.
	Italian tourists’ Abduction Maoists offer to release 1 hostage Bhubaneswar, March 21 The Maoists today offered to release one of the two Italians held captive by them if two of their demands, including that for release of some rebels, were met, as the Odisha government asked its mediators to contact their counterparts chosen by the captors. "One of the Italians taken hostage can be set free if the state government accepts two of our demands even before start of negotiations," a senior leader of the Odisha State Organising Committee of Maoists told a private TV channel. One of the two demands is immediate release of five ultras, including Subhashree Das, wife of top Maoist leader Sabyasachi Panda, and Gananatha Patra, the leader said. The ultras, who have encountered problems in finding negotiators for holding talks with the government, also sought action against police officials allegedly involved in fake encounters and rape. The state government, on its part, asked the three IAS officers named by it for negotiating with the ultras to contact former bureaucrat and social activist BD Sharma who is among those nominated by Maoists for talks. The ultras have extended the deadline for meeting their list of demands till this evening. The Italians - Puri-based tour operator Paolo Bosusco and tourist Claudio Colangelo - were abducted while trekking in Kandhamal district on March 14. The Maoists had initially nominated CPI (Maoist) politburo member Narayan Sanyal and civil rights activists Dandapani Mohanty and Biswapriya Kanungo as negotiators.
	Defence projects years behind schedule Huge cost overruns adding to the lag Tribune News Service New Delhi, March 21 Revealing the shocking pace of progress of major defence projects in the country, Defence Minister AK Antony today told the Parliament how attempts to manufacture indigenous equipment have been running years behind schedule and with huge cost overruns. Antony, in a written reply today said the light combat aircraft Tejas was four years behind its schedule and would be completed only in December this year. It was originally targeted for a December 2008 completion. The single-engined Tejas has been accepted by the IAF from the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). However, its final operational clearance is to be done after the IAF does its own tests. The research and development cost of producing the plane has gone up from Rs 3301.75 crore to Rs 5777.53 crore. Independent observers believe the pace of indigenisation would have been much slower had it not been for the keen interest shown by Antony. He virtually pushed it as he apparently believes ‘self-reliance’ in defence equipment production is the key to survival in the long run. The story of delay repeats itself in the naval variant of the LCA. This is to be designed to land and take off from the deck of the sea-borne aircraft carrier. It is easier said than done. So far, only the US, Russia, France and the UK have such technology. The naval version was slated for completion in March 2010. It has been delayed by more than four years and would be ready only by December 2014. The costs have gone up from Rs 948.90 crore to Rs 1,714.98 crore. Another project delayed is production of an aero-engine code named ‘Kaveri.’ It was taken up in 1989 by Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE) with a sanctioned cost of Rs 382.81 crore and Probable Date of Completion (PDC) of 1996. Cost of the project was revised to Rs 2839 crore with PDC of December 2009. Further continuation of Kaveri project beyond the PDC has been approved by the government within the sanctioned cost and scope, Antony said. Attempts to produce an Airborne Early Warning & Control (AEW&C) system have been delayed by three years. Antony attributed the delay, among other aspects, to non-availability of critical components, equipment and material besides denial of technologies by advanced countries.
	Delhi not rape capital: PC Vibha Sharma/TNS New Delhi, March 21 “A reason for rise in crimes against women is that women are treated as personal possession, a property,” a concerned Home Minister P Chidambaram today told the Rajya Sabha in response to the members’ indignation over increasing incidents of rape, particularly in the Capital region. Hoping that people’s attitudes would change with education, Chidambaram said, “We tend to treat our women as chattel. It is an unfortunate attitude. I hope the attitude will change with rise in education, with rise in consciousness,” replying to a question on the rise in crime against women. According to National Crimes Records Bureau statistics, the country reported 2,13,585 cases of crime against women in 2010. Out of this, 22,172 were rape cases. This is a substantial increase from 2,03,804 incidents of crimes against women and 21,397 rapes cases in 2009. Delhi reported 466 rape cases in 2008, 469 cases in 2009 and 507 cases in 2010. These figures and some recent shocking incidents prompted members to ask the Home Minister whether the Capital was the country’s “rape capital”. Chidambaram, however, defended Delhi saying, “It is wrong to say Delhi is the capital of crime against women. This is not the right picture. If people feel so, I feel sorry. Crime against women is there all over India and, I regret, it is so in Delhi too.” The Home Minister agreed to include ‘crimes against women’ as a special item on the agenda for the Chief Ministers’ meeting on internal security, scheduled for April 16, along with the NCTC. He said a detailed advisory had been issued to all states asking them to take adequate measures to protect women. The government was also reviewing rape laws, he added. The state leading the list of rape cases is Madhya Pradesh (3,135) followed by West Bengal (2,311), Assam (1,721), Uttar Pradesh (1,563), Chhattisgarh (1,012) and Bihar (795). Punjab reported 546 rapes cases, Haryana 720 and Chandigarh 31, the highest among union territories in the country during 2010. Uttar Pradesh led the list of total crimes against women, which includes rape, kidnapping, abduction, dowry deaths, molestation, sexual harassment, cruelty by husband and relatives, importation of girls, immoral trafficking etc with 20,169 cases. It was followed by Rajasthan (18,182) and MP (16,468) and Maharashtra (15,757). Punjab reported 2,853 cases, Haryana 5,562 and Chandigarh 141 cases, again the highest among UTs.
	PM calls all-party meet on Friday over Lokpal Bill New Delhi, March 21 Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has called an all-party meeting on Friday in a fresh effort to forge a consensus on the contentious Lokpal Bill which could not be passed in the Rajya Sabha in the winter session of Parliament because of serious differences. UPA sources said since the Bill is pending in the Upper House, the PM has invited the leaders of all political parties in the Rajya Sabha to discuss the way forward. The government is keen on the passage of this Bill fearing it would be accused of reneging on its promise to enact a strong anti-graft legislation. — TNS
	58 Rajya Sabha members retire Vibha Sharma/TNS New Delhi, March 21 BJP’s retiring Rajya Sabha member SS Ahluwalia fondly remembered his association with Congress leaders in his farewell speech while Congress’ Andhra Pradesh leader K Kesava Rao used the occasion to say that lack of discussions on crucial Telangana issue resulted in a rout for the party in the state bypoll, results of which were declared today. “...For example, we have been trying to raise the issue of Telangana. Today, the results show you that although we did not give scope for discussing this here, the people of Telangana have voted against what exactly we have been thinking of. Now, if that kind of a thing and the people's urge is not reflected here, it will create a problem,” Rao, a vehement supporter of separate statehood for the Telegana region said in his send-off address. The issue was about Telangana and “unfortunately” the Congress could not give clarity, he said outside Parliament, adding that “one party (TRS) said we are with Telangana today and they have won…. Even BJP, which had no influence in Mehboobnagar, won a seat,” pointing out that BJP was the only national party to support the demand for separate statehood for Telangana. Meanwhile, 58 retiring RS members bid farewell, recalling their cherished memories.