The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

	Badal’s clemency plea to the Prez Tribune News Service New Delhi, March 28 Punjab Chief Minister and patron of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) Parkash Singh Badal today met President Pratibha Devisingh Patil and submitted a petition seeking clemency for Balwant Singh Rajoana, against whom death warrants have been issued by a Chandigarh court. The Chief Minister wrote: “I approach Your Excellency on an issue of great sensitivity and immense public importance, requiring your immediate kind attention. You are well aware that Punjab and the country have come through a period of great social and political turmoil in which thousands of innocent lives were lost. With great efforts and with the cooperation of the people of Punjab, an atmosphere of peace and complete communal harmony has been achieved. But there is still a tragic residue which has to be handled by all of us with great care, sagacity and farsightedness. “A Chandigarh court has issued the death warrants for the execution of Bhai Balwant Singh Rajoana in the case of the assassination of the former Punjab Chief Minister Beant Singh. The warrants of death in the case have been ordered to be executed on March 31. “This has set off a chain of events because of which the atmosphere in the state has become highly surcharged. Several organisations have given a call for a bandh in Punjab. Some of them have also announced a march to the Central Jail, Patiala, where Bhai Rajoana is lodged. Some internal and external forces are waiting to exploit this situation to disturb the hard-earned atmosphere of peace and communal harmony in the state and to destabilise the country by fomenting trouble in this sensitive border state. “In the light of all this, it has become imperative for all of us tasked with safeguarding the interests and the destiny of the country to prevent the situation from sliding in that tragic direction. This is all the more important considering Punjab’s strategic geographical location, sharing a long active international border with Pakistan and contiguous to Jammu and Kashmir, where forces hostile to the country have been active to destabilise conditions in the country. “I am here to seek your kind intervention to secure clemency for Bhai Rajoana. A petition filed by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee is already pending with your office. There is a complete political unanimity in favour of clemency being granted to Bhai Rajoana. The Congress as well as the family of the late Beant Singh has also strongly pleaded for clemency in the case. “The whole nation looks up to Your Excellency, as custodian of peace, tranquility and stability of the country, to save the situation from taking a turn dangerous for the interests of the country at large “In the light of the above, I approach Your Excellency with a request that the clemency petition filed by the SGPC may be considered favourably and clemency be granted to Bhai Balwant Singh Rajoana at the earliest in the larger interest of peace, communal harmony and in the national interest.”
	Babudom holds back pay scale upgrade for armed forces Ajay Banerjee/TNS New Delhi, March 28 Away from the media spotlight, the three armed forces — the Army, the Navy and the IAF — are fighting a tough “battle” to get their personnel’s status and pay structure restored that were wrongly lowered in 2008. The paramilitary forces and civilian officers were pegged at a higher perch than armed forces’ men. This, in government parlance, translates into lower status for the armed forces, lower allowances and a direct impact on the hierarchy with other services. The “battle” to correct the status for the entire officer cadre, around 70,000 in the three forces, is being “fought” in files amidst mountains of paperwork that moves back and forth between the Finance Ministry, the Defence Ministry, the Cabinet Secretariat and the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO). There have been no tangible results over the past three years. The Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee (COSC), who is the senior-most among the three Chiefs, has been sporadically reminding the government how the Prime Minister had, in December 2008, approved that the matter needed to be addressed by setting up a high-powered committee. No committee has been set up so far. The three Chiefs, who jointly command more than 15 lakh troops and officers, have been reduced to sending “reminders” to the government. The latest reminder was sent by Admiral Nirmal Verma on February 21 “requesting intervention” of Cabinet Secretary Ajit Seth. Documents accessed by The Tribune show how it all started when the Sixth Central Pay Commission (CPC) recommendations were out in October 2008. The sequence panned out this way: The IAS in the post of Joint Secretary (JS) to the Government of India was made eligible for a grade pay of Rs 10,000 a month on completing 22 years of service. The same was extended to IPS and the Indian Foreign Services. There was a protest from other group “A” services - paramilitary and other civilian services. The government said it could not have so many posts of Joint Secretary but allowed “non-functional scale upgradation” and placed the protesters on same scale as a Joint Secretary, but after 24 years of service. The grade pay is crucial when matters of status are to be decided. Apart from the money, it sets the status of an officer in the government. Strangely, the Armed forces are neither classified as group “A” services nor are they termed as “central services” like the IAS or the IPS. In case of the armed forces, Colonels languish at Rs 8,700 grade pay and Brigadiers at Rs 8,900. Only Major-Generals or their equivalent in the IAF and the Navy get the grade pay of Rs 10,000. Only 3 per cent of officers reach that rank and that too after 33-34 years of service. Status and pay structure were ‘wrongly’ lowered in 2008 In Dec 2008, the PM wanted a high-powered committee to consider the case, but nothing has happened so far Forces say it was affecting the morale of their personnel Files keep on shuttling between one ministry to the other Services chiefs reduced to sending reminders, seeking justice for their officers
	Indian Mujahideen operative arrested from East Delhi Shaurya K Gurung/TNS New Delhi, March 28 An absconding operative of the terror group Indian Mujahideen (IM) was apprehended by the Delhi Police from his hideout in East Delhi yesterday. A senior police officer investigating the case claimed that the alleged terrorist was named Assadullah Rehman, alias Dilkash. Assadullah (20) belongs to Darbhanga, Bihar. He is allegedly a close aide of IM chief Ahmad Siddi Bappa Jarar, also known as Imran and Shahrukh. Assadullah had helped Shahrukh make weapons and ammunition at a factory situated at Meer Vihar in Nangloi, Delhi. Assadullah was presently staying at a rented accommodation at Chandu Nagar in Karawal Nagar, Trans Yamuna area of Delhi. The Special Team of the Delhi Police apprehended him from there yesterday. “We seized 1 kg of explosive powder, a detonator, a timer and a mobile phone from his residence,” added the officer. During interrogation, Assadullah said that he had finished his schooling from Darbhanga in 2010. He later met Mohammed Kafeel Ahmed, who is an ideologue and the main recruiter of the IM. Assadullah was produced before Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Vinod Yadav’s court today, who remanded him to the police custody for seven days till April 4.
	BRICS Summit: HEALTH REPORT 60-80% UN-procured vaccines are Indian Aditi Tandon/TNS New Delhi, March 28 India’s vaccine industry contributes 60 to 80 per cent of all the vaccines procured by the UN globally. Besides, India’s pharmaceutical industry continues to have enormous global impact by way of production of low-cost vaccines such as MenAfriVac A, specifically designed for the meningitis belt of Africa. These pointers to an increasing influence of India and its BRICS partners in the global health sector form part of a significant new report released in the wake of the 2012 BRICS Summit which began here today. The report lauds India for managing to come off the list of polio endemic nations and for improving global access to affordable antiretroviral drugs for HIV treatment, but describes China as the global leader in research and development, next only to the US. While India only recently announced $1 billion innovation fund to encourage research and development (R&D) for problems afflicting developing countries, China’s R&D spending has been increasing by 20 per cent annually over the past decade and in 2009, China surpassed Japan to become the second largest spender on R&D after the US. China recently invested $1.3 billion in health-related R&D mega projects on disease prevention and drug development and has formed a $300 million partnership with the Gates Foundation to develop new technologies for resource poor countries. The report produced by the Global Health Strategies Initiatives, says BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa), despite their domestic health challenges, have been contributing increasingly to health initiatives globally. While all five countries have been engaged in foreign assistance for decades, the size and scope of their efforts have grown rapidly along with their economies. Although the G7 (the US and Western Europe) donors still provide far more total assistance, the average annual growth in the BRICS’ foreign assistance spending between 2005 and 2010 was more than ten times higher than that of the G7, states the report, which assesses the issue in the light of a promise of collaboration which the BRICS Health Ministers made in 2011. Today, among BRICS, China is the largest contributor to foreign assistance and South Africa the smallest. From 2005 and 2010, China’s foreign assistance spending grew each year by around 23.9 per cent, followed by 20.4 per cent in Brazil, 10.8 per cent in India and 8 per cent in South Africa. Russia’s assistance increased initially in this period and stabilised at $450 million per year. “Though their health commitments vary significantly, the BRICS have contributed to global health through financing and dramatically improving access to affordable medicines,” says the assessment. The report lauds India’s removal from the list of polio endemic nations this year and says the move will significantly improve global polio eradication efforts. It specifically mentions India for helping develop e-platforms to aid poorest populations in the world.
	A first, CM Akhilesh declares his assets Shahira Naim/TNS Lucknow, March 28 The generational change in Uttar Pradesh is clearly evident in more ways than one. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav has become the first head of state to officially declare his assets and liabilities worth over Rs 4.83 crore. Setting a precedent before his Cabinet colleagues and bureaucrats, the 38-year old tech-savvy Akhilesh has uploaded details of his assets and liabilities as on March 15 on the state government official website. The declaration made by Akhilesh while filing his nomination for Kannauj parliamentary seat in the 2009 Lok Sabha elections had mentioned movable and immovable assets of more than Rs 5.52 crore. As per the fresh declaration till March 15, the Chief Minister has immovable assets of more than Rs 98.84 lakh. This includes agricultural land in Etawah worth Rs 17.53 lakh. His share of a property on up market Vikramaditya Marg in Lucknow which he shares with wife Dimple is worth Rs 41.63 lakh. Another property on MG road in Lucknow is worth Rs 37.55 lakh and a plot of Rs 2.11 lakh in Etawah’s Friends colony. The CM’s movable property includes a Pajero worth Rs 20.16 lakh. All the immovable and movable properties have been declared at cost. Chief Minister has investments of Rs 1.08 lakh in insurance policies and mutual funds. He has invested Rs 63.80 lakh in Aviva Life Insurance, portfolio investment of Rs 14.86 lakh, principal mutual fund of Rs 10 lakh, besides others. He has Rs 1.37 crore as loans and advances, which include Rs 22.24 lakh to wife Dimple Yadav, Rs 1.11 crore to brother Prateek Yadav and Rs 1.19 lakh to the Samajwadi Party.
	Security, socio-economic issues stare Kashmir in the face Vijay Mohan/TNS Srinagar, March 28 Beneath the apparently calm surface of Kashmir’s volatile environment swirl strong undercurrents of disturbance. While the strife-torn Valley has witnessed over a year of relative peace, simmering discontentment prevails at the grassroots level on the socio-economic front. Added to this are the ingredients of separatist violence still being in place, albeit in a state of passive watch. The level of terrorism has come down significantly over the past two years. Developments in Pakistan’s north-western region bordering Afghanistan and turbulence in the US-Pakistan relations, which has diverted much of the attention of the Pakistani military as well as fresh initiatives by the Indian establishment to reach out to the Kashmiri populace, are largely responsible for this. Lack of basic civic amenities, infrastructure development, massive unemployment and reviving small-scale units as well as the increasing level of corruption in the local administration are now the primary issues in the hinterland. The people may no longer fear for their lives, but as the state is on the crossroad of societal change and economic rejuvenation, there is also a growing fear in some quarters that that dissatisfaction and frustration may lead to an increase in criminal activities. According to sources, known terrorists have been spotted moving around openly although without weapons or provocative actions, which makes any apprehension by the security agencies virtually impossible. In the Indian security establishment, senior officers are of the view that future developments in Afghanistan like the withdrawal of US forces and the consequent Pakistani moves would have a direct impact on the situation in Kashmir. The fear is of a repeat of the 1990 scenario post the Soviet withdrawal from Afghanistan, when mercenaries and weapons freed from the Soviet engagement were pushed into Kashmir by Pakistan. The presence of Chinese troops in Gilgit-Baltistan, ostensibly for infrastructure development, has added another dimension to the Central-South Asian geo-political tussle. Tapping into the Central Asian energy reserves and developing alternate access routes into western Tibet and thereon into the mainland are China’s motives. According to a senior Army officer, the elements of violence — secessionist leadership, terrorists, supply of weapons and the capability of inter-group and cross-border communication — are still in place in the Valley. Agencies monitoring the Internet and TV channels reveal that separatists are heavily using the social media like Facebook to spread radical ideas and anti-India propaganda aimed at subverting the process of socio-economic-cultural reintegration of the Kahmiri people with the rest of India. Sources said across the Line of Control (LoC) in the area of responsibility of Srinagar-based 15 Corps, there are about 500-600 terrorists waiting to infiltrate into the Valley. The Army says there are 15 “launch pads”, each with about 30-40 terrorists across the Valley’s front which stretches along the Bannihal--Zojila axis. The method of smuggling in weapons through drop points in the Uri and Tangdhar region continues. With summers approaching, militants risk making infiltration attempts in April as the snow cover begins to recede and the Army is still to occupy its forward defences along the fenced LoC.
	SC puts posers on TADA, Bhullar’s health R Sedhuraman Legal Correspondent New Delhi, March 28 The Supreme Court today put several questions to the government on the rejection of the mercy petition of Devender Pal Singh Bhullar, raising the hope of the convict sentenced to death for the 1993 assassination attempt on the then Youth Congress chief MS Bitta. A Bench comprising Justices GS Singhvi and SJ Mukhopadhaya pointed out during the day-long hearing that the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act (TADA), under which Bhullar had been convicted, was no longer a law. Parliament repealed TADA after finding it to be very harsh and subsequently, brought another law known as Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA), but this too was struck off the statute book for the same reason, the Bench noted. Recalling the reformation of several dreaded dacoits after being sentenced to jail terms, the Bench said Phoolan Devi was one such person who went on to become a Member of Parliament. Pointing out the mental condition of Bhullar, who is undergoing treatment at the Institute of Human Behaviour and Allied Sciences at Shahdara near here, the Bench asked Additional Solicitor General Haren Raval whether the Home Ministry tried to find out his health status before sending its recommendations to the President. The Bench made the remarks after going through the ministry’s report to the President. The court also pointed out that the judiciary had chosen to award life sentence for varying periods even in rarest of rare cases, avoiding death sentence.
	Indian-origin American to chair Indo-US dialogue Man Mohan Our Roving Editor New Delhi, March 28 An American of Indian origin, Dr Vivek Lall (42), has been selected to chair the Indo-US strategic dialogue by the Indo-American Chamber of Commerce (IACC). Son of a former Indian diplomat, Lall is a recognised authority on US-India relations by both The White House and the Government of India. His responsibility includes leading policy initiatives and promotion of Indo-US trade. Some of the core areas of bilateral interest are: retail, aviation, energy, education and health. Lall had been spearheading billions of dollars of trade in his previous capacity at Boeing India (military aviation). Currently, Lall is the CEO of the newly created division of homeland security and aerospace of Reliance Industries Limited. A spokesman of the IACC told The Tribune that Lall is uniquely positioned to understand the business imperatives and aspirations of the world’s two biggest democracies.
	Indian students excel in world moot court Chandigarh, March 28 Law students from India excelled in the third Leiden-Sarin International Air Law Moot Court Competition held in Istanbul University, Turkey, last week. Twelve teams from eight countries, including four from India, participated. The Air Law Moot Court, one of its kind in the world, is held annually. It highlights issues pertaining to the aviation law. The team of Ishita Pant and Veena Kamath from Dr Ram Manohar Lohia National Law University, Lucknow, won the coveted trophy. Ruchika Rao, a final year student of NALSAR University of Law, Hyderabad, won the best “oralist” award, which comprises a scholarship for an advanced LLM at the Air & Space Law Institute of Leiden University, the Netherlands. The scholarship is worth Rs 15 lakh. The runner-up team was from Leiden University itself. The university is among the top two universities in the world in the field of air and space law. The competition was organised jointly by the Sarin Memorial Legal Aid Foundation, Chandigarh, and Leiden University. The moot court was adjudged by 30 experts in air law from 20 different countries. The final rounds were adjudged by Judge Gilbert Guillaume, former President of the International Court of Justice, Elizabeth Freidenberg from Argentina and Julie Oettinger. The judges, while announcing their verdict, pointed out that the competition was close, which made their job even more difficult. Earlier, the four teams from India were selected at the national rounds held in Army Institute of Law, Mohali, in which Justice Swatanter Kumar of the Supreme Court delivered the inaugural address and Justice Surinder Nijjar of the Supreme Court read the valedictory address. The Sarin Foundation was represented by its president, Chief Justice SS Sodhi (retd), Secretary General ML Sarin and Nitin Sarin, moot coordinator. The competition will be held in Abu Dhabi next year. — TNS
	Regional economic integration order of the day: TKA Nair Sanjeev Singh Bariana/TNS Chandigarh, March 28 Regional economic integration is the new order of world in a changed world, said TKA Nair, Adviser to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, in his inaugural address at the three-day international conference on cooperative development, peace and security in south and central Asia at the Centre for Research in Rural and Industrial Development (CRRID) here today. Nair said "regional economic integration" was the coinage used by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at the recent SAARC summit in Maldives and it underlined the latest perspective under which international relations were being reviewed. Regional transparency was key to investment and joint investment coupled with sharing of technology was also a global truth. In keeping with its economic strength, India will definitely play a bigger role in the global affairs during the coming times, he added. Pinak Ranjan Chakravarti, Special Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs, said grid connectivity was the biggest development in international relations.
	BrahMos in new mode test fired Balasore (Odisha), March 28 India today successfully test fired the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile in a new mode from the Integrated Test Range at Chandipur off the Odisha coast. "The missile was test fired from a ground mobile launcher," a defence official said. — PTI
	2G: HC seeks CBI response to Kanimozhi’s plea Legal Correspondent New Delhi, March 28 The Delhi High Court yesterday sought the CBI’s response to DMK MP Kanimozhi’s plea for quashing the corruption and criminal charges framed by the trial court against her in the 2G Spectrum scam case. Justice ML Mehta issued notice to the agency and posted the matter for the next hearing on May 10. Kanimozhi has pleaded that she had been falsely implicated in the case despite the fact that there was no evidence on record to substantiate that she received any bribe.