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India, Brazil sign 6 pacts
Pranab for better ties among Asian nations
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After
Rs 2-cr haul, EC countermands Jharkhand RS poll
tribune special
Press note on ‘BRIBE’ TO ARMY CHIEF
19 UP cops get life term for sewadar’s
fake encounter
Pawar bats for Bt cotton
How can you respect this House: Kejriwal
Defence official, wife found dead
Gen sounds reconciliatory note
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India, Brazil sign 6 pacts
New Delhi, March 30 "We have agreed to step up our efforts, particularly towards the reform of the United Nations Security Council as G-4 partners," Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said after holding wide-ranging talks with Brazil President Dilma Rousseff here. Both India and Brazil, along with Germany and Japan, are part of the G-4 grouping that seeks permanent seats for the four countries in an expended UN Security Council. President Rousseff had yesterday attended the fourth BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) Summit and was on a state visit to India today. The six accords inked between the two countries are: Executive programme of cultural exchanges for 2012-2014; an MoU on technical cooperation; a programme of cooperation on science and technology for 2012-2014; an MoU on cooperation in the field of biotechnology; an MoU under the Brazilian programme "Science Without Border" on reception of Brazilian scholarship students in India and a statement of intent for promotion of gender equality and advancement of the rights of women and children. Prime Minister Singh and the Brazilian President agreed to enhance consultations between the two countries on reform of global governance system, particularly in the context of the G-20 process. "We directed our officials to take specific steps to exploit the full potential in areas such as trade, education, science and technology, environment, defence, space and nuclear energy," the Indian leader said. On global developments, the two leaders felt that a resolution to the crisis in West Asia could only be achieved through dialogue and consultations.
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Pranab for better ties among Asian nations
This was stated by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee while delivering the valedictory address at the International Conference on Cooperative Development, Peace and Security in South and Central Asia, organised by the Centre for Research in Rural and Industrial Development here this evening. Pranab highlighted the importance of better cooperation between Asian countries. It could help usher in economic development in the region, he said. "As India advances in the field of education, economic advancement, technology and heads to be an open and free society, inter-connectivity in the region becomes important. No nation lives alone and a successful quest for accelerated development requires a peaceful environment. This has been a part of our external affairs policy. We do not seek a dominating role for ourself. Our military perspective is also defensive, but mainly because we have a troubled neighbourhood," he added. Emphasising on the need to forge better ties in the region, he said the government had also set up a fund for establishing economic exchanges between India and Central Asian countries.
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After Rs 2-cr haul, EC countermands Jharkhand RS poll New Delhi/Ranchi, March 30 "The Commission is satisfied that the current election process for Rajya Sabha election from Jharkhand has been seriously vitiated and cannot be permitted to proceed," the three-member EC headed by Chief Election Commissioner SY Quraishi said in a 12-page order. “Accordingly, the Commission hereby recommends under Article 324 of the Constitution read with Section 21 of the General Clauses Act, 1897... to the President that she may be pleased to rescind the notification of March 12 calling upon the elected members of Jharkhand Legislative Assembly to elect two members to the Council of States," it said. While RS elections have been countermanded in the past, this is the first time that such a step has been taken on account of vitiation of the election process because of money power. Hours before the start of polling today, Rs 2.25 crore in cash was seized from a car owned by the brother of Independent candidate RK Agarwal (a business tycoon from Chhatisgarh), sparking pandemonium in the Assembly over the allegation of horse-trading. "The car belongs to Suresh Agarwal, younger brother of RK Agarwal," I-T Department's Jharkhand Director Ajay Kumar said. During interrogation, Suresh and another occupant of the car claimed the cash had come from Prakash Khemani's place at Jamshedpur, Kumar said. Khemani is related to Agarwal. Sources said the EC took note of a complaint lodged by Jharkhand Vikas Morcha leader Babulal Marandi whose candidate Praveen Singh is also in the fray.
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tribune special
New Delhi, March 30 The Cabinet Secretariat (CS) seems to have developed cold feet on a Right to Information (RTI) petition asking for file notings related to Tripathi’s appointment. The RAW works under the CS’ control. The latest communication from the CS to RTI applicant Subhash Chandra Agrawal has informed him that “the matter is being transferred to the Chief Public Information Officer (CPIO) of the division concerned for appropriate action.” The Tribune in an exclusive report on March 19 reported that the government had agreed to reveal to the RTI applicant the procedure behind the selection of Tripathi as the RAW chief. This report was based on the February 29 order of the Chief Information Commissioner (CIC) Satyananda Mishra on the RTI application (File No. CIC/SM/C/2011/001564). The CIC asked the government to furnish the ‘desired information’ about Tripathi’s appointment. The CIC’s order had come after the CPIO of the Cabinet Secretariat, SP Roy, informed him during the February 29 hearing that the First Appellate Authority Nivedita Shukla Verma on February 27 had passed an order stating that the desired information did not relate to the exempted organisation, but to the manner in which the appointment was made by the competent authority i.e. the CS. This surprised everyone as the CS had earlier refused to disclose the desired information on the plea that the RAW was an exempted organisation under the Second Schedule of the RTI Act. Strangely, the ‘same CPIO’ of the CS has now written a letter to RTI applicant Agrawal denying that the First Appellate Authority had ever passed an order stating that the information related to Tripathi’s appointment “did not relate to the exempted organisation but to the manner in which the appointment was made to that organisation by the competent authority.” Roy has also informed Agrawal that “this is not borne by the February 27 order of the First Appellate Authority which was seen by the CIC.” “This is quite baffling…CPIO Roy has tried to convey to me that the CIC did not understand the First Appellate Authority’s order. It seems I have been taken for a ride,” said Agrawal, who appealed to the CIC to issue fresh directions.
The Curious case of Sanjiv Tripathi
Tripathi was made Secretary, RAW, barely a week before he was due to retire on December 31, 2010, from the top post of the Aviation Research Centre. The then RAW chief, KC Verma, said to be a close friend of Tripathi, was due to retire at the end of January 2011, a month after Tripathi. But Verma ‘resigned’ around Christmas of 2010 and is said to have ‘recommended’ Tripathi as his successor.
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Press note on ‘BRIBE’ TO ARMY CHIEF
New Delhi, March 30 Justice Mukta Gupta sought the clarification on a criminal petition filed by Lt Gen Tejinder Singh against Army Chief Gen VK Singh, Vice Chief SK Singh, Lt Gen BS Thakur (DG MI), Maj Gen SL Narasimhan (Additional DG, Public Information) and Lt Col Hitten Sawhney. Lt Gen Tejinder Singh has sought initiation of disciplinary legal action against them and a government directive for withdrawal of the press release. Justice Gupta said the HC would decide on the maintainability of the petition on the basis of the government’s clarification specifying whether the press note was issued by the officers in their official or individual capacity. The HC also asked Lt Gen Tejinder Singh to pinpoint the legal provisions or judgments under which the court could direct the government to withdraw the press release. According to Lt Gen Tejinder Singh, the media cell of the Army Headquarters issued a press release levelling serious allegations against him by name. These included one that said he was involved in carrying out illegal off-the-air monitoring of telephone calls of some senior officials and that he offered bribe to the Army Chief for finalising a sub-standard defence contract.
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19 UP cops get life term for sewadar’s
fake encounter
Lucknow, March 30 The case goes back to 1992, when the convicted policemen belonging to the state police and posted in district Bijnore of western Uttar Pradesh abducted the sewadar from New Delhi on October 30, 1992 and shot him dead in a staged shootout in Bijnore on the next day on October 31, 1992, after declaring him a dreaded terrorist. To add credibility to their false claims, the policemen had claimed recovery of an AK-56 assault rifle and a double-barrel gun, 24 live cartridges and two magazines from his possession. The police had also maintained that Jassi’s so-called accomplice Kamaljeet Singh had managed to flee. On October 30, the day of Jassi’s disappearance, a missing report had been lodged at the Parliament Street police station. On the same day at the Badhapur police station in Najibabad region of Bijnore, the UP Police lodged a complaint against Jassi under TADA and Arms Act.
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Pawar bats for Bt cotton
New Delhi, March 30 In response to concerns raised in the Rajya Sabha over low yields due to the hybrid cotton seed, Pawar said cotton production had in fact risen from 164 lakh bales in 2004-05 to 340 lakh bales in 2011-12. “This is a clear-cut indication that production has increased after the use of Bt cotton. The farmer is getting better yield,” he asserted. Pawar agreed farmers in Dhule district in Maharashtra and Khargone district in Madhya Pradesh had complained regarding yield loss after using hybrid cotton seeds produced and marketed by Bayer Bio-Science Pvt Ltd, but maintained that losses were caused by higher than normal rainfall. “After investigation, it was found that farmers suffered losses around Rs 45 lakh and the competent authority instructed the company to pay the compensation to affected farmers,” he said. However, crops only in limited area were affected, Pawar said, adding that “ if we see the total area under the Bt cotton in the entire Dhule, Khargone and nearby districts, the crop was not affected”. The compensation issue has been challenged by Bayer in the high court. Leading agriculture scientist MS Swaminathan’s suggestion that companies should give insurance policy along with seeds was struck down by Pawar, who called the idea “not practical”. Nine states using Bt seeds should make provisions in law that if "something goes wrong...if farmers suffer, there has to be provision where the company pays compensation,” Pawar said.
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How can you respect this House: Kejriwal
Ghaziabad, March 30 Denying allegations by four MPs who moved privilege notices against him that he insulted the House, Kejriwal said he respected Parliament but noted that it is being insulted by those sitting inside Parliament and not those outside. He alleged all parties were responsible for bringing Parliament to disrepute as 162 MPs — with criminal cases against them: 14 facing murder cases, 20 attempt to murder cases and 13 for kidnapping — have managed to get into it. In a four-page reply to Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha Secretariats, he said, "There was one Parliament in which Lal Bahadur Shastri (as Rail Minister) resigned after a train accident. I would like to sacrifice anything for such a Parliament, but how will I respect Parliament of present times.— PTI
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Defence official, wife found dead
New Delhi, March 30 The bodies of Kumar Yashkar (41) and his wife Archana Sharma (35) were found under mysterious circumstances. A case of murder has been registered at the Defence Colony police station. A police officer claimed that Yashkar probably strangulated his wife with a cloth before setting himself afire.
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Gen sounds reconciliatory note New Delhi, March 30 In a statement that was given to select media organisations, the Army Chief blamed the media for "constantly projecting every issue as a battle between the government and the Army Chief". It was misleading, he said, while adding "there are rogue elements in our society which have played an active role in trying to project a schism between the Raksha Mantri (Defence Minister AK Antony) and the COAS. This is untrue and needs to be guarded against". This is not the first time since the two sides - the government and Army Chief - have made truce with each other. On February 10, when the General withdrew his petition on the date of birth issue in Supreme Court, it seemed the high-pitched battle would end. Earlier, just before Army day, on January 15, it seemed matters had cooled down. The PM, Sonia Gandhi and the Defence Minister were at the Army day reception and a day latter, the General filed a case in the Supreme Court. He explained the timing of his outburst, saying questions pertaining to the 'bribe issue' has also drawn considerable attention. He made it clear that "certain steps were taken institutionally to keep a wary eye on the retired officer who had offered the bribe".
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Chandigarh, March 30