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Cabinet backs Chidambaram in standoff with Nilekani
J&K mulls a minority panel; Haryana ‘doesn’t need one’
Cabinet panel on security clears agenda for Siachen talks
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Maoist commander arrested in Delhi
Hardcore Maoist cadre held in Assam
president polls Adarsh scam: 2 bureaucrats get bail
Bangalore police cracks whistleblower murder
Andhra moots quota in grant of liquor licences
OBC sub-quota row
Army Chief lifts ban on Lt Gen Suhag
No SC relief, only warning for Nupur
Tendulkar set to be Rahul’s neighbour
India for stronger resolve to fight terror CBI books arms dealer, Swiss firm Mathur replaces Tiwari as CLP leader
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Cabinet backs Chidambaram in standoff with Nilekani
New Delhi, June 7 The backing from the Union Cabinet came after Chidambaram wrote to the Prime Minister seeking his intervention and pointing out that the NPR project had "come to a standstill" as Nilekani was refusing to use the data being collected by the Home Ministry. Chidambaram said the “process of collection of photographs and biometrics has been facing hurdles at every step on account of the approach of the UIDAI, which has failed to appreciate the core purpose of the National Population Register.” The two departments have been at loggerheads over the issue of biometrics - the right to scan Indian population's eyes and fingerprints for a while now. There seemed to have been a compromise between the two when at a meeting chaired by the Prime Minister in January last it was decided that the fingerprints and iris scans of the country’s population will be collected by both teams, with as little duplication as possible. The meeting was attended by the Home Minister, the UIDAI chief and some other senior ministers. At the meeting it was also decided that UIDAI would conduct the enrollment exercise in areas where its team has already collected information on more than 50 per cent of the population. In the remaining areas, it was decided that the Home Ministry would handle the collection of the data.
the tussle *
Chidambaram said the “process of collection of photographs and biometrics has been facing hurdles at every step on account of the approach of the UIDAI, which has failed to appreciate the core purpose of the NPR” *
The two departments have been at loggerheads over the issue of biometrics — the right to scan the iris and taking fingerprints — for a while now
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J&K mulls a minority panel; Haryana ‘doesn’t need one’
New Delhi, June 7 If the Bill gets past the Assembly, it will become a trendsetter for northern states like Haryana, which continue to insist that they do not need a minority commission. Their excuse — in Haryana, no cases of atrocities on minorities have come to light. Haryana has 10.36 per cent population of minority Sikhs, Muslims and Christians. Jammu and Kashmir is said to be working on a separate law to create a minority commission in the state as the National Commission for Minorities Act does not extend to it. Surojit Mitra, Secretary, Minority Affairs, told The Tribune today on the sidelines of the State Minority Ministers Conference here that J&K had said it was getting the Bill ready. “They have said so and also that they will take the Bill to the Legislative Assembly. We are urging the states to set up state minority commissions,” he said. Minority Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid said at the conference today that the states should consider setting up minority commissions to “give minorities some confidence”. He, however, admitted that there was difference in opinions at the state and Central levels over the need for such commissions. Haryana, for its part, continued to dodge the issue even today. Geeta Bhukkal, the minister in charge of education, women, children and minorities in Haryana said, “No cases of atrocities on minorities have come to our notice. Therefore, we don’t need a separate commission for minorities. We don’t even have a separate department for minority affairs. Our proximity to Delhi helps us,” Bhukkal said. As far as J&K goes, the National Commission for Minorities has been writing to the state since 2010 to set up a commission for minorities. NCH chief Wajahat Habibullah has said that declaring Kashmiri Pandits a minority is a “crying need of the hour”. The NCM has a list of 3,700 families of Kashmiri Hindus left in the Valley. “Not much is being done for these families and their wards. It’s time the state notified Kashmiri Hindus as a minority in Jammu and Kashmir. It must pass an Act, set up a Minority Commission and re-categorise minorities depending on the actual population in the state,” Habibullah says. He has written to the state in this regard.
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Cabinet panel on security clears agenda for Siachen talks
New Delhi, June 7 The issue came up at the meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) which cleared the stand to be adopted by India in this regard, sources said. Defence secretaries of the two countries will meet for their annual conference in Islamabad on June 11 and 12. The two officials are supposed to suggest a solution to the issue. Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari and his Army Chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani have expressed a desire that the glacier be demilitarised. The call had come after more than 140 Pakistan Army Soldiers lost their lives in an avalanche in April this year. Defence Minister AK Antony, has already made the country’s stand on Siachen clear. “India is clear. We want authentication of the present positions (held by Indian troops). This is a pre-requisite before we can proceed further”. New Delhi has always insisted it will pull back troops only after joint “authentication” of the frontline along the 109-km Actual Ground Position Line (AGPL), that is the name of the de-facto border on the glacier. The AGPL has never been marked on the ground or on any document accepted by both sides. If Pakistan violates a demilitarisation treaty, it would enjoy easier access to Siachen, leaving India at a serious disadvantage. New Delhi wants iron cast international guarantees against any violations. On the other hand, Pakistan resists “authentication” as a pre-requisite to de-militarisation. This was its stance during the last round of Defence Secretary-level talks in May 2011. An authentication would legitimise the AGPL, which, in turn, would regularise India’s claims. Pakistan wants demilitarisation, withdrawal and authentication to proceed simultaneously. Last month, after General Kayani’s call for a mutual withdrawal, Islamabad announced it would stick to its traditional position. It was in April 1984 that the Army and the IAF gained control of the glacier in a joint operation ‘Megdhoot’.
delhi to stick to its stand *
Defence secretaries of the two countries will meet for
their annual conference in Islamabad on June 11 and 12
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Maoist commander arrested in Delhi
New Delhi, June 7 The 27-year-old Maoist has been identified as Shiv Kumar, alias Shiva, and also known as Hero. Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime and Railways) Sanjay Kumar Jain said Shiv was nabbed from Samaipur Badli in Sanjay Gandhi Transport Nagar. The police recovered a 9-mm pistol with two live cartridges from him. “He was heading a LGS that consisted of about 20 to 30 men and operated in Jharkhand’s two districts - Lohardaga and Latehar. Shiv is an ace fighter, an expert at handling guns, including the AK-47 and the INSAS, and is proficient at making and planting explosives such as an IED (improvised explosive device) and land mines. Shiv’s group calls the remote-controlled IEDs as “Krishna-Arjun”. In the name, Krishna signifies the remote and Arjun represents the connection in the explosive,” said Sanjay
Jain.
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Hardcore Maoist cadre held in Assam
Guwahati, June 7 Guwahati city Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) A J Barua informed that arrested Maoist cadre Mainul Hussain, alias Naresh, joined the Maoists way back in 2007 and underwent training in Bihar. The official said the cadre hailed from Mancachar area in Assam’s Dhubri district. He was trained in operating all sorts of weapons.aThe cadre has been around in Guwahati for the last two years to carry out his assignment to expand Maoists activities in the state. Police claimed that he was staying in the city in the guise of a worker in a garments manufacturing factory. Police recovered only a mobile phone from his possession.
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president polls
New Delhi, June 7 Though the two DMK leaders described the brief call-on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi as a courtesy call, they said DMK’s decision to support the Congress selection for the post of President holds good. During May, Congress president sent Defence Minister AK Antony to Chennai to call on DMK chief M Karunanidhi to initiate the process of consultation with allies on the elections scheduled for next month. Reports then suggested that Karunanidhi had said that the party had no objection with the name of Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee as a candidate. The meeting with the DMK leaders came a day after Sonia met Civil Aviation Minister and Rashtriya Lok Dal chief Ajit Singh. Later, the Jat leader said Mukherjee was “qualified” to occupy the highest constitutional post. He added that he held positive views on other candidates as well. While Mukherjee’s name has been doing the rounds in political circles, several party leaders are curious as to who would step into the shoes of one of the senior-most Congress leader as the Finance Minister and the Leader of the Lok Sabha. The names of Commerce Minister Anand Sharma and Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh are being mentioned as possible inheritors of the Finance portfolio.
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Adarsh scam: 2 bureaucrats get bail
Mumbai, June 7 The counsel for the accused bureaucrats argued that they were entitled to be released on bail under the law since the CBI failed to file the chargesheet within the stipulated deadline.
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Bangalore police cracks whistleblower murder
Bangalore, June 7 Mahantesh, an upright Karnataka Administrative Service (KAS) officer, had the reputation of being a whistleblower and his murder had set off a massive furore prompting high court to take suo motu notice. Jurisdictional DCP Ravikante Gowda said the conspiracy was hatched by Kiran, cashier with a credit cooperative society in the city. Mahantesh had detected irregularities in the cooperative society involving the cashier. Kiran got Mahantesh murdered with the help of his four friends. “Though they were his friends, Kiran paid them for the job,” the DCP said. Gowda said, “Mahantesh was incidental in detecting the irregularities. These were so blatant that any auditor would have detected them.” “Kiran, who has been arrested, did not take part in the assault,” Gowda said and added one of the four murderers was absconding. Mahantesh was bludgeoned on May 15 that led to severe head injuries. The KAS officer, father of two, was returning home when he was waylaid. A passerby found him unconscious near a Bangalore hotel. He was shifted to hospital and his family was informed. He died on May 20.
the case * SP Mahantesh, an upright KAS officer, detected irregularities in a cooperative society involving a cashier *
The cashier, Kiran, got Mahantesh murdered with the help of his four friends, one of whom is still absconding *
Mahantesh was bludgeoned on May 15 that led to severe head injuries. He died on May 20
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Andhra moots quota in grant of liquor licences
Hyderabad, June 7 The new policy, to come into effect from July 1 this year, envisages granting of liquor trade licences through draw of lots instead of the present policy of giving them to the highest bidders. The proposed quota for weaker sections in liquor business is being projected as an initiative in social empowerment. “When we have reservations for weaker sections in job and education sectors, why not empower them in the commercial sectors as well? On the lines of providing reservation in the small scale industries, we are proposing reservations in liquor trade,”" state Excise Minister K Parthasarathy said. Another significant feature of the new excise policy is that the government would directly enter retail trade and run the liquor outlets to act as a price regulator. The decision was apparently prompted by widespread criticism over its failure to check illegal liquor trade. The government’s policy to auction liquor shops also drew flak from the Opposition and social activists on the ground that it amounted to encouraging “unscrupulous trade practices” by the liquor mafia. In July 2010, the government had mobilised a whopping Rs 7,000 crore towards license fee by auctioning 6,596 retail liquor outlets across the state for a two-year period of 2010-12. This was probably the highest license fee revenue for any state. There were at least 100 bids in the range of Rs 3 crore to Rs 4.5 crore for each wine shop and around 45 bids above Rs 4.5 crore. AP is among the highest liquor consuming states in the country. The spurt in liquor sales is attributed to the liberal excise policy under which even villages, with a population of 5,000, are allowed bar licenses and liquor permit rooms. Opposition parties and women’s organisations slammed the government for opening “floodgates” to liquor trade and playing with the lives of the poor. "The Congress regime has made excise its main source of revenues. It is trying to convert everyone into an alcoholic. We will take up agitation against this policy,” TDP president and former Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu said. Meanwhile, the new excise policy would be announced after the declaration of results of the by-elections to 18 Assembly seats and one Lok Sabha constituency on June 15. The licence fee for wine shops will be fixed based on the population of the area and the licenses will be issued by drawing of lot. It will be a minimum of Rs 27 lakh in an area where the population is below 10,000 to a maximum of Rs 1.27 crore where it is more than 20 lakh. A separate lottery system will be held to choose licensees among the applicants belonging to SC, ST, and BCs.
policy shift * As per the draft Excise Policy 2012-14, 12 per cent of the retail liquor outlets across the state will be reserved for Backward Classes, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes *
The new policy, to come into effect from July 1 this year, envisages granting of liquor trade licences through draw of lots instead of the present policy of giving them to the highest biddersaz The quota for weaker sections is being projected as an initiative in social empowerment
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OBC sub-quota row
New Delhi, June 7 The decision came this evening after day-long confusion over the issue within the government. Law Minister Salman Khurshid had said this morning that the government would file the matter in the Supreme Court when it reopens after vacation on July 2. “We don’t want to take any chances with the vacation bench. If the vacation bench doesn’t hear the matter, we will lose time. We are in touch with the Attorney General and have decided to prepare, file and get the matter heard in the Apex Court in the first week of July,” Khurshid had said. But the HRD Ministry later flagged the urgency of the issue to Khurshid and stated that minority students hoping to get admitted to 15 Indian Institutes of Technology, IT-BHU and Indian School of Mines, Dhanbad, would be at a loss if legal protection is not sought for them at the earliest. “There’s no problem as far as other central educational institutions are concerned but admission process in IITs is set to begin. We can’t afford any delay. The government has therefore decided to approach the apex court on Monday to file the Special Leave petition and get it heard,” top sources in HRD Ministry said. The candidates shortlisted and ranked in IIT-JEE this year have to fill their choice of courses up to June 10. Details of first seat allotment will be communicated by IIT Joint Admission Board on June 14. Seats not accepted in the first round will be allotted on All-India rank basis afterwards. The second seat round allotment will be released on June 25 and the third and final round of allotment will be done on July 6. Much of the IIT admissions would thus be over by July 2 when the SC returns from after vacation. As many as 325 minority students have been ranked for admissions to IITs this year on the basis of 4.5 per cent sub-quota made available to them within the 27 per cent OBC quota. Of these 325, 303 are boys and 22 are girls. Maximum minority sub-quota seats are available in IIT Madras (96), IIT Kanpur (44) and IIT Delhi (43). Overall, 4,805 OBC students have been ranked this year for IITs out of 1,36,572 who appeared. Of these, 325 minority students can get courses of their choice if they are ranked separately within the 4.5 per cent sub-quota. Khurshid had earlier said, “I have spoken to the HRD Minister. He has no worries on this issue (admissions of students).” But HRD Ministry sources pointed out that there was some miscommunication on this issue as there was a real urgency in case of IIT admissions.
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Army Chief lifts ban on Lt Gen Suhag
New Delhi, June 7 The just-retired Army Chief General VK Singh had imposed a ban on Lt Gen Suhag which had shocked sections of the Army and also the Ministry of Defence (MoD) which saw this as an attempt to tweak the line of succession in the Army - largely the senior-most officer becomes the Chief. Lt Gen Suhag, presently General Officer Commanding (GoC) of the Dimapur-based 3 Corps, is in line to be the next chief of the 1.13 million-strong Indian Army. Sources said the DV ban has been lifted and this will pave the way for his promotion as GoC-in-C of the Kolkatta-based Eastern Army Command. Following the imposition of a ban, his promotion had been held back while his compatriot Lt Gen Sanjiv Chachra was promoted and he took charge of the Chandimandir-based Western Army Command. Today’s move means Gen Suhag can be promoted and will end one of the bitter controversies which had divided the Army. Lt-Gen Dalbir Singh Suhag was first issued a show cause notice on May 19 even while he was on leave in Delhi tending to his ailing mother. He was asked to join back duty and reply within seven days. A DV was imposed on him without even waiting for his reply to the notice. This sent alarm bells ringing in the MoD as it saw that this would not stand scrutiny in court and called for the files. Had the DV ban continued, he would have been overlooked and lost the chance to be promoted as GoC-in-C, ultimately missing out on a chance to become the Army Chief. Notably, had the Supreme Court accepted Gen VK Singh’s plea that he was born on May 10, 1951 and not on May 10, 1950 as recorded in the Ministry of Defence, Gen Bikram Singh would not have made it to the top job and Lt Gen Suhag also would also have lost out. A chief retires at 62 while Lt Generals retire at 60 years of age. When the row had erupted, Gen VK Singh had said, “There was no vendetta (in his actions against Gen Suhag).”
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No SC relief, only warning for Nupur
New Delhi, June 7 “Every single order passed by the Magistrate, having any repercussion, is being assailed right up to this court. Of course, the right to avail a remedy under the law is the right of every citizen. But such a right cannot extend to misuse of jurisdiction,” a Bench comprising Justices AK Patnaik and JS Khehar explained in a stern order running into 63 pages. The Bench made the remarks while rejecting her petition seeking a review of the SC order of January 6, 2012. The SC had delivered the January 6 verdict dismissing her petition challenging the February 9, 2011, magisterial order.
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Tendulkar set to be Rahul’s neighbour
New Delhi, June 7 The stately house in Lutyen's zone is just opposite the house of Gandhi, who stays at 12, Tughlaq Lane. Spread over 7,000 sq feet, the bungalow allotted to Tendulkar has spacious bedrooms and big lawns. Sources said the final formalities are being conducted by the Rajya Sabha Housing Committee, which is responsible for allotments to the Rajya Sabha MPs. Since Tendulkar is entitled Z-plus security cover, his house will be guarded by a posse of security personnel. However, there is a slight hitch in occupying the house before August by the cricketer- turned-MP. The bungalow is yet to be vacated by present occupant Vikram Verma, a former BJP MP. Verma's Rajya Sabha term expired in April. "I have been given an extension of three months for staying in 5, Tughlaq Lane. So, I will vacate it by August," said Verma. — PTI
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India for stronger resolve to fight terror New Delhi, June 7 Krishna said India looked forward to greater engagement with RATS, the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation’s premier counter terror body, to combat the challenge of extremism. Illicit narco-trafficking and cyber security were other challenges in the region which deserved greater focus and stronger collective efforts. He was all praise for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation grouping comprising China, Russia, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan, underlining its contribution over the past decade to peace, stability and prosperity in the region. India, Pakistan, Mongolia and Iran have the status of observers in the grouping. Afghanistan has been admitted into it as new observers while Belarus and Sri Lanka are the dialogue partners. The minister pitched for a "larger and more constructive role" for India in the grouping as a full member and underlined that it was "a promising alternative regional platform" to help stabilise Afghanistan. “As we have emphasised at various Shanghai Cooperation Organisation fora, India would be happy to play a larger, wider and more constructive role in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation as a full member, as and when the organisation finalises the expansion modalities," he added. However, given elaborate procedures and rigorous criteria, India's admission into the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation could take up to two years after the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation members unanimously decide to open the doors for
new members.
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CBI books arms dealer, Swiss firm New Delhi, June 7 Two, yet unknown, public persons have also been booked for taking illegal gratification from Rheinmetall for influencing senior officers of the Ministry of Defence to stop them from blacklisting the Swiss firm. The case was registered under Sections 8 and 12 of the Prevention of Corruption Act 1988.
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The Union Cabinet today backed Home Minister P. Chidambaram and asked Nandan Nilekani - who heads Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) which is carrying out the UPA government’s pet programme of providing Aadhar cards to over one billion population of the
country
Just a week after taking over as the Army Chief, General Bikram Singh has taken the first step to undo the bitterness that had developed in the past few months. He has lifted the Discipline and Vigilance
(DV) ban imposed by his predecessor on Lt Gen Dalbir Singh Suhag, one of the senior Army officers.
New Delhi, June 7 
* New Delhi will stick to its stand seeking authentication of troop positions on the 2,600-sq km Siachen Glacier before any demilitarisation can take place
“We appreciate greater cooperation within the Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) as an important regional answer to this challenge,’’ he said addressing the extended session of the 12th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (Shanghai Cooperation Organisation) Summit in Beijing this morning.