The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

Pakistan told about role of State actors in 26/11: PC
Subhrangshu Gupta/TNS

Kolkata, July 5
The information gathered from the alleged Mumbai terror attack mastermind Abu Jindal has been used to tell Pakistan about the role of non-state actors and "perhaps even state actors" in the attack, Union Home Minister P Chidambaram said here today.

He denied that his ministry was not aggressive in confronting Pakistan with the information obtained from Jindal, who was arrested at Delhi airport June 21 after his deportation from Saudi Arabia.

"To the extent it is necessary, I have shared with you and the people of India the essential information that we have gathered from him. And we have used that to tell the Pakistan side the essential information clearly points to state actors and perhaps even state actors were behind 26/11," Chidambaram said.

“We hope Pakistan will come forward and help us with specific information about his activities in Pakistan which will help us in tracking down several others involved in the terror activities in both the countries,” he said.

Denying the allegation that several innocent persons were killed in the CRPF firing at a fake encounter, he said the firing was done in the face of armed attacks by the Maoists on them. The killing of the jawans was equally unfortunate. onceding that three states continued to be "badly affected" by left wing extremism, he said West Bengal was "virtually free" from any such threat.

"Although three states continue to be badly affected by LWE (left wing extremism), West Bengal has shown remarkable recovery. The three districts of the state (Bankura, Purulia and West Midnapore) are now virtually free from any LWE threat," he said here.

Chidambaram and HRD Minister Kapil Sibal held a press meet at Calcutta Press Club, where they highlighted achievements of UPA II.

Both sides re-look at cricket ties
Ashok Tuteja/TNS

New Delhi, July 5
India and Pakistan are again looking at the possibility of resuming bilateral cricketing ties snapped following the Mumbai terror attacks. The issue figured during the foreign secretary-level talks between the two countries, which concluded here this morning.

Addressing a joint press conference with his Pakistani counterpart Jalil Abbas Jilani, Foreign Secretary Ranjan Mathai said the countries desired to be actively involved with each other in the sporting arena, but revival of cricket ties was a matter to be decided by the BCCI and the PCB.

“As for resumption of cricketing ties, this is a matter between the BCCI and the PCB. There are issues of security as well,” he said.

Jilani said things were moving forward in the right direction on the issue. “I had discussion on the revival of cricketing ties between the two countries. I think that we will continue with the formative trajectory that we have adopted over the years in moving forward in our relationship,” he said.

Team Anna can’t hold fast at Jantar Mantar: Police

New Delhi, July 5
The Delhi Police today refused permission to Team Anna to hold an indefinite fast at Jantar Mantar here from July 25, contending that the timing coincides with the monsoon session of Parliament when it has to provide space to other outfits.

Activists did not buy the arguement and said they will hold the protest only at the same spot or in jail while accusing Home Minister P Chidambaram for not being allowed to hold the fast.

Team Anna had announced the indefinite protest against the UPA government on the issue of corruption and its alleged failure to enact a strong Lokpal as well as not setting up a Special Investigation Team to probe corruption charges against Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his 14 Cabinet colleagues.

In a letter to Team Anna, Delhi Police said during the proposed period of the fast, the Monsoon Session of Parliament will be on and Jantar Mantar will see a huge rush of various organisations coming to hold dharna or demonstrations who all will have to be accommodated there.

"This place has a limited capacity to hold people, and keeping in mind equitable distribution of space for everyone, each organisation will be permitted to bring only a very limited number of supporters. A gathering larger than the capacity is vulnerable to stampede and other security-related issues which will come up," it said.

"Keeping in view the position explained above, the permission to hold a fast at Jantar Mantar continuously from 25.07.2012 to 08.08.2012 cannot be acceded to," the letter said, adding Team Anna can contact police for a mutually acceptable venue.

The letter also noted that special security arrangements will be required and these arrangements cause undue strain on the limited capacity of Jantar Mantar which is a regular road and cannot be blocked for a long duration.

Reacting to the police letter, Team Anna member Arvind Kejriwal tweeted, "official reason (to deny permission) -- Parliament in session. Are MPs scared of people of India? How far do they want people to stay away from them?" "It is dangerous for democracy if Parliament and MPs start getting scared of people...Real reason is that Chidambaram is behind denial...Anshan (fast)will take place -- either at Jantar Mantar or in jail," he said.

Another Team Anna member Manish Sisodia also strongly objected to the Delhi Police decision.

On police's contention that they can reach a mutually acceptable venue, he said for that, first they will have to talk to them and find out what is in their mind. Sisodia said Team Anna will go ahead with its agitation even if the police denies permission.

"The state cannot use its might to scuttle our agitation. The police has asked about mutual agreement. We will talk over it," he said.

Team Anna member Kumar Vishwas also echoed Kejriwal and Sisodia. "We are not to confront any police. But we are very much firm that we are going to hold the fast. Now the ball is in Chidambaram's court," he said.

Meanwhile, yoga guru Ramdev has also approached North Delhi Municipal Corporation seeking permission for using Ramlila Maidan from July 25 to August 30 for their fast.

Ramdev has announced a protest demanding bringing back of blackmoney stashed abroad from August nine.

"Our protest starts from August nine. But we have asked permission from July 25 to prepare the ground," S K Tijariwala, yoga guru's spokesperson, said. - PTI

Assam flood toll rises to 116
Tribune News Service

Guwahati, July 5
The flood situation in Assam has remained alarming with the mighty Brahmaputra and most of its tributaries still flowing over the red mark. Altogether, 116 lives have been lost in flood and landslides in the state, according to an official source.

At least 100 persons have died due to flood and 16 in rain-induced landslides in three districts of Kamrup (metro), Dima Hasao and Cachar while 16 others were still missing.

Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi has made an appeal to all concerned to donate generously to the CM’s Relief Fund to help the state government provide adequate relief to over two million flood-hit people from 2,809 flood-ravaged villages in the state.

Though water level of Brahmaputra and its tributaries were showing receding trend in some of the districts, the same are still flowing above the danger mark in affected areas. Over 6.5 lakh flood-hit people are still lodged in relief camps in the state.

Lenders turn screws, Kingfisher properties on the block
Shiv Kumar/TNS

Mumbai, July 5
Vijay Mallya, owner of the troubled Kingfisher Airlines, is all set to lose his prized assets, a luxurious villa in Goa and the headquarters of the failed venture, as lenders prepare to auction these properties to recover their loan amounts.

After a meeting with representatives of 17 financial institutions, including officials of the State Bank of India, the biggest lender to the troubled airline, it was decided that a buyer would be found for the two properties so that part of the airline's debt could be recovered.

Confirming the move, Kingfisher Airlines spokesman Prakash Mirpuri said the Kingfisher House near Mumbai's domestic airport was on the block. "The Kingfisher House has been lying vacant after the staff of the airline moved out and we ourselves raised the issue of liquidating the asset," Mirpuri said in a statement.

Last year, the airline, in its presentation to investors, said it was looking to raise Rs 90 crore from the sale of the Kingfisher House in Mumbai.

On the other hand, the Kingfisher Villa at Candolim in Goa, where Mallya is known to host his famed New Year parties, is also likely to be sold. Goa is drawing a lot of celebrities from India and abroad and the property would find a taker, it is felt.

The value of both properties is pegged around Rs 125 crore, only a fraction of the Rs 7,500 crore Kingfisher owes to the lenders.

According to lenders, who met representatives of Kingfisher today, Mallya was unable to provide any time frame by when he would bring in additional collaterals. The banks have called another meeting in two weeks to resolve the issue. However, Mallya and his representatives reportedly told bankers that they were hopeful of the Centre allowing foreign direct investment (FDI) in aviation which would allow new investors to buy into the business.

Meanwhile, arbitrageurs are looking to buying the Kingfisher debt from the lenders who are worried about the impact of non-performing assets on their books. Recently, ICICI Bank sold its entire Rs 430-crore debt to SREI Venture Capital. Other banks are also expected to follow suit as Mallya has pledged his personal share-holding in United Breweries, which contains some of India's best-selling liquor brands apart from Kingfisher beer.

List steps to end drug menace: SC to states
R Sedhuraman
Legal Correspondent

New Delhi, July 5
Citing a report on large quantities of seized narcotics lying in Bhatinda’s police stores for four decades, the Supreme Court has asked all the states to provide within three months details of such drugs and the procedure being adopted to promptly destroy them.

Expressing concern over the possibility of such drugs being pilfered from police stores for re-circulation in the market, a Bench comprising Justices TS Thakur and Gyan Sudha Misra acknowledged that the “problem is both widespread and formidable.”

“There is hardly any state in the country today which is not affected by the production, transportation, marketing and abuse of drugs in large quantities,” the bench pointed out in a judgment on an appeal filed by the Central government challenging the acquittal of two persons from Madhya Pradesh.

While the fight against such activities was an ongoing process, “it is equally important to ensure that the quantities that are seized by the police and other agencies do not go back in circulation on account of neglect or apathy on the part of those handling the process of seizure, storage and destruction of such contrabands,” the apex court explained.

Nothing was worse than the society suffering on account of the “greed or negligence of those who are entrusted with the duty of protecting it against the menace that is capable of eating into its vitals,” the bench said.

The SC pointed out that studies had shown that a large section of the youth had already become victims of drug abuse and were suffering from its pernicious effects. “Immediate steps are, therefore, necessary to prevent the situation from going out of hand.”

The apex court has appointed the Registrar General of every high court to be the Nodal Officer to collect the reports from the chief secretaries. The exercise is aimed at issuing fool-proof guidelines for destroying the seized drugs.

PGIMER ready for golden jubilee celebrations
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 5
The Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) is all geared up to kickstart its year-long Golden Jubilee celebrations on July 7. The celebrations, which will include commemorative and academic activities, will begin with the inaugural function to be attended by dignitaries like Union Minister of Information and Broadcasting Ambika Soni, Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Water Resources Pawan Kumar Bansal and Planning Commission deputy chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia, the guest of honour on the occasion. Gulam Nabi Azad, Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare and president of the institute, will preside over the inaugural function.

A brainchild of three educationists - Professor Tulsi Dass, Professor S S Anand and Professor P N Chhuttani - the PGIMER started functioning in 1962. It was formally inaugurated on July 7, 1963, by the then Prime Minister Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru. Within a short period of four years, the PGI was declared an “Institute of National Importance” by an Act of Parliament on April 1, 1967.

The first batch of postgraduates was admitted to the institute on January 1963. It has been the first institute in the country to initiate several DM and MCh courses as well as the PhD programmes in clinical sciences. These courses are now available in most of the medical, surgical and paediatric super-specialities.

While a documentary related to the journey of the PGI since its inauguration by Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of India, on July 7, 1963, will be screened on the occasion, coffee mugs, pens and T-shirts will be released as souvenir. The documentary will narrate the story of an eight-year-old boy Aditya from Ropar district who is suffering from retinoblastoma - a rare cancer of eyes found among children.

Interacting with media persons, PGIMER Director Y K Chawla said while a commemorative stamp - already approved by the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunication - will be released, seminars, workshops and talks will be organised throughout the year. The discussions will see participation from prominent educationists and eminent persons from different departments.

After successful kidney, eye and liver transplant surgeries, the premier super speciality health institute is expected to begin heart transplant during the golden jubilee year, he added. The workshops displaying the research work carried out by different departments will be organised on August 11 and 12.

Functional in 1962

A brainchild of three educationists - Professor Tulsi Dass, Professor S S Anand and Professor P N Chhuttani - the PGIMER started functioning in 1962. Within four years, the PGI was declared an "Institute of National Importance" by an Act of Parliament on April 1, 1967

Manmohan will decide on major FinMin proposals
Routine affairs to be handled by Meena
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, July 5
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will consider all major decisions and proposals of the Finance Ministry, while the routine functioning of three departments has been delegated to Minister of State Namo Narain Meena.

According to a Finance Ministry statement issued today, the Prime Minister has approved allocation of work to Meena, who now has been given additional charge of the Department of Economic Affairs (DEA) in addition to expenditure and financial services. In the earlier set-up, most of the work in the DEA was directly being supervised by the outgoing Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee.

The notification said comments of the Finance Ministry on all major proposals for consideration of the Cabinet or its committees would be submitted to the Minister-in-charge (PM).

The Prime Minister, who has taken charge of the finance portfolio, is now setting up a mechanism for the day-to-day functioning in the Finance Ministry and delegation of duties.

As per the new arrangement, all proposals related to sanctioning of non-plan expenditure up to Rs 300 crore would be cleared by Meena. However, cases of Rs 300 crore and above, which required Cabinet or Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) approval, will be put up before Manmohan Singh.

Meena would also handle proposals relating to revision of salaries and allowances under the Sixth Pay Commission, and proposals to be placed before the Cabinet Committee on Accommodation and Parliamentary Questions.

In all cases where a draft note for the Cabinet or its committees has been sent to more than one department of the Ministry of Finance for comments, one consolidated file is to be put up for the PM by the Expenditure Secretary and the Finance Secretary.

More for MoS

Score zero, get into a professional course in AP
Suresh Dharur/TNS

Hyderabad, July 5
Can a student hope to get admission in a professional degree course even after scoring zero in the entrance examination? It is possible in Andhra Pradesh. In the recently-held entrance examination for admission in engineering, medical, dental and agriculture courses, as many as 78 students scored zero. Of them, nine students from engineering and 13 from medical/agriculture streams were declared as qualified and eligible for admissions to engineering and medical colleges for the academic year 2012-13.

This is because the rules permit admission of zero-scorers, belonging to scheduled castes and scheduled tribes, in some professional courses provided they get a minimum of 40 per cent marks in the qualifying XII exam. “If they fulfil the cut-off norm set for the qualifying exam, they can be admitted in degree courses even if their score is zero in the entrance test,” an official of the Education Department said.

The EAMCET (Engineering, Agriculture and Medical Common Entrance Test) is conducted across the state for admission in degree courses in both the government and private colleges. While zero-scorers in the EAMCET are not allowed to claim admission in MBBS course, following revised norms set by the Medical Council of India (MCI); they can opt for other allied courses like agriculture, veterinary and horticulture under the science stream.

The engineering aspirants can fulfil their dreams if they score 40 per cent in the XII exam. Already, there is a glut in the state’s engineering education market as a whopping 1.50 lakh engineering seats are set to go vacant this year. As against 3.21 lakh seats available in 667 engineering colleges, only 2.07 lakh students have qualified in the EAMCET.

Disapproving of the trend, state Governor ESL Narasimhan, who is also the Chancellor of the universities, said: “There should be some minimum qualifying marks. What do you expect of such students, who score zero, to do in classrooms? Do you want to develop an inferiority complex among such students?”

Till 2008, students who scored zero in the EAMCET medical stream exam were allowed to take admissions in MBBS course. However, following an uproar over the falling standards in medical education, the MCI modified the norms, making it mandatory for students to secure 50 per cent marks both in the EAMCET and XII exams to become eligible for MBBS admission.

The All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) also tightened its norms from 2011, prescribing a cut-off percentage of 50 in the XII exams for general category students and 45 per cent for the reserved quota students. It was subsequently reduced by 5 per cent.

Sangma to petition EC against Pranab’s candidature
Anita Katyal/TNS

Pranab Mukherjee during his poll campaign in Ahmedabad on Thursday. — PTI

New Delhi, July 5
UPA Presidential candidate Pranab Mukherjee’s smooth ride to Raisina Hill has run into an unexpected rough patch as a combative Opposition has decided not to give in without a fight.

Adopting a calibrated approach, Opposition-backed Presidential nominee PA Sangma today decided to petition the Election Commission (EC) on Saturday against Presidential returning officer VK Agnihotri’s order, which overruled their objections to Pranab Mukherjee’s candidature.

If Sangma fails to get a favourable response from the Election Commission, he is likely to move the apex court.

Election Commission sources, however, said it had only limited role in the process of the Presidential poll, and the returning officer’s decision on the acceptance or rejection of the nomination is final. The aggrieved party can file an election petition in the Supreme Court after the poll.

This decision to go to the Election Commission was taken by Team Sangma following a lengthy meeting where the scrutiny proceedings and Agnihotri’s order was debated at great length. Besides Sangma, others who participated in this brainstorming session included BJP leaders Sushma Swaraj, Ananth Kumar, SS Ahluwalia and Satpal Jain and Janata Party chief Subramaniam Swamy.

Jain, who represented Sangma at the returning officer’s deposition two days ago, said after a detailed reading of the order, which had upheld Mukherjee’s nomination, it was felt that the returning officer had not dealt with all the points which had been raised by them. “The returning officer gave no details for his decision,” Jain said, adding that the officer had failed to exercise his jurisdiction.

Jain said they decided to approach the Election Commission for a review of the returning officer’s order as it is vested with powers to supervise the Presidential elections under Article 324 of the Constitution. “We will draw the Election Commission to the returning officer’s order which failed to deal with the specific points we raised,” Jain added.

Purulia arms drop case
Kim Davy won’t be extradited, for now

New Delhi, July 5
The Denmark authorities have refused to appeal in their Supreme Court against a decision of the lower court that had rejected extradition of Purulia arms drop case accused Kim Davy.

Official sources said the Danish authorities have not agreed to appeal in the Supreme Court against the decision of the High Court despite efforts by Indian agencies to convince them.

They said the authorities have made it clear that the prosecutor is not under the control of the Danish government and his decision is considered final. They said diplomatic options would be explored to bring Davy back to India to stand trial in the case.

Initially, Denmark had accepted India's request for extraditing Davy but it was challenged by him in a city court in Copenhagen which rejected the extradition. — PTI

Injury marks not necessary to prove rape, says SC
R Sedhuraman
Legal Correspondent

New Delhi, July 5
The Supreme Court has held that rapists cannot defend themselves by citing the absence of injuries or marks of violence on the victims. A Bench comprising Justices Swatanter Kumar and Ranjan Gogoi explained that the absence of such evidence “may not be decisive, particularly in a situation where the victim did not offer any resistance on account of threat or fear meted out to her.”

The Bench also held that the prosecution should not be asked to provide corroborative evidence in the event of some minor inconsistencies in the statements of victims.

“In the absence of corroboration, the testimony of the victim cannot be ignored unless the inconsistencies or contradictions are sufficiently serious to warrant such a course of action,” the apex court ruled.

Further, the judiciary “must keep in mind that in the context of the values prevailing in the country, particularly in rural India, it would be unusual for a woman to come up with a false story of being a victim of sexual assault so as to implicate an innocent person,” the SC said.

Dismiss K’taka govt, Thackeray tells Prez

Mumbai, July 5
Five years since he supported UPA's Presidential nominee Pratibha Patil after breaking ranks with NDA, Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray today invoked her Maharashtrian origin and asked her to dismiss the Karnataka government for being "anti-Maharashtra". "The crime committed by the Karnataka government in superseding the Belgaum city corporation flouting the High Court order merits dismissal of the government," he said.

"Pratibha Patil is our President. She could not hang Afzal Guru in the last five years. At least now when you are demitting office, 'hang' the Karnataka Government which is anti-Maharashtra," Thackeray said. Thackeray's comments against ally BJP's Karnataka government came after it superseded the Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti-controlled Belgaum city corporation for the second time in less than seven months two days ago. — PTI

BSF, Pak Rangers agree to check cross-border firing
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, July 5
India and Pakistan today made an announcement to prevent cross-border firing by troops saying both sides were keen to control such incidents. The two countries also agreed to work out ‘modalities’ to de-escalate tension in case of a ceasefire violation.

The decision will percolate down to the post commanders along the border, Director General of BSF UK Bansal and DG Pakistan Rangers Maj Gen Rizwan Akhtar told a joint press conference at the conclusion of their four-day talks here.

“We heard each other with patience and maturity. We sincerely hope to start a new chapter in our endeavour to guard the border on the western front,” said Bansal.

He was seconded by his counterpart Gen Akhtar. “We talked in detail (on the issue of cross border firing)...This should not happen. We will better the mechanism, we will ensure that those parameters that we have discussed here will be told to every trooper on the border and we believe that we will have better results," said Akhtar.

“First we will try that no such firing incident occurs. In case, the ceasefire is violated. Then the first attempt will be to ‘nip it in the bud’ instead of blaming each other for having started it,” said Bansal.

Replying to a question, Gen Akhtar said “We will ensure there is no infiltration from either side.”

The two sides also discussed menace of smuggling of drugs and fake currency.

AI pilots back to work, but no smooth ride yet
Vibha Sharma
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, July 5
A day before their conciliatory meeting with the Chief Labour Commissioner NK Prasad, agitating Air India pilots reported for work but not quite in the way the management had envisaged.

Just before offices’ closing time, pilots individually submitted joining letters to the Air India office and the Delhi High Court saying that: “I do hereby submit my joining report/willingness to join. I sincerely hope that on July 6 all our grievances, including reinstatement of pilots, will be resolved amicably and that the sentiments expressed by the honourable Delhi High Court will be honoured in letter and spirit.”

Miffed officials, however, say that personnel have to be physically present while reporting for duty instead of sending letters in a bunch. “This goes against the spirit of discussions in the court,” they say.

Clearly, it is not going to be a smooth ride for the two sides tomorrow. The problem is that even though the Air India management has assured the court that it would sympathetically “consider” grievances, including reinstatement of sacked personnel, there are no written assurances that all agitating pilots, including the sacked office bearers of the IPG, would be taken back.

They are also wary of the fact that there are no directions to the management that the pilots have to be reinstated at the seniority held prior to the strike. “All that the court has asked is for all parties, included terminated pilots, to appear before the conciliation officer on July 6 so that a report can be submitted to the court for the case listed on July 9,” Civil Aviation Ministry officials explain, adding that the management may consider reinstatement of terminated pilots but it could be on a case-by-case basis.

Even if all goes well, sources say it could still be weeks before all pilots are able to resume duty. Apart from the fact that the 101 terminated pilots have to be reinstated, flying licences of some of them may have to be revalidated. Plus, they would have to undergo medical tests and re-training programmes before they start flying again and all this may take up to a month or more.

Arms cache seized, 2 ULFA men held
Bijay Sankar Bora/TNS

Guwahati, July 5
The Assam Police has seized a huge cache of arms and ammunition belonging to the anti-talks faction of the United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA) on the outskirt of Jorhat city last night. Two ULFA militants have also been arrested.

The seizure was made following a tip-off. The ammunition was being brought in a mini van from Dibrugarh. Those arrested were identified as Raju Saikia and Rajan Dutta.

The recovery included nine landmines, five remote controls, one M-81 rifle, one AK 47 rifle, two magazines of automatic rifles and total 139 rounds of ammunition, one hand grenade and one bottle grenade. Two other suspected ULFA militants, following the mini van on a motorcycle, managed to flee.

The seizure is being seen as an indication that the anti-talks faction of ULFA was hatching some terror plot to derail the ongoing peace process between the Centre and the pro-talks faction of the outfit led by its chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa.

The anti-talks faction of the ULFA is led by fugitive “commander-in-chief” Paresh Barua.

African student in coma; father appeals to Badal for help

Patiala, July 5
Father of a Burundi student, who was severely beaten up three months ago in Jalandhar and has been in coma, has sought financial help from Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal to repatriate his son back home.

Nestor Ntibateganya, father of Yannick, has written twice in the last five days seeking the CM’s intervention. He wants the government to help fly Yannick back to Burundi and pay for his medical expenses for the rest of his life.

“In a country that I believe is a civilised one, and where the law of the land should be respected and evil be punished... the killers who stoned my innocent son and left him for dead are known and still free,” Nestor wrote. “The Punjab Government has not replied to my letter,” he said.

Patiala Deputy Commissioner GK Singh said the matter came under jurisdiction of Jalandhar authorities. “He should approach his Embassy,” he said. — PTI