The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

UP says no to VHP’s ‘Sankalp Diwas’
Lucknow, October 14
After clamping down on its yatra on the Ayodhya issue, the Uttar Pradesh Government today banned VHP's proposed ‘Sankalp Diwas’ stir on October 18 to press for a parliamentary legislation on building Ram Temple, fearing a communal flare-up.

We believe in full freedom in cyber space, says Sibal
New Delhi, October 14
Minister for Telecommunications and Information Technology Kapil Sibal today said that if a cyber crime had an impact on India or the subject matter was Indian, then India should have the jurisdiction to investigate the crime.

Slopes around India’s largest hydro power plant ‘unstable’
Chandigarh, October 14
Scientific monitoring of the mountain slopes in the vicinity of India’s largest hydro-electric power generation plant has revealed that the area is highly prone to geo-seismic movement and landslides.

Delay in Dayalu’s statement may prolong 2G trial, says court
New Delhi, October 14
Delay in recording the statement of DMK supremo M Karunanidhi's wife Dayalu Ammal, who is a CBI witness in the 2G spectrum allocation case, might prolong the ongoing trial, a Delhi court observed today and directed the probe agency to expedite the matter.

Wine industry looks overseas to beat domestic slump
Mumbai, October 14
The Indian wine industry is aggressively looking at overseas markets to beat the slump in the domestic market.

Guards, crew of detained US ship booked for carrying arms
Chennai, October 14
Two days after the detention of a ship carrying arms off Tuticorin coast, 35 persons aboard, including crew members, were today booked for illegally carrying weapons and ammunition even as the police intensified probe to ascertain the motive behind the vessel's entry into Indian waters.

Centre seeks report on detained ship
New Delhi, October 14
Taking a serious view of the suspicious movement of an American ship in Indian waters, the Centre today sought a report from the Tamil Nadu government on the vessel which was detained for carrying arms and buying diesel unauthorisedly.

PM likely to take up stapled visa issue with China
New Delhi, October 14
Against the backdrop of two archers from Arunachal Pradesh being issued stapled visas by China, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is expected to take up issue with the Chinese leadership during his visit to the Asian country next week.

Union minister faces ire of Seemandhra agitators
Kakinada (AP), October 14
Union Minister M M Pallam Raju today faced the ire of Seemandhra agitators on his visit to his Lok Sabha constituency here.

Modi: Let people be active partners in development
Ahmedabad, October 14
Gujarat Chief Minister and the BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi today advocated making people active partners in development and not just the beneficiaries.

Asaram brought to Ahmedabad
Ahmedabad, October 14
Controversial godman Asaram Bapu, who had been lodged in Jodhpur jail since August in a sexual assault case, was today brought to the city for interrogation in a similar case registered against him in Surat.

Ishrat Case
Shah may not be named in CBI chargesheet
New Delhi, October 14
Gujarat CM Narendra Modi's close aide Amit Shah may not figure as an accused in the supplementary charge sheet which is likely to be filed soon by the CBI in Ishrat Jahan encounter case.

Former Union minister Mohan Dharia dead
Mumbai, October 14
Freedom fighter and former Union Minister Mohan Dharia died due to renal failure at Pune today. Dharia was the first minister to resign from the Indira Gandhi's cabinet in protest against the imposition of Emergency.

Firing on fishermen
India summons Pak envoy
New Delhi, October 14
India today lodged a protest with Pakistan over the indiscriminate firing on unarmed fishermen by a vessel of the Pakistan Maritime Security Agency near the India-Pakistan international maritime boundary on Friday, which led to the death of an Indian fisherman.

Phailin fury: Coordinated, timely action saved lives
Ajay Banerjee/TNS

New Delhi, October 14
Early morning on October 9, a strong storm had surged across the Andaman and Nicobar Islands located in the Bay of Bengal and the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) sounded a warning of an incoming cyclone.

Named Phailin, a Thai word for a sapphire, the storm was picking up speed, the IMD had warned. The storm was slated to cover a 1300-km journey towards Orissa through the Bay of Bengal and hit coast around 9 pm on October 12. So the Indian planners had just three-and-a-half days or some 85 hours to save lives. A similar cyclone in 1999 had killed some 10,000 persons.

One of the biggest and, in hindsight, a well coordinated effort was launched in which the systems worked and India did not look like a poor ill-organised third-world country. The states of Orissa and Andhra Pradesh were asked to start evacuating people. Around 10 lakh people were finally evacuated making it a new record of sorts. Reports reaching here indicate that sarpanches along with the local police and administration played a major role in moving people away from the coast for the duration of the cyclone.

Simultaneously, the Ministry of Defence, the Ministry of Home and the National Disaster Management Authority moved in with all their collective might. The apex crisis management group in the Ministry of Defence was activated and the National Disaster Relief Force (NDRF) was asked to move in.

Early on October 11, even before day break, an IL-76 with a carrying capacity of some 40 tonnes was loaded at Chandigarh airbase and almost at the same time, a C-17 Globemaster with a capacity 75 tonnes was being loaded at Hindon near Delhi.

Carrying subject experts, troops, para-medics, equipment, medicines, vehicles and generator sets, the planes were headed to Bhubaneswar. They did a few trips. Several hundred miles away in Vishakapatnam, the Indian Navy had readied the INS Jalashwa, the second largest ship in the naval fleet. The ship was stocked with facilities for 5,000 persons and an on board hospital. It was at standby to float within four hours of a request. Over the next 24 hours, four more ships were readied for the exigency.

Elsewhere in the country, the IAF flew in communication equipment needed to operate helicopters and planes in case of breakdown in normal communication. Thirty helicopters of the IAF and more than 10 of the Army aviation were stationed at bases to form a sort of ring around the area what would be affected area in Orissa and northern Andhra Pradesh.

Accurate prediction, Speedy Evacuations saved the DAY

Massive preparedness, speedy evacuation plans and almost accurate prediction of cyclone time and path have saved the country from a natural disaster which could have taken thousands of lives.

Indian planners had just three-and-a-half days or some 85 hours to save lives. A similar cyclone in 1999 had killed some 10,000 persons

Thanks to the IMD forecast, coordination efforts of Home Ministry, Odisha and Andhra Pradesh governments and National Disaster Management Authority, the impact of cyclone Phailin was minimum, especially in terms of casualties, along the eastern coastline which faced the nature's fury

MP stampede toll rises to 115; Congress wants CM to quit
Datia Collector, three other officials suspended
Tribune News Service

People look for survivors from the bridge over Sindh river near Ratangarh temple in Datia on Monday. — PTI

New Delhi, October 14
Under attack, Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan today announced a judicial probe into the stampede at a temple in Datia district as the death toll in the tragedy during Navratri festivities mounted to 115, prompting demands for his resignation.

The state government tonight suspended Datia Collector and three other officials. The decision was taken after getting the nod from the Election Commission, as the state is bound by model code of conduct after announcement of Assembly polls. Those suspended include Collector Sanket Bhondwe, SP CS Solanki, SDM Mahip Tejaswi and SDOP BN Basave.

In Delhi, Congress spokesperson Ajay Maken demanded that Chouhan step down owning moral responsibility for the "man-made" tragedy which could have been prevented.

"A stampede had happened over five years ago at a similar place which left many persons injured. The MP government learnt no lessons from it. Its mis-governance and rampant corruption lies at the root of the tragedy. It should take moral responsibility and the CM should resign," he said.

Holding the state BJP government solely responsible for the “man-made disaster”, senior Congress leaders Kamal Nath and Digvijay Singh questioned why no preventive measures were taken to avoid the stampede.

Though the BJP admitted to “some lapses which were being investigated”, it also tried to shift the blame on the Centre and accused the Congress of playing politics over corpses.

According to BJP leader Prakash Javadekar, the incident must be treated as a national calamity and the Centre should come out with a fool-proof plan to avoid recurrence of such accidents.

Javadekar also shot down Congress leaders’ allegations that the stampede occurred because a BJP leader was visiting the temple.

Lessons not learnt: Cong

A stampede had happened over five years ago which left many persons injured. The MP government learnt no lessons from it. It should take moral responsibility and the CM should resign.

— Ajay Maken, Congress spokesperson

Not an isolated incident: BJP

Ratangarh is not an isolated incident. The Centre must treat this as a national calamity and must make a fool-proof plan to prevent a recurrence.
— Prakash Javadekar, BJP leader

	UP says no to VHP’s ‘Sankalp Diwas’ Lucknow, October 14 After clamping down on its yatra on the Ayodhya issue, the Uttar Pradesh Government today banned VHP's proposed ‘Sankalp Diwas’ stir on October 18 to press for a parliamentary legislation on building Ram Temple, fearing a communal flare-up. The decision was taken in view of security concerns, especially after the recent communal violence in Muzaffarnagar and surrounding areas, officials said. IG (Law and Order) R K Vishkarma said elaborate security arrangements are being made to effectively implement the ban. "As many as 5 ASPs, 10 DySPs, 50 inspectors, 50 SIs, 10 lady SIs, 300 constables, besides five companies of PAC and anti-sabotage teams are being deployed to ensure that the orders are implemented," he said. Less than two months ago, UP authorities had cracked down on VHP, arresting its top leaders Pravin Togadia and Ashok Singhal along with around 1,700 people to foil the defiant saffron outfit's controversial '84-Kosi Yatra' covering six districts, including Faizabad. Officials said the decision to ban 'Sankalp Diwas' was taken especially in view of the recommendations of Faizabad district administration. Terming the decision as unfortunate, the VHP alleged that the Samajwadi Party-led government had taken the decision to appease a particular community, and vowed to continue with the programme as scheduled. However, the police asserted that arrangements made to thwart the '84-Kosi Parikrama' are being made again. Besides, more force will be deployed in the district to ensure peace and order, the IG said. The VHP has given a call to observe 'Sankalp Diwas' in Ram Sewak Puram in Ayodhya to take a resolve for launching an agitation for rebuilding the Ram temple in Ayodhya. The state government has taken the decision to ban the VHP programme, specially in the light of recent communal riots in western districts of the state and ensure that no further tension is allowed, senior official said. — PTI Security on Mind The decision was taken in view of security concerns, especially after the recent communal violence in Muzaffarnagar and surrounding areas, officials said IG (Law and Order) RK Vishkarma said elaborate security arrangements are being made to effectively implement the ban
	We believe in full freedom in cyber space, says Sibal Tribune News Service New Delhi, October 14 Minister for Telecommunications and Information Technology Kapil Sibal today said that if a cyber crime had an impact on India or the subject matter was Indian, then India should have the jurisdiction to investigate the crime. Indian authorities should have the jurisdiction to deal with cyber attacks against the country irrespective of their source, Sibal said here while asserting that there should be “accountability and responsibility” in the cyber space. “If the impact of such a violation is on India, then Indian courts must have the jurisdiction. That should apply across the world,” he said while adding that India “believes in complete freedom of cyber space”. “For example, if I have an embassy in New York, then anything that happens in that embassy is Indian territory, and there applies the Indian law,” he said. The minister was addressing an Observer Research Foundation seminar on cyber security and was asked what kind of consensus he would want to evolve at the global stage on cyber security. Sibal said the international community should arrive at a consensus on rules of jurisdiction and enforceability where cyber crimes are concerned.
	Slopes around India’s largest hydro power plant ‘unstable’ Vijay Mohan/TNS Chandigarh, October 14 Scientific monitoring of the mountain slopes in the vicinity of India’s largest hydro-electric power generation plant has revealed that the area is highly prone to geo-seismic movement and landslides. Detailed slope stability analysis at Jhakri on the banks of the Sutlej in Himachal Pradesh has detected sub-surface movement of the earth’s upper layers and the particular slops where the analysis is being undertaken through embedded instruments and sensors, is being considered by scientists as unsafe. The land in question houses the complex of the Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam Limited (SJVNL) that operates a 1500 MW power generation project there. While there are about 100 houses along with other structures and godowns in the complex, about 20 km ahead of Rampur Bushar, the SJVNL power house is a few hundred metres away. “We have found that the bases of houses in that complex have moved by three centimeters and have developed large cracks. This magnitude of movement can certainly be categorised as dangerous,” Dr SK Mittal, chief scientist at the Central Scientific Instruments Organisation here, who is in charge of the project, said. The project is being sponsored by the Department of Science and Technology with the aim to create a scientific data bank. A variety of sensors like inclinometers to detect the movement of earth, tilt meter to study surface movement, piezometer for gauging sub-surface water pressure, crack meters, earth pressure cells and rain gauges, powered by solar panels, have been installed at the site. Some of the sensors have been placed in 50 meter deep bores and are transmitting data round the clock through GSM mode to Chandigarh. “The sensors became operational last year and our findings are based upon the year long analysis of data. The DST has now proposed a second phase for the project which would involve placing sensors at greater depths and covering a wider area,” Dr Mittal said. Pointing out that landslide monitoring in India is yet to be taken up in a systematic way for the purpose of early warning, Dr Mittal said existing solutions are restricted only to landslide detection “for efficient and accurate prediction and early warning on land slides, data generated over a period of time and state of the art instrumentation networks supplemented with real time prediction software and algorithms are required,” he added.
	Delay in Dayalu’s statement may prolong 2G trial, says court New Delhi, October 14 Delay in recording the statement of DMK supremo M Karunanidhi's wife Dayalu Ammal, who is a CBI witness in the 2G spectrum allocation case, might prolong the ongoing trial, a Delhi court observed today and directed the probe agency to expedite the matter. Special CBI Judge OP Saini, who had last month appointed Chennai's Chief Metropolitan Magistrate as commissioner to record 84-year-old Ammal's testimony, said that despite lapse of a month, the statement has not been recorded till date. The judge, who is holding the trial in the 2G case on a day-to-day basis, directed the CBI to take up the matter with the CMM, Chennai so that Ammal's statement is recorded at the earliest. — PTI
	Wine industry looks overseas to beat domestic slump Shiv Kumar/TNS Mumbai, October 14 The Indian wine industry is aggressively looking at overseas markets to beat the slump in the domestic market. Aided by the Maharashtra Government, vintners in the state are all set to begin a marketing campaign in several markets in the next few weeks. Banded together under the banner of the Indian Grape Processing Board (IGPB), the first of the industry’s promotion campaigns this winter will take place in the Asia-Pacific region. “We are looking to promote Indian wine in markets like Hong Kong, Singapore and Thailand,” Jagdish Holkar, chairman, IGPB, said in a recent statement. Among the activities lined up by the IGPB include participation in trade fairs and conferences in these countries. In the past, Indian wine producers have held several events in the Asian and European markets to push their products there. The industry has had some success so far with some supermarkets in Europe stocking Indian wine. Maharashtra is the main centre for wine production in the country with 75 of 93 Indian wineries located here. Of the 12 million litres of wine produced annually around 10 per cent is exported, according to the IGPB. Though the domestic market for wine is growing, it accounts for a minuscule amount of the alcoholic beverages market. Wine accounted for just 0.45 per cent of the alcoholic beverages sold in the country in 2012 with whisky accounting for the bulk, according to information available from the trade. Most of the wineries in Maharashtra which came up as a result of a policy change in 2001 are in trouble. Forty of the 75 wineries in the state are in the red with accumulated debts of more than Rs 200 crore, according to sources. Another body, the All India Wine Producers Association, is pressing for the loans extended to the wineries to be restructured so that they can bounce back. “We need government assistance in the form of loan restructuring so that the wine industry survives in the state,” says Manoj Jagtap, coordinator, AIWPA.
	Guards, crew of detained US ship booked for carrying arms Chennai, October 14 Two days after the detention of a ship carrying arms off Tuticorin coast, 35 persons aboard, including crew members, were today booked for illegally carrying weapons and ammunition even as the police intensified probe to ascertain the motive behind the vessel's entry into Indian waters. An FIR has been registered against 10 crew members and 25 guards of the MV Seaman Guard Ohio ship, now berthed in the port in Tuticorin, about 600 km from here, under the Arms Act, the police said. Besides, a case under the Essential Commodities Act has also been registered for buying 1,500 litres of diesel illegally with the help of a local shipping agent. A senior Marine Police official said the ship, stated to be belonging to a US-based firm offering maritime security, was not authorised to enter the Indian water and its mandate was largely confined to regions in the Indian Ocean like the Gulf of Aden, a hotbed of piracy. “We can always sympathetically consider innocent trespass. But this does not look so. They have authorisation to operate in Indian Ocean areas like the Gulf of Aden. But they have come up to Gulf of Mannar. We are seeing why they came here,” an official said. “This is illegal. If needed, diesel could have been procured through legitimate avenues by paying applicable statutory levies. Illegal diesel procurement is among the reasons for the ship coming into our adverse notice,” the official said. The guards have been booked under the Arms Act for illegally possessing arms and ammunition on board the ship, he said, adding, "They will continue to be interrogated on board the vessel." The vessel, whose crew included eight Indians, was intercepted and detained by the Indian Coast Guard about 15 nautical miles east of Tuticorin. — PTI Caught near Tuticorin MV Seaman Guard Ohio was intercepted and detained by the Coast Guard about 15 nautical miles east of Tuticorin on October 12 A senior Marine Police official said the ship, stated to be belonging to a US-based firm offering maritime security, was not authorised to enter the Indian water and its mandate was largely confined to regions in the Indian Ocean like the Gulf of Aden, a hotbed of piracy An FIR has been registered against 10 crew members and 25 guards under the Arms Act, the police said. Besides, a case under the Essential Commodities Act has also been registered for buying 1,500 litres of diesel illegally with the help of a local shipping agent Centre seeks report on detained ship New Delhi, October 14 Taking a serious view of the suspicious movement of an American ship in Indian waters, the Centre today sought a report from the Tamil Nadu government on the vessel which was detained for carrying arms and buying diesel unauthorisedly. The Home Ministry conveyed to the Tamil Nadu government and other agencies involved in probing the case to find out details of the ship, the crew members and its armed guards and also its purpose of cruising in Indian territorial waters.
	PM likely to take up stapled visa issue with China Ashok Tuteja/TNS New Delhi, October 14 Against the backdrop of two archers from Arunachal Pradesh being issued stapled visas by China, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is expected to take up issue with the Chinese leadership during his visit to the Asian country next week. Ahead of the visit, the two countries are said to be negotiating a pact that may end visa-related matters between the two countries. Sources said the stapled visa issue has become a perennial problem between the two countries and New Delhi wanted it to be resolved on a priority basis. “This issue has become an irritant between our two countries. We need to find a solution pending a final settlement of the boundary dispute,” they said. New Delhi has already lodged a protest with China over issuing stapled visas to the two young archers, Maselo Mihu and Sorang Yumi, who had, last week, hoped to travel to the youth world championships in Wuxi. The two archers were not allowed to board a China-bound flight by Indian authorities because of stapled visas on their passports. Sources pointed out that allowing Indian residents of Arunachal Pradesh to travel on stapled visas would amount to recognising China’s territorial claims over the northeastern state and undermining India’s negotiating position on the boundary dispute. Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Nabam Tuki condemned granting of stapled visas to the two archers. “We are an integral part of India. We are Indians… we cannot be denied the right to travel. This is a sad day for the youth of the state in particular and of the country as a whole,” he said. Major irritant in ties Ahead of PM's Beijing visit next week, the two countries are said to be negotiating a pact that may end visa-related matters between the two countries Sources said the stapled visa issue has become a perennial problem between the two countries and New Delhi wanted it to be resolved on a priority basis. New Delhi has already lodged a protest with China over issuing stapled visas to the two young archers who had, last week, hoped to travel to the youth world championships in Wuxi
	Union minister faces ire of Seemandhra agitators Kakinada (AP), October 14 Union Minister M M Pallam Raju today faced the ire of Seemandhra agitators on his visit to his Lok Sabha constituency here. The agitators greeted him with black flags when he travelled between Annavaram town and Kakinada, his Lok Sabha constituency. Police intervened and pushed back the protesters who tried to block the Congress MP's cavalcade. Soon after reaching Kakinada, Raju was gheraoed by leaders and members of Joint Action Committee (JAC), comprising government employees, who staged a demonstration near his residence and asked him to clarify his stand on the ongoing agitation against the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh. The Minister made a brief speech at a nearby spot and explained to the agitators circumstances leading to the Union Cabinet's nod early this month to Telangana creation and his resignation in protest. — PTI
	Modi: Let people be active partners in development Manas Dasgupta Ahmedabad, October 14 Gujarat Chief Minister and the BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi today advocated making people active partners in development and not just the beneficiaries. Addressing the Emerging Markets Forum in the United States through video-conferencing from his official residence in Gandhinagar this evening on effective governance in democracy with special reference to Gujarat, he said democracy was the best system for a vast country like India. The problem started only when the people felt disconnected from the government as the elected representatives forgot people after the elections. "Those in government must understand that people's good is the biggest agenda," he said. Every activity should be "interplayed between the people and the government," he said.
	Asaram brought to Ahmedabad Ahmedabad, October 14 Controversial godman Asaram Bapu, who had been lodged in Jodhpur jail since August in a sexual assault case, was today brought to the city for interrogation in a similar case registered against him in Surat. Seventy-two-year-old Asaram was brought in a flight here by city police amid tight security. Police sources said that he was taken to Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) office on the outskirts of the city. Surat Police had recently registered complaints filed by two sisters -- one against Asaram and another against his son Narayan Sai -- of rape, sexual assault, illegal confinement and other charges. The complaint against Asaram was transferred to Chandkheda police station in Ahmedabad as the incident took place there.— PTI