The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

	Don’t act in haste: Mayawati to PM Lucknow, May 30 BSP surpemo Mayawati today urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi not to take any step in haste on Article 370 as it might affect “unity and integrity” of the country. “Even if the Centre feels it necessary to repeal Article 370 in the interest of people of Jammu and Kashmir, no decision should be taken in haste that might affect unity and integrity of the country,” Mayawati told reporters here. She alleged that controversy on Article 370 was generated only to create polarisation among people on the lines of community and religion. Refusing to clarify her party’s stand on the issue, Mayawati said the Centre should first clarify its policy in this regard. Mayawati also downplayed Modi’s meeting with Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, saying there was nothing new in this. “Nawaz was told that terrorism and talks could not run simultaneously. What’s new in it? Earlier government had also acted in the same manner,” she said. On controversy over HRD Minister Smriti Irani’s educational qualifications, Mayawati said, “It’s not a matter of less or more education. The question is that if a woman, who gave wrong information in her affidavits, could be made minister.” Reminding Modi of his promise that he would rid Parliament of those having criminal record, Mayawati said in his Cabinet around 30 per cent people with criminal record had been included. — PTI
	BJP takes dig at Cong leader Karan Singh Tribune News Service Jammu, May 30 The BJP today lashed out at veteran Congress leader and former Sadr-e-Riyasat of Jammu and Kashmir Karan Singh for his “outrageous” statement wherein he equated the “duly-acceded” J&K to India with Hong Kong. The party described his statement as “unfortunate, dangerous and unwarranted” and said his “ridiculous” statement had negated his father Maharaja Hari Singh’s “splendid” contribution to the state’s accession with India. “We are shocked and dismayed over Karan Singh’s outrageous statement which has negated the contribution of Maharaja Hari Singh to the state’s accession with India,” said Jugal Kishore Sharma, BJP state president and Member of Parliament. Sharma was addressing thanks-giving rallies organised in Vijaypur and other adjoining areas of Samba district. “Jammu and Kashmir is neither Hong Kong nor Trieste and Aaland Islands. It is an integral part of India and it will be treated on a par with other states of the union,” he said. Yesterday, Karan Singh in his statement had said, “Certainly, J&K is an ‘integral part’ of India, but that does not necessarily mean that it has to be treated exactly on par with other states. Hong Kong is an ‘integral part’ of China but has been given a special dispensation.” The BJP leader also criticised the National Conference for its statement that BJP stalwart Shyama Prasad Mookherjee was “anti-India” and said Jammu and Kashmir was within India only because of his (Mookherjee) “supreme sacrifice”. He warned the Congress and the National Conference not to mislead the people through their “devious and break” India campaign.
	NC blames Mufti for eroding J&K’s special status Tribune News Service Srinagar, May 30 The National Conference (NC) today blamed Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed for playing an “active and unabashed role” in eroding Article 370, which has become the bone of contention in the state. “History is replete with proof and factual realities that prove that Mufti Mohammad Sayeed had played an active and unabashed role in the erosion of Article 370 and internal autonomy in the state,” the NC said in a statement. The ruling party accused the PDP founder and patron of having “joined hands with every crony dispensation” in the state from late 1950s to 1975. “Today, actions of Mufti Mohammad Sayeed and PDP leaders have shown the remarkable audacity to blame the NC for what Mufti Sayeed was overtly complicit in,” the statement said. The controversy around Article 370 was triggered earlier this week when Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office (MoS, PMO) Jitendra Singh said the process to repeal it had been initiated. His statement, issued on the first day of the Narendra Modi-led government on Tuesday and withdrawn in the evening, angered the NC which said it amounted to “endangering the security and integrity” of the country. The ruling party in its latest statement said it had opposed “every overt and covert attempt made to erode and dilute Article 370”. “The fact that Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah spent over two decades in prison while Article 370 was eroded through political intrigues is enough of a vindication,” it said.
	Row must be avoided: Rao New Delhi, May 30 Amid a row triggered by his ministerial colleague Jitendra Singh over Article 370, Union Minister Rao Inderjit Singh today said a controversy was “unnecessary” at a time when the new government is yet to take over completely. “Nothing can vitiate the fact that J&K is an ‘integral part’ of India and it always will be,” said Inderjit Singh, Minister of State for Defence. “At a time when the new government is yet to completely take over the routine functioning in the office, any controversy around Article 370 seems unnecessary,” he added in his Facebook post. — PTI
	Govt won’t indulge in witch-hunt: Naidu Tribune News Service Bangalore, May 30 The central government will not launch “witch-hunt” against its political opponents, including Congress chief Sonia Gandhi’s son-in-law Robert Vadra, who is allegedly involved in controversial land deals in Haryana, Rajasthan and other places. This was stated by Union Urban Development Minister Venkaiah Naidu today at the BJP’s felicitation function for Union Ministers from Karnataka - Ananth Kumar, DV Sadananda Gowda, Siddeshwara and himself. “We don’t want to launch a witch-hunt”, he said, adding that the central government would not slow down legal proceedings against any individual. “Law will take its own course,”the Union Urban Development Minister said. Both Narendra Modi and the BJP had made Vadra a major target of their campaign during the Lok Sabha elections and the party had also released a video and booklet on his land deals. Naidu today said the NDA government at the Centre would not discriminate against the states and would keep intact the true federal spirit of the Constitution. “As far development is concerned, we do not discriminate on the basis of party ideologies of the state governments. The Prime Minister has told all of us that one must take states along and work together and keep the true spirit of the Constitution in mind,” Naidu said. Leave Vadra security issue to experts: Cong New Delhi: The Congress on Friday said the issue of security or airport security clearance to Robert Vadra, the son-in-law of Congress president Sonia Gandhi should be left to the security professionals. Congress spokesperson Shashi Tharoor said: “ The SPG protectee list is routinely reviewed. The issue of who should be on that list should be left to security professionals instead of being politicised.”
	Soldiers disabled on leave to get benefits, rules HC Overturns AFT order denying relief in such cases Vijay Mohan Tribune News Service Chandigarh, May 30 The Punjab and Haryana High Court has held that soldiers injured while on duly authorised leave will be entitled to disability benefits. A Bench comprising Justice Hemant Gupta and Justice Fateh Deep Singh, after examining various High Court and Supreme Court judgments on the issue, set aside an order of the Armed Forces Tribunal (AFT) that had denied disability pension to defence personnel injured while on leave. It, while examining the concept of leave in the armed forces, opined that leave had a dual purpose. The first was to give time to soldiers to attend to their domestic chores which the family may not be able to handle while they are away, and the second was to rejuvenate soldiers so that they remain in touch with the civil society after arduous duties, are prepared for active service and are able to maintain their mental equilibrium and psychological uplift. It also noted that without grant of leave, one cannot imagine that somebody can discharge duties continuously for 24 hours in 365 days and that leave is a basic human right, even recognised by the UN Declaration of Human Rights, 1948. The court has observed that when Armed Forces personnel are subject to provisions of the Army Act on leave, there is a corresponding duty of the Armed Forces to take care of their personnel during the period. Holding it to be a necessary commitment of the Army, the bench concluded that personnel injured during such authorised leave shall remain entitled to disability benefits and such injuries on leave would be deemed to be attributable to military service. Dual purpose of leave The Bench, while examining the concept of leave in the armed forces, opined that leave had a dual purpose The first was to give time to soldiers to attend to their domestic chores which the family may not be able to handle while they are away The second was to rejuvenate soldiers so that they remain in touch with the civil society after arduous duties
	NDA begins review of Food Security Act Vibha Sharma Tribune News Service New Delhi, May 30 The BJP-led NDA has begun reviewing the UPA government’s ambitious Right to Food Act — the National Food Security Act. A day after taking charge, Food and Civil Supplies Minister Ramvilas Paswan on Wednesday held discussions with officials on how the legislation could be evolved into a better, improved version, sources say. They added the new minister was given a detailed presentation on issues being faced by the states on its implementation and also additional financial implications if the NDA tries to bring changes into the existing Act, as promised by the BJP in its manifesto. Underlining the need of a “universal food security”, the BJP manifesto had promised steps to ensure that the benefits of the scheme reach the common man and that the right to food does not remain an Act on paper or a political rhetoric. It also promised to review all laws and schemes, with the states, to ensure a corruption-free implementation of food security. At the time of the Act’s enactment, the BJP, which was in opposition as that time, had advocated that the Centre should take into account the Chhattisgarh Food Security Act.
	Free drugs in govt hospitals soon Tribune News Service New Delhi, May 30 The much-awaited free drug supply in government hospitals will start soon with Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan today deciding to call a meeting of state health ministers soon to discuss the modalities of the scheme. After a review of the National Health Mission (NHM) under which the free drugs will be supplied, Vardhan today directed his officers to ensure streamlining of systems in the distribution of free generic drugs to government health institutions across all levels throughout India. “The free drug programme’s formal launch would be preceded by working out all logistical details with respect to procurement and distribution in consultation with the state governments,” he said, adding that the state health ministers would be invited to discuss the scheme in a meeting of the Central Council of Health soon. CCH has not met in years. The programme would cost Rs 28,560 crore during the 12th Plan period (2012-17). Though the government had made its first financial allocation for the scheme during 2012-13, it could not be rolled due to gaps. While the Centre would bear 75 per cent of the cost of the scheme, the states will contribute 25 per cent.
	DU suspends 5 officials for leaking Irani's info New Delhi, May 30 The Delhi University (DU) Friday suspended five officials for allegedly leaking documents related to educational qualifications of union Human Resources Development Minister Smriti Irani, officials said here. "Five of the non-teaching staff of the school of open learning have been suspended for accessing the confidential file and then leaking it," Malay Neerav, DU joint dean of students's welfare and media coordinator, told reporters. "These are officials below section officer level," he said. DU took the action after a Hindi daily published the leaked documents. The daily had written that Irani had taken admission in DU's School of Open Learning last year, but had not appeared for her examination. Irani is in the center of a controversy due to her educational qualifications that has led to a war of words between the Congress and BJP. — IANS