The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

	Row over Leader of Opposition post Cong refuses to give up, may move court Slams AG’s opinion as partisan, says won’t take denial lying down Tribune News Service New Delhi, July 26 The stage is set for full-blown confrontation between the Centre and the Opposition Congress with the latter bracing to take the war over the Leader of Opposition’s post in Lok Sabha to court. A day after the Centre conveyed its negative intentions on the matter through the Attorney General’s opinion that held the Congress ineligible for the post, party leaders said they would not give up their right on the position and would consider all options to secure the same. AG Mukul Rohatgi in his written opinion to Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Majahan yesterday said the Congress was not eligible for the post as it did not have 55 MPs which a 1956 ruling of the then Lok Sabha Speaker GV Mavalankar mandated for a political party seeking the position. Talking to The Tribune today, Deputy Leader of the Congress in Lok Sabha Capt Amarinder Singh slammed the AG’s opinion as “blatant political interference” saying “the Congress won’t take this denial lying down”. “We will fight this matter out legally. We will do whatever it takes to get the post of Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha. This is our constitutional right as the single largest party in opposition to the government,” Amarinder said, adding that the AG’s opinion was a clear attempt of the Executive to influence the Speaker’s decision. Amarinder had earlier said the Speaker could be influenced by the Government. “That’s now happening,” he said. The Congress will take a political call on the issue once Parliament reconvenes next week after Eid holidays and the Speaker gives her formal reply to party president Sonia Gandhi who had earlier staked claim to the post. Anand Sharma, Congress’ Deputy Leader in the Rajya Sabha, said the AG was simply endorsing the partisan political agenda of the executive to please his political masters. “We are rather surprised that we are hearing from the AG even before the Speaker has formally responded to the Congress parliamentary party leader on the matter,” he said.
	WTO: US ‘disappointed’ at India’s stance Washington, July 26 The US today expressed disappointment over India’s stand on worldwide reform of trade facilitation rules saying “backsliding” on commitments has brought the WTO to the brink of crisis. At the meeting of the 160-member World Trade Organisation in Geneva yesterday, India demanded a halt to the trade facilitation (TF) timetable till a permanent solution on public stockholding for food security is found. The meeting was to finalise a deal on TF that was agreed at talks in Bali last December in the WTO’s first-ever global trade agreement. Without directly identifying India, the United States expressed its deep disappointment over lack of progress on the TF agreement. “We are deeply disappointed that backsliding on Trade Facilitation has brought the WTO to the brink of crisis,” the US Trade Representative, Mike Froman, said. India’s stand at the WTO was supported by Cuba, Venezuela and Bolivia. “The current state of play on Trade Facilitation threatens to deal a serious blow to the credibility of the multilateral trading system and to set back the development needs of many countries around the world,” Froman said. Alysa Ayers, a former India hand at the State Department during the Obama Administration, told PTI that she is quite worried about what India’s new position on the trade facilitation deal signals about India’s direction on trade. The issue, if not resolved by early next week, has the potential to cast a shadow on a planned visit to New Delhi by US Secretary of State John Kerry, which begins on July 30, observers say. The Obama Administration refused to comment on the possible impact of India’s stand at WTO on the India US relationship. However it is expected to figure prominently during the next week’s India US Strategic Dialogue in New Delhi. What Delhi demands During a WTO meeting in Geneva on Friday, India demanded a halt to the trade facilitation timetable till a permanent solution on public stockholding for food security is found The meeting was held to finalise a deal on TF that was agreed at talks in Bali last December in the WTO's first-ever global trade agreement US trade representative Mike Froman said they were 'deeply disappointed' that backsliding on trade facilitation had brought the WTO to the 'brink of crisis' — PTI
	Bengaluru rape case fallout Cops issue tough guidelines to schools Bengaluru, July 26 In the fallout of alleged rape of a six-year-old girl at a public school that triggered public outrage, police today issued tough guidelines to schools here for safety of children and warned of prosecution in the event of its non-compliance. Under the guidelines, school buses should fix GPS and CCTV cameras and drivers should be isolated and not allowed to mingle with the children after they had parked the vehicles. "Unnecessary interaction with the children... that should be avoided because we have found that these people also have been accused in some cases," Bengaluru Police Commissioner MN Reddi said. "Schools are required to depute one Floor Vigilance Officer, who would sit in a transparent cabin where he could keep a watch on someone coming - whether children are going to bathroom, whether someone is entering classrooms. If they see any problem, they will report it to the school authorities," he said. Areas such as gym and swimming pools and other sports facilities should be confined to persons who are authorised and connected with the subject they are teaching, Reddi said. "Teachers cannot come in the skating ring and loiter around. Only the skating instructor should be there," he said. A six-year-old girl was allegedly raped on July 2 at Vibgyor High School but the complaint was lodged by parents with the police on July 14. Skating instructor Mustafa was arrested a week later as the main accused and the school founder-chairman Rustom Kerawalla was arrested three days ago on charge of suppressing evidence among others. The incident had led to change in senior top echelon of police with Reddi coming in as city police chief. — PTI Vital instructions GPS and CCTV cameras should be installed in school buses Drivers should not be allowed to mingle with children Schools are required to depute one Floor Vigilance Officer, who will sit in a transparent cabin from where he can keep a watch on people, including students, passing by Areas such as gym and swimming pools and other sports facilities should be confined to persons who are authorised and connected with the subject they are teaching
	Sena reiterates opposition to Jaitapur nuclear plant Shiv Kumar Tribune News Service Mumbai, July 26 The Shiv Sena has reiterated its opposition to the proposed construction of the 9,900 MW nuclear power project at Jaitapur in Maharashtra even as India and France prepare to resume negotiations for the project. The party has been holding rallies and meetings around the venue of the project where its leaders have warned of major agitation if the nuclear project is not shifted. Party MLA Vinayak Raut who won the Lok Sabha elections defeating sitting MP Nitesh Rane has been meeting supporters and has promised to dump the project if the Shiv Sena-BJP combine is elected in the forthcoming assembly elections. “Our leader Uddhav Thackeray has said that the nuclear plant can be constructed elsewhere in the country and we can buy power by paying market price,” Raut said recently. Subash Desai, senior Shiv Sena leader, also echoed Raut’s statement recently. “If the people are opposed to it, the project should not go through,” Desai said. The Shiv Sena’s open opposition comes days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi discussed the details of the nuclear project with scientists of the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre in Mumbai. Both India and France are set to resume negotiations for the project which was suspended in March this year. The Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NCPIL) and Areva of France are to jointly construct the nuclear power plant. Earlier this month France’s foreign minister Laurent Fabius arrived in India to meet with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, and Defence Minister Arun Jaitley over restarting the negotiations.
	Ahead of Modi’s visit, Sushma chairs Indo-Nepal Joint Commission meet Kathmandu, July 26 India today told Nepal that the new government was keen to impart “renewed momentum” to their multifaceted bilateral ties even as the two countries decided to step up cooperation in key areas of defence, security, trade and hydro power. As India makes efforts to deepen its diplomatic and economic engagement with its neighbours, visiting External Affairs Minister Minister Sushma Swaraj met Nepal’s top leaders, including President Ram Baran Yadav and Prime Minister Sushil Koirala. She also met UCPN-Maoist chief and Leader of Opposition Prachanda. The Nepalese leaders said the “historic opportunity” in taking bilateral ties with India to the “next level” must be seized by both countries. Swaraj is in Kathmandu to co-chair the meeting of the Indo-Nepal Joint Commission which was held today after 23 years and to prepare the ground for the two-day official visit of PM Narendra Modi from August 3 — the first visit by an Indian premier in over 17 years. The late PM IK Gujral had visited Nepal in 1997. Describing Swaraj’s meetings with Nepalese leaders as “fruitful and satisfying”, the Spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs Syed Akbaruddin said her principal message during all engagements was to emphasise that the new government in India was keen to impart “renewed momentum” to the multifaceted bilateral ties. “In all her meetings, she said India considers Nepal to be a matter of high priority in our foreign policy. We desire to nurture this relationship with regular exchanges, including high-level political engagements,” he told reporters. The Nepalese leaders, during meetings with Swaraj, expressed their “happiness” and “excitement” over the initiative taken by India to bring new momentum in the bilateral ties and said they were really upbeat over Modi’s planned visit which they think would bring the two countries “much closer”. — PTI Kathmandu calling The two countries decided to enhance cooperation in areas of defence, security, trade and and hydro power They will set up an Eminent Persons Group to identify new areas of cooperation and suggest measures to help both countries seize opportunities Sushma is in Nepal to prepare the ground for the two-day official visit of PM Narendra Modi from August 3 — the first visit by an Indian premier in over 17 years
	Obama’s special guest: Differently abled girl from Mumbai Mumbai, July 26 US President Barack Obama and his wife will host 12 differently abled people from all over the world, including one from Mumbai, for an exclusive dinner at the White House on July 31. The lucky Mumbaikar from suburban Goregaon is Neha P Naik, 23, who is a Special Olympics International Global Messenger. “It is a great honour and I feel very good. It’s the best birthday gift I can get,” said an excited Neha, in the midst of last-minute preparations for the momentous occasion. She turns 24 on July 27, her equally excited mother Asha and realtor father Prakash Naik said. The family originally hails from Goa and is now settled in Mumbai. For the event, Neha will be accompanied by her mentor and teacher Jonita Rodrigues of the 33-year-old Punarvas Education Society’s Shri Devrajji Gundecha Punarvas Special School & Vocational Training Centre for Mentally Handicapped. Asha said that Neha was born a normal child, but suffered high fever at the age of five, which affected her natural mental growth. “We admitted her to a regular school, but she just couldn’t cope up with her studies. Later, as we realised that she was a different child, we admitted her to Punarvas school,” she said. Since then, Prakash and Asha dedicated their entire life for Neha - their only child - looking after her special requirements, needs and extra-curricular activities. — IANS Olympics messenger The lucky Mumbaikar from suburban Goregaon is Neha P Naik, 23, who is a Special Olympics International Global Messenger For the event slated on July 31 at White House, Neha will be accompanied by her mentor and teacher Jonita Rodrigues Neha, who plans to don a Anarkali Salwar Kameez suit for the White House dinner, has already conveyed her love for cooking and savouring Indian and Chinese non-vegetarian cuisine
	Suspected ISIS Link Mumbai Police scramble to identify missing Muslim youths Shiv Kumar Tribune News Service Mumbai, July 26 An order by Mumbai Police Commissioner Rakesh Maria asking his officers to prepare lists of missing Muslim youths has sent personnel across Mumbai on a wild-goose chase. Maria had issued the order after four boys from Kalyan outside Mumbai were found fighting for the Islamic State in Iraq. Besides hunting for men and boys listed as missing, the police have activated their informant network to search those who may have gone to Iraq and Syria with the support of their families. "There are many persons from Mumbai who have gone to work in the Middle East, so we have to work hard to trace those who may have joined the ISIS," said a police officer from the Malvani police station. Police stations in Muslim-populated areas such as Malvani, Mira Road, Jogeshwari, Mumbra, Ghatkopar areas are under the scanner. Policemen have activated their strong informer networks to seek out information on young men who have suddenly left the country in the past few months. Families of some young men who have gone to Iraq and Syria and some other countries in the Persian Gulf have been called for questioning. But there seems to be little information to be had from them. Police officials say local politicians also interfere if relatives are frequently summoned to the police station. Intensive search The Mumbai Police Commissioner recently ordered officers to prepare lists of missing Muslim youths The police have activated their informant network to search those who may have gone to Iraq and Syria Families of some young men who have gone to Iraq and Syria and some other countries in the Persian Gulf have been called for questioning
	Rainfall better, but plains remain dry Vibha Sharma Tribune News Service New Delhi, July 26 Last week, the countrywide monsoon rains were above normal by 24 per cent —the highest in the season so far. However, so far as the northwest is concerned the good news is that seasonal rains improved considerably over the past one week to bring down the deficit in the crucial agrarian region to 38 per cent. However, the bad news is that most of these rains remained confined to hilly parts. The shortfall in Punjab is now up to a whopping 62 per cent. In comparison, Haryana, Chandigarh and Delhi received normal (+19 and -19 per cent) rains last week. But overall the region with 54 per cent shortfall is still deficient (-20 to -60 per cent). According to the IMD’s classification, less than 20 per cent rains mean a drought. Rains are expected over Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh in the next couple of days but only “scattered activity” has been predicted for the plains of northwest India between July 29 and August 2. In fact, Punjab; Gujarat region and Daman; and Saurashtra, Kutch and Diu are the three subdivisions currently categorised as the most worst off —scanty rainfall (-60 to -99 per cent) — among the 36 subdivisions in the country. As the plains of the northwest struggle against what is expected to be one of the worst seasons in the past many years, the saving grace is that catchment areas in hills, for example Uttarakhand, are getting good rains. This has resulted in replenishing the reservoirs to some extent. Himachal Pradesh, however, lagged behind, registering 33 per cent weekly deficiency and 32 per cent overall shortfall. In all, Uttarakhand is the only subdivision in the northwest region which received “normal” rains (+19 to -19 per cent) this season. Punjab, Haryana worst hit; HP lags n The three subdivisions - Punjab; Gujarat region and Daman; and Saurashtra, Kutch and Diu - are currently categorised as the worst hit with scanty rainfall (-60% to -99%) - among the 36 subdivisions in the country n Haryana, Chandigarh and Delhi received normal rains last week. But overall the region is still deficient by -20 % to -60%. According to the IMD's classification, less than 20% rains mean a drought .
	WHO urges action to detect, treat hepatitis Aditi Tandon Tribune News Service New Delhi, July 26 On the eve of World Hepatitis Day, the WHO today called for action to detect, control and treat the disease at a time when viral hepatitis is killing approximately half a million people every year in the 11 countries of the WHO’s South-East Asia Region of which India is a part. Globally, viral hepatitis affects 400 million people with its three most common forms – Hepatitis A which causes mild illness; and hepatitis B and C that cause chronic liver diseases. Half of all liver cancers worldwide are attributable to hepatitis B which spreads through blood and body fluids of an infected person. In the SEARO region, around 100 million are currently infected with hepatitis B virus and another 30 million with hepatitis C. While hepatitis A and B can be treated with vaccination, there is no vaccine available for hepatitis C, which can only be prevented by avoiding risky behaviours like sharing syringes. The WHO today urged people to seek vaccinations for hepatitis A and B. “Most deaths are preventable. Since these infections can go undetected for years, many people do not know they are infected until much later, when treatment may be too late,” Poonam Khetrapal Singh, WHO Regional Director for South-East Asia said. Recently, the 67th World Health Assembly adopted a resolution to improve the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of viral hepatitis. “There are several challenges to translating this resolution into action. In most countries of the region, surveillance systems for viral hepatitis are inadequate and do not enable evidence-based policy decisions” said Singh adding, “Treatment for hepatitis is not widely available. A combination of approaches is essential to make new hepatitis medications accessible in low-and middle-income countries.”
	Sonia to fill Modi’s Iftar vacuum Aditi Tandon Tribune News Service New Delhi, July 26 Top Congress leadership is all set to fill the vacuum which Narendra Modi-led BJP government has created around Iftar politics this time around. With none of the BJP big guns, including the PM hosting an Iftar party this year, Congress president Sonia Gandhi has seized the opportunity. She will be hosting a grand feast tomorrow to mark the festive occasion. Importantly, she is holding an Iftar party after a gap of three years. The move sends a clear pro-minority signal at a time when several routine hosts of Iftar, including those on the BJP side, deciding against arranging the feast this time. The development comes in the wake of Modi’s unspoken mind against holding the Iftar party. Importantly, Modi did not attend the Iftar hosted by President Pranab Mukherjee a while ago. Sonia’s decision to seize the occasion is important with the following bigwigs not hosting Iftar this time – Vice President Hamid Ansari, RS Deputy Chairman, Lieutenant Governor of Delhi. Only the President has hosted a party on the occasion so far. Sonia has extended the Iftar invitation to top Muslim leaders.
	3 cops killed in Meghalaya IED blast Guwahati, July 26 Three policemen were killed when militants from the outlawed Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) triggered an IED blast targeting a police patrol vehicle on the Rongram-Dadenggre road near Tura in West Garo Hills district of Meghalaya on Friday evening. Two of the policemen died on the spot, while the third injured, Rahul Marak, died at the Guwahati Medical College Hospital this morning. The police team was on its weekly patrol in the area which was teeming with people and traders from both inside and outside of Garo Hills. The officer-in-charge (IC) of Rongram police outpost, 15 km from Tura, was moving with four other personnel on patrol duty along the Dadenggre road when they were attacked near Tebronggre village, 6 km from Rongram. — TNS