The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

	Modi govt in Gujarat favoured Adani for Mundra port: Cong Manas Dasgupta Ahmedabad, August 8 Shankarsinh Vaghela, Leader of Opposition in the Gujarat Assembly, accused the state government, when Narendra Modi was the Chief Minister, of handing over the Mundra port in Kutch district to a private party, deviating from the state government’s declared policy of developing the port in the joint sector. Quoting reports of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG), Vaghela said the state government also prevented development of other ports in the state to ensure that Mundra and two other ports, where Modi’s close friend Gautam Adani had substantial stakes, flourished and profited at the expense of the state-owned Gujarat Maritime Board (GMB). “What we in the Opposition party talk about corruption in the Narendra Modi administration is nothing compared to the performance audit of the GMB has revealed. If investigated properly, many people in power will only find places in jails,” he claimed. There was no comment available from Modi. Gujarat’s new port policy was framed by the first BJP government in the state in 1995 headed by Keshubhai Patel. As per the policy titled “A Binding Document to the Government and the Maritime Board,” the state government then had decided to develop 10 new ports — Bedi, Poshitra, Dahej and Mundra in the joint sector and Simar, Mithi-Virdi, Dholera, Hajira, Vansi-Borsi and Maroli in the private sector. “How and when Mundra port was taken out of the joint sector list and handed over to the Adani Ports Limited (APL), a company owned by Gautam Adani, speaks volumes of corrupt practices of the Modi administration,” he said. Initially, the state government had only allocated captive jetties at the Mundra port to the APL “and not the port as a whole” as part of its decision to develop the port in the joint sector but the allocation was “misused by the APL to slowly take over the entire port at a throwaway price”. Vaghela said the GMB, apparently at the behest of Modi, allowed the terms of the allocations to be misused by the private company. He alleged the APL signed an agreement with the GMB-owned Gujarat Ports Infrastructure Development Company Limited and formed a joint venture vehicle “Gujarat Adani Ports Limited” (GAPL). The APL and GAPL then signed a “concession agreement” to hand over the government’s shares to the private company. “By paying a mere difference of Rs 197 crore, Mundra was brought out of the joint sector to private sector and Adani became the sole owner of the entire port,” the CAG report said.
	Govt examining new system to select judges New Delhi, August 8 A proposal to change the existing system of appointment of judges in the Supreme Court and the High Court is “under active consideration”, Law Minister Ravishankar Prasad said in Rajya Sabha today. He said this in reply to a question by KN Balagopal (CPI-M). “There is a proposal to change the existing system for appointment of judges in the Supreme Court and the High Courts and transfer of judges of the High Courts. The matter is under active consideration of the government,” Prasad said. The government’s response came two days after the Union Cabinet discussed the National Judicial Appointments Commission Bill, 2014. The government has decided to hold wider consultations on bringing Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC) that will scrap the collegium system of appointment of judges. Government sources had yesterday said the Cabinet gave its “in-principle” approval to the “broad contours” of the measure. But the Bill was not cleared as it was felt that the result of the wider consultations should be awaited, a source said. — PTI
	Coal scam: CBI files 28th fresh FIR New Delhi, August 8 The CBI today registered a fresh case against a Nagpur-based company for allegedly misrepresenting facts in getting a coal block in 2000 as part of the agency's probe in alleged irregularities in allocation of coal blocks. This is the 28th FIR with regard to the ongoing CBI probe in the matter. CBI sources said a case of criminal conspiracy and cheating has been registered against Gondwana Ispat Limited and its promoter and director Ashok Daga regarding alleged misrepresentation of facts. Sources said the case related to allocation of Majra coal block in 2003 for their sponge iron plant in Maharashtra. "It has been alleged that then Director of said private company had requested Ministry of Coal in April, 2000 for allocation of coal block whereas the Company was incorporated only in October, 2001," CBI spokesperson said here. The official said Coal Ministry allocated 'Majra' coal block in the year 2003 on the assurance of the company that it shall install the plant and develop a coal mine. She said it was also assured that the entire coal mined from the said coal block shall be consumed in the proposed sponge iron plant at Warora, Chandrapur (Maharashtra). "Despite affidavit filed to that extent by the said Promoter and Director, he had allegedly disposed the equity of the company without any intimation or permission from the Ministry of Coal and entered into an agreement with purchasers without installing the plant and developing the coal mine. "The accused allegedly also received payment of Rs 1.55 crore from the buyers as one time payment," the CBI said in a statement. The agency had registered a total of three preliminary enquiries related to coal scam allocations between 2006 and 2009, allocations between 1993 and 2004, and projects given under the government dispensation scheme. — PTI
	MPs question Tendulkar, Rekha’s absence from RS Ashok Tuteja Tribune News Service New Delhi, August 8 Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar ruled the cricket world for 23 years as a demi-God while Rekha Ganesan was the heartthrob of the nation as the glamour queen of Bollywood in the seventies and eighties. But both of them have failed to live up to the expectations of parliamentarians as nominated members of the Rajya Sabha. Tendulkar, considered one of the all-time cricketing greats, has attended just three sittings of the Upper House ever since he was nominated in April 2012. He last attended the House on December 13, 2013. Rekha’s record is slightly better than that of the cricket icon. The actor, who too was nominated in April 2012, has attended the sittings of the House on seven occasions. She last attended the House on February 19 this year. Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman P J Kurien gave this information in the House when CPM member P Rajeeve wanted to know whether the two celebrity nominated members had taken the permission of the Chair for remaining absent. The Deputy Chairman said as per the Constitution, a member’s seat would fall vacant if he/she remains absent for a period of 60 days without the permission of the House. Tendulkar has been absent from the House for 40 days while Rekha’s absence has been for less than that period, the Chair said. In both cases, there had been no violation of the Constitutional provisions. The 41-year-old cricketer has in recent days come in for rare criticism for failing to attend even a single sitting of Parliament this year. He promised to be a vocal supporter of sport when he was sworn in as a member of the House.
	'Mother of all surveys' in Telangana Suresh Dharur Tribune News Service Hyderabad, August 8 Billed as 'mother of all surveys', the Telangana Government is set to undertake a massive survey on a single day, covering 84 lakh homes across ten districts in the state. Over four lakh employees have been drafted to carry out the comprehensive, house-to-house survey on August 19 which has been declared a public holiday. While the objective of the gigantic exercise is to create a fresh database of socio-economic conditions of the people in the new state, questions are being raised in some quarters over the motives of the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) government, particularly in the wake of the raging controversy over "nativity" issue and a agrowing sense of insecurity among the settlers from Andhra Pradesh. "Our aim is to create an accurate database about the state's four crore residents so that we can target the welfare programmes better and remove bogus beneficiaries," said Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao who is credited with the idea of a single-day survey covering entire state. The officials have claimed that it was the first time that any state had taken up such a massive exercise involving the enumerators going to each and every house to ascertain the details. The need for an accurate household data has acquired a sense of urgency in view of the widespread misuse of welfare schemes meant for the poor. For instance, the state has 91 lakh white ration cards, meant for the poor families, as against the total 84 lakh households. "It is clear that there is a massive pilferage in the existing system and welfare schemes are not reaching the targeted groups. It is our duty to ensure that the poor and deserving get the benefits and check the criminal misuse," said Deputy Chief Minister Mohammad Ali. 4 lakh employees to cover 84 lakh homes Nearly four lakh employees have been drafted to carry out the comprehensive, house-to-house survey on August 19 which has been declared a public holiday The objective of the gigantic exercise is to create a fresh database of socio-economic conditions of the people in the new state Questions, however, are being raised in some quarters over the motives of the TRS government, particularly in the wake of the raging controversy over "nativity" issue and a growing sense of insecurity among the settlers from Andhra Pradesh
	Beniwal insists she abided by law Kolkata, August 8 Sacked Mizoram Governor Kamla Beniwal today denied any wrongdoing and claimed she had abided by the law in whatever she had done. “Meine jo kam kiya, kaidey kanoon se kiya (whatever I have done, have done in accordance with law),” Beniwal told reporters at the NSC Bose International Airport here. Beniwal, who was sacked as Mizoram Governor on Wednesday just two months before her tenure was to come to an end, arrived here from Aizawl this evening. Beniwal (87) as the Governor of Gujarat had a running battle with Narendra Modi when he was Gujarat chief minister. The NDA government came under attack yesterday over the sacking of Beniwal with the Opposition parties calling it “political vendetta”, a charge it rejected by saying the action followed “serious allegations” against her and insisted there was no politics behind it. Rejecting allegations of political vendetta, Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu said there was “no politics” behind the decision. The minister said “There are serious allegations. The government has taken note of them and taken action.” — PTI
	Court frames charges against 5 in Naval War Room leak case New Delhi, August 8 A Delhi court today framed charges against five persons, including three former naval officers and an ex-IAF Wing Commander, in the 2006 Naval War Room leak case. Special CBI judge JPS Malik put on trial former Navy officer Kulbhushan Prashar, former naval commander Vijender Rana, sacked naval commander VK Jha, former IAF Wing Commander Sambha Jee L Surve and arms dealer and Delhi-based businessman Abhishek Verma for the offence of criminal conspiracy under the IPC and various provisions of the Official Secrets Act (OSA). The court framed charges after the five accused pleaded not guilty and claimed trial. The court fixed September 8, 9 and 10 for commencing the trial by recording the statements of prosecution witnesses. The court, on July 31, had ordered framing of charges against the accused. The court had said charges of spying by obtaining secret documents, wrongful communication of information and abetment of offences under the OSA had been prima facie made out against them. “It is held that prima facie offence punishable under Section 120B (criminal conspiracy) of the IPC read with Section 3 (penalties for spying) and Section 5 (wrongful communication etc., of information) and Section 9 (attempts, incitements, etc. of commission of offence) of the OSA, is disclosed against accused Prashar, Surve, Rana, Jha and Verma ....,” the court had said. Prime accused Ravi Shankaran is still absconding and has been declared proclaimed offender by the court. While Prashar, Surve, Rana and Jha are on bail, Verma is in judicial custody and they were present in the court. The counsel for the accused said that they would challenge this order before a superior court. The 2006 Navy War Room leak case involves leaking of over 7,000 pages of Defence information of sensitive nature from the Naval war room and Air Defence headquarters, having a direct bearing on national security. — PTI The case and those involved The 2006 Navy War Room leak case involves leaking of over 7,000 pages of Defence information of sensitive nature from the Naval war room and Air Defence headquarters, having a direct bearing on national security Those put on trial are former Navy officer Kulbhushan Prashar, former naval commander Vijender Rana, sacked naval commander VK Jha, former IAF Wing Commander Sambha Jee L Surve and arms dealer and Delhi-based businessman Abhishek Verma The court framed charges after the five accused pleaded not guilty and claimed trial.
	Not taking up any post: Priyanka New Delhi, August 8 Seeking to scotch the intense speculation about her taking up a significant post in the Congress, Priyanka Gandhi today dismissed it as “conjecture” and “baseless rumours”. “The constant conjecture about my assuming various posts in the Congress party and the manner in which this issue is brought up at opportune moments is incorrect,” Gandhi said in a brief statement here. “I would be very grateful to all concerned if they desisted from encouraging such baseless rumours,” she added. Her remarks seeks to put a lid on speculation that she could formally join the party either in the capacity of a general secretary in the AICC or the chief of the UP Congress. Congress spokesperson Shobha Oza had yesterday said that the party wants all three members of Gandhi family to take leadership role, lending credence to the speculation. “Everybody from all over India want that all members of Gandhi family should come in politics. We want that all three of them should take the leadership role in the party (Hum Chaahte Hain ki tinon party ki kamaan samhale),” Oza had said. Sonia Gandhi is Congress president and Rahul is vice-president. On Wednesday, senior Congress leader and a Gandhi family loyalist Oscar Fernandes had said that Priyanka should have a more active role in the Congress and that she should take up an “important responsibility”. When asked if Priyanka’s entry would not be treated as a vote of no-confidence in Rahul, he had said, “There is no comparison. Rahul is vice-president of the party, Sonia is president. Another member of the Gandhi family would strengthen the party.” A few months ago, a top leader had indicated that Priyanka’s role would not be of replacing Rahul but supplementing him in running the party. A banner in Allahabad a couple of days ago read “Congress ka Moon, Priyanka is coming soon (The key face of Congress Priyanka is joining politics soon)”. — PTI
	All-party meet on UPSC row after exam New Delhi, August 8 The government today made it clear that the all-party meet on the UPSC row would be held only after the Civil Services examination on August 24. “I assure the House, we will convene an all-party meeting after the examination, scheduled on the 24th,” Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu said in Rajya Sabha after Opposition members, led by Leader of the Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad, demanded that the meeting be held before the current session of Parliament ends. Naidu said the issue requires a “detailed study” and “deeper discussion” and nothing could be done at the eleventh hour as there were contradictory views on it both inside the House and outside. — TNS
	Army Chief's Ladakh visit begins tomorrow Tribune News Service New Delhi, August 8 Indian Army Chief, General Dalbir Singh Suhag, will be on a three-day visit from August 10 to the Leh-based 14 corps and will include a visit to forward areas, including Siachen glacier. The Chief, who took over on July 31, will end his visit when he will accompany Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the glacier. Today, General Suhag met the PM and briefed him informally on various issues, including Siachen. The formal structured briefing of the PM on Army issues was conducted during the just-ended tenure of General Bikram Singh, but General Suhag being the Vice Chief was present when the formal briefing was conducted. Modi is expected to land at Thoise or Leh, both in Ladakh, before boarding an IAF MI-17 helicopter to one of the posts on Siachen. Modi had visited the Srinagar-based 15 corps after taking over and this will be his first visit to a forward location. General Suhag has, in the past, commanded the Kargil (Khumathang)-based 8 Mountain Division. General Suhag's visit has come about after reports on the Indian side that senior officials of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) of China have been visiting their areas which face the 14 Corps areas in India.
	Govt: No move to curb press freedom Tribune News Service New Delhi, August 8 The government is committed to the freedom of the press, Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar assured the Rajya Sabha today. “We will never impose restrictions on the media but the press also has to evolve a self-mechanism,” he said while replying to a short duration discussion in the House over reported attempts to curb independence of media and restrict freedom of expression. Underlining that press freedom in the country ‘has not come for free’, he said the nation’s freedom fighters fought for it. “No freedom comes without responsibility,” said Javadekar. He lamented the fact that the Press Council of India (PCI) had become a ‘toothless wonder’. Its rulings were not even printed by newspapers. Moreover, the visual media does not come under it.
	Minister’s eye injured in ink-throwing incident Shiv Kumar Tribune News Service Mumbai, August 8 Harshvardhan Patil, Maharashtra’s Minister for Co-operation, received injury to his left eye after protesters demanding Scheduled Tribe status for the Dhangar (shepherd) community threw ink on him this morning. The attack took place at Bhiwan village in Patil’s constituency of Indapur in Pune district where he was attending a function this morning. Police said the minister was about to get into his car after the function when the protesters accosted him and shouted slogans demanding reservations for the Dhangar community. After the ink was thrown on him, Patil complained of severe pain and irritation in his left eye which had swelled by then. “There were holes in my clothes where the ink had fallen. It appears that the protesters had mixed chemicals with the ink,” stated Patil. The minister was rushed to hospital in the neighbouring Baramati. However, initial treatment did not help and Patil was unable to open his eye. Later, he was taken to a hospital in Pune where he was admitted. The police have arrested three persons for the act. The incident sparked off protests by Congress workers. Activists descended on the roads and attempted to enforce a bandh in the city. However, the situation was brought under control.
	Pak looking forward to talks: Envoy New Delhi, August 8 Pakistan today said it was looking forward to a meaningful and result-oriented dialogue with India when the Foreign Secretaries of the two countries meet in Islamabad on August 25. “It’s time to seize the opportunity and leave a legacy of friendship and cooperation for our future generations,’’ Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit said at the 4th meeting of the Pakistan-India Joint Business Forum here. Describing as very positive the meeting between PM Narendra Modi and Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif in Delhi on May 27, he recalled that the two leaders had agreed to move forward from confrontation to cooperation. — TNS
	District hospitals to become medical colleges, says govt New Delhi, August 8 To improve manpower in the medical sector, the government has taken several steps, including upgrading district hospitals into medical colleges, Health Minister Harsh Vardhan said. The Centre had, however, not laid down any standard regarding minimum facilities to be provided at district hospitals as health was a state subject, he said. — PTI