The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

	Let’s unite against BJP: Left to secular forces Tribune News Service New Delhi, October 22 The Left parties are miffed with the BJP’s recent claim that the era of coalition governance in the country is over. They have urged the “secular” forces to “resist” and “isolate” the saffron party, which it alleged, is functioning on the guidelines of the RSS. The CPM and the CPI poohooed the prediction of the saffron party on the coalition politics. The CPM said though the BJP secured a majority, it was polled only one-third of the votes or even less. In Haryana, it has won a majority by polling only 33 per cent votes. In Maharashtra, it has won 123 seats by mustering only 29 per cent votes. It further said the BJP won a comfortable majority in the Lok Sabha by securing just 31 per cent of the vote in the General Elections. Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s remarks that the time for the coalition government’s will now be a thing of the past and it was only for the Opposition now to forge coalition, senior CPM leader Sitaram Yechury said such claims by BJP leaders sound incredulous. He urged for an electoral reform to correct the anomalies of the ‘first-past-the post’ system and ‘distortion of democracy’. He said the BJP also cannot escape from forming a coalition government in Maharashtra unless it indulged in horse-trading to cobble up a majority. In an editorial, the CPI organ “New Age” also mounted criticism of the BJP saying it was “ known for basing its electoral tactics on hastening the process of communal polarisation”. ‘BJP’s vote share down’ The CPM and CPI say that in Haryana, the BJP has won a majority by polling only 33 per cent votes and in Maharashtra, it has won 123 seats by mustering only 29 per cent votes.
	Protests as molesters kill Shiv Sena leader Tribune News Service Mumbai, October 22 Shiv Sena workers took to the streets in protest on Tuesday night and today after a group of molesters stabbed a local party leader to death for objecting to their activities. Police said Ramesh Jadhav, 27, was stabbed to death by four men who used to harass and molest women in Malad east suburbs. Jadhav had warned the four not to harass women in the area after several of them complained at the local party office about their activities. Angered by Jadhav’s interference, the accused stormed Jadhav’s house in a shanty in the area and attacked him with some sharp instruments on Tuesday afternoon. Jadhav, who was alone at home at that time, died on the spot. Police said the party leader was rushed to hospital by neighbours who declared him brought dead. Following the murder groups of party workers took to the streets and stopped traffic. A police vehicle from the Malad police station was set on fire, the police added. Three of the four persons were immediately arrested by the police. The suspects were identified as Gullu Ali Sajida, Yusuf Sajida and Sohail Ansari. The police are looking for two others based on the information given by the arrested persons. Ramesh Jadhav, 27, a Shiv Sena leader, was stabbed to death by four men who used to harass and molest women in Malad east suburbs Following the murder, groups of party workers took to the streets and stopped traffic.
	Naga villagers pledge to protect migratory falcons Bijay Sankar Bora Tribune News Service Guwahati, October 22 Tribal villagers in Nagaland’s Wokha district have been overjoyed at the arrival of the first batch of migratory Amur falcons in the Doyang Reservoir area last week. Upon the arrival of their special guests, villagers of Ashaa, Pangti and Sungro reaffirmed their last year’s commitment and dedication to protect the falcons with the support of Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) and the Nagaland Forest Department, a WTI official said. In their incredible journey, the Amur falcons (Falco amurensis), travel from Mongolia, roost in Nagaland for over a month before embarking on the African sub-continent. A protected species under the Convention of Migratory Species (CMS), hundreds of these raptors congregate near the Doyang reservoir in Nagaland every year and this is believed to be the single-largest congregation of Amur falcons recorded anywhere in India. In 2012, reports from Conservation India highlighted that a majority of the birds was being hunted while in Nagaland, prompting a Rapid Action Project (RAP) to protect the birds by the WTI and Natural Nagas with the help of the Nagaland Forest Department and CAF India. An awareness campaign was initiated to gain the local community’s support and also sensitise them on the need to conserve the visiting winged guests. Awareness meetings, held in various parts of Wokha, emphasised the ecological and ethical importance of the Amur falcons and urged villagers to ensure a safe passage for these migratory birds. The local community, villagers and local forest department authorities participated in the campaign. Local churches also played a key role in spreading the message of compassion for Amur falcon, and thus motivating the community to come forward to protect the falcons during their roosting period in Nagaland. An MoU was signed and a subsequent resolution passed by the village councils of Pangti, Ashaa and Sungro, making hunting Amur falcons illegal and punishable, which helped in reaching a zero mortality rate in Doyang by the end of the birds’ roosting period. This year two watch towers have been constructed —- one by the State Forest Department and the other by the Nagaland Bamboo Mission —- to witness the phenomenon of mass migration of these birds. Home to Amur falcons A protected species, hundreds of Amur falcons congregate near the Doyang reservoir in Nagaland every year and this is believed to be the single-largest congregation of these falcons in India.
	Varsities reel under faculty crunch Pupil-teacher ratio worsens to 23, country short of 9.5 lakh teachers Aditi Tandon Tribune News Service New Delhi, October 22 India’s higher education sector is reeling under acute faculty shortage with colleges and universities failing to maintain minimum student teacher ratios, an essential component of quality instruction. The latest government data on the status of higher education in the country puts India’s pupil teacher ratio at a whopping 23 when most of the developed world has a PTR of 10 or lesser. The pupil teacher ratio of 23 for Indian colleges and universities is much higher than what the UGC, India’s academic regulator, has prescribed for good quality of education. As per the UGC, the PTR should not be more than 1:13.5 — 1:12 at the post graduation and 1: 15 at the UG level. But the All India Higher Education Survey concluded by the HRD Ministry shows the country’s PTR is 9.5 times higher than what it should be. Data analysis by The Tribune reveals India would require an additional 9.5 lakh teachers to maintain the PTR of 13.5 as recommended by the UGC. HRD Ministry’s latest statistics on higher education (compilation for 2012-2013) put the number of universities in India at 665. There are 24120 colleges and 6772 stand alone institutions in the country. In all these institutions put together, there are 13, 37, 726 teachers to instruct 30 million students currently enrolled in different streams. That being the case, the country needs 22, 79, 089 teachers to be able to maintain a pupil-teacher ratio of 13.5; it is 9.5 lakh short of that figure. The challenge of faculty recruitment is mounting considering India’s latest Gross Enrollment ratio as per HRD data has improved to 21.1 from 17. This means 21 students out of every 100 in the college going age group of 18 to 23 years are now enrolled. Sadly, less than half (45 per cent) of all students enrolled are women. While the overall enrollment is rising, teacher recruitment is not keeping pace resulting in lesser teachers and more students in Indian classrooms. “It is not enough to improve enrolment. We have to match with teacher strength. Otherwise we will have a situation where students are in classrooms with hardly any teachers to attend to them. A ratio of 23 is shockingly high,” says an educationist not wanting to be named. The PTR in higher education in 2010 was 20.9. A report commissioned by the then HRD Minister Kapil Sibal to study faculty shortage in colleges had termed 20.9 an unacceptably high PTR and sought remedial measures. What’s even more worrisome in the latest higher education trends is– less than 0.3% of all students enrolled in colleges and universities are enrolled in PhD research programmes. As many as 80% are enrolled in UG courses with a meager section interested in academic research. Higher education mess India's gross enrollment ratio is 21.1 --- 22.3 for men and 19.8 for women The average number of colleges per 1 lakh students in India is a low of 25 Girls constitute only 45 of around 30 million students enrolled in higher education
	Black money: Cong accuses Jaitley of bluffing people New Delhi, October 22 The Congress today reacted sharply to Finance Minister Arun Jaitley’s remarks that the Opposition party will be embarrassed once names of people holding illicit foreign accounts are made public, daring him to “name the traitor”. The party also accused Jaitley of “bluffing” people on the issue.”A traitor is a traitor. He is neither a Congressman nor a BJP man. What is stopping Jaitley from naming the traitors?” Youth Congress President Rajiv Satava said on Twitter. AICC general secretary Digvijay Singh tweeted: “FM instead of bluffing people should tell us when he is depositing 3 L (lakh) in a/c of every citizen as promised by Modi in his campaign speeches.” Continuing in another tweet, he said ,”Can it be a Diwali gift under Jan Dhan Yojna or we have to wait till 2019 ! FEKUISM at its best once again.” The Congress had attacked Narendra Modi during the Lok Sabha campaign on social media under the hashtag ‘Feku’. The issue of black money has led to a war of words between the ruling BJP and Congress. The government recently told the Supreme Court that it cannot disclose the names of Swiss bank account holders, a stand the UPA had taken earlier. As Congress accused the BJP government of practising hypocrisy on the issue, Jaitely yesterday said: “The names (of black money account holders) will be public shortly... I can assure you there is no embarrassment I (BJP) will have when all the names are disclosed. There is some embarrassment the Congress party will have because of those names”. Terming as "toally unwarranted" Jaitley's statement that the names to be given to the courts would embarrass the Congress, CPI leader D Raja said the BJP government should come out with details of what steps it was taking to bring the money back. — PTI
	3-year-old girl sexually abused in B’lore school Tribune News Service Bangalore, October 22 A three-year-old girl studying in a private school was allegedly sexually abused on the school campus on Tuesday. Staff members of Orchids The International School were questioned and the CCTV footage was being examined by the police as parents outraged over the incident held protests and demanded answers from the school management. City Police Commissioner MN Reddi, who today visited the school after the complaint was lodged yesterday, has ordered a probe by ACP (Malleshwaram) Sarah Fatima. The school is closed today on account of Diwali. According to the complaint lodged with the Jalahalli police station, the girl was crying when her mother picked her up from the school and not behaving normally and looked feverish. While she initially told her mother that someone beat her up, she later said she was sexually abused, the police said. A criminal case has been registered under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012, and Section 376 (rape) of the IPC on a complaint by the child’s father. This is the third incident of a minor girl student being allegedly sexually assaulted on school campus in the city in the last four months. A girl (8) was allegedly sexually assaulted by her teacher (63) inside her school premises over a period of time, with the offence coming to fore in early August, barely a month after the gang-rape of a girl (6) at Vibgyor High School here evoked public outrage.
	CBI files first chargesheet in Saradha chit-fund scam Subhrangshu Gupta Tribune News Service Kolkata, October 22 The CBI today filed its first chargesheet in the Saradha chit-fund scam, naming three accused Sudipta Sen, his close aide Debjani Mukherjee and expelled TMC MP Kunal Ghosh. The city metropolitan court today also empowered the CBI to interrogate Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and other TMC leaders implicated in the scam. CBI officials said they would now interrogate all people, including several politicians, bureaucrats and policemen, implicated in the scam. On the basis of the interrogations of prime accused, TMC MPs and others, the CBI was now empowered by the court to call and interrogate all people allegedly involved in the scam, the CBI lawyer said. So far, the CBI interrogated Sudipta Sen, Debjani Mukherjee, Kunal Ghosh, Arpita Ghosh, Srinjoy Bose, Subhendu Adhikery, Suvaprasannna and others during its 90-day inquiry into the scam. Lawyers appearing on behalf of the state government said they would move the High Court against the city civil court’s order. The BJP, the Congress and the CPI (M) today welcomed the city civil court’s order. West Bengal Pradesh Congress Committee (WBPCC) president Adhir Chowdhury said the Chief Minister should now resign, owning responsibility for the scam.
	Railway Board official held for taking Rs 5 lakh bribe Tribune News Service New Delhi, October 22 The CBI today arrested a senior Railway Board official for allegedly accepting a bribe from Mumbai-based tour operators for facilitating extra coaches and special trains for tourism purposes. Ravi Mohan, a 1997 batch official of the Indian Railway Traffic Service, was arrested by a CBI team while accepting a bribe of Rs 5 lakh from a tour operator’s courier boy at his residence here. Sources said the money was being paid by operators — Rajesh Champaklal Jodhani and Kulin Kumarpal Shah — through a Hawala channel. They run a Kulin Kumar Holiday Private Limited in Mumbai. The bribe was allegedly given to facilitate running of special trains and additional coaches for tourist purpose, they said. He was posted as the Director of Transportation and Commercial in the Railway Board. The official, who has been detained, reportedly sought special trains from Surat to Haridwar.
	India to install cameras along India-China boundary Tribune News Service New Delhi, October 22 India will use long-range surveillance equipment along the India-China boundary to keep a watch on the movement of Chinese troops. It is planning to create a system to view live footage of an event at the boundary at the headquarters of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) in Delhi. Speaking about dealing with Chinese incursions, ITBP Director General Subhash Goswami said, "We can face any war-like situation. And we can give a good account of ourselves, but having said that we would like to have more surveillance equipments on the border. Certain areas need to be covered through technology. He said, "A surveillance camera is installed at Thakom Post near Pangong Tso Lake in eastern Ladakh. It gives live footage of the Thakom area and Pangong Tso Lake. We can see the Chinese boats in the lake and their movements.”
	Sardar Patel’s birth anniversary to be Rashtriya Ekta Divas Mumbai, October 22 The Centre will commemorate Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s birth anniversary (October 31) as “National Integration Day”, Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar said today. The Centre will create awareness about the contribution of Sardar Patel during India’s Independence movement and towards national integration, he said. “Awareness about Sardar Patel’s contribution is low...which is very unfortunate. Recently, I came to know that in the history book of Class X, there is mention of Sardar Patel only once,” Javadekar told reporters. Javadekar said the central government will make the “National Integration Day” or “Rashtriya Ekta Divas” as a popular mass movement with voluntary participation from all sections of the society. As part of the action plan, he said a ‘Run For Unity’ will be organised in towns and villages all over India October 31 morning. — PTI
	22 convicts seek ‘freedom of movement’ in jail Manas Dasgupta Ahemdabad, October 22 Jail authorities have registered a complaint with the Ranip police against 22 convicts of the Ahmedabad blast for attempt to commit suicide. Sources in the police said the convicts had been on a hunger strike since October 15, demanding permission for moving out of their barracks in the morning. The police, however, were force-feeding them juices and other liquids for their survival. As many as 47 persons were convicted by a court for the 2008 Ahmedabad blasts that claimed 56 lives and injured over 200 others. The serial blast convicts initially were treated on par with other prisoners and were given all facilities, including strolling outside the baracks. But their freedom was curbed and they were confined to their cells after the police last year unearthed their conspiracy to escape from the jail through a dug-up tunnel. Later, the police found a tunnel opening in an open field outside the compound of the jail and connected through a pipeline of one of the cells of the blast convicts. Taking stern action, the police lodged the 22 convicts in four separate cells.
	BJP’s new point men have strong RSS roots Vibha Sharma Tribune News Service New Delhi, October 22 For the key northern states, BJP president Amit Shah has appointed point men Ramshankar Katheria (Punjab), Avinash Rai Khanna (Jammu and Kashmir) and Shrikant Sharma (Himachal Pradesh) who have RSS-ABVP background and a deep rooting in the saffron party. Katehria, the new organisational in charge for Punjab, has served as a Sangh pracharak for almost 14 years, and is a Hindi professor in the Agra University. The second term Lok Sabha MP from Agra, who will now be responsible for managing Punjab — a state which is witnessing underlying tensions between the state BJP leadership and the ruling Akali Dal — says he still has a lot to learn about his new assignment. Being made the organisational in charge of Punjab is a major elevation for new general secretary Katehria, a Dalit face of the party. He is also the in charge of Chhattisgarh. "I have been to Punjab but have never worked in an organisational capacity. I am an ordinary karyakarta of the party. The sangathan has given me an important responsibility, which I will try to fulfill to the best of my abilities," he said. Katehria will visit Punjab by "October-end or in the beginning of the next month" to begin familiarising with the situation in the state. By continuing Khanna as in charge of Jammu and Kashmir, Shah has not just reposed faith in him but also given him a big responsibility of delivering the difficult poll-bound state. Currently a Rajya Sabha member, Khanna is also the chief whip of the party in the Upper House. Counted among the most articulate MPs of the BJP, during his tenure as a MP he asked 293 questions mostly related to Punjab and participated in 144 debates. He has been in charge of Jammu and Kashmir since 2013. In his tenure the BJP managed to get three out of six Lok Sabha seats in the State. The fact that the party has continued with him in the poll-bound J&K-the next big challenge for Narendra Modi and Amit Shah-is significant. "Settling the 12 lakh refugees is our priority. We will fight these elections on our own strength and the BJP will exceed the target of 44 MLAs in the 87-member Assembly," Khanna says. Meanwhile Sharma, who was also in also in charge of the media cell, has been given charge of Himachal Pradesh, where BJP has a strong presence and hopes to wrest back the power from the Congress. An ABVP leader with rooting in RSS, the Congress-governed Himachal is a significant responsibility for the young and upcoming BJP leader. Shyam Jaju has been made in charge of Uttarakhand, a state with strong BJP presence but again a Congress government. Anil Jain, who has been appreciated for good work as co-convener for Haryana has been appointed in charge of the State where the BJP has swept to power. The main job of the organisational in charge is to strengthen the party base, identify specific issues and act as a bridge between the Centre and the State. Punjab in charge Katheria has his task cut out Punjab in charge Ramshankar Katheria has served as a Sangh pracharak for almost 14 years The state is witnessing underlying tension between the BJP leadership and the ruling Akali Dal Bringing the ties back on track is a major task for new general secretary Katehria, a Dalit face of the party
	India may allow coal mining by foreign firms New Delhi, October 22 India could allow commercial coal mining by foreign companies if they set up units in the country, opening the door for global giants like Rio Tinto (RIO.L) to access the world’s fifth-largest coal reserves, a source familiar with the matter said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s decision to open commercial coal mining to private players is a key step towards bringing order to the country’s chaotic power industry and ending the chronic blackouts that impede its economic rise. Nearly a quarter of a century after India embraced economic liberalisation, many businesses still rely on costly back-up generators for round-the-clock power and a third of its 1.2 billion people are still not connected to the grid. As of now, only Indian power, steel and cement companies can mine coal for their own consumption. Commercial mining is dominated by state-owned Coal India Ltd. But the government now plans to allow companies like Rio Tinto India to mine coal commercially after it completes the auction of 74 coalfields for the exclusive consumption of Indian companies’ power, cement and steel plants, said the source, who did not want to be identified as he is not authorised to speak to the media. In a 27-page executive order posted on the Coal Ministry’s website on Wednesday, the government said any firm incorporated in India may be allowed to mine coal for their own consumption or sale, ending a 42-year-old ban. The document did not make any direct reference to allowing foreign firms. Rio Tinto India Managing Director Nik Senapati declined to comment. Other foreign players that may show interest in India are BHP Billiton and US firm Peabody. A Coal India official said it would be natural for the government to allow deep-pocketed foreign companies to mine coal, given the need to invest heavily and quickly raise output. Opening up the industry would ultimately boost production of a raw material that generates three-fifths of India’s power supply, and it will pile pressure on Coal India to produce more. “This is a first step but a very important one,” said Manish Aggarwal, head of KPMG’s energy and natural resources practice in India. “What the government is really saying is that we will focus on domestic coal and on renewables to meet our energy needs,” he said. — Reuters Next steps Modi is expected to push individual states to reform the rickety distribution model India’s installed energy generation — more than half of it powered by coal — has risen 20% in the past three years The peak power deficit fell to 5.1% in June from 9% in 2012
	test scam CBI registers graft case against RAW officials Syed Ali Ahmed Tribune News Service New Delhi, October 22 The CBI today registered a corruption case against officials of the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) and three directors of a private firm on charges of cheating and forgery for the supply of pre-fabricated shelters used for erecting high-altitude tents to a covert unit of the intelligence agency. The case has been registered against three directors of Delhi-based Sai Baba Builders —- Shyam Sunder Bhatter, JPN Singh and Manjari, wife of SP Singh who was the additional private secretary of a former Chemical and Fertiliser Minister in 2002, CBI sources said. They said the directors of the firm had been detained. The CBI has raided four places —- three in Delhi and NCR and one in Kolkata where one of the directors resides. “The CBI has registered a case against a Delhi-based private firm along with its directors; unknown officials of the Special Frontier Force (SFF) — a covert unit operating under the external intelligence agency RAW; unknown officials of the Cabinet Secretariat and others,” the CBI spokesperson said. The spokesperson said, “It has been alleged that wrongful favour was shown by the officials of the SFF and the Cabinet Secretariat in the matter of the preparation of a tender, procurement, supply and installation of the pre-fabricated shelters, purchased from the company, for the SFF troops during 2009-13.” It was also alleged the private firm bagged a contract to supply the pre-fabricated shelters through forged documents without any bank guarantee. The tender was awarded in two phases —-the first in 2000-2011 and another in 2010–2014. The sources said the case is related to alleged corruption in the supply of high-altitude tents worth Rs 21.6 crore required by the SFF during 2009-13.
	US court lets rights group challenge Modi immunity New York, October 22 A US court has asked a human rights group to respond by November 4 to the US Government’s “suggestion of immunity” in a case against Prime Minister Narendra Modi for alleged crimes against humanity. US federal Judge Analisa Torres on Tuesday issued an order asking the American Justice Center (AJC) to file its response to suggestion of immunity for Modi filed by US prosecutor Preet Bharara’s office on Sunday at the request of the state department. The state department in a letter to the US justice department had conveyed the Indian government’s request to have the case against Modi “dismissed on the basis of his immunity from jurisdiction as a sitting foreign head of government.” The letter by state department legal advisor Mary McLeod to acting assistant attorney aeneral Joyce R. Branda is dated Sep 30, the day Modi had his formal summit meeting with President Barack Obama at the White House. “The Department of State recognizes and allows the immunity of Prime Minister Modi as a sitting head of government from the jurisdiction of the United States district court in this suit,” McLeod wrote. “This letter recognizes the particular importance attached by the United States to obtaining the prompt dismissal of the proceedings against Prime Minister Modi in view of the significant foreign policy implications of such an action,” she added. — PTI
	China subs ‘pose worry’ for India Tribune News Service New Delhi, October 22 China’s submarines are now regularly operating in the Indian Ocean, a matter of worry for India as its depleted fleet of ageing submarines could be tested by the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) fleet – some 60 in number, including nuclear powered, with ability to fire long range nuclear missiles while remaining under sea. US Naval Institute (USNI), a 135 year-old US think-tank, in a report on its website yesterday cited a discussion conducted last Monday at the American Enterprise Institute in Washington DC which said: “India’s sub-surface (undersea) challenge is likely to increase in the future”. China’s submarines are now operating for the first time in the Indian Ocean, the USNI said. Sources in the Indian Navy said US had in the past shared inputs on China’s submarines operating in the Indian Ocean and most of these are nuclear powered. Indian National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, while speaking at the core group meeting of the NATO-backed Munich Security Conference in New Delhi yesterday, was candid. Without naming China, he said: “The Indian Ocean region is peace, we have to be extremely vigilant to see that balance is not disrupted and we have standard practices.” “China is constantly improving underwater operations and investments in platforms, sensors, and even oceanographic research”, Thomas Mahnken of Johns Hopkins School of the Advance and International Studies was quoted by the USNI. China’s interest in underwater operations in the Pacific and Indian Oceans should be viewed as part of an ongoing competition, he said. India’s existing submarine plan announced in 1999 had spoken about having 24 modern submarines by 2030, half way through, not a single vessel has sailed. The first one of the lot of six Scorpene submarines is not expected before end of 2016. Nations have a growing dependence on underwater infrastructure—cables for communications of all sorts, and for mineral and fuel extraction, prompting military response. The American think-tank said. “Indian Navy has 11 boats (submarines) deemed operational”. In July this year, the US Department of Defecne released a report ‘Military and Security Developments Involving the People’s Republic of China 2014’ that listed the submarine prowess in the hands of Beijing. Operating in Indian Ocean China’s submarines are now operating for the first time in the Indian Ocean The US had in the past shared inputs on China’s submarines operating in the Indian Ocean and most of these are nuclear powered