Page 1_.

qxd

3/7/2013

2:21 PM

Page 1

8 Pages Rs: 1.00 Jammu Edition www.thestudentage.com

STUdenT aGe
THURSDAY, MARCH 7, 2013

JKENG/2012/41612 Vol. 2 No: 61

Wharton's invite cancellation wrong: Tharoor; BJP agrees

Mr. CM why to bring in Pakistan?

Mohamed Nasheed's trial deferred by four weeks

PAGE 6

IN BRIEF
House adopts the Motion of thanks on Governor's address
JAMMU, MARCH 06:House considered and adopted the Motion of thanks on Governor's address by voice vote today, which was moved by Shri Khalid Najeeb Suharwardy and seconded by R.S.Chib on March 1,2013 Earlier a threadbare discussion was held on the motion followed by the reply of the Government by the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah yesterday.

State Budget for next year presented by Rather

JAMMU, MARCH 06- Mr. Abdul Rahim Rather, the minister of Finance on Thursday presented Budget for the next financial year comprising estimated total receipts to the tune of Rs. 38,068 crore and equal amount for estimated expenditure based on the anticipated size and the pattern of financing of the next year's annual plan. In his about one hour and twenty minutes long budget speech, Mr. said that out of the total estimated receipts and expenditures, the share of central taxes has been kept at the level of Rs. 4,485 crore as per preliminary indications, as against the current year's RE of Rs. 4,085 crore. Mr. Rather said that the state's own tax revenue is targeted for a quantum jump of Rs. 6,700 crore in the next financial year against revised

Tax concessions to continue for trade, tourism, farm sectors Money comes in Journalists, BUDGET 2013-14 HIGHLIGHTS papers to getnews Capital Receipts Own Taxes more
Central Grants Share of Central Taxes
SALIENT FEATURES : * Estimates of Total Receipts (TR) ` 38068 crore. * Estimates of Total Expenditure (TE) also at ` 38068 crore. * Revenue Expenditure (RE) including Security Related Expenditure (SRE) ` 28690 crore, Capital Expenditure (CAPEX) ` 9378 crore. * Non Plan Revenue Expenditure (NPRE) consumes ` 27096 crore of which ` 17002 crore on salaries and pension. * A provision of ` 842 crore to disburse third installment of Pay/Pension revision arrears. * Earmarked provision of 700 crore for DA to employees and pensioners. * ` 75 crore provision in 2013-14 for 10% Employer's share under New Pension Scheme introduced from January, 2010. * Provision of 50 crore for clearing statutory liabilities of corporations reported at over 95 crore. * A provision of 26 crore for meeting cost of VRS/GHS in PSUs. * Annual Plan 2013-14: ` 8000 crore. PMRP at ` 600 crore. * State Share of ` 1000 crore in Plan to access Central funding of about ` 3500 crore under Centrally Sponsored Schemes and contd on page 2

PAGE 5

PAGE 7

financial support

Own Non-Tax

PSC postpones Pol Sc, Pub Admn exams

SRINAGAR, MARCH 6: The Public Service Commission(PSC) postponed the exams of Political Science and International Relations-1 and Public Administration-I of Combined Competitive (Main) Examination2012 scheduled for today (06.03.2013) in the forenoon and afternoon sessions as the majority of candidates could not reach the Examination centre at Srinagar due to the prevailing Law and Order situation . contd on page 2

Money goes out

estimates of Rs 5975 crore during the current fiscal showing in increase of Rs. 556 crore. He said the total anticipated expenditure is tentatively classified between the revenue expenditure of Rs. 28,690 crore and capital expenditure of contd on page 2

Capital Expenditure

Others Salaries

Power

Interest

Pensions

he Finance Minister in his budget announced some welfare measures for journalist fraternity. He assured to explore to explore possibilities of insurance cover for journalists. He announced 50% increase in the rates for government advertisement besides providing a grant of Rs. two crore under non-plan for clearing outstanding advertisement bills of the newspapers. He said that an amount of Rs. 12 crore against Rs. 8 crore during the current fiscal has been proposed for payment of advertisement bills during the next fiscal year.

Curfew continues in several parts of Valley, normal life hit

SRINAGAR MARCH 06: For the third consecutive day on Thursday normal life continued to be disrupted due to curfew in several parts of the Valley to prevent deterioration of law and order in the wake of killing of a youth allegedly in Army firing in Baramulla. Curfew was clamped last night in eight police station jurisdictions of the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir and north Kashmir's Baramulla and Sopore towns, a police spokesman said. Police and paramilitary personnel have been deployed in large numbers in vulnerable areas of the city and other parts of the Valley to maintain law and order, the spokesman said. The decision to impose curfew was taken at a high level meeting last night as protests engulfed many parts of the Valley against the killing of Tahir Rasool allegedly in Army firing in Baramulla town. Rasool was killed during protests against alleged highhandedness of the Army. Army has claimed that its personnel were surrounded by a mob of around 200 persons and the situation had turned life threatening for the soldiers. It also claimed that the soldiers had fired warning shots in air and could not have caused death. The Army, while ordering an internal inquiry, also sought a detailed probe by police into the incident to find out the truth. Although there was no call for shutdown by the separatist groups, a spontaneous shutdown was observed in areas where curfew has not been imposed.Shops and business establishments contd on page 2

J&K Budget: something sweet, something sour

JAMMU: Presenting Budget 2013-14, the Jammu and Kashmir government on Wednesday announced a slew of welfare measures such as mediclaim insurance for migrants and hike in daily wage rate, exempted a few essential commodities from VAT and unveiled steps to empower Panchayati Raj. State Finance Minister Abdul Rahim Rather presented the Rs 38,068-crore zero deficit budget in the Legislative Assembly. Under welfare initiatives, Omar Abdullah government has kept provision of Rs 5 crore for housing and Rs 9 crore for transit accommodation of Kashmiri migrants under PMRP, besides Rs 8 crore set apart for migrants' group mediclaim insurance. Government made provision of Rs 2 crore under Medical Aid Trust Fund, wage rates of daily rated workers to be enhanced to Rs 150 per and it will explore and participate in insurance cover for journalists. "It is a budget for welfare of most of sectors -- it is focusing on infrastructural development, addressing demands, welfare initiatives, empowerment of Panchayat Raj system, further tax concessions, and reform measures," Rather told reporters. As welfare measures, Rather said a provision of Rs 842 crore has been made to disburse third installment of PayPension revision arrears. The budget also has provision of Rs 700 crore for DA to employees and pensioners, Rs 75 crore for 10 per cent Employer's share under New Pension Scheme introduced from January, 2010. For empowerment of Panchayati Raj Institutions, Rather said a provision of Rs 231 crore is made for devolution to panchayats. Panchayats would implement various schemes like MG-NREGA of the order of more than Rs 1300 crore. "Sarpanches will get remuneration of Rs 2000 per month and Panches to get a fee of Rs 300 per sitting subject to monthly ceiling of Rs 600 per month," he said adding that the government would consider appropriate insurance cover for elected Panchayat representatives. Besides, tax concessions (VAT Remission) to industry have been extended up to March 31, 2014 or till adoption of new GST regime. Existing tax exemptions to the tourism sector to continue for another Year, Rather said. He also said gutka has been banned in the state. "State government contd on page 2

Kashimiri Pandits receive threat letter: Govt

NEW DELHI, MAR 6: The government on Thursday informed in the Rajya Sabha that Kashmiri Pandits in Kashmir have received a letter threatening them to leave the valley within a week but there was no proof that the letter originated from militant organisations. "As per report received from the state government of Jammu and Kashmir, a threatening letter/poster to leave Kashmir within contd on page 2

Baramulla firing: FIR against Army filed

SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir Police on Wednesday filed an FIR against the Indian Army unit stationed in Baramulla over the killing of a youth, allegedly in police firing. 25-year-old Tahir Ahmad Sofi was among the protestors demonstrating against the hanging of terrorist Afzal Guru and the suicide of a youth in Pulwama when they were allegedly fired upon by the Army. A report has quoted a police official that the FIR contd on page 2

Muzzafar Beigh submits conditional resignation

SRINAGAR, MAR 05: In a surprise move former deputy chief minister and PDP senior leader Muzaffar Hussain Baig Wednesday, submitted his resignation from the state legislative assembly to the speaker. "If the chief minister is helpless in his efforts to get AFSPA (Armed Forces Special Powers Act) removed from Jammu and Kashmir and if he himself claims that he is helpless, I hereby submit my resignation to the speaker. As and when Omar Abdullah resigns on the issue, my resignation, too, may be accepted," Baig said. According to reports in a move meant to embarrass the government, Muzaffar Hussain Beigh submitted his conditional resignation to Speaker stating that he is ready to resign if Omar resigns in wake of his affirmation that he is helpless on every front. However, he said that his resignation should be accepted when Chief Minister Omar Abdullah submits his resignation as he supports CM's view on AFSPA. Pertinently,Omar Abdullah had Tuesday made an emotional speech in the assembly after he learnt of death of a young man of Baramulla, allegedly in army firing. He said that he was contd on page 2

75,000 children missing Baramulla killing: Army orders time-bound inquiry An Army spokesman in a in last 3 yrs India: Govt SRINAGAR: Army ona statement here said a foot ists to entangle Army personnel, particularly in Tuesday night ordered
NEW DELHI: Around 75,000 children have gone missing in the last three years in the country and are still untraced, the Rajya Sabha was informed Wednesday. Of the about 2.36 lakh children who went missing in the last three years, 1,61,800 have been traced, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Paban Singh Ghatowar said during the Question Hour. "Unfortunately about 75,000 are still untraced," he said. The Centre, he said, has issued advisories to states to appoint nodal officers at all police stations to deal with such cases and make registration of FIRs mandatory. The advisories followed two interim orders of Supreme Court in January 2013, he said. The Supreme Court had ordered mandatory recording contd on page 2 time-bound Court of Inquiry (CoI) into the firing incident in Baramulla district of Kashmir in which a youth was killed. Lt Gen K T Parnaik, GoCin-C has "ordered a timebound CoI into the incident" in which Tahir Latief Sofi was killed, Udhampur-based Army spokesperson said. patrol unit of the Army was attacked by a mob, creating a life-threatening situation for the personnel. He said the personnel fired in the air which could not have caused death of the youth or injury to anyone. The spokesman said there were intelligence inputs with regard to the plans by terrorBaramulla, in a protest and to attack the Army taking shield of the crowd with a view to trigger large-scale violence. "This needs to be probed in detail by police," the spokesperson said. "The aggressive mob, despite repeated warnings and caution, surrounded the patrol contd on page 2

AJKPC welcomes honorarium

SRINAGAR: AJKPC, All Jammu and Kashmir Panchayat Conference, an amalgam Organization of elected Panches and Sarpanches of Jammu and Kashmir while welcoming the honorarium for Panchayat members of the state said that their main and prime demand is empowerment of Panchayats and security for Panchayat leaders. In a meeting held here in winter capital under the chairmanship of Shafiq Mir, the Panchayat Conference leaders termed the honorarium projected contd on page 2

Farm loan waiver: Stringent action DoPT notifies new UPSC format; weightage on general studies against defaulters, says PM
NEW DELHI: With the opposition targeting the government on alleged irregularities in the farm loan waiver scheme, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today promised "stringent possible action" against defaulters, if any. The Prime Minister's assurance came in the Rajya Sabha as BJP created uproar over the alleged "siphoning off" of farmers' money and a "scam" in the scheme in the wake of the CAG report. "The reference is to the CAG report on loan waiver scheme. This is a matter which should be entrusted to the Public Accounts Committee as per normal practice. If there are any irregularities, impromptu comments. His statement came after BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad raised the issue during Zero Hour, alleging scam in the scheme and his colleagues attacked the government over it. Unimpressed by the Prime Minister's reply, BJP members trooped into the well forcing Deputy Chairman P J Kurien to adjourn the House for a brief period. Earlier, Prasad said the CAG report points out that 34 lakh people who should not have got the loan waiver benefit actually got it while 24 lakh farmers who deserved it, could not get it. "It is a case of contd on page 2 NEW DELHI: Aimed at overhauling civil service examinations, a new pattern giving more emphasis on assessing general studies and aptitude skills of aspirants has been notified by the government. The Civil Services (Mains) exams for the first time will also have a separate paper on "ethics, integrity and aptitude", according to a gazette notification issued by Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) on the changes about the test conducted by Union Public Service Commission (UPSC).

which have been shown, I assure the House that we will take stringent possible action against the defaulters," Singh said in

"This paper (on ethics, integrity and aptitude) will include questions to test the candidate's attitude and approach to issues relating to integrity, probity in public life and his problem solving approach to various issues and conflicts faced by him in dealing with society," it said with regard to the 2013 civil services exams. DoPT has also changed the marks distribution of papers and increased number of compulsory subject papers of general studies for the main examination. From Civil Services (Mains) exams, contd on page 2

Page 2_Defence_Bali.qxd 3/7/2013 2:21 PM Page 1

STUDENT AGE THURSDAY, MARCH 7, 2013

DEFENCE/CONTD
as "symbols of a great nation'', the US has realized their role in projecting power around the globe for long. As part of its pivot towards Asia-Pacific, at least six of the 11 American CBGs will be deployed in the region. Incidentally, each US carrier is over 94,000 tonne and capable of handling 80-90 fighters. But the Indian Navy is continuing to flog an old warhorse because of huge delays in other carrier projects. One, Russia will than ` 1300 crore. * Sarpanches to get remuneration of ` 2000/- per month * Panches to get a fee of ` 300/per sitting subject to monthly ceiling of ` 600/- per month. * The Government to consider appropriate insurance cover for elected Panchayat representatives. WELFARE INITIATIVES: * Provision of ` 5 crore for housing and ` 9 crore for transit accommodation of migrants under PMRP. * ` 8 crore set apart for migrants' group mediclaim insurance. * Provision of ` 100 crore for Employment related initiatives including ` 55 crore as seed capital for SKEWPY and ` 20 crore for Youth Start-up Loan Scheme. * Pending cases under Old Age Pension Scheme to be covered. Financial implication around ` 21 crore. * Provision of ` 2 crore under Medical Aid Trust Fund. * The wage rates of daily rated workers to be enhanced to ` 150 per day. * The Government to explore and participate in insurance cover for journalists. * A comprehensive restructuring of Excise and Taxation wing to be undertaken. * 70000 to 80000 posts hoped to be filled in the next few years. * Scheme for financial help to the acid victims to be launched. * Further ` 2 crore contribution to the corpus of Cancer Treatment and Management Fund. * BPL orphan girls who have passed matriculation to get ` 30,000 for marriage ` 3 crore earmarked for the scheme. * 100 new mobile schools to be opened during next year. * Surcharge on the electricity bills in case of delayed payments who clear their pending bills during current financial year to be waived off. * As a one time exercise, all the previous energy consumption accounts of Power Development Department with the consuming departments to be squared up. * Provision of ` 1.00 crore for giving start to a well designed and effective and educational campaign against the habits of smoking and chewing tobacco. TAX CONCESSIONS: * ATTA, MAIDA, SUJI, BESAN, RICE, PADDY outside VAT net for one more year. * Tax concessions (VAT Remission) to industry extended upto 31.03.2014 or till adoption of new GST regime by our State. * Existing tax exemptions to Tourism sector to continue for another Year. * The rates for government advertisements to be increased by 50%. * Honey exempted from levy of VAT. * VAT on saffron reduced to 5%. * Subsidized small tractors, power tiller and other agricultural implements and attachments exempted from levy of VAT. * The limit of exemption from stamp duty increased to deliver INS Vikramaditya, or the 44,570-tonne Admiral Gorshkov refurbished for $2.33 billion, only by December at the earliest, a good two decades after India first showed interest in it. Two, Navy will not get its hands on the 40,000-tonne indigenous aircraft carrier (IAC) being built at Cochin Shipyard anytime before 2018. The follow-on 65,000-tonne IAC-II still remains a mere pipedream. Sources say the 28,000-tonne ` 1.50 lacs for both Kissan Credit Cards and Artisan Credit Cards. VAT on cooked food items sold by hotels, restaurants, food joints, dhabas reduced to 5% from 13.5%. Import of Jute fabric exempted from the levy of Entry Tax. Raw Pashmina exempted from VAT. Stone made idols, havan samagari both packed and loose and guggal dhoop exempted from the levy of VAT. VAT on durrets, quilt, blanket covers, table cloth, table covers, mufflers, bed spreads, pillow case and pillow sleeps to decrease to 5%. VAT rate on CF Lights to be reduced to 5%. INS Viraat, the second-hand HMS Hermes inducted by India in May 1987, is currently undergoing "a normal refit'' that takes at least eight to nine months. In the first phase at the Kochi dockyard, the 13-storey high warship is undergoing "hull and other underwater work''. Next in Mumbai, the ship will get its boilers, propulsions and other technical parts overhauled. "The plan was to operate INS Viraat, whose keel was laid in children and formation of special Juvenile Police units in different states. Ghatowar, who was replying on behalf of Women and Child Development Minister Krishna Tirath, admitted that the issue of missing children has assumed an "alarming" proportion. He informed the House that a web portal 'TrackChild' has been launched on a pilot basis to deal with the issue. States are also being asked to update data on missing children on the portal, he said. The Minister further said the problem of children going missing was due to economic and social reasons and also due to criminal activities. He, however, said there was no information that missing children were being sold in neighbouring countries. When asked about children being kidnapped from hospital, he said there have been such cases but law and order is a state subject. As per a data of National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), 34,406 children were untraced in 2011, 23,236 in 2010 and 18,166 in the previous year. 1944, for only 10 years after 1987. But fund crunches, protracted negotiation and consequent refit of Gorshkov and huge delays in launching the IAC project has meant INS Viraat has to be kept running,'' said a source. INS Viraat has undergone a series of refits, with the last major life-extension one being in 20082009. With age, it has also lost most of its teeth. The Navy now has only 11 Sea Harrier jump-jets available to operate from its deck, Reserve Bank of India asking banks to take action against the guilty within a fortnight. After the end of Question Hour, Kurien called Railway Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal to lay a statement correcting minor errors in the railway budget document after other papers were laid on the table. However, as Bansal was not present in the House, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Rajiv Shukla said he would be in the House within 15 minutes.

2
with no replacement of the fighters possible. The irony is that while INS Viraat has just a few fighters left, India is progressively inducting 45 MiG-29K fighters, ordered from Russia for over $2 billion, meant for INS Vikramaditya though the carrier itself is still awaited. In effect, India will have two effective CBGs only when INS Vikramaditya and IAC can operate together some time after 2018. Meanwhile, situation remains tense across the valley even as curfew has been imposed in 10 police station limits spread across Srinagar, Baramulla and Sopore. The youth's killing has once again ignited the debate over the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA). Senior Congress leader Saifuddin Soz has written to the Centre demanding withdrawal of AFSPA from J&K.

India fancy itself as a regional superpower but China takes huge strides
NEW DELHI: India may fancy itself as a regional superpower but does not have an aircraft carrier prowling on the high seas. Its solitary carrier, the 54-year-old INS Viraat, is out of action for several months once again for a major refit to ensure it can soldier on for another three to four years. Despite the Indian Ocean having emerged as the new strategic theatre between India and China, the Indian politico-military establishment's lack of long-term planning and timely decision-making has all but dashed the Navy's long-standing ambition to deploy two potent carrier battle groups (CBGs). China, in contrast, is taking huge strides in the arena. After last year's commissioning of its first carrier, the 65,000-tonne Liaoning, Beijing is furiously engaged in building more to further expand its "blue-water operations''. If China sees aircraft carriers

Contd. from page 1...

State Budget for....
Rs. 9378 crore whereas the non-plan revenue expenditure consumes Rs. 27096 crore, of which, the biggest chunk of Rs. 17,002 crore is earmarked for payment of salaries and pension. This includes a provision of Rs. 700 crore for meeting the cost of two fresh instalments of DA. Over and above this amount, the Grant-in-Aid of ` 783 crore to the autonomous bodies, is also primarily aimed at meeting their salary expenses. Mr. Rather said that the state's next year's plan outlay would be to the tune of Rs. 8,000 crore on the basis of preliminary discussions held with the Planning Commission adding that an amount of Rs. 6,000 crore has been proposed for implementation of PMRP for the next financial year. Besides, a sum of Rs. 1000 crore has been proposed as the state share in the next year's plan out lay for centrally sponsored schemes which will enable the State to access central funding of Rs. 3500 crore. The breakup of the proposed plan outlay between capital and revenue expenditure is Rs. 6,436 crore and Rs. 1,564 crore respectively. He said a provision of Rs. 783 crore has been proposed for urban local bodies, Universities and other autonomous bodies for supplementing their revenue expenditure requirements. The Minister of state for Finance, Dr. Manohar Lal Sharma presented the budget in Legislative Council and announced various welfare measures for different sections of the society. Later, Mr. Rather while speaking at a crowded press conference said that J&K is one of the few states of the country which is within the limits of targets fixed by the 13th Finance Commission to contain the fiscal deficit. He said the states total tax revenue has marked 123% increase during last four years from 2009 when the present coalition government came into power. He said the total tax revenue in 2009 was Rs. 2600 crore only which has increased to Rs. 5900 crore this year despite levying no new taxes. Mr. Rather said he has tried to provide tax relief to almost every segment of the society including trade, industry, farmers, journalists, BPL class. He said a pprovision of Rs. 231 crore has been kept for devolution to Panchayats adding that Panchayats has been empowered to implement various schemes like MG-NREGA of the order of more than Rs. 1300 crore. He announced remuneration of Rs. 2000/- per month for sarpanches whereas the Panches will get a fee of Rs. 300/- per sitting subject to monthly ceiling of Rs. 600/- per month. He said the Government will also consider appropriate insurance cover for elected Panchayat representatives. Announcing other welfare initiatives, Mr. Rather said a provision of Rs 5 crore has been proposed for housing and Rs. 9 crore for transit accommodation of migrants under PMRP. He said Rs. 8 crore will be set apart for migrants' group mediclaim insurance. He announced that a provision of Rs. 100 crore will be kept for Employment related initiatives including Rs. 55 crore as seed capital for SKEWPY and Rs. 20 crore for Youth Start-up Loan Scheme adding that about 18000 posts will be filled in next few years. He said all the pending cases under Old Age Pension Scheme will be cleared for which an amount of Rs. 21 crore has been proposed during next financial year. He also announced to enhance the wage rates of daily rated workers from Rs. 125 per day to Rs. 150 per day.He said that tax concessions for eatables tourism sector will continue for one year more upto March 2014 or till GST comes into force throughout the country. Mr. Rather also announced special assistance for the BPL orphan girls adding that government will, as a goodwill gesture provide Rs. 30,000 for marriage of each such girl. He said Rs. 3 crore has been proposed for the scheme during the next financial scheme. He also announced that the surcharge on the electricity bills in case of delayed payments who clear their pending bills during current financial year to be waived off.

* * *

AJKPC welcomes....
for Panchayat members by the state government in the budget as their first victory, however they made it clear that until and unless Panchayats are fully empowered they cannot deliver anything to the public . While addressing the meeting, AJKPC general secretary Anil Sharma said that it was the result of the struggle launched by All Jammu and Kashmir Panchayat Conference that the government was forced to propose honorarium for Panchayat members.Sharma said, though it was not satisfactory but a good beginning and its all credit goes to all the members of Panchayat Conference who raised the voice of Panchayats in a forceful manner. In his address, Shafiq Mir chairman of AJKPC while welcoming the step taken by government said, "though this step has brought a little smile on their faces but this honrorium cannot solve the problems of Panchayats . Until and unless Panchayats are fully empowered we cannot deliver anything to the people. Our main and prime concern is to deliver the people for whom we were elected and that is not possible till the Panchayats are fully empowered", said Shafiq Mir adding that security of the Panchayat leaders is another main and prime concern of the AJKPC for which they will continue their fight.

DoPT notifies new...

2013, there will be four compulsory general services papers of 250 marks each, in addition to two optional papers of 250 marks each. Earlier, there were two compulsory papers on general studies and two optional papers of 300 marks each. Total marks for the main exams will be 1,800. The paper on essay and English comprehension will continue to be of 300 marks. The civil services preliminary examination will be held on May 26, this year and the last date for filing online application is April 4.

BUDGET 2013-14....
various flagship schemes. * Plan Revenue Expenditure (PRE) estimated at ` 1564 crore, Plan Capital Expenditure (PCE) ` 7036 crore excluding CSS. * ` 783 crore provision for Urban Local Bodies, Universities and other autonomous bodies / institutions for supplementing their revenue expenditure requirements. * ` 50 lacs to be provided annually for victim compensation scheme. * Budgetary provision for advertising and publicity to be increased by ` 4.00 crore. INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT: * Plan provision of ` 1579 crore for Social Services and ` 652 crore for General Services Sectors. * Plan provision ` 2207 crore for Special Area Programmes including ` 87 crore for Leh, ` 81 crore for Kargil, ` 128 crore for BADP, ` 62 crore for Tribal Sub - Plan, ` 52 crore under Rashtriya Shram Vikas Yojana and ` 1741 crore for District Plan. * Plan provision of ` 384 crore for Agriculture and allied activities including Rural Development. * Plan provision of ` 126 crore for Industries and Minerals, ` 613 crore for Transport, ` 18 crore for Communication and ` 4.6 crore for Science, Technology and Environment Sectors. * Plan provision of ` 889 crore for Energy Sector. * Plan provision of ` 600 crore under PMRP out of which ` 477 crore for counterpart fund - Asian Development Bank and ` 123 crore for rehabilitation of dwellers of Dal and Nageen Lakes.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES MOBILIZATION: * Services provided by Authorized Automobile Service Stations, Property dealers/Real Estates Agents and Consultants other than those already included in a service covered by J&K GST Act brought under service Tax net. * Toll rate to increase by 5 paisa per kilograms in the existing rate of Additional Toll. * Toll rate on import of table birds to increase from ` 6.00 per kg to ` 8 per kg. * VAT on cigarettes to increase from 30% to 40%. RATIONALIZATION/REFORM MEASURES: * Pipe fittings, hand made or machine made washing soap, cables of all types including industrial cable, 'Aam Papad' to be taxed at uniform rate of 13.5% * VAT system made dealer friendly. * Penalty equivalent to 25% of value of goods in case of an offence lowered, however, the penalty at the rate of twice of VAT to continue. * The legal heirs of registered dealers not to apply for fresh registration.

Baramulla killing: Army...

and people from within the crowd started attacking the Army personnel. The Army patrol was soon outnumbered, some of them were injured," the statement said. The statement said the death of the youth "could not have been caused due to the firing by the Army personnel as extreme caution was exercised by them and the fire was deliberately aimed in the air".

PSC postpones Pol ...

As per an official spokesperson of PSC, the remaining papers scheduled to be held from 07.03.2013 to 26.03.2013 shall be held as per the schedule, while the date sheet for Political Science and International Relations-I and Public Administration-I shall be announced separately.

Muzzafar Beigh...
tired of having to answer to the people on such incidents. However, Omar Abdullah denied rumours that he had resigned or had plans of resigning, despite a speech in which he said he was helpless.

Kashimiri Pandits ....

a week was received through post by Secretary, Pandit Colony Sheikhpora, Budgam. The post, however, did not have any evidence or proof of its origin from any of the militant organisations. "In this connection an FIR no 225/2012 under section 13 ULA Act 120-B RPC has been registered. Adequate security arrangements are in place in and around the migrant colonies to ensure safety of the Kashmiri Pandits," Singh said in the written reply in the Upper House. There are approximately 4,000 Kashmiri Pandits in the Valley.

Farm loan waiver...

clear scam. Bank officials in connivance with the middlemen siphoned off the money of farmers," Prasad said recalling that the Prime Minister himself had visited Vidharbha in Maharashtra to launch the scheme. "It is unfortunate that a scam is happening even in this scheme," Prasad said, adding micro-financing companies are the actual beneficiaries at the cost of farmers even as incidents of farmers' suicides are taking place in many states including Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh. As BJP members rushed into the Well shouting slogans that the "anti-farmer government" would not be allowed to run, Kurien said it was "unfair" that they are obstructing the functioning of the House after expressing what they wanted to say. "You had your say and now you are preventing others. The Prime Minister has responded, what more do you want? I will not adjourn the House," he said as BJP members continued to shout slogans. But, as the members continued with slogan shouting in the Well, he adjourned the House for 10 minutes. Prasad earlier said the "tampering of accounts" was done and non-deserving people were given loans. He also read a circular of the

ADMISSION BOOKING 2013

12th Pass or 12th Class studying students who are interested in Engg. / Medical fields are informed to get their seats booked in reputed colleges of Northern India under Management seats without any donation securing 50% marks in Phy, Chem, Maths/Bio for the following courses, M.D.S, B.D.S, M. Tech, B. Tech, B. Sc Nursing, B. Pharmacy, Diploma in all streams G.N.M, M.Ed, B.Ed, MBA, LLB, Hotel Management, MCA, BBA etc.

Curfew continues....
remained closed while public transport remained off the roads. At least six persons were injured in the late evening clashes between protestors and law enforcing agencies in the city and other parts of the Valley, official sources said.

Baramulla firing:....
was registered on the directions of District Magistrate of Baramulla. However, the Army has completely dismissed the suggestion that its men were responsible for the killing of the youth and has ordered a time-bound Court of Inquiry (CoI) into the firing incident. In a statement, the Army said the death of the youth "could not have been caused due to the firing by the Army personnel as extreme caution was exercised by them and the fire was deliberately aimed in the air". As per the Army, a foot patrol unit was attacked by a mob, creating a life-threatening situation for the personnel, forcing them to fire in the air. The Army spokesman said there were intelligence inputs with regard to the plans by terrorists to entangle Army personnel, particularly in Baramulla, in a protest and to attack the Army taking shield of the crowd with a view to trigger large-scale violence.

J&K Budget: something ....

has totally banned in Gutka - if anyone found keeping it he would be punished," Rather said. For additional resources mobilisation, Rather, who presented 13th budget of his career, said services provided by authorised automobile service stations, property dealers and consultants other than those already included in a service covered by J&K GST Act will be brought under service tax net. Besides, toll rate will be increased by 5 paisa per kilogrammes in the existing rate of Additional Toll and Toll rate on import of table birds to increase from Rs 6.00 per kg to Rs 8 per kg besides VAT on cigarettes to increase from 30 PC to 40 per cent.

RAINA EDUCATION CONSULTANCY

(Opposite Sub Treasury Tirth Nagar Talab Tillo Jammu) Mob: 94191-37183

JOB IN JAMMU
MNC dks vius Office / Non-Office dk;Z ds fy, 30 M/F dh t:jr gSaA
Qual: 10/12/Grad./P.G. Income: Rs.8,000 to Rs.15,000 pm Contact:

PRIs EMPOWERMENT:
* Provision of ` 231 crore for devolution to Panchayats. * Panchayats to implement various schemes like MGNREGA of the order of more

Omega International

75,000 children....
of FIR with regard to missing

Hall 101, South Block, Bahu Plaza, Jammu (M): 9906083095, 9205072038

Page 3,4 State.qxd

3/7/2013

2:21 PM

Page 1

STUDENT AGE THURSDAY, MARCH 7, 2013

STATE

3
Pregnant lady death case two doctors arrested
SRINAGAR: Police has arrested two doctors of Sheikh-ul-Alam private hospital who are allegedly responsible for the death of a pregnant lady. Senior Superintendent of Police Srinagar confirmed that a case has been registered against the doctors in this regard. A delegation from the bereaved family told CNS that 29-year-old woman Rehana Reyaz from Shah Mohalla Nawab Bazar was admitted in Sheikh-ul-Alam private hospital in Kanikadal, Karan Nagar. "She was pregnant and her operation was due on Tuesday but due to unknown reasons a day before she was operated and made a scapegoat," Her brother Reyaz Ahmed said adding that the doctors hurriedly operated her as they had to reach to their home. "There were rumours that curfew will be imposed in City and so to leave for their home they operated her in a haste and killed her," he said. According to his brother before Rehana's death she gave birth to a baby boy who is still on ventilator in Children's hospital. "If they (doctors) are not responsible for the death of my sister then why they fled from the hospital and left the dead body naked on the bed in miserable condition," her brother said and added that he was aghast and wanted to kill himself when he saw no doctor in operation theater and her dead sister lying completely naked on the bed. Even a piece of cloth was not laid over her body by the 'killer doctors'," he said. Senior Superintendent of Police Srinagar, Syed Ashiq Hussain Bukhari told CNS that an FIR has been lodged against the doctors. "I know a case has been registered against the doctors but I have no idea how many doctors have been arrested so far in this case," Bukhari said. Meanwhile on condition of anonymity a top police officer told CNS that so far two doctors have been arrested and a case under section 304A has been registered against the duo. "One of the arrested doctors Dr Showkat has been lodged in Shaheed Gunj while Dr Parveena Reshi has been lodged in Women's Police station Ram Bagh," he said. The family members have demanded stern action against the erring doctors.

Food Commissioner imposes ban on Gutkha

JAMMU, MARCH 6: In exercise of the powers vested upon him under clause (a) of sub-section 30 of the Food Safety and Standards Act, Mr Manoj Kumar Dwivedi , IAS, Commissioner of Food Safety, Jammu and Kashmir ordered ban on manufacture, storage, sale transportation, display or distribution of Gutkha in the state. As per the notification number HD/Drug/58/2012 issued today the Commissioner of Food has prohibited distribution of Gutkha by whatever name and Pan Masala or Zarda containing tobacco or nicotine as ingredients by any name. Mr Dwivedi said that as Gutkha of any type contains tobacco or nicotine as major ingredient so it is practical to impose ban on its manufacturing, storage, sale, transportation or distribution in the state. This order was issued immediately after the Budget announcement in this regard where the Finance Department has agreed to impose the ban on such products in the interest of health care of the citizens of J&K State.

NEWS IN BOX

Curfew imposed in tense parts of Kashmir Valley

SRINAGAR: In the wake of a youth's death Tuesday in the north Kashmir town of Baramulla after security forces opened fire, authorities imposed curfew in many areas across the Valley Wednesday. "Curfew has been imposed in Rainawari, Nowhatta, S.R. Gunj, Safa Kadal, Maisuma, Kralkhud and Zadibal police stations areas of Srinagar city today. Curfew has also been imposed in Baramulla, Sopore, Pulwama and Kulgam towns", a senior police officer said here. Reports from other major towns of the Valley indicate police and central reserve police force (CRPF) have been deployed in strength to maintain law and order. Tahir Lateef Sofi, 24, was killed in a firing incident at Chati Padshahi Bridge in north Kashmir's Baramulla town, allegedly by the army, during protests Tuesday evening. Residents of the area said a group of locals started the protest gathering in Kakar Hammam area of the town after homes were ransacked and parked vehicles smashed, allegedly by security forces, and there was firing in the air from security personnel to quell the protest. Thousands of people later gathered in the town and attacked the office of the district magistrate demanding action against those involved in the killing of the youth. The district magistrate has ordered a magisterial enquiry into the firing incident. Baramulla police have also registered an FIR against those security personnel responsible for the firing. State Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has again reiterated his demand for the partial revocation of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) that gives blanket immunity to the army and the paramilitary forces deployed to fight militancy in areas declared "disturbed" under the act. The chief minister broke down in the state legislative assembly Tuesday when the opposition People's Democratic Party (PDP) staged a walkout over the Baramulla youth's killing. Omar Abdhullah promised that those responsible for the killing would be brought to justice. The chief minister later dispelled rumours that he had decided to resign over the issue. Omar Abdullah said on his micro blogging Twitter site if stepping down as chief minister could bring a man back to life, he would resign in a flash. The army, meanwhile, has denied that its men were involved in the killing of the Baramulla youth. An army spokesman said: "An aggressive mob of over 250 people attacked a foot patrol of the army in the town yesterday. Despite repeated warnings and caution, the mob surrounded the patrol and people from within the crowd started attacking army personnel. "The patrol was soon outnumbered, leaving some of them injured. A person out of the mob assaulted the army personnel with an iron rod creating a life threatening situation. To extricate themselves, the patrol fired, aiming in the air, which could not have resulted in any injury as the place of the incident where the person died was well away from the location of the patrol, and could have in no way been affected by the firing by the patrol in the air". The spokesman added that there were intelligence inputs with regard to the plans by militants to entangle army personnel, particularly in Baramulla, in a protest, and to attack the army taking shield of the crowd, with a view to trigger large-scale violence. "The army has ordered an investigation to get to the bottom of the truth", the spokesman said.

DC imposes restrictions on processions

JAMMU, MARCH 06: District Magistrate, Jammu Sanjeev Verma in exercise of the powers vested upon him under section 144 Cr. P.C, has ordered that no processions shall be taken out by any individual or groups of individuals and no provocative slogans shall be raised by anyone in the areas on routes specified as Bajaj Tower Shalamar to Library Chowk, Kacci Chawani, on Flyover from Police Control Room to District Institute of Education and Training behind New Secretariat, Jammu, On flyover from Subash Chowk (Mahesh Pura Chowk) to District Institute of Education and Training, Rotary behind New Secretariat to New Secretariat and Shaheedi Chowk to Deputy Commissioner's Office. However, this order shall not apply to marriage and funeral processions. This order shall come into force for the period of two months, from March 5 or till rescinded, whichever is earlier.

Awareness camp on malnutrition organized

JAMMU, MARCH 06: An awareness camp on malnutrition was organized at Tinde Khurd Block Bishnah by CDPO Bishnah today. The camp was attended by CDPO, ACDPO, Supervisors, Anganwari workers, local ladies and adolescent girls. Jagdish Parshad Demonstration officer from Food and nutrition board, Government of India, Ministry of Women and Child Development Jammu highlighted the common nutritional deficiency diseases caused by lack of food in our diet i.e protein Energy Malnutrition, vitamin A, Anemia and Goitre. CDPO Bishnah focused on care of Young children and adolescent girls. Cultural programme songs and skit on malnutrition was also organized by Anganwari workers.

Paramedical staffer beaten to pulp in old city

SRINAGAR: A paramedical staffer of Gousia hospital Srinagar was injured after he was thrashed by CRPF personnel in the out skirts of Rajouri Kadal in Old City. Public Relations Officer CRPF said that he will look into the matter and if proved guilty strong action will be taken against the erring CRPF personnel. According to reports an ambulance ferrying staffers of Gousia hospital, Khanyar was stopped at Rajouri Kadal in Old city by police and CRPF personnel. "Without provocation we were beaten to pulp. Despite revealing our identity they continuously beat us and snatched our identity cards," a medical employee told CNS. One of the paramedical staffer was beaten to pulp that he lost his balance and he was with difficulty brought back to Gousia Hospital. When this news reached to Gousia Hospital, all the doctors and paramedical staff boycotted the normal work and staged demonstrations against the CRPF personnel. Terming this act as brutal one doctors said that no one in Kashmir is safe. "Despite the tall claims by the government that medical staff can roam freely, men in uniform in every nook and corner harass us," said a doctor. Meanwhile, Public Relations Officer CRPF said that he will look into the matter and if proved guilty strong action will be taken against the erring CRPF personnel.

India committing war crimes in Kshmir: Azam Inqalbi

SRINAGAR, MARCH 05: Current News Service (CNS): Chief Patron Jammu Kashmir Mahaz-e-Azadi (MeA) Muhammad Azam Inqilabi Wednesday said India is committing "war crimes in Kashmir to fulfill its expansionist designs." In a statement here, Inqilabi said Indian leadership have "imperialist bend of mind" and suffer from arrogance of power. "Indian congress leaders tried to create hurdles in creation of Pakistan, but they didn't succeed," he said. He said after the creation of Pakistan due to efforts of Quaid-eAzam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, Kashmir should have been part of Pakistan according to 'Two Nation Theory'. "Cunning congress leaders created rift among Kashmir leadership and amidst this Indian troops landed on the soil of Kashmir," he alleged. MeA patron charged Indian troops with carrying out ethnic cleansing in Kashmir. "Indian troops in collaboration with Dogra forces killed nearly 3-lakh people in Jammu region and more than six-lakh were forced to migrate to Pakistan," he said. They carried the same brutality in Kashmir valley as well, he added. "For the past 25 years Indian forces martyred 1.5 lakh Kashmiris," the press statement reads. Inqilabi said Indian is trying to crush the resistance here with brute force and by adopting macavellian tactics."Tyrant Indian rulers hanged Kashmiri resistance icon Maqbool Bhat in Tihar jail and now same was done to pro-freedom Kashmiri Afzal Guru."He said Kashmiris are yet to come to grips with hanging of Guru and a Kashmiri scholar is killed in Hyderabad. "His grave was yet to get dry and another youth, Tahir Ahmad, was martyred at Baramulla." MeA patron said India should know that Kashmir is not Junagarh, Hyderabad or Bangladesh."Kashmir's treacherous mountains are contiguous with Pakistan and then over to Afghanistan. We have thousands of ways to continue our resistance in any shape," he warned.He said Muslim youth will find their way in Kashmir till last Indian soldier remains here. "Indian Agni and other missiles won't be of any use then." "We have faith in The Almighty that he will create a way for liberation of Kashmir," Inqilabi said.

Taj directs inquiry into Bla firing incident, release of ex gratia

BARAMULLA, MARCH 06: Minister for Medical Education, Youth Services & Sports, Mr. Taj Mohi ud Din today directed the District administration to hold an enquiry into the killing of a youth yesterday at Ganaie Hamam, Baramulla allegedly by an army jawan. Chairing a joint meeting of civil administration and Army here today, the Minister asked the Deputy Commissioner to make the probe time bound and action oriented. He also directed the release of Rs. Five lakh as ex gratia to the next of kin of the killed youth. Terming the incident as highly regrettable, the Minister, who had rushed to the town yesterday evening alongwith Minister of State for Home, Sajjad Ahmad Kitchloo, after hearing of the incident, expressed sympathies with the bereaved family. He asked Police, army and other security agencies to exercise maximum restraint while dealing with the situations. He asked the army authorities to adhere strictly to the Standard Operations Procedure (SOPs) while encountering hostile situations. The Corps Commander, 15 Corps, Lt. Gen. Om Prakash, who also accompanied the Minister, assured full co operation from Army to the civil administration. He expressed regrets over the incident and assured that the force would be and has been a strict complier of discipline and commitment. He said Army, on its own, has also instituted a Court of Inquiry into the incident and whosoever found guilty would be brought to book.

SCW, JU organise seminar on sexual abuse

JAMMU MARCH 06: The J&K State Commission for Women, in collaboration with Centre for Women's Studies, University of Jammu, today organised a seminar on " sexual abuse" in connection with International Women's Day to be observed on 8th of March worldwide. A dramatic presentation of the play titled "Tees din September Key" based on sexual abuse was performed by "Nav Durga Manch". More than 600 students of different departments along with faculty members of the University participated in the seminar. Director, Centre for Women's Studies, University of Jammu, Dr. Poonam Dawan, welcomed the participants. Secretary, J&K State Commission for Women, Rubina Kousar, also expressed her views on the topic besides highlighting and role of the Commission in this regard.

MoS Home's mischief in Rajya Sabha-Pandits asked to flee Valley

SRINAGAR: The Union Minister of State for Home Affairs on Tuesday mischievously stated that Kashmiri Pandits have been threatened to leave Valley within a week. However, he contradicted himself by referring an incident in 2012, which was investigated by police in Budgam and found absolutely baseless and false. The timing of communalizing the situation in Kashmir is significant when entire valley is under curfew and protests continue against the killing of a youngster in Baramulla. According to reports the government told the Rajya Sabha that Kashmiri Pandits in Kashmir have received a letter threatening them to leave the valley within a week but there was no proof that the letter originated from militant organizations. Minister of State for Home R P N Singh replied with a "yes" to a question in Rajya Sabha on whether terrorists have issued a threat to Kashmiri Pandits to leave Kashmir. "As per report received from the state government of Jammu and Kashmir, a threatening letter/poster to leave Kashmir within a week was received through post by Secretary, Pandit Colony Sheikhpora, Budgam. The post, however, did not have any evidence or proof of its origin from any of the militant organizations. Interestingly, the MOS referred to an incident that has occurred in central district Budgam a year back. The J&K Police investigated into the matter at that time and found that the letter, sent through ordinary post, was nothing but a mischief. The Pandits living in the Colony also dismissed that they have ever been threatened. "This is a deliberate attempt to vitiate atmosphere in Kashmir. We are living peacefully and there is no threat at all", said a Pandit resident to CNS. "The MOS should apologize and issue clarification on the issue", he said. Another Pandit told CNS that he fails to understand what the government of India wants and why such baseless statements are made in the prestigious House.

Budget highlights, speech available on website

JAMMU, MARCH 6: The Finance Department has kept available the Budget highlights and the complete text of the speech on its website www.jkfin.nic.in. Those interested can access the site for information.

Promotions in Law Deptt

JAMMU, MARCH 06: The government has ordered promotions of following Public Law Officers (PLOs) and Legal Assistants as Senior Law Officers (SLOs) and Public Law Officers respectively. The PLOs promoted as SLOs are Mr. Abdul Rashid Dar, Molvi Mushtaq, Smt. Sudesh Kumari, Mtr. Shakeel Kachroo, Mr. P. L. Sharma, Mr. Rohani Kiran, Mr. Queshi Tariq Mehmood, Mr. Mohammad Arif Khan, Mr. Manoj Kumar Pandita, Mr. Ayaz Ahmed Khan and Mtr. Yasmen Chodhary (ST). Similarly, Legal Assistants promoted as PLOs are Mr. Riyaz Ahmad Riyza, Mtr. Mahjabeen, Mr. Hamidullah Bhat, Mr. Pardeep Singh Thakur and Smt. Vibhati Sharma.

Range level Chhoona Hai Aasman contest

UDHAMPUR, MARCH, 06: Aiming to encourage talented youth of the area, Udhampur-Reasi Range Police organized a Range level Talent Hunt competition "Chhoona Hai Aasman" Season-3 under its Civic Action Programme at Udhampur. As many as 16 talented contestants from Udhampur and Reasi districts participated in the programme under Senior and Junior Categories. DIG Udhampur-Reasi Range, Mr. Jagjit Kumar, Senior Superintendent of Police, Mr. Ashook Wani, Principal PG College Udhampur, Dr. Nutan Resutra SP, Reasi, Mr. M.S Chouhan, officers and officials of Police Department, Prominent Citizens and large number of people were present on the occasion. While speaking on the occasion, DIG said that The Talent Hunt

Lehari, Manju declared winner under sr. category

Level Talent Hunt competition, Mr Jagjit called upon the winners to make more efforts to achieve the goal in the next Zonal round to be held at Jammu. In Senior Category, Chaman Lehari of Reasi and Mrs Manju Bala of Garhi, Udhampur were selected to participate in Zone level competition while as Mr. Raghujeet Singh and Miss Simran Kour both from Udhampur secured top positions under Junior catogary. The prize winning contestants would participate in the Zone Level competition, "Choona Hai Aasman Talent Hunt Show Season 3". District Information officer, Udhampur, Dr. Jagdish Mehra, Mrs. Anjana Khajuria and Mr. Roshan Lal acted as jury members of the contest.

Employment Fair at Chatroo

KISHTWAR, MARCH 06 - Assistant Director Employment Kishtwar Ata-ul-Muneem Tak that the Employment and Counselling Centre Kishtwar will be organising two day Employment Fair at Chatroo district Kishtwar from March 11. Various government department including Industries, Agriculture, Rural Development Department, Health, Animal Husbandry, Horticulture, Social Welfare, Handicraft, Sericulture, Fisheries and Banking Institutions will participate in the Fair and guide the educated unemployed youth in setting up their own sustainable income generating units. Assistant Director Employment has also appealed to unemployed Youth to have a greater participation in the Employment Fair to take maximum benefits from various central /state sponsored schemes and other programmes.

DIG Udhampur-Reasi Range, Jagjit Kumar along with others during a Talent Hunt competition "Chhoona Hai Aasman" Season-3 at Udhampur. Programme is a major initiative of J&K Police to give the meaningful direction to youth to shine. He said that such programmes would prove supportive for us to bring the people of the area more closer to the police helping to strengthen the bond of the police public relations. Wishing all success to the winners of Range

Page 3,4 State.qxd

3/7/2013

2:21 PM

Page 2

STUDENT AGE THURSDAY, MARCH 7, 2013

STATE

FIR lodged, ex gratia announced into Baramulla youth killing: Sagar

JAMMU, MARCH 06: Minister for Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, Mr. Ali Mohammad Sagar today informed the House that Government has lodged FIR into the Tuesday's firing incident at Ganaie Hamam, Baramulla in which one youth was killed by Army and another injured. Replying to the debate on adjournment motion on the said killing moved by Mr. Muzaffar Hussain Baig, the Minister said Government will get justice to the bereaved family and culprits responsible for the incident would be brought to book. He said Government has announced an ex-gratia relief of Rs. 5 lakh for the family of the deceased. Earlier, the Speaker, Mr.

Members describe the incident unfortunate

Mubarak Gul, suspending the routine business for day, allowed the motion. He expressed sorrow over the loss of life in yesterday's incident. Describing the incident as unfortunate, the Minister said Government has already issued strict instructions to the security forces to exercise maximum restraint while dealing with the law and order situations. Expressing solidarity with the bereaved family, he said the incident is a matter of concern for the entire House but cautioned members not to do politics over this sensitive and human issue thus playing with the sentiments of people. Appealing opposition to desist from cheap politicking, Mr. Sagar said such incident draw our collective attention to think about the safety and security of people rather than scoring brownie points. Let them come with suggestions to improve the security situation in the State rather than raising the pitch and accusations, he said. Earlier, initiating the discussion, Mr. Muzaffar Baig demanded thorough probe of the incident and punishment for the culprits responsible for the killing. He urged the Government to take all preventive measures to check such incidents in future and create a congenial atmosphere. He urged the Chief Minister to impress upon all security agencies to follow SOPs in letter and spirit. Mr. Abdul Gani Malik while taking part in the discussion said that it is the responsibility of all of us to make efforts to restore peace and order in all areas of the State. He expressed anguish over the incident and sought punishment to the guilty. He also highlighted the role of the Army during the militancy period and bringing normalcy in the State, but he urged the forces to maintain maximum restraint while dealing with the law and order situation. Mr. Harshdev Singh expressed concern over the killing and recent death of two police constables at Handwara. He urged the Government to take steps to avoid recurrence of such incidents and also to maintain law and order. He asked the Government to provide jobs and ex-gratia to next of the kins of deceased. Prof. Chaman Lal Gupta said that entire House has the concern about innocent killings but simultaneously he said that Army should not be straight away blamed for each incident unless the matter is inquired into. He said Army's role is to protect the borders but due to militancy the Army was called to tackle the situation. He however, urged that the culprits responsible for the incidents should be booked under law. Mr. M. Y. Tarigami in his speech expressed concern over the recurrence of such unfortunate incidents time and again. He suggested that a resolution be brought in the House for revocation of AFSPA and bringing accountability within the ranks of security agencies. He said if the Centre feels that infiltration has come down in the State, the AFSPA should be revoked. He demanded time bound probe into the incident and steps to avoid such incidents in future. Mr. Ashok Khajuria while expressing sympathies with the bereaved family demanded through inquiry into the incident. He said death of innocents is a crime and should be condemned by all. He raised the issue of killing of two Policemen recently in Handwara and urged the Government to take measures to thwart such incidents in the State. Mr. Mohammad Sharief Niaz while expressing concern over such incidents said that militancy has taken numerous lives during the past over two decades in the State. He said today we are living in a peaceful atmosphere because of the efforts and sacrifices of security forces and we should not undermine their role. However, if anybody from the Army or security forces found involved in the human

rights violations be punished after thorough probe. We should not politicise the issue for our petty gains, he said. Engineer Rashid expressing anguish over the killing of Baramulla youth in yesterday's firing incident said that unless the basic issues are addressed, such incidents will continue to take place. He blamed Central and State Governments for the present situation due to their wrong policies. Mr. Ashwani Kumar Sharma advocated identifying the elements who instigate youth to create law and order situation for their personal gains, which leads to such incidents. He said such situations compel the security forces to open fires, which often results into deaths of innocent youth.

Seminar cum awareness camp organized

DODA, MARCH 06District Industries Centre Doda organized a seminarcum-awareness camp at Dadkhi Gandoh for advertisement and publicity of department schemes and incentives being provided by the District Industries Centre Doda to benefit the schedule tribe population.The participants were apprised about the various industrial schemes to setup their SSI units. Dr. Javed Iqbal Rather (Functional Manager) DIC Doda and Amresh Kotwal (Industrial Promotion Officer) gave a detailed account of various schemes run by the department. Sarpanch Halka Panchayat Dadkal and Members Advisory Board Mohammad Hanief, Nek Mohd Sarpanch Panchayat Halka B, Chairman Mohd. Latief, Talib Hussain Naib Sarpanch and Panches belonging to the panchayat besides locals of the area were also present.

State Budget fulfills the true aspirations of the people: Gupta

JAMMU 6 MARCH : In a statement Sh. Rattan Lal Gupta State Vice President J&K National Conference hailed the budget presented by the Finance Minister in both the houses of the state . under the dynamic leadership and guidance of Jenab Omar Abdullah .Mr Gupta said the budget is a people friendly budget which fulfills the aspirations of the masses because it guaranteed the all around equitable development of all the three regions of the state in all sectors .It has focused and taken due care of farmers , Industries and poorest of the poor people of the state .Mr Gupta welcomed the purposed help for the marriage of orphan girls , help for cancer patients , clearance of old aged pension cases , handicapped under integrity social security scheme and opening of 98 mobile schools for NOMADS .The budget also taken due care of Unemployed youths of the state in which it is purposed that about seventy to eighty thousands government vacancies will be fulfilled and also technical education will be provided to the Unemployed youth Under Udaan and Himyat Schemes . The proposal to pay honourim of RS 2000 P.M to sarpanches and panches of the state to strengthen the grass root level the democratic institutions of the state . Mr Gupta also appreciated the concessions given Under VAT Act. In Toto the budget proposal shall bring peace , prosperity in the state .

PDP stages walkout over Baramulla firing issue

JAMMU: Opposition PDP on Wednesday attacked the Omar Abdullah government for the incident of firing by security forces in Baramulla in which one youth was killed, and staged walkout from Jammu and Kashmir Assembly. Speaker Mubarak Gul accepted the adjournment motion moved by PDP to hold discussion over the firing incident. Speaking on the motion, Leader of Opposition Mehbooba Mufti said, "There is no credibility of the Omar government. Omar said he was helpless...He said why bullets were fired on mob for stone-pelting... But remember in 2010, same chief minister said there will be bullets for stones". "Government is ruling the state from the barrel of gun... there are firing incidents ... Curfews, arrests, house arrests of Syed Ali Shah Geelani, preparation of ground for punishing Yasin Malik," Mufti said. "Basically Chief Minister wants to divert his failures by blaming it on AFSPA. You (Omar) cannot wash your hands by showing helplessness," she said. The Speaker intervened and asked Mufti to take her seat as time for her speech had expired, following which PDP members demanded that she be allowed to continue. When the request was turned down, PDP members staged walkout in protest. Speaking on the motion, BJP member Chaman Lal Gupta said Army should not be blamed for all ills in Jammu and Kashmir. "We want punishment to be given to those responsible for firing incident after thorough probe, but please do not tarnish the image of Army," he said.

Pentavalent vaccine launched at DH Ramban

JAMMU, MARCH 06- Pentavalent Vaccine was launched at District Hospital Ramban by Chief Medical Officer Ramban Dr. M. A. Bhat. Dr. S. D. Khan, Medical Superintendent District Hospital Ramban, Dr. A. H. Bohra, District Health Officer Ramban and District Programme Management Unit NRHM Ramban were present. At Block Headquarter Batote the vaccine was launched by Dr. Baldev Raj, Deputy Director Headquarter, Jammu in presence of Dr. M. M. Ashraf, District Monitor NRHM and was subsequently also launched at all the Medical Block Headquarters by the respective Block Medical Officers of District Ramban. It was informed that the vaccine will prevent five diseases by giving one vaccine 3 times.

Ensure uniform Women's workers suffers various hardships at different villages across bishna constituenty distribution of ration
JAMMU MARCH 6 : A Public meeting of Women's workers at village Maghal , Rahak Maghal and Proper Arina in Bishnah Constituency today . led by Smt. Bimla Luthra MLA J&K National Conference . On the demands of the Women workers they were facing many problems Road Connectivity , Widow pension , electricity , tailoring centre . Smt. Bimla Luthra announced the construction of lanes and drains, Cleanliness of canal and other pending works shall be taken up soon . Smt. Bimla assured the people that all their genuine demands shall be redressed. While addressing the gathering Smt. Bimla Luthra said that informed the workers about the developmental system and the policies and programmed of the government which are people friendly and keeping in view the topography of the state special thrust is given to far-flung areas of the state. She further that exhorted women belonging to weaker sections to come forward and benefit from various schemes tailored for their empowerment and economic emancipation. She said that the social welfare department is assisting women to grow as useful members of the society by supporting various projects aimed at improving their economic conditions .She referred to the schemes like self help groups , saying these have immense potential to generate employment and give fillip to women entrepreneurship . Jenab Omar Abdullah is committed to give justice to the people of the state & ensure equitable development of all the three regions of the state. She urged the people, particularly the women folk , to strengthen the hands of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Dr. Farooq Abdullah. Those who were present in the meeting are :- Veena oberio , Capt. Jaswant Singh , Ramesh Singh , Raj, Rano , Bharti and others .

among consumers: Ramzan

Infant charred to death in fire

JAMMU: A four-month-old baby boy was charred to death when a fire broke out in his house in the outskirts of Jammu, police said Wednesday. Plastic scrap which was scattered near the hutments caught fire last evening. The blaze soon engulfed the nearby hutments at Indira Nagar area. Fourmonth-old baby boy Razaullah was charred to death and nine jhuggis were completely gutted in the blaze, they said. On receiving information, police rushed to the spot and fire tenders were pressed in to the service to douse the flames, they said, adding after halfan-hour the fire was brought under control.

Forest employees in league with smugglers loot green wealth

SRINAGAR: Forest employees in North Kashmir's Handwara tehsil in league with jungle smugglers had managed to dump 88 square feet timber which they were mulling to smuggle to a safe place to earn some booty. DFO Handwara range confirmed this report and said that he has ordered the transfer of dozens of forest employees from Handwara as they were found in league with timber smugglers. According to reports, Range officer Mohammad Ramzan on a specific information raided a place in Handwara forest and seized 88 square feet forest timber. After enquiry it was proved that some forest employees in league with timber smugglers had dumped timber for monetary gains. DFO Handwara Tawheed Ahmed confirmed this report to CNS and said that all the forest employees in this activity have been transferred. "How can we save our forests when our own employees are involved in the illegal activities and are supporting the forest smugglers? I was surprised when I came to know about this incident. We have initiated an enquiry and so far I have ordered the transfer of dozens of Forest employees," Tawheed said adding that transfer is not the solution but proper action will be taken against such employees involved in such illegal activity.

JAMMU, MARCH 6: Minister for consumer Affairs and Public Distribution, Chouadary Mohammad Ramzan today asked Director CA&PD Jammu to ensure uniform distribution of ration among the consumers of Jammu province as per 2001 census. The issued the directions at a high level meeting convened on the complaints of non availability of ration at Billawar and Hiranagar constituency. Minister of State for Cooperative Dr. Manohar Lal Sharma, besides Secretary CA&PD, Mohammad Abass, Director CA&PD Jammu, Mr Parvaze Ahmad Malik, Deputy Director CA&PD and other senior officers of department were present in the meeting. Mr Ramzan also asked to all Assistant directors to lift full quota every month and ensure distribution of entitled food grains among the consumers as per their ration card. He warned that any officer found lacking in lifting the set quota would face action as per the law. The minister said that every ration card holder should get 35kgs of ration as the state still receives the ration from the centre as per the 2001 census. He also directed for uniform distribution of sugar among the consumers. Mr. Ramzan asked the Director CA&PD to personally monitor the distribution of ration and convene fortnightly meetings to review stocks and supplies. He also directed for conducting frequent inspections of CA&PD stores to stocks and its further distribution.

Army Colonel booked for murder

SRINAGAR: Despite Army denying its role in Baramulla firing incident, Police has booked Colonel Dalbinder Singh of the 46 Rashtriya Rifles in the killing of a 25-year old youth Tahir Ahmed Sofi in Baramulla. A police official told CNS that a case has been registered against the Army under FIR number 81/2013 under section 302 of Ranbir Penal Code. "We have booked Army officer and investigation is going on," he said adding that law will take its own course. Police has also registered a case against the public for disturbing law and order problem in the district Baramulla. The Army has completely dismissed the allegation that its men were responsible for the killing of the youth and has ordered a time-bound Court of Inquiry (CoI) into the firing incident. Talking to CNS a top Army official said that investigation is on and till date we can say that Army fired only in air to disperse the mob that was hell bent to attack army vehicles. Meanwhile in a statement, the Army said the death of the youth "could not have been caused due to the firing by the Army personnel as extreme caution was exercised by them and the fire was deliberately aimed in the air." Army has said that a foot patrol unit was attacked by a mob, creating a life-threatening situation for the personnel, forcing them to fire in the air.

Members express anguish over youth's killing in Baramulla

JAMMU, MARCH 06: Minister for Planning & Development Mr. Ajay Sadhotra today informed the House that FIR has been lodged in the firing incident in which a youth was killed at Baramulla yesterday.He said culprits will be punished and the family will receive justice. The Minister was replying to an Adjournment Motion jointly moved by the Members of National Panther Party and Peoples Democratic Party. The Minister said that the government has zero tolerance policy over Human Rights violations as such incidents only increase alienation among the people. He said that Police and Security Forces must show maximum restrainwhile handling law order situations. Terming the incident very unfortunate, Mr. Sadhotra said we condemn such incidents and expressed grief and sorrow over the killing of youth while conveying his sympathy to the bereaved family. Earlier, Chairman Mr. Amrit Malhotra cancelled the routine business and allowed to hold the discussion on the motion. Speaking on the Adjournment Motion, Syed Rafiq Shah demanded stern action against the culprits and said that social media and private channels have been gagged and closed by the Government. Syed Asgar Ali and Mohammad Ashraf Mir asked the Government to take concrete steps to stop such gruesome killings by security forces. Mr. Khalid NajeebSuharwardi termed the incident ill-fated one and said that some inimical forces are behind such incidents that hate peace and deliberately through such incidents inciteviolence,adding that the House has to condemn such incident. He said mere patchworks to solve problems cannot be sustained for long and effective steps need to be taken to solve them. Expressing shock and sorrow over the incident, Mr. Ravinder Kumar Sharma appealed all the political parties to condemn such incidents and not to play politicsover the issue. Mr. Jahangir Mir pleaded to work collectively for peace, development and prosperity of the State.He said security forces should show a humane approach while dealing with civilians and in this regard they need to be regularly counselled. Mr. JavidRana stressed the need for upholding unity and integrity of the country. He called for establishing Truth and Reconciliation Commission so that truth can come to fore. Sheikh GhulamRasool called for sensitizing the security forces about dealing with civilians and Jammu and Kashmir Police rather than CRPF or Army, must be put on the forefront while dealing with situations involving civilian protests. Mr. GhulamNabiMonga termed the incident in which Tahir Ahmad Sofi of GanaiHamam Baramulla was killed and another person got injured in the firing incident by the Army as very unfortunate. He said besides the FIR that has been already lodged, Government should order time bound judicial enquiry into the gruesome incident. Dr. Bashir Ahmad Veeri endorsed the sentiments expressed by Ravinder Sharma and Jehangir Mir and stressed the need to end AFSPA. Mr. Vijay Bakaya termed the act as serious violation of standing operating procedure and while expressing his anguish said that to save our future generations from further trouble we need to work together to de-escalate the situation rather than re kindle it. He said mentality of believing in conspiracy theories and psychology of victimhood must be shunned and things should be handled with care and sense of responsibility by all parties. Mr. Ajat Shatru Singh expressed sorrow over the demise and urged for working together for the welfare of the people. Mr. Devender Singh Rana while expressing sorrow over the incident said that a precious life was lost in unnatural circumstances and it pains every heart. He said while the whole house should condemn the incident, no politics should be played over spilling of innocent blood and unanimously we need to send a message that only a sensitive and humane approach can win the hearts of people rather than gun approach. Advocating for revoking AFSPA , he said that gun, no matter in whose hand it is, only instils fear and such killings should stop, he added.

Page 5.qxd

3/7/2013

2:22 PM

Page 1

STUDENT AGE THURSDAY, MARCH 7, 2013

EDITORIAL

Mr. CM why to bring in Pakistan?

India should build a stronger partnership with France and Britain

Kanwal Sibal he back-to-back visits of the president of France, Francois Hollande, and the prime minister of Britain, David Cameron, last month have put the spotlight on India's relationship with Europe. Some belittle the importance of this relationship as Europe is seen as economically crisis-ridden, lacking in dynamism, to be declining militarily and too prone to act as a super NGO in propagating its values. The belief that economic, political and even military power is shifting towards Asia underlies this depreciation of our partnership with Europe. While the relative decline of the United States of America is recognized, its recovery is considered more certain than that of Europe. The high growth rates in India in recent years, the projection that India will become the third largest economic power by 2030 and the bracketing of India with China has also inflated our sense of self-importance vis--vis Europe. Some pundits have the gumption to say, without being too self-conscious of India's own glaring governance failures that allow abysmal levels of poverty to persist, that if France is to become a partner more in sync with a new post-liberalization India, the key would be to make itself meaner and leaner at home. This refers to the hard decisions France needs to take on welfare costs and government-spending. The United Kingdom, which is financialservices reliant, is scoffed at as a serious economic partner in view of its eviscerated manufacturing sector and the economic crisis afflicting it, a reality seen to limit the scope of any substantial UK investment in India's infrastructure. The non-committal language of the India-UK joint statement on British participation in a possible MumbaiBangalore industrial corridor reflects this. Yet, the European Union is India's biggest trade and investment partner. India weathered well the US financial crisis, but the Eurozone turmoil has affected it appreciably. India and the EU are negotiating a free trade agreement in which both France

ake things clear Mr. Chief Minister (CM) of Jammu and Kashmir. The people want to know what you mean when you said that Pakistan is an important party to Kashmir issue. Which side of the fence you stand is not only a curiosity but an essential desirability because the way you are issuing statements one after the other indicate that something is terribly wrong with your political perception or sagacity. Otherwise how can the Chief Minister advocate for involvement of Pakistan to solve K-issues. Sometimes you pitch for the resolution of Kashmir issue and sometimes you want to revoke Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA). Sometimes you deny an inch of land to Sri Amarnth Board and in a whim of political naivet decide to meet the architect of Kargil War. It is true that this time you are under tremendous pressure in the wake of the developments that took place after Guru's hanging. But to crumble under pressure and start issuing preposterous statements is the least that we expected from you. This way more harm will be done to the State and situation shall return back to the square one. First allow things to return to normal then you are free to say what you can but in a way that does not stoke the fires and help raise the tempo of separatists' morale. Your handling of the situation leaves a lot to be desired. Without any malice or prejudice you Mr. CM it is our bounden duty to admonish you that your statements are helping the terrorists and separatists and not the government of India and the people of Jammu and Kashmir by repeatedly raising the issue for the revocation of AFSPA. You have every right to react but you are no ordinary citizen being the chief executive of the beleaguered State of Jammu and Kashmir which has seen turmoil turning it upside down. The Pakistan sponsored terror backed with separatists within the State has made the heaven of a place that Kashmir was known into a hell. Kashmiri Pandits, the aborigines of Kashmir have been thrown out of their homes and are at the verge of extinction. In such circumstances it is the duty of the head of the government to behave with composure and caution. Perhaps you have forgotten that this country has entered into a sustained dialogue with Pakistan but the repeated terror onslaught has not allowed any talks turn meaningful. Have you forgotten Mr. CM that the NDA Govt under Atal Bihari Vajpayee of which you were a young face went to Pakistan to have a dialogue. But even during his visit Pakistani army was busy capturing Kargil heights. We expected that the raw youth in you of those days should have matured and mellowed into a seasoned politician but they way you are presenting yourself raises genuine doubts. It is no secret that separatists are realigning in Pakistan. The meetings of Yaseen Malik with Hafiz Sayed in Pakistan are not events in isolation. American withdrawal from Afghanistan is already redrawing lines vis-a vis terror and Taliban regrouping with the tacit support of Gen Kayani is soon to happen. The axes of terror will soon it is feared shift again to Kashmir. The time post American withdrawal from Afghanistan is fraught with serious consequences. How can under such a security threat perception you as CM advocate against AFSPA. It is hence very risky to remove army from the valley even in phased manner. No responsible CM will risk the situation to worsen. The incident in which the boy was killed in Baramulla needs to be probed but to pitch in for the revocation of AFSPA is a knee jerk reaction. The army is doing a great job in the State. It should not be forgotten that it were the security forces who with their sacrifices made the return of democratic process possible in the State. Without its return could it have been possible for politicians to assume the role of leadership in the State. Mr.CM there is a poser to you from the people of this country as on Wednesday you advocated for the involvement of Pakistan to resolve the Issue. Please define Pakistan for us. Is it a Pakistan which has usurped a huge area of our State called POK? Is it a country where minorities have been reduced to mere two percent of the population? Is it the Pakistan who has ceded more than 5000sq Km of our territory to China? Is it a Pakistan which is a near failed State? Is it a Pakistan which is bent upon destroying India because of the Jihadi mindset being promoted there at the behest of a willing Inter Services Intelligence which declares the terrorists as its strategic assets? Kindly tell us what Pakistan you have into your calculations with whom India has to talk. Mr. Chief Minister do not indulge in political immaturity. Please show in-depth understanding and stay calm.

and Britain have an important say. France and the UK, as the fifth and sixth largest economies in the world respectively, are allimportant partners for a rising India. France has great strengths in the nuclear, space and defence sectors, and these, along with urban development and infrastructure areas, got highlighted during Hollande's visit. The UK too has several advanced defence technologies to offer and its strengths - healthcare, education and other services - came under focus during Cameron's visit. Both, as permanent members of the United Nations security council, weigh critically on international security issues. Both engage with India within the G-20. In the World Trade Organization and climate change negotiations, India has to contend with European positions determined with French and British participation. Some argue that France is not as much a diplomatic and strategic asset for India as before because the US is setting the pace for global accommodation of India, and Paris and London now follow in Washington's wake. But this argument exaggerates both the degree of strategic convergence between India and the US and the degree of US hegemony over Europe. Such thinking implies that we should simply adjust ourselves to US's strategic priorities and the vagaries of its political processes and moods. Such strategic over-reliance on any one country is hardly compatible with India's global ambitions. Partnership with a country like France, still attached to its independence in decision-making, helps India to maintain its strategic autonomy. Despite a remarkable improvement in India-US ties, our respective views differ on, for instance, handling Pakistan, its role in terrorism and its nuclear activity supported by China, the end-game in Afghanistan and overtures to the Taliban. Views are also different on the sanctions on Iran and military threats against it that have squeezed India's oil trade and poten-

tially imperil its interests in the Gulf, the bombing of Libya, the regime-change being promoted in Syria and the willingness to accommodate extremist religious forces in the Arab world. On some of these issues, as for example, seeking accommodation with the Taliban and the responsiveness to Pakistani ambitions in Afghanistan, Britain is ahead of the Americans and India needs to press it to be more transparent with it on British diplomacy in the region. France is with the US on Iran and Syria, but it has ceased supplying advanced or new military platforms to Pakistan in deference to India's sensitivities, which the US disregards. With both countries, strengthened counter-terrorism cooperation is an asset for combating a threat to which India is especially vulnerable because its epicentre lies in Pakistan next door. Britain and France are allies of the US and therefore on political and security issues, though not on economic issues, their policies have considerable convergence. But the edgy competitiveness between France and the Anglo-Saxon world for political space should not be underestimated either, not to mention their clashing versions of capitalism, with the French welfare model with strong unions and labour laws inviting relentless American and British broadsides. All three compete quite ferociously with each other in India, as the 126 fighter aircraft contract demonstrated. The US felt mortified at the loss of the contract to the Europeans, and the British continue to question India's wisdom in choosing the Rafale over the Eurofighter and still hope the deal to get somehow unravelled to their advantage. Hollande's visit, however, saw both sides noting the progress of ongoing negotiations on the medium multi-role combat aircraft programme and looking forward to their conclusion. This was, no doubt, much to the discomfiture of the British. As compared to the highly legalistic, intellectual property rights ridden US approach to technology transfers,

the French are much easier partners in this regard. All in all, France is way ahead of the US in meeting India's defence needs in terms of aircraft, submarines, missiles and so on. France is negotiating a major project of joint development and manufacturing of a short range surface-to-air missile with India's Defence Research and Development Organization, which, until President Barack Obama's India visit, was under US sanctions. Cameron supports greater cooperation between DRDO and the UK Defence Science and Technology Laboratory. French and British supplies of defence equipment are, furthermore, not accompanied by intrusive end-use monitoring requirements, as is the case with US supplies. France has much more advanced nuclear reactors to offer India than the US. Its civilian nuclear deal with India excludes many controversial provisions of the India-US deal and provides for "full civilian nuclear cooperation"- a code word for the transfer of enrichment and reprocessing technologies, which the US has excluded from the purview of its cooperation with India. France is ready to work with India within the framework of the rules of our Nuclear Liability Act, which the US companies refuse to do. As agreed during Cameron's visit, India and the UK will now begin negotiations on a civil nuclear cooperation agreement. Indo-French cooperation in space has been intensive, with Arianespace launching India's INSAT satellites, the launching of jointly-developed satellites on Indian launchers - the SARAL being the second and France using the PSLV to launch its SPOT 6 satellite in September last year. The two countries are drawing up a long-term plan of cooperation in satellite technology, an area that remains outside the scope of India-US cooperation. The UK is not India's partner in space. Both Hollande and Cameron manifestly want deeper ties with India. We have an opening to build stronger partnerships with both.

Bangladesh: An Analysis of Pranab Mukherjee's Visit

By Harun ur Rashid resident Pranab Mukherjee arrived in Dhaka on 3 March for a three-day visit to Bangladesh at the invitation of the President and Prime Minister of Bangladesh. Highly respected in Bangladesh for his modesty and affability, Mukherjee has close personal connections with the country, through his wife, who hails from the Sadar Upazilla of Narail. During his recent visit, President Mukherjee received an honorary doctorate degree at a Convocation of Dhaka University and visited the ancestral home of his in-laws in Bhadrabila village, Narail in Sadar sub-district. According to media reports from Bangladesh, Kanai Lal Ghosh, the president's brother-in-law, is currently residing at the ancestral home. Politically speaking, too, Mukherjee is no stranger to Bangladesh. During the 1971 War of Liberation, he was one of the main Indian political leaders who supported and assisted the provisional government of Bangladesh and the people of Bangladesh bear a

debt of gratitude to him. Indeed, he received the 'Bangladesh Swadhinata Sammanona (Bangladesh Freedom Honour)' a state honour for his outstanding contribution to the Liberation War. The government of Bangladesh, led by the Bangladesh Awami League, first started honouring foreign allies for their contribution to the country's liberation war in 2011, when the government posthumously conferred the Bangladesh Swadhinata Sammanona upon former prime minister of India, the late Indira Gandhi. Her daughter-in-law and Congress President, Sonia Gandhi received the honour on her behalf on July 25, 2011. The majority of people in the smaller neighbouring countries in the vicinity around India perceive it to be the larger and more resourceful neighbour. There is both admiration and apprehension in these perceptions. Admiration is felt because this particular neighbour, having common bonds of history and geography, has been emerging as a global and a regional political and economic power. Apprehension

emanates from a more strained scenario when these smaller neighbours are not sure of their position in a fluid geopolitical environment. Under such circumstances, an Indian presidential visit to any foreign country in the neighbouring vicinity is not only highly ceremonial but diplomatically symbolic. It goes without saying that no presidential visit can take place without the approval of the Indian government. Usually, a list of countries is prepared, to which the ceremonial visit of the Indian President will take place, taking into account India's national and regional interests. India is aware that the geopolitical scene around South Asia and South East Asia is in a fluid state. Bangladesh not only shares borders with India, but also with reformist Myanmar and is also a near neighbour to China, Nepal and Bhutan. If India has strained relations with Bangladesh, some analysts believe Bangladesh may consider seriously looking eastwards, and eventually form a cooperative institutional

relationship with Myanmar, Thailand, and China, given the geopolitical shift of power towards the Asia-Pacific at the dawn of the twenty-first century. Domestically speaking, India also realizes that it needs Bangladesh because of its geographic location, especially because of the advantages that Bangladesh holds in terms of transit/trans-shipment of goods through the latter country to India's northeastern states via West Bengal. In this context, relations between India and Bangladesh have been on the upswing ever since Sheikh Hasina took power in 2009. Prime Minister Hasina visited New Delhi in January 2010 and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was in Dhaka in September 2011. Dhaka moved quickly to address Delhi's concerns on cross-border terrorism and transit/trans-shipment to India's north-east, given the proper infrastructure in place for it. Transit on an experimental basis was provided to India by Bangladesh in 2011. However, the promises made by India, in return for Bangladesh's

acquiescence on issues such as these, remain unfulfilled. Nevertheless, President Mukherjee's first foreign visit to Bangladesh demonstrates that the Indian government does indeed attach great importance to the existing cooperative relations with Bangladesh in various sectors. There is a saying that one can choose friends but not neighbours. As a regional power, however, India needs to cultivate good relationships with its neighbouring countries. If neighbouring countries, such as Bangladesh, Bhutan and Nepal, do not respond positively to India's overtures, it may be difficult for India to achieve its regional goals, while catering to its global ambitions. Bangladesh and India are neighbours and they cannot re-fashion geography. The two countries are destined to live next to each other. Given the desire to live together in cooperation, two countries may proceed with productive relations through unrelenting efforts in political, economic, social and environmental issues.

READERS SPACE
Mixed moves
Dear Sir The Union budget, 2013-14, proposed quite a few measures that will hopefully improve the state of the economy. For example, it announced an investment allowance to boost the manufacturing sector. This was a positive move since an increase in the chances of investment is among the most urgent needs of the economy. The budget also announced some steps that would help the common man. The finance minister, P. Chidambaram, proposed that a "Nirbhaya fund" be set up to ensure the safety of women, and Rs 1,000 crore was allocated for this. Chidambaram also suggested that the National Skill Development Corporation should set the curriculum and standards for training in different skills for the youth of the country. One hopes that this will motivate the youth to join programmes to develop their individual skills. Chidambaram's proposal to open India's first women's bank was applauded even by the leader of the Opposition, Sushma Swaraj. It was a bold step at a time when the women's reservation bill has been lying in Parliament for quite a while. The Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojna will be extended to

include rickshaw-pullers, auto-rickshaw drivers, taxi drivers, sanitation workers, ragpickers and mine workers. The amounts allocated to the handloom sector and the textile sector - Rs 96 crore and Rs 50 crore respectively - will encourage weavers and textile-manufacturers. Furthermore, the Rajiv Gandhi Equity Saving Scheme has been liberalized to enable first-time retail investors to invest in mutual funds and listed shares not in one year alone, but for three successive years. Chidambaram also allocated Rs 41,000 crore for the scheduled caste plan - which is commendable. In view of the huge fiscal deficit, his move to rationalize government expenditure will help in augmenting growth. The economic state of the country is worrisome .The second United Progressive Alliance government has just about a year to prove its merit, and it should swing into action without any further delay in order to effectively control and shrink the fiscal deficit. Recently, the Reserve Bank of India warned that the increasing current account deficit has "become a major constraint on easing monetary policy". Considering this, the government should stick to expenditure-reducing policies and try to rope in more investment. Yours etc. Mohd Arif Kishtwar

Power arrears
Dear Sir The pending power dues of the various government departments in Jammu and Kashmir is the non-seriousness of the government to recover them. The issue is being taken nonseriously is reflected by a recent written reply in the state legislative assembly, where in the official response is that "the entire cost of the power purchase and supplies is borne by the government and therefore, the matter shall be dealt with accordingly." For years, the government departments have been major defaulters as far as electricity bills are concerned but continue to remain untouched even as ordinary consumers who fail to pay their power dues would immediately be dealt with and often an entire locality is punished for the nonpayment of dues by some. It is time to take the issue seriously and call for drastic cuts in the power expenditure of the government offices and the official residences of the politicians and bureaucrats, rather than creating a culture of expecting public exchequer money meant for other projects to be diverted for paying up the dues that are an accumulation of non planning and wasteful use of power supply. Yours Etc. Shalini Parihar Janipur,Jammu

Page 6_ National.qxd

3/7/2013

2:23 PM

Page 1

STUDENT AGE THURSDAY, MARCH 7, 2013

NATIONAL

Wharton's invite cancellation wrong: Tharoor; BJP agrees

WHARTON: Modi row unfortunate, disrespectful: USIBC New Delhi: BJP leader and Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi has found support from an unexpected quarter. Congress minister Shashi Tharoor said that Wharton should have heard him out. In what is being seen as a complete contradiction of his party's view, Tharoor has said that Wharton should have gone ahead with Modi's speech if they had invited him. However, the Minister of State for HRD said that while he wasn't going against the party's view. Tharoor also feels that Wharton shouldn't have taken back the invite. Instead Wharton authorities and students should have raised tough questions to the Gujarat Chief Minister. Modi was to address the Wharton India Economic Forum as keynote speaker but the university cancelled his invite two days back. The Congress minister also said that he was invited to deliver descends the students in that why should Wharton Faculty or the Wharton Administration assume that Wharton students would have given the Chief Minister a free pass?" he said. Representing more than 350 top US companies including those in the Fortune 500, USIBC is one of the three media partners to the annual Wharton India Economic Form event on March 23, while Somers is one of the keynote speakers. USIBC is not withdrawing from the event and Somers intends to deliver his key note address to make his point. "I still plan on attending to make this point about free speech, and about how young people in India and the United States share common ground, similar values: where your last name shouldn't matter, and that freedom and liberty bring with them the responsibility to insist on better governance and for active and participatory democracy," he said.

Karnataka urban local bodies poll Thursday

BANGALORE: Karnataka will Thursday see polling for 208 urban local bodies whose outcome is being seen as a referendum on the BJP's corruption-scarred rule in the state, ahead of assembly elections due in May. Vote count in on March 11. The local bodies are spread across all 30 districts of the state. Over 8.5 million voters of the state's total electorate of more than 40 million, are eligible to vote in the polls to the seven city corporations (excluding Bangalore), 43 city municipal corporations, 65 town municipal councils and 93 town panchayats. Elections to the Bangalore civic body, the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike or Greater Bangalore City Corporation, were held in 2010 and are due in 2015. Balloting will take place from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. in 10,000 polling booths, supervised by around 46,000 officials. Over a 100,000 police personnel will be on poll duty Thursday to ensure orderly balloting. Voting will be held to elect 4,867 representatives as 85 have been elected unopposed and there were no nominations for 24 seats, according to the state election commission. More than 21,000 candidates are in the fray with the Congress fielding the highest number of candidates, 4,492, followed by Bharatiya Janata Party 3,954 and Janata Dal-Secular 3,651. Two new outfits the Karnataka Janata Party (KJP) and BSR ('Badavara Shramikara Mattu Raithara' or poor, workers and farmers') Congress - both floated by former BJP men are also in the fray. The KJP, headed by former BJP chief minister B.S. Yeddyurappa, has fielded 1,966 candidates while BSR Congress, floated by former BJP minister B. Sriramulu 1,496. The Communist Party of India (Marxist) is contesting 133 seats. The rest are independents. Though the outcome will impact the morale of all the parties in the fray, focus is mainly on the show the BJP will put up. This is the first major election the BJP is facing after coming to power in the state for the first time in May 2008. The results will be a test of popularity of Jagadish Shettar, who is BJP's third chief minister in over four years. This is the first elections after he took office in July last year. The BJP has also declared that he is the party's chief ministerial candidate in the forthcoming assembly polls. The results will also have a major bearing on Yeddyurappa's political fortunes. He has made his intentions very clear - to defeat BJP. To achieve this goal, he has asked his supporters to work for the victory of Congress candidates in places where KJP is not contesting or is not sure of winning. The Congress was the major winner in the last polls to these local bodies held five years ago, followed by JDS and BJP.

the keynote address sixseven weeks ago but declined it due to his Parliamentary commitments and suggested that Wharton approach someone else who does not have Parliamentary priorities. "Perhaps that is why they went to a Chief Minister, I don't know," Tharoor said recalling that he had addressed Wharton India Economic Forum four years back and since then was being invited for the same every year but could not go thereafter. Meanwhile, senior BJP leader Balbir Punj too backed Tharoor's comment and said

that Wharton's behaviour is indecent. "I agree with Shashi Tharoor. It is not good behaviour on the university's part to first extend an invite and then back out on that," said Punj. Questioning the decision of Wharton India Economic Forum (WIFE) to cancel its invitation to Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, US India Business Council on Wednesday termed it as a missed opportunity for the students of the prestigious business school. "Unfortunate and disrespectful. Since when is an American University against

free speech?" asked USIBC president Ron Somers. "The Wharton Forum would have given the students a chance to ask the Gujarat Chief Minister hard questions," he said. Expressing his dissatisfaction over the decision taken by organisers of the WIFE which is run and managed by the Wharton students Somers said he gives Modi credit for being willing to submit to a 'no ground rules' grilling. "The fact this was cancelled by Wharton is a missed opportunity, and con-

Gehlot under scanner over sandstone Teachers' scam: High court notice mining scam Opposition asks CM to quit to CBI on Ajay Chautala's plea
NEW DELHI: Spelling trouble for Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, the opposition leaders have accused him of giving mining contracts to his close relatives at throwaway prices. It was reports on Wednesday that Gehlot, who is in final year of his five-year term as the state's Chief Minister, even altered the mining contract norms in 2012 to benefit his relatives. The Rajasthan Chief Minister faces allegations of allotting sandstone mines near Jodhpur's 'Bada Kotecha' village, to his close relatives. allotment norms in November 2012 to benefit his relatives. According to a investigation, 37 of the original 87 applicants, including 19 Gehlot relatives, benefitted after mining norms were altered. However, Gehlot's supporters and colleagues in the state cabinet categorically dismiss such allegations. "There are the highest number of Gehlots in our community so they are saying that everybody named is our brother or a relative. This is just a political propaganda by the Opposition." Ashok Gehlot's brother Agrasen Gehlot said. NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court Wednesday issued notice to the CBI on Ajay Chautala's plea for bail, also suspending the 10-year jail sentence handed down to him for irregular appointment of teachers in 2000. Seeking a response from the Central Bureau of Investigation, Justice Mukta Gupta posted the matter for April 4. "Issue notice to the CBI and post the matter for April 4 for further hearing," Justice Gupta said. Former Haryana chief minister Om Prakash Chautala's son Ajay Chautala moved the court

Lok Sabha to debate on Sri Lankan Tamils issue

NEW DELHI: Amid sustained pressure by political parties from Tamil Nadu, Government Wednesday agreed to have a discussion on the Sri Lankan Tamils issue in Lok Sabha on Thursday. "The issue is planned to be discussed tomorrow. It will be discussed tomorrow," Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamal Nath told the House. The assurance came when AIADMK leader M Thambidurai raised the matter during Zero Hour. Tamil parties are up in arms after fresh allegations about human rights violations against ethnic Tamils by Sri Lankan forces, in the wake of charges that 12-year-old son of slain LTTE Chief V Prabhakaran was shot dead in cold blood. The Tamil parties are pressing the government to take a tough stand against Sri Lanka on a UN Resolution in the coming days. In an attempt to mount pressure on the government, MPs of DMK, a major partner of the ruling UPA, yesterday wore black shirt while attending House proceedings. They also held a protest inside the Parliament House complex on the issue.

Reports further allege that 19 out of the total 37 mines allotted there, went to Gehlot's relatives, including Manjula Gehlot, wife of the CM's brother Agrasen, Shalini

Gehlot, his brother's daughterin-law and Veena Kachhawa, wife of his nephew Jaswant Singh. The Rajasthan congress leader also faces accusations of altering the mining

seeking bail and suspension of the 10-year jail term awarded to him. The trial court had sentenced Chautala, his son Ajay Chautala and eight others to 10 years in jail while one convict was sentenced to

five years and 45 others were handed out four-year jail terms. Chautala and the other accused were found guilty of illegally recruiting 3,206 junior basic trained teachers in Haryana in 2000.

Manik Sarkar becomes Tripura CM for fourth time

AGARTALA: Manik Sarkar assumed office as Tripura chief minister for a record fourth successive term at the head of India's only Communist government, the defender of the red bastion in a strategically located state that was not too long ago in the grip of ethnic unrest and secessionist militancy. He is probably India's only chief minister who does not own a home, car or bank balance worth mentioning. He does not even have a mobile phone and has never Jyoti Basu (June 1977-Nov 2000), Sarkar, 64, led a coalition of the CPI-M and the CPI to a huge electoral win in Tripura, the only state the Communists remain in power after their electoral defeats in their long-held bastions of West Bengal and Kerala in the last national election. Tripura Governor D.Y. Patil administered the oath of office to the 64-yearold Left leader and his council of ministers at a function at the Raj Bhavan here Wednesday afternoon.

Need to teach our sons to respect women: Minister

NEW DELHI: Taking note of the large number of crimes against women in recent days, Minister of State for Home Affairs R.P.N. Singh Wednesday said there was need to educate children to respect women. "Humans have become beastly. There are rapes in schools, families. According to reports, 90 percent rapes are done by people who are known to the victim," R.P.N. Singh said, while replying to supplementaries during question hour in the Rajya Sabha. "We need to teach our children, our sons to respect women," the minister said. The minister also said that government, at different levels, was providing women self-defence training. "In 2012, 9,790 women have been given

used the red beacon on his official car and washes his own clothes every morning.

India's second longest serving communist chief minister after West Bengal's

self defence training in Delhi. Delhi Police has also organised training programme for women cab drivers," the minister said. He said that all states have been asked to recruit at least 33 percent women in the police forces. "Delhi Police will also be recruiting 522 women," he said.

Govt will take strong steps to nab the culprits: Akhilesh Yadav
KUNDA: As opposition leaders demanded that former minister and independent legislator Raghuraj Pratap Singh alias Raja Bhaiyya be arrested on suspicion of conspiring to kill deputy superintendent of police (DSP) Ziaul-Haq, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav Wednesday remained noncommittal. Congress and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) legislators staged a walkout in the state assembly, demanding the arrest of Raja Bhaiyya. "The Samajwadi Party (SP) government in the state is protecting Raja Bhaiya, otherwise he would have been arrested by now," Mayawati told reporters. Independent legislator from Kunda Raghuraj Pratap Singh alias Raja Bhaiya on Monday quit as the state food and civil supplies minister after he was charged with conspiring for the murder of Deputy Superintendent of Police Zia-ul Haq. The chief minister said the matter was and said the state government would leave no stone unturned to hunt down the culprits. "There is no question that law and order was a priority for the state government and everything would be done to ensure that the law of the land prevailed," Akhilesh Yadav said. He assured strong steps by the state government to nab the culprits. He also gave exgratia cheques of Rs.20 lakh each to the families of the deceased village pradhan, Nanhe Yadav, and his brother, Suresh Yadav. Both the men had been killed in Bilapur village of Kunda in Pratagarh. Urban Development and Parliamentary Affairs minister Mohd Azam Khan, who was with the chief minister, said that he considered everyone guilty but added that he was not the court. "The case is with the CBI now and I am sure the guilty would be brought to justice" he said. Refusing to comment on the statement of Syed Imam Bukhari of the Jama Maszid that the minorities were not safe in Uttar Pradesh, Khan said he was "too small" to comment on the matter. The state government meanwhile extended security to the families of the slain pradhan. The state home department has also begun the process of examining the resume of Parveen, Haq's widow, for offering her a suitable government job. Haq's brother's resume is also being examined. This came even as the Addional DGP of UP, Arun Kumar, ruled out the arrest of former minister Raja Bhaiya. Four days after the murder, the police have failed to record the statement of key eyewitnesses. A constable, who was accompanying the Deputy SP, has not been questioned so far. The ADG added that the post-mortem report had revealed that the DSP was shot once and that the bullet had passed through his chest and was untraceable. He added that the murder weapon too was yet to be recovered.

NCP minister for decentralisation of transfer power

NASHIK: Maharashtra Rural Development minister and NCP leader Jayant Patil has said that he favours the decentralisation of transfer powers vested with the ministers. "Almost 70 per cent of those visiting the state secretariat (Mantralaya) are there to seek transfers of officers," Patil said here. Therefore, there is a need to remove transfer rights of the ministers and decentralisation of transfer powers, he said yesterday. He added that, if this happens, ministers will be able to focus on policy work and solve problems of the people. Patil was honoured with the late Madhavrao Limaye memorial 'efficient MLA' award at a function here yesterday. The award carried Rs 50,000 and a memento. Criticising Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) president Raj Thackeray, Patil said NCP is strong and active in Maharashtra, as a result of which Raj often criticises NCP ministers. "Raj knows that if he does not talk about NCP ministers, TV channels will not show his public speech," Patil alleged.

now referred to the Central Bureau of Investigation and one should wait for the law to take its course. The chief minister had also visited the families of slain village pradhan (headman) Nanhe Yadav and his brother Suresh in Bilapur village of Pratapgarh. Condemning the killing of the Yadav duo, which resulted in the arson and mob violence that claimed the senior official last weekend, the chief minister said the incident was tragic

Page 7_International & Economy - Copy.qxd

3/7/2013

2:24 PM

Page 1

STUDENT AGE THURSDAY, MARCH 7, 2013

INTERNATIONAL & ECONOMY

7 Japan, US agree on free trade auto exception

TOKYO: Tokyo and Washington have agreed on exemptions for the auto industry in a mooted Pacific-wide free trade pact, as Japan readies to announce its entry into negotiations, officials said on Wednesday. US President Barack Obama has cast the TPP as a vital plank in his socalled "pivot" to Asia, saying the emerging pact could boost growth and set rules to govern trade in the dynamic but unwieldy region, which includes much of East Asia, as well as some American countries. The participation of both Japan and the US, the world's two largest developed economies, would mean the pact covers nearly 40 per cent of the world's economy. But the US auto sector is opposed to Japan's entry, claiming Tokyo maintains non-tariff barriers on autos, and says a deal would give Japanese automakers unfettered access to their market, without allowing them the same chances. Japan's agriculture lobby is also firmly opposed; fearing unprecedented foreign competition would devastate Japan's small-scale farming sector and rural communities. Tokyo and Washington agreed in preparatory talks that there would be at least a five- to 10-year delay in the removal of import tariffs on autos - the moratorium agreed in a recently-enacted USSouth Korea free trade agreement officials said. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is expected to announce Japan's entry into negotiations on the TPP as soon as March 13, at the end of a summit in Washington last month, Japan and the US issued a joint statement on the TPP recognizing "bilateral trade sensitivities, such as certain agricultural products for Japan and certain manufactured products for the US". The US has been keen not to be seen giving ground ahead of any formal talks, while Abe, who faces crucial Upper House elections in July, needs to be able to show he has extracted concessions if he is to convince or obviate the powerful farming lobby. The Washington statement was praised for treading a fine line, allowing both sides room to be able to spin it as a lowkey victory.

Taliban kill 17 captured Afghan soldiers

KABUL: Taliban militants have killed 17 captured Afghan soldiers in the far northeast in one of the deadliest single attacks on local forces in recent years, officials said on Wednesday. The men were taken hostage in Badakhshan on Saturday while guarding a convoy. Their bodies were discovered by local people in the relatively peaceful mountainous province, which borders Tajikistan, China and Pakistan. "The enemy have executed 17 soldiers whose bodies were found last night," provincial deputy police chief Sayed Jahangir Keramat said. "Seven other soldiers were released in exchange for some Taliban prisoners." The attack came as local forces take over responsibility for tackling the Taliban from the NATO-led military coalition. "Last night locals found 17 bullet-riddled bodies of Afghan soldiers in Warduj district," Abdul Marouf Rasekh, spokesman for the provincial governor, told AFP, confirming several others had been released after talks led by tribal elders. The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack but said the deaths had occurred during fighting rather than after the soldiers had been captured. "The soldiers were all killed in the battlefield," Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid said ".A huge amount of munitions and two vehicles were also seized," he added.

Syria military pounds Homs for fourth day

BEIRUT: Syrian warplanes and helicopters struck rebel enclaves in Homs on Wednesday, on the fourth day of a major offensive aimed at crushing the insurgency in the country's third-largest city, a watchdog said. "The army used helicopters to strafe the Old City district of Homs... and warplanes and rocket fire to strike the district of Khaldiyeh," the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. Although the government of President Bashar al-Assad now controls some 80 percent of Homs, several districts remain under rebel control despite a suffocating eightmonth siege by the army. Several hundred civilians are trapped in rebel-held districts of the city, which activists dub "the capital of the revolution". "We don't know how they can get out, or where they would even go, should the army seize control of the rebel districts -- Homs is surroundrule erupted in March 2011, the Observatory said.

Obama refuses to rule out drone strikes on US soil

WASHINGTON: American forces could launch a deadly drone strike against a target on US soil if there was an "extraordinary circumstance," Attorney General Eric Holder said in a letter. The nation's top Justice Department official, in a letter to Republican Senator Rand Paul, who released it, stressed that US military and intelligence agencies currently have "no intention" of carrying out such an attack. Paul branded Holder's refusal to comprehensively rule out such a drone strike "more than frightening." Three Americans are known to have been killed in US drone strikes, including Al-Qaeda propagandist Anwar al-Awlaki. They were targeted in Yemen, not on US soil, but questions have been raised about the legitimacy of the tactic. Paul had sought information on the president's authority to authorize lethal drone strikes as part of the

ed," Observatory director Rami Abdel Rahman said. Activists said there had also been fierce early morning ground clashes between troops and rebels defending positions on the outskirts of the neighbourhoods still under their control. In the northeast, fighter jets struck the city of Raqa, two days after rebels overran most of the strategic provincial capital in their biggest victory since the revolt against Assad's

Holed up in Raqa's military intelligence headquarters, their last bastion inside the city, troops fought rebels trying to seize the complex, the Britain-based watchdog added. The new fighting came after at least 159 people were killed in violence nationwide on Tuesday, according to the Observatory's figures. The United Nations says in all at least 70,000 people have been killed since the start of the uprising.

Mohamed Nasheed's trial deferred by four weeks

MALDIV: After spending 24 hours in detention, former Maldivian President Mohamed Nasheed on Wednesday walked out of police custody as his trial for alleged illegal detention of a judge has been deferred by four weeks. During the hearing, which lasted for over a one-and-ahalf hours, 45-year-old Nasheed sought deferment of trial till the Presidential polls in September. The Prosecutor too had agreed to the proposal. However, noting that the Elections Commission is yet to announce Nasheed as a presidential candidate for the elections, the Bench postponed the trial by four weeks. "Nasheed has walked out he was holed up for 11 days to evade arrest in a case concerning the detention of the Chief Criminal Judge during his Presidency. His arrest led to protests by Nasheed's supporters who also indulged in violence. President Waheed's brother too was allegedly roughed up by protesters. Police too cracked down on protesters and took into custody over 70 people including women. Nasheed claims the trial is "politically motivated" to bar him from contesting in the presidential elections. If convicted in the case, he will face a maximum sentence of one year in jail. He will also be barred from contesting elections for three years.

confirmation process for John Brennan, President Barack Obama's picking to head the CIA. The approval followed a White House decision to turn over to Congress several secret Justice Department memos that may have been used to justify the president's ability to authorize the targeted killing of Americans. Paul, who has long questioned the legality of the government's use of lethal force -- including strikes by unmanned drones -- against

US citizens, expressed alarm at Holder's response. "The US attorney general's refusal to rule out the possibility of drone strikes on American citizens and on American soil is more than frightening," he declared. "It is an affront (to) the Constitutional due process rights of all Americans," he said. Paul had also sought Brennan's views on drone strikes and the nominee wrote back that the CIA has no authority to launch such attacks on US soil.

Ahmadinejad says, Chavez fallen 'martyr' to a 'suspect illness'

TEHRAN: Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad paid tribute to late Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez on Wednesday saying he had fallen "martyr" to a "suspect illness". Ahmadinejad hailed his close ally for "serving the people of Venezuela and defending human and revolutionary values." "He finally died from a suspect illness and he gave his life to the elevation of his country and the freedom of his people," Ahmadinejad said in a message of condolences to Vice President Nicolas Maduro. The Iranian president was backing claims made by Maduro shortly before Chavez's death was announced that Venezuela's enemies had somehow afflicted the firebrand leftist with the cancer that eventually killed him.

as a free man. He was taken into custody on orders of the court because he was evading Court summons and not because of any vendetta as he claims," President Mohamed Waheed's said. Nasheed was arrested on Tuesday less than a fortnight after he left the Indian High Commission in Male where

ECONOMY

Air Asia gets FIPB nod for India entry with Tata Sons
NEW DELHI: Malaysian budget carrier Air Asia's bid to launch an airline in India by joining hands with Tata Sons was on Wednesday cleared by the Finance Ministry, the first such investment by a foreign operator. Soon after the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) gave its nod to the proposal at a meeting here, the Civil Aviation Ministry sought further clarity on the FDI policy in aviation, particularly on whether a foreign airline could invest in a new venture. Air Asia has announced it would set up a 49:30:21 joint venture with the Tata Sons and Telestra Trade place of Indian investor Arun Bhatia to launch a new Indian airline. The official said the FIPB clearance was granted in accordance with the policy which allows up to 49 percent FDI by a foreign carrier in an Indian airline company. With the FIPB clearance, the Air Asia joint venture would now have to approach aviation regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) for further clearances and a scheduled air operator's permit which allows an airline to undertake flying operations. When the Air Asia joint venture applies to the Civil Aviation Ministry, the DGCA and other agencies would look into a variety of issues including the issuance of a No Objection Certificate (NOC) for launching of air operations and Scheduled Operator's Permit (SOP). The Air Asia joint venture would be the first entry of a foreign carrier in the domestic aviation sector after the liberalization of FDI policy in September last year. Air Asia is looking to start flying from this yearend with 3-4 planes and would be headquartered in Chennai. It would focus on providing domestic connectivity to Tier-II and Tier-III cities. Tata Sons, the holding company of the USD 100 billion salt-to-software conglomerate, would hold 30 percent in the joint venture but will not have any operating role in the airline, while the Bhatias would hold 21 percent stake. This will mark the return of Tatas to aviation sector. State-owned Air India had grown out of Tata Airlines, which began flights in 1932.

Consumers to spend $22 bn to check malwares in 2013

NEW DELHI: Consumers will spend USD 22 billion on checking malware attacks this year, while companies will invest a whopping USD 114 billion in dealing with such malicious softwares, a study has said. According to the study conducted by market research group IDC and commissioned by Microsoft Corporation, the chances of infection by unexpected malware are one in three for consumers and three in 10 for businesses. Malwares or malicious softwares are intended to damage or disable computers and computer systems. "Consumers will spend 1.5 billion hours and USD 22 billion identifying, repairing and recovering from the impact of malware, while global enterprises will spend USD 114 billion to deal with the impact of a malware induced cyber attack," Microsoft India said The survey, which was done in 10 countries, covered 1,104 consumer respondents, 973 business user respondents and 268 CIO/IT manager respondents. The survey respondents said 32 percent of their PCs come without operating systems and 12 percent did not install security updates. 30 percent of consumer respondents did not install security updates and nearly 70 percent of consumers who use pirated software had problems with it.

Sensex Climbs 109 points at 1 week high

MUMBAI: Indian markets ended the session on Wednesday with a gain of about 0.5 per cent on continued buying by funds and retail investors on firm global cues. The BSE Sensex was up 109.44 points (0.57 per cent) at 19,252.61 and the NSE Nifty was up 34.35 points (0.59 per cent) at 5,818.60. Except FMCG and consumer durables, all other BSE sectoral indices ended in the green. Realty sector gained the most with the sectoral index being up by 4.52 per cent on hopes of a rate cut announcement by the RBI in its upcoming monetary policy. Capital Goods index was up 2.47 per cent, metal 2.2 per cent and IT 1.32 per cent. On the other hand, FMCG index was down 1.05 per cent and consumer durables 0.44 per cent. Asian shares were up tracking overnight gains in global equities, with the Dow Jones industrial average ending at an all-time high and the pan-European FTSEurofirst 300 index closing at its highest in 4-1/2 years. The improved US services sector growth in February boosted the investor sentiment while China's announcement of record government spending in 2013 buoyed the hopes of economic growth and demand for goods.In the Asian trade, Japan's Nikkei 225 was up 248.82 points or 2.13 per cent at 11,932.27, while Hong Kong's Hang Seng was up 204.44 points or 0.91 per cent at 22,764.94. European stocks advanced, after the region's benchmark gauge rallied to the highest level in 4 1/2 years on Tuesday.

4,000 MW Mundra UMPP fully operational: Tata Power

NEW DELHI: Tata Power on Wednesday said its 4,000 MW Mundra ultra mega power project is fully operational with the synchronization of the fifth 800 MW units. With the synchronization of the fifth unit at Mundra plant, country's first UMPP, the utility's overall generation capacity has increased to nearly 8,500 MW, according to an official statement. Tata Power, in a statement said that now its thermal power generation capacity stands at 7,647 MW while generation through clean sources such as hydro, wind and solar stands at 852 MW. Synchronization is the final step before commissioning of a power generation unit. "The synchronization of the last unit is a significant achievement in a sector,

ICICI to sell 25 kg pledged gold to recover loans

NEW DELHI: The country's largest private sector lender ICICI Bank will auction, this month, gold jewellery weighing nearly 25 kg, which has been pledged with it for loans and the concerned borrowers have defaulted on their payments. The auction would be conducted across various branches of ICICI Bank across Uttar Pradesh on March 16 for gold jewellery deposited by about 100 customers as collateral for their loans, ICICI Bank said in various public notices today. While neither the exact value of the gold ornaments being auctioned nor the outstanding loans could be ascertained, an equivalent amount of gold would be worth over Rs 7 crore at the current price. It is a usual practice to take gold loans by pledging jewellery with banks, but realized from this auction, the same will be refunded to the concerned borrower and if there is any deficit post the auction, the balance amount shall be recovered from the borrower through appropriate legal proceedings." The private sector lender said auction would take place at ICICI Bank branches in areas including Varanasi, Lucknow, Meerut, Kanpur, Gorakhpur and Delpanderva. Interested parties are required to submit refundable security deposits of Rs 20,000 at ICICI Bank for participating in the auction process. In case the winning bidder refuses to accept the jewellery after the auction, then the security money would be forfeited.

Share of exports in India's overall GDP rises to 17.7% in FY12

NEW DELHI: The share of merchandise exports in the country's GDP has increased from 13.9 percent in 2009-10 to 17.7 percent in 2011-12, Parliament was informed on Wednesday. In a written reply to the Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for Commerce and Industry D Purandeswari said that exports have always played an important role in the economic development of most countries. "This is evident even in Indian case from the continuous upward movement of percentage share of merchandise exports in the overall GDP of India from 13.9 percent in 2009-10 to 16 percent in 2010-11 and 17.7 percent in 2011-12," she said. She also said that as per the WTO trade statistics, India's share in the total global exports has also been increasing since 2007. In 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011, the country's share in the total global exports stood at 1.07 percent, 1.21 percent, 1.31 percent, 1.48 percent and 1.67 percent respectively. "The long term vision of the government is to make India a major player in world trade and assume a role of leadership in international trade organizations commensurate with India's growing importance," the Minister said. During April-January period, overseas shipments declined by 4.86 per cent to USD 239.6 billion.

which is ridden with numerous challenges...," Tata Power Managing Director Anil Sardana said. "We eagerly await a viable solution by the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) and look forward to an early resolution of this issue," he added. Against the backdrop of increase in prices of imported coal, Tata Power has approached CERC seeking

higher tariffs for the electricity generated from the Mundra plant. The plant is being implemented by Coastal Gujarat Project Ltd (CGPL), a special purpose vehicle of Tata Power. The company has inked power purchase agreements for the project with seven procurers from five states - Gujarat, Haryana, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Punjab.

such ornaments can be auctioned by banks after giving sufficient notice to the borrower in case of payment defaults. "Since the borrowers have failed to repay their dues under the facility, we are constrained to conduct an auction of the pledged gold ornaments on March 16, 2013," the bank said in a public notice. It further said: "In the event any surplus amount is

page 8_Misc+1.qxd 3/7/2013 2:27 PM Page 1

STUDENT AGE THURSDAY, MARCH 7, 2013

MISC
JAMMU: The State Sports Council has made its technical staff, especially the coaches accountable with regard to achievements by the sportspersons at various level of competition. In a circular issued through managers of different stadias at the district level, the Secretary State Sports Council has asked the coaches to impart result oriented coaching to the trainees in respective games.

8
These coaches have also been asked to maintain their dairies with regard to performance on daily basis for further submission with the Sports Officer on monthly basis. The idea behind such a move was to assess the performance of coaches at various training centers and also to take a feedback regarding difficulties being faced by the technical staff at the ground level," a senior officer said.

India's AFC Challenge Cup dream hangs in balance Council makes coaches accountable
YANGON: India's qualifying hopes for the AFC Challenge Cup 2014 finals suffered a huge set-back on Wednesday as they went down 0-1 to hosts Myanmar in their last qualifying match in Group A at the Yangon Youth Training Centre. A 75th-minute strike by substitute Soe Min Oo shocked India as Myanmar booked a ticket for the final round to be held in the Maldives. Myanmar will be joined by other four group toppers and two best runnersup alongside hosts Maldives in the 2014 tournament proper. Myanmar finished on top with seven points and India second with six. However, all is not lost for India, who was champions in 2008. They will have to wait for other groups to be completed to know their fate. All the group matches will be finished by March 26. Playing in front of a hostile crowd, India needed just a draw but they played badly and paid heavily for missing minute. Lin was initiating a counter attack and had with a deft turn, got past Gurjinder. Post-resumption, Myanmar were off the blocks faster. The first positive chance came in the 51st minute but Subrata Paul, till then not tested in the match, kept at bay a Kyi Lin low shot. The nippy Lin interchanged all throughout and in the very next minute almost laid the platform for Myanmar to take the lead but Kaw Zayar Win failed to tap in Lin's through from close. They were tense moments in the Indian camp and, obviously, the decibel levels rose. The Indians tried to regroup. Intercepting a counter-attack, Chhetri laid it for Jewel in the box but the latter instead tried to find Chhetri instead of pulling the trigger. In between, Denzil Franco was yellow-carded for pushing David Htan on the far right and then, Gouramangi Singh was yellow carded for tripping substitute Soe Min Oo just outside the box. But Myanmar failed to capitalize. Instead, Jewel almost put India in the lead. He latched on to the second ball off a Raju throw but his prompt right-footer hit the post and bounced back. Myanmar finally broke the deadlock in the 75th minute when Soe found the back of the net after coming as a substitute in the 50th minute for midfielder Pai Soe. In the 80th minute, Arata followed a Raju throw-in and tapped in from close but only for defender Zaw Min to make a goalline save. Myanmar managed to hold on till the end. Myanmar suffered a shock 1-1 draw against Chinese Taipei in the second match after beginning promisingly with 5-0 win over Guam. Having won their two matches in the trot, India could have sealed an automatic berth for the finals even with a draw but Soe's strike left them wait for other groups to finish.

Sher-e-Punjab makes it a big win against Vijay Club

JAMMU: The visiting side of Sher-e-Punjab stunned one the top state teams, Vijay Club, beating latter by seven goals to nil thereby qualified for the quarterfinals stages of the 3rd Rajiv Gandhi Gold Cup Football Tournament underway at GGM Science College ground. Rakesh Kumar emerged as the star striker with four goals to his credit, including hat trick struck in the second half of the play. Rakesh's goals came in 9th, 47th, 54th and 57th minutes. Dilvar Singh (7th and 25th) and Varinder Singh (59th) were other goal scorers. Leading by three goals in the first half of the play, the well-equipped side of Sher-ePunjab virtually pushed Vijay Club to the goal area sparing little chance of initiating move. Except for one single sure goal chance missed by Vijay Club in 40th minute, when ball hit the goal post, there was hardly any calculated move from Vijay Club in the second half of the play. On the other hand, the flawless game played by the young visiting side of Sher-ePunjab received applause from the crowd, who admired latter's strength and technique. Now, Sher-e-Punjab shall take on Jammu and Kashmir Police in the quarterfinals at 1 pm on Thursday. J&K Police XI got direct entry into the quarterfinals because of their last year's standing.

the chances that came their way. The first one came in the 16th minute when Clifford Miranda's powerful blaster from inside the box thundered against the boards instead of the next. The next one came in the 43rd minute - Clifford, well placed inside the box to take a cracker, tried to find Sunil Chhetri allowing the Myanmar defense to recover.

In the very next minute, Mehtab Hossain's through set up Jewel Raja Shaikh on the right. Jewel entered the box with Sunil preferring to do the dummy. Much to the relief of the crowd, Jewel preferred to find Sunil rather than going himself and both the teams went into the resumption goalless. These apart, there were series of corners earned in the first half along with a number

of throw-ins around the Myanmar box, all of which were floated in by Raju Gaikwad. The closest India came was in the 35th minute when his throw venomously dipped and beat all even as Sunil Chhetri tried to flick it in. Myanmar were quick in their counter-attacks. Gurjinder Kumar was yellow carded for tripping Kyi Lin from behind in the 17th

Smriti fights back to lead in Hero Women's golf

MUMBAI: Veteran golfer Smriti Mehra made a remarkable comeback to lead the field at the close of the second day's play in the Hero Women's pro golf tour on Wednesday. Smriti, who had been struggling with her form lately, brought in all her experience to play a superb round of two under 63 to take a single stroke advantage over overnight leader Sharmila Nicollet. Smriti played a flawless front nine with a birdie on the sixth and carded three more on the 11th, 15th and 17th to finish the day with a total score of 130. Her two bogeys on the 10th and 13th were the only blemish on an otherwise perfect outing for the senior pro. Sharmila had a disappointing day with second round score of three over 68 and a total score of 131. Her five bogeys on the first, fourth, sixth, 16th and 18th and just two birdies on ninth and 15th, forced her to concede her lead and trail by a shot.

Aircel extends contract with Chennai Open

CHENNAI: The ATP Chennai Open on Wednesday received a fresh lease of life when mobile service provider Aircel extended its association with the tournament as its title sponsor until 2016. Anupam Vasudev, Chief Marketing Officer, Aircel, said: "Our four-year association with the tournament has been very rewarding and has allowed us to engage directly with our key target segment. "We are very happy to be extending this association till 2016 and are confident that not only will it harness the young tennis talent of India, but the property will grow further to become a global platform strengthening Chennai's position on the international tennis map." MA Alagappan, president, Tamil Nadu Tennis Association, said: "The Chennai Open is proud to announce the extension of its partnership with Aircel for three seasons starting 2014." Fernando Soler, Head of Tennis, IMG Worldwide, said: "We are pleased with the extension of Aircel's contract with the tournament. With this, the road is now set for Chennai to witness three more seasons of exciting tennis action.

India to host two important FIH events

LAUSANNE: The International Hockey Federation (FIH) awarded India the hosting rights of the men's Junior World Cup and the World League Finals. The Junior World Cup will be held Dec 6-15 and it will be followed by the World League Finals Jan 10-18. The Hero Hockey Junior World Cup is held once every four years and will feature the top 16 men's junior teams battling for the supreme title. Meanwhile, the Hero Hockey World League Finals is the culmination of a twoyear odyssey for the Hockey World League that has seen more than 60 men's national teams play through four rounds of competition for the ultimate prize of becoming the inaugural Hockey World League Champion. "I can think of no better venue for our inaugural Hockey World League final tournament than India," said FIH President Leandro Negre. "With this event we are bringing the future of hockey to a country that has one of the richest traditions in our sport. It is sure to be an action packed tournament." Negre continued: "The Junior World Cup is one of the gems in our event calendar. We get the see the future of hockey on display. When looking through past athletes that have competed in the Junior World Cup, it reads as a who's who in international hockey." The full line-up of teams for both events will be known once all of the qualification tournaments are completed. For the Hero Hockey World League Finals, the teams will be known following the Hockey World League Semi-Final tournaments in the Netherlands and Malaysia this June. For the Hero Hockey Junior World Cup, the last of the 16 teams was named when Australia won the Junior Oceania Cup. Confirmed in the field are: Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Canada, England, Spain, Egypt, France, Germany, India, Korea, Malaysia, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Pakistan and South Africa.

Vijay dominates Asian rankings, number 2 in world

NEW DELHI: London Olympic silver medalist Vijay Kumar continued his stranglehold over the number one spot in the Asian shooting rankings for 25-metre rapid-fire pistol while retaining the number two position in the world list. Vijay has logged 2321 points to maintain his lead over secondplaced Feng Ding (2015) of China in his pet event. In the world rankings, the 27-yearold shooter from Hamirpur district in Himachal Pradesh has collected 2197 points that places him in the second spot, behind Cuba's Pupo Leuris, who has 2806 points. The Cuban had won the gold medal in the London Games. In the world rankings, London Games bronze medalist Gagan Narang moved to fourth place with 1407 rating

Kolkata golfer Neha Tripathi played a steady round of one under 64, with birdies on third, fourth and seventh, to finish third with a total score of 134. Pallavi Jain, who was placed second after the first round had bad day and carded 10 over 75 in the second round to be placed fourth with an overall score of 140. Saaniya Sharma and Vani Kapoor are tied fifth with identical scores of 141 after the second round.

LIC OPEN NEW OFFICE

GOOD NEWS vc vki viuh LIC dh fd'r vius utnhd dj.k ekdsZV esa lqCkg 10 cts ls 'kke ds 6 cts rd tek djok ldrs gSA blds vykok vxj vkidks ikWfylh ij yksu pkfg,] ikWfylh dh ekWpksfjVh gS] ikWfylh Revive djkuh gS] Address Change djuk gS] Nominee Change djuk gS] ubZ ikWfylh [kjhnuh gS ;k fQj LIC dk Advisor cuuk gS rks ;g lkjh lqfo/kk, vkidks ;gk ij miyC/k gksxhA
Shop No. D-238, First Floor, Karan Market, Jammu Ph:- +91-9419797242, +91-9018192949

points in the 10-metre air rifle category, followed by Beijing Olympic gold medallist Abhinav Bindra in 17th spot. Double trap shooter Ronjan Sodhin continued to stay in the seventh position with 904 points. The secondbest Indian in the Asian list is Gurpreet Singh at 11th position, with 101 points, while Pemba Tamang, at the 23rd spot, is the next best in the world list with 47 points, according to the rankings issued by the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF). Vijay is aiming to grab the top spot in the world rankings, and hopes to do so with good results in this year World Cups. The 25-metre rapid fire pistol shooter has been hovering in the top 10 for the past couple of years, since attaining the number two rank for the first time in 2009.

CHIEF-EDITOR, PUBLISHER, OWNER: Rohit Singh Rana, C.E.O.:Pawan Rathore, DY. CHIEF EDITOR : Vikram Singh Shan, Administrative Head Jammu: Vikram Singh Bhandari, Bureau Chief Kashmir: Allayee Faizan, LEGAL ADVISOR: Advocate Ashok Parihar PRINTED AT JK PRINTING & PUBLICATIONS, SUJWAN, JAMMU TAWI. For Contributing articles mail us at [email protected], [email protected]. For Complaints, Querries or Advertisement Contact us: 0191-2580342.. Address: Sector-12, H.No-12 Nanak Nagar, Jammu (All disputes are subjected to the exclusive jursisdiction of Jammu District courts only.)