STUdent aGE
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 3, 2013
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IN BRIEF
Congress snubs Digvijay: Projects Sonia Manmohan model ideal for future Delimitation: opposition parties stage walkout
KATHUA (J&K): Two women were buried alive under a landslide in Kathua district of Jammu and Kashmir on Monday. 56-year-old Vaishno Devi and Shanti Devi, 36, were digging mud near a mountain when they were buried under a landslide in Guda phalal area of Kathua, officials said. Their bodies were later recovered Contd. on page 2
JAMMU: Opposition parties from Jammu staged a walkout from the Assembly here on Monday over the delimitation of Jammu and Kashmir assembly constituencies. The Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party (JKNPP), the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Jammu State Morcha (JSM) had demanded a discussion on the delimitation of the state assembly constituencies. However, assembly Speaker Mubarak Gul ruled that the issue could be taken up during the zero hour. This led to a walkout by members of the three parties. JKNPP president Balwant Singh Mankotia said outside the assembly:
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"Discrimination against Jammu region is increasing by the day and it (Jammu region) is not getting its due in employment, development and
funds." JSM leader Ashwini Sharma said: "Jammu region has an area of about 27,000 sq km while the Kashmir
Valley has about 16,000 sq km. Kashmir has 46 seats and Jammu has just 37 seats in the assembly. The remaining four are in Ladakh, which has an area of 89,000 sq km." In November 2010, the Supreme Court had upheld the freeze imposed by the Jammu and Kashmir government on delimitation of assembly constituencies in the state till 2026. Constitutionally, delimitation cannot be taken up in the state without an amendment in the Jammu and Kashmir constitution and the Peoples Representation Act. In April 2002, the then National Conference (NC) government had brought a bill to halt the delimitation process till 2026. The last delimitation Contd. on page 2
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Burmese migrants
NEW DELHI: Congress on Tuesday rejected its General Secretary Digvijaya Singh's remarks that the model of two power centres has not worked well, asserting that a unique relationship exists between party chief Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. "The relationship which exists between the Congress president and the Prime Minister today is unique and something which has never been seen before and perhaps this should be the ideal model for future also," Congress general secretary Janardan Dwivedi told reporters here.
Digvijaya Singh had recently dubbed the experiment of "two power centres" in UPA as a failure and suggested that Rahul Gandhi should not opt to nominate a Prime Minister if the party gets a majority in the next Lok Sabha polls. "Personally, I feel this model hasn't worked very well. Because, I personally feel there should not be two power centres and I think whoever is the PM must have the authority to function," he had said. To a question on Rahul Gandhi, Dwivedi said the Congress vice-president has Contd. on page 2
Brotherly affection: Mukesh signs Rs 1,200 crore deal with Anil's Reliance Communications
NEW DELHI: What could be termed as a new thaw in the relations between two corporate behemoths of the country billionaire Ambani brothers on Tuesday struck a Rs 1,200 crore deal wherein Mukesh will use his younger sibling's optic fibre network for launch of his telecom venture. Under the pact, Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance
Causal labour scam Lawyers beat woman admitted to I am not going to abdicate": VC Kashmir University hospital, police registers case
SRINAGAR: The lawyers of the district court in south Kashmir Tuesday allegedly beat a woman to pulp who was later on shifted to hospital. Police said that all the involved lawyers are absconding while the Bar Association Anantnag claimed that they too have lodged a complaint before the Chief Judicial Magistrate. According to reports petitioner Khalida Bano through her counsel had filed a complaint against her husband Mudasir Ahmed Khandey before the court of CJM, Mohammad Contd. on page 2 SRINAGAR: At a time when the issue of 600 casual labors is haunting Kashmir University and the government has altogether refused to allot a fixed budget to pay them salaries, Vice Chancellor, Professor Talat on Tuesday termed the rumors baseless that he is going to leave the University before the expiry of his tenure. "I am not going to leave the University. If I have to say something, I will say it on face. I have informed the government about the issue of casual Contd. on page 2
Italian envoy now free New work policy to affect thousands of Indians in Saudi Arabia to leave India: SC
NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Tuesday vacated its order restraining Italy's ambassador Daniele Mancini from leaving India as the two Italian marines, accused of killing two fishermen, returned here to face the proceedings as per commitment given by him to the court. A bench headed by Chief Justice Altamas Kabir vacated its March 14 order by which it had restrained the ambassador from leaving the country after the Italian government had refused to send back the marines. The court also directed the Centre to take immediate steps for setting up a special court to hold proceedings Contd. on page 2 NEW DELHI: Thousands of Indians, especially Malayalis employed in Saudi Arabia, may be impacted by a new work policy of the kingdom that seeks to reserve a certain percentage of jobs for locals. According to the new Nitaqat policy - or Saudisation programme - of the kingdom, 10 percent of jobs are to be reserved for locals. The policy is aimed at expanding employment opportunities for Saudi nationals. There are over two million Indians working in Saudi Arabia, including 576,000 from Kerala alone. External affairs minister Salman Khurshid said on Monday Contd. on page 2
RANASAHIB
CONTD
Amin Mir. When the proceedings were over the prosecutor allegedly had a heated argument with Khalda Bano. The prosecutor was supported by two more lawyers including a lady advocate Shabnam Akhter. Eyewitness told that all the three lawyers beat the women to pulp. Khalida Banoo was immediately shifted to hospital. A case was registered against the three accused lawyers in police station Anantnag. Station House Officer Anantnag, Ashfaq Aalam told CNS that they have filed a case against the three accused lawyers including Shabnam Akhter and Advocate Farooq Ahmed under section 324,354,341 vide FIR number 83/2013. "We registered the case after receiving the complaint. The lady was profusely bleeding and she had been hospitalized" Ashaf Alam said adding that all the accused are absconding. Meanwhile Bar Association Anantnag has vehemently refuted these charges. President Bar Association, Reyaz Ahmed told CNS that the woman beat our lady lawyer and they have filed a complaint before the court of CJM Anantnag. "Our lawyers didn't beat anyone but it was the woman who beat our lady lawyer while her colleagues just saved her from the wrath of the woman," he said. Causal labour scam.... labors and waiting for the response of the government," Talat told CNS adding that it is not his varsity only but this problem persists in Jammu University as well. He said hundreds of casual labors had been appointed before he took over as the VC of the varsity. "Where from the government allot a separate budget for them? It is a problem and needs to be addressed. I am in touch with the government and hopefully this issued will be solved," he said. Vice Chancellor, Professor Talat confirmed that during the last meeting with Governor N.N.Vohara at Raj Bhavan the issue of casual labor was discussed threadbare. "The Governor discussed the functioning of the University with me, particularly issues relating to the recruitment in the past years of non-academic staff without satisfying requirements and norms," he said. He further said that this is not the problem which is being faced by Kashmir University only but this problem persists in Jammu University as well. "It is not me who has to find a solution and I can't solve this problem. The government will hopefully find a solution to this problem," he said and added that there is no way that he is going to leave the University before the expiry of his tenure just because of casual labor mess. Pertinently, there are 600 casual labors which have been from January 2008 up to 2011.These casual labors were appointed on the recommendations of political leaders, University officials and other influential persons. University has to pay Rs 25 lakhs as salary to these casual labors on monthly basis which is Rs 3 cores per year. State Government during the ongoing session has made it clear that they are not in a position to pay salaries to these casual labors. Italian envoy now... against Italian marines Massimiliano Lattore and Salvatore Girone, who had allegedly killed two fishermen off Kerala coast last year. The court had on March 14 asked the envoy not to leave the country without its permission. The bench had on March 18 expressed its anguish over the ambassador "reneging" from his undertaking to the court on the return of the marines. It had said that the envoy had breached its trust over his undertaking on return of the marines and had also told him that he did not enjoy diplomatic immunity. Sensing the mood of the apex court, the Italian government later agreed to send back the marines and they reached India within the time limitation fixed by the court. The two marines, who were allowed by the apex court on February 22 to go to Italy for four weeks to cast their vote in the general elections there, had returned on March 22. The bench had on March 18 also said that the period of four weeks for which the marines were allowed to go to Italy to cast their vote was yet to be over and they still had time to return. On February 22, the apex court had questioned the government as to why it was "dragging its feet" on the issue of setting up a special court for trying the two Italians. It had also taken exception to the Centre not following its January 18 direction to consult the Chief Justice of India for setting up a special court. The two marines were on board an Italian vessel 'Enrica Lexie' when they allegedly shot dead two fishermen on February 15, last year. New work policy to ... evening there was no need to panic and the Indian government would provide assistance to Indians forced to return from Saudi Arabia. "If somebody has to go to another country, he has to satisfy the rules of that country. But if there is inconvenience caused to any Indian citizens, then whatever assistance we can give, we will provide," Khurshid assured. "The Kerala government is setting up help desks at the three international airports at Thiruvananthapuram, Calicut and Kochi and 24-hour call centres to help people in distress," an official of the department of NonResident Keralites Affairs (NORKA) told IANS. "Around 576,000 people from Kerala are working in Saudi Arabia. We are requesting for general amnesty and request a review of the ban on re-entry of workers," the official added, declining to be named. C P John, member of the Kerala State Planning Board, said that thousands of Indian workers, especially Malayalis, would be affected "if the Saudi government makes the Nitaqat policy very strict". "A few hundred Keralites have returned to India following implementation of the policy," John told IANS. However, he said that "there was no clear idea of how many Malayalis would to be affected. There is no real picture, we are continuously waiting for real numbers with work permits". "Some will have to come back, some will be expelled from their workplaces. We hope they can carry on and get absorbed in other companies in the kingdom," he added. "Saudis are not accustomed to working like Indians. It is very expensive to employ a Saudi. But the managers will be forced to employ one Saudi, who will work for eight hours and his pay will be 10 percent higher than an Indian's. The Saudis would be forced to rely on cheaper and more efficient Indians, who work for up to 15 hours," John said. Minister of State for External Affairs E. Ahamed discussed the issue with Saudi Arabia's Assistant Foreign Minister Prince Abdul Azees Bin Abdullah Al Saud in Tajikistan Saturday. According to reports, street cleaning and other sanitation works have been hit hard by the Saudisation programme as almost 100 per cent of the workers in this sector are foreigners, mostly Indians. Many of them are illegal immigrants. Labour inspectors and police have begun conducting raids on enterprises suspected of employing illegal workers. Employers complying with the Nitaqat norms would be rewarded with incentives while those failing would have to shut shop as the work permits of their expatriate workers would not be renewed, according to Saudi reports. The work permit is mandatory for getting the residential permit. Two women buried... by the police and villagers, they said, adding the bodies have been handed over families for the last rites. Minister quits on ... as "totally baseless" and also ruled out his resignation till last evening, later drove to the Chief Minister's residence and submitted his resignation. The Kerala Congress (B) leader, who resigned after his wife lodged a police complaint alleging domestic violence, stated in his resignation letter that he was quitting "owing to personal reasons." But later Kumar said his resignation was the "prize" for his fight against corruption, alluding to his tiff with sections in the United Democratic Front over his firm stand against those "illegally" holding vast stretches of forest land beyond lease terms. The exit of the 46-year-old actor-turned-politician became imminent after Chandy advised him to put in his papers. Seizing the issue, the CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front in the state Assembly demanded the Chief Minister's resignation accusing him of misleading the House that he had not received any complaint from Kumar's wife. As soon as the Assembly began its proceedings, the LDF members were on their feet alleging Chandy had lost moral right to remain in office and demanded an immediate discussion over the issue. The House had adjournment for a brief spell after opposition members insisted for a discussion even as Speaker G Karthikeyan promised to permit a debate during zero hour. The long-running incompatibility between the couple reached a flashpoint yesterday with Kumar filing a divorce petition in a court here. While Kumar charged his wife of "blackmailing" and "manhandling", Yamini rejected the allegations and asserted she was a victim of "domestic violence" for the last 16 years after she objected to her husband's "illicit affairs". Yamini also alleged that she could not get justice from the Chief Minister whom she had approached with a complaint. Kashmiriyat incomplete without.... the Hindu Temples, Shrines and Religious places in Jammu and Kashmir. The deputationists including B .L. Saraf, B. L. Bhat, R. L. Pandita, R. N. Jattu and K. K. Khosa demanded strict measures like the proposed Act for protection and preservation of temples, shrines and other religious properties in the Valley. The Minister assured the deputation that government will consider their demand with open mind."Kashmiri displaced Pandits have constitutional right to safeguard their rights, demands and it is the constitutional duty of the government to protect their rights" Mir added. Srinagar-Leh Highway ... and Ladakh region, remains closed from late November due to heavy snowfall in the area which blocks the road. Minister of State for Science and IT Feroz Ahmad Khan yesterday visited Captain Mode on the highway, 100 kms from here, to take stock of the operation to clear the road, the spokesman said. He said the Minister was informed by officials of the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) that if weather conditions remains conducive, the road will be thrown open for movement of light motor vehicles from April 5. The Minister appreciated the efforts of BRO authorities, the administration of Ganderbal district and traffic officials for expediting the operation to clear snow and landslides from the highway. Khan also spoke with tourists at Sonamarg and enquired about the facilities being provided to them.
Jammu given a raw.. in the state was in 1995. Jammu-centric parties believe that it was a strategy to "keep Jammu subservient to the Kashmir Valley". JKNPP's chairman Harshdev Singh said: "Kashmir has one assembly seat for every 71,000 voters, which is one seat every 346 sq km, while Jammu has one seat for every 83,500 voters, which is one seat for every 710 sq km" "If delimitation of assembly constituencies is held, then Jammu region is sure to get its justified share in governance," Singh said. Congress snubs Digvijay:... made it clear that his priority is party organisation."Rahul Gandhi has said and as I and the party understand it, he has made it clear that now there is no question of the Prime Minister's post," Dwivedi said.He also said the party will take a call later on the leadership issue after the Lok Sabha elections. "Today, Manmohan Singh is the Prime Minister and everybody accepts him," he said. Referring to the relations between the Prime Minister and the Congress president, he said unlike other political parties where the party chief and the government head share uneasy relations, in UPA the two have shared a good equation for a long time. India, China co-operating.. development, given that India and China are generally believed to be on opposing sides of Afghanistan's "Pakistan divide". A bilateral talks between India and China on Afghanistan raised eyebrows within the Indian system since the request came from the Chinese side. But it showed for the first time, that China too was hedging its bets regarding its "lips-and-teeth" relationship with Pakistan. Pakistan's ties with the Taliban show no signs of abating, despite Islamabad's own travails with them. None of the peace talks with the Taliban are going anywhere because Pakistan's ISI retains a stranglehold on them. And, Pakistan seems to be in a minority that believes the Taliban should be part of the power structure in Kabul. China's worries are centered on their concerns in the Xinjiang province and the threat of jihadi spillover from Afghanistan. But also China, like India, wants to protect its considerable investments in Afghanistan. In May China's CNPC will be extracting oil from its wells in northern Afghanistan. This could be the beginning of a resource boom for Afghanistan. India has theoretically invested in Afghanistan's Hajigak mines, but security concerns persist. An IndiaChina bilateral dialogue could be the precursor of a joint approach to securing their investments in Afghanistan. LPG home delivery... to the main question of Nasir Aslam Wani, the Minister said that home delivery of LPG cylinder in capital cities has proved successful and at present 95% consumers of Srinagar city and 92% consumers of Jammu are availing this facility. The Minister said that all blocks of the State would be provided LPG agencies. He said in this regard Government is going to setup 172 new gas agencies in the State and due consideration would be given to each area especially remote areas while opening these gas agencies. He said to enhance the cap of LPG cylinders from 9 to 12; the matter has been already taken up with the Centre. The Minister said that enforcement agency of the Department have been already activated to keep close vigil and check on the smooth delivery and distribution of LPG cylinders to the consumers at all sale outlets, adding that in this regard under Regulation And Supplies Violators Rule the powers have been also vested to Deputy Commissioners and Assistant Commissioners to check the same in their districts. Replying to the main question, the Minister said that general public has been informed through print and electronic media to avail the facility of home delivery by booking their request either personally or telephonically at Srinagar and Jammu. He said meetings have been convened with the officers of oil companies and LPG dealers for ensuring home delivery to the consumers with in the Municipal limits of Jammu and Srinagar. Mohammad Irfan Shah, M. Y Tarigami, G. M Saroori and Jagdish Raj Sapolia raised supplementaries and demanded opening of LPG units in their areas besides enhancement in cap of LPG cylinders. Brotherly affection: Mukesh... Communications for the roll-out of 4G services. "Reliance Jio Infocomm Ltd and Reliance Communications Ltd today announced the signing of a definitive agreement for approximately Rs 1,200 crore as one-time indefeasible right to use (IRU) fees for Under the terms of the agreement, Reliance Jio Infocomm will utilize multiple fibre pairs across RCom's 1,20,000 kilometres inter-city fibre optic network to provide the backbone for rolling out its 4G services. As per the agreement, RCom will in turn have reciprocal access to optic fibre infrastructure to be built by Reliance Jio Infocomm in the future. "The agreement provides for joint working arrangements to be put in place immediately for upgradation of the optic fibre network, to ensure seamless delivery
9596870687
Correction
My wife"s name has wrongly been written as Neelam Jamwal w/o Parshotam Singh Manhas instead of Abhilasha manhas. Now I am applying for the said correction. Objection if any file withing 14 days.
Mob: 9419785866.
STATE
NEWS IN BOX
DGP briefs Governor
JAMMU, APRIL 2 - Ashok Prasad, Director General of Police, called on N. N. Vohra, Governor, at Raj Bhavan here this evening. He was accompanied by Farooq Khan, Director, Sher-i-Kashmir Police Academy, Udhampur. Prasad and Khan briefed the Governor about the functioning of the Sher-i-Kashmir Police Academy and details of the various training courses being run by the Academy. They were calling on the Governor in connection with the next batch of Dy Superintendents of Police who are passing out on 4th April where the Governor is the Chief Guest. The Governor also reviewed the internal security situation in the State with the Director General of Police.
rural families would be covered under the Mission and at least one woman of each household would be linked with the Self Help Groups in the state during next five years. Minister of State, Rural Development, Information, Viqar Rasool, Member Parliament, Ch Lal Singh , Legislatures, Balwant
Singh Mankotia and K.C. Bhagat, Commisioner Secretary Rural Development, Farooq Ahmed Peer, Joint Secretary, RDD GOI, Director NRLM, Deputy Commissioner Udhampur, Members of women SHGs and officers of various departments were present on the occasion.
" Banks act as oxygen for Self Help Groups and linking of such groups with the banks is the basic aim of the NRLM", Minister said and added that efforts are being made to open up new bank branches in rural areas so that members of the SHGs do not face any difficulty in availing banking facility.
Deputations call on CM
ACC Chairman discusses Centre Cooperative Bank matters
JAMMU, APRIL 02 Various deputations, legislators, heads of the institutions and individuals called on CM Omar Abdullah here on Tuesday and discussed matters concerning their organizations and of personal nature. The Vice Chairman Advisory Board of Pahari Speaking People, Khafil-urRehman in his meeting with the Chief Minister talked about issues relating to the development of paharies and strengthening of the Board. The Chairman Anantnag Cooperative Bank (ACC) Sheikh Mohammad Rafi discussed issues relating to the Anantnag Cooperative Bank and sought Chief Minister's support for its strengthening. He said more than three lakh stakeholders are presently associated with the Bank adding that the deposits of the Bank have grown up to Rs. 200 crores this year. He said the Bank has advanced Rs. 15 crores worth loans to the agriculturists for the year 201213 and achieved recovery of same amount during the said year. A deputation from Ganderbal in its interaction with the CM brought to his notice some demands of urgent public importance and sought his intervention in addressing these. A deputation led by former MLC, A. R. Badana presented a memorandum of demands to the CM relating to the development of Gujjar, Bakerwal and Pahari people. It also requests for special recruitment drive by the Police Department in remote and hilly areas for youth belonging to poorer sections of the society.
cussed threadbare. The Minister urged upon the authorities of both the universities to strictly adhere to the directions and decisions in the best interest of farming community and overall development of the State. The officers assured the Minister that they will leave no stone unturned in following the guidelines of the government in future.
Department of Posts, J&K Circle in making J&K a financially inclusive state adding that Post Offices have wider reach than the banks
"It is impressive that Department of Posts have achieved target of 100 percent Financial Inclusion in 150 villages in the state and
STATE
Rs. 2.86 crore have been released so far. The Minister said that 70 WSS at total cost of Rs. 79.74 crore are under construction in Samba
Until the modifications of the said order are not made by the Court, the department cannot proceed in the matter. However, the posts for all such categories including schedule caste category have
New Khasra Nos carved out Repository of documentary films on in lieu of old ones: Ajaz prominent shrines in offing: Rather
JAMMU, APRIL 02: Minister of State for Revenue, Relief and Rehabilitation Ajaz Ahmed Khan replying to a clubbed Calling Attention Notice of Khalid Najeeb Suharwardy and Abdul Majeed Bhat, informed that as per record of rights of 200708 (fresh settlement) new Khasra No. 509, 513, 503, 519 and 544 have been carved out of old Khasra Nos namely; 245 min, 245 min, 252 min, 251 min and 253 min respectively. The Khasra Nos 509, 513, 503 and 544 are recorded as proprietary land in possession of different persons and Khasra No.519 is recorded as State land in possession of State. He said due to carving out of aforesaid new Khasra numbers, the locations of land remains the same as was in the corresponding old Khasra Numbers. The primary requirement for issuance of PRCs to any individual claiming permanent resident certificate is that he/she or his/her predecessors must own immovable property in the State prior to May, 1994. The new ROR is just supplementary evidence. The Minister said ration card, death/birth certificate has no relevance with the new ROR in any way. Any individual, if aggrieved of the entries can approach the appropriate authority under Sections 27 and 32 of the J&K Land Revenue Act, for redressal under law", he added. JAMMU, APRIL 02: As a sequel to preserve and showcase the rich heritage of shrines of the state, the Jammu and Kashmir Board for Muslim specified Waqf and specified Waqf properties have decided to prepare documentaries on all prominent shrines affiliated with the Waqf Board, giving full details of historical, religious, social, cultural and educational perspectives. On the suggestion by Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah, who is also Chairman of the Waqf Board, the documentaries are being prepared through educational multimedia research Centre (EMMRC) University of Kashmir. The proposal in this regard was discussed last night at the 40th meeting of the Finance Committee of Waqf Board held here under the Chairmanship of the Minister for Finance and Ladakh Affairs, Abdul Rahim Rather. The Vice Chancellor of the Muslim Waqf Board, Prof. M. Y. Qadri, exChief Secretary and MLC Sheikh Ghulam Rasool and Secretary, Waqf Board G. M. Rather were present in the meeting.While discussing the proposal, about documentation and digitalization of the shrines, Rather said that it was need of the hour to preserve the authentic record of all prominent heritage shrines to prepare a repository for the posterity. He said that availability of funds shall not be any hurdle to fulfil this noble cause. In the first phase the EMMRC proposes to produce nine educational documentaries and 18,000 copies of multi-colour brochures (2000 for each shrine). Rather emphasized that the documentaries must be based on authentic records of shrines, documenting their heritage and history interwoven with the statements of historians, religious leaders, mute- walis, devotees, besides religious practices, social and architectural richness. He said these documentaries would be telecast on Doordarshan and private channels on royalty basis and mass duplication on DVD for distribution and sale among masses. He said these documentaries would be a strong and effective medium to spread the message and reverence of the great sufi saints and alias (RA) to every distant home of not only Muslims but people of all shades of faith. One documentary shall be exclusively about the history of Waqf, its evolution, management and maintenance and overview of various steps taken by the Waqf Board in the overall development of the Waqf properties and affairs.
ments were issued and implementing in toto the recommendations of the committee constituted under the chairmanship of the Chief Secretary. The Additional District Development Commissioner in every district has been nominated as nodal officer for ensuring that the orders of empowerment of PRIs are adhered to, he maintained. Referring to the imple-
Health Centre Building showing cracks, Doctors declare it unsafe for patients
SRINAGAR: The Health Centre Building constructed by R&B Division Handwara has started showing cracks only after one year of its completion. Doctors deployed in the Health Centre, has termed the building unsafe for patients while the R&B Division Handwara is blaming contractors and not the department. According to CNS, a building for a Health Centre in North Kashmir's Unsoo, Langete area was constructed by R&B Division Handwara last year. Rs one Crore and twenty lakhs was spent on its construction, however only after one year the building has started showing cracks. The plinth of the building is showing up cracks at three places, many of the inner walls and the floor also show cracks. Medical officer, Dr Shabir Ahmed told CNS that the building is totally unsafe for the patients. "It has ample chances of being getting collapsed. Even the rain water is entering into the rooms and we are worried about the medical instruments. Paramedical staff keeps on changing the location of these instruments whenever it rains," he said. People of the area are blaming R&B Division Handwara for all this mess. "It is evident that sub-standard materials have been used to swindle a huge chunk of money. This matter should be verified and action should be taken against the persons behind all this mess," a prominent citizen Abdul Aziz said. Executive Engineer, R&B Division Handwara, Mohammad Saleem told CNS that they can't go for the reconstruction of the building. "The work done by R&B is up to mark while as only plaster has shown cracks and we are ready to do plaster again if it demands," he said.
Rs. 24 lakh utilized on bridge over Anji Nallah in Reasi District: Kichloo
JAMMU: Minister of State for Industries & Commerce, R&B Sajjad Ahmad Kichloo while replying to a question by Jugal Kishore informed the House that the bridge over Anji Nallah in village Sukhal Ghati of District Reasi was approved under District Sector at an estimated cost of Rs. 67.20 lakh against which Rs. 24 lakh stand utilized ending March, 2012 and Rs. 1 lakh has been released last fiscal. The Minister said that the road from Katra Domail to Maghal including a 25 meters bridge has been taken up for construction under Special Infrastructure Development Fund (SIDF) in 2007 and partly financed under State Sector Projectization in 201112. The work on bridge has been completed, while as the work on approach road to the bridge will be resumed after acquisition of land. The road namely Panasa to Dasana was not approved under any programme, he added. Replying to another question by Dr. Shehnaz Ganai, Kichloo informed that 20 Tourism Development Authorities have been established in the State during the last ten years. The Minister informed that a whopping amount of Rs.15408.16 lakh and Rs. 4446.47 lakh under State Plan and Central Financial Assistance stands released and utilized for development of tourism related infrastructure at these TDAs. Kichloo said that Central Financial Assistance is the main source of funding for these Development Authorities for creation of tourism related infrastructure. He said that the Union Ministry of Tourism has sanctioned 97 projects at a cost of Rs. 318.68 crore and set target to complete these projects within three years from the date of sanction, adding of these 43 projects have been completed and work on rest of the 54 projects is going on and expected to be completed within stipulated time. The Minister said that the Union Ministry of Tourism has sanctioned 5 Central Projects at a cost of Rs. 19.11 crore to explore and develop the virgin tourist spots of Poonch for which Rs. 9.37 crore stands released for implementation of these projects. The work on 2 projects has been completed so far and work on the rest of the projects are at different stages of implementation, he said and adding that the Government has also supplemented Rs. 1.25 crore annually under State Plan for execution of smaller projects and schemes for creation of tourist related infrastructure. Referring to development of tourist spots on Mughal road, the Minister said that Development of Mughal road lake Circuit Infrastructure Development of Girgan and the Valley of Seven Lakes, Poonch has been sanctioned by the Union Ministry of Tourism at a cost of Rs. 419.09 lakh and Rs. 83.82 lakh for which Ist instalment has been released and is under implementation through Poonch Development Authority. Construction of cafeteria along Mughal Road at an estimated cost of Rs. 20 lakh is in progress under State Sector. The Union Ministry of Tourism has also prioritized two projects of Rs. 8 crore each for future for providing basic amenities on Mughal Road between various historic sites scattered along the route from Peer Ki Gali to Shopian and development of wayside amenities on Mughal Road Circuit from Jammu side.
New court complex coming Cabinet approves engagement of consultant up at Pulwama: Saifullah
JAMMU: Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Mir Saifullah while replying to a question by Bashir Ahmad Magray informed the House that the proposal regarding construction of District Court Complex, Pulwama at an estimated cost of Rs. 10.52 crore has been cleared by the Finance Department subject to the condition that the department seeks firm and unambiguous commitment of Planning & Development Department on providing State Share for the project. The Minister said that after completion of codal formalities, administrative approval would be accorded and funds shall be released. Mir Saifullah said that the office would be shifted to new District Court Complex; Pulwama only after the project gets completed and handed over to Judiciary. The Minister said that a chunk of land measuring 35 kanal, 8 marlas has been identified for the purpose and an amount of Rs. 3.50 crore stands released for the compensation of land. JAMMU, APRIL 2: The state cabinet which met here today under the Chairmanship of Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah, accorded sanction to the engagement of M/S Halcrow Consulting India Pvt. Ltd. as consultant by Jammu and Kashmir State Power Development Corporation to quantify losses suffered by Indus Water Treaty. The PDD was earlier advised to quantify the losses on account of Indus Water Treaty so as to take the issue of compensation to a logical conclusion. The cabinet also accorded sanction to giving retrospective effect from 28th of May 2011 to the enhancement of cash incentive from Rs. 5 lakh to 10 lakh per plot per family as compensation for the rehabilitation of families dislocated due to the improvement/widening of the road network in Srinagar City. Earlier in June 2012, the cabinet had accepted the recommendation of high level committee to enhance the cash incentive in lieu of plots from Rs. 5 lakh to Rs. 10 lakh per plot per family to the affected families.
EDITORIAL
Burmese migrants
By Ashok V Desai apan has long been an Asian exception, and has made a success of exceptionalism. Till the middle of the 19th century, however, it was a pretty average Asian feudal state. Then in 1853, Commodore Matthew Calbraith Perry steamed into the Tokyo bay with four steamships. The residents of Tokyo could not believe their eyes. They were not unused to Europeans; they allowed a few Dutchmen to visit once in a while. But they had never seen a steamship, made of steel, painted black all over, with a funnel belching smoke. They had seen a lot of dragons in their storybooks; they thought they were seeing real dragons. But then, the ships put down boats, which filled up with longnosed white humans, dressed in fancy naval uniforms. The Tokyans ignored the foreign devils, hoping that they would disappear as they had appeared. But Perry just waited and waited. Finally he wore down the Japanese; after nine months, he left with a treaty which permitted American ships to enter the two ports of Shimoda and Hakodate. The Japanese government was shaken, and decided that it would not be taken by surprise again. In the next decades, Japan discovered the West, imported mechanical spinning and weaving machinery, and became a major textile exporter. It learnt to use Western ships and arms, invaded China and created an empire in Mongolia and Korea. By the early 20th century, Japan was the only industrialized country in Asia. That raised its ambition. It allied itself with Germany in World War II, and occupied the entire region from the western Pacific up to India's borders. For that temerity, the Americans bombed
he arrival of Burmese migrants in Jammu is a new development in the demography of the state. It has many dimensions and the authorities should be well apprised of their arrival and causes thereof. Jammu division is a historical home of refugees and migrants. Since very ancient times those who were persecuted in the neighbouring areas of Jammu found a ready asylum because temperamentally Jammu psyche is that of tolerance and peace. In Mughal period when the imperial armies ravaged the hill rajas of Himachal people took shelter here. In 1947 vast number of people from Mirpur, Bhimber, Kotli and other areas of Western Pakistan settled here. They have slowly become part and parcel of Jammu social fabric. In 1990 another wave of internally displaced persons at least three lakh in number arrived from the valley and took shelter Jammu. But the arrival of Burmese refugees cannot be compared with the past influxes especially those which happened after 1947. Burma is a far off country which has no continuity of border with our state. If by any conservative estimate Burma is about 3700 kilometers away from Jammu. How can a refugee living at such a far off place prefer Jammu and Kashmir to reside? This raises questions. We need to be wary of their influx in the state because Jammu and Kashmir is fighting a proxy war sponsored by Pakistan on the basis of Islamic jihad. So there is vigil required on these refugees who at present are numbering 1000 families which according to their social bench mark means at least seven thousand persons. Tomorrow their numbers can swell which means a sizable population and the state will have to take their care as per the international norms. It is a tricky situation and unfortunately we cannot wash our hands from this new development. At the same time they cannot be allowed to live permanently in India or in this state. The experience of illegal Bangladeshi migrants is before us and in no circumstances can we afford to repeat the same in our sensitive state. We cannot allow foreign nationals to live without proper identification. The authorities have to be careful in this matter as their plight can be exploited by the anti-social or any terror group to wreak heavoc.
Japanese cities to rubble. Japan still fought on, until 1945 when the Americans dropped just one atom bomb and annihilated Hiroshima. Three days later they dropped another one on Nagasaki. The Japanese government decided that it was wise to stop before all Japanese cities were destroyed, and surrendered. General MacArthur occupied Japan
it to pay royalties. So the Japanese packed up their factories and sent them to China; they became the biggest investors in China. It worked for both. China became the world's biggest manufacturing exporter, and Japanese companies earned good dividends from the business. As long as the Japanese could go on developing new tech-
in London. While Britain's industrial north declined, London boomed. But the Japanese could not do what the British did, for they were not good at English. They had become financiers to Chinese industry, but there was no capital market in China, and the Chinese had no intention of letting one develop. They were happier with their firms
The Japanese had another problem. Their big companies could grow fatter on profits from China. But they could not create jobs for young Japanese. Britain had faced a similar problem after World War II: previously undeveloped countries had industrialized, and the demand for British manufactured goods had fallen. Britain had then turned to finance; it used the new information and internet technology to create a high-technology financial industry in London. While Britain's industrial north declined, London boomed. But the Japanese could not do what the British did, for they were not good at English. They had become financiers to Chinese industry, but there was no capital market in China, and the Chinese had no intention of letting one develop. They were happier with their firms managing their own finances, going to government banks when they needed money, and making financial deals with the Japanese when they wanted.
for seven years. When occupation ended, Japan chose a pacific route to supremacy. It rebuilt industry. But instead of textiles, it concentrated this time on steel, engineering and automobiles. Soon it was exporting engineering goods and earning payments surpluses on an enormous scale. It became better at engineering than the veterans of Europe and the United States of America, and offered equipment at lower prices. It became the machine maker of Asia. Its exports zoomed ahead of imports, and it accumulated big payments surpluses. It invested them all over the world. It lent India a lot of money in the 1980s, which India blew up. By 1990, India was having another of its payments crises. But by this time, Japan found a better imitator in China than it had been of the West: China started making Japanese machinery at much lower cost. China did not follow capitalist rules; it was no use asking nology, the Chinese continued to value their connection. Soon the Chinese were tired to be second to Japanese. They sent lakhs of young people to study and work in Japan. Japanese is a much easier language than Chinese - some would say it is a kind of pidgin Chinese - so the Chinese found it easy to pick up. And once they got familiar with Japanese culture and education, it was only a matter of time before they could start making up their own technology. The Japanese had another problem. Their big companies could grow fatter on profits from China. But they could not create jobs for young Japanese. Britain had faced a similar problem after World War II: previously undeveloped countries had industrialized, and the demand for British manufactured goods had fallen. Britain had then turned to finance; it used the new information and internet technology to create a high-technology financial industry managing their own finances, going to government banks when they needed money, and making financial deals with the Japanese when they wanted. So Japan sees itself facing a crisis. It has always had very low unemployment, because its big business saw it as its duty to give jobs to young people. But to survive, a people have to do some useful economic activity. The Japanese have seen the Chinese beat them in competition in one activity after another. They ask themselves: what will the Japanese of the next generation do to maintain their prosperity? And they have come up with a very interesting answer: they would like Japan to become the technological capital of the world. The Japanese have been good at technology for a long time: they imitated others' up to a point, and then they became good at making up their own as well. But now they do not aim to be the world's best innovators. They see that as an uncertain
game, in which the Chinese now excel; the Americans continue to have the best universities and research outfits, and to produce the world's best technology in a few things like aeronautics and pharmaceuticals. Instead of trying to beat everyone else and to make Japanese technology the worlds best, the Japanese have decided to invite the world's best innovators to come and settle down in Japan. They thus hope to make Japan the world's technology hub. If a foreign company CEO wants to go and have a look at Tokyo, JETRO will give him an office for 50 days, and arrange appointments for him. It advertises the fact that Dou Yee International set up an LCD manufacturing plant in Shobara City, that Jiangsu Tri-M Special Metals, a Chinese manufacturer, set up a subsidiary in Nagoya, that Juwi Holdings, a German developer of renewable energy, is going to set up an establishment in Japan, and so on. If it succeeds, Japan will look very different in a few decades: it may regain its technological superiority, but it will be very cosmopolitan. It will still not become a Western country; given the geography and the economics, Chinese presence will be substantial. But it will become much less Japanese. I think that will be a cultural tragedy, for I consider the Japanese civilization to be the world's best; but Japan is prepared to pay a high price to continue to be the world's best. Indians do not enjoy going to Japan; they miss curry. They will probably be better served in the future Japan; even if they are not, they will go there to shop for the world's best technology. And if the British get there before them, they will make sure that Tokyo has good curry joints.
STRATEGIC COLONISATION
By Yogesh Sachdeva cross the world, wherever Chinese firms are contracted to execute projects, Chinese labourers follow in droves and often marry locally to create a sizeable Chinese community. The import of such considered semi-permanent or permanent influx cannot be lost on India, writes vinod saighal It has been in the news for long that the China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) will soon be completing construction of the natural gas pipeline from the Rakhine coast in Myanmar to Kunming in China. The pipeline will traverse nearly 800 km from the Island of Kyankpyu to Yunnan. The natural gas pipeline is not the only project linking Kyankpyu Island. CNPC is also building an oil pipeline alongside the gas pipeline. Additionally, China plans to build a highway and a high-speed rail link between Kyankpyu and Yunnan. Whatever the size of the infrastructure that will develop around the Kyankpyu terminal ~ the pattern is being repeated in Hambantota and Gwadar, possibly Chittagong as well ~ the fact remains that in Myanmar, the Chinese will be able to push in thousands of labourers, many of whom will marry locally and create a sizeable Chinese community. It has happened in Angola and elsewhere in Africa. What should be more worrying to
India and ultimately to Myanmar as well is that the 800-km-long oil, gas, rail and road corridors will present the Chinese with an opportunity to demand at least a 1,000 or minimum 500 metre land corridor on either side along the entire 800-km stretch for maintenance and other purposes. That represents a huge swath of territory, which (again) for all practical purposes will be held by China with settlements of Chinese labourers and their families all along. The import of this large-scale semi-permanent or permanent Chinese influx cannot be lost on either India or Myanmar. Before the agreements are finalised, Myanmar and India must hold talks to ensure adequate safeguards to obviate a permanent influx of large Chinese settlers. Concomitantly, massive felling of virgin tracts on either side will also take place unless China is prevented from doing so or obliged to keep felling to the bare minimum. It is a potential threat to both countries. Possibility of diversification with Japanese, Indian or Western companies and insistence on local labour being trained for the purpose, with limits on Chinese labour should be gone into at this juncture. Nobody can hazard a guess on the exact figure, but a million-plus Chinese could already have crossed over into Northern Myanmar from Yunnan. There is not very much that the Myanmar government can do
about it. A diplomat from one of the Central Asian countries bordering China ~ actually the Chinese province of Xinjian expressed fears ~ evidently off the record, that his country was worried about the increasing influx of Chinese people in the border region. According to the laws of his country, they were not allowed to own land; so many Chinese people are now marrying locals to get over that difficulty. T he head of another country bordering Xinjian told a top EU diplomat a few years ago that (at the time) there were approximately 30 million Han Chinese living right across his country; when the figure touched 300 million, he said, they would have a big problem on their hands. As it turns out, with the increased pace of infrastructure development westwards, tens of millions of Chinese will move into Xinjian much sooner than the head of state had anticipated ~ as is happening currently in Tibet. Several million will cross over into the open spaces in the sparsely-populated Kazakhstan: quite a large number would have already moved in. Both the Russians and the Kazakhs are aware of the creeping movement into their regions adjoining China. As members of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, they have not raised their voices.
Many countries in Africa are alive to the problem as well. A few have gone on record to demand greater employment for locals at large infrastructure projects being undertaken by the Chinese. The latter are stonewalling such requests by saying that the locals were not skilled enough for the job and that language difficulties would delay the projects. China has been in Africa now for many years, the second time around. They have not even attempted to meet local aspirations by training locals to fill the jobs. Instead, Chinese workers are herded together in labour camps and shifted with the progress of the projects. It is said that the Chinese workers brought in from mainland China are paid comparatively low wages when compared with those paid by other countries implementing projects in Africa. Details are not easily forthcoming and the actual situation cannot be independently confirmed by outsiders. In several other countries around the world, Chinese labourers brought in to execute projects are being encouraged to settle down and take up small commercial activities. The largest influx of Chinese workers, many of whom could ultimately settle down to form Chinese colonies, are in places where China is undertaking port construction and linking infrastructure projects or where the Chinese have taken out
long leases from the host governments, especially those in dire financial straits. An example in the second category would be the Port of Piraeus in Athens. Greece and China signed the US$ 6.32-million agreement for the new management of the port. Under the contract, Pier 2 and 3 of Piraeus' container terminal will be under Chinese management for 35 years. Piraeus is one of the most important ports in the eastern Mediterranean region. The Chinese company plans to make Piraeus the hub of its Chinese exports operation for South-East Europe. The security implications of the development were not lost on Brussels. Greek dock workers protested in large numbers in 2009, but eventually had to reconcile themselves to the reality of an impoverished nation on the lookout for financial bailout. China is evidently repeating the pattern in port cities around the world or where it has been contracted for constructing new ports. The hostility of the native population is never allowed to prevent takeover, as in Baluchistan where the local population is opposed to the Chinese takeover of Gwadar Port. Elsewhere, Chinese settlers are among the largest immigrant communities. China and Australia are cases in point; not to mention the large Chinese populations in several countries of South-east Asia.
Unfair demand
Dear Sir J. Jayalalithaa is aware that the United Progressive Alliance government is in a vulnerable position now, after the exit of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam from the coalition. It is desperately in search of new allies. This knowledge must have convinced Jayalalithaa that she could get away with an act as brazen as preventing Sri Lankan cricketers from playing in Chennai in the IPL. If the Central government had any courage, it would not have agreed to her demand. But the DMK's withdrawal of support from the UPA has put the government in a difficult spot. It must now look for new allies, and is likely to make any concessions to woo other parties into its fold. Perhaps that is why it buckled under Jayalalithaa's demand. With each passing day, it becomes clearer that the UPA gov-
ernment is only concerned about its survival at the Centre, irrespective of the means it adopts in order to stay in power. Yours Etc. Amar Jyoti Kishtwar
resorting to corruption. That most of those against whom the corruption charges have been made, both in politics and bureaucracy, continue to hold important positions in the administration and polity exposes the chief minister's claim of ensuring good governance. The very fact that four of the ministers facing corruption charges have been inducted in the Omar-led coalition makes it clear that corruption is not an issue before those at the helm. The major portion of the budget meant for socio-economic development and social services like education, healthcare and sanitation etc has been usurped by the corrupt triumvirate of politicians, bureaucrats and buisinessmen. It is this nexus which needs to be smashed but on the contrary is allowed to grow and expand and sabotage all moves for evolving effective, independent and credible institutionalized mechanism to launch out an all-out war against corruption. Yours Etc. Shalini Parihar Chandrabhaga Hostel University of Jammu
NATIONAL
northwest Delhi's Jahangirpuri area while Rakesh had been taken in Prashant Sharma's court room to surrender. Sunil was arrested after the judge refused to hear the matter and handed him over to the Crime Branch police. Both the shooters were later handed over to South Delhi police, who are investigating the case. Sunil, Purushottam and Amit were sent to 10 day' police custody by Patiala court Tuesday. Police have questioned Bhardwaj's wife Ramesh Kumari, their sons and staff over the past few days. Investigators are also looking into the role of an insider who might have tipped off the killers about the movement of Bhardwaj and the topography of the farmhouse. Bhardwaj, a realtor and the richest candidate in the 2009 Lok Sabha elections with declared assets of over Rs.600 crore, was shot dead March 26 around 9 a.m. at his 35-acre farmhouse in Rajokri in south Delhi. The killers entered the farmhouse on the pretext of meeting Bhardwaj. He was shot in the head and chest. NEW DELHI: Bihar, Jharkhand, Orissa and Chhattisgarh, hit by Maoist movement, will raise specialised forces trained in guerrilla warfare on the lines of the 'Greyhounds', a special police unit in Andhra Pradesh. The Cabinet Committee of Economic Affairs on Tuesday approved the Home Ministry's proposal under which the special forces will come up in Bihar, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Odisha and funds will be given to create and upgrade infrastructure, weaponry and equipment to combat the Naxal problem. Andhra Pradesh will also be given fund to upgrade its infrastructure and stregthen the 'Greyhounds' force. The proposed outlay during the 12th Plan in this regard is Rs 373 crore, of which the central government will give Rs 280 crore (75 per cent of the total outlay) and Rs 93 crore by the state governments (25 per cent), the Union Home Ministry said in its proposal. The funding, that is expected to beef up the police forces of these states, will be done under the Home Ministry-sponsored Scheme for Special Infrastructure (SIS). The Home Ministry said the step to adopt a new strate-
7
Special anti-Naxal force for Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, Chhattisgarh
gy is being taken in the background of success achieved by the Greyhounds in Andhra Pradesh in combating Left Wing Extremism. The Ministry has, however, put certain riders on the release of funds to the states. "The Special Force of the state concerned has to be upgraded as per the approved guidelines of Greyhounds. Even if a Special Force has been raised in some form in the state concerned, they are required to be reoriented through the entire process mentioned in the guidelines. The state will strictly adhere to these guidelines," the Home Ministry said.
contract to kill Bhardwaj. The hunt is on for Guru Swami, a resident of Jhajjar in Haryana, who had asked Malik to find contract killers. The information came to light after the arrest of Rakesh alias Bhola, the owner of the Skoda car used in the murder and shooters Sunil Mann alias Sonu and Purushottam Rana alias Monu. The fourth arrested is Amit, who was driving the car at the time of the murder. Amit was arrested Sunday from
police custody last Friday after the recovery of the car from his possession. The Crime Branch of Delhi Police arrested both the shooters - Sunil and Purushottam - in a dramatic way when they were about to surrender in Patiala House Court here Monday morning. Purushottam was apprehended outside Patiala House Court complex and Sunil from inside the court as he managed to evade the police and entered Metropolitan Magistrate
state-of-the-art service in 50 rakes. Railtel is providing Internet service in the pilot project. According to an official statement, it was a challenge to introduce internet access in a moving train considering that the train passes through all types of terrain and continuous internet access in all weather is to be provided. After due deliberations on various omediaons for providing internet access,
Railways decided for satellitecommunication link to the train and Wi-Fi connectivity to different coaches. The satellite communication link is arranged through satellite hub facility set up Railways. For accessing the internet facility, the bona fide passengers will have to access railways Wi-Fi network. The passengers will be able to register by providing the PNR and other details such as mobile phone number.
directed by top-ranks of Hizbul to carry out terror attacks in Delhi. The agency had said that upon disclosure of the accused, a huge consignment of arms, handgrenades, explosive material and other incriminating material were recovered from a guest house in Jama Masjid area here.
Delhi Police said a case was registered under sections 120 B(criminal conspiracy), 121 (waging war against Government of India), 121A (conspiracy to commit offences against the State) and 123 (concealing with intent to facilitate design to wage war) of IPC against them. According to Delhi police,
charge against Advani, Kalyan Singh, Uma Bharti, Vinay Katiyar and Murli Manohar Joshi. The others against whom the charge was dropped included Satish Pradhan, C R Bansal, Ashok Singhal, Giriraj Kishore, Sadhvi Ritambhara, V H Dalmia, Mahant Avaidhynath, R V Vedanti, Param Hans Ram Chandra Das, Jagdish Muni Maharaj, B L Sharma, Nritya Gopal Das, Dharam Das, Satish Nagar and Moreshwar Save. CBI has challenged in the Supreme Court the May 21, 2010 order of the high court, which had upheld a special court's decision to drop the charge against the leaders. The high court had at that time, however, allowed CBI to proceed with other charges against Advani and others in a Rae Bareily court, under which the case falls. The May 2010 order of the high court had said there was no merit in CBI's revision petition against the May 4, 2001 order of the special court which had directed dropping of criminal conspiracy charge against them. There are two sets of cases -- one against Advani
and others who were on the dais at Ram Katha Kunj in Ayodhya in December 1992 when the Babri Masjid was demolished, while the other case was against lakhs of unknown 'karsevaks' who were in and around the disputed structure. CBI had chargesheeted Advani and 20 others under sections 153A (promoting enmity between classes), 153B (imputations, assertions prejudicial to national integration) and 505 (false statements, rumours etc circulated with the intent to cause mutiny or disturb public peace)of IPC. It had subsequently invoked charges under section 120B (criminal conspiracy) of IPC which was quashed by the special court whose decision was upheld by the high court. Bal Thackeray's name was removed from the list of accused persons after his death. While upholding the special court's order, the high court had said CBI at no point of time, either during the trial at Rae Bareily or in its revision petition, ever stated that there was offence of criminal conspiracy against the leaders.
WHO plays down China bird flu fears North Korea restarts operations at Nyongbyon nuclear complex
GENEVA: The World Health Organization on Tuesday played down fears over a strain of bird flu which has killed two people in China, but said it was crucial to find out how the virus infected humans. "It's the first time that H7N9 was found in humans," the UN health agency's spokeswoman Fadela said, referring to the deadly strain of avian influenza. "It is of concern to WHO and we will be following this with the health authorities in China to know more. But for the time being, it's only three cases and it has shown, for the time being, no human-tohuman transmission," she added. China's National Health and Family Planning Commission said over the weekend that two men, aged 87 and 27, died in Shanghai in early March after being infected with H7N9 avian influenza. The presence of the virus in the victims was only confirmed on Friday. SEOUL: North Korea said on Tuesday that it intended to restart a mothballed nuclear reactor to feed its nuclear arms programme and hinted it may begin openly enriching weapons-grade uranium. A spokesman for the General Department of Atomic Energy said that the country will "readjust" and "restart" all nuclear facilities at the complex, including a uranium enrichment plant and a 5MW graphite moderated reactor that had been "mothballed and disabled under an agreement reached at the six-party talks in October 2007". This was being done with a view to "bolstering the nuclear armed force both in quality and quantity" as well as solving "acute" electricity shortages; the spokesman said. The North shut down the Yongbyon reactor in July 2007 under a six-nation aid-for-disarmament accord. The following summer it destroyed the cooling tower. The reactor was the sole source of plutonium for the North's nuclear weapons programme. The country's remaining plutonium stockpile is believed to be enough for four to eight bombs. North Korea revealed it was enriching uranium in Yongbyon in 2010 when it allowed foreign experts to visit the centrifuge facility there. It insisted at the time that it was solely low-level enrichment for energy purposes. The mention of "readjustment" by the energy spokesman will fuel concerns that it will be transformed, if indeed it has not been already, into a facility for producing weaponsgrade uranium. Many observers believe the North has been producing highly-enriched uranium in secret facilities for years, and that the third nuclear test conducted by the North in February may have been of a uranium bomb. Its previous tests in 2006 and 2009 were both of plutonium devices. The Korean peninsula has been caught in a cycle of escalating tensions since the February atomic test, which followed a long-range rocket launch in December last year. Subsequent UN sanctions and annual South Korea-US military exercises have been used by Pyongyang to justify a wave of increasingly dire threats against Seoul and Washington, including warnings of missile strikes and nuclear war. North Korea has already threatened to strike the US mainland and US bases in the Pacific in response to the participation of nuclear-capable US B-52 and B-2 stealth bombers in the drill. "Despite the harsh rhetoric we're hearing from Pyongyang, we are not seeing changes to the North Korean military posture, such as large-scale mobilizations and positioning of forces," White House spokesman Jay Carney said. It followed a meeting of the ruling party's top leadership on Sunday, at which North Korea's young leader, Kim Jong-Un, stressed the importance of upgrading the country's nuclear arsenal. "Modernization of the atomic energy industry is a key to developing the technology to produce miniaturized, lighter nuclear weapons to a whole new level," Kim said. The next day, the annual session of the North's parliament adopted a law enshrining North Korea's status as a nuclear weapons state. A basic uranium bomb is no more potent than a basic plutonium one, but the uranium enrichment path holds various advantages for the North, which has substantial deposits of uranium ore. Highly enriched uranium is the easiest fissile material with which to make a crude bomb, and the technical know-how and machinery for enriching uranium is more readily transferred and sold.
A 35-year-old woman in the eastern province of Anhui, near Shanghai, was in critical condition with the virus, the commission said. "To date the investigation showed no link between the three cases, but the investigation is still ongoing," said Chaib, adding that 88 individuals who had been in contact with the victims were being monitored. China is considered one of the nation's most at risk from bird flu because it has the world's biggest poultry population and many chickens in
rural areas are kept close to humans. The more common H5N1 strain of avian influenza has killed more than 360 people globally from 2003 until March 12 this year, according to the WHO. "There are a lot of unknowns about this H7N9 infection. We need to further investigate the extent of the outbreak, the source of the infection and the mode of transmission," said Chaib. "For that, China shares information with us, we share it with member states," she added.
KANO: Weekend attacks on three communities in volatile and ethnically divided central Nigeria have left 19 people dead and displaced some 4,500 others, a local official said on
CAIRO: Palestinian militant group Hamas has confirmed the re-election of longtime leader Khaled Mashaal in a vote held in Cairo. The group said the election came after voting by leaders from Gaza, in the West Bank, in exile and those in Israeli jails.
ECONOMY
it will take a call on interest rates keeping in view inflation and other macro-economic parameters such as the growth rate and industrial production. Chidambaram further said, although inflation based on movement in
be a cause of concern. "Core inflation has indeed come down. Headline inflation has also come down but the consumer price inflation is still sticky in double digits and that's what affects the people," the Minister said.
said. Civil Aviation Minister Ajit Singh and Singapore Transport Minister Liu Tuck Yew were present during the signing of the agreement. Singh, in Singapore from April 2 to 4, also exchanged views on air transport issues with Lui. Singh would also discuss the importance of air connec-
tivity in enhancing bilateral trade ties between India and Singapore, with S Iswaran, Singapore's Minister, Prime Minister's Office and Second Minister for Trade & Industry and Home Affairs. Currently, Singapore is linked by air services to 12 Indian cities, having the most frequent flights to India out of Southeast Asia.
MISC
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NADA refuses to test Vijender for heroin, Ministry in a fix
NEW DELHI: The National Anti-Doping Agency's refusal to test star boxer Vijender Singh for heroin has left the Sports Ministry flummoxed and it will wait for a written response from NADA before deciding its next move. The NADA, which is an autonomous body, is willing to conduct a regular out-ofcompetition dope test on Vijender but has expressed its inability to test the Olympic bronze-medallist for heroin citing World Anti-Doping Agency's protocol. In response, the Ministry said it would decide on its next move after getting NADA's reply in writing. "We have not asked NADA to proclaim anything on his guilt but just conduct a test to find out whether he took heroin... the NADA has not conveyed anything to us in writing, let them do that first and then we will think of our stand," Sports Secretary P K Deb said. "We will not be testing Vijender for heroin. We will strictly go by the NADA and WADA code. We are independent and will strictly follow the protocol for out-of-
Katrina Kaif performs during the IPL opening ceremony at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata of Rabindra Sangeet, 'Play hard, play fair'. slowly and smoothly into the Bollywood dance, songs and, Flying drummers, hot air above to the sound of above all, unfettered enthusi- Chinese percussionists, fire- drums, music and the cheers asm as the 2013 leg formally works were the some of the of people, with a performer opened with all the nine team other attractions that were on carrying the winner's trophy. captains taking the ICC offer for the event. After that The 1 hour and 45 minute Spirit of Cricket Pledge, a collection of balloons rose extravaganza, which was
competition testing of an athlete irrespective of what the Sports Ministry has said," NADA director-general Mukul Chatterjee said. "NADA can't go against the WADA code. The blood and urine test will be strictly conducted under the WADA code and the NADA rules. We cannot contradict the Sports Ministry as well as we are being funded by the government," he said. "In the WADA list of prohibited substances for out-ofcompetition, heroin is not there. It's correct that traces of heroin can be found out in a hair sample for a period of more than three months. We can check on heroin within a
time frame of blood and urine sample test...there is a limited time span but the hair sample has a larger time frame. So, neither NADA nor the NDTL can do a hair test because there is no protocol," he explained.On the other hand, despite mounting pressure, Vijender has kept mum on the scandal which is snowballing into a career-threatening controversy for him. The Indian Boxing Federation, which itself is in doldrums after being suspended by the International Boxing Association (AIBA) for "possible manipulation" in elections, has advised Vijender to come clean on the matter.
Young Akhil Bhartiya Swarankar Sangh National Core Committee Member from Jammu Ajay Vaid being felicitated by Harbans Kapoor at Dehradun participation in the day to day redressal of the problem being faced by Swarankar Sangh people in the state. Raj kumar babbar, who received Ajay Vaid at
Abdullah in a message to Parveez, who is all set to play in the IPL for Pune Warriors team, has expressed happiness on his impressive performance this season. "I am extremely happy at
good test for us as some of the best wrestling nations will be participating. The championship will also provide me a good opportunity to access my game before the World Championship later this year," said Geeta. Chief national coach O.P. Yadav believes that the tournament will be an ideal opportunity for Indian
progress in J&K there is need for pooling resources and efforts to further strengthen it. He stressed the need for providing the required support to secure the objective of
constantly increasing the activities of the Scouts. The students who were awarded the Rajya Puraskar included Naina Puri, Shriya Mahajan, Arti Thakur,
Vagisha Mehra, Aasha Sharma, Aditya Kaul, Akshay Kumar Sharma, Ankit Suri, Ajit Singh, Partikshan Badyal, Akhil Abrol.
CHIEF-EDITOR, PUBLISHER, OWNER: Rohit Singh Rana, C.E.O.:Pawan Rathore, DY. CHIEF EDITOR : Vikram Singh Shan, Administrative Head J&K: Vikram Singh Bhandari, LEGAL ADVISOR: Advocate Ashok Parihar PRINTED AT JK PRINTING & PUBLICATIONS, SUJWAN, JAMMU TAWI. For Contributing articles mail us at callme.ranasahib@gmail.com, editor.studentage@gmail.com. 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.)