Daily Paper January 21, 2013

7/29/2019 Daily Paper January 21, 2013

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R E A D T H E N E E D

MONDAY, JANUARY 21, 20138 Pages

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Jammu Edition

www.thestudentage.com

JKENG/2012/41612

Vol. 2 No: 19

IN BRIEFIN BRIEFJaya orders check

dam to store Krishnariver water

CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu gov-

ernment on Sunday proposed

Rs 98.60 crore worth infra-

structure-related projects on

the water front including a

check dam to store Krishna

river water released by

Andhra Pradesh to meet the

drinking water requirements

of the city. As per the meas-

ures contd on page 2

Sri Lanka destroyingTamil culture: KarunanidhiCHENNAI: India should

take efforts to stop Sri Lanka

from destroying Tamil cul-

ture and Hindu religion in the

island nation, DMK president

M. Karunanidhi has said. In a

letter to Prime Minister

Manmohan Singh and

Congress chief Sonia Gandhi

Saturday, copies of which

were released to the media

here contd on page 2

Tunnel on Agra Jaipurhighway opened

JAIPUR: UPA Chairperson

Sonia Gandhi and Prime

Minister Manmohan Singh

Sunday inaugurated Ghat ki

Guni tunnel at Jaipur. This

870 meter long tunnel willease the heavy road traffic on

Jaipur-Agra national high-

way. Chief Minister of

Rajasthan Ashok Gehlot was

also present on the occasion.

The contd on page 2

Manali record season'slowest temperature

SHIMLA: The most popular

tourist destination of

Himachal Pradesh, Manali

Sunday saw the season's low-

est temperature of 6.2

degrees Celsius below freez-

ing point. The temperatures

remained below the freezing

point in many places in the

state, an official of the mete-

orological office said.

Keylong, headquarters of

Lahaul contd on page 2

Flu epidemic grips theUS-29 children dead

WASHINGTON: In the

United States, 29 children

have died due to influenza

infection in the country.

Chief of the Centers for

Disease Control and

Prevention Tom Frieden in

Washington said a flu epi-

demic gripping the nation is

more severe than usual. He

said 30 states and New York

City are reporting high

influenza rates. In New York

a state contd on page 2

France, Africa seekssupport for Malian crisis

Shinde alleges RSS,BJP for promoting

Hindu terrorism

BJP to launch toll-freenumber to attract

people in UP

HeartiestCONGRATULATIONS

TO

Ravinder Raina

BEST WISHES FROM:

Fayaz Ahmad

BJYM, Srinagar

BJP BJP

BJP issues notificationfor presidential poll'ADVANI BATS FOR SUSHMA, RSS

FAVOURS GADKARI'

NEW DELHI: The BJP on Sunday issued

the notification for its Presidential election.

Sources said that Nitin Gadkari is likely to

file his nomination papers on January 23, and

will be elected unopposed if no other nomina-

tion is received. Sources had earlier claimed

that LK Advani had proposed the names of

Sushma Swaraj and Narendra Modi for the

post. However, they say now that both the

leaders have not shown any keenness in hold-

ing the post. contd on page 2

Centre to counterNaxals through

development efforts

NEW DELHI: Notwithstanding repeated

attacks by Maoists, the Centre has decided to

counter ultras through its development efforts

in Naxal-affected areas as it believes such

efforts will weaken the Red base. "We are

making a special effort to bring development

in the Naxal-affected areas. We are hoping

that it will pay contd on page 2

JAIPUR: At the final day of the

Congress' Chintan Shivir in Jaipur,

the party came out with a 56-page

draft declaration in which it stated

that the Congress will boldly and

fearlessly take on political parties

which are elitist, parochial, sectar-

ian or exclusionary. The declara-

tion said that the party will go into

elections on the basis of national-

ism, social justice and economic

growth for all - especially the aam

aadmi and the middle class, and

secularism. It also claimed that the

party will not allow economicgrowth to be undermined by vest-

ed interests. Calling on all secular

and progressive forces to unite,

the declaration added that the

Congress will try and strengthen

its support base, especially with

those it has lost favour with.

Blowing the bugle for the 2014

Lok Sabha elections at the Chintan

Shivir today in Jaipur, Congress

president Sonia Gandhi told party

members to not indulge in nepo-

tism and show unity to face the

challenge of 2014 Lok Sabha elec-

tions. "Only 15 months are left for

elections. If we work with unityand discipline there is no reason

why we won't get people's man-

date again," she said.

Prime Minister Manmohan

Singh Sunday said the Congress

needs to convey its dreams for the

future and strive to fulfill expecta-

tions of the youth. He said the

youth today were more informed

and had more expectations from

the Congress."Our duty is to

understand their expectations," the

prime minister said at an All India

Congress Committee meeting

here. He said the party should con-

vey how it would fulfill those

expectations through its pro-

grammes. "We need to tell what

our dreams for the future are and

how contd on page 2

Chintan Shivir: Congress came out 56-page draft declaration'Congress should lead struggle against corruption': Sonia

'Youth has more expectations from Congress': PM

SRINAGAR, JAN 20: Chief

Minister, Omar Abdullah

Sunday directed for ensuring

home delivery of LPG cylin-

ders to the consumers in

Srinagar city fixing 31st

March, 2013 as dead line. He

also directed for initiating a

time bound road map for put-

ting in place this mechanism

in towns and rural areas.

"LPG dealers should take

immediate necessary action

in this regard and give due

publicity to the schedule of

home delivery so that people

are well aware about it and

do not face any inconven-

ience", he emphasized and

said that the practice of deliv-

ering LPG cylinders to con-

sumers on identified points in

various areas should be done

away with by ensuring home

service by March 31. He

asked the divisional adminis-

tration to take all necessary

measures in this regard and

sensitize LPG dealers

accordingly.

Chairing a high level

meeting to review the status

of restoration of essential

services which were hit due

to recent heavy snow fall, the

Chief Minister also obtained

details about the arrange-

ments made by the adminis-

tration for Eid-i-Milad-un-

Nabi (SAW) and Republic

Day celebrations.

The Chief Minister was

given full account of the sta-

tus of restoration of power

and water supply, road clear-

ance, stock and supply of

essentials and preparedness

of the contd on page 2

JAMMU, JAN 20: On com-

pletion of his three

year tenure as Vice

Chancellor of Shri

Mata Vaishno Devi

University, Prof. R.

N. K. Bamezai is

relinquishing charge

on 21st January,

2013 and returning to

Jawaharlal Nehru University

from where he had come on

deputation.

As per the

Statutes of the

University, Mr. N.

N. Vohra, Governor,

who is Chancellor of

the University, has

constituted a Search

Committee headed by

contd on page 2

Prof. Bamezai completes histenure as VC of SMVDU

Home delivery of LPG cylinders in Srinagar by March 31: Omar

Karunanidhi congratulatesRahul Gandhi

CHENNAI: DMK president M.

Karunanidhi Sunday congratu-

lated Rahul Gandhi on his eleva-

tion as the Congress vice-presi-

dent Saturday. In a faxed letter to

Rahul Gandhi Karunanidhi said:

"Your abiding interest in the

youth of our country and your

earnest commitment to the

advancement of rural areas and

farmers are all well- known.""During your tenure as the

(Congress) vice-president, I am

sure that you will take the party

to a new height," he added.

JAIPUR: The Congress party

Sunday wholeheartedly endorsed

the decision to officially name

Rahul Gandhi the party's no.2 and

voiced optimism it could emerge

victorious in 2014 if it worked in

"the right way" and is "united".

Newly-appointed Congress vice

president Rahul Gandhi Sunday

stressed the need to change the

"centralised system" which is

unaccountable to the people, and

respect the youths' demand for a

greater role in decision-making.

The Congress Working

Committee (CWC), the party's

highest decision making body had

Saturday approved that Rahul

Gandhi be made the party's vice

president keeping in mind the

huge contd on page 2

AICC endorses Rahul as Congress vice president'Change the unaccountable, centralised system': Rahul Gandhi

SRINAGAR: The Jammu-

Srinagar National Highway,

the only road link between

Kashmir and rest of the coun-

try, was today reopened for

one-way traffic after remain-

ing closed for three days due

to heavy snowfall on either

side of the Pir Panjal range.

"One way traffic in a reg-

ulated manner has been

restored on the National

Highway," a traffic depart-

ment spokesman said.

He said vehicles from

Jammu have been allowed to

move towards Srinagar fol-

lowing improvement in

weather and road condition.

However, the vehicles

intending to ply towards

Srinagar were required to

cross Nagrota by 9.00 am,

Udhampur by 12 noon and

Banihal highway town by

5.00 pm, the spokesman said.

He said the decision was

taken to prevent any vehicles

getting stranded in areas

where there are no facilities

available for night stay.

The Highway was closed

on Jan contd on page 2

Jammu-Srinagar national highwayreopens after three days

Six Naxals killed inMaharashtra's

Gadchiroli districtG A D C H I R O L I ,

MAHARASHTRA: Six

Naxals, including two

women cadres, were killed in

an encounter in the wee hours

of today near here in eastern

Maharashtra, police said.

The exchange of fire took

place in the forests near

Govindgaon village in Aheri

taluka contd on page 2

Page 1_Jan_21.qxd 1/21/2013 10:05 AM Page 1


2/8

Chintan Shivir....we will implement them," he said. He said the

Congress should also give correct information

about the United Progressive Alliance govern-

ment's achievements of the past eight years.

Sonia added that there was a need to be sensi-

tive towards people to bring change in the coun-

try. She told party leaders to work for the welfare

of all and not restrict themselves to their

"favourites". Sonia said that there was a need to

explain to people why the government took some

tough economic reform decisions recently.

"Government took few tough decisions due to

economic downturn. We need to explain to public

why those decisions were necessary," she said in

her address on the last day of two-day Chintan

Shivir in Jaipur.

India wants friendly relations with Pakistan,

but it will not be possible unless Pakistan makes

equal efforts, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh

said here Sunday. He said the killing of two Indian

soldiers by Pakistani troops near the Line of

Control may have an effect on bilateral relations.

"The inhuman act of Pakistan along the Line of

Control on January 8 is known to all. We are con-

stantly reviewing our relations with Pakistan and

we have made it clear this incident may have bad

influence on the bilateral relations," Manmohan

Singh at the All India Congress Committee meet.

"Whatever action we will take, it will be after con-

sideration and with great care. We want friendly

relations with Pakistan but they will also have to

try for it. Unless there are efforts from their side,our efforts or wishes will not make it possible," he

said.

Calling corruption a "deep rooted malice",

Congress president Sonia Gandhi Sunday said the

party must lead the 'struggle' to counter its effect.

"Let me reiterate corruption at all levels is a deep

rooted malice and all sections of society are

affected by it. As a party we must lead struggle to

combat its effect," Sonia Gandhi said at the party's

'Chintan Shivir' here.

The 'Chintan Shivir', the Congress' introspec-

tive meet, began here Jan 18 and will conclude

Sunday. The Congress president said corruption

was the main concern of the nation when the party

held its session at Burari in July 2011. Sonia

Gandhi said that a five-point agenda to deal with

corruption was given and the party has moved on

with it. The key among the steps taken was intro-

ducing Lokpal bill in the parliament and introduc-

ing more transparency in process of allocating

natural resources, said the Congress president.

"We have introduced path breaking legislationfor grievance redressal, whistle blowers, and his-

toric 'apka paisa apke hath' (your money in your

hands, the direct cash transfer scheme) initiative,"

she said. Congress has been under severe attack

from opposition and civil society groups for sev-

eral major corruption cases that surfaced during

the tenure of United Progressive Alliance (UPA)

government led by the party. Congress president

Sonia Gandhi Sunday said here the central gov-

ernment was forced to take some "harsh steps"

because of the global economic slowdown.

"When the whole world was dealing with

financial crisis, India was not that badly affected.

But today even India is affected with global eco-

nomic situation. That has forced our government

to take some harsh steps," Sonia Gandhi said on

the last day of the Congress meet here. The

'Chintan Shivir', the Congress party's introspec-

tive meet began here Jan 18 and will conclude

Sunday.

"I know that (economic slowdown) has caused

some problem to the common people, but our

government should explain to the people the steps

they have taken to deal with inflation," she said.

Her statement comes days after the Congress-led

United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government

announced a partial deregulation in diesel prices,

which has been met huge opposition from politi-

cal parties and key allies. The government had

earlier been criticised on its decisions of approv-

ing foreign direct investment in retail, routine hike

in petrol prices, and a cap on subsidised cooking

gas. The Congress here appealed to the country's

secular forces to join its ideological battle against

the divisive forces in the society and condemned

the opposition's "obscurantist philosophies". The

draft Jaipur Declaration, being debated by the All

India Congress Committee delegates here, "calls

on all secular and progressive forces of the coun-

try to unite in this ideological battle against those

who polarise and divide our society." "The

Congress rejects the outdated ideologies and

obscurantist philosophies of the opposition parties

and recommits itself to the principles of econom-

ic growth and social justice which have come to

define the inclusive growth model of the

Congress-led UPA government," said the draft

declaration. The draft declaration has emerged

from the two days of brainstorming (Jan 18-19)

by cabinet ministers and party leaders at a brain-

storming session, 'Chintan Shivir', to draw a

roadmap for the 2014 general elections. The

Congress rejected opposition's ideologies and said

it was committed to economic growth which led

to social welfare defining the United Progressive

Alliance (UPA) government's model of inclusive

growth.

Under attack over slow response to public

protests in the wake of the gangrape incident in

Delhi, Sonia said people were right in demanding

answers and actions in the case as safety of

women was a fundamental right. The sacrifice of

the girl who was brutally raped and assaulted in a

bus in December, 2012 would not be in vain as it

has shaken the conscience of the nation, she said

in her address. Gandhi said the young gangrape

victim was "tragically the symbol of women and

children who suffer similar fate" in the wake of

denial of justice.

She also said the atrocities on women and chil-

dren was a reflection of "shameful" social mindset

which needed to be changed. In her opening

remarks, she deprecated the "shocking remarks"

made by public figures in the wake of the rape

incident and said they were unacceptable. Sonia

said the UPA government has drafted laws for

women's empowerment like providing them pro-

tection against sexual harassment at workplace

and providing them better representation in pan-

chayats.

The Congress president said she would person-

ally press for the passage of the Women's

Reservation Bill pending in the Lok Sabha. She

made a strong pitch for electoral reforms and

political funding saying people are getting disillu-

sioned with the political process and there is a

need to address the issue with sensitivity. "We

have to admit that people are getting disillusioned

with the political process. We have to understand

what the causes of this disillusionment are and we

have to do away with this with sensitivity," Sonia

said striking an introspective note. She also want-

ed that the attempts to tarnish the image of politi-

cal politicians and democratic institutions shouldbe countered. Sonia also announced setting up of

a special group within the party which would con-

sider all suggestions and come out with a pro-

gramme at the earliest. "We have to make now

time bound programmes to do it," she said.

AICC endorses ....

demand from workers to give him a bigger role

in the run up to the 2014 general elections. A day

after the Congress Working Committee, the

party's highest policy-making body, unanimously

passed a resolution naming Rahul Gandhi the vice

president, over 1,200 delegates of the All India

Congress Committee at the 'Chintan Shivir' here

raised their hands to endorse the decision.

Giving his maiden speech after being elevated

to the post of vice president, Rahul thanked

Congress leaders and all his supporters. "This is a

huge honour for me. Over the past 8 years the

party has taught me tremendously. I have learnt

from seniors, youngsters and thanks to all the help

which I got from botton of my heart," Rahul toldthe Congress gathering.

Speaking at the All India Congress Committee

(AICC) meeting here, the Gandhi scion raised the

issue of youth anger spilling on the streets. "There

is a young and impatient India demanding voice

in decision making and politics," Rahul said.

Raising the deficiencies in the India's political

system, the Congress vice president asked, "Why

do handful of people occupy political space.

Power is centralised in system. We don't believe

in empowering people." "People who are corrupt

talk about eradicating corruption, people who dis-

grace women in daily life talk about women

development," he added.

Emphasising on empowering people who have

immense knowledge but are deprived of posi-

tions, Rahul said that the time has come to ques-

tion decision making in politics as only a handful

are being empowered. Rahul Gandhi who will be

leading the Congress campaign for upcoming

2014 General elections, came down heavily on the

Opposition parties and criticized them for terming

the Aadhar scheme as bribing the people.

Rahul underlined the benefits of schemes like

MNREGA, Food Bill, Right to Education, Direct

cash transfer scheme. On an emotional note he

reminisced the time when his grandmother, Indira

Gandhi was killed and how his father had cried

then. He also said that he was aware of the huge

responsibility that had been bestowed on his

shoulders. Rahul revealed that his mother, Sonia

Gandhi had cried when they were together yester-

day night because she knew that power was akin

to poison.

Prof. Bamezai...

Dr. S. S. Bloeria, Vice Chancellor of the

Central University, Jammu, to recommend a panel

of candidates for the selection of a suitable suc-

cessor of Prof. Bamezai. The selection process is

at an advanced stage and the new Vice Chancellor

of SMVDU is likely to take over shortly. In the

meantime, to run the affairs of the University, the

Chancellor has directed his Principal Secretary,

Mr. Navin K. Choudhary, to officiate as the Vice

Chancellor of the University with Prof. M. L.

Garg, School of Computer Sciences and

Engineering, functioning as Coordinator, to help

the officiating VC in dealing with Academic

issues, till the new Vice Chancellor takes over.

Reacting to reports in a section of media, Dr.

Mandeep Bhandari, Additional CEO of the Shri

Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board maintained that

the University is run in the best professional man-

ner as per its Statutes, with the Vice Chancellor

taking all required decisions and, as in other

Universities, the University Council of the

SMVDU is its supreme policy decision making

body.

Home delivery....

administration to face eventualities on account

of weather vagaries and heavy snow fall.

Omar Abdullah directed the administration for

providing all facilities to the people on and during

the days of Holy Eid-i-Milad-un-Nabi (SAW).

"You should ensure adequate transport, electricity,

water supply and essentials to the people", he

directed the administration.

Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, Dr. Asgar

Samoon presented resume of the restoration

works and said that all arrangements have been

made for Eid-i-Milad-un-Nabi (SAW) and

Republic Day celebrations across the Valley.

Responding to issues relating to the coaching

centres brought to his notice in the meeting, the

Chief Minister said that while sensitizing the

coaching centres about fulfilling legal require-

ments for registrations, the education of the stu-

dents should not get hampered. He said the own-

ers of coaching centres should be made fully

aware of the requirements they are required to ful-

fill under the law without telling upon the educa-

tion of students.

The Chief Minister also reviewed the function-

ing of health institutions and received complete

brief about their functioning and service delivery

to the people.

Those who participated in the meeting includ-

ed Minister for R&B, Abdul Majid Wani, Minister

of State for Industries and Commerce, Sajad

Ahmad Kitchloo, Divisional Commissioner,

Kashmir, Dr. Asgar Samoon, IG Kashmir, S. M.

Sahai, Heads of the Departments, divisional offi-cers and representatives of BEACON and Oil

Companies.

Six Naxals....

of the district, about 200 km from Nagpur, in

south eastern Vidarbha.

A police team was on a routine anti-Naxal

operation in the jungles of Govindgaon last night

when they were fired upon by the rebels.

The patrolling party returned fire and in the

ensuing gunfight at least six Maoists, including

two women, were killed, police said, adding they

are yet to be identified.

All the bodies have been brought to Aheri

police headquarters in the district, they said.

The encounter continued for a few hours and

ended at around 2.30 am, according to reports

received here. Some senior members of a local

dalam (armed unit) may be among those killed,

police said.

This is the first time that so many Naxals have

been killed in Gadchiroli, the district worst affect-ed by Left-wing extremism in the state.

Jammu-Srinagar....

17 as a precautionary measure in view of the

expected snowfall. However, all the stranded

vehicles were allowed to proceed to their respec-

tive destinations yesterday afternoon.

The 294-km arterial road, the only all weather

link connecting Kashmir to rest of the country

often gets closed during winter due to snowfall.

Centre to counter ....

dividend," Rural Development Minister Jairam

Ramesh said.

Ramesh's contention comes just days after

Naxalites planted a bomb inside the stomach of a

dead CRPF jawan after killing 11 of them in

Jharkhand's Latehar district last week. They also

stunned the nation by firing at an IAF helicopter

in the dense Dantewada forests in Chhattisgarh,

injuring one policeman onboard.

The government is particularly enthused by the

recent revelation of a surrendered Naxal that its

strategy to facilitate development in addition to

frequent combing operations have hit the very

base of the Maoists hiding in "liberated Red cor-

ridors" of the forests. "We have made an effort...

We have started special plans like Saranda

Development Plans in such areas. It will take at

least 5 years to bring peace in these areas,"

Ramesh said while reacting to surrendered Maoist

Badarpu Mallaiyya's reported revelation that the

CPI Maoist leadership was worried over security

operations and development efforts undertaken by

government. Saranda Development Plan is the

government's first systematic experiment in com-

bining a security-oriented and development-

focused approach in Maoist-affected areas on a

large scale. It was implemented after CRPF and

the state police jointly "liberated" Saranda of West

Singbhum district of Jharkhand in August, 2011

from 11 years of Maoist control. Centre has now

decided to replicate the model in other tribal-dom-

inated areas in the country, said Ramesh, who has

already travelled 40 Naxal-affected districts in the

country to assess the implementation of develop-

ment programmes. Government initiatives like

giving tribals the right to sell their forest products

like bamboo have also started paying dividend, he

claimed.

BJP issues ....

Sources said that Gadkari remains the consensus

candidate, with even Modi throwing his weight

behind him. Advani, however, remained doubtful

of his renomination especially after the string of

corruption charges against him.Till last week,

there was an exercise between Advani's camp and

the RSS to arrive at a consensus candidate.

According to the sources, Advani had reservation

about Gadkari getting a second term because of

charges about dubious funding of Purti Group

with which he was associated.

RSS has been pitching for a second term for

Gadkari with Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat him-

self backing him. It feels that Gadkari who took

over soon after the BJP's second consecutive Lok

Sabha poll defeat should lead the party in the next

elections.

Jaya orders ...

announced by Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, the

check dam will be constructed across river

Kotralai in neighbouring Tiruvallore district at an

estimated cost of Rs 35 crore to store Krishna

water. Under an agreement, Tamil Nadu is entitled

to get annually 12 TMC of Krishna water from

Andhra Pradesh. Besides, she ordered implemen-

tation of various other projects including desilting

and deepening of lakes, approach canals, check

dams, lake-renovation and water projects across

Vaigai and Cauvery rivers for Sivaganga and

Srirangam would be taken up, an official release

said.

Sri Lanka ....

Sunday, Karunanidhi said: "As the world's largest

democracy and a country of diverse languages

and religions, India has a moral obligation to stop

this atrocity immediately by using its good

offices."

Sri Lankan is carrying out an intensive and

systematic programme of erasing the Tamil lan-guage, culture, religion and diluting the concen-

tration of Tamils in areas where they had histori-

cally been predominant, Karunanidhi alleged.

He said the Sri Lankan government is renam-

ing Tamil villages and redrawing village, district

and town boundaries while Hindu temples are

being razed.

Karunanidhi said the Sri Lankan government

is not allocating funds for resettlement and reha-

bilitation of internally displaced Tamil families.

The Sri Lankan government is promoting

"Sinhala settlements on Tamil land and Sinhala

takeover of the economic life of Tamil areas,

which improvises the Tamils and the deployment

of army camps to intimidate the Tamils"

According to him, 89 Tamil villages have been

renamed with Sinhala names, 367 Hindu temples

have been demolished and there are 148 mini and

13 army camps in the war-ravaged Mullaitivu dis-

trict alone.

Tunnel on ....

state government has spent 178 crore rupees on

the construction of this tunnel. It is interconnect-

ed at two places and well equipped with modern

security and safety technology. It is first toll proj-

ect of Jaipur but light motor vehicle will be

exempted from the toll.

Manali record...

and Spiti, was the coldest at a minimum tempera-

ture of minus 12.5 degrees Celsius. Kalpa in

Kinnaur district recorded a low of minus 10

degrees Celsius, while the temperature was 0.3

degrees Celsius in Shimla and 4.6 degrees in

Dharamsala, the venue of the fifth and final ODI

between India and England Jan 27.

Himachal Pradesh Road Transport Corporation

has started a bus service for Rohru and Chopal

areas in Shimla district via Vikasnagar in

Dehradun district in Uttarakhand. Officials said

vehicular traffic on Theog-Rohru road via

Kharapathar, the shortest route, remained snapped

on the third day as a thick blanket of snow cov-

ered the road. For Rampur town and Kinnaur dis-

trict from Shimla town, buses were plying via

Dhami and Basantpur. It would take another two

to three days to restore traffic to upper Shimla

towns, officials said.

The road connectivity on the Kullu-Manali

highway too remained snapped near Patlikuhl,

some 20 km before Manali. District Tourism

Officer Balbir Thakur said electricity in Manali

town was restored Saturday evening and the traf-

fic from Kullu to the town would be restored

soon. The Met department's forecast said a feeble

western disturbance - storm systems originating in

the Caspian Sea and moving across the

Afghanistan-Pakistan region - would again be

active Jan 23.

Flu epidemic....

of emergency has been declared over the crisis.

Frieden said more than five thousand people have

required hospitalization to treat their flu symp-

toms.

Militant hideout busted inBaramulla, arms recover

SRINAGAR,JAN 20: Security forces on Sunday

busted a militant hideout in north Kashmir's

Baramulla district and recovered a cache of arms

and ammunition, police said. Police carried out a

joint operation with the army and busted the hide-

out in Sangri forests of Magam area, a police

spokesman said. Two AK 47 rifles, one AK mag-

azines, 15 AK rounds, three Chinese pistol

rounds, two RPG rounds, two grenades and four

UBGL rounds were recovered from the hide out.

No arrests have been made so far, he added.

STUDENT AGE

MONDAY, JANUARY 21, 20132

Contd. from page 1... Australia, UK signsTreaty for Defence andSecurity Cooperation

LONDON: Australia and the UK have signed

the Treaty for Defence and Security

Cooperation strengthening their long-standing

relationship.

Australian Minister for Defence Stephen

Smith and United Kingdom Secretary of State

for Defence, The Right Honourable Philip

Hammond sign the treaty during the Australia-

United Kingdom Ministerial Consultations in

Perth, Western Australia.

The treaty formalised the longstanding and

extensive defence cooperation between

Australia and the United Kingdom, the

Australian MoD said in a statement.

The treaty will see the two countries work-

ing together in areas such as cyber security,

defence reform, personnel exchange, equip-

ment, and science and technology, it said.

With both Britain and Australia due to build

new frigates in the coming years, UK's

Defence Secretary agreed with his Australian

counterpart to explore the possibility of co-

operation over mutual design work for the

Royal Navy's new type 26 global combat ship

- a design that could meet the needs of the

Royal Australian Navy, the UK MoD said.

AUKMIN is the premier forum for

Australian and UK foreign and defence minis-

ters to discuss strategic, foreign, security and

defence matters of common concern.

CIA likely to get moreexemption to continue

drone strikesWASHINGTON: The Obama administration

is nearing completion of a detailed counterter-

rorism manual that is designed to establish

clear rules for targeted-killing operations but

leaves open a major exemption for the CIA's

campaign of drone strikes in Pakistan, U.S.

officials said.

US Central Intelligence Agency will be

allowed to continue its campaign of drone

strikes in Pakistan for a year or more under a

new detailed counter-terrorism manual,

according to a media report.

The document, which is expected to be sub-

mitted to President Barack Obama for final

approval within weeks, marks the culmination

of a year-long effort by the White House to

codify its counter-terrorism policies and createa guide for lethal operations through Obama's

second term, the influential daily said.

"The decision to allow the CIA strikes to

continue was driven in part by concern that the

window for weakening Al Qaeda and the

Taliban in Pakistan is beginning to close, with

plans to pull most US troops out of neighbour-

ing Afghanistan over the next two years," it

said. CIA drones are flown out of bases in

Afghanistan.

Among the proposed stringent rules are

requirements for White House approval of

drone strikes and the involvement of multiple

agencies - including the State Department - in

nominating new names for kill lists, the Post

said.

None of those rules applies to the CIA

drone campaign in Pakistan, which began

under President George W. Bush, it said.

1st round of Pulse Polio

programme begins in DodaDODA, JAN 20: Like other parts of the coun-

try, the 1st round of Nationwide Pulse Polio

Programme from 20th to 22nd of January 2013

for the children between 0-5 years of age start-

ed in Doda today, District Development

Commissioner Doda Mr. Farooq Ahmed Khan

kick started the programme at New District

Hospital Doda by administering Polio drops to

the children. Chief Medical Officer Doda

besides Doctors and senior functionaries of the

Health Department were present in the pro-

gramme. While speaking on the aims and

objectives of the programme, DDC said that

Polio Immunization programme is a

Campaign by the Government of India to erad-

icate Poliomyelitis (Polio) in India by vacci-

nating all children under the age of five years

against Polio virus. DDC said that 610

Pulse Polio Immunization Booths have been

established to provide vaccine to 78518 chil-

dren. He also revealed that 2440 workers have

been engaged for Booths and house to house

activities which comprises of 680 workers

from health department, 520 from ICDS, 975

ASHA workers and Voluntary workers, and

265 from Education Department.

DDC said to ensure achievement of the

desired targets 122 supervisors and 4 Zonal

Monitors have been engaged in the District to

monitor the 3 day vaccination programme

effectively so that every child in the age group

of 0-5 years gets Polio vaccine for healthy life.

DDC enjoined upon the people of the

District to bring their children who are of 0-5

years old to the nearest Pulse Polio Booth and

immunize them against the Polio virus for

their safe and secure growth.

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3/8

STATESTUDENT AGE


NEWS IN BOX

Nasir meet health minister,raised various demands

JAMMU,JAN 20: Prominent Congress leader from

Kishtwar and former president DYCC Sheikh Nasir Hussain

Advocate meet health minister Shabir Ahmad Khan and

extended his gratitude to him on assuming the charge of

health department. While congratulating the new health min-

ister, Sheikh Nasir expressed his hope that Shabir Ahmad

Khan being young and dynamic leader will bring reforms in

the department. Sheikh Nasir also raised various demands

pertaining to health sector in mountainous district Kishtwar.

Besides posting of specialist doctors at district Hospital

Kishtwar, he also demanded engagement of more doctors for

rural areas. Sheikh Nasir has expressed hope that the new

Minister for Health Shabir Ahmed Khan would positively

look into their genuine demands.

Shabir Ahmad Khan after patiently hearing him assured

that the genuine and justified demands will be looked into

and every possible steps will be taken to provide better

health care facility in the area.

Lone grieved over sad demiseof NC block president Sumbal

JAMMU, JAN 20: Minister for higher education

Mohammad Akbar Lone today expressed his grief and sor-

row over the sad demise of Senior Block President J&K

National Conference, block Sumbal Mr. Ghulam

Mohammad Reashi who passed yesterday at his native place

Nasibal. In his condolence message, the Minister said that

late Reashi was a social worker and throughout his life he

fought for the cause of the people. Mr. lone further said thathis contribution to the party are remarkable and will be

remembered always. The Minister also expressed his sym-

pathy with the bereaved family and prayed for eternal peace

to the departed soul.

Kishtwar Congress hailsinduction of Wani and Vikar

KISHTWAR, JAN 20: District Congress Committee

Kishtwar has hailed the induction of Abdul Majeed Wani and

Vikar Rasool Wani in the council of ministers. In a statement

issued to the press the Congress leaders including District

President Pardeep Singh Parihar, Block Presidents Nek Ram

Manhas, Haji Ghulam Hassan Mir, Sadiq Wani, Ab. Salam

Malik, Master Kashmiri Lal, Mohd. Hussain Akhoon,

Former President DYCC Sheikh Nasir Hussain Advocate,

senior leaders Brij Lal Sharma, Prakash Ram Bhagat,

Prakash Ram Sharma, Ghulam Mohd, IYC President

Kishtwar assembly Nadeem Iqbal, Tauseef Iqbal Butt, PCC

Labour Cell President Suresh Sharma, and Altaf Hussain

Malik have expressed gratitude to the party high command,

PCC President Prof. Saif-ud-Din Soz and union ministerGhulam Nabi Azad for inducting two MLAs of Congress in

the council of minister from Chenab region. The leaders have

said that Abdul Majeed Wani is a man of caliber and during

his previous tenure as MOS he has displayed excellent piece

of work and by his induction the party has taken a very wise

decision. They have further said that Vikar Rasool Wani

being young , dynamic and energetic leader will also come to

the expectations of the public in general and the party in par-

ticular. While praising former CM and union health minister

Ghulam Nabi Azad and PCC president Prof Saif-uddin Soz,

the leaders have said that both the leaders have taken a very

wise decision by nominating two honest and dedicated MLA

from Chenab region for the ministerial berths. Expressing

faith over the leadership, Kishtwar Congress leaders have

said that they are hopeful that in future also both the leaders

will take further decision in strengthening the party in

Chenab region. However the Congress leaders have also

extended their congratulations to the local MLA of coalition

partner NC Sajad Ahmad Kichloo on his induction in the

council of ministers.

Rs. 82.32 Cr being spent onbridges of Bye Pass road projectSRINAGAR, JAN 20: The Minister for Works, Mr. Abdul

Majid Wani inspected the execution of work on five major

bridges on Bye Pass road project at a cost of Rs. 82.32 crore.

The projects include Tengpora Fly Over bridge, Hyderpora,

Chanapora, Padshahi Bagh and Lasjan bridges.

The Minister was informed that Rs. 20.72 crore are being

spent on Tengpora bridge, Rs. 34.84 crore on Hyderpora

bridge, Rs. 8.97 crore on Chanapora Bye Pass bridge, Rs.

4.76 crore on Padshahi bridge and Rs. 13.21 crore on Lasjan

bridge are being spent judiciously. Besides, Rs. 9.90 crore

project of bridge at Convent School was also inspected by

the Minister where 80 percent work has been completed and

100 percent target will be completed by March, 2013.

The Minister was apprised that 80 percent work has been

completed n these projects.

The Minister impressed upon the engineers to complete

all the projects in a stipulated time frame so that people in

general are benefited. The Minister was accompanied by

Chief Engineers, R&B, Mr. Mushtaq Ahmad, Chief

Engineer, Mechanical Engineering, Superintending

Engineer, R&B and other officers.

Special Transits booth setup at Katra for PPIKATRA, JAN 20: Commandant 6th Battalion CRPF Sunil

Kumar in presence of Deputy CMO Reasi Dr. K. C. Dogra

and BMO Katra Dr. Gopal Dutt inaugurated Ist round of

pulse polio immunization. BMO Katra informed that besides

covering local population, special transits booth and mobile

team are engage to cover the children of visiting pilgrims.

There are total 64 booth in whole block, six transits

teams and two mobile teams in block Katra to cover the chil-

dren's of visiting pilgrims under this national programme.

He said that transits team will work round the clock for

three days and will immunize children of the visiting pil-

grims.

SRINAGAR, JAN 20: In connec-

tion with the first phase of Pulse

Polio Immunization campaign as

many as 10,48,369 children were

administered Pulse Polio drops at

various district and Tehsil headquar-

ters of Valley today.

In Pulwama, the Deputy

Commissioner, Mr. Shafaat Noor

Barlas administered pulse polio

drops to the children upto 5 years of

age at Old District Hospital

Pulwama and Chief Medical Office

Pulwama.

Addressing after launching the

drive, the Deputy Commissioner

Pulwama said that as many as

64,723 children of 0-5 years are

being administered Pulse Polio

drops today for which 1616 officials

of Health department have been

deployed at 404 Pulse Polio Centres

in the district.

Mr. Noor emphasized that

healthy society guarantees a devel-

oped nation depending on healthy

and sound children. He called upon

the people to come forward and

avail medicare facilities kept avail-

able for them in Health institutions

free of cost and ensure immuniza-

tion against dreaded disease to safe-

guard their children.

Earlier the Deputy

Commissioner Shopian, Mr. Javid

Ahmad Khan also launched Pulse

Polio at District Hospital Shopian

and administered Pulse Polio drops

to the children.

The Deputy Commissioner

Shopian after launching the drive

said that as many as 51,510 children

of 0-5 years age are being adminis-

tered Pulse Polio drops today in dis-

trict Shopian for which 1064 offi-

cials of Health department &

Supervisors have been deployed at

266 Pulse Polio Centres.

Mr. Javid exhorted upon the

medical fraternity to work with mis-

sionary spirit to administer the pulse

polio drops to the children of the

district and achieve the targets in

full.

Meanwhile, Pulse Polio vaccina-

tion campaign was kicked off in

Budgam district by Deputy

Commissioner, Khurshid Ahmad

Shah.

As many as 578 Polio booths

have been set up in the district to

administer the drops to about

1,05,375 children in age group of 0-

5 years. The Chief Medical Officer,

Budgam informed that 2,312 booth

workers and 116 Supervisors were

deputed at these Polio booths across

the district. Similar Pulse Polio

Immunization campaign was organ-

ized at Anantnag, Kulgam,

Ganderbal, Baramulla, Kupwara,

Leh, Kargil and Bandipora.

Large numbers of children were

given Pulse Polio Immunization

drops in these districts. The Deputy

Commissioners of the respective

districts were personally monitoring

the campaign.

Pulse Polio immunization campaign kicks off in Kashmir Valley

JAMMU,JAN 20: The five day

5th Science Camp Under

Innovation in Science Pursuits for

Inspired Research (INSPIRE)Program of Department of

Science and Technology ( DST)

(Govt. Of India) concluded at

Brig. Rajinder Singh Auditorium,

University of Jammu here today.

The five day Camp was organ-

ized by Department of Science

and Technology, Govt. of India in

collaboration with PG

Department Of Geology

University Of Jammu for the

School children's of 11th of

Science stream who secured more

then 80% marks in their Board

examination. More than 265

Students from 24 Schools of

Jammu Province participated in

this Camp.

Experts from all over the coun-

try shared their knowledge with

the students participating in the

Camp which include Prof. A.S

Brar, Vice Chancellor Guru

Nanak Dev University, Prof

Shalabh, IIT, Kanpur, Prof

Avinash Khare, DU, Prof V Sri

Nivas, TIFR, Mumbai and many

others. An inter-School Quiz

Competition was also organised in

which 12 Schools took part and

out of which four teams reached

to the final. KC Public Schoolbagged the Winner Up Trophy

while as Presentation Convent

won the Runner up Trophy. The

Quiz Competition was conducted

by Mrs. Nishima and Mr. Jawaz

Iqubal. All the participants were

given certificates. The proceeding

of the function was conducted by

Ms. Rajni Magotra.

Among others Prof S.K

Pandey, Prof Yashpal Sharma,

Prof S.K Pandita, Prof KK

Kapoor, Principals of different

Schools, teachers, Scholars and

Students were also present on the

occasion

Five day 5th Science Camp concludes Jan Skinder hails RahulGandhi's elevation asAICC Vice President

JAMMU, JAN 20:

J&K Youth CongressState Secretary, Jan

Skinder today hailed

Youth Icon Rahul

Gandhi's elevation as

the Vice-President of

the All India Congress

Committee (AICC).

He gave hearty con-

gratulations on his taking over as the Vice-

President of the AICC".

"Your abiding interest in the youth of our

country and your earnest commitment to the

advancement of the rural areas and the farm-

ers are well known", he said adding "During

your tenure as the AICC Vice-President, I am

quite sure that you will take the Congress

Party to new heights".

Clear all snowbound village roads:

Saifullah directsdistrict administration

JAMMU, JAN 20: Minister for Law, Justice

and Parliamentary Affairs, Mir Saifullah has

directed the district administration Kupwara

to press all men and machinery to open all the

snow bound interior roads of the district that

are still closed due to the recent heavy snow-

fall.

Appreciating the administration for acting

swiftly to clear all the main roads of the dis-

trict on day first, the Minister stressed upon

the administration to clear all the link roads of

the border district particularly the far off

roads of the area of Budnambal, Jumgund,

Kralpora, Dardsun, Panzgam of Kupwara,

Kalaroos,Tikipora, Haithpora, Kurhama,

Lalpora of Lolab, Mawar, Nowagam of

Langate and Viilgam , Zachaldra area of

Handwara so that stranded movement of peo-

ple is restored at the earliest. He said the

clearance of all road communications particu-

larly rural areas of the district is priority of the

administration to ensure hassle free move-

ment of the local populace otherwise the

roads could become slippery due to dry

weather and freezing temperature.

Mr. Mir also asked the Bacon authorities

to accelerate their men and machinery for

immediate reopening of Kupwara- Tangdhar

road. The Minister directed the Deputy

Commissioner Kupwara to monitor personal-

ly the restoration of electricity particularly in

far off villages and ensure availability of

ration, K.Oil, Cooking gas and other essen-

tials in every area of the district so that people

could not face any inconvenience. He further

directed that Disaster Management

Committees at district level need to be opera-

tionalize to set the defected public delivery

system back on rails.

Taj kicks off PulsePolio immunization

programmeJAMMU, JAN 20: Minister for Medical

Education, Youth Services and Sports, Mr. Taj

Mohi-ud-Din this morning kicked off the

pulse polio immunization programme at

SMGS hospital Jammu.

The Minister reached the pediatric block

of the hospital in the morning and formally

kick started today's pulse polio programme by

administered two drops to a young baby.

Principal GMC, Jammu, Dr. Anece

Chowdhary, Medical Superintendent SMGS,

Dr. Dara Singh and other faculty besides large

number of parents of the young kids were

present on the occasion.

VC, Jammu University presenting momento to student participating in thecamp at Jammu.

JAMMU, JAN 20: Vice

President J&K Pradesh Youth

Congress Mr. Pranav Shagotra

distributed winter material

among the distressed and cold-

stricken people, in Jammu east.

Mr. Pranav handed over the

winter material, including blan-

kets, among hundreds of dis-

tressed people at Bawe wali gali

in Jammu east. Pranav Shagotra

was the chief guest of the distri-

bution programme arranged by

State President Youth INTUC

Mr. Prikshit, youth leaders

Dansih Mir, Arif Wani, Adil

Khan and Manjeet Singh. On this

occasion Mr. Pranav was accom-

panied by Abid Kashmiri

General Secretary PYC.

The distressed people, includ-

ing women and children,

received the winter blankets

from Vice President PYC Pranav

Shagotra in a disciplined manner.

At that time, Mr. Pranav

embraced the distressed people

and enquired about their wellbe-

ing. Pranav also heard the prob-

lems being faced by the locals

and assured that the same will be

projected before the concerned

authorities for redereesal.

Speaking on this occasion Mr.

Pranav Shagotra said that

Congress party is aware about

the sufferings of the people and

is committed for the betterment

and welfare of "Aam Admi". He

said that the Congress party and

Sh. Rahul Gandhi is very keen to

uplift the down trodden and dis-

tressed people. He said that in

future more such welfare pro-

grammes will be organized. He

further said that Congress is

committed for overall develop-

ment of the far flung areas and

various policies have been

framed at the central and state

level to usher a new era of peace

and development and to uplift

the poors.

He said that Congress is the

only party which is committed

for the development of all

regions of the state. He said that

UPA has launched several wel-

fare schemes for the down trod-

den and poors like MGNREGA,

IAY, NRHM and TSC besides

pumping huge funds to the state.

Besides Pranav Shagotra,

Abid Kashmiri, Sheikh Nasir

from Kishtwar, Anoop Gupta,

Jagjyot, Amit Gandotra, Nitin

Sharma, Anil Kumar, Vishal

Gupta, and Irfan also spoke on

the occasion and appreciated the

efforts of the organizers for

arranging the welfare pro-

gramme.

Pranav distributes winter material among distressed

Children being administered Pulse Polio drops in Kashmir Valley.

Shabir directs distt. Adm.Rajouri, Poonch for early

restoration of snowdamaged infrastructure

JAMMU, JAN 20: Ministerof State for Health, Mr. Shabir

Ahmed Khan today asked

District Development

Commissioners, Rajouri and

Poonch to gear up administra-

tion and put in place men and

machinery for rapid snow

clearance especially from main

roads of the Districts. "Roads

leading to remote areas should

also be cleared to ensure free

vehicular movement for con-

venience of the people", he

instructed. Mr. Shabir today

rang up to District

Development Commissioner,

Rajouri and instructed him to

direct concerned Power

Development Department

functionaries to ensure early

restoration of power supply to

the consumers affected due to

heavy snow fall. The Minister

also asked the DDCs to ascer-

tain damages caused to trans-

mission lines and other public

utilities due to recent snow fall

in Rajouri and Poonch districts

so that necessary action from

the government would be

taken for immediate facilita-

tion of the inhabitants of these

areas. The Minister also called

upon the district administration

of these Districts to ensure ade-

quate ration, health care and

drinking water facilities to the

people.

JAMMU, JAN 20:Saying that for-

mulation of roadmap for faster, sus-

tainable and more inclusive growthis the fulcrum of State's planning

and budgeting, the Minister for

Finance & Ladakh Affairs, Mr. A.R.

Rather on Sunday said that all the

possibilities and opportunities will

be pooled to make the budget pro-

posals for ensuing financial year

representative to the needs and aspi-

rations of the people.

Speaking to the members and

representatives of PHDCC,

Institute of Public Opinion,

Industrial Associations of IGC

Samba, Bari Brahmana, Kathua

Gangyal and various Transport

Associations of Jammu on the sec-

ond consecutive day of pre-budget

discussions, Mr. Rather said while it

was endeavor of the Government to

make the budget proposals pro-peo-

ple and business friendly, the trade

and Industry too has an obligation

to cooperate with the tax enforcing

agencies at various levels, keeping

in view the revenue interests of the

State and ensure that there is zero

tax evasion. "Revenue mobilization

is pivotal for development and

progress of a resource starved State

like J&K and it should be the joint

responsibility of all the stake hold-

ers including trade, industry and the

Government in itself to make no

compromise in this regard." Mr.

Rather asserted and asked the busi-

ness community to aspire for more

tax concessions and incentives only

proportionate to the State's revenue

resources. He said despite having

meager resources, the Government

has extended unprecedented taxrelief to the people especially trade

and industry during last 3 years,

which is in itself a record in the his-

tory of the State. He said instead of

levying fresh taxes, it has been pre-

ferred to bring further reforms and

improvements in the existing tax

and fiscal management system

which has paid rich dividends,

resulting in two fold increase in tax

revenue of the State in 3 years, from

Rs. 2600 Crore in 2009 to Rs. 5500

Crore in 2012-13.

The Economic Advisor to the

Government, Mr. Jalil Ahmed

Khan, Financial Commissioner

Finance, Mr. Iqbal Khandey,

Commissioner Commercial Taxes,

Kifayat Hussain Rizvi, Additional

Commissioner Commercial Taxes

(Adm.) Jammu, Mr. P.I. Khateeb,

Special Secretary Finance, Mr.

Zubair Ahmed, Deputy


(HQ) Mr. Showkat Aijaz, Deputy


(Audit), Ms. Anoo and Deputy


Executive, Ms. Anuradha were also

present in the meeting.

The Minister said, with a view to

mitigate hardships of the business

community on account of traffic

jams and wastage of time in tax

clearance, the Government has

recently commissioned one of the

best in the country, fully computer-

ized New Toll Plaza at Lakhanpur

hoping that it will prove a turn-

around in the promotion of trade

and industrial growth in the State."But traders shall have to abide by

the rules and regulations to ensure

zero percent tax evasions and law

violations adding that it was dis-

heartening to note that 24000 sus-

pected violations have been report-

ed at the Toll Post in last fiscal

against only 2% seizures, though

Government follows the policy of

"no seizures" at all. He said only

random 4-5 vehicles are presently

detained for physical checks at the

Toll Plaza, Lakhanpur, adding that

the Government endeavors to fur-

ther minimize such checks for con-

venience of the business and trans-

porters fraternity. He said taxable

imports recorded at Commercial

Taxes Checkpost Lakhanpur have

increased from Rs. 4275 Crore in

the year 2000-2001 to Rs. 21544.26

Crore upto ending November of the

current financial year whereas

exports during the same period rose

from Rs. 904 Crore to Rs. 8598

Crore.

The delegations presented their

memoranda of demands and raised

various issues which mainly includ-

ed VATremiss ion extension, annual

assessment of raw material/finished

goods for toll tax exemption, 3%

interest subsidy to industrial units

set up prior to 2002 also, reduction

in electricity duty, amnesty scheme

by PDD, creation of new industrial

estates and marketing support to

local SSI Units.

2nd day of Pre-Budget discussions

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4/8

EDITORIAL & STATE WATCHSTUDENT AGE


STATE WATCH

By PK Ghosh

The Visa regime relaxation, a pos-

sible game-changer in South Asia,

was kept in the ice box while

hockey players and singers were asked to

pack up and leave. Manmohan Singh's

subscription to war rhetoric confirmed

how easily hard-won gains are given up

by leaders who can't see beyond their

noses

The January 6 incident in which two

Indian soldiers were killed in the

Mendhar sector of the LoC in Jammu &

Kashmir, one of whom, Lance Naik

Hemraj was decapitated brutally, has led

to national responses from India and

Pakistan more or less on predictable

lines. An incident that gathered the

Indian media spotlight due to the associ-

ated brutality - assumed larger propor-

tions as it reinforced the perception that

India was a weak state endowed with

self-serving political elite unable to take

"hard decisions" against the repeated

transgressions of the adversarial neigh-

bour Pakistan.

Tapped efficiently by the media - the

issue snowballed with government

caught largely offguard with the sheer

intensity of the outburst of nationalistic,

and, often jingoistic sentiment.Predictably, the Army and the Air

Force spoke in terms of militaristic solu-

tions and advocated a tit-for-tat response

that stood short of escalating to a conflict

(but could willy-nilly do s o). Fortunately,

External Affairs Minister Salman

Kurshid displayed a mature outlook.

While condemning the issue he also

advised restraint in the same breath. Thus

India spoke with differing voices sending

mixed signals. While some talkative hot

heads demanded nothing short of war - a

fairly outrageous demand given the cir-

cumstances and the known Pakistani

first-use policy on nuclear weapons, oth-

ers demanded ten heads of Pakistani sol-

diers as an apt retaliatory measure.

As is his tendency, Prime Minister

Manmohan Singh took his own time

coming out with a statement defining the

Indian official position. The Indian PM,

after a delay, sent out negative signals to

those with hopes of peace. Nobody

missed the hardline stance which was

tucked into it. His statement was proba-

bly made at the instance of the jingoistic

groundswell that had emerged thanks to

the uni-dimensional reports put out by

the Army.

However, while this sabre rattling

(regrettably initiated by India) led to the

suspension of the new visa regime, the

picture was quite different on the other

side. In Pakistan this week, developments

far more significant to the existence of

the nation were consuming everybody's

attention. Fears of a "judicial coup" coup

swept the nation as the Prime Minister

was ordered arrested. Military-backed

hardline cleric Tahir-ul Qadri, tried to do

an Anna Hazare act, putting governance

on a tailspin.

The Pakistani media, logically

enough, had better things to do than

match word for word with its Indian

counterpart. The tragedy in Quetta,

Balochistan, where Sunni extremist sui-

cide bombers killed nearly 100 people,mostly Hazara Shias, in a bombing

claimed by Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, combined

with the 'cliff' situation in the polity,

reduced the drama along the LoC to a B-

grade Bollywood movie.

Thus proving that Pakistan was deeply

engrossed with its own internal distur-

bances and that the border issue was a

fringe element in their current occupa-

tion.

Had the Indian media over hyped a

local incident? This, after all, is not

unusual in a "hot and active" LoC. So, no

wonder, the media's obsession was a cen-

trality. After all it is well known that both

the Indian and Pakistani armies are

deployed eyeball to eyeball along the

LoC - terrain that is hostile and at times

unforgiving.

In such conditions, when peace pre-

vails, there is a sense of sympathy - even

friendliness between the two sides.

However, often, especially when condi-

tions are conducive, the desire to push

infiltrators into the Indian territory leads

the Pakist ani Army to provide covering

fire which in turn makes the border "hot

and active" with retaliatory fire and casu-

alties . In such conditions both sides

charge each other with "transgressions"

into each other's territory and placing of

mines as had been done by the

Pakistanis in the recent case. These are

predictably followed by flag meetings

that see the trading of charges, counter

charges and complete denials of any

wrong doing that are often de rigour.

Once these meetings are over, its busi-

ness as usual.

Grisly dimension

Despite this, cases of beheading and

other such brutal actions are relatively

rare though not unknown. A similar

beheading case happened with two Indian

soldiers (Havildar Adhikari and Lance

Naik D Singh) in Khupwara dist in July

30, 2011.

In the current case the reason of thisviciousness lay with the commandoes of

the Pakistani Special Services Group

(SSG) (also called the "Black Storks")

who are more prone to brutality, given

their compulsion to maintain the aura of

"terror" and invincibility around them-

selves. This commando unit was earlier

involved in the savage torture of Lt Kalia

and other Indian soldiers who were cap-

tured in the early days of the Kargil con-

flict.

As the sequence of incidents unfold-

ed, Pakistan has blinked first, asking for

comprehensive talks at the foreign minis-

ter level while sending orders for

restraint among Army units deployed.

The question however remains as to how

long this correctional effort would last.

It must be remembered that the cease-

fire along LoC has not really solved any

of India's problems. While it has lulled

the political elite in India with a false

sense of complacency - the fact is that

peace along the active LoC has become a

mirage.

The desire to retaliate is often over-

powering especially when the firing is

"unprovoked" . During the mandatory

flag meetings which follow, efforts are

made to open a channel for communica-

tion and reiterate confidence building

measures, but the reality is that they pro-

duced less than tangible results. Far from

ensuring lasting peace, they only lead to

regurgitation of old rhetoric. The devel-

opments of the past fortnight have rein-

forced the cynicism which has crept into

the conflict rubric. Pakistan denies trans-

gressions, while India breathes fire and

brimstone. After the wearisomely famil-

iar exchange of polemics, both sides

return to the status quo ante.

Hence, there exists a dire need to look

beyond the existing CBMs of providing

advance warnings for military exercises

and ballistic missile tests which are rela-

tively "high level" issues. To solve the

border ceasefire violatio n issue, theweekly telephonic discussions between

the DGMOs and flag meetings are inade-

quate in keeping pace with the number of

violations.

India needs to propose a framework

for high-level consultations and a definite

agreeable methodology for prevention of

escalation and proposing de escalation in

case the issue goes out of hand. A regu-

lar review of the situation on the LoC

would prevent a repeat of the prescriptive

chronology of events and manage the

problems before they escalate. Since a

conflict with a trigger happy nuclear

armed Pakistan will upset the develop-

mental agenda of entire South Asia and

not only India and Pakistan.

India-Pak peace process in a shambles

By partially de-regulating

diesel prices in a desperate

bid to contain India's bur-

geoning fiscal deficit, the Congress-

led UPA regime has in effect used

the wrong instrument at the wrong

time. The Union Government may

like to defend its decision to allow

state-run oil marketing companies to

increase the price of subsidised

diesel by 50 paisa every month as a

bold reform measure, but that argu-

ment holds no water. The fact of the

matter remains that, instead of

exploring other fiscally prudent pos-

sibilities, the Government has mere-

ly passed on the burden of its own

failure to manage the economy on to

the aam aadmi. The decision is ill-

timed given that inflation has

already sky-rocketed and the com-

mon man is reeling under the pres-

sure of high prices. De-regulating

the price of diesel at this point only

adds to miseries of the people. For

example, the hike will immediately

lead to an increase in the price of the

fruits, vegetables and other farm

produce as transportation costs will

go up. Similarly, also be prepared for

the prices of industrial goods to riseas well. The resultant domino effect

is bound to hurt across almost all

sections of society, including the

poorest of poor. But this clearly does

not affect the apathetic UPAregime

that would much rather squeeze the

public dry than tighten its own belt.

Nor does the projection that the hike

will add 120 basis points (or 1.2 per

cent) to the inflation rate.

In fact, if the Government really

wishes to augment the country's

monetary resources, it would do

much better to pull the plug on

wasteful welfare projects such as the

Mahatma Gandhi National Rural

Employment Guarantee Scheme.

Even experts from within the

Government know that the pro-

gramme, which has an annual outlay

of roughly Rs 40,000 crore, merely

provides a platform for middlemen

to siphon off funds. It does nothing

to boost the economy or generate

sustainable employment. Instead, it

only serves to perpetuate a culture of

entitlement based on handouts and

doles. And now, the Centre is push-

ing through its disastrous National

Food Security Bill, 2011. Once it is

implemented, this new populist poli-

cy will cost the national exchequer a

whopping one lakh crore rupees.

This, however, is not to say that

there is no merit in the Government's

contention per se that the energy

subsidy bill needs to be trimmed.

After all, this year alone, the three

public sector oil marketing compa-

nies show a combined operating loss

of Rs 1,66,800 crore in their half-

yearly results.

To some extent, yes, this is

because the companies currently sell

diesel at a loss of Rs 10.16 per litre,

kerosene at Rs 32.17 a litre and LPG

at Rs 490.50 per 14.2 kg cylinder.

But it is also because of the ineffi-cient manner in which these compa-

nies are run that is responsible for

the mess. Additionally, the daily Rs

384 crore loss in revenue is due to

the 14 per cent fall in the value of the

rupee against the dollar. This brings

our argument back full circle to the

point of UPA's fiscal mismanage-

ment.

Even the Reserve Bank of India

appears to be unsure about the

Government's ability to put things in

order. That is the reason why the

RBI, despite the Centre's persistent

prodding over the last many months,

has held on to its decision until now

of not bringing down interest rates.

Hike in diesel pricecomes at wrong time

CHANDIGARH: Former

BJP chief parliamentary sec-

retary Jagdish Sahni, who

joined Punjab Congress last

year after a bitter and public

feud with the state party lead-

ership, may return to the

party fold soon.

Informed sources indicat-

ed on Sunday that the newly

elected state BJP president

Kamal Sharma has estab-

lished contact with Sahni in

this regard and the response

has been positive. While

Sahni himself is maintaining

a discreet silence on this

issue, sources close to him

said that it will be like a

'home-com-

ing' for Sahni.

State BJP

l e a d e r s h i p

feels that after

the exit of

Jagdish Sahni

from the BJP,

the party has

suffered a

serious set-

back in

Batala con-

stituency, which has been a

traditional stronghold of the

party. His return would help

the party to re-establish itself

at the grass-

root level in

the con-

stituency.

It may be

recalled that

Sahni and

the-then state

health minis-

ter and BJP

leader Laxmi

K a n t a

Chawla were

involved in a prolonged pub-

lic spat after Chawla organ-

ized a raid by health officials

on a nursing home run by the

son-in-law of Jagdish Sahni

in Batala.

Both sides refused to call

a truce despite intervention

by party high command.

Finally, Sahni resigned as

chief parliamentary secretary

in protest and the portfolio of

Chawla was changed. While

Chawla announced that she

would not assembly polls

held last year, Sahni was

denied re-nomination from

Batala leading to his resigna-

tion from BJP.

PUNJAB

Former CPS Jagdish Sahni may re-join BJP soonNEW DELHI: The Gorkha

Janmukti Morcha on Sunday

is expected to decide on how

to push its demand for a sep-

arate Gorkhaland. The party

is likely to renew its agitation

in the Darjeeling hills. The

leadership has also threat-

ened to take up arms to

ensure that a separate state is

formed.

"From GJM we want to

make it clear that the time

has come for Gorkhaland.

We will move ahead with our

movement for Gorkhaland.

Time has come for us to

restart our movement," party

general secretary Roshan

Giri said. "This is our final

battle and the time has come

for us to come on the front,"

said Giri. The GJM has

planned a rally and public

meeting in Darjeeling on

Sunday and Kurseong on

January 27 during which it

will announce its future

course of action regarding

the movement.

The GJM's threat to

revive the Gorkhaland agita-

tion comes in the wake of

union Home Minister

Sushilkumar Shinde's

remarks after the December

28 all-party meeting in Delhi

that a decision on carving out

a new state of Telangana

would be made within a

month. "We had told Shinde

that he should consider the

country's oldest demand --

Gorkhaland. We welcome the

way the centre is going to

create Telangana but the

demand of Gorkhaland

should also be considered,"

said Giri.

The agitation over a sepa-

rate state out of the northern

West Bengal hills has led to

loss of many lives over the

past two decades, besides hit-

ting hard the region's tea,

timber and tourism sectors.

On July 18 last year, a tripar-

tite agreement was signed

between the GJM, and the

state and central govern-

ments for setting up a new

autonomous, elected

Gorkhaland Territorial

Administration (GTA), a hill

council armed with more

powers than its predecessor,

the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill

Council formed in the late

1980s.

The GJM now runs the

GTAafter sweeping its maid-

en elections last July. The

tough stance of the GJM,

ahead of chief minister

Mamata Banerjee's proposed

visit to Darjeeling January

29, is also related to its

"unhappiness" over the slow

pace of transferring powers

to the GTA. "Except the

name of Gorkhaland

Territorial Administration,

what else have we got" Giri

said.

NAMAKKAL(TN): A judge of a subordinate court in Tamil Nadu has been suspended by

the Madras High Court for allegedly attending the meeting of ruling AIADMK's local unit.

The order suspending principal district judge N Velu was issued by the Madras High

Court Registrar General on January 18 pending inquiry into complaints, high court sources

said.

The judge had on December 15 attended Namakkal AIADMK Parliamentary

Constituency consultancy meeting here in which five ministers participated. When

reporters had asked him about his presence at the party meeting, the judge had said he

attended the meeting beyond his duty hours.

Photographs of his presence at the meeting and messages were sent to the High Court

which suspended the judge pending an inquiry. The sources said the Karur principal dis-

trict judge, given additional charge of Namakkal, has assumed charge.

BHOPAL: The Madhya

Pradesh government has pro-

posed 15 eco-sensitive zones

around its wildlife sanctuar-

ies and parks, where illegal

commercial activities includ-

ing mining will be prohibit-

ed.

A site specific proposal

recommending eco-sensitive

zones around Ken Gharial

Sanctuary (Chhattarpur),

Pachmari Sanctuary and

Satpura National Park

(Hoshangabad), Nauradehi

Sanctuary (Sagar) and Karera

Sanctuary (Shivpuri) among

others has been approved by

the state government, accord-

ing to a document accessed

by wildlife activist Ajay

Dubey through RTI Act.

The move came after the

state government was given a

"last chance" to send a site

specific proposal to identify

eco-sensitive zone by the

Ministry of Environment and

Forests before February 15.

The state government has

already decided to declare

such zones around 17

wildlife sanctuaries and

parks including Kanha

National Park (Mandla),

Pench National Park (Seoni),

Bandhavgarh National Park

(Umaria), Panna National

Park (Panna) and Kuno

Palpur Sanctuary (Seopur)

among others.

The proposal would soon

be sent to the Environment

Ministry which would

declare the eco-sensitive

zones. According to the min-

istry's norms, land falling

within 10 km of a park or

sanctuary has to be declared

as eco-sensitive zone. The

norms prohibit setting up of

industries and commercial

projects like hotels and

resorts besides checking on

mining activities among oth-

ers. The MoEF has said in the

letter that it will declare eco-

sensitive zones around 10 km

of national parks and sanctu-

aries if it fails to get the

response from the state gov-

ernment before February 15

thus barring commercial and

other activities harmful to

environment. Madhya

Pradesh, a tiger state, has 35

national parks and wildlife

sanctuaries.

LUCKNOW: To regain its

lost base in politically sensi-

tive Uttar Pradesh ahead of

the upcoming Lok Sabha

polls, BJP will launch a toll-

free number to get sugges-

tions and complaints from

people and party workers.

"The party will launch a toll-

free service on January 21

through which complaints

and suggestions lodged by

the people, especially the

party workers, will reach the

national leadership," party

spokesman Vijay Bahadur

Pathak told.

Pathak said that the aim of

the exercise was to take the

party closer to the people as

well as the workers. He also

said that on the start of 'Atal

Sankalp Yatra' on January 21,

the party of former UP Chief

Minister Kalyan Singh would

merge with the BJP.

"On the same day, the

party will start an ambitious

toll free number on which

any person from the state can

lodge his complaint or sug-

gestion," Pathak said. He said

that to launch the service,

conceptualised by the state

president Laxmi Kant Bajpai,

the party has tied up with a

private telecom operator.

The service would be

launched by the party presi-

dent Nitin Gadkari. Pathak

said that the dialer would

have several options,

"whether the caller wants to

lodge a complaint related to

the party or give a sugges-

tion. Whether he has any

problem with the government

and local authorities and

needs help," he said.

The spokesman said that

if the complaint, suggestion

or request would be of local

level, then it would be for-

warded to the concerned

leader within 15 minutes. He

said that if the complaint or

suggestion was of state or

national level then it would

be forwarded to the con-

cerned leadership according-

ly. He said that the senior

party leaders have already

started reaching Lucknow for

the yatra, which would mark

Kalyan's unofficial entry into

BJP.

In Assembly polls held

last year, the BJP, despite

bombarding the state with its

top level leaders failed to win

the confidence of the elec-

torates and it could manage

only 47 seats. The major

cause behind the party's poor

display was cited to be the

workers disenchantment.

UTTAR PRADESH

BJP to launch toll-free number to attract people in UP

WEST BENGAL

GJM to decide on Gorkhalandmovement today

Tamil Nadu

District judge in TN suspended for attending AIADMK meeting

MADHYA PRADESH

MP govt proposes 15 eco-sensitivezones around wildlife parks, sanctuaries

HARYANA

Cold conditions persist tosweep several parts in HaryanaCHANDIGARH: Cold conditions on Sunday continued to

sweep most parts of Punjab and Haryana, with mercury hov-

ering below the normal levels. Chandigarh, where residents

woke up to foggy conditions, recorded a low of 7.6 degree

Celsius.

In Haryana, Narnaul was the coldest place at a low of 3.2

degree celsius, while Bhiwani, too experienced a cold night at

4.8 degree celsius, the MeT said here. Hisar and Karnal regis-

tered minimums of 5 and 8.2 degree celsius respectively.

In Punjab, Amritsar braved the chill at 4.2 degree celsius.

Ludhiana and Patiala recorded respective minimums of 6.7

and 9.2 degree Celsius respectively. The MeT in its forecast

said that cold conditions would prevail in the region over the

next two days.

Page 4_Editorial & State Watch.qxd 1/21/2013 10:06 AM Page 1


5/8

1.Sardar : (To a friend) Aap

kitna padhe ho?

Friend : B.A.

Sardar : kamal karte ho

yaar! Sirf do word padhe,

aur woh bhi ulte

2.Ek samay do bahut milne

wale dost rahte thay. Lekin ek din ek dost ka maut ho

gaya aur police investigate

karne ke liye aaya aur uske

dost ko sawal poochne

laga

Police: "Tumhara dost kaise

mara?"

Sardar: "Pata nahi sahab,

woh bola mere pet mein

chuhe kud rahe hai toh maine usko chuha marne ki

dawa khila di."

3.Aman bought a car by

bank loan. But he did not

pay loan amount. So they

took the car from him.

After seeing that the man is

thinking, "If I knew before,

than I would have taken a

loan for my marriage also.

4.Captain of Military :

Naujawanon aage bado

Santa aage nahin bada.

Captain : Tum aage kyun

nahin bade?

Santa : Apne kaha 9

jawanon aage bado, mein

10 number pe tha.

5.Teacher: U idiots! At

your age Einstein ranked

first in class.

What about you?

Student: Sir at your age

Hitler committed suicide..!

What about you?

6.Prospective husband: Do

you have a book called

'Man, The Master of

Women'?

Salesgirl: The fiction

department is on the other

side, sir.

Once upon a time there

was a boy whose

name was Jack, and

he lived with his mother on a

common. They were very

poor, and the old woman got

her living by spinning, but Jack

was so lazy that he would do

nothing but bask in the sun in

the hot weather, and sit by the

corner of the hearth in the win-

ter-time. So they called him

Lazy Jack. His mother could

not get him to do anything for

her, and at last told him, one

Monday, that if he did not

begin to work for his porridge

she would turn him out to get

his living as he could.

This roused Jack, and he

went out and hired himself for

the next day to a neighbouring

farmer for a penny; but as he

was coming home, never hav-

ing had any money before, he

lost it in passing over a brook.

"You stupid boy," said his

mother, "you should have put it

in your pocket." "I'll do so

another time," replied Jack.

On Wednesday, Jack went

out again and hired himself toa cow-keeper, who gave him a

jar of milk for his day's work.

Jack took the jar and put it into

the large pocket of his jacket,

spilling it all, long before he

got home. "Dear me!" said the

old woman; "you should have

carried it on your head." "I'll

do so another time," said Jack.

So on Thursday, Jack hired

himself again to a

farmer, who agreed

to give him a cream

cheese for his serv-

ices. In the evening

Jack took the

cheese, and went

home with it on his

head. By the time

he got home the

cheese was all

spoilt, part of it

being lost, and part

matted with his hair. "You stu-

pid lout," said his mother, "you

should have carried it very

carefully in your hands." "I'll

do so another time," replied

Jack.

On Friday, Lazy Jack again

went out, and hired himself to

a baker, who would give him

nothing for his work but a large

tom-cat. Jack too

Documents

Daily Paper January 21, 2013