7/29/2019 50 Weekly Edition
1/32
JAMMU: The employees of J&K
State Road Transport Corporation
will be provided 20 per cent
Dearness Allowance prospectively.
This decision was taken in the 70th
Board of Directors Meeting of the
Corporation here today.
Minister for Transport, CAPD,
Choudhary Mohammad Ramzan
was in the chair.
Minister of State for Transport
Dr Manohar Lal Sharma was also
present in the meeting.
The instalment of DA was
eleased prospectively keeping in
view the encouraging revenue gen-
ration by the Corporation during
ast fiscal.
Reviewing the performance of
he Corporation, it was informed
that the Corporation has earned rev-
enue of Rs. 83.43 crore during
2011-12 against Rs. 55. 26 crore
earned in 2010-11 thereby register-
ing growth of 51 per cent.
The meeting also adopted Sixth
Pay Commission scales with effect
from April 1st, 2012 without pay-
ing D.A to the employees so far.
The meeting also adopted Group
gratuity Scheme for the employees
of the Corporation through LIC of
India, compassionate appointment
in favour of dependents of J&K
SRTC employees who died in har-
ness on case to case basis and exe-
cution of works for providing better
amenities to the convenience of
both general public, tourists and its
employees Contd on page 2
www.thestudentage.com
STUDENT AGERead thVol. 2 No: 30 | JKENG/2012/41612 | Jammu, Saturday, January 27- February 2 ), 2013 | Pages: 32 | ` 5
News Inbox
Congress announcescandidate for Mizoram by-pollsAIZAWL: The ruling Congress on
February 1 announced that Dr H
Ngurdingliana would be the party's
official candidate for the coming
by-election Contd on page 2
CBSE pre-exam counsell ing toaid students overcome stress
starts todayNEW DELHI: The Central Board
of Secondary Education, CBSE
will start its pre-exam annual coun-
elling from today to help students
overcome exam-related stress. The
counselling Contd on page 2
Surajkund Mela goes inter-national, opens Friday
CHANDIGARH: The popular
nnual Surajkund crafts Melaegins today in the avatar of an
nternational fair with 21 countries
articipating in the 15-day long
ultural Contd on page 2
World Book Fair will startfrom Feb 4th with theme-
Indigenous VoicesNEW DELHI: This year's Delhi
World Book Fair will start from 4th
of this month at Pragati Maidan in
New Delhi. With the theme -
ndigenous Contd on page 2
NEW DELHI: Diesel prices will
be hiked by 40-50 paise per litre
every month till losses on the
nation's most used fuel are com-
pletely wiped out, Oil Minister
Veerappa Moily said Friday. "Until
further orders, oil marketing com-
panies can increase it (diesel price)
by 40-50 paise (per litre) every
month," he said.
The government had on January
17 permitted state-run oil market-
ing companies to set diesel prices
in a move that could help the gov-
ernment reduce its budget-busting
subsidy bill. A day later, the price
of the fuel was hiked by 45 paise.
Diesel currently costs Rs. 47.65 in
Delhi, Rs. 51.51 in Kolkata, Rs.
53.71 in Mumbai and Rs. 50.68 in
Chennai.
While the price of petrol is
purely market-determined, diesel
is still under government control,
even though oil firms now have the
freedom to make minor revisions
in the price. India's policy to sub-
sidise retail prices of fuels such as
diesel, which accounts for about 40
per cent of refined fuel consump-
tion, is a major drain on the budg-
et. State-run refiners currently sell
diesel at a loss of Rs
litre.
Moily said the deci
diesel prices in small
month will stand "u
orders". He, however,
when the oil firms wi
the second price inc
decision for retail pric
coupled with a move
bulk consumers like d
ways and state transpo
ings the market price
almost Rs. 10 a litre
retail Contd o
Di esel p r i ces t o b e h i ked 4 0 -50 pa i se eve ry m on t h : M
J&K SRTC employees to get 20 per cent DACorporation earned Rs 83.43 cr revenue in last fiscal:Ramzan
WASHINGTON: U.S. Secretary
of State Hillary Clinton steps
down as America's top diplomat
Friday. Massachusetts Senator
John Kerry will be sworn-in to
replace her. In her four years as
secretary of state, Hillary Clinton
said that she has focused on
defending universal values and
protecting U.S. security.As Hillary Clinton made her
final speech as America's top diplo-
mat, she suggested US had encour-
aged India's "Look East" policy as
an exercise in 'smart power' in its
pivot to Asia Pacific."There are
limits to what soft power on its own
can achieve," said Secretary of
State Clinton Thursday emphasiz-
ing American leadership, and the
need to reshape diplomacy to meet
the changing landscape of the
world.
"And there are limits to what
hard power on its own can achieve.
That's why, from day one, I've been
talking about smart
said during a forum a
on Foreign Re
Washington a day be
down after four years
pressure diplomacy.
"America's expanding
in the Asia Pacific",
"First and foremost,
pivot has been about c
macy."
By way of examp
the nudge to New De
and cooperation
ASEAN and use of t
tions Contd o
Hillary Clinton steps dowUS Secy of State
US nudged India to 'Look East'
NEW DELHI: The dates for the
presentation of the Union Budget
and the Railway Budget were
announced on Friday. While the
Union Budget will be presented on
February 28, the Railway Budget
will be present two days earlier on
February 26. The Budget session
will last from February 21 to May
10. The Congress on
said that a "very prom
is on the anvil, indica
Union Budget 2013
replete with populist
also economic reform
promising budget is go
The government is n
control. Contd
Budget Session of Parl from FUnion Budget on Feb28
NEW DELHI: Chief Minister
Omar Abdullah had separate meet-
ings with the UPA chairperson
Sonia Gandhi, Prime Minister Dr.
Manmohan Singh and Union Home
Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde here
Thursday in which issues pertain-
ing to the development and prevail-
ing peace situation in Jammu and
Kashmir were discussed.Omar had a meeting with UPA
Chairperson Sonia Gandhi here this
morning in which various matters
concerning development and polity
of Jammu and Kashmir were dis-
cussed in detail.
An official spokesman said the
President All India Congress
Committee (AICC) and the
Working President J&K National
Conference (JKNC) talked about
the functioning and status of NC-
Congress coalition in the State and
expressed satisfaction over it. Theyalso noted with happiness the
smooth and tandem functioning of
the coalition government in the
State. Contd on page 2
Omar meets Sonia, Dr Singh,Shinde,ChidambaramSeeks assistance of Rs 30000 crore
BJP to boycott HomeMinister Shinde for
'saffron terror'remarks
NEW DELHI: The BJP here on
Friday decided to boycott all pub-
lic programmes of Home Minister
Sushil Kumar Shinde to protest
against his Hindu terror remarks
till he tenders an apology. It will
also not respond to any communi-
cation from him to the party top
brass in his capacity as Leader of
the House.
The decision was taken in the
first Core Group meeting of the
BJP after Rajnath Singh took over
as party president on January 23.
"The Core Group observed that
Mr Shinde's remarks have hurt
Hindu sentiments. It condemned
his comments that the BJP and
RSS run Contd on page 2
7/29/2019 50 Weekly Edition
2/32
Diesel prices to...selling rate, to save an estimated Rs.
12,907 crore in annual subsidy.
Moily said he had heard of states like
Gujarat and Tamil Nadu asking their public
transport fleet to refuel at petrol pumps
nstead of buying diesel from oil firms direct-
y as is the current practice. This is being
done with a view to avoid paying the market
price mandated for them.
"We need to look into that (issue). I have
also heard about it. We are ceased of that mat-
ter," he said, adding when rules are laid there
are people who find ways to circumvent it.
Instead of buses being asked to refuel at
petrol pumps, the states should reduce high
ocal sales tax or VAT on diesel to cut prices,
Moily added.
Hillary Clinton...
over the Trans-Pacific Partnership to find
common ground with former adversary
Vietnam.
"We've encouraged India's 'Look East'policy as a way to weave another big democ-
racy into the fabric of the Asia Pacific," she
said making her only reference to a country
she has described as "an indispensable strate-
gic partner."
Clinton cited five pillars of her brand of
smart power: technology, development,
human rights and women coupled with mili-
tary might.
"America's military might is and must
remain the greatest fighting force in the his-
tory of the world," Clinton said as "our diplo-
matic power, the ability to convene, our
moral suasion is effective because the United
States can back up our words with action.""We will ensure freedom of navigation in
all the world's seas. We will relentlessly go
after Al Qaeda, its affiliates, and its
wannabes. We will do what is necessary to
prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear
weapon," she declared.
Clinton's survey of the issues, however,
had one glaring omission. It made no mention
of terrorism emanating from Pakistan or the
terrorist safe havens in what US officials
have described as the most dangerous place
on the planet.
Her only reference to Washington's key
ally in Af-Pak region was in the context of
human rights. "It's not a coincidence that vir-
tually every country that threatens regional
and global peace is a place where human
rights are in peril or the rule of law is weak,"
she said, "specifically, places where women
and girls are treated as second-class, margin-
al human beings."
"Just ask young Malala from Pakistan,"
Clinton said referring to Malala Yousafzai,
the 15-year-old Pakistani girl shot in the head
by a Taliban gunman for advocating girls'
education, Turning to China, she said US
relationship with Beijing was "uniquely con-
sequential" and "uniquely complex" as they
were "trying to write a new answer to the
age-old question of what happens when an
established power and a rising power meet."
Budget Session...
Economic steps are the most important
thing.... In next year we are going to have
many programmes, which are going to have
far-reaching consequences. "...Some immedi-
ate steps are to be taken. These are going to
be announced in the coming budget," party
spokesperson PC Chacko said. Chacko also
said that the party is ready to implement the
decisions taken by the Jaipur session of the
AICC and "at all levels in the party, reorgan-
isation is being done".
Congress announces ...
to the Chalfilh assembly seat scheduled to be
held on February 23. Ngurdingliana, son of
veteran Congress leader and former state
assembly Speaker Dr H Thansanga had con-
tested unsuccessfully in 2008 from the same
constituency. With the announcement of its
candidate by the Congress, all the major
political parties have announced their nomi-nees for the coming by-poll.
The main opposition Mizo National Front
(MNF) candidate was Lalvenhima Hmar,
while the Mizoram People's Conference
(MPC) nominated its president
Lalhmangaiha Sailo, son of the former chief
minister and founder president of the party
Brig T Sailo.
The Zoram Nationalist Party (ZNP) candi-
date was C Lalchhandama, a retired govern-
ment officer while the BJP state unit nomi-
nated C Ramkinlova, who had unsuccessful-
ly contested from the seat in 2008 assembly
polls.
Meanwhile, the MNF nomineeLalvenhima Hmar and MPC candidate
Lalhmangaiha Sailo on February 1 filed their
nominations for the Chalfilh by-polls and
they were the first and only candidates to file
nominations so far with the last date of filing
nominations fixed on February six.
World Book ...
Voices - Mapping India's Folk and Tribal
Literature, the fair will celebrate indigenous
literature and commemorate the 150th birth
anniversary of Swami Vivekananda with a
special pavilion exhibiting photographs and
books from the spiritualist's life.
The fair will host 1,100 Indian and foreign
publishers from countries such as Pakistan,
Iran, Nepal, the US, Britain, South Korea,
Singapore and Sri Lanka. The 7-day fair is
being organized by the National Book Trust.
An entry fee of 20 rupees for adults and 10
rupees for school children will be charged.
The entry to the fair will be from gate
number 1, 2,5,7,8 and 10 and the entry tick-
ets will be available at gate number 2, 5, 7
and 10 for general public. Minister of State
for Human Resource Development Shashi
Tharoor will inaugurate the fair on Monday.
There will be exclusive children and youth
pavilion for promoting book reading habits.
France will be the guest country, with a large
delegation of authors, publishers and schol-
ars. The Delhi World Book Fair will also set
up an author's corner in different halls where
a number of writers and literary personalities
will interact with the public. Besides, 50 to
60 books will be released at the fair. It will
conclude on 10th of this month.
CBSE pre-exam...process will continue till 17th of April. The
class 10th and class 12th board exams will
begin from 1st of March, 2013.
The CBSE, in its release, said that stu-
dents can dial a toll-free number 1XXX XX
8004 from any part of the country which will
give centralized access to the CBSE helpline.
This is the 16th consecutive year that CBSE
will be providing counselling to students dur-
ing the examinations.
Surajkund Mela...
and handicrafts extravaganza. Haryana's
Principal Secretary, Tourism, and Vice
Chairman of the Mela, Vijai Vardhan saidthat the festival this year has been upgraded
to international fair and 21 countries from
Africa, Eurasia and SAARC nations would
participate in it. President Mr Pranab
Mukherjee will inaugurate the annual cultur-
al and handicrafts extravaganza on Saturday.
Karnataka is the theme state this year. The
Mela will showcase the archaeological her-
itage of Karnataka, the traditional dance of
Yakshagana with display of finest handicrafts
and handlooms from across the country and
abroad.
J&K SRTC ...
at various locations in the State.The Board appreciated the liquidation of
accumulated liabilities of the corporation by
Rs 33.45 crore during 2011-12 and 2012-13.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr Ramzan
asked the employees of the corporation to
work hard for making it a viable corporation.
The Minister asked the corporation to ensure
safe and efficient bus services to commuters
and tourists besides timely transportation of
food grains to every nook corner of the state.
Economic Advisor to J&K Government,
Jalil Ahmad Khan, Financial Commissioner
Finance, Mr. M.I Khanday, Secretary
Transport, Mohammad Abass, Transport
Commissioner, M. A. Kakroo, Chief
Engineer R&B, Jammu, Mr Tehseen
Mustafa, MD J&K SRTC, Mr. J. S. Tandon
were present in the meeting.
BJP to boycott ...
terror training camps. The party has
decided that its members and workers will
boycott all public programmes in which Mr
Shinde takes part," BJP General Secretary
Ananth Kumar told reporters.
The BJP will also not respond to any com-
munication or request for meetings from Mr
Shinde to the party's senior parliamentarians,
including NDA Working Cha
Advani, and leader of the Oppo
Lok Sabha, Sushma Swaraj.
Mr Shinde may find it difficu
ernment business through durin
coming budget session of Parli
BJP does not respond to his cal
sions on crucial issues.
However, the BJP president s
does not intend to boycott Mr S
Parliament and will not disrupt
when he rises to speak. "But we w
issue (Mr Shinde's remarks on H
in Parliament," he said.
Significantly, this strategy
appears to be a slight climbdown
had earlier insisted that Prim
Manmohan Singh and UPA
Sonia Gandhi should apolog
Shinde's remarks and that he
sacked from the post of home m
Omar meets...
Omar Abdullah expressed gr
UPA Chairperson for the un
Central financial and logisticJammu and Kashmir Govern
efforts to realize equitable develo
regions and sub-regions of the S
fare of all sections of the society
The achievements of the coal
ment on peace and development
last four years were viewed with
positive note by the two leaders
Omar Abdullah presented t
resume of achievements regist
coalition government in various
sectors. He also gave brief about
tiatives taken for inclusive d
uplift of weaker sections and rea
people in remote and far-flunholistic and equitable developm
He also discussed issues
strengthening of panchayat
including those relating to provid
ium, insurance and security cov
and sarpanchs.
The Chief Minister expressed
the Prime Minister for his keen i
development of Jammu and K
expressed hope that the Central
would continue its financial and
port to the State Government
development goals and movin
road to peace and prosperity.
"The focus of discussion wa
release of funds by the Centre
under various schemes in a time
ner so that these are utilized wit
year these are earmarked for," th
said.
Urging strongly for replacing
tied special plan assistance by u
central assistance head, Omar Ab
lighted this need as significant
for the states like Jammu and Ka
that such mechanism is essentia
the development requirements a
every area equitably.
CONTDSTUDENT AGE
SATURDAY, JANUARY 27 - FEBRUARY 2, 2013
Continued from Page 1
7/29/2019 50 Weekly Edition
3/32
NATIONALSTUDENT AGE
SATURDAY, JANUARY 27 - FEBRUARY 2, 2013
S R E E R A M A M U R T H Y
JANAKI: Sreeramamurthy
Janaki, the
renowned play-
back singer,
refused to
accept the
Padma Bhushan award.
USTAD ABDUL RASHID
K H A N :
H i n d u s t a n i
vocalist Ustad
Abdul Rashid
Khan (105) has
become the oldest person to be
chosen for this year's Padma Shri
award.
KAMAL HAASAN: Kamal
Hassan is in
c o n t r o v e r s y
over his movie
'Vishwaroopam'
which was orig-
inally slated to be released on 25January 2013 was once again
banned by the Madras High Court
on 30 January 2013.
SHAH RUKH KHAN: Shah
Rukh Khan, the
B o l l y w o o d
superstar topped
the inaugural
Forbes India
Celebrity 100
list.
NEW DELHI: After national out-
rage over the gang-rape of a med-
ical student on a Delhi bus last
month, the government has decided
to issue an ordinance that imple-
ments tougher jail terms for sexual
offenders, as recommended by the
Justice JS Verma Commission.
Named for the retired chief jus-
tice who was its chair, the Verma
committee recently recommended
major revisions of the laws that
deal with crimes against women.
The ordinance will enact tougher
jail terms for sexual offenders ,
including life imprisonment that
"should mean the rest of the per-
son's life" for extreme rape cases.
Parliament is scheduled to meet
later this month for its budget ses-
sion. The ordinance allows for the
changes to be enacted before
Parliament debates the 600-page
report of the Verma commission,
which was readied in just 29 days.
Justice Verma, who is 80, had
urged the government to match his
team's commitment by implement-
ing the changes urgently. Earlier
this week, the Prime Minister sent
him a letter stating, "On behalf of
our government, I assure you that
we will be prompt in pursuing the
recommendations of the commit-
tee."
Five men have been arrested for
the fatal gang-rape a
tried at a fast-track co
A sixth who says he
tried separately at a ju
The barbarous ga
voked fierce street p
thousands of students
would fight for better
tougher anti-rape law
anger surged, the
appointed the Justice
mission to review exis
Cabinet to bring in ordinance for stronger penalties in rape cPEOPLE IN NEWS
NEW DELHI: In a big relief to
renowned sociologist Ashis
Nandy, the Supreme Court on
Friday stayed his arrest in con-
nection with his controversial
anti-Dalit remarks that triggered
criticism from all quarters.
According to reports, the apexcourt directed the police not to
arrest the sociologist in connec-
tion with the matter.
The apex court, however,
slammed Nandy for making those
irresponsible remarks and cau-
tioned him not to make such com-
ments, which hurt some people's
sentiments.
The apex court passed its order
in response to Nandy's petition
seeking the quashing of all FIRs
against him and protection from
arrest in connection with the case.
Meanwhile, reacting to SC's
order, Nandy said, "the court has
ordered stay on my arrest and all
cases file against me will be
probed collectively."
The apex court also issued
notices to Rajasthan, Bihar,
Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra
governments seeking their stand
on Nandy's statements.
Nandy landed in a soup after he
made those controversial remarks
at the Jaipur Literary Festival ear-
lier this week.The sociologist had linked cor-
ruption to Dalits and Other
Backward Classes.
The renowned sociologist had
approached the apex court seeking
a direction from it the police to
quash all FIRs registered against
him under the SC/ST Prevention
of Atrocities Act, arguing that
there is no mention of any offence
in those case against him.
KOLKATA: Taking the
West Bengal government
head on, author Salman
Rushdie Friday said Chief
Minister Mamata
Banerjee ordered police
o block his arrival to
Kolkata and that organis-
rs of the literary festival
were lying when they said
he wasn't invited to the
vent.
The controversial author of "The
Satanic Verses", who found himself
back in the headlines when his visit
o Kolkata was called off, hit back
with a series of tweets.
The 65-year-old was slated to
visit Kolkata to promote Deepa
Mehta's film "Midnight's Children",
based on his novel.
Hours before the scheduled
arrival, Muslim groups under the
banner of Milli Ittehad Parishad
demonstrated Wednesday morning
near the airport and only relented
after authorities said he was not com-
ng.
Since then senior ministers and
government officials have claimed
they had no knowledge of Rushdie
intending to visit Kolkata. Rushdie
disagreed. "The simple fact is that
the Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee
ordered the police to block my
arrival," said one tweet.
Rushdie also took on the Kolkata
Literary Meet (KLM) organisers for
saying they had not invited him and
claimed he had email and plane tick-
ets sent to him by them. In a separate
tweet, Rushdie slammed the police
for giving his itinerary to the "press"
and calling Muslim groups.
Dalit remarks row: SC stays Ashis Nandy's arrest
NEW DELHI/CHENNAI:
Amidst controversy over
Kamal Haasan's
" V i s h w a r o o p a m " ,
Information and Broadcasting
Minister Manish Tewari
Thursday said film certifica-
tion is the central govern-
ment's "exclusive domain"
and it was planning a re-look
at the existing statutory framework
to ensure that states adhere to it.
Film certification falls "within the
exclusive domain of the central gov-
ernment in terms of constitutional
scheme. And it is imperative that
integrity of the constitutional scheme
must be upheld. Therefore, a view
has been taken to re-examine the
statutory framework to ensure opti-
mization of the mandate", Tewari
told media persons here He said that
a committee would be set up for a re-
look into the Cinematograph Act as
"certain issues have come up as a
result of certain decisions which
have been taken in the past by certain
state governments".
Under the constitution, the centre
has been vested with powers to certi-
fy whether a film was fit for viewing
or not, said Tewari. "The central gov-
ernment exercises those powers
through the Central Board of Film
Certification (CBFC)." Tewari said
the committee would see whether
there was a need to make the statuto-
ry architecture or the regulatory
framework of CBFC more robust.
"Once a decision is taken then
that decision should be implemented.
If at all the state government has a
difficulty with it then they should
have avenues available under the act
to see that this grievance is
redressed," he said.
13 BJP legislaKarnataka as
likely to joinBANGALORE: Form
CM and Lingayat s
Yeddyurappa continue
the ruling BJP with
rebel MLAs, who had the party, set to take o
bership of his Karn
Party (KJP) on Thursd
nations of 12 BJP M
Wednesday accepted
Assembly Speaker K
who held one back
grounds. The resignat
the Jagdish Shettar gov
a wafer-thin majority
Assembly, and if more
quit, the BJP would h
on independents for
BJP strength now st
including the Speakermember Assembly. T
vacant. The party has
one of the seven indep
is also a Cabinet m
Congress has 71 mem
Janata Dal-Secular 26
and state BJP chief KS
have expressed confide
is no threat to the BJ
although it has a wafer
in the House. The two
confident that the 10
Session would be held
beginning February
reporters, Eshwarappa
would present the 20
on Feb 8. Jagadish Sh
no more resignations w
from the ruling BJP, th
tion continued that sev
makers would soon qu
13 who have already
BJP-led Karnataka go
going through a majo
Yeddyurappa resigned
his own party in Dec, 2
his loyalists in the BJP
ed the convention w
was launched.
Mamata ordered police to
block my visit: Rushdie
Tewari for stronger censor
board regulatory framework
7/29/2019 50 Weekly Edition
4/32
NATIONALSTUDENT AGE
SATURDAY, JANUARY 27 - FEBRUARY 2, 2013
HYDERABAD: Six Congress MPs
from Telangana Thursday made it
clear that they will not take back their
resignations over the delay in forma-
tion of a separate state. The MPs, who
met here a day after reports of differ-
ences among them, claimed that res-
ignations of seven MPs were submit-
ted to party president Sonia Gandhi's
office. However, Madhu Yaskhi
Goud, later stated that there is no need
for resignations as the party
spokesperson has clarified that the
party is not against Telangana state.
K. Rajagopal Reddy told reporters
that Goud's views were his personal
and that the remaining MPs stand by
their resignations both from parlia-
ment and the party. He said the resig-
nations along with a letter addressed
to Sonia Gandhi were sent to Delhi
through Goud and another MP,
Ponnam Prabhakar. Reddy said they
had requested Gandhi to accept their
resignations if the party was unable to
take a decision for formation of
Telangana. "We will continue to put
pressure n the leadership till a
favourable decision is taken," he
added. Senior leader K. Keshava Rao,
at whose residence the meeting was
held, said he would send his resigna-
tion from the party to S
He denied that there we
ences among the mem
Minister Sushil Kuma
Wednesday refused to g
deadline for making a
ment on Telangana, say
on the issue wa
"Consultation process i
said when asked wheth
has set any fresh
Telangana. A decis
Telangana statehood
deferred on Sunday wi
and Congress saying th
for "further consultation
take a "little more time
on Dec 28 declared tha
make an announcemen
statehood issue within a
Centre refuses to set any fresh dead
JAMMU: Trade across the Line of
Control (LoC) that divides Jammu
and Kashmir between India and
Pakistan resumed Tuesday after
being suspended due to tension over
the Jan 8 killing of two Indian sol-
diers. Six Pakistani trucks entered
the Indian side.
An official handling the cross-
LoC trade at Chakan-da-Bagh in
Poonch district said that Indian
trucks could not go to the Pakistani
side due to late security clearance.
"The trucks can cross LoC
between 10 a.m. and noon, but
trucks from India got delayed dur-
ing security clearance. They are
lined up at trade and facilitation
centre at Chakan-da-Bagh and will
go to the Pakistani side tomorrow,"
he said. Pawan Anand, president of
cross-LoC traders association in
Poonch, said: "Onions and dry dates
have come from Pakistan today
while six Indian trucks, carrying
tomatoes and bananas, could not
cross the LoC due to delay in secu-
rity check."
These Indian trucks, along with
some more carrying embroidery
items, will go t
Wednesday, he said.
feeling to see the cro
resume on Chak
Rawalakot route as th
ply trade but it carries
people of this area," he
Trade takes place f
to Friday every week.
Rs.2 crore are traded e
about 25 trucks crossi
trade was halted Jan 10
officials said Pakistan
gates for the trucks a
Bagh.
NEWS IN BOX
Congress sets up poll reforms panel, Soni to headNEW DELHI: Former union minister Ambika Soni will head the Congress
party's panel on poll reforms, especially political funding, set up by party
Chief Sonia Gandhi Thursday. "The Congress president has set up the poll
reforms panel announced in the Jaipur declaration...It will give suggestions
for action plan," Congress general secretary Janardan Dwivedi told reporters.
Besides Soni, Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister M. Veerappa Moily,
former chief election commissioner and union minister M.S. Gill, Rajya
Sabha member Mani Shankar Aiyar, and senior leaders E.M.S. Nachiappan
and Mohan Gopal would be in the six member panel.
Gandhi had announced setting up of the panel at the All India Congress
Committee meeting on the concluding day of the 'Chintan Shivir' or intro-
spection meet in Jaipur Jan 18-20. "Various suggestions are being debated in
government and non-government forums. We need to implement them. The
party group will suggest an action plan," she had said.
NDMA organising mega drill on earthquakeNEW DELHI: The National Disaster Management Authority is organising
a series of drills to generate greater public awareness about the vulnerability
o disasters with specific emphasis on earthquakes.
During the exercise, people will be made aware of steps to be taken to
save themselves during disaster, their families and the community and prop-
erties in the event of an earthquake.This mega drill is designed to test the system capabilities for an effective
coordinated response to an earthquake having impact on multiple states, an
official release said.
The drill will be conducted at 60 different locations simultaneously,
spread over Chandigarh, Panchkula, Mohali and Shimla for which experts
from NDMA have been extending all preparatory support.
251 aspirants to contest Tripura assembly pollsAGARTALA: A total of 251 candidates, including representatives of 16
political parties and independents, will contest the Feb 14 elections for the
60-member Tripura assembly, officials said here Friday. Of the 251 con-
enders, 14 are women and 25 are independents. In the last assembly elec-
ions in 2008, 313 candidates, including 18 women, had contested the polls.
"Altogether 296 candidates have filed nominations for the elections.
During scrutiny, 30 nominations were rejected due to various reasons and 15candidates withdrew their candidature," Tripura Chief Electoral Officer
Ashutosh Jindal told reporters here. Thursday was the last date for withdraw-
ng nominations. Jindal said, "For the first time in Tripura four all-women
polling stations will be set up to conduct the elections."
Ensure rape, accident victims notdenied treatment: HC
NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court asked the Delhi government to issue
a direction to all the hospitals in the capital not to deny treatment to victims
of criminal offences, especially those of rape and road accidents. The court
also wanted that the police be given clear instructions to take those injured to
he nearest hospital "without any debate" to identify a government hospital
hat is nearby.
"Why can't you consider issuing standing instructions to all hospitals to
reat victims brought to them without any delay?" the court told the police.
A hospital should not delay treatment on any grounds. If the hospital is a
small hospital, at least they should give first aid to the victims before send-
ng them elsewhere," the court said. The court's order comes after the brutal
gang-rape of a 23-year-old para-medical student on Dec 16. The girl and her
friend were stripped off and thrown out of the bus. Later the 28-year-old man
said that the policemen who reached the spot, initially, argued over the juris-
diction of the case, rather than taking them to a hospital.
They were driven many kilometers to government-run Safdarjung
Hospital, though there were many good private hospitals near where she was
found in a bloodied condition. The panel slammed the police practice of
approaching only a government hospital and not the nearest available hos-
pital" in a medico-legal case.
NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court
on Monday sought the response of
former UP Chief Minister Mayawati
on a plea seeking her prosecution in
the Rs 17 crore Taj corridor scam case
without the sanction of the Governor.
"We will examine the case," a bench
comprising justices HL Dattu and
Ranjan Gogoi said.
The court also issued notice to the
Centre, the CBI and the Uttar Pradesh
government on a petition challenginga judgement of Allahabad High Court
giving relief to the BSP chief. The
bench also issued notice to
Mayawati's former Cabinet colleague
Naseemuddin Siddiqui and sought his
response in the case.
The bench was hearing a batch of
appeals against the November 5, 2012
judgement of the Allahabad High
Court. The petitioners have contend-
ed that the prosecution can be
launched against them without sanc-
tion of the Governor.
The Lucknow bench of the
Allahabad High Court had upheld theJune 2007 order of the special CBI
court which dropped the criminal pro-
ceedings against Mayawati and
Siddiqui for want of Governor T V
Rajeswar's sanction to prosecute
them. In 2002, Mayawati launched
the corridor project to beautify areas
near the Taj Mahal. A year later, the
Supreme Court had directed the CBI
conduct an enquiry into the alleged
scam in the Taj corridor project.
SC issues notice to Mayawatiin Taj Corridor case
Meet RTE tbefore Mar
Govt to stNEW DELHI: Ruling
of the deadline on Right
the govt. asked the stat
the process of meeting
before March 31 and im
ance mechanism for imp
mid-day meal program
meeting of the state ed
taries here, senior HRD
cials made it clear that t
no extension of the R
beyond March 31 by wstates have to fulfil t
under the Act, sources
states including Bihar a
ging behind in meeting
ing to achieve signific
fields like teacher-studen
infrastructure and teach
tions. The deadline ex
was raised by Bihar at t
meeting here last year
turned down by M M Pa
Indo-Pak Cross-LoC trade resumed Tues
'Six Congress MPs from Telangana firm on resignat
7/29/2019 50 Weekly Edition
5/32
MILOS ZEMAN: Milos Zeman
became Czech
Republic's first
directly elected
President as per
the Czech
Republic Presidential election
results declared. He won 55 per-
cent as compared with 45 percent
of Karel Schwarzenberg.
JIGME KHESAR NAMGYEL
WANGCHUCK: Bhutan King
Jigme Khesar
N a m g y e l
Wangchuck was
the chief guest
at the Republic
Day parade for the year 2013.
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: The
Serbian profes-
sional tennis
player Novak
D j o k o v i c
became the firstman to win three successive
Australian Open titles in the pro-
fessional era when he beat Andy
Murray in the finals of men's sin-
gles at Australian Open 2013.
COLOMBO: Sri Lankan President Mahinda
Rajapaksa reshuffled his cabinet on Monday and
appointed ten new ministers, the President's office
said. Presidential Spokesman Mohan
Samaranayaka said that six new deputy ministers
were also appointed during the cabinet reshuffle.
Among the major notable changes were those of
the Power and Energy Ministry and Petroleum
Resources Ministry. Pavithra Wanniarachchi was
appointed as the new minister of Power and
Energy while the minister who held that post ear-
lier, Champika Ranawaka, was appointed as the
Minister of Technology and Research.
Meanwhile, former Petroleum Resources
Minister Susil Premajayantha was named the new
minister of Environment while Anura
Priyadharshana Yapa took over as the new minis-
ter of Petroleum Resources.
The former ministers of Petroleum and Power
and Energy had been in the media spotlight in the
recent past after both the state owned Ceylon
Petroleum Corporation and the Ceylon Electricity
Board began to suffer losses.
Meanwhile Lakshman Seniviratn
the Minister of Sugar Industries, Jay
the Minister of Botanical Garden
Enterprises, Lakshman Yapa Abey
Investment Promotion Minister
Dissanayake the Education Servi
Basir Segu Daud the Minister of
Promotion and Wijith Wiheyamun
Minister of Wildlife Conservation.
Nirmala Kotalawala was named
Minister of Highways an
Abeygunawardena the Project Mini
Meanwhile Sri Lanka's Prime M
Jayaratna remained at his post despi
being rife that he would be replac
present ailing health condition.
Sri Lankan Cabinet reshuffle:President appoints ten new minist
PEOPLE IN NEWS
INTER NATIONALSTUDENT AGE
SATURDAY, JANUARY 27 - FEBRUARY 2, 2013
C M Y K C M Y K C
MOSCOW: Russia and other UN
Security Council members have
again urged Iran to freeze its urani-
um enrichment programme, after
Tehran announced plans to install
new centrifuges at its Natanz
nuclear facility, Russian Foreign
Minister Sergei Lavrov said
Thursday. Tehran notified the
International Atomic Energy
Agency (IAEA) earlier this month
that it plans to install more modern
equipment at the Natanz site,
which has previously enriched ura-
nium to five percent purity. That
has caused concern because the
new gas centrifuges might allow
Iran to refine large amounts of ura-
nium to higher levels of purity,
which would be suitable for a
nuclear bomb, rather than fuel for
an atomic power plant or other
peaceful uses. "The IAEA has been
notified, and the IAEA will be
there and will supervise this, but I'd
like to repeat that this is a legal
aspect of the matter, while the
political aspect is that we, along
with the other Security Council
members, have called on Iran to
freeze enrichment operations dur-
ing the negotiations," Lavrov said.
"But they are doing
line with their comm
the Safeguards Ag
added. The Safeguar
between the IAEA
signed in 1974, and s
measures coverin
nuclear activity. The
comes despite intern
tions aimed at slow
nuclear programme a
national efforts to l
round of talks betwee
"sextet" of internatio
comprising Britain, C
Russia, the US and G
group, known as P5+
rounds of talks ove
nuclear issue last yea
one-year break in the
Australia to go to
the polls on Sep 14SYDNEY: Australian PM Julia Gillard on
Wednesday said the nation would go to the
polls on Sept 14, announcing the date early
to give "shape and order" to the year.
Australians usually know only weeks before
when an election will be held, but the Labor
leader, whose minority govt. holds power by
only a narrow margin, surprised pundit by
giving close to nine months' notice. Gillard,
who is tipped to lose the election to conser-
vative opposition leader Tony Abbott, said
announcing the date of the polls would give
individuals, businesses and investors the
ability to plan ahead. "It gives shape and
order to the year, and enables it to be one not
of fevered campaigning, but of cool and rea-
soned deliberation," she said. Parl will be
dissolved on Aug 12.
Mali plans tohold electionsby July 2013
ADDIS ABABA: The Malian
president announced plans to hold
lections by July as French-ledroops battled Islamists in the last
major northern town under militant
ontrol. A battle is under way to
ecure Kidal, the last major town in
he sweep to flush out militants in
he north. The French military said
t seized the airport in Kidal, thus
gaining control of a major point of
ccess. French forces are focusing
on recapturing airports while
Malian forces take over the cities,
French army spokesman Col.
Thierry Burkhard said.
Mali's former colonial power,
France, is leading the offensive in
he north. As troops made gains in
he region, the French Defense
Ministry hailed President
Dioncounda Traore's transition
plan as a crucial step forward.
France welcomes the unanimous
doption by Mali's parliament of
he road map for the transition,
which makes provision for the
holding of elections and the open-
ng of negotiations with the north,"
he Defense Ministry said in a
tatement.
BEIJING: China has
approved construction of three
more dams on Brahmaputra
River in Tibet in addition to theone being built, and much to
the disquiet of India, it has not
been informed about the plans
so far. A document approved
by the Chinese cabinet recent-
ly mentioned three dams to be
built at Dagu, Jiacha and
Jiexu on Brahmaputra, Indian
officials here said. The docu-
ment listing projects to be
completed in China's 12th
five year plan made a passing
reference to the three dams
without any details, they said.
India has not been informed
about the move so far, they
said. Asked about the plans to
build the dams, Chinese
Foreign Ministry spokesman,Hong Lei told a media briefing
here that "China has always
taken a responsible attitude
towards the development of
cross Border Rivers". India
urged China to ensure its plans
to construct upstream dams on
Brahmaputra River do not
harm interests of lower ripari-
an states. On a query about
China's move to build three
hydropower dams in the mid-
dle reaches of the
Brahmaputra, the External
Affairs Ministry spokesperson
said India carefully monitored
all developments on the river
and had conveyed its views
and concerns to China. "Indiaurges China to ensure that the
interests of downstream states
are not harmed by any activi-
ties in upstream areas," the
spokesperson added.
JERUSALEM: Israel became the first co
cott a periodic review of its practices by the
Rights Council, citing what it called the bod
against it. Israeli representatives did not atte
of the 47-member council in Geneva, and th
postponed to no later than November. All
states are required to submit to a council
four years, and nearly all have attended, inc
accused of extensive human rights abuses,
and North Korea. Council spokesman Ro
said that Israel's absence from the mandat
Periodic Review put the council "in new t
United States had urged Israel to participate
Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Yigathe move was in line with a decision taken
suspend Israel's participation in the work o
after the body decided to form a fact-findi
examine the effect of Israeli settlements in t
and East Jerusalem on the human rights of
Israel boycotts
human rights re
Russia, UNSC urge Iran to halt nuclear enric
China approves construction of
dams on Brahmaputra River
Chinese Foreign Ministry
Hong Lei
7/29/2019 50 Weekly Edition
6/32
EDITORIALSTUDENT AGE
SATURDAY, JANUARY 27 - FEBRUARY 2, 2013
RBI does its bit;Centre shouldnow perform
Although marginal, the cut in the inter-
est rates which the Reserve Bank of
India announced on Tuesday goes to
show that the RBI is open to revising its mon-
etary policies if the Government demonstrates
a tangible commitment to put its fiscal house
in order.
But the rate revision does not mean that the
country's premier bank is gung-ho about the
prospects of a fiscal revival. The cut by a small
0.25 per cent - and that too coming after nine
long months - signals that the RBI is still not
entirely convinced of the UPA's oft-repeated
commitment to fiscal prudence, the lack of
which commitment has plunged the country
into a financial mess and spurred inflation. In
fact, the premier bank has trimmed the growth
figures for fiscal 2012-13 to 5.5 per cent of the
GDP from the earlier 5.8 per cent, unambigu-
ously indicating its lack of confidence in the
kind of revival which the Government's moneymanagers have been claiming is round the cor-
ner.
The reason why the RBI has effected the
downward revision is primarily because it
wanted to be seen as giving a helping hand to
efforts at shoring up the sagging economy.
And, by simultaneously reducing the cash
reserve ratio to release `18,000 crore into the
market, the RBI has in fact left no scope for
the Government to find excuses for the latter's
laggard performance on the economic front.
Because, while consumers will benefit, even if
not too largely, from the reduction of interest
rates, the financial system too will have more
money to deploy for economic growth. If theCentre is unable to make good use of this
opportunity, it will have little reason left to
explain away the failure.
The Union Ministry of Finance will, in the
meantime, do well to take with seriousness
some of the remarks that RBI Governor D
Subbarao made in the course of announcing
the cuts, that the widening current account
deficit is "by far the biggest risk for inflation".
The Government may argue that it has tried to
address the issue by deregulating the price of
diesel, given that the fuel bill comprises a vast
segment of our imports.
But the fact is that the deregulation at this
point in time will help inflationary trends and
negate the very initiatives that the RBI has
taken to ease control over the flow of money
into the system. It must not be forgotten that,
while headline inflation has been under rela-
tive control in recent months, it needs just the
kind of pressure that a hike in diesel price pro-
vides, to begin spinning away madly. After all,
dips in inflation are meaningful only if they
are sustained and not be limited to fits and
starts. It remains to be seen whether the UPA
regime, in its last lap before the Lok Sabha
election, can manage the feat. The coming
Union Budget should provide an answer.
By Kanwal Sibal
Looking ahead, what could President
Barack Obama's second term mean
for relations between India and the
United States of America? Will the rela-
tionship stay more or less at the level that it
has already reached or will it see a surge in
the years ahead? Can it begin to wane?
There is no reason for the relationship to
wilt, even if it has not lived up to its prom-
ise in the eyes of some Americans. India's
nuclear liability law and the ouster of US
suppliers from the 126 fighter aircraft deal
are cited as evidence. The other areas of
disappointment are the lack of convergence
in views on developments in the Gulf and
West Asia, India's reluctance to accept bur-
den-sharing in upholding the international
order as it is obliged to do by its rising
global status, as well as its inadequate
bureaucratic expertise and capacity to deal
with the expanded scope of the India-USengagement.
A less transactional assessment of the
state of relations would highlight the great
shift in Indian perceptions about relations
with the US - from strategic distrust to
strategic cooperation. This is best mani-
fested in the $9 billion worth of defence
contracts won by the US in the last seven
years, with more to come as India diversi-
fies its sources of supplies, as well as the
numerous joint military exercises conduct-
ed with strategic objectives in view.
Counter-terrorism cooperation is
acknowledgedly much better than before,
as is the quality of exchange of views onregional and global issues. India-US rela-
tions are now stable, with a remarkably
rich bilateral agenda whose implementa-
tion will occupy both sides in the years
ahead.
The chance of any dramatic upswing in
relations in the next four years, however,
seems unlikely. For one, the economic
backdrop is not very favourable. With US
economic recovery still sluggish, unem-
ployment high and the debt problem unre-
solved, Obama will remain preoccupied
with the domestic agenda.
He is anyway not seen as a 'foreign pol-
icy' president temperamentally. In India,
too, growth rates have fallen and investor
sentiment, both domestic and foreign,
remains unenthusiastic in spite of some
reform measures by the government.
Regulatory, taxation, environmental, land
acquisition, and implementational issues in
general remain to be addressed. With
growth rates high, market sentiment buoy-
ant and optimism in the air, countries can
deal with each other in a more positive
spirit than when they are preoccupied with
protecting their own interests first - and
those of others become even more second-
ary.
This means that on issues of concern to
us relating to the hike in visa fees and the
denial of visas to our income tax profes-
sionals, making US companies which out-
source work ineligible for federal govern-
ment grants and loans and the totalization
agreement that would address the problem
of Indian professionals in the US having to
compulsorily contribute to social security,
the US, already unresponsive, is unlikely to
give us satisfaction. Apart from the pop-
ulism of opposing outsourcing at a time of
high domestic unemployment, Obama
seems to have an ideological bias against
the transfer of jobs abroad even if that
improves the competitiveness of US firms.
India-US economic ties are not as
dynamic as some may suppose. In the last
three to four years our negotiators feel that
we have not been able to secure any tangi-
ble concessions from the US for our mer-chandize and services exports. The Trade
Policy Forum has not met for two years,
although it should do so in a couple of
months. The US has dropped to third place
as our trading partner, down from 17 per
cent to a 10 per cent share of our trade.
Investment levels are also low.
The US Consumer Protection Act, the
extension of the US Foreign Account Tax
Compliance Act of 2009 to foreign compa-
nies currently under Congressional consid-
eration, the foreign manufacturers liability
bill, the 'Buy America' campaign and so on
are all potential hurdles for building a
stronger trade partnership with the US.Some US trade initiatives would need to
be watched closely for their impact on
India.The Trans-Pacific Partnership that
the US is promoting does not include India,
or, for that matter, China and Japan. India's
focus is on the East Asia-centred Regional
Comprehensive Economic Partnership.
The contemplated trans-Atlantic free trade
area between the US and Europe, if estab-
lished, will affect Indian interests.
Bilaterally, regulatory issues on our side
need resolution for allowing trade in US
agricultural products. In the education sec-
tor there are complementarities but legisla-
tion on foreign universities operating in
India is languishing in Parliament.
The stipulation of local content in the
solar power and telecommunications sec-
tors has raised US objections.
Internet governance is a contentious
issue ahead. Our energy dialogue contin-
ues, with India hoping to obtain exemption
for importing liquefied natural gas from the
US. If that happens on a significant scale, it
can change India's energy equations and
concomitant strategic calculations. The
ambitious goal ahead is to finalize a bilat-
eral investment treaty with the US, the
prominent sticking issues
demands on intellectual pro
(India is on the US watchli
environmental and labour iss
establishment rules. In our
India-US FTA, for which w
appetite in the US as of now, s
the BIT. All said and done
issues, it is well to keep in m
economic cooperation with the
ly builds our strategic capaci
that with China erodes them.
The US envisages a key I
its pivot towards Asia, but we
about its scope given the com
of trade and financial inte
between the US and China. M
US financial downturn will in
to a reduction of the count
budgets, whereas any credib
require enhanced US military
Asia with a concomitant defence outlays. Obama's dom
ties could also over-ride any
pivot. India is already dist
from the pivot by the notable
course towards China by the fo
ter, Salman Khurshid.
Australian foreign minister's
both countries poured cold w
idea of a trilateral India-Au
dialogue, not to mention any
dialogue involving the US in
The contours of Obama's po
Afghanistan turning on the ac
effectively complete withdraw
the offer of a share in power tothe use of Pakistan as a facili
ing greater deference to its
Afghanistan - are all causin
India. India could be pushed in
ing axis in Afghanistan. India
will need, therefore, to rec
respective visions of Afghan
in the period ahead. Pakista
agressiveness towards India
ing the situation further.
There are some question m
Delhi about the new team in
especially with regard to the n
senator, John Kerry, as secre
because of his perceived soft
Pakistan and the expected
some India-friendly state dep
cials.
The changes in the Penta
Central Intelligence Agency,
not causing any particular u
much attention Obama pays
the India-relationship, which
tally on track, is open to ques
in all, therefore, India and the
ther enter into an embrace no
they will continue to shake fr
as Obama's second term unfol
FRI ENDLY HAN DSHAKChange is unlikely in India-US relations in the next four year
7/29/2019 50 Weekly Edition
7/32
EDITORIALSTUDENT AGE
SATURDAY, JANUARY 27 - FEBRUARY 2, 2013
By Hiranmay Karlekar
What we now need is the
constitution of a com-
mittee to scrutinise all
nstances of surprising acquittals
n rape cases
The country must not lose its
focus on crimes against women as
t waits to see how soon and to
what extent the Union
Government implements the
Verma Committee's report. The
statistics are alarming. According
to the National Crime Records
Bureau's publication, 'Crime in
India 2012', the number of cases of
rape and kidnapping and abduction
of women and girls, and molesta-
tion reported all over India in 2011
was 24,206, 35,565 and 42,968
respectively. Cases of sexual
harassment, cruelty by husbands
and relatives and importation ofgirls numbered 8,570, 99,135 and
80 respectively.
According to 'Crime in India
2008', reported cases of rape, kid-
napping and abduction of women
and girls, and molestation num-
bered 15,151, 16,351 and 30,959
respectively in 2007. In the same
year, cases of sexual harassment,
cruelty by husbands and relatives
and importation of girls numbered
8,053, 41,375 and nil respectively.
Going by the same two docu-
ments, reported cases of dowry
deaths were 6,975 in 2007 and
8,618 in 2011. This is a serious
matter, particularly since the inci-
dence of crimes against women
has continued to rise despite grow-
ing awareness of the importance of
women's rights since the appoint-
ment of the Committee on the
Status of Women in India in 1971
and the judiciary's astonishing
response to the case in which two
policemen, charged with raping a
16-year-old tribal girl, Mathura,
inside a police station on March
26, 1972, were acquitted. As therape and torture of a 23-year-old
woman inside a bus in Delhi, who
subsequently succumbed to her
injuries, on the night of December
16, 2012, underlined, the police's
response to crime against women
remains scandalous, the recom-
mendations of the various com-
missions and the National
Commission for Women, consti-
tuted in 1992, notwithstanding.
All this spurs the apprehension
that the Verma panel's admirable
report will gather dust as politi-
cians and male-dominated legisla-
tures debate over translating its
recommendation into law. Indeed,
the Verma Committee itself would
not have been appointed but for
the upsurge of intense public anger
over the December rape, and angry
demonstrations staged by students
and youth at the heart of Delhi.
Pressure, therefore, has to be
maintained and the suggestion that
December 16 be observed every
day as Anti-Rape Day merits sup-
port. According to the NCRB, the
number of rape cases registered inIndia increased by a startling 873.3
per cent, from 2,487 in 1971 to
24,206 in 2011, which makes it the
fastest growing crime in the coun-
try.
Pressure should be maintained
on the police throughout the coun-
try to ensure that its generally atro-
cious treatment of rape victims
improves. It may be a good idea to
reopen some of the old cases in
which the accused were surpris-
ingly acquitted, to examine
whether there were shortcomings
in investigation or systemic flaws
thwarting conviction.
As a report by Joseph Goldstein
in The New York Times of January
10 this year states, New York
City's medical examiner's office
had undertaken an unusual review
of more than 800 rape cases in
which critical DNA evidence had
been mishandled or overlooked by
a lab technician.
The exercise had, the report
points out, found 26 cases in
which the technician failed to
detect biological evidence whensome actually existed and that this
had hindered the ability to develop
rape cases in respect of some sus-
pects. According to the report, the
technician concerned resigned in
November 2011, after the office
moved to terminate
ment.
India has heard nu
gations of shoddy inv
rape and sexual assau
the abysmally low rate
tion suggest that th
baseless.
While the need t
stringent norms for re
investigation of compl
install devices embo
of-the-art technology
tion, is imperative, it i
sary to examine some
cases for the purposes
er.
This will convey t
men that lax investigat
erate sabotage can b
and that they can be pu
after a case has been c
The Union Home Mdo well to appoint a b
by a serving or retire
High Court, to look at
acquittal in rape ch
there seems to be mor
meets the eye.
Let's look beyond the Verma pane
By Kota Sriraj
Given the delicate state of
environment, and the
ever-increasing fuel and
compressed natural gas prices,electric vehicles provide a promis-
ng alternative. But that alterna-
ive can be successful only if we
change our mindset
The recent decontrol of diesel
prices would now mean that fuel
cost is headed only one way now:
Northward. But the good news is
he recent move by the Union
Government to infuse `14,000
crore to promote electric and
hybrid vehicles besides incentives
hat will be offered to manufactur-
ers of such vehicles. The ambi-
ious National Electric Mobility
Mission Plan, 2020 unveiled by
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh
aims to reduce the dependence on
fossil fuels.
Electric vehicles emit least
amount of carbon dioxide and,
herefore, ensure lesser emissions.
This helps reduce global warming
and climate change. Many car
manufacturers such as Toyota,
Honda and Mahindra with cleaner
environment as one of the corpo-
rate goals have fully committed
facilities, design team and
research and development for
such vehicles, but lack of
Government support till now has
ensured that electric and hybridvehicles remained expensive and
out of reckoning for the regular
buyer.
NEMMP 2020 aims to ensure
the fund availability for research
and development and infrastruc-
ture for electric vehicles, besides
giving original equipment manu-
facturer and component manufac-
turers tax breaks.
Further, the Government can
explore customs duty reduction on
lithium-ion batteries and other
imported parts that are used to
produce these vehicles and can
help reduce input costs for the
manufacturers and coupled with
tax rebates can lower the entry
costs for the consumer.
Also, the demand for these
vehicles and the technology
involved in the manufacture of
such vehicles will get a shot in the
arm if the Government reduces
interest rates that banks charge on
loans for electric vehicles, and
provide other benefits such as life-
time free parking at authorised
municipal parking lots and sub-
sidised insurance premiums. The
National Council for Electric
Mobility, set up last year, has pro-
posed exemption on various taxeslike sales tax, value added tax etc
with the ownership of an electric
car, like the Belgian Government,
which offers tax deduction of upto
30 per cent including VAT on pur-
chase of a new electric vehicle.
In India, two-wheelers hold a
large chunk of the market and pol-
lution too. But the number of elec-
tric two wheelers has steadily
increased over the past three
years.
Currently there are approxi-
mately 4,00,000 electric two
wheelers on roads and over 1,500
electric cars. Eventually, the
Government's idea is to ensure
conservation of up to 20 lakh
tonnes of liquid fossil fuels.
However, electric recharge points
across the urban landscape are an
essential component of this green
initiative.
For this, the Government can
take a leaf out of the social devel-
opment sector where international
multinational companies special-
ising in electric power supply and
components have tied up with
NGOs to set up rural recharge sta-
tions for recharging community
batteries that provide power to
streetlights or run pump sets. Thesame organisations with
Government support can set up
urban recharge stations as a part of
their Corporate Social
Responsibility mandate.
As a buyer who is faced with
ever increasing fuel and com-
pressed natural gas prices, the
electric vehicles provide a promis-
ing alternative. The Union
Ministry of New and Renewable
Energy provides for a subsidy of
`1 lakh on electric cars that will be
replaced by an incentive scheme
after April 2013, whereby electric
vehicles will be made cheaper by
`1.5 lakh.
However, our mindset as a
'customer' also needs to undergo a
change. Given that an average of
1,000 vehicles are registered
everyday in Delhi alone, the glar-
ing absence of a respectable num-
bers of electric vehicle registra-
tions is very much evident.
With an annual production of
around 40 lakh automobile units
per year, India has more than 4.5
crore passenger vehic
thus one of the larges
the world.
Electric cars, as
tally right as they mayfailed to create an im
ple. Given the ambiti
the Government to h
electric vehicles on r
the above measures a
suddenly seem feeble
Take for instance
tions made by China o
lion (`80,000 crore)
and development on e
cles and US$4.4billi
crore) on pilot p
US$5billion (`26,00
public charging amen
Compared to the
still has a lot to do to
cause. Given the deli
environment and the
today one can actuall
'purchase' a non-poll
cate for his/her vehicl
umes about how syste
are being mocked.
How the Govern
duces norms that are
lowed in letter and sp
to be seen, but we hav
able role in ensuring
Driving into an eco-friendly futur
7/29/2019 50 Weekly Edition
8/32
STATESTUDENT AGE
SATURDAY, JANUARY 27 - FEBRUARY 2, 2013
NEWS IN BOX
Hideout busted, five IED defused inREASI IN J&K
UDHAMPUR: Security forces today detected and defused five
Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) in a hideout in Reasi district of
Jammu and Kashmir. On a specific information, a joint team of Army
and Police detected five IEDs in a hideout at Shekhari in Mahore area of
Reasi district on Friday, officials said.
The IEDs were later defused and the hideout busted, they said.
Gov summons J&K Legislature session on Feb 28JAMMU: Mr. N. N. Vohra, Governor, in exercise of the powers con-
ferred upon him under section 53 of the Constitution of Jammu and
Kashmir, has summoned the State Legislative Assembly and the
Legislative Council to meet at Jammu on Thursday, the 28th February,
2013, at 10.30 a.m.
The Governor has called upon the Members of the Jammu and
Kashmir Legislative Assembly and the Legislative Council to assemble
together in the Central Hall of the Legislature Building in the New
Secretariat premises, Jammu, on Thursday, the 28th February, 2013 at
10.30 a.m. to hear his Address to both the Houses of the Legislature
under the provisions of sub-section (1) of section 55 of the Constitution
of Jammu and Kashmir.
After the said Address, each House of the Legislature will meet as aseparate body at the time specified by the Speaker or the Chairman, as
the case may be.
The Governor approved the proposal of the State Government to this
effect today.
J&K Legislature Session: Members tosubmit questions by 7thFeb: SecretaryJAMMU: According to the Secretary, Legislative Assembly, Mr.
Mohammad Ramzan the Members of Jammu and Kashmir Legislative
Assembly have been requested to send not more than ten starred and ten
un-starred Questions by or before Thursday, the 7th of February, 2013 in
relaxation of Rule 32 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business
in the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly.
Similarly, not more than five Bills by or before Thursday, the 7th ofFebruary, 2013 and not more than four Resolutions by or before
Wednesday, the 13th of February, 2013 should be submitted.
DAT launches its websitesJAMMU: The Directorate of Accounts and Treasuries, J&K has
launched its official website and information pertaining to this
Directorate can be accessed under URL www.jkdat.nic.in.
This website provides information about who-is-who, organizational
set up, various aspects of functioning of the Directorate and the measures
taken from time to time for good governance. With the launch of this
website, a long pending requirement under the J&K Right to Information
Act, 2009 has also been fulfilled. Information seekers under the Act can
benefit from the material available on this website.
J&K Panel set up to probe Master Plan violationsJAMMU: Jammu & Kashmir government has reconstituted a panel
tasked with probing violations of Master Plan in residential colonies in
Jammu and Srinagar, and named former advisor to CM, Devinder Singh
Rana, as its Chairman. Amrit Malhotra, Chairman of the Legislative
Council, re-constituted the House Committee to look into the issue of
conversion of residential areas into commercial ones in violation of
Master Plan in the two capital cities. This was done in partial modifica-
tion of the order dated October 8, 2012 when the first panel was consti-
tuted by the Council. The panel had not submitted any report.
Devinder Singh Rana has been nominated the Chairman of the six-
member panel that has Murtaza Ahmad Khan, Jugal Kishore, B R
Kundal, Sheikh Ghulam Rasooland Mohammad Ashraf Mir as its mem-
bers.
JAMMU: With a view to ensure
quality pesticides products to the
farmers, Minister for Agriculture,
Mr. Ghulam Hassan Mir today
asked Sarswati Agro Chemicals
(India) Pvt. Ltd to setup Analysis &
Research Centres in the State.
The Minister passed these direc-
tions during the inspection of pesti-
cide manufacturing company at Bari
Brahmana, this morning. He said
that "our main objective should be
to address the concerns of farmers
and they must be satisfied with the
quality products which they use. He
said this factor should be the motto
of the companies dealing with the
pesticides, insecticides and herbi-
cides. Director Law Enforcement,
Mr M.S.Katoo, Chief Agriculture
Officer Samba, Mr. R.K. Sharma
and other senior officers of
Agriculture and Law Enforcementaccompanied with the Minister.
The Minister went round all the
units of the company and was
briefed about the functioning and
management. The Minister was
apprised about the detailed func-
tioning of world class manufactur-
ing facility & equipments installed
with high quality labs and qualified
staff. The Pesticide, insecticide andherbicide units of the company are
housed in separate bui
vent them from cros
tion.Mr Mir emphasiz
anufacturing units for
the quality standards
facturing of such pest
benefit of the farmin
and also stressed to adh
norms as laid by thauthorities.
Set u p Analy s is & Research Cent reensure e f f i c iency o f agro p r odu c ts :
JAMMU: Minister for Forests,
Mian Altaf Ahmad today directed
the officers to implement all
approved projects by the Centre
under CAMPA scheme expeditious-
ly which are aimed at to improve
wildlife infrastructure in the State.
While reviewing the progress of
projects approved under CAMPA
scheme for protection and conser-vation of wildlife in Jammu and
Kashmir, at a meeting of officers
held here today, the Minister laid
stress on expeditious implementa-
tion of all the sanctioned projects
strictly under the Supreme Court
guidelines. He issued categorical
instructions to the concerned offi-
cers to make judicious use of funds
in a time bound manner to achieve
the financial targets.
The Minister maintained that
Centre has approved Rs. 13.20
crore under CAMPA for protection
and conservation of wildlife habi-
tats in the State and directed the
officers to gear up men and machin-ery to complete the projects in a
time bound manner. He said the
officers who will perform better
and achieve targets in time will be
suitably rewarded and poor per-
formers will face action, the
Minister asserted.
Giving details abou
of sanctioned pro
CAMPA scheme, the C
Warden said that nec
lines and instruction
issued to the field fun
taking up the projects
He said the work on
conservation proje
address man-animal related to eco-tourism
been taken up and
progress. He said an a
1.53 crore stands exp
Rs. 2.73 crore appr
2010-11 under the
added.
Centre approves Rs. 13.20 cr. under CAMPA: MianAsks for implementation of scheme in a time bound m
JAMMU: The Government is
working on new Master Plan 2021
for winter Capital Jammu to be
implemented in next ten years
envisaging its expansion over twice
of the present area of the city from
Purmandal to Akhnoor.
The Master Plan having been
framed by CEPT University,
Ahmadabad was discussed here
today at a high-level meeting with
Minister for Urban Development
Mr Nawang Rigzin Jora in the
chair.
Threadbare discussion was held
on wide ranging issues related to
the prospective requirements of
Jammu city and its development on
scientific lines with focus on mod-
ern sanitation system, green area
and clearly divided residential and
commercial areas, besides adequate
roads to meet the increasing traffic
rush. The meeting was informed
that at present the existing Jammu
city, with a population of 9,32,500
souls, is spread over on 175 sq km,
while as the projected population of
the city in 2021 is estimated to be
near to double with 17,62,425 souls
requiring an area of 404 sq kmt.
A power point demonstration of
the concept model envisaging
requirements of next ten year was
presented by experts from CEPT
University, Ahmadabad, who were
assigned the job to draw a compre-
hensive plan for the modern Jammu
city.
The new Master
city proposes dev
modern sanitation wi
Treatment Plants (STP
izing of water bodies,
of new and widening
roads , flyovers, sepa
Hospitals, Educationa
gardens, parks, indu
commercial areas bes
es on the National Hig
from Kathua to ease t
the city.
Discussing the pro
Plan, the Minister stre
to protect forest and
land during the imple
the New Plan.
Govt moots New Master Plan-2021 for Jamm
Minister for Agriculture, Mr. Ghulam Hassan Mir during the pesticide manufacturing company at Bari Brahmana
7/29/2019 50 Weekly Edition
9/32
STATESTUDENT AGE
SATURDAY, JANUARY 27 - FEBRUARY 2, 2013
JAMMU:Admitting for the first
time that their efforts, hard work
and interactions with Kashmiri
people have gone all in vain, the
woman interlocutor, Professor
Radha Kumar Wednesday said that
people of Kashmir were disap-
pointed the way Central
Government made a fun of their
report and recommendations made
by the team of interlocutors headed
by renowned journalist Dilip
Padgounkar. "Central Government
cared a fig for our report and rec-
ommendations. Kash
are disappointed and
ting that. If our reco
don't suit the Central
at least it should do so
crete to address the
Kashmiri people on
Radha Kumar told N
and added that Kash
nessed no major ch
institutions and gove
last 2 years. Profe
Kumar said that most
mendation.
"Our recommendations wethrown in dust bin" : Radha K
NEW DELHI: Minister for
Urban Development and Urban
Local Bodies on Friday said that
Ladakh is one of the most impor-
ant regions of Jammu and
Kashmir State. He said though
egion having its own cultural and
inguist identity, the people of
Ladakh are very peace loving
people, like co-existence, and nat-
ural born of communal harmony
ociety. The Minister was speak-
ng at a Seminar on Ladakh,
organised by Institute of Peace
and Conflicts in collaboration
with India International Centre
here today. Highlighting varied
ssues faced by the people of Leh
and Kargil, its empowerment,
unctioning of Ladakh Hill
Development Council, its empow-
erment, problems being faced by
he Council, influx of tourists in
he region, impact of fast growing
tourism industry and tourists on
Ladakhi society and culture, posi-
tive and negative aspects on edu-
cation and environment.
The seminar was also
addressed among others by vari-
ous prominent Scholars having in-
depth studies of Ladakh including
Mr. S .S Blouria, Vice Chancellor,
Central University, Jammu, Mr.
Sadiq Wahid, former Vice
Chancellor, Islamic University
Kashmir, Mr. Motup, Dr.Kavita
Suri and put light on various
issues confronting to the people of
the Ladakh region in with the new
scenario emerging in this
Himalayan region.
Mr Jora while thanking to the
organisation for giving him an
opportunity to express his views
on this vital issue is concerning to
the people of his region and chal-
lenges being faced by them and
their possible solutions. He said
the seminar have also provided a
platform to the students of Ladakh
in studying various Universities
of National Capital, including
Jawaharlal Nehru University and
Jamia Millia to present their view
papers, express their view points
before the galaxy of scholars.
The Minister said that Ladakh
remains landlocked between
November to June as Srinagar-
Leh and Leh-Manali highways
remain closed because of snow
and rigorous winter, the people of
the region are facing tremendous
problems and hardships.
Calling the Ladakh the roof of
the World with an elevation of
11000 kms from the sea level,
best tourist destination. He said
that in the ancient times, the
Ladakh was a hub of trade activi-
ties.
Jora speaks on various issues confronting to Ladakh
MARDID: The Jammu and Kashmir government has
equested the Government of Spain to lift the negativeravel advisory issued to its citizens against visiting the
tate as the situation here has improved considerably.
The request to lift the advisory was made by state
Tourism Minister Mr. Ghulam Ahmad Mir during his
meeting with Spanish Tourism Officers here on Friday.
The Minister during his meetings and interaction
eceived positive response from the Spanish func-
ionaries and hoped that government of Spain would
lso lift the negative travel advisory and allow its citi-
ens to visit and avail holidays in mesmerizing tourist
estination of the State.
The Tourism Minister along with the officers of
Tourism Department is on the 4-day visit of Spain,
where they represent the State in International Trade
nd Travel Event to showcase the world famousourism potential of the Jammu and Kashmir.
The State government has installed various stalls
depicting varied tourism potential of all the regions ofthe State, besides publicity counters to familiarize the
participants about serene beauty of spots, besides
adventure, heritage and spiritual tourism of Jammu and
Kashmir. The delegation will also utilize the trip as pro-
motional campaign in the cities of Spain and motivate
Spanish people about the innovative measures taken by
the State government for developing new destinations
like Yousmarg, Doodpatheri, Lolab- Bangus valley,
Mughal road etc., besides creating of world class
tourism infrastructure with focus on development of
new attraction like gondola riding and eco- tourism.
Mr. Mir told the Spanish officials that Germany and
UK have already lifted its similar travel advisory
against Jammu and Kashmir following which a large
number of foreign tourists have visited the State thisyear.
JAMMU: The 55-day religious
voyage to Amarnath, the holy
Himalayan cave shrine of Lord
Shiva in south Kashmir, will begin
from June 28 this year, Shri
Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB)decided on Thursday.
The Board finalised the pil-
grimage to Amarnath, which
would commence on June 28 and
conclude on Raksha Bandhan on
August 21, CEO SASB Navin
Choudhary said.
This decision was taken by
SASB headed by its chairman N N
Vohra, Governor of Jammu and
Kashmir during a three-hour meet-
ing of the Board which was held in
New Delhi.
The Board directed the CEO to
arrange a special Pooja on JyesthPurnima on June 23.
The Board noted that even on
June 25, the date on which yatra
had commenced in 2012, there
was heavy frozen snow accumula-
tion in the Domel, Sheshnag and
holy cave camp areas because of
which it was difficult to set up
power and water supply facilities
in the yatra camps, a spokesman
said.
The CEO, said th
will have to furnish a
Health Certificate w
registration for yatra
He said a committeexperts from Un
Ministry and the
department had desig
mat of the Compul
Certificate and the p
now be required to s
mation in the form of
ration about his and
health status, past me
and various ailments
they may be suffering
suffered in the past.
To prevent the use
health certifica
Compulsory Healthwould be issued on
authorised doctors a
institutes, he said.
All the states an
been asked to furnish
tors and medical in
would be authorised
Compulsory Health C
the eligible Yatris of
UT, he said.
Amarnath Yatra to begin from Ju
SRINAGAR: Welcoming the
assurance of Prime Minister
Manmohan Singh on the imple-
mentation of Justice Verma
Committee's recommendations,
Jammu and Kashmir unit of
CPI(M) on Thursday said the
part of the report with regard to
AFSPA needs prompt implemen-
tation in the state and Northeast.
"The assurance from the
Prime Minister (on the Justice
Verma Committee recommenda-
tions) is welcome... The recom-
mendation about reviewing the
contentious AFSPA a
armed forces unde
criminal law to pre
offences against wo
state and the Northe
appreciated and ne
implementation," C
secretary M Y Tar
reporters here.
Referring to cor
unemployment in th
CPI(M) leader said t
ernment in power h
able to address these
isfact
Recommended