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

STUdenT aGe
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2013

JKENG/2012/41612 Vol. 2 No: 34

Baba Ramdev welcomes CBI inquiry into his guru's disappearance

Page 6

Policy drift cannot pass off as strategic patience Editorial

Page 7

Finance Minister may announce relief in income tax in coming budget

IN BRIEF
Drone strikes are 'legal, ethical and wise': US
NEW YORK, FEB 6: US drone attacks in Pakistan, Yemen and elsewhere have been facing increasing scrutiny and questions from human rights groups. "That's I think established in a number of cases. So having said that, the issues here are important and the President recognises that. That's why he has contd on page 2

Antony raises concern on Pak decision to handover Gwadar port to China

NEW DELHI, FEB 6: Pakistan's decision to handover strategic Gwadar port to China is a matter of "serious concern" for India, Defence Minister A.K. Antony said in Bangalore on Wednesday. "Chinese are now constructing that port on Pakistan's request. In one sentence, I can say that it's a matter of concern to us. My answer is simple and straightforward," he said at the Aero India press conference. Mr. Antony was responding to a media query if the handing over of Gwadar port in Pakistan to China would make India's western frontiers more vulnerable. Gwadar port is situated at a strategic location of the Arabian Sea and the mouth of the Persian Gulf. It is only about 400 kilometres away from the Strait of Hormuz, a

Modi meets PM, gives memorandum on Sardar Sarovar

NEW DELHI, FEB 6: Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi today met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and expressed his unhappiness over the Centre's refusal to provide gas to the state at the same price at which it is given to Mumbai and Delhi. "It was a very good meeting and we had a long discussion during which several different issues came up. The Prime Minister gave his good wishes for the development of Gujarat and the success of the new government. I gave an assurance that Gujarat will give full support to all measures taken for the welfare of the people," Modi said. He was talking to reporters after an over hour-long meeting with the Prime Minister at his residence. This was Modi's first meeting with Singh after his victory in the Gujarat Assembly elections in December last In a memorandum contd on page 2

Modi for re-branding of India

NEW DELHI, FEB 6: In a speech with barely disguised claims of what he was capable of, Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi today appealed for a re-branding of India to make it a global power. In an hour-long speech at the Shri Ram College of Commerce (SRCC) here, Modi underlined that contd on page 2

Karnataka BJP issues whip to its MLAs

BANGALORE: In a move to keep its flock together, ruling BJP today issued a whip to all its members directing them to be present in both houses of the legislature till the end of the ongoing budget session. The ruling party, which had faced threats of poaching from former BJP strongman and Karnataka Janata Partychief B S Yeddyurappa, has taken the step to prevent further resignations and also to contd on page 2

key global oil supply route. The Minister's remark comes in the backdrop of reports in the Chinese official

media that the port development was not an attempt by the Chinese side to 'encircle' India. contd on page 2

Governor briefed by DRDO Scientists on Bio-Digester based toilets

Calls for urgent utilization of eco-friendly technology
JAMMU, FEB 6 : Mr. N. N. Vohra, Governor, has called for urgent utilization of ecofriendly technologies for the sustained protection of environment and ecology. The Governor said this while receiving a detailed presentation by a team of senior Scientists of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) on Bio-Digester based eco-friendly toilets, at Raj Bhavan, here last evening. The Governor observed that there is need for urgently utilizing the valuable technology developed by the DRDO for an eco-friendly solution to treat human wastes. He said that this technology should be adequately publicized for enlarging awareness about its utility. He observed that possibilities could be explored for installation of these Bio-toilets at various important tourist spots for eco-friendly treatment of human wastes. The Governor, who is Chairman of the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board and Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, asked Mr. Navin K. Choudhary, Chief Executive Officer of these Boards, who was present on the occasion, to take up the matter with the DRDO for preparing project reports on the feasibility of installing these contd on page 2

Complaint against Shinde over 'Hindu terror' remark is 'motivated': Delhi Police
NEW DELHI: The Delhi Police today opposed in a Delhi court a complaint seeking lodging of FIR against Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde for his remarks on "Hindu terror" saying it was "motivated" and bears" misrepresentation of facts". In an Action Taken Report (ATR) filed before Metropolitan Magistrate Viplav Dabas, the police said evidence supplied by complainant Vivek Garg, an RTI activist, does not "disclose any offence worth (taking) cognizance by the police". "In view of the above noted facts, it seems that the present (Garg's ) complaint/petition is motivated and bears misrepresentation of facts. It disclose no cognizable offence ...," the police said in its twopage contd on page 2

HM under pressure to 'clarify' terror remark

NEW DELHI: Home minister (HM) Sushil Kumar Shinde is under pressure to clarify his statement made during Congress' Chintan Shivir that there were intelligence reports that BJP and RSS were running terror camps and the government was monitoring it. A government source said that with BJP upping the ante against Shinde, and threatening to oppose him in Parliament, there may be a problem in getting the Criminal Law (Amendment) Ordinance, 2013, converted into law by March 17 - the cut-off date for a bill to be passed to replace the Ordinance or the latter contd on page 2

Notice to CBI on Kalmadi plea

NEW DELHI, FEB 6: The Delhi High Court Wednesday issued notice to the CBI on former Commonwealth Games (CWG) organising committee chief Suresh Kalmadi's plea for quashing of FIR and proceedings against him. Justice Kailash Gambhir, seeking response from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), asked it to file response in three weeks and posted the matter for March 7. Kalmadi moved the court terming the investigation against contd on page 2

Three people including young couple commit suicide

JAMMU: A youth has allegedly committed suicide by hanging himself from a ceiling fan in district Udahmpur, police said Wednesday. Charan Das (20) allegedly hanged himself from the ceiling fan of his house in Udhampur district today, police said. Investigations were on to ascertain the reason behind the extreme step, they said. In another case, a couple hailing from Aligarh in Uttar Pradesh allegedly committed suicide by consuming poison at a guest house in Katra yesterday. The couple identified as Deepa (20) and Krishan (24) had checked in to the guest house on January 30 and after paying obeisance at the shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi had returned to the guest house on January 31. "Basically the couple was hiding here (Katra). They had been missing from their home since January contd on page 2

Just leave us alone, pleads J&K all-girl band

SRINAGAR: Pained yet fearful of being further targeted by religious zealots, Kashmir's all-girl rock band has called it quits and want to be 'left alone'. One of the members of the band said, "We don't want to pursue music, we quit. I personally don't know whether music is un-Islamic but the Grand Mufti knows better. We respect his decision that is why we quit." "Kashmir is not the placeif anybody wants to pursue a career in music they would have to go out," she added. On whether the band members feel safe, she said, "We don't want any security; we are okjust leave us alone." The all-girls band 'Pragaash' (darkness to light) has three Class 10 students vocalist-guitarist Noma Nazir, drummer Farah Deeba and guitarist Aneeka Khalid as its members. The first live performance of the band at Srinagar's music festival 'Battle of the Bands' in December had created ripples in the Valley. But their euphoria was short-lived as the girls soon started receiving online threats for defying convention by choosing the field of music, leaving their parents worried and forcing them to keep a low profile. However, after the Grand Mufti of Jammu and Kashmir Bashiruddin Ahmad issued a decree, terming the bands singing as "un-Islamic" and asked the girls to abandon it, the girls fell in line and announced that "they quit". Chief Minister Omar Abdullah was among large number of people who came out in support of the girls. Omar even reportedly dismissed the decree on his Twitter page but removed the Tweet later. "This is wrong. Everyone has their own perspective, there are traditions. But I believe that if after so many years of independence, we stop girls from any work, it will be our double standards," said Mamata Sharma, Chairperson of the National Commission for Women. Naeem Akhtar, spokesperson of Opposition Peoples Democratic Party in J-K, said the entire incident was an "unnecessary controversy". "Mufti sahab has made a profession out of issuing fatwas on every issue that is defaming religion," Akhtar said. BJP MP Najma Heptullah also supported the all-girls band. "Saying anything in the name of religion does not do any favour to the religion...If you don't like songs, don't listen to them. To stop them (the rock band members) in the name of religion, I don't think it is the right move," she added.

Cold returns to Kashmir as mercury dips

SRINAGAR: Night temperatures dropped by several degrees across Kashmir as cold returned after two days of rains and snowfall in many parts of the Valley, with mercury in famous resorts of Gulmarg and Pahalgam plummeting by around eight notches. Many areas of Kashmir valley received rainfall during the night with the summer capital Srinagar recording 9.6 mm of rainfall, a MeT Department spokesman said. Night temperature in Srinagar dropped by over two notches to settle at a low of minus 1.3 degrees Celsius as against the previous night's low of 1.6 degrees Celsius, he said. In the gateway town of Qazigund in south Kashmir, which received a rainfall of 29.2 mm, the mercury settled at a low of minus 4.0 degree Celsius during the night, registering a drop of over four degrees from 0.8 degrees Celsius yesterday, the spokesman said. Night temperature in Kokernag recorded a low of minus contd on page 2

Netaji continues to inspire countrymen by his single-minded devotion: President

NEW DELHI, FEB 6: President Pranab Mukherjee today said Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose's role in India's freedom struggle is unique and he continues to inspire countrymen by his singleminded devotion to the cause. At a function in Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi, Mr Mukherjee said for Netaji, the fight for the independence contd on page 2

Omar seeks more 'contact' with people

JAMMU, FEB 6: Setting sights on the 2014 Lok Sabha polls which are just over a year away, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has sought to establish a connect with people in order to "effectively redress their grievances". Omar has asked his ministers to hold public hearings at party headquarters in Jammu and Srinagar to "have a feel of" the problems faced by people, and directed them to redress their grievances accordingly, a party spokesperson quoting Abdullah said on Wednesday. A party communique said the contd on page 2

Major concerns in education need to be addressed: PM

NEW DELHI,FEB 6: Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh today said major concerns in the field of education need to be addressed including the standard of teachers and teaching and high drop out rates after elementary level. He added that poor learning outcomes and equal opportunities in education are also important issues that need to be tackled. Addressing the golden jubilee celebrations of Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan, KVS, in New Delhi, Dr. Singh said, the government has always recognised that India can emerge as a modern, prosperous and progressive country only when the citizens have access to good quality education. He said, India is a young country and can reap the demographic dividend only if we have an educated and skilled workforce that would help our economy to expand and become contd on page 2

Asia's biggest air show off to flying start in Bangalore

BANGALORE, FEB 6: Kicking off Asia's biggest aerospace exposition here, Defence Minister A K Antony today said the focus of the country is achieving self reliance in the defence sector. Aero India 2013 showcases the latest international technology in military and civil aircraft, avionics and sub-systems, as well as radars in the defence and aerospace sectors. "Self reliance in defence area is our focus area," said Antony in his inaugural address at the biennial event at Yelahanka Airbase here. "We want to create a strong defence industrial base in the country," he said at the event witnessed by a galaxy of officials, industry delegates, exhibitors and representatives from India and abroad. He stated that India has put in place a road-map in the form of defence production policy and is encouraging the country's public and private sector industries to become active partners in such endeavours. "There are big opportunities for major international aerospace companies to enter into new alliances and forge partnerships with Indian industry and set up bases in India", Antony said. Aero India 2013 will project India's emergence as a fast-growing and an attractive market, as well as a key outsourcing hub for global aerospace firms, he added. With the airshow integral to the ceremony, the display began with three Mi-8 helicopters trooping the tricolour, IAF ensign and the Aero India flag just before the event. A scintillating display of LCA Tejas flown by Gp Capt S Krishna was applauded by all. The Tiger Moth aircraft resurrected recently as part of the IAF vintage flight flew for the first time in Aero India 2013. The 'de Havilland DH82 'Tiger Moth' is a two-seat, single bay biplane powered by a 145 hp GYPSY MAJOR four cylinder inverted aircooled engine.It was the primary trainer aircraft for Royal Air Force during the Second World War and was also the basic trainer aircraft in the IAF right from 1940. "Flying Bulls", considered one of the world's leading aerobatic display team from the Czech Republic, performed at the air show, enthralling the audience. Civil Aviation Minister Ajit Singh, Minister of State for Defence Jitendra Singh, Air Chief Marshal N A K Browne, Karnataka Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar, Defence Secretary Shashi Kant Sharma, Defence Production Secretary R K contd on page 2

N C instigates people against Army , says BJP

SRINAGAR, FEB 06: Blaming ruling party National Conference for goading the sentiments of Jammu and Kashmir people, Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) spokesperson Prakash Javedkar said that this party has always encouraged secessionist forces for their personal gains. "What Mustafa Kamal has said is totally rubbish and baseless. It is not the army or Intelligence Bureau but National Conference itself which is responsible for the miseries of Jammu and Kashmir people." BJP spokesperson Prakash Javedkar accused National Conference for misleading people of Kashmir Valley. "By issuing statements against Army this party tries to give an impression it is pro-people. The fact is that Army has been doing a commendable job in Kashmir," he said and added that National Conference is responsible for the woes of the people as this party has not done well in state of Jammu and Kashmir from last 5 years. He said both contd on page 2

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Governor briefed...
eco-friendly toilets at Baltal and Nunwan Base Camps of Shri Amarnathji Yatra and, thereafter, at Sangam, Panjtarni, Sheshnag and the Holy Cave area, after assessing the efficacy of this technology. He added that a similar feasibility report should be urgently prepared for the installation of eco-friendly toilets on the track from Katra to Bhawan, adding that a time-bound action plan should be prepared for this purpose. Prof. (Dr.) M. P. Kaushik, Outstanding Scientist and Director, DRDE, Gwalior, in his presentation, explained the entire gamut of development and working of Bio-digesters and variants thereof both for high and low altitude areas. He also spoke about the current status of the usage of Bio-toilets/Bio-digesters in the country and its future roadmap. He said that besides the Railways these toilets have been installed at various places in the country and are functioning efficiently. The DRDO team comprised Dr. Sudarshan Kumar, Director CFEES, DRDO, Delhi; Col Pankaj Chaturvedi and Dr. D. V. Kamboj. Mr. Atal Dulloo, Commissioner/Secretary, Tourism; Mr. M. K. Dwivedi, Commissioner/Secretary, Health; Dr. Mandeep K. Bhandari, Additional Chief Executive Officer of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board; Mr. A. K. Tikku, Member-Secretary, State Pollution Control Board; Mr. Preet Pal Singh, Additional CEO of the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board, Mr. B. Mohan Das, IFOS, Mr. R. K. Pandita, GM (Works) of the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board, and other senior officers were present on this occasion. expected to clarify his original statement before the Parliament session begins or on the floor of the House to the effect, a source said. However, Shinde may still put the onus on BJP and RSS to come clean on their association with the arrested terrorists, the source added. It also provides an exposure to the Indian Armed Forces, R&D personnel and young engineers, to latest technologies and advancements in the aviation and aerospace Industries. More than 600 companies from India and overseas are participating in the event. Major participants are companies from the United States, Israel, Russia, France, the UK, Germany and Belgium, Bulgaria, Italy, Ukraine, Australia, Belarus, Czech Republic, Japan, Norway, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland, Austria, Brazil, Canada, Netherlands, Romania, Sweden, the UAE and Singapore. The leader of the Indian representation (DRDO - ADA) with the largest indoor and outdoor area of about 2561 square metres, is closely followed by HAL, BEL and TATA. The largest international participation indoor (area-wise) is by USA and outdoor by EADS. USA is followed by Israel and Russia in this category. Maximum participants from any single country is from the USA, followed by France, the UK, Russia, Germany, Israel and Belgium. A total of 27 countries are participating with 10 country pavilions namely Belgium, Bulgaria, Italy, Israel, Russia, Germany, France, USA, UK and Ukraine. present his maiden budget and the last one of the BJP government on February 8 as assembly elections are likely in April-May. The legislature session will conclude on February 15.

Contd. from page 1...

Antony raises...
Pakistan had recently approved a deal that transferred operational control of Gwadar port from Singapore's PSA International to Chinese Overseas Port Holdings Ltd. The Chinese Foreign Ministry had also defended Beijing's decision to take over the Gwadar port operations as it is part of the continued cooperation between the two countries. Besides funding ports in Sri Lanka, China has also been approached to help build a port in Bangladesh. Post military pullout Asked about how India is preparing to deal with the situation post-2014 when American troops pulled out from the Afghanisation-Pakistan region, Antony said, "even before Afghan pullout, geopolitical situation around us is very critical and the government is aware of it and we are taking steps to meet any eventuality." Mr. Antony said: "The pullout by US and others from 2014 onwards is a matter of serious concern to us. We are taking sufficient steps to safeguard our security. Our armed forces are also confident to face any challenges and we are equipping them for this purpose." The US and its allies, whose forces are present in Afghanistan after the September 11, 2001, attacks in America, plan to pullout their troops from the Af-Pak region by 2014 and hand over the security of the country to local police and military.

Prime Minister to look into the demand for completion of the canal network on Narmada river to provide water to farmers. "As per the Government of India norms Gujarat should get this. I requested him that Gujarat should get the same benefits that other states get," he said. Modi maintained that several other issues were also discussed. "The Prime Minister has assured me that he will himself look into these issues and will take decisions for the welfare of the people," he said.

Notice to CBI...
him "illegal" as he was a central government employee and no prior sanction from the government was taken to initiate inquiry under the Prevention of Corruption (PC) Act. Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for Kalmadi, told the court that under section 6A of the Delhi Special Police Establishment (DSPE) Act, his client was entitled to protection from any investigation in corruption cases. Rohatgi said his client was "appointed in January 2005 by the central government as chairman of the organising committee of CWG, which was constituted by the central government in February and he was confirmed in March". However, CBI counsel told the court that no protection was given under section 6-A of the DSPE Act. The plea by Kalmadi said: "There is an absolute bar on the initiation of any inquiry or investigation by the CBI into an offence alleged to have been committed under the PC Act if a person is covered within the ambit of section 6-A (1) (b) of the DSPE Act." "No prior approval taken under section 6-A of the DSPE Act. Hence, investigation in this case was carried out in contravention of the mandatory requirement of section 6-A of DSPE Act and thereby depriving the applicant of statutory protection to which he was entitled," the plea added. "So the investigation is illegal and further proceeding cannot be continued till the illegality is cured," Rastogi said. The trial court Dec 21 last year dismissed same plea of Kalmadi, which he challenged in the high court later. The petition said: "Pass order for quashing the FIR filed by CBI on November 29, 2010, and all the proceedings emanating therefrom including the investigation being conducted against him." A Delhi court Monday framed charges against Kalmadi and nine others for forgery, cheating and conspiracy in a corruption case related to the 2010 Games.

Three people ...

27. They checked in a guest house here (Katra) on January 30 and after paying obeisance at the shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi had returned to the guest house by the evening of January 31," Superintendent of Police Katra Mohan Lal said. "We got the details of their parents from the boy's mobile phone. When contacted they informed us that the couple were missing since January 27," SP Katra said. It was also found that the two families were closely related to each other and perhaps their parents were not happy with the love affair between the two, police said. Meanwhile, a postmortem has been done and police today handed over their bodies to their parents, they said.

Modi for re-branding...

the government's job was not to run businesses but to provide good governance. Amid repeated applause, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) veteran told the hundreds of students and faculty that Indian political leaders should view the young as "new age power", not as "new age voters". Modi made no criticism of the Congress party or any politician but left none in doubt that he was pitching himself as one of the most progressive and visionary leaders of present day India. Marshalling facts and figures to prove how Gujarat had developed under his leadership, he said: "The root of all our problems is a disease called lack of good governance." In Gujarat, he said, "we have given emphasis on good governance". In an obvious reference to much of India, he said: "Normally, our administration follows the fire-fighting model. When there is a problem, they look for ways to set right the situation." A leader's job "is to visualise the situation ahead, look for new avenues, and bring about changes in the situation". "We see that in the last six decades we (India) have failed to do that. As a result, there is widespread despondency in the country." "But I think differently," Modi went on, and said in Gujarat he had used the "same constitution, same laws, same rules and regulations, same files, same offices (and) same people" to bring about radical changes. The 62-year-old then picked up a glass of water, and said: "The optimist will say this is half full, the pessimist will say it is half empty. "I have a third view. This glass is full -- half with water, half with air." This, he underlined amid applause, was the way he conducted his model of governance -- with optimism and hope. Modi recalled that when he was growing up, the "Made in Japan" brand stood for quality. "Why can't we brand Made in India globally?" The world, he said, was eyeing India for its market. "The time has come to make the world a market for us and dump our products there." He said Indian politicians viewed the young only as news age voters. "If this thinking persists, the situation cannot change. I think differently." Outlining his roadmap, Modi said the 21st century will belong to India. "Our youths have the ability to achieve that... There was a time when we were seen as a nation of snake charmers and black magic. India's image has today changed, thanks to our youngsters. "We are a nation of mouse charmers," he said to laughter, referring to the Indian strength in software. Speaking in Hindi, Modi presented himself as different from the rest of the political class, one who had a longterm vision, and one who believed in the capabilities of the Indian youth. But he made no reference to the growing clout within his party that he should be named the prime ministerial candidate ahead of the next general election. Speaking approvingly of the Delhi Metro coaches made in Gujarat, Modi said one of his achievements since he became chief minister over a decade ago was setting up the world's first forensic science university in the state.) He also spoke about Gujarat's growth in agriculture, animal husbandry, tourism and education, the grant of "soil health card" to farmers, and to the ballooning rise in cotton production. "Development is the answer to all our issues. Vote bank politics has destroyed India... I am one of those who sees a future (for India)... I am an optimist."

Cold returns...
3.3 degrees Celsius, over five degrees down from the previous night's low of 2.1 degrees Celsius, he said, adding that the place received 14 mm of rainfall. In north Kashmir's Kupwara town, which recorded 19.1 mm of rainfall, the minimum settled four degrees down at minus 3.7 degrees Celsius as against the previous night's low of 0.5 degrees Celsius. The Gulmarg ski resort in north Kashmir registered a drop of eight notches to record a low of minus 13.0 degrees Celsius, he said, adding that it received a rainfall of 14.4 mm. Pahalgam health resort in south, which touched freezing point yesterday, recorded a low of minus 8.4 degrees Celsius, a steep drop of over eight notches, as the hill resort recorded 18.4 mm rainfall, he said. Leh in Ladakh region, where the previous night's low was minus 3.4 degrees Celsius, recorded a low of minus 5.0 degrees Celsius last night, he said. Night temperature in Kargil settled at a low of minus 8.4 degrees Celsius, as against yesterday's low of minus 9.2 degrees Celsius, the spokesman said.

N C instigates...
National Conference and Congress party are hand in glove and both the parties have pushed the people to wall. "There is no development in the state and jobless youth are wandering from pillar to post. As UPA Government will vanish in Centre, the same way National Conference and Congress will disappear in the State of Jammu and Kashmir," he said. BJP Spokesperson said that during the period of former Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Kashmir witnessed a lot of development and people were satisfied the way he handled the Kashmir issue. " Atal Bihari Vajpayee raised the hopes amoung Kashmiri people but National Confernce are always hell bent to tarnish the democratic set up of the country. This party is misleading people by giving anti-country and anti-army statements. People are well aware of the facts and this party can't befool people of Jammu and Kashmir anymore.

Modi meets PM...

submitted to the Prime Minister, Modi demanded that Gujarat be provided gas at the same rate as places like Delhi and Mumbai. "A legal battle is on between us and the Government of India. Gujarat is not given gas at the price at which Delhi and Mumbai get it. We had gone to court and won the case. Despite this the order was not implemented for six months and we filed a contempt petition," Modi said. "Instead of accepting this order, the Government of India went to the Supreme Court to delay the process. I have expressed my unhappiness to the Prime Minister over this," he said. Modi said by raising the Full Reservoir Level (FRL) of the dam the storage capacity of the dam will get enhanced to 46.8 lakh acre feet (almost three times the present capacity) and would facilitate creation of an additional irrigation potential of 6.8 lakh ha and nearly 40 per cent additional power generation. Modi urged the Prime Minister to facilitate clearance for the long-pending project as early as possible. Raising the issue of desert development programme (DDP) areas facing severe water problems than areas covered under the drought prone areas programme (DPAP), he said the Centre was strangely not providing assistance under Accelerated Irrigation Benefit programme (AIBP), even though it provides 90 per cent assistance in DPAP areas. The Chief Minister said Gujarat has very large areas in Saurashtra and Kutch under DDP which falls under command areas of Sardar Sarovar and the state has made all out efforts to bring water to these areas to improve the lives of people. He noted that the Planning Commission chaired by Prime Minister supports the proposal to bring DDP areas at par with DPAP areas but the same has not been approved by the Government of India. Modi also raised the issues of regulating BT cotton seed prices which adversely affected the farmers in Gujarat, flip - flop in allowing cotton export, non-payment of royalty on crude oil as per statutory provisions, coal allocation to Gujarat from nearer coal mines of Western Coal fields for power generation and complete waiver on custom duty in ship breaking industry. He said most issues not only adversely affected the economic growth and development of the State but also put common people especially farmers and marginalized sections of society in very difficult and distressful conditions. The Gujarat Chief Minister, who had called on President Pranab Mukherjee last month, wanted the

Complaint against ...

ATR filed in the court which posted the matter for further arguments on February 11. Garg had filed a complaint seeking registration of FIR against Shinde for "making imputations prejudicial to national integration, uttering words with deliberate intent to wound religious feelings of Hindus, defaming them, and insulting their religion and beliefs." Garg had also sought registration of FIR against Shinde for "promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion and wantonly giving provocation with intent to cause religious riots."

HM under...
will lapse. The government plans to introduce a bill to replace the ordinance as soon as the Parliament session begins on February 21. The home ministry has to pilot that bill through Parliament, which must be passed in both the Houses within six weeks of the promulgation of the ordinance on February 3 by the President. Shinde as the Union home minister is supposed to initiate the debate on the bill and also answer questions on it. But with BJP saying that it was contemplating to boycott Shinde inside Parliament and will not attend any meetings that he calls as leader of the House, government officials feel the bill to check crimes against women may become a casualty. When asked how the government would get the proposed bill of the home ministry passed by March 16 with BJP intending to make things uncomfortable for the home minister, I&B ministerManish Tewari said he hoped, "BJP would rise above politics to help the bill be passed which is vital for the safety and security of women." A source said Shinde has been telling senior MHA officials that he had been misunderstood and what he had actually meant to say was that certain persons arrested for terror attacks had past or existing links with RSS and had attended terror camps. BJP president Rajnath Singh put Shinde in the dock saying LK Advani and he himself also attend RSS and BJP camps and asked if Shinde was trying to say that even they were terrorists. "There is clearly no evidence to say that BJP and RSS are running terror camps. However, the home ministry subsequently has made public names of 10 terror accused who attended terror camps and were associated with RSS at some point of time...that is a statement of fact backed by charge-sheets submitted in court," a MHA official told ET. Shinde is hence

Major concerns...
more productive. The Prime minister urged Kendriya Vidyalayas to be a role model in setting standards and benchmarks for schools that are situated in the area around them. Dr. Singh said that, ever since UPA government came to power, it has laid special emphasis on increasing investment in the education sector on an unprecedented scale. Dr.Singh said that ever since the UPA government has come to power in 2004, the investment in education has been increased on an unprecedented scale. Dr. Singh said, the government is committed to ensure that students from the weaker sections of the society and the less developed regions also get adequate access to educational opportunities. Universal access to primary education is important and the Right to Education Act ensures that every child up to 8th class gets free education. The mid day meal scheme for 11 crore school children every day has also contributed towards retaining student strength. The Prime minsiter said, the Kendriya Vidyalaya Sanghathan that imparts education to over 11 lakh students and with a commendable girl student ratio of 43 percent has contributed handsomely to nation building.

Drone strikes are...

authorised various senior administration officials to discuss publicly these issues the way that they have, and why I believe that process will continue," said the White House Press Secretary. Meanwhile, Pakistan's ambassador to the United States on blasted the Obama administration for continued drone strikes in Fata, calling the violation a "red line" that should not be crossed. At a meeting with the Christian Science Monitor staff, Sherry Rehman said that drones strikes were "a clear violation of our sovereignty and a violation of international law" that threatened stable relations between the two governments. She rejected persistent media reports that Pakistan tacitly approved the strikes while denouncing them publicly as untrue. "Let me assure you that since we have been in government, there has been no quiet complicity, no question of wink and nod," she said. Rehman argued that the drone strategy "creates more potential terrorists on the ground and militants on the ground instead of taking them out". "We need to drain the swamp, but instead it is radicalising people," she said.

Netaji continues...
was also a part of a larger struggle against colonialism and imperialism and creation of a society that would usher in development of the masses in the widest possible sense. Chief Minister has also approved schedules of the proposed public hearings to be chaired by state ministers. Various state ministers, including Finance Minister Abdul Rahim Rather, Social Welfare Minister Sakina Itoo and Panchayati Raj Minister Ali Mohammad Sagar have been entrusted with the responsibility. During the function, the President was presented a copy of book titled Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose and Germany, by Netaji's daughter Prof Anita Bose Pfaff. Mr Mukherjee said the book was a tribute to Netaji who was one of the greatest leaders of the national movement. He said that the publication portrayed some interesting facets of the life of Netaji.

Omar seeks more...

Chief Minister has also approved schedules of the proposed public hearings to be chaired by state ministers. Various state ministers, including Finance Minister Abdul Rahim Rather, Social Welfare Minister Sakina Itoo and Panchayati Raj Minister Ali Mohammad Sagar have been entrusted with the responsibility.

Karnataka BJP...
ensure passage of all bills. "Whip has been issued to all members. For those who could not be handed over the intimation, it has been pasted on their rooms in the legislator's home", Government Chief Whip Siddu Savadi told reporters here. BJP has a strength of 105 members, excluding the Speaker, followed by Congress 71, JDS 26, Independents 7 (of them, one supports the government), nominated one and 14 vacancies. Vittal Katakadonda and D S Suresh, whose resignations are yet to be accepted by the Speaker, have also been issued a whip, Savadi said. Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar will

Asia's biggest air...

Mathur, Defence (R&D) Secretary V K Saraswat and FICCI Chief Naina Lal Kidwai were among those present at the inaugural ceremony. PTI RS APR DV 02061315 The ninth edition of the biennial air show and aviation exhibition,organised by the Defence Ministry along with Indian Air Force, Defence Research and Development Organisation, Department of Space and Civil Aviation Ministry, aims at showcasing the range of products and services offered by the Indian Defence Industry in the international market.

Correction of Mother's Name

I, Vikhyat Kashyap D.O.B: 12/03/2011, son of Naresh Kumar, went to change the name of my mother from Suhani to Pooja. If anyone has any objection on may report the same at H.No. 821, Ward 37, Janipur Colony, Jammu Mob: 9796602165 within a week.

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JAMMU, FEB 6: Minister for Medical Education, Youth Services & Sports, Mr. Taj Mohi ud Din today assured the Sports associations of all possible help from the Government for the promotion of their activities. Chairing the interactive session of the sports associations of Jammu province here this morning, the Minister described sports associations as critical facilitators in the conduct of sports activities in the State. He assured them of taking up their issues with the Chief Minister, who is also the President of the council. The Minister assured the representatives of revisiting the SRO-349, governing jobs to sportspersons, in quick time frame. He

NEWS IN BOX

Shabir condoles demise of Haji Yousaf, Numberdar Mohd Nazir

JAMMU, FEB 6: Minister of State for Health (Independent charge), Mr. Shabir Ahmad Khan has expressed grief and sorrow over the demise of Haji Mohd Yousuf father of District Development Commissioner, Shopian, Mr. Javed Ahmed. In his condolence message, the Minister conveyed sympathy with the bereaved family and prayed for eternal peace to the departed soul. Meanwhile, the Minister also condoled the death of Namberdar Mohammad Nazir of Danna, Rajouri. He expressed solidarity with the bereaved family and prayed for eternal peace to the departed soul.

Taj interacts with Jammu Sports associations, assures them of support

under affiliation of respective state associations. It was told that senior national championship in Badminton was held at Srinagar last year besides some high profile matches J&K Football team played with Mohun Bagan and Mohammadan Sporting, Kolkatta. The meeting was also told that a wrestling hall at R. S. Pura and a kabbadi field at Jammu are coming up which would be ready in few months. Secretary, J&K Sports Council, Mr. Dileep Thusoo, President, J&K Olympic Association and former Minister, S. Rangil Singh, representatives of sports associations and officers of Sports Council were present in the meeting.

Ex-legislators call on Saifullah

JAMMU, FEBRUARY 06 : A delegation of former-legislators, led by Qazi Jalal-ud-Din, called on Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs, Mir Saifullah here today. Mr. Qazi raised various issues including release of arrears of enhanced salary of legislators, enhancement of medical allowance, reimbursement of medical expenditure to the exlegislators and payment of rent for accommodation in and outside the State at par with the sitting legislators. The Minister listened to their demands patiently and assured that same would be looked into sympathetically. Earlier, the delegation members also condoled the demise of Ex-Minister Abdul Aziz Zargar. They expressed solidarity with the bereaved family and prayed for peace to the departed soul.

Minister for Medical Education, Youth Services & Sports, Mr. Taj Mohi ud Din chairing the interactive session of the sports associations of Jammu province at Jammu. assured them that strengthening sports infrastructure in the State would top his priority and soon two sports colleges would be set up at Jammu and Srinagar. The meeting was told that this year the J&K Football team has reached the quarter finals of prestigious Santosh Trophy. It was given out that J&K teams have won 11 gold medals in judo, 19 gold medals in gymnastics and a silver medal in Korfball whileas J&K has got 70 medals in team events in Handball so far ever since the first medal the state got in 1973. The meeting was also told that 38 clubs in Football and 30 clubs in Hockey are

Sadhotra nominated Leader of the Council

JAMMU, FEB 6: Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah has nominated the Minister for Planning and Development, Labour and Employment, Mr. Ajay Sadhotra as the Leader of the Council in pursuance of Section 2(g) of the Rules of Procedures and Conduct of Business in the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Council.

Troops maintaining a strict vigil on the Line of Control : Army

SRINAGAR, FEB 06: Claiming that peace has returned and there is calm along the Line of Control , Army Wednesday said that troops have been maintaining a strict vigil on the Line of Control to foil any infiltration bid. "Confidence Building Measures (CBMs) were working between two sides of the LoC and troops were on high alert along the Line of Control and wouldn't allow any untoward incident to happen" General Officer Commanding (GOC), Cross Swords Division (10 Div headquartered at Akhnoor) Maj Gen Rustam Patnaik told reporters on the sidelines of an Army function. He said that there is cool and calm atmosphere prevailing on LoC and the Army is maintaining a strict vigil to guard the frontiers. "Army is alert and ready to foil any infiltration bid. CBMs were working (between the two sides of LoC) and Army was carrying out routine activities." He said. While replying to a question about the posture and body language of Pakistani troops after the incident of beheading of two Indian soldiers, he said: "we cannot see their body language; we can only see them through binoculars." He further said that guns are silent from the both sides and there is total calm along the Line of Control.

NC Ministers to hold public hearings party headquarters

JAMMU FEB 06: To have feel of problems confronted to the people and to ensure redressal of their grievances, National Conference Working President and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has asked his ministerial colleagues of the National Conference to hold public hearings at the respective party headquarters in the capital cities of Srinagar and Jammu. In the first phase, the Ministers shall meet the people at Sher-i-Kashmir Bhavan here and later at Nawa i Subah complex when Darbar moves to Srinagar. This is yet another step to achieve the objective of the party to reach out to the people in a big way, after reorganizing and rejuvenating the organizational structure, both at the state and the provincial levels. According to the party communiqu issued here today by the Working President of the Party Omar Abdullah which reads as : "After appointing new Provincial Presidents of J&K National Conference party, I have decided that the Hon'ble Ministers should sit at the party headquarters both at Srinagar and Jammu to address the public issues. Accordingly, I have approved the roaster of the Hon'ble Ministers to be at the party headquarters at Sher-i-Kashmir Bhawan, Jammu for the month of February, 2013. Similar roaster shall be issued for the Hon'ble Minister for the party headquarters at Nawa-i-Subh after the offices moves to Srinagar during summer". The Chief Minister has asked Minister for Planning and Labour & Employment, Mr. Ajay Sadhotra to hold public hearing at Sher-i-Kashmir Bhawan, Jammu from 2 PM to 5 PM on Thursday, the 7th February 2013. Similarly, Minister for Finance and Ladakh Affairs, Mr. Abdul Rahim Rather will meet the people from 3.30 PM to 6 PM on Friday, the 8th February 2013 while Minister of State (Independent Charge) Industries and Commerce, Mr Sajjad Ahmad Kitchloo will be available at the party headquarters from 2 PM to 5 PM on Saturday, 9thFebruary 2013. According to the roaster, issued for the current month, Minister of State (IC) Science & Technology and Information Technology Mr Feroz Ahmad Khan, shall hold public hearing on Friday, 15th February 2013 from 3.30 PM to 6 PM; Minister for Social Welfare, Ms Sakina Itoo on Monday, the 18th February 2013 from 2 PM to 5 PM; Minister for Rural Development and Panchayat Raj, Mr Ali Mohammed Sagar on Tuesday, the 19thFebruary 2013 from 2 PM to 5 PM; Minister for Higher Education, Mr Mohammed Akbar Lone on Wednesday the 20th February 2013 from 2 PM to 5 PM; Minister for Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution & Transport, Chowdhary Mohammed Ramzan on Thursday, the 21st February 2013 from 2 PM to 5 PM; Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, Mir Saifullah on Friday, the 22nd February 2013, from 3.30PM to 6PM; Minister of State (IC) Animal & Sheep Husbandry, Mr Nazir Ahmed Khan (Gurezi) on Saturday, the 23rd February 2013 from 2 PM to 5 PM and Minister for Forest, Environment and Ecology Mian Altaf Ahmed on Tuesday, the 26th February 2013 from 2 PM to 5 PM.

Sales rates of chicken/eggs re-fixed

JAMMU, FEBRUARY 06: In view of increase in the wholesale prices of chicken and other poultry products, Director Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution has refixed the sale rate of chicken/eggs. The chicken (live) will now cost Rs.130 per kg whereas the rate of eggs has been fixed as Rs.50 per dozen. These rates shall remain in force for 10 days with effect from February 06, 2013.

Power shut down

JAMMU, FEBRUARY 06: In order to carry out the work of cross jumping at various location for test charging of both the circuits of 132 KV D/C line after restoration between Ramban and Batote, the power supply to entire Batote area and BHEP shall remain affected on February 10, 2013 from 10:00 hours to 14:00 hours.

Deputations call on R&B Minister

JAMMU, FEBRUARY 06: Various Deputations from across the State called Minister for R&B, Mr Abdul Majid Wani here on Wednesday. Deputations from Tangdar,Keran,Shangus,Doda and other areas met the Minister to apprise him about their demands. Several memoranda highlighting demands pertaining to road connectivity, it's linking, upgradation and improvement and other related developmental issues were presented to the R&B Minister. Mr. Wani assured Deputations that issues brought to his notice will be examined and appropriate action will be initiated in this regard. He said that increasing road network density and improving the quality of riding surface across the state is major thrust area under R&B sector adding that connecting remote villages and habitations to the main road circuits is also being given special attention. On clearing roads in Snow bound areas, the Minister said that concerned engineering wings entrusted with snow clearance have already been issued clear directions to mobilize all available men and machinery as soon as it starts to snow and ensure that all major and minor roads remain open and hassle free for safe movement of transport and people.

NCC cadet honoured by Mantri Commendation Card

JAMMU, FEB 06: A felicitation ceremony was organized at Headquarters of NCC Directorate J&K to honour NCC Cadet SUO Baber Ali Khan of 2 J&K Battalion NCC on being awarded the Raksha Mantri Commendation Card, on the occasion of Republic Day-2013. The Commendation Card of Raksha Mantri was presented to the proud cadet by Maj Gen Mr. N S Jamwal, ADG NCC, J&K in the presence of Group Commander Jammu, Col A S Chandoke, and Col U S Chuhan Director, Col Rawel Singh and a number of distinguished army officers. Cadet Baber Ali Khan has been awarded Raksha Mantri ments in the field of mountaineering. He has the honour of having been shortlisted for NCC Mt Everest Expedition. The cadet has successfully scaled Mt Deo Tibba in Manali Mt Kamet Expeditions in Garhwal region in September-October 2012 as part of DG NCC Pre Everest Expeditions. The budding mountaineering career of the cadet unfortunately has been cut short due to frost bite injury sustained by the cadet short of summit during Mt Kamet Expedition. The cadet has brought laurels to the state and is a role model for the NCC cadets and youth of J&K and deserves accolades and support for his achievements.

Any Muslim living in Jammu and Kashmir can't perform Hajj twice
SRINAGAR, FEB 06: "Any Muslim living in Jammu and Kashmir can't perform Hajj twice." This has been mentioned in the form of Hajj Committee of India. Several aspirants complained that they are not being allowed to perform Hajj just because they have already performed once. "My better half who is very old has been been selected this year for this holy journey but to my utter surprise I am being asked not to accompany her on the grounds that I have performed Hajj 12 years before," an aspirant Noor Mohammad told reporters adding that how his old wife could go all alone? Hajj Committee of India has issued guidelines to the State Hajj Committee not to allow those aspirants who have already performed Hajj. Most of the aspirants were seen fuming over this decision, saying that how can old ladies perform Hajj all alone as Islam categorically prohibits a female to go for the holy journey all alone. Meanwhile, State Hajj officer assured all the aspirants that he will take up the matter with Hajj Committee of India. "The aspirants have a point and really it is irony how such rule can apply and how an old could go all alone to perform Hajj. We will take up this issue with Hajj Committee of India and hope that something positive will come out." He said.

NCC Directorate J&K to honour NCC Cadet SUO Baber Ali Khan of 2 J&K Battalion NCC on being awarded the Raksha Mantri Commendation Card, on the occasion of Republic Day-2013 at Jammu. Commendation Card and a cash award of Rupees 7500/-(Rupees Seven thousand five hundreds only) for his outstanding achieve-

Manpreet appointed as Joint Cordinator of Jammu District NSUI unit Jammu

JAMMU :Today Manpreet Singh join NSUI and appointed as Joint Cordinator of Jammu District on the presence of State President NSUI (J&k) Uday Chib . State President garlanded Manpreet Singh with flowers as newly appointed joint coordinator NSUI and said he expects that Manpreet will give his hundred percent for raising the issues of the students and try his fullest to solve those issues and come up to the expections of the students and NSUI. Further he organized interaction programme in Govt. Commerce College Jammu where more than 100 of students interacted with Uday Chib State President NSUI and Neeraj Kundan National Delegate NSUI and shared their problems with them. State President, Uday Chib patiently after listening to the issues of the students ensure that NSUI in J&K will not leave any stone unturned in order to raise and solve the problems of Students. After that students raised the slogans of "NSUI Zindabad" "Rahul Gandhi Zindabad" "Uday Chib Zindabad" and "Manpreet Zindabad" On the occasion , Manpreet said that he is thankful to the State President Uday Chib for giving him such a platform from where he can work for the upliftment of the students and can also give a contribution to strengthen the organization which will help to complete the dream which Rahul Gandhi has seen. Others who were present , senior NSUI activist Sahil Singh Lengeh, abhishak Dogra , Nitesh Lang eh, knave, sober Verma, razza Azad , Abdul qualm and others.

Bhalla Calls for promoting horticulture at massive scale

JAMMU, FEB 06: Minister for Housing, Horticulture and Culture Mr. Raman Bhalla has asked the horticulture department to gear up men and machinery for the effective implementation of Horticulture Mission in the State, adding that there was a significant improvement in productivity which has ultimately resulted in improving the financial condition of the farming community. This was stated by the Minister while addressing a high level meeting of Horticulture (Planning and Marketing) officers of Jammu and Kashmir provinces, here at PWD Guest House in Gandhi Nagar. Director Horticulture, Mr. J N Sharma, Director Horticulture (P&M), Mr. A R Natnoo, Managing Director, Syed Rafiq Ahmed Furahi, Director Planning, Agriculture Production Mr. Mohammad Ismail Teli, Additional Secretary Agriculture Production Department Mr. Muzaffar Peer besides Joint Directors, Deputy Directors, Area Marketing Horticulture Officers of both the regions were present in the meeting. Mr. Bhalla said Government was making all out efforts to encourage farmers to grow high-quality fruit trees to fetch attractive returns, adding that this sector is the mainstay of the state's economy and all efforts will be made to promote this vital sector across the State. He said central Government has launched various schemes like Horticulture Mission for North East and Himalayan States, Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana, National Mission on Medicinal Plants, National Mission on Micro Irrigation and Agriculture Technology Management Agency and the farmers were benefitting well from the same. He said "In the era of competition in the market, quality control is must and we have to focus on this vital area to maintain the credibility of State's horticulture produce," Mr. Bhalla added. He said Government was making all out efforts to upgrade fruit plant nurseries with adequate manpower. He said under Horticulture sector, more than 70% population of the State are directly or indirectly involved and earn livelihood with sufficient business. The Minister said Agro Climatic zones of Jammu division are blessed with varied topographic, adding that there is vast potential for growing of different kinds of fruit like Walnut, Apple, Pear, Peach, Plum, and Apricot in temperature agro climatic zones. He said sub-tropical areas are suited for cultivation of Mango, Guava, Citrus, Beer, Aonla, Strawberry, olive, pecan-nut, Kiwi and Litchi. He asked for increase the area under fruit crops by plantation of improved cultivars adding that for this purpose, arrangement of awareness camps, fruit shows, seminars, workshop in rural as well as hilly areas to be required to condut regularly for boosting the productivity by intense cultivation. He asked to pay focus for high density plants in feasible areas of the State. Mr. Bhalla asked the officers for re-plantation and top working of old, senile fruit trees with commercially acceptable cultivars. He directed them to improve water harvesting and distribution system, moisture management and soil conservation measures. He asked the officers to create water resources for assuring irrigation facilities through channels, deep drill tube wells that would helped in attaining the 100% survival of plants at such locations where the normal survival rate is about 50%.

Employment fair at Bhagwah on 12th & 13th Feb

DODA, FEBRUARY 05: Two days Employment Fair at Bhagwah will be held on 12th & 13thFebruary at Government Higher Secondary School Bhagwah. The people of the Bhagwah Block especially unemployed educated youth of the region are requested to take part in the fair and avail benefits of various state and centrally sponsored schemes of different departments. The two day employment fair at Kalhota (Block Marmat) will be held on 21st & 22nd February, 2013.

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Security, Padma Durjee from K/Zone to Security, Mir Afaq Ahmad from K/Zone to Security, Sonam Wangchuk K/Zone to CID, Mohammad Ayoub from K/Zone to Railway, Imtiyaz Aahmad from K/Zone to PTSM, Bharat Bhushan from CID to J/Zone, Zaffer Iqbal from CID to Security, Bupinder Singh from CID to Railway, Daljeet Singh from CID to J/Zone, Rameshwar Dutt from CID to J/Zone, Gurvinder Kour from CID to J/Zone, Ravinder Singh from CID to J/Zone, Surinder Kumar from CID to SKPAU, Bilal Ahmad from CID to K/Zone, Chimba Samstanfrom CID to K/Zone, Mushtaq Ahmed from CID to K/Zone, Sonam Dorgey from CID to K/Zone, Munshi Gh Nabi from CID to K/Zone, Mir Gulzar Ahmad from CID to K/Zone, Sanjeev Sharma from CID to J/Zone, Dalbir Kour from CID to K/Zone, Mufti Ghulam Hassan from CID to K/Zone, Masrat Akhter from CID to Security, Khalida Parveen from CID to K/Zone, Zakir Shaheen from CID to J/Zone, Hari Singh from CID to Traffic, Farooq Ahmed from Crime to SHRC, Gh. Hassan from Crime to J/Zone, Tahir Kounsar from Crime to CID, Mohammad Ashraf from Crime to K/Zone, Ritish Samyal from Security to J/Zone, Ashwani Kumar from Security to Traffic, Tsewang Dorge from Security to K/Zone, Sonam Angchuk from Security to K/Zone, Gh Ali from Security to K/Zone, Rakesh Kumar from Security to J/Zone, Prabhu Diyal from Security to Traffic, Imtiyaz Ahmad from Security to A/Zone, Gh Rasool from Security to A/Zone, Nazir Ahmad from Security to A/Zone, Indpaul Singh from Security to A/Zone, Farooq Ahmad from Security to K/Zone, Jigmat Durjey from Security to A/Zone(AWP), Ajay Anand from Security to A/Zone(AWP), Mehmood Abass from Security to A/Zone(AWP), Rukhsar Ahmad from Security 3rd to A/Zone, Liyaqat Ahmad Qadri from Security 3rd to A/Zone, Harvinder Singh from Security 4th to A/Zone, Khurshid Ahmad from Security 11th to A/Zone, Ram Ji Dass from SKPAU to J/Zone, Kulwant Singh from SKPAU to K/Zone, Munish Kumar from SKPAU to Traffic, Champa Devi from SKPAU to Traffic, Madan Lal from SKPAU to J/Zone, Khudmukhtar Dev from SKPAU to Traffic, Kulbir Singh from SKPAU to Traffic, Sunmati Gupta from SKPAU to J/Zone, Kamal Sangra from CBI to Vigilance, Bashir Ahmad from SSG to A/Zone, Sanjeev Kumar from SSG to A/Zone, Mohd Farooq from SSG to A/Zone, Taran Singh from SSG to A/Zone (AWP), Neeraj Sharma from SSG to A/Zone (AWP), Sunil Kumar from SSG to A/Zone (AWP), Anil Kumar from SSG to A/Zone (AWP), Sarabjeet Singh from PTS K to Traffic, Sanjay Gupta from PTS K to J/Zone, Rajesh Jamwal from PTS K to Traffic, Raj Kumar Koul from Traffic to CID, Mohd Suliman from Traffic to CID, Gh. Jeelani from Traffic to Railway, Mohd Yaqoob from Traffic to Railway, Anita Chopra from Traffic to Railway, Mohd Amin from Traffic to Security, Raj Mohd from Traffic to Security, Rajinder Kour from Traffic to Security, Sanjay Kumar from Traffic to SKPAU, Soma Ram Langeh from Traffic to PTSK, Rohit Dev Singhfrom Traffic to CID, Sanjeev Kumar from Traffic to SHRC, Deepankar Singh from Traffic to CID, Javid Iqbal from Traffic to Crime, Ashwani Kumar from Traffic to SKPAU, Anuroop Sharma from PHQ to J/Zone, Raj Kumar from Railway to J/Zone, Khalid Ahmed

PHQ orders transfer of 145 Inspectors, 51 Inspectors adjusted

JAMMU: Police Headquarters today issued transfer and adjustment orders of 196 Inspectors of Armed and Executive Police.The Inspectors transferred are S/Shri Abid Husain from J/Zone to CID, Ajay Jamwal from J/Zone to CID, Mohd Amin from J/Zone to CID, Inderjeet Singh from J/Zone to PHQ, Paramvir Singh from J/Zone to CID, Rajesh Sharma from J/Zone to Security, Satpaul Modi from J/Zone to CID, Tilak Raj Bardwaj from J/Zone to Crime, Basanti Bhat from J/Zone to Security, Farooq Ahmed from J/Zone to Security, Mohd Showkat from J/Zone to CID, Neeraj Bhagat from J/Zone to Crime, Ravinder Singh from J/Zone to SKPAU,Javid Akhter from J/Zone to SKPAU, Arun Kotwal from J/Zone to SKPAU, Mohd Arif from J/Zone to Crime, Naveen Angral from J/Zone to CID, Kuldeep Khajouria from J/Zone to Railway, Varinder Singh from J/Zone to CID, Sameer Jeelani from J/Zone to Security, Bushan Singh from J/Zone to CID, Niaz Ahmad from J/Zone to Security, Sanjeev Andotra from J/Zone to Security, Paramjeet Singh from J/Zone to Crime, Ishfaq Aalam from K/Zone to Railway, Farooq Ahmed from K/Zone to Railway, Zahoor Ahmed from K/Zone to Railway, Abdul Majid K/Zone to CID, Muzaffer Hussain from K/Zone to Security, Manzoor Ahmed from K/Zone to Railway, Syed Hussain from K/Zone to Railway, Mohd Yousuf from K/Zone to CID, Ravinder Paul Singh from K/Zone to CID, Shafkat Amin from K/Zone to Security, Ab Majid Makroo from K/Zone to Security, Lotus Rabgees from K/Zone to Railway, Gulshan Akhter from K/Zone to CID, Nisar Ahmad Hurra from K/Zone to Railway, Tserign Gurmeet from K/Zone to from Railway to K/Zone, Usha Khar from Railway to Traffic, Hafizullah from Railway to K/Zone, Rajinder Bardwaj from Railway to Traffic, Rajesh Anand from Railway to J/Zone, Bhagwant Singh from SHRC to K/Zone, Pawan Khajuria from Vigilance to PTSK, Ab. Rahim from A/Zone to Security (11th Bn), Ajay Bhat from J/Zone to Security, Mohd Yousuf from K/Zone to Crime, Pankaj Sharma from A/Zone to Security(4th Bn ), Gh Jeelanifrom K/Zone to CID, Nazir Ahmed Latoo from K/Zone to CID, Neelofar Bashir from K/Zone to CID, Shiv Kumar from CID to J/Zone, Sartaj Ahmad from A/Zone to Security (3rd Bn ), Anita Katal from A/Zone to SKPAU(AWP), Showkat Hussain from K/Zone to CID, Ab Momin from SKPAU to J/Zone, Sajid Mughal from Railway to Traffic and Sunil Kumar from STC Talwara to J/Zone

Govt. considering recommendations of committee for amendments in PR Act: Sagar

Saifullah constitutes Committee to amend existing laws concerning Offences against women

Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, Mir Saifullah chairing a high level meeting at Jammu. JAMMU, FEB 06: The Government has constituted a Committee to recommend amendments to make the existing laws dealing with the offences against women more stringent. The committee was constituted by the Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, Mir Saifullah, while chairing a high level meeting. The Committee headed by Advocate General with Secretary Law, Director Prosecution and Special Secretary Law as its members will submit its report within a week' s time. In this regard the department has also sought suggestions from law experts, civil society members and academicians to make such laws more effective. The Committee has also been asked to study the Justice Verma Committee report. The issues regarding bail provision, time period for investigation, trial period, classification of cases, strengthening of women police stations and their jurisdiction, the rank of officers to be appointed as investigation officer in such cases and recording of statement under section 164, were discussed threadbare during the meeting. Later, the Minister also chaired a meeting convened to review the arrangements for the smooth conduct of ensuing Budget Session. Taking stock of pace of construction work on the Legislature Complex, the Minister directed the executing agencies to speed up the pace of work and ensure timely completion. The Budget session calendar of both Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council has been issued which is starting from February 28, the meeting was informed. Among others, Advocate General, M I Qadri, Secretary, Law G H Tantray, Secretary, Legislative Assembly, Mohammad Ramzan, Secretary, Legislative Council Mohammad Ashraf, besides, Director Prosecution, attended the meeting.

Minister for Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, Mr. Ali Mohammad Sagar addressing the high level meeting convened to discuss the recommendations of the high level committee constituted to discuss the amendments proposed by different quarters in the Panchayat Raj Act. JAMMU, FEB 06: The Minister for Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, Mr. Ali Mohammad Sagar has said that the government is actively considering recommendations of the Committee constituted by the government for examining the amendments proposed by different quarters in the Panchayati Raj Act (PRA). The Minister was addressing the high level meeting convened to discuss the recommendations of the high level committee constituted to discuss the amendments proposed by different quarters in the Panchayat Raj Act. Commissioner/ Secretary Rural Development, Mr. Farooq Ahmed Peer, Secretary Law, Mr. G.H. Tantary, Director Rural Development, Jammu, Mr. Shafiq Ahmed Raina and other senior officers were present in the meeting. Mr. Sagar said that the government believes in the complete devolution of the powers to the grass root level and in this regard care would be taken to ensure the same. He said that we have to ensure the participatory participation of the people in day to day governance and in this regard the necessary empowerment of different Panchayats has already been ensured. The Minister said that we have also to accommodate the view points of different sections. He further added due credence would be given to the recommendations of the committee constituted by the government for examining the proposed amendments and the same would then be sent to the cabinet for the necessary approval. Later, while addressing officers in the meeting, Mr. Sagar said that a grievance cell would be set up in the department to get the requisite feedback from the people of different parts of the State and initiate the necessary action. By doing so we would be effectively monitoring the implementation of the different schemes, besides catering to the complaints if any, he maintained.

Saifullah reviews pace on upcoming infrastructure for judiciary, LA complex

JAMMU, FEB 06: Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, Mir Saifullah today chaired a meeting convened to review the pace of progress on under execution projects related to creation of infrastructure for judiciary and Legislative complex. The Minister impressed upon the executing agencies to complete the ongoing projects in a time bound manner to meet the infrastructural requirements of judiciary, including the construction of buildings for the subordinate courts and other related infrastructure. He also asked the nodal officers of the department to expedite the pace of work on under execution projects and review the work status of each on regular basis to ensure timely completion. He also fixed the target for completion of major ongoing projects. The meeting was informed that 31 micro and macro projects amounting to Rs. 3062.87 lakh related to infrastructural development for judiciary were going on.

JKDLP releases Several Deputations speeches in audio from Kashmir, Jammu voice of Maqbool Bhat call on Tourism Minister
SRINAGAR, FEB 06: Regarding 29th Anniversary of Shaheed Maqbool Bhat, Jammu Kashmir Democratic Liberation Party (JKDLP) releases some speeches in audio voice of Shaheed Maqbool Bhat . Remaining in the true spirit of Maqbool Butt, JKDLP is organizing an open discussion and debate session at Ahdoos hotel on 9th Feb 2013. As Maqbool Butt has always been a torchbearer of argument and a supporter of discussion, the Chairman of JKDLP, Hashim Qureshi has invited people from all walks of life to discuss and debate the life, the message and the legacy of Maqbool Butt. Hashim Qureshi said that it is very important that we as Kashmiris should ask ourselves how true we are following Butt Sahib's ideology and his path. We as heirs of his struggle and sacrifices should introspect whether we are carrying his message of peace and stability forward in its true meaning. Maqbool Butt was not only an idealist who dreamt about an Independent Kashmir. He was an intellectual who exactly knew how Kashmir would become independent and how it would sustain itself. He did not only speak about independence, but did also stress upon the eradication of poverty, illiteracy, ignorance, unequal distribution of wealth and social evils. For him an independent Kashmir was not acceptable if the struggle for Independence and upliftment of society would not be fought simultaneously. JAMMU, FEB 06: Several deputations from Kashmir Valley and Jammu Division called on Minister for Tourism, Ghulam Ahmed Mir here today. The deputationists, besides their individual demands, projected developmental requirements of their respective areas before the Minister, urging for early redressal of the same. From Kashmir Valley, the deputationists were from Dooru, Shangus, Kokernag, Anantnag, Srinagar and Kupwara, while those from Jammu region were from Kathua, Udhampur and Jammu. The deputationists of Anantnag District demanded up-gradation of basic amenities in their areas, besides developing of new potential tourism spots in the district. The deputationists of Jammu region also demanded development and exploration of new potential spots under tourism sector. The Minister gave a patient hearing to the deputationists and said that the Government has taken several steps to upgrade and improve basic amenities in the state adding that crores of rupees are being expended under flagship programmes and state plan for the purpose. He said focused attention was being paid to upgrade infrastructure facilities under core sectors like health, education, power and PHE across the State. The Tourism Minister said that government was making every endeavoure to showcase the tourism potential of the state aboard adding that in this regard a tourism promotional campaign was also organized in foreign countries of Germany, UK and Spain to invite more and more foreign tourists to visit the state. Mr. Mir said that focused attention was being paid to upgrade tourist related infrastructure in all the three regions of the state for convenience of visiting tourists. He assured that special attention would also be paid to boost tourism potential of Jammu Division and making it hub of tourism activities in future. The Minister assured deputationists that all their genuine demands would be taken up at proper forums for early redressal.

Sham inspects pace of work on Tawi Barrage Project

95 % civil, mechanical works complete, Rs. 37.32 cr expended till date

Minister for PHE, Irrigation & Flood Control, Mr Sham Lal Sharma inspecting pace of work on Tawi Barrage Project at Jammu. JAMMU, FEBRUARY 6: The work on prestigious Tawi barrage project also projected as part of beautification project for the winter capital, is in full swing and almost 95 per cent civil and mechanical works have been completed so far. The Rs. 69.70 crore Tawi Barrage project which would create an artificial lake downstream the Tawi river was started in July 2010 and is likely to be completed within the stipulated time of two years - July 2013. Out of total project cost, an amount of Rs. 37.32 crore stands incurred till date. This information was given to the Minister for PHE, Irrigation & Flood Control, Mr Sham Lal Sharma during his visit to the project site, here today. Expressing satisfaction over the pace of progress on the project, the Minister directed the officers to further speed up the work to ensure completion well before the onset of rainy season. He directed for maintaining quality standards strictly as per the laid down specifications of the project. Commissioner/Secretary PHE, Irrigation & FC, Dr. Pawan Kotwal, Chief Engineer, Irrigation & FC, Mr. K.K. Gupta, In-charge Executive Engineer, Tawi Barrage, Mr. K.K.Magotra and other officers accompanied the Minister.

DRSC reviews working of Home deptt

JAMMU, FEB 06: The Departmental Related Standing Committing (DRSC) of Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Council on Home department met here today under the Chairmanship of Sheikh Ghulam Rasool. The Committee reviewed the working of the Home department from all aspects with the senior officers of Security, Crime and Traffic wings present in the meeting. The Chairman of the Committee highlighted the role of the police in maintaining law and order and stressed upon the senior functionaries to be more people friendly while performing their duty. He called upon the Police departments to work in close coordination with the civil administration for better and effective policing. The members of the Committee had a detailed discussion on various issues and gave their valuable suggestions with regard to the implementation of Rehabilitation policy for surrendered militants, youth migrated to POK and speedy disposal of cases pending at different levels. The Committee stressed upon the department to strengthen the Women police Cells and strengthening of the criminal law in the light of the National policy, better management of traffic and further improvement in regulation in hilly areas of the state. The Committee noted with alarm and concern the death of over 5000 and injuries to 27000 persons in road accidents during last three and half years and called for effective measures for containing such mishaps in the future. The Committee noted that despite recovery of Rs 8 crore as fine for road safety violations during this period, the accidents continue to take place, particularly on Chenab valley routes. The Committee suggested for setting up of a High Level Inter department coordination Committee to sort out the issues regarding licence procedure, validation of route permit, road safety measures etc.

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n the end, it took only a "handful of morons" to throttle the voice of Kashmir's first all-girl rock band, Pragaash. On Monday, the talented 14year-olds who had been under extreme pressure on account of an abusive and misogynistic online assault that put a stop to their public performance, were forced to call it quits because the Grand Mufti of Kashmir, Bashiruddin Ahmad deemed their music as "un-Islamic". Terming the trio as "nonserious", the Mufti said that music "will not help the girls in playing any constructive role in society". If this is not galling enough, the gentleman went on to add that, "Girls are responsible for rape. They should be in their limits. They must wear the veil at all times. They can sing inside their homes. They shouldn't sing in public. They are giving bad signals to men". But this does not come as a surprise. In the past, the Grand Mufti's fatwas have even riled the separatists, who have accused him of acting at the Government's behest. He made headlines first with a fatwa against former Jammu & Kashmir Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad in 2007. It came in the wake of Mr Azad's exhortation to the people to emulate Mahatma Gandhi. It is another matter that the next day he was seen breaking bread with Mr Azad. In January last year, the Shari'ah court of Kashmir headed by him ordered the expulsion of

Religious leaders can't dictate individual choices

four Christian missionaries. In September 2012, he issued a diktat asking all Americans to leave the valley after an anti-Islam video surfaced in Europe. Not for nothing has he earned the sobriquet of 'fatwa Mufti'. And yet, the Grand Mufti's pronouncements cannot merely be dismissed as ramblings of a fundamentalist. His is among the growing rabble of voices that, in the name of religion, have taken it upon themselves to encroach on the personal rights and freedom of individuals. From the ban/fatwa on Salman Rushdie to the needless controversy that actor-director Kamal Haasan's film Vishwaroopam found itself in, people in this country, it seems, can no longer decide for themselves what they wish to see, hear or read. With various khap panchayats dictating what a woman should eat, wear or how she should travel, this intolerance has reduced people to being near puppets in the hands of fundamentalist groups. That the aspirations of the young singers have been quashed even before they could take flight is distressing. But even more distressing is the fact that it comes after Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had tweeted his support to them. Obviously, Mr Abdullah's words were not reassuring enough. That's sad, since it's the duty of the state to ensure that the personal space of an individual is not dictated by fringe elements.

Policy drift cannot pass off as strategic patience

By Ashok Mehta n all-India counter-Red corridor matrix with a counter-Maoist strategy is required, with consensus between the Centre and the States and between the States. That's the only sustainable way to fight the Maoist menace. We have heard the following statements on internal security ad nauseum in recent times: Naxalism/Maoism is the most serious challenge confronting the country; a red corridor has been established from Pashupati in Nepal to Tirupati in Andhra Pradesh; more security forces and civilians are killed and wounded in the Red Corridor annually than in J&K and the North-East put together; the internal threat to security is graver than the external. Although Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has consistently pointed to the Maoist challenge, insufficient political attention has still been paid and the wound allowed to fester. Two incidents last months Latehar in Jharkhand and Chintangufa in Chhattisgarh demonstrate that the Maoist menace is far from being even contained. At Latehar, CRPF jawans were badly mauled when the Maoists beat the Al Qaeda in brutality by stitching IEDs in the bellies of the slain jawans. Equally brutal, the CRPF employed civilians to lift these bodies, triggering the belly bombs which killed the innocent and attracted the charge of using civilians as human shields. Apparently, lessons from the 2010 carnage of 76 CRPF jawans have been forgotten. At Chintangufa, an Mi17 IAF helicopter was disabled by Maoist ground fire after the CRPF failed to sanitise the designated helipad, forcing the helicopter to land two

kilometre away. Former Governor and veteran, Gen Krish Seth observed during the DD News Defence Watch programme that the six Indian Air Force personnel had done an extraordinarily 'not done' thing by abandoning the helicopter, and worse, a wounded CRPF radio operator whose radio set was in communication with the post. At the very least, they should have left some armed personnel at the site for

and the police, leading to brand names like the Andhra and the Chhattisgarh models for effective counter-Maoist operations. A minimum level of political consensus and operational coordination between the States is necessary if the CRPF is to make any headway. While it may seek its own UAVs, GPS, helicopters and better technology, organisational, leadership and training upgrades are

Special powers under Section 244 of the Fifth Schedule of the Constitution allow Governors to bypass difficult Chief Ministers. It is incumbent on a Governor to establish a Tribal Advisory Council for the restoration of tribals and forest dwellers' rights. Many Maoist watchers attribute the rise of the Maoists to the failure of implementing Schedules 5 and 6 of the Constitution. Some say Governors

While statistically, violence and casualty figures have declined in the last two years, there is no indication that the Union of India and the affected States are on the same page in containing and rolling back the insurgency. As long as it is treated as a law and order problem under the b State's jurisdiction and without moderating the Constitution, the ulcer will slow-bleed the country. The Government, the political class and the civil society have demonstrated that they can fast-track legislation on corruption and sexual crimes. Some of this political resolve must reflect t in dealing with internal security as well.
the protection of the helicopter and the wounded while others trekked to the nearest post for relief. The IAF version of the incident is different from that of the CRPF, which thus calls for better coordination and an improved standing operating procedure between the two. The Maoists, we know, have been training for anti-air operations since 2005 through elaborate manuals outlining air defence tactics to bring down aircraft and helicopters. Over the last two years, the Maoists have tactically retreated and attacked targets of opportunity, preferring the IED and hostage-taking as weapons of war. By ruthlessly killing police informers, they have become masters of local intelligence. Their operations are driven by the wealth of mineral resources and its economic dividend such as in Latehar which has 20 coal blocks. The CRPF gains have been contingent upon the motivation of the Chief Minister, the State agencies equally vital and must accompany its expansion plans. Former DG Vijay Kumar, now adviser to the Governor of Jharkhand, was probably a flash in the CRPF pan. The induction of Rashtriya Rifles needs to be seriously considered to bridge the capability gap. If progress on security is in fits and starts on the development side which was in the past stuck in nonimplementation and poor delivery the 82 worst affected Red districts have visibly registered the fructification of socio-economic schemes like new post offices, banks, mobile towers, schools, medical mobile vans, road construction, and so on. Development and improvement in the quality of life of the tribals and the civilians are the enemies of the Maoists.But, development is still slow and its scale a drop in the ocean. Like in any other insurgency-ridden region, civilians are trapped in the crossfire between the security forces and the Maoists. are being restrained by the Union Home Ministry from exercising their special powers. Others say they have failed to exercise their special powers. Maoists have extracted a huge human cost in their armed struggle to capture power. They are known to have killed nearly 10,000 civilians and security forces between 1998 and 2011. Of these, 5467 were civilians labelled as police informers and killed between 2001 and 2011. Besides this, there is a compounding industrial cost. The mineral wealth of India, like iron ore 82 per cent of that is in the Red corridor - coal, bauxite, manganese and some rare minerals is sub-optimally exploited. The Maoists have intercepted access and connectivity and destroyed the infrastructure created for resource-realisation. No one has put a financial cost to combating the Maoist insurgency. A conservative estimate puts it anywhere from one per cent to two per

cent of the GDP. When he was Union Minister for Finance in UPAI and was asked about the cost of the Maoist movement, Mr P Chidambaram had replied: Ask the Home Minister". Later, under his charge, the Home Ministry never put any figure on the cost. While statistically, violence and casualty figures have declined in the last two years, there is no indication that the Union of India and the affected States are on the same page in containing and rolling back the insurgency. As long as it is treated as a law and order problem under the State's jurisdiction and without moderating the Constitution, the ulcer will slow-bleed the country. The Government, the political class and the civil society have demonstrated that they can fast-track legislation on corruption and sexual crimes. Some of this political resolve must reflect in dealing with internal security as well. An all-India counter-Red-corridor matrix with a counter-Maoist strategy are required with maximum consensus between the Centre and the States and between States, dovetailing intelligence and surveillance with capacity enhancement of the local police, special operations targeting Maoists leadership, shortterm high-visibility development and security projects and special employment schemes for youth. It required a politically focused Armypolice campaign to defeat the Naxals in West Bengal in the late 1960s. Later, Andhra Pradesh (and Punjab against Khalistanis) replicated West Bengal's success. You are confronted with nine insurgencies, some simmering and some ready to boil over. A policy of political drift cannot masquerade as virtuous strategic patience, which by itself has outlived its utility.

No Indian think tank in Global 50

SAME OLD PARTY

upset about the leftist trade unions' two-day bandh call is none other than Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee. Although he presided over the end of the Left's 34-year reign in the state, he remains both the public face and chief inspiration of the party. And industrialization of Bengal has remained his principal political campaign, whether in the govt or in the Opposition. Mr Karat's politics of bandh stands for everything that Mr Bhattacharjee's politics of industrialization must spurn. It is largely owing to Mr Bhattacharjee's initiative that the CPI(M) in Bengal is now trying to wriggle out of a two-day bandh. Even if he has won his way against Mr Karat, it remains a partial success for Mr Bhattacharjee. The party's dilemma with the bandh call shows that it still has enough leaders who are condemned to old ways. Whether the bandh succeeds or fails should be of little consequence for Bengal and its people. What matters for the state is whether Mr Bhattacharjee can do more to reform his party enough. An unreformed CPI(M) is the last thing that Bengal needs, despite Mamata Banerjee's poor show in government. Mr Bhattacharjee must lead the revolt against the mandarins in New Delhi.

eftists everywhere are known to be slow learners. But the socalled central leaders of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) are among the slowest ones. They seem to be perennially debating what is to be done and ending up doing the same old things that have lost all relevance in a changing social and political scenario. That perhaps explains why these leaders continue to be such unfailing champions of the politics ofbandhs. They are so out of touch with reality that they cannot grasp the popular sentiment against this brand of politics. Leading this group is Prakash Karat, the general-secretary of the CPI(M), who wants his writ to run in all party units and its frontal organizations. Such is his loyalty to discarded ideas and practices that he cannot bring himself to accept that people everywhere have rejected the political culture that tries to thrive on strikes and bandhs. Nor can he accept the fact that the CPI(M)'s reputation as the original party of bandhs has been one of the primary reasons for the erosion in its popularity in West Bengal. The irony is that Mr Karat and his comrades in New Delhi have landed the CPI(M) in Bengal in a spot. The one leader in Bengal who must be particularly

By Rohit Bansal ot one Indian think tank figures in the Global 50 annual list for 2012 released by the University of Pennsylvania end-January. China beats India in this area as well and so do, in some specific cases, think tanks from such countries as Ethiopia, Costa Rica, Brazil, Egypt and Argentina The best India has managed is the Centre for Civil Society (CCS) at Number 51. The US occupies five of the top 10 slots, with Brookings, Carnegie Endowment, Centre for Strategic and International Studies, Council on Foreign Relations and Rand Corporation. But for those who want India to shine and value the contributions made by think tanks in shaping a country's future, the carps aren't limited to the fact that only those in the US or even the UK, with Chatham House, Amnesty and International Institute for Strategic Studies, make it to the top 10. China, despite its innate disadvantages in the English language, sits with two such institutions in the global 50 - the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences is at Number 17

and the Chinese Institute for Social Sciences is at Number 38 and many more in the pyramid below. Beyond China, at Number 24 is Brazil's Fundacao Getulio Vargas and at Number 39 is Argentina's Consejo Argentino par alas Relaciones Internacionales, while Egypt's AlAhram Centre for Political and Strategic Studies at Number 50, who all show India the mirror. Even Kenya, Indonesia and Chile have institutions that figure higher than our secondhighest ranked institution. Our bunching in the global 150 begins in the bottom 33 percentile. After Centre for Civil Society, the Institute of Defence Studies and Analysis (IDSA) sits at Number 105, the Indian Council for Research on International Economics Relations at Number 109, The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) at Number 110, the Observer Research Institute (ORF) at Number 115 and Development Alternatives at Number 141. That said, India is Number 4 by way of total numbers. Out of 6,603 contacted by UPenn across 182 countries, India can boast of 269 think tanks. Only the US (1,823), China (429) and the UK (288) have more feedstock.

Also, the general trend appeared bullish given that the relative rankings of Indian institutions has improved compared to 2011. U-Penn offers the same listings sans US think tanks. They also divide the institutions by the region, and in domains such as science, economics, health and the environment. They even slice Asia into an amusing construct. In one such list only India, China, Japan and the Republic of Korea are ranked. Naturally, Indian think tanks rank higher when any of this is done. But so do a whole lot of them from China. In the curtailed Asia (India, China, Japan, RoK) list, for example, ORF shows up at Number 10, IDSA (11), Centre for Policy Research (12), CCS (15), Delhi Policy Group (22), the Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies (24), TERI (25), the Centre for the Study of Science Technology and Policy (28), National Council for Applied Economic Research (29), Centre for Study of Developing Societies (33), Institute of Economic Growth (40), United Service Institution (42) and Liberty Institute (43). Beyond research output, it is funding and resultant influence among policymakers that

drives these rankings. Here, the role of the Indian government (and the country's university system) remains the weak link. Not one Indian entry makes it to an interesting list showing the world's 40 best university-affiliated think tanks. There's a similar blank India has drawn in the list of the world's 30 best party-affiliated think tanks. Among government-affiliated think tanks, there's only IDSA at Number 16. A silver lining, perhaps, is the role two corporate notables -- Reliance and in an earlier hue the Tatas - who seed-funded ORF and TERI, respectively. Both think tanks have found government funding for their programmes. Is that the future? India's poor show continues in lists of 40 think tanks which best use the internet and social media. Here the irony is, an Ethiopian and a Costa Rican think tank, respectively, make it, but none from India. The Economist magazine gives away a hint on how India can do better. So, here it goes: A good think tank is one that is able to combine intellectual depth, political influence, and flair for publicity, comfortable surroundings, and a streak of eccentricity!

How 3G Can Change The Face Of Rural India

By Anonna Dutt: echnologies have touched India and made it possible for the country to think of becoming a world power. But the same technology has been inaccessible to the rural India since its advent. Here, what we need to look at is that, it is only 30% of India's population which is reaping benefits from such technologies. The rest 70% live in oblivion. This amounts to a huge difference in the rural India; economically as well as socially. This difference seemed to be leveled down a bit after the introduction of mobile phones in villages. The cheap rates of cell phone services helped it to penetrate rural India, thus making the Indian market of cell phones the second largest in the world. This technology helped the rural people to be better connected to the urban dwellers. Now,

the 3G technology is all set to transform rural India completely. The question that arises here is - how would 3G be accessible to the people living in villages, when essentially most of the technologies never knock at their doorsteps? Actually, the government was well aware of such a problem and thus had thought of a solution even before 3G licenses were put on bid for the service providers. Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) had set very high prices for the 3G licenses which compelled the service providers to reach out to the millions of potential customers in villages to recover these costs. The government, under its National e-Governance Programme (NeGP), is also trying to make sure about the necessary infrastructure in

villages to attract the private players to get involved in rural marketing. Apart from that, even the providers have realised that the urban market has become saturated and so it would be extremely profitable for them to move on to the virgin market of rural India. This was from the perspective of the government and the corporates as to how and why should 3G be made available in rural India. But would the rural population actually benefit from this? The answer would undoubtedly be yes. The best part about 3G is that it would solve a very basic problem - the problem of language barriers. More than half of the 'educated population' in villages do not know English and whatever we might say, it is a fact that there isn't a lot written in regional languages on the

web. With 3G people can now communicate with the world by using videos and other such visual aids. And the best part is that they can do this on their cell phones, which again helps to overcome the problem of power cuts in villages. There are many other benefits of 3G in rural India which would help them to progress in various fields. For example, if we look at the health care system in rural India, it is pretty much in a mess. Firstly, primary health care centres are not accessible to all villages, many people have to travel a lot to reach one and even when they reach there the centres are not properly equipped. Due to such carelessness, we see deaths every now and then. With 3G coming in, long distance realtime treatment would be possible and would thus benefit them greatly.

Similarly, it could help in the field of education too. The government schools now have a problem of teachers coming in. Also, the schools lack basic facilities. This too could be solved if the teachers taking classes in urban schools can be connected to the rural children and they too could take the classes with their urban counterparts. This would dramatically increase the literacy rate of India. Also, we know there are not many banks operating in rural India, which creates a problem for the village dwellers as it is very difficult for them to manage their funds or get loans. This problem too could be solved with the help of e-banking. And the last and major benefit: benefit in the field of agriculture. More than 70% of our population is directly or indirectly dependent on

agriculture and it would really be unfair if such a wonderful technology does not even touch the major occupation of the country. In the first place it would give farmers the information about the new products available and their prices so that they are not duped by the middlemen. It might actually remove the middleman from the transaction process. Farmers can confirm deals online even before they start producing a particular crop and hence would not face a loss, also, fisherman can share the pictures of their catch even before they head for the shore. With all these benefits, 3G seems to be a very promising technology. After we are aware of all the benefits, what we need to look into is that, all these plans should not just stay on paper and should be implemented immediately.

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Making it clear that the VHP functions according to its 'maryada' (decorum) and 'Seema' (limitations), he said, "We will not violate the peace by engaging ourselves in politics. Our sole concern is the welfare of the Hindu community." S e n i o r Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader Praveen Togadiahad yesterday ducked queries on the likelihood of VHP pressing for projection of Modi as BJP's Prime Ministerial candidate. "I will only say the VHP is committed to helping the Hindus achieve what is their due," he had said when asked about the possibility of VHP pitching for Modi as BJP's Prime Ministerial candidate. "As stated on a number of occasions, we favour a Hindutvavadi Parliament sensitive to the majority community's needs," the VHP international working president had said. On Singhal calling Modi "Hindu Hriday Samrat", he said "We are engaged in a collective effort. This is not the time to ponder over personal likes and dislikes".

Ashok Singal compares Narendra Modi to Nehru

ALLAHABAD, FEB 6: Amidst demand by some BJP leaders for projecting Narendra Modi as the party's Prime Ministerial candidate, VHP leader Ashok Singhal today said the Gujarat Chief Minister enjoys the same popularity as that of the first Prime Minister Jawahar Lal Nehru. "It is for the first time since the days of Jawahar Lal Nehru when a leader has come to enjoy such a massive popularity across the country," Singhal told reporters here at the ongoing Maha Kumbhcongregation. The statement of the former VHP chief came shortly ahead of the proposed visit of BJP National PresidentRajnath Singh, who

Baba Ramdev welcomes 65% polling in 2nd phase of Assam CBI inquiry into his guru's Panchayat election disappearance

is likely to meet senior Sangh Parivar leaders and attend a meeting of the central advisory committee of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad.

Social upliftment of women must for success of W&CD schemes : Sonia Gandhi
achieved through effective implementation and monitoring of the scheme . She said that the scheme will be extended to all districts across the country in a phased manner. The UPA Chairperson said infant mortality rate continues to be a cause of concern despite best efforts by the Government. She said that Central Government has ensured that there is no shortage of funds for social welfare and human resources development. A whooping amount of 90 thousand crore rupees has been provided to states under National Rural Health Mission. The Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Mr. Ghulam Nabi Azad was also present at the launch of the scheme.

Acid attacks: SC asks Centre, states to address the menace

NEW DELHI, FEB 6: Viewing with concern incidents of acid attacks, the Supreme Court today directed the Centre to convene in six weeks a meeting of Chief Secretaries of all states and Union Territories to address the menace and discuss framing of a law for treatment and compensation to victims. Not satisfied with the steps taken by the Centre to regulate sale of acid and to curb its use for attacking women, a bench headed by Justice R M Lodha directed the Union Home Secretary to meet all the Chief Secretaries to formulate a policy to address the menace of the acid attacks. The bench passed the order on a PIL filed in 2006 by Delhi-based victim Laxmi who was then a minor. Her arms, face and other body parts were disfigured in an acid attack. In her plea, she had sought framing of a new law or amending of the existing criminal laws like IPC, Indian Evidence Act and CrPC for dealing with the offence, besides asking for compensation. Laxmi was subjected to the acid attack by three youths near Tughlaq Road here as she had refused to marry one of them, according to the petition. The trial is going on for the offence of attempt to murder and two of the accused are out on bail.

ALLAHABAD: Yoga master Ramdev today welcomed the CBI inquiry into the mysterious disappearance of his guru, but questioned the motive behind ordering of the probe when the Maha Kumbh is underway. The move was aimed at "discrediting" religious figures in the country, Ramdev told a press conference here. "I welcome the CBI inquiry and hope that the probe agency brings out the complete truth behind the disappearance of my guru Shankar Dev about whom I am as concerned as a son would be for his father," he said.

"However, the timing of the probe order makes me suspicious of the government's motive. It has been long since Shankar Dev has been traceless. But the inquiry order comes at a time when we are taking part in Maha Kumbh. "It looks like a conspiracy aimed at discrediting dharmasatta (clout of religious figures) in the country," he said. Swami Shankar Dev had gone missing on July 14, 2007 after he went out for a morning walk. On October 13 last year, the Uttarakhand government had recommended a CBI probe into the disappearance of the Swami.

GUWAHATI, FEB 6: An estimated 65 per cent of the electorate today cast their ballots on the second day of the three-phase Assam Panchayat election, which was marked by sporadic incidents of violence, officials said. Clashes between rival parties, attack on candidates and presiding officers were reported from parts of Nalbari, Kamrup (Rural) and Sonitpur districts, they said. Irregularities in electoral rolls with names of eligible voters missing and wrong symbols were reported from some polling stations in Nalbari, Sonitpur, Kamrup (Rural), Barpeta and Darrang districts. The decision on repoll in these centres would be taken by the State Election Commission after reports were received, the officials said. The districts where the second phase of Panchayat polls were held were Sonitpur, Darrang, Nalbari, Barpeta, Kamrup (metro), Bongaigaon and parts of Dibrugarh and Morigaon. Of the total 26,724 candidates in fray, 520 contested for the Zila Parishad, 2,265 for angelic Panchayat, 2,726 for Gaon Panchayat president and 21,213 contested for Gaon Panchayat membership. The third and final phase of the grassroot election would be held on February 12.

Pak lobbies OIC for third party mediation in Kashmir

ISLAMABAD, FEB 6: Seeking to internationalise tensions along the Line of Control, Pakistan has called for an investigation into the recent incidents there, by theOrganisation of Islamic Cooperation. "We would also welcome an OIC fact-finding mission to investigate the recent incidents of ceasefire violations along the LoC," Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Kharsaid while addressing a meeting of the OIC contact group on Kashmir in Cairo yesterday. She reiterated that Pakistan is ready to work with theUnited Nations Military Observer Group for India and Pakistan to carry out an independent inquiry into the ceasefire violations. Earlier, Pakistan's attempt to rope in the UN by demanding a probe by UNMOGIP was foiled by India, which rejected it saying the matter can be settled bilaterally. Clashes between Indian and Pakistani troops last month were among the worst violations of the ceasefire that was put in place along the 742-km LoC in late 2003. One Indian soldier was beheaded while the body of another jawan was mutilated by the Pakistan army men in ceasefire violations in Mendhar sector in Poonch last month. Pakistan claims three of its soldiers were killed in Indian firing. Khar again contended that there were "negative and hostile statements emanating from the Indian leadership" during the ceasefire violations. She said Pakistan chose to "exercise restraints to keep the Pakistan-India peace process on track". "Pakistan has entered into dialogue with India in good faith to amicably resolve the Kashmir dispute. We are earnestly implementing the cross-LoC confidence-building measures to bring relief to the divided families and reduce the sufferings of the Kashmiris on both sides of the LoC," she said in her address. The CBMs had contributed towards creating a "congenial environment between the two countries to address the issue of Jammu and Kashmir", she said. Pakistan's efforts to internationalize the issue, and rope in third parties have not met with much success yet, and last month both US and UN had rejected Pakistan's demand to mediate between the India-Pakistan conflict.

NEW DELHI,FEB 6:The UPA Chairperson, Mrs. Sonia Gandhi has asserted that social upliftment of women is must to ensure success of schemes aimed at development of women and children. Speaking at a launch of Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram scheme in Thane district of Maharashtra today, she hoped that the objective of the National Rural Health Mission initiative to benefit 27 crore children would be

New complaint number to deactivate unwanted mobile services

NEW DELHI, FEB 6:Telecom consumers can now register complaint about wrongful activation of value added services (VAS) like mobile Internet and caller tunes on a new common number, 155223, for all operators. Telecom operators will have to refund the amount charged for such activation of services if consumers inform about it within 24 hours on this common number. The service has been put in place by telecom operators jointly after telecom regulator Trai refused to give them any leeway in such cases from Feb 2. Operators reported compliance to TRAI on Feb 1. "A common solution has now been devised for all of industry which will enable simple and easy exit. It came onto force on Feb 1," Trai Chairman said. Subscribers who have been using any value added services beyond 24 hours can also request for deactivation of service on this number. Telecom operator will have to deactivate service within four hours of getting phone call but the customer will not be eligible to claim refund in such cases. On July 4, 2011 Trai directed telecom operators to obtain explicit consent of consumers "through consumer originated SMS or e-mail or FAX or in writing within 24 hrs of activation of the value added service and charge the consumer only if the confirmation is received from him" for subscribing it. The industry has objected to this direction and estimated Rs 12,000 crore revenue loss and over 10,000 job loss on complying with the direction. After failing to convince the regulator, industry body representing GSM players COAI approached telecom tribunal TDSAT but lost. The Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal gave telecom operators three months time to comply with the direction. As per the rule, operators will have to take consent of subscribers before activating any VAS and deactivate it without charging for it if no consent is received from them. Trai has asked operators to inform their subscribers about the new facility and also publish its details in newspapers.

Buddhadeb questions Mamata's honesty

KOLKATA, FEB 6: Questioning West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Marxist (CPI-M) politburo member said: "You conduct a probe into her family condition now as compared to what it was earlier. According to my yardstick, she does not pass the yardstick of honesty." "I would have been happy had she been honest. But I am unable to accept her as honest. And this is no secret. Lot of people close to her know this and they have started talking about it," Bhattacharjee told the news channel. Asked whether he could give details, he said: "I am not a drain inspector. If you feel like, you can probe it. Lot of people know what those close to her are doing. What all is happening. Everything will come out if there is an investigation. There will not be much of a problem in digging those things out."

No cuts in expenditure for key defence areas: Antony

NEW DELHI, FEB 6: Projects related to operational preparedness of armed forces will not be affected despite a cut of Rs 10,000 in defence expenditure, Defence Minister A K Antony said today. The Defence Ministry was "anxious" to secure more funds from the Centre for defence forces, but the government was passing through "difficult times" and everyone was getting affected by it, Antony said. He said there was a cut of around Rs 10,000 crore in the defence budget for this year's allocation of Rs 1.93 lakh crore from the capital account for modernisation of armed forces. Asked if the budget cut would in any way affect the modernisation process, he said, "Regarding modernisation of armed forces, there is no question of any slackening. We are conscious of the geopolitical situation around us, and the emerging threat and the volatile situation we are in where national security is primary importance." India's economic growth depends on peace situation in the country and armed forces play a crucial role in this, he said. "So, there will be no slackening in modernisation of armed forces and nothing will happen in that area." In view of the cut in defence budget, Antony said armed forces have been asked to prioritise their procurements as per the requirements of their operational preparedness plan. Asked about India's reliance on imports for its defence hardware, Antony said the situation has improved and now it is not 70:30 ratio as was the case earlier. On the night fighting capabilities of Indian Army, he said earlier only 10 per cent of the tanks had night vision devices but at present all T-90 tanks have this equipment and majority of T-72 tanks come equipped with them.

Four killed in attack on Indian-owned ship in Nigeria

Banerjee's honesty, her predecessor Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee Tuesday asked the media to probe her family condition after she came to power as compared to what it was earlier. Asked to comment in an interview with Bengali television channel Chobbis Ghanta on the Trinamool Congress projecting Banerjee as a symbol of honesty, Bhattacharjee replied: "I am unable to agree". Pressed further, the Communist Party of India-

Protests, slogans greet Modi outside SRCC

NEW DELHI, FEB 6: Many students Wednesday protested outside Delhi University's Shri Ram College of Commerce (SRCC) against Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the college. Many of the protestors were students with membership of unions affiliated to the left parties. Angry students shouted: "Modi go back!" and held up posters which read: "Expose Modi!" Water cannons were reportedly used to disperse the protesting students. Many of the students belonged to the All India Students' Association, the Students Federation of India and the All India Students Federation -- all Left-wing unions. Wearing black clothes and masks of ghosts, students crossed the barricade and shouted slogans against Modi outside the college. A large number of policemen were present at the site. Shri Ram College of Commerce (SRCC) is the alma mater of many leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), including Arun Jaitley, Vijay Goel, Jagdish Mukhi and Vijay Jolly. Modi's talk at the college is about "Emerging business models in the global scenario". Earlier in the day, Narendra Modi met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and gave the prime minister a memorandum on issues related to the Sardar Sarovar dam. "It was a good meeting. We spoke for quite a while on various issues," Modi told reporters after meeting the prime minister at his 7 Race Course Road residence. Calling it a courtesy call, Modi said: 'I came to meet the Prime Minister for the first time after the formation of new government. I had a long discussion with the Prime Minister. The meeting was very cordial and I discussed several pending projects with the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister has assured of help and cooperation for development in Gujarat.' "I also discussed gas prices and the Narmada irrigation project with him. The Prime Minister congratulated me for my new government. I also brought up the issue of Sardar Sarovar dam," he added. This was Modi's first meeting with the Prime Minister after being sworn-in as the Gujarat Chief Minister again in December last year. The Gujarat Chief Minister's visit to the national capital assumes significance in the wake of growing clamour in the BJP that he should be named as the party's 2014 prime ministerial candidate. Speculations have been rife that Modi, who secured an electoral hattrick in Gujarat in December last year, may spearhead the BJP's campaign in 2014 polls. BJP leaders Yashwant Sinha, Shatrughan Sinha and noted lawyer Ram Jethmalani have earlier openly endorsed Modi's name as prime ministerial candidate. The other BJP leaders have been so far evasive on this issue. Modi is scheduled to speak at a conclave organised by Delhi University's Shri Ram College of Commerce later in the day. He is expected to talk on 'Emerging Business Models' in the global scenario.

ABUJA, FEB 6: Four persons, including two soldiers, were killed when a ship belonging to an Indian company was attacked by pirates in Nigeria's oil-rich southern delta. The four persons killed, included two soldiers, a retirednaval officer and the pilot of the tugboat which ran into an ambush yesterday after setting sail BSE -4.27 %from Warri in Delta State to Port Harcourt in Rivers State, Nigeria's Thisday newspaper reported. A gun battle between men of the Joint Task Force (JTF) and pirates in Bayelsa State ensued during the ambush. The ship belongs to Sterling Global Services Limited, a venture of an India-based company called theSandesara Group. "The military men escorting Sterling Global Oil Resources Limited tugboat ran into an ambush mounted by suspected sea pirates along the Angiama-Etelibiri waterways of Sagbama Local Government area of Bayelsa state," Lt Col Onyema Nwachukwu, spokesman for the Joint Task Force (JTF), a military unit that polices the region against piracy said.

Nwachukwu said two soldiers were killed but failed to confirm the death of the retired soldier and the ship captain and said three pirates were also wounded by soldiers who returned fire. One inmate of the ship was also missing while two other soldiers sustained serious injuries during the shootout that followed, he said. Nwachukwu could not give any reason for the attack because the boat and the escorting vessels were empty. According to him, the military has sent five gunboats to nab the pirates and security has been heightened in Bayelsa state where the incident took place. Two months ago, five Indians were abducted by heavily armed pirates who attacked the vessel, Medallion Marine, in which they were travelling about 60 kilometres off the coast of oil rich Niger Delta and commercial capital, Lagos. They were released after a month. Attacks on ships is common in Nigeria's oil rich region and in most cases the purpose is kidnapping for ransom while in some cases oil theft is the motive.

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"Shokri Belaid was killed today by four bullets to the head and chest ... doctors told us that he has died. This is a sad day for Tunisia," Ziad Lakhader, a leader of the Popular Front, told Reuters. Other party sources confirmed his death. Tunisia, the first Arab country to oust its leader and hold free elections as uprisings spread around the region two years ago, has so far made a relatively smooth transition to democracy. Ennahda won 42 percent of seats in the first post-Arab Spring elections in October 2011 and formed a government in coalition with two secular parties, President Moncef Marzouki's Congress for the Republic and Ettakatol. However, the government has faced many protests over economic hardship. Hampered by declining trade with the crisis-hit euro zone, it has struggled to deliver the better living standards that many Tunisians had hoped for. And it says al Qaeda-linked militants have been accumulating weapons with the aim of creating an Islamic state. Police, who demonstrated outside the prime minister's office last month, say they do not have the appropriate resources to deal with the threat from Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb and domestic Islamist militants who have easy access to weapons from neighboring Libya. The president was in France for a meeting of the European Parliament and was due to have gone to Egypt to attend an Islamic summit.

Tunisian opposition politician shot dead

TUNIS: A prominent Tunisian opposition politician was shot dead outside his home on Wednesday, in a killing the prime minister condemned as a political assassination and a strike against the "Arab Spring" revolution. Prime Minister Hamadi Jebali said the identity of the killer of Shokri Belaid, a staunch secular opponent of the moderate Islamist-led government, was unknown. President Moncef Marzouki cut short a visit to France and canceled a visit to Egypt scheduled for Thursday after the killing, which brought around 1,000 protesters onto the streets outside the Interior Ministry. The murder of Be laid is a political assassination and the assassination of the Tunisian revolution. By killing him they wanted to silence his voice," said Jebali, who heads the government led by the Ennahda party, which won Tunisia's first post-Arab Spring

Deadly tsunami hits Solomon Islands in South pacific

SYDNEY: An 8.0-magnitude earthquake struck off the Solomon Islands in the South Pacific on Wednesday, triggering a tsunami that killed five people but didn't threaten the wider region. Four elderly people and one child died after the roughly 1-meter (3-feet) high wave hit the Santa Cruz Islands, an eastern region of the Solomon Islands, said Augustine Bilve, director at a hospital in Lata, The strong waves appeared to have caused damage and disruption at the local airport and nearby villages. Bilve said that some patients were being relocated, but the hospital was intact. "Our staff in Temotu province felt the quake and within five minutes there were a number of wave surges, which flooded the runway there," said Andrew Catford, the program director in the Solomon Islands. World Vision said it was still trying to gauge the damage from the tsunami in the area, adding that "it is likely that several villages close to the airport have been severely impacted." The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center initially issued a tsunami warning for several countries in the area, including Papua New Guinea and Fiji. But the center later canceled the alert after reassessing the relevant data. It also called off a tsunami watch it had sent out for a larger number of countries in the region such as New Zealand, Australia and Indonesia. The center of the quake was located near the Santa Cruz Islands, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) said. It was initially reported to be 3.6 miles deep, but that was later revised to a depth of 17.8 miles. Authorities elsewhere in the region took precautionary measures following news of the quake. The New Zealand Ministry of Civil Defense and Emergency Management warned people along certain areas of the country's west coast to stay out of the water and away from the shore. Japanese authorities issued advisories that small sea level changes could affect the country's entire eastern coastline Wednesday.

election in 2011. Belaid, who died in hospital after being shot in the capital Tunis, was a leading member of the opposition Popular Front party.

Mali crisis exposes divisions within Muslim world Islamic nation's summit opens in Cairo
CAIRO: The president of Senegal commended France on Wednesday for its military intervention in Mali against Islamist militants, telling leaders of fellow Muslim nations that they cannot allow "a minority of terrorists to commit Crimes distort our faith and deepen hatred for Islam." Macky Sall's opening address laid bare the divisions among the nations taking part in the Organization of Islamic Cooperation's two-day summit in Cairo, which brings together leaders from across the Muslim world. The French-led military intervention in Mali, which includes forces from Senegal, is aimed at driving Islamist militants from the territory they have overrun in northern Mali in recent months. Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi, who is hosting the conference, has repeatedly denounced France's operation in Mali, saying Paris' action there would lead to the development of a hotspot in the area and lay the seeds for a wider and bloodier conflict. Morsi's Islamist allies at home have demonstrated outside the French embassy in Cairo to protest French intervention. Addressing the conference on Wednesday, Morsi did not directly condemn the French intervention, but made clear that Cairo did not favor military actions in Mali. "We call for a comprehensive approach to deal with the situation there and any similar case" he said. "An approach that deals with all the different aspects of the crisis and its political, developmental and intellectual roots while safeguarding human rights." The deepest division in the Islamic world runs along the faith's Sunni-Shiite fault line, a rift that was on full display during a meeting on the eve of the summit by its most high profile participant President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of Iran, the region's Shiite power. Sunni Shiite tensions dominated talks between Ahmadinejad and Egypt's most prominent cleric, Sheik Ahmed el-Tayeb, who upbraided the Iranian leader on a string of issues and warned against Iranian interference in Gulf nations, particularly Bahrain, where the ruling Sunni minority has faced protests by the Shiite majority. El-Tayeb said attempts to spread Shiite Islam in mainly Sunni Arab nations were unacceptable and called for a halt to bloodshed in Syria, where Tehran's ally President Bashar Assad has been battling mainly Sunni rebels, according to a statement by Al-Azhar about the meeting. CAIRO: The 12th summit of the Organization of Islamic Co-operation has opened in Cairo, with Syria's civil war and the battle against al-Qaeda-linked fighters in Mali topping the agenda. Senegalese President Macky Sall gave the opening remarks on Wednesday, making his last address before handing the OIC's rotating presidency to Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi. He urged the summit to support the sovereignty of Mali, threatened by "terrorist groups" who are committing "crimes" against the Malian people. President Morsi also addressed the summit. He urged for the maximum use of resources and said that 21 Islamic nations were amongst the poorest in the world. He said there is a need for more education and research efforts and raised concerns about Muslim minorities, citing the Rohingya Muslim minority in Mynmar and called for more co-operation and support among the countries. The meeting gathers the leaders of 26 of the OIC's 57 states, including the presidents of Iran and Turkey. This also marks the first visit to Egypt by an Iranian president since the Islamic revolution in 1979, but the Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has not been welcomed by all. A protester was arrested after he threw a shoe at Ahmadinejad, who is also in the country to discuss bilateral ties with Morsi. "There are those striving to prevent these two great countries from coming together despite the fact that the region's problems require this meeting, especially the Palestinian question," Ahmadinejad said.

US has secret drone base in Saudi Arabia

WASHINGTON: President Obama's plan to install his counterterrorism adviser as director of the CIA has opened the administration to new scrutiny over the targeted-killing policies it has fought to keep hidden from the public, as well as the existence of a previously secret drone base in Saudi Arabia. The administration's refusal to provide details about one of the most controversial aspects of its drone campaign strikes on U.S. citizens abroad has emerged as a potential source of opposition to CIA nominee John O. Brennan. The secrecy surrounding that policy was punctured with the disclosure of a Justice Department "white paper" that spells out the administration's case for killing Americans accused of being al-Qaeda operatives. The timing of the leak appeared aimed at intensifying pressure on the White House to disclose more-detailed legal memos that the paper summarizes and at putting Brennan, Obama's top counterterrorism adviser, on the defensive for his appearance on Capitol Hill. Administration officials sought to play down the significance of the disclosure, saying that they have already described the principles outlined in the document in a series of speeches. "One of the things I want to make sure that everybody understands is that our primary concern is to keep the American people safe, but to do so in a way that's consistent with our laws and consistent with our values," Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. said. The Obama administration's targeted killing program has relied on a growing constellation of drone bases operated by the CIA and the U.S. military's Joint Special Operations Command. The only strike intentionally targeting a U.S. citizen, a 2011 attack that killed al-Qaeda operative Anwar alAwlaki, was carried out in part by CIA drones flown from a secret base in Saudi Arabia. The base was established two years ago to intensify the hunt against al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, as the affiliate in Yemen is known. Brennan, who previously served as the CIA's station chief in Saudi Arabia, played a key role in negotiations with Riyadh over locating an agency drone base inside the kingdom.

ECONOMY

Finance Minister may announce relief in income tax in coming budget

NEW DELHI: The Finance Minister P Chidambaram, who was busy with devising new ways to increase revenue collection during the last year, will find it difficult to present popular budget this year. At present, decline in revenue collection is the main cause of worry for the government. On the other hand, the Finance Minister is in under tremendous pressure to announce sops and incentives in the budgetary allocation because this year's budget will be the last one for the UPA before the 2014 general elections. It is being conjectured that the Chidambaram may announce some relief on meet revenue collection target. It will also be a challenge for the government to maintain the current income level in the next budget. To address the complexity of tax structure, the government needs to bring Direct Tax Code into practice. The DTC is unlikely to be implemented in the near future. Hence, the Finance Minister may incorporate few recommendations of the Standing Committee such as the income tax relaxation. The Parliamentary Committee has recommended increasing the relaxation of income tax upto Rs 3,00,000 per annum. As well, it has been recommended to increase the investment limit for tax exemption. To increase the tax collection, the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has suggested imposing extra tax on super rich in the country. But, the government is yet to arrive at the consensus over it. The best example is the deferment of GAAR implementation. Apart from it, there are other provisions in the tax structure which benefit super rich in the country.

PAN must for high-value gold buy, curb on NBFCs: RBI panel
MUMBAI: Seeking to check demand of gold, a RBI committee on Wednesday proposed a slew of measures like mandatory quoting of PAN numbers for high-value purchases, restriction on gold loans and check on NBFC branches dealing with gold loans. The Reserve Bank committee also suggested cheque payment for gold purchase beyond a threshold, introduction of other savings products to discourage investment in physical gold, prohibition of bank finance for buying gold and revival of the two-decade old proposal to set up a Bullion Corporation. "There is a need to moderate the demand for gold imports considering its impact on the current account deficit," it said, It suggested that NBFCs may obtain a copy of PAN Card in all the loan proposals exceeding Rs five lakh per monitoring of rapid growth of assets, borrowings and branch network of gold loan NBFCs, while making a case for reviewing fund raising by them. The recommendations include making use of idle gold reserves, which is about 20,000 tonnes, by setting up a gold bank and using the reserves of exchange-traded funds to productive use, but said there was no case for granting gold loan NBFCs a status at par with banks. Giving its rationale for setting up a gold bank, the report said, "the proposed gold bank may be given powers to import, export, trade, lend and borrow gold and deal in gold derivatives."

income tax rates and focus on indirect taxes to increase the revenue. According to the Finance Ministry officials, the current state of the revenue collection does not provide much scope for the popular budget. It is also important to

adding that RBI may impose limits on volume and value of gold import by banks under "extreme situation". Currently, banks account for about 60 per cent of the total gold import.

borrower to strengthen mechanism of KYC. Currently, PAN card is mandatory for jewellery purchases beyond Rs 5 lakh. The committee underlined the need for continuous

Cabinet to consider SPV for TAPI project on Feb 7

NEW DELHI: Struggling to get the USD 9 billion TAPI gas pipeline underway, its four promoter nations have decided to float a special purpose vehicle to keep the transnational project alive. The SPV, TAPI Ltd will be formed with Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan and India pumping USD 5 million equity each. India will be represented by state-owned gas utility, GAIL India Ltd. The Union Cabinet headed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh may on Thursday consider formation of the Dubai-based SPV, official sources said. It would also consider GAIL joining the SPV as India representative. Though the SPV for the TAPI project is listed on agenda for the Cabinet scheduled on Thursday, it may after all not be taken up as Oil Minister M Veerappa Moily is in US on a day visit. The SPV is being considered for the project as no multinational company is willing to participate in the project unless they get a share in Turkmenistan's rich gas fields. While Turkmenistan, Afghanistan and Pakistan are of the view that the four promoters could build and operate the pipeline on their own, India has insisted that the project be taken up only if a multinational company leads it. New Delhi does not want to be at the mercy of Afghanistan and Pakistan for its gas needs and also feels that none of the nominee companies of the four countries has the financial and managerial capability to execute the project. Sources said TAPI Ltd would scout for a consortium leader who will build and operate the project, while the US government would pursue Turkmenistan to get upstream equity for its multinational. The multinational firm would be responsible for safe delivery of gas through the 1,680-km pipeline from Turkmenistan that will traverse through militancyinfested areas in Afghanistan and Pakistan. The 1,680-km will carry 90 million cubic metres a day (mmcmd) gas and was scheduled to become operational in 2018. India and Pakistan would get 38 mmcmd each, while the remaining 14 mcmd will be supplied to Afghanistan.

Tension across border responsible for rising onion prices

NEW DELHI: The sharp rise in onion prices is largely due to poor monsoons affecting crop output in major onion growing areas but there is one more factor responsible for it. It is being considered that the tension across the border is also playing a large role in rising onion prices. The tension which started in January has affected the import of onion from Pakistan through Attari Wagah Border. Rajesh Sethia, an exportimport businessman said that special precautions were being taken after the cross border tension and since fruits and vegetables are perishable items it is causing huge loss to traders. The trucks carrying fruits and vegetables are made to wait for days before they are allowed to cross the border. According to statics, nearly 300 trucks were made to wait on January 15 near Attari border. Onions imported from Pakistan are sold in the markets of Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh which helps in keeping its prices under check. In the last one month nearly 50 percent increase in whole sale prices was recorded but now there are indications that prices of onions may go down in domestic market. Now all the hopes are on supply of late kharif crop supply from Nasik (Maharashtra), Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh which begins in the month of March

Telecom Commission meet likely on Feb 18 on new licences

NEW DELHI: Inter-ministerial body Telecom Commission (TC) is likely to meet on February 18 to discuss guidelines of new licences that will be issued to companies under the National Telecom Policy 2012. A senior Department of Telecommunications official said that the TC will 'probably' meet on February 18 to discuss details of Unified Licences for both new and existing players. The government under new telecom policy has announced that all new licences in future will be delinked from spectrum and will be technology neutral. There are various issues related to the new licences guidelines like provision to allow opening of internet telephony (allowing calls using internet on phones), Foreign Direct Investment in telecom tower firms, recommendation made by Telecom Regulatory Authority of India to cancel licences on 5th major violation, that the panel will have to look in to. As per broad framework issued by DoT earlier, a new panIndia licence that has been delinked from spectrum will cost Rs 22 crore compared to earlier price of Rs 1,658 crore that were issued along with 4.4 megahertz of airwaves frequency. The DoT in the notice inviting applications for spectrum auction in 2012 has said that "Entry fee (nonrefundable) Rs 1 crore for each Service Area Level UL (Access Services) except for Jammu and Kashmir and North East Service Areas where Entry Fee shall be Rs 50 lakh each." The companies will have to pay separately for spectrum which at present is over 7 times more that of previous price. Holders of new licences, Unified Licences, who have received spectrum at new rates, determined through spectrum auction in 2012 and to be allocated thereafter, will be allowed to share spectrum with their counterparts. Spectrum sharing was not permitted under old telecom licences that are in use by existing telecom operators.

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pace spearhead Dhawal Kulkarni not dismissed Wriddhiman Saha just before close with the second new ball for his first wicket. At stumps, Raina, was on 36 after a near two-hour stay in which he faced 68 balls and hit four fours. Captain Harbhajan (0) was the other unbeaten batsman at the crease. Raina, along with Rayudu, also put on 78 runs for the fourth wicket in 122 balls. For Mumbai, who opted to field after winning the toss, captain Abhishek Nayar was the most successful bowler with figures of two for 49, while the other three wickets were shared equally by Shardul Thakur, part time bowler Rohit Sharma and Kulkarni. VINA DEL MAR, CHILE: Spain's Rafael Nadal launched his return from a seven-month injury break by teaming with Argentina's Juan Monaco for an emphatic doubles victory in the ATP clay court event in Chile on Tuesday. The return of the world number five, playing his first tournament since he was beaten in the second round at Wimbledon by Czech journeyman Lukas Rosol in late June, is the focus of attention at the $410,200 tournament. In a warm-up for his singles match on Wednesday, Nadal teamed with Monaco to post a 6-3, 6-2 victory in just 65 minutes over second seeds Frantisek Cermak and Lukas Dlouhy in the first round of the doubles. As the top seed, the 11-

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Nadal makes comeback with doubles win in VTR Open

Irani Cup: Murali scores ton as RoI dominate day 1

MUMBAI: Opener Murali Vijay stroked his way to his second successive century in the Irani Cup as Rest of India dominated the opening day of their five-day fixture against recently crowned Ranji Trophy champions Mumbai at the Wankhede Stadium on Wednesday. With good contributions from one-down batsman Manoj Tiwary (37), Ambati Rayudu (51) and Suresh Raina (36 not out), RoI ended day one at 330 for five. Vijay, who had notched a double ton for the RoI against last year's champions Rajasthan in Bangalore at the start of the season, compiled an aggressive 116 and also put on a quick-fire 144-run stand with opening partner Shikhar Dhawan (63) to

Opener Murali Vijay stroked his way to his 2nd successive century in the Irani Cup lay a strong foundation. RoI, without captain and opener Virender Sehwag who pulled out at the eleventh hour due to an upset stomach, dominated the day completely. The situation could have been even better for RoI had Mumbai's

Mujtaba to lead India in Azlan Shah next month

Somdev enters 2nd round of Zagreb ATP event

The Indian overcame a poor start as he was bageled in the first set but eventually won 0-6 7-6 (6) 4-1 when his German rival, world number 125, retired due to fatigue. Somdev, known for playing long matches with a never-say-die spirit, kept Berrer in the match with his amazing retrieving ability. Somdev, who is leading a players' revolt against the national federation, next plays fourth seed and world number 29 Austrian Jurgen Melzer in the euro 410,200 event. It will be first meeting between the new players.

time Grand Slam champion enjoyed a first-round singles bye and will open his singles campaign with a secondround clash against Argentine qualifier Federico Delbonis. Delbonis beat compatriot Guido Pella 2-6, 7-6 (7/4), 76 (7/1). Nadal, who will be 27 in June, has been careful to play

down expectations, saying he still has some pain from his troublesome knees and doesn't expect to immediately rediscover his old winning ways in his first tournament back. The Vina del Mar event is a starting point for a clay court season that culminates with the French Open in Paris starting in May.

CSK sign five uncapped bowlers for IPL 6

CHENNAI: Two-time champions Chennai Super Kings have strengthened their bowling attack by signing five uncapped Indian bowlers ahead of the sixth edition of IPL. UP fast bowlers Imtiaz Ahmed and Ankit Rajpoot, Haryana quick Mohit Sharma, Karnataka pacer Ronit More and Tamil Nadu left-arm spinner R Karthikeyan are the five to have been picked up by CSK. In the Ranji Trophy this season, Imtiaz was the leading wicket-taker from Uttar Pradesh with 37 from nine matches at an average of 25.45, including three five-wicket hauls. He was with the Pune Warriors in IPL 2011 but did not get a game. In his first-class debut season this time, Rajpoot took 31 wickets from seven matches at an average of 18.80. Mohit played eight Ranji matches this season, taking 37 wickets, averaging 23.24 runs per wicket. More made his first-class debut this season playing two matches. Karthikeyan plays for TI Cycles in the first division league of the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association.

NEW DELHI: Experienced forward Danish Mujtaba was on Wednesday named captain of the Indian hockey team for the 22nd Sultan Azlan Shah Invitational Tournament even as senior drag-flicker Sandeep Singh was relegated to the standbys list for the March 6 to 17 event in Malaysia. Hockey India selector Syed Ali, chief coach Michael Nobbs and Exercise Physiologist Jason Konrath alongwith Government Observer Harbinder Singh selected the list of 18 players with eight standbys on the basis of their recent performance in the ongoing inaugural season of Hero Hockey India League. At the Azlan Shah, goalkeeper PR Sreejesh will be the vice-Captain of the squad which has eight forwards, five mid-fielders and three defenders.

ZAGREB: A resilient Somdev Devvarman saved a match point before wearing out German

Michael Berrer in the opening round of the ATP Zagreb Indoor event on Wednesday.

Himmat to lead Indian challenge in Myanmar Open

NEW DELHI: Himmat Rai will highly rated Arnond Vongvanij of spearhead Indian challenge in the Thailand will be joined by USD 300,000 Zaykabar Myanmar Japanese Masanori Kobayashi, who won his maiden Asian Tour Open that starts later in February. Japanese star Tetsuji Hiratsuka title at the Asia-Pacific Panasonic and defending champion Kieran Open last year. The event tees off Pratt will join a host of Asian Tour stars for the season-opening event. Himmat, who is currently ranked 453rd in World Golf Rankings, won the the ISPS Handa Classic event in 2011. That win was the first triumph in the Asian Tour for the Indian golfer, who turned professional in 2007. Himmat and Hiratsuka, a three-time Asian Tour winner, is ready to reclaim the Myanmar Open trophy Himmat Rai which he won so convincingly in 2010. Hiratsuka, who is a threetime Asian Tour winner, is ready to reclaim the Myanmar Open trophy which he won so convincingly in 2010. Mardan Mamat of Singapore, at the Royal Mingalardon Golf and Country Club from February 21 to 24. After winning the Myanmar Open in 2010, Hiratsuka went on to enjoy two remarkable seasons on the Asian Tour where he won three other titles and finished a career high of second on the 2011 Asian Tour Order of Merit. "I hurt my back last June and have been struggling with the pain. It slowly got better in the year and I'm looking forward to returning to Myanmar again," said Hiratsuka. Taking a leaf from Hiratsuka's book, Kobayashi earned playing rights at the 2012 Qualifying School and enjoyed a highly successful rookie year on the Asian Tour where he finished fourth on the Order of Merit, courtesy of one victory and two other top-10s. "Hiratsuka and (Daisuke) Maruyama have enjoyed success on the Asian Tour so I decided to follow in their footsteps. They love playing in different countries and they have improved tremendously in their games," said Kobayashi.

Women's WC: India play for pride against Pak

CUTTACK: Sent crashing out of the Women's World Cup by Sri Lanka, India would seek to restore some pride when they take on archrivals Pakistan in their 7-8th classification match on Thursday. The humiliating 138-run defeat against Sri Lanka on Tuesday also meant that India will now have to go through the qualifiers to feature in the next edition of the World cup four years later. The collective failure of the top order batsmen in their last two matches even in home conditions has hurt the team badly and India will need to regroup quickly to prevent an equally demoralising Pakistanis emerging victorious. The pressure will be on the Indians who have been hit hard by a sudden slump in form of their key batsmen after a comfortable 105-run win against the West Indies in the tournament opener and the inexperienced bowling attack has only compounded the misery for the hosts. Sri Lanka's batting fired in unison as they posted a competitive 282 for five in a must-win game for both sides. India were at the backfoot from the very beginning of the run chase and they were bundled out for a paltry 144 in 42.2 overs. Incidentally, this was India's first defeat to Sri Lanka in 18 matches, having won their previous 16 encounters with one ending in no result. Both India and Pakistan have several issues to address leading up to Thursday's game at the Barabati Stadium. While India have struggled with the indifferent form of their bowlers, Pakistan have a lot to answer in their batting department.

Ecologists warn against restoration of degraded land

SYDNEY: The United Nations aims to restore 150 million hectares of degraded land worldwide by 2020 but restoration ecologists warn that it will take more than simple tree plantation. Myles Menz, doctoral candidate at the University of Western Australia (UWA) School of Plant Biology, who led the study, argues that gaps in knowledge must be identified, capacities developed and research translated into policy and practice in order to achieve success in landscape-scale restoration projects. With Kingsley Dixon at the UWA and Richard Hobbs, both professors, Menz proposes a four-point plan to ensure that restoration sustains and enhances restoration values, while recognizing that preventing environmental loss and damage is better than restoration after damage has happened, the journal Science reports said. Early forest restoration in south-western Australia involved planting non-native and non-local species based on what was current best practice at the time. Consequently, science programmes were undertaken to fill these gaps in knowledge." The authors cite other initiatives such as China's Great Green Wall, where large-scale planting of non-native trees in a project that began in 1978 was thought to have caused damage, as local ecosystems were damaged by the plantation of non-native, fast-growing trees, according to an UWA statement.

Watson ton drives Australia to Canberra win

CANBERRA: Shane Watson returned from injury with a fluent century to help Australia win the third limited overs international against West Indies by 39 runs and clinch the series on Wednesday. Australia has an unbeatable 3-0 lead in the fivematch series. After a month out with a calf muscle problem, Watson belted 122 from 111 balls as Australia posted 329-7. West Indies was bowled out for 290 in reply in the 48th over, with Australia leftarm paceman James Faulkner returning 4-48 including the key wickets of Darren Bravo (86) and Chris Gayle (2) in the 38th. Australia won the toss and elected to bat, casting Vicecaptain Watson straight into work amid speculation over his status as a specialist batsman after his decision to stop bowling for the near future. He shared partnerships of 89 with opener Aaron Finch (38) and 112 with No. 3 Phil Hughes (86) before mistiming a hook shot off Kemar Roach and being caught on

HIL:Mumbai crash out from semis race

MUMBAI: Struggling Mumbai Magicians slumped to their 10th defeat in eleven games when they lost 0-1 to Uttar Pradesh Wizards in a must-win game of the Hockey India League at the MHAMahindra Stadium on Tuesday. Magicians, kept alive in the tournament by the rule that a loss by a margin of less than two goals would still earn a point, could not be rescued from elimination despite earning another point. Wizards, thus, took the fourth remaining semifinal spot in the five-team tournament with their fourth win in 11 games for a tally of 27. The Wizards have one more game in hand against Delhi Waveriders and a win there will push them to third position in the league standings ahead of Punjab Warriors who have ended their round robin engagements with 29 points to their credit. The Magicians have another game in hand, against Ranchi Rhinos on Feb 7, but with only 15 points in their kitty, including one they earned on Tuesday, they are already out of the semifinal running. In the must-win game, Magicians showed intent only in the opening quarter before fading away against their determined set of rivals. Wizards even wasted a penalty stroke awarded to them, but emerged on top on the back of a cleverly taken penalty corner goal by veteran Australian Luke Doerner in the second quarter. In a fast-paced first quarter with lot of midfield play, the Magicians forced a penalty corner in the very first minute but their drag-flick king Sandeep Singh was foiled when a defender deflected his shot for a long corner. Then came a period when both the teams went on attack and counter-attack with their best chance to score coming late in the first quarter. A superb Magicians move initiated by the ebullient Satbir and Chinglensana Singh down the left side saw the return pass from the latter hit his teammate on the knee as he was waiting to deflect the ball in..

Australia's Shane Watson (R) plays a shot against Sri Lanka as Sri Lanka's wicket keeper Kumar Sangakkara looks the deep backward square boundary by Kieron Pollard, who also took two stunning outfield catches to help restrict Australia's late surge. Hughes started slowly and had a reprieve on 6, after facing 26 balls, when he edged Sunil Narine just past slip. George Bailey belted 44 from 22 balls before he pulled a Narine ball to deep mid-wicket. West Indies started aggressively, with the opening pair putting on 54 before Clint McKay had Devon Thomas (19) caught at cover by Hughes in the ninth over. Kieran Powell scored 47 from 49 balls and was batting comfortably before he topedged an attempted sweep off Maxwell and lobbed a legside catch to wicketkeeper Matt Wade, making the score 81-2. Darren and Dwayne Bravo (51 from 50 balls) combined in a 114-run stand to keep West Indies on track until Starc made the breakthrough that swung the match back in Australia's favor. He bowled Dwayne Bravo to trigger the late slide, with West Indies losing its last eight wickets for 95 runs. The fourth game is on Friday in Sydney

Asian plants may offer remedy for diabetes

LONDON: Two plants from South East Asia may have anti-diabetic properties and could help tackle obesity as well, believe British researchers. A team of researchers at the University of Greenwich plans to investigate Cassia auriculata and Cassia alata whose extracts could yield active ingredients for a remedy to diabetes which exists in two forms - Type 1 and Type 2. The former normally affects children, while type 2, which is most common in adults, (often diagnosed later in life) can be managed by diet, exercise and weight loss to some extent. The group had previously hit upon a constituent called kaempferol 3-Orutinosidehe from the extracts of one of the plants which was proven to be eight times more potent than the standard anti-diabetic drug acarbose. The researchers have also identified anti-oxidant properties of the plants which aids in diabetes treatment. "Our other most interesting finding is that many of the active ingredients from the Cassia auriculata plant work through a process called 'synergism' in other words, they work together to produce an effect greater than the sum of their individual effects," says Dr Solomon Habtemariam of the research team.

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