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

STUdenT aGe
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 6, 2013

JKENG/2012/41612 Vol. 2 No: 60

Mukul Sangma sworn-in as Meghalaya Chief Minister

Sir! 'Sahib' and 'ji' are respectable words

Japan eager to mend ties with South Korea

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PAGE 5

Dr. Manohar presents Economic Survey in LC

IN BRIEF

JAMMU: Minister of State for Finance and Planning, Dr. Manohar Lal Sharma today presented on the table of the House a copy of the Economic Survey for the year 2012-13.

Omar Abdullah breaks down over Baramulla boy's death in Assembly

JAMMU, MAR 5: The eyes of a visibly moved Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah turned moist on Tuesday in Jammu and Kashmir Assembly over the death of a boy in firing allegedly by security forces in Baramulla town. Tears rolled down Abdullah's eyes during his emotional address in the House following uproar by the opposition parties over the youth's death. Justifying the opposition party's walkout from the House, Abdullah said he was

CAG doubts judicious use of Rs 52,000 cr farm debt waiver scheme

NEW DELHI, MAR 5: Expressing serious concern over the implementation of Rs 52,000-crore farm debt waiver scheme, government auditor CAG on Tuesday said in several cases ineligible farmers were given benefit while deserving ones were left out. Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has also found instances of tampering of records and pulled up the Department of Financial Services (DFS) in the Finance Ministry for deficient monitoring of the multicrore scheme. "Overall, the Performance Audit revealed that in ... (22.32 per cent of cases test checked) there were lapses/errors which raised serious concern about the implementation of the scheme", said the CAG report tabled in Parliament today. The report deals with Agricultural Debt Waiver and Debt Relief Scheme (ADWDRS) 2008 under which 3.69 crore small and marginal farmers and 60 lakh other farmers were given debt relief to the extent of Rs 52,516 crore. The CAG report said in several cases "farmers who had taken loan for non-agricultural purposes or whose loans did not meet eligibility conditions, were given benefits under the scheme." It said several farmers who were eligible for the benefit under the scheme were not considered for loan waiver by the lending institutions. Besides other observations, the report said the Micro Finance Institutions (MFIs) were given benefit under the scheme in violation of the debt waiver guidelines. The banks, it said, also claimed undue benefits like penal interest, legal charges, and miscellaneous charges from the government. Under the contd on page 2

CM JUSTIFIES OPPOSITION WALKOUT

which claimed the youth's life. Abdullah said even he wanted to do what the members of opposition parties did in their reaction to the latest killing in the valley. However, being a chief minister he could not do that. Earlier in the day, Abdullah had said that Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) should be repealed from the places where army was not required in the state. He referred to

I am not Modi's replacement: Kejriwal

NEW DELHI: Amid reports that the Wharton School has invited Arvind Kejriwal as a replacement to Gujarat Chief Minister for a lecture, the Aam Aadami Party (AAM) leader on Tuesday said his address at the US management college has "absolutely nothing to do" with the BJP leader. The abrupt cancellation Sunday of the invitation to Modi to speak via videoconference at annual Wharton India Economic Forum in Philadelphia came after a war of words between Modi supporters and detractors. "I have not replaced anyone. contd on page 2

tired of giving answers to people on such incidents. Feigning ignorance about the incident details, he questioned the need for firing,

Manipuri activist Irom Sharmila, saying when she can fast for 12 years in support of her demand to repeal AFSPA, he too can continue fighting for his similar demand. A youth, identified as Tahir Sofi, was reportedly killed in clashes between protesters and security forces in Baramulla. The protest was part of separatist groups' Pulwama march call against the mysterious death of a Kashmiri student recently.

DSP's murder in UP echoes in Parliament

NEW DELHI: Both houses of Parliament were disrupted on Tuesday as members protested the petrol price hike and the killing of a police officer in Uttar Pradesh. The murder of deputy superintendent of police Zia-ul-Haq by a mob on Saturday rocked the Lok Sabha as BSP members created a furore over the issue. The lower house was first adjourned till noon and then when it assembled at 12pm, the ruckus continued leading to Inder Singh Namdhari, who was in the speaker's chair, adjourning the house for the day. As soon as the Lok Sabha assembled in the morning, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) members started raising the issue. In the Rajya Sabha too, BSP members trooped into the well demanding contd on page 2

MG -NREGA wage rate to be revised from April 1

NEW DELHI, MAR 5: The wage rates under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MG NREGA) are to be raised with effect from First of April. In a statement laid in Parliament today, Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh said the revised rates will be in force for one year till 31st of March 2014. He said the revision of wage rates took place in tune with the decisions taken at the inter-ministerial consultations in 2011. Ramesh said his ministry had issued a notification on 14th of January 2011 revising MGNREGA wage rates by linking it to the Consumer Price Index for Agricultural Labour.

CM pitches for political solution to J&K issues

JAMMU, MARCH 05: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah on Tuesday emphasized on speeding up of efforts to find an amicable solution to the political issues of the State. He said that there was an intense need to address to the political issues of the three different regions of the State comprising of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh in deference to their wishes. He mentioned that the task is tough but not impossible. "To move forward with the notion of a solution having approval of each and every citizen is just to live in

'TASK IS TOUGH BUT NOT IMPOSSIBLE'

a make belief world", he said adding that a solution with maximum support of people of all the regions of the State has to be found. "We have to strive for it", he emphasized and expressed the hope that the Union Government would address both domestic and international aspects of political issues of Jammu and Kashmir and move close to some befitting solution. Replying the debate on the motion of thanks to Governor for delivering speech to the members of both the Houses, the Chief Minister told Legislative Council that Jawaharlal Nehru and Late Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah like great leaders, in the past, focused on resolving this issue. "We should not lose heart. We should continue our efforts till we come close to some amicable and befitting political solution", he added. Omar Abdullah expressed gratitude to Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi and other Central leaders for extending full support to the

PAGE 7

Srinagar observes shutdown over student's death

SRINAGAR: Markets here remained closed to protest the death of a Kashmiri student in Hyderabad while a group of people clashed with the security forces on Tuesday. No separatist group had called for a shutdown in Srinagar. Separatists have called for a march to south Kashmir's Parigam village in Pulwama district, where the Kashmiri student who died under mysterious circumstances in Hyderabad was buried on Monday. Police and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel are deployed in full riot gear in south Kashmir areas to prevent the separatist march. In old city areas of Srinagar security personnel used tear gas canisters to disperse contd on page 2

Nasheed to be presented before court today

NEW DELHI, MAR 5: Former Maldivian President Mohamed Nasheed was on Tuesday arrested by police after a warrant was issued by a court here in connection with his trial over the arrest and subsequent detention of a judge during his rule. The arrest came less than a fortnight after Nasheed left the Indian High Commission where he was holed up for 11 days to escape two arrest warrants issued by the court earlier. "Nasheed has been arrested. He will be in police custody and will be presented before the court at 4 PM on Wednesday," Maldives President Mohamed Waheed's Press Secretary Masood Imad said. He added that Nasheed was taken into custody after the Hulhumale Magistrate Court ordered the police to produce him in court for a hearing today for his trial over the arrest and subsequent detention of Chief Criminal Judge Abdulla Mohamed. Media reports here said that the ex-president had been arrested from his residence and taken to Dhoonidhoo detention facility. Clashes have been reported between opposition supporters and police deployed near the ex-president's residence. Nasheed, 45, sought refuge at the High Commission for 11 days to evade arrest following his failure to attend court for what he called a "politically motivated" trial to bar him from contesting in the presidential election slated for September 7. He left the diplomatic premises on February 23 after an Indian envoy dispatched by India to diffuse the political standoff won assurances from Maldivian authorities that Nasheed would be free to campaign for presidential elections. The ex-president himself had said there was a "fragile" understanding between India and the Maldives government contd on page 2

Jammu and Kashmir in its efforts to carry forward development agenda and restore peace. On AFSPA, Omar Abdullah said that he will continue to advocate its gradual removal from the areas where there is no need for it and that of Army. On Model Police Act, Omar Abdullah said that the Supreme Court of India has directed for implementing Model Police Act in the States to make the existing Acts more people-friendly and transparent. He said there was also need to have a reformed contd on page 2

Court acquits Varun Gandhi RSS thinks Katju's views on in hate speech case India, Pak partly correct
PILIBHIT, MAR 5: A local court on Tuesday acquitted Bharatiya Janata Party MP Varun Gandhi in a hate speech case filed against him during the 2009 Lok Sabha polls. The order was passed by Chief Judicial Magistrate Abdul Quayyum here. Two hate speech cases were filed against Varun in connection with 2009 elections. While he was acquitted by the same court on February 27 in the case lodged in Kotwali police station, today's order related to the case filed in Barkhera police station. A case of violence outside the district jail against him had been referred to the Sessions court, according to the prosecution. In a statement, 33-year-old Varun expressed his faith in the judiciary contd on page 2 THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A leading RSS ideologue on Tuesday backed Press Council of India chairman Justice Markandey Katju's reported observation that "Pakistan is an artificial nation and a failed state" but said it was difficult to accept his entire views on the subject made during a lecture here. "Justice Katju's remark that Pakistan is an artificial nation and a failed state is quite evident from the happenings in Pakistan and Bangladesh," according to P Parameswaran who is author and director of the RSS intellectual and cultural forum Bharatheeya Vichara Kendram. Seizing on Katju's speech at the Institute of Parliamentary Affairs yesterday, he said in a statement that the views voiced by him were bound to raise many an eyebrow among large sections of people in Kerala and rest of the country. "It remains to be seen how the contd on page 2

Tender apology for anti-Omar comments: NC demands from PDP

JAMMU: uproarious scenes were witnessed on Tuesday in Assembly as members of ruling NC demanded apology from opposition PDP for its comments against Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, following which the House was adjourned for half an hour. As the House assembled this morning, Speaker Mubarak Gul asked the members to allow smooth functioning of the proceedings and the Question Hour which had been disrupted for the past two days. However, National Conference members protested against the comments made yesterday by Peoples Democratic Party member and former Deputy Chief Minister Muzaffar Hussain Baig. Raising anti-PDP slogans, NC members- Bimla Luthra, Nasir Aslam Wani, Aijaz Jaan, Javed Dar stood up from their treasury benches and demanded apology contd on page 2

Delhi gang-rape victim to be honoured in US as woman of courage

WASHINGTON: The victim of Delhi gang rape Nirbhaya who rallied women around India and their fight against gender-based violence, is among ten extraordinary women being honoured on Friday with the Secretary of State's International Women of Courage Award. First Lady Michelle Obama will join Secretary of State John Kerry as he presents the annual award recognizing women around the globe who have shown exceptional courage and leadership in advocating for women's rights and empowerment, often at great personal risk. Since the inception of this award in 2007, the State Department has honoured 67 women from 45 different countries. Nirbhaya "Fearless," champion for justice (India) will be awarded posthumously. The courageous 23-yearold physiotherapy intern whose brutal gang rape on a moving bus in Delhi in December inspired widespread protests, has become the foundation of a popular movement to end violence against women in India," the citation noted. "For millions of Indian women, her personal ordeal, perseverance to fight for justice, and her family's continued bravery is helping to lift the stigma and vulnerability that drive violence against women," it said. "Nirbhaya" bravely recorded two police statements while in the hospital, repeatedly called for justice against the six attackers, and stated her will to survive to see justice done, the citation recalled. "Like many Indians inspired by her struggle, contd on page 2

Michelle Obama to attend the function

China's defence budget makes India nervous

NEW DELHI: An over 10% rise n China's defence budget is bound to make India nervous as the funds made available for India' defence spending will not be able to match China's in view of the severe financial constraint that the country is facing presently. In Beijing, the new president, Xi Jinping, began his stewardship of the party and country by raising defence budget by 10.7% to 740.6 billion yuan ($119 billion). Last year, China's budget stood at $106 billion. Indian defence officials say China's actual defence spends are almost 60% higher than their declared official budget. In contrast, while the Indian defence budget was hiked only marginally to Rs 203,672 crore ($37.86 billion), the less reported aspect is that the spending is either underutilized or cut by the finance ministry halfway into the year. For instance, in December, 2012, finance minister P Chidambaram had cut the defence capital outlay by Rs 10,000 crore (almost $2 billion). Chinese defence expenditure is also spurning a cycle of innovation, increasing employment and improvements in industrial capabilities within China, because of the massive indigenization by Chinese military over the last two decades. Indian military continues to buy almost 70% of its military equipment from abroad, and no noticeable effort is being made to increase indigenization. However, China will be spending much more on internal security threats, at 769.1 billion yuan, according to China's official figures. India's spend on internal security in the coming fiscal is a paltry Rs 52,264 crore ($ 9.86 billion), showing perhaps a greater sense of confidence among Indians, unlike China, whose massive spends could indicate that the leadership is actually afraid of its people. Beijing has listed a growing number of mass incidents of unrest as being the reason for such large outlays. In 2010, China registered 90,000 such incidents, and has refused to divulge figures for the past couple of years. In the past two decades, China has carried out a massive reversal of its dependence on imports. According to Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), China, which was the largest recipient of arms exports between 2002 and 2006, fell to fourth place in 2007-11. While India has climbed to become the world's largest recipient of arms, accounting for 10% of global contd on page 2

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STUDENT AGE WEDNESDAY, MARCH 6, 2013

DEFENCE/CONTD

10% boost in China's defence budget gives India jitters

NEW DELHI: China significantly upped its defence spending by over 10%, a rise that will be watched nervously in India. Particularly, since India's own defence budget is constrained not only by decreased funding, but also by a distinct lack of strategic planning. In Beijing, the new president, Xi Jinping, began his stewardship of the party and country by raising defence budget by 10.7% to 740.6 billion yuan ($119 billion). Last year, China's budget stood at $106 billion. Indian defence officials say China's actual defence spends are almost 60% higher than their declared official budget. In contrast, while the Indian defence budget was hiked only marginally to Rs 203,672 crore ($37.86 billion), the less reported aspect is that the spend is either underutilized or cut by thefinance ministry halfway into the year. For instance, in December, 2012, finance minister P Chidambaram had cut the defence capital outlay by Rs 10,000 crore (almost $2 billion). Chinese defence expenditure is also spurning a cycle of innovation, increasing employment and improvements in industrial capabilities within China, because of the massive indigenization by Chinese military over the last two decades. Indian military continues to buy almost 70% of its military equipment from abroad, and no noticeable effort is being made to increase indigenization. However, China will be spending much more on internal security threats, at 769.1 billion yuan, according to China's official figures. India's spend on internal security in the coming fiscal is a paltry Rs 52,264 crore ($ 9.86 billion), showing perhaps a greater sense of confidence among Indians, unlike China, whose massive spends could indicate that the leadership is actually afraid of its people. Beijing has listed a growing number of mass incidents of unrest as being the reason for such large outlays. In 2010, China registered 90,000 such incidents, and has refused to divulge figures for the past couple of years. In the past two decades, China has carried out a massive reversal of its dependence on imports. According to Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), China, which was the largest recipient of arms exports between 2002 and 2006, fell to fourth place in 2007-11. While India has climbed to become the world's largest recipient of arms, accounting for 10% of global arms imports in 200711, according to SIPRI. As China steps up its purchases from domestic industries it is set to kick off several technological breakthroughs, nurture a robust R&D culture and power a powerful military-industrial complex. The worry is India's budgeted defence expenditure is only 1.79% of the projected GDP for 2013-14, much less than the 3% being demanded by the armed forces and strategic experts for years to ensure requisite deterrence against both China and Pakistan. In fact, it's even worse than the 1.9% figure of 2012-13. India's defence budget of Rs 203,672 crore ($37.86 billion) is a 5.3% jump over last year's allocation of Rs 193,408 crore and a 14% hike over the revised estimate of Rs 178,504 crore. India also spends more on paying salaries and on day-to-day costs than on actually procuring new weapons. Such expenditure stands at Rs 116,931 crore, surpassing capital expenditure at Rs 86,741 crore, reflecting a poor "teeth-to-tail'' ratio. A military expert said, "Exactly a year ago, the then Army chief General V K Singh warned of huge operational gaps in war-fighting capabilities...the situation remains the same."

Navy chopper crashes off Vizag coast, two missing

Turkey, Pakistan hold joint air, naval forces exercises

ISLAMABAD: The Turkish and Pakistani military forces have initiated two joint military exercises, a naval operations exercise and an air force cooperation drill, beginning on Monday. According to a statement released by the General Staff, the combined naval military exercise code-named "Aman-2013," being held at the invitation of the Pakistani naval forces, will be conducted from March 4 to 8 in the Indian Ocean. The aim of the exercise is "to show a common determination against terrorist and criminal events in a naval operating area" and "to contribute to international peace and stability," as it was described in the official statement. The aerial operation, called "Indus Viper-2013," which will be held at the Mushaf Air Base in the Punjab province of Pakistan, is to take place between March 4 and 18. The goal of the operation is "to contribute to the development of military cooperation between Turkish and Pakistani air forces, to develop coordination between the participating elements of the operation and to improve information and experience sharing on different types of aircraft and armament."

Vietnam, Russia to improve defence ties

HANOI:Vietnam and Russia Tuesday held ministerial-level talks to raise bilateral defence ties to a new height. "At the meeting, the two sides discussed issues of implementing the consensus reached by the two countries' leaders, exchange of visits by high-ranking military officials, cooperation in military engineering, human resources training, and weapons purchase," said Vietnamese Defence MinisterPhung Quang Thanh during a press briefing after the meeting. The two sides also agreed on establishment of a deputy ministerial level defence had just graduated from a physiotherapy programme when her life was cut short. "In the wake of her death just two weeks after the attack, India's active civil society began advocating heavily for legislation and social programmes to stem gender-based violence in all its forms and to ensure higher rape conviction rates and gender-sensitive law enforcement and justice systems," it said. Thanks to these efforts, the Indian government has begun to take action to follow through on those demands, the citation noted. dialogue, Thanh added.The two ministers also discussed about cooperation at the biennial regional multilateral defence forum ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting Plus (ADMM+). Thanh said that Vietnam wanted to invite veterans of Russia and other former Soviet Union countries to visit Vietnam in order to strengthen relations. The two sides have worked on issues which are vital to the relationship between the two countries, creating stronger impetus to the cooperation in specific areas, said Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu. forces who also responded by using batons. Authorities have not imposed any restrictions on pedestrian and vehicular movement in Srinagar. Reports of protesters trying to break the security force barricades have also come in from some south Kashmir areas of Anantnag and Pulwama districts. Mudasir Ahmad Malla, a Ph.D scholar in English and Foreign Languages University was found hanging in his room in a hostel room in Hyderabad Sunday. The body of the student was brought to his native Parigam village in Pulwama district Monday where thousands attended his funeral prayers. The separatists are alleging the student was murdered while the state government maintains it has been a case of suicide as per the preliminary investigations by Hyderabad police. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has said there is no mystery about the death of the student since it was a case of suicide. He also said the details of the incident have been shared with the family of the student and could be made public if the family permitted.

HYDERABAD:An Indian Navy chopper crashed off the Visakhapatnam harbour in Andhra Pradesh causing injuries to two persons on Tuesday. While two of the four crew members were rescued, two others were missing. According to officials, the single-engine Chetak helicopter crashed in the Bay of Bengal about 10 km from the coast south of Vizag. Officials said the aircraft used for logistic support and surveillance - was on a routine sortie when it developed some technical problem. The authorities were looking into the matter considering it to be an accidental crash. Coast Guard and Vizag Port Trust were searching for the two missing crew mem-

bers. Navy has pressed into service its helicopters and ships to search for the missing personnel, they said. The Navy has ordered a Board of Inquiry to investigate the reasons behind the crash of the light utility chopper, they said. The Cheetah and Chetak choppers are Indian license built versions of the French Arospatiale Alouette II and Arospatiale Alouette III and are the vintage of the 60s and the 70s. They are the mainstay of the armed forces for ferrying small groups of personnel and light loads. The Navy has already initiated the process for acquiring 56 new light choppers with twin-engines for replacing the vintage choppers.

Contd. from page 1...

CAG doubts judicious....
scheme, banks were supposed to bear these charges themselves. Referring to the issue tampering of records, CAG suggested DFS should review such cases and take "stringent action" against erring officials and banks. easily absorbed in open job market. On Power, Omar Abdullah said that various hydro-electric projects have been launched in the State to address power deficit. He said similar attention has been given to upgrade transmission and distribution network. On return of Kashmir Migrants, Omar Abdullah said that his government would take all measures to restore the sense of security in them so that they would voluntarily return to their native place The Chief Minister also referred to the problems of PAK, PoK, 1965 and 1971 Jammu Refugees and said that the nature of issues confronting these categories of refugees are different requiring different methodology to address them. He said that government is alive to their problems and are being tackled separately and in the relevant legal framework. The Chief Minister conveyed his thanks to the Governor for delivering address to both the Houses of Legislature at the beginning of the session.

CM pitches for...
Police Act in force in the State, as such, a Draft Act was formulated. "Government is not tabling this Act in the Legislative Houses at present. It has been put on website for public comments. On aftermath of Afzal Guru's hanging, the Chief Minister said that he had no other option but to impose restrictions in the Valley to safeguard the lives of people. "Imposition of curfew was my compulsion to control the situation and safeguard the lives of people. On Panchayats, Omar Abdullah said that his government is actively working with the Central Government for providing honorarium and group insurance to the Panchayat members adding that the strengthening of security grid, police patrol, identification of vulnerable belts and area domination is being done to ensure safety of Panches and Sarpanches. Omar Abdullah said that the Block Council Elections of Panchayats could not be held despite issuance of date sheet because the issues of reservation for women, schedule caste and schedule tribe arouse and various sections of opinion raised this point vehemently. "We are working to make legislation in this regard", he said adding that Urban Local Body elections were delayed due to heavy tourist turn over and these are also on slate. Listing security, unemployment, corruption and electric supply four important challenges before the government, Omar Abdullah said that his government has concentrated attention on all these issues and each one is being fully attended. The Chief Minister said that in order to address unemployment problem in a comprehensive manner, his government implemented SKEWPY, gave new Employment Policy, provided allowance to unemployed youth under VSA scheme and put in place many initiatives pertaining to enhancing employability and upgrading skills of youth to get

DSP's murder in UP ...

president's rule in Uttar Pradesh. Samajwadi Party members followed them, demanding a rollback in the petrol price hike.

Nasheed to be ...
that prompted him to leave the Indian mission. However, the Maldivian government has repeatedly denied striking any deal with India for enabling Nasheed's exit from the Indian mission. Ministry of External Affairs had on February 23 issued a statement saying, "It is hoped that with this development the former President will again resume his social and political life", and maintained that there was no deal between New Delhi and Male.

Court acquits Varun....

and welcomed the decision of the court. "This has been a long and hard fought battle for justice. I welcome the court's decision in vindicating me. I am deeply grateful to those who stood by and believed in me through this difficult time. "I shall continue working for a strong and united India," he said.

supporters of the partition, especially the Muslim league, respond to Katju's prediction that within 20-25 years India and Pakistan will be reunited," he said. Referring to strains among different sections and regions in Pakistan, he said the objective of All India Muslim League under Jinnah of creating an Islamic nation had miserably failed to materialise. In contrast, Muslims in Hindu majority India had co-existed with the majority community in "a harmonious and peaceful atmosphere, barring a few relatively minor and sporadic incidents," he said. "Justice Katju deserves congratulations for his courageous statement that reunion between the two countries alone can bring about lasting peace in this region. But scholars of history will find it difficult to subscribe to his views that India is largely a nation of immigrants," Parameswaran said. The theory of Aryan invasion floated by the imperialist historians in pursuance of their 'Divide and Rule' policy had been totally rejected by various researchers, he said. "It is true that India is a land of diversity but it is not true that the diversity is due to waves of immigration. It is a false reading of history," the Sangh ideologue said. Objecting to justice Katju's view that it was Akbar and Nehru who deserved credit for India's unity, Parameswaran said centuries before Akbar was born, it was the Sankaracharya who established four Mutts in the four corners of India and demonstrated that culturally and spiritually India is one. Mahatma Gandhi also in his book 'Hind Swaraj' had stated the practice of pilgrimage of people from one part of the country to the other was instituted by our ancestors in order to strengthen and preserve the unity of India. Swami Vivekananda was the personification of India`s unity and it was he who inspired even Gandhiji and Nehru to fight for India`s freedom. "It is unfortunate that a person of the standing and understanding of justice Katju should have turned a blind eye to these facts," he added.

China's defence budget....

arms imports in 2007-11, according to SIPRI. As China steps up its purchases from domestic industries it is set to kick off several technological breakthroughs, nurture a robust R&D culture and power a powerful military-industrial complex. The worry is India's budgeted defence expenditure is only 1.79% of the projected GDP for 2013-14, much less than the 3% being demanded by the armed forces and strategic experts for years to ensure requisite deterrence against both China and Pakistan. In fact, it's even worse than the 1.9% figure of 2012-13. India's defence budget of Rs 203,672 crore ($37.86 billion) is a 5.3% jump over last year's allocation of Rs 193,408 crore and a 14% hike over the revised estimate of Rs 178,504 crore. India also spends more on paying salaries and on day-to-day costs than on actually procuring new weapons. Such expenditure stands at Rs 116,931 crore, surpassing capital expenditure at Rs 86,741 crore, reflecting a poor "teeth-to-tail'' ratio. A military expert said, "Exactly a year ago, the then Army chief General V K Singh warned of huge operational gaps in war-fighting capabilities...the situation remains the same."

Tender apology for ....

from PDP and walked into well of the House amid protests. "This is not the constitutional decorum that a senior member will use foul language against the Chief Minister. We demand an apology from him", Wani said. As they continued to raise the slogans- 'Mafi Maango, Mafi Maango', PDP members led by Mehbooba Mufti shouted back'Fansi dekar lash nai wapas karte ho' (you hang but do not return the body for last rites) in an obvious reference to Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru. Amid noisy scenes and verbal duels between the two sides, the Speaker asked both the sides to take seats and allow the House to run. Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Mir Saifullah said that all should maintain decorum of the House and show respect to the post of the Chief Minister and refrain from speaking unparliamentary language. Saifullah was supported by Minister for Rural Development Ali Mohammad Sagar, who demanded an apology from the leader of the opposition over the issue and warned that the insult to the CM will not be tolerated. BJP and JKNPP members

termed it as a drama scripted by NC and PDP and called an end to it so that peoples problems are taken up in the House. As the tempers ran high between PDP and NC amid pandemonium, the House was adjourned by the Speaker for half an hour. As the House reassembled, the Speaker said that when Baig will return to the House, the issue of apology would be taken up as NC members continued to press for apology. As Baig entered the House, NC members shouted slogans. It was countered by the PDP members. Then Baig stood up and alleged that Chief Minister termed PDP as "Maut Ke Saudagar" (merchants of death) and said that if CM takes his words back, he will also take back his words. Baig said, "all the politicians are daily wagers-starting from me -- all the members sitting here in the House are daily wagers for six years-- what is wrong in this". However, Saifullah countered the charges by denying the allegations by Baig. He said that Baig has himself accepted that he has used unparliamentary language against the Chief Minister and the issue is now resolved.

District Hospital Udhampur from 16th to 20th March 2013 between 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily. According to the Director Rotary Eye & ENT Hospital, Dr. S.P Sharma, the Eye, ENT and Dental patients who have been screened for surgical procedure will be operated at Rotary Eye & ENT Hospital, Housing Colony Udhampur. Besides Gynaecology, Orthopaedic and General Surgeries will be done at District Hospital Udhampur. Moreover the Urology and Plastic Surgery patients who have been screened for surgical procedure will be operated at Serv Sidhi Nursing Home Udhampur. Patients suffering with Cardiac, Kidney, Oncology (Cancer), Neurology, Corneal diseases requiring transplant, Retinal Detachment requiring retinal detachment surgery and other serious diseases will be screened at Rotary Eye & ENT Hospital, Housing Colony Udhampur on 23rd & 24th March 2013 and surgery will be operated at PGI Chandigarh.

ADMISSION BOOKING 2013

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

Mega Multispecialty Camp from Mar 16

UDHAMPUR, MARCH 05Rotary Foundation in collaboration with Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India, Government of Jammu & Kashmir and Rotary Clubs of J & K are organizing 9-day Mega Multispecialty Medical check-up and surgical camp at different locations which include Rotary Eye & ENT Hospital Housing Colony Udhampur, Govt. District Hospital Udhampur, and Serv Sidhi Nursing Home Udhampur from March 16, 2013. The patient suffering with Eye diseases, ENT, Dental, Gynaecology, Urology, Orthopaedic, General surgery, Plastic surgery, Cardiac and other serious diseases will be examined and treated during the camp. The screening of patients suffering with Eye, ENT, Dental, Urology, Plastic, Medicine, Paediatrics and Skin etc will be done at Rotary Eye & ENT Hospital Housing Colony Udhampur while the screening of patients suffering with Gynaecology, Orthopaedic and General surgery will be done at

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I am not Modi's ....

They were in touch with me for 10-15 days. The decision to not invite Modi was taken one or two days back," he said. Kejriwal will deliver his lecture via videoconference March 23, the day he is set to sit on an indefinite hunger strike against rising power and water bills in Delhi.

Delhi gang-rape victim....

she was born into a working class family that invested their hopes and life savings into her dream to pursue medicine. She

Omega International

Srinagar observes ....

the protest march. The protesters hurled stones at the security

RSS thinks Katju's.....

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

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Rs. 138.74 lakhs incurred on execution of 5 WSS at Karnah
KUPWARA, MARCH 05: An amount of Rs. 138.74 lakhs have been expended on the execution of 5 water supply schemes at Karnah Sub Division of district Kupwara. An amount of Rs. 219.84 lakhs have been sanctioned for execution of these schemes. This was given out in a meeting of engineers and officers of PHE department while reviewing the PHE sector under the Chair of Sub Divisional Magistrate, Karnah, Zahoor Ahmad Mir.It was informed that 2 schemes have been completed while three are in progress, nearing completion. The completed schemes shall provide safe drinking water facility to 8354 souls of the Sub Division. It was also given out that the Chinipora water supply scheme is being carried out under NABARD.

Farmers Exposure tour flagged off

UDHAMPUR, MARCH 05: A group of 36 farmers were sent by Department of Agriculture Udhampur today on threeday exposure visit outside state under Centrally Sponsored Scheme "Support to State Extension Reforms" (ATMA) to attend 'Annual Pusa Krishi Vigyan Mela" at IARI, New Delhi. Joint Director Planning, Udhampur, Rakesh Jamwal flagged off the tour to New Delhi. While speaking on the occasion, Jamwal, applauded the efforts of the agriculture department and said that these exposure visits are the need of the hour to apprise the farming community regarding the latest techniques in the field of agriculture. He added that the farmers should take the advantage of these visits and adopt all the technical know-how learnt by them in their fields to uplift their economic status. He also commended the efforts of the department in promoting Agriculture activities in rural areas of the district. Chief Agriculture Officer Udhampur, K.S Sambyal advised the farmers to take full benefit of these exposure visits and do agriculture on the new techniques as this will improve not only their income but also uplift their socio-economic condition and Farmers of the area appreciated the move of the department and shown keen interest in the "Exposure visits" and desired that such types of events should be organized in future so that farmers get an opportunity to learn better farming practices.

NEWS IN BOX

J&K CM should not have allowed Guru's execution: PDP

JAMMU: The Opposition People's Democratic Party on Monday said Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah should not have allowed the execution of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru in view of its adverse impact on political and psychological fronts in the Valley. "No Chief Minister, other than someone belonging to Sheikh family, would have allowed the execution of Afzal Guru in view of its tremendous fallout on the political and psychological fronts of Kashmir", senior PDP leader and former Deputy Chief Minister, Muzaffar Hussain Baig told reporters here. "The Sheikh family has been given the job of hangman exclusively as is established by the execution of Afzal and before him Maqbool Bhat", Baig alleged. Baig, who was disallowed from speaking on Guru issue in the state Assembly, said the CM has lowered the prestige and value of his position. "He is an insult to the state of Jammu and Kashmir and has brought Chief Minister's position into disrepute", he said. Baig said, the CM in reply to the debate on the adjournment motion ironically claimed credit for clamping curfew, banning newspapers and unleashing repression in the Valley, adding "as if he has done a favour to all us, it looks". "Guru's hanging was 'selective' and 'out of turn'. Murderers of former Chief Minister of Punjab Biant Singh and the former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi though convicted earlier have been spared so far", he questioned adding Guru's hanging raises questions about the central government's intent and impartiality.

Sagar reviews implementation of NBA, attaches DPO Udhampur for poor performance
JAMMU, MARCH 5: Taking strong note of poor implementation of the centrally sponsored scheme Nirmal Bharat Abhiyan (NBA) in Udhampur, the Minister for Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, Ali Mohammad Sagar today attached the Panchayat Officer of the District to administrative department. The Minister issued the directions while reviewing the achievements recorded in the Jammu region districts in the implementation of centrally sponsored, Nirmal Bharat Abhiyan(NBA)- a scheme aiming at to improve sanitation in the rural and far flung areas by constructing latrines including community, individual household and at the educational Institutions. The scheme works are executed at Panchayat level and is implemented through the district Panchayat officers. Launched in the state in the

Daylong livestock camp held at Kanganhall, Ang

ANANTNAG, MARCH 05: A daylong Camp was organized under centrally sponsored scheme National Project on Cattle and Buffalo Breeding (NPCBB) at village Kanganhall here today. The camp was attended by large number of farmers along with their livestock. The livestock was examined by a team of doctors and necessary treatment and medication was provided on spot to the livestock. Free of cost medicines and dosing material was also provided to all the farmers during the camp. The farmers hailed the efforts of the department and hoped that such camps should be organized in future also.

Kargil stranded passengers airlifted

JAMMU MARCH 05: Minister of State for Science Technology and Information Technology, Feroz Ahmad Khan, today expressed gratitude to Indian Air Force for airlifting the stranded passengers of Kargil in IL-76 Aircraft from Jammu to Leh, Leh to Srinagar and Srinagar to Leh. The Minister hoped that the authorities would also arrange air lifting of the remaining stranded passengers as early as possible.

Minister for Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, Ali Mohammad Sagar chairing a meeting at Jammu. year 2009, the Rural Development department has recorded an expenditure of Rs 13.77 crore, till ending February 2013, against this year's total allocations of Rs 26.45 crore. Reviewing the district wise achievements, the Minister constituted a committee headed by Commissioner Secretary, RDD to conduct on the spot inspection of the works done in each district under the scheme. The Committee was asked to furnish the report to the Minister's office soon after completing the inspection in all districts mentioning both physical and financial achievements. The Minister said that the officers of the districts with good performance would be honoured by Nirmal Gram Purskar. The Minister asked the officers to put in best efforts to ensure effective implementation of the scheme so that the targeted lot gets the desired benefits. He warned the officers against any laxity and said that the quality of the work on the ground would be benchmark for assessing their performance. He asked them to give their best or face music as the government would not compromise at the cost of the interest of the general public. However, the Minister lauded the overall working of the department and appreciated the work done by it during the last three years.

Awareness camp on packaging techniques held

POONCH, MARCH 05: An awareness camp on Scientific packaging techniques of Horticulture and agriculture products for farmers and orchardists of Jhulas was organised by the Department of Horticulture today. Experts of the department highlighted various beneficial schemes launched under National Horticulture Board (NHB) Mission, a centrally sponsored programme with object to enhance income of farmers by using new scientific techniques of packaging and sale of their products, beside imparting training regarding quality, grading and packing of fruits and vegetables experts of Horticulture Department displayed technique regarding preservation of C-Grade fruits for making Jams, Jelly, Sauce, pickled, squash etc. Assistant Grading and Marketing Officers Manager-cumchemist of Horticulture Department, Sarpanch, Panch and farmers of the area attended the camp.

People bound to suffer during protests: IG CRPF

SRINAGAR: Claiming that CRPF is people and media friendly, Inspector General CRPF, S.S.Sandhu Tuesday denounced the allegations that Para-military personnel are involved in excesses. "We take strict action against the erring personnel whenever we receive any complaint from the people. Excesses committed by few can't prove that all CRPF personnel are involved. There are better and responsible officers and personnel in our force who are media and people friendly," Sandhu told reporters on the sidelines of a function in South Kashmir's Islamabad district. He said sometimes situation demands strict action and people usually suffer then. "It is wrong to say that CRPF personnel indulge in smashing window panes and doors or beat people at random. Stone can come from any side and when you are dealing with law and order problem, people are bound to suffer," he said. Inspector General CRPF, S.S.Sandhu calimed that CRPF has got some important clues about the attack on IRP personnel in Handwara. "Our personnel are on the job and soon the assailants will get exposed," he said

Div Com distributes relief

JAMMU, MARCH 05: Regional Red Cross Society, Jammu under the Chairmanship of Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, Pardeep Gupta distributed various relief items under the supervision of Secretary, RRCS, Jammu, Anil K Padha which included 10 tents for the residents of Panchari of district Udhampur where some families have been displaced because of the land slides. The other relief material was supplied to the inhabitants of village Rattankandhari of district Kishtwar which included 60 blankets, 25 kitchen sets, 100 folding mattresses, 100 warmer clothes. Cash assistance was also provided 7 patients to the tune of Rs. 41843. A cash prize of Rs.21,000 was also handed over to Ghari Lal S/o Chuni Lal R/o Mohalla Rathua Gho Manhasan on account of being recipient of 3rd prize winner of Red Cross Raffle Draw.

Tara inaugurates A.K.Vidyamandir and Premier Institute branch

JAMMU: In a simple but impressive function A.K.Vidyamandir and Premier Institute Jammu opened a branch on Exchange Road, Kachi Chawni on 5th of March 2013. The Hon'ble Dy. Chief Minister Jenab Tara Chand and Hon'ble Minister of State of Higher Education Dr. Manohar Lal Sharma inaugurated the institute and giving them company were a galaxy of senior bureaucrats, officers of the State Government, parents of aspiring students and a large number of students.In spite of the heavy schedule the Hon'ble Ministers had on account of the ongoing assembly, they graced the function underscoring the point that they would blaze the trail in promoting education in its best form. Momentoes were presented to the guests by the promoters of AKV Jammu as a mark of love and respect. Grateful parents briefed the Hon'ble Ministers about the efforts put in by Premier Institute in promoting value based academic excellence under a watchful eye. The level of

Dir SE visits various exam centres

JAMMU, MARCH 05: Director School Education, Jammu, Hilal Ahmad Parray alongwith Personnel Officer, Dr Narupa Rai Directorate of School Education Jammu visited a number of middle standard examination centres of Jammu district here today. He visited centre No.1265, 1262, 1236 and 1237 in Anuradha HSS Barnai, Government Girls HSS Muthi and Government Girls HSS Sarwal wherein students of various schools of Jammu district of class 8th are appearing for annual middle standard examination. Director School Education directed the staff engaged for examination duties to ensure that the examination is conducted in a free and fair manner.

RAC settles 16 cases in Bandipora

BANDIPORA, MARCH 05: In order to finalize the rent assessment of various Government offices, a meeting of Rent Assessment Committee (RAC) was held under the Chairmanship of District Development Commissioner, Bandipora, Manzoor Ahmad Lone here today. As many as 16 rent cases of Education, Public Health Engineering, R&B, Social Welfare, Agriculture and other departments were settled during the meeting. Among others, Additional Deputy Commissioner, Bandipora and Superintendent of Police, Bandipora were present in the meeting.

Dy. Chief Minister Jenab Tara Chand along with others inaugurating A.K.Vidyamandir and Premier Institute branch at Jammu. involvement of the management of the two institutes in reaching out to all was noted with pride. While complimenting the promoters of A.K.Vidyamandir & Premier Institute in its endeavor to provide a competitive ambience to students of the state the Hon'ble Dy. CM and Hon'ble Minister of State for Higher Education also expressed their satisfaction on the efforts made by A.K.V and Premier Institute in helping students of marginalized communities particularly from far off and backward districts by providing free reading material, scholarship schemes and fee waivers. The scholarship scheme offered by A.K.V was a point of reflection. Almost everybody lauded the work done by A.K.V Jammu & Premier Institute in bettering the educational ambience in the city of temples and also exhorted them to move to smaller areas. They thanked them for all that they had done for the students of Jammu and requested them to keep their efforts moving on in this direction

Court awards six months for outraging modesty of a women

SRINAGAR: The Court of Judicial Magistrate 1st Class sentenced two out of three accused for outraging modesty of a women in their native village at Bimyar , Boniyar . The court also imposed a fine of Rs 1500 on the accused which would be paid to the victim as compensation. The court of Judicial Magistrate 1st Class Boniyar Aadil Mushtaq Ahmad Banday convicted the accused under other sections of RPC also which included 323 and 341 of RPC. All the punishments awarded to the accused were directed to be run concurrently and the convicts were ordered to be lodged in District Jail Baramulla

Discussion on Governor's Address concludes

JAMMU, MARCH 05: The discussion on the Governor's Address concluded today. Rashpal Singh demanded establishing more Polytechnic Colleges, factories to create job opportunities for the unemployed youth of the Rajouri. He also sought tapping of tourism potential in the twin districts of Rajouri and Poonch. He also demanded launching of more welfare schemes for Gujjar and Bakerwals. Mohammad Sharief Niaz lauded the steps taken by the Government to restore peace and order in the State. He appealed all members cutting across party affiliations to make collective efforts to maintain sustained peace for the overall development of all three regions of the State. Niaz appreciated the legislations brought for improving the basic services for the people, adding that the legislations, particularly the PSGA, and RTI are best tools to ensure services to the people in a time bound manner. He demanded opening new health centres and upgradation of power infrastructure in his constituency. Jugal Kishore while opposing the Governor's Address said that Government's policies are not people friendly and common man is hardly managing two times meals. He said prices of essential commodities have risen and Government has no control at all. He demanded addressing the issues of PoK/West Pakistani refugees on priority. He also sought review of present recruitment policy. Muzaffar Hussain Baig said the Government has no concrete policy to tackle basic issues related to the welfare of people of the State. He demanded implementation of recommendations of various Working Groups constituted by the Government of India on Jammu and Kashmir. He also sought revocation of AFSPA from the State. He sought a comprehensive policy for development of tourism infrastructure in the State, adding that the State should take up with the Centre for a comprehensive financial package for developing this vital sector. He also demanded revision in relief to migrants. Syed Aga Ruhulla Mehdi asked the Government to concentrate on consolidation of infrastructure to reap the benefits of various schemes. He also stressed on all the parties to make united efforts to restore complete peace in the State, which is pre-requisite for the overall development and welfare of the people. M.Y. Tarigami maintained that Governor's Address is clueless on important issues confronting the State. He said Government has not reflected any progress of Rehabilitation of those youth who crossed over to PoK and wanted to come back. Government has also not clarified about holding of BDC/Local Bodies elections which is over-due in the State. He also demanded a comprehensive employment policy for the unemployed youth. He also sought probe of utilization of funds meant for Tribal people. Molvi Iftikhar Ansari alleged discrimination in distribution of funds for various development projects. Prof. Chaman Lal Gupta demanded enhancement of scale of Government ration. He said NBCC and ERA have failed to achieve the targets in time and entire city has been dug and not been restored for many months. He demanded early holding of Local Bodies elections in the State. He also demanded streamlining of LoC trade to achieve the objective of this facility. Aijaz Jan supported the Address and appreciated the performance of the Government.

Transmission line of 132 KV LassiporaShopian to be test charged on March 07

SRINAGAR, MARCH 05: According to Executive Engineer, Transmission Line Construction Division-II, Power Development Department, Srinagar, this is for information of general public that 132 KV Lassipora-Shopian Transmission Line passing through Villages Lassipora, Ahagam, Nazimpora, Alowpora, Sheikhpora, Doomwani, Shermal, Balpora, Gunawpora and Kanipora is going to be test charged on March 07, 2013 onwards.

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Site identified for construction of GDC Sunderbani: Manohar
JAMMU: The Minister of State for Higher Education, Dr. Manohar Lal Sharma informed the House that the concerned authorities of the Revenue department have identified three alternate sites for construction of college at Sunderbani and negotiations are going on with the land owners while 35% slab work has been completed in Government Degree College, Nowshera. The Minister was replying to a question by Ravinder Kumar Sharma. The Minister further informed the House that Government Degree College Nowshera is functioning from Government Higher Secondary School, Nowshera having sufficient furniture, books, other equipment, adding Government Degree College, Sunderbani has also been made functional from make shift accommodation and three posts of Assistant Professors and 16 faculty members have been working on academic arrangements.

Efforts on to outsource tourism infrastructure at Lakhanpur: Mir

JAMMU: Minister for Tourism Ghulam Ahmad Mir today informed the House that the tenders for Lakhanpur-Sarthal Development Authority for outsourcing the three buildings located at Khroot Morh, Thein and Satwain were floated for a period of three years. The Minister was replying to a question by Subash Chander Gupta. The Minister said that one of the bidder from the previous exercise went to High Court and the Outsourcing Committee headed by Director Tourism Jammu decided to cancel the tender and issue fresh tenders by NIT. Mir said the government is very keen to outsource all these buildings and efforts are being made to get the stay vacated from the High Court at the earliest. He said objections stands filed by the Authority through government advocate and the case is still subjudice and the stay has not been vacated till date by High Court.

Numberdar, Chowkidar deputation calls on Ajaz

JAMMU, MARCH 05: A deputation of Numberdars and Chowkidars called on the Minister of State for Revenue, Relief and Rehabilitation, Ajaz Ahmad Khan today. The deputation brought into his notice the problems being confronted by the Numberdar and Chowkidar fraternity. They thanked him for the recent hike in their honorarium and hoped that their other demands would also be met. Responding to their demands, the Minister informed the deputation that Numberdars and Chowkidars would be made part of Deh majlis in every village for which necessary orders are also being issued. He advised them to take active interest in the affairs of their respective areas and report the

Minister of State for Revenue, Relief and Rehabilitation, Ajaz Ahmad Khan chairing a meeting at Jammu. developments to their DCs and Tehsildars regularly. The Minister said he would hold meetings with Numberdars and Chowkidars in every District he visits. He told them that their role in the development of society is critical and they should look beyond the revenue collection function and act as an interface between Government and people. Ajaz assured the deputation that he would look into the issues they raised and promised them appropriate action.

RTA asks to provide adequate mini-bus service from Ganderbal, Kangan: Ramzan
JAMMU: Minister for Transport Choudhary Mohammad Ramzan in replying to a question by Sheikh Ghulam Rasool informed the House that Regional Transport Authority Srinagar and Ganderbal have been instructed to provides adequate mini-bus services from the district headquarter Ganderbal and Kangan to Lal Chowk and Batmaloo to facilitate the commuters of that areas by way of augmentation of route plan in operation. The Minister informed that there is no direct mini-bus service facility available from district headquarters to Lal Chowk and Batmaloo, adding that service shall be operated soon after augmentation of route plan already in operation.

Rs. 15 cr earmarked for up-gradation of Channi Himmat nallahs: Bhalla

JAMMU, MARCH 05: Minister for Housing, Horticulture and Culture Raman Bhalla today said that the Government has earmarked Rs. 15 crore for upgradation of local nallahs in Channi Himmat, Channi Kamala and Channi Bija areas, adding that directions have been issued to Economic Reconstruction Agency (ERA) to start the works at the earliest. The Minister was addressing a large gathering after laying foundation stone of Rs. 16 lakh development works at Channi Kamala, here today. Managing Director Housing Board Kiran Wattal, Executive Engineers of R&B, PHE and Housing Board accompanied the Minister. Bhalla informed the residents that Government has earmarked Rs. 15 lakh for upgradation of lanes and drains in the locality, adding that work on the project is under progress and would be completed within prescribed time frame. The Minister called upon the people not to put debris into nallahs, adding that such practices chock the nallah leading to overflowing of dirty water into streets and creating problems for locals and passerby. He said that the Government was endeavouring hard to develop all the areas of the state with modern and need based infrastructural facilities, adding that in this regard all the departments are working in a more organized manner. To meet the drinking water requirement in Channi Kamala area, Bhalla said Government has prepared a detailed project report involving Rs. 3 crore for digging a deep drill tube well and laying of water supply pipes in the uncovered areas of the locality. He said the project would be started immediately after completing the tendering formalities. For improving the power scenario in the Channi Himmat and its adjoining areas, the Minister said Government has also augmented 6.3 MVA receiving station of Transport Nagar to 10 MVA so that people do not face any inconvenience during summer season. He asked the locals to use electricity judiciously during peak hours and legalize their power connections to save power for themselves. Responding to the demands of the locals, the Minister asked the Managing Director Housing Board to prepare estimates for construction of toilet complex on the available site and submit the same for funding so that the facility could be provided to the inhabitants at the earliest. Regarding installation of street lights and benches in stadium and recreational parks developed by Housing Board in the Channi Kamala, Bhalla asked the Housing Board to install the same at all these places for the convenience of general masses out of board funding. The Minister said people's cooperation was imperative to make Jammu and Kashmir a prosperous state. He called upon the people not to pay heed to the nefarious designs of those who mislead people by false slogans to meet their personal interests. He asked the people to extend their whole hearted cooperation to the Government for maintaining peace in the State.

Jora writes to Defence Minister seeking IL sorties for airlifting Leh bound passengers
JAMMU, MARCH 5: Minister for Urban Development and Urban Local bodies, Nawang Rigzin Jora has approached to the Central government to increase the IL sorties to facilitate airlifting of large number of Leh bound passengers stranded in Jammu. Mr Jora in a letter to the Union Defence Minister, Antony has requested for increasing the frequency of Indian Air Force flights to Ladakh region keeping in mind the difficulties being faced by the passengers stranded in Jammu and Srinagar. Mr Jora wrote to the Defence Minister, that since Ladakh region remains cut off from the rest of the world for six months during winter, air connectivity is the only source of transportation available to the people of this far flung area.

50 Bedded hospital under construction at Banihal: Shabir

JAMMU: A new 50-bedded hospital at Banihal with an estimated cost of Rs. 20.18 crore is under construction while Rs. 3 crore has been released under NHRM for the purpose. This information was given by the Minister of State for Health, Shabir Ahmed Khan while replying to a question by Sham Lal Bhagat. He said re-modelling of emergency hospital Batotoe and Doctors Residential Quarters stand completed at a cost of Rs. 90.82 lakh and Rs. 130.50 lacs respectively. He said Para medical staff quarters, mortuary is under execution with an estimated cost of Rs. 97 lacs and accidental hospital at Khellini (Doda) is under construction at an estimated cost of Rs 399.60 lacs, adding district hospital Doda is also under construction at an estimated cost of Rs32.23 crore. The minister further stated that the trauma hospital at Thatri (Doda) is under coming up at an estimated cost of Rs.75 lacs while the District hospital Kishtawar stands completed and has been made functional with an estimated cost of Rs. 11.15 crore.

Opening of new Health Centres in offing: Shabir

JAMMU, MARCH 05: Minister of State for Health Shabir Ahmad Khan today informed the House that Health Department has requested Remote Sensing Department for undertaking a mapping to identify the places where there is need to set up health institutions. He said the report has been received from the Department and Health Department is working on it. Replying to a question by Dr. Mustafa Kamal in the House, the Minister said the Department has sent a consolidated proposal for opening and upgradation of various health institutions in the state including Primary Health Centre Hazartbal to the level of Community Health Centre to Planning and Development Department for approval in pursuance to various District Development Board decisions, commitments of Chief Minister and the demands of MLAs. However, he said, Planning and Development Department has advised to revisit these proposals and assess minimum creation of staff required.

Div Com stresses for judicious use of funds, achieving of tangible targets
SRINAGAR, MARCH 05: Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, Dr. Asgar Hassan Samoon reviewedsituation, stock and supply position besides progress of developmental works being executed in the Kashmir division with all Deputy Commissioners and Heads of Departments through a Video Conference. Among others Director Social Welfare, Kashmir, Director SKIMS, Director Floriculture, Chief Engineers of Irrigation & Flood Control, PDD, Joint Director Information, Kashmir, officers of CA&PD, Tourism, Agriculture, Floriculture, SRTC, Education officers participated. The Divisional Commissioner was apprised that adequate stocks of essential commodities are available in the valley which include 24516 MT'S of rice, 5173 MT's of wheat, 1996 MT's of sugar besides 4462 kiloliters of K. Oil and 288900 of LPG cylinders.

DDC reviews implementation of PNDT Act

JAMMU, MARCH 05- To implement the Pre-Natal Diagnostic Technique (PNDT) Act (probation of sex determination) in district Jammu, District Development Commissioner Jammu Sanjeev Verma convened a meeting of officers here today. The DDC issued instructions for all those clinics who perform PNDT, to register their clinics with government and function strictly under proper authorization. The meeting was attended by Chief Medical Officer Jammu Javed Akhter Chib, Sr. Gynaecologist, Govt. Hospital Gandhi Nagar Dr. Anil Mehta, CPO Jammu, other senior officers of Health and other departments who are members of Advisory Committee for the grant of License to USG centres. After proper scrutiny of the various institutions, the Deputy Commissioner registered two new ultrasound centres who had applied for their registrations under PC & PNDT Act of District Jammu besides approval to one ultrasound centre for renewal. He also reviewed the activities taken up by the committee to sensitize the public against the menace of female foeticide. DDC also inquired about the inspections of ultrasound clinics conducted by the committee and the follow up action.

DDC flags off farmers tour

DODA, MARCH 05: To provide exposure to the farming community of the District with latest agriculture technology and techniques, a group of 35 farmers form different parts of Doda District was flagged off for New Delhi, by District Development Commissioner Doda, Farooq Ahmed Khan today. The group of farmers is scheduled to take part in the Pusa Krishi Vigyan Mela at Indian Agriculture Research Institute (IARI) New Delhi from March 6 to March 8. While addressing the touring farmers on the occasion, DDC Doda Khan asked the farmers to utilize the opportunity and make themselves aware about the latest techniques of agriculture and allied sectors for the development of Agriculture sector in the District . He said that such exposure visits helps farming community to keep themselves abreast with the technological advances in the field of agriculture and allied activities which prove beneficial to enhance production in agriculture in the District and help to uplift the socieconomic condition of the poor farming people of the region. Chief Agriculture Officer, Doda, R.K Tikoo, Mushroom Development Officer Doda, T.R Bhagat and ADO Vegetables, Ramesh Singh also addressed the farmers on the occasion.

Reviews situation, stock- supply position, progress of dev works through Video Conference
It was also given out that to streamline the education sector in the valley as many as 181 tuition centres have been registered with the education department. The Commissioner while emphasizing for encouraging the inflow of tourists was informed that the tulip garden shall be opened on March 28 and directed for the beautification and proper landscaping of the garden. Dr Samoon asked CAPD authorities to explore possibilities of decontrolling prices of mutton and ensure availability of all essential commodities as per rate lists adding that rate lists shall be displayed for the information of consumers. The Divisional Commissioner asked transport authorities to provide government transport facilities besides ensure plying of sumo service on all routes to facilitate the people particularly patients. Dr. Samoon also directed all Heads of Departments to maintain their headquarters and ensure their presence in the valley in order to redress the grievances of the people besides facilitating the solution to the problems at the door steps of people. On the occasion, Dr Samoon urged upon all Deputy Commissioners to expedite the execution of developmental works in the district of valley to ensure achievements of tangible targets within the stipulated time besides judicious utilization of funds under various schemes for the welfare of the people.

Govt. will take necessary steps to restore power supply in affected areas: Vikar
JAMMU, MARCH 05: Members of almost all the parties today expressed their concern over the poor power scenario in their areas. The members, especially from District Kathua said that power supply is snapped in Bani and Basohli for the past one to two months and demanded measures to restore the same. Immediately after the Question Hour in the House, the members of other areas also voiced their concern and said that electric transformers which have been damaged months ago have not been repaired with the result the people are facing hardships. Reacting to the concern of the Members, Minister of State for PDD, Vikar Rasool said that Government will look into the issue and ensure restoration of power supply to the affected areas. The Government will take necessary steps to repair the damaged transformers on priority, he added.

Ensure strict adherence to UGC norms by Pvt colleges: Lone to JU

JAMMU, MARCH 05: Minister for Higher Education Mohammad Akbar Lone has asked the Jammu University authorities to ensure strict adherence to the University Grant Commission (UGC) norms by the private colleges affiliated to the varsity. Speaking at a high level meeting held here yesterday to discuss and review overall performance of the recognized colleges, the minister stressed on system improvement, quality of teaching, besides streamlining and regulation of the colleges. The minister also stressed on introduction of job oriented courses in Private Recognized Colleges, while asking the JU authorities to make it sure that all these colleges have required infrastructure and qualified staff to meet the quality The Minister directed the Management of the Private Colleges to strictly adhere to the prescribed University Grant Commission (UGC) norms, cautioning that any lapse in this regard will be dealt seriously. On the occasion, the Minister also reviewed working of 7 Jammu University Off -site Campuses of Kathua, Udhampur, Kishtwar, Poonch, Reasi, Ramban and Bhaderwah.Threadbare discussion was held on temporary budgetary support for teaching staff, rent of buildings, office expenses, creation of minimum teaching and non-teaching staff for at least three courses in each campus.It was decided in the meeting that the matter will be taken up with the Finance and Planning departments to finalize the requisite formalities.

Govt working on up gradation of health institutions: Mir

JAMMU: Minister for Tourism Ghulam Ahmad Mir replying on behalf of Health Minister to a question by Syed Mohammad Rafiq Shah informed the House that Primary Health Centre Trehgam was established by Maharaja Pratap Singh in 1856. The Minister said that on the recommendation of House Committee constituted by the J&K Legislature to look into the process for creation and up-gradation of health institutions, the Directorate of Remote Sensing was asked to undertake a Mapping Survey to identify the places where there is need to set up health institutions, adding that the department is working on the report. The Minister said that a consolidated proposal for opening and up-gradation of various health institutions and creation of posts was submitted to the Planning and Development department in which the Planning and Development Department has advised to revisit the proposals and assess minimum creation of staff required.

23906 OPD patients treated at Ayush Unit Kupwara

KUPWARA, MARCH 05: According to Medical Officer, Indian System of Medicines (ISM), Ayush Unit, Kupwara, as many as 23,906 patients have been treated in Community Health Centre, Kupwara from April 2012 to February 2013, besides 286 were treated in IPD for Regimental and Panchkarma Therapy, free of cost medicine was also distributed among 860 patients at Ayush dispensary, while 91 patients were referred for Ante Natal Care registration and 586 patients to Sub-District Hospital, Kupwara for further treatment.

Minister for Higher Education Mohammad Akbar Lone speaking at a high level meeting with JU Officials at Jammu. standards of the education. He said Private sector has contributed a lot towards the improvement of Education standards, but at the same time stressed on close monitoring and regulation of such educational institutions in the larger interest of the public. The representatives of Forum of Recognized Colleges (FORCE) apprised the minister about their problems and sought early redressal of the same. The Minister gave a patient hearing and assured them that their genuine demands would be looked into.

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EDITORIAL

Sir! 'Sahib' and 'ji' are respectable words

Wisdom dawns at last on the poll panel

I
By A Surya Prakash t is satisfying to note that the Election Commission of India has finally agreed to the demand that electronic voting machines must issue paper receipts to voters. This is needed, because EVMs are not tamper-proof. After standing on false prestige and even becoming vindictive against those who suspected the integrity of electronic voting machines, the Election Commission of India has finally acceded to the demand that the machines must issue a paper receipt to voters. The commission's decision - made known to the Supreme Court in February in response to a petition filed by Mr Subramanian Swamy, president of the Janata Party, that EVMs be scrapped - is a major victory for all those who were campaigning against electronic voting machines because the latter lacked transparency. Mr Swamy had argued that EVMs must be scrapped because they are not tamper-proof. They could be retained only if there was transparency via a paper trail, so that every voter knew that his vote had been registered correctly. Even Japan, which started the process of electronic voting, has reverted to paper ballots. Many other countries have also fallen back on paper ballots for the same reason. The commission, which had stubbornly resisted the demand for either scrapping EVMs or introducing a paper trail, began to display some reasonableness in the matter after Mr Swamy moved the Supreme Court and a Bench comprising Justices P Sathasivam and Ranjan Gogoi declared that it would hear the matter on a priority basis, so that the proceedings concluded before the next parliamentary election. The commission signalled its readiness to consider the plea when it told the court last September that it was contemplating "foolproof methods" to ensure that EVMs were not misused or tampered and that it was consulting technical experts and political parties in this regard. Finally, some weeks ago, the commission informed the court that it was willing to incorporate the paper trail in order to remove doubts about the integrity of EVMs. The commission told the court that it had done a trial of Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail in EVMs in 180 polling stations in various States. This system could be incorporated after it received the opinion of an expert committee that is examining the issue. The commission proposes to use the paper trail first in some by-election and later incorporate the same in the general election. It has already asked EVM manufacturers to fine-tune the paper trail system. The debate on the integrity of the EVMs was started three years ago when a group of public spirited NRIs headed by Satya Dosapati of New Jersey organised workshops in Delhi and Chennai under the aegis of 'Save Indian Democracy' and invited national and international experts to speak about the vulnerability of these machines to hacking and fraud. Among them was Till Jaeger, a lawyer who got the Federal Constitutional Court in Germany to ban the use of these machines in that country; Rop Gonggrijp, a computer hacker from the Netherlands who demonstrated on live television how the machine could be hacked, and Alex Halderman, professor of Computer Science, University of Michigan, USA, who is an authority on electronic voting security. The most prominent Indian expert at these workshops was Hari Prasad of Hyderabad, who spoke about the ease with which EVMs could be tampered with and on how, irrespective of voters' preferences, the machine could be pre-programmed to produce a result. The argument against EVMs is that the machines can be tampered with at the manufacturing stage or at places where they are stored in State capitals. The biggest drawback of these machines is that, since the vote count happens inside the machine, there is no way by which the result can be cross-checked. Given the extent of corruption and fraud in various facets of governance in India, it would be foolish to discount the possibility of EVMs being manipulated by political parties in power or by pliant election authorities. Mr Hari Prasad demonstrated the vulnerability of these machines to the Election Commission some months prior to these workshops. However, such was the commission's fear of the truth that it abruptly stopped Mr Prasad and his colleagues midway through their demonstration. Later, the commission became very vindictive and even launched criminal prosecution against Mr Prasad and had him arrested in August, 2010, for demonstrating the EVMs' vulnerability to fraud on what the police alleged was a stolen machine! In fact, the alleged theft of the machine itself constituted an indictment of the commission. It showed how EVMs could be taken out of the commission's custody and, thereafter, even tampered with. The commission learnt of the so-called theft only after Mr Prasad demonstrated on television how the machine could be hacked. Thus, the Election Commission resorted to punitive action against a whistleblower, whose only intention was to protect the sanctity of the electoral process in the world's largest democracy. As a public body which has the responsibility of superintendence, direction and control of elections, the commission must function in a people-friendly and transparent manner. It must first convince us that those who man it are democrats who are willing to see and listen. It must also convince us that it has no political axe to grind, although all the commissioners are appointed by the Government of the day through an obviously partisan process. As former Chief Justice of India MN Venkatachalaiah often says, democracy is not just about statistics - "there are over 700 million voters in India". The members of the commission must demonstrate their deep and abiding commitment to democratic ideals, and their non-partisanship should be beyond doubt. Given the fact that the commission was headed at one time by Navin Chawla - a man indicted by the Shah Commission for conduct "unbecoming of a public servant" during the Emergency - the attitude of the Election Commission against Mr Prasad was no surprise. When persons like Mr Chawla, whose commitment to democracy is suspect, are appointed Election Commissioners, it is no surprise to see the commission running away from the truth on an important question which concerned the integrity of the electoral process and, as a consequence, of the Election Commission itself. In any case, now that Mr Chawla has retired, the commission must redeem itself in the public eye. Since it has, in principle, accepted the argument that a paper trail is a must if EVMs are to be used, it must gracefully withdraw the criminal proceedings against Mr Prasad. It must also speed up the technical clearances needed to give voters a paper receipt when they vote in the next Lok Sabha election. 2014 is a high stakes parliamentary election and the Election Commission is dutybound to ensure the sanctity of the results of that poll. The commission must act with efficiency and grace.

he leaders of this ancient nation are using respectable words to describe its tormentors. Those who have been responsible for the death and destruction are named with respect. It was on Monday that Afzal Guru the mastermind who scripted the attack on Indian Parliament was called Guru 'Sahib' by the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. As the debate on the post hanging on Guru is gaining all the trappings of a political coup and political parties especially The National Conference and Peoples Democratic Party are busy trading charges on each other over the Guru's hanging. Here is the Chief Minister of the State uttering his name with deference. What can it be called, a silly approach or the heat of the moment that forced the Chief Minister to name Guru with respect. Surely a big no! Because the way Omar handled the situation post Guru hanging and rushed to the valley in a huff and started issuing duplicitous statements it was clear that he intended to counter his detractors with a pro Guru stand and anti Centre posturing. The valley based political parties have been indulging in this opportunistic politics for decades. Omar had many things on his side when he came to hold the Chief Minister ship of the State. From his predecessor Ghulam Nabi Azad he inherited a good and responsive administration which had been galvanized into action by development savvy Azad. His second quality that made him centre of attraction was his youth and energy. But slowly he seems lost somewhere now. Many times we have seen him getting into such situations which raise doubts about his grasp of handling delicate matters. His statement in Parliament in which he said that he would not part even an inch for the Sri Amarnath Shrine Board is still not forgotten. That too was not something that he uttered in the heat of the moment. There was a cool political calculation in his mind to keep intact the valley mass base. But leaders of stature do not wander after petty politics or to gain narrow political mileage. They do not call killers and terrorists as respectable men. Many men in this country have not forgotten that against the wishes of Government of India he met President Pervez Musharraf in Pakistan in 2006. On his return he was given a rousing reception as if he had made spiritual tryst with some great saint or a philosopher. Musharraf was a dictator who planned and executed Kargil. His commitment to the soldiers of his own country was so 'high' that he declined to own their dead bodies! When such trends to name terrorists as respectable men become frequent the common citizen of this country is bewildered. In the same vein some years ago the controversial Digvijay Singh called Osama Bin Laden as Osama ji. Later on, in the usual political and dubious way he said that he was quoted out of context and he actually did not mean what he said. The question is that how come the leaders who are considered eminent take recourse to such things which eventually harm the interests of the country. Either these 'eminences' do not understand the contours of constructive politics or they do not want to own the subtleties of Indian culture. We have to understand that suffix "JI'' cannot be used with both Gandhi Ji and Osama bin Laden. 'Sahib' too is a respectable honorific and cannot be allowed to be used to address killers and terror masterminds. With such a bedlam already witnessed in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly over the execution of Guru there is now time for all the stakeholders to sit together and help de-aggravate the tense situation which has been created by them. They owe the people of the State and the nation an urgent explanation as to why the precious time of the State legislature which should have been used for the benefit of the poor people of the State reeling under a burgeoning officialdom and suffering under the menacing tentacles of corruption. NC and PDP both need to feel the pulse of the times being the largest political parties of the State. The development of the State cannot be held ransom to hanging of Afzal Guru. He as a terror mastermind was to be punished and a long constitutionally empowered judicial process was employed to give him justice. But for now and for the good of the country the politicians have to desist from playing politics with respectable words like 'Sahib' and 'Ji'. Kindly allow them to remain respectable, do not sully their import.

Some measures may still lessen India's economic problems

By Ashok V. Desai he Indian economy is in the midst of its biggest crisis since 1991. It has been on the horizon. The political masters' public attitude towards it was to brush it off and exude mindless optimism. Surprisingly, the finance minister eased his official grin as he presented the budget last week; he tried various tricks to make India more attractive to foreign investment. He is even trying to strike a deal with Vodafone over its purchase into the Ruias' telecommunications company. He should ask himself why. The Vodafone purchase was made abroad, and not on Indian soil, and was therefore not taxable here. If he thinks that is wrong, he should amend the law; but it is entirely wrong to try and screw Vodafone illegally. Even if he amends the law, it must not be applied retrospectively. If he thinks someone should pay tax on his gains in the transaction, it is the Ruias he should be pursuing. They sold their stake and made a profit; they should pay tax on it. What is the reason for letting them off scot-free and pursuing Vodafone? Is it because they are Indian and Vodafone is foreign? Or because they are politically influential and Vodafone is not? The Economic Survey does not normally fudge facts, although it may varnish them. The chapter on the balance of payments is in the official style of mechanically reporting the rise and fall of figures. It is full of grammatical errors.

But it did teach me new jargon. For instance, when investors in industrial countries get scared by events in their own economies, such as a credit downgrade of the United States of America or a crisis in a European Union economy, they liquidate their investments abroad and take money home; capital then flows out of India. The Survey calls this a risk-off event. Conversely, an improvement in investor sentiment in industrial countries is called a risk-on event. The risk of the EU disintegrating is a tail-risk; the Survey does not say what a hornrisk would be. India depends heavily on capital inflows; if they stopped or were reversed, exchange reserves would fall rapidly. So the Survey favours allowing in capital more freely, which is what the finance minister has also been pushing. Its idea of liberalization is to allow more investment into defence industries. But India is an insignificant producer of military equipment. Selling it to the government is so risky and requires such expertise in bribery that even Indian companies stay out of it; it is unrealistic to think that allowing foreign companies in would make much difference. The Survey makes a case for relaxing the 26 per cent limit. The government still cannot think of junking the 26, 49 and 74 per cent restrictions and simplifying foreign investment controls. It does not matter whether shareholders of companies have Indian or foreign passports; all that matters is,

how much is produced on Indian territory, how many people are employed, and how competitive Indian industries and markets are. But if equity restrictions were abolished, that would leave the commerce ministry without lucrative policy instruments. The finance minister did promise to simplify the Securities and Exchange Board of India's definition of direct and portfolio investment; but even he cannot tell us why the government has to distinguish between them. The government wants foreigners to invest in Indian companies, but not to manage them. But foreign portfolio capital in itself has no virtue; if foreigners take controlling shares in equity and manage companies, they may improve management. Contestable management is one aspect of competition. But whatever he thinks, P. Chidambaram can do little to attract foreign capital; the main repellent for foreign investment is not Sebi, but the commerce ministry. It would have been illuminating if the Survey had explained the government's exchange rate policy; it only describes it in the Reserve Bank of India's mindless prose. For the first time, the Survey gives figures of transactional and valuation changes in reserves. They are positively correlated except in 2011-12; that suggests that the RBI generally acts to stabilize the exchange rate, but not fast enough. It lets the exchange rate drift, and if it thinks it is going too far up or down, it intervenes. In recent months, it has been

selling foreign currency, which suggests that it has been trying to 'moderate' rupee depreciation. The real effective exchange rate has been stable most of the time, except for a sharp fall in the third quarter of 2011. This is surely wrong policy; if the government wants to improve the balance of payments, it should depreciate real effective exchange rate. The balance of payments is hugely adverse, and exchange rate policy is the only major instrument to correct it; quantitative restrictions were abandoned 12 years ago, except for those on agricultural goods, and tariffs are low and cannot be raised without breaching international treaties. So the government should be devaluing the rupee. The argument against it is that devaluation raises rupee prices of imports and exports and stokes inflation; but that is an argument for following other anti-inflationary policies. The government should modify its foodgrain pricing policy. India has a food surplus; it can afford to give up supporting agricultural prices. If the government wants to support them for political reasons, it should do so in such a way that agricultural prices remain internationally competitive: pricing should be coordinated with exchange rate policy. And the overall fiscal deficit, including the states', should be brought down much further. The government should cure itself of its inflation addiction, and make absolute price stability an overriding objective of policy. The only metrics the RBI uses in

its exchange rate policy are reserves, which it likes to hoard, and gold imports, which it likes to hate. The share of machinery and equipment in India's exports has gone up enormously in the past decade; but the ratio of export credit to exports has fallen from 19 to 11 per cent. Presumably, export credit has always been available, but has been little used. Indian interest rates are high; although the RBI orders banks to charge less on export credit, they have no incentive to do so, and they avoid giving it. As a result, we have failed to emerge as exporters of turnkey plants. India is the world's biggest user of anti-dumping punishments; it places protection of its producers above cheaper imports for investors and consumers. Barter terms of trade improved by more than 100 per cent between 2001-02 and 201011 - an indicator of possible loss of competitiveness. The trend was reversed in the past year, but it is too late. India is going to pay an enormous price for this mistake. It is ironic that Manmohan Singh, who is reputed to have rescued India from the crisis of 1991, should preside over the crisis of 2013. He is in extremely good shape, and may be in politics for much longer since Rahul is so hesitant to take the reins. But even Manmohan Singh's reign will end sooner rather than later; even if he is not worried about his reputation, he should surely leave the Indian economy in a better shape than it was when he assumed control 22 years ago.

READERS SPACE
Railway Budget
Dear Sir The railway budget has made an honest endeavour to rescue the Indian railways from its precarious financial condition. The Rs 6,600 crore from the hike in fares announced in January has been neutralized by the rise in fuel prices that has put an additional annual burden of Rs 3,300 crore on the railways' coffers. The marginal increase in reservation charges would add 483 crore to the revenue but that will be of very little help to the railways. Bansal has selected only 347 projects out of the ones announced by his predecessors. This shows his sense of pragmatism. Bansal also said that five mainline electrical multiple units are being introduced this year, apart from eight diesel electric multiple units. He has also proposed to extend the routes of 57 trains and increase the frequency of 24 trains. The introduction of weekly services of such express

trains as the Hazrat Nizamuddin-Mumbai express via Bhopal, Khandwa and Bhusawal and a similar venture between Bikaner and Chennai are welcome measures. As part of providing greater connectivity to Vaishno Devi, a New Delhi-Katra express train is being introduced, which would run six days a week. The Katra stretch connecting the holy town to Udhampur, which is expected to be commissioned by May, would be helpful to pilgrims. The assurance of enhanced security for women is a good step. But only concrete measures - instead of mere announcements - can help heighten safety standards in the railways. Yours etc., Ravi Shan, Kishtwar

Police Bill
Dear Sir Jammu and Kashmir Draft Police Bill, absurd and draconian as it is, is not yet a law until debated and passed by

the state legislature. It is still open for debate, discussions and suggestions from civil society members and subject to suitable modifications. So, technically, it shouldn't yet be time to press the panic button. But in a state, where the elected representatives have the curious record of sleepily saying their 'ayes' to bills of public importance and then distancing from it, as happened in the J&K Permanent Disqualification (Women's) Bill; and where suggestions of civil society are never accommodated, as happened in the Right to Information Bill, and if they are, they can be withdrawn later, it may be wishful expecting some good to come out of the exercise eventually. The need for police reforms in the country has been recognized for long. Yours Etc. Indu Rajput Subash Nagar, Jammu

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AP govt to hand over Hyderabad blast case to NIA

Mukul Sangma sworn-in as Meghalaya Chief Minister BJP to continue raising

SHILLONG: Mukul Manda Sangma on Tuesday was sworn-in as the Meghalaya chief minister for the second time in a row. Governor RS Mooshahary administered the oath of office to the 47-yearold leader who was seen as the architect of the Congress's victory in the assembly elections in this mountainous northeastern state, on the lawns of the Raj Bhavan. Mukul Sangma will announce the list of his council of ministers later this week. "I have been directed by madam (Congress chief Sonia Gandhi) to take oath alone and will expand the ministry after consultation with party high command," Mukul Sangma told IANS. The Congress emerged the single largest party with 29 seats - two short of a majority in the 60-member house. The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), which secured two seats, and 11 independent legislators have extended "unconditional support" to the Congress. Party sources said Sonia Gandhi endorsed Sangma's James Sangma, the eldest son of Purno Sangma, and Nihim D. Shira were the only NPP and senior government officials. He first assumed office April 20, 2010, replacing veteran Congress leader DD Lapang. Mukul Sangma, a medical practitioner, gave up his government job as medical and health officer in Tura health centre and plunged into the electoral fray in 1993. He contested and won the Ampatigiri assembly constituency in West Garo Hills as an independent candidate. There was no looking back for him since then. At the age of 33, Mukul Sangma bagged a cabinet berth and held various posts as minister of taxation, information and public relations and others. In 2005, he was appointed deputy chief minister incharge of home and education departments. But he was forced to quit after the Garo Hills police firing, in which nine people lost their lives, over the Meghalaya Board of School Education issue. NEW DELHI: BJP on Tuesday said it will continue to raise in both Houses of Parliament the issue of diesel price hike, which is hitting the common man, but not stall proceedings. The matter was discussed at the BJP Parliamentary Party meeting attended by its top leaders this morning. The party also discussed the alleged desecration of temples in Bangladesh and the Ram Setu issue, which it decided to raise strongly in Parliament on Tuesday. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamal Nath, however, expressed confidence that Parliament will function and hoped Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will be able to make his statement, to reply on the motion of thanks. "I hope Parliament will function now. It was stalled for one day as parties wanted to express their anger over diesel price hike. All issues should be raised and discussed in Parliament as per rules and all are ready to raise their issues as Parliament is meant to discuss things," Nath said. "Price hike in petrol and diesel prices was the issue discussed at the meeting

diesel price issue in Parl

because this is a concern of our country also. National government should be asked to (talk to) Bangladesh that this should not be repeated,"

name as the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader for the impressive wins in the Garo Hills region, considered the stronghold of her bete noire, former Lok Sabha speaker Purno A. Sangma. The Congress has won 13 of the 24 seats in Garo Hills districts, while the tribal-centric National People's Party (NPP) founded by Purno Sangma managed only two.

candidates who managed to win. In 2008, the Congress won seven seats in the Garo Hills, while the NCP, under Purno Sangma's leadership, won 15 seats in the state, including 13 in the Garo Hills. Mukul Sangma took oath as the state's 26th chief minister in the presence of hundreds of Congress legislators, leaders of other political groupings

Babri demolition case: CBI to file reply in SC today

NEW DELHI: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) will on Tuesday file its reply in the Supreme Court explaining the delay in its submission in the Babri Masjid demolition case. In the last hearing, the apex investigating agency had maintained that senior BJP leader LK Advani, VHP leaders and some others had committed a 'national crime'. The submissions made by the CBI drew a sharp reaction from the apex court which asked the agency not to use such a language till the case is decided by the courts. "Please don't say that it is a national crime or a matter of national importance. We are yet to decide it. Until we or trial court decide this way or other, you can't make such statements," a Supreme Court bench headed by Justice HL Dattu said. The CBI had chargesheeted Advani and 20 others in the Babri demolition case. The bench made the observations after senior advocate P P Rao, appearing for CBI, submitted that leaders of BJP and VHP were involved in a "national conspiracy" which was reflected in the Rath Yatra and it's a case of "national crime". Rao's submission came while challenging the verdicts of Special CBI court and Allahabad High Court dropping conspiracy charges against BJP leaders Advani, Kalyan Singh, Uma Bharti Vinay Katiyar and Murli Manohar Joshi. The others against whom charges were dropped included Satish Pradhan, C R Bansal, Ashok Singhal, Giriraj Kishore, Sadhvi Ritambhara, V H Dalmia, Mahant Avaidhynath, R V Vedanti, Param Hans Ram Chandra Das, Jagdish Muni Maharaj, B L Sharma, Nritya Gopal Das, Dharam Das, Satish Nagar and Moreshwar Save. During arguments, the bench also questioned the CBI over the delay in hearings before the special court and the filing of the appeal challenging the verdicts of the two courts. "You said that it is a case of national importance. Then can you say that the translation (of court records) takes days and filing of case takes three months," the bench said. The agency pleaded that it should be allowed to file a fresh affidavit to explain its stand but the bench turned it down and said no fresh affidavits or material will be allowed to be placed before it. However, allowed CBI to file documents which were referred to in the verdicts of the special court and High Court.

Pak PM Raja Parvez Ashraf likely to visit India on Saturday

ISLAMABAD: Ahead of March 16 general elections, Prime Minister Raja Parvez Ashraf is likely to visit India on Saturday to offer prayers in Ajmer. While no official confirmation has been made till now, preparations are being made for Ashraf's visit Ajmer, as per reports. Last year, President Asif Ali Zardari visited India on pilgrimage. On Monday, PCI chief Markandey Katju likened Pakistan to Jurassic Park, saying violence and deaths are being reported everyday due to inherent faults in that country's formation. Delivering the second Rajiv Gandhi memorial lecture organised by the Institute of Parliamentary Affairs here, he said the commotion in that country was the natural consequence of setting up a theocratic state. Speaking on the topic 'What is India', Katju, whose article 'Truth about Pakistan' was recently published by 'The Nation' in Pakistan, said Partition was a mistake and a combined nation comprising India and Pakistan that would not tolerate religious bigotry and Hindu and Muslim extremism, would become a reality some day in future.

...Every week they are raising prices of petrol and diesel. This is against the common people," BJP's Deputy Leader in Lok Sabha Gopinath Munde said. Asked if Parliament will function, Munde said, "We will raise the issue but the proceedings of the House will continue." Munde said, "In Bangladesh, Hindu temples were broken and Hindus beaten up. This is a serious matter and we will raise this issue in Parliament

he said. Another issue that the BJP Parliamentary Party decided to raise in Parliament is that of Ram Setu. "We will oppose. We will not allow breaking of Ram Setu. There can be another alignment. Governmentappointed Committee's report is there and that Committee has not recommended breaking of old Ram Setu," the BJP leader said.

HYDERABAD: The Andhra Pradesh government has decided to hand over Hyderabad Bomb blasts case to NIA. A decision to this effect was taken during a high level review meeting chaired by CM N Kiran Kumar Reddy at the Secretariat. Briefing newsmen after the meeting, state Home Minister Ms Sabitha Indra Reddy said, this decision was taken considering that the NIA had been probing similar terror attacks elsewhere in the country. The Minister said, the state police will extend full cooperation to pace up the investigation into the bomb blasts. Union Ministry of Home Affairs had earlier written a letter to the AP Govt. to hand over the bomb blasts case to the NIA.

Wharton invites Kejriwal for keynote address

I have not replaced Modi, says Kejriwal
NEW DELHI: Amid reports that the Wharton School has invited Arvind Kejriwal as a replacement to Gujarat Chief Minister for a lecture, the AAP leader Tuesday said his address at the US management college has "absolutely nothing to do" with the BJP leader. The abrupt cancellation Sunday of the invitation to Modi to speak via videoconference at annual Wharton India Economic Forum in Philadelphia came after a war of words between Modi supporters and detractors. "I have not replaced anyone. They were in touch with me for 10-15 days. The decision to not invite Modi was taken one or two days back," he said. Kejriwal will deliver his lecture via videoconference March 23, the day he is set to sit on an indefinite hunger strike against rising power and water bills in Delhi. However, after being snubbed by the US University, the firebrand Gujarat Chief Minister has found immense support from the BJP's ally Shiv Sena and shipping magnate Gautam Adani. While the BJP slammed US's "double standards", Wharton professors main"It was Wharton which invited him. Modi did not ask that he be invited. And if you are calling off the invite, I think it is not only an insult of the Gujarat Chief Minister India Economic Forum long back (almost a fortnight ago) as he has other pressing commitments," an Adani Group spokesperson said. Modi's address at the prestigious Wharton India Economic Forum later this month was cancelled on Sunday under pressure from multiple stakeholders. "We do not endorse any political views and do not support any specific ideology. Our goal as a team is only to stimulate valuable dialogue on India's growth story," the Forum had said in a statement on Sunday. Modi was invited to deliver the keynote address at the Forum to be held in Philadelphia on March 22-23 via videoconference. The Forum is an annual student-run India-centric conference hosted by the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. A group of Wharton's professors and students had written a strongly-worded letter saying they are outraged to learn that the Forum has invited Modi as a keynote speaker.

'Government should fund CCTVs in Goa schools'

PANAJI: The Goa government should foot the bill for setting up expensive CCTV installations in schools, headmasters have demanded Tuesday, even as the police is yet to nab the rapist of a seven-year-old school girl. Sanjeev Sawant of Goa Headmasters Association (GHA) said that mere issuing a circular by the education department that all schools should have CCTV (close circuit TV) systems installed was not enough. Sawant told reporters, that a provision should be made to enable schools to be more electronically vigilant. The CCTVs and mobile jammers, were some of the suggestions made by the police to the school managements after the seven-yearold girl was brutally raped in the toilet of a school operated by a central government run public sector undertaking. An 18-member crack police team which has been pressed into action to arrest the rape accused, who is still unidentified has failed to arrest him, even as the school headmistress Sharlet Furtado was arrested for negligence.

tained that their stand against Modi is based on facts and human rights records in Gujarat. In a bid to mark their protest against the cancellation of Modi's address, Shiv Sena leader Suresh Prabhu and Adani Group chairman Gautam Adani also canceled their scheduled addresses at the prestigious forum. Suresh Prabhu, who is a member of the India Economic Forum at Wharton, said he considers the university's U-turn on Modi an insult to the country.

but of the entire country," Prabhu said. "The university should be a place where divergent views are debated. Such a decision, that too by a varsity in the US, is unfathomable," he said. Later, Adani Group, however, said its chairman Gautam Adani had decided to pull out of Wharton India Economic Forum almost a fortnight back, in an apparent reference that his absence is not related to the cancellation of Modi's address. "Adani has conveyed his inability to join Wharton

India, US to ink accord for aviation security

NEW DELHI: India and the US will soon sign an information sharing agreement to strengthen aviation security in both the countries, a senior Civil Aviation Ministry official said on Tuesday. "The draft is ready and once it is approved by the Indian authorities and the Cabinet, the governments of India and the US would sign the secret security information sharing agreement," said Anil Srivastava, Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Civil Aviation, on the sidelines of US-India Aviation Security Workshop in New Delhi. The agreement would cover a large spectrum of civil aviation security, he said, adding Transportation Security Authority of the US would be sharing information in areas including individuals, systems, technology and equipments with India. Earlier, addressing the inaugural session of the workshop, he said security has become a challenge due (USTDA), while addressing the two-day workshop, said, "India and the US share common goals for effective security in both domestic and international aviation arenas." He said Indian aviation sector continues to hold immense potential for growth. "India is the founding member of International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and like the US, plays a key role in implementing important aviation security provisions regionally and globally," Steingass said. The workshop, which is part of the US-India Aviation Cooperation programme, would focus on measures to expedite passengers screening and enhance customer service, integration of human security manpower and technology and current and future risk-based security programmes in the US and India.

US to give courage award to Delhi braveheart posthumously

WASHINGTON: United States has selected the 23-year-old Delhi braveheart for the International Women of Courage Award. The award to the braveheart would be presented posthumously by the First Lady Michelle Obama and the Secretary of State John Kerry, on March 8, an official announcement said. Nirbhaya or "Fearless," the victim of a gang rape in a Delhi bus, who became the focus of women around India and their fight against gender-based violence, is among ten extraordinary women being honoured Friday with the Secretary of State's International Women of Courage Award. "For millions of Indian women, her personal ordeal, perseverance to fight for justice, and her family's continued bravery is helping to lift the stigma and vulnerability that drive violence against women," the State Department said about her as it announced the awards to be given to 10 women from across the world. She bravely recorded two police statements while in the hospital, repeatedly called for justice against the six attackers, and stated her will to survive to see justice done, the State Department said. "Like many Indians inspired by her struggle, she was born into a working class family that invested their hopes and life savings into her dream to purviction rates and gender-sensitive law enforcement and justice systems. Thanks to these efforts, the Indian government has begun to take action to follow through on those demands," Award annually recognises women around the globe who have shown exceptional courage and leadership in advocating for women's rights and empowerment, often at great personal risk. Since inception of the award in 2007, the Department of State has honoured 67 women from 45 different countries. The other awardees for this year are Malalai Bahaduri, First Sergeant Afghan National Interdiction Unit (Afghanistan); Samira Ibrahim, Coordinator Know Your Rights (Egypt); Julieta Castellanos, Rector National Autonomous University of Honduras (Honduras); Dr Josephine Obiajulu Odumakin, President Campaign for Democracy (Nigeria); Elena Milashina journalist, human rights activist (Russia) and Fartuun Adan, Executive Director, Elman Peace and Human Rights Centre (Somalia). Three of the awardees Tsering Woeser (Wei Se), Tibetan author, poet, blogger (China), Razan Zeitunah, human rights lawyer and Founder, Local Coordination Committees (Syria) and Ta Phong Tan, blogger (Vietnam) would be given the award in absentia.

to technological advancement as undesirable people were finding ways to evade security arrangements. He said India, in cooperation with global partners, been implementing various cooperation programmes in the field of aviation security. Henry Steingass, Regional Director for South and Southeast Asia of US Trade and Development Agency

sue medicine. She had just graduated from a physiotherapy program when her life was cut short," said the State Department. "In the wake of her death just two weeks after the attack, India's civil society began advocating heavily for legislation and social programs to stem gender-based violence in all its forms and to ensure higher rape con-

the State Department said. The paramedical student was gangraped, beaten and thrown out of a moving bus along with a male friend in Delhi in December 2012, which generated widespread protests and was condemned by various women groups, both in India and abroad. The Secretary of State's International Women of Courage

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Colombia seizes 1.56 tonnes of cocaine

BOGOTA: The Colombian Navy has seized 1.564 tonnes of cocaine which were being smuggled by boat to Central America, officials said. The navy recently intercepted the boat in the Caribbean Sea off Colombia's northern Bolivar province, Xinhua said. "Four suspects, who were operating the boat with no name or port registration, noticed the presence of the Cartagena Coast Guard units in the area and fled, ignoring orders from the military personnel to turn off the boat's motors," the navy said. Authorities said the crew

Japan eager to mend US lawmakers push for tougher North Korea sanctions ties with South Korea
WA S H I N G T O N : Lawmakers are pushing for tougher US financial restrictions on North Korea even as the UN Security Council moves closer to a new resolution tightening international sanctions in response to Pyongyang's latest nuclear test. UN diplomats said late that the US has reached agreement with China on a draft resolution that will be presented to the council. The agreement follows three weeks of deliberations on how to respond to North Korea's third atomic test. It's a sign of Beijing's disapproval of its troublesome ally's behavior and will be welcomed in Washington. The text of the resolution has not been made public, but there has been speculation the UN's most powerful body could move to toughen financial restrictions and cargo inspections, as well as blacklisting more companies and individuals. In the meantime, the foreign affairs panels of both houses of Congress this week will consider the Obama administration's next policy options to impede Pyongyang's development of missiles and nuclear weapons that are increasingly viewed as a direct threat to the United States. North Korea long has been believed to have derived hundreds of millions of dollars a year from criminal activities such as counterfeiting of cigarettes and US currency, drug trafficking and insurance scams. Its sales of missiles and conventional weaponry are also outlawed under existing UN resolutions. The new North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has adopted a confrontational approach toward Washington, although he did deign to meet last week with former American professional basketball star Dennis Rodman. House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Ed Royce said that since President Bill Clinton's administration, US policy toward North Korea has been a ``bipartisan failure'' based on the hope that Pyongyang would do the right thing. The Obama administration has apparently not decided on this approach, but the political climate is conducive to trying something like it,'' Lee said. The North's improved financial standing could help explain its recent provocative behavior in conducting rocket and nuclear tests. The 2005 action caused a ripple effect among other banks worried about being shutout of the international financial system. Yet the sanction annoyed Beijing as well as enraging Pyongyang _ and proved complicated to undo when nuclear negotiations with North Korea finally got back on track. The US could also target the North's shipping by declaring the country a criminal enterprise, making vessels carrying its goods difficult to insure and subject to search and seizure, Noland said. TOKYO: Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe revealed on Tuesday said that he was preparing to hold telephone talks with South Korean President Park Geunhye to mend their soured bilateral relations. Abe said that he will take advantage of the launches of the new governments in the two countries to build "future-oriented" relations with South Korea, Xinhua said. On Monday, during a meeting with Japan's former finance MinisterFukushiro Nukaga, Abe said he wants to improve Tokyo-Seoul relations that soured due to territorial dispute. Japan and South Korea claim sovereignty over two islands, which are called as Dokdo in South Korea and Takeshima in Japan, in the Sea of Japan. The islets are controlled by South Korea. Japan reiterated several times its willingness to mend ties with South Korea since Abe returned to power last December. But both sides

members threw the cocaine into the water and one of them jumped into the sea. "A search and rescue operation was begun immediately, with no results so far." The boat was taken to the port of Cartagena, where the authorities found 63 sacks containing 1,540 packages of cocaine, which would reportedly have a street value of approximately $40 million.

China urges peace, stability on Korean peninsula

BEIJING: China on Tuesday called for efforts to maintain peace and stability on the KoreanPeninsula when responding to a joint military drill between the Republic of Korea (ROK) and theUnited States. "It is in the fundamental interests of all parties to safeguard peace and stability on the KoreanPeninsula and northeast Asia. We expect all parties to do more to ease tensions on thepeninsula and promote regional peace and stability," Foreign Ministry spokeswoman HuaChunying said. Hua made the remarks when asked to comment on an ongoing ROK-US military exercise and apossible exercise by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK). Regarding the United Nations Security Council (UNSC)'s discussion of the DPRK's latestnuclear test, Hua said China supports the UNSC's response in which it showed its opposition tothe test. The DPRK conducted its most recent nuclear test on February 12, marking its third testfollowing nuclear tests in 2006 and 2009, respectively. Hua called for the UNSC's response to be prudent and moderate. "It (the UNSC's response) should be able to help realize the peninsula's denuclearization,prevent nuclear proliferation and safeguard peace and stability in northeast Asia," Hua said. Hua said China has maintained close communications with related parties at the UNSC andother occassions.

Police arrest former Maldives president

COLOMBO: Police in the Maldives have arrested former president Mohamed Nasheed, 10 days after he left the Indian High Commission where he had taken refuge to avoid detention. A court had ordered police to arrest Nasheed after he missed a February 10 court appearance in a case relating to accusations that he illegally detained a judge during the last days of his rule. "We have received a court order to arrest him and produce to the court," Maldives police spokesman Hassan Haneef said on Tuesday. "We have him in police custody. He will be produced in court tomorrow." Nasheed entered the Indian High Commission on February 13 and says he left an attempt to exclude him from the contest and has challenged the court's legitimacy. Nasheed says he was forced from power at gunpoint after opposition protests and a police mutiny. A national commission last August said the toppling of his government was not a coup, but a transfer of power that followed the constitution, a ruling that triggered several days of demonstrations. The Maldives held its first free elections in 2008. Nasheed defeated Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, who had ruled for 30 years and faced criticism from opponents and international human rights groups over his running of the country.

seemingly adopted little tangible actions to mend ties and sparkled more verbal attacks. Despite South Korean opposition, Japan recently held the annual "Takeshima Day" to commemorate the disputed islets. The government sent Aiko Shimajiri, a parliamentary secretary with the cabinet office, to the event, marking the first occupant of one of the top three posts for lawmakers in a government ministry to attend the event. The event triggered strong opposition in Seoul immediately as many South Koreans gathered in front of Japan's embassy in Seoul to protest against the event.

Russia calls UNSC meet on North Korea

UNITED NATIONS: Russia has called for an extraordinary meeting of the UN Security Council (UNSC) Tuesday to discuss the recent nuclear test conducted by North Korea. The meeting has been called for by Russia's UN envoy Vitaly Churkin. Russia, which is holding the rotating presidency in the UNSC, is expected to focus on a draft resolution which aims to broad sanctions against North Korean officials and organisations connected with Pyongyang's nuclear missile programme. Churkin said earlier that the resolution was drafted by the US and the 15-member UNSC was likely to pass it. The international community condemned North Korea Feb 12 after Pyongyang confirmed having conducted a third nuclear test, in defiance of UN resolutions and appeals from its neighbors.

10 days later on the understanding that he would be able to conduct "peaceful political activity". The Maldives' first democratically elected leader resigned last year in contested circumstances. Nasheed and his supporters say he was forced to quit

last February in a coup in the tropical Indian Ocean resort archipelago, a major tourist destination. If Nasheed is found guilty in the case, he could be barred from standing in a presidential election on September 7. His party says the trial is

ECONOMY

High inflation prompting more 14.08 million Job losses in farm Coffee exports up 5 pc at 59,288 tonnes in Jan-Feb sector in 5 years to FY'10 gold buys, says D Subbarao
PUNE: Reserve Bank of India Governor Duvvuri Subbarao expressed concern that high inflation was forcing people to indulge in buying gold rather than depositing funds with banks. The government has announced several measures to discourage people from buying gold and prodding them to invest in financial instruments. Deposits were up 11.2 per cent in the first 10 months of financial year 2012-13, compared with 11.5 per cent in the same period a year ago. Subbarao was speaking at the convocation ceremony of a banking and finance institute in Pune. The government on Monday said it is not considering any proposal to reduce cy. In January, the government had hiked the import duty on gold and platinum to 6 per cent, from 4 per cent -- a move aimed at curbing imports of the precious metals to check the widening current account deficit. In an attempt to curb investment in gold, Finance Minister P Chidambaram during his Budget speech announced three measures that aimed at encouraging the common man to invest in other avenues. While he announced making Rajiv Gandhi Equity Saving Scheme (RGESS) more liberalised, Chidambaram also proposed introducing inflation indexed bonds. NEW DELHI: As many as 14.08 million jobs were lost in the five-year period ended in 2009-10 in the agriculture sector which engages almost 60 per cent of the workforce in the country. The job losses in the manufacturing sector during the five year period from 200405 to 2009-10 was 5.03 million as per the draft 12th Five-Year Plan approved by the country's apex policy making body National Development Council (NDC) in December last year. According to the data analysed in document, employment in the agriculture sector in absolute terms was 237.67 million in 19992000 which increased to 258.93 million in 2004-05 and then fell to 244.85 million in 2009-10. Similarly the workforce engaged in manufacturing sector was 44.05 million in 1999-2000, which increased to 55.77 million in 2004-05 and then came down to 50.74 million in 2009-10. However, the employment in non-manufacturing sector increased from 20.84 million in 1999-2000 to 29.96 million and 48.28 million in 2004-05 and 2009-10 respectively. The workforce in electricity, gas and water supply also saw a decline from 1.30 million in 2004-05 to 1.25 million in 2009-10. The other sector broadly in services sector saw a surge in employment. The overall employment in the country has jumped from 396.76 million in 19992000 and 457.46 million in 2004-05 and it was 460.22 million in 2009-10. The document has suggested a host of measures including improving the outreach of the skill development, putting in place institutional mechanism for skill development, skill loans for poor students and others to improve abilities of the country's workforce and their employability. NEW DELHI: The country's coffee exports rose by five per cent to 59,288 tonnes in the first two months of the current calendar year on higher demand, according to the Coffee Board. Of which, 37,731 tonnes was exported in February, slighly higher than 36,423 tonnes shipped in the same period last year, it said. According to the Board, coffee exports increased to 59,287 tonnes during January-February period of 2013 from Rs 56,535 tonnes in the year-ago period. In value terms, coffee exports during JanuaryFebruary of 2013 improved to Rs 891 crore from Rs 857 crore in the same period corresponding year. But the export value realisation continued to remain lower at Rs 1,50,312 per tonne. Much of the coffee was shipped to Italy (14,054 tonnes), followed by Germany (5,985 tonnes) and Russian Federation (5,136), it added.

import duty on gold in view of the impact it will have on the country's Current Account Deficit (CAD). The government has taken a number of measures to reduce imports of gold to arrest the widening of CAD, which represents the difference between inflows and outflows of foreign curren-

Fuel subsidy benefiting the rich not the poor: IMF official
WASHINGTON: The massive amount of fuel subsidy, which is taking a toll on government expenditure, is mainly benefiting the rich and not the poor, an IMF official said on Tuesday. It will take 1/10th of the current expenditure on subsidy to benefit the bottom 40 per cent of the population, according to Laura Papi, Assistant Director, Asia and Pacific Department at the International Monetary Fund. "They are not poor who are benefiting from the (fuel) subsidy," Papi told a Washington audience referring to a recent study in this regard. "If the government were to target and say we will keep the benefits for the 40 per cent bottom of the population that would mean spending only 10th of what they spend now," Papi said. Participating in a panel discussion on "The State of the Indian Economy: The Budget and Beyond" organised by the Brookings Institute, an eminent American think-tank, the IMF official said India needs to initiate a series of structural and fiscal reforms to boost up the country's growth. "The recovery is not going to be a quick one. After the global financial crisis, the Indian economy bounced back very quickly, but this time things are very different and we expect that recovery will be much more subdued," she said. Noting that there is quite a bit of lag between the investment and GDP cycle, she said there has been some movement on the reform front. Noting that reforms in the infrastructure sector - power, roads, transport and ports - is needs, she said more needs to be done and the next set of reforms should focus on key areas like labour market, land reform, tax reforms, and reforms in the legal sector. Diane Farrell, executive vice president of US-India Business Council (USIBC) said it was an honest endeavour on the part of the Finance Minister P Chidambaram to recognise the pressures that any election year brings but also recognising the equal pressure coming from rating agencies who were threatening to downgrade India to junk status. It looks like the Finance Minister has crafted a budget that would avoid that phase, she added. In his remarks, Ejaz Ghani, Economic Advisor, South Asia to the World Bank said that the latest budget is trying to go beyond growth.

India services PMI falls sharply in February to 54.2

BANGALORE: Country's services growth eased off the accelerator last month as new orders failed to keep up with January's blistering pace, a business survey showed on Tuesday, although companies remained optimistic about future business. The HSBC services Purchasing Managers' Index, based on a survey of around 400 companies, fell to 54.2 in February from a one-year high of 57.5 in January. It was the biggest one-month fall in nearly a year. While the February PMI fell for the first time since November, it has held above the 50 mark that separates growth from contraction since late 2011. Services make up nearly 60 per cent of India's output and have been the lone bright spot in an otherwise sluggish economy that grew at its slowest pace in December in more than a decade. New orders flooded in at their fastest rate in 18 months during January but the survey showed the pace tailed off last month, with the sub-index dropping to 55.4 from 58.3. Prices rose at a faster pace than in January and with costs also rising for manufacturers, that will keep upward pressure on inflation. The wholesale price index, which is the main index gauge, has declined in recent months, most recently at 6.62 per cent in January. But it is still above the central bank's perceived comfort level of around five per cent. The economy grew just 4.5 per cent from a year earlier in the quarter to December, government data showed last week, extending a slowdown that began at the start of 2012 and cementing expectations for decade-low growth in the current fiscal year. In January the RBI cut its GDP growth forecast to 5.5 per cent from 5.8 per cent for the fiscal year ending in March. While there is strong overseas demand for Indian services, renewed fears over the euro zone debt crisis after inconclusive Italian elections could put the brakes on exports and slow new outsourced deals for Indian software companies.

The rise in overall coffee exports was on account of higher shipment of premium arabica variety besides reexports, but some drop was seen in overseas sale of robusta variety. Arabica shipments jumped to 14,962 tonnes in the first 2 months of the current calendar year from Rs 12,959 tonnes in the year-ago period. Whereas coffee reexports rose to 12,037 tonnes from 9,955 tonnes in the review period. Robusta comprises maximum volumes in the total coffee exports. But export of robusta variety showed a decline to Rs 27,645 tonnes from 28,351 tonnes, while overseas sale of instant coffee too fell to 4,613 tonnes from 5,244 tonnes in the review period. The Board has pegged coffee production at 3,15,500 tonne in the 2012-13 crop year (OctoberSeptember), a marginal increase of 1,500 tonne over the final estimate of 314,000 tonnes in 2011-12.

Social assistance schemes may be revamped soon

NEW DELHI: The Cabinet will soon consider a revamped pension scheme for more than 8 crore widows, elderly and differently-abled people at a cost of 1.31 lakhcrore over five years. The inflation-linked National Social Assistance Programme is envisaged for all households to be covered by the proposed Food Security Act. This was recommended by a task force headed by Planning Commission member Mihir Shah, which submitted its report to rural development minister Jairam Ramesh on Monday. The task force was set up last October after the Cabinet directed Ramesh to review the national social assistance schemes that include Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme, Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme, Indira Gandhi National Disability Pension Scheme, Indira Gandhi National Family Benefit Schemes and Annapurna.

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India crush Australia by an innings and 135 runs

NEW DELHI: India took an unassailable 2-0 lead in the four-Test series against Australia by winning the second Test by an innings and 135 runs on the fourth day at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad on Tuesday. Ravichandran Ashwin registered his eighth fivewicket haul when he trapped James Pattinson plumb in front of the wicket as Australia were bundled out for 131 runs in their second innings. This is the first time in Test cricket history that a team declared their first innings and then collapsed to an innings defeat. This is Australia's fifth wickets were taken by spinners. R.Ashwin took 5-63 and Jadeja had figures of 3-33 to get the job done for India. The only Australian batsmen to offer any sort of resistance in the second innings was M.Cowans scoring a painstaking 44. CA Pujara was declared player of the match for his dominating knock of 204. With this win, Mahendra Singh Dhoni became the most successful Indian captain, eclipsing Sourav Ganguly's record of 21 Test wins. India now leads the 4 test series 2-0. The 3rd Test of the series starts from March 14 at Mohali.

Pak-India snooker series postponed Wrestler Sujjan wins over security fears in Karachi bronze for J&K
KARACHI: Pakistan and India on Tuesday postponed their snooker series planned for this week over security fears in host city Karachi, following a bomb attack that killed 48 people. The four-day series the first between the arch-rivals in almost eight years was due to start on Thursday but the visitors voiced concerns after Sunday's blast and asked for the series to be played later. Pakistan Snooker and Billiards Association president Alamgeer Shaikh said it was a mutual decision to postpone the clash.The neighbors have not played a snooker series since 2005, when India visited. All sporting ties were frozen after the deadly attacks on Mumbai in 2008, which were blamed on Pakistan-based militants. Cricketing ties were revived after a gap of five years when Pakistan toured India in December-January for a short limited-overs series. Despite the interruption, Shaikh praised India for agreeing to the series. . Snooker and billiards are fast-growing sports in the sub-continent, and Pakistan's Mohammad Asif won the world amateur snooker title last year. JAMMU: Wrestler Sujjan Ali brought laurels to the state by winning a bronze medal in the just concluded Mahan Bharat Kesari and All India Invitational Indian Style Wrestling Championship at Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh. Sujjan, who contested in 96 kg weight category, lost to Sukh Bir of NCR in the semifinals to secure a bronze medal. Earlier, during the preliminary round, he defeated Majahuddin Qureshi of Madhya Pradesh, followed by the second round win against Abhishek Solanki of Gujarat. To reach the semifinals, Sujjan trounced T Puran Singh of Andhra Pradesh. Other wrestlers from the state also performed well but could not make it to the medals tally. Sachin Singh (51 kg) and Rakesh Kumar (74 kg) won two rounds each while Shammi Kumar and Anayat Ali could only make it to the second round. Meanwhile, president of the J&K Indian Style Wrestling Association, Shiv Kumar Sharma congratulated the bronze winning Sujjan Ali and appreciated the performance of other wrestlers. He said that the medal winner will be honored suitably by the Association in near future. Shiv Sharma, who also accompanied the sevenmember state team in the championship, was all praise for the budding wrestlers. Rakesh Khajuria, Bansi Lal Tidyal, Mulkh Raj Sharma and Prem Kumar were part of the team as officials.

Test defeat in a row and their fifth lowest innings total in a Test in India. Australia started the day on 74/2 and lost all remaining 8 wickets adding only 57

runs to their overnight score. It was unlike Australia to go down without a fight but their inability to play spin was exposed when once again 8 of the second inning

Pujara, Ashwin rise Mohun Bagan beat Pune FC 3-0 in IFA opener in ICC rankings
KOLKATA: Pune FC went down 0-3 to Mohun Bagan in their IFA Shield Group A opener at the Kalyani Stadium on Tuesday. Striker C.S. Sabeeth's brace (fourth and 53rd minute) along with skipper Odafa Okolie's (30th) goal from a free-kick were enough to give Mohun Bagan the win. The loss to Mohun Bagan was Pune FC's second in the IFA Shield and third in five matches played here. In a game of a physical nature, Pune FC went close couple of times in the opening minutes. Midfielder Velington Rocha's attempt from the edge of the box went over after Douhou Pierre slid back the ball from the left. A minute later, striker James Moga's overhead kick went just wide after he did well to connect the ball. At the other end, some sloppy defending cost Pune FC as Mohun Bagan took the lead. Medio Quinton Jacobs' cross in from the left was headed into the box by Odafa to Sabeeth on the run, who controlled it with his chest and volleyed home. Midway through the half, Pune FC went close from another freekick. Douhou's crisp kick, once again from the left, was missed by all players

Pakistan to play hockey Tests in India next month

DUBAI: India players have reaped the rewards for an innings and 135 runs win over Australia in the second cricket Test in Hyderabad by making a charge on the latest ICC Test Player Rankings released on Tuesday. The biggest gains have been made by batsman Cheteshwar Pujara and off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, who have achieved their careerbest rankings in batting and bowling, respectively. Pujara, named Player of the Match for his double-century in the second Test, has jumped 12 places to a careerbest 11th position while Ashwin, who had match figures of 6/104, is now at a best-ever eighth spot, having jumped three positions.

In the rankings for Test batsmen, second-ranked Australia captain Michael Clarke has dropped three ratings points and now trails No.1 ranked Hashim Amla by 13 ratings points. Murali Vijay, the other Test centurion in Hyderabad, has jumped 27 places to 60th. In the rankings for Test bowlers, Australia's fast bowler James Pattinson has broken into the top 20 in 20th (up by one) while other bowlers to improve their rankings include Harbhajan Singh in 25th (up by one), Ravindra Jadeja in 40th (up by 23) and Bhuvneshwar Kumar in 97th (up by 28). The bowlers' table is still headed by South Africa's Dale Steyn.

rushing into the box only for an alert 'keeper Shilton Paul to clear off the goal line. At the half hour mark, another moment of madness cost Pune FC. As Odafa set on a counter, three Pune FC defenders tried to stop him giving away a cheap foul. The Nigerian scored directly from the freekick to double Mohun Bagan's lead. Two minutes later, Moga was brought down by Anyiche after he tried to connect Khanthang Paite's low cross into the box. Substitute Subash Singh, on for Shanmugam Venkatesh, too was denied after his attempt was blocked. Pune FC went into the break trailing 0-2. The second half began with Pune FC taking charge, however, finishing in the final third let them down. But it was Mohun Bagan who scored again after poorer defending by Pune. At the other end, Subash's powerful drive from the left was blocked by the keeper and the rebound was too quick for Rocha to handle. Pune FC then had striker Moga go close twice in a space of five minutes. Minutes past the hour mark, Moga's free-kick from 30-yards was saved by keeper Shilton.

LAHORE: The Pakistan hockey team will play five Test matches in India next month as part of a bilateral series details of which were worked out between officials of both the countries in Malaysia. The Pakistan Hockey Federation said in that the matches will be played from April 5 to 15 at Ranchi, Jalandhar, New Delhi, Lucknow and Mohali. The Hockey Federation said the final itinerary of the series will be released after consul-

Sharmila leads field in Hero golf

tation with media partners. It came after PHF President Qasim Zia and Secretary Asif Bajwa, who went to Malaysia for the Asian Hockey Federation meeting, met top officials of Hockey India on the sidelines of the meeting. Narendra Batra, the secretary of Hockey India, had also visited Lahore in late December and signed an agreement with the PHF regarding the resumption of bilateral hockey series after nearly six years.

PDC-B, NGR in pre-quarters of Rajiv Gold Cup

JAMMU: Power Development Corporation (PDC) -B and NGR Club on Tuesday qualified for the prequarterfinals of the ongoing 3rd Rajiv Gandhi Gold Cup Football Tournament at GGM Science College ground. In the first match of the day, PDC defeated equally good Jammu United 3-0 in tie- breaker. Young guard at the net, Tushar Heer played an important role in PDC-B win. He defended well in the stipulated time helping his side to make it a goalless draw. Later, in tie-breaker, Tushar brought PDC in a winning mode saving first two penalties taken by Rakesh and Koushal of Jammu United. Taking third kick, Sohan too missed the target. However, from PDC, Davian, Nainjyot Singh and Sahil successfully netted the ball while Abid missed. Meanwhile, in another second round match, NGR Club trounced Jammu Sports by three goals to one. Aman (second), Kunal (eighth) and Heera (45th) were the scorers from winning NGR while Sahil reduced the margin netting the ball in the 23rd minute. This tournament is being held under the supervision of organizing secretary, Narinder Gupta.

Beckham to visit China as football ambassador

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MUMBAI: Sharmila Nicollet put forth a commendable round of two under 63 to lead at the close of Round 1 of the fourth leg of the Rs.5,00,000 Hero Women's Professional Golf Tour being held at the Willingdon Sports Club. Sharmila, who is fresh from her win in the third leg last week, continued with her good form to stay two shots clear of second placed Pallavi Jain. Sharmila played a steady first round with birdies on the first, seventh and 14th holes and a solitary bogey on the fifth to lead the field on Day 1. Pallavi, was leading the field on the front nine with a onestroke advantage over Sharmila. However, a double bogey on the 17th ruined her chances forcing her to settle for the second position at the close of Round 1. She carded three

birdies on the sixth, ninth and 11th and a bogey on the 12th. Smriti Mehra, since her victory in the second leg, has struggled and her disappointment continued as she started with two bogeys followed by further bogeys on the seventh and 13th. Her birdies on the ninth and 17th helped her finish at the third position with a score of 2 over 67. Neha Tripathi finished fourth with a score of 5 over 70, followed by Preetinder Kaur (71) and Alexandra Dhayar (72)

BEIJING: Football superstar David Beckham has been named an ambassador for the Chinese Super League, the country's football association said, a move that has been widely anticipated but also criticized. The former England captain will visit three times during the season from March to November to promote the sport in China and attract the global spotlight, the China Football Association said. State media, however, cast doubt on whether Beckham, currently with French club Paris Saint-

Germain, could repair the image of a sport scarred by match-fixing and bribery scandals. A three-year inquiry resulted last month in 33 people receiving lifetime bans and the former club of Didier Drogba, Shanghai Shenhua, being stripped of its 2003 league title. The arrival last year of the Ivory Coast striker along with Nicolas Anelka, his former team-mate at English Premier League side Chelsea, signaled to some observers that Chinese football had turned a corner.

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