STUdenT aGe

Vol. 1 No: 153

www.thestudentage.com
JKENG/2012/41612
Jammu Edition 8 Pages Rs: 1.00
R E A D T H E N E E D
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2012
IN BRIEF IN BRIEF
Govt imposes penalty on
eleven cement companies
NEW DELHI: The
Government has imposed a
penalty of over 6,714 crore
rupees on eleven cement
companies for violating the
Competition Act. Corporate
Affairs Minister Sachin Pilot
gave this information in a
written reply in the Lok
Sabha contd on page 2
Indian-origin woman
dies of rabies in Britain
LONDON: An Indian-origin
woman in Britain has died
after contracting rabies due to
a dog-bite she suffered while
visiting India. The woman, in
her 50s and from London,
died over the weekend in an
isolation unit. She had been
bitten by a puppy nine weeks
ago, The contd on page 2
Congo rebels withdraw
forces from two towns
GOMA: Rebels in eastern
Democratic Republic of
Congo have started with-
drawing from two towns cap-
tured from government
troops, following a deal bro-
kered by Uganda, their mili-
tary leader said on
Wednesday. That would
mean the contd on page 2
Oilseed industry in
India pushes for hike in
import taxes: Sources
NUSA DUA, INDONESIA,
NOV 29: Oilseed industry in
India has submitted a propos-
al to the government to raise
import taxes on palm oil and
other edible oils, arguing
demand for local output is
being hurt after a sharp fall in
prices, two trading sources
told media. Oilseed crushing
industry gave the proposal to
contd on page 2
NEW DELHI: The
Government has issued new
guidelines to the states that
an officer not below the rank
of DCP will decide on filing
of cases under section 66Aof
IT Act. The government has
modified rules under contro-
versial section 66Aof ITAct.
The move comes in the wake
of its alleged misuse in
recent few cases.
Communications & IT
Minister Kapil Sibal had this
morning met civil society
activists for Internet freedom
who had sought clarifica-
tions on the definition of sec-
tion 66A of the IT Act.
According to the new guide-
lines, police officers at the
level of IGP or DCP will
have to give prior approval
for registration of cases relat-
ing to 66 Aof the ITAct. The
senior officer will also
decide whether a complaint
needs to be registered under
this section or not.
This comes a day after a
19-year-old boy was ques-
tioned by the police in
Palghar over an alleged
Facebook post against
Maharashtra Navnirman
Sena chief Raj Thackeray.
This also comes amidst the
row over the arrest of two
girls in Palghar over a
Facebook post on late Shiv
Sena founder Bal Thackeray.
The government has issued
an advisory to states on how
to implement the controver-
sial Section 66(A) of the IT
Act. Government sources say
that a prior approval from the
Deputy Commissioner or
IGP level officers is needed
before the Station House
Officer can register such
complaints. Government
sources also said that the
Maharashtra incident was
not justified. Sources said the
government acted on civil
society fears that Section
66(A) was unconstitutional
and open to misinterpreta-
tion.
Meawhile, Shreya
Singhal from Delhi has filed
a Public Interest Litigation
(PIL) that describes Section
66(A) of the ITAct as uncon-
stitutional. "I feel it is a vio-
lation of free speech, it hasn't
been updated, and people are
using it wrongly," Ms
Singhal said. The petition
wants the offence under
Section 66(A) of the
Information Technology Act
to be contd on page 2
Govt modifies, issues new guidelines
under section 66A of IT Act
NEW DELHI: The dead-
lock in both Houses of
Parliament ended on
Thursday with presiding offi-
cers of the Lok Sabha and
Rajya Sabha allowing a
debate on FDI in multi-brand
retail under rules that entail
voting which will take place
on December 4 and
December 5. The Opposition
had been pressing the gov-
ernment to hold a debate on
FDI in Parliament with vot-
ing.
While Lok Sabha Speaker
Meira Kumar allowed the
debate under Rule 184, the
discussion and subsequent
voting in Rajya Sabha will be
held under Rule 168. Meira
Kumar announced the deci-
sion when the House con-
vened at 11 am.
"I have received 30
notices for discussion on FDI
in multi-brand retail under
Rule 184. I have admitted the
motion to allow the discus-
sion. The date and the time
will be decided later," the
Speaker announced in the
House. Leader of the
Opposition Sushma Swaraj
welcomed the decision of the
Speaker. "I welcome the
decision. I assure you smooth
functioning of the House,"
she said immediately after
the Speaker allowed it.
Sources said the debate could
begin on Monday and a vote
held either on Tuesday or
Wednesday. Rajya Sabha
Chairman Hamid Ansari
allowed the debate under
Rule 168 after meeting lead-
ers of all parties following
continued disruptions in the
Upper House for the fifth
day.
After the House was
adjourned for the day, Ansari
called a meeting of leaders of
all parties at 1 pm and the
deadlock was resolved there.
The vote on FDI will be non-
binding on the government,
meaning the UPA faces no
threat even if it loses the
vote. However, it would be a
political embarrassment if
the government fails to prove
numbers on the floor of the
House during the voting.
The contd on page 2
Both Houses of Parliament to vote
on FDI; SP to oppose govt in RS
JERUSALEM: India's 'sili-
con valley' Bangalore has
been rated among top pollut-
ed megacities in the world,
claims a new study, using
data collected by NASA's
high-tech satellites.
Scientists at Tel Aviv
University tracked pollution
trends for 189 megacities,
including Mumbai, New
York City and Tokyo, by
analysing eight years' worth
of data from three of NASA's
high-tech aerosol monitoring
satellites.
Northeast China, India,
the Middle East, and Central
Africa are currently leading
in pollution increase, includ-
ing Bangalore, with a 34 per
cent contd on page 2
JAMMU,NOV 29: Sandeep
Bhat N.S.S volunteer and
student of Deptt. of
Computer sciences and IT,
University of Jammu has
been awarded the prestigious
Indira Gandhi N.S.S national
award for the year 2011-12
by the President of India
Sh. Pranab Mukherjee at a
function held recently at
Rashtrapati Bhawan.
Mr. Sandeep Bhat has
been a very dedicated volun-
teer of NSS who made 350
people literate through his
continued efforts and partici-
pated in literacy programme
for poor children in the slums
and also offered his services
in Balniketan. He planted 115
saplings and donated blood
six times. He has attended
five national integration
camps held in different
states.
The vice-chancellor Prof
Mohan Paul Singh Ishar,
Hon'ble Vice-
Chancellor,University of
Jammu congratulated
Sandeep Bhat for his
achievement and wished him
best for the future. The
Programme Coordinator,
NSS contd on page 2
Bangalore among top polluted
megacities in the world: Study
BANGALORE/CHENNAI: The deadlock
between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu over
River Cauvery water sharing continued on
Thursday as the former refused to release any
more water to the neighbouring state. The
talks between Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J
Jayalalithaa and her Karnataka counterpart
Jagadish Shettar in Bangalore on the Cauvery
water sharing row failed to produce any ami-
cable result.
Speaking to reporters after holding 'failed'
talks with Shettar, Jayalalithaa said that
Karnataka flatly refused to release any more
water, maintaining the stalemate in the
decades-old vexed dispute. "We requested 32
tmc ft water, but Karnataka flatly refused to
even give us another drop," she said.
"The next Supreme Court hearing is
tomorrow. We will go before the Supreme
Court and tell them the outcome of today's
meeting," she added.
The duo met heeding the Supreme Court's
suggestion that both the CMs should meet and
arrive at an amicable solution to the "sensi-
tive" water dispute. Ahead of the meeting
with his Tamil Nadu counterpart, Shettar had
expressed confidence in solving the Cauvery
water sharing stalemate. "Both neighbouring
states are in distress. We have to find a solu-
tion in the present circumstances. I am confi-
dent we would find so," he had told reporters
after unveiling the Karnataka Youth Policy-
2012. This was the second contd on page 2
Cauvery water sharing talks fail
'K'taka refuses to release water to TN'
Sandeep Bhat bags Indira Gandhi N.S.S
national award from Prez of India
NEWDELHI: Rejecting the
"notion" that the direct cash
transfer scheme would abdi-
cate government's commit-
ment to welfare state, Rural
Development Minister
Jairam Ramesh on Thursday
said it is an answer to the
"incompetent Army of cor-
rupt delivery agents".
Ramesh also termed as "ludi-
crous and bogus" Aam
Aadmi Party leader Arvind
Kejriwal's argument that this
programme is a "bribe giv-
ing" one.
"We are not abdicating
principles of welfare state.
We are just saying that instru-
ments of the welfare state,
which are subsidy, scholar-
ships or pensions are better
delivered through this sys-
tem. I fail to see how an army
of intermediaries corrupt at
every contd on page 2
Cash transfer scheme answer to
corrupt delivery agents: Ramesh
SRINAGAR, NOV 29: The
434-km Srinagar-Leh
National highway was closed
for traffic as high altitude
areas of Kashmir Valley,
including the famous ski
resort of Gulmarg, experi-
enced the first heavy snow-
fall of the season, officials
said on Thursday.
Heavy snowfall along the
Line of Control (LoC) since
last evening also prompted
authorities to suspend traffic
on the roads connecting the
border towns of Gurez,
Machil, Karnah, Tangdhar
and Keran, the officials said.
They said the Srinagar-
Leh national highway-- the
only road linking frontier
region of Ladakh with
Kashmir Valley-- was closed
for traffic yesterday follow-
ing heavy snowfall.
So far two feet of snow
had accumulated on the high-
way between Sonamarg and
Zojilla pass which usually
attracts heaviest snowfall
during the winter resulting in
closure of the road for traffic
to about six months in a year,
the officials said.
Drass and Kargil towns
also experienced snowfall
last night. While Drass
recorded two inches of snow
till this afternoon, Kargil
which was the coldest place
in the state with a low of
minus 5.8 degrees Celsius
witnessed mild snowfall,
they said. Gulmarg, 50 kms
from here, also recorded 1.5
feet contd on page 2
Srinagar-Leh highway
closed after snowfall
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'BJP not opposed to Cash transfer Scheme'
NEW DELHI: The Central
Bureau of Investigation
(CBI) plans to turn itself into
a multi-disciplinary agency
by opening its closely guard-
ed doors to chartered
accountants, audit specialists
and analysts. outgoing CBI
director AP Singh today said,
the government has agreed to
the CBI's proposal to bring
specialists to the agency on
deputation in cracking cases
speedily and improve probe
quality.
Mr Singh who demits
office tomorrow said, CBI's
employee strength should be
doubled to handle complex
cases. Mr Singh said the alle-
gations of CBI functioning at
the behest of government
pressure are totally baseless.
Saying checking corruption
forms an important part of
CBI functioning, Mr Singh
said during his tenure school
children were called to visit
the CBI headquarter. Mr
Singh contd on page 2
CBI plans to turn itself into
multi-disciplinary agency
SRINAGAR, NOV 29 :
Curfew continued in parts of
Srinagar on Thursday, a day
after sectarian clashes in
some parts of the city, police
said.
Curfew had been
imposed in nine police sta-
tion areas, including Lal
Bazar, Nigeen, Safakadal
and Rainawari.
On Wednesday, some
groups of Shia and Sunni
Muslims clashed in the
Hawal area of old city
Srinagar. The rioters had
also resorted to pelting
stones on police who inter-
vened to bring the situation
under control.
"Curfew has been
imposed as a preventive
measure to maintain law and
order in these areas," a
police officer said.
Contingents of police
and paramilitary Central
Reserve Police Force
(CRPF) in riot gear have
been deployed to enforce
the restrictions in the affect-
ed areas.
Traffic intersections and
main roads have been barri-
caded by coils of concertina
wire.
"Since today (Thursday)
morning no untoward inci-
dent has been reported from
anywhere in the city," the
officer added. There was
tension contd on page 2
Curfew in parts of
Srinagar after clashes
Sandeep Bhat N.S.S volunteer and student of Deptt. of Computer
sciences and IT, University of Jammu along with vice-chancellor
Prof Mohan Paul Singh Ishar and others posing for a photograph
after receiving Indira Gandhi N.S.S national award from
President of India.
Page 1_Bali_Bali.qxd 11/30/2012 12:20 PM Page 1
Srinagar-Leh ....
of snow since last evening, bringing cheers on
the faces of tourists, who had thronged the resort
to experience the snowfall.
It was still snowing in the hill resort and other
high altitude areas, the officials said, adding,
Gulmarg was the coldest place in the Valley with
a minimum of minus 4.5 degrees Celsius.
The peripheral areas of Gulmarg, including
Khilanmarg, seven spring and Afterwath recorded
two to 2.5 feet of snow, the officials said.
They said Gurez and adjoining areas including
Kazalwan and Tulail in Bandipora district record-
ed nearly one feet of snow, while Machil, Karnah,
Keran and Tangdhar near the LoC in Kupwara dis-
trict experienced seven to nine inches of snow till
last reports were received. In south Kashmir, Peer
Ki Gali on the Mughal road witnessed two feet of
snow, prompting authorities to announce closure
of the under construction road connecting
Srinagar and Rajouri-poonch districts of Jammu.
Pahalgam hill resort also witnessed two inches
of snow, while its peripheral areas including the
famous 3,880 metre high holy cave shrine of
Amarnath recorded two feet of snow, the officials
said. Srinagar and other plains were lashed by
incessant rains since last evening, resulting in
steep drop in the day temperature.
However, the night temperature improved due
to cloudy weather, the officials said adding
Srinagar recorded a low of 3.3 degrees Celsius.
The night temperature also recorded an upward
trend in frontier region of Ladakh. The nigh tem-
perature recorded at Leh was minus 1.8 degrees
Celsius, the officials added.
Govt modifies....
made non-cognizable. The Supreme Court will
hear the petition on Thursday afternoon. The PIL
petitioner has drawn the attention of the court on
some incidents of misuse of section 66Aof the IT
Act. In April, Jadavpur University professor
Ambikesh Mahapatra was arrested in Kolkata for
circulating a cartoon depicting West Bengal Chief
Minister Mamata Banerjee.
More recently, a young woman, Shaheen
Dhada, and her friend were arrested in
Maharashtra for a Facebook post questioning
Mumbai's shutdown following Bal Thackeray's
death. Thane Superintendent of Police (rural) and
Palghar police station Sub-Inspector were sus-
pended for disobeying the orders of superiors
while arresting two girls from Palghar for the
Facebook post. The Shiv Sena had called for
bandh in Palghar on Wednesday to protest against
the action on the policemen in the Facebook arrest
case. Maharashtra Home Minister RR Patil said
that the police officials were suspended for dis-
obeying the orders of the IG of Konkan zone.
Meanwhile, in another case a 19-year-old boy
has spoken out after his Facebook account was
allegedly hacked and used to abuse MNS chief
Raj Thackeray. The boy maintains that he never
wrote the controversial post but believes it was
written to create enmity in Palghar where a large
number of North Indians live. The boy was ques-
tioned about the post and let off on Wednesday
after the MNS complained. A case has been filed
against an unknown person under the IT Act. The
Thane Cyber crime Cell is in the process of track-
ing the hacker.
Curfew in parts...
even in areas not under curfew as reports of the
clashes spread.
Authorities have also mounted vigil in other
towns and villages of the Kashmir Valley with a
mix of Shia-Sunni population.
Educational institutions, banks, post offices,
businesses and other routine activities were also
affected.
The Kashmir University has postponed all the
examinations scheduled Thursday.
Both Houses .....
Samajwadi Party, which supports the UPA
government from outside, today, said it will vote
against the FDI in Rajya Sabha. It may be noted
that the government is in minority in the Upper
House. SP leader Ramgopal Yadav said his party
can take two different stands in Lok Sabha and
Rajya Sabha. When queried whether the party
could have different positions in the two Houses,
he said, "This happens many times. This has hap-
pened in the past also."
With regard to Lok Sabha, SP leaders have
been saying that the party will oppose FDI but
have remained ambiguous on voting. On whether
there was a communication gap between party
leaders in the two Houses, he replied, "Sometimes
it is deliberate." The end to Parliament logjam
came hours after Parliamentary Affairs Minister
Kamal Nath met the Lok Sabha Speaker along
with Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde and
Sushma Swaraj. Sushma had stuck to her party's
demand that a debate on FDI be held under a rule
that entails voting. The government had dropped
ample hints earlier that it was ready for a debate
on FDI in retail under a rule that entails voting.
Kamal Nath had stressed that the government
wanted Parliament to function. While the UPA
was till this morning confident of its numbers,
SP's backtracking from its soft stand has come as
a cause of worry for the government. UPApartner
DMK, which had some reservations on the move,
is now backing FDI in retail while the Bahujan
Samaj Party, which supports the alliance from out-
side, has not taken a tough stand on the issue.
Sources said the BSP could support the govern-
ment by abstaining from voting to address its
votebase. The government got a shot in the arm
after its erstwhile partner Trinamool Congress too
said it had left on the presiding officers of the two
Houses the decision over the rules under which
the debate should be held. But the government is
not sure of Trinamool support, which is expected
to abstain if a vote take place, said the sources.
Bangalore among....
average increase in aerosol concentration
between 2002 and 2010, website Tel Aviv
University's American Friends (AFTAU) report-
ed. Europe and Northeast and Central North
America are seeing the largest decreases in
aerosol concentrations overall, the website said.
Among the cleanest cities were Houston, with a
31 per cent decrease over the time period;
Curitiba, Brazil, with a 26 per cent decrease; and
Stockholm, Sweden, with a 23 per cent decrease.
Researchers led by Pinhas Alpert of Tel Aviv
University's Department of Geophysics and
Planetary Sciences tracked pollution trends for
189 megacities metropolitan hotspots where the
population exceeds 2 million.
Their method, published in the American
Journal of Climate Change, is the first to provide
standardised global testing of pollution levels.
Researchers found that the thickest layers of glob-
al smog, caused by traffic, industry, and natural
minerals, among other factors, are found over the
world's megacities.
Some American cities were on the list of
increased pollution levels, including Portland with
a 53 per cent average increase and Seattle with a
32 per cent average increase, but Alpert believes
these numbers reflect the multiple wildfires that
have been happening in the region in the second
half of the period examined.
In the future, he hopes to develop a method for
separating such natural causes of pollution from
man-made pollutants for more accurate data.
However, getting an accurate measurement of pol-
lution is no easy task. On-the-ground monitoring
stations do not always provide the most accurate
picture; monitoring stations depend heavily on
local positioning and some cities put stations in
urban centers, while others build on the edge of a
city.
Cauvery water ....
time in 15 years that the Chief Ministers of the
two states held bilateral talks on the water row
after 1997 when M Karunanidhi and JH Patel met
in Chennai. "This is a question of farmers; not
concerning any political party," said Ashoka, who
holds the Transport and Home portfolio in the BJP
government. "If there is an acceptable solution for
farmers of both states, it would be good for them."
Hearing the issue, the Supreme Court had on
Monday suggested that both chief ministers
should give it a try and meet in a congenial man-
ner and discuss the issue in the larger interest of
farmers of both states.
CBI plans to turn....
said, children in turn would influence their par-
ents, relatives and begin an informal movement
against corrupt practices in daily life.
Sandeep Bhat bags.....
Dr. Vishav Raksha and the Chairman NSS
University campus Prof Jasbir Singh also congrat-
ulated Sandeep Bhat for winning the IG award for
the year 2011-12.
Cash transfer....
level can stand for a welfare state," he said
addressing an international workshop on direct
cash transfers here. BJP today said it is not
opposed to Aadhar-based cash transfer scheme
and that there was nothing new in the announce-
ment for which Congress is taking "political
mileage". It also said its state governments have
been implementing similar schemes for years.
"There is nothing new in this method. Many
state governments give scholarships and pensions
to the bank accounts of the people directly.
Moreover, the central government is not giving
any additional subsidy through this scheme," BJP
spokesperson Prakash Javadekar said. The princi-
pal opposition maintained, "While people are reel-
ing under inflation, Congress is only making
efforts to take political mileage for nothing."
"Having the notion that Army of delivery
agents and we can have plethora of delivery sys-
tems all of whom have proven their incompetence
and their insensitivity. But somehow they are
seem to be symbols of welfare state," Ramesh
said, referring to former Prime Minister Rajiv
Gandhi's observation that 85 percent of money
released from Delhi never reached the beneficiar-
ies. Referring to Kejriwal's allegation that this
programme is a "bribe giving" one, the Minister
said he found it "very odd" and "benefit transfer is
not a gift we are giving".
"It is an entitlement that we are acknowledging
and I fail to see how the delivery of an entitlement
whether the scholarship or pension or subsidy can
be construed as a bribe. I think the bribe argument
is ludicrous and bogus argument," he said. "In fact
it is to make the welfare state more efficient that
you are going to the direct benefit transfer," he
added.
The ambitious direct cash transfer scheme will
be officially launched from January one next year.
The programme covering 29 welfare schemes ini-
tially will be experimented in 51 districts across
the country.
Govt imposes ....
today. He said the Competition Commission of
India found the cement companies and a Cement
Manufacturers' Association indulging in malprac-
tices and violating the anti-competitive agree-
ments.
Indian-origin...
media reported. After returning to Britain, the
woman visited her doctor May 14 and called at a
hospital for next two days. She was referred to
Queen Elizabeth Hospital in south London.
Tests confirmed rabies. She was taken to
University College Hospital's intensive care unit
to be nursed in isolation. A spokesman said: "We
regret to announce a patient being treated for
rabies died over the weekend. Our sincere condo-
lences go to the family." She was with her hus-
band at the time of dog attack. It is yet unknown if
the husband is considered at risk. In the last
decade, only one person in Britain has died from
rabies contracted abroad. It was eradicated in the
country over a century ago, the report said.
Congo rebels....
M23 rebel group were giving up gains from a
lightning offensive carried out in the past week,
but there was no indication they were ending their
eight-month-old insurgency.
The revolt against Congo's government has
raised the risk of all-out war in a borderlands
region dogged by nearly two decades of conflict
that has killed about 5 million people and is
fuelled by competition over mineral resources.
"We're leaving Sake, we're leaving Masisi,"
Sultani Makenga said in rebel-held Goma, the
provincial capital of North Kivu. "Goma will be
later," he said, adding fighters would eventually
pull back 20 km from the city.
Ugandan military chief Aronda Nyakayirima
said on Tuesday after a meeting with Makenga
that M23 had agreed to withdraw from Goma
unconditionally. But M23's political leader Jean
Marie Runiga initially cast doubt on the deal, say-
ing the pull-out was contingent on a list of
demands - including direct talks with President
Joseph Kabila. The rebels captured Goma on
November20 after Congolese soldiers withdrew
and UN peacekeepers gave up defending the city.
U.N. experts and the Congolese government have
said the M23 rebels are backed by Rwanda, a
charge denied by Kigali.
Oilseed industry ....
Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar last week
seeking a raise in crude edible oil import taxes to
10 per cent from zero duty currently, said sources
with direct knowledge of the plan. They asked not
to be identified due to the sensitivity of the issue.
The industry wants to shore up domestic prices
for country's farmers, who are sowing their rape-
seed crop and have complained of dwindling
returns due to cheaper imports from palm oil pro-
ducing Indonesia and Malaysia, as well as soyoil-
exporting Brazil and Argentina.
The sources said the proposal also called for
refined edible oils import tariffs to be hiked to 20
per cent from 7.5 per cent now in a bid to safe-
guard the investment Indian refiners have made in
building plants to process crude edible oil imports.
"This is a two-pronged approach to save coun-
try's industry and farmers," one of the trading
sources told media on the sidelines of an industry
conference on the Indonesian island of Bali. "If
nothing is done, people will suffer and no govern-
ment will want that."
STUDENT AGE
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2012
2
Contd. from page 1...
BANGALORE: The first
upgraded Jaguar "Darin III"
fighter jet of the Indian Air
Force (IAF) has been suc-
cessfully flight tested by
Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd.
on Nov. 28. The refurbished
aircraft, featuring new state-
of-the-art avionics, mission
computer, modern naviga-
tion, electronic warfare and
weapon delivery system
along with additional func-
tions in inertial global posi-
tioning system, autopilot,
radar and radar warning
receiver among others, took
to the skies from HAL's
Bangalore facility.
"This is a significant
moment for HAL as the
upgrade will result in major
operational improvement
with regard to all weather
air to ground, air to sea and
air to air capabilities
through incorporation of
multi mode radar," R K
Tyagi, Chairman, HAL, said
in a statement.
Other upgrades on the
aircraft include engine and
flight instrument system,
solid state digital video
recording system, solid state
flight data recorder, state-
of-the-art, man-machine
interface (near glass cock-
pit) with two smart multi
function display and head-
up display. The Darin III
upgrade, with re-engining
and change over to higher
capacity alternators can
make the Jaguar one of the
most potent aircraft in the
arsenal of IAF with an
extended life-span, the
Indian aerospace major
said. The Defence Ministry
has awarded a contract
worth Rs 3113.02 crore to
the State-run firm to
upgrade the IAF's entire
fleet of 115 Jaguar fighters
by December 2017.
The Anglo-French origin
twin-engine, single seater
ground attack aircraft has
been in service with the IAF
since 1979. It has been man-
ufactured under licence by
HAL.
First upgraded Jaguar for
IAF makes maiden flight
NEW DELHI: Five companies are
left in the fray to supply multi-calibre
assault rifles for replacing the indige-
nous INSAS rifles of the Indian
Army.
In the global Request for Proposal
issued to 34 vendors, five companies
including American Beretta and Colt,
Israeli IWI, Switzerland's Sig-Sauer
and Czech Republic's Ceska are left
in the race for the tender, Army offi-
cials said
Under the tender, the Army has
stated requirement for over 60,000
new assault rifles which should have
two barrels that can be used in differ-
ent types of operations, they said.
The Army wants the new rifles to
be equipped with barrels of 7.62 mm
and 5.56mm calibre bullets for count-
er-insurgency operations and conven-
tional warfare respectively, they said.
The sources said such a rifle
would also help in saving cost for
procuring two different types of guns
for troops. It would require only three
parts, including the barrel and the
magazine, to be changed which
would be possible at the unit level
only.
The Army wants the new guns not
to be heavier than 3.6 kgs, almost half
kilogram lighter than the INSAS
(Indian Small Arms System) rifles. It
has sought complete transfer of tech-
nology from the vendors so that the
guns can be license produced at
Indian ordnance factories.
The force also wants the rifles to
be equipped with under barrel
grenade launchers and capable of fir-
ing indigenously- produced ammuni-
tion.
The INSAS rifles, designed by the
DRDO, were inducted into the armed
forces in the 90s. They have been
used in the Kargil War and counter-
insurgency operations also.
In its early days, the INSAS rifles
had faced reliability problems in cold
climate in places such as Kashmir
Valley and Siachen glacier.
India, Russia to
hold naval exercise
off Mumbai coast
NEW DELHI: Three Russian warships
will enter Mumbai on Wednesday to hold
joint naval exercises, code-named 'INDRA',
with the Indian Navy from December 2.
The two-day naval exercises will be held
off the coast of Mumbai from December 2
where the Indian side would be represented
by Delhi Class destroyer INS Mysore and
Tabar Class guided missile frigate along
with different types of aircraft in the force,
Navy officials said.
The Russian side has come with destroy-
er Marshal Shaponishkov, fleet tug ship
Alatau and fleet tanker Irkut for the exercis-
es, they said.
Navies of India and Russia have been
engaging each other in joint drills for the
last few years. The Armies of the two sides
also hold their drills under the same code-
name INDRA.
Recently, the Indian Army had sent its
troops to Russia for the Army-to-Army
exercises in a province close to the China-
Mongolia border there.
Since 2003, India and Russia have con-
ducted five of the INDRA-series joint
ground and naval exercises. The last such
exercise was held between the two coun-
tries' army units in India in October 2010.
Five companies in race
to supply multi-calibre
rifles to Indian Army
Sagar asks Panches,
Sarpanches to
cooperate with govt
SRINAGAR, NOV 29: Minister for Rural
Development, Panchayati Raj, Law and
Parliamentary Affairs, Mr. Ali Mohammad
Sagar today said that government has put in
place a vibrant Panchayati Raj System by
ensuring proper empowerment of Panchayati
Raj Institutions.
The Minister was addressing a large gath-
ering of Panches and Sarpanches at Khrew
here today.
He said government took up massive
developmental projects and strengthened
infrastructure in all the three regions, thereby
assuring peace and prosperity for all the sec-
tions of the society.
He said the government took various ini-
tiatives for attracting more and more tourists
to the state which resulted in improving econ-
omy of the people.
Giving resume of various worth mention-
ing activities of present government, Mr.
Sagar said that widening and six laning proj-
ect of National Highway, connecting railway
service with valley and several power projects
taken in hand by the state government shall
hopefully open windows of prosperity for
people and shall make them self reliant in the
days to come.
He appealed the Panches and Sarpanches
to cooperate with government in implementa-
tion process of various development and wel-
fare schemes.
Sakina for balanced
development of the
State
KULGAM, NOV 29: Minister for Social
Welfare, Ms. Sakina Itoo today said that state
government is committed for balanced devel-
opment of all the three regions of the State
adding that several initiatives have been taken
during the last three years to provide various
facilities to the people at their doorsteps.
The Minister was interacting with several
deputations who called on her during an
extensive visit of Kulgam Tehsil. The people
apprised her about various problems con-
fronting them and pleaded for solving them on
priority keeping in view the ensuing winter
season.
Assuring of taking up various matters of
concern with the departments, Ms. Itoo asked
the people to cooperate with the government
in implementation process of various devel-
opmental and welfare schemes by way of
supervising and monitoring the expenditures
being incurred on various planned pro-
grammes.
Ms. Sakina gave the resume of the activi-
ties of her department particularly and other
departments in general with regard to provid-
ing financial assistance to widows, orphans
and physically challenged persons by the
Government and also in setting up of network
of schools, health centers and providing ade-
quate power and drinking water supply to the
people.
Speaking about prioritizing the weaker
sections of the society, the Minister said that
Government has initiated various pro-
grammes for connecting far flung areas with
tehsil and district headquarters by road con-
nectivity thereby assuring prosperity and
progress of the people living in remote areas.
Page 2_Defence.qxd 11/30/2012 12:20 PM Page 1
STATE
STUDENT AGE
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2012
3
NEWS IN BOX
DC Kulgam reviews winter
preparedness
KULGAM, NOV 29: In view of inclement weather and
snowfall forecasting, Deputy Commissioner Jahangir Mir
chaired a meeting of concerned sectoral heads here today and
took stock of the preparedness to effectively tackle eventual-
ities, if any. The meeting held threadbare discussion on snow
clearance action plan. It was given out that 7 snow clearance
machines are in a state of full readiness to clear snow from
326 Km linear length of different routes within the District.
Assistant Executive Engineer, Mechanical Engineering
was asked to stay in touch with PCR and concerned SHOs
for effective deployment of the machines.
Executive Engineer R&B was asked to ensure clearance
of the snow from the link roads where machines cannot oper-
ate so that people don't face any kind of inconvenience.
It was enjoined upon PDD Executive Engineer to consti-
tute a special task force for timely clearing power faults. He
was directed to ensure smooth power supply as per schedule
and avoid unwarranted power cuts at all costs.
It was decided in the meeting that services of civil
defense personnel will be effectively utilized to tackle any
kind of eventuality, the likelihood of which increases during
winter.
Speaking at the meeting, the Deputy Commissioner asked
the officers to remain stationed at the district headquarters
and forge efficient coordination to improve delivery of serv-
ices during the winter months.
He said the action plans formulated should be put into
practice instantly once the situation demands. For the pur-
pose, the sectoral officers need to girdle up loins and moni-
tor the functioning of their sub- ordinate staff round the
clock. Among others, Assistant Commissioner, Revenue,
Additional Superintendent Police, executive engineers of R
& B, PDD and Mechanical Engineering department also
attended the meeting.
J&K govt misusing state
machinery for LC polls: BJP
JAMMU,NOV 29: The BJP today accused the ruling
National Conference-Congress alliance of violating the
model code of conduct by misusing the official machinery
ahead of the Legislative Council polls.
"We take strong exception to the misuse of government
machinery by ruling parties in the election campaign for
Legislative Council. We call upon the election authorities to
immediately intervene and check this blatant violation of
Model Code," party leader Jitendra Singh said here.
Singh said that from time to time, party leadership has
brought to the notice of authorities the violation of election
code at different places.
He also alleged of attempts to offer bribes to panchayat
representatives to get votes. Singh claimed that the Congress
stands exposed because of its dual policy of demanding 73rd
and 74th amendments in street protests, while its ministers in
the cabinet follow the NC line of avoiding any reference to
the amendments. Singh said that if voted to the Legislative
Council, the BJP candidates will fight for implementation of
these amendments.
Coalition campaigns at R.S Pura,
Akhnoor and Marh for MLC Seats
R.S PURA,NOV 29:The coalition parties today held series
of meetings at R.S Pura and akhnoor in support of the can-
didates nominated for Legislative Council from Jammu divi-
sion and appealed for support in favour of Dr shenaz Ganai,
from Jammu (2), with election symbol Hal, and also for
Sham Lal bhagat from jammu(1) with election symbol
Hand.all the prominent leaders of both the political parties
attended the meetings. later they proceeded to Marh for
attending the simillar function.
Dr Ganai appealed the panches and sarpances to vote in
favour of the coalition and strengthen the hands of Coalition
Govt headed by sh omar Abdullah. she said that she will act
as a bridge between them and the Govt and if voted raise
their issues in the house. she said that she hails from far flung
and hill locked area of the state viz mandi Poonch and
understands the genuine problems being faced by the people
of the far flung areas and promised that their issues will be
highlighted in the house.
Mubarak Gul distributed prizes
among participants in
Taekwondo championship
SRINAGAR, NOV 29: The Jammu and Kashmir Lion
Hearts Taekwondo Club organized championship in Indoor
Stadium, Srinagar on November 28, 2012. In the champi-
onship 650 students of various educational institutions par-
ticipated. The Advisor to Chief Minister, Mr. Mubarak Gul
was chief guest on the occasion,.
On the conclusion of the function, the Advisor distributed
the 200 prizes which include trophies, medals and certifi-
cates among the winners. Among others the Principal,
Government High School, Khag got first prize for increasing
interest in participating in games.
Safety measures for vehicles plying
on Tangmarg-Gulmarg road
SRINAGAR, NOV 29: According to Divisional
Commissioner, Kashmir, Dr. Asgar Hassan Samoon for the
safety of passengers in view of snowfall and slippery condi-
tions of Tangmarg-Gulmarg road, only such vehicles having
4 x 4 facility or vehicles fitted with anti-skid chains on tyres
shall be allowed to move from Tangmarg to Gulmarg.
Accordingly Deputy Commissioner, Baramulla, Senior
Superintendent of Police, Baramulla, Chief Executive
Officer Gulmarg Development Authority and SDPO besides
Tehsildar Tangmarg are asked to implement the said safety
measures.
JAMMU, NOV 29: Minister
for Revenue, Relief and
Rehabilitation Mr Raman
Bhalla has said that the coali-
tion Government was fully
aware of people's hardships
adding that in this regard var-
ious initiatives have been
taken to provide improved
basic amenities to them like
adequate safe drinking water,
electricity, road connectivity,
education, healthcare besides
better lanes and drains.
This was stated by the
Minister while interacting
with the inhabitants of
Bhawani Vihar and Vasant
Vihar localities of Trikuta
Nagar during public griev-
ances camp held, here today
Mr. Bhalla said that the
Government was endeavour-
ing hard to develop all the
areas of the state on modern
lines with need based infra-
structural facilities, adding
that in this regard all the
departments are working in a
more organized manner for
ensuring better services to the
people.
The Minister said UPA
Government led by Prime
Minister, Dr. Manmohan
Singh was providing liberal
funding under developmental
sectors which has greatly
helped in raising the socio-
economic standards of the
people of the State. He said
many more projects were in
pipeline for developing both
urban and rural pockets.
Laying stress on maintain-
ing quality standards, the
Minister asked the officers to
conduct regular inspections of
the under execution works to
keep a check on quality of
material being used.
The Minister said people's
cooperation was imperative to
make Jammu and Kashmir a
prosperous state. He called
upon the people to not 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 maintain-
ing peace and prosperity in
the State.
Mr. Bhalla urged upon the
people to voluntary disclose
electricity load for improving
the power scenario in the
areas and avoid power thefts.
Regarding improvement of
drinking water facilities in the
Bhawani Vihar and Vasant
Vihar localities, Mr. Bhalla
said Government has released
RS. 2.5 crore for digging of
deep drill tube well and laying
of water supply pipes in
uncovered areas. He said the
instructions have been issued
to PHE department to reno-
vate digging area of the road
immediately after completion
of laying of water supply
pipes work. Regarding black-
topping of link roads of
Bhawani Vihar, the Minister
said Government has released
Rs. 15 lakh for the purpose,
adding that R&B department
has allotted the project to the
executing agency for early
start of work.
BUDGAM, NOV 29: Senior
National Conference leader
and Minister for Finance and
Ladakh Affairs Mr. Abdul
Rahim Rather has said that
the prevailing harmonious
relationship between
Coalition Partners has
unnerved opposition which
is fearing humiliating defeat
in the forthcoming elections
to MLC seats under
Panchayat quota.
Addressing a convention
of party workers, Panchs and
Sarpanchs at NC party head-
quarter, Budgam, today, Mr.
Rather said that foreseeing
their defeat, the opposition
was spreading canards and
resorting to character assas-
sination of senior leaders of
ruling parties.
Reiterating that the coali-
tion government is commit-
ted for a vibrant 3-tier
Panchayati Raj (PR) system
in the State, Mr. Rather
vowed to ensure maximum
empowerment of Panchayati
Raj Institutions (PRI) adding
that the J&K Panchayati Raj
Act will be further broad
based for the purpose so that
socio-economic scenario in
the rural areas is given a new
direction.
Mr. Rather said that
Jammu and Kashmir
Panchayati Raj Act is one of
the best panchayat models,
which has been conceived
after hectic exercise and
study of various panchayat
modules in vogue in other
advanced states of the coun-
try. "However, it can be fur-
ther broad based to make it in
tune with urges and aspira-
tions' of the panchs and
sarpanchs of the state with
regard to their empower-
ment", he added and said that
the coordination committee
of the two ruling coalition
partners is in complete
agreement to incorporate
some viable clauses of the
Central Act in the J&K
Panchayati Raj Act to give
due representation to the
people of the underprivi-
leged sections of the society.
He said that there is complete
harmony of ideas between
the coalition partners in this
regard. He said basic objec-
tive of both NC and
Congress is to give an impe-
tus to the development and
progress in rural areas.
While asking panchs and
sarpanchs to cast their vote in
favour of coalition candi-
dates for vacant MLC seats
under panchayat quota, Mr.
Rather cautioned about the
false and mischievous propa-
ganda of the opposition,
which is desperately trying
to create mis-understanding
and disillusionment regard-
ing empowerment of panchs
and sarpanchs.
"In-fact they (opposition)
never wanted empowerment
of PRIs in the state, neither
when they were in power nor
today and are only relying on
falsehood and lies", Mr.
Rather said adding that peo-
ple are wise enough to see
their political bankruptcy
and ulterior motive to grab
the power by hook or the
crook, even at the cost of the
honour and dignity of the
people of the state. But NC
will never allow them to play
with the sentiments and
interest of the people of the
state, Mr. Rather asserted. He
asked the panchs, sarpanchs
and party workers to unitedly
thwart the game plan of the
opposition by inflicting
crushing defeat on its candi-
dates in the ensuing MLC
elections.
Mr. Rather assured the
panchs and sarpanchs that
their interests are safe in the
hands of coalition partners
and they should not get
swayed by the hollow prom-
ises of opposition. He said all
the problems of panchs and
sarpanchs would be solved
honestly adding that MLC
election will be followed by
the elections to Block
Development Councils
(BDC) to pave way for a
vibrant 3-tier Panchayati Raj
System in the state.
The coalition nominated
candidates, Mr. Ali
Mohammad Dar and Mr.
Ghulam Nabi Monga also
spoke on the occasion and
assured to work for strength-
ening of the PRIs in the state
Bhalla conducts Public Grievances Camp at Trikuta Nagar
AKHNOOR, NOV 29:
Minister for Health,
Horticulture & Floriculture,
Mr. Sham Lal Sharma has
called upon all the communi-
ties to make collective efforts
to bring social reforms, which
are mandatory for the devel-
opment of the mankind.
Addressing the annual
congregation of Bral
Biradhari at village Baswa
near Chowki Chowra last
evening, the Minister said
that people are victims of var-
ious social evils, domestic
violence and need of the hour
was to promote moral values
and age old rich ethos of
Indian culture to further
strengthen the bonds of mutu-
al brotherhood and peace. He
said that younger generation
was heading towards west-
ernization and forgetting its
roots, which would prove dis-
astrous for the society. It is
the duty of parents, teachers
and social organizations to
give right direction to the
younger generation enabling
it to preserve their heritage
and rich traditions.
Lauding the role of the
Bral Biradhari for the servic-
es of the mankind, the
Minister said that Biradhari
has been engaged in several
social activities to uplift the
poor people. He congratulat-
ed the prominent activists of
the Biradhari including its
President Mr. Mangal Bral for
various initiatives for the
development of poor people.
He also felicitated several
activists for their selfless
services to the community.
On the occasion the
Health Department organized
one-day health check and
awareness camp. Doctors
examined more than 200
patients and distributed free
medicines. Different wings of
the department had also dis-
played their stalls and educat-
ed the people about various
diseases and preventive
measures.
Horticulture &
Floriculture Departments also
installed their stalls and creat-
ed awareness amongst the
farmers about the latest vari-
eties of fruits and flowers
which are viable in the Kandi
belt. They also apprised the
people about the incentives of
Government schemes.
Frustrated opposition foresees humiliating defeat: Rather
Says cause of panchs, sarpanchs safe in the hands of coalition
JAMMU, NOVEMBER 29:
A joint meeting of Coalition
Partners in support of two
Coalition Candidates was
held at R.S.Pura which was
addressed by Sh. Tara Chand,
Hon'ble Deputy Chief
Minister, Sh. R.S. Chib,
Minister for Medical
Education, Technical
Education, YSS, Sh. S.S.
Salathia, Minister for
Industries & Commerce.
Among others who addressed
the gathering included Sh.
Rattan Lal Gupta, Provincial
President, National
Conference, Sh. Gulchain
Singh Charak, Ex-Minister
and Sr. Congress Leader,
Smt. Suman Bhagat, Ex-
Minister, Sh. Gharu Ram, Sh.
Ram Paul- Ex-Ministers,
Smt. Bimla Luthra, MLA,
Sh. S.R. Sudhir, Sr. Congress
Leader, Thakur Kashmira
Singh, Ex-MLC, Sh. T.S.
Tony, District President,
National Conference, Sh.
Ramesh Mottan, Sh. Kamal
Arora-both Sr. Leaders of
N.C, Sh. Karan Bhagat and
Master Shashi Sharma-
Congress Leaders. Both the
contesting candidates of
Coalition Partners Sh. Sham
Lal Bhagat and Dr. Shehnaz
Ganai also addressed the
gathering. The Sarpanches
and Panches belonging to
both National Conference
and Indian National
Congress attended the meet-
ing in a large number along-
with block Presidents of
Congress and National
Conference.
Sh. Tara Chand, Deputy
Chief Minister while
addressing a largely attended
meeting of Sarpanches and
Panches of National
Conference and Indian
National Congress at
R.S.Pura said that the
Coalition Government during
its four years tenure is
responsible for bringing
peace and development in the
State of J&K. He further said
that victory of Sh. Sham Lal
Bhagat and Dr. Shehnaz
Ganai will enable the
Sarpanches and Panches of
Jammu Province to highlight
their problems in the State
Legislature by which the
Panchayati Raj Institutions
will be strengthened and the
power will flow to the door
steps of the common man. He
also appealed to the
Sarpanches and Panches of
all the three Assembly
Constituencies i.e. R.S.Pura,
Bishnah and Suchetgarh to
vote for both the candidates
of Congress and National
Conference in the forthcom-
ing elections to the four seats
of Legislative Council.
Sh. R.S. Chib, Minister
for Medical Education, Tech.
Edu. YSS while addressing
the gathering said that it is
only the Coalition
Government headed by the
young and dynamic Chief
Minister, Jb. Omar Abdullah
and having full blessings of
Smt. Sonia Gandhi,
President, All India Congress
Committee and Chairperson,
UPA which can ensure con-
tinuation of the process of
development in the State. He
further said that goes to the
credit of this Government
that Panchayat elections were
conducted in a smooth man-
ner in which more than 80 %
of the electorates of this State
participated. He further
added that the Panchayats
will have their voice in the
Legislation through their rep-
resentatives in the J&K
Legislative Council by elect-
ing Sh. Sham Lal Bhagat and
Dr. Shehnaz Ganai. Sh. Chib
assured the Sarpanches and
Panches that all of their
important provisions of 73rd
Amendment of Constitution
of India will be incorporated
in the Panchayati Raj Act of
J&K State. He also reminded
the gathering of the foresight-
edness of great leader and
visionary Late Rajiv Gandhi
who took bold steps to
strengthen and streamline
Panchayati Raj Institutions at
national level. He also said
that providing of reasonable
honorarium to Sarpanches
and Panches is under the
active consideration of the
Government. He appealed to
them that they should vote
for candidates of Coalition
Partners in the ensuing MLC
elections. He also clarified
that each voter has to cast
two votes and as such
requested them that they
should cast the votes in
favour of candidates belong-
ing to National Conference
and Congress Party.
Sh. S.S. Slathia, Hon'ble
Minister for I&C while
addressing Panches and
Sarpanches explained to
them the importance of this
election in order to bring
peace, stability and develop-
ment in the State so that all
sections of the society espe-
cially those living in rural
areas are benefited through
Panchayati Raj System. Sh.
Slathia further said that by
electing Congress and
National Conference
Candidates in the forthcom-
ing elections the Coalition
Government will be strength-
ened and peace and develop-
ment will get enhanced. Sh.
Slathia further said that PDP
and BJP are trying to mislead
the people by hollow slogans
and asked the Sarpanches and
Panches not to get mislead by
their ill devised machina-
tions.
Sh. Gulchain Singh
Charak, Ex-Minister and Sr.
Congress Leader while
addressing the gathering
appealed to all Panches and
Sarpanches belonging to
Congress and National
Conference to vote in favour
of Coalition Candidates in
order to strengthen this
Government. He further said
that vote for Congress and
National Conference will be
vote for integrity of the state
and secular fabric of our
State will be strengthened. .
Sh. Rattan Lal Gupta,
Provincial President,
National Conference
described this election as a
fight between secular and
communal forces. He further
said that all the Panches and
Sarpanches shall support
coalition candidates in order
to defeat the divisive forces.
Sh. Sham Lal Bhagat and Dr.
Shahnaz Ganai also
addressed the gathering and
assured all the Sarpanches
and Panches that if elected
they will continue to raise the
issues of Panchs and
Sarpanchs in the Legislative
Council and will not leave
any stone unturned to solve
their problems.
The meeting was also
addressed by Smt. Suman
Bhagat, Ex-Minister, Sh.
Gharu Ram, Sh. Rampal,
both Ex-Ministers, Sh. S.R.
Sudhir, Sh. T.S. Tony, Smt.
Bimla Luthra, MLA, Karan
Bhagat, Th. Kashmira Singh,
S. Sobha Singh, Sh. Ganesh
Dutt, Sh. Jugal Mahajan, Sh.
Gurjit Singh Sassan, Ch.
Mohan Lal.
Victory for coalition candidates for LC is vital for development of state: Tara, Chib, Slathia
Tara Chand, Hon'ble Deputy Chief along with other ministers, Panchs & Sarpanchs posing for a
group photograph at Jammu.
Minister for Revenue, Relief and Rehabilitation Raman Bhalla interacting with the inhabitants of
Bhawani Vihar and Vasant Vihar localities of Trikuta Nagar during public grievances camp.
Sham calls upon various communities
to work for social transformation
page 3.qxd 11/30/2012 12:20 PM Page 1
EDITORIAL & STATE WATCH
STUDENT AGE
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2012
4
STATE WATCH
By: Aditi Gala
J
ohn Fitzgerald Kennedy once pro-
calimed, "Children are the world's
most valuable resource and the
best hope for its future". These words
hold their ground even today. But the
alarming rate of student sucides in the
recent past sends shivers down one's
spine. Believe it or not, in 2006, the
most recent year for which official fig-
ures are available, some 5,857 students
or 16 a day killed themselves due to
exam stress (globally). In turbulent
times likes these, the Right to
Education Act [RTE], that came into
effect on April 1, 2010 is seen as a
major breakthrough. (read YKA
reporters' perspective here and here)
The Act aims to address the impend-
ing problem of illiteracy that our coun-
try is still fighting against even after 60
years of independence. The major goals
of the Act are as follows:
* That every child receives free and
compulsory education up to 14 years of
age [Class VIII]
* Children coming from all kinds of
socio-economic sections of the society
receive good quality of education with-
out any discrimination.
* Ensuring that teachers and schools
meet certain specific norms laid down
for them.
The RTE clause also states that no
student can be held back up to Class
VIII. All states have pledged their
wholehearted support to this Act,
including the state of Maharashtra.
Many a schools in Mumbai declared
their results in the month of April but
still there have been complaints from
parents stating that despite of the Act
being effective from April 1, 2010,
their children had not been promoted to
the next standard. A cruel proof to this
are the flashing headlines of students
hanging themselves to death every
other day.
Even after the implementation of
this Act, young minds are still giving
up on their lives. This clearly indicates
that something much more needs to be
done in order to curb this epidemic.
Two major influences on the minds of
young ones are their parents and teach-
ers. The RTE Act does provide for a
very student-friendly atmosphere but
what about the teachers? The former is
hard to achieve in absence of the latter.
The teaching vocation has tumbled
down miserably in the last few years.
Some reasons for this are the lower
wages handed out to teachers, the wors-
ening student-teacher ratio [now stand-
ing at 100:1] and a loss of dignity suf-
fered by the teaching community.
Teaching as a profession is not consid-
ered attractive anymore and this is the
reason as to why the talent pool opting
for teaching is becoming lesser with
each passing day. The teaching commu-
nity has to be given adequate incentives
like any other profession is given.
Burdening teachers with unnecessary
political work and ignoring their
requests is going to have a devastating
effect on the students.
Apart from this, one observes that
though this Act exists legally on paper,
Herculean efforts have to be taken in
the direction of well-being of the stu-
dents. As baffling as it may sound, on
May 1, one student allegedly commited
sucide in Malad [W] even after having
scored good marks, just because he was
unhappy with his performance. This
scenario only points out towards taking
vital steps in order to look after the
mental well-being of children. For
major acts like these to be successful
tiny, incremental changes have to be
made on that part of parents, teachers
and the school itself. A friendly,
encouraging atmosphere for students to
flourish under, is the need of the hour.
They must be given wholehearted sup-
port in extra-curricular activities that
they ace in [be it singing, dancing,
painting or sports] and marks should
not be the sole instruments upon which
they are judged.
Teachers would have to essay dual
roles-one being that of a teacher and
another being that of a counselor to
make sure that these young minds do
not run astray. Providing them with
essential training programmes in the
same will prove to a good investment in
the long run.
Quoting Annie Sullivan-"Children
require guidance and sympathy far
more than instruction." The RTE Act is
one step forward in the direction of bet-
terment of litteracy in the country.
But one must remember that much
more needs to be done so that this Act
proves to be a geat success. Students,
irrespective of their age, class or caste
need to be treated with kindness and
understanding so that they can bloom
into prolific and responsible citizen of
our country.
Right to Education and Student
Suicides: An Ironical Situation
BY: Ronen Sen
E
arlier this month, we
witnessed the outcome
of presidential elec-
tions in the United States of
America, the preeminent
global power and the world's
oldest democracy, and the
change of leadership in
China, the foremost rising
global power which is poised
to emerge as the world's
largest economy. From India's
perspective, these develop-
ments involve our most
important and broad-based
strategic partnership, and our
evolving relationship with our
largest neighbour in which we
have very high stakes.
Barack Obama was re-
elected as president with a
decisive mandate. His party
retained majority in the US
senate. However, the
Republicans held on to their
control of the House of
Representatives. Three-fifth
of governors of states remain
Republican. Obama's share of
the popular vote was also the
lowest of any second-term US
president. This reflects not
only a deeply polarized polity
but a society split down the
middle in terms of colour and
class, and gender and genera-
tional gap. The impact this
will have on the administra-
tion's ability to address
domestic and foreign policy
challenges remains to be seen.
However, given the strong
bipartisan support to a strate-
gic partnership with India, our
relations with the US should
not be unduly affected by the
election outcome.
Obama and Manmohan
Singh have established a per-
sonal rapport and the strategic
partnership established during
the George W. Bush adminis-
tration has been consolidated
and enriched with new scope
and content. With Obama's re-
election, India-US coopera-
tion can continue seamlessly,
without pause and without
missing a beat.
There has, however, been
clear disappointment in the
US, both among Republicans
and Democrats, regarding the
tardy progress in the two
major areas of strategic coop-
eration, namely, on civil
nuclear and defence coopera-
tion. There is a feeling that
while prior agreements with
Russia in 1988 and more
recently may be taken into
account in the context of our
nuclear liability law, our prior
commitment to the US gov-
ernment may not be given
equal consideration.
In spite of a significant
number of high-value con-
tracts concluded in recent
years, irritants persist in
India-US defence coopera-
tion. American authorities and
vendors seek deviations from
our transparent and non-dis-
criminatory defence procure-
ment procedures. They show
a continued tendency to raise
new issues at every stage,
including after conclusion of
negotiations. We have not
encountered such problems
with other countries. On the
other hand, a recent US pro-
posal for a review at the level
of US deputy defence secre-
tary (minister of state equiva-
lent) for resolving these prob-
lems to mutual satisfaction
was apparently not found
acceptable by us. Earlier
agreements which had been
finalized were put into indefi-
nite cold storage.
Both India and the US
benefit from continuity in
their relationship. It would be
unrealistic to expect another
big bang initiative. We will
both have to maintain the
momentum of cooperation in
diverse areas to keep relations
from stagnating or stalling.
The 18th Congress of the
Communist Party of China
ushered in the fifth genera-
tional change in the leader-
ship of that country.
Considering that this was the
first such change not directed
by the last undisputed leader,
Deng Xiaoping, and in view
of the tensions and scandals
which spilled over into the
public domain, the transition
was remarkably orderly.
Xi Jinping emerged as the
clear leader, as Communist
Party general secretary, presi-
dent and chairman of the
Central Military Commission.
As expected, Li Keqiang is
the second ranking politburo
member and premier-desig-
nate. There was unnecessary
speculation on whether Hu
Jintao would, like his prede-
cessor, take over as chairman
of the CMC for an interim
period. He had no military
experience or background
like Ziang Zemin. Xi Jinping
has defence experience and
close contacts with the mili-
tary-industrial complex. The
CMC has also been reconsti-
tuted on two previous occa-
sions. The inclusion of more
armed forces officers meant
greater professionalism and
not necessarily a more mili-
taristic or hawkish orientation
of policies.
The composition of the
CPC politburo and its stand-
ing committee also appears to
reflect a balance of profes-
sional competence and expe-
rience and of various interests
groups. Given the unstated
norm of retirement ages,
another reshuffle is expected
in 2017. It is likely that Xi
Jinping will directly handle
Tibet. It remains to be seen to
what extent he continues Hu
Jintao's policies in this regard.
Both Xi Jinping and Li
Keqiang have visited India in
the past - Xi as a provincial
leader and Li as part of a
youth delegation. This is of
incidental interest since both
are pragmatic professionals
who will be guided by China's
interests and priorities. The
only country that China
regards as its equal is the US.
For both China and the US the
most important relationship is
that with each other, either as
strategic competitors or col-
laborators or a varying mix of
both. They do not regard
India,or Russia for that mat-
ter, as being in their league.
The leadership changes
should not have significant
implications for Sino-India
relations. We should continue
to monitor the evolving situa-
tion and be guided not just by
statements of intent but by
capabilities in terms of mili-
tary modernization, including
maritime, space, cyber and
other capabilities.
We should continue to
cooperate in areas of mutual
interest in the international
fora, and strengthen bilateral
cooperation with our second
largest and fastest growing
trading partner. We should
encourage greater collabora-
tion in power generation, road
building and other construc-
tion, apart from availing our-
selves of reasonable quality
equipment, competitive pric-
ing and attractive financial
packages. We could maintain
restrictions in ports and cer-
tain power and telecommuni-
cation grids. We should per-
suade China to import more
manufactured and value-
added goods from India to
reduce the trade imbalance.
We should be balanced and
pragmatic in reconciling our
urgent development needs
with our security interests.
It is not in our interest to
join the US or any other coun-
try to contain, let alone con-
front, China. We had resisted
repeated Soviet overtures to
join an Asian collective secu-
rity arrangement directed at
China, although China did not
hesitate in aligning with the
US against the former Soviet
Union and with Pakistan vis a
vis India. Rajiv Gandhi had
rebuffed strong pro-Soviet
lobby pressures within his
party to defer his visit to
China in 1988. Yet we should
not have any reservations in
playing a balancing role to
counter the emergence of any
Asian hegemony. Thus the US
move on rebalancing in the
Indo-Pacific region is certain-
ly closer to our interests than
earlier moves by Bill Clinton
and Obama to establish a
Sino-US condominium in our
neighbourhood.
There can be no artificial
Indian equidistance from or
equilibrium between China
and the US or any other coun-
try that is divorced from their
actions which affect our vital
interests. These include their
policies and actions in our
immediate and extended
neighbourhood, nuclear and
missile proliferation, defence
cooperation and other issues.
For instance, China is the
main defence partner of
Pakistan while the US
remains a significant arms
supplier to that country. But
the US now prefers to supply
defence equipment to India
rather than to its major non-
North Atlantic Treaty
Organization ally. The US
also prevents its Western and
other allies from sending
defence supplies to China, in
spite of some of them strain-
ing at the US leash. The US
policies towards India's
neighbours also changed radi-
cally under the administration
of George W. Bush, by taking
India's sensitivities into
account in Nepal,
Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, the
Maldives and, to a significant
extent, Pakistan as well, since
2007. There has also been
better awareness by the US
and a number of other coun-
tries of our interest in the run-
up to the post-2012 transi-
tions in Afghanistan.
Yet we should not entirely
give up hope that the vision of
Deng Xiaoping - of Sino-
Indian partnership being a
prerequisite for the 21st cen-
tury to be an Asian century -
would be realized at some
point of time.
CONTINUITY AND CHANGE-
How the US election and China's new leadership affect India
BHOPAL, NOV 29: Madhya
Pradesh Chief Minister
Shivraj Singh Chouhan com-
pleted seven years in the office
here on Thursday. Under
Chouhan's leadership,
Madhya Pradesh made rapid
strides and entered the select
list of fastest growing states,
an official release said.
Several new schemes have
been implemented to make
available basic amenities for
the first time and efforts have
been made to benefit farmers,
women, youths, senior citi-
zens and offer social security
to weaker sections without
discrimination of caste or reli-
gion, it said.
Schemes like 'Beti Bachao
Abhiyan' have been imple-
mented for women's empow-
erment, besides
'Mukhyamantri Kanyadan
Yojna' and 'Ladli Laxmi
Yojna'. The release said
Chouhan government has also
constituted women's self help
groups under 'Tejaswini Yojna'
and the scheme
'Mukhyamantri Teerth
Darshan Yojna', meant for
underprivileged senior citi-
zens, is also being well
received.
The scheme covers 17 pil-
grimage spots across the coun-
try including Velangani
Church Nagapattinam in
Tamil Nadu among other loca-
tions.
The release also lists
"Sampoorna Swasthya, Sabke
Liye" scheme and 'Sardar
Vallabhbhai Patel Free
Medicine Distribution
Scheme' in public health sec-
tor. The state government has
provided budget of Rs 216
crore for the scheme including
Rs 51 crore received through
National Rural Health
Mission.
MADHYA PRADESH
Shivraj Singh completes seven years in office
MUMBAI, NOV 29: Maharashtra
Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan here
on Thursday highlighted the need for
specialised training to policemen for
hostage-like situations and upgradation
of police voice communication net-
work.
While addressing policemen from
different states at the second National
Seminar on Counter Terrorism 2012,
Chavan said, "There is a need for stan-
dardisation of equipment across the
country, upgradation of police voice
communication network and spe-
cialised training for hostage-like situa-
tions." He stressed on balancing tough
legislations with human rights to suc-
cessfully fight terrorism.
"Better security of vital installations
and important personalities and a more
responsible and efficient media role for
better dissemination of information is
also required," he said.
Integrating intelligence database
through better use of technology, better
co-operation between agencies and a
mechanism for appropriate sharing of
information is required, the chief min-
ister said. There is also a need to pro-
cure advanced equipment to fight the
terrorists who already have hi-tech
weapons.
He expressed hope that the two-day
seminar beginning on Thursday would
become a successful annual event to
bring together various police forces on
a common platform from across the
country.
Chavan concluded with a hope that
the gathering would be instrumental in
motivating the police forces to become
the best in the world in order to ensure
safety of the citizens. The seminar,
organised by Maharashtra Police and
Bureau for Police Research and
Development at the DGPoffice here, is
aimed at developing and forging con-
sensus amongst stakeholders to formu-
late strategies for counter terrorism
with renewed vigour.
The Chief Minister was joined by
state Home Minister R R Patil and
Minister of State (Home) Satej Patil in
reiterating the support of the govern-
ment in the fight against terrorism.
R R Patil said the execution of
Pakistani gunman Mohammed Ajmal
Kasab demonstrated the government's
resolve in dealing with terrorism.
The two-day seminar is divided into
six sessions which includes themes like
- planning, tactics and IEDs in counter
terrorist operations and counter terror-
ism training course in state police.
The seminar was attended by per-
sonnel from National Security Guards,
Central Police and various states'
police who shared their experiences,
took stock of current strengths and
weaknesses and generated ideas to
improve institutional response mecha-
nism in the coming years.
MAHARASHTRA
Need for special training of cops for hostage-like situations: Maha CM
PATNA, NOV 29: Former Bihar chief min-
ister Rabri Devi on Thursday made a
scathing attack on Chief Minister Nitish
Kumar for keeping the Winter Session of
both Houses of Legislature 'small', as an
RJD MLA created a funny scene by distrib-
uting burnout grain due to water crisis.
Rabri Devi, wife of RJD president Lalu
Prasad, who became an MLC recently after
losing the 2010 Assembly Elections, while
assailing the NDA government, told
reporters outside Legislative Council that
despite a brief session her party would cor-
ner the government on important issues like
rise in crime and corruption.
On the report card-2012 presented by the
CM recently to highlight achievements of
his government during the year, she trashed
it as an "useless document".
Countering Rabri, state minister Giriraj
Singh said the Opposition has no issue
against the government and that was why its
leader was making "baseless" allegations.
"She comes to House only on the first
day and then vanishes like a blue night
moon...This shows her seriousness," the
BJP leader told reporters outside the
Council.
In the Assembly, a RJD member Dinesh
Kumar Singh created a funny scene outside
by keeping sift of burnout grains on his head
and distributing a piece out of the bundle to
members entering the House to blame the
government for damage to grains due to
failure of the Nitish Kumar government to
make available water.
After condolence, both the Houses of
state Legislature were adjourned for the day.
BIHAR
Rabri Devi lashes out at Nitish government
GANDHI NAGAR, NOV 29: Congress gen-
eral secretary Digvijay Singh on Thursday
invoked 'Ramayana' to take a dig at the 3-D
extravaganza launched by Gujarat Chief
Minister Narendra Modi in the run-up to the
Assembly Elections. "The 3-D campaign was
something under which if anyone spoke in
one place his voice can be heard in ten places.
Even in mythological Ramayana there was
one character who had ten faces," Singh said
without naming Modi. He was interacting
with reporters at his residence here this morn-
ing. Tech-savvy Modi had scored a first when
he launched his election campaign for the
upcoming Assembly polls by addressing ral-
lies in four cities simultaneously.
In his speech last Sunday, telecast on spe-
cially erected screens in Ahmedabad,
Vadodara, Rajkot and Surat with the help of
3D holographic technology and satellite link-
ups, Modi, who spoke from a studio in
Gandhinagar, took on the Congress for com-
paring him to a 'monkey' and 'rats'.
Hailing the Aadhar-based direct cash trans-
fer scheme, Singh said the UPA government
had launched a number of schemes for the
welfare and benefit of the poor.
"Earlier only an MLA or MP could ask a
question but now entire 120 crore population
of the country can ask questions to govern-
ment," Singh said referring to the RTI Act.
Replying to a query on BJP giving ticket to
former Gujarat minister of state for Home and
accused in Tulsi Prajapati and Sohrabuddin
Sheikh fake encounter cases Amit Shah for
the Assembly Elections, Singh told the
reporter that "it was enough that you think of
him as a history-sheeter".
GUJARAT
Guj Polls: Digvijay Singh launches a veiled
attack on Modi's 3D blitz
PANAJI, NOV29: Goa government has come up with a special
compensation scheme for Vicitms of hinous crime like rape, acid
attack and human trafficking etc. "A compensation up to Rs 10
lakh will be given to the victims or dependants who have suf-
fered loss or injury or who require rehabilitation under the 'Goa
Victim Compensation Scheme, 2012'," CM Manohar Parrikar
told reporters after the scheme was passed by the state govern-
ment yesterday. The scheme, drafted as per Supreme Court
directions, offers compensation to victims of crimes like rape,
acid attack, child abuse and human trafficking. "The compensa-
tion would be paid even if the offender is not identified," the
chief minister said. For those killed in such a crime, assistance
of up to Rs 2 lakh will be given to their kin while those who have
become over 80 per cent handicapped due to an attack, are enti-
tled to Rs 50,000 as aid. While Rs 25,000 will be given as assis-
tance in case of loss of any limb or part of the body resulting in
handicap between 40 per cent to 80 per cent those with below 40
per cent are entitled to Rs 10,000.
GOA
Special compensation schemes for
victims of heinous crimes in Goa
Page 4_Bali.qxd 11/30/2012 12:21 PM Page 1
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Veer Savarkar
Born: May 28, 1883
Died: February 26, 1966
Achievements: Founded
the Abhinav Bharat Society
and Free India Society;
brought out an authentic
informative researched
work on The Great Indian
Revolt of 1857 called "The
Indian War of Independence
1857"; founded Hindu
Mahasabha.
Veer Savarkar occupies a
unique place in the history
of Indian freedom struggle.
His name evokes controver-
sy. While some consider
him as one of the greatest
revolutionaries in the
Indian freedom struggle,
others consider him a com-
munalist and Machiavellian
manipulator. Vir Savarkar
was also a great orator, pro-
lific writer, historian, poet,
philosopher and social
worker. He was an extraor-
dinary Hindu scholar. He
coined Indian words for
telephone, photography, the
parliament, among others.
Veer Savarkar's original
name was Vinayak
Damodar Savarkar. He was
born on May 28, 1883 in the
village of Bhagur near
Nasik. He was one among
four children born to
Damodarpant Savarkar and
Radhabai. Veer Savarkar
had his initial education at
the Shivaji School, Nasik.
He lost his mother when he
was only nine. Savarkar
was a born rebel. He organ-
ized a gang of kids
,Vanarsena when he was
just eleven.
During his high school
days, Veer Savarkar used to
organize Shivaji Utsav and
Ganesh Utsav, started by
Bal Gangadhar Tilak
(whom Savarkar considered
as his Guru) and used these
occasions to put up plays on
nationalistic themes.
Savarkar lost his father dur-
ing the plague of 1899. In
March 1901, he married
Yamunabai. Post marriage,
in 1902, Veer Savarkar
joined Fergusson College in
Pune.
In Pune, Savarkar found-
ed the "Abhinav Bharat
Society". He was also
involved in the Swadeshi
movement and later joined
Tilak's Swaraj Party. His
instigating patriotic speech-
es and activities
incensed the British
Government. As a
result the British
Government with-
drew his B.A. degree.
In June 1906, Veer
Savarkar, left for
London to become
Barrister. However,
once in London, he
united and inflamed
the Indian students in
England against British rule
in India. He founded the
Free India Society. The
Society celebrated impor-
tant dates on the Indian cal-
endar including festivals,
freedom movement land-
marks, and was dedicated to
furthering discussion about
Indian freedom. He
believed and advocated the
use of arms to free India
from the British and created
a network of Indians in
England, equipped with
weapons.
In 1908, brought out an
authentic informative
researched work on The
Great Indian Revolt, which
the British termed as
"Sepoy Mutiny" of 1857.
The book was called "The
Indian War of Independence
1857". The British govern-
ment immediately enforced
a ban on the publication in
both Britain and India.
Later, it was published by
Madame Bhikaiji Cama in
Holland, and was smuggled
into India to reach revolu-
tionaries working across the
country against British rule.
In 1909, Madanlal
Dhingra, a keen follower of
Savarkar shot Sir Wyllie
after a failed assassination
attempt on the then Viceroy,
Lord Curzon. Savarkar con-
spicuously did not condemn
the act. When the then
British Collector of Nasik,
A.M.T. Jackson was shot by
a youth, Veer Savarkar
finally fell under the net of
the British authorities. He
was implicated in the mur-
der citing his connections
with India House. Savarkar
was arrested in London on
March 13, 1910 and sent to
India.
After a formal trial,
Savarkar was charged with
serious offences of illegal
transportation of weapons,
provocative speeches and
sedition and was sentenced
to 50 years' of jail and
deported to the Kalapani
(Blackwaters) at Andaman
cellular jail.
In 1920, many promi-
nent freedom fighters
including Vithalbhai Patel,
Mahatma Gandhi and Bal
Gangadhar Tilak demanded
the release of Savarkar. On
May 2, 1921, Savarkar was
moved to Ratnagiri jail, and
from there to the Yeravada
jail. In Ratnagiri jail
Savarkar wrote the book
'Hindutva'. On January 6,
1924 he was h freed under
the condition that he would
not leave Ratnagiri district
and abstain from political
activity for the next five
years. On his release, Veer
Savarkar founded the
Ratnagiri Hindu Sabha on
January 23, 1924 that aimed
to preserve India's ancient
culture and work for social
welfare.
Later Savarkar joined
Tilak's Swaraj Party and
founded the Hindu
Mahasabha as a separate
political party. He was
elected President of the
Mahasabha and toiled for
building Hindu Nationalism
and later joined the Quit
India movement.
The Hindu Mahasabha
opposed creation of
Pakistan, and took excep-
tion to Gandhi's continued
Muslim appeasement
stances. Nathuram Godse, a
volunteer of the Hindu
Mahasabha, assassinated
Gandhi in 1948 and upheld
his actions till his hanging.
Veer Savarkar was arrested
and indicted by the
Government of India in the
Mahatma Gandhi assassina-
tion case. But he was
acquitted by the Supreme
Court of India, for reasons
of lack of evidence.
Veer Savarkar died on
February 26, 1966 at the
age of 83.
Chittorgarh Fort is situated at a distance of
175 km to the east of the Udaipur city of
Rajasthan. In the past, the fort comprised
of one of the most desired seats of power
in India. The fort is believed to have been
named after Chitrangad Maurya. It is said
that the Chittorgarh Fort was given to
Bappa Rawal, founder of the Sisodia
dynasty, as dowry in mid-8th century,
when he married the princess of the
Solanki dynasty. Spread over an area of
700 acres, the fort comprises of numerous
ramparts, palaces, temples and towers.
Chittorgarh fort is reached through a
zigzag road of one km. It stands on a 180
m high hill, which seems to be rising from the plains
below. The road that brings one to the fort further
leads to its seven gates, namely Padan Pol, Bhairon
Pol, Hanuman Pol, Ganesh Pol, Jorla Pol, Lakshman
Pol and Ram Pol. Between the second and third gate,
you will come across two chattris (cenotaphs), which
were constructed in honor of Jaimull and Kulla, the
two heroes of the siege laid by Emperor Akbar in the
year 1568.
Suraj Pol, or the 'Sun Gate', is the main gate of the
Chittorgarh fort of Rajasthan. There are a number of
palaces inside the fort complex, such as Rana
Kumbha Palace, Fateh Prakash Palace and Rani
Padmini's Palace. All the palaces, along with the
Tower of Victory, boast of Rajput architecture.
Several temples, reservoirs and palaces were added
on to the fort later, somewhere between the 9th and
17th century. One can also see a huge complex of Jain
temples inside the premises of the Chittorgarh fort.
There is also an opening inside the fort, where
Rani Padmini is said to have committed Jauhar (self-
immolation by the females), along with the other
women of the court. Situated close to this opening is
a big water reservoir, where water flows out from a
rock that is shaped in the form of cow's mouth. The
shape of the rock has led to the reservoir being called
as 'Gaumukh' (cow's mouth). Other major attractions
of Chittorgarh fort include Bhimtal Tank, Neelkanth
Mahadev Temple, Meera Temple, Kumbha Shyam
Temple and Kalika Mata Temple.
The most popular structures of the fort comprise
of its two magnificent towers, namely 'Kirti Stambh'
or the 'Tower of Fame' and 'Vijay Stambh' or the
'Tower of Victory'.
Kirti Stambh
Kirti Stambh is also known as the 'Tower of
Fame'. It is a seven-storied structure that narrows
down from the bottom to the top, with its width less-
ening from 30 ft at the base to 15 ft at the top. The
tower has a tapered stairway with 54 steps and was
constructed around the 12th century. It is dedicated to
Adinath, the first Jain Tirthankara, and houses a strik-
ing 5 ft high statue of the saint. The Jain sculptures
adorning the tower were bought from outside the
state.
Vijay Stambh
Vijay Stambh is also known as the 'Tower of
Victory'. Maharana Kumbha got this tower built in
the year 1440, as a commemoration of his victory
over Mohammed Khilji. It is perched on a plinth that
is 47 square ft wide and 10 ft high. Vijay Stambh is
122 ft in height and has a width of 30 ft at the base.
The nine-storied tower stands ornamented with
sculptures of Hindu deities as well as stories from the
Great Indian Epics, Ramayana and Mahabharata. A
circular stairway with 157 steps leads to the terrace,
which provides a splendid view of the city.
Invasions
Chittorgarh Fort has been annexed by a stronger
army three times in its past. The first siege occurred
in the year 1303, when King Ala-ud-Din Khilji
attacked the fort to kidnap Queen Padmini, wife of
Rana Rattan Singh. Sultan Bahadur Shah of Gujarat
seized the fort in 1535. The last, and the final, siege
on the fort was laid by Mughal Emperor Akbar, who
razed the fort to the rubble once again. It was only in
1616 that Mughal emperor Jehangir restored
Chittorgarh fort back to the Rajputs, but even then, it
was not resettled
A battery is a device that cre-
ates electrical energy by
means of chemical reactions.
There are two types of batter-
ies: wet cell and dry cell. A
wet cell battery operates by
means of a liquid electrolyte
solution, while in a dry cell
battery the solution is in the
form of a paste. Some wet
cells can be recharged, while
others are only good for a
shorter period of time.
Eventually, however, all such
batteries become unusable
and have to be replaced.
Different Types
There are a number of differ-
ent types of wet cell batteries,
categorized as "primary" or
"secondary." A primary bat-
tery can be used only until its
chemicals are exhausted and
cannot react with each other
anymore. In contrast to this, a
secondary battery can be
recharged by effectively
reversing the internal chemi-
cal process used to generate a
charge.
Composition of Some
Batteries
Most automobiles use a wet
cell battery. The lead acid bat-
tery, often found in such vehi-
cles, is a secondary battery
that contains lead, lead oxide,
plates, and a liquid electrolyte
solution containing 65%
water and 35% sulfuric acid.
Some of the plates are anodes
attached to thenegative termi-
nal, while the others are cath-
odes attached to the positive
terminal.
How It Works
When a load is attached to the
terminals of the wet cell bat-
tery, a chemical reaction
between the lead, lead oxide,
and electrolyte solution
occurs. As a result of the reac-
tion, electricity flows through
the terminals to the load, and
sulfuric acid is removed from
the solution and bonded to the
plates. When the battery is
recharged by passing a
reversed current through it,
the bonds between the plates
and the sulfuric acid are bro-
ken and the sulfuric acid
returns to the liquid solution,
letting it provide more elec-
tricity.
Long-Term Use and
Replacement
After extended use, a wet cell
battery can no longer provide
sufficient electricity to the
load attached to it. This hap-
pens because over time, the
material in the positive plates
flakes off during the normal
expansion and contraction of
the discharging and charging
cycles. As the material flakes
off, the plates become smaller
and the flakes form a sedi-
ment on the bottom of the bat-
tery that eventually makes the
plates short out and kills the
battery completely.
A wet cell battery often dies
more quickly in a hot climate
because the heat causes the
plates to either accumulate or
lose material, and also
because water evaporates
from the electrolyte solution.
In addition, prolonged use of
the battery, excessive vibra-
tion, and overcharging can
cause a battery to die faster.
Once this point is reached, it
can no longer be recharged
and needs to be replaced.
History of Wet Cells
Batteries have been used for
over a century, and archaeo-
logical evidence shows that
galvanic cells may have been
used 2,000 years ago. The wet
cell battery was one of the
first modern battery types to
be developed. John Frederic
Daniell created the first wet
cell battery in 1836, which
was superior to previous ver-
sions because it was safer and
more reliable, although it
could not be moved and was
quite fragile. Since then, a
series of improvements has
produced those batteries com-
monly used today.
SCHOOL LIFE
General Knowledge
Freedom Fighters:Veer Savarkar
HISTORICAL MONUMENTS: Chittorgarh Fort
Classifieds
What Is a Wet Cell Battery?
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NATIONAL
STUDENT AGE
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2012
6
LONDON: The sentencing
of American-born Lashkar-e-
Toiba terrorist David
Headley, accused of involve-
ment in 26/11 Mumbai
attacks, has been fixed for
January 17 next year while
that of his accomplice
Tahawwur Rana has been
rescheduled for January 15
from December 04, reports
said here Thursday.
According to Chicago
court spokesperson Randall
Samborn, US District Judge
Harry Leinenweber will
announce the sentence of the
two accused, who have been
charged with conspiracy of
2008 Mumbai attack and
plan to attack a Denmark
newspaper.
"The sentencing date for
Tahawwur Rana has been
rescheduled from December
04, 2012, to January 15,
2013, and the sentencing of
David Coleman Headley has
been scheduled for January
17, 2013."
"Each sentencing hearing
is scheduled to begin at 9:45
am on those dates before US
District Judge Harry
Leinenweber
of the
D i r k s e n
F e d e r a l
Courthouse,"
t h e
spokesper -
son said.
Headley
p l e a d e d
guilty to checking out targets
for the Mumbai attack that
left 166 Indians and foreign-
ers dead, a US judge has
ruled. He entered a guilty
plea on 12 counts in a
Chicago court in 2010,
reports said.
The sentencing of
co?accused, Tahawwur
Rana, who was convicted of
aiding Pakistan-based
Lashkar-e-Taiba, has been
scheduled for Jan 15.
Headley had initially
denied the charges but
changed his plea to avoid the
death penalty or extradition
to India.
Nine of the 10 terrorists
from Pakistan who sneaked
into Mumbai were also killed
while the tenth, Ajmal Amir
Kasab, was arrested. He was
hanged this month.
In pleading guilty,
Headley admitted that he
attended training camps in
Pakistan operated by
Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), a
designated foreign terrorist
organisation, on five separate
occasions between 2002 and
2005.
Prosecutors said in late
2005, Headley received
instructions from three mem-
bers of LeT to travel to India
to conduct surveillance.
Son of a Pakistani father
and an American mother, he
changed his name from
Daood Gilani in 2006 to visit
India five times to scout tar-
gets for the Nov 26 Mumbai
attacks.
Headley, prosecutors said,
has cooperated with the gov-
ernment since he was arrest-
ed Oct 3, 2009, and the plea
agreement states that he "has
provided substantial assis-
tance to the criminal investi-
gation, and also has provided
information of significant
intelligence value".
26/11 Mumbai attack: David Headley to be sentenced in January
CAG: Projects under JNNURM
running beyond schedule
NEW DELHI: The
Comptroller and Auditor
General of India (CAG) said
that projects under the
Jawaharlal Nehru National
Urban Renewal Mission
(JNNURM) are running way
beyond schedule.
In a report tabled in the
Lok Sabha Thursday, the
CAG said only 22 out of
1,517 housing projects
approved between 2005 and
2011 were completed.
Occupancy of the houses also
remained low as only 26 per-
cent of the approved
dwelling units had been com-
pleted.
Besides, only 231 out of
1,298 urban infrastructure
projects were completed.
The CAG audit on
JNNURM scheme was con-
ducted between April and
November last year in 25
States and five Union
Territories for the years from
2005 to 2011.
The CAG observed the
JNNURM scheme also ran
short in fulfilling its objec-
tive of de-congesting old
quarters in cities. Only 21 out
of nearly 1,300 Urban
Renewal projects were
approved by the Ministry of
Urban Development.
The CAG also noted that
out of over 66 thousand crore
rupees allocated by the
Planning Commission, the
Central government made
available less than half of the
funds.
The CAG further said
there were delays by state
governments in the setting up
of State Level Nodal
Agencies (SLNA) and these
were also under-staffed.
The CAG recommended
that the fund flow arrange-
ments from the Centre to the
implementing agencies, rout-
ed through the States and
SLNAs, be rationalized
based on monitoring of
ground level status of proj-
ects under implementation.
PUNE: Chief of Army Staff,
General Bikram Singh, on
Thursday said that Captain
Saurabh Kalia was a very
brave officer and the Army
had written to the Defence
Ministry and the National
Human Rights Commission
(NHRC) conveying its con-
cern over the brutal treatment
accorded to him after capture
by the Pakistan Army.
"In Kargil war, he made
the ultimate sacrifice in the
best traditions of the armed
forces in the line of duty. We
have written our concerns
regarding this case to the
Ministry of Defence. We have
also written to the National
Human Rights Commission.
We will fully support the par-
ents of Captain Kalia," he told
mediapersons on the sidelines
of the 123rd passing-out
parade of the National
Defence Academy (NDA) at
Khadakwasla in Pune.
External Affairs Minister
Salman Khurshid earlier
today said Pakistan should
take responsibility if some-
body from its side is responsi-
ble for the untoward happen-
ing.
"This was treated as a very
seriously bilateral matter and
will be continued to be treated
in the very same bilateral
matter. The issue is not so
much as to who may have
done it, but certainty the issue
is that someone from the
Pakistani side is responsible;
and if someone from the
Pakistani side is responsible
then Pakistan must take
responsibility for it,"
Khurshid told mediapersons
in New Delhi.
Dr NK Kalia, the father of
Captain Kalia, has moved the
Supreme Court seeking direc-
tions to Union Government to
take up his son's case at the
international judicial forum.
Captain Kalia was captured
and subjected to brutal torture
by the Pakistan Army in
1999. Dr NK Kalia, a retired
scientist, has in his petition to
the apex court contended that
the Ministry of External
Affairs (MEA) and the
Ministry of Home Affairs
(MHA) should ask
International Court of Justice
(ICJ) to expose the ''torture''
that resulted in the death of
Captain Kalia and his fellow
soldiers. He has also asked
the Indian Government to get
Pakistan to apologise for the
incident that went against all
norms of the Geneva
Convention related to inci-
dents of war and capture of
military personnel.
Dr NK Kalia, who has
been shuttling from Ministry
of Defence (MoD) to Army
headquarters and the Ministry
of External Affairs, and to the
Prime Minister's Office
(PMO) in the past 13 years,
wants the Indian Government
to exert pressure on Pakistan
to identify and punish those
Pakistani soldiers who
indulged in the barbaric tor-
ture of his son Captain Kalia.
Dr Kalia has argued that
the attitude of the Indian
Government in not respond-
ing to various representations
made by him for appropriate
action against the Pakistan
Government at the interna-
tional forum, has forced him
to approach the Supreme
Court to bring justice to the
Indian soldiers who were sub-
ject to war crimes by
Pakistan.
Immediately after getting
commissioned into the 4-Jat
Regiment of the Indian Army,
Captain Saurabh Kalia was
posted in the Kargil area.
In May 1999, Captain
Kalia had gone out for patrol
duty in Kaksar area of Kargil
along with five other soldiers
- Sepoys Arjunram Baswana,
Mula Ram Bidiasar, Naresh
Singh Sinsinwar, Bhanwar
Lal Bagaria and Bhika Ram
Mudh. They were caught by
the Pakistan Army, which
kept them in captivity for
over 22 days and subjected to
brutal torture as evident from
their bodies handed over by
the Pakistan Army on June
09, 1999. Parts of their body
were burnt with cigarettes,
eyes were gouged out before
puncturing, teeth and bones
were broken and various
limbs and private organs of
these soldiers were
chopped off.
NEW DELHI: Former tele-
com minister A Raja, who is
out on bail in the 2G spec-
trum allocation scam, has
reportedly sought a debate in
Parliament on loss estimate.
Raja wants the Lok Sabha to
debate and find out whether
the 2G loss estimated by the
Comptroller and Auditor
General (CAG) was authen-
tic, reports said.
Raja has given a notice in
the Lok Sabha for discussing
the issue. The development
came after former CAG offi-
cial RP Singh, who was
behind the 2G audit, said he
was made to sign the report
on spectrum allocation by
his superiors. Singh had
reportedly said that he did
not agree with the Rs 1.76
lakh crore loss figure. The
reports said that the Lok
Sabha Secretariat has con-
firmed receiving Raja's
notice.
"The honourable member
has given a notice under
Rule 193, which provides for
a short duration discussion
on a subject without voting,"
the daily reported an official
as saying. Raja was granted
bail on May 15 earlier this
year after spending nearly 15
months in jail in connection
with the case.
Following Singh's revela-
tion, Raja's party the DMK
had said that a "big question
mark" has been put on the
findings of the CAG. Sources
said Lok Sabha Speaker
Meira Kumar will take a call
on Raja's notice after con-
sulting all concerned parties.
BANGALORE: The ruling BJP
in Karnataka is bracing for a
split as former chief minister
B.S. Yeddyurappa will quit the
party Friday to launch his own
outfit December 9.
The 69 year old
Yeddyurappa, credited with
leading the Bharatiya Janata
Party to power in the state for
the first time in May 2008, is
also resigning as an assembly
member Friday.
The new party, Karnataka
Janata Party (KJP), is scheduled
to be formally launched at a pub-
lic meeting in Haveri, about 400
km north of Bangalore.
The KJP was registered last
year with the Election
Commission by a Karnataka
voter, Padmanabha Prasanna
Kumar.
On November 10, former BJP
union minister V. Dhananjaya
Kumar, who was expelled from
the party October 16, took over
as the KJP interim president. He
will make way for Yeddyurappa
December 9. The KJP has urged
the Election Commission to allot
it a cycle or a farmer ploughing
the field as its election symbol,
according to Dhanajaya Kumar.
The BJP is putting up a brave
front in the face of an imminent
split though it privately
acknowledges that
Yeddyurappa's departure will
damage its prospects of retain-
ing power in next year's elec-
tions.
In order to prevent min-
isters and legislators loyal
to Yeddyurappa from fol-
lowing him, BJP state pres-
ident K.S. Eshwarappa has
promised ticket to all but
four of the party's 119
assembly members.
Eshwarappa, who is
also one of the two deputy
chief ministers, met senior lead-
ers and heads of frontal organi-
sations here Tuesday to draw up
plans to counter the impact of
Yeddyurappa's exit.
Eshwarappa and Chief
Minister Jagadish Shettar have
been claiming that only a hand-
ful of legislators and one or two
MPs will join the KJP.
They also say that
Yeddyurappa was committing a
big mistake by starting a region-
al party and asserted that no
regional party has ever had any
impact in the state.
Dhananjaya Kumar has said
that over 40 legislators will join
the new party, most of them after
election dates are announced.
Yeddyurappa is peeved that
BJP president Nitin Gadkari did
not keep his promised to make
him state BJP chief after he was
forced to quit as chief ministers
in July last year following min-
ing bribery charges.
Yeddyurappa is also making des-
perate attempts to get rid of the
tag of being a Lingayat leader.
His is a caste group that makes
for 17 percent of the state's 65
million population.
It is generally believed that
the BJP captured power in the
last assembly polls because of
the mass backing of Lingayats.
The former chief minister
says his new party will be secu-
lar and that minorities would
find adequate representation
in it.
RS Chairman
convenes meeting
of all parties on FDI
NEWDELHI:
Rajya Sabha
C h a i r m a n
Hamid Ansari
on Thursday
convened a
meeting of
leaders of all
parties to find a
solution to the House impasse on the oppo-
sition demand for a discussion on FDI in
retail with voting provision.
Sources said the meeting is likely to
evolve a solution on the lines of the decision
made in Lok Sabha to have a vote on the
discussion on FDI. They said it would be
difficult not to allow a vote after the Lok
Sabha has decided on such a course though
the government may have reservations.
The ruling UPA is on thin ice on the
numbers in the Upper House and will have
to persuade reluctant allies to positively
vote for it.
Raja wants Parliament to
debate 2G loss figure
Yeddyurappa to quit, BJP braces for split
NEW DELHI: The Delhi
Police is likely to seek fur-
ther custody of Sukhdev
Singh Namdhari in connec-
tion with the Ponty Chadha
shootout case with investi-
gators claiming that they
have to collect more evi-
dence.
Namdhari's five-day
custody will end on Thursday
and police will produce him
before court. A senior police
official said they will seek fur-
ther custody of Namdhari and
with his help, they hope to col-
lect more evidence.
Sources said police are also
planning to question Narender
Ahlawat, the manager of
Ponty Chadha who was
injured in the November 17
shootout in which Ponty and
his brother Hardeep were
killed. "He is recuperating and
we are planning to record his
statement soon," the official
said. Police have so far ques-
tioned over 100 people in con-
nection with the case and have
arrested seven persons directly
or indirectly involved in the
case. Investigators had taken
the help of forensic experts to
reconstruct the killing of
liquor baron Ponty and his
brother as investigators
claimed to have found dis-
crepancies in statements made
by Namdhari and his PSO.
The experts from CFSL,
which is under CBI, went to
the Chhattarpur farmhouse on
Tuesday along with police
officials where they recon-
structed the scene. Delhi
Police had alleged that
Namdhari opened fire at
Hardeep, a charge denied by
Namdhari. Investigators also
suspect that Namdhari tam-
pered with his gun.
Namdhari's son, a relative and
driver, who allegedly helped
him in tampering with the gun,
are absconding, police said.
JAIPUR: Finally, the
Rajasthan government has
given five per cent reserva-
tion to Gujjars. Rajasthan
Chief Minister Ashok
Gahlot's government gave
the reservation to Gujjars
under the Special Backward
Classes (SBC) category
without tampering with the
quota for any other caste.
But the move is already
being questioned.
The Gehlot government
has also announced the set-
ting up of the Economic
Backward Classes
Commission to pacify upper
castes who have been
demanding 14 per cent
reservation for themselves.
The State Cabinet also
accepted the State
Backward Caste
Commission report. But the
problem is that the reserva-
tion in the state is now 54
per cent, which is more than
the Supreme Court stipulat-
ed 50 per cent limit. But the
government's argument is
that in the exceptional cir-
custances the quota limit
could be raised. The
Supreme Court had also
said in Indira Sahni case
that in special circum-
stances, the limit can be
increased. The problem for
the Rajasthan governmentis
not related to the Gujjars
only, but also the upper
castes. The previous
Vasundhara Raje govern-
ment had passed a bill for 5
per cent reservation for
Gujjars and 14 per cent
reservation to upper castes,
but since the total reserva-
tion limit would been more
than 50 per cent, so the
High Court had stayed its
implementation. The Gehlot
government has now tried
to kill two birds with one
stone as it approved the for-
mation of an Economic
Commission for backward
classes which will also con-
sider 14 per cent reservation
for the upper castes.
Rajasthan will elect a
new Assembly in 2013 but
the Gujjars are not happy
with the state government's
decision. Their grouse is
that they were demanding
the reservation under the
limit of 50 per cent.
The government is meet-
ing Gujjar leaders to ascer-
tain their views. The gov-
ernment has also placed the
OBC Commission report
before the High Court
which had asked for the
details about the status of
Gujjars for granting then
reservation outside the 50
per cent limit.
Indian Army backs Kargil martyr's case
NEW DELHI: In a bid to
counter the star power of
Gujarat Chief Minister
Narendra Modi, Congress
has decided to field its gener-
al secretary Rahul Gandhi.
Congress put a confirmation
stamp on the inclusion of
Rahul in the list of 40 star
campaigners for the first
phase of Assembly Elections,
scheduled to take place on
December 13.
The list also includes
names of party president
Sonia Gandhi, Prime
Minister Manmohan Singh
and Minister of State for
Finance Namo
N a r a y a n
Meena, reports
said.
Cri cket er-
turned-politi-
c i a n
Mo h a mma d
Azhar uddi n,
actor Sanjay Dutt, political
secretary to Sonia Gandhi
Ahmed Patel, Union minis-
ters Sushilkumar Shinde,
Salman Khurshid and
Ghulam Nabi Azad, CP
Joshi, Raj Babbar, Sachin
Pilot and Jyotiraditya
Scindia are also part of the
list. Among the Congress
CMs who would campaign
for the party in Gujarat
include Sheila Dikshit
(Delhi), Ashok Gehlot
(Rajasthan), Prithviraj
Chavan (Maharashtra) and
Bhupinder Singh Hooda
(Haryana).
Rahul Gandhi to campaign
against Modi in Gujarat
Ponty Chadha case: Police
likely to seek further
custody of Namdhari
KANPUR: Two wagons of a
goods train derailed and hit
an overhead electricity pole
in the Panki yard area here on
Wednesday evening, disrupt-
ing rail traffic on the impor-
tant Delhi-Howrah route for
few hours, a railway official
said. The incident occurred
when two wagons of a goods
train coming out of Panki
yard got derailed and one of
them hit a high-voltage elec-
tricity pole and left it leaning,
Chief PRO of NCR Sandip
Mathur said.
No one was injured in the
incident, he confirmed. As
the electricity pole was dam-
aged the power supply to
Delhi-Howrah track was dis-
rupted, he said. Some trains
were running behind the
scheduled time on the route.
Around 11pm, the rail traffic
movement was restored on
the Delhi-Howarh route,
Mathur said.
A team of railway offi-
cials and engineers visited
the site, he said adding and
efforts were being made to
remove the derailed wagons
at the earliest. A probe has
been ordered into the inci-
dent, Mathur said.
NEW DELHI: President
Pranab Mukherjee will leave
Friday on a three-day trip to
Tamil Nadu and West
Bengal.
The president will be part
of the diamond jubilee cele-
brations of the Tamil Nadu
assembly November 30.
He will attend the sesqui-
centennial celebrations of
the Calcutta High Court
December 1, said an official
statement.
Mukherjee will also par-
ticipate in the centenary cel-
ebrations of the National
Test House in Kolkata
before returning to Delhi
Dec 2.
President to visit Tamil Nadu, West Bengal
Goods train derails, Delhi-Howrah route affected
Gujjars get 5 per cent reservation in Rajasthan
SC summons
attorney general
over IT Act
NEWDELHI: The SC Thursday
asked Attorney General G.E.
Vahanvati to appear before it
Friday to clarify the government's
position on a PILseeking to strike
down section 66A of the IT Act
2000. The apex court bench of
Chief Justice Altamas Kabir and
Justice J. Chelameswar asked
Vahanvati to appear before it after
senior counsel Mukul Rohtagi
told the court that section 66A of
the IT Act violated article 4, 19
(1) (a) and article 21 of the consti-
tution. The section provides for
action against people for posting
offensive and annoying com-
ments on websites or other elec-
tronic mediums.
Page 6_ National_Bali.qxd 11/30/2012 12:22 PM Page 1
INTERNATIONAL & ECONOMY
STUDENT AGE
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2012
7
ECONOMY
NEW DELHI, NOV 29: The
government plans to directly
transfer money to the bank
accounts of cooking gas cus-
tomers even if they do not have
Aadhaar identification.
The rollout will start with a
pilot project in Andaman and
Nicobar Islands by April, and
will be extended to the rest of
the country in a year.
The oil ministry will also
seek Cabinet approval to end
the sale of subsidised kerosene
and proposes to transfer cash to
the bank accounts of con-
sumers.
The twin proposals will help
remove malpractices in the oil
industry - diversion of sub-
sidised cylinders for commer-
cial use and adulteration of
diesel with cheap kerosene -
and save the exchequer Rs
15,000 crore a year.
"The plan is to sell all LPG
cylinders and kerosene at mar-
ket rates by 2013-14 to discour-
age diversion, and it is possible
even without Aadhaar numbers.
All we have to do is to open no-
frills bank accounts. States will
be responsible for transfer of
subsidy to individual bank
accounts," said one official,
requesting anonymity.
The matter was discussed on
Monday at a committee chaired
by Prime MinisterManmohan
Singh, but the government
deferred an announcement on
Tuesday as it was not sure about
the launch date, officials said.
The government initially
wanted to begin direct transfer
of subsidies from January 1. But
it was later decided that the roll-
out be done from April after
adequate preparation to avoid
the kind of chaos and harass-
ment that consumers faced
when the government suddenly
capped the supply of subsidised
LPG cylinders in September.
"The ministry is also consid-
ering raising the cap on sub-
sidised cooking gas cylinders.
Six cylinders are not enough...
In fact, the Nandan Nilekani-led
task force was not in favour of
capping. The task force did cau-
tion against such a move," a
senior government official said
on the condition of anonymity.
New Oil Minister Veerappa
Moily had instructed officials to
raise the cap on cylinders a day
before Diwali, officials said.
"The ministry did prepare a
draft note for the Cabinet, but
lack of funds proved to be the
dampener. The proposal has not
been shelved," said an official
with knowledge of the matter.
The Nilekani-led task force
wanted the government to trans-
fer cash subsidies to the bank
accounts of all customers. In the
second phase, it suggested that
subsidies be transferred to only
the poor based on Aadhaar num-
bers, the official said.
The task force said in its
report that "this step of capping
the subsidised cylinders is not
going to serve any of the objec-
tives for which the task force
was set up".
"Due to the new imposed
limit on subsidised LPG under
this phase, caution has to be
taken as there may be a spurt in
new connections and old, inac-
tive connections may become
active.
Further, it has the potential
of becoming a hurdle for the
next stage of reforms," the task
force had warned.
After taking over the oil
ministry on October 29, Moily
had said that implementation of
direct subsidy on kerosene and
LPG would be his top priority.
Direct Transfer of Cash
Subsidies on Kerosene 2012
(DTCK-12) has been launched
in 11 states and these have been
awarded Rs 100 crore each for
voluntarily accepting it.
NEWDELHI, NOV 29: The food
ministry has withdrawn its propos-
al to almost double the price of
sugar sold in ration shops, fearing
severe criticism from opposition
parties in Parliament and likely
voter backlash in Gujarat.
The proposal to raise levy sugar
prices for the first time in a decade
was on the agenda of the Cabinet
Committee on Economic Affairs
(CCEA) this week. "The proposal
of raising levy sugar prices was
sent to the CCEA for considera-
tion. But since the food ministry is
examining the implementation of
some of the Rangarajan commit-
tee's recommendations which
include directions on levy sugar,
food minister KV Thomas decided
to withdraw the proposal," said a
senior food ministry official.
This is the second time such a
proposal has been put on hold by
the government. Earlier in
September, when the proposal was
scheduled to be placed before the
CCEA, UPA chairperson Sonia
Gandhi and other senior ministers
opposed it. The food minister
skipped that meeting to defer the
proposal. "This time, Thomas vol-
unteered to put off the proposal
which could have again raked up
opposition within the party, espe-
cially when Parliament is in ses-
sion and Gujarat polls are round
the corner," said a person familiar
with the development on the condi-
tion of anonymity.
The food ministry has been
working on ways to cut subsidies
to reduce the fiscal deficit. The
price of subsidised sugar hasn't
been raised since 2001-02.
The government supplies
around 2.7 million tonne of sugar
to the poor and to defence forces at
below-market prices bearing a sub-
sidy of Rs 2,300-2 ,500 crore a
year. Currently, poor families get
500-1 ,300 gram of sugar per per-
son per month from ration shops at
Rs 13.50 a kg. According to the
proposal, the government may fix
a uniform price for levy sugar
across the country in the price band
of Rs 13.5 per kg to the zerosub-
sidy level of Rs 25.37 per kg.
"With the deduction of every
rupee thereon, the government will
have to shell out a subsidy of Rs
270 crore. Now government has to
decide how much subsidy it wants
to pay for sugar distributed to poor
families," said a food ministry offi-
cial adding that the government
wanted to increase the price by at
least Rs 4 a kg.
The Rangarajan committee has
recommended doing away with the
levy sugar obligation and suggest-
ed that state governments buy
sugar from the open market to sell
it to poor families through ration
shops instead of asking mills to sell
10% of their production at a loss to
the government.
ASSOCHAM
urges for iron
ore exemption
from BCD
& CVD
NEW DELHI, NOV 29:
With a view to revive the
ailing steel industry and
not allow the investment
made go stranded, industry
body ASSOCHAM today
suggested exempting the
iron ore import from Basic
Custom Duty (BCD) and
Countervailing Duty
(CVD) as has been done in
the case of coal.
In a note submitted to
the government, the cham-
ber said, 'import of
Finished Steel Products
from FTA countries of
South Korea, Japan and
ASEAN, land at a high
concessional duty rates
into India as compared to
normal duty rates from
other countries.
From January 1, 2013
these concessions would
further increase resulting
into many steel products
turning cheaper and land-
ing at 2.5 per cent import
duty while some others
would be imported with as
low a duty rate as 1 per
cent from South Korea.'
This 'Inverted' duty rate
between finished steel and
Iron ore is therefore deny-
ing an opportunity to steel
sector for value addition.
It will have a cascading
effect on the economy put-
ting at risk not only the
huge funds invested by
financial institutions and
banks but also large num-
ber of employment and
also discourage future
investment in this sector.
Haryana emerges one
of top performers in
economic growth
NEWDELHI, NOV 29 : Bihar and Haryana
have emerged as the top two performers
among the major states in terms of economic
growth during the 11th Five Year Plan.
According to a Planning Commission
report on state finances, only Sikkim and Goa,
which are much smaller in size than Bihar and
Haryana have performed better than the two
states. The report reveals that the nominal
Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) growth
rate of Bihar and Haryana was 21.9 per cent
and 19.5 per cent respectively during the 11th
Plan spread over 2007 to 2012.
None of the other major states including
Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat and
Uttar Pradesh could record over 19 per cent
GSDP growth rate in nominal terms.
During the 11th Plan which ended on
March 31 this eyar, Rajasthan is 18 per cent,
Kerala at 16.9 per cent, Madhya Pradesh 16.8
per cent, Andhra Pradesh at 16.7 per cent and
West Bengal at 16.4 per cent. Gujarat is way
behind and grew at 16 per cent followed by
Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh at 15.3 per
cent each. Punjab, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka,
Assam, Jammu & Kashmir, Manipur and
Tripura remained below 15 per cent. The
worst performers include Jharkhand which
recorded GSDP growth rate of 9.2 per cent fol-
lowed by the Puducherry, Nagaland and
Manipur (all below 11 per cent). Among all
the states and union territories, Sikkim record-
ed highest GSDP growth rate of 31.6 per cent
during the five year period followed by Goa at
22.9 per cent.
Lok Sabha adjourned
over Cauvery
NEWDELHI, NOV 29 : The Lok Sabha was
adjourned till 2 p.m. Thursday following an
uproar over Cauvery river row. During zero
hour, Communist Party of India (CPI) MP
from Tamil Nadu M. Lingam raised the issue.
Members from Karnataka immediately
opposed him. Both sides resorted to sloganeer-
ing, leading to a commotion. Amid the din, the
speaker adjourned the house. The Supreme
Court Monday asked Chief Ministers J.
Jayalalithaa of Tamil Nadu and Jagadish
Shettar of Karnataka to meet and find an ami-
cable solution to the Cauvery water dispute.
Record snow in
Moscow; heaviest fall
in 50 years
MOSCOW: Moscow, the Russian capital has
been hit by record breaking 12 centimetre
snowfall, disrupting flights and creating mas-
sive traffic snarls with forecasters warning
that the unprecedented storm will rage till
Friday. Quoting Russian Emergency Centre,
Itar-Tass reported that this was the heaviest
snowfall in the city in the last 50 years.
The centre said in the past 24 hours,
Moscow was experiencing continuous heavy
snowfall creating a 12 centimetre white cover
over the city. More than 70 flights were dis-
rupted by the unusual heavy snow with most
of the airlines operating from Domodedovo
airport running hours later.
The Emergency Centre warned that all
roads in the capital would be clogged and
power supply and transmission links were
likely to be affected by the snow.
Dalai Lama says new Chinese
regime capable of change
MUMBAI: Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai
Lama, has said that the situation in China had
changed in the past three decades and the new
regime had the ability to act 'according to the
changed reality'. Talking to media, the Dalai
Lama said that China can no longer remain
isolated from the global community and its
views of democracy and rule of law. "The
totalitarian system on this planet is now end-
ing, declining, so, how powerful People's
Republic of China, they have to go along with
the world. That means democracy, rule of law,
so, Chinese Communist Party, I feel they also
have some ability to act according to new real-
ity. Now let us wait another six months, one
year or two years and then we can see," he
said. "The new reality is that totalitarian states
are on the decline. This is a world trend, and
the Chinese Communist Party will also soon
see that democracy is the best thing," he
added. China has ruled Tibet since 1950, when
Communist troops marched in and announced
its 'peaceful liberation'. The Dalai Lama, who
fled to India in 1959 following a failed upris-
ing, has accused China of 'cultural genocide'.
Beijing considers him a separatist and does
not trust his insistence that he only wants
greater autonomy for his Himalayan home-
land. Beijing denounces the self-immolations
as acts by terrorists and criminals.
Direct subsidy transfers for LPG, kerosene to cut fuel bill by Rs 15,000 crore
NEWDELHI, NOV29: The
government has raised Rs
932 crore through disinvest-
ment in PSUs during the cur-
rent fiscal and is working
towards achieving the Rs
30,000 crore target set for the
year, Parliament was
informed today.
"During the current finan-
cial year, government disin-
vested 10 per cent of NBCC
and 5.58 per cent
ofHindustan CopperBSE -
0.68 % (HCL) out of its
shareholding and realised an
amount of Rs 124.97 crore
and Rs 807.02 crore respec-
tively totalling to Rs 931.99
crore," Finance Minister P
Chidambaram said in a writ-
ten reply to the Rajya Sabha.
Chidambaram said "the
government is taking neces-
sary action to achieve the
budgetary target of Rs 30,000
crore set for the financial
year 2012-13".
In reply to another ques-
tion, the Minister said the fis-
cal deficit target for the cur-
rent year "will be reassessed
after mid-year review
depending on the pace of
expenditure and resource
position of the government".
The fiscal deficit for the
current financial year has
been projected at over Rs
5.13 lakh crore or 5.1 per
cent of GDP. In the April-
September period of 2012-13
fiscal, the deficit has touched
65.6 per cent of the full year
target.
Chidambaram had earlier
said that the fiscal deficit
could go up to 5.3 per cent of
the GDP in the current fiscal
in view of rising subsidy
outgo and subdued tax col-
lection.
Disinvestment in PSUs has
fetched Rs 932 crore so far in
FY-13, says P Chidambaram
Govt defers decision to raise
ration sugar prices
THE HAGUE: Former prime
minister of Kosovo Ramush
Haradinaj and his two Kosovo
Liberation Army comrades were
cleared of murder and torture
charges in a retrial by UN war
crimes tribunal on Thursday.
Former Kosovo PM along with
KLA fighters Idriz Balaj Lahi
Brahimaj were cleared of war
crimes charges and the trio is
expected to be released later
Thursday and flown home to
Kosovo.
Haradinaj, who was an ex-
Kosovo Liberation Army fighter,
was earlier acquitted in 2008, but
the verdict was reversed after
appeals judges branded the 2008
acquittal of former Prime Minister
and KLA fighter Idriz Balaj and
the conviction of a third KLAcom-
mander, Lahi Brahimaj a "miscar-
riage of justice" because of wide-
spread intimidation of prosecution
witnesses.
Applause rang around the
courtroom's public gallery, packed
with supporters of the three defen-
dants, when Presiding Judge
Bakone Moloto delivered the ver-
dicts.
Haradinaj and his two KLA
comrades were indicted in 2005
and were alleged to have been
involved in manslaughter of Serbs
and Albanians at detention camps
in western Kosovo.
It was alleged that ethnic serbs
and Albanians were tortured and
killed at such camps, with 39 bod-
ies found.
Haradinaj's acquittal paves the
way for his return to Kosovo poli-
tics.
For Haradinaj's Alliance for the
Future of Kosovo, which has been
in decline since his trial, the return
could herald a new era.
In Kosovo, large posters wel-
coming him back were hung well
before the decision was announced
in The Hague and speculation was
rife that Haradinaj would join the
country's ruling coalition of former
fellow fighter but current political
rival, Prime Minister Hashim
Thaci as he looks to broaden the
range of participants and share
public responsibility in crucial
talks with Serbia.
Serbian Prime Minister Ivica
Dacic said before Thursday's
announcement that Haradinaj's
acquittal would have serious con-
sequences for the EU-brokered
negotiations between him and his
Kosovo counterpart Thaci. But
Dacic suggested that Serbia would
not pull out of the talks that are
expected to resume in early
December.
YANGON: Riot police in
Myanmar on Thursday fired
water cannons at villagers
and monks protesting
against a Chinese-backed
copper mine, in a pre-dawn
crackdown that left dozens
injured, activists said.
The protesters including
local farmers, monk and
activists were demonstrating
since June against
Letpadaung copper mine
and had set up protest
camps, which were set on
fire, causing burn injuries to
dozens.
The activists say that they
were protesting against
"forced land evictions" as
they were compelled to sign
a deal two years ago to facil-
itate the mine expansion, the
local media reports.
According to the deal,
they had to lose their lands
in return for new housing
and financial compensation.
The government ordered
protesters earlier this week
to evacuate the mine by
Wednesday or face legal
action. The Myanmar gov-
ernment which had recently
been applauded by the US
and exempted of economic
sanctions, is in dire need of
foreign investments. But the
violent crackdown by
Myanmar police on peaceful
mine protesters might make
things tougher.
A local farmer with face
and body covered with black
burn spots said, police fired
water cannons first and then
fired from what he and oth-
ers called flare guns.
"They fired black balls
that exploded into fire
sparks. They shot about six
times. People ran away and
they followed us," he said,
still writhing hours later
from pain. "It's very hot."
He further said that the
police arrived at the mine
site around 2:30 am and
gave just 5 minutes to the
activist to leave.
Letpadaung copper mine
is Burma's largest, and joint-
ly owned by the Myanmar's
military and a Chinese firm.
China is a major investor
and strategic ally of
Myanmar, and the backing
of the military is crucial to
government stability.
UN tribunal acquits former
Kosovo PM of war crimes
Myanmar cracks down on
mine protest; dozens hurt
WASHINGTON: Terming the
2008 Mumbai attacks as a "crime
against humanity", Ed Royce, the
next chairman of the powerful
House Foreign Relations
Committee has said that there is a
need to exhort pressure on
Pakistan to bring to justice the
culprits of the mayhem.
"These terrorists have commit-
ted crimes against humanity.
They need to be brought to justice
and that's where I think the pres-
sure needs to be applied," Royce
told a group of Indian journalists.
"I do not care if this is in the
international criminal court, if its
in The Hague, or we try them in
Pakistan, but they have to be tried
for the crimes they have commit-
ted.
"We have to put pressure on
the Government of Pakistan to
see that justice is done, because
you cannot have this kind of may-
hem, this type of wholesale
slaughter of innocent people, men
women and children and not see
justice done," he said.
Royce was speaking at the
Capitol Hill on the sidelines of
the annual 'US-India
Congressional Caucus
Appreciation Dinner' organised
by the Indian American Forum for
Political Education. Yesterday,
the Republican Party, which has a
majority in the US House of
Representatives, announced that
Royce would be the Chairman of
the House Committee on Foreign
Affairs. He replaces
Congresswoman, Ileana Ros-
Lehtinen.
Royce is the current Co-Chair
of the Congressional Caucus for
India and Indian Americans in the
House of Representatives.
Besides pushing Pakistan to act
strongly against the 26/11 perpe-
trators and other terrorist attacks,
Royce said he would also focus
on improving trade relationship
between the two countries, and
more India-US co-operation in
counter-terrorism sector.
Royce, who has visited India
several times and is one of the
best friends of India in the US
Congress, said that there is need
for both India and the United
States to liberalize trade and
investment.
QUITO: WikiLeaks founder
Julian Assange, who has been
holed up at Ecuador's
London embassy for five
months, has a lung condition
that could get worse, the
South American country's
envoy to Britain said.
"He has a chronic lung
condition that could worsen
at any time," Ambassador
Ana Alban told reporters yes-
terday ahead of an annual
gathering of Ecuador's diplo-
matic corps with President
Rafael Correa in Quito.
In an interview from
Ecuador's embassy in
London, the 41-year-old
Assange himself refused to
offer details about his condi-
tion, saying only: "I don't
think it's important." He did
not appear ill on camera.
Alban said Ecuador was
"covering his medical
expenses" and arranging
"regular medical checkups,"
noting that Assange has been
living "in a confined space"
since seeking asylum 162
days ago to avoid extradition
to Sweden on charges of rape
and sexual assault.
She did not give further
details on his health.
WikiLeaks enraged
Washington in 2010 by leak-
ing hundreds of thousands of
classified US documents on
the wars in Iraq and
Afghanistan and embarrass-
ing diplomatic cables from
US embassies around the
world. Assange was arrested
that same year in London but
eventually released on bail.
He denies the allegations
of rape and sexual assault and
claims that if he is extradited
to Sweden, he could be
passed on to the United
States and prosecuted, facing
a long prison term or even the
death sentence.
Ecuador granted Assange
asylum on August 16, but
Britain has refused to grant
him safe passage out of the
country -- leaving the two
governments in diplomatic
deadlock and Assange stuck
inside the embassy.
'Need to pressure Pak to bring
to justice 26/11 culprits'
WikiLeaks' Assange has lung
trouble: Ecuador envoy
Page 7_International & Economy.qxd 11/30/2012 12:22 PM Page 1
Ricky Ponting announces retirement from Test cricket
PERTH: Former Australian
captain Ricky Ponting on
Thursday announced that he
will retire from Test cricket
after playing in the third Test
against South Africa which
begins from Friday.
"A few hours ago I let the
team know that this upcom-
ing Test will be my last,"
Ponting said at a hastily-
called press conference.
"It's a decision I thought
long and hard about, put in
long consideration about the
decision, at the end of the day
it was about my results and
my output in this series so
far," Ponting said.
"It hasn't been to the level
required for batsmen and
players in the Australian
team. My level of perform-
ance hasn't been good
enough."
Following a poor start to
the Test series with low
scores in Brisbane and
Adelaide, Ponting said he
was troubled by the "tenta-
tive" manner of his dis-
missals.
In the second Test in
Adelaide, he was bowled
twice in the same match for
only the second time in a
career that began in
1995.Ponting has managed
just 20 runs from three
innings in two Tests so far
against South Africa.
He has scored 13,366 Test
runs at an average of 52.21
and scored an Australian
record of 41 centuries.
Ponting will retire at his
168th Test match, which
would be the same as that of
former captain Steve Waugh's
record Australian appear-
ance.
Ricky Thomas Ponting
was born on December 19,
1974 in Launceston,
Tasmania. The 37-year old
cricketer has played 167 Test
matches scored 13,366 runs.
Ponting is also called as
'Punter' by his loved ones.
The Right-hand batsman
has a phenomenal Test career
and stands only below Sir
Don Bradman in Australia's
overall rating.
Ponting made his Test
debut against Sri Lanka on
December 8, 1995 and was
given out unluckily on 96.
MISC
STUDENT AGE
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2012
8
CHIEF-EDITOR, PUBLISHER, OWNER: Rohit Singh Rana, ADMINISTRATIVE HEAD (J&K):Pawan Rathore, DY. CHIEF EDITOR : Vikram Singh Shan, LEGAL ADVISOR: Advocate Ashok Parihar EDITORIAL BOARD: NATIONAL AFFAIRS: Shweta Bhat, STATE AFFAIRS: Jaswant Singh Rana,
SPORTS EDITOR: Naina Jamwal, Defence Editor: Shammi Raina, GRAPHIC DESIGNER : Baleshwer Bali, DESIGNER: Gagandeep Kour, Abhishek Kashyap CIRCULATION TEAM: Sunil Gupta, Rohit Bakshi, Nikhil Raina. PRINTED AT JK PRINTING & PUBLICATIONS, SUJWAN, JAMMU TAWI.
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(All disputes are subjected to the exclusive jurisdiction of Jammu District courts only.)
PERTH: Cricket Australia
on Thursday paid lavish trib-
ute to retiring former captain
Ricky Ponting, describing
him as a "leader by example"
and one of the "best prepared
players in the modern game".
Ponting, Australia's 366th
Test player and 42nd Test
captain announced that the
Perth Test against South
Africa starting from Friday
will be his last.
It will be his 168th Test
for Australia, equalling Steve
Waugh's record as most Tests
played by an Australian.
CA Chairman Wally
Edwards said Ponting's deci-
sion was typical of the way
he had approached his crick-
et since becoming a first-
class player in his teens and a
Test player at 20.
"Ricky is
always uncom-
pr omi s i ngl y
straightforward
and leads from
the front - he has
made a decision that
he believes is
best for him,
his family and his
team," Edwards said.
"On behalf of Australian
cricket, I congratulate him
for his outstanding achieve-
ments as a batsman, captain
and, after he stood down as
captain, leader by example".
"Ricky has had an extra-
ordinary career and has made
an extra-ordinary contribu-
tion, including through the
example he has set for
other elite players and
through the excite-
ment he has given
fans, young and old,"
CA Chief Executive
Officer James Sutherland
said .
"There is much
to admire, including
his pride in his roots at
his local cricket club that he
spoke so eloquently of at last
month's Bradman Oration,
through to the fact that he
takes to the field for his
168th Test as one of the best
prepared players in the mod-
ern game. "I think his record
until he retired as captain
was outstanding but my
respect for him since then
has actually increased, see-
ing first-hand how he
stepped back to become a
total team player, absolutely
committed to his captain,
unstinting in his work to help
other players and single-
minded in his view that
everything, including his
own ambition, must always
be second place after what-
ever was best for the team,"
he added. Sutherland said it
was too early to discuss yet,
but he sincerely hoped
Ponting would stay connect-
ed to the game in an official
capacity after his Test career
and after captaining the
Prime Minister's Xl in
Canberra in the New Year.
Cricket Australia pays lavish tribute to retiring Ricky Ponting
Saina to play in
Super Series
Finals despite
knee trouble
NEW DELHI: She is not
quite fully there as far recov-
ering from her knee injury is
concerned, but London
Olympics bronze medalist
Saina Nehwal asserted that
she would compete in the
prestigious World Super
series Finals in China next
month.
"The Super Series in
China is coming up. The
world's top players will be
playing in that competition. I
lost in the final last year, so, I
am looking forward to it,"
Saina said.
The 22-year-old shuttler
was in the Capital along with
cricketer Yuvraj Singh, who
launched her autobiography -
- 'Playing to Win -- My life
on and off court'.
Barring a second-round
exit in the Hong Kong Open
earlier this month, Saina has
had a great results post
Olympics, winning the
Denmark Open and entering
the final of the France Open.
"I did not have enough
time to recover after
Denmark and France," said
Saina who till recently had a
tape wrapped around her
knee.
"Sometimes you don't
want to play with a tape
wrapped around your knee.
It's difficult but I try to do as
much as possible. In a sport
like badminton, you tend to
get injured often, especially
the knee and ankle," the
Hyderabadi added when
asked how she copes with
injuries.
NEWDELHI: Hockey India
League today named mid-
fielder Sardar Singh and drag-
flicker Sandeep Singh among
six `Marquee Players` for the
December 16 HILAuction.
Apart from the duo, India
forward S V Sunil, Australian
Jamie Dwyer, Germany`s
double Olympic gold medal-
list Moritz Fuertse and Teun
de Nooijer from the
Netherlands have been
included in the list of
Marquee Players, a release
from HIL stated.
"We are pleased to
announce three players each
from India and overseas as
Marquee Players in the
Hockey India League
Players` Auction set for
December 16," Hockey India
secretary general and HIL
chairman, Narinder Batra,
said.
"The six franchises will
engage one each of these
Marquee Players whose craft
makes them huge crowd
pullers. The Auction has been
designed in such a way that
the teams will bid for the
Marquee Players before the
other players.
"It will ensure that each of
the six franchisees will have
an equal chance to engage a
Marquee Player of its
choice," Batra informed.
"All teams will place
silent bids for all six players
and the auctioneer will
announce the successful
bids," he added.
The Marquee Players will
be available in Delhi to join
their respective franchises
during the auction that will
follow.
"It will enable them
become a part of their respec-
tive team`s think-tank as soon
as they are inducted in the
squad," Batra said.
Each team`s Marquee
Player will get a contract
worth at least 115 per cent of
the highest successful bid for
a player in the auction.
However, if the silent bid
is worth more than this
amount, the player will be
entitled to get the amount
mentioned in the silent bid,
the release added.
HIL names three Indians among six `Marquee Players`
MUNICH: India's ace
cueist Aditya Mehta scored
two consecutive wins to
move to the last 32 of the
Munich Open.
Mehta, world number
68, first defeated six-time
world champion Steve
Davis and then got the better
of former world amateur
champion Dechawat
Poomjaeng of Thailand in
the second round.
Aditya took an early lead
of 2-0 with a break of 71 in
the first. Post that, both of
them struggled. Then Davis
grabbed next two frames to
match at 2-2. Aditya won
the next two frames on the
black to win 4-2.
In the second round
against Poomjaeng, Aditya
started off well with a break
of 70 in the first frame fol-
lowed by 117 in the second
and a couple of 40's in the
third to race to a 3-0 lead.
Though Dechawat got
one back with a break of 70,
Aditya managed to win the
next on the blue and booked
his win. With this achieve-
ment, he has moved to the
last 32 to be held in Munich
from January 4, 2013.
"This is a very, very
good start. In both the
rounds I started off very
well and grabbed the
frames. I am glad to reach to
the last 32 and looking for-
ward to the next season,"
Mehta said.
Mehta makes winning start at Munich Open
JOHANNESBURG: South
Africa will reach a notable
landmark in its young history
in international cricket when
Graeme Smith leads the
Proteas in Perth for their
200th Test match since the
country's readmission after
decades of isolation due to
apartheid.
"This is a signal moment
for CSA and particularly for
the 79 cricketers who have
carried the Proteas emblem
into the Test match arena,"
said CSA Acting CEO
Jacques Faul.
"It is particularly fitting
that it should happen in a
match where there is so much
at stake and where there is
such eager anticipation
around the cricketing world
with the No.1 Test match
ranking at stake between us
and Australia," he added.
"It seems only yesterday
that Kepler Wessels led the
Proteas into a Test match for
the first time in the West
Indies - a match in which
Andrew Hudson, our current
convener of selectors, scored
a Test century on debut.
"There have been so
many highlights since then
and everybody will have
their own particular
favourite. Suffice to say that
the Proteas brand is hugely
respected around the cricket-
ing world.
Smith, who made 151
and shared a first-wicket
partnership record of 368
with Herschelle Gibbs in the
Proteas' 100th Test match
against Pakistan at Sahara
Park Newlands in 2003, will
be leading the Proteas for the
96th time.
The other Test match
captains have been:
Hansie Cronje (53 matches),
Shaun Pollock (26), Kepler
Wessels (16), Mark Boucher
(4), Jacques Kallis (2),
Ashwell Prince (2), Gary
Kirsten (1).
Proteas to play their 200th Test match in Perth against Australia
NEW DELHI: The
National Bear
C o n s e r v a t i o n a n d
Welfare Action Plan for
India focuses on ensur-
ing stable status for all
bear species and min-
imising bear-human con-
flicts through conserva-
tion efforts.
Launched last week
by minister of environ-
ment and forests
Jayanthi Natarajan, the
plan aims to build a
"green lawyer network"
and to ban bear hunting
in northeastern states
using local communities
from 2013 onwards. A
separate section on the
management of bear-
human conflicts aims to
create wildlife rapid
action and rescue teams
at district levels between
2013 and 2016, and even
a "non-lapsable corpus
fund" to meet plastic sur-
gery costs for victims of
bear attacks.
The national action
plan had been in the
making for over the last
one year, and compiles
26 state action plans
under it. "All the conser-
vation requirements will
be covered in the state
action plans. Time-
bound activities will be
chalked out later.
Currently the national
action plan has to be syn-
chronized with state
action or local manage-
ment plans," says Dr S K
Khanduri, Khanduri
Inspector General of
Forests (Wildlife),
MoEF. Vivek Menon of
the Wildlife Trust of
India, one of the NGOs
that contributed to the
plan, says that costing of
plans have to be for-
warded by the states to
the center. "What is list-
ed under the national
action plan is very broad.
States will develop
action plans with details
of costs," he says.
Action plan aims to minimise bear-human conflicts
NEW DELHI: The crisis in Jammu and
Kashmir cricket deepened on Thursday with
senior state team skipper Samiullah Beigh
blaming coach Bishan Singh Bedi for "creat-
ing rifts" among players.
Amid much fanfare, the for-
mer India captain was last
year appointed as coach of
the Jammu and Kashmir sen-
ior state team.
"Since he came, the situa-
tion has worsened. He has
created rifts in the team. He
has done a lot of harm to the
team," Beigh said.
According to a report, 12 Kashmiri players
boycotted the round-four Ranji Trophy fix-
ture against Andhra Pradesh alleging biased
selection.
Beigh accused Bedi of preferring players
from Jammu region over Kashmir. "Let me
tell you frankly with a heavy heart that I
respect his stature, but he wants only Jammu
players in the side," he said.
"In the last
match, nobody has
scored even 10
runs except one
guy. There is a guy
who has scored 10
successive ducks
but I guarantee
you he will be
there in the side
for the next
game," he said. The Jammu and Kashmir
Cricket Association was learnt to have been
in talks with the disgruntled players since
they had boycotted their round-four Ranji
Trophy match.
J&K skipper blames Coach
Bishan Bedi of bias
WASHINGTON: A super
massive black hole emitting a
record setting X-ray jet some
12.4 billion light years from
Earth has been discovered by
NASA.
This is the most distant X-
ray jet ever observed by
NASA's Chandra X-ray
Observatory and gives
astronomers a glimpse into
the explosive activity associ-
ated with the growth of super
massive black holes in the
early universe.
The jet was produced by a
quasar named GB
1428+4217.
Giant black holes at the
centers of galaxies can pull in
matter at a rapid rate produc-
ing the quasar phenomenon,
the observatory said in a
statement.
The energy released as
particles fall toward the black
hole generates intense radia-
tion and powerful beams of
high-energy particles that
blast away from the black
hole at nearly the speed of
light.
These particle beams can
interact with magnetic fields
or ambient photons to pro-
duce jets of radiation.
"Since the brightness of
the jet in X-rays depends,
among other things, on how
fast the electrons are moving
away from the black hole,
discoveries like the jet in GB
1428 tell us something about
the environment around
supermassive black holes and
their host galaxies not that
long after the Big Bang," said
co-author Lukasz Stawarz
from the Japan Aerospace
Exploration Agency, in
Kanagawa, Japan.
Prior to the discovery of
the jet in GB 1428, the most
distant X-ray jet known was
12.2 billion light years away,
and another is located at
about 12 billion light years.
Super massive black hole with
record-setting X-ray jet found
LONDON: In a breakthrough that
can revolutionize power generation,
scientists claim to have created an
inexpensive new material from com-
mon dirt which directly converts
waste heat into an electrical current.
Researchers produced the ground-
breaking substance using commonly
found materials and believe it could
spark a revolution in eco-friendly
power generation by taking waste
heat from a range of common sources
and converting it directly to electrici-
ty. So-called thermoelectric materials
are able to directly convert differ-
ences in temperature to electrical
voltage, and vice versa.
These are potentially important,
scientists say, because the vast major-
ity of heat that is generated from, for
example, a car engine, is lost through
the tail pipe.
It's the thermoelectric material's
job to take that heat and turn it into
something useful, like electricity.
Such materials have been made
before, but previous examples have
been derived from rare and some-
times toxic elements, often by way of
expensive synthesis procedures.
Donald Morelli, a professor of
chemical engineering and materials
science at Michigan State University,
led the team which developed the
material based on natural minerals
known as tetrahedrites.
"What we've managed to do is
synthesise some compounds that have
the same composition as natural min-
erals," said Professor Morelli, director
of MSU's Centre for Revolutionary
Materials for Solid State Energy
Conversion.
"The mineral family that they
mimic is one of the most abundant
minerals of this type on Earth - tetra-
hedrites. By modifying its composi-
tion in a very small way, we produced
highly efficient thermoelectric mate-
rials," Morelli said. The MSU
researchers' method involves the use
of very common materials, grinding
them to a powder, then using pressure
and heat to compress into usable
sizes. "It saves tremendously in terms
of processing costs," Morelli added.
Dirt material converts waste heat
directly to electricity
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