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STUdenT aGe

R E A D T H E N E E D
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2012
8 Pages
Rs: 1.00
Jammu Edition
www.thestudentage.com
JKENG/2012/41612
Vol. 1 No: 163
IN BRIEF IN BRIEF
Shinde to Look at
Afzal's Mercy Petition
After Winter Session
NEW DELHI,DEC 10:
Home Minister Sushilkumar
Shinde today said he will
have a look at the mercy peti-
tion of Parliament attack case
convict Afzal Guru only after
the Winter Session of
Parliament. He said the file
related to the mercy petition
of Guru, returned by
President contd on page 2
54 Indian soldiers
may be in Pakistan
jails: India
NEW DELHI: Fifty-four
Indian military personnel
missing since the 1965 and
1971 wars are believed to be
in Pakistani custody, Defence
Minister A.K. Antony said
Monday. These include a
member of the Border
Security Force (BSF), the
minister told the Lok Sabha
in a contd on page 2
J&K to be connected
to cooking gas
pipeline by 2014
JAMMU, DEC 10: If all
goes according to the state
government's plan, thousands
of homes in Jammu and
Kashmir will be connected to
cooking gas pipelines by July
2014, a government official
said here Monday. After a
review meeting on the project
here, Chief Minister Omar
Abdullah contd on page 2
Rahul to campaign in
Gujarat on Tuesday
NEW DELHI: Congress
general secretary Rahul
Gandhi will campaign in
Gujarat Tuesday, party offi-
cials said Monday. Gandhi
will address public rallies at
Jamnagar, Amreli and
Ahmedabad during his day-
long election campaign.
Gujarat goes to polls Dec 13
and 17. The results will be
out Dec 20.
Maha CM warns Shiv
Sena over Thackeray
memorial
MUMBAI: Even as Shiv
Sena continues to press for a
Bal Thackeray memorial to
be built at the Shivaji Park,
the Congress-NCP govern-
ment in Maharashtra has
warned the party to vacate
the Mumbai park and abide
by the law. Reports, Monday,
said that the warning to Shiv
Sena has come from Chief
Minister Prithviraj Chavan
who said that Shivaji Park, a
large contd on page 2
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ISRAEL WANTS TO TAKE INDIA
TIES TO NEXT LEVEL
'CONGRESS CLEAR ON RAHUL'S
CAPABILITY FOR PM POST':
SHINDE
NO CHINESE-MADE
ELECTRONICS PART IN US
PLANES WITH IAF: ANTONY
AHEMDABAD: With less than a week
to go before the Assembly Elections in
Gujarat, the main opposition Congress
on Monday made a blistering attack on
the BJP government led by Chief
Minister Narendra Modi.
Addressing a press briefing here,
Union Information & Broadcasting
Minister Manish Tiwari said, "The Modi
government has distracted people by
presented false figures on the state's
development. If it is so then why Gujarat
ranks eighth among Indian states in the
Human Development Index."
The Congress leader also asked why
the state of education is deplorable in the
rural Gujarat and why the health care
sector is collapsing here.
The I&B Minister said, "I want to ask
the Modi government to explain why
there is a debt of Rs 22000 crore on the
head of every Gujarati. Why Gujarat's
contribution in the national GDP growth
has declined to fifth position, if it is the
most progressive state in India."
Tiwari made a blistering attack on the
BJP government, saying, "The Modi
government has only favoured a bunch
of crony capitalists. In the past eleven
years, Modi government has only creat-
ed a cuklt of crony capitalists in the
name of development."
Tiwari further said that Modi and his
loyalists are running a false propaganda
to fool everyone and attract investors.
He also slammed the Modi govern-
ment for not instituting the office of
state's Lokayukta in light of reports
alleging scams worth over Rs 1lakh
crore in 17 scams in the state.
Meanwhile, Congress president
Sonia Gandhi is also likely to address an
election rally at Patan district in north
Gujarat today. She is expected to
address two rallies in Sidhpur, north
Gujarat and near Dakor in Kheda dis-
trict. During her whirlwind tour of the
state last week, contd on page 2
'Modi distracted people by presenting false figures': Congress
NEWDELHI: Uproar erupted in
the Rajya Sabha Monday over
reports of Wal-Mart lobbying in
the US to open the way for foreign
equity in retail in India, with the
opposition alleging that bribery
was involved in the operation.
The Opposition is crying foul
over reports of global retail giant
Walmart lobbying US lawmakers
to get into India. The BJP and the
Left Front joined hands to collec-
tively take on the government,
demanding an inquiry into reports
that Walmart had spent Rs 125
crore on lobbying with US law-
makers to facilitate its expansion
into markets including India over
the past four years. The BJP, in
fact, compared it to the Bofors
deal.
BJP said the Prime Minister
should make a statement on the
issue in Parliament as the reports
coming out today were "serious"
and raised questions on the coun-
try's image. As per the lobbying
disclosure reports filed by Wal-
Mart with the US Senate, the com-
pany has spent close to USD 25
million (about Rs 125 crore) since
2008 on its various lobbying activ-
ities, including on the issues relat-
ed to "enhanced market access for
investment in India".
The issue was raised by BJP
chief spokesperson Ravi Shankar
Prasad during zero hour, when
issues of public importance are
raised.
Even as Prasad's name was last
in the list of zero hour mentions, it
was taken up first after several
opposition parties insisted it was
important.
"BJP would like the PM to
explain why he did not initiate
inquiry and what he proposed to
do now when it has become evi-
dent that multi-brand retail FDI
has come on the shoulders of lob-
bying and bribery," Prasad said.
His party colleague Venkaiah
Naidu said, "We demand that
Prime Minister should come to the
House and make a statement on
the issue. It should also be fol-
lowed up with an independent
inquiry."
"The disclosure in US senate
about Wal-Mart that they had
spent Rs 125 cr in lobbying
including India for creating new
market is official confirmation
that Wal-Mart has done lobbying
in India. Lobbying is banned in
India," Prasad said.
Naidu said, "Government can-
not keep quiet and Parliament
cannnot remain silent into these
serious allegations...It has raised
many questions. It is a question of
India's image and the image of its
Parliament."
Also demanding an inquiry
into the issue, CPI-M leader
Sitaram Yechury said, ""We are
not saying who has taken money
or not. What we are saying is that
Wal-Mart itself is saying that it
has spent the money. There are
cases of corruption in the court. So
government should inquire into
it." SP leader Mohan Singh also
said, "Government should inquire
into it as who are responsible for it
or involved in it."
BJP said the Prime Minister
should explain how lobbying for
Wal-Mart contd on page 2
'Oppn seeks independent probe'
NEW DELHI: After its
decisive victory on the issue
of allowing 51% FDI in
retail, the UPA government
aims to get the constitution
amendment bill to restore
quota in promotions for
SC/STs cleared by the
Parliament.
The proposed 117th con-
stitution amendment bill
seeks to amend to remove the
term "inadequate representa-
tion" as mentioned in Article
16(4) to justify reservation in
promotion and appointments.
With the deadlock over
quota in promotions for
SC/STs persisting, Chairman
of the Rajya Sabha on
Monday called an all-party
meet to discuss the issue. The
all-party meet gains signifi-
cance as BSP supremo
Mayawati has upped the ante
and is pressurising the UPA
government to pass the bill.
Amid ruckus in the house
over the issue, Rajya Sabha
was adjourned for the day.
Mayawati targeted the
BJP over the issue and ques-
tioned its stand on the issue.
The bill that was first intro-
duced during the Monsoon
Session on September 5 has
already seen both Houses
getting repeatedly disrupted
in the Winter Session. The
biggest challenge before the
government is to get the
Samajwadi Party to support it
and how the matter plays
between the SP and the BSP.
The contd on page 2
JAMMU, DEC 10: Chief
Minister, Omar Abdullah
Monday reviewed the status
of progress on proposed
Bhatinda-Jammu-Srinagar
Gas Pipeline Project (BJSS-
PL) at a meeting of high level
officers here this morning
and emphasized on early start
of work on the project.
Omar Abdullah has
already approved the project
during a meeting of State
officers and the team of
Petroleum and Natural Gas
Regulatory Board (PNGRB)
led by its Chairman, Lalit
Mansingh at Srinagar. This
was followed by various
meetings of officers of
PNGRB with the Chief
Secretary and other senior
officers of the State. The pre-
sentations about the pipeline
were made by the Board per-
taining to the implementation
and impact of the project on
State's economy in these
meetings.
In today's meeting the
Chief Minister received
appraisal of the roadmap pre-
pared to start the work on the
project and complete it by
July 2014 to draw gas from
Gujarat to Srinagar and
Jammu. This will relieve the
pressure on availability of
domestic gas. It will also help
generate employment. The
gas pipeline will consist of
328 kilometre long main gas
trunk from Bhatinda to
Srinagar passing through
Kathua, Samba, Jammu,
Udhampur, Ramban,
Anantnag, Pulwama and
Srinagar.
Clash between SP-BSP over
quota bill, all-party meet called
328-km long Bhatinda-Srinagar Gas
Pipeline to be ready by mid 2014
NITISH KUMAR FAVOURS SC/STS QUOTA
PATNA: With Parliament set to take up Amendment Bill to
restore quota in promotion for SC/STs, Bihar Chief Minister
Nitish Kumar on Monday said he favoured the legislation. "I
and my party JD(U) is in favour of the Bill for restoration of
quota in promotion for SC/STs," Kumar told reporters
emerging from his favourite "Janata ke darbar me mukhya
mantri" programme. He said Bihar has already made such
provision. "The condition of SC/STs has still not improved to
keep them away from reservation," Kumar, who is senior
JD(U) leader, said giving justification for his argument in
favour of the Constitution Amendment Bill to restore quota
in promotions for SC/STs. Kumar said that despite numer-
ous welfare measures and reservation in jobs, the condition
of the weaker sections has not improved very much as com-
pared to other sections of the society.
SAC issues notice
to Taj in forest
land grab case
JAMMU,DEC 10: The State
Accountability Commission,
the J&K anti-graft panel, has
issued notice to Irrigation and
Flood Control Minister Taj
Mohi-ud-Din for contempt in
forest land grabbing case and
asked him to appear before it
in person on December 17.
The office shall frame
Robkar and issue notices to
Taj Mohi-ud-din to appear in
person on the next date of
hearing (December 17) to
show-cause as to why pro-
ceedings for contempt of the
Commission may not be initi-
ated contd on page 2
Mahama declared
winner of Ghana
presidential polls
ACCRA: Ghana's presiden-
tial election has been won by
incumbent John Mahama, the
electoral commission has
announced. The commission
said that Mr Mahama had
won 50.7% against opposi-
tion leader Nana Akufo-Addo
on 47.74%. With eight candi-
dates in the race, more than
50 percent was needed to
avoid a second-round runoff.
"I call on all leaders of all
political parties to respect the
voice of the people,"
Mahama said in a victory
speech in which he also
urged contd on page 2
NEW DELHI: The govern-
ment on Monday introduced
in Parliament the Bill to
amend the Competition Act
which, among other things,
will require the Competition
Commission to decide on
corporate mergers within 180
days.
Once in place, the Bill
will allow the Competition
Commission of India (CCI)
Chairperson to authorise
'search and seizure' to its
Director General (DG) for
investigations.
Corporate Affairs
Minister Sachin Pilot intro-
duced the 'The Competition
(Amendment) Bill, 2012' in
the Lok Sabha to amend the
Competition Act 2002.The
amendments, approved by
the Cabinet in October, are
aimed at fine-tuning the regu-
lations to bring rules on par
with the prevailing scenario
and in light of the experi-
ences gained over the past
years. CCI has the mandate
to ensure that the merger and
acquisition deals between
various entities do not lead to
situations that affect competi-
tion in the marketplace. Once
passed, contd on page 2
Govt introduces amendment
Bill to Competition Act NEW DELHI, DEC 10:
India ranks 66th among 105
countries in the Global Food
Security Index (GFSI) 2012,
brought out by the Economist
Intelligence Unit (EIU) of
the news magazine 'The
Economist'. While the US
has been ranked first, Congo
has been placed last at 105th
in the GFSI 2012 report.
"The GFSI report has
however, not provided the
data on contd on page 2
India ranks 66th among 105 countries
in the GFSI 2012 : 'The Economist'
Uproar in Rajya Sabha over Walmart lobbying
Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah chairing a meeting of high level officers to review the status of
progress on proposed Bhatinda-Jammu-Srinagar Gas Pipeline Project at Jammu.
Page 1_Bali_Bali.qxd 12/11/2012 12:16 PM Page 1
Uproar in ....
was allowed in India despite a ban
on it. The BJP also said that it will con-
tinue to raise the issue in Parliament
and demand the government's
response.
The Rajya Sabha was adjourned for
the day after repeated disruptions over
reports of Wal-Mart spending huge
money to lobby for entry into the
Indian market.
Naidu said, "It is shocking news on
India and it is a sad commentary on the
state of affairs. This has raised many
questions. The country wants to know
who have taken the money and what is
the government's response."
He alleged that the party has been
raising the issue of western influence
there on India's policy and the reports
have proved this point further. "We
have raised an issue that concerns the
image of Parliament," he said.
Prasad said, "The lobbying fact
cannot be denied as US Senate has
accepted it. Lobbying in India is pro-
hibited. Bribery is a crime. People of
the country would like to know if lob-
bying was going on for the last four
years then what action had been taken
by the government and who were the
middlemen in the transaction."
SP leader Mohan Singh also said
that it is known that when a foreign
company enters the country they spent
huge money for it.
When reminded that SP has bailed
out the UPAgovernment in Parliament
on FDI issue, he said, "No SP leader
knows English. So SP cannot play any
role for advocating entry of foreign
companies. SP does not have any role
in the Wal-Mart deal."
Clash between...
BSP, which voted in favour of the
government in Rajya Sabha to defeat
the opposition motion against FDI,
was assured by the ruling UPAthat the
quota bill would be passed, reports
said. However, the SP appears deter-
mined to scuttle it.
Clearly, the bill is the next possible
acid test for the government with the
SP adamant on its opposition to it. The
government had secured a decisive
victory on the issue of allowing 51%
FDI in retail.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister
Kamal Nath's task is cut out as the gov-
ernment tries to convince the SP to
come on board for the 117th constitu-
tion amendment bill which seeks to
amend to remove the term "inadequate
representation" as mentioned in Article
16(4) to justify reservation in promo-
tion and appointments.
Bahujan Samaj Party had raised the
issue in Parliament after the SC - on
April 28 - struck down her govern-
ment's decision to provide quota in
promotions in Uttar Pradesh.
During the previous all-party meet-
ing - on August 21 - Prime Minister
Manmohan Singh had given an assur-
ance that his government would pro-
vide a "legally sustainable" solution
for the restoration of quota in promo-
tions.
Mahama declared...
restraint in celebrations and said he
was overwhelmed.
"The voice of the people is the
voice of God."
However, the opposition New
Patriotic party says it will contest the
result, accusing the governing National
democratic congress party of conspir-
ing with commission staff to fix
Friday's poll.
Ghana, one of the world's fastest
growing economies, is regarded as one
of Africa's most stable democracies.
In a counter move by opposition,
"To accept this result is to discredit
democracy in Ghana and, in the
process, distort the process of democ-
ratisation in Africa. Therefore, the
New Patriotic party cannot accept the
results of the presidential election as
declared by the EC [election commis-
sion] this evening," the statement said.
Ghana has one of the longest tradi-
tions of democracy in this troubled
corner of Africa, but Friday's election
was fraught, after biometric machines
used to identify voters through their
fingerprints failed to work in scores of
polling stations, forcing officials to
extend voting into a second day.
Akufo-Addo's party has accused the
ruling party of using the disorder
caused by the technical failure to rig
the election.
India ranks 66th....
indicators used in the construction
of the index," Food Minister K V
Thomas said in a written reply to Rajya
Sabha..
"Hence, it is felt that this index does
not reflect the actual food security sit-
uation of the country in terms of lack
of access to food in the society," he
said.
GFSI assesses issue of affordability,
availability, safety and quality con-
structed from 25 indicators that meas-
ures the drivers of food security across
a set of 105 developing and developed
countries including India, the minister
said.
GFSI gave India an index score of
44.2 out of 100, while the US scored
89 and Congo scored 18. India scored
36.4 in terms of affordability and in
terms of availability it scored 51.3.
The score suggests affordability as
an area for attention towards food
security for the country, Thomas
added.
"Moreover, methods used for data
gathering, its analysis and forecasting
are not test checked/validated by gov-
ernment of India or any United
Nation's agency. Hence, the position of
the country in the food Security Index,
2012 may not be justified," the minis-
ter explained.
The index, however, is subject to
updation on quarterly basis to adjust
the impact of fluctuating food prices
both at the global and domestic level,
Thomas said.
"To ensure food security in the
country, government has introduced
the National Food Security Bill, 2011
in Parliament to provide for food and
nutritional security in human life cycle
approach by ensuring access to ade-
quate quantity of quality food at
affordable prices for people to live a
life of dignity," the Minister said.
That apart, the production levels of
foodgrains in the country are high
enough to meet the domestic require-
ments, he said.
India produced an all time high
foodgrain production of 257.44 million
tonnes in the 2011-12 crop year (July-
June) as against 244.78 million tonnes
in 2010-11 crop year.
Govt introduces....
the time period for CCI to decide on
combinations would come down to
180 days from 210 days.
The amended Act would grant pow-
ers to CCI chief to allow the DG to
carry out search and seizure activities
related to investigations. DG is the
investigating arm of fair trade regula-
tor CCI.
At present, CCI's Director General,
upon authorisation by the Chief
Metropolitan Magistrate, Delhi, has
the powers to carry out search and
seizure in any investigation. This is
under Section 41(3) of the Competition
Act, 2002. Other amendments include
change in the definition of terms like
turnover and group in competition
related matter.
Besides, a new Section 5A would
be inserted into the Act. As per this
section, "Notwithstanding anything in
Section 5, the Central Government
may, in consultation with the
Commission, by notification, specify
different values of assets and turnover
for any class or classes of enterprise
for the purpose of Section 5". Section 5
relates to combinations of entities.
Maha CM warns....
open ground in central Mumbai, was
given to the party just for Bal
Thackeray's cremation and it should
now be returned to the state govern-
ment.
"Shivaji Park was given for Bal
Thackeray's cremation on the grounds
that it will be returned in the same con-
dition. We want the Shiv Sena to abide
by the conditions and follow the law,"
Chavan saids
After Bala Saheb's death, the Shiv
Sena has demanded a memorial to be
built at Shivaji Park in the memomry
of its departed leader. Sena workers on
Saturday gathered in large number at
the funeral site of Bal Thackeray at
Shivaji Park in Mumbai amid reports
that the authorities were planning to
remove the structure that has come up
at the place.
Meanwhile, the Brihan Mumbai
Municipal Corporation (BMC) had
also sent a notice to the Shiv Sena to
dismantle the temporary structure built
at the Shivaji Park. BMC said that the
permission to use the ground was
given only for the cremation and that it
should be restored to its original status
as it is a reserved plot as per the city
development plan.
Opposing the demand, state
Congress on Saturday said no "other"
memorial should come up at the
sprawling ground in central Mumbai.
"Shivaji Maharaj is a god for people of
Maharashtra. His memorial is already
there at Shivaji Park," MPCC chief
Manikrao Thakre said.
'Modi distracted people....
Gandhi had sharpened her attack on
Chief Minister Narendra Modi who is
seeking a third consecutive term in
office.
Rahul Gandhi is expected to cam-
paign at Sanand, Jamnagar and Amreli
in Gujarat this week.
Modi will be addressing rallies at
53 places simultaneously using 3-D
holographic projection technology.
Apart from that, he will also address
six election rallies today. On Sunday,
the Prime Minister campaigned in
Gujarat. Addressing a rally in Vansada,
Dr Singh appealed to the voters of
Gujarat to get rid of politicians
indulging in divisive politics. The
Prime Minister said the public health
sector was not in a good state in
Gujarat and new employment opportu-
nities for the youth were also not being
generated. Modi, however, rebutted
Prime Minister's charge and accused
him of playing votebank politics.
54 Indian soldiers ....
written statement.
He said the government had repeat-
edly taken up the matter with the
Pakistani government but "Pakistan
does not acknowledge the presence of
any such personnel in its custody".
Antony recalled that a delegation of
14 relatives of missing Indian defence
personnel visited 10 jails in Pakistan
June 1-14, 2007.
"The delegation, however, could
not conclusively confirm the physical
presence of any missing defence per-
sonnel."
He said that in the wake of media
reports that some 1971 prisoners of
war (POWs) were in a jail in Oman,
the Indian embassy in Muscat formally
took up the issue with the Omani for-
eign office.
The mission wanted to know the
"factual status and consular access and
release of Indian POWs, if any, in
Omani jails.
"However, there has been no offi-
cial and formal response from the
Omani side," the minister said.
J&K to be....
Monday said the work on the proposed
Bhatinda-Jammu-Srinagar gas pipeline
(BJSGPL) should be started soon.
"Officials appraised the chief min-
ister on the roadmap of the project
which will be completed by July 2014.
Besides relieving the pressure on the
LPG gas (cylinders), the project will
also help generate employment," a
government spokesperson told
reporters after the meeting.
"The gas pipeline will cover 328
km from Bhatinda to Srinagar. It will
pass through Kathua, Samba, Jammu,
Udhampur, Ramban, Anantnag and
Pulwama districts. The project will
consist of hundreds of sub-lines to sup-
ply gas to consumers," the spokesper-
son added.
The chief minister has directed that
laying of the pipeline be started simul-
taneously from both Srinagar and
Bhatinda so that gas is supplied to both
Jammu and Srinagar at the same time.
Shinde to Look...
Pranab Mukherjee for review by him,
was still with the Home Ministry.
"When Parliament is over, I will ask
what is the status (of Guru's file). It is
in the Ministry but has not come to me
yet. I have to see his file in detail. I
have to see it in depth," he said at the
"Agenda-Aaj Tak" programme here
organised by TV Today Group.
The ongoing Winter Session of
Parliament will come to an end on
December 20.
Asked about the secrecy that was
maintained regarding hanging of 2008
Mumbai attack terrorist Ajmal Kasab,
Shinde said such operations should
always be kept a secret.
"If terrorists can maintain secrecy
about their attacks, why cannot the
government keep secrets," he said.
The Home Minister said his experi-
ence of having worked as a police sub-
inspector and also as Maharashtra
Chief Minister had helped him in
secretly carrying out along the plan of
execution of Kasab in Yerawada jail in
Pune on November 21.
SAC issues....
against him. The two-member panel
of Justice Hakim Imtiyaz Hussain and
Justice Y P Nargotra further submitted
in the order that no case involving
Mohi-ud-din was disposed of during
September 2005 by the commission at
Jammu.
On November 28, 2012, the minis-
ter had issued a statement claiming that
Accountability Commission in
September 2005 and Vigilance
Organisation, Kashmir, in the year
2011 had conveyed to the Government
that no forest land was grabbed by him
in Sedhav forests in Shopian district of
South Kashmir.
From the above quoted reports, the
statement made by Mohi-ud-din, prima
facie appears to be false, which may
amount to contempt of the
Commission under the provisions of J-
K Contempt of Courts Act 1997, the
Commission order added. The SAC
further said, "the official document
reveals that land grab allegations
against Taj Mohi-ud-din are being
probed and the organisation is yet to
arrive to a final conclusion.
328-km long....
There will be hundreds of sub-lines
which will supply gas to the consumers
at their houses.
The Chief Minister has directed the
PNGRB to start laying of pipeline
from both Srinagar and Bhatinda
simultaneously so that gas is supplied
to both the cities of Jammu and
Srinagar at the same time.
Omar Abdullah said that this proj-
ect possesses greater importance to the
State in providing adequate domestic
and commercial supply of gas to the
consumers on cheaper rates besides
creating huge employment for youth of
the State. He said Gas Company has
already been sensitized in this regard.
He said the project would also help to
utilize gas for generation of power in
the State.
The Chief Minister directed the
Revenue and Law Departments to
finalize Draft Bill for Right of Use of
land for laying of gas pipelines by the
Gas Company in the State for legisla-
ture for enactment as per the
Constitution of Jammu and Kashmir.
Omar Abdullah also stressed the
need for fast tracking the project to
ensure its time line completion in July
2014. He said Jammu and Kashmir
being the remotest Northern State of
India as such has so many disadvan-
tages. "Availability of gas in abun-
dance has been a great challenge
before us", he said adding that supply
of gas to the consumers in the State
through gas pipeline will be a revolu-
tionary step.
The Chief Minister also directed the
concerned to ensure proper and up to
the mark compensation to the land
owners whose land will be used by the
company for laying underground gas
pipelines.
Minister for Rural Development
and Law, Ali Mohammad Sagar,
Minister for Revenue, Raman Bhalla,
Minister for CAPD, Qamar Ali
Akhoon, Minister of State for Revenue
and Home, Nasir Aslam Wani, Chief
Secretary, Madhav Lal, Advocate
General, Isaq Qadri, Principal
Secretary to the Chief Minister, B. B.
Vyas, Commissioner Secretary
Revenue, B. A. Runiyal,
Commissioner Secretary CAPD,
Mohammad Abbas Dar and other sen-
ior officers were present in the meet-
ing.
STUDENT AGE
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2012
2
Contd. from page 1...
NEWDELHI: The Supreme
Court Monday asked
Solicitor General Rohinton
Nariman to assist it in the
hearing on a petition seeking
abolition of caste, region and
religion-based recruitment in
the Indian Army.
The apex court bench of
Justice K.S. Radhakrishnan
and Justice Dipak Misra
while not issuing notice on
the petition of I.S. Yadav
asked his senior counsel S.
Balakrishnan to serve the
plea on the solicitor general
who would assist the court.
The petitioner sought a
court direction that there
should be no discrimination
in the recruitment of soldiers
so that the army could
become a monolithic force as
was the case with the air
force and the navy.
The petition said there
were 22 army regiments
which were based on caste,
region and religion. He said
some regiments used in their
names words like Punjab,
Madras, Assam, Bihar,
Jammu and Kashmir,
Maratha, Rajputana, Jat,
Sikh, Dogra, Garhwal,
Ladakh, Mahar, Kumaon and
Naga.
The petition said that dif-
ferent units of the cavalry too
were based on caste, region
and religion.
President's Bodyguard, a
cavalry regiment, was an
example of gross injustice
done through caste or class or
region-based recruitment.
"In the regiment of
President's Bodyguard only
those from three castes,
namely Hindu Rajputs,
Hindu Jats and Jat Sikhs can
be enrolled," the petition
said. The petitioner said the
army provided employment
to around 15 lakh people and
one-fourth of its personnel
retired every year and fresh
recruits stepped into their
shoes.
"Such a large source of
employment and opportunity
to serve the motherland
should not be kept as the
pocket privilege for the cap-
tive consumption of any par-
ticular caste, class, communi-
ty, region or religion," said
the petition.
The petitioner said
recruitment based on caste or
class or region was "open to
judicial scrutiny".
NEW DELHI: None of the
aircraft supplied to the Indian
Air Force by the US contain
'counterfeit' electronic parts
supplied by Chinese compa-
nies, Defence Minister A K
Antony told Lok Sabha on
Monday while citing the list
of suppliers acquired from
the US Government.
In written reply to a ques-
tion in the House, Antony
said the Government was
aware of media reports
regarding possible usage of
Chinese counterfeit electron-
ic parts in military aircraft
manufactured in the US.
He was asked whether the
Government was aware that
some of Chinese counterfeit
electronics parts may have
been used in military jets
which have been sold to
India.
"The IAF has acquired a
list of suppliers from the US
Government with respect to
aircraft procured from the
USA and none of the suppli-
ers are found to be Chinese
manufacturers," Antony said.
He was also asked
whether the Government had
purchased C-130J transport
aircraft for the IAF and P8-I
Poseidon surveillance aircraft
for Navy, in which counter-
feit parts were found to have
been used.
"No P8-I aircraft has so
far been delivered to India.
"Moreover, during the last
four years of operation of the
US defence equipment
including C-130J transport
aircraft, IAF have not
encountered any faulty spare
parts and equipment," he
said.
It has been confirmed
from Boeing, the vendor of
P-8I, that no counterfeit parts
have been installed on the air-
craft to be supplied to India,
the Defence Minister added.
In reply to a separate
question on procurements
from Boeing, the Minister
said, "In two separate propos-
als initiated by IAF for pro-
curement of 15 heavy lift hel-
icopters and 22 attack heli-
copters, Boeing with
Chinook CH-47F (I) and
Apache AH-64D respective-
ly, has emerged as the L1
vendor."
The Acceptance of
Necessity cost for 12 heavy
lift helicopters and 22 attack
helicopters is Rs 2,468.41
crore and Rs 3,094.98 crores
respectively, he said.
"However, the final cost
of the contracts would
depend upon the outcome of
the contract negotiation with
the L1 vendor," Antony
added
Plea to SC questions army
recruitment policy
No Chinese-made electronics part in US planes with IAF: Antony
Dassault asks Def
Ministry to define HAL's
role in MMRCA project
NEWDELHI: After bagging the multi-billion
dollar deal for supplying 126 Rafale fighter air-
craft to the Indian Air Force, French firm
Dassault Aviation has asked the Defence
Ministry to define the role of Hindustan
Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) in the project.
If the contract is finalised, the first 18 air-
craft would be supplied by Dassault directly to
the IAF and the remaining 108 would be
licence-produced at HAL facilities in
Bangalore.
The French Dassault has asked the Ministry
to define the role of the premier Indian aero-
space company in the final delivery of the 108
aircraft to be produced in India, industry
sources told
As per the IAF tender issued for the project,
the primary role of integration and supply of
these aircraft would be of the HAL, which is
successfully working on several important
fighter aircraft programmes such as the Su-
30MKI project.
The French company has told the Defence
Ministry that if it is given the overall responsi-
bility for the project, it should be given the
freedom to decide on the proportion of work to
be done by HAL and private companies in the
programme, the sources said.
In that case, the firm would determine the
role of the defence and security wing of a new
Indian defence company in the project and a
major share of work would be given to it, they
said.
Soon after Dassault was declared as the
lowest bidder for the MMRCA (Medium
Multi-Role Combat Aircraft) deal piping
EAD's Eurofighter, it signed a MoU with a
Reliance Industries Ltd. company for working
together in the security sector. It is currently
negotiating the deal with the Defence Ministry
and the IAF. For completing the Indian project,
Dassault has also opened an Indian subsidiary
company here. The company named Dassault
Aircraft Services India Private Limited (DASI-
PL) was set up recently and it is 100 per cent
owned by its French parent company, the
sources said.
54 military jets lost in
crashes in last three
years
NEW DELHI: Fifty-four defence aircraft,
including combat planes and helicopters, have
been lost in crashes in the last three years in
which 66 defence personnel and six civilians
were killed, Defence Minister A K Antony
said on Monday. In 2009-10, 16 aircraft were
lost in crashes, 17 of them were lost in 2010-
11, 15 aircraft crashed in 2011-12 while six of
them have been lost so far in 2012-13, the
Minister said in written reply to a Lok Sabha
query. The aircraft lost in the crashes include
two Su-30 MKIs, 11 MiG 21s, two Mirage
2000s, 10 Cheetah/Chetak choppers along
with Mi-17, MiG 27 and Jaguar aircraft.
"In the above accidents, a total of 66
defence personnel and six civilians have lost
their lives," Antony said.
He said all the crashes are probed by Court
of Inquiries and their recommendations and
findings are implemented by the authorities.
Answering another query, the Minister
said the Border Roads Organisation (BRO)
has worked on one road project in Myanmar
which will connect that country with India.
"Only one road work/project (namely
resurfacing of road Tamu-Kyigine-Kalewa
and Kyigone-Kalemyo) connecting India and
Myanmar is under execution by BRO," he
said. Antony informed the House that the
work on the project was completed in 2001.
He said that BRO is also executing a proj-
ect for "double-laning of the road up to
Tawang and road beyond Tawang is
motorable."
Page 2_Defence_Bali.qxd 12/11/2012 12:18 PM Page 1
STATE
STUDENT AGE
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2012
3
NEWS IN BOX
Chairman LC administers oath
to 4 newly elected MLCs
JAMMU, DEC 10: The newly elected four MLCs two each
from Kashmir and Jammu divisions Mr. Ghulam Nabi
Monga, Mr. Ali Mohammad Dar, Mr. Sham Lal Bhagat and
Dr. Shenaz Ganai were administered oath by the Chairman
Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Council, Mr. Amrit
Malhotra in the Council Hall here this afternoon.
Chief Minister, Mr. Omar Abdullah, various Members of
Council of Ministers, Legislators, high level government
officers and prominent citizens were present on the occasion.
Temperature across Kashmir
falls below freezing point
SRINAGAR,DEC 10: The night temperature across
Kashmir fell below freezing point with Leh in Ladakh
remaining the coldest place in the region.
According to the meteorological department the mini-
mum temperature recorded at Leh, 434 kms from here, was
minus 11.0 degrees Celsius. The night temperature in other
parts of the valley including the summer capital Srinagar also
fell by a few notches and settled below freezing point.
The famous ski resort of Gulmarg in north Kashmir was
the coldest place in the valley with a low of minus 5.0
degrees Celsius, the spokesperson added.
He said Srinagar recorded a low of minus 0.3 degrees
Celsius compared to 1.6 degrees Celsius on Saturday.
Pahalgam hill resort in south Kashmir, which serves as a
base camp during the annual Amarnath yatra, recorded a
minimum of minus 3.8 degrees Celsius, the spokesman said.
He said the mercury is expected to fall further as there is
a possibility of fresh snowfall in the high reaches between
December 12 and 16.
BJP holds protest in Jammu
on Human Rights Day
JAMMU,DEC 10: The BJP held protest in a unique way in
Jammu on International Human Rights Day.Polishing peo-
ple's shoes on the occasion, BJP leaders said they wanted to
deliver the message to the state government that it should
stop the alleged violation of human rights in Jammu. BJP
leaders said West Paksitani refugees, and those displaced
from PoK have still not been rehabilitated by the government
and it amounted to human rights abuse.
LA Panel discusses Ethics Rules
JAMMU, DEC 10: Ameeting of Committee on Ethics (EC)
of Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly was held under
the Chairmanship of MLAAdvocate Abdul Haq, here today.
The Committee with its Members Mr. Mohammad Khalil
Bandh, Mr. Jagdish Raj Sapolia, Mir Zahoor Ahmad, Mr.
Bharat Bushan, Mr. Durga Dass, Mr. Krishen Chander and
Mr. Baldev Raj Sharma deliberated on Ethics Rules present-
ly in vogue. The panel gave their valuable suggestions for
further improvement in making these rules viable.
The Committee decided that it will visit Delhi, Andhra
Pardesh and Karnatka for study tour to learn their ethics rules
so that necessary amendments to be made in Ethics Rules.
The Committee decided that a proposal be moved to the
Speaker Assembly also to grant permission of study tour to
some democratic country of the world to study the knowhow
of their parliament. The panel asked the Committee members
to submit their suggestions in writing so that their valuable
recommendations can be incorporated in present ethics rules
in vogue. Senior officers of Assembly Secretariat present in
the meeting.
DDC conducts surprise check
of schools, anganwari centres
KATHUA, DEC 10: To check the punctuality in
Government offices, DDC Kathua Ms Zahida Parveen Khan
conducted surprise visit to Government Middle school and
Government High school Govindsar.
During the inspection it was found that student's atten-
dance was found low in both the schools. DDC passed strict
instructions to the head of the school in view of low atten-
dance of school. However, teachers were found present dis-
charging their duties.
DDC asked CEO Kathua to keep check and regularly
monitor the regularity of the students. She also appealed the
panches and sarpanches to keep an eye on the enrolment and
attendance of the students and teachers.
During the inspection DDC checked the Anganwari cen-
tre at Govindsar and reviewed details of the enrolment of
children, pregnant women and nourishing mothers
Instructions were also issued to supervisor and CDPO to
regularly monitor the working of anganwadi centres. Ration
material and supply were also checked. DDC said that it was
the routine checking and will continue in future also.
CMO Kathua, CEO Kathua and PO ICDS Kathua
accompanied the DDC during the inspection.
International tour for
farmers organized
JAMMU, DEC 10: An interactional tour of progressive
farmers from various districts of Jammu province, including
that from Doda, Kishtwar, Ramban, Rajouri and Jammu was
flagged off by Extension Officer, Publicity Wing, Animal
Husbandry Department from here today. During the tour the
farmers will visit Punjab Agriculture University, Ludhiana,
National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal and Hissar
Agriculture University, Hissar. The tour will involve learning
improved animal husbandry practices, motivational talks by
experts in the field, and interactional session for doubt clear-
ance by the breeders. It will also provide an opportunity to
farmers of remote areas to visit places outside the state and
have first hand experience of progress and achievements in
the field of animal husbandry and adopt new techniques for
their economic upliftment.
JAMMU, DEC 10 : Deputy
Chief Minister Mr. Tara
Chand today conducted a
detailed inspection tour of
different sewerage works
under various stages of com-
pletion.
While inspecting progress
of work at Sewerage
Treatment Plant (STP)
Bhagwati Nagar, the Deputy
Chief Minister took a detail
review of the progress of
works being executed by
NBCC and ERA. It was
informed by the concerned
executing agencies that work
on first STP is nearly ninety
percent complete and work
on the other is going on at fast
pace. He directed the execut-
ing agencies to gear up
resources for early comple-
tion of left over works at STP
besides laying of main trunk
sewer, laterals and house con-
nections. It is duty of the con-
cerned department as well as
executing agencies to plug
the gaps so that those works
which remain pending get
completed at the earliest, he
added.
He warned and directed
the concerned authorities to
undertake continuous moni-
toring of the progress of work
at the site and passed instruc-
tions to Chief Engineer,
UEED to report the progress
of different works at STP to
Commissioner/Secretary,
H & U D .
Commissioner/Secretary,
Housing & Urban
Development(H&UD) Mr.
Jeet Lal Gupta, Divisional
Commissioner, Jammu Mr.
Pradeep Gupta, District
Development Commissioner,
Jammu Mr. Sanjeev Verma,
DIG, Jammu-Kathua Range
Mr. J.P.Singh, Commissioner,
JMC Mr. K.L. Khajuria,
Chief Engineers of PWD,
PDD, UEED, PHE and other
senior officers and engineers
of ERA, NBCC, JDA and
other line departments
accompanied the tour.
Giving instructions to con-
cerned engineers for fast
tracking trunk sewer work at
Gujjar Nagar, Mr. Tara Chand
said that inter department
coordination is vital for exe-
cution and called forredou-
bling efforts to finish the
ambitious sewerage projects
undertaken in the Jammu city.
He took a serious view of
haphazard constructions at
different city locations and
directed the Commissioner,
JMC to present the cases for
scrutiny by the higher author-
ities. Later, the Deputy Chief
Minister visited the matador
stand, Panjtirthi and issued
instructions to JMC for
preparing a project for multi-
tier parking cum commercial
complex at the site. He said
the government is contem-
plating to develop modern
parking places at different
available sites in the city.
JAMMU, DEC 10: The
Public Accounts Committee
(PAC) of Jammu and
Kashmir Legislative
Assembly headed by its
Chairman Mr. Rafi Ahmad
Mir suggested formulating of
comprehensive strategy as a
long term measure for shift-
ing of wild animal Monkey
population from human popu-
lation to avoid man animal
conflict. The Committee
directed the wildlife authori-
ties to take immediate short
term measures for shifting of
Monkey population from
Ahata Amar Singh
Panjtherthi area so that the
people living in these areas
get relief. The Committee,
which met here today dis-
cussed and reviewed the
overall functioning of the for-
est and its allied wings of the
forest department besides
CAG's audit paras.
The Committee Members
Mr. Vijay Bakaya, Mr.
Sukhnandan Kumar, Mr. T.
Namgial, Mr. Feroz Mansoor
Hussain, Ms Indu Pawar, Mr.
Nizamu-din Bhat and Mrs
Bimla Luthra gave their valu-
able suggestions for preserve,
conserve and protection of
the forest green wealth.
The penal directed the for-
est authorities not to divert
forest land without compen-
sation of money. It asked
them to ensure demarcation
of forest land and gear up
their field functionaries and
identify the forest land for
afforestration.
Replying the CAG's quar-
ries on various audit paras,
the Commissioner/Secretary
Forest Sheikh Eijaz Iqbal
briefed the Committee that
thrust is being laid on
afforestation. He said 21,000
hectors of land for afforesta-
tion is fixed target for two
years and hoped that the tar-
get will be achieve in full.
Principal Chief
Conservator of Forests Mr.
Vinod Ranjan also briefed the
panel about over all working
of the forest department and
its allied wings besides
CAG's queries.
After threadbare discus-
sion on various audit paras
pertaining to forest and its
allied wings and satisfied
with the reply, the Committee
dropped few paras.
Among others, Principal
Accountant General, J&K
AG Office Dr. S. C. Panday,
Director General Accounts
and Treasuries M. Ravinder
Kumar Project Chief, Wullar
Conservation Project M.
Abdul Razak, Chief Wild
Lime Warden M.A. K. Singh
and other Heads of the
Departments of various wings
of the forest department
besides senior officers of
Assembly Secretariat attend-
ed the meeting.
UDHAMPUR, DEC 10: To
observe "World Human
Rights Day", the District
Information Centre
Udhampur in collaboration
with Kalra College of
Education, Udhampur organ-
ized a symposium on the
topic, "Human Rights in a
Democratic Country", in the
college premises at Battal
Ballian, on Monday.
The Chairman of the host
college, Mr. Aman Kalra was
the chief guest on the occa-
sion. As many as 13 stu-
dents of the college participat-
ed in the symposium and
expressed their views on the
topic. Miss. Ridhi Dutta was
adjudged as best speaker
while Mr. Soni and Miss
Roshni bagged second and
third positions respectively.
Miss Rekha and Miss Shivali
were awarded with consola-
tion prize in the contest.
Lauding the efforts of
District Information Centre,
Udhampur for holding sym-
posium on the important
topic, the Chairman remarked
that the ultimate end of the
revolutionary social change is
to establish the sanctity of
human life and dignity of the
man. He said that fundamen-
tal rights of the human being
should be protected at all
costs. Mr. Kalra called for
organizing more such aware-
ness related events on the vital
social issues for the benefit of
student community. Later, the
chief guest awarded prizes
and certificates to the winners
of the symposium. Among
others, Principal, Kalra
College, teaching faculty and
students were present on the
occasion.
PAC exhorts forest preservation
KISHTWAR, DEC 10: Suggesting
opposition parties, mainly Peoples
Democratic Party, to take lesson
from the recently held elections in
Jammu and Kashmir, National
Conference spokesperson and
Member Legislative Assembly Mr.
Sajad Ahmed Kichloo Monday said
that National Conference was not
only a party but a movement and
important part of the state history.
Addressing a public meeting at
Sondar area of Dachan, Mr Kichloo
said that Peoples Democratic Party
leadership was unable to digest the
humiliating defeat it has faced in the
recently held elections for the four
seats of Legislative Council. "It is
very unfortunate that this party is
still unable to read the writing on the
wall and continues its propaganda
tactics to hoodwink the people", he
said.
The NC spokesperson said that
the elections have not only exposed
the claims of the PDP that it has sup-
port of majority of the Sarpanches
and Panches in Jammu and Kashmir
but has at the same time set a tone for
the upcoming general elections.
"The people are wise enough to
judge between right and wrong", he
said adding, "The thumping success
of the NC-Congress candidates is a
testimony of the fact that people are
no more interested in the hollow slo-
gans and false claims". "It was very
surprising that PDP leadership was
every now and than claiming to have
given a political alternative to the
people", he said adding that the party
can by no stretch of imagination
compare itself with National
Conference.The NC spokesperson
said that history of the state was tes-
timony of the sacrifices made by the
party leadership for the welfare of
the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
"While Sher-e-Kashmir Sheikh
Muhammad Abdullah laid the foun-
dation of democratic setup in the
state, Dr Farooq Abdullah took over
the reign of powers when people like
Mufti Muhammad Sayeed were con-
spiring against the people and state,
while enjoying luxuries".
Mr Kichloo said that present gov-
ernment, headed by Chief Minister
Omar Abdullah, has unleashed an era
of peace and prosperity and has laid
a foundation stone for a developed
and economically self reliant state. It
was the dynamic and visionary lead-
ership of Omar Abdullah that the
state was recovered from the eco-
nomic morass created by the PDP
government. "With holding of pan-
chayat elections, Right to
Information Act, Public Service
Gurantee Act, State Vigilance
Commission Act and State
Accountability Commission the gen-
eral masses are more powerful today
than ever", he said added further.
CM launches
Academy's
website
JAMMU, DEC 10 : Chief
Minister Omar Abdullah
Monday launched an
exhaustive website of the
Academy of Art, Culture and
Languages (JKAACL), mak-
ing information about the
premier cultural institution
of the State a click away.
Available at www.jkcul-
ture.nic.in, the website gives
a comprehensive view of the
Academy's objectives, activ-
ities, schemes, rules, struc-
ture, besides the rich reposi-
tory of manuscripts, refer-
ence books, paintings, minia-
tures, calligraphy specimen
and sculptures.
The dynamic content of
the website includes news
and photographs of day-to-
day activities of the
Academy in the spheres of
art, culture and languages
and notifications. Pictorial
details of past patrons, presi-
dents and secretaries of the
institution have also been
made available. Archival
photographs of the
Academy's activities over
the decades can also be
accessed. The recently
launched newsletter of the
Academy, Saqafat, is also
available on the website.
The Chief Minister, who
is also the President, Jammu
& Kashmir Academy of Art,
Culture & Languages
(JKAACL), clicked the web-
site for a formal launch and
surfed through its various
sections. He appreciated the
effort and congratulated the
Academy for opening its
activities to a wider viewer-
ship.
Secretary Academy,
Khalid Bashir Ahmad, said
that the website expands the
viewership of the Academy's
activities, enhances its effi-
ciency and brings in more
transparency. He said the
exhaustive information
available on the website will
benefit viewers whose feed-
back shall help further
improve the functioning of
the institution.
PDP unable to digest defeat in LC elections: Kichloo
Dy CM directs for timeline completion of works
Deputy Chief Minister Mr. Tara Chand along with others inspecting progress of work at Sewerage
Treatment Plant (STP) Bhagwati Nagar.
Symposium on Human rights in a democratic country held
RKJ holds
Dogri Kavi
Sabha at Katra
KATRA DEC 10: Radio
Kashmir Jammu(RKJ) organ-
ized a Dogri Kavi Sabha in the
premises of Spiritual Growth
Centre, Katra here on Monday
In Kavi Sabha, as many as
thirteen noted poets of Jammu
region recited their poetic
verses which were highly
appreciated by the audience.
Renowned dogri poet of
Jammu province, Mr. N.D.
Jamwal presided over the
function. The poets who pre-
sented their Dogri poems
included Dr. Jatinder
Udhampuri, Narsingh Dev
Jamwal, Darshan Darshi,
Parkash Premi, Mohan Singh,
Gianeshwar, Avtar Singh,
Bishan Singh Dardi, Gopal
Krishan Komal, Surinder
Singh Manhas, Sushil
Begana, Usha Kiran Kiran and
Inderjit Kesar.
Speaking on the occasion,
Programme Head, Radio
Kashmir Jammu, Mr. Ravi
Magotra highlighted the pro-
grammes of Radio Kashmir
Jammu and its allied channels.
He apprised that efforts are
being made to organize similar
programmes in the areas of the
Jammu province to make peo-
ple familiar and close to Radio
Kashmir Jammu. Proceedings
of the programme were con-
ducted by Mr Ravi Kant
Sharma while Technical assis-
tance was extended by Mr.
Shakeel Bakshi.
The Chairman of Kalra College of Education along with others posing for a group photograph.
JAMMU DEC 10: Chief
Secretary, Madhav Lal,
Monday highlighted the
importance of utilising IT
enabled Technology to fur-
ther improve service delivery
and monitoring in Healthcare
under NRHM flagship pro-
gramme in Jammu and
Kashmir.
He called on the Health
Department to work out a
proposal for placing real time
online information and data
network across all health cen-
tres for better and timely
monitoring of all activities
under NRHM.
Chairing the Governing
Body meeting to review the
implementation of NRHM in
the state here, the Chief
Secretary noted that comput-
erisation of hospital records
and real time availability of
health data will result in huge
improvement in health care
delivery in rural areas. He
said that mobile sets could be
utilised to feed and receive
real time data in remote rural
areas and proposal to this
effect should be worked out
taking latest technology into
consideration.
Mission Director NRHM
informed the meeting that
133 delivery points are func-
tional in the state and as
many as 100 additional deliv-
ery points are targeted to be
made functional during cur-
rent fiscal. Chief Secretary
directed to ensure that addi-
tional delivery points are
fully functional within the
stipulated time frame. He
called for strengthening
delivery points by rationali-
sation of staff engaged under
NRHM and their skill upgra-
dation through training and
providing additional man-
power where ever necessary.
Several awareness camps
across 116 blocks were con-
ducted to make Village
Health Sanitation and
Nutrition Committees, PRIs,
NGOs and villagers aware
about community monitoring
and other activities under
NRHM, Mission director
informed the meeting. He
said that Rs 182 Lakh has
been approved for computer-
isation of Hospital records
during current fiscal.
CS reviews NRHM implementation
Page 3_State.qxd 12/11/2012 12:19 PM Page 1
JOGINDER SINGH
I
n a desperate bid to shore
up its dwindling support
base, the Congress-led
UPAregime has now resorted
to cash handouts. But this is
no substitute for good gover-
nance
The Union Government
has announced that it will
directly transfer cash subsi-
dies into the bank accounts of
beneficiaries via their Unique
Identification Numbers from
January 1, 2013. The objec-
tive of this scheme is suppos-
edly to plug leaks in the sys-
tem and prevent corruption
caused by middlemen.
However, the
Government has, at the same
time, also said that getting a
Unique Identification
Number under the Aadhaar
scheme is not mandatory but
voluntary. The most danger-
ous part of the Aadhaar
scheme is that it is for every
'resident' of the country, irre-
spective of the kind of docu-
mentation they may or may
not have. In other words,
individuals without any valid
documents can also get a
Unique Identification
Number under the Aadhaar
scheme even though the new
number will not replace other
forms of identification.
This puts a question mark
on the scheme and opens the
flood gates of corruption as
Aadhaar benefits can also be
enjoyed by those who may
not be citizens of the country.
The UID charter says that the
ID number does not establish
citizenship and it is for any-
body residing in India.
But what does this mean?
Is UID duplicating the
Census of India? Why should
the Indian Government issue
any form of identification to
a foreigner who is already in
the country on a valid pass-
port and visa.
One does not have to
spend thousands of crores of
rupees to get a useless piece
of information regarding how
many non-Indian citizens are
residing in the country at any
given time. All official entry
points in to this country are
controlled by immigration
and customs agencies, and
they have all the necessary
information. What may be
required is coordination
between the several
Government agencies that
man the borders.
But coming back to the
Government's recently
launched Direct Cash
Transfer scheme, it is amaz-
ing that the programme is
based on the Unique
Identification Number, which
is not even mandatory. This is
not legally sustainable. Also,
it is quite possible, and in fact
it is bound to happen, that
illegal immigrants, terrorists
or just about anybody over-
staying their visa in India will
enjoy the cash subsidy that
will start flowing in from
January 2013.
The entire Direct Cash
Transfer scheme is ill-con-
ceived. And this is not even
to mention the fact that it
uses tax payers' money to pay
for the subsidies. In the finan-
cial year 2010-11, the Union
and State Governments spent
a total of Rs3.69 lakh crore in
the social welfare sector
(education, healthcare, social
security, etc). The total
amount of Union
Government subsidy in the
social sector in 2011-12 was
Rs1.62 lakh crore.
The Congress-led UPA
regime at the Centre says that
'e-transfer' of money will cut
down corruption and delivery
delays. But the Government
simply does not have ade-
quate infrastructure to do
carry out this scheme. Even
in a city like Delhi, the
Government-run internet
service provider remains out-
of-order at least 25 per cent
of the time. One can only
imagine the conditions in the
rural areas, where even elec-
tric supply is not only erratic
but sometimes is missing for
days together.
In its report to Parliament
on December 13, 2011, a
Parliamentary Standing
Committee that considered
the National Identification
Authority of India Bill, 2010,
in fact rejected the biometric
data-based identification sys-
tem. The report is actually a
severe indictment of the
hasty and directionless proj-
ect which has been "concep-
tualised with no clarity of
purpose".
If the Union Government
still sincerely believes that
the benefits of the scheme
will reach the poor, then it is
either blissfully ignorant of
the realities on the ground or
it is deluding itself and hood-
winking the people. The
result of all this is that the
common citizen has to suffer
at the hands of corrupt
bureaucrats. The corrupt
extort money and the others
have little choice but to pay
up.
Also, let us not forget that
nothing happens at the bank
for free. Even the opening of
a bank account has a price tag
attached to it. Similarly, loans
too can only be availed from
banks at a price. When I dis-
cussed this issue of direct
transfer of cash with a retired
banker, he unhesitatingly
admitted that the scheme was
another avenue for the bank
and in some cases the Post
Office to make some more
money.
He added jocularly that
bankers had the right to take
a cut as all beneficiaries were
getting the money free of
cost. Against this backdrop,
the Government must per-
haps be reminded of a finan-
cial inclusion survey con-
ducted by the World Bank,
which found "only 35 per
cent of Indians had accounts
in formal financial institu-
tions. This number dwindles
to 21 per cent amongst the
poorest. Recent assessments
on social pensions - an exist-
ing cash transfer scheme -
shows that opening bank
accounts is tough for the
poorest".
Consequently, then,
unscrupulous employees at
the bank will now have
another opportunity to make
money on the side. Worse
still, the customers will have
few choices when its comes
to grievance redressal, as
lodging a complaint against
an unscrupulous official will
be like opening a Pandora's
Box. The accused bank
employee will simply ensure
that even legitimate work of
the complainant never gets
done. This is happening
every day already.
The cash transfer systems
of Brazil and Mexico are
touted as examples that India
is following. But only about
five per cent of the popula-
tion of both those countries is
below the poverty line. In
India that figure is anywhere
between 37 per cent and 46
per cent.
The Government's Direct
Cash Transfer scheme also
has another worrying aspect.
For example, when it gives a
pregnant woman a certain
amount of money, it is essen-
tially telling the so-called
beneficiary to deliver her
baby at any medical centre
but without first strengthen-
ing the country's overall
healthcare infrastructure. In
fact, the cash scheme is little
more than another means of
purchasing votes. The UPA
Government is clearly taking
a short-cut. Instead of deliv-
ering to the people good gov-
ernance, it is luring the voters
with cash.
But then again, all politi-
cal parties that are in power,
without exception, indulge in
populist tactics such as this
Direct Cash Transfer scheme,
with a view to garner votes.
'Flexible morality' is the
reigning mantra these days.
Think of how minorities
are pampered through special
grants and community-based
reservations. Our leaders
should bear in mind that good
governance alone is ultimate-
ly the best politics, and the
only sure-shot way to stay in
power.
EDITORIAL & STATE WATCH
STUDENT AGE
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2012
4
STATE WATCH
Populist policies are short-cuts to power
RANCHI: The ruling
Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP)
Monday dared the Jharkhand
Mukti Morcha (JMM) to
withdraw support to the BJP-
led Arjun Munda government
in the state. The BJP chal-
lenge came after the JMM
sided with the government in
parliament five days ago over
the issue of foreign direct
investment in retail trade,
causing unhappiness in BJP
ranks.
"JMM should go to Raj
Bhavan. Why should we fell
our own government?" asked
Harendra Pratap, a BJP
leader in charge of the party
unit in Jharkhand. He added
that the BJP did not want
President's Rule in the state.
In response, JMM legislator
Lobin Hembrom said: "The
BJP is hungry for power. We
dare the BJP to take a stance
like it did in April 2010."
JMM MP Kameshwar
Baitha voted for the
Congress-led United
Progressive Alliance govern-
ment while MP Shibu Soren
abstained from voting in the
Lok Sabha during the vote on
foreign equity in retail trade.
As the Rajya Sabha voted
on the matter Dec 7, the
JMM abstained. In April
2010, after Shibu Soren
voted for the UPA govern-
ment in the Lok Sabha on a
BJP motion on price hike, the
BJP withdrew support to the
JMM government. "Let the
BJP decide whether they
want to be in the (Jharkhand)
government or not. We have
taken a stand on FDI,"
Deputy Chief Minister and
JMM leader Hemant Soren
told reporters Sunday. The
BJP took power in Jharkhand
with JMM's support in
September 2010.
JHARKHAND
FDI vote causes JMM-BJP fissures in Jharkhand
BHIWANI/BIJNOR: There has been
public outrage after two diktats in
Haryana and Uttar Pradesh. While in
Haryana, a college has banned girls
from wearing jeans, in Uttar Pradesh,
the Bijnor District Magistrate has
asked girls not to wear black clothes
at a Chief Minister event.
A women's college in the Bhiwani
district in Haryana has banned girls
from turning out in jeans and tops. At
the Adarsh Women's College, where
this diktat has been in place, the prin-
cipal doesn't see anything wrong with
it. Instead, she says that it's a part of
respecting Indian culture as jeans and
tops are all western dresses. The prin-
cipal also believes that western outfits
distract students from their studies
and invite harassment in the form of
unwanted attention.
"We have banned western clothes
to groom girls according to Indian
culture. Jeans and short tops invite
attraction and also distracts the stu-
dents, so its not allowed. Since, the
students are teenagers and can misuse
molbile phones, hence we have
restricted them," college Principal
Alka Sharma said.
The college has also banned the
use of mobile phones. The National
Commission for Women (NCW) has
slammed the diktat and demanded
action against the prinicpal. "Such
diktats are uncalled for and bizarre.
The government must take action
against such institutes," NCW
Chairperson Mamata Sharma said.
Meanwhile, women students in
Bijnor have been barred from wearing
black clothing and jeans at a function
to be presided by Chief Minister
Akhilesh Yadav. Reports say women
have also been barred from wearing
jeans and using mobile phones.
This order has come not from any
religious body, but the district magis-
trate of Bijnor who is a woman her-
slef. Locals in Bijnore are up in arms
against the DM's absurd diktat.
However, the district magistrate
insists the suggestion was for sober
clothing and nothing else. "There is
no such ban.
We have just asked them to wear
sober clothes. Our directive to the
girls is being misinterpreted. No one
has been forced to do anything,"
District Magistrate Sarika Mohan
said. Girl students have expressed
displeasure over the diktat. "We are
going to Rampur to collect our
cheques.
We have been asked not to wear
black coloured clothes," said a stu-
dent. "DM's order to not wear black
burkha is unfair. I never move out of
my house without wearing burkha
and gloves but now I have been asked
not to wear burkha," said another stu-
dent.
HARYANA
Outrage over diktats: Girls in Haryana
College fined for wearing jeans
ASSAM
Assam Minister for
action against
spreading sui-ka-pha
misinformation
GUWAHATI: Assam Cultural
Affairs Department Minister Pranati
Phukan said that she would take a
strong action against the persons
who are behind spreading misinfor-
mation about Sui-ka-pha.
Phukan recently ordered an
urgent departmental inquiry into the
matter of spreading wrong informa-
tion about the life and work of great
Ahom ruler Sui-ka-pha that led to
the cancellation of Assam's partici-
pation in the Republic Day parade in
New Delhi next year.
Several organizations of the State
allege that due to lack of knowledge
on the part of the Cultural Affairs
Department, Sui-ka-pha was pro-
jected as an invader. This is not only
an insult to Sui-ka-pha but also an
insult to the people of Assam.
"I could not find out the reasons
why Sui-ka-pha is being projected
in wrong light. I can only say some-
thing after receiving the inquiry
report," Phukan said, adding,
"Those who are responsible for the
controversy will not be spared
because they have played with the
sentiments of the people of the
State."
Sources, however, said that some
officials of the Cultural Affairs
Department have started a conspira-
cy to manipulate the departmental
inquiry proceedings.
Sui-ka-pha was a great leader
and a brave warrior ruler under
whose guidance a solid process of
unification of various ethnic groups
and assimilation had been set in
motion. He was instrumental in
shaping an undivided Assam in the
13th century. He was a great inte-
grator and a great visionary.
AHEMDABAD: In Gujarat, campaigning for
the first phase of Assembly elections comes to
an end tomorrow evening. A total of 87 con-
stituencies spread over 15 districts from
Saurashtra and south regions of the state will
go for poll on December 13. Political fate of
846 candidates including 46 women, will be
decided by over 3 crore, 80 lakh voters.
The reports said that distribution of photo
voter slips begins today by the poll personnel
in all poll bound constituencies. It will be com-
pleted by December 12 evening. This is for the
first time that photo voter slips are being pro-
vided to the electorate at their door steps by the
booth level officers containing information
about their identity and polling booths. More
than 99 percent voters have been provided
Photo Identity Cards in the state.
Meanwhile, in Gandhinagar district, poll
officials have issued notices to the Revenue
Minister Anandiben Patel for under-reporting
expenses during her campaign. Officials have
also slapped notices on Congress candidate
Ramesh Dudhwala and BSP's Gogha Raju.
They have been asked to clarify their expen-
diture within three days of the show-cause
notice. It has been said that video footage of
campaign rallies were used to calculate the
expenditure in most of these cases.
In Anand district, a surveillance team recov-
ered 1 lakh, 50 thousand rupees from a BJP
leader and former MLA. The amount recov-
ered from his vehicle, has been seized by the
officials. Adding glamour to campaigning, the
ruling Bharatiya Janata Party has put several
Gujarati film and TV artists including Firoz
Irani and Suchitra Trivedi to canvassing for
party candidates. Famous Hindi film actor
Paresh Rawal and TV artist and party MP,
Smriti Irani are also campaigning for BJP can-
didates.
Congress President Sonia Gandhi will be
addressing two election rallies today. Several
Union Ministers, MPs and leaders from other
states are already campaigning in different dis-
tricts for party candidates. BSP supremo
Mayawati also addressed an election rally at
Rajkot.
CHANDIGARH: Punjab
Chief Minister Parkash
Singh Badal today sought
personal intervention of
Prime Minister Manmohan
Singh to advice the Union
Ministry of Human
Resource Development to
formulate a scheme for
opening special boarding
schools for poor and tal-
ented students, who have
passed out of government
schools with 80% and
above pass percentage in
the 12th Five Year Plan.
In a letter to the Prime
Minister, Badal impressed
upon the Prime Minister
that initially one such spe-
cial school per district
could be opened in the
state on pilot basis.
Badal requested the
Prime Minister to make
adequate provisions in the
12th plan for opening such
special schools for these
students. The Chief
Minister apprised PM that
he had come across
numerous cases of poor
but academically talented
students studying in pur-
erly government schools
who have scored above
80% marks in their board
or other qualifying exami-
nations. Unfortunately,
due to their economic con-
ditions, most of these
bright students get
dropped out after matricu-
lation or 10+2 classes,
revealed Badal.
The Chief Minister was
of the firm opinion that
given the conducive and
encouraging environment,
these students would not
only excel for themselves
but also proved to be a
great asset for the nation.
GUJARAT
Gujarat elections: Campaigning
for first phase ends tomorrow
PUNJAB
Badal seeks PM's help to open special
schools for poor talented students
Ajit Pawar returns to Cabinet,
tainted as before
T
he abrupt return of Mr Ajit Pawar as a Minister
in the Congress-NCP Government in
Maharashtra makes one wonder why he had
staged the drama of quitting the regime in the first
place. When Mr Pawar had put in his papers a little
over two months ago, he had done so after allega-
tions of massive irregularities in irrigation schemes
surfaced and his name was linked to those scams.
He had then sought to take the high moral ground,
and had 'courageously' announced that he was quit-
ting to ensure that an impartial probe is held into the
charges against him. Needless to add, he had also
claimed innocence. But no independent investiga-
tion into the affair has so far been conducted by the
Maharashtra Government, and, therefore, the ques-
tion of Mr Pawar being absolved of the charges does
not even arise. Yet he has returned to the ministry.
All that the State Government has to show in its
defence is a white paper which it has presented and
which supposedly clears Mr Pawar of any complicity
in the irregularities. Clearly, both the regime and Mr
Pawar have latched on to this dubious document to
justify their actions. This white paper has been rub-
bished by the BJP-led Opposition in the State and
also by anti-corruption activists, and it enjoys no
credibility whatsoever. And, even if for argument's
sake, it does have credibility, the contents of a white
paper can hardly be a substitute for the findings of a
structured investigation by a specialised probe
agency. At best, a white paper is a statement of facts
and offers an insight into the Government's mind on
the issue at hand. Therefore, the BJP-led
Opposition's decision to continue with its protests
against the re-induction of Mr Pawar into the State
Cabinet is entirely justified. This will unfortunately
have its fallout in the proceedings of the State
Assembly, because the BJP has made it clear that it
will disrupt the Winter Session of the Assembly over
the issue. But it's not only Mr Pawar who needs to
answer. Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan too has to
explain his decision to bring back a Minister against
whom allegations have yet to be put to rest. After all,
it was Mr Chavan who kicked up a storm over the
irrigation scam and went to town claiming that his
Government would expose the wrongdoers. Well, he
hasn't done that by a long way. Given the situation,
it's no wonder that there are whispers loud enough
to be heard clearly that the Chief Minister has com-
promised in order to ensure his Government's sur-
vival. After all, when the crisis erupted two months
ago, there had been talk that Ministers belonging to
the NCP would quit the Government to protest Mr
Pawar's exit from the Cabinet. The logical end to that
would have been the possible withdrawal of support
by the NCP to the regime, and the collapse of Mr
Chavan's regime.
All political parties that are in power, without
exception, indulge in populist tactics such as this
Direct Cash Transfer scheme, with a view to
garner votes. 'Flexible morality' is the reigning
mantra these days.
Think of how minorities are pampered through
special grants and community-based reservations.
Our leaders should bear in mind that good
governance alone is ultimately the best politics,
and the only sure-shot way to stay in power.
Page 4_Editorial & State Watch.qxd 12/11/2012 12:19 PM Page 1
STUDENT AGE
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2012
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Humayun Tomb
Location: Mathura Road, New Delhi
Built By: Hamida Banu Begam,
widow of Humayun
Founded In: 1562-1572
Architect: Mirak Mirza Ghiyuath
Entombs: Mughal Emperor
Humayun
Timings: Open till 10 pm (Daily)
Status: UNESCO World Heritage
Site
H
umayun's tomb is one of the
monuments in New Delhi that
date back to the time of the
Mughals. It is situated on the Mathura
road, where it crosses with the Lodi
Road. The first building to be con-
structed under the rule of Mughal
Emperor Akbar, the tomb dates back to
the year 1562. It took almost ten years
to complete this magnificent monu-
ment. The architect of Humayun's
tomb was Mirak Mirza Ghiyuath and it
was constructed under the supervision
of Haji Begum, the Persian wife of
Humayun.
Heavy influence of Persian art form
is clearly visible in the architecture of
the Humayun's tomb of India. The
tomb is situated adjacent to the
Nizamuddin Dargah, the shrine of the
Sufi Saint Nizamuddin Auliya. Tomb
is comparable in its architecture to the
mausoleums of Timur and Bibi
Khanam at Samarqand. Since the tomb
is situated in the heart of a geometri-
cally arranged garden, it is also known
as the Garden Tomb of Humayun. The
garden is divided into four parts and is
known as the Char Bagh (Char mean-
ing four and Bagh meaning garden).
The reason for such location of the
main tomb is that in Islam, jannat or
paradise is a place that is set in the
middle of the garden. Its garden stands
divided into 36 squares, by a network
of water channels and paths.
The first garden tomb of India,
Humayun's Tomb is surrounded by a
high rubble wall. The wall is also sep-
arated into four large squares, divided
by walkways and channels. Each
square is then further subdivided into
smaller squares by pathways. This
style of gardens was introduced by
Babur and went on till the time of Shah
Jahan.
Along axial processional track pro-
vides entrance into the tomb. As you
move further, you will come across a
number of gateways. The mausoleum
has an octagonal shape and its founda-
tion platform is composed of numer-
ous arcades. Beneath these arcades are
the graves of lesser-known people of
the royal court, like various nobles and
workers of Humayun's period. The
central chamber of Humayun's tomb is
a double-storied structure and is quite
huge in size. The chamber has four off-
sets and the facades of its two stories
have cloisters.
The openings to the chamber have
been covered with perforated screens.
On each side of the chamber are three
vigorous arches that seem to be domi-
nating it. Amongst these arches, the
central one is the highest. The main
room of the central chamber houses
the cenotaph of the Emperor Humayun
and his Queen Bega Begum. The top
of the tomb is adorned with a huge
double dome, measuring approximate-
ly 42.5 m in height. The dome is made
of white marble and it claims the dis-
tinction of being the first double dome
in any building in India.
Humayun's tomb has been built
mainly with red sandstone, with subtle
use of white and black marble, mainly
in the borders. There are two promi-
nent double-storied gateways, one on
the west and the other on the south,
which provide entrance to the entire
structure of the Humayun's tomb.
However, these days, the southern
gateway remains closed. In the middle
of the eastern wall is the baradari
(pavilion), while the hamam (bath
chamber) is situated, in the center of
the northern wall.
Apart from housing the graves of
Humayun and his wife, Humayun's
tomb also entombs a number of other
Mughal personalities. Hamida Begum
(Akbar's mother), Dara Shikoh (Shah
Jahan's son) and Bahadur Shah II (the
last Mughal Emperor) have been
buried here. The tomb has been
declared as a protected monument and
is presently under the ownership and
management of the Archaeological
Survey of India (ASI). Humayun's
Tomb has also been listed in
UNESCO's list of World Heritage
Sites.
Born: July 16, 1908
Died: July 29, 1996
Achievements: Aruna Asaf Ali
played a leading role during
Quit India Movement; elected
as Delhi's first Mayor; awarded
the Lenin Prize for peace in
1975 and the Jawahar Lal
Nehru award for International
understanding for 1991; hon-
ored with Bharat Ratna in 1998.
Aruna Asaf Ali was a leg-
endary heroine of India's free-
dom struggle. Her moment of
reckoning came in 1942 during
Quit India Movement and she
rose to the occasion. She
unfurled the national flag at the
Gowalia Tank maidan to signify
the commencement of the Quit
India Movement and became a
legend for thousands of youth
that rose to emulate her.
Aruna Asaf Ali was born as
Aruna Ganguly on July 16 1908
at Kalka (Haryana) in an ortho-
dox Hindu Bengali family. She
was educated at Sacred Heart
Convent in Lahore, and then in
Nainital. After graduating from
school, she taught at the
Gokhale Memorial School in
Calcutta. In Allahabad, she met
her future husband, Asaf Ali,a
prominent Congressman who
was 23 years older than her.
They were married in 1928
against parental opposition on
the grounds of both religion and
age.
As Asaf Ali was deeply
involved with freedom struggle,
after marriage Aruna Asaf Ali
too plunged into it. Her first
major political action was dur-
ing the Salt Satyagraha in 1930
when she addressed public
meetings and led processions.
British Government charged
her for being a "vagrant" and
sentenced her to one year's
imprisonment. When political
prisoners were released in the
aftermath of Gandhi-Irwin pact,
Aruna was not released. But a
public agitation in favour of her
release forced British govern-
ment to release her.
She was arrested again in
1932 and put in Tihar Jail. In
Tihar Jail she went on a hunger
strike against the treatment
meted out to political prisoners.
Her protest caused an improve-
ment in conditions, but she her-
self was moved to solitary con-
finement in Ambala. After her
release, she dropped out of the
national movement for 10
years.
In 1942 she attended the
Bombay Congress Session with
her husband, where the historic
Quit India resolution was
passed on 8th August. When the
Congress leaders were arrested
on the day after this resolution
was passed, Aruna presided
over the flag-hoisting ceremony
at Gowalia Tank Maidan in
Bombay. She provided the
spark that ignited the move-
ment. She became a full-time
activist in the Quit India move-
ment and went underground to
evade arrest. Her property was
seized by the Government and
sold. The Government also
announced Rs. 5000 reward for
her capture. Meanwhile, she fell
ill and on hearing this Gandhiji
advised her to surrender.
However, Aruna Asaf Ali sur-
rendered herself only when the
warrants against her were can-
celled on 26th January 1946.
At the time of independence
Aruna Asaf Ali was a member
of the Congress Socialist Party,
which until then had been part
of the Congress framework. In
1948, however, the socialists,
including Aruna, formed a
socialist party of their own. In
1955 this group merged with
Communist Party of India and
she became a member of its
Central committee and a Vice
President of the All India Trade
Union Congress. In 1958 she
left the Communist Party of
India and was elected Delhi's
first Mayor. she rejoined the
Congress party in 1964 but
ceased to play any active part in
politics. She was awarded the
Lenin Prize for peace in 1975
and the Jawahar Lal Nehru
award for International under-
standing for 1991.
Aruna Asaf Ali died on died
July 29 1996. She was awarded
India's highest civilian award,
the Bharat Ratna, and was hon-
oured with a stamp issued by
the Indian Postal Service in
1998.
E
verything we see is made up of tiny lit-
tle parts called atoms. The atoms are
made of even smaller parts. These are
called protons, electrons and neutrons. They
are very different from each other in many
ways. One way they are different is their
"charge." Protons have a positive (+) charge.
Electrons have a negative (-) charge. Neutrons
have no charge.
Usually, atoms have the same number of
electrons and protons. Then the atom has no
charge, it is "neutral." But
if you rub things together,
electrons can move from
one atom to another.
Some atoms get extra
electrons. They have a
negative charge. Other
atoms lose electrons.
They have a positive charge. When charges
are separated like this, it is called static elec-
tricity.
If two things have different charges, they
attract, or pull towards each other. If two
things have the same charge, they repel, or
push away from each other.
So, why does your hair stand up after you
take your hat off? When you pull your hat off,
it rubs against your hair. Electrons move from
your hair to the hat. Now each of the hairs has
the same positive charge. Things with the
same charge repel each other. So the hairs try
to move away from each other. The farthest
they can get is to stand up and away from all
the other hairs.
If you walk across a carpet, electrons
move from the rug to you. Now you have
extra electrons. Touch a door knob and ZAP!
The electrons move from you to the knob. You
get a shock.
TRIBOELECTRIC SERIES
When we rub two different materials
together, which becomes positively charged
and which becomes negative? Scientists have
ranked materials in order of their ability to
hold or give up electrons. This ranking is
called the triboelectric series. A list of some
common materials is shown here. Under ideal
conditions, if two materials are rubbed togeth-
er, the one higher on the list should give up
electrons and become positively charged. You
can experiment with things on this list for
yourself
TRIBOELECTRIC SERIES
your hand, glass, your hair, nylon,
wool, fur, silk, paper, cotton
hard rubber, polyester
polyvinylchloride plastic
CONSERVATION OF CHARGE
When we charge something with static
electricity, no electrons are made or
destroyed. No new protons appear or disap-
pear. Electrons are just moved from one place
to another. The net, or total, electric charge
stays the same. This is called the principle of
conservation of charge.
SCHOOL LIFE
General Knowledge
HISTORICAL MONUMENTS: Humayun Tomb
Famous Leaders : Aruna Asaf Al i Classifieds
What is Static
Electricity?
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Story: Don't
Change the World
O
nce upon a time, there was a
king who ruled a prosperous
country. One day, he went for
a trip to some distant areas of his
country. When he was back to his
palace, he complained that his feet
were very painful, because it was the
first time that he went for such a long
trip, and the road that he went through
was very rough and stony. He then
ordered his people to cover every road
of the entire country with leather.
Definitely, this would need thou-
sands of cows skin, and would cost
ahuge amount of money.
Then one of his wise servants
dared himself to tell the king, Why
do you have to spend that unnecessary
amount of money? Why dont you just
cut a little piece of leather to cover
your feet?
The king was surprised, but he
later agreed to his suggestion, to make
a shoe for himself.
There is actually a valuable lesson
of life in this story: to make this world
a happy place to live, you better
change yourself - your heart; and not
the world.
Fun - Time
Why did the knight run about
shouting for a tin opneder?
He had a bee in his suit of armour!
Teacher: Who can tell me where
Hadrians Wall is?
Pupil: I expect it's around Hadrian's
garden miss!
Teacher: Where is your homework?
Pupil: I lost it fighting this kid who
said you weren't the best teacher in the
school
Puzzl e
Mrs. Miller made twenty-four
sandwiches for a picnic. All but
seven were eaten. How many
were left?
A n s : I f a l l b u t s e v e n s a n d w i c h e s
w e r e e a t e n , t h e n s e v e n s a n d w i c h e s
w e r e l e f t , o f c o u r s e .
Page 5_Bali.qxd 12/11/2012 12:20 PM Page 1
NATIONAL
STUDENT AGE
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2012
6
NEW DELHI: Four days
after it directed Karnataka to
release 10,000 cusecs of
water from Cauvery River to
Tamil Nadu; the Supreme
Court will take up the issue
for hearing on Monday.
The court's stand on the
issue is eagerly awaited by
both the sides. Karnataka
Chief Minister Jagadish
Shettar has described as
"arbitrary" the decision of
Cauvery Monitoring
Committee that his state
release 12 tmcft of water to
Tamil Nadu and said he will
challenge it before the
Cauvery River Authority.
"It is an arbitrary decision
and without any basis. The
Cauvery Monitoring
Committee had published a
formula that Karnataka
should release 6.12 tmcft of
water during December
under the distress formula,"
Shettar said.
He said that the CMC had
ordered that Karnataka
release 12 tmcft of water and
insisted this was not accept-
able to the state.
"We will be challenging
this order before the Cauvery
River Authority," he said. At
a meeting of the Cauvery
Monitoring Committee
(CMC) in New Delhi, secre-
tary, water resources DV
Singh, who chairs the panel,
told representatives of Tamil
Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala and
Puducherry that steps "shall"
be taken to notify the final
award of the tribunal at the
earliest "but not later than the
end of this month."
SC to take up Cauvery
water release issue
BELGAUM: Facing fresh turmoil, Karnataka
Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar on Monday
said BJP central leaders will take a decision on
December 12 on initiating action against
MLAs who defied the party and shared dais
with BS Yeddyurappa at the launch of his new
outfit.
"The BJP central leaders will take a deci-
sion at a December 12 meeting ..." Shettar told
reporters here, a day after 13 MLAs threw their
lot behind Yeddyurappa at the Haveri rally,
raising questions about the stability of govern-
ment.
Ignoring the warning of action, MLAs loyal
to Yeddyurappa, who broke his 40-year-old
association with BJP 11 days ago, showed
open defiance, putting the BJP in a quandary.
Reacting to the opposition demand to dis-
solve the assembly, Shettar replied in the nega-
tive saying there is no question of doing so.
Higher Education Minister CT Ravi alleged
Yeddyurappa is having a "secret pact" with
Congress as he has not stated anything against
it. Ravi said said the formation of KJP will not
affect BJP's prospects in future. "BJP cannot be
weakened by anyone (who leaves the party),"
he added.
Describing Yeddyurappa as a "selfish per-
son" with "ego problems", he said the claims of
thirty legislators supporting Yeddyurappa is a
media creation.
Yeddyurappa had yesterday dared the BJP
to dissolve the assembly and seek a fresh man-
date saying the Shettar government had no
majority in the assembly now.
Seeking to send a tough message to
Yeddyurappa's loyalists, Shettar had on
Saturday sacked his trusted lieutenant BJ
Puttaswamy from the ministry while the party
had suspended Tumkur MP GS Basavaraju.
PANAJI: A Supreme Court-
appointed committee has vir-
tually confirmed the massive
illegal mining scam in Goa,
vindicating anti-mining
activists who have been cam-
paigning against the menace
for over a decade.
After the central empow-
ered committee (CEC) sub-
mitted a report to the
Supreme Court last week,
activists say their claims of
illegal mining in Goa stand
vindicated.
There are now two official
reports, one by the SC-
appointed CEC and the other
by the Justice M.B. Shah
Commission, which back the
claims of the environmental-
ists. The Shah Commission
report was submitted to par-
liament some months ago.
"The CEC has outlined an
excellent road map regarding
capping, re-surveys, etc. but
one thing I find amiss is that
there is no mention of how to
recover the estimated
Rs.35,000 crore loss,"
Siddarth Karapurkar, secre-
tary of the Goenchea
Xetkaracho Ekvott, a grass-
roots traditional farmers
organisation in Goa, said.
The CEC in its report sub-
mitted after nearly two
months of ground study in
Goa, has indicted govern-
ment agencies for their
inability to curb blatant ille-
gal mining in Goa. The
report submitted by the CEC
secretary M.K. Jiwraka has
also asked that 42 blatantly
illegal mines in Goa be
closed down, apart from sug-
gesting that environment
clearances (EC) granted to all
mining operations be veri-
fied, to rule out fraud. Goa
has nearly 90 operational
mines.
"Acute damage has also
been caused to ground water
aquifers due to indiscriminate
mining below ground water
level, which in turn has, in
several areas, adversely
affected agricultural activi-
ties," Jiwraka said in his
report, apart from asking the
state government to come up
with norms and regulations to
control illegal mining in the
future. "It is a justice due to
the people of Goa and the
state. It was reckless and
mindless mining that was
being carried out all these
years. The CEC has tightened
all the screws and the loop-
holes making it next to
impossible to start mining
again," according to Ramesh
Gauns, a school teacher, who
has doubled as an activist.
Gauns has been pushed
and shoved several times by
the mining lobby, during his
countless protests against
illegal iron ore extraction and
movement of ore to the ports
for export.
Now with the Supreme
Court set to decide the future
of the multi-million dollar
mining industry, and on
course to bring the culprits of
the Rs.35,000 crore illegal
mining scam to book,
Gauns's fellow-activists like
Zarina da Cunha are only too
happy. "Now that the ball is
in the court of judiciary,
whatever they say is accept-
able. Let the law take its
course, I am confident it
will," da Cunha said.
BJP Central leaders to take action
against 13 MLAs on Dec 12: Shettar
NAGPUR: Legislators from
all opposition parties -- Shiv
Sena, Bharatiya Janata Party
(BJP) and Maharashtra
Navnirman Sena -- carried
placards and banners against
the re-induction of Nationalist
Congress Party (NCP) leader
Ajit Pawar as the deputy chief
minister. Pawar, who quit his
post Sep 25 in the wake of an
alleged Rs.20, 000 crore irri-
gation department scam,
rejoined the cabinet last week,
raising the opposition's heck-
les.
The opposition has alleged
that Pawar's swearing-in was
"unconstitutional" and has
demanded a special investi-
gating team to probe the
alleged scam. The opposition
has also questioned the 'White
Paper' on the irrigation depart-
ment and the 'clean chit' given
to Pawar that enabled his
return to the ministry.
Opposition leaders Eknath
Khadse (state assembly) and
Vinod Tawde (state council),
both from the BJP, have
termed the report a "black
paper" and threatened to dis-
rupt the house.
The opposition also plans
to target several ministers of
the ruling Congress-NCP
coalition for their alleged
involvement in various scams
and irregularities.
NEW DELHI: A Supreme
Court bench on Monday said
it cannot go into the issue of
supplying Special
Investigation Team (SIT)
documents relating to the
Gulburg Housing Society riot
case in Ahmedabad in 2002
to the widow of slain
Congress leader Ehsan Jafri.
A bench of justices DK
Jain and Madan B Lokur
refused to examine the issue
on the ground that the previ-
ous order concerning it was
passed by a larger bench.
The bench said the matter
has to be referred to a larger
bench of three judges which
on September 12, 2011 had
passed the order relating to
supply of documents to Jafri's
widow, Zakia Jafri. The
bench said it would not be
proper for it to pass the order
and propriety also demands
that the matter be referred to
the larger bench which had
passed the order.
The apex court on
September 12, 2011 had
directed the SITto forward its
final report regarding the
Gulburg Society riots to the
local court.
The SIT headed by former
CBI Director RK Raghavan
had probed the riot cases
including the Ahmedabad
Gulburg Housing Society
massacre case in which Jafri,
a former Congress MP, was
killed. An Ahmedabad trial
court had on November 27
accepted the SIT closure
report filed on March 13,
2012 in the case. Zakia Jafri
has filed the SLP challenging
the trial court's order rejecting
her plea for supply of some
documents relating to the
investigation in the case. Jafri
was seeking the documents to
file a protest petition against
the SIT's closure report in the
probe into the Gulburg
Society riots in which 69 peo-
ple, including Ehsan Jafri had
been killed by a mob on
February 28, 2002.
Special CBI
Court grants
bail to
Yeddyurappa
BANGALORE: Former
Chief Minister of Karnataka
BS Yeddyurappa, was grant-
ed bail by the Special CBI
Court in Bangalore Monday,
in connection with the case
relating to alleged kickbacks
received from a mining com-
pany. Justice MS Biradar of
CBI court granted him bail.
The CBI had chargesheet-
ed Yeddyurappa, his family
members, the mining firm
JSW Steel for criminal con-
spiracy, cheating, forgery and
corruption in payment of 40
crore rupees as bribe to
Yeddyurappa's family and a
trust run by the family for
showing official favours
granted in 2010.
CBI chargesheet, also
charges that Yeddyurappa's
sons and son-in-law pur-
chased land for 40 lakh
rupees in Rachenahalli in
violation of the land reforms
Act. The same land was
denotified by Yeddyurappa
when he was Chief Minister
and sold to the mining firm at
an exorbitant price of 20
crore rupees, while the guid-
ance value was just 1.5 crore
rupees.
NEW DELHI: "Some time
ago I heard two fishermen
were killed by Sri Lankan
navy, and recently I heard
five fishermen were killed,"
said Sushma Swaraj, leader
of the opposition in the Lok
Sabha.
Minister of State for
Defence Jitendra Singh
promised to convene such a
meeting soon but highlighted
the need for Indian fishermen
not to cross the international
maritime boundary.
"The Indian and Sri
Lankan maritime boundaries
are close and are sometimes
crossed," he said. "Indian
fishermen cross the maritime
boundary and come in the
way of merchant ships."
He said the Joint Working
Group between the two coun-
tries formed in 2004 to
address the issue had met
four times: in 2005, 2006,
2011 and 2012.
Tamil Nadu leaders have
repeatedly accused the Sri
Lankan navy of attacking and
killing Indian fishermen in
the sea, particularly after the
end of the Tamil Tigers in
2009.
Tamil Nadu Chief
Minister J. Jayalalithaa has
accused the Congress-led
central government of not
doing enough to end the
recurring killings.
P.C. Chacko of the
Congress separately criti-
cised the central government
for doing little to secure the
release of Indian sailors
taken captive by Somalian
pirates despite several
reminders.
"There has been no action
from the government to
secure these fishermen; a cri-
sis management group
should start working now,"
said Chacko during the ques-
tion hour.
Stating the that issue was
under the external affairs
ministry's domain, Jitendra
Singh assured the house that
the Coast Guard would do
whatever was needed.
BJP worried over Sri Lanka
attacks on Indian fishermen
VADODARA: Union Home
Minister Sushilkumar Shinde
Monday said that while
Congress is clear about the
capability of Rahul Gandhi
for the post of the Prime
Minister, the BJP is still
undecided over its candidate.
"Congress is clear on the
suitability and capability of
party general secretary Rahul
Gandhi for the post of Prime
Minister. Senior and young
party leaders have been pro-
jecting him for this post,"
Shinde said today.
"However, BJP is unde-
cided about its prime minis-
terial candidate for the 2014
General elections. BJP keeps
on talking about L K Advani,
Sushma Swaraj, Arun Jaitley,
Rajnath Singh and Narendra
Modi for the post," he said.
He was addressing a pub-
lic meeting in Tulsidham
crossing area in Manjalpur
under the newly-created
Manjalpur Assembly con-
stituency here tonight.
Attacking Chief Minister
Narendra Modi, Shinde said
when he was the Chief
Minister of Maharashtra in
2003, Modi was the Chief
Minister of Gujarat in the
same year and while Modi
continues to be the CM, he
was made the Governor of
Andhra Pradesh and later the
Union Minister.
"This shows Modi has not
moved to any other position
and has not made any
progress in politics," he said.
Shinde, who earlier held
power portfolio at the
Centre, alleged that the
Gujarat government was not
supplying power to farmers
but "selling it" which was
being allocated to the Gujarat
state from central power sec-
tor projects.
He alleged that Modi was
spending huge amount of
money over publicity for cre-
ating his image.
Raising question over
Modi's claim over the state's
development, Shinde said if
it is so, then why there are 10
lakh unemployed youths reg-
istered in Gujarat. He also
asked that why applications
of 10 lakh farmers in Gujarat
have been pending for power
connections for irrigation
purpose.
He said in 1995, when the
Congress was in power in
Gujarat, 2.15 lakh persons
were employed in the gov-
ernment services, however,
this number has declined to
1.60 lakhs during 11 years of
Modi regime.
Shinde said exit of for-
mer chief minister
Keshubhai Patel from BJP
"indicated the style of func-
tioning of Modi." "Modi
tried to mislead people by
making false claims of devel-
opment in the state, but peo-
ple of Gujarat have realised it
and the defeat of his govern-
ment in the Assembly poll is
certain," Shinde said.
'Congress clear on Rahul's capability for PM post': Shinde
Maha opposition protests against Ajit Pawar SC bench refuses to go into Zakia Jafri's plea
NEW DELHI: Germany
suggested that India will
have to open itself up to the
outside world if it wants
more growth, but remained
vague on whether it will have
close ties with Gujarat Chief
Minister Narendra Modi like
the United Kingdom.
"If you want to have more
growth for India, you need to
open to the outside. I think
Indians know that and that's
why they have taken this
decision," German
Ambassador Michael Steiner
told reporters here.
He said the decision in
favour of FDI in retail by
India was "not in interest of
foreign companies but in its
own interest"."There was
quite an intensive debate and
a fair debate but in the end, it
was a good result," Steiner
said. Last week, Parliament
voted in favour of allowing
FDI in retail sector over
which the Government faced
criticism from the opposition
and even some of the parties
which supported it.
Asked if Germany would
improve its ties with Modi
like the UK, he said, "We
know the position of the UK
and we know that there is an
election campaign going on.
This election campaign is in
its hot phase. There is no rea-
son for action now. We cross
this bridge when we come to
it."
Recently, the UK govern-
ment suggested that it would
like to improve its relations
with Gujarat and its Chief
Minister Modi.
Germany welcomes Indian
Parliament's vote on FDI in retail
UAE Cabinet
approves
extradition
pact with India
DUBAI: The UAE Cabinet
Monday approved the extra-
dition agreement that the
Gulf nation had signed with
India for facilitating the
transfer of Indian convicts to
spend the remaining jail term
in their home country.
The agreement, which
was signed by the two coun-
tries in November last year, is
expected to help around
1,200 Indian prisoners who
have been languishing in
UAE prisons.
As per the agreement,
Indian prisoners in the UAE
jails, those who have been
sentenced, will have a choice
to spend the remaining prison
term in India. A similar
agreement signed between
the UAE and Pakistan was
also ratified and the arrange-
ment of transport procedures
was discussed.
Anti-nuke
activists to
hold massive
protests
outside
Kudankulam
N-plant
TIRUNELVELI: Anti-
nuclear activists will hold
massive protests outside the
Kudankulam Nuclear Power
Project (KNPP) amid reports
that the Centre is likely to
commission the facility by
the end of this month.
According to reports, the
anti-nuke activists will try to
block the roads leading up to
the plant site and lay siege
from the seaside.
Today's protest comes
days after the Atomic Energy
Regulatory Body gave a go
ahead to test the performance
of various systems of the
reactor despite protests in the
region.
The activists had on
October 8 held a massive
protest, demanding the scrap-
ping of the project.
Fishermen and supporters
from 10 fishing hamlets are
also expected to join the
protest.
Unfazed by the protests,
preparatory works are on a
full swing at Kudankulam in
Tamil Nadu's Tirunelveli dis-
trict, as the commissioning of
the plant is expected during
the visit of Russian President
Vladimir Putin this month-
end.
Atomic Energy
Regulatory Board has
already granted the plant its
permission for the 'second
heat up' - a process which
will put to performance tests
various systems of the
nuclear reactor. "We are busy
with the preparatory works at
the plant. But every step has
to be reviewed by AERB. But
it is possible to start the oper-
ation by the end of this
month," official sources had
said.
Commissioning of the
first unit of the Indo-Russian
project was originally sched-
uled for December last year
but has been delayed due to
protests.
Anticipatory bail granted to
union minister Alagiri's son
CHENNAI: The son of union minister MK Alagiri has been
granted anticipatory bail by the Madras High Court. Durai
Dayanidhi is among those accused of illegal mining for gran-
ite in and around the town of Madurai. He had been missing
for several months; airports had been alerted to stop him from
trying to leave the country. The DMK is the second-largest
member of the ruling coalition; its chief, M Karunanidhi, is Mr
Dayanidhi's grandfather. The DMK was voted out of power in
Tamil Nadu last year. The party accuses chief minister
Jayalalithaa and her AIADMK of persecuting its leaders with
fake legal cases. The police say they have strong evidence that
the controversial Olympus Granites, the company in which
Durai is Director, had indulged in illegal mining and theft.
Goa greens vindicated by SC committee mining report
NEWDELHI: India has welcomed the
presenting of evidence in a Pakistani
court, conducting trial of seven accused,
in the 26/11 Mumbai attack case.
Speaking to reporters in New Delhi
today, External Affairs Minister Salman
Khurshid said this is certainly welcome
but it needs to be accepted by the court
and there will be a sense of relief and
satisfaction only when they are convict-
ed. Photographs of Lashkar-e-Taiba
training camps in Sindh, and motorboats
used by the 10 terrorists who attacked
Mumbai are among the evidence pre-
sented to a Pakistan anti-terrorism court
conducting the trial of seven Pakistanis
charged with involvement in the 2008
attack.
26/11 case: India welcomes presenting of evidence in Pak court
Page 6_ National.qxd 12/11/2012 12:20 PM Page 1
INTERNATIONAL & ECONOMY
STUDENT AGE
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2012
7
ECONOMY
DOHA,DEC 10: The two week
long climate talks in Doha came to
a close with 194 countries agreeing
to implement a second phase of the
Kyoto Protocol, from 2013 through
2020. The Doha round of talks
mark the beginning of a transition
to a new global climate change
regime that will come into effect
from 2020 and include within its
ambit all countries.
Marked by a near total absence
of an increased effort by industri-
alised countries to reduce emis-
sions and paucity of funds to help
developing countries to limit cli-
mate change, the Doha talks made
an important shift by recognizing
that 20 years of efforts to limit
emissions and adapt to climate
change had not been a success, as a
result developing countries were
experiencing loss and damage.
Opening up the possibility of
rich industrialised countries com-
pensating developing countries for
losses due to climate change. This
is perhaps the most important con-
tribution of the Doha talks. A
recognition that was hard won by
developing countries and likely to
be contentious in the years to come.
The outcome "Doha Climate
Gateway" described as "historic"
by the United Nations Framework
Convention on Climate Change
executive secretary Christiana
Figueres came 24 hours after the
negotiations were supposed to
come to a close on Friday evening.
The delay was on account of coun-
tries like Poland, Russia, Ukraine
andBelarus demanding use of the
extra credit or assigned amount
units commonly known as "hot air"
that had been given to them in the
first phase of the Protocol to deal
with the breakdown of their indus-
trial structure due to the collapse of
the Soviet Union. "Doha has
opened up a new gateway to bigger
ambition and to greater action - the
Doha Climate Gateway.Qatar is
proud to have been able to bring
governments here to achieve this
historic task. I thank all govern-
ments and ministers for their work
to achieve this success. Now gov-
ernments must move quickly
through the Doha Climate Gateway
to push forward with the solutions
to climate change," said the confer-
ence President Abdullah bin
Hamad Al-Attiyah of Qatar.
Figueres acknowledged that
much more needs to be done to
ensure that global temperature rise
is limited to 2 degrees as required
by science and to avoid a situation
where extreme weather events
become the new normal.
"Now, there is much work to do.
Doha is another step in the right
direction, but we still have a long
road ahead. The door to stay below
two degrees remains barely open.
The science shows it, the data
proves it. The UN Climate Change
negotiations must now focus on the
concrete ways and means to accel-
erate action and ambition. The
world has the money and technolo-
gy to stay below two degrees. After
Doha, it is a matter of scale, speed,
determination and sticking to the
timetable," she said.
In the Qatari capital, representa-
tives of nearly 200 countries
brought to a close the five-year
long negotiations on the Bali
roadmap. Agreed to in 2007, the
pillars of the Bali road map
addressed emission reduction by
industrialised countries that were
not part of the Kyoto Protocol-
United States; voluntary efforts to
limit emissions by developing
countries; adaptation to the impacts
of climate change; finance and
technology for developing coun-
tries, and capacity building. All
outstanding issues will now be
addressed as part of the new regime
or by the permanent technical bod-
ies of the Convention.
The Kyoto Protocol, the only
legally binding agreement to com-
bat climate change, requires indus-
trialised countries to take quanti-
fied emission reduction targets.
Only Europe and Australia
agreed to sign on for the second
and final phase, accounting for
15% of global emissions. Last year,
Canada withdrew from the
Protocol, while Russia, New
Zealand and Japan said that they
would not sign on for the second
phase. The 1997 iconic agreement
will run till 2020. Together with the
negotiations of the Bali Roadmap,
the Kyoto Protocol formed the two-
track global approach to limit cli-
mate change. By bringing the exist-
ing two-track negotiations to a
close, countries signaled that they
were moving on to work on design-
ing the new global climate regime
they had agreed to in Durban in
2011. Analysts and delegates had
described the Doha talks as a
"housekeeping Conference of
Parties" and a "transitional COP" as
it was meant to close down existing
negotiations to move to work on
the new regime. This meant that
expectations from the Doha round
were not very high. Nonetheless
there was a sense of disappoint-
ment from the final outcome. "This
is not perfect but it is a modest step
in the right direction", EU commis-
sioner for climate change Connie
hedegaard said.
UN Climate Change Negotiations 2012: Doha agrees to fresh gas emission cuts
States failed to spend
Rs 29,760 cr on flag-
ship programmes like
MGNREGA & PMGSY:
Jairam Ramesh
NEW DELHI: States have
failed to spend Rs 29,760 crore
under various flagship pro-
grammes during the last fiscal,
Rural Development Minister
Jairam Ramesh said today.
He said during Question
Hour in Rajya Sabha that Rs
10,993 crore remained unspent
under Mahatma Gandhi Rural
Employment Guarantee Act (
MGNREGA) and Rs 5,859
crore under Indira Aawas
Yojana (IAY).
Funds to the tune of Rs
8,919 crore could also not be
utilised under Pradhan Mantri
Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY)
and Rs 3,987 crore under
Integrated Watershed
Management Programme
(IWMP).
The Minister said the states
are required to utilise the funds
as per the programme guide-
lines. The Ministry regularly
monitors utilisation and advises
states on the need to improve
systems and processes.
To a question, he said, east-
ern and central states such as
Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha,
Assam, Uttar Pradesh and
Madhya Pradesh have largely
failed to utilise the funds under
these flagship programmes.
However, admitting that
there are some "very practical"
problems in different states to
implement such schemes, the
onus of which rests on the states
only, he said the Centre is trying
to help such states to spend the
money. But, at the same time,
Ramesh said additional funds
are not released to states until
and unless these furnish the
utilisation certificates and audit
reports.
NEWDELHI, DEC 10 : The
Reserve Bank is likely to
leave key policy rates
unchanged at its mid-quarter
monetary policy review next
week but will go for 0.25 per
cent CRR rate cut to support
growth, Bank of
AmericaMerrill Lynch said in
a research report.
It said RBI will go for a
0.25 per cent cut in the cash
reserve ration (CRR), which
is the portion of bank deposits
parked with the central
bankBSE 2.60 %, on its
December 18 policy review to
support growth and will
resume cutting rates only
from January onceinflation
peaks off.
"We expect the RBI to
resume cutting rates only
from January - 75 basis points
(0.75 per cent) till July - once
inflation peaks off," the report
said, adding that "RBI rate
cuts will not transmit into
lending rate cuts unless the
liquidity situation improves."
Over the past three
months, the Reserve Bank has
reduced the cash reserve
ratio, the portion of deposits
banks are required to keep
with RBI, by 0.50 per cent to
8 per cent. But these cuts did
not lead to an easing of
overnight rates. Though, RBI
has finally decided to resume
open market operations
(OMOs) to ease liquidity,
BofAML said that "Governor
Subbarao may not want to
take chances with the RBI's
inflation fighting image by
cutting rates at 7.5 per cent
inflation." India is the only
BRIC where lending rates are
almost at their 2008 peak, the
report said.
India had been growing
around 8-9 per cent before the
global financial meltdown in
2008. The growth rate in
2011-12 slipped to a nine-
year low of 6.5 per cent.
According to the official
data, the Indian economy
grew by 5.3 per cent in the
July-September period this
year, while in the quarter
ended June 30, the economy
grew by 5.5 per cent.
Inflation as measured by
all indices has remained ele-
vated and Wholesale Price
Index-based inflation has
remained above the Reserve
Bank's comfort zone of 5-5.5
per cent for nearly three years
now. The RBI is scheduled to
announce its mid-quarter
monetary policy review on
December 18.
Reserve Bank governor D
Subbarao has resisted a wide-
spread call for the growth-
propping rate cuts for some
time now, citing the elevated
inflation.
RBI to go for 0.25 per cent CRR rate cut in next week
IAF getting helicopters
from Boeing?
NEWDELHI, DEC 10: These
follow two separate proposals
initiated by IAF, Defence
Minister A.K. Antony told the
Lok Sabha in a written state-
ment. He said the Acceptance of
Necessity (AoN) cost for the 15
heavy lift and 22 attack helicop-
ters was Rs.2,468 crore and
Rs.3,094 crore respectively.
"However, the final cost of the
contracts would depend upon
the outcome of the contract
negotiation (with Boeing)," he
said. Members J.M. Aaron
Rashid and Avtar Singh
Bhadana wanted to know if
proper procedures of tendering
had been followed. The minister
replied that all capital procure-
ments were carried out as per
procedure laid down in the
Defence Procurement
Procedure, which ensures con-
formity to the highest standards
of transparency and probity.
KOLKATA, DEC 10: Kolkata has more
than 50,000 child labourers, out of which
80 percent are underage girls, says an
NGO.
"EIghty percent of the 50,000 child
labourers in the city are underage girls.
Their families often send them away to
earn money but it is seen that they are
actually trafficked to other states,"
saidSamapt Maity of the Jayaprakash
Institute of Social Change, a leading city-
based NGO involved in social research,
training and advocacy campaigns.
Statistics reveal that of 12 million
girls born in India, one million do not live
to see their first birthday and every sixth
girl child's death is due to gender dis-
crimination.
Besides trafficking, child marriage
and child sexual abuse is a burning topic
that needs to be addressed, according to
sociologist Ruchira Goswami.
"There are so many laws pertaining to
marriage, child marriage and harassment
but they need to be put on a single plat-
form. People are aware of the laws but
they do not follow them," she said.
Every member of the society needs to
pitch in and do their bit to collectively
fight violence against women and the girl
child, said social workers at the seminar
to commemorate 'SAARC Girl Child
Week' in the city.
"We can not do all the work by our-
selves. Violence against women and the
girl child is rampant. We want every
member of the society to help us out in
their own way," said Sanlaap executive
director Indrani Sinha.
According to social workers, one can't
simply blame the police and the govern-
ment for not entirely solving problems
regarding women and children in West
Bengal, a state ranking seventh when it
comes to child marriages.
"It is a collective effort. Each one of
us has to contribute. Be it police, the gov-
ernment or the people. We can't just
blame the authorities for not being able to
solve the problem completely," said
Sinha at the district-level seminar held as
part of the commemoration.
Over 80 percent of child labourers
in Kolkata underage girls: NGO
JERUSALEM: The biggest
dream of Israeli President
Shimon Peres is to go to
India, if he gets an invitation,
said one diplomat. Shimon
Peres would very much enjoy
his visit to India, said anoth-
er.
That was the broadest hint
one got of Israel's keen desire
to take its relationship with
India to the next level, some-
what on the pattern of New
Delhi's strategic partnership
with the United States, which
is the closest ally of the
Jewish state too.
As it is, despite India's
support for the Palestinian
cause, New Delhi and Tel
Aviv have a wide-ranging
relationship encompassing
defence, economic coopera-
tion, agriculture, food securi-
ty and scientific cooperation.
India is the largest cus-
tomer of Israeli military
equipment and Israel is the
second-largest military part-
ner of India after the Russian
Federation with a military
business worth around $9 bil-
lion.
India is also the second-
largest Asian economic part-
ner of Israel with bilateral
trade, excluding military
sales, standing at about $5
billion, up from a mere $200
million in 1992 when the two
established formal relations.
An extensive bilateral free
trade pact is also in the
works.
"There is a huge interest
in India," officials told a
group of Indian journalists
from Washington during a
recent visit, noting that some
50,000 Israelis visit India
every year with many a youth
taking advantage of the time
off they get after doing com-
pulsory military service,
three years for men and two
for women, on turning 18.
But lack of exchanges has
kept the profile of relation-
ship low, lamented officials
seeking a dialogue at the top
with more high-level visits
on both sides.
"I believe India has all
kinds of interest in the Arab
world," said one senior offi-
cial. But notwithstanding
that, India can still raise the
level of its relationship with
Israel too as "there is a lot to
aspire."
With "Iran working hard
to acquire a nuclear weapon,
though there is evidence that
they are there yet," the
Israelis would like India "to
be more active in efforts to
persuade Iran to give up its
nuclear ambitions".
"There are many ways to
do it," said an official
ambiguously without
spelling out how even as he
acknowledged that "India of
course is respecting and
implementing the UN sanc-
tions" against Iran.
Indian diplomats in Tel
Aviv too took note of the
"thriving" relationship with
Israel thanks to their similar
societies, a long and peaceful
Jewish presence in India and
presence of 70,000 Indian
Jews in Israel.
The then External Affairs
Minister SM Krishna visited
Israel in January against the
backdrop of the 20th anniver-
sary of diplomatic relations.
Urban Development
Minister Kamal Nath,
Human Resource
Development Minister Kapil
Sibal and Tourism Minister
Subodh Kant Sahai followed
subsequently.
But given Israel's increas-
ing isolation over its defiant
actions after the United
Nations General Assembly
voted to grant "non-member
observer state" status to the
"Palestinian entity," a visit at
the highest political level
may be hard to come by any
time soon.
Israel wants to take India ties to next level
DHAKA: Former
Bangladesh president Iajuddin
Ahmed whose eventful tenure
exposed the country to a
major political turmoil that
ended with the installation of
an army backed interim gov-
ernment in 2007 has died in
Bangkok. He was 81 years old
and on life support for over a
month.
"He died at around 10.30
pm... he was under life sup-
port system since October 28
when he underwent a heart
surgery," Ahmed's son Imtiaz
Ahmed Babu said in a state-
ment from the Thai capital.
Babu said Ahmed's condi-
tion deteriorated soon after the
surgery as he developed com-
plications in his kidney.
President Zillur Rahman
and Prime Minister Sheikh
Hasina statements mourning
the death of Ahmed, original-
ly a renowned soil scientist
and university professor.
Main opposition
Bangladesh Nationalist Party
(BNP) chief and ex-premier
Khaleda Zia whose party
elected him to presidency
after the resignation of his
predecessor in 2002 Professor
AQM Badruddoza
Chowdhury also issued a con-
dolence message mentioning
his role only as an "ideal edu-
cationist and social worker".
Ahmed's unilateral act of
declaring himself as the head
of an interim government in
2006 after the BNP govern-
ment quit as per constitutional
obligations mired his office in
controversies sparking wide-
spread street protests and
international criticism. He
was widely accused of acting
in favour of BNP.
His assumption as the
interim government chief
intensified the political unrest
prompting intervention of the
military.
He then reconstituted the
interim administration and ran
the country under emergency
rules for the subsequent two
years until the December
2008 elections.
Before quitting office and
handing over powers to his
successor Zillur Rahman in
2009, Ahmed, however,
admitted that "I am a human
being and as a man I am not
above mistakes". Later in a
television interview, he attrib-
uted the developments of his
time to "divine will" saying
"everything has happened
according to Allah's will".
BEIJING: As self-immola-
tions in Tibet continued
unmitigated , China has
brought a new law under
which anyone caught help-
ing someone self-immolate
would be held liable for
"intentional homicide", a
regulation officials hope will
bring down such cases.
According to a regula-
tion recently drafted by the
Ministry of Public Security
and the judicial bodies, peo-
ple who plan, organise,
incite or help others perform
self-immolations will be
tried for intentional homi-
cide, official media reported.
"Those who parade a
corpse through the streets or
gather to watch the immola-
tion without actively stop-
ping the suicide will also be
subject to criminal prosecu-
tion," it said.
One Buddhist monk and
his nephew in Sichuan
Province, close to Tibet were
arrested for encouraging
eight people to commit self
immolations, official media
announced on Sunday.
According to overseas
Chinese groups the self-
immolations were aimed at
protesting the Chinese rule
in Tibet and calling for
return of the Dalai Lama
from exile.
So far 92 people commit-
ted self immolations in the
recent Months and according
to reports the numbers went
up to 23 last month coincid-
ing with once-in-a-decade-
leadership meet of the ruling
Communist Party of China
(CPC).
Xi Jinping was elected
the new leader replacing the
outgoing President Hu
Jintao.
The Chinese government
has long condemned the
Dalai Lama clique for
encouraging innocent people
to engage in self-immolation
on the Chinese mainland and
now this case has provided
overwhelming evidence,
Xiong Kunxin, a professor
of ethnic studies at the
Minzu University of China
told.
"Many victims were
brainwashed this way by the
'bad monks,' who planned to
use the immolation cases to
turn world opinion against
the Chinese government,"
Xiong said.
"Buddhism is a peaceful
religion and respects life. To
burn oneself to death is
against the fundamental
teachings of Buddhism,
Xiong said, adding that those
who committed self-immo-
lation were very naive and
lacked sound judgement.
Bangladesh's controversial ex-President
Iajuddin Ahmed passes away
KABUL: The United
Nations Assistance Mission
in Afghanistan (UNAMA)
has convened consultation
meetings in preparation for an
inclusive intra-Afghan dia-
logue. A statement issued by
the UNAMA in Kabul today
said this dialogue is non-offi-
cial and intended to provide
Afghan people with the
opportunity to informally
present and discuss their
future visions of Afghanistan.
These consultations will
engage representatives of
civil society, women's
groups, political leaders and
religious figures to obtain
their views on how the infor-
mal dialogue process should
be organized. UNAMA's role
in the process is limited to
hosting the meetings and
facilitating dialogue among
Afghans of all political
stances and backgrounds.
According to the statement
the purpose of the dialogue is
to support and Afghan-led
and Afghan-owned process of
peace and reconciliation.
Protests continue in Egypt
against proposed referendum
CAIRO: Egypt continued to witness protests as opposition
members, despite annulment of the controversial decree by
President Mohammad Mursi, staged demonstrations against
the proposed referendum slated for next Saturday.
Large number of people marched towards the presiden-
tial palace yesterday for joining demonstrators camping there
for past one week. However, The Republican Guard forces
blocked all roads leading to the palace to stop them, and only
allowed those already inside the road blocks to leave, leading
to a verbal friction between the two groups.
UNAMA convenes consultation meet
for inclusive intra-Afghan dialogue
Tibetans inciting self-immolation to
be charged with homicide: China
Page 7_International & Economy.qxd 12/11/2012 12:20 PM Page 1
LONDON: World champion
Viswanathan Anand played
out a draw with Judit Polgar of
Hungary to go out of con-
tention in the London Chess
Classic, now in progress here.
Having lost a game through
a blunder in the previous
round, Anand was apparently
satisfied with the result as
Polgar also played it safe after
showing early aggression. For
the first time in the tourna-
ment, all the four games were
drawn leaving Norwegian
Magnus Carlsen with a huge
five points lead over Russian
Vladimir Kramnik. Carlsen
drew with American Hikaru
Nakamura after an exciting
game to take his tally to 17
points in the soccer-like scor-
ing system in place here. The
world number one has just one
game left, against Anand, and
in all likelihood, he is going to
emerge as the winner.
Kramnik, on 12 points, needs
two wins to be in with a
chance. The Russian had a bye
in this round.
Michael Adams of England
missed a golden opportunity to
be in sole second spot when he
misplayed a completely win-
ning position against compa-
triot Luke McShane. After the
draw, Adams remained on
third spot on 11 points, two
ahead of Nakamura who is
now fourth. Anand, with seven
points in all, is lying fifth, a
point ahead of Armenian
Levon Aronian and two clear
of McShane. Gawain Jones of
England is in eighth position
on three points coming from
draws, while Polgar remains at
the bottom of the table with
just two draws out of her six
games here. Just two rounds
remain in the tournament. The
loss in the previous round had
a telling affect on Anand.
Polgar went for the sharp
Sozin variation against
Anand`s Najdorf and exerted
pressure on the king side to get
a miniscule advantage.
Regulation exchanges helped
Anand to neutralise the initia-
tive and Polgar offered the
draw after the 32nd move.
Adams should have been a
winner. Riding high on his
luck especially against Anand
in the sixth round, the English
GM got a winning position
again after what looked like a
forced draw but this time,
Adams himself blundered. The
game was eventually drawn.
MISC
STUDENT AGE
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2012
8
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(All disputes are subjected to the exclusive jurisdiction of Jammu District courts only.)
Indian golfer
Abhijit bags PGTI's
Emerging Player of
the Year title
NEWDELHI: Abhijit Singh Chadha
bagged the Professional Golf Tour of
India's (PGTI) Emerging Player of the
Year title after ending year with earn-
ings of Rs 17,93,478 in his rookie sea-
son as a professional.
The lanky Chadha, one of the
longest hitters on the tour, had the
highest prize money earnings among
all the rookies in the 2012 PGTI sea-
son. The 21-year-old had 20 starts in
the season and made the cut on 17
occasions. The 2010 Asian Games sil-
ver medallist posted his maiden pro-
fessional win at the Surya Nepal
Masters and had seven other top-10s
during the year that helped him finish
a creditable 14th on the 2012 Rolex
Rankings (PGTI Order of Merit).
Pranav Kaul of Delhi finished sec-
ond in the Emerging Player of the
Year race with earnings of Rs
1,99,181. Delhi's Bhanu Pratap Singh
claimed third position on the list while
Sameer M Shaikh of Pune and Aditya
Singh of Delhi were placed fourth and
fifth respectively.
KERALA: "This is the first time in
the country that such an initiative is
being done and the first of the mul-
tipurpose courts built at a cost of
Rs.2.4 million will be opened on
Monday at a government school on
the city outskirts," state Sports
Minister K.B. Ganesh Kumar said.
The initiative is the brainchild
of the film actor-turned-politician
and the 47-year- old has promised
that each of the projects of varying
size will be ready in the second half
of 2013.
The projects have been named
as SMILE (Sports Minister's
Infrastructural Leap to Excellence).
Included in the multi-purpose facil-
ity is a four-lane 100-metre syn-
thetic track, a long jump and high
jump pit with synthetic runway, 25-
metre swimming pool, an acrylic
outdoor badminton court, a syn-
thetic surface football and kabaddi
court besides a gallery that can seat
300 people. The various projects
also comprise 39 multipurpose
courts of different sizes, five swim-
ming pools, 15 long jump pits with
synthetic run-up, a futsal court
(five-a-side football), a football
surface made out of synthetic grass
costing Rs.4.80 crore, two four-
lane synthetic tracks, two Kabaddi
courts, 16 badminton courts and a
pre-fabricated community activity
hall. "The suppliers of these equip-
ment have given a seven-year guar-
antee and a committee -- compris-
ing the local legislator, the local
village council representatives and
members drawn from the educa-
tional institution where the facility
is set up -- will be looking after the
day-to-day administration of the
facility. All coaching camps recog-
nised by the state government will
get the facility free of cost and the
organisers can levy a fee if the
facility is given out for rent for pri-
vate tournaments," Kumar said.
The entire work of the projects
is being carried out by the National
Games secretariat headed by for-
mer director general of police
Jacob Punnoose.
NEW DELHI: The Archery
Association of India(AAI) has
got a shot in the arm after the
World Archery Federation
(FITA) extended recognition to
its elections and extended full
support to it.
FITA's decision has come as a
big boost as AAI was de-recog-
nized by the Sports Ministry,
who had said that the Federation
did not conform to the Sports
Code of the Government of India
while holding its election.
FITA's Secretary General
Tom Dielen, in a letter to AAI
President Vijay Kumar Malhotra,
said that the World Body
approves of the election process
and fully recognizes the newly
elected body of the association.
Dielen also disclosed that world
archery has already informed
theInternational Olympic
Committee (IOC) about this
decision.
"I was informed by AAI
Secretary General Anil Kamineni
that the Government (of India) is
not accepting the outcome of the
General Assembly claiming that
it is not in compliance with
Indian law. World Archery clear-
ly states once more that the out-
come of the general assembly is
recognized by World Archery,"
Dielen wrote in a letter.
"The constitution of the
Indian Archery Association is the
only document that has relevance
for the conduct of the general
assembly and this document was
respected. We have also
informed the IOC of this matter,"
he added.
Hailing the decision of FITA,
Malhotra said it ends the uncer-
tainty which Sports Ministry
tried to create by arbitrarily and
illegally de recognizing the AAI.
"World Archery Federation
decision has vindicated our prin-
cipled stand and I hope the gov-
ernment will also revoke its
undemocratic decision.
"AAI's elections were very
transparent, fair and democratic.
There was a contest for several
posts including that of President.
The whole process was as per the
constitution of the Association,"
Malhotra said in a statement.
Malhotra said with this deci-
sion there should be no confusion
or ambiguity because Indian
archers will continue to partici-
pate in international competitions
under the tricolour.
He said that the AAI and other
National Sports Federations
(NSF) are facing a huge dilem-
ma. "On one hand, Sports
Ministry says that there is a zero
tolerance towards federations,
which do not accept the Sports
Code and on the other hand, IOC
insists that there is a zero toler-
ance towards those who accept
the Sports Code," said Malhotra.
He urged the government not
to be rigid about the code and
said the early end to this impasse
will be better for the sports and
sportspersons of the country.
Thanking FITA for giving its
unstinted support to AAI,
Malhorta said all the national
championships, competitions
will be held as scheduled.
"We will continue to abide by
our international commitment,"
said Malhotra.
World archery body recognizes AAI elections
DUBAI: India remained at third
position behind England and
South Africa in the latest ICC
ODI Championship rankings
released on Sunday.
India are on 120 points, a
point behind leaders England
and South Africa who are tied at
121 points each.
Meanwhile, young Indian
batsman Virat Kohli retained his
number two slot along with cap-
tain Mahendra Singh Dhoni
(6th) and opener Gautam
Gambhir at 9th in the ICC ODI
Player rankings.
Off-spinner Ravichandran
Ashwin went a place down at
5th and is the only Indian bowler
to feature in the list of Top 20
ODI bowlers.
South Africa's Hashim Amla
continues to lead the chart for
best ODI batsman as the Top 10
slots remained unchanged.
Bangladesh's 3-2 series win over
West Indies at home helped it
move ahead of New Zealand to
the eighth place in the Reliance
ICC ODI Championship table.
West Indies spinner Sunil
Narine jumped eight places to
reach the number 3 in the rank-
ings. Top three rankings for ODI
bowlers are held by spinners
with Pakistan's Saeed Ajmal on
the top followed by fellow coun-
tryman Mohammad Hafeez.
India remain at third
spot in latest ICC
ODI C'ship rankings
KOLKATA: A wave of vio-
lence on Sunday engulfed
the gigantic Yuva Bharati
Krirangan here, forcing the
marquee I-League clash
between Mohun Bagan and
East Bengal to be called off,
besides leaving 40 injured.
The Mohun Bagan team
walked off the pitch after one
of its key players, Syed
Rahim Nabi was targetted by
East Bengal fans who hurled
a stone at his face.
Nabi sustained a fracture
in between the jaw and his
right ear and needed four
stitches, in what emerged as
one of the darkest day of
Indian football. The incident
happened at the interval, a
couple of minutes after
Harmanjot Khabra headed in
to put East Bengal ahead
from a Mehtab Hossain free-
kick. Mohun Bagan did not
turn up in the second half,
confining themselves to the
dressing room. Mohun
Bagan might have to face
stringent punishment includ-
ing suspension up to three
years as per AIFF Clause 22,
said I-League CEO Sunando
Dhar, who was present at the
match.
"As per the clause,
Mohun Bagan could face
suspension for the next three
years for refusing to play
after having played till half
time. Clause 22 of AIFF
states if a team withdraws in
the middle of the match, they
will be suspended from the I-
League for the current sea-
son and the following two
seasons unless it is dubbed a
force majeure," Dhar said.
"According to FIFA rule if a
missile of any kind lands on
the ground or if a player is
injured, then a team has
every right to walk off.
However, Mohun Bagan
played out the stoppage time
in the first half after a missile
hit Rahim Nabi."
He further said the tour-
nament committee will be
meeting soon to decide the
fate of the match, which is
likely to happen before
Mohun Bagan's next round.
The AIFF executive commit-
tee will then take a final
decision on the recommen-
dations of the tournament
committee.
Anand draws with Polgar in London Chess Classic
Rs 21 crore sports projects getting ready in Kerala
Bagan-East Bengal derby called off as violence erupts
KARACHI: Former ICC
President Ehsan Mani has
criticised the Pakistan
Cricket Board for agreeing to
tour India for a short one-day
series later this month.
"I think the PCB is wrong
to have agreed to this. If it is
a political decision, then the
PCB should have asked the
politicians to make sure that
India reciprocated by coming
and playing against Pakistan
even if it was at a neutral
venue," Mani said in an inter-
view on 'Pakpassion.net'
website.
Mani who was Pakistan's
representative in the ICC
before becoming its
President in 2003 said he
couldn't understand how the
PCB agreed to play in India
when the nation owes
Pakistan two series which it
has cancelled out on.
He said from a reciprocity
point of view, it is totally
wrong that Pakistan should
be going to India.
"My opinion is Pakistan
should not be going to India
at all. India or the BCCI went
out of its way after the
Mumbai attack to isolate
Pakistan cricket at the ICC,"
Mani said.
He pointed out that BCCI
knew well that by refusing to
play Pakistan even at a neu-
tral venue, they were going
to cost the PCB a huge
amount of money.
"This short series will
enable BCCI to earn over
USD 100 million, probably
as much as USD 150 million.
All we're doing is to help
India make a lot of money
out of us, with no assurance
of a reciprocal tour," he
noted.
"It is sort of trying to get
the headlines. I don't see any
benefit to Pakistan cricket in
terms of getting cricket back
to Pakistan by playing this
series. Certainly, I am not in
favour of it." Mani was also
critical of the way PCB was
being run.
Former ICC President Ehsan Mani
slams PCB for upcoming India tour
MADRID: Barcelona super-
star Lionel Messi set a new
record for goals in a calendar
year when he reached 86 for
2012 on Sunday to further
cement his reputation as one
of the greatest players of all
time.
Messi had equalled
German legend Gerd
Mueller's mark of 85 goals
from 1972 when he slotted the
ball home in the 16th minute
of La Liga clash at Real Betis
from a pass by Adriano.
The 25-year-old then
added his historic second nine
minutes later from an Andres
Iniesta backheel, after a smart
one-two with his teammate, to
claim his place in the record
books. Messi has made a habit
of creating landmarks in his
career. Last season, he
became the most successful
scorer in a La Liga season by
hitting 50 goals in the league
campaign. He is already the
club's greatest scorer having
last season gone past the
record of 232 goals by Cesar
Rodriguez set in the 1940s
and 1950s.He also equalled
the record for goals scored in
a Champions League season
when he hit 14.
His latest feat means he
will be the overwhelming
favourite to once again claim
the Ballon d'Or where he
faces competition from Iniesta
and Real Madrid's Cristiano
Ronaldo.
Messi, who now has 74
goals in all competitions for
Barcelona this year as well as
12 for Argentina, having
played 66 games in all, would
be the first player to win the
award four times.
Lionel Messi hits record 86th goal in 2012
WASHINGTON: Cell
phones and laptops, powered
by increasingly faster and
tinier processors, are becom-
ing sleeker and lighter.
Now, researchers at the
California Institute of
Technology (Caltech) say
light beams shrunk to a few
nanometres can drive much
faster computing.
Light carries greater
amounts of data more effi-
ciently than electrical signals
through copper wires. The
current technology is increas-
ingly based on optics. The
world is already connected
by thousands of miles of
optical-fiber cables that
deliver email, images, and
the latest video gone viral to
your laptop.
As we all produce and
consume more data, comput-
ers and communication net-
works must be able to handle
the deluge of information.
Focusing light into tinier
spaces can squeeze more data
through optical fibres and
increase bandwidth, the jour-
nal Nature Photonics reports.
Moreover, by being able
to control light at such small
scales, optical devices can
also be made more compact,
requiring less energy to
power them, according to a
Caltech statement.
But focusing light to such
minute scales is inherently
difficult. Once you reach
sizes smaller than the wave-
length of light -- a few hun-
dred nanometers in the case
of visible light -- you reach
what's called the diffraction
limit, and it's physically
impossible to focus light any
further. But now, Caltech
researchers, co-led by assis-
tant professor of electrical
engineering Hyuck Choo,
have built a new kind of
waveguide -- a tunnel-like
device that channels light --
that gets around this natural
limit.
Because the new device is
built on a semiconductor chip
with standard nanofabrica-
tion techniques, says Choo,
study co-author, it is easy to
integrate with today's tech-
nology.
Light can drive faster computing
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