Zabarwan Times E-Paper English 21 July

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July 21 | 2013 | 11 Ramzan 1434 AH | PAGEs 8 |

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Two die in accident Srinagar: Two people were killed and over a dozen got injured Saturday in a road accident in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir, police said.

The accident took place when a passenger vehicle rolled down a gorge after the driver lost control at Dhundak near Surankote town, around 80 km from here, a senior police officer said.

“Two passengers were killed in the accident and around a dozen others were injured. The injured have been hospitalised for treatment,” the officer said.

Man injured in bear attack Baramulla: A man was critically injured in an attack by a bear outside his home in Baramulla district of north Kashmir today, police said.

Mohammad Lateef Khan was attacked by a wild bear soon after he came out of his house at village Binner-Kawdara, 60 kms from here, a police spokesman said.

He said the beast had ventured into the village from nearby forests and returned to the wild after the local villagers came out on hearing the cries of Khan who was shifted to hospital.

Body of ASI recovered Srinagar: The month-long search for an Assistant Sub-Inspector of Jammu and Kashmir police ended today with the recovery of his body from a stream in Chandanwari area in the periphery of Pahalgam in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district, police said.

ASI Habib Ullah, incharge of a police naka party, went missing in Chandanwari along the PahalgamAmarnath cave track on June 8 while leaving for a bath in Lidder stream.

The body of the missing ASI has been fished out from the stream near Zig Morh Chandanwari and was later handed over to his family for last rites, a police spokesman said. The officer had drowned in the stream while taking a bath, he said.

Panchayat Ghar gutted in North Kashmir Sopore: A Panchayat Ghar in North Kashmir’s Tarzoo area of Sopore was completely gutted in mysterious circumstances during the intervening night of Friday and Saturday.

Sub-Divisional Magistrate Sopore, Dr Syed Hanief Balkhi said that the cause of fire is still unknown and the investigation has been taken up. “All the records pertaining to Panchyats were gutted down completely,” he said.

Police has registered a case vide FIR number 66/2013 under section 436 and the investigation has been taken up.

Sena backs BSF action, protest against Omar Jammu: Shiv Sena today condemned Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s statement criticising security forces for the shooting incident in Ramban district which claimed four lives and said BSF fired only in retaliation.

“We condemn Omar Abdullah’s comments on security forces. Actually, BSF just retaliated to the mob attack,” president Jammu and Kashmir unit of Shiv Sena, Ashok Gupta said after carrying out a procession in support of security forces here.

Omar had earlier said it was unfortunate that in spite of costly lessons learnt in 2008 and 2010, some amongst us are determined to repeat past mistakes and use force against unarmed protesters.

Four people were killed and several others, including a BSF jawan, were injured when an angry mob tried to attack the BSF camp in Gool area of Ramban district yesterday.

“Residents of Jammu and Kashmir are witnessing unfortunate and ugly political scenario. On one side Omar Abdullah condemns the incident of firing at Ramban, while minister of state for Home

See Protest on pg 7...

Curfew and Clashes Continue Across Kashmir 20 policemen and 36 civilians injured in Valley

Mufti’s cavalcade attacked near Humhama

Gool town of Ramban district.

Kulgam and Shopian districts of

erected barricades at some road

Shops, business establishments, banks, and semi-government institutions remained closed and traffic was off the roads in Srinagar, Baramulla, Bandipora, Kupwara, Ganderbal, Budgam,Anantnag, Pulwama,

the Kashmir valley.

Police and CRPF personnel were patrolling the streets of Srinagar and major towns of the valley to maintain law and order.

In old Srinagar, police and CRPF had laid razor wires and

junctions. Due to intermittent rains, situation in Srinagar city remained over all peaceful. At Humhama, youth resorted to heavy stone pelting at police which left DySp Zahoor See Kashmir on pg 7...

Srinagar July 20: For the second consecutive day Saturday normal life remained affected in Kashmir following the strike called by Hurriyat Conference (G) against the Ramban blood bath and subsequent curfew and restrictions imposed by authorities in length and breadth of Valley. At least 20 policemen and thirty six civilians were injured during the clashes between security forces and protestors.

Normal life was affected in Srinagar as authorities deployed heavy contingents of police and CRPF in every nook and corner of the city to thwart any protest demonstration.

Amid curfew, restrictions and strike, clashes erupted in different parts of Valley between youth and policemen. Protestors were demanding stern action against BSF personnel responsible for innocent killings in

Ramban killings: Omar caught between rock and hard place Srinagar July 20: Mainstream and separatist leaders have termed it the “Gool bloodbath” as heightened tensions followed Thursday’s killings of four protesters and injuries to 43 others in Ramban district, severely jolting peace, tourism and the ongoing Amarnath Yatra in Jammu and Kashmir.

Over 300 protesters stormed a Border Security Force (BSF) camp in Gool village on Thursday to protest the alleged desecration of a mosque and religious scriptures. Guards at the camp are accused of opening indiscriminate fire at the protesters, killing four people and injuring 43.

Of the injured, at least seven, according to attending doctors, sustained bullet injuries.

A shocked state administration rushed helicopters to evacuate 17 critically injured people for specialized treatment.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah rushed his junior home minister, Sajad Kitchloo, and the state Director General of Police, Ashok

Prasad, to Ramban to supervise the evacuation of the injured and express solidarity with the bereaved families.

The district magistrate of Ramban was shifted immediately after the incident. Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde regretted the loss of life and ordered the special DG of the BSF to conduct a probe into the incident.

Inspector General of BSF (Jammu Frontier) Rajeev Krishna said the guards at the camp had opened fire to save arms and ammunition from being looted by the mob.

The explanation was dismissed both by the locals and the state government.

In its damage control exercise, the state cabinet condemned the “use of excessive force by the BSF personnel” and sanctioned an ex-gratia relief of Rs.5 lakhs for the next of kin of the slain persons.

A government job was also promised by the state cabinet to one member of each of the bereaved families.

Relatives and villagers refused to

Rains bring respite from heat, more showers predicted Srinagar July 20: Rains lashed many parts of Kashmir Valley, including Srinagar providing respite to the people from the scorching heat.

The morning rainfall, resulting in a dip in temperature by several notches, brought relief from the heat wave conditions prevalent for over a week.

Srinagar, which recorded a maximum of 34 degrees Celsius on July 19, received a rainfall of 23.0 mm during morning, while the famous skiresort of Gulmarg received 26.2 mm of rains, a MET Department spokesperson said.

He said Pahalgam, in south Kashmir, which serves as a base camp for Amaranth Yatra, received 19.0 mm of rainfall till 8:30 in the morning.

Kupwara did not receive any rainfall, however Kokernag received 17.0 mm of rainfall, he added.

The weatherman predicted more rains during the next 24 hours.

“Rainfall would be moderate but widespread in Kashmir till July 21 afternoon,” the spokesman said.

bury the four dead persons unless the government brought those involved in the firing incident to justice.

The BSF camp was overnight removed from Gool village and a contingent of the state armed police was deployed instead.

Tension along the over 300-km strategic Jammu-Srinagar highway, the Valley’s only land connection with the rest of the country, forced the authorities to close it for the third day running Saturday.

An uninterrupted curfew across the Valley has thrown both the ongoing annual Amarnath Yatra and the tourist season out of gear in Kashmir.

In its knee-jerk response to the separatist call for a three-day protest shutdown, the authorities clamped curfew in the Valley that is likely to continue till the separatists end their protest call.

Dozens of security personnel and protesters have been injured during the last three days as mobs defying the curfew continue to pelt stones at the security forces in Srinagar and many other places.

The authorities have given strict instructions to both the local police and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) See Omar on pg 7...

Scores of youth arrested during nocturnal raids Sriangar July 20: A day after stone pelting incidents, police has started a hunt to nab the alleged stone pelters. Five youth including two brothers were arrested from South Kashmir’s Kakapora area of Pulwama district during nocturnal raids.

According to reports, police arrested five youth from Kakapora area during nocturnal raids. They have been identified as Aijaz Ahmed Lone, Showkat Ahmed Lone sons of Ghulam Mohidin Lone, Pir Imtiyaz Ali son of Ali Mohammad residents of Kakapora, Jan Mohammad and Fayaz Ahmed residents of Naman Pulwama.

A police official said that there are at least 12 more youth who are wanted in different stone pelting incidents to police. “These youth have fled from their homes and they would be apprehended soon,” he said.

Meanwhile, Pattan police arrested at least 9 youth including a 14 years old student and a son of Police Officer during nocturnal

raids for their alleged role in stone pelting.

Station House Officer Pattan, Mehboob Bandey said that during different nocturnal raids police in Pattan area arrested at least 9 youth. “They have been identified as Manzoor Ahmad son of Ghulam Mohi-u-Din War, Nayeem Ahmad yatoo son of Abdul Majeed Yatoo (Rai pora Palhallan), Marouf Ahmad son of Ghulam Hassan Rather (ASI) resident of Shumlaran Chandoosa Baramulla, Firdous Ahmad son of Mohmmad Akbar Baba (Goshibugh Pattan), Nazir Sultan Rather (Buchoo Pattan), Zubair Karim Chopan, Suhail Sultan Dar, Umar Hassan Dar (Renjee Pattan), Nazir Ahmad sheikh son of Habibullah Sheikh (Parmohalla Pattan),” he said.

Police official said that the accused are involved in damaging police vehicles and assaulting police officers on duty. “We have registered cases against all of them vide FIR number 182/2013 under section 148,149,336,332,307,427 See Youth on pg 7...

HRW seeks investigation into BSF action SRINAGAR July 20: The Indian government should appoint an independent commission to promptly and transparently investigate the killing of four protesters by Border Security Force (BSF) troops in Jammu and Kashmir state, Human Rights Watch said today. The government should act to end the BSF’s longstanding impunity for large numbers of killings over many years.

In a statement issued on Saturday, Human Rights Watch said the unclear circumstances resulting in the deaths of four protesters, and the wounding of nearly a dozen more

people; highlight the urgency of an independent inquiry.

“The BSF reported that on July 18, 2013, in Ramban district, its troops interrogated a local resident who made baseless and false allegations about being mistreated. After protesters gathered and started stone pelting vigorously on the BSF post, troops fired at the protesters in self-defense,” the statement said quoting BSF version.

The statement added that local residents allege that BSF soldiers entered a mosque during a search operation and was rude and disrespectful to the mosque staff.

See BSF on pg 7...

Rs 55.50cr approved to strengthen Panchayat Raj Srinagar July 20: In its effort to strengthen the Panchayati Raj System, Jammu and Kashmir government has approved the annual plan 2013-14 under Rajiv Gandhi Panchayat Sashaktikaran Abhiyan (RGPSA) to the tune of Rs 55.50 crore for funding.

The plan was approved by the State level High Powered Committee headed

by Chief Secretary Mohammad Iqbal Khanday which met here yesterday, an official spokesman said.

The spokesman said the State Pan-

chayat Resource Centres (SPRCs) and District Panchayat Resource Centres (DPRCs) are planned to be established under RGPSA in various Districts.

Moreover, Rs 50,000 will be provided to each Halqa Panchayat for various services including street Lighting, sanitation under the Scheme, the spokesman said.

For administrative and technical support to Panchayats, the spokesman said services of four member team comprising Panchayat Development officer, Accountant Cum Data Entry See Panchayat on pg 7...

Gool Blood Bath, a lesson for future Time to ponder upon AFSPA Shahana The killing of four civilians

by BSF in village Darma Gool in Ramban district and subsequent protests which erupted throughout the state have once again thrown a challenge for all peace loving people of the state in terms of repeated occurrence of such incidents when everything seems to be normal and peaceful. Of late it has been observed that despite the assurances, announcements of probes and enquiries in such incidents, the security forces continue to over react at times when they should exercise complete restraint and exhibited patience. The very often incidents of shooting on the pretext of mistaken identity, the killing of innocents on minor provocations and indiscriminate firing on protesting mobs can in no

way be justified in a civilized society and in a democratic country like India where the constitution stands a guarantee for the protection of the legitimate rights of the citizens and recognizes the freedom of expression as a fundamental right.

There is no doubt that there could have been provocative slogans, stone pelting and violent gestures from over a thousand protestors assembled in the village expressing their resentment over what they call indecent and unacceptable remarks from security forces party, but it does not mean that the disciplined force will resort to direct firing on the protestors forgetting that they are dealing with their fellow brethren and not armed insurgents. Instead the ethics of the profession demands that the forces should have used other method

like tear-gas, lathi-charge and rubber bullets etc to dispel the protestors and control the situation. Even if there was no alternative but to fire, that too should have been on the legs and not above that.

Eye witnesses told Zabarwan Times that the forces resorted to firing instantly when some youngsters from the mob marching towards BSF Camp pelted some stones. The Deputy Commissioner who has been shifted now had reportedly reached the spot as the tension was brewing in the area after mid-night altercation between BSF Jawans and locals belonging to a particular community, he also failed to calm down the situation and some locals even alleged that it was he who provoked the firing.

Now as the enquiry has been ordered by the Union Home Minister who expressed his grief over

the incident, it is the duty of the govt. and the senior officers of the forces to put their heads together and initiate such steps which will help in avoidance of incidents like Gool in future.

They should also initiate special trainings and psychological exercise for lower ranks in police and security forces so that they are taught to be patient in dealing with such situations. The arrogance and high handedness which is engulfing the forces has to be tackled in a methodolic way to restore back confidence of the people and also that the effectiveness of forces remains intact. The condemnation of this incident by state cabinet is unprecedented and it needs a pat for its courage and boldness.

The announcement of ex-gratia of Rs.5 lac is not going to bring those precious lives back See Gool on pg 7...

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ZABARWAN TIMES

From the Front Page............ gool............ who have been lost in Gool, but this money along with a job to one person each of the affected families will provide them a support to carry on their lives.

Meanwhile, central leadership should also rethink over the demand of chief minister Omar Abdullah and other political parties for revocation of AFSPA which will help in curbing unlimited powers of security forces. It is not for the first time that such an incident occurred, which resulted in the eruption of public outcry and spoiled the good work done for restoration of peace and normalcy. Several such incidents occurred in the past and will be occurring. if the leadership at the centre does not wake-up to the call of the time and initiate effective measures, which include repealing of the special powers act and other hard laws, the country as a whole may have to suffer and pay a heavy price.

As already mentioned we should realize that we are dealing with our own people and not any enemy who is hatching conspiracies against the state. In addition to this the security forces camps should be relocated and stationed away from the populated areas so that such incidents are avoided as small incidents of provocations result in heavy and irreparable loses to the society as a whole.

Kashmir............

Ahmed critically injured. Agitated youth attacked the cavalcade of Peoples democratic Party Patron Mufti Mohammad Syed after he was on his way to his residence from Srinagar Airport. due to timely intervention of police, the cavalcade managed to pass off the protestors, however some of the windowpanes of few vehicles got damaged in the attack.

Reports said that the security guards of former Chief Minister exercised restraint and did not retaliate. A police official while confirming the incident said that motorcade of PdP patron was attacked by some miscreants however the timely action of police kept the protestors at bay.

Agitated protestors smashed the windowpanes of two CRPF vehicles at Nawab Bazar area of Srinagar on Saturday morning. Eyewitnesses said that protestors damaged both the vehicles completely. Soon after this incident CRPF personnel went berserk and ransacked dozens of residential houses. Stray incidents of stone pelting were reported from Sabzi Market Soura and Zainakot. Locals alleged that CRPF smashed the windowpanes of scores of houses and even did not spare the vehicles parked in different yards and roads.

According to reports, eight persons were injured in Khudwani Kulgam when CRPF and police personnel showered rubber bullets over them after they were protesting against the alleged ransacking of their houses by troopers in Khudwani area of Kulgam.

Reportes said that Government Forces resorted to firing when men and women came on roads at Khudwani, Kulgam seeking punishment for the erring cops who according to them ransacked their houses without any provocation. CRPF personnel used rubber bullets which left 8 people injured. One lady received a bullet in her chest.

Four of them were shifted to district Hospital Islamabad while the rest were admitted to Kulgam hospital.

The injured have been identified as Rouf Ahmed Kumar son of Mohammad Ramzan Kumar resident of Ganjipora Kulgam, Waseem Abdullah Ahangar resident of Ghat Khudwani, Mudasir yousf dar, Zahoor Maqbool Shiekh, Shahzad Wani son of Ghulam Mohammad, Shaheena Akhtar wife of Mohammad Akbar Wani, Hafeeza Begum wife of Abdul Qayoom dar and Rukhsana Akhtar daughter of Abdul Qayoom dar all residents of Khudwani.

CRPF thrashed two ambulance drivers Abdul Hamid Bhat and Mohammad Hussain Shiekh at Qaimou Kulgam when they were ferrying patients. They damaged two ambulances (JK03A-4404 and JK03B-5704) belonging to Public Health Centre Qaimou completely.

CRPF personnel also thrashed a police sub-inspector Inshtiyak Ahmed at Kawaki Bazar, Qaimou. “I was in plain clothes and despite displaying my identity they (CRPF) thrashed me ruthlessly. They are not protectors but terrorists,” police officer told CNS. Heavy stone pelting incidents were reported from South Kashmir’s Bonigam, Mughal Gund yesoo area of Qazigund. deputy Inspector General of Police South Kashmir Vijay Kumar and SP Kulgam reached on spot to diffuse the situation.

Police resorted to heavy tear gas shelling to disperse the protestors in South Kashmir’s Pulwama district. Protestors marched towards dC office Pulwama amid anti-India slogans. At least six civilians were injured in the police action.

Reports of clashes were also received from Bandipora, Aloosa, Ashtengoo, Tangmarag and Kakapora.

Complete shutdown was observed in Kargil town against the desecration of holy Quran and innocent killings. The call for the shutdown was given by the Islamic Society of Kargil. All the business establishments and government offices and schools remained closed while traffic was off the roads.

A police handout said that the situation throughout Kashmir valley remained peaceful today. However, there were stone pelting reported from Tahab Chowk and Newa in Pulwama, Cement Bridge and Azadgung in Baramulla, Papchan, Gulshan Chowk and Naidkhai in Bandipora, a couple of places in Shopian, Khudwani in Kulgam and Galwanpora Humhama in Budgam.

The deployments exercised maximum restraint. 15 police and CRPF men and two civilians were injured.

omar............ personnel deployed on law and order duties to exercise maximum restraint to ensure that no civilian casualty occurs during the protests.

For Omar Abdullah, the going could simply not have been tougher. His repeated statements that excesses against civilians during protests would not be tolerated hold little water in the eyes of the common Kashmiris.

Abdullah’s political detractors are using the chief minister’s discomfort to the hilt as life remains paralyzed in the Valley.

BSF............

When unarmed protesters gathered at the post, the BSF troops called for police support. The security forces then opened fire on the protesters, the local residents said.

“The loss of life at the Ramban mosque needs a prompt investigation by an independent commission,” said Meenakshi Ganguly, South Asia director at Human Rights Watch. “Any finding of illegal use of force by BSF troops should result in prosecutions. Too often the BSF’s version of events is simply accepted, allowing killing after killing for which no one is held to account.”

“The senior Indian officials have responded appropriately to the incident, but need to follow up with action,” Human Rights Watch said. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said that it is “highly unacceptable to shoot at unarmed protesters.”

Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde has promised an investigation and said that “any use of excessive force or irresponsible action will be dealt with strictly.”

“Previous investigations of BSF abuses have often been de-

NEWS layed and prosecutions stalled,” the statement added.

Human Rights Watch has previously documented misbehavior and serious human rights violations by BSF troops along the Bangladesh border. “The border guards, who are deployed to prevent infiltration, trafficking, and smuggling, had engaged in numerous cases of unlawful use of force, arbitrary detention, and torture, and killed over a thousand Indian and Bangladeshi nationals,” the statement said.

“The BSF was ordered to exercise restraint and use rubber bullets instead of live ammunition, which led to a decrease in the number of people fatally injured, though unlawful killings continue,” it added.

The Human Rights Watch has alleged that the government has repeatedly failed to prosecute BSF personnel responsible for serious abuses. “Inquiries by the National Human Rights Commission receive a standard response that fatalities occurred when troops had to fire in self-defense.”

Human Rights Watch called on the Indian government to publicly order the security forces to follow the united Nations Basic Principles on the use of Force and Firearms

by Law Enforcement Officials. The Basic Principles state that security forces shall “apply non-violent means before resorting to the use of force and firearms,” and that “whenever the lawful use of force and firearms is unavoidable, law enforcement officials shall: (a) Exercise restraint in such use and act in proportion to the seriousness of the offence and the legitimate objective to be achieved; (b) Minimize damage and injury, and respect and preserve human life.”

Furthermore, “intentional lethal use of firearms may only be made when strictly unavoidable in order to protect life.”

Since the shootings, violent protests have broken out in several parts of Jammu and Kashmir, and authorities have imposed curfews in some areas. Human Rights Watch called on organizers of protests to take steps to deter supporters from engaging in violence, including attacks on law enforcement officers.

“Security forces sometimes react with gunfire when outnumbered by an angry crowd, which is why they need to be properly trained in nonlethal crowd control methods,” Ganguly said. “Incidents that end in shootings are not only terrible for all those involved, but set the stage for unnecessary bloodshed in the future.”

SuNdAy July 21| 2013

J&K SFC back in business with positive net worth after a decade Rather for reviving its’ golden past SRINAGAR, JuLy 20: Maintaining that J&K, despite having a strong resource base, purchases goods and services worth Rs. 35000/Crore annually from other States, which provides a wide evidence of existence of a strong market suited to the economic viability of manufacturing projects within the State, the Minister for Finance and Ladakh Affairs, Abdul Rahim Rather enjoined upon the J&K State Financial Corporation (J&K SFC) to play its assigned role of lending to Medium, Small and Micro Enterprises (MSME) and it’s allied sectors of the State to accelerate its economic development.

Speaking at the 52nd Annual General Meeting of the J&K SFC held at Banquet Hall Srinagar, this evening Rather, who is also Chairman of the

for MSME & cooperative sector shall be on forefront of financial measures of the State. He said that in order to utilize the natural & human resources of J&K profitably, the financial institutions and banking network in the State have to ensure adequate lending facilities to encourage growth of successful entrepreneurs and to help the State to overcome the grave problems of unemployment of its educated youth.

Economic Advisor to Government, Jalil Ahmed Khan, Principal Secretary, Finance, B. B. Vyas who is also Principal Secretary, to Chief Minister, Assistant General Manager, SIdBI, Anuj Jain, Md J&K, SFC, A. R. Makroo and concerned shareholders were present in the meeting.

Recalling the excellent role played by the J&K SFC in the past to promote

Corporation, said that at National Level the MSME sector is playing a significant role in the economic development of the country adding that it contributes about 8 percent to GdP and 45 Percent output to manufacturing sector. “However in J&K, the MSME sector has got derailed due to prolonged disturbance as most of the SFC Financed units got closed after losing their financial viability”, Rather said adding that this sector needs a strong lending support by the banks & other financial institutions to exploit its’ about Rs 10,000/- Crore untapped investment potential in the fields of tourism, power, horticulture, floriculture, handicrafts, Indian System of Medicines, Fisheries etc. He said in consonance with developmental goals at National Level and underlining objective of the States’ 12th Five year Plan ‘2012-2017’, the credit flow

MSME sector and Nursing the first generation entrepreneurship in the State Rather said it was heartening that the corporation is now again back in business and has restarted its main activity of lending adding that it has also reentered in the MSME sector. He said during the last four years since it’s revival from March 2010, the corporation has sanctioned loans to the tune of Rs 66.69 Crores and made disbursement of 49.93 Crore. He said the fresh lending and improved recoveries have resulted into improving its standard portfolio from 10 percent as on 1st April 2009 to 51 percent as on 1st April 2013.

Rather said that prior to the implementation of its revival plan in March 2010, this premier financial institution had lost all its business and had descended to a huge

Panchayat............

Operator, Panchayat Sahayak and Junior Engineer are needed under the scheme.

“As such the total requirement of personnel for data entry operator is 2064 with a target of 518 operators during the current financial year and placement of 1032 Panchayat Sahayaks,” the spokesman said.

Besides administrative and technical support to Panchayats, RGPSA also envisages a range of activities such as, Panchayat infrastructure support, capacity building and training of elected representatives (ERs) and other functionaries, upgradation of institutional structures that provide training and capacity building to PRIs, promotion of active gram sabhas, e-enabled Panchayats, appropriate accounting procedures and accountability processes such as social audit, the spokesman said.

Protest............

Sajjad Ahmad Kichloo condemns the attack on security forces,” Gupta said adding, this highlights the casual approach being maintained by the government on such a delicate issue. “The state government wants to count votes over bodies of both Hindus and Muslims. Congress has adopted silence over the incident. The government should stop its discriminatory approach or otherwise it is the high time for extension of provision of (Article) 356 for dismissing the government,” he added.

Youth............

RPC and soon we are going to produce Challan against these accused,” he said.

JAKEDA to allot 6 MHPs of 9.5 MW capacity to IPP developers in State SRINAGAR, JuLy 20: The Jammu and Kashmir Energy development Agency (JAKEdA) is developing 6 Mini Hydle Power Projects of 9.5 MW capacity in the Jammu and Kashmir State through Independent Power Producers (IPP) mode under phase-II. This was stated by the Minister of State for Science and Technology Feroz Ahmad Khan here today while reviewing the functioning of Jammu & Kashmir Energy development Agency (JAKEdA), Kargil Renewable Energy development Agency (KREdA) and Leh Renewable Energy development Agency (LREdA).

The Minister said that the process for allotting the works of these Hydle power projects has been started through competitive bidding, adding that the required letters have been issued to the respective bidders by the authorities of JAKEdA. The Minister said that the JAKEdA has earlier allotted 6 projects having 9.95 MW Cumulative capacities under Phase-I among IPP to develop these projects in different areas of the State. He said more projects shall also be allotted in future in Phased manner by JAKEdA to play a positive role as State’s Renewable Nodal Agency for harnessing the renewable power potential in the state.

On the occasion, the Commissioner-Secretary, Science and Technology Bipul Pathak, asked the concerned officers for utilizing the central funds properly and timely production of utilization Certificate (uC) so that the agency get more funds from the central government .He said the State has tremendous Hydle power potential and its proper exploitation is the need of the hour to make the State self-reliance in power. He said there is no dearth of funds as the central Government is extending liberal funds for the purpose. He hoped that power projects taken into hand by the different agencies would be completed in the time frame and the people of the State get benefited from these projects.

Office of the Zonal Education Officer Kunzer

Notification vide NO:ZK364-66 Dated:12-07-2013 publishedin daily news paper Srinagar Times is kept on hold in respect of revenue village for engagement of Ret in PS Soipora.

DIPK: 4830 Zonal Education Officer Kunzer

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negative net worth of over Rs 104.78 Crore and it was in default to its supporting institutions to the extent of Rs 180.40 crore. He said the work of audit of its accounts had hit a backlog of six years. “ But today with the adoption of the audited accounts for the year 201112 , the Corporation shall be clearing 7 annual accounts in a period of four years,” Rather added. He said the income of the corporation has increased from Rs 5.74 crore in 2008-09 to Rs 9.39 crore during last fiscal.

He said the net worth of the Corporation which had sunk to Rs (–) 104.78 crore as on 1.4.2009 has turned positive to Rs +1.39 crore as on 1.4.2013 after a gap of more than a decade.

Talking specifically of the achievements made during last fiscal, the Minister said the Corporation issued sanctions of Rs 2875.00 lakh and made disbursement of Rs 1840.69 lakh. The focus remained on recoveries and during the period under report, an amount of Rs 1745.51 lakh was recovered. He said the Corporation earned a total revenue income of Rs 757.17 lakh during the same period as against the revenue income of Rs 366.39 lakh earned during the previous year.

He said with the financial support from the State Government, the management settled liabilities of Rs 173 crore out of a book debt of Rs 180.40 crore, thus taking the Corporation out of the debt trap.

He said the corporation successfully launched and executed a One Time Settlement Scheme (OTSS 2010) and settled a large number of long pending bad accounts.

He said the corporation while following an effective mechanism to recover the decades old debts in default during the last four years, recovered Rs 76.53 crore. While providing an exit route to loss bearing constituents, it has reduced its own loss portfolio from 62% as on 1.4.2009 to 24% as on 1.4.2013.

The debt equity ratio of the Corporation has improved substantially from 2.50:1 to 1:9.61.

He said the corporation is back in business with a positive net worth, having cleared the debts, and taken up again its assigned role of lending to MSME and allied sectors of the State so as to revive its golden past.

I-Day arrangements finalized at Udhampur udHAMPuR, JuLy-20:To discuss the arrangements for the Independence day function, a meeting of officers of different departments was convened under the chairmanship of the district development Commissioner, udhampur, Mrs. yasha Mudgal here today.

Additional district development Commissioner, Ajay Singh Jamwal, Additional deputy Commissioner, Surat Singh, Joint director Planning, Rakesh Jamwal, Assistant Commissioner development, Executive Engineers, PHE, Pdd and PWd, Chief Education Officer, district youth Service and Sports Officer, udhampur, district Officers of different departments and senior officers of Police, attended the meeting.

It was decided in the

meeting that the main function would be held in the premises of Government PG College for Boys ground where the VIP would unfurl the National flag followed by march past of contingents drawn from district Police, SKPA, Forest Protection Force, NCC and students of various schools.

The school children would also present cultural programmes reflecting rich cultural heritage and patriotism.

Threadbare discussions were also held regarding arrangements of seating, barricading, security, traffic regulation, drinking water and power supply, sanitation, first-aid, deployment of buses and fire-tenders etc.The ddC directed the engineers of R&B, PHE and Pdd to ensure effective arrangements of barricading, seating and drinking water besides uninterrupted pow-

Taj Mohi-ud-Din bereaved

er supply on the day of function. The Executive Officer, Municipality was asked for maintaining cleanliness of college ground and town well in advance while Chief Medical Officer was directed to deploy mobile van with staff and medicines at the venue of the function. district and Traffic Police would make security and traffic regulation on the day.

A committee of officers was also constituted to finalize the list of outstanding students to be awarded on the National day.

Important Government buildings would be illuminated in the evening of auspicious day, the meeting decided.

The celebrations of the National day would start with the playing of Shehnai Vadan by the district Information Centre, udhampur in the wee hours of the day.

SRINAGAR, JuLy 20: Malik Aijaz Ahmad, former Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, passed away today at SMHS Hospital after a brief illness. He was 78.

The deceased was the brother-in-law of Minister for Medical Education and youth Services and Sports, Taj Mohi-ud-din. Many social and religious organizations have condoled the demise.

Shri Amarntha Ji yatra resumed SRINAGAR, JuLy 20According to an official spokesman, the Shri Amarnath Ji yatra will resume tomorrow. The movement of yatries from Jammu has already started.

Tomorrow restrictions shall continue only in the vulnerable and sensitive areas of the valley.

Governor discusses arrangements for Jammu University hosting the 101stIndian Science Congress in 2014 SRINAGAR, JuLy 20 – N. N. Vohra, Governor, chaired a high level meeting at the Raj Bhavan here today to discuss the arrangements to be put in place for the 101st Indian Science Congress being held at the university of Jammu from 3rd - 7th February 2014. The theme of this Science Congress is “Innovations in Science and Technology for Inclusive development”.

After earlier discussions with Prof. R. C. Sobti, President of the Indian Science Congress Association, the Governor, who is Chancellor of the Jammu university, had invited the Vice Chancellors of all the 9 universities in the State, director SKIMS, Srinagar, director, IIIM, Jammu, director, NIT, Srinagar, Principals of Medical Colleges at Jammu and Srinagar, Principal of the College of Engineering and Technology, Jam-

mu, and director, Central Institute of Temperate Horticulture, Srinagar to this meeting.

The Governor impressed upon all the Vice Chancellors and the heads of the various medical, science and technology institutions of higher learning in the State to join hands for organizing this mega scientific event in the most befitting manner, particularly as it was being held for the first time in Jammu and Kashmir. He observed that this Science Congress shall provide a historical opportunity for the students and scientists to demonstrate their talent and scientific temper.

Observing that there is unlimited talent in the State, the Governor emphasized the need for identifying individual scientists in the various universities and other science and technology institutions in J&K for presenting their papers and participating in the working sessions of the

Science Congress. Recalling the various INSPIRE programmes organized by different universities in the State in the past four years, he added that the talented students and young scientists need to be encouraged to present their knowledge before the galaxy of scientists at the Congress. Referring to the high importance of encouraging innovation in science, he stressed that the youth from the State who have made a mark in this arena must be identified and encouraged to exhibit their innovations at the Science Congress.The Governor also particularly urged the Vice Chancellors of the two State Farm universities to identify themes which are J&K specific so that these could be included for deliberations in the working sessions of the Science Congress. He observed that climate change and global warming could be among the areas of focus of the Science Congress.

EDItOrIAL/OpInIOn The Daily

Zabarwan Times Sunday, 21 July 2013

AFSPA in focus Killings at the hands of BSF in Ramban has brought Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) back in focus. The act gives legal immunity to the security forces for their actions. There can be no prosecution, suit or any other legal proceeding against anyone acting under the act. In Jammu and Kashmir, the AFSPA has become a serious political issue with the separatists, opposition parties and human rights groups demanding the lifting of the act. Many delegations of human rights activists which visited Kashmir from time to time have demanded scrapping of the AFSPA. The separatists want the revocation of the act, which they allege is a 'draconian law to curb the civil liberties'. Moderate Huriyat Conference Chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq is on record to have said that revocation of the AFSPA will be a first step to assuage the hurt sentiments of Kashmiris.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has been urging the lifting of the AFSPA at least from the urban areas of Srinagar and Badgam districts in the Valley and the Jammu and Samba districts of the Jammu region. There are many movements going on in India against the AFSPA. They believe that in areas in which AFSPA is enacted, it gives an officer of the armed forces extraordinary powers of arrest, imprisonment and use of force up to that causing death against individuals seen to have violated certain laws. AFSPA also gives these officers virtual immunity from prosecution. The provisions of AFSPA violate international human rights laws, lead to wide scale human rights abuses, fuel conflicts and destabilises the economic, social and governance infrastructures of the states in which it is enacted. AFSPA is opposed by movement groups and the rights bodies in India and Internationally, various UN bodies and even by the Indian government's own commissions and committees appointed to look into the matter.

The home ministry has proposed amendments to Section 4 of the Act to bring the army under the civilian control: No arrest without warrant from a civilian magistrate, no firing that may cause death without prior orders from civilian authorities and constitution of grievance redressal cells to attend to any violation of the human rights.

These provisions may be now incorporated in the rules in the making, though the defence ministry is against the redressal cells, pointing out that they are unnecessary because the army always hands over its personnel involved in any bogus encounters to the magistrate and the local police. A parliamentary committee did not agree with repeal of the Act as recommended by the Justice Jeevan Reddy Commission. Instead, it stressed that the law should be made humane, in case its continuance in some areas is necessitated. An army note circulated in the Cabinet Committee on Security last year stressed that the army is called by the Centre or the state under Section 3 of AFSPA to operate in the “disturbed area” only to help the civilian government and hence their political leadership better take a call first to revoke the Disturbed Areas Act before amending AFSPA. It pointed out that AFSPA has been already upheld by the Supreme Court in 1997, which passed a series of Dos and Don'ts to curb human rights violations, and that the army follows them religiously.

The seven-point guidelines issued by the apex court mandates handover of the arrested persons and seized property to the nearest police station with the least possible delay, follow the Criminal Procedure Code (crPC) in search and seizure operations, follow dos and don'ts of the army and compensate victim of any misuse or abuse of powers after a thorough inquiry.

Daily

ZABARWAN TIMES 6

Sunday, 21 July 2013

Direct Benefits Transfer: Timely and Quick Transfer to Beneficiaries

T

he Direct Benefits Transfer (DBT) scheme first found mention in the 2011-12 Union Budget speech, by the then Finance Minister, Pranab Mukherjee who had stated that the government plans to move towards direct transfer of cash subsidy for kerosene, Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), and fertilizers. A task force headed by Nandan Nilekani was set up to work out the modalities of operationalising Direct Cash Transfer for these items.

Later this task force submitted its report in February 2012.

The Government launched Direct Cash Transfer scheme on 1 January 2013 to transfer cash into bank accounts of beneficiaries across 20 districts in the country. The scheme has now been rechristened as Direct Benefits Transfer (DBT) and curtailed beneficiary districts to 20. It covers 7 welfare schemes instead of 20. At least two lakh beneficiaries are expected to benefit from DBT scheme immediately. Food, fertilisers, and fuel have been kept out of its purview for the present. The National Food Security Bill, 2011, pending in Parliament, includes cash transfer and food coupons as possible alternative mechanisms to the Public Distribution System.

But it should be borne in mind that DBT is just been launched. There would be several lessons on the way as scheme expands and progress and is implemented in the entire country before 2014.

How does the Scheme Work?

The money is directly transferred into bank accounts of beneficiaries having Aadhar cards. The Aadhaar number is a unique identification number that every resident of India (regardless of citizenship) is entitled to get after he/she furnishes demographic and biometric information.

LPG and kerosene subsidies, pension payments, scholarships and employment guarantee scheme payments as well as benefits under other government welfare programmes will be made directly to beneficiaries. The money can then be used to buy services from the market.

Already on a pilot basis Electronic Benefit Transfer has begun in Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal,

Karnataka, Puducherry and Sikkim. The Government claims the results are encouraging.

Under the DBT each and every beneficiary has to establish his identity and eligibility many times by producing multiple documents for verification. The verification of such documents is done by multiple authorities. Interestingly an Aadhaar enabled bank account can be

64,000 crore. India’s budget deficit was 5.8 per cent of gross domestic product in the financial year ending 2012 March.

Secondly, unlike other welfare scheme launched so far by the Centre, DBT helps in timely and quick transfer to intended beneficiaries.

Thirdly, the transfer of direct cash into account of targeted beneficiary is a winning proposition for the recipients as

Under the DBT each and every beneficiary has to establish his identity and eligibility many times by producing multiple

documents for verification. The verification of such documents is done by multiple authorities. Interestingly an Aadhaar

enabled bank account can be used by the beneficiary to receive multiple welfare

payments as opposed to the one scheme,

one bank approach, followed by a number of state governments.

used by the beneficiary to receive multiple welfare payments as opposed to the one scheme, one bank approach, followed by a number of state governments.

A Game Changer Government believes that the Direct Cash Transfer or Direct Benefits Transfer is likely to be a game-changer in more than one way.

The Centre releases as much as Rs 2, 00,000 crore as subsidies under various schemes for the targeted sections across the country. Therefore it is within its right to devise methods to reach beneficiaries the way it wants. Firstly, the Direct Benefits Transfer (DBT) scheme is aimed at cutting the bloated subsidy bill of Rs.1,

it aims to eliminate middlemen in various government sponsored welfare schemes and subsidized food, fuel and fertiliser schemes. Take for instance, it's estimated that public coffers can be richer by several crore yearly just by switching to cash handouts for LPG and kerosene, a proposed move that would also curb diversion of subsidised cylinders for commercial use and diesel adulteration with inexpensive kerosene. Bringing all subsidies under DBT's ambit can be the major fiscal game-changer the economy needs very much.

Fourthly, the Direct Benefits Transfer scheme is likely to be simple and error free. On the basis of Aadhar cards money is deposited in beneficiaries’ accounts.

Fifthly indirect transfers are more prone to leakages than direct cash transfers. So, that is why the Central Government has put in a mechanism of direct cash transfer.

According to Planning Commission the Public Distribution System has become so inefficient that 58 per cent of the subsidized grains do not reach targeted beneficiaries while one-third of it siphoned from the system. Sixthly, the Aadhar based DBT helps eliminate duplicate cards and cards for non-existent persons or ghost beneficiaries often found in schemes such as the PDS and MNREGS. Seventhly, with the actual transfer of cash taking place with the help of micro automated teller machines (ATMs) it would infuse financial inclusion on a greater scale in rural India.

Quoting a World Bank Study the Reserve Bank of India last year in its annual report has said, in India only 35 per cent have formal accounts versus an average of 41 per cent in developing economies. With the implementation of DBT, it could fuel financial inclusion.

Eighthly, aided by Aadhar technology Direct Benefits Transfer will not be a mere welfare scheme but also the world's largest experiment in administrative reform. It will revolutionise the delivery of welfare measures in world’s populous democracy.

DBT: Not a Magic Wand Can Direct Benefits Transfer Scheme act like magic wand? Probably it cannot solve all the problems by India’s poor and improve country human resources index.

It will have problems with banks, post offices and online connectivity. These have to be resolved. But there is no point in throwing the baby with bath water attitude and abandon DBT altogether.

DBT in ultimate analysis aims at poverty elimination, inclusive growth and delivering better welfare measures. No doubt rampant corruption, inefficiencies and leakages have made many welfare schemes dysfunctional. Direct Benefits Transfer to the poor aims to mitigate these many malaises.

Considering these benefits, India would be in right direction to implement cash transfer though there would be many lessons to be learnt and hurdles to cross.

Investment Opportunities for NRIs in India

T

he Government has taken various steps to promote investments by Indians living abroad, in India. The Government plays a pivotal role in investment promotion, through dissemination of information on the investment climate and opportunities in India and by advising prospective investors including the Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) about the investment policies and procedures and opportunities.

For the purpose of investments in India, it should be known that a NRI is a person residing outside India, but who is a citizen of India or is a Person of Indian Origin. A Person of Indian Origin is one who or whose ancestors was an Indian national and who is presently holding any other country’s citizenship/nationality. The Government has a liberal and transparent policy for Foreign Direct Investment, including investments from NRIs, wherein most of the sectors are open to FDI under the automatic route. NRIs can make investment in India under various schedules of Foreign Exchange Management (Issue or Transfer of Security by a Person Resident outside India) Regulations, 2000 as amended from time to time. Investment under FDI Scheme contained in Schedule 1 of these Regulations, permits 100 per cent NRI investments, under the automatic route, in the sector of townships, housing, built-up infrastructure and constructiondevelopment projects (which include, but are not restricted to, housing, commercial premises, hotels, resorts, hospitals, educational institutions, recreational facilities, city and regional level infrastructure), without the conditionalities attached to FDI in such projects. It also grants a special dispensation for NRI investments in the sectors of Scheduled Air Transport Services/Domestic Scheduled Passenger Airlines, Non-Scheduled Air Transport Services, Ground Handling Services,

wherein 100 per cent NRI investment is allowed under the automatic route. Along with these, NRIs can also invest in share/convertible debentures of an Indian company under FDI scheme subject to terms and conditions specified in Schedule 1 to Notification No. FEMA 20. An NRI can purchase and sell shares/convertible debentures of an Indian company on both repatriation and non-repatriation basis under Portfolio Investment Scheme (PIS), through registered broker or recognised Stock Exchanges in India. The individual limit for NRI under PIS is five per cent of the paid up capital/paid up value of each series of convertible debentures of an Indian company and aggregate limit for all

purchase on non-repatriation basis shares/convertible debentures of an Indian company whether by public issue or private placement or right issue. In terms of Schedule 5 to Notification No. FEMA 20, an NRI may, without limit, purchase on repatriation basis, Government dated securities (other than bearer securities) or treasury bills or units of domestic mutual funds; bonds issued by a PSU in India; non-convertible debentures of a company incorporated in India; bonds/units issued

by Infrastructure Debt Funds, Perpetual debt instruments and debt capital instruments issued by banks in India and shares in Public Sector Enterprises being dis-invested by the Government.

The Government, in order to promote NRIs to bring in money into India, extended

some more facilities to them. Banks are free to determine the interest rates on both savings deposits and term deposits of

maturity of one year and above under the

Non-Resident External (NRE) deposits and savings deposits under Non-Resident Ordinary (NRO) account.

NRIs taken together is one per cent of the According to the terms of the same paid up capital/paid up value of the Schedule, a NRI or an Overseas Corporate company. This limit can be increased by Body may, without limit, purchase on nonthe Indian company to 24 per cent by repatriation basis, dated Government passing a Board resolution and special securities (other than bearer securities), Annual General Meeting resolution. Apart treasury bills, units of domestic mutual from this, an NRI, barring certain sectors, funds, units of Money Market Mutual according to Schedule 4 to Notification Funds in India, or National Plan/Savings No. FEMA 20, may without any limit Certificates. However, NRIs have not

being given the permission to invest in small savings or Public Provident Fund (PPF). The Government, in order to promote NRIs to bring in money into India, extended some more facilities to them.

Banks are free to determine the interest rates on both savings deposits and term deposits of maturity of one year and above under the Non-Resident External (NRE) deposits and savings deposits under NonResident Ordinary (NRO) account. An NRE account is one which can be opened only by the non-resident himself and not through the holder of the power of attorney.

Only NRIs can become joint account holders in the case of NRE account. On the other hand, NRO accounts may be held jointly with residents and /or with NRIs. Along with this, the banks may also sanction Rupee loans in India or foreign currency loans outside India to either the account holder or third party to the extent of the balance in the NRE/ Foreign Currency Non Resident (Bank) account, subject to the margin requirements. To help NRIs to maintain FCNR deposits in other currency as well, since October 2011, FCNR (B) accounts have been permitted to be opened in any freely convertible currency. Moreover, NRIs are, since September 2011, also eligible to open NRE/FCNR account with resident. The Government has also set up ‘Invest India’, a joint venture company between the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion and Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry, as a not-for-profit, single window facilitator, for prospective overseas investors, to act as a structured mechanism for attracting investment. On the other hand, the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs has established Overseas Indian Facilitation Centre to facilitate potential NRIs and overseas corporate bodies of overseas Indians which want to invest in India.

OIFC has organised several investment and interactive meets/roadshows in different countries. It has also organised

Disclaimer : The contents and comments appearing in any article published in this paper are purely the personal opinion of the writer.

5 SrInagar Sunday, July 21,2013Thunder Kashmir Thursday 21 .

07 . 2013

NATION

Rajnath’s remark on English: TMC takes a swipe at BJP and Congress

New Delhi: BJP President Rajnath Singh’s remarks on English language have turned into an all out political war on Twitter. After the Congress hit out at Rajnath for saying English language has hurt the country, now the Trinamool Congress has taken a swipe at both the parties. TMC leader Derek O’Brien tweeted, “One party only speaks the Queens’s English,the other party does not want English.Whattay... (sic)” Meanwhile, Minister of State for Human Resources Development Shashi Tharoor said English language is an asset.

“The fact is that English has been a great advantage for us during our economic expansion in the last 20 years. The fact

that we have knowledgeable, educated, English speaking young people, has been a huge asset enhancing the economic growth, trade, outsourcing,” Tharoor said.

Rajnath Singh had sparked a controversy by saying that English language has hurt the Indian culture. Rajnath Singh had on Thursday said that English has caused a great loss to the country by eroding its cultural values and restricting the growth of Sanskrit in the country.

“We have lost everything in the era of modernism. English language has caused maximum damage to India.

Knowing or speaking English is not bad but the problem is when we try to act like an Englishman,” Rajnath Singh had

said.

His comments have been criticised by political leaders. Congress General Secretary Digvijaya SIngh tweeted, “Comments are most welcome!

Would The Sanskar Dham of Gujarat and RSS kindly respond? (sic)” The Congress said the Opposition party had itself “outsourced” its vision document to people who only spoke English.

“I sometimes feel like laughing at our friends.

On one side their vision document is outsourced to people who don’t speak any language other than

Former Union minister Khurshed Alam Khan passes away at 95 NEW DELHI: Former Union Minister Khurshed Alam Khan, father of External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid, passed away due to a heart ailment early in the morning today at a city hospital. He was 95.

Condoling his death, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said that India had lost a true son and servant of the nation.

Sources close to Khurshid said that Khan was admitted in Escorts Heart Hospital five-six days back after he complained of chest pain.

Dr TS Kler, the executive director of the cardiac sciences department at the hospital, said that Khan was admitted with fever and chest infection.

“But he already had a major problem of Aortic Stenosis (AS), which is a disease of the heart valves. He (breathed his last) at around 3 A.M. today,” Kler said.

The Prime Minister said Khan had served the nation with distinction throughout his life and in many capacities. His death was an “irreparable

loss”.

“His leadership in India’s foreign policy, education system and legislative affairs contributed immensely to the country’s modern, liberal and democratic polity.

“His commitment to the nation was deeply rooted in the abiding values of our Constitution and the idea of an India envisioned by our founding fathers,” the Prime Minister added.

Khan was governor of Karnataka from 1991 to 1999 and before that, governor of Goa from 1989 to 1991.

English. Is this medievalism or hypocrisy,” Information and Broadcasting Minister Manish Tewari said.

Tewari said the debate whether pre-schoolers should be taught English so that they can use the Internet had taken place

ship the whole campaign will move forward. The committee will work under the guidance of president Rajnath Singh and veteran leaders A.B. Vajpayee and L.K. Advani,” Kumar said on Friday evening.

Opposition:Modi’s dominance did not go uncontested, however, the meeting of the BJP’s highest decision making body, the parliamentary board, had remained more or less inconclusive on Thursday. Party sources revealed that a number of senior leaders such as Sushma Swaraj voiced their opposition to a number of names on the list who they consider Modi nominees. Also, Dr Murli Manohar Joshi is said to have communicated his reluctance on reporting directly to Modi.

As a result, the final announcement made by the party states that “the committees will work under the guidance of Shri Atal Behari Vajpayee, Shri Lal Krishna Advani and Shri Rajnath Singh and under the leadership of Shri Narendra Modi”, thereby placing a check in the form of Advani and Singh on Modi’s authority.

Dr Joshi has been made the

Gurgaon: Murder case registered in CJM’s wife’s death

Gurgaon: A murder case has been registered in connection with the death of the wife of the Chief Judicial Magistrate of Gurgaon. Her body was found lying in a park on Wednesday evening.

The woman’s brother had lodged a complaint saying she was harassed by her husband and his family. The murder case though does not name anyone. According to DCP (west), Surender Pal, the body of Gitanjali, aged around 30, was found with two bullet injury marks. Police also recovered a weapon from near the body.

The DCP said that the weapon belongs to the deceased’s family with confirmation of the same having been

received from the chief judicial magistrate himself.

The woman’s brother had lodged a complaint saying she was harassed by her husband and his family.

The cause of the death, whether murder or suicide, is still not clear and further investigations are on in the matter, Pal added.

The Gurgaon Police has constituted a

special investigation team, headed by an Assistant Commissioner of Police, to probe the case.

Incidentally, the Gurgaon Police commissioner’s residence is just a stone’s throw away from the murder spot.

Sources said that the deceased had been observed taking a stroll the last two days in the same area where her body was found on Wednesday.

Chandy meets Rahul, says Cabinet reshuffle in Kerala very soon

New Delhi: Amid political crisis in Kerala over solar panel scam, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy on Friday said there will be a Cabinet reshuffle very soon in the state as he tried to reach out to Hindu caste organisations which are up in arms against his government.

The beleaguered Chief Minister, who discussed the political crisis with party Vice President Rahul Gandhi, also alleged that the CPI(M)-led LDF tried to attract the UDF allies in its fold and topple his government engulfed in the crisis after the exposure of the scam.

“The Congress High Command will take a decision on Cabinet reshuffle very soon,” he said while inviting PCC chief Ramesh Chennithala in the Cabinet.

Chandy meets Rahul, says Cabinet reshuffle in Kerala very soon Oommen Chandy also alleged that the CPI(M)-led LDF tried to attract the UDF allies in its fold and topple his government engulfed in the crisis after the exposure of the scam.

“I am the happiest man for that,” he told reporters when asked about Chennithala’s entry into Cabinet. He, however, refused to

Clear imprint of Narendra Modi on BJP’s 2014 campaign team The BJP’s 2014 rath has been unveiled. It has Narendra Modi written all over but it comes with Advani, Joshi, and Naidu riders.

The mission has been outlined too: make war on the UPA, expose its misdeeds, and rip the covers off bad governance.

Unveiled to the nation on Friday, the composition and agenda of the Bharatiya Janata Party’s election campaign team bears the clear imprint of saffron commander-inchief Narendra Modi, but he has had to accommodate party veterans L.K. Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi and M. Venkaiah Naidu in significant decision-making roles.

The 12-member committee of which Modi was appointed chairperson in Goa last month will also have other senior leaders including Naidu, Nitin Gadkari, besides chief ministers Shivraj Singh Chouhan (Madhya Pradesh), Raman Singh (Chhattisgarh) and Manohar Parikar (Goa).

Kumar also revealed the core of what the BJP’s campaign would be. “We will make a chargesheet against the UPA and the Congress on their misdeeds,” the BJP spokesperson said, adding: “We will organise 100 rallies from August across the country. Our campaign will be 1 booth, 10 youth.” The Modi-led committee will be assisted by 20 sub-committees which will concentrate on various aspects of electioneering, including rallies, publicity, manifesto, reaching out to the youth through social media, courting first time voters, crowd sourcing, and preparing a vision document of its programmes and a chargesheet against UPA rule.

“All the sub-committees will be steered under the leadership of Narendra Modi... The party has given Modi the responsibility of 2014 elections... Under his leader-

in other countries also.

“This attempt to create a dispute over language or saying that one language is better or worse that another, doesn’t strengthen the country and is not expected from a responsible political party,” Tewari said.

DAILY ZABARWAN TIMES

chairman of the manifesto committee which means that the party veteran has secured an importance concession as Nitin Gadkari was originally tipped for the post. Senior leaders Yashwant Sinha and Jaswant Singh, who are known to be lukewarm towards Modi and close to Advani, have been accommodated in the manifesto committee.Nowhere is the balancing act more evident than in the publicity committee. It will be headed by the two leaders of the Opposition, Sushma Swaraj and Arun Jaitley, but Modi and Rajnath have placed their close aides Amit Shah and Sudhanshu Trivedi, in the committee as members.Shah has emerged as a critical player in the campaign team, which is only to be expected, given Modi’s leadership of the campaign committee.

Already the general secretary in-charge of the all important state of Uttar Pradesh, Shah has been made member of two crucial committees: the publicity committee and the committee to attract firsttime voters.

say whether he was ready to give the PCC chief the Home portfolio--a contentious issue within the state Congress.

Asked about the Hindu caste organisations’ reservations against his government dominated by members from minority Christian and Muslim communities, Chandy said he and his party enjoy good relations with Nair Service Society, a caste outfit of upper caste Nairs, and he was ready to discuss the issues with them and “remove all the suspicious situations”.

“Congress party is a party of all sections. Congress party has no reservation to anybody, any section. Congress party and myself have a good relations with Nair Service Society. If there is any reservation, definitely we will discuss and remove all the suspicious situations,” Chandy said.

Accusing the Left parties of making at-

tempt to sabotage his government surviving on wafer thin majority, the chief minister said, “They tried to get somebody from UDF but everybody rejected.”

Chandy asserted that his government will continue its full term but refused to say whether he will be at the helm of the party.

“No doubt. UDF government will complete its full term. I am there whenever the party leadership allow me,” he said

Lack of heavy equipment, bad weather stall debris removal at Kedarnath Over a month has passed since the worst-ever natural calamity hit Uttarakhand but the exercise of removing tonnes of debris lying at Kedarnath shrine which bore the brunt of the tragedy and the adjoining structures continues to be hampered due to lack of heavy equipment and bad weather.

A majority of the members of teams despatched to the high altitude shrine for the purpose have returned without making much headway due to incessant rains and lack of equipment needed to remove the huge volume of debris lying in the area.

“The combined team of doctors, PWD and NDRF men have not been able to dispose of any more bodies for the last three days. They disposed of two bodies four days back with all necessary rituals but there has been no disposal of bodies since then as proper removal of debris has not yet started owing to bad weather and lack of heavy equipment,” Uttarakhand DGP Satyavrat Bansal said He said nothing can be done there until the debris is removed which is proving to be an onerous task amid inclement weather, which is making chopper operation impossible, damaged roads and lack of proper equipment.

Removal of debris from damaged structures close to the shrine is another headache as they may cave in under the impact of heavy equipment to be used for the purpose risking the lives of personnel engaged in the exercise, he said.

While efforts are on to take necessary safeguards against such possibilities, the state government is planning to rope in MI-26 aircraft to transport heavy equipment like dozers to the Himalayan shrine to help take up debris removal exercise on a war footing, an official here said.

These heavy equipment will be dismantled before being loaded in the aircraft and will be assembled once they reach the shrine, he said.

Pressure on the state government for having the debris cleared at the shrine, which is necessary to pave the way for start of regular prayers there is mounting with UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi having asked Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna on the phone on Friday to speed up the process.

Railway bribery scam: CBI found no evidence against me, says Bansal New Delhi: Former Railways Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal, alleged to be involved in the railway bribery scam, said the Central Bureau of Investigation found no proof against him. His reaction came for the time to reports alleging that he was directly involved in fixing rail contracts.

Speaking to CNN-IBN, the former minister said the CBI questioned me for seven hours but they did not find anything. “I had no role in the scam. I had no clue of any wrongdoing.”The CBI had in its chargesheet named Bansal’s nephew Vijay Singla as an accused. The CBI raided Singla’s residence and he is currently under judicial custody. “The CBI raided my nephew’s

residence. Everyone should appreciate it,” he said.

The case relates to the cash for job scam, but Bansal denied of having any financial links with his nephew. “I never had nor have any financial links with my nephew. If he was using my name then that is a separate thing,” he said. “I am not associated with this matter, I did not know about it,” he said.

On the Bharatiya Janata Party allegations that the CBI is going soft on Bansal, he said, “We must have faith in the system. The matter is in the court and would ask everyone to wait for the verdict,” he added.

The CBI had also named Bansal as a prosecution witness in the case

and said that Singla was the “main person” whose influence was to be used to get a Railway Board Member appointed to a post seen as “lucrative”.Bansal had to quit from the post of Railway Minister when his nephew Vijay Singla was arrested for allegedly receiving bribe money from conduit of Railway Board Member (Staff) Mahesh Kumar on May 3. Singla and Kumar were booked as main conspirators in the bribery case.

The case relates to alleged aspirations of Kumar for his elevation as Member (Electrical) in Railway Board for which he had allegedly contacted Sandeep Goyal, a close associate of Singla. Goyal had allegedly demanded Rs 10 crore for it.