Daily Paper December 14

7/30/2019 Daily Paper December 14

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STUdenT aGe

R E A D T H E N E E D

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 14, 20128 Pages

Rs: 1.00

Jammu Edition

www.thestudentage.com

JKENG/2012/41612

Vol. 1 No: 166

India bags 3

tourism awardsNEW DELHI: India has

bagged three prestigious

tourism awards, including the

World's leading destination

from World Travel Awards.

Incredible Contd on page 2

A separatist Kashmiriguerrilla killed, three

soldiers injuredSRINAGAR, DEC 13: A

separatist guerrilla was killed

and three soldiers were

injured in a gunfight in

Jammu and Kashmir

Thursday, police said. Men

from Rashtriya Rifles and the

police Special Operations

Group (SOG) launched an

operation Wednesday in the

dense Contd on page 2

Reception of RedRibbon Express

arrangements reviewedUDHAMPUR, DEC 13:

Red Ribbon Express (RRE),

an Exhibition Train to show-

case information regarding

HIV/ AIDS and creation of

awareness among the masses

with regard to preventive

measures would reach at

Udhampur railway station on

January 04, 2013 and remain

stationed for two days.

The information to this

effect was given at meeting

of Contd on page 2

THAI EX-PM ABHISIT CHARGEDWITH MURDER OVER PROTEST DEATH

NATIONWIDE MOBILENUMBER PORTABILITY BY

FEB

: SIBAL

'ADMIRAL GORSHKOVDELIVERY IN LAST QUARTER

OF

2013': ANTONY

AHMEDABAD/ DELHI,

DEC 13 : Nearly 68 percent

voting was recorded at the

end of the first phase of the

Gujarat Assembly polls for

87 out of 182 constituencies.

Polling began at 8 a.m.

this morning amidst tight

security. Till 11 a.m. the voter

turnout was a moderate 18

percent, but in the following

next four hours, it increased

to 53 percent.

According to the election

officials the first phase of

voting has been conducted

peacefully and no incident of

violence has been reported

till now.

The fate of 846 candidates

will be decided in this phase,

out of which 46 are women.

Prominent candidates in

this phase include Keshubhai

Patel, Assembly Speaker

Ganpat Vasava, Gujarat BJP

President RC Faldu, State

Congress President Arjun

Modhwadia and Leader of

Opposition Shaktisinh Gohil.

Out of total 1,81,77,953

voters, there are 95,75,278

males, Contd on page 2

JAMMU: Bank of Baroda-

India's International Bank -

with a network of 4075

branches in India and

International presence in

more than 24 countries seems

to be in need of no more

accounts in its Purani Mandi

Jammu Main branch as the

bank denied permission to

National Welfare Mission

Charitable Trust.

The Manager of India'smost profit making bank in

the public sector seems to be

over burdened as a result of

which the customers of the

bank are suffering. If one has

to open a bank account for a

registered firm or trust or

organization, it seems to be a

weeklong procedure just for

the verification of the docu-

ments only. Your documents

need to get verified from the

Chandigarh branch or the

lawyer who verifies the docu-

ments need to be contacted

first at his residence.

The workers of the trust

said, "our only fault was that

we appreciated the work of

the previous branch Manager

Mr.Duloo".. The present

branch manager Mr. Janak

Raj Chauhan said, " Aap ka

account hain na vahan

Dullu ke paas, vahan se

khulvao no-problem , uske

paas le jao, aap ke uske

saath purane relation hain".

When asked whether the

relations are with the bank

or person? He replied, "Vo

(Mr. Dullu) bank hi hai na,

vo bank hi hai"

One of the account hold-

ers, Mr. Sunil said "the

branch seemed to be totally

unorganized, one has to move

from one table to another to

enquire about the issues. We

have witnessed a drastic neg-

ative change in the working

environment since Mr. Duloo

has left Contd on page 2

Ruckus in LS over Afzal Guru hanging, coal scam

NEW DELHI: Lok Sabha

Speaker Meira Kumar force-

fully said Thursday that she

would not adjourn the house

and recalled the sacrifice of

the nine who died protecting

parliament from a terror

attack 11 years ago. But her

pleas fell on deaf ears and the

house was repeatedly

adjourned over demands for

the hanging of attack accused

Afzal Guru and the coal allot-

ment scandal.

There was ruckus in the

Lok Sabha with the

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)

and Shiv Sena demanding the

hanging of Afzal Guru, sen-

tenced to death for the terror

attack on parliament, while

Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP)

members gathered near the

speaker's Contd on page 2

'Beni Prasad Vermacannot save AfzalGuru': Satyavrat

Chaturvedi

NEWDELHI: After saying

Parliament attack convict

Afzal Guru should not be

hanged, Union minister

Beni Prasad Verma on

Thursday swiftly retracted.

"I never gave any such

statement," Verma said.

Only hours before, he had

said, "Do not hang Afzal

Guru but give him life

imprisonment."The remarks

Contd on page 2

'Afzal Guru should be hanged': BJP

GOA, DEC 13 : Giving

detailed introduction of

Kashmiriyat, Chief Minister,

Omar Abdullah Thursday

said that Jammu and Kashmir

represents a great civilization

that nurtured pluralistic

ethos, cultural diversity,

brotherhood, universal

dtente and mutual love.

"The captivating natural

beauty, cultural diversity in

unity and rich heritage of

Jammu and Kashmir has

been unique brand and blend

of this State", he said adding

that artists, writers, poets and

artisans with magical skills

have made their mark inter-

nationally.

Addressing the inaugural

function of 3rd Annual Goa

Arts and Literary Festival at

Kala Academy here, the

Chief Minister said that

Jammu and Kashmir has

been Contd on page 2

Addresses Goa festival

Omar showcases Kashmiriyat, pluralistic ethos

NEW DELHI, DEC 13 : Hizbul

Mujahideen and Lashkar-e-Taiba

continue to be the dominant militant

groups in some areas of Jammu and

Kashmir and the issue was also taken

up with Pakistan, Home Minister

Sushilkumar Shinde told a parlia-

mentary panel.

Addressing the Consultative

Committee of Members of

Parliament attached to the home min-

istry that reviewed the security situa-

tion in the northern state here

Wednesday, Shinde said the two ter-

ror outfits were "mostly operating

from the districts of Baramulla,

Kupwara and Bandipore, Anantnag

and Pulwama in Kashmir and

Poonch, Ramban and Rajouri in

Jammu region".

"This issue is being addressed

from the security point of view and

also taken up diplomatically with

Pakistan. The state and central gov-

ernments have adopted various

counter-measures to neutralise the

efforts and capabilities of militants

and others to disturb peace in the

state by inciting people towards vio-

lent agitations and protests against

duly elected institutions and authori-

ty," the minister said, according to a

statement here Thursday.

At the meeting, also attended by

Minister of State for Home R.P.N.

Singh and Home Secretary R.K.

Singh, the home minister said the

level of militancy in the s tate, "which

was at its peak in the 1990s, started

declining from 2003 onwards and

today it is at its lowest in terms of

incidents as well as casualties of

civilians and security forces".

"This has been made possible

because of the yearning among the

people of the state for peace and the

successful measures taken by the

security forces of the state and cen-

tral government in restricting the

infiltration of the militants from

across the Line of Control (LoC) and

various other counter-insurgency

actions on all fronts," the statement

quoted the minister as saying. The

panel members discussed the current

security scenario in the state, as well

as the reports of the interlocutors

appointed by the central government

for Jammu and Kashmir and action

taken on the reports.

"The issues of migrants, rehabili-

tation of the surrendered militants

and speedy implementation of Prime

Minister's Contd on page 2

Hizb, LeT present in Jammu and Kashmir: Shinde

NEW DELHI: The govern-

ment is committed to passing

of the Whistle Blowers

Protection Bill during the

current session of Parliament,

Minister of State for

Personnel V Narayanasamy

told Rajya Sabha on

Thursday. He said during

Question Hour that the

Whistle Blowers Protection

Bill, 2011 was passed by the

Lok Sabha on December 27,

2011 and thereafter sent to

the Upper House.

The Bill seeks to set up a

regular mechanism to

encourage persons to dis-

close information on corrup-

tion or willful misuse of

power by public servants,

including ministers. It was

listed for consideration on

December 28 and 29 but

could not be taken up for dis-

cussion and passing. It came

up for consideration and

passing in the Rajya Sabha

on August 14 this year but

"discussion remained incon-

clusive", Narayanasamy said.

The government, he said,

gave notices for moving cer-

tain official amendments to

the bill during the monsoon

session. Though the bill was

listed for being taken up on a

number of days in monsoon

session, it could not be taken

up for consideration. He said

notices were given last month

for Contd on page 2

Govt likely to pass Whistle Blowers Bill

this session: V Narayanasamy

LUCKNOW: As many as 18

lakh government employees

and officers in Uttar Pradesh

went on a flash strike with

immediate effect on

Thursday against the intro-

duction of quota bill in the

Rajya Sabha. However,

emergency services were

exempted from the strike by

the government officials and

employees.

The employees affiliated

with various unions of

employees of state govern-

ment, teachers, power and

other departments are taking

part in the strike. However,

essential services like hospi-

tal, power and transport won't

be affected, as of now.

The Samajwadi Party is

strongly opposed to the bill

and has demanded that it be

withdrawn immediately. To

display their resolve to not

allow the bill pass in the

upper house, MPS belonging

to the party staged a walk out.

The SP is firm on its stand

against the bill despite Prime

Minister Manmohan Singh

talking to party supremo

Mulayam Singh Yadav over

the issue. SP has maintained

that Contd on page 2

WASHINGTON: Indian music legend

Pandit Ravi Shankar has been named a

Lifetime Achievement Grammy Award

recipient, a day after his death at 92 in a

US hospital. The sitar maestro will be

honored along with six other artists at an

invitation-only ceremony in Los

Angeles Feb 9, just one day before the

55th annual Grammy Awards are to be

telecast live from the Staples Centre in

Los Angeles.

Ravi Shankar last week was named

as one of the Grammy nominees for Best

World Music Album. It is a category in

which his daughter, sitar virtuoso

Anoushka, 31, is also nominated, mark-

ing what appears to be the first time that

a father and daughter's albums will be

competing for the same honour at the

Grammys.

In addition to Shankar, two other

artists will receive the Grammy Lifetime

Achievement Award posthumously.

They are: classical piano giant Glenn

Gould, who died in 1982; and blues pio-

neer Lightnin' Hopkins, who died the

same year and at least indirectly helped,

laid the foundation for rock 'n' roll. The

other Grammy Lifetime Achievement

Award honorees' are singer Patti Page,

85, iconic singer-songwriter Carole

King, 70; jazz bandleader

Contd on page 2

Does Bank of Baroda Purani Mandi maintains the standardsofINDIAS INTERNATIONAL BANK?

Gujarat polls: 68 percent votingrecorded in first phase

Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah addressing the inaugural function of 3rd Annual Goa Arts and LiteraryFestival at Kala Academy in Goa.

Ravi Shankar Gets Lifetime Achievement Grammy

Voters standing up in queue to excercise their franchise in Gujrat Assembly Polls.

18 lakh employees go on strike over quota bill in UP

Mr. Janak Raj Chauhan: The most busy manager of IndiasInternational Bank main Branch, Jammu in his Office.

Photo by: Baleshwer Bali

THE FOLLOWINGQUESTIONS ARISE?

* How much time will other branches take to verify

documents if the main branch takes six days to verify

them?

* Has the bank set no proper procedure to convey

back to the customer about more documents

required?

* What is the reason that branch manager suggests

opening account in other branches or banks?

* Why should a customer talk to the legal advisor of

the bank separately?* Are the accounts opening formalities different for dif-

ferent branches?

* Is the customer related to a bank or a particular

manager?

IN BRIEFIN BRIEF

Page 1_Bali_Bali53.qxd 12/14/2012 11:39 AM Page 1


2/8

Does Bank of Baroda....the branch and Mr. Janak Raj has joined. We

can't imagine that the bank claiming itself as

India's International Bank has people like Mr.

Janak Raj as its manger in its main branch and

talking to customers as if he is taking to them in

his living room completely ignoring the corpo-

rate ethics & managerial personality".When Student Age approached the present

Vice-Chairman of the NWM Trust he expressed

his dissatisfaction and seemed disturbed & disap-

pointed by saying "the trust has submitted all its

documents to the Bank of Baroda Main branch

Purani Mandi Jammu 6 days ago but due to

unknown reasons they are denying us to open our

account. If there are some documents which the

bank needs they must convey to us. I don't know

why the branch manager is delaying things, not

giving us the details of the documents required

more". He added "this delay in opening account

is preventing benefits to orphans whom the trust

wants to serve. This delay in account opening is

a loss to the society as a whole and a set back to

the social organizations."

National Welfare Mission Charitable Trust

registered according to the constitution of India

has been actively working for orphans of the

state for the last 3 years and this trust was denied

permission to open an account in the Bank of

Baroda just because of the rift between the pres-ent Manger Mr. Janak Raj and Previous Bank

Manager Mr. Duloo. The present Branch manag-

er denied to open the account of the trust just

because the workers of the trust after getting

annoyed appreciated the work of the previous

branch manager

In the era of 21st Century when people talk

about e-banking, mobile banking a person run-

ning charitable trust serving people for more than

3 years had to exert for more than a week's time

continuously in the Purani Mandi Branch of

Jammu and at the end of the week was denied an

account for which the bank gave no reasons.

The story relates to the National Welfare

Mission Charitable Trust which recently under-

went some changes in the executive body. The

volunteers of the trust approached Student Age

office to convey their grievances.

Through Student Age we want to request the

authorities of the Bank of Baroda to please bring

some more professionals, responsible and intelli-

gent person who understands the value of cus-

tomers.

Bank of Baroda Lawyers Visits

Occasionally without any Schedule !

For more than a weeks' time the Trust request-

ed the Branch to get their documents verified and

later they were told that account can't be opened

due to unknown reasons.

When the Trust requested to explain the rea-

sons for not opening the account Mr.Janak Raj

Chauhan said that Trust should contact the legal

advisor at Chandigarh or meet the lawyer of the

bank outside the branch as the lawyers contact

number or address was not available within the

branch. The branch official said that the lawyer

visits occasionally when he feels like or needs to

be contacted outside the branch.

Gujarat polls....

86,02,557 females and 118 other voters.

For this phase, BJP has fielded candidates on

all 87 seats going to the poll, whereas Congress

is contesting 84 seats.

Elaborate security arrangements have been

made to ensure free and fair polling. A total of

44, 579 polling stations have been set up.

Moreover, it is for the first time that senior police

officials from other states have been deployed by

the Election Commission of India as police

observers in all sensitive districts.

The second phase of polling in Gujarat will

take place on December 17. The counting of

votes will take place on December 20.

Ruckus in LS ...

podium over coal scam.

"Real tribute would be only if the Home

Minister assures the House today that we have

paid tributes to the martyrs but their families and

country will get relief only when he (Guru)

would be hanged.

"If they fix a date (for hanging Guru) and

announce it today, this would be the real tribute

to these martyrs," the Leader of Opposition in

Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj said inside Parliament

House complex.

She was talking to reporters soon after paying

homage to the nine martyrs of the 2001Parliament attack. Swaraj said every year the

country pays homage to these martyrs. "But one

question is still unanswered that the attacker who

has been twice or thrice sentenced to death by the

Supreme Court, why has he not been hanged so

far?"

She said after the hanging of 26/11 Mumbai

terror convict Ajmal Kasab, "hope has increased

that the government will show courage to do

what it has not done so far." Minister of State for

Home R P N Singh criticised Swaraj for making

the demand, saying the occasion should not be

politicised.

The house was first adjourned till 11.30 a.m.,

then till noon and the third time till 2 p.m. The

house observed a minute's silence to pay tribute

to the nine people killed in the Dec 13, 2001

attack. The chaos began soon after as members of

BJP and Shiv Sena gathered near the speaker's

podium shouting slogans demanding that Afzal

Guru be hanged.

Meira Kumar's repeated requests to membersto run the question hour were to no avail. "I will

not adjourn the house today. We have just paid

tributes to people who gave their lives protecting

parliament. Did they give life for this," she asked

sternly.

But this had little impact, and members of

both parties continued with the sloganeering,

forcing the speaker to first adjourn the house till

11.30 a.m. and later till noon.

As house met again, BSP members gathered

near the speaker's podium over allegations of

irregularities in the allocation of coal blocks,

forcing another adjournment till 2 p.m.

Minister of State for Human Resource

Development Shahsi Tharoor expressed sadness

over repeated disruptions. "Sad that we mourn

those who gave their lives to defend this institu-

tion of parliament and then betray it daily by dis-

rupting it's functioning," he tweets.

Parliament was attacked by five armed

Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed terror-

ists. Nine people were killed and over 15 injured

in the attack. Four people - Afzal Guru, Delhi

University professor S.A.R. Geelani, Navjot

Sandhu alias Afsan Guru and her husband

Shaukat Hussain Guru - were arrested in connec-

tion with the case.

Geelani and Afsan were let off for lack of con-

clusive evidence. Shaukat Hussain Guru's death

sentence was commuted to 10 years' imprison-

ment and he is now out of jail. Afzal Guru was

sentenced to death Dec 18, 2002 by a trial court,

which was upheld by the Delhi High Court Oct

29, 2003. His appeal was rejected by the

Supreme Court Aug 4, 2005.

His mercy plea is pending, and Home

Minister Sushilkumar Shinde has said he will

study the file after parliament's winter session

ends Dec 22. The BJP has from time to time been

demanding Afzal Guru's execution. The demands

have become shriller after Mumbai terror attack

accused Ajmal Kasab was hanged Nov 23.

'Beni Prasad....came at a time when the UPA government is

treading cautiously on the issue of the execution

of death penalty awarded to Afzal Guru. Verma

also faced opposition from within his Congress

party we well, with Satyavrat Chaturvedi saying

that Afzal Guru should be hanged immediately.

"Beni Prasad Verma cannot save him,"

Chaturvedi said. Samajwadi Party's Mohan

Singh also hit out at Beni Prasad Verma, saying

the minister was a master of irresponsible state-

ments. Interestingly, Congress general secretary

Digvijay Singh has also said that he favoured

execution of death penalty awarded to Afzal

Guru. "I am in favour of the execution of capital

punishment to Afzal Guru," he said.

Omar showcases....

land of art, culture, literature, folk, music and

handicrafts. He said this speciality of the State

has added colour to its bio-diversity and natural

beauty. He said the highest degree of hospitality

inherent in the people of this place has also

earned name and fame to this place.

Highlighting the richness of Jammu and

Kashmir in offering wide-ranging and diversetourism attraction round the year to tourists, trav-

ellers, trekkers, skiers, golfers, adventure lovers

and sportsperson, Omar Abdullah said that

Kashmir globally known as 'Heaven on Earth' is

on path to restore the tourism sheen which

received heavy setback during the period of dis-

turbance.

"Peace is rooting fast and this year State

received about 12 lakh visitors, over 6 lakh

Amarnath Yatris and lakhs of pilgrims of Mata

Vaishno Devi", he said the perception about the

law and order situation and travelling to this part

of the country is undergoing paradigm shift

towards positivity.

"We have underlined the visit of lakhs of

tourists here an economic activity and is being

promoted in this perspective", he said adding that

the efforts of the State Government to change the

perception of people in their minds regarding vis-

iting Jammu and Kashmir have yielded good

results. "After Japan and Germany, Britain has

also modified its negative advisory for the citi-zens regarding visiting J ammu and Kashmir."We

hope other countries will also follow the suit", he

added.

Omar Abdullah congratulated the organizers

of the festival and said that the participation of

artists and literary persons besides a group of

folk artists from Jammu and Kashmir in Goa fes-

tival gives him great pleasure. "I hope their par-

ticipation will not only add flavour to the festival

but attract attention towards Jammu and Kashmir

in terms of its culture and literary richness", he

said and added that history and culture of

Kashmir have always fascinated people all across

the world.

The Chief Minister also referred to the great

sufi-saints, historians, travellers and scholars of

high eminence adding that their preaching and

teachings have had great impact in the develop-

ment of a tolerant society in the State. He said the

secular characteristic and amity between various

sections of the society has been trait of the peo-

ple in this part of the country. He said that this

trait has sustained all challenges and defeated

onslaughts and attempts aimed at disturbing it.

He expressed the hope that this characteristic of

the State will get further strengthened with the

passage of time.

The Goa Arts and Literary Festival is a regu-

lar gathering of writers, poets, literature experts,

painters, artists, readers, etc at the International

Centre Goa. It features a variety of presentations

and readings by various authors as well as other

events of cultural significance. The primary

objective of the festival is to promote works of

authors and artists, handicrafts, and foster love

for art, culture, literature and languages.

A folk dance group of Jammu and Kashmir is

also performing in the Festival besides participa-

tion by 12 literary persons.

Ravi Shankar ....

and bass great Charlie Haden, 75, and the

seminal soul vocal group The Temptations,

whose sole surviving original member, Otis

Williams, is 71.

"Each year, The Academy has the distinct

privilege of honoring those who have greatly

contributed to our industry and cultural heritage,

and this year we have a gifted and brilliant group

of honorees," said Neil Portnow, President/CEO

of The Recording Academy, under whose aus-

pices the Grammys are presented. "Their excep-

tional accomplishments, contributions and

artistry will continue to influence and inspire

generations to come."

Grammy Trustees Awards will be presented to

Chess Records' co-founder Phil Chess, 91, and to

composers Marilyn and Alan Bergman.

Technical Grammy Awards will go to Ikutaro

Kakehashi, Dave Smith and Royer Labs.

18 lakh employees....

it was unconstitutional and deprives 80 per

cent of employees of promotional avenues. The

Prime Minister's meeting with Mulayam Singh

came in the backdrop of growing impatience on

the part of BSP supremo Mayawati to get the Bill

passed at the earliest.

Hizb, LeT present...

Reconstruction Programme and PM's Package

for Return and Rehabilitation of Kashmiri

Migrants to the state were also discussed."

Govt likely to pass....

considering and passage of the bill along with

amendments during the current winter session.

"The Government is committed to passing of

the Bill...It is now a property of the House. We

are prepared to discuss and pass the bill as early

as possible," he said. "The Government is keen to

get the bill passed at the earliest."

To a separate question, he said three per cent

of government jobs have been reserved for per-

sons with disabilities. Of this, one per cent each

is reserved for persons suffering from blindness

or low vision, hearing impairment and locomo-

tors disability or cerebral palsy. Promotions to

higher grades are made as per provision of

recruitment rules, he said.

"However, in cases where departmental pro-motion test is the only mode of promotion, pro-

posal to give promotion on the basis of seniority

or merit in service alone is not under considera-

tion," he said.

India bags 3....

India Campaign and Taj Mahal as the World's

leading tourist Board and Attraction are the other

two awards won by the country.

Union Tourism Minister K Chiranjeevi

received the awards at a ceremony in New Delhi

Thursday.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Chiranjeevi

said that his ministry has prepared a multi-

pronged strategy to increase India's share in

World tourist arrivals which includes developing

world class infrastructure, manpower and under-

taking aggressive promotional and marketing

activities.

A separatist ....

Cherhaar forests, 20 km from Sopore town, to

track down hidden militants.

"While searches were going on, the militants

fired at the troops under the cover of a dense fog.

Three security men were injured. The firing was

returned, killing a militant," a police officer told

IANS.

"Searches are going on although the firing has

stopped," he added.

Reception of Red ....

officers held under the chairmanship of

Additional Deputy Commissioner, Udhampur,

Mr. Surat Singh to discuss the various arrange-

ments for the reception of Red Ribbon Express

and chalk out district action plan for publicity

outreach activities in rural areas for mobilizing

public to visits RRE.

Among others, Joint Director Planning, Mr.

Rakesh Jamwal, Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Anil

Amla, Dy Controllar Civil Defence, Mr. Bodh

Raj, Dy SP HQ, Principals of schools and col-

leges and district Heads of different departments

attended the meeting.

It was decided in the meeting that ground

level functionaries of various departments which

mainly include Panchayati Raj Institutions, Civil

Defence functionaries, NYK volunteers and

other health functionaries would be involved to

create greater awareness among the masses about

the HIV/AIDS and various programmes of

NRHM and guide the people to visit RRE as per

the schedule.

The ADC exhorted upon the officers to put in

their sincere efforts for making the event suc-

cessful and meaningful for the benefit of the

common masses.

STUDENT AGE

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 14, 20122

Contd. from page 1... ABG Shipyard wins vesselcontract from Indian NavyNEW DELHI: Private shipbuilder ABG

Shipyard (ABL) has announced that it has

received a Rs 485-crore contract from the

Indian Defence Ministry for building a cadet

training vessel for the Indian Navy.

"ABL has bagged a repeat order from the

Ministry of Defence for building an addition-

al cadet training vessel for the Indian Navy.This prestigious contract is worth about Rs

485 crore," the company said in a statement

on Wednesday. The country's largest private

ship-building company said the vessel

ordered will be about 110 meters in length

with the capacity to carry a light helicopter.

"Designed to achieve a maximum speed of

20 knots, the vessel will be used to provide

basic training to the Naval Cadets and trainees

in activities such as disaster relief, search and

rescue operations," the statement said.

Till date ABG Shipyard has delivered more

than 160 vessels worldwide. ABL is a manu-

facturer and service provider for a variety of

ships, like bulk carriers, diving support ves-

sels, anchor handling supply ships, anchor

handling tugs, dynamic positioning vessels,

cement carriers and vessels for the defence

forces like High speed Interceptor Boats and

Pollution Control Vessels. Its client base

extends to Europe, South East Asia and the

Middle East, with over 90 per cent of its exist-ing Order Book comprising export orders.

Artillery tender scrappedthird time in ten years

NEW DELHI: The Defence Ministry has

cancelled a tender for procuring 180 self-pro-

pelled wheeled artillery guns for the Army,

Defence Minister AK Antony informed Rajya

Sabha today. Three tenders for procuring the

gun have been cancelled in the last ten years.

"The Request for Proposal (RFP) for pro-

curement of 180 howitzers has been cancelled

in 2012, for the third time in past ten years,"

he said in written reply to a query.

The Minister said the RFP was cancelled

this year as both the firms participating in the

tender were not able to meet the parameters.

He said the first RFP was issued in 2002 in

which five firms had responded but only one

could qualify at the technical evaluation stage

and it had to be retracted due to procedural

infirmities. "RFP was issued for the second-

time in February 2007 to 29 firms of which

only two responded but one offer was rejected

because of procedural deficiency, resulting in

a single vendor situation," the Minister said.

The Army has failed to induct new how-

itzers after the Bofors gun deal scam in 1986

despite repeated efforts to do so.

AIR Poonch organizesmulti-lingual mushiara

POONCH DEC 13: AMultilingual Mushiara

was conducted by All India Radio (AIR)

Poonch in auditorium of Govt. Degree

College here on Wednesday. Renowned poets

of Urdu, Pahari, Gojri, Hindi, Punjabi and

other languages participated in the Mushiara .

Principal Govt. Degree College Mr.

Gridhari Lal Sharma presided over the func-

tion whereas Brigadier 93 Inf. Mr. M.K

Magav and S.P Mr. Shamsher Hussain was

the guests of honour. Among others

Programme Executive, AIR, Mr. S.K

Malhotra, staff of AIR and students besides

prominent citizens of the town attended the

function. Poets recited poems on the themes

highlighting the importance and promotion of

literature in strengthening human ties and

mutual affection, development of patriotic

feeling, national integration and building

communal bonds. Among others renowned

poet Mr. Mehmood-al-Hassan Mehmood Mr.

Khurshid Ahmed Karmani, Mr. Ahtesham

Hussain Bhatti, Hafiz Riaz Ahmed Mir, S.

Mohan Singh Mastana, Prof. Fateh Mohd

Abasi, Prof. Nazak Hussain Shah and Mrs.

Vijay Geeta took part in mushiara.

Pardeep Khanna compared the pro-

gramme.

NEW DELHI: The delivery

of aircraft carrier Admiral

Gorshkov - rechristened as

INS Vikramaditya - would

take place in the last quarter of

2013, Defence Minister A K

Antony has told the Rajya

Sabha.

On whether the govern-

ment proposes to levy penal-

ties on the Russian side for

failing to stick to the delivery

schedule, he said, "Liquidated

damages clause for delays in

delivery is incorporated in the

contract. As per contract, LD

is to be ascertained and levied

within six months of ship's

delivery."

India and Russia had

signed a USD 947 million

deal for 45,000-tonne

Gorshkov in 2004. The deal

amount was revised later to

USD 2.3 billion. The Kiev-

class ship was scheduled to

reach Indian shores in 2008,

but its delivery has been

delayed since then.

"As informed by the

Russian side, the delivery of

the aircraft carrier INS

Vikramaditya (Gorshkov),

after completion of repairs

and sea trials, would be made

in the last quarter of 2013,"

Antony said in response to a

query on Wednesday.

The Russian side has been

requested to take up necessary

measures to ensure delivery of

the ship in the last quarter of

2013, the Defence Minister

told the House.

The aircraft carrier was

subjected to extensive trials

for the first time for 108 days

from June 8 to September 23,

2012, with a part of the Indian

crew on board as part of its

training during, he said.

"While a substantial scope

of ship's equipment and avia-

tion trials were completed

during this period, the main

propulsion plant trials to full

power could not be completed

due to defects encountered on

boiler section. Rectification of

the defect is likely to take six

months," Antony said.

Replying to a separate

question on probe into pur-

chase of VVIP choppers, he

said, "It has come to the notice

of Defence Ministry through

several reports, both in Indian

and foreign media, that Italian

prosecutors had begun a probe

into alleged unethical dealings

by Finmeccanica, Italy."

Finmeccanica is the parent

company of AgustaWestland

UK and a contract for pro-

curement of 12 VVIP/ VIP

helicopters has been signed

with it.

'Admiral Gorshkov delivery in last quarter of 2013': Antony

WASHINGTON:The recent

Asia-Pacific "posture" of the

United States, the situation in

the Middle East, and Af-Pak

have figured prominently in

the 13th US-China Defence

Consultative talks held at the

Pentagon.

In the talks which were

held Wednesday, the US side

was led by Dr Jim Miller,

undersecretary of defence for

Policy, while the visiting

Chinese delegation was led

by Lt Gen Qi Jianguo, deputy

chief of the People's

Liberation Army general

staff.

"The two discussed the

US rebalance in the Asia-

Pacific region and the securi-

ty situation in the Middle

East, Afghanistan and

Pakistan," an official release

said.

According to an official

statement, both Miller and Qi

emphasised the positive

momentum of the US-China

military-to-military relation-

ship this year, and urged fur-

ther cooperation in 2013.

Both the officials dis-

cussed maritime security in

the East China Sea and South

China Sea, and stressed the

importance of avoiding mis-

calculation in the areas of

cyber space, nuclear policy

and missile defence.

Miller stressed that North

Korea's rocket launch on

Wednesday was a clear viola-

tion of the United Nations

Security Council Resolutions

1718 and 1874, and a

provocative act that threatens

regional peace and security.

He asked China to work

with the US and the interna-

tional community to insist

that North Korea live up to its

commitments, adhere to its

international obligations, and

deal peacefully with its

neighbours, the Pentagon

statement said.

US, China defence talks focus on AsiaPacific, Afghanistan and Pakistan

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3/8

STATESTUDENT AGE


NEWS IN BOX

Celebration of Parkash utsavGuru Nanak Dev Ji

JAMMU,DEC 13: The 544th parkash utsav of Guru Nanak

Dev JI was celebrated with religious fervours and gaity by

the sangat of Indira Nagar basti in their newly constructed

and renovated Gurudwara sahib complex. The local ragi

jatha of bhai Jagtar singh ji and renowned jatha of bhai

Charanjeet singh ji (chandan) from Ludhiana (PB) recited

the gurbani.Both the ragi jathas preached the mission of

Guru Nanak Sahib which leads us to the noble thought of

universal brotherhood and true faiths in his blessings.

J&K Govt orders probe intochild's death at GMC hospital

JAMMU,DEC 13: The Jammu and Kashmir government on

Thusday ordered a probe into the death of a baby girl, who

passed away while undergoing treatment at the Government

Medical College here, following protests by angry relatives

who alleged negligence of doctors. Principal, Government

Medical College, Dr Anees Chowdhary has directed the

Heads of Department of Paediatrics and ENT to enquire into

the death and submit a detailed report within three days for

further action, an official spokesman said. The one-and-half

year old baby girl, who had been admitted to the Paediatric

unit on December 8 after a corn seed got stuck in her throat,

died yesterday while undergoing treatment at the

Government Medical College here. Her relatives protested

alleging negligence of doctors was responsible for her death,

following which a probe was ordered into the incident, the

spokesman said. According to the order issued today, Dr

Pramod Kalsotra, Head of Department of ENT and DrSanjeev Dingra, Head of Department of Paediatrics, have

been asked to enquire into the death of the child.

Encounter in SoporeSRINAGAR,DEC 13: An encounter broke out Thursday

between security forces and militants in a village in Sopore

area of north Kashmir's Baramulla district.

"Exchange of firing has been reported between security

forces and militants in Chaerhaar village in Sopore area.

Further details of the incident are awaited," a police

spokesman said. Official sources said the security forces

launched a cordon and search operation in the village follow-

ing information about presence of militants in the area.

As soon as contact was established with the militants, the

entire area was cordoned off to prevent the ultras from escap-

ing, the sources said.

Take up cross-border firing issuewith Pak: Gujjars to Centre

JAMMU,DEC 13: Gujjars in Jammu and Kashmir on

Wednesday asked the Centre to take up the cross-border fir-ing issue with Pakistani Interior Minister Rehman Malik dur-

ing his coming visit to India.

"We impress upon the Central government to take up the

matter pertaining to cross-border firing with Rehman Malik

during his visit to India," said president of Akhil Bhartiya

Gujjar Mahasabha J&K Chapter Eshfaq-ur-Rehman Poswal.

Pakistani troopers were regularly firing on Indian areas

inhabitated by Gujjars and Bakerwals, he said adding this

had hit hard both the communities.

Poswal favoured opening of more trade routes between

India and Pakistan to promote religious pilgrimage.

Exhibition-cum-farmers fair heldRAMBAN, DEC 13: An exhibition-cum-farmers fair was

held at Sub Divisional headquarter Gool district Ramban.

About 400 farmers drawn from this remote and far-flung

area of Gool participated alongwith there crop, vegetable and

fruit exhibits. Various allied departments like Horticulture,

Sericulture, Fisheries, Animal & Sheep Husbandry installed

their stalls besides number of activities related to agriculture

beekeeping, vermin compost poly-green house and agricul-

ture machinery was also displayed and farmers were educat-

ed about their use and benefits.

The exhibition was inaugurated by Chief Agriculture

Officer, Ramban, Vijay Bushan. SDAO Gool, Subash

Sharma welcomed the gathering. Senior officers of allied

departments participated in the fair . 65 prizes were distrib-

uted among the farmers for their exhibits.

Health checkup for students at GGHS KatraKATRA, DEC 13: Community Health Centre Katra organ-

ized a health checkup camp for students at Government Girl

High School Katra today under the 'National Health School

Programme'. Camp was conducted under the supervision of

Block Medical Officer Katra, Dr Gogal Dutt which was also

attended by Dr Rajan Gupta and Dr Vijay Kumar and other

paramedical staff of the hospital About 294 children were

examined during the camp BMO disclosed that spectacles

will also be provided free of cost to the needy children.

Meanwhile Senior Headmaster of the School, Harish Dubey

extended his gratitude to health department for conducting

camp in their school.

Governor, CM greet people ofLadakh on Losar

JAMMU,DEC 13: Jammu and Kashmir Governor N N

Vohra and the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today extend-

ed warm greetings to the people of Ladakh on the auspicious

occasion of Losar, the Ladakhi new year.

In his message, the Governor said the festival of Losar

symbolises the high traditions of love, tolerance, amity, com-

munal harmony and brotherhood, which the people of

Ladakh have cherished and nurtured over the centuries. The

Governor wished the people a happy Losar and prayed for

peace, progress and prosperity in the state.

In his message on Losar, the Chief Minister expressed

hope the festival will be herald of peace and prosperity for

the state and the country.

JAMMU, DEC 12: Minister

for Consumer Affairs and

Public Distribution

(CA&PD), Qamar Ali

Akhoon, today exhorted

upon the Oil Companies

functioning in the State to

further speed up the process

of updating the Know Your

Customer (KYC) forms with-

in next one month so that the

consumers may not suffer

anymore in getting cooking

gas.

The Minister was speak-

ing at a joint meeting of high

level officers of the state gov-

ernment and senior func-

tionaries' of the Oil

Companies convened to

review the status of filling up

of necessary documents for

regularization of domestic

gas connections initiated by

the Oil Companies in

September this year in wake

of capping on LPG in the

State.

The Minister stressed

upon the authorities of the

Companies to accelerate the

process for establishing of

gas agencies at block level

for which all formalities

including the requisite adver-

tisements shall be completed

till January 2013.

Expressing dissat-

isfaction over poor home

delivery system of LPG in

Jammu city, Akhoon instruct-

ed the Oil Companies to

streamline the same adding

that convenience of the peo-

ple is priority of the govern-

ment.

Appreciating the efforts of

the authorities of HPCL in

improving the home delivery

system in Kashmir Division,

the Minister advised the

authorities of the Oil

Companies working in

Jammu to follow the same

and ensure that every con-

sumer shall get home deliv-

ery within shortest possible

time.

The Minister emphasized

the need of greater coordina-

tion among all concerned

agencies like government

departments and oil compa-

nies to extend enhanced basic

services like cooking gas to

the people. He also asked the

officers to ensure that the

consumers get hassle free

LPG supply besides keeping

a strict vigil over black-mar-

keting of the same.

Among others Secretary,

CA&PDs Mr. Mohammad

Abbas Dar, Director CA&PD

Jammu, Mr. Parveez Ahmad

Malik, Director CA&PD

Kashmir, Mir Mushtaq

Ahmed, Senior Regional

Manager HPCL, Mr.

Ashwani Kumar Gupta, Area

Manager IOCL, Mr. J.K

Khajuria, senior sales officer

Kashmir, Mr. Haroon Hamid,

representative of BPC and

Senior officers of CA&PD

attended the meeting.

RAJOURI, DEC 13:

Minister of State for Power,

Forest, CA&PD and

Transport, Shabir Ahmed

Khan, on Thursday termed

horticulture as bulwark of

State's economy adding that

this sector provides needed

succor to the development

process and generation of

employment for a large

chunk of population directly

and indirectly.

After inaugurating a fruit

show cum awareness pro-

gramme here, the Minister

said that strengthening of

this sector would result in

strengthening the economy

in whole. He said that atten-

tion was required to be

focused both on production

of quality horticulture pro-

duce and its proper export to

the terminal markets ensuing

substantial returns to the fruit

growers. He said, while fruit

markets in the State need to

be upgraded, adequate trans-

port facilities and regulation

of exports to outside markets

also require priority atten-

tion.

The function was organ-

ized by Horticulture

Department under

Technology Mission

Scheme.

As many as, 30 stalls of

Fisheries, Agriculture,

Animal and Sheep

Husbandry, Sericulture and

other allied sectors were set

up in coordination with pro-

gressive farmers.

Director Horticulture, J.

N. Sharma, Addl. District

Development Commissioner,

Mutloob khan, Chief

Horticulture Officer Rajouri ,

Chief Animal Husbandry

Officer, District Horticulture

Officer, other district officers

of allied sectors, sarpanchs,

panchs and progressiv e

farmers participated in the

function.

The Minister lauded the

efforts of horticulture offi-

cers for conduct of such

awareness camps which pro-

vide requisite information

and knowhow to the farmers

on scientific methodology in

their fields. He stressed on

organising more such camps

in other blocks of district.

During the programme,

the farmers have been moti-

vated to avail advantage of

advanced technology to

improve their yield besides

close coordination between

Horticulture officers and

farmers is necessitated for

promotion of the sector as

large section of farmers earn

their livelihood from this

sector. He further announced

that efforts are on to con-

struct a cold storage plant

and fruit processing units in

Poonch with objective to

give boost to this sector.

Sarpanchs and progres-

sive farmers also spoke on

the occasion and shared their

experience in yielding fruit

crops of different species.

Besides, prizes for best

adjudged fruit production

were distributed among pro-

gressive farmers by the

Minister.

The Minister also called

for facilitating quality pesti-

cides and fertilizers to the

orchardists emphasizing on

popularizing modern tech-

niques for enhancing fruit

production and its scientific

marketing.

Chib inspectsconstruction works

of additional block ofLD Hospital

SRINAGAR, DEC 13:

Minister for Medical

Education and Sports, Mr.

R.S. Chib today inspected the

construction work on addi-

tional block of Government

Lal Ded Hospital and direct-ed the executing agency to

speed up the construction

work so that the patients vis-

iting the hospital would be

facilitated with additional

accommodation.

On the occasion, the

Minister was informed that

the construction project is

being taken care of by J&K

Projects Construction

Corporation. The Minister

directed the Hospital admin-

istration to provide best pos-

sible medicare to the patients

suffering from various ail-

ments particularly belonging

to weaker sections.

Deputy Commissioner,

Srinagar, Mr. Baseer Ahmad

Khan, Senior Superintendent

of Police, Srinagar andEngineers of JKPCC were

present on the occasion.

LC HouseCommittee inspects

land for IGCPhase-III, samba

JAMMU, DEC 13: The

House Committee of Jammu

and Kashmir Legislative

Council headed by its

Chairman, Ajat Shatru Singh,

today convened a meeting

with district administration to

review the status of acquisi-

tion of land for Industrial

Growth Center Phase-III at

Rakh Amb.

The committee after hav-

ing detailed deliberation

upon different aspects of

acquisition of the said land

visited the site and interacted

with the all the connected

people in this regard.

District Development

Commissioner, Samba,

Mubarak Singh and other

senior officers accompanied

the committee.

Mubarak Singh briefed

the Committee about the

actual and present status of

land.

The members of the

Committee, Murtaza Ahmed

Khan, Vijay Bakaya and

Ravinder Kumar Sharma

accompanied the Chairman

and gave valuable sugges-

tions in this regard.

After inspecting the site,

the Committee interacted

with the land owners and

complainants to seek their

views on the land.

MLA, Samba, Yashpal

Kundal besides Director

Industries and Commerce,

Daulat Ram Sharma,

Managing Director, SIDCO,

Mohammad Mozam, officers

of the concerned departments

besides Secretary Legislative

Council, Mohammad Ashraf

Mir and officers and officials

of Council Secretariat

accompanied the committee.

Horticulture fortification of JK's economy: Shabir

Akhoon asks officers to streamline LPG home deliveryExhorts oil companies to update KYC forms within month's time

Minister for Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution, Transport, Qamar Ali Akhoon speaking at ajoint meeting of high level officers of the state government and senior functionaries' of the OilCompanies at Jammu.

JAMMU,DEC 13: NC

leader S S Slathia today said

the thumping win of coalition

partners NC and Congress in

the recent elections has

proved that people of the

state have endorsed the pro-

grammes of Chief Minister

Omar Abdullah.

Speaking at public gather-ing at Barjani and Swankhah

in Block Parmandal,

Vijaypur, the Minister for

Industries and Commerce

said the humiliating defeat of

the opposition in the recent

MLC elections had exposed

their hollow claims. He said

the people had endorsed the

programmes of Abdullah

which are aimed at speedy

development of all the three

regions of the state and socio-

economic transformation of

its people. Ridiculing the

opposition for its false propa-

ganda against the landmark

achievements of the govern-

ment, Slathia said people of

the state cannot be swayed by

lies.

He said PDP is unnerved

with the growing popularity

of coalition partners among

the masses and are relying on

lies and politics of deceit

which cannot survive for

long. "Their sole aim is to

grab power and they have

least sympathy with the

state's people," Slathia said.

The NC leader said many

power projects had been

taken up in the state to har-

ness its 20,000 MW hydro

potential. As many as 22

degree and 50 polytechnic

colleges were opened in the

state for ensuring speedy

socio-economic transforma-

tion of the people, he said.

Slathia inaugurated newly

constructed lanes and drains

in Dasal, Barjani and

Swankhah and announced

funds for construction of a

recreation in park at Barjani

and brick walling of the

school.

He also announced to set-

up a tube-well in the village

to augment drinking water

supply. He said the under

construction Rs 25 lakh

Panchayat Ghar will be com-

missioned shortly.

J&K people have endorsed Omar's programmes: Slathia

Minister for Industries and Commerce S S Slathia peaking at public gathering at Barjani.

JAMMU, DEC 13: Studentsand the scholars of the

University of Jammu (JU)

held protest demonstration

across the campus under the

banner of National Secular

Forum (NSF).

The protesting the stu-

dents and the scholars led by

Narinder Singh District

President, NSF , the students

and the scholars were raising

slogans against the

University Authorities for not

taking note of their demands

and maintaining stoic silence

over the entire matter.

Singh has a taken strong

note against the misuse of

university vehicles by the

officials for personal interest

leading to the misuse of

funds which are ment for the

students' welfare and have

demanded to withdraw all

vehicles from the officials.

He said that nothing posi-

tive has been done by the

administration so far against

the misuse of university vehi-

cles by the officials. He saidthat where University of

Kashmir few days back have

directed all the officials,

except a few top officers

including vice

chancellor,controller,regis-

trar to handover the official

vehicles to the administra-

tion. Vikram Madyal

Convener University Unit

also said that where universi-

ty talks of go hi tech by using

Smart Card technology in the

central university but no such

thing has been introduced so

far. He said that money has

been collected admission

time by the students for the

issues of Smart Card but no

such facility is being provid-

ed to the students.

He also said that the

administration of University

of Jammu (JU) has been

indulged in financial irregu-

larities and anti-youth poli-

cies while, the Vice

Chancellor is acting like a

mute spectator to this whole

drama. NSF has appealed theworthy Governor to imple-

ment the same rule which has

been adopted in Kashmir

University where it has been

made mandatory for the offi-

cials to surrender the vehicles

allotted to them. He said mis-

use of official vehicles for

personal use is on rise in the

Jammu University and also

demanded to hold an audit

into the funds utilized for

vehicle use.

NSF has also appealed the

worthy Chancellor of the

University to look into the

matter and hold an inquiry

into the misuse of vehicles

and funds by the university

authorities.

Among those who were

present in the protest includ-

ed , Shafqat Malik, Tanveer,

Amit, Sanjeev Sharma,

Nitish, Pushpinder Singh,

Pardeep Kumar, Ankit

Sharma, Narinder Singh,

Vimal Singh, Sheetal Aryan,

Vinod Kumar and others.

REASI, DEC 13: Minister for

Higher Education, Labour and

Employment, Mr. Abdul Gani

Malik today chaired an officers

meeting to review the progress

on various ongoing develop-

ment works besides taking

stock of physical and financial

achievements registered so far

in Reasi district here today.

Additional Deputy

Commissioner, Reasi, S.

Rajinder Singh, SDM Mahore,

Mr. Sher Singh, and other offi-

cers of district administration

were present in the meeting.

The meeting had detailed

discussion on various vital

issues related to development

of the district besides deliberat-

ing upon various multi

pronged strategies to further

streamline the working of exe-

cuting agencies and other con-

nected departments for time

bound completion of develop-

ment works. Mr. Malik

instructed the Chief Education

Officer Reasi to ensure punctu-

ality in Education Institutions

so that inmates of far flung

schools may not suffer due to

undisciplined attitude of teach-

ing community. He also direct-

ed to clear the RETs panel

pending with ZEOs so that the

shortage of staff could be min-

imized. Coordinated efforts

would be required by the offi-

cers of PMGSY, R&B and

Forest to solve the pending

issues with regard to forest

clearances of road projects

being constructed in the dis-

trict, he added. The Minister

also instructed the officers of

Forest department to ensure

afforestation along the road

sides of PMGSY roads to

recover the damage of forest

caused due to construction of

new roads. He exhorted upon

all the sectoral officers to work

with zeal and dedication in due

consultation with Panchs and

Sarpanchs of the areas to

achieve the optimum targets

for the current fiscal.

University Vehicles and funds misusedfor personal interest: NSF

Malik reviews progressof developmental works

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4/8

EDITORIAL & STATE WATCHSTUDENT AGE


STATE WATCH

Legendary musician,

Pandit Ravi Shankar

passed in San Diego on

Tuesday. He was 92. The musi-

cian was admitted to the Scripps

Memorial Hospital in La Jolla

last Thursday after he com-

plained of breathing difficulties.

The sitar exponent, perhaps

could be called India`s musical

ambassador and was responsible

for making Indian classical

music popular in the West. He

had collaborated with several

international artists including

George Harrison of 'The

Beatles' which had garnered him

fame and adulation all over the

world. He was active as a pro-

fessional musician till the end

and was one of the contenders

for the next Grammys.

"As a young Indian in the

1950s it was a matter of pride to

see somebody like Panditji per-

form on the world stage and

reach out across to those like

Yehudi Menuhin and the

Beatles," said Maharaj Gaj

Singh II of Jodhpur."We owe his contribution to

the world of music," said Singh

who studied at Oxford. Singh

was joined by others like

German ambassador Thomas

Matussek, French ambassador

Jerome Bonnafont, dancers

Pandit Birju Maharaj and Sonal

Mansingh at the event chaired

by Abid Hussain, fromer envoy

to the US.

Ravi Shankar (7 April 1920 -

12 December 2012), often

referred to by the title Pandit,

was an Indian musician and

composer who played the

plucked string instrument sitar.

He has been described as the

most known contemporary

Indian musician.

Pandit Ravi Shankar began

performing at the age of 11 after

being initiated into music and

dance a year earlier by his eldest

brother, Uday Shankar. As a

young boy, Ravi Shankar toured

Europe with his brother's dance

troupe and at the age of 18 he

began to learn how to play the

sitar from his guru BabaAllauddin Khan. After almost

seven years of rigorous study in

the ancient gurukul system,

Ravi Shankar started composing

film music, founded the Indian

National Orchestra and worked

as a music director for All India

Radio. In the 50s and 60s, he

taught and performed sitar con-

certs in the largest halls all over

Europe and the Americas popu-

larising ragas and other ele-

ments of Indian classical music.

"There was no language bar-

rier as I was very fluent in

English and also in French and I

could explain our music and the

various intricacies of ragas and

Talas", said Ravi Shankar in his

letter.

"Pandit Ravi Shankar was

not only a great musician him-

self but he transcended and took

Indian music to the world and

became an icon to so many,"

said ICCR president Karan

Singh at the function.

The sitarist and composer

had pioneered the tradition of

experimenting India's classicalmusic fusion with western cul-

ture and performed with western

classical violinist Yehudi

Menuhin and Beatles star

George Harrison.

"George Harrison became

my student in the mid sixties,

which certainly opened up the

biggest door in all the continents

for me. George was one whom I

loved very much as he was so

deeply attracted to our music

and the Vedic culture and tradi-

tions of India," said Ravi

Shankar.

"The passion of Panditji was

an inspiration for everyone. It

has a delight to see how the

expression of every note was

glimpsed in his eyes," said

Kathak dancer Birju Maharaj

who came to Delhi in 1953 at

the age of 14 years as a teacher

at the Sangeet Bharati and was a

frequent visitor to Ravi

Shankar's house.

One of the first musicians to

write sitar music in Indian nota-

tions for western concertos,

Pandit Ravi Shankar was nomi-

nated to the Rajya Sabha in

1986. The musician was con-

ferred the Bharat Ratna, in 1999

and he also won three Grammy

awards and was given the

Ramon Magsaysay award in

1992.

"I have loved many countries

like France, England, and Japan

of which I have several fond

memories, but I deeply fell in

love with the US from my first

visit there in 1932 with Dada

Uday. The variety of people

from all over the world, and

their love for all types of music,

dance, films, innovation, cre-

ation, and the spirit of freedom

attracted me the most. "Though

my first home is New Delhi and

I am a citizen of India, my other

home is in Encinitas near SanDiego, California, which I

love," said Ravi Shankar who

added that he was "an aspirant

to live '101 all out!"

The function felicitating the

musician culminated with a sitar

recital of a composition in

Satyajit Ray's film "Panther

Panchali" by Ravi Shankar's dis-

ciple Shubhendra Rao with tabla

accompaniment by Delhi-based

Akram Khan. It was folowed by

a bharatnatyam performance by

Nehha Bhatnagar. In 2010, Ravi

Shanker received an Honorary

Doctor of Laws from the

University of Melbourne,

Australia. Panditji is survived

by his wife Sukanya and musi-

cian daughters, sitar player

Anushka Shankar and singer

Norah Jones.

BY: PRAVEEN KUMAR

With population over a

billion people, republic

India is the world's

largest Democracy. And for all

obvious reasons it is a cumbersome

task to govern a country like India.

India, the packet of diversified cul-

tures, ethnicities, languages and

mindsets has always been a myste-

rious country when it comes to its

integrity. It has been decades since

that India was declared a free coun-

try. Since then the country is under-

going major changes in terms of

social, economical, political and

technological aspects. But, there is

one key function that drives the

remaining three. That is nothing but

the political system of India.

Indian Politics have been inter-

esting since its inception. Some

people often say "Many things have

changed, but politics in India has

been the same". Is it really so? We

need to think about this.

Governments change over a period

of time, Power slips from one polit-

ical party to another. But the so

called properties of the political

system have often seemed to be the

same. The parties which we haveare nothing but a set of aged intel-

lectuals that were distributed

among different groups following

their own doctrines.

The majority of Indian popula-

tion is under the age of 35, but its

politicians are largely a gerontocra-

cy. The political parties are filled

with aged, old men and women who

often look like members of exclu-

sive pensioners' club. The question

that now arises is that "Is this gen-

erational rift between the citizens

and the political setup desirable?"

No, definitely NO. This setup

has resulted in a system that is very

redundant in its decision making.

Now the scenario has changed dras-

tically. The prevailing problems of

the country are continuously ham-

pering the growth of the country. In

the dark mist of never ending

poverty, illiteracy and many other

disadvantages there is need for a

new dawn.

A dawn that brings prosperity,

hope, a new beginning, and a new

system all together. Our political

system certainly requires re-struc-

turing in order take the country for-

ward with the pace that can match

with the other developing countries.

Given the kind of electoral

make-up India has, the dearth ofyoung politicians on the front

benches is purely implausible. They

are patronised, suspected, demoted

to the background and constrained

by an environment that encourages

an uncritical reverence. The kernels

of pessimism are thus slowly sown

in them.

In the recent past we have seen

that the emergence of youth into

politics has brought in a new spirit

of enthusiasm and confidence

among people. The skepticism that

leaders are only born, is no more

valid these days. As we know that

'leaders need not do different

things, it would be sufficient if they

can do things differently'. And this

is what we need now. We need

young fresh minds to come into

politics who strive to make the

country better.

Till now we have only seen that

most of the young leaders have

inherited politics. But then there is

one thing in common in the young

leaders today, they influence the

youth of the country. Their person-

ality influences people who often

look up to them as role models. It

has not been long since Rahul

Gandhi stepped in to politics, but

we have seen a fresh wave of

thoughts which have come alongwith him. Same is the case with

Jyotiraditya Scindia and Omar

Abdulah. They have been crucial

for the parties they work for. And

consequently we see more and

more youth joining politics which is

a good sign.

The people of the country also

seek some new leadership which

they can trust upon. The time has

come for the youth to step forward

and take up the responsibility from

the octogenarian politicians.

Now that we know that the

impact of young leaders on the

growth of a country is crucial, it is

not to be ignored that there has to

be right balance between the expe-

rienced and youth. Hence increas-

ing number of young politicians is

certainly a new dawn.

MUSICAL AMBASSADOR OF INDIA:PANDIT RAVI SHANKAR

Youth in Politics: A New Dawn

KOLKATA: Accusing a

section of the media of inter-

fering in the work of police

by ''cooking up stories'', West

Bengal Chief Minister

Mamata Banerjee Thursday

warned it not to cross the

"Lakshmana Rekha".

"The Kolkata Police has

been doing a good job and

should be appreciated.

But they (media) don't

have any work other than

maligning the police," said

Banerjee at a city police pro-

gramme here.

Banerjee, who has been

virtually at war with a sec-

tion of the media, said even

trivial matters con-

cerning police were

being highlighted as

major issues, which

eventually was ham-

pering the force's

image.

"Even if a consta-

ble is transferred they

would cook up some

story about why he

was transferred. You (the

media) also have a manage-

ment in your office. And the

management decides who

should work where. They

transfer people accordingly.

Similarly, the police too have

an administration which

decides what is to be done,"

she said. Banerjee went on to

warn that if the media contin-

ued to cross the "Lakshmana

Rekha", then it would be at

the mercy of "Raavan".

"You cannot interfere in

all business. You just cannot

do it. Everything has a

Lakshmana Rekha, which

you cannot cross. Don't for-

get when you cross the

Lakshmana Rekha, then you

are at the mercy of Raavan.

Kindly don't do that," warned

Banerjee.

According to the

Ramayana, Rama's brother

Lakshmana had drawn a line

(Lakshmana Rekha) to pro-

tect Sita - Rama's wife. But

Sita did not pay heed to

Lakshmana's warning not to

cross the line and was even-

tually abducted by demon

king Raavan when she

crossed the line.

WEST BENGALDon't cross 'Lakshmana Rekha', Mamata tells media

MUMBAI: The Nationalist

Congress Party, whose mem-

ber, Deputy Chief Minister

Ajit Pawar, has been targeted

in the alleged controversy,

came out with a "Truth

Paper" on the irrigation

department.

The opposition Bharatiya

Janata Party-Shiv Sena com-

bine immediately countered

it with its own "Attack on

Truth Paper" and challenged

the NCP's claims. The devel-

opments follow last month's

official "White Paper"

brought out by the

Maharashtra government on

the controversial irrigation

scam followed by a "Black

Paper" brought out by the

opposition and some social

activists.

The NCP's Home

Minister R.R. Patil also

launched a direct attack on

the BJP, saying the party did

not want its leaders to be

exposed in the irrigation

scandal and was disrupting

the proceedings of the ongo-

ing winter session of the state

legislature here.

Patil demanded that when

the total irrigation projects

taken up in the past decade or

so were worth Rs.30, 500

crore, on what basis the

opposition was claiming a

scandal worth Rs.70,000

crore.

"This is nothing but mis-

information and attempting

to mislead the people of the

state. They (the opposition)

should apologise to the pub-

lic for this," Patil said grimly.

Leader of Opposition in

the council Vinod Tawade of

the BJP hit back by saying

that the "Truth Paper" gives

only half the facts and was

actually a "lie paper".

As the allegations were

being hurled, the state legis-

lature was adjourned for the

fourth consecutive day

Thursday without transacting

any business since the oppo-

sition parties stuck to their

demand of appointing a spe-

cial investigation team (SIT)

to probe the irrigation depart-

ment controversy. The two-

week long winter session

started here Monday, preced-

ed by a boycott of Chief

Minister Prithviraj Chavan's

customary session-eve tea

party on Sunday. Barring the

obituary references and some

other issues, the houses have

virtually remained non-func-

tional with processions,

walk-outs, disruptions and

adjournments.

MAHARASHTRA

NCP comes out with 'Truth Paper' on irrigation department

CHANDIGARH: The Punjab govern-

ment would dedicate six new Railway

Over Bridges constructed at the cost of

Rs 101.9 crore to the public by March

2013. Disclosing this here today, PWD

Minister Sharanjit Singh Dhillon said

with the completion of these projects, the

dream of linking all cities with 4/6 lane

roads would reach near realisation. He

said these six Railway Over Bridges

would be thrown open to public by

March 2013, included ROB in Barnala

(District Barnala) near SD College con-

structed at the cost of Rs 23.81 crore,

second at Gurney (District Sangrur) with

the cost of Rs 16.28 crore, third at

Sahnewal (District Ludhiana) with the

cost of Rs 17 crore, fourth on Khanna-

Lalheri road at Khanna (District

Ludhiana) with the cost of Rs 10.17

crore, fifth at Mukerian (District

Hoshiarpur) with the cost of Rs 16.95

crore and sixth one at Chajli (District

Sangrur) on Sunam-Lehra road with the

cost of Rs 14.35 crore.

He further said work on all these proj-

ects is on the verge of completion and by

March 2013 all these bridges would be

opened for public. He said that Punjab

Government has earlier opened 3 new

Railway Over Bridges for transportation

in 2012, which included a very important

bridge at Morinda bypass, at Chawapail

on Samrala-Bija road and at Bhikhi on

Bhikhi-Bhudladha (Mansa) road. The

Punjab Government has also sanctioned

a bridge on Jalandhar-Kaputhala road

near Khojewala which would be built

with the cost of Rs 34 crore, he added.

The Minister also added that SAD-

BJP government was committed to pro-

vide world class roads, bridges, which is

the base of transportation sector. Minister

said that the state government has

already constructed Bathinda-Badal road

with the cost of Rs.29 crore at Bathinda,

construction of RoB at Bahadurgarh-

Ghanaur-Shambhu highway with the

cost of Rs.17 crore, whereas Rs.21 crore

has been invested on the construction of

railway under bridge (RuB) on Bathinda-

Talwandi Sabo highway at Bathinda.

PUNJAB

6 new ROBs to be opened topublic in March 2013: DhillonBANGALORE: A huge scam

involving illegal de-notification of

prime land in-and-around

Bangalore has been exposed by the

comptroller and auditor general

(CAG). The damning report for the

period 2007-12, which was tabled

in the assembly, has not only

exposed the rot in the BDAbut also

put former CM HD Kumaraswamy

and BS Yeddyurappa in the dock.

The CAG auditors have found

various lapses on part of the state

government in de-notifying lands

that were already notified and

acquired and also in the allotment

'G' category sites, which are allot-

ted under the CM's discretionary

quota. The report found that

between 2007-2012, the state govt.

de-notified 212.39 acres of land

even in cases where final notifica-

tions had been issued, lands were

acquired and developed; in some

cases land was de-notified when

sites had been allotted to the public.

The state govt. also de-notified

another 610 acres of land without

even referring them to the de-noti-

fication committee, which was

formed to examine de-notification

cases. Interestingly, 304 acres was

de-notified after the final notifica-

tion was issued and 123 acres after

the BDA took possession of the

land. The report states that govern-

ment de-notified land in layouts

like JP Nagar VIII phase,

Arkavathy Layout, Banashankari V

Stage, HSR Layout and others after

taking possession of the land. In JP

Nagar VIII Phase layout, where

land had been de-notified, the BDA

had developed 42 sites and some

sites had already been allotted to

general public. Allottees had even

written a letter to BS Yeddyurappa

not to de-notify 4.35 acres of land

allotted to them, as they had availed

loan from banks for constructing

houses on the allotted sites.

KARNATAKA

CAG detonates de-notification of prime land

KERALAChandy puts foot down on

tobacco industryTHIRUVANANTHAPURAM: "Barring the beedi (tobacco)

sector, my government has

done a lot for all other tradi-

tional industries. Since we

have taken an anti-smoking

stand, the employment in that

sector is dwindling," said

Chandy in response to an

adjournment motion moved

by the Left opposition.

Ever since Chandy

assumed office, he has maintained a strong stance against

tobacco and went on to the extent of banning gutka (a tobac-

co-laced chewing mix) in the state a few months back.

Earlier this month, Chandy wrote to the prime minister for

a nationwide ban on tobacco. The tobacco industry in the state,

especially the Kerala Dinesh Beedi, a flag ship company pro-

moted by the CPI-M has been going through rough times and

has branched out to other areas like food processing, IT and

textiles-making.

Chandy, however, pointed out that despite the government

taking a tough stand against the industry, it was ensuring that

the pension arrears of Dinesh Beedi employees were cleared

before this year-end.

The sale of tobacco has dropped from Rs.1.30 crore annu-

ally to a few thousands only in the state over the last one

decade.

JAIPUR: The Rajasthan Govt.

will provide free diagnosis facility

in district hospitals from 7th April

2013. CM Ashok Gehlot Thursday

made these announcements in a

press conference at Jaipur on the

occasion of completion of four

years of his govt. The CM said that

all girls of 9th class will get free

cycles. The government will pro-

vide 500 rupees monthly scholar-

ship to girls of minority communi-

ty for higher education. The Govt.

has increased war widow pension

by 1500 rupees per month and

raised the minimum wages also.

Minimum wage for untrained

labour will be now 166 rupees per

day with effect from 1st Jan 2013.

He said that govt. has provided one

lac thirty six thousand jobs.

RAJASTHAN

Rajasthan Govt to provide free diagnosis facility in 2013

"Music is the soul of India. It hasalways been my life as well," said thecomposer musician "Ravi Shankar, 90

not out" organised by the Indo-American Friendship Association inassociation with the Indian Council of

Cultural Relations.

Till now we have only seen that most of theyoung leaders have inherited politics. Butthen there is one thing in common in theyoung leaders today, they influence theyouth of the country. Their personality

influences people who often look up to themas role models. It has not been long since

Rahul Gandhi stepped in to politics, but wehave seen a fresh wave of thoughts which

have come along with him. Same is the casewith Jyotiraditya Scindia and Omar

Abdulah. They have been crucial for theparties they work for. And consequently we

see more and more youth joining politicswhich is a good sign.

Page 4_Editorial & State Watch.qxd 12/14/2012 11:40 AM Page 1


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