current affirs news
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Once Upon A BeehiveWhat happened when honey levels dipped, and some bees came to be more
equal than othersChetan Bhagat
Once upon a time there was a giant beehive. It was located on an ancient tree,situated amidst meadows and gardens filled with bright and colourful flowers.
The beehive had a queen bee, who along with some senior bees, had been
chosen to run the hive. Collectively, the elected were called the Government.Worker bees entrusted the Government bees to store their honey and keep themsafe. The Government also had to discover new gardens, to provide new sources of
flowers and nectar for the new generation of baby bees.
To ensure stability and avoid chaos, the Government bees made rules and passedlaws. The worker bees had to follow them, else they could be punished. This was
particularly important because the beehive had different kinds of bees, who couldend up fighting with each other. The black bees and the brown bees for instance,
were the two main kinds. They essentially did the same work. However, they hadslightly different looks and practiced their own prayer habits.
In good times, it was the perfect beehive. Over time, however, things changed.
Government bees had their own kids, relatives and friends. Most could not join theGovernment. They had to become worker bees like everyone else. However, oneday, a senior Government bees son told his father being a worker bee was too
much work. Why not let me take a bit of honeyfrom our reserves? he said to his
father. But that would be wrong, the father bee said.Nobody would find out. What happens in the Government, stays in the
Government, replied the Government bees son. He was right. Worker beestrusted the Government more than they did themselves. A bit of honey lost would
not be noticed at all.And then it started. Slowly, all Government bees children, cousins, relatives,
friends and well-wishers started stealing a bit of honey everyday from the reserves.
They didnt have to slave in the gardens all day anymore. The worker bees did
notice the honey levels were not going up as expected. When some worker beespointed this out, the Government just ordered everyone to work harder and not be
lazy.The worker bees worked harder to make more honey. However, honey levels
refused to rise. In fact, they started to fall.
Soon, Government bees started another practice. Whenever they found a newgarden, they gave it to their children, friends and relatives first. What the worker
bees dont know, the worker bees dont miss, was the hushed conversation inGovernment circles.
Over time, not only did honey levels fall, the discovery of new gardens stopped
for the kids of worker bees. They remained idle and hungry. Sometimes, the queen
bee tossed some scraps at the worker bees, and everyone praised the queen.However, the scraps were not enough.
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Who is stealing the honey? one day, an influential worker bee finally said. The
Government noticed the influential protesting bee was black. So, the Government
said, The brown bees are doing it. Then, the Government called the brown bees,and told them, We think the black bees are stealing all your hard work.
Hungry and tired, the black and brown bees were filled with anger. They foughtwith each other. The Government bees enjoyed the distraction and continued tosteal. As brown and black bees died and suffered, the Government tossed some
more honey scraps. Worker bees praised the queen again.Soon, there was a drought. The flowers became few, and it was time to turn to
the honey reserved over all these years. However, to everyones shock, there was
no honey in the reserves at all. Worker bees, normally trusting of the Government,went to check in the Government bees and their relatives homes. They foundeveryone fat and sitting on their own private reserves of honey. Whats more, they
also found maps of hundreds of new gardens that were discovered but never shared
with the worker bees.Dismayed and shocked, the worker bees came back to their poor homes. The
brown and black bees looked into each others eyes. They realised they had beenfooled. They hugged each other and apologised for all the hurt they had caused
each other.We will teach them a lesson, the black and brown bees said in unison. The
worker bees realised the time had come to use their sting, not against each other,
but against those who had cheated them.Meanwhile, the queen bee sensed the tension. She presented her beautiful young
son, He will save you now. Like i did all these years.
However, the brown and black bees were too smart this time. They gathered
together in a swarm and unleashed their stings on the Government and their fatcronies. The Government bees barely had any time to collect their belongings.
They simply had to run away from the hive. Soon, they were all gone.
The brown and black bees decided to select their best people to be in charge.
Also, they decided to never blindly trust, but monitor everyone. The hiverecovered, and the new generation worked hard to restore the honey stores. Newgardens led to new prosperity, and the beehive became the most successful beehive
in the world.
A few years later, an old bee, talking to her grandson at night, said Did youknow we had a queen bee at one time? Yes. But we dont anymore. Because
deep down, theres a little king in all of us, replied the baby bee.
The writer is a best-selling novelist.
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Theres a little queen in every worker bee
THE SPEAKING TREE
A Self-Realised Leader Works WondersDhruva Bhargava
We all are leaders in a way as people around constantly emulate us, seek our inspiration, guidance
and support and crave for our attention, love and compassion. Therefore, leaders in any sphere face
the dual challenge of connecting with Self and others. Knowing ones true nature, the Self, becomes
crucial.
While doing so, at times, ones deep-rooted beliefs, thoughts, fixations constituting mindsetbecome obstacles. In fact, all through our lives we have been indoctrinating ourselves with these
only. Once rigidly established, they become our outlook; we simply live them out. We are so deeply
influenced and intensely identified that we seldom change or let go. This inflexibility impedes
realising our true nature and connecting with others. The true Self though self-revelation yet
appears elusive. Therefore, to uncover the Self becomes an unwieldy task, due to ego.
Amazingly, connecting within and with others go simultaneously as we let go our own dogmas,
judgments and evaluations. With evolving flexibility, gradually emerges a perspective of looking
out from within. Once this perspective takes hold, the person becomes Selfdriven. His perception
broadens from limited to that of wholeness. There is a paradigm shift; theres no falling back. While
looking and acting from Self, one then persistently demonstrates and projects the true nature which
is of oneness, harmony and love towards one and all. This is discernible in ones thoughts, words and
action. As the Self becomes apparent, the influence of ego diminishes. This is the God-experience
within us. Kabir said, When I am, God is not; When God is, I am not.
Therefore, a Self-realised leader views things in oneness and desists separation in any form. He
doesnt feel others as separate from him. From him flow love, humility and compassion towards all
without discrimination for he cognizes the divinity within and in others.
His knowing of the absolute and relative truths enables him to absorb the extreme dualities of
pleasure and pain emanating from happenings, events, relationships and dynamic business
situations. For him success and failures are but two sides of the same coin. He doesnt get elatedwith success, nor dejected by failures. He can maintain equanimity; equipoised in all circumstances.
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The Self-realised leader values differences and considers them unique. For him differences in
capabilities, capacities and competencies are like individual details of scenery, that when put
together, make the scenery beautiful. He can effectively integrate differences and utilise their
synergy for achieving results. He can enjoy the company of people and his aloneness, too, which he
uses to reflect, contemplate and meditate.
The leader who serves rather than expects to be served is intrinsically an authentic person as his
actions follow his words. He is able to demonstrate total transparency in character and behaviour,
being the same inside-out. Since his view is impartial and whole, his decisions are rooted in
fairness, enabling him to dispense justice unequivocally.
Such a leaders charisma is such that his very presence is inspiring; people around can feel
serenity, compassion and love. He is capable of transforming others by simply being a role model. He
can lead effortlessly without dominating and is often felt, seldom seen. His holistic perspective
enables him to sacrifice his comforts and gains for higher goals. Inspired by Self, he abstains from
selfish motives and remains humble and humane.
A leader inspired by his true nature, the Self, becomes truly authentic, Self-actualised andcomplete in all respects. Ask your vendor for your copy of The Speaking Tree on Sunday @ 3, special
Earth Day issue.
Nation Shocked By Rape & Brutalization Of 5-Year-Old In Delhi
Age No Bar In Sick SocietyCops Offered Us 2,000 To Keep Quiet: Parents
Dwaipayan Ghosh TNN
New Delhi: The plight of a five-yearold girl, who was brutally raped and tortured
in east Delhi and rescued only three days later because of police callousness and
insensitivity, led to widespread public outrage on Friday.
The child is now battling for life at AIIMS where she was shifted from Swami
Dayanand Hospital in Dilshad Garden when public anger boiled over, leading to
heckling of Delhi health minister A K Walia and the slapping of a 17-year-old girl
protester by a senior cop. A series of protests has been scheduled for Saturday.Reading the mood early, a government that had faced flak over the Nirbhaya
incident barely four
months ago, moved into damage-control mode with a string of high-level
meetings, culminating in Prime Minister Manmohan Singh expressing deep regret
over the incident.
Within hours, the SHO of Gandhi Nagar police station, the first probe officer in
the case and the ACP who slapped the girl had been suspended.
What fuelled public anger were two allegations made by the victims family:one, cops delayed in filing the FIR and failed to search their house, wasting
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precious time; two, cops tried to fend them off with Rs 2,000 after the child was
rescued. They were told to be happy that she was alive, the family alleged. A
vigilance inquiry has been ordered, and the report is to be submitted within 24
hours.
The brutality, bordering on bestial, has shocked the conscience of the entire
nation. We found a 200ml bottle and two-three pieces of candle inserted into
her private parts. This is the first time I have seen such barbarism, said R K
Bansal, medical superintendent of Swami Dayanand Hospital. There were injuries
on her lips, cheeks, arms and the anus. Bruises on her neck suggested attempts to
strangle her. Her blood pressure was way below normal.
Police said there were efforts to slit her throat. The accused has been identified
as Manoj, 22, and the police are on his trail in Muzaffarpur in Bihar. He belongs to
Orai village in the district. Late at night the police said the arrest could happen
anytime. Eight days ago, the accused rented the ground floor of the house where
the victim stays. Police said he had probably lured the child into the room on the
evening of April 14.
After brutalizing her and leaving her locked up, he escaped some time on April
15 even as her family was looking for her desperately.On the morning of April 17,
the mother and their neighbours heard someone crying in the room and called
the cops, only to find their child.NIRBHAYA ALL OVER AGAIN
Five-year-old girl raped & brutalized by neighbour, locked up in ground-floor
room of building where she lived
Girl endured pain, went without food for 3 days before being discovered on
Wednesday
Doctors find severe infection in genitals & injuries elsewhere, including
strangulation marks on neck. A candle and 200ml hair oil bottle surgically
removed from inside herCondition critical but stable. Shifted to AIIMS on Friday evening. Doctors say
girls external genitals may be
irreparably damaged INSULT ON INJURY 1
Cops made victims family wait for 6hrs at police station before registering case 2
Police didnt bother to visit girls home, where she was locked up, or question
neighbours 3
Cops allegedly told family to settle case for 2,000, not involve activists and
media4
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Family claims it was told by police to be content that girl was alive 5
ACP slapped a woman protester, suspended. As were area SHO, SI Furore as cop
slaps two women Five-Year-Olds Rape Protest: Officer Caught On Camera,
Suspended
New Delhi: In scenes reminiscent of the outrage over Nirbhayas gang rape in
December, more than 300 protesters laid siege to the hospital in northeast Delhi
where the raped child was being treated.
Visiting politicians, like Delhi health minister AK Walia and MP Sandeep Dikshit,
were heckled and in the ensuing commotion an ACP slapped women protesters.
By night, the child was shifted to AIIMS and her condition was said to be
improving. Meanwhile, ACP Bani Singh Ahlawat, whose slaps led to a furore, was
suspended. Protests started in front of Swami Dayanand Hospital on Friday
afternoon with Aam Aadmi Party members alleging that police had tried to bribe
the childs parents to hush up the case. They demanded that the girl be moved to
a well-equipped hospital. However, the drama became intense after Walia and
Dikshit reached the hospital around 3.40pm. Although both leaders used a
separate entrance, women protesters from AAPprotesting at the main gate
spotted and immediately surrounded them.
ACP Bani Singh Ahlawat from Khajoori Khas was trying to stop women
protesters from attacking his uniform. In the process, he slapped protesters fourtimes. One of them, Beenu Rawat, started to bleed from her ear. As footage of
the victim was being aired on TV, police commissioner Neeraj Kumar immediately
suspended him, said a senior source at the police headquarters. Some AAP party
protesters were roughed up by police at Swami Dayanand Hospital. Two women
protesters were slapped and beaten by ACP Ahlawat.
PM is deeply disturbed
New Delhi: Prime minister Manmohan Singh is deeply disturbed by the rape of a
five-year-old girl and has directed Lt Governor Tejinder Khanna to take strictestpossible action against the police officials who slapped women protesters. Khanna
briefed the PM about the law-and-order situation amid indications th-at Delhi
Police is zeroing in on the suspect. The PMO was swift to react to the outrage on
Friday unlike in the Nirbhaya case, where the government was accused of
failing to grasp the enormity of the crime and the depth of public reaction that
spilled onto the streets.
Singhs response came immediately after home minister Sushilkumar Shinde
briefed him and Congress president Sonia Gandhi about the incident. TNN
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The victim being shifted to AIIMS. Well-wishers gave her toys, hoping for the best
Dated: 16 Apr. 13
terest rates may fall as inflation slows to 3-yr low
Will Offer Relief To Govt, Home Loan Borrowers
TIMES NEWS NETWORK
New Delhi: The inflation rate slowed to a more than three year low of
5.96% in March on the back of softening vegetable, fruits and milk
prices, brightening the prospect of an interest rate cut while bringing
relief for the politicallybeleaguered government.
Lower interest rates would provide relief to thousands of borrowers
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reeling under the burden of high equated monthly installments (EMIs)
on their home loans.
Official data released on Monday showed that the widely watched
wholesale price index rose 5.96%, slower than the previous months
6.84% and in line with RBIs expectations. A sub-6% inflation level,
a 40-month-low, instantly triggered celebrations in the government,
among industry and on bourses.
Politically, the deceleration in price rise augurs well for a
government as it deals with popular sullenness over inflation,
corruption and the perception of inaction.
POSITIVES
Easing prices of fruits, vegetables and milk mean more money in the
housewifes kitty
Global crude oil price has moderated in recent weeks, reducingpressure on subsidy
The fall in gold and oil prices also augurs well for foreign exchange
management
PRESSURE POINTS
Prospects of higher crude prices remain, especially if global economy
revives
Fiscal deficit remains high, reducing RBIs elbow room in cutting
rates
Prospect of data revision remains, as experience shows upward bias
Petrol now costs 72.63/l in Blore
Fuel retailers have decided to slash petrol price by Rs 1.31 per litre
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from Monday midnight. A litre of petrol costs Rs 72.63 in Bangalore.
The earlier petrol price was Rs 73.94. Diesel price was marginally
reduced to Rs 53.02 from Rs 53.10 per litre.
Gold at 15-month low of 27,600
Gold on Monday tumbled by Rs 750 to Rs 27,600 per 10 gm,
hitting a 15-month low in New Delhi, due to persistent selling
triggered by a heavy sell-off in global markets. RBI has asked gold
loan firms to furnish details of their LTV ratios to avoid a
crisis.P13Sensex recovers on rate cut hope
The sense of relief in government was evident from Planning
Commission deputy chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalias reaction to
the data. Inflation behaviour is consistent with what government has
been saying that it is slowly coming under control, Ahluwalia said.
A clamour was already building up for a reduction in rates, withIndia Inc calling for aggressive cuts against the backdrop of easing
price pressures saying that it was crucial for the revival of economic
growth expected to slow to a decades low of 5% in the just-ended
financial year.
The BSE Sensex, which remained choppy in the face of some
disappointing company earnings and sluggish economic data last
week, joined in the celebrations. The bellwether index bounced back
115 points to close at 18,357.80 points on hopes of an interest rate cut
when the RBI meets to review policy on May 3.
But the data showed that pressure points still existed in some
segments such as cereals and pulses while food inflation still remains
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in double digits at the retail level. The government also revised
upwards the January number to 7.31% from the previously reported
6.62% largely due to the impact of the diesel price increase.
Slowing global crude and gold prices have also brought some relief
for the government battling a widening current account deficit and
fiscal deficit. While the softening in inflation provides some leeway
for the central bank to ease rates to boost growth, it would be guided
by the high current account and fiscal deficit.
The moderation in inflationary pressures was led by vegetables
which declined an annual 0.95% in March. Prices of fruit, milk, eggs,
meat and fish also softened.
Given elevated levels of CPI (10.4%) and the CAD, we are
maintaining our view of a 25 basis points cut in the RBI's May 3
policy, followed by a long pause, said Rohini Malkani, CitigroupIndia economist in a note.
What could change this is lower commodity prices both oil and
gold which will not only have a positiveimpactoninflation but also on
the fisc and current account, Malkani said.
Growth is estimated to have slowed to a decades low of 5% in the
2012-13 fiscal year and both the RBI and the government have taken
steps to revive sentiment and boost growth.
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Inflation behaviour is consistent with what govt has
been saying that it is slowly coming under control
MS Ahluwalia, DEPUTY CHAIRMAN, PLANNING COMMISSION
632 PU colleges must implead, says court
TIMES NEWS NETWORK
Bangalore: The high court on Monday asked the state government to
instruct all the 632 pre-university colleges across the state which have
less than 25,000 sqft of land to get themselves impleaded in the PIL
before it.
A division bench headed by Justice KL Manjunath gave this
direction after a statement was filed before the court on behalf of the
pre-university education department stating that 632 PU colleges don't
have this space as required under Rule 4(2)(a) of the Karnataka Pre-
University Education (Academic, Registration, Administration and
Grant-inaid, etc) Rules, 2006.
According to the statement, Bangalore North has 33 such schools,
Bangalore South 91, Bangalore Rural 13, Bellary 88, Mysore 56,
Tumkur 36, Dharwad 34, Gulbarga 46, Chitradurga 35 and Raichur
31 with less than 25,000 sqft.
As per the rules, colleges are required to acquire 25,000 sqft landintending to construct a college building with principal's chambers,
classrooms and libraries, etc within a year of the receipt of letter of
intent.
The high court is hearing a 2009 PIL complaining that the sanction
was wrongly accorded to Vidyaniketan PU college run by Chougule
Education Society at Deshpande Nagar in Hubli.
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THE SPEAKING TREE
Jadugarni Devi Had Three Choices
Bejan Daruwalla
She was beautiful beyond belief. Those who saw her skittled like a
row of ninepins. Your Ganesha devotee saw her momentarily in a
village pool surrounded by hedges and trees. She was languorously
bathing, singing softly to herself. I was bewitched. She took no notice
of me and Ganesha was there for support. Swan-like neck, a sheen
and shine which made her skin glow, shimmering copper to glittering
gold. Her hands and fingers were certainly made to do filigree work
with exquisite delicacy. She was sensually sublimeif that be
possible.A village lad robust, rustic and smelling of the good earth passed
by and saw her. He was felled as if by a thunderbolt. The bathing lady
glanced at him and smiled. It flashed in my mind that she was the
original jadugarni, that my great, great forefathers had talked about.
The jadugarni went near the lad and touched him on the forehead.
He awoke. Big, black, bright eyes. Aquiline nose. Broad forehead.
Fine eyebrows. Tousled, unruly hair and bowshaped lips. She touched
him again and he stood before her. He asked her as only a rustic can,
Please, devi, may i know who you are?She replied, I have come
from the heavens. They call me jadugarni. Why have you come, he
asked. I get bored. I want to see joy and sorrow. See life as it is, not
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as it should be.
The lad took her to his house. She came to know that his name was
Ramu and he lived with his parents, a sister, a brother, goats and
cattle. She was invisible to all the others.
Being a jadugarni she could take any formman, woman, child,
animaland thus be completely unnoticed, anonymous. Soon she
was a regular visitor at Ramus place unnoticed and unknown. Ramu
talked to her about fruits, flowers, grass, plants, seeds, labour, rest, the
seasons, the land, crop, sky, rain and the sizzling slices of summer.
She took it all in. She talked to him ofparadise and palaces and
princess and nymphs, saints, angels and fairies. He did not understand
all this but somehow he felt happiness in his heart, smiled like a seas
expanse and accepted that there could be a real place like it. The
adugarni recognised all this from his smile and the sparkle inhis eyes. She sighed in understanding.
Seventy years passed as in a dream. Ramu never married. The
villagers accepted simply and naturally that he was with the jadugarni.
No questions asked. One day he was delirious with fever. The village
doctor and the vaid could not do much. The jadugarni was by his side
all the while. She cried. She knew he was dying but she could not
bear to see it. She flew to the heavens, met an archangel and said,
My Ramu is dying. Help me. The archangel replied. I recognise
your love for him.He certainly deserves it. But my dear, human
beings are mortal and they do die. The jadugarni asked, Is there any
way i can save him?
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The archangel replied, You have three choices: First, you can
allow him to die and go the way of all flesh. Second, you can take him
to yourabode in heaven and love him forever. Last, you can go back
to the world, be with him and die with him. Thats it. The jadugarni
chose to die with him, saying: There is no substitute for simplicity
and sincerity.I will die with him. Post your comments
atspeakingtree.in
http://execlinktarget%28%27speakingtree.in%27%2C%27url%27%29/http://execlinktarget%28%27speakingtree.in%27%2C%27url%27%29/http://execlinktarget%28%27speakingtree.in%27%2C%27url%27%29/http://execlinktarget%28%27speakingtree.in%27%2C%27url%27%29/http://execlinktarget%28%27speakingtree.in%27%2C%27url%27%29/http://execlinktarget%28%27speakingtree.in%27%2C%27url%27%29/ -
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BJP will not dump Modi for Nitish, NDA headed for split
Ignores Bihar CMs Threat To Walk Out
TIMES NEWS NETWORK
New Delhi: The NDA on Sunday looked set to split in a few months
after the BJP virtually rejected Nitish Kumars demand to rule out by
the year-end Narendra Modi as the partys prime ministerial candidate
and ignored the Bihar CMs warning that he would walk out of the
opposition grouping if his wishes were not complied with.
Kumars warning came in a hard-hitting speech aimed at Modi in
which hewithout taking namesrejected the BJP leaders
candidature for the powerful political office on the ground of lack of
secular credentials and for pursuing a growth model which was
exclusive and not humane.We have worked well underAtal Bihari Vajpayee and our
coalition has run smoothly in Bihar, but we cannot compromise with
our fundamentalprinciples like secularism, Kumar said in his much-
awaited address to the JD(U) national council.Other allies must take
cue: Cong
As the BJP-JD(U) relations appeared to hit a rough patch, the
Congress quickly moved in, saying NDA constituents must insist on a
PM nominee with secular credibility beyond doubt. I&B minister
Manish Tewari said, I think other partners of NDA need to take cue
from what JD(U) has said and step up to the plate and make the vision
of India clear. Congress leader Rajiv Shukla sought to join cause
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withNitish Kumar, saying, Modi has been beating his own drum.
While other CMs have been doing better than him, they are not going
around beating their drums.Wont accept Narendra Modi as
NDAs PM nominee: NitishMakes Stand Clear In Meet With
Rajnath
New Delhi: Bihar CM Nitish Kumar made plain his veto on Narendra
Modis projection as PM to BJP chief Rajnath Singh, pointing out that
a perception was swiftly gaining ground that the Gujarat strongmans
candidature was a done deal. During his meeting with Singh on
Saturday, Kumar is understood to have made the point that even if
BJPs formal position was that no decision had been taken on a PM
nominee, the impression about Modi being the saffron choice was
getting sanctified.
Kumar conveyed to Singh that he had no complaints about thefunctioning of the JD(U)-BJP alliance but was not amenable to
amending his view that Modi as PM was unacceptable. Singh is
understood to have accepted that the point ofcontention was not easy
to resolve but urged the Bihar CM to wait it out so that both sides
could give a thought to possible solutions.
Sources said that although the JD (U)s relaxed deadline to the BJP
that it should declare its PM nominee by the year-end gives both
parties some breathing space, tensions can rise after the Karnataka
polls in May when Modi could be made in-charge of the campaign
committee. BJP will have to give careful thought to any decision that
is seen as another step towards naming Modi as PM-in-waiting.
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Kumars notice to BJP may be somewhat relaxed, but the CM is firm
on opposing Modi even if this leads to a split with his ally.
Kumars message is intended to test the saffron outfits resilience
and so far, BJP has not risen to the bait. The view in BJP seems to be
that since there is no obvious solution, it might be better to wait and
see if one suggests itself.
Clarify stand on secular PM candidate: Congress
New Delhi: With the JD(U) almost vetoing Narendra Modi as BJPs
prime ministerial nominee, Congress on Sunday tried to drive a
wedge between the two NDA constituents by advising other partners
to take cue and clarify their stand on a secular PM candidate.
With dissenting voices coming from within NDA, Congress raked
up the secular versus communal debate in an attempt to corner
Modi who is emerging as the frontrunner as the BJPs PM nomineefor the 2014 Lok Sabha polls.
Today, these voices have started emanating from within the NDA.
So I think the other partners of NDA need to take cue from what
JD(U) has said and step up to the plate and make the vision of the idea
of India clear, I&B minister Manish Tewari told reporters. TNN
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ADDING SOME SENSE
If Advani is Available to be PM, it Should End Debate
It is not a given that a successful chief minister will
automatically become a successful prime minister, says former
finance minister
YASHWANT SINHA SENIOR BJP LEADER
JD(U) wants BJP to declare its prime ministerial candidate by the
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year-end. You had said in January that the time has come to declare
Narendra Modi as BJPs PM candidate. What would you say now,
especially considering JD(U)s reservations about him?
There are two facts which we should keep in mind. One, the
confusion in Congress has become more confounded because the
present prime minister has thrown his hat in the ring for a third
term. Earlier, I also believed that Rahul Gandhi was their
unquestionable candidate. In the light of this development and also
in view of the fact that JD(U) feels BJP should declare its PM
candidate by the end of the year, perhaps we should wait and BJP
parliamentary board should take a view in this matter.
A JD(U) spokesperson has said that NDA fought 2009 polls under LK
Advani, which suggests that the party may not be adverse to him.
What do you have to say?
Advaniji is the senior-most, most respected leader and if he is
available to lead the party and government, then that should end all
discussion. Everyone should fall in line and work together for the
party under his leadership. But the call will have to be taken first by
Advaniji himself, secondly by the party and finally by NDA.
But you had only said that Modi was the best candidate to lead the
party. Why this change now?
The cadres still want Modi and most people want him. But that was
always being discussed in context of leaders who belong to a
generation below Advani. As far as Advaniji is concerned, he is in a
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different league.
In 2009, the party had fought the Lok Sabha elections under
Advanis leadership. The experiment failed and after that BJP had
decided against projecting a PM candidate before elections.
There are many instances in our political history, including that of
Atal Bihari Vajpayee, when we failed to muster a majority under his
or somebody elses leadership. There were instances when they may
have lost their own election also. But that did not prevent Atalji from
becoming the most successful PM when he got the chance. So the loss of one
election, in our system, is not held against anyone.
Would there be unanimityin BJP on Advanis candidature?
In BJP, once a decision is taken, everyone falls in line.
If Modi is announced as BJPs PM candidate and the JD(U) snaps ties with
NDA, what do you think would be the repercussions?
This is a hypothetical question. If you go back in history I am the father of this
alliance. I forged the alliance with the Samata Party, when George Fernandes
was the president and Nitish Kumar was a senior leader. I will be the last
person to wish it to break. We are two different parties and both have the
right to take their political decision in their own best interest.
Would JD(U)s parting ways with NDA weaken the anti-Congress campaign?
Its not just our anti-Congressism campaign. It is as much JD(U)s campaign. I
will find it difficult to believe they will do anything which will give an advantage
to Congress. As far as Bihar is concerned, Congress has been dead.
Will JD(U)-BJP break-up effect Bihars politics?
Its difficult to answer because people of Bihar want neither Congress nor RJD,
and, thats why I feel we should not confront them with a difficult choice.
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Several chief ministers Modi, Shivraj Singh Chauhan and Nitish Kumar
have been projecting states development models. Which in your view would
be best suited for the Centre?
A development model, howsoever successful at the state level, cannot become
the development model for the country as a whole. In formulating the fiscal
and development policies for the country, one has to keep in mind issues like
interest rates, money supply, the current account deficit, FTAs and promotion
of trade, all India direct and indirect taxation issues, apart from international
developments, which impact the countrys programmes. These are not issues
with which the state governments are concerned. It is therefore not a given
that a successful chief minister will automatically become a successful prime
minister.
How would you compare Modi and Rahul Gandhi?
Its a comparison unfair to Rahul. Here is a mature, chiseled leader and
administrator who has proved himself over a decade, and, on the other hand,you have a struggling politician whose only asset so far has been his pedigree.
The second part of the budget session is beginning next week. Is BJP ready to
cooperate with UPA in passage of financial sector reform bills?
UPA needs BJPs cooperation on several issues, including land acquisition,
Bangladesh boundary settlement, Lokpal and therefore I have always felt that
apart from issues on which cooperation is sought, it is the spirit of the
cooperation displayed by the ruling side that is more important.
Interviewed by Amita Shah
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ON RAHUL Vs MODI
Its a comparison unfair to Rahul. Here is a leader who has proved himself
over a decade, and, on the other hand, you have a struggling politician whose
only asset is his pedigree
On JD
U
ALLIANCE
We are two different parties & both have the right to take their political
decision in their own best interest
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APPLE SALES TO REACH A MILESTONE
With $1B This Fiscal, i Now Stands for India
Revenues to jump from . 2,000 cr in FY12 to over . 5,400 cr on back
of surging iPhone sales
WRITANKAR MUKHERJEE & SAGAR MALVIYA
KOLKATA | MUMBAI
Apple Indias revenues rose three times to cross . 2,000 crore for the
year ended March 2012, and analysts expect surging iPhone sales in
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the country to propel the companys topline to over $1 billion (.
5,400 crore) in the current fiscal.
The maker of iPhones and iPads does not disclose the financial
results for the Indian unit, but as per the latest filings with the
Registrar of Companies (RoC), Apple India Private Ltds revenues rose
223% to . 2,003.9 crore in FY12 from . 620 crore, a year ago. During
the same period, the Indian units net profit shot up 431% to . 311.5
crore from . 58.6 crore.
These figures predate the aggressive marketing strategies adopted
by Apple in the last six months and experts say it is possible that
Apple Indias strong showing in 2011-12 woke the company up to the
countrys huge potential. The companys huge jump in revenues has
made it realise the potential of the Indian market. Apple is chasing
volumes and looking at the number game, said Manasi Yadav of IDC,
a firm that tracks sales of consumer technology products. iPhone
shipments to India have risen three times in the last six months
and according to Singapore-based market researcher Canalys, its
robust sales growth will continue this year, enabling the company to
clock $1 billion in 2013-14. According to Canalys, Apple would have
grossed $500 million from iPhone sales in India alone in 2012-13.
Apples iPhone shipments to India will be in the range of 6-7 lakh
units during 2012-13 as compared to some 4 lakh units during 2011-
12, said a Canalys analyst.
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LEARN OR EARN
DEBATE: Should students opt for a traditional degree
(Bachelors) or a professional course at the undergraduate level?
FOR SWATI SALUNKHE Career
Counsellor Professional/specialised courses should be ones choice at
the undergraduate level. Once students decide on their profession,
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which they usually do at the UG level, it is important to specialise
from the beginning. For example, today, there are several specialised
courses like BMM, BBI and BAF offered at the UG level. These
courses are pursued by students who have a clear idea of their career
path. A detailed
knowledge of their field
of interest helps them build a strong foundation. Todays
generation is clear on what they want to do. Hence, pursuing a general
graduation degree that covers a wide range of topics is not beneficial
to students since they wont need it. Students usually decide on a
career option after much research, after they have had a taste of what
they are getting into.
In line with this, it is beneficial for students to complete a
specialised course at the UG level. This is because, once theygraduate, they have a fair idea of what the industry expects. A
combination of both, UG and PG specialised qualifications, produce
fairly experienced, market-valued fresh.
However, students who pursue certificate/diploma programmes
along with a specialised UG course, have an edge when applying for
PG courses. Some of the certificate/diploma programmes that can be
pursued along with graduation are design, computer, travel and
tourism, language, education, fitness training, photography, event
management, etc. But, students need to consider their long-term goals,
interest, potential, time factor and financial resources before
committing to any course or profession.
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- As told to Anishaa Sahijwala, Mumbai AGAINST
PARTHA PRATIM GHOSH
HoD, Department of Economics,
St Xaviers College, Kolkata Professional courses should not be
taken up at the undergraduate level and should be opted for only after
graduation or higher studies. For a student who has just
entered college, it would be beneficial for him or her to have a broad-
based education, often not provided by professional courses.
On the other hand, in general studies, a wide range of topics are
taught under a single subject. This helps a student to build a strong
foundation, even though s/he may later venture into professional
fields or choose to stay on in academics. In this age of competition,
higher education is necessary as a certain level of maturity develops
over the years and a student is in a better position to choose a fruitfulcareer.
On a personal note, when I was pursuing my MBA, I realised that I
was able to grasp the concepts of economics better than my
classmates. This clarity of sense and thought can only be attributed to
my graduation and post graduation in economics.
Young students today are in a hurry to start earning at an early age.
It is true that the job market is competitive, but the early bird does not
necessarily fare well. This is because there is a difference between
quick earning and good earning. Professional courses may provide
easy placements but the nature and stability of the job is questionable.
It is of no use to get any odd job that does not pay well. Rather, one
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can pursue higher studies and gain experience by doing well-paid
apprenticeships and internships. Work experience is highly valued by
employers and it gives a certain edge during recruitment.
- As told to
Aditi Guha, Kolkata
THE SPEAKING TREE
Discovering God In The GapsKishor Kulkarni
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Consider three common scenarios:
1. A lady is sick for a long time with a chronic disease. Despite
unsparing efforts by her family and best medical expertise, there is
no improvement in her condition.
2. A man toils very hard at his work. But his income is meagre and
not enough to support his family. Despite his best efforts at finding
additional source of income or another job, his financial situation
does not improve.
3. Scientists have been struggling to figure out how matter came
into existence. Two scientists propose a theoretical particle that
gives mass to matter which is named as Higgs boson particle after
the theorists who proposed it. Now the scientists are carrying out
experiments at Cern laboratory in Geneva to actually verify the
existence of such a particle.
The common thread in the above three scenarios is the existence
of a certain gap in each of them that is not being breached despite
best efforts by the concerned people. In scene 1, there is a gap
between the efforts of the patients family and doctors on the one
hand and the desired well-being of the lady on the other. In scene 2,
there is a gap between the mans financial needs and his efforts. In
scene 3, scientists are stumped by the gap between matter and its
origin.
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We are commonly faced with various kinds of gaps. When we find
that we cannot breach the gap despite our best efforts, we tend to
take recourse to a concept of God that covers that particular gap. For
example, in scene 1, the sick lady and her family members pray to
God in the belief that He is the only one now who can cure her. In
scene 2, the man starts thinking that it is probably Gods wish that
his financial situation be what it is. Yet, he may pray to God whom he
regards as Almighty. In scene 3, scientists end up naming that
mysterious particle, of all things, God particle, though their rational
and scientific minds may not accept the concept of God!
People taking recourse to the concept of God are classified into
four categories as per the Bhagwad Gita. The lady in scene 1 is an
aart, a sufferer who is desirous of relief from her suffering. The man
in scene 2 is an artharthi who is desiring some worldly benefit. Most
believers may fall into these two categories. They believe God to be
someone who is omnipotent and kind enough to respond to prayers.
There are two other categories of God-believing people described in
the Gita. Jidnyasu are those who have quest for knowledge. They
believe there is something more than the perceptible world. They
are curious to know about it. So, they say God is the Creator. Cern
scientists in Geneva say God particle gives matter its mass.
Thus, for most people who fall in one of the three categories
described above, the realm of the unknown and unattained belongs
to God of the gaps.
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But there is the fourth category of people. It is called jnani, the
Self-realised. They are those who have understood the real nature of
existence and have ceased to see any duality. Hence they perceive
no gap any longer. They are in the state of Aham Brahmasmi. There
is no God apart from them. In other words, they themselves have
become God!
Post your comments on our website,www.speakingtree.in
The Big Boxing Bout Begins GUESS WHOS PUNCHINGWHOMHarish Bijoor
As Karnataka wakes up to another summer of election discontent, the decibel
level in our lives is slated to go up in the weeks ahead of May 5. This is not just
aural noise. Instead, its all about the clutter of the visual, the confused tonality of
touch, the sense of mixed election smell, and indeed, the delicious taste of an
election as well. Not to talk of the after-tastebitter or otherwise!
Elections, after all, are very sensorial processes. Sensorial processes that affect
our sense of sight, the sense of smell, the sense of touch, the sense of sound, the
sense of taste, and indeed, the sixth sense. This is a lovely time to assess what each
party has in store for itself in terms of imagery. Imagery cues that each party has
accrued over the last five years, and in the case of one party, cues that have accrued
over the last three months.
The brand position of a political party is the exact pinpointed position a political
party occupies in a voters mind at a point in time, in relation to all other parties.
Lets explore the brand positions and high ground occupied by the parties now.
Lets remember, every political party is a brand and its leaders are sub -brands that
either embellish or rob the party of its deserving image. So, here goes a quick
http://execlinktarget%28%27www.speakingtree.in%27%2C%27url%27%29/http://execlinktarget%28%27www.speakingtree.in%27%2C%27url%27%29/http://execlinktarget%28%27www.speakingtree.in%27%2C%27url%27%29/http://execlinktarget%28%27www.speakingtree.in%27%2C%27url%27%29/http://execlinktarget%28%27www.speakingtree.in%27%2C%27url%27%29/ -
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paintbrush imagery of the four prominent formations assembled to face the
electorate.
BJP
THE STORY SO FAR
Heres a party in tumult. But, then, which party is not? The nataka of Karnataka
politics has bitten every one of them. The BJP, however, has many bites to show
though. It had a clear mandate to rule. BS Yeddyurappa, the grass-roots leader,
became CM. It had a good start. What followed was the politics of appeasement,
rebellion of the Bellary Brothers, scams, and finally imprisonment(s). A new CM
took charge. Again, we saw resort politics, brinkmanship, and another CM. Old
issues cropped up again. BSY got all set to split the Lingayat vote. Brinkmanship
followed. The leader quit the party he built. The KJP was born.
BRAND IMAGERY
Corruption is a non-issue; performance is. Voters strangely forgive corruption but
not lack of performance. The BJP is seen as a party that squandered the popular
and solid mandate given to it; its an unforgivable image the party now has to
contend with. Significantly, this is the key explanation the partys communication
strategy needs to address.
Congress
THE STORY SO FAR
A party broken in form. While the party ruled the roost in the UPA coalition at the
Centre, Karnataka remained a muddled dream of fishing in troubled waters. The
efforts kept moving in a straight-line trajectory as any opposition party worth its
salt would indulge in. Despite so many opportunities provided by the ruling party
in the state, the party could never seize them really. A divided state leadership
ensured the partys biggest competition was from within. Sadly, th is continues to
date, with the latest bickering on ticket allocation catalyzing it even more. Who is
the real leader of the Congress party in the state, then?
BRAND IMAGERY
The Congress is fighting with itself. It has a near sure-shot chance at governance.
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The party has, however, not got its act together. The party is seen to be secular. Its
leaders seem to exhibit ability, but the missing element is a common weal and a
common driver who all will respect, before, during and after elections. This is the
key communication that the party needs to address. Manifesto apart, the party
leadership needs to be defined.
JD(S)
THE STORY SO FAR
A party that is intermittently awake and intermittently asleep. Are there two parties
really, or one? Is there a party in North Karnataka and one in Bangalore-Mysore?
HD Kumaraswamys work has been appreciated in the past at the ground level. But
has Kumaranna lost out being centre-stage for long? Public memory is proverbially
short. The partys stand on Cauvery and Krishna waters has been appreciated by
farmers. Thats a plus. Is JD(S) a party that is family -led and family-managed?
And has this put off a lot of leaders who have deserted it over the last five years?
BRAND IMAGERY
Confused as of now. The party needs to address key issues in the eye and move
much beyond its trajectory of talking about farmers at large. Rapid urbanization is
a reality and the party needs to address issues related to infrastructure and
education clearly and purposefully. Just water politics may not do.
KJP
THE STORY SO FAR
A newborn led by an old warhorse. Yeddyurappa is possibly the only leader in the
pantheon of leaders around who can be seen to be a real grass-roots leader capable
of rousing the troops into action. The pity, however, is that the troops are just being
assembled, and some of his key confidants still sit in the BJP. This delay might
prove to be just too costly.
BRAND IMAGERY
The party needs to assemble its troops together fast. The key communication piece
it needs to address is the fact that many a voter will think voting for the KJP is a
waste of a vote. The typical hurdle the best of independent candidates faces in
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electionsvoters want to vote for you but dont as they want a winner and not a
loser to be the beneficiary of their valuable votefaces the KJP as well. This is a
big communication task.
The author is a brand expert &
CEO, Harish Bijoor Consults Inc
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JD(U) set to put BJP on notice over Modi-for-PMAlly Likely To Bite Bullet At Weekend MeetTIMES NEWS NETWORK
New Delhi: The unity of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA)
looks set to be tested this weekend, with the Janata Dal (United) likely to ask
the saffron outfit to shortly declare its candidate for prime minister while
making it clear that it would not accept a person lacking in secular image:
political shorthand for Gujarat CM
Narendra Modi.
Sources in the party said the JD(U) executive and national meetings set for
the weekend would make it plain to the BJP that it would not indefinitely put up
with ambiguity on the leadership. Such a reminder could strain to breaking
point the ties between the NDA allies who already seem to be drifting apart over
the likelihoodof Modis projection as the main oppositions candidate for the
top political job.
The BJP has been putting off a formal announcement on its candidate for the
PMO for fear of offending allies like Bihar CM Nitish Kumar.
Kumar has told the BJP leadership on several occasions since last year that he
would walk out of the opposition grouping should Modi be named the
opposition candidate. The BJP leadership assuaged him by saying that they had
not decided on anyone and by promising that they would consult all NDA
partners before taking a call.
But with all signs suggesting that the Gujarat CM is set to lead the party into
the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, the JD (U) is keen that the BJP reveal its hand
without delay.
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TURBULENT ALLIANCE
Nitish Kumar and George Fernandes ally with BJP in 1996 when they were part
of Samata Party which won 6 Lok Sabha seats in Bihar. Both were part of NDA
govt in 1999
Janata Dal (United) formed in 2003 after merger with Sharad Yadav faction of
Janata Dal
JD(U)-BJP tie-up rests on shared objective of opposing RJD leader Lalu Prasad.
Alliance elected in Bihar in 2005 & 2010
Relations jolted in 2010 when Nitish cancels dinner for BJP leaders over a
picture showing him and Modi together
In June 2012, Nitish targets Modi, says in an interview that NDA must project a
PM with secular credentials
NDA has 151 MPs in the Lok Sabha; JD(U) is the BJPs largest ally with 20
seatsDeclare PM candidate: JD(U) to BJP
New Delhi: Janata Dal (United) is likely to ask the BJP to declare its prime
ministerial candidate soon. We don't want to be caught unawares, said aJD(U) leader who pointed out that for the 2009 elections, NDA had declared L
K Advani as its candidate by 2007-end. We are merely asking them to follow
what they did the last time, the JD(U) leader said.
The ratification of Kumars line by the JD(U)s national council and national
executive is expected to eliminate the room for what the party source called a
lastminute nasty surprise.When asked, JD(U) president Sharad Yadav refused to discuss the details,
and limited himself to saying that members of the national executive and
national council will discuss the political scenario in detail and with an open
mind, stressing that nothing was decided yet. It all depends on what all the
delegates may decide to discuss and the decisions they take, stressed the
veteran leader who is to be elected president of the party for a record third
term.
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Kumar also refused to be drawn out on the issue, though he indicated that the
deliberations will cover NDAs candidate for prime ministership and chart out
the way forward. We will discuss the current political situation in its entirety
and all its complexity, he said.
When specifically asked whether the leadership issue was also on the table,
Kumar said, When I say the entire political situation, that includes
everything.
However, sources in the party confirmed that the issue of prime ministerial
candidate figures high on the agenda of the national executive and national
council. They asserted that the party would not countenance any prevarication.
BJP sources refused to comment on the likelihood of JD(U) upping its ante,
but appeared resigned to the possibility of a split with one of its oldest allies.
The rupture, ironically, may work to Modi's advantage by eliminating
displeasure of allies as the consideration in the leadership sweepstakes.
JD(U)'s secular rivals have taunted it for persisting with BJP despite the
growing indications that Modi was headed to bag the prime ministerialnomination.
The pressure from JD(U) may force the BJP to confront a decision it has
dodged for the sake of preserving the NDA and not to rebuff aspirations within
its fold. With Modi having surged ahead in the race for prime ministerial
nomination on the strength of his appeal among the cadre, the party may find it
difficult to submit to Kumar's demand to rule him out, and that tooimmediately.
The meetings of JD(U)'s national executive and national council, on Saturday
and Sunday respectively, will highlight the Bihar model and its social equity
emphasis as a more viable formulation in comparison to Modi's pro-free
enterprise. The Gujarat model cannot be applicable in other states, senior
JD(U) leader Bashisht Narain Singh said.
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Re-open 84 riots case against Tytler: Court
Smriti Singh TNN
New Delhi: The ghost of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots has returned yet again to haunt
Congress leader Jagdish Tytler. A sessions court on Wednesday ordered
reopening of the case against him despite the CBI giving him the clean chit
twice.
The former Union minister is accused of instigating a mob on November 1,
1984, whose actions led to the death of three persons taking shelter
in a gurdwara.
Setting aside the order of a magisterial court, which had accepted the CBIs
closure report in 2010, the court directed the agency to record the statements of
purported witnesses.
CBI is directed to conduct further investigationand to record statements of
witnesses, who it had come to know during the investigation itself, are claiming
to be eyewitnesses of the incident, additional sessions judge Anuradha Shukla
Bhardwaj said.
Let the law take its own course, Tytler told TOI, putting up a brave front.
CBI has nothing on me and I will come out clean. Today, the court has asked
CBI to further investigate and has said nothing against me. This matter is purely
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between CBI and Lakhwinder Kaur (complainant). I am not in the picture, the
veteran Congress leader said.
BACK IN THE DOCK
NOV 1984 | Anti-Sikh riots claim around 3,000 lives in Delhi. Jagdish Tytler is
MP from Delhi Sadar at the time JAN 1985 | Tytler becomes Union minister in
Rajiv government after elections AUG 10, 2005 | Resigns as minister in UPA
govt after Nanavati panel on 84 riots recommends registration of case against
him. Tytler accused of instigating a mob that killed three men hiding in a
gurdwara on Nov 1 SEPT 2007 | CBI files closure report, gives him clean
chit DEC 2007 |Court rejects closure report APR 2, 2009 | CBI again files
closure report. Accepted by court APR 10, 2013 | Sessions court orders
reopening of case, on plea of the widow of one of the victims Statements of 4
witnesses not recorded
The courts order came on a plea challenging the magisterial courts order that
accepted CBIs closure report. Appearing for the riot victims and Lakhwinder
Kaur, whose husband was one of the victims, senior advocate H S Phoolka hadsought the courts direction for further investigations. Phoolka had alleged that
the agency disregarded the statement of material witnesses. Kaur in her plea had
claimed there are four persons, Resham Singh, Chanchal Singh, Alam Singh
and Santosh Singh, who witnessed the incident.
The CBI had sought dismissal of the Kaurs plea saying the probe had made
it clear that Tytler was not present on November 1, 1984 at GurudwaraPulbangash in north Delhi, where three people were killed during the riots.
While the CBI has given a clean chit to Tytler twice in the past citing the
witnesses as non reliable, Wednesdays order left the agency red-faced as the
court found fault with the probe for not examining all available witnesses.
The CBI had contended that the statements of eyewitness Surinder Singh,
who had died, were contradictory and could not be relied upon. The court,
however, cited a Supreme Court judgment in another 1984 riots case against
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Sajjan Kumar, in which it was held that contradictions in the statements of
witnesses were a matter to decided during the trial and could not be considered
earlier.
Going by the law laid down by the Supreme Court, the contradictions in the
statements of witness Surinder Singh given at different points of time could not
be analysed and read for or against any party at the stage of summoning, it
said.
The sessions court also pulled up the trial court which had accepted the CBIs
plea that Surinder Singh was not reliable and, as he had died, the contradictions
in his statements could not be explained.
Citing the apex courts judgment, the ASJ said the death of a witness could
not be a ground to conclude that no evidence would come to corroborate the
statements made by him.
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Rahulsjibesmake Modi sting like a bee
A Gladiatorial Duel In The Offing In 2014?TIMES NEWS NETWORK
Ahmedabad: Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi on Saturday joined issue with
Rahul Gandhi for equating India with abeehive, heightening the prospect of the2014 Lok Sabha elections turning into a gladiatorial duel between the two politicalarch-rivals.
It is unfortunate that a senior Congress leader equated India with abeehive. For
us India is our motherland. For us, India comes first, Modi said reacting toGandhis recent speech at a CII function without naming him.
The Gujarat CM, the leading claimant for being the BJPs prime ministerialnominee, who was addressing a huge meeting of BJP workers did not mentionRahul, but rubbed it in by suggesting that the Congress scion was not familiar with
Indian ethos. If you cannot understand the language and culture of the country,avoid saying anything that insults the motherland by equating it with a beehive,
he said.
Goel puts Advani back in race for PM
The next central government would be formed under BJP stalwart L K Advanis
leadership and nobody else, Delhi BJP chief Vijay Goel said on Saturday. His
comments, pitching the veterans name in the race for PM, in the presence of BJP
chief Rajnath Singh and Advani set off afresh round of speculation.P9Insult
heaped on BJP will work in its favour: ModiRahul Gandhi had on Thursday likened India to a beehive, saying that it
reflected the countrys energy and complexity. He also appeared to have taken a
veiled swipe at Modi that the CMs allegedly exclusivist agenda and
individualistic style was not suited for Indias needs.
A ripostefrom Modi was expected and it came Saturdays party function,
though in an interview to Times Now he had parried a question based on
Rahuls beehive metaphor.
In the interview, he also avoided a direct reply on whether the battle for 2014 isshaping up as a Modi versus Rahul match up. Modi also took on Congress for
terming him a Yamraj (God of death), saying that every such insult heaped on the
BJP will only work to partys advantage. The more dirt you throw on us, the
more the lotus (BJPs poll symbol) will bloom. In 2007, they called me Maut
ke saudagar and you people gave a befitting answer to them in the elections. Now,
they are calling me Yamraj. I am sure you will give them a 0similar answer in2014, Modi said.
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Delhi BJP chief stirs leadership debateGoel Asserts Next Govt Will Be Under AdvaniTIMES NEWS NETWORK
New Delhi: Delhi BJP chief Vijay Goel raised more than a few eyebrows on
Saturday by asserting that the next government will be formed under party veteran
L K Advanis leadership, although he offered a retraction soon after.
The next government at the Centre will be formed under the leadership of L KAdvani and nobody else, Goel said, stirring the leadership debate at a time when
the clamour to project Gujarat CM Narendra Modi is growing.Although Goel soon amended his remarks, saying the prime ministerial
nominee will be decided by the BJP parliamentary board, his comments in thepresence of party chief Rajnath Singh and Advani set off a fresh round of
speculation.
Goel soon qualified his comments. As Advanij i is the tallest leader, the partywill fight the next election under his leadership (n e t r i t w a), he told TOI.
However, he added that the PM debate will be settled by the parliamentary board.
There is no debatethe party president has already said that the PM issue willbe addressed by the BJP parliamentary board, he said.
This is the second time in recent weeks that Goel has been at the centre of acontroversy over his observations on the leadership issue.
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AMBITIOUS TO-DO LIST
FM rules out early polls Says Govt Will Fulfil Agenda
TIMES NEWS NETWORK
New Delhi: Finance minister P Chidambaram on Saturday emphatically ruled
out early general elections, saying the government will fulfil its agenda and
then go for polls in May 2014, even as he unveiled an ambitious todo list for
the government in the run up to the contest.
There will be no early elections. Elections will take place on time in May
2014, Chidambaram said at the end of an hour-long news conference where
he also expressed the resolve to make the Direct Benefits of Transfer scheme a
success. He said the scheme, which the Congress expects to be the 2014
clincher, will soon cover cooking gas subsidy.
Chidambaram made it clear the government wants to accumulate an
impressive core card to run on. Why should the government expect an early
election? All that I said in the last 50 minutes, does that point towards early
elections? It points to completing our agenda for 2013-14 and then going for
elections in May, Chidambaram said when asked about a report saying the
government wants to bring forward elections.
Government has planned to get food security and land acquisition bills part of the political ammunition it wants to stack up for 2014 when
Parliament resumes on April 22 after the recess: the chief reason it has dodged
Mulayam Singh Yadavs increasing aggression against Congress.
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TROUBLED TIMES
Mallya under govt scanner
MP Kadam, Too, Faces Heat For Tax Evasion
TIMES NEWS NETWORK
NewDelhi:The government is probing Rajya Sabha member and chief of ailing
Kingfisher Airline Vijay Mallya, top industrialists and Lok Sabha member
Vivekananda Kadam, and those who figure in the list of names exposed by a
global media investigative operation are being probed for alleged tax evasion.
Finance minister P Chidambaram confirmed on Saturday that a probe has
been ordered based on the names unveiled by the investigation by the
International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) and its partner
media houses.
Yes. We have taken note of the names and inquiries have been put in
motion in respect of the names that have been exposed, Chidambaram told a
news conference when asked whether the government had ordered any
investigation on the ICIJ expose. He did not elaborate on the nature of the
probe or which agencies were involved. A global journalistic investigation had
exposed secret financial dealings of several politicians, industrialists and
professionals in tax havens. Names of 612 Indians, including at least twomembers of parliament and several industrialists, figured in the list. Among
the Indians with accounts in the tax havens exposed by the ICIJ investigation
also include industrialists such as Ravikant Ruia, Teja Raju, Samir Modi, Chetan
Burman, Abhey Kumar Oswal, Rahul Mammen Mappillai, Saurabh Mittal, Sonu
Lalchand Mirchandani, Vinod Doshi etc. Some of the Indians are NRIs, and
therefore could legitimately use tax havens, while many of them whose names
figured in the list have denied ever opening accounts in British Virgin Islands or
other tax havens. The investigation by ICIJ and its partner media houses had
exposed 120,000 companies registered in secretive tax havens and nearly
130,000 individuals.
Replying to another question on the sting operation conducted by Cobrapost
which has alleged money laundering by three top private banks ICICI Bank, Axis
Bank and HDFC Bank, the finance minister said stern action would be taken if
there is any violation of laws.
My officers have told me that have taken a look at the CDs of the earlier
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sting that were telecast. My officers have not yet had a chance to look at this
CD but in the earlier sting they have taken a look at it. They have drawn some
tentative conclusions, the finance minister said.
We are waiting for the internal enquiries promised by the three banks, the
private sector banks and the report of the RBI. RBI is seriously looking into the
matter. So if there are any tax related violations certainly we will take action.
But as I said if there is any violation of tax law stern action will be taken,
Chidambaram said while replying to a question on the sting operation
conducted by online portal Cobrapost.
He said his officers who have reviewed the initial CDs of the sting have said
that the tentative conclusion is that in not one of the cases was there a real
intention to open a bank account in the name of a real person or offer realmoney to the banker to open the account.
So if there is no real money was exchanged, no real intention to open a
bank account there does not seem to be any violation of the Income Tax Act.
But they could be violating some other laws which are being looked into, he
added.
Govt meets 2012-13 tax target
New Delhi: Finance minister P Chidambaram on Saturday said the fiscal deficit
for 2012-13 is expected to be better than the 5.2% of gross domestic product
(GDP) announced earlier on the back of robust revenues and some savings.
Addressing a news conference, Chidambaram also allayed fears over the
widening current account deficit (CAD) saying the annual number for the 2012-
13 fiscal would be more tolerable. As always there will be some savings (on
expenditure). So what does it mean ... if we reach the revenue target and if
there are some savings, the fiscal deficit will be better than 5.2% that I have
projected, Chidambaram said but declined to guess the actual number.The finance minister said that revenue receipts in 2012-13 fiscal year the
government had been able to meet the overall target of Rs 10.38 lakh crore
despite a tough economic environment. He said there was a slippage on direct
taxes front but on the indirect tax front the target had exceeded the revised
estimates. In the indirect taxes there was excess over the target. In the direct
taxes, there was a shortfall over target. But overall we have achieved the
target of over Rs 10.38 lakh crore, he said and added that revenue growth in
2012-13 was 16.7%.
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The government had been struggling to meet its revenue target for 2012-13
against the backdrop of slowing growth and a challenging economic
environment but the last minute push by the government has enabled it to
meet the target and help trim the fiscal deficit. TNN
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RIGHT & WRONG
To win, Modi has to sell a dream
SWAPAN DAS GUPTA
Leafing through a bundle of yellowed newspaper clippings of the 1984 general
election, I was struck by the remarkable extent to which the editorial class
failed to read the clear writing on the wall. Those were the days before the
public was inundated with opinion polls and, consequently, were over-
dependant on journalistic assessments. But in fixing their gaze on caste
equations, factional rivalries and local grievances, they failed to gauge a
simple fact: that a people traumatized by Indira Gandhis assassination had
chosen to vote as a nation.The next general election is unlikely to be held under such fearful
circumstances. But whatever is the mental state of India on voting day either
later this year or in 2014, one thing is certain: the editorial classes are unlikely
to capture the big picture. The media as a whole has shown a marked
disinclination to distinguish between noise and music.
A recent event will illustrate the point vividly. Last week, the BJP president
nominated Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi to the partys parliamentary
board, its highest decision-making body. The appointment was the clearest
signal that Modi had been assigned a national role and had been raised to the
status of first among equals. For all practical purposes, he is likely to be the
face of the BJP campaign in the general election. Regardless of whether he is
formally anointed the shadow PM, in the public perception he will be viewed
as such.
Ever since Modi won the Gujarat Assembly election for the third consecutive
occasion in December, there was a certain inevitability about the elevation.
Anyone with an ear to the ground would have detected the growing clamour
for Modi, not merely among the committed BJP activists and voters but among
a larger section of the electorate. There was a fierce groundswell from below
which forced the hands of the BJP leadership. And yet, despite the sheer logic
of the unstructured democratic process, there was a disproportionate media
focus on those who tried to wage a losing battle.
The details of this futile rearguard action are well known to those who are
tuned to the political grapevine. First, it was suggested that a Patel revolt
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would put an end to Modis re-election bid in Gujarat. Secondly, it was
authoritatively stated that the RSS would veto any attempt to project an
individual over the cause. Thirdly, it was suggested that the BJP couldnt
afford to disregard Nitish Kumars public disavowal of Modi. And, finally, it
was put out that LK Advanis opposition to Project Modi would eventually
prevail.
The hurdles in the path of Modis journey into national politics werent all
concocted. In normal times, these would have been formidable obstacles. In
an election year, however, their importance was nominal, particularly since
Modi was being propelled by an outburst of sentiment. In a democracy, the
biggest attribute of a politician is popularity, and in the primary rounds Modi
had that going for him.This is not to suggest that the road to Modis entry into the house on Race
Course Road is pre-determined. Although an outsider enjoys a natural
advantage at a time when the Delhi Establishment stands exposed asinept and
venal, he still faces many real challenges.
The foremost of these is his ability to reconcile his personal popularity with
the increasingly jaded reputation of his party. Trends since 1996 suggest that
Lok Sabha elections are an aggregate of local, national and leadership contests.
If Modi is unable to break this mould, he will find himself in a position similar
to that of Atal Behari Vajpayee in 1996: the leader of the largest party in a
hung Parliament but unable to cross the 272-seat hump. Since the BJPs
footprint doesnt extend throughout India, the only realistic course for Modi is
to emulate what Indira Gandhi did in 1980: convert a parliamentary poll into a
presidential election. The electorate has to be convinced that it is electing a
Modi sarkar.
Political messaging holds the key to a Modi campaign. There has to be adominant theme that touches voters in every corner of India and overrides
regional and sectional considerations. Modi has to both sell a dream and
simultaneously invoke the fear of India turning into a land of shrinking
opportunities. A nuanced campaign that appeals in part to aspirational India, in
part to Hindu nationalism and in part to caste will be a disastrous cocktail.
The personality of Modi and the national yearning for a strong leader
demands an in-your-face approach with a strong positive message. A goody-
goody Modi wont sell. He is not a Vajpayee.
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Of course, it will be a gamble and will offend those who believe that Indias
future lies in muddling through. But no wars are won without audacity and
determination.
MODI-FY: The Gujarat CM has to reconcile his personal popularity with the
increasingly jaded reputation of his party
Our inconsistent ethical instincts
We like to believe that our principles are rooted in conviction. But research
shows that they are little more than fickle, inconsistent intuitions
Matthew Hutson
Moral quandaries often pit concerns about principles against concerns about
practical consequences. Should we ban assault rifles and large sodas,restricting peoples liberties for the sake of physical health and safety? Should
we allow drone killings or torture, if violating one persons rights could save a
thousand lives?
We like to believe that the principled side of the equation is rooted in deep,
reasoned conviction. But a growing wealth of research shows that those values
often prove to be finicky, inconsistent intuitions, swayed by ethically irrelevant
factors. What you say now you might disagree with in five minutes. And such
wavering has implications for both public policy and our personal lives.
Philosophers and psychologists often distinguish between two ethical
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frameworks. A utilitarian perspective evaluates an action purely by its
consequences. If it does good, its good. A deontological approach, meanwhile,
also takes into account aspects of the action itself, like if it adheres to certain
rules. Do not kill, even if killing does good. No one adheres strictly to either
philosophy, and it turns out we can be nudged one way or the other forillogical reasons.
For a recent paper to be published in the Journal of Experimental Social
Psychology, subjects were made to think either abstractly or concretely say,
by writing about the distant or near future. Those who were primed to think
abstractly were more accepting of a hypothetical surgery that would kill a man
so that one of his glands could be used to save thousands of others from a
deadly disease. In other words, a very simple manipulation of mindset that did
not change the specifics of the case led to very different responses.
Class can also play a role. Another paper, in the March issue of the Journal of
Personality and Social Psychology, shows that upper-income people tend to
have less empathy than those from lower-income strata, and so are more
willing to sacrifice individuals for the greater good. Upper-income subjects
took more money from another subject to multiply it and give to others, and
found it more acceptable to push a fat man in front of a trolley to save five
others on the track both outcome-oriented responses. But asking subjects
to focus on the feelings of the person losing the money made wealthier
respondents less likely to accept such a trade-off.Other recent research shows similar results: stressing subjects, rushing them
or reminding them of their mortality all reduce utilitarian responses, most
likely by preventing them from controlling their emotions.
Even the way a scenario is worded can influence our judgments, as lawyers
and politicians well know. In one study, subjects read a number of variations
of the classic trolley dilemma: should you turn a runaway trolley away from
five people and onto a track with only one? When flipping the switch was
described as saving the people on the first track, subjects tended to support it.
When it was described as killing someone on the second, they did not. Samesituation, different answers.
And other published studies have shown that our moods can make misdeeds
seem more or less sinful. Ethical violations become less offensive after people
watch a humour programme like Saturday Night Live. But they become more
offensive after reading Chicken Soup for the Soul, which triggers emotional
elevation, or after smelling a mock-flatulence spray, which triggers disgust.
The scenarios in these papers are somewhat contrived (trolleys and such),
but they have real-world analogues: deciding whether to fire a loyal employee
for the good of the company, or whether to donate to a single sick child rather
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than to an aid organisation that could save several.
Regardless of whether you endorse following the rules or calculating
benefits, knowing that our instincts are so sensitive to outside factors can
prevent us from settling on our first response. Objective moral truth doesnt
exist, and these studies show that even if it did, our grasp of it would betenuous.
But we can encourage consistency in moral reasoning by viewing issues from
many angles, discussing them with other people and monitoring our emotions
closely. In recognizing our psychological quirks, we just might find answers we
can live with. NYT
NEWS SERVICE