daily paper december 23

7/30/2019 Daily Paper December 23

1/8

STUdenT aGe

R E A D T H E N E E D

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 23, 20128 Pages

Rs: 1.00

Jammu Edition

www.thestudentage.com

JKENG/2012/41612

Vol. 1 No: 175

IN BRIEFIN BRIEFTRAI lowers access

facilitation charges forsubmarine cablelanding stations

NEW DELHI: The Telecom

Regulatory Authority of

India- TRAI has lowered the

access facilitation charges for

submarine cable landing sta-

tions to reduce communica-

tion cost for BPOs and small

enterprises. TRAI in its regu-

lation has said that these

charges contd on page 2

Accreditation for allhigher educationalinstitutes to be made

mandatory soonNEW DELHI:

Accreditation for all higher

educational institutes will

soon be mandatory.

University Grants

Commission, UGC, and All

India Council for Technical

Education, AICTE, are set to

issue regulations by early

next year contd on page 2

NAC asks govt tostrengthen laws

governing village councilsNEW DELHI: The National

Advisory Council (NAC) has

asked the government to

strengthen laws that govern

village councils to ensuretheir autonomy to prevent

alienation of land from right-

ful beneficiaries. The NAC

meeting chaired by Mrs

Sonia Gandhi has suggested

aligning contd on page 2

Leh freezes atminus 17

SRINAGAR,DEC 22:

Jammu and Kashmir's Leh

town on Saturday literally

froze with minimum temper-

ature dipping to minus 17

degrees Celsius. The Met

Office has forecast a further

dip in the night temperatures

across the Ladakh region and

Kashmir Valley. "The mini-

mum temperature dipped to

minus contd on page 2

Winter vacationsfrom Dec 24

JAMMU, DEC 22:

According to the Govt order

issued by the School

Education department, all

government institutions

including recognized Private

Schools up to 12th class

falling in summer zone of

Jammu Division shall

observe winter vacations

w.e.f. December 24 to

December 29 2012. Any

default on the part of Private

Schools in observance of the

calendar contd on page 2

J&K govt'sclaims remain

confined topapers: PDP

JAMMU,DEC 22: The

opposition PDP Saturday

alleged that all claims of the

Jammu Kashmir government

on development have

remained confined to papers,

and it has "failed miserably"

on the front of implementa-

tion. "Four years' perform-

ance of this government

appears only (on) papers and

nothing contd on page 2

WASHINGTON, DEC 22: As the

global centre of economic growth moves

to Asia, India has captured the attention

of developed economies looking for new

investment and trade opportunities, says

a new report.

Noting that recent growth in India

has also emanated from a number of

under-examined sectors other than infor-

mation technology (IT) sector, it says,

the Indian economy will need to contin-

ue to diversify in order to propel its

development

And the US will need to pay close

attention to all aspects of these changes

in order to sustain strong bilateral eco-

nomic ties, says the report by Wadhwani

Chair in US-India Policy Studies at the

Centre for Strategic & International

Studies (CSIS).

Authored by CSIS fellow Persis

Khambatta Karl Inderfurth, Wadhwani

Chair and former assistant secretary of

state for South Asia, the report lists

some key recommendations from its

year-long Emerging Indian Economy

Signature Speaker Series.

There is arguably no sector more crit-

ical to India's future growth than energy,

says the report, with a chronic energy

shortage, inadequate infrastructure, and

an insatiable demand coupled with envi-

ronmental concerns.

Vikram Mehta of the Shell Group of

Companies (India) stressed that India

must find a way to handle a surge in

energy demand, highlighting that tech-

nology is underutilised, the environment

is threatened, and New Delhi has an

inadequate policy framework through

which to address these issues.

Rajiv Lall of the Infrastructure

Development Finance Company used

the term "infrastruggles" to describe the

obstacles facing contd on page 2

Developed world looks at India for investment, trade: US reportWASHINGTON, DEC 22:

The Obama administration

has appointed yet another

Indian-American to a key

administrative post, naming

Smita Singh as member of

the president's Global

Development Council.

"The Council will inform

and provide advice to the

President and other senior US

officials on American global

development policies and

practices, support new and

existing public-private part-

nerships, and increase aware-

ness and action in support of

development by soliciting

public input on current and

emerging issues in the field

of global development," the

White House said. The

Global Development Council

was established in February

through an executive order of

the President. Along with

Singh, Obama also

announced names of eight

other members of the Council

including contd on page 2

Obama appoints Indian-AmericanSmita Singh to key post

13 Sub-Inspectorspromoted, PHQ issues

ordersJAMMU, DEC 22: Police

Headquarters (PHQ) promot-

ed 13 Sub-Inspectors of

Executive Police as

Inspectors in the said Cadre.

Orders in this regard were

issued by the Director

General of Police (DGP), Mr.

Ashok Prasad here today. The

promotions have been

ordered with retrospective

effect from September 21,

2012. The promotes include

S/Shri Bupinder Singh Sasan,

Reghibir Singh, Anayat

Hussain, contd on page 2

DIRECT CASH TRANSFER SYSTEMA 'PURE MAGIC': CHIDAMBARAM

WE HAVE PEOPLE'S SUPPORTAGAINST QUOTA BILL: MULAYAM

NEPAL ARMY CHIEF TO BECONFERRED HONORARY INDIAN

ARMY

GENERAL

RANK

JAMMU, DEC 22: BJP

MLA from Jammu and

Kashmir, Jugal KishoreSharma was Saturday elected

as its new president of the

state unit. Kishore has been

elected twice from Nagotra

Assembly constituency in

Jammu district to the State

Legislative Assembly.

For conducting the elec-

tion of this post, BJP

National Spokesperson &

Member of Parliament RajivPratap Rudy had been deput-

ed by party High Command,

who was assisted by State

Prabhari Prof. Jagdish Mukhi

and Seh Prabhari Dr Anil

Jain. The election took place

peacefully and there was no

contest contd on page 2

Jugal Kishore elected asnew J&K BJP President

NEW DELHI,DEC 22:

Prime Minister Manmohan

Singh today directed Home

Minister Sushilkumar Shinde

to ensure sense of security in

Delhi and see that incidents

like last Sunday's gang-rape

do not recur. The directive

came when Shinde called Dr.

Singh to brief him on the sit-uation in the aftermath of the

gang-rape incident.

Mr. Shinde told the Prime

Minister that he was person-

ally monitoring the situation.

Dr. Singh asked Mr. Shinde

to take all measures to see

that there is no recurrence of

the incidents like the recent

gang-rape of 23-year-old girl

who was also brutally

assaulted by the six accused.

In a related development,

Congress President Sonia

Gandhi today spoke to Prime

Minister Manmohan Singh

asking for swift and immedi-

ate action in the horrendous

gangrape incident.

Her telephonic conversa-

tion with the Prime Minister

follows two strongly-worded

letters from her to Home

Minister Sushil Kumar

Shinde and Delhi Chief

Minister Shiela Dikshit on

December 18th.

In her letter to Shinde, the

Congress President had said,

it is a shame for all, who are

responsible for the security of

our cities that a young

woman can be raped in a

moving bus in the capital of

the country and flung on to

the street. She had also noted

with concern that it was a

matter of shame that such

incidents happen with painful

regularity. Mrs.Gandhi had

also visited the Safdarjung

Hospital to inquire about the

condition of the 23-year-old

victim,who was in a critical

state, after Sunday night's

incident. In the letters,

Mrs.Gandhi had sought

strictest possible measures to

ensure that there is no recur-

rence of such a barbaric

crime.

NEW DELHI, DEC 22:

The anger and rage erupted

over the gangrape of a 23-

year-old paramedical student

continued to bristle in the

national capital as students,

activists and just concerned

citizens gathered at various

places to protest and give

vent to their grief and out-

rage, demanding justice for

the victim.

Some demanding capital

punishment to the perpetra-

tors of the heinous crime,

some chanting slogans

against government's apathy,

some protesting against

Delhi police laxity, the angry

protesters are demanding

justice for the victim, who

was raped by a gang of six

men in a moving bus in

Delhi on Sunday night.

Protests turned violent fol-

lowing which police began

firing tear gas shells at pro-

testers marching towards

Rashtrapati Bhavan to

demand contd on page 2

JAMMU,DEC 22: A panel

probing the custodial death of

a National Conference work-

er last year at Chief Minister

Omar Abdullah's residence in

Srinagar submitted its report

to the Jammu and Kashmir

government. The panel ruled

that Haji Yousuf died of a

heart attack - exonerating

Abdullah.

The one-man former

Supreme Court Justice

(retired) HS Bedi

Commission submitted its

report to state Law Secretary

GH Tantray on Saturday.

"The death of Haji Syed

Mohammad Yousuf was

caused by myocardial infarc-

tion (heart attack) and that

no suspicious circumstances

can be spelt out," the report

said, absolving the chief min-

ister of any involvement.

The government had in

November last year appoint-

ed retired Supreme Court

judge HS Bedi to head the

one-man commission to

probe the death of 61-year-

old Syed Mohammad

Yousuf.

"Justice Bedi has submit-

ted his inquiry report to the

state law secretary. Have

asked for the findings to be

studied before sharing with

me," the chief minister tweet-

ed on Saturday. Yousuf, a

National Conference (NC)

was accused of accepting a

bribe of Rs.1.18 crore from

two party workers, promising

them contd on page 2

Omar Abdullah absolved of

Haji's death by Bedi panel

Anger over gangrapecontinues in New Delhi

Students from different colleges of Jammu protesting against New Delhi gangrape.

NEW DELHI,DEC 22:The

23-year-old girl, who was

raped and brutally assaulted

in a moving bus in New

Delhi last Sunday night, is

responding to treatment and

is psychologically com-posed.The medical superin-

tendent of the Safdarjung

hospital Dr.B.D.Athani said

that she is communicating,

more alert and more active

from Friday.

Dr Kuldeep and Dr

Abhilasha Yadav of the psy-

chiatric department said that

the victim is very brave and

optimistic about having a

good future. The doctors

said,she has been given sips

of water and apple juice

since morning.

As she continues to battle

for her life, the victim has

given a fearless and bold

statement before a magis-

trate about the brutal assault

and wants her tormentors to

be swiftly brought to justice.

Deputy Commissioner of

Police, South, Chhaya

Sharma said, the statementwould be of extremely valu-

able to the police who are

pursing the case.

Meanwhile, several

rounds of teargas shells and

water cannons were used as

young students demanding

justice for the gangrape vic-

tim clashed with police at

the Raisina Hill ,Near

Rashtrapati Bhawan.

Repeated resort to firing

of shells and water jets

failed to dampen the spirit of

several hundreds of young

students, both girls and

boys, as they tried to breach

the contd on page 2

Protests continue

over Delhi gang-rapecase in JammuJAMMU,DEC 22:

Demanding hanging of the

culprits involved in the gang-

rape of a young girl in a mov-

ing bus in New Delhi, Jammu

on Saturday witnessed protest

demonstrations and rallies by

school and college children

for the third consecutive day.

A large number of school

children boycotted the classes

and took out protest rally in R

S Pura area of the city against

the gang-rape of the 23-year-

old paramedical student in a

moving bus in New Delhi.

Carrying placards and shout-

ing contd on page 2

FM appeal banksto make Direct

Benefit Transferscheme successfulNEW DELHI,DEC 22:The

Finance Minister, Mr.

P.Chidambaram has appealed

to the banks to take the

responsibility of making the

revolutionary Direct Benefit

Transfer scheme a success.

He said the scheme begin-

ning on 1st January will

cover all the villages by the

end of next year.

Inaugurating the 1000th

branch of State Bank of

Bikaner and Jaipur in Jaipur

today the Finance Minister

urged contd on page 2

RBI CELEBRATES GOLDEN JUBILEE IN J&KJAMMU, DEC 22: Reserve Bank of India celebrated the

Golden Jubilee of opening of its office in Jammu and

Kashmir at a glittering function held at Police Auditorium,

here. Chief Secretary Mr. Madhav Lal, State was the Chief

Guest on the occasion. Chief General Manager-in-Charge,

Reserve Bank of India, Mumbai Mr. Sandip Ghose, presided

over the function. Chief Secretary congratulated the Bank on

its Golden Jubilee celebrations and said contd on page 2

PM approves new measuresfor the security of women

Newly elected J&K BJP State President Jugal Kishore Sharmaalong with BJP National Spokesperson & MP, Rajiv Pratap Rudyand others at Party office.

Gang-rape victim records fearlessstatement before the magistrate

Page 1_Bali_Bali.qxd 12/23/2012 12:31 PM Page 1


2/8

PM approves...police barricades to march towards towards

Rashtrapati Bhavan for the second day protestingagainst the government and police inaction.

Tear gas shells and water failed to deter the

protesters who refused to vacate the area that

houses the North and South Blocks including the

Prime Minister's office and turned the area into a

virtual battleground.

After a ding-dong battle with the police, hun-

dres of protesters resorted to a sit-in the area

chanting slogans against the government and the

police. They demanded stern measures to prevent

incidents of rape and other crimes against

women.

The area has been cordoned off and police

reinforcements,including a contingent of the

Rapid Action Force (RAF) have been rushed to

the Hill that divides the North and South Block,

which houses the Prime Minister's Office.

Girl protesters alleged that policemen hit them

with lathis and declared they will launch a sit-in

in the area. Protests refused to disperse from the

place.

An injured girl has been rushed to hospital.The youths gathered at India Gate from early

in the morning and marched through Rajpath

towards Raisina Hill. They broke the security cor-

dons erected on Rajpath and managed to reach

near Raisina Hill where they were stopped.

On Friday too, the capital witnessed several

protests, including one in front of Rashtrapati

Bhawan.

Condemning police action against young pro-

testers, BJP today attacked Prime Minister

Manmohan Singh and UPA Chairperson Sonia

Gandhi for remaining silent on the gang-rape of

the paramedic student.

Condemning the police action against youths

protesting crimes against women, the Left parties

today asked the Prime Minister to assure the

nation of stern action against the perpetrators.

Jugal Kishore....

and only Jugal Kishore Sharma's nomination

papers were filed, who was declared elected

unopposed by Rajiv Pratap Rudy in a function

held at party headquarters on Saturday. Awave of

jubilation and exultation swept through the large

number of party activists and delegates of State

Council.

Addressing the party activists, Rajiv Pratap

Rudy reaffirmed and reiterated the cordial and

family environment in the party where the work-

ers are vested with various responsibilities under

different positions unanimously and with consen-

sus. This culture of unanimity and mutual trust

between the workers is the hallmark of BJP. The

transition of state leadership taking place with

warmth and mutual affection is an indicative of

the healthy democratic temper prevalent in the

rank and file of the party.

Prof. Jagdish Mukhi, while congratulating the

new president, said that every worker of the party

should be proud of the fact that our party scrupu-

lously adheres to the internal democracy as per

the party constitution. Our party truly reflects the

democratic ethos of our motherland, he added.

Seh Prabhari Dr. Anil Jain, while a ppreciating

the work done by the party during the tenure of

out going president said that this state unit has to

face lot of challenges on account of the special

circumstances confronting it and he is hopeful

that it shall rise to the challenges.

Jugal Kishore Sharma, while expressing grati-

tude and thanks to the entire leadership of the

party and activists for their unstinted support to

him, said that he will leave no stone unturned to

meet the expectations of the party as well as pub-

lic. He said that the entire leadership of the state

is supporting him and the party shall continue to

function as a single iron fist.

National Executive Member Dr. Nirmal Singh

said that the new president has a huge

responsibility in view of the challenges

posed to the unity and integrity of the state by

separatist and anti-national forces. He said that its

BJP and its cadre which has Jammu andKashmir's integration with the rest of the country

on top agenda.

National Executive Member & MLA Ashok

Khajuria expressed hope that the party will fur-

ther get strengthened in the state under the stew-

ardship of Jugal Kishore Sharma and hoped that

the new president shall continue to take ahead

party's programmes and policies to the public.

Former State President Shamsher Singh

Manhas, expressed his thanks to the party for giv-

ing him an opportunity to serve the party as its

head. He said that during his tenure it was ensured

that the issues facing the state are raised more

vigorously and he got success with the full co-

operation of the party cadre.

VHP International General Secretary

(Organisation) Dinesh Ji and J&K VHP State

President Ramakant Dubey also visited the func-

tion venue to congratula te Jugal Kishore Sharma.

State Gen. Secretary Sat Sharma (C.A.) con-

ducted the proceedings of the programme and

Distt. President Rajesh Gupta presented vote ofthanks.

RBI Celebrates ....

that RBI has encouraged establishment of finan-

cial institutions for the development of states

economy and has effectively performed its role as

an apex monitoring institution to guide, help and

direct other commercial banks in the state.

Mr.Sandip Ghose in his remarks said

that opening of the office of Reserve Bank of

India in J&K in the year 1962 was a significant

event in the economic development of this State

as it paved the way for spread of banking network

to far-flung and unbanked areas that helped in

extending government sponsored schemes for the

benefit of economically deprived sections of the

society.

Regional Director of RBI Mr K.K.Saraf,

in his welcome address, said that the Golden

Jubilee was an occasion for the staff to renew its

pledge to work with more vigour and zeal to serve

the people of the State. He highlighted the mile-

stones of the 50 year long journey of RBI in

Jammu and Kashmir.

Acultural programme was also present-

ed on the occasion.

Anger over....

justice for the victim.

The police swung into action as 'negotiations'

failed at the Raisina Hill leading to Rashtrapati

Bhawan and the protesters, comprising largely

young women and men, tried to breach the barri-

cades to push towards the Rashtrapati Bhawan.

Aam Aadmi Party's national executive mem-

ber Gopal Rai who reached Rajpath also joined

protesters.

As protests continued for the sixth day, former

Army Chief V K Singh joined the demonstrators

at India Gate blaming 'systemic collapse' for the

brutal rape.

Minister of State for Home R P N Singh issued

an appeal to protesters to not to resort to violence

and calm down failing which he said the

Government would not talk to them.

Protests continue....

slogans, the girl students demanded capital

punishment for rapists.

Some girl students also took candle-march

rally and prayed for the girl and demanded death

penalty for the accused.

No untoward incident was reported from any-

where during these protests, police said.

The girl was raped by six men in a moving

bus, which had tinted glass and curtains on it on

Sunday night.

FM appeal banks....

the people to start demanding banking services as

their right. Banks should also give top priority to

uplift the poor and improve their status.

Speaking on the occasion the Minister of State

for Finance Mr. Namonarayan Meena said thatunder Swabhiman scheme 45000 bank branches

are being opened in the villages with a population

between 1600 and 2000. The Chief Minister, Mr.

Ashok Gehlot also addressed the function.

Obama appoints....

its Chair Mohamed El-Erian.

"These dedicated and accomplished individu-

als will be valued additions to my Administration

as we tackle the important challenges facing

America. I look forward to working with them in

the months and years ahead," Obama said.

According to a brief bio released by the White

House, Singh was the Special Advisor for Global

Affairs and the founding Director of the Global

Development Program at the William and Flora

Hewlett Foundation, where she worked from

2001 to 2010.

From 1998 to 2001, she was a scholar at the

Harvard Academy for International and Area

Studies. Previously, Singh consulted for the

World Bank and the United Nations EconomicCommission on Africa.

She was the first Program Officer for Higher

Education Innovative Projects at the Commission

on National and Community Service, now known

as the Corporation for National and Community

Service. Before joining the Commission, Singh

worked at ABC News' Nightline.

J&K govt's....

concrete has been done on the grounds," PDP

patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed said here.

Sayeed alleged that the present regime has

failed to carry forward the equitable development

agenda introduced by the previous PDP-Congress

regime in the state.

Claiming that people of the state are looking

towards PDP as an option to get rid of the "cor-

rupt system", Mufti said his party's agenda has

been formulated keeping in view the aspirations

of different regions of the state.

He also hit out at the present regime for failing

to finish the work on Bhaderwah tourism project

started by the PDP-Congress coalition.

"The people now are fed up with this govern-

ment, its mis-governance and the strikingly cor-

rupt system that it has promoted," he said.

Developed world ....

the private sector for the delivery of infrastruc-

ture-related services.

John Flannery of GE India suggested that gov-

ernments should view infrastructure as a top

national priority after national security.

Innovative, efficient infrastructure enables many

other vital sectors to flourish.

Indian health care industry's biggest chal-

lenges include ramping up capacity to serve hun-

dreds of millions of citizens and a growing inci-

dence of non-communicable diseases, according

to Prathap Reddy of the Apollo Hospitals Group.

India's National Manufacturing Policy plans to

increase the sector's share of GDP from 16 per-

cent to 25 percent, including creating 100 million

new jobs. Explaining how India can accomplish

this, Arvind Goel of Tata AutoComp Systems

referred to a number of policy instruments,

including the recent creation of National

Investment and Manufacturing Zones, zones in

which state and central governments modify reg-

ulations on difficult issues in order to encourage

greater manufacturing growth.

Omar Abdullah....

ministerial berths and memberships of the leg-

islative council.

The report further said: "The deceased had

been in fact arrested on Sep 29, 2011 from the

CM's Camp Office by the (inspector general of

police) IGPRaja Ajaz Ali"

It observed: "The evidence also reveals that

the deceased had received proper treatment while

in the hospital" The panel absolved the doctor

treating him or the IGP of any lapses.

The state government had on Nov 18, 2011appointed the one-man commission to probe the

death.

Yousuf was handed over to inspector general

of police (IGP), crime branch by Abdullah Sept

on 29 last year at chief minister's residence in

Srinagar after he allegedly admitted that he had

taken money from two National Conference (NC)

workers for getting them political favours.

Yousuf's family had alleged that he was tor-

tured at the chief minister's residence and died a

day later. The autopsy showed that he died of car-

diac arrest.

TRAI lowers....

are substantially lower than the prevailing

charges. The new regulations will be effective

from 1st of January 2013.Access facilitation

charges are payable by international long distance

operators or Internet service providers to the

owner of the cable landing station to access inter-

national bandwidth in a submarine cable.

Accreditation for...

in this regard.

The Ministry of Human Resources

Development said the regulations could be noti-

fied by as early as January. The reports said that

lack of mandatory accreditation and increase in

number of private universities are presently pos-

ing a problem for students, making it difficult for

them to judge the standards of an institute before

taking admission.

Underling the urgency of the accreditation

issue Human Resources Development minister

Pallam Raju said a new accreditation body under

AICTE will be set up.

He said the Indian Board of Accreditation will

follow the best practices of different countries

and come out with new methodologies of evalua-

tion.

NAC asks govt to ....

laws in conformity with Panchayat Extension to

Scheduled Areas Act to ensure autonomy of Gram

Sabha and Panchayats.

It also wanted the government to issue direc-

tions related to identification and declaration of

village to conduct gram sabhas under the law.

NAC was also briefed about the salient fea-

tures, coverage planned, implementation plan and

time lines for implementation of the

Comprehensive Social Security Insurance

Scheme evolved by the government.

The scheme envisages covering life, disability,

girl child education and health insurance.

Leh freezes ....

17 degrees Celsius today (Saturday) in Leh. It

was minus 14.4 degrees Celsius in Kargil town,

minus 8 degrees Celsius in Pahalgam and minus

3.4 degrees Celsius in Srinagar," an official of the

meteorological department said.

"As the weather is likely to remain dry across

the valley for the next few days, we are expecting

a further fall in the night temperatures," said the

official. Kashmir has been reeling under cold

waves since Chillai Kalan, the coldest 40-day

period, commenced here on Friday.

Although weather has remained dry in the last

two days, morning frost has started affecting nor-

mal life in the valley.

Winter vacations ...

of vacations so authorized shall attract action

under rules.

13 Sub-Inspectors....

Haseeb-ul-Rehman, Gurpeet Singh, Vikram

Singh Manhas, Imtiyaz Ahmed, Shakti Devi, Raja

Mohammad Qasim, Rajesh Kumar Thapa, Surjit

Kumar, Tsewang Rigzen and Rajiv Kumar.

STUDENT AGE

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 23, 20122

Contd. from page 1...

India, Russia toSign Key

Defence Dealsworth $4 BillionNEW DELHI:India and Russia are prepar-

ing to sign three key defence deals worth $4

billion when Russian President Vladimir

Putin comes to New Delhi for a summit

meeting with Indian Prime Minister

Manmohan Singh on December 24.

Among the deals planned for inking

including the final contract for licenced pro-

duction of 42 Su-30MKI planes by Indian

government-owned Hindustan Aeronautics

Limited, purchase of 71 Mi-17V5 medium

lift helicopters and 970 AL-31 aero-engines

for the Sukhoi combat aircraft.

The likely deals were discussed and

finalised at the Indian Cabinet Committee on

Security headed by Manmohan Singh with

participation from Defence Minister AK

Antony, Home Minister Sushil kumar

Shinde, Finance Minister P Chidambaram

and External Affairs Minister Salman

Khurshid.

The 42-plane Sukhoi deal with take the

Indian Air Force's Su-30MKI fleet to 272

planes. During the October Indo-Russian

Inter-Governmental Commission on Militaryand Technical Cooperation meet in New

Delhi between Antony and then Russian

Defence Minister Anatoly Serdyukov, the

two sides had discussed plans to upgrade the

existing Sukhoi inventory of the IAF.

Of the Mi-17V5 that is to be procured, 59

will go to the IAF, while the rest are for

India's paramilitary forces.

India had already bought 80 of the Mi-

17V5 to augment the existing fleet of Mi-

17IV helicopters that the IAF has in its

inventory and for replacing the ageing Mi-8

fleet.

IAF has already inducted a part of the Mi-

17V5s from its previous order and raised

squadrons at Bathinda in Punjab, Srinagar in

Jammu and Kashmir closer to the Pakistan

border in the western sector and Bagdogra in

West Bengal close to the Chinese border on

the eastern sector.

Another key deal set for inking is the

design and development of the FifthGeneration Fighter Aircraft, a joint project.

During the summit meeting, India is also

likely to raise the delay in the delivery of the

45,000-tonne Admiral Gorshkov aircraft car-

rier, rechristened INS Vikramaditya, to the

Indian Navy, which is now rescheduled for

the last quarter of 2013.

Russia is India's largest defence supplier

even today, despite New Delhi looking at

other nations such as US, Israel and France

for its defence needs in the last decade now.

The imports from Russia are still close to

50 per cent of India's defence equipment,

weapons and other systems.

Iran defense ministersays NATO missiles

harm Turkey securityTEHRAN: The installation of Patriot anti-

missile batteries sent by NATO members to

bolster Turkey's defences against a possible

missile attack from Syria will only harm

Turkey's security, Iran's defense minister was

quoted as saying on Saturday.

NATO approved Turkey's request for the

air defence system earlier this month, in a

move meant to calm Ankara's fears of being

hit by Syrian missiles.

Iran has strongly supported its Arab ally

President Bashar al-Assad of Syria as he

attempts to suppress a 21-month-old uprising

against his rule. Tehran opposes the installa-

tion of NATO missiles as Western interference

in the region and has said it could lead to a

"world war."

"The installation of Patriot missiles in

Turkey plays no role in establishing Turkey's

security and this harms the country of

Turkey," Iranian Defense Minister Ahmad

Vahidi said on Saturday.

"The West has always pursued its view-

points and interests and we disagree with the

presence of Western countries in regional

interactions." Vahidi also denied that Iran is

training Syrian forces to battle the rebels,

tehranoan reported. Iran considers itself,

Syria's rulers and the Lebanese Shi'ite militant

group Hezbollah as part of an "axis of resist-

ance" against US and Israeli power in the

Middle East, but has denied accusations that it

helping Assad militarily. "Syria has no need

for the training of its forces by the Islamic

Republic of Iran, because Syria has a power-

ful military which has prepared itself for

involvement with the Zionist regime (Israel),"

Vahidi said.

KATHMANDU: Nepal Army chief General

Gaurav Shamsher Rana will be conferred the hon-

orary rank of General of the Indian Army by

President Pranab Mukherjee when he will be in

India on an eight-day official visit beginning

January 7.

It is a custom between the two armies to con-

fer this honour on each other's chief since 1965 to

signify their close military-to-military ties. The

rank conferring investiture ceremony will be held

on January 8 at the Rashtrapati Bhawan, the

Presidential Place on Raisina Hills here, Indian

Army officers said here.

Indian Army chief General Bikram Singh was

conferred the rank if General of the Nepal Army

when he had visited the Himalayan nation in July

this year, which was his first ever visit abroad

after he took over as the 1.13-million Indian

Army's chief on May 31 this year. During this

visit, Rana will also have meetings with India's

top military and political leadership when they

would discuss close ties and means of further

strengthening it, officers said. The Nepal Army

chief will also visit India's top military academies

to apprise himself of the training there. Nepal

Army's officers and men do get to train at Indian

military academies regularly.

Incidentally, Rana is educated in India and he

studied at the Lawrence School at Sanawar in

Himachal Pradesh.

He has served in the Nepal Army for the last

39 years and took over as its chief in September,

succeeding Gen Chhatra Man Singh Gurung.

Nepal Army Chief To Be ConferredHonorary Indian Army General Rank

BEIJING: A new se t of

Chinese army regulations ban

luxury banquets and alcohol at

receptions for high-ranking

officers.

The prohibitions are prima-

rily focussed on controlling

extravagance.

During a meeting of the

political bureau of the

Communist Party of China

(CPC) Central Committee ear-

lier this month, participants

approved regulations calling

for political bureau members to

improve their work in eight

ways, with a special focus on

reducing extravagance and

bureaucracy.

According to the10 regula-

tions drawn up by the central

military commission, the

receptions will also no more

have welcome banners, red car-

pets, floral arrangements, for-

mations of soldiers, perform-

ances and souvenirs.

The new regulations also

prohibit commission officials

from staying in civilian hotels

or military hotels, especially

equipped with luxury accom-

modation during inspection

tours.

They require officials to cut

both the number and length of

inspection tours, overseas vis-

its, meetings and reports.

Also, the regulations state

that speakers at meetings

should avoid empty talk, while

commission officials will not

be allowed to attend ribbon-

cutting and cornerstone-laying

ceremonies, celebrations or

seminars unless they have

received approval from the of

the CPC Central Committee or

theCentral Military

Commission.

To prevent public distur-

bance, the use of vehicles

equipped with sirens will be

rigorously controlled during

official visits.

Not just that, the commis-

sion officials are also required

to discipline their spouses, chil-

dren and subordinates and

ensuring not they do not take

bribe.

Echoing the new central

leadership's call to improve

work styles, the central military

commission has enacted the

regulations.

Chinese military bans luxurybanquets, liquor at receptions

Page 2_Defence_Bali.qxd 12/23/2012 12:32 PM Page 1


3/8

STATESTUDENT AGE


NEWS IN BOXPower shutdown

JAMMU, DEC 22: In order to carry out the erection/com-

missioning of 11 KV panel at R/Stn. JDA Complex, the

power supply to the Green Belt, Gandhi Nagar, Bahu Plaza,

Railway Road and adjoining areas fed from JDA-1, JDA-2,

JDA-3 and JDA-7 11 KV feeders shall remain affected on

24th December from 9 a m to 2 p m. Similarly, in order to

carry out the erection of 13 meter S.T Poles of 33 KV Sidhra-

Bahu Fort line, the power supply to Bahu Fort, Gorakh

Nagar, Bajalata and adjoining areas shall remain affected on

26th December, 2012 from 9 am to 2 pm.

In order to carry out urgent work and branch cutting on 66

KV Samba line R/Stn IGC-I & IGC-II, Samba, the power to

Samba town, Industries and adjoining areas shall remain

affected on December 23, 2012 from 10 a m to 1 p m.

Two days farmers trainingcamp at Kotli Bhaderwah

BHADERWAH, DEC 22: The Department of Agriculture

District Doda organized two days Farmers Training Camp at

Kotli Bhaderwah under Agriculture Technology

Management Agency (ATMA) Programme.

The experts of Department Ramesh Kumar Vaishnavi and

Mohd Asraf Beg Subject Matter Specialists of Pranoo Sub

Div. and Scientists of Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK)

Bhaderwah deliberated lectures and briefed the farmers

about new technology under various scheme being imple-

mented by the Department for increasing agriculture

Production. Chief Agriculture Officer Doda, R K Tickoo

called upon the farmers to avail benefits of the scheme of the

department to improve their socio-economic condition espe-

cially in hilly terrain of Doda District. He also added that thefarmers should adopt scientific methods and improved

machinery to get better return.

460 passengers airliftedbetween Srinagar and Leh

IL-76 flight between Jammu-Leh on Dec 27

SRINAGAR, DEC 22: As many as 460 stranded passengers

of Kargil were airlifted between Srinagar and Leh on

Wednesday and Thursday through IL-76 Air Force planes.

In order to airlift the Kargil bound passengers stranded at

Jammu, Government has made arrangements of IL-76 Air

Force planes on December 27 between Jammu and Leh.

Stranded passengers of Kargil at Jammu have been advised

to purchase tickets from Liaison Officers at Kargil House

Jammu located near Bahu Plaza.

Div Com reviews electoralrolls with DCs

EPIC CARDS SHALL BE ISSUED TO NEW VOTERS ON

NATIONAL VOTERS DAYSRINAGAR, DEC 22: Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir,

Dr. Asgar Hassan Samoon, who is also Observer for the

Review of Electoral Rolls, held a video conference with all

Deputy Commissioners of the Valley today. Div Com direct-

ed all the District Election Officers that the electoral rolls

should be updated and pending claims should be disposed off

by January 15, 2013. He enjoined upon the concerned offi-

cers that new voters shall be provided Electoral Photo

Identity Card (EPIC) cards after January 25, 2013, which is

observed as National Voters Day.

The video conference was attended by Deputy

Commissioners of Srinagar, Budgam, Baramulla, Kupwara,

Bandipora and Ganderbal. Besides, Assistant Commissioner

(Central), Dr. Tasaduq Hussain Mir was also present.

Employment Fair at Rambanon 28th & 29th

RAMBAN, DEC 22: The District Employment &

Counselling Centre, Ramban is organizing two days

Employment Fair on 28th and 29th December at

Government Higher Secondary School Ramban.

All the line departments viz Agriculture, Horticulture,

Fisheries, Animal & Sheep Husbandry, Rural Development

etc including different Banks will participate in the fair and

give information regarding various schemes.

Experts/Resource persons will remain available in the fair to

guide the educated unemployed youth about various self

employment schemes launched by the govt. The unemployed

youth can attend the employment fair to seek information

and avail benefits of various income generating schemes.

Breeders flagged off oninter-state visit under RKVYJAMMU, DEC 22 : A group of 40 sheep and goat breeders

was flagged off by the Director Sheep Husbandry

Department Jammu Dr. S.K. Sharma for inter-state visit to

the states of Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan under the

Centrally Sponsored Scheme Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana

(RKVY). The main objective of the Inter-state exposure visit

is to make the breeders familiar with the technological inno-

vations so that they get equipped with the latest technical

know-how adopted by the farmers of other states for rearing

their livestock on the modern scientific lines to get maximum

benefits.

Giving details, the Director said that during the ten day

tour commencing from 21st Dec., the breeders would be vis-

iting Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences

University (GADVASU) Ludhiana, Central Sheep and Wool

Research Institute (CSWRI) Avikanagar (Rajastan), Central

Sheep Breeding Farm, Hissar (Haryana) for having on the

spot experimental look at the functioning viz latest practices,

technical expertise and scientific rearing practices. This prac-

tice would help in enhancing the productivity of their live-

stock giving economic benefits to them, he added.

Dr. RK Manhas Mobile Officer and Dr. RB Singh

Research Assistant of the department are accompanying the

visiting group of the breeders.

JAMMU, DEC 22: The

Minister for Industries and

Commerce Mr. S. S. Slathia

today reiterated that both the

Coalition partners are work-

ing in tendom for the better-

ment and welfare of the peo-

ple of the State.

Addressing public gather-

ings after inaugurating newly

constructed Lanes and

Drains at the estimated cost

of Rs. 5.77 lakhs at Pardi and

Chumbian today, Mr. Slathia

said that present coalition

government is a conscious

decision of the leadership of

both NC and Congress

Parties to ensure speedy

development and prosperity

of the State. He asked the

people in general and work-

ers of both the parties in par-

ticular to join hands at gross

roots level to reap the bene-

fits of various welfare and

development programmes

initiated by the Centre and

State Government.

Mr. Slathia said that

thumping win of coalition

partners during the recent

MLC elections have proved

that there is coalition of

Ideas and Policies between

NC and Congress. He said it

was this Political and

Ideological coherence that

Prime Minister late Pt.

Jawahar Lal Nehru and

Shere-i-Kashmir Sheikh

Mohammad Abdullah way

back extended their hands of

friendship to usher in an era

of new progress and devel-

opment in the State.

Mr. Slathia assured the

people that promises made to

them will be fulfilled adding

that no stone will be left

unturned to come up to the

expectations of the people,

who have pinned high hopes

with the present dispensa-

tion.

Mr. Slathia cautioned the

people about the false propa-

ganda of opposition against

the Coalition Government

adding that they are con-

cerned only with their vested

interests and build their cas-

tles on the graveyards of the

poor and innocent people.

Mr. Slathia assured the

people of the Pardi that a

Community Hall Shall be

constructed soon for the con-

venience of the people.

While speaking on the

occasion at Chumbian, the

Minister asked the people to

identify the land so that a

Community Hall shall be

constructed. He also assured

the people that a Agricultural

Tubewell shall also be con-

structed soon.

JAMMU, DEC 22: Advisor

to the Chief Minister, Mr.

Devindar Singh Rana has

said that collective efforts of

teachers and parents ensure

creation of talented students,

who not only bring good

name for the school but also

for the State while proving

their metal at national level

competitions.

He was addressing at an

annual day function of

Heritage School held here at

Zorawar Singh Auditorium

in Jammu University today.

Among others, Minister

of State for Law and

Parliamentary Affairs, Mr.

Aijaz Ahmad Khan,

Chairperson, Principal,

teaching and non teaching

staff of the school besides

the parents of students were

present on the occasion.

Mr. Rana said that par-

ents have great aspiration

with the school manage-

ment, adding that the per-

formance being shown by

the students is the combina-

tion of effective school man-

agement, better guidance of

the teachers, hard work of

students and the support of

the parents they extended to

their wards. Comparing

teachers and students a com-

bination of hardware and

software, two important

components of computer, he

said "No hardware works

without support of compati-

ble software".

Hoping for good future of

the students, enrolled in the

school, Mr. Devindar Singh

said that teachers have an

important role in shaping the

future of the students by way

of providing proper guid-

ance and better chances of

growth. He said the school is

showing good performance

in the academic field as well

as in the extracurricular

activities.

Principal of the school,

while presenting vote of

thanks, highlighted the

achievement of the school

and said that every effort

would be made to stand out

the inner talent of the stu-

dents. Earlier the budding

students presented variety of

cultural programmes and

enthralled the audience.

Later, awards were pre-

sented to the students, who

had performed well in the

school competitions.

Teachers have role in shaping future of Students: RanaHeritage School celebrates Annual day-2012

Coalition partners working in tandem: SlathiaSays opposition builds castles on graveyards of innocent people

Advisor to the Chief Minister, Devindar Singh Rana presenting trophy to a student of HeritageSchool at Jammu.

Minister for Industries and Commerce S . S. Slathia addressing public gatherings at Jammu.

NSF constituted its

team for R.S.PuraGovt. Degree College

JAMMU, DEC 22: A meeting was held

today under the Chairmanship of Dr. Vikas

Sharma National Secular Forum State

President in College premises and checked

out the problems that are being faced by the

students. In which meeting framed a body for

College Unit.

Rakesh Kumar was appointed as

Chairman. Parvinder pal Singh has been

appointed as President NSF College Unit.

Ishant Kumar, Rohit Choudhary, Madhu

Fakwaria, Jagdeep Kour, was appointed as

Vice-President.

Gulbagh Singh and Gaveet Kour were

appointed as General Secretary. Pavitar

Singh, Ganesh Choudhary, Rakesh Kumar,

Koushal was appointed as Secretary.

Atul Sharma was appointed as Press-

Secretary. Ravi Kumar was appointed asorganizer Secretary. Sajan Singh Chib was

appointed as Publicity Secretary, Rajesh

Kumar was appointed as Office Secretary

and, and Amandeep Singh, Raman Kumar,

Tejinder Singh, Sourab Sharma, Rajan Singh,

Taranjeet Singh, Harpreet Singh, Gurbinder

pal Singh, Gourav Sharma others were elect-

ed members. Addressing the meeting, Dr.

Vikas Sharma President NSF, has welcomed

the youths in strengthening the NSF. He said

that this is going to make the NSF stronger.

He said that seeing the response of the youth

in joining NSF more is expected in future. He

also said that problems being faced by the

youth in these areas should be taken on top

priority and apart from this the youths from

the border areas should be given preference in

government jobs and other services. Dr Vikas

said that where ALC category is given to the

youths who areputting up near international

line of control, the youths belonging to border

areas should also be the quota.

Surjit Choudhary State Sr.Vice-President

Nsf n his address laid stress on the issues

relating to the students problems which are

being faced by the border youth and also

stressed on the demand for the reservation

policy for the residents of the International

Border in the state employment as well as in

the Higher Education.

Speaker launchesfirst ever E-Travel

PortalStresses for strengtheningtourism infrastructure

SRINAGAR, DEC 22:

Speaker, Jammu and

Kashmir Legislative

Assembly, Mr. Mohammad

Akbar Lone Saturday said

that valley of Kashmir has

always been a place of attrac-

tion for the people of the

country as well as abroad.

Calling Kashmir a paradise

on earth, Mr. Lone said that

the backbone of the economy

of the state is either tourism

or horticulture and special

attention needs to be paid

towards these vital sectors.

The Speaker was address-

ing an impressive function at

SKICC, Srinagar today after

inaugurating first ever E-

Travel Portal of J&K State

launched by Travel Junction

24x7.

Lauding the organizers of

the function for launching E-

Travel Portal for facilitating

the tourists to visit the state,

Mr. Lone said such stepswould definitely make

tourism a successful venture

for all stake holders as well

as the groups visiting the

state for enjoying the scenic

beauty as well as hospitality

for which the state is famous.

Stressing upon tourism

operators to work with hon-

esty and dedication, the

Speaker quoted the important

saying "Honesty is the best

policy" and hoped that every

visiting person will be treated

with care and enthusiasm by

the people connected with

tourism sector particularly.

Emphasizing upon the

officers of tourism depart-

ment to extend all possible

facilities to the tourists, Mr.

Lone directed for maintain-ing the tourism infrastructure

and giving facelift to various

tourist spots for attracting

more and more visitors to the

state.

Drivers of hillyareas madeaware aboutroad safety

JAMMU, DE 22: Traffic

Police Jammu has launched a

road safety campaign espe-

cially in far flung and acci-

dent prone hilly areas of

Ramban, Doda, Kishtwar

Rajouri, Udhampur and

Banihal with an aim to

reduce fatal road accidents

involving loss of precious

lives. Drivers especially

operating in far flung hilly

areas were educated regard-

ing road safety and defensive

driving measures especially

pertaining to life threatening

offences.

Shakeel Ahmed Beig,

DIG Traffic Range Jammu,

Sh. Varinder Sharma, SSP

Traffic NHW Ramban,

Sh.Varinder Singh Manhas,

DY.SP Traffic, Doda and Sh.

Davinder Singh DY.SP

Traffic, Rajouri-Poonch edu-

cated all the drivers to avoid

distracted driving which

includes everything from

changing a song in their tape

recorders and eating a snack,

or taking on cell phones and

texting.

DIG Traffic said that

drinking while driving or tak-

ing drugs pose great threat to

the safety and safety of pas-

sengers travelling in their

vehicles. Drivers were fur-

ther emphasised to avoid

long journey if they feel tired

or are undergoing any mental

stress as last year in 2011,

757 persons were killed and

6604 were injured in Jammu

province in different road

accidents and this year death

toll has reached 692 and 5459

persons have been injured.

JAMMU, DEC 22: To ensure

maximum participation of the peo-

ple from all walks of life in the

forthcoming event of arrival of the

"Red Ribbon Express train- on

HIV AIDS, a meeting of the State

Level Organizing Committee

(SLOC) was held under the chair-

manship of Secretary, Health and

Medical Education, Mr Manoj

Kumar Dwivedi, here today.

Earlier the officers concerned

briefed the Commissioner

Secretary about the arrangements

made in this connection at Railway

Station Bari Brahmina on January

2 and 3, Udhampur January 4 and

5 , Samba on January 6 and 7 and

Kathua January 8 and 9.

Mr Dwivedi impressed upon allthe officers to ensure participation

of school teachers, students, police

and army personnel, high risk

groups including labourers and

truckers etc.

He also laid stress on the

involvement of a larger audience

from rural areas and to ensure the

participation of youths.

" The officers concerned must

ensure that maximum number of

people would be trained during the

train's halt as the master trainers so

that they could aware and educate

the masses on the issues later. The

optimum involvement of school

teachers in these training groups

would make the programme a suc-

cess," he added.

He asked the Director

Education and Director Colleges to

identify the institutions to involve

maximum youths.

Mr. Sanjib Chakravarty, IEC

Consultant, National AIDS

Control Organization also put for-

ward his suggestion and views on

the occasion, which were endorsed

by the Commissioner Secretary.

To ensure the participation of

labourers and other target audi-

ence, Mr Dwivedi instructed theofficers to contact the Industrial

Association and Brick Kiln

Association for encouraging and

allowing the workers to participate

in the programme.

He also discussed the micro

level plan made by the J&K AIDS

Control Society (JKSACS) in this

regard and asked the officers con-

cerned to hold a meeting with the

Divisional Traffic Manager,

Railways to seek their support and

cooperation.

He said, " The requisite work

out should be done by all the stake

holders to deal with any contin-

gency. "We must ensure that the

event turns into a big success in

totality.", he added.

Dr Rakesh Khajuria , Project

Director, JKSACS apprised the

meeting about the lay out plan of

the Red Ribbon Express.

Dr AD Singh, Deputy Director,

JKSACS presented the line of

action and arrangements of the

event at all the four railway sta-

tions.

Other prominent officers who

also attended the meeting included

DC Samba, Mr Mubarak Singh,

DC Kathua, Ms Zahida Khan,ADC, Udhampur Mr Surat Singh, ,

ADC, Samba, Ms Neelam Sethi,

Director Health Services, Dr

Madhu Khullar, Director Colleges,

Ms Nalini Kohli, Director School

Education, Jammu, Ms Dev Lata,

CMO, Dr Sunil Kaila, Samba,

CMO, Udhampur Dr Anil Amla,

and CMO Kathua, Dr Ajay

Khajuria, CAO, JKSACS, Mr

Abdul Rashid Khan and AD,

JKSACS. Risheesh Khauria.

Dwivedi chairs SLOC meet

Govt for maximum participation at Red Ribbon Express

JAMMU, DEC 22: To discuss and approve the

Supplementary Action Plan under BRGF for the year

2012-13 of district Ramban, a review meeting of

District Planning Committee cum District

Development Board Ramban was held under the chair-

manship of Minister for Revenue, Relief and

Rehabilitation, Mr. Raman Bhalla here today.

The meeting was also attended by Minister of State

for Haj and Auqaf, Fishries, Rural Development, Mr.

Ajaz Ahmed Khan, MLA, Ramban, Mr. Ashok Kumar,

MLA, Banihal, Mr. Waqar Rasool, District

Development Commissioner Ramban, Mr.Shabir

Ahmed Bhat besides other senior officers. It was infor-

md in the meeting that during last fiscal Rs. 5.29 crore

was approved for Ramban district. The allocation for

Year 2012-13 has been enhanced to Rs 11.88 crore. Mr.

Bhalla said that District Development Board would

approve plan for panchayats and urban local bodies and

the same would be sent to govt of India for release of

funds. He said that an amount of Rs.6.59 crore has been

proposed for supplementary Action Plan under which

the proposed amount for PHE is Rs. 86.50 lakh, for

power Rs. 121.84 lakh, education, Rs. 94.31 lakh, PWD

(R&B), Rs. 100.22 lakh, Animal Husbandry, Rs. 30

lakh, Urban Development, Rs. 61.73 lakh and for Rural

Development Department, Rs. 152.39 lakhs. Mr. Bhalla

emphasized for close coordination between depart-

ments so that funds released under the Plan are utilized

fully and all developmental projects get completed

within the stipulated time frame..

Bhalla chairs Ramban DDB meet

Page 3_State.qxd 12/23/2012 12:33 PM Page 1


4/8

EDITORIAL & STATE WATCHSTUDENT AGE


STATE WATCH

By Sutapa Mukerjee

The Mahatma wrote in 1921: "Of

all the evils for which man has

made himself responsible, none

is so degrading, so shocking or so brutal

as his abuse of the better half of human-

ity; the female sex (not the weaker sex)."

Disgust, hatred, fear, insecurity and

above all helplessness; of late I have

been tightly gripped with these emo-

tions. The plight of women in our socie-

ty threatens to strangle each one of us. A

rape, a gang-rape, a woman sold another

assaulted...honestly, as far as my memo-

ry runs I don't remember a single day in

recent times when such news has not

flashed on the TV or appeared in the

newspapers or online. The news may be

the day's headline or a mere mention on

a state or capital page. If it gets a space

enough in the news media, comments

from all the Who's Who start pouring in,

Chat shows take off and a good deal of

time is spent by political leaders raking

it up in the House. The heinous gang

rape that took place in a moving bus on

December 16 in the capital has once

again brought us face to face with the

rampant perpetuation of rape in India.

I am compelled to think what magni-

tude my fear would have reached if I hadtwo grown-up daughters instead of sons.

After watching television, my mother in

her late 70s reiterated what she would

tell me as I was growing up: be very

careful when you go out, never hitch a

hike or step into an empty bus or a com-

partment. Usually I would have moved

on, telling her 'Relax" but this time I had

to sit and assure her. In a 65-year-old

democracy it is a shame that women

who are the instrument of creation live

in continuous fear. We feel proud to state

facts like we have had a woman Prime

Minister, President and many Chief

Ministers. But sadly enough they too

have not been able to change the sce-

nario. In one of her interviews in 1976,

the pioneer of feminism, Simon de

Beauvoir, commenting on the condition

of women to that of her times wrote:

"But now it's impossible for a woman to

sit alone in a caf reading a book. And if

she's firm about being left alone when

the males accost her, their parting

remark is most often salope (bitch) or

putain (whore). There's much more rape

now. In general, male aggressiveness

and hostility has become so common

that no woman feels at ease in this town,

and from what I hear in any town in

America. Unless, of course, women stay

at home. And that's what lies behind this

male aggressiveness: the threat which,

in male eyes, women's liberation repre-

sents has brought out their insecurity,

hence their anger resulting that they now

tend to behave as if only women who

stay at home are "clean" while the others

are easy marks. When women turn out

not to be such easy marks, the men

become personally challenged, so to

speak. Their one idea is to "get" the

woman." This indicates that as women

move up in society, the fear of rape will

also be on the rise.

Of diseased men

A practising Lawyer of Calcutta

High Court, Sabyasachi Banerjee, and

one who has fought several cases forrape victim states, "Rapists are surely

not normal men. They have certain

chemical or hormone disbalance or may

be mentally unhealthy. Such a man

could be a person sitting next to you in a

train with no tell-tale signs." At the

same time he admits that though this is

one of the most abhorrent of crimes that

not only mars the body but also the

mind, the lawyers are tied down by the

legal system when it comes to punishing

the rapist. As debates and discussions

continue to move around the dastardly

incident of Sunday, questions are being

raised on the nature of punishment that

should be meted out to a rapist. People

are talking mainly of two options-

Capital punishment and chemical castra-

tion. As far as capital punishment is con-

cerned, does it really send any message

across? Take the case of Dhannanjay

Chatterjee, a security guard from

Kolkata. He was given capital punish-

ment for raping and then brutally mur-

dering a minor. The punishment was

meted out for the murder, but did it scare

rapists who came after him? And Capital

punishment would mean pain and trau-

ma for a couple of minutes only while

the victim lives on with it. Besides, as a

senior lawyer on Tuesday pointed out,

there can be a possibility that if rapists

know that they will end in the gallows

they may not feel guilty to even kill their

prey. As far as chemical castration goes

just taking the 'balls away' will only take

us back to a primitive age where barbar-

ic acts were prevalent. Such punish-

ments will not take control of perverted

and unhealthy male minds. In a land

where males worship the female god-

desses both for Shakti and prosperity, we

need to send across a message that they

need to worship (read respect) even

women when they exist in flesh and

blood form. The time has arrived when

women from all across the society need

to get together and fight for themselves.

Boycott - the ultimate weaponHistory has gifted to us the strongest

weapon. Boycott. When several meth-

ods failed, Mahatma Gandhi used "non-

cooperation", the ultimate form of boy-

cott, to make it impossible for the British

to continue their domination of India.

In a country where there are 940 women

to 1000 men, we can surely start a stay-

indoors movement to send the message

to patriarchal society that unless protec-

tion is guaranteed and the streets of our

cities sanitised of sexual molesters, they

can do without our participation in their

economy. Crying shrill for the death

sentence will only result in the State

washing it's hands off the problem by

putting capital punishment on the

statute. The Executive can merrily con-

tinue ignoring its duty to secure the safe-

ty of women by passing the buck to the

judiciary. In several states in America,

death penalty exists for rape and sex

crimes - but not a single sentence has

been handed down since the reinstate-

ment of capital punishment in the 1970s.

That's because a rape which is not

backed up by murder of the victim is not

considered heinous enough. In the land

of Buddha and Gandhi we should not

abandon our goal of becoming a human

rights superpower. That's why

Gandhigiri is the best form of struggle.

The rapist is a child of a lesser God,

cursed with a distorted mind. The real

enemy is the patrician State. Our strug-

gle should be directed against it. Our

movement can primarily begin with dif-

ferent sections of society. Educated and

enlightened parents need not send their

girl children to schools for a stipulated

time, lady doctors, teachers and such

like need not attend work, women in the

corporate sectors can keep away from

work en masse for a stipulated time,

domestic helps should boycott work and

so on. The result will be the crash of

several booming sectors of the econo-

my. It's then that government and non-

government action will materialise. Themessage should be - 'We stay indoors as

that is our safest place and we shall not

pay taxes for a system that cannot pro-

tect us'. The system will then under-

stand the utility of women from all stra-

ta and how much we contribute to the

economy and well being of the country.

This hopefully should sensitise the law-

makers and law keepers as well as all

those lascivious guys lurking around.

With internet and cell phones our task

should be much easier than that our free-

dom fighters. Initiating the process

would mean developing websites, using

mailing lists and public forums on the

net. Let us start soon and wait it to snow-

ball and feel great about being a truly

modern woman.

Gandhigiri, not violence, against Rape Inc.

IMPHAL: Normal life was

on Saturday crippled follow-

ing an indefinite statewide

bandh from midnight called

by a social organisation

demanding the arrest of a mil-

itant of NSCN-IM who

allegedly molested a Manipuri

film actress at a public func-

tion.

All shops, markets, busi-

ness and entertainment houses

remained closed while trans-

port services between

Manipur and neighbouring

states and within the state

were cancelled because of the

bandh called by the Manipur

Film Forum (MFF), reports

said.

Attendance in both central

and state government offices

was affected due to non-ply-

ing of passenger buses, offi-

cial sources said adding that

precautionary measures were

taken by deploying forces at

various strategic locations to

prevent any untoward inci-

dent.

A spokesman of the MFF

said the decision to the call the

bandh was taken last evening

because the Chief Minister

and state leaders had not taken

concrete steps to arrest self-

styled Lt Col of NSCN-IM

Livingstone Anal who

allegedly molested film

actress Momoka in public

view while she was comper-

ing a song competition at

Chandel district on December

18.

Livingstone also opened

fire at two artists who tried to

rescue Momoka but the bul-

lets missed, said a memoran-

dum submitted to the state

government by the MFF

whose indefinite bandh was

supported by various major

social organisations including

United Committee Manipur,

All Manipur United Clubs

Organisations and several

other women organisations.

Official sources said some

people were injured when

police lathicharged demon-

strators, including artists, who

came to meet the chief minis-

ter to submit a memorandum

on the issue last evening.

Manipur Home Minister

Gaikhangam said the govern-

ment has already instructed

police to arrest the NSCN-IM

ultra, Livingstone, and book

him as per provisions of the

law.

Livingstone, a relative of

the sitting MLAfrom Chandel

Assembly constituency, is

reportedly hiding in nearby

jungle, official reports said.

Gaikhangam urged Manipur

Film Forum to call off the

bandh in view of the

Christmas season saying that

all efforts would be made to

arrest the NSCN-IM militant.

Official sources said the

Centre and NSCN-IM had

signed ceasefire agreement

more than ten years ago and

peace talks were going on

between the two sides.

But ceasefire is not in force

in Manipur although several

NSCN-IM members freely

roam at various parts of

Manipur with arms and they

could be arrested anytime,

they said.

MANIPUR

Normal life affected in Manipur because of indefinite bandh

AHEMDABAD: Convicts

in the Naroda Patiya mas-

sacre case and accused in

the Naroda Gam case, for-

mer BJP MLA Maya

Kodnani, former Bajrang

Dal leader Babu Bajrangi

and former BJP councillor

Kishan Korani have filed an

application seeking the

replacement of the judge

presiding over the trial of

the Naroda Gam case.

"The judge should say

'not before me' to the trial of

the Naroda Gam case as she

has already delivered con-

victions in the Naroda

Patiya case and an appeal is

pending before the Gujarat

high court," said the plea

which will come up for

hearing on December 26.

According to the plea,

"While filing an appeal

before the high court, the

convicts have levelled cer-

tain allegations against the

judge regarding evaluation

of evidence in the Patiya

case."

Hence, the cause of natu-

ral justice would not be

served if the same judge

presided over the trial of the

Gam case, it stated.

The convicts also

expressed apprehension that

the judge would use testi-

mony and evidence given by

journalist Ashish Khetan of

Tehelka who conducted a

sting operation on accused

of the 2002 communal riots.

"It is our apprehension

that the judge will replicate

evidence and the statement

of Khetan in our case which

has already been approved

and based upon which most

of the Patiya accused were

convicted by the judge."

The lawyer of the

accused, Chetan Shah said,

"We have filed the applica-

tion in the apprehension that

the judge will use this evi-

dence which has already

been used and she cannot

reverse."

In that case, Shah added,

"We have reason to believe

that the judge may deliver

conviction in this case too.

Regarding the legal basis of

such a demand, the lawyer

said, "There is no such law

but judges say 'not before

me' for various reasons. In

this case we have argued on

the basis of the principle of

natural justice."

GUJARAT

Plea seeks replacement ofNaroda Gam case judge

PUNJAB

DSGMC to renovate two

Gurdwaras in PakistanPATIALA: Pakistan government has authorized the

Delhi Sikh Gurudwara Management Committee

(DSGMC) to do renovation work at two historic

Gurdwaras situated in the country.

"They have asked the DSGMC to conduct the

'kar sewa' of Gurudwara Dera Sahib, Lahore and

Gurudwara Ber Sahib, Sialkot," said DSGMC pres-

ident Paramjeet Singh Sarna after returning from his

visit to Pakistan.

The Dewan hall of Gurudwara Dera S ahib would

be raised and we would build it new, he added.

When asked about old structures where Guru

Granth Sahib has been installed, he said as of now

no decision has been taken to disturb the old struc-

ture.

"We would take into confidence the

Archaeological department of Pakistan in this

regard," he said.

"We will also form an expert committee along

with the finance committee to carry out the con-

struction work," he said.

Sarna also claimed that the PETPB has also

authorized DSGMC to carry out maintenance work

at an inn at Nankana Sahib, which has a capacity to

house 2,000 devotees. "The DSGMC will bear the

cost," he said.

There are more than five hundred Sikh

Gurdwaras and other historical Sikh places in

Pakistan, except 20 all others are in bad condition.

RAIPUR: Chhattisgarh Legislative Assembly

passed the Food Security Bill aimed at providing

food and nutritional security to around 50 lakh fam-

ilies in the state. Chief Minister Raman Singh told

the House that the provisions of the bill ensured that

adequate quantity of quality food will be available at

affordable prices to nearly 50 lakh families. The

new provisions will add a burden of Rs 2,311 crore

on the state exchequer.

Hailing Chhattisgarh for being only state in the

country to bring such legislation, Singh said,

"Everybody has the right to food and with this bill

the government has ensured this right to the people.

Now nobody will strive for meal here."

Reacting to the Opposition's charge that the bill

was introduced with an eye on Assembly elections

next year, Singh said, "It has not been done with an

intention to win the election. The government has

fulfilled its promises that it had made to the people."

Earlier, Leader of Opposition Ravindra Choubey

alleged that the bill looks like a "copy" of the

Centre's proposed Food Security Bill. Food and

Civil Supply Minister Punnulal Mohile had intro-

duced the bill in the Assembly yesterday.

The legislation envisages strengthening the pub-

lic distribution system, besides providing food

grains to the beneficiaries at subsidised rates. The

bill seeks to provide nutritious food to the pregnant

and nursing women and even the children up to the

age of 14 years. It has a provision under which

nutritional food will be provided to students staying

in hostels and ashrams.

Reading out salient features of the bill, Singh

said in case of any eventuality or climatic disaster,

the affected will be provided two-time meal free of

cost regularly up to three months. "Women empow-

erment is the focus of this bill. The senior woman

member (who has attained 18 years of age or above)

of a family will be considered the head of that fam-

ily for issuing ration cards," he said.

PATNA: Stung by a series of hooch incidents,

which claimed over 50 lives in different parts of

the state recently, Bihar government has

launched a massive crackdown on illegal liquor

trade network, CM Nitish Kumar said. Regular

raids are being conducted at places where

hooch is manufactured or sold, in accordance

with information provided by the intelligence,

Kumar said at a review meeting of Excise

Department here. Recently, the chief minister

had said that there were provisions for confisca-

tion of property of people, found guilty in ille-

gal liquor trade, in the Criminal Amendment

Act and the Excise Act. He said that these pro-

visions will be used to punish those involved in

the illegal trade. He said the state government's

excise policy was aimed at dissuading people

from consumption of liquor by increasing tax

on alcohol items. Deputy CM Sushil Kumar

Modi, Excise Minister Vijendra Yadav and

Chief Secretary AK Sinha were present in the

review meeting. The CM took stock of action

regarding collection of taxes on sale of liquor

and steps initiated to stop its illegal trade. More

than 50 people had died in hooch incidents in

Muzaffarpur, Ara and Gaya recently.

Himachal Pradesh

HP MLA booked for murder, on the runSHIMLA: Ahead of the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) meeting on Saturday to elect Himachal Pradesh's next chief minister, one of the party's newly-elected legislators has gone underground after being

booked in a murder case. Ram Kumar Chaudhary, a first-time MLAfrom Doon constituency in Solan district, is one of the four suspects in the murder of a 24-year-old woman in Panchkula in Haryana November

22. "Police raided his (Chaudhary's) house in Sandholi (near Baddi) and other places today (Saturday) but he managed to evade arrest. He and other accused have not been joining investigations for quite some

time," Superintendent of Police S Arul said. Arul said arrest warrants against all the four accused, booked under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code, were issued on Friday. The murdered woman's father Butti

Ram had lodged a police complaint alleging Chaudhary was in touch with his daughter. The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Thursday directed Haryana Police to expedite the probe. Congress leaders said

Chaudhary had not contacted any senior party leader and was unlikely to attend the CLP meeting in the evening.

CHHATTISGARH

Chhattisgarh Assembly passes Food Security bill

BIHARBihar has launched massive crackdown on hooch trade: Nitish

The fact that the Bharatiya Janata

Party has not just secured an

impressive victory but even

won a record number of Assembly

constituencies in Gujarat that have a

high Muslim population, should

silence critics of Chief Minister

Narendra Modi who have been claim-

ing that he does not enjoy the support

and confidence of the minority com-

munity post-2002 violence. Of the nine

Assembly seats which have a Muslim

population of more than 25 per cent,

the BJP has won seven. These wins

have come with a vote share ranging

from 45 per cent to 59 per cent. The

constituencies include Bapunagar with

a relatively low 28 per cent Muslim

population and Jamalpur-Khadia

which has a high of 60 per cent of the

minorities. Although these figures

speak for themselves, the hate-Modi

brigade in politics is unlikely to be

impressed by them because if it does, it

will lose the very reason for its politi-

cal survival. Similarly, social activists

who have exploited their visceral dis-

like for Mr Modi to build flourishing

careers will find reasons to downplay

the achievement. But all such elements

really stand marginalised today, andwhat they believe and propagate is not

more important than what the voters of

Gujarat have decided. For years now,

Mr Modi has been asking the people of

his State to move beyond 2002 and

latch on to the politics of development

which he has unleashed.

His brand of progress has not kept

the minorities out, and those within the

State who keep on harping to the con-

trary do so because they cannot see

beyond the blinkers they have

equipped themselves with. Of course,

there are also saner elements who

strongly believe that Mr Modi should

do more, even if that means indulging

in some symbolic acts like launching

specific schemes targeted at the minor-

ity community or give members of that

community more representation in

state institutions. These moderates

have also pointed out that Mr Modi did

not give the ticket to a single member

of the minority community in the just

concluded Assembly election. (The

Congress gave tickets to seven, but

only two won.) However, while ges-

tures do go a long way in sending the

right signal, the Chief Minister is not

known to indulge in symbolic action,

and it is unlikely that he will deviate

very much from that philosophy,

which was reflected in the party's elec-

tion manifesto for the State poll. It had

studiously avoided offering any sop to

any specific community or class or

caste; it spoke of inclusive develop-

ment.

Yet, the Muslim voters have backed

the BJP led by him in Gujarat. Clearly,

they too have realised that action and

nor words of appeasement are a better

bet for their future. This is not to say

that the entire minority population in

the State is enveloped in progress.

Indeed, there are many areas where the

Muslims continue to live in challeng-

ing circumstances. Mr Modi must in

his third term address those issueseffectively.

The other matter which the Chief

Minister needs to pay attention to with-

out waste of time is the perception that

the BJP under his leadership has not

done enough to uplift rural Gujarat. Mr

Modi has to demolish the perception

that his development mantra is largely

limited to urban regions. The party has

swept the urban constituencies across

the board; it has bagged 15 out of the

16 seats in Surat, 15 out of 17 seats in

Ahmedabad city, both seats of

Gandhinagar city, all of Baroda's five

seats, the two urban seats of

Bhavnagar and three of Rajkot's four

seats. Agrarian reforms should top his

agenda now.

Minorities back NarendraModi in Gujarat

Page 4_Editorial & State Watch.qxd 12/23/2012 12:33 PM Page 1


5/8

In the Guptan period, when

architects in India were

beginning to build more

and more temples, they cut

thirty-five temples and

monasteries into a cliff in

north-western India, near

Mumbai, at Ellora. Ellora was

on the main road between

north India and south India, so

it was a good place to build

monasteries where travelers

could stay the night (because

there were no hotels at that

time).

The first people who

carved temples at Ellora were

Buddhists, and so they built

temples to the Buddha. People

built these Buddhist temples

and monasteries between

about 550 and 700 AD.

Because the men who carved

the images were still new to

carving stone, they often tried

to make their stone carvings

look like the wood they were

more used to. In the

"Carpenter's Cave", the

builders carved bands of stone

to look like wooden beams

holding up the ceiling.

As Buddhism became less

popular in India, beginning inthe 600s AD, people who were

Hindus built Hindu temples at

Ellora to Shiva and Vishnu.

The Hindu temples were very

complicated and sometimes

took a hundred years to finish.

Some of these temples are

built in a south Indian style,

even though they are in the

north, because they were built

about 760 AD by King

Krishna I of Manyakheta, who

had conquered part of south

India too and wanted people to

know how big his empire was.

Beginning about 800 AD,

people who were Jains built

Jain temples at Ellora too, so

that Jains who took the road

would also have a comfortable

place to stay. At this time, peo-

ple from the different religions

were not fighting and so they

didn't mind having their tem-

ples near each other. By 1100,

Ellora was big enough, and

people stopped carving new

caves there. But they kept on

using the caves to worship the

gods, and to stay in when they

were travelling, for hundreds

more years after that.

STUDENT AGE


PlacementsEducation Misc.

FreeComputerCourse

NoEngl ishSpeakingCourse in

Monthly FeeSecurity FeeCourse Feejust 45

days

Also provides Tutions for

1st to 12thClasses

Shastri Nagar, Jammu

Ph: 9796287997, 9796288033

Sai Institute ofIT & Mgmt.

Education

Education

* Above 5000 students clearedand sent abroad from DaffodilsCentres across India.

* Average success rate 6.5 bands* Learn Interview, reading, speak-

ing techniques.* Get info on Colleges, admis-

sions, accommodation abroad.* Discuss wo rk and study

opportunities abroad.* Guest motivation lecturers* Intro to foreign countries* Study Visa guidance* British Council and IDP certified

daily paper december 23

Documents