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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2013
Pawar speaks up for Rajnath is a leader banned mining with difference industry in Goa
Page 6 Editorial
IN BRIEF
High court notice to Congress, BJP on foreign funding
NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court Monday issued notice to the Congress and the BJP on a plea seeking directive for a CBI or SIT probe for allegedly taking donations from subsidiaries of Britainbased Vedanta Group. A division bench of Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice contd on page 2
Govt defends ordinance, welcomes CWG scam: Charges framed against Kalmadi and nine others suggestions from public
'Nothing rejected from Verma report': Chidambaram
Women groups protest anti-rape ordinance
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NEW DELHI: The government on Monday defended its decision to pass an ordinance on sexual harassment saying there was an urgent need for amending the criminal law. The conglomerate of changes, which introduced the death penalty for extreme rape cases, has to be cleared by parliament within six months. Union Minister P Chidambaram addressed a press conference on Monday and announced the measures taken up by the government in the ordinance. "There will be changes in the ordinance," said Finance Minister P Chidambaram. "There will be decisions with political parties, parliament...I appeal to everyone to complete the process in the parliament session." Chidambaram rejected claims that the recommendations of the Justice JS Verma panel have been rejected. He said, "As we were expected to be prompt, we have brought this ordinance. Marital rape a difficult issue in which we need more consultations. Some clauses like AFSPA need more discussions." "The ordinance is the first step in the making of
ubbing the government's ordinance on sexual violence against women an "eyewash," a number of women's groups today protested at Jantar Mantar seeking full implementation of Justice Verma committee recommendations. "This ordinance is an eyewash. It is diluting the actual reccontd on page 2 ommendations of Justice
to assure everyone that further consultations will take place." The minister also clarified that some recommendations of Justice JS Verma panel have not been incorporated because of divergence of opinion. "It is not correct to say that Justice Verma Committee report has not been accepted. The ordinance is only the starting point of legislative process. Justice Verma also agreed to the 22 clauses put in ordinance yesterday," said Chidambaram. He also said that the Cabinet contd on page 2
law," Information and Broadcasting Minister Manoj Tewari told the media here. "If there are objections, the government will look into them with a positive framework and take into consideration whatever is necessary," the minister said. Chidambaram added that the government welcomed the suggestions from public to replace ordinance with a bill in Parliament. "There will be debate, consultation with political parties, which will give ample opportunities to reflect broadest perspective. The government wishes
NEW DELHI: A CBI court has framed charges against sacked CWG Organising Committee chief Suresh Kalmadi and nine other accused in CWG timing and scoring scam on Monday over two years after the Commonwealth Games. They have been charged with cheating, conspiring, abusing his official position and causing a loss of over Rs 90 crore to public exchequer in a games-related graft case. Kalmadi pleaded not guilty in the court. All the accused in the case are out on bail. Special CBI Judge Ravinder Kaur framed charges under various provisions of the IPC and the Prevention of Corruption (PC) Act against Kalmadi and other accused, including OC Secretary General Lalit Bhanot, in the case. Besides cheating and criminal conspiracy, the accused have also been charged with offences relating to forgery and use of forged documents as genuine, criminal intimidation, destruction of evidence of the IPC and section
13(1)(d) read with section 13(2) (criminal misconduct by public servants) of the PC Act. The court has fixed February 20 as the date for the commencement of trial in the case. The judge said that the evidence will be recorded on a day-to-day basis barring Monday and Friday. The Central Bureau of Investigation claimed that they were involved in illegally awarding the contract for timing and scoring for the games to Swiss Timing. This allegedly caused a loss of about Rs 90 crore to the exchequer. After framing of charges contd on page 2
only the BJP's central parliamentary board can take a decision on the PM candidate. "If any decision is to be taken on PM candidature, only the central parliamentary board will decide, we should not speculate on this," Singh said. contd on page 2
N. N. Vohra, Governor along with others releasing a brochure listing Do's and Don'ts for the intending pilgrims at Jammu. JAMMU, FEB 4: Mr. N. N. Vohra, Governor, who is Chairman of the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board, released a Brochure brought out by the Jammu Kashmir & Ladakh Tourism Development Cooperative Ltd. (JKLTDC), Jammu and Kashmir, at Raj Bhavan, here today. This Brochure, listing Do's and Don'ts for the intending pilgrims, has been brought out by the JKLTDC with a view to enlarging awareness among the Yatris about the various aspects of the annual Shri Amarnathji Yatra, including the terrain and topography, and the precautions to be taken during the pilgrimage. This year's Yatra commences on 28th June, 2013. Interacting with a delegation of the JKLTDC on this occasion, the Governor lauded their initiative of bringing out the Brochure, which would serve as a useful guide for the pilgrims. He observed that such literature could be usefully made available at the Yatra Registration Counters across the country for the benefit of the intending pilgrims. Mr. Rajesh Gupta, Chairman, JKLTDC, briefed the Governor about the activities of this organization and the aims and objects of bringing out the Brochure. He said that the JKLTDC volunteers will also provide free assistance to the Yatris and support during healthcare emergencies, hospitalization assistance and attendants at various locations. The 9-member delegation comprised Syed Sajjad Madni, S. Gurmit Sing, Mr. Asif Iqbal, Mr. B. B. Kotwal, Mr. Rajinder Singh Kotwal, Mr. Shujahat Madni, Mr. Ajay Kumar Mahajan and Mr. Sudhir Gulati. Mr. Navin K. Choudhary, Chief Executive Officer of the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board, was present on the occasion.
Cold conditions Jammu Marathon ED slaps Rs 98.5 grip North on Feb 17: Taj crore notice on India again takes a review Rajasthan Royals
JAMMU, FEB 4: North India is again in the grip of cold conditions. Himachal Pradesh is reeling under cold wave condition with upper parts of the state experiencing fresh snow fall and lower parts wide-spread rain since last night. The people in the glacier prone areas have been told to shift to the safer areas. In Jammu and Kashmir, the 300-km-long SrinagarJammu national highway, contd on page 2 JAMMU, FEB, 04: The Jammu Marathon race would be held on February 17 and it would invite participation of around 25, 000 people including some 10 celebrities. This was disclosed in an interactive meeting the Minister had with a deputation of Managing Committee of the Marathon race. The meeting was informed that the race would start at 9 am from MAM Stadium, contd on page 2 NEW DELHI/MUMBAI, FEB 4: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has slapped a penalty notice of approximately Rs 100 crore against IPL team Rajasthan Royals for allegedly violating forex laws in its business operations. The agency, which issued the penalty notice after a two years of investigations under the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA), has sent out three separate notices to the IPL franchise totalling contd on page 2
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as President Akhnoor (Jammu Rural), Sudershan Singh as President Reasi, Amit Gupta as President Ramban, Ashish Sharma as President Kishtwar and Prince Sharma as District President Poonch, where as District Presidents of Kathua, Basoli, Samba, Udhampur, Doda, SunderbaniNowshera and Rajouri shall be finalised shortly after the consultation with local BJP units. Provincial and the District Bodies of Kashmir valley and the Ladakh region are being finalised. in Karnataka in May.
Cold conditions....
connecting the Kashmir valley with the rest of the country has been closed due to landslides, triggered by heavy rains and fresh snowfall. Met department has already issued a forecast for heavy to very heavy rains and snowfall for two days from tomorrow in the Pirpanjal range, including the highway. Surface and air transport are also likely to get affected due to this Western Disturbances. A cloudy day greeted Delhiites today with parts of the national capital witnessing rains overnight and in the early hours. The minimum temperature this morning was recorded 11.7 degrees Celsius, three notches above normal, it is likely to dip later in the day. The Met department has predicted more rain as well as hailstorm for Delhi today, accompanied by strong winds, which is expected to bring back the chill. In Rajashthan, Cold conditions today subsided in parts of the state where Sriganganagar recorded the lowest temperature of 11.2 degrees Celsius. Other places including the state capital recorded minimum temperature between 13 degrees to 17.3 degrees Celsius.The MET department has predicted light rains at isolated areas in the state. Light to moderate rains lashed most parts of Punjab and Haryana though minimum temperature rose sharply by up to eight notches above normal in both the states. Chandigarh recorded a minimum of 13.7 deg celsius, up by seven notches above normal. The city also witnessed rainfall of 3.8 mm. In Haryana, Ambala, Karnal and Narnaul settled at 14.2 degree Celsius while Hisar had a low of 14.6 degree up by 8 degrees above normal. The MeT in its forecast said light to moderate rain may continue in next 48 hours, while hailstorm or thunderstorm may occur at isolated places in Punjab and Haryana.
ular manner and shares were allegedly issued in violation of forex rules stipulated and framed by the RBI.
CWG scam...
the trial will begin and the court will summon prosecution witnesses in the case. According to the CBI, the selection process for awarding the contract took around three years. Swiss Timing's first presentation was made one year after the publication of expression of interest. This was issued by Lalit Bhanot without the knowledge of Organising Committee's finance department. Swiss Timing itself recorded Rs 18 crore as escalation cost due to delays. VK Verma then changed the eligibility criteria of the TSR deal without bringing it to the notice of OC executive board and Kalmadi ensured the committee formed to approve the TSR deal consisted of those who favoured Swiss Timing. VK Gautam and Sujit Panigrahi were forced to resign from their positions in the OC as they opposed the choice of Swiss Timing. An overall loss of Rs 90 crore was incurred due to awarding the contract to Swiss Timing.
BJP's PM...
BJP on this issue. After releasing the BJP manifesto for the Feb 14 Tripura elections, Naqvi said at least eight important political parties would soon join the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). Refusing to disclose their names, he said some of them were earlier BJP allies. "Manmohan Singh is a prime minister on deputation with remote control in Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi's hands," Naqvi said. He added: "Our rivals portray the BJP as a Hindutva party although ours is a nationalistic party. "Even though several northeastern states are Christian-dominated states, the BJP's aim is to develop each part of the region." The BJP has fielded several candidates in all three northeastern states which will see elections this month: Tripura, Nagaland and Meghalaya.
LS polls...
in the state capital and carry out extensive campaigning in favour of the party in their respective areas. Samajwadi Party has to repeat the history of UP assembly elections in Lok Sabha polls, he said, adding that the top priority should be to achieve the target of winning maximum seats in Lok Sabha elections. The SP supremo said more the number of party candidates winning the polls, more the party would gain a decisive role in national politics.
Two-day strike...
Yechury said on the sidelines of a programme here. Trade unions CITU, INTUC, AITUC, BMS and Left-backed banking sector unions have jointly called the country-wide general strike opposing financial sector reforms and allowing FDI in retail on February 20 and 21.
BJP welcomes...
about the other recommendations of the Shunglu Committee, which was constituted by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to examine the entire CAG (Comptroller and Auditor General) report pertaining to the Commonwealth Games, BJP spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad told reporters here. "The Shunglu Committee has given very stringent comments against the collusion and inaction of the Sheila Dikshit government. It has used an expression, 'there was a method in the madness'," he said. Prasad said, "Manmohan Singh had assured the house that he would take appropriate follow up action in the light of the conclusion and recommendations of the Shunglu Committee." "The BJP would like to know whether the prime minister will allow the CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation) to fairly and honestly investigate the role of the entire Sheila Dikshit government as far as massive irregularities relating to the preparations are concerned," he said.
Karnataka Budget...
and suggestion from opposition parties, when his attention was drawn to opposition criticisms on his government. In the event of Assembly elections approaching shortly, the Governor appealed to the people of Karnataka to actively participate in the electoral process and urged the legislators to play a constructive and effective role for the formulation of people friendly policies. On the other hand, the leader of the Opposition in the Assembly Siddaramaiah has termed Governor's speech as bundle of lies. He said that the Government has made Governor to read lies. Replying about the question of no confidence motion, Siddaramaiah said they will not move 'no confidence motion' as they do not have required numbers in the House. He however added that the Government has no moral right to present the budget. He said technically speaking the Government has simple majority now, but with Yeddyurappa's supporters resigning by the day, the Government will fall soon. Days ahead of the session, 13 rebel BJP MLAs loyal to former Chief Minister and Karnataka Janata Party president BS Yeddyurappa had submitted their resignations from the House membership to Speaker KG Bopaiah, who accepted 12 and rejected one on technical grounds. One more BJP MLA had submitted his resignation on Feb 1, but its fate is yet to be known. The development posed no threat to the six month-old Shettar ministry as the effective strength of the 224-member House has been reduced with 12 more seats falling vacant in addition to the two earlier. With the acceptance of resignation of 12 MLAs, the BJP now has a strength of 105, Congress 71, JDS 26, independents seven (one of whom is supporting the Government and is in the Ministry) and the Speaker.
UP spends...
person who has applied for security from the state and thereafter the home department approves it," Singh said. Government sources said that more than 10,000 applications requesting security cover are pending before the home department and the officials are at their wits' end handling them. They point out that the "craze for 'sarkari suraksha' (state security)" is bigger under the ruling Samajwadi Party (SP). "With the state hardpressed for police, the situation is sad. Crime rate is soaring and people are looking for better security mechanism," said a police officer. Security cover taken away from civil police force impeded not only routine policing but also burnt a hole into the state's coffers, the officer said.
Women groups...
Verma committee. We want a bill based not on this ordinance but the panel's suggestions," said Kavita Krishnan, secretary of AllIndia Progressive Women Association (AIPWA). Sehba Farooqui, secretary of All India Democratic Women's Association (AIDWA), listed their demands which include recognising marital rape. "While we wanted a gender specific definition of rape, government's ordinance has made it gender neutral. Also, Verma panel's recommendation that no sanction will be required if the armed forces personnel are accused of a crime against woman has been turned down," she said. "We were also in favour of recommendation that recognised marital rape. But this ordinance instead of strengthening the law will derail the issue," Farooqui said. She also said that government's permission should not be required to pursue cases where public servants are accused of rape. "Why should the government decide which cases are fake. Let the courts take a call on that. Also, command responsibility should be fixed where the armed forces are involved," argued Krishnan. The protesting groups said they will continue their demonstrations to build pressure on the government. "The government might have wanted to push the ordinance to give a message that it is moving fast on the issue of violence against women. But this should happen in a transparent manner. We will not defuse the pressure and will continue to push for our demands," she added. Krishnan said women's groups will carry out a signature campaign in favour of implementing Justice Verma's recommendations. "From February 21, we will all gather here at Jantar Mantar to hold a people's watch over Parliament to make sure that Justice Verma's recommendations are implemented," she said. The women's groups have been protesting against the ordinance, saying it ignored several recommendations of the Justice Verma committee. President Pranab Mukherjee yesterday promulgated the Ordinance under which rape that leads to death of the victim can attract death penalty. The Union Cabinet on Friday recommended the draft of the ordinance to the President for his assent in a bid to fast-track stringent amendments to the criminal laws to check crime against women. The ordinance came less than three weeks before the start of the Budget Session of Parliament. The ordinance, based on the recommendations of the Justice J S Verma
Jammu Marathon...
go through BC Road, Kachi Chawni, Parade, Gumat to finally end back at MAM stadium. Appreciating the initiative, the Minister asked the organizers to attach a slogan for the marathon so that more and more people feel inclined to it. Mr. Taj directed the Secretary, Sports Council to facilitate conduct of the race in the most hassle free manner. He assured the organizers of the race all help in making the event a success. The Minister said Government is very keen to inculcate sports culture among youth of the State and organizing such events would go a long way in this direction. He said Government is contemplating more and more events to benefit youth. Secretary, Sports Council, Mr. Dileep Thusoo and representatives of the managing committee were present in the meeting.
ED slaps...
to Rs 98.5 crore plus some other similar notices earlier, sources said. While a Rs 50 crore penalty has been slapped on Jaipur IPL Cricket Private Limited (JIPL) and its directors, owners of Rajasthan Royals, Rs 34 crore notice for evasion of forex duties has been issued against EM Sporting Holding, Mauritius and its directors. A fresh notice of Rs 14.5 crore has been issued against Ms ND Investments, United Kingdom and its directors. All the three parties can appeal against this penalty order in the appellate authority of FEMA. The order requires the IPL team to pay up in 45 days. The ED has been investigating financial and foreign exchange irregularities against all the IPL franchises for almost two years now and this is the first big order against any team. It comes just a day after auctions concluded in Chennai for the sixth edition of the glamorous cricket extravaganza. The penalty order said the probe agency found that foreign investment in JIPL was made in "flagrant contravention of FEMA" and the investment made in this regard was made "much prior to the incorporation of JIPL". The penalty was issued after investigations pointed out that the funds in the firm have been remitted in an irreg-
BJYM announces..
Sachin Gupta (Ramnagar), Neelam Langeh (Ramban), Ishant Gupta, Sudesh Kumar Sethu, Mackson Bharti and Ajay Pargal are nominated as State Secretaries. Mohinder Pratap Gupta as State Treasure and Tarun Sharma is nominated as New State Media Secretary and Suza Iqbal Khan as Additional Media Secretary while Dr. Gurpreet Singh Khalsa (Cancer Specialist), Fayaz Ahmed and Jamyang Tsering Namgyal are nominated as Spokespersons. Honey Singh Jamwal and Rajeev Dubey as State Publicity Secretaries. Vikas Sharma is nominated as State Office Secretary. State Unit of BJYM has also announced its seven new district Presidents with Ajay Vaid as President Jammu district, Rajesh Choudhary as President R.S. Pura, Vikas Choudhary
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SRINAGAR: The hardline faction of Hurriyat Conference on Monday distanced itself from the 'decree' issued by grand mufti of Jammu and Kashmir, that had termed singing as "unIslamic", even as it dismissed the reported threats to the Valley's maiden all-girls rock-band as "mere propaganda". "We disassociate ourselves from the 'fatwa' issued by Mufti Bashiruddin (grand mufti of Jammu and Kashmir). People do not recognise him as grand mufti (chief cleric)... Only the government recognises him," Hurriyat Conference spokesman Ayaz Akbar souces said. Akbar termed the decrees issued by the grand mufti as "mysterious" saying such things give rise "lawlessness in the society". "It is mysterious...The way he issues fatwas...It arises lawlessness," Akbar said, adding fatwas can be issued only when a nation is governed under Shariah rule. The Hurriyat spokesman also dismissed as "mere propaganda" the reported threats to the rock-band 'Pragaash', saying "a big bomb is being made out of the issue". "There is no threat to the girls. Nobody has issued any threats. It is a mere propaganda by Indian media and they are making a big bomb out of a normal issue to defame Kashmiris," he said. Akbar said some youngsters posting abuses on social networking sites cannot be termed as threat, adding Hurriyat does not support such abuse or coercion and force in any way. The teenage girls, who came to limelight in late December last year after their scintillating performance at the annual 'Battle of the Bands' competition here received online threats and absurd comments, leaving their parents a worried lot and forcing them to keep a low profile. The girls had defied the convention by stepping into the male-dominated bastion and faced online threats and abuses from conservative sections of the society. Grand mufti Bashiruddin Ahmad yesterday issued a decree terming singing as un-Islamic. "I have said that singing is not in accordance with Islamic teachings," Ahmad
NEWS IN BOX
Minister for Higher Education, Mr. Muhammad Akbar Lone Chairing a high level meeting at Jammu. of the department or executing agencies will not be tolerated and stern action under rules shall be initiated against the erring officials. The Minister directed the concerned to complete the construction work on Rs 2.05 crore Auditorium of Government M. A. M. College, Jammu by ending April this year. He also directed PHE authorities to ensure replacement of the water pipes damaged due to construction of flyover at Government Women Colleges Gandhi Nagar within a week's time for which Rs 6 lakh has already been released. He asked the PHE authorities to supply the water to the college through water tankers till the normal supply was restored. He also directed the R&B Department to complete the construction work of GCW Gandhinagar boundary wall by the end of this month, for which the government has already sanctioned Rs 60.78 lakhs. While taking stock of functioning of the GGM Science College, Jammu and Amar Singh College, Srinagar, Mr. Lone directed for preparing comprehensive Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) for conserving these colleges as heritage institutions of the State. In this pursuit, he asked
Shabir chairs NRHM Society meeting, asks for incorporation of all deficits in the plan
JAMMU, JAN 4: Underscoring the need for timely submission of next fiscal State Programme Implementation Plan (SPIP) of the State to the Centre for approval under National Rural Health Mission, the Minister of State for Health, Mr. Shabir Ahmad Khan has stressed upon the concerned functionaries of Health department to incorporate all the deficiencies in the plan for overall development of healthcare facilities in the State. Chairing a meeting of Health Department and State NRHM Society here on Monday, convened to discuss proposed SPI plan for 2013-14 of the State under NRHM, the Minister exhorted upon the concerned authorities to double their efforts and ensure time bound completion of ongoing health projects and other health care facilities under implementation in the State under NRHM funding. He said that non utilization of funds besides late submission of utilization certificates of the projects obstruct in the release of funds and inflate next year's allocation under the Mission. The meeting discussed the components of proposed plan formulated by State NRHM Society for next financial year under which the Society has proposed to include some new initiatives to improve health care facilities. The Minister said that due consideration in the next year plan should be given for up gradation of health infrastructure and setting up of health centers in difficult areas where health centers not established and people suffered lot for want of these Earlier, Mission Director, NRHM, Dr. Yashpal, gave a power point presentation on the proposed plan, besides the physical and financial achievements registered in the State under the Mission. He informed that Society has formulated the draft SPIP 2013-14 for Rs. 568.99 crore as per the guidelines of Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on the inputs received from Health Services, ISM, Medical Education Departments and District Health Societies. Commissioner Secretary, Health and Medical Education, Mr. M K Dwivedi, Mission Director NRHM, Dr. Yashpal Sharma, Director Health Services, Jammu, Dr. Madhu Khullar, Director Family Welfare, Dr Kassar, besides senior officers of Health, NRHM Society, Planning and Finance wings of Health Departments attended the meeting.
1st batch of diploma holders leave for Apollo Foundation Vadodara under Udaan scheme
JAMMU, FEB 04: 1st batch of 63 selected Diploma holders from the State left today by train for Vadodara Gujarat for Apollo Foundation for training and placement under Udaan scheme in collaboration with National Skill Development Corporation of India. Mr. Shabir Ahmed Mobilization Executive of Apollo Technical Education Foundation accompanied the batch from Jammu Railway Station. The batch was seen off by Er. Neetu Maini, Principal of Government Polytechnic Jammu and Mr. Hamid Malik, Training and Placement Officer at the railway station. The students were asked to work with dedication.
High quality standards in education imperative for socio- economic growth: Mir
JAMMU, FEBRUARY 04: Minister for Agriculture, Mr. Ghulam Hassan Mir today said that achieving high quality standards in education was imperative for socio- economic development of the State. The Minister was addressing a gathering after inaugurating the Girls Higher Secondary Institute opened by Galaxy Group of Educational institutions, here at Saink Colony here this afternoon. The Minister said that during last two decades a lot has been done to upgrade the educational infrastructure both by government and private sector across the state and need of the hour was to improve quality of education to help students to achieve excellence. Saying that the private sector has helped to infuse the competition in education sector, the Minister stressed for introduction of job oriented courses so that human resources produced by different educational institutions could be utilized for the nation building. On the occasion, the Minster also distributed blankets among the needy people provided by the organization. Earlier, the students of the institute also presented variety cultural programme.
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Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand along with others during cultural function organised by Government Girls Higher Secondary, Mubarak Mandi at Jammu. The Deputy Chief Minister was chief guest on the occasion. MLA, Jammu (East) Mr. Ashok Khajuria, Commissioner/ Secretary, Education Mr. F.A. Factoo, Director, School Education, Jammu Ms Dev Lata, DIG Mr. J.P. Singh, CEO, Jammu Mr. N.R. Dingra, parents, staff and school children attended the grand event. On the occasion prizes were distributed among students of the school who had excelled in the different curricular and co-curricular activates. Annual School magazine 'Sahtiya Sarita' was also released on the occasion. Lauding role of the teachers, Mr. Tara Chand said that the community commands special respect in the society and status of Guru is next to god, adding that bond of Guru-Sishya is a pious bond which has special status in every body's life. "Education is torch light of the society and teachers are torchbearers who lead us from darkness to the enlightened world of knowledge," he added. He said in the era of cut throat competition right guidance by the professional teacher can ensure success of student in various competitive examinations at state and national level. He appreciated the performance shown by the students of the school and called for maintaining the same in coming years also. "Besides preparing our children in studies special efforts need to be made to promote moral education among them, as morality in society has a special signifi-
Restaurant Associations (KHARA), Kashmir Traders & Manufacturers Federation (KTME), Federation Chamber of Industries, Kashmir (FCI), Transporters Federation, Goods carriers Transport Association and the Association of Kashmir Motors and Drivers Association at the Excise & Taxation Complex, Solina Srinagar today, Mr. Rather said that synergy of Ideas between the Government and the Civil society, including traders and business community, was primarily imperative to harness goals and benefits of various government programmes and schemes aimed at state's sustainable socio-economic development with focus on employment generation and economic
complaints about alleged harassment to the traders. Last year only 2% seizures have been registered through test checks at Lakhanpur toll plaza, though about 6000 vehicles move to and fro daily through this Checkpost. While assuring that all the possibilities will be explored to make the next year's Budget proposal more people and trader friendly, Mr. Rather asked the business community to discourage tax evasion attempts by a few unscrupulous traders and to bring it to zero level so that there are no seizures at all and the system of random checking is done away with steadly with the passage of time. He also sought cooperation of trade and business community in revenue
realization as tax revenue was also important for development of the state which cannot be compromised. Mr. Rather asked the business community that before implementation of Goods and Services Tax regime in the State alongwith other states of the Country, all the stake holders including trade and Industry will be taken on board adding that the interests of the State's people would be protected at all levels. The representatives of the Trade and Industry, while thanking the Minister for providing them an opportunity to highlight their demands, congratulated him for achieving the distinction of No. 1 state in the country with regard to tax collection, i.e. highest tax collecting state.
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he Union Government has done well to bring in an ordinance that stiffens punishment for sexual assaults including rape. There has been criticism from some quarters that the Government should have deliberated more deeply before pushing through the ordinance. The criticism also has been that the ordinance fails to take a holistic view of the recommendations that the Justice JS Verma Committee has made. But deliberations can still happen - and will hopefully happen - in the coming Budget Session of Parliament. The two Houses can then take that holistic view during the discussions and bring in fresh laws or amendments to the existing ones. The ordinance itself will have to be approved by Parliament within six months of its promulgation. So, there is nothing wrong in the UPA Government's decision. Of course, it must not be forgotten that the regime has adopted the ordinance route primarily because it had been under pressure from not just the Opposition but also various social rights groups to 'immediately do something concrete' that demonstrates its willingness to walk the talk. The Government had faced flak for the lackadaisical and insensitive manner in which it had initially handled the issue of the gang rape of a 23year old girl in a moving bus in Delhi on December 16. From all accounts, people cutting across ideological and political leanings had slammed the Congress-led regime for its failure to move swiftly in bringing stringent laws to tackle rising crimes against women. Mr JS Verma too had added to the pressure by pointing out that, since his panel 'with private resources' had been prompt in the completion of its task, there was no reason for a Government with huge resources at its command to delay an ordinance that incorporates at least the 'non-controversial' suggestions which his committee had
India has fallen far behind China on almost all economic and human development indicators. It is unlikely to catch up unless there is a revolution in governance.
The ability to settle most arguments by discussion and compromise is a strength. An orientation towards languages and mathematics has made India an information technology superpower. Strong family orientation and values ensure that families stay together and look after their weak and vulnerable. But India has not reached its potential. An abysmal infrastructure, poor maintenance of roads, buildings and so on, the inordinate time taken to complete infrastructure projects, difficulties to start new businesses are glaring differences from China. Capital is more expensive. Employing labour in industry is subject to many controls. It is difficult to start labourintensive industries, and almost impossible to close weak or dying industries. Bankruptcy laws do not permit a quick restructuring of industries. There is no provision, as in the United States of America, for a title 11 of the bankruptcy code. Indian tax laws are archaic and unfair. For example raw materials (products like PVC) are subject to higher import duties than the finished products. Without a goods and services tax and uniform tax rates in each state, it is easier for foreign competitors. They pay only standard import duties while domestic industries pay differential taxes in each state. Corruption is endemic and has increased with the liberalization of the economy. All natural resources are 50 per cent of the GDP and is interspersed through it. The government loses the tax revenue. As a major investor in the economy, the government is into massive road construction, the building of flyovers and metro rails in cities, housing for the poor, slum clearance, garbage removal and so on. These require large government expenditures and construction contracts. These are also a source for corruption. Economic development has been accompanied by large social expenditures for the benefit of the poor, on livelihoods, health services, education and so on. These expenditures experience large-scale thefts by government employees as benefits are distributed to non-existent beneficiaries, or only partially to beneficiaries. China is also known for massive corruption. But the government's schemes are implemented to a large extent, and quickly. It is not so in India. Jobs in Indian governments (teachers, recruits to the army, police and so on) at times require payments to recruiters. Government certified documents also are given for an extra price to the issuer. Corruption in India slows the system. It does not speed it. The Indian civilian administration has little or no individual accountability. Collective responsibility holds no individual responsible for poor delivery. In most of India the police are avoided by citizens because they harass the ordinary person. Women
and the poor are particularly vulnerable. India, unlike China, has regular and bitterly fought elections whose cost has been escalating. These are held for Parliament, state legislatures, municipal bodies in urban India and local bodies in villages. The cost of fighting an election is high. Money, mostly unaccounted for and untaxed, is spent much in excess of given limits on publicity, on bribes to leaders who can deliver blocs of votes and to individual voters themselves. While the Election Commission tries bravely to prevent these excessive expenditures, it is only marginally effective. This expenditure has to be recouped by the winning candidates by using their positions in governments as elected representatives. They sell governmentowned resources, contracts or permissions and are paid in 'black' money. Thus it is not social structure and caste that are alone or even mainly responsible for holding India behind China. It is the poor governance and lack of accountability of government officials. In China the government bureaucracy is overseen by a parallel party bureaucracy which is more powerful. While party officials might take extra benefits, party monitoring also ensures that the government is accountable for performance and follows party directives. Provincial and local governments have greater financial clout and are able to take decisions at lower levels. There is better supervision of government officials than there is in India. The administrative reforms commissions and the various police commissions have made many recommendations for administrative and police reform, as has the Verma committee this month. So have the judicial reforms commissions for improving the appointment, speed and performance of the judiciary. The political and bureaucratic system has a vested interest in the status quo and has stalled all such reforms. Thestatus quo enables them to accumulate undreamt of wealth. This prevents fundamental change in governance in India, an imperative for faster and more equitable growth. India has fallen far behind China on almost all economic and human development indicators. It is unlikely to catch up unless there is a revolution in governance.
By KG Suresh ajnath Singh is known as an amiable politician who does not badmouth his adversaries either within his party or outside. But now, the newly appointed BJP president will have to be firm rather than play safe and maintain status quo. After Rajnath Singh took over the reins of the main Opposition BJP for the second time recently, anchors and analysts were seen speculating on the challenges before him including dealing with the 'volatile' Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh-BJP ties, reconciling the differences among senior party leaders and, of course, naming a prime ministerial candidate for the 2014 general election. A significant part of such discussions also dwelt on his uneasy relationship with party leaders in his own home turf of Uttar Pradesh, with many observers and experts holding him responsible for the party's sorry state of affairs in the electorally crucial State. Undoubtedly, though credited with administrative acumen amply displayed both as Education Minister in the Uttar Pradesh Government and later, as the State's Chief Minister, Mr Singh's past electoral record in the State has not been very bright. Under his leadership, the BJP fought the 2007 Assembly poll and lost heavily; its tally came down to 51. His critics point out that he was the national president, when the NDA lost to the UPA in the 2009 Lok Sabha poll and the BJP fared poorly in Uttar Pradesh too, bagging just 10 seats. However, Uttar Pradesh is more of an opportunity for the BJP leader rather
than a challenge. Call it a coincidence: Mr Rajnath Singh's so-called bete noire former Chief Minister and one-time Hindutva poster boy Kalyan Singh returned to the party fold for the first time ahead of his maiden tenure as party president and rejoined the party for the second time just a month ahead of his second term in office. With the law and order situation deteriorating in Uttar Pradesh, growing perception among the majority community that the Samajwadi Party Government was bending over backwards to appease the minorities, the courts tightening the noose around Bahujan Samaj Party's Mayawati and media exposes of her brother's rag to riches story, people in Uttar Pradesh are looking for an alternative. The BJP, which once reigned supreme in Lucknow, can be the chosen one, if it puts its house in order on priority. Inflation, corruption, safety and security of women and surviving at the Centre at the mercy of the two political rivals in the State, is unlikely to help the Congress at the hustings in Uttar Pradesh, notwithstanding the expected projection of Nehru-Gandhi scion Rahul Gandhi, the MP from Amethi, as the prime ministerial candidate. Uma Bharti, who was closely associated with Mr Kalyan Singh, is now firmly established in the State's politics. If Mr Rajnath Singh rises above State politics, mends fences with leaders such as Kalraj Mishra and motivates leaders such as Yogi Adityanath, Varun Gandhi, Kesri Nath Tripathi and Om Prakash Singh to take the lead, he has the potential to change the party's fortunes in the
2014 Lok Sabha poll. Uttar Pradesh is important not just for Mr Rajnath Singh but for the BJP as a whole if it hopes to make a comeback, without too much dependence on allies, unpredictable and otherwise. Even if the BJP bags half of the Lok Sabha seats at stake in Uttar Pradesh, it will have more seats than the total seats in Gujarat or equivalent to all the seats in neighbour-
would not be an exaggeration to say that, while there may be more competent leaders in the BJP, after Atal Bihari Vajpayee and late Pramod Mahajan, it is Mr Rajnath Singh who can emerge as the new 'consensus builder' in the party. Mr Rajnath Singh's skills would come handy not only in maintaining the party's delicate ties with the RSS and evolving an understanding for the
The 'party with a difference' tag has come to be ridiculed about. The difference has to be displayed not only in terms of discipline or ideological pronouncements but in terms of conduct and policy. In recent years, pragmatism has often prompted the party to compromise. Power has come to be an end in itself and not the means as envisaged by its founding fathers. The BJP should prefer to sit in opposition rather than align with opportunist outfits such as the Janata Dal (Secular) in Karnataka or the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha in Jharkhand, as it had hurriedly done in the past and repented at leisure.
ing Madhya Pradesh. However, it would be unfair to judge the BJP president on the sole basis of the party's performance in the State. Mr Rajnath Singh's strength lies in his capacity to carry along people. He is not known to have made uncharitable remarks against any of his party colleagues, either in private or public. Even during his first tenure as the national president of the BJP, Mr Rajnath Singh was acutely aware how some party colleagues were speaking ill of him in private and in media debriefings, but never did he utter a word against them. It party's prime ministerial candidate ahead of the 2014 general election, but also in building bridges with existing and prospective allies. However, the BJP national president's priority should not be the prime ministerial candidate for the moment. Electoral climate in a parliamentary democracy is built in a short span. Announcing a prime ministerial candidate far ahead of the election would only lead to muck-raking by opponents and wild speculations by the media. Moreover, with Assembly polls scheduled in five States crucial for the party in
2013, the onus for defeat in any of the States would be put on the prime ministerial candidate. Mr Rajnath Singh's hands are full. He has a serious problem at hand in Karnataka. In Jharkhand, the Assembly is in suspended animation and the Assembly poll is due in key States, where dissidence and factionalism continue to haunt the party. In the era of Anna Hazare and Arvind Kejriwal, the greatest challenge for the BJP president would be to restore the credibility of the party as the alternative in an atmosphere where the people have lost faith in politicians and look at both the national parties as two sides of the same coin. The 'party with a difference' tag has come to be ridiculed about. The difference has to be displayed not only in terms of discipline or ideological pronouncements but in terms of conduct and policy. In recent years, pragmatism has often prompted the party to compromise. Power has come to be an end in itself and not the means as envisaged by its founding fathers. The BJP should prefer to sit in opposition rather than align with opportunist outfits such as the Janata Dal (Secular) in Karnataka or the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha in Jharkhand, as it had hurriedly done in the past and repented at leisure. In both the Assembly and the Lok Sabha polls, the party should scrupulously avoid giving tickets to people accused of corruption or charged with crimes, including that against women, under the garb of 'winnability'. The plight of the masses and not the lavish praise heaped by capitalists should motivate the party towards its
goal of a strong and prosperous India. Mass leaders who have risen from the grassroots should get preference over moneybags, when it comes to organisational responsibilities or Rajya Sabha seats. Mr Rajnath Singh need not be apologetic about his agricultural background or the alleged lack of sophistication. The middle-class youth, much like their counterparts in the rural areas, are more concerned about livelihood and safety issues rather than the attire or language of their leader. The dhoti-clad, impure Hindi-speaking Anna Hazare still remains a hero for them. While the media is important, the party should not remain media-centric alone. The BJP has to be equally visible on the streets, in the slum clusters, in the university campuses and on the dusty streets of Hindustan. Its State Governments would have to practise what the party preaches. The Governments and the Chief Ministers have to be the role models to capture the nation's imagination in terms of good governance. In his previous innings, Mr Rajnath Singh played safe. This time around, he can ill-afford to do that. A clean image, a consensual approach, past experience and a good track record of administrative performance, both in the State and also as a Union Minister responsible for implementing the NDA's ambitious highway plans, which the party still claims credit for, coupled with strong anti-incumbency against the ruling coalition, are the assets which the new president can utilise effectively to make the BJP battle-ready for 2014.
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Andhra CM meets Sonia Gandhi, Ghulam Nabi Azad over Telangana crisis
NEW DELHI: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy met Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad in the capital on Monday to discuss the Telangana row. These talks come after the Centre went back on its promise last month to grant statehood to Telangana. Earlier in the day, Reddy met Congress president Sonia Gandhi in Delhi to hold consultations over Telangana issue. Mr Reddy, along with state Congress chief Botsa Satyanarayana, declared that a decision on the issue would be announced within a month. However, a day before the month's deadline ended, both Mr Shinde and Mr Azad said some more time was required for consultations. Pro-Telangana groups have been protesting against what they term a betrayal of the promise made by Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde. State Congress President B Satyanarayana is also expected to go to Delhi for consultations undertaken by the Congress high-command. Azad, in-charge of Congress affairs in Andhra Pradesh, had said the central leadership would discuss the Telangana issue with the Chief Minister, the PCC president and senior leaders from the three regions of the state as part of a consultation process.
reached the national capital by an early morning flight today. The party leadership had summoned them for discussion before taking a deci-
sion on the issue. After an all-party meeting on Telangana on December 28, Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde had
for not complying with the direction of CRA, which is headed by the prime minister. With both Karnataka and Tamil Nadu not budging from their posi-
LoC tensions: 'US counselled India, Pakistan' Pawar speaks up for banned
ISLAMABAD: The US State Department has said the country was involved in "intensive counselling" during the recent crisis along the Line of Control, urging both India and Pakistan to revive direct talks. Last month, relations between India and Pakistan deteriorated rapidly after clashes along the LoC left several soldiers dead, reports The Dawn. Media reports stated that a Pakistani soldier was killed in a cross-border exchange between the Indian and Pakistani militaries on January 06. The Indian side claimed it was seeking to thwart an infiltration bid by Pakistanbased militants. On January 08, in another sector of the LoC, two Indian soldiers on routine patrol duty were killed and their bodies brutally mutilated. Last week, Pakistan also submitted a report to the United Nations, detailing how Indians had disfigured Pakistani soldiers in the LoC clashes. However, relations between the two countries have improved since, with both sides restoring people-to-people contacts and cross-border trade. State Department's spokesperson Victoria Nuland said the US had played a role in reducing tensions between India and Pakistan during this crisis through US ambassadors in both Delhi and Islamabad. The two ambassadors, she said, had been intensively counselling direct dialogue.
PANAJI: Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) supremo Sharad Pawar Monday came out openly in support of the banned mining industry in Goa. Pawar, who is in Goa on a day's visit to oversee party affairs, met members of the pro-mining lobby who have been protesting for a week against the ban. He told reporters that there should be "no war between development and environment". "Mining is a global phenomenon. Goa cannot turn its back on the industry. We do not support illegal mining, but
there should be legal mining. It was in our manifesto. The ban is unfortunate," Pawar said. "My efforts will be to speak to the union mines and environment ministries to ensure that the mining issue in Goa is sorted out at the earliest," Pawar said. Mining has been banned in Goa for over two months now, after the Supreme Court, hearing a petition filed by activist lawyer Prashant Bhushan, announced a probe by a central empowered committee. The petition followed the revelation of a Rs.35,000 crore illegal scam exposed by a judicial commission headed by Justice M.B. Shah, which said that top mining companies, politicians as well as bureaucrats were beneficiaries of the scam.
deg C with rainfall of 11.4 mm. Ludhiana and Patiala had a low of 13 deg C and 14.2 deg C, up by six and seven notches above normal respectively. Among other places, rains also lashed Madhopur at 20.4 mm, Ranjit Sagar dam at 9.6 mm, Nangal at 11.2 mm and Shahpur Kandi area at 18.2 mm. The MeT in its forecast said light to moderate rain may continue in next 48 hours, while hailstorm or thunderstorm may occur at isolated places in Punjab and Haryana.
at the Kolkata Literary Meet. He also said that when newspaper headlines were splashed last year with sto-
proceedings briefly. Seeking leave for the motion, CPI(M) leader and former home minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan said the recent apex court verdict ordering the Kerala High Court to conduct a retrial in the 1996 case paved the way for reinvestigating the victim's complaint against Kurien. Balakrishnan said the girl had persisted in her complaint and last week had forwarded a request to
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Chief Minister Oommen Chandy Monday sought to protect the image of party colleague and Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman P.J Kurien as chaos reigned in the Kerala assembly over the apex court order on the Suryanelli sex case. Chandy said wrong-doers should be brought to book, but those who are innocent should not be pilloried or crucified. The remarks came as the Left opposition stuck to its stance that the government should order reinvestigation of the Suryanelli sex case. Meanwhile, the victim too has been asserting that Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman P.J. Kurien was among those who exploited her in 1996. "You were
the chief minister (2006-11) and you never did anything when the apex court exonerated Kurien. We know that none can go against the rule of law of the land and according to the rules, no appeal can be given. Hence we will not blame you," Chandy said, referring to leader of opposition in the house V.S. Achuthanandan.
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S Korea, US begin naval drills amid N Korea nuclear threat
live-fire exercises, naval maneuvers and submarine detection drills. South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said the maneuvers are part of regular joint military training that the allies had scheduled before the latest nuclear tensions began. North Korea says U.S. hostility and the threat of American troops in South Korea are important reasons behind its nuclear drive. The U.S. stations about 28,500 troops in South Korea, a legacy of the 1950-53 Korean War, which ended with an armistice, not a peace treaty. The chief nuclear envoys of South Korea and China met in Beijing on Monday and agreed that they would closely coordinate on ways to stop North Korea from conducting a nuclear test, according to Seoul's Foreign Ministry. China is North Korea's main ally and aid benefactor. China's Foreign Ministry on Monday reiterated Beijing's opposition to a test, though it did not mention North Korea by name.
this new lifea second life. And I want to serve. I want to serve the people. I want every girl, every child, to be educated. For that reason, we have organised the Malala Fund." The Malala Fund supports
governmental organization advancing girls' and women's leadership through training and mentoring - has established the Fund on behalf of Malala and her family, working together with supporters
Israel will 'regret aggression Qadri announces 2nd phase of against Syria': Iran 'revolution SYRIA: A top Iranian official visiting march' Damascus said on Monday that Israel
will regret its "latest aggression" on Syria and urged the entire Muslim world to be ready to defend the Syrian people. Israel has all but confirmed it was behind the airstrike near Damascus last week. U.S. officials said the Israelis struck a military research center and a convoy next to it carrying anti-aircraft weapons destined for the Islamic militant group Hezbollah in neighboring Lebanon. Just as it regretted its aggressions after the 33-day, 22-day and eightday wars, today the Zionist entity will regret the aggression it launched against Syria," Saeed Jalili, the head of Iran's National Security Council, said at conference in Damascus. He was referring LAHORE: Tahirul Qadri has announced the second phase of his 'revolution march', which came to an end after a deal between the cleric and the PPP-led government. He said that the second phase would be launched on February 15 from Gujranwala. He said that rallies would be held in Faisalabad, Multan, Peshawar, Sukkur and Rawalpindi. "People will have to decide whether they want to support Constitution or incumbent ruling class," he said. He added that the prevailing system always violated the Constitution. Qadri said he didn't intend to delay election and the army was also not in favour of martial law.
to past wars between Israel and Hezbollah or the Palestinian Hamas rulers of Gaza. Israel has been growing increasingly concerned that Assad, fighting a civil war with rebels who want to overthrow him, is losing his grip on power and on his country's arsenal including chemical weapons.
ECONOMY
MUMBAI: To give boost to the affordable housing, the Union Ministry of Housing has decided to ask the Finance Ministry to give infrastructure status to the segment in the upcoming Budget. "In order to create more affordable housing stock, we have decided to ask the Finance Ministry to give infrastructure status to affordable housing segment in this Budget," Union Minister for Housing and Poverty Alleviation Ajay Maken told reporters here today on the sidelines of a CII event. The infrastructure status will help banks get access to bank loans easily, Maken said. The Finance Ministry has sent the proposal to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) for consideration, he said. There was also a need to relax population density and FSI norms for creating housing stock, he added.
"Urbanization is inevitable and people are going to come to urban areas for jobs. If they are not provided with housing, illegal settlement will also be inevitable. Therefore it is necessary to relax these norms," he said. This will also help in meeting the 18.78 million housing shortage for LIG and the EWS segments. "Today there is a situation where 11 per cent of housing for HIG and MIG segments is lying vacant. But at the same time, there is a shortage of 18.78 million affordable housing stock. If relaxation of these norms is implemented, we will be able to reduce the shortage. Also, if there is shortage of land, going vertical is inevitable," he said. However, relaxation of such norms was a state subject and that the central government cannot give any directions for its implementation, he said.
$1,666 an ounce and silver by 0.41 per cent to $31.71 an ounce in London.
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appeal against this penalty against all the IPL franchises for almost two years now and this is the first big order against any team. It comes just a day after auctions concluded in Chennai for the sixth edition of the glamorous cricket extravaganza. The penalty order said the probe agency found that foreign investment in JIPL was made in "flagrant contravention of FEMA" and the investment made in this regard was made "much prior to the incorporation of JIPL". The penalty was issued after investigations pointed out that the funds in the firm have been remitted in an irregular manner and shares were allegedly issued in violation of forex rules stipulated and framed by the RBI.
8
Watson returns to international cricket ahead of India tour
Sporting Holding, Mauritius and its directors. A fresh notice of Rs 14.5 crore has been issued against Ms ND Investments, United Kingdom and its directors. All the three parties can
order in the appellate authority of FEMA. The order requires the IPL team to pay up in 45 days. The ED has been investigating financial and foreign exchange irregularities
with hearing disabilities who glide like angels on the skating rink, performing to music they can barely hear, a special Olympics Bharat release said. The Games are being competed in eight sports - alpine skiing, crosscountry skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, figure skating, short track speed skating, floor hockey and floorball.
LUCKNOW: A clinical allround display helped Delhi Waveriders thrash Uttar Pradesh Wizards 3-0 and maintain their supremacy in the Hero Hockey India League, at the Dhyan Chand Astroturf Stadium in Lucknow on Sunday. Andres Mir Bel, Simon Child and Gurwinder Singh Chandi scored for the Waveriders to help them earn full five points. The win has taken the HIL's only unbeaten team's tally to 44 points.
Waveriders' win also kept Dabur Mumbai Magicians' hopes of making the cut for the semi-finals alive. The competition for the fourth spot in the semifinals will be between Wizards and Magicians. With Waveriders winning by three goals, Wizards were denied even one point, although they lead Magicians by eight points with two games to play. A K Bansal's boys made some good moves early on,
MELBOURNE: With the four-Test series against India round the corner, Shane Watson will look to touch up his batting skills at international level following his inclusion in Australia's 13-member one-day side for the next two matches against the West Indies. Watson will be replacing Usman Khawaja, who played in the first two ODIs, before heading to India along with the last group of Test players as Cricket Australia decided to send the squad to the subcontinent in three separate groups. Australia has already won the first two matches and would look to seal the fivematch ODI series against the West Indies in the third one-dayer in Canberra, where Watson will play as an opening batsman. "Shane Watson comes back into the squad against West Indies as an opening batsman. Shane has recovered from his injury and we look forward to seeing him get back to his best," the national selector John Inverarity said. After recovering from a calf injury, all rounder Watson returned to action as a nonbowling batsman and played a Sydney club game and an interstate one-dayer. Australia will play two warm-up games, scheduled to be held from February 16-18 and February 12-13, before the first Test in Chennai is scheduled for February 22-26.
The Czech Republic will now travel to Kazakhstan in April for the quarter-finals
ASTANA: Kazakhstan, who beat Austria 3-1 in their World Group clash on Sunday in Astana, knocked the Czechs out in the first round in 2011. In Turin, Italy beat Croatia to make the quarter-finals for the first time since 1998. Italy had led 2-1 overnight but Marin Cilic won his second singles match of the tie by easing past Andreas Seppi 6-3, 6-3, 7-5. Fabio Fognini then saw off Ivan Dodig 4-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 to clinch the winning point. The other quarter-final will see Argentina facing France after they completed comfortable victories over Germany and Israel respectively on Saturday.
NOTICE
To Whom It May Concern It is hereby being informed to the general public that the existing executive council body of the National welfare mission was dissolved and in a new meeting held at the head office a new executive council body has been formed with the following designations. 1 Chairman Bal Krishen S/O Paras Ram R/O Parsulla Prem Nagar Doda Jammu & Kashmir 2 Vice-Chairman Rajesh Kumar S/O Paras Ram R/O Parsulla Prem Nagar Doda Jammu & Kashmir 3 General Secretary Pawan Kumar S/O Om Prakash R/O Parsulla Prem Nagar Doda Jammu & Kashmir 4 Secretary Vikram Singh Shan S/O Swami Raj R/O Filler Thakrai Kishtwar Jammu & Kashmir 5 Public secretary Vikram Bhandri S/o Sh M.L. Bhandri R/O 167/D, Talab Tillo Jammu, J&K 6 Treasurer Allayee Faizan S/o Ab. Aziz Allayee R/O New airport Road Hydar pora Srinagar Jammu & Kashmir Anybody having any objection may file within 7 days. Contact: 0191-2580324, 9796487871.
time since 2006. Albert Ramos beat Frank Dancevic 7-5, 6-4 in a dead rubber to create the final margin. The United States escaped an upset when Sam Querrey rallied to beat Thiago Alves 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (7/3) and give the
Jacksonville, Florida. Isner fired 22 aces in the clash but also committed 81 unforced errors. The US had been 2-0 ahead on Friday before twins Bob and Mike Bryan suffered a stunning loss in the doubles - just the third of their Davis Cup career - to
CHIEF-EDITOR, PUBLISHER, OWNER: Rohit Singh Rana, ADMINISTRATIVE HEAD (J&K):Pawan Rathore, DY. CHIEF EDITOR : Vikram Singh Shan, Bureau Chief Kashmir: Allayee Faizan, LEGAL ADVISOR: Advocate Ashok Parihar EDITORIAL BOARD: NATIONAL AFFAIRS: Shweta Bhat, STATE AFFAIRS: Jaswant Singh Rana, DEFENCE EDITOR: Kewal Singh Rajput, SPORTS EDITOR: Naina Jamwal, GRAPHIC DESIGNER : Baleshwer Bali, DESIGNER: Gagandeep Kour, Abhishek Kashyap CIRCULATION TEAM: Sunil Gupta, Rohit Bakshi. PRINTED AT JK PRINTING & PUBLICATIONS, SUJWAN, JAMMU TAWI. For Contributing articles mail us at callme.ranasahib@gmail.com, editor.studentage@gmail.com. For Complaints, Querries or Advertisement Contact us: 0191-2459701, 2459702. Address: Sector-12, H.No-12 Nanak Nagar, Jammu (All disputes are subjected to the exclusive jurisdiction of Jammu District courts only.)