Petition in SC for deleting words in
NCERT book against Jats

NEW DELHI, Aug 24: A petition was filed today before the Supreme Court seeking deletion of some phrases from NCERT textbooks which allegedly offended the Jat community.

The petition filed jointly by two organisations —Shiksha Bachao Andolan Samiti and Delhi Pradesh Citizen Council through advocate Jasbir Singh Malik — has objected to certain passages in the text books of Antra Part 1 for class XI and Modern India for class XII published by NCERT.

The two organisations have objected to the alleged use of inappropriate and unwarranted language against the community.

The petition said the writer of the book has used such words for the community which are unconstitutional.

Demanding action against the writers for allegedly using the offending phrases, the petitioners claimed that the representations to Director of NCERT for removal of alleged bad words from the textbook had not yielded any result.

It quoted media reports that even panchayats are being convened to protest the derogatory phrases used in the textbooks against the Jat community.

The protests have been to the extent that even the lawyers in Sonepat, Haryana, have suspended the work, it said. (PTI)

Medico dies under mysterious circumstances

PATIALA, Aug 24: A 24-year-old student of the local Government medical college Vivek Gupta died here today under mysterious circumstances.

The police have registered case under section 302 of the IPC pertaining to murder against unknown persons, the college authorities maintain that it was an accident.

Vivek, resident of Mohali, was in his final year of MBBS, was found dead on the first floor of the senior boy’s hostel. He fell from the roof of the second floor late last night. His roommates discovered his body this morning at around 6.30 in the morning after which the matter was reported to the college authorities and subsequently to the police.

Preliminaries investigations conducted by the police revealed that there were no signs of scuffle at the scene where Vivek’s body was discovered. Senior Superintendent of Police parmod ban said that as the relatives of the deceased alleged that there was some conspiracy behind Vivek’s death, hence a case under section 302 was registered at the Civil Line Police Station. It appeared to be an accident but the police would investigate the whole matter from the point of view of a murder to ascertain foul play if any, the Police Chief added.

Meanwhile, the police started with the investigation of the case and quizzed several of Vivek’s friends to ascertain whether he had any disputes with anybody, after which the SSP said so far no such facts had come to light which could determine that Vivek had been murdered.

He said that vivek had gone to the roof to make some calls last night, from where he fell on hard concrete and sustained a head injury, which seemed to have proven fatal for him.

Principal Dr Kiranjit Kaur said that the hostel warden had informed her about the incident and she immediately reached the spot. She said that vivek was an extraordinary student, who had good academic record. She overruled Vivek having been murdered in the hostel saying that he had no bad blood with anyone on the campus.

Vivek’s friends said that he was an extremely friendly person who was in the good books of many on the campus. They said that it appeared to be more of an incident rather then a murder. Vivek’s younger brother Abhiskh Gupta, who is also a second year student in the same college, said that his brother was a fairly nice person who had never fought with anyone.

However, the police registered a case under section 302 of the

Indian Penal Code on the complaint of Bimal Kumar, one of the uncles

of Vivek, who alleged that the boy had been murdered.

The body was shifted to the mortuary of the Government Rajindra Hospital, where a team of doctors performed an autopsy after which the boys was handed over to the Vivek’s, who took the body to Mohali for cremation. (PTI)

Centre conspiring to put hurdles in
UP’s industrialisation: CM

LUCKNOW, Aug 24: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav today charged the Centre with hatching a conspiracy to put hurdles in the state’s industrialisation by offering incentives to neighbouring Uttaranchal to prompt migration of industries to the hill state.

Replying to an adjournment notice given by Congress leader Pramod Tewari during the Zero Hour, Yadav claimed that the shortage of power and worsening law and order situation were the biggest hurdles in the way of industrial development of the state.

The Chief Minister alleged that the Centre had given hefty tax and excise concessions to Uttaranchal resulting in migration of some industries to the hill state.

"It is a well known fact as to who is creating hurdles... Any one can ask the prospective entrepreneurs to find out the truth," Yadav said without elaborating.

State Development Council Chairman Amar Singh had recently met Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram and he was assured that the concessions would not be extended but later it was further extended for three years, he said.

If the Centre gives us similar concessions Uttar Pradesh will be the number one state in the country, Yadav said adding the Government was doing everything possible in this regard with its own resources.

He rubbished the allegations regarding poor law and order situation in the state and reiterated his demand for constituting a commission to ascertain if the situation was bad here than Mumbai and Delhi.

Earlier speaking on his notice Congress leader Pramod Tewari alleged that Uttaranchal had forged ahead of the Uttar Pradesh in industrial development as the power and the law and order situation were better there.

Industries were migrating from the state owing to acute power shortage and worsening law and order situation, he alleged.

He alleged that the prospective entrepreneurs had only evinced interest in Noida and Greater Noida and it appeared that they were more interested in the prime lands there.

Tewari said that several big industrial houses like Tatas, and Birla had set up factories in Uttaranchal while in Uttar Pradesh the proposals had not taken any effect.(PTI)

Revenue of postal services rises

NEW DELHI, Aug 24: Revenue of Indian Postal Services has increased to Rs 4431.85 crore in 2004-05 from Rs 3297 crore in 2000-01, the Rajya Sabha was informed today.

Replying to Supplementaries, Minister for Communication and IT Dayanidhi Maran said while volumes of ordinary mail have reduced due to advent of technology (e-mails and cheaper telephone calls), the Indian Post has registered increase in revenues on back of higher traffic of business post.

Speed post, the courier service of Indian Postal Department, has seen a 16.08 per cent rise in traffic and 18.7 per cent increase in revenue to Rs 354.16 crore in 2004-05.

Business post saw 29.5 per cent increase in revenue to Rs 473.06 crore while express parcel post registered 19.8 per cent increase in revenue to Rs 37.70 crore.

On the other hand, the volume of traditional unregistered post fell to Rs 714.62 crore in 2004-05 from Rs 842.16 crore in the previous year. Registred post saw a marginal increase to Rs 21.42 crore in 2004-05 from Rs 21.36 crore a year ago, he said.

A new scheme for speed post service called ‘One India One Rate’ has been launched. Priced at Rs 25 for mail upto 50 grams to any destination in the country, it is intended to tap inter-state document services and benefit the customers, the minister said. (PTI)

Army organises ex-servicemen rally

SRINAGAR, Aug 24: The Army today organised a rally of ex-servicemen here to apprise them of various welfare schemes and to know about their problems.

The rally, organised under the aegis of 31 sub area, was held at the Regulating Centre near Batwara here.

The aim of the rally was to interact with the ex-servicemen and "Veer Naris (war widows)" and attend to their problems.

It also acted as a platform to inform them about various welfare schemes being run by the Army for them and their dependents.

Various stalls were set up providing information and solution to problems on health schemes, pension disbursement procedures, contributory health scheme and loan facilities by banks.

A total of 150 ex-servicemen and 14 war widows from the Srinagar district participated in the rally. (UNI)

BJP kicks off ‘SMS to CM’ campaign

CHANDIGARH, Aug 24: No more verbal duels. Armed with poetry and technology, the Punjab BJP today kicked off a novel ‘SMS to CM’ campaign to bring to the Chief Minister’s notice through mobile text messages the acute power shortage in the state.

With an aim of "sensitising" the general public and the administration about the power crisis in Punjab, the party has set a target of sending at least one lakh text messages to Chief Minister Amarinder Singh ahead of Assembly polls in state early next year, BJP youth wing leader Vineet Joshi said here.

The messages would contain poetic verses to drive home the point that "unprecedented but not unavoidable power shortage in Punjab has crossed the tolerance limit of the people," Joshi said.

"We will keep sending the messages to the Chief Minister’s mobile phone to apprise him of the terrible power situation his state is witnessing," Joshi said.(PTI)

I’ll continue my fight for women: Taslima Nasreen

THRISSUR, Aug 24: Exiled Bangladeshi writer Taslima Nasreen today said she would continue her fight against terrorism, fundamentalism and the oppression of women.

Speaking after the release of the Malayalam translations of her works, including the controversial "Lajja", at the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Hall, she said women in Bangladesh had been "suffering injustice and inequalities for centuries" and their emancipation required relentless struggle.

"It is essential to fight for their emancipation from all kinds of injustice," she told the audience at the event, which was held amidst tight security following objections by the Muslim Jamaath Council.

Eminent writer Sukumar Azhikode, who released the books, said Nasreen was as bold a person as Abhimanyu of the Mahabharatha, who refused to give up the fight even after he was surrounded by his enemies.

Those assembled, through a resolution, urged the centre to grant permission to Nasreen to stay in India permamently.

The author’s Malayalam publishers, green books, gave up a plan to host a party for Nasreen following security concerns. A green books spokesman said it was cancelled on advice from security agencies.

Taking strong exception to her critical comments on religious issues, the Muslim Jamaath Council had objected to Nasreen being allowed the use the floor of the Kerala Sahitya Akademi. (PTI)

29 constables suspended for violating law in Mizoram

AIZAWL, Aug 24: About 29 constables were suspended today for absconding from the training camp at Vairengte Counter Insurgency and Jungle Warfare (CIJW) school at Lailapur on Mizoram-Asom boundary.

The state government, in an order issued here today, said the constables were suspended on the ground of violating training laws and for indulsing in violent act.

The second battalion commandant of the Indian Reserved(IR) police of Mizoram had constituted a special task force to investigate the case.

"Their suspension would continue till the investigation is completed following which penal action would be taken against them," police sources said.

The State Government on the orders of the Home Ministry had sent 673 2nd IR personnel for training under Vairengte CIJW school early this August to combat the naxal menace in Chhattisgarh.

Police sources said the main reason behind the running away of these constables was their fear to face the maoists and naxals in Chattisgarh.

Sources added the constables forced their way through the Vairengte police check gate yesterday which had been treated as a violent act.

Vairengte police was informed of the situation but were not able to control these "inebriated constables", who created panic among their colleagues while trying to escape, the police sources said. (UNI)

Letters of Intents issued to private companies

NEW DELHI, Aug 24: The Government today said some Letters of Intents have been issued to private companies for their participation in the defence production but no project has taken off till now.

Some private entities like Larsen & Toubro and Tatas have associated themselves with a few developmental projects in the defence but not for production of ammunition and weapons.

This was informed by Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee to Lok Sabha during Question Hour while allaying apprehensions of members that private sector has been allowed at the cost of defence PSUs.

"Certain Letters of Intent (LoIs) have been issued and private sector has been allowed to invest upto 100 per cent and 26 per cent of FDI but subject to license," the minister said.

On the issue of capacity being underutilised in some ordnance factories, Mukherjee said these factories are meant for providing needs of armed forces and also para-military forces.

Since India is not a big exporter of ammunition and weapon the capacity may be underutilised at times, he said.

But whenever production falls, the gap is always filled up by imports, the Minister said.

He said 39 ordnance factories have deployed more than 1.16 lakh people and there was no shortage of personel in any factory. (PTI)

Nitish orders probe by Home Secy
into DIG wife’s complaint

PATNA, Aug 24: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today ordered a probe into a property dispute case against absconding DIG of Police (Railway) Ajay Verma and his complaint against a few police officers, including DGP Ashish Ranjan Sinha, of "harassing" him.

Kumar gave this order on a petition of by the DIG’s wife Sampa Verma, who met him at "janata Ke Darbar Me Mukhya Mantri" programme at his one, Anne Marg residence.

Taking time off from the programme, Kumar patiently heard Sampa Verma, ADGP (CID) Anand Shankar and IGP (Headquarters) Anil Sinha and ordered a probe into the entire episode by Home secretary Afzal Amanullah.

Asked whether ordering a probe amounted to staying arrest order against the DIG, who is on the run after a non-bailable arrest warrant was issued against him by a Vaishali court on Friday, Kumar said the probe will not interfere in the course of law.

"Based on the findings of the probe, lawful action will be taken," Kumar told reporters.

Amanullah later said that he has entrusted Shankar to probe the police case against the DIG in a property dispute matter at Hajipur.

Shankar will also look into Verma’s complaint that his order for reopening an old case of theft of Kisan Vikas Patra (KVP) and National Savings Certificate (NSC) from a wagon of a goods train from Patna railway station in 1998 in which "many political bigwigs" and also a few police officers were allegedly involved had resulted in his implication in the property dispute case.

Amanullah said he will himself look into Verma’s charge of several top police officials, including the DGP, acting against him out of "vendetta".

Asked if the DGP too would be questioned, the Home secretary said he would not name any officer, but "statements of all concerned would be recorded".

Amanullah said the probe would be completed in 2-3 days and the report submitted to the government for appropriate action.

The DIG of Police (Railway) is on the run to avoid arrest after issuance of NBW against him by Vaishali Chief Judicial Magistrate Ram Priy Sharan on Friday last. He has reportedly sent his leave application to the state police headquarters, where some sources described his absence as +unauthorised.+

The hearing of the DIG’s anticipatory bail application in the court of Vaishali District and Sessions Judge Prabhat Kumar Jha in the property dispute case is listed for hearing tomorrow in which IG (Tirhut zone) Sunit Kumar too had ordered his arrest on Thursday.

Verma had allegedly threatened to eliminate Rajendra Rai, a teacher, at the behest of his estranged wife Saroj Kumari, who has ownership dispute with her husband over a house at Hajipur at Vaishali district headquarters.

Police had raided the DIG’s ancestral home at Muzaffarpur and also his house at Patna in search of Verma, but he could not be traced.

The absconding DIG’s wife expressed satisfaction at the action initiated by the Chief Minister on her complaint.

She claimed her husband was innocent and was being "unnecessarily" harassed at the behest of a few senior police officers. (PTI)

No compromise on India’s sovereignty over J&K: Govt

NEW DELHI, Aug 24: Government today said Pakistan has made several proposals for resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir issue, including its joint management, but made it clear that there can be no compromise on the sovereignty of India over the state of Jammu and Kashmir and India’s unity.

"Concepts such as joint control or joint management of Jammu and Kashmir, proposed by Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf, cannot be the basis of a settlement of the issue because the state is an integral part of India.

"There can be no compromise on the sovereignty of India over the state of Jammu and Kashmir and on India’s unity", Minister of state for External Affairs E Ahamed informed the Rajya Sabha in a written reply.

He said India has conveyed to Pakistan, at the highest level, that the dialogue process between the two countries would be undermined unless Pakistan takes effective action to disnmantle the infrastructure of terrorism, including training camps, launch pads and communication links between terrorist groups on Indian side and their handlers on the Pakistan side.

Pakistan, Ahamed said, needs to take these steps in fulfilment of the commitment given by it in the joint press statement of January 6, 2004 that it would not permit any territory under its control to be used to support terrorism in any manner.

He also informed the House that there are reportedly 52 terrorist traning camps in Pakistan and POK.

To another question, Ahamed said India has not offered to Pakistan to restore Jammu and Kashmir to pre-1953 status.

Ahamed said Indian insurgent groups continue to misuse Bangladesh Territory for sanctuary, training camps, transportation of arms, and transit. These insurgents are being supported by intelligence agencies, both civilian and military, of Bangladesh.

A list of 172 Indian insurgent group camps and 307 criminals/insurgents was handed over during the DG level Border Security Force-Bangladesh Rifles talks held in September-October, 2005, he said.

The Minister further informed the house that Pakistan has continued raising the Kashmir issue at various international fora.

In reply to another question, Ahamed said there was no definitive information on the size of Pakistan’s Nuclear arsenal.

However, he said a U S based nNon-governmental Institute for Science and International Security (ISIS), in a report has stated that Pakistan was making a second heavy water production reactor which was capable of producing enough plutonium for 40-50 nuclear weapns a year.

He said India has conveyed to Pakistan its protests against the proposed construction of Basha Dam in territory that is part of the state of Jammu and Kashmir which is an integral part of India. (PTI)

Now a course in fund-raising!

NEW DELHI, Aug 24: For years, raising money for an event or a cause has been the domain of those with a gift of gab but now with a certificate course in Resource Mobilisation and Management, anyone and everyone can learn the tricks of the trade.

A new training programme aimed at graduates with some work experience in the development sector, who want to hone their skills in resource mobilisation, is all set to be launched this October.

UK-based Resource Alliance-an international network that builds fund-raising capacity of the NGO sector worldwide-will team up with management institutes in the capital to start a certificate programme in Resource Mobilisation and Management and will teach people the art of fund-raising.

"The number of organisations seeking to mobilise resources and raise funds has grown rapidly in the last few years. There is a huge shortage of professionally

trained resource management and resource mobilisation personnel," says Resource Alliance, Regional Programme Officer (South Asia) Rati Misra.

"We have stepped in to fill this gap. This programme aims to provide a systematic and professional input for building capabilities of individuals and organisations in the field of fund-raising and resource management."

The whole idea is to provide affordable and internationally recognised training to people and make a cadre of fundraiser so that they can identify resourcing requirements of their organisations and establish appropriate strategies for meeting these needs, says Misra, adding that they had launched a similar course in Mumbai last year.

Shaoli Chakravorty, Programme Coordinator of Mumbai course says, "We initiated the training programme around October 2005 and we got a good response from NGOs in Mumbai. The first batch had 21 participants from prominent NGOs like ‘Pratham’, ‘Spastic Society’, ‘Concern India’, ‘National Association of the Blind’ etc."

Meanwhile, Delhi-based NGOs are upbeat about the course as they feel it will give their organisations the much-needed fillip in terms of funds mobilisation.

"I have just returned from the World AIDS Summit in Toronto and I know how strong the lobbies are in some of these African nations," says model-turned-actor-turned-activist Nafisa Ali, who runs ‘Action India’ for HIV/AIDS sufferers.

"I am sure if we have professionally trained people to raise funds, then we can generate a lot of institutional support for a lot of causes, especially a pandemic like AIDS."

Ali finds support from Preeti Johar, who runs ‘Family of the Disabled’ and who herself has attended a lot of workshops and short-term courses to enable her to mobilise resources for her NGO.

"Let’s face it. The one crisis that every organisation faces is related to funds. The majority of problems in any NGO are due to lack of funds and sadly there are not many people who know how to go about raising funds."

"Resource mobilisation is crucial to any organisation. If there is a course that can teach people fundraising, then it will be very beneficial to us and it will save us a lot of time and effort in training these people right from the scratch," Johar says. (PTI)