Excelsior... Nation

IIMs cannot go global as of now: Arjun

NEW DELHI, Jan 17: With all IIMs planning to join hands in the wake of Government rejecting IIM-Bangalore’s proposal to set up a campus in Singapore, HRD Minister Arjun Singh says that these prestigious B-schools cannot establish campuses abroad "as of now".

"There is no provision in their Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish brick and mortar campuses abroad as of now. If this is amended they can do so", Singh told NDTV.

Reacting for the first time after his ministry turned down the proposal, he said these institutions were run on MoU and they were entitled only to tie-ups on research activities.

"Under no circumstances not even in the least have I ever interfered in their autonomy," he said adding he had only said these institutions must also enable poor students to get in.

Referring to the charges that his ministry was trying to kill the IIMs from going global, Singh said these institutions were not "companies floated by anyone and these are set up by the state".

Observing that hundreds of crores of rupees of investment, both capital and recurring, had gone into them, he said in the last two to three years the institutions were making some money through various projects and therefore they have corpus. "So they are not independent floating companies who are free to do whatever they like", he added. (PTI)

Yet another student kidnapped in Patna

PATNA, Jan 17: A 15-year-old boy and son of a former Director of the Bihar Animal Husbandry Department and a fodder scam accused was kidnapped from Harnichak here when he was on way to school in his car this morning, a senior official said.

The kidnapping of Nirmalendu Prakash Diwakar, a class IX student of the Don Bosco Public School and second in less than a fortnight after the abduction of a businessman in the state capital, has sent a shockwave across the state.

Five kidnappers, with one brandishing a pistol, intercepted the car of Nirmalendu just a few yards from his residence at Harnichak under Jakkanpur Police Station, Senior Police Superintendent Kundan Krishnan told PTI.

The abductors smashed the windscreen of the car, pulled out the driver who was asked to lie on the road, shifted Nirmalend to another car and sped away to an unknown place, he said.

The vehicle of the victim was recovered from Sipara area. It was believed that leaving its driver behind, one of the kidnappers drove the vehicle up to Sipara and abandoned it there.

All the entry and exit points of the the state capital were sealed and intensive combing operations have been launched to recover the boy after alerting all the police stations.

A garment shop owner, Prashant Jain, who was abducted from Buddha Marg area here on January 5 remains traceless. (PTI)

Management education at new
crossroads: Mukesh Ambani

INDORE, Jan 17: Reliance Industries Limited chairman Mukesh Ambani today said management education stood at new crossroads with the challenges thrown up in the wake of globalisation of economy.

"Management education must integrate global themes into the curriculum with Indian organisations becoming global and global organisations build businesses in India. Management education will have to run faster to keep pace with these changes", Mr Ambani said in his address after dedicating the decade-old Indian Institute of Management-Indore to the nation.

Union Minister for Human Resources Development Arjun Singh, who was to grace the function as chief guest, did not turn up.

Mr Ambani said unprecedented opportunities were looming large on the horizon as investors from the west as well as the east find India a favoured destination. "High quality management education is an essential precondition to seize those opportunities", he said.

Considering business a profession like medicine or law, the RIL chief said "in business, a manager practises several disciplines such as mathematics, economics, psychology, philosophy and sociology".

"It is true that academic learning will never lose its important place, but a new balance is required between academic rigour and its practical application. Information revolution has strengthened the importance of human factor in all aspects of business transactions", Mr Ambani added.

Alongwith social concerns like ethics and environmental issues, new age managers must also be sensitive to global concerns like security, disparity and poverty, he said, adding "business education needs infusion of wide range of inputs from cultures to technology to diplomacy."

Mr Ambani said 20th century saw generation of wealth on an unprecedented scale. At the same time it also saw the creation of vast economic disparity. This model of growth is no longer sustainable."21st century must combine creation of wealth with eradication of poverty", he added.

"It is no longer necessary that a large number of people remain poor so that a very few become rich. Technology has placed such tools in our hands", Mr Ambani said.

"A global management education programme must make students sensitive and flexible. They should be well-equipped to deal with local as well as global issues," he said.

"We can experiment with multiple campuses, distribute campuses through e-learning, on-site campuses, part-time courses, weekend courses, multi-year courses, auditing of courses and cross-campus course credits", Mr Ambani said.

Pointing out that agriculture and infrastructure are the emerging sectors of our economy, he said infrastructure sector in India would see massive investments and enormous activities.

"We are on the threshold of a second Green Revolution. Organised retailing, exports and rise in rural income will transform the rural landscape", he said, adding agriculture and processed food would be major growth sectors. Management institutions must have space and structures to meet special needs of such sectors, Mr Amabani added. (UNI)

Kidnapped businessman Prashant Jain freed

PATNA, Jan 17: After remaining in captivity for 12 days, businessman Prashant Jain, whose abduction had sent shockwaves across Bihar, was freed by his abductors near the Mahatma Gandhi Setu here today.

While top officials, including Inspector General of Police (Patna zone) Rajvardhan Sharma and Senior Superintendent of Police Kundan Krishnan were unaware of the development, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar revealed it to mediamen at his routine meeting with JD(U) workers at party office here.

"Friends from the press, there is a good news. Prashant Jain is back home safe and sound", Kumar said while referring to the mediamen present there.

Later, the DGP also talked about his safe return but did not disclose the place where the abductors dropped him.

Official sources said he was released at Mahatma Gandhi Setu here under heavy police pressure.

Prashant was being brought back home.

Earlier, the SSP had said the kidnappers brought Prashant in a vehicle and dropped him near Bakhtiarpur.

Prashant Jain, a garment shop owner, was kidnapped at gunpoint from near his whitehouse residence on January 5 while he was returning home from shop.

The abductors, who lay in wait for Prashant in a car, overpowered him when he arrived on a scooter at around 10.30 pm, bundled him into the car and sped away.

Two persons were taken into custody in this connection. (PTI)

It is important to give handicrafts due place : PM

GUWAHATI, Jan 17: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today said it is important to accord handicrafts its due place as their variety and range represents inherent pluralism and diversity of Indian Society and Civilisation in an increasingly globalised world.

Inaugurating the Shilpagram marketing centre for handicrafts products here, Dr Singh said, "it is, therefore, imperative that we preserve this heritage in all its rich diversity. The Shilpagram with its wide spectrum of objects is a concrete manifestation of the living traditions of the N-E region."

Hoping the Shilpagram would become the cultural gateway to India in the east, he said, "it should make Assam and the N-E region the handicrafts gateway between India and China, Bangladesh and countries of the ASEAN."

Acknowledging that the employment potential of the Indian handicraft sector was vastly under-exploited, the Prime Minister said, "our Government is sincerely committed to encourage this sector and create job opportunities in the rural areas outside agriculture.

"I am sure that traditional Indian arts and crafts will withstand the threat of competition from modern industry. We will certainly help traditional industries in realising their objective," he assured.

Stating India was proud of its many splendoured traditions that withstood the toll of time and changing fashion, he said, the fine blend of imagination and creativity was of immense importance in our day to day life.

"The Shilpagram captures the immense potential of this region which properly harnessed will significantly improve the economic condition of the people," the Prime Minister said.

Complimenting the artisans of the northeast, particulutary tribals, Dr Singh said, the region constituted a vast reservoir of unique cultural traditions.

"It is a treasure house of facinating crafts and fine handicrafts. The artistically woven textiles of the region amply bring out the genius of the people and their aesthetic outlook," he said.

Singh also appreciated the efforts of the North Eastern Zonal Cultural Centre in promoting the rich culture, traditions and exquisite crafts of the region by setting up Shilpagram. (PTI)

Govt has no "jurisdiction" over other nations: Mukherjee

NEW DELHI, Jan 17: A day after the Supreme Court directed the Government and CBI to ensure that Italian businessman Ottavio Quattrocchi did not withdraw money from his defrozen accounts in a London Bank, Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee today said the Government did not have any "jurisdiction" over other countries.

"We have no jurisdiction on other countries. We can at best make a request to them (UK authorities)," he told reporters after watching the NCC Parade here.

Asked if the Government will make any formal request to the UK authorities to ensure the Quattrocchi did not take out the money, he said "views of the legal experts will be taken" on the issue.

On CBI’s role in the episode, the Defence Minister said it was an autonomous body and the Government did not interfere with its working.

Amidst reports that the two bank accounts have been defrozen, the Supreme Court had yesterday directed the Government and CBI to ensure that Quattrocchi did not withdraw from London Bank the amount alleged to have been linked with the Bofors kickback. (PTI)

MiG-21 crashes at Jamnagar IAF base, pilot ejects out

AHMEDABAD, Jan 17: A MiG-21 fighter aircraft of the Indian Air Force crashed during a firing practice today at Jamnagar Air Force base in Gujarat but the pilot ejected out safely, an IAF Spokesperson said here.

"The MiG-21 crashed after facing an engine surge while the pilot was pulling out after the practice sortie at Samrat firing range during an air-to-ground firing exercise," IAF Spokesperson T K Singha told PTI.

Pilot J P S Bains ejected out safely and no one was injured on the ground, he said.

A Court of Inquiry has been ordered by the IAF to probe the matter.

This is the first MiG-21 crash this year. In the last one decade, the IAF witnesed the lowest number of fighter aircraft crashes in 2005.

IAF chief S P Tyagi had yesterday said the media should stop calling MiG-21 a "flying coffin". (PTI)

Kaun Banega Ramayan expert...?

NEW YORK, Jan 17: Indian-origin children are all set to ride the ‘hot seat’ as a new contest ‘Kaun Banega Ramayan expert’ opens in the United States, aimed at instilling moral values and a sense of Indian heritage among youngsters.

The quiz, launched by the Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh in the US, is an effort to increase awareness about the great epic among Indian-American children and will carry a prize amount of USD 10,000, the hss said.

As children prepare for the quiz, it would help them inculcate moral values portrayed in the Ramayan such as brotherly love, devotion, sacrifice, valour and personal integrity which are very relevant to modern times, it added.

These values are widely acknowledged for their positive contributions towards peace, prosperity, family values and spiritual growth of the entire humanity, the hss maintained.

The contest will be held in two phases. The participants are required to take an online quiz till March 31 in the first phase. Those who qualify will be required to participate in a written quiz at hundreds of centers across the United States and results would be announced in May next, HSS said.

A website also features study material to help children prepare for the quiz, it said. (PTI)

Uniform law on registration of marriages
needed: NCW to SC

NEW DELHI, Jan 17: The National Commission for Women has favoured before the Supreme Court the enactment of Central legislation on registration of marriages to weed out lacunae existing in state legislations saying it would be of critical importance to various women-related issues.

Be it prevention of child marriages or to check illegal bigamy/polygamy or right of a woman to live in her matrimonial house, maintenance and deterring men from deserting woman after marriage, the uniform law would serve the purpose better, the commission said in an affidavit.

"The commission is in favour of a Central legislation on registration of marriages as not only are provisions of each of state acts in force at the moment, at variance inter-se, these also do not fulfill the objectives..," the NCW said.

It emphasised that the law would deter parents or guardians from ‘selling’ daughters to any person including a foreigner under the garb of marriage.

"The commission is of the view that if the act is implemented effectively, the data collected over a period of time would be immensely useful in formulating and or reviewing laws and policies regarding issues such as family planning, health, education, marriage, dowry, divorce etc," the affidavit said.

Advocating for Central legislation, it cited lacunae in section 5 of the Registration of Hindu Marriage (Maharashtra) Act, 1953 which envisages registration of marriages between parties less than 18 years without a provision for appearance of parties before the Registrar of Marriage.

The NCW said Central legislation would be beneficial in cases of preventing marriages without the consent of parties and enabling widows to claim their inheritance rights and other benefits and privileges.

"The non-registration of marriages affect women the most and hence, NCW, since its inception has supported the proposal," it said and agreed with the apex court that maintenance of record relating to registration of marriages would greatly facilitate disposal of litigation.

"The commission, in its functioning, has come across several cases where women face acute harassment at every step in the absence of a documentary proof of their marriage which could be used to prove the fact of their marriage. In the absence of any documentary proof of their marriage, women especially widows and their children, remain deprived of various benefits," the affidavit said.

"In cases of bigamy, women are unable to prosecute their cases successfully as they are unable to prove the fact of first/second marriage of their husband," it said and informed the court that it has prepared a draft Bill on Compulsory Registration of Marriages.

In preparing the Bill, it has taken into consideration the views of the National Commission for Minorities, the National Commission for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, the National Commission for Backward Classes, practicing lawyers, representatives of various women organisations, academicians and social activists.

The NCW maintained that the Bill has been drafted keeping in mind that the Act should be an enabling law rather than a punitive law and caution has been taken not to disturb the existing laws relating to marriages.(PTI)

Phone tapping: STF may ask Delhi Police to share details

LUCKNOW, Jan 17: Even as the Delhi Police today arrested the mastermind behind Samajwadi Party general secretary Amar Singh’s phone-tapping incident, the Uttar Pradesh Government has asserted that the Special Task Force (STF) of the state police was free to investigate the case outside the boundaries of the state.

Principal Secretary (Home) Alok Sinha said here under the CrPC, the STF could investigate the case even outside the borders of Uttar Pradesh.

Thus the state Government has made it clear that Delhi Police could soon expect a team from STF approaching it to get details of its investigation into the case, which had led to a verbal duel between the Samajwadi Party and Congress.

The Union Home Ministry has already given a clean chit to Congress and the Delhi Police in the case, saying it was a sting operation carried out by private individuals.

"Since the matter was sensitive in nature, the DGP of UP police thought it appropriate to hand over the investigations to STF. A Ghaziabad-based individual had lodged an FIR there seeking a probe into the phone tapping," Mr Sinha said.

Although the state Government has so far not made the FIR public, police sources said the person had claimed he too had talks with Mr Amar Singh over the phone and wanted the issue to be probed.

On January 3, UP Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav once again accused UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi of ordering the alleged recording and demanded a probe either by the state’s Special Task Force or the Chief Ministers of West Bengal, Tamil Nadu and Bihar.

Asserting that he had lost faith in the CBI, which had been acting at the behest of the Centre, Mr Yadav said the probe into the tapping of SP general secretary Amar Singh’s phone should ideally be entrusted to the state’s STF, which had proved its credentials as an ‘’impartial and efficient’’ investigator.

"If the Centre does not agree to it, this job can be done by West Bengal CM Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, Tamil Nadu CM J Jayalalithaa and Bihar CM Nitish Kumar," he told reporters.

Giving a clean chit to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee in the matter, the SP supremo said it was true that they were not aware of the phone-tapping.

However, Home Minister Shivraj Patil did concede that the phone had been tapped, but the letters issued in the name of the Delhi Government’s Principal Secretary (Home) R Narayanswami and Delhi Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime) Ranjit Narayan were forged.

Disagreeing with the Home Minister, Mr Yadav asserted the letters were ‘’very much real and authentic’’. He claimed that after his meeting with the Home MInister, the Delhi Police opened its office late in the night, secured the Reliance Infocomm’s register and arrested a private detective agency owner within no time.

"All this lends credence to the fact the phone was tapped and the Government is now resorting to an ‘operation cover-up’ to save its face." (UNI)

Telgi convicted by court, first conviction
in fake stamp scam

MUMBAI, Jan 17: The kingpin of multi-crore fake stamps and stamp paper racket Abdul Karim Telgi was today convicted by a Special Court for his role in a 1995 case of selling fake stamps worth Rs 17 lakh.

This is the first conviction of Telgi who is lodged in Yerwada prison in Pune. He was not present when the judgement was delivered but appeared on television through video conferencing.

The judgement was delivered by Special Judge U D Salvi in the jam-packed courtroom.

Telgi’s associates Sanjay Gaikwad and Ram Ratan Soni were also convicted.

Telgi, Gaikward and Soni were awarded rigorous imprisonment for ten years and Rs 50,000 fine on the charge of conspiracy.

Prosecutor Pradeep Gharad sought maximum life punishment for the accused but all of them pleaded clemency on humanitarian grounds.

Telgi through video conferencing urged the court to show leniency as he was suffering from HIV/AIDS and his wife was admitted to the hospital.(PTI)

Tension in MP town as routes to place
of worship cordoned

DAMOH (MP), Jan 17: Defying prohibitory orders, thousands of members of a particular community today cordoned off routes to a place of worship protected by Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) in Kundalpur town, near here, allegedly in an attempt to shift an idol to a newly-built temple nearby, triggering communal tension.

The crowd, mostly women and children, blocked approach routes to the temple, preventing use of force to disperse it, Inspector General of Police Rajendra Kumar told PTI.

The community members violated prohibitory orders imposed on January 15 after their protest against ASI’s refusal to allow shifting of the 13-feet high 1,500-year old idol to the new temple constructed by them, police said.

More than 1000 paramilitary personnel and policemen have been deployed and a vigil is being kept over the developments, Kumar said.

Three ASI employees — Janaki Prasad, Gokul Sen and Govind — have gone missing since last two days and cases were registered against the community members after an ASI officer lodged a police complaint alleging their abduction, they said.

Several community members were booked for stone pelting and road blocks in the last 48 hours, they said adding, cases were also registered against Kundalpur temple committee functionaries for allegedly tampering with the protected monument.

Tension gripped the town this morning, after the community members, led by the saints, blocked all roads to the temple preventing the police, administration and media from entering it, apparently to shift the idol, police said.

While the community members stuck to their demand, Administrative officials tried to end the deadlock through talks, sources said.

"We will not allow rules to be broken and will take whatever steps required to restore order," Sagar Divisional Commissioner R R Gangarekar who, along with District Collector, Superintendent of Police and other senior officials, was camping at Kundalpur, told reporters.

The demand for shifting of the idol had been raised on several occasions in the last decade but work of construction of the new temple was started by the community members in 2000, sources said.

"The protected monument has been under ASI’s jurisdiction since 1950 and we have objected to the Jain community members attempting to tamper with it," ASI’s Deputy Superintending Archaeologist Dr S S Gupta told PTI in Bhopal.

He, however, denied any knowledge about abduction of ASI employees.(PTI)