Germany honours Arun Bharat Ram

NEW DELHI, Aug 30: Chairman of SRF Ltd Arun Bharat Ram has been awarded the Officers Cross of the Order of Merit by the German Government for his contribution in strengthening and diversifying exchanges between India and Germany.

"Arun Bharat Ram has been bestowed with this honour in recognition of his contribution as Co-Chairman of the Indo-German Consultative Group, a Government of India appointment," a statement by SRF Ltd said.

Bharat Ram has been serving as the Co-Chairman of the Group since 2002, which has been set up for advising on ways to strengthen and diversify the mutually beneficial exchanges between the two countries.

He received the award from the German Ambassador, Bernd Muetzelburg at a function held in the Germany Embassy, New Delhi last evening.

A recipient of the Jamshedji Tata Award for the year 2006, Bharat Ram is also the past President of Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and Association of Synthetic Fibre Industry.

At present, he holds the office of CII as Chairman of its Family Business Council. (PTI)

Bunty aide arrested in Tamil Nadu

NEW DELHI, Aug 30: Another member of the infamous bikers gang here, who was on the run for the past few months, was arrested from Tamil Nadu, a senior police official said today.

Mohammed Israel, a close associate of ‘bikers gang’ leader Om Prakash alias Bunty, was caught by the Delhi Police from the textile town of Tirupur yesterday, the official said.

Israel, who has a reward of Rs 50,000 on his head, was flown to Delhi last night.

The gang leader Bunty and one of the members Rajesh were killed in a gunbattle in south Delhi on August 25. Three others of the gang were arrested earlier this month.

The gang members were on the run for the past few months after creating terror in the capital with their daring robberies.

The bikers gang first hit the headlines when its members gunned down 25-year old Sonu, a property dealer, outside his Sangam Vihar residence on July five.

Police said the gang killed two friends—Ashneet Singh (24) and Harjeet Singh (26) -- at Amar Colony near Lajpat Nagar on July 11. Barely a few minutes later they shot dead 30-year old Sanjeev Suri near the Andrews Ganj crossing when one of the stolen bikes ran out of fuel.

The very next day the same members of the ‘Bunty gang’ shot Naresh and Pawan, both around 30, in South Delhi’s Dakshinpuri area. They were involved in murder of a cyclist on the highway near Pilikhva in Uttar Pradesh on June 10.

The Bunty gang was also involved in over a dozen robbery like Sarita Vihar petrol Pump robbery, TV showroom robbery in Kalkaji, Defence colony robbery, Amdbedkarnagar robbery etc in the national capital and NCR region. (PTI)

PM, sonia had knowledge about cash-for-votes scam,
says Advani

NEW DELHI, Aug 30: Terming the "cash-for-votes" scam as "incomparable and more obnoxious than Bofors", senior BJP leader L K Advani today alleged it could not have happened without the knowledge and consent of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress President Sonia Gandhi.

"This could not have happened without the knowledge and consent of top leadership of the Congress and the Government. The nation expects Sonia Gandhi and Manmohan Singh to break their silence on this unprecedented scandal," Advani said at a conference on ‘Governance and Politics’, organised by the Legal and Legislative Cell of BJP.

He expressed hope the Parliamentary Committee probing the cash-for-vote scam would bring out the truth. "However, I would like to warn the Congress leaders and the Government that any attempt to cover up truth in this scandal - as was done by the Joint Parliamentary Committee in the Bofors case - will not be tolerated by people. That happened in 1989; it will happen again in 2009," Advani said.

Quoting from comments made in a newspaper column, the Leader of Opposition said after the scam, Singh’s reputation for personal honesty had been dented and he was now "just another sullied politician".

Advani said the BJP-led NDA had preferred defeat to horse-trading in 1999 when the NDA Government fell by one vote. "Nobody, not even our critics, accused us of having indulged in horse-trading to retain power."

The BJP is committed to good politics and good governance, Advani said. (PTI)

People should cooperate in power conservation
efforts: Dikshit

NEW DELHI, Aug 30: As the capital reeled under a severe power shortage, Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit today asked people to "change their mindset" and co-operate with the Delhi Government in electricity conservation.

Dikshit said that several areas of the capital are experiencing power cuts due to overdrawing of power from the National Grid by many states.

"People’s co-operation is very important for electricity conservation. But what is needed is the change in mindsets. In this, role of children is very important," the Chief Minister said at a function to award winners of BSES quiz competition here.

Dikshit emphasised on the role of children in educating society about the need of energy conservation and said awareness on such issues and power thefts should reach public.

"My Government has always emphasised on making the basic infrastructures strong. Power shortage occur but only for short periods. We try to make sure that Delhiites do not suffer from any problem," she said.

Delhi Government recently sought the Centre’s help to overcome the problem and asked the discoms to formulate long-term and short-term measures to ensure uninterrupted power supply.

Power Minister A K Walia said Delhi Government has always emphasised on electricity conservation, distribution and generation. "We have some plans for the capital to get rid of the power shortage and are working on it. And reducing power theft to 26 per cent is an achievement for us," he said.

"Electronic metres are sensitive and precautions should be taken to lessen fast metre readings. Systems are also being upgraded to get rid of breakdowns," Walia said.

The Chief Minister felicitated the winners of BSES’ ‘Bijli Gyan Abhiyan’ inter-school quiz competition for East and Central Delhi.

"BSES started the Abhiyan six months ago to make children aware of power-related issues. And quiz competition is a part of that campaign," its CEO, Arun Kanchan said.

Walia said, "Children with young receptive minds should take up the cudgels for energy conservation and be the torchbearers in spreading its message."

A total of six students—three from private schools and three from government schools—were awarded at the function.

A BSES spokesperson said that the company will extend the initiative to schools - both Government and private - in certain areas of South and West Delhi. (PTI)

Investigation on into DPS student death, schools
staff questioned

NEW DELHI, Aug 30: Investigation is on into the death of a student of DPS Mathura road, who was found dead in the swimming pool of the school on Friday evening.

Delhi Police have already initiated an inquiry into the death of the 13-year-old boy. In this connection, the police have questioned the staff of the school, also recording statements of the security guards and cleaners who first found the body as well as the swimming instructors, police sources said.

They said that the police were investigating whether the victim had had a fight with other students.

Mohammad Nadir was found dead under mysterious circumstances in the swimming pool of DPS Mathura Road last evening. He had come to the school for the evening classes but did not report for class. Instead, his body was found in the pool before the class began.

A Class VI student, Nadir was rushed to hospital where he was declared brough dead.

Police said Nadir_s body was discovered around 1715 hrs by the school staff who had come to clean the pool. Nadir, who couldn_t swim, was fully clothed in the water.

Nadir’s parents say that after attending the morning classes, he came back home and was again dropped to school around 1630 hrs by his father at the school to attend extra classes. Around 1717 hrs they received the call from school authorities who told them that their son had been found unconscious and had been taken to Sahi hospital.

Police say Nadir_s father Mohammad Salim works as a motor mechanic and the family stays in Chand Biwi Camp in Sarai Kale Khan. Nadir is survived by his parents and three sisters who are elder to him.

The incident comes a few days after a 15-year-old girl student of DPS R K Puram died after falling from the fifth floor of the hostel building. (UNI)

Ex-minister Atram held in chinkara poaching case

PUNE, Aug 30: Former Maharahstra Minister for Transport and Tribal Development, Dharmarao Atram, an accused in the chinkara poaching case, was arrested by the forest officials here today.

Atram was produced before the Saswad court this morning, after Sub-Divisional Forest Officer Hanumant Dhumal recorded his statements in the case for the past two days. Atram had earlier applied for a bail, which was rejected.

In mid-June, Atram, along with his friend, had allegedly hunted two chinkaras in Chaudharwadi village on Gulunche-Baramati Road, and later partied at a farm house in Mahableshwar. Irate villagers had registered a complaint, following which the police and Forest Department officials raided the farm house and recovered Chinkara bones and other incriminating evidence. (UNI)

14^th Delhi Book Fair Inaugurated

NEW DELHI, Aug 30: Vice President Mohammad Hamid Ansari, inaugurating the 14th Delhi Book Fair today confessed to being a "bookworm" and that he felt "quite at home in a familiar environment" at the fair.

Jointly organised by the Federation of Indian Publishers (FIP) and the India Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO), the fair would be open to the public at Hall Nos 8-12A at Pragati Maidan from 1000 hrs to 2000 hrs till September 7.

After lighting the ceremonial lamp, Mr Ansari quipped, "I am a bookworm. I am in a familiar environment and feel at home."

After taking a round of the stalls, he told mediapersons, "The fair has an excellent collection. It has brought books of different genres under one roof."

The Vice President also pointed out that these types of book fairs provide an opportunity to explore and encourage the reading habit among the new generation.

The theme for this year’s fair is "Women Writing" as an acknowledgement of the growing contribution of women in this field.

Ms Sheela Bhide, Chairman and Managing Director of ITPO, told UNI that the idea came up in collaboration with Lekhika Sangh, a women writers’ body which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.

Prominent among the 30 women authors invited are Sahitya Akademi Award winner Anita Desai, former IPS officer Kiran Bedi, IAS officer Vandana Kumari Jena and Principal of Lakshman Public School Usha Ram.

Another feature of the fair is the launch of ‘Bolti Kitaben’, a concept popular in the West, in which novels are recorded in audio CD format.

Star Publications launched the first set of 13 such books in Hindi, Urdu and Punjabi. Each set consists of a novel of popular writers like Prem Chand and Amrita Pritam.

More than 300 leading Indian publishers in about 700 stalls are participating in the fair.

The major attraction is the participation of eight foreign countries, including Pakistan, the US, China and Spain.

"The fair is a platform for publishers of one region within the country to meet with those of other regions and also from other countries," Mr Shakti Malik, General Secretary, FIP said. (UNI)

France to sign social security pact with India

NEW DELHI, Aug 30: India and France have finalised the modalities of a bilateral social security agreement under which Indian professionals in the European country will be treated at par with their French counterparts.

The social security agreement is now expected to be formally signed by the Prime Ministers of the two countries during the India-EU summit in Paris this September.

The agreement will provide for bilateral social security arrangement whereby an Indian employee or a professional can avail the benefits of his social security, pension and others even after leaving France and will not be subjected to double deductions in both countries.

This will also ensure that the signatory countries make deductions from an Indian employee in France accordingly and that he is redeemed of the benefits either in France or India.

Old age and survivors pension for employed and self-employed Indians in France, invalidity insurance and permanent disability pensions for sailors will also be redeemable even in India in both Indian and French currency.

It will also entitle Indian employees to be treated as equals by the French Government and French employers as part of an Equality of Treatment clause in the agreement.

A French delegation headed by Kata Julienne, head of EU and International Affairs department in France, reviewed the conditions of the pact during a three-day visit here from August 27 to 29.

"The pact was reviewed by representatives from the social security directorate of the French Government, other departments like labour, labour relations and also family and solidarity department of the French Government. They expressed adequate legal provisions in this regard were possible and administrative arrangements were arrived at," a Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs official said.

India had signed a similar pact with Belgium earlier and has finalised similar agreements for countries like Germany, Netherlands and Czechoslovakia. These social security agreements will help meet financial security provisions of Indian professionals and employees in these countries employed for or over a period of 60 months.

In France, a large number of Indian professionals in medical and IT sectors will benefit from the pact. According to highly placed sources, the ministry is working on these pacts to ensure a better security net for Indian employees in all European Union countries in the near future. (PTI)

Advani suggests fast track courts to try politicians

NEW DELHI, Aug 30: Expressing concern at "growing corruption in politics" in the wake of cash-for-votes scam, senior BJP leader L K Advani today suggested that fast-track courts could be established to try corruption cases against politicians and civil servants.

"The BJP is willing to consider any effective mechanism for fast-track disposal of cases involving major economic offences and corruption cases against politicians and civil servants," Advani said at a conference on ‘Governance and Politics’, organised by Legal and Legislative Cell of BJP.

"Politics, for many of its practitioners, has become commerce. Because of corruption in high places, the poison has spread in many parts of the governance structure," Advani said.

He also announced the party’s plan to form an advisory committee, headed by party general secretary Arun Jaitley and with retired High Court rpt High Court judge Rama Jois and others as members, to prepare an agenda for legal and judicial reforms.

The Leader of Opposition also suggested that if a broad consensus emerged, four zonal benches of the Supreme Court could be established in various parts of the country. The main branch of the Supreme Court could then concern itself with constitutional matters, he said.

He also expressed concern at the rising number of pending cases in courts, the high judge-population ratio and low budgetary allocation for the judiciary.

Advani said the criminal justice system in India was such that conviction rate had fallen to 6-7 per cent creating a situation where "criminals tend to feel safe and beyond the pale of law".

He accused the UPA Government of being incompetent and unwilling to fight terrorism. (PTI)

Seven ultras nabbed in Manipur

IMPHAL, Aug 30: Altogether seven militants of different outfits were nabbed by Thoubal district police commandos and troops of Assam Rifles(AR) during the last 24 hours in separate incidents in Manipur.

The SP (Thoubal), Clay Khongsai said while a female cadre of People_s Liberation Army (PLA) was arrested during an operation, another militant of the same organisation was also nabbed later.

Moreover, the A R PRO said a PLA rebel was apprehended by the 21 AR personnel yesterday, adding another militant of the same outfit was caught in a separate incident.

Meanwhile, the troops of 34 AR yesterday nabbed two ultras of the People’s United Liberation Front (PULF) (Azad), the PRO said adding a Kangleipak Communist Party KCP (MC) cadre was also apprehended by the troops of 23 AR.(UNI)

NCP demands to file FIR against Karnataka’s chief
secretary

PANAJI, Aug 30: Goa unit general secretary of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP)demanded that state should file a First Inforamtion Report (FIR) against Karnataka chief secretary who, in an affidavit to Supreme Court, claimed Goa to be a part of Karnataka.

Surendra Furtado pointed out that Karnataka’s affidavit in the apex court has mentioned that respondent (Karnataka) reserves the right to file the full history of Goa to show that Goa is a part of Karnataka.

The issue had figured in the recently concluded state legislative assembly session wherein chief minister Digamber Kamat had said that he will ask for the original affidavit.

Furtado, who is also NCP’s spokesman, said ‘if state fails to file the FIR, he would personally file one, claiming the affidavit to be ‘false’, ‘malacious’ and ‘misleading’.

The affidavit filed by Karnataka’s chief secretary is an objection statement to the application for impleadment filed by Goa Konkani Rajya Ekikaran Manch.

The manch has been demanding that Karnataka’s neighbouring areas of Karwar, Supa and Haliyal be merged in Goa as they comprise of Konkani speaking population.

The affidavit says that Haliyal, Supa and Karwar are integral part of Karnataka since historical times. Even Goa was ruled by Kadamba dynasty having its capital at Halshi in Khanapur taluka of Belgaum district.

" Goa’s economy is largely dependent on its trade links with its bordering Karnataka. This respondent reserves the right to file the full history of Goa to show that Goa is a part of Karnataka," it adds.

Furtado said that the State Government should call for an all party meeting at the earliest to discuss the issue.

Furtado recalled that former Prime Minister H D Devegowda had cleared his intentions to include Kanada as official language of Goa during the last Goa assembly election.

Devegowda’s party, which had lost Goa polls, had a point to include Kanada as Goa’s official language in its agenda, which was later downplayed by Karanataka leaders themselves, he said. (PTI)

Govt issues Gazette detailing Pay Commission
recommendations

NEW DELHI, Aug 30: With the Union Government having issued a notification late last night relating to the Sixth Pay Commission, as many as 50 lakh Central Government employees, including Armed Forces personnel, are in for bonanza by way of enhanced pay packets.

‘The Gazette of India’ details the recommendations accepted by it regarding the Sixth Pay Commission (CPC) Report, which substantially hike the pays and allowances of Central Government employees accepting these as a "package." The enhanced pay is to be given from September 1,2008.

The Gazette says that after careful consideration of the recommendations of the Commission in respect of civilian employees of the Central Government in Groups ‘A’, ‘B,’ ‘C’ and ‘D’ as also the All India Services and Chairpersons and Members of Regulatory Bodies—except the Reserve Bank of India—have decided that the recommendations of the Commission be accpeted as a package. The Government has, however, issued modifications in regard to various pay scales.

It has created a new pay scale of Rs 75,000 -- Rs 80,000 designated as ‘HAG plus’ carved out of ‘PB-4.’ The ‘PB-4’ is in the range of Rs 39,200 -- Rs 67,000. The annual increment will be at 3 per cent.

The recommendations of the Commission, headed by Justice Sri Krishna, will be made with retrospective effective from January 1, 2006, the notification said.

The Gazette says three upgradations will be granted under Assured Career Progression (ACP) scheme at 10, 20 and 30 years as per the modified ACP Scheme recommended by the Commission. ACP Scheme will also be applicable to Group ‘A’ employees.

The revised allowances, other than dearness allowances, will be effective from September 1,2008.

The Government has also accepted the suggestion of the Commission for setting up of an Anomalies Commmitte to examine individual, post-specific and cadre-specific anomalies. The Gazette says the Anomalies Committee should endeavour to complete their work in one year.

On payment of arrears, the Government has modified the Commission’s recommendations to the extent that the arrears would be paid in cash in two installments—first installment of 40 per cent this financial year (2008-09) and the remaining 60 per cent in the next financial year (2009-10).

The Government has accepted the suggestion from the Department of Space and Atomic Energy and Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) for granting variable increments to really deserving Scientists at the time of promotions. Details are to be worked out in consultation with the Ministry of Finance.

The Gazette has drawn out tables indicating the recommendations of the Commission and the Government’s decision on the matter.

The Commission was set up by the Government on October 5,2006. On March 24, 2008, the Commission submitted its Report relating to structure of emoluments, allowances and conditions of service and retirement benefits of Central Government employees.

Later the Cabinet approved the recommendations of the Commission with modifications.

With the issuance of the Gazette notification, the process of enhancement of pay and allowances at the bureaucratic level is complete. (UNI)