Excelsior... Nation

Rift between Karna CM and rebels widens..........

Bihar bans hunting of dolphins...........

Gas row: GSMA suitable solution: RIL tells SC........

Cong, NCP begin power sharing talks.........

Steady decline in Infant Mortality Rate in India

NEW DELHI, Oct 28: India has witnessed a steady decline in Infant Mortality Rate over the last three years.

The Infant Mortality Rate in the country was 57 per 1,000 births in October 2007, 55 in 2008 and 53 in 2009.

According to the latest data released by the Registrar General of India, Madhya Pradesh had the highest mortality rate of 70 per 1,000 live births.

The state also had the dubious distinction of the highest child mortality rate in 2008 as well as 2007 data with 74 and 72 respectively.

Closely following MP was Uttar Pradesh which had 71, 69 and 67 per 100 deaths in 2007, 2008 and 2009.

Madhya Pradesh along with Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan reported above 80 infant mortality rates in the 1991 census.

Infant mortality rate is defined as the probability of a child born in a specific year or period dying before reaching the age of one, if subject to age-specific mortality rates of that period.

The mortality rates also differ significantly between rural and urban areas.

While in villages of India the average Infant Mortality Rate is 62 per 1,000 live births, in urban areas it is 39. (PTI)

Govt can frame guidelines for DPCs: CAT

NEW DELHI, Oct 28: The Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) has held that government can frame guidelines for departmental promotion committees (DPCs) and judiciary will not question its validity so long as it provides level playing field for all candidates.

"The government has a right to frame the guidelines for the DPCs and there cannot be any judicial interference in such case, unless the same are perverse or are drafted to favour a class of candidates," CAT Vice Chairman L K Joshi and Member Meera Chhibber said.

The tribunal passed the order on a plea of a Delhi police sub-inspector, challenging the promotions made on the basis of 2008 circular which issued guidelines for the DPC to promote eligible police personnel.

The sub-inspector, Ram Niwas, contended that DPC should have followed 2005 guidelines for promotions and not the 2008 guidelines which was issued after creation of vacancies.

"The guidelines cannot be interfered with merely because these affect the applicant adversely," the tribunal said while dismissing his plea.

The other candidates were promoted to the post of inspector on the basis of guidelines issued by the government on December 29, 2008, which was in place before the date of DPC meeting in which Niwas was also considered for the post.

"We have no doubt in our mind that only the guidelines in existence on the date of holding of DPC would apply. The DPC of January 13, 2009 could not have taken cognisance of the guidelines of February 7, 2005," the CAT said.

The executive has every right to amend the guidelines any time and the tribunal would not interfere with them as long as all the similarly placed candidates are treated uniformly on the basis of these guidelines, the tribunal said. (PTI)

Pranab asks states to expedite
impementation of aided projects

NEW DELHI, Oct 28: Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee today asked states to expedite implementation of externally- aided projects so that the benefits of development could reach the poor and the country’s image is enhanced abroad.

"(An)...Area of primary concern is a slow progress of externally-aided projects. Effective implementation of these projects not only benefits the areas of projects’ locations, but also enhances our image abroad and with the multilateral financial agencies," he said at a conference of state finance secretaries.

Several multilateral lending agencies like the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) have been stressing on a speedier implementation of the aided-projects. India is estimated to have paid over Rs 700 crore as commitment charges to such agencies during the five-year period ending 2008-09.

The Finance Minister also asked the states to prepare the necessary groundwork for implementation of infrastructure projects in the Public Private Partnership (PPP) mode.

"There is need to create an enabling environment by way of a suitable policy framework and create a shelf of PPP projects which could be taken up for financing".

The state governments, he said, should consider the PPP model for implementing various infrastructure projects.

Pointing out that lack of adequate infrastructure was the bane of the Indian economy, Mukherjee said the Eleventh Plan target of raising investment in this sector to 9 per cent of the GDP by 2011-12 required extensive use of the PPP mode for implementing projects.

"As the huge investment requirements for infrastructure development cannot be met entirely from budgetary resources of both the Centre and the states, therefore, the PPP model of infrastructure development is being encouraged", he said.

Mukherjee also made a case for reverting to the path of fiscal prudence as the global economy has started showing initial signs of recovery.

The imperatives of addressing the economic crisis, he added, "should not make us ignore the longer-term agenda of addressing fiscal stability and providing welfare to our people.

"It is expected that once the global economy begins to recover, the state governments would re-affirm their commitment to fiscal responsibility and be back onto the path of fiscal consolidation," he said.

On financial inclusion, Mukherjee said, states need to provide infrastructural facilities, connectivity and a secure environment to enable the banks to provide banking facilities in unbanked and under-banked areas.

Expressing concern over low credit-deposit ratios in certain states, Mukherjee said, it was imperative that the state governments should create an enabling environment for banks to lend and to recover their dues.

The forum of State Level Bankers’ Committee, he added, should be used by the state governments to improve the credit-deposit ratios and ensure effective implementation of government schemes and initiatives.

The states where the participation in the SLBCs is high have witnessed significant improvement in the flow of funds from the banking sector, he said.

The meeting is being attended also by Minister of State for Finance Namo Narayan Meena, Finance Secretary Ashok Chawla and representatives from finance departments of the states and Union Territories (UTs). (PTI)

Pak charge of India funding
Taliban most ridiculous: Krishna

BANGALORE, Oct 28: India today dubbed as "most ridiculous" and irrational the allegation by Pakistan that it was funding Taliban.

External Affairs Minister S M Krishna said India considers Taliban as a dreaded terror outfit, and wants Pakistan to take action against it along with other groups like Laskar-e-Toiba and Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD).

"This is the most ridiculous statement I have heard," he told reporters when asked about his reaction to the allegation by Pakistan’s Interior Minister Rehman Malik that India is funding Taliban.

To a question he said, "When such irrational statements are made we take up (with Pakistan) through diplomatic channels."

The Minister said India has asked Pakistan to act against terror groups like Laskar-e-Toiba and JuD which change names but "breed terror".

Referring to Mumbai attack, he said the six people arrested in Pakistan as well as the lone terrorist Ajmal Kasab held here, had admitted that they were Pakistani nationals and hatched the conspiracy from that country.

Krishna noted that India had given six dossiers containing "all evidence that we were able to collect" on Mumbai attack with the hope that Pakistan will investigate further on the basis of it.

He said if Pakistan brings to book the perpetrators of Mumbai attack we will be satisfied.

Talking about the two terror attacks on the India embassy in Kabul since last year, Krishna said a preliminary investigation by the Afghan Government indicated that these were conducted by "outsiders not by those who live in Afghanistan."

He referred to today’s attack on a UN guest house in Kabul and said "we are shocked." He said India conveys deepest sympathies to the UN official affected by the attack.

The Minister said India will continue to pursue developmental activities in Afghanistan to help build the capacity of the Afghan Government and its people.

He said India’s constructive role in Afghanistan has come in for praise from international community. (PTI)

Antony rejects Mamata’s demand for
use of army in Naxal areas

NEW DELHI, Oct 28: Defence Minister A K Antony today rejected his cabinet colleague Mamata Banerjee’s demand for deployment of army in Maoist-affected areas of West Bengal, saying use of armed forces for internal security was the "last resort".

"Whether in West Bengal or any other area, our view is that employing armed forces for internal security is the last resort. Only as the last resort we will deploy armed forces in Naxal areas," he said.

His comments on Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee’s demand in this regard came at a media interaction on the sidelines of a Coast Guard Commanders’ conference here.

The Trinamool Congress chief had yesterday demanded that the Centre should use army to recover arms allegedly taken away by "CPI(M) goons" from the state armoury in West Bengal.

Antony said law and order issues should be handled by respective state Governments and ruled out talks with Maoists before they abjure violence. The Government would "not tolerate" attacks by the Left extremists, he said.

"What we are asking them is to abjure violence," Antony said replying to queries if talks with the Naxals should be unconditional.

Agreeing that Naxal violence was a serious threat to internal security, Antony said the Centre would render all help to the affected states.

He said the Government was of the view that tribal and Maoist-affected states needed more development.

"But that is not an excuse for violence and bloodshed. The Government will not tolerate anyone taking law into their hands," he said.

Antony said the Government had already chalked out a plan to counter Maoists violence in affected states and was monitoring its implementation.

Following the recent spurt in Maoists violence and abductions, including that of a police officer in West Bengal, both Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee and Banerjee have met Home Minister P Chidambaram in the last fortnight to demand action against the Left extremists.

During her meeting with the Home Minister yesterday after two drivers of New Delhi-Bhubaneswar Rajdhani Express were kidnapped allegedly by Maoists in West Midnapur district in West Bengal, Banerjee had demanded that the Centre should use the army. (PTI)

Bihar and national units with JD(U) in Jharkhand: Nitish

PATNA, Oct 28: Amid uncertainties over his party’s alliance with the BJP in Jharkhand, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today said the JD(U) had left the matter of firming up alliance to its Jharkhand unit in view of the upcoming assembly polls.

"The JD(U) has left the issue of alliance for a decision to its Jharkhand unit", Kumar told reporters before leaving for Jharkhand to attend a workers conference.

The party’s Bihar unit and national committee would fully support the decision to be taken by the JD(U)’s Jharkhand committee, he said.

"We want a better electoral performance for which we are evolving the strategy", he said.

On the issue of alliance, senior BJP leader and Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi said it would be better if the BJP and JD(U) jointly contested the upcoming assembly elections in that state for "better performance."

"The two parties have strong bonds in Bihar and it will be better to have a similar arrangement in Jharkhand", he had said while talking to reporters in Darbhanga yesterday. (PTI)

Women prisoners keen to wed Rahul Mahajan

BHOPAL, Oct 28: Rahul Mahajan, son of the late BJP leader, Pramod Mahajan has a new fan following - women inmates of the Central Jail here - with nine of them wanting to participate in the TV show "Rahul Dulhania Le Jaayega".

The show where 33-year-old Mahajan, will choose a life partner has already received 16,755 entries.

The nine aspirants, from a 18-year-old undertrial to a 32-year-old convicted in a drug case, have already started preparing for the event and their inspiration is none other than their erstwhile jail-mate, actress Monica Bedi.

Mahajan who had grabbed headlines with his arrest for drug possession as well as a messy divorce, had turned to reality TV with the show ‘Big Boss 2’.

"These nine prisoners, including convicts and undertrials, have moved applications, seeking permission to participate in the TV ‘Swayamvar’ of Rahul, son of BJP leader Pramod Mahajan," Bhopal Central Jail Superintendent P D Somkunwar told PTI today.

He has sent the applications to the Jail Headquarters, adding that the pleas of undertrials will be decided by the court while that of convicts will be looked into by the Headquarters, Somkunwar said.

"These women are very much interested to take part in the TV show and after moving applications they have started wearing lipsticks and dressing up, much to the surprise of other inmates," Somkunwar said.

"I am not opposed to the aspirations of these women and wants to see them happy. Even they are human beings and have all the rights to be happy," Somkunwar said.

The aspiring brides include, Preeti (32) - a convict in NDPS case, Bhagwati (18) - an undertrial in a dowry case, Seema (25) - convict in a murder case and Sunita (30) - an undertrial in a drug case, an official said.

The women are of the opinion that they will be the perfect match for Mahajan, who too has served jail time for drug possession and consumption.

Meanwhile, Madhya Pradesh Additional Inspector General of Jail, A Khare has said that these women will not be granted permission to take part in the TV show as it goes against the rules. (PTI)

CVC develops new format to
report investigations, proceedings

NEW DELHI, Oct 28: To bring uniformity in the process followed to file preliminary enquiry reports, the Central Vigilance Commission has come up with a new reporting format for chief vigilance officers to file their initial findings before initiating a probe.

"The Commission receives preliminary enquiry reports from the Chief Vigilance Officers (CVOs) of departments or organisations, seeking the first stage advice...However, these reports are often found lacking in cogent analysis of misconduct or allegations, evidence on record and the recommendation of line of action.

"The supporting documents catered are also very often disjointed, casually arranged or unduly bulky, making the examination cumbersome and leading to protracted correspondence and delays. With a view to improving the quality and focus of these investigation reports, the Commission has devised a new reporting format," the CVC said in a circular to CVOs of all government-controlled organisations and departments.

Further, these reports will be accompanied by an Assurance Memorandum, signed by the CVO, confirming that they are taking responsibility and giving assurance that all the facts and relevant evidence mentioned in the report have been duly verified while submitting the report.

The CVOs have been asked to ensure that all documents or exhibits, constituting the basic evidence for the charge, are systematically identified and arranged.

They have also been also told to enclose the bio-data of suspect officials who figure in the investigation reports.

"Superfluous and voluminous documents, with title or no relevance to the misconduct under examination, should be retained at the CVOs’ end," the CVC has advised.

The Commission, in its another circular, has also emphasised on the necessity to adopt ‘Integrity Pact’ in government organisations in their major procurement activities and nominate Independent External Monitors for compliance of obligations under the pact. (PTI)

Rift between Karna CM and rebels widens

BANGALORE, Oct 27: The rift in the ruling BJP in Karnataka appeared to be widening further with dissidents led by Tourism Minister G Janardhana Reddy rejecting an offer of conciliation by Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa, who has reportedly come under their attack over his style of functioning.

A group of seven ministers led by Reddy stayed away from a meeting called by Yeddyurappa today and held a parallel strategy session, bringing into open the fragility of a truce worked out between the two factions a few months ago.

Speaking to reporters after a meeting with more than 20 ministerial colleagues, Yeddyurappa put up a brave face, denying any rift and said he would hold talks with Reddy brothers-Janardhana Reddy and Revenue Minister G Karunakara Reddy-to sort out "minor differences".

Sources in the rebels camp, however, said they had decided against accepting any invitation for talks by Yeddyurappa and would meet at Hospet in Bellary district on November two to chalkout further plan of action.

The sources said there would be no compromise on their demand for a change in Yeddyurappa’s leadership.

Minister for Higher Education Aravind Limbavali and Minister for Water Resources Basavaraj Bommai, who played the role of emissaries to persuade the Reddy brothers to come for talks, have apparently failed in their mission, they said.

Sources close to Yeddyurappa said the ministers asked him to rein in Reddy brothers whom they accused of indulging in "blackmail" tactics.

The Reddy brothers, who own minefields, have in recent days been campaigning against a new cess imposed on lorries transporting iron ore but Yeddyurappa has strongly justified the decision.

Meanwhile, Yeddyurappa said today’s meeting debated on construction of houses to those displaced in the recent worst-ever floods in the state. He said "aasare" programme envisaged by the Government would be launched on November two.

At the two-and-a-half hour meeting, it was decided to build one lakh houses in the next six months, he said.

"There are no differences with Reddys. They are also trying to help flood-affected by constructing houses. I will meet them and hold talks with them," he said.

In another development, Janardhana Reddy at a separate press conference here announced that they would perform the foundation stone laying ceremony tomorrow in Bellary for constructing 50,000 houses at a cost of Rs 500 crore.

He said they would also build houses in Gadag and Raichur districts.

Resources for the project would be raised through donations from mines owners and other donors, he said. (PTI)_

Bihar bans hunting of dolphins

PATNA, Oct 27: Alarmed by a steady decline in the number of dolphins, declared a national aquatic animal by the Prime Minister, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has ordered a strict enforcement of the ban on the hunting of the man’s best friend.

Official sources said Nitish has directed the district magistrates of Patna, Bhagalpur and Buxar to see that the ban order has been adhered to.

Officials have been asked to keep close surveillance along the Ganga river banks to stop the hunting, the District Magistrate of Patna, J K Sinha, said.

Patna and Bhagalpur districts are the two districts where dolphins have been reportedly found dead in the past

The decision to declare the Ganga dolphin as an Indian national aquatic animal was taken at a meeting of the newly-formed Ganga River Basin Authority in New Delhi that called for accelerated steps to clean up the river.

The meeting, which took place early this month, was chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

Early this year, alarmed at the death of about six endangered Ganga river dolphins in Bihar, wildlife activists had called for urgent action.

Around six dolphins were killed by poachers and fishermen in the last one month alone in the Vikramshila Gangetic Dolphin Sanctuary, one of the four freshwater dolphin sanctuaries in the world.

The head of the zoology department of Patna University, R K Sinha, had warned that the mammals would disappear unless urgent steps were taken to clean up the Ganga.

Sinha, a well-known expert on Gangetic dolphins, said that dolphins are the lifeline of the Ganga. "If the dolphin numbers increase, it will be a sign for a clean Ganga and if the numbers decrease, it is a sign of increasing pollution."

Sinha, who has been researching river dolphins for over two decades, also pointed out that immersion of idols during Hindu festivals posed a grave threat to the river and aquatic life.

He suggested that ‘man-made water bodies’ be used for immersing idols instead of the Ganga.

A report released by international NGO World Wide Fund for Nature two years ago said the Ganga was among the 10 big rivers in the world facing extinction.

Untreated sewage, rotting carcasses and industrial effluents that find their way into the Ganga during its 2,500-km-long journey across several states from the Himalayas to the Bay of Bengal have also affected the dolphins, Sinha said.

Researchers estimate the dolphin population across India to be a little over 2,000. Half of these are found in the Ganga in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.

The numbers have dropped drastically over the past decades. In the 1980s, the Gangetic delta zone alone had around 3,500 dolphins. (PTI)

Gas row: GSMA suitable solution: RIL tells SC

NEW DELHI, Oct 28: Mukesh Ambani group firm RIL today told the Supreme Court that the Gas Supply Master Agreement (GSMA) could be a suitable arrangement to resolve its dispute on supply of gas with Anil Ambani-promoted RNRL.

Besides the GSMA, which is a post-contractual agreement with RNRL, RIL said the the price fixed for distributing gas to NTPC in 2003 could be applied to settle the row between the two companies.

However, reliance of RIL on NTPC price (2.34 US dollar per unit) was objected to by the Government which said the Mukesh Ambani group cannot raise the issue of contract with a PSU in this matter as RIL-NTPC matter is pending before the Bombay High Court.

"The NTPC contract can’t be raised here as it is a sub judice matter in the high court," Additional Solicitor General Mohan Parasaran pointed out when senior counsel Harish Salve, appearing for RIL, said the draft of NTPC agreement could be a basis as it was approved by the Government.

Though the Government raised objection to RIL raising the NTPC issue, senior counsel Ram Jethmalani and Mukul Rohtagi, appearing for RNRL, criticised its stand on the whole issue.

"Government didn’t intervene in the NTPC matter in the high court," they said, adding the "Government is in cahoots with RIL."

When Parasaran objected to the remarks, Jethmalani said "I will demonstrate that if not the whole Government but your ministry, i.e, the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas is in absolute conspiracy with RIL."

He charged "both RIL and the Oil Ministry were hand in glove over the issue". (PTI)

Cong, NCP begin power sharing talks

NEW DELHI, Oct 28: Having settled the leadership issue in Maharashtra, Congress and the NCP today began talks on the sticky issue of sharing of portfolios here amid reported differences, especially over who gets key ministries like Home, Finance and Power.

NCP sources said that party general secretary Praful Patel held talks with Ahmad Patel, political secretary to Congress President Sonia Gandhi. Praful was authorised by NCP leadership to hold the parleys.

The NCP stand that it would not like to part with the key portfolios which Congress was eyeing was again outlined by its senior leader P A Sangma. "In the area of number of ministers there could be room for negotiations but not in the area of portfolios," he said.

Sharad Pawar’s NCP has stuck to his position that the 1999 formula should be the basis of power sharing under which it had got the post of Deputy Chief Minister and key portfolios like Home, Finance, Power and PWD.

However, Congress has made it clear that power equations will take into consideration the "changed realites" as it had won in the just held Assembly elections more seats than NCP, its partner in Government for the past 10 years.

Sources said the main hitch is the four key portfolios of Home, Finance, Power and PWD, which the Congress is now claiming after its increased strength in the House.

Asked about NCP’s insistence on 1999 formula, a senior Congress leader cited the norms for power sharing which were based on the number of legislators elected. The Congress won 82 seats while the NCP bagged 62.

As suspense mounted over power sharing, both the Congress and the NCP maintained that the talks will conclude soon and the issue would be resolved amicably.

As per the Constitution, Maharashtra Chief Minister can have a 42 member Council of Ministers in the 288-member House.

"The numbers have changed," was the constant refrain of Chief Minister Ashok Chavan when asked about likely modalities of power sharing between the two parties in the wake of the NCP demand. The Congress won 82 seats, while the NCP emerged victorious on 62 seats

in the Assembly elections this month.

"We have been in power in Maharashtra for the past 10 years and will run a stable Government for another five years," Sangma told reporters here.

Similar was the line taken by Congress spokesman Abhishek Singhvi.

"This issue will also be solved soon. We had formed the cabinet earlier as well," he said.

Singhvi was responding to questions on whether Congress was ready to accept the NCP’s demand for following the 1999 portfolio-sharing formula between the two parties under which NCP had held the post of the Deputy Chief Minister and key portfolios including Home, Finance, Power and PWD.

"In the area of number of Ministers there could be room for negotiations but not in the area of portfolios," Sangma said.

Sources said the main hitch is the four key portfolios of Home, Finance, Power and PWD, which the Congress is now claiming after its increased strength in the House.

The Congress is also keen to take away from NCP some other portfolios that are related with infrastructure work and in social sector.

In the outgoing government, NCP had 24 portfolios as against 18 for Congress in addition to the post of the Chief Minister.

NCP, despite emerging as the single largest party after the 2004 Assembly elections, had given the post of the Chief Minister to Congress and got three additional ministerial berths in return.

Chavan has been elected as the CLP leader while Chhagan Bhujbal

has been chosen as NCP legislative party leader.

Chavan and Bhujbal will continue in office as Chief Minister and Deputy CM respectively. (PTI)