Excelsior Correspondent
NEW DELHI, July 1: Dr. Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State in Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Science & Technology (Independent Charge), Earth Sciences (Independent Charge), Atomic Energy and Space, inaugurated here, today the 40th Advanced Professional Programme in Public Administration (APPPA) for Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Allied Services and Defence service officers.
The purpose of the programme is to update these officers about changing requirements of services to be delivered by them and increasing aspirations of the people.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Jitendra Singh said, the programme is aimed at developing interpersonal skills, leadership qualities and social sensitivity to create an administrative milieu in which governance can be optimally conducted. With the taking over of the new Government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the focus has shifted from Government to governance and therefore, courses like this are the need of the hour, he observed.
Bureaucracy is a part of the Executive which is one of the four essential pillars of democracy, said Dr Jitendra Singh and suggested that in order to give people a fair deal of governance, bureaucracy has to remain apolitical and while bureaucrats ought to ensure this, it is also for all of us to avoid any possible tendency to politicize of bureaucracy.
Emphasizing on transparency and accountability in governance, Dr. Jitendra Singh said, the conduct and the role of a public servant today is to be more responsive and proactive. An extra effort is required to brush aside the popular notion that bureaucracy is ridden with red-tapism and slow disposal of file-work.
The programme was also addressed, among others, by T.N. Chaturvedi former Governor Karnataka, Dr. Tishyarakshit Chatterjee, Director IIPA; Dr. Syamal Kumar Sarkar, Secretary DoPT and Prof. Suresh Misra.?
Focus on governance not Govt: Dr Jitendra
Take back hiked prices of essential commodities: Kashyap
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 1: Bahujan Samaj Party held its State and district level executive body meeting wherein Narinder Kumar Kashyap MP (Rajya Sabha) and national general secretary was the chief guest while Tulsi Dass Langeh State president BSP J&K presided over the meeting at party office Narwal Pain, Satwari.
S Avtar Singh Karimpuri MP (Rajya Sabha), Co-ordinator Himachal Pardesh, Parkash Bharti, co-ordinator Punjab and Ch Gurnam Singh co-ordinator J&K were the guests of honour.
The meeting reviewed the detailed reports taken from different Assembly constituencies for the preparedness of party work in coming Assembly elections.
The members present raised the question of price hike of essential commodities. They said that recently Modi Government also raised the fare and freight charges of railways. Modi’s slogan of “good days” were proving to be a hoax. He only garnered the votes, and aspirations of the masses of India have now dashed into ground.
The workers of Bahujan Samaj Party after that took out a protest rally from Narwal Pain office to Satwari Chowk where they held strong protest and demonstration, asking the Central Government to roll back the hiked prices of petrol and diesel.
The protestant then marched towards Divisional Commissioner Office on the vehicles and a memorandum was submitted to Divisional Commissioner for its onward submission to President of India requesting him to press the NDA Government to roll back the hiked prices.
The prominent leaders who led the demonstration include Rattan Lal Chadgotra, Rakesh Wazir, Ex MLA Som Nath, Som Raj Majotra, Rattan Kumar Bhagat, Tilak Raj Bhagat, Mohinder Kashyap, Charan Dass, B D Thappa and Bharat Bhushan.
19 CBEC officers missing from duty for 5 yrs
NEW DELHI, July 1:
As many as 19 senior officers including a Commissioner of Central Excise, are missing and have not reported for duty in five years.
The Revenue department is not aware of the “whereabouts” of its 19 senior Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC) officers and has decided to take disciplinary action against them.
According a list issued by the CBEC, 19 Group A Cadre officers have not reported for duty for the past five years.
“A decision has been taken at the level of Competent Authority to take action either of ‘deemed resignation’… Or disciplinary proceedings…Against such officers.
“To enable us to proceed with this action, we require the original personal file/service book of the officer with complete record of sanctioned leave, unauthorised absence along with the action taken so far at your level,” CBEC said in a communication to Chief Commissioners and Director Generals.
The communication asked the Chief Commissioners to submit a report by Friday (July 4) giving chronological details so that the Board could “take an administrative decision in respect of such officers whose whereabouts are not known”.
On June 2, CBEC had circulated the list of 19 officers in the “Group A Cadre” whose whereabout are not known as per the records of DGHRD, HRM Wing.
The list include names of a Commissioner, several Additional Deputy Commissioners, Joint Commissioners and Deputy Commissioners.
As per the details noted in the communication, some of the officers did not join at their fresh postings, some went on study leave and no further information is available, while some went on leave and never rejoined. (PTI)
Over 15,000 perform darshan despite inclement weather
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 1: Despite the inclement weather and drizzling, 15,812 pilgrims performed darshan in the holy cave of Swami Amarnath Ji on the day four of yatra today. With this 50,528 pilgrims have performed darshan of icy Lingam in the cave shrine situated at an altitude of 14,000 feet in deep Himalayas in South Kashmir district of Anantnag.
According to an official spokesman the weather from Baltal to holy cave remained over cast with clouds and it drizzled for some time during the day but the yatra went on smoothly.
Spokesman said 10,794 pilgrims left for holy cave from Baltal base camp today. Out of them 9846 left by foot while 848 went by chopper. The yatris after performing darshan started their return journey to Baltal spokesman added.
He said out of 50,528 pilgrims who performed the darshan in holy cave so far, 30,000 have returned to Summer Capital while others were on their way. However no death was reported today. It may be recalled that six yatris died during last three days of yatra while on their way to holy cave.
Meanwhile, the fifth batch of 1243 pilgrims today left for Amarnath shrine from Jammu base camp amid tight security, police said.
The pilgrims comprising 839 men, 283 women, 20 children and 101 sadhus and sadhvis left in a cavalcade of 35 vehicles, including 28 buses and 7 light motor vehicles, from Bhagwati Nagar base camp at around 0400 hours today for Amarnath, a police officer said.
The convoy for the yatra has reached the Manigam camp in Ganderbal district when last reports came wherefrom they will leave for holy cave early in the morning.
With today’s batch, as many as 6,269 pilgrims have left Jammu for their onward journey to the cave shrine.
Despite heavy snowfall during the past winters and consequent implications, the number of yatris paying obeisance at the shrine has been steadily increasing with the commencement of the Yatra on June 28 from Baltal route.
Yesterday, 14,635 yatris paid obeisance, while on June 28 and June 29, 8899 and 11,182 yatris respectively had paid their obeisance, at holy cave.
An official spokesman said that the rush of yatris has considerably increased during last two three days and with the decision of Shrine Board to open the traditional Pahalgam track for pilgrimage from tomorrow morning the rush may increase further.
It may be recalled that the Pahalgam-Chandanwari track was not opened for yatra during first four days by the Shrine Board due to snowy track.
However after reviewing the ground position at a high level meeting yesterday, the Governor N N Vohra who is also the Chairman of the Board decided to open the track on July 2 for pilgrimage.
Hafiz Sayeed spotted opposite Barmer
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 1: Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) and Jamat-ul-Dawa head Hafiz Sayeed has been spotted across the International Border in Barmer sector of Rajasthan.
According to Intelligence inputs, Sayeed was camping in Mirpur Khas, Mithi and Sindh areas of Pakistan falling along the International Boundary opposite Barmer area of Rajasthan. His movement has been observed in these three areas for the past three days.
The Border Security Force (BSF) has been put on high alert after reports about movement of Hafiz Sayeed opposite Barmer.
Sources said no reasons have been ascertained behind the movement of Hafiz Sayeed opposite Barmer.
“The possibility of Sayeed exploring new infiltration route for the militants for carrying out terror attack in India is not ruled out,’’ they added.
Bad governance pushed respectable citizens into destitution: Mehbooba
Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, June 1: People’s Democratic Party (PDP) president, Mehbooba Mufti today said bad governance has pushed respectable citizens into virtual destitution as is evident from demonstrations all over the State to press demands even for basic amenities.
Addressing various meetings in Devsar constituency of Kulgam district, she said apart from its political agenda PDP will focus on improving the quality of life for the citizens of the State.
Mehbooba said she is pained by the frequent sight of the people mostly ladies holding dharnas and demonstrations for even drinking water in many places. If this could be the case in a State so much rich in the water resources nobody other than the National Conference and Congress, who have been in power ever since independence can be blamed for such dehumanizing conditions.
She said the State has been deliberately projected as a begging bowl because the parties in power have time and gain sold out its interests for their own political survival. PDP, she said, would reverse this impression and try to establish a model welfare State where people would get what they deserve as a matter of right like members of a dignified society.
Mehbooba said J&K is rich in water resources, minerals, horticulture, agriculture and tourism but there has been a complete absence of a policy to harness these resources for the benefit of the people. She said PDP’s agenda is to develop the right kind of human resource that does not have to hanker after seasonal or daily rated employment, for which they are being politically exploited and then not being able to even receive their wages. She said establishment of a knowledge society and skilled workforce alone can help the State in tapping its resource base and create jobs for its highly talented young population who are otherwise mired in frustration and hopelessness.
Stating that people were facing immense problems due to lack of ration at many places, she said her party has brought this problem to the notice of Central Government recently and told the concerned Minister, Ram Vilas Paswan, that due to scaling down of ration quota to consumers in J&K numerous families have been pushed to starvation in many areas.
Mehbooba was accompanied by Mohammad Sartaj Madni on her tour.
Trade imbalance not sustainable: India tells China
NEW DELHI, July 1:
India has conveyed to China that the trade imbalance of around 36 billion USD is “not sustainable”, prompting the two sides to decide on an expert-level meeting to address the issue.
Vice President Hamid Ansari, who returned home last night after a five-day visit to China, underlined that ties with that country is an “important” priority of the new Indian government.
“I had a long discussion…The minister (Commerce Minister Nirmala Sitharaman) had separate discussions. We said the trade has increased but the imbalance exists which is not sustainable (is tarah se gaadi nahin chal sakti hai),” he said.
The bilateral trade declined from around USD 75 billion in 2011 to USD 65.45 billion last year amid continuing decline of Indian exports. The trade imbalance currently stands at around 36.5 billion, which is worrying the Indian side.
The imbalance is mainly because of strong regulatory systems in China that discourage India exports in sectors like the strong areas of IT and pharma.
The two countries had set the target of USD 100 billion by next year, which officials say is an uphill task.
The Vice President said there were two ways to improve the imbalance. One is that India increases its exports to China and the other is that China increases its investment in India.
“Their response was okay. There are some issues they want to study…It is a complicated, technical subject,” he said while interacting with journalists while returning home.
“Talks will be held at the expert level,” he said.
Replying to a question on reported difficulties for foreign companies to set up businesses in India, Ansari said Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and others have made statements in this regard and there are proposals to simplify FDI procedure.
He said the General Budget will spell out more details.
The Vice President said the Chinese leadership is keen to establish “personal-level contacts with the new leadership in India.
“It was mentioned to me by President (Xi Jinping) that he is looking forward to meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the BRICS summit” to be held in Brazil later this month, Ansari said.
During the visit, India and China signed an MoU on industrial parks with an aim of attracting Chinese investments in India and providing an enabling framework for Chinese companies to invest in Industrial parks and zones.
Under the MoU, the two countries have agreed to cooperate to increase mutual investment in each other’s economies and this cooperation will be in accordance with the relevant domestic laws and regulations of each party and on the basis of equality and mutual benefit.
An Industrial Park Cooperation Working Group made up of equal number of representatives from both the countries will be set up to identify and agree upon the detailed modalities for implementing cooperation under this agreement and will periodically review the progress. (PTI)
Naqvi inaugurates two-day BJP Mazdoor Morcha conference
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 1: The two-day conference of BJP’s Mazdoor Morcha started here today. It was inaugurated by party National vice president and spokesman Mukhtar Abass Naqvi while the Morcha National president, Prahlad Patel presided over it.
In his address, Mr Naqvi said BJP Morcha is the biggest representative body of the workers in unorganized sector working for their welfare and betterment. He assured the commitment of his party to improve the working conditions of the labourers in unorganized sector. He said this has been one of the priorities of Narendra Modi Government as the workers of unorganized sector affiliated to Morcha are the greatest force with BJP.
He said that the Government is committed to make pro-working class policies and stressed that working class should take advantage of Government policies and programmes.
Mr Naqvi said Government will launch welfare schemes for the workers in unorganized sector to ameliorate their lot.
The conference was also addressed by Prahlad Patel MP and national president of the Morcha who underscored the need for the upliftment of working force which is the backbone of the country.
He said no nation can be prosperous whose working class is in distress. He also showed BJP’s commitment towards the welfare of working class of the country.
BJP State president Jugal Kishore Sharma and party’s Legislative party leader Ashok Khajuria also spoke on the occasion.
Earlier Mr Patel accompanied by Jugal Kishore Sharma, Ashok Khajuria, Sat Sharma (CA), general secretaries Kavinder Gupta and Bali Bhagat visited the Dogra Chowk and garlanded the statute of Sher-e-Duggar and former president of Bharatiya Jana Sangh (BJS) Pt. Prem Nath Dogra.
Adarsh: CBI files 2nd supplementary chargesheet, preparing SCN
MUMBAI, July 1:
The Central Bureau of Investigation has completed its probe in the multi-crore Adarsh Society scam with the agency filing a second supplementary charge sheet in a special CBI court last month.
The agency is also preparing a Self Content Note (SCN) of the flat owners who were found ineligible to buy a flat in the society which will soon be handed over to the Maharashtra Government.
“The charge sheet is filed against five accused, including one member and four financiers,” a CBI official said today.
One of the society members died, hence he was not named in the charge sheet, said the official.
The charge sheet, filed last month, names former MLA Mukundrao Mankar, Landscape Realtors Private Limited (LRPL), Sanjay Kondwar and Gopal Kondwar (both directors of LRPL) and UK-based NRI Sharad Madan.
The flat of a Lieutenant Colonel-rank personnel was allegedly financed by Madan but since he is no more, the agency has named only Madan in the charge sheet.
LRPL was a shell company floated with a sole aim of allegedly financing ‘benami’ flat in Adarsh, the official said.
“LRPL gave a loan of Rs 62 lakhs to Mankar,” he alleged.
According to the charge sheet, LRPL received money from other five to six shell companies.
Interestingly, the address of one of the shell companies which allegedly financed LRPL is that of an educational institution chaired by a state Cabinet minister.
The CBI said that they have not found any link of the involvement of the minister.
Meanwhile, the agency is preparing a SCN of the 27 flat owners who were found ineligible to buy a flat in the society. The SCN will be handed over to state Chief Secretary.
“The list of 27 members include flats of Indian diplomat Devyani Khobragade and former Union Power Minister Suresh Prabhu,” said the CBI official.
Once the SCN on CBI findings is submitted, the state Government can decide on the future course of action, he said.
“The state can decide on whether or not to cancel their membership,” said a CBI official.
The official also said that the “loan availed by relatives of former state Chief Minister Ashok Chavan from a Pune-based builder were returned within few years after purchase of flat.”
The 13 accused named in the first charge sheet of CBI, which includes Ashok Chavan, have been charged with criminal conspiracy, cheating and criminal misconduct under the Indian Penal Code, besides the Prevention of Corruption Act.
However, the CBI later moved the Bombay High Court saying that Chavan’s name be dropped as Maharashtra Governor has not given sanction for his prosecution. (PTI)
Omar visits Suharwardy’s residence
Excelsior Correspondent
DODA, July 1: Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah today visited the residence of Khalid Najeeb Suharwardy at Doda to personally condole the demise of the mother of National Conference leader and former Minister.
The Chief Minister stayed with the bereaved family expressed his sympathy and solidarity with them, offered fateh, consoled the family members and prayed for eternal peace to the departed soul.
Provincial president National Conference Jammu and Legislator Devender Singh Rana was accompanying the Chief Minister.