Govt 'lukewarm' on Sri Lanka human rights issue at UN, says DMK

NEW DELHI: With the resolution on Sri Lanka expected to come up at the UN later this week, UPA ally DMK today attacked the government saying it was "lukewarm" on this issue and pressed it to bring amendments to make it stronger.

A day after DMK chief M Karunanidhi threatened to walk out of UPA on the issue, party MP T Siva said in the Rajya Sabha, "The lukewarm response of the government of India to the plight of Tamilians is not healthy...I urge the government not only to support the resolution but also bring in effective amendments that are required to strengthen it."

Asking the UPA government to insist on creation of an independent and credible international inquiry to probe "war crimes" against ethnic Tamilians, Siva said his party chief has already written a letter to the Prime Minister on this. V Maitreyan (AIADMK) alleged that the UPA government has been "silent and evasive" on the issue.

He also slammed the comments of India's permanent representative at the UN saying "that statement is a betrayal of Tamils...it is nothing but stabbing the Tamils in the back".

He was taking objection to the statement in which India said "welcome progress" had been made by Sri Lanka in rehabilitation of the internally displaced people.

Both the Tamil Nadu parties as well as CPI wanted that the Indian government should not only support but also strengthen through amendments the US resolution on Sri Lanka at the UN Human Rights Council.

The government is trying to placate DMK and has sent Union ministers P Chidambaram, A K Antony and Ghulam Nabi Azad to hold talks with Karunanidhi in Chennai.

Ridiculing the talks between Karunanidhi and the Congress ministers as a "deal between UPA Delhi and UPA Chennai", Maitreyan said any such thing will not be acceptable as the issue did not concern only these two.

D Raja (CPI) said government continues to remain "ambiguous". Asking the government to acknowledge what happened in Sri Lanka was genocide, Raja said, "Government should not hesitate to vote against Sri Lanka.

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Fall in number of suicides by defence personnel: Govt

NEW DELHI: Government on Monday asserted in Lok Sabha that the number of suicides by defence personnel due to stressful working conditions has come down, thanks to steps like psychological counselling, yoga and provision of married accommodation.

Minister of state for defence Jitendra Singh informed the Lok Sabha during Question Hour that suicidal tendencies among officers is a "matter of concern for the government".

Singh maintained that government is taking several steps to deal with the issue and studies are being conducted to find out the factors as well as suggest remedial measures.

"The government has also taken a number of steps to reduce the stress of defence personnel which includes conduct of yoga and meditation, psychological counselling, liberalised leave policy, improvement in living and working conditions through better facilities and married accommodation," he said.

Other steps include improved accessibility and frequent interaction between officers and jawans, provision for sports and recreational facilities, training on stress management and establishing redressal mechanism in states.

"The Defence Institute for Psychological Research (DIPR) is presently conducting study to find out the factors causing distress among young officers. The study is likely to be completed by the end of 2013," Singh said.

In 2010, the suicide figures were - army (115), navy (1), and Air Force (14). These figures have seen a fall in 2012 - army (93) and navy (1).

"The suicide rates have gone down. I would be happy if there is none," Singh said.

The study being conducted by the government is aimed at analysing the level of distress prevailing among young officers, the causal factors that create distress among them and to suggest remedial measures.

"The defence minister has also written to the state governments to take steps to reduce stress caused to soldiers at home by some issues like land... Members should also speak to collectors in their constituencies to resolve these issues as soon as possible," Singh said.

He said there was only one case of fratricide in 2012. Government is studying circumstances which cause suicides, Singh said, adding that recommendations of earlier studies have been implemented.

Some members were not satisfied with the minister's reply and alleged that there have been stand-offs between officers and jawans.

The DIPR had conducted a study in December 2006 to study suicides and fratricides in counter-insurgency areas, followed by an impact analysis of the counter insurgency areas, study of suicides and fratricides in peace areas in December 2009, impact analysis in counter-insurgency and peace areas in October 2010, psychological autopsy of suicide cases in January 2011 and suicide risk assessment inventory in September 2012.

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Asaram's pre-Holi celebrations draw flak in Maharashtra assembly

MUMBAI: Spiritual leader Asaram Bapu was on Monday criticised by the opposition in Maharashtra legislature for allegedly wasting water in pre-Holi celebrations, even as the state is facing worst-ever drought in over four decades.

Congress MLC Sanjay Dutt raised the issue of the spiritual leader and his followers "wasting" water, at the event in Nagpur on Sunday and said the water tankers for the event were supplied by the Nagpur Municipal Corporation.

"Asaram Bapu wasted lakhs of litres of water while celebrating Holi at the Kasturchand Park in Nagpur yesterday. This happened at a time when the entire Maharashtra is reeling under a severe drought," Dutt said, raising the issue through a point of propriety.

He sought action against those involved in the misuse of water.

Revenue minister Balasaheb Thorat said necessary instructions have been issued to concerned officials to avoid recurrence of the incident.

While so much water was being wasted, Asaram Bapu's bhakts (devotees) were also celebrating the occasion, which is a matter of sadness, Dutt said.

The issue was also raised in the assembly by MNS group leader Bala Nandgaonkar, who condemned the wastage of water when there is a severe drought the in the state.

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Tamil Nadu: Protests continue over Sri Lankan issue, 500 students arrested

CHENNAI: Over 500 college students were arrested here for attempting to picket the Raj Bhawan even as they continued their protests over the Sri Lankan Tamils issue for the eighth day on Monday.

A large number of students joined the protests despite government directing closure of educational institutions.

Protests ranged from fast to agitation to boycott of classes in various parts of the state including Coimbatore, Salem and Tirunelveli, with students pressing for various demands, including an independent probe against Colombo for alleged human rights violations and moving the International Court of Justice.

City-based Loyola College students had first embarked on a fast-unto-death last week on this vexed issue, with more and more students taking to various forms of protests.

Tamil Nadu is on the boil after pictures by a private channel showed the alleged cold blooded killing of slain LTTE chief V Prabakaran's 12-year-old son Balachandran.

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Air India clearing its dues owed to private airport operators: Ajit Singh

The author has posted comments on this articleJaideep Shenoy, TNN | Mar 18, 2013, 05.23PM IST

MANGALORE: There has been slight delay in Air India receiving the turnaround money assured to it by Union Government for the revival of the national carrier.

Once this money is released, Air India will pay the dues that it owes to private airport operators.

Incidentally, the national carrier too has embarked on an internal turnaround plan after years of opprobrium for poor financial management, weak performance and customer dissatisfaction.

In an informal interaction with media persons at Mangalore International Airport here on Monday, Union minister for civil aviation Ajit Singh said the national carrier has by and large sorted out the issue of timely payment of salaries to its staff.

Refuting suggestions that there is delay on this count, Ajit said, "Tell me if anybody is not getting (their salary). There are no such reports and nobody has come to us (with complaints of delay), he said.

Admitting that there is some backlog, which he did not off hand quantify, Ajit said, "Every month we are taking care of some of the backlog (in terms of salary dues)." Referring to the issue of promotions of Air India staff held up for the past three to four years, Ajit said the process is on.

"They will start getting their promotions in the next month or so," the minister said, adding that a promotion board has been set up to take care of this issue.

Parrying a question on dues owed by various airlines, including the now grounded Kingfisher Airlines to the Airports Authority of India (AAI), Ajit Singh said, "Please ask the question to VP Agrawal, chairman, AAI."

Agrawal who was present on this occasion chose not to answer. Private airlines, including those that have closed down, have a due of over Rs 526 crore towards Airports Authority of India (AAI), as on December 31 last year.

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A nation that does not respect its women can never prosper: CJI

ALLAHABAD: Chief Justice of India Altamas Kabir today expressed grave concern over rising incidents of violence against women in the country.

He also laid emphasis on the need for having more judicial officers, better judicial infrastructure and setting up of mediation centres and tribunals to meet the challenge of growing number of litigations.

"A nation which cannot ensure respect for its women, can never prosper. It is heartening to see that women are coming to the forefront in all walks of life. Steps like reservations in panchayats have enabled them to become sarpanch and take charge of their villages despite social prejudices", the CJI said here on the sidelines of a function organised by the Allahabad high court on the 150th birth anniversary of renowned educationist, jurist and freedom fighter Madan Mohan Malaviya.

Referring to the infamous Delhi gang-rape case, Kabir said, "The December 16 incident left the entire nation shaken. Besides, every morning we wake up to find newspapers replete with stories of violence against women. Madan Mohan Malaviya had realised the need for uplifting the status of women decades ago and the ideal needs to be preserved".

The CJI also took note of the staggering pendency of cases in courts across the country and said, "Governments in states should take steps to increase, if needed even double, the number of judicial officers posted in districts".

He, however, added that such a measure will require commensurate upgradation of infrastructure.

"We can take the example of the Allahabad high court where the sanctioned strength is 160 but the number of judges is about half of that. However, if we try to fill all vacant posts, it may not necessarily translate into better rate of disposal as there are not adequate number of chambers and court rooms. This also needs to be addressed".

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Not in the race for state BJP president's post: Former Karnataka CM Gowda

MANGALORE: Former chief minister DV SadanandaGowda on Sunday again clarified that he was not a contender for the post of state BJP president. "In case the responsibility is given to me, I will shoulder it. I will not resort to blackmail tactics or lobby for the post,'' he said.

Regarding housing minister V Somanna's statement that the party will invite Karnataka Janata Party leader BS Yeddyurappa to join BJP and he still is their leader, Gowda said: "The matter has not been discussed in the core committee meeting of BJP. Only Somanna can clarify what he meant about being our leader,'' he added. He said that the BJP will star pre-poll campaign with rallies starting from March 23 to 31.

Regarding the setback in urban local body polls, Gowda and district-in-charge minister CT Ravi said that this was a temporary setback. "We will regroup and fight back,'' they said. Ravi also said that he was not in the running for post of state BJP president.

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Pakistan's former military ruler Pervez Musharraf to return to Pakistan on March 24

DUBAI: Pakistan's former military ruler Pervez Musharraf would return to the country on March 24 to lead his party in upcoming elections, ending his nearly four years of self-imposed exile in Dubai and London.

Musharraf, 69, will return to the country intent on leading his party in upcoming elections, a statement released by him said.

Musharraf plans to fly on a commercial airline into Karachi on March 24, then attend a rally attended by 50,000 people including more than 200 Pakistani expatriates from the US, Canada, the UK and the UAE, the statement was quoted by the CNN as saying.

He plans to lead his party, the All Pakistan Muslim League into Pakistan's general elections, which are slated for May.

In 1999, the then chief of Pakistan's army became its president in a bloodless military coup.

Musharraf, who stepped down as president in 2008 after he was threatened with impeachment, has earlier brushed aside questions on whether he would be arrested on his return in connection with several cases against him, including the case related to the assassination of former premier Benazir Bhutto.

Pakistan Peoples Party leaders have said that Musharraf would be arrested as soon as he lands as he is wanted by authorities in connection with Bhutto's assassination.

Musharraf has set several dates for his return to Pakistan in the past but put off his homecoming after he was threatened with arrest.

An anti-terrorism court has declared Musharraf a "proclaimed offender" or fugitive for refusing to cooperate with investigators probing Bhutto's death in a suicide attack in Rawalpindi in December, 2007.

Musharraf has been shuttling between London and Dubai after he went out of Pakistan in exile.

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MP Congress to hold protests over Swiss woman's gang rape

BHOPAL: The opposition Congress will stage statewide protests tomorrow over the gang rape of a Swiss woman in Datia district of Madhya Pradesh.

While the state Congress president Kantilal Bhuria will stage a protest in Bhopal, the leader of opposition in the state assembly Ajay Singh will stage a sit-in at Datia to highlight the rising crime against women in the state, the party sources said.

Ajay Singh has asked the Congress Legislature Party to raise the issue vociferously in the assembly tomorrow, they said.

The protest would be held in the state capital from 1 pm to 3 pm, while at the district headquarters across the state it would be held between 12 noon and 2pm, they said.

Both Bhuria and Ajay appealed to the Congressmen and people to take part in the protest in large numbers to expose the ruling BJP government on the issue of deteriorating law and order situation in the state, specially the crime against women.

They said that the Datia gang-rape incident has put the country and the state to shame across the world and has severely affected the tourism industry in the state.

Women in the state should be provided licensed guns, as the government had failed to protect their honour, the leader of opposition said.

The alleged gang-rape of the Swiss woman took place at Jhadia village, eight kms from Datia town, at around 9 pm on March 15, when the 39-year-old lady along with her partner was touring the region on a bicycle as part of their India tour.

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Iran to try 18 suspects over killing of nuclear scientists

TEHRAN: An Iranian news agency reports the judiciary has indicted 18 suspects on charges of involvement in the killing of nuclear scientists.

Since 2010, at least five Iranian nuclear scientists, including a manager at the Natanz enrichment facility, have been killed. Tehran has accused Israel's Mossad, the CIA and Britain's MI6 of being behind the assassinations. The US and Britain have denied the allegations, but Israel has not commented.

The Sunday report by the semiofficial Mehr agency quotes Tehran chief prosecutor Abbas Jafari as saying authorities have issued indictments against the 18 suspects, and they will go trial in coming months. He gave no other details.

In 2012, Iran hanged a man who was sentenced to death for the 2010 killing of a nuclear physicist.

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