New Delhi: The historic Right to Education on Thursday came into force providing free and compulsory schooling to children in the 6-14 year age bracket with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh asking the states to join in this national effort with full resolve and determination.
Addressing the nation on the occasion, the Prime Minister said, "The government is committed to ensuring that all children irrespective of gender and social category, have access to education.
"Our government, in partnership with state governments, will ensure that financial constraints do not hamper the implementation of the Right to Education Act," he said.
The 86th Constitutional amendment making education a fundamental right was passed by Parliament in 2002. The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, a law to enable the implementation of the fundamental right, was passed by Parliament last year. Both the Constitutional amendment and the new law came into force from today.
Adding a personal touch to the importance of education, the Prime Minister recalled his own childhood days as someone born in a family of modest means who had to walk a long distance to go to school. "I read under the dim light of a kerosene lamp. I am what I am today because of education," he said.
"I want every Indian child, girl and boy, to be so touched by the light of education. I want every Indian to dream of a better future and live that dream", Singh said. Recalling the desire of Gopal Krishna Gokhale about 100 years ago when he had urged the Imperial Assembly to confer on the Indian people the Right to Education, Singh said about 90 years later the Constitution was amended to enshrine the Right to Education as a fundamental right.
"Today, our government comes before you to redeem the pledge of giving all our children the right to elementary education," Singh said, adding "this demonstrates our national commitment to the education of our children and to the future of India."
The children, who have either dropped out from schools or have never been to any educational institution, will be now enrolled in schools. The Right To Education is being touted by the UPA government as another major achievement after Right To Information Act and National Rural Employment Guarantee Act.
Gujarat riots: Now, Nanavati panel may summon Modi
AHMEDABAD: The Nanavati Commission probing the 2002 riot cases on Thursday kept the option of questioning Chief Minister Narendra Modi open when it told the Gujarat High Court that its decision not to summon him was "not final".
The Commission was clarifying its position while responding to a poser by the High Court on March 22 that it communicate by today whether its decision not to summon the 59-year-old BJP leader for questioning was tentative or final.
State Advocate General Kamal Trivedi produced a letter written by secretary of Nanavati Commission in this regard in the court which was taken on record.
Chief Justice S J Mukhopadhaya and Justice Akil Kureshi in its order said, "The Nanavati Commission's letter says that its order of September 18, 2009 is not final."
"In view of the letter submitted by the Nanavati Commission the matter has been adjourned till June 17", the court said.
Modi has already subjected himself to a 9-hour questioning by the Supreme Court-appointed Special Investigation Team(SIT) on March 27 on a complaint in connection with the Gulburg society riot case.
The High Court on March 22 had asked the government pleader to seek the clarification while hearing an appeal by Jan Sangarsh Manch (JSM), an NGO representing some of the victims of the post-Godhra riots.
JSM advocate Mukul Sinha said the Commission informed the court that they have not yet taken a final decision over calling Modi for questioning. Sinha did not believe that the Commission will submit its final report before June 17. "But it was observed by the High Court that in such case(submission of final report) it can always have power to pass an order," he added.
The Commission in September last year had disposed of JSM's plea for summoning of Modi and three others saying they did not find justification in cross-examining them at that point of time for the purpose stated by the NGO.
It had stated in the order that allegations made in JSM's application were vague and based upon wrong or unwarranted assumptions.
JSM had sought quashing of the Commission's order in the Gujarat High Court and prayed that Modi and three others--the then home minister Gordhan Zadafia, health minister Ashok Bhat and DCP(Zone 5) R J Savani, be called for cross-examination in connection with the riots.
A single bench of Justice K S Jhaveri dismissed its petition in November last year saying that the Commission has not completed its inquiry and still has power to summon Modi under Section 8(b) of Commissions of Inquiry Act.
JSM then filed an appeal before a division bench to seek quashing of the Commission's order and issuance of summons to Modi and three others for cross-examination with regard to the riots.
The Commission had last month informed the High Court about the status of its inquiry.
8 years of Modi bravado tested in 9 hrs with SIT
GANDHINAGAR: Despite the day-after bravado, the nine-hour grilling of chief minister Narendra Modi on Saturday by the Special Investigating Team (SIT) appears to have humbled the man who has been trying hard to project himself as a mascot for development and inclusive politics. On Sunday, SIT chief R K Raghavan said further questioning of Modi could not be ruled out.
From the time Modi went in for the second session a little before 9pm on Saturday, waving confidently at reporters and his white kurta and churidar only slightly creased, to the time he emerged from SIT office at 1.10am on Sunday, much of the sheen was gone.
Modi was treated like any other accused being interrogated in a preliminary inquiry under the direct supervision of the Supreme Court to decide whether an FIR should be filed against him or not.
He was questioned on a range of issues beginning with the intelligence failure on the kar sevaks returning from Ayodhya, how this could have led to the burning of the train at Godhra, the post-Godhra killings, and why the police failed to act, right up to his incendiary speeches during the elections of December 2002.
He was also asked whether he gave specific instructions to police chiefs and bureaucrats who have been quoted as saying they got such orders – to allow Hindus to vent their anger after the train burning in which 59 people, mainly kar sevaks, were killed. SIT has evidence to the effect that Modi had specifically instructed that the bodies of carnage victims be brought to Ahmedabad. Modi reportedly denied all the charges.
Stop treating army men like 'beggars', SC to govt
NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court has slammed the union government for treating army personnel like "beggars" in respect of emoluments and pension and asked the authorities to adopt a more "humane approach" towards those bravely defending the country's borders.
"If a person goes to any part of Delhi and sits for begging, he will earn Rs 1000 every day and you are offering a pittance of Rs 1000 per month for a man who fought for the country in the high altitudes and whose arm was amputated?
"Is this the way you treat those brave army officers? It is unfortunate that you are treating them like beggars," a bench of Justices Markandeya Katju and A K Patnaik said in verbal comments while passing the order.
The apex court passed the order dismissing the Centre's appeal challenging a Punjab and Haryana High Court direction to pay higher pension to C S Siddu, a Short Commissioned Officer whose right arm had to be amputated due to an accident while on duty at the high altitudes on November November 21, 1970.
"The army personnel are bravely defending the country even at the cost of their lives and we feel they should be treated in a better and more humane manner by government authorities, particularly, in respect of their emoluments, pension and other benefits," the bench said in an order.
There was an element of drama in the court when Additional Solicitor General Parag Tripathi pleaded with the court not to use "strong words" in the order like "beggars," "niggardly" "miserly", following which the bench dropped them from the written order.
"We regret to say that the army officers and army men in our country are being treated in a shabby manner by the government. In this case, the respondent,(Sidhu) who was posted at a high altitude field area and met with an accident during discharge of his duties was granted a meagre pension. This is a pittance (about Rs 1000) per month plus D.A.
"If this is the manner in which the army personnel are treated, it can only be said that it is extremely unfortunate," the bench however, noted in its written order.
Kin of Indians on death row in UAE seek PM's intervention
JALANDHAR: The relatives of 17 Indians, on death row in UAE, on Thursday stepped up efforts to save their dear ones from the gallows by seeking the intervention of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Muslim religious leaders.
Holding photographs of their dear ones -- some as small as passport-size -- they put across their side of the story at a press conference by Lok Bhalai Party chief B S Ramoowalia.
Expressing concern over the sentence to the Indians for allegedly killing a Pakistani and injuring three others in a fight over illegal alcohol business, Ramoowalia sought the intervention of Prime Minister Singh.
He said he would soon visit Delhi and also go to various Sufi shrines and gurudwaras. "Apart from meeting the prime minister, I will also meet renowned Muslim religious leaders to seek their intervention in the case," he said.
Ramoowalia said a delegation of his party would soon go to UAE to monitor the case and he would consult top lawyers and experts of Shariah law, so that an appeal could be drafted to save the youths.
"Our Dubai mission needs to be directed to provide free legal assistance to the sentenced persons, who have no means to defend themselves," he suggested.
"The death sentence, if I may say so, is not on account of any act of treason or any attempt to overthrow the UAE government or committing religious blasphemy, but it is a routine law and order incident for which this sentence is highly harsh," Ramoowalia said in a letter addressed to Singh.
"The government should take prompt action before the stipulated period of 15 days for filing an appeal in the case," he said.
"All aspects of this sensitive issue should be minutely examined by the Law Ministry or Attorney General of India and the appeal should be filed through diplomatic channels. Besides the issue should be taken up with UAE's head of state," he said.
The relatives said that their kin have been framed. "My brother had gone to Dubai just 40 days back. He was arrested while sleeping in his house," said Sukhwinder Singh about Baljeet, who is among the 17 Indians on death row.
Arvinder's father Balraj Singh said his son to Dubai two years ago and was working as a driver. "He was to about return when he was arrested from the airport," Balraj said.
Ranjit Kaur came to know about the sentence given to her husband Dharam Pal from newspapers. "My husband went to Dubai more than two years ago in search of job and had given Rs one lakh to travel agent by selling our tractor trolley."
Jaspreet Singh was with his brother Kuldeep Singh in Dubai and had recently returned home. "I came to know about the sentence only from a friend of Kuldeep's in that country," said Jaspreet who hails from Moga.
Govt in secret talks with Kashmir separatists: RSS
The RSS on Thursday accused the Government of indulging in "secret diplomacy" with Kashmir separatists and said the autonomy report ran contrary to the 1994 Parliament resolution which states that Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India.
"The move to go back to pre-1953 status (for Jammu and Kashmir) and demand for autonomy is an effort to take the country backward despite Parliament passing a resolution in 1994 that the state is an integral part of India. All political parties, despite differences, should voice their protest against any such move," Sangh Joint General Secretary Madan Das Devi said here.
He also slammed the Government for allegedly indulging in "secret diplomacy" with "separatists" and said the autonomy report was an indication that it has given in to the pressure of "people indulging in separatist politics".
Devi said successive regimes have failed to work on the principle of Dr Shyama Prasad Mookherjee who believed in "one government, one flag and one law" for the country. Taking a dig at former Supreme Court judge S Saghir Ahmed, who was head of a working group constituted to review Centre-State relations, he wondered why and for what such "big, retired judges of the Supreme Court are tabling such reports."
He said while Jammu and Ladakh have a greater land area, there were more constituencies in the Kashmir Valley.
"Therefore, they have a domination (over other areas), are more prosperous. Still they want autonomy."
Devi was speaking at a programme organised by Dr Shyama Prasad Mookherjee Research Foundation on the topic 'Are we losing Kashmir in the view of autonomy report'. Participating in the discussion, former diplomat G Parthasarthy suggested that India should put on hold composite dialogue with Pakistan but keep its channels open to discuss the "one and only one issue, that is the issue of terrorism."
"The fundamental problem is that when you start talking in a composite dialogue, you divert attention from the most serious problem, which is the issue of terrorism....the more you concede, the more they demand. Therefore, I believe these working groups, the setting up of commissions on the issue of autonomy should be put on hold," he said.
"Govt indulging in secret diplomacy with Kashmir separatists" New Delhi, Apr 1 (PTI) The RSS today accused the Government of indulging in "secret diplomacy" with Kashmir separatists and said the autonomy report ran contrary to the 1994 Parliament resolution which states that Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India.
"The move to go back to pre-1953 status (for Jammu and Kashmir) and demand for autonomy is an effort to take the country backward despite Parliament passing a resolution in 1994 that the state is an integral part of India. All political parties, despite differences, should voice their protest against any such move," Sangh Joint General Secretary Madan Das Devi said here.
He also slammed the Government for allegedly indulging in "secret diplomacy" with "separatists" and said the autonomy report was an indication that it has given in to the pressure of "people indulging in separatist politics".
Devi said successive regimes have failed to work on the principle of Dr Shyama Prasad Mookherjee who believed in "one government, one flag and one law" for the country. Taking a dig at former Supreme Court judge S Saghir Ahmed, who was head of a working group constituted to review Centre-State relations, he wondered why and for what such "big, retired judges of the Supreme Court are tabling such reports."
Business News
FIIs invest Rs 20,600 cr in stocks in Q4
New Delhi: Overseas fund houses have made a net investment of over Rs 20,600 crore (USD 4.5 billion) in Indian stock markets during the last three months of financial year 2009-10, according to the SEBI data.
Analysts said the positive trend will continue in the coming periods.
As per the data available with market regulator SEBI, foreign institutional investors were net buyers of shares worth Rs 20,644.40 crore during the January-March period.
Significantly, FIIs poured over Rs 1,09,300 crore in Indian stock markets in 2009-10. In contrast, they had sold shares worth Rs 47,706.2 crore in 2008-09.
Market analysts said that a weak dollar against rupee and government's massive divestment plans will attract more inflow in the coming months of this fiscal.
"In coming quarters also, inflow from FIIs will be robust as they are bullish on the government's policies regarding the curb on the fiscal deficit," Geojit BNP Paribas Financial Services Research Head Alex Mathews said.
Interestingly, during 2009-10, the Bombay Stock Exchange's benchmark Sensex gained over 80 per cent from 9,708.50 points as on March 31, 2009.
"The recovery in the capital markets during the year 2009 has been outstanding. This was largely helped by FII inflows," SMC Capitals' Equity Head Jagannadham Thunuguntla said.
"Unless something dramatic happens in the domestic or the international markets, there is no reason why not to believe that flows would continue," he added.
"The lined up public divestments will also provide a good opportunity for FIIs as they have investment plans for the Indian equity markets," Mathews further said.
During the first three quarters of the last fiscal, foreign funds put over Rs 89,500 crore in Indian equities. The fund houses had pulled out a net Rs 41,555 crore from Indian stocks in April-December period of 2008-09.
Public offers worth Rs 47,800 cr in FY10
New Delhi: As many as 44 companies, including state-run companies, came out with public offers during the 2009-10 fiscal, when the main indices gave a whopping return of over 80 per cent, and raised funds over Rs 47,800 crore.
According to an analysis, about 44 companies, including the Public Sector Undertakings, raised a whopping Rs 47,867 crore between April 2009 and March 31, 2010, through initial and follow-on public offers.
Apart from some big initial public offers such as that of JSW Energy and Adani Power, the fiscal also saw divestment of the government's stake in NMDC and NTPC through follow-on offers.
During the financial year 2009-10, the Bombay Stock Exchange's benchmark Sensex registered a whopping gain of over 80 per cent, surging from 9,708.50 points as on March 31, 2009.
"In 2009-10, the secondary capital markets have led to the revival of primary markets as well. The public issuance market has seen very robust activity," brokerage house SMC Capitals' Equity Head Jagannadham Thunuguntla said.
The Rs 9,967-crore follow-on public offer (FPO) of state-run iron ore mining giant NMDC was the biggest public offer of the fiscal, followed by NTPC (Rs 8,478 crore), NHPC (Rs 6,038 crore) and JSW Energy (Rs 3,818 crore).
With the stock market re-emerging as the preferred place for fund raising, about 28 companies came out with IPOs during April'09-Jan'10 raising a total of Rs 23,731.88 crore, almost 10 times higher than Rs 2,058.51 crore mobilised by 20 companies during the same period in 2008-09.
According to marketed, in the coming fiscal too, the market will see a large number of public offers as the Centre has set a target of raising Rs 40,000 crore through divestment during FY'11.
Besides, a number of companies have already approached the capital market regulator SEBI to get approval for entering the market.
"Even the pipeline is looking strong. However, whether this pipeline materialises or not, depends largely upon how much the secondary markets would be able to sustain going forward," Thunuguntla added.
Some big public offers expected in the current financial year include, Oil India Ltd (Rs 2,777 crore), Adani Power (Rs 3,016 crore), Rural Electrification Corporation (Rs 3,530 crore) and DB Realty (Rs 1,500 crore).
Food inflation jumps to 16.35 pct
New Delhi:India's food price index rose 16.35 per cent in the 12 months to March 20, while the fuel index was up 12.75 per cent, government data showed on Thursday.
The rise in the food price index was slightly higher than an annual rise of 16.22 per cent in the previous week.
The primary articles index was up 13.86 per cent on the year on March 20.
India's wholesale price inflation leapt to 9.89 per cent in February and Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee and other policymakers have said it could hit double digits in March.
Sports News
KKR win toss, elect to bat
Kolkata: Kolkata Knight Riders skipper Sourav Ganguly won the toss and decided to bat first against Deccan Chargers in their return-leg match of the Indian Premier League here on Thursday.
Deccan replaced R P Singh with Harmeet Singh in their playing eleven.
Team:
Kolkata Knight Riders: Chris Gayle, Sourav Ganguly,
Cheteshwar Pujara, Manoj Tiwary, David Hussey, Angelo Mathews, Wriddhiman Saha, Ajit Agarkar, Murali Kartik, Shane Bomd, Mohnish Parmar.
Deccan Chargers: Adam Gilchrist, Monish Mishra, Herschelle Gibbs, Andrew Symonds, Rohit Sharma, Tirumalasetti Suman, Y Venugopal Rao, Jaskaran Singh, Kemar Roach, Harmeet Singh, Pragyan Ojha.
Sehwag retains No. 1 rank
Dubai: Virender Sehwag's status as the number one Test batsman is safe for the moment after second placed Michael Clarke dropped three places in the latest ICC rankings released today.
Clarke, who had number-one ranked Sehwag firmly within his sights before the start of the Test with just 16 ratings points separating the two, has dropped to fifth position after his contributions of 28 and 63 in the team's second and last Test against New Zealand in Hamilton.
Clarke's gap with Sehwag has also opened to 29 ratings points which reflects the close fight at the top as the Australia vice-captain has slipped three places after conceding only 13 ratings points.
Clarke's fall has moved South African Hashim Amla back to second place with an opportunity to snatch the number-one position from Sehwag when he faces the West Indies in the three-Test series starting in Kingston on June 10.
Like Clarke, Australia captain Ricky Ponting too suffered a free-fall, dropping out of top 15.
Ponting, who scored 22 and six in Hamilton, has dropped out of the top 15 after slipping six places to 16th position.
When the Tasmanian takes the field against Pakistan at Lord's on 13 July, he'll be trying to avoid to drop to 20th position, his lowest-ranking in eight years which he had achieved against the same opposition after the Sydney Test in January.
India remains the number one Test team with three players - Sehwag (1st), Gautam Gambhir (6th) and Sachin Tendulkar (7th) - in the top 10 batsmen's list.
In the bowlers' chart led by South African Dale Steyn, Indian has two representatives in Zaheer Khan (6th) and Harbhajan Singh (7th).
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