The Indian Panorama

Year: 2013

  • 10m-Year-Old Star Still Giving Birth To Planets

    10m-Year-Old Star Still Giving Birth To Planets

    WASHINGTON (TIP): Scientists have discovered that an old star — 176 light years away from Earth — thought to be past its prime may still be creating new planets. The disk of material surrounding the surprising star called TW Hydrae may be massive enough to make even more planets than we have in our own solar system, Nasa said in a statement.

    The findings were made using the European Space Agency’s Herschel Space Telescope, a mission in which Nasa is a participant. At roughly 10 million years old and 176 light years away, TW Hydrae is relatively close to Earth by astronomical standards.

    It is relatively young but, in theory, it is past the age at which giant planets already may have formed. “We didn’t expect to see so much gas around this star,” said lead researcher Edwin Bergin of the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. “Typically stars of this age have cleared out their surrounding material, but this star still has enough mass to make the equivalent of 50 Jupiters,” Bergin said. In addition to revealing the peculiar state of the star, the findings also demonstrate a new, more precise method for weighing planet-forming disks. The new method can directly probe the gas that typically goes into making planets.

  • 3d Printer To Help Build Moon Base?

    3d Printer To Help Build Moon Base?

    LONDON (TIP): The European Space Agency (ESA) plans to set up a base on Moon by using a 3D printer to build it from lunar materials, scientists say. Industrial partners including renowned architects Foster + Partners have joined with ESA to test the feasibility of 3D printing using lunar soil, the space agency said. ‘Terrestrial 3D printing technology has produced entire structures.

    Our industrial team investigated if it could similarly be employed to build a lunar habitat,” said Laurent Pambaguian, who heads the project for ESA. Foster + Partners devised a weight-bearing ‘catenary” dome design with a cellular structured wall to shield against micro-meteoroids and space radiation, incorporating a pressurized infl atable to shelter astronauts. A hollow closed-cell structure — reminiscent of bird bones — provides a good combination of strength and weight.

    The base’s design was guided in turn by the properties of 3D-printed lunar soil, with a 1.5 tonne building block produced as a demonstration. The UK’s Monolite supplied the D-Shape printer, with a mobile printing array of nozzles on a 6m frame to spray a binding solution onto a sand-like building material. ‘First, we needed to mix the simulated lunar material with magnesium oxide. This turns it into ‘paper”,” said Monolite founder Enrico Dini. ‘Then for our structural ‘ink’ we apply a binding salt which converts material to a stone-like solid.

  • Breakthrough: First Digital Atlas Of Brain

    Breakthrough: First Digital Atlas Of Brain

    LONDON (TIP): Understanding the most complex human organ — the brain, has now become a lot simpler. In a major breakthrough, scientists at Berkeley Lab has made it possible to get a front row view into how the brain develops and functions and pinpoint which part of the organ is playing truant during neurological disorders like autism, epilepsy and schizophrenia.

    The scientists have created the world’s fi rst genome-wide digital atlas of gene enhancers in the brain — the switches that tell genes when and where they need to be switched on or off.

    This atlas completely documents the cerebrum — the region that is of critical importance for cognition, motor functions and emotion identifies and locates thousands of gene-regulating elements which are the underlying causes of neurological disorders. Axel Visel, a geneticist with Berkeley Lab’s genomics division says, ‘Understanding how the brain functions and malfunctions in neurological disorders, remains one of the most daunting challenges in contemporary science. We’ve created a digital atlas of gene enhancers in the human brain.

    This atlas will enable other scientists to study in more detail how individual genes are regulated during development of the brain and how genetic mutations may impact human neurological disorders.” Visel added, ‘Enhancers are short pieces of DNA in the human genome — they are not actual genes, so they do not give rise to proteins. Instead, they are switches that tell the actual genes when to become active and make a protein. Each cell type in our body has different sets of these enhancers switched on or off, and collectively they help to orchestrate the activities of our 20,000 genes in each single cell.”

  • Reps. Maloney, Meng & South Asian Leaders Hold Press Conference Announcing Reintroduced Diwali Stamp Resolution

    Reps. Maloney, Meng & South Asian Leaders Hold Press Conference Announcing Reintroduced Diwali Stamp Resolution

    NEW YORK, NY (TIP): U.S.Congresswomen Carolyn Maloneyand Grace Meng will be joined byRanju Batra, President of theAssociation of Indians in America-NY February 2 at a press conferenceannouncing the introduction of aHouse Resolution calling for theissue of a United States PostalService stamp to commemorate thefestival of Diwali. The pressconference will rally grass-rootssupport to press the Citizens StampAdvisory Commission of the U.S.Postal Service to issue a postagestamp to honor Diwali, the “festivalof lights” observed by Hindus, Sikhs,Christians, Jains, and Buddhists inIndia, the United States, and aroundthe world.

    Congresswoman Carolyn Maloneyintroduced HR 47 on January 25th ofthis year to urge the Citizens’ StampAdvisory Committee, an entity ofthe United States Postal Service, toissue a commemorative stamp inhonor of the holiday of Diwali. Theresolution is co-sponsored by Indian-American Congressman Ami Bera(CA-07), and by CongresswomanGrace Meng of New York’s 6thdistrict who, like Rep. Maloney,represents a substantial South Asianpopulation. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (HI-02) has also co-sponsored the HouseResolution.

  • Water Flow On Mars Hints At Ancient Life

    Water Flow On Mars Hints At Ancient Life

    WASHINGTON (TIP): Narrow ridges found in Martian craters may actually be fossilized remnants of underground cracks through which water once flowed on the red planet, a new study claims. Water flowing beneath the surface of ancient Mars suggests life may once have been possible on the Red planet, according to a new analysis by researchers from Brown University.

    The study, published in the journal Geophysical Research Letters, bolsters the idea that the subsurface environment on Mars once had an active hydrology and could be a good place to search for evidence of past life. The study conducted by Lee Saper and Jack Mustard suggest the ridges, many of them hundreds of metres in length and a few metres wide, had been noted in previous research, but how they had formed was not known.

    Saper and Mustard thought they might once have been faults and fractures that formed underground when impact events rattled the planet’s crust.Water, if present in the subsurface, would have circulated through the cracks, slowly filling them in with mineral deposits, which would have been harder than the surrounding rocks. As those surrounding rocks eroded away over millions of years, the seams of mineral-hardened material would remain in place, forming the ridges seen today.

  • Twenty20 Boom No Threat To Test Cricket, Says Brian Lara

    Twenty20 Boom No Threat To Test Cricket, Says Brian Lara

    DHAKA (TIP): The growing popularity of Twenty20 internationals will not harm Test cricket because the two formats of the game can thrive together, former West Indies captain Brian Lara said on Thursday. “I believe now with T20 cricket a lot more people are watching the game,” Lara told reporters in Bangladesh where he is an ambassador for the country’s T20 Premier League. “Just remember, we are all entertainers.

    And if this kind of cricket brings interest to the people, cricketers will be happy to indulge in it. “Test cricket is still important, so are ODIs (one-day internationals) but T20 should be there too because of the crowd factor,” Lara added. Lara, who played 131 Tests and 299 onedayers, never had the opportunity to play Twenty20 cricket at which West Indies are the current world champions.

    Lara believes the growing popularity of Twenty20 cricket will help West Indies generate more interest in the game among the younger generation. “In the Caribbean we found it difficult to encourage teenagers to take up the game,” said Lara. “We are now launching our own domestic T20 competition.

    We will try to seek more youngsters play the game in the Caribbean.” “You look at (David) Warner from Australia, (Chris) Gayle and (Virender) Sehwag. They are strong players in the T20 format. They bring a lot more excitement. “You look at Warner bat in a Test match. He can easily score 150 before tea. That’s what people want to see. And I think the effect will be a positive one,” he said.

    Lara, who scored more than 10,000 runs in both Tests and ODIs, added that it was unfair to blame the format for bowlers losing interest in Test cricket. “What I think is that the bowlers are pulling away from Test cricket probably due to the amount of work. The money on offer in T20 cricket is an attractive proposition for players,” he said. “You’ll find a lot more players making themselves available for T20s.

    But all in all I think Test cricket is still very strong. “This kind of competition (BPL) will make cricket more exciting I believe. Both can go on simultaneously.”

  • The Vedas Are Infinite

    The Vedas Are Infinite

    If the cosmos of sound (sabda-prapanca) enfolds all creation and what is beyond it, it must naturally be immensely vast. However voluminous the Vedas are, one might wonder whether it would be right to claim that they embrace all activities of the universe. “Anantah vai Vedah”, the Vedas themselves proclaim so (the Vedas are endless).

    We cannot claim that all the Vedas have been revealed to the seers. Only about a thousand sakhas or recensions belonging to the four Vedas have been revealed to them.

    Brahma, the Creator, alone knows the Vedas in their entirety. Before the present Brahma there was a great deluge and, preceding it, there was another Brahma. And, similarly, before him too there must have been another Brahma. But through all these vast vistas of time, through successive deluges, the vibrations caused by the Paramatman’s breath have existed in space, the vibrations that urged the first Brahma to do the work of creation. These vibrations are indestructible.

    The Brahma who appears after each great deluge performs his function of creation with them. The sounds we produce are never destroyed. I remember reading that what Jesus Christ spoke 2, 000 years ago could still be recaptured in his own voice and that efforts are being made for the same.

    I don’t know how far these efforts have succeeded. But I do know that there does exist such a possibility (of receiving a voice or sound from the past). We know that a sound, once it is produced, remains in space without ever being destroyed. Brahma created this world with the sound of the Vedas and this sound is not destroyed even during a great deluge. We build a village or town with stone, earth, timber, iron, etc.

    All these materials are derived from the will of the Paramatman, from his thought, from the vibrations that are his will or thought. Brahma saw the sounds corresponding to these vibrations as the Vedas and the chanted them and brought all the world into existence. We often see reports in the newspapers of trees flowering or fruiting in abundance in response to the vibrations of certain sounds.

    Some vibrations have also the effect of stunting the growth of plants. Here is proof of the fact that sound can create, sustain and destroy. Brahma could create the universe with the sound of the Vedas because of his power of concentration. A siddha can cure a sick man if he intones the Pancakasara mantra – the mantra that we mutter every day – and applies holy ashes to the patient’s body.

    He is able to do it because he has greater power of concentration than we have. If the mantra is to be efficacious it has to be chanted without any tonal error whatsoever. Only then will it bring the desired result. Brahma had the power of concentration to the full since he came into being as an “instrument” for creation. Much could be accomplished from the void of space through electricity.

    From the spiritual reality called the Nirguna Brahman (the unconditioned Brahman without attributes) emanates everything. During the deluge, this spiritual reality goes to sleep. Take the case of a sandow. When he is asleep his strength is not evident. But when we see him wrestling with an opponent we realise how strong he is. Similarly, during the time of creation, the spiritual reality is revealed to perform manifold functions. From the Nirguna Brahman comes a flow of energy to perform such functions. Brahma came into being as a part of this flow. Since he was all tapas all concentration, he could grasp all the Vedas with his extraordinary power. He created the world with their sound. The Vedas are infinite and so too creation takes forms that are countless. The great sage Bharadvaja kept chanting the Vedas over three lifetimes.

    Paramesvra appeared before him and said to him: “I will grant you a fourth life. What will you do during it? “The sage replied: “I will keep chanting the Vedas again.” It is not possible to learn the Vedas in the entirety even over many, many lifetimes. Paramesvra took pity on Bharadvaja for all his efforts to accomplish a task that was impossible to accomplish. Wanting to change his mind, Paramesvara caused three great mountains to appear, took a handful of earth and said to the sage: “The Vedas you have learned all these years are like this handful of earth. What you have yet to learn is vast, like these mountains. “It is believed that Vedagiri or Tirukkazhukkunram is the place where the Vedas appeared in the form of these mountains. When I was circumambulating the hill there, people accompanying me intoned instead, “Veda, Veda, Mahaveda”. The story of Bharadvaja occurs in the Kathaka of the Vedas. We learn from it that the Vedas are so infinite.

    The classification into the four Vedas and the one thousand or so recensions was a later development. Brahma came into being, his heart was filled with all Vedic sound. The Vedas showed him the way to perform his function of creation.

    He recognized that the sound of the Vedas pervaded everywhere. To him occur all Vedas. Only some mantras have revealed themselves to the sages and these constitute the Vedas that are our heritage. At the time of chanting a mantra we usually mention the rsi associated with it, its chandas or metre and the name of the deity invoked. In the Telegu country they mention the three for all mantras. The sages learned the mantras with the power of concentration acquired through austerities.

    They were bestowed with celestial ears, so they could hear the mantras in space. It is said in the science of yoga that if our heartspace becomes one with the transcendent outward space we will be able to listen to the sounds in it.

    Only those who have attained the state of undifferentiated oneness of all can perceive them. It is in this way that the seers became aware of the mantras and made them known to the world.

    It must be remembered that they did not create them. They brought us immeasurable blessings by making the mantras known too us. If someone offers us water form the Ganga (Ganga-tirtha, Gangajal) we receive it, prostrating ourselves before him. The man did not of course create the Ganga, but all the same reverence him in recognition of the fact that the must have traveled a thousand miles to bring us the few drops of the holy water.

    We cannot adore the seers sufficiently for their having made us the gift of the mantras which are beyond the grasp of our ears. That is why before canting a mantra we hold the sacred feet of the rsi concerned with our head.

  • Kamini’s ton helps India thrash West Indies by 105 runs in World Cup opener

    Kamini’s ton helps India thrash West Indies by 105 runs in World Cup opener

    MUMBAI (TIP: India maintained their unbeaten record against the West Indies with a thumping 105-run win in the Women’s World Cup opener at the Brabourne Stadium here on Friday.

    With this victory, India improved their win-loss record against the Windies in the World Cup to 5-0. This is India’s biggest triumph in the quadrennial event against their Caribbean rivals and overall their third highest in terms of victory by runs. Spurred on by a brilliant maiden century from Chennai girl Thirush Kamini Murugesan and her 175- run opening stand with Poonam Raut (72: 94b, 7x4s), the hosts posted a formidable 284 and bowled out their rivals for 179 in 44.3 overs. India’s total was their highest ever in a World Cup tie, their previous best of 275 coming against New Zealand, in Christchurch, in 2000. A late charge by pinch-hitter Jhulan Goswami (36: 21b, 6x4s) and Harmanpreet Kaur (36: 22b, 4x4s, 2x6s) helped them breach the 250-run barrier.

    With her 146- ball knock, ‘player of the match’ Kamini also became the highest Indian scorer in the World Cup, surpassing India skipper Mithali Raj’s 91 scored against the Kiwis in Pochefstroom in the 2005 edition. Kamini’s hundred was studded with 11 fours and a six, her most effective stroke being the scoop. Faced with a huge target, the visitors made a disastrous start when a direct hit from Harmanpreet Kaur found one of the Knight twins, Kycia, short of her crease. ODI ‘Player of the Year’ Stafanie Taylor (9) tried to check the damage but failed, giving an easy catch to Karuna Jain off Amita Sharma, leaving the visitors reeling at 15-2.

    Shamaine Campbelle (21) and Kyshona (11) tried to revive the innings but made early exits. The fastest T20 centurion Deandra Dottin (39: 16b, 3x4s, 4x6s) was the only one who added some spice to the dull-looking contest, hitting some long sixes, way beyond the shortened boundary line. One of her sixes, hit above the mid-wicket region, went on to hit the fence – the longest in the match.

    The moment things seemed going the West Indies way, a slower delivery from Niranjana Nagarajan deceived Dottin, who in her attempt to flick the ball saw herself being dismissed leg before. Thereafter, Shanel Daley (28) and skipper Merissa Aguilleira (18) too succumbed in face of some good bowling and tight fielding by the Indians.

    Niranjana finished with 3-52 in nine overs, the best figures amongst Indians, with Gauher Sultana and Jhulan scalping two wickets apiece. Earlier, the visitors made a huge mistake by opting to field on a pitch which looked a definite belter.

  • India: The Growth Story-Agriculture

    India: The Growth Story-Agriculture

    Agriculture in India has a significant history. Today, India ranks second worldwide in farm output. Agriculture and allied sectors like forestry and fisheries accounted for 16.6% of the GDP in 2009, about 50% of the total workforce. The economic contribution of agriculture to India’s GDP is steadily declining with the country’s broad-based economic growth. Still, agriculture is demographically the broadest economic sector and plays a significant role in the overall socio-economic fabric of India.

    Overview
    Per 2010 FAO world agriculture statistics, India is the world’s largest producer of many fresh fruits and vegetables, milk, major spices, select fresh meats, select fibrous crops such as jute, several staples such as millets and castor oil seed. India is the second largest producer of wheat and rice, the world’s major food staples. India is also the world’s second or third largest producer of several dry fruits, agriculture-based textile raw materials, roots and tuber crops, pulses, farmed fish, eggs, coconut, sugarcane and numerous vegetables. India ranked within the world’s five largest producers of over 80% of agricultural produce items, including many cash crops such as coffee and cotton, in 2010. India is also one of the world’s five largest producers of livestock and poultry meat, with one of the fastest growth rates, as of 2011.

    Indian agriculture since 1947
    Over 50 years since its independence, India has made immense progress towards food security. Indian population has tripled, but food-grain production more than quadrupled: there has thus been substantial increase in available food-grain per capita. Prior to the mid-1960s India relied on imports and food aid to meet domestic requirements. However, two years of severe drought in 1965 and 1966 convinced India to reform its agricultural policy, and that India could not rely on foreign aid and foreign imports for food security. India adopted significant policy reforms focused on the goal of foodgrain self-sufficiency. This ushered in India’s Green Revolution.

    It began with the decision to adopt superior yielding, disease resistant wheat varieties in combination with better farming knowledge to improve productivity. The Indian state of Punjab led India’s green revolution and earned itself the distinction of being the country’s bread basket. With agricultural policy success in wheat, India’s Green Revolution technology spread to rice. However, since irrigation infrastructure was very poor, Indian farmer innovated with tube-wells, to harvest ground water.When gains from the new technology reached their limits in the states of initial adoption, the technology spread in the 1970s and 1980s to the states of eastern India – Bihar,[Orissa] and West Bengal.

    The lasting benefits of the improved seeds and new technology extended principally to the irrigated areas which account for about onethird of the harvested crop area. In the 1980s, Indian agriculture policy shifted to “evolution of a production pattern in line with the demand pattern” leading to a shift in emphasis to other agricultural commodities like oilseed, fruit and vegetables. Farmers began adopting improved methods and technologies in dairying, fisheries and livestock, and meeting the diversified food needs of India’s growing population.

    As with Rice, the lasting benefits of improved seeds and improved farming technologies now largely depends on whether India develops infrastructure such as irrigation network, flood control systems, reliable electricity production capacity, all season rural and urban highways, cold storage to prevent food spoilage, modern retail, and competitive buyers of produce from the Indian farmer. This is increasingly the focus of Indian agriculture policy. India’s agricultural economy is undergoing structural changes.

    Between 1970 and 2011, the GDP share of agriculture has fallen from 43 to 16 percent. This isn’t because of reduced importance of agriculture, or a consequence of agricultural policy.

    This is largely because of the rapid economic growth in services, industrial output, and non-agricultural sectors in India between 2000 to 2010. The initial increase in production was centered on the irrigated areas of the Indian states of Punjab, Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh.With both the farmers and the government officials focusing on farm productivity and knowledge transfer, India’s total foodgrain production soared.

    A hectare of Indian wheat farms that produced an average of 0.8 tons in 1948, produced 4.7 tons of wheat in 1975 from the same land. Such rapid growths in farm productivity enabled India to become self-sufficient by the 1970s. It also empowered the smallholder farmers to seek further means to increase food staples produced per hectare.

    By 2000, Indian farms were adopting wheat varieties capable of yielding 6 tons of wheat per hectare. Accomplishments As of 2011, India had a large and diverse agricultural sector, accounting, on average, for about 16 percent of GDP and 10 percent of export earnings. India’s arable land area of 159.7 million hectares (394.6 million acres) is the second largest in the world, after the United States. Its gross irrigated crop area of 82.6 million hectares (215.6 million acres) is the largest in the world. India has grown to become among the top three global producers of a broad range of crops, including wheat, rice, pulses, cotton, peanuts, fruits, and vegetables.Worldwide, as of 2011, India had the largest herds of buffalo and cattle, is the largest producer of milk, and has one of the largest and fastest growing poultry industries.

    The following table presents the twenty most important agricultural products in India, by economic value, in 2009. Included in the table is the average productivity of India’s farms for each produce. For context and comparison, included is the average of the most productive farms in the world and name of country where the most productive farms existed in 2010. The table suggests India has large potential for further accomplishments from productivity increases, in increased agricultural output and agricultural incomes. The Statistics Office of the Food and Agriculture Organization reported that, per final numbers for 2009, India had grown to become the world’s largest producer of the following agricultural produce.

    FRESH FRUIT
    Lemons and limes
    Buffalo milk, whole, fresh
    Castor oil seeds
    Sunflower seeds
    Sorghum
    Millet
    Spices
    Okra
    Jute
    Beeswax
    Bananas
    Mangoes, mangosteens, guavas

    PULSES
    Indigenous Buffalo Meat
    Fruit, tropical
    Ginger
    Chick peas
    Areca nuts
    Other Bastfibres
    Pigeon peas
    Papayas
    Chillies and peppers, dry
    Anise, badian, fennel, coriander
    Goat milk, whole, fresh
    Per final numbers for 2009, India is the
    world’s second largest producer of the
    following agricultural produce.
    Wheat
    Rice
    Vegetables, fresh
    Sugar cane
    Groundnuts, with shell
    Lentils
    Garlic
    Cauliflowers and broccoli
    Peas, green
    Sesame seed
    Cashew nuts, with shell
    Silk-worm cocoons, reelable
    Cow milk, whole, fresh
    Tea
    Potatoes
    Onions
    Cotton lint
    Cottonseed
    Eggplants (aubergines)
    Nutmeg, mace and cardamoms
    Indigenous Goat Meat
    Cabbages and other brassicas
    Pumpkins, squash and gourds

    In 2009, India was the world’s third largest producer of eggs, oranges, coconuts, tomatoes, peas and beans. In addition to growth in total output, agriculture in India has shown an increase in average agricultural output per hectare in last 60 years.

    The table below presents average farm productivity in India over three farming years for some crops. Improving road and power generation infrastructure, knowledge gains and reforms has allowed India to increase farm productivity between 40% to 500% over 40 years. India’s recent accomplishments in crop yields while being impressive, are still just 30% to 60% of the best crop yields achievable in the farms of developed as well as other developing countries. Additionally, despite these gains in farm productivity, losses after harvest due to poor infrastructure and unorganized retail cause India to experience some of the highest food losses in the world.

  • India The Growth Story

    India The Growth Story

    Economy
    The economy of India is the tenthlargest in the world by nominal GDP and the third largest by purchasing power parity (PPP). The country is one of the G-20 major economies and a member of BRICS. On a per capita income basis, India ranked 140th by nominal GDP and 129th by GDP (PPP) in 2011, according to the IMF. India is the nineteenth largest exporter and tenth largest importer in the world. Economic growth rate stood at around 6.5% for the 2011-12 fiscal year. The independence-era Indian economy (from 1947 to 1991) was based on a mixed economy combining features of capitalism and socialism, resulting in an inwardlooking, interventionist policies and import-substituting economy that failed to take advantage of the postwar expansion of trade. This model contributed to widespread inefficiencies and corruption, and the failings of this system were due largely to its poor implementation. In 1991, India adopted liberal and free-market oriented principles and liberalized its economy to international trade under the guidance of Manmohan Singh, who then was the Finance Minister of India under the leadership of P.V. Narasimha Rao the then Prime Minister who eliminated License Raj a pre- and post-British Era mechanism of strict government control on setting up new industry. Following these strong economic reforms, and a strong focus on developing national infrastructure such as the Golden Quadrilateral project by Atal Bihari Vajpayee, the then Prime Minister, the country’s economic growth progressed at a rapid pace with very high rates of growth and large increases in the incomes of people.

    Pre-liberalization period (1947-1991)
    Indian economic policy after independence was influenced by the colonial experience, which was seen by Indian leaders as exploitative, and by those leaders’ exposure to British social democracy as well as the progress achieved by the planned economy of the Soviet Union. Domestic policy tended towards protectionism, with a strong emphasis on import substitution industrialization, economic interventionism, a large public sector, business regulation, and central planning, while trade and foreign investment policies were relatively liberal. Five-Year Plans of India resembled central planning in the Soviet Union. Steel, mining, machine tools, telecommunications, insurance, and power plants, among other industries, were effectively nationalized in the mid-1950s. Jawaharlal Nehru, the first prime minister of India, along with the statistician Prasanta Chandra Mahalanobis, formulated and oversaw economic policy during the initial years of the country’s existence. They expected favorable outcomes from their strategy, involving the rapid development of heavy industry by both public and private sectors, and based on direct and indirect state intervention, rather than the more extreme Sovietstyle central command system. The policy of concentrating simultaneously on capital- and technology-intensive heavy industry and subsidizing manual, low-skill cottage industries was criticized by economist Milton Friedman, who thought it would waste capital and labor, and retard the development of small manufacturers.[61] The rate of growth of the Indian economy in the first three decades after independence was derisively referred to as the Hindu rate of growth by economists, because of the unfavorable comparison with growth rates in other Asian countries. Since 1965, the use of high-yielding varieties of seeds, increased fertilizers and improved irrigation facilities collectively contributed to the Green Revolution in India, which improved the condition of agriculture by increasing crop productivity, improving crop patterns and strengthening forward and backward linkages between agriculture and industry.[64] However, it has also been criticized as an unsustainable effort, resulting in the growth of capitalistic farming, ignoring institutional reforms and widening income disparities. Subsequently the Emergency and Garibi Hatao concept by which the income tax levels at one point raised to a maximum of 97.5%, a record in the world for non-communist economies, started diluting the earlier efforts.

    Post-liberalization period (since 1991)
    In the late 1970s, the government led by Morarji Desai eased restrictions on capacity expansion for incumbent companies, removed price controls, reduced corporate taxes and promoted the creation of small scale industries in large numbers. However, the subsequent government policy of Fabian socialism hampered the benefits of the economy, leading to high fiscal deficits and a worsening current account. The collapse of the Soviet Union, which was India’s major trading partner, and the Gulf War, which caused a spike in oil prices, resulted in a major balance-ofpayments crisis for India, which found itself facing the prospect of defaulting on its loans.[66] India asked for a $1.8 billion bailout loan from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which in return demanded reforms.[67] In response, Prime Minister Narasimha Rao, along with his finance minister Manmohan Singh, initiated the economic liberalization of 1991. The reforms did away with the License Raj, reduced tariffs and interest rates and ended many public monopolies, allowing automatic approval of foreign direct investment in many sectors. Since then, the overall thrust of liberalization has remained the same, although no government has tried to take on powerful lobbies such as trade unions and farmers, on contentious issues such as reforming labor laws and reducing agricultural subsidies. By the turn of the 20th century, India had progressed towards a freemarket economy, with a substantial reduction in state control of the economy and increased financial liberalization. This has been accompanied by increases in life expectancy, literacy rates and food security, although urban residents have benefited more than agricultural residents. While the credit rating of India was hit by its nuclear weapons tests in 1998, it has since been raised to investment level in 2003 by S&P and Moody’s. In 2003, Goldman Sachs predicted that India’s GDP in current prices would overtake France and Italy by 2020, Germany, UK and Russia by 2025 and Japan by 2035, making it the third largest economy of the world, behind the US and China. India is often seen by most economists as a rising economic superpower and is believed to play a major role in the global economy in the 21st century.

  • India: The Growth Story- Indian Armed Forces

    India: The Growth Story- Indian Armed Forces

    The Indian Armed Forces are the military forces of the Republic of India. They consist of the Army, Navy, Air Force and Indian Coast Guard, supported by Paramilitary forces (Assam Rifles and Special Frontier Force) and various inter-service institutions such as the Strategic Forces Command. The President of India is the Supreme Commander of the Indian Armed Forces. The Indian Armed Forces are under the management of the Ministry of Defence (MoD), which is led by the Union Cabinet Minister of Defense.

    The President of the Republic of India is the Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Armed Forces The Indian armed forces have been engaged in a number of major military operations, including the Indo-Pakistani wars of 1947, 1965 and 1971, the Sino-Indian War, the 1987 Sino-Indian skirmish, the Kargil War, and the Siachen conflict among others. India honours its armed forces and military personnel annually on Armed Forces Flag Day, 7 December. Since 1962, the IAF has maintained close military relations with Russia, including cooperative development on programs such as the Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft (FGFA) and the Multirole Transport Aircraft (MTA).

    The Indian armed forces are steadily undergoing modernization,[9] with investments in such areas as a missile defense system and a nuclear triad. The Department of Defence Production of the Ministry of Defence is responsible for the indigenous production of equipment used by the Indian Armed Forces. It comprises the 41 Indian Ordnance Factories under control of the Ordnance Factories Board and 8 Defence PSUs namely, HAL, BEL, BEML, BDL, MDL, GSL, GRSE, Midhani. The Indian Armed Forces are currently the world’s largest arms importer, accounting for more than 9% of global imports with Russia, Israel, and to some extent, France being the primary foreign suppliers of equipment. The country is expected to spend around US$112 billion between 2010 and 2016 on military equipment, most of which will be imported.
    Budget
    India currently maintains the 8th largest defence budget in the world. In 2011 the budget stood at $46.8 billion ($112 billion PPP), this represented 1.9 – 2.5% of GDP. Additional spending is provided separately by the government to be spent on infrastructure in border areas and for paramilitary organizations. A considerable portion of India’s defense budget is allocated to the modernization of the country’s armed forces, over the period 2007-2012 India was expected to spend about $50 billion on new equipment.

    In 2009 India increased defence expenditure by 21%. Personnel The highest wartime gallantry award given by the Military of India is the Param Vir Chakra (PVC), followed by the Maha Vir Chakra (MVC) and the Vir Chakra (VrC). Its peacetime equivalent is the Ashoka Chakra Award. The highest decoration for meritorious service is the Param Vishisht Seva Medal. During 2012, the Indian Armed Forces has a reported strength of 1.45 million active personnel and 2.20 million reserve personnel. In addition, there are approximately 1.40 million paramilitary personnel, making it one of the world’s largest military forces.[32] A total of 1,578,400 ex servicemen are registered with the Indian Army, majority of them hailing from UP (17.35%), Kerala (14.16%), Haryana (12.57%), Punjab (11.58%), Maharashtra (9.18%), TN (6.58%), Rajastan (6.42%) and HP (5%). Many of them are re-employed in various Central government sectors.

    Nuclear weapons
    India has been in possession nuclear weapons since 1974 and maintains a no-first use and a nuclear deterrence policy against nuclear adversaries. India’s nuclear missiles include the Prithvi, the Agni, the Shaurya, Sagarika, Dhanush, and others. India has long range strategic bombers like the Tupolev Tu-22 M3 and Tupolev Tu-142 as well as fighter jets like Sukhoi Su-30MKI, Dassault Mirage 2000, MiG-29 and HAL Tejas capable of being armed with nuclear tipped bombs and missiles.

    Since India doesn’t have a nuclear first use against an adversary, it becomes important to protect from a first strike. Presently, this protection is provided by the two layered Anti-ballistic missile defense system. India conducted its first test with the Agni-V, a MIRV ICBM, in April 2012. India’s Strategic Nuclear Command controls its land-based nuclear warheads, while the Navy controls the ship and submarine based missiles and the Air Force the air based warheads.

    India’s nuclear warheads are deployed in four areas: Ship based mobile, like Dhanush. (operational) Land-based mobile, like Agni. (operational) Submarine based, like Sagarika. (operational) Air-based warheads of the Indian Air Forces’ strategic bomber force (operational)
    Missile defence program
    The Indian Ballistic Missile Defence Program is an initiative to develop and deploy a multi-layered Ballistic missile defense system to protect India from missile attacks. Phase 1 Development of ABM System began in 1999. Around 40 public and private Companies were involved in the development of ABM System.

    They include Bharat Electronics Ltd and Bharat Dynamics Ltd, Astra Microwave, ASL, Larsen & Toubro, Vem Technologies Private Limited and KelTech.

    Development of LRTR (Long Range Tracking Radar) and MFCR (Multi-function Fire Control Radar) was led by Electronics and Radar Development Establishment (ERDE). For the AAD Missile System, Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL) developed the mission control software. Research Centre, Imarat (RCI) developed navigation, electromechanical actuation systems and Active Radar Seeker.

    Advanced System Laboratory (ASL) provided the motors, jet vanes and structures for the two missiles. High Energy Materials Research Laboratory (HEMRL) supplied the propellants for the missile. Phase 2 Two new anti-ballistic missiles that can intercept IRBM/ICBMs are being developed. These high speed missiles (AD-1 and AD-2) are being developed to intercept ballistic missiles with the range of 5000 km. The test trials of these two systems is expected to take place in 2011.

    The new missile will be similar to the THAAD missile deployed by the U.S.A. These missiles will have to travel at hypersonic speeds and will require radars with scan capability of over 1500 kilometers to successfully intercept the target.

    India is also planning to develop a laser based weapon system as part of its Ballistic Missile Defence to intercept and destroy missiles soon after they are launched towards the country. DRDO’s Air Defence Programme Director V K Saraswat says its ideal to destroy a ballistic missile carrying nuclear or conventional warhead in its boost phase. Saraswat further added that it will take another 10-15 years for the premier defence research institute to make it usable on the ground.

  • The Constitution of India

    The Constitution of India

    The Constitution of India is the Supreme Law of India. It lays down the framework defining fundamental political principles, establishes the structure, procedures, powers, and duties of government institutions, and sets out fundamental rights, directive principles, and the duties of citizens. It is the longest written constitution of any sovereign country in the world, containing 448 articles in 22 parts, 12 schedules and 118 amendments. Besides the English version, there is an official Hindi translation. Dr B.R. Ambedkar is widely regarded as the father of the Indian Constitution. The Constitution was enacted by the Constituent Assembly on 26 November 1949, and came into effect on 26 January 1950. The date 26 January was chosen to commemorate the Purna Swaraj declaration of independence of 1930. With its adoption, the Union of India officially became the modern and contemporary Republic of India and it replaced the Government of India Act 1935 as the country’s fundamental governing document. The Constitution declares India to be a sovereign, socialist, secular, democratic republic, assuring its citizens of justice, equality, and liberty, and endeavours to promote fraternity among them.[3] The words “socialist” and “secular” were added to the definition in 1976 by constitutional amendment. India celebrates the adoption of the constitution on 26 January each year as Republic Day.

    Background
    The major portion of the Indian subcontinent was under British colonial rule from 1757 to 1947. The impact of economic, political and social exploitation during this period helped the gradual rise of the Indian independence movement to gain independence from foreign rule. The movement culminated in the formation of the Dominion of India on 15 August 1947, along with the Dominion of Pakistan. The Constitution of India was adopted on 26 November 1949 and came into effect on 26 January 1950, proclaiming India to be a sovereign, democratic republic. It contained the founding principles of the law of the land which would govern India after its independence from British rule. On the day the constitution came into effect, India ceased to be a dominion of the British Crown. The Indian constitution is the world’s longest constitution. At the time of commencement, the constitution had 395 articles in 22 parts and 8 schedules. It consists of almost 80,000 words and took 2 years 11 months and 18 days to build. In the United Kingdom the office of the Secretary of State for India was the authority through whom Parliament exercised its rule (along with the Council of India), and established the office of Viceroy of India (along with an Executive Council in India, consisting of high officials of the British Government). The Indian Councils Act 1861 provided for a Legislative Council consisting of the members of the Executive council and non-official members. The Indian Councils Act 1892 established provincial legislatures and increased the powers of the Legislative Council. Although these Acts increased the representation of Indians in the government, their power still remained limited. The Indian Councils Act 1909 and the Government of India Act 1919 further expanded participation of Indians in the government.

    Constituent Assembly
    The Constitution was drafted by the Constituent Assembly, which was elected by the elected members of the provincial assemblies.[8] Dr B.R. Ambedkar, Sanjay Phakey, Jawaharlal Nehru, C. Rajagopalachari, Rajendra Prasad, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Kanaiyalal Munshi, Purushottam Mavalankar, Sandipkumar Patel, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, Shyama Prasad Mukherjee, Nalini Ranjan Ghosh, and Balwantrai Mehta were some important figures in the Assembly. There were more than 30 members of the scheduled classes. Frank Anthony represented the Anglo-Indian community, and the Parsis were represented by H. P. Modi. The Chairman of the Minorities Committee was Harendra Coomar Mookerjee, a distinguished Christian who represented all Christians other than Anglo-Indians. Ari Bahadur Gururng represented the Gorkha Community. Prominent jurists like Alladi Krishnaswamy Iyer, Benegal Narsing Rau and K. M. Munshi, Ganesh Mavlankar were also members of the Assembly. Sarojini Naidu, Hansa Mehta, Durgabai Deshmukh, Rajkumari Amrit Kaur and Vijayalakshmi Pandit were important women members. The first temporary 2-day president of the Constituent Assembly was Dr Sachidanand Sinha. Later, Rajendra Prasad was elected president of the Constituent Assembly. The members of the Constituent Assembly met for the first time on 9 December 1946.

  • The Republic Day Parade

    The Republic Day Parade

    The parade showcasing India’s military might and cultural diversity covers an eight-km route, starting from the Rashtrapathi Bhavan through the picturesque Rajpath down to India Gate before winding up at the historic Red Fort in Old Delhi. The events of the day begin with the Prime Minister laying a wreath at the Amar Jawan Jyoti (at India Gate).He meets the dignitaries present and unfurls the National Flag.Following the unfurling the National Anthem is played to a 21-gun salute.

    After this a brief investiture ceremony takes place during which the President awards India’s top gallantry awards – Param Veer Chakra, Veer Chakra and Maha Veer Chakra. In army these are known as the most prestigious awards for bravery for saving their motherland from the enemy of our country. Indian struggle continues till now… After independence,India has fought four wars with its neighbours. From 1975 to 1977, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi declared a “State of Emergency in India”, thereby freezing civil rights and detaining civilians without trial.

    Sikh riots in 1984 resulted in religious strife in much of India. Also the destruction of the Babri Masjid in 1992 resulted in religious strife in much of India. In the desert town of Pokhran, in 1998, the Indian government exploded five nuclear warheads, confirming India’s nuclear status. In 1999, India mobilised its military in Kargil, Kashmir to repel Islamist terrorists who, under the auspices of the Pakistani government, were encroaching upon Indian territory.

  • Indian Constitution

    Indian Constitution

    When India gained freedom from the British on August 15, 1947 there was the need to regulate the meaning of freedom.Therefore, to have a set of rules and regulations that would guide the nation, the Constituent Assembly met on December 9,1946.The Constituent Assembly was convened and appointed a committee with Dr. B.R.Ambedkar as Chairman to draft the Constitution. Borrowing from the Constitutions of other countries, for example, the parliamentary form of government from Britain, supremacy of judiciary from the United States, federal system with a strong centre from Canada, directive principles of state policy from Ireland, the idea of concurrent powers and co-operative federalism from Australia, the system of procedure established by law from Japan, the Indian Constitution is an amalgam of all these. The Indian Constitution, the longest in the world, consist 397 articles and 12 schedules which provides for a single citizenship for the whole of India.The constitution of India was originally written in English It gives the right to vote to all citizens of 18 years and above, unless they are disqualified. Fundamental rights are guaranteed to the citizens, equality of religion and so on.

    National motto:
    Satyameva Jayate (In sanskrit it means Always Truth Alone Triumphs)

    The Great Indian Flag:
    This is an ancient Indian symbol associated with the powers and changes of nature. Officially, the Orange color stands for Courage and sacrifice. The White color signifies Peace and truth. While Green symbolises Faith and Chivalry. It is the duty of every Citizen to realise the significance of our flag and pay the honour and respect its commands.

    Official language:
    Hindi,English Having being declared a Democratic Republic, the people starting governing themselves according to the Constitution written by the Constituent Assembly. With this, Republic Day became the most important day in the history of India. It is therefore natural that the festivities for the day are a lot more elaborate than that for Independence Day.

  • India: The Growth Story

    India: The Growth Story

    Analysis of the Central Intelligence Agency indicates that India is projected to possess the fourth most capable concentration of power by 2015. According to a report published by the US Congress, India is the developing world’s leading arms purchaser. Despite efforts, however, India’s over reliance on foreign suppliers for military equipment has led to the armed forces Research & Development (R&D) expenditure being cut in real terms, while the armed forces still face the challenge of ageing equipment and the slow pace of modernisation.

    In a leaked letter to Prime Minister, General Singh raised the issue of shortcomings within the armed forces. It was found that; the Indian Army lacked sufficient ammunition across its main battle tank fleet while its infantry forces were “crippled with deficiencies” and were lacking key equipment. Additionally, the Army’s Air-defence systems were found to be 97% obsolete and special forces were under-equipped and lacking essential weapons. India is investing 9,970.16 crore (US$1.8 billion) to build a dedicated and secure optical fiber cable (OFC) network for exclusive use of the Army, Navy and Air Force. This will be one of the world’s largest closed user group (CUG) networks.
    Education
    Education in India is provided by the public sector as well as the private sector, with control and funding coming from three levels: central, state, and local. The Nalanda University was the oldest university-system of education in the world. Western education became ingrained into Indian society with the establishment of the British Raj. Education in India falls under the control of both the Union Government and the states, with some responsibilities lying with the Union and the states having autonomy for others.

    The various articles of the Indian Constitution provide for education as a fundamental right. Most universities in India are controlled by the Union or the State Government. India has made progress in terms of increasing primary education attendance rate and expanding literacy to approximately two thirds of the population.[3] India’s improved education system is often cited as one of the main contributors to the economic rise of India.[4] Much of the progress, especially in higher education and scientific research, has been credited to various public institutions. The private education market in India is merely 5%[citation needed] although in terms of value is estimated to be worth $40 billion in 2008 and will increase to $68-70 billion by 2012.

    However, India continues to face stern challenges. Despite growing investment in education, 25% of its population is still illiterate; only 15% of Indian students reach high school, and just 7% graduate.[6] The quality of education whether at primary or higher education is significantly poor as compared with major developing nations. As of 2008, India’s post-secondary institutions offer only enough seats for 7% of India’s college-age population, 25% of teaching positions nationwide are vacant, and 57% of college professors lack either a master’s or PhD degree. As of 2011, there are 1522 degreegranting engineering colleges in India with an annual student intake of 582,000,[8] plus 1,244 polytechnics with an annual intake of 265,000. However, these institutions face shortage of faculty and concerns have been raised over the quality of education.

    Overview
    India’s education system is divided into different levels such as pre-primary level, primary level, elementary education, secondary education, undergraduate level and postgraduate level.

    The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) is the apex body for curriculum related matters for school education in India.[20] The NCERT provides support and technical assistance to a number of schools in India and oversees many aspects of enforcement of education policies.

    In India, the various curriculum bodies governing school education system are: The state government boards, in which the majority of Indian children are enrolled.

    The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE). CBSE conducts two examinations, namely, the All India Secondary School Examination, AISSE (Class/Grade 10) and the All India Senior School Certificate Examination, AISSCE (Class/Grade 12).

    The Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE). CISCE conducts three examinations, namely, the Indian Certificate of Secondary Education (ICSE – Class/ Grade 10); The Indian School Certificate (ISC – Class/ Grade 12) and the Certificate in Vocational Education (CVE – Class/Grade 12). The National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS).

    International schools affiliated to the International Baccalaureate Programme and/or the Cambridge International Examinations. Islamic Madrasah schools, whose boards are controlled by local state governments, or autonomous, or affiliated with Darul Uloom Deoband. Autonomous schools like Woodstock School, The Sri Aurobindo International Center of Education Puducherry,Auroville, Patha Bhavan and Ananda Marga Gurukula. In addition, NUEPA (National University of Educational Planning and Administration)[22] and NCTE (National Council for Teacher Education) are responsible for the management of the education system and teacher accreditation.[23]

    Literacy
    According to the Census of 2011, “every person above the age of 7 years who can read and write in any language is said to be literate”. According to this criterion, the 2011 survey holds the National Literacy Rate to be around 74.07%. Government statistics of 2001 also hold that the rate of increase in literacy is more in rural areas than in urban areas. Female literacy was at a national average of 65% whereas the male literacy was 82%.

    Within the Indian states, Kerala has shown the highest literacy rates of 93% whereas Bihar averaged 63.8% literacy. The 2001 statistics also indicated that the total number of ‘absolute nonliterates’ in the country was 304 million.

    Budget
    As a part of the tenth Five year Plan (2002-2007), the central government of India outlined an expenditure of 65.6% of its total education budget of 438.25 billion (US$7.98 billion) i.e. 287.5 billion (US$5.23 billion) on elementary education; 9.9% i.e. 43.25 billion (US$787.15 million) on secondary education; 2.9% i.e. 12.5 billion (US$227.5 million) on adult education; 9.5% i.e. 41.765 billion (US$760.12 million) on higher education; 10.7% i.e. 47 billion (US$855.4 million) on technical education; and the remaining 1.4% i.e. 6.235 billion (US$113.48 million) on miscellaneous education schemes.

    Public expenditure on
    education in India During the Financial Year 2011-12, the Central Government of India has allocated Rs 38,957 crores for the Department of School Education and Literacy which is the main department dealing with primary education in India. Within this allocation, major share of Rs 21,000 crores, is for the flagship program ‘Sarva Siksha Abhiyan’. However, budgetary allocation of Rs 21,000 crores is considered very low in view of the officially appointed Anil Bordia Committee recommendation of Rs 35,659 for the year 2011-12.

    This higher allocation was required to implement the recent legislation ‘Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009.

    In recent times, several major announcements were made for developing the poor state of affairs in education sector in India, the most notable ones being the National Common Minimum Programme (NCMP) of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government. The announcements are; (a) To progressively increase expenditure on education to around 6 percent of GDP. (b) To support this increase in expenditure on education, and to increase the quality of education, there would be an imposition of an education cess over all central government taxes. (c) To ensure that no one is denied of education due to economic backwardness and poverty. (d) To make right to education a fundamental right for all children in the age group 6-14 years. (e) To universalize education through its flagship programmes such as Sarva Siksha Abhiyan and Mid Day Meal. However, even after five years of implementation of NCMP, not much progress has been seen on this front. Although the country targeted towards devoting 6% share of the GDP towards the educational sector, the performance has definitely fallen short of expectations.

    Expenditure on education has steadily risen from 0.64% of GDP in 1951-52 to 2.31% in 1970-71 and thereafter reached the peak of 4.26% in 2000-01. However, it declined to 3.49% in 2004-05. There is a definite need to step up again.

    As a proportion of total government expenditure, it has declined from around 11.1 per cent in 2000-2001 to around 9.98 per cent during UPA rule, even though ideally it should be around 20% of the total budget.

    A policy brief issued by [Network for Social Accountability (NSA) titled “[NSA Response to Education Sector Interventions in Union Budget: UPA Rule and the Education Sector][104]” provides significant revelation to this fact.

    Due to a declining priority of education in the public policy paradigm in India, there has been an exponential growth in the private expenditure on education also. [As per the available information, the private out of pocket expenditure by the working class population for the education of their children in India has increased by around 1150 percent or around 12.5 times over the last decade

  • The Republic Of India

    The Republic Of India

    The Republic of India is a large South Asian country rich in ethnic diversity,with over one billion people speaking hundreds of languages. Politically it is the world’s largest liberal democracy. The Indian economy is the fourth largest in the world, in terms of purchasing power parity, and is the world’s second-fastest growing economy. India is also the second most populated country in the world. India has grown significantly, in terms of both population and strategic importance, in the last twenty years attributed to economic reforms. Strategically located in Asia,constituting most of the Indian subcontinent,India straddles many busy trade routes. It shares its borders with Pakistan,the People’s Republic of China,Myanmar,Bangladesh,Nepal,Bhutan and Afghanistan.Sri Lanka,the Maldives and Indonesia are the nearby island nations in the Indian Ocean. Home to some of the most ancient civilisations in the world, India was formally ruled by the British for almost ninety years before gaining independence in 1947.

    Origin of India’s name:
    The official name India is derived from Sindhu, the historic local appellation for the river Indus and is the most internationally recognisable of the country. The Constitution of India and general usage also recognises Bharat as the other official name of equal status. Bharat comes from the name of an ancient Hindu king and means seeker of knowledge. The third name is Hindustan, meaning land of the Hindus (where Hindu refers to those who dwell to the right of the Indus/Sindhu river) used from the Mughal times onwards. India,a sub-continent with 5000 year old History. A civilization united by its diversity,richness of culture,the glory of past,the turbulences and triumphs. The landmarks of each era,the achievements of a change,the legacy of a regime.

    As we walk through the history,India is an amazing discovery and its history is a unique tale of the past. With the arrival of the Portuguese, French and English traders, advantage was taken of the fractured, debilitate kingdoms to colonise India. In 1857, an insurrection amongst the army sepoys ensued in the popular Revolt of 1857 against the powerful British East India Company; this mobilised resistance, though short-lasting, was caused by the widespread resentment against discriminatory policies of the British. After the revolt, the Indian independence movements started demanding complete independence. On August 15th, 1947, India was finally granted independence from British rule and became a secular republic.

    January 26 (Republic Day of India): Republic Day is one of the greatest national celebrations observed throughout the country on January 26 every year. India became Republic on the 26th Jan, 1950. The country became a sovereign democratic republic with a written constitution and an elected parliament. At the time of independence, although India was under British rule, there were 565 Princely States, big and small, ruled by powerful sovereigns who were protected by treaties of alliance with the British Crown.

    Without bringing them together, the fundamental unity of the country was not possible. This unification was accomplished by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, whose statesmanship helped to integrate the country into one nation. In a little less than 2 years, all the princely States became a part of the Republic of India. It was on this date in 1927 that the Indian National Congress, then fighting its nonviolent war for freedom, voted for complete independence as against ‘dominion status’. When members of the INC took the pledge to work towards a ‘sovereign democratic republic’ of India.

  • Hit by raids, Nitin Gadkari threatens I-T officials

    Hit by raids, Nitin Gadkari threatens I-T officials

    NAGPUR (TIP): A day after BJP’s parliamentary board replaced him with UP leader Rajnath Singh as the next party chief following income tax action against firms linked to the Purti Group, an unfazed Nitin Gadkari instead threatened tax officials. Far from chastened by his sudden exit as BJP chief, Gadkari took on I-T officials, CBI, media and Congress as he hit out in all directions. “When BJP comes to power at the Centre, we will not spare any of them,” he said referring to I-T officials. Back on home turf, Gadkari warned officials that “There will no Sonia and Chidambaram to help you when BJP wins the next election in 2014”, accusing the UPA government of using the I-T department to fabricate cases against him. Holding the Centre responsible for the I-T action against Purti that triggered a last-minute revolt against him just as a second term as BJP president was in his grasp, he said officials should remember Congress is a sinking boat. “There’s only one ruler in Congress and others are her servants,” said Gadkari. In a show of defiance and petulance that might be more common in civic politics, the former BJP president said, “Mard hoon, dekh loonga. (I am a man, I will see you). I-T department yaad rakhe, BJP ki sarkar ayegi tab kahan jaoge…na Sonia rahegi na Chidambaram bachane ke liye.” A modest crowd of party workers, led by state party president Sudhir Mugantiwar, local MLAs and functionaries braved modest showers the orange city received on Thursday to try and boost the sagging spirits of their leader who is an MLC in the state legislature. “As BJP president, I had to maintain dignity and exercise restraint.

    Now, I am a free man,” said Gadkari while addressing the gathering unmindful of a huge traffic jam the rally caused close to the airport approach road. For about 90 minutes, not a single vehicle could move on the road. Clearly smarting from the I-T surveys being deftly used by his detractors in the party to seek a change in leadership on the ground that this is needed to control damage to BJP, Gadkari alternated between bluster and protestations of innocence. This is the second time Gadkari threatened action against I-T officials. Last year when the department had launched a probe to find the source of funding in Purti Group companies, he had leveled similar charges. “Earlier the Congress used the CBI to settle political scores, now it has started using I-T officials too,” he alleged. “I know how they are hatching conspiracies against me sitting in Delhi, Nagpur and Pune… I also know their names.

    Some people in the organization who are sympathetic to me and the BJP have told me about this,” he said. Gadkari said it was a political conspiracy to malign his image. “False allegations were made against me with issues that I had nothing to do with.

    I am going to fight it out till I come clean,” he said. Targeting the English media, he said a simple letter written to the government seeking release of funds for the Gosikhurd project was seen as favouring contractors. “Similarly when I took up project to provide cheap houses to industrial workers at Butibori, one TV channel said I had turned a builder. Nobody has the right to indulge in character assassination,” said Gadkari. The deposed BJP president got the support of Congress MP Vijay Darda, an old friend. “Gadkari is like a tiger, he did not compromise with his honour. Ups and downs keep happening in politics.

    He is one leader who has worked hard for Vidarbha,” Darda said. Referring to Gadkari as “mere azeez mitr (my dear friend)”, Darda added, “In the coming days we will work shoulder-to-shoulder.” Present on the dais were Congress MLA from Saoner Sunil Kedar, city BJP MLA Devendra Fadnavis, former BJP MP Banwarilal Puruhit, Chandrapur MP Hansraj Ahir, Chhattisgarh agriculture minister Chandrakant Sahu and several other zilla parishad presidents. SHIMLA (TIP): Congress

  • Why Maulana Qadri And Cricketer Khan Can’t Save Pakistan

    Why Maulana Qadri And Cricketer Khan Can’t Save Pakistan

    Pakistan has two angry messiahs, the Maulana and the Cricketer. Both are men of fine oratory – the former being more gifted. They promise to kick wicked leaders out of government, reward the righteous, and deliver a new Pakistan. Before a coup-plagued nation that has spent many decades under military rule, they preach to adulating under-30 crowds about the corruption of the present rulers. But neither dares to touch Pakistan’s real issues. Both are careful to castigate only the corruption of civilians; there is nary a word about the others.

    Inspired by his fiery rhetoric, for four days the Maulana’s youthful Lashkar-e-Qadri had occupied D-Chowk, Islamabad’s version of Tahrir Square. The cheering, chanting, flag-waving crowd was joyous at the verdict ordering the arrest of Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf. The precise timing owed to another one of Pakistan’s putative saviors – the honorable Chief Justice of Pakistan.

    In this age of discontent, assorted demagogues have mastered the art of mobilizing the credulous masses. Corruption, say the Maulana and the Cricketer, is Pakistan’s central problem. Utopia will come if honest and pious men – perhaps themselves – are in power. But is crookedness and dishonesty the real issue? Countries which are perfectly viable and livable may still have corrupt governments.

    Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has been convicted of everything from tax fraud to soliciting minors for sex, and yet Italy keeps getting richer and better. No one dares call it a failed state. Mitt Romney – who Barack Obama only barely defeated – parked his assets in the Cayman Islands and paid only a little more tax than Pakistan’s unscrupulous parliamentarians. Corruption in the US is institutionalized to the point that Washington spent 10 trillion dollars of taxpayer money bailing out banks and corporations but no politician or CEO (with one exception) ended up behind the bars.

    Interestingly, according to the 2012 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), 70 per cent of the world’s people see their countries as more corrupt than good. So then, what are Pakistan’s real problems today? If the lives of Pakistanis are to be improved, what is it that really needs to be done? First, address the population problem. Demographers estimate the expected number of Pakistanis in 2030 at a staggering 258 million, which must be compared with 28 million in 1947 as well as the current population of 180 million. This growth is the second highest among major Muslim countries in the world.

    Even if we miraculously acquire the most perfect of political systems, it may be impossible to provide most Pakistanis with employment, education, food, housing, electricity, water, and a clean environment. Short of renting another planet, there is no way that the constraints of fixed land and water can be overcome. This emergency situation demands that population planning must be reinstated and contraceptives be made freely available. Once upon a time, Pakistan had a population planning organization. But it has essentially folded up in the face of religious opposition. The Jamaat-e- Islami’s party manifesto, and those of other religious parties, specifically forbids family planning.

    As for the Taliban: they suspect that polio vaccines are designed to reduce Muslim fertility and so have issued dire threats. Last month, the TTP brought the immunization program to a halt by murdering five women and a man who were administering the shots in Karachi. So, instead of getting claps and cheers, our messiahs might have to face bullets and bombs should they dare to rally people around this real issue. Second, the terrorism of religious militias must be confronted head-on.

    Their daily slaughter of Pakistani soldiers and citizens, and recently the Hazara Shias, elicits only the barest whimper of protest in the media or the public. In shameful surrender, there is talk of negotiating with terrorist groups. The lesson of Swat – where kowtowing to Sufi Mohammed’s ever-escalating demands led to increased ferocity from the other side – is forgotten. The army and the state stand in muddled confusion. They know they should actually negotiate only from a position of strength and not in their present condition of weakness. Unfortunately they cannot summon the courage to do this.

    The Maulana is silent on this critical matter, but the Cricketer prefers to attack those who might target Pakistan’s enemies. He would rather shoot at the drones than the terrorists. Third, the promise of the messiahs that they shall bring prosperity to everyone by somehow equalizing the distribution of wealth is fake and dishonest, and unimplementable. One would certainly welcome extending the tax net, and doing so would be a huge achievement. But to actually bring prosperity, wealth must be created rather than simply expropriated from somewhere. The only party that seems to give this any consideration is the PML-N.

    But industrial progress and a post-agricultural economy require cultural change, and so Pakistani society will need to transition from being a progress-unfriendly culture to one that welcomes and promotes progress. From the time of the 19th century German sociologist Max Weber, social scientists have observed that culture and progress go handin- hand. Progress-friendly cultures demand planning, punctuality, deferred gratification, belief in rationality, and the rule of law. Without acquiring these features, wealth generation is slow and uncertain. Fortunately, as it turned out, the ‘million-man march’ turned out to be a damp squib.

    Its victory would have resulted in indefinite postponement of the forthcoming national elections and Pakistan would have returned to a dreary tradition where no government has successfully completed its term in office. During the occupation, messiah-junior was caught in a dilemma. Eclipsed by his senior and unable to join in the demand for postponement, he now seeks to clamber his way back into the public eye. Pakistan’s restless young are out on the streets demanding change, but they must not become pawns of fake messiahs.

    The fist-shaking, rostrum-pounding orations of Maulana Qadri and Cricketer Khan are empty thunder; they offer nothing real. Of course, the D-Chowk youth rightly protested Pakistan’s pseudo-democracy and its venal and incompetent civilian leaders. But the military’s attempt to landscape national politics – which is probably what rocketed the Maulana into his present prominence – could be disastrous and would go the way of the army’s past failed interventions. At a time when Pakistan is seriously threatened by internal terror, the military would do well to perform its real duty which is that of protecting Pakistan’s people.

  • One-man panel to probe Walmart ‘lobbying’

    One-man panel to probe Walmart ‘lobbying’

    NEW DELHI (TIP): The Union Cabinet today approved setting up of a one-man committee to probe allegations that retail giant Walmart indulged in lobbying to gain entry into the Indian market. The Cabinet, at its meeting chaired by Prime Minister, also gave approval for an inquest into the fact whether these activities undertaken by Walmart contravened the Indian law. A statement issued by the government said, “The Union Cabinet today approved the appointment of a oneman committee into the media reports concerning Walmart.” The panel would be headed by a retired high court chief justice or judge. The commission will submit its report within three months of its constitution. It is obligatory on part of the government to table the probe report as well as actiontaken report in Parliament.

  • Time To Move On To Immigration Reform

    Time To Move On To Immigration Reform

    President Obama has done well to speak out his mind on an important issue that has been hanging fire for many years now. It is giving status to more than 11 million undocumented immigrants. It is a question of accepting a work force that has contributed to the growth of America. It is a question of giving due dignity to people who have sweated it out to support their families back home and have given ungrudgingly to America their unflinching loyalty.

    I appreciate the Mayor of Los Angeles Antonio Villaraigosa who has recently stated that comprehensive Immigration reform is not amnesty. Villaraigosa announced a six-point plan, which includes a path to citizenship, family reunification, and smarter border enforcement. The California Democrat recently spoke with U.S. News about the urgency of immigration reform and the details of his proposal.

    To a question as to why comprehensive immigration reform is imperative now, the Mayor stated, ” We have had a broken immigration system for more than two decades. We have 11 million people who are here who are undocumented, who have 5 million citizen-children, and almost 2 million “Dreamers” [undocumented immigrants who arrived in the United States as children] who know no other country but this one.”

    I am tempted to quote here a few excerpts from the Mayor’s statement. “A temporary status, second-class citizenship, cannot and will not be a comprehensive immigration policy. It’s not amnesty, it’s earned. You have to prove you’ve been here for a period of time. You have to pay your back taxes. You have to get at the end of the line. You have to learn English and have some knowledge of the country if you want to be a citizen. What’s the alternative? The [mass] deportation of 11 million people? No country in the world has ever deported 11 million people, and this great country certainly won’t be the first.”

    Speaking about the economic incentives for the immigration reform, Villaraigosa said, “There’s a $1.5 trillion economic impact, according to the Center for American Progress. The Dreamers alone, it’s estimated, will have a $329 billion impact over a 10-year period. And the reason is this: You’re bringing these people from out of the dark and into the light. What happens when you do that? You encourage them to get an education, you encourage them to improve their job skills. They’re encouraged to seek better jobs. They contribute more to our Social Security system.

    President Obama has said that we should attach a green card to the diploma of people who come here getting bachelor’s degrees, particularly in science and math. [Also, H-1B] visas need to be expanded, and we need to make sure that we have a program that makes sense in the agricultural sector.”

    I hope, Mayor Villaraigosa will soon take up the issue with lawmakers in Washington and see the fruition of his labor.

  • US Muscling into Indian Defense Market

    US Muscling into Indian Defense Market

    NEW DELHI (TIP): The US is steadily muscling into the lucrative Indian defense market, giving jitters to traditional arms suppliers like Russia, Israel, France and the UK. Having already notched up arms sales worth $8 billion to India in the last few years, despite continuing problems over transfer of “sensitive” technology, it’s aiming to corner much more with the Obama-II administration now taking charge in Washington.

    The huge interest in India, which will spend over $100 billion in acquiring weapon systems over the next decade, is evident from the fact that as many as 67 American armament and aviation companies will be hawking their wares in the 9th edition of Aero-India to be held in Bangalore from February 6 to 10. Union defense production secretary R K Mathur on Monday, January 21, said 607 companies, including 352 foreign ones, and 78 official delegations from various countries have already confirmed their participation in the air-show that would be “bigger and better” than the previous editions.

    After the US companies, the largest participation will be from France with 49 firms, followed by the UK (33), Russia (29), Germany (22), Israel (18) and Belgium (16). True, the buzz generated in earlier editions, with global aviation majors jostling to grab the $20 billion MMRCA (medium multi-role combat aircraft) project to supply 126 fighters to IAF, will be missing after India down-selected the French Rafale jet for the final commercial negotiations. But many other mega deals from helicopters and drones to missiles and radars are up for grabs. The market for “rotary birds” is especially big. Indian armed forces want to induct as many as 900 helicopters over the next decade, including 440 light-utility and observation, naval multi-role (139), and light combat choppers (65).

    Despite losing out on the MMRCA project, the US would like to bag other deals through either direct commercial sales after vying in an open tender or the FMS (foreign military sales) route with a direct government-to-government agreement. India was the second largest FMS customer of the US in 2011 with imports worth $4.5 billion. With both the US defense industry and the Capitol Hill pushing for expanding the defense trade with India, often hemmed in by restrictive American laws on technology transfers, the Obama administration has anointed deputy defense secretary Ashton B Carter as the “point man” to cement defense sales as the cornerstone of the bilateral strategic relationship.

    The US now has even taken to indicating that India’s continuing refusal to ink the so-called “foundational” military pacts like the Logistics Support Agreement (LSA) and Communication Interoperability and Security Memorandum Agreement (CISMOA) – will not come in the way of it transferring highend defense technology. But for India, the proof of the pudding will be in the eating. Unlike Russia, Israel or France, India is still not fully convinced about the reliability of the US as a long-term supplier of top-notch military technology.

  • How can lawbreakers make anti-rape laws: Verma panel

    How can lawbreakers make anti-rape laws: Verma panel

    NEW DELHI (TIP): How can a Parliament comprising persons with criminal record pass an effective criminal law amendment reform? The Justice JS Verma committee has asked the government this vital question in its report on the anti-rape law. As many as 17 per cent MPs of the current Lok Sabha face heinous offence charges, including crimes against women; two MPs — Semmalai S (AIADMK) and Adhikari Suvendu (TMC) — have stated on oath to the Election Commission that they have been charged with cruelty (IPC 498 A) and use of force on a woman with the intent of outraging her modesty (354 IPC), respectively. In 2009 LS polls, political parties had fielded six candidates who admitted to charges of rape and 34 who admitted to various crimes against women like molestation.

    Analysing the trend of unabated fielding of tainted candidates by political parties, the Verma committee has now demanded accountability of politicians and sought a comprehensive law on the internal working of political parties which should filter candidates before fielding them. The panel has mooted amendments to the current Representation of People’s Act 1951 to say that a candidate would be disqualified from election contest once a court takes cognisance of his crime and not essentially once he is convicted for a serious offence (the case presently). “Barring people with criminal records from entering politics would be the easiest way to cleanse lawmaking bodies of the present day malady.

    A Parliament which consists of people with criminal records is unlikely to pass any effective Criminal Law Amendment reform because there is a distinct conflict of interest. We hope MPs chargesheeted for criminal offences of a heinous nature demit offices. We can only appeal,” the committee has said. To cleanse the system, it has recommended the adoption of UK Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act-2000 in India and laid down its implementation to enforce the following principles — criteria for admission to a political party; ensuring its internal democracy and code of conduct and refusal by parties to field candidates with criminal history.

    In the absence of these checks, tainted candidates are blatantly entering the legislatures and Parliament. Political parties fielded 27 candidates charged with rape in different Assembly elections during the past five years; six of them won. Three belong to the Samajwadi Party; one each to the BSP; the BJP and the TDP. Over the past 10 years, 20% people elected to various state assemblies and Lok Sabha are such who have been either charged with or convicted for heinous offences, including rape. The Verma panel further discovered another anomaly in the current laws. Though the RP Act requires MPs/MLAs to give affidavits to the EC declaring charges framed against them in heinous offences, it doesn’t give EC the power to verify these affidavits. On receipt of false information, a returning officer is allowed to simply file a complaint to the magistrate for prosecuting the MP/MLA under Section 125 A of the RP Act which prescribes a punishment.

    UN takes note of Delhi gang rape
    Invoking the brutal Delhi gang rape, Executive Director of UN Women Michelle Bachelet said the public outrage over the incident has echoed worldover and stressed that “this senseless violence” must be condemned and perpetrators brought to justice.

  • As I See It : Pakistan The Nettlesome Neighbor

    As I See It : Pakistan The Nettlesome Neighbor

    We need to take proper stock of our policy towards Pakistan after the recent incidents on the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir and the manner in which the government of Pakistan has reacted to them. A re-examination of some of the assumptions underlying our policy is needed.We believe that the principal problem in our relations with Pakistan is lack of trust. This implies that our differences are not of a fundamental nature and can be overcome by dialogue and correcting misperceptions on both sides that have been allowed to endure for decades. Have we made real progress in reducing the trust deficit between the two countries?

    The latest incident of mutilating the bodies of two of our soldiers and beheading of one of them by Pakistani troops reveals the undercurrents of hate that exist. Even if we were to treat it as an isolated incident, the reaction of the Pakistani government to the incident is perturbing. The right thing would have been for the Pakistani government to take note of our accusation, promise proper investigation and appropriate action against those responsible if the charges proved to be factually correct.

    Instead, it conveyed the deplorable message that Pakistan is dismissive of India’s anguish, to the point of even imputing that we have contrived the incident. Pakistan’s foreign minister Hina Rabbani Khar, has excelled herself in cocking a snook at India. She is appalled at what she terms as absolutely unacceptable Indian charges. She has accused India of war mongering, adding contemptuously that if a billion Indians ask questions Pakistan is not obliged to answer them. If the exercise of the last eight years and more was for building trust between the two countries, then the kind of tongue-lashing that Ms Khar has given India hardly demonstrates that it has been successful.

    She represents the civilian government of Pakistan, which is supposed to be more committed to improve ties with India. People of goodwill in Pakistan and India never fail to exhort the government of India to strengthen the civilian set-up in Pakistan against the security establishment.Well, it is the civilian government that is deriding our concerns and sentiments. If the civilian foreign minister of Pakistan is such a servile tool of the Pakistani military that she cannot even choose diplomatic vocabulary befitting her responsibilities, then the civil-military distinction we are asked to make is of limited consequence.

    We have tried to build trust with Pakistan by agreeing to a composite dialogue even without satisfaction on the terrorism issue. Despite our pleas Pakistan has not brought to justice those responsible for the 2008 Mumbai terrorist attacks.We protest about Hafiz Saeed but live with the reality of his uncurbed venomous rantings against us. We have not resisted Pakistan’s strategy to wrong-foot us on terrorism by bringing the Samjhauta Express issue into discussions. Visa restrictions The Pakistani interior minister Rahman Malik, comes to India and equates the Mumbai attacks and Babri Masjid, besides suggesting Indian complicity in the former, and we let it pass to avoid clouding the atmosphere.

    We have agreed to ease visa restrictions, permit sporting ties and increase cultural ones, besides welcoming the expansion of trade ties without Pakistan granting us MFN treatment, so as to enlarge the orbit of trust between the two sides. As against all this what has Pakistan done to build trust? Pakistan has persisted with provocations on Kashmir. In early 2012, Pakistan’s parliament passed a resolution calling for resolving the Kashmir issue in accordance with UN resolutions, a position that president Zardari reiterated in his UNGA speech in September. After the recent LoC incidents Pakistan’s foreign minister has taunted us with an investigation by the UN Military Observers Group whose role India does not recognize since 1971.

    Pakistan insists on Indian withdrawal from Siachen which it never controlled. On Sir Creek, Pakistan is unwilling to accept a compromise solution consistent with established international principles. On water related issues Pakistan has deliberately distorted public perceptions by resorting to malevolent propaganda against India’s imagined high-handed actions. Pakistan has used its nuclear capability to promote terrorism against India, as it feels protected against any strong Indian conventional response. Pakistan distorts the content and intent of the India-US nuclear deal and under cover of that is expanding its nuclear arsenal and is preparing to introduce tactical weapons as a step to lower the threshold of use of nuclear weapons against India.

    As a victim of terror itself, Pakistan claims that it can hardly be accused of abetting terrorism against India. This is a specious argument because its military still considers jihadi groups targeting India as strategic assets. Kashmiri insurgents have safe-havens in Pakistan; infiltration across the LoC continues. The latest act of beheading an Indian soldier reflects a jihadi mind-set even in the armed forces in whose motto ‘jihad’ figures prominently. Our prime minister’s statement that it cannot be business as usual with Pakistan after this barbaric act and that Pakistan should mend its ways if it wants friendship with India adequately captures the public mood.

    This does not mean no dialogue in the future. It means Pakistan has to act like a civilized country and do serious introspection about its destructive attitudes and policies before we can resume efforts to build mutual trust. Those criticizing the suspension of sporting and cultural ties should not equate their political and moral duty as citizens to share public anguish at the treatment given to Indian soldiers by the Pakistani military with their right to be entertainment by Pakistani sportspersons and musicians.We must get our priorities right as a society.

  • SOUTH INDIA WORST HIT BY DIABETES

    SOUTH INDIA WORST HIT BY DIABETES

    NEW DELHI (TIP): Diabetes and hypertension, traditionally seen as a rich man’s disease, has made its way to the slums. Health ministry’s fresh data shows one out of every four persons living in the urban slums of Chennai suffer from diabetes — which is three times higher than the national average of about 7%. In the slums of Bangalore the prevalence rate of diabetes was reported to be 14.77%, followed by 13.37% in Ahmedabad.

    Delhi had among the lowest rates of 5.02%. “The results of Chennai are shocking. I have asked the state health officials concerned to indentify all positive cases and refer them to the nearest centre for treatment,” said Dr Jagdish Prasad, the Director General of Health Services ( DGHS). He said the union health ministry started targeted screening in urban slums in June 2011. “So far we have screened about 10 lakh people in Delhi, Bangalore, Chennai, Ahmedabad and Assam,” said Prasad. Medical experts say poor eating habits and sedentary lifestyle is the main reason for the rise in diabetes among the urban poor. “It is a false belief that only those eating burgers and pizzas can get obese and develop diabetes. High consumption of fried items such as kachori, samosa and gulab jamun can also led to the onset of diabetes,” said Dr H P S Sachdev, senior consultant pediatrics at Sitaram Institute of Science and Research. Sachdev said people living in urban slums generally did less physical activity than their rural counterparts. Simply put, diabetes is a condition in which the body has trouble turning food into energy.

    All bodies break down digested food into a sugar called glucose, their main source of fuel. In a healthy person, the hormone insulin helps glucose enter the cells. But in a diabetic, the pancreas fails to produce enough insulin, or the body does not properly use it.

    Cells starve while glucose builds up in the blood. There are two predominant types of diabetes. In Type 1, the immune system destroys the cells in the pancreas that make insulin. In Type 2, which accounts for an estimated 90% to 95% of all cases, either the body’s cells are not sufficiently receptive to insulin or the pancreas makes too little of it, or both.

  • Murder accused Himachal MLA takes oath

    Murder accused Himachal MLA takes oath

    SHIMLA (TIP): Congress legislator Ram Kumar Chaudhary, who has been booked in the Jyoti murder case and lodged in the Ambala jail, took oath as an MLA here today. Speaker Brij Bihari Lal Butail administered oath to him in his chamber in the Vidhan Sabha complex. Ram Kumar was elected from the Doon constituency in Solan district recently. He had been trying to evade the police ever since he was charged with murder by the Haryana Police and could not take oath with other MLAs during the winter session held in Dharmasala early this month. He surrendered before the police on January 8 after the high court rejected his plea for anticipatory bail.

    The Haryana Police brought him to the Vidhan Sabha complex here from Ambala under heavy security cover. Ram Kumar claimed he was innocent and had never confessed to the crime. “I am innocent, it is conspiracy by my political opponents,” he said. He said he would continue to serve his constituency from the jail. He had already submitted his list of priorities to the Speaker, he said. He said he had faith in the judiciary and would come out clean.