Tuesday 23 January 2018

DGP Spoke Forcefully in Favour of Police Commissionerate System in UP

Taking pride on being appointed as DG of UP Police - the largest state police force in the world, 1983 batch IPS officer OP Singh said that instilling a sense of fear among criminals and infusing a sense of safety among people would top his prioroity list. Singh took over charge as the new DGP from ADG Law and Order Anand Kumar in Lucknow on Tuesday.

Interacting with news persons at DGP headquarters, Singh said, “Law and order will be further improved in an effective way to let people feel secure and safe. The situation of law and order has improved tremendously during the past few months and it would be bettered further.”

The new DGP spoke forcefully in favour of Police Commissionerate system in UP and said that he would see that the issue could be pushed in the right direction.

On the high number of encounters, Singh said that the UP Police stand on the issue would continue but the police would like to arrest wanted criminals instead of eliminating them.

On the raging protests against screening of ‘Padmawat’ in the state, the DGP said that the police would deal strictly with situations and stressed that the police would follow instructions of Supreme Court on the isuue. “My priorities will be to provide good policing so that people are satisfied. Besides, the response time of police whould be minimized and professionalism whould be infused in the system. People should have trust on the police and that will be our target and motto. Besides, investigations would be made more result oriented,” he said.

Singh also stressed on traffic problems including road accidents in the state. “I have a good team of officials and policemen who would look into the issue of road traffic problem, which is really a concern in the state,” he said. The DGP added that there wre some challenges before the state police and hoped that the police was competent to meeting the challenges and also those emerging in future.
Earlier on Tuesday morning, OP Singh arrived in Lucknow from New Delhi by a flight and was received by officials at Amausi airport. The new DGP took charge after 24 days of announcement of his name after his predecessor Sulkhan Singh retired on December 31. Singh became the third DGP in Yogi government after Javeed Ahmed and Sulkhan Singh.

Suspense over joining of Singh ended on Friday after the PMO cleared his file to repatraiate him prematurely from Central deputation. On Sunday, the Appointment Committee of Cabinet issued an order with respect to Singh’ss release. Priot to his new assignment, Singh was DG of Central Industrial Security Force (CISF).

Before heading the CISF, Singh served as chief of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and his men from the front in a number of relief and rescue operations including the earthquake in Nepal in April, 2015. The new DGP held the posts of SSP of Lucknow, Bulandshahr, Kheri, Allahabad and Moradabad and also supervised the Ardh Mumbh Mela at Allahabad in 1995. Singh, a gallantry medal winner, is expected to usher in major changes in work profile and operations of UP Police. A native of Gaya (Bihar), Singh is expectet o have a long stint as DGP of UP as he is scheduled to retire in January, 2020.

Source : http://www.dailypioneer.com/state-editions

Delhi markets observe trade bandh against sealing drive

All wholesale and commercial markets across Delhi kept their shutters down on Tuesday to protest against the ongoing sealing drive which is expected to lead to loss of business worth Rs 1,500 crore, a traders body said here.

According to the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT), more than seven lakh traders belonging to more than 2,000 trade associations across the city joined in the "Delhi Trade Bandh" against the sealing in the city, which they said is in violation of statutory provisions of the Delhi Municipal Corporation Act.

The traders' body said political parties, including the Bharatiya Janata Party, Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party, supported the "trade bandh".

"The protesting traders are demanding immediate intervention of the government in the matter of sealing as the basic fundamentals of MCD Act, 1957 have been snatched away from the traders and sealing is being conducted in a dictatorial manner under the guise of Supreme Court order," Praveen Khandelwal, Secretary General of CAIT, said in a statement.

"The traders are demanding the government to protect traders from sealing by bringing an ordinance, an 'Amnesty Scheme' on building and commercial activities on 'as is where is basis' as on December 31, 2017, notifying 351 roads as commercial or mix land use and increase in FAR (floor area ratio) to protect additional construction," he said.

Khandelwal added that the local shopping centres were given on commercial rates and now conversion charge was being demanded and sealing conducted without giving any notice, which cannot be justified.

"The entire sealing proceedings are being run in a dictatorial manner keeping aside the MCD Act,1957," Khandelwal said.

The CAIT pointed out that the day-long "Bandh" will lead to an estimated business loss of Rs 1,500 crore, and cause a loss of revenue to the tune of about Rs 125 crore to the government and drain out the working hours of about 20 lakh people.

The statement said traders in various market across Delhi are taking out protest marches in their respective markets and would later join "protest dharnas" being held at various places like Chowk Hauz Qazi, Kamla Nagar, South Extension, Rajouri Garden and Krishna Nagar to raise their voice strongly demanding justice.

All major wholesale and retail markets of Delhi including Connaught Place, Chandni Chowk, Sadar Bazar, Chawri Bazar, Kamla Nagar, Karol Bagh, Kashmiri Gate, Khari Baoil, Naya Bazar, Bhagirath Palace, Paharganj, Rajouri Garden, Jail Road, Rohini, Ashok Vihar and Pitampura remained completely closed and wore a deserted look as no commercial activity took place, the statement added.

Other markets which observed the "bandh" include Lajpat Nagar, South Extension, Defence Colony, Greater Kailash,Green Park, Khan Market, Kirti Nagar, Patel Nagar, Naraina, Uttam Nagar, Vikaspuri, Kalkaji, Tughlaqabad, Yusuf Sarai, Vikas Marg, Mandawali, Gandhi Nagar, Shahdara, Bhajanpura, Jagatpuri, Mayur Vihar, Preet Vihar and Shradhanand Marg.

Source : http://www.dailypioneer.com/top-stories/delhi-markets-observe-trade-bandh-against-sealing-drive.html

Monday 22 January 2018

Govt giving priority to road construction

Himachal Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur on Sunday said that keeping in view the topographical conditions of the State, the Government is giving priority to the construction and maintenance of roads.

Thakur, during his first visit to Thachi area of Seraj assembly segment said that that out of 58 panchayats of Seraj constituency, 56 have been provided road connectivity during his previous tenure as representative of the area.

He also addressed public meetings at Bhaatloodhar, Thachi and Panjain.
The Chief Minister said that it was painful to see people carrying loads on their back and walking through the tough terrain.

In next five years, all the panchayats of the state will be provided road connectivity, said the Chief Minister, further adding that all the villages of Seraj would be linked by roads.

The Chief Minister said that he was grateful to the Centre which has sanctioned as many as 63 national highways for the state. It would further improve the road network besides giving added boost to tourism and state economy, he said.

Thakur exhorted the people of his constituency to shun differences and party affiliations and join hands with the Government for ensuring development. Let the BJP rule Seraj for next many years to ensure development of the constituency and to make it a model constituency, said he.
He also exhorted all to join hands to take Seraj to new heights. “I talk less and believe in delivering the services and work hard”, said he.

The Chief Minister said that the works on three roads under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojna (PMGSY) had been sanctioned and the metalling would start on these soon.

The sanctioned roads were Rs 90 lakh Somgaad-Chalol road, Rs 11.50crore Basan-Somgaad and Rs 2.50 crore Naraingallu-Kuhan-Diddar road. Besides, under state road project the Chief Minister announced a sum of Rs 20 lakh each for Thachi- Dandeli-Somgaad road and Thachi- Bijhar road.
He also announced a sum of Rs 20 lakh for road to Didwaandhar road and a sum of Rs 5 lakh for Luhri-Panala road.

Thakur said that tender for metalling and tarring Sudhranighat road under PMGSY was in process and tenders for construction of Buraah-Panjain road under NABARD were also under process.
He added that entire Seraj valley would be developed from tourism point of view and a proposal was underway.

Source : http://www.dailypioneer.com/state-editions/chandigarh/govt-giving-priority-to-road-construction-thakur.html

Saturday 20 January 2018

India becomes member of Australia Group

After its entry into the Wassenaar Arrangement and the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR), India on Friday notched up another success as it became a member of the Australia Group, the third of four key global export control regimes that will help pave the way for entry into the Nuclear Suppliers' Group.

India became the 43rd member of the Australia Group, an informal forum of countries which seeks to ensure that exports do not contribute to the development of chemical or biological weapons.

"I am happy to announce that India has joined the Australia Group on January 19, 2018, following the completion of internal procedures for joining this group," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said in his weekly media briefing here.

"The Australia Group decided to admit India as the Group's 43rd participant through a consensus decision," he said.

"India would like to thank each of the Australia Group participants for their support for India's membership."

Kumar also expressed New Delhi's appreciation for Ambassador Jane Hardy of Australia, former chair of the Australia Group, for her role in facilitating India's accession to the Group.

"India's entry into Group would be mutually beneficial and further contribute to international security and non-proliferation objectives," he said.

In a separate statement, the Australia Group said "there was very strong support expressed for India's membership at the June 26-30, 2017, Australia Group Plenary, after which consensus was reached intersessionally." and then India reaffirmed its intention to join the Group.

"In warmly welcoming India to the Group, the other Australia Group members recognised the government of India's commitment to bring India's export control system into alignment with the Australia Group and India's determination to contribute to the global effort to prevent the proliferation of CBW in the security interests of all members of the international community," it stated.

"With its admission into the Australia Group, India has demonstrated the will to implement rigorous controls of high standards in international trade, and its capacity to adapt its national regulatory system to meet the necessities of its expanding economy."

The statement added that India was "also aware of the need to constantly adapt its export controls in the face of rapidly evolving scientific and technological challenges, and in this regard, affirmed its readiness to act in close cooperation with all members towards the furtherance of Australia Group objectives".

The other Australia Group members are Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Republic of Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, European Union, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Republic of Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom and United States.

This is the third of the four export control regimes that India has joined since 2017.

Last year, India became the 35th member of the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR), an informal and voluntary partnership of countries to prevent the proliferation of missile and unmanned aerial vehicle technology capable of carrying above 500 kg payload for more than 300 km, and the 42nd member of the Wassenaar Arrangement, which seeks to contribute to regional and international security and stability by promoting transparency and greater responsibility in transfers of conventional arms and dual-use goods and technologies.

China has been opposing India's bid to become member of the NSG, on the ground that for a country to join the 48-nation bloc, it has to be a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).

Source : http://www.dailypioneer.com/top-stories/india-becomes-member-of-australia-group.html

Thursday 18 January 2018

Exceptional Kohli named ICC Cricketer of the Year

In phenomenal form across formats, Indian captain Virat Kohli was today named the world cricketer of the year, besides bagging the top honour for ODI players in the ICC annual awards, announced here.

In the qualification period from September 21, 2016 to the end of 2017, Kohli scored 2,203 Test runs at an average of 77.80 including eight centuries, 1,818 ODI runs including seven centuries at 82.63, and 299 T20I runs at a strike rate of 153.

He also captained India to the top of the ICC Test rankings.

"It means a lot to win the Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy for becoming the ICC Cricketer of the Year 2017 and also the ICC ODI Player of the Year," Kohli was quoted as saying in an ICC statement.

"I won that back in 2012 also but it's the first time winning the Garfield Sobers Trophy, and it's a huge honour for me. It's probably the biggest of all in world cricket and two Indians getting it back-to-back makes it more special," he added.

This is the second time in succession that an Indian won the overall cricketer of the year award. Off-spinner R Ashwin had claimed the honour last year.

It was Kohli's second gong at the 2017 ICC Awards, with the 29-year-old also being named the ODI Player of the Year.

Kohli was also named captain of the ICC Test and ODI teams of the year.

Australian captain Steve Smith claimed the Test Player of the Year honour after scoring 1875 runs in 16 matches at an average of 78.12, with eight hundreds and five 50s.

This is the first instance since 2013 that the ODI Cricketer of the Year award has been won by a non-South African, with Quinton de Kock receiving the accolade for 2016 and AB de Villiers winning it in 2014 and 2015.

In the nominations for ODIs, Kohli was placed nominated alongside Pakistan paceman Hasan Ali, Afghanistan leg-spinner Rashid Khan and his own teammate Rohit Sharma.

Smith, meanwhile, averages 63.75 from 61 Tests, the second-best average of all time for those who have played more than 20 Tests.

In the ICC rankings he has climbed to 947 points, just 14 shy of Don Bradman' high watermark of 961.

Smith beat off competition for the from last year's winner Ashwin, who took 111 wickets at 25.87, Cheteshwar Pujara, who scored 1,914 runs, Kohli, and Ben Stokes, who hit 1,000 runs at 40.00 and took 35 wickets at 27.68.

Among other awards, Yuzvendra Chahal's incredible haul of 6/25 against England in Bengaluru last year, was named as Twenty20 International performance of the year.

Chahal was named Player of the Match and Player of the Series for his performance -- the best by an Indian bowler in T20I history, and the third-best of all time.

He is behind only Sri Lanka's Ajantha Mendis, who took 6/8 and 6/16 against Zimbabwe and Australia respectively.

Afghanistan's Rashid Khan was adjudged ICC Associate Cricketer of the Year after taking 60 wickets in 2017 -- a record for an associate player in a calendar year -- and 43 in ODIs, also a record.

Source : http://www.dailypioneer.com/

Wednesday 10 January 2018

Come to table and assist in fight against terrorism: US to Pak

The US today expressed hope that Pakistan would "come to the table" and demonstrate willingness to "aggressively" confront terrorist groups that operate from its territory, amid reports that Islamabad has suspended its military and intelligence cooperation with America.

According to media reports, Pakistan's decision to suspend military and intelligence cooperation with America came after President Donald Trump accused Islamabad of giving nothing to the US but "lies and deceit" and suspended about USD 2 billion in security aid to it.

When asked to comment on Pakistan's reported move, US Under Secretary of State Steve Goldstein said: "We're hopeful for future cooperation from Pakistan."

"We stand ready to work with Pakistan in combating all terrorists without distinction, and we hope to be able to renew and deepen our bilateral security relationship when Pakistan demonstrates its willingness to aggressively confront the Taliban network, the Haqqani Network, and other terrorist and militant groups that operate from its territory," he said.

The US has been clear on this issue to Pakistan, Goldstein said.

"We would like Pakistan to come to the table and assist us in this effort," he said adding that the suspension of security aid is not a cutoff and no funds have been reprogrammed.

The US announced on Thursday that it would not deliver military equipment or transfer security-related funds to Pakistan.

On Monday, a Pentagon spokesman said the US had conveyed to Pakistan to take "concrete steps" against terror groups to earn hundreds of millions of dollars in aid.

Referring to his conversation with the US Ambassador to Pakistan, Goldstein hoped that Pakistan will join the US in its effort with regard to fight against terrorism.

"The Pakistani people have suffered greatly from terrorism, and its security forces have been effective in combating the groups that target Pakistan's interest. So, it’s to their benefit to join with us in helping resolve this matter," Goldstein said.

"We always look at that; but again, it's a suspension and not a cutoff. We haven't reprogrammed the funds. We’re hopeful that Pakistan will come back to the table and do what they told us that they would do," he said.

The US and others have long complained that Pakistan offered safe haven to the Afghan Taliban and their allies, the Haqqani Network, allowing them to carry out cross-border attacks in Afghanistan.

Pakistan denies allegations but President Trump has escalated the criticism against the country since he took office last January.

Monday 8 January 2018

Bail denied to accused teenager in Ryan school murder case

A sessions court today rejected the bail plea of a 16-year-old student, accused of killing 7-year- old Pradhuman Thakur at the Ryan International School here.

Additional Sessions Judge Jasbir Singh Kundu declined relief to the accused, who is presently under custody.

The court had earlier reserved the order after hearing arguments of the counsel for the accused, the CBI and the complainant.

The defence counsel had claimed that the charge sheet in the matter was not filed within one month, as prescribed in the Juvenile Justice Act, and he was not given required documents.

Opposing the contention, the CBI had said that the mandatory period for filing a charge sheet is 90 days under CrPC provisions as the accused had been declared an adult by the Juvenile Justice Board (JJB).

Pradhuman was found with his throat slit in the school's washroom on September 8 last year.

The Gurgaon Police had claimed the crime was committed by a school bus conductor, which was later refuted by the CBI.

The probe agency had claimed the teenager had killed Pradhuman in a bid to get the school closed so that a parent- teacher meeting and an examination could be deferred.

The court was hearing an appeal filed by the accused against an order of the JJB denying him bail.

The JJB had on December 20 held that the teenager would be tried as an adult and directed that he be produced before the Gurgaon sessions court.

The JJB had noted that the accused was mature enough to recognise the consequences of his actions.

If convicted, the accused will stay in a correctional home till he is 21 years old after which the court can shift him to a jail or grant him bail, it had said.

The board had earlier rejected the bail plea of the Class 11 Ryan International School student.

It had set up a committee which included a psychologist from the PGI, Rohtak, for an expert opinion on the accused, who was taken into custody by the CBI in November 2017.

The Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 lowers the age of juveniles from 18 years to 16 years for heinous crimes such as rape, murder and dacoity-cum- murder, which warrant at least seven years of imprisonment.

However, the JJB first decides whether the crime was "child-like" or was it committed in an "adult frame of mind", following which it orders the accused to be tried as a juvenile or an adult.

Source : http://www.dailypioneer.com/top-stories/bail-denied-to-accused-teenager-in-ryan-school-murder-case.html

Friday 5 January 2018

White House meltdown

Trump-Bannon row is making the world’s most powerful building look like a dysfunctional place
An American author and columnist Michael Wolff was given unprecedented access to the first weeks of the Donald Trump White House and his new book, Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House, paints a devastating portrait of the United States President as a weak man, controlled by forces he does not know and someone completely unfit to run the office of the most powerful politician in the world as well as being a warlord with the power of global destruction in a briefcase within arm's reach at all times. There are several excerpts from the book which has been released early to counter Trump’s legal team who tried desperately to stop the release of the book and that unfortunately seems to have given it increased publicity that make Trump look ugly. Some of the aspects of his win or the fact that he brought his wife Melania Trump almost to tears ahead of the election and possibly even the passage where the book states that he only believed that could be President after he won the November 2016 Election, strengthen the belief that Hillary Clinton lost the election rather than Trump winning it.

However, his fallout with his former chief strategist, the Editor of US right wing news website Breitbart News Steve Bannon may be the biggest disclosure. Bannon is quoted to be offering odds on Trump’s Presidency, equal chances he says of Trump either being impeached or removed under the Constitution's 25th Amendment that authorises the US Legislative bodies to remove the occupant of the White House for mental incapacity, and of Trump limping home to complete his Presidency. But with not even a year since Trump was inaugurated, this scandal broke just as Trump entered his fiftieth week in charge and has followed scandal after scandal, let alone foreign policy announcements on social media, even if they are to India’s advantage makes it seem like it has already been an eternity since he has been in charge. Barack Obama was in Delhi recently, but almost no-one remembers him because Trump has so decisively taken over the news cycle.

The fallout between Trump and Bannon is akin to Narendra Modi and Amit Shah falling out; you know that such a thing won’t happen because most people in power keep their own and their nation's best interests in mind. But over in Washington DC the Press corps and the Government bureaucracy have no idea what will hit them tomorrow. While some in the world find all of this amusing, this isn’t a hillbilly or folksy President with amazing acumen; this is a man who has a tremendous ego and on the face of it, a comment on the fact that democracy is not perfect. But then again, American-style democracy is strange. President Trump still has three years to go and despite problems with North Korea and Iran, there aren’t tens of nuclear mushroom clouds across the world. However, a dose of sanity and quiet may not be a bad thing either for President Trump or the rest of the world because even roller-coaster junkies need a break every once in a while.

Source : http://www.dailypioneer.com/columnists

UP as a electronic manufacturing zone

The Uttar Pradesh government introduced UP Electronics Restructuring Policy under which Noida, Greater Noida and Yamuna Expressway will be declared as electronic manufacturing zone and will be part of Electronics System Design and Manufacturing (ESDM) industries.

Deputy Chief Minister Dr Dinesh Sharma said that the policy aimed at making Uttar Pradesh as electronics manufacturing hub by projecting the state as ‘preferred destination’ of electronic giants, who will be provided all facilities under one roof.

“The objective of the project is to generate employment for the youth. We have set a target to attract investment worth Rs 20,000 crore under ESDM sector which would generate over 3 lakh jobs by 2022,” he said.

Sharma said that the government also wanted private entrepreneurs to set up ESDM Parks across the state which would revive local economy and boost the GSDP.

Under the new policy, the state government would resolve problems that entrepreneurs may face through single window system. In some case, the government may also arrange finance and would allow concessions as per Industrial Policy announced recently.

Sharma, who is also IT and Electronic minister in the Yogi government, said that ESDM units might get cent per cent rebate in stamp duty and would also reimburse State GST.

Source : http://www.dailypioneer.com/state-editions/lucknow/up-as-a-electronic-manufacturing-zone.html