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Archives for 2016

Syria government willing to accept cessation deal

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Damascus accepts terms of US-Russia agreement, as opposition raises concerns about armed groups not included in deal.

bashar-al-assad

by Al Jazeera

Syria’s government has said it will accept a halt to “combat operations”, after the US and Russia agreed on a plan for the cessation of hostilities to begin this weekend.

Several parties to the conflict, however, were sceptical that any peace deal would actually take effect.

In a statement on Tuesday, President Bashar al-Assad’s government said it would coordinate with Russia to decide what other groups – along with the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) and al-Nusra Front – should be excluded from the plan.

The government stressed the importance of sealing its borders, halting foreign support to armed groups and “preventing these organisations from strengthening their capabilities or changing their positions, in order to avoid what may lead to wrecking this agreement”.

The announcement from Damascus came after the US and Russia said on Monday that the International Syria Support Group had agreed to terms for a cessation of hostilities in Syria.

The agreement called on all sides to sign up to the agreement by midday on Friday, February 26 and to stop fighting by midnight.

Hours after the agreement was announced, the Syrian Opposition High Negotiations Committee (HNC) – the major opposition bloc involved in negotiations – said it would accept the terms of the deal.

It added, however, that it does not believe Assad’s regime and its allies would do the same.

“Our main concern in the opposition is that both Russia and the regime are not serious about their commitments to the cessation of hostilities,” said HNC spokesman Riyad Naasan Agha.

“Excluding ISIL and Nusra can be a ploy by the regime and their allies to keep slaughtering our civilians and trying to finish off the real Syrian opposition.”

Al Jazeera’s diplomatic editor James Bays, reporting from New York, said some critics believed the timing of the deal would allow different sides in the conflict to push for more territory in the lead-up to the truce on Friday.

“Given everything that is happening in Syria, there is not a great deal of optimism about the proposed cessation of hostilities, particularly as many observers fear there will be an increase in the violence – with the warring sides trying to make gains in the days before it is due to start,” he said.

Underscoring those concerns, Russian air strikes continued to pound rebel-held areas of Aleppo city on Monday night, as the government’s offensive continued in the province.

Elsewhere, fighting took place on Tuesday between Syrian rebels and the Kurdish People’s Protection Units in rural areas in the north and west of the province.

Syria’s civil war started five years ago when initially peaceful protests against Assad’s rule gave way to a war that has killed at least 250,000 people and forced millions from the country.

87 year old man, with a complex heart condition deemed inoperable, gets a fresh lease of life

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“Fortis Heart Team replaces the aortic heart valve without opening the chest or heart”

Fortis

Bengaluru: In a show of exemplary teamwork, the Heart Team of Fortis Hospital Bangalore comprising senior Cardiologists, Cardiac surgeons and Cardiac anesthetists under the leadership of Dr. Vivek Jawali, Chairman, Department Of Cardio-Vascular Science, performed a rare procedure called TAVR (Trans-catheter Aortic Valve Replacement) to give a new lease of life to 87-year old Mr. Subba Rao from Mysore. This rare procedure was performed successfully to treat a severe and otherwise inoperable conditionin the patient’s heart in just over an hour.  In contrast to a regular procedure which takes several hours and requires prolonged hospital stay this novel technique took just over an hour to complete and the patient was discharged in just 5 days.

The heart disease had severely affected ’Subba Raos quality of life and created a danger of sudden death. He often experienced shortness of breath, difficulty in breathing during activity and struggled to walk. He also developed a prostate enlargement that forced him to carry urinary bag whenever he stepped outside as the prostate was inoperable due to the diseased heart. Because of multiple diseases and frail health traditional heart surgery posed a very high degree of risk to the patient’s life and hence the doctors at the hospital suggested that he undergo the TAVR procedure.

“Having witnessed some of India’s best cardiac milestones in the last 25 years, we are extremely proud of performing such a technologically advanced procedure with a multi-disciplinary team of cardiac specialists. This technology is at a nascent stage in India and Fortis Hospital Cunningham Road is fortunate to be one of the few hospitals in the State with the medical expertise to perform such a complex procedure. We want to offer this life saving procedure to many more patients and give them a second chance at healthy living. Fortis hospitals across India have been leaders in the use of this technology,” said Dr. Vivek Jawali, Chairman, Dept. Of Cardio-Vascular Science, Fortis Hospitals, Bangalore.

Dr. Gopi, Consultant Interventional Cardiologist at Fortis Hospitals, Cunningham Road, who performed the procedure said, “Subba Rao was wheeled into the cath-lab on the day of the operation and after anesthesia, a small incision was put on the groin and a valve was mounted on a wire which was inserted into the artery of his leg. This valve was then deployed on the diseased aortic valve in the heart. In a day’s time the patient was able to move around without much stress. Such procedures are very effective as the recovery is fast and the success rate very high.

In India, only select medical centers which are pre-approved can perform the replacement procedure and that too under the guidance of world renowned medical experts. In this case Dr. Peters Andreka from Hungary was flown in specially to supervise this procedure.

Five days after surgery Subba Rao got discharged and is doing well. His family too has found new hope and is now eagerly waiting for his normalization and rapid recovery. “We are so happy to see him back on his feet as we had lost all hope at one time” said Subba Rao’s son Ramesh.

Congress leads in ZP, TP polls; BJP wins in DK, Udupi

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bjp-congress

Bengaluru/Mangaluru: The Congress in the state managed to secure a lead in more than 12 of the 30 zilla panchayats (ZP) in the recent elections held in two phases.

Trends indicated that the Congress was leading in Bidar, Chamarajanagar, Chitradurga, Gadag, Haveri, Kalaburagi, Kolar, Koppal, Ramanagaram, Tumakuru, Uttara Kannada and Yadgir ZPs.

The story was different in other districts with the BJP leading in Ballari, Bengaluru Urban, Chikkamagaluru, Davanagere, Kodagu and Shivamogga and in coastal districts of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi.

The JD(S) secured a lead in Mandya and Mysuru.

The counting of votes began on Tuesday morning at 8. The fate of 17,000 candidates was decided in the two phased-elections held on February 13 and 20.

(Agencies)

President for debate, discussion; not disruption of Parliament

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pranab-mukherjee

New Delhi: Parliament reflects the supreme will of the people, President Pranab Mukherjee said today in a strong criticism of disruption and obstruction and called upon all MPs to discharge their responsibilities in a spirit of cooperation and mutual accommodation.

In his customary address to the joint sitting of both the Houses of Parliament outlining government’s agenda in the coming financial year, he also declared that the government will constantly strive for smooth and construction conduct of Parliamentary business.

“Our Parliament reflects the supreme will of the people. Democratic temper calls for debate and discussion, and not disruption of obstruction.

“My government will constantly strive for smooth and constructive conduct of Parliamentary business. I urge all Members of Parliament to discharge their solemn responsibilities in a spirit of cooperation and mutual accommodation. Let us all collectively endeavour to build a flourishing and prosperous India,” he said.

The President remarks assume significance in the context of repeated disruption of business on various issues, loss of time of Parliament and the stalling of legislative business in Rajya Sabha where the government lacks majority.

The 20-page speech was heard in rapt attention by members in the central hall of Parliament whenever he spoke of the government achievements and new announcements.

“Let noble thoughts come from all directions, should be the spirit behind the debate in this temple of democracy. Being a member of this great institution bestows great honour as well as important responsibilities,” Mukherjee said.

Asserting that the government is fully committed to firmly dealing with all challenges concerning the security of the country, the President said terrorism is a global threat and strong counter-terrorism measures are necessary worldwide to eradicate it completely.

“Let me congratulate the security forces in successfully foiling the recent attack at the Pathankot air base by terrorists. Firm and effective steps will be taken to deal with any situation arising out of cross-border terrorism,” he said.

“My government is committed to forging a mutually respectful relationship with Pakistan and in creating an environment of cooperation in combating cross border terrorism,” Mukherjee said while referring to the government’s foreign policy.

He said the government believes in a secure and prosperous future for the neighbourhood while committing itself to the principle of ‘the world is one family’.

Elaborating on the focus of the government ‘development for all’ beyond just the economic advancements that dominate headlines, the President said the country must ensure that the poor and deprived were truly empowered to take advantage of opportunities to improve their lives.

“Development for all means that backward sections of society are equally valued and are genuine stakeholders in the country’s progress. Development for all implies that we tackle the pollution, traffic, and garbage problems that plague our cities,” he said.

Mukherjee said ‘development for all’ also meant development of the entire world which was why India has to be a responsible member of the global comity of nations helping humanity solve major challenges such as terrorism, climate change and financial instability.

The President said the government is focused on poverty eradication, farmers’ prosperity and massive employment generation.

“The overriding goal for my government is poverty eradication,” he said adding the poorest of the poor were entitled to the first charge on the nation’s resources.

Removing the scourge of poverty and destitution was government’s most sacred moral responsibility, Mukherjee said it was pledge to making this goal possible through financial inclusion and social security, the two wings on which human aspiration takes fight.

“To this end,l my government has placed great emphasis on food security, Housing for All and subsidies that reach those who need them the most, when they need them the most,” he said.

The President said under the ambitious Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojna he was proud to say that it was the world’s most successful financial inclusion programme.

“Under the programme, out of over 21 crore accounts opened, 15 crore accounts are operational with an aggregate deposit of over Rs.32,000 crore.

“The programme has gone beyond mere opening of bank accounts to becoming a platform for poverty eradication by offering basic financial services and security to the poor,” he said.

To universalise social security, the President said, the government has launched three new insurance and pension schemes which afford insurance to hitherto uncovered sections of society.

He said targeted subsidies ensure that benefits reach the deserving. Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) has so far been extended to 42 schemes funded by the government.

“PAHAL has become the largest direct cash transfer programme of its kind in the world, with nearly 15 crore beneficiaries. Since June 2014, the food security coverage has more than doubled to cover over 68 crore persons.”

The ‘Give-It-Up’ campaign in tandem with the Give-Back programmes has released subsidised fresh connections to 50 lakh below-poverty-line families.

“More than 62 lakh LPG consumers have voluntarily surrendered their LPG consumers have surrendered their LPG subsidy under the campaign. The highest number of new cooking gas connections to9 the rural poor were distributed in 2015,” he said.

The President said the government has fostered competitive cooperation among various states to enhance ‘Ease of Doing Business’. State governments were being encouraged and supported to simplify procedures, introduce e-enabled processes and invest in infrastructure to improve investment climate.

“A series of reforms have been initiated to help convert job seekers into job creators. My government has launched the Start-Up India campaign which would deepen, expand and support the innovation eco system in the country,” he said.

Mukherjee said a landmark agreement with Japan will make the Mumbai-Ahmedabad high speed rail corridor a reality.

By March 2019, under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana, 1.78 lakh habitations will be connected with all-weather roads.

“My government has revived a majority of the 73 stalled road projects, completed construction of 7,200 km of high ways and awarded 12,900 km of highway projects which is the highest-ever number of new highway kilometres awarded,” he said amidst thumping of desks by members.

India, the President, said is a haven of stability in an increasingly turbulent global economy. GDP growth has increased making India the world’s fastest growing economy among large economies. Inflation, fiscal deficit and current account deficit have all decreased.

India recorded the highest-ever foreign exchange reserves in 2015, he said. Mukherjee said the government’s concerted efforts to tackle the menace of black money have started yielding results.

With the enactment of the Black Money (Undisclosed Foreign Income and Assets) and Imposition of Tax Act, 2015, a stringent legislative framework has been put in place to combat the menace.

The Gold Monetisation Scheme and Sovereign Gold Bond Scheme in November, 2015 has been launched to ensure productive utilisation of idle assets.

He said the government has taken a number of measures to put in place a simplified, progressive and non-adversarial tax regime by incorporating international prevalent best practices in tax administration.

A gamut of taxpayer facilities like e-filing of returns and various forms, electronic processing and retrieval of documents and online grievance redressal are now available to the citizen, he said.

(PTI)

Women to have 20% representation in Home dept jobs in Karnataka

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G Parameshwara Karnataka

Bengaluru: Home Minister G Parameshwara said on Monday that priority would be given to women while filling up vacant posts in the police department.

Speaking to reporters after an inspection of the all-women police station in Basavanagudi, he said, “I have received inputs that proper representation should be given to women in police stations. The government will reserve about 20 per cent of the seats for women when recruitments happen in future,” the Home Minister said.

“Only about six per cent of the staff in all ranks of the Home department are women, which is very less. The government aims to increase the representation up to 20 per cent. Hence, women will be given priority during the recruitments,” he said and added that the hurdles for the promotion of women staff would be removed soon.He said 10 new women’s police stations were opened recently and the government would soon open a women’s police station in every district, he added. Parameshwara was at the police station for about one and half hours. He held separate meetings to redress grievances of the staff. He obtained inputs about the women’s police station and duties of the staff of various ranks.

The Home Minister checked the attendance register, crime statistics, cells, drinking water supply, rifles among other things.Parameshwara held a separate meeting with DCP (South) B S Lokesh Kumar and obtained some details.

The all-women police station in Basavanagudi was commissioned in 2003 and about 45 police stations come under it. The station has a sanctioned staff strength of 24 and at present, 14 posts are vacant. As many as 24 cases were registered in 2015, of which 11 pertained to dowry harassment. The staff seek the assistance of male police if the situation demands.

The assistance of the male police was sought in arresting two persons from Bihar in a dowry harassment case in January.

(Agencies)

Death toll from Fiji cyclone rises to 21

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Fiji-cyclone

by AsiaOne

Sydney: Fiji began a massive cleanup on Monday after one of the most powerful storms recorded in the southern hemisphere tore through the Pacific island nation, killing 21 people, flattening remote villages and cutting off communications.

Aid agencies warned of a widespread health crisis, particularly in low-lying areas where thousands of Fiji’s 900,000 people live in tin shacks, after crops were wiped out and fresh water supplies blocked.

The Fiji Broadcasting Corp, quoting the country’s National Disaster Management Office, said 21 people had died and four were still missing at sea.

Almost 8,000 people remained hunkered down in hundreds of evacuation centres across Fiji where they had headed before tropical cyclone Winston hit late on Saturday with winds of up to 325 kph (200 mph).

“The death toll from Cyclone Winston continues to rise and reports of widespread damage are coming in from across Fiji,” said New Zealand Foreign Minister Murray McCully. “It is clear that Fiji faces a major cleanup and recovery operation.”

McCully said a New Zealand Defence Force C-130 would leave for the Fijian capital, Suva, later on Monday with relief supplies and an emergency response team.

The majority of the fatalities were along the western coast and were caused mainly by flying debris and drowning in storm surges, authorities said.

A 36-hour curfew was lifted early on Monday, allowing the Fijian military to ramp up efforts to reach the more remote parts of the archipelago of about 300 islands.

“The Fijians are desperately trying to repair severed lines of communication, but they hold grave fears that the news waiting for them will be dire,” said Raijeli Nicole, Pacific regional director of aid group Oxfam.

“Given the intensity of the storm and the images we have seen so far, there are strong concerns that the death toll won’t stop climbing today and that hundreds of people will have seen their homes and livelihoods completely destroyed.”

Aerial footage of outlying islands taken by the Royal New Zealand Air Force, and posted on the Fiji government’s official website, showed whole villages flattened and flooded.

Aid agencies were told at a meeting of Fiji’s National Emergency Operations Centre on Monday of potential “catastrophic” damage to Koro Island, Fiji’s seventh-largest island.

“The aerial survey suggested the runway looks OK so they are going to land on this later this afternoon with emergency personal and some supplies,” said Anna Cowley of CARE Australia.

Fiji also reopened its main airport at Nadi.

Food and water supplies are a growing concern, even for areas such as Suva that did not suffer as much damage as the more remote regions.

The Consumer Council of Fiji has urged traders not to sell food and other perishable items that have gone bad due to the effects of the cyclone. The Council’s chief executive Premila Kumar said supermarkets and other food stores should destroy such items.

Survivors spoke of the horror of the cyclone, while aid workers scrambled to help victims.

“The noise was deafening. At one point, I turned to my partner and questioned whether we would actually survive,” Sarah Bingham, an Australian on holiday on Tokoriki Island, told Reuters by telephone.

Paranoid Nationalism Doesn’t Make Us Secure: Admiral Ramdas

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Admiral Ramdas. Photo: IE

Admiral Ramdas. Photo: IE

by Admiral Laxminarayan Ramdas

I have been a proud member of the uniformed fraternity for nearly forty-five years before retiring as Head of the Indian Navy in 1993. The present turbulence in our top academic institutions together with continuing manifestations of mob violence, totalitarian behaviour and intolerance, impel me once again, to speak up and share my concerns through this open letter. My two recent letters to the President and Prime Minister have not elicited more than a routine bureaucratic response. I am well aware that I may be one of the few from the fraternity of retired military veterans who continue to take public positions which might not always be in support of government policy. However, I see this is both a right and a duty of a former serviceman and a citizen like myself. I am well aware that serving members in uniform cannot express themselves as per the service conduct rules. However, we veterans out of uniform certainly can and must. If people like myself are quiet today, my grandchildren will ask me “If not you then who”, “if not now, then when”, Thatha?

I refer to the train of events that began with the tragic suicide of Rohith Vemula at Hyderabad Central University (HCU) in December 2015 and continues till today with the unresolved JNU saga. The unprecedented entry of police into the Campus, the ensuing high decibel, high voltage “trial by media”, and subsequent student arrests under serious charges ranging from sedition, anti nationalism and terrorism, has hit headlines across the country. This has created an avoidable polarisation of views thanks to the entire episode having been handled with a lack of sensitivity and blown into a full scale crisis where students are being demonised and conspiracy theories abounding. Thousands of students and civil society groups as well as journalists, have been out on the streets of Delhi taking out some of the biggest, peaceful rallies seen in recent times.

Looking Back

Let me briefly rewind to my personal profile so as to better understand where I am coming from.

I joined the fledgling Indian Navy in January 1949 – barely 16 months after we gained our independence. It was a time of great expectations, big dreams and opportunities. The selection for entry into the Armed Forces of a resurgent India at the end of the sustained struggle against British colonial rule, was heady indeed for a young fifteen year old. Those 45 years in the Navy provided me a panoramic view of events that have unfolded across the world stage. And certainly I had a ring side view of events in an India that had been traumatised by the unprecedented brutality and slaughter of partition – the scars of which linger on in my personal and our collective consciousness on both sides of our borders.

Brick by brick, step by painful step, leaders and citizens together created and built a vision of a new and a free India. This vision, the product of long and tough debates within the Constituent Assembly, sought to encompass the huge and often conflicting diversities that had to be accommodated within the framework of a path breaking Constitutional document. Incorporating the often divergent views of an impressive range of thinkers and visionaries, the Indian Constitution firmly rejected a narrow, exclusionary monoculture in favour of a revolutionary definition of nationhood that was inclusive, confident and transformative under the guiding hand of Baba Saheb Ambedkar.

Armed Forces and the Nation

The Armed Forces of this newly independent nation were an equal part of this combined effort of nation building in a variety of ways -trained as we were to conduct ourselves with discipline and professionalism combined with compassion and a sense of our common humanity and purpose.

The unspoken and sacred credo has been that those in the armed forces will remain a-political. Indeed we forgo many of the normal rights as a citizen, enshrined in the Constitution when we join the Armed Forces. The accepted practice of honouring the principle of political control over the armed forces has been followed without exception ever since independence. However, the quid pro quo of this arrangement, unwritten as it is, implies that the government of the day will discharge its responsibilities towards the people [including the military] with honour and integrity.

After retirement each of us uniformed persons reverts to being a citizen of India, with all the implications of rights, duties and responsibilities that citizenship implies. The Regulations Navy/Army/Airforce are no longer in force. Whether in or out of uniform – we veterans have valued our right to vote – the hall mark of our democratic polity. Exercising our vote does mean that each of us would also choose a particular political position or perspective. The four decades of service in a maturing yet turbulent democracy most certainly impacted my political thinking post retirement.

Man of War to Man of Peace

After my retirement in September 1993, I moved to a village in Alibag, Maharashtra, where I practice organic farming and continue to live till today. Living in rural India has been a total re-education and one which has given me profound insights . I have shared the ups and downs of the life of an ordinary farmer – influenced by the vagaries of weather and pollution, local politics, threats of being evicted for so called development under SEZ, and much more. My years in uniform and first hand experience of two wars, together with a closer understanding of the imminent agrarian crisis which affects some 70% of our population, has directly influenced my belief that true liberation or “azadi” from poverty and hunger, will only come when and if the elites of this land demonstrate greater integrity and less greed. Recent disclosures by the RBI in response to an RTI question by the Indian Express revealed that an amount of 2.11 lakh crores of loans are still owing to the public sector banks by Industry. It has been reported that nearly half of this amount has been written off between 2013 and 2015 by the Govt as bad loans. Surprisingly neither this information nor its impact on the economy has yet been divulged by the Finance Ministry. And yet we have heard strong criticism about the petty amounts granted for education of scholars from weaker sections , in JNU and other universities, as examples of tax payers money being ill spent! We seldom question the fact that loans too come from tax payers money.

To achieve a more just society based on sustainable development, we must build peace through better neighbourhood management. This means finding political solutions to existing problems. Then alone can we reduce our spending on armaments, regulate consumption, balance energy demands, and provide citizens with food , shelter, education, health and employment. I have led and been part of a sustained movement against SEZs in Raigad, and continue to push initiatives for renewable energy. Concerns over safety, cost and waste disposal, have contributed to my active engagement with the movement for Nuclear Disarmament and to end nuclear power by finding carbon free and nuclear free solutions. Efforts to strengthen the peace dividend have led me to take on leadership of organisations like the PIPFPD [Pakistan India Peoples Forum for Peace and Democracy]and IPSI [India Pakistan Soldiers Initiative for Peace] . Both PIPFPD and IPSI have promoted people to people contact and better relations with Pakistan. I am also totally opposed to Capital Punishment and the Death Penalty, as also the continued imposition of the draconian Armed Forces Special Powers Act [AFSPA ] – about which I have written and spoken publicly in several fora.

In my view each of the above, constitute areas of engagement which we as citizens not only have a right but a duty to address, even if it is against the policy of any particular government of the day. Does any of the above make me or anyone else anti national? Or less patriotic ? or a Desh Drohi?

I believe not.

My stand on this derives from the principle that political parties and governments alike are bound by the Constitution of the land. Every citizen has the right and the freedom to think and express views without fear of reprisal. The obsolete colonial law of sedition has no place in a modern democracy.

Therefore the question arises : why are we arraigning a Rohith Vemula, a Kanhaiya Kumar and an Umed Khalid under charges of being anti-national, seditious or terrorist activities? From available material it appears that these three young men were only acting to further the objectives outlined in our constitution and not indulging in any anti-national activity.

Nationalism And Who Defines It

In some ways it is a good thing that the death of Vemula, the arrest of Kanhaiya and the witch hunt against Umed Khalid, have actually led to a public debate about the definition of national and anti national, as also of the deeper and more intractable issues around caste, religion and discrimination in our society. The linked question regarding who, if anyone, has the right to decide on my nationalism or lack of it, is equally vexed and needs a longer, more mature discussion. To the best of my knowledge this has not been done since Independence. The existing laws and practice on this are largely inherited from the colonial period and were never addressed in a contemporary framework. This is critical for a mature democracy. Jingoism, waving the national flag, and shouting slogans , are not equivalent to a certification of patriotism. Upping the ante and making allegations of seditious behaviour and terrorist ties – may not pass judicial scrutiny. Many have publicly disagreed with the sloganeering and forms of protest, but none of this is new or radical . Certainly it is ludicrous to think that a few students can threaten the unity of the country, as is sought to be established by some media houses and their invisible paymasters.

If anything has been a matter of deep concern to someone like me, it is the spectacle of alleged members of the legal profession being allowed to run amok in the courtroom and to both threaten and actually assault scribes, students, teachers and Kanhaiya Kumar. All this, while the large numbers of police present apparently stood by and did nothing from all accounts. This is unacceptable from a uniformed, and a so called disciplined police force.

I have been through the wide range of written reports, and audio-visual material available in the public domain on the JNU and HCU imbroglio. The real tragedy to me lies in the fact that this entire exercise of raising the alarm on foreign funded, possibly terrorist and seditious activies, has been orchestrated in order to demand the shutting down and ‘sanitising‘ such a prestigious institution. One is forced to conclude that this smacks of a ‘false flag exercise’. And this is serious. By all means investigate the matter; allow the university officials to handle the students with appropriate disciplinary action. But great discretion and caution must be exercised before calling in the police; and worse , to make serious charges of sedition.

Way Ahead

Those who are leading the clamour for shutting down and/or “sanitisation” of JNU seem to have no idea of what this implies, and are exhibiting a frightening tendency to follow the mob blindly.

This might be a good moment to remind ourselves that in addition to being held in high esteem internationally, JNU is also among the few universities in India which recognises the courses run by Military Institutions like the NDA, NDC, the Naval Academy and others. Ties between service institutions and university departments have been carefully forged in order that our military personnel continue to benefit from these interactions and remain at the cutting edge of the latest strategic thinking. There are several service personnel who have had the benefit of attending academic courses at JNU and indeed are among the Alumnii. There are also civil servants and police officers who are in a similar category. I have intentionally mentioned this so that my band of brothers and sisters amongst ex-service veterans will carefully weigh the consequences of any hasty actions such as returning degrees and awards.

I have outlined at some length the many reasons for why I write this note today. It is imperative that senior public figures like myself and others speak out, to raise an alarm, before it is too late. Recent history has shown us that totalitarian regimes have come to power because good people chose to keep silent. Above all else it is imperative that we must preserve our democratic spaces and the freedom, indeed the right, to question, to dissent and to debate – especially in our institutions of higher learning. JNU has been a frontrunner in producing thinkers and professionals who are not scared to speak out. Frankly, after listening carefully to the speech of the young union leader – Kanhaiya – it left me with a reassuring feeling that all must be well in this complex and disparity riddled country if a young man in his twenties can speak with such compassion, intellect and passion about the real challenges and dangers we face in this land.

Far more than saluting a flag [which of course I continue to do with honour and respect] – it is the thoughts articulated by young idealists like a Rohit Vemula, a Kanhaiya Kumar, a Shehla Rashid and yes a Umar Khaled all of whom together with the many unnamed and unsung women and men across this country, embody the true spirit of nationalism and patriotism. We must collectively ensure that we not only protect those who have not yet been pushed to take the extreme steps like Rohith Vemula, but ensure that justice is promised and done to those presently in custody or forced into hiding, for fear of their lives.

In the ultimate analysis , human security is the best guarantee for National Security.

Admiral Laxminarayan Ramdas is a former Chief of Naval Staff. This article first appeared on The Citizen.

Music Composer Khayyam Turns 90 Years

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khayyam

On the occasion of Khayyam’s 90th birthday he & his wife announced the formation of “Khayyam Pradeep Jagjit Kaur” Trust and its trustees! Ghazal singer Talat Aziz as one of the trustees. Leading light of the Indian Music Fraternity, legendary music director Khayyam Saab celebrated his 90th birth anniversary. Recipient of the National Award – Government of India, Khayyam Saab is among the last living composers of Hindi films’ golden era of music.

The evening had Khayyam Saab & his wife Mrs. Jagjit Kaur announce the Trust & its trustees which was the highlight of the evening. The name of the trust is “Khayyam Pradeep Jagjit Kaur (KPJ Charitable Trust)” to extend a helping hand to all the needy & the aspiring people from Music Fraternity. Khayyam Saab has given away his entire wealth for the trust. Khayyam Saab also announced renowned Ghazal singer Talat Aziz as one of the trustees of “Khayyam Pradeep Jagjit Kaur Trust (KPJ Charitable Trust)” .

Fans & well wishers came to wish Khayaam Saab on his 90th Birth Anniversary. The evening also saw the presence of Talat Aziz & Bina Aziz.

Recalling his special association with him Talat Aziz averred, “Khayyam Saab is a living legend. The Indian Music Industry has never witnessed a gem like him. There was another aspect of Khayyam Saab’s work that sets him apart from other composers namely his non – filmi ghazals. Do you know that he is the only composer whose compositions Begum Akhtar recorded for HMV in her entire career? Otherwise she has sung only her own songs. Throughout his career and especially during his sabbaticals from Bollywood, he recorded many ghazals including 1 album with Rafi Saheb which drew a niche but devoted set of fans. I am overwhelmed to be a part of this evening as everyone knows that he was the 1st one to introduce me to the world of film music in the classic Umrao Jaan. And speaking of Umrao Jaan who can forget “Dil cheez kya hai aap meri jaan lijiye” sung brilliantly by none other than Ashaji. His songs in films with all the greats like Talat Mahmood, Lataji, Rafi Saheb, Mukesh ji are now part of Bollywood music history. May God Bless him with good health.”

Music director Khayyam Saab has composed music for just over 50 films in his long career, yet his impact on listeners has been far greater than many who scored for several hundred movies. Like Dilip Kumar amongst actors, Khayyam Saab too shines out with his majestic performance. No wonder connoisseurs hold Khayyam
Saab in high esteem for his immaculate standards of musical harmony, as his creativity symbolises Victor Hugo’s irrefutable belief that “music expresses that which cannot be put into words and that which cannot remain silent”.

Choosing a favourite from his songs is a difficult proposition, but who can ever forget the pious yearning of “Woh subah kabhi toh aayegi”, the heart wrenching “Jaane kya dhoondhti rehti hain ye aankhen”, the cry of “Bujha diye hain khud apne haathon se”, the romantic tease of “Thehriye hosh mein aa lun toh chale jaayega” or the love ballad of “Kahin ek masoom nazuk si ladki”?

Naming some of his few films namely Phir Subha Hogi (1958), Shagoon (1964), Aakhri Khat (1966), Kabhie Kabhie (1976), Trishul (1978),Thodisi Bewafaii (1980), Umrao Jaan (1981), Dard (1981), Ahista Ahista (1981), Bazaar (1982) et

Khayyam Saab was the only Music Composer whose composition Begum Akhtar recorded for HMV in her entire career. Khayyam was still to deliver his best and the opportunity came in Muzaffar Ali’s Umrao Jaan in 1981. He made Asha Bhonsle sing songs which are indisputably her best. “In Aankhon ki masti ke”, “Ye Kya Jagah hai doston” & “Dil Cheez kya hai” are evergreen.

Khayyam Saab, who never kept a team of assistants, credits his success to his beloved wife Jagjit Kaur & his son Late Pradeep whose been a part of his musical journey applauding them as his greatest strength and inspiration. Khayyam Saab was always effusive with his praise for his wife Jagjit Kaur. She may have been behind the scenes but was a key element in Khayyam Saab’s success. It seems appropriate to recognize their partnership with the only film song they sang together “Kab yaad mein tera saath nahin’ (Anjuman, 1986).

Declared as one of the greatest Bollywood Music Directors of all time, Khayyam Saab has triumphed upon the hearts of millions with his unique style of music. He has carved his name on prestigious awards like: “Best Music Director Of The Millennium” – Government of Punjab, Filmfare “Lifetime Achievement Award”, Madhya Pradesh “State Award”, “Ashok Award” – Government of Punjab, BFJA’s “Best Music Director” Award, UPFJA’s “Best Music Of Quarter Century” Award, K.L. Saigal Award by Javitri Vikas Samiti, Sangeet Natak Award Academy, Government of Maharashtra Award, Deenanath Mangeshkar Award, CINTAA Award, IMPPA Award, Urdu Marakaz Mumbai Award, Shri Yash Laxmi Art Pune, Award, Awami Haridas Award, Bhagwati Saraswati Puraskar, Talkie 75 Scroll of Honour, MAMI Award, Naushad Sangeet Kendra Samman, Cinegoer Association Award, Asha Bhosle Puraskar, to name a few.

All 3 militants killed as 48-hour-long Pampore gunfight ends

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Pampore

Srinagar: The 48-hour long gunfight in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pampore town in which six people, including five security personnel, were killed so far ended on Monday evening with security forces saying they had killed three guerrillas hiding in the JKEDI complex.

“Security forces have killed three militants in the JKEDI (Jammu and Kashmir Entrepreneurship Development Institute) complex in Pampore town and their bodies have been recovered.

“Firing exchanges have stopped and room-to-room searches of the multi-storeyed building where the militants were hiding are going on,” a senior police officer told IANS here.

The 48-hour long gunfight between a group of heavily-armed guerrillas and security forces had started on Saturday when guerrillas attacked a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) bus at Sempora (Pampore) on the Srinagar-Jammu national highway.

Two CRPF troopers identified as head constable Bhola Prasad and driver constable R.K.Rana had died in that attack, and the assailants had fled to the nearby JKEDI complex for shelter.

Security forces immediately surrounded the complex, but the operation against the guerrillas was started only after around 120 trainees and staff members were safely evacuated from the complex.

The army took over the operation against the guerrillas, believed to belong to Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) outfit, with a group of specially-trained para commandos being brought in to flush them out.

However, two officers of the elite Para Regiment – Capt. Pawan Kumar of 10 Para and Capt. Tushar Mahajan of 9 Para regiment – who were leading from the front were killed in the operation after they entered the multi-storeyed building which guerrillas were using as a fortified bunker.

Captain Kumar belonged to Haryana’s Jind district in Haryana while Captain Mahajan belonged to Udhampur town in the Jammu region.

Another commando identified as Lance Naik Om Prakash was injured in the operation and succumbed in hospital on Sunday.

A civilian, Abdul Gani Mir of Gundipora village in Pulwama district, who worked as a gardener at the institute was also killed in the gunfight.

As may as 15 other security personnel including an assistant commandant of the CRPF have been injured in the gunfight and are being treated in hospital.

At least 15 protesters were injured in Pampore town on Monday in clashes with security forces.

The protesters had defied curfew-like restrictions and were trying to carry out a march towards the site of the gunfight.

(IANS)

Police name suspect in Michigan shootings

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Uber driver Jason Dalton, who has no known criminal history, suspected of killing at least six people.

Dalton's arrest came after a manhunt following Saturday night's shootings in Kalamazoo

Dalton’s arrest came after a manhunt following Saturday night’s shootings in Kalamazoo

by Al Jazeera

US police have publicly identified a man suspected of driving around the Michigan city of Kalamazoo and randomly shooting people, leaving at least six dead.

Jeff Hadley, Kalamazoo department of public safety chief, named the suspect as Jason Dalton, 45, of Kalamazoo county, the AP news agency reported.

Dalton, an Uber driver, reportedly has no known criminal history. The transport company confirmed that the suspect was one of its employees.

It said in a statement it was “horrified and heartbroken”, adding that it offered help in the investigation.

Jeff Getting, Kalamazoo county prosecutor, said authorities were investigating a Facebook post saying the suspect was an Uber driver driving erratically around the time of the shootings.

Michigan police earlier launched a manhunt after six people were killed and several others injured in seemingly random shootings near a Kalamazoo car dealership and restaurant late on Saturday night.

Michigan police earlier arrested a man whose car matched a description of the suspect’s.

Paul Matyas, Kalamazoo county undersheriff, described a rampage that began at about 6pm on Saturday on the eastern edge of Kalamazoo county, where a woman was shot several times and seriously wounded.

A little more than four hours later, a father and his 18-year-old son were fatally shot while looking at cars at the dealership.

Fifteen minutes after that, five people – including the teenage girl who police originally said had been killed, based on a pronouncement by medical officials – were shot in the car park of a Cracker Barrel restaurant along Interstate 94, Matyas said.

Matyas later told the WWMT TV network at the time of Dalton’s arrest that the suspect “voluntarily” gave himself up after he was approached by police.

“The threat to the public is over. This is your worst nightmare when you have someone driving around killing people,” Matyas said.

Kalamazoo, with a population of about 75,000, is west of Detroit.

It is home to Western Michigan University and the headquarters of popular craft beer maker Bell’s Brewery.

The city also is known for the anonymously funded Kalamazoo Promise programme, which for more than a decade has paid for college tuition of students who graduate from Kalamazoo Public Schools.

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