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India ranks near bottom of nuclear material security index

By
Afternoon Voice
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security-indexIndia has been ranked below its two nuclear-armed neighbours – Pakistan and China – in the list of countries with a weak nuclear material security in the world, according to a US-based think-tank.

In the 2014 Nuclear Threat Initiative’s Nuclear Materials Security Index released on Thursday, India has been ranked 23rd out of 25 countries with weapons-usable nuclear materials.

India received 41 out of 100 points, which is improvement by one point from the 2012 score.

For comparison, China received 64 points and has been ranked at 20th spot, while Pakistan with 46 points stands at 22nd place.

India and these countries are included in the list of 25 countries with one kilogram or more of these materials, which also includes all other nuclear-armed states.

The Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI) said this improvement reflects India’s first contribution to the IAEA Nuclear Security Fund. “Overall, however, India’s score remains low.”

This is due to a number of factors, including weak regulations that are written as guidance rather than as requirements; increasing quantities of weapons-usable nuclear materials for both civilian and military use and gaps in its regulatory structure such as a lack of an independent regulatory agency.

External risk factors, such as high levels of corruption, which undermine confidence in implementation or enforcement of security measures and also increase the risk that officials may contribute (even unwittingly) to the theft of nuclear material are also among the factors, it added.

Both India and China improved their scores since 2012 by one point by contributing to the IAEA Nuclear Security Fund, which supports the implementation of nuclear security activities, the report said.

In comparing both countries, India scored higher than China on the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1540 related to nuclear security issues.

China, however, scored higher in a number of areas, including: the existence of an independent regulatory agency; having invited a peer review of its nuclear security arrangements; and having strong regulations for control and accounting of materials.

Pakistan received 46 out of 100 possible points compared to India’s 41, the report said, adding that both countries improved their scores since 2012. Pakistan improved its score by publishing new regulations for the physical protection of nuclear facilities.

In comparing both countries, India scored higher than Pakistan on international legal commitments because India has adopted all of the relevant treaties whereas Pakistan has not.

Pakistan, however, scored higher in a number of areas, including: the existence of an independent regulatory agency; having invited peer review of its nuclear security arrangements; and having security and other personnel with access to nuclear materials subjected to additional vetting.

In addition, Pakistan has an operational Center of Excellence (COE), whereas the foundation stone for India’s COE, the Global Center for Nuclear Energy Partnership, was laid on January 3, 2014, it said.

In its report, NTI said India was briefed on the Index, along with other countries.

“Unfortunately, India did not use the opportunity to review and confirm the data, a process through which governments can choose to provide responses to one, some, or all questions depending on their sensitivities and help ensure the accuracy of the data,” it said.

“Out of the 25 countries with weapons usable nuclear materials, 17 (more than two-thirds) responded to the data review and confirmation request (including nuclear-weapons states such as France, the UK, and the US),” the report said.

Toilet stunt of MNS

By
Prakash Jha
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Toilet-stunt-MNSPolitical parties often overlook the real issues which are affecting the country and instead focus on splurging the tax-payers money for garnering cheap publicity. The swanky new air conditioned lavatory constructed by the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena at Western Expressway, Kandivali (E) is an example of good politics taking precedence over bad economics. The MNS party which is known for its aggressive style of politics has wasted the tax-payers hard earned money by constructing this luxurious lavatory.

A sofa set costing around 2.5 lakhs, a 42-inch inch LCD television and air conditioner costing more than 2 lakhs is installed inside the lavatory. The public toilet is constructed on a 3,000 sq ft area and it has separate cubicles for men and women. It has air conditioned changing room and washroom for visitors.

When our correspondent visited the toilet he found that it was empty. On the other hand, Kandivali residents are unhappy with the MNS party’s decision to splurge money on such kind of projects at a time when the common man is gripped by rising inflation and corruption.

Sunita Landge, a housewife from Kandivali slum said, “People residing in slums have to use poorly maintained public toilets which emanate a bad odour. The party could have instead spend this money on the upkeep of the existing toilets which are in dire straits.”

Sachin Yadav, a BSC student said, “Politicians should stop wasting tax payer’s hard earned money for constructing airconditioned toilets. They could have utilised the money for constructing more toilets for people residing in slums.”

The swanky new toilet was commissioned by MNS MLA Pravin Darekar through the money allocated under the MLA development fund

Vandaya Patil, an accountant from Malad said, “Many public toilets are unhygienic and are poorly illuminated. Whatever money the MNS had spent for constructing the lavatory could have been used for the maintenance of those toilets which are unhygienic.”

The lavatory was inaugurated by the MNS chief Raj Thackeray on Saturday, 5th January, 2014.
Nagesh Shoda, a vendor from Kandivali said, “The city needs more toilets. It’s a good initiative to construct swanky toilet but the party could have constructed more toilets without spending on television sets, sofas etc.”

More than 15 lakh rupees have been spend by Darekar for the construction of the toilet.
Ashok Ghag, a shopkeeper by profession said, “Public toilets don’t require ACs. It is not a right step to spend money on luxury toilets when people are struggling to have two square meals.”

Four to five personnel have been appointed for the maintenance of the public toilet. People will not be charged for using urinals but they will have to pay five rupees for using toilet and Rs 25 for taking bath.

Experts of vandalism!

By
Vaidehi Taman
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The attack was ill-starred but so was the comment made by Bhushan. This is not the first time he has made such statement on Kashmir. AAP leaders should speak on real national issues in Kashmir as they did in Delhi. Whatever Bhushan has said is his personal opinion and not appreciable by many, although it’s wrong by the people to attack his office. BJP is anyways blood thirsty of AAP as they have ruined their golden dreams. After a long time, BJP came in lime light and managed to grab some votes and public attention but AAP spoiled their chances. Same thing happened to Congress; Aam Aadmi Party took their votes by defeating them with a bigger margin. Moreover, for those seeking proof of BJP’s hand in attack, the person caught on CCTV is Vishnu Gupta. He is Modi’s supporter. He is the same fellow who protested outside Advani’s house when Advani was against Modi’s PM candidature. Need say more? This is the problem with the BJP and its affiliates. They do not understand the sentiments of Indian people. It was for this reason that the party was voted out heavily. The BJP affiliates need to upgrade their knowledge of current India and the thinking of its people if they are not to look more and more incongruous, irrelevant and dangerous to public peace and well-being. You and AK are and have been making anti national statements for quite some time in the name of right to freedom of expression. Governments today have failed to act for people like us for unknown reasons.

We may not like what Prashant Bhushan says or what ArunJaitely says, but one cannot obstruct their speech. Identifying political views with religion is extremely stupid in a country like India. The Manipur Valley is populated by the Meithei, ninety percent of who are followers of the Hindu religion. Rebel leader RajkumarMeghen presently under detention, demands a referendum. In my view, if a referendum is held, Meithei Manipur will go the RajkumarMeghen way. Next five years AAP leaders should work hard to deliver the promise they made to Delhi people. Thousands of unemployed youth of Delhi are looking at AAP hoping they will get a job during Kejriwal’s tenure. Thousands of Delhi women are hoping Kejriwal will put full stop to crime against women. Slum dwellers of Delhi are hoping that they will get better house to live with uninterrupted power supply and a piped water connection. AAP should stand true to the people’s aspirations. AAP leaders should avoid saying anything on sensitive national issues where they lack the qualification and thus become the victim of their own success. Before playing any role on national level, AAP should prove itself in Delhi otherwise who will believe them? It is very good, if all political parties learn that violence and vandalism is not a solution for any problem. This is a modern era. People are educated and cultured, especially; an organisation which stands for Hindu ideals and culture should not deteriorate like this. People did not select AAP blindly.Because common folk have full trust in AAP, AAP can bring about wonderful changes in our socio-economic and political system. Attack is bad and is to be unambiguously condemned.

Prashant Bhushan’s views also need unequivocal condemnation. This bad attack and playing the victim does not justify Prashant Bhushan’s stand. After all this, Kejriwal’s comment shows bravery and patience. I agree with whatever he said, how on earth all those who barks about Kashmir can take law in their hand…if u have solution let’s sit and apply it….what Prashant Bhushan said was his own view and everyone is free to air their views…if by somebody’s personal view if we start kicking then why have this Ram Sene and Hindu Rakshak raid on BJP office for Advani’s secular Jinnah comment….saying Jinnah as secular means whatever we have learned so far about partition was wrong….if people have anger you may very well protest peacefully…go and debate with AAP…they are ready for it…but attacking somebody shows that it is purely an act of cowardness where many people in the crowd terrorise innocents….

Prashant Bhushan will neither learn anything nor forget anything. When Anna Hazare’sLokpal movement had gathered steam in 2011, he had asked for a plebiscite in J&K to determine if the people of that state wanted to continue to be part of the Indian Union. His Gandhian mentor promptly pulled him up as did the entire political establishment. His latest statement calling for a referendum in the Valley to decide on deployment of the army has met a similar fate. In a rare display of unanimity, all parties, including his own AAP, rapped the activist-turned-politician hard on his knuckles. Hopefully, PrashantBhushan will learn to observe restrain in future , more so now since his party rode to power in Delhi. This forced him to issue a clarification but one that has only added to the confusion. While stating that he had never doubted J&K’s status as an integral unit of India, he also added that he wanted people to be consulted in case the army was used for reasons other than defending borders and preventing infiltration. This latter bit is pure mumbo-jumbo. The job of the armed forces is to guard the frontiers and also provide security to people who bear the brunt of Pakistan-backed terrorist activities in the Valley. No other reasons come into play. PrashantBhushan has put forth his views on Kashmir issue. He only spoke about public consent living in Kashmir. The matter can be very well ignored if majority in democracy are against it. Attacking AAP office is bigger crime of creating unrest and defying democracy.

The army has done this with admirable success in border areas and indeed even in other parts of J&K thanks to its many social and cultural schemes. But more needs to be done, particularly to counter allegations of human rights abuses. The positive response to its recent move to court martial six soldiers charged with staging a fake encounter should serve as an eye-opener. This is all the more significant given the latest rift in the separatists’ ranks. Several constituents of the Hurriyat Conference have revolted against Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and his moderate allies allegedly for betraying the ‘true aspirations’ of Kashmiri people. The tide is clearly turning against separatists. People like PrashantBhushan, whose party aspires to play a national role, shouldn’t be allowed to make any loose comment, by attacking other political parties, BJP supporters damaging the future of Modi as PM of this country. These kinds of attacks may horrify people. Communal BJP is back in news just because Modi changed his stand on development. These attackers might prove him wrong. One has to be very careful looking at the future of this country.

Nine burnt alive as fire breaks out in Bandra-Dehradun train

By
Afternoon Voice
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train-on-fireNine persons were charred to death in their sleep when a fire broke out in three coaches of the Bandra-Dehradun Express in neighbouring Thane district in the wee hours today, the second fire mishap on a train within a fortnight.

The fire erupted in one of the three coaches and soon spread to other two coaches when the passengers were sleeping at about 2.50 AM.

Among the nine dead, one is a woman and four are men while the rest were yet to be identified, said Western Railway PRO Sharat Chandra.

Four persons have sustained minor injuries, said police.

The affected coaches were S-2 S-3 and S-4. The maximum numbers of passengers were in S-4 (64) followed by 54 in S-2 and three in S-3.

Railway Minister Mallikarjun Kharge has expressed grief over the death of passengers and announced an ex-gratia of Rs five lakh each to the next of kin of those killed.

Rs one lakh will be given to those seriously injured and a sum of Rs 50,000 will be given to those who received minor injuries, Chairman, Railway Board, Arunendra Kumar said.

The commissioner of Railway Safety will conduct an inquiry into the fire incident, he said.

“The cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained. However, the fire has been put out and the train has made its forward journey,” Kumar said.

Railway sources said short circuit cannot be ruled out as burnt cables were found lying under the electric board of S-3 coach.

Mumbai University students, teachers find support in AAP

By
Afternoon Voice
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Mumbai_professorStudents and teachers unions have found support in Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in their agitation at Mumbai University in support of a suspended professor.

The university has been rocked by protests from students and professors who have condemned Vice Chancellor Rajan Velukar’s decision to suspend Prof Neeraj Hatekar on Saturday.

AAP leader Mayank Gandhi today visited the protestors to show support at the varsity’s Kalina campus in Santa Cruz.

Gandhi said, “This is a case of corruption. Hatekar was suspended for raising various issues pertaining to administration of the university and he was suspended without being issued a show cause notice.”

The suspension order of Prof Hatekar, a fellow of Cambridge University, said the varsity’s management council had taken serious note of Hatekar’s “misinformation” to newspapers and his holding a press conference.

Hatekar is also convenor of the Joint Action Committee for Improvement of Higher Education in Maharashtra, a body that has protested the lack of transparency in the appointment of the vice-chancellor.

Hatekar and others had earlier claimed that Velukar’s academic and publication records did not meet the qualification criteria for the post.

VC Velukar had said that law granted him the power to suspend Hatekar and that he had ordered a departmental inquiry against him.

However, Hatekar said his suspension was arbitrary, illegal and he would legally challenge the decision. He also charged that the university was administered by those who were not academically qualified.

“There are set rules for suspension and management council has to pass a resolution. However, Vice Chancellor Velukar in the suspension order says management council has taken serious view of my press conference and was suspending me. Vice Chancellor has no powers to suspend,” he added.

Since yesterday, students and teachers staged protests against the suspension. A signature campaign was initiated and the department of economics also submitted a resolution to authorities defending Hatekar’s right to free speech.

Students said Hatekar has been struggling for better facilities for student community. On December 12, 2013, Hatekar had held a press conference in which he had spoken about alleged mismanagement by Velukar.

Maharashtra Cabinet meets today to decide on reducing power tarrifs

By
Afternoon Voice
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NirupamMaharashtra cabinet led by Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan is scheduled to meet on Wednesday to decide on reducing the existing power tariffs for residential, commercial and industrial consumers across the state.

Today’s cabinet meets comes in the wake of demands made by AICC secretary and MP Sanjay Nirupam that Maharashtra government should also reduce tariff for power consumption of less than 500 units per month in the city.

The Congress MP demanded a cut in power tarrif apparently taking cue from Delhi government’s decision of 50 percent cut in power tariff.

In a letter to Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan, the Mumbai North Lok Sabha MP said power tariff should be substantially reduced for those whose consumption is less than 500 units per month.

The Congress MP said if the legitimate expectation of the entire middle class and slum population is not met in the immediate future, he will launch an agitation against the government.

Nirupam also demanded that an inquiry be set up to investigate the cost structure and pricing mechanism adopted by power distribution companies.

He said the Delhi government’s decision will benefit the middle class and slum dwellers.

Reacting to Nirupam’s demand, the Chief Minister said, “The state has to think on the extent of relief it can give to consumers.”

However, Chavan indicated that the government is thinking about the quantum of relief and had more or less made up its mind to go ahead with the plan.

A decision might be taken in about a fortnight, some state government officials also said.

In today’s meting, the cabinet is expected to discus sops for electricity consumers in the state and possible ways to reduce tariffs in Mumbai and other areas.

Media reports said that the Maharashtra government would need Rs 1,600 crore to reduce power bills by 50% for those consuming less than 400 units a month in Mumbai (the model that the AAP government in Delhi has decided to implement).

State cabinet sources said the Narayan Rane committee had already given positive recommendations in this regard and suggested a range of subsidies that could vary between Rs 2,000 crore and Rs 8,000 crore.

Though Mumbai was not in the scope of the Rane committee’s report, the city’s scenario too was discussed at length and it was decided to come out with some sops for Mumbai consumers too.

No decision yet on quantum of seat sharing between Congress, NCP: Thakre

By
Afternoon Voice
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manikraoNo final decision has been taken yet on the quantum of seats to be shared by Congress and NCP in Maharashtra for the ensuing elections, state unit president Manikrao Thakre said here on Tuesday.

“The central leadership will take the final decision on the seat sharing issue,” Thakre said, after a meeting of MPCC office-bearers attended by Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan.

In 2009 Lok Sabha elections, Congress had fielded candidates from 26 of the total 48 seats in the state, leaving 22 for NCP.

However, a final decision is yet to be taken on this 26:22 formula for this year’s polls, he said.

NSEL crisis: Arrest Jignesh Shah, investors to Mumbai Police

By
Afternoon Voice
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nselOver 200 aggrieved investors of the beleaguered National Spot Exchange Ltd (NSEL) demanded here today that the Mumbai Police arrest Jignesh Shah and other key accused, besides speeding up recovery from borrowers and defaulters within a stipulated time period.

Members of the NSEL Investors’ Forum, a representative body of around 13,000 aggrieved investors of the scam-hit spot exchange, met Mumbai police Crime Branch chief Himanshu Roy at the police headquarters in South Mumbai, who assured them of speedy progress in the case and liquidation of assets, so that the investors could get their money back.

“Many investors are satisfied with the probe so far. You people could see more action in the next few days,” Roy said.

The IPS officer appealed to investors to ignore any rumours and said that 80 per cent of the money in the Rs 5,600 crore scam had been recovered after attaching properties of the accused and they are in the safe custody of the concerned court.

Jignesh Shah and other promoters will be soon called for questioning in connection with the case, another police officer said.

Yesterday, the Mumbai police filed a 9,100-page chargesheet against the five arrested accused, including the spot exchange’s former CEO Anjani Sinha.

Four others named in the chargesheet are Amit Mukherjee, former NSEL Vice-President (Business Development); Jay Bahukhundi, another ex-assistant vice-president; Nilesh Patel, managing director of NK Proteins Ltd; as well as Arun Sharma, Lotus Refineries’ CMD, who is also a film financier.

The FIR was lodged on September 30 by the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) against NSEL directors Shah, Massey and others, charging them with cheating, forgery, breach of trust and criminal conspiracy, among other offences.

The spot commodity bourse, promoted by the Shah-led Financial Technologies (India) (FTIL), has been facing problems in settling Rs 5,600 crore dues of over 200 member brokers, representing 13,000 investor clients.

HC asks BMC to register street vendors, hawkers in 4 months

By
Afternoon Voice
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Street-HawkersThe Bombay High Court on Wednesday directed the BMC to initiate and complete the process of registration of street vendors and hawkers within four-month time stipulated by Supreme Court last year.

A division bench of Chief Justice Mohit Shah and Justice M S Sanklecha was hearing a petition filed by Mumbai Hawkers Union challenging a December 31, 2013 order issued by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) constituting the Town Vending Committee (TVC).

According to the petitioner, having over a lakh hawker members, the committee has a total of 30 members out of which 12 members would representative one union each.

“Our union has 1,60,000 members and some unions have as low as 200 members. The civic body has included these unions also in the committee. Our union having the largest number of members should get more than one representative in the committee,” the petition said.

BMC counsel S U Kamdar opposed the petition and said, “The petitioner wants a monopoly which is not possible. Every union should get to represent itself in the committee. As on date there are 60 registered unions of hawkers. The corporation has chosen 12 unions out of this to represent themselves in the committee.”

The bench agreed to this and said the corporation cannot go by proportionate method, otherwise the union would have 11 representatives in the committee.

“We are not inclined to grant any relief at this stage. The first important step now is the registration process. Let the civic body initiate and complete that process. Other issues contended in the petition can be heard and decided later,” the court said.

The matter has been posted for hearing on February 13. The committee was formed following a direction from the Supreme Court in September last year restricting all states and Union Territories from taking action against street vendors and hawkers and directing them to implement the 2009 national policy for their regulation.

The apex court had ordered for committees to be formed for registration and creation of vending/hawking zones.

Arvind Kejriwal the ‘Nayak’

By
Prakash Jha
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After Arvind Kejriwal became the Chief Minister of Delhi, I started recollecting the movie ‘Nayak’ where Anil Kapoor changed the entire system in a single day after becoming the Maharashtra CM. In the movie a television reporter played by Anil Kapoor sets out to change the system and root out corruption from the society. After the movie ended, I forgot about its plot as I couldn’t relate with it. I started thinking that it was just a fiction movie revolving around imaginery characters and nothing to do with reality. Everyone is aware that whatever incidents has been shown in the movie is merely man made which can never become reality in day to day lives. On the other hand, Arvind Kejriwal has turned reel life into real life after his party defeated Congress in the Delhi assembly election.

Just like Anil Kapoor’s character in the film Nayak, Arvind Kejriwal too made significant changes in Delhi within a short span of time. In the film, Anil Kapoor receives an opportunity to become the Chief Minister for a one day and he makes significant changes. He surprises the villain Amrish Puri who was having a stronghold in the state politics. The actor nonetheless tarnished his credibility within one day. Even Arvind Kejriwal’s story has a resemblance with the movie Nayak.

A revolution was witnessed in politics as the common man all of sudden came into limelight, floated his party and decided to contest the election. Within just four months he won the trust of common man and defeated one of the strongest politician who was in power from last 15 years. Even though all this sound like a dream but one has to accept the reality as AAP party has come to power in Delhi.

The another aspect which surprised everyone is the mode of functioning of Arvind Kejriwal after becoming the Chief Minister. Kejriwal’s style of functioning looks exactly similar to the job of Anil Kapoor in Nayak. The moment Anil became the Chief Minister he started taking steps to eliminate corruption and rusticated the officials. In the same manner, Kejriwal too rusticated the corrupt officials and provided some relief to the common man by reducing water and electricity tariffs. He should continue to do the good work done by him which will enable him to make an impact in the Lok Sabha election which is just round the corner. I hope that Kejriwal will provide good governance and set examples for other parties to follow.

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