The Tribune – Appointment of jathedars; SGPC fails to frame guidelines

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, December 17. Even as the then Akal Takht Jathedar Joginder Singh Vedanti had issued directions to the SGPC way back in 2000 to frame guidelines regarding appointment, removal and working sphere of jathedars of all five Takhts, the “mini-parliament” of Sikhs has failed to make any headway in this direction.

Vedanti had directed the SGPC to appoint a committee of Sikh intellectuals for fixing duties, responsibilities and qualifications for the appointment of high priests. These directions came in the light of criticism of the Akal Takht in dealing with panthic crisis during that period. The move was also preceded by unceremonious removal of Vedanti’s predecessors Bhai Ranjit Singh and Giani Puran Singh from the key post.

Though the SGPC didn’t take any initiative even after the then Akal Takht Jathedar’s directions in this regard, radical Sikh outfit Dal Khalsa has made various attempts in the past to highlight the issue and even prepared the blueprint regarding the appointment, removal and working sphere of the Takht jathedars in consultation with representatives of various Sikh organisations and intellectuals.

As per the blueprint prepared by the Dal Khalsa in 2008, the jathedar should be independent of all kinds of political and administrative pressures and manipulations and should be answerable to the Panth only. “The jathedar should be independent of any pecuniary authority. The Panth should create a financial corpus for his honorable sustains and for running the affairs of the Akal Takht secretariat.”

Dal Khalsa leader Kanwarpal Singh said the jathedars were leaders of the Sikh community who were expected to conduct their lives in an exemplary fashion. However, this is not the case now for which the Dal Khalsa places the blame on the increasing political interference in religious affairs. ‘‘Whenever political considerations have taken precedence over religious ones, whether it was in the British period or in recent times, the Takhts have been involved in controversies,’’ he said, adding that the Takht jathedars should enjoy confidence of the entire Sikh community.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2011/20111218/punjab.htm#4

The Tribune – PDP demands white paper on madrasa funding

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, December 17 The PDP has demanded a white paper on the controversy over the release of Central funds to madrasas in the state. In a statement issued here today, PDP president Mehbooba Mufti said it was a serious issue, as it involved not just huge financial transactions of dubious nature but also the reputation of one of the most respected institutions of our society.

She said like all other Centrally-sponsored schemes, the state government seemed to have made a mess of the financial assistance given by the Central government to the madrasas in the state.

“There is a huge gap between the amount released by the Central government and the funds acknowledged by the state government,” she said, pointing out that the amount reportedly received by the madrasas was even less than what was reported in the list.

“Where has the money gone?” she asked, saying some one in the government has to explain.

Mehbooba said the obvious inconsistency in the financial allocations by the Centre and its devolution to ultimate users had a criminal implication and the government must fully investigate it and come out with facts and figures immediately.

The highly respected institution of madrasas in the state had been brought into disrepute, she added.

She said many leading institutions had distanced themselves from the funding row and had categorically denied having received any funds. However, in the process the prestige and reputation of the madrasas had suffered for which the government was solely responsible, she added.

“Though the government has caused immense damage to almost all the institutions of the state, the latest victim, the madrasas, should have been spared as they are generally run with the help of the people,” she added.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2011/20111218/j&k.htm#7

The Asian Age – Government suspects foreign hand behind nuke protest, launches probe

New Delhi, 18 December 2011. Suspecting foreign hand behind protests against Koodankulam nuclear plant, the government has launched a probe into functioning of six NGOs in Tamil Nadu and a notice has been issued to them seeking explanation of utilisation of funds received from abroad.

Racing against time to operationalise the nuclear plant built with Russian help at the cost of around Rs. 14,000 crore, the government is also undertaking an aggressive campaign to allay fears of the locals over the project.

Government sources said there are suspicions that the protests are being fuelled from outside the country and an investigation by the IB has been initiated to look into it.

“Money has been flowing into the protests. We have been inquiring this aspect for some time now,” a source told PTI.

The Home Ministry has sent notices to six NGOs, based in Tuticorin, asking them to explain the utilisation of the funds received under Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, the source said without identifying these NGOs.

“Without money, how can they sustain the agitation for 100 days?” the source asked.

The government, at the same time, admits that there has been a ‘communication gap’ with locals who have fears on account of the nuclear plant being built in their area, particularly after the radiation scare at Fukushima in Japan.

“The communication gap is being used by people who want to create mischief,” the sources said. To address it, the government is undertaking an aggressive campaign to create awareness among the public on the safety of nuclear plants in the country.

The sources said apprehensions on the safety of the Koodankulam plant were unwarranted as it has been designed with a four-stage safeguard system to weather all kinds of eventualities, including tsunami.

These include keeping the power generators at appropriate height, additional power back-up and better cooling mechanism through pumping in of water from outside.

The official pointed out that all 20 nuclear reactors in the country were functioning very well without any problems since their establishment. (PTI)

http://www.asianage.com/india/govt-suspects-foreign-hand-behind-nuke-protest-launches-probe-089

Belgium, Ieper (Ypres) commemoration of World War I soldiers 11/11/2011

Hollebeke, Monument
Gagandeep Singh on the right and his friend, whose name I keep forgetting, on the left

Hollebeke, Monument
On the left Theodorus (Devdata) and on the right Sukhchain Singh

Hollebeke, Monument
The Man in Blue
(and in kesri pag)

From tomorrow UK pictures  

To see more Ieper pictures go to :

http://www.flickr.com/photos/12445197@N05/sets/72157621976532703/

More Ieper pictures to follow  
Harjinder Singh
Man in Blue

The Tribune – High input costs, dipping profits hit farmers hard

Aman Sood, Tribune News Service

Patiala, December 17 With farmers in the state resorting to all sorts of tactics, including dharnas, to protest against the state government’s alleged injustice against them, the financial situation of the farmers and land tillers has gone from bad to worse. With the hike of Rs 50 announced in the MSP this year, the input cost has increased manifolds due to increasing prices of numerous commodities.

From the past three years, the average annual contract of agricultural land fetches an average of Rs 38,000 per acre and with all other prices heading north, the contract is in for a dip in the state, given poor returns to the tillers. “We save roughly Rs 55,000 to 60,000 per acre per annum and after we deduct the contract amount for the landlord, we are left with peanuts, given the high labour and input costs. On an average we save Rs 8,000 to 12,000 per annum per acre”, said Ranjit Singh, a farmer of Devigarh village.

Another landlord Harminder Kaur, who owns 10 acres in Jogipur village, says that every year when she approaches the tillers for a hike in the annual contract, they instead request her for deduction in the annual contract fee. “This year again, they are requesting me for the same and when I calculated their expenditures, I have to agree that the condition of actual farmers is just hand to mouth”, she added.

Noted economist and CRRID Director Sucha Singh Gill said that till the time the farmers would be dependent on the MSP alone, it would be difficult to improve their condition. “Instead, with new techniques they should try to improve the yield by 50 percent to get a better deal as the current model of farming on paddy-wheat cycle suits only the bigger farmers and slowly pushing the marginal farmers towards bankruptcy.” Gill said.

Meanwhile, farmers in various blocks of Patiala, Sangrur and Fatehgarh Sahib rued, “With escalating prices of diesel, labour and fertilizers, profits are dipping every year and as majority of them are uneducated, they are not suitable for other jobs.”

“We have been tillers from the past three generations and know nothing else, this year the potato glut has caused losses to us beyond imagination and there is nothing we can do about it”, they echoed and alleged that earlier losses by floods had already broken them financially.

Punjab Mandi Board Chairman Ajmer Singh Lakhowal said that they were constantly holding dharnas and on January 5 they would be holding a nationwide protest against the anti-farmer policies of the government. “We demand that the government should do something to save our crops from high input costs and instead of the MSP, they should try to control the escalating costs of farming ingredients”, he added.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2011/20111218/punjab.htm#21

Dawn – Gilani upbeat after talks with Kayani

Khawar Ghumman

18 December 2011

Islamabad: A confident-looking Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani said on Saturday he was in total control of the situation arising out of the memo scandal and once again warned unnamed conspirators that in case of any successful plot against his government, other stakeholders in the system would be equally affected.

Talking to reporters at the Prime Minister House, Mr Gilani summarised the political situation through an Urdu couplet, the gist of which was that in case of a confrontation, all parties would face the consequences.

The couplet, which the prime minister said he had especially selected for media persons, reads: “Sochen tau kashmakash main hai donon ka hi ziyan, uss ka gulab to mera gareban jayega”.

In reply to a question about his government’s perceived confrontation with the military and the judiciary against the backdrop of memo case, the prime minister said: “Both army and judiciary are with democracy and they will not derail the system.”

Asked if his three-hour meeting with Army chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani on Friday night had resulted in reconciliation with the military over the memo issue, Mr Gilani said it was a routine meeting. Tension was media’s creation, he added.

He said during the meeting he had received a telephone call from President Asif Zardari and General Kayani also talked to him.

About the replies filed by General Kayani and the ISI chief in the Supreme Court to petitions over the memo case, the prime minister said they had to do so because the court had issued notices to them, but “being a part of the government their replies were submitted through the defence ministry and the attorney general”.

He rejected a perception that there was a difference of opinion between the military and his government over the memo controversy. “They (COAS, ISI DG) work and fall under the ambit of the federal government. How can they take a different stand? They have to stand with me. They are with us.”

During the entire chat with media persons, Mr Gilani repeatedly said he had good relations with the military. “This is my army and my ISI, and I have defended them.”

In their replies, both the army chief and the spymaster had accepted the memo’s existence and called for a thorough investigation. The federal government sought dismissal of the petitions on grounds that a parliamentary committee was already investigating the matter.

“After the former US national security adviser James Logan Jones’s letter, I don’t think there is anything left in the memo controversy. It is now a proven fact that Mansoor Ijaz is a total liar,” said the prime minister. In his letter to Asma Jehangir, counsel for former ambassador Husain Haqqani, Mr Jones said: “I did not consider the letter sent by Mansoor Ijaz as credible and I had no reason to believe that Mr Haqqani had any role in preparing it.”

However, the prime minister said the case was still with the Supreme Court, where the government would forcefully present its point of view.

About the constitution of a commission by the court to investigate the controversy, he said it was another legal issue on which the government had its own point view.

Former law minister Dr Babar Awan has on many occasions questioned the court’s jurisdiction to constitute a commission which, according to him, could only be done by the executive.

“My government is not running away from investigation into the scandal and has already handed over its probe to the bipartisan and bicameral Parliamentary Committee on National Security,” the prime minister said in reply to a question.

About his party lawmakers’ demand for resignation by the ISI chief, Mr Gilani said people had their own opinion on different issues, but what mattered in the end was a decision taken by the leadership.

PAK-US TIES: Prime Minister Gilani said his  meeting on Friday with US Ambassador Cameron Munter was meant to thrash out differences between the two countries so  that “we can have long-term and sustainable relations”.

“However, I categorically told the ambassador that I am answerable to the parliament and the people of Pakistan who don’t  want to compromise on the country’s sovereignty and dignity for which the two countries will have to redefine their terms of  engagement,” Mr Gilani said.

He said the parliamentary committee was already working on new terms of engagement which would be followed in letter and spirit.

About the extension in service of ISI Director General Lieutenant General Shuja Pasha, the prime minister said: “We will cross the bridge  when it comes.”

General Pasha’s one-year extension in service will end in March.

Asked if President Zardari would return home in time for the death anniversary of Benazir Bhutto on December 27, Mr Gilani said it  depended upon his doctors’ advice. He said the president was in good health and “we regularly talk to each other on  telephone”.

He dispelled an impression that the government would go for early general election after Senate polls in March, saying  emphatically that 2013 was the election year.

About the Seraiki province, the prime minister said his government would use all means at its disposal to “provide an identity” to the people of southern Punjab.

http://www.dawn.com/2011/12/18/gilani-upbeat-after-talks-with-kayani.html