The Tribune – Pranab voices concern over India lagging behind in higher education; Confers doctorate on Afghan President Karzai at LPU

Vibha Sharma, Tribune News Service

Phagwara, May 20. President Pranab Mukherjee today voiced deep concern over the flight of bright young minds from India for “better quality higher education” abroad and the country’s lost position in the field.

Pitching for the revival of India’s “lost glory” in the area of higher education, Mukherjee urged academic institutions to take the lead in providing education conforming to international standards.

Speaking at the third convocation ceremony of Lovely Professional University, a function which was also attended by Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai, Mukherjee regretted the fact that there was not a single Indian university among the top universities in the world even though there was a time when the country was known as a hub of world-class universities with the likes of Nalanda and Takshashila that attracted scholars from all over the world.

The President said these famed universities continued to function as an outstanding system until about 1200 AD and from there on, India lost its position to other countries.

“And today, we do not have any top-ranked university. The ancient Indian universities attracted students from all over the world but today, many bright young minds from India go abroad for better quality higher education.

It will be our undoing if we cannot draw our students to seek higher education in their own country. How we can revive the lost glory of our higher education system is a matter of deep introspection,” he said.

He urged Indian universities to create at least one centre of excellence with some out-of-box thinking and innovative research that can turn theoretical knowledge into a marketable product. Underlining the need of vocationalisation of education, he said: “There cannot be progress without innovation, research and development.”

Mukherjee also conferred an honorary degree on Afghanistan President at the convocation – the first honoris causa degree awarded by the Punjab-based private university with nearly 30,000 on-campus students.

He also awarded gold medals and degrees to qualified students.

Terming education as a tool that can significantly shape the minds of the youth, the President also urged universities and other institutes of higher learning to take the lead to start a sustained programme for meeting contemporary moral challenges.

“The recent rise in crimes against women and children is a cause for deep concern. It not only calls for effective measures for their safety and security but also underlines the need in us to sit back and introspect and find ways to arrest the moral degradation in our society,” he said.

He also pointed out that the shortage of faculty had hampered India’s efforts to improve the standard of education and urged for immediate corrective steps.

Meanwhile, Karzai, who was the chief guest at the convocation, praised India for its help in the betterment of Afghanistan. India, as a friend of Afghanistan, had made immense contribution in the uplift of its youths, he said adding that the country had “contributed $ 2 billion from the hard-earned money of its tax-payers for the betterment of Afghanistan.”

He also lauded India’s fast growth in industry, technology and economy. “India is on the path of progress and prosperity. It is one of the greatest civilisations on earth. The power and energy you (students and youths) generate is good for India and beyond,” Karzai, who is here on a three-day visit, said.

Highlighting the need for development of education, especially higher education, in Afghanistan, he said India had 2,000 Afghan students studying in its various universities. Karzai also apologised to Mukherjee, the Government of Punjab and LPU students for having come late. “My plane broke down, thankfully on the ground,” he said, evoking peals of laughter.

The Punjab CM urged the LPU management to open an institute for talented, poor students of border areas.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2013/20130521/main4.htm

The Tribune – 1984 riots cases: Badal-led delegation meets Pranab

Syed Ali Ahmed, Tribune News Service

New Delhi, May 8. Nirpreet Kaur, a 1984 riots victim, ended her fast after she was informed by Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and Deputy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal that President Pranab Mukherjee had assured a delegation of political parties that he would look into the demands of the riot victims.

Nirpreet Kaur had been on a fast at Jantar Mantar since the past six days to protest against the acquittal of Congress leader Sajjan Kumar by a District Sessions Court in a 1984 riots case. Badal and Sukhbir went to Jantar Mantar to meet Nirpreet Kaur after meeting the President, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde.

Addressing a gathering, they said representatives of all political parties, except the Congress, had accompanied them to meet the President on the issue. Badal asked the DSGMC and the SGPC to approach the Supreme Court, seeking that the Centre be directed to form a special investigating team (SIT) to look into the 1984 riots.

The delegation was led by Parkash Singh Badal. The latter briefed the President about the details of the case and the “injustice” done to the Sikh community.

The delegation sought the President’s intervention in directing the Central Government to order a Supreme Court-monitored special investigating team (SIT) to probe the attack on Sikhs after the assassination of Indira Gandhi. It pleaded that the investigation should be completed within a given time.

The delegation said that the CBI should challenge the verdict on Sajjan Kumar’s acquittal in the High Court and file a charge sheet in another case registered with the Nangloi police station. It said that investigations against Congress leader Jagdish Tytler be expedited.

Leaders of the BJP and the SAD along with those of the Shiv Sena, Samajwadi Party, TDP, JMM, INLD, BJD and the JD-U handed over a memorandum to the President.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2013/20130509/punjab.htm#1

The Indian Express – Markandey Katju writes to President, seeks pardon for Devender Pal Singh Bhullar

New Delhi, 13 April 2013. Press Council of India (PCI) chairperson Justice Markandey Katju has written to President Pranab Mukherjee seeking pardon for Devender Pal Singh Bhullar who has been awarded death sentence in connection with the 1993 Delhi bomb blast case.

Katju’s letter comes close on the heels of a two-judge bench of the Supreme Court rejecting the plea of Bhullar, a Khalistani terrorist and death row convict Bhullar in a judgement that paves the way for his execution.

Katju said Bhullar has been in detention since his arrival in India in January 1995 i.e over 18 years and added that he had suffered prolonged mental agony and trauma for this long period in death row with a Damocles’ sword hanging over his head.

Assigning reasons behind his plea, Katju said Supreme Court had earlier rejected Bhullar’s appeal against his death sentence by a 2-1 majority, not by an unanimous decision and added that the senior most judge on the bench Justice M B Shah had acquitted Bhullar.

Katju said he had perused the judgement of Justice Shah who had noticed that the only evidence against Bhullar is his alleged confessional statement to the investigating office.

Justice Shah has observed that “when the rest of the accused who are named in the confessional statement are not convicted or tried, this was not a fit case for convicting the appellant solely on the basis of the so called confessional statement recorded by the police officer,” Katju wrote.

He added that Justice Shah noticed in his judgement that there was nothing on record to corroborate the aforesaid alleged confessional statement.

Katju’s letter said when rest of the accused who are named in the confessional statement are not convicted or tried, this would not be a fit case for convicting the appellant solely on the basis of so-called confessional statement recorded by the police officer. (PTI)

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/markandey-katju-writes-to-president-seeks-pardon-for-devender-pal-singh-bhullar/1102055/

The Tribune – Modi trains guns on Congress, Gandhi family

Ashok Tuteja, Tribune News Sservice

New Delhi, March 3. As he targeted the Congress and the Nehru-Gandhi family for all the ills afflicting the country, Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi clearly emerged as the tallest leader of the BJP that concluded its three-day meet here today. There was the a growing clamour within the party’s rank and file to nominate Modi as the party’s nominee for the prime ministership.

On his part, Modi chose his words quite carefully, avoiding making any direct reference to his prime ministerial ambition, though it was quite clear from his nearly 50-minute extempore speech that he considered himself the most suitable candidate for the country’s top political job.

Modi’s popularity among the party’s top office-bearers from across the country was quite evident as the crowd at the Talkatora Indoor Stadium broke into applause and raised slogans in his favour as soon as he got up to deliver the address.

With senior party leaders, including party patriarch LK Advani, hearing him with rapt attention, the Gujarat “strongman” was at pains to emphasise that the candidate for the Prime Minister’s post was not an issue in the party.

He accused the Congress of sacrificing interests of the nation to serve the interests of one family. Advani’s own speech towards the fag end of the meet was relegated to the background with the spotlight remaining firmly on the Gujarat CM.

Modi was unsparing in his attack on the Nehru-Gandhi family while heaping praise on late Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri and the current President Pranab Mukherjee, both of whom belonged to the Congress. Shastri united farmers and changed the face of the country, while Mukherjee would definitely have been a better choice for the prime ministership than the present incumbent Manmohan Singh. “But Mukherjee was not allowed to become the PM since Congressmen were worried what would happen to the family if he were to occupy the post.”

Comparing the Congress with termite, he said, “The country is sinking. The poor are under the burden of price rise. We cannot even feel if there is a government at the Centre or not.”

While drawing attention to the governance formula he has adopted in Gujarat, Modi was also appreciative of the work being done by the BJP governments in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Goa.

“Freeing the nation from the Congress rule would be an act of patriotism. It would be a task as great as that our freedom fighters did,” he said.

In his speech, Advani claimed the popular mood in the country was of anger and revulsion against the Congress-led government. “Many factors are feeding this mood, but the chief amongst them is the firm belief among all sections of society that this is the most corrupt government in the history of Independent India.”

He said the BJP leaders and workers could take pride in the fact that they belonged to a party that valued and promoted internal democracy and not to a dynastic party.

He said the BJP must work closely with like-minded parties-both those within the NDA and those outside-to reassure the people that a strong, viable non-Congress alternative, with an agreed agenda of good governance was available to them.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2013/20130304/main1.htm#1

The Hindu – Promote socially relevant uses of technologies, says President

G. Ravikiran & A. D. Rangarajan

Sriharikota, 26 February 2013.  Hailing scientists for the successful launch of PSLV C20, President Pranab Mukherjee on Monday urged them to be in the forefront of promotion of innovation and use of socially relevant technologies.

Mr. Mukherjee, who witnessed the PSLV launch from the Mission Control Centre of the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) here, congratulated the Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) on the successful launch.

Later addressing scientists and engineers, the President said Isro was enjoying tremendous trust among the countrymen, and this faith and confidence put the onus back on the organisation to enhance its performance, scale greater heights and explore newer frontiers.

If India were to occupy its rightful place in the comity of nations, there was a strong need for promotion of innovation and technological advancement. “Isro should be in the forefront of such movement.”

“Lower cost”

Stating that it was imperative to address the demands of the country’s population, Mr. Mukherjee said emphasis should be placed on promotion of socially relevant uses of technologies so that they would help in meeting the country’s development goals. “Our endeavour must be to lower the cost of access to space through greater innovation and drive towards technological refinement.”

Earlier, Mr. Mukherjee arrived here at 12.36 p.m. by a helicopter from Chennai. He was received by Isro Chairman K. Radhakrishnan.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy, Governor E.S.L. Narasimhan and a host of State and Central ministers were present. Mr. Mukherjee was staying for the night at Sriharikota and would leave for New Delhi on Tuesday morning.

After the successful launch of the PSLV, Dr. Radhakrishnan introduced to the President S. Ramakrishnan, Director, Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, Thiruvananthapuram; M.Y.S. Prasad, Director, Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota; S.K. Shiva Kumar, Director, Isro Space Centre, Bangalore; A.S. Kiran Kumar, Director, Space Applications Centre, Ahmedabad; M.C. Dathan, Director, Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre; P. Kunhikrishnan, Mission Director of PSLV C-20; and V.K. Dadhwal, Director, National Remote Sensing Centre, Hyderabad.

The President’s visit and the success of Monday’s launch triggered jubilation among Isro scientists.

A thick security blanket was spread in and around the Sriharikota space centre following the visit of VVIPs.

http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/promote-socially-relevant-uses-of-technologies-says-president/article4452862.ece

BBC News – David Cameron: UK and India can have ‘great partnership’

Monday, 18 February 2013. David Cameron has said the UK can forge one of “the great partnerships of the 21st century” with India, as he arrives in Mumbai to begin a three-day visit.

With business the main focus, he leads what 10 Downing Street says is the largest trade delegation taken on an overseas trip by a prime minister.

Among those represented are Rolls-Royce, BAE Systems and BP – plus the British Museum and London’s Underground.

Meanwhile, Mr Cameron has appeared to indicate that the UK’s visa process could be made easier for Indian businesses.

Speaking at the first stop on his trip, a question and answer session at Unilever headquarters in Mumbai, he told the audience: “India’s rise is going to be one of the great phenomena of this century and it is incredibly impressive to see.”

“Britain wants to be your partner of choice. We’ve only just started on the sort of partnership that we could build.

“As far as I’m concerned, the sky is the limit.”

Another of the visit’s aims is to address controversy over recent toughening of UK visa rules.

Mr Cameron told his audience that there was no limit on the number of Indian students that could come to British universities, so long as they had an English language qualification and a place to study.

In an interview just ahead of the trip with the Hindustan Times – in which he said Britain and India could be “one of the great partnerships of the 21st Century” – he stressed how there was a “warm welcome” for those who wanted to make a “positive contribution” to the UK.

The prime minister said he was hoping to “put an even more attractive offer on the table” when it came to visa services to Indian business travellers.

During what is Mr Cameron’s second trip to India as prime minister, he is due to meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and President Pranab Mukherjee.

He appears to be hoping for some culinary distractions at least: asked during the curtain-raising Q&A session which Indian dishes he was hoping to sample, he replied that it would be a Kerala fish curry – “to see if it compares to my wife’s”.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-21495635

The Tribune – Change mindset, treat women with respect, says President

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, February 11. The overhang of the brutal Delhi gang rape was felt at the Governors’ Conference here today with President Pranab
Mukherjee underscoring the need to bring a change in the mindset of the society so that women are treated with dignity and respect.

A fortnight after he emphasised on the need to reset its moral compass, the President utilised the opportunity to recall that the meeting was taking place in the shadow of the unfortunate incident which had shaken the collective conscience of the country.

Urging the Governors to work towards improving the security and welfare of women, he said there was “pressing need to bring about a change in the mindset of the society so that women are treated with dignity and respect.”

While noting that there was an improvement in the internal security last year, Mukherjee advised the border states to keep an extra vigil and suggested that programmes relating to infrastructure development in areas close to the borders be expedited to meet the emerging challenges.

Over the past few years, the Centre has undertaken programmes to develop roads in the areas near the Sino-Indian and the India-Pakistan border, especially in the North and Northeastern regions of the country, building and reactivating airbases in the forward locations.

Turning to other aspects of governance, the President reminded the Governors that the delivery systems of the Government should be strengthened, pointing out that states which worked in this area progressed faster as compared to others.

Stating that there is a direct relationship between water, sanitation and health, Mukherjee asked the Governors to pay special attention to Nirmal Bharat Abhiyaan of the Centre to improve the quality of life of those residing in the rural areas.

He also asked the Governors to constitute State Finance Commission equipped with staff and submission of report since the Centre has already formed the 14th Finance Commission this January.

The conference will be addressed by the Vice President, the Prime Ministers and Union Ministers tomorrow.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2013/20130212/main4.htm

The Tribune – Reset moral compass, ensure gender equality: President Pranab Mukherjee

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, January 25. President Pranab Mukherjee today asked the elected representatives of the country to win back people’s confidence
and channel the anxiety among the youth towards change.

He advised the nation to “reset its moral compass” while underlining the need to ensure gender equality.

In his address to the nation on the eve of Republic Day, the President gave a historical perspective leading to country’s independence, building of republic by the founding fathers, achievements during the past six decades and the current state of affairs ranging from social tensions, unrest to disenchantment of the people.

Time had come to ensure gender equality for every Indian woman and the country could neither evade nor abandon this national commitment, he asserted.

He suggested that both the civil society and the government must work together to fulfil this national goal, as the price of neglect would be high.

Referring to student’s gang-rape and murder in Delhi, he said the tragedy shattered complacency and described the young woman as a symbol of all that new India strives to be.

“It is time for the nation to reset its moral compass. Nothing should be allowed to spur cynicism, as cynicism is blind to morality. We must look deep into our conscience and find out where we have faltered. The solutions to problems have to be found through discussion and conciliation of views. People must believe that governance is an instrument for good and for that, we must ensure good governance,” he said.

Observing that the country is on the verge of another generational change, he said today’s youth was troubled by a range of existential doubts, including corruption overtaking morality in public life, powerful losing their dharma in the pursuit of greed.

“These doubts have to be set at rest. Elected representatives must win back the confidence of the people. The anxiety and restlessness of the youth has to be channelled towards change with speed, dignity and order,” Mukherjee said, adding that the young cannot dream on an empty stomach.

Emphasising that the fruits of growth must not be for the privileged few at the top, he said, as the country moved ahead on the path of economic reforms, results of its policies should be seen in villages and at the same time India should remain alive to problems of market-dependent economies.

On the recent incident along the Line of Control with Pakistan, the President said while India believed in peace on the border and was ready to offer a hand in the hope of friendship, it should not be taken for granted.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2013/20130126/main2.htm

The Asian Age – For once, all speak in one voice

Asian Age Correspondent

New Delhi, 39 December 2012. President Pranab Mukherjee, vice-president Hamid Ansari and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Saturday mourned the death of the 23-year-old gangrape victim in Singapore.

Describing her as a “brave daughter of India”, President Mukherjee called on the authorities to ensure that the culprits in the case are brought to book. In his condolence message, he said, “She was a brave and courageous girl who fought till the very last minute for her dignity and her life. She is a true hero and symbolises the best in Indian youth and women. The nation will mourn the passing of this brave daughter of India.”

Even as he appealed for peace and calm, he added, “Let us resolve that this death will not be in vain. We will do everything possible to ensure that such an incident never happens again.”

Vice-president Ansari, while condoling the death, said that this death should be a wake up call for us as a society to focus on social norms and practices. He said, “This heart-rending tragedy would compel us as people to focus on social norms and practices which are violative of human rights and an impediment to progress in the modern world.”

He further said, “A young and promising life has been brutally snatched away in most tragic circumstances. Not only has the family lost a daughter and a sister, every Indian is today feeling the sense of loss as we all had come to identify with the brave heart as she fought valiantly for her life.”

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in his condolence message called upon the political class and civil society to ensure that the country as a whole becomes a safe place for women to live in. He said, “I want to tell them (her family) and the nation that while she may have lost her battle for life, it is up to us all to ensure that her death will not have been in vain.” He added, “I hope that the entire political class and civil society will set aside narrow sectional interests and agenda to help us all reach the end that we all desire making India a demonstrably better and safe place for women to live in.”

Calling for channelising all the energy that has been generated by the ghastly incident into a constructive course of action, he said, “We have already seen the emotions and energies this incident has generated. These are perfectly understandable reactions from a young India and an India that genuinely desires change. It would be a true homage to her memory if we are able to channelise these emotions and energies into a constructive course of action.”

Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar called the girl a “powerful symbol” of the current battle to ensure justice for women.

She said, “In her untimely and sad demise, we have lost a courageous daughter of our country who faced life with tremendous strength and fortitude. She will continue to inspire us for all times to come.” Calling for turning the anger into creating a new India, she said her sacrifice should lead to the creation of “a new India, a new society where women are respected.”

http://www.asianage.com/india/once-all-speak-one-voice-152

The Tribune – Sarabjit Sing’s sister meets President

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, August 24. Dalbir Kaur, sister of death row convict Sarabjit Singh, lodged in a Pakistan jail, today met President Pranab Mukherjee and Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde, seeking their intervention for his release. She demanded that the Indian High Commissioner in Islamabad should visit Sarabjit at Kot Lakhpat Jail in Lahore to ensure he was in good health.

Ten days ago, Sarabjit had written to Congress chief Sonia Gandhi, claiming that there was a threat to his life and that he was being served “wrong contents in food”. He also alleged that he was being mentally tortured. Dalbir Kaur, who was accompanied by Sarabjit’s daughter, said: “We have asked for a visa to visit Sarabjit in jail. I am worried that Sarabjit may lose his mental balance”. The two also met Jahangir Badr, a Pakistan MP of the Pakistan People’s party (PPP). Badr is part of a delegation of MPs from Pakistan on a visit to India.

Sarabjit, 49, has been awarded the death sentence for his alleged involvement in a string of bombings in Pakistan in 1990 that killed 14 persons.

He has maintained all along that his was a case of “mistaken identity” and that he is innocent.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2012/20120825/punjab.htm#6