RIGHT TO INFORMATION ACT 2005

The law was passed by Parliament on 15 June 2005 and came fully into force on 13 October 2005 .The law gives right to the citizen of india to question any central or state body(EXCLUDING JAMMU AND KASHMIR) ,also it covers private sector ,judiciary and bureaucracy . But there are certain organisations within them ,whose information is vital for country or for that particular organisation and can't be disclosed by the law.Previous to this , the information disclosure was hitherto restricted by the Official Secrets Act 1923
Freedom of Information Act
The first attempt to draft a national-level bill was done in 2000 under H D SHOURIE.But due to strong criticism of the bill, it never came into force.
STATE LEVEL LAW
Besides this law many states has their own law for right to information .In case of conflict , national law supersedes the state one .
STATES HAVING THEIR OWN LAW
Tamil Nadu (1997),Goa (1997), Rajasthan (2000), Karnataka (2000), Delhi (2001), Maharashtra (2002), Madhya Pradesh (2003), Assam (2002) and Jammu and Kashmir (2004). The Delhi RTI Act is still in force. Jammu & Kashmir, has its own Right to Information Act of 2009.
TIME LIMITS
If the request has been made to the PIO, the reply is to be given within 30 days of receipt.
If the request has been made to an APIO, the reply is to be given within 35 days of receipt.
If the PIO transfers the request to another public authority (better concerned with the information requested), the time allowed to reply is 30 days but computed from the day after it is received by the PIO of the transferee authority.
Information concerning corruption and Human Rights violations by scheduled Security agencies (those listed in the Second Schedule to the Act) is to be provided within 45 days but with the prior approval of the Central Information Commission.
However, if life or liberty of any person is involved, the PIO is expected to reply within 48 hours
Since the information is to be paid for, the reply of the PIO is necessarily limited to either denying the request (in whole or part) and/or providing a computation of "further fees". The time between the reply of the PIO and the time taken to deposit the further fees for information is excluded from the time allowed.
If information is not provided within this period, it is treated as deemed refusal. Refusal with or without reasons may be ground for appeal or complaint. Further, information not provided in the times prescribed is to be provided free of charge.
FEES AND PROCESS
Fee of Rs. 10 for filing the request, Rs. 2 per page of information and Rs. 5 for each hour of inspection after the first hour. If the applicant is a Below Poverty Card holder, then no fee shall apply. Such BPL Card holders have to provide a copy of their BPL card along with their application to the Public Authority.Under the Act, all authorities covered must appoint their Public Information Officer (PIO). A person have to submit a request to the PIO for information in writing. It is the PIO's obligation to provide information under the Act. If the request pertains to another public authority (in whole or part) it is the PIO's responsibility to transfer/forward the concerned portions of the request to a PIO of the other within 5 days. In addition, every public authority is required to designate Assistant Public Information Officers (APIOs) to receive RTI requests and appeals for forwarding to the PIOs of their public authority. The citizen making the request is not obliged to disclose any information except his name and contact particulars.

REDEMPTION (short story 2)

Aug 1990
My son was born, it is said god is present in newborn, that's true . Never i had been more careful then at that moment, when I picked him,never did my wife looked more beautiful then at that moment, and never did the hatred in her eyes. My mother's death has changed my father and my son birth mine. Never I remember to had buy something from the market for the home, never before i had gifted something to my wife.I took leave from my company , faternal leave , and later quiet the job when they didn't extened my leave .My wife was little apprehensive regarding the change in me , as I had when my father changed .She was afraid of me , as i m fattening the sheep before slaughtered. I started to do houshold chores , make her to rest whole day.I took her to multiplex for the first time . but whatever i do , there was a invisible barrier between us from her side
Humans are odd. when u r wrong but not ask for forgiveness, others are impotent in front of u, but if the same person accepts his or her mistakes,then we seek pleasure in not forgiving him, letting him burn in his fire of guilt. Humans are like rubber , they stretch ..stretch ..strecth .untill reached there elastic point , from where they can't reach back to their original state , and some reaching their breaking point , breaks.My mother was at the breaking point of her life, for her life was a burden,carrying it as if asking god for forgiveness of her previous life's sins. My wife ,was at the elastic point. wheter wheter on left of it ,or right ,i didn't know. i prayed for the second time , first time when my child was born , to forgive me ,to restore my family , to heal my wife's heart.
But god is mysterious person , odd like man . He also not punishes you till you are doing wrong ,but when u want to be good , u want to live a sincere life , u want to be his follower , he puts obstacles , he test , he punishes .When you ask his forgiveness , he makes u to walk miles . Why didn't he open his gates , why didn't he accept you in first place.
April 1992
It seemed to me,that god has absolved me .My wife was laughing again,started to go out. Human never knows what interest does the god calculates over your sins. I had paid my principal ,but interest was still remaning.
I came to know about my wife's affair , the whole rosy picture of world which has been conjured in my mind was shattered. Again the devil inside me started lurking outside. I took the gun from my drawer , went to my wife's room .My son was there , I sent him to play outside .
I asked my wife about his affair, the glow of her cheeks faded away, and in place of it redness came , the bood redness....
The revolt , the complaning , her opposition to my oppresion which i had always wanted , has came now , when I didn't want it. She yelled about my atrocities ,she cried about her pains , her broken dreams , her hate for me , murder of her soul.
She told me that she meet her lover in hospital , when my kid was in her womb. This is god's justice , the time when I changed ,he changed everything, a doctor , the doctor , the same doctor who give life to me (my kid) from one hand, taken it back from other.
I now came to know that even when I am not able to forgive my father , after so many years , and all he had done to restore my life ,how can I be acquitted so early .
.June 1992
I had given divorce to my wife , because only it can put her on the left side of elastic point . Also my son is her son now , though she wanted me to keep him , I doesn't wanted him to be devoid of mother's love and care , which I never had . I meet the doctor , he 's a nice and caring man.
.Tomorrow i will go to my father , to forgive him .....to free him from debts.....

REDEMPTION (short story 1)

June 1992 tuesday 3:00 am .... ,
I am not able to sleep from the past two days, even sleeping pills are not of any help.Every time i tried to close my eyes , my past life flashes before me.
April 1992 ,
I met with an accident, that changed my life.
April 1962 ,
I was born ,ordinary in every ways but not in an ordinary enviroment.My father was a manager in some company,his salary was just enough to supporthim,not us(me and my mother).My mother was a primary school teacher.
May 1967 ,
I had recieved my first beating.It was my first day at school.The teacher gave a list of books ,which had to be brought in the class everyday.I gave the to list to my father, and he in return given me some blood, a swollen eye and the first chapter of the life,after that these types of chapters were part of my regular studies.
Aug 1990 ,
It was for the first time , I come to realise the power of love .first time , to acknowledege that my wife is so beautiful, first time , about the devil I am.It was second time ,when i was reborn and my first child born.
April 1992 ,
I came to know about my wife's affair . the devil inside me was again ,reborn. I picked up my revolver from the drawer.Life has once again started plotting against me .
Jan 1988 ,
I am having a feeling of power,a sadistic pleasure .It was first time ,when i had beaten my wife . I don't know , but i was enjoying it .I was feeling complete and ,a sense of peace was prevaling in me.
May 1968 ,
I had just returned from school , barely 3 years old ,when i noticed a large crowd gathered around my home . As i made my way through it, I saw some policemen talking to my mother .They were asking about the mark on her ankles and faces ,her swollen eyes.My mother without speaking went inside , the police turned attention to my father, asked him to come to policestation.I went inside , my mother was crying seating aorund a corner ,with her saree covering her face. I went to my room changed my clothes ,had food and slept.Cries of my mother woked me , I went to my mother's room , my father was back , he was again beating my mother.His eyes turned to me and then he start beating me . I don't know when , I had lost my feelings of love,hate,pride ....
I was like a death , unable to feel emotions , even continuos beating , no longer evoked any tears.
My mother died on Aug 1978 . Had she followed the teachings of hers,which she used to teach her students,she may have not got the tittle of typical indian wife, but would have certainly not died.
Died is wonderful thing , who dies ,who lives no one can tell .My mother death brought a change in my father, he no longer used to drink , no beatings ,always lost in redeeming his sins,but no longer his repentance can change anything.
I got married on DEC 1987,don't know why some one had agreed to marry me. I was working in a MNC ,drawing 12 lakhs per month , may be that would have been a reason.The girl or my wife was average -looking. It was my father who had taken care for all ceremonies and rituals , maybe he had arranged it,thinking it may change my way of life. My wife was more like my mother , never asked anything , never questioned me. She used to took my apathy to be mistakes on her part , even left her job , to provide more time to home ,which was for me just a shelter.
I remember her love-making and the sex first time we had.It was sunday evening , 2 months of our marriage ,were watching a movie , when the reel-life chemistry between actors sparked our real-life encounter.It was fascinating , the dam which was helding my emotions broke out. But as stagnant water gets putrid, so does restrained emotions. It unleashed hatred, frustations ,shame , anger from me and the target the girl.
The shame of not shaving my mother, not be able to stand beside her,the frus tation of young kid devoid of love ,the anger of taking revenge .
Humans are queer creatures , they give pains to those ,who love them.They tried to seek justification from them ,of deeds of others .
I transformed into my father, same cruelty same barbarity......the thing which i used to hate most , start loving it.
My wife never used to complain and that further used to provoke me , I always wanted her to raise voice , beat me , leave me . Her submission , her feeling of helplessness with which my mother used to succumb to my father atrocities, abhored me , and when the same was done by my wife ,I used to feel defeated in front of her.

WHO AND H1N1

WHO has two main indicator , when it dealt with influenza virus outbreak.

The first one is Pandemic Alert Level,which defines the stages of a pandemic, outlines WHO's role and makes recommendations for national measures before and during a pandemic.The chart is given below

WHO Pandemic Influenza Phases (2009)
Phase	Description
Phase 1	No animal influenza virus circulating among animals have been reported to cause infection in humans.
Phase 2	An animal influenza virus circulating in domesticated or wild animals is known to have caused infection in humans and is therefore considered a specific potential pandemic threat.
Phase 3	An animal or human-animal influenza reassortant virus has caused sporadic cases or small clusters of disease in people, but has not resulted in human-to-human transmission sufficient to sustain community-level outbreaks.
Phase 4	Human to human transmission of an animal or human-animal influenza reassortant virus able to sustain community-level outbreaks has been verified.
Phase 5	Human-to-human spread of the virus in two or more countries in one WHO region.
Phase 6	In addition to the criteria defined in Phase 5, the same virus spreads from human-to-human in at least one other country in another WHO region.
Post peak period	Levels of pandemic influenza in most countries with adequate surveillance have dropped below peak levels.
Post pandemic period	Levels of influenza activity have returned to the levels seen for seasonal influenza in most countries with adequate surveillance.

The second is PANDEMIC SEVERITY INDEX The index focuses less on how likely a disease will spread worldwide-that is, become a pandemic-and more upon how severe the epidemic actually is.The main criterion used to measure pandemic severity will be case-fatality ratio (CFR), the percentage of deaths out of the total reported cases of the disease.The table is given below

Category	CFR
1	less than 0.1%
2	0.1% to 0.5%
3	0.5% to 1%
4	1% to 2%
5	2% or higher

H1N1 & HIS BROTHERS

THE HORRORS
H1N1
The Spanish flu, also known as La Gripe Española, or La Pesadilla.avian influenza, a viral infectious disease, that killed some 50 million to 100 million people worldwide over about a year in 1918 and 1919. It is thought to be one of the most deadly pandemics in human history
Russian flu of 1977–1978 flu epidemic caused by strain Influenza A/USSR/90/77 (H1N1).
On June 11, 2009, the WHO declared an H1N1 pandemic, moving the alert level to phase 6, marking the first global pandemic since the 1968
H2N2
The 1889 pandemic, known as the Russian Flu, began in Russia and spread rapidly throughout Europe. It reached North America in December 1889 and spread to Latin America and Asia in February 1890. About 1 million people died in this pandemic
The "Asian Flu" OF 1956 was a category 2 flu pandemic outbreak of avian influenza that originated in China in early 1956 lasting until 1958.worldwide death estimates 1-4 million.
H3N2
The Hong Kong Flu was a category 2 flu pandemic caused by a strain of H3N2 descended from H2N2 by antigenic shift, in which genes from multiple subtypes reassorted to form a new virus. This pandemic of 1968 and 1969 killed an estimated one million people worldwide
THE NOMENCLATURE
Influenza, commonly referred to as the flu, is an infectious disease caused by RNA viruses of the family Orthomyxoviridae (the influenza viruses), that affects birds and mammals. The name influenza comes from the Italian influenza, meaning "influence" (Latin: influentia)
In virus classification the influenza virus is an RNA virus of three of the five genera of the family Orthomyxoviridae:
* Influenzavirus A
* Influenzavirus B
* Influenzavirus C
Influenza viruses are classified as type A, B, or C based upon their protein composition.Types A and B have 8 RNA segments and encode 11 proteins. Subtype C has 7 RNA segments and encodes 9 proteins
Influenzavirus A several subtypes, labeled according to an H number (for the type of hemagglutinin) and an N number (for the type of neuraminidase). There are 16 different H antigens (H1 to H16) and nine different N antigens (N1 to N9).
hemagglutinin is found on the surface of the influenza viruses. It is an antigenic glycoprotein. It is responsible for binding the virus to the cell that is being infected.The name "hemagglutinin" comes from the protein's ability to cause red blood cells (erythrocytes) to clump together ("agglutinate")
neuraminidase is an enzyme on the surface of influenza viruses that enables the virus to be released from the host cell
The 1,2,3... classification of H and N is because they are protiens,are made of amino acids ,it is the difference between these constituents acids which make them differ.

MY HEART

     

there is nothing new to feel , i am getting fed up everyday  where to find the love , before it gets too late  i am waiting in the dark , for the light of my heart  which way to go , what path should i take 

   

i want to meet her, to love her ,to kiss her  to take her in my arms , to listen to her talks

 

ohh this is the feeling , which makes me to laugh  i just blushes in the deep corners of my heart

       

RIGHT TO EDUCATION PART 2

Though the bill has been passed , but the implementation is going to be tough, the fact why the bill was so important is when we talk of ourselves to be world's next superpower, the education system and its depth provides a abysmal picture. In india of every 100 children attending elementary school only 12 reached the graduation level; in Europe it is 50-70 (students reaching college from the elementary level) and the global average 27. The Centre wanted to increase India’s average to 15 by 2012 and to 30-35 by 2020.

GLOBAL SCENARIO

 The right to education has been universally recognised since the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948 (though referred to by the ILO already in the 1920’s) and has since been enshrined in various international conventions, national constitutions and development plans. However, while the vast majority of countries has signed up to, and ratified international conventions (such as the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child) far fewer have integrated these rights in national constitutions or provided the legislative and administrative frameworks to ensure that these rights are realised in practice. In some cases the right exists along with the assumption that the user should pay for this right, undermining the very concept of a right. In others, the right exists in theory but there is no capacity to implement this right in practice. Inevitably, a lack of government support for the right to education hits the poorest hardest. Today, the right to education is still denied to millions around the world.

EDUCATION AND 4  As

 For education to be a meaningful right it must be available, accessible, acceptable and adaptable. The concept of these 4 As was developed by the former UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Education, Katarina Tomasevski, and it is one of the best ways to assess and act upon the situation.

RIGHT TO EDUCATION BILL

HISTORY

At the time of independence, the creators of the Constitution of India wanted every child up to the age of 14 to enjoy the right to and have enrolment in education by the 1960’s. Yet this intent was passed as Article 45 under Directive Principles of State Policy, which “are not enforceable by the courts”. The original Article 45 of the Constitution “seeks to provide free and compulsory education for all children up to the age of 14”. Although the Constituent Assembly of India said we would be “cheating the nation” by not providing education to all, 60 years down the road we yet are to accomplish this fundamental goal.

As Article 45 did not accomplish providing education to all children up to the age of 14, the year 1968 saw education again on the agenda with the formulation of the National Policy on Education of 1968 that laid out guidelines for ‘status, emoluments, and education of teachers’ and ‘development of languages’ and also ‘equalisation of educational opportunity’ etc.

Then in the mid eighties, then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi set up a committee to review elementary education. This committee drafted the “Challenge of Education: A Policy Perspective” which was the forerunner to the “National Policy on Education 1986 (NPE)”. If this policy had been enacted in 1986, “every child of 11 years in 1990 and of 14 years in 1995 would be in school”. The NPE had a detailed ‘programme of action’ for each clause in order to accomplish the goal of providing elementary education to every child.

In the early 1990’s then Prime Minister VP Singh set up a new committee under the chairmanship of Acharya Ram Murthy, which reviewed the 1986 NPE. This committee made cosmetic changes to the 1986 NPE but did “extend the deadline of providing education to every child by the turn of the century.” This was not accomplished.

Next, BJP introduced the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, which said all children would complete eight years of schooling by 2010, but for that goal to be accomplished all children would have had to be enrolled by 2003. In 2002, BJP drafted the Right to Education Bill, 2002, which did not get passed in Parliament.

Then during UPA tenure , the bill is reviewed by a the committe set up for it,it provided a modified version of the bill , which was presented in rajya sabha in 2008, but was not able to be get passed.

THE OBSTACLES

Since it was put in directive principles of constitution , which are not enforceable by court , and these principles are generally taken for granted by both central and state goverment , thinking it as responsibility of other, the right to education was not meet . The NPE(rajiv gandhi) was not sucessful as there was a change of goverment.

For later , the factors, were the insistence of some academics that the Bill is not ready to be passed because the quality of education being assured is not “perfect to the T”. A concern of the government has been regarding the “justice-ability” of the Bill. Along the way there have been changes in the Constitution. While the original Article 45 mandated compulsory education to all children up to the age of 14, the 86th amendment to the Constitution mandated compulsory education to children between the ages of 6-14.(adding of article 21a) To protect the 0-6 age group, the early childhood care and education (ECCE) was established but only as a directive for states wherein they would “endeavour to provide” pre-schooling to the 0-3 and the 3-6 age group.(article 45th changed)

CURRENT SCENARIO

Key provisions of the Bill include: * 25% reservation in private schools for disadvantaged children from the neighbourhood, at the entry level. The government will reimburse expenditure incurred by schools. * No donation or capitation fee on admission. * No interviewing the child or parents as part of the screening process. The Bill also prohibits physical punishment, expulsion or detention of a child, and deployment of teachers for non-educational purposes other than census or election duty and disaster relief. Running a school without recognition will attract penal action.

It will be known as ‘The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Bill, 2009,’ The Rajya Sabha passed the Bill on July 20 2009.Once the President gave assent to the Bill, getting education would be a fundamental right of the child.

BALUCHISTAN ISSUE

Baluchistan is one of the 4 states/provinces of Pakistan. It constitutes roughly 40-43% of the land mass with only 5%-7% share in the population. It has the richest mineral and natural resources in the country, yet, is the most improvished area of Pakistan with the lowest literacy, health and infrastructre indices

HISTORY

Let me start with a bit of history. The region was largely under Iranian kingly control and the autonomous principality of Kalat. The British wrested control away from the Khan of Kalat in the early 1840s and it became the staging ground for the various Afghan-British wars (the Great Game) in the later half of 19th century. The 1876 treaty between the Khan of Kalat and Robert Sandeman accepted the independence of the Kalat as an allied state with British military outposts in the region. After the 1878 Afghan War, the British established Baluchistan as a provinicial entity centered around the municipality of Quetta – Kalat, Makran, and Lasbella continuing to exist as princely realms. The British interest in the region was largely to use it as a land-mass bulwark against Central Asian encroachments. Besides a train track, the development and settlement of British holdings excluded most of the tribal population. The administrative and legislative reforms of late 19th and early 20th century India overlooked Baluchistan. Around the 1930s, Baluchi nationalist parties emerged to contest for freedom from British rule. They took the princely state of Kalat as the focal point of a free and united Baluchistan. Iqbal’s vision of autonomous federation of Muslim state included Baluchistan but the Khan of Kalat never brought into the Punjabi nationalist paradigm, arguing that the Kalat had special treaty powers. Baglar Begi Khan declared the independence of Kalat on August 15, 1947. He assured the neo-state of Pakistan that Kalat will participate in the defense and infrastructure but will be autonomous. That didn’t go over well at all and the Pakistani army entered the region to occupy the area immediately. On Mar 27, 1948, the Khan of Kalat gave in to the State of Pakistan and his old attorney M. A. Jinnah. His brother Abdul Karim Baloch refused to surrender and revolted until his arrest in 1950. Baluchistan was put under Governor General control and no elective body formed in Baluchistan until 1973. After Partition, the threat of E. Pakistani – read Bengali – hegemony (55% of population at the time), forced the Punjabi military and civil elite (in 1947, Punjabis made up 77% of the army being only 25% of the population) to consitute W. Pakistan as One Unit in the 1956 Constitution. This was done presumably to guarantee equal representation for W. Pakistan but the measure was highly unpopular in Sindh, Baluchistan and NWFP because it meant rule of the Punjabi over their regional interests. Separatist, sub-national movements triumphing local languages and cultures and protesting Punjabi hegemony arose in all the three states. Especially in Baluchistan, the Khan of Kalat led a stringent opposition to the One Unit. But the wave of military dictatorships quashed all such designs. In 1970, Yayha Khan dissolved the One Unit to appease E. Pakistan but the horrific damage done by the army in soon-to-be-Bangladesh proved too much. After 1971, the sub-nationalist movements in Sindh and Baluchistan demanded their fair share of the nationalist pie. With Bangladesh’s independence, Punjab became the most populous and richest state in the country. It had 58% of the population while Baluchistan had 4%. Led by Bhutto’s central populism, Baluchistan had its first elected body in 1972. The National Awami Party won the majority of the seats in Baluchistan and started making noises about state rights. In 1973, it was clear to the NAP that Baluchistan was the least developed province with the majority of civil and military bureaucracy coming from Punjab. They, quite correctly, saw this as a colonial exploitation. The discovery of natural gas reserves at Sui had made the area incredibly vital to Pakistan and Iran’s developmental programs. The refusal by the Bhutto’s central government to allow NAP internal autonomy escalated a tense situation into an outright revolt. Bhutto dismissed the Baluchistan assembly and re-instituted Governor’s rule. The Baluchi nationalists launched an all-out military resistance. From 1973-1978, roughly 60,000 Baluchi tribesmen and militia have faced off against the Pakistani army. Iran, eager to quell any similar uprising in its bordering area, has contributed airforce and personnel to the Pakistani efforts. They bombarbed Baluchi villages into submission. Bhutto’s ouster, via Zia’s military coup, forced a calm onto the situation as Zia launched into his One Pakistan Through Islam program. The Afghanistan war, the Iranian revolution and the Zia’s policies made Baluchistan into an island of outsider activity. US/UN aid for Afghani refugees poured into the metropolitan areas. During the 90s, the Benazir/Nawaz Sharif governments did little for Baluchistan as the Baluchi nationalist parties floundered in exile. After The General landed into power (get it?), he tried to foster new relationship with Baluchistan. Over the last three years, the Kachhi Canal, Mirani Dam, Gwadar Port, Makran Coastal Highway, Saindak Copper Project and Quetta Water Supply Scheme were announced by Islamabad. Over 300 percent increase was made in the national budget for development programs in Baluchistan. Yet, all these things have failed to materialize from paper into concrete. These latest incidents emerge from the same calls for Baluchistan’s equal share in the national programs and right to self-administer. The catalyst seems to be the assault on a female doctor, Dr. Shazia Khalid, by a gang of employees of the PPL at Sui. The company management, along with the local police, tried to quash the issue while the central authorities ignored all pleas to intervene. This caused the initial attack on the Sui facility. Nawab Akbar Bugti, the leader of Democratic National Party Baluchistan, clearly stated that the attack was borne out of frustration on the lack of action against the employees who did the assault and was NOT a nationalist struggle for freedom by the tribals. The General, on the other hand, is going to play this as another internal/extrenal threat to Pakistan and seems determined to carry out a military response. His pointed reference to the 1973 uprising is meant to warn the Baluchi tribals that he will not negotiate on his terms. Today’s actions by the tribals and the military response in Baluchistan can be understood within the context of the acrimonious central-regional relationship in Pakistan. The rights of states, the rights of minorities, the rights of individuals are all negotiated within the vaccum of Islamabad military power-brokers. Having no access to that, the aggrieved parties find no alternative except violent struggle. The history of MQM, of Sindh, of Waziristan and, of Baluchistan provide ample attestation to that reality. I hate to say it again but here it goes: there is no way out except a democratically elected and constituted assembly that will re-imagine Pakistan as a federation with a secular and civil Constitution at the helm.

NOTE:- THE ARTICLE IS DITTO COPY FROM WWW.CHAPATIMYSTERY.COM

P M IN BALUCHISTAN

A lot of hue and cry is been raised by the opposition and media, over the baluchis -tan issue . Opposition is again raising demanding , resignation from the PM . THE ISSUE

The whole thing began with the joint statement of india-pak issued at Sharm el-Sheikh (Egypt),at the 15th NAM summit. the chief point of guidelines were The prime ministers 'considered the entire gamut of bilateral relations with a view to charting the way forward in India-Pakistan relations' and agreed that the foreign secretaries should 'meet as often as necessary and report to the two foreign ministers' who would meet on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. Both leaders agreed that that terrorism is the main threat to both countries.' In response to the PM's call to bring the perpetrators of 26/11 to justice Pakistan Prime Minister Gilani stated that they would 'do everything in its power in this regard', that it had given an updated status dossier on investigations into 26/11, and that it sought additional information/evidence. PM said that the dossier was under review. the comment is by a former Indian high commissioner to Pakistan and former deputy national security adviso (Comment: The PM's demand was, unfortunately, minimalist. It was restricted only to seeking satisfaction on 26/11 with no call for dismantling the infrastructure of terror or even an assurance, as given by Pakistan in January 2004, that the territory under its control would not be used for terrorist attacks against India. Pakistan's response was also minimalist and not even in the nature of a cast iron guarantee that those responsible for 26/11 would be brought to justice. Moreover, the ball is now in India's court, in respect of 26/11, as we are yet to respond to the dossier given to us). Both prime ministers agreed that they 'will share in real time credible information on any future terrorist threats'. Prime Minister Gilani mentioned that 'Pakistan has some information on threats in Baluchistan and other areas'. (Comment: This is the first time that an India-Pakistan joint statement hints at Indian involvement in Baluchistan and in 'other areas'. It is myopic to see no harm in this as it equates India with Pakistan as a perpetrator of terror. The international community, which hitherto was convinced of our bona fides on this account will now begin to have doubts. Finally, this will be used to discredit the Baluchistan freedom struggle and harsher measures against it by the Pakistani authorities are on the cards. * Both the prime ministers recognised that 'dialogue is the only way forward. Action on terrorism should not be linked to the composite dialogue process and these should not be bracketed'. The PM added that India was ready to discuss with Pakistan all issues 'including all outstanding issues'. 'Prime Minister Singh reiterated India's interest in a stable, democratic, Islamic Republic of Pakistan'. (Comment: It ill behoves the prime minister of a secular country to espouse an interest in the religious labelling of any State. What would be his position if tomorrow the democratic forces in Pakistan decide that it should be a secular state?

The thing to which most people are concluding is that it is case of bad drafting. Also some sees it as result of american pressure .Also the delayed support to Manmohan singh by the question raises suspicion that congress , may not be too happy with his statement.

THE PM REPLY IN PARLIAMENT :EXCERPTS

An interpretation has been sought to be given to the Joint Statement that we will continue to engage in a composite dialogue whether Pakistan takes action against terrorism or not. This is not correct. The Joint Statement emphasized that action on terrorism cannot be linked to dialogue. Pakistan knows very well that with terrorism being such a mortal and global threat, no civilized country can set terms and conditions for rooting it out. It is an absolute and compelling imperative that cannot be dependent on resumption of the composite dialogue. In the Joint Statement itself, the two sides have agreed to share real time, credible and actionable information on any future terrorist threats. When I spoke to Prime Minister Gilani about terrorism from Pakistan, he mentioned to me that many Pakistanis thought that India meddled in Balochistan. I told him that we have no interest in destabilizing Pakistan nor do we harbour any ill intent towards Pakistan. We believe that a stable, peaceful and prosperous Pakistan living in peace with its neighbours is in our own interest. I told him then, and I say it here again, that we are not afraid of discussing any issue of concern between the two countries. If there are any misgivings, we are willing to discuss them and remove them. I said to him that I had been told by the leadership of Pakistan several times that Indian Consulates in Afghanistan were involved in activities against Pakistan. This is totally false. We have had Consulates in Kandahar and Jalalabad for 60 years. Our Consulates perform normal diplomatic functions and are assisting in the reconstruction of Afghanistan, where we have a large aid programme that is benefiting the common people of Afghanistan. But we are willing to discuss all these issues because we know that we are doing nothing wrong. I told Prime Minister Gilani that our conduct is an open book. If Pakistan has any evidence, and they have not given me any and no dossier has been given, we are willing to look at it because we have nothing to hide.

see balochistan issue

BHARTI AIRTEL AND MTN

MAY 2008

BHART AIRTEL and MTN sat down to ink a deal .which would have created world 6 largest mobile company, with with a network of 130-million subscribers -- 68-million from MTN and 62-million from Bharti -- that would dominate two of the world's fastest-growing cellular markets, India and Africa.Bharti proposed buying MTN at R165-175 per share, which would have valued the Johannesburg listed company at $41bn-$44bn. It would have set a record for a cross border acquisition by an Indian company.

However, after intense negotiations, MTN began to worry that a takeover of one of South Africa's most successful post-apartheid companies would be politically unacceptable. It proposed that Bharti's main shareholders instead swap their stakes for stock in MTN. This would have made Bharti an MTN subsidiary - a proposal the Indian company said on Saturday would have "severely compromised" it. So the talk was not able to walk.

THE RCOM DRAMA

After the talks with bharti failed , Rcom come into the picture .It agreed to the subsidiary thing , but it has its own share of troubles due to brothers fight(ambanis). So , even that failed .If the deal had been done,then the combination of Reliance and MTN could put the merged entity into the top tier of telecoms groups, which include China Mobile, the world's largest mobile operator by market capitalisation, and Vodafone, the largest wireless company by revenue.

MITTAL'S PROBLEM ANIL'S COMFORT

The reliance and mtn preferred model was on a reverse take-over, under which Mr Ambani could swap most or all of his 66 per cent stake in Reliance for a stake in MTN of up to 34.9 per cent. Under Indian rules, MTN would also have to make a tender offer for a further 20 per cent of Reliance. That arrangement would be acceptable to Mr Ambani because he would end up by far the largest single shareholder in the enlarged group - the existing leading investors in the South African company would collectively hold only 23-24 per cent after the deal. Mr Mittal would not have enjoyed the same comfort for two reasons. First his family owns a 26 per cent stake in Bharti Airtel, according to analysts at JPMorgan, and would have ended up with a smaller stake in the enlarged group. He also would have had trouble with Indian rules restricting foreign ownership to 74 per cent of telecoms companies. Bharti is already 65 per cent foreign-owned compared with just 10 per cent of Reliance.

TALKS RENEWED IN CHANGED SCENARIO

Bharti is now the third largest single-market operator in the world, after China Mobile and China Unicom, while South Africa-headquartered MTN is one of the MEA region’s strongest players, with operations in 22 countries. Combined, the two carriers would rank third in the world in subscriber terms, behind China Mobile and Vodafone. The proposed deal would see Bharti acquire 49 per cent of MTN and MTN acquire 36 per cent of Bharti, of which 25 per cent would be held by MTN with the remainder held directly by MTN shareholders, Bharti said in a statement.

Still everything is hazy , will this time sunil mittal will be able to ink the deal is yet to be seen

WHY INDIANS PLAYERS NOT GIVING WADA TO WADA

The current power tussle going between BCCI and ICC+WADA is getting bigger day by day. Can ICC beat BCCI using WADA as its bramastra.The recent appointment of WADA by ICC to follow the anti-doping laws prevalent in sports world now a days , is givin nightmares to players.

THE UNACCEPTABLE ISSUES

It requires players nominated by the sport's parent body to submit to random testing. These players have to inform ICC at the start of every three-month period of a location and time that they will be available for an hour each day for testing. A player needs to update the nodal officer on any changes in schedule either online or through SMS. If the player is not present at the specified location and time, a 'strike' will be recorded against his/her name. Three strikes would mean suspension for up to 2 years from the game.

THE INDIAN SIDE

BCCI AND INDIAN PLAYERS BELEIVE the clause with regard to whereabouts of cricketers is unreasonable for three reasons. First, some (Indian) cricketers have security cover, and when you have such cover, you cannot disclose your whereabouts to a third person. Second, the privacy of individuals cannot be invaded. Third, the Indian constitution guarantees every citizen his privacy .The indian players are not against the dope-test, even BCCI is saying that for random testing it can call players anytime told by WADA

THE HORRORS

1)The most likely thing on the cards is that BCCI has to comply to the norms.
2)The WADA has told the cricketers that they run the risk of being banned for at least a year and maximum of two if they stick to their stand and do not fill the 'whereabouts' form. Missing the deadline thrice in a span of 18 months means an automatic ban , and indian players had missed one deadline 31 july
3)Cricket can never be a part of olympic and asian games , untill and unless it all playing nations abide wada norms.

THE AMBANIS RIVALRY PART 2

2009

The current ongoing bone of contention is the supply of gas from the k g basin by mukesh's RIL to anil's led reliance natural resouces. The battle has taken a new turn with petroleum industry also coming in between.

BONE OF CONTENTION

In 2005 , when the agreement was reached between the brothers there was a clause , which used to saying that mukesh has to supply " 28 million cubic meters of gas per day to his brother's company Reliance Natural Resources Ltd (RNRL) at 2.34 dollars per million British thermal unit (mBtu) for 17 years". now after 4 years the goverment fixed price is 4.21$ per mBtu.

Mukesh is saying that he will only sell gas to anil after the goverment nod , as goverment is sole responsible in establishing price of gas. Anil is claiming it to be preposterous , claming that mukesh R energy have enough gas left with him after providing to goverment own plants that it can sell it whatever cost he chooses

Though the matter had been put before the mumbai high court , which told mukesh to respect family clause

THE GOVERMENT ANGLE

The petroleum ministry is saying that natural resoures are goverment and people's property , therefore it is not for brothers to decide about price,it is demanding the supreme court to quash the family pact.Energy analysts worry the fight over the gas price could cast a shadow over the next round of the government’s “new exploration licensing policy”. Oil companies are allotted exploration blocks under the condition they are allowed to exploit any discoveries at market prices.

IMPORTANT FACT "Assuming 80 mn cubic meters per day of gas supplies for a year as a whole, India could save $ 8.3 bn annually," Moran Stanley said in a research note on RIL for its clients. RIL, which is currently producing 31-32 mmcmd, is likely to touch 80 mmcmd in next six months. This peak output could replace close to 26 million tons of crude oil, which is as much as ONGC produces domestically, or about 17 per cent of current demand in India, the report said. "We estimate 20 mmcmd of gas would go to the fertilizer industry and most of the rest to the power industry. This implies that as much as 13 million tons or 50 per cent of the country's fertilizer production, and about 12,500 MW of power, or 8-9 per cent of overall power produced in the country, can run on RIL's gas." RIL stated gas production from KG-D6 fields on April 2 and has signed contracts with 15 fertilizer plants to sell close to 15 mmcmd gas. Additionally, it has contracted over 25 mmcmd to 19 power plants and 3.3 mmcmd to steel plants. Morgan Stanley report stated that 5 mmcmd more gas could go to fertilizer plants and identified power plants that can take more of KG-D6 gas.

THE AMBANIS RIVALRY

2004-2005

It was a shock for the corporate world and shareholders , when the feud between ambanis siblings came in public glare. To settle the ongoing dispute among brothers k v kamath , then icici chairman proposed a 40:30:30 ratio . According to which the whole property will be divided among the brothers in 30:30 ratio , and the rest 40 percent to mother and sisters.

. The result was

mukesh ambani got reliance industries and ipcl (indian petroleum corporation ltd), he renamed it to RIL.
anil ambani got reliance infocomm ,reliance energy and reliance capital,he renamed it to ADAG.
At the time of divide reliance has over 97,000 crore in revenue

2008 rivalry resurfaces

Again the brothers were at loggerheads , when RCOM anil ambani company went to ink deal with MTN , south african giant telecom company.After the failed talks of MTN and AIRTEL (read the article BHARTI_AIRTEL and MTN), RCOM tried to get with MTN , thus becoming a major player both in india and abroad, but mukesh ambani led RIL, raised the issue of RIGHT TO FIRST REFUSAL,which he said was in family contract during the amicable settlement of the dispute.

RIGHT OF FIRST REFUSAL.

According to it suppose MR A has this right over MR B company , MR B wants to havedeal with XYZ, then it is possible only when MR A first refuses to ink deal with XYZ . If without MR A refusal ,MR B goes ahead then he have to face law.

Later on deal was scrapped , with both MTN and RCOM jointly refering to some legal issues. the battle continues see the ambanis rivalry part 2 .