After HSBC, Standard Chartered India under US scanner

The US regulatory order also accused StanChart of deficient money laundering controls in its outsourcing of work to India, which the bank has refuted.

NEW YORK/LONDON/MUMBAI: Outsourcing of key oversight jobs by global banks to India has come under the scanner for the second time in less than a month for exposing the US financial system to terrorists and money laundering risks.

On the heels of a probe by the US Senate's Permanent Committee on Investigations pointing out major lapses in the work of HSBC's India staff, another UK-based banking giant Standard Chartered's outsourcing of key banking jobs to Indian shores have come under the scanner in the US.

A probe by the New York State's key banking regulator, the Department of Financial Services (DFS), has found deficient money laundering controls in outsourcing of work by StanChart to India, thus exposing the US financial system to terror financing and other risks.

The findings in these two separate probes have come at a time when the voices against outsourcing of jobs to India and other locations are gaining momentum in the US, ahead of the Presidential elections in November.

In an order last night, the DFS accused StanChart of hiding secret transactions involving USD 250 billion with Iran -- leaving the US financial system vulnerable to terrorists, weapons dealers, drug kingpins and corrupt regimes.

The DFS probe found that SCB had assured the New York state in May 2010 that it would take immediate steps to comply with the US Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctions. However, another regulatory examination in 2011 found continuing and significant Anti Money Laundering failures.

Among these, the bank was outsourcing its "entire OFAC compliance process for the New York branch to Chennai, India, with no evidence of any oversight or communication between the Chennai and the New York offices."

The OFAC is the designated US government agency for preparing list of entities with whom US citizens and entities are barred from doing any business.

Standard Chartered slumps 20% in India

The Standard Chartered Bank stock today plunged by up to 24 per cent in the Indian and UK markets, as the New York state in the US threatened to revoke its licence and charged it of USD 250 billion worth secret transactions with Iran.

At the Bombay Stock Exchange, the scrip fell 19.97 per cent to hit its lowest permissible limit for the day at Rs 83.15. On the NSE, the scrip was down 19.97 per cent at Rs 82.95.

At the London Stock Exchange, Standard Chartered shares plunged 23.9 per cent to 1,119 pence in morning trade.

The New York state has threatened to revoke the bank's licence after charging the UK-based global banking giant of operating as a "rogue institution" and hiding over 60,000 transactions worth USD 250 billion with Iran.

While the bank has refuted the charges saying that more than 99.9 per cent of its Iran-related transactions complied with the US regulations, the New York State Department of Financial Services (DFS) has charged StanChart of exposing the US financial systems to terrorists, drug kingpins and weapon dealers through its transactions with Iran for about 10 years.

In a 27-page order, the Superintendent of Financial Services Benjamin Lawsky of DFS said that "grounds exist for revocation of Standard Chartered Bank's licence to operate in the State of New York and that interim measures must be taken to protect the public interest."

The order accused Standard Chartered of operating as a "rogue institution" which was "motivated by greed."

Reacting to the regulator's order, Standard Chartered said it "strongly rejects" the position and portrayal of facts made by DFS.

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Hamid Ansari re-elected Vice-President, defeats Jaswant Singh by 252 votes

New Delhi: UPA candidate Hamid Ansari was on Tuesday re-elected as the Vice President, becoming the second person to get a second consecutive term as he defeated NDA nominee Jaswant Singh by a large margin of 252 votes.

75-year-old Ansari, a former IFS officer, got 490 votes against 238 bagged by Singh out of 736 votes polled earlier in the day.

Altogether 787 members of Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha were eligible to vote but 47 MPs did not cast their votes, who include ailing Union minister Vilasrao Deshmukh who is admitted in a Chennai Hospital. Eight votes were invalid, according to T K Vishwanathan, Lok Sabha Secretary General and Returning Officer for Vice Presidential poll.

Ansari is the second Vice President to be re-elected after S Radhakrishnan who was the first to get two terms from 1952 to 1962. An affable and well-read person, Ansari was the second choice of Congress president Sonia Gandhi for the President's post and lost out to Pranab Mukherjee due to some brinkmanship by TMC leader Mamata Banerjee and SP leader Mulayam Singh Yadav.

Formerly the Vice Chancellor of Aligarh Muslim University, Ansari's name came as a surprise in 2007 election when the Left parties, supporting the UPA-I from outside, proposed him and the Congress-led alliance accepted it. The Left parties, which faced divisions on the Presidential poll, however, had no no problems in supporting Ansari for a second time.

Parliamentary affairs minister Pawan Kumar Bansal said 21 members from BJD, 11 from TDP, 6 from Congress and supporting parties and two nominated members did not cast their votes.

Others who did not vote include 2 each from BJP, AGP, RSP and TRS and Y S Jaganmohan Reddy, one of the two members of YSR Congress.

BJP members who did not vote were Shatrughan Sinha, who is sick, and Dilip Singh Judev, whose mother was not well. Trinamool Congress members Kakoli Dastidar and Kabir Suman were abroad. So was SP member Brij Bhushan Singh.

Out of the total 790 members of both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha that form the electoral college for vice presidential poll, 3 are vacant with Pranab Mukherjee becoming President, Vijay Bahuguna chief minister of Uttarakhand and the election of BJP MP J Shanta having been set aside by a high court.

A Padma Shree awardee, Ansari became vice-chancellor of the Aligarh Muslim University in May, 2000 and held the post till March, 2002. In the last five years, the Rajya Sabha Chairman carried himself well but he courted controversy after abruptly adjourning the House on the last day of the last Winter session when a debate was underway on the Lokpal Bill and voting was expected to take place.

BJP was critical of the adjournment decision alleging it was done to rescue the government from a possible embarrassing defeat. The main opposition party cited it as one of the reasons for putting up a candidate against him in the current election.

Ansari also tried to innovate in the House proceedings when he shifted the Question Hour to post-lunch session to avoid loss of opportunity for members to question the government on account of routine disruptions in the morning.

The move was given up after just a session when he found the members themselves being absent from the House when their questions were taken up and the government also not very enthusiastic about the move.

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Olympics 2012: Saina Nehwal’s medal huge for India, says Gopichand

Saina Nehwal’s victory was special in many ways for Indian badminton. The first ever shuttler from the country to have won a medal at the Olympics was an occasion to celebrate for the entire contingent. But Pullela Gopichand topped the celebrations with a generous flow of tears of happiness and thankfulness.

Gopichand used the big occasion to recall all the hard work that his pupil Saina has put in and the strict regimen that she had gone through in the last few years. He said that Saina’s victory will be an inspiration and will attract many more girls to the sport.

“It is a great victory and this is huge for Indian badminton. This was something that we all worked towards for so many years and I am happy that Saina won the medal here,” said the former All England champion minutes after Saina’s historic feat at the Wembley Arena.

Gopichand was completely convinced that Saina was surely going to pull off this match, had it continued further in spite of her losing the first game to world No 2 Xin Wang. “It was unfortunate that Wang had to retire. I feel that Saina would have won anyway if the match would have gone on. Saina was shocked when she lost the first game. Nevertheless a win is a win,” added the national coach.

Gopichand, too, suffered a knee injury during his playing days but then made a remarkable comeback to win the All England Open thereafter. He sympathised with Wang’s injury but then felt that the way Saina fought back from 6-14 down to make it 18-20 at one stage was remarkable and had looked like she is going to pull it off in the next two.

“Wang was a little tired and I think she pushed herself a little too much,” observed Gopichand, adding: “The Chinese shuttler was getting a little weary as the match progressed.”

Gopichand was not just thrilled by Saina’s bronze here but has also been thrilled by Parupalli Kashyap’s achievements here. He, too, like Saina, became the first ever male Indian shuttler to reach the quarterfinal stage before losing to top seed and eventual runners-up Lee Chong Wei of Malaysia.

“This is really huge for Indian badminton. It has been my dream for many years,” Gopichand said in a choked voice before moving on for more media interviews lined up after this historic feat.

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US CRS report another recognition for people of Gujarat : Modi

AHMEDABAD: Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday tweeted that the US Congressional Research Service (CRS) report on Gujarat is another recognition for the six crore people of the state.

"Another recognition for 6 crore Gujaratis. US report hails Gujarat's effective governance," Modi tweeted after a Congressional report showered praise on the chief minister Narendra Modi and said that the state, under him, has become a key driver of national economic growth.

"Jay Jay Garvi Guj (Hail, Hail Gujarat)," Modi further said in his tweet.

"Perhaps India's best example of effective governance and impressive development is found in Gujarat, where controversial chief minister Narendra Modi has streamlined economic processes, removing red tape and curtailing corruption in ways that have made the state a key driver of national economic growth," said the CRS report.

However, in May 2005, Modi had been denied visa by the US after the 2002 post-Godhra riots.

An independent and bipartisan wing of the US Congress, the CRS prepares periodic reports on issues of interest to the US lawmakers.

"Seeking to overcome the taint of his alleged complicity in 2002 riots, Modi has overseen heavy investment in modern roads and power infrastructure, and annual growth of more than 11% in recent years," the CRS said.

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Ending speculation, Anna Hazare rules out joining politics

RALEGAN SIDDHI: Anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare on Wednesday ruled out joining politics or his movement taking a political turn.

"Absolutely not. I am taking extreme care to keep the anti-corruption movement free of politics. There is absolutely no such possibility," the 74-year-old activist told PTI in an interview.

He was replying to a question whether his movement against corruption for a Jan Lokpal Bill could slowly take political hues following the recent announcement of Team Anna asking people to vote out MPs opposed to their version of the law in the next Parliament elections.

Hazare, however, minced no words in branding the proposed anti-corruption "yatra" being launched by senior BJP leader L K Advani as the one designed to derive political mileage.

"If this yatra is aimed at rooting out corruption , why do not they oppose the ruling party and bring the Jan Lokpal bill?

"If they are sincere in their fight against corruption why can't they set up 'Lokayukta' in BJP-ruled states? We suspect a political motive in this yatra", he said reacting to Advani's announcement on embarking on a country-wide yatra against corruption.

Asked about Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi's statement that Lokpal should have Constitutional status on the lines of Election Commission, Hazare said, "both Lokpal and Election Commissioner would have the autonomous status without government interference in their functioning".

Hazare also strongly refuted the allegation of Congress leader Digvijay Singh that his anti-corruption movement was based on the support from RSS and the claim by VHP leader Ashok Singhal that his organisation had backed it.

"Our movement has nothing to do with RSS or VHP. All this is being talked to mislead the people," he said.

On the anti-corruption initiatives by Ramdev, Hazare said he did not doubt the yoga guru's commitment to the cause of eradication of corruption from public life.

"But on his dais sit those who carry a stamp. Our support to him is limited only to the anti-corruption aspect. We will not share his platform and he will not share our dais. We will support each other in separate ways to fight corruption," he said.

Elaborating on the issues he wanted to be included in the resolution adopted by Parliament to break the deadlock over his recent fast, he said, "we wanted these three points to be adopted to create confidence among people about the Bill's scope which should ultimately bring Prime Minister, judiciary and MPs in its ambit after due deliberations."

Asked whether he was happy with the way Parliament responded to his agitation, he said he will not be satisfied until and unless Lokpal Bill is made a law.

Hazare said he agreed to the time-frame of the Winter session for the bill to be passed in Parliament because of the "written undertaking" given by the government. "Since it was a written undertaking, I put my faith in it, agreeing to the time frame," he said.

Asked how he could accept the mediation of union minister Vilasrao Deshmukh, facing allegations in Adarsh scam, to end his 12-day fast, Hazare said, "I had not entertained him at Ramlila Maidan as Vilasrao Deshmukh.

"I had not invited him there. I just accepted the letter from the Prime Minister which he delivered to me as an emissary of Manmohan Singh," he said.

Asked whether the negotiations carried on with the government by his team members during the course of his fast had his approval, Hazare answered in the affirmative.

He also did not want to read much into Prime Minister Manmohan Singh sending bouquet to him wishing a speedy recovery while he was in a hospital after breaking his 12-day fast.

"The bouquet that I received in the hospital was sent by Prime Minister's office as a matter of procedure," he said.

Hazare was asked what course would he follow if he developed differences with his team members.

"We had no differences of opinion in the past and would not have any differences in future. Friction happens when people are selfish and greedy. All my team members are fighting for a cause with a selfless commitment," he said.

On Kiran Bedi's mocking of MPs, he said, "she just expressed her feelings while mimicking MPs at Ramlila Maidan. Some MPs behave unscrupulously. She will give a reply to the notice of preach of privilege if she gets it".

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Defiant Anna in Tihar: back channel talks now?

New Delhi: The deadlock between Anna Hazare and the government continues. The anti-corruption crusader spent the night in jail despite being freed by authorities. 

Despite being released, Anna Hazare spent the night in Tihar Jail refusing to come out insisting on an unconditional release and permission to launch his fast at JP Park. 

Tihar Jail has overnight become the new Jantar Mantar with Anna's supporters gathering there. Spiritual guru Sri Sri Ravi Shankar visited the jail late on Tuesday evening but was refused to meet Anna. 

PM to explain action?

 

Sources say the government is now planning to open back channel talks with Team Anna. The Congress core group is meeting on Wednesday morning and the PM may make a statement in Parliament today.

Government sources told CNN-IBN Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi Tuesday evening met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and discussed the situation arising out of the arrest of social activist Anna Hazare. They decided against any personal attacks. 

Sources have told CNN-IBN that the government is opening back channel talks with Team Anna. Swami Agnivesh is likely to hold talks with Team Anna. 

According to Congress sources, Hazare, set to be released from Tihar Jail, was being freed after Gandhi's intervention. 

Gandhi, according to the sources, urged the prime minister to allow the situation to be defused.

Hazare and his activists galvanised support from various parts of India with opposition parties rallying behind him in unison. 

The social activist and some of his supporters were arrested Tuesday ahead of their planned fast to press for a strong anti-graft Lokpal bill.

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US exposes ISI subversion of Kashmir issue; FBI arrests US-based lobbyist

Federal authorities arrested a prominent US-based pro-Pak activist, accusing him of funneling money from the ISI to lobby US decision-makers.

WASHINGTON: Federal authorities on Monday arrested a prominent US-based pro-Pakistan activist associated with the Kashmiri separatist movement, accusing him of funneling money from the Pakistani spy agency ISI to lobby US decision-makers.

In the process, the Obama administration's law enforcement brigade also blew open the Pakistan and its spy agency's two-decade long subversion of the so-called Kashmir cause.

The FBI swooped down on the Virginia residence of Dr Ghulam Nabi Fai, a well-known representative of Kashmiri separatists in the US and detained him on charges of ''participating in a long-term conspiracy to act as agents of the Pakistani government in the United States without disclosing their affiliation with the Pakistani government as required by law.''

Or simply put, he served as a frontman for ISI's Kashmir agenda.

Another individual, Zaheer Ahmed, like Fai a US citizen, was also similarly charged, but he is at large and believed to be in Pakistan, according to US authorities.

Fai has been a familiar and prominent figure in Washington DC for nearly two decades, lobbying Kashmiri separatist cause as executive director of the Kashmiri-American Council (KAC) and dallying with senators and congressmen. US authorities now say the KAC was just an ISI front, funded by Pakistan's spy agency.

The FBI affidavit alleges that, although the KAC held itself out to be a Kashmiri organization run by Kashmiris and financed by Americans, ''it is one of three 'Kashmir Centers' that are actually run by elements of the Pakistani government, including ISI.'' The two other Kashmir Centers are in London, England, and Brussels, Belgium.

According to the affidavit, a confidential witness told investigators that he participated in a scheme to obscure the origin of money transferred by Pakistan's ISI to Fai to use as a lobbyist for the KAC in furtherance of Pakistani government interests. The witness explained that the money was transferred to Fai through Ahmad, an American living in Pakistan.

A second confidential witness told investigators that the ''ISI created the KAC to propagandize on behalf of the government of Pakistan with the goal of uniting Kashmir.'' This witness said ''ISI's sponsorship and control of KAC were secret and that ISI had been directing Fai's activities for the past 25 years.''

The FBI affidavit alleges that Fai has "acted at the direction of and with the financial support of the Pakistani government for more than 20 years." Four Pakistani government handlers have directed Fai's US. activities and Fai has been in touch with his handlers more than 4,000 times since June 2008, according to the FBI.

The affidavit also alleges that Fai repeatedly submitted annual KAC strategy reports and budgetary requirements to his Pakistani government handlers for approval. One document entitled "Plan of Action of KAC / Kashmir Center for Fiscal Year 2009" laid out Fai's intended strategy to secure US. Congressional support in order to encourage the Executive Branch to support self-determination in Kashmir; his strategy to build new alliances in the State Department, the National Security Council, the Congress and the Pentagon, and to expand KAC's media efforts.

According to the affidavit, Fai also set forth KAC's projected budgetary requirements from the Pakistani government for 2009, including $100,000 for contributions to members of Congress.

Fai and the KAC have received at least $4 million from the Pakistani government since the mid-1990s through Ahmad and his funding network, the FBI said. The money is allegedly routed to Fai through Ahmad and a network of other individuals connected to Ahmad. Ahmad allegedly arranges for his contacts in the United States to provide money to Fai in return for repayment of those amounts in Pakistan.

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Military aid to Pakistan not feasible when trainers are being asked to leave: US

WASHINGTON: The US on Monday said it could not have continued with certain categories of military aid to Pakistan at a time when American trainers, who deliver on the assistance, were being asked to leave the country, justifying its decision to discontinue USD 800 million in aid.

The Obama administration, however, asserted that there was no change in its civilian aid to Pakistan.

"With regard to US military assistance to Pakistan, in certain categories, those categories where we need our trainers to be in-country in order to deliver and train on the assistance, we obviously can't do that in an environment where Pakistan has asked our trainers to go," State Department spokesperson, Victoria Nuland, told reporters at her daily news conference.

"Then in other military categories, we have had a slowing and a pause in some categories while we work through some of these issues where we have been concerned," she said in response to questions about US suspending some categories of military aid to Pakistan.

Contradicting Pakistani Army's statement that it was not notified about suspension of aid, Nuland said the Administration has been in constant contact with Islamabad about these issues throughout.

"The Special US Representative for Pakistan and Afghanistan, Mark Grossman, and the Pakistani Ambassador to US, Husain Haqqani, were on the phone even this morning, and those conversations will continue," she said.

Refraining from elaborating on what steps US wants Pakistan to take before the suspension of aid could be lifted, the spokesperson said the US has been looking to improve its cooperation with Pakistan in counterterrorism and counterinsurgency.

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US ran fake vaccine project in hunt for bin Laden: Report

LONDON: US intelligence launched a fake vaccination drive in the Pakistan town where it believed Osama bin Laden was hiding in an effort to gather DNA from members of his family, the Guardian reported on Tuesday.

CIA officials recruited a senior local doctor to organise the campaign after it tracked down a bin Laden courier to what turned out to be the al-Qaida fugitive's compound in the town of Abbottabad, the British newspaper said.

Before launching the high-risk operation against bin Laden, US officials wanted to test DNA samples from people living at the compound with a sample that they had from his sister.

Doctor Shakil Afridi, who has since been arrested by Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence agency, launched the programme in Abbottabad's poorest area to make it appear more credible.

The project then moved swiftly to the Bilal Town suburb, where bin Laden was residing.

"The whole thing was totally irregular," a Pakistani official told the newspaper. "Bilal Town is a well-to-do area. Why would you choose that place to give free vaccines?"

A nurse managed to gain access to the compound but Pakistani sources claim she failed to obtain any DNA samples, the Guardian reported.

Bin Laden was killed on May 2 in a raid that soured US-Pakistan relations.

The Pakistani military on Monday insisted it was capable of fighting Islamic militants without US assistance, hitting back after Washington said it would suspend $800 million worth of security aid.

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Railways 'derailed': Two tragedies in 8 hours

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Cops name dead Nigerian as an accused in rave party case

Around 300 youngsters, including the son of a film star, were caught at the rave party.

NAVI MUMBAI: There appears to be no end to police bungling. A Nigerian drug peddler, who was officially accused of being part of the June 26 rave party at Khalapur (near the Mumbai-Pune Expressway), has actually been dead since April.

This is eerily reminiscent of the fiasco, first exposed by TOI in May, surrounding India's most wanted list: among those the government said were hiding in Pakistan was one person who was living in plain sight in Thane, and another in Arthur Road jail. And the CBI's most wanted list included several who were dead.

Jerry Olukoya (47) had been listed by the Raigad police as 'suspected accused number 11'. However, it later transpired that Jerry (as he was popularly known on drugs circuit) had died of natural causes about four months ago. His name has now been hastily struck off the list. Of the remaining 10, six have been arrested, including Mumbai police inspector (anti-narcotics cell) Anil Jadhav.

Khalapur sub-divisional police officer Namrata Patil told TOI: "We have confirmed that Jerry died of natural causes. In fact, Jerry was arrested a few years back in Vashi by the Navi Mumbai police for drug peddling."

Another police official explained that Jerry's name had cropped up in the list of accused persons only because one of the men arrested from Mount View Club & Resort in Khalapur had tried to mislead the police by taking the Nigerian's name as the drug dealer at the party.

Along with various types of narcotic substances, cash of Rs 1.45 lakh was seized from the party venue.

When asked if the CCTV video footage of the rave party has been seen by the police, SDPO Patil said: "One of the wanted persons had tried to damage and take away the CCTV footage during the raid. However, we are hopeful of seizing this important video evidence, once the resort owner, Deepak Wadhwa, who is wanted, is also arrested."

At present, all the six arrested persons have been given judicial custody. However, they have reapplied for bail. Their application will be heard at the sessions court in Alibaug on July 13.

The four persons still wanted in the case are Deepak Wadhwa, Vikram Holmukhe, Ram Dharne, and Vikas Shah alias Vicky. Around 300 youngsters, including the son of a film star, were caught at the party.

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Foreign pilots to be taken off Indian skies by 2013: DGCA

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Director General of Civil Aviation said on Monday that the airline regulator hopes to complete the process of replacing foreign pilots from the Indian aviation industry by the end of 2013.

"The deadline I have set for the foreign pilots to leave India is December 2013. We feel we will be able to achieve it," E K Bharat Bhushan said.

There are 415 foreign pilots in the country and the savings of the airline industry would increase post their departure, he said.

Though India has about 1,300 local pilots, most of them are co-pilots, he said, adding, "I hope our pilots would have made it to the command by the time the foreign pilots leave."

He also touched upon the issue of fake pilot license and explained that the re-verification of 6,000 of 6,500 Commercial Pilot Licence holders had been completed. Bhushan admitted that the matter was serious and notices had been sent to some flying schools.

The government is considering the creation of a Civil Aviation Authority to address issues concerning the domestic aviation sector, he said.

Bhushan said 2010 saw a 24% growth in passenger traffic than 2009. Currently, there are seven private airlines and a total of 433 aircraft, he said.

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12 yrs on, Kargil battlefield turns into polo ground

AZHAR QADRI DRASS (KASHMIR): From being a war zone 12 years ago, the sparsely populated town of Drass in Kargil district has recovered from the battle scars.

The road to Drass goes through god's forgotten lands — there is silence and wilderness for miles and an unending number of peaks. In 1999, an Indian war machine was mobilized and crawled through these mountainous roads to reach Drass, a seven-hour journey from Srinagar. It was then, a battle to take control of Tiger Hill and Tololing Hill where Pakistani forces had barricaded themselves and were shelling NH-1D in an attempt to cut off the Ladakh region.

The Army celebrates the 12th anniversary of its victory on July 26 and Drass is no longer a ghost town as the battlefields are now hosting polo matches. Crowds, which have come from all across Drass, cheer with energy as horses gallop in a dusty field and players on horsebacks hit the ball.

From the ground where the match is being played, one can clearly see, in all their majesty, the Tiger and Tololing hills — both of which have been part of plot of several Bollywood films made in the aftermath of the Kargil war. These are times of peace in Kashmir, no major infiltration has been reported, there has been no major attack and no street protests.

CM Omar Abdullah, who was the chief guest at the Lalit Suri Polo 2011 tournament, said the government will try to bring Drass on the tourism map. "Drass is famous for two things — the Kargil war, and before was known as the world's second coldest place. But other than that people did not know much (about) Drass," Omar said.

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Kalmadi and Chavan not guilty: Digvijay Singh

PUNE/NEW DELHI: Congress general secretary Digvijay Singh said scam-tainted party leaders Suresh Kalmadi and Ashok Chavan were innocent, raising eyebrows given the party campaign to claim zero tolerance on corruption by citing the sacking of these leaders from key positions.

Singh, addressing party workers, said he sympathized with the two leaders. "We feel sorry for Kalmadi who is suffering hardships and also for Ashok Chavan. In my personal opinion, both of them are innocent. But whenever any corruption charges are levelled, Sonia Gandhi has to take action," he said.

Singh said Congress had always fought corruption and added it was because of the Right to Information law brought by the party government that the recent scams had been exposed.

According to him, judiciary should consider granting bail to accused in cases where chargesheet was filed and investigations were complete, in what was seen as a reference to DMK MP Kanimozhi, who is in jail for the 2G scam.

Singh's remarks drew comments from Congress leaders who felt such views neutralized the high ground claimed by the party with action against tainted leaders. While Chavan was sacked as Maharashtra chief minister following Adarsh housing scam, Kalmadi was removed as secretary of Congress parliamentary party and is now cooling his heels in Tihar jail for irregularities in Commonwealth Games.

A party leader said attributing innocence to Kalmadi and Chavan undercut the party's efforts to be seen as aggressive against corruption and gave an impression that they were sacrificed because of political compulsion.

In the wake of rising dirt over scams, with an aggressive opposition at its throat, the government held up the dismissals as proof of its intent to fight graft. The clean-up was extended to telecom ministry where DMK minister A Raja was also given the boot, finally landing him in jail. At the AICC plenary session in December, Sonia spoke of these actions and even gave a five-point formula to rid the administration of graft.

Led by the party chief, Congress made a campaign of the sackings of central and state leaders to question rival BJP about its track record on the issue of probity. It has repeatedly tried to embarrass the BJP by asking about the inaction on Karnataka chief minister B S Yeddyurappa who is accused of helping family members including sons with land allotments and patronizing illegal mining.

While Singh himself questioned the BJP in Pune, the pattern was visible at the AICC briefing too where the party spokesman Abhishek Singhvi was asked about BJP's demand that ministers accused of corruption be dropped in the reshuffle. Singhvi told reporters that the opposition need not lecture it on the issue as it had failed to act in Karnataka while Congress had acted even on prima facie allegations.

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HRD ministry, DU spar over OBC quota in UG courses

The OBC quota for undergraduate admission in the Delhi University (DU) has turned into an intense debate between the HRD ministry and the varsity.

NEW DELHI: The OBC quota for undergraduate admission in the Delhi University (DU) has turned into an intense debate between the HRD ministry and the varsity.

Last week, the ministry told the DU not to confuse "cut-off" marks with eligibility. The ministry also said there is no eligibility in DU other than pass the class XII board examination. But, the DU contended that there is indeed "eligibility" for admission in undergraduate courses. The varsity gave elaborate information to the ministry, spelling out different eligibility criteria for admission in science/commerce/humanities streams.

For instance, in case of BA/B Com (Honours), the eligibility is 45% aggregate in class XII. While in case of B Sc (mathematics) and B Sc (statistics), the eligibility is 45%, but with a rider that in mathematics the candidate should have secured 50%. In science courses, the DU said, eligibility ranges between 50% and 55%, and even 60% for some courses. The university also gave a long list of additional eligibility norms required for admission in undergraduate classes. In its reply to the ministry, the DU also referred to court orders that had stated that cut-offs should be on the basis of the aggregate.

The ministry, in its response, said, "We didn't know there is a minimum eligibility for admission in Delhi University other than class XII marks." The university has been asked to explain how it intends to fill the OBC seats in view of eligibility criteria. With five cut-off lists already declared, it is unlikely that the OBC seats would get filled even this year.

The ministry said, "In DU, contrary to other universities like the Jawaharlal Nehru University, there is no eligibility requirement other than pass at the Class XII board examinations. Since there cannot be any eligibility cut-off differential – between general and OBC candidates – in case of DU, it has to be interpreted in a way different than other universities in order to give effect to the constitutional mandate for ensuring reservations to deprived classes."

In case of DU, the ministry said, all successful class XII non-creamy layer OBC candidates are eligible for admissions, and the university should admit them to fill 27% seats reserved for them through "inter-se merit" (merit among OBCs). The ministry had also said ``referencing the admission cut-off for OBC to the general category cut-off being done by the DU goes against the spirit of Central Educational Institutions Act, 2006."

Such referencing, the ministry said, assumes that 27% of seats would be filled from among OBC candidates from a 10% band of marks after excluding those students in the same category, who have scored higher and become part of general category students. "This would lead to diversion of seats meant for OBCs to general candidates, which is not desirable," the HRD added.

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Trouble in DMK: Alagiri, Stalin camps head for showdown

Union minister M K Alagiri and brother M K Stalin.

CHENNAI: Differences between DMK chief M Karunanidhi's sons appear to be dividing the ranks of the party, already hurt by the spate of 2G arrests and the electoral drubbing, with sources saying a showdown was likely at a crucial party meet next week.

Supporters of the older son M K Alagiri are livid over political heir-apparent M K Stalin and his supporters urging the party's youth wing members and even senior general council members to register their protest against family politics and its negative impact on DMK. At a recent youth wing meet organized by Stalin, members were apparently urged to write feedback letters that interference of family members in affairs of state and the party during the previous DMK regime was the prime reason for its downfall. These feedback letters have to be sent to the party by July 15 ahead of the two-day general council meeting beginning July 23.

Sources confirmed many DMK general council members have been directed to cite supremacy of the family over party and the 2G spectrum arrests as main reasons for DMK's defeat in state elections. Many members who sent their feedback letters to party headquarters even suggested that Karunanidhi's family keep away from politics. Sources say the Stalin camp is out to speed up his coronation as DMK chief.

The gameplan of Stalin's supporters in the run-up to the general council meet to discuss the reasons for the party's electoral defeat and a major restructuring has not gone down well with his older brother and Union minister M K Alagiri.

His supporters point out that 'annan' (elder brother) Alagiri was not a political novice. "We can't allow anyone to discredit him so. We will give a proper reply to them at the general council meeting," a south district secretary said.

"Thalapathi (commander as Stalin is called by has supporters) and his close associates called and instructed us to put down some important issues in the feedback forms.

As per their instructions, we have focused on two subjects. One is about 2G and the other is about the interference of Kalaignar's family members in party affairs," a district secretary from the central zone told TOI.

"Hereafter, please avoid using the pictures of my family members. Just carry photographs of Periyar, Anna and Kalaignar and, those with true affection towards me, carry my picture. If there were photos of my family members in invitations I would never attend those functions," Alagiri said at a wedding.

But the quiet campaign by Stalin supporters against family members involved in state politics has apparently irked the Madurai strongman. The party's proposal to dismantle the present structure and replace district committees with parliamentary and assembly constituency committees has also evoked displeasure. The final decision will be taken in the meeting to be held at Coimbatore.

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Jairam Ramesh may get Cabinet rank, new ministry

NEW DELHI: Four cabinet ministers are likely to be dropped in a ministerial reshuffle on Tuesday, which seeks to tone up the functioning of key ministries, massage a few hurt egos and brings in new faces.

Minister for north-east BK Handique, corporate affairs minister Murli Deora, tribal affairs minister Kantilal Bhuria and statistics minister MS Gill are likely to be dropped from the union cabinet in what may be seen as a substantive surgery given the modest expectations.

Kapil Sibal is likely to retain both the key portfolios that he has – telecom and HRD. Importantly, environment minister Jairam Ramesh, who holds independent charge, is up for elevation as cabinet minister and could get either rural development or roads and highways ministry. In case of his moving in to RD, Vilasrao Deshmukh could get science and technology.

That highways ministry is being considered a likely slot for Jairam shows the disappointment with incumbent CP Joshi who was given the charge only in the January reshuffle.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had in February promised a restructuring of the government. Indications are that there cannot be any change in the top four ministries – home, finance, external affairs and defence. But the exercise on Tuesday promises to be much bigger than what it had seemed in the runup, thanks to the concern in the government about the sluggish performance of key ministries which include social sector and infrastructure.

An indication of the nature of rejig can be gauged from the fact that the PM and Congress chief Sonia Gandhi held yet another round of discussion on Monday which may stretch into Tuesday morning by when the PMO must forward the names for the swearing in ceremony slated for 5 pm. Rashtrapati Bhavan was not forwarded any names till late evening.

AICC spokesperson Jayanthi Natarajan is likely to be rewarded with independent charge. She could replace Jairam in environment ministry.

Sources said water resources and minority affairs minister Salman Khurshid could get a weightier portfolio. There are chances of his getting the law ministry in which case the incumbent Veerappa Moily may shift to corporate affairs ministry. Otherwise, Khurshid may just retain his existing portfolios. Murli Deora has already offered to resign from the cabinet where he holds the corporate ministry. His son Milind, an MP from Mumbai, is in for induction as a junior minister.

In case Kantilal Bhuria is dropped as tribal minister, having been appointed the Madhya Pradesh Congress president, Andhra MP Kishore Chandra Deo may come into the key slot. A tribal, hailing from a royal family on the borders of Andhra Pradesh and Orissa, Deo's chances have also brightened by the fact that A Sai Pratap, who is a junior minister from Andhra, is learnt to have been asked to quit.

Paban Ghatobar may be the likely replacement from Assam where Handique is likely to go out on health grounds while Charan Das Mahant, the solitary Congress MP from Chhattisgarh, may finally make it to the union ministry.

E Ahmed, who is MoS railways, will be elevated, at least to holding independent charge, possibly of ministry of overseas Indian affairs.

Mamata Banerjee's nominee Dinesh Trivedi, who is MoS health, will be elevated to Cabinet rank with the responsibility of railways -- the crucial infrastructure portfolio that the Trinamool chief held before winning the chief ministership of West Bengal. Trivedi's current assignment may go to another nominee of Mamata, Sudeep Bandopadhyaya.

DMK had till late on Monday not spelled out its preference for the two cabinet vacancies caused by resignations of A Raja and Dayanidhi Maran.

Others who may get elevation are Beni Prasad Varma and Gurudas Kamat, minister of state for home. Varma may get Cabinet rank while Kamat is tipped to get charge of civil aviation. Srikant Jena, minister of state for fertilizers, is also likely to get cabinet rank.

Charan Das Mahant, the solitary Congress member of Lok Sabha from Chhattisgarh, is also mentioned as a possible induction as minister of state. The coming polls in Uttarakhand have raised the prospect of the elevation of minister of state for labour Harish Rawat or the induction of Vijay Bahuguna. Sikh MPs from Punjab, another state which goes to polls next year, were hopeful of making it to the ministry this time. Raj Babbar, MP from UP, is also in line for induction.

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Perceptions about interviews usually depend on the interviewer's likeability and first impressions.

Right after a job interview, you could either be supremely confident or faintly worried. Either way, we feel pretty relieved when it is all over. Perceptions about interviews usually depend on the interviewer's likeability and first impressions. It is, therefore, important to remember some statutory courtesies in order to have a positive interaction and favourable result.

After an interview shoot a thank you email or letter

Many interviewees think that once the face-to-face interview is over, the interview process is complete. However, this is not the case. The job interview is just the beginning. Once the personal interview is done, the company mulls, evaluates and decides the best candidate who would best suit the job profile and company.

Therefore, it is a good idea to remain in touch with the interviewer and the company in general. One of the best ways to do so is to drop them a ?Thank You? note. If you have been in touch with company or interviewer via e-mail, then one should email such a note within 24 hours after the interview. Interviewers have short memories. So, this is your final chance to stand apart from all of the others who want the same position.

Follow up after the interview when there is no response

How long should you wait before you call the company or interviewer? Usually, if there is no response within sometime, you will start worrying about whether it is appropriate to call back and check hiring status.

When to call

Post-interview it is best to give a gap of two to three days before you make the first follow up call. One of the most important things to keep in mind during the call is that one should be succinct and brief. Another important aspect is to chalk out a time when to call. The best time to call the interviewer is after lunch or an hour before closing time. This will ensure that you have a comfortable time frame to speak to the interviewer.

Whom to call

Interviewees are sometimes confused about who to follow up with after the interview?the human resource team or the interviewer directly. This situation is more confusing if there was more than one interviewer. In such circumstances, it is best to first check with the human resource team on the hiring status.

What to say

Begin the conversation by thanking the person for the opportunity to interview with the company. Recap some of the conversational highlights and clarify any information you need to check on. Use the last paragraph as the chance to state, ?The job is a good fit for me because of XYZ, and my past experience in XYZ.?

Continue your job search

While waiting to hear from the company after the job interview, you should not ignore other interview calls because you are waiting to hear back from the current interview. Even if you are convinced that you have got the job, there can be many slips between the cup and the lip. It is also a good idea to critique your previous performance and use the experience to polish your interviewing skills.

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Mulayam slams Mayawati's govt in UP

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Modi pays obeisance to Lord Jagannath

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