Row erupts over RSS chief's remarks on quota

READ MORE RSS chief| RJD chief| Ram Madhav| pension| Mohan Bhagwat

NEW DELHI: RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat's comments on reservations sparked a controversy ahead of the Bihar elections with RJD chief Lalu Prasad challenging BJP to undo quotas before the Sangh clarified that Bhagwat had not sought dismantling of the constitutional provisions for Dalits, tribals and backwards. With the Bihar poll battle heating up, BJP's rival alliance pounced on Bhagwat's interview to RSS-aligned weekly Panchajanya in which he said a non-political committee should examine which categories required reservations and for what length of time. Lalu's poll partner JD(U) also slammed Bhagwat's comments as an assault on the Constitution.
As the controversy gained momentum, RSS issued a statement that Bhagwat had sought extension of reservation benefits to all weaker sections. "The Sarsanghchalak did not at any point say reservations should end. His comments were intended to highlight the need to ensure reservations reached those who need them," senior RSS leader Manmohan Vaidya said.
READ ALSO: RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat pitches for review of reservation policy

In response to a question on one rank, one pension, Bhagwat said interest groups should not pursue their agenda at the cost of others. "It is sensible to realize that my interest lies in larger national interest. Government also has to be sensitive to these issues that there should not be any agitations for them," he said.
Asked about policies that complement RSS's view of "integral humanism", Bhagwat said reservations for socially backward classes could be a right example as these have been politicized since inception and were not being implemented as envisaged by the Constitution. "We believe, form a committee of people genuinely concerned for the interest of the whole nation and committed for social equality, including some representatives from society, they should decide which categories require reservation and for how long," he said.
However, both RJD and JDU pounced upon Bhagwat's remarks to dub RSS and BJP anti-quota. JD(U)'s K C Tyagi said the RSS chief had revealed the real mindset of RSS and BJP.
The accusation just ahead of Bihar polls led the BJP to clarify that it was fully committed to reservations. "The BJP does not favour any reconsideration of the reservation policy," telecom minister and senior BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad said.
Party general secretary Ram Madhav said Bhagwat's comments were being deliberately twisted for partisan ends. "Sarsanghchalak has not called for any change in the existing scheme of reservations. He has merely said that fresh claims for quota benefits needed to be examined by a group of non-political experts. What can be objectionable about that," he said.
READ ALSO: Gujarat HC upholds mobile internet curfew imposed during Patel stir
The call for a committee of politically neutral persons to examine criteria for reservations is, in fact, part of a 1981 RSS resolution displayed prominently on the organization's website. The resolution, while supporting reservation as a means to achieving a more equal society, says, "The committee should also recommend necessary concessions to the other economically backward sections with a view to ensuring their speedy development.
"The ABPS (all India representative council of RSS) agrees with the prime minister's (Indira Gandhi) viewpoint that reservations cannot be a permanent arrangement, that these crutches will have to be done away with as soon as possible, and that because of this arrangement, merit and efficiency should not be allowed to be adversely affected. The Sabha appeals to all other political parties and leaders as well to support this viewpoint and initiate measures to find a solution to the problem."
READ ALSO: RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat calls for unity among Hindus
The Sangh clarification on Monday sought to cap the political controversy over reservations at a time when BJP is seeking to balance its upper caste support in Bihar with an ambitious outreach to OBCs and the most backwards in a crucial contest where it has locked horns with OBC chieftains Lalu Prasad and Nitish Kumar. Sources said Bhagwat's remarks related to the argument - often raised even by reservation beneficiaries -- that quota benefits are cornered by some influential castes and need a second look to protect the really vulnerable.
The 1981 resolution supports reservations but expresses concern that quotas have been a "tool of power politics and election tactics" generating ill will and conflict in society.

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why reservation fail? who r responsible for this?who took more benefit from this?
why r lalu oppose RSS.? what to say wrong?
why reservation fail? who r responsible for this?who took more benefit from this?
why r lalu oppose RSS.? what to say wrong?lalu is king or gundo.why to speak them this way. this is not kingdom of you

Pune firm set to roll out cure for dengue

Rupali Mukherjee, TNN | Sep 22, 2015, 02.40AM IST

MUMBAI: Asia's largest vaccine maker, Pune-based Serum Institute will develop a biologic drug to treat all four strains of the dengue virus, and is in the process of applying to the Ministry of Science and Technology for a "fast-track approval" to roll-out the treatment in the country. The biologic treatment (monoclonal anti-body) once rolled out will be given as an injection to cure dengue, and cost between Rs 5,000-10,000 for a single dose. Only one dose will be required. Serum, which has tied up with US-based biotechnology company Visterra to use its technology to develop the monoclonal antibody, hopes to commercialize the treatment within 12-18 months of getting the regulatory approvals, Serum Institute CEO Adar Poonawalla told TOI.
While Serum's biologic drug could become one of the first treatments to roll out, other biggies like Sanofi and Novartis are also in the race to launch a vaccine may happen over the next few years.
"We hope that the government will give a fast-track approval to our application as dengue has assumed alarming proportions, and could become a public health crisis", Poonawalla told TOI, adding, it would then initiate clinical trials to prove its safety and efficacy on a few 100 to 1000 subjects. If the trials are successful, Serum could perhaps become the first company to offer a cure for the dreaded infection which has shown the worst outbreak, with several deaths, and cases doubling this year.
Under the terms of the agreement, Serum Institute has an exclusive license to commercialize the treatment for the Indian subcontinent, including India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Maldives, and Sri Lanka. It has paid Visterra a $5 million upfront payment, and up to $34 million based on the achievement of certain development and commercial milestones.
Serum Institute will fund and be responsible for the clinical development of VIS513 in the licensed territories, including the filing of regulatory applications. The companies will establish a joint steering committee to coordinate the development for the Indian subcontinent.
The Pune-based company is also working on a dengue vaccine, like the other global biggies to be given as a preventive. The development of a vaccine will take three to four years, as it has to be tested on a wide-range and number of subjects, he added.
Amongst the vaccines, Sanofi has emerged as a front-runner, having completed Phase II trials, a company official said.
About half the world's population is at risk of contracting the virus, with no specific treatment for dengue/ severe dengue, but early detection and access to proper medical care lowers fatality rates below 1%, according to the World Health Organization.
The market for the vaccine could be huge, and reach $400 million in 2020, according to GlobalData estimates, while others say it could more than triple, and bring in $1.4 billion a year at its peak.
Visterra's humanized monoclonal antibody, VIS513 has reportedly worked to neutralize all four serotypes of dengue virus, with the "animal model" studies showing promising results, he added. The US company is already running its own trials in Singapore, Serum will need to do clinical studies here on Indian subjects by importing the clone.

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Dad’s tip-off stops Hindu girl from joining IS

READ MORE Intelligence Bureau| Indian Army| Delhi University| al-Qaida

NEW DELHI: Intelligence agencies in Delhi were in for a shock recently when a girl, who did her graduation from a reputed Delhi University college and went to Australia for her further studies, showed an interest in the activities of Islamic State. Sources said she even seemed keen to join the terror organization whose brutality has dwarfed the notoriety of al-Qaida.
The girl, born to Hindu parents, reportedly developed interest in IS while she was in Australia, top sources said. She was counselled and de-radicalized by Intelligence Bureau and National Investigation Agency officers.
READ ALSO: 'Govt closely monitoring activities related to IS in India'
Top officials in the government claimed that it was the first such case where a Hindu girl was found interested in joining IS, which set alarm bells ringing. However, they clarified that she was not able to contact anyone in the militant outfit and was only at the stage of checking its motivational material on the internet.
The agencies were alerted by her father, who is a retired Indian Army lieutenant colonel, about two-and-a-half months ago. The father sought the NIA's help in counselling her after seeing material related to IS on her computer and social networking pages. The agencies suspected that she may have been in touch with IS operatives on the internet and during her three-year stay in Australia.
The NIA, along with IB, is learnt to have counselled the girl and tried to de-radicalize her for the past several weeks and let her go after nothing was found against her. Senior officials, however, said she was being kept under watch.
"People she met and studied with in Australia may have influenced her thoughts for the cause of Islamic State but we are yet to establish anything. She may have been brainwashed there," said an official.
READ ALSO: First Indian woman 'operative of IS' deported from Dubai; she was 'online recruiter' of terror group
UAE deports another four Kerala youths for IS links
The government, meanwhile, said it was closely monitoring activities connected with the terror outfit in the country and taking necessary action. "The matter is being closely watched by agencies concerned. Whenever required, action will be taken," minister of state for home Kiren Rijiju told reporters.
He was responding to a question on deportation of four Kerala youths from the UAE for their alleged links with IS. "We will take action at an appropriate time," he said.
Asked about the Delhi girl planning to join IS, Rijiju said the government has taken note of the issue. "We have taken note of it. The agencies have taken certain action and I believe those are right action," he said.

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why reservation fail?

why reservation fail? who r responsible for this?who took more benefit from this?
why r lalu oppose RSS.? what to say wrong?
why reservation fail? who r responsible for this?who took more benefit from this?
why r lalu oppose RSS.? what to say wrong?lalu is king or gundo.why to speak them this way. this is not kingdom of you.I think laluprasad is not know about Democracy.or he was uneducated or he was gundo.why to speak this way

Judges operate under fear in Madras HC: Chief Justice of India

why reservation fail? who r responsible for this?who took more benefit from this?
why r lalu oppose RSS.? what to say wrong?lalu is king or gundo.why to speak them this way. this is not kingdom of you

READ MORE Madras HC| CJI| Chief Justice| Bar Council of India

NEW DELHI: Chief Justice of India H L Dattu said 'lawlessness' among a section of advocates in the Madras high court had made judges experience 'fear psychosis' in court rooms. Appearing for the HC, senior advocate K K Venugopal narrated the sorry state of affairs - lawyers marching in procession shouting slogans in the HC corridors, lawyers bringing their families to the court room and creating disturbances, advocates abusing judges and filing incessant complaints against them.
Justice Dattu, heading a bench comprising Justice Amitava Roy, said, "I had a long talk with Chief Justice (Sanjay Kishan Kaul). But if I make any comment, it will be counter productive. Let us wait and watch the situation before taking some steps."
But Venugopal said the situation was getting grimmer by the day as lawyers were entering the chambers of judges and filing frivolous complaints against them. "It is time we protect the judges," he said almost pleading with the CJI for some action.
Judges needing protection and facing 'fear psychosis' is complete anathema to the existence of the justice delivery system. An HC judge takes oath saying he will "duly and faithfully to the best of my ability, knowledge and judgment perform the duties of my office without fear or favour, affection or ill-will and that I will uphold the Constitution and the laws".
Venugopal's desperate plea breached the CJI's wall of restraint. As the head of judiciary, justice Dattu said, "Judges in Madras high court are in constant lookout for slogan shouting lawyers storming into the court room. They are demanding Tamil as the official language of the court. Can the chief justice do it?"
He added, "There is a fear psychosis in the court halls as the judges are on constant lookout for the mob to come in. This is very strange since Madras high court in the past is known to have set high traditions for lawyers. As young lawyers, we were advised by our seniors to go and watch experienced Tamil lawyers' arguments in court. There was so much to learn from them. They established high traditions in the court. Can we tell youngsters to go to Madras HC and learn from there at present?"
He said judges had been left stranded without any support from lawyers and the body regulating the professional conduct of lawyers - the state bar council and the Bar Council of India.
"Tell us what the bar associations and Bar Council of India are doing? There are three powerful advocates' associations in the HC. But is there a word from them on this issue? What is the BCI doing? Why are they silent when unruly advocates go into the HC with their wives and children demanding Tamil as the language of court?" the CJI asked.
Justice Dattu said this was something he had never imagined would happen in a high court. "It has never happened in the history of judiciary," he said.

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