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Tribune News Service

Srinagar, July 12

The Army today paid rich tributes to Rifleman Arun Kumar Rai, who was killed in the frontier district of Kupwara on Monday.The Army claimed that Rai was hit by a bullet from across the Line of Control (LoC) in a ceasefire violation.“The martyr was deployed on the LoC in the Kupwara sector when he was hit by a bullet from across the LoC in a ceasefire violation which was befittingly retaliated by the troops on ground. He was evacuated to the nearest hospital after giving immediate first aid, but unfortunately, he succumbed to his grievous injury. In him, the Army has lost a brave, dedicated and highly motivated soldier,” an Army statement said.Rifleman Arun Kumar Rai, who hailed from Tinsukhia, Assam, is survived by his wife and parents.

7th Central Pay Commission – Highlights 

7th CPC Cabinet Decision – Frequently Asked Question

7th CPC Cabinet Decision – Frequently Asked Question Has the 7th CPC recommendation fully accepted? Yes, it has been approved by the cabinet on 29th June 2016. Did Cabinet approve for the employees request of changing minimum wages? No, the 7th CPC recommendation will be implemented (Rs.18000/-) What is the Fitment Factor used in Pay

7th Centra7th CPC Cabinet Decision – Frequently Asked Question

June 30, 2016 By admin Leave a Comment

7th CPC Cabinet Decision – Frequently Asked Question Has the 7th CPC recommendation fully accepted? Yes, it has been approved by the cabinet on 29th June 2016. Did Cabinet approve for the employees request of changing minimum wages? No, the 7th CPC recommendation will be implemented (Rs.18000/-) What is the Fitment Factor used in Pay

NFIR – Highly disappointing minimum wages and multiplication factor

June 30, 2016 By admin Leave a Comment

NFIR – Highly disappointing minimum wages and multiplication factor NFIR Nation Federation of Indian Railwaymen 3, Chelmsford road, New Delhi – 110 055 Affiliated to: Indian National Trade Union congress (INTUC) International Transport Workers Federation (ITF) PRESS NOTE The National Federation of Indian Railwaymen (NFIR)’s General Secretary expressed serious disappointment and unhappiness over the Government’s […]

Cabinet approves Implementation of the recommendations of 7th Central Pay Commission

June 29, 2016 By admin 2 Comments

Cabinet approves Implementation of the recommendations of 7th Central Pay Commission Press Information Bureau Government Of India Cabinet 29-June-2016 Cabinet approves Implementation of the recommendations of 7th Central Pay Commission The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the implementation of the recommendations of 7th Central Pay Commission (CPC) on […]

7th Pay Commission Key highlights from Arun Jaitley’s press Conference

June 29, 2016 By admin 3 Comments

7th Pay Commission Key highlights from Arun Jaitley’s press Conference 7th Pay Commission highlights: Minimum pay of Rs.18,000 has been recommended against the existing Rs.7,000 per month, and more The Union cabinet on Wednesday accepted the recommendations of the 7th Pay Commission, giving a substantial raise to the salaries and pensions of central government employees. […]

NFIR 7th CPC Recommendation – reg

June 29, 2016 By admin Leave a Comment

NFIR 7th CPC Recommendation – reg NFIR NATIONAL FEDERATION OF INDIAN RAILWAYMEN 3,Chelmsford Road, New Delhi – 110 055 Affiliated to: Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC) International Transport Workers Federation (ITF) No.IV/NJCA(N)/2014/Part II Dated: 29-06-2016 The General Secretaries of Affiliated Unions of NFIR Brother, Sub: 7th CPC Recommendations – reg. Cabinet’s decision on minimum […]

Reuters file photo

New Delhi, June 27

The government is likely to soon announce the implementation of 7^th Pay Commission that would hike the salaries and allowances for over 1 crore government employees and pensioners by at least 23.5 per cent.

A Committee of Secretaries headed by Cabinet Secretary P.K. Sinha has submitted its report on the recommendations of the 7^th Pay Commission, which may be accepted, a Financial Ministry official said.

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Based on the panel’s report, the Finance Ministry is preparing a Cabinet note and the issue may come up for approval by the Cabinet as early as June 29.

“The Committee of Secretaries (CoS) has finalised its report on Pay Commission recommendations… We will soon (file) draft Cabinet note based on the report,” Finance Secretary Ashok Lavasa said here today.

The government had in January set up a high-powered panel headed by Cabinet Secretary to process the recommendations of the 7^th Pay Commission which will have bearing on the remuneration of nearly 50 lakh Central government employees and 58 lakh pensioners.

The Pay Commission had recommended 23.55 per cent overall hike in salaries, allowances and pension involving an additional burden of Rs 1.02 lakh crore or nearly 0.7 per cent of the GDP.

The panel recommended a 14.27 per cent increase in basic pay, the lowest in 70 years. The previous 6^th Pay Commission had recommended a 20 per cent hike which the government doubled while implementing it in 2008.

The 23.55 per cent increase includes hike in allowances.

The entry level pay has been recommended to be raised to Rs 18,000 per month from current Rs 7,000, while the maximum pay, drawn by the Cabinet Secretary, has been fixed at Rs 2.5 lakh per month from current Rs 90,000.

Sources said the Secretaries’ panel may have recommended higher pay increase, with minimum entry level pay at Rs 23,500 a month and maximum salary of Rs 3.25 lakh.

While the Budget for 2016-17 fiscal did not provide an explicit provision for implementation of the 7^th Pay Commission, the government had said the once-in-a-decade pay hike for government employees has been built in as interim allocation for different ministries.

Around Rs 70,000 crore has been provisioned for it, officials said.

Lavasa said the 7^th Pay Commission report will be effective from January 1. — PTI

KV Prasad & Simran Sodhi

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, June 26

New Zealand today said it would be wrong to say that it opposed India’s entry into the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG). Rather, it wanted a criterion to be fixed for the entry of non-NPT (Non-Proliferation Treaty) states into the NSG.  In an email response exclusively to The Tribune, a spokesperson of New Zealand’s Foreign Minister Murray McCully sought to set the record straight.India’s entry into the NSG was rejected by the plenary session of the NSG in Seoul. While India has blamed “one country”, meaning China, for blocking its bid to the NSG, it remains a fact that there were other countries (besides China) that had reservations on letting in a country that has not signed the NPT. Turkey, Brazil, Austria, Switzerland, along with New Zealand, had their reservations on the Indian application to become a member of the NSG.“It is quite wrong to describe New Zealand as opposed to India’s membership of the NSG. New Zealand has a long history of taking a principled stand against nuclear weapons and their proliferation. New Zealand believes that it is very important for NSG members to consider carefully what criteria should be used in assessing applications from non-NPT states. “This was New Zealand’s position at the NSG plenary meeting which just ended in Seoul. India is the first applicant for membership of the NSG which is not a member of the cornerstone Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). All members of the NPT make legally binding commitments on nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation. We believe constructive discussions should lead to a pathway against which India’s application can be properly considered,” said a spokesperson in the office of McCully.President Pranab Mukherjee had recently visited New Zealand and it was reliably learnt that the President had raised the NSG issue with the New Zealand leadership. However, it seems India was not able to deal with the reservations expressed by New Zealand.

NSG may meet again

New Delhi, June 26

The Nuclear Suppliers Group, whose membership India failed to get two days back, is likely to meet again before the end of the year to specially discuss the process for allowing non-NPT signatories into the 48-nation grouping, thus providing another chance to India to press its claim.Sources said  that at the suggestion of Mexico, it has been decided that another meeting of NSG should be held before the end of the year to consider the criteria for allowing non-NPT signatories like India into the group. Normally, the next meeting of NSG would have been held sometime next year.Sources added that Mexico’s suggestion was opposed by China but found support from a large number of countries, including the US. A panel for informal consultations on India’s membership has also been set up by the NSG and it will be headed by Argentine Ambassador Rafael Grossi.Grossi’s appointment came even as a top US official said that the NSG session in Seoul had ended with a “path forward” for India’s acceptance as a member. — PTI

Of late, there have been enough bilateral parleys. PTI

Washington, June 25

A top American diplomat would visit India next week to discuss bilateral and global issues in support of the joint US-India efforts to sustain the rules-based global order, the State Department has said.Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Thomas Shannon will visit New Delhi and Kolkata from June 28 to July 1, the State Department said on Friday.In addition to meeting his Indian counterparts, he will also meet with members of civil society, including representatives of various religious communities, it said.“While in New Delhi, the Under Secretary will meet with government leaders to discuss a range of bilateral and global issues in support of joint US-India efforts to sustain the rules-based global order,” the State Department said.He will visit the Indian Foreign Service Institute to deliver remarks and meet with Indian diplomats.In Kolkata, Shannon will meet with government officials and members of the US Consulate General.He will also chair a roundtable discussion with journalists at the American Center and visit several local cultural sites. PTI

BEIJING, June 12

China said on Sunday that more talks were needed to build a consensus on which countries can join the main group controlling access to sensitive nuclear technology, after a push by the United States to include India.China is seen as leading opposition to the US move to include India in the 48-nation Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), but even New Zealand, Turkey, South Africa and Austria oppose Indian membership, according to diplomats.The NSG aims to prevent the proliferation of nuclear weapons by restricting the sale of items that can be used to make those arms.India already enjoys most of the benefits of membership under a 2008 exemption to NSG rules granted to support its nuclear cooperation deal with Washington, even though India has developed atomic weapons and never signed the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), the main global arms control pact.“Large differences” remain over the issue of non-NPT countries joining the NSG, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said in an online statement.“With regard to what to do on the issue of non-NPT signatories joining (NSG), China consistently supports having ample discussion on this to seek consensus and agreement and come to a unanimous decision,” Hong said.“The NPT is the political and legal basis for the entire international non-proliferation system,” Hong said, adding that China would support the group in further talks to come to a consensus at an early date.Opponents argue that granting India membership would undermine efforts to prevent proliferation and also infuriate Pakistan.A decision on Indian membership is not expected before an NSG plenary meeting in Seoul on June 20, but diplomats have said Washington has been pressuring hold-outs. Most of the hold-outs oppose  admitting a non-NPT state such as India and argue that if it is to be admitted, it should be under criteria that apply equally to all states rather than under a “tailor-made” solution for a US ally. — Reuters‘Issue not taken up in Vienna’Beijing: China insisted that there “was no deliberation” on the bid by India and other nations at the Vienna meeting that took place last week. “There was no deliberation on any items related to the accession to the NSG by India or any other countries that are not signatories to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT),” Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hong Lei said.      He added that NSG Chair Argentine Ambassador Rafael Mariano Grossi convened an unofficial meeting of the 48-member group on June 9. However, diplomatic sources said earlier that India’s membership was discussed at the meeting and talks had remained inconclusive. PTIRelevance of Nuclear Suppliers GroupThe Nuclear Suppliers Group looks after critical issues relating to the nuclear sector and its members are allowed to trade in and export nuclear technology. The NSG works under the principle of unanimity and even one country’s vote against India will scuttle its bid.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Barack Obama make remarks to reporters after their meeting in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, US on June 7. Reuters photo

Beijing, June 8

India cannot rise by “containing” China or picking one side against the other, a Chinese state-run paper said on Wednesday, taking note of the Indo-US ties which are being ramped up to an “unprecedented level”.“Four visits to the US and seven meetings with President Barack Obama in two years–Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has ramped up the India-US relationship to an unprecedented level. How the two countries will engage with each other has raised heated discussions,” an op-ed article in state-run Global Times said.“Picking one side or camp against the other is not the way India will rise. New Delhi is looking into a multi-faceted diplomacy. The well-performing Indian economy will give incentives to the country to be more confident with multilateralism and to seek balanced international relations.“Although rivalling China in many aspects, India knows its great vision cannot be realised by bashing or containing China. Instead, they should expand cooperation, explore the potentials and build mutual trust for their own good. China is more of a help than a competitor for India. This will eventually constitute India’s fundamental understanding of China,” it said referring to Modi’s current visit to the US.With Modi’s visit, New Delhi hopes there will be breakthroughs in many aspects, especially business and trade, security cooperation and nuclear issues, the article titled ‘India’s vision cannot be realised by containing China’ said.“The transformation of the geopolitical landscape is the major driver drawing the US and India much closer.Washington’s rebalance to the Asia-Pacific makes the US realise India’s strategic significance, economic potential and ideological commonality,” it said.“India hopes that by consolidating its relationship with the US, it could gain leverage in development and forge an international status that is worthy of its potential. Modi has riveted his interactions with the US on this simple outlook to make India a veritable powerhouse. He was eager to boost a broader and better economic relationship with the US.“He urged the signing of the Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement, a landmark deal promoting logistics and defence cooperation with the US and he also expects an endorsement from the US to help India become a member of the Nuclear Suppliers Group, the last step to solidify India’s status as a nuclear powerhouse,” the article said.As for Washington, it is always hoping that India could serve as its right hand to counterbalance China’s rise. But so far, Washington’s calculations do not work well. Turning down Washington’s invitation to join a patrol in the South China Sea, New Delhi has no intention to cast away its founding principles: independence and non-alignment, it said.“In the process of fulfilling its ambition to be a major power, India has always employed independent and pragmatic approaches. A balance between other major powers will be its primary and optimal choice,” the article added. PTI

Abhinav Vashisht

Kullu, June 6

For those looking for solace, the Banjar valley is the perfect destination. Be it domestic tourists or foreigners, all make a beeline for the picturesque place. Rivers, lakes, waterfalls, mountain ranges, evergreen forest, grasslands, historic buildings and temples are a major tourist attraction here.The Great Himalayan National Park (GHNP) was declared a world heritage site in June 2014 and since then new avenues have opened up for entrepreneurs associated with tourism industry in the Banjar valley.Scenic Jibhi village and Shoja valley attract a large number of foreign and domestic tourists. The villages have witnessed an increase in the number of guest houses over the years.Pilgrims throng the temple and the lake at Seolsar in large numbers.Davinder, managing director, Jibhi Inn, said the best part was that the area was unexplored unlike other hill stations. “A traveller gets to see a lot of new places here,” he said.The Banjar valley can be approached from the Chandigarh-Manali highway. It is the ideal destination for nature lovers and trekkers. Davinder said: “The valley is surrounded by pine trees and snow-covered majestic peaks. There are various trekking routes, small streams and old temples. Water bodies are popular for various games and fishing. Picturesque spots like Sarehul Lake, Chaini Fort, Sharingi Bagi Temple and Shringa Rishi Temple delight the visitors.” Having splendid mountain ranges and forests, Jibhi is the unexplored heaven in the heart of the Himalayas.

About Banjar valley

• Banjar is situated at the height of 1,356 m (4515.48 feet) from the sea level
• The place lies on the alternative route to Kullu from Shimla
• The main route is via Bilaspur and Mandi. The alternative route goes from Theog, Aani, Jalori Pass, Banjar and joins the main route at Aut
• The valley is in the middle Himalayan range. Going towards east, the peaksprogressively get taller, finally giving way to the great Himalayan range, wherethe peaks are as high as 4,500 m and above

Islamabad, June 4

Pakistan has denied consular access to Kulbhushan Jadhav arrested allegedly for spying and conducting subversive activities in Balochistan province and Karachi city of Pakistan.“After due consideration, it has been decided not to grant consular access to Jadhav,” Dawn online on Saturday quoted a top security source as saying. The reason behind the decision was cited as Jadhav’s involvement in “subversive activities” in Pakistan, the source said.Pakistani forces had arrested Jadhav from Balochistan province in March. It was said that the retired navy officer was “a serving officer in the Indian Navy and deputed to Research and Analysis Wing ”.The External Affairs Ministry said Jadhav worked in the Indian Navy and Gautam Bambawale, Indian High Commissioner in Islamabad, sought consular access to him. “The said individual has no link with the government since his premature retirement from Indian Navy. We have sought consular access to him,” MEA spokesman Vikas Swarup said. —

Arun Joshi in Srinagar
The working groups formed in 2006 to address ‘internal’ and ‘external’ issues have been forgotten, their recommendations no one remembers. Meanwhile, violence wanes and waxes: it’s like walking one step forward and two steps back. The Tribune team goes on the trail of those 10 years since 2006.

A car bomb exploded at Srinagar airport before then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh arrived to preside over the second roundtable on Kashmir on May 24, 2006. That was a loud and clear message for Delhi as well as the participants of the conference trying peace initiative.Fast forward to May 23, 2016: militants gunned down three policemen in the heart of the city, indicating nothing has changed apparently in the past 10 years as far the nature of violence is concerned. The graph has been undulating but the spirit of engineering violent events is very much alive. Psychologically, it is a downslide; the measures that were supposed to engage the people, translate their hopes into something tangible have not appeared on the horizon. Not that the promises failed to appear, but a feeling is deepening that what they have in hand is also being taken away. Over the years, many issues have formed the forceful narrative. These are: repeal, or at least review, of the special laws such as the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), and a draw-down of security forces, return of Kashmiri Pandit migrants, an amnesty and return of militants languishing in Pakistan and Pakistan occupied Kashmir to their homes in the state, economic improvement, a sense of empowerment and ownership with the return of the National Hydro-Electric Projects Corporation projects and an end to discrimination with Jammu and Ladakh regions.This is not a separatist or mainstream narrative. It is the people’s narrative. Though there is a contention on a few issues given the backdrop of the place to which the people belong, the fact is that the state needs a helping hand to be able to get out of the quagmire it finds itself in after militancy erupted in the late 1980s. The terrible past of the ’80s led to an onslaught on the relations among communities, resulting in mass migration of minorities and political leaders and massacres within the Valley and outside. Pakistan played a big role to mess up things in Kashmir. Pakistani establishment could succeed, because as late Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed said: “A fertile ground was created in the Valley.” The stifling of space for the mainstream opposition gave wings to separatist forces: the Hurriyat Conference is a reincarnation of the Muslim United Front. The charges of rigged Assembly elections of 1987 and a ham-handed manner in which minor protests were dubbed as pro-Pakistan demonstrations presented Pakistan something on the platter.The Round Table Conference (RTC), a colonial-era idea, was sought to be revived because relations with Pakistan were improving. The better climate was visible following cessation of hostilities on borders, opening of the cross-LoC routes and a deepening yearning for peace. Manmohan Singh and Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf were moving forward towards normalizing ties through track-II.The basic idea of the RTCs – which started in February 2006   was to bring together all viewpoints to form some kind of a consensus on the road ahead. The separatists, as expected, boycotted. The Syed Ali Shah Geelani group said: “We had nothing to do with the exercise which doesn’t term Kashmir as a dispute.” The Mirwaiz faction that had held talks with Centre four times said: “It is an exercise for the mainstream Indian parties; we will participate if the RTC is for us (separatists) only.” That was it.The whole of Srinagar was locked down by the presence of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh as he announced five working groups aimed at tackling both “internal and external dimensions.” The working groups were to study the Centre-state relations with regard to the self-rule of PDP and address the demand for restoration of autonomy raised by the National Conference. The people hoped that India, by talking of “external” dimension, had accepted the reality that things would move vis-à-vis Pakistan. The PM left a day earlier than scheduled, cutting off his plan to have “shikara ride” on the Dal lake as the word reached him that it was a curfew for tourists and locals alike. He wanted to give a meaning to his words about genuine relief to the people. The working groups’ recommendations were lost in the bureaucratic wrangles. The “national interest first” mindset, countered by “Kashmir-on-the-top” and the resistance within the parties to the RTC have at the end of 10 years made them a forgotten chapter. The promises lost in the contesting narratives started a downhill journey for Kashmir. There is no break in sight.