New Delhi, August 14:

Both the Houses of Par-liament today rejected outright and deplored the anti-India resolutions passed by the National Assembly of Pakistan and the Federal Assembly of Punjab yesterday. A reso-lution, adopted by the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sab-ha, termed the Pakistani resolution as absolutely

baseless and unfounded against the armed forces of India and its people.The resolution said that there should be absolutely no doubt about the in-volvement of the Pakistan Army in the unprovoked attack on the army patrol on the Indian side of the Line of Control on the 6th of this month. It regretted that Islamabad indulged in unprovoked attacks at

a time when efforts were being made to establish a long-lasting framework of peaceful and friendly ties so that both countries could devote their resourc-es and energies for the welfare of the people of the respective countries.Stating that India is not a threat to Pakistan or its people, the resolution said it is the terrorist groups

See Parliament on Pg. 11

CMYK

CMYK

CMYK

CMYK

ThurSDAY August 15 | 2013 | 07 Shawal 1434 Ah | PAGES 12 | VOL NO: 3 | ISSuE NO: 199 | rS: 2/- (AIr SurChArGE FOr JAMMu /DELhI/LEh 50 PAISA)Pen For JusticeLargely Circulated, No. 1 Bilingual Daily of J&K

Parliament rejects Pak National Assembly resolution

Srinagar, August 14:

In his address to the people from Doordarshan and Ra-dio Kashmir on the Independence Day, Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah while ex-tending his warm greetings, has shown concern over the trend of getting car-ried away by rumours and reacting violently without ascertaining facts. “This

trend in the society is of serious concern”, he said and underlined its conse-quences as dangerous and

detrimental to the progress and wel-fare of the State. He said heeding to rumours and re-sorting to violence results in the loss of precious human

lives and property besides peace disturbance.

See Omar on Pg. 11

Let harmony, peaceful co-existence be our resolve

on Independence Day: Omar

http://www.zabarwantimes.com

wEA

ThEr TEMPErATurE

MAXIMuM MINIMuMSuNSET ON(ThurSDAY)SuNrISE ON (FrIDAY)

07:20 pm05:54 am

16.4 0C19.4 0C

FOrECAST FOr NEXT 24 hrS:

FOrECAST OF SrINAGAr:

Light to moderate rain/thundershower would occur at most places over the state.

Light rain/ thundershowers. Maximum & Minimum temperatures will be around 20°C & 15°C respec-tively.

Nation will compare speeches from Lal Quila, Gujarat

India’s Patience Has Limits

7 10

LoC Attacks

Srinagar, August 14:

Mr. N. N. Vohra, Governor Jammu and Kashmir, today said that since the begin-ning of this year there have been continuing attempts at infiltration and repeated at-tacks on our Security Forc-es, leaving no doubt that the adversary agencies and forces across the LoC

See Join hands on Pg. 11

‘Join hands to propel J&K on the path of

progress’

All 18 sailors aboard a submarine, which ex-ploded and sank on Wednesday are feared dead, said the Indian Navy, adding that the cause of the explosion was being investigated.

A board of enquiry would probe all possible explanations including sabotage, it said.

Chief of naval staff DK Joshi said no sign of life had been detected on board even after div-ers managed to enter through the main hatch in a bid to refloat the vessel.

“It is certainly a dent on Indian navy’s sub-marine capabilities for the time being,” he added.

About a dozen fire engines rushed to the dockyard and extinguished the fire in about two hours, officials said.

sign of life detected on stricken Indian sub-marine: navy chief

spokesman Narendra Vispute said the cause of the explosion was being investigated.

Joshi said there had been an initial fire which appeared to have sparked a big explosion as weaponry ignited.

The basic question is what caused the fire and explosion. We do not have an answer to that question as of now,” he said.

A board of enquiry would probe all possible explanations including sabotage, but “the indi-cators at this point of time do not support that theory”, he said.

The fully-armed INS Sindhurakshak, re-turned by original manufacturer Russia earlier in 2013 after a major refit, exploded in flames in

Mumbai shortly after midnight onWednesday and sank in a military shipyard.

16-year-old Russian-made submarine also suffered an explosion in 2010 that killed one

sailor and injured two others. The navy said that accident was caused by a faulty battery valve that leaked hydrogen, causing an explosion in the vessel’s battery compartment.

Indian Navy submarine INS Sindhurakshak on fire in Mumbai following an explosion in the

Naval Dockyard. Navy officials said there had been no con-

tact with any of the sailors since the explosions, which lit up the sky above the Mumbai navy

base where the submarine was docked.The disaster is thought to be the Vavy’s

worst since the sinking of a frigate by a Pakistani submarine in 1971. Defence minister AK Antony described the explosion as the “greatest tragedy in recent time”. “I feel sad about those navy per-

sonnel who have lost their lives in service of the country,” he told reporters in New Delhi.

A file photo of Indian Navy’s Sindhurak-shak submarine as seen in Visakhapatnam. The blast came days after New Delhi trumpeted the launch of its first domestically-produced air-craft carrier and the start of sea trials for its first Indian-made nuclear submarine.

The world’s biggest democracy has been expanding its armed forces rapidly to upgrade its mostly Soviet-era weaponry and respond to what is perceived as a growing threat from re-gional rival China.

Amateur video footage showed a fireball in the forward section of the Sindhurakshak, where torpedoes and missiles are stored as well as the battery units.

“There were two to three explosions and the night sky lit up briefly,” eyewitness Dhar-mendra Jaiswal said.

Joshi said navy divers had opened one hatch on the submarine but had not yet been able to enter the vessel. Because the submarine was docked, a unit of navy watchmen was on board when the blast occurred and not the normal crew, he said.

At least some weaponry exploded in the near-simultaneous blasts, Joshi added.

Local TVchannels showed a video of the ex-plosion on the diesel-powered submarine, ap-parently filmed by a bystander. An enormous ball of red and yellow fire rose hundreds of feet into the air.

Rs. 6 Crores being spent under Vegetable Initiative

Scheme: Director Agriculture

SRINAGAR, AUGUST 14:

District Development Commissioner, Anantnag Dr. Farooq Ahmed Lone today visited Pahalgam and various other places for taking stock of the flood situation aris-ing due to intermittent rains since last 24 hour.The DDC was accompanied by Addi-tional Development commissioner Anan-tnag, Engineers of Flood Control, PHE and R&B.While visiting Lidder and adjacent areas, the DDC instructed the concerned officers to take immediately all the neces-sary flood control measures at Akari, Yen-yar, Mattan and Pahalgam where the flow of water was turbulent. He also visited the yatri base camp at Nunman and took stock of the arrangements made for the yatries. He instructed the camp Director to shift 190 pilgrims camped there to the complex of Jawahar Institute of Mountaineering and Winter Sport (JIM&WS) as a precau-tionary measure to avoid any untoward loss because of lashing rains in the areas.

Moreover, all the flood control arrange-ments have been made throughout the district and so far as present situation of rain is concerned there is no threat of flood in the district. A control room has also been established in the District under the super-vision of Additional District Development Commissioner. The people can contact

for help or to inform any untoward inci-dent on the Telephone Numbers including

01932-224991, 9419041892, 01932-225119 and 9419183479.

SRINAGAR, AUGUST 14:

About Rs. 6 Crores are be-ing spent under Vegetable Initiative for urban Clus-ter Scheme in the selected clusters of Kashmir Division around Srinagar city for en-hancing the production of vegetables and making avail-able the same to the resi-dents of Srinagar city on cheap rates.

This was disclosed in a joint meeting of divisional and district level officers of Agriculture department held at Lalmandi today under the chairmanship of Director Agriculture Kash-mir Mushtaq Peerzada. The meeting which had been called to review the implementation of various state and centrally sponsored schemes, was informed that the scheme has given a boost to the vegetable production in selected areas of Srinagar, Genderbal, Baramulla, Bud-gam & Pulwama with the re-sult that so far over one lakh M. Tons of fresh vegetable has

been exported to Jammu re-gion as also outside the state.

The meeting was further informed that under the scheme besides providing Hybrid Vegetable Seeds on subsidized rates to the farmers, the department is providing incentives for establishing of Green Houses to encourage Off-Season cultivation of veg-etables, pack houses for storage of vegetables to avoid distress sale of the crop, Vermi compost units to encourage organic pro-duce and Vending carts for transportation of vegeta-bles. It was also given out that during the current year additional clusters have been taken up under the scheme in Kulgam, Anantnag and Baramulla districts.

Addressing the meeting Director Agriculture Kashmir underscored the need for educating the farmers with regard to marketing trends so that the farmer get good farm gate price for their produce.

Daily ZABARWAN TIMES NEWS Srinagar | thurSday 15 .8 .2013

DDC Anantnag visits Pahalgam, takes stock of flood control

arrangements in district

I&FC asks people to restrict movement near rivers, nallahs JAMMU, AUGUST 14-The Irrigation & Flood Control Department has appealed the

people to restrict movement near Tawi, Chenab, Basanter, Ujh, Devak in view of increasing water level in these rivers due to incessant heavy rains.

As such, the movement of men, vehicles and cattle along the rivers and nallahs banks is not advisable. The people living in the vicinity have been informed to take proper care to avoid any mishap.

Water rises beyond danger level in Samba rivers

JAMMU, AUGUST 14-As per a notice issued here today by district administration Sam-ba, the general public has been asked not to stay near the banks of rivers, nallahs, tributar-ies etc in the wake of increased water level beyond danger point.

The people have also been advised to shift to safer places in case of further escalation in water level.

All the Block Development Officers, Tehsildars, Naib Tehsildars, SDPOs and SHOs have also been directed to get a general alert sounded in their respective areas through Panches, Sarpanches, VLWs, Lamberdars, Chowkidars and Anganwari workers etc besides monitoring the situation round the clock.

Today you may be inspired to have a little fun with your looks, Libra. You may wish to change your haircut or experi-ment with different colors or styles of clothing. It would be fun to get out of your routine, even if it just means donning funky sunglasses or bright Hawaiian patterns. You will feel lighter and more flirtatious.

Today’s energy has you rethinking all areas of your life, Scorpio. If you aren’t as challenged by your job as you think you should be, perhaps it’s time for a change. The trick for you will be figuring out what it is that you want to do. You have a tremendous amount of creative ability. If you aren’t using these talents, why not explore a career that would let you develop them further?

You’re ready for dramatic change in your life, Sagittarius. It isn’t that you’re dissatisfied with your career or personal life. Rather, you feel like you’re missing out on something great, if you only knew what. Be receptive to whatever op-portunities arise and explore them all. You may find the an-swers you seek through travel or more education. Bring a friend if you’re afraid to explore on your own.

Capricorn, expect to meet someone new who will be a tremendous influence in your life - probably in your career. If you’ve been frustrated by your lack of progress up the corpo-rate ladder, take heart. This new person may be able to show you another way up. In spite of your frustration, you should continue to work in your usual manner. You’re on the right path, even though you may doubt it now.

You’ve been on a wild ride for several months, Aquarius - all that excitement in your personal life and career! If ma-jor changes for the better haven’t yet occurred, know that they will. A promotion is in order, most likely accompanied by a raise. Don’t act so surprised - you’ve had this coming for a long time. Celebrate tonight with someone dear to your heart.

Foreign lands and new opportunities beckon today, Pi-sces! Keep your eyes and ears open as these opportunities may come to you from an unusual or unexpected source. You’re ready for a change of some kind in your personal or professional life. It’s up to you to take steps in whatever new direction you decide to go. Don’t rule out a few classes as a way to further your career.

Mind your manners today, Virgo. Make sure your charm is turned up high. Merging with the group is essential as you keep the momentum of the energy going. The more the mer-rier. Once you get the ball rolling in the right direction, there will be plenty of momentum to help it up the next hill. The important thing is that you take responsibility for your ac-tions.

Things may get a bit hostile today, Aries. No one wants to budge from his or her position. You could be caught be-tween mind and heart issues. Both sides are unforgiving and unwilling to give up control. Your best bet is to try to find compromise wherever possible. You may not get the exact solution you want, but you will get one that’s workable for all parties involved.

You may think that everything is perfect, Taurus, when suddenly, there’s a great surge of unyielding emotional en-ergy. Be on the lookout because such situations are likely to crop up and add intensity to your journey. Pool your knowl-edge with that of other people instead of trying to come up with all the answers by yourself.

Others are apt to play a big role in the events that unfold today, Gemini. It’s likely that closely communing with others will be very important. Despite this, you may still feel alone. Even within a large group, your heart may yearn to bond tightly with just one other person. Do your best to stay posi-tive regardless of the combative forces likely to be at work on a day like this.

You may be in a difficult position today, Cancer, as if you’re being pulled in two directions with little say as to how things are supposed to end. The acting forces could be ma-nipulative, so you should take special care that no one takes advantage of you. This may be easier said than done at a time like this.

It’s very possible that the best solution today is to simply give up control, Leo. When it comes to matters of the heart, other people may be in a whirl of turmoil. Trying to figure out their state of mind will be impossible so don’t even try. You may just want to let things ride and see where you end up tomorrow before making any major moves.

Fire or explosion? Cause of submarine mishap being investigated

INDIA’S PATIENCES HAS LIMITS: PRESIDENTALL STEPS TO BE TAKEN TO PROTECT TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY

Fellow citizens: 1. On the eve of the 66th

anniversary of our Independence, I extend warm greetings to you and to all Indians around the world.

2. My thoughts turn first towards the Father of our Nation, Mahatma Gandhi, who shaped our liberation struggle and the martyrs who made supreme sacrifice for the freedom of our country and great patriots whose relentless struggle liberated our motherland from the colonial rule of nearly two hundred years. Gandhiji sought freedom from both foreign rule as well as the indigenous social chains that had imprisoned our so-ciety for long. He launched every Indian on a path of self-belief and hope for a better future. Gandhiji promised Swaraj- self-rule based on tolerance and self-restraint. He promised freedom from want and deprivation. For nearly seven decades now we have been mas-ters of our destiny. This is then the moment to ask: are we heading in the right direction? Gandhiji's vi-sion cannot be turned into reality if we spurn the very values that were compulsory to his cause: sincerity of effort, honesty of purpose and sacrifice for the larger good.

3. Our founding fathers cre-ated the first oasis in the desert of a colonized world nourished by democracy. Democracy is much more than the right to vote every five years; its essence is the as-pirations of the masses; its spirit must influence the responsibili-ties of the leaders and duties of the citizens every day. Democracy breathes through a vibrant Parlia-ment, an independent judiciary, a responsible media, a vigilant civil society, and a bureaucracy com-mitted to integrity and hard work. It survives through accountability, not profligacy. And yet we have al-lowed unbridled personal enrich-ment, self-indulgence, intolerance, discourtesy in behavior and dis-respect for authority to erode our work culture. The biggest impact of the decay in the moral fiber of our society is on the hopes and aspirations of the young and the poor. Mahatma Gandhi had advised us to avoid, and I quote, “politics without principles, wealth without

work, pleasure without conscience, knowledge without character, commerce without morality, sci-ence without humanity, and wor-ship without sacrifice”, (unquote). We have to pay heed to his advice as we work towards building a modern democracy. The ideals of patriotism, compassion, tolerance, self-restraint, honesty, discipline and respect for women have to be converted into a living force.

Fellow citizens: 4. Institutions are a mirror

of national character. Today we see widespread cynicism and dis-illusionment with the governance and functioning of institutions in our country. Our legislatures look more like combat arenas, rather than fora that legislate. Corruption has become a major challenge. The precious resources of the nation are being wasted through indolence and indifference. It is sapping the dynamism of our society. We need to correct this regression.

5. Our Constitution pro-vides a delicate balance of power between various institutions of the State. This balance has to be main-tained. We need a Parliament that debates, discusses and decides. We need a judiciary that gives justice without delays. We need leader-ship that is committed to the na-tion and those values that made us a great civilization. We need a state that inspires confidence among people in its ability to surmount challenges before us. We need a media and citizens who, even as they claim their rights, are equally committed to their responsibili-ties.

Fellow citizens: 6. A re-ordering of the soci-

ety can be brought about through the educational system. We cannot aspire to be a world class power without a single world class univer-sity. History records that we were the cynosure of the world once. Takshashila, Nalanda, Vikra-mashila, Valabhi, Somapura and Odantapuri comprised the ancient university system that dominated the world for eighteen hundred years beginning Sixth Century BC. They were a magnet for the finest minds and scholars in the world. We must seek to regain that space.

A university is the banyan tree whose roots lie in basic education, in a vast network of schools that build the intellectual prowess of our communities; we have to in-vest in every part of this knowledge tree, from seed, root and branch to the highest leaf.

Fellow Citizens: 7. There is a direct relation-

ship between a successful democ-racy and a successful economy, for we are a people-driven nation. Peo-ple serve their interests best when they participate in decision- mak-ing at the level of panchayat and other forms of local government. We have to rapidly empower the local bodies with functions, func-tionaries and finances to improve their performance. Faster growth has given us the resources, but larg-er outlays have not translated into better outcomes. Without inclu-sive governance, we cannot achieve inclusive growth.

8. For a developing country of more than 1.2 billion people, the debate between growth and redis-tribution is vital. While growth builds the scope for redistribution, redistribution sustains growth over time. Both are equally important. A disproportionate emphasis on any one, at the expense of the other, can have adverse consequences for the nation.

9. The last decade has seen India emerge as one of the fast-est growing nations in the world. During this period, our economy grew annually at an average rate of 7.9 per cent. We are today self-sufficient in food grains produc-tion. We are the largest exporter of rice and second largest exporter of wheat in the world. The record production of 18.45 million tonne of pulses this year augurs well for our march towards self-suffi-ciency in pulses. This was unthink-able just a few years ago. This mo-mentum has to be sustained. In a globalized world, with increasing economic complexities, we have to learn to cope better with adver-sities, both external and domestic.

Fellow citizens: 10. At the dawn of our Inde-

pendence, we lit the glowing lamp of modernity and equitable eco-nomic growth. To keep this lamp

aflame, our highest priority has to be the elimination of poverty. Though a declining trend in the poverty rate is clearly visible, our fight against this scourge is far from over. India has the talent, ability and the resources to overcome this challenge.

11. Reforms that have enabled us to come this far have to be pur-sued at all levels of governance. Favorable demographic changes over the next two decades can pay us handsome dividends. It requires industrial transformation and rap-id creation of employment oppor-tunities. It also requires an orderly urbanization process. Several ini-tiatives taken by the Government in the recent past including the New Manufacturing Policy, the renewal of urban infrastructure and the am-bitious skill training programme will need close monitoring in the coming years.

12. We have given our citizens entitlements backed by legal guar-antees in terms of right to employ-ment, education, food and informa-tion. We now have to ensure that these entitlements lead to real empowerment for the people. We need robust delivery mechanisms to make these legislations work. New benchmarks of efficient public service delivery and accountability have to be established. The Direct Benefits Transfer Scheme, launched earlier this year, will bring in great-er transparency, enhance efficiency and eliminate wastage of precious resources.

Fellow citizens: 13. In our race for development,

we must be careful not to disturb the balance between man and nature. The consequences of such imbalance can be disastrous. My heartfelt condolences to the many who lost their lives, and the in-numerable who suffered in Ut-tarakhand; and my salutations to those brave personnel of our secu-rity and armed forces, government and NGOs who did so much to al-leviate suffering. This tragedy owes as much to the avarice of human nature as to the rage of Mother Na-ture. This was nature’s wake-up call. And it is time to wake up.

Fellow citizens: 14. We have seen in the recent

past grave challenges to our se-curity, internal as well as external. The barbaric face of Maoist vio-lence in Chhattisgarh led to a loss of many innocent lives. Despite India's consistent efforts to build friendly relations with neighbours, there have been tensions on the border and repeated violations of the Ceasefire on the Line of Control, leading to tragic loss of lives. Our commitment to peace is unfailing but even our patience has limits. All steps necessary to ensure inter-nal security and protect the territo-rial integrity of the nation will be taken. I applaud the courage and heroism of our security and armed forces who maintain eternal vigi-lance and pay homage to those who have made the supreme sacrifice of the most precious gift of life in the service of the motherland.

15. There will be a general elec-tion in our country before I have the privilege of addressing you again on the eve of our next inde-pendence day. This great festival of democracy, is an opportunity for us to elect a stable government which will ensure security and economic development. Every election must become a crucial milestone in our nation’s journey towards greater social harmony, peace and prosper-ity.

16. Democracy has given us an opportunity to re-create another golden age. Let us not squander this extraordinary opportunity. The journey ahead calls for wisdom, courage and determination. We must work on across-the-board revival of our values and institu-tions. We must realize that rights go with responsibilities. We must re-discover the virtue of self-scru-tiny and self-restraint.

17. Let me conclude by quoting from the great classic Bhagvad Gita where the Teacher propounds his views and then says, and I quote, “ÿatha icchasi tatha kuru” “even as you choose, so you do. I do not wish to impose my views on you. I have presented to you what I think is right. Now it is for your conscience, for your judgment, for your mind to decide what is right.” (unquote)

On your decisions rests the fu-ture of our democracy.

Jai Hind

E ++HHEAAL L HH5 ZABARWAN TIMES

THURSDAY | 15 AUG 20138 ZABARWANTIMES

Asthma inhalers can stunt growth in kids

This is the finding from a comprehensive asthma study, which has Robert C. Strunk, MD, the Donald Strominger Professor of Pediatrics at Washington University School of Medi-cine in St. Louis as the se-nior author. The study involved more than 1,000 children ages 5-12 who were treated for mild to moderate asthma as part of the Childhood Asthma Management Program (CAMP) clinical trial. The children received treatment for more than four years at eight cen-ters, including Washing-ton University School of Medicine. They were di-vided into three groups: one received twice-daily

budesonide, an inhaled corticosteroid medication; a second group received nedocromil, an inhaled non-steroid medication; and a third group received a placebo. All children received al-buterol, a fast-acting drug for relief of acute asthma symptoms, and oral cor-ticosteroids as needed for asthma symptoms. The researchers followed 943 participants in the tri-al at regular intervals until they reached adult height. Females were considered to be at adult height at age 18 or older and males at age 20 or older, Strunk said. In the first 4 1/2 years after the end of the trial, researchers took patients' height and weight every

six months. Over the next eight years, height and weight were measured once or twice a year. The mean adult height was about one-half inch, or 1.2 centimeters, shorter in the group that received budes-onide than in the patients who received nedocromil or placebo. The patients who experienced the slow-er growth were primar-ily between 5-11 years old when they began using budesonide. The slower growth took place only in the first two years of the four-year study. As the study progressed, the children who took the budesonide remained one-half inch shorter through adulthood than the chil-dren who did not use the

drug, said Strunk, who treats children with asth-ma at St. Louis Children's Hospital. "This was surprising be-cause in previous studies, we found that the slower growth would be tempo-rary, not affecting adult height. But none of those studies followed patients from the time they en-tered the study until they had reached adult height," Strunk stated. Pediatric asthma special-ists at St. Louis Children's Hospital keep a close watch on the growth of their patients who use inhaled steroids, Strunk said. They are measured at every visit, and physicians keep a growth curve. "If a child is not growing as they should, we may re-duce their steroid dose," he noted. "But we think that the half-inch of lowered adult height must be balanced against the well-estab-lished benefit of inhaled corticosteroids in control-ling persistent asthma. We will use the lowest effec-tive dose to control symp-toms to minimize concerns about effects on adult height," he added. The findings will be pre-sented at the European Respiratory Society meet-ing in Vienna, Austria, and published online in the New England Journal of Medicine

Study finds computer, television screen time directly linked to childhood obesity

SCREEN time has over-taken exercise as the most important factor in child-hood obesity and should be limited, a South Austra-lian study has found.The UniSA study looked at 2200 children aged be-tween nine and 16 years and found the length of time they spent in front of television and computer screens was a more likely indicator of being over-weight or obese than the amount of exercise they did.Study co-author and UniSA researcher Dr Carol Maher said screen time now made up about one quarter of waking time for the age group."In the past two decades, young

people's physical activ-ity behaviour has been the subject of scores of inter-ventions but, in compari-son, interventions aimed at reducing screen time have been relatively un-common," she said."Our findings suggest that screen-time reduction may be a more effective target behaviour for intervention studies aimed at reducing overweight and obesity among children."The study found there were about two and a half times as many obese study subjects classed in the category of high-screen-time and low-exercise (10.7 per cent), as in the low-screen-time and high-exercise category (4.3

per cent).Dr Maher said the value of physical activity also should not be underesti-mated."Increased likelihood of a young person being overweight or obese was more strongly and consis-tently associated with high screen-time than with low physical activity," she said."Findings underscore the need for interventions targeting screen behav-iour in young people."Dr Maher said the study, pub-lished in the latest edition of Acta Paediatrica, was carried out because there was debate in the scientific community about which factor had the stronger as-

sociation with obesity.The children's behaviour over 24-hour periods was studied and they were di-vided into groups based on high and low activity, as well as on high and low screen use, according to national guidelines.Low-activity children ex-ercised for less than 60 minutes each day and high screen-time children failed to meet national guide-lines."Increased likelihood of overweight or obese was often associated with high screen time, but only sometimes and less strongly associated with low ... physical activity," Dr Maher said.

High Blood Sugar Levels Linked to Brain Shrinkage

The Australian study of nearly 250 non-diabetic men and women found those with high blood sugar levels tended to have shrinking in brain areas linked to memory and emotional process-ing. The results held up even after controlling for lifestyle factors such as smoking and weight.“If replicated, this finding may contribute to a re-evaluation of the concept of normal blood glucose levels and the definition of diabetes,” wrote study author Dr. Nicolas Cher-buin, director of the Neu-roimaging and Brain Lab at Australian National University in Canberra, Australia.Previous research has

linked diabetes, a disor-der in which blood sugar levels are abnormally high, to age-related cogni-tive decline. But the new study, published Monday in the journal Neurol-ogy, suggested controlling blood sugar levels could boost cognitive health in non-diabetics.How exactly? The jury’s still out.Some studies suggest blood sugar control can help regulate the body’s inflammatory response, which has been linked to brain shrinkage. Another theory is that high sugar levels make the blood stickier, raising the risk of clots that starve the brain.Either way, experts said,

the study supports healthy eating to keep blood sugar levels in check.“This in line with many other studies that have been published and adds to all of the data on diabe-tes affecting brain health,” said Dr. R. Scott Turner, director of the Memory Disorders Program and a professor of neurology at Georgetown Univer-sity Medical Center, who was not involved with this study.For non-diabetic patients with high blood sugar lev-els, Turner recommended adopting the American Diabetes Association diet, which is high in non-starchy vegetables and low in carbohydrates and protein.

Household chemicals can give you heart diseaseExposure to perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), a manmade chemical used in the manufacture of some common household products, may lead to cardiovascular disease and peripheral arterial disease, a new study has warned.Surveys have suggested that PFOA (widely used in the manufacture of products such as lubricants, pol-ishes, paper and textile coatings, and food packaging) is detectable in the blood of more than 98 per cent of the U.S. population.Some evidence has suggested that an association may be biologically plausible between PFOA exposure and cardiovascular disease (CVD), according to the study back-ground.Anoop Shankar, M.D., Ph.D., and colleagues from the West Virginia University School of Public Health, Morgantown, examined the as-sociation between serum (blood) levels of PFOA and the presence of CVD and PAD, a marker of athero-sclerosis, in a nationally represen-tative group of adults. The study

used merged data from the 1999-2000 and 2003-2004 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES).The study suggests that increasing serum PFOA levels were positively associated with the presence of CVD and PAD, and the associa-tion appeared to be independent of confounders such as age, sex, race/ethnicity, smoking status, body mass index, diabetes mel-litus, hypertension and serum cholesterol level, the authors comment."Our results contribute to the emerging data on health effects of PFCs [perfluoroalkyl chemicals], suggesting for the first time that PFOA exposure is potentially re-lated to CVD and PAD. However, owing to the cross-sectional na-ture of the present study, we can-not conclude that the association is causal," the researchers said.Compared with the reference level of PFOA in quartile 1, the multivariable odds ratio among participants in quartile 4 was

2.01 for CVD and 1.78 for PAD, according to the results."In summary, in a represen-tative cross-sectional sample of the U.S. population, we found that higher PFOA lev-els are positively associated with self-reported CVD and objectively measured PAD. Our findings, however, should

be interpreted with caution be-cause of the possibility of residu-al confounding and reverse cau-sality. Future prospective studies are needed to confirm or refute our findings," the researchers concluded.The study was published online by Archives of Internal Medicine, a JAMA Network publication.

5 Teas that make you slim!The brew that energises can

also help you lose weight. Here's

how... It's widely known that just one cup of tea can prevent strokes, arthritis, tooth decay and even keep cancer at bay. While it's regarded as nature's tranquiliser for its soothing proper-ties, the brew also has another great benefit - it helps shed weight. Scien-tists have shown that tea has high levels of compounds that battle the absorption of fat.

Here are 5 teas that can result in a

slimmer you... Star anise tea: promotes digestion Star anise, the fruit of a small ever-green tree (Illicium verum) native to China, can be used in the treat-ment of digestive troubles such an upset stomach, diarrhea, nausea etc. One may drink a tea made from it by

steeping a whole pod in one cup of hot water for 10 minutes. Strain this and sweeten it if required. Sip on this slowly when an upset stomach oc-curs.

Peppermint tea: controls what you

eat If you like peppermint tea then try and rotate that with a green tea drink as both speed up digestion and thus help you burn more calories. The peppermint leaves can be used to make a light, refreshing tea, which can be drunk either hot or chilled. To prepare the tea, take a tablespoon of fresh or dried leaves and add them to boiling water and let it steep for four to five minutes. Strain and add honey, if needed.

Green tea: builds metabolism

Research says the chemical EGCG found in green tea that speeds up the body's metabolism, is responsible for helping people lose the kilos - it can burn a whopping 70 calories a day! Green tea also raises the level of

antioxidants. It's believed the anti-oxidant catechins in green tea boost metabolism and helps burn fat (can burn a whopping 70 calories a day!) Steeping time for the tea: two to three minutes at 85 Degrees Celsius.

Rose tea: prevents constipation

One of the oldest flavouring teas available, rose tea - made by mixing fresh roses and the bud of the tea - has a major therapeutic effect on the human body. Apart from clearing toxins and beautifying the skin, rose tea contains vitamins A, B3, C, D and E and is known to act against infec-tions. It also prevents constipation and helps one lose weight.

Oolong tea: guards against obesity

Research reveals that oolong, a semi-fermented tea may have a stronger ef-fect than even green tea. It promotes fat burning is said to help reduce cholesterol and the concentration of fat in the body. About two cups per day is recommended. Steep oolong tea anywhere from 30 seconds to five minutes, for a more full-bodied cup.

E-cigarettes are equally injurious to healthElectronic cigarettes are being marketed as a potentially safer alternative to normal cigarettes, but new research has shown that they are still causing harm to the lungs.The study has also added new evidence to the debate over the safety of alter-native nicotine-delivery products.Electronic cigarettes are devices that deliver nicotine through a vapour, rather than smoke. There is no combustion involved but the nicotine in the device is still derived from tobacco. There has been much debate over the safety and ef-ficiency of the products, but little scientific evidence to support either claim.Researchers from the University of Athens in Greece aimed to investigate the short-term effects of using e-cigarettes on different people, including people without any known health problems and smokers with and without exist-ing lung conditions.The study included 8 people who had never smoked and 24 smokers, 11 with normal lung function and 13 people with either chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or asthma.Each person used an electronic cigarette for 10 minutes. The researchers then measured their airway resistance using a number of tests, including a spirometry test.The results showed that for all people included in the study, the e-cigarette caused an immediate increase in airway resistance, lasting for 10 minutes. In healthy subjects (never smokers) there was a statistically significant increase in airway resistance from a mean average of 182 per cent to 206 per cent.In smokers with normal spirometry there was a statistically significant increase from a mean average of 176 percent to 220 percent. In COPD and asthma patients the use of one e-cigarette seemed to have no immediate effect to airway resistance.Professor Christina Gratziou, one of the authors and Chair of the ERS Tobacco Control Committee, said: "We do not yet know whether unapproved nicotine delivery products, such as e-cigarettes, are safer than normal cigarettes, despite marketing claims that they are less harmful. This research helps us to understand how these products could be potentially harmful."We found an immediate rise in airway resistance in our group of participants, which suggests e-cigarettes can cause immediate harm after smoking the device. More research is needed to understand whether this harm also has lasting effects in the long-term."The ERS recommends following effective smoking cessation treatment guidelines based on clinical evidence which do not advocate the use of such products," Professor Gratziou added.

NATION DAILY ZABARWAN TIMES

7 SRINAGARThursday, 15 August,2013

Nation will compare speeches from Lal Quila, Gujarat: Narendra Modi

The official Independence Day function in Gujarat is being held in Bhuj where Modi will hoist the national flag.

He may not have been declared BJP's prime minis-terial candidate just yet but Gujarat Chief Minister Na-rendra Modi today seemed to have already donned the mantle when he said the nation would be comparing his speech with that of Prime Minister on Independance Day tomorrow.

"When we unfurl the tricolour, the message will also go to Lal Quila. Nation will want to know what was said there and what is said here (in Bhuj)," Modi said addressing a gathering of youth at Bhuj in Kutch district.

"On one hand there will be a series of promises, whereas on the other there will be the account of work done. On one side there will be despair (nirasha) and on the other side hope (asha)," he said without directly mentioning the Prime Minister.

The official Independence Day function in Gujarat is being held in Bhuj where Modi will hoist the national flag.

The remarks of Modi, BJP's election campaign committee chief, drew a caustic remark from Union Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Rajeev Shukla, who said the Gujarat leader was "full of arro-gance".

"I keep saying from day one that he is full of ar-rogance, full of himself. If this kind of a person gets higher in politics what he will do to the country one can understand," he said in Delhi.

Union Law Minister Kapil Sibal too attacked Modi, saying the BJP leader would be watched for "mis-state-ment of facts he is prone to make."

"They (the people) will probably be curious to hear what mis-statements of facts Mr Modi is now going to

make. Every time he makes a speech, there are some false figures, false facts which he knows to be false like 20 per cent of GDP of China is spent on education.

"I hope he does not trivialise the nation-al issues and make mis-statements of facts which he is prone to do while he is speaking to those who will hear him," Sibal said.

Modi also took a dig at Robert Vadra, son-in-law of Congress President Sonia Gandhi without naming him.

"When children grow up, parents advise them to settle down. But today children are telling their parents that they are not averse to marriage, but they are waiting for an opportu-nity to become the 'sarkari damaad'" he said in an apparent reference to Vadra.

Attacking the Centre, Modi, already in the election mode, said "its your turn to give your accounts...you will have to give account in 2014 of what you have done...and this coun-try knows what you have done. It knows what you have done, for whom you have done and who has done. People also know how it has been done and how much it was done".

"I want to tell them (UPA) that Gujarat passed the test with distinction in December 2012 (when last as-sembly polls were held). Those spreading canards against the state have been rejected," he said.

"I tell them, come in 2017 (when next assembly election happens in Gujarat)...try the same thing but this time you have to answer in 2014, what did you do, the nation knows," Modi said.

He also slammed Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for his remark that money does not grow on trees, say-ing "we have grown it in Rann of Kutch".

"Did the Rann come to Kutch after I became CM ? Did you think dollars will come from the Rann? Tour-ists have started coming. Prime Minister says money does not grow on trees, but we have grown money in the Rann of Kutch," Modi said.

While justifying the government's decisions on FDI and diesel price hike, the Prime Minister had in September last year said the time had come for "hard decisions".

In a rare 15-minute televised address to the nation against the backdrop of the uproar over the decisions to allow FDI in multi-brand retail, Rs 5 increase in diesel price and cap on subsidized LPG cylinders he had said, "money doesn't grow on trees. If we had not acted, it would have meant a higher fiscal deficit."

Gorkha Janmukti Morcha digs in for long Gorkhaland stir, tries to alienate

government in hillsDARJEELING: GorkhaJanmuktiMorcha’s

U-turn on the Gorkha Territorial Administration is part of a “well knit strategy” to stay on in the autonomous Hills body and turn it hollow from inside, said a senior Morcha leader on Tuesday.

The Morcha has already started a social boy-cott of government officials by pressuring cooks, domestic helps and personal assistants to quit the employment of government officials. The GNLF had done the same thing two decades ago. The two-pronged strategy of turning GTA redundant and non-cooperating with government officials and offices will create a situation where the ad-ministration will vanish and Morcha will call the shots in the Hills.

A senior GJM leader told TOI on Tuesday they would help the government select the new chief executive officer of GTA. This is a drastic change from their earlier hardline stance of stay-ing away from GTA — in fact, Gurung sparked the latest agitation by resigning as GTA chief ex-ecutive. So what is the Morcha’s tactic?

A GJM central committee member said they planned to turn GTA defunct by selecting a “non-functional” and nominated GTA member as chairman. Two names were doing rounds - 84-year-old Virkhu Bhusan and Binay Tamang. The Morcha central committee opposed Ta-mang’s name as he is a hardliner and one of the key advisers and organizers of the party. Bhusan was more acceptable and suited the Morcha’s strategy of a long-term agitation, following in the footprints of the GNLF.

The Morcha still has to win over the other Hills parties, particularly Akhil Bharatiya Gorkha League and CPRM, who gave their support for the Gorkhaland agitation at Monday’s all-party

meet on the condition that Morcha members quit all legislative posts. “We have told GJM that we are ready to join a unified forum for Gorkhaland but GJM has to resign from all GTA and MLA positions,” said ABGL leader Laxman Pradhan.

The Morcha is divided on the issue. On Monday, after the meeting, GJM leader Harka Bahadur Chhetri said they were considering the ABGL-CPRM condition and would announce their decision on August 16. But on Tuesday, top Morcha sources said that resignation from GTA would be suicidal.

“If the party quits GTA, the state government will appoint an administrator and capture all the development projects that were undertaken by us,” said a Morcha leader.Sources say a large section of Morcha central committee members have turned hardliners and are in favour of res-ignation. But moderate leaders like Roshan Giri and Harka Bahadur have managed to convince GJM supremo Bimal Gurung that a face-off with the government will cause collateral damage and an alternative should be found out. The central committee finally decided on a “non violent” movement — a GNLF-style social boycott — to irritate the government.It has already started. “My cook said he was being threatened by the Morcha to quit my service. He feared for his life. I know he cannot resist their diktat so I let him go,” said an additional-district-magistrate-ranked official. The same thing was repeated by every official TOI spoke to.The GJM non-cooperation movement aims to make all government agencies defunct, said a Morcha leader. “We will ask lo-cal people not to work in government offices and stop paying taxes,” he said, adding they want to force Mamata Banerjee’s hand.

Kashmir ThunderThursday 15. 08 . 2013

Nation will compare speeches from Lal Quila, Gujarat: Narendra Modi

AHMEDABAD: He may not have been declared BJP’s prime ministerial candidate just yet but Gujarat Chief Minister Nar-endra Modi today seemed to have already donned the mantle when he said the nation would be comparing his speech with that of Prime Minister on Independance Day to-morrow.

“When we unfurl the tricolour, the mes-sage will also go to Lal Quila. Nation will want to know what was said there and what is said here (in Bhuj),” Modi said address-ing a gathering of youth at Bhuj in Kutch district.

“On one hand there will be a series of promises, whereas on the other there will be the account of work done. On one side there will be despair (nirasha) and on the other side hope (asha),” he said without di-rectly mentioning the Prime Minister.

The official Independence Day function in Gujarat is being held in Bhuj where Modi will hoist the national flag.

The remarks of Modi, BJP’s election campaign committee chief, drew a caustic remark from Union Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Rajeev Shukla, who said the Gujarat leader was “full of arro-gance”.

“I keep saying from day one that he is full of arrogance, full of himself. If this kind of a person gets higher in politics what he will do to the country one can understand,” he said in Delhi.

Union Law Minister Kapil Sibal too at-tacked Modi, saying the BJP leader would

be watched for “mis-statement of facts he is prone to make.”

“They (the people) will probably be cu-rious to hear what mis-state-ments of facts Mr Modi is now going to make. Every time he makes a speech, there are some false figures, false facts which he knows to be false like 20 per cent of GDP of China is spent on education.

“I hope he does not trivialise the national issues and make mis-statements of facts which he is prone to do while he is speaking to those who will hear him,” Sibal said.

Modi also took a dig at Robert Vadra, son-in-law of Congress President Sonia Gandhi without naming him. “When children grow up, parents advise them to settle down. But today children are telling their parents that they are not averse to marriage, but they are waiting for an opportunity to become the ‘sarkari damaad’” he said in an appar-ent reference to Vadra. Attacking the Cen-

tre, Modi, already in the election mode, said “its your turn to give your accounts...you will have to give account in 2014 of what you have done...and this country knows what you have done. It knows what you have done, for whom you have done and who has done. People also know how it has been done and how much it was done”. “I want to tell them (UPA) that Gujarat passed the test with distinction in December 2012 (when last assembly polls were held). Those spreading canards against the state have been rejected,” he said.

Will Ansari take back his anar-chist comment after BJP protest?

Vice President and Chairperson of the Rajya Sabha, Hamid Ansari, today slammed Rajya Sabha MPs for violat-ing etiquette and said their actions could be condoned only if the legisla-tors wanted the Upper House to become a “confederation of anarchists”.

Ansari, who chairs the question hour in the Rajya Sabha, attempted to calm MPs protesting over different is-sues when he lost his temper and said that they were violating all rules.

“Every single rule in the rule book, every single etiquette is being violated in this house,” Ansari told MPs.

Some MPs who attempted to inter-rupt him were also told angrily to sit down.

“If the honourable members wish this house to become a confederation of anarchists, then its all right,” he said, and then adjourned the Rajya Sabha till noon. Ansari has lost his temper over Rajya Sabha being disrupted in the past as well. File photo. PTIAnsari has lost his temper over Rajya Sabha being disrupted in the past as well. File photo. PTIThe Upper House today wit-nessed multiple protests with the BJP MPs protesting against Robert Vadra and some Congress MPs continuing to protest against the creation of Te-langana.When the House reconvened at noon, Leader of Opposition Arun Jaitley raised objections to the MPs be-ing referred to as anarchists. He also demanded that the term be withdrawn since it was ‘unparliamentary’ and was

backed in his demand by fellow party member Ravi Shankar Prasad.

Deputy Chairman PJ Kurien at-tempted to placate them and said An-sari was only asking if the MPs wanted anarchy to prevail, and also said he would discuss the matter with the Vice President.However, soon after that MPs began protesting again and the proceedings had to be adjourned for another half hour.This isn’t the first time Ansari has lost his temper over proceedings being disrupted. At one point in December 2012, he had offered to do away with Question Hour given MPs never seemed to participate in it and seemed more intent on protest.

Whether Jaitley is right about An-sari’s tirade however can only be de-cided by a reference to the voluminous 900 page book titled Unparliamentary Expressions. However, the person who is in charge of taking the decision on whether the term used should be deemed unparliamentary is Ansari

Haryana government makes on-line college admissions mandatoryCHANDIGARH: Online

admission to Haryana gov-ernment colleges has been made mandatory from the next academic session, a senior officer of the state higher education depart-ment said Wednesday.

“Provision has been made for generation of online merit and admis-sion lists. Seekers will be electronically notified the outcome of admission through SMS and e-mail alerts. A public grievance cell has been put in place for the benefit of students,” Principal Secretary (High-er Education) S.S. Prasad said.

There are over 100 government colleges across Haryana to which hundreds of stu-dents seek admission.

Prasad said information regarding various scholarships, schemes and facili-ties for students in different colleges has

been made available online. Students can now apply for scholarships online. Details of various courses in each college are also available online, he said.

The higher education department has also asked college principals and teach-ers to maintain monthly updates of lesson plans and the syllabus to be covered.

Direct Nitish Govt to declare Bihar a ‘drought-hit’ state, urges BJP to Guv

The opposition BJP on Wednes-day urged the Governor DY Pa-til to direct the Nitish Kumar government to declare Bihar as “drought-hit” state due to rainfall deficit.

A delegation, led by the state unit chief of BJP, Mangal Pan-dey and Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Assembly Nand Kishore Yadav, called on Patil and submitted a memorandum appris-ing him about prevalence of acute drought situation in 33 districts of Bihar.

The BJP leaders urged the Governor to direct the state gov-ernment to declare the state as “drought-hit” due to rainfall defi-cit and launch relief measures among the farmers without any delay.

Direct Nitish Govt to declare Bihar a ‘drought-hit’ state, urges BJP to Guv

Direct Nitish Govt to declare Bihar a

‘drought-hit’ state, urges BJP to GuvThey said that paddy plantation has taken

place in only 65 per cent of coverage area due to inadequate and erratic rainfall till first two weeks of this month even as the farmers will

be hard-pressed to save stand-ing crops with irrigation facili-ties at their disposal.

Recalling all 38 districts were declared drought-hit in 2010 due to rainfall deficit at 27 per cent, the BJP leaders urged the state government to adopt the same criteria this time too and declare the state as drought-affected.

Among various reliefs for the farmers, the BJP sought ban on recovering of farm loan and electricity bills from the farm-ers, in addition to eight-hour electricity supply and diesel subsidy for the farmers.

The farm labourers should be given works under the MN-REGA and financial assistance

and seeds should be provided to the farmers for sowing alternative crops, they said, add-ing that commercial banks should provide loans to the community for sustenance.

Calcutta High Court: Why GJM would not be asked to pay for damages in Darjeeling

Expressing displeasure over continuance of the bandh in Darjeeling despite its order, the Calcutta High Court today observed that the fundamental rights of people there were being curbed and asked why the GJM would not be asked to compensate damage to public and pri-vate property in the hills.

A division bench comprising Chief Justice Arun Mishra and Justice Joymalyo Bagchi directed GJM, which is demanding a separate Gorkhaland state, directed it to file an affidavit by September five stating why compensation costs would not be imposed on it.

Top GJM leader arrested, bandh paralyse life in Darjeeling

The division bench expressed displeasure over the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha's violation of its order of August seven which had held the indefinite bandh in Darjeeling as illegal. The GJM counsel submitted that the people of hills were agitating spontaneously and were resort-ing to a 'janata curfew' and that the party had

little say over it.Darjeeling bandh:

Tea industry fears complete shutdown

The court, howev-er, refused to buy the GJM's argument and observed that the peo-ple of the hills were not being treated like human beings. It also observed that funda-mental rights of peo-ple were being curbed and that normalcy at schools, colleges and medical institutions were also being affect-ed.The bench directed the West Bengal gov-ernment to assess damage to public and private property and submit a report to it. Government

pleader Ashok Banerjee submitted a report in a sealed cover detailing the present situation in Darjeeling.

Quota in AIIMS faculty: Govt to file review petition

on SC order

NEW DELHI, AUG 14: Cutting across party lines, the Lok Sab-

ha was unanimous in its concern over the recent Supreme Court order against reser-vations for faculty in the super-specialty section of the All-India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Delhi.

Union Law Minister, Kapil Sibal, as-sured the House that the Government would file a review petition. “If the review petition is not accepted, we will go for Con-stitutional amendment in this session it-self,” he said.

On Wednesday, Lok Sabha Speaker, Meira Kumar, set aside the agenda for Question Hour and took up the AIIMS res-ervation issue. She asked members from different parties to express their views, most of whom sought a Constitutional amendment without any delay.

Leader of the Opposition, Sushma Swaraj, said the judges had gone beyond the scope of the petition.

“The Supreme Court wants to set the entire country on fire,” Samajwadi party

leader, Mulayam Singh Yadav said.Congress leader, P L Punia, alleged that

the apex court’s arguments betrayed preju-dice, and called for reservations in the ju-diciary.

CPI(M) leader, Basudeb Acharia, termed the apex court’s order as not only anti-Dalit, but anti-national, too. “Reserva-tion is a right given by the Constitution,” he added.

Later, DMK members, led by T.R Baalu, trooped into the well of the House to press for their demand for a Constitutional amendment.

Later, the Speaker said, “The whole House is very agitated over this issue and my suggestion to the Government side is that it should think of a constitutional amendment.”

Last month, a five-judge Constitution bench, headed by the then Chief Justice, Altamas Kabir, has passed an order against caste-based reservations in faculty posts for speciality and super-speciality courses in AIIMS.

Spectrum case: Hearing deferred till August 26A Delhi court on Wednes-

day adjourned till August 26 the additional spectrum case with the counsel ap-pearing for Bharti Cellular CMD Sunil Mittal and Es-sar Group promoter Ravi Ruia informing it that the matter is listed for hearing before the Supreme Court.

Senior advocate Harish Salve, who appeared for Mr. Ruia, told the court that the matter is listed before the Supreme Court on Wednesday itself and, therefore, the trial court hearing should be adjourned till the apex court clarifies whether there is any stay or not on the proceedings.

He said that since the matter in the apex court may not get over on WEdnesday itself, the trial court should give at least a week’s time.

“If there is a stay, it will take one second and if there is no stay, it will also take one sec-ond and they (accused) will have to move bail applications,” Special CBI Judge O.P. Saini

said while listing the matter for hearing on August 26.

Mr. Mittal, Mr. Ruia and former Telecom Secretary Shyamal Ghosh, all of whom were sum-moned as accused in the case, appeared before the court on Wednesday.

The court had ear-lier told Mr. Mittal

and Mr. Ruia, who had challenged the trial court’s order summoning them as accused in the case, that there was “no stay” on the pro-ceedings before it and had warned them that it will go ahead with criminal process if they fail to seek clarification from the Supreme Court on the issue.

“There is no stay order as of now,” the judge had said on the last date of hearing and had ad-journed the case till today while asking both of them to get it clarified by the apex court.

The CBI had opposed their plea, saying the

proceedings had not been stayed by the apex court.

The apex court had in its April 26 interim order exempted Mr. Mittal and Mr. Ruia from personal appearance in the trial court and had said the hearing against them will remain “postponed” until further orders.

The order had come on Mr. Mittal and Mr. Ruia’s pleas challenging the special court’s March 19 order by which it had summoned them as accused in the case.

Mr. Mittal, Mr. Ruia and Canada-based NRI Asim Ghosh, who was then a Managing Direc-tor of accused firm Hutchison Max Telecom Pvt Ltd, were summoned as accused by the trial court. The summons to Asim Ghosh have not been served till date.

Mittal, Ruia and Asim Ghosh were not named as accused in CBI’s charge sheet filed on December 21, last year.

Three telecom firms Bharti Cellular Ltd, Hutchison Max Telecom Pvt Ltd (now known as Vodafone In-dia Ltd) and Sterling Cellular Ltd (now known as Vodafone Mobile Service Ltd) are also ac-cused in the case.