Khot, a theoretical computer scientist, works in an area called “Computational Complexity” which seeks to understand the power and limits of efficient computation.

The Indian-American will receive the prestigious Alan T Waterman Award of the National Science Foundation (NSF) for the year 2010 for his outstanding research.

Khot is an associate professor at the Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences. He will be presented the Waterman Award on the evening of May 4 at a dinner ceremony to be held in Washington, at the US Department of State.

Alan T Waterman Award is given annually to an outstanding researcher under the age of 36 in any field of science and engineering supported by NSF.

The honour includes a grant of USD 500,000 over three years for scientific research or advanced study in the recipient’s field of science.

“Subhash Khot is a gifted and ambitious young scientist,” said NSF Director Arden L Bement, Jr.

“He courageously tackles some of the most challenging computational problems, all the while advancing computer security, with vast consequences for the broader security of our personal identities, commercial interests, societal institutions, even for national security as a whole.”

Tamil actress Ranjitha, who went into hiding after being caught on camera while indulging in sexual acts with Swami Nityananda, finally come to fore yesterday.

Clearing her stand, she justified her acts by saying that she was just giving her ‘offerings’ to the godman.

‘True devotee’

In an interview to a Tamil website, Ranjitha said that she has known Nityananda for quite some time and is grateful to him for curing her wheezing trouble in just a day.

A video still that allegedly shows actress Ranjitha and Swami Nityananda indulging in acts of intimacy.

The actress said, “The media has unnecessarily blown the issue out of proportion. I know swamiji for the past few years and my association with him is quite transparent.

As a true devotee, I offered my services like feeding and massaging him regularly in his room. I used to stay with him till late and the ashram inmates knew about it.”

Ranjitha, however, was very careful with her words and not once did she talk about the ’sex issue’. She carefully evaded the topic and neither accepted nor denied her sexual acts in the video.

Instead, she strongly denied the allegation that she is trying to cash on the sex video shot by Nityananda’s onetime associate Lenin Karuppan. She said, “I know my Swamiji. He is a great atma and will come out as a pure atma soon.”

Happily married

Ranjitha also denied a rift with her husband. “These are mere speculations,” she said. Swami Nityananda in the meantime is expected to explain his stand on March 18.

In a press conference on Monday, his press coordinator Nithya Sachithananda said, “The godman’s personal security was at risk. He has been advised to come out only after a few days.”

Pointing out that his organisation was consulting legal experts, Sachithananda questioned the technological knowledge of Nityananda’s close aide Lenin Karuppan, alias Dharmananda, who is believed to have secretly filmed Nityananda’s sexcapades in a room within the ashram premises.

Some non-expired shells also did not work as police tried to stop HJC workers from approaching Haryana assembly. Sources said that UT cops had taken the defective shells from Punjab police personnel present there, even when they had enough of their own.

‘Ideally, these should have been checked properly before taking on the mob. But it wasn’t done,’ a cop, who was on rally duty at the time of the incident, told TOI.

A senior official of UT police revealed, ‘We had sufficient number of shells with us. But we mostly used those brought by Punjab police. In the past, we had depended on our own supply.’

Ashwani Kumar, DSP (police lines) said, ‘I am not aware about tear gas shells being taken from Punjab cops.’

That is not the only issue which has arisen from cops’ action against the demonstrators. Their handling of the rally was also unsatisfactory in other ways. Cops were seen vandalizing parked vehicles along the rally ground and also used force against non-violent protesters.

Inquiry Ordered UT IG P K Srivastava ordered a detailed inquiry into all aspects of the rally which led

to a bloody clash between protesters and police force. Sources in the police said that inquiry officer SP (operation) R S Ghuman had asked for a record of the entire incident.

His grandfather Gurdev Boparai has already reached here from the UK to watch Bopara play, while his brother Sarabjit Singh and nephew Kamaljeet Boparai, who live in Phagwara, are more keen to have the cricketer home. The family had changed its surname to Bopara in England but back in Punjab, it continues to be called the Boparai family.

“We had celebrated when Ravi first became a member of the England team some years ago,” says Kamaljeet. Even neighbours are keen on meeting the youngster. The family has built a new room for Bopara at its farmhouse.

“He is a great fan of Sachin,” reveals Kamaljeet, pointing at a frame of Bopara with the master blaster. “I had suggested to Ravi that he should visit us before the matches, but he couldn’t make it. He has visited this house only twice since his birth,” adds Gurdev, who had migrated in 1960s and was joined by Bopara’s father Charanjit soon after.

ਨਵੀਂ ਦਿੱਲੀ, -14 ਸਾਲਾਂ ਤੋਂ ਲਟਕਿਆ ਆ ਰਿਹਾ ਮਹਿਲਾ ਰਾਖਵਾਂਕਰਨ ਬਿੱਲ ਆਖਿਰ ਅੱਜ ਰਾਜਸਭਾ ’ਚ ਦੋ ਤਿਹਾਈ ਬਹੁਮਤ ਦੇ ਨਾਲ ਪਾਸ ਹੋ ਹੀ ਗਿਆ। ਬਿੱਲ ਦੇ ਸਮਰਥਨ ’ਚ 186 ਅਤੇ ਵਿਰੋਧ ’ਚ ਇੱਕ ਵੋਟ ਪਿਆ। ਰਾਜ ਸਭਾ ਦੇ ਸਭਾਪਤੀ ਹਾਮਿਦ ਅੰਸਾਰੀ ਨੇ ਜਿਵੇਂ ਹੀ ਮਹਿਲਾ ਰਾਖਵਾਂਕਰਨ ਬਿੱਲ ’ਤੇ ਬਹਿਸ ਦੇ ਖ਼ਤਮ ਹੋਣ ਅਤੇ ਵੋਟਿੰਗ ਦੀ ਘੋਸ਼ਣਾ ਕੀਤੀ ਤਾਂ ਬੀ. ਐਸ. ਪੀ. ਦੇ ਸਤੀਸ਼ ਮਿਸਰਾ ਨੇ ਕਿਹਾ ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਦੀ ਪਾਰਟੀ ਦੇ ਸੁਝਾਵਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਬਿੱਲ ’ਚ ਸ਼ਾਮਲ ਨਹੀਂ ਕੀਤਾ ਗਿਆ। ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਨੇ ਕਿਹਾ ਕਿ ਇਸ ਵਜ੍ਹਾ ਨਾਲ ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਦੀ ਪਾਰਟੀ ਵੋਟਿੰਗ ’ਚ ਹਿੱਸਾ ਨਹੀਂ ਲਵੇਗੀ। ਇਸ ਤੋਂ ਬਾਅਦ ਬੀ.ਐਸ. ਪੀ. ਨੇ ਸੰਸਦ ਵਾਕਆਊਟ ਕਰ ਦਿੱਤਾ। ਇਸ ਤੋਂ ਪਹਿਲਾਂ ਸੰਸਦ ਦੇ ਦੋਵਾਂ ਸਦਨਾਂ ’ਚ ਅੱਜ ਦੂਸਰੇ ਦਿਨ ਵੀ ਹੰਗਾਮਾ ਹੋਇਆ। ਬਿੱਲ ਨੂੰ ਵਿਰੋਧੀਆਂ ਨੇ ਦੋਵਾਂ ਸਦਨਾਂ ’ਚ ਹੰਗਾਮੇ ਦੇ ਕਾਰਨ ਬੰਦ ਕਰਨਾ ਪਿਆ ਰਾਜ ਸਭਾ ਦੀ ਕਾਰਵਾਈ ਦੁਬਾਰਾ ਸ਼ੁਰੂ ਹੋਈ। ਇਸ ’ਚ ਲੋਕ ਸਭਾ ’ਚ ਵੀ ਲਾਲੂ ਪ੍ਰਸਾਦ ਯਾਦਵ ਨੇ ਰੌਲਾ ਪਾ ਲਿਆ, ਜਿਸ ਨਾਲ ਲੋਕ ਸਭਾ ਨੂੰ ਵੀ ਬੰਦ ਕਰਨਾ ਪਿਆ।

ਉੱਧਰ ਖ਼ਬਰ ਹੈ ਕਿ ਸੋਨੀਆਂ ਗਾਂਧੀ ਚਾਹੁੰਦੀ ਹੈ ਕਿ ਮਹਿਲਾ ਬਿੱਲ ’ਤੇ ਅੱਜ ਹੀ ਵੋਟਿੰਗ ਕਰਵਾ ਕੇ ਬਿੱਲ ਨੂੰ ਪਾਸ ਕਰਵਾ ਦਿੱਤਾ ਜਾਵੇ। ਪਰ ਇਸ ਤੋਂ ਪਹਿਲਾਂ ਬਿੱਲ ’ਤੇ ਸਹਿਮਤੀ ਬਣਾਉਣ ਲਈ ਸਰਕਾਰ ਵਿਰੋਧੀਆਂ ਨੂੰ ਮਨਾਉਣ ’ਚ ਲੱਗੀ ਰਹੀ। ਮੰਗਲਵਾਰ ਨੂੰ ਸਵੇਰੇ ਲਾਲੂ, ਮੁਲਾਇਮ ਅਤੇ ਜੀ. ਡੀ. ਯੂ ਦੇ ਸ਼ਰਦ ਯਾਦਵ ਨੇ ਪ੍ਰਧਾਨ ਮੰਤਰੀ ਦੇ ਗ੍ਰਹਿ ਵਿਖੇ ਜਾ ਕਿ ਪੀ. ਐਮ. ਨਾਲ ਗੱਲਬਾਤ ਕੀਤੀ। ਪਰ ਬੈਠਕ ਦਾ ਕੋਈ ਨਤੀਜਾ ਨਹੀਂ ਨਿਕਲਿਆ। ਬੈਠਕ ਤੋਂ ਬਾਅਦ ਸ਼ਰਦ ਯਾਦਵ ਨੇ ਕਿਹਾ ਕਿ ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਨੇ ਪ੍ਰਧਾਨ ਮੰਤਰੀ ਨੂੰ ਬਿੱਲ ਨੂੰ ਲੈ ਕੇ ਆਪਣੇ ਮਤਭੇਦਾਂ ਤੋਂ ਜਾਣੂ ਕਰਵਾਇਆ। ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਦੇ ਨਾਲ ਮੌਜੂਦ ਸਨ ਲਾਲੂ ਪ੍ਰਸਾਦ ਯਾਦਵ ਨੇ ਕਿਹਾ ਕਿ ਉਹ ਮਹਿਲਾਵਾਂ ਦੇ ਰਾਖਵੇਂਕਰਨ ਦਾ ਵਿਰੋਧ ਨਹੀਂ ਕਰ ਰਹੇ। ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਨੇ ਕਿਹਾ ਕਿ ਇਸ ’ਤੇ ਪੂਰੀ ਬਹਿਸ ਹੋਣੀ ਚਾਹੀਦੀ ਹੈ। ਲਾਲੂ ਯਾਦਵ ਨੇ ਬਿੱਲ ’ਤੇ ਸਹਿਮਤੀ ਬਣਾਉਣ ਲਈ ਆਲ ਪਾਰਟੀ ਮੀਟਿੰਗ ਦੀ ਵੀ ਮੰਗ ਕੀਤੀ। ਉੱਧਰ, ਬੀ. ਜੇ. ਪੀ. ਨੇ ਬਿੱਲ ਨੂੰ ਲੈ ਕੇ ਆਪਣਾ ਨਵਾਂ ਸਟੈਂਡ ਲਿਆ ਹੈ। ਬੀ. ਜੇ. ਪੀ. ਨੇ ਬਿੱਲ ’ਤੇ ਚਰਚਾ ਕਰਵਾਉਣ ’ਤੇ ਹੀ ਸਰਕਾਰ ਦਾ ਸਾਥ ਦੇਣ ਦੀ ਗੱਲਬਾਤ ਕੀਤੀ ਹੈ। ਪ੍ਰਣਬ ਨੇ ਬੀ.ਜੇ. ਪੀ. ਨਾਲ ਬਹਿਸ ’ਤੇ ਜ਼ੋਰ ਨਾ ਪਾਉਣ ਦੀ ਅਪੀਲ ਕੀਤੀ। ਬੀ.ਜੇ². ਪੀ. ਨੇ ਕਾਂਗਰਸ ’ਤੇ ਬਿੱਲ ਨੂੰ ਲਟਕਾਉਣ ਦਾ ਦੋਸ਼ ਵੀ ਲਗਾਇਆ ਹੈ। ਤ੍ਰਿਣਮੂਲ ਕਾਂਗਰਸ ਦੀ ਨੇਤਾ ਮਮਤਾ ਬੈਨਜਰੀ ਨੇ ਕਿਹਾ ਕਿ ਸਰਕਾਰ ਨੇ ਬਿੱਲ ਨੂੰ ਜਿਸ ਤਰੀਕੇ ਨਾਲ ਰਾਜ ਸਭਾ ’ਚ ਵੋਟਿੰਗ ਲਈ ਪੇਸ਼ ਕੀਤਾ ਉਸ ’ਤੇ ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਖੇਦ ਹੈ ਕਿ ਤ੍ਰਿਣਮੂਲ ਨੇ ਸਾਂਸਦ ’ਚ ਬਿੱਲ ’ਤੇ ਵੋਟਿੰਗ ’ਚ ਹਿੱਸਾ ਨਹੀਂ ਲਿਆ। ਰਾਜ ਸਭਾ ’ਚ ਮਹਿਲਾ ਰਾਖਵਾਂਕਰਨ ਬਿੱਲ ’ਤੇ ਬਹਿਸ ਹੋਈ। ਬੀ. ਜੇ.ਪੀ. ਕਾਂਗਰਸ ਅਤੇ ਸੀ.ਪੀ. ਐਮ. ਨੇ ਬਿੱਲ ਦਾ ਸਮਰਥਨ ਕੀਤਾ। ਦੂਸਰੇ ਪਾਸੇ ਬੀ. ਐਸ. ਪੀ. ਨੇ ਬਿੱਲ ਦਾ ਵਿਰੋਧ ਕੀਤਾ ਹੈ। ਬੀ. ਐਸ. ਪੀ. ਨੇਤਾ ਸਤੀਸ਼ ਮਿਸ਼ਰਾ ਨੇ ਕਿਹਾ ਕਿ ਇਸ ’ਚ ਦਲਿਤ ਮਹਿਲਾਂ ਦਾ ਖਿਆਲ ਨਹੀਂ ਰੱਖਿਆ ਗਿਆ।

ਮਹਿਲਾ ਰਾਖਵੇਂਕਰਨ ਬਿੱਲ ’ਤੇ ਸੋਮਵਾਰ ਨੂੰ ਰਾਜ ਸਭਾ ’ਚ ਹੰਗਾਮਾ ਕਰਨ ਵਾਲੇ 7 ਸੰਸਦਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਬਜਟ ਸੈਸ਼ਨ ਤੱਕ ਲਈ ਸਸਪੈਂਡ ਕਰ ਦਿੱਤਾ ਗਿਆ ਹੈ। ਸਸਪੈਂਡ ਕੀਤੇ ਗਏ ਸੰਸਦਾਂ ’ਚ ਕਮਾਲ ਅਖ਼ਤਰ, ਐਜਾਜ਼ ਅਲੀ, ਸੁਭਾਸ਼ ਯਾਦਵ, ਨੰਦਕਿਸ਼ੋਰ ਯਾਦਵ, ਵੀਰਪਾਲ ਸਿੰਘ, ਆਮੀਰ ਆਲਮ ਅਤੇ ਸਾਬਿਰ ਅਲੀ ਦਾ ਨਾਮ ਸ਼ਾਮਲ ਹੈ। ਉੱਧਰ, ਲੋਕ ਸਭਾ ਅਤੇ ਰਾਜ ਸਭਾ ਦੀ ਕਾਰਵਾਈ ਨੂੰ ਫਿਰ ਬੰਦ ਕਰ ਦਿੱਤਾ ਗਿਆ। ਰਾਜ ਸਭਾ ਨੂੰ 3 ਅਤੇ ਲੋਕਸਭਾ ਨੂੰ 4 ਵਜੇ ਤੱਕ ਬੰਦ ਕਰਨਾ ਪਿਆ।

ਰਾਜ ਸਭਾ ਦੀ ਕਾਰਵਾਈ 3 ਫਿਰ ਸ਼ੁਰੂ ਹੋਈ ਸਸਪੈਂਡ ਕੀਤੇ ਗਏ ਆਰ. ਜੇ. ਡੀ. ਅਤੇ ਐਸ. ਪੀ. ਦੇ ਸੰਸਦਾਂ ਨੇ ਨਾਅਰੇਬਾਜ਼ੀ ਸ਼ੁਰੂ ਕਰ ਦਿੱਤੀ। ਸੰਸਦ ਮਹਿਲਾ ਰਾਖਵੇਂਕਰਨ ਬਿੱਲ ਨੂੰ ਦਲਿਤ ਅਤੇ ਮੁਸਲਿਮ ਵਿਰੋਧੀ ਦੱਸਦੇ ਹੋਏ ਨਾਅਰੇਬਾਜ਼ੀ ਕਰ ਰਹੇ ਸਨ। ਇਸ ਤੋਂ ਕਾਫ਼ੀ ਸਮੇਂ ਤੱਕ ਸੰਸਦ ਦੀ ਕਾਰਵਾਈ ਰੁਕੀ ਰਹੀ। ਸਸਪੈਂਡ ਕੀਤੇ ਗਏ ਸੱਤਾਂ ਸੰਸਦਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਮਾਰਸ਼ਲ ਦੀ ਮਦਦ ਨਾਲ ਸਦਨ ’ਚ ਬਾਹਰ ਭੇਜਿਆ ਗਿਆ। ਸਦਨ ’ਚ ਅਨੁਸ਼ਾਸ਼ਨ ਬਣਾਈ ਰੱਖਣ ਲਈ 50 ਮਾਰਸ਼ਲਾਂ ਨੁੂੰ ਤਾਇਨਾਤ ਕੀਤਾ ਗਿਆ। ਸਸਪੈਂਡ ਕੀਤੇ ਗਏ ਮੈਂਬਰਾਂ ਇੱਕ ਐਸ. ਪੀ. ਦੇ ਕਮਾਲ ਅਖ਼ਤਰ ਨੇ ਪੀਣ ਲਈ ਪਾਣੀ ਮੰਗਿਆ ਅਤੇ ਫਿਰ ਗਲਾਸ ਤੋੜ ਕੇ ਖੁੱਦ ਨੂੰ ਜਖ਼ਮੀ ਕਰਨ ਦੀ ਕੋਸ਼ਿਸ਼ ਕੀਤੀ।

Working as a hospital attendant in a railway hospital with a monthly income of just Rs 7,000, he has taken education loan for his daughters.

Believing that his daughters would carry forward the name of his family, he feels they are no less than boys. Not worried about their marriage, he is keen to give them best education so that they can set a good example for others.

Aneeta Rani, his elder daughter who topped in a university, pursued BSc Nursing in Patiala with 93% marks. She is working as a lecturer at Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital in the nursing department. While talking about her life, she said, “At our home we do not have television, CD player and other luxurious items but my parents were very focused that they would give them good education and we even stayed in hostel during our college days but today I achieved what my parents thought of.”

His second daughter, Pavneet Kaur is also pursuing graduation in nursing with 73% marks. While talking on phone she said, “Sometime our grandparents used to talk about having a son who could carry forward the name of the family but my parents never let this bother us. They motivated us to work hard.”

“Now my elder sister has started supporting the family like a son and believe me one day our parents would not be known as parents of six daughters but they would be known as parents of six achievers,” added Pavneet Kaur.

When he took education loan, Amarjeet Singh was the only earning member in the family but now his elder daughter is also shouldering responsibility of repayment. With his other four daughters performing well in school, Amarjeet has no reason no doubt that they will also make him smile

Unlike her sisters and most girls in her village, Amandeep, 23, goes to work clad in jeans and Tees. She works with the American retail giant, Bharti Walmart here. And, while her ilk wouldn’t dare dream of the US, Amandeep is all set to fly there, having won a company-sponsored trip after wining an internal dance competition. She joined the multinational after passing out of the Bharti Walmart Training Centre here, instituted in collaboration with the Punjab government. Walmart opened its first outlet in India in the holy city of Amritsar in May last year. For Amandeep, it was a whole new world. When she joined the store, she was wide-eyed.

“I had no idea food could be kept frozen before I came here,” says Amandeep, who is now managing the frozen food at the store. And, as US beckons, her aspirations are soaring. “I want to eke out a career in retail,” she says, and informs that she has already enrolled for an MBA degree from Indira Gandhi National Open University. Amandeep isn’t alone. Her neighbour, Kuldeep Kaur, whose father drives an auto-rickshaw in Majithia, manages the front desk at the store. And, Kuldeep is studying hard to be a graduate. “It was a totally new world for me, so very different from my village and the atmosphere I grew up in,” says Kuldeep

“We are thankful to TOI for highlighting the issue. We would draft a policy for providing better toilet services at all bus stands. At the same time, we would also ensure that there is no discrimination on the basis of gender for using the facility,” said Samir Mathur, Haryana transport secretary. A meeting would be called within a week to finalise all the modalities related to the issue, he added.

Toilets at bus stands are mainly maintained by the Haryana roadways and private contractors. However, at some places, these are operated by NGOs. While women are charged indiscriminately, men are made to pay only for defecating.

While people like Shakuntla Jakhar, a woman activist who said no fee should be charged from women for urinating as well defecating, have welcomed the move, sources in the government pointed out that it would be difficult to maintain such urinals for free.

Shocked family members claimed Savitri Devi, 55, had been depressed ever since her son, a government school teacher, was nabbed in connection with violence in the area on March 1.

Talking to TOI on phone, Rakesh Kumar of Kusar village said, “Savitri has sustained 100% burns.” However, SHO Maha Singh said no proceedings had been initiated as police were yet to receive any information.

Meanwhile, hearing in the case of Jadgish, currently in judicial custody, was said to be slated for March 13

Though the minister claimed number of crimes committed by police personnel is not rising, he refused to provide details of action taken by the government against tainted cops. “The data is still being collected,” he said.

According to the written reply, a copy of which is with Times City, 116 police personnel were arrested in 2007. This number saw a huge 54% rise in 2008, with 251 personnel being arrested for various crimes. In 2009, 133 tainted cops were arrested.

A large number of policemen were arrested on graft charges. In 2007, a total of 51 personnel were arrested for being involved in corruption, while another 124 were arrested on similar charges in 2008. Last year, 30 policemen were arrested after they were found involved in corruption. However, the more disturbing news was that of these, 12 were middle-level officers holding ranks of ACP and inspector.

The data reveals at least six personnel were found to be involved in murder or attempt to murder cases in 2008. Four others were found involved in the same offence in 2009. This includes six constables, three head constables and one assistant sub-inspector. Another 30 personnel, including 21 constables, were found to be involved in various cheating cases in the past three years.

It is often alleged that beat officers are involved in extortion cases. At least 16 cops, including two inspectors, have been found to have involved in extortion in the last three years. Six others, including two sub-inspectors, have been booked for rape charges.

Senior police officers admitted there might be some more tainted cops inside the force. “There are several others who are under temporary suspension or undergoing internal enquiries on various charges levelled against them. It is therefore, not surprising if these numbers see a significant rise in the coming days,” said an officer at the vigilance wing.

The police claimed they have adopted a “zero-tolerance” towards corruption and other crimes. “The numbers provided by MHA prove that we are not trying to hush up crimes,” claimed a senior officer at the police headquarters.