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Only Centre can enact laws on natural gas: SC Congress may snap ties with SP Congress
to field V.P. Singh’s son from Fatehpur? Rahul Gandhi to file nomination
on April 15
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Coordination panel on Kashmir meets New Delhi, March 25 Two days ahead of the meeting between the Hurriyat Conference and Deputy Prime Minister L.K. Advani, the Coordination Committee on Kashmir met here today to give final touches to the agenda of crucial talks on March 27.
308 from Haryana, Punjab barred from contesting poll Cong complains to EC against ‘slanderous’ ad 2-child norm issue on BJP’s agenda Population control with stress on two-child norm is going to figure in the BJP's ‘Vision Document’. With a view to recapture its traditional constituency, the document would also include hard Hindutva issues like Ayodhya, Article 370 and Uniform Civil Code, party sources said here. Two KPCC gen secretaries suspended Nominations fail to pick up India hopes to fence LoC before summer
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Only Centre can enact laws on natural gas: SC New Delhi, March 25 “Natural gas being a petroleum product, we are of the view that under Entry 53 List-I (of the Constitution), the Union Government alone has got the exclusive legislative competence to enact laws on it,” a five-Judge Constitution Bench said, answering to a presidential reference on the issue. The court said if one state was allowed to extract and use natural gas, then other states would be deprived of its equitable share. Taking into account the legislative history, definition of petroleum products, mineral oil resources contained in various legislations, books and the national interests involved in the equitable distribution of natural gas amongst the states, “it leads to inescapable conclusion that natural gas... needs to be regulated by the Union,” the court ruled. The President had sought Supreme Court’s opinion on the constitutional position, whether natural gas in whatever physical form, including liquefied natural gas, was a Union subject covered by Entry 53 of the List-I and the Centre had exclusive legislative competence to enact a law on it or the state Assemblies also had power to pass a law on the subject under Entry 25 of List-II (state subjects). The need to seek correct interpretation of the law on the issue arose after the passage of a controversial Act by the Gujarat Assembly in 2000, providing for regulating the transmission, supply and distribution of liquefied gas, produced in the state. The Gujarat Government had taken a stand that it had passed the law in the “interest of general public and to promote gas industry.” The Bench, comprising Mr Justice S. Rajendra Babu, Mr Justice K.G. Balakrishnan, Mr Justice P.V. Reddi, Mr Justice B.N. Srikrishna and Mr Justice G.P. Matur, in a unanimous decision held that the Act passed by the Gujarat Government was “without any legislative competence and is ultra vires of the Constitution.” “The states have no legislative competence to make laws on the subject of natural gas and liquefied natural gas under Entry 25 of List-II of the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution,” the apex court said. “Natural gas product extracted from the oil wells predominantly comprises methane, not independent of the production of other petroleum products; though from some wells the natural gas alone would emanate,” the court said. It said when oil wells were explored for their potential of hydrocarbon, the regulation of oil field and mineral oil resources necessarily encompassed the regulation as well as development of the natural gas also. Since natural gas and other petroleum products play a vital role in free and smooth flow of trade, commerce and industry through the length and breadth of the country, its flow could not be allowed to be restricted by a state in the name of public interest, the court said. |
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Congress may
snap ties with SP New Delhi, March 25 It is learnt the party would prefer to snap ties with the Samajwadi Party before it announces its first list of Lok Sabha candidates for Uttar Pradesh, which has been held up precisely for this reason. Congress leaders explained it was not possible to support the SP government and fight each other in the Lok Sabha polls at the same time. Preparing grounds for such an eventuality, Congress spokesperson Kapil Sibal made a suo motto statement today that the party would be left with no choice but to review its stand if the Samajwadi Party did not resort to any course correction. “We have a feeling that the Samajwadi Party is not moving on the road of secularism. We still ask them to change course. But if it continues to tread this path, we will have no option but to do what is necessary,” said Mr Sibal. Asked specifically if this meant that the Congress would be withdrawing support to the Samajwadi Party government, Mr Sibal merely remarked,” We will take the right decision at the right time.” Mr Sibal maintained the Congress had taken the initiative to bring all secular parties on a common platform but the Samajwadi Party had not responded positively to this invitation. Although Mr Sibal maintained this was not a threat or a warning, there was a section in the party which believed his remarks were a last-ditch effort by the Congress to get the Samajwadi Party on board the secular alliance. Ever since its alliance with the Bahujan Samaj Party failed to materialise, UP Congress leaders have sought to mend fences with the Samajwadi Party in the hope of having a tie-up with it. The Congress is hoping that by raising doubts about his secular credentials, Mr Mulayum Singh Yadav might be forced to rethink the consequences of his action on the Muslim vote, which constitutes his main support base. Raising doubts about Mr Yadav’s secular intent, Mr Sibal pointed out how he had not gone along with the other opposition parties on fielding a common candidate against the Prime Minister and had instead announced his nominee for the Lucknow seat. He said once the SP released its list of Lok Sabha candidates, it became evident that it did not want to go along with other secular parties. “Mr Mulayum Singh Yadav has to think what message he is giving by not supporting secular forces,” Mr Sibal stated. On the other hand, Congress leaders said it was important to clear the confusion over its ties with the Samajwadi Party now that the nominations for the Uttar Pradesh elections are to begin within the next 10 days. “We have to give a clear message to our candidates and cadres that we are contesting alone,” said a senior UP leader, adding that this would help the party pitch its campaign accordingly. “Nobody can say we did not go the extra mile to get all the secular forces together. It is also for the others to respond. Now it is up to the people to decide,” said CWC member Salman
Khursheed. |
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Congress
to field V.P. Singh’s son from Fatehpur? New Delhi, March 25 By bringing Raja Manda’s son to Fatehpur, which was represented by Mr V.P. Singh in 1989 and 1991, Congress poll strategists are trying to cash on the popularity of former Prime Minister and also to woo Thakur votes in the Ganga-Yamuna doab region. The BJP had won the seat in 1998 when its candidate Dr Ashok Patel had defeated the BSP Lok Sabha MP V.P. Nishad. Fatehpur was represented by the former Prime Minister’s elder brother Sant Bux Singh in 1967 and 1971 and then twice by former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri’s eldest son Hari Kishan Shastri. Sources said Congress President Sonia Gandhi had already spoken with the former Prime Minister who is very keen to defeat the BJP-led NDA which in his estimate was a communal outfit. Mr V.P. Singh was initially sounded by a Congress leader from Allahabad S.P.N. Singh who convinced Raja Manda to impress upon his son to contest as this move would go a long way to consolidate Rajput votes in the region which would have a positive impact on Phulpur, Chail, Allahabad, Rae Bareilly, Pratapgarh and a dozen of neighbouring constituencies. Fatehpur has about 13 per cent Muslims, nine per cent Brahmins and six per cent Rajputs. Schedule casts are estimated to be around 26 per cent and Kewats (boatman) are about five per cent. In other areas of the state too, the Congress is planning to give tickets to Rajputs. In Mainpuri, where the Samajawadi Party supremo and UP Chief Minister is going to contest, the Congress is considering to field a local Rajput Rajendra Singh Jadon, who is working as an engineer with the ONGC. In between, Mr Balram Singh Uadav has crossed over to the BJP and is contesting again. In Phulpur, the Congress is likely to field a retired IAS J.N. Mishra. The idea behind giving the party ticket to Mr Mishra is to mobilise Brahmin votes in favour of the Congress, the sources pointed out. |
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Rahul Gandhi to file nomination
on April 15 New Delhi, March 25 The election in Amethi is listed for April 26 and the nominations are to close by April 7. Congress insiders maintained that Rahul Gandhi may be accompanied by his sister, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, who has been looking after the constituency, presently represented by their mother. Priyanka is expected to campaign extensively in the coming elections and Amethi could well mark the start of her country-wide programme. The Gandhi siblings had visited Amethi quite recently when Priyanka had hinted that her brother could be entering the electoral fray when she publicly told people that henceforth Rahul would be looking after the constituency. It is still not clear whether Sonia Gandhi would also accompany her children. Party insiders maintained that going by her recent remark dismissing talk of Rahul being named the Congress heir apparent, she may not be present the day he files his nomination papers. Needless to say, this will turn out to be a huge affair. A large number of senior Congress leaders, especially those from Uttar Pradesh, will be at hand to witness the new Gandhi’s entry into the political world. Although Congress leaders are tightlipped about the campaign plans of the Gandhi
children, sources said it is possible that Rahul might concentrate on Amethi while his sister would campaign all over the country. Mr Satish Sharma, the sitting MP from Rae Bareli, is expected to play a key role in the management of Rahul Gandhi’s campaign. Ever since the Congress named Rahul Gandhi for the Amethi seat, there has been intense speculation both about Gandhi junior and the team which would be drafted for his assistance. There is considerable curiosity about Rahul Gandhi as not much is known about him as he was abroad for several years and even after his return to India, he has been keeping a low profile. |
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Govinda to contest against Naik
Mumbai, March 25 Speaking to reporters after meeting Chief Minister Sushilkumar Shinde at his residence, Govinda said he would not hesitate to travel in local trains and buses like a comman man to understand the grievances of the people. "I have undergone the trouble and struggled in my early days and will attempt to find out if things have improved or remained the same", Govinda told reporters at his residence after meeting Shinde and MRCC President Gurudas Kamat. Govinda said he had no intention of being "neta number one" as he treated politics as service to the people and there could not be a comparison between people serving the people. Govinda, who will take on the veteran BJP leader Ram Naik in the constituency, said his immediate priority would be to visit the Jivadani temple in Virar and also meet the people who supported him in his early struggling days. Earlier, Chief Minister Sushilkumar Shinde personally conveyed to Govinda the decision of the Congress to field him as the candidate for the North Mumbai constituency.
— PTI |
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Coordination panel on Kashmir meets New Delhi, March 25 During the meeting, which was attended among others by Centre’s Interlocutor on Kashmir N.N. Vohra and Union Home Secretary Anil Baijal, the committee decided to ask the amalgam to broadbase the canvass of dialogue by roping in representatives of other communities, including Kashmiri migrants, Dogras and Ladakhis. The meeting also discussed the human rights situation in the state, as it had become virtually a bone of contention between the amalgam and the Centre immediately after the talks on January 22. During the meeting, it was also discussed that the Centre might not show any aversion to a Hurriyat delegation’s visit to Pakistan. The meeting was also attended by Officer on Special Duty in Prime Minister’s Office A.S. Dulat, Cabinet Secretary Kamal Pande and heads of intelligence agencies. They also reviewed the process of release of detainees by the Government. The meeting was informed that 69 detainees had been released after the January 22 talks, out of which 43 were released by the Joint Screening Committee of the Centre and the Jammu and Kashmir Government, while the rest were set free by the state itself.
— PTI |
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308 from Haryana, Punjab barred from contesting poll New Delhi, March 25 Of these, 166 persons are from Haryana and 142 from Punjab. They are among the 3,377 persons across the country to be disqualified from contesting Topping the list is Uttar Pradesh with 1,452 persons, followed by Tamil Nadu with 318 persons. While Haryana tops this side of North India with 166 persons, it is followed by Punjab with 142 persons. From Jammu and Kashmir, 35 persons have been disqualified followed by 19 from Himachal Pradesh. Among the union territories, only candidates from Delhi
and Pondicherry have been disqualified. Thirtyfour persons have been disqualified from Delhi and 15 from Pondicherry. EC sources said these persons contested elections between 2001 and 2004 and had failed to submit their expenditure accounts to the commission. They have been disqualified from contesting the poll in the country for a period of three years. The electoral law states that the contestants should submit their expenditure accounts within 45 days of the completion of the election process. Sources say the commission, which views the present provision as lenient, has recommended stricter provisions to be incorporated in the election reform process. The poll panel has provided the complete list of disqualified persons to the Chief Electoral Officers of the states and union territories, to ensure that nominations of such disqualified persons are rejected. The commission said apart from these disqualified persons, candidates filing their nomination forms for the 14th Lok Sabha and Assembly election
in three states would have to file an affidavit giving information of their criminal antecedents, movable and immovable properties in their name, in their spouse and dependents and
liabilities and their educational qualification. The filing of affidavit along with nomination paper is mandatory and its non-filing will result in the rejection of the nomination paper by the Returning Officer. In a move to disseminate the information contained in the affidavit to the electorate, the commission has asked returning officers to make available
copies of the affidavits freely to other candidates, general public and others on the very day the nomination is filed by the candidate. The commission has also appealed to the citizens and all interested parties to cooperate with the election authorities
for the widest dissemination of this information. |
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Cong complains to EC against ‘slanderous’ ad New Delhi, March 25 A high-level delegation led by AICC general secretary Oscar Fernandes met the commission and said the relay of the advertisement purportedly issued by one Kamakshi Educational Society was "unconstitutional and violative of the Model Code of Conduct" and should be stopped without further delay. Party spokesman Kapil Sibal told reporters that the commission had assured the delegation that it would look into the matter and issue a directive by tomorrow evening. He said the advertisement was in bad taste and seeking to incite violence and was a fit case for prosecution of those involved in it. The party also complained against the BJP government in Goa led by Manohar Parrikar for a directive allegedly issued by his government asking the police to gather intelligence information pertaining to activities of the political parties other than the BJP in the state. They also apprised the Election Commission about the order of Andhra Pradesh High Court rejecting ban of political advertisements on television channels and the commission said it would go into the order and take a view accordingly. Distribution of forms with BJP symbol by the Union Labour Ministry also figured at the meeting, he said adding that the EC said it has sought clarifications in this regard. |
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2-child norm issue on BJP’s agenda New Delhi, March 25 With a view to recapture its traditional constituency, the document would also include hard Hindutva issues like Ayodhya, Article 370 and Uniform Civil Code, party sources said here. The document, to be released by party President M Venkaiah Naidu before April 6, was discussed at a high-level meeting of party leaders today, which was attended among others by Union Ministers Arun Jaitley, Arun Shourie and Rajnath Singh, besides party leaders Sanjay Joshi, Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, Bal Apte and Pramod Mahajan. The main focus would be on economic development, stability and good governance. It would stress on resolving the Ayodhya issue through dialogue besides initiating a nationwide debate on population control with emphasis on the two-child norm. The party did not come out with any manifesto in the last elections and the document was aimed at “removing any confusion” among the cadres and supporters about the BJP’s commitment to core ideological issues, they said. Top RSS leaders had met Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and other BJP leaders few months back and insisted on the BJP including in its agenda and manifesto core ‘Hindutva’ issues including Uniform Civil Cod, abrogation of Article 370 and a constitutional ban on cow slaughter. |
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Two KPCC gen secretaries suspended Thiruvananthapuram, March 25 While Mr Prasad sat on a satyagraha at the entrance of the Indira Bhavan here, Mr Unnithan termed it as a waste of time as the present-day Congress in Kerala was not the one represented by Mahatma Gandhi. Instead, he would visit all 14 districts to “expose” Electricity Minister K. Muraleedharan, son of K. Karunakaran. The suspension of the general secretaries, known to be staunch loyalists of Mr Karunakaran, came following their statements denigrating party senior leaders before the public, apparently after “denial” of party tickets to them. Talking to mediapersons at Kochi, KPCC acting President P.P. Thankachan said both of them were suspended as per the constitution of the party for making “baseless allegations” against Mr Karunakaran, Mr Muraleedharan and PCC executive member Padmaja Venugopal.
— UNI |
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Nominations fail to pick up New Delhi, March 25 Verma filed her nomination papers for the Dhanbad Lok Sabha seat in Jharkhand from where she had been elected four times. Budhinath Tiwari, contesting as an Independent for the Giridih seat, filed his papers at Bokaro. In Gujarat, five candidates, including sitting BJP MP from Kutch Pushpadan Gadhvi, filed their nomination papers.
— PTI |
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India hopes to fence LoC before summer New Delhi, March 25 Senior Indian Army officials said here today that 580 km of the 742 km LoC would be fenced by May this year, including stretches north and south of the Pir Panjal range of mountains that are usually used by Pakistan-backed guerrillas to sneak across the military ceasefire line. Army officials said logistical work for the fence began a year ago and actual construction by the Army got under way in June 2003. Some 4,000 army personnel are involved in the project. About 360 km of fencing has been completed so far and surveillance devices, alarms and tripwires have been installed along the fence to alert troops to any infiltration bids. Hoping that the fencing along the LoC would help greatly in controlling the movement of terrorists from across the border the army officials pointed out, “One of the factors that helped put down the insurgency in Punjab was the fence put up along the international border in that state. We drew on that experience in deciding to fence off the LoC”. “But the terrain along the LoC is more difficult and it is also difficult to build and maintain a fence in Kashmir,” a senior officer from the Army's Military Operations Directorate told reporters here. “There has been some delay in snowbound areas but we hope to block the known infiltration routes before summer,” the officer said. "We have already covered almost 80 per cent of the known routes. The ceasefire along the LoC has helped speed up the process," he said, referring to the truce that came into force in November last year between Indian and Pakistan forces arrayed along the frontiers in Kashmir. The officer said the cost of the fencing was almost Rs 3.2 million a km, and stores had to be carried by mules or porters to many inaccessible areas along the LoC. In many stretches, Army engineers, had to come up with ingenious methods to take the fence across the numerous streams and ditches that criss-cross the LoC and are a favourite with guerrillas attempting to sneak in from Pakistan-administered Kashmir. In places where the fence has cut through villages and agricultural lands, the Army has constructed gates to allow people to access these areas. “Special passes are issued to the people in conjunction with the civilian administration so that they can cross the fence,” the officer said. Army officials said infiltration trends would become obvious only when mountain passes opened after the melting of winter snow in the coming months. |
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Trishul
test-fired Balasore, March 25 The missile, especially designed for sea skimming exercise for the Indian Navy, was test-fired from a mobile launcher at 2.50 p.m., ITR sources said. Trishul was one of the five missiles under various stages of development by the Defence Research Development Organisation and part of the integrated guided missile development programme. Launched in 1983, the missile can be used by all three wings of defence. The ITR sources said the solid fuel propelled missile had a battle role for all three forces with a range from 300 metres to 9 km. The ITR sources said the missile was test-fired to prove its accuracy and other parameters.
— UNI |
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Tribunal confirms ban on SIMI New Delhi, March 25 Mr Justice R.C. Chopra, sitting judge of the Delhi High Court, in an order on March 23, held that there was sufficient cause for declaring SIMI to be unlawful and as such, the notification (No. S O 1113 (E), dated September 26, 2003), issued by the Centre stood confirmed. The Centre had declared SIMI an Unlawful Association under Section 3 (1) of the Unlawful Prevention (Activities) Act, 1967, on September 26 last year, as its activities were detrimental to peace, communal harmony, internal security and maintenance of the secular fabric of Indian society. The Centre had on October 23 last year, constituted the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Tribunal, consisting of Mr Justice R.C. Gupta, sitting judge of the Delhi High Court, for adjudicating whether or not there was sufficient cause for declaring SIMI an unlawful association. — UNI |
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New Ambassador to Austria New Delhi, March 25 |
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