 |
|
|
Restructure cooperatives, says Manmohan
PM invites Musharraf to dinner
Reciprocal release of civil prisoners by India, Pak
Farmers for more Indo-Pak trade routes
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
PM unlikely to raise turban issue
Sonia may be asked to pick CWC members
Modi brings dry river to life
Lalu gets a pat from Prime Minister
ULFA issue: US pressure on ISI
Bengal CM’s assurance
to Left on Salem pact
Heavy rain disrupts life in Mumbai
Tribal schemes: Union Minister unhappy
with MP
Two sworn in as SC judge
Talks moving in right direction, says Bhat
Nine sites in NE to be proposed as World Heritage Sites
Minor fire at Palam airport
|
|
Restructure cooperatives, says Manmohan
New Delhi, September 9 Addressing an interactive session with state governments on the Task Force on Revival of Cooperative Credit Structure, he said if poverty was to be eliminated within the next decade, the economy would have to grow at 7-8 per cent per annum and agriculture too would have to demonstrate a growth rate of about 4 per cent per annum. “To achieve this there is an urgent need to put in place a credit delivery system that could prove to be equal to the challenges being faced by the agricultural economy,” he said. “Specific legal measures, therefore, need to be taken to enable cooperatives to evolve into genuinely democratic, self-governing and financially well-managed institutions,” he said. He said the contribution of cooperatives to the supply of farm credit had dropped sharply from about 70 per cent to about 30 per cent and thus contributed to rural distress. “Easy availability of agricultural credit has an important influence on agricultural production, on agricultural investment and on technological upgradation. Therefore, we need a credit delivery system that is equal to the task,” the Prime Minister said. Reform of the cooperative system required the “bottom-up” approach and the Rs 15,000-crore burden for financial restructuring would have to be shared by both Centre and the states, he said. “We would have to develop a broad consensus on carrying forward the process of revitalising
cooperatives and finalising a roadmap for reform of this vital sector” on the basis of the recommendations of the Vaidyanathan Task Force that went into the problems of the cooperatives, he said. The Centre asked the states to implement the Vaidyanathan committee report, which suggested far-reaching reforms and a Rs 14,839-crore financial package for revamping rural cooperative credit institutions. The action plan proposed by the task force is based on four premises — cooperatives have to be turned around as they are relevant and revival strategy should combine financial revamp with radical institutional reform. Besides, financial restructuring should induce legal and institutional changes and reforms should make cooperatives democratic, member-driven, autonomous and self-reliant. Finance Minister P. Chidambaram said the Centre and the states would arrive at a consensus by October on revamping the cooperative sector through a Rs 15,000-crore financial package and other reforms. Though the Vaidyanathan committee, which looked into ways of revamping cooperatives, proposed that the Centre should provide 53 per cent of the Rs 15,000-crore package, most of the states wanted a higher Central contribution. Mr Chidambaram said the Centre and states would soon finalise the package for revamping the cooperatives, including the formula for sharing the burden. |
|
PM invites Musharraf to dinner
New Delhi, September 9 After a whistle-stop tour of Paris, Dr Singh proceeds to New York for the plenary of the 60th session of the United Nations General Assembly to review the progress achieved in the development goals adopted by the world leaders five years back in 2000. During the Prime Minister’s stay in New York, he has invited Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf for dinner on September 14 and will attend a triangular summit of the Heads of State of Government of Brazil and South Africa (IBSA). He will also be attending a meeting of NAM leaders hosted by Malaysia and follow up on his recent official visit to Washington by meeting President George Bush on the sidelines of the UN meeting. Emphasising that Dr Singh’s sojourn to Paris is a “very important” one, Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran drew pointed attention to India’s strategic partnership with that country. The Prime Minister’s discussions with French President Jacques Chirac, his counterpart Dominic Villepin and others as well as the CEOs of major companies will encompass taking political ties to a higher level and enlarging economic and commercial relations. India is highly appreciative of France’s support in the nuclear sphere which began in the early 1960s. Paris has consistently taken a forward looking position in understanding India’s case on the nuclear issue which has been unblemished and faultless. Clearly, it will be Dr Singh’s endeavour to outline the continuing liberation process and showcase India as a really good trade and investment destination. France’s role cannot be undermined both as a partner in the G-8 and as a key member of the European Union. The
significance of Dr Singh giving the green signal for the Airbus deal of about $ 2.2 billion, virtually on the eve of his visit to France, has not been lost either in Paris or the United Kingdom which holds the current Presidency of the EU. Paris has also been backing India’s search for cutting edge technology being a front ranking country in defence items. Similarly, France has been highly forthcoming in respect of access to technology and has been highly amenable to India’s requirements pertaining to nuclear energy, avionics, space or defence purpose. “Defence cooperation is an important component of Indo-French ties. We are negotiating a number of items with France and a positive outcome is possible,” was all that Mr Saran would say when asked if any defence pacts are likely to be clinched. Mr Saran admitted that the Paris leg of the Prime Minister’s trip is rather short with the specific intent of renewing the association with Mr Chirac and to have an interface with the business leaders of that country. France has always been ready to play its part in the nuclear sphere and has consistently supported India on a host of other issues. Dr Singh will be making his brief presentation at the UN General Assembly on September 14. Mr Saran disclosed that Gen Musharraf has graciously accepted Dr Singh’s invitation for dinner the same evening and the agenda will be set by the two leaders. When a scribe said that Gen Musharraf has expressed confidence in the Indo-Pak peace process moving forward and specially spoken highly about his personal rapport with Dr Singh, the Foreign Secretary had no doubt about the Prime Minister reciprocating that gesture. The Prime Minister is also scheduled to have bilateral meetings with Chinese President Hu Jintao, Russian President Vladimir Putin and South African President Thabo Mbeki. |
|
Reciprocal release of civil prisoners by India, Pak
New Delhi, September 9 The exchange of prisoners between the two countries will take place at the Wagah border. While a maximum of 31 Pakistani prisoners will be released from Jammu and Kashmir, 30 inmates will be released from Punjab, 20 from Rajasthan, 10 from Gujarat, six from West Bengal, two from Delhi and one each from Nagaland and Maharashtra. The civilian prisoners are those who have completed their sentences and whose travel documents have been issued by the Pakistan High Commission in Delhi. The 51 Pakistan fishermen are those who had been arrested for fishing in the Indian territorial waters and whose travel documents have been issued by the Pakistan High Commission
after nationality verification. The Centre has asked the states to bring the Pakistan civil prisoners as well as the fishermen to the Wagah Border on September 12 for
handing over to the Pakistani authorities. Meanwhile, the Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Home Affairs, Mr D. S. Mishra, today said that arrangements had been made for providing consular access to all Pakistan prisoners who were undergoing sentence or were under trial and lodged in various jails in the country. During these consular access meetings, officials of the Pakistan High Commission in Delhi will interview the prisoners to ascertain their nationality. Representatives of the Ministry of External Affairs and Ministry of Home Affairs will be present during the
meetings. During the second round of talks between India and Pakistan on terrorism and drug trafficking held in New Delhi on August 29 and 30, both sides agreed to implement the decisions arrived at by their respective Foreign Secretaries in December 2004 on prisoners. |
|
Farmers for more Indo-Pak trade routes
New Delhi, September 9 In a memorandum submitted to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today, the Bharti Kisan Union has urged the governments of both countries “to open up road routes at Ferozepore and Fazilka in Punjab on the Indo-Pak border besides relaxing the relating rules for encouraging trade between the two countries”. The memorandum was submitted to the PMO after a rally of farmers near the Parliament House. Later speaking to The Tribune, Mr Ajmer Singh Lakhowal, president of the Punjab unit of the union, said: “ In order to uplift economic conditions of Punjab farmers and to make the state more prosperous the road trade with Pakistan should be encouraged. “At present, the loading and unloading system of trucks at the border should be stopped as it is just adding to the transport costs, besides unnecessary harassment to traders.” “In the ensuing peace talks, both countries should agree on allowing and encouraging open and direct trade. The trade through new road routes will help the farm and agriculture sectors of both countries,” he observed. The export of agricultural commodities like potato and onion through Wagah border, claimed the farmer leader, had strengthened the prices of these commodities in the domestic market. “Those who are demanding a ban on the export of onion due to rise in domestic market prices should not forget that input costs have gone up manifold over the years.” Once the export of sugar to Pakistan starts, it will also help the farmers in Punjab and other states, said Bhupinder Singh
Mahesri, general secretary of the union. The impact of the opening up of bilateral trade is already visible through jump in land prices and more trade activities, he added. “We demand that the governments should consider opening up of trade through trucks, trains and local vehicles as well,” he said. The farmer representatives also sought Prime Minister’s intervention for announcing a financial package for farmers to encourage diversification of crops, besides stringent action against those, who have been found guilty in 1984 anti-Sikh riots, and to immediately release Sikh youth detained in prison for alleged terrorist activities. |
|
|
PM unlikely to raise turban issue
New Delhi, September 9 It is unlikely that Dr Singh will go through the motions of taking up the turban matter again as he has personally done so during his meetings with French leaders during their visit to this country. They had assured to look into this matter sympathetically. Asked if the Prime Minister will take up the emotive turban issue of the Sikh community with the French leaders, Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran explained that the French Government has “responded to the demarches that we have made. The French law is not specific to the Sikh community but applicable to all citizens of that country.” He was categoric that the “French have accommodated us to the extent possible.” Meanwhile National Commission of Minorities Chairman Tarlochan Singh told The Tribune that he has received a letter from the French government that Paris has made no concessions to the new law vis-a-vis the Sikh community in France. |
Sonia may be asked to pick CWC members
New Delhi, September 9 The tone for this campaign has already been set by state units of Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and
Mumbai, which have passed resolutions to this effect. Going by past experience and knowing the Congress style of functioning, other state units can be expected to pass similar resolutions in the coming days. In fact, the Andhra Pradesh state unit has gone a step forward and urged other
Pradesh committees to leave the choice of CWC members to
Mrs.Gandhi. Mr. Gurudas Kamat, president of the Mumbai Pradesh Committee, has said that Mr. Rahul Gandhi be nominated to the Congress Working Committee (CWC), a demand which will also be widely endorsed by state units. Except for a few instances in the past when there has been a contest for the party’s highest decision-making body, Congress members generally prefer that the party president select the CWC members. More recently, when organisational elections were conducted, the
Pradesh committees had authorised Mrs. Gandhi to nominate the PCC chiefs. If the party does opt for an election, it is generally conducted during the AICC plenary session. If members are to be nominated, the body can be
constituted before the plenary as was the case last time when the CWC was reconstituted before the 2001 Bangalore session. Since there are doubts that next month’s plenary will be held as scheduled because of the Bihar assembly polls, Congress president may not wait till the session to reconstitute the CWC. The selection of CWC members has acquired greater significance this time in view of Rahul Gandhi’s induction and also because several senior AICC leaders are expected to be moved to the government. AICC general secretary Ambika Soni and party treasurer Motilal Vora, it is learnt, are among those from the party who are being tipped for ministerial berths.
|
|
|
Modi brings dry river to life
Siddhpur(Gujarat), September 9 State power welded with saint power and the religious significance of it being ‘Rishi
Panchami’ worked as a magnet to pull in a mammoth crowd that came as much to bathe in the sacred waters as to hear Chief Minister Narendra Modi speak. Though the Gujarat VHP chief K.K.Shastri who was to preside over the function did not attend and was reported to be indisposed, a galaxy of religious heads seemed to be in competition with each other in eulogising the state Chief Minister. If one called him a modern day
`Bhagirathi’, the other termed him the 'Hanuman of Ramayana' and yet another described him as the 'Krishna of the
Mahabharata'. They also lambasted Mr. Modi’s opponents within the party, calling them a bunch of opportunists, who could not stomach the rising popularity of a doer and out of pure jealousy were out to unseat him. It was one of those events that Chief Minister Modi is famous for, as he pulls off a ‘coup’ to worst his political opponents and dazzle the masses through a mega-event that has both religious, political as well as socio-cultural overtones. Mr. Modi used the occasion to re-dedicate himself to the service of the state and said that Gujarat would continue to remain number one in the comity of states. "We have stolen a march over others by not only linking two rivers but have gone a step ahead and initiated a move to bring a dead river to life”, he added. Water Resources Minister Narottam Patel said that legend has it that Saraswati was a thriving river which flowed past this town which had become a revered centre for performing the rites of
`Matra Tarpan’ in this part of the country. The river subsequently disappeared and a dry bed was all that remained. The Chief Minister through his efforts has brought the dead river to life”, he added. About 200 cusecs of Narmada river water was diverted from a nearby canal via two check dams into a reservoir. From there it will flow along a stretch between Patan and Siddhpur towns.For water starved residents of the region, the religiosity of the event turned into a stellar attraction and thousands of men, women and children plunged into the shallow reservoir for a sacred and sin cleansing ritual. Many were seen carrying away the water muddied by the cavorting of a large mass of people in plastic bottles as ‘prasad’ to be distributed to others who could not make it. |
|
Lalu gets a pat from Prime Minister
New Delhi, September 9 Congratulating Lalu Prasad and the Railway officers at all levels, the Prime Minister said he had been informed that “a significant improvement in the functioning of the Railways was brought about by a number of initiatives taken by the ministry under your leadership, leading to increased
volumes, reduced unit cost, enhancement in public-private partnership, with simultaneous
improvement in customer services and reduction in passenger fares particularly for the poor sections of the population,” the appreciation note reads. The Prime Minister has further noted, “Almost all parameters of performance, including freight loading and passenger traffic, wagon turnaround time etc, have shown significant improvement, which are reflected in much better operating ratio and substantially higher financial performance.” Mr Manmohan has expressed the confidence that these initiatives taken by the ministry would continue to improve performance of the Railways throughout the year, resulting in substantial enhancement in availability of funds for modernisation and creation of additional infrastructure.” |
|
ULFA issue: US pressure on ISI
Guwahati, September 9 ULFA Chairman Arvind Rajkhowa in an e-mail sent yesterday declared the names of nine members in the “people’s consultative
committee” representing civil society of Assam to initiative a dialogue with the Centre on behalf of the militant outfit, including a possible ceasefire. The formation of the “people’s consultative committee” was the result of the year-long initiative by the Gnanpeeth award winner Indira Goswami who was mediating between the ULFA and the Centre. As already reported, the nine-member consultative committee representing civil society of Assam includes prominent journalists, intellectuals, lawyers, sports personalities and human rights activists. Sources in the government, which was initially taken aback on
Wednesday after Indira Goswami declared ULFA’s intention to come forward for talks, disclosed that the proscribed outfit was under pressure from both ISI and Bangladesh to make such overtures as the USA and the UK were
tightening their noose on the two neighbouring countries of India following the serial blasts in London and Bangladesh. It is an open secret with the
intelligence that the ULFA enjoyed the patronage of the ISI and also by Bangladesh and the leading ULFA leader like Anup Chetia was not handed over to the Indian Government by Bangladesh despite repeated requests. The sources also claimed that some other top ULFA leaders were in Bangladesh and were enjoying the support of the ISI. But after the serial blaats in London and Bangladesh it became
difficult for the ISI to withstand the pressure from USA. According to a senior official in the Intelligence ,this was evident from the
sudden change in stand of ULFA. Which till the other day was adamant of not holding talks if the Centre did not address the core “sovereignty” issue. The sources in the Intelligence were also trying to ascertain whether it was a clever move by ULFA by entrusting a nine-member people’s consultative
committee, with Indira Goswami as the main liaison along with Rebati Phukun, to start parleys with the Centre to help the ISI to release the pressure from the USA. |
|
Bengal CM’s assurance
to Left on Salem pact
Kolkata, September 9 Mr Bhattacharjee said in the meeting that during his recent business tour to Singapore and Jakarta he had not finalised any deal with any foreign industries but had agreed to the Salem’s proposal for building a scooter factory on 65 acres of land at Uluberia in Howrah. But he had negotiated with industrialists on several proposals and accordingly, the memorandum of understanding (MoU) had been also signed. However, nothing had been finalised. The CPM Politburo and the central committee at its recent meetings in Delhi endorsed the Chief Minister’s foreign investment proposals in the state but cautioned that the interest of the farmers, landless labourers and other rural people should be protected while transferring the agricultural land for industrial use. |
|
Heavy rain disrupts life in Mumbai
Mumbai, September 9 The police and the fire brigade reported water levels rising to three feet in many parts of Mumbai. However, the weather bureau clarified that there was no reason to panic as the city had received just 12 mm of rainfall in a few hours. On July 26, Mumbai received 944 mm of rainfall. However, train services in the city were disrupted after the tracks were waterlogged. According to fire brigade officials, affected areas in Mumbai included
Andheri, Ghatkopar and Sahar. Flights connecting Mumbai to other cities were also thrown out of gear. Meanwhile, the police advised people not to travel unless absolutely necessary. The meteorological office predicted more rain in the next few days. |
|
|
Tribal schemes: Union Minister unhappy
with MP
Bhopal, September 9 Mr Kyndia was here yesterday to review the implementation of the tribal welfare schemes. Talking to mediapersons last evening, he said he had asked the state government to constitute monitoring committees to oversee the implementation of the schemes. These committees might also comprise NGOs, he suggested. He told the state government officials that if utilisation certificates were not expedited, release of future funds by the Centre would be difficult. He also suggested strengthening of training and research programmes to upgrade the skills among the tribals. Mr Kyndia said his ministry would soon review the schemes meant for tribals with a view to plug the loopholes. |
|
Two sworn in as SC judge
New Delhi, September 9 With the swearing in of these judges, the strength of judges in the apex court has risen to 24 as against the sanctioned strength of 26. Justice Kabir, (57), will have a tenure of eight years in the apex court whereas Justice Raveendran would have a tenure of six years. Judges of the Supreme Court, senior advocates and law officers attended the swearing in ceremony. |
|
Talks moving in right direction, says Bhat
New Delhi, September 9 Mr Bhat, who was in the Hurriyat Conference team that met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on September 5, favoured taking steps for a ceasefire in Jammu and Kashmir . He said the Prime Minister had assured them of time-bound review of cases of those held under the Public Safety Act (PSA) and POTA. |
|
Nine sites in NE to be proposed as World Heritage Sites
Agartala, September 9 The nine sites include Mawmrang Tlang, wildlife sanctuary in Mizoram, Keibul Lamjao national park in Manipur, Khangchendzonga biosphere reserve in Sikkim, Namdapha-Kamlang and Jairampur cluster,
Pakee, Sessa, Eaglenst and Nameri cluster, Dibang-Dihong biosphere reserve cluster and Tale valley-landscape and cluster in Arunachal Pradesh, Unakoti and Trishna wildlife sanctuary in Tripura. The Keibul Lamjao national park in Manipur is the only floating national park in the world while Unakoti (one short of a crore) in North Tripura is famous for its 7th century stone and rock images. |
|
|
Minor fire at Palam airport
New Delhi, September 9 Immediately a high alert was sounded at the airport and the flights were stopped. Part of the building was soon evacuated as smoke filled the corridor. Airport fire tenders rushed to douse the flames, who soon brought the fire under control. By 10.30 am the building was declared safe and work resumed normally. The police sources said nobody was injured in the mishap and damage to property was being assessed. |
|
Onion stock ‘adequate’
New Delhi, September 9 The meeting, chaired by Agriculture Secretary Radha Singh, found that the market arrival and stock of onions was adequate in most states which would be further augmented by arrival of the crop in the coming weeks, an official release said. |
| HOME PAGE | |
Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir |
Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs |
Nation | Opinions | | Business | Sports | World | Mailbag | Chandigarh | Ludhiana | Delhi | | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail | |
Videos
