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Mumbai needs better governance, says PM
Monthly allowance of Rs 1,750 to
each voter
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Govt under pressure over mounting prices
N-deal with US will bind India: NDA
Tharoor meets Kalam, Vajpayee
Karnataka Cabinet expanded
Announcement on Punjab, Haryana PCCs likely today Centre keen on hire and fire policy, claim unions
HC strikes down govt order banning ‘Da Vinci Code’
Check abuse of chicken, Ravi Shankar urges KFC
Excitement in Jantar Mantar to observe longest day
Apollo doctors, staff quizzed
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Mumbai needs better governance, says PM
Mumbai, June 21 In his trademark gentle style, Dr Singh remarked that the Maharashtra Government should free the state’s cities from the “cancer of corruption and the stranglehold of land mafia.” In Mumbai to lay the foundation stone for the Rs 19,500-crore Metro Rail project, the Prime Minister observed that the development of cities and towns had not received adequate importance so far. Dr Singh said urban renewal was one of the prime focus areas for the UPA government. “The UPA government has reversed the trend of neglect of urban areas. Renewal of urban areas is one of the prime focus areas for the Central Government,” the Prime Minister said. Dr Singh noted that the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) launched recently by his government had committed Rs 50,000 crore for the upgrade of infrastructure in cities and towns. “This will be supplemented with additional resources from the states, civic bodies and through public-private partnership,” the Prime Minister said. Dr Singh then cited the Mumbai Metro project as the first such mass transit system to be constructed under public-private partnership. He added that it was important to provide the people with good, reliable and affordable public transport. Without a good rapid public transport system, private vehicles would dominate the roads, leading to congestion, pollution and more accidents. “We cannot force people to become dependent on costly private transportation as this will not only increase energy consumption but also exert enormous burden on our exchequer,” Dr Singh said. The occasion also saw the Maharashtra Government come under criticism for going slow on abolishing the Urban Land Ceiling Act (ULCA). Urban Development Minister Jaipal Reddy, who was also in Mumbai, noted that the Maharashtra Government “had a mental block over removing the Urban Land Ceiling Act”. He said the law should be abolished as early as possible if Mumbai was to be sanctioned money from the Centre’s Urban Renewal Project. The Maharashtra Government is going about this in a piecemeal basis. To begin with, the state government has only now begun to identify those holding land in excess of the ULCA in the cities of Mumbai and Pune as a first step to abolishing the ULCA. Mumbai Metro
Built in partnership with Anil Ambani’s Reliance Energy and the Mumbai Metropolitan Regional Development Authority (MMRDA), the 146-km Mumbai Metro will link Versova in the west to Ghatkopar in the east of Mumbai and Colaba in the South and Charkop in the North of Mumbai. The Metro’s air-conditioned coach trains can carry 60,000 passengers an hour. Work on Phase 1 linking Versova to Ghatkopar will begin in October this year. According to officials of the MMRDA and Reliance Energy, work on the project will begin immediately. The Prime Minister was accompanied by Governor S.M. Krishna, Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh, Reliance Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group (RADAG) Chairman Anil Ambani and Mumbai Metropolitan Commissioner T. Chandrashekhar. Also present were Union Ministers Sharad Pawar, Jaipal Reddy and Murli Deora and Ambani’s mother Kokilaben. French company Connex, which has undertaken several similar mass rapid transports systems worldwide, including in Melbourne, Boston and in Germany, is the operational partner of the consortium.
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Monthly allowance of Rs 1,750 to each voter
New Delhi, June 21 Samajwadi Party leader Mohan Singh and BJP leader Vijay Malhotra are expected to move the petition in the coming session demanding “direct cash benefits to all citizens through ATM cards by replacing some government welfare schemes,” told Mr Bharat Gandhi, associated with the petition. He disclosed that the Secretary-General of the Lok Sabha was currently scrutinising the petition filed on behalf of the Federation of Economic Freedom. The federation had approached over 250 MPs cutting across party lines. The BSP MPs had also assured to raise the issue in the coming session, he added. The petitioners claimed if Parliament agreed to their demand every person in the country, whose name was on the voters’ list, may get at least Rs 1,750 per month in cash, and thus Rs 3,500 each would reach every couple. The sum was being termed as votership on the patter of government scholarship. Mr Gandhi claimed that such experiment had already been implemented successfully in Brazil and would help the government curb widespread corruption in government welfare schemes. “Since, it is not easy to identify the poor and deserving families on the economic country they had urged to provide cash benefits to all voters, including rich person like Reliance Chairman Mukesh Ambani and Congress President Sonia Gandhi,” he said. The federation appealed to the citizens to send petitions to the Lok Sabha secretariat in this regard. Recommending the change in present tax structure, Mr Asha Ram Gautam, secretary, Petition Committee, Parliament Affairs Cell, Federation of Economic Freedom, said, “Either the government should bring down taxes or it should give cash benefits to every citizen”. In the said extra-ordinary petition of 172 pages, the petitioners said the country was today getting over Rs 200,000 crore annually in taxes and a part of it could be directly offered to the citizens as cash benefits. The government was already boasting of achieving 8 per cent growth consecutively, but except a few sections of society the majority of the people was not getting proportionate benefits.
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Govt under pressure over mounting prices
New Delhi, June 21 The Cabinet committee on prices, which is scheduled to meet in the Capital tomorrow, would take stock of the situation on the agricultural front and come up with a package for the farmers. The note prepared by Economic Advisory Council Chairman C. Rangarajan on containing the prices of essential items would be discussed at the meeting. The Prime Minister had last week asked the former RBI Governor to prepare the note with inputs from various ministries. The Left parties at the co-ordination committee meet had expressed their anguish over the rise in prices of essential items, including wheat and pulses. Even Congress President Sonia Gandhi had expressed the need to contain the spiralling prices at it could have a politically damaging effect for the party, especially with the Assembly elections due in UP and Punjab next year. Even the weather seems not to be siding with the Prime Minister as the monsoon, especially in the wheat bowl, appears to have been delayed by a few days. As the sowing for the Kharif is delayed, there are worries that lower agricultural growth could affect the GDP. In the current year, the harvest is estimated to be at 71.54 million tonnes, down from earlier projections of 73 million tonnes, following rains and hailstorms that damaged the crop in some parts of the country in March. However, the country would not be in a position to import much as global prices would be on a higher side. The Food and Agriculture Organisation's latest Food Outlook report projected the world wheat production to decrease by 10 million tonnes this year, with a strong demand set to drive up trade in 2006-07 to 110 million tonnes. Eight global companies, including Cargill, Glencore and Bunge, have taken part in the third round of tender floated by the State Trading Corporation for import of 22-lakh tonnes of wheat. The government is considering introducing the dual price system from next year as wheat procurement by the Food Corporation of India (FCI) and state agencies dipped by 38 per cent this year because private traders offered better rates to farmers. The Agriculture Ministry officials said the government was considering cutting down the supply of foodgrains to the public distribution system by slashing family quotas, hiking the prices of rations and cutting down on the foodgrain component in the wages paid in the employment generation schemes. The Union Finance Ministry has stepped up vigilance to monitor global and domestic factors contributing to the inflationary pressures.
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N-deal with US will bind India: NDA
New Delhi, June 21 Claiming that there was a lack of consensus on nuclear programme and strategy, NDA Chairman and former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, NDA convener George Fernandes and Leader of Opposition L. K. Advani and former External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh, JD (U) chief Sharad Yadav took strong exception to the manner in which Prime Minister Manmohan Singh “deliberately kept” Parliament and the nation in “darkness” about the finalisation of the Indo-US nuclear deal whereas discussions were taking place in the US Congress. In a memorandum, the NDA leaders asserted that India's nuclear policy was not a programme of one party or one government, but a result of national consensus and strong will of the people. “The present day government can't be allowed to undo the work of the last 60 years and expose scientists to undue interference in their work from sources outside India”, the leaders pointed out. They claimed that there had been no consensus on the nuclear issue nor there was any effort by the government to build such a policy. “We believe that an overwhelming majority of MPs are against the deal”, the leader told the President, who has long been associated with the country's nuclear programme. Accusing the Prime Minister of “repeatedly misleading” Parliament on the nuclear deal, the leaders said the statements before the US Congress were clear that India would neither get parity nor reciprocity under this deal of July, 2005 as was being claimed by the UPA government. India, they pointed out, would continue to be treated in a discriminatory manner. The separation of nuclear plants and facilities as civilian and military was difficult, expensive and unwarranted, which had a bearing on future strategic programme. To conclude a safeguard agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency and a subsequent additional protocol was fraught with complex dangers since inspections by the IAEA would be intrusive and would rob Indian scientists of the freedom they had enjoyed all along, the leader stressed. The leaders said they believed that the text of the agreement with the US and safeguards agreement with the IAEA was already under negotiation. “Whereas Indian Parliament was kept in dark about these negotiations, the US Congress was not. The paradox was that detailed discussions were taking place on the future of Indian nuclear programme in the US Congress but not in the Indian Parliament”.
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Tharoor meets Kalam, Vajpayee
New Delhi, June 21 In the process, he also explained to different political parties and their leaders why New Delhi made its last-minute decision of announcing his candidature for the top UN job when India is a serious aspirant for the permanent membership of the UN Security Council. Mr Tharoor today called on President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam and former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. He also held meetings with Railway Minister Laloo Prasad Yadav, Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar, National Security Adviser M.K. Narayanan, Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran and former Union Minister Ravi Shanker Prasad. He also had an official meeting today with Mr Sanjeev Arora, Joint Secretary (UN - Political) in the Ministry of External Affairs. He yesterday met BJP leaders L.K. Advani and Jaswant Singh and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi on June 19. Mr Tharoor explained to political leaders that his candidature was to enable a wide and credible choice available from Asia so that no argument could be used at the United Nations to introduce candidates from other continents. This time it is the turn of Asia to fill up the top UN job. Conventionally, the rotational principle for selection of UN Secretary-General has been adopted, though Mr Kofi Annan got a third term for Africa. Mr Annan had succeeded Mr Boutros Boutros Ghali of Egypt who had already used up one African term. Mr Tharoor also explained that his candidature would not in any way adversely impact the Indian candidature for permanent membership of the Security Council for which the G-4 (India, Brazil, Germany and Japan) reintroduced the Framework Resolution this January. The expansion of the UNSC is a long and time-consuming process that may take years. Theoretically, even if the Framework Resolution were to be passed during the current session of the UN General Assembly before the end of the current year and the election were to be held and completed immediately thereafter, two-third members of the UNSC would have to ratify the amendment. This can take years. On the other hand, the appointment of the next UN Secretary-General is to be decided before the end of this year. Therefore, New Delhi’s argument is that the two processes — the appointment of UN Secretary-General and expansion of the Security Council are distinct from each other and entirely on different time scales. Mr Tharoor leaves here for Paris tomorrow where he will be having meetings with French officials. From there he will go to Banjul, Gambia where 53 African states are going to hold the African Union Summit.
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Karnataka Cabinet expanded
Bangalore, June 21 He also used the occasion to strengthen his own party by roping in former Deputy Chief Minister M. P. Parkash as well as his brother H. D. Revanna, who was a minister in the former Congress- JD(S) regime. The JD(S) is in dire need of senior members to defend the government in the Assembly in the wake of a fresh onslaught by the Opposition on the BMIC project. Though Mr Prakash had come to the rescue of the government on several occasions, the senior leader was castigated by the Opposition as to his status in the new set-up under Mr Kumaraswamy. Bringing Mr Revanna back into the government is likely to heal misgivings if any in the ruling family. Mr Revanna is Mr Kumaraswamy’s elder brother who had sided with his father and former Prime Minister H. D. Deve Gowda in opposing Mr Kumaraswamy when he wanted to go with the BJP. The other two entrants are Mr H. K. Kumaraswamy and Mr Zameer Ahmed Khan. The BJP has also managed to get four berths in the Cabinet. The new ministers inducted today are S. A. Ravindranath, Shivananda Naik, Revu Naik Belamagi and Shashikant Akkappa Naik. With the induction of eight members today, the ministry strength has gone up to 30. No woman member could make it to the Cabinet. Mr Kumaraswamy, while talking to reporters after the induction ceremony, said he would fill posts of chairmen of various corporations and boards soon after due consultation with his coalition partner, the BJP. This indicates a new trend of reconciliation after the souring of relations over the BMIC project.
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Announcement on Punjab, Haryana PCCs likely today New Delhi, June 21 A formal announcement on the new panels is likely to be made tomorrow. The overhaul of PCCs has been in the works for several months, but pulls and pressures from factions in state units has delayed the process interminably. With potential contenders thronging AICC offices, Congress state units have virtually become defunct. Congress leaders insist that it is not so as the old organisational set-up continues to function till it is replaced, but the ground reality is otherwise. At least 12 state units, including Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh, Uttaranchal, Karnataka, Gujarat, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh and Assam, have been awaiting reconstitution for several months as rival groups have been lobbying for
accommodation of their respective supporters. Last week, dissident Punjab leader Jagmeet Brar had dispatched a contingent of his supporters to the AICC to press for their inclusion in the reconstituted PCC. Realising that the party’s state machinery had not been functioning properly because of the lingering uncertainty over the
membership of PCCs, Congress president Sonia Gandhi had recently held a meeting to take stock of organisational affairs. With Assembly elections due in Punjab, Uttaranchal and Uttar Pradesh next year, it had become imperative for the party to put its state machinery in order. Ms Gandhi had always insisted that the party organisation had a crucial role to play in conveying its government’s achievements and policies and programmes to the people, but it would not be possible if state units were in disarray.
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Centre keen on hire and fire policy, claim unions New Delhi, June 21 At a tripartite meeting here of the representatives of employees, employers and the government, the Union Labour Ministry expressed the opinion that such a proposal should be tried out, central trade union sources said. At today’s meeting the representatives of the trade unions vociferously opposed any such move by the government, the sources said. They said the proposed change by amending the Industrial Disputes Act was being opposed by Leftist and other trade unions, including CITU, AITUC, BMS, HMS, UTUC, UTUC-LS and Congress-affiliated INTUC. At the Indian Labour Conference (ILC) last year, the trade unions had opposed any action to bring about amendment to the existing policy, which allows layoffs, closures and retrenchment in units having up to 100 workers. They apprehended that if the number of employees was raised to 300 then more establishments would come under the purview of the policy and the employers would be free to take drastic action without the government’s permission. They said the government was keen on giving the amendment a try in keeping with the recommendations of the Second Labour Commission, which had suggested raising the ceiling of workers from 100 to 300.
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HC strikes down govt order banning ‘Da Vinci Code’
Hyderabad, June 21 The state government had banned the film on June 1, a day before it was to be released across the state in Telugu, Hindi and English versions. The ban is a highly unreasonable restriction on the guaranteed fundamental freedom of expression of the people, Justice Raghuram said, while allowing three writ petitions against the ban. The judge observed that the government succumbed to the pressure exerted by a few people threatening violent protests. Those who object to the film are not under any compulsion to see the film and are at liberty to keep away from watching it, he said. The controversial film has been banned in several states in the country, including Punjab, for its alleged offensive content against Christians. The judge imposed costs to the tune of Rs 10,000 each to the petitioners namely Lakshmi Ganapati Films, the distributors for Andhra, and Sony Pictures Entertainment India, the distributors of the film in the country, and another Rs 2,500 to a film goer, who contested the ban. The government's ban order, which followed representations by Christian groups, had said the film was likely to breach peace and hurt religious sentiments of Muslim and Christian communities.
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Check abuse of chicken, Ravi Shankar urges KFC
New Delhi, June 21 In a letter sent to Mr David Novak, Chief Executive Officer of KFC’s parent company, Yum! Brands ,on behalf of PETA (People for Ethical Treatment of Animals), Pandit Ravi Shankar has said:“You have the ability and opportunity to decrease the shocking abuse of these interesting, sensitive individuals.....Until you do, I will be calling upon all compassionate people across the world to boycott the KFC.’’ Pandit Ravi Shankar has further said PETA investigations in India, the US, Germany, Australia and Britain have documented the routine and sadistic abuse of chickens by KFC suppliers. The documentation shows how conscious birds are maimed by killing machines and scalded to death in de-feathering tanks. As if this cruelty was not enough, their heads are removed and their faced spray-painted for fun. The musician has said that chickens are inquisitive animals who are as intelligent as cats, dogs and other primates. According to a press note issued by PETA here today, the KFC serves more than 850 million chickens every year. Pandit Ravi Shankar has joined the growing list of celebrities who have urged the KFC to put an end to the worst abuses on chickens. His daughter, Anoushka Shankar, made a similar plea to the KFC in 2004. Other celebrities who have made a plea to the KFC are Pamela Anderson, Sir Paul McCartney and His Holiness, the Dalai Lama.
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Excitement in Jantar Mantar to observe longest day
New Delhi, June 21 Commonly known as the longest day, summer solstice is an astronomical term for the position of the sun, in relation to the celestial equator. At this time, the earth is at a point in its orbit where one hemisphere is most tilted towards the sun, causing the sun to appear at 23.45° above the celestial equator, thus making its highest path across the sky. For a layman it is a day when you don't find your shadow at high noon. School students and astronomy enthusiasts queued up at Jantar Mantar, Nehru Planetarium, where arrangements were made for observations and presentations on the rare scene. June 21 marks the official longest day of the year for everyone living in the northern hemisphere, with the rays of the sun rising directly perpendicular to the
Tropic of Cancer. In the national Capital, the sun rose at 5.24 am and was expected to set at 7.22 pm, making it the longest day consisting of nearly 14 hours and the shortest night of the year. At 12.23 pm, the sun was 84.8° high over the New Delhi sky with very small shadows under it. Addressing the gathering at Jantar Mantar, Dr R. Rathnasree, director of the Nehru Planetarium said the day is a special day for all astronomers, when the northern hemisphere experiences the shortest shadow.
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Apollo doctors, staff quizzed
New Delhi, June 21 The team, led by ACP B.B. Choudhary, reached the hospital to question all those women employees - doctors, nurses, lab assistants and technicians -who directly or indirectly attended on Rahul after he was admitted to the hospital in the wee hours of June 2. It would also question Raji Chandru, a key aide of Dr Reddy, who reportedly took care of the hospital expenses of Rahul and Vivek Moitra. The questioning comes a day after the police put three senior doctors - Prasad Rao, Anupam Sibal and Mukund Pandey - through intense interrogation for nearly nine hours to get the details of the treatment given to Rahul.
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