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Widening Lokpal Bill talks to build consensus: Govt
Pranab in touch with Ramdev
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From today, cashless
delivery at government facilities
Rakabganj Gurdwara project to take off on June 12: DSGMC
Politics over no-trust motion in Andhra
Book blames Giani, Sanjay for Punjab mess in ’80s
WORLD NO-TOBACCO DAY
2G Scam
Now, SC grants bail to Binayak’s aide Guha
Hate speech case
Sample date today; Tewari may not go to Delhi, says aide
Youth tries to rape girl, set ablaze by mob Jail doc’s murder: Nitish shifts 2 top officials
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Widening Lokpal Bill talks to build consensus: Govt
Pranab writes to CMs, political parties The key six issues raised by Finance Minister
New Delhi, May 31 Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, who heads the Lokpal joint drafting committee, today wrote to chief ministers and leaders of political parties to elicit their views over the issue of bringing the office of the Prime Minister, the judiciary and conduct of parliamentarians within the ambit of the Lokpal Bill. Pranab has raised six issues (see graphic) The joint panel meeting had yesterday ended on an inconclusive note as there was no unanimity on these issues. While civil society representatives had described their discussions as “disastrous”, Home Minister P Chidambaram, who is a member of this committee, struck a conciliatory note today, saying the talks were on the “right track” and denied allegations that the government was trying to delay the Lokpal Bill. He also clarified that it was the unanimous decision of the joint panel yesterday to consult chief ministers and political parties. Addressing a press conference today, Chidambaram maintained that there were differences on these issues within the civil society and the judiciary as well, adding that all these views had to be considered before a final decision could be taken. Chidambaram said the provision on bringing the Prime Minister within the purview of the Lokpal Bill does not have to be answered with a straight “a yes or a no”, adding ,”this
is not a binary issue, there could be a yes, no or a yes with qualifications.” Since the proposed Bill has to be passed in Parliament and also concerns state governments, Chidmabaram said it was necessary to consult chief ministers and leaders of political parties. Pranab Mukherjee’s letter, he said, had sought views on six important issues concerning the Lokpal Bill. They have been asked to send in their replies before June 6 when the joint panel is slated to meet next. HRD Minister Kapil Sibal said there are bound to be differences on such critical issues but this should not lead anybody to suspect the government’s motives. Meanwhile, differences within the civil society groups over the inclusion of the Prime Minister under the Lokpal Bill came to the fore today with yoga guru Baba Ramdev stating that questions should not be asked from the foremost leaders in a democracy.
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Pranab in touch with Ramdev
New Delhi, May 31 Reacting to Ramdev’s reported insistence Union Home Minister P Chidambaram said today, “Finance Minister and his officials are in touch with Ramdev. Let us wait for the outcome of these discussions. Today is only the 31st and there are a good four days to go for June 4,” Chidambaram said with some air of confidence. Sources said the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs (CCPA) which met yesterday, decided that Mukherjee would meet Ramdev and brief him on all the dimensions of the government endeavour. As part of the government efforts, CBDT chairperson Sudhir Chandra met Ramdev about two weeks ago and explained to him government efforts in bringing back black money and the hurdles it faces in effecting recovery. The latest being an offer to set up a Directorate of Criminal Investigation dealing with direct tax law under the Central Board of Direct Taxes. To be led by an officer of the rank of Director General or Chief Commissioner, this new Directorate will function out of eight high wealth generating cities namely, Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Jaipur, Ahmedabad, Chandigarh and Lucknow -- and will deal with criminal matters punishable under any direct tax law. It will collect information about persons and transactions suspected to be involved in criminal activities having cross-border, inter-state or international ramifications posing a threat to national security. On May 28, the government set up a committee under CBDT chairman to examine the existing legal and administrative framework to curb the generation of black money. Under the proposal, the committee would declare illegally generated money as national wealth to forfeit and confiscate illegally generated wealth. Then on May 29 the finance ministry announced the commissioning of an “in-depth study” of unaccounted wealth stashed outside India and finally yesterday it announced the creation of Directorate of Criminal Investigations.
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33 dead, 23 injured in twin Assam mishaps
Guwahati, May 31 At least 28 persons, including bridegroom Naba Kumar Sharma (32), were killed and eight injured when the bus carrying a marriage party plunged into a pool of water covered with a sheet of water hyacinth along the Hajo-Nalbari road, near Sorabori in Kamrup district, around 11.30 pm yesterday. According to a survivor of the tragedy, the driver of the speeding bus lost control after hitting a speed-breaker and the vehicle plunged into the pool of water while crossing over a dilapidated wooden bridge sans sidebars. Inspector General of Police Pallab Bhattacharrya said villagers immediately swung into action and fished out several bodies even before the arrival of the two rescue teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF). While the late arrival of the NDRF team angered the villagers, an official of the force said they were alerted about the incident by the Deputy Commissioner of Kamrup district only at 3.36 am. The rescue teams reached the spot at 4.10 am today, he said.
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Centre justifies further probe against Dinakaran
New Delhi, May 31 The three-member panel headed by apex court judge Aftab Alam had the power to go beyond the charges, listed in the notice given for the impeachment motion, on the basis of the investigations conducted by it, Additional Solicitor General (ASJ) PP Malhotra contended before the vacation Bench of Justices GS Singhvi and CK Prasad. The ASG made the submissions despite protest from senior counsel Amarender Saran, who appeared for the beleaguered Chief Justice. Justice Dinakaran has questioned the panel’s wisdom in enlarging the list of charges. The matter was serious as it concerned the conduct of a judge. Further, all the evidence against the judge was not available when the notice was given. Under the circumstances, the inquiry panel was fully justified in collecting further material and verifiable evidence and frame charges that went beyond those mentioned in the notice, Malhotra contended. Saran, however, wanted to know as to what was the government’s interest in the matter. At this, the Bench said the ASG was assisting the court in adjudicating the petitions filed by Justice Dinakaran. The accused judge has also objected to framing of charges that had nothing to do with his judicial functions and the presence of senior counsel PP Rao on the panel. Rao had campaigned against his proposed elevation to the apex court and as such was biased against him, he contended. Appearing for the panel, senior counsel UU Lalit said it had now come to light that Justice Dinakaran had purchased about 250 acres of land which was primarily unfit for agriculture. Despite this fact, the judge had claimed a monthly income of Rs 3 lakh from the land in a bid to legitimise his undisclosed bank balance of Rs 1.48 crore. There was no question of any yield of groundnut or scope for other sorts of farming on this land, he contended. The arguments would continue tomorrow.
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From today, cashless
delivery at government facilities
New Delhi, May 31 Initial reviews by the Ministry of Health, which has initiated the scheme with the help of state governments, reveal that over one crore women across the country would benefit from the provision. The Centre has allocated Rs 1,100 crore for the scheme to the state governments which sent their additional projections after factoring in the state budgets. The scheme, which also provides for free diet for pregnant women, would put an end to every surcharge on institutional delivery - like the one Punjab Government was charging until recently in the name of user charges from pregnant women. Punjab had objected to the removal of user charges under the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) on grounds that they fetched it an annual Rs 2,000 crore. Speaking to The Tribune about the new move which would hopefully boost India’s institutional delivery rate - currently less than 50 per cent - Joint Secretary, Health Anuradha Gupta said the scheme envisaged “never-before-offered” provisions and free delivery as a matter of right for women. “Every woman entering a government facility for delivery will be entitled to free services - whether it is blood, consumables, drugs or diagnostics. So far, diagnostics were not covered under government expenses,” she said. UPA chief Sonia Gandhi will launch the scheme from Mewat in Haryana on June 1. Mewat is one of the government’s 264 high-focus districts where women and child health indicators are poor. The most important provision of the scheme, which will roll under the umbrella of the NRHM, is the facility of paid-for transport for pregnant women wanting to deliver in institutional facilities. “So long, only the cost of transporting a pregnant woman to a facility was covered. There was no provision of providing for the cost of transport to another referral centre or back home post delivery. Now, transport costs through every step of the delivery - from home to the facility; to a referral centre and back home after 48 hours of admission post delivery would be covered to rule out chances of infection,” Gupta said.
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Rakabganj Gurdwara project
to take off on June 12: DSGMC
However, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh won’t be laying its foundation stone. The earlier plan was to start work on May 14. DSGMC chief Paramjit Singh Sarna and his brother Harvinder Singh Sarna today announced that Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit would do the honours in PM’s absence. “The PM’s schedule is tight and he won’t be available. So, we have decided to go ahead with the project,” Harvinder said. He, however, assured the community that “the historic shrine will remain untouched not a brick will be changed”. When reminded that many years ago a similar beautification plan at the historic shrine at Fatehgarh Sahib had hurt the feelings of the community, Sarna said: “We will be very careful and nothing of that sort will be done at Rakabganj”. At Rakabganj, the DSGMC aims at make an optimum use of the vacant 12-acre land. The gurdwara is spread across 13 acres and is located right behind imposing North Bblock housing the Home Ministry and the Finance Ministry. The DSGMC plans to have a study centre on Sikhism, comprising a museum and a reference library, a convention hall, a multi-purpose hall, an air-conditioned langar and a multi-level parking for 3,000 cars. Apart from this, a sarai for pilgrims and modern residential quarters for ‘ragis’ and DSGMC staff would also come up. Meanwhile, Maj Gen MS Chadha (retd), president of the Delhi-based Sikh Forum has raised objections to the multi-level parking project. The parking won’t be of much use, the forum chief said. The grand plan The DSGMC plans to have a study centre on Sikhism, comprising a museum and a reference library, a convention hall, a multi-purpose hall, an air-conditioned langar and a multi-level parking for 3,000 cars. Apart from this, a sarai for pilgrims and modern residential quarters for ‘ragis’ and DSGMC staff would also come up
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Politics over no-trust motion in Andhra
Hyderabad, May 31 Locked in the war of words are the main opposition Telugu Desam Party, with 90 MLAs in the 294-member Assembly, and the fledgling YSR Congress Party, headed by YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, whose strength is still to be tested. The two parties have been daring each other to make the first move to pull down the Kiran Kumar Reddy government. Already caught on a sticky wicket over internal bickering and the Telangana tangle, the Congress government is facing fresh trouble from an increasingly combative opposition. The ruling party has 155 MLAs, just seven more than the half-way mark. It is estimated that about 20 to 25 legislators are backing Jagan. In case of a showdown, the Congress will bank on the support of actor-turned-politician Chiranjeevi’s Praja Rajyam Party (PRP), which has 18 MLAs and the seven-member Majlis Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM). TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu said his party would move a no-trust motion against the government in the coming Assembly session for its all-round failure. However, he added a rider that pro-Jagan MLAs in the Congress should first approach Governor ESL Narasimhan and announce their withdrawal of support to the government. Jagan had quit the Congress last year and floated his own regional party, projecting himself as the sole inheritor of political legacy of his charismatic father and former Chief Minister late YS Rajasekhar Reddy. Naidu’s strategy appears to be aimed at cornering Jagan by exposing his loyalists in the Assembly to the prospect of disqualification under anti-defection law if they defy their party whips. Despite the bravado, Jagan camp is well aware of its limitations and the danger of disqualification if it moves the no-confidence motion. Moreover, Jagan needs to enlist the support of at least 58 MLAs to move a no-trust motion and it is clear that he does not have the required numbers. As a result, Jagan and his supporters have been taunting the TDP to make the first move by virtue of being the main opposition. “In fact, the Congress and the TDP have entered into match-fixing to defame me and my party,” Jagan said. If TDP’s concern for the poor farmers was genuine, then it should go ahead with moving a no-trust motion, the 38-year-old Kadapa MP said. Meanwhile, the TDP today dared the Chief Minister to convene a special session of the Assembly to face a no-confidence motion. Reacting to the challenge, Kiran asserted that his government was “strong enough” to face the no-trust motion and prove its strength on the floor of the House.
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Book blames Giani, Sanjay for Punjab mess in ’80s
New Delhi, May 31 The fifth volume of the series “A Centenary History of the Indian National Congress” makes critical observations on "dirty politics" in the name of religion in Punjab that it concluded was one of the factors for terrorism and the Khalistan agitation in Punjab. "Dirty politics and the use of religion for political ends clearly boomeranged on the Akali and Congress leadership with diastrous consequences for the Sikh community and the Indian state", the book says, commenting on the situation in the aftermath of Operation Blue -star. The book says: "By introducing a religious tone to Punjab politics, Giani Zail Singh succeeded to a great extent in weakening the Akalis. But the result--growing communalisation of provincial politics--was disastrous." The book notes that Zail Singh organised one of the biggest religious processions "in order to secure Sikh votes for the Congress". "Zail Singh, in complete collaboration with Sanjay, picked up a relatively obscure young fundamentalist lay preacher named Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale with a view to building him up as a rival to the Akali leadership. "It is inconceivable that they could have done so without Indira Gandhi's consent. Sanjay and Zail Singh believed that the young preacher could embarrass the Akali Dal. Precisely the reverse happened. Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale originally planted by Giani Zail Singh to weaken the Akalis, had outgrown his shoes," the book says. The Congress has, however, distanced itself from the views expressed in the book, saying there is no official book on the party's history. Party spokesman Manish Tewari has stressed that the book, brought out by a group of editors headed by senior party leader Pranab Mukherjee, has two disclaimers. "In no circumstances, the Congress subscribes to these views," Tewari said. In the book preface, Mukherjee notes that the Congress desired the volume to be edited and contributed by experts in order to generate an "objective and scholarly perspective for the period under review and not necessarily have a party perspective".
— PTI
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WORLD NO-TOBACCO DAY
New Delhi, May 31 Yet, for the 275 million users of smoking and smokeless tobacco products, the country has just 19 tobacco cessation clinics (TCCs), where trained medics provide nicotine replacement therapy to help clients kick the butt. Most such centres are in urban areas of 17 states, leaving a vast chunk of rural India uncovered. This, at a time when the country’s first scientific study on the results of clinically aided cessation among tobacco users threw up an encouraging quit rate of 22 per cent. The global quit rate average with the best cessation facilities is about 33 per cent. Dr Raj Kumar, director, National Centre for Asthma Allergy and Immunology, Vallabhbhai Patel Chest Institute, where the first cessation clinic was established in 2001, today told The Tribune that their study on 500 clients revealed a quit rate of 22 per cent at the end of a year of therapy. The study which Kumar led, as head of the cessation clinic, also revealed the benefits of cessation with counselling. “Though the quit rate at one year among clients who received both counseling and medication was higher at 52 per cent, it was as high as 15 per cent even among those who didn’t receive drugs and were only counselled. This makes a case for upscaling of cessation services. Counselling alone can also make a huge difference,” Kumar said. The India Tobacco report released last November provided ample evidence of current smokers and smokeless tobacco users wanting to quit. Whereas 46.6 per cent smokers said they were interested in quitting and 38.4 per cent tried quitting, 45.2 per cent smokeless tobacco users admitted to an urge to quit and 35.4 per cent said they tried. Health Ministry’s own data from the national anti-tobacco helpline (1800110456) also shows that out of 10,722 calls received over the last year, 1500 related to cessation facilities alone. That explains the massive urge among people to reduce nicotine dependence. A survey by The Tribune today on the use of anti-smoking gums available in the market, firmed up the evidence of the need for Nicotine Replacement Therapy, which the government
now plans to subsidise. Currently, a strip of 10 gum costs between Rs 50 and 65. CESSATION FACTS
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2G Scam
New Delhi, May 31 “There are new scandals in the UPA government everyday. A new scandal is on the verge of being exposed. The cupboard of corruption of the UPA is overflowing and more skeletons are dying to come out," BJP chief spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad said reacting to a media report in this regard. However, the Congress washed its hands off the controversy surrounding Maran, the former Telecom Minister. “If a question has been asked from the Textiles Minister Dayanidhi Maran, obviously he will be the best person to answer it,” party spokesman Manish Tewari told reporters in reply to a volley of questions on the issue. Incidently, Maran had a lengthy meeting with the Prime Minister last night after the meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs. At the same time, Tewari indicated that irregularities, if any, during the Maran’s tenure could be looked into by the JPC which is looking into the 2G Spectrum allocation scam.
— PTI
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Now, SC grants bail to Binayak’s aide Guha
New Delhi, May 31 A Bench comprising Justices GS Singhvi and CK Prasad ordered grant of bail to the alleged Naxal sympathiser and Kolkata-based businessman on his furnishing a bond of Rs 2 lakh and two sureties of Rs 1 lakh each to the satisfaction of the trial court in Chhattisgarh.
— TNS
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Hate speech case
Lucknow, May 31 Chief Judicial Magistrate Ajay Krishna, while hearing the case yesterday, ordered the prosecution to produce witnesses while fixing July 6 as the next date of hearing. The charges were framed against Varun under various sections of the IPC, including 505/2 (inciting communal hatred), 153 (a) (levelling allegations against specific community), 295 (a) (deliberate and malicious act intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religious beliefs). Charges were also framed against him under the People’s Representation Act. An FIR was also registered against the BJP MP on March 17, 2009, on the orders of the Election Commission during Lok Sabha polls. He surrendered in Pilibhit on March 28, 2009, and NSA was slapped on him the next day. He was released on bail on April 16, 2009.
— PTI
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Sample date today; Tewari may not go to Delhi, says aide
Dehradun, May 31 Tewari was in Dehradun on Saturday to attend the annual convocation of the University of Petroleum and Energy Studies. The varsity was set up when Tewari was the Chief Minister. During the function, a frail-looking Tewari was seen greeting Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Jaipal Reddy. Sanjay Joshi, Tewari’s personal assistant, said the former CM had no plans to go to Delhi tomorrow. On being reminded that the blood test has been ordered by the High Court, Joshi said: “It’s a judicial matter. Any new development would be communicated to the media.”
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Youth tries to rape girl, set ablaze by mob Hyderabad, May 31 He was charred to death as villagers greeted each other for handing out an instant justice. According to police, the youth, whose identity is yet to be established, tried to molest an 18-year-old Mounika when she was alone at home. The attacker barged into her house and tried to rape her. When she resisted the attempt, the accused hit her with a hammer. A profusely bleeding Mounika, a class 12 student, was later rushed to a government hospital in Warangal. Her condition is stated to be serious. She suffered critical injuries on the head. The victim is being shifted to Hyderabad for better treatment. Enraged over the incident, the villagers chased and caught hold of the youth and burnt him alive. Such was their ferocity that the policemen who were on duty could not prevent the murder. The incident triggered widespread outrage across the state as it came as a grim reminder of the growing tendency among people to take law into their own hands and mete out instant justice. Warangal district had witnessed a similar incident in which the police had shot dead three youths in an alleged encounter hours after they attacked a college student with acid in 2008.
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Jail doc’s murder: Nitish shifts 2 top officials Patna, May 31 “It is a serious lapse on the part of the jail administration...there are several flaws cited in the inquiry report,” Nitish told reporters. “I have taken the matter seriously and acted tough on the basis of the inquiry report of Principal Secretary (Home) Amir Subhani into the killing of the doctor in the Gopalganj jail,” he said. Anand Kishore would be the new IG (Jail) replacing Ramesh Lal while Pankaj Kumar would be the new district magistrate of Gopalganj in place of Pankaj Kumar Pal. He said the state government would provide a compensation of Rs 10 lakh to the bereaved family. “The state government will also ensure full salary to the widow of the doctor up to the age he would have retired had he not died in harness,” Nitish added. Subhani submitted his inquiry report to the Chief Minister last evening. Buddhadev Singh was assaulted on Sunday by jail inmates after he went inside to attend a patient. — TNS
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New Delhi, May 31
Even
as Baba Ramdev reiterated his resolve to go ahead with his fast at Ramlila
Maidan from June 4 till “my talks reach a satisfactory conclusion," the
government appeared ready to face the situation taking some obvious pre-emptive
measures, including a meeting between Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee and
Ramdev.
New Delhi, May 31