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Coalgate: House stalled as BJP seeks PM’s explanation on 147 missing files
Govt moves to trash SC verdict on convicted lawmakers
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Congress fails to push through food Bill on Rajiv’s birthday
New mental health Bill bans electric shocks without anaesthesia
Special squad to guard RAW, IB facilities
Compassionate job not a right, rules SC
Tunda assaulted on court premises
Plea to withdraw CWC resolution on Telangana Anti-superstition activist shot dead
Govt considering Dutt’s parole plea
UP govt earmarks 20% funds for minorities
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Coalgate: House stalled as BJP seeks PM’s explanation on 147 missing files
New Delhi, August 20 While the government tried to calm the Opposition saying a probe by a Coal Ministry committee had been ordered and every effort would be made to provide documents to the CBI, the BJP dared the probe agency to raid Coal Ministry offices to seize evidence of allocations. Around 147 files related to the scam, which the CBI is probing under Supreme Court’s watch, have gone missing. Under attack in the Rajya Sabha, Coal Minister Sriprakash Jaiswal attempted defence saying the missing files belonged to the pre-2004 period when the NDA was in power. The BJP rebutted the charge with
party spokesperson Prakash Javadekar, also petitioner in the coal scam case, saying, “The Coal Minister is misleading the nation. The missing files pertain to 2006 to 2009 when the PM was Coal Minister. The PM must tell the Parliament how the files went missing.” During the given period, 1700 crore tonnes of coal reserve worth Rs 50,000 crore were given away to private firms, the legality of which the CBI is investigating. Importantly, the CBI had recently told the Public Accounts Committee also that crucial case files on coal scam had been reported “missing” or “untraceable” by the Coal Ministry. In the Rajya Sabha, Jaiswal expressed government’s readiness to make a statement but Leader of the Opposition Arun Jaitley demanded that he recuse himself from replying as the missing files reportedly concerned a beneficiary who is his relative. “I am prepared for any action if found guilty”, Jaiswal said daring Jaitley to tell what action would he face if his charge was disproved. Coal Minister said the government would leave no stone unturned in tracing and providing documents to the CBI adding that 769 files and document running into 1.5 lakh pages had already been supplied to the probe agency and a committee under Coal Ministry Additional Secretary set up to examine the issue. “The committee has been mandated to examine and review non-availability of files/documents and suggest appropriate action,’’ Jaiswal said adding that the panel has held two meetings and papers were being located. Jaitley, however, asked if the government had lodged any FIR or attempted legal recourse in the matter. “Files don’t disappear…they are made to disappear because there is evidence of crime in these files. Destruction of evidence in a case being investigated by the CBI and monitored by the Supreme Court is a serious crime,’’ he said only to be countered by Jaiswal who linked the missing files to the pre 2004 period. “Who has the interest in disappearance of files pertaining to the time before 2004?” Jaiswal asked while the BJP and CPM counter questioned him if no file pertaining of the post 2004 period was missing. Earlier in the Lok Sabha, Leader of the Opposition Sushma Swaraj sought the Speaker to instruct the PM to make a statement. “The PM had recently taken full responsibility in the matter. It is incumbent upon him to take the House into confidence on what happened to 147 missing files which include applications for coal blocks. Big shots of the Congress are involved,” she alleged. Meanwhile the CBI would soon file an affidavit in the matter in the SC.
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Govt moves to trash SC verdict on convicted lawmakers
New Delhi, August 20 The proposed amendment would clarify that notwithstanding anything contained in any judgment, decree or order of any court, tribunal or other authority, the provisions of the RPA as amended “shall have and shall be deemed always to have effect for all purposes as if the provisions of this Act had been in force at all material times,” official sources said today. The government would seek to enforce the amendment with retrospective effect from July 10, the date of the SC verdict. The apex court had clarified that its judgment would only have prospective effect and apply to MPs and MLAs convicted after this date. The sources said the law ministry note would be put up for Cabinet’s consideration at the next meeting. The government has taken the initiative as there is a consensus among all political parties on the need to reverse the SC verdict in order to prevent destabilization of Parliament and assemblies surviving on razor-thin majority following disqualification of convicted MPs and
MLAs. This was also felt necessary in view of the experience that such lawmakers had a better chance of successfully appealing against the trial court verdicts. The law ministry’s move has come despite the fact that the government has already moved the SC seeking a review of the July 10 verdict. Under the proposed amendment, the lawmakers convicted by the trial court would be allowed 90 days’ time to appeal in the high court and get a stay. Till the final disposal of the appeal, the lawmakers would be allowed to attend the proceedings of Parliament or assemblies but would not have the right to vote or take salary. “Provided that till the appeal or revision is finally decided by the court, the member shall neither be entitled to vote nor draw salary and allowances, but shall continue to take part in the proceedings,” the Cabinet note said.
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Congress fails to push through food Bill on Rajiv’s birthday
New Delhi, August 20 Though listed for consideration and passing, the National Food Security Bill 2013 could not even be taken up in the Lok Sabha where uproar pervaded the atmosphere. Not too far from the LS, UPA chairperson and Congress president Sonia Gandhi got her chance to introduce the scheme as “unparalleled in the world in that it ensure no child slept hungry ” when she went to Talkatora stadium to launch the scheme. Ironically, even before the ordinance could be replaced by a Bill in Parliament, two Congress ruled states - Delhi and Haryana - today launched it. CPM’s Sitaram Yechury said there was technically nothing wrong with the scheme being rolled out by states because the food security ordinance assented to by the President was still alive. The Bill, whenever passed by the Parliament, will replace the ordinance. Importantly, the Congress failed to get its own anti Telangana members to give up agitation in the Lok Sabha as they joined the protesting TDP members, who were even more aggressive in their stance. Congress MPs from Seemandhra however agitated from their seats. For nine days since the monsoon session started, Seemandhra MPs have been disrupting the House proceedings and the government has not been able to broker peace with them. Though Parliamentary Affairs Minister again said today that the Speaker will take a call on unrelenting MPs and on whether they need to be suspended, sources in Speaker’s office clarified that the government must bring a motion to suspend disruptive MPs. “Any suspension has to be proposed as a motion by the government and the government has to ensure the same would get carried by a vote. The Speaker comes in later," LS sources said. In April 2012, 10 pro-Telangana MPs were suspended for four days from LS for wrecking proceedings and the suspension Motion was moved by the then Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pawan Bansal. The BJP also maintained today that the government was not serious about running the House and was not making enough effort to ensure good floor management. “Their own members are protesting against separate Telangana. They are disrupting the LS themselves," BJP spokesperson Prakash Javadekar said.
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New mental health Bill bans electric shocks without anaesthesia
New Delhi, August 20 The Bill provides for a strong framework to protect the rights of the mentally ill and prohibits inhumane measures by law such as electro convulsive therapy without the use of muscle relaxants and anaesthesia; sterilisation when it is used as a form of treatment for the mentally ill; chaining in any manner and tonsuring of heads. Electric shocks on minors have been prohibited and can be used only on the advice of a psychiatrist and the written consent of the minor’s guardian. The Bill recognises the right to dignity and privacy for the mentally ill and says explicitly that they will not be forced into manual work in mental health establishments and would be allowed to wear their own clothes if they so wish instead of uniforms. If at all they work, they must be paid remunerations for the same, says the Bill introduced in Rajya Sabha yesterday by Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad. In another first, the law proposes a medical insurance cover for the mentally ill on the lines of the one available for the physically ill.
What it entails
The Bill provides for a strong framework to protect the rights of the mentally ill and prohibits inhumane measures by law Electric shocks on minors have been prohibited and can be used only on the advice of a psychiatrist and guardian’s consent It recognises the right to dignity and privacy for the mentally ill It proposes a medical insurance cover for the mentally ill
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Special squad to guard RAW, IB facilities
New Delhi, August 20 The deployment has been made after security agencies carried out an analysis of the training centres, administrative offices and other facilities of RAW, the IB and the ARC in the country and found it necessary to secure them in view of possible threats, sources said. The troops to guard these facilities have been drawn from the Sashastra Seema Bal. — PTI
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Compassionate job not a right, rules SC
New Delhi, August 20 A Bench comprising Justices BS Chauhan and SA Bobde also advised the judiciary not stretch the provision by liberal interpretation beyond permissible limits on humanitarian grounds. Appointments on compassionate grounds should be made immediately upon the death of any government employee to redeem the family in distress and applications received after a lapse of time should not be entertained as the purpose “stands evaporated.” Pointing out that the provision for compassionate employment was carved out in order to remove the financial constraints on the bereaved family, the SC said “mere death of a government employee in harness does not entitle the family” to such jobs. The competent authority should offer a job to an eligible member of the family only after coming to the conclusion that the family would not be able to “meet the crisis” without the employment on compassionate grounds, the apex court ruled. Further, the person claiming such appointment must possess the required eligibility for the post.
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Tunda assaulted on court premises
New Delhi, August 20 Tunda was being brought by the police to the Patiala House court when two men, who claimed to be members of the Hindu Sena, attacked him. Vishnu Gupta, who claimed to be the president of the Hindu Sena, pushed through the police cordon around Tunda and slapped him on the face. The second man was identified as Shiv Kumar Raghav. Both of them were shouting: “Desh ke gadaron ko phansi do (hang the traitors of the country)”. Tunda was then rushed into the courtroom of Metropolitan Magistrate Jay Thareja. Taking congnisance of the attack, the magistrate ordered in-camera proceedings in the case. He said the court premises should be checked to prevent such attacks. The court later extended the police custody of Tunda by four more days. Tunda has reportedly disclosed to the Delhi Police that he used his network of operatives in Bangladesh to smuggle fake Indian currency into India. The fake currency was supplied by a person referred to as “Brigadier” in the ISI, he has told the police.
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Plea to withdraw CWC resolution on Telangana New Delhi, August 20 A delegation of 22 ministers, MLAs and MLCs from Andhra Pradesh submitted a resolution to the panel headed by Defence Minister AK Antony and said nothing less than a united Andhra was acceptable to them. The resolution carried signatures of Andhra CM N Kiran Kumar Reddy and state Congress president Botsa Satyanarayana.
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Anti-superstition activist shot dead
Mumbai, August 20 Dabholkar, who headed the Andhashraddha Nirmoolan Samiti (ANS), had arrived home from Mumbai on Monday night. Dabholkar’s assailants were following him on a bike, the moment he had stepped out from his house. They parked their bike near a temple and followed Dabholkar as he was walking on the Omkareshwar bridge and opened fire at him from point blank range at around 7.20 am, said the police. Dabholkar took at least three bullets on his neck and the back of his head before slumping down. He was rushed to hospital where he was declared dead at around 7.45. The police identified Dabholkar from his identity card, a cheque issued in favour of the ANS, and a train ticket. Relatives and friends of Dabholkar later told the police that he had been receiving threats from the followers of a number of godmen who were exposed by the ANS. Dabholkar in recent times was in the forefront to
The Pune police said later this afternoon that two persons have been detained on the basis of description given by eye-witnesses who saw Dabholkar being shot. Several morning-walkers had noted the number of the bike on which the assailants had fled and shared it with the authorities. Inspector Manohar Joshi of the Deccan Gymkhana police station said investigators were scrutinising the footage from CCTV cameras
Office-bearers of the ANS said they would keep Dabholkar's body in state at the office of Sadhana weekly which he edited. His last rites will be conducted at his home town in Satara. Following Dabholkar, Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan announced a reward of Rs 10 lakh for anyone providing information on the murderers. A doctor by profession, Dabholkar began questioning blind faith and rituals
in 1983. The killing of Dabholkar has sparked anger both in Pune and Satara. Residents of Satara observed a
spontaneous bandh and took out a protest march in the town when the news of his killing spread. Political parties in Pune have called for a bandh on Wednesday with taxi and auto-rickshaw unions pledging to participate.
Morning attack
He was out on a morning walk when his assailants following him on a bike and opened fire at him on the Omkareshwar bridge Dabholkar received three bullets on his neck and the back of his head before slumping. He was rushed to hospital where he was declared dead around 7.45 am
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Govt considering Dutt’s parole plea
Mumbai, August 20 Sources said Dutt has sought a 14-day furlough for undergoing medical treatment. Dutt had filed his application for parole earlier this month and it is presently being scrutinised by the Home Department, sources said. As per norms, the police will seek reports from the police stations where the applicant for parole resides and also closely monitors the conduct of the prisoner during his furlough.
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UP govt earmarks 20% funds for minorities Lucknow, August 20 A Cabinet meeting presided over by the CM today decided to give these concessions in areas where minorities comprise 25%of the population. Describing it as one of the poll promises of the party’s 2012 manifesto, he cited the recommendations of the Sachar Commission as the basis of today’s decision. He said the report had provided enough evidence that the socio-economic condition of the Muslims was worse than the Dalits and needed affirmative action. In the entitled areas, minorities would concessions to install hand pumps, set up anganwadis and build rural link roads.
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The Congress-led UPA government failed to get its flagship food security Bill passed on the occasion of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi’s birth anniversary today with the anti-Telangana TDP members disrupting proceedings in the Lok Sabha and the BJP joining them seeking PM’s explanation on the missing coal scam files.
New Delhi, August 20
The committee has been mandated to examine and review non-availability of files/documents and suggest appropriate action.... I am prepared for any action if found guilty
Files don’t disappear…they are made to disappear.... Destruction of evidence in a case being investigated by the CBI and monitored by the Supreme Court is a serious crime
Dr Narendra Dabholkar (in pic) was a staunch campaigner against black magic and tantric practices