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Saturday,
February 23, 2002, Chandigarh, India  
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Fernandes gets a breather Ayodhya: Sonia for all-party meet WHO satisfied with plague information Move to bring services
under VAT BJP summons Rajnath Singh |
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Transfer of 3 CBI Jt Directors ordered Regulatory body for pension
recommended Medha cries foul over land allotment PM to attend CHOGM Narayanan,
Kant greet people on Id Wife killed for bearing baby
girl
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Fernandes gets a breather New Delhi, February 22 “It is well established that any attempt to influence members by improper means in their parliamentary conduct is a breach of privilege...any attempt to influence a member otherwise than by way of argument, which has its motive the intention to deter him from performing his duties, constitutes a breach of privilege,” the two-page note sent to Lok Sabha Speaker G.M.C. Balayogi says. However, according to sources, due to the “politically sensitive nature” of the matter, the Speaker could refer the matter to the Privileges Committee. The note has based its opinion on the privileges committee’s reports on the question of privilege raised by a member, Kanwar Lal Gupta, in the Lok Sabha during 1968 against B.P. Patel, Chairman, State Trading Corporation of India for approaching Baburao Patel and Rajmata Vijaya Raje Scindia of Gwalior with a view to influencing Patel to stop speaking about alleged irregularities and suspected malpractices by the STC on the floor of the House, and during 10th Lok Sabha in 1992 George Fernandes’ notice of question of privilege against Rameshwar Thakur, the then Minister of State for allegedly attempting to influence some members of the JPC probing into the security scam with a view to obstructing the work of the committee. “It may be worthwhile to note that in both the above instances on privilege issues being raised by way of notices of question of privilege by members alleging that attempts were made to influence members in their parliamentary conduct, the matters were referred to the Privileges Committees of the respective Houses. However, subsequently in their respective reports the Committees held that the matter did not involve any privilege issue,” the note says. The PAC probing the coffin scam, which met here on February 20, took objection to the letter dated January 23 addressed by Mr Fernandes to all Members of Parliament, inviting their attention to Mr R.V. Pandit’s booklet as also to disturbances in House on the issue of alleged irregularities in defence purchase with regard to
aluminum casket/coffins during the Kargil war. The PAC members took a view that this was designed to influence them at a time when the PAC was seized of the matter and decided to approach the Speaker to issue notice of privilege against Mr Fernandes. Members also pointed out to a similar tussle in the past between the then Minister of Defence Krishna Memon and the then Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India. To enable the government to place its viewpoints before the House, the then Speaker allowed the then Minister of Defence Menon to lay on the table the statement containing brief replies of the government to various points that had been raised in the audit report. The Speaker observed that the issue was a matter of convenience and not of privilege and that the PAC would examine both audit reports and the representation made, the note added. |
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Ayodhya: Sonia for all-party meet New Delhi, February 22 “It would be in the fitness of things that you kindly convene an all-party meeting at the earliest and consolidate the opinions of all sane elements. There seems to be a convergence of opinion across political spectrum in the country that the Ayodhya issue must be left to the courts to give a final verdict,” Mrs Gandhi said in her letter. “I am sure you are aware of the developments taking place in Ayodhya and you must also be aware of the anxiety of all secular forces in the country on this issue. The plans
announced by the VHP are adding to this concern,” the letter added. Replying to questions about timing of the letter, party chief spokesman Jaipal Reddy said the issue had been raised after the voting to Assembly polls was over. Asked about Mrs Gandhi’s visit today to Dhori in Madhya Pradesh on the 78th birthday celebrations of Swaroopanand Saraswati, Shankaracharya of Dwarka Peeth, Mr Reddy said the Congress President had been invited to the birthday function. He said the Shankaracharya was known to the Nehru-Gandhi family for a long time. To a question about a conclave being held on the Ayodhya issue alongside the birthday celebrations of the Shankracharya, Mr Reddy said the party had no information about such a meeting. Mrs Gandhi, he said, would not take part in any such meeting. Asked about the issues the Congress would be raising in the coming session of Parliament, Mr Reddy said apart from security issues, VHP’s plans on Ayodhya, reinduction of Mr Fernandes in the Cabinet and “coffingate” would be raised by the party. |
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WHO satisfied with plague information New Delhi, February 22 Asked if WHO had received a formal report from the Health Ministry on the recent cases of plague in some parts of Himachal Pradesh, Dr Farley said: “The government will give us the formal report as and when they can. I’m fairly satisfied with the nature of information on plague received through the Press releases of the Ministry.’’ Neither the Health Minister, Dr C.P. Thakur, nor the Director-General Health Services, Dr S.P. Aggarwal, were available for comments. |
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Move to bring services
under VAT New Delhi, February 22 In addition, states may also be allowed to impose VAT service tax, primarily aimed at offsetting the anticipated revenue loss once a comprehensive VAT system comes in place in the country. Under the existing system, a selective tax is levied on 40 selective services at the rate of 5 per cent on the value of services. CENVAT is a form of valued-added tax imposed by the Centre at the manufacturing stage of production of goods. It is learnt that the move to bring services under the VAT net is premised on the fact that services is the fastest growing sector in the economy. Further, there is a strong view gaining ground that integrating services under the VAT system would eventually arrest the declining tax-GDP ratio. Moreover, experts opine that bringing services under the VAT system would ensure neutrality between the manufacturing sector and the fast-growing service sector. The combined tax-GDP ratio of the Centre and the states has declined at a steady rate from 15.3 per cent in 1991-91 to 14.2 per cent in 1999-2000 — i.e. on an average by more than one percentage point. Effectively, the decline has been more at the central level, while at the state level, the ratio is more or less stagnant during the past 10 years. Importantly, since 1991, the year from which the structural reforms process were initiated, the proportion of customs and excise has registered a decline, even as direct taxes clocked significant increases during the initial couple of years. In a newly liberalised economy, is quite natural and logical that the customs collection register a fall. However, economists have expressed concern that the indirect taxes have not kept pace to put the economy on a sustained high growth trajectory. Informed sources said the service on VAT could be allowed to set off against VAT on goods where the service has gone into the manufacture. Economists are also of the view that the number of CENVAT slabs needs to be reduced from the existing three to two. Currently, there is a three-rate structure of eight, 16 and 24 per cent. |
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BJP summons Rajnath Singh New Delhi, February 22 While no one in the party or in the government was either willing to confirm or deny the purpose of the visit of the two party leaders from Uttar Pradesh, where a hung Assembly appears to be in offing, BJP General Secretary Maya Singh hinted that Mr Rajnath Singh and Mr Mishra were on their way to New Delhi. Meanwhile, informal discussions are going on within the party for weighing the pros and cons of all options and the two leaders are scheduled to meet Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee tomorrow. The main issue before the party is how to deal with the Bahujan Samaj Party and its leader, Ms Mayawati, and whether the party’s long-term political interests would be better served by sitting in the opposition or by joining hands with the BSP. While leaders like state Urban Development Minister Lalji Tandon and Mr Mishra are favouring an understanding with Ms Mayawati, supporters of Mr Rajnath Singh backed by a strong lobby within the BJP are totally opposed to the idea. “Either we are in the Chief Minister’s chair or we sit in the opposition”, a senior leader said, adding that accepting Ms Mayawati as the Chief Minister would be a “political suicide” for the party. “Either it is the BJP or the Samajwadi Party in the saddle in Lucknow”, another leader said, adding that “I don’t see any other possibility”. |
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Transfer of 3 CBI Jt Directors ordered New Delhi, February 22 Two of them were carrying out investigations in very high-profile cases, including the deportation of Aftab Ansari, prime accused in the attack on the American Center in Kolkata, from Dubai. The Cabinet Committee on Appointments chaired by the Prime Minister turned down the recommendations that the three officers — M.S Bali, Neeraj Kumar and J.K.D Dutta — be allowed to continue in the investigating agency for another year, official sources said. Mr Neeraj Kumar, also a 1976 batch IPS official, was in the midst of investigations into the ISI’s network being spread in the country.
PTI |
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Regulatory body for pension
recommended New Delhi, February 22 The report also recommends setting up of three distinct pension funds for the defence forces, the railways and other civil services. The Chairman of the group, Mr B.K. Bhattacharya, former Chief Secretary of Karnataka, submitted the report on “New Pension System” to the Minister of State for Public Grievances and Pension, Ms Vasundhara Raje, here today. The report of the expert group examines the existing pension system and the expenditure trends in pension. Current expenditure on pensions has made a quantum jump after the implementation of the Fifth Central Pay Commission’s recommendations. Reviewing international experience, the report examines the pension situation in India and recommends designing a new pension scheme. The proposed pension scheme comprises two tiers. The first tier is mandatory and the second tier which is optional seeks to promote savings during one’s career with the expectation of earning additional income during one’s old age. The group has recommended investment of pension funds in a way so as to ensure better returns while keeping safety of the fund in focus. The group has also highlighted the existing data gaps and the consequent need to address this inadequacy. The expert group in the course of its deliberations came to the conclusion that no single scheme or design structure could be replicated in toto in the Indian context. What has been suggested in the report therefore is technically a hybrid scheme which combines contributions from employees and the Union Government. |
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Medha cries foul over land allotment Bhopal, February 22 This violated the provisions of the Narmada Water Dispute Tribunal Award (NWDTA) as well as the Supreme Court judgement, the Narmada Bachao Andolan leader told Justice G. G. Sohoni, chairman of the Grievance Redress Authority for Madhya Pradesh, appointed on a direction of the apex court. The petition was submitted today. She urged Justice Sohoni to direct the Madhya Pradesh Government and the Narmada Control Authority (NCA) to change their decision for making ex-parte allotment in this way and take appropriate action against the officials who had allotted lands without complying with the norms and conditions stipulated in the policy. Ms Patkar told reporters that the latest surveys had shown that the submergence area of the SSP had increased by 13 per cent (from the originally determined) with the result that another 2,500 families added to the list of those needing rehabilitation. |
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PM to attend CHOGM New Delhi, February 22 Mr
Vajpayee, leading a high-power delegation, will stopover for the night at Bali, Indonesia, and will proceed to Brisbane on March 1. The meeting is scheduled to be held from March 2 to 4. This will be Mr Vajpayee’s second visit abroad since the December 13 attack on Parliament. |
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Narayanan, Kant greet people on Id New Delhi, February 22 In a message, the President wished, “May this unique festival, symbolising love, sacrifice and trust, enrich our composite culture, strengthen unity and harmony and inspire us to work for the well being of mankind”. Vice-President Krishan Kant also greeted the people, wishing, “May the spirit of the occasion fill our lives with lasting spiritual happiness”. He reminded the people that the festival, also known as Bakr-Id, celebrated the solemn spirit of Hazrat Ibrahim , whose unflinching devotion to God was put to test when he had to prepare to sacrifice his son Ismail at the command of the Almighty.
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Wife killed for bearing baby girl Vijayawada, February 22 Police sources today said the man who already had two daughters aged three and four, killed his 24-year-old wife, who was in the sixth month of pregnancy, yesterday unable to digest the fact that they would be having another baby girl. The man used to harass her for more dowry, following which she had been living with her parents in Thumalacheruvu village in the neighbouring Guntur district earlier, the sources added.
UNI |
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In video: The
Vishwa Hindu Parishad begins preparations for special prayers in Ayodhya
for construction of the Ram temple.
