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New Delhi, May 22 Not accepting offer of a ministerial berth in the Manmohan Singh government, Congress General Secretary Ambika Soni said today that she would like to work with Congress president Sonia Gandhi’s motto of “selflessness and service to the nation.”
Singh humble in moment of glory
Taslimuddin casts a shadow over PM’s
Cabinet
Reorganisation panel on
anvil |
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Shekhawat lauds Atal for peace
move
24 inducted into AP
Cabinet
Surplus land can’t be restored to farmers:
SC
45 killed in mishap
Five sisters commit suicide
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Ambika Soni emulates Sonia
New Delhi, May 22 In a letter to the Congress President, Ms Soni said she had been asked to serve as a member in the Union Council of Ministers. “A singular honour for every political worker. But I am also one of those who have been inspired by your unique example.... Allow me to emulate you. I too would like to work with your motto of selflessness and service to the nation above everything else,” she said. Referring to decision of Mrs Gandhi to renounce prime ministership, Ms Soni said, “You have enthused party workers across the country. You have dealt a lethal blow to all those who have been ranting and raving about sectarian and divisive issues. Yours has been an act unparalleled in political history.” Ms Soni urged Mrs Gandhi to ask the Prime Minister not to include her in the Cabinet. “In all humility I request you to ask the Prime Minister not to include me in his Cabinet. My close association with you is very valuable to me and I cherish it,” she said. Ms Soni told reporters after a meeting with Ms Gandhi that her decision of not accepting a ministerial berth in the Manmohan Singh government was not intended to come close to Mrs Gandhi. “I am already close,” she said in a lighter vein in response to a query. Ms Soni said it was her personal decision to emulate Mrs Gandhi’s example. |
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Singh humble in moment of glory
New Delhi, May 22 If former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee appeared contemplative in his farewell hour, Congress president Sonia Gandhi, whose stature touched a new high after declining one of the most powerful jobs in the world, looked elated. Ever humble, forever smiling the new ‘Bharat Bhagya Vidhata’ Prime Minister Manmohan Singh remained humble in his moment of supreme glory. Attired in his trademark kurta-churidar and light blue turban, the economist-turned-politician showed no
hesitation in walking upto Sonia and thanking her after he was sworn-in the 14th Prime Minister of India. The contrast with the past was discernible, not only in the venue which was the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhavan last time. Unlike Mr Vajpayee, Oxford-Cambridge educated Dr Singh spoke in English, a language both he and his southern allies are more comfortable with.
Punjab unrepresented The ecstatic mood in Amritsar on Dr Manmohan Singh becoming the first Sikh Prime Minister notwithstanding, Punjab went unrepresented in the UPA Government which was sworn in today. It could be because of the poor performance of the Congress in the state. — PTI, UNI |
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Sikhs to celebrate Manmohan’s elevation
Hyderabad, May 22 The celebrations to be organised by the prabhandak committee of Gurudwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha would feature ‘bhog’ of Sri Akhand Path Sahib at the Gurdwara. It will be followed by Gurbani kirtan, ardas and guru ka langar, prabhandak committee chairman Bhupinder Singh, president S. Seva Singh Saluja and general secretary Inderjeet Singh said in a joint statement today. There will be distribution of sweets and bursting of crackers after langar. The committee and the Sikh community of Andhra Pradesh, welcomed the decision to make Dr Manmohan Singh as the Prime Minister, the statement said. —
UNI |
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Taslimuddin casts a shadow over PM’s
Cabinet
New Delhi, May 22 Mr Taslimuddin, who was made the Minister of State for Home Affairs in the erstwhile United Front Government headed by H D Deve Gowda, was forced to quit within two months following pressure from several quarters in view of his allegedly notorious criminal record. There was all round criticism for his inclusion in the Cabinet. The Opposition particularly launched a scathing attack on the Deve Gowda government which ultimately led to his early exit from the Council of Ministers. By his own admission in the affidavit filed along with the nomination paper, Mr Taslimuddin is presently facing nine criminal cases under various sections of the Indian Penal Code. These include, alleged charges of attempt to murder, under the Explosive Substances Act, rape, theft, assault and extortion, defamation and cheating. During the election campaign his political opponents had also alleged that Mr Taslimuddin had not disclosed in his affidavit several other heinous cases reportedly pending against him. It is understood that the Congress was forced to accommodate Mr Taslimuddin due to RJD President Laloo Prasad Yadav’s political compulsion as he is considered to be his close confidant. |
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Reorganisation panel on
anvil New Delhi, May 22 The second draft of the CMP, a copy of which is with The Tribune, states that the UPA government will establish a second States Reorganisation Commission "to consider all demands for new states in a systematic manner". This is significant in view of the fact that one of the alliance partners — the Telengana Rashtriya Samiti (TRS) — has been demanding a separate state of Telengana region in Andhra Pradesh. Regional development has been identified as one of the major thrust areas with commitment to "redressing growing regional imbalances both among states as well as within states through fiscal and other means". The Sarkaria Commission had last looked at the issue of Centre-State relations over two decades ago. The CMP states that the UPA government will set up a new commission in view of the "sea-changes that have taken place in the polity and economy of India since then". In addition, the National Development Council (NDC) will be made a "more effective instrument of cooperative federalism" and the NDC will meet at least three times a year and in different states. The Inter-State Council will also be activated. The controversial Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA) will be repealed because of the manner "in which POTA has been grossly misused in the past two years". "There will be no compromise in the fight against terrorism. But given the abuse of POTA that has taken place, the UPA government will repeal it while existing laws will be enforced strictly", it said. On defence and internal security, the draft CMP says that a new Department of Ex-Servicemen’s Welfare in the Ministry of Defence will be set up and the long-pending issue of one-rank, one-pension will be re-examined. Regarding disinvestment, the draft CMP makes it clear that eight PSUs — ONGC, IOC, HPCL, BPCL, GAIL, NTPC, SAIL and BHEL — will remain in the public sector. Chronically loss-making companies will either be sold off or closed after all workers have got their "legitimate dues and compensation." It has also pledged complete managerial autonomy to public sector banks but has rejected the idea of automatic hire and fire. The farm sector and rural economy has been identified as a major engine for growth, and the draft CMP promises to launch a comprehensive national programme for minor irrigation of all lands owned by Dalits and adivasis. A special programme for dryland farming in the arid and semi-arid regions is promised to be launched and public investment in agriculture will be stepped up in a significant manner "at the very earliest". "Controls that depress the incomes of farmers will be systematically removed", it said, adding that subsidies will be made explicit and provided through the Budget. A detailed roadmap will be prepared within 90 days for ensuring proper targetting of subsidies. It has also pledged to raise public spending in education to at least 6 per cent of the GDP and will "take immediate steps to reverse the trend of communalisation of education that had set in the past five years". Institutions of higher learning and professional education will retain their autonomy. |
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Shekhawat lauds Atal for peace
move
New Delhi, May 22 “I thank Mr Vajpayee for taking the historic step to mend relations with Pakistan,” Mr Shekhawat said, referring to Mr Vajpayee’s peace initiative to improve relations with Pakistan. “Not only Pakistan, but our other neighbours now also feel that talks are on the way forward,” he said after presenting police medals for gallantry to 45 Border Security Force (BSF) personnel here. “Efforts are being made to create an atmosphere of peace and goodwill with our neighbouring countries and the results are positive,” he said, adding “even countries like Bhutan and Myanmar are cooperating with India to deal with the problem of terrorism.” The Vice-President said he was “sure” that there would be “no hurdles” in the continuation of the peace process once the government headed by Dr Manmohan Singh took charge. “However, we still have to remain careful as only time will tell about the success of the peace initiative,” he added. Lauding members of the security forces, some of whom had laid down their lives to safeguard India’s boundaries, Mr Shekhawat said “the people, the country and the government cannot forget your sacrifices.” However, he expressed anguish that there were some discrepancies in benefits given to next of kin of Army and paramilitary personnel who had made the supreme sacrifice. “I have talked to officials regarding this matter and hope that such discrepancies will be removed soon,” he added. He hoped that the loyalty and efficiency shown by the BSF personnel on the borders would lead to the path of peace, security and progress. |
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Hyderabad, May 22 Among the prominent leaders who got Cabinet berths were the state congress president D.
Srinivas, who was in the race for Chief Minister’s post, former Deputy Chief Minister K. Ranga Rao, former APCC presidents M Satyanarayana Rao and K. Rosaiah and N.
Rajyalakshmi, wife of Visakhapatnam MP and former Chief Minister N. Janardhan Reddy. —
PTI |
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Surplus land can’t be restored to farmers:
SC
New Delhi, May 22 “The effect of permitting such a situation will be that the land will remain in a situation of flux. There will be no finality. The very purpose of the legislation will be defeated,” a Bench of Mr Justice Brijesh Kumar and Mr Justice Arun Kumar has ruled. The Court said the landowner could not be permitted to wait for some event like death or birth in the family to challenge the order of the revenue authorities, if he or she felt aggrieved by their order. The order of the authorities would have to be challenged in a “reasonable” period of time, it added. “Deaths and births are events which are bound to occur. Therefore, it is reasonable to read a time limit in Sub-Section (5) of Section 11 of the Act,” it said. The court said as per the provisions of Section 80 to 82 of the Punjab Tenancy Act, 1887, as made applicable to the proceedings under the Punjab Land Reforms Act reasonable time limit to challenge the order of the collectors for vesting of the land would be 90 days. Once the land was further allotted by the state to a third party for its proper use, it could not be allowed to be restored back to the original owner, if collector’s order was challenged after an inordinate delay, it said. If this situation was permitted, the third party allotted the land “will not be able to utilise it for fear of being divested in the event of deaths and births in the family of the landowners,” the court said. The all important ruling came on an appeal by Ajmer Kaur who had challenged collectors 1976 order against vesting of her father Daya Singh’s 3.12 hectares surplus land in the state, which was allotted to some other farmers by the state government in 1982. Daya Singh after the death of his wife, Kartar Kaur, in 1985, had moved an application before the collector seeking review of his order contending that her death has altered the status of land and there was no surplus land with him. The collector, while accepting his plea reversed his 1967 order and directed that 3.12 hectare be restored to him. But, in 1986 the collector reviewed his order again on seeking the permission from the Commissioner, and reiterated its earlier ruling that Daya Singh in fact had surplus land. |
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45 killed in mishap
Itanagar, May 22 The deceased included — 21 women, 11 men and 13 minors. Eight critically injured were admitted to Ramakrishna Mission Hospital and nine others were moved to Naharlagun Civil Hospital. DIG S. Prakash said that 42 persons were killed on the spot and 20 were injured. The bus, with over 60 passengers on board, was negotiating a sharp bend on National Highway NO 52-A when it plunged into the gorge. The bus was on its way to Banderdewa from here, a distance of about 30 km. Rescue operations have been launched and police teams have been rushed to the spot from Naharlagun and Itanagar police stations. Senior government officials, including the Chief Secretary and the Director General of Police were also at the spot. The government has declared Rs 50,000 compensation to the kin of each of the dead, while Rs 25,000 would be given to the kin of the injured. —PTI |
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Five sisters commit suicide
Diphu (Assam), May 22 The bodies of the five sisters hanging from the ceiling fans tied with plastic ropes were recovered this morning from four rooms of the house by their father U C Bordoloi, a retired assistant executive engineer of the Public Health Department. The distraught parents were unable to find a reason for their daughters to end their lives and said they had dinner together last night with no unusual behaviour. The eldest daughter, who got married on May 10, had come to take an exam here. The other daughters were unmarried. —
PTI |
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