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No confrontation with judiciary: Somnath
EC lands in controversy over trust funds |
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Infrastructure top priority: Kumaraswamy
Transition from film producer to CM
BJP leaders fume at seating arrangements
Decision on Iran lies with govt, Cong tells Left
SC seeks details on man’s incarceration in
UP
SC panel chief wants France to take back ship
SC says no to doing away with ‘my lord’
Withdraw user charges at AIIMS, PM urged
Big violators will not be spared, says Reddy
BJP rules out Uma’s return to party
Govt defends airport contracts
GMR submits Rs 500 cr as guarantee
Dr Thorat is UGC Chairman
Telgi’s wife pleads for bail
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No confrontation with judiciary: Somnath
Patna, February 6 Mr Chatterjee was inaugurating the first-ever orientation programme for members of the newly constituted 14th Bihar Assembly jointly organised by the Assembly Secretariat and the Bureau of Parliamentary Studies and Training of the Lok Sabha Secretariat. Mr Chatterjee said he was proud of working with Mr Nitish Kumar in Parliament and urged the new legislators, 50 per cent of whom are new faces this time, to emulate Mr Nitish Kumar. Leader of the Opposition and former Chief Minister Rabri Devi was absent. Mr Chatterjee defended his stand to expel 10 MPs from Parliament in the wake of the recent cash-for-query scam. He cautioned the legistators against any such misconduct by using the House for their personal gains which could finally undermine the system of parliamentary democracy. Later, addressing a press conference, Mr Chatterjee termed the expulsion of the MPs as “a very sad experience”. He, however, hoped that his decision not to reply to court notices would not set up a confrontation with the judiciary. “The decision was unanimous. We have a ‘Lakshman rekha’ and the judiciary should also have one. Whatever we have decided, it is very much within the limits of the Constitution which is supreme,” he said. To a question whether he thought the domain of the legislature and the judiciary needed to be redefined, the Speaker said, “There is no question of any fresh explanation. The Constitution is very clear on this. No legislature in any way will interfere in the functioning of the judiciary.” He said when the Lok Sabha decided to expel its members there was no standing order of the court on such matters and it was only after due deliberations with leaders of political parties, presiding officers of state legislatures and legal luminaries that the decision of not responding to the notice was taken. Mr Chatterjee said he was always against the MP developmental fund scheme ever since the idea was mooted 12 years ago . “I stood up in protest against it 12 years ago and still I stand by that,” he said. “We have asked Union Minister for Programme Implementation Oscar Fernandes to work out new guidelines for the use of the fund in a judicious manner in the future,” he added. To a question, Mr Chatterjee said before he retired as Speaker, he would like to see that the 33 per cent reservation Bill for women was passed in Parliament. |
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EC lands in controversy over trust funds New Delhi, February 6 As one of the TV channels raked up the issue, the BJP and the JD(U) demanded that Mr Chawla should quit on his own or should be removed. The controversy broke out after Times Now television channel claimed that the trusts run by Mr Chawla and his wife Rupika Chawla had received funds to the tune of Rs 85 lakh from Congress MPs. The BJP expressed concern over the “deep degree of proximity” of Mr Chawla to the Congress and said his continuance in office raised serious apprehensions about the “impartiality of the commission”. Rubbishing the charge, Mr Chawla said, “No money, whatsoever, not even from MPLAD or even from any private person has been taken ever since I was appointed EC. Previous to that I could not dream that I was going to be appointed EC and I was preparing for a life of retirement.” Rejecting the Opposition contention that his impartiality was in question, he said, “There is absolutely no conflict in the decision I have taken as Election Commissioner and will take as Election Commissioner.” The BJP and its NDA ally JD(U) sought his removal, saying that it was immaterial whether money was given before he became EC or after. BJP spokesman Arun Jaitley said that Mr Chawla’s proximity to the Congress leadership “clearly raises apprehensions in the minds of the people and more in the minds of the Opposition about his lack of impartiality and lack of political detachment.” “If he remains in his post, the BJP will resort to Constitutional procedures (for his removal),” he said, adding that for removal of an Election Commissioner a recommendation from the Chief Election Commissioner to the President is enough. Echoeing similar views, NDA convener and JD(U) chief George Fernandes demanded Mr Chawla’s sacking.
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Infrastructure top priority: Kumaraswamy
Bangalore, February 6 The Chief Minister also faced the first controversy of his tenure, with Dalit organisations today condemning the alleged removal of a portrait of B R Ambedkar from the office of the Deputy Chief Minister, Mr B.S. Yediyurappa. Earlier in the day, after holding a meeting of officials of the Bangalore Mahanagar Pakika as well as the Urban Development Department, the Chief Minister directed that an action plan should be framed to address the infrastructure needs of Bangalore for the next 30 years. Mr Kumaraswamy disclosed that besides working on road maintenance in the IT hub, the officials had also been directed to complete all pending road works in two months and completing ongoing flyover projects within four months. He also disclosed that the state was not facing any resource crunch and that sufficient funds were available for infrastructure projects. The Chief Minister also informed that work on the six-laning of the road leading to the new international airport at Devanhalli was also progressing. Speaking about problems of traffic congestion in the city, he said this issue was also being looked into. He said he had already directed the traffic police not to stall traffic to facilitate his movement in the city. Meanwhile, the Chief Minister said he would make all attempts to clear doubts of certain Dalit organisations that the portrait of B R Ambedkar had been taken down from the office of the Deputy Chief Minister. The Deputy Chief Minister , Mr B.S. Yediyurappa, who also spoke to newsmen on the issue, said an unfounded report in this context had been published in a Kannada daily. Mr Yediyurappa said the report was furthest from the truth and that he would be approaching the Press Council of India as well as the courts to clear his name.
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Transition from film producer to CM
Bangalore, February 6 The real life drama is one which has left everyone guessing like a murder mystery which ends without unmasking the man behind the plot. No one can say for sure whether the father and the son are one or a permanent divide has occurred between them. And surprisingly, like any good hero, Kumaraswamy has not been besmirched despite joining hands with the BJP and going against the foundations of the party laid by his father. All this has taken place due to adept political management as well as putting forward a humble and religious persona which seems to have gone down well with the people of the state. There is no public backlash against the naked manner in which he has wrested power from the Congress. Kumaraswamy played his cards adeptly from day one. After announcing his decision to withdraw support from the Congress, along with a majority group of JD(S) MLAs, he immediately spirited his band of followers to a resort. After winning over young MLAs of the JD(S) to his side, he himself played the “kidnapped card” by saying that the MLAs were not allowing him to meet his father. When news reached him that his father was threatening to consume poison in case he did not return, he said all MLAs who had aligned with him, would do the same in case he heeded his father’s summons. After this, to distance himself and his legislators even more from his father, he air dashed with them to Goa. Once there he even gave new sim cards to all legislators so that they could be incommunicado. Even after he returned to Bangalore to take part in the vote of confidence which was to be moved by then Chief Minister N Dharam Singh, he did not let his legislators to meet Gowda. Even after the Dharam Singh government fell, the meeting with the legislators was delayed till the last minute. When it did take place, it did not have any purpose and even Deve Gowda realised by admitting that the rebel group had gone too forward and could not come back. This admission of failure by the former Prime Minister, if true, speaks of the political acumen of his son who was till recently perceived as a green horn to politics. Kumaraswamy, meanwhile, projected himself as a humble son of the soil like his father during the entire crisis. He announced that his posters should not be put up in the city and was seen more in the company of religious gurus than politicians. And he has tried to reach out to everyone, including the IT sector, besides announcing that he is sensitive to the infrastructure needs of Bangalore. By doing so he has proved he is not his father’s son when it comes to admitting the wrong stand taken by his father on the issue even if his entire political game plan has the markings of his father. But then that is again the part of the mystery.
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BJP leaders fume at seating arrangements
New Delhi, February 6 While former Union Minister and BJP spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad claimed that he could not participate in the important meeting due to the “Home Ministry’s failure” to communicate him about the change in venue, Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha and senior BJP leader V K Malhotra was fuming at the “humiliating” seating arrangements at the meeting venue for the members of the main Opposition party and also poor attendance at the meeting, which was to take up such an important issue. “BJP is the main opposition party and has the second largest number of MPs in the Lok Sabha... Seating arrangement at the venue was humiliating as I was made to sit in the second row...It has never happened. Always main Opposition leaders are given due respect and are treated with dignity. During NDA’s rule, both Congress President Sonia Gandhi (who was then Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha) and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh (who was then Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha) were always treated with dignity and their seating arrangements used to be close to the Chair or in the front row,” a visibly annoyed Malhotra told The Tribune soon after the meeting. “Representatives of those parties, who do not have even 10 MPs in the Lok Sabha were made to sit in the front row, whereas we were seated in the second row...This is not the way to treat leaders from the Opposition,” Mr Malhotra said. “Moreover, poor
attendance at the meeting called to discuss such an important meeting is also a reflection on the Government,” Mr Malhotra said adding “despite all these, I thought it fit to convey the BJP’s demand for prohibition of lotteries to prevent adverse social effects.” Meanwhile, upset over the lack of communication which resulted in his not being able to attend the meeting, Mr Prasad has shot a letter to Mr Patil. “In view of your letter dated January 20, 2006 addressed to Mr Jaswant Singh, Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, I was directed to attend the all party meeting. At the appointed time I went in the Parliament
Library, G-74, which was the place mentioned in the above letter. There I was told by the staff present there that the meeting had been postponed. After some time my secretary went to crosscheck again and was met with the same reply. Ironically, there was no staff or, even a junior clerk of the Home Ministry present there to inform about any new venue,” Mr Prasad said in his letter. “In the evening only I learnt that the meeting took place in the Parliament House Annexe. I wish to make it very clear that no information whatsoever was at all intimated either to me or, to the BJP about any change in the venue of the meeting. How far is it fair I leave it to your kind judgement,” he added. Meanwhile, a Home Ministry official asserted that the change of venue was communicated to leaders of all political parties. He refused to comment on the seating arrangements at the venue. While Mr Malhotra and Mr Prasad said the BJP is in favour of prohibition of lotteries, an official release said the overwhelming view at the meeting was that lotteries should not be prohibited, but there should be stronger and more effective regulation so that its positive gains are maximised and adverse social effects minimised. It was decided that a Committee headed by Union Home Secretary with Finance Secretaries from the state governments as members will be constituted to examine the suggestions made by the political parties and the state governments and will recommend as to how the objective of maximising the positive gains and minimising the adverse social effects is achieved, it said. The Committee will submit its report within three months, it added. The Lotteries (Prohibition) Bill, introduced in the Rajya Sabha is pending since 1999. It was referred to the Parliamentary Standing Committee, where there could not be any consensus and the majority view was that the nodal ministry should call an all party meeting and representatives of State Governments to discuss it and arrive at a consensus.
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Decision on Iran lies with govt, Cong tells Left
New Delhi, February 6 Coming to the rescue of the beleaguered Prime
Minister, who is under constant attack from the Left for the vote against Iran at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the Congress today made it clear that the government takes full responsibility for this decision which was taken after extensive consultations with all concerned and in the best national interests. Stating that the government has agreed to disagree with the Left parties, the Congress told them in no uncertain terms that no single group or party has a “veto” in a coalition. In any case, the Congress sources said, the dye is cast and there is no going back on any of the decisions whether it is Iran, FDI in retail or the modernisation of airports. “No single group or party has a veto, especially in affairs of foreign policy,” Congress spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi told mediapersons today, adding bluntly that though every party has a right to put forth its views, ultimately it is the government which takes responsibility for the final decision. The Congress also wanted the Left to see things in the “current contemporary context and not in stereotypes” and also not in terms of immediate political considerations, given the upcoming Assembly polls in West Bengal and Kerala where the Congress and the Left are battling each other. The Congress party’s rescue act follows the Left parties sharp attack against the government’s foreign and economic policies. The Marxists have refused to attend the February 8 UPA-Left coordination committee meeting and have instead threatened to “reassess” their relations with the ruling combine. Keeping up the pressure on the Manmohan Singh government, CPM Politburo member Sitaram Yechury told BBC today that if the government carries on like it has on the Iran issue, “then we shall also see in the coming days what we can do.” The Left has already sought a debate on foreign policy in the coming Budget session of Parliament which could prove embarrassing for the government if the present situation continues. While the Left parties are irked with the government for ignoring all its proposals, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, it is learnt, is equally unhappy with the public posture adopted by the Marxists on the Iran vote. The UPA sources said the Left parties were briefed extensively on the Iran issue before the IAEA meeting. The Marxists, it was pointed out, had told the government to vote with the non-aligned countries which is precisely what India had done. It had gone along with the majority view of the non-aligned nations since there were divisions among them. The PM, it is learnt, is also upset as the Left parties had given their word that that they would not rake up this issue as they would play into the hands of the opposition. Now that the Left has virtually declared war, the Congress, too, has decided to hit back. Though its leaders admitted that the public posturing on both sides should be seen in the light of the coming Assembly polls. “The Iran vote, Bush’s upcoming visit, the nuclear deal and the West Bengal elections all makes for a heady cocktail,” remarked a senior Congress leader, adding that this, after all, was the Left’s classic
constituency. It also believes these are not “breakpoint issues” on which the Left will pull out, giving the advantage to the NDA. |
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SC seeks details on man’s incarceration in
UP New Delhi, February 6 Taking suo motu notice of a news report published in a national daily today, a Bench of Chief Justice Y.K. Sabharwal and Mr Justice C.K. Thakker issued notices to the UP Government and the High Court’s Registrar General. They were directed to place entire facts of the case of Jagjivan Ram Yadav before it by February 13 when the matter would be taken up for further hearing. Yadav’s plight came to light recently when Faizabad district judge rejected his bail application, as no record about his case was available with his court as well as the police. He was arrested in 1968 in connection with the murder of a women in his neighbourhood and later sent for treatment of mental illness to Varanasi on the orders of the court after some months. According to the newspaper report, his neighbours had stated that he was a hardworking farmer with mercurial temper and in 1968, when he was 32 years, he hacked to death the wife of his neighbour and later surrendered to the police. He used to occasionally suffer from depression, but no one had ever thought that he could commit murder in such a state of mind, the report quoting his neighbours said. After his arrest he was forgotten by every one till a petition for his bail was moved recently on the ground that he had never been put to trial all these years.
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SC panel chief wants France to take back ship
Chennai, February 6 Talking to mediapersons after a session of the committee here today, its chairman, Mr G. Thyagarajan, said, “Clemenceu has been the flagship of the French navy which has given great service. Why should such a ship undergo such humiliation and agony? Let France take it back and end it.” Though the eminent scientist did not give any indication about the committee’s report to be submitted before the apex court by February 13, he said, “I can make a general philosophical comment. France is a country known to have a great culture and tradition and high regard for sensitivity.” He said the committee was yet to receive the inventory of the ship from the French Government. However, environment watch group Greenpeace has submitted a copy of the ship’s inventory before the committee last Friday. The committee, which has earlier met in Mumbai and New Delhi, is meeting here to take a final view whether the French ship should be allowed to enter the Indian territory and reach the largest ship breaking yard in the world at Alang in Gujarat. There have been strong protests from various environment watch groups in the world and in India since the ship contains large quantities of asbestos which is considered to be a hazardous waste and pollutes the environment. In fact, members of the committee are also divided on the issue of Clemenceu. Mr Thyagarajan said a large number of people had expressed diverse views on Clemenceu before the committee which could not be divulged since the apex court would make the report public on February 13. He said, “Discussions are on to examine the eligibility of the ship to enter India. We are also looking at the credentials of Clemenceu from the point of international law. “We are in the midst of serious discussions. We are examining the correctness of the credentials of Clemenceu vis-a-vis international conventions and whether it confirms to them. We also have to see whether the ship meets Indian requirements as far as ship-breaking conditions are concerned.” Though members of the committee are tightlipped about the discussions over Clemenceu, the fate of the ship was decided at today’s crucial meeting held here.
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SC says no to doing away with ‘my lord’ New Delhi, February 6 “We are not going to issue any direction on this ”, a Bench comprising Chief Justice Y.K. Sabharwal and Mr Justice C.K. Thakker said, rejecting a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking to stop usage of these expressions by lawyers when addressing the courts. The petition claimed it was nothing but continuing with the British legacy and was in “contravention” of the spirit of Articles 18 and 14 of the Constitution. The PIL was filed by the Progressive and Vigilant Lawyers Forum (PVLF) . But the Bench told their counsel Sanjeev Bhatnagar that this was not the issue to be decided by the court. “Address this to various Bar associations of India,” the court told the PVLF counsel. As the court made it clear that it was not inclined to entertain the petition, Bhatnagar withdrew it and the court ordered the same to be treated as “dismissed as withdrawn”.
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Withdraw user charges at AIIMS, PM urged
New Delhi, February 6 Some AIIMS faculty members have also raised objections to the imposition of user charges, saying that it would change the character of the super-speciality hospital meant for common people to a five-star hospital meant for rich people and result in the commercialisation of the healthcare centre. “While the health budget still remains a miniscule 0.9 per cent instead of the promised 3 per cent, the government has imposed the burden of user charges on poor people,” a faculty member lamented. Meanwhile, terming it against the mandate of the people to the UPA government, Nirmala Deshpande and Hannan Mollah called the user charges a “legacy” of the previous NDA government and urged the Prime Minister to not allow any institution to carry on with a “legacy” of the NDA government. They said the Health Minister had clarified in Parliament that the process of revising user charges actually started two years ago during the NDA government. They said during the NDA rule in 1999, a user charge in the form of a package was introduced in the cardio-thoracic centre by the present Director when he was head of it. However, they said the RSS mouthpiece “Organiser” in its recent issue had tried to blame the present government for this “anti-people move”.
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Big violators will not be spared, says Reddy
New Delhi, February 6 Union Urban Development Minister S Jaipal Reddy told newspersons here that he had received a letter from Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit expressing concern over the demolition drive in Delhi. Mr Reddy said violations whether big or small could not be allowed, but public representatives had to be cautious about the sense of panic prevailing among lakhs of people in the Capital. He said the Centre was working out solutions as it was not possible to bring in an ordinance close to Parliament session. Union Minister of State for Urban Development Ajay
Maken, who took charge today, said the solution would be in place “sooner than you imagine.” Mr Reddy indicated that the proposed “solution” over demolitions would aim at sparing minor violations of building laws. However, he said land-grabbers and building mafia would be dealt with strictly. Mr Reddy said large-scale encroachments and minor changes in buildings could not be clubbed together. He said encroachments in Delhi and in Maharashtra’s
Ulhasnagar, where an ordinance was issued regarding illegal constructions, were of different kinds. He said land and building-law violations in the Capital included illegal use of government land, illegal conversion of land use from residence into shop, construction of additional rooms or floors and property falling under Lal Dora. |
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BJP rules out Uma’s return to party
Patna, February 6 Talking to the media here today, Mr Hussain said no proposal was pending before the party right now to reconsider the expulsion of former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister, paving the way of her return to the
party fold. He also did not see any impact on the party’s support base following Uma Bharti’s expulsion. The minority leader differed with the views that with the change in guard under Mr Rajnath Singh the BJP had again returned to the RSS-dictated Hindutva agenda. “The BJP is following the same policy once espoused by Mr Vajpayee and Mr Advani and has not deviated from the same,” he said. Replying to a question on the unabated cases of abductions in the state, he was of the view that criminals were making a last ditch attempt to derail the development initiative of Mr Nitish Kumar. Mr Hussain said a new BJP president would be elected soon to replace Mr Sushil Modi, who was now chairing the post of Deputy Chief Minister. |
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Govt defends airport contracts
New Delhi, February 6 Appearing for the Centre, Additional Solicitor-General Gopal Subramaniam claimed that no rules were violated in the award of tender by the government and submitted that it was determined to complete the modernisation process by involving the private
parties. RADL, owned by Anil Ambani had challenged the award of contract for management and modernisation of Delhi airport to GMR and Mumbai airport to GVK, two consortia of private companies. A Bench of Mr Justice T.S. Thakur and Mr Justice Sanjeev Khanna said it would like to dispose of the matter as early as possible in view of the “importance” it involved. Asking the concerned parties to submit their replies and affidavits by February 8, the court adjourned the hearing
till then. Subramaniam said the entire tender process was conducted in a “fair and transparent” manner in a six-layer evaluation process and there was no foul play as alleged
by RADL. Reliance in its petition had alleged that it was ousted from the tender process by changing the rules a few hours before the opening of the bid though it had quoted highest revenue sharing to the Airprot Authority of India (AAI) for Delhi airport.
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GMR submits Rs 500 cr as guarantee
New Delhi, February 6 Reports emerging from the Ministry of Civil Aviation said the GMR-Fraport consortium had submitted the guarantee amount. However, sources close to the GVK-led consortium, which has been selected for the Mumbai airport, said the group would submit the guarantee money in the next few days. The Airport Authority of India had yesterday asked the two successful bidders to furnish bond guarantee of Rs 500 crore by February 14. After the submission of the bond guarantee, the two successful bidders would move towards signing of the formal agreement. |
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Dr Thorat is UGC Chairman
New Delhi, February 6 According to an official spokesman, Dr Thorat has made notable contributions to research in various frontier areas of knowledge, including agricultural development, poverty, labour studies, caste and economic discrimination, particularly labour market discrimination and economic problems of the Schedule Castes and Scheduled Tribes. He has written extensively on a variety of issues, including rural poverty, rural development, child labour, caste and discrimination and urban slums. |
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Telgi’s wife pleads for bail
Mumbai, February 6 Shahida’s counsel Ashok Mundargi submitted that his client was falsely implicated in the case due to her relationship with the main accused. Telgi’s wife also pleaded that she was suffering from AIDS and should be released on bail, at least on medical grounds.
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