New Delhi, January 1
Finding itself on the backfoot in the wake of a rash of scams, the government plans to come out with an ordinance to put in place a mechanism to fight corruption among public servants, including politicians.

Sources said the issue was discussed at a meeting of the Congress Core Group here yesterday in which Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress president Sonia Gandhi were present.

The meeting discussed a note prepared by the Prime Minister's office in the light of Sonia Gandhi's five-point action plan to fight corruption suggested in her address at the Congress plenary here two weeks ago.

Sources said in case the laws concerned needed to be amended to put in place such a mechanism, an ordinance could be promulgated for the purpose. The mechanism, the sources said, may be different from that of the Central Vigilance Commission, which deals only with corruption by officials.

There was no official word on whether the Ordinance could be the precursor to the long-pending Lok Pal Bill and whether the Prime Minister's office would be covered by it.

Gandhi's plan included among other things institution of a new system of fast-tracking of all cases that concern corruption by public servants, including politicians, and to bring closure to such cases in a well-defined time-frame.

She had also talked about Congress chief ministers and ministers, including at the Centre, shedding discretionary powers, especially in land allotments, as they "breed corruption". She also wanted legislative and clear procedures to ensure transparency in public procurement.

In his address, the Prime Minister referred to Sonia’s five-point action plan and said the government would pay careful attention to the agenda set out by her.

In her valedictory address, she said they would take the issue of corruption head on and demonstrate through actions and not words that they meant what they say. "I had made specific suggestions and the Prime Minister has assured us that they will be taken forward," she had said.

At the plenary, Rahul Gandhi had also demanded severe punishment for those guilty of corruption. In his New Year message yesterday, the Prime Minister has already made a pitch for making a "new beginning" in the year ahead.

“We will redouble our efforts to deal effectively and credibly with the challenges of inflation, cleansing our governing processes, national security and making our delivery system work for the aam aadmi,” he had said. — PTI 

New Delhi, January 1
In a New Year bonanza for Nagaland, Manipur and Mizoram, the Centre has scrapped the condition of obtaining permission by foreigners visiting the three northeastern states. However, citizens of some specified countries, including Pakistan and China, would continue to require prior approval of the Ministry of Home Affairs for their visit to these three states.

“The government has decided to exclude Manipur, Mizoram and Nagaland from the Protected Area regime notified under the Foreigners (Protected Areas) Order, 1958, initially for a period of one year,” a Home Ministry statement said.

However, all foreigners visiting these states will have to register themselves with the Foreigners Registration Officer (FRO) of the district they visit within 24 hours of their arrival. The restriction had been in force since pre-Independence days. Now Arunachal Pradesh is the only state left in the Northeast where foreigners are required to take permission before any visit.

Indian diplomatic missions have also been authorised to issue “missionary visa” to foreign missionaries visiting these three states as per the guidelines of the government. — PTI 

Guwahati, January 1
The Assam Government today made it clear that there would be no lifting of ban on ULFA and let-up in the Army operation against the outfit in spite of the release of ULFA chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa from the jail.

“There is no question of immediate lifting of the ban on ULFA as a section of the outfit is still at large and the operations will continue against the militants as usual,” Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said during an interaction with the media here today.

“We have information that this section (of ULFA), which is opposed to the on-going peace process, will try to carry out some violent strikes. Though we welcome those who have come forward for talks, operation will continue against those ULFA militants who indulge in violence,” Gogoi said.

He said though fugitive ULFA commander-in-chief Paresh Barua continued to demand for “sovereignty of Assam ”, many others had not. “Paresh Barua is asking for sovereignty, not these people,” Gogoi said indicating that ULFA chairman Rajkhowa was no longer among those demanding sovereignty.

“We still want all ULFA men, including Paresh Barua, to come for talks though it has been made clear by the government that there is no question of holding discussion on the sovereignty demand,” Gogoi said.

On the government’s stand on allowing ULFA leaders to address public meetings and display outfit’s banners and flags, Gogoi said the government had no objection to such activities as long as they spoke about peace talks and coming back to the mainstream of society. 

Kolkata, January 1
Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee today said there was no scope for any controversy in the continuing letter war between Home Minister P Chidambaram and West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee over the state’s law and order situation.

Mukherjee said it was the constitutional duty of the Home Minister to seek information from the Chief Minister if there was any deterioration in law and order.

“Where is the controversy? The Union Home Minister has written a letter to the Chief Minister and he has given a reply to it,” Mukherjee told reporters here.

Chidambaram had discharged his constitutional responsibility by seeking such information from the Chief Minister, he said, adding that it was the responsibility of the Chief Minister to respond to his queries. “Where is the scope of controversy in it?” he said.

Asked to comment on the alleged “bias” of the Centre on the issue as suggested by the ruling Left Front, Mukherjee said there was no question of partiality. — PTI

Jaipur, January 1
The deadlock between the Gujjars and the government over the quota issue persisted for the 13th day today with the agitators sticking to their demand for intervention of Congress leaders from their community before holding fresh parleys.

Gujjars leaders said they were waiting for a response from the Congress leaders of their community and would send their delegation to Jaipur if they were satisfied with the feedback.

“No development yet. We are waiting for the response from Congress leaders of our community. They must meet the government and give us an assurance that their party and the government is positive towards our demands,” Gujjar leader Kirori Singh Bainsla said today. — PTI 

Patna, January 1
Hundreds of prisoners in Patna's Beur Central Jail in Bihar Friday staged protests and extended their support to activist Binayak Sen, who was sentenced to life imprisonment by a Chhattisgarh court last week. According to officials of the high-security jail, the prisoners aired their protest by staging a relay hunger-strike and threatened to launch an indefinite hunger strike if justice was not done to Binayak Sen.

"The prisoners observed a day-long hunger strike to protest against conviction to Binayak Sen," a jail official, demanding he be not named, told IANS here Saturday.

It was a first such protest by the prisoners, most of whom belong either to the Left parties or Maoist groups in Bihar, since Sen was convicted on charges of sedition Dec 24.

During their protest, the prisoners shouted slogans and were also addressed by some inmates in the jail where hundreds of prisoners, including Maoists, are lodged. The security in Bihar's prisons has been tightened in view of the call of the outlawed CPI-Maoist to observe a country-wide protest week Jan 2-8. — PTI