The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

	letter to Hazare Our paths differ, but goal same: PM to Anna Over the past few days, I have watched with increasing concern the state of your health. Despite the differences between the government and your team, I do not think that anybody is or should be in any doubt about the deep and abiding concern which I and our government share about your health, arising from your continuing fast. I have no hesitation in saying that we need your views and actions in the service of the nation, from a robust physical condition and not in the context of frail or failing health. I have maintained that your and our object is identical viz. to reduce significantly, if not eliminate, the scourge of corruption from this country. At worst, our paths and methodologies may differ, though I do believe that even those differences have been exaggerated. The government is committed to passing a constitutionally valid and the best possible Lokpal legislation with inputs from civil society with the broadest possible consensus. We are ready to talk to anybody. However, we will have to keep in mind Parliamentary supremacy and constitutional obligations in matters of legislation. As a government, we respect and are responsible to the will of the Indian people as represented by Parliament. As you are aware, the Lokpal Bill is now before a Standing Committee of Parliament. I have made it clear earlier and would like to restate that all options are open before the Standing Committee. Undoubtedly, they would be entitled to consider, in detail and clause by clause, subject to their discretion, not only the Bill introduced by us but the Jan Lokpal Bill and other versions like those prepared by Aruna Roy. Equally, I do maintain that they are fully entitled to make any changes to the Bill introduced by the Government and referred to them. In that view of the matter, the formal non-introduction of the Jan Lokpal Bill version by the government is irrelevant and would largely boil down to a semantic debate. Nevertheless, in view of the concern repeatedly expressed by your team that the Jan Lokpal Bill version should be before Parliament, but more particularly and more importantly, in view of my deep and abiding concern for your health, our government is prepared to request the Speaker, Lok Sabha, to formally refer the Jan Lokpal Bill also to the Standing Committee for their holistic consideration along with everything else. Furthermore, if you have any anxieties about time and speed, the government can formally request the Standing Committee to try, subject to its discretion and the necessity to reflect deeply and spend adequate time on an important Bill, and fast track their deliberations to the extent reasonably feasible. I would like to say that this letter and each suggestion herein is actuated solely by the twin considerations of deep and genuine concern about your health and the emergence of a strong and effective Lokpal Act in accordance with established constitutional precept and practice. I do hope that you will consider my suggestions and end your fast to regain full health and vitality.
	Memo to PM in blood Ahmedabad, August 23 Over 800 persons, including students, signed in blood a memorandum addressed to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, expressing their support to the movement against corruption led by Anna Hazare. The memorandum prepared by the All-India Democratic Students Organisation (AIDSO) was signed by students and others supporting Hazare’s campaign. “Over 800 persons, including students from the Gujarat University and other colleges signed the memorandum with their blood,” Bhavik Raja of the AIDSO told mediapersons. The blood was drawn from thumbs of volunteers using sterilised needles under the supervision of a medical expert, he said. Many persons put in their thumb impressions in blood on the memorandum, he added. “This is the need of the hour and the youth of the city are in support of Hazare,” Raja said. — PTI
	Parliament stalled, to discuss graft today Aditi Tandon/TNS New Delhi, August 23 Parliament proceedings were stalled for the day after the Opposition, riding on Anna Hazare’s anti-graft wave, demanded a debate on corruption today while the government remained evasive. By the evening, however, an agreement was reached between the two sides to discuss corruption in both the Houses tomorrow from 12 noon. Earlier, the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha were adjourned first during Question Hour until 12 noon; then until lunch upon reassembly and finally for the day as Anna’s fast entered the eighth day. The LS witnessed particularly stormy scenes with the Opposition demanding the suspension of Question Hour to discuss the situation arising out of the happenings of past three days which witnessed unprecedented public support for Anna. The government, however, wanted a full discussion on corruption to be able to put forth its point of view. The said discussion under Rule 193 (for which Speaker Meira Kumar received 16 notices) could not finally happen today as the DMK’s notice to speak on the genocide of Tamil minority in Sri Lanka was pending. When the Speaker allowed DMK’s T.R. Baalu to raise the issue, BJP members stormed the well and demanded a discussion on corruption, with Murli Manohar Joshi as the initiator. Caught between unyielding sides - the BJP and the DMK - the presiding officer had to adjourn the House repeatedly and finally wrap it up for the day. But before that the lower house witnessed sharp exchanges between Leader of Opposition Sushma Swaraj and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pawan Bansal, as both squabbled over the rule under which to debate corruption. Since there’s no provision to allow leaders to speak during the Question Hour, the presiding officer, upon Opposition’s insistence to make brief mentions on the developments around Anna’s fast, allowed Sushma to speak. The latter termed the goings on as “extremely worrisome” and blamed them on the scams unravelled over the past year - from Adarsh, 2G Spectrum, CWG and Air India to KG Basin. “The Government’s Lokpal Bill has added fuel to fire. It is ineffective and excludes the PM. It does not even ensure an independent process for either selection or the removal of Lokpal,” Sushma said, recalling how dissent can be ignored by the majority as was done during the appointment of former CVC PJ Thomas. As the Leader of Opposition transformed her brief mention into a lengthy castigation of the Government, Bansal intervened to demand the Speaker to convert the mention into a debate on corruption so that “all sides can have a say”. He accused Sushma of not projecting what was happening in the BJP-led states, and said she could not present her version without hearing the response of others. The Speaker did concede to Bansal’s demand but then Baalu came in the way and literally rescued the government which was on the back foot all day trying to reach out to Anna. The corruption debate will understandably take place tomorrow when the UPA, after having attempted to reach a thaw with Anna today, has something to say.
	SC notice to Centre over quota to creamy layer R Sedhuraman Legal Correspondent New Delhi, August 23 The Supreme Court today issued notice to the Centre and states on a PIL seeking exclusion of the creamy layer among the Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs) for the purpose of extending 22 per cent reservation in jobs and education. A Bench comprising Justices RV Raveendran and AK Patnaik sought the governments’ response to the petition filed by OP Shukla, a retired Additional Secretary of the Law Ministry hailing from the Balmiki community, the most backward among the SC. It was time the blanket reservation policy was abolished and a new mechanism put in place for uplifting and empowering the “really marginalised sections” of society as the present practice was nurturing only “5-10 powerful and advanced castes of SCs and STs” at the cost of the genuinely deserving people, the PIL contended. The petitioner had a word of praise for Punjab and Haryana that attempted to rectify the anomaly in 1972 and 1990, respectively, by providing separate reservation within reservation for SCs/STs. Punjab divided the 22 per cent quota equally between Ravidasia Sikhs, Valmikis and Mazhabi Sikhs. Haryana drew up two lists - Block A comprising 36 communities and Block B consisting of the rest of the communities of Chamar caste. These two initiatives were, however, quashed by the apex court in 2004, the PIL said.
	SC quashes another land acquisition in UP R Sedhuraman Legal Correspondent New Delhi, August 23 The Supreme Court today quashed the acquisition of 28.8 hectares of land in Ghaziabad by the Uttar Pradesh Government for setting up a Leather City Project, observing that the state government had invoked urgency provisions to deprive the owners but exhibited a “lethargic and lackadaisical attitude” thereafter. The cancellation of the acquisition comes close on the heels of a similar apex court verdict last month through which it had directed the state government to return the land acquired in Noida Extension (Greater Noida) to the farmers despite the fact that the builders were constructing residential apartments in the area. In today’s verdict, a Bench comprising Justices GS Singhvi and HL Dattu noted that the state government took two years to issue the notification in July 2006 under Section 4 of the Land Acquisition Act and spent more than 17 months thereafter to make the declaration under Section 6 of the Act. From this, “it is crystal clear that the government functionary has proceeded at a very slow pace at two levels” for the construction of the project in Hapu pargana area of Ghaziabad which undoubtedly is for public purpose. The “series of events amply exhibit the lethargic and lackadaisical attitude of the state government,” the Bench observed, holding that the December 18, 2006, notification issued under Section 6 of the LA Act “is beyond the period of limitation as envisaged by proviso to Section 6(1) of the LA Act.” The Supreme Court also held that the government was “not justified” in the facts and circumstances of the case to invoke the urgency provision of Section 17(4) of the LA Act under which the land owners would be given an opportunity to put forth their viewpoint. In Noida Extension, the government had acquired 156 hectares of land purportedly for setting up industries but changed the land use within 11 days and handed over the land to builders for constructing residential apartments.
	Jaya govt reverses another DMK decision Announces that the Tamil New Year would now be celebrated in April, instead of January Chennai, August 23 Reversing yet another decision of the previous DMK regime, the Jayalalithaa government today announced that the Tamil New Year would now be celebrated in April, instead of January. The move followed a public demand that the New Year be reverted to 'Chithirai', Chief Minister Jayalalithaa said in the Assembly, while accusing the previous DMK government of not taking it into account the "sentiments and opinion" of the people while effecting the change in 2008. The DMK regime's decision was "useless" and one that "hurt" the sentiments of the people, she said while announcing the move which comes four days after her government decided to convert the Rs 1,200 crore new assembly-cum-secretariat complex into a multi-super-speciality hospital and a new medical college, overturning DMK chief Karunanidhi's pet project. Jayalalithaa claimed the Tamil New Year had all along being celebrated in the month of 'Chithirai' and the previous regime had changed the system which was in vogue for many years with the sole intention of gaining "publicity". Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment Minister S P Shanmuganathan moved a resolution seeking to revert the New Year to Chithirai in the Tamil calendar. The Left parties, allies of the ruling AIADMK coalition, expressed their 'opposition' demanding that the matter be referred to a standing committee. However, the resolution was passed by a majority vote. In 2008, the Karunanidhi Government had passed a resolution in the Assembly to shift the Tamil New Year to January 14, coinciding with the harvest festival of Pongal. She also claimed that despite the then DMK Government effecting a change, people had, however, continued to celebrate the Tamil New Year in 'Chithirai' only. Reacting strongly, Karunanidhi, in a statement to the media, opposed the government's move to make April 14 as Tamil new year day. He said the decision to make January 14, the first day of Tamil year was based on a research by Tamil scholar Maraimalai Adigal. PMK too opposed the move saying "deciding the date of Tamil new year should not be based on political differences. Even historical records note that as early as Indus civilisation, the first day of Thai was observed as the new year day." In a statement, PMK founder S Ramadoss said even though the first day of Chithirai is the new year for Hindus, Gujaratis and Marathis observe a separate new year day. So, the government must withdraw its move to make first day of Chithirai (April 14) as Tamil new year," he said. On the rationale behind her government moving a bill to repeal the Act, Jayalalithaa said it was done following pleas from the people. "Despite three years of enacting the legislation, people have been celebrating the New Year on the first day of Chithirai. There have been pleas from people to repeal this Act. It is not proper to alter people's belief through law," she said. — PTI
	JPC wants its term extended Tribune News Service New Delhi, August 23 The Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) set up to probe 2G Spectrum allocation scam which led to a reported loss of about 1.76 lakh crore to the exchequer has sought extension of its term till the end of the next budget session of Parliament. The JPC, at its meeting here, while taking evidence of the former secretary Department of Telecom (DoT) Anil Kumar, decided to write to Speaker of the Lok Sabha Meira Kumar, seeking extension of its term.
	LS to take up Sen's impeachment Tribune News Service New Delhi, August 23 The Lok Sabha would take up impeachment proceedings against Justice Soumitra Sen on September 5 and 6, said Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal here today. The Rajya Sabha passed the motion to impeach Justice Sen on August 18 after two days of deliberations. The government explained to the Business Advisory Committee (BAC) of the Lok Sabha today that Justice Sen needs to be informed and given sufficient time to appear at the Lok Sabha bar.
	Assam CM Gogoi announces Rs 100 cr for flood-hit areas Bijay Sankar Bora/TNS Guwahati, August 23 Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi today announced a Rs 100-crore financial package to take care of the relief and rehabilitation measures to provide succour to over 1.54 lakh flood-affected people in Dhemaji district of the state. He made the announcement during his stock-taking visit to the flood-hit district today. Flash floods, first triggered on August 15, by Gai-nadi and Jiadhal rivers left a trail of destruction in the district where 261 villages were devastated by floods. Crops were also affected in over 20,000 hectares. After taking stock of the situation and meeting flood-hit people in the district, Gogoi made announcement about the financial package. The announcement came amid cry of apathy against the Central Government by various NGOs. The Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) and the Railway Board have dispatched relief materials to Dhemaji and North Lakhimpur districts.
	Day after Handi festivity, many a broken bone Shiv Kumar/TNS Mumbai, August 23 Yesterday's Dahi Handi celebrations have left more than 250 “Govindas” injured with some of them left in a critical condition, according to information available from various authorities. One of the victims, six-year-old Vaishnavi Makhdoom, suffered brain damage after she fell from a pyramid, the police said. Vaishnavi has been admitted to the Intensive Care Unit of the Sion Hospital. The police says the little girl was injured when she fell from a pyramid. The safety helmet she was wearing was loose because of which it hit her eye resulting in a clot in her brain. Hospital officials say they may have to perform a surgery to save her life. Another reveller, Ramu Sandip Narsingh (20), crushed his right hand after he tumbled from a pyramid. Narsingh has been admitted to the KEM hospital and doctors are struggling to save his hand, sources said. In other parts of Mumbai, three Govindas were hurt when they were tying a Dahi Handi on the middle of a road, the police said. They have been admitted to hospitals, the police said. Health officials say most of the injured persons are young men in the age group of 17-30 years. “Many are students who could lose an academic year because of their injuries,” says Sandhya Kale, a doctor at one of the civic hospitals.