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Govt mulls linking job scheme with farm productivity
Finally, Yeddyurappa lands in AC jail cell
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No takers in BJP for Advani plea on ex-CM
Global legal fraternity converges on Chandigarh
Appear in trial court today, SC tells Jaya
Non-Congress states object to PM’s direct RTE letter to school principals
Never said we are going to change RTI Act: PM
World Bank wants a piece of ‘Aakash’ Digvijay praises Anna’s work
Team Anna’s woes deepen
US warns its citizens of terror threat in India
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Govt mulls linking job scheme with farm productivity
New Delhi, October 19 Speaking at the Economics Editors’ conference here, Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar said there was pressure on the availability of farm labour because of MGNREGA and other anti-poverty programme. “We are attempting to utilise MGNREGA for augmenting activities that directly add to farm productivity. For compensating scarcity of labour, I am proposing a large programme for agricultural mechanisation during the 12th Plan,” he said. Alternative job opportunities under MGNREGA have hit the farm sector hard, spelling labour shortage, increased wage bills and delayed production deadlines. A FICCI survey on the impact of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act on industry and farm sector recently suggested that the scheme be implemented only during non-peak agricultural season, a demand that also finds favour with the farm sector in Punjab and Haryana - the states facing maximum labour problems following implementation of MGNREGA. Pawar had also written to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh suggesting that the scheme be suspended during the peak agricultural season, a proposal that did not go down well either with the nodal Rural Development Ministry or social activists. Under the UPA’s Rs 40,000-crore scheme, a minimum of 100 days work is guaranteed under law at a daily rate fixed by individual states, but not less than Rs 60 per day. Pawar also said that the issue price of foodgrain under the proposed Food Bill must be revisited to reduce the subsidy burden and assess its repercussions on the country’s economy in the future. According to the draft Bill, up to 75 per cent of the rural population and 50 per cent of urban households would get monthly entitlement of 7 kg foodgrain per person, at Rs 3 per kg for rice, Rs 2 per kg for wheat and Re 1 per kg for coarse grains. Quoting the example of “jowar”, a foodgrain selling in the open market at around Rs 30 a kg , Pawar said if the government provided it at the rate of Re 1 a kg, there was every chance of the foodgrain finding way back into the market.
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Finally, Yeddyurappa lands in AC jail cell
Bangalore, October 19 He checked out from the Victoria Hospital this morning and checked into the Central Jail in Parappana Agrahara area on the outskirts of Bangalore. He has been provided with air-conditioning facility in the prison and an attached bathroom in view of his health concerns. The 68-year-old BJP leader had got himself admitted in two hospitals in three days since he was denied bail. His interim bail plea is slated to come up before the High Court here tomorrow and this consideration may have prompted Yeddyurappa to head back to prison where he has hardly spent any time till this morning. After a check-up at the jail hospital, he was lodged in the cell, authorities told reporters. Yeddyurappa was sent to judicial custody till October 22 by judge NK Sudhindra Rao in two of five cases of corruption and illegal land deals filed by two Bangalore advocates in January this year. He was shifted to Jayadeva Institute of Cardiovascular Science and Research early Sunday after he complained of chest pain. He was taken to Victoria Hospital on Tuesday evening as tests at the Jayadeva Institute showed he suffered no heart ailment. He got admitted to Victoria Hospital on the grounds that he suffered from diabetics, high blood pressure and backache. Unlike early Sunday when he was brought from jail to the Jayadeva Institute and Tuesday at the time of being shifted to Victoria, today his supporters and the police did not try to block mediapersons from clicking his pictures when he was being put into an ambulance on a wheeled stretcher for being taken to prison. The case against Yeddyurappa, filed by advocates, Sirajin Basha and NK Balaraj, is that he, his two sons BJP Lok Sabha member BY Raghavendra and BY Vijayendra, son-in-law R Sohan Kumar and their associates conspired to de-notify the government land in return for monetary gains. Former state muzrai (endowments) minister SN Krishnaiah Shetty, BJP legislator Hemachanda Sagar and several others are also accused in the cases. The judge has given conditional bail to all the accused, except Yeddyurappa and Shetty. Shetty's bail plea will also be heard tomorrow.
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No takers in BJP for Advani plea on ex-CM
His take
Advani said in Nagpur that Yeddyurappa was an embarrassment to the party and had punctured his campaign against corruption. He sent a clear message to Sangh Parivar that till the party and Sangh distanced itself further from the former CM, his campaign against
corruption could derail.
New Delhi, October 19 But while appreciating Advani’s “candid acceptance of our weaknesses,” the BJP is in no mood to act any further against the former CM, merely to save Advani some embarrassment. Advani supporters pointed out how in the last eight days of Yatra from Patna to Nizamabad now, he is being constantly reminded of Yeddyurappa and questioned on his and BJP’s credibility against corruption. Advani’s plea that “We have taken immediate corrective action, whenever faced with a problem,” did not cut much ice with his critics. Finally yesterday, he candidly admitted in Nagpur, the RSS headquarters, that Yeddyurappa was an embarrassment to his party and had punctured his campaign against corruption. Sources said through this admission, Advani sent a clear message to Sangh Parivar that till the party and Sangh distanced itself further from Yeddyurappa, his whole campaign against corruption could derail. But from all appearances neither the Sangh nor the BJP parliamentary board is impressed by this line and they seem to throw Advani’s slogan “Ab Bas (This is enough) back at him, indicating that they would not go beyond sacking Yeddyurappa from the CM post, which they have already done. BJP spokesman Rajiv Pratap Rudy said, quoting Advani, “We as a party are ready to accept our weaknesses and make necessary corrections.” But when asked if that implied readiness to expel Yeddyurappa after he has been sent to jail, Rudy flatly said, “No.” Sources said that in spite of Yeddyurappa’s arrest, the BJP/RSS do not favour any further action against the former CM because they find merit in his argument. The successive victories of the BJP, including the last one in the Assembly byelection, after Yeddyurappa stepped down, have demonstrated Yeddyurappa’s hold over his Lingayat community and popularity among the masses. The RSS/BJP leaders also do not entirely dismiss Yeddyurappa’s suspicion that a section of the BJP leadership here in Delhi has been hatching a conspiracy against him through former Lokayukta Santosh Hegde known for his proximity to Advani. Yeddyurappa and his men were miffed with Advani when he persuaded Hegde to withdraw his resignation as the Karnataka Lokayukta. Yeddyurappa feels that the whole Lokayukta report was a conspiracy to get at him. While the BJP/RSS realises that it cannot be seen standing with Yeddyurappa in public, now that he is facing criminal cases, it also doesn’t want to distance too much from him lest it loses entirely the support of a large section of the people of Karnataka, they perceive still sympathetic to
Yeddyurappa.
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Global legal fraternity converges on Chandigarh
Chandigarh, October 19 Inaugurating the conference, former Chief Justice of the Allahabad High Court Justice SS Sodhi said the event was a landmark in opening up the Indian legal system and making foreign courts and jurisdictions more easily accessible to Indians. "With technology and e-commerce increasing at a fast pace, grouping of lawyers and accountants has become more relevant," he said. "Some very meaningful and proactive sessions have been chalked out for the delegates attending the conference," he added. It is for the first time that the city has seen convergence of international legal and accounting professionals. It has served to underline Chandigarh's importance in the global legal arena. Welcoming the delegates, IGAL president Carl Gustav shared the goal of IGAL members to cut across national boundaries and to ensure equal access to the law for the citizens of all nations. He welcomed 15 new international members to the IGAL fraternity. The IGAL now has presence in 48 countries and in all six continents. Senior advocate and IGAL director ML Sarin gave a brief presentation on the architectural heritage of the city and expressed hope that the IGAL conference would bring global legal fraternity closer and open up new areas of expertise and cooperation internationally. The three-day event includes a series of presentations by leading legal luminaries from India and abroad.
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Appear in trial court today, SC tells Jaya
Corruption case
The trial pertains to a disproportionate assets case involving accumulation of assets worth over Rs 66 crore by her when she was chief minister in 1991-96. The SC had shifted the trial to Bangalore on her fears that she might be denied a fair trial in Tamil Nadu where her political rival, DMK, was in power that time.
New Delhi, October 19 A Bench comprising Justices Dalveer Bhandari and Deepak Misra described her security concerns as “unreasonable” as both the Chief Secretary and the Karnataka DGP had assured the SC that Jayalalithaa would be provided adequate security from the moment she landed in Bangalore and till the time she left the city after the court hearing. “You are a public leader. How can you remain away from people,” the Bench asked Jayalalithaa, who was represented by senior counsel Mukul Rohatgi. The Bench put the question when Rohatgi argued that his client was worried over the special venue for the hearing - central jail - as this was far off from the airport and this entailed her driving through heavy traffic. At this, the Bench remarked that she could take a helicopter from airport to the trial court as there was a helipad in the vicinity. Unrelenting, Rohatgi said since she was being asked to go to Bangalore at a short notice she would not be able to get protection from the NSG commandos as they needed a 96-hour notice. The Bench retorted by asking whether the Prime Minister made every visit only after giving 96-hours notice, including for conveying his condolence over someone’s death. “You have to be reasonable,” the Bench observed. The trial pertains to a disproportionate assets case involving accumulation of assets worth over Rs 66 crore by her when she was chief minister in 1991-96. The SC had shifted the trial to Bangalore on her fears that she might be denied a fair trial in Tamil Nadu where her political rival, DMK, was in power that time. Shubhadeep Choudhury reports from Bangalore: Jayalalithaa also raised similar objections in the court of trial Judge BM Mallikarjunaiah today, pleading that the court hall in central prison was very small and posed a security threat. Further, the court hall was still being painted and as such the paint smell would affect the health of the chief minister who had sensitive olfactory nerves, her counsel argued. Rejecting her contentions, the Judge stated that he would record her statement at 11 am tomorrow under Section 313 of the CrPC, meant for giving a final chance to the accused to defend herself. Special Public Prosecutor BV Acharya opposed Jayalalithaa’s application, contending that the accused was merely trying to delay the proceedings.
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Non-Congress states object to PM’s direct RTE letter to school principals
New Delhi, October 19 Most non-Congress-ruled states, led by Gujarat, Orissa and Madhya Pradesh, objected to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh posting a letter directly to school headmasters across the country and wanted the same to be routed through states so that their respective Chief Ministers could send a parallel address for the children. Punjab also asked for the letter to be sent through the state. As reported by The Tribune, the PM has written an evocative letter which, as per the plan, was to be posted to each school principal along with a covering letter from Human Resource Development Minister Kapil Sibal. The idea was to encourage children to seek their legal right. But now, the letter will not be posted directly by the Centre. After the Education Ministers of Gujarat, Orissa and Madhya Pradesh and representative of the Punjab Government questioned the Centre’s intent behind the move, Sibal clarified that the Centre did not want to fight over the issue. “We will do as you say,” he said to put an end to the heartburn some states felt on account of India being a federal structure and on account of the CMs having an equal right to participate in any mass awareness drive. The decision now is that once the PMO clears the letter’s content, it will be sent to the state governments which, in turn, will mail these to the headmasters of elementary schools. In all, India has 13 lakh elementary schools and those many principals. Speaking to The Tribune, Husan Lal, Secretary, Education, Punjab, admitted that certain states had raised the matter of the PM’s letter and wanted their CMs to also send one. “I simply wanted to know if the letter would go directly to principals or would it go through the states. The Union Minister clarified that it would go through the states,” Lal said. The RTE drive is to be formally launched this Education Day (November 11) from Nooh in Haryana’s Mewat district. It will be simultaneously launched across all schools with the principals reading out special messages from the PM, the HRD Minister and now also the state CM and perhaps even the state education minister.
Only 20 states have notified RTE rules
Since its formal launch on April 1, 2010, only 20 states have cared to notify rules of the RTE Act. Simply put, it means the process of implementation of the law has not even begun in the defaulting states, which included Delhi, Karnataka, West Bengal and Tamil Nadu. While the latter two have been unable to notify because of the transition in power following recent Assembly elections, Delhi is still waiting for the Supreme Court judgment on whether private schools need to reserve 25 pc seats for the disadvantaged under the Act. Private schools have challenged the provision. Karnataka said it had invited public responses to the Central RTE Act and had received 2,000 suggestions. “We are studying these suggestions,” Karnataka said.
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Never said we are going to change RTI Act: PM Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today denied suggestions that he had pitched for dilution of the Right to Information (RTI) Act. On Telangana
Admitting difficulties in arriving at "quick decisions" Telangana issue, the PM said it would take "some time" to evolve a solution that would be a "win-win" for all concerned. "Well, there is no inaction," he said disagreeing with a journalist who said there was an impression that the government was not acting. "Efforts are being made to find a solution," he said. He maintained that he had never said that there should be any dilution of the Act. "There are certain ways in which things can be done. All I said is that we should reflect how to achieve in totality the purposes for which RTI was set up. I never said we are going to change RTI (Act)," he told reporters accompanying him while returning home from South Africa after attending the IBSA Summit. He had last week said the government wished to make right to information an "even more effective instrument" for ensuring transparency but wanted a critical look at it to address certain concerns. He had said the transparency law should not adversely affect deliberative processes in the government and discourage honest, well meaning public servants from voicing their views.
— PTI
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World Bank wants a piece of ‘Aakash’
New Delhi, October 19 Not just that, requests are now pouring in from MNCs which want to collaborate with India to bring the cost of the tablet further down from $ 35 and improve its applications for student use. So much so the World Bank asked Sibal for a piece of ‘Aakash’ to display the same though its office. “The World Bank not just asked for a specimen, they also said they would see how to collaborate in the project for benefit of students across the world. I told them that ‘Aakash’ was not just for Indian students; it was for students of the world. The World Bank has said it would talk to the International Finance Corporation so see how it can participate in the project,” Sibal said today. The IFC promotes private investments. Sibal added that the government was committed to reducing the price of the tablet and improve its speed. “We had some companies talking about improving the tablet’s applications, for instance we have a 300 Mega Hz processor which would be improved to become an 800 Mega Hz processor. We are expecting a lot of good collaboration,” Sibal said. He said the feedback of ‘Aakash’ had not yet been received even though some students have been talking about its poor applications, especially over heating and low battery life. “It is too early to get responses,” the minister said.
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Digvijay praises Anna’s work Guwahati, October 19 He however called Team Anna a political group close to the RSS because of its opposition to Congress even after the UPA government had accepted all the three conditions put by Anna Hazare to call off his hunger strike. The senior Congress leader told mediapersons here that while the UPA government had accepted Anna’s demand for appointment of Lokayukta in all the states, citizens charter and bringing government employees under the Lokpal to facilitate end to his hunger strike, it is not understandable why Team Anna is still opposed to the Congress. “Team Anna is not non-political. Why does Anna not want to acknowledge what the RSS chief says about working for his campaign? Why does he (Anna) see corruption only in Congress-ruled states and not in BJP-ruled Karnataka where the former CM BS Yeddyurappa has been arrested on corruption charges? Anna appreciates Gujarat CM Narendra Modi though he is yet to appoint a Lokayukta,” Digvijay said. He said the UPA government was committed to tabling the Lokpal Bill in the Parliament in the next winter session, reiterating that the government was not in favour of having an organization (Jan Lokpal) where the same person would deal with complaints, investigation and adjudication. “Nowhere in the world does such an organization exist,” he said. The Congress leader continued with his tirade against Anna’s associate Arvind Kejriwal, saying, “Kejriwal is still a government servant as his resignation was not accepted owing to his failure to fulfil certain conditions he had accepted before going abroad on study leave. He has to explain how he could form an NGO despite being a government servant and accept money from foreign funding agencies like Ford Foundation.”
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Team Anna’s woes deepen
New Delhi, October 19 Delhi Archbishop Vincent M Concessao, a founder member of IAC, has now disassociated himself from the movement. “The archbishop is no longer with the group. While his decision is possibly governed by political as well as religious reasons, there are others in the core group who are upset because of autocratic and arrogant style of functioning of some key members,” a core member said.
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US warns its citizens of terror threat in India
New Delhi, October 19 "The Department of State reminds US citizens of the continued possibility of terrorist attacks throughout India and urges citizens to pay particular attention to their personal security during the Indian holiday season, which includes Hindu, Islamic, and other religious and secular holidays between October and January," said the travel alert posted on the embassy's website. It said the recent Indian government advisories and local media report increased indications that terrorists were planning attacks in India.
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Former Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa, who was sent to seven-day judicial remand on Saturday in corruption cases, is finally spending a day in the prison.
Chandigarh, October 19
Rejecting her contentions over security, the Supreme Court today directed Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa to appear in a Bangalore trial court tomorrow in connection with a corruption case against her.
A Bench comprising Justices Dalveer Bhandari and Deepak Misra described her security concerns as “unreasonable” as both the Chief Secretary and the Karnataka DGP had assured the SC that Jayalalithaa would be provided adequate security from the moment she landed in Bangalore and till the time she left the city after the court hearing.
Politics played its part in the day-long special meeting of state education ministers the Centre had called today to discuss modalities of the planned year-long awareness drive for the success of Right to Education (RTE) Act.
Most non-Congress-ruled states, led by Gujarat, Orissa and Madhya Pradesh, objected to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh posting a letter directly to school headmasters across the country and wanted the same to be routed through states so that their respective Chief Ministers could send a parallel address for the children. Punjab also asked for the letter to be sent through the state.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today denied suggestions that he had
pitched for dilution of the Right to Information
(RTI) Act. He maintained that he had never said that there should be any dilution of the Act.
He maintained that he had never said that there should be any dilution of the Act.
"There are certain ways in which things can be done. All I said is that we should reflect how to achieve in totality the purposes for which RTI was set up. I never said we are going to change RTI (Act)," he told reporters accompanying him while returning home from South Africa after attending the IBSA Summit.
The
World Bank not just asked for a specimen, they also said they would see
how to collaborate in the project for benefit of students across the
world. I told them that ‘Aakash’ was not just for Indian students;
it was for students of the world.