|
|
|
|
|
Govt hopes inflation will drop to 6% by March-end
Pranab’s luncheon diplomacy mellows Opposition
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Sonia back in House, flooded with wishes
Australian among 7 charred to death in train blaze
Apologise to CAG: Joshi to Cong MPs
2G trial to be shifted to Tihar Jail premises
SC verdict on bail pleas of corporate honchos today
Team Anna meets BJP leaders over Lokpal
Fog hits rail traffic in Delhi, around
Ordeal to continue for 24 hours
Rahul justifies his ‘begging’ remark
Now, a steel alloy to reduce cost of missiles, rockets
Oppn seeks sacking of Maya govt
In-laws spent money on son’s marriage: Jaya
DU student raped, blackmailed
|
|
Govt hopes inflation will drop to 6% by March-end
New Delhi, November 22 As the Left moved an adjournment motion to discuss the matter on the first day of the Winter Session, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee insisted that
the inflation situation had steadily improved, but admitted that more was needed for desired outcomes. He invited suggestions from the House. But the FM was quick to challenge the Opposition’s claim that the situation had deteriorated since the Parliament last discussed inflation. “Since August 2011 when we last discussed the issue in the House, overall Wholesale Price Index inflation has been stable. It was 9.8% in August and 9.7% in October. There was appreciable decline in non-food primary inflation from 18.2% in August to 7.7% in October. The inflation in manufactured goods also declined… Certain food items like fruits, eggs, have been major contributors to food inflation,” Pranab said in a suo motu statement. The Left is justifying an adjournment motion (which entails voting) stating that the government hasn’t
fulfilled its August promise of reducing prices and needed to be cornered under stricter rules. Headline inflation measured on Wholesale Price Index remained over 9% from December last and was 9.7% as of October 2011. Food inflation dropped to under 8% in June 2011
but rose to 10.6% as of November 5, 2011. Amidst turmoil over several issues today, Pranab explained inflationary pressures as a demand-supply mismatch and said all emerging economies had faced the pressure. The Left still pressing for an adjournment motion, the government blamed price rise on movements in international prices, expanded liquidity in several countries, increased uncertainty in the Eurozone and sustained high economic growth at home, which had given people in both rural and urban areas more purchasing power. “Increased uncertainty in the Eurozone on account of the debt crisis has led to shifting of capital to Europe to USA, which has hardened the US dollar against most currencies. The Indian rupee, which was Rs 44.4 a dollar
in April has depreciated to Rs 52. Whatever little benefit that could have been derived from the softening of international commodity prices has been wiped out by the depreciation in rupee,” Pranab explained.
|
|
Pranab’s luncheon diplomacy mellows Opposition
New Delhi, November 22 Following Pranab’s luncheon meeting with Left leaders Sitaram Yechury, Basudeb Acharia (CPM) and Gurudas Dasgupta (CPI) in his Parliament House chamber, the leaders seemed to have agreed to drop their adjournment motion and moved a motion under Rule 193 (which does not entail a division) to discuss the statement made by Mukherjee today. BJP leader Yashwant Sinha also threw hints that his party may not press for an adjournment motion if the Left agrees to another rule. “We are for effective discussion whatever the outcome. Even if there are no results, we will keep trying,” he said. Sinha’s statement was preceded a day earlier by a relaxed and “cordial and positive” luncheon meeting between BJP president Nitin Gadkari and Pranab at Mukherjee’s residence. Sources said Pranab mentioned the government Bills and sought the cooperation of the main Opposition party. A few days back, Pranab had similarly invited the two Leaders of the Opposition in Parliament, Sushma Swaraj and Arun Jaitley, to work out a consensus on various issues coming up in Parliament. Pranab’s luncheon diplomacy seems to have paid substantial dividends with the Opposition not appearing confrontationist any more, except for the boycott of Home Minister P Chidambaram, which they say is essentially a payback for the Congress boycott of then Defence Minister George Fernandes for his “involvement” in defence deals in the NDA government. Apart from that, the BJP seemed disinclined to create any more crises. Sinha said, “The presumption that the House will not function is not entirely correct. We have important issues to discuss.” As soon as the price rise discussion is over, LK Advani will move his adjournment motion on the issue of black money and secret foreign bank accounts, he added. Political observers trace the real source of the end of this impasse to the disenchantment expressed by the industry over the current state of affairs at the recent India Economic Summit in
Mumbai.
|
|||||
|
Sonia back in House, flooded with wishes
New Delhi, November 22 Dressed in a dark blue silk saree complete with a beige pashmina shawl, she appeared healthy and in command, flanked by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee and Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar. Sonia had been absent from the last session of Parliament as she had been away to the US for treatment of an undisclosed ailment. Today, as she marked her attendance in the House, leaders from across parties crossed over the well to greet her and wish her well. RJD chief Lalu Yadav was seen cracking jokes as he spent several minutes talking to Sonia after Question Hour was adjourned from 11.20 am till noon. Sonia was seen seated, unlike past occasions when she would leave the House upon adjournment. Rahul Gandhi was, however, absent from the LS as he commenced his poll schedule in UP kicking off a rally from
Barabanki.
|
|||||
|
Australian among 7 charred to death in train blaze
Giridih (Jharkhand), Nov 22 Three other Australian women passengers suffered minor injuries and were admitted to the Railway Divisional Hospital. The fire, which broke out around 3 am in B-1 AC coach and then spread to B-2 AC coach, was spotted between Gomo and Nimiaghat Railway stations, Railway Protection Force Divisional Commandant Sashi Kumar said. “One Australian woman was among the seven passengers who died in the fire,” Divisional Railway Manager (Dhanbad Division) Sudhir Kumar said. Four women Australian research scholars were travelling to Bodh Gaya from Howrah. Others killed in the incident were: Archita Thakur (4), Tubi Ali Akhtar (8), Dr Anumita Singh (25) and Usha Nagar. Railway Minister Dinesh Trivedi said the “involvement of miscreants” in the incident could not be ruled out. “Let us wait for the inquiry report. Involvement of miscreants cannot be ruled out at this stage. But I am not speculating anything. According to the initial reports, a person came with some smelly substance, then smoke came out,” Trivedi told reporters outside Parliament here. “But I don’t have more details about it. Inquiry is going on and truth will come out. So nothing can be ruled out at this stage including the miscreant angle. The real cause of the fire will be ascertained after the inquiry only,” he said. The Railway Minister also announced ex gratia of Rs 5 lakh each for the next of kin of those killed in the fire and Rs 25,000 for the passengers of the two affected coaches. “We have announced Rs 5 lakhs to the next of kin of each of the deceased and Rs 25000 to those who were injured and who were in the coach Nos BI and B2 as they might have lost their luggage or might have been injured,” he said.
— PTI
|
|||||
|
Apologise to CAG: Joshi to Cong MPs
New Delhi, November 22 Joshi, a senior BJP leader, also rejected the Congress members' demand that Rai should not be present at the Committee proceedings when a retired CAG official RP Singh deposes before it. In the wake of Congress members attacking the CAG in PAC meetings, Joshi seemed to suggest that Congress MPs can impeach if they are not happy with the CAG but they cannot make allegations against him in the PAC. In a ruling, he maintained that the controversial draft report on 2G issue, in which the PAC was critical of the Prime Minister, his office and the then Finance Minister P Chidambaram, and the 3G spectrum allocation, stands circulated to members. The Congress members had contented that the draft report was rejected by the Committee and was not in order. Referring to allegations by Congress members that all the reports of the CAG were based on "untruth", "fraud" and "politically motivated", Joshi reminded the members that no allegations can be referred or defamatory remarks made against the CAG, who is accorded the status of a judge of the Supreme Court.
— PTI
|
|||||
|
2G trial to be shifted to Tihar Jail premises
New Delhi, November 22 This has been done due to security reasons — Known politicians and others are involved in the case. The case has 14 accused including former Telecom Minister A Raja and Rajya Sabha member Kanimozhi of the DMK. The shifting was announced by the Special CBI judge OP Saini. The trial venue of the case is to be shifted as per a Delhi High Court notification received today. "In exercise of the powers conferred by Section 9 (6) of the Criminal Procedure Code 1973, the acting Chief Justice and judges of this court (Delhi High Court) have been pleased to order that the trial of the 2G Spectrum cases shall be held in Tihar court complex, New Delhi, according to law,” read the
notification issued by the high court. Tomorrow’s hearing, however, will continue in Patiala House court complex itself. Hearing in Tihar Jail will start from Thursday. This announcement was made amid the ongoing cross-examination of key prosecution witness and HDFC Bank’s Mumbai-based Vice-president Uday Shahasrabuddhe. Just after the announcement, former Telecom Minister A Raja and DMK MP Kanimozhi protested shifting of trial of the case, arguing that the “move was bereft of valid reasons”. Raja said, “I do not know what is happening in this country.” The defence counsel opposed the notification, saying if the trial is shifted to the Tihar Jail, it would create a lot of inconvenience as everybody will have to get an entry pass to Tihar Jail made before attending the proceedings. The defence counsel said they will challenge the notification in the high court. Public prosecutor UU Lalit said, “We have already issued summons to the witnesses to appear in Patiala House court complex. The shifting will create confusion.”
|
|||||
|
SC verdict on bail pleas of corporate honchos today
New Delhi, November 22 A Bench comprising Justices GS Singhvi and HL Dattu had heard their petitions for bail. The top executives are Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group’s (ADAG) Gautam Doshi, Hari Nair and Surendra Pipara, Unitech Wireless MD Sanjay Chandra and Swan Telecom Director Vinod Goenka. According to CBI, the ADAG executives were the promoters of Swan Telecom. All the five have been charged with acquiring telecom licenses bundled with 2G spectrum through dishonest means in 2007-08 and in conspiracy with the then telecom minister A Raja and his senior officials.
|
|||||
|
Team Anna meets BJP leaders over Lokpal
The BJP, hesitant and reluctant to go all out to support the Jan Lokpal Bill, seems to have considerably tempered its stand, is now claiming that it has no fundamental problems with Team Anna’s formulation of the Lokpal. Articulating his party’s stand after
the meting, activists Arvind Kejriwal, Prashant Bhushan, Kiran Bedi and Manish Sisodia, Jaitley said, “The BJP has agreed on most of the issues raised by Anna’s team.” Kejriwal also said:
“We were not here to protest. We are holding meetings and will have more discussions”. Apart from bringing Group C and D employees, judiciary and the CBI under the Lokpal purview, the discussion revolved around the question of appointment of the Lokpal and his removal and
also bringing the PM in the ambit. The Bill is expected to be placed before the House for passing during this session. Team Anna members are arguing for the inclusion of judiciary, lower bureaucracy, the CBI and Citizen’s Charter under the ambit of Lokpal although sources suggest there has been a consensus in the Standing Committee to exclude these. Anna has demanded that a strong Bill be passed in this session itself or else he will launch an agitation and campaign against the Congress in the upcoming Assembly elections in five states next year. Activists say Group C and D employees should be under the ambit of Lokpal as the common man has to deal with these employees on a daily basis. “Their exclusion means 57 lakh employees will
be out of the ambit of the Lokpal. The common man’s plight will not improve. The corruption in MNREGA and PDS will continue,” Kejriwal said. On the issue of keeping the CBI out of Lokpal’s control, Team Anna said the Standing Committee proposal on the agency would reduce Lokpal to merely a post office to receive complaints, forward it to the CBI, receive the Central Bureau of Investigation’s report and present it before the court.
|
|||||
|
Fog hits rail traffic in Delhi, around
New Delhi, November 22 While six trains, including two Shatabdis and three passenger trains to Panipat, Rewari and Rohtak were cancelled, around 120 trains arriving and passing through Delhi were reported to be running late. As a result of fog and the smog settling over Delhi and neighbouring towns over the past three days, the Northern Railway had to reschedule the departure of around 35 trains, some of the trains had to be delayed by up to nine hours. Besides, the Lucknow Shatabdi, the Magadh Express from New Delhi to Islampur was also cancelled. The unseasonal fog over the past three days has also forced the Northern Railway to look at suspending 15 less popular trains in the coming weeks in a bid to ensure passenger safety. The three passenger trains to Rohtak, Rewari and Panipat have been suspended by the railways till further notice. On Monday, at least 82 trains arrived late in the Capital and 33 had to be rescheduled. Six trains had to be cancelled today. Trains crossing eastern UP, including Rajdhanis and Durontos, were late by seven to nine hours. In case of trains from Bihar and West Bengal, the delays exceeded 12 hours. At least 12 trains were running 10 hours behind schedule. The Magadh Express, which was cancelled today, had been running late by 20 hours yesterday and Ranchi and Patna Rajdhanis were late by 10 hours each. Like yesterday, even today a large number of trains were reported running late by five to over 12 hours. All Rajdhanis from New Delhi station were rescheduled, so were the Bhubaneswar Duronto and the Kanpur and Lucknow Shatabdis. Officials, however, said all steps had been taken to update the enquiry number 139 with the latest developments so that passengers could check the train position before leaving home. "Officers are travelling in engines to assess the problems being faced by loco drivers," an official said.
|
|||||
|
Ordeal to continue for 24 hours
New Delhi, November 22 Visibility may reduce to less than 200 m in some parts of Haryana, Delhi and west Uttar Pradesh, says the India Meteorological Department, adding that the situation will improve thereafter. While the outlook does not suggest any immediate drastic change, IMD Director BP Yadav says fog will show signs of waning from Wednesday-Thursday when dry winds from the northwest will start blowing, leading to considerable movement in atmosphere and significant reduction in humidity.
|
|||||
|
Rahul justifies his ‘begging’ remark
Lucknow, November 22 "Yes, I said in Phulpur (Allahabad) that people from Uttar Pradesh go to Delhi for begging. I can say that because I talk to beggars," said Gandhi, who
has embarked upon a mass contact programme in Uttar Pradesh. "If those (politicians) criticising me, slide down the windowpane of their cars in Mumbai and Delhi and ask the children begging there about their native places, they would come to know where they (beggars) actually come from...they come from Uttar Pradesh," Gandhi told a gathering in Bahraich, some 240 km from Lucknow. Gandhi said the politicians criticising him over the statement, "sitting inside TV studios", "must mingle with the masses" to become aware about the ground realities. Gandhi had made the "begging" remark at a rally at the Phulpur constituency in Allahabad Nov 14. "For how long would UP youths go and beg in Maharashtra," Gandhi had asked while addressing the rally in Phulpur, kicking off
the Congress campaign for the ensuing assembly elections. Political parties, including Uttar Pradesh's ruling Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), had labelled the statement as "demeaning" to the people of the state.
— IANS
|
|||||
|
Now, a steel alloy to reduce cost of missiles, rockets
Hyderabad, November 22 Developed by the Defence Metallurgical Research Laboratory (DMRL) and the Mishra Dhathu Nigam (MIDHANI), the special alloy, DMR 1700, has ultra-high strength and finds wide applications in space and defence sectors. The DMR 1700 is set to replace the 250-Grade maraging steel, which is presently used in missiles and rockets. “It is an advanced material that can boost the country’s weapons system and military hardware,” said Dr VK Saraswat, Scientific Adviser to the Defence Minister. He was speaking at the 65th annual technical meeting of the Indian Institute of Metals (IIM) in Hyderabad. The steel alloy, developed after a two decade-long research, would help reduce the cost of production of missiles and rockets by nearly two-thirds, DMRL director G Malkondiah said. The DMR 1700 is a low-alloy steel with ultra-high strength and high-fracture toughness. As a corrosion-proof alloy, it can be used in ship hulls. The DMRL has also joined a select group of nations in developing high-purity aeronautical grade of titanium for space and defence applications. “The DMRL has transferred the technology to the Kerala Metals and Minerals Ltd (KMML) which is setting up a 500-tonne year capacity plant. The product produced by the KMML will be converted into a finished product by MIDHANI for use in space and defence applications,” Saraswat said. The newly developed titanium was an import substitution product and only four other countries - United States, Russia, Japan and Kyrgyzstan - had the know-how to produce aeronautical-grade titanium, said M Narayana Rao, chairman and managing director of
MIDHANI.
|
|||||
|
Oppn seeks sacking of Maya govt
Lucknow, November 22 Addressing the media, Yadav decried Mayawati’s hijacking the legislature by passing the resolution concerning the fate of 20 crore citizens of the state in 25 seconds to be precise. “The resolution which was read out by Mayawati was neither circulated nor was part of the day’s agenda. Contrary to this, a notice for no-confidence motion had been submitted to the Speaker before the day’s sitting. Yet the motion was not taken up and the resolution which passed was not on the agenda”, alleged Yadav pointing to the BSP government “murdering democracy and democratic traditions”. Alleging that the resolution for the division of the state should be declared null and void by the Governor, Yadav claimed that it had been fraudulently passed in violation of the rules of business in the Vidhan Sabha. According to Yadav, the Governor had on a previous occasion declared the proceedings null and void and asked the Speaker to conduct the house as per rules. Under rule 175(2) of the Indian Constitution, the Governor can send such messages to the House, claimed the Leader of the Opposition.
|
|||||
|
In-laws spent money on son’s marriage: Jaya
Bangalore, November 22 She stated this while deposing before a special court here in connection with the Rs 66-crore disproportionate assets case against her. Sudhakaran’s gala wedding to the granddaughter of the Dadasaheb Phalke Award-winning Tamil actor Sivaji Ganesan in 1995 proved to be Amma’s undoing. Jayalalithaa lost the 1996 Assembly elections and many blamed the extravaganza for it. No sooner were the results were out than Sudhakaran was disowned by Jayalalithaa. According to the prosecution, Rs 5.91 crore were spent by Jayalalithaa on the marriage. However, responding to questions today, Jayalalithaa maintained that the money was spent by the bride Sathyalakshmi’s family. A lawyer present at the court told TNS that the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister answered about 500 questions addressed to her today by the judge BM Mallikarjunaiah. The questioning will continue tomorrow when Jayalalithaa will have to answer the remaining 190 questions. Jayalalithaa, who appeared before the court on October 20 and 21, had earlier replied to 571 of the more than 1,300 questions framed by the court on the basis of the deposition by the 259 witnesses in the 15-year-old case.
|
|||||
|
DU student raped, blackmailed
New Delhi, November 22 The accused, identified as Harish, alias Chirag, has been arrested. Sources said he is a BPO employee. Police said that on October 16, the victim, Priyanka (name changed), went to a mobile store in Sultanpuri. There she met Harish, who got acquainted with her. The two also met at her college, according to the police. A cop said, “On October 22, Harish called the victim to a mall in Prashant Vihar, Rohini, where he gave her a drink laced with sedatives. He then took her to an isolated location, where he raped her and made a video clipping. Then, on November 14, he called her to the same mall. He raped her again, using the video clip to blackmail her.”
|
|||||
Kalmadi out of Ethics Committee
|
|
| HOME PAGE | |
Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir |
Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs |
Nation | Opinions | | Business | Sports | World | Letters | Chandigarh | Ludhiana | Delhi | | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | E-mail | |
Under intense pressure from the Opposition for its failure to rein in prices, the government today assured the Lok Sabha that it would bring down inflation to “more acceptable levels” within six to twelve months and said it was hoping for inflation to drop to 6 to 7 per cent by March-end.
New Delhi, November 22
