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Yeddy or Gowda? BJP undecided
POVERTY FIGURES
Swine flu back, 12 deaths, 129 cases in 20 days
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Coal Row
Concern expressed in Parliament over China developing border rail link
Maya,
Jaitley, Deshmukh elected to Rajya Sabha BJP concerned over China’s rail project along border
HC takes exception to UP official’s conduct
Ruckus over porngate in Gujarat House
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Yeddy or Gowda? BJP undecided
New Delhi, March 22 After day-long lobbying by both leaders, it was evident that the central leadership was not in a mood to take any decisions in a hurry, at least not before March 30, when the Karnataka Assembly session would end and the Rajya Sabha polling would also be over. The party also wants to wait for the Supreme Court ruling on an appeal against the high court decision quashing all cases against Yeddyurappa. Sources say there are fears that taking any decision before the ruling might make the party look stupid if the SC reversed the high court decision. After meeting BJP president Nitin Gadkari, Yeddyurappa said the high command was aware of his claim and would take a decision "at appropriate time". He gave Gadkari a written undertaking that though he commanded support of 67 MLAs, he would not rock the boat of Chief Minister Sadananda Gowda, if he was promised restoration of the office by the first week of April. Yeddyurappa also met Jaitley and Rajnath and sought time with Advani tomorrow. He feigned ignorance about Gowda-Gadkari meeting. "I don't know what was the discussion with our Chief Minister. That is for the high command to decide," he said. However, he did not meet Sushma Swaraj, who, along with Advani and Joshi, has been opposing his restoration as the Chief Minister in a hurry. Sadananda Gowda, who met Gadkari, Advani, Sushma Swaraj, Rajanth Singh, Murli Manohar Joshi and Arun Jaitely, said, "The central leaders have told me that there will be no change of leadership right now." On his possible removal, he said, "That question does not arise." He reportedly asked party leaders how he could be penalised for running a scam-free government. Like Yeddyurappa, Gowda also feigned ignorance about former CM's presence in New Delhi. "I don't know whether Yeddyurappa has come here or held discussions with the central leaders. He was not there when we discussed the matter with the central leadership," he said. "They (the central leaders) have told me that they will resolve the problem and at present there is nothing more for discussions," he said. Faced with a dilemma, the BJP looks undecided on what to do. Those favouring Yeddyurappa say he continues to command support of 18 per cent Lingayats and is, therefore, virtually indispensable for the party if it has to prepare for the forthcoming elections. The central leadership was hoping that it had worked out some patch-up and the two camps would work together, but that has not happened. The two sides are not even on talking terms. The central leaders have told me that there will be no change of leadership right now.
— Sadananda Gowda, Karnataka CM I don't know what was the discussion with our Chief Minister (Sadananda Gowda). That is for the high command to decide.
— BS Yeddyurappa, former Karnataka CM
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Plan panel agrees to revisit methodology
Ajay Banerjee/TNS
New Delhi, March 22 The Planning Commission announcement comes within a day of Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav demanding the removal of its Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia. Two days ago, the commission had pegged the poverty line at Rs 28.65 daily per capita consumption for cities. This led to furor in Parliament with all parties slamming Ahluwalia terming the figures “unrealistic”. Minister of State for Planning Ashwani Kumar said, “The government had taken a decision to set up a technical group to revisit the methodology for estimating poverty in a manner consistent with current reality.” The purchasing power of the rupee is not the same as it was some years ago, he explained while replying to a query by mediapersons as to what was the need to set up a technical group. “Poverty estimates have been a subject matter of public debate. The government is fully conscious of the sensitivity of the issue,” Ashwani Kumar said. Ashwani Kumar said the decision to set up a technical group to review the methods of estimating poverty was taken in December last year. On being asked why did Ahluwalia announce the poverty figures and not wait for the technical group to give its report, he said, “You ask this question to the Deputy Chairman.” The technical group would be set up in three months, he said. Carefully disassociating from the controversial poverty estimates, he said, “Poverty estimates need to be reviewed from time to time with reference to the basic needs of the people. The government fully recognises that any realistic estimate of poverty must be based on earnings that can satisfy the basic human needs to ensure a life of dignity to all.” The technical group would also have the benefit of Socio Economic and Caste Census (SECC) data to assess the figures afresh, Ashwani Kumar clarified. As per the commission’s estimates released on Tuesday, the poverty ratio has been pegged at 29.8 per cent in 2009-10, down from 37.2 per cent in 2004-05. These are based on the daily per capita consumption of Rs 28.65 in cities and Rs 22.42 in rural areas. The estimates faced criticism in Parliament. The Opposition parties, including the BJP, blamed the government for making a “dishonest” attempt to conceal reality through “fraudulent” estimates.
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Swine flu back, 12 deaths, 129 cases in 20 days
New Delhi, March 22 The government today said it was monitoring the situation and there was no cause for worry. The states where cases had been reported had been advised to keep a public health vigil and so far as the cases go, these are small in number, officials in the Health Ministry said. Between March 1 and 21 this year, the Health Ministry confirmed receiving a report of 129 positive Influenza A H1N1 cases - 69 from Maharashtra, 27 from Andhra Pradesh, 28 from Rajasthan and five from Karnataka. Out of 12 deaths, six have so far been reported from Maharashtra, five from Rajasthan and one from Andhra Pradesh. No death has so far been reported from Karnataka. “There is nothing alarming about these cases. We are keeping the H1N1 spread under watch and cases are recorded in routine,” Health Ministry officials said. They categorically ruled out any cause for alarm even as reports from across the country suggested a resurgence of the virus which had assumed pandemic proportions in 2009, claiming close to 20,000 lives the world over and 1000 lives in India. Since the pandemic of 2009, the H1N1 cases had been on the decline globally as also in India. But of late, cases are coming to light from the aforementioned four states. The government said it now had enough capacity to test and treat the virus. In 2009, the global spread of H1N1 had been caused by a particular strain of the Influenza virus, just like any other flu. This particular strain A-H1N1 (also called the swine flu virus) had originated in pigs but had changed itself to be infective in humans as well. Public health experts today said though swine flu symptoms resemble those of seasonal flu, there were some warning signs typical to H1N1, which included vomitting, diarrhoea and breathlessness. Especially at high risk are the obese, pregnant women, those under five and above 65 (due to weak immunity system) and everyone with underlying chronic diseases like diabetes, hypertension, renal failure, asthma, bronchitis, cardiac arrest, HIV, and those on chemotherapy.
H1N1 symptoms
Sudden fever (100°F or above); sudden cough Other symptoms: Headaches, fatigue, chills, cough and sneezing, sore throat, running nose, diarrhoea or upset stomach, loss of appetite. Must see a doctor immediately if you belong to high-risk group comprising obese, pregnant women, under five and above 65 (due to weak immunity) and everyone with underlying chronic diseases
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CAG dismisses reports; no scam, says PM
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, March 22 “The CAG has clarified that there is no such report from its side. When there is no report, what is there to clarify,” the PM said on the sidelines of a function held in Rashtrapati Bhawan to distribute the Padma awards. The PM’s remarks came hours after the Comptroller and Auditor General Vinod Rai wrote to him dismissing media reports in this respect as “exceedingly misleading”. Earlier in the day, the BJP-led Opposition paralysed proceedings in Parliament over a preliminary assessment by CAG detecting Rs 10.7 lakh crore losses (six times higher than the 2G Spectrum presumptive loss of Rs 1.76 lakh crore) to the exchequer due to the non-auction of 155 coal blocks between 2004 and 2009 when the PM held the coal portfolio. The CAG, however, in a letter to the PM written this afternoon, dismissed media reports as exceedingly misleading and said the draft report in question didn’t even constitute their pre-final draft. “The leak of the initial draft causes great embarrassment as the audit report is still under preparation. Such leakage causes very deep anguish,” the CAG letter to PM said. Soon after the CAG clarified to the PMO that the draft report that the media had cited was at a very preliminary stage, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee also dismissed these. Interjecting during the ongoing debate on the General Budget in the Lok Sabha today, Mukherjee said, “The report the media referred to is not a CAG report. According to the procedure, a report finalised by the CAG first comes to the Finance Ministry after which it is laid on the table of both the Houses.” The Finance Ministry’s statement sought to dent the attack of the Opposition which was on its feet in both the Houses, causing disruption of proceedings till noon. In the lower House, the BJP and JD(U) members were on their feet seeking disruption of Question Hour. Speaker Meira Kumar had to adjourn the proceedings till noon.
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Concern expressed in Parliament over China developing border rail link
New Delhi, March 22 Leh is an important military and air base. However, most of civilian and defence supplies to the base are sent by the treacherous road route. It may take four-five days for trucks starting from Chandigarh to reach Leh or other strategically vital areas like Drass, Kargil, Turtuk or Batalik-all in Ladakh abutting China. During winter months, when mountain passes are snow-bound, the IAF uses its IL 76 and An 32 transport planes to ferry supplies. Participating in the discussion on the Rail Budget, senior BJP leader Shanta Kumar said Himachal had been demanding the Bilaspur-Joginder Nagar-Manali-Leh rail link to provide easy access to people of the area and add to India’s strategic position along the sensitive Line of Actual Control (LAC) separating eastern Ladakh from China. The former Himachal Chief Minister also cautioned that neighbouring China was fast developing rail links on its side. The Chinese are developing rail links in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir and also areas in the far east that border Arunachal Pradesh while nothing is being done by India to augment its border infrastructure, he said. He demanded that the issue of the rail line be looked into seriously keeping in view the “humiliating” defeat suffered by India in the 1962 war with China. The senior BJP leader said Himachal had been continuously ignored by the Railways. Not a single kilometre of rail track was added over the years to Himachal apart from the ones developed by British, he claimed. The state has two narrow gauge lines— one between Kalka and Shimla, which opened in 1903, while in 1921, a rail track was laid from Pathankot to Joginder Nagar. He said despite several representations, the three-km gap between Kalka in Haryana and industrial hub Parwanoo in Himachal had not been bridged. Kumar pleaded for eradication of the “shameful stench” from Indian rail toilets. “The Railways talk about increase in fares, but not about improving toilets in trains...,” he said. Even while in Lok Sabha, the newly anointed Railway Minister Mukul Roy was announcing fare roll-back, Nandi Yellaiah of the Congress argued that even the public felt the fare should increase provided the move resulted in better safety infrastructure and facilities. Mukul Roy’s colleague in Rajya Sabha, Derek O’Brien, however, dubbed as absurd former Railway Minister Dinesh Trivedi’s argument that fares were being raised to enhance safety. The Trinamool Congress leader said instead of generating revenue for railway safety by hiking passenger fares, the Railways should focus on freight business to earn more revenue. “The Railways should target the transportation of foodgrains and cement in the country along with the roll on roll off facility for trucks to expand business,” he said, arguing that India’s rail network was not just a commercial entity but also had corporate social responsibility.
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Maya,
Jaitley, Deshmukh elected to Rajya Sabha New Delhi, March 22 While most of the 15 states where the biennial poll to the Upper House are being held saw uncontested election of members, in Uttarakhand ruling Congress will take on opposition BJP for a lone seat while in Jharkhand five candidates are vying for two seats in the elections scheduled for March 30. In Uttarakhand, decks were cleared for a showdown between Congress candidate Mahendra Singh Mahra, a confidante of Harish Rawat, and BJP nominee Anil Goyal whose party colleague Naresh Bansal opted out of the race on the last day of the withdrawal. BJP is hoping to cash in on factionalism within the Congress especially in the wake of revolt by Rawat against the appointment of Vijay Bahuguna as Uttarakhand Chief Minister. In Uttar Pradesh, all 10 candidates, including Mayawati, BJP's Vinay Katiyar and actress Jaya Bachchan of Samajwadi Party were elected unopposed. Jaitley was elected from Gujarat for his third successive term in the upper house from the state. Deshmukh and Shukla of Congress, NCP's D P Tripathi and Vandana Chavan, BJP's Ajay Sancheti and Shiv Sena's Anil Desai were elected uncontested in Maharashtra. In Madhya Pradesh, Najma Heptullah and cash-vote-for scam accused Faggan Singh Kulaste are among 4 BJP nominees elected unopposed besides the lone Congress nominee Satyawat Chatruvedi. Actor-turned-politician Chiranjeevi, Congress spokesperson Renuka Choudhary and former state Home Minister T Devender Goud of Telugu Desam Party were elected unopposed in Andhra Pradesh along with three others. Of the 6 seats in the state, 4 went to Congress and 2 to TDP.
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BJP concerned over China’s rail project along border New Delhi, March 22 Leh is an important military and air base. However, most of civilian and defence supplies to the base are sent by the treacherous road route. It may take four-five days for trucks starting from Chandigarh to reach Leh or other strategically vital areas like Drass, Kargil, Turtuk or Batalik-all in Ladakh abutting China. During winter months, when mountain passes are snow-bound, the IAF uses its IL 76 and An 32 transport planes to ferry supplies. Participating in the discussion on the Rail Budget, senior BJP leader Shanta Kumar said Himachal had been demanding the Bilaspur-Joginder Nagar-Manali-Leh rail link to provide easy access to people of the area and add to India’s strategic position along the sensitive Line of Actual Control (LAC) separating eastern Ladakh from China. The former Himachal Chief Minister also cautioned that neighbouring China was fast developing rail links on its side. The Chinese are developing rail links in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir and also areas in the far east that border Arunachal Pradesh while nothing is being done by India to augment its border infrastructure, he said. He demanded that the issue of the rail line be looked into seriously.
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HC takes exception to UP official’s conduct
Lucknow, Mar 22 As the Principal Secretary R M Srivastava was not present in the court, it said that prima facie his conduct amounted to contempt of the court but granted him an opportunity to submit his personal affidavit as to under what circumstances, he has failed to obey its
order. A divison bench passed the order on a review petition filed by Raja Bhaiya in which he sought to get the security on 10 percent payment basis (of government expenses) though the provision was of payment of 50 per cent. — PTI
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Ruckus over porngate in Gujarat House
Ahmedabad, March 22 During the second session of the day, Minister of State for Legislative affairs Pradeepsinh Jadeja raised a point of order against Congress members who were shouting slogans against the MLAs Shankar Chaudhary and Jetha Bharvad. The point of order was supported by the Cabinet minister for Legislative affairs Dilip Sanghani and the chief whip of BJP Pankaj Desai. Jadeja alleged that the Congress members have been stalling the House proceedings since morning which has led to three adjournments. He further said that the Congress MLAs were not only dishonouring the House by sloganeering and leaving their respective seats, but also attempting to put it out of order by disrupting the discussion on the private members' bills. Sanghani alleged that the Congress has taken the House to ransom since morning. The point of order to suspend all the Congress members was put to voice vote and passed with majority. However, Congress members refused to leave the House and entered into the Well and had to be forced out by Assembly sergeants following which it was adjourned for 15 minutes. Earlier, the Assembly was adjourned thrice as Opposition Congress continued to disrupt the proceedings with their demand to dismiss the accused duo. Senior Congress leader Siddharth Patel after coming out of the House said that they have demanded dismissal of the Chaudhary and Bharvad for the rest of the session. If they can suspend the Leader of Opposition Shaktisinh Gohil for frivolous reasons, these people have dishonoured the House, Patel alleged, adding that the Speaker is yet to reply to their demands. Earlier, when the Assembly met today, Congress MLAs stood up at their places and started shouting slogan "dismiss those watching naked pictures." They tore papers and threw it in the well of the House. Speaker Ganpat Vasava tried to pacify them and bring the House in order. However, the slogan shouting continued following which the House was adjourned for an hour. When the House met again after an hour, Congress MLAs resumed sloganeering demanding dismissal of Shankar Chaudhary and Jetha Bharwad. Vasava then adjourned the House for another 45 minutes. As the din continued for the third time too, the Assembly was re-adjourned. The MLAs came under scanner for allegedly watching obscene pictures during the House proceedings after a journalist of a vernacular newspaper brought the incident to notice of the Speaker. On March 20, Radhanpur's MLA Chaudhary and fellow BJP MLA from Shera Bharward were seen spending time on a tablet during the House proceedings and it is alleged they were watching obscene pictures of women. Speaker Vasava had yesterday ordered a probe by the Privileges Committee into the unsavoury episode after asking the Assembly Secretary to confiscate Chaudhary's tablet for forensic test. "Such incidents cannot be tolerated in Parliamentary democracy if elected representatives are targeted by media in such a manner that they have to face humiliation," he had said ordering a probe by the panel which has members from both the ruling party and the Opposition. However, the two MLAs had denied the charges and have alleged that this was a conspiracy to malign them and their party. — PTI
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Adarsh beneficiaries told to surrender flats
Mumbai, March 22 Hearing the public interest litigation petition filed in the matter, Judges PB Majmudar and RD Dhanuka noted that the presence of a building housing civilians in a military area posed considerable risks. "Terrorists have already come till Taj Hotel. Tomorrow they may attack sensitive defence establishments. It is a serious matter and should not be taken lightly," Justice Majmudar noted. The bench went on to advice members of the Adarsh Society that they admit to their mistakes. "There is nothing wrong in accepting your mistake and surrendering before the law. You may have committed the mistake then but there can be a change of heart. You are not murderers or terrorists or hardened criminals. Give the building back to Defence Ministry," the court said. Questioning the procedure adopted for giving clearance for the project, the court sought details from the Brihanmumbai Municipal corporation (BMC) and the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority who okayed the project. "Why did you not insist on NOC from the Defence Ministry? The land is very close to defence installations. Before granting clearance the authorities should have considered the security aspect," the judges noted. The two agencies have been asked to come with details about the no-objection certificate during the next hearing. The court also asked the defence ministry to provide details as to which department granted the NOC and if it had the requisite authority to do so.
Risk factor
Hearing the public interest litigation petition filed in the matter, Judges PB Majmudar and RD Dhanuka noted that the presence of a building housing civilians in a military area posed considerable risks
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A rather confused BJP leadership appeared divided over the fate of Karnataka Chief Minister DV Sadananda
Gowda.
New Delhi, March 22
New Delhi, March 22
