The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

	Former PM Gujral critical but stable Tribune News Service Gurgaon, November 25 Former Prime Minister Inder Kumar Gujral’s condition is critical but stable, said his son and Rajya Sabha MP Naresh Gujral outside the hospital here where the ailing former Prime Minister has been admitted in a critical condition. He was admitted on a complaint of lung infection. Gujral (92) who has been unwell for some time, was put on ventilator support on Saturday after his condition deteriorated. Gujral has been on dialysis for over a year now and had suffered a serious chest infection some days ago.
	PAC suggested ways to calculate losses: CAG ex-official New Delhi, November 25 Keeping the controversy alive, former CAG official R P Singh today said that the Public Accounts Committee did suggest one of the methodologies to the CAG to calculate the losses due to 2G spectrum allocation which were pegged at Rs 1.76 lakh crore in the final report. Dismissing reports that he had gone back on his statement, Singh said after he had given his draft report on the 2G scam in 2010, the PAC, under Murli Manohar Joshi, had shown interest in the loss figures and had suggested one of the methodologies that led to calculation of loss of Rs 1.76 lakh crore. He said evidence to this effect was also in a note prepared by R B Sinha, Director General (Report Central) in the CAG. Singh said the contacts between the CAG and the PAC officials were on even well before the CAG submitted its report on the 2G scam to Parliament in November 2010. Asked whether he would name Joshi in this context, he said he would not because he personally did not have any documentary evidence. Earlier, Singh had said that his superiors gave him "written order" following which he signed on the final report on the 2G spectrum allocation which gave a presumptive loss figure of Rs 1.76 lakh crore. Singh, who headed the CAG team that audited the 2G spectrum allocation, maintained that he had never put the figure of Rs 1.76 lakh crore in his draft report. “They (senior CAG officials) told me that this is the final report and asked me through a written order to sign on it,” Singh said.— PTI
	BJP suspends Jethmalani New Delhi, November 25 Cracking the whip, the BJP today suspended Ram Jethmalani with immediate effect for daring the party to act against him on the CBI chief's appointment issue, saying it was gross indiscpline. A defiant Jethmalani, an eminent lawyer and Rajya Sabha MP, who had recently demanded party chief Nitin Gadkari's resignation in the wake of charges of alleged dubious funding of the latter's Purti Group, said, "nobody has the guts to take action against me". Jethmalani invited the BJP wrath after attacking the party for criticising the appointment of new CBI Director Ranjit Sinha. Addressing a press conference here, BJP spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain said Jethmalani had opposed the letter written to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh by Sushma Swaraj, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha and Arun Jaitley, Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, asking him to keep the CBI Director's appointment in abeyance. — PTI
	YSR’s daughter dons mantle of her charismatic father Suresh Dharur/TNS Hyderabad, November 25 From a shy, home-maker to a rabble-rousing public speaker, the transformation of YS Sharmila Reddy has been swift and effortless. The 38-year-old daughter of former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister late YS Rajasekhar Reddy was never interested in politics. However, the force of circumstances has seen her don the new role with aplomb. With her elder brother and president of YSR Congress Party YS Jagan Mohan Reddy being jailed in the illegal assets case, the mantle of carrying forward the fledgling party has fallen on her slender shoulders. She is now on a 3000-km long walkathon across the state. The mass contact programme has been drawing huge crowds, making Sharmila the house-hold name in the state. Clad in Salwar-Kameez and sporting sneakers, Sharmila walks breezily, covering 15-2-0 km a day, interacts with the villagers en route and addresses meetings in towns. Adopting mannerisms and speaking style of his charismatic father, she has been able to strike an emotional chord with the people and her speeches focus on how the present Congress government was trying to erase the memory of her father, defame his family and block the political career of Jagan by framing false charges against him. “My name is Sharmila. I am the daughter of YSR and sister of your beloved Jagan Anna,” she introduces herself, sending the crowds into raptures. She goes on to talk about her mission to expose the “misdeeds” of the Congress and its “nexus” with Opposition Telugu Desam Party chief N Chanrababu Naidu to “neutralise” Jagan. In an interview to The Tribune in the midst of her padayatra, Sharmila made it clear that she was “just filling in” for her jailed brother. “The moment he comes out of the jail, he will take over and I will retreat into the background,” she said. Jagan is currently lodged in a jail here following his arrest by the CBI in May this year on charges of amassing wealth through illegal means during YSR’s tenure as Chief Minister between 2004 and 2009. “I am doing it for my father, my brother and the people who had put faith in them,” says the media-shy Sharmila while admitting that politics was not her cup of tea. However, she said she was “touched” by the love and affection being shown by the people during her walkathon, christened as “Maro Praja Prasthanam” (Another Journey to the People.) How has the outpouring of public adulation changed her life ever since she hit the roads on October 18? “I am a very private person and I had not sought something like what I am doing now. As of now, I am only a representative of my brother. Sharmila said. On the contentious Telangana statehood issue, Sharmila tried to tread a politically correct line, saying “Our party is not opposed to the formation of a separate state and we respect the sentiments of the people of this region. Our objective is to ensure that all the regions of the state thrive and progress. The transformation Once a shy homemaker, 38-year-old YS Sharmila Reddy (see pic) has transformed into a crowd-capturing speaker in a swift manner With her elder brother and president of YSR Congress Party YS Jagan Mohan Reddy being jailed in the illegal assets case, the mantle of carrying forward the fledgling party has fallen on her slender shoulders Is on a 3000-km walkathon across Andhra. Her mass contact programme has been drawing huge crowds Adopting mannerisms of her charismatic father, has been able to strike an emotional chord with people
	Jantar Mantar Khurshids’ creative invite Anita Katyal External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid and his wife Louise are well known for their warm hospitality. Their annual mango party and Christmas lunch is a must on everybody’s social calendar. Their invitations to these dos are usually simply worded. But this time, the email invite had an unusual touch. It read: “Hurricane Sandy hit NewYork and New Jersey Cyclone Nilum hit Chennai and Kancheepuram. We’ve gone through our own share of tornadoes. Or at least a man-made tsunami But there’s value in the old adages:“There’s light at the end of the tunnel. And if winter comes, can spring be far behind?” Come celebrate new beginnings with us: Salman’s new avatar as the Great Indian Traveller And, of course, the coming festival of Christmas.” The irony was unmistakable. The use of the words “man-made tsunami” were a clear reference to the recent unseemly controversy over their family-run NGO in which Khurshid and Louise were recently embroiled in. As the invitation said, this year’s party will also celebrate Khurshid’s recent elevation as the External Affairs Minister. ‘Hindi Chini bhai bhai’ The term “inscrutable oriental” is best suited to describe the Chinese who are famous for not betraying any emotion, irrespective of the situation they may find themselves in. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh also falls in that category as his impassive expression never gives away anything. So when Chinese Premier Wen Jiabo and the PM had a bilateral meeting on sidelines of the ASEAN meeting in Cambodia, it was business as usual. But their interaction had a surprise ending. After the two leaders shook hands and were going their separate ways, Wen suddenly retraced his steps, embraced PM Singh in a warm bear hug. He then went on to tell the PM him that this was his last meeting with him in this capacity (a new leadership is taking over in China). Taken aback by this sudden show of affection, the PM recovered sufficiently to reciprocate, telling the Chinese leader that he looked forward to meeting him in future in different capacities. Prez’s love for his old bungalow Before he moved into Rashtrapati Bhavan, President Pranab Mukherjee had been content staying at 13, Talkatora Road, a modest bungalow which he had occupied since 1996. He had refused to shift out even when he was entitled to a bigger bungalow, partly because he considered this place lucky and partly because his wife was not keen on moving house. As it happens, the President will be able retain his link with the house to which he had such a great attachment. The bungalow has now been allotted to his son Abhijeet Mukherjee, a new entrant to the Lok Sabha. He contested and won from Jangipur, the constituency vacated by Pranab Mukherjee. He will be hoping the house will prove to be as lucky for his son as it was for him.
	Four years after 26/11 Mumbai CCTVs stuck in red tape Shiv Kumar Tribune News Service Mumbai, November 25 Four years after the Mumbai terror attacks which claimed 166 lives and injured more than 300 others an ambitious project to install Closed Circuit Televisions (CCTVs) across Mumbai to aid real-time monitoring has got stuck in red tape. Last year, a consortium headed by Mukesh Ambani's Reliance Industries Ltd emerged as the front-runners to bag the project under which 6,000 CCTVs were to be installed at all major roads in the city. The project also envisaged setting up of control rooms for continuous real-time monitoring of footage from the CCTVs. However, after questions were raised about the technical capabilities of the companies that were part of the consortium, the government decided to invite fresh proposals. “We have called for a Request for Proposal (RFP) from companies to design, supply and commission a CCTV surveillance network in Mumbai,” said a senior state government official. The contract would be valid for five years. The RFP was put out last month and responses were still being received from various companies. Sources say the bids would be finalised in the next few days after which a technical committee will scrutinise the bids. Officials say, companies, which are part of the consortia, would have to satisfy a number of security criteria being prescribed by the government. All those who are part of the project will have to undergo security clearances from the Central intelligence agencies, sources said. With estimates for the entire project coming to as much as Rs 1,000 crore, the Maharashtra Government is keen on avoiding allegations of corruption. Bidders who make the cut will then be scrutinised by a high-level panel which would have top bureaucrats and ministers, the sources said. Ram Pradhan Committee appointed by the government to look into the security aspects of Mumbai following the terror attacks had recommended the installation of CCTV cameras in all the major cities of Maharashtra. However, there are only a handful of CCTVs installed in different parts of Mumbai that too by the traffic police. According to officials, most of these CCTVs are non-functional as the contracts to maintain them haven't been renewed.
	13 yrs after dismissal, HC reinstates CISF officer Tribune News Service Chandigarh, November 25 The Punjab and Haryana High Court has set aside the termination order of a former Army captain reemployed with the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) over 13 years after he was dismissed from service on charges of corruption. Besides being reinstated, Capt Dharambir Singh has been granted 50 per cent wages from retrospect. He had joined the CISF as an assistant commandant in 1995 after being released from the Army on completion of his Short Service Commission stint. In 1997, one of his subordinates, a sub-inspector (SI), was caught red-handed while accepting illegal gratification of Rs 10,000 from truck drivers. The SI contended before the inquiry that Dharambir was the ring leader. The inquiry report concluded that in view of the facts brought out during investigations, it was proved that prima facie Dharambir, the SI, and two other inspectors were involved in illegal gratification/“rangdari” collections at Basanthimatha Post of Area-XII. In May 1998, the petitioner was posted to the CISF unit at the Food Corporation of India (FCI), where complaints were received alleging collection of illegal gratification by CISF personnel from truck operators carrying foodgrain from FCI depots. A preliminary inquiry opined that money was being illegally collected and distributed to officers under the petitioner’s patronage. In October 1998, the CISF authorities put up a note before the Ministry of Home Affairs seeking approval to terminate Dharambir’s services on the grounds that he had become “desperately corrupt” and “unreliable” and that any leniency shown to him would encourage others to indulge in corruption and misconduct. The petitioner contended that he was terminated without being issued a charge memo. He contended that the termination being stigmatic (i.e. labelling him as a corrupt person) required disciplinary inquiry to be held after issuing a show-cause notice to the petitioner and giving him an opportunity to defend himself. The court observed that though the petitioner was indicted in two separate inquiries, he was neither served any notice nor issued a charge-sheet. Further, the CISF authorities did not heed the advice of the Home Ministry, which said the services of the petitioner should not be terminated under the provisions invoked. Case History In 1995, Dharambir joins the CISF as an assistant commandant after serving in the Army In 1997, an SI is caught accepting bribe of Rs 10,000 from truck drivers; claims Dharambir is the ring leader In May 1998, complaints are received of illegal gratification against Dharambir, then posted with the CISF unit at the FCI In October 1998, the CISF approaches Ministry of Home Affairs seeking officer's termination Dharambir contends he has been terminated without being issued a charge memo; moves court
	Overarching health regulator proposal rejected Health research can’t be given to HRD Ministry to handle: Panel Returns govt Bill in rare move Aditi Tandon/TNS New Delhi, November 25 The Ministry of Health suffered huge embarrassment yesterday when the parliamentary panel examining the feasibility of establishing an overarching health regulator rejected the Bill in this regard. Seldom does a department-related standing committee of Parliament - health in this case - return a government Bill asking it to redo the entire draft. But the National Commission for Human Resources for Health Bill 2011 suffered a severe blow with the panel headed by BSP’s Brajesh Pathak saying in its report to Parliament yesterday: “The Health Ministry should come back with a new Bill that takes into consideration the concerns of all stakeholders. This Bill can’t be recommended in its present form.” The principal objection of the panel is the disregard for the role of the states in the constitution of the commission envisaged as the mother body with three constituents - National Board of Health Education, National Evaluation and Assessment Committee and the National Councils replacing the Medical Council of India (MCI), Dental Council of India (DCI), Nursing Council (NCI) and the Pharmacy Council of India (PCI). The commission would have a chairperson, four full-time members and eight part-time members - all appointed by the Central Government in consultation with the selection committee. The Bill is silent on the exact procedure for appointment and says, “Chair and members shall be appointed in such manner by the Centre as may be prescribed”. “The composition of the commission gives no representation to states which play a vital role in the delivery of medical education. States know their medical capacity and their future requirements better. The Bill must address the need to give representation to states in the commission,” says the panel. In another setback to the Health Ministry, the panel has questioned its decision to place medical research under the purview of the HRD Ministry piloted Higher Education and Research Bill 2011 which seeks to create an overarching regulator in the higher education by subsuming the UGC, the All-India Council for Technical Education and the Architecture Council of India. “We don’t agree with the ministry’s contention that health research requires a forum like the National Commission for Higher Education which the HRD Ministry Bill seeks to create. “There is a separate department of medical research mandated with the responsibility of developing related aspects. Medical research should not be kept under the jurisdiction of more than one ministry,” the report states, slamming the year-long efforts which the HRD Ministry, led by former minister Kapil Sibal, made to convince his health counterpart Ghulam Nabi Azad to put the entire higher education research, including medical research, under the National Commission for Higher Education and Research (NCHER). Finally, the PMO had to intervene to make this happen. GROUNDS FOR REJECTION Bill talks of allowing MBBS in distant mode. Panel says it has to be a regular course Bill seeks to dismantle MCI, DCI, PCI and Nursing Councils by repealing their Acts. Panel wants councils strengthened as they are Bill doesn't provide for elections to appoint members of commission. Panel wants election element Bill says govt can remove chairperson, members of commission and its bodies. Panel says President must have that power Bill says if the commission is silent on an application for a new course or institute for one year, permission would be deemed to have been given. Panel terms the provision sweeping
	Thackeray ‘sitting duck’, Headley had said Mumbai, November 25 Mumbai terror attack conspirator David Headley, who had surveyed most of the 26/11 targets, had also conducted a recce of Bal Thackeray's heavily-guarded residence `Matoshree' in suburban Bandra in 2008, and found that Shiv Sena chief was a "sitting duck". In his soon-to-be-released book, `Headley and I', about filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt's son Rahul's unusual friendship with Headley during the latter's stay in Mumbai, author-journalist Hussain Zaidi has revealed how the LeT operative scanned Thackeray's residence with the help of Shiv Sena activist Vilas, a gym instructor. Pakistani-American Headley frequently visited a gym in south Mumbai where Rahul Bhatt and Vilas worked out, and befriended them. Headley, according to Zaidi, found loopholes in the late Sena chief's security at Matoshree. The book -- to be released within a week, Zaidi told PTI -- also reproduces Headley's statements recorded by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in Chicago. According to Zaidi, the book tells how Headley once even visited Matoshree and photographed it for 15 minutes, posing as `a fan'. Post-Matoshree visit, Headley told Rahul that Thackeray was "a sitting duck". "A small bunch of desperadoes can break that security cover and reach Thackeray. I have no idea why the police are so proud of the protection he has been given," Headley is quoted as having said. During reconnaissance of several targets in the metropolis, the Pakistan-origin US national, who had learnt to play golf in Lahore, made a visit to Willingdon Club here too, and termed a possible strike on the posh club as "icing on the cake". Zaidi said the book also talks about Headley's visit to Shiv Sena headquarters in Dadar for a video surveillance. Posing as an immigration agent, he had met Sena public relations officer Rajaram Rege and befriended him. Headley also went to the famous Siddhivinayak temple with Vilas and Bhatt, from where, under instructions from his bosses in Pakistan, he bought several red `maulis', later also seen tied around 26/11 gunman Ajmal Kasab's wrist, says the book. The day hotel Marriott was bombed in Islamabad, Headley had told Rahul to "watch out" for a similar attack in Mumbai. The Marriott Hotel bombing occurred on the night of 20 September 2008, when a dump truck filled with explosives blew up, killing over 50 people. On November 10, 2008, sixteen days before 26/11, the LeT operative called Rahul by a satellite phone and specifically advised him against venturing into south Mumbai over the next few days, according to Zaidi. After the attack, Headley called to ask if Rahul and his family were safe. A few months later, as the investigators probed the case and accessed phone intercepts, Rahul was picked up by NIA in connection with the 26/11 terror strike. Headley, on March 18, 2010, pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy in the Mumbai terror strike and plotting to attack a Danish newspaper which had published controversial cartoons of prophet Muhammad. He struck a plea-bargain deal with the US authorities.
	Government to approach Swiss authorities in Hasan Ali case New Delhi, November 25 The government has asked the Indian Mission in Berne to get in touch with banking authorities of Switzerland for obtaining details of businessman Hasan Ali Khan's Swiss bank accounts in connection with the probe into one of the biggest tax evasion scams in the country. The Finance Ministry has written to the External Affairs Ministry to approach the Swiss banking authorities to allow a team of investigators drawn from the Enforcement Directorate and the Income Tax department who will place a "comprehensive money laundering and criminal tax evasion" report on the Pune-based stud farm owner and his associates. According to official sources, a team of three-four sleuths wants to place documents related to "criminal proceeds of crime" allegedly amassed by Khan in front of the Swiss authorities so that they allow them to obtain his bank accounts data and cash statements, including one which he reportedly holds in a bank in Liechtenstein. — PTI
	Old aircraft, security clearances hit remote sensing projects Vijay Mohan/TNS Chandigarh, November 25 Underperformance of its minuscule fleet of aircraft and delays in security clearance from the Ministry of Defence and other agencies concerned have resulted in aerial survey projects initiated by the National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC), overshooting their stipulated time frame by over four years. The NRSC reportedly has 76 aerial projects under its wings and a detailed audit scrutiny of 36 projects, costing around Rs 46 crore, revealed delays ranging from eight to 54 months, says the Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee. The NRSC, a unit of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), is the sole civilian provider of aerial remote sensing services in the country and these projects are meant for conducting overhead survey of specific areas at certain time intervals which is not possible through satellites. Satellites or aircraft-based sensors are used for remote sensing to detect and classify topographical features and objects on earth and the NRSC has been using this technique to generate data for a host of ministries for application in disaster management support, mapping natural resources and water availability, biodiversity classification, land use, hydropower site assessment, and preparing various types of maps. Two Beechcraft airplanes equipped with navigation aids and state-of-the-art sensors like laser detection and ranging, high-resolution digital cameras and aerial magnetometer are being used by the NRSC, but these aircraft are old and prone to technical snags. To reduce the problems in avionics and inherent delays in sourcing spares that are no longer manufactured, the Department of Space is planning life extension of there aircraft and upgrade them with a modern “full glass cockpit”. Retrofit of one aircraft is in the stage of evaluating price bids. Availability of pilots is also a major issue with the NRSC. The Department of Space admits that all pilots employed by the NRSC had left in 2007 for better avenues elsewhere, leaving it with no option but to look towards the air force for deputing pilots to fly the NRSC missions. The IAF started by deputing two pilots for a two-year tenure each. Pointing out that the NRSC’s experience with the air force was good and they had been more productive with air force pilots, the Department of Space has taken up a proposal with the IAF to now depute four pilots for a four-year tenure. About NRSC A unit of the Indian Space Research Organisation Sole civilian provider of aerial remote sensing services in the country Has 76 aerial projects; 36 of these face eight to 54 month delays Covers disaster management, mapping natural resources and water availability, biodiversity classification, land use, hydropower site assessment, and topographical mapping
	All issues with SAD to be resolved amicably: Shanta Tribune News Service Chandigarh, November 25 BJP vice-president and the party’s Punjab unit in-charge Shanta Kumar today said that all issues with alliance partner — the SAD — would be resolved amicably and that the coalition was gearing up to win all the 13 Lok Sabha seats from the state in the 2014 parliamentary poll. Shanta Kumar was reacting to BJP ministers’ complaint that they did not have any voice in the Punjab Government. He said there was some talk in this regard but it had been resolved. All issues between the two alliance partners would be ironed out in joint meetings, he said. Earlier, at the meeting, state executive members raised the issue of crisis in the farming sector due to low minimum support price (MSP). It demanded an increase in the MSP of wheat to ensure good returns to Punjab farmers. Shanta expressed satisfaction at the work done by the state unit in the past three years. The executive meeting was held under the chairmanship of state president Ashwani Sharma and attended by Balramji Dass Tandon, general secretary Kamal Sharma, MP Vinod Khanna, Swaran Salaria and Cabinet Ministers Bhagat Chunni Lal, Madan Mohan Mittal, Anil Joshi and Surjit Kumar Jyani.
	Assam NGO to move HC over plight of physically challenged Bijay Sankar Bora/TNS Guwahati, November 25 Fifteen differently abled youngsters who had to undertake train journey from Guwahati to Delhi to participate in “Jashne Bachpan” had harrowing time last week. The reason: Lack of basic facilities for physically challenged persons at the Guwahati and New Delhi railway stations. Sishu Sarothi, the city-based NGO to which these children belong, has decided to move the Gauhati High Court seeking its intervention to make disabled-friendly facilities available at the railway station and commercial places in Guwahati. Arman Ali, executive director of Sishu Sarothi, said their students started their journey from Guwahati on November 17. As no ramps were available at the Guwahati railway station, the youngsters had to taken to the platform through the cargo offload route. A similar hardship awaited them at the New Delhi railway station, too. Woes of the youngsters, who were invited to New Delhi by the National School of Drama to perform a play at “Jashne Bachpan”, were compounded inside the train due to lack of amenities for the physically-challenged on board. “The NGO has now decided to knock at the door of the Gauhati High Court, seeking its intervention to make Guwahati a disabled-friendly city,” he added.
	Haemophiliacs demand ‘benchmark disabilities’ status Tribune News Service New Delhi, November 25 Pushing for amendments into the Draft Rights of Persons with Disabilities Bill, 2012, patients of haemophilia yesterday urged the government to include haemophilia under the ‘benchmark disabilities’, an earmarked category which grants differently-abled people with benefits such as reservation in jobs and insurance coverage among other benefits. In the new draft released by the Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment in September this year, the chapter 6 of the section 39 of the Act, which deals with reservation for employment for persons with benchmark disabilities, takes into account only 16 other kinds of disabilities of the total 18 deformities excluding both haemophilia and thalassemia, life-threatening bleeding disorder, said representatives of the Haemophilia Federation of India (HFI) which submitted a memorandum to the President in this regard. In India, one person of every 5,000 persons is suffering from any of the three bleeding disorders, sickle cell anemia apart from the other two mentioned. As far as haemopilia is concerned, whose maintenance and management warrants an expenditure of Rs 5,000 to Rs. 20,000 on an average, there could be an estimated 1.2 lakh people suffering from it. Drawing attention to their plight Wg. Cdr. SS Roychoudhury (retd), HAI’s chief executive officer said, “They are qualified yet they are not considered for jobs and declared unfit. They are not inferior but just people who require some support as they are born with a disability that demands life-long expensive support. Haemophilia should be considered as a benchmark disability. They should be provided insurance and employment.” People with haemoplilia and similar blood disorders live in uncertainty and are prone to frequent bleeding episodes, usually internal, owing to absence of blood clotting proteins called factors that may result from an injury or due to prolonged writing or sitting or even while sleeping. “The risk of bleeding lessens their chances of retention in jobs. As during such instances they may require long leaves and mostly in the private sector, companies are reluctant. It is also seen that their disclosure about their status brings down their chances of selection in interviews,” said Mukesh Ganesh, himself a haemophliac and member of the HFI from Assam.
	Trade unions to meet in Mumbai this week to plan all-India stir Tribune News Service New Delhi, November 25 Decades after Lala Lajpat Rai presided over the inaugural session of the All-India Trade Union Congress (AITUC), workers bodies from across the political spectrum will converge at its 40th session in Mumbai this week to finalise preparations for an all-India stir. “We are returning after decades to the place where the AITUC was born in 1920...when Lala Lajpat Rai presided over the session. Despite de-industrialisation, Mumbai continues to be a stronghold of trade unionism. Unity among various unions will be demonstrated as representatives of all 11 central trade unions, including those controlled by the Congress and the Bhartiya Janata Party, will be present at the November 27-30 event,” AITUC general secretary Gurudas Dasgupta told The Tribune here. Criticising the Manmohan Singh government, he said that the real economic situation is far more alarming than what was being shared with the country. He blamed the economic policies for the fall in factory output and Index of Industrial Production, high figures of unemployment and inflation. “Recession plus inflation, coupled with high prices, have hit the people. The loss of jobs is leading to violation of labour laws in the country. Instead of checking this trend, the government has raised diesel prices and are planning to hike railway passenger and freight charges,” the CPI leader said. He added that in these circumstances, the government was pressurising the Reserve Bank of India to slash interest rates so that loans could be given to the corporate sector at cheaper rates. Dasgupta said that in a major policy turn, the AITUC would debate the importance of private capital in the economy but feels that it cannot be the principal role. “That role will have to be played by the state to stimulate growth,” he said. He charged that the PM has time to talk to tax evaders but not to listen to the voice of the trade unions. In order to make their voice heard, all the 11 trade unions are working towards yet another all-India general strike, this time for two days, February 20-21.