The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

Farmers want govt to withdraw Food Security Bill
Vibha Sharma/TNS

New Delhi, March 25
Days after the Cabinet cleared the UPA’s ambitious Food Security Bill ahead of the 2014 General Election, the Kisan Coordination Committee (KCC), a national network of farmer organisations, has openly opposed it, saying availability of heavily subsidised grain will take away the incentive for small and marginal farmers to nurture their fields.

They claim the law will “nationalise” agriculture, “greatly distort” the market mechanism and reduce the bargaining power of farmers. Therefore, apprehensive that provisions of the Bill will "encourage the government to restrict the minimum support price as well as retail selling price of the foodgrains", the group has demanded withdrawal of the Food Security Bill to “save the nation from impending food grain shortage and long term economic havoc”.

Rejecting the Bill categorically, farmers led by Sharad Joshi of Shetkari Sanghatana and Bhupinder Singh Mann of Bharatiya Kisan Union (both former members of Rajya Sabha) have outlined their objections in a memorandum to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

Joshi says the provision of subsidised grain will virtually lead to nationalisation of agriculture by making the government the biggest buyer, hoarder and seller of foodgrain. “This will greatly distort the market mechanism, and reduce the bargaining power of the farmers,” he says.

Mann believes that offering food at heavily subsidised prices — rice at Rs 3 per kg and wheat at Rs 2 per kg — will take away the incentive for small and marginal farmers to grow foodgrain. “This will actually increase food insecurity, shortages, and fuel food inflation, in a way similar to MNREGA, which has added to labour cost, without contributing meaningfully towards increasing agricultural productivity,” he adds.

Farmer organisations also believe that the food security law will significantly increase the fiscal deficit, at a time when the Indian economy is not showing any sign of recovery. “This will increase the pressure on the government restrict the minimum support price, while keeping the selling price of subsidised foodgrain very low. Farmers will get squeezed both by the government procurement price, and by the depressed market price in the short term,” says Joshi.

But that’s not all. The organisation says farmers had worked hard in making India self-sufficient in food over the past three decades. Farmers are demanding that Indian agriculture be liberalised and freed from the socialist shackles which has restrained the farmers from realising their true potential. Their next move, they say, will be dependent on the response of the PM to the memorandum.

Points of contention

The provision of subsidised grain will virtually lead to nationalisation of agriculture by making the government the biggest buyer, hoarder and seller of foodgrain

Offering food at heavily subsidised prices -- rice at Rs 3 per kg and wheat at Rs 2 per kg -- will take away the incentive for small and marginal farmers to grow foodgrain

Rejecting the Bill categorically, farmers led by Sharad Joshi of Shetkari Sanghatana and Bhupinder Singh Mann of Bharatiya Kisan Union have outlined their objections in a memorandum to the PM

Strengthen CBI to fight graft: House panel
R Sedhuraman
Legal Correspondent

New Delhi, March 25
A Parliamentary panel has asked the government to strengthen the CBI through a three-pronged approach by giving it statutory powers, filling a large number of vacancies and modernising its operations. “A solid statutory backing is needed for CBI” as the Delhi Special Police Establishment (DSPE) Act, 1946 under which the agency functioned now “is grossly inadequate” for the agency whose mandate against corruption “has increased manifold,” a 31-member standing committee said in its latest report on the functioning of the CBI.

The committee headed by Shantaram Naik virtually rejected the government’s response that there was no proposal for making a separate law for the CBI. “The Committee recommends that in the event of enacting a fresh statute for CBI not found to be feasible, requisite amendments may be made in the DSPE Act, 1946.”

It asked the Department of Personnel, the nodal ministry, to chalk out a “strategic and time-bound action plan” to fill the vacancies, including 564 in the executive rank, 59 in the legal cell and 45 in the technical cadre. The committee made it clear that the efficient functioning of the CBI should not be allowed to be hampered owing to budgetary constraints.

Key observations

The panel observed “there is a need to explore out of the box possibilities to address this problem” while pointing out that the CBI had 801 vacancies against the sanctioned strength of 6,596

Suggested sufficient training to the CBI officers in revenue, banking, security and other specialised fields to make the agency’s functioning more effective

Marines to be tried in special Delhi court

New Delhi, March 25
The Delhi High Court has designated Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Amit Bansal to hold the trial of two Italian marines, charged with killing two Indian fishermen off the Kerala coast on February 15, 2012.

The special court has been set up at the insistence of a Supreme Court order for holding an expeditious trial of marines Massimiliano Lattore and Salvatore Girone. They were facing trial in a Kerala court, but the SC ruled that the state government did not have jurisdiction to prosecute the Italians. — TNS

BKU asks Prime Minister to hike MSP
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, March 25
Activists of the Bharti Kisan Union (Rajewal) today held a rally at Jantar Mantar and submitted a memorandum to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh demanding an increase in the minimum support price of crops and tax exemption for cooperative societies of farmers. They also demanded independent body status for the Commission on Agricultural Cost and Prices (CACP), which recommends prices of agriculture produce.

Union president Balbir Singh Rajewal who along with four others also visited the office of Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar said the current MSP for wheat, paddy and other produce fixed by the government was much lower than the cost of production.

Rajewal said due to apathetic attitude of the government towards the agriculture sector, farmers were not getting the actual cost of their produce. This had forced them to take out loans from banks. Poor farmers were left with no choice but to commit suicide when banks pressurised them for repayment. Over two lakh farmers had committed suicide since 2000, he said.

He asked the agitating farmers of Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh not to allow their produce from entering the National Capital if their demands were not accepted.

“The government has constituted the CACP to recommend prices of agriculture produce. But it is not an independent body. It works under pressure from the government,” he said.

Cong hits back after Mulayam’s Advani praise
Anita Katyal/TNS

New Delhi, March 25
The Congress and the Samajwadi Party are currently caught up in a cat-and-mouse game. While SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav, whose party is lending crucial outside support to the UPA government, surprised the Congress by publicly praising veteran BJP leader LK Advani two days ago, the Congress took an indirect dig at Mulayam today.

Its party spokesperson Rashid Alvi reminded the SP that Advani was charged in the Babri Masjid demolition case and that the Godhra carnage and the subsequent communal riots took place in Gujarat during the NDA regime.

The SP leader’s statement is significant as it comes at a time when the Congress-led UPA government’s dependence on Mulayam’s party has increased after the DMK withdrew support to the ruling alliance. Realising that the UPA government is vulnerable, the SP leader first upped the ante when it demanded Steel Minister Beni Prasad’s resignation over his critical remarks about Mulayam and sought BJP leader Sushma Swaraj’s support on the issue in Parliament.

Simultaneously, SP general secretary Ram Gopal Yadav told the media that the BJP-led NDA government was “more cohesive” while Atal Behari Vajpay’s style of functioning was far better. Mulayam then followed it up by showering praise on Advani.

Constrained from taking on the SP directly, Congress spokesperson did not shy away from putting it in an uncomfortable spot. “The SP supports our government. But we do not agree with their praise of the NDA government. It is the same NDA government during which the communal riots in Godhra and Ahmedabad had happened. Everybody remembers Advani’s statements after the demolition of Babri mosque,” Alvi underlined.

While Mulayam’s overtures to the BJP were aimed at making the UPA government nervous about its longevity, the Congress reference to the NDA’s communal taint was meant to create doubts about the SP’s secular credentials among its Muslim support base in UP.”

“It is well known that Narendra Modi is one BJP leader who is not trusted by the Muslims,” a senior Congress leader said, adding that the SP chief instead focused on Advani who had recently advocated that the BJP should draw up a minority charter to woo the Muslims. “Mulayam wants to keep the BJP in good humour,” observed an AICC functionary.

Congress insiders believe the statements made by SP leaders were not an “accident” but a “well thought out plan” as Mulayam wants to play safe by keeping communication lines open with the BJP with an eye on the next Lok Sabha election. While the Congress puts up a brave face publicly, its leaders admit there is uncertainty about the UPA’s future as the SP could pull the plug on it once it is sure it will result in the government’s collapse.

If the SP keeps the Congress guessing, the latter is not averse to playing the same game. Party president Sonia Gandhi is making all efforts to save the government, demonstrating this recently when she walked across to Mulayam with folded hand to apologise on behalf of Beni Prasad Verma. At the same time, Verma has not stopped his SP-bashing primarily because he enjoys Rahul Gandhi’s patronage.

Sikkim Scouts to be raised by 2015
Recruitment for Army’s newest Infantry regiment begins
Vijay Mohan/TNS

Gangtok, March 25
The Army’s newest infantry regiment, Sikkim Scouts, has started to take shape with recruitment exclusively from amongst the local populace being underway in the strategically vital mountainous northeastern state.

Besides enabling more people from the state to join the Army and thereby having economic spin-offs, the battalion, like other scouts units in the Army, will also have the advantage of having troops deeply familiar with the local terrain, environmental conditions and customs as well as closely associated with the local residents.

“Initially, one battalion of Sikkim Scouts is being raised which would be deployed along the Sino-Indian border and there could be the possibility of raising additional battalions in due course,” Chandra Bahadur Karki, state Minister for Rural Management and Development and Information, who is closely associated with the project, said. “We have acquired 200 acres at Ravangla in Southern Sikkim for housing the battalion’s headquarters,” he added.

“We are undertaking a three-phase recruitment drive, with the first phase being carried out this month,” Secretary Rajya Saink Board, Col DN Bhutia (retd) said. “The next phase is scheduled for April and the battalion would be ready for post-training deployment in 2015,” he added. Recruitment for the Scouts will be in addition to regular intake into the forces.

Recruits for this battalion would undergo standard basic training at the 11 Gorkha Rifles Regimental Centre at Lucknow, to which the battalion would be affiliated. Currently, infantry soldiers from Sikkim, other than officers, are inducted into the Gorkha Rifles. Troops from Sikkim are also taken into other arms and services having an all-India composition.

Sikkim Scouts is conceived on the lines of the Ladakh Scouts, the oldest of the scouts units in the Army that traces its origins to 1948. Based in Jammu and Kashmir and comprising five battalions, its Ladakhi troops acquitted themselves well in various operations and it was accorded full infantry regimental status in 2000. The Dogra Regiment and Gharwal Rifles also have scouts battalions located in Himachal Pradesh and Uttrakhand, respectively. The Arunachal Scouts is a recent raising with one battalion being raised in 2010 and another in the process of being formed.

Guarding China border

Sikkim Scouts will enable more people from the state to join the Army.

The battalion, like other scouts units in the Army, will also have the advantage of having troops deeply familiar with the local terrain and environmental conditions

The regiment will guard the Chinese border

Recruits for this battalion would undergo standard basic training at the 11 Gorkha Rifles Regimental Centre at Lucknow, to which the battalion would be affiliated

Media, Oppn defaming govt, says Akhilesh

Lucknow, March 25
Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav today accused the media and the Opposition for defaming the government by playing up random crime cases overlooking his government’s achievements. This comes a day after the Chief Minister was reprimanded by father and Samajwadi Party president Mulayam Singh Yadav for his government’s performance. Akhilesh, while inaugurating the Etawah branch of a school, urged the media to present a more balanced view of his government’s working.

“I understand the compulsions of the media. They have to sell news. News channels run breaking news of some crime or the other all the time. It may appear that nothing positive is happening. The same issues are picked up by the Opposition leaders. — TNS

Inquiry into flagship scheme in Sonia’s constituency
Tribune News Service&PTI

Congress president Sonia Gandhi in Rae Bareli on Monday. — PTI

Lucknow/Rae Bareli, March 25
An inquiry will be held into works under the flagship Pradhan Mantri Gramin Sadak Yojna in Sonia Gandhi's constituency, it was decided at a meeting attended by the Congress chief and officials here today.

"At the district vigilance and monitoring committee meeting, it has been decided to conduct an inquiry by a committee into construction and maintenance works done under the Pradhan Mantri Gramin Sadak Yojna.

"An inquiry by a technical committee has also been decided into the poor quality construction of a model school in Ehsan Jagatpur," District Magistrate Amit Gupta told reporters.

Earlier, Congress chief Sonia Gandhi distributed tricycles to differently-abled persons at a function in a private school in Rae Bareli.

During the day-long schedule to her constituency, Sonia Gandhi laid the foundation stone for an FM radio station and brought many more gifts for the people of her constituency.

Arriving at Fursatganj airport this morning, Sonia first inaugurated the newly constructed Post Office building and sub-post office at Malik Mau Motor Chowk at Jawahar Vihar colony.

She then laid the foundation stone for an Rs 10.5 crore FM Radio station. To be built over an area of 2.86 acres, it would cater to a radius of 70 km reaching out to an approximate population of 70 lakh.

No mercy to those involved in helicopter deal: Antony

Kochi, March 25
Defence Minister A K Antony today said “somebody has taken money” in the controversial AgustaWestland helicopter deal and no mercy would be shown to those involved. He also said that CBI is “vigorously” pursuing the matter.

“My commitment to Parliament stands. I do feel somebody has taken money. The enquiry is at a crucial stage. We will not show mercy to anybody and will take action, however, powerful he may be,” he told reporters here when he was asked about the AgustaWestland deal.

“Please wait for some more time. There is no doubt very strict action would be taken against those involved,” he said.

The CBI had received some more crucial documents from the Defence Ministry and Italy in connection with the deal. The documents, carrying details of money trail, have been shared with the Enforcement Directorate.

The agency has already registered a Preliminary Enquiry (PE) against 11 people, including former IAF chief S P Tyagi, his three cousins, European middlemen and four companies.

All the suspects have refuted the allegations.

In its PE, registered to probe alleged kickbacks in the 12 AW-101 VVIP helicopters from AgustaWestland deal, the CBI is looking into the role of some middlemen suspected to have influenced the deal in favour of the Italian company. — PTI

In support of Lankan Tamils, Jaya, Karuna want India to skip CHOGM

Chennai, March 25
Amid protests in support of Sri Lankan Tamils in Tamil Nadu, both ruling AIADMK and Karunanidhi-led DMK today mounted pressure on the Centre demanding that India boycott the CHOGM to be held in Colombo this November.

“At the very least, India must stay away from the CHOGM to be held in Colombo and, thereby, exert pressure on Sri Lanka to do justice by its hapless, much exploited Tamil Minorities”, Chief Minister Jayalalithaa said in a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

Her letter to Singh came soon after a meeting of the DMK Executive, chaired by its chief M Karunanidhi, asked New Delhi to boycott the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting to reflect the sentiments of Tamils world over and to keep up the democratic spirits.

When some countries had decided against attending CHOGM, “India without any hesitation should announce its decision about boycott immediately,” the DMK meeting said in a resolution.

“...any high level participation or engagement from the Indian side in the CHOGM will not only embolden the Sri Lankan regime but also incense public opinion and sentiment in Tamil Nadu on this very sensitive issue even further", Jayalalithaa said in her strongly-worded letter.

The proposed CHOGM in Colombo was another opportune occasion for India to ratchet up further pressure on Sri Lanka to ensure that accountability was established under an international framework for the “war crimes and genocide committed in the closing stages of the civil war and the ongoing gross human rights abuses”, she said.

“As an emerging great power and an aspirant for a permanent seat in the UN Security Council, India has a duty to ensure that the values of democracy and respect for human rights are upheld anywhere in the world and in particular in its neighbourhood”, she said.

Jayalalithaa said India should ask for shifting of the venue to another country and “if India takes this diplomatic initiative there is likely to be broad based support amongst member countries of the Commonwealth”.

Students, advocates and some other pro-Tamil outfits have been observing protests and fast in the state over the past few days in support of the Lankan Tamils. — PTI

...any high level participation or engagement from the Indian side in the CHOGM will not only embolden the Sri Lankan regime but also incense public opinion and sentiment in Tamil Nadu on this very sensitive issue even further.
— Jayalalithaa, TN Chief Minister

Lokayukta’s Appointment
Gujarat mulls moving amendment Bill in Assembly
Manas Dasgupta

Ahmedabad, March 25
The Gujarat Government is planning to bring an amendment Bill in the Assembly during the current budget session in a bid to scuttle the Supreme Court’s order to appoint Justice RA Mehta as the Lokayukta. The Bill aims at changing the process of appointment of the highest watchdog body in the state.

While it has filed a curative petition in the apex court for reconsideration of the rejection of its review petition on the Lokayukta appointment, the Narendra Modi government is drafting a Bill to amend the existing Lokayukta Act which provides for appointment of the Lokayukta by the Governor in consultation with the Chief Minister, the Chief Justice of the Gujarat High Court and the Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly.

Sources said the amendment Bill would drop the Leader of the Opposition from the series of consultations by the Governor so that the Chief Minister would have the all-important say in the selection of candidate for the post.

The appointment of Justice Mehta, a retired judge of the High Court, by Governor Kamala Beniwal without consulting the Chief Minister had created a crisis in the state administration last year, prompting the Modi government to first move the High Court and then the Supreme Court challenging the legality of his appointment.

But both courts upheld the appointment by the Governor giving primacy to the recommendation of the Chief Justice of the High Court.

The post has remained vacant in the state since 2003 after former Lokayukta Justice RM Soni, who was appointed by the previous Keshubhai Patel government, left the office at the conclusion of his five-year term to pave the way for the Modi government to appoint a person of its choice.

For more than six years, however, the Modi government did not move the file on the appointment of the Lokayukta and when it did, the Chief Minister and the Leader of the Opposition could not agree on one name for the post.

This led the Governor to unilaterally accept the recommendation of the then Chief Justice of the High Court and consented by the Leader of the Opposition to issue a directive to the Modi government to appoint Justice Mehta as the Lokayukta.

Leader of the Opposition in the state Assembly Shankarsinh Vaghela has criticised the state government’s move to amend the Act and said it would be opposed by the Congress both inside and outside the Assembly.

The reworked Bill

Aims at changing the process of appointment of the Lokayukta in Gujarat

Disallow the Leader of the Opposition from having a say in the appointment

Allow only the Chief Minister and HC Chief Justice to recommend name to the Governor

M’rashtra MLAs get bail, victim 0cop suspended
Shiv Kumar/TNS

Mumbai, March 25
Bowing to pressure from legislators across the political spectrum, the Maharashtra Government today suspended Assistant Sub-Inspector of Police Sachin Suryavanshi who was assaulted by MLAs in the Assembly building last week. Two MLAs who were arrested for beating up the policeman were released on bail today.

Announcing the suspension of Suryavanshi, Home Minister RR Patil told the Maharashtra Assembly that the officer will be investigated for using abusive language against Bahujan Vikas Party MLA Kshitij Thakur.

Suryavanshi stopped Thakur's vehicle for speeding on the Bandra-Worli Sealink last week and the two had an altercation. Subsequently, Thakur filed a breach of privilege notice against the officer who was then summoned to the Assembly.

Thakur, MNS MLA Ram Kadam and others then allegedly assaulted the officer within the Assembly building. The MLAs were subsequently arrested and sent to custody. The two MLAs along with three others have been suspended from the assembly till December 31 this year. Today, Thakur and Kadam were granted bail by the Metropolitan Magistrate UM Padwad.

Both MLAs had on Friday moved the court for bail application after they were sent to judicial custody. The MLAs were released on bail on a surety of Rs 15,000 each. They were also directed to appear before the Crime Branch office in Mumbai every Wednesday between 11 am to 1 pm till investigations into their case was completed.

Meanwhile, proceedings of the Maharashtra assembly were adjourned as several members continuously disrupted the functioning of the House demanding that the suspension of the five MLAs be revoked.

Political ‘games’

The Maharashtra Government on Monday suspended ASI Sachin Suryavanshi who was assaulted by MLAs in the Assembly building last week.

Two MLAs who were arrested for beating up the policeman were released on bail.

Home Minister RR Patil said the policeman will be investigated for using abusive language against Bahujan Vikas Party MLA

Cricketer Rahul Sharma charged with drug use

Mumbai, March 25
Cricketer Rahul Sharma, actors Apoorva and Shilpa Agnihotri and others were formally handed over copies of the chargesheet filed in connection with a rave party at a hotel in suburban Mumbai.

The Mumbai police had filed the chargesheet before the special court set up under the Narcotic Drug and Psyhotropic Substances Act.

Australian cricketer Wayne Parnell, who was also caught along with Rahul Sharma, has been declared an absconder by the city police.

The Aussie cricketer is among 35 persons who have been declared as absconders. Most are foreigners who are believed to have left the country. The raid happened during the IPL season last May. As many as 86 persons who tested positive for drugs have been named in the chargesheet. — TNS

UGC-NET exam result declared

New Delhi, March 25
Results of the UGC-NET exam held on December 30, 2012, was declared tonight, with a total of 39,226 out of 7.8 lakh candidates passing the exam.

"A total of 39,226 candidates have qualified for the eligibility of lectureship. Out of these 39,226 candidates, 3,669 candidates have qualified for Junior Research Fellowship," said a UGC statement.

NET-December, 2012 was also conducted completely in objective mode in 78 subjects and at 77 centres spread across the country.

The candidates were allowed to carry the copy of OMR answer sheets on conclusion of the examination.

Besides, the UGC had uploaded the answer keys and question papers on its website and invited online feedback from the candidates. —PTI

Cuttack home guards stage dharna

Cuttack, March 25
More than 900 home guards of Cuttack district today staged an indefinite dharna in front of their office here in protest against the alleged assault by police in Bhubaneswar last week and subsequent arrest of their leaders.

The agitators also pressed for fulfillment of their six-point charter of demands and release of their office-bearers who were arrested.

“We will continue the dharna and boycott duties until our demands are fulfilled”, district Homeguards Association President Sanjay Majhi said.

He said the demands of state home guards to reinstate the retrenched employees and increase their remuneration is pending for consideration for past several years.

“Every time we launch a strike, the government assures that our demands would be looked into sincerely. But the government swiftly forgets,”, Majhi said. —PTI