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Govt, opposition draw battle lines ahead of winter session
TMC MP Srinjoy Bose denied bail, sent to four-day custody
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Pak sheltering Dawood: Rajnath
Govt must watch out for activities in PoK: Doval
Kerala on Ebola vigil, 117 under watch
Quarantined man’s samples negative for Ebola
Act tough with Bangladesh: Swamy
BJP reaches out to Shiv Sena
AFSPA misuse
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Govt, opposition draw battle lines ahead of winter session
New Delhi, November 22 The ruling coalition indicates it seeks to bring about some 30-odd bills for consideration and passage, including replacement of two Ordinances — Coal and Textiles — promulgated during the inter-session, besides key reform measures such as the Goods and Services Tax (GST), amending land acquisition and labour laws. The session is expected to see escalation of differences within the opposition with the Janata Dals of various hues deciding to re-group in Parliament as a single entity. During the past two decades, fractious politics of the Janata Dal saw the emergence of various parties, but after the advent of the BJP at the Centre, the Janata Dal (Secular), Janata Dal (United), Rashtriya Janata Dal and Samajwadi Party have decided to form a bloc, a move that is bound to lend strength to the voice of the socialists in Parliament. A sign of comfort for the BJP-led NDA parliamentary managers is that the Biju Janata Dal, the third largest party in the opposition in the Lok Sabha, is not aligned with this formation. The Lok Sabha Speaker today met leaders of various parties in the House, a customary exercise on the eve of the session where promises of cooperation and allowing the opposition raise issues of concern were exchanged. Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu along with his two deputies will hold a meeting of leaders tomorrow evening where the government will present its list of priorities and the opposition flagging issues it would like Parliament to discuss. That the comfort for the ruling coalition in terms of numbers in the Lok Sabha can be undone by a tenacious opposition was proved in the previous session of Parliament what with the government grudgingly acceding to the demand to refer the contentious bill amending the insurance laws to a select committee. As per all indications, the examination of the insurance Bill by the committee headed by BJP Rajya Sabha MP Chandan Mitra is incomplete. Possibility of seeking extension of time instead of submitting the report in the current session appears distinct since vacancies caused by induction of two members into the Council of Ministers is yet to be filled. While Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley today said the government is determined to go ahead with the bills, despite obstruction from the opposition, Anand Sharma, Congress Deputy Leader in the Rajya Sabha, disputed the notion. Speaking to The Tribune, Sharma said, the government did not consult the opposition either on the ordinance on coal, which the Congress sees as an attempt to undo the coal nationalisation or on the GST which the Congress said was opposed by the then Gujarat Chief Minister, Narendra Modi. Janata Dals to re-group in Parliament
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TMC MP Srinjoy Bose denied bail, sent to four-day custody
Kolkata, November 22 Chief Judicial Magistrate (in charge) P Pradhan of the Alipore court remanded Bose in the CBI custody till November 26 and ordered periodic medical check-ups by a senior doctor of any government hospital. The CBI had prayed for seven days’ custody. Bose told the court that he was a patient suffering from high blood pressure and back pain and he was unable to lie on the floor of a police lock-up. Bose’s counsel Ashok Mukherjee pleaded that the accused was suffering from ailments such as diabetes, hypertension and spondylosis and had also undergone a bariatric surgery. Mukherjee also argued Bose was in no way connected with the dealings of the Saradha Group and his company Sangbad Pratidin was a mere service-provider in terms of news content and programmes to Saradha group chief Sudipto Sen-owned TV channel for which a fee was charged. Meanwhile, the CBI today summoned another TMC Rajya Sabha MP Hasan Imran in connection with the TMC’s alleged involvement in the Saradha chit fund scam. According to official sources, the CBI may interrogate state minister Madan Mitra, who was also called yesterday along with Bose at the CBI’s Salt Lake office. However, he skipped the interrogation on health grounds and said he was admitted to the SSKM government hospital. Hospital superintendent Dr Pradip Mitra said the minister’s health was fine and the CBI could interrogate him any time, if necessary. Governor KN Tripathi, however, did not think Bose was arrested on false charges. Talking to mediapersons today, he said, “There must have been good reasons for his arrest by the CBI.” Move to curb ponzi schemes: Sebi chief
New Delhi: Sebi chief UK Sinha on Saturday exuded confidence that a multi-pronged approach, including effective use of powers vested with it, would help control the menace of illegal money pooling schemes. To clamp down on illegal money collecting activities or ponzi schemes, various efforts are being made at the state, Centre and regulatory levels.
— PTI
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Need to shun intolerant mindset: Iranian director
The much awarded director, many of whose films such as “Kandahar” and “A Moment of Innocence” are a part of the retrospective here at the International Film Festival of India (IFFI), in fact felt that his film “A Moment of Innocence” may not be about Gandhi, but does capture his intrinsic spirit. He also dwelt upon how a good film could become the soul of a country and referred to Satyajit Ray’s “Pather Panchali” which he felt taught him more about India than his travels here. Since his film “The President”, which was the opening film of the festival, is about a dictator on the run, he observed that dictatorship was a culture and a thought process and not a person that one needs to get rid of. People also need to bid adieu to intolerant mindsets. So felt the makers Paresh Mokashi, director, and Nittin Keni, the producer of opening feature film “Elizabeth Ekadashi” of the Indian Panorama. Since their film had stirred up a hornet’s nest what with some right-wingers objecting to its title and demanding a ban on its screening at IFFI, they insisted that the film has nothing objectionable or offensive and those who object do so without watching the film. Earlier in the day, noted filmmaker Shyam Benegal unveiled Films Division of India’s DVDs on sanitation. He spoke on the relevance of FDI in today’s times when its earlier role of news dissemination was being taken care of by television channels. He felt that today FDI was engaged in a far more important pursuit that was of recording cinematic history. Organised by the NFDC at Film Bazaar in Marriott Goa, the Investors’ Pitch put forward the makers’ finished and semi-finished films in pursuance of finance. As flashes of 15 films were shown, it gave an insight into the meaningful subjects that many of these makers are engaged with. From breast cancer to the Aam Aadmi Party to inspiring stories of great artistes, the entire gamut of themes unfolded in the riveting trailers.
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Shahi Imam anoints son as deputy
New Delhi, November 22 The function began with the recitation of Quranic verses by two theologians - one is from Rampur and the other from Iran, who was invited by Bukhari for the anointment (dastaarbandi) of 19-year-old Shaban. Shaban, who is pursing graduation in social work, will be the 14th Imam of country's largest mosque. From nearly 400 years, the Imamat of the Jama Masjid mosque has been passed on within the family. Bukhari courted controversy after he invited Pakistan Premier Nawaz Sharif ignoring Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He had also invited local BJP MP Dr Harsh Vardhan; Rajya Sabha MP Vijay Goel, Home Minister Rajnath Singh, AICC Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi, former Union minister Khursheed Alam and many others. Barring Congress MP from Bihar Maulana Asrarul Haque and former MP from Sambhal Shafiq-ur-Rehman Burq, all other politicians stayed away from the function. Local MLA Shaoib Iqbal and his son Aale Mohammad, a municipal councilor, also attended the function. A petition was filed in the Delhi High Court appealing for stay order against anointment of Deputy Imam. But the court yesterday refused to stay the ceremony saying it did not feel any need to pass any interim order restraining the anointment ceremony.
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Pak sheltering Dawood: Rajnath
He said though India wanted to maintain cordial relations with Pakistan, Islamabad seemed not keen on establishing friendly relations with New Delhi. In his address at an event, he said terrorism in India was “not home grown but is externally aided... It is from Pakistan”. “Terrorism in India is fully Pakistan sponsored. Pakistan says non-state actors are involved. But is the ISI a non-state actor? ISI is aiding terrorism,” he said. Singh said Pakistan was not taking initiative to punish those involved in the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks as the case in that country was moving at a very slow pace. “Pakistan is not helping in the judicial process. In fact it is trying to scuttle it,” he said. The Home Minister claimed Dawood had been living in Pakistan and despite many requests, the neighboring country had not handed over him to India. “When the Pakistan Premier came to India, our Prime Minister told him to hand over Dawood. We are pursuing it. We are trying to build diplomatic pressure... As he is the most wanted criminal... Right now he is along (Pakistan-) Afghanistan border,” he said. Asked whether India would carry out a “hot pursuit” to nab Dawood, Singh said: “Give us time. Please wait. Strategy cannot be divulged. There is no time frame. But we are trying so that Pakistan hands over Dawood as early as possible. Diplomatic pressure is building up.” On whether India would make efforts to have dialogue with Pakistan, the Home Minister said New Delhi wanted friendly relations with not only Pakistan but all neighbouring countries as well as others nations across the world. “There should be efforts from Pakistan side too to maintain cordial relations. We always want friendly relations. But from their side, there should be at least talk of friendship…. But I believe, sometime sooner some breakthrough will come,” he said.
— PTI
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Govt must watch out for activities in PoK: Doval
New Delhi, November 22 There were reports of construction activity, including roads in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, he said. “We have got to see its consequences particularly if it is passing through areas which are in PoK, which is close to our border and actually that is our own territory. We should take it up and I think we have taken it up from time to time with China and Pakistan. “And it is matter of which strategic view and strategic cognisance needs to be taken and I think the government should prepare itself for possible consequences,” he said at an event. The top intelligence official said the country’s economic growth was key to security. “If India rises at the rate of nine per cent or eight per cent of economic growth, it is totally safe. A country which has got such a huge market, which has got such a vast economic capabilities provides an opportunity. You will have international clout and it will be in the vested interests of the world to see that India is protected,” he said.
— PTI
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India to expand coastal security network
New Delhi, November 22 This comes some six years after the November 2008 (26/11) Mumbai terror attacks when a group of 10 terrorists armed with guns had sailed unnoticed on a boat from Karachi, Pakistan, to clandestinely reach Mumbai. The grouping is being worked out and will be the next step of coastal security network. Apart from getting advance information on threats that could be approaching the coast, it also has strategic meaning. Rear Admiral KK Pandey from the Indian Navy’s operations directorate on being asked if any of the 24 countries in the possible grouping are located east of the Mallaca straits, he replied in the affirmative. The Mallaca straits are a crucial shipping choke point east of the Andaman and Nicobar islands. India’s look east policy has resulted in increased military cooperation with Vietnam, Japan and Australia, besides the 10-member ASEAN countries. He refused to name the countries, saying it would be premature. Sources said these countries would be in the Indian Ocean and also neighbours of China, some of whom have been running territorial disputes with Beijing. India’s fear of China stems from the fact that China uses a large number of non-military vessels such as fishing boats to patrol in the contested waters of the South China Sea, and attempts to curb freedom of navigation which is crucial for India’s east going two-way trade – worth US $ 60 billion annually. US-based think tank Center for Naval Analyses November 4 report “The South China Sea: Assessing US policy and options for the future” says: “Chinese approach is to carefully avoid the direct involvement of its Navy to the extent possible.”
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Kerala on Ebola vigil, 117 under watch
Thiruvananthapuram, November 22 Of them, 563 were confirmed as “not infected” after 30 days observation and the rest 117 were under observation, said Amar Fettle, the state nodal officer for Ebola screening. “We have screened passengers who arrived from African countries such as Liberia, Guinea, Sierra Leone and Nigeria. Though Nigeria has now been taken off the surveillance list, we continue to examine those coming from there also. So far, no positive case has been reported anywhere in the state,” Fettle said. He said the state had put in place a strong surveillance network at airports and seaports.
— PTI
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Quarantined man’s samples negative for Ebola
New Delhi, November 22 “The 26-year-old man, who had undergone Ebola treatment in Liberia, is presently quarantined at Airport Health Organisation Quarantine Centre, New Delhi,” a statement issued today said. “His urine and saliva samples were tested at National Centre for Disease Control on November 21 and have been found negative for Ebola,” it added. Union Health and Family Welfare Secretary Lov Verma held a video conference with principal secretaries, health, of states and union territories to discuss measures against the disease. “The need to strengthen surveillance at airports was emphasised. States were informed that Central teams would again be visiting designated places to review passenger screening," the statement said. — IANS
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Act tough with Bangladesh: Swamy
Guwahati, November 22 Swamy said deportation of illegal Bangladeshi migrants was not taking place anywhere in India since it was a difficult task and not possible without cooperation from Bangladesh.
— TNS
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Mumbai, November 22 Union Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu, who quit Sena to join the BJP ahead of this month's Cabinet expansion by PM Narendra Modi, met Uddhav Thackeray on Friday. Shiv Sena mouthpiece Saamna had hit out at Prabhu after he quit the party and joined the BJP. — TNS
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