heard so in corridors of power

JUNE 16, 2011

NEW DELHI POLITICAL GRAPEVINE SNIPPETS

for publication on Sunday June 19, 2011

Thanks
R Rajagopalan

Delhi

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"Dr Manmohan Singh and his Navagrahas" This is how a

theory is now in circulation. After Lunar eclipse, the planetic 

positions certainly change. But for Dr Singh, the saturn is

Ram Dev, likewise each planet is described with the following

eight personalities. The downfall of UPA2 and Dr Singh will

come from  MJ Akbar, Dr Subramanian Swamy, KN Govindacharya

Cho Ramaswamy, S Gurumurthy,Ritambra,Prasant Bhushan and

Anna Hazare. UPA2 is keeping a close watch on their movements

As the Government apprehends-danger in winter session of parliament

with a new concept of Rath Yatra on Lokpal Bill

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Jayalalitha Chief Minister when she met Prime Minister

introduced Dr Maitreyan, Thambidurai, Semmalai and Balaganga

DMK MPs. But whenver Karunanidhi as chief minister met 

Dr Manmohan Singh was particular to keep either Dayanidhi Maran

or Kanimozhi - family members for translations. This is how

senior Congress observer commented. It convey huge political

interpretations

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Two DMK Union Ministers who have business interest in 

Tamil Nadu have begun to get closer to AIADMK and the

leader Jayalalitha. This is aimed at smooth functioning of their

institutions. This is not the only surprise, another speculation

after Jaya visit to Delhi that a family member of  DMK leader

Karunanidhi had a quiet meeting with two AIADMK leaders

These positionings are prepared for a possible post Karunanidhi

scenario - said a senior ADMK leader

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Gesture of Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh to Jayalalitha 

is a classic piece. He not only spent quietly ten minutes 

with out aides- discussed politics.To top it all, Dr Singh

received her at the portico and seen her off by standing till

her car left. Dr Singh also chose to send his SPG sanitized 

SUV vehicle to Tamil Nadu house to bring Jayalalitha to 

5 Race Course Road. Due her health and knee problem, 

she cannot sit in a car which has a lower platform. 

She has to climb to sit next to driver seat

She needs space to move to get down from the vehicle, she

ails from knee joint problems. SPG Director KN Wanchoo

coordinated with Tamil Nadu police in despatch of SPG vehicle

to Tamil Nadu house from Race Course Road.

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RAX telephones are provided to Union Ministers and to

Secretaries to Government of India. Restricted

Automatic Exchange. Just 4 digit phone numbers. 

Recently two Union  Ministers faced immense problems. 

Green Minister Jairam

Ramesh RAX was repair, not dial tone, but for MK Alagiri

who uses RAX to speak to DMK Ministers was much upset

as the 2G and 3G era, his RAX phone still in the 1990 model

instrument is kept in his chambers, he has to dial with roatating

fingers. Alagiri is not complaining as the RAX is maintained by

the Union Home Ministry-especially IB. Alagiri tapped his forehead

for an antique piece is kept in his chambers.

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ends

NITIN GADKARI SAYS CHIDAMBARAM WILL GO TO JAIL- IN AAJ TAK SEETHI BAAT

"We are convinced of Chidambaram's involvement in 2G scam, we have evidence....he will go to Jail" – Nitin Gadkari

15th June 2011, New Delhi: “Nira Radia has stated in her statement to the CBI that Chidambaram had received a lot of money to clear the 2G spectrum, his signatures are present on at least 10 documents relating to these clearances and he also assured the PM vide a letter that everything was ok with respect to the clearances.Chidambram can't escape by merely burying an alliance partner DMK ”, said BJP President Nitin Gadkari, in an interview to M.J. Akbar for Seedhi Baat.

When further probed by M.J. Akbar about the mechanism of putting the Home Minister in the docks by BJP, Gadkari replied that," BJP already has enough evidence against Chidambaram and is in the process of gathering more. The BJP Members of Parliament will present all the evidence to the Director of CBI and urge him to conduct a thorough enquiry, file an FIR and proceed firmly against him".  

To a pointed question by M.J. Akbar, Nitin Gadkari reiterated his stand that Chidambaram and others in the congress were definitely culpable of graft in the 2G scam and satirically added that,"Tihar jail should create a special air conditioned 3 star  facility to accommodate the congress VIPs involved with him in this act of corruption". Nitin Gadkari also delineated his party's ambitions in the UP elections of 2012 while castigating the Congress party for being corrupt during an interview to M.J. Akbar, Editorial Director, India Today and Headlines Today for Aaj Tak’s ‘Seedhi Baat’. The program will be aired on June 19th, 2011 at 8:00 PM.

GOVT PLANS REACHING PEOPLE THROUGH SMS

15 June 2011

GOVT PLANS REACHING PEOPLE THROUGH SMS

By R Rajagopalan

NEW DELHI: The Centre has finally crossed the digital barrier to adopt the new age media of SMS messages and Internet advertisements to reach out the masses.

The Directorate of Advertising and Visual Publicity (DAVP) has been asked by the Information and Broadcasting Ministry to use bulk SMS and advertisements on popular websites instead of remaining stuck to publicity through newspapers, television and radio.

Tenders were issued last week inviting applications for providing the bulk SMS and Internet advertisements and the government hopes to start rolling the publicity stuff on the digital media in the next two months.

One factor which has always pained both the government and the Congress is that they are doing so much with newer and newer programmes but the message of these programmes is not reaching the people effectively to generate enthusiasm.

I&B Minister Ambika Soni has also given the idea to the Congress to go for the bulk SMS messages to reach out the people. No matter to be late than never was the response of the Congress sources when told that the BJP has been effectively using SMS for poll campaigns since 2004 and the RSS outfits have been creating nationwide campaigns through the bulk messages, including those sent out to support the fasts of Anna Hazare and Baba Ramdev.

The sheer number of over 70 crore mobile phone users in the country makes the SMS the best media to reach out the people and that too a fraction of money DAVP spends today on electronic and print media, the officials point out.

They said impact of the SMS messages is not known and hence the DAVP will run the service on a pilot basis for three months to test the effectiveness.

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BABUS SHUN TRANSPARENCY CALLS FACE DISCIPLINARY ACTION

15 June 2011

BABUS SHUN TRANSPARENCY CALLS, FACE DISCIPLINARY ACTION

By R Rajagopalan

NEW DELHI: Despite repeated goading of the government, the bureaucracy is still shy of becoming transparent as a large number did not declare their assets as mandated by May 31 despite warnings of the disciplinary action.

The Department of Personnel has made public on its website names of 461 senior bureaucrats who did file with the government their immovable property returns for the years 2009 and 2010.

It also issued a communication to all concerned ministries and departments to serve show cause notices on the defaulters as to why disciplinary proceedings should not be initiated against them. It also warned that adverse remarks will be put in their annual performance appraisal reports if they continue to defy submission of the returns.

The defaulters are the IAS officers and those from 58 Group A Central Services holding the posts of deputy secretaries, under secretaries, directors and deputy directors. The highest number of 63 defaulters are from Defence Ministry alone while the Home Ministry account for another 56.

Even the Cabinet Secretariat has five such defaulters, including director K V S Rao and four under secretaries, while there are two defaulters each from CVC, CBI and Central Information Commission.

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PMO BATS FOR VOLUNTARY RESERVATION IN PRIVATE SECTOR

15 June 2011

PMO BATS FOR VOLUNTARY RESERVATION IN PRIVATE COMPANIES

From R Rajagopalan

NEW DELHI: The Prime Minister's Office (PMO)  claimed nearly 20 per cent employees in the industries now belong to Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes(ST) and more than 1500 private companies have adopted a voluntary code of conduct for implementing affirmative action.

It is an answer to those questioning the UPA government for not meeting the promise given in 2004 for reservation in the private sector as affirmative action is nothing but reservation to SCs and STs but without the constitutional compulsion.

Instead of twisting arms of the private sector to employ these deprive sections of the society through amendment in the Constitution or a law enacted by Parliament, the government is persuading it to do so voluntarily and the PMO was happy that it has begun showing results.

The Confederation of Indian Industries (CII) made the claim of its member companies employing nearly 20 per cent workers belonging to SC/ST communities at a review meeting chaired by the Prime Minister's Principal Secretary TKS Nair to review the "affirmative action" in the private sector.

The chambers of industry told the meeting that 1,12,702 persons have benefited so far from the affirmative action's 4Es -- Employability, Education, Entrepreneurship Development, and Employment.

The industry associations who attended the coordination committee meeting cited a series of steps they have taken to improve employment of the SC and ST employees in the industries on a voluntary basis.

The FICCI and ASSOCHAM, the two apex bodies of the Indian industry and commerce have appointed their own ombudsmen to monitor the progress, while the CII told the meeting that it is in the process of doing so.

FICCI reported that it has imparted skill training to 11,000 SC/ST candidates to enhance their employability and it has also forwarded the voluntary code of conduct to nearly 2,70,000 industrial entrepreneurs in the country.

Between themselves, FICCI, CII and ASSOCHAM have adopted 559 ITIs to train the SC/ST candidates for easy employment in the private sector. They are also supporting mid day meal and various education programmes, they told the meeting.

ASSOCHAM has created a foundation for inclusive growth for SCs and STs and mandated a task force to oversee initiatives taken for affirmative action.

The three apex bodies are also adopting districts to launch focused skill development programmes to promote livelihood to the disadvantaged in these districts. FICCI has adopted Sonbhadra in Uttar Pradesh while CII has adopted Nawashahr district in Punjab and Cooch Behar in West Bengal.

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SNACK TIME FOR MPs

SALE OF SNACKS AT PARLIAMENT CANTEENS

STREAMLINED-NEW ORDERS 

Members of Parliament on one reason or the other stall proceedings

and recent past, the session as such not held. But the recent

General Purposes Committee meeting of the Parliament where the

sale of snacks at Parliament canteen is decided, the six members

attended and indicated their choices and preferences. They had

tablulated the prices and day in which the food items will be

made available.

MPs zindabad, to get cheaper rates, best snacks.A recent circular

exhibits the choices and tastes of MPs

Parliamentary Bulletin Part-II
No. 48450	Thursday, June 09, 2011	G.A. Section
Sale of Snacks at the Northern Railway Canteens in Parliament House Annexe and Parliament Library Building
Members are informed that  Northern Railway  Catering, Parliament House  have  decided to introduce the  following  day-wise menu of snacks as well as the timings of sale of these snacks at the Northern Railway canteens in Parliament House Annexe and Parliament Library Building:-  Day-wise Menu of Snacks of Parliament House Annexe Canteen MORNING SNACKS              (10 AM TO 12 Noon) EVENING SNACKS                          (4 PM TO 5.30 PM) MONDAY UPMA VEG. CUTLET DOSA BONDA BREAD BUTTER VEG. SAND-WICHES BREAD BUTTER VADA CHEESE SAND-WICHES OMLET ASSORTED SWEET OMLET FISH FRIED CHICKEN CUTLET FISH FRIED CHICKEN CUTLET ASSORTED SWEET TUESDAY IDLY VADA DOSA DAL LADDU BREAD BUTTER VEG. SAND-WICHES BREAD BUTTER VEG. SAND- WICHES CHEESE SAND-WICHES OMLET ASSORTED SWEET CHEESE SAND-WICHES FISH FRIED CHICKEN CUTLET FISH FRIED CHICKEN CUTLET ASSORTED SWEET OMLET WEDNESDAY POHA VEG. CUTLET DOSA BREAD PAKORA BREAD BUTTER VEG. SAND-WICHES BREAD BUTTER VEG. SAND-WICHES CHEESE SAND-WICHES OMLET ASSORTED SWEET CHEESE SAND-WICHES FISH FRIED CHICKEN CUTLET VADA CHICKEN CUTLET ASSORTED SWEET OMLET FISH FRIED THURSDAY IDLY VEG. CUTLET DOSA MIX-PAKORA BREAD BUTTER VEG. SAND-WICHES BREAD BUTTER VEG. SAND-WICHES CHEESE SAND-WICHES OMLET ASSORTED SWEET CHEESE SAND-WICHES FISH FRIED CHICKEN CUTLET VADA CHICKEN CUTLET ASSORTED SWEET CHANNA VADA OMLET FISH FRIED FRIDAY POHA SAMOSA DOSA VADA BREAD BUTTER VEG. SAND-WICHES BREAD BUTTER VEG. SANDWICHES CHEESE SAND-WICHES OMLET ASSORTED SWEET CHEESE SAND-WICHES FISH FRIED CHICKEN CUTLET VADA CHICKEN CUTLET ASSORTED SWEET OMLET FISH FRIED Day-wise Menu of Snacks of Parliament Library Building Canteen MORNING SNACKS  (10 AM TO 12 Noon) EVENING SNACKS        (4 PM TO 5.30 PM) MONDAY UPMA VEG. CUTLET DOSA BONDA BREAD BUTTER VEG. SAND-WICHES BREAD BUTTER VADA CHEESE SAND-WICHES OMLET ASSORTED SWEET OMLET FISH FRIED CHICKEN CUTLET FISH FRIED CHICKEN CUTLET ASSORTED SWEET TUESDAY IDLY VADA DOSA DAL LADDU BREAD BUTTER VEG. SAND-WICHES BREAD BUTTER VEG. SAND -WICHES CHEESE SAND-WICHES OMLET ASSORTED SWEET CHEESE       SAND-WICHES FISH FRIED CHICKEN CUTLET FISH FRIED CHICKEN CUTLET ASSORTED SWEET OMLET WEDNESDAY POHA VEG. CUTLET DOSA BREAD PAKORA BREAD BUTTER VEG. SAND-WICHES BREAD BUTTER VEG. SAND- WICHES CHEESE SAND-WICHES OMLET ASSORTED SWEET CHEESE SAND- WICHES FISH FRIED CHICKEN CUTLET VADA CHICKEN CUTLET ASSORTED SWEET OMLET FISH FRIED THURSDAY IDLY VEG. CUTLET DOSA MIX-PAKORA BREAD BUTTER VEG. SAND-WICHES BREAD BUTTER VEG. SAND-WICHES CHEESE SAND-WICHES OMLET ASSORTED SWEET CHEESE SAND-WICHES FISH FRIED CHICKEN CUTLET VADA CHICKEN CUTLET ASSORTED SWEET CHANNA VADA OMLET FISH FRIED FRIDAY POHA SAMOSA DOSA VADA BREAD BUTTER VEG. SAND-WICHES BREAD BUTTER VEG. SAND-WICHES CHEESE SAND-WICHES OMLET ASSORTED SWEET CHEESE      SAND- WICHES FISH FRIED CHICKEN CUTLET VADA CHICKEN CUTLET ASSORTED SWEET OMLET FISH FRIED The morning timing of sale of these snacks will be from 10.00 am to 12.00 noon, and evening timing  will be from 04.00 pm to 5.30 pm.                  As for Parliament House and Parliament House Reception Office canteens, the existing practice will remain in vogue. ____________
V.K. AGNIHOTRI Secretary-General