Thursday, June 16, 2011

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

--------------------
"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
-------------------
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
----------------
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
---------------
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.
------------------
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.
-------------------
ends

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

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.

###

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.

###



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.

###

Friday, June 10, 2011


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. 48450Thursday, June 09, 2011G.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