| Code of Conduct for Members of Rajya Sabha | ||
| Members are informed that the Committee on Ethics in its Fourth Report presented to the Council on the 14th March, 2005 and adopted by it on the 20th April, 2005 had inter alia considered the Code of Conduct for Members enumerated by the Committee in its First Report which was also adopted by the Council. The Committee felt that the Code was quite comprehensive and endorsed the same. It recommended that the Code of Conduct may be published in Bulletin Part II on the eve of each Session for information of and compliance by the Members. Accordingly, the Code of Conduct is reproduced below: The Members of Rajya Sabha should acknowledge their responsibility to maintain the public trust reposed in them and should work diligently to discharge their mandate for the common good of the people. They must hold in high esteem the Constitution, the Law, Parliamentary Institutions and above all the general public. They should constantly strive to translate the ideals laid down in the Preamble to the Constitution into a reality. The following are the principles which they should abide by in their dealings: (i) Members must not do anything that brings disrepute to the Parliament and affects their credibility. (ii) Members must utilise their position as Members of Parliament to advance general well-being of the people. (iii) In their dealings if Members find that there is a conflict between their personal interests and the public trust which they hold, they should resolve such a conflict in a manner that their private interests are subordinated to the duty of their public office. (iv) Members should always see that their private financial interests and those of the members of their immediate family* do not come in conflict with the public interest and if any such conflict ever arises, they should try to resolve such a conflict in a manner that the public interest is not jeopardised. (v) Members should never expect or accept any fee, remuneration or benefit for a vote given or not given by them on the floor of the House, for introducing a Bill, for moving a resolution or desisting from moving a resolution, putting a question or abstaining from asking a question or participating in the deliberations of the House or a Parliamentary Committee. (vi) Members should not take a gift which may interfere with honest and impartial discharge of their official duties. They may, however, accept incidental gifts or inexpensive mementoes and customary hospitality. (vii) Members holding public offices should use public resources in such a manner as may lead to public good. (viii) If Members are in possession of a confidential information owing to their being Members of Parliament or Members of Parliamentary Committees, they should not disclose such information for advancing their personal interests. (ix) Members should desist from giving certificates to individuals and institutions of which they have no personal knowledge and are not based on facts. (x) Members should not lend ready support to any cause of which they have no or little knowledge. (xi) Members should not misuse the facilities and amenities made available to them. (xii) Members should not be disrespectful to any religion and work for the promotion of secular values. (xiii) Members should keep uppermost in their mind the Fundamental Duties listed in Part IVA of the Constitution. (xiv) Members are expected to maintain high standards of morality, dignity, decency and values in public life. | ||
| V.K. AGNIHOTRI Secretary-General |
Saturday, July 30, 2011
code of conduct for Members of Parliament
Friday, July 29, 2011
UPA2 NEW INITIATIVE TO MAKE IB AND RAW ACCOUNTABLE
NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR
SHIV SHANKAR MENON NEW
INITIATIVE-
INITIATIVE-
INTELLIGENCE AGENCIES TO BE MADE ACCOUNTABLE
By R Rajagopalan/Jal Khambata
NEW DELHI: India has decided to make its intelligence agencies accountable to Parliament for scrutiny in the wake of several goof-ups, failures and misuse of the unlimited funds placed at their disposal. This is a new initiative undertaken by the national security advisor Shiv Shankar Menon.
Rampant corruption in the National Technical Research Organisation (NTRO), a spy agency created for cyber espionage, that was unearthed by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) led Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to order a specific law to bring all eight intelligence agencies under scrutiny.
A committee of secretaries headed by National Security Adviser (NSA) Shiv Shankar Menon is right now engaged in drafting a Bill to be introduced in Parliament in winter or budget session that provides an elaborate mechanism for making the intelligence agencies accountable.
The intelligence community is divided on bringing the agencies under the Parliamentary oversight. The majority is worried that those required to work in secrecy will get exposed and those who are engaged secretly for helping them will face risk of life, impacting the intelligence gathering.
They are not open to the CAG scrutiny and hence there were lot of protests when the previous NSA M K Narayanan sought special audit of NTRO's finances following allegations of wasted funds. The proposed bill will make their audit by CAG mandatory.
G K Pillai, who retired as home secretary a month ago, told a seminar here that "there is a consensus at the official level in the government on the need for such a legislation and I am hopeful that it will be done."
Manish Tewari, the Congress MP and party spokesman, has already introduced a private member's bill titled 'The Intelligence Services (Powers and Regulation) Bill, 2011' in the Lok Sabha in the last session. He was also present at the seminar on "Enabling Intelligence in India: Autonomy, Accountability and Oversight," organised by independent Observer Research Foundation (ORF).
Much to his surprise, Pillai addressed him directly: "I can assure you that your Bill is not forgotten or put under the table. There may be some red-tape. But it is being studied."
Sources in the Home Ministry said in case Tewari's Bill comes up for discussion during the upcoming monsoon session, Home Minister P Chidambaram will be urging him to withdraw it as the government is itself coming up with own legislation.
The bill still at the drafting stage is intended to regulate the functioning and use of power by the Indian intelligence agencies within and outside India. It also intends to provide for the coordination, control and oversight of such agencies.
Pillai said though the intelligence agencies have unlimited autonomy in terms of finance, there is enough scope for improvement in the other areas. However, he cautioned that India should not try to follow blindly the way other countries in the West and the US have done. "We have to take note of the characteristics of our society, etc.," he remarked.
He also criticised the downsizing of the government, as introduced by then Revenue Secetary Geeta Krishnan as part of administrative reform in 90s. "This mindless downsizing (of the Government) was the biggest mistake we have done, the biggest mistake in 20 years. It has weakened the Government very badly," he said.
Pillai pointed out that the shrinkage of posts under this downsizing drive has reached to such a disastrous levels that a state now gets just one or two new IPS officer a year and the Home Ministry had to ring alarm bells over an acute shortage of these officers badly affecting the policing work.
He went on to also question millions spent on the fencing of borders, pointing out that it was a political decision that will not stop infiltration. People would continue to come in search of greener pastures, he said, pointing out that even the powerful United States failed to stop infiltration from Mexico despite using all its powers and technology.
Several former intelligence sleuths present at the meeting as also former NSA Brajesh Mishra during the NDA regime strongly opposed any parliamentary oversight on the intelligence agencies as they said it might lead to misuse of intelligence inputs and put handicaps in intelligence gathering.
Explaining the rationale behind his private member Bill, Manish Tiwari said an oversight mechanism outside the government was necessary to infuse professionalism and accountability among the agencies.
Attempting to allay fears of the intelligence community, Tewari pointed out that institutions like CIA and FBI worked efficiently in the US where there is such Congressional oversight. He also gave the examples of Russia, Germany and Japan where such mechanisms have not affected the functioning of the intelligence agencies.
###
By R Rajagopalan/Jal Khambata
NEW DELHI: India has decided to make its intelligence agencies accountable to Parliament for scrutiny in the wake of several goof-ups, failures and misuse of the unlimited funds placed at their disposal. This is a new initiative undertaken by the national security advisor Shiv Shankar Menon.
Rampant corruption in the National Technical Research Organisation (NTRO), a spy agency created for cyber espionage, that was unearthed by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) led Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to order a specific law to bring all eight intelligence agencies under scrutiny.
A committee of secretaries headed by National Security Adviser (NSA) Shiv Shankar Menon is right now engaged in drafting a Bill to be introduced in Parliament in winter or budget session that provides an elaborate mechanism for making the intelligence agencies accountable.
The intelligence community is divided on bringing the agencies under the Parliamentary oversight. The majority is worried that those required to work in secrecy will get exposed and those who are engaged secretly for helping them will face risk of life, impacting the intelligence gathering.
They are not open to the CAG scrutiny and hence there were lot of protests when the previous NSA M K Narayanan sought special audit of NTRO's finances following allegations of wasted funds. The proposed bill will make their audit by CAG mandatory.
G K Pillai, who retired as home secretary a month ago, told a seminar here that "there is a consensus at the official level in the government on the need for such a legislation and I am hopeful that it will be done."
Manish Tewari, the Congress MP and party spokesman, has already introduced a private member's bill titled 'The Intelligence Services (Powers and Regulation) Bill, 2011' in the Lok Sabha in the last session. He was also present at the seminar on "Enabling Intelligence in India: Autonomy, Accountability and Oversight," organised by independent Observer Research Foundation (ORF).
Much to his surprise, Pillai addressed him directly: "I can assure you that your Bill is not forgotten or put under the table. There may be some red-tape. But it is being studied."
Sources in the Home Ministry said in case Tewari's Bill comes up for discussion during the upcoming monsoon session, Home Minister P Chidambaram will be urging him to withdraw it as the government is itself coming up with own legislation.
The bill still at the drafting stage is intended to regulate the functioning and use of power by the Indian intelligence agencies within and outside India. It also intends to provide for the coordination, control and oversight of such agencies.
Pillai said though the intelligence agencies have unlimited autonomy in terms of finance, there is enough scope for improvement in the other areas. However, he cautioned that India should not try to follow blindly the way other countries in the West and the US have done. "We have to take note of the characteristics of our society, etc.," he remarked.
He also criticised the downsizing of the government, as introduced by then Revenue Secetary Geeta Krishnan as part of administrative reform in 90s. "This mindless downsizing (of the Government) was the biggest mistake we have done, the biggest mistake in 20 years. It has weakened the Government very badly," he said.
Pillai pointed out that the shrinkage of posts under this downsizing drive has reached to such a disastrous levels that a state now gets just one or two new IPS officer a year and the Home Ministry had to ring alarm bells over an acute shortage of these officers badly affecting the policing work.
He went on to also question millions spent on the fencing of borders, pointing out that it was a political decision that will not stop infiltration. People would continue to come in search of greener pastures, he said, pointing out that even the powerful United States failed to stop infiltration from Mexico despite using all its powers and technology.
Several former intelligence sleuths present at the meeting as also former NSA Brajesh Mishra during the NDA regime strongly opposed any parliamentary oversight on the intelligence agencies as they said it might lead to misuse of intelligence inputs and put handicaps in intelligence gathering.
Explaining the rationale behind his private member Bill, Manish Tiwari said an oversight mechanism outside the government was necessary to infuse professionalism and accountability among the agencies.
Attempting to allay fears of the intelligence community, Tewari pointed out that institutions like CIA and FBI worked efficiently in the US where there is such Congressional oversight. He also gave the examples of Russia, Germany and Japan where such mechanisms have not affected the functioning of the intelligence agencies.
###
STORMY MONSOON SESSION IN PARLIAMENT FROM MONDAY
July 29, 2011
MONSOON STORM IN PARLIAMENT FROM MONDAY
By R Rajagopalan
NEW DELHI: Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar has convened a meeting of leaders of parties on Sunday at noon to prepare for a six-week monsoon session of Parliament from Monday that promises to be stormy with the Opposition armed with over a dozen issues to put the government on mat every day.
She is also expected to take a decision on Sunday on the ticklish resignations by 13 MPs of Andhra Pradesh, including 9 from the Congress and two each from TDP and Telangana Rashtra Samithi, in support of the demand for a separate Telangana state. Resignations of MPs and MLAs have already put the government on spot to decide the contentious issue expeditiously.
25-YEAR-OLD: Among the pending bills is one of 1987 hanging for almost a quarter of century with change of ten governments and election of eight new Lok Sabhas. It seeks changes in the Medical Council of India.
Most crucial among the pending Bills are the women's reservation bill and the pension bill whose delay is most disturbing since the pension fund and its regulator are already in place but without statutory backing.
For that matter, at least 10 key financial sector reform bills are pending for Parliament's approval. Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee expressed confidence while talking to a select group of reporters here last week that some of these bills "should be able to get through in the forthcoming session" but being frank that "how many, I cannot say as it will depend."
Investors are keenly awaiting the fate of several financial sector legislations. The string of scandals in the past one year led to a policy paralysis and stalled legislative business as the government has been caught up fending off allegations of corruption.29 July 2011
Continuing price rise, corruption, black money, land acquisition, 13/7 Mumbai blasts, Telangana, rail accidents, black gold (coal) scam and Maoist violence are among the issues on the top of the Opposition's agenda.
The main opposition Bhartiya Janata Party is gunning for dismissal and arrest of Home Minister P Chidambaram, citing what it claims as revelations made by arrested former telecom minister A Raja on his role in the 2G scam. Only the other day, Janata Party president Subramanian Swamy even went to the extent of alleging that Chidambaram got a cut of Rs 5,000 crores from Raja in the scam.
The BJP is targeting Prime Minister Manmohan Singh as well in the 2G scam while the Congress is geared up to assert that its removal of B S Yeddyurappa as the Karnataka chief minister will not be enough as even the BJP headquarters and national leaders have been beneficiary of the illegal iron ore mining scam.
WOMEN'S RESERVATION: The Speaker convened two meetings of floor leaders last month for a consensus on the women's reservation bill but without success while Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal has been vowing to get it passed during the monsoon session. The Bill granting 33 per cent reservation to women in Lok Sabha and Assemblies was passed by the Rajya Sabha on March 9 last year.
Bansal also said the Lokpal Bill, cleared by the Cabinet on Thursday, will be the first official Bill to be introduced on August 3. It will be then referred to the standing committee to examine it and get feedback of the public and concerned people before it is brought back for passage, possibly during the winter session in November-December.
FLAGSHIP BILL: The government has readied its yet another flagship Food Security Bill, Communal Violence Bill and the Lokpal Bill to be introduced during the session and push for passage of three other key legislations of Women's Reservation Bill that was practically abandoned after it were passed by the Rajya Sabha last year, the Nuclear Liability Bill and the Direct Tax Code Bill to replace the Income Tax Act and the 115th Constitution Amendment Bill to usher in the new Goods and Service Tax (GST).
The Land Acquisition Bill was also in the government's priority list for introduction during the monsoon session, but Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh got it deferred to give him time to hold a month-long consultation with the state governments and also seek public opinion by mounting the draft on Internet. He sought time on the ground that it is going to be a landmark Bill that will for the first time bring land acquisition, rehabilitation and resettlement in a singled integrated law.
The UPA-II government had started its innings declaring eight important Bills in its 100-day agenda but only Right to Education (RTE) has won parliamentary approval.
In the budget session agenda, the government had announced 34 Bills but only five could be passed besides the financial bills related to the Union Budget and the Railway Budget.
A staggering number of 81 official Bills have piled up in Parliament and it is doubtful that 26 sittings planned in the monsoon session will be enough to reduce this backlog of the pending bills. The government finds itself handicapped in pushing through these bills in earlier sessions because of most business hours lost in protests and adjournments.
The Insurance Laws (Amendment) Bill brought in 2008 to hike FDI (foreign direct investment) in the insurance companies from 26 to 49 per cent is not yet cleared by the standing committee on finance as it is pressing the government to better withdraw it.
While the standing committee is yet to finalise its views on this bill, it held its first meeting on Thursday to discuss the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) Bill, 2011 and is understood to have asked the finance ministry some tough questions on its intentions regarding the pension sector.
“Neither of the Bills will be ready for discussion in the Monsoon session as the committee is still working on them,” a person close to the development said. The panel however is likely to finalise its report on the Banking Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2011, which seeks to raise the ceiling on voting rights of shareholders of nationalised banks to 10 per cent.
M Veerappa Moily in his new avatar as the corporate affairs minister will be pushing for passage of a new companies bill he had readied in the monsoon session with a promise that running a business in India will not be difficult any more.
###
Congress uses IPS route to tar Modi
29 July 2011
MODI-BAITER IPS OFFICER CONG MOLE?
From Our Delhi Bureau
NEW DELHI: Even as the Supreme Court on Friday sought the Gujarat Government's view on a petition of IPS officer Sanjeev Bhatt to transfer his criminal case outside Gujarat, the state government has dug out his emails to show he was playing in the hands of Congress to file the controversial affidavit alleging Chief Minister Narendra Modi's hand in the post-Godhra 2002 riots.
The emails show that he was in constant touch with Gujarat leader of opposition Shaktisinh Gohil and Gujarat Congress president Arjun Madhvadia and they allegedly instigated him to claim Modi had asked officers in a high-level meeting in 2002 to allow Hindus to "vent out their anger" as Muslims ought to be "taught a lesson."
Bhatt is the first person to allege Modi's hand in the anti-Muslim riots after the Godhra train burning that killed a score of Hindu pilgrims returning from Ayodhya. In his April 15 affidavit, which the Supreme Court declined to take on record, that he was present in the high-level meeting where Modi had given these instructions. The state government officials have, however, contested his claim, pointing out that he was just a Superintendent of Police who cannot be present in any high-level meeting.
Reproducing some of the incriminating email exchanges of Bhatt on Friday, English daily The Pioneer said the set of emails sufficient to turn the needle of suspicion on him will be filed by the Gujarat government before the Apex Court as evidence to junk his April 15 affidavit.
A Bench of justices Aftab Alam and R M Lodha has asked the Gujarat government and the Centre to file their replies by August 8 on Bhatt's plea to shift his case to any court outside Gujarat.
The emails reveal Gohil supplying a background note of the riot cases to the police officer. Evidence of Bhatt's proximity to Gohil is seen in a request made by Bhatt for a Blackberry mobile phone from Gohil and he got it very next day.
In an email on April 27, 12 days after filing the controversial affidavit, Bhatt wrote to Gohil: "Still awaiting the Blackberry. Please send me a copy of the Note. Will try to suggest points if necessary." Gohil replied back: "Sure Bhai. I am at Bhavnagar. Will be back at late night. Will send both tomorrow." The next day, Bhatt acknowledged receipt of the mobile phone: Received the item. Awaiting the note."
Another email sent out by Gohil the same day later has two attachments, one giving background note of the pending riot cases in court and another titled "comments on the report submitted by SIT."
Bhatt responded within half an hour: "Read the backgrounder and the additional note. Both are highly informative. The background document is particularly very comprehensive. If you go through my affidavit, I have mentioned in Paras 4 and 5 that I had supplied information to SIT regarding the sequence of events that led to the burning of S6 coach at Godhra."
His contacts with PCC President Modhvadia are revealed in one of his emails to one Nasir Chhipa: "Arjunbhai spoke with me tonight. Let us see where he can be helpful to the larger cause. We are likely to meet on the day after tomorrow."
###
MODI-BAITER IPS OFFICER CONG MOLE?
From Our Delhi Bureau
NEW DELHI: Even as the Supreme Court on Friday sought the Gujarat Government's view on a petition of IPS officer Sanjeev Bhatt to transfer his criminal case outside Gujarat, the state government has dug out his emails to show he was playing in the hands of Congress to file the controversial affidavit alleging Chief Minister Narendra Modi's hand in the post-Godhra 2002 riots.
The emails show that he was in constant touch with Gujarat leader of opposition Shaktisinh Gohil and Gujarat Congress president Arjun Madhvadia and they allegedly instigated him to claim Modi had asked officers in a high-level meeting in 2002 to allow Hindus to "vent out their anger" as Muslims ought to be "taught a lesson."
Bhatt is the first person to allege Modi's hand in the anti-Muslim riots after the Godhra train burning that killed a score of Hindu pilgrims returning from Ayodhya. In his April 15 affidavit, which the Supreme Court declined to take on record, that he was present in the high-level meeting where Modi had given these instructions. The state government officials have, however, contested his claim, pointing out that he was just a Superintendent of Police who cannot be present in any high-level meeting.
Reproducing some of the incriminating email exchanges of Bhatt on Friday, English daily The Pioneer said the set of emails sufficient to turn the needle of suspicion on him will be filed by the Gujarat government before the Apex Court as evidence to junk his April 15 affidavit.
A Bench of justices Aftab Alam and R M Lodha has asked the Gujarat government and the Centre to file their replies by August 8 on Bhatt's plea to shift his case to any court outside Gujarat.
The emails reveal Gohil supplying a background note of the riot cases to the police officer. Evidence of Bhatt's proximity to Gohil is seen in a request made by Bhatt for a Blackberry mobile phone from Gohil and he got it very next day.
In an email on April 27, 12 days after filing the controversial affidavit, Bhatt wrote to Gohil: "Still awaiting the Blackberry. Please send me a copy of the Note. Will try to suggest points if necessary." Gohil replied back: "Sure Bhai. I am at Bhavnagar. Will be back at late night. Will send both tomorrow." The next day, Bhatt acknowledged receipt of the mobile phone: Received the item. Awaiting the note."
Another email sent out by Gohil the same day later has two attachments, one giving background note of the pending riot cases in court and another titled "comments on the report submitted by SIT."
Bhatt responded within half an hour: "Read the backgrounder and the additional note. Both are highly informative. The background document is particularly very comprehensive. If you go through my affidavit, I have mentioned in Paras 4 and 5 that I had supplied information to SIT regarding the sequence of events that led to the burning of S6 coach at Godhra."
His contacts with PCC President Modhvadia are revealed in one of his emails to one Nasir Chhipa: "Arjunbhai spoke with me tonight. Let us see where he can be helpful to the larger cause. We are likely to meet on the day after tomorrow."
###
MONSOON SESSION TOO STORMY LIKELY
29 July 2011
MONSOON STORM IN PARLIAMENT FROM MONDAY
From Our Delhi Bureau
NEW DELHI: Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar has convened a meeting of leaders of parties on Sunday at noon to prepare for a six-week monsoon session of Parliament from Monday that promises to be stormy with the Opposition armed with over a dozen issues to put the government on mat every day.
She is also expected to take a decision on Sunday on the ticklish resignations by 13 MPs of Andhra Pradesh, including 9 from the Congress and two each from TDP and Telangana Rashtra Samithi, in support of the demand for a separate Telangana state. Resignations of MPs and MLAs have already put the government on spot to decide the contentious issue expeditiously.
Continuing price rise, corruption, black money, land acquisition, 13/7 Mumbai blasts, Telangana, rail accidents, black gold (coal) scam and Maoist violence are among the issues on the top of the Opposition's agenda.
The main opposition Bhartiya Janata Party is gunning for dismissal and arrest of Home Minister P Chidambaram, citing what it claims as revelations made by arrested former telecom minister A Raja on his role in the 2G scam. Only the other day, Janata Party president Subramanian Swamy even went to the extent of alleging that Chidambaram got a cut of Rs 5,000 crores from Raja in the scam.
The BJP is targeting Prime Minister Manmohan Singh as well in the 2G scam while the Congress is geared up to assert that its removal of B S Yeddyurappa as the Karnataka chief minister will not be enough as even the BJP headquarters and national leaders have been beneficiary of the illegal iron ore mining scam.
WOMEN'S RESERVATION: The Speaker convened two meetings of floor leaders last month for a consensus on the women's reservation bill but without success while Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal has been vowing to get it passed during the monsoon session. The Bill granting 33 per cent reservation to women in Lok Sabha and Assemblies was passed by the Rajya Sabha on March 9 last year.
Bansal also said the Lokpal Bill, cleared by the Cabinet on Thursday, will be the first official Bill to be introduced on August 3. It will be then referred to the standing committee to examine it and get feedback of the public and concerned people before it is brought back for passage, possibly during the winter session in November-December.
FLAGSHIP BILL: The government has readied its yet another flagship Food Security Bill, Communal Violence Bill and the Lokpal Bill to be introduced during the session and push for passage of three other key legislations of Women's Reservation Bill that was practically abandoned after it were passed by the Rajya Sabha last year, the Nuclear Liability Bill and the Direct Tax Code Bill to replace the Income Tax Act and the 115th Constitution Amendment Bill to usher in the new Goods and Service Tax (GST).
The Land Acquisition Bill was also in the government's priority list for introduction during the monsoon session, but Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh got it deferred to give him time to hold a month-long consultation with the state governments and also seek public opinion by mounting the draft on Internet. He sought time on the ground that it is going to be a landmark Bill that will for the first time bring land acquisition, rehabilitation and resettlement in a singled integrated law.
The UPA-II government had started its innings declaring eight important Bills in its 100-day agenda but only Right to Education (RTE) has won parliamentary approval.
In the budget session agenda, the government had announced 34 Bills but only five could be passed besides the financial bills related to the Union Budget and the Railway Budget.
A staggering number of 81 official Bills have piled up in Parliament and it is doubtful that 26 sittings planned in the monsoon session will be enough to reduce this backlog of the pending bills. The government finds itself handicapped in pushing through these bills in earlier sessions because of most business hours lost in protests and adjournments.
25-YEAR-OLD: Among the pending bills is one of 1987 hanging for almost a quarter of century with change of ten governments and election of eight new Lok Sabhas. It seeks changes in the Medical Council of India.
Most crucial among the pending Bills are the women's reservation bill and the pension bill whose delay is most disturbing since the pension fund and its regulator are already in place but without statutory backing.
For that matter, at least 10 key financial sector reform bills are pending for Parliament's approval. Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee expressed confidence while talking to a select group of reporters here last week that some of these bills "should be able to get through in the forthcoming session" but being frank that "how many, I cannot say as it will depend."
Investors are keenly awaiting the fate of several financial sector legislations. The string of scandals in the past one year led to a policy paralysis and stalled legislative business as the government has been caught up fending off allegations of corruption.
The Insurance Laws (Amendment) Bill brought in 2008 to hike FDI (foreign direct investment) in the insurance companies from 26 to 49 per cent is not yet cleared by the standing committee on finance as it is pressing the government to better withdraw it.
While the standing committee is yet to finalise its views on this bill, it held its first meeting on Thursday to discuss the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) Bill, 2011 and is understood to have asked the finance ministry some tough questions on its intentions regarding the pension sector.
“Neither of the Bills will be ready for discussion in the Monsoon session as the committee is still working on them,” a person close to the development said. The panel however is likely to finalise its report on the Banking Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2011, which seeks to raise the ceiling on voting rights of shareholders of nationalised banks to 10 per cent.
M Veerappa Moily in his new avatar as the corporate affairs minister will be pushing for passage of a new companies bill he had readied in the monsoon session with a promise that running a business in India will not be difficult any more.
###
MONSOON STORM IN PARLIAMENT FROM MONDAY
From Our Delhi Bureau
NEW DELHI: Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar has convened a meeting of leaders of parties on Sunday at noon to prepare for a six-week monsoon session of Parliament from Monday that promises to be stormy with the Opposition armed with over a dozen issues to put the government on mat every day.
She is also expected to take a decision on Sunday on the ticklish resignations by 13 MPs of Andhra Pradesh, including 9 from the Congress and two each from TDP and Telangana Rashtra Samithi, in support of the demand for a separate Telangana state. Resignations of MPs and MLAs have already put the government on spot to decide the contentious issue expeditiously.
Continuing price rise, corruption, black money, land acquisition, 13/7 Mumbai blasts, Telangana, rail accidents, black gold (coal) scam and Maoist violence are among the issues on the top of the Opposition's agenda.
The main opposition Bhartiya Janata Party is gunning for dismissal and arrest of Home Minister P Chidambaram, citing what it claims as revelations made by arrested former telecom minister A Raja on his role in the 2G scam. Only the other day, Janata Party president Subramanian Swamy even went to the extent of alleging that Chidambaram got a cut of Rs 5,000 crores from Raja in the scam.
The BJP is targeting Prime Minister Manmohan Singh as well in the 2G scam while the Congress is geared up to assert that its removal of B S Yeddyurappa as the Karnataka chief minister will not be enough as even the BJP headquarters and national leaders have been beneficiary of the illegal iron ore mining scam.
WOMEN'S RESERVATION: The Speaker convened two meetings of floor leaders last month for a consensus on the women's reservation bill but without success while Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal has been vowing to get it passed during the monsoon session. The Bill granting 33 per cent reservation to women in Lok Sabha and Assemblies was passed by the Rajya Sabha on March 9 last year.
Bansal also said the Lokpal Bill, cleared by the Cabinet on Thursday, will be the first official Bill to be introduced on August 3. It will be then referred to the standing committee to examine it and get feedback of the public and concerned people before it is brought back for passage, possibly during the winter session in November-December.
FLAGSHIP BILL: The government has readied its yet another flagship Food Security Bill, Communal Violence Bill and the Lokpal Bill to be introduced during the session and push for passage of three other key legislations of Women's Reservation Bill that was practically abandoned after it were passed by the Rajya Sabha last year, the Nuclear Liability Bill and the Direct Tax Code Bill to replace the Income Tax Act and the 115th Constitution Amendment Bill to usher in the new Goods and Service Tax (GST).
The Land Acquisition Bill was also in the government's priority list for introduction during the monsoon session, but Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh got it deferred to give him time to hold a month-long consultation with the state governments and also seek public opinion by mounting the draft on Internet. He sought time on the ground that it is going to be a landmark Bill that will for the first time bring land acquisition, rehabilitation and resettlement in a singled integrated law.
The UPA-II government had started its innings declaring eight important Bills in its 100-day agenda but only Right to Education (RTE) has won parliamentary approval.
In the budget session agenda, the government had announced 34 Bills but only five could be passed besides the financial bills related to the Union Budget and the Railway Budget.
A staggering number of 81 official Bills have piled up in Parliament and it is doubtful that 26 sittings planned in the monsoon session will be enough to reduce this backlog of the pending bills. The government finds itself handicapped in pushing through these bills in earlier sessions because of most business hours lost in protests and adjournments.
25-YEAR-OLD: Among the pending bills is one of 1987 hanging for almost a quarter of century with change of ten governments and election of eight new Lok Sabhas. It seeks changes in the Medical Council of India.
Most crucial among the pending Bills are the women's reservation bill and the pension bill whose delay is most disturbing since the pension fund and its regulator are already in place but without statutory backing.
For that matter, at least 10 key financial sector reform bills are pending for Parliament's approval. Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee expressed confidence while talking to a select group of reporters here last week that some of these bills "should be able to get through in the forthcoming session" but being frank that "how many, I cannot say as it will depend."
Investors are keenly awaiting the fate of several financial sector legislations. The string of scandals in the past one year led to a policy paralysis and stalled legislative business as the government has been caught up fending off allegations of corruption.
The Insurance Laws (Amendment) Bill brought in 2008 to hike FDI (foreign direct investment) in the insurance companies from 26 to 49 per cent is not yet cleared by the standing committee on finance as it is pressing the government to better withdraw it.
While the standing committee is yet to finalise its views on this bill, it held its first meeting on Thursday to discuss the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) Bill, 2011 and is understood to have asked the finance ministry some tough questions on its intentions regarding the pension sector.
“Neither of the Bills will be ready for discussion in the Monsoon session as the committee is still working on them,” a person close to the development said. The panel however is likely to finalise its report on the Banking Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2011, which seeks to raise the ceiling on voting rights of shareholders of nationalised banks to 10 per cent.
M Veerappa Moily in his new avatar as the corporate affairs minister will be pushing for passage of a new companies bill he had readied in the monsoon session with a promise that running a business in India will not be difficult any more.
###
heard so
July 29, 2011
NEW DELHI POLITICAL GRAPEVINE SNIPPETS
R RajagopalanDelhi
------------------
Jairam Ramesh as Green Minister corrected the draft speech
of the Prime Minister to be delivered at theValedictory Session of
International Seminar on Global Environment and Disaster Management..And major
policy announcement initiated by Jairam Ramesh are reflected in the
text delivered by Dr Manmohan Singh. Top officials who enjoyed freedom
with Jairam Ramesh in Union Ministry of Envirornment and Forests
are now being targetted by the new Minister. A threat of the top two or
three officials might be sacked.New Green Minister wants to bring in
Tamil Nad cadre Officers.
--------------------
Dr Geeta Reddy and Dr M Jagannatham two senior physicians who are
present at a meeting with Gulam Nabi Azad Union Minister of Health
to solve Telangana dispute, ended with solving the health issues of
Gulam Nabi Azad. The fact was Azad was facing acute backbone disc problem.
acute pain and Azad cannot sit for longer hours. Much more interesting was
that Rayalaseema delegation also had two medical doctors as MLA and one MP
They told Gulam Nabi to take a different medicine. A pain killer spray was quickly
bought and applied on Azad. Whether Telangana issue is resolved or not,
temporary relief for Gulam Nabi from disc problem.
-----------------------
Legal battle is on in apex court on 2G,But a different battle is fought
at the legal officers level. And that is much more interesting.
It is some what similar to that of UPA and NDA political
battle. AG does not want SG and SG does not want to
depute Addtional SG. In nut shell legal fraternity is in
for yet another major shock. That another top legal officer
might put in his papers, by this week end.
------------------------
Half of the Union Cabinet was present at the Mango eating
contest, at the bungalow of Salman Khursheed Union Minister of Law
on Sunday.30 varities of Mangoes were kept at different corners of
the sprawling lawn. Topic of discussion was Veerappa Moily and
his Ramayana book. Telangana and Lokpal Bills were of course
the hottest topic. Sachin Pilot organise Makki Roti with white butter
eating competition. While M Venkaiah Naidu in Winter brings
100 varities of fish recipe from Coastal Andhra and Telangana regions.
But MK Alagiri wants to organise a Dosa contest in Monsoon session
of Parliament.
-----------------------
ends
jairam ramesh
LAST DECISION OF GREEN MINISTER
JAIRAM RAMESH WAS TO BAN JALLIKATTU
By R Rajagopalan
Last decision on file of Jairam Ramesh as Greeen and Forest Minister was to ban
the Jallikattu. In an order Jairam Ramesh which has been notified recently
in the Government of India Gazette, after Jairam demitted office.
Prevention of Cruelty to animals like Bears monkeys Tigers, panthers, lions
and bulls. These animals shall not be exhibited or trained as performing animals.
These animals especially Bull- shall not be put to public display like jallitkattu.
ends
principals teachers can now challan tobacco sellers
29 July 2011
PRINCIPALS, TEACHERS CAN NOW CHALLAN TOBACCO SELLERS
From Our Delhi Bureau
NEW DELHI: School principals and teachers and a host of other authorities, including university vice-chancellors, are being empowered through a notification to challan and fine anybody selling tobacco products in the vicinity of the educational institutions.
The Health Ministry chose to notify who all can take action under the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution Act (COPTA) of 2009 banning the tobacco sale within 100-metre radius of schools and colleges.
The notification had to be issued under sections 6(a) and (b) of the Act after noting that the state governments were not implementing the ban effectively, the ministry sources said. All educational institutions are required to put a display board stating that sale of tobacco products within 100 metres of their premises is prohibited.
The Panchayat Raj Institutions representatives, including chairpersons, sarpanchs and panchayat secretaries, food and drug officers, municipal health officers and junior labour commissioners as also directors and joint directors of health and education departments, block development officers, and nodal officers of sate and district tobacco control have been empowered to implement the ban on sale of the tobacco products in the vicinity of the educational institutions.
###
PRINCIPALS, TEACHERS CAN NOW CHALLAN TOBACCO SELLERS
From Our Delhi Bureau
NEW DELHI: School principals and teachers and a host of other authorities, including university vice-chancellors, are being empowered through a notification to challan and fine anybody selling tobacco products in the vicinity of the educational institutions.
The Health Ministry chose to notify who all can take action under the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution Act (COPTA) of 2009 banning the tobacco sale within 100-metre radius of schools and colleges.
The notification had to be issued under sections 6(a) and (b) of the Act after noting that the state governments were not implementing the ban effectively, the ministry sources said. All educational institutions are required to put a display board stating that sale of tobacco products within 100 metres of their premises is prohibited.
The Panchayat Raj Institutions representatives, including chairpersons, sarpanchs and panchayat secretaries, food and drug officers, municipal health officers and junior labour commissioners as also directors and joint directors of health and education departments, block development officers, and nodal officers of sate and district tobacco control have been empowered to implement the ban on sale of the tobacco products in the vicinity of the educational institutions.
###
Monday, July 25, 2011
A RAJA NAMES PRIME MINISTER AND P CHIDAMBARAM ON 2G SCAM
A. Raja names PM, Chidambaram in court
New Delhi: In court today, A Raja, former Telecom Minister, said the Prime Minister and then Finance Minister P Chidambaram were aware of the decisions that have landed him in jail
Mr Raja was arrested in November for selling mobile network licenses and 2G spectrum while he was Telecom Minister in 2008 to companies that were ineligible. A spin-off from the alleged scam is that two of those companies - Unitech Wireless and DB Realty - then sold equity to foreign companies - Telenor in the case of Unitech and Etisalat in the case of DB Realty. The Indian companies made huge profits - they had been sold the licenses at throwaway rates, but were able to sell them at huge mark-ups, leading to the conclusion that they had profited at the cost of the government.
"Where is the crime? Where is the conspiracy? Telenor buying a stake in Unitech Wireless and Etisalat buying a stake in DB Realty was totally legal as per the corporate law. The Finance Minister approved the sale in the presence of the PM. Let the Prime Minister deny it," said Mr Raja in court today.
Mr Raja has been questioned about why he decided against auctioning spectrum instead of awarding licenses on a first-come-first-serve basis. "If the policy pursued by me was wrong, then all former Telecom Ministers since 1993 should also be jail with me," said Mr Raja in a Delhi court this morning.
Like his party, the DMK, Mr Raja has stressed that he followed the policies introduced by his predecessors in the NDA government that was in power till 2004, when the UPA coalition was elected.
Mr Raja said, "As Telecom Minster Arun Shourie distributed 26 licences while Dayanidhi Maran distributed 25 and I (Raja) distributed 122 licences. Numbers make no difference, however, it is to be noted that none of them auctioned the spectrum. If they had done no wrong, why am I being questioned? Let them deny that they have not done what I did. I was just following the 2003 Cabinet decision that is not to auction 2G spectrum. If I am following the law, I am not liable to be prosecuted. In fact, I should be rewarded."
"Where is the crime? Where is the conspiracy? Telenor buying a stake in Unitech Wireless and Etisalat buying a stake in DB Realty was totally legal as per the corporate law. The Finance Minister approved the sale in the presence of the PM. Let the Prime Minister deny it," said Mr Raja in court today.
Mr Raja has been questioned about why he decided against auctioning spectrum instead of awarding licenses on a first-come-first-serve basis. "If the policy pursued by me was wrong, then all former Telecom Ministers since 1993 should also be jail with me," said Mr Raja in a Delhi court this morning.
Like his party, the DMK, Mr Raja has stressed that he followed the policies introduced by his predecessors in the NDA government that was in power till 2004, when the UPA coalition was elected.
Mr Raja said, "As Telecom Minster Arun Shourie distributed 26 licences while Dayanidhi Maran distributed 25 and I (Raja) distributed 122 licences. Numbers make no difference, however, it is to be noted that none of them auctioned the spectrum. If they had done no wrong, why am I being questioned? Let them deny that they have not done what I did. I was just following the 2003 Cabinet decision that is not to auction 2G spectrum. If I am following the law, I am not liable to be prosecuted. In fact, I should be rewarded."
Friday, July 22, 2011
DO OR DIE FOR DMK
"Do or Die for DMK"
General Council to meet in
Coimbatore on Saturday
"Do or Die" situation for the oldest regional party DMK.
By R Rajagopalan
"Do or Die" situation for the oldest regional party DMK.
Saturday July 23 at Coimbatore the highest policy making body
of DMK is all set to resolve a policy.
New Delhi is eagerly awaiting adecision from DMK, Especially
for insiders in AICC and PMO.
As DMK faced a rout,leaders in New Delhi Jail on 2G scam
apart from that threat of spouses of DMK leader Karunanidhi
being arrested, DMK official TV channel Kalaigyar in dock.
Whether to snap ties with Congress?
Whether to withdraw DMK ministers from UPA2?
Whether to meet President of India to withdraw support?
Whether to give issue based support?
But politically DMK general Council will also to take
a final call on the continuance of its alliance with Congress
as DMK wants to contest alone in the ensuing Civic polls
in Tamil Nadu in October.
ends
jairam ramesh
UNION MINISTER JAIRAM RAMESH
IS IN NAXAL DISTRICT - BASTAR
By R Rajagopalan
begun his first on the spot visit to District Bastar, to understand
the Rural Development schemes implementation.
Jairam Ramesh on the day of assuming office declared that he
would first make a visit to Naxal areas. That he has kept it up.
Accompanied by three senior officials of Rural Development
ensured that Naxal areas is taken as priority.
Jairam Ramesh also has changed the web site design of
Union Ministry of Rrual Development. In a fortnight
the web site shall be interactive. Lots of new programmes
are being uploaded.
ends
denial
Denial.
Press Release
HARISH KHARE DENIAL
Harish Khare
Media Adviser to PM
Press Release
HARISH KHARE DENIAL
This has reference to Shri S. Gurumurthy's article "Are they just 'useful idiots'?" in The New Indian Express dated 22 July, 2011. Shri Gurumurthy has included my name in the list of "seculars and liberals" who have accepted Mr. Ghulam Nabi Fai's invitation and hospitality.
Shri Gurumurthy's assertion is a total lie. I completely deny the allegation. I do not know Mr. Fai. I have never met him, much less accepted his hospitality for any seminar or convention.
Shri Gurumurthy's assertion is a total lie. I completely deny the allegation. I do not know Mr. Fai. I have never met him, much less accepted his hospitality for any seminar or convention.
A legal notice is also being sent to the Newspaper.
Harish Khare
Media Adviser to PM
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
UPA2 IN JAM ON RURAL EMPLOYMENT GUARANTEE SCHEME
20 July 2011
GOVT IN JAM ON RURAL EMPLOYMENT GUARANTEE
By R Rajagopalan
NEW DELHI: The Government finds itself in a jam with its flagship
Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS)
being widely misused even as the National Human Rights Commission
(NHRC) decides to conduct its own independent audit of the scheme
along with two other flagship programmes of National Rural Health
Mission (NRHM) and Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS).
New Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh has, however, taken up as
challenge on how to synchronise the employment guarantee programme
with the ground realities and prevent the leakages at the
implementation level in districts.
The NHRC is conducting review of these programmes to report to the UN
Human Rights Commission in 2012 as its officials says "it is important
to do an audit of what impact the flagship schemes have had on the
well-being of the poor as there is growing evidence of diversion of
funds meant for these schemes."
The MGNREGS guarantees 100 days of work to anybody coming forward in
villages for the manual work, but the average number of days of
employment under the scheme has been 47 and hence the NHRC wants to
explore if there is leakage of the funds or denial of the commitment
made by the government in the Act.
Big farmers are exploiting the employment guarantee scheme to send off
its farm labour to draw wages from the government whenever not
required on the farms in the same manner the textile industry kept 30
per cent surplus staff to get their mills running and getting them
paid through the Employees' State Insurance (ESI) scheme.
On top of it, they are now putting pressure on the government to
suspend the MGNREGS during the peak farming periods of sowing and
harvesting to ensure they have not to pay high to the farm labour. The
labourers in rural areas prefer to work under the scheme that pays
them more and that too without putting in the hard 12 hours plus
labour on the fields.
The Government can not issue any order officially to shut down works
under the scheme as the law bind it not to deny employment to anybody
turning up for work, and it the Rural Development Ministry has
"informally" asked the states to suspend these works during sowing,
harvesting and transplantation.
The state governments too are exploiting the scheme to pressurise the
Ministry again and again to match the wages under the scheme with the
minimum wages statutorily notified in their states. They first revise
the minimum wages and then seek revision of the wages under the
scheme.
Only last week, Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal called on to
demand that the daily wage rate under the scheme be raised to Rs 200
as the present wage fixed for Punjab under the sheme is Rs 133 per day
does not match the minimum wage fixed by his government at Rs 153.81
without meals.
Ramesh had tough time to explain to him that the scheme is not to
provide the minimum wage but a guarantee of wage to persons not
getting any employment or wage otherwise. He is already examining the
problem in hand from his predecessors who have raised the wage under
the scheme above the minimum wage in many states because of such
pressure as it is resulting in the non-availability of the labour for
the agricultural works.
For instance, Punjab's neighbour Haryana has fixed the minimum
agriculture wage at Rs 167 per day while it has compelled the Centre
to fix the MGNREGS wage at Rs 179 per day. There are many states where
the farm labour is not easily available because of the wages under the
scheme being higher than the minimum wage rates.
The MGNREGS wage rate in some such states, with the minimum wages in
brackets, is: Uttar Pradesh Rs 120 (Rs 100), Madhya Pradesh Rs 122 (Rs
110), Orissa Rs 125 (Rs 90), Bihar Rs 120 (Rs 109), West Bengal Rs 130
(Rs 96), Assam Rs 130 (Rs 87) and Tamil Nadu Rs 119 (Rs 85).
There are, however, other states where the scheme wage is lower than
the minimum wage, leading to the human right organisations (NGOs)
accusing the government of perpetuating forced labour in clear
violation of its own laws on the minimum wages.
The Centre had, in fact, tried to freeze the scheme wage at Rs 100 per
day across the country through a notification in January 2009 but it
had to withdraw it under protest from the states and the NGOs that it
was unjust as the wages varied from state to state and there can not
be a uniform wage all over India.
The People's Action for Employment Guarantee (PAEG) went to the extent
of accusing the Centre for use of Section 6(1) to delink MGNREGS
wages from the Minimum Wage Act as "not just bad in law but also
immoral in so far as it seeks to lower the real wages of the lowest
end of workers in the wage hierarchy."
###
GOVT IN JAM ON RURAL EMPLOYMENT GUARANTEE
By R Rajagopalan
NEW DELHI: The Government finds itself in a jam with its flagship
Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS)
being widely misused even as the National Human Rights Commission
(NHRC) decides to conduct its own independent audit of the scheme
along with two other flagship programmes of National Rural Health
Mission (NRHM) and Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS).
New Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh has, however, taken up as
challenge on how to synchronise the employment guarantee programme
with the ground realities and prevent the leakages at the
implementation level in districts.
The NHRC is conducting review of these programmes to report to the UN
Human Rights Commission in 2012 as its officials says "it is important
to do an audit of what impact the flagship schemes have had on the
well-being of the poor as there is growing evidence of diversion of
funds meant for these schemes."
The MGNREGS guarantees 100 days of work to anybody coming forward in
villages for the manual work, but the average number of days of
employment under the scheme has been 47 and hence the NHRC wants to
explore if there is leakage of the funds or denial of the commitment
made by the government in the Act.
Big farmers are exploiting the employment guarantee scheme to send off
its farm labour to draw wages from the government whenever not
required on the farms in the same manner the textile industry kept 30
per cent surplus staff to get their mills running and getting them
paid through the Employees' State Insurance (ESI) scheme.
On top of it, they are now putting pressure on the government to
suspend the MGNREGS during the peak farming periods of sowing and
harvesting to ensure they have not to pay high to the farm labour. The
labourers in rural areas prefer to work under the scheme that pays
them more and that too without putting in the hard 12 hours plus
labour on the fields.
The Government can not issue any order officially to shut down works
under the scheme as the law bind it not to deny employment to anybody
turning up for work, and it the Rural Development Ministry has
"informally" asked the states to suspend these works during sowing,
harvesting and transplantation.
The state governments too are exploiting the scheme to pressurise the
Ministry again and again to match the wages under the scheme with the
minimum wages statutorily notified in their states. They first revise
the minimum wages and then seek revision of the wages under the
scheme.
Only last week, Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal called on to
demand that the daily wage rate under the scheme be raised to Rs 200
as the present wage fixed for Punjab under the sheme is Rs 133 per day
does not match the minimum wage fixed by his government at Rs 153.81
without meals.
Ramesh had tough time to explain to him that the scheme is not to
provide the minimum wage but a guarantee of wage to persons not
getting any employment or wage otherwise. He is already examining the
problem in hand from his predecessors who have raised the wage under
the scheme above the minimum wage in many states because of such
pressure as it is resulting in the non-availability of the labour for
the agricultural works.
For instance, Punjab's neighbour Haryana has fixed the minimum
agriculture wage at Rs 167 per day while it has compelled the Centre
to fix the MGNREGS wage at Rs 179 per day. There are many states where
the farm labour is not easily available because of the wages under the
scheme being higher than the minimum wage rates.
The MGNREGS wage rate in some such states, with the minimum wages in
brackets, is: Uttar Pradesh Rs 120 (Rs 100), Madhya Pradesh Rs 122 (Rs
110), Orissa Rs 125 (Rs 90), Bihar Rs 120 (Rs 109), West Bengal Rs 130
(Rs 96), Assam Rs 130 (Rs 87) and Tamil Nadu Rs 119 (Rs 85).
There are, however, other states where the scheme wage is lower than
the minimum wage, leading to the human right organisations (NGOs)
accusing the government of perpetuating forced labour in clear
violation of its own laws on the minimum wages.
The Centre had, in fact, tried to freeze the scheme wage at Rs 100 per
day across the country through a notification in January 2009 but it
had to withdraw it under protest from the states and the NGOs that it
was unjust as the wages varied from state to state and there can not
be a uniform wage all over India.
The People's Action for Employment Guarantee (PAEG) went to the extent
of accusing the Centre for use of Section 6(1) to delink MGNREGS
wages from the Minimum Wage Act as "not just bad in law but also
immoral in so far as it seeks to lower the real wages of the lowest
end of workers in the wage hierarchy."
###
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
JAGAN REDDY
Jagan Mohan Reddy has moved the Supreme Court seeking
a stay on the CBI probe into his alleged disproportionate assets
Challenging the Andhra Pradesh High Court order, Jagan has accused Congress in his petition
The petition says
- Court is being used as a playing ground for settling political rivalary
- Congress and TDP are scared of his (Jagan’s) growing popularity
- The petition by AP Cong Minister which led to CBI probe is a politically motivated
- There was no FIR or criminal complaint against him
Monday, July 18, 2011
AMAR SINGH all set to get closer to A Raja, Kanimozhi and Suresh Kalmadi
18 July 2011
AMAR SINGH ALL SET TO BE ARRESTED IN CASH-FOR-TRUST VOTE SCANDAL
From Our Delhi Bureau
NEW DELHI: Noose tightened on former Samajwadi Party leader Amar Singh with his arrest any day after his arrested former aide Sanjeev Saxena told a Delhi court on Monday that the money had been given by him for bribing three BJP MPs in the confidence vote won by the Manmohan Singh Government in 2008.
Delhi Police crime branch that got cracking by arresting Saxena on Sunday after the Supreme Court upbraided it for tardy investigation secured his three days' police remand from Special Judge Sangeeta Dhingra to interrogate him further. The case is now posted for Thursday when the court is likely to issue warrant to arrest Amar Singh.
Saxena was caught on camera in a sting operation giving money to the BJP MPs Ashok Argal, Faggan Singh Kulaste and Mahavir Bhagora and his arrest was made on the basis of the sting CD seized by police but not acted upon until the Supreme Court pulled it up.
These MPs had created a scene in the Lok Sabha on July 22, 2008 brandishing and putting on table Rs 1 crore in cash allegedly paid to them to buy their votes in favour of the trust vote after the Left withdrew support to the government on the nuclear deal.
Police has queried these MPs who divulged that it was Saxena who brokered the bribe deal by making them talk to Amar Singh on his mobile phone. Amar Singh, however, denied any role in the episode after it became controversial and even distanced from Saxena, denying that he was his aide.
Amar Singh was the general secretary of the Samajwadi Party at that time and the Congress had roped in the party to survive the trust vote. He later fell out with Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayam Singh, a former U.P. chief minister, and left the party.
##
AMAR SINGH ALL SET TO BE ARRESTED IN CASH-FOR-TRUST VOTE SCANDAL
From Our Delhi Bureau
NEW DELHI: Noose tightened on former Samajwadi Party leader Amar Singh with his arrest any day after his arrested former aide Sanjeev Saxena told a Delhi court on Monday that the money had been given by him for bribing three BJP MPs in the confidence vote won by the Manmohan Singh Government in 2008.
Delhi Police crime branch that got cracking by arresting Saxena on Sunday after the Supreme Court upbraided it for tardy investigation secured his three days' police remand from Special Judge Sangeeta Dhingra to interrogate him further. The case is now posted for Thursday when the court is likely to issue warrant to arrest Amar Singh.
Saxena was caught on camera in a sting operation giving money to the BJP MPs Ashok Argal, Faggan Singh Kulaste and Mahavir Bhagora and his arrest was made on the basis of the sting CD seized by police but not acted upon until the Supreme Court pulled it up.
These MPs had created a scene in the Lok Sabha on July 22, 2008 brandishing and putting on table Rs 1 crore in cash allegedly paid to them to buy their votes in favour of the trust vote after the Left withdrew support to the government on the nuclear deal.
Police has queried these MPs who divulged that it was Saxena who brokered the bribe deal by making them talk to Amar Singh on his mobile phone. Amar Singh, however, denied any role in the episode after it became controversial and even distanced from Saxena, denying that he was his aide.
Amar Singh was the general secretary of the Samajwadi Party at that time and the Congress had roped in the party to survive the trust vote. He later fell out with Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayam Singh, a former U.P. chief minister, and left the party.
##
new inquiry committee judge dinakaran
| -ReConstitution of a Committee by the Chairman, Rajya Sabha under the Judges (Inquiry) Act, 1968 | ||
| Attention is invited to the Rajya Sabha Parliamentary Bulletin Part II No.47673 dated the 27th September, 2010 regarding "NOTIFICATION No. RS 8/3/2009-L - In partial modification of the Notification of even No. dated the 27th September, 2010 under sub-section (2) of section 3 of the Judges (Inquiry) Act, 1968, the Chairman, Rajya Sabha has re-constituted, for the purpose of making an investigation into the grounds on which the removal of Mr. Justice Paul Daniel Dinakaran Premkumar, the then Chief Justice of the Karnataka High Court, now Chief Justice of Sikkim High Court, is prayed for, a Committee consisting of the following three Members:- 1. Hon’ble Mr. Justice Aftab Alam, Supreme Court of India, 2. Hon'ble Mr. Justice J.S. Khehar, Chief Justice of Karnataka High Court; and 3. Prof. (Dr.) G. Mohan Gopal, Director, Rajiv Gandhi Institute for Contemporary Studies, Rajiv Gandhi Foundation, New Delhi. | ||
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