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Saturday, June 18, 2011

Agnivesh offers to mediate in Posco issue!On the other hand, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday made it clear that her government would not get into any trouble by trying to acquire land for industry and industry will have to purc


Agnivesh offers to mediate in Posco issue!On the other hand, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday made it clear that her government would not get into any trouble by trying to acquire land for industry and industry will have to purchase its own land from the market directly.The government may soon call an all-party meeting to seek views from across the political spectrum even as it prima facie ruled out including the prime minister within the ambit of the Lok Pal Bill until at least he demits office.


Indian Holocaust My Father`s Life and Time - SIX HUNDRED SIXTY TWO

Palash Biswas

http://indianholocaustmyfatherslifeandtime.blogspot.com/



http://basantipurtimes.blogspot.com/

18/06/2011

FDI in multi-brand retail gets key ministries push

CoS to take up note prepared by Commerce Ministry soon

New Delhi: A consensus has emerged in the government to permit foreign direct investment (FDI) in multi-brand retailing but with stiff riders.

The response from key departments of the government has formed the basis for the ministry of commerce and industry to prepare a note for the Committee of Secretaries (CoS), which is expected to meet soon and take a call on the issue. After the CoS clearance, a Cabinet note will be prepared for the approval of the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA).

While all key ministries are on board, the ministry of finance has opined that its comments would be warranted just before placing the draft policy for consideration of CCEA.

Although the note favours FDI up to 51 per cent in multi-brand retailing, it gives states the power to allow FDI in front-end retail stores.

Although all key ministries have given their nods for opening up of multi-brand retail, various limits have been suggested. Ministries of agriculture and food processing and the Planning Commission have suggested FDI up to 100 per cent. The department of consumer affairs has suggested a cap of 49 per cent, while ministry of micro, small and medium enterprises has suggested a limit of 18 per cent.

The department of information technology has suggested consultations with various electronic industry associations, who in turn have backed the proposal for a calibrated opening up of multi brand. The department of pharmaceuticals has advised that FDI in muti-brand retailing should be included in the study on the regulatory environment for FDI, being conducted by the ministry of commerce.

The inter-ministerial group of inflation headed by Kaushik Basu, who is the chief economic advisor in the finance ministry, has recommended that FDI in multi-brand retail should be permitted, as it could be one of the key steps to help reduce rising prices and cut the margin between farms and retail prices.

The commerce ministry note says at least 50 per cent of the total FDI should be invested in backend infrastructure. However, the backend infrastructure can be made not necessarily by the same entity which is investing, but by an outsourced entity commissioned for this purpose.

The minimum limit for FDIs to be brought is Rs 450 crore. Another rider is that cities with a population of 1 million (based on 2011 Census) can be locations for multi-brand retail stores. An area of 10 km around the municipality limits of such cities could also be included in the permission location.

However, outlets will be set up only in those states where the states agree to allow FDI in multi-brand retail. Thirty per cent of the sales turnover should be made directly or through wholesale cash-and-carry units set-up for this purpose.

State governments can put conditions for integrating the small retailer or kirana merchants in the value chain. Also, 30 per cent of the value of the manufactured items procured (excluding food products) should be sourced from the SME sector. The respective state governments would put in place frameworks to monitor compliance with these conditions.

The department has also sought responses from across cross sections before preparing the note. For instance it points out that prominent organsised domestic retailers have generally supported FDI in multi brand retailing while small retailers have opposed it.

The support says the observations by the department of domestic retailers could emanate from two reasons -they feel they are fully equipped to face competition or they expect FDi to bring them technology and innovation and they could look forward to joint ventures.

The move will help a bevy of foreign retail chains, including WalMart, Careffour and Tesco, which have been making a beeline for India. Under the existing rules, FDI is not allowed in retail, except for trade of "single brand" products; where up to 51 per cent foreign investment is permitted.

FDI up to 100 per cent is also allowed in wholesale cash-and-carry trade. Many companies like WalMart have already come through this route by setting up a whole sale cash and carry business in a joint venture with the Bharti group.

However, the policy constraints have ensured that FDI in retail has been limited. Since 2006, when FDI was partially allowed in retail, the government has received an inflow of over Rs 850 crore. With 15 million outlets, India's retail sector is highly fragmented. Only 4 per cent of the outlets are bigger than 500 square feet in area and the remaining 96 per are in the unorganized sector.

There have of course been fears that with a liberal FDI regime, the big global retailers would go in for predatory pricing, virtually destroying the small retailers. That is the reason why the government has treaded cautiously in this sector.

Those opposing further liberalisation have contended that such a move would kill the country's kirana shops, as well as give foreign retailers an unfair advantage, as the domestic retailers are still in a nascent stage of development and need protection.

There have also been fears that given the retail sector is the second-largest employer in the country, many could lose their jobs. Those who support further liberalisation say investment in this sector has been limited, especially in areas like logistics and cold-chain development, which are key to the growth of agriculture.

Source: Business Standard



West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee sent a clear message to the industry that land for setting up units would have to be purchased directly and the government would not take a part in it.Meanwhile,The government may soon call an all-party meeting to seek views from across the political spectrum even as it prima facie ruled out including the prime minister within the ambit of the Lok Pal Bill until at least he demits office.The move to convene the meeting came today after the high level Congress core group's parleys, second in 24 hours, decided on their strategy with the demand for including the prime minister remaining a major sticking point with the civil society. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress President Sonia Gandhi were among others who were at the parleys.

Agnivesh offers to mediate in Posco issue!On the other hand, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday made it clear that her government  would not get into any trouble by trying to acquire land for industry and industry will have to purchase its own land from the market directly.Rough weather, due to a deep depression in the Bay of Bengal, affected normal life and fishing in West Bengal. While 33 trawlers, with about 550 men on board, went missing, scores of others were forced to remain idle.

At the same time, she said that the state government would set up a 23-member core committee, comprising mainly representatives of chamber of commerce and other industry bodies, to sort out all disputes and differences across the table. The state commerce and industries and IT minister Partha Chattopadhyay, state finance minister Amit Mitra and few concerned departmental secretaries will also be member of that committee.

"Land has to be purchased by the industry. No forcible acquisition of land will be done by the government to avoid disasters," Banerjee said in her first interactive meet here with industrialists after becoming CM.Replying to an industrialist's suggestion, she said West Bengal would have its own model on land for industry and not follow the Gujarat one.

Banerjee said the big industry needed large land. Huge tracts of land was not required for small industry.The chief minister said the industry ministry could also set up a cell for solving land problems.

The civil society representatives led by Anna Hazare is pitching for inclusion of prime minister as also higher judiciary in the proposed Lokpal bill during meetings of the joint committee to draft the measure which will be meeting again on June 20 and 21.

HRD minister Kapil Sibal, one of the government representatives on the joint drafting committee, made clear their opposition to bringing the post of Prime Minister under the purview of Lokpal till he demits office.

Sibal also ruled out opening the conduct of MPs inside Parliament as also the higher judiciary to the scrutiny of the proposed ombudsman.

"Within the government, we feel prima facie, the prime minister should not be covered (under the Lokpal). But at the same time we want to make sure that if he demits office, he should not be exonerated from prosecution," he said.

Sibal said government will discuss the draft Lokpal Bill with political parties before it goes to the Union cabinet for approval.

"The government will seek the views of political parties and chief ministers on the draft bill before it goes to the Cabinet. Whatever agreements or disagreements on the draft are there will be presented before parties," he said.

With the Orissa government to resume land acquisition for Posco's mega steel project in Jagatsinghpur district, a host of civil rights activists and politicians planned to join protesters at the site from tomorrow.

Swami Agnivesh, who addressed an anti-Posco meeting here and will visit the spot, Dhinkia, on the morrow said "It is illegal to hand over fertile land to a multinational company like Posco.

"The State and central governments have no right to destroy a well developed agrarian economy in the name of establishing the country's biggest FDI," he said.

CPI(M)'s leader in the Lok Sabha Basudev Acharia would visit Dhinkia on June 21 to express his party's solidarity with the agitating people, CPI(M) state secretary Janardhan Pati said.

A host of Gandhian leaders and environmentalist Vandana Shiva were also scheduled to visit on June 20, besides CPI veteran Gurudas Dasgupta a day later, Posco Pratirodh Sangram Samiti spokesman Prashant Paikra said, adding a BJP team would visit on Sunday.

Orissa Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) president Niranjan Patnaik was scheduled to visit on June 22. "This will be first visit of any PCC chief to Dhinkia area," Mr. Paikray said.

A series of national leaders from different political parties and social activists were likely to join a massive rally on June 22, the day on which the Posco-India had inked the MoU with the State government in 2005, Mr. Paikray said.

Meanwhile, Lok Jan Shakti leader Prafulla Samantra reached Gobindpur village where people had been agitating for the past 11 days.

Braving a downpour, villagers mostly children and women, formed a human chain with placards in hand.

"We have protested against police entry into Dhinkia gram panchayat area in scorching sun and now children, women and elderly persons will do so in the rain," PPSS women wing chief Manorama Khatua said.

The State government on Friday cancelled its land acquisition which it had planned to do after a break of five days because of a local festival.

In her first ever interface with industry after taking over as the chief minister, Banerjee said in her characteristic manner, "It (referring to the core committee) will be like your own cabinet, you run it. I will be out of this committee, but of course I will be with you. You meet regularly and make your industry minister run and be always on his toes."

"The whole idea is I don't want the investors to run around from one place to another and get harassed," she added.

The core committee will have to meet either once a week or once a fortnight, she said. The finance minister later clarified that no other state has such a core committee majority of whose members are from industry.

The chief minister also made it clear that all ministers and bureaucrats and even industry will have to function in a time-bound manner. "If you want to invest and do something, do it within a time frame or else you let us know that you cannot do it," the chief minister told the industry.

The proposed land policy of the new government has already created some fear psychosis and pressed the panic button in some quarters. Even on Saturday a number of industrialists including ITC Chairman Y C Deveshwar tried to plead that when the requirement of land is large, the state must intervene and bail out the industry (although industry is not averse to buying it directly from the market).

Bengal Peerless MD K S Bagchi said that the state government should atleast fix the price of the land, otherwise such a policy would encourage middlemen, landing business community in a soup.

Unmoved by such apprehensions, Banerjee said that the state government was preparing a land map as well as a land bank as the part of the land policy, it would not procure land for the private investors. "For the private investors, it is always better that they should purchase the land directly. If we (the state government) forcefully acquire land, it will again lead to a disaster.

On the issue of frequent bandh and strike calls, the chief minister said that her government was completely against calling bandhs and strikes. "If one has to agitate, one will have to do it keeping the factory open. If one doesn't follow this, one will have to incur people's wrath and face the music," she said.

Godrej Group chairman and CII president designate, Adi Godrej said, "It is very refreshing. Climate is changing here. I will ask CII members to look at West Bengal. Our group has already invested close to Rs 2000 crore in various projects and we will look at more investment opportunities in the state."

Fortis Healthcare MD Shivinder Mohan Singh also said that his group would also participate actively in the new Chief Minister's vision to take the state back to the path of industrial glory and invest significantly.



Mamata promises a 'cabinet' for, by industry

Hindu Business Line - ‎23 minutes ago‎
Strong on intent: The West Bengal Chief Minister, Ms Mamata Banerjee, at the interactive session with industrialists in Kolkata on Saturday. She is flanked by Mr Amit Mitra (right), Finance Minister, and Mr Partha Chatterjee, Industry and Commerce ...

Industry to purchase land, not govt: Mamata

Indian Express - ‎2 hours ago‎
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee sent a clear message to the industry that land for setting up units would have to be purchased directly and the government would not take a part in it. "Land has to be purchased by the industry...

We will not adopt Gujarat model for industrialisation: Mamata Banerjee

Daily News & Analysis - ‎5 hours ago‎
Place: Kolkata | Agency: PTI The West Bengal government would not follow the Gujarat model of industrialisation, but will rebuild the state's industry in its own way, chief minister Mamata Banerjee said today while stating that time was of essence. ...

Mamata to set up core committee solve industry problems

mydigitalfc.com - Ritwik Mukherjee - ‎3 hours ago‎
would not get into any trouble by trying to acquire land for industry and industry will have to purchase its own land from the market directly. At the same time, she said that the state government would set up ...

IndustryMamata for Bengal model

indiablooms - ‎4 hours ago‎
She said in West Bengal the land for industry would not be acquired by the state government, but the industrialists themselves. "Forcible land acquisition will create problem," said Mamata, whose Singur movement endeared her to the farmers and finally ...

Mamata's new land policy: will it woo investors?

IBNLive.com - ‎8 hours ago‎
It is a much needed effort to restore confidence, given that her government's proposed land policy is drawing criticism from industry experts. Not everyone is hailing Mamata Banerjee's latest efforts to rationalize the most contentious political issue ...

Mamata talks tough at India Inc meet

Business Standard - ‎1 hour ago‎
Sajjan Jindal Group Salboni industrial...," Banerjee said, while she was stopped in between by the state industryand commerce minister, Partha Chatterjee. She toned it down to, "I know they need time also. Raghunathpur (a Jai Balaji steel plant ...

West Bengal industry disagrees with expert committee recommendation on land ...

Economic Times - ‎12 hours ago‎
The draft on a new land use policy was submitted by the two-member expert committee, appointed by the new Trinamool Congress-Congress state government, to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on June 15. It recommended that the state government stay away ...

Biz bosses want chief minister's support

Times of India - ‎15 hours ago‎
... made it clear that he always believed in Bengal and is looking forward to interact with Mamata. Rana Sinha, managing director of Telcon, the JV between Tata Motors and Hitachi, feels that the new CM would like to understand what industry wants. ...

Mamata sets up core group on industrialisation

iNewsOne - ‎25 minutes ago‎
The committee, formed by the chief minister spontaneously during an interaction with entrepreneurs – big and small – and public sector unit heads, would include one representative each from Confederation of IndianIndustry (CII), Associated Chambers of ...

Mamata Banerjee hobnobs with honchos

Daily News & Analysis - Sumit Moitra - ‎54 minutes ago‎
Expectedly most of the queries of the industrialists revolved around land procurement for industry. Possibly peeved at Banerjee's decision not to involve the state in acquiring land for industry, Yogi Deveshwar,MDof ITC, said: "There are investors who ...

Industry to purchase land, not government: Mamata

IBNLive.com - ‎1 hour ago‎
PTI | 09:06 PM,Jun 18,2011 On suggestions put foward to her, Banerjee said a core panel would be formed comprising representatives of chambers of commerce, Finance Minister, Industry Minister and key Secretaries to evaluate proposals which were sent to ...

Hasten industrialisation, Mamata tells state machinery

Mangalorean.com - ‎1 hour ago‎
The finance and the industry ministry must be prompt in their decisions and implementation," said the chief minister while addressing a meeting with industrialists here. Banerjee said her government has decided to set up a cell l under the finance ...

Change historic, we await your FDI wish list: Tokyo to Kolkata

Indian Express - ‎Jun 16, 2011‎
In what could be the first substantive breakthrough in attracting FDI for the Mamata Banerjee government, the Japanese government has urged West Bengal to send an "investment promotion mission" of government andindustry leaders to Tokyo with a list of ...

Ensure hospitable climate for investors: US diplomat

Times of India - ‎15 hours ago‎
KOLKATA: The change of guard in the state brought a high-profile international figure to Writers' Buildings on Friday, barely 24 hours ahead of Mamata Banerjee's business summit. Robert Blake, assistant secretary of state for south and central Asia ...

Mamata orders twin judicial probe into 'CPM' murders

Hindustan Times - ‎Jun 16, 2011‎
West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee is on a spree to fulfil her poll promises. Two days after pushing through the Singur bill, Banerjee on Thursday ordered a judicial probe into the Sainbari killings in Burdwan, in which former industry minister ...

Mamata's lop-sided policies will encourage corruption

allvoices - ‎Jun 17, 2011‎
Obviously, the gates would be thrown open for middlemen to exploit the situation to the hilt – they would procure land from the farmers on behalf of the industry and mint their millions. The Singur land acquisition bill that she has got passed in haste ...

promises to keep

Calcutta Telegraph - ‎19 hours ago‎
It is a name imbued with heavy political symbolism since it was the agitation there that put Mamata Banerjee on the comeback trail. She had no need to look back since then. But as chief minister, she cannot afford not to look back on Singur. ...

Mamata meet before Delhi parleys

Calcutta Telegraph - Sanat Kumar Sinha - ‎Jun 16, 2011‎
Today's meeting with state finance minister Amit Mitra, industries minister Partha Chatterjee and planning and development minister Manish Gupta was held to discuss details of the session. About her Delhi trip, Mamata said at Writers': "There is a ...

Mamata wants early tripartite meeting on Darjeeling

IBNLive.com - ‎Jun 17, 2011‎
Noting that a lot of development work like roads, bridges and industries needed to be taken up in the hills, she said she was waiting for the Centre to give a date for the tripartite meeting.On her government's development initiatives in 'junglemahal', ...

India Inc may settle for 50% less land in West Bengal

Economic Times - ‎20 hours ago‎
KOLKATA: India Inc may have to settle for 50% less land in Mamata Banerjee's West Bengal, if current indications prove true. The two-member committee set up recently by the chief minister to formulate a new land policy has suggested that business ...

Rain prompts change in high-tea plan

Calcutta Telegraph - ‎20 hours ago‎
We will set up LCD TV screens on the lawn and also in the smaller hall for the guests to catch the action live," said an official of the state industries department. The other change of plan?Mamata has decided not to fly off to Delhi after the biz ...

Mamata to canvass for Jamshedpur by-poll

IBNLive.com - ‎8 hours ago‎
PTI | 02:06 PM,Jun 18,2011 Jamshedpur, Jun 18 (PTI) West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee would visit this steel city to campaign for her party candidate contesting the July 1 Jamshedpur parliamentary by-elections. ...

My government's achievements unparalleled, says Mamata

The Hindu - ‎20 hours ago‎
West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee has said that while she supported the Left ideology, she did not approve of the activities of the Left leaders in West Bengal. Participating in the debate on the Governor's address ...

Round-the-clock monitoring cell at Writers Building: Mamata

IBNLive.com - ‎Jun 17, 2011‎
... Jun 17 (PTI) The disaster management cell is monitoring round-the-clock the situation in the wake of heavy rains that pounded the metropolis and South Bengal districts today, claiming three lives, Chief Minister MamataBanerjee said tonight. ...

Mamata postpones Delhi trip

IBNLive.com - ‎Jun 17, 2011‎
PTI | 10:06 PM,Jun 17,2011 Banerjee said that to stand beside the people at this hour she had deferred her visit to Delhi on Saturday to take up with the Finance Ministry and the Planning Commission matters relating to the state's finances. ...

My party will not call shutdowns: Mamata

iNewsOne - ‎25 minutes ago‎
Kolkata, Jun 18 (IANS) Emphasising that people do not like shutdowns, West Bengal Chief Minister MamataBanerjee Saturday said her Trinamool Congress will not resort to such a form of agitation. 'We have not called for a shutdown for the last two to ...

Corruption and lack of transparency pose challenge: Blake

IBNLive.com - ‎Jun 17, 2011‎
"(The) bill is pending in the cabinet and once it is cleared, foreign investment can come," Blake said after meeting Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. "There is huge amount of young population in the country and once this bill is cleared by the cabinet ...

Mamata to discuss financial crises with Pranab

IBNLive.com - ‎Jun 17, 2011‎
PTI Kolkata: To tide over the financial crisis in West Bengal, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will meet Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee and deputy chairman of Planning Commission Montek Singh Ahluwalia next week to seek assistance from the ...

Trinamool to revive legislative council in WB

The Hindu - ‎Jun 17, 2011‎
PTI The Hindu Making a point:West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee addressing officers of the Health and Family Welfare department in Kolkata on Monday. Photo: Sushanta Patronobish In keeping with Trinamool Congress chief and Chief Minister Mamata ...

'Rough' CM talks tough on violence

Calcutta Telegraph - ‎19 hours ago‎
Calcutta, June 17: A "rough and tough" Mamata Banerjee today promised to free Bengal of arms and political violence and pointed to her "single-handed" achievement of having ensured relative calm even after her party's election landslide. ...

Mamata puts off Delhi visit

Calcutta Telegraph - ‎19 hours ago‎
Calcutta, June 17: Mamata Banerjee today postponed her trip to Delhi after heavy rains killed six persons across Bengal and caused widespread damage, with authorities keeping a wary eye on the Aila-ravaged areas of North and South 24-Parganas. ...

Mamata cancels Delhi trip

Calcutta Telegraph - ‎19 hours ago‎
Calcutta, June 17: Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee has postponed her trip to Delhi tomorrow because of the ongoing rains across the state and cancelled leaves of officials of the Calcutta Municipal Corporation to handle inclement weather . ...

US official calls for pro-biz climate

Calcutta Telegraph - Robert BlakeSayantan Ghosh - ‎20 hours ago‎
The Mamata Banerjee government will have to create an "enabling environment" to draw American investment, a senior official in the US government said on Friday. Robert O. Blake, Jr., the assistant secretary of the state bureau of south and central ...

Day after Mamata rebuke, food minister plans to overhaul dept

Indian Express - ‎Jun 16, 2011‎
A day after Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee visited the Food and Supplies Department and expressed resentment over the sorry state of affairs, Food and Supplies Minister Jyotipriyo Mallick said a set of initiatives will be taken to upgrade the system, ...

Mamata ready for maiden Delhi visit as Chief Minister

The Hindu - ‎Jun 16, 2011‎
KOLKATA: Mamata Banerjee is scheduled to go to New Delhi on Saturday for the first time since assuming office as Chief Minister of West Bengal on May 20. Ms. Banerjee is expected to meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh as well as United Progressive ...

WBHA meets Mamata with suggestions to improve education system

IBNLive.com - ‎Jun 16, 2011‎
PTI | 09:06 PM,Jun 16,2011 Kolkata, Jun 16 (PTI) The West Bengal Headmasters' Association (WBHA) today urged the Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to initiate various academic, administrative and professional steps to strengthen the state's education ...

Mamata sets up commission to probe 1970 Saibari murder case

MSN India - ‎Jun 17, 2011‎
Kolkata, Jun 17 (PTI) West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today said she has set up a judicial commission to probe the 1970 Saibari murder case, alleging that the previous governments did not take action on the findings of an earlier enquiry ...

Mamata may seek R12k-cr package from Centre

Financial Express - ‎Jun 17, 2011‎
Kolkata: West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee is likely to ask for a special financial package of R12,000 crore from the Centre while also asking it to restructure the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) loans she inherited from the previous government. ...

WB Govt Will Not Allow Terror: Mamata

Outlook - ‎Jun 17, 2011‎
PTI | Kolkata | Jun 17, 2011 Expressing her firm resolve to establish the rule of law, West Bengal Chief MinisterMamata Banerjee today declared that as an administrator she was "rough and tough". Winding up the discussion on the motion of thanks to ...

Robert Blake calls on Mamata

Zee News - ‎Jun 17, 2011‎
Kolkata: US Assistant Secretary of State (Bureau of South and central Asian affairs) Robert O Blake on Friday called on West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee who urged him to send a business delegation to the state. ...

Mamata Banerjee takes food department by surprise

Times of India - ‎Jun 16, 2011‎
After leaving her Kalighat residence, Mamata headed straight to Khadya Bhavan on Free School Street instead of Writers' Buildings without giving anyone there a hint that she would be dropping by. Even food minister Jyotipriya Mullick was taken off ...

Mamata Banerjee takes away 'starvation death' files

Times of India - ‎Jun 16, 2011‎
But that is not enough for chief minister Mamata Banerjee. The CM took the files with her while leaving Khadya Bhavan on Wednesday. The district food controller submitted a report following an enquiry stating that the family of Dukhu Sabar (72) drew ...

Mamata to meet Pranab, financial aid on agenda

Indian Express - ‎Jun 15, 2011‎
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will leave for Delhi on Saturday, primarily to meet Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee to find ways on how to bring the state out of the current financial crisis. This is the first time Mamata is going to Delhi after ...

Carrom in 'corruption den'

Calcutta Telegraph - ‎Jun 16, 2011‎
A day after chief minister Mamata Banerjee promised to break the food and supplies department's "den of corruption", its employees were busy playing carrom even an hour past lunchtime. Change may be the new government's mantra and "Do it immediately" ...

Will supply good quality rice: Bengal minister

iNewsOne - ‎Jun 16, 2011‎
Kolkata, June 16 (IANS) A day after West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee admonished officials of his department for the poor state of affairs, Food and Supplies Minister Jyotipriya Mullick Thursday announced a series of measures to check ...

Fisherman dies as boat capsizes in storm

iNewsOne - ‎Jun 16, 2011‎
Kolkata, June 16 (IANS) A fisherman in West Bengal's South 24-Parganas district was killed after his boat capsized in the coastal area following a storm, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said here Thursday. 'We were very concerned because around 50 ...

Mamata to Meet Pranab for Financial Aid to WB

Outlook - ‎Jun 16, 2011‎
PTI | Kolkata | Jun 16, 2011 On the Centre's assurance that it would assist West Bengal in overcoming its financial crisis, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will meet Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee in Delhi next week. "I am leaving for Delhi on ...

Mamata takes Food Department by surprise

indiablooms - ‎Jun 16, 2011‎
Kolkata, June16 (IBNS) West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee paid a surprise visit to Khadya Bhavan on Free School Street in Kolkata. Some employees loitering downstairs were taken aback as she entered. After observing the sorry state of the ...

Mamata to meet Pranab in Delhi

indiablooms - ‎Jun 16, 2011‎
Kolkata, June16 (IBNS) West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is to visit the capital in a few days, to meet the Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee. This is the first time Banerjee is going to Delhi after she became Chief Minister. ...

Mamata storms 'corruption den'

Calcutta Telegraph - ‎Jun 15, 2011‎
Mamata Banerjee described the food and supplies department's main office as "ghugu-r basa" (den of corruption) and promised to clean it up during a surprise visit on Wednesday. She later went over to the fire brigade headquarters next door and was not ...

Mamata weekend trip to Delhi

Calcutta Telegraph - ‎Jun 15, 2011‎
New Delhi, June 15: Mamata Banerjee is likely to visit Delhi this weekend to press for the proposed bailout package for Bengal and meet the Planning Commission deputy chairperson to finalise the state's plan size. A source said Mamata's visit — her ...

Banerjee admonishes food department officials

Mangalorean.com - ‎Jun 15, 2011‎
Kolkata, June 15 (IANS) On a sudden visit to the state food department headquarters, West Bengal Chief MinisterMamata Banerjee Wednesday admonished officials for disorganised filing and ordered them to create a data base of computerised information ...

Not just a man's world

The Island.lk (subscription) - sushila ramaswamy - ‎Jun 15, 2011‎
Miss Mamata Banerjee is the first woman chief minister of West Bengal and the 14th woman chief minister in India. In Tamil Nadu, Ms J Jayalalitha has become chief minister for the third time, the other two terms being from 1991 to ...

Mamata to meet Pranab to seek financial assistance for state

IBNLive.com - ‎Jun 16, 2011‎
PTI | 10:06 PM,Jun 16,2011 Kolkata, Jun 16 (PTI) To tide over the financial crisis in West Bengal, Chief MinisterMamata Banerjee will meet Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee in New Delhi next week to seek the Central government's assistance. ...

Mamata to canvass for Jamshedpur bypoll

Deccan Chronicle - ‎9 hours ago‎
PTI West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee would visit this steel city to campaign for her party candidate contesting the July 1 Jamshedpur parliamentary by-elections. "Party leaders, including Banerjee and Union minister of state for railway Mukul ...

Mamata interface for intent on industry

Calcutta Telegraph - ‎Jun 15, 2011‎
This one is restricted to the business community," said a city-based industry veteran. His perceived proximity toMamata, he claimed, has led businessmen to seek his help for their inclusion on the invitee list. Finance minister Amit Mitra has sent out ...

Bengal govt not to acquire land for industry: Panel

Business Standard - ‎Jun 15, 2011‎
"We have asked the state government not to acquire land for setting up industry," said Debabrata Bandopadhaya, a member of the expert committee, after giving the report to Chief MinisterMamata Banerjee. The committee has also made several ...

Mamata meeting top Bengal industrialists this weekend

Financial Express - ‎Jun 15, 2011‎
Kolkata: To send the right signals to the industry post-Singur Bill, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee has called a meeting with top industrialists this weekend. The state government-initiated Industrial Conclave is likely to see Bengal Inc ...

Mamata to address industrialists June 18

TwoCircles.net - ‎Jun 15, 2011‎
By IANS, Kolkata : West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will address a gathering of captains of industryand chambers of commerce here Saturday to outline her blueprint for the state's industrialisation. "Heads of all public sector undertakings, ...

Hands-off and hug advice

Calcutta Telegraph - ‎Jun 15, 2011‎
Calcutta, June 15: A panel has recommended that the state government play no role in land acquisition for privateindustry other than setting up a minimum-price regulator. The panel also mooted an "own land, own home" scheme which gives Mamata Banerjee ...

Expert panel submits draft of Bengal land use policy

MSN India - ‎Jun 15, 2011‎
Kolkata, Jun 15 (PTI) The expert panel to draft the West Bengal government''s land use policy today submitted an 11-point recommendation to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, suggesting among others that land for industry be bought directly from owners. ...

Bengal Assembly passes Singur land bill

IBNLive.com - ‎Jun 14, 2011‎
They walked out took after Chief Minister Mamata Bannerjee and Industry Minister Partho Chatterjee, who moved the Bill, delivered their address. MLAs belonging to the Left Front said that passing a separate bill instead of amending the Central Land ...

Mamata poised to take back Singur land

Hindustan Times - ‎Jun 13, 2011‎
Chief minister Mamata Banerjee has announced about 600 acres will be kept aside for industries and the rest distributed among farmers who refused to give up land for the Nano project. HT has information that in reclaiming the land, the government will ...

Singur Bill to be tabled today

Business Standard - ‎Jun 13, 2011‎
The Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress government in West Bengal will table the 'Singur Land Rehabilitation and Development Bill, 2011', on the first day of the Assembly session beginning tomorrow. The proposed Bill revokes the lease agreement with ...

State of land acquisition

Hindustan Times - ‎Jun 16, 2011‎
In doing so, chief minister Mamata Banerjee kept her pre-poll promise to the electorate, which gave her Trinamool Congress, a resounding majority in the elections. The Singur Land Rehabilitation and Development Bill cites "non-commissioning of the ...

Singur Land Bill passed, Mamata fulfils promise

Economic Times - ‎Jun 14, 2011‎
The remaining portion of the land would be utilised for socio-economic development, employment generation,industry and other public purposes. The Bill, piloted by Minister for Industries and Commerce Partha Chatterjee , was passed by voice vote in the ...

Tata challenges allegations made by Mamata in Singur Bill

NDTV.com - ‎Jun 14, 2011‎
The other 600 acres that were leased, Ms Banerjee said last week, will be "kept open forindustry...The Tatas can set up industry if they want. If they (Tata) demand compensation without going in for industry on these 600 acres, we will give them ...

Mamata delivered what she promised, the Singur Land Bill

Civic Revolt (blog) - ‎Jun 15, 2011‎
Secondly, in order to counter the CPM propaganda of her being anti- industryMamata is now eager to set up alternative industrial units on 600 acres of land which will remain in the hands of the state government after distributing 400 acres to farmers ...

<B>Q&A:</B> Gautam Deb, CPI(M) Leader

Business Standard - ‎Jun 16, 2011‎
In an interview with Ishita Ayan Dutt, the star campaigner from the Communist Party of India (Marxist) discusses the reasons behind the party's rout and the policies of the new government led by Mamata Banerjee. Edited excerpts: What went wrong with ...

Mamata Banerjee Settle of Land Impasse

Weekly Blitz - Deepak Roy - ‎Jun 15, 2011‎
But Mamata Banerjee in a dramatic mood announced on June 9 that state government had taken back entire 997.11 acres of land at Singur through an ordinance in order to return 400 acres to disgruntled farmers and industry will be set up on 600 acres, ...

WB cabinet to discuss Singur Bill

Hindustan Times - ‎Jun 12, 2011‎
On Thursday, chief minister Mamata Banerjee had announced an ordinance to reclaim land at Singur. "We have passed an ordinance as it was a very urgent one. The governor has signed it some time back. Through the ordinance we have returned 400 acres of ...

Mamata to table Singur land bill in Assembly

IBNLive.com - ‎Jun 13, 2011‎
Prepared by the Industry Department, the bill will revoke the lease agreement between the Tatas and West Bengal Industrial Development Corporation (WBIDC) and seeks to empower the government to return the land to unwilling owners who have not taken ...

Bengal passes bill to return land to Singur farmers

Times of India - ‎Jun 14, 2011‎
While Left Front MLAs tried to pick legal holes in the bill, Mamata said: "Why are you getting bogged down with technicalities about which department should have tabled the bill, and which shouldn't? I'm looking at what is practical. ...

Bengal govt to table Bill to take back Singur land

Livemint - Aniek Paul - ‎Jun 13, 2011‎
Chief minister Mamata Banerjee had said on 20 May, the day she was sworn in, that her government would return 400 acres to people who did not receive compensation on protest. The Bill doesn't specify how much land will be returned, and it seems even ...

Singur Bill passed, legal battle looms

Business Standard - ‎Jun 14, 2011‎
"So far as letters of allotment issued to the ancillary industries recommended by TML (Tata Motors Limited) for the purpose of setting up of the industry/factory is concerned, the object has totally failed. None of the of those industrial undertakings ...

Tata Motors dispute Mamata Banerjee's Singur bill claims

Calcutta Tube - ‎Jun 14, 2011‎
West Bengal Industry Minister Partha Chattopadhaya tabled the 280-page bill in the house first and later it was passed. The opposition Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) walked out protesting a division between "willing" and "unwilling" farmers ...

Ancillaries in no mood for court battle

Times of India - ‎Jun 13, 2011‎
Add the land-filling cost and construction and it'd be around Rs 50-75 crore," a source in the auto componentindustry said. A top official of engine component manufacturer, Rico Auto, termed the bill "really good news". "Besides, giving premium for ...

Governor summons two Bengal ministers, A-G to Raj Bhavan

IBNLive.com - ‎Jun 13, 2011‎
Commerce and Industry minister Partha Chatterjee and Law minister Moloy Ghatak were accompanied by senior officers and are believed to have discussed details of the bill with the governor for over two hours, Raj Bhavan sources said. ...

Singur Bill passed amid Opposition walkout

The Hindu - ‎Jun 14, 2011‎
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee with farmers from Singur outside the Assembly in Kolkata on Tuesday. Kolkata: The West Bengal Assembly on Tuesday passed by voice vote the Singur Land Rehabilitation and Development Bill, 2011, ...

Land owners celebrate Singur law

Times of India - ‎Jun 14, 2011‎
Asked how they can demand compensation when the bill addresses unwilling farmers only, Das said: "The government can't take us for a ride. We gave land for industry. Now when the industry is not taking off, it should return the land."

Singur Bill to return land passed

indiablooms - ‎Jun 14, 2011‎
Kolkata, June 14 (IBNS) A bill to take back the Singur farmlands handed over to the Tatas after forcible acquisition for a car factory by the previous Left Front regime was passed in the Assembly on June 14 by theMamata Banerjee government. ...

Bureaucrats misled the LF Govt., alleges former land and land reforms minister

The Hindu - ‎Jun 13, 2011‎
Mr. Mollah had earlier courted controversy by stating that the Singur issue had led to the defeat of the Left Front and that his caution was not heeded by former chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee and former industryminister Nirupam Sen. ...

CPI-M disapproves Singur Bill

Newstrack India - ‎Jun 15, 2011‎
The government would return equivalent quantum of land to "unwilling" farmers in 400 acre. The remaining portion of the land would be utilised for socio-economic development, employment generation, industry and other public purposes. (ANI)

Singur Land Bill to be table in W. Bengal Assembly

TruthDive - ‎Jun 13, 2011‎
Kolkata, June 14 (ANI): West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is all set to table the Singur Land Rehabilitation and Development Bill, 2011 in the state Assembly on Tuesday. The state Cabinet on Monday approved the draft Singur Bill and copies of ...

Tatas to take up Singur vendors' case

Financial Express - Ronojoy Banerjee - ‎Jun 14, 2011‎
Tata Motors has also indicated that the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress is likely to hold a tripartite meeting with the vendors to reach a middle ground, three component manufacturers with direct knowledge of the matter told FE. ...

Indian state set to restore land to 'Nano farmers'

AFP - ‎Jun 14, 2011‎
West Bengal is currently controlled by chief minister Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress party, which was at the forefront of the protests at the site, 35 kilometres (22 miles) west of Kolkata. Banerjee told the legislature that the bill, ...

Mamata government tables Singur bill

Economic Times - ‎Jun 14, 2011‎
The 'Singur Land Rehabilitation and Development Bill, 2011' was placed in the house by Commerce andIndustries Minister Partha Chatterjee. The bill seeks to scrap the 997.17-acre land lease with Tata Motors, enabling the government to take back the ...

Singur Land Bill passed : Mamata fulfils promise

IBNLive.com - ‎Jun 14, 2011‎
Industry Minister Partha Chatterjee told reporters that CPI(M) had used "brute police force" to acquire land from farmers at Singur and the walk-out showed "they are still anti-peasant".He said that the Left Front had created a drama by claiming they ...

Singur bill to be tabled in WB Assembly tomorrow

The Hindu - ‎Jun 13, 2011‎
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has said that her government was committed to return the 400 acre to unwilling farmers and the remaining nearly 600 acre for industry. Stating that the budget session would be brief, Mr. Chakraborty said that after the ...

Experts find Bill shaky on legal grounds

Hindu Business Line - ‎Jun 14, 2011‎
He further added that putting the onus on the Tatas for "abandoning the project" is an incorrect version as the Tatas were forced out of the State by Ms Mamata Banerjee. "If you ask me, the entire Bill is based on a false premise," he told Business ...

Singur Bill remains vague on compensation

Hindu Business Line - Pratim Ranjan Bose - ‎Jun 14, 2011‎
... the Bill says, "None of these (vendors) industrial undertakings have taken any step for obtaining the lease in terms of letters of allotment or have not set up any industry and the land has been left unutilised for more than three years. ...

Statement from Tata Motors on Singur Bill

NDTV.com - ‎Jun 14, 2011‎
Tata Motors had set up the plant, at the invitation of the West Bengal Government, to revitalise the automotiveindustry in the state and contribute to its industrial revival. Had the project been allowed to flourish, the plant would have initially ...

Singur land return bill may be tabled tomorrow

Times of India - ‎Jun 12, 2011‎
If passed, the bill requires presidential assent as it seeks to modify a central Act. Chief minister Mamata Banerjee has made clear her commitment to return the 400 acres to unwilling farmers. The remaining 600 acres will be kept open for industry...

Bengal assembly passes Singur bill

Oman Tribune - ‎Jun 14, 2011‎
The Singur Land Rehabilitation and Development Bill, 2011 was passed by voice vote amidst thumping of desks by jubilant treasury bench members after the legislation was placed in the house by Commerce and IndustriesMinister Partha Chatterjee. ...

Bill scrapping Singur lease in Assembly today

Indian Express - ‎Jun 13, 2011‎
The rest of the land will be used for employment generation, setting up of industries, socio-economic development of the region or any other public purpose. The proposed Bill is not an amendment to the Land Acquisition Act of 1894 but a new piece of ...

Tata Motors to respond to West Bengal Bill on Singur

Rush Lane - ‎Jun 14, 2011‎
The plant had been setup once the WB government made a request for it to give its automotive industry a new lease of life, and contribute to the state's industrial growth. Tata Motors would like to clarify on circumstances that led to the company ...

Singur Bill takes back land sans amendment

Financial Express - ‎Jun 13, 2011‎
Kolkata: The Mamata Banerjee government avoided amending the Land Acquisition Act of 1894 and yet succeeded in returning land in Singur to farmers by passing a new law altogether for just that purpose. Passing a new law became necessary because land ...

Abandonment tag on Tatas Cheque norm in Singur draft bill

Calcutta Telegraph - ‎Jun 13, 2011‎
The reason we are leaving is the agitation by Mamata Banerjee." The draft of the bill, which the Mamata Banerjee government wants to table tomorrow though the Opposition has raised procedural questions, makes it clear that land will be returned only to ...

Ural eyes Singur plot

Times of India - ‎Jun 15, 2011‎
KOLKATA: While chief minister Mamata Banerjee plans to return 400 acres of land in Singur to unwilling farmers, the city-based Ural Group approached the CM on Monday with a proposal to set up an auto plant at Singur on a 500-acre plot. ...

Singur Bill set to be tabled in Bengal Assembly on June 14

Moneycontrol.com - ‎Jun 13, 2011‎
... employment generation, industry and other public purpose. Mamata Banerjee had spearheaded the Singur and Nandigram land movements and among her slew of announcements after the historic swearing in as chief minister on May 20, was to redeem the ...

West Bengal assembly passes Singur land Bill

Livemint - Aniek PaulRomita Datta - ‎Jun 14, 2011‎
"We debated this for over 5 hours yesterday," said Partha Chatterjee, West Bengal's commerce and industriesminister, who moved the Bill, referring to the conversation he and other state ministers had with Narayanan on Monday. ...

Singur Bill passed in WB Assembly; Opposite walks out

Moneycontrol.com - ‎Jun 14, 2011‎
Speaking on the Bill, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said it had been brought to undo the injustice meted out to the farmers whose land was forcefully acquired in 2006 for setting up Tata Motor's Nano car manufacturing unit. She said her government did ...

Bill to return Singur land passed

Deccan Chronicle - Kaushik Pradhan - ‎Jun 14, 2011‎
We are not giving this land on lease; they will get rights to the land," announced a delighted chief minister MamataBanerjee, who as Trinamul Congress president had spearheaded the Singur movement. The Left Front, which had claimed to support the bill ...

Bengal passes bill to help return Tatas' Singur land

domain-B - ‎Jun 14, 2011‎
It was introduced at 1 pm by industry minister Partha Chatterjee and passed by voice vote. The principal aim of the bill is to return to the owners land that was taken by the previous Leftist Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee administration for the 'public ...

West Bengal to reclaim all Nano project land

mydigitalfc.com - Ritwik Mukherjee - ‎Jun 13, 2011‎
Chief minister Mamata Banerjee is on record that the compensation would be settled through a court appointed arbitrator. The bill says that Tata Motors will have to first apply to the state government, and that the amount will be determined by the ...

Singur bill passed in Bengal assembly

iNewsOne - ‎Jun 14, 2011‎
Hours after Trinamool chief Mamata Banerjee was sworn in as the chief minister May 20, the state cabinet's first decision was to return the land to the farmers. The Trinamool Congress, decimated in the 2006 assembly polls, saw its political graph climb ...

West Bengal passes Singur bill, Mamata calls it historic

MSN India - ‎Jun 14, 2011‎
The bill, tabled by Commerce and Industries Minister Partha Chatterjee, seeks to scrap the 997.17-acre land lease with Tata Motors, enabling the government to take back the land to fulfill the Trinamool Congress's poll promise to return 400 acres to ...

Tatas hit back as Bengal scraps Nano land lease

mydigitalfc.com - Ritwik MukherjeeRupesh Subhash - ‎Jun 14, 2011‎
Mamata Banerjee's government passed a law scrapping the land lease agreement with Tata Motors. The bill contained language that held Tata Motors responsible for the Nano project failure in Singur. In response, Tata Motors said in a statement that it ...

Loopholes in Singur Bill may create more problems

Moneycontrol.com - ‎Jun 16, 2011‎
The Mamata Banerjee led West Bengal government passed the Singur Rehabilitation and Development Bill 2011 on Tuesday. But even though the government's purpose maybe well intended the Bill may well just create more problems than what Didi has imagined, ...

West Bengal govt may not assist promoters to acquire land

Livemint - Romita Datta - ‎Jun 15, 2011‎
Kolkata: West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee may soon announce a new land use policy which says the government will not acquire land for industrial projects, leaving it to project promoters to do so. "They (companies) operate in a market economy ...

Mamata threatens to sack food dept officials

IBNLive.com - ‎Jun 15, 2011‎
PTI Kolkata: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who visited the Food Department headquarters in Kolkata on Wednesday, said essential items were not reaching the poor and threatened to sack the officers responsible for it. ...

''Why Mamata is silent on corruption issue?'' Gadkari

IBNLive.com - ‎Jun 15, 2011‎
PTI | 08:06 PM,Jun 15,2011 Kolkata, Jun 15 (PTI) BJP president Nitin Gadkari today questioned West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's silence on the corruption issue and alleged that as a UPA cabinet minister she "allowed" corruption. ...

CM unhappy at state of affairs in Khadya Bhavan

IBNLive.com - ‎Jun 15, 2011‎
PTI | 04:06 PM,Jun 15,2011 Kolkata, June 15 (PTI) West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today expressed dismay at the piled up files and papers strewn in the Food department headquarters and asked officials to prepare a computer database of all ...

Mamata keeps her promise, passes Singur bill

IBNLive.com - ‎Jun 14, 2011‎
Although the Bill has empowered the government to re-acquire the land and redistribute it, it has also raised many questions to which West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has no answers yet. The Left while in agreement with the objective of the ...

Left walks out, Singur bill passed

Indian Express - ‎Jun 14, 2011‎
Addressing the House during the debate on the Bill, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said all unwilling farmers of Singur will get back their land. "It was our commitment before the elections that unwilling farmers will get land if we come to power. ...

Tatas studying bill

Indian Express - ‎Jun 14, 2011‎
In its first official reaction to the Singur Land Rehabilitation and Development Bill, 2011, that was passed in the West Bengal Assembly on Tuesday, Tata Motors Limited (TML) has repudiated the state government's views on several counts. ...

A law for Singur

Livemint - ‎Jun 14, 2011‎
The Singur saga continues. The West Bengal assembly on Tuesday passed a Bill that allows the state government to return land to farmers at Singur, the sight of a battle of nerves between the previous government and many farmers there. ...

Pullout a painful decision: Tata Motors

The Hindu - ‎Jun 14, 2011‎
Tata Motors on Tuesday said it would take appropriate steps after studying the Singur Land Rehabilitation and Development Bill, 2011, which pertains to the plot leased by the West Bengal Industrial Development Corporation (WBIDC) to the company and its ...

Singur bill through, Left Front walks out

Hindustan Times - ‎Jun 14, 2011‎
The turmoil over the 997.17-acre land in Singur came full circle with the Mamata Banerjee government pushing through the Singur land rehabilitation and development bill on Tuesday. Banerjee seeks to return a portion of the land to "unwilling" farmers, ...

It's Singur, once again

Hindu Business Line - Ranabir Ray Choudhury - ‎Jun 14, 2011‎
The recent gyrations focussing on the "Land Development Ordinance" – which fulfilled the promise made by MsMamata Banerjee to the disgruntled landlosers in Singur that she would return their land if she came to power – suggests strongly that the Chief ...

West Bengal to restore farm land

BBC News - ‎Jun 14, 2011‎
The chief minister of West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee, said the move would undo the injustice to farmers. The land in Singur, near Calcutta, was acquired by the state's former communist government in 2006 for Tata Motors to make its low-cost Nano car. ...

''Unwilling'' farmers of Singur rejoice

IBNLive.com - ‎Jun 14, 2011‎
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee later met the farmers, including Manoranjan Malik, the father of Tapasi Malik, whose charred body was found inside the Tata Motors premises at Singur in 2006."We are grateful to Banerjee who alone fought for our cause, ...

Tata Motors deny West Bengal government's charges of not generating jobs

Economic Times - ‎Jun 14, 2011‎
The bill scraps land deal with the company and seeks to return 400 acres acquired by the company from "unwilling" farmers, an election pledge of state Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee . "The company had invested nearly Rs 1800 crore in establishing the ...

Land Acquisition Act of 1894 draconian: Mamata Banerjee

Moneycontrol.com - ‎Jun 14, 2011‎
Published on Tue, Jun 14, 2011 at 20:12 | Source : PTI West Bengal Chief Minister MamataBanerjee on Tuesday said the Land Acquisition Act of 1894 as "draconian" while the Singur Bill would show the way for the entire country. ...

Bengal govt must award appropriate compensation: Sona Koyo

Moneycontrol.com - ‎Jun 14, 2011‎
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee disagreed saying the primary purpose of the bill is to ensure repossession of the land from Tata Motors and the vendors. The opposition demanded the land should be returned to all. Tata Motors vendors' are up in arms over ...

Tata Motors slips after vendors protest against Singur Bill

Moneycontrol.com - ‎Jun 14, 2011‎
Tata Motors' vendors have gone up in arms against the Singur Bill, reports CNBC-TV18. Sona Koyo Chairman said vendors should be compensated by the West Bengal govt. "We will appeal in court if not compensated by govt," he said. ...

Tata Motors down; UBS downgrades to 'sell'

Economic Times - ‎Jun 14, 2011‎
Shares of Tata Motors fell more than 2 percent on investors concern about rising interest rates and after the West Bengal state's cabinet approved the Singur Land Rehabilitation and Redevelopment Bill to be tabled in the assembly on Wednesday that ...

Mamata asks doctors to perform with available infrastructure

Indian Express - ‎Jun 13, 2011‎
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee who has given priority to health since taking over expressed unhappiness at the poor infrastructure in the sector, but directed improvement of services nonetheless. "What they have done in the last 35 years? ...

Mamata cabinet okays Singur land return Bill

Times of India - ‎Jun 13, 2011‎
KOLKATA: Chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday announced her cabinet's decision to return 400 acres of land to Singur farmers. The state cabinet on Monday approved the draft Singur Land Rehabilitation and Development Bill, 2011. ...

Didi's healing message to docs

Times of India - ‎Jun 13, 2011‎
KOLKATA: Chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday tugged at the heartstrings of health professionals in the state, asking them to go beyond their job briefs, narrow political interests and become more humane. "Let bygones be bygones, forget which ...

Echoes of past in Singur land return bill

Times of India - ‎Jun 13, 2011‎
Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee refused to budge from her demand of 400 acres, no less. The formula failed. Mamata did not forget her promise after taking over as chief minister on May 20, 2011. Her first announcement was that her government ...

CM reviews plan for N Bengal

Indian Express - ‎Jun 13, 2011‎
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday reviewed development plans with the the ministers of Sports, Tourism and North Bengal Development. "She was very keen to know the problems faced by us in our respective departments so that they can be overcome ...

Mamata's three-phase plan to revive health services

Indian Express - ‎Jun 13, 2011‎
In a bid to improve Health services in the state, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday announced a three-phase plan with a special emphasis on improving hospital infrastructure and framing of the government's long-time goals. ...

Why Didi didn't keep her promise?

NewsX - ‎Jun 13, 2011‎
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Bannerjee has tripped on her first pledge that of returning land to the farmers of Singur, and Singur simmers like a dormant volcano against her. News X has been following developments in Singur from Mamata's promises ...

Mamata urges doctors to raise standards within given limitations

The Hindu - ‎Jun 13, 2011‎
PTI The Hindu A file picture of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee during a press meet at Writers' Buildings in Kolkata. Photo: Sushanta Patronobish. Health officials, doctors and para-medical staff were exhorted on Monday by West Bengal Chief ...

Buy land directly from farmers, says West Bengal's draft policy

TwoCircles.net - ‎Jun 15, 2011‎
"We have submitted a draft on the land use policy to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee," said Debabrata Bandhapadhyay, who headed the two-member panel formed to prepare the land use policy, land bank and land map. "We have recommended that industrialists ...

Mamata's Singur stand may hurt NTPC project

Business Standard - Shine Jacob - ‎Jun 12, 2011‎
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is getting applause from supporters on her decision to take back Singur land from the Tata Group and for her stance on land acquisition. However, this unwillingness to acquire land from those unwilling to sell might be a ...

Mamata opts for Singur-specific land acquisition bill

Economic Times - ‎Jun 11, 2011‎
KOLKATA: The Mamata Banerjee-led West Bengal government has finally decided to table a Singur-specific land acquisition bill in the state assembly to overcome delays in amending existing laws and other legal hurdles. Copies of the proposed bill, ...

Violence, assault, threat and intimidation forced us to leave Singur: Tata Motors

Daily Bhaskar - ‎Jun 14, 2011‎
In response to the Singur Bill tabled by the West Bengal Government in the State Assembly on Tuesday, Tata Motors has issued a statement explaining the reason behind the company's decision to fold its operations. Reacting to the Bill that seeks to ...

Recall why we left Singur: Tata Motors

Rediff - ‎Jun 14, 2011‎
Image: Mamata Banerjee takes part in a protest rally in Singur. The legislation revokes the original lease agreement signed between Tata Motors, the country's biggest automobile maker, and the West Bengal Industrial Development Corporation. ...

WB Assembly passes Singur bill to return 400 acres of land to farmers

All India Radio - ‎Jun 14, 2011‎
The Bill marks the delivery of the principal and first political promise of chief minister MamataBanerjee, who as the opposition leader, vowed to return the land to the unwilling land losers. On May 18, 2006 former chief minister Buddhadeb ...

CPM Slams populist Mamata

NewsX - ‎Jun 11, 2011‎
CPM has slammed West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for the Singur land fiasco. In the Politburo meet in Hyderabad, CPM said the Singur land return promised by the Mamata Banerjee was only to appease the farmers.

Posted On Wednesday, June 15, 2011 at 03:34:07 AM

Mumbai Mirror - ‎Jun 14, 2011‎
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had earlier promised to return the land to farmers unwilling to part with it. Scotching speculation over whether the land would be returned to 'unwilling' farmers on lease, she said, "It will be returned on an ownership ...

Surjya light on contradictions

Calcutta Telegraph - Biswajit Roy - ‎Jun 14, 2011‎
Then came the rapier thrust that suggested the CPM does not want chief minister Mamata Banerjee to walk away with all the credit. "The hasty move to pass the bill full of pitfalls would only jeopardise implementation of its intent," Mishra said. ...

Left on Singur land return z Objection to the manner, not Mamata's decision

Indian Express - ‎Jun 10, 2011‎
CPM leader and Left Front chairman Biman Bose, who is attending the party's three-day politburo meeting in Hyderabad slammed the decision of Chief Minster Mamata Banerjee saying it was "not at all possible to bring in an ordinance when the Assembly was ...

Delivering on promises made

Financial Express - Rc Acharya - ‎Jun 14, 2011‎
: There is a new chief at Rail Bhavan, occupying the chair of minister for railways vacated by Mamata Banerjee, who has already taken charge at Writer's Building, Kolkata. Born in Kanchrapara, West Bengal, in 1954, Mukul Roy was elected to the Rajya ...

Mamata a role model for women, says US diplomat

iNewsOne - ‎Jun 14, 2011‎
Kolkata, June 14 (IANS) A US diplomat Tuesday lauded West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for her fighting spirit and called her a great role model for women. 'Look at Mamata Banerjee, she fought so many odds continuously and ultimately claimed ...

Bengal version of Singur story fuels Tata's fury

Financial Express - ‎Jun 14, 2011‎
In its first reaction to the developments related to the Singur small car project since the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress came to power in West Bengal, the company has said it had invested "nearly R1,800 crore in establishing the plant. ...

BJP demands greater compensation for 'willing' Singur farmers

Mangalorean.com - ‎Jun 14, 2011‎
Two years of sustained peasant agitation led by Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress had forced auto giant Tata Motors to move to Gujarat to set up the manufacturing plant for their small car Nano. Mitra accused Banerjee of causing peasant unrest ...

Mrinal Sen expresses doubt over Singur land

Mangalorean.com - ‎Jun 14, 2011‎
Kolkata, June 14 (IANS) Veteran film director Mrinal Sen Tuesday expressed doubt over the fertility of the Singur land that is proposed to be returned to unwilling farmers, and said had the factory been allowed to be set up, it would have generated ...

Lack of congenial environment forced Singur closure: Tata Motors

Mangalorean.com - ‎Jun 14, 2011‎
Kolkata, June 14 (IANS) Rebutting West Bengal government's reference to the Tata Motors' "non-commissioning and abandoning" of the small car project in Singur as a reason for taking back the land, the automobile major Tuesday clarified that it had to ...

Bengal Assembly passes Singur Land Bill; Tata Motors reacts

Moneylife Personal Finance site and magazine - ‎Jun 14, 2011‎
Mumbai: A bill seeking to empower the West Bengal government to return land in Singur to farmers was today passed by the Assembly amidst a walkout by members of the Opposition Left parties. The Singur Land Rehabilitation and Development Bill, 2011, ...

Singur Bill passed in WB Assembly

Times Now.tv - ‎Jun 14, 2011‎
"This Bill is to give justice to the people of Singur", Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said. However the Left claims that this Bill may face legal hassles in the court of law and may not get President's assent.

Mamata all set to move the Singur land acquisition bill today

Civic Revolt (blog) - ‎Jun 13, 2011‎
Learning from her mistake, Mamata Banerjee has grown wiser. Jettisoning the idea of an Ordinance, she is all set to move a Bill in the West Bengal Assembly today for taking over the entire 997.11 acres of land in Singur which was handed over to Tata ...

Schemes to fund Bengal

Calcutta Telegraph - Jayanta Roy Chowdhury - ‎Jun 13, 2011‎
Chief minister Mamata Banerjee is expected to visit the capital later this month and meet both Mukherjee and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. Officials in Delhi said Bengal, which had started the year with little in its corpus, could expect a jump of up ...

Singur support and delay ploy by CPM

Calcutta Telegraph - Biswajit Roy - ‎Jun 13, 2011‎
Calcutta, June 13: The CPM today said it was "not opposed" to the Mamata Banerjee government's proposed Singur land-return bill but tried to defer its formal introduction in the Assembly tomorrow, citing procedural lapses. This apparent dichotomy in ...

Ila Arun wants to play Mamata Banerjee

The Daily Star - Pallab Bhattacharya - ‎Jun 13, 2011‎
Singer-actress Ila Arun is the latest film personality to be floored by the persona of West Bengal Chief Minister,Mamata Banerjee and says she wants to recreate the latter's role on screen. Arun, who put up an impressive performance in the role of ...

Bengal has R9,000-cr cash deficit: Mitra

Financial Express - ‎Jun 13, 2011‎
He said it was for chief minister Mamata Banerjee to announce the details of any package after she met Mukherjee. Finance ministry officials said there would be more meetings before finalising something. The state also faces a debt burden of R2,03488 ...

Mamata announces health sector reform

Mangalorean.com - ‎Jun 13, 2011‎
Kolkata, June 13 (IANS) West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Monday said a three-phase developmental system will be taken up to improve the state's ailing health services sector. "We have to go through three systems for health service development ...

Mamta Banerjee call for improvement in health department at West Bengal

Health(Y) Destination - ‎Jun 13, 2011‎
Mamta Banerjee, the Chief Minister of West Bengal urged all the health officials, doctors including all para-medical staff to improve delivery standards within the present existing infrastructure. Ms. Banerjee, who is having the portfolio of Health ...

Is it time to move beyond Singur?

Rediff - ‎Jun 13, 2011‎
No one can really object to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee wishing to deliver on an important election promise, and that too of an emotive issue like Singur, from where her journey to power began. Even so, it should have been clear to Ms ...

Pranab backs Mamata on Singur

Deccan Chronicle - ‎Jun 12, 2011‎
West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee's ordinance faux pas may have given the beleagured Opposition CPI(M) a stick to beat the fledgling Trinamul Congress government with, but the Congress-led UPA stood solidly behind her. ...

CPM slams Ms Banerjee for issuing ordinance on Singur land

SteelGuru - ‎Jun 11, 2011‎
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the politburo meeting the Marxist leader wondered how chief minister MsMamata Banerjee can issue an ordinance when the state Assembly was in session. Mr Bose submitted the final review report on the party's ...

Land Acquisition Act draconian: Banerjee

Hindustan Times - ‎Jun 14, 2011‎
PTI West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday said that the Land Acquisition Act of 1894 as "draconian" while the Singur bill would show the way for the entire country. Participating in the debate in the Assembly over the Singur land ...

Vendors wait for Tatas to react to Singur bill

Hindustan Times - ‎Jun 14, 2011‎
PTI Vendors of the Tata Nano plant on Tuesday said they were awaiting a reaction from the Tatas on the Singur bill and would take a decision in consultation with them on the issue of compensation. "We cannot take an independent decision. ...

'The Singur Bill will mess up things in Bengal'

Rediff - Ishita Ayan Dutt - ‎Jun 17, 2011‎
In an interview with Business Standard, the star campaigner from the Communist Party of India-Marxist discusses the reasons behind the party's rout and the policies of the new government led by Mamata Banerjee. What went wrong with the Left Front in ...

'Why Mamata is silent on corruption issue?'

Daily Pioneer - ‎Jun 15, 2011‎
PTI | Kolkata BJP president Nitin Gadkari today questioned West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's silence on the corruption issue and alleged that as a UPA cabinet minister she "allowed" corruption. "When she was the cabinet minister in the UPA ...

Mamata to table Singur Land Bill today

Times Now.tv - ‎Jun 13, 2011‎
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is all set to table the Singur Land Rehabilitation and Development Bill, 2011 in the state Assembly on Tuesday (June 14). Banerjee on Monday announced her cabinet's decision to return 400 acres of land to ...

Social activist Swami Agnivesh on Saturday said peaceful settlement of Posco impasse was possible through talks and offered to work as a facilitator between Orissa government and anti-Posco agitators.

"Peaceful settlement of the Posco issue is quite possible. I am willing to play the role of a facilitator for talks between the State government and agitators for a solution," Swami Agnivesh told PTI.

Expressing solidarity with the anti-Posco agitators, he said there would be no displacement and no loss of fertile land if both the State government and Posco agreed to shift the plant site. It was wrong to allow a multi-national company to have its captive port.

"The proposed captive port by Posco will certainly pose a threat to the national security. I am surprised as to how Union Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh allowed it," he said.

Swami Agnivesh said that the earlier talks between the State government and the Posco Pratirodh Sangram Samiti (PPSS) failed to yield any result as the Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik remained silent all along the discussion.

The deadlock could easily be resolved if Mr. Patnaik directly spoke to the affected people instead of engaging officers, he said.

The Orissa government on Friday suspended land acquisition for the Posco steel plant project, citing bad weather, while hundreds of agitating villagers, including many women and children formed a human chain outside Gobindpur village in their attempt to resist the process.

Armed policemen, who were proceeding towards Gobindpur village, returned to their camps from Balitutha, the entry point to the Posco project area, after officials suspended the exercise for the day.

The agitators, however, were under the impression that the administration stopped the process in view of the people's resistance and the growing support for the anti-Posco movement.

The Sangram Samiti organised a public meeting at the place where the villagers had gathered to foil the administration's move to resume land acquisition after a break.

Many prominent social activists and two senior leaders of the State unit of the Nationalist Congress Party addressed the gathering, criticising the State government for using armed policemen to forcibly acquire land for the steel venture.

NCP opposes police picketing

The NCP leaders visited the area to oppose the heavy police presence in the locality even though their party had contested the last Lok Sabha and Assembly polls in alliance with the ruling Biju Janata Dal headed by Naveen Patnaik.

In a related development, former MLA of Erasama and a resident of Gobindpur, Bijay Nayak, too addressed the meeting and announced support to the agitation. Mr. Nayak, a Congress leader, hails from Gobindpur village.

Many of the speakers, including social activist Prafulla Samantara, demanded a high-level probe into the demolition of "fake" betel vineyards in the area. He alleged that the administration officials had siphoned off a huge amount of money by claiming to have demolished many betel vineyards.

They also refuted the administration's claim that many residents of Gobindpur had written to the authorities about their willingness to part with their land. The matter should be probed by the higher authorities, the speakers demanded.

President of Odisha Jana Sammilani Rabi Das demanded that the State government immediately withdraw police from the area and the Chief Minister visit the locality to talk to the agitating villagers who were not willing to hand over their land and livelihood sources to make space for the steel project.

Communist Party of India General Secretary A B Bardhan on Monday criticised the Orissa government as well as Union Environment and Forest Minister Jairam Ramesh over what he called was "pure and straight state vandalism" unleashed against villagers who have been opposing the Posco project for the past six years.

"It's a heroic battle being carried out by people for six years now without a single act of violence. Yet, in a most illegal and repressive fashion, the Orissa government has been trying to acquire 4,000 acres of land by force...by coercion," Mr. Bardhan told a press conference in Hyderabad on Monday.

The CPI chief came down on Jairam Ramesh for saying that "political and strategic considerations have to be taken into account" while granting clearances for the Posco project.

"What is the Ministry of Environment and Forests for? Two committees appointed by the Ministry itself said the project is 'illegal, ill-conceived and environmentally-harmful.' Even Jairam's own Department said the Forest Rights Act has been violated in the case of Posco," Mr. Bardhan pointed out and alleged that "forgery and lies have been resorted to" despite the local panchayats passing resolutions against the project.

Mr. Jairam's claims on Posco only exposed his "naivety and hypocrisy," Mr. Bardhan added.

Posco was project controlled by American capital masquerading under a South Korean steel company, he claimed.

Senior CPI MP Gurudas Dasgupta would visit Posco site on June 21 to express solidarity with the fighting villagers.

The CPI General Secretary demanded that the Central government immediately scrap the Land Acquisition Act of 1894 and a new law that was farmer-friendly should be drafted.

"Any project requires only limited land, not thousands of acres. Ambani wanted one lakh acres of land for a project.

What for? Even the Reserve Bank of India said it is nothing but real-estate business," Mr. Bardhan pointed out and recalled that Tatas sold out huge tracts of land in Nagpur, given to them for setting up textile mills years ago, for commercial purposes.

"None of the mills are working and the land has now been sold for malls, corporate houses and other purposes," he said.

Hereafter, only barren land should be acquired for any purpose and not fertile land, Mr. Bardhan said.
17/06/2011

Monsoon lashes City of Joy

One person died on Friday as heavy rains pounded the city and its adjoining districts since Thursday night caused by a deep depression that lay centred 80 km from here.


Monsoon lashes City of Joy

School children enjoy as it rains in Kolkata on Friday. PTI

A fish seller died on way to the market at a village in Bishnupur area in South 24-Parganas district when electric wires snapped due to heavy rains and fell on him.

The rains hit normal life in the metropolis as low-lying areas in many parts went under knee-deep water, throwing transport out of gear. The city recorded 25 mm rainfall since last night till 10 am on Friday. College Street, Amherst Street, Burrabazar, Lake Road and part of the business district BBD Bag were waterlogged as dirty rain water made their way into many homes in the low -- lying areas.

Train services on Sealdah -- Hasnabad section of the Eastern Railway in North 24-Parganas district were disrupted as trees fell on the tracks. Meanwhile, the South 24-Parganas district administration officials said the fishermen in 45-50 trawlers, which went missing in high seas yesterday in the inclement weather, were safe in a forest at Kendua in the Sunderbans core area near a creek.

The state government had on Thursday formed a committee to oversee and strengthen the disaster management system in the state, prompted by the missing fishing trawlers incident. Eastern railway officials said EMU services were affected especially in the Sealdah South section due to power failure in the overhead wires.

Circular Railway services were also hit by submerged tracks between Bagh Bazar and Princep Ghat stations. Three platforms at Sealdah station were also waterlogged, they said. Met officials said intermittent heavy rains would lash the city and two adjoining districts tomorrow before the depression weakened and moved over to Bangladesh.

The weathermen also forecast heavy to very heavy rains in the entire Gangetic belt of West Bengal in the next two days and asked the fishermen not to venture into the sea in the southern coastal belt of East Midnapore and South 24-Parganas districts. Tourists in coastal sea resort of Digha have been asked not to move closer to the sea.

Source: PTI

Click on for more pictures

By E Jayakrishnan, India Syndicate, 16/06/2011

Jan Lok Pal bill: UPA's great political coup

Comment: UPA manages to send the Jan Lok Pal Bill where it thought it belonged – the graveyard

Jan Lok Pal bill: UPA's great political coup

The UPA government has just managed a political coup that will be envy of governments everywhere in the world.

Despite fasts, virulent protests and a countrywide nausea against corruption, it has managed to pivot the full circle and shepherd the Jan Lok Pal bill to where it thought it belonged - the graveyard.

Or, as Arvind Kejriwal, one of the members of the drafting panel from the civil society said, "government has killed the bill even before its birth".

That's what the 'one bill, two drafts' to be sent to the Union Cabinet proposal of the UPA government essentially amounts to.

The Union Cabinet, in other words, the government itself, will sit in judgment on the two drafts. And it's a no-brainer as to which draft - the civil society's or its own - the government will deign to chose.

Through the use of calumny, innuendoes, and by painting the spectre of threat to democracy by "unelected" players, the government has managed to confuse and obfuscate the issue.

The media and the public have swallowed the government's antics largely without protest or seeing through the attempts to shoot the messengers - the representatives of the civil society.

Jan Lok Pal bill: UPA's great political coup

They cast aspersions on their integrity; by insinuating that they were the front office for the RSS. The effort was to throw mud in the hope that some of it will stick. Some did stick, at least in the case of Baba Ramdev.

It is quite clear now that the setting-up of the civil society-UPA panel to go into the provisions of the Lok Pal bill in April this year was a strategic retreat by the government. The bid was clearly to disrupt the public emotions and momentum against corruption that the Anna Hazare fast had worked up.

Having broken that up in the soft way by consenting to engage with civil society, the government has now taken the hard way of simply saying 'no' to every proposal of the civil society.

Thereby, arrogating the sole right to sit in judgement over the provisions of the Bill to itself and the political class.

Even an usually mellow and respected actor in the episode, who is usually not given to playing to the galleries, Justice Santosh Hegde was forced to concede after the impasse at Wednesday evening's parleys, that it looked to him that the "government was not serious and was just going through the motions".

In ideal conditions, a reference to the elected representatives, in a democracy, is indeed the way to go. After all, they represent the people's collective will; and in the social contract that democracy entails, the power of formulating policy and getting them implemented is surrendered to the legislative bodies by the citizens.

However, the conditions are far from ideal.

Jan Lok Pal bill: UPA's great political coup

One, in India, at the macro level, the political class is largely perceived as part of the problem, not the solution. It will be no exaggeration to say that the political class as a whole is one of the least trusted segments of our society.

Secondly, more to the case in point the Lok Pal Bill is aimed at attacking the corrupt and the corruption in the governmental system.

To presume that politicians and bureaucrats, as a group, will acquiesce to provisions of a bill that are aimed at making their actions in the public sphere more transparent and accountable, is to really stretch imagination.

But with the UPA government's "one bill, two drafts", that is exactly what is being attempted and achieved.

It would be amusing to see the government sitting in judgement on its "own" draft against a draft by what it has termed in the past as a "nautanki" group; and then go through the motions of appearing to make a serious, unbiased and informed choice.

Will there be a credible response from the civil society? Watch this space!

Also read:
UPA 'playing tricks', Anna threatens to fast again
Lokpal Bill: One panel, two drafts

Source: India Syndicate


18/06/2011

Rahul as PM: Congress voices rise as he turns 41

New Delhi: As Rahul Gandhi turns 41 Sunday, voices in the Congress are rising touting the young leader as fitting the bill to become the next prime minister. But party leaders said Gandhi alone would decide whether or not he wants the country's top executive post.

Rahul as PM: Congress voices rise as he turns 41

While Congress general secretary Digvijay Singh has said that the MP from Amethi had all the qualities and capabilities to become a "good prime minister", another party leader, Birender Singh, said Gandhi would fit in the role whenever the situation so demands.

Digvijay Singh, who is in charge of Uttar Pradesh, is closely working with Gandhi to bring the party back to power in the country's most populous state in next year's assembly elections.

Digvijay Singh, who has openly aired differences with some decisions of senior ministers, added that Gandhi was mature with a sound understanding of social and political issues -- and had qualities of head and heart.

Many other leaders IANS spoke to echoed Digvijay Singh's feelings.

Congress general secretary Birender Singh said that Gandhi, son of party president Sonia Gandhi, had all the qualities to be the prime minister.

"The party is behind him. He has to take his own decision," Birender Singh told IANS.

Congress leader Shakeel Ahmed said that most partymen had the feeling that Gandhi was capable of becoming a good leader.

"Congressmen feel he has the capability of a being a good leader of the country. We feel he has the qualities of becoming prime minister," said Ahmed, the party in-charge of West Bengal and Jharkhand.

Rahul as PM: Congress voices rise as he turns 41

Congress treasurer Motilal Vora said: "He (Gandhi) has the capability to take the country on the path of development. He is a visionary."

Vora added that the young leader had made it clear that his focus for the present was on strengthening the party organisation. Gandhi is party incharge of Youth Congress and National Students Union of India.

Congress secretary Asha Kumari said Gandhi had worked in rural areas, taken part in the decision making process and had more political experience than his father Rajiv Gandhi, who became the country's youngest prime minister (1984).

"He (Gandhi) has worked with the system and learnt a lot. The cadre would have liked it (his becoming prime minister) even seven years ago," she said, adding that the party leader will decide when to take the post.

Party sources said that renewed talk about Gandhi's suitability to become prime minister has also been driven by a feeling in sections of the party that the second tenure of the UPA government has been marked by a string of controversies.

"Partymen mention that the government has mishandled situations, including the agitations by Anna Hazare and Baba Ramdev. There have been scams and controversies," a party leader said on the condition of anonymity.

He said partymen have begun talking about the need to give a younger look to the government and the possibility of annointing Gandhi as prime minister about a year before the 2014 general elections.

Former union minister Arjun Singh had raised his voice before the 2009 Lok Sabha polls for making Gandhi prime ministerial candidate, but it was scotched by the party leadership.

Source: IANS

18/06/2011

India, Pak locked in war of words over naval ships

Islamabad/New Delhi: Ahead of their talks, India and Pakistan were on Saturday locked in a spat and lodged protests against each other over their naval warships allegedly resorting to "risky" and "dangerous" manoeuvres after hijacked MV Suez was freed by Somali pirates.

India, Pak locked in war of words over naval ships

India lodged a protest with Pakistan against the violation by Pakistan Naval Ship (PNS) Babur of relevant regulations on navigational safety by its "risky" manoeuvres jeopardising the safety of INS Godavari and its crew. The protest was lodged through the High Commission of Pakistan in New Delhi.

The Ministry of External Affairs in a statement also said the Naval Advisor of the Pakistan High Commission was summoned by the Ministry of Defence and "our serious concern on this incident was conveyed".

An Indian Navy official said, "Reports of aggression by INS Godavari are incorrect and based on misinformation." Some Indian and Pakistan nationals were on board MV Suez.

The war of words erupted just days ahead of the talks between the Foreign Secretaries of India and Pakistan in Islamabad on June 24-25.

The Indian action came a day after Pakistan said a protest was lodged with the Indian High Commission in Islamabad over what it alleged a dangerous manoeuvre by an Indian warship which "brushed" its frigate escorting Eghyptian-owned vessel MV Suez. Pakistan also called the alleged incident on Thursday as serious.

The Indian protest was registered against the violation by Pakistan Naval Ship of relevant regulations on navigational safety as per the "International Regulations for Prevention of Collisions at Sea" and Article 10 of the "Agreement between India-Pakistan on Advance Notice on Military Exercises, Manoeuvres and Troops Movements 1991" involving INS Godavari on high seas, the MEA statement said.

"PNS Babur by its risky manoeuvres jeopardised the safety of INS Godavari and its crew," it added.

After Pakistan alleged that an Indian warship obstructed a Pakistani naval ship escorting an Egyptian merchant vessel freed by Somali pirates, New Delhi dismissed the complaint as "totally baseless".

The Indian external affairs ministry said the two countries had been coordinating with their overseas interlocutors ahead of the release of MV Suez and its sailors, including Indians and Pakistanis.

"Insinuations to the contrary by a few voices stem from lack of appreciation of facts and are totally baseless," spokesman Vishnu Prakash said.

Pakistan's foreign office Friday lodged a formal protest and said that its frigate PNS Babar was brushed past by INS Godavari.

Pakistan said that INS Godavari "hampered humanitarian operations" carried out by PNS Babar June 16 while escorting the MV Suez in the Gulf of Aden.

The Indian ship was also accused of undertaking "dangerous manoeuvres".

"This incident constitutes a serious violation of international regulations pertaining to safe conduct at high seas and of the India-Pakistan agreement of 1991 on advance notice of military exercise manoeuvres and troop movement," a Pakistani spokesperson said.

Pakistan lodged a protest with the Indian High Commission in Islamabad.

According to Pakistani daily Jang, Interior Minister Rehman Malik and Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir and Interior Secretary Chaudhary Qamar-uz-Zaman met to discuss the agenda for next week's meeting.

Pakistan's High Commissioner in India, Shahid Malik, has arrived from New Delhi for the talks. He met Malik Friday.

According to the report, the Indian side is likely to inquire about progress in the trial of 26/11 Mumbai attack masterminds.

India may also raise Pakistani American David Coleman Headley's revelations about the role of the Pakistani spy agency ISI in the Mumbai outrage.

Pakistan wants to include the Kashmir dispute on the agenda.

Earlier this year, India and Pakistan agreed to resume their comprehensive dialogue on all outstanding issues "in a constructive and forward-looking manner".

According to India, the agenda would include "peace and security", including confidence-building measures, Jammu and Kashmir and promotion of friendly exchanges.

Source: PTI & IANS

18/06/2011

Now, all-party meet on Lokpal issue

Government keen to resolve issues with Anna Hazare, is open to to the idea of cover PM under Lokpal once he demits office. Hegde apprehensive over final outcome of Lokpal Bill, to skip final meet

Now, all-party meet on Lokpal issue

New Delhi: The government on Saturday said it will discuss the draft Lokpal Bill with political parties before sending it to the Union Cabinet for approval.

HRD Minister Kapil Sibal said the government will also seek the opinion of Chief Ministers on the draft prepared by the joint committee on Lokpal consisting of five Ministers and as many members from the civil society.

"The government will seek the views of political parties on the draft bill before it goes to the Cabinet. Whatever agreements or disagreements on the draft are there will be presented before parties," he told Doordarshan.

Explaining the course the Bill will go through after the Cabinet nod, Mr. Sibal said it will be introduced in Parliament, which could decide to send the bill to a Standing Committee.

He said the issue of tackling corruption was important and the government does not consider that the civil society did anything wrong by highlighting it. While crediting the civil society for its efforts on an effective Lokpal, Sibal said it was not possible to accept all their demands.

Sibal, who is part of the government team in the joint drafting committee, criticised social activist Anna Hazare for not launching any agitation against the Gujarat government where there is no institution of Lokayukta or Karnataka where Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa is facing allegations of corruption.

"Why does Hazare not launch a fast in Gujarat where there is no Lokayukta. In Karnataka also, he should launch a fast," Sibal said.

Congress Core Group discusses Lokpal

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress president Sonia Gandhi had a meeting with top party leaders favouring parleys with political parties against the backdrop of widening differences between the government and the civil society representatives led by Mr. Hazare on the issue.

Grappling with the issue and other sensitive matters like Telangana, the Congress Core Group headed by Ms. Gandhi met on Saturday, the second meeting coming just after its two-hour long deliberations on Friday night. Saturday's meeting also discussed the Telangana problem.

The Hazare camp is pitching for inclusion of Prime Minister as also higher judiciary in the proposed Lokpal Bill during meetings of the Joint Committee to draft the measure which will now be meeting on June 20 and 21.

The government is prima facie opposed to the inclusion of Prime Minister within the ambit of Lokpal but was open to the idea of covering him once he demits office

Govt opposed to PM under Lokpal: Sibal

Hegde apprehensive over final outcome of Lokpal Bill

Karnataka Lokayukta and a member of the Lokpal Bill drafting committee Santosh Hegde on Saturday said he was apprehensive about the final outcome of the proposed bill as it could be a watered down version of what was originally envisaged.

"The discussion on the bill is nearly over and after the last meeting...of what you read between two parties, they do not seem to see eye to eye and hence I am apprehensive of the outcome of this effort," a candid Hegde told PTI here.

"They will bring a bill for a certain, but how strong the bill is going to be is a question," the former Supreme Court judge, who represents civil society on the Lokpal panel, said.

Expressing his doubts, he said, "They do not want the PM to come under its scope, they do not want the judiciary, they do not want military purchases being investigated nor the central government employees nor the corrupt conduct of MPs outside the House but having implications inside House."

On the CBI being kept out of the RTI Act, he said, "Today they want to keep out CBI, tomorrow it will be the police". Once an investigation was over, there could be sharing of data to ensure transparency, he opined. However, he was of the opinion that the current strong anti-corruption feeling would have some bearing on elections.

"One day the government will realise they had got an opportunity to earn a good name, but that they had missed the bus," said the Lokayukta. Hegde said he did not believe that such a bill could completely eradicate corruption but it would certainly aid in controlling graft.

"Just because there are police stations, has crime been eradicated? No, but police stations help control crime. Just like the presence of hospitals does not mean complete eradication of diseases," he said illustrating his point.

But the Lokayukta was all in favour of the anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare continuing his battle against graft. "Annaji must continue his fight against corruption, personally. He must not go on any hunger strike immediately. He must go around the country and inform people about the consequences of corruption and on development.

"He is the right person to do so," said Hegde, adding that post-retirement he would lend all his support to Anna. Hegde said he would not quit the committee but would not be present in the last two meetings owing to prior engagement, he said.

Govt opposed to PM under Lokpal: Sibal

Government today said prima facie it was opposed to the inclusion of Prime Minister under the ambit of Lok Pal but was open to the idea to cover him once he demits office.

"Within the government, we feel prima facie, the Prime Minister should not be covered (under the Lokpal). But at the same time we want to make sure that if he demits office, he should not be exonerated from prosecution," HRD Minister Sibal said in an interview to a news channel.

At the same time, he said the government will only decide on the issue after the draft bill goes to the Cabinet. Sibal's comments came two days ahead of the the final meeting of the joint drafting committee on Lok Pal Bill.

However, he said, the five ministers in the joint drafting committee were willing to be persuaded to bring the Prime Minister under the ambit of the anti-corruption legislation if the civil society side gives a compelling argument.

While Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has publicly stated that he was open to the idea of bringing the post under the Lokpal, Sibal said it was not the question of "an individual, Manmohan Singh but it's about an institution".

Arguing against the inclusion of a Prime Minister in office under the ombudsman, the minister said, "Which Prime Minister in office anywhere in the world has been prosecuted in the world? Please tell me, please give me an example."

He said people rallied behind Anna Hazare during his protest as they were upset with corruption but most of them do not know what is Lok Pal Bill.

"Anna Hazare is like the 'Pied Piper of Hamelin'. The tune is lilting and people were upset with corruption just as government is. We want to deal with it. But those who follow him, where they say corruption should be deal with, do not know what the Lok Pal Bill is," he said.

Govt opposed to PM under Lokpal: Sibal

Govt keen to resolve differences with Hazare

The government is keen to resolve its differences with Gandhian activist Anna Hazare over the proposed Lokpal bill, Human Resource Development Minister Kapil Sibal said Saturday.

The minister also told Karan Thapar on CNN-IBN that only one draft of the bill would be submitted to the cabinet.

"We will try and resolve the disagreements as much as much as possible," Sibal said, when asked about differences between the government and Team Hazare on the provisions of the Lokpal bill.

After talks between the two sides here broke down Wednesday, Hazare told the media that the government proposed to submit two drafts of the bill to the cabinet -- one of the government and the other from Hazare.

Sibal, one of the five ministers in the 10-member panel set up by the government to frame the Lokpal bill, said this was not true. "There will be no two drafts, though there may be areas of disagreement," he said.

While giving a single draft to the cabinet, Sibal said differences between the two sides would be brought to the cabinet's notice. The government has pledged to prepare the bill by June 30.

Asked about Hazare's threat to fast from Aug 16 if the Lokpal bill was not passed by then, Sibal said: "I do not want to comment. It is not for me to comment on what Haraze (ought) to do."

Source: PTI & IANS

18/06/2011

Godmen or rock-star businessmen?

Religion has always been good business, and godmen, it seems, are highly successful rock-star businessmen

Godmen or rock-star businessmen?

Right on top of Swami Ramdev's hate list are corrupt politicians (hang them, he says), followed by homosexuals (cure them, it's a disease) and multinational corporations (drive them out of our pious land). Manipulative multinationals, says the yoga guru and crusader, suck out more money than they bring in, and take jobs away from local artisans and craftsmen. In his utopian scheme of things, there is no role for multinationals -- the Rs 300,000 crore worth of black money stashed abroad is back in the country to run its power plants, build roads and reach water to the fields; people do an honest day's work, after an hour or two of Yoga in the morning, and read religious texts before they hit the bed.

The dislike for multinationals was nowhere to be seen this April when Ramdev's Patanjali Ayurved tied up with Tetra Pak, the world's top packaging solutions company, to sell juices and other concoctions. Already, its gooseberry juice in Tetra Pak packages, Amla Amrit, is out in the market -- 65 ml for just Rs 5. As many as 30 new drinks, in categories like apple and grape, could follow in the days to come. "We want to provide pure and healthy products to our countrymen. Keeping this in mind, we are going to launch our products in Tetra Pak packages," Ramdev had said, with confidence and pride in equal measure, after he had inaugurated the Patanjali Ayurved factory at Haridwar.

The dislike for the multinational business model is also nowhere to be seen in some of Ramdev's recent initiatives. He has bought Herbo Ved, an ayurvedic products company, in the United States for an undisclosed sum. He sells all over the world, from the United States to West Asia. The Scottish Island "donated" to him by followers Sam and Sunita Poddar (they bought it in 2009 for around Rs 16 crore; it has since been renamed Peace Island), could soon become an upscale retreat with cottages, therapy schools and laughter classes.

Godmen or rock-star businessmen?

Religion has always been good business. And godmen, it seems, make rock-star businessmen. They run large businesses like industrialists, control huge assets like landlords, advise top businessmen like consultants, settle disputes like lawyers, and at times "persuade" the government like lobbyists. With their vast armies of followers and "magical powers", many of them wield awesome clout in the corridors of power. This, in turn, can facilitate donations which help run businesses, ashrams, charities etc.

Chandraswami of the Vishwa Dharmayatan Sanstha counted amongst his followers two prime ministers, P V Narasimha Rao and Chandrashekhar, the Sultan of Brunei, arms dealer Adnan Khashoggi, Elizabeth Taylor and Nancy Reagan. Then, in 1996, Chandraswami was arrested on charges of duping Lakhubhai Pathak, a London-based businessman, for $100,000. The same year, the Enforcement Directorate filed charges of flouting foreign exchange regulations. On Wednesday, Chandraswami told the Supreme Court that he was willing to pay Rs 9 crore to settle the dispute!

Godmen or rock-star businessmen?

There has always been a veil of secrecy over the businesses and assets godmen control. Ramdev, under pressure to disclose his financials, last week announced that his four trusts (the Divya Yoga Mandir Trust, Patanjali Yogpeeth Trust, Bharat Swabhiman Trust and Acharyakul Shiksha Sansthan) have a corpus of Rs 426.19 crore, which has accrued through donations and the sale of medicine, and have incurred expenditure of Rs 785.09 crore thus far. There was no mention of his companies in the disclosure.

Ramdev's main companies are Patanjali Ayurved (turnover of Rs 320 crore) and Divya Pharmacy (Rs 300 crore). And profits? Ramdev had told Business Standard last year that his profit margins are 16 per cent, though his products are priced up to 50 per cent below rivals. The Patanjali Ayurved factory can produce 32,000 packs in an hour. The company has 1,500 outlets across the country. Ramdev's products also sell through post offices. Acharya Balkrishan, a close aide of Ramdev, owns a company called Vedic Broadcasting which runs Aastha, a religious television channel.

"With the blessings of our Guru (Ramdev), our business is flourishing and we will soon capture the world market as well," says an executive of a company that belongs to Ramdev. A year ago, Ramdev set up Patanjali Food and Herbal Park spread over 125 acres at Padartha in Haridwar, which entailed an investment of Rs 500 crore. The food park, Ramdev has said, will religiously follow the norms laid down by the United States Food and Drug Administration; the destination of the produce should leave nobody in doubt.

Godmen or rock-star businessmen?

Ramdev was earlier in the week persuaded to break his fast against corruption and black money by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar of the Art of Living Foundation. The two are often seen together, and obviously share similar beliefs. The ashram of the Art of Living Foundation, on the outskirts of Bangalore, spread over 70 or so acres, houses, amongst others, an Ayurveda hospital and software company Sumeru Software. As many as 250 people work for it in the ashram, and it has branches in the United States and South Africa. A part of the profit the company makes goes to charity. The foundation believes that only a profitable organisation can do charity; donations don't add up to much.

The Art of Living Foundation, founded in 1981, has over 3,000 centres across the world teaching Sudarshan Kriya -- the latest is a 157-acre campus in Beijing. The foundation doesn't run all the centres itself and appoints franchises. All one has to do to get a franchise is complete one of the courses at the ashram. The basic course costs Rs 1,200. It also earns money from the sale of its publications and Ayurvedic medicine. The money is channeled into social work. The Art of Living Foundation is today one of the world's largest volunteer-based, humanitarian and educational NGOs. Its message has reached over 300 million people in over 140 countries.

The scale is huge but not uncommon to godmen. In the days following the hospitalisation and later, death, of Satya Sai Baba in April this year, various estimates of the empire he had created in his lifetime did the rounds, ranging from Rs 5,000 crore to Rs 130,000 crore. At the first press conference held after his death, office-bearers of the Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust tried to squash these figures, and said its income, coupled with that of the Sathya Sai Medical Trust, in the last 14 years was Rs 100 to 130 crore a year, while expenditure was Rs 75 to 100 crore.

Debatable as that might be, there is no doubt about the assets that Sai Baba had at his disposal -- this includes a 300-bed super-specialty hospital spread over 105 acres at Puttaparthi, where Sai Baba was based, built at a cost of Rs 65 crore in 1991, another in Bangalore built in 2001 for Rs 130 crore, the main ashram, Prashanthi Nilayam, in Puttaparthi constructed on 70 acres, a private airstrip, educational institutions, a planetarium and various centres in 167 countries across the world. The medical and educational institutions are run on not-for-profit lines -- treatment, whether at the two general hospitals or the super-specialty hospitals, is completely free, as is the education at its schools and colleges.

The real business in Puttaparthi is what Sai Baba spawned indirectly. The steady influx of devotees throughout the year, when Sai Baba was alive, barring the peak summer months, also meant steady business for the hotels, taxi operators and shops Puttaparthi is full with. With devotees, Indian and foreign, prepared to spend months in the town, real estate was among the biggest beneficiaries. Land 1 km outside town that cost Rs 20,000 a cent (a cent is a hundredth of an acre) three years ago had gone up to Rs 4 lakh. Prices have crashed 30 per cent since Sai Baba died on April 24.

Godmen or rock-star businessmen?

Prosperity is visible from a distance at the dera of the Radhasoami Satsang at Beas in Punjab. It houses about 7,000 people, including staff and kar sewaks. The venue where the Guru of the Satsang gives discourses covers about 30 acres and can seat as many as 250,000 people. It is supposed to be one of the largest covered structures in Asia. The dera is lush green; they grow fruit and vegetables which are used at the langars. It manages its own water supply, water treatment plant and solid waste treatment facility. It owns large generators to supply emergency power to the whole community.

Inside the dera, the feel of a military camp is unmistakable. Hordes of people come from all over the world to Beas to hear the guru. This being Punjab, the NRI followers often come and stay for a few weeks at one go. "We welcome lakhs of visitors annually here; some decide to stay and become kar sewaks as well," informs the manager of food at the Satsang. The lady says that they can feed about 275,000 people at one go at the dera when the annual bhandara happens. There's an air strip at the dera which bigwigs use for a quick darshan of the guru.

Amongst the high-profile followers of the Satsang are the Singhs of Fortis and Religare. In fact, the earlier guru, Charan Singh, was the maternal grandfather of Malvinder and Shivinder Singh. When the Guru died in 1991, there was a strong buzz that Parvinder Singh, Malvinder and Shivinder's father and the owner of Ranbaxy at that time, would succeed him. But that didn't happen. Till Ranbaxy got sold to Daiichi Sankyo of Japan in 2008, the Satsang had a discernible presence on the company's board. For instance, Delhi Lt Governor Tejinder Khanna, one-time Ranbaxy chairman, is a follower of the Satsang. His father, KL Khanna, was after all the secretary of the Satsang at Beas.

Apart from Beas, the Satsang runs deras across the world and operates a 260-bed charitable hospital at Beas. "Sab baba di mehr hai" (It's the guru's grace), says Gurnam Singh, a rickshaw-puller, who refuses to take money from the Beas bus stand to the dera. Such is the presence of the Satsang in Beas that almost the entire town is grateful to the guru who has taken them on the path of spiritual development and, of course, prosperity.

Source: Business Standard


18/06/2011

Gold, cash flow out of Baba's chambers

98 kg gold, Rs.12 crore cash found in Sathya Sai's chamber in Prashanti Nilayam

Gold, cash flow out of Baba's chambers

Hyderabad: Around Rs.12 crore in cash and nearly 100 kg of gold were found in the personal chamber of late spiritual guru Sathya Sai Baba at Prashanti Nilayam, his ashram in Puttaparthi in Anantapur district, a trust official said Friday.

A day after the Sathya Sai Central Trust opened the locks of the Baba's personal chamber, Yajur Mandir, his nephew and trust member R.J. Ratnakar Friday evening announced details of the cash and valuables found inside.

He told reporters at Puttaparthi that the trust members found Rs.11.56 crore, 98 kg gold and gold jewelery, 307 kg silver articles in the personal chamber where nobody was alloweed to enter. Ratnakar said the cash would be deposited with the State Bank of India (SBI).

Some bank officials and about 15 disciples of Baba, in the presence of trust members, have since Thursday counted the cash with the help of currency counting machines. The Yajur Mandir is an opulent residence built by Baba.

Ratnakar said Baba's residential quarter was opened in the presence of all five members of the trust. A former judge of the Supreme Court, A.P. Misra, and former Karanataka High Court judge Vaidyanathan were present as independent witnesses while an assessor approved by the Income Tax department was there to evaluate the gold, jewellery and silver.

Gold, cash flow out of Baba's chambers

Ratnakar claimed the idea behind the whole exercise was to make an inventory of all the items in a transparent manner.

The trust reportedly found gold statues of Hindu gods and diamonds.

Ratnakar, however, denied that they found any will of Baba. He also evaded queries if the trust found any documents about Baba's personal caregiver Satyajit. There are speculations that the spiritual guru wanted to make Satyajit his successor or a member of the powerful trust.

Yajur Mandir, also known as Yajurveda Mandir, had remained closed ever since Sathya Sai Baba was hospitalised March 28 with multi-organ dysfunction. He died April 24.

There were allegations by a section of devotees that large amounts of cash and gold jewelery were shipped out of the place when Baba was battling for life. The trust, however, has denied this.

Some devotees were also demanding that the locks of Baba's personal chamber be opened in their presence or at least in the presence of media persons.

The trust, which manages the huge spiritual empire led by Baba, owns assets in Puttaparthi, Bangalore, Hyderabad and other cities.

Meanwhile, the trust has decided to open Yajur Mandir for devotees on July 15. It also plans to open a museum at Prashanti Nilayam to showcase the personal belongings of the spiritual guru.

Source: IANS

18/06/2011

Don't hate Obama, defeat him: Bobby Jindal

Washington: Louisiana's Indian American Republican Governor Bobby Jindal has cautioned his party's conservative activists against demonising Democratic President Barack Obama in the fashion some liberals did his Republican predecessor President George Bush.

Don't hate Obama, defeat him: Bobby Jindal

Recalling what he said were the "shrill, absurd and negative rhetoric" employed by the left during the eight years Bush was in office, Jindal said: "We must not mimic their shallow approach."

In speech Friday in New Orleans, Jindal, who is widely believed to have national ambitions, invoked the debunked notion that Obama wasn't born in America, saying: "I don't question where's he from, I question where President Obama is going."

According to Politico, a Washington news site focusing on politics, Jindal also urged conservatives to channel their disdain for the president. "Hating President Obama is foolish, but defeating President Obama is absolutely crucial."

Criticising Obama's leadership, Jindal said: "I've got no doubt that President Obama loves this country," but what the president "thinks is best for this country is in reality a complete disaster."

Don't hate Obama, defeat him: Bobby Jindal

"We as Republicans are Americans first - we have to have respect for the office of the president," said Jindal was quoted as saying in an interview later.

"We need to be serious about this debate, it's an important debate about the future of our country. We can't be distracted by ad hominem attacks."

He added: "I think it's hypocritical to say, well, it's not patriotic when they do that to President Bush but it's ok for our side to it to President Obama."

Jindal, Politico said, was less clear about his own intentions, besides reiterating that he's running for re-election in November.

"I've got the job I want," he said, repeating a line he's used in the past.

And as for 2016, would he run for president?

"I'm running for re-election as governor of Louisiana," repeated Jindal.

Source: IANS

18/06/2011

New Swiss law makes bank a/c info easier to get

Geneva: The Swiss parliament on Friday gave approval to amendments to tax treaties with countries, including India, that makes it easier for them to access information about the illegal funds held by their nationals in Swiss private banks.

New Swiss law makes bank ac info easier to get

The upper house of the Swiss parliament endorsed amendments to double-taxation agreements (DTAAs) in line with internationally applicable standards.

Governments, which have signed DTAAs can now secure easy legal assistance and information as well as identify an account holder from their territories by providing an IBAN number or social security number. The new amendments to Swiss banking secrecy laws can still be challenged by a popular referendum within 100 days, analysts said.

The beneficiaries from the new amendments include India, Germany, Canada, Japan, the Netherlands, Greece, Turkey, Uruguay, Kazakhstan, and Poland.

The Swiss parliament approval comes at a time when the Indian government is facing intense pressure from the opposition, the Supreme Court and the civil society to bring back black money stashed away in tax havens.

In January this year, a Swiss parliamentary panel had given a go-ahead to revised tax treaty with India, as per which, India can get information on secret bank accounts from Swiss authorities for cases dating from 2011.

New Swiss law makes bank ac info easier to get

Finance minister Pranab Mukherjee and Swiss Federal Councillor Micheline Calmy-Rey signed a "protocol" to amend the double taxation agreement in the area of taxes on income on August 30, 2010.

Meanwhile in Bangalore, ambassador of Switzerland to India Philippe Welti said that India could get banking details of its citizens in tax frauds and evasion cases once the Swiss parliament ratifies the revised DTAAs between the two countries.

In April 2010, the House of Representatives had agreed to enter into double-taxation treaties with these countries.

Until now, it remained a Herculean task for these governments to identify the illegal depositors because of marathon legal processes.

Coming under intense pressure from the Paris-based Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development and the G-20 leaders, the Swiss authorities have begun a process of simplifying their tax laws.

Switzerland, which was initially included in the OECD's black list of countries for following banking secrecy and client-confidentiality rules, agreed to adopt its tax code, agreeing to share information in cases involving tax which is not a crime under Swiss law.

Source: PTI

18/06/2011

MCA refuses to intervene in Sebi-Sahara case

New Delhi: The Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) today washed off its hands from the ongoing dispute between Sebi and Sahara Group companies, which has been restrained by the market regulator from mobilising funds from the public.

In a statement, the MCA has clarified that Sahara Prime City intended to go for an IPO and had filed information about its group companies to Sebi in its Draft Red Herring Prospectus.

Further, Sebi upon noticing inadequacy in material disclosures had asked information about some Sahara Group companies as per its disclosure requirements.

However, the information was not furnished by November 11, 2010, and Sebi passed an interim order issuing show cause to two Sahara Group companies -- SIRECL and SHICL -- and restraining them from mobilising funds from the public.

"This order has been challenged by the said companies and the case is now sub judice before the Hon'ble High Court of Allahabad, Lucknow Bench. As this is a matter between the Sahara Group companies and Sebi, the MCA cannot intervene in the matter," the MCA said.

The MCA added that in order to check misuse of private placement provisions under the Companies Act, 1956, issued a circular dated 22 November, 2010 mandating its field offices to carefully scrutinise offer documents filed by Unlisted Public Companies proposing to raise money through the private placement route.

Besides, it is working on to substitute Unlisted Public Companies ( Preferential Allotment) Rules, 2003 by replacing it with Unlisted Public Companies (Preferential Allotment) Rules, 2011, which would require more disclosures and keeping the securities in demat form.

Also, it said checks and balances, coupled with stringent penalty provisions have been built into the Companies Bill to prevent misuse.

Source: PTI


18/06/2011

Advance tax logs 77% jump, India Inc in pink of health

New Delhi: Certain interest rate-sensitive sectors like auto are reporting slowdown, but there does not seem to be a widespread deceleration across the sectors.

Advance taxes paid by the corporate sector increased a whopping 76.8 per cent to Rs 30,399 crore in the first quarter of this financial year, against Rs 17,194 crore a year ago. The government kitty could swell further in next few days as some companies pay their dues even after the June 15 deadline.

"This indicates revenue buoyancy is robust and the profitability of companies for the first quarter has not been dented," a finance ministry official told Business Standard.

The growth in advance tax this quarter is pretty high, considering a high base of 55.4 per cent a year ago. The country's largest lender SBI, Reliance Industries, SAIL, LIC and Bhel lead the pack of top advance tax payers.

Advance tax collections are an indicator of financial health of companies and state of the economy. Based on their projected earnings, firms pay 15 per cent of their total advance tax in April-June. The huge growth in the first quarter may provide some comfort to the government at a time when global factors are posing a risk to the country's economic growth and fiscal situation.

The finance ministry has indicated economic growth this year may be lower than 9 per cent projected in the Budget.

The ministry is also keeping its purse strings tight to prevent any extra expenditure and stick to the fiscal deficit target of 4.6 per cent of GDP during 22011-12.

Yesterday, the RBI had said even as there is deceleration in some important sectors, notably interest-sensitive ones, there is no evidence of any sharp or broad-based slowdown.

Companies pay advance tax in four quarterly instalments. After the first instalment in mid-June, the remaining 30 per cent, 30 per cent and 25 per cent, comes in September, December and March.

"The estimation of profits by companies is correct most of the times. There is not much scope for under-reporting or over-reporting of profits. No one wants to pay more advance tax when the cost of borrowing is so high and if they pay less there is a penalty," said another finance ministry official.

Gross direct tax collections of the government by the end of this month are expected to cross Rs 1,00,000 mark. The collections during these two and half months have already increased 38 per cent to Rs 99,707.8 crore, against Rs 72,269.6 crore in the same period of 2010-11.

Net direct tax collections, however, are marginally up by 1.3 per cent on account of 191.7 per cent jump in refunds. Net collections stood at Rs 59,136.7 crore as on June 16, 2011, compared with Rs 58,361.4 crore last year. Refunds increased from Rs 13,908.2 crore in 2010-11 to Rs 40,571.1 crore this year.

The finance ministry has set a target of 19.5 per cent growth in its net direct tax collections to Rs 5,33,000 crore this year. The net collections may improve in the coming months as in the first two months the tax department has given over 40 per cent of the refunds it is expecting to give this year.

The tax deducted at source (TDS) for the corporate sector has also shown a growth of 32.2 per cent in the first quarter so far, whereas TDS from personal income tax increased by 27.3 per cent.

Advance tax paid by the corporate sector had increased 22.7 per cent to Rs 1,97,244 crore in financial year 2010-11. Overall corporate tax collections had increased 24 per cent to Rs 3,37,179 crore, while income tax collections rose by 16.7 per cent to Rs 1,40,059 crore during the period.

Source: Business Standard

18/06/2011

Strike fails to sway demand for other brands

Mumbai: The agitation at Maruti's Manesar plant may have pushed the management to a corner, but it has done little damage to the demand some of its models enjoy, despite the extended waiting period.

The two-week disruption in production, which resulted in a loss of 12,600 units or nearly Rs 450 crore, led to long waiting periods of popular diesel cars such as Swift, DZire and SX4.

While it was widely expected within the industry that customers would sway towards other brands, which are easily available off-the-shelf, buyers largely chose to stick to Maruti Suzuki over the last few days.

"We were expecting to cash in on the opportunity with at least some demand flowing in from customers, who otherwise would have gone for Maruti. Even the company was expecting it, but it never happened," said a Mumbai-based dealer of Tata and Fiat cars. Tata retails the Indica and Indigo while the Fiat retails the Punto and Linea.

Although a latest version of the Swift is expected in a few weeks in India, this had little or no impact on the demand of the existing Swift. The diesel model of the car continued to have an average waiting period of more than three months in most market across the country.

The Swift remains the top selling premium hatchback from the market leader followed by Ritz in the same segment of Rs 430,000 and above. Since the gap between the price of petrol and diesel only widened over the past one year, consumers have increasingly preferred to go for diesel models despite their higher price tags.

Dealers of Japanese brand Nissan and American brand Ford in Delhi, too, did not experience any unusual spurt in inquiries. "Demand in the last few days has been the same as weeks before. Consumers are waiting for some respite in interest rates," said a Ford Motors dealer.

The Nissan Micra and Ford Figo are offered in diesel versions apart from the regular petrol. Ford witnessed a drop of 12 per cent in sales of Figo last month, while Nissan premium hatchback Micra sold less than 1,600 units.

While the car industry reported a mere seven per cent increase in May, most car makers, who sell diesel as an alternative version, stated that consumers have moved from petrol to diesel forcing some to dole out petrol model-related benefits.

For instance, Maruti is enticing buyers with free petrol equivalent to the fuel spend for the period of six months. Dealers said instead of the cash discount and other monetary incentives customers will get petrol of similar amount for free.

While Nissan is offering free fuel for an extended period of nine month, the Fabia from Czech car maker Skoda has seen a reduction in price, which now starts at Rs 399,000 from the earlier Rs 457,000.

Source: Business Standard

18/06/2011

Weeky Review: Markets slip 2%, IT shares weigh

Mumbai: Markets ended an eventful week on a negative note with May inflation data and hawkish monetary policy dragging both the benchmark indices down 2.2% to a 13-week low.

Nifty opened on a positive note and touched a high of 5,520 during the early part of the weak. However the index succumbed to selling pressure after May inflation data and 25 basis point rate hike stimulated concerns of a further growth slowdown. Mid-week Nifty broke the short-term 5,480 support on reports that oil ministry allegedly favoured Reliance Industries for development of KG D6 gas field. Investors dumped heavyweight RIL shares, dragging the Nifty index to low of 5,356.

Finally the CNP CNX Nifty ended near week's low, at 5,366, down 30 points and the Sensex closed at 17,870 down, 115 points. Markets clocked losses for the second consecutive week.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) hiked its repo rate by 25 basis points to 7.5% which was in line with consensus. Nomura in the weekly note said, "Tug-of-war between growth and inflation will intensify and there could be further slowdown in the coming two quarters." Shubhada Rao, Executive Vice President and Chief Economist, Yes Bank said that the RBI will hike rates by additional 25-50 bps this year which may bring down the FY12 GDP to 7.8%.

Inflation for the month of May remained at stubbornly high levels of 9.1% y-o-y compared to 10.5% a year ago raising concerns that consecutive rate hikes were not yet effective. Economists said the inflation was mainly core inflation or manufacturing inflation which is affected by commodity prices and it, so unless commodity prices ease, inflation would persists.

The sell-off was mainly led by FII outflows last week as they removed shares worth Rs 2263 crore according to the provisional data available from the Bombay Stock Exchange. In the upcoming week, there are no major triggers for the market. Ashish Chaturmohta from IIFL Wealth said that markets are looking weak in the near term, if Nifty broke 5,320 support and the index could fall below 5,100 levels.

Asian markets also ended mostly in the red on concerns over Europe's debt troubles and uncertainty over the progress of recovery in the US. Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index, China's Shanghai Composite and Japan's Nikkei Stock Average posted weekly losses.

Reliance Industries slipped to a 26-month low of Rs 868, the stock was down 8% on a weekly basis on reports possible dealings between energy companies and the oil ministry. Analysts raised concerns that important bureaucratic decisions may get delayed as a result which could affect the RIL's ability to carry out exploration and production activity.

Among individual stock Maruti slipped 5% this week to 1,167 due to 13-day strike which caused the total loss of revenue of around Rs 600 crore. The strike was called off on late Thursday after the management agreed to some of the workers' demands.

Tata Steel jumped advanced 0.5% to Rs 572 this week after it agreed to sell stake in African Riversdale mining unit for $ 1.1 billion which may increase cash flows for the company making it easier for the company to service debt said analysts.

Among the sectoral pack technology stocks were the worst hit due to fear of slowdown in Europe as Greek debt woes escalated. BSE IT index lost 4.5%. Top losers were TCS, down 6.6%, Wipro lost 6.5% and Infosys declined 3.4%.

BSE Oil & Gas index also declined 4.8% as probe into RIL weighed on the sector, down 4.5%. Besides Reliance Industries, Cairn India was down 3.3%, GAIL India was down 1.3% and ONGC was down 0.8%.

BSE FMCG index emerged as a defensive bet as it was the only index that ended in the green on weekly basis, up 0.2%. Top gainers were Marico, up 3.7%, Hindustan Unilever advanced 3.1% and Tata Global was up 2.7%.

From the broader markets, the midcap and the smallcap indices were also down over 1% each. Top losers from the midcap space were GTL, down 17%, KGN Industries fell 13.4% and Jain Irrigation was down 9.6%. From the smallcap space SE Investment fell 30%, Sutlej Textiles declined 16% and MIC Electricals was down 14.7%.

From the Sensex top losers were Hindalco declined 8%, Sterlite Industries fell 4.8% and Tata Motors was down 3.8%. Top gainers were Reliance Infrastructure, Hindustan Unilever and Reliance Communication.

Source: Business Standard

In depth Full Coverage on Lokpal Bill
Lokpal Bill
The Lokpal Bill has been presented 'eight times' in the parliament but never been passed. It was far from public conciousness, not many knew what it was about, until, Anna Hazare took up the cause. Will the monsoon session see any progress? Only time will tell.
18 June 2011 Last updated at 23:35 GMT
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Government opposed to inclusion of Prime Minister under Lokpal: Kapil Sibal
At the same time, Sibal said the government will only decide on the issue after the draft bill goes to the Cabinet.
Government has edge on Lokpal Bill, but civil society not loser
Government was aware of the political price it would have to pay if it continued to dilly-dally in the matter of acting against the corrupt.

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Poll on Lokpal Bill

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मैं नास्तिक क्यों हूं# Necessity of Atheism#!Genetics Bharat Teertha

হে মোর চিত্ত, Prey for Humanity!

मनुस्मृति नस्ली राजकाज राजनीति में OBC Trump Card और जयभीम कामरेड

Gorkhaland again?আত্মঘাতী বাঙালি আবার বিভাজন বিপর্যয়ের মুখোমুখি!

हिंदुत्व की राजनीति का मुकाबला हिंदुत्व की राजनीति से नहीं किया जा सकता।

In conversation with Palash Biswas

Palash Biswas On Unique Identity No1.mpg

Save the Universities!

RSS might replace Gandhi with Ambedkar on currency notes!

जैसे जर्मनी में सिर्फ हिटलर को बोलने की आजादी थी,आज सिर्फ मंकी बातों की आजादी है।

#BEEFGATEঅন্ধকার বৃত্তান্তঃ হত্যার রাজনীতি

अलविदा पत्रकारिता,अब कोई प्रतिक्रिया नहीं! पलाश विश्वास

ভালোবাসার মুখ,প্রতিবাদের মুখ মন্দাক্রান্তার পাশে আছি,যে মেয়েটি আজও লিখতে পারছেঃ আমাক ধর্ষণ করবে?

Palash Biswas on BAMCEF UNIFICATION!

THE HIMALAYAN TALK: PALASH BISWAS ON NEPALI SENTIMENT, GORKHALAND, KUMAON AND GARHWAL ETC.and BAMCEF UNIFICATION! Published on Mar 19, 2013 The Himalayan Voice Cambridge, Massachusetts United States of America

BAMCEF UNIFICATION CONFERENCE 7

Published on 10 Mar 2013 ALL INDIA BAMCEF UNIFICATION CONFERENCE HELD AT Dr.B. R. AMBEDKAR BHAVAN,DADAR,MUMBAI ON 2ND AND 3RD MARCH 2013. Mr.PALASH BISWAS (JOURNALIST -KOLKATA) DELIVERING HER SPEECH. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oLL-n6MrcoM http://youtu.be/oLL-n6MrcoM

Imminent Massive earthquake in the Himalayas

Palash Biswas on Citizenship Amendment Act

Mr. PALASH BISWAS DELIVERING SPEECH AT BAMCEF PROGRAM AT NAGPUR ON 17 & 18 SEPTEMBER 2003 Sub:- CITIZENSHIP AMENDMENT ACT 2003 http://youtu.be/zGDfsLzxTXo

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THE HIMALAYAN TALK: PALASH BISWAS BLASTS INDIANS THAT CLAIM BUDDHA WAS BORN IN INDIA

THE HIMALAYAN TALK: INDIAN GOVERNMENT FOOD SECURITY PROGRAM RISKIER

http://youtu.be/NrcmNEjaN8c The government of India has announced food security program ahead of elections in 2014. We discussed the issue with Palash Biswas in Kolkata today. http://youtu.be/NrcmNEjaN8c Ahead of Elections, India's Cabinet Approves Food Security Program ______________________________________________________ By JIM YARDLEY http://india.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/07/04/indias-cabinet-passes-food-security-law/

THE HIMALAYAN TALK: PALASH BISWAS TALKS AGAINST CASTEIST HEGEMONY IN SOUTH ASIA

THE HIMALAYAN VOICE: PALASH BISWAS DISCUSSES RAM MANDIR

Published on 10 Apr 2013 Palash Biswas spoke to us from Kolkota and shared his views on Visho Hindu Parashid's programme from tomorrow ( April 11, 2013) to build Ram Mandir in disputed Ayodhya. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=77cZuBunAGk

THE HIMALAYAN TALK: PALASH BISWAS LASHES OUT KATHMANDU INT'L 'MULVASI' CONFERENCE

अहिले भर्खर कोलकता भारतमा हामीले पलाश विश्वाससंग काठमाडौँमा आज भै रहेको अन्तर्राष्ट्रिय मूलवासी सम्मेलनको बारेमा कुराकानी गर्यौ । उहाले भन्नु भयो सो सम्मेलन 'नेपालको आदिवासी जनजातिहरुको आन्दोलनलाई कम्जोर बनाउने षडयन्त्र हो।' http://youtu.be/j8GXlmSBbbk

THE HIMALAYAN DISASTER: TRANSNATIONAL DISASTER MANAGEMENT MECHANISM A MUST

We talked with Palash Biswas, an editor for Indian Express in Kolkata today also. He urged that there must a transnational disaster management mechanism to avert such scale disaster in the Himalayas. http://youtu.be/7IzWUpRECJM

THE HIMALAYAN TALK: PALASH BISWAS CRITICAL OF BAMCEF LEADERSHIP

[Palash Biswas, one of the BAMCEF leaders and editors for Indian Express spoke to us from Kolkata today and criticized BAMCEF leadership in New Delhi, which according to him, is messing up with Nepalese indigenous peoples also. He also flayed MP Jay Narayan Prasad Nishad, who recently offered a Puja in his New Delhi home for Narendra Modi's victory in 2014.]

THE HIMALAYAN TALK: PALASH BISWAS CRITICIZES GOVT FOR WORLD`S BIGGEST BLACK OUT

THE HIMALAYAN TALK: PALASH BISWAS CRITICIZES GOVT FOR WORLD`S BIGGEST BLACK OUT

THE HIMALAYAN TALK: PALSH BISWAS FLAYS SOUTH ASIAN GOVERNM

Palash Biswas, lashed out those 1% people in the government in New Delhi for failure of delivery and creating hosts of problems everywhere in South Asia. http://youtu.be/lD2_V7CB2Is

THE HIMALAYAN TALK: PALASH BISWAS LASHES OUT KATHMANDU INT'L 'MULVASI' CONFERENCE

अहिले भर्खर कोलकता भारतमा हामीले पलाश विश्वाससंग काठमाडौँमा आज भै रहेको अन्तर्राष्ट्रिय मूलवासी सम्मेलनको बारेमा कुराकानी गर्यौ । उहाले भन्नु भयो सो सम्मेलन 'नेपालको आदिवासी जनजातिहरुको आन्दोलनलाई कम्जोर बनाउने षडयन्त्र हो।' http://youtu.be/j8GXlmSBbbk