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V.P. Singh, Bardhan among 97 arrested
All set for hike in MPs’ salary
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Manmohan turns sentimental
SC order on Monica's trial
No breach in PM’s security: Patil
Power corpn CMD accused of forging certificates
JPC justifies our stand on office-of-profit issue: BJP
Girl married off to 80-yr-old Arab
JD(U) distances itself from Mahato
ICAR to give award on wheat
estimate model
Army chief to visit Russia
CBI files 2 cases against Maneka
Stay on order for removal of Dr Venugopal extended
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V.P. Singh, Bardhan among 97 arrested
Lucknow, August 17 Claiming to have upheld the Allahabad High Court order demanding the state government to maintain status quo on the acquired land, Mr Agarwal said, “Neither a dharna, nor any protest rally or demonstration took place inside the UP border”. However, he conceded that a “peaceful meeting took place in Delhi barely 50 metres away from the UP-Delhi border”. He said that at around 12.30 pm more than 500 people in about a 100 cars arrived at the makeshift stage set up at the UP-Delhi border in Ghaziabad district. Around 97 people were arrested on the spot and taken to Vasundhara Guest House, he said. In response to a question, he said that they were still in custody but free to go. The remaining 600 people had been arrested “in transit” during the past few days while they were arriving at Dadri station or were trying to enter the district by any other means. DGP Bua Singh completely denied any use of force while preventing the participants of the rally from entering UP. “No force has been used at all. Not even a mild lathi-charge,” he said. Among those arrested today were Jan Morcha convenor Raj Babbar, former MP Sakshi Maharaj and socialist leader Surendra Mohan. Mr V.P. Singh under the banner of Jan Morcha had invited farmers’ organisations from all over the country to participate in a march from Dadri to Bachera Khurd village in Ghaziabad district on August 17, where the Reliance power project is proposed to be set up. The march was to protest against the long-term impact of the move on farmers and landless farm labourers following indiscriminate land acquisition. The former Prime Minister had declared to organise farmers against what he termed as “development activity being tailor-made to suit the business interests of the rich and the corporate sector”.
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All set for hike in MPs’ salary
New Delhi, August 17 The final seal of approval to the salary hike will, however, be given by the MPs themselves on August 25, the last day of the ongoing session. If these recommendations go through, the monthly allowance (salary) of an MP will go up from Rs 12,000 to Rs16,000. While this hike is moderate, the increase in the other allowances, including pension, is fairly substantial. For instance, the office allowance is expected to be doubled — from Rs 4,000 to Rs 8,000. Similarly, a cent per cent hike has been proposed in the constituency allowance (from Rs 10,000 to Rs 20,000) and the dearness allowance (from 500 to Rs 1,000). The travel allowance is proposed to be increased from Rs 8 to Rs 13 per km, while the monthly pension is to be hiked from Rs 3,000 to Rs 8,000. Although the Bill hiking the salary and allowances of MPs is unlikely to face any hitch in Parliament , the Left parties are bound to reiterate their oft-repeated demand that a separate independent commission be set up to review the salaries of parliamentarians on a periodic basis. The Left parties contend this to be a more transparent exercise, as parliamentarians inevitably come in for strong criticism by giving themselves a pay hike. Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee, who feels strongly about this issue, had even convened an all-party meeting last year which had endorsed the proposal for the constitution of an independent mechanism for fixing the salaries of MPs. However, the government had rejected this proposal on the plea that the Constitution had laid down that this decision is in the domain of the legislature and any change will require an amendment of the Constitution. Privately, however, UPA sources admitted that the government was not keen on entrusting this task to “outsiders”. It is learnt that Mr Chatterjee even wrote a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, pointing out that the government’s decision was contrary to the proposal of the all-party meeting.
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Manmohan turns sentimental
New Delhi, August 17 The Prime Minister started his reply to short-duration discussion on Indo-US nuclear deal in the Rajya Sabha by outlining the objectives of the agreement and narrating some personal experiences of the economic reforms he initiated in the early nineties. He said the Indo-US nuclear agreement was aimed at ending nearly three decades of restrictions on India following the 1974 Pokhran explosion as the country needs to widen its choices for energy security to sustain a high growth rate in the coming years. He said that the country needed enormous amounts of energy to sustain growth rate of 8-10 per cent. The Prime Minister said the primary motivation of 1974 Pokhran explosion was nuclear energy and the defence aspect came much later. He said the country's present capacity to produce power from nuclear plants was only about 3,000 MW. He said the country would always make its "own assessment" of its nuclear weapon programme. Referring to the
apprehensions of members from the opposition and Left parties, the Prime Minister said any departure from status quo can cause uncertainity but change was constant in the world. "We should be prepared to think big for the future," he said. The Prime Minister took a dig at Mr Yashwant Sinha, saying that he had inherited a "bankrupt economy" from him in 1991 with only two weeks of foreign reserves. Dr Singh said he faced
severe criticism from both the "Right and Left" for the reforms he initiated in 1991 and the opposition almost called for his impeachment saying that he made policies in consultation with Washington. "Who would say today that what I did was wrong," he said. The Prime Minister, whose remarks drew repeated applause from the treasury benches, referred to a quote saying that tigers were on the prowl on the streets of Delhi. "For India's sake, I am willing to take the risk," he said. The Prime Minister said he was born in a poor family in West Punjab and was the first from his family to go to high school. Dr Singh said his father
became a freedom fighter. "I may not have been in politics, but I have in my blood feelings of a freedom fighter family." The Prime Minister said he was proud of the Congress’ contribution to the freedom struggle. Pointing out that he had been Prime Minister now for two years and three months, the Prime Minister said, "I will do my very best to serve the interests of the country." Dr Singh said he did not seek the post of Prime Minister which came his way. "I may be a novice in politics... but teeming millions will guide me in whatever is left of my life. I will discharge my duty to this country to the last ounce of my blood," he said. Referring to alternatives for energy security suggested by some members, Dr Singh said coal available in the country had high ash content which posed environmental hazards. "There is great insecurity on supply of hydrocarbons and the crude oil prices can touch $100 a barrel in a short period." He said prudence demanded that the country should widen its energy options and it should be able to make effective use of nuclear power if it is the most cost-effective alternative. The Prime Minister said if
post-Pokran restrictions continued on the nuclear programme, the country's energy quest would face a great degree of
uncertainty.
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No breach in PM’s security: Patil
New Delhi, August 17 ''There has been no breach of PM's security,'' Patil said while responding to the concern expressed by the BJP, BJD and SP members during Zero Hour over a television channel report on the alleged lapse in the security cover for the Prime Minister. Patil said one of the CRPF jawans had been recruited in 1988 and another in 1998 under the ''healing touch'' policy of the government in 1988 for bringing the surrendered militants into the mainstream. Later, it was found that one of them had made a wrong declaration that he was a surrendered militant just to get a job and he was punished for it at that time itself. Of the three/four CRPF jawans in question, two were from Jammu and Kashmir and one from Punjab. When Prof Vijay Kumar Malhotra (BJP), Brijkishore Tripati
(BJD) and Mohan Singh (SP), who had raised the issue, sought to counter the minister for blaming the government in 1988, Patil said he was not staying it was a wrong policy as the UPA government was also following it. The Home Minister said the three persons mentioned by the news channel were manning one of the pickets set up at different parts of the city. "They were not part of the security provided to the Prime Minister," he said. He said the three were posted at the Teenmurti House picket under the charge of Raj Kumar.
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Power corpn CMD accused of forging certificates
New Delhi, August 17 According to sources in the Power Ministry, he has been asked to go on a long leave after a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) established the charges against him. “The CBI has held as proved the charges of submitting forged experience certificates of Bharat Bharti Udyog Limited and C.K.S. Engineering Pvt Ltd by the present CMD of NEEPCO at the time of his appointment as General Manager in the NHPC,” Union Power Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde informed the Rajya Sabha today. However, he did not elaborate on the action that was taken against him. The CMD has reportedly taken medical leave to avoid any legal action against him reportedly on the advice of ministry. NEEPCO is major public sector company engaged in hydel power generation in the North-Eastern states. Mr S.C. Sharma has also been found violating the contract rules by speedily mobilising interest-free advances amounting to Rs 40 crore to the contractors of major works of the Kameng Hydroelectric Project. Concerned with the reports of violating recruitment norms in the organisation, the Power Ministry has also directed the CMD to stop all further recruitment at any level until the review exercise is completed. The Minister, however, said although the recruitment of 356 persons during the tenure of present CMD was within the sanctioned strength of 4305 of the corporation, yet the ministry has advised the CMD to review the sanctioned manpower. The employees union have alleged that the due to his connivance with ‘some friends’ in the Power Ministry, no action has been taken against him so far. Rather, he had reported sick to avoid action against him. They alleged that even the Supreme Court in its ruling against him had cited submission of false certificates. In 2005, Mr Sharma was also alleged to have made exactly 12 visits to the head office in Shillong, which usually coincided with the release of payments to firms engaged in contract works in NEEPCO. The CBI has reportedly unearthed the deception that he engineered to entrench himself in one of the country’s leading power generation institutions. Anxious to climb the corporate ladder, he manufactured certificates of experience from non-existent firms and others that belonged to his relations. The forgery cases relate to his application for appointment as general manager, NHPC, some years ago. He was subsequently promoted and was later appointed CMD, NEEPCO. “If the certificates were forged then it would follow that his appointment to NHPC and all appointments thereafter should also become null and void,” the sources said.
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JPC justifies our stand on office-of-profit issue: BJP
New Delhi, August 17 “A JPC in this regard has vindicated our stand that there has to be a clear definition of what qualifies to be an office of profit,” BJP Parliamentary Party spokesperson told newspersons here. “The parliamentary panel should aim to address concerns expressed by the President (when he declined his assent in May to the office-of-profit legislation) and set out uniform standards and definition for what constitutes an office of profit across the country,” he said. The BJP leader maintained that his party favoured granting what he called one-time amnesty to lawmakers whose legislative positions had been challenged because they hold other posts with benefits. “Let them (law-makers) quit the additional posts they are holding. And if the JPC concludes that the posts they had been holding do not qualify as offices of profit, they can have them back,” he remarked. In separate comments, Mr Malhotra attacked the Left over West Bengal's “clean chit” to Coca Cola and Pepsi in the state. “This shows contradictions within the Communists who have banned the soft drinks in Kerala, but have found them safe for people of West Bengal,” he said. The BJP also warned the Congress-led UPA government against effecting any further price hike in petroleum products or foodgrains. Deploring Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s hint about such a possible hike in his Independence Day speech, Mr Malhotra said the common man was already suffering under the steep rise in prices of various commodities and any further hike would not be tolerated by the people of the country.
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Girl married off to 80-yr-old Arab
Bangalore, August 17 Asma, daughter of a cycle mechanic, married Mujib Al-Sunafiam Al- Dosari, a resident of Riyadh, on Tuesday. Even though the marriage has raised alarms there is nothing anyone can do as Asma has given a statement to the local police stating the marriage had taken place with her consent. The couple was discovered due to the heightened security during the Independence Day celebrations. The police on a tip-off raided a lodge close to Commercial Street in the city only to disturb the Arab temporarily while he was spending the first night with his new bride. The police let off the couple after questioning and after Asma recorded a statement saying she gone through the marriage voluntarily. According to a police official, the marriage was arranged by the Arab’s sister-in-law Fathima, a resident of Bangalore. Fathima had married Mujib’s brother some years back at the instance of her poor parents. Police sources said Asma’s parents were convinced that the marriage would result in an improvement of their financial condition as the new bride would be able to send remittances to them from Saudi Arabia. They said Mujib was a prominent livestock trader besides running a tyre shop in Riyadh. Social worker Prema Vishwanathan said though the police could not register a case as the marriage was legal, it could launch an investigation to verify whether girls like Asma were being taken abroad to be used as servants or even be introduced into the flesh trade by their aged husbands.
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JD(U) distances itself from Mahato
Patna, August 17 Ashok Mahato, charged with 40 criminal cases and related carnages, including the alleged killing of Congress leader and former MP from Sheikhpura, Rajo Singh, was arrested on the eve of Independence Day from Sheikhpura. The gangster, representing the backward caste, was a terror in the arid Sheikhpura-Nawada-Nalanda belt and his war of attrition with upper caste militia, claiming innocent lives, was well-known in the past one decade. But even before Chief Minister Nitish Kumar could take the credit of his government over the arrest of Mahato in pursuance of his promised rule of law in Bihar, the gangster virtually dropped a bombshell by claiming that he had links with top JD(U) leaders, including the state JD(U) president and MP from Begusarai, Rajiv Lalan Singh. Even though Mr Nitish Kumar has been maintaining a studied silence on the issue, the state JD(U) leadership lost no time in delinking itself from Mahato. Sources in the police disclosed that the arrested ganglord also claimed visiting the residence of Mr Rajiv Lalan Singh in Patna many a time in the past. Notwithstanding the attempt by the JD(U) leadership to distance itself from Mahato, the kin of this gangster, Rinku Devi, had unsuccessfully contested the February 2005, Assembly poll on JD(U) ticket. Rinku Devi is the wife of Mr Mahato’s nephew, Pintu Mahato. Pintu Mahato, along with Bachu Mahato, were known to be sharp shooters and accused of killing many persons. Both were arrested too before the arrest of Ashok Mahato. Rinku Devi has already decided to approach the National Human Rights
Commission (NHRC) to lodge her protest in the manner in which Ashok Mahato was paraded in full public view with a garland of slippers by some police officials before taking him to custody on Monday. Meanwhile, the Opposition Congress and the RJD demanded a CBI probe to unravel the truth behind the confessional statement of Ashok Mahato, claiming to have links with senior JD(U) leaders. “There seemed to be some substance behind Mahato’s confessional statement”, RJD supremo Lalu Prasad remarked.
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ICAR to give award on wheat
estimate model
New Delhi, August 17 Dr Baby Akula, who has come up with the new wheat estimate model, is being awarded the ICAR’s Jawaharlal Nehru Award for P.G.Agricultural Research in the field of Agricultural Meteorology. The young scientist has successfully estimated wheat yields in Gujarat under optimal and sub-optimal conditions, with the help of WTGROWS and intercrop simulation models. Another award for team research has gone to Dr Keshav Raj Kranthi and his team for coming out with pesticide use reduction in Cotton, which resulted in higher yield and cost the farmer less, as he saved on the insecticide also. Dr Gita is another scientists to get the ICAR award her work in herbicide. She pioneered several herbicide schedules in various crops and cleared them from toxic residue angles.
— TNS
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Army chief to visit Russia
New Delhi, August 17 Besides holding talks on increasing the military cooperation, the emphasis during the Army chief’s visit would also be reviewing the age-old defence ties between the two countries and the ongoing joint weapon production programmes. Reports emerging from the Ministry of Defence (MoD) said that the main focus during General Singh’s first visit to Russia would be the Special Forces and army-to-army cooperation, specially, as majority of inventory used by India is of the Russian or the erstwhile Soviet Union origin. His visit will also lay the groundwork for the forthcoming inter-ministerial level talks between the two countries followed by President Vladimir Putin’s visit to India towards the end of the year.
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CBI files 2 cases against Maneka
New Delhi, August 17 The CBI registered the cases in a designated court here, charging Ms Gandhi, her sister Ambika Shukla and four others under the Indian Penal Code on charges of forgery and cheating and under the Prevention of Corruption Act. Both cases had been registered as a follow-up of the preliminary enquiry registered on November 14 last against the former minister and others pursuant to the Delhi High Court order dated October 19, 2005.
— TNS
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Stay on order for removal of Dr Venugopal extended
New Delhi, August 17 Mr Justice Anil Kumar said the interim stay order issued by him earlier against the removal of Dr Venugopal would continue till November 7, the date for next hearing. The AIIMS governing body had passed a resolution on July 5 for his removal by a 12-3 majority.
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