West Bengal governor MK Narayanan today said that the state government was facing a financial crisis of enormous proportion and could publish a white paper on it in due course.The Governor`s speech clears decks for Foreign Capital Inflow, Private Investment, NMIZ Industrial clusters and PPP Model of Development. The speech Contains Nothing for the Majority Excluded Masses! SINGUR Land Return is however Projected as the Human face of the Latest Brand of Brahaminical Zionist Manusmriti Apartheid hegemony in Colonised Bengal!West Bengal govt to table Singur bill in assembly tomorrow!What about the Assurance of GIVING Citizenship to all Refugees?SC OBC ST and Muslim Ministers may not be Located anywhere after they were sworn in.
Indian Holocaust My Father`s Life and Time - SIX HUNDRED FIFTY Eight
Palash Biswas
http://indianholocaustmyfatherslifeandtime.blogspot.com/
http://basantipurtimes.blogspot.com/
West Bengal govt to table Singur bill in assembly tomorrow!
West Bengal governor MK Narayanan today said that the state government was facing a financial crisis of enormous proportion and could publish a white paper on it in due course.The Governor`s speech clears decks for Foreign Capital Inflow, Private Investment, NMIZ Industrial clusters and PPP Model of Development. The speech Contains Nothing for the Majority Excluded Masses! SINGUR Land Return is however Projected as the Human face of the Latest Brand of Brahaminical Zionist Manusmriti Apartheid hegemony in Colonised Bengal!What about the Assurance of GIVING Citizenship to all Refugees?SC OBC ST and Muslim Ministers may not be Located anywhere after they were sworn in.
On the other hand,Anti-corruption activist Anna Hazare on Monday accused the office bearers of Congress and Union ministers of intentionally "defaming" the Lokpal movement and emerging NGO sector in the country. Opposition BJP today accused the ruling Congress at Centre of creating an emergency-like situation in the country over the issue of agitation against corruption and black money.
"Congress is trying to create an emergency like situation in the country. What Congress is doing is undemocratic ... (like) the action against the protest of Baba Ramdev," BJP spokesman Prakash Javdekar told reporters in SRINAGAR.Responding to a question about the charge of Congress that Sangh Parivar was using the protests by Ramdev and Anna Hazare for political ends, Javdekar said his party supports every movement against corruption and black money.
But the CIVIL Society Big Guns of the Bengali Brahaminical Hegemony have kept MUM on the Natiowide Civil Society Movement against Corruption!At the same time, the CIVIL Society in Bengal as a part of Mamata`s New Government rather support FDI Raj, LPG Mafia Rule and Economic Reforms leading to ETHNIC Cleansing!
Indian Holocaust My Father`s Life and Time - SIX HUNDRED FIFTY Eight
Palash Biswas
http://indianholocaustmyfatherslifeandtime.blogspot.com/
http://basantipurtimes.blogspot.com/
West Bengal govt to table Singur bill in assembly tomorrow!
West Bengal governor MK Narayanan today said that the state government was facing a financial crisis of enormous proportion and could publish a white paper on it in due course.The Governor`s speech clears decks for Foreign Capital Inflow, Private Investment, NMIZ Industrial clusters and PPP Model of Development. The speech Contains Nothing for the Majority Excluded Masses! SINGUR Land Return is however Projected as the Human face of the Latest Brand of Brahaminical Zionist Manusmriti Apartheid hegemony in Colonised Bengal!What about the Assurance of GIVING Citizenship to all Refugees?SC OBC ST and Muslim Ministers may not be Located anywhere after they were sworn in.
On the other hand,Anti-corruption activist Anna Hazare on Monday accused the office bearers of Congress and Union ministers of intentionally "defaming" the Lokpal movement and emerging NGO sector in the country. Opposition BJP today accused the ruling Congress at Centre of creating an emergency-like situation in the country over the issue of agitation against corruption and black money.
"Congress is trying to create an emergency like situation in the country. What Congress is doing is undemocratic ... (like) the action against the protest of Baba Ramdev," BJP spokesman Prakash Javdekar told reporters in SRINAGAR.Responding to a question about the charge of Congress that Sangh Parivar was using the protests by Ramdev and Anna Hazare for political ends, Javdekar said his party supports every movement against corruption and black money.
But the CIVIL Society Big Guns of the Bengali Brahaminical Hegemony have kept MUM on the Natiowide Civil Society Movement against Corruption!At the same time, the CIVIL Society in Bengal as a part of Mamata`s New Government rather support FDI Raj, LPG Mafia Rule and Economic Reforms leading to ETHNIC Cleansing!
Mamata to table Singur land bill in Assembly
IBNLive.com - 4 hours ago
Kolkata: West Bengal Chief Mibnister Mamata Banerjee will table a bill on Singur land in the state Assembly on Tuesday which will return 400 acres acquired for a Tata plant back to farmers. The Singur Land Return Bill seeks cancellation of lease ...
Mamata's Singur stand may hurt NTPC project
Business Standard - - 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 ...
Bengal govt to revoke Tata agreement with singur bill grounds of non-performance
Business Standard - 1 hour ago
The Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress government in West Bengal, will table "The Singur Land Rehabilitation and Development Bill, 2011", which revokes Tata Motors' lease agreement for 997 acres citing issues of non-performance and failure to meet ...
Pranab backs Mamata on Singur
Deccan Chronicle - 14 hours ago
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. ...
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, ...
WB cabinet to discuss Singur Bill
Hindustan Times - 12 hours ago
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 ...
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.
Is it time to move beyond Singur?
Rediff - 7 hours ago
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 ...
Singur bill to be tabled in WB Assembly tomorrow
The Hindu - 7 hours ago
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 ...
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 Ms Mamata Banerjee can issue an ordinance when the state Assembly was in session. Mr Bose submitted the final review report on the party's ...
Pranab supports Mamata on Singur land bill
MSN India - Jun 11, 2011
Kolkata, June 11 (IANS) Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee described as a 'good decision' West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's move to bring in a bill in the assembly, rather than an ordinance, to return 400 acres of land to Singur farmers ...
West Bengal to reclaim all Nano project land
mydigitalfc.com - - 17 minutes ago
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 ...
Celebration and a new controversy at Singur
Business Standard - Jun 10, 2011
But in announcing the return of 400 acres to them, West Bengal chief minister, Mamata Banerjee may just have created the grounds for the erstwhile 'willing' farmers to seek the return of their land, too. The Singur Shilpo Bikash o Unnayan Committee, ...
WB cabinet to discuss Singur bill
Hindustan Times - Jun 11, 2011
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had hurriedly announced an ordinance on Thursday to reclaim land at Singur, but yesterday she said the government would table the land reclamation bill in the Assembly session, which has been advanced to June 13 from June ...
Singur Bill to be tabled on June 14
indiablooms - Jun 11, 2011
Kolkata, June 11 (IBNS) West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee announced that the government would table the Land Reclamation Bill in the Assembly on June 14. The Governor`s address has been brought forward to June 13 to speed up the process. ...
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 ...
Bengal sends feeler to Tatas on Singur compensation
Financial Express - Jun 11, 2011
The Mamata Banerjee-led government, caught on the wrong foot over issuing an ordinance on Singur despite the assembly being in session, has instead decided to table a land acquisition amendment Bill on Tuesday. But even after the Bill is passed, ...
Singur Bill to be tabled in WB assembly tomorrow
Business Standard - 7 hours ago
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has said that her government is committed to return the 400 acre to unwilling farmers, and the remaining 600 for the industry. Stating that the Budget session would be brief, Çhakraborty said that after the Governor's ...
Singur land return bill may be tabled tomorrow
Times of India - 19 hours ago
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. ...
Governor summons two Bengal ministers, A-G to Raj Bhavan
IBNLive.com - 1 hour ago
PTI | 09:06 PM,Jun 13,2011 Kolkata, Jun 13 (PTI) On the eve of the tabling of the Singur bill in the state Assembly, the West Bengal Governor today summoned two state ministers and a top official to the Raj Bhavan.Commerce and Industry minister Partha ...
Singur Bill set to be tabled in Bengal Assembly tomorrow
NDTV.com - 4 hours ago
PTI, Updated: June 13, 2011 19:14 IST Kolkata: The West Bengal government has put the onus on Tata Motors for "non- commissioning" and "abandoning" its Nano project and ancilliary factories at Singur for which a Bill would be tabled in the Assembly ...
Tatas want adequate compensation for Singur land
NDTV.com - Jun 10, 2011
A day after the West Bengal government announced that it has taken back 997 acres of land, with the Tatas on a 99-year lease at Singur through an ordinance, the Tatas said they were happy to return the land if it was needed for the development of ...
Singur farmers want Tatas to pay
Calcutta Telegraph - - Jun 11, 2011
Singur, June 11: "Unwilling" farmers in Singur today demanded that the Tatas "compensate" them for the losses they had suffered for the forcible land acquisition for the Nano factory. Most of the residents want the state government to "play the ...
-
Images for Mamata Banerjee
- Report imagesThank you for the feedback. Report another imagePlease report the offensive image. CancelDone -
Mamata Banerjee - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Mamata Banerjee is the 11th and current Chief Minister of the Indian state of West Bengal. She is the first woman to hold the office and is also the ...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mamata_Banerjee - Cached - Similar -
Mamata Banerjee: Latest News, Videos, Photos | Times of India
See Mamata Banerjee Latest News, Photos, Biography, Videos and Wallpapers. Mamata Banerjee profile on Times of India.
timesofindia.indiatimes.com › Topics - Cached - Similar -
MAMATA BANERJEE | Facebook
MAMATA BANERJEE - join the fb page of tmc - Work Info: a:0:{} - Education Info: a:0:{} | Facebook.
www.facebook.com/mamatimanush - Cached -
News for Mamata Banerjee
Business StandardBengal govt to revoke Tata agreement with singur bill grounds of ...
1 hour ago
The Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress government in West Bengal, will table "The Singur Land Rehabilitation and Development Bill, 2011", which revokes ...Business Standard - 51 related articles -
Mamata Banerjee: Latest News, Photos and Videos
Explore Profile of Mamata Banerjee at Connect.in.com, see Mamata Banerjee web of connections, news, videos, photos and post your opinions.
connect.in.com/mamta-banerjee/profile-543.html - Cached - Similar -
Kum. Mamata Banerjee - Members of Parliament (Lok Sabha) - Who's ...
Mamata Banerjee. Constituency from which I am elected, Kolkata Dakshin. State from which I am elected, West Bengal. Political party name, All India ...
india.gov.in/govt/loksabhampdetail.php?mpcode=39 - Cached - Similar -
The making of Mamata Banerjee - Hindustan Times
17 Apr 2011 ... From a rabble rouser to a game changer on whom 90 million people pin their hopes for a new tomorrow, Mamata Banerjee has come a long way.
www.hindustantimes.com/...Mamata-Banerjee/Article1-686251.aspx - Cached -
Mamata Banerjee - News, photos, topics, and quotes
The latest news on Mamata Banerjee, from thousands of sources worldwide. High- quality photos, articles, blog posts, quotes, and more.
www.daylife.com/topic/Mamata_Banerjee - Cached - SimilarGet more results from the past 24 hours
-
Mamata Banerjee | Mamata Banerjee News | Mamata Banerjee Photos ...
Mamata Banerjee News - Get Latest Mamata Banerjee photos, Watch Mamata Banerjee videos, Pics, Images, Pictures, Video Clips, Mamata Banerjee Wallpapers.
www.sify.com/topics/Mamata-Banerjee.html - Cached -
YouTube - Newsmakers 2011 - Mamata Banerjee
2 min - 22 Dec 2010 - Uploaded by newsxlive
Leader of opposition in West Bengal and present railway minister Mamata Banerjee will play crucial role in the politics of 2011.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=3TQCUHqSWfw -
Economics Journal: Imagining Mamata Banerjee's West Bengal - India ...
18 Apr 2011 ... The Trinamool Congress leader may come to power on the back of a promise to revitalize the state's economy. But that's a tall order that ...
blogs.wsj.com/.../economics-journal-imagining-mamata-banerjees-west- bengal/ - Cached
West Bengal governor praises people for voting to bring change in state
KOLKATA: West Bengal governor M.K.Narayanan congratulated the "government of Maa-Mati-Manush" and said the people of the state "have voted against the policies and activities pursued by the previous government which had been in the office for the past 34 years."
Narayanan was addressing the first session of the 15th state Assembly on Monday. The governor said the government "aims at an impartial, efficient and transparent administration, free from nepotism and corruption. The government would abjure from employing the police for subjugating democratic movements and the police will be directed to act impartially while maintaining the democratic rights of the people and freedom of individuals."
The governor also mentioned in his 13-page address that "the government would also ensure democratic rights of all political parties including those in the opposition. The government will not and will never take to the path of revenge and repression."
Narayanan was critical about the previous Left Front government on many issues. "Democratic organisations functioned under heavy odds during the past 34 years, with myriad complaints of wrong-doings being made by political parties, democratic institutions and the people. Democratic rights and citizens freedom were often jeopardized. Elections to the 15th legislative assembly clearly mark a step towards a return to democratic tradition," the governor has said in a clear reference to the failure of the previous government to protect democratic rights of people and organisations.
The governor was also critical about the previous government for leaving a debt burden of Rs 1,85,660 crores on the new government. "When the new government took over the reins of the state, it inherited a massive debt burden. It also faced a major revenue and fiscal deficit. Furthermore, it was burdened with a huge amount of unpaid bills. Added to this was a severe under-provisioning in the budget placed in the state Assembly on March 22, 2011. This under-provisioning include vital areas such as social infrastructure and human development. It was also found that the revenues projected for the year 2010-11, as per the revised estimate, were highly overestimated. Taking a realistic view of the circumstances, the state is likely to face a cash deficit of as high an amount as Rs 9,000 crore during the current financial year 2011-12.," the governor said.
Interestingly, West Bengal finance minister Amit Mitra had raised all such issues within a few days after assuming his office at Writers' Buildings.
The governor also held the previous government responsible for it's failure to provide drinking water to every village. "Unfortunately, during the previous Left Front government, all the villages did not have access to drinking water. The new government would take priority measures to reach drinking water to all villages. Besides, all the villages would be electrified in three years. The BPL families would get electricity connection free of cost and others at an installation charge of Rs 379 including the electric post," he added.
Narayanan also said that "the government would list the investment proposals pending during the previous Left Front government regime and seek ways and means to ensure that these are dealt with expeditiously."
The CPIM MLA, Abdur Rezzak Mollah, however, termed the governor's address as "nothing but the Trinamool Congress' election manifesto." The opposition leader Surjya Kanta Mishra told reporters in the Assembly lobby that the ruling party was trying to bring the Singur land bill in a hurry and did not want to offer opportunities to the opposition parties to hold detail discussions on such a serious bill.
"Only two hours have been allotted to discuss the bill and it will be passed on the same day when it will tabled in the House. This is something unprecedented and not accepted to us. We don't have any objection to the government's move to return Singur land, but we are opposing the way the government is presenting the bill and trying to pass it in a hurry," he added.
Narayanan was addressing the first session of the 15th state Assembly on Monday. The governor said the government "aims at an impartial, efficient and transparent administration, free from nepotism and corruption. The government would abjure from employing the police for subjugating democratic movements and the police will be directed to act impartially while maintaining the democratic rights of the people and freedom of individuals."
The governor also mentioned in his 13-page address that "the government would also ensure democratic rights of all political parties including those in the opposition. The government will not and will never take to the path of revenge and repression."
Narayanan was critical about the previous Left Front government on many issues. "Democratic organisations functioned under heavy odds during the past 34 years, with myriad complaints of wrong-doings being made by political parties, democratic institutions and the people. Democratic rights and citizens freedom were often jeopardized. Elections to the 15th legislative assembly clearly mark a step towards a return to democratic tradition," the governor has said in a clear reference to the failure of the previous government to protect democratic rights of people and organisations.
The governor was also critical about the previous government for leaving a debt burden of Rs 1,85,660 crores on the new government. "When the new government took over the reins of the state, it inherited a massive debt burden. It also faced a major revenue and fiscal deficit. Furthermore, it was burdened with a huge amount of unpaid bills. Added to this was a severe under-provisioning in the budget placed in the state Assembly on March 22, 2011. This under-provisioning include vital areas such as social infrastructure and human development. It was also found that the revenues projected for the year 2010-11, as per the revised estimate, were highly overestimated. Taking a realistic view of the circumstances, the state is likely to face a cash deficit of as high an amount as Rs 9,000 crore during the current financial year 2011-12.," the governor said.
Interestingly, West Bengal finance minister Amit Mitra had raised all such issues within a few days after assuming his office at Writers' Buildings.
The governor also held the previous government responsible for it's failure to provide drinking water to every village. "Unfortunately, during the previous Left Front government, all the villages did not have access to drinking water. The new government would take priority measures to reach drinking water to all villages. Besides, all the villages would be electrified in three years. The BPL families would get electricity connection free of cost and others at an installation charge of Rs 379 including the electric post," he added.
Narayanan also said that "the government would list the investment proposals pending during the previous Left Front government regime and seek ways and means to ensure that these are dealt with expeditiously."
The CPIM MLA, Abdur Rezzak Mollah, however, termed the governor's address as "nothing but the Trinamool Congress' election manifesto." The opposition leader Surjya Kanta Mishra told reporters in the Assembly lobby that the ruling party was trying to bring the Singur land bill in a hurry and did not want to offer opportunities to the opposition parties to hold detail discussions on such a serious bill.
"Only two hours have been allotted to discuss the bill and it will be passed on the same day when it will tabled in the House. This is something unprecedented and not accepted to us. We don't have any objection to the government's move to return Singur land, but we are opposing the way the government is presenting the bill and trying to pass it in a hurry," he added.
2G scam: CBI, ED team to probe money trail
A joint team of Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials is expect ED to leave for Britain and the Channel Islands Tuesday to probe the alleged money trail in 2G spectrum allocation kickbacks case, CBI officials said Monday.
"The team will probe companies associated with Unitech and Loop Telecom involved in the case," said a CBI official.
The official also said that the team was also to visit British Virgin Islands but cancelled this part of the tour since it was too far away.
The joint team will be probing whether Unitech routed money through companies registered in Cyprus, and the Isle of Man and Jersey - dependencies of Britain, situated in the English channel off France.
The team will also investigate Loop Telecom, promoted by I.P. Khaitan and Kiran Khaitan, as they allegedly received funds from numerous overseas locations.
The ED sent Letters Rogatory (a formal request) to around 10 countries last year to unravel the money trail.
An ED official said the letters were also sent to Cyprus, Singapore, Mauritius, the United Arab Emirates, Libya, Norway and Russia , besides Great Britain, Jersey and the Isle of Man.
"The team will probe companies associated with Unitech and Loop Telecom involved in the case," said a CBI official.
The official also said that the team was also to visit British Virgin Islands but cancelled this part of the tour since it was too far away.
The joint team will be probing whether Unitech routed money through companies registered in Cyprus, and the Isle of Man and Jersey - dependencies of Britain, situated in the English channel off France.
The team will also investigate Loop Telecom, promoted by I.P. Khaitan and Kiran Khaitan, as they allegedly received funds from numerous overseas locations.
The ED sent Letters Rogatory (a formal request) to around 10 countries last year to unravel the money trail.
An ED official said the letters were also sent to Cyprus, Singapore, Mauritius, the United Arab Emirates, Libya, Norway and Russia , besides Great Britain, Jersey and the Isle of Man.
West Bengal governor praises people for voting to bring change in stateEconomic Times - 26 minutes ago KOLKATA: West Bengal governor MKNarayanan congratulated the "government of Maa-Mati-Manush" and said the people of the state "have voted against the policies and activities pursued by the previous government which had been in the office for the past 34 ... West Bengal likely to face cash deficit of Rs9,000 crore: MK Narayanan Daily News & Analysis West Bengal to reclaim all Nano project landmydigitalfc.com - - 26 minutes ago The amendment to the land law called the Singur Land Rehabilitation And Development Bill is likely to detail out some of the figures that the West Bengal Industrial Development Corporation (WBIDC) spent on the project. State officials see this as the ... Mamata to table Singur land bill in Assembly IBNLive.com L&T bags West Bengal power utility order for meter supplyEconomic Times - 5 hours ago MUMBAI: Technology, engineering and construction group Larsen & Toubro (L&T) today said it has bagged a Rs 110.31 crore order from the West Bengal State Electricity Distribution Company (WBSEDCL) to supply energy meters. The Group's Electrical and ... L&T's Electrical and Automation to supply meters to West Bengal India Infoline.com West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. PTI photoIndian Express - 6 hours ago 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. Mamta Banerjee call for improvement in health department at West Bengal Health(Y) Destination Anil Ambani keen to meet MamataRediff - 8 hours ago Anil Ambani [ Images ], chairman of the Anil Dhirubhai Ambani [ Images ] Group, has shown interest in meeting the West Bengal [ Images ] chief minister separately, ahead of the investors' meeting slated for June 18. Banerjee's office had sent an ... Anil Ambani upbeat on West Bengal Economic Times Anil Ambani calls on governor Times of India Left is still out of touch with realityDeccan Chronicle - 42 minutes ago The just-ended three-day deliberations of the CPM central committee in Hyderabad, held to introspect on the causes of the Left's watershed defeat recently in West Bengal and, to a lesser extent, Kerala, will not surprise the party faithful. CPI-M decides to take corrective steps in West Bengal DailyIndia.com TC wants alliance with Congress in Tripura against LF govtIBNLive.com - 6 hours ago PTI | 04:06 PM,Jun 13,2011 Agartala, June 13 (PTI) After the success of the Trinamool Congress-Congress alliance in defeating the Left in West Bengal, the TC in Tripura wants to forge an alliance with the Congress to oust the Left Front government in ... Tripura to fight it out single-handedly The Hindu Trinamool not to ally with Congress in Tripura Mangalorean.com Buddhadeb comes under fire from comradesIBNLive.com - Jun 12, 2011 HYDERABAD: Former West Bengal chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharya came under fire from his fellow comrades for not attending the key meetings of the party in Hyderabad. Hyderabad: The CPM central committee on Times of India CPM won't be too harsh on Trinamul Deccan Chronicle Left Front blocked pro-farmer law, says ex-Bengal ministeriNewsOne - 1 hour ago Kolkata, June 13 (IANS) Communist Party of India-Marxist leader and West Bengal's former land reforms minister Abdur Rezzak Mollah Monday said that the Left Front during its regime stopped him from bringing in a pro-farmer law in order to save ... GAIL to come up with masterplan for West BengalSteelGuru - 13 hours ago The West Bengal government has asked the state owned GAIL to come up with a masterplan regarding their investment plans in the state within three days. 'Commoner' Didi brings poribortan in 3 weeksDaily Pioneer - - Jun 11, 2011 And this is what is visible in everything under the three-week-old West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. To begin with the Chief Minister herself: She seems to have ruled out the cliched image one has about the head of a State. Singur Ordinance falls through on Mamata faux pas Economic Times Bengal backtracks on Singur ordinance Business Standard Joint entrance test results tomorrowIndian Express - 21 hours ago The results of the West Bengal Joint Entrance Examination for entry into engineering and medical colleges will be declared on Tuesday, June 14. CPI(M) accuses Mamata govt. of attacking Opposition's rightsThe Hindu - 3 hours ago PTI The Communist Party of India (Marxist) in West Bengal on Monday accused the State government of launching an "unprecedented attack" on the rights and privileges of Opposition members by flouting rules of the Assembly. THE NAME HAS A HISTORYCalcutta Telegraph - Jun 11, 2011 The name, West Bengal, has a very important and tragic piece of history attached to it. The adjective West before Bengal immediately denotes a separation, since it suggests that it has or had a complement to it called east Bengal. The name, West Bengal ... Bengal minister aims for jails with 'human face'Business Standard - Jun 12, 2011 PTI / Kolkata June 13, 2011, 0:19 IST On a mission to give correctional homes a "human face" in West Bengal, Jail Minister Shankar Chakravorti aims to improve basic living conditions of prisoners in all the 55 jails in the state. Anti-Left forces attempt to weaken Left parties, alleges YechuryThe Hindu - Jun 12, 2011 CPI(M) polit bureau member Sitaram Yechury on Sunday alleged that there is a systematic attempt to "de-mobilise" Left cadres in West Bengal to weaken the Left parties in the country. "We lost 388 of our comrades in the run-up to the assembly elections ... Pradip Bhattacharya named interim West Bengal PCC chiefIBNLive.com - Jun 10, 2011 PTI | 05:06 PM,Jun 10,2011 New Delhi, Jun 10 (PTI) Pradip Bhattacharya was today appointed as the interim president of the West Bengal Congress while three-time MLA Mohammad Sohrab has been chosen to lead the party in the state assembly. Pradip Bhattacharya named interim West Bengal Congress chief Mangalorean.com Pradip appointed interim PCC chief Times of India Hope in DarjeelingDaily Pioneer - Jun 12, 2011 She has been in office less than a month but West Bengal's first Chief Minister to head a non-Communist regime in more than three decades is already breaking from the past as is evident from the new agreement Ms Mamata Banerjee has signed with the ... GJM on statehood course: MLA Times of India With 1.2 Billion People, India Seeks a Good HangmanNew York Times - - 2 hours ago Prison officials made calls to their peers in the states of West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh. West Bengal was home to Nata Mullick, who had conducted the country's last hanging at the age of 87. GJM remark signals bifurcation of State: BimanThe Hindu - Jun 9, 2011 Leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly Surya Kanta Mishra, who is also a member of the CPI(M)'s Central Committee, reiterated his demand that the agreement be made public. Opposition cry betrayal over West Bengal-GJM deal Hindustan Times GJM, West Bengal govt resolve Darjeeling issue Business Standard | Images The Hindu  The Hindu  The Hindu  Business Standa...  The Hindu  The Hindu  India Today  Business Standa...  Tehelka |
In a bid to ensure greater participation of retail investors in the stock market, Sebi is planning a series of changes to the existing demat, IPO and secondary market trading rules. These changes will not only make the stock market a safer place but also streamline the entire process of investing, Sebi chairman U K Sinha told TOI in an interview. Separate committees have been set up to work on these initiatives, he added. Times of India reports!
"We have been able to identify a number of irritants (for investors). And we will spend the next few months removing them," Sinha said. However , he added, the changes being planned will in no way be at the cost of diluting the antimoney laundering rules and the policies of Financial Action Task Force (FATF), an international body that helps in combating terror financing.
Sebi also plans to overhaul the 'Know Your Client' (KYC) process to make it simpler for investors and modify IPO forms. The KYC process identifies each investor and helps the regulator and other market intermediaries track down transactions from start to completion. Sinha underlined the need for streamlining the KYC procedure as various market-related agencies have different standards which often duplicate work and inconvenience investors. "The next thing we are going to do is to have not only a uniform standard but a common and inter-operable KYC," Sinha said. Which means if an investor has fulfilled his KYC requirements at any of the Sebi-authorized places, that will be valid at all points of the market, like depository , mutual fund, brokers, etc.
"The new regime will be 100% compliant with Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) and with FATF, of which India is a full member . The idea is to make it standardized but simple," he said. A public sector body or companies from the private sector may be roped in to provide this standardized service , he added.
The regulator is also working to simplify the demat account opening process. Currently, while opening a demat account, an investor has to fill in a booklet which is over 50 pages and has to sign more than 50 times.
"We are working to simplify the form," Sinha said. Besides , Sebi also believes that IPO documents and the information given to investors in the form of disclosures are voluminous and they do not communicate anything significant . "Investors usually want to know at what price an IPO is offered and compare it to its peers, what multiple is it as per its known earnings, and at the same time what is the sectoral ratio, etc." Sinha believes such useful information is either not provided or is lost in the voluminous offer documents.
Sebi has also found that often investors would like to know about the track record of merchant bankers who bring an issue to the market. Such information seems to be necessary for ordinary investors and hence would be made available to retail investors once the IPO rules are changed. "These are much more important information than the 150-200 pages of information that we are giving ," the Sebi chairman said. "We have set up a group and I'm hopeful that very soon we will be able to modify these forms. The idea is to provide relevant information and disclosure to the investor in a manner that he can understand ," he added.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/Sebi-mulls-demat-IPO-norm-recast/articleshow/8831299.cms
The West Bengal government will table a bill in the assembly tomorrow seeking to revoke the Singur lease agreement with the Tatas and take back the land leased to them.
The Singur Land Rehabilitation and Development Bill, 2011 would be introduced, considered and passed by the House, minister of state for parliamentary affairs Manoj Chakraborty told reporters after an all-party meeting prior to the assembly session.
The state cabinet met in the assembly premises to give final shape to the bill, he said.
The state government earlier decided to bring the bill after dropping an ordinance with the House session preponed from June 24 to today.
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, Çhakraborty said that after the Governor's customary address, the House would deliberate on the discussion on the motion of thanks to his address on June 15, 16 and 17 before adoption.
Almost all parties attended the meeting convened by Speaker Biman Bandopadhyay who also called a business advisory committee meeting to finalise the modalities of discussion on the Singur Bill.
"The new Government is facing a financial debacle of gigantic proportions. I expect the new Government will come up with a white paper on the financial status of the state in due course. I am sure the Government will attempt to face this challenge squarely and restore the financial health of the state," Narayanan said in his customary inaugural speech of the budget session of the Assembly.
He said the new government has inherited a massive debt burden. It is also faced with a major revenue and fiscal deficit besides being burdened with a huge amount of unpaid bills, he said.
Added to this was the severe under-provisioning of the budget, he said. "The debt burden has already reached Rs 1,85,660.47 crore on March 31, 2011 and is estimated to go up to a staggering Rs 2,03,488 crore during the course of this year," the governor said. It was also found that revenues projected for 2010-11, as per the revised estimate, were highly overestimated, while the expenditure appeared to have been understated significantly, he said.
"Taking a realistic view of the circumstances, the state is likely to face a cash deficit of as high an amount as Rs 9,000 crore during the current financial year. As regards the under-provisioning in vital areas of social infrastructure and human development, it could be as high as Rs 3,000 crore, Narayanan said.
Meanwhile, the CPI(M) in West Bengal today accused the state government of launching an unprecedented attack on the rights and privileges of Opposition members by flouting rules of the assembly.
"It is an unprecedented attack on the rights and privileges of the Opposition members the way the major ruling party is preparing business of the House from the beginning in a hurry without even giving notice to the members in advance," Leader of Opposition in the State Assembly Surjya Kanta Mishra told reporters here.
Mishra earlier raised the matter with Governor MK Narayanan in the House through calling attention notice before he began to address the members of the House.
"I was informed of the Assembly schedule, which was advanced from June 24 to June 13, only on Friday by the state Parliamentary affairs minister Partha Chatterjee over cell phone when I was on way to Hyderabad," he said.
The senior CPI(M) leader said only two members, including himself, received official notice, and that too "just before the House began today which is not as per the rules of the House and convention."
Mishra wondered why the government was in a hurry to advance the session and said they were ready to extend all help if rules of the House and its conventions were maintained.
Top CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury today spoke of a possible merger of CPI and CPI(M) hoping the two Left parties can come together in the near future after their split nearly five decades ago.
Yechury, a Polit Bureau member, however said that no time-frame could be given as to how long the process might take but noted that all the well wishers of the Left front wanted it to happen as soon as possible. CPI-M was formed in 1964 after some leaders of CPI broke away from the parent party.
He was speaking at a 'Meet the Press' organised by the Andhra Pradesh Union of Working Journalists (APUWJ).
"The merger of the two parties, however, desirable it may be, has to undergo a certain process. One way of doing it is through the unification of various mass organisations and joint activities at the lower level, which will percolate to the top," he said.
"I think that is a more sustainable path, rather than the leadership coming together. So that is a process that is on. The parties are working together now at the mass organisation level," Yechury added.
When asked if the process could eventually lead to the merger of the two parties, he replied, "Hope so".
At the same time, he refused to give a time-frame. "We cannot give a time table. But all the well wishers of the Left want it to happen as soon as possible," he said.
Highlighting the CPI(M)'s commitment towards fighting corruption, he said his party demanded comprehensive anti-corruption measures, including an effective Lok Pal legislation bringing the Prime Minister under its ambit, setting up of a National Judicial Commission to oversee the judiciary and electoral reforms to curb the use of money power.
Big achievements of the Left government, over the last three decades, there were shortcomings and weakness in some of the policies and measures adopted for the welfare of the people, the mistakes with regard to Singur and Nandigram proved costly to the party," he told reporters here.
Speaking after the conclusion of the 3-day meet of CPI(M) Politburo and Central Committee, he said "Election outcomes do not determine leadership changes in CPI(M)."
The meet assessed results of recent Assembly elections in five states with special focus on West Bengal and Kerala, where the party was in power.
He blamed the ganging up of political forces ranging from rightist forces to the Maoists behind the Trinamool Congress, for the Front's performance.
"The people voted for change," he said.
"In Kerala, the Left Democratic Front(LDF) lost narrowly, in our review the Central Committeeappreciated the work of the CPI(M) and the LDF in the election campaign. The Central Committee has directed the Kerala unit to ensure various aspects of election results and take steps to further strengthen the party in Kerala," Karat said.
Karat said corrective measures will be taken to strengthen the party but did not elaborate on what they would be.
Threat to democracy is from unelected tyrants, says Congress
Coming out hard against Team Anna Hazare, the Congress on Monday accused it of being undemocratic in talks with the government on the Lokpal bill, and said "if democracy in the country has any threat, it is from the unelected tyrants."
Congress spokesman Manish Tewari said there was need to clear confusion about what constitutes civil society.
Referring to Hazare's statement that he would resume fast if the proposed bill was not passed by Aug 15, Tewari said the stance by non-government members of the joint drafting committee was undemocratic.
"Such disrespect to people is with those who don't respect democracy. They always keep threatening to go on fast even as the government is holding discussions with them," he said.
Tewari's comments came a day after Hazare wrote to Congress president Sonia Gandhi against some party leaders calling him a "mask" of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Hazare, along with four members of civil society, are in the joint drafting committee on the Lokpal bill which is slated to complete its work by June 30. The committee includes five union ministers.
The Congress spokesman said if non-government members in the joint drafting committee have faith in their strength, they should convince the government through discussions.
"If you believe in your argument, convince (the) government. If this country and democracy of this country has any threat, it is from the unelected tyrants."
"If democracy faces its greatest peril, it is from the tyranny of the unelected. And such people need to understand one basic thing - in the democratic system of India or any democratic country, the veto is in the hands of people, not any person," Tewari said.
Referring to media reports of the government having been described as "a bunch of frauds and cheats", Tewari said it was an insult to the electorate.
"It shows the contempt in which you hold democracy. And this is the same government which constituted the joint drafting committee...If this is the language that you use against such a government, then it's most unfortunate and it begs a question as to who is engineering the breakdown," Tewari said.
He added: "Firstly, it is difficult to understand what is civil society. Do they think that they are civil and others uncivil... Five persons can be members of an organisation...who made them representatives (of civil society)? There is need to clear this confusion."
The civil society members in the drafting committee have said they will resume their agitation if their "basic principles" on the proposed Lokpal bill are not accepted.
Nat Geo maps show Arunachal in China, Kashmir in Pak: BJP
BJP on Monday asked the government to take up the issue of Arunachal Pradesh being shown as part of China, and Kashmir as belonging to Pakistan in maps published by the National Geographic.
"When a Parliamentary forum led by Speaker Meira Kumar visited Westminster in London recently, it saw a global map in the British Parliament showing Arunachal Pradesh as part of China and a part of Kashmir as part of Pakistan though it is represented by an MP in our Parliament," BJP spokesperson Rajiv Pratap Rudy said.
On enquiries, the delegation - of which Rudy was also a member - was informed that the map had been made by National Geographic. "We lodged a protest with the authorities there," he said.
China has indulged in repeated incursions into Arunachal Pradesh and even refused to accept it as part of Indian territory. Similarly, Kashmir has been considered a contentious region by some organisations abroad which have depicted it as part of Pakistan.
The BJP MP maintained that earlier when he had visited Japan as part of a similar delegation, he had come across a similar map in one of the Japanese ministries. Congress MP Manish Tewari was with him, Rudy said.
"Now it has come to light that in Australia also a similar map is in use in government departments. We have pointed this out to the ministry of external affairs but the Government of India has failed to respond or to act on it," Rudy said.
He maintained that all these maps have been printed by National Geographic and the government should take up the matter immediately with that organisation.
2G scam: Where has Rs 200 crore gone, asks SC
Asking CBI to explain where Rs 200 crore, allegedly diverted to DMK-owned Kalaignar TV in 2G scam, has gone, the Supreme Court on Monday sought the probe agency's response on DMK MP Kanimozhi's bail plea in the case.
A bench of Justices BS Chauhan and Swatanter Kumar, while terming "corruption as the worst form of human rights violation," asked CBI to come out with a status report on the loss to the state exchequer due to the award of 13 licences to one of the telecom operators and trial proceedings in the CBI special court.
The court granted a week's time to CBI to file its response on the three issues and the bail pleas of Kanimozhi and Sharad Kumar, MD of Kalaignar TV.
Kanimozhi and Kumar, named as accused in the second charge sheet for allegedly taking a bribe of Rs 200 crore, were arrested on May 20 after the special court dismissed their bail pleas in the case.
Both Kanimozhi and Kumar have 20% stake each in Kalaignar TV Pvt Ltd which allegedly received Rs 200 crore through a "circuitous" route from Shahid Balwa promoted DB Realty.
Senior counsel Altaf Ahmed and Sushil Kumar Jain, appearing for Kanimozhi and Sharad Kumar during the brief arguments, submitted the accused were not recipients of the spectrum and had merely taken a loan of Rs 200 crore which has been returned.
The argument, however, failed convince the bench which pointed that the charge sheet clearly stated that the so-called amount was not part of a legal transaction.
Govt purposefully defaming Lokpal movement: Anna Hazare
AHMEDNAGAR (Maharashtra): Anti-corruption activist Anna Hazare on Monday accused the office bearers of Congress and Union ministers of intentionally "defaming" the Lokpal movement and emerging NGO sector in the country.
"They (the government) making lot many allegations, including the so-called hidden support and political agenda designed by RSS and BJP, is a sheer humiliation of sentiments of the common Indians. They are trying to demoralise and confuse agitators fighting against corruption and this proves insensitivity of government," Hazare said.
Hazare also said that he had written a letter to Sonia Gandhi to draw her attention towards the "mudslinging" ahead of the next meeting of the Lokpal draft committee in Delhi.
The anti-corruption crusader, who turns 74 on June 15, was felicitated here by an NGO last evening.
While expressing his resolve to start hunger strike if the centre fails to enact the Lokpal Bill in stipulated time, Hazare said, "No one can stop the emerging social and political change in India. Now people have realised that they have to become agents of change and must not rely only on leaders and political parties."
He also reiterated his resolve to start hunger strike if the government goes back on its commitment to Lokpal Bill.
The civil society activists, led by the Gandhian, had last Monday boycotted the meeting of the joint drafting committee on Lokpal Bill saying government's intentions raised serious doubts about having a strong anti-corruption watchdog and protesting against the police crackdown on Baba Ramdev.
13 JUN, 2011, 07.16PM IST,REUTERS
Maruti loses millions on continued strike, fears of spillover mount
MUMBAI: India's largest carmaker Maruti Suzuki, already slammed by sluggish sales, is expected to take another hit as a plant strike enters its second week, leading to millions of dollars in losses and a possible spillover to other factories.
The company, which accounts for half the cars sold in Asia's third largest economy, has faced a production loss of 8,400 units so far at its Manesar plant in northern India. That means an estimated loss of 2.8 billion rupees ($62.6 million).
The company, 54.2 per cent-owned by Japan's Suzuki Motor Corp, posted its slowest pace of growth in more than two years last month. It posted a 1.9 per cent rise in May sales this year, compared with a 28-per cent rise a year earlier.
"The sector is already in bad shape because of continued rise in input costs and rising inflation. If the strike gets prolonged, it will have a major dent in Maruti's profitability," Kishor Ostwal, chairman of brokerage CNI Research , said.
Auto sales in India, which grew at a breakneck pace of 30 per cent in 2010, are driven by a burgeoning aspirational middle class that relies mainly on bank loans for its purchases. But consistently rising interest rates have forced consumers to tighten their purse strings.
Auto sales rose 7 per cent in May, their slowest pace of growth in two years, and analysts expect a further decline as higher fuel prices, interest rates and vehicle costs crimp demand in the world's second-fastest growing vehicle market.
A prolonged strike would also hurt component suppliers. "Our dependence on Maruti is about 10 to 12 per cent, of which around 4 per cent is on Manesar," said Arvind Kapur, Managing Director at auto supplier Rico Auto Industries Ltd. "But it's not the question of business from one plant. It's the question of the whole area getting affected. That should not happen," Kapur said.
Workers in the Manesar region, the greater metropolitan area of the nation's capital New Delhi, will hold a two-hour sympathy strike on Tuesday, several newspapers reported on Monday.
The employees are striking to have a new union recognized by management. Maruti Suzuki management is in talks with the workers and is considering acknowledging th new employees' union, a company spokesman said.
LABOUR WOES
India's auto sector has seen spurts of industrial unrest over the past two years.
In 2009, workers at a plant of Honda Motorcycle & Scooters India, a unit of Japan's Honda Motor Corp , engaged in a "go-slow" to protest wages and other issues. A "go-slow" involves employees working with reduced efficiency, typically used as a prelude or an alternative to a strike.
Last year, workers at Hyundai Motor's India plant went on a three-day strike. Almost half the workers at the Indian unit of Sweden's Volvo Bus Corp struck in 2010, protesting wages.
These strikes have raised questions over how India will preserve its status as a low-cost manufacturing base while avoiding growing discontent among employees.
India's labour laws are rated by the World Bank as among the most rigid and some analysts say they hurt corporate competitiveness in Asia's third-largest economy.
"To the extent they have lost production, we have also lost production, but it is not a huge quantity, and the impact is limited," said Paban K Kataky, a director at Exide Industries , India's top automotive battery maker. "The worry is that it should not spill over to other factories."
About 800 workers have been on strike since June 4 at the Manesar plant, demanding recognition of the new union. Maruti has one workers' union recognized by the management. It was unclear why the employees wanted another union recognized.
Maruti, which operates two manufacturing facilities in India, has fired 11 workers at the Manesar plant since the strike began, citing indiscipline. Media reports said employees are also demanding the 11 workers be reinstated.
The plant produces about 1,200 vehicles a day, including the popular Swift and A-Star hatchbacks and the DZiRE and SX4 sedans.
The company had earlier said it planned to invest $1.3 billion over the next three years on manufacturing plants to boost capacity.
Shares of Maruti, valued at $7.9 billion, closed down 0.14 per cent at 1,224.95 rupees in a flat Mumbai market.
Top News
» More Top News
Editor's Choice
-
New Delhi: India is passing through a transparency revolution, but the four pillars of democracy are not yet ready for the transition, Defence Minister A.K. Antony said Wednesday in the backdrop of a mass movement against corruption.
-
New Delhi: The mammoth business empire of Baba Ramdev, its worth estimated at Rs.1,100 crore, is now under official scanner, informed sources said Tuesday. An aide to the yoga guru called it hogwash.
-
Haridwar: With the government toughening its stand against Baba Ramdev, the yoga guru today said he forgave the Prime Minister for the crackdown on his agitation but history will not forgive him for the "political sin" he committed.
-
Bhopal: Congress general secretary Digvijay Singh's residence was pelted with stones by some unidentified people who also shouted slogans in favour of yoga guru Baba Ramdev, police said Monday.
Features & Analysis
Lokpal Bill on death bed Comment: Cong party's scathing attack on Anna and Ramdev has left the Lokpal Bill in a coma
India trusts Anna Hazare, not the government There is no confusion on where the Indian citizen's loyalty lies. The drafting of the Jan Lok Pal Bill to fight corruption has triggered a revolution; one that has been branded a 'second freedom struggle' by civil society members on the Lok Pal panel.
June – month of political blunders for Cong The UPA govt committed 5 blunders in dealing with Baba Ramdev. But in June, the Cong is known for committing blunders
The Death of a Democracy, by UPA2 June 5, 2011, 1.10 am: The official time of death of the great Indian democracy
Comment: "Not scared of Ramdev", says Digvijay. Really? With the mother of all fasts looming, UPA tries to put up a brave face but the panic is there for all to see
Govt and civil society in open war on Lokpal billIBNLive.com - 53 minutes ago PTI | 10:06 PM,Jun 13,2011 "You are one of the most honest Prime Ministers the country has had. It is ironical that your own government should seek to take the Prime Minister out of the purview of Lokpal''s investigations. ... Can civil society win India's corruption battle?BBC News - - 1 hour ago Are sections of India's civil society subverting democracy by using coercive tactics to pressure the government to push through tough anti-corruption laws? The beleaguered Congress-party led government appears to think so. The senior-most minister ... Digvijaya retracts as Congress distances from his PM-under-Lokpal remarkNDTV.com - 1 hour ago PTI, Updated: June 13, 2011 22:06 IST New Delhi: Senior Congress leader and party General Secretary Digvijaya Singh today retracted from his statement that the Prime Minister should come within the ambit of Lokpal as the party distanced itself from his ...
Govt shrinking Lokpal scope: HazareAssam Tribune - 8 minutes ago NEW DELHI, June 13 – Civil society led by Anna Hazare today hit back at the government over the charge that it was undermining the Parliament and Constitution and asked why an "honest" man like Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is "scared" of being ... Threat to democracy is from unelected tyrants, says CongressTimes of India - 3 hours ago NEW DELHI: Coming out hard against Team Anna Hazare, the Congress on Monday accused it of being undemocratic in talks with the government on the Lokpal bill, and said "if democracy in the country has any threat, it is from the unelected tyrants. ... Cong steps up attack on Anna, calls him 'unelected dictator'Hindustan Times - 3 hours ago PTI Social activist Anna Hazare greets supporters during his symbolic one-day fast at Rajghat against...... In stepped-up attack on Anna Hazare and BJP-RSS, Congress on Monday dubbed the Gandhian as an "unelected dictator" who is reading the script of ... Government 'defaming' lokpal movement: Anna HazareHindustan Times - 4 hours ago PTI Social activist Anna Hazare greets supporters during his symbolic one-day fast at Rajghat against...... Anti-corruption activist Anna Hazare on Monday accused the office bearers of Congress and union ministers of intentionally "defaming" the lokpal ... 'Enactment of Jan Lokpal bill only priority'Times of India - Jun 10, 2011 PUNE: Noted social crusader Anna Hazare on Friday said he was going to pursue a 'single point' programme for the next two months - the enactment of the Jan Lokpal bill before August 15. Speaking exclusively to TOI on his way to Pune from his hometown ... BJP asks PM to spell stand on bringing top post under LokpalIBNLive.com - 3 hours ago PTI | 07:06 PM,Jun 13,2011 Asked if BJP was in agreement with demands made by social activists like Hazare and Ramdev on corruption and black money, Rudy said his party had flagged these issues even before these activists did so. ... | Timeline of articlesNumber of sources covering this story
Images BBC News  NDTV.com  Moneycontrol.co...  Newsweek  The Hindu  The Hindu  The Hindu  SamayLive  International R... Videos |
UP teen case: Asphyxia cause of deathIBNLive.com - 2 hours ago New Delhi: Twelve hours after calling it a suicide, the second autopsy report conducted on the 14-year-old girl in Lakhimpur, has confirmed it was murder. The Police, however, have still not ruled out rape. The SP of the police station has been ... UP minor's death: Mother says Rs 5L offered for silenceTimes of India - 3 hours ago LUCKNOW/LAKHIMPUR: The mother of the minor UP girl, whose body was found hanging from a tree in a police station here, has claimed that she was offered bribe to stay silent. Speaking to Times Now, the victim's mother alleged that some cops had ... Mayawati orders probe into girl's death at police stationEconomic Times - 5 hours ago LUCKNOW: Even as the Uttar Pradesh government ordered a police probe into the alleged rape and murder of a 14-year-old girl who was found hanging from a tree inside a police station compound, the opposition demanded an inquiry by the Central Bureau of ... Minor's death: role of police under scannerThe Hindu - 5 hours ago The role of the police has come under scanner following the alleged rape and murder of a minor, whose body was found hanging from a tree near an under-construction block in Nighasan police station in Lakhimpur-Kheri district of Uttar Pradesh. ... NHRC sends investigation team to Lakhimpur to probe teenager's murderDaily News & Analysis - 4 hours ago Place: New Delhi | Agency: PTI The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) today sent an investigation team to inquire into the alleged rape and murder of a 14-year-old girl at a police station in Uttar Pradesh. The two-member team is being led by PS ... Minor died of asphyxia, says postmortem reportTimes of India - 19 hours ago LUCKNOW: Investigations into the mystery behind the minor girl's body, which was found hanging from a tree within the compound of Nighasan police station in Lakhimpur district on Friday night, took a curious turn on Sunday when the post-mortem report ... UP Police rule out rape in teen's death caseIBNLive.com - 7 hours ago Lucknow: The Uttar Pradesh Police on Monday claimed that the 14-year-old girl whose body was found in a police station in Lakhimpur was not raped. Inspector General of Police (Lucknow) Shibesh Kumar Singh said that the second autopsy report of the ... Mayawati govt orders CID probe in teen rape caseIBNLive.com - 15 hours ago Lakhimpur: After the rape of a minor girl, allegedly by policemen in Lakhimpur district of Uttar Pradesh, left the administration red faced, the Mayawati government has ordered a CB-CID probe in the case. An FIR has been lodged against one sub ... Girl, found hanging in police station, was not murdered: SPTimes of India - Jun 12, 2011 PTI | Jun 12, 2011, 07.05pm IST LAKHIMPUR: Police today ruled out that the 14-year-old girl, who was found hanging inside the premises of a police station here, was murdered citing the post mortem report, even as the NHRC said it would send a team to ... UP teen murder: 4 policemen arrested for tampering with evidenceNDTV.com - 7 hours ago Lakhimpur Kheri (Uttar Pradesh): A teen girl found dead at a police station in Uttar Pradesh was murdered but not raped, according to a second autopsy conducted today. She was strangled and died of asyphxia, the report said. The 14-year-old was found ... | RelatedTimeline of articlesNumber of sources covering this story
Images Deccan Chronicl...  Daily Bhaskar  India Today  India Today  India Today  India Today  Daily Bhaskar  Mangalorean.com  SamayLive |
Mayawati govt in dock over gang rape, murder in UP police stationDaily News & Analysis - - 20 minutes ago The Mayawati government is under attack over the gang rape and murder of the young girl from the minority community by cops inside the Nighasan police station of Lakhimpur Kheri district. Mayawati orders probe into girl's death at police stationEconomic Times - 5 hours ago Chief Minister Mayawati late Sunday had also ordered a second autopsy of the victim's body after allegations that the earlier report was doctored by policemen who called it a case of suicide. Mayawati govt orders CID probe in teen rape case IBNLive.com Mayawati accuses Central Commissions of doing Congress' workReal Time News, India - - 2 hours ago Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati has accused the national rights commissions -- the National Human Rights Commission and the National Commission for Women -- of acting like opposition parties. SP asks for CBI probe against Mayawati govtTimes of India - Jun 11, 2011 LUCKNOW: Leader of Opposition in Uttar Pradesh Vidhan Sabha, Shivpal Singh Yadav on Saturday demanded a CBI inquiry against the Mayawati government, which he blamed for making UP an "address of scams" running into over Rs 5000 crore during its rule in ... Fresh autopsy of UP girl rules out rape, points at murder: copsIndian Express - 5 hours ago Lakhimpur: A fresh postmortem on a 14-year-old girl, who was found hanging inside a police station here, today confirmed she was murdered but could not arrive at the conclusion whether she was raped even as the Mayawati government ordered a CB-CID ... Lakhimpur: BSP accuses Opposition, NHRC, NCW of targeting MayaIBNLive.com - 54 minutes ago PTI | 10:06 PM,Jun 13,2011 govt Lucknow, Jun 13 (PTI) Alleging that opposition parties were unnecessarily targeting the Mayawati government over the Lakhimpur incident even after stern action was taken against the guilty, the BSP today accused National ... 'Insensitive' on Lakhimpur girl rape-and-murder case, Krishna Tirath slams UP govt Daily News & Analysis Now a film on MayawatiHindustan Times - Jun 9, 2011 Now, Mayawati, the Chief Minister (CM) of Uttar Pradesh (UP), will soon be seen in a screen adaptation, essayed by Kitu Gidwani in debutante director, Ishraq Shah's Ek Bura Aadmi. Media WatchOrganiser - 16 hours ago According to the paper, the total wealth of India's 30 Chief Ministers was around Rs 236 crore and the average wealth of a Chief Minister was Rs 7.8 crore, but only Rs 3.7 crore if Mayawati and Karunanidhi were taken out of the equation. BJP condemns Mayawati for disallowing Ramdev's dharnaThe Hindu - - Jun 6, 2011 The BJP accused Chief Minister Mayawati of acting under pressure from the Congress-led UPA government. Notwithstanding Ms. Mayawati's strong condemnation of the lathi-charge and use of force on Baba Ramdev's supporters at the Ramlila grounds well past ... UP girl's murder confirmed; 11 cops, three doctors suspendedummid.com - 2 hours ago The government has also transferred Superintendent of Police DK Rai after the Mayawati government earlier Monday ordered a state police probe into the incident, which has caused a nationwide uproar. Expose Mayawati government through RTI, PILs: CongressMangalorean.com - Jun 11, 2011 Lucknow, June 11 (IANS) The Congress has decided to take recourse to the Right to Information (RTI) Act and legal routes to expose the "corrupt practices" of Uttar Pradesh's ruling Bahujan Samaj Party, state party leader Rita Bahuguna Joshi said ... Congress to go it alone in UP Indian Express Congress to go it alone in UP IBNLive.com BJP to look into Mayawati regime's land acquisition casesDaily News & Analysis - Jun 9, 2011 The BJP will review land acquisition cases of the Mayawati regime if it is voted to power in Uttar Pradesh, a senior party leader said today. Samajwadi Party attacks Mayawati government Economic Times Cong divided on CM projectionDeccan Chronicle - - 13 hours ago Ahead of the tough battle in Uttar Pradesh, the Congress is divided over the issue of projecting a leader to take on chief minister Mayawati. While three key players - BSP, Samajwadi Party and even the BJP - have chief ministerial ... Uma Bharati returns to BJP Organiser Uma Bharti's BJP return attracts criticism by Mayawati and Kalyan SinghEconomic Times - Jun 7, 2011 LUCKNOW: Firebrand leader Uma Bharti's return to the BJP with the specific mandate to work for the party in Uttar Pradesh has attracted criticism from both Mayawati and former BJP leader Kalyan Singh. The Bahujan Samaj Party which had been wooing the ... Uma, Diggy key players in Assembly polls Deccan Chronicle Maverick Uma returns to BJP, to take on Maya IBNLive.com Mayawati refuses to give opinion on Lokpal BillNDTV.com - Jun 7, 2011 PTI, Updated: June 07, 2011 14:24 IST Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and BSP supremo Mayawati has refused to respond to the questionnaire on provisions of the Lokpal Bill, saying that seeking opinion of her party before tabling the bill in the ... 'Need to strengthen BSP to fight Cong policies' Times of India Mayawati to address BSP meet in Bangalore today IBNLive.com Rahul Gandhi for offensive against Mayawati in Uttar PradeshDaily News & Analysis - Jun 7, 2011 As part of the new offensive, the Congress would prepare a "charge sheet" to corner the Mayawati government. Rahul left for Delhi without speaking with the media and senior party leaders were tightlipped about what he had said at the closed door ... BSP seeks probe into Baba Ramdev raid Times of India Disgruntled BSP member launches diatribe against MayawatiIBNLive.com - Jun 8, 2011 PTI | 04:06 PM,Jun 08,2011 Agra, Jun 08 (PTI) Uttar Pradesh police is on a hunt for Heera Thankur, a former member of the UP Vidhan Parishad, for allegedly making derogatory remarks against Chief Minister Ms Mayawati.Thakur, at the Eight National ... Mayawati announces new land acquisition policyTimes of India - Jun 2, 2011 LUCKNOW: Facing widespread criticism over blatant acquisitions of agriculture land across the state at throwaway prices and handing it over to private builders at high rate, UP chief minister Mayawati on Thursday announced a new land acquisition policy ... Video: Maya stumps Rahul  NewsX Mayawati announces new land acquisition policy IBNLive.com UP cops hunt SP leader for remarks on MayaDeccan Chronicle - - Jun 10, 2011 The UP police has launched a manhunt for former BSP MLC Heera Thakur who is now on the hitlist for allegedly making some rather derogatory remarks against chief minister Mayawati at the Samajwadi Party's national convention at Agra this ... Samajwadi Party eyes Lucknow after Agra meet Mangalorean.com Baba Ramdev news: Mayawati, Mulayam condemn Congress for Ramdev attrocitiesEconomic Times - Jun 5, 2011 LUCKNOW: With the national polity divided over pro and anti Baba Ramdev, the two major chieftains of Uttar Pradesh Mulayam Singh Yadav and Mayawati declared their support for the yoga guru turned anti corruption crusader. The Samajwadi Party supremo ... UP, Bihar leaders scramble to get benefit Hindustan Times | Featured videoImagesIndia Today  Deccan Herald  Tehelka  Rediff  Deccan Chronicl...  India Today  The Hindu  India Today  SamayLive |
Phoenix kicks off Rs 2,000 crore infrastructure projects
HYDERABAD: Phoenix Group , a leading infrastructure development conglomerate, Monday announced that it has kicked off Rs 2,000 crore-worth projects in Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu .
The Hyderabad-based group launched the Rs.350 crore Golf Edge in Gacchibowli, the information technology cluster, in the city. The high-end residential project comprises 30-storey twin residential towers covering one million sq. ft. and loaded with comfort features.
Golf Edge will have a golf view and will be a fully furnished, completely automated residential complex built alongside a 210-room five star hotel managed by Duet group.
Gopikrishna Patibandaa, MD of Phoenix Group, told reporters that residents of Golf Edge will also have a dedicated 24x7 apartment facility, property management services and a first time residential club house managed by Duet Group.
The units, costing from Rs.60 lakh to Rs.2 crore, are expected to be handed over to home owners by 2014 in three phases.
He said there was a huge potential for such a high-end residential project as 250,000 employees work in the IT firms in the vicinity.
The group plans commercial, residential, retail and hospitality projects in Hyderabad, including nine hotels and five to six residential townships, each township with an investment of Rs.300-400 crore.
Two of the nine hotels will be five-star and will come up in Jubilee Hills and Financial District.
International private equity partners will invest Rs.580 crore in the projects, which will be taken up with 60 percent debt and 40 percent equity.
Phoenix, which executed more than 2.5 million sq. ft. of infrastructure projects during the last nine years, plans to develop 30 million sq. ft. with an investment of Rs.25,000 crore in the next five years.
The group, which also has interests in mining, plans to set up projects for cement and power production to meet its input requirements for developing various projects.
Lavasa's Pune project trips on green laws
The environment ministry Friday asked the Maharashtra government to take action against Lavasa Corporation for allegedly flouting green laws in construction of its massive lake city project near Pune.
In a letter, Bharat Bhushan of the environment ministry said: "During the process of appraisal and also based on the site visit by the committee headed by Naresh Dayal , it was found that constructions/developments in the 681 hectare area was in progress without obtaining prior environmental clearance."
"Request you to initiate necessary action under Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, against violation of the Act," the letter added.
The ministry Nov 25 last year slapped a show-cause notice on Lavasa Corporation because it had allegedly failed to secure necessary environmental clearances before starting work on its 5,000-plus hectare lake city project coming up in Mulshi sub-district of Pune district, around 200 km from Mumbai.
11 JUN, 2011, 02.20AM IST,ET BUREAU
Envt ministry ask Maha govt to take action against Lavasa for environmental violation
NEW DELHI: Barely a week before the Bombay High Court resumes its hearing on Lavasa Corporation's petition, the Environment Ministry has asked the Maharashtra state government to take action against the company for going ahead with its hill township in Pune district without the requisite environmental clearance .
The High Court will be taking up the case on June 15. The state has been directed to take action under Environment Protection Act. "During the process of appraisal and also based on the site visit by the committee headed by Naresh Dayal, it was found that constructions/developments in the 681 hectare area was in progress without obtaining prior environmental clearance....
Request you to initiate necessary action under Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, against violation of the Act," the ministry's letter states.
Lavasa Corporation sources declined to comment on the latest development. The Environment Ministry's directive is keeping with the recommendation of the Expert Appraisal Committee, which found that constructions and development in 681 hectares or Dasve sector, are in violation of the Environment Protection Act. The committee said that these violations had to be dealt with in accordance to the order of November 16, 2010. This would require that the state government be asked to initiate action under the provisions of the Environment Protection Act, 1986.
It also requires Lavasa Corporation to submit a written commitment, in the form of a formal board resolution, accepting responsibility for the violations.
It will also need to submit the corporations' environment related policy, as passed by its board of directors, to the ministry to ensure that environmental violations do not recur. Lavasa has 90 days for this.
The expert committee came to this conclusion on the basis of details submitted by the Lavasa Corporation, information submitted by the state government, senior officers from the state's town planning and MKVDC departments.
The committee found that the development/constructions were started without examining the environment issues such as slope analysis, proper soil investigation, physiography, geological, hydrological and geographical details and other vital parameters.
13 JUN, 2011, 04.49AM IST, SACHIN PARASHAR,TNN
China plan to divert Brahmaputra sparks concern in Delhi
NEW DELHI: China seems to be considering a new plan to divert Brahmaputra waters from the upper reaches as it battles hard with severe drought conditions, a development which has sparked fresh fears in India about the Chinese intention. While Beijing last year announced the construction of a $1.2 billion hydroelectric power station on the Brahmaputra (known as Yarlung Tsangpo in China), it continues to maintain that this project will not impact the flow of water to downstream countries like India and Bangladesh.
While the run-of-the-river Zangmu dam is meant to deal with shortage of power in Tibet, China is now said to be also considering diverting the waters in the upper reaches towards Xinjiang . According to Wang Guangqian of Chinese Academy of Sciences, which is China's supreme scientific and technological advisory board, Chinese experts have come up with a new proposal, separate from the earlier approved western canal plan, which seeks to divert water towards the northwestern region of the country. Unlike the earlier plan, the new proposal will slow down the flow of the affecting Brahmaputra, especially in the lean season.
Confirming the new proposal to China's official news agency, Wang said last week that this plan had come at least 50 years ahead of its time because of the acute water scarcity. Indian officials said they were looking at the situation closely even though there was no evidence yet to suggest any major diversion by China of Brahmaputra.
According to strategic affairs expert Brahma Chellaney, this further authenticates China's "opaque'' hydro-engineering plans and its intention to build more dams on Brahmaputra. "As in the case of the Mekong, it intends to begin work quietly on large dams on the Brahmaputra. India's reluctance to speak up - and the habit of Indian officials to regurgitate China's empty assurances -only emboldens Beijing to opaquely pursue projects to the detriment of downstream users,'' Chellaney said.
13 JUN, 2011, 05.06AM IST, DHEERAJ TIWARI,ET BUREAU
Every village to be covered under Financial inclusion drive
NEW DELHI: Buoyed by the initial success of the financial inclusion drive and the requirements of cash transfer of subsidies , the finance ministry is mulling asking state-run banks to extend banking services to all villages.
The current financial inclusion agenda says every habitation in excess of 2000 people must have access to banking services by March 2012.
Banks are not enthused unless some costs of no-frills or zero balance accounts are reimbursed by the government to make these accounts viable.
"We will have a discussion with banks and come up with a time frame for complete financial inclusion," a finance ministry official told ET. "We have to look beyond 2012."
In the current financial year, the banks are expected to take branches to another 20,000 villages, having covered 30,000 by the end of March 2011.
The finance ministry will review, in the first week of July, the performance of the state-run banks and set new targets for complete financial inclusion. The government and the Reserve Bank had set a target to cover 73,000 villages having population in excess of 2000, by March 2012. An estimated five crore bank accounts are to be opened in this initiative.
Deeper banking spread has become urgent because the government plans to provide direct cash subsidy for kerosene and fertiliser to the around 40 crore poor from March 2012. It has already set up a task force to give recommendations on the mechanism of cash transfer of fertiliser, kerosene and LPG subsidies. But banks are wary that a broader financial inclusion drive will increase the burden on them.
"It is unviable to have an account where there is no or very less transaction. We have to bear the cost for maintenance and service," said executive director of a state run bank. According to him, the average cost of opening and maintenance of an account is around .`65 and less than 20% of such no frill accounts were in operation. "Most of them continue to remain inactive even after an year of opening," he added.
The government was mulling a.`800 crore Financial Inclusion Fund for providing support to banks but its contours are still being worked out. RBI has ruled out any support to banks for opening no-frill accounts.
Head of a north-based state-run bank said that the government also needs to do some ground work if they want to make it a viable proposition. "Currently, we are just opening no-frill accounts, but if there are no transactions in these accounts, the whole purpose is defeated," he said.
"Government urgently needs to link the subsidy based schemes with these accounts so that their is some transaction happening." As of now only 45% of the Indian population has access to bank accounts, and there is a low ratio of one bank branch for 16,000 people.
11 JUN, 2011, 05.40AM IST,ET BUREAU
New IIP index to better reflect economic trends launched
NEW DELHI: The government has launched a new Index of Industrial Production (IIP), which seeks to offer a better gauge of the country's industrial activity.
The new index has a revised base of 2004-05. The old index, which had a base of 1993-94, had been criticized for excessive volatility and needed repeated revisions due to an outdated basket of items and limited data points.
In the new series, constructed according to the structure revealed by the Annual Survey of Industries and national accounts data of 2004-05, the basic construction and methodology remain the same while the items basket has been updated to better reflect production trends.
The weighting diagram of the three primary sectors has also changed to capture the changed economic scenario. Manufacturing has a weight of 75.5 % in the new series, compared with 79.4% in the old. That of mining has increased to 14.15% from 10.1% in the old series, while electricity's share in the index has risen marginally to 10.3%, against 10.2 % in the old series. "The new series takes into account the item basket as per more recent production behavior and thus can be considered to be a much closer reflection of the present industrial scenario," said Tanvee Gupta and Chetan Ahya of Morgan Stanley.
The new index also tracks recession better, said Chief Statistician of India TCA Anant. Industrial Production contracts in early 2009 show that India went through a more dramatic slowdown then what was thought.
Obsolete items like typewrittimates ers and tape recorders have been excluded. A total of 42 item groups have been excluded while 135 item groups have been added. The industrial growth rate for 2010-11 posted by the new series is about 0.5% higher than the growth shown by the old series. "The new series will impart an upside bias to IP growth this year," said Sonal Varma, India economist, Nomura.
If the trend of higher industrial growth rate continues in the current fiscal year, it could push up the overall GDP growth rate, but the effect will not be seen until January 2012, when the quick estimates of the FY11 GDP are released. The new series would be incorporated in the GDP estimates for FY12. Despite the revision in the series, analysts say concerns regarding volatility will remain and the new index retains the basic characteristics of the older series. The volatile nature of capital goods production data would still be present, as it pertains to the data collection methodologies inherent in the system. "Inherent volatility will still be present, as the basic nature of the index remains the same," said Anant.
Data will be collected through 14 agencies, compared with 15 earlier. The list of entities, from which data will be collected, has also been increased for better representation. The major change would be the exclusion of the small and micro enterprises index from the IIP , as currently the ministry of small and micro enterprises is working on an index of its own that will be dovetailed with the overall IIP.
11 JUN, 2011, 03.28AM IST, DEEPSHIKHA SIKARWAR,ET BUREAU
DEPB to stay for 3 more months, but no more extensions: Finmin
NEW DELHI: The finance ministry has given a three-month extension to the popular export incentive scheme , the Duty Entitlement Passbook or DEPB, offering solace to its beneficiaries such as Bajaj Auto, TVS Suzuki , Reliance Industries and Bharat Forge . The ministry has, however, made it clear that it would not grant any more extensions to DEPB and that exporters should be prepared to switch to a duty drawback scheme by October.
"DEPB has to go and exporters will have to switch to a duty drawback scheme," a source privy to the development told ET. He said the decision to allow exporters to enjoy the benefits offered by DEPB for three more months was to ensure a smooth transition to the new scheme. "A three-member panel, which includes the commerce and finance secretaries, will work out the modalities of migration to the duty drawback scheme," the person said.
The decision to extend DEPB was taken at a meeting early this week between Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee and Commerce Minister Anand Sharma. The finance ministry is firm on discontinuing DEPB, arguing that it allows the exporters double benefit instead of just neutralizing the import duty on inputs that go into exports.
Under the scheme, exporters receive duty-free scrips, or entitlements, which they can use to pay import duties. The scrips are based on the value of goods exported and can be traded freely. The government fixes the rate of the incentive.
The scrips are provided on the assumptions that all inputs are imported, but in practice exporters are allowed to use up to 50% domestic inputs under the scheme. They are also allowed to claim credit for the excise duty they pay on these domestic inputs.
This implies that under DEPB, exporters get credit for taxes they do not actually pay. The scheme cost the exchequer.`8,520 crore in 2010-11, more than 60% of which was cornered by large engineering and chemical exporters.
But the drawback is a scheme that just neutralises levies paid on inputs and the rates are fixed annually based on the changes in the duty structure in the budget. An expert panel headed by Planning Commission member Saumitra Choudhury will work out the duty drawback rates for all export products including those covered under DEPB now.
The finance ministry has also asked the commerce ministry to direct export promotion councils to provide relevant data to the panel. The industry does not seem to mind the DEPB phase out as long as a replacement scheme is in place.
"If all products covered under the DEPB are brought under drawback with near comparable rates, industry will have no problem," said Ajay Sahai, director general, Federation of Indian Export Organisations. "However, compilation and computation of the data in three months would be a herculean task." The commerce ministry and exporters have been lobbying for an extension. But finance ministry was in no mood to relent as it felt that the scheme launched to give boost to exporters in 1997 had served its purpose.
Exports grew at 37.6% rate in dollar terms in 2010-11, the fastest rate ever. The commerce ministry has set a target of $500 billion by 2014. Moreover, the scheme is also not compatible with World Trade Organisation rules as additional benefit given to exporters is seen as a subsidy.
Govt to award Rs 70,000 cr road contracts this fiscal
Contracts for building 11,050 kms of roads will be awarded in the current fiscal year involving an estimated investment of Rs 70,000 crore, as per the target set by the Ministry of Road , Transport and Highways .
The ambitious road building plans were reviewed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today with Road Transport Minister C P Joshi and senior officials of the ministry and the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI).
Of the total work proposed to be awarded this fiscal, 7,300 km would be under the National Highways Development Project (NHDP), an increase of 44 per cent over 5,095 km in 2010-11. Under this component, investment is earmarked at Rs 57,000 crore.
As part of a development strategy, the government wants to complete 1,759 km of roads in the Left Wing Extremism (LWE) affected areas this year involving an outlay of Rs 3,000 crore.
The road ministry plans to award 1,991 km road projects too under the Special Accelerated Road Development Programme in North-East where Rs 10,000 crore investment could be made.
India has 70,934 km national highways network. Work is in progress on 10,142 km as of March end, an official said after the review meeting.
The road ministry highlighted the problems for the speedy implementation of the road projects. It wanted expeditious approval from the Planning Commission for upgradation of 10,000 km of state roads to new national highways already cleared by a Group of Ministers.
Over and above this, 10,000 km roads also need to be upgraded to the national highways.
The ministry intends to make 12,000 km of stretches of national highways to be proper two-lane national highway standard.
"Additional allocation of funds are also required for maintenance and repair of national highways," a ministry official said, adding that the amount required is nothing less than Rs 1,000 crore.
Formulation of a road development plan for districts with large tribal population was also discussed.
12 JUN, 2011, 06.44AM IST, DEBASISH ROY,ET BUREAU
After liberalisation, it is time for extensive city planning in India
City planning is an unknown art and a maverick's business in India. It is something like the house of a rich zamindar in Bengal where the amount of rice being boiled for guests is increased by a dollop every time an unannounced guest walks in for an unplanned meeting. Local governments for cities in India treat their citizens in the same manner.
Indian cities are clusters of habitations, which emanated just beside a river or a lake. There is no pre-settlement or even post-settlement planning and execution involved. No civic body ever plans or writes down the expected population that will roll in and start living in any city. The result is that even the capital city of New Delhi is without any planned water supply for 70 per cent of the city's population.
This ridiculous state of affairs originated in socialist India where the government and its minion mandarins were responsible for every decision with no room for debate or protest.
The government until a few years ago was the final arbitrator. There was no room for declaration as to how it arrived at such a decision or why it took such a decision.
Well, the government of socialist India by its very nature was not equipped to handle city planning. At the same time, if it had delegated the job to the private sector with checks and balances we would not have had such a chaotic set up in every city today.
Take the instance of allowing 100 per cent foreign direct investment (FDI) in real estate. It never worked as the basis from, which FDI would start flowing in, was never initiated. Today, every state in India has a different stamp duty structure and different book of procedures for entering into and registering a plot of land or building after its purchase.
In case a real estate company begins construction of a building, the taxation structure for every component of the building would be different in different states.
As a result, city planning, which is the second phase of real estate, never took off with FDI. In fact, FDI is still left abegging in common real estate projects for housing and commercial buildings. Till today, only a handful of real estate projects are being marketed on the platform of foreign expertise or foreign funding; the reason being there is nothing to market on those lines.
In case foreign expertise had seeped into the country, city planning may have gone into overdrive with consortia from all over the globe pouring in for projects. This may have been on the lines of the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation operations where professionals from all over the world have started working here.
Next, look at retail for the daily needs of citizens. Despite allowing 100 per cent FDI in cold chain, the government has not allowed 100 per cent FDI in retail. This is saying that you are allowed to drive a car but not allowed to owned tires.
In fact, the city of Chennai has taken a leap on two counts. One, a desalination plant to supply drinking water to the whole city and two, conversion of the city sewerage from cast iron to high quality PVC. These are certainly forward looking steps and they may be emulated throughout India.
However, despite the efforts of business chambers such as FICCI, ASSOCHAM , PHD and CII , town and city planning have taken a back seat. This is because the local and union governments have no idea about this concept.
During my last visit to London, I noted that the whole city had been preserved from the time of the Second World War and no construction that will deface this landscape is allowed within city limits. It is commendable that the Brits hold on steadfastly to their finest hour under Churchill but the world is a changing and a country or city needs to update itself.
London does not have an exploding population but look at what happened to Calcutta which stuck to old methods of government fit for a population, which was one tenth of the size of the current crop of citizens. Ironical for the former capital.
No planned construction outside the immediate city and no planned preservation of the British buildings have taken place in Calcutta. To top it all, they have defaced the name to Kolkata, which is a monstrosity in itself.
In New Delhi, nobody thought of planning for the drinking water supply for a growing population. Now bottles are in vogue.
CITY PLANNING COMES ALONG WITH E-GOVERNANCE
For a country of over a billion people who have begun to aspire to a better life and independent social mores, e-governance and unique identification numbers are a must.
This phenomenon is coming into the country in fits and starts. For instance, filing of income tax which covers only 15 per cent of the population is now online but not mandatorily so. Similarly, with banks and public sector bodies, e-governance is still new.
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/features/financial-times/after-liberalisation-it-is-time-for-extensive-city-planning-in-india/articleshow/8820967.cms
Mamata's Singur stand may hurt NTPC project
Shine Jacob / Kolkata June 13, 2011, 0:02 IST
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 hindrance for a Rs 9,600-crore project for a 1,600-Mw unit by NTPC in Katwa.
Last year, the public sector undertaking had taken over the Katwa project from West Bengal Power Development Corporation Ltd (WBPDCL), which had acquired 387 acres of the 1,035 acres required for the project. NTPC had also signed a power purchase agreement with the then state government.
However, according to sources, the new Bengal government is not ready to give give over even half the required land.
"The government has asked NTPC to set up the plant in less than 600 acres of land and said the state is not ready to acquire any more for the project. No company can build in the given area. It is impossible," said a top official.
According to sources, till the Trinamool Congress-led government comes out with a new land policy, the project will not move forward. If not, this might be the end of another big-ticket investment in the state.
When asked about this, a top NTPC official said, "It is a tight situation. Probably, with whatever land available, we will have to do some reengineering to make the project happen. I hope the government will give us further land, as this seems to be a pet project of the chief minister."
However, the government seems to be adamant on not giving a further inch of land. Banerjee's government is planning to amend the Land Acquisition Act of 1894 and introduce a 'Singur Bill' in the Assembly. Incidentally, Banerjee herself is handling the power portfolio in the state.
Though there were talks for a joint venture between NTPC and Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd, the former preferred to take it alone. It had even agreed to reimburse all costs, including the acquisition of land, incurred by WBPDCL or the state government for the project. Bengal was supposed to get 800 Mw from the project, while other eastern states were slated to get 560Mw and the rest was to be distributed according to the Centre's directive.
The plan by state power companies for a new petition on rate revision to the State Electricity Regulatory Commission (SERC) has also not gone well with the chief minister.
"The state government has certain reservations and don't want to hike it now," said an official source from a power firm. Though the state has no role in deciding power rates, the government stance will add pressure on the companies, expecting a rise in coal prices by Coal India in July-August.
http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/mamatas-singur-stand-may-hurt-ntpc-project/438856/
Mamata's self-goal
It's time to move beyond Singur and govern Bengal
Business Standard / New Delhi June 13, 2011, 0:29 IST
Football is a favourite sport in Kolkata, but no one cheers a self-goal. 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 Banerjee and her advisors that the state government cannot issue an ordinance to reclaim land sold to a company when the state legislature was technically still in session and normal administrative procedures had not been followed. The state government's ordinance reclaiming the entire land at Singur with an intention to hand over a part of it to the farmers was flawed, even if well intentioned. Less than 24 hours later, she realised her mistake, refrained from notifying the ordinance and instead announced her intention to introduce an appropriate legislative Bill in the Assembly, which will now reconvene a week ahead of schedule. That only reconfirms a widely held view that the newly acquired occupancy of the corner room in Writers' Building has made no difference to Ms Banerjee, who continues to display a streak of administrative immaturity in spite of two stints as Union railway minister.
Politically, too, the hurried decision to issue an ordinance did not appear prudent. Quite apart from the embarrassment it caused Ms Banerjee and her supporters, the move has given the Left Front a fresh lease of life — The Left Front was lying low after having suffered its worst electoral reverse last month that ended its 34-year-old rule in the state. Losing no time to seize the opportunity, a delegation of Left Front leaders met the West Bengal governor on Friday to highlight the procedural improprieties committed by the chief minister. With Ms Banerjee's retraction, the Left Front is likely to gain in strength as an opposition force in a state where it had virtually written itself off.
The lesson that Ms Banerjee should draw from the ordinance issue is that the electoral promises she made on Singur had a limited purpose. Of course, she should take steps to fulfil that promise, whatever the merits of the case. However, she should also ensure that while fulfilling the promise, her government follows every rule in the statute book. More importantly, Ms Banerjee should develop a vision beyond Singur that encompasses the whole of West Bengal and the developmental challenge it faces. She can no longer afford to see herself only as a leader of a political party, striving and strategising to retain her popularity among the masses. As chief minister of West Bengal, she has far more pressing problems to handle — a fiscal mess and industrial stagnation. The true measure of her contribution as West Bengal's new chief minister will not be whether she can return the Singur land to those farmers, but whether she can attract fresh industrial investment to the state without the kind of land acquisition problems that stymied her predecessor's industrialisation efforts.
http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/mamata/s-self-goal/438791/
Sick PSU land to ease govt burden
Saubhadra Chatterji / New Delhi June 12, 2011, 0:43 IST
Land resources belonging to ailing companies being pitched to pvt players for new initiatives.
While land acquisition for new projects has become an increasing political concern, land assets of sick public sector undertakings (PSUs) are coming handy for the government. The Board for Reconstruction of Public Sector Enterprises (BRPSE), the apex advisory body for PSU revival, is pushing for utilisation of valuable land resources of three ailing companies to reduce the Centre's burden.
Indian Drugs and Pharmaceuticals (IDPL), Hindustan Photofilms (HPL) and Hindustan Cables are being pitched by BRPSE to private investors and respective state governments, so that their land can be used for new industrial initiatives.
BRPSE Chairman Nitish Sengupta has written letters to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa and West Bengal's Mamata Banerjee, urging them to take over Ooty-based HPL and the Roopnarayanpur township of Hindustan Cables, respectively.
For IDPL, which is chronically sick, BRPSE has asked the company to sell off its prime land in Gurgaon in Haryana. "The company has informed us that it can generate at least Rs 600 crore by selling the land. We want them to do it, as this would help IDPL in a big way," said Sengupta.
In his letter to Banerjee, Sengupta has written, "You will no doubt be constrained to find land for future industrialisation. I suggest to you that the township of Roopnarayanpur, adjacent to Chittaranjan (locomotive factory), can be a big industrial unit."
"All efforts to revive Hindustan Cables have failed. If the state government decides to take over the area of Roopnarayanpur township, we can give voluntary retirement to the remaining workers —around 1,400 — who have been drawing salary without doing any work for many years," he further wrote.
As HPL faces similar problems, Sengupta has suggested Jayalalithaa to take over the responsibility of reviving the company and taking at least 50 per cent of the shareholding. HPL is currently a 100 per cent central government unit.
Adding a political twist, Sengupta has also mentioned that the previous DMK-led state government had refused to buy a 50 per cent stake of HPL. Sengupta told Business Standard, "HPL, too, has a lot of land in Ooty, a prime place in Tamil Nadu. If the state takes it over the land can be used for various profitable purposes."
Women, children block entry of officials into Posco site
BS Reporter / Kolkata/bhubaneswar June 11, 2011, 0:56 IST
The stiff resistance by the villagers of trouble-torn Gobindpur in Posco project site near Paradip today foiled the attempt of the Jagatsinghpur district administration to forcibly acquire land there for the project.
The Jagatsinghpur district collector and superintendent of police, accompanied by 20 platoons of force, today tried to break into the human barricade formed by anti-Posco activists on the outskirts of Gobindpur village on their mission to demolish the betel vines there as part of the land acquisition process.
However, they met with stiff resistance with thousands of school students, village children, women and elderly persons, who are used as shield by the anti-Posco activists, lying down on the sandy fields blocking their entry into the area.
Though the police appealed to the agitators on the public address system to vacate the place and cooperate in land acquisition, the villagers did not budge from their ground. After nearly five hours of eye to eye situation, the district administration officials and police, not in a mood to escalate the tension, returned without entering the village.
It may be noted, though the district administration has completed land acquisition process in Nuagaon and Gada Kujan panchayats, the continuation of this exercise in Gobindpur and Dhinkia villages under Dhinkia panchayat, considered to be the bastion of Posco Pratirodha Sangram Samiti, the organization spearheading anti-Posco agitation, has emerged as a big challenge for it.
Hence, after days of preparation, the administration had intended to go for the push today with the help of huge posse of force. Earlier, twenty platoons police force staged flag march at the outskirts Gobindpur village to create fear psychosis among the agitators.
PPSS president Abhaya Sahu said, "At Gobindpur villagers have demonstrated that they will protect their soil and livelihood in a democratic manner. So the police feared to enter this village. We are ready to face any type of challenge. If the district administration and the police use force in Dhinkia panchayat, children, women and elderly persons will be at the forefront to protest. If there is any casualty, it will be entirely the responsibility of the district administration."
Though the officials could not enter the village, they, however, forcibly pulled down 11 betel vines on the outskirt of Gobindpur. But the villagers, whose vines were demolished, did not receive any compensation in protest. The administration could only disburse Rs 6.25 lakh to three other beneficiaries of Nuagaon panchayat.
http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/women-children-block-entryofficials-into-posco-site/438665/
Is it time to move beyond Singur?
Last updated on: June 13, 2011 14:57 IST
Football is a favourite sport in Kolkata, but no one cheers a self-goal. 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 Banerjee and her advisors that the state government cannot issue an ordinance to reclaim land sold to a company when the state legislature was technically still in session and normal administrative procedures had not been followed.
The state government's ordinance reclaiming the entire land at Singur with an intention to hand over a part of it to the farmers was flawed, even if well intentioned.
Less than 24 hours later, she realised her mistake, refrained from notifying the ordinance and instead announced her intention to introduce an appropriate legislative Bill in the Assembly, which will now reconvene a week ahead of schedule.
Click NEXT to read more...
Business Standard
13 JUN, 2011, 06.55AM IST, RAGHU KRISHNAN,
Mamata Banerjee & Jayalalithaa got mandate for positive change
Jayalalithaa and Mamata Banerjee are both very determined women. But can even they turn the clock back? One of the first announcements made by Jayalalithaa after she took over as Tamil Nadu chief minister was that the secretariat would be moved back to the old premises of Fort St George from where the British governor administered the Madras Presidency which then covered much of south India. Jayalalithaa also announced after taking over as chief minister that the five years of DMK rule had left Tamil Nadu's finances in very bad shape.
Surely, one way of improving these finances is to ensure that the . 450-crore investment of taxpayers' money made by the previous government on setting up the new assemblyand-secretariat complex (inaugurated 15 months ago) is recovered. Perhaps, a committee could be set up under the state's finance secretary to recommend options for recovering the previous DMK government's substantial investment on setting up the new complex. The most viable option could then be adopted so that the money recovered could be utilised for social welfare schemes.
The entire process for recovering the previous government's investment could be done in a transparent manner so that no fresh controversy arises. What is at stake is not just the finances but the credibility of Tamil Nadu's governance in the wake of the 2G scam. Likewise, Mamata announced in her first press conference as chief minister that 400 acres of the land acquired by the previous Left Front government at Singur for the Tata Nano project (which was relocated to Gujarat in the wake of an agitation) would be returned to the farmers. An ordinance was promulgated on June 9 to reacquire the 400 acres and return it to the farmers and lawyers were asked to study the Tatas' claim for compensation for the . 440-crore investment on developing the area.
On June 10, the realisation dawned that an ordinance could not be promulgated when the legislature was in recess and it was decided to introduce a bill on the floor of the assembly. Irrespective of the procedure adopted, due diligence has to be followed in the implementation of the new CM's announcement since the compensation paid to the farmers was funded out of taxpayers' money. How much will now have to be refunded by the farmers after the land is returned to them? Will the government write off the compensation or will the farmers be allowed to pay back in easy instalments ?
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/opinion/guest-writer/mamata-banerjee-jayalalithaa-got-mandate-for-positive-change/articleshow/8832093.cms
Business
India
--
Air India assured of full fuel supply for three monthsTimes of India - 34 minutes ago MUMBAI: In a major relief for national carrier Air India, the oil companies were Monday told to meet all its fuel requirements for the next three months to enable the airline operate all its flights which were curtailed or cancelled recently, ... Come out with white paper on Air India: BJP to Centre Daily News & Analysis Airline on a freefall Hindustan Times Maruti strike to continue, other auto unions pledge supportEconomic Times - 38 minutes ago NEW DELHI: The strike at Maruti Suzuki India's Manesar plant continued for the 10th day today as talks between the workers and management brokered by Haryana government failed to reach a solution. Maruti strike to continue, other auto unions pledge support Times of India Idea Cellular: Room for upsideBusiness Standard - - 1 hour ago Idea Cellular's fourth quarter performance came in better than expectations, with revenues growing seven per cent sequentially on the back of robust traffic growth, up nine per cent. Idea Cellular's Q4 net rises 13% Hindu Business Line Idea net rises a tad at 3%, subscribers grow 40% Financial Express 'Coal based power easiest solution to India's power needs'Moneycontrol.com - 1 hour ago Coal based power is the easiest solution to India's power needs, that's the word coming in from the CEO of the Essar Group, Prashant Ruia. Essar Eyeing Two Coal-Bed Methane Blocks in Indonesia Wall Street Journal Indonesian nightmare for Tata, Adani, JSW, Lanco Daily News & Analysis CAG report slams RIL: Its fineprint and what it focuses onMoneycontrol.com - 53 minutes ago In today's trade, Reliance Industries (RIL) was seen in pressure after the Controller and Auditor General (CAG) slammed it for over stating its expenses in the KG-D6 basin. Oil companies tried to duck audit, says CAG Hindustan Times Extend DEPB till GST launch: FIEO to govtBusiness Standard - 1 hour ago PTI / Chennai June 13, 2011, 21:16 IST The Federation of Indian Exports Organisations (FIEO) today suggested that the 14-year-old Duty Entitlement Pass Book (DEPB) scheme be extended till the Goods and Services Tax (GST) is introduced in the country. DEPB scheme for exporters extended by three months Financial Express Goldman Sachs gets Max India stakeIndian Express - 6 hours ago Diversified conglomerate Max India Ltd today said it has allotted 2.4 crore shares, representing about 9.4 per cent stake in the company, to an arm of US-based investment banker Goldman Sachs. CEC raps India Inc, says pol donations root cause of blackmoneyEconomic Times - 32 minutes ago MUMBAI: Amid the heated public debate on ways to tackle black money, Chief Election Commissioner SY Qureshi today slammed India Inc saying corporate donations to political parties are one of the root causes of illegal money and corruption. No mandatory CSR, says govt Business Standard Dugar Wipro BPO's global head, Dalal CFO of IT bizFinancial Express - 39 minutes ago Bangalore: In another management rejig, Wipro Technologies on Monday appointed current CFO Manish Dugar as global head of its BPO business while elevating Jatin Dalal as new CFO for the firm's IT business. Wipro IT biz CFO Manish Dugar to head BPO operations Times of India Wipro rejigs top team Deccan Herald Pranab asserts economy still on fast trackmydigitalfc.com - 43 minutes ago By KR Sudhaman Jun 13 2011 , New Delhi Amid fears of an economic slowdown this year and a rate hike by RBI on June 16 to tame inflation, finance minister Pranab Mukherjee did some pep talk, asserting that growth drivers are intact and the economy ... Global banking system still opaque, says Pranab Financial Express India concerned over nations not sharing past banking data Business Standard Supreme Court seeks CBI's reply on Kanimozhi and Sharad's bail pleaFinancial Express - - 1 hour ago New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday asked the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to explain as to why Dravida Munnettra Kazhagam (DMK) MP Kanimozhi and Kalaignar Television managing director Sharad Kumar, named as accused in the 2G spectrum scam, ... Where has Rs 200 cr in 2G scam gone: SC asks CBI Business Standard Sensex ends flat; inflation, RBI policy review awaitedEconomic Times - 5 hours ago MUMBAI: Indian markets pared intraday losses and ended a choppy session on a flat note in absence of any direction to drive the market. Sensex ends flat; down 3 pts on inflation worries, global cues Hindustan Times Mauritius Central Bank Raises Interest Rate to 5.5% to Counter InflationBloomberg - - 3 hours ago Mauritius's central bank raised its benchmark interest rate by a quarter of a percentage point to rein in inflation that is near its highest level in more than two years. Banks speed repayments but costs take toll Financial Times Mauritius surprises with further interest rate hike Reuters Africa Monsoon Capital picks up 50% in Phoenix SPVmydigitalfc.com - - 43 minutes ago Massachusetts-based Monsoon Capital has picked up 50 per cent equity stake in a special purpose vehicle (SPV) of Phoenix group, the Hyderabad-based infrastructure and real estate entity backed by the $99.3 million ... Monsoon Capital buys 50% in Phoenix Group's project Business Standard Phoenix kicks off Rs 2000 crore infrastructure projects Economic Times Mehta s view on Punj LloydMoneycontrol.com - - 4 hours ago Dipan Mehta, Member BSE/ NSE feels that, investors could perhaps look over other stocks in that space rather than maybe a Punj Lloyd. Punj Lloyd bags Rs 678 cr order from NPC The Hindu Punj Lloyd bags Nuclear Power Contract worth Rs 6.78bn India Infoline.com Rupee hits 1-week low on weak euro; seen falling moreIBNLive.com - 1 hour ago By Shamik Paul MUMBAI (Reuters) - The rupee ended weak after sliding to a one-week low on Monday due to a fragile euro, and traders expect the local unit to extend losses over the next couple of days, tracking the common currency as worries over the ... Indian Rupee At 10-Day Low On Strong Global Dollar; Bonds Down Wall Street Journal Re down 14 paise at about 2-week low of 44.86/87 against USD Economic Times Roubini sees "meaningful probability" of China hard landingReuters - - 5 hours ago A quick-fix on the day's news published with Reuters videos and award-winning news photography and delivered at your choice of one of four times during the day. Dr Doom predicts 2013 gloom New Zealand Herald Barclays sees world oil/gas spend record in 2011MarketWatch - - 41 minutes ago HOUSTON (MarketWatch) -- Oil and gas companies are spending more than half a trillion dollars in the oil patch during 2011--a record level that signals that the global drilling boom that sputtered during the recession is back, ... NHAI may rope in private sector specialistsHindustan Times - 57 minutes ago In an attempt to make India's road and highways development programme more efficient, the ministry of road transport & highways is re-examining a proposal, which was approved by the Centre in 2009, to restructure National Highway Authority of India ... NHAI hits bounty as developers pay top Re for projects Daily News & Analysis Passsenger ferry service between India, Sri Lanka beginsIBNLive.com - 1 hour ago PTI | 09:06 PM,Jun 13,2011 Tuticorin (TN), Jun 13 (PTI) Meeting a long-pending demand of people, passenger ferry service between India and Sri Lanka was launched today from this port town with the sea link expected to give a fillip to tourism and trade ... Tuticorin-Colombo ferry service to be flagged off on Monday Times of India | Featured videoImages Calcutta Telegr...  Moneycontrol.co...  Hindu Business ...  VC Circle  Rediff  Moneycontrol.co...  Moneycontrol.co...  Business Standa...  Business Line Popular storiesEconomic Times - - Bloomberg - - Financial Express - - |
Govt and civil society in open war on Lokpal billIBNLive.com - 57 minutes ago PTI | 10:06 PM,Jun 13,2011 "You are one of the most honest Prime Ministers the country has had. It is ironical that your own government should seek to take the Prime Minister out of the purview of Lokpal''s investigations. West Bengal governor praises people for voting to bring change in stateEconomic Times - 45 minutes ago KOLKATA: West Bengal governor MKNarayanan congratulated the "government of Maa-Mati-Manush" and said the people of the state "have voted against the policies and activities pursued by the previous government which had been in the office for the past 34 ... West Bengal likely to face cash deficit of Rs9,000 crore: MK Narayanan Daily News & Analysis Left regime suppressed democratic rights, says Narayanan Mangalorean.com Sewagram@75: Ahmedabad's loss is Wardha's gainTimes of India - 22 hours ago AHMEDABAD: In June, 1936, Mahatma Gandhi started his new ashram at Sewagram near Wardha, Maharashtra. The ashram is now celebrating its 75th year. Gandhi's glasses missing from Wardha ashram Economic Times UP teen case: Asphyxia cause of deathIBNLive.com - 2 hours ago New Delhi: Twelve hours after calling it a suicide, the second autopsy report conducted on the 14-year-old girl in Lakhimpur, has confirmed it was murder. UP minor's death: Mother says Rs 5L offered for silence Times of India Supreme Court seeks CBI's reply on Kanimozhi and Sharad's bail pleaFinancial Express - - 1 hour ago New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday asked the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to explain as to why Dravida Munnettra Kazhagam (DMK) MP Kanimozhi and Kalaignar Television managing director Sharad Kumar, named as accused in the 2G spectrum scam, ... Where has Rs 200 cr in 2G scam gone: SC asks CBI Business Standard Vox popHindustan Times - 1 hour ago With reference to the report Mumbai scribe shot dead (June 12), the brutal killing of crime journalist J Dey is deplorable. Dey aspired to unmask the crime syndicates in Mumbai. This man shot journalist J Dey NDTV.com Vizhinjam May Get ApprovalYentha - 1 hour ago Trivandrum: The Union Minister of State for Environment and Forests, Jairam Ramesh, has said that an environment study will be conducted to check the environment related issues at Vizhinjam. Clearance not a licence for forcible acquisition: Ramesh Economic Times Bengal govt to table Bill to take back Singur landLivemint - - 14 minutes ago Kolkata: The Trinamool Congress-led West Bengal government will take back land from Tata Motors Ltd and its component suppliers that was controversially acquired by the previous government of the state from farmers in Singur. Jayalalithaa in Delhi, to meet PM tomorrowIBNLive.com - 3 hours ago PTI | 07:06 PM,Jun 13,2011 New Delhi, Jun 13 (PTI) Apparently giving mixed signals, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa today met leaders of both allies and rival parties soon after her arrival here for a meeting with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh ... Govt may charge sheet Headley for German Bakery blastIBNLive.com - 1 hour ago PTI | 09:06 PM,Jun 13,2011 India hopes that the testimony of 26/11 accused Headley that ISI and its operatives were involved in the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks will put pressure on Pakistan on its links with the terrorists. Govt may chargesheet David Headley in German Bakery blast case Daily News & Analysis Damaged merchant ship may prove headache for MumbaiIndia Today - 3 hours ago What began as a scare for Mumbai's iconic sea link has now turned into a 9000-tonne headache for Mumbai. The merchant ship that ran aground off Mumbai's Juhu coast may be too damaged to be moved from its present location. Cargo ship in Mumbai's Juhu beach stirs pollution worries Times of India Why was the MV Wisdom allowed to get so near the Bandra-Worli Sea Link? Moneylife Personal Finance site and magazine Donation of Blood is a Sign of KindnessNorthern Voices Online - 1 hour ago Tarit Mukherjee writes: "More blood, more life" is this year's theme of the World Blood Donor Day, organized by the World Health Organization (WHO). Donate, receive blood by sending an SMS Times of India BSY drops a bombshell on JD(S)Times of India - 1 hour ago HUBLI: Chief minister BS Yeddyurappa on Monday alleged that one lakh crore metric tonnes of iron ore was illegally exported from Mangalore port by the sons of former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda when Dharam Singh was the chief minister. CM attacks Gowda, Kumaraswamy Business Standard Youth's death: Villagers, police clash on Baddi-Nalagarh roadIndian Express - 16 minutes ago Traffic remained disrupted on the Baddi-Nalagarh road for over four hours as angry villagers placed the body of a 27-year-old man, Sucha Singh, on the road demanding action against the police officials who, they alleged, were responsible for his death. 6 policemen injured in mob violence; 2 vehicles torched in Solan Hindustan Times DRDO scientist's son found murdered in a drainNDTV.com - 1 hour ago Hyderabad: A Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) scientist's 11-year-old son was on Monday found murdered, police said. DRDO scientist's son found dead in a drain IBNLive.com Uddhav Thackeray 'cajoles' Gopinath Munde to stick to saffron foldTimes of India - 18 hours ago MUMBAI: Shiv Sena CEO Uddhav Thackeray met Gopinath Munde on Sunday amidst speculation that the latter was ready to quit the BJP and join Congress. Gopinath Munde not joining Congress: Vilasrao Deshmukh Daily News & Analysis BJPs Munde joining Congress? IBNLive.com Somali pirates release 22 hostages including six IndiansHindustan Times - 41 minutes ago PTI Somali pirates on Monday released 22 crew members, including six Indians and four Pakistanis, of a hijacked merchant vessel after ransom was paid to them leading rights activist Ansar Burney said. Pakistani hostages released by Somali pirates The Express Tribune Ransom paid: Somali pirates release 17 Pakistanis The News International Seeking reports from China on plans to divert Brahmaputra: KrishnaTimes of India - 2 hours ago PTI | Jun 13, 2011, 08.35pm IST NEW DELHI: India on Monday said it was seeking more details from China on reports that it was planning to divert waters of the Brahmaputra to address the needs of its drought-hit regions. India seeks details on Brahmaputra water reports Economic Times China diverts Brahmputra river, India seeks report Hindustan Times Ex-MP to contest bypoll on TMC ticketTimes of India - 12 minutes ago JAMSHEDPUR: Disgruntled JMM leader Suman Mahto finally announced of quitting the party to throw in her hat as a Trinamool Congress nominee for the Jamshedpur by-election. Soren rejects Munda's plea, JMM joins by-poll Economic Times Car hits Scooty, 2 girls critically injuredHindustan Times - 50 minutes ago Two girls were critically injured when a recklessly driven Mercedes car hit their Scooty in Sector 14 area late on Sunday night. The driver of the car, who had fled the spot, has been picked up and is being questioned. Faridabad: Mercedes hits 2 girls, no arrests yet IBNLive.com | Featured videoImages BBC News The Hindu  The Hindu  Daily Bhaskar  The Hindu The Hindu  India Today  The National  Moneylife Perso... Popular storiesTimes of India - - Financial Express - - |
--
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment