'Minister's boss, not babu'

NEW DELHI: Environment minister Jairam Ramesh has denied any involvement in prime minister’s special envoy on climate change Shyam Saran’s resignation but came close to suggesting that his continuance had become untenable.

While stressing that he had no differences with Mr Saran, the minister said that the former envoy’s working style did not quite match with his. “I didn’t see any differences. It’s basically of working style and how one approaches a problem but frankly I have nothing to do with his decision (to resign). We tried to work together but there is a difference in style of working, perception and nuances. I am more of a political person and he is a bureaucrat,” the minister said.

The minister also repeated his line that bureaucracy cannot dictate policy. He did, however, clarify that the bureaucracy was a key input that went into the policy making processes. “It is my job to set the policy. I listen to bureaucrats but bureaucracy cannot dictate policy. We are partners and I don’t make policy through fatwas. I am not a rubber stamp. I consult everybody and I have certain views. Once I decide I expect everyone to support me. But it is unfortunate that in our country arguments go on even after a decision is taken.” Mr Ramesh said.

Differences between the minister and the special envoy marked the run up to the Copenhagen climate conference in December. As the newly-appointed environment minister, Mr Ramesh sought to establish his and his ministry’s primacy on issues relating to climate change. This was in direct conflict with Mr Saran, who as prime minister’s pointperson on the issue and a key force behind the National Action Plan, sought to retain his central role in India’s negotiations. Prior to Mr Ramesh’s appointment, it was Mr Saran who played the main role in shaping climate change policy. The two crossed swords as Mr Ramesh attempted to nuance India’s position on climate change and introduce an ‘element of flexibility’.

Mr Ramesh said that the mandate to deal with climate change was with environment ministry. “The fact is that environment ministry is responsible for climate change and then whatever happens, it is for the ministry to hold the tag for good or bad,” Mr Ramesh said.

The minister also said that at no stage of the climate change talks were there any differences between him and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. Instead, Mr Ramesh described the prime minister as “his only supporter” in the Cabinet. “At times I feel I am fighting a lonely battle. The odds are so stacked up against anybody saying or doing the right and rational thing as far as environment and forests are concerned,” Mr Ramesh said.

Train to Kolkata invites CPM’s ire

NEW DELHI: If railway minister Mamata Banerjee played to the West Bengal gallery while presenting the rail budget, so did the Left in slamming it. Dubbing the proposals in the rail budget as “gimmicks aimed at the forthcoming assembly elections” in the state, the Left said it was doubtful if any of the projects would see the light of day.

Ms Mamata dismissed allegations that she was eyeing the West Bengal elections at a news conference. “Your question is totally politically manipulative.” However, she did add that West Bengal “cannot be left out from development”. Among sops for the state are expansion of Kolkata metro network, port connectivity, proposed introduction of Sanskriti Express to mark 150th birth anniversary of Rabindranath Tagore, Bharat Teerth trains, more superfast non-stop Duronto trains.

“Far from containing any vision for the future of railways, the budget speech has sought to conceal gross failures through misleading announcements and gimmicks aimed at the forthcoming assembly elections in West Bengal,” the CPM polit bureau said in a statement here.

CPM’s Basudeb Acharia, who headed a parliamentary panel on railways in the last LS, told reporters “railways should not be used for gains in an election”.

CPI’s Gurudas Dasgupta said the budget as “an exercise of utter madness... over-ambitious and unrealistic.” Pointing out that over 120 railway accidents have taken place so far during this financial year, the CPM statement said it was inexplicable how the allocations for the Railway Safety Fund has been cut by Rs 579 crore from last year. “Moreover, the minister has tried to shift the blame for accidents on rail rokos and natural disasters! This shows the minister’s distorted perspective on railway safety,” it said.

Ms Banerjee was silent on filling up 1.7 lakh posts, it said. Quoting figures of gross traffic receipts and plan investment, the party said “this clearly shows that the minister has not been able to implement the promises she made in the last budget. The grandiose announcements of projects ranging from hospitals and diagnostic centres, sports academies and museums ring a trifle hollow.”

Referring to her admission that many of her project announcements were made without the sanction of the Planning Commission, CPM said implementation was highly suspect.

Procedures violated in ordering my court martial: Avdhesh Prakash

NEW DELHI: Lt Gen (retd) Avadesh Prakash, the former military secretary at army headquarters who has won a temporary reprieve against a court martial ordered against him, alleges that the Indian Army chief violated a long-standing military practice in recommending the action.

The army chief, Gen Deepak Kapoor, had violated a rule in place since 1993 that clearly prohibits anyone in the army from changing an order of taking administrative action against an officer to disciplinary action, Prakash said in a TV interview.

The Armed Forces Tribunal on Monday ruled that there had been a "mockery of justice" by an army court of inquiry into the Sukna land scam in which Prakash was allegedly involved and gave the former military secretary two months to cross-examine the witnesses in the case.

The court of inquiry had indicted Prakash in December 2009 for using his position of authority to pressure the 33 Corps based in Sukna in West Bengal, including its chief Lt. Gen. P.K. Rath, to facilitate the transfer of the land in question to his family friend.

The Eastern Army Commander, Lt. Gen. V.K. Singh, who had ordered the court of inquiry, had recommended Prakash's court martial. The army chief initially reduced this to administrative action but then reversed it to disciplinary action, apparently under pressure from the defence ministry.

In support of his contention, Prakash quoted from a letter from the Adjutant General's branch at army headquarters that says: "Once the competent authority after having applied his mind to full facts of the case decides to initiate administrative action & such action has commenced, at this stage to revert to disciplinary action is not only unjustified but also legally unsustainable."

Prakash also said that Kapoor did not fully apply his mind to his reply to the show cause notice he had received after the court of inquiry's findings.

"As per my knowledge, the court of inquiry was received from HQ Eastern Command around 22nd or 23rd of December and the show cause notice was given to me on the 11th of January," Prakash said.

"It means about three weeks of time was taken. I gave my reply on the 22nd of January. Then on 29th I was given a letter which says that administrative action is cancelled and disciplinary action is to be constituted against me.

"Now just see the contrast. You have taken three days to change the decision from administrative action to disciplinary action, whereas almost three weeks (were taken) for the court of inquiry to be examined," Prakash pointed out.

He also said that the opportunity now given to him to cross-examine the witnesses in the case "will put things in the correct perspective, because all these officers or the witnesses, who came, came in isolation and in my absence, so some more issues will come to light and put things in correct perspective."

Sajjan Kumar 'missing': PSO files complaint, suspended

NEW DELHI: Former Congress MP Sajjan Kumar, whom the CBI has failed to arrest despite a non-bailable warrant against him in anti-Sikh riots cases, is "missing" for the past one week and his Personal Security Officer (PSO) has been suspended.

Delhi Police Constable Ram Niroha, posted as the PSO of the Congress leader and Z+ category protectee, had approached the Security Wing on February 19 informing them that Kumar had gone missing from that day.

Sources said Niroha, posted with the Security Wing, was suspended from service and a probe is on to establish the veracity of his claims.

Police has stationed a PCR van outside Kumar's residence in Madipur. His brother Ramesh Kumar is MP from South Delhi constituency.

"It seems Kumar has gone underground to evade arrest," a senior police official said.

Kumar could not be contacted for comments. His lawyer had earlier told the court that he was not running away and was just exploring all statutory remedies available to him by approaching a higher court.

The CBI had on February 23 informed the court that they could not arrest Kumar as he could not be located, prompting the judge to slam the investigating agency for "not being serious in apprehending" the Congress leader.

No third-party mediation in Indo-Pak talks: Antony

NEW DELHI: India on Tuesday summarily rejected suggestions of any third-party mediation in its talks with Pakistan, holding that China or any other country had no role to play in Indo-Pak bilateral relations.

"We don't favour involvement of any third country in our talks with Pakistan. It will only be bilateral,'' said defence minister A K Antony, on being asked about Pakistan foreign minister Shah Mehood Qureshi's statement that Beijing has a "blank cheque'' from Islamabad's side to play a role in improving Indo-Pak ties.

"India's basic policy is that we don't want interference from any country in our bilateral talks with Pakistan. We do not believe in third-party mediation,'' added Antony.

This comes just ahead of the foreign secretary-level talks with Pakistan on February 25 here, with India reiterating that the main focus of the discussions will be on terrorism. Pakistan, however, continues to harp that restricting the talks to "a narrow agenda'' will not yield much progress in the deliberations.

Antony also said India would take up the issue of the recent beheading of two Sikhs in Peshawar during the talks between foreign secretary Nirupama Rao with her Pakistan counterpart Salman Bashir on Thursday.

Rajya Sabha again adjourned over price rise

NEW DELHI: The Rajya Sabha was adjourned for the second successive day on Wednesday with the opposition demanding a discussion on rising prices of essential commodities under a rule that requires voting.

The trouble began when the house assembled at 11 a.m. with S S Ahluwalia and other members of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) demanding that the discussion be held under rules 167 and 168 and not as a short duration discussion as the government had agreed to.

A discussion under the two rules requires not only voting but also that the sense of the house on the topic under discussion be recorded.

Chairman Hamid Ansari's repeated pleas for letting question hour proceed fell on deaf ears, even as Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Prithviraj Chavan stressed that the government had accepted the opposition's demand on Monday for a short duration discussion, a stance that was modified on Tuesday.

"We are ready for a discussion. Let question hour be suspended and let the discussion begin right now," Chavan said amidst the din.

With the opposition in no mood to relent, Ansari adjourned the house till 12 noon.

Railway budget: Partial cut in passenger fares, freight rates

NEW DELHI: Railway minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday presented India's rail budget for the next fiscal with the promise of a new business model to encourage private investment along with social commitment but without privatisation.

"Our objective is inclusive growth," she told the Lok Sabha, lower house of parliament, adding that her main consideration in this year's budget was social responsibility rather than mere commercial viability of projects.

"We have set our goals in the Vision 2020 document and we will achieve it," the minister said, referring to the document unveiled in December that has targeted making over 30,000 km of routes into double or multiple lines against 18,000 km today.

"It is a fact that administrative and procedural delays discourage potential investors. We will need to overcome this. I am setting up a special task force for this," she said.

"Special structure will be created for the new business model," she said. "But we will not privatise our railways. Indian Railways will remain with the government."

At the same time, she also asked the private sector to refrain from what she called "typical negative approach" while dealing with the Indian Railways. "I am sorry to say this, this mindset has to change."

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, United Progressive Alliance (UPA) chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Leader of Opposition Sushma Swaraj and Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee were among those in the house, presided over by Speaker Meira Kumar.

This was Banerjee's fourth budget of her career as railway minister and the second for the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government in its second straight term after being voted back to office in May last year.

According to Banerjee, 117 out of the 120 new trains promised in her last budget will be flagged off by March 31, within a matter of seven months, which was a commendable effort.

Seeking to give safety issues due consideration, the minister said there were a few cases of unfortunate accidents in the past and said these would be prevented by adopting the highest level of technology and manpower training.

"Within five years, we will have 13,000 out of unmanned level crossings manned - 3,000 this fiscal and 1,000 in the coming fiscal," she said, referring to the high number of accidents at such crossroads.

The budget came against the backdrop of the share of Indian Railways in the movement of goods, vis a vis truckers, falling from 24.07 percent in 2001-02 to 20.89 percent in 2008-09 and further to 19.32 percent in the first 10 months of this fiscal.

Indian Railways runs the world's second largest network under a single management with a network of 64,099 route km to ferry 18.9 million passengers on 7,000 trains daily from 6,906 stations. It also runs 4,000 freight trains to carry 850 million tonnes of cargo.

Some of the highlights of her budget include:

-- Special drive to increase passenger amenities

-- Upgradation of 94 stations

-- Six new drinking water bottling plants in public-private partnership (PPP) mode

-- Modern toilets at railway stations

-- More ticketing centres to help the public

-- Acquisition of cutting edge safety technology

-- 1,000 km route to be created

-- Special task force for clearing investment proposals in 100 days

-- New business model to be created

-- No privatisation

-- Railways to remain with government

-- But greater participation of private sector assured

-- 117 of 120 new trains for current fiscal to be flagged off

-- Within five years, all unmanned level crossings to be manned

-- Construction of more underpasses, besides road overbridges

-- Greater coordination with state governments to protect railway property

-- Security of women passengers to be improved

-- Ex-servicemen to be employed in Railway Protection Force

-- Five sports academies to be set up

-- Astroturf to be provided for development of hockey

-- Employment opportunities for sports persons

-- Railways to be lead partner for Commonwealth Games

Govt to aim for above 8% growth rate: Prez

NEW DELHI: With the Manmohan Singh government coming under intense pressure to contain surging prices, President Pratibha Patil, in her address to the joint session of Parliament, justified the trend, contending spurt in food prices had become inevitable owing to a shortfall in domestic production, global pressure, the decision to pay higher procurement prices to farmers and higher public spending on rural development programmes such as NREGS.

The President, in her speech lasting a little less than an hour, sought to pre-empt the Opposition attack on the issue by listing out the measures taken by the government to rein in prices, described as its priority no 1 and aimed at providing immediate succour to the common man. Besides, a core group comprising senior ministers and chief ministers of some states, she said, had been constituted to examine a wide range of related policy issues.’

The President, in her speech lasting 53 minutes, touched upon sensitive topics such as terrorism, Naxal violence, Indo-Pak relations, rural development, the state of the economy, education, minority affairs, health and foreign policy issues.

While the all measures were aimed at providing immediate relief, in the long run, she insisted, food security could be obtained only through ``sustained efforts at increasing agricultural productivity, accompanied by ``a comprehensive reform of PDS and open market intervention. The UPA government, she reiterated, was committed to introducing the Food Security Bill.

Despite the minor setback in agricultural output, the economy, the President maintained, was in robust health, and was confident of using it as a platform for a better, more inclusive development. ``At a time when industrialised countries have experienced negative growth, India has continued to grow at an impressive rate,’’ she said, adding, ``My government will aim at a growth rate of above 8% during 2010-11 and 9% during 2011-12.

The emphasis areas, she said, would be infrastructure development, agriculture, rural development, education and health. ``We’ll ensure that the growth process is equally sensitive to the concerns and the well-being of the weaker sections of society,’’ the President said.

With terrorism re-visiting the country after 15 months, and Naxalites intensifying their assault in various states, Ms Patil began her speech by dwelling upon the two issues. ``I wish to convey my heartfelt condolences to families of those who those who have lost their lives in the recent terrorist attack in Pune. Left wing extremists continue to indulge in senseless violence, as in their recent attacks in West Bengal, where a large number of innocent lives have been lost. These cowardly acts strengthen our resolve to meet with added vigour the challenge posed by such violence,’’ she remarked.

The President, at the same time, reiterated the Centre’s offer to Maoists to hold talks with them, with the rider that they would first have to abjure violence. The government, nevertheless, talked tough on terrorism, re-emphasising its `zero tolerance approach’ towards the menace. It outlined the steps taken during the past one year to spruce up the internal security apparatus. While doing this, the President, her speech, backed the proposed foreign secretary-level talks with Pakistan. ``India is ready to explore a meaningful relationship with Pakistan if it seriously addresses the threat of terrorism and takes effective steps to prevent terrorist attacks against India,’’ she noted.

Govt ready for unconditional talks with Maoists: Chidambaram

NEW DELHI: The government is ready to hold unconditional talks with Maoists if they abjure violence, a home ministry statement released here said Tuesday.

"I would like a short simple statement from the Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) saying they will abjure violence and we are prepared for talks. I would like no ifs, no buts and no conditions," said the statement quoting Home Minister P. Chidambaram.

"I would like the statement to be faxed to 011-23093155. Once I receive the statement I shall consult the prime minister and other colleagues and respond promptly," said the statement.

The Maoists Monday declared they were game for a dialogue, but the government would have to first halt security operations against them for 72 days. The move comes three days after Home Minister P. Chidambaram's offer to talk with the rebels if they stopped violence for 72 hours.

Vasundhara Raje resigns as Leader of Opposition

JAIPUR: Former Rajasthan chief minister Vasundhara Raje on Monday submitted her resignation as Leader of the Opposition in state assembly to Speaker Deependra Singh Shekhawat. Forced by the then party president Rajnath Singh, Raje had sent her resignation to the party high command on October 23, but it was not forwarded to speaker Deependra Singh Shekhawat. The central leadership had asked Raje to step down from the post in August following BJP’s dismal performance in the Lok Sabha and assembly polls. Earlier, a close aide of Raje said, "We have no clue as who will be the next leader of Opposition but Raje has made up her mind to quit the post before business in the House starts". Since nobody had replaced her after she sent the letter to the central leadership, there were speculations that she may continue to hold the post. However, her camp on Sunday confirmed that she will resign from the post when the party legislators meet on Monday. The new leader of Opposition will be elected in the presence of central party observers, who are likely to reach Jaipur on Monday. According to sources, Raje had been demanding that one of her loyalists be given the job. However, party’s deputy leader in the House, Ghanshyam Tiwari and former home minister Gulab Chand Kataria are the front-runners. Although Tiwari had lost the Lok Sabha election from Jaipur, he still holds a chance. Both are known for their RSS affiliations. Though Raje had resigned from her post on October 23, the party’s central leadership remained undecided on her future role, leaving her and the state party unit in an embarrassing situation.

2008 riots case: Raj Thackeray surrenders, gets bail

JALGAON (Maha): MNS chief Raj Thackeray on Monday surrendered before a local court here in a case of rioting registered against him in 2008 and was later released on bail. Thackeray was granted bail by a judicial magistrate (first class) in Chopra area on a bond of Rs 7,000. He was accompanied by his lawyer Sayaji Nangre. The MNS chief was arrested on October 21, 2008 in Ratnagiri in connection with a tirade launched by his party against north Indians. Following his arrest, riots broke out in Mumbai and various parts of the state. Several cases were registered against Thackeray and his supporters. In the case registered at the Chopra court, Raj has been booked under sections 143 (offence against public tranquility), 109 (abetment of offence), 338 (causing grievous hurt by an act which endangers human life) and 427 (mischief). Raj got the bail for all the offences.

Fighting inflation govt's top priority: President

NEW DELHI: The government on Monday said providing relief to 'aam admi' from higher food prices will remain its top priority and expressed confidence the economy would grow by 7.5% in 2009-10 and at an even higher pace of 8% in the coming fiscal. "My government continues to accord the highest importance to ensuring relief to the aam admi on food prices..." President Pratibha Patil said in her address to the joint session of Parliament. Attributing rising food prices to shortfall in domestic production and high prices of rice, cereals and edible oils in the international market, the President said, "My government is committed to bringing forth a legislation to ensure food security." The country's food inflation touched a decade's high of about 20% in December before moderating to around 18% in February. As regards the economy, the growth in the current fiscal was likely to be 7.5 % against 6.7% a year ago she said on the opening day of the Budget session. The President said while the government was able to avert any threat to the country's food security, "there has been an unhappy pressure on the prices of food grains and food products." She said higher food prices, to some extent, were also a reflection of government schemes involving increased procurement prices to farmers. The Congress in its election manifesto had promised to enact a law to provide 25 kg of rice or wheat per month at highly subsidised rate of Rs 3 per kg to families below the poverty line. Referring to growth prospects, Patil said the economy during 2009-10 is expected to grow by 7.5%, slightly more than what has been projected by the Central Statistical Organisation (CSO) earlier this month. The CSO in its advance estimates projected a growth rate of 7.2% for the current fiscal against 6.7% in 2008-09. Patil attributed the economic recovery to stimulus provided by the government to cushion the impact of the global economic crisis and the failure of the Monsoon in large parts of the country. In the next fiscal, Patil said the government would target over 8% growth rate. "My government will aim at a growth rate above 8% in 2010-11 and seek to achieve 9% growth in 2011-12," she added.

Rosaiah presents tax-free budget

HYDERABAD: Notwithstanding a grim financial picture in the face of a troubled political situation, Andhra Pradesh chief minister K Rosaiah today presented a tax-free budget for 2010-11 with an outlay of Rs 1,13,675 crore and a projected expenditure of Rs 1,13,660 crore.

The budget estimates, presented to the state Assembly, show a fiscal deficit of Rs 12,983 crore, which will be about Rs 1,300 crore less than the revised estimates for the 2009-10 fiscal, and a revenue surplus of Rs 3,548 crore, up from Rs 2,942 crore.

The grim picture that the government, including the chief minister himself, has been projecting for the past few months did not reflect in the budget as revenue receipts showed no significant fall except for a meagre Rs 558 crore and not Rs 8,000 crore as feared. As per the revised estimates for 2009-10 fiscal, revenue receipts stood at Rs 78,406 crore while the projected revenues for 2010-11 are Rs 90,648 crore.

"The global economic slowdown has impacted the economies of all states in the country much more than what we initially anticipated. Of late, the GDP growth rate has been showing signs of recovery which would surely be reflected in the growth rates of revenues in near future," Rosaiah, who presented a record 16th budget and the first as chief minister, observed.

Lok Sabha changes rules to prevent collapse of Question Hour

NEW DELHI: In major changes aimed at better functioning, Lok Sabha has amended rules to prevent collapse of the Question Hour.

It has also sought to break from the past practice of banning MPs from wearing badges by now permitting them to wear tricolour in the House.

Emulating the Rajya Sabha, which recently amended rules to ensure uninterrupted proceedings during Question Hour, the Lok Sabha Rules Committee has agreed that all listed questions must be taken even if the member who tabled it was absent.

"If on a question being called it is not asked or the member in whose name it stands is absent, the Speaker may direct that the answer to it be given," the committee has said.

The committee also took a series of decisions to ensure that the proceedings of the House were not stalled for some reasons.

Amending the Rule 39(3), the committee said that if the Question Hour on any day is dispensed with for any reason, the answers to questions included in the lists of questions for oral as well as written answers for the day shall be deemed to have been laid on the Table by the ministers to whom such questions are addressed and shall form part of the proceedings of the day.

If the House does not continue with its sitting after dispensing with the Question Hour, the answers for oral as well as written answer for that day shall be deemed to have been laid on the Table after the Question Hour at the next sitting of the House and shall form part of the proceedings of that day, it said.

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