Troubled Galaxy Destroyed Dreams, Chapter 273
Palash Biswas
News results for Economic Survey
BBC NewsEconomic Survey raises hopes for reformist Budget: India Inc - 3 hours ago
PTI / New Delhi July 2, 2009, 16:34 IST The Economic Survey tabled in Parliament today raised hopes of India Inc for a reformist Budget. ...Business Standard - 442 related articles »
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Economic Survey 2008 - 09
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News results for Babri Mosque Demolition
World NewsCommission submits report on historic mosque demolition to Indian PM - 2 days ago
The Commission, which was set up just two weeks after the demolition of the Babri mosque on December 6, 1992, was supposed to submit its report by March 16, ...Xinhua - 457 related articles »
Babri Mosque - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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DEMOLITION OF BABRI MASJID
2 min 18 sec
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by TU Today - 1993Ayodhya observe "black day" on Babri mosque demolition anniversary
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India on track for 7% growth; reforms urged2 Jul 2009, 1224 hrs IST India's fiscal deficit ballooned to 6.2 percent in 2008-09 as the government unleashed stimulus spending to insulate the economy against the global downturn. |
Survey prescribes tax cuts as part of another stimulus2 Jul 2009, 1241 hrs IST The economic survey suggested tax cuts and increase in govt expenditure as part of another stimulus package to help the economy overcome the global shock. |
Phase out cesses; bring new income tax code2 Jul 2009, 1239 hrs IST The Survey, tabled in Parliament, also called for reviewing commodities transaction tax, which was proposed in the Budget for 2008-09 but not notified. |
Govt should raise Rs 25K cr from divestment a year2 Jul 2009, 1209 hrs IST As regards the loss-making PSUs, the Survey said the government needs to "auction all loss making PSUs that cannot be revived. |
Kolkata gets its NSG hub, Chidambaram skips inauguration
Express News Service
Posted: Jul 02, 2009 at 0418 hrs IST
Kolkata The eastern regional hub of the country's elite National Security Guard (NSG) was inaugurated at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata on Wednesday.
One of the four regional NSG hubs set up in the country after the 26/11 terror attack in Mumbai, the eastern hub was the last to be inaugurated.
While the other three hubs at Mumbai, Chennai and Hyderabad were inaugurated by Union Home Minister P Chidambaram, the eastern hub was inaugurated by state chief secretary Asok Mohan Chakrabarti after Chidambaram cancelled his trip to Kolkata.
Speaking at the inauguration, NSG Director General N P S Aulakh said the Salt Lake campus will be the main base of the elite force till the permanent facility at Badu in Madhyamgram (North 24-Parganas) is ready for use.
"We have got the land from the Airports Authority of India at Badu. We expect that the work on the Badu facility will be completed by November," Aulakh said.
"The NSG hub is intended for anti-terror and anti-hijacking operations. Since this place is close to the airport, anti-terror commandos can be deployed to tackle an emergency situation in a very short time," Aulakh added. Till the Badu facility is ready, 250 NSG commandos will be stationed at the stadium.
The new NSG hub at Badu, he said, will spread over 20 acres. The NSG has also asked for land from the state government to set up a training centre for the commandos. Once the Badu campus is ready, the strength of the NSG commandos will be increased to 5,000.
Chakrabarti said the presence of NSG commandos will be beneficial for the state police force. "I hope that the NSG will impart training to the state police in areas like handling modern weapons and bomb detection. So we stand to gain immensely from this hub," he said.
http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/Kolkata-gets-its-NSG-hub-Chidambaram-skips-inauguration/483958/Major Siddarth BURVE from Mumbai sent a SMS on my Cell Phone Number 919903717833 as follows:
Librahan COMMITTEE Report (Ayoddhya) lakar CONG +BJP ek badi sajis ko anjam de rahi hai. hamara dhyan divert karke bhaut khatarnak vidheyek pass hone wale hain.Jiske karan hamen Gulam hone se koi rok nahi sakta.karyakartaon ko sachet karne ki avasyakata hai.
BURVE
Major Burve warns that Librahan Committee report on Babri demolition timing adjusted by CONG BJP Combine is a Dangerous plot to divert our attention so that very dangerous BILLS might be ENACTED. It would be very hard for any one to save us from Permanent ENSLAVEMENT. Cadres should be AWARE of!
Major Burve is the President of Bamcef, Maharashtra. He is dedicated, committed, inclusive and enlightened. He is INTERACTIVE enough. I expected similar attempts from every social political set up which protests and resists the ILLUMINATI Rule.
Till this date my Land Line Phone 033-25659551 remains dead. I have complained as early as on Monday and got the docket number. But I remain DISCONNECTED. My neighbourhood is also DISCONNECTED as a fallout of Sunday Accident in Sodepur. I never know whether I am selected for further censor as my blogs and groups are being removed and spammed on net!
I agree with Major Burves and we talked on this in detail over CELL Phone!
"Historic!" That is how the film and fashion fraternities have hailed on Thursday's Delhi High Court judgement decriminalising gay sex! NGOs and TOILET media celebrataed the EVENT and DIVERTED the most DISASTROUS ECONOMIC Survey reports and babri demolition Intrigue round the clock today without any break!
In Bengal, it is LIVE Lalgarh as we witnessed Media Blitz since the First Gulf War with intense Sensation and Entertainment! Barely 24 hours before she presents her third Rail Budget after a nine-year hiatus, Mamata Banerjee is clearly in high spirits, buoyed by stellar show by the TMC-Congress combine in West Bengal's civic polls.
Recommending an end to all cesses and surcharges on taxes, and free pricing of fertiliser and fuel ahead of the Union Budget for 2009-10, the Economic Survey suggested aggressive disinvestment and financial sector reforms to bring the economy back to high growth track.
More than 6,00,000 Indians, many employed in the gems and jewellery sector, lost jobs in just four months from October 2008 as the impact of the global economic crisis hit the country's shores.
About 5,00,000 people lost their jobs in the October-December 2008 period, while over 1,00,000 were shed in January this year, the Economic Survey said.
In September, the crisis turned severe following the bankruptcy of American financial services major Lehman Brothers. Since then, millions of jobs have been shed worldwide, as companies resorted to massive layoffs as part of their cost cutting measures.
Attributing to a survey conducted by the Ministry of Labour and Employment, the report said that during the three months from October to December 2008, there was a decline in employment of about half a million workers.
Among the sectors, the most hit by the financial turmoil are gems and jewellery, transport and automobiles.
"The most affected sectors were gems and jewellery, transport and automobiles where employment has declined by 8.58 per cent, 4.03 per cent and 2.42 per cent, respectively during the period (October to December 2008)," it said.
Another "thin sample survey" by the Ministry of Labour and Employment indicated that in January about 1,00,000 jobs were lost.
American marines and Afghan troops poured into southern Afghanistan today in the first major test of Barack Obama's strategy to wrest the initiative from the Taliban. We have noticed how Pakistan is CAPTURED with US MILITARY Presence for COMPLETE Destruction. It statrted with Strategic realliance in Indian Ocean Peace zone in US Israel Lead. War zone is shifted right into our heart. We saw LITTE wiped out and tamil nationality Persecution in SRILANKA detached. India joined United States of America to DESTABLISE Nepal and finally helped to oust Maoist Government with a US Strategy to tag Nepal with Tibet to TORTURE the Chinese! Now the Global Illuminati does everything to reate WARs and civil wars in SOUTH ASIA with intense Muslim Hatred, Global Hindutva and zionism combined all on the name of War against Terror, world Peace and democracy and of course BLIND nationalism. evrything was Finalised with INDO US Nuclear deal OPERATIONALISED with UPA NDA LEFT Floor Adjustment in the unprecedented Parliamentary SOP OPERA! The Opera opens once again. Now they have Invoked the Babri Mosque demolition as the UPA NDA LEFT Combine of ruling manusmriti hegemony plan and plot to DIVERT the BASIC Issues and plays the ETERNAL Communal and caste DIVIDE card to BLOCK whatsoever RESISTANCE within or outside the Parliament! Without understanding the US ZIONIST Illuminati Network in thirld world of apartheid we may not detect the Land Mines placed down under!
The Economic Survey tabled in Parliament today raised hopes of India Inc for a reformist
"Given the wide ranging reform measures mooted in the Economic Survey, FICCI expects a strong reformist Union Budget," the chamber President Harsh Pati Singhania said in a statement.
On concerns raised in the survey on a possible shortfall in private consumption demand, it said, there is need to push through fiscal and other measures including easing consumer credit.
Echoing similar views, PHDCCI President Satish Bagrodia said the sharp dip in private consumption growth is a major cause for concern at this stage.
Industry body Assocham said that the survey has rightly stresses the need for divestment of government equity in Navratna companies to contain fiscal deficit.
The Economic Survey while recommending a disinvestment target of Rs 25,000 crore annually, said that the government should sell a minimum 10 per cent stake in all unlisted public sector enterprises and auction those that can't be revived.
The government should sell a minimum 10 per cent stake in all unlisted public sector enterprises and "auction" those that can't be
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"Revitalise the disinvestment programme and plan to generate at least Rs 25,000 crore per year," said the Survey tabled in Parliament today.
The prescription coincides with government declaring disinvestment as one of its top most priorities for mobilisation of resources, particularly, as it is free from the pressures of the Left parties that had obstructed the process in the last five years.
Asking the government to sell a minimum of 10 per cent equity in all profit-making unlisted PSUs, it said: "Complete the process of selling 5-10 per cent equity in previously identified profit making non-Navratnas."
As regards the loss-making PSUs, the Survey said the government needs to "auction all loss making PSUs that cannot be revived. For those in which net worth is zero, allow negative bidding in the form of debt-write off."
Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee is likely to unveil the road map for disinvestment in the Budget, to be presented in the Lok Sabha on July 6.
"Review and phasing out of surcharges, cesses and transaction taxes (such as commodities transaction tax, securities transaction tax and fringe benefit tax)," it said, prescribing possibly the boldest set of financial sector reforms and lifting of all restrictions on farm sector trade.
The Survey, tabled in Parliament by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, also sought reduced role for government and end of state monopoly in areas like Railways, coal and nuclear power while seeking up to 49 per cent Foreign Direct Investment in defence and insurance.
Asking for a disinvestment target of minimum Rs 25,000 crore annually, the Survey said that every single Public Sector Enterprise should be listed while loss making undertakings, that are beyond revival, should be auctioned.
The hitherto politically sensitive areas of FDI in multi-brand retailing, also caught attention of the the Survey, which recommended foreign investment in the area beginning with food.
A day after the government raised the prices of petrol and diesel by Rs four and two, respectively, it said that fuel prices should be freed from government control.
Analysing the impact of the global financial crisis and the challenges, the Survey said: "The Indian economy has shock-absorbers that will facilitate early revival of the growth."
SURVEY-HIGHLIGHTS
Following are the highlights of the pre-Budget Economic Survey: 2008-09.
* Unleash reforms - phase out cesses, surcharges and transaction taxes (such as commodities transaction tax, securities transaction tax and Fringe Benefit Tax)
* Introduce new Income Tax Code that results in neutral corporate tax regime
* 7-7.5% growth possible in 2009-10
* Allow 49% FDI in defence and insurance; permit FDI in multi-format retail starting with food
* Proposes another round of fiscal stimulus including tax cuts and increase in expenditure
* Decontrol petrol and diesel prices; end Govt monopoly in railways, coal and nuclear energy
* Lift all bans on future contracts to restore price discovery; decontrol sugar and fertiliser
* Revitalise disinvestment programme to generate Rs 25,000 crore annually, list all PSUs and auction those beyond revival
* Economic growth decelerated in 2008-09 to 6.7 per cent from nine per cent in 2007-08
* Fiscal deficit in 2008-09 shot up to over 6 per cent from 2.7 per cent in 2007-08
* Survey indicates FRBM-II to get back to path of fiscal consolidation
* Complete the process of selling 5-10 per cent equity in identified profit-making non-'Navratna' PSUs
* List all unlisted PSUs and sell a minimum 10 per cent equity to public.
* Auction all loss-making PSUs that cannot be revived
* In PSUs with zero networth, allow negative bidding in the form of debt write-off
* Auction 3G spectrum
* The auctioned spectrum must be freely tradable, with capital gains on spectrum to be taxed under the Income Tax Act
* Rationalise Dividend Distribution Tax to ensure full single taxation of returns to capital in the hands of the receiver
* Reform petroleum (LPG, Kerosene), fertiliser and food subsidies to reduce leakages and ensure targeting
* Limit LPG subsidy to a maximum of 6-8 cylinders per annum per household
* Phase out kerosene supply-subsidy by ensuring that every rural household has a solar cooker and solar lantern
* Review customs duty exemptions and move to a uniform duty structure to eliminate inverted duties
* Implemnet GST from April 1, 2010
* Rapid operationalisation of UID Authority within 3 months
* Agriculture growth fell sharply to 1.6 per cent in 2008-09 from 4.9 per cent
* Exports grew at 3.4 per cent to 168 billion dollar in 2008-09 from 163 billion dollar in previous fiscal
* Imports grew at 14.3 per cent to $287.75 bn from $251.65 bn
* Trade balance deteriorated to $119.05 bn from $88.52 bn.
Flagship Welfare Progrramme is highlighted with Hidden Agenda in the media and the Hundred days Action Plan for COMPLETE SELL OFF, Disinvestment and Divestment, Privatisation, SEZ Drive, Nuclear Chemical destruction have been delibrately underplayed as SHOCK Absorber! On the other hand, India has been able to retain its position as a preferred investment destination despite the global economic downturn, says the
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Meanwhile, Union Petroleum Minister Murli Deora on Thursday refused to roll back the increase in fuel prices but said that a revision will be
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The government Wednesday allowed state-run oil firms to increase prices of transport fuels, resulting in petrol becoming dearer by Rs 4 per litre and diesel by Rs 2 per litre. The dark talk of a petrol-diesel price hike had been on for a while, although some felt it was aimed at persuading the finance ministry to cut back the tax on fuel. But with international crude prices rising to a seven-month high of around $73, and the finance ministry worried about a growing fiscal deficit, the government has finally bitten the bullet.
As with several hikes in the past, cooking gas and kerosene have been spared. But truckers and transporters promptly announced they would pass on the burden by raising freight rates. IFTRT said truck rentals would go up 3-4% and retail freight rates 20-25%. Bus and taxi fares in cities like Delhi and Mumbai which have switched to CNG won't rise as CNG prices are unchanged.
After opposition leaders disrupted the start of budget session of parliament over the hike, Deora said that the state oil companies had been reeling from under recoveries, or losses, to the tune of Rs.70,200 crore since the global crude prices increased by 75 per cent from December 2008.
He said that the government had not increased the fuel prices by the desired level - Rs 6.94 per litre for petrol and Rs 4.11 per litre for diesel.
Deora added that there was no rise in cooking gas and kerosene prices, for which the state oil companies will continue to bear a subsidy burden of Rs.30,000 crore.
"But we will keep the view of the honourable members on the issue and take suitable action in case there is a decline in the international crude price," he said.
" FDI flows in 2008-09 were also reflection of the confidence of foreign investors in the growth prospects of the Indian economy...India continues to retain its position as a preferred destination for investments," said the pre-budget economic survey tabled in Parliament today.
There has been an increase in Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) during 2008-09 over the previous year, it said.
With regard to Foreign institutional investors, the survey said that there are signs that FIIs who had recorded net outflows in 2008-09 may have returned to the Indian market in the last two months.
In a recent UNCTAD study on assessing the impact of the current financial and economic crisis on global flows, it was found that India achieved a growth of 85.1 per cent in foreign direct investment flows in 2008, the highest increase across all countries, the survey said.
According to this study, FDI investments into India went up from USD 25.1 billion in 2007 to USD 46.5 billion in 2008 even as global flows declined from USD 1.9 trillion to USD 1.7 trillion during the period.
India opened 276,903 new schools and appointed 966,000 teachers as part of its flagship Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) programme, the
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The survey, which was tabled in parliament, stated that "achievements of SSA till December 2008 are opening of 276,903 new schools, construction of 225,383 school buildings, construction of 918,981 additional classrooms, 182,019 drinking water facilities, construction of 251,023 toilets, supply of free textbooks to 8.4 crore (84 million) children, appointment of 9.66 lakh (966,000) teachers and in-service training for 23.82 lakh (2.38 million) teachers."
"There has been a significant reduction in the number of out-of-school children on account of SSA interventions," the survey mentioned without giving further details.
Talking about the right to education up to 14 years as a fundamental right, the economic survey said the 86th amendment in 2002 led to the insertion of a new article 21-A that made free and compulsory education to all children between six and 14 years of age a fundamental right.
"A suitable follow up legislation is necessary to give effect to the 86th constitutional amendment," it added.
The survey said there is a substantial growth in secondary and higher education sphere.
The number of secondary and higher secondary schools has increased from 7,146 in 1950-51 to 168,900 in 2006-07. Similarly the total enrolment has increased from 1.5 million in 1950 to 39.44 million in 2006-07.
The survey highlighted that a new centrally sponsored scheme to set up girls hostel in about 3,500 backward blocks has been launched. Priority is being given to girls belonging to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.
Stressing on the expansion of higher education, the survey said six new Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), one each in Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan, Orissa, Gujarat and Punjab have been set up during 2008-09. Classes have resumed from last academic session.
One Indian Institute of Management - the Rajiv Gandhi Indian Institute of Management (RGIIM) at Shillong - started functioning from the academic session 2008-09.
Two new Indian Institutes of Science Education & Research have been set up at Bhopal and Thiruvananthapuram.
The government has also started new scholarship schemes for both higher secondary and under graduate level, the survey said.
The Economic Survey also shows that the proposal for the third phase of expansion of the Integrated Child Health Development Scheme (ICDS) for 792 additional projects, 213,000 additional Anganwadi Centres (AWCs) and 77,102 mini-AWCs and a proposal for 20,000 AWCs on demand has also been approved in October 2008.
This would take the total number of AWCs to 1.4 million across the country with special focus on coverage of backward population.
58 mn jobs opportunities expected in 2007-12 period: Survey
Nearly 58 million jobs are expected to be created in the five years from 2007 to 2012 with the non-agriculture sector boosting
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In the Eleventh Five-Year Plan period (2007-12), employment opportunities would surpass the projection of about 45 million, in turn helping to bring down unemployment in the country to below five per cent, according to the Pre-Budget Economic Survey tabled in Parliament today.
"The projected increase in total labour force during the Eleventh Five Year Plan is estimated at 45 million. It is also projected that 58 million employment opportunities
The report pointed out that this would be greater than the anticipated increase in labour force, leading to a "reduction in the unemployment rate to below five per cent" by 2012.
Rather than the agriculture sector, others like food processing, gems and jewellery, handloom, tourism and construction are expected to contribute in increasing employment in the 2007-12 period.
"It is expected that agriculture sector may not contribute towards any increase in employment during the Eleventh Five Year Plan," the survey noted.
According to the Survey, the Plan has identified the labour-intensive manufacturing and services sectors with good employment potential.
Such sectors include food processing, leather products, footwear, textiles, wood and bamboo products, gems and jewellery, handicrafts, handlooms, tourism and construction.
Meanwhile, employment growth in the organised sector -- both public and private -- has dropped during the 1994-2006 period to 0.12 per cent. This was mainly due to a negative employment growth rate in the public sector at 0.54 per cent.
Growth in jobs in the organised sector stood at 1.20 per cent in the 1983-94 period, with the public sector accounting for 1.53 per cent of the total.
Pension reforms help channelise savings for investment: Survey
Seized of the challenges faced by the PFRDA, the Economic Survey today said the success of the pension reforms will help in
It would also help the government to fund its pension liabilities, said the Survey tabled in Parliament.
"PFRDA faces the challenge of covering the unorganised sector under the New Pension Scheme (NPS), empowering the subscribers to take appropriate investment decisions based on their risk and return profile, provide safety and optimum returns, and to improve financial literacy levels," it said.
The pension sector reforms were initiated in India to establish a solid and sustainable social security arrangement in the country against the backdrop that only about 12-13 per cent of the total workforce was covered by any formal social security system, it said.
The NPS, it said, which was introduced by the government in January 1, 2004 for new entrants to the central government service, except armed forces, was to be extended gradually to the remaining 87 per cent of the total workforce on the voluntary basis.
The government introduced the NPS for all citizens from May 1, 2009.
Economic Survey calls for multi-format retailing
The Economic Survey for 2008-09 Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee tabled in parliament Thursday has advocated sweeping policy changes
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The survey report card suggested the cap on foreign equity in insurance sector be raised to 49 per cent from 26 per cent currently.
According to it, the limit of foreign equity can even be raised to 100 in case of health and weather insurance. (Weather insurance products are aimed at enhancing the risk-taking capacity of farmers, banks, micro-finance lenders and agro-based industries).
"This may help dispel fears of foreign equity in insurance," the survey said.
In the area of external reforms, the survey favoured foreign investment in multi-format retailing starting with food despite opposition to the idea.
"Foreign direct investment in multi-format retailing should start with food," it said, suggesting that for five years these companies must also have wholesale outlets for small and unorganised retailers.
Other major initiative suggested by the annual survey was allowing foreign equity in the defence sector up to 49 per cent.
The survey added that this limit can be stretched to 100 per cent in the case of high technology and strategic defence goods, services and systems that can help eliminate import dependence.
The survey has also called for decontrolling sugar, fertilizer and drug prices.
However, in the case of life-saving drugs that have less than five producers, the prices should remain under government control, it said.
The survey also suggested the passage of several bills including the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority Bill, Insurance Bill and Forward Contract Bill.
However, for real estate and housing regulation, the survey said it should be kept outside the purview of the central government and stay under the state governments' purview.
It said there should be a single regulatory agency for the transport sector including highways, railways, ports and airports, and it should have members from the sub-sectors.
Regarding railways, the survey called for the entry of private companies into passenger train operations and railway services to tourist destinations.
The survey also called for a new bankruptcy law.
Better fiscal health of states led to 2003-08 growth: Survey
Improvement in the fiscal health of particularly the states and the Centre led the high growth trajectory of the period FY'04 to
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"The growth dividend that the economy reaped in the period 2003-04 to 2007-08 was in large measure due to the improvement in the fiscal health of the consolidated General Government (Centre and states combined)," the Economic Survey for fiscal 2008-09 said today.
As a proportion of GDP, receipts of the consolidated General Government rose from 15 per cent in 2003-04 to 18.5 per cent in 2007-08, the survey said, adding that it was budgeted at 19.1 per cent in 2008-09.
With the non-tax receipts to GDP ratio remaining almost static, higher revenue receipts, and total disbursement remaining more or less unchanged in FY'08, the combined revenue and fiscal deficits came down, it stated.
However, in comparison, the record of fiscal consolidation by states collectively has been impressive with a revenue surplus in 2006-07 and a level of fiscal deficit of 2.5 per cent of GDP in 2005-06, the survey said.
"On the strength of relatively better performance by states and also the record of the Centre, combined gross fiscal deficit of the Centre and states fell from a level of 8.4 per cent of GDP in 2003-04 to a level of 5.2 per cent of GDP in 2007-08," it said.
The strong performance by states was expected to continue, as evidenced by the budget estimate for states in 2008-09, the Survey added.
"The states together have maintained the aggregate fiscal deficit within the overall borrowing ceiling fixed by the Centre in the years from 2005-06 to 2008-09. Some part of the improved fiscal position owes to the state level reforms, particularly the introduction of the state-level VAT," it said.
Economic survey suggests food coupons for poor people
Asserting that there are major deficiencies in the Public Distribution System, the Economic Survey has mooted the idea of providing
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"...(I)it may be useful to introduce food stamps/coupons which may be valid outside the PDS outlets once the markets get better integrated. Food coupons will allow the consumers a wider choice," the survey said.
The report noted that the value of food coupons needs to be indexed to food inflation.
Public Distribution System is a major initiative of the government to ensure food security for the poor.
According to the survey, the 11th Five-Year Plan (2007-12) has observed that the PDS seems to have failed in making foodgrain available to poor people.
The survey noted that there are some major deficiencies in the targeted PDS including non-availability of fair price shops, leakages and failure in price stabilisation.
The NDA government had redesigned PDS as TPDS by dividing the beneficiaries into three categories- AAY, BPL and APL- and fixing the rates of wheat and rice for each category separately.
Further, the report has said multi-application smart cards would help in reducing the incidence of bogus ration cards or diversion of foodgrain.
The Centre may soon introduce smart cards for PDS beneficiaries as a pilot project in two districts of Haryana and in the union territory of Chandigarh.
"Leakages can also be restricted by re-directing subsidies currently under PDS to better funding of other schemes like Mid-Day Meal scheme or the ICDS," it added.
The food subsidy bill, to meet the difference between economic cost of foodgrain and their sales realisation through TPDS, stood at Rs 43,668 crore in fiscal 2008-09.
Decontrol fuel prices: Economic Survey
It is high time that petrol and diesel prices were decontrolled taking advantage of low inflation and global crude prices, the Economic Survey said, while criticising the government for its "imperfect" handling of oil price hike.The Survey made suggestions for sweeping reforms in the energy sector, including limiting subsidised cooking gas to domestic consumers to 6-8 cylinders per year.
Coming a day after the government announced an ad-hoc increase in petrol price by Rs four a litre and diesel by Rs 2 per litre that effectively buried all hopes of freeing auto fuel prices, the pre-Budget Survey said the entire rise in raw material price should be passed on to consumers.
The doubling of international crude oil prices to USD 70 a barrel since December had warranted Rs 5.82 a litre increase in petrol and Rs 3.62 per litre hike in diesel rates.
The message was clear, "Decontrol petrol and diesel prices", with the Survey saying that "as long as the domestic prices remain below the cost of import, demand would continue to grow accentuating the negative impact...
"At times higher inflation and on other occasions political imperatives have prevented a better alignment of fuel and fertiliser and food prices with the border/market prices."
In practice, the issues of prices were addressed somewhat "imperfectly" through a sharing formula that represented a mix of government subsidy, taxation of rents and some pass through, the Survey decried.
Bring all market regulations under SEBI: Survey
All financial market regulations should be brought under the Securities and Exchange Board of India, the Economic Survey said on Thursday."Bring all financial market regulations under SEBI with a view to (encouraging) integrated development," the Survey said, while listing the potential policy decisions for the government in the financial market arena.
At the same time, the Survey also suggested broadening the long-term debt markets by liberalising the investment norms for insurance and pension funds and said that the government could consider a guarantee mechanism for credit enhancement of long-term infrastructure debt.
According to the Survey, the global financial crisis adversely impacted the Indian capital market during 2008.
"Having regard to these trends, the regulatory measures initiated during the year were aimed at ensuring the soundness and stability of the Indian capital market," said the Survey.
"The global crisis also meant that the economy experienced extreme volatility in terms of fluctuations in stock market prices, exchange rates and inflation level during a short duration necessitating reversal of policy to deal with emergent situations," the Survey noted.
HC verdict makes India 127th country legalising gay sex
New Delhi With Delhi High Court legalising gay sex, India became the 127th country in the world to decriminalise homosexuality while 80 nations still consider it as an offence.The process of legal sanction to homosexual acts began in 1989 when Denmark became the first country to grant a status on a par with married couples to same sex partners which was soon followed by other European countries.
Seven years thereafter, Norway, Sweden and Iceland enacted similar legislation in 1996 and Finland followed suit six years later.
Netherlands became the first nation to give full civil marriage rights to gay couples in 2001.
Belgium allowed gay marriages in 2003. Spain too legalised full marriages for gay couples in June 2005. In July 2005, Canada legalised same-sex marriage.
New Zealand in 2004 recognised civil union between gay couples as valid and same sex union was recognised in 2005 in South Africa.
The first gay civil union in Argentina took place in 2003, thus making it the first country in Latin America to allow such unions.
In December 2007, neighbouring Nepal's Supreme Court had ordered the government to scrap laws that discriminate against homosexuals.
Sibal asks IITs to expand into areas of medicine, law
New Delhi Seeking to take forward reforms in education, HRD Minister Kapil Sibal asked the IITs to expand into new areas like medicine and law and evolve a framework in this regard.Interacting with the IIT directors, Sibal said the institutes need to explore the possibility of having multiple campuses, good connectivity and courses with multi-disciplinary approach.
"You need to prepare a framework on how to achieve expansion, inclusiveness and excellence. IITs are good because you get the best students, not necessarily you give them the best. What you need is to give them the best," he said at a meeting at the IIT here.
He also said the IITs should go beyond the fixed boundaries.
"There should be multifarious disciplines in IITs -- school of medicine, law, social science and even literature.
What I want is innovation. Why cannot the 14 IITs become 14 universities with innovation," he said.
Sibal's remarks assume significance in view of a Government-appointed committee suggesting for starting multi-disciplinary approach in the IIT system. The committee on Renovation and Rejuvenation has favoured the idea of making IITs universities and allow them to start courses in various disciplines.
AI told to give restructuring plan in 30 days
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Agencies
Posted: Jul 02, 2009 at 1403 hrs IST
New Delhi Asserting that Government support cannot be taken for granted by it, Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel said that cash-strapped Air India has been asked to provide a restructuring plan in the next 30 days.
"There is every reason for Air India to respond quickly. The management, the employees, all will have to come out with a proper restructuring plan," he told reporters outside Parliament House.
Patel said Government support cannot be taken for granted.
"It cannot be open ended. However, Government is committed...We want a strong national carrier," he said.
The Minister said Air India is appointing SBI Caps for financial restructuring, adding that the Government wanted to know "what is needed to be implemented in coming weeks and years".
http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/AI-told-to-give-restructuring-plan-in-30-days/484113/
PSU stocks eyed as budget nears; index gains 31%
MUMBAI: After May 16, the day result of the general election was announced, there has been increased investor participation. Since May 18,
In this journey, public sector understandings (PSUs) turned out to be better performers over last one year as well. Compared to 10% return generated by Nifty, BSE PSU Index rewarded investors with stellar 45% return for the year ended June 30, 2009.
As the market awaits the next positive trigger, Union budget, PSUs have again emerged as centre of attraction as there is expectation that the government may take a relook at divestment after a long gap and Bharat Earth Movers (98%), STC India (86%) and MMTC (82%) have emerged as the top three performers from the BSE PSU constituents post May 16.
There is no sectoral bias for the good performers within PSUs but there is a common thread among the poor performers. Highly regulated energy sector companies have not done well. Though there was talk of dismantling the administered price mechanism, there is little interest in the oil marketing companies.
Barring ONGC and Neyveli Lignite, other energy sector plays such as GAIL, NTPC, PFC and PCGIL have underperformed both the Nifty and BSE PSU Index. Stocks such as Nalco and Container Corporation along with Syndicate Bank and Canara Bank also appear in this list of underperformers.
"ITI, SCI and Hindustan Copper are to be watched for any divestment announcement from the government," said Shaishta Shaikh, research head with a broking firm. A few fund managers hold the view that PSU banking stocks would gain prominence.
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/Market-Analysis/PSU-stocks-eyed-as-budget-nears-index-gains-31/articleshow/4725256.cms
Business sentiment improves: D&B India
MUMBAI: Just on the eve of big budget 2009, the Dun & Bradstreet Composite Business
Although the BOI has witnessed a significant increase compared to the previous quarter, the index remains below the last year's level. On a y-o-y basis, the BOI for Q3 2009 recorded a marginal decrease of 3.3 per cent.
Based on the responses received, it was observed that five out of the six optimism indices – namely, volume of sales, net profits, selling prices, new orders, and employee levels have registered an increase as compared to the previous quarter. Only one out of the six optimism indices – inventory levels – declined by 2 percentage points as compared to the previous quarter.
Demand conditions are expected to witness some improvement during Q3 2009, with as many as 72% of the respondents anticipating an increase in sales volume. While about 19% of the respondents expect volume of sales to remain unchanged, around 9% of the respondents anticipate a decrease in sales during Q3 2009. The resultant optimism for volume of sales stands at 63%, an increase of 40 percentage points as compared to the previous quarter.
Profit expectations of the Indian corporates improved substantially, with as many as 69% of the respondents expecting an increase in their net profits during the forthcoming quarter.
While about 10% of the respondents are anticipating a fall in their net profits in the forthcoming quarter, about 21% of the respondents expect no change in net profits during the Jul-Sep 09 quarter. The resultant Optimism for net profits stands at 59%, an increase of as much as 41 percentage points as compared to the previous quarter.
"The improvement witnessed in the business optimism during Q3 2009 indicates that the worst may be behind us. As the Composite BOI is still below the Q3 2008 level, it suggests that it would take some more time for the economy to recover completely. Positive data releases, improving investment sentiment along with the post-election optimism seem to have provided the much needed support to corporate confidence," said Kaushal Sampat, Chief Operating Officer, Dun & Bradstreet – India.
The majority of respondents anticipate no change in the size of the workforce employed during Q3 2009. Approximately 57% of the respondents intend to keep the number of employees unchanged. While 38% of the respondents expect an increase in the number of employees, 5% expect a decline. The resultant Optimism for Employees stands at 33% for the Jul-Sep 09 quarter, an increase of around 20 percentage points as compared to the previous quarter.
The D&B Business Optimism Index is considered as an indicator, which measures the pulse of the business community and serves as a reliable benchmark for investors. The index is arrived at on the basis of a quarterly survey of business expectations.
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/Markets/Analysis/Business-sentiment-improves-DB-India/articleshow/4725397.cms
US loses 467,000 jobs, unemployment at 9.5%
WASHINGTON: US employers cut 467,000 jobs in June, far more than expected, while the unemployment rate rose to 9.5 percent, the government said
The June job losses were more than 100,000 greater than the 363,000 consensus of Wall Street economists polled by Reuters and broke a four-month trend of moderation in job losses.
The Labor Department data showed that in April and May, 8,000 fewer jobs were lost than previously reported. The May job losses were revised downward to 322,000, while the April losses were revised upward to 519,000.
The jobless rate of 9.5 percent compares with 9.4 percent in May and was the highest since a matching unemployment rate in August 1983. Analysts had expected the rate to rise to 9.6 percent.
While job losses in June were spread across all sectors, the June figures showed the steepest declines in services, which fell 244,000 after a 107,000 drop in May. Professional and business services fell 118,000, while government employment fell 52,000. Manufacturing was one of the few sectors to show a smaller drop in June, falling 136,000 after a 156,000 fall in May.
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| Restore the sanctity of the budget 1 Jul 2009, 0257 hrs IST, MYTHILI BHUSNURMATH, ET Bureau | ||||||||
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| Come Monday and all eyes will be riveted on finance minister Pranab Mukherjee as he rises to present the first budget of the new UPA government.
With revenues likely to remain anaemic for a while even as expenses mount, the key question is, can the government borrow more — rough indications are it may need to borrow upwards of Rs 400,000 crore — without creating absorption problems/ crowding out the private sector/raising the rate of interest? As Martin Wolf of The Financial Times put it, 'to embark on fiscal stimulus in the short run, one must be credible in the long run.' Technically, defaulting on borrowing may be out of question (the government can always order the Reserve Bank of India to print money). But if the market believes the government will be forced to print money to honour its debt (reducing its real value), there will be few takers for its paper. To quote Adam Smith, "When national debts have once been accumulated to a certain degree, there is scarce...a single instance of their having been fairly and completely paid. The liberation of the public revenue, if it has ever been brought about at all, has always been brought about by a bankruptcy; sometimes by an avowed one, but always by a real one, though frequently by a pretended payment. The raising of the denomination of the coin has been the most usual expedient by which a real public bankruptcy has been disguised under the appearance of a pretended payment." Hence, the size of the government's deficit and how it intends to tackle it is going to be the most significant aspect of the forthcoming budget. This is not to dismiss the rest of the budget speech. Over the years, budgets have increasingly been used as a platform for the government to spell out its game plans. And this being the first budget after the general elections, we can expect to see some broad statements of policy intent. But given that many of these are outside the purview of the finance minister — witness the fate of past promises to increase power generation, upgrade Industrial Training Institutes, appoint a coal regulator and so on — they are best taken with a pinch of salt. Quite unlike budget numbers that are most definitely within the purview of the FM. As keepers of the government's purse-strings, finance ministers' reputations are made or marred by how well they manage government finances. Any verdict on the budget must, therefore, be based not so much on policy pronouncements that may or may not get translated into action, as on cold hard numbers contained in the 'Budget At a Glance' document. Unfortunately, here the news is not good. Over the past few weeks, various estimates of the fiscal deficit (the excess of government expenditure over its revenue receipts) ranging from a conservative 6.5% to a disheartened 8-9% have been bandied about. But it is only on Monday afternoon that we'll know for sure. | ||||||||
Seventeen years after the Babari Masjid was torn down by alleged Sangh Parivar and BJP activists at Ayodhya, Retd Justice MS Liberhan ~ after 48 extensions and 399 hearings involving over 100 witnesses ~ today finally submitted his four-volume report to the Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh in the presence of home minister Mr P Chidambaram.
The issue has seen criminal cases hanging fire against top saffron leaders, including Mr LK Advani, Mr Murli Manohar Joshi, Mr Kalyan Singh, Miss Uma Bharti, Mr Ashok Singhal and Mr Vinay Katiyar. The PMO is to forward the Liberhan report to the home ministry for examination and for necessary action. The government is likely to table the report along with its Action Taken Report (ATR) in Parliament during the upcoming session scheduled to be held from 2 July to 7 August.
Justice Liberhan was appointed to head the Commission barely ten days after the demolition of the Babari Masjid on 6 December 1992. He declined to disclose details of his report on the Babari demolition. His inquiry panel cost the state exchequer Rs 8 crore.
Justice Liberhan said he was feeling free today after having submitted the report. "I have submitted the report to the Prime Minister. There are various things that I have reported in my report. You can read it when the report is released."
Asked why the Commission, which had got 48 extensions, took so much time to prepare its report, Justice Liberhan blamed it on the court stay order, "procuring witness, and non-cooperative attitude" of some people.
The Babari panel's final act immediately generated political heat, sparking a war of words as well as a blame game between the ruling Congress and the principal Opposition BJP. Its report is set to make waves in the upcoming Parliament session meant essentially for the presentation and passage of the General Budget.
The hearing of the Commission concluded four years ago, even as an internal controversy broke out within the panel two years ago with its counsel Mr Anupam Gupta dissociating himself from it owing to personal differences with Justice Liberhan.
The demolition of the Babari Masjid was a sequel to a tense, protracted dispute between Muslims and Hindus over their conflicting claims to the 16th century mosque, with the latter, whose cause was championed by the BJP and Sangh Parivar, calling it the birthplace of Lord Ram, Ram Janmabhoomi. The incident led to countrywide communal riots and clashes, pitting the two communities against each other, which claimed thousands of people as casualties and victims.
Mr Advani, Mr Joshi, Miss Bharti, the then UP CM Mr Kalyan Singh, and Mr Katiyar appeared before the Commission as witnesses. The then Prime Minister from the Congress, PV Narasimha Rao, and the former PM VP Singh, both of whom have passed away, also deposed before the panel.
"The Muslim community was waiting for this report since 17 years. Now we expect that the UPA government will immediately table it in the coming session of Parliament," the All India Babari Masjid Action Committee chairman Mr Javed Habib said. "The then Prime Minister Narasimha Rao had promised to rebuild the demolished mosque. Congress should clarify its stand on his statement," he said. "Government should set up fast track time-bound court to try and punish those involved in the Babari Masjid demolition," Mr Habib said demanding a compensation and rehabilitation package for the post-demolition riots victims similar to the one given to 1984 anti-Sikh riots.
http://www.thestatesman.net/page.news.php?clid=1&theme=&usrsess=1&id=259679
Babri Demolition
Centre bags Babri dilemma | |
| RADHIKA RAMASESHAN | |
New Delhi, June 30: The Centre is likely to keep the Liberhan report on the Babri Masjid demolition ticking away like a time bomb in its vaults for at least a while. The report was submitted to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh by a namesake and former judge, Manmohan Singh Liberhan, this morning. With Parliament scheduled to open on July 2, the government sought to keep the sensitive report's contents under wraps. But political quarters were immediately abuzz over possible implications. The Congress remained broadly circumspect, not wanting to hand the demoralised BJP an opportunity to exploit temple-related sentiments and acquire a fresh lease of life. The BJP savoured prospects of a debatable revival of "Hindu nationalism" with a barely concealed sense of expectation. Muslim organisations, meanwhile, called upon the government "not to play politics" with the report and reveal findings at the earliest. But highly placed sources indicated that the government would take its time over Justice Liberhan's findings while it mulled over political and social pros and cons. The sources said the Prime Minister handed over the work to his principal secretary, T.K.A. Nair, who placed it in a sealed bag. Even if the report, which took 17 years and 48 extensions before being presented, implicates or nails key protagonists of the event like L.K. Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi, Uma Bharti and Ashok Singhal, nothing "drastic or precipitate" would immediately be done. Not until the general budget is passed during the forthcoming session at any rate. "The timing is bad. The BJP has got an issue but we will not like the shadow of Ayodhya to mar the budget session, especially when the BJP has assured us of co-operation," a cabinet minister said. Parliament apart, the Congress has already begun weighing the long-term implications of reviving the "Ayodhya card" with history as its philosopher and guide. Sources recalled how Rajiv Gandhi's "ill-advised" forays to do a BJP on the BJP in Ayodhya ruined the Congress's supremacy in the heartland and took away its Hindu and Muslim votes even in its western strongholds like Maharashtra where the Shiv Sena became a force to reckon with. "On matters fraught with communal ramifications, we should be extremely circumspect," a source said. The Congress also had to contend with the fact that it was in power at the Centre when the mosque was breached. The then Prime Minister, P.V. Narasimha Rao was lambasted for doing nothing for the eight hours or so that RSS, VHP and BJP "kar sevaks" ran amok and brought the mosque down. Members of the Babri Masjid Action Committee went on record to tell journalists then that while Rao's minister of state of home, the late P.R. Kumaramangalam, answered their initial calls, neither he nor Rao was available thereafter. With a BJP government in Lucknow, Muslim leaders saw Delhi as their only lifeline. Kumaramangalam later joined the BJP and became a cabinet minister when it was in power. "There was transgression on the Centre's part," a Congress functionary admitted. Congress sources were not even sure if the government would place the report — reportedly running into over 1,000 pages — on the table of the House in the impending session. "The processing of such a voluminous work will take time. It will be scrutinised. Inconsistencies, if any, will have to be identified. A summary will have to be written. Most important, an action taken report (ATR) will have to be readied simultaneously," a source said. Parliamentary rules require a report and an ATR to be placed together. Although a Congress minister who counts himself as a "die-hard secularist" quipped that "at last Liberhan has liberated our party", the considered view in the party was that the "politics" intertwined in the Ayodhya chapter will have to be "read, re-read and carefully perused" before a "plan of action" was drawn. P. Chidambaram, the home minister who accompanied Justice Liberhan when he went to present the report to the Prime Minister, confirmed the Centre was in no rush with the report. He told some journalists that the law required the report and the ATR to be tabled within six months, which effectively gives the government time until the winter session. "So there is plenty of time. I have not even read the report," he said. |
BJP's best bet: lash from Liberhan Party feels govt action will help | |
| SANJAY K. JHA | |
New Delhi, June 30: The BJP is not unduly worried about the Liberhan Commission report as it feels the political implications will not be essentially negative for the party. Some leaders believe that a damning report could even spark fresh unity and rejuvenation in a party that is fighting disarray and demoralisation after two successive defeats in general elections. Ayodhya may not have paid electoral dividends in recent years but if senior leaders are sought to be prosecuted for advocating a "temple", there may be a sentimental backlash, the party feels. The BJP leadership is not sure of the shape of things to come as much will depend on the central government's attitude and hence they want to move cautiously. The dominant view in the party is that vindictiveness on the part of the government will prove counter-productive and again bring the Ayodhya issue to the centre stage. But the BJP is not very optimistic about the rebirth of Ayodhya as a political tool. They hope the Congress will embark on a misadventure to consolidate the Muslim vote which showed signs of a shift towards the party in the last general election and harass the BJP leaders but there is also a dormant fear that the government may not like to precipitate matters after 17 years. In fact, some BJP leaders apprehend the government will do little else than symbolic posturing. The BJP's official reaction betrayed no sense of nervousness as spokesperson Ravishankar Prasad chose to iterate that the Hindus world over wanted a grand Ram temple at the disputed site and there must be a constructive solution. The party also demanded early tabling of the report in Parliament so that "the nation knew about the truth". The media was briefed on the issue after senior leaders held a meeting at L.K. Advani's residence in the morning. Prasad said he would not like to react without knowing the contents of the report but revealed the party's aggressive intent by confronting the Congress on the charge of BJP's doublespeak. Responding to Digvijay Singh's dismissal as doublespeak the BJP leaders' assertion that they did not want the structure demolished, Prasad said the Congress had already started hatching conspiracies. Apart from the political implications, the BJP is not really thinking about the possible legal fallout for its senior leaders — Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi — as the commission's findings have no statutory value. The third big leader involved, Uma Bharti, who is in the wilderness after being pushed out of the BJP, has already lapped up the opportunity to inject fresh life into her moribund political career. Uma promptly said she would rather be hanged than feeling ashamed of what she did during the Ayodhya movement. The BJP has already taken a cautious position, asserting that it did not want the mosque to be pulled down in that manner but a temple must come up at the birthplace of Lord Ram. The BJP leaders are not supporting the demolition because trials are going on in courts and any wrong move can send them to jail. Evidence given to the commission cannot be used in court but statements supporting demolition can influence the trial. On the other hand, if the commission exonerates the BJP leadership, the party will have some brownie points to score but that will not help it re-ignite the Ayodhya flame. One BJP leader said: "We have to see if this (the Liberhan report) is a one-day wonder or if it will build up gradually. We are ready to face it either way." |
Twin demands from minorities |
| CITHARA PAUL |
| New Delhi, June 30: The minorities cannot mark time any longer: having waited almost 17 years for the Liberhan report, they are demanding that the dossier be made public at the earliest and time-bound action taken. The Babri Masjid Action Committee, a conglomeration of Muslim groups, today urged the Centre to place the Babri report before Parliament in the budget session starting July 3. "I appeal to the government to table the report in Parliament and take concrete action within three months," said Zafaryab Jilani, the Babri committee convener. He claimed that political parties were playing hide-and-seek with the report, and accused the Congress and the BJP of holding it up. "Both the BJP and the Congress came to power after the commission was formed, but even then it took 17 years to submit the report," Jilani said. "I have come to know that the commission completed its work in 2006 but the Congress delayed it because of political reasons. It feared the commission may hold partymen responsible for the demolition of the masjid." S.Q.R. Illyas, the convener of the Babri Masjid Committee of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board, echoed Jilani. He said the report, as well as the action-taken report, should be tabled in the next session. Others took aim at the time the commission, which got 48 extensions, took to submit the report. Syed Ahmad Bukhari, the head cleric of Jama Masjid, said the long time taken was a perfect case of justice delayed amounting to justice denied. "The very fact that it took 17 years to submit the findings amounts to befooling Muslims," he claimed. The Liberhan commission got 48 extensions after it was set up within 10 days of the demolition of the 16th century mosque on December 6, 1992. The panel was to submit its report by March 16, 1993. But it sought repeated extensions to complete its investigation. The last three-month extension was given in March this year. Bukhari claimed submission of the report amounted to nothing because the government could sit on it for a long time. "Only if it is tabled at the earliest will it be known whether the commission has held the real culprits responsible for the demolition or not," he said. Some are suspecting the government might hold up the report. "Since there is not going to be any election soon, the government can sit on it for any length of time and release it when it suits them," said Tasleem Rehmani of the Muslim Political Council. The delay in filing the dossier had grabbed international attention after Asma Jahangir, the special rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief of the UN human rights council, mentioned it in her report. "While an inquiry into large-scale communal violence should not be done in indecent haste, it should be accorded the highest priority both by the investigation, the judiciary and any commission appointed to study the situation. Unreasonable protraction of the inquiry only keeps tensions simmering and devalues justice," Jahangir had said. "I was astonished to learn that just before I arrived in India, the Liberhan Commission --- probing the circumstances leading to the 1992 demolition of the Babri Masjid in Ayodhya --- got the 44th extension to conclude its inquiry." |
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Twin demands from minorities |
| CITHARA PAUL |
| New Delhi, June 30: The minorities cannot mark time any longer: having waited almost 17 years for the Liberhan report, they are demanding that the dossier be made public at the earliest and time-bound action taken. The Babri Masjid Action Committee, a conglomeration of Muslim groups, today urged the Centre to place the Babri report before Parliament in the budget session starting July 3. "I appeal to the government to table the report in Parliament and take concrete action within three months," said Zafaryab Jilani, the Babri committee convener. He claimed that political parties were playing hide-and-seek with the report, and accused the Congress and the BJP of holding it up. "Both the BJP and the Congress came to power after the commission was formed, but even then it took 17 years to submit the report," Jilani said. "I have come to know that the commission completed its work in 2006 but the Congress delayed it because of political reasons. It feared the commission may hold partymen responsible for the demolition of the masjid." S.Q.R. Illyas, the convener of the Babri Masjid Committee of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board, echoed Jilani. He said the report, as well as the action-taken report, should be tabled in the next session. Others took aim at the time the commission, which got 48 extensions, took to submit the report. Syed Ahmad Bukhari, the head cleric of Jama Masjid, said the long time taken was a perfect case of justice delayed amounting to justice denied. "The very fact that it took 17 years to submit the findings amounts to befooling Muslims," he claimed. The Liberhan commission got 48 extensions after it was set up within 10 days of the demolition of the 16th century mosque on December 6, 1992. The panel was to submit its report by March 16, 1993. But it sought repeated extensions to complete its investigation. The last three-month extension was given in March this year. Bukhari claimed submission of the report amounted to nothing because the government could sit on it for a long time. "Only if it is tabled at the earliest will it be known whether the commission has held the real culprits responsible for the demolition or not," he said. Some are suspecting the government might hold up the report. "Since there is not going to be any election soon, the government can sit on it for any length of time and release it when it suits them," said Tasleem Rehmani of the Muslim Political Council. The delay in filing the dossier had grabbed international attention after Asma Jahangir, the special rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief of the UN human rights council, mentioned it in her report. "While an inquiry into large-scale communal violence should not be done in indecent haste, it should be accorded the highest priority both by the investigation, the judiciary and any commission appointed to study the situation. Unreasonable protraction of the inquiry only keeps tensions simmering and devalues justice," Jahangir had said. "I was astonished to learn that just before I arrived in India, the Liberhan Commission --- probing the circumstances leading to the 1992 demolition of the Babri Masjid in Ayodhya --- got the 44th extension to conclude its inquiry." |
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Duo spared terror law | ||
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June 30: The Bengal government today decided to drop charges under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act against the two tribal youths arrested in Bankura on Sunday while allegedly planting explosives on a road. They will now be prosecuted only under the Indian Penal Code and the Arms Act. Home secretary Ardhendu Sen said: "We will inform the court tomorrow that the state government is withdrawing the charges under the UAPA." Yesterday, chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee had told his cabinet colleagues, especially the allies, that the law would not be used indiscriminately. He promised no one would be tried under the law without the home secretary's consent. However, hours later, Bankura police booked the two tribals — Kanchan Murmu, 18, and Gopinath Murmu, 19 — under the UAPA, prompting Sen to seek a report from the superintendent. The district police chief, Vishal Garg, was apparently unaware of the need for the home secretary's concurrence. "He has been pulled up for this," Sen said today. Garg did not respond to calls through the day. In Bankura, public prosecutor Ashiul Rehman said: "They will be prosecuted only under sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Arms Act." A 9mm pistol, 10 bullets and a flash gun used to detonate explosives were found on them when a BSF team caught them behind a roadside bush near Sarenga. The police later found about 50m of wires and an improvised device containing 5kg of explosives buried three feet under the road. Although the charges under the UAPA have been taken off, punishment under the IPC and the Arms Act could be stiffer for the duo. If the UAPA charges slapped on them could bring them at the most a life term, the other laws can send them to the gallows. The charges against them now are attempt to murder, criminal conspiracy and waging war against the state. The CPM's allies are opposed to the UAPA on two grounds: first, on suspicion a person can be held for 180 days, unlike the IPC where it is 90. Second, in case of the IPC, the prosecution has to prove that the accused is guilty. In the UAPA, the accused has to prove innocence. The government will place before additional chief judicial magistrate D.K. Das the request to allow the change of the charges against the accused. Two People's Committee activists from Lalgarh, picked up yesterday for questioning from a village on the West Midnapore-Bankura border, were arrested today. Subhas Mahato and Ajit Mahato were remanded in eight days' jail custody. The owner of the house where they had taken refuge has been released. |
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1090701/jsp/frontpage/story_11181491.jsp
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