Basic Political Developments s17
INDIA COUNTRY BRIEF
110601
Basic Political Developments
· Affirming the BJP's support to the Telangana cause, senior party leader Sushma Swaraj tonight said the NDA would extend support if the Centre tabled a Bill for formation of separate Telangana state in the next session of Parliament.
· A national initiative guaranteeing free delivery, free medicines and diet for pregnant women in government health institutes was unveiled by UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi.
· Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) today said it will boycott the Kashmir Committee headed by prominent lawyer Ram Jethmalani.
· Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa on Wednesday demanded the resignation of Union Textiles Minister Dayanidhi Maran.
· Government on Wednesday took an extraordinary step to woo him by deputing Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee and three other senior ministers to the airport for talks but he appeared not to relent on his plans.
National Economic Trends
· India's exports grew by 34.4 per cent on an annual basis to USD 23.8 billion in the first month of the 2011-12 fiscal, maintaining the growth momentum of the previous fiscal.
· Inflation is likely to remain elevated for some more time and "pose a challenge on the policy front" largely due to rising commodity prices and the impact of higher fuel prices on the broader economy.
· Growth of infrastructure industries slowed to 5.2 per cent in April, with high inflation likely to have impacted the core sectors.
· The Centre's fiscal deficit in April, 2011 worked out to be 18.1 per cent of the Budget estimates as compared to 14.2 per cent in the year-ago period, on account of less revenue collection and increase in non-plan expenditure.
Business, Energy or Environmental regulations or discussions
· Punj Lloyd fell by over 5 per cent in early trade on the bourses today, reversing their stellar performance in the previous session.
· Godrej Consumer Products Ltd (GCPL) Wednesday said it has acquired a 51 percent stake in African hair care product company -- Darling Group Holdings.
· The Income Tax Department is all set to crack the whip on tax defaulters by invoking its power, which has not been used for many years, to arrest and prosecute evaders.
· Coromandel International crop protection products and specialty nutrients, announced the acquisition of 42.22 per cent of the promoters' share in Sabero Organics, a producer and supplier in the same space.
· Serco on Tuesday signed an agreement to acquire Mumbai-based Intelenet Global Services Private Ltd. (Intelenet).
· The Commerce Ministry will push for a relaxation in employment visa norms for foreigners in Special Economic Zone units that bring in large foreign direct investment.
· Bharti Airtel signed a contract with Chinese gear maker Huawei to modernise and expand its 2G and 3G networks in Africa.
· With a $2.2 billion order book to build nearly 4,000 km (2,500 miles) of road lanes across India and its bank credit tapped out, KMC Constructions turned to private equity for funding.
· Tata Investment Corporation received an overwhelming response on the bourses today, with the stock climbing nearly 13 per cent in morning trade on the BSE after promoter group firm Tata Sons increased its stake in the company to 68.26 per cent.
· India's power sector is heading for a serious crisis as many new plants have no fuel to burn.
· RSB Industries is planning to enter the aluminium refining and smelting sector in Orissa. The promoters appear unfazed by the delays other projects are facing in that mineral- rich state.
Activity in the Oil and Gas sector (including regulatory)
· Mundra Port and SEZ Limited (MPSEZ) completed acquisition of Abbot Point Coal Terminal , Queensland in Australia.
· India's Petronet LNG has signed a memorandum of understanding with Singapore affiliate of Gazprom Global LNG for a long-term supply of 2.5 million tonne liquefied natural gas (LNG).
· Reliance Industries has asked the Oil Ministry to review the prioritisation worked out while imposing cuts on KG-D6 gas supplies to non-core users.
Militant Activity/Terrorism (Particularly in Bangalore, Mumbai, Noida, Chennai, Coimbatore)
· The NSCN(K) has resolved to stop all forms of extortion by various underground groups.
· DGP G.S. Rath today chose to paint a grim picture of the overall security scenario of Jharkhand and called the situation “war-like” while referring to the recent spate of Maoist attacks that targeted construction companies and their equipment as well as men in uniform.
Labor/Social Unrest
Full Text
Basic Political Developments
BJP vows to support Telangana Bill in Parliament
http://www.ptinews.com/news/1640832_BJP-vows-to-support-Telangana-Bill-in-Parliament-
Karimnagar (AP), May 31 (PTI) Affirming the BJP's support to the Telangana cause, senior party leader Sushma Swaraj tonight said the NDA would extend support if the Centre tabled a Bill for formation of separate Telangana state in the next session of Parliament.
"I have confidence that the bill on Telangana will be introduced in Parliament in July and by that time, I will take the support of all the allied parties of NDA. In case, the Congress fails to introduce the Bill in July 2011, the BJP assures to give Telangana in 2014 after coming into power," she said addressing a pro-Telangana public meeting organised by the BJP here.
Formation of Telangana would be among the top priorities of the NDA in the event of the BJP-led coalition coming to power at the Centre after 2014, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha said.
Sonia launches Health Min's free delivery scheme
http://www.ptinews.com/news/1641258_Sonia-launches-Health-Min-s-free-delivery-scheme
Mewat (Haryana), June 1 (PTI) A national initiative guaranteeing free delivery, free medicines and diet for pregnant women in government health institutes was unveiled by UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi here today.
In an effort to tackle maternal mortality, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare is starting the scheme.
"It is sad that 67,000 women die in childbirth every year and nine lakh children die in one month of birth. This scheme will give right to all pregnant women to have free delivery in government health organisations," Gandhi said launching the programme here.
Gandhi said all medicines and medical tests and provision for blood will be free of cost. She said the government will also take care of the expenses if the patient is referred to a bigger hospital.
Officials said the scheme will also include the treatment of sick new borns till 30 days after their birth.
No talks with Jethmalani-led Kashmir Committee: JKLF
http://www.ptinews.com/news/1641851_No-talks-with-Jethmalani-led-Kashmir-Committee--JKLF-
Srinagar, Jun 1 (PTI) Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) today said it will boycott the Kashmir Committee headed by prominent lawyer Ram Jethmalani which will arrive here tomorrow for talks with various groups on the Kashmir issue.
"We have decided not to meet the Kashmir Committee during their tour of the Valley as we understand that it has time and again played a role detrimental to interests of Kashmiris," JKLF Chairman Mohammad Yasin Malik said in a statement here.
Malik said although JKLF is desirous of a political solution to the Kashmir issue and has always welcomed dialogue, the decision to not meet the Committee was based on "certain facts" which include that the body led to disintegration of the undivided Hurriyat Conference.
"We received a mail last month from Kashmir Committee and later Jethmalani himself called to set the date for a meeting," the JKLF chairman said.
Jayalalithaa demands Maran’s resignation over alleged kickbacks
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article2067992.ece?homepage=true
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa on Wednesday demanded the resignation of Union Textiles Minister Dayanidhi Maran following reports that his family-owned Sun TV Network was a beneficiary of pay-offs by a Malaysian company which benefited from equity sold by Aircel.
Speaking to reporters here, Ms. Jayalalithaa said “Maran should quit and face legal proceedings” even as she demanded the intervention of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in the issue.
“I am quite sure the Prime Minister would know what has to be done and I am sure he would do it. The Prime Minister should ask for Maran’s resignation from the cabinet.
I am sure the PM will do it, if he has not already done it,” she said.
While the UPA government, in which DMK is a constituent, has maintained a studied silence over the issue, opposition BJP on Tuesday demanded clarification over the allegations.
“There are new scandals in the UPA government everyday. A new scandal is on the verge of being exposed. The cupboard of corruption of the UPA is overflowing and more skeletons are dying to come out,” BJP chief spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad said reacting to a media report in this regard.
Congress has refused to comment on the allegations, but Mr. Maran had a lengthy meeting with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Monday night after the meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs.
Mr. Maran has also slapped a legal notice on Tehelka weekly for carrying a story on the issue which he said was “totally false, baseless and defamatory”.
Talks fail, Ramdev to go ahead with fast
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article2068108.ece?homepage=true
Worried over Baba Ramdev’s indefinite fast from Saturday, Government on Wednesday took an extraordinary step to woo him by deputing Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee and three other senior ministers to the airport for talks but he appeared not to relent on his plans.
In a bid to prevent a repeat of a situation that evolved when Anna Hazare-led civil society mounted a campaign against corruption in April, Mr. Mukherjee accompanied by Kapil Sibal, Pawan Kumar Bansal and Subodh Kant Sahay held talks at the T3 terminal here with Ramdev who arrived by chartered jet from Ujjain in Madhya Pradesh.
Baba Ramdev, who earlier in the morning did a volte face on his Tuesday’s statement that the Prime Minister and Chief Justice of India should be kept out of Lokpal’s purview, told reporters after the meeting that the first round of talks has been positive and there will be further dialogue with the government.
“On June four there will be a satyagraha (protest fast) in Ramlila Maidan as well as in 624 districts across as crores of people want the country to be rid of black money, corruption and demand a change in system,” he said.
To a question on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s appeal to him not to go ahead with his fast plans, he said “I do not believe in fear or creating fear. We have raised issues of national interest. This fight is not against any person and any party. So we are not criticising anybody.”
The government virtually rolled the red carpet for the Yoga guru whose campaign will demand repatriation of all black money stashed abroad and an ordinance is issued for means to bringing it back.
Baba Ramdev said talks were “positive” and that there was agreement on some issues “but till there is 100 per cent agreement on all issues and a decisive stage is reached, the fast will go on.”
“It is a big war. We have to change the system of 64 years. It is not an easy task. But we will get it done,” he said.
On its part the government said Baba Ramdev raised serious national issues and dialogue with him will continue in the next couple of days.
“He (Ramdev) raised important issues which impact on the future of our country. They are significant national issues. They are limited to one or two issues. There were broad range of issues. We prima facie responded to them,” Mr. Sibal told reporters after the meeting.
“We are running a responsive government. We will take all the issues forward...These are serious issues. Government will not only think seriously but move forward,” he said but declined to give details of the discussions.
Maintaining that black money and corruption were two sides of the same coin, Baba Ramdev said that the main issues raised with the government were a strong Lokpal, a Public Service Delivery Guarantee Act that should be implemented in all the states and setting up of fast track courts to give judgements in one year with provisions for death sentence for the corrupt.
Baba Ramdev said that black money should be declared as national assets and an ordinance should be promulgated followed by a bill to bring back the money stashed in tax heavens.
“The government has before it issues of interest both to public and the country like corruption, black money and positive reforms of the system in a time bound manner,” he said.
Baba Ramdev said the ministers prima facie discussed the issues with seriousness.
The Ministers had parked themselves at the airport much before the scheduled arrival of Ramdev. Cabinet Secretary K.M. Chandrasekar was also along with the Ministers.
The Prime Minister had already gone the extra mile to persuade Ramdev not to go ahead with his hunger strike, promising him to find a “practical and pragmatic” solution to tackle the issue of corruption.
Dr. Singh had written a letter to Ramdev, “welcoming his constructive suggestions to improve governance“.
He also assured the yoga guru that the government was “eager to work with you and members of civil society towards building just and prosperous India“.