It is really news! The Income Tax Department has caught one of the biggest evader of tax, Hasan Ali,  Pune based owner of race horses, who is wanted for money-laundering and tax evasion of thousands of crores of rupees.Much of the money seems to be put in the Swiss Banks.

The Income Tax Department has initiated proceedings against Hasan Ali and filed case in Mumbai Court for concealment  of income and also to approach the Swiss Government for the information of the concealed amounts.

There is no doubt that there are many more such thugs who are evading tax and are involving themselves in all kinds of illegal activities. The Government should catch them.

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ONGC has started processing the disinvestment programmes for an additional 5% to get an estimated amount of Rs. 12,000 crore to the Government. The present share of government will fall from 74.14% to 69.14% after the sale. A meeting was held two days back in which the Fund managers LIC, SBI and others were there.

It is understood that the disinvestment of SAIL will be the next. Government is selling family silver one after another at cheap prices!

After the global recession,  there has been a revival of interest in the ‘Capital’, the famous three volumes book of Karl Marx. Now it is republished by the Left Word Book Publications, New Delhi.

The book was released on 4th February 2011 at a meeting in Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU)  attended by a large number of scholars and political leaders.

Our comrades should certainly read the book.

I along with Coms. Suresh Kumar, General Secretary and Ashokababu, Dy. General Secretary, BSNLEU met Shri R.Chandrasekhar, Secretary, DOT and discussed important issues facing the BSNL employees. The discussion took about one hour. Secretary, DOT assured that the Cabinet Note on ITS absorption will be submitted to the Government shortly and he expects that final decision may come by March. Regarding Pension Revision for pre-2007 BSNL retirees, the order will be issued without any further delay. Other issues connected with the development of services etc. were discussed. A detailed note will be published in the BSNLEU website.

Former Communications Minister A.Raja has been remanded to judicial custody 14 days and have been sent to Tihar Jail .

Big business czars are being questioned by the CBI – Reliance boss Anil Ambani questioned by CBI in connection with the 2G scam. Will Tata be the next?

After much exposure of the scam and causing further damage to the Government, it has decided to cancel the Antrix-Devas agreement, which was to hand over S-Band Spectrum to a private company Devas as also sending two satellites in to orbit for the commercial purpose of the private company to grab huge profit. The CAG has calculated the estimated loss to the government at about Rs. 2 lakh crore. This was a serious security concern also.

Now that the government has decided to cancel it, certain questions remain:

Why an agreement made in 2005, concerning the security of the nation as also huge loss to the nation not come to the notice of the government till it was raised by the CAG?

Devas Management says that the agreement has been signed with the knowledge of the PMO, foreign companies connected with the deal has met the Prime Minister and that the deal has been made with the knowledge of all concerned in the government. Then why no action was taken to terminate the agreement during these five years?

The Government has only cancelled the agreement. What about the actions against the culprits?

The government will have to answer these questions to the nation. The opposition will seriously raise these issues in the Parliament also.

The Press Conference with the TV channels by the Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh yesterday was eagerly waited for by the people. But nothing unexpected was there. I am giving below some comments made by party leaders / news papers on this press conference.

“Unpersuasive Interaction”- Hindu Editorial

” Manmohan’s interaction has betrayed his helplessness” – Nitin Gadkari, BJP President

“Miles to go Dr. Singh” “A pledge to end corruption must start with resolve to reform political funding.” – Editorial, Economic Times

” PM mentioned the word ‘coalition’ at least 16 times, often to explain that compromises were unavoidable in a coalition government. He described the scams as  ‘aberrations’, but acknowledged there was an ethical and governance deficit”. Times of India

“On two vital issues confronting the nation and the people, that is corruption and price rise, the PM has virtually thrown up his hand saying nothing much could be done. This is very unfortunate.” Sitaram Yechury, CPI(M).

” Why did the government not stop the loot by its own minister while allocating the spectrum with prior information?” – Gurudas Dasgupta, CPI

” The one claim that Dr. Singh made which he need not have, and which his critics did not miss the opportunity to attack him on that, was about the media demoralising the nation by its excessive focus on corruption in public life.”- Editorial, Business Standard.

The government has at last has conceded for constituting a Joint Parliament Committee on the 2G scam. After resisting the formation  of the JAC for more than three months and wasting the entire winter session of the Parliament,  the government has come to its senses and agreed to form the JAC. This was indicated by the PM Manmohan Singh during his meeting with the BJP leaders. During the Press Conference earlier in the day, the Prime Minister indicated the same thing. The announcement is expected to come before the start of the Budget session of the Parliament which is to start from 21st February 2011.

In the meantime other opposition parties including CPI(M) were contacted by the congress leaders on this issue.

Now the question arises. Why the decision for JAC was not taken earlier, which could have saved the Winter session of Parliament. The fact is that the government has agreed now  only because there was no other way for the government. It is  a success of the opposition and the people of the country.

Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh met the Press and answered questions for about 70 minutes on many subjects. Full details are awaited. But on the 2G spectrum deal he has stated that every thing is done by Raja. But the fact also came out that he did not intervene since Minister, TRAI etc. were all of the same oinion. Is it believable?

On the question of Antrix-Dewas agreement, it is reported that he kept silence.

Rest tomorrow.

Many of the private telecom companies who got 2G spectrum licence have been interrogated by CBI. They included Unitech, DB Reality, Loop Telecom and S-Tel. More companies are expected to be questioned. The above companies have made windfall profits by selling stakes to foreign companies after getting the spectrum at high prices.