Strange things are happening in the government. Reports indicate that the Finance Minister’s office has been bugged and adhesives are found though not the actual bugging devises. North Block of the Central Secretariat is a very important and well protected place housing the Finance and other crucial ministries.

But however, Pranab Mukherjee, Finance Minister has played down the incident telling the media that ‘don’t waste your time’, ‘it is bogus’ etc.

The question to be asked are, ‘who have bugged’ office? Is it corporate houses who are very much interested in the decisions of the Finance Ministry or somebody in the government itself? Otherwise why the Finanace Minister is avoiding the question?

For the year 2010-2011 the EPF organisation had declared 9.5% interest which was the long pending demands of the Central Trade Unions. While the Labour Ministry agreed for 9.5% the Finance Ministry objected the same. However it was finally decided for 9.5%. The Finance Ministry was opposing that there is no sufficient surplus with the EPFO for giving 9-5% and an audit was conducted to find out the real position. It has turned out from the audit now that there are more surplus than anticipated when the 9.5% interest was declared.
As such, the EPFO and the Government should decide and declare 9.5% interest for 2011-2012 also without any further delay.

The people in the Jagatsighpur District observed ” Black Day” today protesting against the forceful land acquistion by the state government for the MNC POSCO STEEL PLANT. The people has been continuously organising demonstrations, rasto roko, rallies etc. as also bandh.It was on 22nd June 2005 that the Orissa Government signed the Memorandum of Understanding with the POSCO for the steel project. Left parties strobgly supported the agitation and addressed the meetings arranged by the agitators.

The Left parties have announced that they will organise meetings throughout the country on 24th June in support of the agitation.

At least for the present, the people of Odisha has been able to stop the land acquisition by the state government for the steel project of the Multi National Company, POSCO. After the central government gave eco clearance, the state government has been in a hurry to acquire the agricultural and forest land on which the local people depend for their existence. The people has been organising sustained struggle and blockading the police and other authorities from entering the area for acquisition. Police lathi charged and used force, but the people were determined to save their land.
As a result, the state government has for the present, postponed the acquisition. But unless there is continued vigilance and struggle, the government which is waiting for a reprieve will restart again.

The decision of the TRAI to ban pesky calls and SMSs from 15th August 2011 will be a great relief for the harassed subscribers. At present the subscribers are imposed on by the unwanted calls and SMSs to such an extend that they are afraid of what will the SMS and who will be calling. And many of the SMSs are vulgar and completely unacceptable. Further, in many cases they are being charged also.
Four times the TRAI has postponed the decisions earlier due to pressure from the telecom and advertising companies who get the maximum benefits from the same. There should be severe punishment for violating these orders.
Let us hope this decision will be implemented from the Independence day itself – an independence from harassment.