Monthly Archives: December 2012

$ 123 billion Black Money taken out of India in 2001-10

19 Wednesday Dec 2012

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A study released by Global Financial Integrity (GFI) has revealed that $123 billion has been siphoned out of india during the ten years period from 2001 to 2010. India is the eighth largest victim of the loss of black money to other countries.
There need be no doubt about the above report. Whether it is Swiss Bank Accounts or money put in other similar banks and countries, India’s money has been siphoned off in a big way. The government is not taking any action to recover the same even after some information are received about the Indian accounts is swiss banks. High profile politicians and corporates are involved.
The issue of black money need to be focussed and the government should be compelled to take stringent action to bring it back and also punish the culprits, however high he/she may be.

Insurance Bill will not come in this session of Parliament

19 Wednesday Dec 2012

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Shri P.Chidambaram, Finance Minister stated that the Insurance Bill will not be taken in this winter session of Parliament. So far so good.
The Left Parties and the Insurance workers under the leadership of AIIEA have been continuously protesting against the proposed bill since the intention of the bill is to allow the MNCs to come to this sector in a big way with more FDI which is against the interest of the nation and the nationalised life insurance and general insurance companies.

Of course, there will be a big fight in the budget session if the bill is moved.

BSNL-MTNL Workers on Dharna -Report in Ganashakti

18 Tuesday Dec 2012

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New Delhi, December 17: As per the call of the Joint Forum of BSNL & MTNL Unions/Associations, massive dharnasare organised today, 17th December 2012 in the circle and SSA headquarters all over India demanding immediate repatriation of the BSNL non-optee ITS officers, procurement of equipment and materials for BSNL & MTNL to provide better service, adequate compensation for BSNL land-line operations which are loss making, immediate refund of BWA spectrum charges to BSNL & MTNL, justified sanction of funds from USO Fund, Pension to MTNL retirees by Government as in the case of BSNL, Immediate Presidential directive for 78.2% IDA fixation etc. The dharna will continue tomorrow, 18th December, also.

Despite Delhi High Court directive to repatriate the BSNL non-optee ITS officers who are on continued deputation for 12 years in BSNL &MTNL in violation of the existing rules, the BSNL management and the government are trying to get a cabinet decision for their permanent deputation. This is completely against the interest of the companies and also for their development and expansion. The workers demand is that there cannot be two types of employees in these PSUs, one absorbed in the companies and the other on permanent deputation. One of the main reason for the present financial difficulty and loss for both the PSUs is that the top brass are all officers on deputation, who are not much worried about the loss to the company. It is, therefore, that the workers are demanding the immediate repatriation of these 1400 and odd non-optee ITS officers.

The non-procurement of equipment and materials has been another main reason for the posting of loss to both the companies, BSNL & MTNL. The assurance given by the Government that it will allot sufficient funds from USO Fund for loss making land line connections, reimburse the Licence Fee paid etc. have been stopped. The government took away all the Rs. 40,000 crore surplus cash with the BSNL towards 2G-BWA Spectrum charges etc. The Joint Forum is demanding that all these should be returned to the PSUs.

Memorandum has been presented to the Prime Minister, Communications Minister, and Secretary DOT as also CMDs of BSNL & MTNL, but no action has been taken by them to settle the issues mentioned above. Not even a serious discussion has taken place in the matter. A Parliament March with thousands of workers was organised a few days back demanding the settlement of issues at the earliest.

In Delhi, the workers organised dharna in the BSNL corporate office premises which was addressed by M.K.Bagchi, Chairman, V.A.N.Namboodiri, Convener, Joint Forum of BSNL & MTNL Unions and Associations, P.Abhimanyu, Prahlad Rai, V.K.Tomar and other leaders.

(Ganashakti)

Homage to Comrade Suseela Gopalan

18 Tuesday Dec 2012

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On this 11th death anniversary,I remember and pay homage to Com. Suseela Gopalan, senior CPI(M) leader, former Member of Parliament and also the founder President of the All India Democratic Womens Association(AIDWA) who left us on 19th December 2001.
As life partner to Com. AKG, she was always with him in the many struggles for the emancipation of the working class and had braved many difficulties. She took the issues of the workers in and outside Parliament and fought relentlessly for their cause. She was a fierce fighter for the cause of women.
I had long association with Com. Suseela Gopalan. She helped in taking up our issues and settling them with the government. In many of our conferences she came and addressed.
My respectful homage to the memory of Com. Suseela Gopalan!

Gang Rape – National Shame, Capital Shame

18 Tuesday Dec 2012

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The Nation is shocked and outraged on the gang-rape in the bus in Delhi and the brutal attack. The girl is in the most serious condition in hospital. Delhi has become one of the most criminal cities in the world. It is not safe for women.
The situation has to be changed. There should be serious punishment for the culprits. The government and the police should come up with protective measures, stringent punishments for the culprits, fast-track courts. The society has to condemn and come to the defence of the victims. All of us have to jointly put strong effort to ensure that such harassment and attack on the women are put an end to.

More PSUs in Selloff line

17 Monday Dec 2012

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After somehow managing to pass the FDI in retail resolution in Parliament, the UPA government is aggressively pursuing the disinvestment process of PSU shares. It is reported that the government may disinvest shares in NTPC, Oil India, SAIL, NALCO, and Hind Copper to mop up about Rs.23,000 crore by the end of this financial year.
The Central trade Unions have to continue with its anti-disinvestment protest and the unions in each of these PSUs have to strongly resist the disinvestment move. Selling the nation’s assets to the MNCs and Corporates has to be resisted and stopped.

AIBDPA observes Pensioners’ Day

17 Monday Dec 2012

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The circle and district branches of All India BSNL-DOT Pensioners Association (AIBDPA) organised general body meetings, rallies, seminars etc. in connection with the Pensioners’ Day on 17th December. The union is observing the day in connection with the historic judgement given by Supreme Court on 17th December 1982,in D.S.Nakera Vs Government of India case declaring that Pension is not a charity but the right and pensioners cannot be discriminated on the basis of their date of retirement. This is a Magna carta of the Pensioners all over the country.
In the rallies and meetings, the leaders explained the judgement and also pointed out the anti-pensioner move of the government to pass the PFRDA Bill, against the interest of the workers and the pensioners. This attack on the security of the pensioners has to be opposed and defeated.

Women more secure in Left ruled Tripura-Brinda Karat

17 Monday Dec 2012

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CPI(M) Politburo member Brinda Karat yesterday said at Agartala that women are most secured in Tripura, both economically and physically because the Left Front Government and her party always stand by the women for their protection.
“Whenever women are tortured in Tripura the government and our party act together for redress and protection. The government has taken up many schemes for their empowerment and education. Women are most secured in this state economically and physically,” Brinda said while addressing a gathering of women organised by the Democratic Women’s Association.
Brinda criticised the Congress led UPA government for allowing FDI in retail on the plea that in the course of unemployment, the women in the country would be most sufferer because many women are were doing small business in retail counters.
She said 14 parties had opposed FDI in the parliament “but prime minister Manmohan Singh was adamant to invite Wallmart in India wh.ich would destroy the economy of the country.”
“Prime Minister might be able to manipulate parliament but would not be able to manipulate the people of the country. We will continue to oppose it (FDI) and launch a movement throughout the state so that it could not be implemented,” she claimed.

Rs. 600 sufficient for a family of 5 – Sheila Dikshit CM

17 Monday Dec 2012

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It seems that the top ruling political leaders have lost their connection with aam admi. The report in the press about the statement of Smt. Sheela Dikshit, Chief Minister of Delhi once again confirm the same. She has told the press that Rs. 600/-now being given as cash transfer to the poor will be sufficient/adequate for a family of five for one month for the necessities. It means that Rs. 4 will be suficient for a person for one day! What Nonsense! Can the head of a state utter such Nonsense?

A few months back Dy. Chairman, Planning Commission, Dr. Montek Ahluwalia has stateed that Rs. 26/- is sufficient for a person to live a day.Even according to that Rs. 780/- is necessary for a person for a month. That statement itself was severely criticised by the people and media. Now the Delhi CM has reduced it to Rs. 120/- for person for one month.
The ruling class is worried about the corporates and rich only. They have scant considerration for the poor and needy. The CM’s statement exactly shows this disdain for the poor.

Two Days Dharna started by Joint Forum

17 Monday Dec 2012

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The two days dharna in front of SSA/Circle/Corporate office/s of BSNL and MTNL has started from today, 17th december 2012 as per the call of the Joint Forum of BSNL and MTNL Unions/Associations. The demands include Repatriation of ITS officers, procurement of equipments, Financial assistance for BSNL and MTNL, 78.2% IDA fixation, Government Pension for MTNL staff as in the case BSNL employees etc.

According to reports received so far, the programme is a complete success all over India.In Corporate Office, Delhi, the dharna was organised in front of the BSNL Corporate Office. Hundreds of workers from BSNL and MTNL assembled and participated. Comrades M.K.Bagchi, Chairman, Joint Forum, Prahlad Rai, P.Abhimanyu, K.Sebastin, V.K.Tomar and other leaders spoke. In my address, I pointed out the anti-workingpolicies of the government and the progrmmes planned by the Central Trade Unions against the same including the Parliament March on 20th December and called upon the workers to participate in the same. Other comrades who spoke also supported the same.
The dharna will continue tomorrow also.