Monthly Archives: September 2013

Sitaram Yechury writes to JPC Chairman

29 Sunday Sep 2013

Posted by in 2G Scam Corruption

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New Delhi, Sep 26 Ahead of a crucial meeting of JPC on 2G scam, senior CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury has submitted a dissent note to its Chairman P C Chacko, alleging the panel has failed to live up to its mandate by not quizzing the Prime Minister and the Finance Minister on the issue.

Claiming that the report of Joint Parliamentary Committee was prepared without consultations with its members, Yechury, one of the 30 JPC members, strongly objected to the “failure” of the panel to call all material witnesses, including the Prime Minister, and relying solely on the written submissions of former Telecom Minister A Raja.

Noting that even Raja was not provided an opportunity to provide oral evidence or face cross-examination by JPC, Yechury said in the 32-page note that the report has made “selective” use of the evidence.

He said several crucial questions, which were to have been replied by the Prime Minister and the Finance Minister, had remained unanswered as both were not called by JPC.

In a covering letter to his note, the CPI(M) leader said JPC had In a covering letter to his note, the CPI(M) leader said JPC had “failed” to adequately discharge the mandate given to it by Parliament.

In his dissent note, Yechury is believed to have written about the alleged roles played by the Prime Minister, the Finance Minister and the Minister of Communication and IT in the scam.

Apart from raising procedural irregularities in JPC’s functioning, he is believed to have raised issues relating to undervaluation of Universal Access Service (UAS) licenses allocated in 2006-08, presumptive losses on account of allocation of these licenses and spectrum in 2007-08, “failure” to appropriately deal with TRAI recommendations and to examine the issue of licences to the private firms.

Comprehensive Change in Electoral Laws required – Left Parties.

28 Saturday Sep 2013

Posted by in General

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New Delhi, Sep 27 Terming Supreme Court’s verdict on negative vote as a “minor” aspect of electoral reforms, Left parties today sought comprehensive changes in electoral laws, including steps to curb money and muscle power.

“The CPI(M) has been advocating comprehensive electoral reforms but these important issues have not been placed by the government before Parliament so far,” the party Politburo said in a statement.

Describing the Supreme Court judgment to include a ‘no vote’ on the ballot as “only a minor aspect” of poll reforms, it said “these matters are being dealt with in a piecemeal way by the judiciary.”

What was required was “comprehensive electoral reforms including the issue of proportional representation, urgent steps to curb money and muscle power, which must be discussed and adopted by Parliament”. the CPI(M) said.

The CPI welcomed the verdict but said it “does not rule out the possibility of a tainted and criminal candidate getting elected on the basis of the ‘first past post’ system”.

In a statement, it said the Left parties have been campaigning for comprehensive electoral reforms to provide for “proportional representation and prevent the use of money and muscle power to distort the people’s verdict”.

“A one-shot decision like the above alone will not serve the purpose of cleansing the electoral system,” the CPI said, calling for a push towards comprehensive electoral reforms which was “the need of the hour”.

In a landmark verdict, the Supreme Court today held that citizens have right to cast negative vote rejecting all candidates contesting polls, a decision which would encourage people not satisfied with contestants to turn up for voting.

REVIVAL OF BSNL – Forum on the move.

28 Saturday Sep 2013

Posted by in BSNL - Better Service to the Nation

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After the historic National Convention of BSNL Employees on “Revival of BSNL” on 3rd August 2013, the Forum continues its work in right earnest. Kerala Circle has successfully conducted the Circle Convention at Trichur. U.P.(East) Circle has scheduled the Convention on 15th of October. Other circles are also planning to hold the same. The Forum of BSNL Unions/Associations, Circle units should take initiative.
As far as the National Forum is concerned, after the Convention, the Forum has met many Members of Parliament during the last session. Letters enclosing the copy of the Declaration adopted at the National Convention have been sent to about 100 prominent MPs of all parties, including many Ministers. Some of the M.P.s like Basudeb Acharya, Gurudas DasGupta, P.R.Natarajan Khagan Das, Dr. Sanjeeva Redddy and others have written to the Prime Minister / Finance Minister / Communications Minister forwarding our Memorandum / Declaration adopted in the Convention. We thank them all.
The Forum has written to all the Chief Ministers of the States forwarding the Declaration and requesting for support and also to ensure that all the state government Departments and state PSUs are mandated to use BSNL Services.
The Editors of Newspapers have been approached for giving wide publicity to our campaign for Revival of BSNL. The Convener personally met some of the Editors/Correspondents and requested for publishing supportive write ups.
The Forum Convener has also written to the All India Federations / Unions like Confederation of Central Govt. Employees and Workers, NFPE, AIIEA, AIDEF, BEFI, AISGEF etc. and requested for support and solidarity in our campaign.

The Group of Ministers have already taken some decisions on the points we also raised. It has recommended to the government to refund the Spectrum Charges both to BSNL and MTNL. More close co-ordination between BSNL and MTNL is being envisaged. The Secretary DOT and other top officers have mentioned well about our efforts.

The 13th Anniversary of the formation of BSNL falls on 1st October 2013. Let our campaign and effort be increased in the 14th year of BSNL. This financial year (2012-13) it is stated that the loss has come down a little. Our effort should ensure that in 2013-14, there is no loss.

If the 2.5 laklh employees, their organisations and the BSNL Management put all their effort for strengthening BSNL and pressurise the government to implement its assurances, it is sure that there will be good improvement in development and services. Let us make sustained effort towards this goal. BSNL is sure to survive and strengthened.

Revolutionary Homage to Shaheed Bhagat Singh on Birth Anniversary

28 Saturday Sep 2013

Posted by in Obituary, Tributes

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Shaheed Bhagat Singh: Date of Birth 28th September 1907
: Date of Martyrdom 23rd March 1931

23 years of short life and Martyrdom of Comrade Bhagat Singh strengthened the Independence Struggle and attracted lakhs and lakhs of young men to the revolutionary movement.

Revolutionary Greetings and Homage on the Birth Anniversary of Shaheed Bhagat Singh!

NOTA – Rejection in Election

28 Saturday Sep 2013

Posted by in General

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The Supreme Court on 27th September ordered that the voter has got the right to negative voting, meaning that he can reject all the candidates and vote as ‘None Of The Above'(NOTA), for which a separate button in the Election Voting Machine (EVM) has to be provided.
This is a decision giving the voter to reject the candidates and express his disapproval. This proposal has been pending for some time and now the SC has given the ruling. At the same time, the political parties are divided on this issue, with regard to what will be the impact and reaction from the people.

The Election Commission has already started preparation, since the elections are due in some states.

Standing Committee opposes Bank Licences for corporates

28 Saturday Sep 2013

Posted by in PSU

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The proposal of the UPA-II government to give bank licences to the corporates and big business has been opposed not only by the bank employees, but others also, who are connected with the bank industry. They know that what happened earlier when the private banks were operating. It neither helped the people nor did they grow. In fact the people were cheated. That is why the government at that time nationalised them. Despite that position 12 private banks were set up after 1993, as part of the neo-liberailsation policy. But, as per reports, except one bank, all others have disappeared. At the same time it is the growth and functioning of the Nationalised banks that the global recession did not hit India in the same harsh way it did US and Euro countries.

Now, the Parliament Standing Committee on Finance, to which the matter was referred to by the Parliament has unanimously demanded the government to drop the ill-advised proposal to grant licences to the Industrial and corporate houses. It is interesting that Rahul Gandhi, Congress Vice-President is one of the members of the panel and that the report was unanimous.

It is better for the government to drop the proposal of starting such new banks. It is not in the interest of the nation.

Pay Commission for CG Employees – Crocodile tears by corporates

26 Thursday Sep 2013

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The corporates and big business have started to shed crocodile tears for the finance condition of the country, after the decision of the government to form the VII CPC has been announced. Of course, whatever happens, there will be increase of the salary of employees, which is fully justified. But even the highest salary ( which probably is that of the Cabinet Secretary, being the topmost civil officer in the country) is nothing compared to that of the corporate honchos. Their salaries are in the range of anything from Rs. 10 crore to Rs. 50 crore per annum. Can any civil servant reach there? No. Then why these corporates and big business are shedding crocodile tears in the name of financial condition of the country?

If the media reports and other reports are to be believed these are the same people who avoid repaying loans of hundreds of crores of rupees to the banks. These are the same people who avoid payment of taxes by cheating the government. What right they have to say about the meagre increase in the wages of the employees?

Central Govt. Announces VII Central Pay Commission

25 Wednesday Sep 2013

Posted by in TU News - India

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The central Govt. today decided for formation of the VII Central Pay Commission which will recommend the new pay revision for the 85 and odd lakh central government employees and pensioners including the defence personnel. The recommendation of the CPC will be with effect from 1st January 2016. Probably this is the first time that the CPC has been constituted more than 2 years back. The Central govt. employees had demanded for pay revision with effect from 01-01-2011 after 5 years of the last CPC, the recommendations of which were implemented from 01-01-2006. The appointment of this CPC and the statement of Finance Minister P.Chidambaram that the recommendations of this CPC will be w.e.f. 01-01-2016 is against the demand of the Confederation of CGE and workers.

Now for the last 3 CPCs, the period has been 10 years each, but earlier the period was longer. The I CPC recommendations were implemented from 1946, II CPC from 01-01-1960, III CPC from 1974, IV from 1986, V from 01-01-1996 and the VI CPC from 01-01-2006. Now the present VII CPC will be effected from 01-01-2016.

The present announcement of the government is, of course, with an eye on the coming elections both in some states and the Parliament elections in 2014. Most of the states implement the CPC recommendations for their employees also.

Next Spectrum Auction in January 2014

24 Tuesday Sep 2013

Posted by in Telecom

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It is reported that the next auction of the spectrum will be conducted in January 2014, as per the Secretary, Telecom, Shri M.F.Farooqui. This will be the third auction so far. It is expected to get about Rs. 11,000 crore from the auction according to the Telecom Secretary.
The minimum bid price etc. will be decided by the Empowered Group of Ministers (EGoM) on Spectrum.

The centenarians increase, Andhra first

24 Tuesday Sep 2013

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A very interesting and happy news for the elders in the country. There are lakhs of people who are aged 100 years or more. In South Indian states Andhra Pradesh alone, there are 27,985 centenarians followed by 22,757 in Karnataka, 12,654 in T.Nadu and 5,431 in Kerala.
There are thousands of centenarians in other states also. Thus India has got lakhs of centenarians.