In order to benefit a vast army of civilian public servants and comparatively a small number of Army men the Union Cabinet on Thursday accepted the recommendations of the Sixth Central Pay Commission with some modifications. The state governments, too, are expected to follow suit.
Financial prudence will say the Centre hasn’t chosen the best opportunity to do so. The raging inflation in the country is already taking its toll. The pay hikes will only lead to worsening of the situation, governmental assertions not withstanding.
Nearly 50 lakh employees will benefit at the cost of more than 110 crore tax-payers. The hapless people will have to fork-out an additional more than Rs. 22,000 crore annually. A sum over Rs. 29,373 crore will also has to be paid as their arrears.
The pay-packets of about 50 lakh government employees have gone up by at least 21 per cent.
The revised pay scales will come into effect from January 1, 2006 and the revised rates of allowances from September 1 this year. The arrears will be paid in cash in two installments, the first one of 40 per cent during 2008-09 and the remaining in the next financial year.
Showing posts with label National News and Comments. Show all posts
Showing posts with label National News and Comments. Show all posts
Friday, August 15, 2008
States, too, prepare to implement pay revisions
As the Centre has accepted the recommendations of the Sixth pay commission, the pressure on the states to follow suit will only grow. The Bihar Chief Minister, Nitish Kumar, thus, has urged the Centre to bear the additional financial burden It is interesting to note that most of the states in India are governed by the non-congress parties.
Nitish Kumar has sought cooperation from all the opposition parties in this regard. Since the resources of the states are limited, there will be too much of a financial burden for them to bear. The States, too, are expected to bear thousands of crore once they implement the pay revision.'
The chief minister said it would be unfair if the same scales are not offered to the state employees. The recommendations of the Fifth pay commission, too, were implemented by most of the states.
Nitish Kumar has sought cooperation from all the opposition parties in this regard. Since the resources of the states are limited, there will be too much of a financial burden for them to bear. The States, too, are expected to bear thousands of crore once they implement the pay revision.'
The chief minister said it would be unfair if the same scales are not offered to the state employees. The recommendations of the Fifth pay commission, too, were implemented by most of the states.
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Laloo denies wrongdoing
As expected, Railway Minister Lalu Prasad rejected as “baseless and malicious” charges that he had provided jobs in the railways to persons in exchange of land and buildings given to him and his family members.
The allegations of a ‘land-for-job’ scam were made by the president of the Bihar unit of the Janata Dal (United), Rajiv Ranjan Singh ‘Lallan’ on Tuesday.
Referring to land transactions finalised by members of Lalu’s family, a television sting had insinuated that the deals were for a quid pro quo arrangement.
Unmoved Laloo
Many of the transactions referred to by the TV channel do not relate to him or his family members. Lalu said,
“the case of land deals related to me are duly registered and payments of reasonable considerations have been made to the sellers.”
Lalu said the land transactions related to him and his family members were included in the property returns filed by him in Parliament and with the Prime Minister's Office, as required under the rules.
The TV sting also alleged that RJD MPs Raghunath Jha and Kanti Singh were rewarded with ministerial berths after they concluded land deals in favour of the Railway Minister’s family members.
No refutal of charges
In Patna, RJD leaders did not refute the charges of land transfers in the name of Lalu and his family members.
Instead, they claimed that the total value of the land was only Rs 13.89 lakh and not over Rs 100 crore as alleged by the JD(U).
The allegations of a ‘land-for-job’ scam were made by the president of the Bihar unit of the Janata Dal (United), Rajiv Ranjan Singh ‘Lallan’ on Tuesday.
Referring to land transactions finalised by members of Lalu’s family, a television sting had insinuated that the deals were for a quid pro quo arrangement.
Unmoved Laloo
Many of the transactions referred to by the TV channel do not relate to him or his family members. Lalu said,
“the case of land deals related to me are duly registered and payments of reasonable considerations have been made to the sellers.”
Lalu said the land transactions related to him and his family members were included in the property returns filed by him in Parliament and with the Prime Minister's Office, as required under the rules.
The TV sting also alleged that RJD MPs Raghunath Jha and Kanti Singh were rewarded with ministerial berths after they concluded land deals in favour of the Railway Minister’s family members.
No refutal of charges
In Patna, RJD leaders did not refute the charges of land transfers in the name of Lalu and his family members.
Instead, they claimed that the total value of the land was only Rs 13.89 lakh and not over Rs 100 crore as alleged by the JD(U).
BJP demands fresh delemitation of constotuencies in J&K
The BJP has demanded a fresh delimitation of constituencies in Jammu and Kashmir. It has claimed that the state’s existing electoral map did not do justice to the aspirations of the people of the Jammu region.
The party pointed out that Jammu region was larger than the Kashmir Valley, both in terms of population and area but still contributed fewer seats to the assembly and the Lok Sabha.
Election be held on schedule
However, the party wants the assembly polls in the state to be held on time. It did not want the delimitation exercise to come in its way.
The party hopes to use the delimitation demand to consolidate its hold in the Jammu region. The ongoing agitation launched by the people for the restoration of the land to the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board, it believes is the result of ‘pent-up feelings’ among them over decades of ‘neglect and discrimination’ at the hands of the successive governments.
Not then but now
The process of delimitation of assembly and parliamentary constituencies was entrusted to the Kuldip Singh Commission by the NDA government in 2002. At that time, however, the NDA government had agreed to exempt Jammu & Kashmir from the delimitation process.
The party pointed out that Jammu region was larger than the Kashmir Valley, both in terms of population and area but still contributed fewer seats to the assembly and the Lok Sabha.
Election be held on schedule
However, the party wants the assembly polls in the state to be held on time. It did not want the delimitation exercise to come in its way.
The party hopes to use the delimitation demand to consolidate its hold in the Jammu region. The ongoing agitation launched by the people for the restoration of the land to the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board, it believes is the result of ‘pent-up feelings’ among them over decades of ‘neglect and discrimination’ at the hands of the successive governments.
Not then but now
The process of delimitation of assembly and parliamentary constituencies was entrusted to the Kuldip Singh Commission by the NDA government in 2002. At that time, however, the NDA government had agreed to exempt Jammu & Kashmir from the delimitation process.
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Conflicting reports on Anees Ibrahim
It’s still not clear who the three persons detained at the airport at Jeddah in Saudi Arabia were. The versions as given by the Indian security agencies are typical to their character. More they try to clarify, more they appear to hide.
“We have information that three people have been detained at Jeddah airport. But there is no official confirmation and neither has anyone approached us yet." Mumbai’s Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime), said.
It’s not clear, again, who the Joint Commissioner was expecting to contact him. Did he expect the authorities at Jeddah to call him for a candle-light dinner and give him the details?
Uncertain reports
There were reports in the Indian media that Anees Ibrahim, brother of underworld don Dawood Ibrahim and two others were held at Jeddah in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday. Anees is one of those most wanted suspects in the 1993 Mumbai bomb blasts case. He was said to be trying to leave the country after a pilgrimage to Mecca.
Indian agencies were unable to confirm or deny the reports even after more than 24 hours.
The Indian mission in Saudi Arabia had passed on details of the passports and identity of Anees, who is wanted under an Interpol Red Corner notice, to local authorities but were yet to hear from them until late on Tuesday.
How naïve! Do the Indian sleuths expect criminals like Anees to travel with their regular papers? Or do they expect the Saudis to work for them?
History of non co-operation
Asking a local authority in a foreign state is ok. But India will have to fight for itself. There is no history of Saudi Arabia or, for that matter, any Islamic state to be sympathetic towards India. More so, when the Muslim fundamentalists are involved.
Some sources say, Anees Ibrahim Kaskar was travelling under the name Sayed Omar Haji Ebrahim and carrying a Pakistani passport. The other two are suspected to be Salim Chiplun travelling as Sikander Khan, S/o Iqbal Khan and Shamsher Dawood as Shafi Bawa, S/o Ahmed Bawa.
Sources in Gujarat said that Shamsher Dawood is none other than Sharifkhan Pathan, sharpshooter of former Ahmedabad underworld don Abdul Latif Abdul Wahab Shaikh.
Pathan is wanted by Gujarat Police for a number of offences including counterfeiting, forgery, crime involving the use of weapons and explosives, terrorism, thefts and kidnapping among others. A Red Corner notice has been issued against Pathan by the Interpol at the behest of CBI.
Held and released
A report in The Indian Express says, Anees, who is wanted in Mumbai for training youths for the blasts, is also wanted by Gujarat Police in at least one case. If confirmed, it would not be the first time that Anees has been detained in a Middle-Eastern country.
He is known to have been held in Dubai twice since 1996 and once in Bahrain about a decade ago. But each time he was let off for want of evidence.
In 2002, Dubai is believed to have deported him to Pakistan despite the CBI sending an extradition request saying he was one of the main conspirators in the Mumbai blasts.
Fingerprint identication
Security sources said that if Anees’s detention is confirmed, a newly introduced fingerprint identity system at Jeddah airport would have led to the breakthrough.
Although Anees as well as Dawood are known to travel around the region by faking their identities and passports, Indian agencies have fingerprints of both on record and they have been circulated through Interpol.
The fingerprint system was introduced by Saudi Arabia’s Interior Ministry about six months ago to plug a loophole in its immigration system which was apparently being misused by people who entered the country on Umrah Visas and stayed on illegally and sought employment.
Numerous passports
Anees, sources said, is known to have passports of India, Pakistan and the U.A.E. He has performed Umrah several times. Although India does not have an extradition treaty with Saudi Arabia, some officials said they were hopeful of progress if his detention is confirmed.
“We have information that three people have been detained at Jeddah airport. But there is no official confirmation and neither has anyone approached us yet." Mumbai’s Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime), said.
It’s not clear, again, who the Joint Commissioner was expecting to contact him. Did he expect the authorities at Jeddah to call him for a candle-light dinner and give him the details?
Uncertain reports
There were reports in the Indian media that Anees Ibrahim, brother of underworld don Dawood Ibrahim and two others were held at Jeddah in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday. Anees is one of those most wanted suspects in the 1993 Mumbai bomb blasts case. He was said to be trying to leave the country after a pilgrimage to Mecca.
Indian agencies were unable to confirm or deny the reports even after more than 24 hours.
The Indian mission in Saudi Arabia had passed on details of the passports and identity of Anees, who is wanted under an Interpol Red Corner notice, to local authorities but were yet to hear from them until late on Tuesday.
How naïve! Do the Indian sleuths expect criminals like Anees to travel with their regular papers? Or do they expect the Saudis to work for them?
History of non co-operation
Asking a local authority in a foreign state is ok. But India will have to fight for itself. There is no history of Saudi Arabia or, for that matter, any Islamic state to be sympathetic towards India. More so, when the Muslim fundamentalists are involved.
Some sources say, Anees Ibrahim Kaskar was travelling under the name Sayed Omar Haji Ebrahim and carrying a Pakistani passport. The other two are suspected to be Salim Chiplun travelling as Sikander Khan, S/o Iqbal Khan and Shamsher Dawood as Shafi Bawa, S/o Ahmed Bawa.
Sources in Gujarat said that Shamsher Dawood is none other than Sharifkhan Pathan, sharpshooter of former Ahmedabad underworld don Abdul Latif Abdul Wahab Shaikh.
Pathan is wanted by Gujarat Police for a number of offences including counterfeiting, forgery, crime involving the use of weapons and explosives, terrorism, thefts and kidnapping among others. A Red Corner notice has been issued against Pathan by the Interpol at the behest of CBI.
Held and released
A report in The Indian Express says, Anees, who is wanted in Mumbai for training youths for the blasts, is also wanted by Gujarat Police in at least one case. If confirmed, it would not be the first time that Anees has been detained in a Middle-Eastern country.
He is known to have been held in Dubai twice since 1996 and once in Bahrain about a decade ago. But each time he was let off for want of evidence.
In 2002, Dubai is believed to have deported him to Pakistan despite the CBI sending an extradition request saying he was one of the main conspirators in the Mumbai blasts.
Fingerprint identication
Security sources said that if Anees’s detention is confirmed, a newly introduced fingerprint identity system at Jeddah airport would have led to the breakthrough.
Although Anees as well as Dawood are known to travel around the region by faking their identities and passports, Indian agencies have fingerprints of both on record and they have been circulated through Interpol.
The fingerprint system was introduced by Saudi Arabia’s Interior Ministry about six months ago to plug a loophole in its immigration system which was apparently being misused by people who entered the country on Umrah Visas and stayed on illegally and sought employment.
Numerous passports
Anees, sources said, is known to have passports of India, Pakistan and the U.A.E. He has performed Umrah several times. Although India does not have an extradition treaty with Saudi Arabia, some officials said they were hopeful of progress if his detention is confirmed.
Another UPA 'deal' comes to light
Clearly indicating this to be a deal between him and the UPA government that was desperately looking for support during the vote-of-confidence in the Parliament, ‘convicted-by-the-court-and-saved by-the-politicians’ criminal and JMM chief Shibu Soren on Tuesday staked claim for Chief Ministership of Jharkhand. Soren claimed that "the decision regarding making me Jharkhand CM was taken long back but it is getting delayed. Hence, we withdraw support for Koda government if he does not resign now."
He also claimed that the "UPA high command has directed Madhu Koda to resign. I will take oath as new CM soon".
The JMM leader claimed that besides Chief Ministership to him, the party will also be getting two portfolios, one cabinet rank and another a minister for state berth, in the Union Cabinet
Earlier, Soren had supported the UPA in the confidence motion on July 22 on certain conditions.
Lalu is not opposed to Soren
Lalu, who was earlier firmly opposed to any change of guard in Jharkhand, today declared support to Soren.
The RJD of Laloo has substantial political stakes in Jharkhand and most fodder scam cases against him are also at different stages of trial in the state. A favourable CM, under the circumstances, is sure a great help.
He also claimed that the "UPA high command has directed Madhu Koda to resign. I will take oath as new CM soon".
The JMM leader claimed that besides Chief Ministership to him, the party will also be getting two portfolios, one cabinet rank and another a minister for state berth, in the Union Cabinet
Earlier, Soren had supported the UPA in the confidence motion on July 22 on certain conditions.
Lalu is not opposed to Soren
Lalu, who was earlier firmly opposed to any change of guard in Jharkhand, today declared support to Soren.
The RJD of Laloo has substantial political stakes in Jharkhand and most fodder scam cases against him are also at different stages of trial in the state. A favourable CM, under the circumstances, is sure a great help.
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
BJP feels vindicated after vote-for-money-tape telecast
After the telecast of the 'cash for vote' sting operation tapes by a private channel, BJP on Monday claimed it has "conclusively established" that UPA Government have won the trust vote by "dubious means".
Party spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad said, "The sting operation conclusively establishes that the Manmohan Singh Government has established its majority in Parliament on July 22 by dubious means,"
The telecast also confirms Amar Singh's role in "procuring MPs" to support UPA Government.
"The tapes telecast by CNN-IBN confirms that Amar Singh was a key player in the 'operation procurement' of MPs for UPA in the trust vote," he said.
Party spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad said, "The sting operation conclusively establishes that the Manmohan Singh Government has established its majority in Parliament on July 22 by dubious means,"
The telecast also confirms Amar Singh's role in "procuring MPs" to support UPA Government.
"The tapes telecast by CNN-IBN confirms that Amar Singh was a key player in the 'operation procurement' of MPs for UPA in the trust vote," he said.
India objects to Pakistani remark
India on Tuesday objected sharply to Pakistan's attempts to link the ongoing protests in Jammu and Kashmir to the peace process between the two countries.
Pakistan Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi had said that the current situation in Kashmir has affected the environment for talks with India. He also said that Indo-Pak peace process would be hindered if violence in the Valley persisted.
In reply, India has strongly warned Pakistan against "interfering in its internal matters".
Pakistan Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi had said that the current situation in Kashmir has affected the environment for talks with India. He also said that Indo-Pak peace process would be hindered if violence in the Valley persisted.
In reply, India has strongly warned Pakistan against "interfering in its internal matters".
Manipur government seeks CBI probe into Monika Devi case
The Manipur Government has formally requested the Centre on Monday for a CBI probe into the Monika Devi case. The "manipulative game" played by the bureaucratic beasts at IOA and Sports Authority of India (SAI) effectively kept the weightlifter Monika Devi out of the Beijing Olympics.
The State chief secretary on behalf of the government wrote a letter to the Union Secretary Satyananda Mishra, Ministry of Personnel and Public Grievances, seeking a CBI probe into Monika's doping charges. A copy of the letter has also been sent to the CBI director, Ashwani Kumar.
Manipur Chief Minister, O Ibobi Singh, is camping in New Delhi on the issue. He also wrote a letter to the Prime Minister seeking the CBI inquiry on a priority basis.
The Union Government is yet to react on the probe. However, Monika was cleared of doping charges only on the intervention of the PMO.
The State chief secretary on behalf of the government wrote a letter to the Union Secretary Satyananda Mishra, Ministry of Personnel and Public Grievances, seeking a CBI probe into Monika's doping charges. A copy of the letter has also been sent to the CBI director, Ashwani Kumar.
Manipur Chief Minister, O Ibobi Singh, is camping in New Delhi on the issue. He also wrote a letter to the Prime Minister seeking the CBI inquiry on a priority basis.
The Union Government is yet to react on the probe. However, Monika was cleared of doping charges only on the intervention of the PMO.
Monday, August 11, 2008
BJP charges government unwilling to face Parliament
BJP has charged the Congress-led UPA government to be "afraid" of convening the monsoon session of Parliament. The party claims that the government is not prepared to discuss important issues in the House.
"It is for the first time in the history of Parliament that monsoon session, which normally commences by July end, is yet to start. It seems the government is afraid of facing the opposition after it has won the confidence vote by using unfair means," BJP vice-president M Venkaiah Naidu said in a press conference here today.
"The inflation rate is above 12 per cent and it seems the government is unable to control it. There is a spurt in terrorist activities also," he said referring to serial blasts in Jaipur, Bangalore and Ahmedabad.
Regarding the Amarnath land row, he said the party leaders and workers will take part in the three-day-long nation-wide agitation. The movement begins on Monday during which they would court arrest before the Raj Bhawan in all the states.
"It is for the first time in the history of Parliament that monsoon session, which normally commences by July end, is yet to start. It seems the government is afraid of facing the opposition after it has won the confidence vote by using unfair means," BJP vice-president M Venkaiah Naidu said in a press conference here today.
"The inflation rate is above 12 per cent and it seems the government is unable to control it. There is a spurt in terrorist activities also," he said referring to serial blasts in Jaipur, Bangalore and Ahmedabad.
Regarding the Amarnath land row, he said the party leaders and workers will take part in the three-day-long nation-wide agitation. The movement begins on Monday during which they would court arrest before the Raj Bhawan in all the states.
Sunday, August 10, 2008
Fake currency notes have always been around
India has always been a target of 'economic terrorism.' Friends and foes alike, it has been subjected by a number of countries, to a free inflow of fake currency notes. Pakistan is only a very small player compared to what the Russians have been doing in their heydays. The God must be thanked for the fact that the fearful 'friend,' that the USSR was, does no longer exist.
Counterfeit currency is a tool of state warfare. If Pakistan is pumping in such paper money, its natural. India and only India itself must find a way to protect itself from such a onslaught.
Expect that Pakistan must also have the willing concent, or otherwise, of the USA.
In the past, the Russians were known to fund their favourite journalists, the Communists and of cource the politicians who carried the banner of the 'USSR being a friend of India.' Bagfuls of fake currency notes arrived through diplomatic channels, particularly at the time of Parliamentary elections.
If there has been a rise in number of such cases coming to light, its because the culprits have become lenient. Its not for nothing that the catch was unearthed in a nationalised bank branch. The SBI staff working there must have been given some sort of training to identify the counterfeit money. Haven't they? How come they have not been able to identify such a huge amount of money, all in shape of Rs1000 notes, for such a long time?
The case has naturally been transfered to the CBI, the best agency in India to protect the powerful and crush the helpless. The matter would now go to some sort of investigation that would last till eternity.
People are expected to be forgetful.
Counterfeit currency is a tool of state warfare. If Pakistan is pumping in such paper money, its natural. India and only India itself must find a way to protect itself from such a onslaught.
Expect that Pakistan must also have the willing concent, or otherwise, of the USA.
In the past, the Russians were known to fund their favourite journalists, the Communists and of cource the politicians who carried the banner of the 'USSR being a friend of India.' Bagfuls of fake currency notes arrived through diplomatic channels, particularly at the time of Parliamentary elections.
If there has been a rise in number of such cases coming to light, its because the culprits have become lenient. Its not for nothing that the catch was unearthed in a nationalised bank branch. The SBI staff working there must have been given some sort of training to identify the counterfeit money. Haven't they? How come they have not been able to identify such a huge amount of money, all in shape of Rs1000 notes, for such a long time?
The case has naturally been transfered to the CBI, the best agency in India to protect the powerful and crush the helpless. The matter would now go to some sort of investigation that would last till eternity.
People are expected to be forgetful.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
