LALGARH Revolts against PERSECUTION Infinite and the SIEZE! Get ready to face fresh terror attacks from Pak, PM tells CMs.Govt says these are drought times, PM says no need to panic. Terrorism, insurgency, naxalism poses threat to internal security: Chidambaram
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Partners target CPM on Lalgarh, inflation - 17 hours ago Kolkata On the twin issues of inflation and Lalgarh stalemate, the Left Front government on Sunday faced severe criticisms from the Front partners. ...Expressindia.com - 8 related articles »All is not lost in Lalgarh, operations to go on: Buddha - Indian Express - 38 related articles »Forces may get longer Lalgarh stint - Times of India - 17 related articles »Lalgarh (Midnapore) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Lalgarh is the headquarters of Binpur–I CD block. Midnapore Railway station is the nearest important station about 45 km from the village. ...
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Police and Central forces, in Lalgarh on an anti-Maoist mission since June 19, exchanged fire with Maoists at Palashidanga and Madhupur in West Midnapore district, close to Gohumidanga where Mahato was to address the rally, police said.
The Maoists fled after the firing by security forces.
Earlier, police demolished a stage set up for the tribal rally at the Gohumidanga High School with microphones being ripped off and taken away.
A senior police officer said prohibitory orders under section 144 had been clamped to preempt the rally.
Midnapore (WB), Aug 17 (PTI) A stage set up by the People's Committee Against Police Atrocities for a rally at Gohomidanga in Lalgarh in West Midnapore district today was dismantled by the police and prohibitory orders imposed in the area.
A 1000-strong police and central forces team disconnected the microphones, demolished the stage at the Gohomidanga High School and cordoned off the area.
PCPA Convenor Chhatradhar Mahato, who was to address the rally, however, expressed determination to do so.
Mahato, who is wanted by the police since the anti-Maoist operations were launched on June 19 in Lalgarh by the security forces, told PTI over phone: "I shall address the rally.
"The police are throttling the voice of the people. We will protest in a democratic way. We will not resort to violence," he said.
Lalgarh bleeds as Maoists, cops tussle
Jharna, who is referring to her husband, fails to understand why he should be arrested while sleeping in his own house. "Where should he have slept if not in his own house? If my husband is such a bad man, then I too should be arrested."
Recalling the incident, People's Committee against Police Atrocities spokesman Chhatradhar Mahato said when police raided Pathardanga soon after entering Lalgarh town during the joint operations, all the men of the village had fled, except for Manoranjan Mal, who was sleeping in his house. They promptly dragged him away and slapped a few cases on him. Manoranjan has not returned since. Pathardanga, too, wears a deserted look.
There are others, in and around Lalgarh, who have suffered similary during the police operations. Santosh Mahato of Tarki village is one. Since July 24, he has been limping along a 4-km stretch of kutcha village road, from Tarki village to the hospital in Lalgarh town, twice a day, to take pain-killer shots. "I have no other way, there is no doctor in the hospital," he says.
His trouble started on July 24 morning, when police surrounded the village. "On seeing the police, most villagers fled. I was in my house. They called me out and asked me to take them to the house of a PCPA leader. When they did not find him at his house, they hurled me to the ground and a policeman stood on my chest. Then I was thrashed with rifle butts. My lower back aches so badly that I can hardly walk on uneven ground," says the 40-year-old villager, who works in a cattle shed in Jhargram town.
There is another side to the story, too, like that of Sushan Mahato, the mother of Shyamapada Mahato of Bhulabheda village in Belpahari. Shyamapada was murdered by suspected Maoists in April. The family's cultivable land lies untended and the scared family lives in a hut in a corner of the village. "There is no CPM member in this village anymore. There were five all were killed," says Sushan.
Congress leader of Belpahari, Subrata Bhattacharya, sums up the dilemma people in the Maoist-dominated areas face. "Terrorism practised by the Maoists is bad. But when the government practises terrorism, the implications are far more serious." He feels the way police are arresting people indiscriminately and slapping cases on them, the cause of the Maoists would be furthered. "Even when released on bail, in no way will these people be able to fight so many cases. They will have nowhere to go. Many of them will then join the ranks of the Maoists."
Dhirendra Nath Baske, who resigned as adviser to tribal affairs of the state government in protest against the police operations in Lalgarh, feels the division between tribals and backward castes and the advanced sections of these areas would deepen because of the operations. "The operations have broken the back of the economy of the tribals. Large tracts of paddy fields in these areas are lying uncultivated as people have fled their villages. At this rate, they will face starvation."
Chhatradhar Mahato said people could not sow paddy as villages were lying deserted because of police operations when the rains came. Now, there is no rain though people are returning to villages. "Collection of forest products is another mainstay of tribal economy. But tribals are too scared to enter the forests and immediately, they will be arrested as Maoists," he added.
| Maoists return to Lalgarh weeks after clean up | ||||
| 17 Aug 2009, 1758 hrs IST | ||||
Barely a month after security forces claimed to have cleared the maoists from Lalgarh, the maoists are back. In an open dare to the security forces, Maoists reportedly engaged the police in a gun battle in Lalgarh. The incident is believed to have occured as the police disbanded a rally within a kilometer of the police camp in Lalgarh. The call for the rally had been given by Chhatradhar Mahato, the absconding leader of the PCPA. At several points, the roads leading to Lalgarh were dug up clearly to cause impediments to the movement of security vehicles. The Maoists had also felled trees and put them on the roads to block them trying to cause an impediment. Chhatradhar Mahato has defied the ban and has held a small rally around 15 km's from the original spot. He said, "We will continue with our movement. Why are police stopping us. We want peace. There is trouble in other parts of the state but they are not unleashing terror there." Mahato has called for an indefinite bandh demanding the withdrawal of joint forces, opening of schools and resumption of dialogue with the government and said that the movement will continue as they want peace. Maoists slam WB Govt A senior Maoist leader has spoken out taking on the West Bengal Government. The Maoist leader issued a statement saying that terror is continuing for the last two months and it is evident from the police firing on peaceful procession of the People's committee. He added that action against Maoists will only lead to them intensifying their movement. More Stories from India  |
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Monday said there is no need to panic over the drought situation in many parts of India as the government has "a better understanding of how to handle a crisis like this". more by Manmohan Singh - 6 minutes ago - Hindustan Times (4 occurrences) |
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Chief Justice of India K.G. Balakrishnan Sunday appeared to be differing on appointing more judges to reduce the huge backlog of cases pending in the judiciary.
Buddhadev's health condition betterPress Trust of India - 8 hours ago Kolkata, Aug 17 (PTI) West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadev Bhattacharjee, who had fever yesterday, felt better today, but still has weakness, ... eft vows to tread Subhas path Times of India Govt in fix over HC query on copTimes of India - - Aug 12, 2009 This question by Calcutta High Court has put the Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee government in a fix. Islam, who has apparently been asked by Trinamool Congress ... More Guv-bashing by CPMTimes of India - 18 hours ago At Sunday's Left Front meeting, the partners demanded an explanation from chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee on the Lalgarh issue and price rise. ... Allies pinch govt on price rise Calcutta Telegraph Health holds back old horses of CPMExpressindia.com - - 17 hours ago Among others, the party is facing the falling health of none other than Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee. The CM, who has not been keeping good health ... High tea calls rivalsCalcutta Telegraph - - Aug 14, 2009 14: Mamata Banerjee could be sipping tea with Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee on Independence Day if she accepts the governor's invitation to a Raj Bhavan ... 'Maoists hamper development' The Hindu 'Ma-mati-manush' to catalyse change in Bengal: Mamata Press Trust of India Land ghost visits Mamata Calcutta Telegraph Partners target CPM on Lalgarh, inflationExpressindia.com - 17 hours ago The Front partners demanded that Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee provide them with the answers. Since the CM was not present at Sunday's meeting, ... Facelift For KumartuliKolkata Mirror - Aug 16, 2009 Chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee launched the Kumartuli restoration project in March this year. The Rs 28 crore project is supposed to completely ... PM sounds a 'war' on waiting casesCalcutta Telegraph - 20 hours ago Bengal chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, not present, said through a written speech that the desire for justice was the cry of all societies, ... Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee accuses TMC of creating law & order problemEconomic Times - Aug 5, 2009 KOLKATA: West Bengal chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee on Wednesday ridiculed Mamata Banerjee for coining the slogan of "Maa, Mati Manush" (Mother, ... Buddha 'contest' over rally strength Calcutta Telegraph Buddha scoffs at Mamata's slogan Press Trust of India CM wants police to vacate Lalgarh schoolsTimes of India - Aug 11, 2009 ... into a major issue, chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, on a day's visit to Midnapore on Tuesday, said schools must be vacated by the forces. ... Buddhadeb gives financial assistance to poor students Press Trust of India Buddha plans Lalgarh shift Calcutta Telegraph Stay up to date on these results:Did you mean: Buddhadeb bhattacharya |
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Mamata now focuses on GoghatExpressindia.com - 17 hours ago Kolkata After Mangalkot, Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee has now turned her attention on Hooghly district, the epicentre of the ongoing political violence. ... Mamata calls on WB governor Press Trust of India Land acquisition ball in Mamata's courtBusiness Standard - - 22 hours ago The site isn't far from Singur, the battleground between the Tata group and Trinamool Congress' Mamata Banerjee, who is now the railway minister, ... Mollah sings Mamata tune The Statesman People not against acquisition for welfare Times of India West Bengal to acquire land for railway projects Thaindian.com Mamata hopeful of early Assembly electionsHindu - - Aug 11, 2009 Battle ready: Union Railway Minister and Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee addressing a meeting at Khudrun in Mangalkot on Tuesday. ... Mamata warns of state-wide stir Times of India Mamata shows Acharia the door Daily News & Analysis Mamata rings final bell for CPM in Mangalkot Indian Express Land ghost visits MamataCalcutta Telegraph - Aug 14, 2009 14: The government that Mamata Banerjee fought against successfully to stop land acquisition will take over farming plots for her railway ministry. ... 'Ma-mati-manush' to catalyse change in Bengal: Mamata Press Trust of India 'Maoists hamper development' The Hindu High tea calls rivals Calcutta Telegraph Seven more test positive for H1N1 virus in KolkataExpressindia.com - 17 hours ago Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee has, meanwhile, announced that her party would organise health and awareness camps on swine flu in the city. ... 10-day camps in West Bengal for swine flu awareness Thaindian.com Swine flu cases in West Bengal reach 19 (Lead) Thaindian.com Mamata to skip Subhas condolence meetExpressindia.com - Aug 13, 2009 Kolkata Trinamool Congress chief and Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee will not take part in the memorial service of late Subash Chakraborty being organised ... Mollah rail job challenge to Mamata Calcutta Telegraph Only tributes, no speeches for Opposition Times of India Mamata inaugurates open air theatre Press Trust of India Mamata beats Cong in bypoll seat bargainTimes of India - Jul 31, 2009 KOLKATA: Mamata Banerjee had the last laugh in the battle of nerves over sharing of the city seats Bowbazar and Sealdah in the coming Assembly bypolls, ... Mamata and Cong close to 1:1 deal Calcutta Telegraph Tension rises between Congress, Mamata Business Standard Mamata flags off ladies specialHindu - Aug 5, 2009 Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee flagged off the first train between Delhi-Palwal (a district in Haryana), while Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises ... Didi flags off ladies special Times of India Mamata flags off ladies special local on harbour line Press Trust of India Mamata pledge evokes mixed reactions in SingurTimes of India - - Aug 2, 2009 SINGUR: Joy and scepticism greeted Mamata Banerjee's announcement that a railway production unit would be set up on 600 acres acquired for the Nano factory ... Give Nano land, will set up coach factory: Mamata Economic Times Mamata factory plan on Nano site Calcutta Telegraph Victory for Mamata as govt blinks on R&RTimes of India - Aug 7, 2009 ... acquisition-related bills in Parliament on the last day of budget session on Friday, marking a big victory for Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee. ... Mamata effect: land bills shelved Calcutta Telegraph Cong lands in a spot Daily News & Analysis Stay up to date on these results: |
CPI(M) opposes free trade pact with ASEANHindu - - Aug 14, 2009 The FTA was signed without any discussion in Parliament about its possible impact, the CPI(M) said in a statement. The gradual elimination of tariff, ... CPI-M demands white paper on India-ASEAN trade pact Thaindian.com Left demands white paper on India-ASEAN trade pact Press Trust of India Kerala CM flays ASEAN agreement Indopia Centre should provide Rs 10000-cr drought aid to AP: CPI(M)Indopia - 1 hour ago Hyderabad , Aug 17 The Andhra Pradesh unit of CPI(M) today demanded the Centre to announce a Rs 10000-crore package to provide relief to drought-hit farmers ... CPI(M) asks Govt to ban speculative trading in essential itemsHindu - Aug 13, 2009 New Delhi (PTI): The CPI(M) on Thursday asked the government to immediately ban speculative trading in all essential commodities and universalise the public ... After poll debacle, rectification is CPI(M)'s mantraBusiness Standard - Aug 14, 2009 The task of ideological introspection against a changing world order has taken a back seat in the CPI(M). Instead, its worst-ever performance in the recent ... WB assembly by-elections not to bother CPIMEconomic Times - - Aug 13, 2009 KOLKATA: By-elections to the Bowbazar and Sealdah assembly constituencies on August 18 apparently does not bear any major significance to the ruling CPIM in ... Governor partisan, says CPI(M) leaderHindu - Aug 9, 2009 He pointed out that the Governor, while referring to the violence in Nandigram in November 2007, had spoken of the “recapture” of the area by the CPI(M), ... Gopalkrishna Gandhi is partial, says CPI-M SINDH TODAY CPM has a point Daily Pioneer UPA working for 'khaas aadmi', not 'aam aadmi', says CPI(M)Hindu - Aug 9, 2009 Referring to the Maoist violence in Lalgarh in West Bengal, Karat said nobody would succeed in eliminating the CPI(M)by violent means and the party flag ... Tribals protest against police inaction, demand arrestsThe Statesman - 21 hours ago Police finally arrived to rescue the CPI-M leaders. The district secretary of the CPI-M had summoned the leaders and finally suggested to them to lodge a ... Stay up to date on these results: |
Land acquisition near Singur: Ball in Mamata's court
Kolkata: The West Bengal government is acquiring land in the Hooghly district under the Land Acquisition Act, 1894, for the Indian Railways. The site isn’t far from Singur, the battleground between the Tata group and Trinamool Congress’ Mamata Banerjee, who is now the railway minister, when the state government invoked the same Act to acquire land for the Nano small car plant.
The Railways has already identified 28.71 acres to be acquired to construct the Tarakeshwar-Bishnupur broad gauge line.
Once the Land Acquisition Act is invoked, people do not have much choice but to give up their land in most cases. A window of 30 days is open to object to the acquisition, which the state government may or may not consider.
As Debanjan Mandal of leading law firm Fox & Mandal, pointed out, "If the state goes ahead with the acquisition in spite of objections by the land-loser concerned, then that amounts to forcible acquisition to that extent."
The irony of this is it was Banerjee who protested vehemently when the Land Acquisition Act was invoked in Singur, though more than 80 per cent of the people had voluntarily given up their land for the Nano project. Her indefinite dharna last year demanding that the state government return land to unwilling land-losers, finally provoked Tata Motors to pull out of Singur and relocate to Sanand in Gujarat.
Trinamool Congress is the Congress' largest ally in the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) with 19 seats. Its successful showing in West Bengal in the 2009 general elections - handing the Left Front its worst defeat in three decades - was driven mainly by championing the rights of unwilling land-losers in Singur and, earlier, in Nandigram where a chemical hub was planned.
Now, when asked about the land acquisition for the Railways, Trinamool Congress leaders were vague in their response. Partha Chatterjee, the leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly, said, "Land can be acquired for railway and road expansion projects. This is our party's stand. I do not know about these notifications, so I should not comment."
What makes the Railway move surprising is that Banerjee recently forced the UPA government to take the Land Acquisition Bill off the agenda just ahead of its presentation in the Lok Sabha. She wanted at least four changes. One, landowners should have a legal right to buy back their land if the proposed project doesn't take off within the stipulated time. Two, the government should not play a role in acquiring land to set up private projects. Three, no industry should come up on agricultural land. Four, land cannot be acquired forcibly against farmers' wishes.
The Railways acquisition in West Bengal could go against at least the last two of Banerjee's objections.
Four members of President's Bodyguard guilty in rape case
New Delhi: A city court Monday convicted four members of the President's Bodyguards in the 2003 Buddha Jayanti Park gang rape case.
Additional Sessions Judge S.K. Sarvaria held Harpreet and Satendra guilty of gang rape, kidnapping and robbery under the various provisions of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
The court also held Kuldeep and Manish of guilty of kidnapping and robbery.
The argument on quantum of sentence will be heard Aug 22.
According to the prosecution, the victim had gone with her friend Ashish to the park near the Rashtrapati Bhavan Oct 6, 2003 and was raped by Harpreet and Satendra while Kuldeep and Manish kept guard.
Agencies
Global recovery hopes gain momentum as Japan exits recession
Tokyo/New Delhi: Spurring further hopes of an easing in global economic situation, the world's second largest economy Japan has exited the recession with GDP growth of 0.9 per cent in the second quarter.
After four straight quarters of contraction, Japan climbed out of the recession to join Germany and France that have already put the worst of the recession behind them.
According to the Japanese Cabinet Office, the country's GDP expanded 0.9 per cent for the three months ended June, while the economy had contracted 3.1 per cent in the first quarter.
Meanwhile, on an annual basis, Japanese economy witnessed a second-quarter growth of 3.7 per cent.
Reflecting the improving economic situation worldwide, European economic majors -- Germany and France -- pulled themselves out of the downward spiral last week, with both economies growing 0.3 per cent in the second quarter, after being mired in recession for about a year.
The world's largest economy too showed signs of perking up with the US Federal Reserve recently saying that the country's economic activity is bottoming out, that financial conditions have started improving.
Further, economies in the Euro zone -- a grouping of 16 nations sharing the common currency euro -- shrank 0.1 per cent in the second quarter, much less than the first-quarter contraction.
Source: Business Standard
UPA govt's 'neo-liberal' policies will destroy PSUs: Yechury
17 Aug 2009, 1659 hrs IST, PTI
Addressing the 9th state level conference of Bank Employees Federation of India here yesterday, he said the Centre was now trying to push forward economic reforms like privatising public sector units and new pension policies, which they could not do in the past when Left parties supported them.
"We compelled them to implement the National Rural Employment Guarantee Programme and revive loan waiver scheme," he said.
Stating that the Congress and the Trinamool Congress had joined hands to defeat the Left parties in West Bengal, he said they would given a fitting answer at the proper time.
Alleging that India has lost 50 lakh jobs due to the global economic recession, he said the centre's bailout packages only helped big companies. Likewise, a tax holiday had been granted for corporates involved in gas exploration as also other concessions to corporates, totalling Rs 1.24 lakh crore.
"If this legitimate tax was collected, it could have been used for infrastructure development," he said
He also came down heavily on India signing the End Use Monitoring Agreement, saying it would affect national security as it allows U.S.A to inspect defence establishments in the country.
He wondered whether India would henceforth be able to maintain secrecy in defence matters, since the U.S.A could even pass them on to Pakistan, both of whom have long standing ties with each other.
Govt says these are drought times, PM says no need to panic!
Union Home Minister P Chidambaram cautioned states against losing focus about internal security, saying the nation continues to face
Chidambaram was addressing chief minister’s conference on internal security here on Monday.
Describing the police as a crucial instrument in tackling threats to internal security, Chidambaram urged chief ministers to speedily implement the modernization of police forces and fulfill the demands of the forces.
It was the police, which has paid the heaviest price in fighting off these threats, he noted.
Expressing concern over vacant police posts across the country, Chidambaram asked state governments to take necessary steps to recruit personnel, as the situation was alarming.
Noting that there was no major terror strike in the country after 26/11, Chidambaram credited better intelligence for the improved situation.
He cautioned that the threat of terrorism has not vanished completely.
He also mooted a plan to create a separate cadre for the intelligence services and appreciated the creation of a Quick Response Team (QRT) in most cities to tackle the terror threat.
Chidambaram made it clear that there was no illusion over the threat posed by naxals to the country, and added that the Union Government is serious about tackling the left- wing extremism.
Commenting about the insurgency situation in the country Chidambaram said while militancy was on the decline in Jammu and Kashmir, the situation in the north-east continues to remain volatile.
Govt. of INDIA Inc ILLUMINATI diverts Revenues as well as RESOUCERS to feed the KILLER Greedy Money machine all on the name of ECONOMIC Growth, Reforms and bail Out from RECESSION False! While,Times of India reports:
Six of world's top 10 economies out of recession
Lalgarh revolts against Persecution INFINITE and the SIEZE! As the RULING Manusmriti Apartheid Zionist Hegemony Uses Religion as well as State Power to CRUSH the Masses! Meanwhile, Centre's refusal to give assent to the controversial anti-terror law of Gujarat triggered a fresh war of words between chief minister
Narendra Modi and home minister P Chidambaram.
Speaking at the conference of chief ministers on internal security, Modi accused the Centre of playing politics while dealing with terrorism and failed to understand why it returned the anti-terror bill Gujarat Control of Organised Crime (GUJCOC) Act proposed by his state.
Foreign institutional investors (FII) pulled out a net Rs 1,226.49 crore from the Indian stock markets, with the benchmark Sensex suffering
the most in a month by losing nearly 627 points on frantic selling.The Result is the Best Exposure how INDIA is DEPENDENT on FOREIGN Capital INFLOW despite Projectd Growth Rate and claimed RISILIENCE!
Shamik Chakraborty, my Journalist friend pleads that Dr Manmohan Singh should be AWARDED Nobel Prize on Two Grounds. He is the PEACE GOD! As he BAILED out and LED the way of RECOVERY from the CURRENT Recession!The Sensex, which commenced the day lower, plunged by another 671 at 14,740.63, the biggest fall since May 4, at 1515hrs.
Similarly, the wide-based National Stock Exchange index Nifty also recorded its steepest fall in more than three months by losing 200.55 points at 4,379.50 as heavyweights led by the realty sector showed hefty declines.
Marketmen said the bourse tumbled here tailing weak Asian peers as concerns grew that global economic recovery may be more difficult than expected after data showed US consumer confidence fell to its lowest since March.
IANS reports :
The joint security forces and suspected Maoist rebels Monday clashed near Gohomidanga area in West Bengal’s trouble-torn Lalgarh over a proposed meeting organised by a tribal body protesting police excesses in the region.
According to police sources, the Maoists opened fire at the central paramilitary force troopers and the police personnel when they tried to stop people from heading towards Gohomidanga locality to attend a gathering called by the People’s Committee against Police Atrocity (PCAPA) leader Chattrodhar Mahato.
The gun battle continued for hours between the two warring forces.
The central forces troopers also dismantled the podium set up to hold the meeting there. The district has already imposed prohibitory orders banning the assembly of more than four persons in and around Lalgarh to foil any gathering of tribals in that area.
Meanwhile, PCAPA activists had shifted to a nearby place and arranged the meeting there, within one kilometre from Gohomidanga where the rally was originally scheduled to be held.
“We were always with people and we’ll continue to stand by them. The joint forces are torturing villagers in the name of flushing out the Maoists. The government must stop this joint operation for the sake of people in Lalgarh,” Mahato told reporters.
“We’re carrying out our movement democratically. If the state government does not withdraw the central forces, this movement would further spread in other neighbouring districts,” he added.
The state government had launched a massive security operation June 18 to flush out Leftwing rebels who had virtually made areas in and around Lalgarh in the neighbouring West Midnapore district a “free zone” since November last year.
However, despite the nearly two-month-long security operation, the Maoist activities have been going on unabated, with several CPI-M cadres and tribals - whom the radicals have described as police informers - killed.
Maoists are active in the state’s three western districts of West Midnapore, Bankura and Purulia.
FIIs were the gross buyer of shares worth Rs 1,583.39 crore, while they sold equities valued at Rs 2,809.88 crore, resulting in a net sell of Rs 1,226.49 crore, according to the provisional data available with the Bombay Stock Exchange.
However, domestic institutional investors (DII) took the opportunity to buy shares and made a net investment of Rs 460.32 crore in the markets.
On Friday, overseas investors had made a net investment of Rs 1,030.70 crore in the domestic markets, the latest data available with the market regulator Securities & Exchange Board of India (SEBI) shows.
In today's trade, brokers on behalf of their clients were seen optimistic as they made a net investment of Rs 360.33 crore in the stock makers.
Meanwhile, proprietors and non-resident Indians booked profit and in total pulled out a net Rs 181.41 crore, as per the BSE data.
The Sensex, which notched up nearly a 1.71 per cent gain in the previous week, plunged by 626.71 points at 14,784.92, the biggest fall since July 6, the day the Union Budget was presented.
Prime minister Manmohan Singh today assured the chief ministers that there was "much elbow room" to deal with the drought situation with high stock of grains and multiple livelihood programmes.The Centre today said drought has "set in" but Prime Minister Manmohan Singh asked the chief ministers not to panic as the government has enough experience in handling a crisis of this sort.
"There is no need to panic as we have a better understanding of how to handle a crisis like the drought," the Prime Minister said at the special session on drought at the chief ministers meeting on internal security.
The government has decided to hold a regular meeting of the group of ministers to review the situation.
"(The)Group of Ministers will meet on a regular basis and that the ground reality was that the drought has set in," Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee was quoted as saying in an official statement.
As the wrangle over the energy deal continues between Ambani brothers, younger brother Anil Ambani has opted to go on a religious tour of South India.
Anil and his mother Kokilaben visited Kerala's famous Guruvayoor Temple on Saturday.
The Ambanis will also visit the Meenakshi Temple in Madurai and the temple town of Rameshwaram, both in Tamil Nadu on Sunday.
Top Indian conglomerate Reliance Industries, headed by billionaire Mukesh Ambani, and Reliance Natural, led by Anil Ambani, have crossed swords over the terms of a gas-supply agreement struck when the Reliance empire was split in 2005.
The latest tussle stems from the 2005 break-up of the Reliance empire after their father Dhirubhai Ambani's death. It has raised concerns of discouraging investment in India's gas sector even as the country scrambles to shore up its energy security.
The gas dispute relates to the vast Krishna Godavari basin on India's east coast.
In April, Reliance Industries started pumping natural gas from its massive deep-sea field in the Bay of Bengal, which at full throttle will nearly double India's gas output.
"We had circulated a questionnaire to the state governments requesting them to indicate the present status under a number of heads and on a number of issues. I regret to point out that the response from the states is far from satisfactory," Chidambaram said in his address to the internal security conference attended by chief ministers here.
Hitting out at the Congress-led UPA government at the Centre, Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi today accused it of playing politics while dealing with terrorism and said he "fails to understand" why it returned the anti-terror bill proposed by his state.
"When it comes to dealing with terrorists, we must draw a clear line between those who are on their side and those who are on the side of society," he said referring to the Centre rejecting his government's Gujarat Control of Organised Crime (GUJCOC) Act.
Modi said the anti-terror bill which had been pending with the Central government for a long time was returned to the state assembly recently with the directions to delete certain provisions.
On the other hand, the five-year Foreign Trade Policy, to be unveiled on August 27, is expected to give incentives to Indian exporters to widen their global markets beyond the United States, the European Union and Japan in the face of the economic crisis in these key destinations.
Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma, who apprised Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee Monday about the difficulties being faced by exporters, said: "We will be surely looking at market expansion because if the diversion and expansion of market is not there, we will not be able to respond to this challenge."
Talking to reporters after his meeting with Mukherjee, Sharma said the government can extend support but will not be in a position to generate demand in the western economies which are contracting.
India's exports are on a downslide since October 2008 and the average contraction has been around 30 per cent over the past nine months. The country's exports were about $169 billion in fiscal 2008-09.
Sharma indicated that the policy, which outlines the priority sectors as also the sops, would be focused on employment-generating areas like textiles, leather, gems and jewellery, and handicrafts.
These sectors are having a torrid time over the past nine months as their demand dried significantly in the US and the EU.
Sharma said the policy would ensure that the exporting sectors not only sustain themselves in these difficult times but also expand into new geographies.
It will also ensure that "labour-intensive (sectors) are given special consideration", he said.
This will be the UPA government's first FTP in its second term. Earlier there was uncertainty whether the policy should be long-term or for a single year. However, it will set a five-year roadmap for exporters.
Chettiyar Chidambaram, the home minister said the police reforms "have not received the attention they deserve" despite Supreme Court directions in that regard.
"I regret to point out that many state governments have not yet constituted the Police Establishment Board. Nor have they fully complied with the other directions," Chidambaram said.
The situation of vacant posts in police is "quite alarming", he added.
The home minister said that the setting up of the Multi-Agency Centre (MAC) and (state-level)-MACs had made intelligence-sharing better but "there is scope for more improvement".
The MAC, tasked to collect intelligence in real time and optimise intelligence flow between different agencies, was made operational in January this year after the terror attacks in November.
He added that the state governments needed to raise and deploy their own Special Intervention Units (SIUs) and Quick Reaction Teams (QRTs) in as many cities as possible even as four National Security Guard (NSG) hubs have been set up in the country.
The central government had suggested that the states raise a State Industrial Security Force on the lines of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) and "I would request the state governments to respond to the suggestion", the minister said.
Stressing that the government was focussing on coastal security and border management, Chidamabaram regretted that the construction of coastal police stations, outposts and check posts as well as border outposts (BoPs) was going on at a "slow pace".
Need to recruit 1.50 lakh people in police forces: Chidambaram
The Centre said there was no substitute to putting policemen on roads to maintain law and order and there is need to recruit 1.50 lakh
Home minister P Chidambaram said the vacancy position as on January 1, 2008 in all ranks of police forces was 2.30 lakh but it appears the vacancy level may have declined to about 1.50 lakh now.
"Even this is too large and the state governments must make every effort to recruit and begin training of police personnel at least to the extent of 1.50 lakh vacancies before March 31, 2010," he told reporters after conclusion of the chief ministers conference on Internal Security.
The Home Minister said there was no substitute in putting men and women on roads for maintaining law and order as this was the first principle of policing.
"There is no substitute to putting the feet on the road. Therefore, we need to recruit 1.50 lakh men and women in states," he asserted.
The Home Minister said the police forces require strong leadership and for that the tenure of police officers has to be fixed.
"I urge states that have not yet established a Police Establishment Board to do so immediately. The Police Establishment Board will, in no way, diminish the authority of the chief minister or the home minister," he said adding in contrary it will greatly help them in fairness and non-discrimination.
Voice of America reports:
India says that militants based in Pakistan are plotting new attacks in the country. Indian authorities are also promising tough action against Maoist insurgents, who they say represent another serious threat to the country's security.
The warning of new terror attacks came from Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at a conference on national security held in New Delhi, Monday.
Mr. Singh said cross-border terrorism remains a "most pervasive threat", and called on heads of all Indian states to exercise "utmost vigilance" to avert attacks by Islamic militants based in Pakistan.
The prime minister says the government has implemented several measures to tighten security. But he says states must be prepared to deal with militants who are in possession of "more sophisticated technologies and enhanced capabilities."
"There is credible information of ongoing plans of terrorist groups in Pakistan to carry out fresh attacks," he said. "The areas of operation of these terrorists today extends far beyond the confines of Jammu and Kashmir and covers all parts of our country.
Islamic militants, who have waged a violent separatist campaign in Indian Kashmir since 1989, have been accused of mounting a number of terror strikes targeting Indian cities in recent years. The most deadly assault hit the country's financial capital, Mumbai, last November.
Since the Mumbai attacks, India has been pressuring Islamabad to clamp down on terror groups targeting India.
Pakistan admits the Mumbai attacks were partly plotted on its soil and has arrested five people in connection with the strikes. It says it is committed to the global fight against terror.
The Indian prime minister identified Maoist insurgents as another serious challenge to the country's security. Maoist rebels are active in nearly half the country's 29 states and have killed hundreds of security forces in recent years.
Home Minister P. Chidambaram says the government will take tough measures to evict Maoists, also known as Naxalites, from their bases.
"Our response, therefore, will be police action to wrest control of territory that is now dominated by the Naxalites, restoration of civil administration and undertaking developmental activities, in that order," Chidambaram said.
The Maoist rebels number about 10,000 to 20,000. Indian security analysts have been warning that they are spreading their influence, especially in the poorer and less developed parts of the country in the east.
http://www.voanews.com/english/2009-08-17-voa16.cfm
Get ready to face fresh terror attacks from Pak, PM tells CMs
The government has information of "an ongoing ploy of terrorist groups in Pakistan" preparing to strike India again, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said Monday while stressing that cross border terrorism continued to be a major threat.
"Cross border terrorism remains a major threat. After the Mumbai terror attacks in November last year we need to take utmost vigilance. We have credible information of an ongoing ploy of terrorist groups in Pakistan to carry out fresh attacks," the prime minister said while addressing a meeting on internal security attended by chief ministers.
"The area of operation of these terrorists today extends far beyond the confines of Jammu and Kashmir and other parts (of India). We need to be prepared to counter more sophisticated and enhanced capabilities. We also need to guard our sea frontiers as vigilantly as our land."
Manmohan Singh said there was need for operational preparedness of Quick Response Teams at the state level, strengthening of state Special Branches and intelligence wings.
Extend cooperation to NIA
He also appealed to all chief ministers to extend cooperation to the newly set-up National Investigation Agency, empowered to deal with terror related crimes across the country.
Four regional hubs of the National Security Guards (NSG) have been established at Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad and Kolkata, the prime minister said.
The chief ministers are expected to discuss a concerted strategy to defeat Maoist rebels, and for coastal security, border management and modernisation of the police forces.
Shah Rukh reacted with ‘great dignity’: Tharoor
The detention of Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan at an American airport continued to spark outrage in the country on Sunday with the Government saying the action was "offensive" and unacceptable and that it will "strongly" take up the issue with the US.
"We will take the issue with the United States government strongly. Such incidents involving Indians due to their religion or nationality should not happen, we will not accept it," Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel Patel told reporters in Bikaner.
Tweeting in the social networking site 'Twitter', Minister of State for External Affairs Shashi Tharoor said, "we all found it offensive". Tharoor however said SRK himself spoke about the matter with "great dignity."
"This also happens to hundreds of innocent Muslims daily who don't have one billion people to stand up for them and raises real questions about the US procedure."
But cricketer Harbhajan Singh had a different take. He said he cannot understand the fuss about Shah Rukh's grilling which he described as a 'routine' affair.
Harbhajan said he has undergone numerous checking and screening procedure and never found anything wrong with it.
"I don't know what exactly happened there. But I just heard that he was detained for two hours which I think is a routine procedure. You people have made it a big news," the off-spinner told reporters after laying the foundation for a cancer research institute in Baruipur in West Bengal.
"They check everybody. Even I was checked and screened a number of times. It's a routine procedure," he said, before adding "however, SRK is a public figure and he should be respected."
Sensex crashes 627pts; Realty index slips 8%
All the Asian indices ended deep in red.The Shanghai Composite plunged 177 points( 5.79%) to 2,871. The Hang Seng slumped 757 points (3.5%) to 20,137. The Straits Times dropped 86 points (3.25%) to 2,546.
The Sensex continued to languish in the negative zones following heavy profit booking in the realty, metal and oil & gas sectors. The NSE Nifty ended at 4,387, down 192 points.
The BSE benchmark index plunged to a low of 14,741, down 670 points from the previous close and finally settled at 14,785, down 627 points (4%). This is the highest fall after the Budget day this year. The Midcap and the smallcap's also fared badly. Midcap index slumped 4% and Smallcap index shed 3%.
All the sectoral indices were deep in red. The BSE Realty index tumbled 7.5% to 3,662.70. The metal, auto, oil&gas , bankex and FMCG indices declined 4-6% each.
INDEX SHAKERS...
DLF plunged around 8% to Rs 365. Hindalco shed 7% to Rs 100.
Tata Steel, Sterlite and Tata Motors dropped over 6.5% each to Rs 438, Rs 618 and Rs 436, respectively.
Jaiprakash Asscociates, Reliance Infrastructure, Hero Honda, ITC, Mahindra & Mahindra , ICICI Bank, Maruti, Reliance Communications and Larsen & Toubro declined 5-6.5% each.
There has been not a single gainer on the BSE today.
The market breadth was extremely negative. Out of 2,673 shares traded, 1,919 declined and 678 have declined and 76 shares were unchanged on the BSE.
VOLUME & VALUE TOPPERS ON THE BSE, NSE
Reliance topped the combined value chart with a turnover of Rs 870 crore. It was followed by Suzlon (Rs 688 crore), Tata Steel (Rs 570 crore), Unitech (Rs 541 crore) and DLF (Rs 520 crore).
Suzlon has topped the volume chart with trades of 79 million. It was followed by Unitech (62 million), IFCI (60 million), First Source (53 million) and Mahindra Satyam (39 million).
US stocks: Global recovery concerns sink Wall Street
The near-50% run-up in US stock prices, fueled by hopes of a quick economic turnaround and better-than-expected corporate earnings, has led to concerns the market is over-extended. Disappointing retail sales and consumer sentiment data last week added to these concerns.
The equity sell-off in the United States looked to be a rerun of selling in Asia and Europe, where key indexes hit fresh lows. Selling on Wall Street was dominated by banks and commodity-related stocks, which are most sensitive to fears of economic weakness.
Below-par results from the second-biggest US home improvement retailer, Lowe's Cos Inc, highlighted the fragile state of the consumer. The company missed estimates and said 2009 sales would be down about 3%. The shares slid 9.4%.
Although Japan's data showed its economy pulled out of its worst recession for 60 years and growth was in line with forecasts, economists were wary as exports, the biggest contributor to April-June growth, may slow as the effect of stimulus measures wears off.
"You had some portion of the marketplace that was looking for selling opportunities after a big rally, and we've gotten a couple of good reasons here globally to execute on that thought," said Craig Peckham, equity trading strategist at Jefferies & Co in New York.
The Dow Jones industrial average dropped 167.85 points, or 1.80 percent, to 9,148.41. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index dropped 21.11 points, or 2.10 percent, to 982.98. The Nasdaq Composite Index dropped 42.93 points, or 2.16 percent, to 1,942.59.
A much better-than-expected survey of US regional manufacturing did little to cheer stock investors, concerned that the rally since early March has been overdone.
The New York Fed's survey of regional manufacturing came in at 12.08 in August, above the 3.00 consensus, and showed a return to growth in the sector for the first time since April 2008.
The growing influence of Naxalites in the tribal dominated districts in Orissa over the last few years has taken a severe toll on health services.
Health services – both in public and private sectors in South Orissa and other affected pockets - have borne the brunt of Naxalite attacks, and increasingly so since 2000, defying the CPI (Maoist)’s ideology that seeks to target the state for not sharing the fruits of development with the “have-nots.”
Although the Maoists have not attacked any health establishments so far, frequent roads blockades, ambushes on police parties and threats to government officials in the affected districts have left delivery of health services in a lurch.
Of the 965 doctor posts lying vacant, nearly 75% belong to the undivided KBK districts (Koraput-Bolangir-Kalahandi). Besides, 102 pharmacist and more than one thousand para-medical posts are lying vacant in those areas.
The eight undivided districts of Kalahandi, Bolangir and Koraput are universally known as the most backward regions in India. After the reorganizations of districts in Orissa in the early 1990s, these three districts were divided into eight districts, - Kalahandi, Nuapada, Bolangir, Sonepur, Malkangiri, Koraput, Gajapati, and Nabarangpur. Of the 80 revenue blocks, there is only one block which is developed, three blocks developing, 28 backward and 49 blocks are most backward.
Legislators cutting across party lines and officials admit that most of the doctors and para-medics produced by the state-run medical colleges are shying away from serving in the tribal dominated KBK region because of security concern even as the state government has offered them attractive pay packages and incentives.
In the remote Malkangiri district, which is nearly 650 km from here, some Primary Health Centres (PHCs) and Community Health Centres (CHCs) – as local MLAs said in the recently concluded budget session of the Assembly – are run by staff nurses with the help of peons and sweepers.
Kashipur, Narayanpatna, Bandhugaon and Laxmipur blocks in Rayagada district; Kalimela, Balimela and Chitrakonda areas in Malkangiri district present a sorry picture; - nearly 80 PHCs in the two districts have no doctors. The situation in Kalahandi and Bolangir districts is no better. People walk miles carrying their sick relatives in bamboo baskets to get them treated at district headquarters due bad road network and absence of doctors at nearby hospitals.
The Union Government’s flagship health programme – National Rural Health Mission (NRHM), which has greatly contributed to improvement of health services in coastal pockets, remain a virtual non-starter in Naxal-affected pockets due to frequent unrests.
State health minister Prasanna Acharya, while making a candid admission in the House that delivery of health services still remained unorganized, said that the his department was making efforts to provide minimum healthcare facilities to the people in KBK areas at their doorstep through NRHM programme and mobile health units.
The Naxalite strikes on security targets in KBK districts have progressively grown in recent years. Among these, communication towers were the most targeted this year. Till now there have been six attacks between January 1 and July 30. Railways came second with four extremist strikes so far this year on its infrastructure and properties in Sundergarh and Keonjhar.
Mines, which are abound in the Naxal-infested areas of Keonjhar, Sundergarh, Dhenkanal and Jajpur, have also been attacked over the years, though no attack has been reported yet in 2009. The last two years saw several incidents of Naxal violence targeted at crusher units and mineral traders in Jajpur and Keonjhar districts.
Railways are a favoured target, given its vast network and infrastructure and the practical difficulties involved in protecting the same. Railway properties have seen nearly a dozen attacks since 2000.
Sources in the state home department said that this is mainly on account of the vulnerability of the towers due to their location in remote areas, making their protection difficult.
Essar Groups properties in Malkangiri have been consistently targeted over the last three years. Essar Pipelines have been hit by the Maoists twice in Chhattisgarh and four times in Orissa in the first half of 2009, as against three and one attacks in Chhattisgarh in 2008 and 2007, respectively.
Health services – both in public and private sectors in South Orissa and other affected pockets - have borne the brunt of Naxalite attacks, and increasingly so since 2000, defying the CPI (Maoist)’s ideology that seeks to target the state for not sharing the fruits of development with the “have-nots.”
Although the Maoists have not attacked any health establishments so far, frequent roads blockades, ambushes on police parties and threats to government officials in the affected districts have left delivery of health services in a lurch.
Of the 965 doctor posts lying vacant, nearly 75% belong to the undivided KBK districts (Koraput-Bolangir-Kalahandi). Besides, 102 pharmacist and more than one thousand para-medical posts are lying vacant in those areas.
The eight undivided districts of Kalahandi, Bolangir and Koraput are universally known as the most backward regions in India. After the reorganizations of districts in Orissa in the early 1990s, these three districts were divided into eight districts, - Kalahandi, Nuapada, Bolangir, Sonepur, Malkangiri, Koraput, Gajapati, and Nabarangpur. Of the 80 revenue blocks, there is only one block which is developed, three blocks developing, 28 backward and 49 blocks are most backward.
Legislators cutting across party lines and officials admit that most of the doctors and para-medics produced by the state-run medical colleges are shying away from serving in the tribal dominated KBK region because of security concern even as the state government has offered them attractive pay packages and incentives.
In the remote Malkangiri district, which is nearly 650 km from here, some Primary Health Centres (PHCs) and Community Health Centres (CHCs) – as local MLAs said in the recently concluded budget session of the Assembly – are run by staff nurses with the help of peons and sweepers.
Kashipur, Narayanpatna, Bandhugaon and Laxmipur blocks in Rayagada district; Kalimela, Balimela and Chitrakonda areas in Malkangiri district present a sorry picture; - nearly 80 PHCs in the two districts have no doctors. The situation in Kalahandi and Bolangir districts is no better. People walk miles carrying their sick relatives in bamboo baskets to get them treated at district headquarters due bad road network and absence of doctors at nearby hospitals.
The Union Government’s flagship health programme – National Rural Health Mission (NRHM), which has greatly contributed to improvement of health services in coastal pockets, remain a virtual non-starter in Naxal-affected pockets due to frequent unrests.
State health minister Prasanna Acharya, while making a candid admission in the House that delivery of health services still remained unorganized, said that the his department was making efforts to provide minimum healthcare facilities to the people in KBK areas at their doorstep through NRHM programme and mobile health units.
The Naxalite strikes on security targets in KBK districts have progressively grown in recent years. Among these, communication towers were the most targeted this year. Till now there have been six attacks between January 1 and July 30. Railways came second with four extremist strikes so far this year on its infrastructure and properties in Sundergarh and Keonjhar.
Mines, which are abound in the Naxal-infested areas of Keonjhar, Sundergarh, Dhenkanal and Jajpur, have also been attacked over the years, though no attack has been reported yet in 2009. The last two years saw several incidents of Naxal violence targeted at crusher units and mineral traders in Jajpur and Keonjhar districts.
Railways are a favoured target, given its vast network and infrastructure and the practical difficulties involved in protecting the same. Railway properties have seen nearly a dozen attacks since 2000.
Sources in the state home department said that this is mainly on account of the vulnerability of the towers due to their location in remote areas, making their protection difficult.
Essar Groups properties in Malkangiri have been consistently targeted over the last three years. Essar Pipelines have been hit by the Maoists twice in Chhattisgarh and four times in Orissa in the first half of 2009, as against three and one attacks in Chhattisgarh in 2008 and 2007, respectively.
Mayawati govt. creating hurdles, blames Rahul
Jagdishpur (Uttar Pradesh): Congress general secretary and Amethi MP Rahul Gandhi Monday alleged that the Uttar Pradesh government was creating hurdles in the central government's developmental projects.
Gandhi, who was in this main town of his constituency to inaugurate the stamping unit in the Jagdishpur plant of Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited, said: "Take for example the Hindustan Paper Mill that is proposed by the central government. A Rs.3,000-crore project, it will generate direct and indirect employment for nearly 25,000 people, but the state government refused to give us land and even returned the money we deposited for the same."
He said the central government had opened a lot of schools, factories, professional education institutions in the region and would continue to work for the development of the people.
"We need to fight together for our region to generate employment for the people of the region and the entire state," he told the audience in this area, about 100 km from state capital Lucknow.
More firms plan to reverse salary cuts, freezes: Survey
New York: An increasingly larger number of companies are planning to roll back salary cuts and freezes implemented in the past two months and a majority of them are now more concerned about retaining their top performers and critical-skill employees, a survey says.
According to the bi-monthly survey by leading global consulting firm Watson Wyatt the number of employers planning to reverse salary cuts and freezes has increased in the past two months.
"44 per cent plan to roll back salary cuts in the next six months, compared with 30 per cent two months ago," the survey, conducted earlier this month, revealed.
While around 33 per cent of the employers who froze salaries plan to defreeze them within the next six months, an increase from 17 per cent two months ago, it added.
Moreover, a majority of employers (52 per cent) are now more concerned about retaining their top performers and critical-skill employees than they were before the economic crisis hit.
"Some employers are seeing the light at the end of tunnel and feeling optimistic about the prospect of improved business results," Watson Wyatt Global Director of Strategic Rewards Consulting Laura Sejen said.
"However, even as some of the program cuts are rolled back, many employees are facing smaller raises, lower bonuses and higher health care costs," Sejen added.
In an effort to keep employees engaged, 83 per cent of employers have increased communication and 40 per cent have held additional employee forums such as town halls or other interactive sessions to address economy-related concerns.
While almost half of the employers (47 per cent) surveyed have changed employee roles to expand responsibilities, a far smaller number is expanding the use of recognition programmes (27 per cent) or creating special compensation programmes for high-performing or at-risk employees (18 per cent).
Further, the survey said 66 per cent of respondents feel that the hike imposed on the percentage that employees pay for health care premiums are not likely to be reversed.
Also, 40 per cent of respondents are planning to shift more health care benefit costs to workers by increasing the percentage of premiums they pay, it added.
"Even as employers look ahead to an eventual economic recovery, they still face many challenges, such as potential disengagement of top performers. Employers can manage this to some extent not only by effectively communicating with employees, but also by ensuring they are rewarded for the job that they do," Watson Wyatt global director of talent management Brian Wilkerson said.
Business Standard
17/08/2009
Open to scrutiny by CAG, says RIL
New Delhi: Reliance Industries (RIL) has told the government that it is "ready and open" to scrutiny by any of its agencies, including CAG, for the expenditure it has incurred on discovering and developing the KG-D6 gas fields.
At a meeting called by the petroleum ministry on the issue of Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India auditing the books of private operators, the company stated that it had nothing to hide and was open to scrutiny, a government official present at the meeting said.
The government had in 2002 asked CAG to audit Production Sharing Contracts like the one for KG-D6 block with RIL, signed under the New Exploration Licensing Policy (NELP), but the premier auditor had then stated that its charter neither permitted audit of private accounts nor did it have the manpower to do so.
The government with the concurrence of CAG, appointed independent third-party auditors on the basis of an open bidding process. "These auditors have been operating on behalf of the government and auditing the accounts of companies like RIL," the official said.
However in 2007, CAG was asked to audit the exploration spends and the agency conducted audit of all the private company reports, copies of which were available with the DGH.
"They have not closed the audit report as they wanted to see some of the originals," the official said, adding that CAG had not asked any documents directly from RIL and was at present dealing with only the DGH or the ministry.
The ministry at Monday's meeting told the operators that the government can appoint CAG to audit their oil and gas field spends.
B. Ganguly who represented RIL at the meeting refused to speak to the media after the meeting.
The official said CAG wanted to seek the originals of some of the documents whose copies were available with the DGH.
However, third-party auditors have looked at all the originals.
RIL, the official said, has stated that it will not object to the government's rights under PSC but some private firms had objected to the need for re-doing the audits already done by government-appointed auditors.
CAG had been seeking some originals from the DGH and it had at no point approached RIL directly and so the company had never denied any of the documents to it, he said.
The official explained CAG's reluctance to ask for documents directly from private firms as it is seeking a clarification on its charter if it can go into books of private companies.
The oil ministry had called the meeting of operators like RIL and BG Group of UK to tell them that under PSC government can appoint any auditor for verifying the expenditure they incurred on exploration and development of oil and gas assets.
CAG, which was also represented at the meetings, can be engaged to do special audit under certain circumstances, the ministry told the private operators.
Source: PTI
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