Marxists oppose Mosque Demolition wearing Secular Masks once again! What is more Shocking that CITU is clubbed with INTUC. How INTUC is justified to protest the Economic agenda?
Indian Holocaust My Father`s Life and Time -Two Hundred Forty Two
Palash Biswas
http://indianholocaustmyfatherslifeandtime.blogspot.com/
TODAY - 06 December, 2009
A gown worth millions
Does India have any takers for a $ 1.2 million couture dress with real diamonds and gems? If yes, then here is your chance. More
"I shall work for the Matuas as long as I am alive. I was moved when baro ma told me how her people were being looked down upon as most of them belonged to lower castes. I do not believe in casteism and have no problem if people call me low-caste. I have instructed the railways to fill up all posts for SC/ST immediately," Mamata said. more by Mamata Banerjee - 17 hours ago - Times of India (1 occurrences)
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Strike pits Mamata vs Subrata |
| BARUN GHOSH |
| Calcutta, Nov. 29: Two traditional "near-monopolies" of Bengal — jute and strike — are pitting Mamata Banerjee against her one-time mentor Subrata Mukherjee and offering her a chance to draw a "distinction" between her trade unionism and that of others. Intuc, the Congress-backed union that is headed by Mukherjee, has joined forces with Citu and other Left unions to call an indefinite jute strike from December 14 in 54 mills across Bengal to press for the remuneration-related demands of 2.5 lakh workers. Mamata, who has opposed the strike in keeping with a new policy, today told Trinamul Congress's trade union leaders that it would be more prudent to sort out the dispute through talks. Dinesh Trivedi, the junior health minister and the Trinamul MP from Barrackpore in North 24-Parganas where many jute units are located, is in touch with some mills. "We are in informal talks with the Trinamul Congress-led trade union and the striking ones. We are thankful to Mamatadi for voicing her concern over the impending strike," said Sanjay Kajaria, the president of the Indian Jute Mills Associations (IJMA). But Intuc's Mukherjee said: "I don't agree with Mamata that the strike is uncalled for in jute mills. Trinamul has no trade unions in the jute industry. The strike is inevitable because several discussions held earlier with the management have so far failed since not a single demand of the 2.5 lakh employees has been met," he said. The division has caught the eye of the Congress leadership. "Subrata has called the strike as a trade union leader. But he is a key man in the state Congress which has forged an electoral alliance with Mamataji. I shall talk to Subrata," said K. Keshava Rao, AICC general secretary in charge of the party's Bengal affairs. State Congress working president Pradip Bhattacharya was more categorical. "I am of the view that Subrata should not travel along with Citu to spearhead the strike in jute mills." Trinamul's decision to steer clear of the strike is seen by many as the party's attempt to project an investor-friendly image. Mamata today offered to enter into a joint venture with the state government to use the Singur land originally meant for the Nano, springing a proposal the CPM would find difficult to either swallow or spit out. ( ) "She is also trying to prove that her style is distinct from that of the others," said an owner of three jute mills. A Citu leader said Trinamul's decision would have no impact as its presence was negligible in jute mills. |
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Trade unions in India - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
In India the Trade Union movement is generally divided on political lines. According to provisional statistics from the Ministry of Labour, trade unions had ...
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Centre of Indian Trade Unions
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| CITU | |
 | |
| Centre of Indian Trade Unions | |
| Founded | 1970 |
|---|---|
| Members | 3.2million |
| Country | India |
| Key people | M K Pandhe, President |
| Office location | New Delhi, India |
| Website | www.citucentre.org |
Centre of Indian Trade Unions (Hindi: भारतीय ट्रेड यूनियन केन्द्र), CITU is a National level Trade Union in India politically attached to the Communist Party of India (Marxist). The Centre of Indian Trade Unions is today one of biggest assembly of workers and classes of India. It has strong unchallangeable presence in the Indian states of West Bengal, Kerala and Tripura besides a good preence in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. It has presence in almost all of the Indian states.
According to the provisional statistics from the Ministry of Labour, CITU had a membership of 3,222,532 in 2002.[1]
Chittabrata Majumdar was the General Secretary of CITU from 2003-2007. 12th Conference (held in January 2007) of CITU re-elected him as its General Secretary. But he died on 20 February 2007. The General Council of CITU met on 17 May 2007 and elected Mohammed Amin as its new General Secretary.
[edit] References
It runs a monthly organ named WORKING CLASS.
[edit] External links
Coordinates: 28°37′46.5″N 77°14′18.4″E / 28.629583°N 77.238444°E / 28.629583; 77.238444
 | This article related to an Indian trade union is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
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Indian National Trade Union Congress
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| INTUC | |
 | |
| Indian National Trade Union Congress | |
| Founded | May 3, 1947 |
|---|---|
| Members | 3.8 million (2002) |
| Country | India |
| Affiliation | ITUC |
| Key people | Sanjeeva Reddy, president.Rajendra Prasad Singh, General Secretary. |
| Office location | New Delhi, India |
| Website | [1] |
Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC) is the trade union wing of the Indian National Congress. It was founded May 3, 1947, and is affiliated with the ICFTU Asia and Pacific Regional Organisation. According to provisional statistics from the Ministry of Labour, INTUC had a membership of 3892011 in 2002.[1]
[edit] References
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
| This article related to an Indian trade union is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
India defeat Lanka to become the World's No.1 Test side
Mumbai: India became the number one team in the Test rankings after they spanked Sri Lanka by an innings and 24 runs in the third and final cricket Test to clinch the three-match series by a 2-0 margin.
Needing just four wickets to record an emphatic victory, the hosts took just about 40 minutes to polish off the visiting team's tail to record their second consecutive innings victory.
Resuming at 274 for six the Sri Lankans lost their heroic captain Kumar Sangakkara (137) in the very first over and were bundled out for 309 with Zaheer Khan being the pick of the Indian bowlers with figures of 5/72.
The Sunday crowd at the Brabourne Stadium hosting a Test match after a gap of 36 years witnessed a historic moment as India became the World's No.1 Test side.
The crowd erupted as Muttiah Muralitharan edged a flighted delivery from Harbhajan Singh to Dhoni to bring down the curtains on the Lankan innings.
The Indian players hugged each other and a beaming coach Gary Kirsten greeted them as they returned to the pavillion.
The victory has given India three points in the ICC rankings taking their overall tally to 122 and leaving them ahead of South Africa and Sri Lanka in the ICC table.
The teams will now gear up for two Twenty20 matches in Nagpur and Mohali followed by a five-match one-day series which begins at Rajkot from December 15.
The match would be best remembered for the blazing 293-run knock that Indian opener Virender Sehwag played. The right-hander, however missed out on becoming the first batsman in the game's history to score three triple tons.
Such was India's dominance that Dhoni's men completed the comprehensive victory in just 7.4 overs this morning.
Zaheer hastened Lanka to their doom by claiming three of the last four wickets to finish with his eighth five-wicket innings haul.
The 31-year-old pacer's figures in the morning sessions read an astonishing 4-1-21-3. Sri Lanka needed 59 more runs to make India bat again but with just four wickets in hand to start the day, only a miracle could have saved the match for them.
After having brought down the visitors to their knees last evening, India dismissed Sangakkara off the third ball to start their victory march.
Zaheer swung the ball a bit away and Sangakkara who struck his 20th four off his previous ball was drawn to it like a magnet and managed to edge it to his counterpart Dhoni.
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Residents in Sunderbans delta use solar power to cut emissions
West Bengal/New Delhi, December 06(ANI): In the wake of mounting pressure on world bodies to cut on their carbon emissions, residents in Sunderbans delta of West Bengal are using electricity generated from solar power, thereby contributing their bit towards the carbon emission cut. The lives of the people living in Sunderbans has changed ever since a solar power plant was first set up by the West Bengal Renewable Energy Development Agency in Sagar Island.
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Tribals in orissa protest against Vedanta's mining project
Puri, December 06(ANI):Hundreds tribals in Orissa are participating in a week-long rally to oppose the proposed projects by South Korean steel maker POSCO and the mining group Vedanta Resources. Covering a distance of 150 kilometers, over 200 tribals hailing from 120 villages began their protest rally from Dhinkia village on Saturday and reached Puri on Saturday. Activists led by Medha Patkar also took part in this mass protest and she said that such projects would only benefit the corporates and not the local tribals.
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Broadbased nuke pact with Russia to be beyond 123 agreement
2009-12-06 18:40:00
The broadbased nuclear agreement with Russia, which is to be signed during Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh"s visit to Moscow, commencing from today, is expected to go beyond the bilateral 123 civil nuclear agreement signed between India and the United States last year.
Both sides are giving final touches to what is being called a Bilateral Framework Inter-Governmental Agreement on the peaceful uses of nuclear energy.
India sees this new agreement with Russia as a forward-looking arrangement according to which reprocessing and fuel supply will not be interrupted even if India conducts nuclear tests.
India has been engaged in nuclear trade with Russia for almost two decades, whereas it has formally signed the civil nuclear deal with the US just last year. However, trade in this sector between New Delhi and Washington remains in limbo.
Despite several rounds of discussions between the delegations of the two countries, nuclear commerce is yet to take off. Sources said that techical issues of liability and reprocessing are holding it up.
Recently when asked for his comments on why India and the United States had not been able to give the final touches to the US-India Civil Nuclear Cooperation deal, especially on the issue of reprocessing during Prime Minister Singh"""s visit to Washington last month, National Security Adviser M.K.Narayanan said: "It is likely to conclude in a matter of days. We have agreed to the modalities, now just the language, the legalese needs to b worked out."
"Thanks to intervention of President (Obama), we have arrived at the very last stage. There is only one matter left, its only a matter of legalese," he had added.
Official sources here said that as far as reprocessing is concerned, it is connected with arrangements and procedures of one dedicated facility. They said that the United States understood that it would be to their advantage to begin with that. (ANI)
Amitabh's 'special' day
In a show of solidarity to Jamnabai Narsee schools efforts for special children, Amitabh Bachchan, who plays a child suffering from Progeria or rapid ageing disease in his forthcoming film, visited the school premises. It is well-known that besides academic excellence and focus on co-curricular activities, Jamnabai Narsee school has taken great initiatives to help differently-abled childrem.
Bachchan, expressed deep interest in the schools myriad activities for learning disabled and autistic children. He also met other students, had vada pav with them in the canteen and played basketball.
Jairajbhai Thacker, trustee said, '' we thank Mr. Bachchan for his visit and we hope that his work encourages children to put their problems behind and lead fulfilling lives.''
Image: Amitabh Bachchan with children of Jamnabai Narsee school.
Text and Images: Sify
http://sify.com/news/Amitabhs-special-day-imagegallery-national-jmepUPgbcfj.html
India became the number one team in the Test rankings after they spanked Sri Lanka by an innings and 24 runs in the third and final cricket Test to clinch the three-match series by a 2-0 margin. It is a rare opportunity to feel Good as Indian citizens.With radical Sikh organisations calling for a state wide shutdown Monday to protest against Saturday's violence in Ludhiana, the Punjab Police and administration in all districts of the state was Sunday put on high alert.he UN's top climate official has given an upbeat assessment on the prospects of a global deal at a climate summit which opens in Copenhagen on Monday.Senior US government figures have rejected criticism of President Barack Obama's plan to start withdrawing troops from Afghanistan in 2011.Over 500 people were detained for violating prohibitory orders in different parts of Uttar Pradesh even as the 17th anniversary of Babri Masjid demolition passed off peacefully on Sunday.
My readers sometimes criticise me as Psyche.
Yes, I have to be as a SUB Human! We do not belong to the intelligentsia and we are not that Academic. diction and spells may be also defective.
As all of us, the Black Untouchables worldwide have been deprived of Knowledge under Zionist Manusmriti Apartheid Galaxy Order. Post Modern knowledge Economy deprives us the Constitutional Opportunities!
Whenever I raise the Voice for the Dalit bengali Partition victims resettled in Idnia , IRRITATED so called self styled Patriots suggest me to go to Bangladesh!I am as much as a Bonafied citizen as anyone else and icommit no crime to go back to my roots. Who ever does not want to read our stories, he may simply opt out. Why does he kill my right to Experience. In fact,the Brahaminical hegemony and its SLAVE are INTOLERANT enough and Justify Ethnic Cleansing, Mass Destruction and the Hegemony itself to sustain the Manusmriti apartheid Order. They have Prescribed their Version of Humanity and we have not to calim our VERSION! This Intolerance rejects nationalities, Identities and the existence of the SC, ST , OBC , Refugee and Minority communities as they CELBRATE Babri Mosque Demolition and at the same time they pose as the best defenders of democracy and Human Rights!
The Gods predestined us to suffer from Injustice, Inequality, starvation, humiliation, ethnic cleansing, exodus and holocaust. I just humbly try to point out the highlights of Violations of Human Rights, Civil Rights and sanctity of nature!I basically belong to my Mother`s Home despite being attached to PC but our CRITICS, the Best Defenders of the Galaxy satanic order Never belong to the Original Roots and represent Bastardised Americanised culture and they brand us Psyche when we talk about our day to day Experiences and dare to challenge the Hegemony. I have been Facing and living with Such Friends for decadesI
The Left led the Babri Mosque Demolition Protest in Kolkata as reports from Delhi say that the 17th anniversary of the Babri mosque demolition saw both protests as well as celebratory marches by different groups in the capital Sunday. The Marxists wear the SECULAR Masks once again with Anti AMERICA slogan to win back the lost Bases in Bengal. Anti communal stance brings together Congress and the Marxists, Jyoti basu and surjeet led the way long Before. Anti Imperialsim Stance is nothing to do with Political equations as Buddha has Excellent relations with Dr. Manmohan Singh as per as the line followed by him during NDA Rule while he had excellent Chemistry with LK Adwani Irrespective of Pary Line. Adwani defended Buddha and so defends CHIDAMBARAM as the Marxists have grown best Partner to Wage Corporate war against Indigenous Aboriginal People of India. Foreign capital Inflow and Economic reforms have always been supported by the Marxists as they supported UPA in its lats TENURE for FOUR and Half year until Indo US Nuclear Deal Auto Operationalised. Political Obligations well understood, UPA and the LEFT send feelers to each other for Sweet Honey Moon once agin as they had, in fact, Never had been DECOUPLED despite public SEPARATION! Subrata Mukherjee, the INTUC leader has emerged as SAVIOUR of the relationship as CITU and INTUC have been CLUBBED together, ironically to oppose Economic reforms, disinvestment and Privatisation! Mind you, Former Gujarat chief ministers Shankersinh Vaghela and Suresh Mehta were detained in Ahmedabad Sunday while they were on their way to lead a rally to protest against the policies of Narendra Modi government!
Meanwhile, President Pratibha Patil arrived here Sunday evening on a two-day visit.Patil, India's first woman head of state, was received at the N.S.C. Bose International Airport by West Bengal Governor Gopal Krishna Gandhi, Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee and other senior officials. It will also soften the Marxist Satnce with the Logic of women`s empowerment.
Staging a protest at the Jantar Mantar near the central business hub of Delhi, members of the All India Babri Masjid Rebuilding Committee (AIBMRC) demanded that the mosque be rebuilt on the disputed site of Ayodhya.They also submitted a memorandum to President Pratibha Patil to put behind bars those named by the Liberhan Commission report.
On the other hand,United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA) chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa on Saturday claimed that he had not surrendered and that he would never surrender under any circumstances. Rajkhowa, who was produced before the chief judicial magistrate here on Saturday evening, said this as he got down from a bus under tight security and was taken into the court building. "Surrender nai kora, nakaro, (I have not surrendered, and I will never do so)," he said.On Friday, Home Secretary G K Pillai had said in New Delhi that Rajkhowa had surrendered. According to the government, the ULFA leader surrendered to the BSF on the Indo-Bangladesh border.
The daram unfolds the untold story how the STATE sponsers and uses INSURGENCY! THIS PLOY HAS RATHER STRENGTHED ULFA ONCE AGAIN AS IT HAD BECOME IRRELEVANT IN ASSAM LOSING ITS BASE. THE MARXISTS MAY CONSOLE THEMSELVES IN DEEP OF THEIR HEARTS AND MINDS, THE STATE AND RULING HEGEMONY WOULD MAKE THEM KINGS ONCE AGAIN. CITU HAS TO BREAK THROUGH THE STAND OFF AS IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH WORKERS EXOISTENCE AND SUSTENACE, WE MAY NOT PRONOUNCE RESISTANCE , RATHER IT IS A RARE SUBVERSION WHICH WOULD GATHE ALL THE FLOCKS TOGETHER TO EVADE GENUINE RESISTANCE, THE HISTORY OF MARXIST BETRAYAL EXPOSES THE LOT VERY WELL!
Me and Sabita did visit the deceased hawker`s place today. Last time while he was struck by and Auto Rickshaw, he failed to hold on the line for eight months. On Friday, he was ready at 4 AM when he stumbled with the Fatal Stroke. Even before taking his last Breath, he was worried to hold on the line. His Elder daughter, a teenager had to discontinue her studies and he fell in debt. The younger daughter reads in class Nine and both the Sisters have no words to explain the tragedy. The woman, the wife of the hawker has decided to continue. As her sister in law did twenty years before when Tapanda lost his Second Brother after his Mill was locked out, in a railway Accident. I have a friend in my colony who takes away our old newspapers, he is also a victim of LOCK Out. I meet scores of them every day in public Places fighting for sustenance.
This evening Dr. Subodh Roy called me on my cell phone while I was in Princep Ghat Down! He had been contacted by our Marxist Friends to join the Opposition of Disinvestment and economic reforms! No body did not contact me. Meanwhile, Girraj kishore, an Eminent Gandhian Writer, the editor of AKAAR, a little mag has published my Lalgarh ROZNAMCHA, Diary in Twenty Two Pages. my Stance is clarfied and I am treated as sworn ENEMY by the Brahaminical system! Since I criticise the Ambedkarites and the Matua Headquarter now clubbed with Matua Mamata Banerjee, I am not Popular amongst my people. I stand somewhere near Albert Camus and Voltair who sought equality and justice in Violence for the Change! neither of Maoist or Marxist friends do understand my stance while I am seized in the Enemy camp but I reject to be BONDED or HOSTAGE!
Last Day Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee declared set of flagship schemes to benefit the Matuas and the Matua Mother , BADOMA, obliged to have a Railway Stadium in Bongaon on the name of Harichand GURUCHAND Thakur, has blessed the Brahmin Kanya with the Identity card of Matua Mahasangh, emerged from Chandal movement, Indigo revolt and Peasant uprisings in India, the Dalit Renaissance. Mamata DIDI consolidated her VOTE Bank further. Now, the Marxists take the Streets on the Anniversary of Babri Mosque demolition wearing Secular Masks once again. What is more shocking that CITU is clubbed with INTUC. How INTUC is justified to protest the Economic agenda. However, I welcome the Development as we have failed MISERABLY to mobilise our People to rise against the Economic Mass destruction. But I am sorry to doubt the CREDIBILITY!
Mamata gets Matua membership,
BONGAON/THAKURNAGAR: Trinamool chief Mamata Banerjee forged a fresh social alliance on Saturday as she received a lifetime membership card of the
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"I shall work for the Matuas as long as I am alive. I was moved when baro ma told me how her people were being looked down upon as most of them belonged to lower castes. I do not believe in casteism and have no problem if people call me low-caste. I have instructed the railways to fill up all posts for SC/ST immediately," Mamata said.
After handing over her membership card to Mamata, baro ma assured the railway minister of all assistance from the community. "Many leaders assured us of help but none kept their promises. What Mamata has done for us is exceptional," she said. Her regard for the leader can be gauged from the fact that she left her residence to felicitate Mamata something she hasn't done for any leader before.
The Matua community in Bengal is nearly 10 million strong. This is the first time community leaders have openly spoken on behalf of a particular political leader. In the past many leaders, including those of the CPM and Mayavati's BSP have tried to woo the community for political gains. It was Mamata who succeeded in channelizing the huge votebank in her favour. This was evident in the last Lok Sabha elections as well as the Assembly bypolls in which Sougata Roy, an outsider, won the Bongaon seat.
One of the major demands placed before Mamata by the Mahasangha was amendment of the Citizenship Act of 2003. According to community leaders, thousands of Hindu families from Bangladesh were being forced to return after spending decades in India. Many of them have not been able to register their land India in the absence of citizenship documents.
Mamata carefully sidestepped the issue and said that she would look into all the demands. "Everything is not within my control. I do not make false promises. I shall do whatever is within my powers." Among the matters within her power are construction of a railway station near the Matuadham Thakurbari. This will be named Sri Dham after the Matua guru, Harichand Guruchand. Mamata said that she had plans for an agricultural or technical university at Thankurnagar. She also inaugurated a computerized reservation system at Thakurnagar station.
Earlier in the day, the railway minister laid the foundation of a sports stadium at Bongaon to be named after Guruchand Thakur. Work also commenced on laying of tracks between Bongaon and Bagdah. In the first phase, the 11.5 km stretch from Bongaon to Chandabazar will be completed, costing Rs 57.16 crore. "I have many plans for Bongaon. One of these is a stadium, which will be a Rs 17-crore project. I had initially planned an indoor stadium but people requested me not to damage the greens. I have now decided to make an outdoor stadium here. I shall consider allowing use of railway land for setting up businesses if locals so desire. But since a number of other ministries are involved, let me desist from making immediate announcements."
Mamata said the railway hospital in Bongaon will now be open to the general public. The railways will also start a diagnostic centre for locals. The minister promised to speak to Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina over delays suffered by passengers travelling by Maitree Express to Dhaka.
Mamata also flagged off two ladies special trains to Sealdah one from Bongaon and the other from Canning.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata-/Mamata-gets-Matua-membership/articleshow/5306294.cms
Eye on polls, Mamata joins Matua sect
The Matua Mahasangha (a religious sect of Dalits) today inducted Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee in its organisation as a life member at a ceremony at Thakurnagar in North 24 Parganas, about 50 km from Kolkata.
Political circles described the move by Mamata as another step towards consolidating her "vote bank" as the "Motuas" has a large following of about three million people in two districts of Bengal. The sect members are known to follow its chief's diktats during elections.
On Saturday, after attending several railway programmes in North 24 Parganas, Mamata landed at the sect's headquarters at Thakurnagar in the evening. There, she was given the honor of a life-time membership during a ceremony that was attended by a large number of people, mostly disciples.
The Trinamool chief
has been cultivating the community ever since her agitations in Nandigram and Singur, where hundreds of people belonging to the backward class were hurt by the state government's plan for land acquisition. Since then, the Trinamool has maintained a close relation with the "Matua" community.
Political observers say the community members can decide the fate of at least 10 Assembly constituencies in North 24 Parganas and Nadia district.
The Matua community primarily consists of Dalits (mainly Namasudra) who migrated from Bangladesh. They follow the teachings of Harichand and Guruchand Thakur, have around three million members mainly concentrated in these two districts. But recently, they have gained presence in several other districts.
The CPM has fared poorly in the panchayat polls in 2008 and the recent Lok Sabha polls in the areas where the sect holds sway. In the 2008 panchayat polls, the CPM fared poorly in North 24-Parganas and it was even worse in the Gaighata subdivision where the headquarters of the sect is situated. Of the 39 panchayat samiti seats, the CPM bagged only two. The Bongaon Lok Sabha constituency has seven Assembly segments — Kalyani, Haringhata, Bagdah, Bongaon Uttar, Bongaon Dakshin, Gaighata and Swarupnagar — all reserved for Scheduled Castes, where the Matuas are a force to reckon with. They constitute nearly 50% of the SC population in these areas, the highest concentration being in Bagdah (80%) and in Gaighata (60%).
http://www.indianexpress.com/news/Eye-on-polls--Mamata-joins-Matua-sect/550520
... contd.
The high-security convoy took exactly 30 minutes to reach the CJM court at 5:30 pm. The ULFA chairman also said it would not be proper to go for talks with handcuffs. "It will not be proper to hold any talks (with the government) with handcuffs on. I have to be free first to talk," Rajkhowa said when reporters asked him about talks.
Earlier, the outfit's armed wing chief Paresh Barua claimed that Rajkhowa had not surrendered, and that it was only part of a deep-rooted conspiracy to malign him and crush the struggle. Barua, who e-mailed a statement to some newspapers in Guwahati on Saturday said he had "full confidence" in chairman Rajkhowa and was sure that the top man would never surrender.
"The statement of (Union home secretary) GK Pillai that our honourable chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa and armed wing spokesman Raju Barua had surrendered and the ULFA had split is false, baseless and motivated," he said.
"We are all aware of the dedication and sacrifice of our respected Chairman in the past 30 years, and we strongly believe that our honourable Chairman has not surrendered and will never do so," he said.
"There is no split in the ULFA and we all have full faith on our honourable chairman," Barua said. The militant leader, who according to the government is holed up somewhere near the China border in northern Myanmar, also claimed that he was still for talks with the government, provided the demand for sovereignty figured in the agenda. "We are still for an honourable negotiation, but that has to take place only on the issue of sovereignty and nothing else," Barua in his statement said.
The chief judicial magistrate, Kamrup, Robin Phukan remanded Rajkhowa and his associates Raju Barua and Raja Bora to 12 days' police custody. The family members of Rajkhowa and Raju Barua, however , were not taken to the court because they were "not combatants", their counsel Bijan Mahajan said.
Meanwhile,alQuaeda Hype exposed in an interstening way!The US has not had any good intelligence on Osama bin Laden's whereabouts in years, Defence Secretary Robert Gates told ABC News' This Week programme. Gates also couldn't confirm reports this week that a detainee in Pakistan claimed to have information on where bin Laden, the leader of the Al Qaeda terrorist network, was.
USA created OSAMA and Taliban. The Zionsist have nothing to do with Peace, human Rights and are interested to promote Free Market democracy in the Third world to capture all natural resources. Their concern for nature, Global Warming, Bio Cycle, environment, Wild Life, ecology and Climate Change is as much as genuine as it would have been for Vasco De Gama, Columbus and captian cook, the whole lot of SEA Pirates.
US intersts would be defended with the Total destructio n of India, Pakistan and China!
Asked whether Pakistan had done enough to go after bin Laden, Gates said: "Well, we don't know for a fact where Osama bin Laden is. If we did, we'd go get him."
In London this week, Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani claimed bin Laden was "not in Pakistan" and insisted that his government's security forces had been "extremely successful" in tackling terrorism within its borders.
President Asif Ali Zardari said in April that bin Laden's whereabouts were unknown and there were unconfirmed reports from local intelligence agencies that he might be dead.
The Al Qaeda leader is believed to be ailing. Some analysts suspect that he is hiding in Pakistan's tribal areas near the border with Afghanistan.
India and Russia have reached a broad agreement to break the logjam over the protracted price renegotiation over Admiral Gorshkov aircraft carrier and the two sides are expected to sign a landmark civil nuclear pact during summit talks between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and President Dmitry Medvedev on Sunday. Seeking to resolve the Gorshkov price issue, an irritant in bilateral ties, the two countries had worked out a general agreement, sources said. A pact in this regard, however, is unlikely to be signed during Singh's visit .
The Prime Minister arrived MOSCOW on a three-day visit, his sixth trip to Russia since 2004, that will also see the inking of three agreements in the field of defence, including one for ending ad-hocism in servicing Russian military equipment.
As a special gesture, the Russian President will host a private dinner for Singh and his wife Gursharan Kaur at his countryside residence in Barvikha outside Moscow.
The path-breaking civil nuclear pact is significant as it will ensure uninterrupted uranium fuel supplies from Russia in the event of termination of bilateral ties in this field for any reason, the sources said.
The agreement is considered by India as a "major improvement" over the 123 pact with the US which provides for not just termination of ongoing cooperation but also for the return to the country of already supplied components and fuel in the event of the accord being scrapped.
Karunanidhi retirement announcement takes DMK by surprise
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi took the state and his DMK party by surprise Saturday announcing his retirement post World Classical Tamil Conference to be held in Coimbatore in June.Addressing a meeting organised by community organisation Arundathi Makkal Katchi, 85-year-old Karunanidhi said: 'After the construction of new assembly complex, inaugurating of Anna Centenary Library and World Classical Tamil Conference I will be one amongst you shorn of ministerial trappings.'
According to him, the above three are his unfinished agenda after completing several goals in public life.
The meeting was organised to thank Karunanidhi for providing three percent reservation for the Arundathiyars.
The announcement took the party by surprise as many party leaders were seen intensely discussing amongst themselves on hearing him.
The announcement is expected to hasten changes in internal equations within the DMK party.
It was in May 2009 that Karunanidhi elevated his son M.K. Stalin and cabinet colleague as the deputy chief minister allocating most the portfolios handled by him.
In the recent times Karunanidhi has been staying away from poll campaign which is now taken care by Stalin, his elder brother and union Minister Chemicals and Fertiliser Minister M.K. Alagiri.
U.S. believes Pakistan nuclear arms are secure - Gates
Sun, Dec 6 07:59 PM
Enlarge Photo U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates is seen at the Yongsan U.S. army base in... The United States has helped Pakistan improve security arrangements for its nuclear arms and is "comfortable" the weapons are secure, U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said in an interview aired on Sunday.
The Pakistani government has come under repeated attack from Taliban extremists, most recently on Friday when two suicide bombers eluded security and blew themselves up in a mosque in Rawalpindi, home to the country's military establishment, killing some 40 people.
The attack raised concerns about how the bombers penetrated what should have been one of the country's most secure areas. In light of the blasts, Gates faced questions about the security of Pakistan's nuclear arms.
"We are comfortable with the security of their weapons," he told CBS's "Face the Nation" program.
Asked how he could be sure, given reports the United States does not know where all the arms are located, Gates would only say that based on the information available, U.S. officials were comfortable with their safety.
"We have a good relationship with them. We've actually given them assistance in improving some of their security arrangements over the past number of years. This is not a new relationship. And I think just based on the information available to us that gives us the comfort," he said.
Pakistan, which has not signed the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, conducted several nuclear tests in 1998. The country is estimated to have at least 60 nuclear warheads, possibly stored in component form, according to a U.S. Congressional Research Service report in October.
Concern about nuclear safety in the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks on New York and Washington prompted former Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf to have the country's nuclear arsenal moved to six secret locations, the report said, citing press reports.
Proliferation is a concern with Pakistan. The father of the country's nuclear program, A.Q. Khan, was involved in supplying North Korea, Iran and Libya with materials related to uranium enrichment, the report said, and al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden reportedly has tried to make contact with the network.
(Reporting by David Alexander, editing by Vicki Allen)
Trinamul splits college cabal | |
| MITA MUKHERJEE | |
Calcutta, Dec. 5: The Trinamul Congress has breached another CPM citadel: the powerful body of college and university teachers whose writ runs over all things academic in Bengal and whose general secretaries often rise to become higher education minister. For the first time in the recent history of the 83-year-old West Bengal College and University Teachers' Association (WBCUTA), a chunk of its members have decided to boycott its annual general meeting (AGM), slated tomorrow. The rebels are led by a few senior association officials who switched loyalties to Trinamul about a year ago and floated a forum, the Democratic Teachers for Autonomy and Academic Freedom (DTAAF). The ostensible reason for the boycott: the WBCUTA leadership's failure to pressure the state government to raise the retirement age of college teachers from 60 to 65 years, as recommended by the Centre. The rebels today kicked off a parallel programme at College Square, right opposite the University Institute Hall, the venue of the WBCUTA meeting, to denounce the association leadership. Attendance hovered around 500 — a significant number because the turnouts at the association's AGMs usually range from 1,000 to 1,200. Forum leaders claimed the support of 40 per cent of association members, who number over 9,000 across the state. The forum is made up mainly by supporters of Trinamul, the Congress and the SUCI and a few from Left parties like the CPI and the Forward Bloc. "WBCUTA leaders have completely shifted from the association's main objectives," said association vice-president Kalyanmoy Ganguly, a rebel leader. "The WBCUTA leadership is engaged more in advocating some of the state government's faulty policies even if the policies are anti-teacher." Association general secretary Tarun Patra hoped the forum's agitation would not affect the attendance at tomorrow's AGM. "All members are free to express their grievances at the AGM," Patra said, adding that the forum's demand on retirement age will be discussed at tomorrow's meeting. "But I have to admit that this kind of parallel programme was never organised in the past." Patra's predecessor Sudarshan Ray Chaudhuri is now higher education minister. Satyasadhan Chakraborty, who was higher education minister before Ray Chaudhuri, too had been WBCUTA general secretary. The WBCUTA's clout rose during Left Front rule when Anil Biswas, who headed the CPM's education cell, took control of Bengal's education system. Teachers say no policy is implemented without the association's nod. It controls undergraduate education at the Universities of Calcutta, Burdwan, North Bengal and Kalyani and even the new ones such as the West Bengal State University in Barasat and Gour Banga University, Malda. The association recently suffered a rare setback with the Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee government moving to grant autonomy to Presidency College against its wishes, but its influence is largely undiminished. Bengal's universities are yet to implement the two-year-old UGC recommendation for a semester system at the undergraduate level because the WBCUTA is against it. The association recently forced the West Bengal State University to shelve its decision to introduce internal assessment of BA, BSc and BCom students because the varsity had not sounded out the WBCUTA first. |
'LIC Bill is a ploy for privatisation'
CHENNAI: Raising apprehensions over the true intent behind the LIC (Amendment) Bill 2009, the All India Insurance Employees' Association (AIIEA) on Thursday said it would launch an aggressive national campaign involving the public and policyholders to stall the proposed legislation in the Parliament.Speaking to reporters on the decisions taken at the three-day Working Committee meeting of the trade union here, General Secretary, AIIEA, K Venu Gopal said both the Insurance Laws (Amendment) Bill 2008 and the LIC (Amendment) Bill 2009 were aimed at facilitating future disinvestments in public sector insurance companies.The Insurance amendment bill proposes to increase Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in the insurance sector from 26 to 49 per cent allowing foreign investors a huge say over the savings of the people."The Bill is aimed at disinvesting in the four public sector general insurers - United India Insurance Company, National Insurance Company, New India Assurance and Oriental Insurance Company and we strongly oppose the move,'' Gopal said.When private sector insurers have registered a negative growth, the PSUs have posted a 14.6 per cent growth rate and it is regrettable that the government tries to stifle the development of public sector insurance companies, he said.As for the LIC Bill, the government has not clarified why it wanted to up the equity from Rs 5 to Rs 100 crore when the corporation itself did not ask for it, Gopal added."This is being done only to facilitate disinvestments in future. The bill also reduces the surplus share that would accrue to the policy holders from 95 to 90 per cent," he said adding the Bill, if passed, would affect the people, policyholders and employees of PSU insurance companies.The Working Committee of the AIIEA has decided to oppose the Insurance and LIC Amendment Bills and launch an aggressive campaign involving the policyholders and the people through conventions, seminars, human chains and 'post a card to the PM plan' on the adverse effects of the Bills. As part of the campaign, MPs of all the parties are being met to sensitize them on the issue. A national convention will also be held in New Delhi on December 17.
Coal block auction to hit steel steel projects: Nirupam
KOLKATA: Some big-ticket investments in the steel sector in Bengal could take a hit if the Centre introduces open auction of captive coal blocks,
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Talking to media at the Steel Conclave 2009, organised by the CII in the city on Saturday, the minister held that the new system might also do away with the state's dispensing coal mines. '
Sen pointed out that the proposed auction system would adversely affect at least three mega steel projects Videocon, Bhusan Steel, and Kalyani Steel due to uncertainty over coal linkages.
"Progress of these projects would suffer if the state government is unable to provide coal linkages. The banks too would not give loan if the project does not have confirmed coal linkage," Sen added.
It may be noted that after iron ore, coal is the second most vital input for the steel industry. The combined investment proposed in these three projects is over Rs 25,000 crore.
Of the three mega firms, Videocon has proposed a 3-million tonne steel plant and a 1,600-MW power project. Kalyani has proposed 2-million tonne while Bhusan was planning to set up a 3-million tonne plant. According to the industries minister, the state government had written a letter to the Centre against the open auction system. "We got the reply yesterday but there is no clear indication about the future of the state's quota over coal blocks. The reply is not very positive," he said.
In fact, chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee took up the matter with the Centre and had asked for 15 coal blocks for various upcoming projects. "Since 2006, we have received allotment of six coal blocks, but we need nine more blocks for steel and other projects," the minister said. Sen elaborated that JSW has got three blocks out of six allotted to the state. It may be noted that JSW is planning to set up 10-million tonne steel and 1,600-MW power project in two phases with an investment of Rs 35,000 crore.
Jai Balaji too has got coal blocks for its project. It has proposed a 5-million tonne steel and a 3-million tonne cement plant at Raghunathpur in Purulia with an investment of Rs 16,000 crore. Sen further added that water access for the projects is also crucial and an area of concern.
"Various projects coming up in Asansol, Durgapur and Purulia are facing water shortages with DVC being the sole supplier. JSW has thought of laying down a 70 KM pipeline to draw water from Rupnarayan to its plant in Salboni," he said.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata-/Coal-block-auction-to-hit-steel-steel-projects-Nirupam-/articleshow/5306543.cms
OVER STORY
`Trade unions stand isolated'
| Interview with Subrata Mukherjee, president, INTUC, West Bengal. |
Subrata Mukherjee has been involved with the trade union movement for the past 28 years. He was a member of the Governing Body of ILO from 1990 to 2000. Currently, he is the president of the West Bengal unit of the Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC), a Trinamul Congress member of the State Assembly and the Mayor of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation. Excerpts from the interview he gave Suhrid Sankar Chattopadhyay:
What has been the impact of economic liberalisation on the industrial working class? How have the policies affected the living conditions of workers in the organised and unorganised sectors in the last few years, particularly since the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government assumed office?
Workers in the organised sector have been very badly hit by globalisation, and the extent of damage is steadily increasing. On the one hand, there is no employment generation, and on the other, those who have been working for a considerable period of time are finding themselves out of work. This phenomenon is particularly dangerous. After working almost all your life in a place, one fine morning you are told that it is closed down and you have to leave, or simply you just have to leave and at that point there is little recourse left for the worker other than committing suicide. I even know of the wives of out-of-work men, who out of desperation do sex work to keep the family alive.
One of the main reasons for this is the Government of India's lack of awareness. This liberalisation was first initiated during the end of Pranab Mukherjee's tenure as Finance Minister and took proper shape during Manmohan Singh's time. The Government of India did not create a level playing field for Indian companies vis-a-vis their foreign counterparts. Neither did they invest properly, nor make any attempt to modernise existing plants. They did not even provide the companies with proper management. As a result, local industry and production could not compete with international competition and was totally destroyed. If big companies such as Burn Standard and Jessop could keep on supplying to the domestic market, they would still be alive today. For instance, Durgapur Steel was modernised and it did not have to close it down, but right next to it there is IISCO, which is on the verge of closure. Globalisation is a reality we have to accept, but the Government of India should have created a level playing field first, instead of taking the short cut.
Another policy that the NDA government took was abolishing the concept of mixed economy. This is very dangerous for a developing country like ours. It has totally destroyed the public sector. We are absolutely against this policy. If a private individual can run a factory, then why cannot the Government of India, with all the power at its disposal, do the same? That just goes to prove that it is not the industry, which is sick, but the government. This has grave social implications. We are, in fact, heading towards anarchism and this will continue if the problem of unemployment is not tackled.
During the Congress(I) government's tenure it was announced that the organised sector alone would generate employment for three crore people every year. But that never took place. They assured us that globalisation would not go against the interest of the working class, and that workers would be retrained and absorbed in the companies. But no such programme took off. In developed countries such as the United Kingdom this programme has paid dividends.
INTUC has always politically supported the Congress(I) at the Centre, and yet it was the government led by the party that initiated the economic reforms. Did this not clash with the INTUC's trade union interests?
The INTUC and the Congress(I) are not one. Neither is the INTUC a blind supporter of Congress(I) policies. Although we may politically back the Congress(I), we are affiliated to the International Labour Organisation. We did voice our opinion on this issue, but it was, obviously, not heeded.
What are the key elements of policies that have impacted the living conditions of the working people in India?
No policies were drafted recently to save the organised sector. Some policies are being announced for the unorganised sector, but they are not being implemented. For example, it has come up that certain segments of the unorganised sector will be given Provident Fund. In the organised sector, in West Bengal itself, workers in various industrial units are yet to get their Provident Fund, to the tune of Rs.250 crores.
How has the deregulation of Indian industry, manifest in the gathering pace of privatisation, and the growing demand by employers that they be allowed flexible deployment of labour, affected labour? How effective has collective bargaining been in dealing with the situation created by the policy environment?
The concept of flexible deployment of labour is a myth. Till date the government has no policy whereby workers from the organised sector can be deployed elsewhere.
In India there is no practice of collective bargaining. Unless there is government support, there is no hope for collective bargaining. A way to go about collective bargaining is by reaching tripartite agreements with the management, the government and the trade unions representing the employees. Although each party signs on the dotted lines, none of the agreements is implemented and, as a result, the working class is losing its confidence in trade unions. I believe there is a concerted effort to destroy systematically the tradition of trade unionism in the country. One of the main objectives of globalisation is to destroy trade unionism.
What are your comments on the Supreme Court's recent observations about strikes?
That particular ruling has no meaning, and it will not be implemented either. The Supreme Court should never have done such a thing. The reason why the apex court can give such a ruling is because the national leadership is weak. We have the Industrial Disputes Act and other laws to protect the interests of the employers and employees. To an extent we are also to be blamed for this. Today there is an element of dread in the word `strike'. And in many places, owing to regular strikes for reasons not always particularly significant, the general public is fed up.
Do you mean that trade unions themselves have done harm to their own movement and cause?
Yes, to some extent we are to be blamed for the way things are. Today we have very little sympathy from the masses. Just screaming for rights is not enough. The trade union movement today is an isolated one. Whatever issues and problems we have, we deal with them and project them only in our own little circles. For example, when we are discussing whether to call for a strike in the jute industry, only those involved with the industry know about it. The general public have no idea. We have, in fact, alienated ourselves from the masses.
How far do you think politicising of trade unions has affected the movement?
It is true that we have all become appendages of various political parties - the INTUC belongs to the Congress(I), the CITU belongs to the Communist Party of India (Marxist), and so on. As a result of this politicising, the trade union movement has not only been crippled, but the unity among trade unions has also been destroyed. Only when the trade union movement transcends politics will it be successful, as in Japan or even the United States.
There are now calls for a dilution of the provisions of the Industrial Disputes Act. What do you think its implications would be? Did the Act afford an adequate measure of protection for the labour force? If not, do you think it is because of any deficiencies in the law or in the process of its implementation?
I believe certain changes need to be made in the provisions of the Industrial Disputes Act. The laws need to be more balanced. Just as I don't think that it would not be correct to make it legal to gherao, it would be wrong to abolish the right to strike.
I do not think the Industrial Disputes Act provided enough protection to the labour force. The problem lies not just in the implementation of the law, but also in certain aspects of the law itself. For example, the law states that only seven people are required to form a union. There is no justification for this any more.
http://www.hinduonnet.com/fline/fl2018/stories/20030912008301500.htm
| Trade Unions Seeking Professionalism Can the traditional political leadership effectively fight labour's battles on its own? |
But the call for increased competence and professionalism in the leadership and functioning of trade unions has not gone down well with everybody.
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INTUC leader Chandrachud Dasgupta, who heads the white-collar employees' union at the Tea Board, defends the demand for professionalism: "With the information explosion and the pushing back of the frontiers of technology, the very nature of industry and business has changed beyond recognition. Unless the organised working class keeps abreast of what is happening globally and educates itself, workers will no longer be able to defend their own interests. In India, we only have some legal assistance to safeguard workers' interests in emergencies. In future, this will not be enough. Some of us feel the assistance of full-time experts who will help us collect, collate and assess new information about industrial development, changes in production techniques and progress in industrial research is absolutely necessary. They are the exclusive domain of big industry at the moment. The days of part-time trade union leaders, no matter how individually brilliant or influential they may be, are numbered."
Young Dasgupta's views are shared by the grizzled veteran of the movement, former MP and president of CITU, Niren Ghosh, who is known for his hardline approach on the new economic policy. Says he: "I think there is no harm in increasing our knowledge about industries, the technological changes and the global trends as a whole. Micro-problems relating to financial demands or routine matters can be left to leaders at other levels. There can be no objection to seeking professional or expert assistance in the collection of data that concern our interests and their evaluation, even from the outside."
Other sources within INTUC point out that at one level, this specialisation would represent a coming of age, as it were, of the trade union movement in India. Says an observer: "How can anyone expect a part-time leader or MP to speak for the interests of workers in the pharmaceutical, chemical, steel, aviation, jute or construction industries merely on the strength of his being the leader of this or that central trade union organisation? Today, during negotiations, senior leaders are often briefed by their juniors who themselves are employees and attend to trade union duties on a part-time basis. Most of the time, they have to rely on the masters—whether in the private or public sectors—for basic statistics regarding their own sector."
The AITUC Vice-President, MP Gurudas Dasgupta, does not quite agree: "I think the call for full-time professionals in leadership roles in trade unions is fraught with dangerous consequences. To begin with, competence alone cannot be a substitute for dedication or commitment; which is what trade unionism is about, or should be. In case special inputs are needed in trade union functioning, surely they can be obtained from experts. What worries me is the implication that such people should find a place in the leadership structure within trade unions, although they might not even have had a nodding acquaintance with the theories and principles and the essence of trade unionism. I cannot imagine anyone seriously suggesting this."
In turn, a senior trade union leader notes that dedication alone is not necessarily the best of guarantees for safeguarding the interests of the working class. Says he: "I remember how during our negotiations on jute strikes here, a very senior and respected trade union leader represented CITU. There was no whisper of any financial scandal. Yet, when it came to the laborious nitty-gritty of bargaining between labour and management, usually the latter won. You see, neither the leader nor the employees he led had all the details relating to how much production could be expected during different seasons and what effect the variations in machine output had on productivity, and how far the management could be held accountable for all this. The management had the statistics and they withheld crucial information until the moment of decision-taking. Effective trade unionism these days is much more than good intentions or commitment. The only alternative is to arm yourself with information and then talk terms."
INTUC's Rabin Majumdar, leader of the Bata Mazdoor Union, goes further in his argument for new thinking in trade unionism: "I understand Jyoti Basu urging us workers to improve productivity and to be more disciplined. For, unless the workers' units do well, they lose out to competition and put their own jobs in jeopardy. I do not understand others in the CPI(M) not challenging Basu, yet attacking the policy of liberalisation that the Congress has initiated. It has to be understood that the Marxist view portraying employers and the management as bloodsucking villains who must be fought and destroyed is obsolete shibboleth. The worker has a stake in ensuring optimum production. If this is acceptable, the management and workers have to regard themselves as working partners, not as enemies."
But both Ghosh and Gurudas Dasgupta are extremely critical of the performance of the management in most industries, especially the traditional ones. Says Ghosh: "People talk of work culture and labour indiscipline. What examples have our big industries set? In West Bengal alone, 28 public sector units employing over 140,000 workers are closed at the moment. The number of private sector units closed is much more, and these figures are higher in Maharashtra. In how many cases has labour indiscipline or militancy been a major factor? And in how many cases differences within the management, corruption at the top level and wrong policy decisions have been responsible for the closure of units?"
And so, while Majumdar has written an informative booklet extolling the merits of the new economic policies, Niren Ghosh has virtually demolished them in an equally informative booklet written from a Left perspective, indicating how it has effectively helped the cause of only exporters and non-resident Indians.
But while it would be too much to expect INTUC and the CITU to agree on everything, both organisations admit that of late common workers have been taking less interest than before in trade union activities and the response to membership drives is mostly lukewarm. CITU also notes a tendency among new entrants to aspire for leadership positions right away rather than work their way up patiently. In the end, a critical self-analysis may just throw up the right strategy for these organisations to adapt to the new order.
http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?200959
Print Story Bibek Debroy
Posted online: Jun 08, 2009 at 0321 hrs
Cross-country, there are different definitions of unorganised or informal. These terms are sometimes used synonymously and sometimes a distinction is drawn between them. That distinction is not terribly useful. Having said this, global research generally finds three developments. First, the higher the degree of formalisation in the labour force, the higher is the average level of earnings. Second, there is a gender dimension. Informality is usually a characteristic of the female workforce and discrimination manifests itself in the form of lower wages. Third, when thinking of informality, one musn't always think of it in terms of workforce participation. There is also informality connected with business, a transition that we describe as our fourth transition.
Informality has costs, as well as benefits, and a decision by a poor person to stay informal is sometimes based on deliberate choice, highlighting transaction costs associated with becoming formal. However, the choice to stay informal is not always a conscious one.
In India, informality can be defined in one of three different ways. First, there is a definition in terms of exemptions from paying indirect taxes. Second, there is a definition in terms of small-scale industry, which again is defined in terms of threshold levels of investment in plant and machinery. Third, there is a definition in terms of labour laws. An enterprise is unorganised if it uses power and employs more than 10 people or does not use power and employs more than 20 people. The last definition is the one that is used most often and according to this, in 2004-05, 92.4% of employment was in the unorganised sector.
Labour markets in India are segmented. And 92.4% of the labour force in the unorganised sector has no labour rights worth the name. Protective legislation is absent, be it in the form of safety, minimum wages or social security. Simultaneously, through labour laws, rigidities are created in the labour market for the remaining 7.6%. There is an artificial disincentive against employing labour and despite India possessing a labour cost advantage, capital/intensity is inordinately high, particularly in manufacturing.
Reforms should break down the segmentation between organised and unorganised labour markets. This will permit better labour rights for those who are presently unorganised and flexible labour laws for those who are presently in the organised segment. The two markets will move closer together.
As of today, what do we know about wage workers in the non-agricultural sector? As per 2004-05 data, there are 52.9m wage workers in the unorganised sector (excluding agriculture). If one includes unorganised or informal sector workers within the organised sector, the number increases to 76.7 million. There is a Minimum Wages Act. But in urban areas, 50% of male workers and 87% of female workers get wages that are below these minimum wages. With 53% of workers in construction, followed by 19% in manufacturing, physical conditions of work are inhuman, there are occupational hazards, and deviations from stipulated hours of work, the duration of the working day and weekly holidays. Employment is organised through three informal channels—standing at the factory gate, family, caste and community-based networks and labour contractors. None of these is an efficient processor of information and when labour contractors are used, additional costs are paid to the contractors themselves. Plus, 90% of workers don't possess written employment contracts at all. Much of this sounds like the England of the Industrial Revolution. The fact that the lives of these urban casual workers might be better than those of rural workers is neither here nor there.
The World Bank's Doing Business indicators for 178 economies include one on employing workers. In employing workers, India has a global rank of 85, difficulty of hiring index of 0, rigidity of working hours index of 20, difficulty of firing index of 70, rigidity of employment index of 30, firing costs of 56 and non-wage labour cost figure of 56. India's low relative scores are primarily associated with difficulties in firing. India also has higher non-wage labour costs and rigidity of employment index values. The point is that most cross-country surveys generally reduce the Indian analysis to the organised segment.
On the other hand, UN sources approach the issue from a core labour standards standpoint. UNDP's Human Development Reports show that India's female work participation rate is 42.5%. India is a de jure signatory to the seven human and labour rights instruments and has ratified conventions specific to elimination of forced and compulsory labour, and discrimination in employment and occupation. Per se, ratification doesn't solve the problem of implementation, but it does signify some political will.
Whether one acknowledges it explicitly or not, there is a tension or trade-off between ensuring labour market flexibility and ensuring protection of what may be called core labour standards. Within the organised segment, labour market reforms can be clubbed under a few heads. First, there are old and dysfunctional laws that must be eliminated, like. anachronistic sections in the Factories Act and the Shops and Establishments Act. They may have been appropriate when they were first enacted, but times have changed. Even otherwise, it's moot whether employer-employee kind of relationships relevant to the Industrial Revolution, which is the model from which these labour statutes derive, are appropriate to India. Second, there are areas where legislation is missing. For instance, most of the unorganised sector is outside the purview of protective labour laws and where such laws exist, they are not enforced. Under the present government, an attempt has been made to introduce social security legislation for the unorganised sector, though implementation remains questionable. Third, there is a need for unification and harmonisation. The first extant labour statute was the Fatal Accidents Act, enacted in 1855. Over a period of time, concepts and definitions have changed. So has the case law, contributing to further confusion. For example, there is lack of unanimity about definitions of wages, workman, employee, factory, industry, adolescent, child and even contract labour.
Fourth, there is need for reducing unnecessary State intervention and over-legislation and this often occurs through administrative law. Instances are rules under the Factories Act or the Shops and Establishment Act, or even for wage-related statutes like the Payment of Wages Act. Inspector raj and consequent corruption is an inevitable outcome of administrative law that is non-transparent, made worse by the fact that reporting norms often still do not accept electronic submission. Rules under the Factories Act, framed in 1948, provide for whitewashing of factories.
Distemper won't do. Earthen pots filled with water are required. Water coolers won't suffice. Red-painted buckets filled with sand are required. Fire extinguishers won't do.
Fifth, there is the question of procedural law. If procedural law is inefficient, no matter how good substantive law is, the legal system will lack credibility. This does not make the redressal mechanism credible. In more general vein, transaction costs associated with obeying the law must be brought down, so that people do not have an incentive to operate in a quasi-legal or illegal framework. One can also mention laws connected with industrial relations, such as the Industrial Disputes Act. There has been a failure to un-bundle the labour market reform agenda in several senses.
A quote from Economic Survey is indicative of Indian perceptions about labour markets and labour market reform in China: "Indian labour market is characterised by a sharp dichotomy. A large number of establishments in the unorganised sector remain outside any regulation, while the organised sector has been regulated fairly stringently. It can be reasonably argued that the organised sector has provided too much of job-security for too long, while the unorganised sector has provided too little to too many. Various studies indicate that Indian labour laws are highly protective of labour, and labour markets are relatively inflexible. These laws apply only to the organised sector. Consequently, these laws have restricted labour mobility, have led to capital intensive methods in the organised sector and adversely affected the sector's long-run demand for labour. Labour being a subject in the concurrent list, evidence suggests that States that have enacted more pro-worker regulations have lost out on industrial production in general. Perhaps there are lessons to be learnt from China.With a history of extreme employment security, it has drastically reformed labour relations and created a labour market in which workers are highly mobile. Although there have been mass layoffs and open unemployment, high rates of industrial growth helped their redeployment. Workers seem to have benefited from wage growth, additional job creation and new opportunities for self employment.
The importance of the organised sector is low across all of India. The political economy of handling resistance to change is one thing. But at least on the organised labour market, one understands what the policy-induced distortions are. In the unorganised sector, since labour laws don't apply or aren't enforced, there remains the question of why India hasn't been able to reap the benefit of a labour cost advantage, unlike China. The answer probably lies in lack of physical infrastructure and absence of human capital skills.
An ILO study found that between 50 and 75% of non-agricultural employment in the developing world is informal. This includes both self-employment in informal (small and unregistered) enterprises and wage employment in informal jobs (without labour contracts, worker benefits and protection). Subject to data problems, 83% of India's non-agricultural employment was estimated by ILO to be informal. Self-employment makes up 52% of non-agricultural informal employment. Of course, there are different categories within the informal employment continuum and workers employed on casual basis will be better placed than workers to whom manufacturing work is out-sourced, but inferiorly placed compared to workers who have a more regular status.
Cross-country, there is a correlation between the size of the informal economy and poverty. The challenge for developmental policy is integrating the informal sector into the formal economy. But this cannot be done by fiat and mandated legislation. Such legislation will invariably not be enforced.
—Bibek Debroy is a noted economist and Laveesh Bhandari is head of the economics research firm Indicus Analyticshttp://www.financialexpress.com/printer/news/472722/
Politics
Mamata to be CM if TC-Cong alliance comes to power: Pranab
KRISHNAGAR (WB): Despite some Congress leaders flaying the "overbearing" attitude of ally Trinamool Congress, the West Bengal Congress President, Mr Pranab Mukherjee on Sunday projected the TC Chief, Ms Mamata Banerjee as chief minister in the event of t he combine coming to power after 2011 assembly polls.
Mr Mukherjee also emphasised the "timeliness" of the tie-up saying "it is a gilt-edged chance to dethrone the Left Front from power in West Bengal."
"It is very timely. It should not be allowed to be wasted," Mr Mukherjee said on the concluding day of the party's 'chintan shibir' here in Nadia district organised to formulate political strategy for the 2011 elections.
Later, Mr Mukherjee said that the party had earlier too forged an alliance with the Trinamool Congress (TC) in the 2001 assembly election, projecting Ms Mamata as the chief ministerial candidate.
"The leader of the largest partner in a state (Trinamool Congress) becomes the chief minister. This is nothing new," he said.
Meanwhile party strongman Mr Adhir Chowdhury, MP, pointed out to Trinamool's "highhandedness" in seat arrangement in earlier elections, but readily agreed to Mr Mukherjee's contention of Ms Mamata being projected as the chief ministerial candidate.
MP, Ms Deepa Dasmunshi said they needed the alliance alright, but not at the cost of the party's grass-root organisations.
"We are ready to sacrifice for the sake of the alliance, but we are not ready to allow the Congress to be destroyed," Mr Dasmunshi, wife of ailing former Union minister, Mr Priya Ranjan Dasmunshi, said. - PTI
Tamil refugees not keen about Lanka return
Lankan refugees living in Tamil Nadu. (File photo: Express0
CHENNAI: Colombo's post-war assurances of peace notwithstanding, most Sri Lankan refugees living in Tamil Nadu prefer not to return to the island nation — and are keen to make TN their home.Factors such as total military control over all Tamilmajority territories, improper rehabilitation of those who have gone back in the last few months and increasing activities of different armed Tamil groups in the wake of a decimated LTTE are dissuading them from returning. The recent rearrests and unannounced detention of Tamil youths who had been released from IDP camps in Lanka have added to their worry.An inmate from Ramanatha puram's Mandapam Camp says, "My three young relatives were recently released from Manik Farm, but were re-arrested by Lankan policemen in the Mannar district few days ago. I feel really fearful." Says another inmate from Sivaganga district: "We came here as children and have now acquainted ourselves with the place. Relocating to a place where we have to start from scratch won't be wise." At Puzhal camp, a group of youngsters say that they are optimistic about the future because of the state government's promises to improve their living conditions.
World Bank to support large projects in India
Plans to double investments in agriculture sector.
Pat for reforms
The World Bank is impressed with the progress made on the reforms process front and sees growth rates returning to 8-9%.
Our Bureau
New Delhi, Dec. 4
The World Bank Group plans to shift focus from individual projects to large consolidated projects to allow it to support India's key priorities with substantial impact of overcoming poverty, its President, Mr Robert B Zoellick, has said.
The effort would be to see if World Bank can have billion dollar interventions not only to support financially but also build institutional capacities and help connect other sources of funding, Mr Zoellick said at a press conference here on Friday.
Mr Zoellick, who met the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, today, said that the World Bank Group plans to double its investments in the Indian agriculture sector to $ 5 billion in the next three years.
Meanwhile, a World Bank statement issued here today said that India's growth rates could over the next one-to-two years see a return to 8-9 per cent envisaged in the country's Eleventh Plan.
Strong policies
It highlighted that India's strong fiscal and monetary policies had helped counteract a decline in exports and withstand some of the external shocks brought on by the multiple food, fuel and financial crises.
Mr Zoellick also said that the World Bank Group is also keen to support Indian firms with operations in other developing countries, especially in Africa. "I have talked about India as a player in global economy. There may be opportunities for us to help Indian firms doing business in other developing countries. The south-south business and trade is on the increase. We can help, if they require, in terms of operations in other countries", he said.
Mr Zoellick noted that he was impressed with the progress made on the reforms process front. He highlighted the encouraging GDP growth numbers even while pointing out that there were a set of challenges ahead.
"We would like to develop partnership (with India) where we can have larger effect, give catalytic push to reform efforts", he said.
The World Bank has already delivered about $5.3-billion to India this fiscal year with commitments to power, roads, banking, rural development and water.
During his visit, Mr Zoellick met several Ministers including the Finance Minister, Mr Pranab Mukherjee, the Union Minister for Road and Highways, Mr Kamal Nath, and the Environment Minister, Mr Jairam Ramesh.
Seeking More capital
Mr Zoellick also said that the World Bank Group was in the process of seeking more capital from shareholders.
Asked as to when he expected the voice reform will get completed, Mr Zoellick said that the second phase is likely to be completed by April 2010, when developing countries' share will increase from 44 per cent to 47 per cent.
"This should move closer to parity (50:50 between developing and developed countries). That is next step", he added.
Stories in this Section
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A matter of intensity
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World Bank to support large projects in India
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ISB course for senior executives
Sethuraman, consultant, and Dr Mumtaz Ahmed Khan, Founder and Chairman of Al-Ameen Group of Institutions
Ritesh Jain, Director, T.I.M.E Institute, Ghaziabad; Mewar Institute, Vasundhra, Ghaziabad (Uttar Pradesh).
Mock trials would have saved CAT online
Beetle in India
Mahindra World City to expand presence in Tamil Nadu
Cochin Chamber office-bearers
Traders oppose alignment survey for Kochi Metro
Science on wheels
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Social sector, sick PSUs to get more divestment funds
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Protecting girl child
Management meet valedictory
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West Bengal eyeing joint venture to develop river tourism
Responsible tourism initiative gaining acceptance at community level
Emaar MGF violated FDI norms: ED
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CITU sees red over 'hefty' bonuses to PSU executives
NEW DELHI: Wages always separated workers from the executives. But, now a leftbacked trade union is complaining that "huge bonus in the garb of
Cautioning that discontent was brewing among PSU workers on the issue, CPM's trade union wing CITU is petitioning the government to demand that the ceiling on employees' bonus be removed.
"When top executives can get more than 200 per cent of their pay as bonus in the name of performance related pay (PRP), why should there be a ceiling on workers' bonus. It's unjust. The government must rectify this," CPM polit bureau member and CITU leader MK Pandhe said on Wednesday.
The Directorate of Public Enterprises (DPE) guidelines prescribe PRP based on profits for the executives. For workers, bonus is based on productivity.
According to the CITU's Chennai unit, in Neyveli Lignite Corporation (NLC), the management has arrived at an agreement with the executives and paid annual PRP between Rs 1 lakh to around Rs 6 lakh. Meanwhile, workers have been paid Rs 42,000-51,000 under the new incentive bonus agreement.
The CITU pointed out that such discrimination did not exist over the last 20 years, when executives and employees have been paid bonus which was productivity linked quarterly and annual incentive in lieu of bonus. It said that 20 years ago when bonus was paid under the Bonus Act, a majority of the executives were not paid any as there was a wage ceiling under the Act.
While the trade union is not against executives getting bonus, it is objecting to the "huge discrimination" . NLC employees led by CITU had gone on a token strike earlier this month.
The DPE guidelines also say that performance related pay can be given to executives in the form of company stocks. The Left is opposed to this saying it amounted to indirect disinvestment of NLC shares and leads to privatisation.
The demand to remove the ceiling on employees' bonus comes at a time when wage negotiation exercise is taking place in several PSUs. The CITU said that allowances for workers will be paid 20-30 per cent of their basic pay while the DPE guidelines say the allowances for executives can go up to 50 per cent of their basic.
AITUC members protest before Parliament for their rights
New Delhi, Dec 5 (ANI): Women members of the All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC), the workers outfit of Communist Party of India undertook a street march to the Parliament House here on Friday.
Holding banners on 'Equal Rights', women working in various industrial and service sectors from all over India participated in the march.
They were demanding equal pay for equal work, which they said, is their basic right.
Trade union leaders said that demands regarding the conditions vis-
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Rallying against hunger
CHANDNI MEHTA
| In a year of sparse rains and spiralling food prices, with hundreds of districts being officially declared as drought-hit, a rally by activists in the capital demands a Food Entitlements Act. |
Perhaps the most vocal demands at the rally were those aimed at a complete revamp of the Public Distribution System (PDS), starting with universal — instead of targeted — coverage.
Popular surge: Thousands gather to demand immediate passage of the National Food Entitlements Act.
Over 5,000 grassroots activists, agricultural workers, farmers, lawyers, doctors and others coming from 18 States walked to Parliament Street (New Delhi) on November 26, 2009, demanding a comprehensive "Food Entitlements Act" and immediate action in drought-affected areas.
The rally underscored the urgency of addressing pervasive hunger and starvation, especially in a year of widespread drought and spiralling food prices. This issue seems to carry little political weight in a country where, for many in the emergent classes that wield power and influence, the encounter with hunger is at best articulated in ad-lines like "Hungry Kya?". The Congress Party's election manifesto promised a "National Food Security Act", but two parliament sessions later, and in spite of drought being declared in 278 districts, there is no sign of a draft Bill. It is at such times of obscene inequity and neglect that citizens, here under the banner of the "Right to Food Campaign", redeem the pledge of democracy — taking to the streets with the call for " halla bol", insisting that people's basic needs ought to be the State's priority.
From all walks of life
The sheer diversity amongst the thousands who rallied conveyed the wide range of needs that a Food Entitlements Act would have to address. The participants included agricultural workers from Jagrut Adivasi Dalit Sangathan (JADS); activists of the National Campaign on Dalit Human Rights and other Dalit organisations; women's groups like Jagori, Delhi FORCES and the National Federation of Indian Women; physically challenged activists of Viklang Manch; health workers from Jan Swasthya Abhiyan; trade union workers of the New Trade Union Initiative; students from Delhi University and elsewhere; and members of Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (Jharkhand), Chhattisgarh Mazdoor Andolan, Right to Food Campaign Bihar and many other local organisations. It is not without reason that the Supreme Court already acknowledges nine nutrition-related programmes addressed to different groups as legal entitlements in the "right to food case" (PUCL vs. Union of India and Others, Civil Writ Petition 196 of 2001). These entitlements include mid-day meals for school children under the Mid Day Meal Scheme, maternity support under the National Maternity Benefit Scheme, guaranteed employment under Rural Employment Guarantee Schemes, supplementary nutrition for young children under the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS), subsidised grain under the Public Distribution System (PDS), and pensions under the National Social Assistance Programme, among others. None of these entitlements, the rally demanded, should be diluted in the Food Entitlements Act — on the contrary, they need to be vastly expanded and consolidated.
About half of all Indian children are undernourished, and the proportion of underweight children has remained virtually unchanged in the last 10 years, in spite of rapid economic growth. This is all the more alarming as the first three years of life have a critical, life-long impact on nutrition and health. The "soft issue" of child undernutrition concerns those who cannot offer any "political capital" in electoral politics. It is perhaps for this reason that the UPA government brazenly neglects children's right to food and makes no mention of it in its already feeble promises for the right to food. The rallyists included many women with children strapped on their backs, adding their voice to the demand for better child nutrition programmes (including the universalisation of ICDS) as well as maternity entitlements, crèches, breastfeeding support, and other essential services for women. " Maeder dukkho robe na… babader dukkho robe na… Supreme Court rai diyeche noi-ti jojna" (mothers won't be in pain, fathers won't be in pain, for the Supreme Court has given orders in favour of nine schemes), sang hopeful women from rural Bengal's Paschim Banga Khet Majoor Samiti. Here again, of course, the Food Entitlements Act aims to go much beyond existing Supreme Court orders.
Perhaps the most vocal demands at the rally were those aimed at a complete revamp of the Public Distribution System (PDS), starting with universal — instead of targeted — coverage. So far, the government's only promise, in the name of a "National Food Security Act", has been a monthly ration of 25 kg of foodgrains at Rs. 3/kg for Below Poverty Line (BPL) households. Strongly rejecting the targeted approach of the current PDS, Kavita Srivastava (petitioner in the "right to food case") highlighted the arbitrariness and unreliability of the BPL surveys: "We have the Planning Commission telling us that 28 per cent of the population is below the poverty line, Tendulkar Committee gives a figure of 38 per cent, Arjun Sengupta's report indicates more than 78 per cent — which figure does one go by?" Further, economist Jean Drèze explained that according to National Sample Survey data, among the poorest 20 per cent of rural households, almost half do not have a BPL card. And even among those who do have a BPL card, 40 per cent did not get any grain from the PDS in 2004-5. Tamil Nadu, by contrast, has a universal PDS, with 97 per cent of entitled households getting subsidised grain. "The exclusion errors are too high and dangerous. Targeting is administratively unacceptable and socially unethical. If the PDS is made targeted under the new law, our state will be at a huge loss", said an anxious activist from Tamil Nadu Forces.
Food, A basic right: Rallyists hold out banners of signature campaigns across the country.
At the rally, one would frequently hear the nara " Hum apna adhikaar maangte, nahi kisi se bheekh maangte" (We ask for our rights, we don't ask anyone for alms). It is in pursuance of rightful, dignified access to food that the Right to Food Campaign articulates its demand of 14 kg of cereals at Rs. 2/kg, 1.5 kg of pulses at Rs. 20/kg, and 800 gm of cooking oil at Rs. 35/kg under the PDS for every adult. When the question of feasibility of such a demand is raised, another activist from Tamil Nadu Forces points out, "Our government gives us rice, wheat, sugar, maida, kerosene, rava, 10 varieties of spices, and other items… The issue price for rice is Re.1/kg. Look at food prices. The government has to provide a safety net. In fact the Campaign's demand is less than what we already get. We are very worried about that."
Soaring prices
At an interesting exhibit on the sidewalks of the rally, students of Delhi University displayed a simple food basket, consisting of what it would take for a family of five to achieve a reasonably nutritious diet from the cheapest sources (such as methifor vegetables and chana dalfor pulses). The price tags were quite daunting, with the total coming to Rs. 235 per day — more than twice the wage rate paid under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA)!
Another essential demand of the Campaign is decentralised procurement and distribution of food, as well as de-privatisation of ration shops, preferably to women's groups. As Madhuri Krishnaswamy of JADS insists, "Why should the entire country rely on the produce of Punjab and Haryana? We should produce and consume locally, so that multinational corporations do not decide what we produce. There has to be a ban on their intervention and a ban on exports until we have fed ourselves with dignity." The demand for de-privatisation, decentralisation and self-management of ration shops is of great importance to make a universal PDS possible as well as to restore accountability in the system. These steps are also tools of democratisation and empowerment.
Not a tall order
Also present at the rally were many people representing vulnerable groups such as the elderly, disabled persons, single women, child-headed households, "primitive" tribal groups and the urban destitute. Among other interventions they demanded Antyodaya cards with special entitlements including PDS items at half the prices, access to cooked meals, and pensions for the elderly or disabled. The Campaign also demands policies to ensure that migrant workers and the urban destitute have access to the PDS and other food security schemes.
All this may seem like a tall order, but nothing less is required to ensure food security for all. Meanwhile another of the rally's slogans will continue to resonate: " Yeh azadi jhoothi hai, desh ki janta bhookhi hai" — freedom is a lie as long as people are hungry.
Chandni Mehta is a volunteer with the Right to Food Campaign. She would like to acknowledge the contribution of Jean Drèze, Usman Jawed and Reetika Khera.
http://www.hindu.com/mag/2009/12/06/stories/2009120650150400.htm
Liberated Westerner? My foot!
What's the difference between trade unions in India and the UK? No prizes for guessing! Trade unions in India fight for maternity rights; in the On Friday last the CPI-backed trade union AITUC organised a march to Parliament demanding maternity benefits and equal pay for working women. 'The President of the country is a woman, the main political party is led by a woman and the Lok Sabha speaker is a woman but over 90% of working women don't have maternity benefits', CPI leader Gurudas Dasgupta is reported as saying. But then you don't have to watch 'saas bhi kabhi bahu thi' or other soap operas of that genre to know the lot of the average Indian woman is anything but happy. Even if one accepts that television is about hype and the characters portrayed on TV are not typical of flesh-and-blood women, you only have to pick up the morning newspaper with its daily litany of crimes against women to know Indian women get a pretty raw deal. Never mind that the World Economic Forum's latest Global Gender Gap Index shows we've moved up three notches, even if we do remain closer to the bottom of the heap at 114 out of 134 countries surveyed. Never mind also that the President, in what was, perhaps, a subtle rejoinder to Air Vice-Marshal, PK Barbora's remark about the unsuitability of women to become fighter pilots took to the skies in one, even if only as a passenger! But there is one respect in which the average Indian urban working woman is far more emancipated than her Western counterpart: in her choice of footwear. Just look around you. From the ubiquitous hawaii chappals (now known by their fancier name, flip-flops) to kolhapuris to jootis to open sandals with or without heels to covered shoes, working women in metros and smaller towns have the full range of choices. I've been working for 30 odd years and there's never been the faintest pressure regarding what footwear I should favour. And that, I guess, goes for most women readers of this paper too. | |
Manmohan Singh arrives in Moscow, gets red carpet welcome
Moscow: A red carpet welcome was accorded to Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh as he arrived amid freezing temperatures in the Russian capital Sunday for a three-day visit that is expected to boost bilateral ties.
Manmohan Singh, attired in a black overcoat, landed at Moscow's Vnukovo II Airport and was greeted by a Russian band playing the Indian as well as Russian national anthems.
A flurry of snowfall and high velocity winds lashed the Russian capital as the Indian entourage arrived, with the temperature touching minus 5 degrees Celsius.
The two nations are expected to sign an expanded civil nuclear cooperation deal and three key defence pacts during Manmohan Singh's visit.
Besides civil nuclear cooperation, terrorism and the volatile situation in Pakistan and Afghanistan will figure prominently in the discussions between the two leaders.
Manmohan Singh will meet Russian President Dmitry Medvedev as well as Prime Minister Vladimir Putin during whose presidency the strategic partnership between India and Russia got a boost in 2000.
Manmohan Singh and Putin will also meet members of the India-Russia CEO's Council in a bid to give a boost to lacklustre trade ties between the two partners.
Babri anniversary peacefulDeccan Herald - 33 minutes ago Over 500 people were detained for violating prohibitory orders in different parts of Uttar Pradesh even as the 17th anniversary of Babri Masjid demolition passed off peacefully on Sunday. According to state Additional Director General of Police AK Jain ... Babri demolition: Vinay Katiyar Vs Zafaryab JilaniZee News - 1 hour ago Babri Mosque demolition was probably the worst act of political idealism in India's secular history. It reflects the power games of and the irrational lengths the politicians can traverse to serve their agenda. Post the destruction of Babri by a mob of ... We are committed to Ram temple: BJP on Babri anniversaryHindustan Times - 4 hours ago On the 17th anniversary of the Babri Masjid demolition, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Sunday reiterated that building a temple to Lord Ram at the mosque site was a "commitment" and the party would seek a resolution to the issue through ...
Muslim leaders against street protest on December 6Times of India - - 19 hours ago PATNA: The demolition of Babri Masjid is remembered on every December 6 as a ritual, but this year the day is being observed not only to protest the destruction of the disputed structure, but the protests will also be focused on Liberhan panel report. ... Samajwadi Party to observe Babri Masjid demolition anniversary as black dayTimes of India - Dec 3, 2009 NEW DELHI: The Samajwadi Party (SP) on Thursday said it would observe the anniversary of the Babri Mosque demolition on Dec 6 as a "black day", and accused the Congress-led central government of giving a clean chit to former prime minister PV Narasimha ... 17th Anniversary of Babri Demolition passed off PeacefullyBreakingNewsOnline. - 1 hour ago New Delhi: Breaking News! The 17th anniversary of the Babri Masjid demolition, passed off peacefully amid tight security arrangements throughout the country. While the Muslim groups demanded the implementation of Liberhan Commission report, ... December 6, Ayodhya for dummiesHindustan Times - 22 hours ago You would have thought that the fuss over the Liberhan Report would have died down by now. And in many ways, it has. The newspapers certainly appear to have moved on. But each day, when I look at the questions that readers send me on my website or when ... The Party is committed to Ram temple: BJPNorthern Voices Online - 2 hours ago New Delhi: The 17th anniversary of the Babri Masjid demolition on Sunday passed off peacefully. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesman said that building a temple to Lord Ram at the mosque site was a "commitment" and BJP would seek a resolution to ... Babri anniversary passes off peacefully amid tight securityTimes of India - 5 hours ago PTI 6 December 2009, 05:14pm IST AYODHYA: The 17th anniversary of the Babri Masjid demolition on Sunday passed off peacefully amid tight security with various groups demanding that recommendations of the Liberhan Commission report be implemented while ... RSS sets tone ahead of Babri debate, rules out apologyTimes of India - 20 hours ago NEW DELHI: Political posturing has begun in right earnest ahead of the debate on the Liberhan Commission report in the Parliament as parties across the Babri divide dig in along their familiar positions. RSS has already laid down the line for BJP by ... | Timeline of articles Number of sources covering this story
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