TMC, 21 other Opposition parties to move ECI over EVM tampering issue

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February 4, 2019

For voicing their concern against the use of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, 22 opposition parties, including the Trinamool Congress (TMC), will visit the Election Commission on Monday.

Rajya Sabha MP Derek O’Brien said all opposition parties will go to the Election Commission against the use of EVMs in order to “save constitution and federal structure.”

“We have spoken to all opposition parties, we all will go forward. We have to save the Constitution, the country and the federal structure. Later today, all opposition parties will go to the Election Commission,” the TMC leader told media here.

Earlier on Friday, Opposition parties had announced that they would approach the ECI over the issue of alleged tampering of EVMs.

Congress president Rahul Gandhi, NCP chief Sharad Pawar, Samajwadi Party’s Ram Gopal Yadav, Bahujan Samaj Party’s Satish Chandra Mishra, DMK’s Kanimozhi, Trinamool Congress’ Derek O’Brien, CPI’s D Raja were among those who attended the meeting.

Gadkari only one in BJP with some guts: Rahul

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February 4, 2019

Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Monday complimented Union minister Nitin Gadkari for his remarks that “one who cannot take care of home, cannot manage the country”, saying he has guts and should also comment on the Rafale deal, “farmers distress and destruction of institutions”.

The Congress president cited a report quoting Gadkari as saying that party workers should first fulfil their domestic responsibilities as “those who cannot do that cannot manage the country”.

“Gadkari Ji, compliments. You are the only one in the BJP with some guts. Please also comment on: The Rafale scam and Anil Ambani, farmers’ distress and destruction of institutions,” he tweeted and tagged with it the report on Gadkari’s comments.

The Union minister had made the remarks on Saturday while addressing former workers of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), the BJP’s student wing, in Nagpur.

The Congress chief’s comments praising Gadkari came in the wake of various other Congress leaders lauding the Union minister for his recent statements they view as a swipe at the BJP leadership.

Congress spokesperson Manish Tewari had last week lauded Gadkari for his remarks that “leaders who fail to fulfil promises get ‘beaten up’ by people”, but at the same time took a swipe at him saying his target was Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his eyes were on the PM’s chair.

In December, Gadkari had said at an event in Pune that leadership should have the tendency to own up defeat and failures. The remarks had come days after the BJP’s loss in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh assembly polls.

Incidentally, Rahul Gandhi was seen exchanging notes with Gadkari while being seated along with him in the front row at the Republic Day parade at Rajpath.

New CBI Director Rishi Kumar Shukla takes charge

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February 4, 2019

Senior IPS officer Rishi Kumar Shukla on Monday took charge as the new Director of Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

Shukla, a 1983 batch IPS officer of Madhya Pradesh cadre, was appointed on Saturday. He will have a fixed tenure of two years, according to a decision taken by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet.

Earlier, Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge, who is part of the Selection Committee, headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, had opposed Shukla’s appointment contending the officer has no experience of anti-corruption investigations.

The Congress leader said the Committee, which met at the Prime Minister’s residence last week, shortlisted Rajiv Rai Bhatnagar, Sudeep Lakhtakia, S Javad Ahmad, AP Maheshwari besides Shukla.

Interestingly, Kharge had even opposed the appointment of Alok Verma as CBI Director in 2017. Verma was ousted from the CBI on January 10. Since then, M Nageshwara Rao was serving as the Interim Director.

Honda Cars India to revamp entire sales network in next 3 years

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February 4, 2019

Auto major Honda Cars India plans to revamp its entire sales network over the next three years entailing an investment of up to Rs 270 crore in collaboration with dealer partners, a senior company official said on February 4.

The adoption of a new corporate identity will cover over 400 dealerships which are expected to be completed in the next three years.

“We have embarked on revamping all our dealerships and new outlets in the pipeline as per what we call as our new corporate identity of Honda on the retail front. In very simple terms we are changing the look and face of the dealerships,” Honda Cars India Ltd (HCIL) Senior Vice President and Director Marketing & Sales Rajesh Goel told in an interview.

The idea is to improve the retail experience of customers and to make them identify with the premiumness of the Honda brand, he added.

Elaborating on the exercise, Goel said that the company started planning the process two years ago and has now initiated it nationally.

“It will take around three years to modernise the entire network, we will do it in a progressive manner and by the end of three years our entire 350 dealerships and another 70 odd outlets which we are planning to open will be revamped,” he said.

When asked about the planned investment on the initiative, he added, “Over the next three years, between Rs 250-270 crore is estimated to be spent towards this exercise.”

The investment per dealership would be in the range of Rs 60 lakh to Rs 1.10 crore per facility and would be put in by dealer partners with contribution from Honda, Goel noted.

The company, which sells popular models like City and Amaze sedans, currently has 350 facilities in 239 cities spread across the country and plans to have another 70 odd outlets over the next two years.

As part of new corporate identity, the company will have a new colour scheme at dealerships, interiors will be seamless and clutter free and futuristic with digital aspects brought in, he added.

MG Motor India ties up with SBI for dealer finance

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February 4, 2019

MG Motor India on Monday said that it has joined hands with State Bank of India (SBI) to provide wholesale inventory finance to its dealers through the bank’s advanced electronic lending product.

The two partners have signed a memorandum of understanding to avail SBI’s Electronic Dealer Finance Scheme (e-DFS), MG Motor India said in a statement.

The tie-up will provide access to wholesale inventory finance to MG partner dealers through SBI’s technologically-advanced electronic lending product, it added.

The company said it plans to build on its alliance with SBI and partner with “more leading banks to enable robust banking and financing solution to its customers and dealer partners alike”.

This will include inventory funding and access to credit solutions to dealerships and term loans to end customers, it added.

Govt allows women to work in underground mines

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February 4, 2019

Women have been allowed to work in underground mines, and would be deployed in open cast mines during night hours also, as part of the government’s efforts to create more employment opportunities for them.

The labour ministry has issued new rules permitting women to work in opencast mines during 7 pm to 6 am.

Earlier, employment of women in underground, opencast mines were restricted under Mines Act, 1952.

“The central government hereby exempts the women employed in any mine above ground and in any mine below ground from the provisions of section 46 of the Mines Act, 1952,” a labour ministry statement said.

According to the statement, the owner of a mine may deploy women between 7 pm and 6 am in any mine above ground.

In the case of underground mines, women can be deployed between 7 pm and 6 am in technical, supervisory and managerial work where continuous presence may not be required.

Such deployments shall be made after obtaining a written consent of the woman and she shall be provided with adequate facilities and safeguards regarding occupational safety, security and health.

Also, the deployment shall be subject to the framing and implementation of Standard Operating Procedures on the basis of the guidelines issued by Chief Inspector of Mines from time to time, it said.

It also said the deployment of women shall be in a group of not less than three in a shift.

The new rules came as several women employee groups, mining companies and students made various representations to the government that women should be provided equal employment opportunity for working in mines.

CBI-Kolkata Police clash: HC declines immediate hearing

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February 4, 2019

The Calcutta High Court on Monday refused immediate hearing on the West Bengal government’s plea against the CBI’s attempt to question city police chief Rajeev Kumar at his residence in connection with chit fund scam cases.

Following objection by the Union government, Justice Shivakant Prasad refused to give the matter an immediate hearing and listed it for Tuesday.

State Advocate General Kishore Dutta submitted that despite a stay by the high court on steps regarding notice to state police officials, the CBI sought to enter Kumar’s residence on Sunday and question him.

He submitted that the court is scheduled to hear the matter on February 13 and as such, the CBI’s attempt to enter Kumar’s official residence was in violation of its order.

Additional Solicitor General Kaushik Chanda submitted that the stay was on a CBI notice to only Arnab Ghosh, the then deputy commissioner (detective department) of Bidhannagar Police, which initially investigated the chit fund case, and two other police officials – Dilip Hazra and Sankar Bhattacharya.

He further told the court that the CBI has already moved the Supreme Court, on the order of which the central agency is investigating the chit fund cases, and as such the hearing on the state’s prayer be adjourned.

He submitted that the Supreme Court has fixed hearing on CBI’s plea on Tuesday.

The AG then prayed that the CBI be directed not to take steps with regard to its notice to Kumar till the matter is heard by it Tuesday, but Justice Prasad refused to give any such direction.

Mamata welcomes political support, says protest against CBI ‘non-political’

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February 4, 2019

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday welcomed the support that has poured in for her from different quarters of the country while describing her sit-in over the CBI’s attempt to question Kolkata Police chief as a “non-political” protest.

The Chief Minister, who has been sitting on a dharna since 8.30pm Sunday on a makeshift dais at Metro Channel here, said she will continue her “satyagraha” till the country and its Constitution are “saved”.

Banerjee also asked his party members to ensure that the protest was peaceful.

The unprecedented development came after the CBI’s attempt to question Kolkata Police Commissioner Rajeev Kumar in connection with multi-crore chit fund scams.

The CBI team, which went to Kumar’s residence in the city’s Loudon Street area Sunday, was denied permission, bundled into police jeeps and whisked to a police station.

Welcoming support for her dharna, Banerjee said, “It’s not a political programme. But all political parties can join us in our protest.”

Banerjee maintained that Andhra Pradesh counterpart Chandrababu Naidu, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, Madhya Pradesh CM Kamal Nath, DMK president MK Stalin and former J&K chief minister Mehbooba Mufti were among those who called up to express solidarity to her protest.

The TMC chief Sunday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah of trying to organise a coup in the state.

She also alleged that National Security Advisor Ajit Doval was directing the CBI to harass political opponents, as per orders of the prime minister.

Addressing her party workers, who raised slogans against Modi near her dais, Banerjee said, “We want a peaceful demonstration. Please do not burn any effigies here.”

The dias displayed a banner saying”Save the constitution, save the federal structure, save the police force, save the Indian Administrative Service and all ranks of civil service from disaster”.

The CM skipped meals and remained awake the entire night on the dais here along with some senior ministers and party members.

Criticising reports that questioned the presence of senior police officers at the demonstration, Banerjee said, “It’s a programme of the government and that’s why police officers are here.”

The TMC supremo had earlier said she would not attend the Assembly, where the state budget would be placed by Finance Minister Amit Mitra, on Monday.

Prior to that, a cabinet meeting would be held inside a makeshift room set up behind the stage.

Meanwhile, party workers hit the streets from morning in Hooghly, Howrah, Bankura, Burdwan East, Purulia, Birbhum and North 24 Parganas districts, officials said. Effigies of Modi and BJP national President Amit Shah were also burnt by them.

In Howrah and Hooghly districts, TMC activists obstructed train movement while they put up blockades on national highway in Bankura district.

Shouting slogans against the CBI, the TMC cadres vowed to continue their fight till the Narendra Modi government is defeated in the next Lok Sabha polls.

Banerjee had also directed party leaders to organise protest marches across the state on Monday between 2 pm and 4 pm without inconveniencing the people.

In a tweet, the CM had earlier asserted that the Kolkata Police Commissioner “was among the best in the world and that his integrity, bravery and honesty are unquestioned”.

Merger of 3 PSU general insurers to be complete by 2020

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February 4, 2019

The government expects to complete the merger of three state-owned general insurance companies by 2019-20. The merger of National Insurance Company, United India Insurance Company and Oriental India Insurance Company was first announced in the Budget 2018-19 and the government intended to complete the process in current fiscal itself.

However, as per the interim budget document 2019-20 released on Friday, the merger is under process and will see completion by next financial year as various steps are being taken.

As on March 31, 2017, the three companies together had more than 200 insurance products with a total premium of Rs 41,461 crore and a market share of around 35 per cent. Their combined net worth is Rs 9,243 crore with total employee strength of around 44,000 spread over 6,000 offices.

Initial estimates suggest that the combined entity formed after the merger will be the largest non-life insurance company in India, valued at Rs 1.2-1.5 lakh crore. According to sources, a consultant has been shortlisted to advise on the proposed merger.

The consultant, appointed on the basis of the bid floated last year in June, is expected to advise on organisational restructuring, rationalisation of human resources, management of operational issues, regulatory and compliance issues. In 2017, New India Assurance Company and General Insurance Corporation of India were listed on bourses.

Mamata-CBI row washes out RS proceedings

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February 4, 2019

Rajya Sabha proceedings were on Monday washed out amid ruckus by Trinamool Congress members protesting over the issue of alleged misuse of the CBI by the Centre.

As soon as the House resumed in the afternoon, TMC leader Derek O’Brien asked Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu about his notice for discussion on the issue.

Replying to this, Naidu said, “I have told you in the morning that you can raise this issue during Zero Hour. During the motion of thanks to the President’s address to Parliament, you can also raise the issue and others related to your state.”

In the meanwhile, TMC and SP members trooped into the well and started raising slogans.

The chairman said, “You don’t want discussion. You don’t want to speak on reply to the motion of thanks (to President’s address)”.

When TMC members did not show any signs of relenting, Naidu adjourned the House for the day.

Earlier in the morning, the Rajya Sabha could not transact any major business. As soon as the house assembled, Slogan shouting by TMC members on the issue resulted in adjournment of the House till 2 PM.

Naidu had asked agitating members to raise the issue during the debate on the Motion of Thanks on the President’s Address but TMC members did not heed to the suggestion and started raising slogans like “Save the Constitution” and moved towards the Well.

Naidu then adjourned the House till 2 pm.

As soon as the ministers laid listed papers on the table of the House, some opposition members were on their feet.

Naidu said he has received several notices, including from Derek O’Brien of the TMC on the CBI issue.

“I have not admitted any one of them (notices),” Naidu had said, adding members will get an opportunity to raise “important matter at length” during the debate on the President’s address.

However, TMC member had started raising slogans and some members started moving towards the Well leading to adjournment.

In an unprecedented development on Sunday evening, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee sat on a dharna, protesting CBI’s attempt to quiz Kolkata Police chief Rajeev Kumar in connection with chit fund scams.

A CBI team, which went to Kumar’s residence in the city’s Loudon Street area, was denied permission, bundled into police jeeps and were whisked to a police station.

The CBI wants to quiz Kumar, who led a Special Investigation Team of West Bengal Police probing the scams, regarding missing documents and files.

Several political leaders, including Congress President Rahul Gandhi, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu and RJD national president Lalu Prasad came out in support of Banerjee.

Gandhi called up Banerjee and extended support to her, saying the entire opposition is together and will defeat “fascist” forces.