Trade body thanks RBI for relief to MSMEs

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January 4, 2019

The local chapter of the Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry on Friday thanked RBI for releasing guidelines on restructuring of loans to MSMEs (micro, small and medium enterprises) which contribute 50 per cent to the manufacturing sector.

RBI has decided to permit a one-time restructuring of existing loans not exceeding Rs 25 crore to MSMEs which would be a big relief to financially-stressed MSMEs, chamber president V Lakshminarayanasamy said in a release here.

Stating that the RBI has taken the decision by understanding the structural bottlenecks and factors affecting the performance of the MSMEs, he expressed happiness that the government and the RBI have considered the importance of the MSMEs in the economy.

The MSMEs in the exporting sectors which were affected due to demonetisation and implementation of GST would be benefited by the move, he said.

That a provision of five per cent in addition to the provisions already held shall be made in respect of accounts restructured under this scheme is also a welcome move, he said.

CBI books senior BCCL officers for illegal payment of Rs 22 crore

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January 4, 2019

The CBI has booked some senior officers of public sector undertaking Bharat Coking Coal Limited (BCCL) for allegedly siphoning off Rs 22.16 crore through illegal payment routed through a Dhanbad-based company, officials said on Friday.

In its FIR, the investigation agency has booked BCCL officers posted in the Bastacolla area, including then General Manager P K Dubey, Additional General Manager A K Jha, Area Survey Officer M K Singh, Project Officer B K Jha, Colliery Managers N C Ghosh and Arun Kumar, Colliery Surveyor Lalan Kumar Singh, and AT-Libra BPL (JV) represented through Rahul Singh.

It is alleged that during 2015-18, these public servants entered into a criminal conspiracy with Singh to cheat BCCL Dhanbad by showing excess removal of overburden to the tune of 35.30 lakh cubic metre by making false entries in measurement books for which an alleged illegal payment of Rs 22.16 crore was made to Singh’s company.

In mining lexicon, overburden is the layer of earth, including soil and rock, which is to be removed to access ore deposits at open cast mines.

The company AT-Libra BPL (JV) was given a work order in 2012 by BCCL Dhanbad for removal of coal and overburden for a period of 72 months.

The company submitted fake inflated monthly running bills purportedly showing excess removal which were cleared by the accused BCCL officials on the basis of joint measurement recorded in measurement books containing progressive figures of total volume excavated, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has alleged.

“The monthly running bills were paid after deducting the previous progressive figure of excavated volume from subsequent progressive figure. AT-Libra (JV) was given extension for additional 625 days for completion of ongoing contractual work,” the FIR alleged.

During a surprise check done by CBI officials and BCCL using 3D laser scanning machines in March last year, it surfaced that officials, in their measurement books, showed excess removal of overburden to the tune of 35.30 lakh cubic metre by making false entries for which a payment of Rs 22.16 crore was made to the company and a corresponding gain to themselves.

EPCA lashes out at authorities over traffic congestion, garbage burning

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January 4, 2019

The Environment Pollution Control Authority (EPCA) on Friday came down heavily on authorities over continuing traffic congestion and garbage burning activities that are worsening air quality in the national capital.

EPCA chairperson Bhure Lal, in a meeting with representatives of Delhi Pollution Control Committee, DSIDC, civic bodies, police and Delhi Metro Rail Corporation, asked police to strictly regulate traffic and ensure its smooth passage.

Various road stretches in Sarai Rohilla, Anand Vihar, Zakhira Najafgarh Road, Soan Park, Azadpur Mandi where heavy traffic congestion is resulting in increase in pollution were identified.

In Sarai Rohilla, Lal was told by authorities that the absence of a foot-over bridge is resulting in increase in traffic.

“Illegal encroachment further adds to traffic woes in the capital. Guards need to be posted to ensure smooth passage of traffic,” Lal said.

He also ordered police to ensure traffic regulations are followed strictly, especially in Soan Park in Mundaka where he said no traffic regulations are followed.

Lal expressed concern over garbage burning in Bawana, Mundaka and Narela which worsens the air quality.

He lashed out at the Delhi State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation (DSIDC) Ltd. for not monitoring day-to-day status of garbage accumulation.

He also came down heavily on civic body officials over not lifting garbage regularly in Nangloi.

Delhi’s air quality has been oscillating between ‘very poor’ and ‘severe’ categories for the past three weeks.

Delhi’s air quality was in the ‘very poor’ category on Tuesday, before deteriorating to ‘severe’ on Wednesday as it was on Monday. Since Wednesday the air quality was in the severe category before slightly improving on Friday morning to very poor.

In view of the prevalence of severe air quality for over 31 hours, the EPCA on Thursday imposed the 24-hour ban on the entry of trucks.

Entry of trucks to Delhi would be stopped for 24 hours starting 11 pm Friday in view of the severe pollution in the national capital, the Supreme Court-appointed EPCA has instructed authorities.

In a letter to chief secretaries of Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana, Lal directed them to stop the entry of truck traffic into Delhi, except essential commodities, from 11 pm on January 4 to 11 pm of January 5.

“The enforcement of this direction requires coordination of all NCR (National Capital Region) states and you are therefore, requested to take steps to ensure that this happens.

“Also, the opening of the Eastern and Western Expressway will make this easier to implement as the trucks that are not destined for Delhi now have convenient alternative to take,” Lal said.

Lal also urged people to minimise use of personal vehicles and avoid being outside for prolonged periods.

The direction came after the recommendations of the Central Pollution Control Board-led task force.

WR to build 64 FOBs on suburban network, including 30 in 2019

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January 4, 2019

Western Railway will build 64 foot overbridges over the next two years, 30 of which will be ready for use in 2019, a senior official said on Friday.

He informed that WR had commissioned 19 FOBs in 2018 and four new ones would come up before the end of the current fiscal in March this year.

He said that a greater number of FOBs on the suburban network would provide relief to commuters and also bring down instances of people trying to cross tracks to change platforms.

Plans to build FOBs in the metropolis gained momentum after a stampede on a narrow bridge connecting Parel and Elphinstone (now Prabhadevi) stations in September, 2017 killed 23 people.

A cave-in of a portion of a bridge at the southern end of Andheri station in July last year had killed five people, prompting Railway Minister Piyush Goyal to order an audit of all such structures on the suburban networks of WR and Central Railway.

Ravinder Bhakar, Chief Public Relations Officer of Western Railway, said meticulous planning and time bound execution was ensuring that FObs were being built at a fast rate across its network.

He informed that the Carriage Repair Workshop at Lower Parel had built a modified bridge inspection coach for speedy checking of these structures.

An order for an 8-wheel overhead inspection car had also been placed with the Dahod Workshop, he informed.

27 economic offenders fled India in last 5 yrs

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January 4, 2019

Twenty-seven defaulting businessmen and economic offenders have fled the country in the last five years, Parliament was informed on Friday.

Interpol has been approached to issue red corner notices (RCNs) against 20 persons out of these 27, Minister of State for Finance Shiv Pratap Shukla said in a written reply in Lok Sabha.

He further said that Interpol has already issued RCN against eight persons who have fled the country and extradition requests have been sent in case of six.

As per the Directorate of Enforcement (ED), applications under Fugitive Economic Offenders Act, 2018 have been filed against seven persons out of these 27, the Minister said.

Shukla informed the House that Westminster Magistrates’ Court in London has recommended extradition of Vijay Mallya from the Uk to India.

The government, he said, has also advised the public sector banks to obtain a certified copy of passport of promoters/directors and other authorised signatories of companies availing loan facilities of more than Rs 50 crore.

Filmmakers reserve the right to criticise politicians: Akshaye Khanna

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January 4, 2019

Akshaye Khanna, who will be seen in political drama “The Accidental Prime Minister”, says filmmakers reserve the right to criticise politicians.

There is a growing debate about Anupam Kher’s “The Accidental Prime Minister”, based on former PM Manmohan Singh, with some critics calling it a pro-BJP and anti-Congress film.

Akshaye, who is in the role of Singh’s former media advisor Sanjay Baru, says it would be wrong to assume that the film makes fun of the Congress party. It only chronicles the tenure of Singh, and criticises issues which are already in public domain, he says.

“Rahul Gandhi is the great-grandson of Jawaharlal Nehru. When he comes in front of the camera and tears up an ordinance by the government, the nation didn’t like it. India went crazy.

“As filmmakers, we reserve the right to criticise you. It’s not something which is not in public domain. It’s etched in everyone’s mind. If we don’t like that behaviour, I have the right to say that,” Akshaye told agencies.

The trailer of the film was shared by BJP’s official Twitter handle and irked some Congress leaders, who termed the political-drama as a “propaganda”.

The 43-year-old actor, son of late veteran actor-BJP MP Vinod Khanna, is aware of the controversy surrounding the film.

“Everyone has the right to their opinion. These comments and strong reactions are going to increase after the film is released. It won’t die down. That’s when the real politics will start,” he says.

“If someone makes a statement on anything be it a famous actor, director, author or painter, it is good. People are allowed to give their views, it’s their freedom.”

Akshaye said that he can’t wait for audience to watch the film, which, he says, is an “honest” take on how things unfolded in the UPA government.

“It’s a film which when released, will bring about a big change in the way freedom of speech and expression is viewed in the country and how the world looks at us in terms of freedom of expression and how we look at it ourselves. It’s an important day when the film will release because it makes a larger commentary,” he adds.

Akshaye says it is puzzling to see people take offence on something that is constantly written about and also debated on social media and on TV channels.

“The film isn’t a biopic. It’s ten years of prime minister Manmohan Singh, from 2004 to 2014 and that’s what we are showing- what all happened in there.

Every other form of media has full liberty to criticise governments, politicians, but you can’t make a film? Why? What’s the big deal if we have made a film on politics?”

The film, directed by Vijay Gutte, features Anupam Kher as Manmohan Singh. It is scheduled to be released on January 11.

4 killed in accident on Mumbai-Pune Expressway

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January 4, 2019

Four persons were killed and three injured in an accident on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway on Friday, police said.

A truck, while negotiating a turn, keeled over and fell on two cars in the opposite lane below near Khalapur around 11.45 am, a police officer said.

One of the cars was pushed off the edge of the road and fell down 40 feet into a gorge, he said.

Four passengers in the cars including two women died while three persons sustained injuries and are undergoing treatment at a nearby hospital, he said.

The condition of two of them was stated to be critical, the official added.

Govt ready for polls in J&K along with general elections if EC wants: Rajnath Singh

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January 4, 2019

Home Minister Rajnath Singh said that the government is willing to hold elections in Jammu and Kashmir along with General Elections which are slated to be held by May.

Jammu and Kashmir was last month placed under President’s rule, six months after the BJP pulled out of Mehbooba Mufti- led government and the state was put under Governor’s rule.

“If Election Commission wants (to hold elections in state along with general elections), our government will have no objection,” Singh said replying to a debate on proclamation of imposition of Central rule in the state.

He said that there would be no obstruction from the Centre for holding elections in the state.

“We are willing to provide whatever security force Election Commission wants for holding elections there” he said.

After 1996, this is the first time the Central rule has been imposed in the militancy-hit state.

Rejecting opposition criticism that BJP’s “unnatural” alliance with PDP had alleniated population, he reeled out statistics to drive home the development without appeasement agenda of his party.

“There was no conspiracy not to allow any other party to form the government,” he said in response to opposition charge that the Governor did not allow National Congress, PDP and Congress to form an alternate government.

Governor’s rule was imposed in June last year after the leaders of all political parties in the state stated that they were not in a position to form the government, he said.

In his report to the Centre, the Governor clearly stated that there was no initiative by political parties to form an alternate government, the Home Minister said.

“Allegations are being heaped on us but I want to make it clear that our intentions cannot be doubted,” he said.

The BJP and the government is not responsible for the sense of alleniation which has been there since independence as no one worked to address that, he said. “We do not want any sense of alleniation in people of the state. We want to minimise it and neutralise any sense of alleniation.”

Singh said that the government supported an all party delegation holding talks with separatist Hurriyat but their doors were shut.

“There was this perception that BJP leaders are against talking to Hurriyat… but when an all party delegation visiting the state asked us about talking to Hurriyat, we encouraged them to do that,” he said. “But when these leaders went, doors of Hurriyat were closed. They did not even talk to these leaders.”

The Home Minister said that he had told the Chief Minister Mufti to try and speak to Hurriyat. “We were ready for unconditional talks. They did not respond to our initiative.”

He reeled out statistics on employment of locals in security forces to counter opposition charge that unemployement was creating unrest in the Valley.

“In 1995, there were 5,938 terrorist incidents. In 2017 there were only 342 terrorist-related incidents,” he said. “Our endeavour is that there should not be a single act of terrorism.”

He said that this was not the first time that Governor’s rule had been imposed in the state. The state has been under President’s rule for six years in a row at one point of time.

The Governor’s rule was imposed as no one came forward to form government. “When after six months the Governor’s rule was ending, the Governor said he spoke to political parties once again and nobody had come forward to stake claim for forming a government and so recommendation was made for President’s rule,” he said.

While Muslims not just in Jammu and Kashmir but all over the country whose number were more than those in Pakistan had decided to stay with India and not migrate at the time of partition, politics of appeasement has created a crisis, he said.

Earlier, Leader of the Opposition and senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad attacked the BJP for “destablising” the government in the state. He alleged that the BJP tried to split Congress, NC and PDP in the state to form its own government.

Intervening in the debate, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley recalled history of alleged rigged elections that alineate away people of the state.

Smriti Irani slams Congress for creating hurdle in Ram Temple court proceedings

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January 4, 2019

Union Minister Smriti Irani on January 4 blamed the Congress for “creating hurdle” in the judicial process in the Ram temple case through its lawyers and said ‘Ram Bhakts’ should ask the party about it.

“Congress should not do politics through its lawyers on Ram temple issue, which is matter of faith of people. It’s leaders, as lawyers, are creating hurdle in the court. People and Ram bhakts should ask the party whether its leader wore ‘janeu’ only for polls of three states,” she said.

Her reference was to senior Congress leader and lawyer Kapil Sibal, who sought deferment of hearing of the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid title dispute till after the 2019 general elections.

Irani is on a day’s visit to Congress President Rahul Gandhi’s parliamentary constituency and was talking to mediapersons on way to Amethi, about 140 km from the state capital.

Attacking Rahul for delaying his visit to Amethi by a few hours, she said, “His coming late in ‘maidan-e-jang’ (battle field) of Amethi is an indication that the person who cannot visit his constituency on time cannot give timely solutions (to problems).

Rahul had rescheduled his visit on January 3 night. He was expected to arrive in Lucknow at 10 am on Friday but later he changed the timing and will be landing in Fursatganj airstrip in the evening.

When asked whether Rahul was afraid of her, Irani said in a lighter vein, “bina dare chartered flight se aa rahe hain” (he is coming on a chartered flight without any fear).”

Rahul had defeated Irani in the 2014 Amethi Lok Sabha election and they are likely to lock horns once again in the upcoming general election.

The Congress chief will meet the people of his constituency, attend public and party reception, hold ‘corner meetings’ in Salon and visit Pareshdepur, Naseerabad, Paraiya Namaksar and Gauriganj areas on Friday.

He will also take part in the oath-taking ceremony of the Gauriganj Zila Adhivakta Sangh and inaugurate the Adhivakta Bhawan, built from the MPLAD funds.

On Saturday, he will travel to Musafirkhana tehsil, Jagdishpur and Tiloyi, where he will meet the family members of late Shiv Pratap Singh, veteran Congress leader who died last week after a prolonged illness, before reaching Lucknow for his onward journey to Delhi.

Irani, on the other hand, will attend a programme organised by Raghav Sewa Sansthan during which blankets and financial assistance will be extended to needy people and a foundation stone for a school will also be laid.

Though the Union textiles minister was trounced by the Gandhi scion in 2014 election, she maintained her contact with the constituency, nurturing it and visiting it frequently.

Irani continued to cultivate Amethi during these years, dropping enough hints that she will once again contest against Rahul Gandhi in the polls.

UPSC aspirants protest outside Amit Shah’s home, demand one more attempt

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January 4, 2019

UPSC aspirants staged a protest outside BJP president Amit Shah’s residence to press for their demand for one more attempt to crack the civil services exam, claiming they were affected by abrupt changes in rules between 2011 and 2015.

According to one of the protesters, they protested at Shah’s residence in Lutyens’ Delhi around midnight last night.

He said that they were 52 in number and lit candles outside the residence. Police said that it was a peaceful protest.

Arun S Nigavekar Committee set up by the Commission and UPSC’s own annual report have highlighted that “due to CSAT, selection of students from regional languages and from humanities background has declined during 2011-2014”, according to one of the protesters.

The CSAT paper was competitive in nature during the 2011-14 period.

“In 2015, UPSC made the CSAT qualifying in nature. Because of these frequent changes in exam pattern and discriminatory nature of CSAT we lost many precious attempts to appear in the exam during this period. We demand due justice from the government. We are not asking for any job, rather we want a chance to compete,” said one of the protesters.

Students who appeared between 2011 and 2014 demand they be compensated with one more chance as they lost out because of the changes.