BJP MP Rajeev Chandrasekhar on Thursday said that the party would oppose the plans of reviving the steel bridge project in the city in its current form regardless of Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara and Minister D K Shivakumar’s drama and stage-managing skills.
The steel flyover project was not only opposed by citizens, but also by the National Green Tribunal (NGT), he said in a statement.
“I can assure the duo of Parameshwara and Shivakumar that regardless of all their stage-managing and drama, my party will oppose the project in its current form i.e. without the MPC developing an overall city-wide mobility plan…,” he said.
The Congress’ deep interest and love to solve transportation problems of the city has nothing to do for the benefit of citizens and consumers, but for the benefit of contractors and builders, Chandrasekhar alleged.
“Having seen the Congress rule in the state for the last five years and now this government in the past few months and having witnessed its exploitation of Bengaluru through contracts and misuse of public money and public assets, it is no surprise that no less a luminary than Shivakumar, a worthy successor of KJ George, has shown interest in the steel flyover,” he said.
The BJP MP said that it is not a political issue but an issue about the rights of those who live in Bengaluru and urged the government to engage citizens including him for an open and transparent discussion.
“If the government has the money to spend let us have an open, transparent discussion on what the priorities of spending public tax payers money should be. Me and several thousand citizens are prepared to engage in that form of discussion,” he said.
Bengaluru under the Congress has seen expensive gold-plated projects like TenderSure and Steel Flyover catering to small VIP areas, while large parts of the city where common taxpayers reside, suffer from lack of proper basic road infrastructure, Chandrasekhar said.
Former BJP minister Katta Subramanya Naidu said that his party had proposed an economical and eco-friendly flyover, which has been buried in the piles of files in the offices of Bengaluru’s civic agencies.
The BJP, during its rule, had drafted a blueprint for a corridor for vehicular traffic and metro rail to connect the city with the Kempegowda International Airport, he added.
The Home Ministry’s circular authorising 10 agencies to intercept information from any computer figured in Rajya Sabha on Thursday with a TMC member expressing apprehension that the move may turn India into a “police state” and demanded its withdrawal.
Raising the issue during the Zero Hour, Sukhendu Sekhar Ray said that 100 years ago there was a movement against the Rowlatt Act introduced by the British government to take away the civil liberty of Indians.
“And after 100 years, we have seen that this government is following the footsteps of British government,” he said, while referring to the circular of the Ministry of Home Affairs which authorises ten central agencies to intercept information from any computer.
Ray said that the government’s stand is that there was nothing new in the circular and it was done under the IT Act and rules.
But at that point of time there was no Supreme Court judgement that right of privacy is a fundamental right, he added.
The TMC member further said that the trend of collecting data under the pretext of “some or other reason” is becoming very apparent.
“The decision calling for a blanket surveillance is unconstitutional and poses a serious threat to person’s right to privacy and gradually if this continues, this country, which is a welfare state, will be turned into a police state or surveillance state. That is why I demand this circular must be withdrawn,” he said.
Ray, however, added that in specific cases, with checks and balances, the government may resort to it.
Ray got support of several other opposition members on the issue.
Cracking the whip on unruly MPs , Speaker Sumitra Mahajan has suspended 45 Lok Sabha members belonging to the TDP and the AIADMK since Wednesday after they created ruckus in the House and continuously disrupted proceedings for days.
Mahajan had suspended 24 AIADMK members on Wednesday for five consecutive sittings. A day later, she suspended 21 members of AIADMK and TDP and an unattached YSR Congress member. The action was taken under rule 374A of Lok Sabha which says that they cannot attend the remaining days of the session, which concludes on January 8.
While AIADMK has 37 members, the TDP has 15 in the lower house.
Action against such a large number of MPs is unusual. In February, 2014, the then Speaker Meira Kumar had suspended 18 MPs from Andhra Pradesh following bedlam in the House. Those suspended then were either supporting or opposing creation of Telangana.
Proceeding in Lok Sabha during the winter session that commenced on December 11 have been repeatedly stalled due to protests by AIADMK and TDP members over a proposed dam on river Cauvery and special state status to Andhra Pradesh respectively.
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Thursday said that Rs 80,000 crore has been recovered by creditors in 66 cases resolved by NCLT and around Rs 70,000 crore more is likely to be realised by March-end.
Accusing the Congress of leaving behind a legacy of an “anachronic system” of resolving commercial insolvency, Jaitley said the NDA government acted swiftly to recover the non-performing loans and legislated the insolvency and bankruptcy code (IBC).
He said that National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) had started receiving corporate insolvency cases by the end of 2016 and so far 1,322 cases have been admitted by it. A total of 4,452 cases have been disposed at pre-admission stage and 66 have been resolved after adjudication. 260 cases have been ordered for liquidation.
“In 66 resolution cases, realisation by creditors was around Rs 80,000 crore… Some of the big 12 cases such as Bhushan Power and Steel and Essar Steel India are in advanced stages of resolution and are likely to be resolved in this financial year in which realisation is expected to be around Rs 70,000 crore,” Jaitley said.
In a Facebook post titled ‘Two years of Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code’, Jaitley said NCLT has become a trusted forum of high credibility.
“Those who drive the companies to insolvency, exit from management. The selection of new management has been an honest and transparent process. There has been no political or governmental interference in the cases,” he added.
As per NCLT database, in 4,452 cases disposed at pre-admission stage, the amount apparently settled was around Rs 2.02 lakh crore, the Minister added.
Jaitley said that the increase in conversion of NPAs into standard accounts and decline in new accounts falling in NPA category show a definite improvement in the lending and borrowing behaviour.
“The early harvest through the IBC process has been extremely satisfactory. It has changed the debtor – creditor relationship. The creditor no longer chases the debtor. In fact, it is otherwise,” the Minister said.
Jaitley said that the Congress government had enacted the Sick Industrial Companies Act (SICA) during 1980s for rehabilitation of sick companies. This applied to companies whose net worth had become negative.
“The law proved to be an utter failure. Law carried out rehabilitation, several sick companies got a protective iron curtain against creditors,” he said.
Besides, the Debt Recovery Tribunal was created to enable banks to recover every due diligently, but these have not proved to be highly efficient mechanism for recovering debt, he added.
“For non-corporate insolvencies the Provincial Insolvency Act was applicable. This was a rusted piece of legislation, ineffective and had faded away because of disuse,” Jaitley added.
He said, between 2008 and 2014, banks lent indiscriminately and this lead to a very high percentage of NPAs which was highlighted by the Asset Quality Reviews of the RBI.
“This led to a prompt action by the government… The IBC was approved by both Houses of Parliament in May, 2016. This was the quickest economic legislative change that I have seen being made by the Parliament,” Jaitley said.
The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) plans to raise Rs 10,000 crore through Bharatmala Taxable Bonds in the ongoing financial year, Parliament was informed on January 3. The government has approved raising of Rs 62,000 crore by NHAI in 2018-19.
“A draft self prospectus (DSP)/offer document has been filed with the stock exchanges and SEBI to raise Bharatmala Taxable Bonds through public issue with shelf limit of Rs 10,000 crore,” Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari told Lok Sabha in a written reply.
The Minister said that as per the internal and extra budgetary resources approved for 2018-19 by the government, a sum of Rs 62,000 crore is to be raised by NHAI through various instruments/sources including Bharatmala bonds.
“The amount is being raised accordingly and till date a sum of Rs 41,170 crore has been raised by NHAI,” he said.
Gadkari said that the government conceptualised the Bharatmala Pariyojana for development of highways across the country which includes development of about 65,000 km of border roads, international connectivity roads, coastal roads, port connectivity roads, ring roads, among others.
“Under the phase 1 of Bharatmala Pariyojana, the government has approved implementation of 24,800 km highways and 10,000 km balance NHDP projects over a period of five years from 2017-18 to 2021-22,” he added.
The Supreme Court on Thursday revived the government’s case in the NCDRC against Nestle India seeking damages of Rs 640 crore for alleged unfair trade practices, false labelling and misleading advertisements.
A bench headed by Justice D Y Chandrachud said that the report of CFTRI (Central Food Technological Research Institute, Mysuru), where the testing of the samples of Maggi were done, will form the basis for the proceedings.
The top court had earlier stayed the proceedings before the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC) after Nestle had challenged it.
The Consumer Affairs Ministry had in 2015 filed a complaint against Nestle India before the NCDRC using a provision in the nearly three-decade-old Consumer Protection Act.
In the same year, food safety regulator FSSAI had banned Maggi noodles after it found excess level of lead in samples, terming it as “unsafe and hazardous” for human consumption.
Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Thursday asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi what action will be taken on the Agriculture Ministry’s reported statement that in the absence of effective steps, wheat production could go down by up to 23 per cent by 2050.
Gandhi asserted that he will not allow Modi to “ignore” farmers and their issues.
The Congress chief cited a media report which claimed that the Agriculture Ministry has told the Estimates Committee that if effective steps are not taken in a timely manner then by 2050 production of wheat could decrease by up to 23 per cent.
“The very intelligent prime minister who said, ‘Climate change hasn’t happened. We have changed’, should understand that whether he agrees with it or not, the truth does not change,” Gandhi said.
The Ministry of Agriculture has stated that if effective steps are not taken in a timely manner, then by 2050, production of wheat could decrease by up to 23 per cent, he said.
“The prime minister should tell the country what steps he is going to take. I will not let him ignore the farmers,” Gandhi said in a Facebook post.
Two decisions taken by the BJP-led government over the past four-and-a-half years have been transformative: the GST Act and IBC. The initial hiccups in the implementation of GST could disappear in 2019, with streamlining producers. It seems the government will probably fix a single tax rate for all goods and services to win the national elections. Now it has begun to remit farmer’s loans, decrease the fuel’s price, as well as investigate crimes in UP, etc. I think BJP should fulfill all promises within one or two months rapidly because its boat is capsizing in stormy circumstances.
Najmul Qasmi
Make calendar year as financial year
An expert committee chaired by the known economist LK Jha which was set up by the Union Government to suggest new financial year had suggested the systematic calendar year of January-December to replace the current system of April-March financial year due to multiple advantageous, and also to be in tune with most other countries of the world. But as usual, recommendations of LK Jha’s committee set up at high cost were dumped by the then political rulers without being implemented. It is time that both the financial and the working year for the complete country may be unified as the systematic calendar year to replace a present financial year of April-March which is the continuation of a British legacy even after seven long decades of the country having achieved independence.
Madhu Agrawal
Feast of Epiphany
The Epiphany, which is celebrated on January 6, is one of the most important feasts of the Catholic Church in which we celebrate the ‘manifestation of Jesus Christ’ to the Gentiles, through his manifestation to the three wise men known as the Magi. Epiphany is also the last day of Christmas when the three wise men (Magi) presented their gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh to the infant Jesus.
Jubel D’Cruz
Will the Deity shower his Grace on such people?
There is a worldwide attraction for our Hindu culture. Because of this, when the tourists come to India and visit the tourist attractions, they visit temples and experience bliss and peace found in the temples. Many foreigners do not just visit the numerous pilgrim sites but also take part in the rituals. So they not only experience peace and bliss, but they also do a deep study of the rituals as a source of positive energy. While doing this, they show respect to the customs and traditions of the temples and follow them as well. They do not make fun of them which is commendable. Though they are not Hindus they give primacy to following of norms and rules. There is a saying, ‘where there is the devotion God is there’. The foreigners have tremendous respect for the Hindu temples and culture. How appropriate is it to feel appreciation and pride about the women who are destroying the traditions just so that they win the entry to the temple? Many women tried to get an entry in the Sabarimala temple. In all these endeavours, was their devotion and faith seen? Like the devotion and faith that can be seen in the pilgrimage of Pandharpur (Maharashtra), where the devotees walk for 15-20 days during ‘Aashadhi Ekadasi’ chanting Vithal’s name all the way. The women devotees who were blocking the entrance of the women into Sabarimala were singing devotional songs and chanting ‘Sami Sharanam Ayyappa’ all the time. The women who were trying to enter the temple in abidance with the court order showed determination to enter but where was the devotion for the deity they were forcing themselves on? Will the deity shower his grace on the people who are coming by breaking the tradition and rules just because there is a court order permitting their entry? When there is no devotion and there is only this enterprise of coming, is the expectation of grace from the deity possible?
Manasi Joshi
Mobile Companies’ daylight robbery
I, a senior citizen (age 71 years) got the following SMS from my Airtel mobile service provider, “Outgoing services on Airtel stops tomorrow. In case of no recharge, Rs. 23/- will be deducted on 1 Jan. 19 from (your) main balance.” I am receiving this message every day since December 29 and my balance amounting to Rs 118.69 is already there with Airtel. What right has Airtel got to hatch such daylight robbery of crores from its customers all across India? I have come to know that other mobile companies like ‘Vodafone’ and ‘Idea’ are sending the similar type of daylight robbery messages to all their customers. The Central government and all the state governments are requested to stop such robbery on war-footing.
Hansraj Bhat
Resolutions and my wishes for the New Year!
Many people talk big on and about making a New Year resolution, but as days and months pass by, many people do not even remember them! In today’s mechanical world with strenuous daily routines, one will certainly not be able to honestly abide by any resolution.
My resolution always is not to have or follow any resolution. Because, I believe in living life as it comes. One should believe in living in the moment and take things as they come and face them according to situations.
I want to, in fact, leave the past behind and make the most of what lies ahead. And yes, if anybody asks me to have some resolution and what do I wish for, then I would rather say that we must resolve to make our planet peaceful, save the nature protecting the tree, mountains, rivers, and the environment.
As a Mumbaikar, I hope that the city of Mumbai will be a place where everyone can co-exist peacefully. Our city should be kept clean, open spaces should not be converted into concrete jungles. Basic amenities should be available to all. I would urge the political parties to desist from the display of huge banners and the people to avoid plastics of all kinds.
Let us all strive to follow the basic principles of “Swatch Bharat Abhiyaan” and maintain cleanliness and hygiene at all times and at all costs and at every inch of our environment and society. Let us learn lessons from the natural calamities like floods and vow not to play or tinker with the nature. Let us all save the planet to rescue ourselves. So, do you agree with me and are you all with me? Wish you and your team and the readers a very happy, peaceful, wonderful and a prosperous New Year 2019.
S Krishna Kumar
(The views expressed by the author in the article are his/her own.)
Shelly Chopra, who managed to get father-daughter duo of Anil Kapoor and Sonam Kapoor for her directorial debut “Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga”, says their off-screen chemistry played an important part during the film’s making.
The director said that she is fortunate they agreed to feature in the project together, their first on-screen collaboration, as she believes that they were perfect for the film.
“Being a father and daughter as they are, it was a perfect combination for me and fortunately they agreed on the script. It’s their first film together.
“They are both professionals and great actors. Somewhere it helps if you are father and daughter in real life. It definitely helped the film,” Chopra told PTI.
The film also features Rajkummar Rao and Juhi Chawla.
Chopra said, “Raj has an amazing role. He is an awesome actor. Juhi too is amazing in the film. They have done something totally different this time.”
Without divulging much about the film, which its trailer suggests is a commentary on homosexuality and how a family deals with it, the director said the story has multiple layers to it.
“I don’t want to say anything more because I want you all to enjoy the film. It’s a story about love and relationship.”
The film, produced by Vidhu Vinod Chopra and Rajkumar Hirani in association with Fox Star Studios, is set to hit the theatres on February 1.
Former Haryana chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda and senior Congress leader Motilal Vora were on Thursday granted bail by a CBI court here in a case pertaining to alleged illegal re-allotment of land to Associated Journals Ltd (AJL) in Panchkula in 2005.
Hooda and Vora were granted bail by CBI judge Jagdeep Singh on furnishing a bail bond of Rs 5 lakh each, their counsel Abhishek Rana said.
The Congress leaders were handed over copies of chargesheet filed against them by the CBI. The next date for hearing in the case has been fixed for February 6, he said.
On December one last year, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had filed chargesheet against Hooda, Vora and Associated Journals Ltd (AJL), publisher of the National Herald newspaper, in special CBI court in Panchkula, for the alleged illegal re-allotment of land.
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Thursday said that Rs 80,000 crore has been recovered by creditors in 66 cases resolved by NCLT and around Rs 70,000 crore more is likely to be realised by March-end.
The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) plans to raise Rs 10,000 crore through Bharatmala Taxable Bonds in the ongoing financial year, Parliament was informed on January 3. The government has approved raising of Rs 62,000 crore by NHAI in 2018-19.
The Supreme Court on Thursday revived the government’s case in the NCDRC against Nestle India seeking damages of Rs 640 crore for alleged unfair trade practices, false labelling and misleading advertisements.
