Narendra Modi’s ‘economics also very weak’, says Jairam Ramesh

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January 12, 2014

Terming the proposal to abolish income tax “bizarre”, Union Minister Jairam Ramesh on Saturday took a dig at Narendra Modi, saying that the BJP Prime Ministerial candidate’s knowledge of “economics, history and geography were weak”.

“So far, Modi has shown that his knowledge of geography and history is weak. By embracing this completely lunatic idea of abolishing income tax and listening to Baba Ramdev on this, he is showing that his economics is also very weak,” he told reporters.

At an event organised recently by yoga guru Ramdev here, Modi had said, “The present taxation system is a burden on the common man. There is a need to reform it and and introduce a new system.”

Ramdev has demanded abolition of all kinds of taxes and called for a single tax in the form of ‘Banking Transaction Tax’ if Modi were to succeed in becoming prime minister.

Meanwhile, Ramesh also questioned Modi’s commitment to clean governance in the light of BS Yeddyurappa being welcomed back into the BJP. Yeddyurappa, the former Karnataka chief minister, had been indicted by the Lokayukta in a mining scam case.

“Modi is going to take lessons on economics from Baba Ramdev and lessons on integrity and clean governance from Yeddyurappa. What sort of double standards is this?” he asked.

The return of Yeddyurappa to BJP shows the complete hypocrisy of the party vis-a-vis its campaign against corruption, Ramesh alleged.

Asked about his assessment for the 2014 general elections, Ramesh noted that it was almost certain that a coalition government would be formed at the Centre.

“All I can say is that, in 2014, you will see a coalition government… (it is) inevitable,” Ramesh averred.

Sharad Pawar not in the running for PM’s post, says Tariq Anwar

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Afternoon Voice

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January 12, 2014

A day after Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde said that he would be happy to see NCP chief Sharad Pawar become the Prime Minister, the NCP on Sunday denied that he was in the race for the PM’s post.

“Pawar is not running for the Prime Minister’s post,” NCP general secretary and Union Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Processing Tariq Anwar told reporters here in reply to a question.

“At the same time, the NCP chief has all the credentials required for the PM’s post and his experience in public life is second to none among all political leaders in the country,” he said.

Anwar, a close aide of Pawar, said “It is the number game that decides who becomes the Prime Minister and in the NCP chief’s case, he does not have the numbers with him.”

If Pawar had got the numbers in terms of MPs, he would have definitely become the Prime Minister, he said.

On Shinde’s praise for Pawar whom he had described as his “political guru”, Anwar said that the Union Home Minister’s remarks were made in his personal capacity.

Shinde had worked as a state minister during Pawar’s tenure as Maharashtra Chief Minister and so his remarks praising the NCP should be seen as his respect towards the latter and nothing more, Anwar said.

On the NCP’s strategy for the general elections to be held this year, the Union Minister said that his party was seized with the issue and the same would be finalized by March next.

In Bihar’s case, Anwar said that his party was part of the UPA and it will go with whichever alliance the Congress decides to work out in the state.

Religious fanaticism threatens peace in our region: Sonia Gandhi

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Afternoon Voice

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January 12, 2014

Congress President Sonia Gandhi on Sunday invoked the legacy of Swami Vivekananda while asking people to battle against religious fanaticism of all hues that threatens the region, in comments that could be seen as a veiled attack on BJP and Narendra Modi.

In her address at the commemoration function of 150th birth anniversary celebrations of Swami Vivekananda here, she hailed the relevance of his teachings especially for the youth, and said the nation should not fail them in fulfilling the aspirations of the young to be educated, governed and employed better.

“Swamiji’s words are all the more weighty today as religious fanaticism of all hues threatens the peace of many nations and our region.

“His ideas must be taken into the hearts and minds of our new generation of young Indians who will and must battle against fanaticism,” Gandhi said.

Her comments assume significance as she made a veiled reference to BJP whose politics Congress has denounced as “sectarian” and “communal”.

Without mentioning BJP’s Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi, who has been appealing to the youth in Swami Vivekananda’s name ahead of polls, she said his teachings laid stress on communal peace and hormony and recalled her address at the conference of world religions.

Gandhi’s presence at Vivekananda’s birth anniversary celebrations to woo the younger generation also holds significance as BJP over the past year has claimed the legacy over him.

She said the Swami’s teachings tell us not to fall prey to narrow mindedness and selfish motives and invoked the young profile of India to reach out to the youth for whom, she maintained, the teachings of Vivekananda are relevant.

“All over the world populations are ageing. But the profile of our nation remains young. India of the 21st century is a known society with a young population. A population with high expectations and aspirations.

“They want to be educated better. They want to be governed better. They want to find employment that meets their aspirations. We should not and cannot fail them,” she said.

PM urges young Indians to be inspired by Vivekananda

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Afternoon Voice

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January 12, 2014

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Sunday urged every young Indian, irrespective of faith and religion, to be inspired by Swami Vivekananda.

“I urge every young Indian, irrespective of faith and religion, to be inspired by such a man as they build their own future,” said the Prime Minister Office on his Twitter page on the closing ceremony of Vivekananda’s 150th birth anniversary celebrations here.

Congress president Sonia Gandhi and Defence Minister AK Antony also paid tributes to Swami Vivekananda – a philosopher and a religious scholar.

“Let us, in all humility, imbibe these lessons from Swami Vivekananda… learn to be tolerant of one another, have respect for all religions,” the tweet added.

“India’s true liberation would come when every Indian feels liberated from the scourge of poverty, ignorance and disease. India, this great motherland of ours, has much to learn from the world around us and, equally, much to teach the world,” the prime minister said.

AAP factor likely to be focus of discussions at Cong, BJP meet

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Afternoon Voice

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January 12, 2014

The Aam Aadmi Party factor is expected to be the focus of Congress and BJP during conclaves of their top leaders here this week to prepare a strategy for Lok Sabha elections.

While the AICC meeting is scheduled on Jan 17, the BJP National Executive and National Council is from Jan 17 to 19 as the rival parties chart out the way ahead at a time when Arvind Kejriwal’s party is gaining popularity.

Even though neither the BJP nor the Congress accept that they have been impacted by AAP, the actions of the major parties tell otherwise. Just two days back, Rahul Gandhi held a meeting of leaders entrusted with the process of selection of candidates.

At the meeting, the Congress Vice President pitched for giving Lok Sabha tickets to ordinary workers and those having a clean image as he unveiled a “new process” that will see early declaration of Congress nominees.

Apparently taking a leaf from the success of AAP, Rahul told the leaders that while deciding candidates views of local people should be given prime importance and ordinary party workers should be given their due in the selection.

The exercise initiated by Rahul comes in the backdrop of the AAP as well as the BJP speeding up the process of selection of candidates for the polls and setting this month as a deadline.

BJP leaders say in private that AAP can affect them in urban areas as the Kejriwal effect is visible in cities but insist that it could be a blessing in disguise as it would help the party rank and file to connect more to the people.

“We do not go by press headlines. We have the pulse of the people. We will not take undue cognisance”, BJP spokesman Prakash Javadekar said, dismissing the contention that AAP’s rise would dominate the party meet. Striking a similar note, Information and Broadcasting Minister Manish Tewari said, “Focus will be on Congress” at the AICC meet.

Another Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar said the focus will be on what the party can do to win the elections by defeating both the BJP and AAP and the regional parties.

Contending that the rise of AAP is a reason to worry for BJP and not Congress, Aiyar said it is a “mathematical fact” that if 0.1 per cent of the national vote goes to AAP, it will lead to BJP losing one seat, which it might otherwise have got.

“Similarly, one per cent of the national vote to AAP could lead to BJP losing 10 seats. Naturally, BJP in its conclave will have to focus more on AAP,” he said.

However, BJP has made it clear that it is not unduly worried over the AAP rise.

Javadekar said, “We have a clear winner. We have the programme and the confidence besides a well planned campaign”.

The BJP spokesman suggested that the AAP was the ‘B’ team of Congress as it has come to power in Delhi in alliance with Congress and was, therefore, a “comeback of the Congress through the backdoor”.

Congress General Secretary Shakeel Ahmed, however, dismissed the BJP claim. “BJP is a frustrated party as all their sweet dreams of coming to power got dashed because of Cong support to AAP”.

Taking a dig at the way the Kejriwal government is being run, Ahmed, who is in charge of Congress affairs in Delhi, said it reminded him of the “early days of Lalu raj”.

I wonder if I’ll ever reunite with my family, says Devyani Khobragade

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Afternoon Voice

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January 12, 2014

An Indian diplomat at the centre of a bitter row with the United States told Sunday of her “immense stress” at leaving behind her young family in New York, and vowed to clear her name.

Khobragade was granted full diplomatic immunity and allowed to fly back to India — just hours after charges were filed in court alleging she lodged false documents to obtain a visa for her servant and then underpaid her.

Khobragade, 39, told an Indian newspaper of her anguish at leaving behind her daughters, aged seven and four, in New York along with her husband, a US citizen, who works as an academic.

“I wonder if I will be able to ever reunite with my family, my husband, my little kids. I miss them,” Khobragade said.

“What if my children choose to study and work in the US? What if I can never return to the US, which I cannot now. Does it mean we will never be able to live together as a family again?” she said.

“I know I am honest, and I will come out clean. But we do not know how much time it will take and for how long my family will have to suffer due to this,” she added.

Indian diplomat Devyani Khobragade gives a traditional greeting after her return from the US in New …

Her arrest on December 12 outside her children’s school and treatment in custody, where she said she was subjected to a cavity search, outraged India which claimed she benefited from full diplomatic immunity.

US prosecutors disputed this, and filed charges in New York accusing Khobragade of sometimes forcing the Indian maid to work 100-hour weeks, even when sick and often without a day off, for pay as little as $1.22 an hour.

Khobragade did obtain diplomatic immunity when last week New Delhi asked Washington to grant her a G1 visa given to diplomats at India’s UN mission, which is also in New York.

The row between the two countries, which had embraced each other as strategic partners, saw weeks of feisty exchanges that strained bilateral ties and left resentment on both sides.

India has removed extra security barriers at the US embassy in New Delhi, demanded contract details for domestic staff employed by American diplomats and even stopped the mission importing duty-free food and alcohol.

On Wednesday, it ordered an embassy leisure centre popular with American expatriates in the capital to stop admitting non-diplomatic members, while scheduled visits by US officials to India have been cancelled.

In a fresh retaliatory measure late Friday, India asked the United States to withdraw an embassy official in New Delhi.

The expelled American diplomat was a “similar rank” to Khobragade and is thought to have helped the family of her maid travel to America where they were granted protection by prosecutors.

US prosecutors say the family of the maid were evacuated to the United States because of attempts to intimidate them.

In her newspaper interview, Khobragade said she would continue a legal fight to clear her name, including attempting to have her case in New York officially dismissed in a federal court.

Do not insist on RTI applicants to provide address: Centre

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Afternoon Voice

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January 12, 2014

Government departments should not insist on seeking address of an RTI applicant if a post box number is being provided to them for communication, the Centre has said.

The Ministry of Personnel has written to all central government ministries or departments, who act as public authorities mandated with providing information on RTI applications made to them, citing a judgement by Calcutta High Court in this regard.

“When the legislature thought it fit, the applicant need not disclose any personal detail, the authority should not insist upon his detailed whereabouts particularly when post box number is provided for establishing contact between him and the authority.

“In case the authority would find any difficulty with the post box number, they may insist upon personal details. However, in such case, it would be the solemn duty of the authority to hide such information and particularly from their website so that people at large would not know of the details,” the High Court judgement said.

The order had come following a writ petition by Avishek Goenka who sought court’s direction that authority should not insist upon the detailed address of the applicant as and when any application is made under the Right to Information Act.

The interested parties could cause a threat to the activist and there have been past incidents of unnatural deaths of activists in the field, presumably by persons having vested interest to conceal the information that is asked for by the activist, the petitioner had said.

Disposing of the petition on November 20, last year, the court had directed Secretary, Ministry of Personnel, to circulate a copy of its order to all concerned so that the authority can take appropriate measures to hide information with regard to personal details of the activists to avoid any harassment by the persons having vested interest.

The Personnel Ministry, nodal department for implementation of the RTI Act, had on Wednesday sent a copy of the court’s order to all ministries and chief secretaries of state governments for “appropriate action”.

“It is a step in the right direction towards protecting the lives of whistleblowers,” said Commodore Lokesh K Batra (Retd), who had in October 2013 brought to the notice of the Ministry that public information officers were sharing personal data of RTI applicants with private bodies, thus endangering the lives of information seekers.

Homeopaths can prescribe allopathic medicines

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Mahendra Singh

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January 12, 2014

Even homeopathy doctors are charging Rs 500 as consultation fees. I was taking homeopathic medicines for some months from a doctor based at Mahakali road, Andheri (E). He will not prescribe medicines unless you follow the diet chart opted by you since last seven days. He will not be pleased to find that you had tea in the morning and may even refuse to prescribe medicine if he notices coffee on the diet chart. He also says that if I had apple in the afternoon then I would only derive 50 per cent benefit out of it. On the other hand, if I consume the fruit in the morning, I would have derived 90 per cent of its goodness.

Even though many homeopaths practicing in smaller towns are not highly qualified but they possess huge experience in dispensing homeopathic medicines and also have good clientele. I believe good homeopaths will not prefer prescribing allopathic medicines, barring of course Paracetamol and many other common drugs. There is a possibility that homeopaths might start prescribing medicines for heart ailment, diabetes, cancer and even start performing operations.

Today, many homeopaths can’t even give an injection or conduct blood tests. They cannot interpret test results amicably.
I met a young lady homeopath in central Mumbai few years ago who charged 500 rupees for fees and equivalent amount for pill prescription for 15 days. She said some “ chamatkar” will happen to me. I mostly suffer from only one ailment like bad throat and sneezing due to seasonal viral and my neighbourhood doctor prescribes 3 to 4 types of coloured tablets. He was practicing from Jaslok hospital. Homeopathy is good for those persons whose system is pure and who do not consume alcohol and have too much spicy food. Potency of the medicine is very important and here the difference between the good and poor homeopath is visible.

My personal opinion is that homeopaths should not be permitted to practice allopathy because there is possibility of widespread misuse of the profession. This happens due to the compulsions of coalition politics. NCP is trying to create a constituency. The matter should be referred to the High Court where it will be nullified definitely. Homeopaths are prescribing common allopathic medicines even today (forget a homeopath, even I can prescribe some of those). However, it is unjustified to grant permission to them for prescribing allopathic medicines after completing a one year course. Who will monitor this course? Several colleges exist in marine field where a candidate can visit in the morning, pay fees and obtain a certificate in the evening for a 5 or 6 day course. The High court should take suo-moto cognizance and punish those cabinet ministers who supported this decision.

AAP apologises for poster goof-up

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Prakash Jha

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January 10, 2014

The Aam Aadmi party had created awareness among Mumbaikars pertaining to the Adarsh scam and had erected hoardings of tainted leaders like Ashok Chavan, Sushil Kumar Shinde, Sunil Tatkare and many others who were responsible for indulging in corruption. The posters had the pictures of Maharashtra chief secretary J. S. Sahariya who has nothing to do with the infamous scam. On the other hand, when AV inquired with AAP leader, Mayank Gandhi about J.S. Sahariya’s role in the Adarsh scam he remained clueless about it. He also was unaware about J. S. Sahariya. Later, Mayank apologised for tarnishing Saharaiya’s reputation whose photo was present in poster along with Sushil Kumar Shinde and Sunil Tatkare.

AAP activists were travelling all over Mumbai by train and creating awareness among Mumbaikars about the Adarsh scam. They had appealed to people to refrain from voting for corrupt candidates in the upcoming Lok Sabha election. The party has decided to focus its campaign for the upcoming general elections in Maharashtra on anti-corruption issues, especially the Adarsh housing society and irrigation scams. Earlier the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Vijay Pandhare had criticized the chief minister Prithviraj Chavan for his inaction on the Adarsh and irrigation scams.
Mayank Gandhi, AAP Maharashtra president said, “Adarsh scam is one of the best model of corruption. The Congress is leading the list of the most corrupt party in India while its alliance party NCP is number one in corruption in Maharashtra. It’s time for the common man to wake up and sweep out these corrupt politicians from the state by using the AAP brooms.”

Reacting to Maharashtra NCP spokesperson Nawab Malik’s statement saying NCP is the mother of AAP, Mayank said, “NCP is considering themselves as the mother of AAP then we feel ashamed to be the son of corrupt mother.”

“AAP is the number one party in Maharashtra. After February, 1 we will be exposing more scams which will surprise the entire Maharashtra state” added Gandhi.

Reacting on Raj Thackeray’s statement that MNS is the baap of AAP, Mayank commented, “MNS is the sinking ship hence the party is issuing such statements against AAP. They have become insecure after AAP defeated the Congress party in Delhi.”

Mayank Gandhi will be contesting Lok Sabha election against the sitting Congress MP Gurudas Kamat. The AAP already has started a massive membership registration drive across the country. The party aims to enrol 10 million people by January, 26.

Mayor writes to PM after invitation card excluded his name

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Afternoon Voice

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January 10, 2014

Disappointed at not being invited to the inaugural function of Terminal 2 of Mumbai international airport by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Friday, Mumbai mayor Sunil Prabhu wrote to the PM saying it was “great insult” to him and Mumbaikars.

Prabhu wrote to the PM that not printing the mayor’s name on the invitation card sent out for T2’s inaugural function was a “great insult” to him, as well as Mumbaikars.

“On behalf of all Mumbaikars, I would like to invite your kind attention to avoid incidents like insulting the Mayor of Mumbai,” Prabhu said in his letter to the Prime Minister.

“As per protocol, it is a practise to invite the mayor of Mumbai to welcome and see off VVIPs and foreign dignitaries at airports as well as attend inaugural functions,” he said.

His letter urged that the mayor be assigned a position alongwith a state cabinet minister, during such functions.

“To my utter surprise, I noticed that the name of the mayor of this city (Mumbai) was not printed on the invitation card of the inaugural function, which in my opinion, is indeed a great insult to the position of the mayor, as well as to Mumbaikars,” his letter said.