Fuel pricing reforms will go ahead full throttle notwithstanding opposition from the BJP-led NDA and the UPA partners. After petrol, retail prices of kerosene will be deregulated to trim the deficit and restore fiscal balance. Cooking gas and kerosene will continue to be subsidised.
“Petrol prices have been set free, the same is going to be done to diesel prices,” Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, asserted.
Briefing reporters aboard Air India One on the way to Frankfurt after participating in the G-20 summit in Toronto, Dr Singh said, “We have taken due care to ensure that the poorer sections are affected the least possible and (will) keep under regulation the prices of kerosene and LPG.”
Last Friday, the UPA government deregulated and increased petrol prices by Rs 3.50 per litre. Simultaneously, diesel and kerosene was made dearer by Rs 2 and Rs 3 per litre respectively and the cooking gas subsidy was reduced by Rs 35 per cylinder.
The NDA, and UPA allies like the Trinamul Congress and DMK, have opposed the increase.
Showing posts with label Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh. Show all posts
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Monday, June 21, 2010
GoM guns for Anderson
The Group of Ministers (GoM) on the Bhopal gas tragedy, which held its last meeting here Sunday and will submit its report to the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, on Monday, will recommend filing of a curative petition in the Supreme Court to fix criminal liability, seeking extradition of former UCC chief Warren Anderson and cleaning up toxic material from the Bhopal site.
Sources close to the GoM said the curative petition in the Supreme Court would focus mainly on criminal liability of the accused and seek more stringent charges.
The court had earlier diluted the charges against Union Carbide officials — from the IPC section on culpable homicide not amounting to murder to only criminal negligence.
The GoM headed by the home minister, Mr P. Chidambram, which met for the third successive session on Sunday morning, is learnt to have suggested approaching the United States to seek extradition of UCC’s former CEO to face trial in India. The December 2-3, 1984 gas tragedy left over 15,000 dead and thousands maimed.
The GoM is likely to recommend burying of contaminated soil at the site in a scientific manner, putting the onus on the Madhya Pradesh government to carry out the task, with assistance from the Centre.
Briefing reporters, Mr Chidambaram said the GoM had gone into all aspects of the tragedy.
“We covered all subjects we had identified in the beginning. The minutes are being drawn up, and tomorrow the GoM will meet again at 10 am to finalise the minutes and the conclusions. I expect we will be able to send the report to the Prime Minister tomorrow afternoon.”
Sources said the GoM extensively discussed providing additional compensation to victims as the relief so far was inadequate. The recommendations may also include victims’ classification on the basis of health indices like injuries suffered and aftereffects of exposure to poisonous chemicals.
Sources close to the GoM said the curative petition in the Supreme Court would focus mainly on criminal liability of the accused and seek more stringent charges.
The court had earlier diluted the charges against Union Carbide officials — from the IPC section on culpable homicide not amounting to murder to only criminal negligence.
The GoM headed by the home minister, Mr P. Chidambram, which met for the third successive session on Sunday morning, is learnt to have suggested approaching the United States to seek extradition of UCC’s former CEO to face trial in India. The December 2-3, 1984 gas tragedy left over 15,000 dead and thousands maimed.
The GoM is likely to recommend burying of contaminated soil at the site in a scientific manner, putting the onus on the Madhya Pradesh government to carry out the task, with assistance from the Centre.
Briefing reporters, Mr Chidambaram said the GoM had gone into all aspects of the tragedy.
“We covered all subjects we had identified in the beginning. The minutes are being drawn up, and tomorrow the GoM will meet again at 10 am to finalise the minutes and the conclusions. I expect we will be able to send the report to the Prime Minister tomorrow afternoon.”
Sources said the GoM extensively discussed providing additional compensation to victims as the relief so far was inadequate. The recommendations may also include victims’ classification on the basis of health indices like injuries suffered and aftereffects of exposure to poisonous chemicals.
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
PM shows total command
As the UPA -II completes a year in power, the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, has metamorphosed into a smart politician who is firmly in the saddle and completely in command.
On Monday, it was the consummate politician and not a veteran bureaucrat who deftly tackled tricky questions thrown at him by the media, ranging from his retirement, his reported differences with the UPA chairperson, Mrs Sonia Gandhi, allegations against the allies and bickering in the cabinet.
Glimpses of Dr Singh's transformation from a disciplined bureaucrat to a canny leader had flashed past during the no trust move against the UPA-I. After Monday’s press meet, it became evident that he was no longer the ‘reluctant politician,’ a term that he chose to describe himself two years ago.
The soft-spoken leader has accomplished what his oratorical predecessor, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, could not do. He successfully completed his first term in power and continues to be at the helm of affairs even in the second term.
And his confidence could be gauged from the way he handled the lengthy media conference on Monday (something which ‘political’ Prime Ministers don’t usually dare to) revealing his thoughts on price rise, Maoist violence, spectrum issue, and foot-in-the-mouth ministers, to name a few ticklish subjects.
There was no chest-thumping and he termed the first year of UPA-II as a period of "reasonable achievement" with “room for achievement and better outcomes." He agreed that "price rise continue to be a matter of deep concern”.
At the same time, he deftly played down the differences between his ministers and added that policy matters be better discussed inside the cabinet rather than outside. It was a loud and clear message that there would be zero tolerance for those who cross the line.
Interestingly, he trod a middle path when asked about his future. While saying that he would not retire till he accomplished “unfinished tasks,” Dr Singh also indicated that he was willing to make way for “younger generation, if the party so desires.” It was carefully balanced, leaving the Congress happy and the opposition wringing its hands.
The Prime Minister had to reply on the controversies surrounding the DMK telecommunication minister, Mr A. Raja, on the spectrum issue which has much to do with the arithmetic in Lok Sabha. So he restricted himself to assuring that “corruption would be dealt with at any level.”
Despite facing much criticism, he also reiterated his belief on the need to have the best possible relations with Pakistan, but added the rider that the neighbour had to ensure that it “will not allow its soil to be used for terrorism.”
And for once the mission oriented-bureaucrat came to the surface when asked about the legacy he would leave behind. “I have a task to accomplish. It is for the historians to pronounce judgments.” Vintage Manmohan Singh
On Monday, it was the consummate politician and not a veteran bureaucrat who deftly tackled tricky questions thrown at him by the media, ranging from his retirement, his reported differences with the UPA chairperson, Mrs Sonia Gandhi, allegations against the allies and bickering in the cabinet.
Glimpses of Dr Singh's transformation from a disciplined bureaucrat to a canny leader had flashed past during the no trust move against the UPA-I. After Monday’s press meet, it became evident that he was no longer the ‘reluctant politician,’ a term that he chose to describe himself two years ago.
The soft-spoken leader has accomplished what his oratorical predecessor, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, could not do. He successfully completed his first term in power and continues to be at the helm of affairs even in the second term.
And his confidence could be gauged from the way he handled the lengthy media conference on Monday (something which ‘political’ Prime Ministers don’t usually dare to) revealing his thoughts on price rise, Maoist violence, spectrum issue, and foot-in-the-mouth ministers, to name a few ticklish subjects.
There was no chest-thumping and he termed the first year of UPA-II as a period of "reasonable achievement" with “room for achievement and better outcomes." He agreed that "price rise continue to be a matter of deep concern”.
At the same time, he deftly played down the differences between his ministers and added that policy matters be better discussed inside the cabinet rather than outside. It was a loud and clear message that there would be zero tolerance for those who cross the line.
Interestingly, he trod a middle path when asked about his future. While saying that he would not retire till he accomplished “unfinished tasks,” Dr Singh also indicated that he was willing to make way for “younger generation, if the party so desires.” It was carefully balanced, leaving the Congress happy and the opposition wringing its hands.
The Prime Minister had to reply on the controversies surrounding the DMK telecommunication minister, Mr A. Raja, on the spectrum issue which has much to do with the arithmetic in Lok Sabha. So he restricted himself to assuring that “corruption would be dealt with at any level.”
Despite facing much criticism, he also reiterated his belief on the need to have the best possible relations with Pakistan, but added the rider that the neighbour had to ensure that it “will not allow its soil to be used for terrorism.”
And for once the mission oriented-bureaucrat came to the surface when asked about the legacy he would leave behind. “I have a task to accomplish. It is for the historians to pronounce judgments.” Vintage Manmohan Singh
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
PC invites Maoists for talks, offers ceasefire
Confusion prevails in the Union home ministry on how to deal with the terror unleashed by Maoists. Intelligence outfits operating in Maoist-dominated areas appear clueless about the insurgents’ movements while they continue to strike with impunity.
The home minister, Mr P. Chidambaram, and some senior Congress leaders have different views on what the government should do. While Mr Chidambaram said on Monday that he was trying to “convince” the Union Cabinet to authorise the use of the Air Force in anti-Naxal operations, the senior Congress leader, Mr Digvijay Singh articulated the opposite viewpoint: that the armed forces should not be brought in. The Army and the Air Force are not in favour of getting involved. The Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, is expected to review the strategy against Maoists at a Cabinet meeting on Wednesday.
Mr Chidambaram, a day after referring to the possible use of air power in a television interview, on Tuesday reiterated the government’s offer of talks if the Maoists “suspend” violence while speaking on another TV channel. “The Maoists should say — ‘We’ll abjure violence’. Then we (the government) will actually suspend violence for 72 hours.”
The home minister added: “We’ll get the Chief Ministers on board. We will respond. We’ll fix a date, time and place for talks, and let the Maoists ... talk on anything they wish.”
“All CMs have an unlimited mandate to tackle Maoist violence. The Centre can only assist,” he said.
The home minister, Mr P. Chidambaram, and some senior Congress leaders have different views on what the government should do. While Mr Chidambaram said on Monday that he was trying to “convince” the Union Cabinet to authorise the use of the Air Force in anti-Naxal operations, the senior Congress leader, Mr Digvijay Singh articulated the opposite viewpoint: that the armed forces should not be brought in. The Army and the Air Force are not in favour of getting involved. The Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, is expected to review the strategy against Maoists at a Cabinet meeting on Wednesday.
Mr Chidambaram, a day after referring to the possible use of air power in a television interview, on Tuesday reiterated the government’s offer of talks if the Maoists “suspend” violence while speaking on another TV channel. “The Maoists should say — ‘We’ll abjure violence’. Then we (the government) will actually suspend violence for 72 hours.”
The home minister added: “We’ll get the Chief Ministers on board. We will respond. We’ll fix a date, time and place for talks, and let the Maoists ... talk on anything they wish.”
“All CMs have an unlimited mandate to tackle Maoist violence. The Centre can only assist,” he said.
