UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, who is also heading the National Advisory Council, on Monday laid the foundation of the 8.8-km-long Rohtang tunnel at Dhundi near the famous tourist resort of Manali.
While addressing a public gathering at Solang Nallah later, Ms. Gandhi said the idea of the tunnel was conceived by late Rajiv Gandhi and even the former Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, during his regime, inaugurated the approach road to the tunnel site from the South Portal.
Praising the efforts of Border Roads Organisation in constructing the tunnel, she said the tunnel would provide all-weather connectivity for the civilians and armed forces personnel and an alternative link to the residents living on the border areas of Himachal Pradesh and Jammu Kashmir.
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal, Defence Minister A. K. Antony, Minister of State for Defence M.M. Pallam Raju, Steel Minister Virbhadra Singh and Leader of the Opposition in the Himachal Assembly, Vidya Stokes, were also present on the occasion.
The idea of constructing a tunnel beneath the Rohtang Pass at 13,000 feet was envisaged in 1983 and its construction received an impetus after the Kargil conflict.
It was to be made as an all-weather alternative strategic route to Ladakh from Manali in Himachal Pradesh.
Avalanche protection
On May 26, 2002, after the detailed feasibility study in 1987, Mr. Vajpayee laid the foundation of the access road to the tunnel costing Rs.180 crore and the access road to south portal tunnel site was completed in 2005.
About 18 avalanche protection structures have been erected on it.
By 2015
The Cabinet Committee on Security cleared the tunnel project in September 2009 at a cost of about Rs.1,495 crore.
The tunnelling would be completed in 2015 and that would reduce the distance between Manali and Keylong by at least 48 km, said the BRO sources.
High altitude
More than six to seven feet of snow is reported from the high altitude (13,044 ft.) Rohtang Pass during winter and it remains closed for six to eight months.
Another tunnel
The BRO is also studying the feasibility of constructing a tunnel beneath the Shinkula Pass (15,920 ft.).
It has to conduct a feasibility study for construction of a tunnel beneath this pass that would reduce the present distance of 470 km between Manali and Leh by 100 km, they said.
Showing posts with label Sonia Gandhi. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sonia Gandhi. Show all posts
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Friday, June 4, 2010
Congress renominates all 4 retiring MPs to RS
Congress has renominated the four retiring MPs from the state for the upcoming Rajya Sabha polls.
Mrs Sonia Gandhi herself called the Union minister of state, Mr Jairam Ramesh, the former chief minister, Mr Nedurumalli Janardhan Reddy, the former PCC chief, Mr V. Hanumantha Rao, and former bureaucrat, Mr J.D. Seelam, on Thursday and told them that they would be renominated.
However, another retiring member, Mr Girish Sanghi, lost his chance as the party can only ensure the return of four candidates because of its decreased strength in Assembly. Friday is the last day for filing of nomination papers. Several others who hoped for nomination were left disappointed.
In the Telugu Desam, the party president, Mr N. Chandrababu Naidu, had his way by fielding the industrialist, Mr Sujana Choudhry, and the Warangal corporator, Ms Gundu Sudharani, for the RS seats. The usually secretive Mr Naidu had informed the politburo of his choice of candidates and this kicked off protests.
Mrs Sonia Gandhi herself called the Union minister of state, Mr Jairam Ramesh, the former chief minister, Mr Nedurumalli Janardhan Reddy, the former PCC chief, Mr V. Hanumantha Rao, and former bureaucrat, Mr J.D. Seelam, on Thursday and told them that they would be renominated.
However, another retiring member, Mr Girish Sanghi, lost his chance as the party can only ensure the return of four candidates because of its decreased strength in Assembly. Friday is the last day for filing of nomination papers. Several others who hoped for nomination were left disappointed.
In the Telugu Desam, the party president, Mr N. Chandrababu Naidu, had his way by fielding the industrialist, Mr Sujana Choudhry, and the Warangal corporator, Ms Gundu Sudharani, for the RS seats. The usually secretive Mr Naidu had informed the politburo of his choice of candidates and this kicked off protests.
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Chiru seals Congress RS election pact
Keeping the promise made to the Congress president, Mrs Sonia Gandhi, the Praja Rajyam on Tuesday unanimously decided to extend unconditional support to the ruling party in the ensuing Rajya Sabha elections.
The Praja Rajyam chief, Mr Chiranjeevi, also decided to write to Mrs Gandhi formally announcing his party’s support for Congress candidates. He had met her the other day in Delhi. The unanimous decision by the party offers much relief to the Congress and also heralds a new political realignment in the state.
In one deft move, Mrs Gandhi has ensured support of 18 MLAs for her party and has also checkmated Mr Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, who may get the backing of some MLAs in case he decides to re-start his Odarpu Yatra again.
Praja Rajyam sources said that majority of party leaders were happy at the outcome of Mr Chiranjeevi’s meeting with Mrs Gandhi and the subsequent decision to support the Congress.
The party chief briefed the political affairs committee on the discussions that took place in the meeting with Mrs Gandhi in New Delhi recently and about her request to the PR to support Congress nominees.
The Praja Rajyam chief, Mr Chiranjeevi, also decided to write to Mrs Gandhi formally announcing his party’s support for Congress candidates. He had met her the other day in Delhi. The unanimous decision by the party offers much relief to the Congress and also heralds a new political realignment in the state.
In one deft move, Mrs Gandhi has ensured support of 18 MLAs for her party and has also checkmated Mr Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, who may get the backing of some MLAs in case he decides to re-start his Odarpu Yatra again.
Praja Rajyam sources said that majority of party leaders were happy at the outcome of Mr Chiranjeevi’s meeting with Mrs Gandhi and the subsequent decision to support the Congress.
The party chief briefed the political affairs committee on the discussions that took place in the meeting with Mrs Gandhi in New Delhi recently and about her request to the PR to support Congress nominees.
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
High command snubs Jagan, says no loose talk
The Kadapa MP, Mr Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, was sharply reprimanded by the Congress high command on Monday for his defiance but not before he made things worse by blaming the Chief Minister, Mr K. Rosaiah, for the violent incidents in Mahbubabad on Friday during his botched ‘Odarpu yatra’.
Jagan rushed to Delhi to pacify the high command, but in an obvious signal of displeasure, the Congress chief, Mrs Sonia Gandhi, has not given him an appointment so far. Instead, her political secretary, Mr Ahmed Patel, gave him a sharp dressing-down for his defiance and asked him not to indulge in ‘loose talk’.
But that was exactly what the young MP did before meeting Mr Patel, by appearing before the media and making a direct attack on Mr Rosaiah for not providing security to the MLA, Ms Konda Surekha, who was pelted with stones at Mahbubabad railway station by Telangana agitators.
“When women legislators belonging to weaker sections are being attacked by some 100 Telangana activists with stones, why was there no policeman there?” he asked. “Whose failure was this? Is the CM not responsible for this? I will tell the party high command that the Rosaiah government is non-functioning.”
Jagan rushed to Delhi to pacify the high command, but in an obvious signal of displeasure, the Congress chief, Mrs Sonia Gandhi, has not given him an appointment so far. Instead, her political secretary, Mr Ahmed Patel, gave him a sharp dressing-down for his defiance and asked him not to indulge in ‘loose talk’.
But that was exactly what the young MP did before meeting Mr Patel, by appearing before the media and making a direct attack on Mr Rosaiah for not providing security to the MLA, Ms Konda Surekha, who was pelted with stones at Mahbubabad railway station by Telangana agitators.
“When women legislators belonging to weaker sections are being attacked by some 100 Telangana activists with stones, why was there no policeman there?” he asked. “Whose failure was this? Is the CM not responsible for this? I will tell the party high command that the Rosaiah government is non-functioning.”
Friday, May 28, 2010
Jagan defies diktat, firm on yatra
Defying the diktat of the Congress high command, the Kadapa MP, Mr Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, has decided to go ahead with his tour of Warangal district to console the families of those who died after the demise of his father, Dr Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy.
Though negotiations between Mr Reddy and the party leaders were continuing even late at night, it is learnt that he is adamant about undertaking the tour at the time of going to press. He will take the InterCity Express to Mahbubabad, about 200 km from here, at 7.45 am on Friday, if he does not change his mind. There is a likelihood that he may be arrested.
On Thursday morning, the Congress leader and Union minister, Mr Veerappa Moily, talked to Mr Reddy and asked him to postpone the tour. He told the Kadapa MP that he was talking on behalf of the Congress president, Mrs Sonia Gandhi.
Mr Moily seems to have told Mr Jagan that the high command was aware of the sentiments attached to the yatra, but cautioned that it would be better to postpone it because of the strong opposition it had triggered from pro-Telangana sections. However, Mr Jagan reportedly told Mr Moily that he could not postpone the tour as it had been announced.
Later, Mr Moily met Mr Jagan's mentor, Dr K.V.P. Ramachandra Rao, who was in Delhi, and asked him to convince the MP to postpone the tour. Mr Ahmed Patel, political secretary to the Congress president, also spoke to Dr Rao and Mr Reddy.
Dr Rao arrived from Delhi on Thursday evening and tried to persuade Mr Reddy from undertaking the tour. But he did not succeed.
As of now, things are headed for a political showdown between Mr Reddy and the state government. Sources said that the Chief Minister, Mr K. Rosaiah, was insistent on implementing the high command diktat and had instructed police officers to take necessary steps.
This means Mr Reddy might be taken into custody by police on the contention he had no permission to conduct a tour and the law and order situation in Warangal was not conducive.Sources said intelligence wing had informed the state government about the movement of some Maoist dalams in the district and about plans by some Telangana groups to stall the tour.
After talking to Mr Jagan, Mr Moily and Mr Patel also informed the high command decision to Mr Rosaiah and the PCC chief, Mr Srinivas, and urged them to see to it that the yatra was postponed.
Following this, Mr Rosaiah also called up Mr Jagan over phone and conveyed the high command advice. But the Kadapa MP said it was not fair to ask him to postpone the tour.
“I don’t understand what sin I am committing,” he reportedly told the Chief Minister. “Do you think the Congress will benefit from postponement of my tour?”
Mr Rosaiah, who later addressed the media in connection with another issue, said that Mr Jagan had not sought permission from the police for the yatra. To a question, he said the party high command would take care of the situation.
The Chief Minister also held an informal cabinet meeting and told ministers what transpired between him and Mr Jagan and also what the high command wished for.
In a deft move, he made the ministers endorse the high command decision and deputed the home minister, Ms Sabita Indra Reddy, and the agriculture minister, Mr N. Raghuveera Reddy, to meet Mr Jagan and convince him against going on tour. They met him but he did not relent.
Later both the ministers held a high level meeting with the DGP, Mr R.R. Girish Kumar, the intelligence chief, Mr Mahender Reddy, and other police officers. They again left for Mr Reddy’s residence at 8 pm and were closeted with him.
Mr Rosaiah, who left for Ongole, told mediapersons there that the high command had not approved of Mr Jagan's tour. “In case there will be a tour, the law and order machinery will take care of things,” he said.
Though negotiations between Mr Reddy and the party leaders were continuing even late at night, it is learnt that he is adamant about undertaking the tour at the time of going to press. He will take the InterCity Express to Mahbubabad, about 200 km from here, at 7.45 am on Friday, if he does not change his mind. There is a likelihood that he may be arrested.
On Thursday morning, the Congress leader and Union minister, Mr Veerappa Moily, talked to Mr Reddy and asked him to postpone the tour. He told the Kadapa MP that he was talking on behalf of the Congress president, Mrs Sonia Gandhi.
Mr Moily seems to have told Mr Jagan that the high command was aware of the sentiments attached to the yatra, but cautioned that it would be better to postpone it because of the strong opposition it had triggered from pro-Telangana sections. However, Mr Jagan reportedly told Mr Moily that he could not postpone the tour as it had been announced.
Later, Mr Moily met Mr Jagan's mentor, Dr K.V.P. Ramachandra Rao, who was in Delhi, and asked him to convince the MP to postpone the tour. Mr Ahmed Patel, political secretary to the Congress president, also spoke to Dr Rao and Mr Reddy.
Dr Rao arrived from Delhi on Thursday evening and tried to persuade Mr Reddy from undertaking the tour. But he did not succeed.
As of now, things are headed for a political showdown between Mr Reddy and the state government. Sources said that the Chief Minister, Mr K. Rosaiah, was insistent on implementing the high command diktat and had instructed police officers to take necessary steps.
This means Mr Reddy might be taken into custody by police on the contention he had no permission to conduct a tour and the law and order situation in Warangal was not conducive.Sources said intelligence wing had informed the state government about the movement of some Maoist dalams in the district and about plans by some Telangana groups to stall the tour.
After talking to Mr Jagan, Mr Moily and Mr Patel also informed the high command decision to Mr Rosaiah and the PCC chief, Mr Srinivas, and urged them to see to it that the yatra was postponed.
Following this, Mr Rosaiah also called up Mr Jagan over phone and conveyed the high command advice. But the Kadapa MP said it was not fair to ask him to postpone the tour.
“I don’t understand what sin I am committing,” he reportedly told the Chief Minister. “Do you think the Congress will benefit from postponement of my tour?”
Mr Rosaiah, who later addressed the media in connection with another issue, said that Mr Jagan had not sought permission from the police for the yatra. To a question, he said the party high command would take care of the situation.
The Chief Minister also held an informal cabinet meeting and told ministers what transpired between him and Mr Jagan and also what the high command wished for.
In a deft move, he made the ministers endorse the high command decision and deputed the home minister, Ms Sabita Indra Reddy, and the agriculture minister, Mr N. Raghuveera Reddy, to meet Mr Jagan and convince him against going on tour. They met him but he did not relent.
Later both the ministers held a high level meeting with the DGP, Mr R.R. Girish Kumar, the intelligence chief, Mr Mahender Reddy, and other police officers. They again left for Mr Reddy’s residence at 8 pm and were closeted with him.
Mr Rosaiah, who left for Ongole, told mediapersons there that the high command had not approved of Mr Jagan's tour. “In case there will be a tour, the law and order machinery will take care of things,” he said.
Chiru accepts Sonia invite, meet may change AP political scenario
In a major political development, the Praja Rajyam chief, Mr Chiranjeevi, has accepted an invitation from the Congress president, Ms Sonia Gandhi, to meet her on May 29 for talks on the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections.
The former MP, Mr C. Ramachandraiah, told this correspondent on Thursday night that he had spoken to Mr Chiranjeevi who is in Mumbai and the latter had confirmed that he got an invite from Mr Veerappa Moily, AP Congress in charge and union minister, and had agreed to meet Mrs Gandhi.
It was not clear whether Mrs Gandhi will be seeking his support to enable the Congress bag four of the five seats in the Rajya Sabha elections, or whether she would allot a seat to the Praja Rajyam from its quota, keeping in view the future needs of the ruling party which has a slender majority in the House.
The development also comes in the backdrop of Mr Jagan Mohan Reddy defying the party diktat and insisting on touring Warangal district to console families of those who died in the aftermath of the death of his father, Dr Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy, in September last year. Telangana groups are opposed to Mr Jagan’s tour since he is a staunch supporter of United AP.
There is speculation in the Congress that in case the over-ambitious Mr Jagan rocks the boat and floats a regional outfit with his supporters, the Congress can have the support of the Praja Rajyam’s charismatic leader, Mr Chiranjeevi, and his 18 MLAs.
The Congress has a slender majority with 157 MLAs in a House of 294. With resignations from 12 MLAs (TRS 10, TD 1, BJP 1) during the pro-Telangana agitation, the effective strength of the House is 282.
In fact when the AP Congress chief, Mr D. Srinivas, tried to have a tie-up with the Praja Rajyam for the local municipal polls, the Jagan group had scuttled it.
A few days ago Mr Chiranjeevi had said his party would field its own candidate for the RS polls, and would seek support from Congress and the MIM (Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen) to garner the required 43 votes. PR has been more anti-Telugu Desam from the beginning.
Speculation was rife some time ago that Mr Chiranjeevi was not averse to a merger with the Congress. Mr K. Rosaiah, had an hour-long meeting with Mr Chiranjeevi in Tirupati, soon after taking over as Chief Minister, wherein he proposed that the PR chief support his government or merge the party with the Congress. Mr Chiranjeevi apparently told him that he would consider the offer.
There has been no activity in Mr Chiranjeevi’s party except for his undertaking some tours in districts. Also, a number of former Telugu Desam leaders have left the Praja Rajyam and rejoined the parent party.
Several PR MLAs have openly suggested a merger with the Congress since they feel it would give Mr Chiranjeevi a key role in state politics.
The former MP, Mr C. Ramachandraiah, told this correspondent on Thursday night that he had spoken to Mr Chiranjeevi who is in Mumbai and the latter had confirmed that he got an invite from Mr Veerappa Moily, AP Congress in charge and union minister, and had agreed to meet Mrs Gandhi.
It was not clear whether Mrs Gandhi will be seeking his support to enable the Congress bag four of the five seats in the Rajya Sabha elections, or whether she would allot a seat to the Praja Rajyam from its quota, keeping in view the future needs of the ruling party which has a slender majority in the House.
The development also comes in the backdrop of Mr Jagan Mohan Reddy defying the party diktat and insisting on touring Warangal district to console families of those who died in the aftermath of the death of his father, Dr Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy, in September last year. Telangana groups are opposed to Mr Jagan’s tour since he is a staunch supporter of United AP.
There is speculation in the Congress that in case the over-ambitious Mr Jagan rocks the boat and floats a regional outfit with his supporters, the Congress can have the support of the Praja Rajyam’s charismatic leader, Mr Chiranjeevi, and his 18 MLAs.
The Congress has a slender majority with 157 MLAs in a House of 294. With resignations from 12 MLAs (TRS 10, TD 1, BJP 1) during the pro-Telangana agitation, the effective strength of the House is 282.
In fact when the AP Congress chief, Mr D. Srinivas, tried to have a tie-up with the Praja Rajyam for the local municipal polls, the Jagan group had scuttled it.
A few days ago Mr Chiranjeevi had said his party would field its own candidate for the RS polls, and would seek support from Congress and the MIM (Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen) to garner the required 43 votes. PR has been more anti-Telugu Desam from the beginning.
Speculation was rife some time ago that Mr Chiranjeevi was not averse to a merger with the Congress. Mr K. Rosaiah, had an hour-long meeting with Mr Chiranjeevi in Tirupati, soon after taking over as Chief Minister, wherein he proposed that the PR chief support his government or merge the party with the Congress. Mr Chiranjeevi apparently told him that he would consider the offer.
There has been no activity in Mr Chiranjeevi’s party except for his undertaking some tours in districts. Also, a number of former Telugu Desam leaders have left the Praja Rajyam and rejoined the parent party.
Several PR MLAs have openly suggested a merger with the Congress since they feel it would give Mr Chiranjeevi a key role in state politics.
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Sonia to Jairam: Apologise
The minister of state for environment and forests, Mr Jairam Ramesh, who arrived from Beijing on Monday, has been asked by the Congress president, Mrs Sonia Gandhi, to apologise to the home minister, Mr P. Chidambaram, for his remarks while on Chinese soil that the home ministry’s policies on Chinese investment in this country were “paranoid” and “alarmist”.
The minister also got a sharp rebuke from the PM, Dr Manmohan Singh, who told him that he had no business commenting in public on the work of other ministries.
Sources in the Prime Minister’s Office said Dr Singh, who spoke to Mr Ramesh shortly after the latter’s return that it was “not advisable” for ministerial colleagues to “comment on the functioning of other departments, specially with regard to the relationship with important neighbours like China.”
The Prime Minister also told Mr Ramesh that “there is no confusion” about India’s policy towards China, and that “we continue to strive for constructive engagement with Beijing”. Mr Ramesh later also gave an explanation for his remarks to Mrs Gandhi.
Mr Ramesh’s utterances have proved acutely embarrassing for the government as they exposed the clear differences and squabbling within the council of ministers. They also do the Congress no good, given that it is still trying to recover from the senior leader, Mr Digvijay Singh, recently accusing the home minister of “intellectual arrogance”.
With the home minister also shooting off a missive to Dr Singh about Mr Ramesh’s remarks, the minister of state clearly had a lot of explaining to do.
The minister also got a sharp rebuke from the PM, Dr Manmohan Singh, who told him that he had no business commenting in public on the work of other ministries.
Sources in the Prime Minister’s Office said Dr Singh, who spoke to Mr Ramesh shortly after the latter’s return that it was “not advisable” for ministerial colleagues to “comment on the functioning of other departments, specially with regard to the relationship with important neighbours like China.”
The Prime Minister also told Mr Ramesh that “there is no confusion” about India’s policy towards China, and that “we continue to strive for constructive engagement with Beijing”. Mr Ramesh later also gave an explanation for his remarks to Mrs Gandhi.
Mr Ramesh’s utterances have proved acutely embarrassing for the government as they exposed the clear differences and squabbling within the council of ministers. They also do the Congress no good, given that it is still trying to recover from the senior leader, Mr Digvijay Singh, recently accusing the home minister of “intellectual arrogance”.
With the home minister also shooting off a missive to Dr Singh about Mr Ramesh’s remarks, the minister of state clearly had a lot of explaining to do.
Saturday, April 10, 2010
RS selection in ‘outsider’ row
he Congress president, Mrs Sonia Gandhi, is yet to decide on whether or not to field more ‘outsiders’ in the Rajya Sabha elections from the state.
Six seats from the state are going to be vacated by June this year and biennial poll schedule will be announced next month. Out of the six vacancies, five are from the Congress. But the ruling party may only be able to send four this time, and that too with the support of Majlis and Praja Rajyam. And two seats will go to Telugu Desam kitty.
The five retiring members, including one ‘outsider,’ the Union minister, Mr Jairam Ramesh, and other leaders from the Congress, are eagerly waiting for the decision of the Congress president in this regard.
Meanwhile, there is talk in Delhi that Mr Rahul Gandhi is not keen on ‘outsiders’ being sent to Rajya Sabha from various states. He feels that the RS should really represent the states.
When contacted, Mr Ramesh said that he did not know any thing about his re-nomination. “It is all left to the Congress president, I will abide whatever she decides,” he said.
The Union minister for law, Mr Veerappa Moily, who is in charge of party affairs in AP, also said that no guidelines had been framed so far. “We will take a decision when the notification is issued; there is no hurry,” he said.
Sources said the Congress might not prefer to re-nominate those members who had already served two terms in the RS. This means that the former Chief Minister, Mr Nedurumalli Janardhan Reddy, and the former state minister, Mr V. Hanumantha Rao, are out.
The retiring members, Mr J.D. Seelam, and Mr Girish Sanghi, are confident of being renominated.
Six seats from the state are going to be vacated by June this year and biennial poll schedule will be announced next month. Out of the six vacancies, five are from the Congress. But the ruling party may only be able to send four this time, and that too with the support of Majlis and Praja Rajyam. And two seats will go to Telugu Desam kitty.
The five retiring members, including one ‘outsider,’ the Union minister, Mr Jairam Ramesh, and other leaders from the Congress, are eagerly waiting for the decision of the Congress president in this regard.
Meanwhile, there is talk in Delhi that Mr Rahul Gandhi is not keen on ‘outsiders’ being sent to Rajya Sabha from various states. He feels that the RS should really represent the states.
When contacted, Mr Ramesh said that he did not know any thing about his re-nomination. “It is all left to the Congress president, I will abide whatever she decides,” he said.
The Union minister for law, Mr Veerappa Moily, who is in charge of party affairs in AP, also said that no guidelines had been framed so far. “We will take a decision when the notification is issued; there is no hurry,” he said.
Sources said the Congress might not prefer to re-nominate those members who had already served two terms in the RS. This means that the former Chief Minister, Mr Nedurumalli Janardhan Reddy, and the former state minister, Mr V. Hanumantha Rao, are out.
The retiring members, Mr J.D. Seelam, and Mr Girish Sanghi, are confident of being renominated.
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Sonia talks to Lalu, Mulayam
Lalu Prasad and Mulayam Singh Yadav, two prominent opponents of Women’s Reservation Bill, had a nearly 20-minute interaction with Congress president Sonia Gandhi in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday, but both sides appeared to have failed to convince each other.
Ms. Gandhi, who is also the UPA chairperson, used the period between two adjournments to reach out to them, who along with JD (U) chief Sharad Yadav form part of the trio, which is vehemently opposing the bill in its present form.
The SP and RJD leaders apparently utilised the time to convey their stand to Ms. Gandhi that the measure would hit the weaker sections hard.
At one point, Ms. Gandhi seemed to be suggesting to them that they should agree to go ahead with the measure in its present form and after that their ideas could be considered.
Home Minister P. Chidambaram, who was occupying the front row along with Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar, apparently seemed to be contesting their claims.
Shailendra Kumar (SP) said he told Ms. Gandhi that the way the government brought the Bill was wrong. He was later seen being gently told by party colleague and Mulayam’s son Akhilesh Yadav not to get involved when the leaders were discussing the issue.
After some time, Mr. Mulayam left the place, went back to his front row seat and was seen talking to Sharad Yadav.
Later, Mr. Sharad Yadav walked to the Leader of the Opposition Sushma Swaraj, who was having consultations with her party colleagues.
When the House reassembled, Mr. Lalu and Mr. Mulayam were again in the Well along with their party members, giving a clear signal that there was no breakthrough.
Ms. Gandhi, who is also the UPA chairperson, used the period between two adjournments to reach out to them, who along with JD (U) chief Sharad Yadav form part of the trio, which is vehemently opposing the bill in its present form.
The SP and RJD leaders apparently utilised the time to convey their stand to Ms. Gandhi that the measure would hit the weaker sections hard.
At one point, Ms. Gandhi seemed to be suggesting to them that they should agree to go ahead with the measure in its present form and after that their ideas could be considered.
Home Minister P. Chidambaram, who was occupying the front row along with Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar, apparently seemed to be contesting their claims.
Shailendra Kumar (SP) said he told Ms. Gandhi that the way the government brought the Bill was wrong. He was later seen being gently told by party colleague and Mulayam’s son Akhilesh Yadav not to get involved when the leaders were discussing the issue.
After some time, Mr. Mulayam left the place, went back to his front row seat and was seen talking to Sharad Yadav.
Later, Mr. Sharad Yadav walked to the Leader of the Opposition Sushma Swaraj, who was having consultations with her party colleagues.
When the House reassembled, Mr. Lalu and Mr. Mulayam were again in the Well along with their party members, giving a clear signal that there was no breakthrough.
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Sonia, Mamata flag off 12 new trains in UP
United Progressive Alliance (UPA) chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee on Sunday jointly flagged off 12 new trains in Uttar Pradesh. The routes of seven existing trains have also been extended.
Ms. Sonia Gandhi and Ms. Banerjee flagged off the trains through videoconferencing at Kanpur railway station here.
Claiming that addition of a dozen new trains would prove to be a boon for Uttar Pradesh, Ms. Sonia Gandhi said later at a huge public rally adjacent to the railway station that “it was after a long gap that the railway ministry had done so much in one go for this state”.
She said the central government would be only too keen to do much more for the State.
“Our government at the centre in general and the Indian Railways in particular are committed to fulfilling the aspirations of the people of Uttar Pradesh,” she said.
“The Centre was always ready to play its role in pushing development projects for the states, but this cannot be achieved without the active support of the States,” she maintained.
The new trains are Kanpur-New Delhi Shatabdi Express, Lucknow-New Delhi Duronto, Allahabad-New Delhi Duronto, Gorakhpur-Lokmanya Tilak Terminal Express, Varanasi-Jammu Tawi Superfast, Lucknow-Yashwantpur Express, Agra-Lucknow Intercity, Mathura-Kasganj Passenger, Bhopal-Pratapgarh Express, Gorakhpur-Nainital Express, Gorakhpur-Noutha Passenger and Chapra-Mathura Express.
AP panel makes T Congress unhappy
Congress leaders from Telangana, who met at the residence of the Congress Working Committee member, Mr K. Keshava Rao, on Saturday decided not to join the Rosaiah Cabinet in the possible reshuffle till Telangana gets statehood.
The meeting also discussed the co-ordination panel appointed by the AICC president, Mrs Sonia Gandhi, on Sunday.
The Suryapet legislator, Mr R. Damodar Reddy, who spoke to media after the meeting said Telangana leaders have decided to write Mrs Gandhi urging that the state Congress chief, Mr D. Srinivas, head the panel instead of Mr Veerappa Moily, the party’s AP incharge.
“Such committees had been formed in the past, one under Mr K. Keshava Rao and another under Mr Srinivas himself. On both occasions the PCC chief was the convenor of the committee. At that time there was no chairman,” Mr Damodar Reddy said. “For the first time, an AICC functionary has been appointed as chairman of the committee which is not acceptable to us.”
The meeting urged the party high command to appoint one or two MPs from Telangana to the panel. “Three MPs from coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema have been named as members and whereas from Telangana not a single MP has been accommodated,” Mr Damodar Reddy said.
The meeting also urged the Union home minister, Mr P. Chidambaram, to include Telangana-specific terms of reference in the Justice Srikrishna panel and also set a timeframe.
Replying to a question, Mr Damodar Reddy said the existing 13 ministers from Telangana region would function as watchdogs till the Centre declares statehood for Telangana. They will oversee allotment of funds to various projects and to districts and scuttle moves of divert more funds to coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema regions.
