This is not a fit case for JPC probe, says Manmohan

Rejecting the Opposition demand for a Joint Parliamentary Committee probe into the IPL muddle and phone tapping allegations, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Monday said he did not see a need for it.

Interacting with journalists after the defence investiture ceremony at the Rashtrapati Bhavan here, Dr. Singh said “this is not a fit case for a JPC.” He was asked about the Opposition demand for such a probe into the phone tapping issue.

Dr. Singh said Home Minister P. Chidambaram had explained the phone tapping allegations in Parliament and he too had offered to come before Parliament after 3.30 p.m. if there was a sitting “but there was restlessness.”

“Can't rush”

As for the IPL issue, Dr. Singh said he did not think there was a need for a JPC probe. “JPC is a very serious issue. We can't rush to such a conclusion in haste.”

Cong MPs from Telangana meet PM

Making a strong pitch for the creation of a separate state soon, Congress MPs from Telangana region today met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who told them the government is working for a solution to the vexed issue.

“We met the Prime Minister today and apprised him of the seriousness of the on-going agitation for Telangana. The Prime Minister said it is a serious situation and the government is working for a solution to the problem. He also expressed concern over the deaths of people during the agitation,” Nizamabad MP Madhu Yaski Goud told PTI.

The MPs have also plans to meet Congress President Sonia Gandhi over the issue, Goud said, adding it will happen when they get an appointment.

The MPs also met the AICC-in charge of Andhra Pradesh M. Veerappa Moily.

“Our demands are that the time frame for a decision on the issue should be minimised and Home Minister P. Chidambaram’s statement made on December 9 last year over the issue of creating a separate state should be included in the terms of reference for the Srikrishna Commission constituted by the Centre to look into the issue,” Mr. Goud said.

He said that over six MPs including him wore black shirt while waving placards for Telangana state during the President Pratibha Patil’s joint address to both Houses of the Parliament, which had no mention to Telangana.

The Congress leader dismissed the suggestions that this in any way lowered the dignity of Parliament saying it was the Gandhian way of peaceful protest.

“We expressed our protest for non-mentioning of Telangana in the President’s speech today. We also held a two minute silence outside Parliament to mourn the death of a student in Osmania University, Hyderabad, who had put himself on fire while agitating for Telangana,” Mr. Goud said.

Earlier, all the 17 Congress MPs from the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha including Ponnam Prabhakar, Girish Sanghi and S. Satyanarayana protested outside Parliament shouting ‘Jai Telangana’ and ‘Jai Congress’ slogans.

They said they would continue the agitation till their demand is met and if required they would quit from the party.

Mr. Goud alleged that the agitation held in Andhra and Raelseema regions against the creation of Telangana is not genuine and the leaders from Andhra region as well as some police officers of the state are giving the Centre wrong inputs about the Telangana agitation and thus the Centre is getting a bad name due to acting on their feedback.

“The agitation for Telangana is going on for two months but unfortunately, it is not drawing the attention of the central government,” he said.

When asked whether he feels that his party is not supportive on the issue. Mr. Goud said, “We believe Telangana can be created only under Congress rule. Even the TRS leader K. Chandrasekhar Rao trusts Congress President Sonia Gandhi. Only Sonia Gandhi can do something and we have full trust in her.”

Telangana lawyers protest in Delhi

Hundreds of lawyers from Telangana region in Andhra Pradesh on Monday held a demonstration here demanding that the Centre immediately bring a bill in Parliament favouring the formation of a separate state.

The lawyers from various Bar Associations in all 10 districts of the Telangana region held a protest march at Jantar Mantar here. Holding placards and shouting slogans demanding the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh, the lawyers tried to march towards Parliament, but were prevented from doing so by the police.

“We want Telangana”, “We need a separate state”, “Let Centre bring a bill in Parliament immediately”, read the placards carried by the lawyers, numbering over 1,000.

The protesters said the Centre should immediately bring a bill during the current Budget session demanding the formation of Telangana state.

Govt. promises to tackle problem of rising food prices

Admitting that there has been an “unhappy pressure” on the prices of food grains and products, the Government on Monday promised to tackle the problem even as it expressed confidence that it will aim at a growth rate of 8 per cent in the coming fiscal and 9 per cent in the next.

Declaring that the common man is at the core of the Government’s promise of faster growth, President Pratibha Patil on Monday said that highest importance was being given to ensuring relief to the common man on food prices.

In her customary address to the joint sitting of Parliament marking the beginning of the Budget session, she said the aam aadmi had to be protected against the ravages of the worst ever global economic crisis since the Great Depression and against the failure of the monsoon in large parts of the country.

The President, who spoke at length on a variety of issues, made it clear that India was ready to explore a meaningful relationship with Pakistan if it “seriously addresses the threat of terrorism and takes effective steps to prevent terrorist activities against India”.

Recalling Jawaharlal Nehru’s words that “the service of India means... ending poverty and ignorance... and inequality of opportunity”, she said, “Our country stands at a historic turning point. Never before were we so close as we are today to realising our national aspirations...”

On the issue of internal security, Ms. Patil said the government remains vigilant against all forms of challenges posed by terrorism.

“Zero tolerance of terrorist activities is our principled policy. We have to keep constant watch and innovate against global terrorist groups,” she said.

The overall internal security, law and order, and the communal situation remained largely under control last year, she said.

Though infiltration of terrorists from across the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir has gone up, she said the security situation has improved significantly in Jammu and Kashmir as well as in the North East.

However, Left wing extremism continues to be a significant cause of concern, the President said.

Turning to the issue of rising prices, she noted that while the government was able to avert any threat to food security, there has been an “unhappy pressure” on the prices of food grains and products.

At the same time, Ms. Patil said they were also a sort of reflection of the growing purchasing power in the countryside.

“They are also to some extent a reflection of the implementation of our schemes of inclusive growth involving payment of higher procurement prices to our farmers and the impact of higher public spending on programmes of rural development, which have successfully raised incomes in rural areas,” the President said.

“Higher prices were inevitable given the shortfall in domestic production and prevailing high prices of rice, cereals and edible oils globally,” the President said.

Conveying her heartfelt condolences to the families of those who have lost their lives in the recent terrorist act in Pune, she said these “cowardly acts” strengthen our resolve to meet with added vigour the challenge posed by such violence.

She also mentioned in this regard the “senseless violence” indulged in by Left wing extremists who in their recent attacks in West Bengal killed a large number of innocent people.

Ms. Patil said the government has also given a call to Left wing extremists to abjure violence and come for talks.

“Our plan to strengthen civil administration and bring the fruits of inclusive development to all would continue with determination,” she said.

To strengthen the security apparatus and equip the country to meet the grave challenge posed by terrorism, the President said her government has taken several new measures, including strengthening of the state and district police machinery and Central paramilitary forces and operationalisation of National Investigation Agency.

Other measures which have been taken include establishment of four NSG hubs to ensure quick and effective response to any possible terror attack, augmentation of Intelligence Bureau and strengthening of the Multi-Agency Centre in the IB to enable it to function on a round-the-clock basis.

Referring to the armed forces, Ms. Patil said the nation was proud of them and her government is “fully committed” to their modernization.

“We will accord the highest priority to modernisation programmes to equip our armed forces with the required weaponry, equipment and platforms. The successful launch of the Agni-III missile is a shining example of the capabilities of our scientists and engineers who deserve full praise,” she said.

Efforts to enhance our technological self-reliance received a new impetus with the commencement of the handing over of the main battle tank, Arjun, to the Indian Army, she said.

The President said the Government is committed to ensuring early passage of the Women’s Reservation Bill which was introduced in Rajya Sabha in May 2008. “I would urge you to accord special attention to this critical proposal,” she told the MPs.

Besides, she said, two bills for Constitutional amendment to provide 50 per cent reservation for women in panchayats and urban local bodies have already been introduced and it is hoped that these can be passed during this session.

Asserting that unity and social harmony of the country is the best answer to the terrorists and their divisive designs, she said her government is “committed deeply” to protecting the social fabric.

“To that end, government proposes to move for the early passage of the Communal Violence (Prevention, Control and Rehabilitation of Victims) Bill, 2005, in this session of Parliament,” she said.

As regards education, the President said the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, which makes education a fundamental right of every child in the age group of six to 14 years, was notified and will be effective from April 1, 2010.

Ms. Patil said the Government is committed to bring a paradigm shift in the education sector based on expansion, inclusion and excellence and will soon set up an overarching body to regulate higher education and research in India.

“Government is also endeavouring to bring forward an appropriate legislation to facilitate participation of globally renowned and quality academic institutions in our higher education sector, and bringing in foreign education providers for vocational training and skill development,” the President said.

Underlining that investment in education is critical for accelerated inclusive growth, Ms. Patil said, the Government has made substantial investments in primary education through the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan and the Midday Meal Programme.

It is also moving towards internalisation of education at the secondary level with the new Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan.

The upcoming Commonwealth Games also got a mention in the President’s address with Patil saying efforts were in full swing to make the sporting event a grand success.

“Preparations for the event are at an advanced stage. Every effort will be made to ensure a befitting and successful conduct of the Games,” she said.

On the rural sector, she said more than four crore households have benefitted from the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act during current fiscal with more than half being from the marginalised sections.

“My government is committed to give the aam aadmi maximum access to gas and petroleum products. A new scheme of rural LPG distribution namely, ‘Rajiv Gandhi Gramin LPG Vitarak Yojana’ has been launched,” Ms. Patil said.

Ms. Patil also said the government was committed towards a substantial expansion in capacity of Indian Railways along with increasing speed of passenger and freight traffic and improving safety.

Ms. Patil said commencement of train services in the Kashmir Valley from Qazigund to Baramulla demonstrates the Government’s commitment to the development of all corners of our country.

As part of the ambitious expansion of the country’s nuclear energy programme, Ms. Patil said approval was accorded for the construction of additional Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors and sites for setting up Light Water Reactors.

“Following the availability of imported fuel as a result of the opening of international civil nuclear cooperation, commercial production has commenced in two units of the Rajasthan Atomic Power Project, and one more unit is expected to begin commercial production soon,” she said.

New agreements for cooperation in the field of civil nuclear energy were concluded with Russia, Mongolia, Namibia, Argentina and the United Kingdom, while others are under negotiation, she said.

Manmohan appeals to Opposition not to disrupt Parliament

Appealing to the Opposition to allow smooth functioning of Parliament during the Budget session, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Monday said all issues agitating them can be debated on the floor of the House.

“The Government is ready to discuss all issues in Parliament and I, therefore, appeal to the Opposition not to have any disruption of Parliamentary proceedings.

“Parliament is a forum for debate and the Government is ready for it,” Mr. Singh said as he arrived in Parliament for the start of the Budget session.

Talking to reporters, Mr. Singh said, “We seek the Opposition’s cooperation in the smooth running of this important session which will be devoted to the passage of the Budget both the general budget and the railway budget.“

Asking the Opposition members to cooperate with the Government, he said, “All issues which agitate the mind of the Opposition can be debated” in Parliament.

He parried questions on measures the government would adopt with regard to the new fertiliser policy.

Opposition to focus on price rise, security

The budget session of Parliament, which begins on Monday, will see the Opposition attempting to corner the government on its handling of price rise and internal security.

The Left parties are opposed to the move to introduce the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Bill, while the Bharatiya Janata Party has flagged talks with Pakistan talks as an issue of concern, which it wants to be discussed on Thursday, day of the talks itself. Both sides have also given indications of taking up the revised fertilizer policy, which they feel will be detrimental to farmers’ interests.

Monday meeting

On price rise, the government has indicated its willingness to concede the Opposition demand for discussing it on Tuesday, ahead of the discussion on the motion of thanks to the President’s Address. A final decision will be taken at a leaders’ meeting on Monday.

“We are prepared to discuss any issue. If they [the Opposition] are very particular on the price rise discussion, we may consider it,” Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal said.

Opposition warning

However, the Opposition has warned that if the government does not yield to its demand, it will move an adjournment motion. While the Left parties took the decision on Saturday, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) arrived at the same strategy at its meeting on Sunday evening.

Besides price rise, the Opposition will also try to corner the government on its handling of terrorism and violence following the Pune blast, the Telangana agitation and the continued killing of security personnel by Maoists.

On the BJP’s specific demand for a discussion on the day of India-Pakistan talks itself, the government maintained that all issues cannot get precedence over the motion of thanks.

The Opposition need not insist on separate discussions on all issues because the motion of thanks provided ample opportunity to air views on every subject of governance, sources in the government said.

In all, 36 Bills are listed for introduction. The Left parties will oppose the move to introduce the Nuclear Liability Bill, an essential precondition for entry of companies of the United States in the civil nuclear sector.

NDA seeks clarification

The NDA also wants the government to clarify whether the Bill was being piloted under the U.S.’ pressure. The government is most keen to have this passed as quickly as possible in order not to deny U.S. nuclear power companies an opportunity to enter India.

Divided into two halves, the first part of the budget session will see the President’s address, the railway and general budgets besides presentation of the Economic Survey and the Finance Commission’s report. It will be followed by a general discussion on both the budgets.

The government plans to make a suo motu statement on Australia and acquaint Parliament with the India-Pakistan talks.