Why Government not making any efforts to bring Lalit back, asks

The Congress also termed as 'condemnable' the reported allegations against President Pranab Mukherjee that he, as Finance Minister in the then UPA government, spearheaded the party's 'revenge' politics against Lalit Modi.

"Allegations against the President are condemnable. What the government is doing to bring him back? Why red corner notice has not been issued to him?

"Why the government has not approached the Supreme Court to cancel passport issued to Lalit Modi?" Congress spokesman Meem Afzal asked, noting that till yesterday, Lalit Modi had been targeting former Finance Minister P Chidambaram and now he has trained his guns on the President.

Afzal attacked the government and the BJP alleging that they were 'shielding' External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje.

Questioning the 'silence' of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the matter, Afzal asked whether PM Modi would break his silence only when he would be the target of attack by the former IPL chief, a fugitive and economic offender. The government will have to say what action is being taken against the tainted cricket administrator, he added.

According to reports, the former IPL chief has accused Mukherjee of spearheading Congress' 'revenge' politics against him for Congress leader Shashi Tharoor's resignation.

"It was clear even before Tharoor resigned that Congress was furious over my decision to reveal Tharoor's ownership interest in the Kochi bid," Modi had said in his plea to the UK authorities while seeking permission to stay as a representative of an overseas business.

Modi also blamed Mukherjee for engineering the Enforcement Directorate's probe against him in retaliation to Tharoor's sacking as Minister of state for External Affairs, the reports stated.

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Sushma shouldn't be pestered because she is a woman: Lalu

"Sushma Swaraj is a woman. She should not be pestered over the issue. Political parties should not pester her more," Prasad said when asked to comment on the issue.

The RJD chief was speaking to media persons after chairing a meeting of party leaders and workers to chalk out a strategy for the upcoming Bihar Assembly polls.

The External Affairs Minister is at the centre of a major row over helping Lalit Modi to obtain British travel documents but found strong support from the government and BJP which rejected opposition demands for her resignation over alleged "impropriety".

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Lalit Modi warns detractors of 'sensational disclosures'

Naming a number of senior UPA ministers, Modi in a series of tweets claimed his disclosures, which he termed as "bombshells", would implicate the "erstwhile PMO".

"Congress party should be watching this press conference. So should all who have jumped up and down in last few years," he said in a tweet.

"Lastly before I board another flight to another beautiful destination. This is war. So bring it on. I choose to lose a battle to win a war," a combative Modi, who is based in London, said in another tweet.

Apparently referring to Opposition's demand for Swaraj's resignation, he said "wrong people resignations are being asked. I can assure u now the storm is about to hit. Lots more resignations will be (sic)."

"Now finally it's my turn to get EVERYTHING OUT. THERE ARE MANY BOMBSHELLS. see for yourselves. Then judge," he said.   

He also asked the UK government to look out for his disclosures "As there is lots of Q u will have to answer to media I can assure u."

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Never used office to enrich myself, family or friends: Former PM Manmohan Singh

In a scathing attack, Singh said institutions of democracy are under threat and the entire edifice of the welfare state is now being dismantled in the guise of promoting faster economic growth.
   
"As far as I am concerned, I can say in all humility that I have not used my public office to enrich myself, to enrich my family or my friends. And still the BJP government keeps on harping on this theme of corruption because it wants to distract the attention of the people to non-issues," he said in a hard-hitting speech at an event here.
  
His comments came in the wake of former TRAI chairman Pradip Baijal's allegations that Singh had warned him of harm if he did not cooperate on 2G telecom licenses.

Baijal, who was probed for several years in connection with the 2G spectrum allocation scam case, also claimed that the CBI wanted him to "implicate" Arun Shourie and Ratan Tata in the case.

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Countrymen should file PIL against Kapil Sibal: Ananth Kumar

Alleging that Sibal had misguided the country by claiming a "zero loss" in the auction of spectrum, Kumar told a press conference here that a "transparent policy" adopted by the Modi-government, has helped the country gain Rs 1.10 lakh crore following the auction of the spectrum.

"I would like to ask any patriotic Indian to lodge a PIL against the former Union Telecommunication Minister for the lies", Kumar said.

The country, he said, had witnessed 'rampant corruption' during the UPA rule but there was perceptible change recorded ever since a majority government headed by Modi assumed power.

He said the poorer section of the society, farmers and Agriculture sector were among the priority list of the Prime Minister, who have decided to issue Rs 15 crore of soil health card among the farmers.

Besides, the government also has plan to set up 1150 soil testing laboratory across the country and improve the irrigation, power sector to ensure uninterrupted supply to the farmers community, he said.

Even Rs 75,000 crores subsidy on Urea and Fertilizers would also be spent on the agriculture sector and farmers community, he claimed.

Taking a dig at Congress for criticising the Modi government's performance, Kumar said the opposition was suffering from "lack of trust" even though the country was witnessing a systematic change in sector across.

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Report card: Centre delivered corruption free governance in last one year, says Jaitley

''Our priority is to get the GST and Land Bills passed by Parliament,'' Jaitley told a press conference while presenting the report card of Modi government.

The Finance Minister further said notifications with regard to Blackmoney Bill will be issued shortly.

''Misuse of investigation agencies is a thing of the past,'' Jaitley told reporters. Jaitley said the NDA government will make every effort to meet GST rollout deadline of April 1, 2016.

Commenting over the ongoing tussle between Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Lt Governor Najeeb Jung, the Finance Minister said the Home Ministry's notification on LG's powers will help remove confusion in the national capital.

Modi government is going to complete one year in office on May 26.

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Modi government trying to snatch farmers' land for corporates: Rahul

The Congress vice president, who undertook a 15-km 'padyatra' (foot march) through five villages in scorching heat and met families of farmers who committed suicide due to mounting debt in Adilabad district, hit out at the NDA Government for attempting to "dilute" the Land Acquisition Act passed by Congress-led UPA Government in 2013.

"Modiji and mini-Modiji claim to change India and Telangana, but they forgot the poor who actually transform the country," Rahul said, without naming Rao. "If Modiji or the Chief Minister here meet farmers then I don't have to (worry about them)," he added.

“The Government is not making use of thousands of acres of land lying unused in SEZs, but is attempting to take away land from farmers,” he charged.

The NDA Government as well the TRS Government led by K Chandrasekhar Rao in Telangana claim to work for 'Make in India' and providing jobs, Rahul said and asked if anyone in the gathering had got a job after the two Governments assumed office about a year ago.

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Government will continue funding for police modernisation programme: Rajnath

The 90:10 funding pattern would continue for category-A states such as Jammu and Kashmir and eight in the Northeast, the Minister asserted during Question Hour in the Lok Sabha.

"After the implementation of the 14th Finance Commission, the central funding has been stopped. However, non-plan funding is continuing. "We want the states to continue with the modernisation programme as the states' share of the central tax has increased to 42 per cent after the recommendation of the 14th Finance Commission," he added.

Under the scheme, states, other than those in category-A, are grouped under category B which get funding from the Centre in the ratio of 60:40 with 60 percent being the central share.

Replying to a related question, Minister of State for Home Haribhai Parathibhai Chaudhary said there was no proposal to bring the 10 Maoist-affected states under the 90:10 funding pattern.

He added the Centre was already providing adequate support to states like Chattisgarh and other such states, providing them six helicopters, sanctioning 200 mobile towers and latest technologies to eliminate the Maoist threat.

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Economic policy "directionless", minorities anxious: Arun Shourie

The 73-year-old journalist-turned politician said the one-year rule of Modi is "good in parts", his transformation as Prime Minister is good in foreign policy, but the promised turnaround in economy has not happened.

"The government seems to be more concerned with managing headlines than putting policies in place. The situation is like the many pieces of a jigsaw puzzle lying in a mess with no big picture in mind about how to put them together," he said in an interview.

Shourie, who is not active in BJP these days, said despite promises the fears of foreign investors on retrospective taxes and incentives for manufacturing have not materialised on the ground.

"They (investors) require stability and predictability," he said, adding that the concern expressed by eminent banker Deepak Parekh on the situation on the ground should be seen as a "wake up call".

Asked if the Modi government had done enough to put India on growth path, Shourie said that it was "all hyperbole". "Such claims are meant to grab headlines but lack substance," he said. Shourie handled the Ministries of Disinvestment, Communication and Information Technology in the Vajpayee government.

"Government is talking big on economic matters but nothing is happening on ground. Delivery is missing," he added. In an apparent reference to Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, he said the government lacked a stable approach in dealing with investors and that "lawyerly arguments" would not convince them.

Source: Online Hindi News and Newspaper

Congress threatens to hit back at PM Modi from foreign soil

Demanding an apology from the Prime Minister, who while speaking at at an event in Canada yesterday accused the previous governments of creating a "mess" in the country, the opposition party said Modi should realise that he represents the country and not RSS or BJP when he goes abroad.
      
"It shows his sick mentality. He has again broken the tradition of not taking domestic politics abroad and has again made malicious attacks on previous governments.
   
"We cannot tolerate such unbecoming behaviour any longer. Henceforth, if he again does so on foreign soil, a Congress leader or spokesman will be present there and will respond immediately," party spokesman Anand Sharma told reporters.
  
He replied in the negative when asked if it would not precipatate matters between the two sides and said it would help bring "balance".
    
"The Prime Minister should apologise. We have honoured the convention so far. The Prime Minister should realise that he goes abroad as the Prime Minister of the country and not as a 'Pracharak' of the BJP and RSS," the spokesperson said.
    

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Efforts underway to convince Opposition on Land Bill: Naidu

"All senior ministers are on the job to convince all parties and we are hopeful of a consensus emerging on the Land Bill," Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu told r0eporters here.
  
He said while government had moved nine official amendments to the bill before it was passed by the Lok Sabha, it is willing to accommodate more suggestions to bring the opposition on board.
  
Naidu's remarks came a day after the Union Cabinet recommended to the President re-promulgation of the Land Ordinance as the one in force now will lapse on April 5.
  
He said BJP wants its MPs to be more enthused about the Land Bill as it is crucial for the country's economic growth.
  
The issue will be part of the political resolution to be adopted in BJP's National Executive to be held in Bengaluru this week.
  
Meanwhile, sources in the government said the fresh Ordinance will again have to clear the Lok Sabha hurdle before reaching Rajya Sabha since it will be different from the one in force as it will incorporate the nine amendments passed by Lok Sabha.

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First part of Budget Session 'productive', says Naidu

Naidu also said the first part of the session has been the most significant and rewarding of the four sessions of Parliament since the Government assumed office in May 2015.
  
"Parliament has enabled the beginning of a new era of transparent governance in the country by ending government's discretion in allocation of minerals which has come to be a cesspool of corruption and malpractices," he said on the passing of Mines and Minerals, and Coal Mines bills replacing respective Ordinances.
  
"I would rate these two legislations at the top of the major outcomes of the Budget session so far," he said, adding that passing of the Insurance Bill hiking FDI in insurance sector is the next major outcome. "I thank Congress for their support."
  
"I would like to have these two legislations passed unanimously. But our friends in some parties had different ideas. They in effect, wanted us to ask the states if they wanted to end or not the discretion in allocation of minerals and the attendant corruption. I am happy that this contingency has been averted," he noted.
  
On the Land Bill, he said it was a collective demand of states who wanted changes in the Land Acquisition Act of 2013 to enable land acquisition with less hurdles and keeping practicality in view like in the case of the number of years after which the land acquired is to be returned to owners if it was not used.
    

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Mines Bill passed by Parliament despite protests

The Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2015, was passed by the Rajya Sabha earlier on Friday and later approved by the Lok Sabha within 20 minutes.
   
The Bill was cleared by the Lok Sabha but was referred to a Select Committee in Rajya Sabha by a united Opposition. After a day of high drama on Thursday, the Bill was cleared by the upper house as the government agreed to the amendment recommended by the Select Committee on March 18.

The Insurance Laws (Amendment) Bill, seeking to hike FDI in insurance sector was the first reform measure passed by Parliament.
   
Government had promulgated ordinances on insurance and mines and minerals in December last and January, which were converted to bills.
   
In the upper house all parties, barring Congress and the Left, supported it. JD-U members walked out before the voting saying they did not want to be part of the procedure.

The Bill was passed in Rajya Sabha by 117 members voting in favour and 69 against it, after Mines Minister Narendra Singh Tomar moved it for passage.
   
The House earlier saw a lot of discussion on a motion moved by P Rajeeve of CPI(M), which sought that the measure be re-sent to the Select Committee as it had not taken the views of all stakeholders including state governments.
   
This amendment was voted out after a division, with parties like TMC, NCP, SP, BSP, BJD, AIADMK, DMK and JMM, besides allies Shiv Sena and SAD supporting the government.

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Blackmoney Bill introduced in Lok Sabha; 10 years jail for concealing foreign funds

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley introduced 'The Undisclosed Foreign Income and Assets (Imposition of Tax) Bill, 2015,' proposing that it would come into effect from April 1, 2016.
   
"Recognizing the limitations of the existing legislation, it is proposed to introduce a new legislation to deal with undisclosed assets and income stashed away abroad," said the Statement on Objects and Reasons of the Bill.
   
The Bill provides for criminal liability with enhanced punishment with 3-10 year imprisonment for willful attempt to evade tax in relation to foreign income, along with a fine.
   
Second and subsequent offence would be punishable with rigorous imprisonment for a term of 3-10 years with a fine of Rs 25 lakh to Rs 1 crore.
   
"In prosecution proceedings, the wilful nature of the default shall be presumed and it shall be for the accused to prove the absence of the guilty state of mind," it added.
   
The Bill also provides for a penalty of three times the amount of tax for concealment of income in relation to a foreign asset.
   
Further, a penalty of Rs 10 lakh would be levied for failure to furnish return of income by persons holding foreign asset, failure to disclose foreign asset in the returns or furnishing of inaccurate particulars of such asset.

The Bill proposes a limited window to persons who have any undisclosed foreign assets who wish to come clean.
   
"Such persons may file a declaration before the specified tax authority within a specified period, followed by payment of tax at the rate of 30 per cent and an equal amount by way of penalty," it said.

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