Extreme problems don’t always need extreme solutions
The Anna Hazare-led civil society movement cannot be faulted for having come up with its version of the Lokpal Bill, because otherwise it would have been accused of campaigning for something essentially negative – the withdrawal of the flawed government version without putting forward an alternative. Frustration with everyday corruption – as well as the spectacular kind that explodes in the public sphere ever so often ( Commonwealth Games, 2G, Adarsh, illegal mining in Bellary district etc) – explains the widespread popular support received by the anti-corruption movement.
The depth of this support, coming from every corner of the country, should tell the government something. While the value of the movement lies in having highlighted the critically important issue of corruption – which has not been dealt with seriously by successive governments – the Jan Lokpal Bill put forward by Team Anna too is flawed in some of its specifics. Read more
WikiLeaks founder Assange should be sent to mental asylum: Mayawati
Uttar Pradesh chief minister Mayawati on Tuesday rubbished the allegations made against her by the whistleblower website WikiLeaks that she had sent a special jet to Mumbai to bring in her favourite sandals.
Calling it a political conspiracy ahead of elections, the BSP chief said WikiLeaks owner has either gone mad or supporting her opponents.
Mayawati said Assange needs to be admitted in a mental asylum. “And, if there is no such asylum in his country, they can send him to UP and I will make arrangements for his admission in the mental asylum in Agra,” she said. Read more
Mayawati sent empty jet to Mumbai for sandals
Uttar Pradesh chief minister and head of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) Mayawati sent her private jet to pick up a pair of sandals, according to leaked US diplomatic cables.
US embassy cables from 2007 to 2009 released by the WikiLeaks website in recent days describe Mayawati, 55, as “a first-rate egomaniac” who “is obsessed with becoming prime minister”.
They said Mayawati celebrated her birthday each year by receiving millions of dollars in gifts from “sycophantic party members, civil servants and business people” while officials vie for a chance to feed her cake. Read more
Maharashtra government plans Z-cover for Anna Hazare
While politicians in the Centre appeared to be targeting Team Anna members with privilege motions, the Congress-led dispensation in Maharashtra decided to bolster Anna Hazare’s security and was even mulling Z-category cover.
Ahmednagar superintendent of police Krishna Prakash moved a proposal seeking approval from the state home department to provide Z security cover to Hazare. “The SP has initiated Z security proposal, but it has not yet reached the state government. The government will take a decision on providing security cover to Hazare after receiving the proposal,” Umeschandra Sarangi, additional chief secretary (home), said on Saturday. Read more
Private hospitals to provide free treatment to poor: Supreme Court
The Supreme Court on Thursday ordered Delhi’s private hospitals, built on subsidised government land, to provide free treatment to the poor, saying they cannot “wriggle out” of their responsibility.
A bench of justices R V Raveendrana and A K Patnaik asked the city hospitals to reserve 25% of their out-patient department capacity and 10 per cent of beds at the indoor level for free treatment of the poor.
The hospitals cannot “wriggle out” of their responsibility to treat the poor free of cost, the court said. Read more
Rajiv killers get 8 weeks’ breather from Madras HC
The interim stay came on a review petition of the death row convicts Murugan, Santhan and Perarivalan.
A division bench comprising justice C Nagappan and justice M Satyanaranan directed the Centre to explain the delay 11 years and four months in the rejection of the trio’s clemency petitions. Read more
UK cracks money in Swiss banks – why not India
The UK citizens’ accounts in Swiss banks will be taxed at between 19% and 34% on the principal sum hidden, depending on how long the account has been running.
From 2013, the account holders will also face an annual levy of between 27% and 48% on the income from their accounts, based on whether it has arisen as capital gains, dividends or interest.
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Misuse of Aadhar/UID numbers
The Aadhaar Number, or the Unique Identification Card (UID) that will create a database for 1.2 billion people in India, may go out of hand, leading cybersecurity expert R. Bhaskar says.
“The facility is ambitious and is sure to make functioning easy from the governance perspective. But at the moment, it is not clear how the government’s plan for UID will work out,” Bhaskar told IANS.
“There is some kind of certification or guarantee needed from companies that are pooling the database or will be handling it,” he said on the sidelines of a seminar on cyberspace and democracy at the India International Centre here.
UIDs, the UPA government’s flagship programme chaired by Nandan Nilekani, seeks to accord each Indian a unique identification number.
The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) is the nodal agency which has appointed registrars across the country to facilitate the enrolment process. Registrars, typically government departments and public sector organisations, have in turn appointed the agency to collect data.
Over 200 such agencies, including Wipro, Comat Technologies, Alankit and Virgo Softech, are involved in enrollment and will issue a 12-digit number.
Within the proposed process, it is to be delivered in 20-30 days at the person’s address by speed post, after verification of biometrics and demographic data. Data verification is done by the authority under a centralised system.
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'Blackmoney in foreign banks plunder of nation'
New Delhi, Jan 19 (PTI) The Supreme Court today pulled up the Government for witholding information on blackmoney stashed in foreign banks, saying it is not just limited to tax evasion but a “mind boggling crime” amounting to “theft” and “plunder” of national wealth having security ramifications. Read more
Cabinet reshuffle: Praful, Jaiswal, Salman elevated to Cabinet rank
In a surprise development on Wednesday, S Jaipal Reddy was today made the Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister in the reshuffle and expansion of the Cabinet which saw elevation of three Ministers to the Cabinet rank and induction of three new faces. Read more