Rail Budget with the 2011 West Bengal Assembly elections in mind.MAMATA MAIL DESTINED TO HELL!
Troubled Galaxy Destroyed Dreams, Chapter 274
Palash Biswas
Highlights of Railway Budget 2009-10
New Delhi (PTI) The Railway Budget for 2009-10 on Friday left passenger fares and freight rates untouched, in what is seen as the UPA government's return gift to the people who gave it a second straight term in office.
The following are the highlights of the Railway Budget:
* Passenger and freight rates across board left unchanged.
* Net revenue of Railways at Rs 8,121 crores in 2008-09.
* To pay higher dividend Rs 5,479 crores to Centre in FY'10.
* Tatkal charges reduced from Rs 150 to Rs 100.
* Ladies' specials in suburban trains during peak hours
* 'Izzat' monthly ticket of Rs 25 for up to 100 km travel.
* New coach factory at Kanchrapara in West Bengal.
* Cold storages for farmers to store vegetables and fruits.
* Talks to take over ailing wagon manufacturing units.
* 18,000 wagons to be acquired during the current year.
* Railway medical colleges along with rail hospitals on PPP.
Today's galleries:
Shruti Hassan's Luck, not by chanceMamata presents Railway Budget
* Student concession will cover Madrasa students.
* Special coaches for disabled and aged persons.
* 50 stations to be developed on world-class standard.
* 375 stations to be upgraded as 'Adarsh' stations with basic facilities - drinking water, toilets and ladies' dormitories.
* On-board availability of doctors in long distance trains.
* On-board infotainment services to be provided.
* 6,560 staff quarters to be constructed in 2009-10.
* High-capacity A/C double-decker trains to be introduced.
* 57 new trains to be introduced.
* 12 non-stop trains to be introduced.
* Accredited journalists to get 50 per cent rebate; also once a year with spouse.
* Proposes 1,000 MW power plant at Adra, a tribal area.
* Cash surplus of Rs 17,400 crores before dividend.
* Railways has investible surplus of Rs 12,681 crores.
* Annual plan expenditure pegged at Rs 36,336 crores.
http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/holnus/000200907031322.htm
I have already written. The Parliamentary SOP OPERA Act Two has just opened as Heated exchanges between RJD and BJP members over the issue of tabling the report of Liberhan Commission on Babri Masjid demolition on Friday briefly disrupted the Question Hour in the Lok Sabha. The Diversion game is effective with Surgical Precision thanks to UNPRECEDENTED Floor Coordination amongst the different wings of Manusmriti Hegemony.
Last night , I talked to two young English journalists.
Shamik is a RIGID supporter of Dr. Manmohan Singh and his Economic Agenda. Like the most of the journalists working as CONTACT labour in Toilet Press, Shamik is all GA GA to SEE INDIA Americanised. He claims that India is next to America thanks to Open market. According to the young Energetic guy, opening Public Sector would make things and services available at low cost without any hackle. As it happened with Telecoms and Internet!
But he strikingly opined that India is the second Super Power after America as EUROPE is Mereged with United States of America losing European Identity despite EURO and European community. Europe lacks separate identity and is tagged with USA. He asks when European countries have lost Identity and are treated as developed countries and races, why India should lag behind!
Europe losing its Identity, is an EYE opening observation!
Thanks SHAMIK. Once he told me that the Bengalies replicated ANGLO Saxons and Bengalies are habitually Colonial. I agreed with him and used the concept analysing Bengal and Bengalies!
Since the MARSHALL Doctrine was used to block communism in Europe, since appeasement was practiced in promoting Hitler and Mussolini, Europe lost Identity and USA emerged Supreme Power gradually and hold the Post Modern Manusmriti Apartheid Zionist Tri Iblis satanic Illuminati corporate Order in COMMAND! Shamik is Historically correct!
Since EUROPE went to HELL as a former colony of United Kingdom, we must FOLLOW suit!
No, it may not be a personal opinion. It is GENERAL Opinion of the Brahaminical ruling Class replicated by Privileged CREAMY layer of the ENSLAVED Indian Majority masses completely fallen ILL with intense DEMENTIA and Personality Disorder supported by DRUG Addiction and EFFLUENT Neo Social status across the Caste Line thanks to reservation and quota!
The BRAIN Wash and Mind control is complete as Civil society, Intelligentsia and Policy makers align with Media to destroy the Aboriginal Indigenous Communities. May be I missed the item, have you followed any parliamentary MINUTE questioning the agenda of Economic survey and Mass Destruction! Rather our Representatives engaged in Barbi Babri debate as it was PREPLANNED with excellent TIMING to Guillotine all types of anti People Legislation!
What is the after effects and reactions of Mamata mail? No body even noticed that it is DESTINED to Hell with large scale Privatisation as the ECONOMIC Survey hinted last evening! Rather the TOILET Media highlighted the CELEBRATION all over Bengal and the GRUDGE in DEPRIVED Bihar, It was projected as a WWF assignment in between Mamata and Lalu paying some tribute to NITISH Kumar!
Stunningly, the LEFT posed MUM and dared not to UTTER a single word against the MASS SLAUGHTER!
I talked to another young Journalist Nadim who warned me , PROVIDED any or whatsoever National Resistance or nationwide Liberation Movement emerges, all Parliamentary parties would stand UNIFIED to DESTROY the Aboriginal Indigenous and Minority communities, the Black Untouchables!
Her you are!
Meanwhile, a demand was made by two members in the Lok Sabha on Friday for sacking of the Union Minister who allegedly tried to "pressurise" a judge of the Madras High Court to sanction anticipatory bail to the accused in a marksheet forgery case.
As soon as the House met for the day, RJD chief Lalu Prasad demanded tabling of the report, sparking protests from BJP members led by Ananth Kumar and Gopinath Munde.
Mr. Prasad was supported by SP leader Mulayam Singh Yadav, even as the members in treasury benches watched silently.
Amid the din, Speaker Meira Kumar ordered that all remarks should be expunged and carried on with the Question Hour.
On the other hand, Anupam Gupta, Counsel for the Commission of Inquiry that went into the Babri Masjid demolition, has said that BJP leader L K Advani is
"Achilles heel" of Justice M S Liberhan and "inputs" suggest that the former Deputy Prime Minister does not not seem to be among those "individually indicted".
It was apparent that he (Justice Liberhan) wanted to "extricate" Advani from the imbroglio of the demolition, Gupta said in an interview to a magazine.
Gupta, who dissociated himself from the Commission more than two years ago following differences with Justice M S Liberhan on his approach to Advani, told the magazine that "based on my decade-long association with Justice Liberhan, I am convinced that Advani is his Achilles heel.
"This, I would vouch for, regardless of what the report might actually say about Advani."
He said the real test of Justice Liberhan's report would be his analysis of L K Advani's role and responsibility in the demolition of the Babri Masjid.
"Initial media reports and other inputs suggest that while other leading lights of the Sangh parivar have been individually indicted, Advani does not not seem to be among them," he said.
I am DISCONNECTED even now as my Telephone number 91-33-25659551 remains DEAD since Sunday Accident in Sodepur. Demonstration and Road Blocked restored electricity and water supply. But Land Line remains EMERGENCY service no more thanks to Telecoms Revolution and SAM PITRODA. My Net is connected by cable. All land line phone numbers with Exchange number 2565 remain dead all along Barasat road in Sodepur and the new Telephone line is required.
Please call me on my Cell Phone 919903717833.
It is heavy load on my Cell Phones as some one or other calls it and the CELL goes off so frequently, please bear with me.
This Morning I was glad to say that ANAND BAZAR Patrica published the Disinvest Agenda details with Graphic presentation of Highlights of the DESTRUCTIVE Economic Survey Presented by Washington Slave and Key Stone of Indian Incorporation Anti people Government. Patrika, of course, emphasised on the CONTINUITY of Reforms and did Celebrate it.
I told my friends in South, Mumbai, New Delhi and GUJARAT that we are rather lucky that Mainstream News daily with a Circulation over 14 lacs published the Economic survey as it is. It would help us to mobilise our people. I was amazed to interact with scores of our people well educated and well placed that they simply SKIPPED the item as none of them happens to be concerned with any Social or Political Liability. They are totally IMMERSED in ACUTE Economism and it is DRUG Addiction of a worse kind!
The state power treats our people SUB HUMAN and denies us of OUR BASIC Human Rights! They love to see us STRIVING, DISPLACED, Unemployed and Confused, They would Never recognise the nationalities and identities. They will never allow the Nature and nature associated people to SURVIVE. All zones of Protest have been handed over to CIA and Mossad. They are FREE to declare ENTIRE Nation DISTURBED as Mrs Indira Gandhi did in 1975 declaring EMERGENCY. They may brand any community TERRORIST as a whole as the did with the SIKHS after Operation blue star and it was ETHNIC CLEANSING SIKH GENOCIDE. They may declare all nationalities and identities EXTREMIST and adopt ZERO TOLERANCE and MILITARY Option as they have done in North east and Kashmir and Danda karany and EXERCISING AFPSA in Lalgarh! They may hand over entire country to Military or United states of America and Israel.
They try their best to INVOKE a HELL in Indian Subcontinent. The DESTINATION is achieved in Pakistan and Srilanka!
Now they tries it in INDIA.
The India Incorporation Government of India and the POLICY makers treat us as CONSUMER deprived of CITIZENSHIP and nationality as well as Identity. They treat us all the people, the HAVE NOTS, deprived of Purchasing power in the OPEN market and retail chain as SUBHUMAN Underclasses and Out castes with a status of Permanent BEGGARS. They just PITY us.
Please BE AWARE of the PITY!
Please Be AWARE of ALMS!
Economic Times and MINT also published the Survey with details along with Business Standard, Financial Times, Hindu Business line and other Economic dailies.
Most of the mainstream English as well as Vernacular Electronic or Print media Diluted the Economic survey and projected only the FLAGSHIP Welfare Programmes!
For Example, The Telegraph skipped the item on front page and rather PUBLISHED a HALF page article by KPS GILL glorifying the Military Option adopted in Assam, Kashmir, Punjab and North East.
Just read the article!
The suspension of common sense and the astonishing embrace of nonsense
Truth about Lalgarh: The Supercop’s series begins today
As I briefly toured West Midnapore district during the police action in Lalgarh (I was prevented from going into the affected area on “security” grounds), the most dramatic lessons of the crisis, through all its phases. ... | Read..
Court rules against gay prejudice
If you’re gay, you may. ... | Read..
The suspension of common sense and the astonishing embrace of nonsense
...Nonsense continues to be given wide publicity, not only by ill-informed ‘intellectuals’, but, astonishingly, by the Marxist party leadership as well, even as the threat’s magnitude is denied...
K.P.S. GILL
Full Scorecard
Shoe-throw sack after 3 months
Jarnail Singh, the journalist who lobbed a shoe at home minister P. Chidambaram in frustration ... | Read.. Simplicity in raw colours of pain
Tyeb Mehta may have shot to international fame when his Mahisasura, painted in 1997, won the ... | Read..
The suspension of common sense and the astonishing embrace of nonsense
http://www.telegraphindia.com/section/frontpage/index.jsp
Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee's budget proposals presented in the Lok Sabha on Friday did not include private sector participation in running of passenger trains on tourist routes, as suggested by the Economic Survey 2008-09.
"Private entry into provision of passenger trains must be allowed to and from all the tourist destinations," the survey tabled in Parliament a day earlier had said.
"About a dozen tourist routes could be identified and a single licence issued to private companies to provide passenger service to one or all routes," it added.
The Indian Railways have allowed the entry of private companies to run luxury trains like the Palace on Wheels, Royal Rajasthan on Wheels and Deccan Odyssey to specific locations.
These trains are operated in partnership with the state governments on a revenue-sharing basis.
Ms. Banerjee, however, is in favour of the public-private partnership (PPP) model for setting up of electric multiple units (EMU) factory, development of integrated commercial complexes, modernisation of Railways' printing presses and setting up of logistics parks.
Meanwhile, Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee accused Chhatradhar Mahato of providing “an open platform” to Maoists in Lalgarh and backed his home secretary who had said the tribal leader should be arrested.
“Chhatradhar Mahato is not a Maoist but his People’s Committee Against Police Atrocities is providing an open platform to the Maoists to carry on their activities in Lalgarh,” the chief minister told the Assembly today.
Mahato had said if the government wanted talks with the Lalgarh tribals, they should drop plans to arrest him and pull out the security forces from the area. His statement came two days after home secretary Ardhendu Sen said Mahato should be arrested. Sen also ruled out talks.
Bhattacharjee said: “There was nothing wrong in the home secretary’s statement when he said Mahato was not officially connected with Maoists.” But still, Mahato would be arrested, the chief minister said.
While Mamata Bannerjee was busy in Railway Budget, West Bengal assembly has witnessed an uproar over the arrest of human rights activist Medha Patkar near Debra in West Midnapore district.
Opposition leader and Trinamool Congress MLA Partha Chatterjee raised a point of order and questioned the arrest of Medha. "How can the government arrest her at Debra which is about 80 kilometre from Lalgarh," asked Chatterjee.
He also demanded immediate release of the rights activist and said that the government had already established a reign of terror and was trying to suppress all the protests against state-sponsored terrorism.
Police sources said that Medha along with her followers had a plan to go to Lalgarh where police action against the Maoists was still on and where prohibitory order under section 144 Cr.PC was still in force.
Meanwhile, the SUCI, an ally of Trinamool Congress condemned the arrest of Medha. SUCI state secretary Provas Ghosh has said in a statement that the police had resorted to lathicharge at Debra in which a number of journalists received serious injuries.
Ghosh also demanded withdrawal of police action in Lalgarh.
The fire brand politician reincarnated as the Indian Railway Minister, Mamata Banerjee presented her third budget in the Parliament and took on the challenge of Public Private Partnership head on. Indian Railways is looking at developing 50 world class stations as public private partnership projects. In addition she proposes to set up committees to turn social projects into economically viable proposition. The strength of her Budget speech this year is perhaps best assessed on the parameters of global-local approach and the profits that show up in Indian Railways’ balance sheet next year. On the other hand,Dismissing Mamata Banerjee's Railway Budget as "impractical", RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav said it was based on "his achievements" when he was at the helm.Lalu added that he had questioned the need for issuing a white paper on the situation of the ministry during his tenure.
BJP on Friday described the Railway Budget as "unrealistic and based on fantasy" and accused Railway Minister Mamata Bannerjee of ignoring vital aspects like security and expansion activities.
Terming it a “mixed’ railway budget, West Bengal’s ruling Left Front chairman Biman Bose criticised the privatisation schemes introduced in the new budgetary plans by Railways Minister Mamata Banerjee Friday.
“It’s a mixed budget and the thrust is on more and more privatisation. We are opposed to rampant privatisation schemes,” Bose told reporters in Kolkata.
He said: “As far as I know, there’s been no mention in the railway budget about more than 125 projects which are now pending with the railways. The minister also has not mentioned anything about filling up the existing vacancies in the railways.
“As this budget, tabled for the current financial year, is signalling a growth of privatisation in the Indian railways, I think it would not be very good for our future.”
Senior Communist Party of India (CPI) leader and member of Lok Sabha from West Bengal Gurudas Dagupta said that Banerjee had scrupulously followed privatisation policy of the union government.
“For the first time, the railway land, which is the land for people, will be used for joint venture and private sector business.
“She is introducing privatisation in every sphere of the railways. It’s a prelude to gripping privatisation of the Indian Railways,” Dasgupta added.
While the communists opposed Banerjee’s railway budget, the Congress leaders in the state welcomed it saying the minister has presented a “pro-people budget”.
“We’re happy to announce that Mamata Banerjee today (Friday) has placed a historic and a pro-people budget,” state Congress Legislative Party (CLP) leader Manas Bhuniya told reporters in Kolkata.
Trinamool Congress senior leader Partha Chattopadhyay also appreciated the budget. He said Banerjee has successfully lived up to the expectations of the common people who had reposed their faith in her in the recent-concluded Lok Sabha elections.
“This budget will not only benefit West Bengal alone but it will help the entire nation in terms of developing connectivity. She (Banerjee) has given equal attention to all aspects of the railways irrespective of any particular region,” Chattopadhyay said.
The most credible introduction to the Railway Minister comes from none other than Rahul Gandhi. The Gandhi icon said, Mamata is a people’s person- not that Ratan Tata would be ready to vouch for Rahul’s word on Mamata. What stays undisputed however is that the veteran politician’s most significant personality streak is ‘populism’. Yes, Mamata Banerjee is a populist leader and hence the right person to push UPA’s ‘aam aadmi’ agenda- within the constraints of budget outlays that is. She is also the right person to cut Left forces to size- a fact duly established in just concluded General Elections.
As for the railways, Banerjee promised a judicious mix of austerity, social justice and sops and seems to have missed out on balanced regional impetus. Nevertheless Banerjee’s 60% concession to students; emphasis on ‘Janta khana’; train tickets disbursement from 5000 post offices; mobile ticket vending machines- all these establish beyond doubt that the lady keeps a tab on the pulse of the masses.
Not long back Mamata Banerjee was considered as a ‘political oddball’, says a BBC report. Tata’s Nano and the battle that ensued in Singur almost proved to be a rebirth for her.
Friday, July 03, 2009
Mamata to develop 50 world class stations on PPP basis
Mamata to develop 50 world class stations on PPP basis
Budget 2009: The complete coverage
No increase in passenger or freight fares; SMS updates for passengers on waiting list; 60% concession to students, new point to point fast trains and 50 world class stations are the high points of the Railway Budget 2009. Banerjee presented her third budget in the Parliament on Friday after a gap of eight years.
Highlights of Railway Budget 2009:
1.25 pm: Mamata Banerjee concludes Railway Budget 2009; Parliament to debate and pass it before July 31st
1.24 pm: No increase in passenger or freight fares
1.20 pm: Yuva Trains for youngsters at Rs 200 for 1500 km distance
1.18 pm: 12 new point to point non- stop ‘Turanto’ fast trains announced from - New Howrah-Mumbai; Chennai-Delhi; Delhi-Pune; Howrah-Delhi; Kolkata-Amritsar
1.15 pm: Mamata’s world class stations to include - Pune, Howrah, Nagpur, CST Mumbai, New Delhi, Lucknow, Amritsar, Tirupati, Bangalore, Bhopal, Goa Junction, Matura, Mangalore, Kochi, Chandigarh, Chennai
1.10 pm: SMS updates for passengers on waiting list
1.05 pm: 60 % fare concession for all students
1.00 pm: ‘Turanto’ – a new point to point train announced
12.59 pm: Scheme Izzat: Rs 25 monthly passes for 100 km train travel
12.57 pm: AC- double decker coaches for inter-city trains
12.55 pm: Delhi-Mumbai industrial corridor to be constructed like the Trade corridor
12.54 pm: Aircraft like toilets in every train that goes beyond two hours
12. 47 pm: Integrated security system at 150 sensitive stations
12. 46 pm: MPs invited to identify locations for computerized ticket vending spots
12.45 pm: At least one doctor on every long distance train
12. 44 pm: Expert committees to look into economic viability of social projects
12.42 pm: Review of Centre- State cost sharing of Railway projects
12.42 pm: Train tickets from 5000 post offices
12.40 pm: 800 new locations for ticket reservations
12. 35 pm: Multi-functional facilities like bookstores and STD booths to be made available at train stations
12.32 pm: Automated laundries, ticket vending machines on cards
12.32 pm: Automated laundries, ticket vending machines on cards
12.29 pm: Multi-functional compelexes at 29 stations
12.25 pm: 50 World Class stations including Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata
12.25 pm: Priority to Tier II cities
12.21 pm: Indian Railways must set an example in terms of inclusive growth
12.19 pm: Mamata: Railway Budget 2009 will be of the people; for the people and by the people
12.15 pm: Mamata tables her third Railway Budget in Parliament
12.04 PM: Banerjee expected to strike balance between austerity, amenities and new projects
11.30 am: Mamata reaches Parliament to set the ball rolling for Railway Budget 2009
Highlights of 2009 Railway Budget:
Headlines
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Mamata’s blueprint: Populist, but not popular enough
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What Mamata missed out on? Mumbai’s lifeline
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Railway budget socially desirable: Banerjee
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No increase in passenger rail fares, slew of sops in Rly budget
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Lalu has got it all wrong, Mamata corrects numbers
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Janata Khana to have national and regional cuisines
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Journalists to get 50 per cent concession in trains
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Rail tickets to be available at mobile vans, post offices
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Duronto' train services for metros, major state capitals
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PM hails Mamata, says budget will make train journey enjoyable
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50 Railway stations to have world-class amenities
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Mamata's populist Budget: No increase in fares
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Railway budget socially desirable: Banerjee
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New scheme 'Izzat' proposed for low income group travel
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Mamata prefers 'jhola' for carrying railway budget papers
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Mamata reaches Parliament to present Railway Budget 2009
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Budget 2009: The complete coverage
Reactions
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PM hails Mamata, says budget will make train journey enjoyable
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BJP slams rail budget; Cong says it is pro-people
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Mamata, Lalu take pot-shots at each other over Rail Budget
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Sensex surges over 254 pts on soft Rail Budget
Videos
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Lalu on what he expects from Mamata
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FM projections, industry wish-list & more
Image gallery
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Mamata Banerjee's pre-Budget photo call
Message Boards
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Rank Mamata's budget on a scale of 1 to 10
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http://news.in.msn.com/business/budget2009/article.aspx?cp-documentid=3069015
Mamata's white paper will expose Lalu: Nitish
Patna (PTI) Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Friday said Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee's promise to bring out a white paper on the present financial status of the Railways would 'expose' her predecessor, Lalu Prasad.
It would unravel the truth behind his claims that the Railways earned huge profits successively during his five-year tenure, Mr. Kumar, a former railway minister, told reporters.
"The decline shown in the cash surplus and increase in the operating ratio from 70 to 92.5 per cent proposed for the current fiscal will bring to the light the facts relating to the Railways earning profits," Mr. Kumar said.
Mr. Kumar had earlier demanded a probe into alleged jugglery of figures in profits shown between 2004 and 2009.
He also appreciated Ms. Banerjee for scaling down targets of Railways and promising realistically.
"It is clear departure from Lalu Prasad's budgetary speeches which remained a bundle of promises much beyond the targets possible to be achieved," he said.
Mr. Kumar was averse to the continuation of the 'Tatkal' scheme with Ms. Banerjee proposing to reduce the period of advance booking of tickets under the scheme from five days to two days.
Mr. Kumar also called for early completion of all the pending rail projects in Bihar.
"Banerjee's vision 2020 for railways is based on the achievements made during my five year's stint as Railway Minister," he said.
When asked if she read out a budget presented by him earlier, Prasad said, "She did not present the right budget of Lalu."
Faulting Banerjee's decision to run double-decker trains and start new non-stop point to point (Duronto) train services he said, "They are impractical."
Reacting sharply to Banerjee's decision of issuing a white paper, Prasad said, "I do not know what is in her mind but there will be confusion due to this white paper thin.This is shortsightedness. But what fear one can have when he is right."
"Have I committed any fraud or is there any stealth that I should fear. Nothing was hidden in railway budgets for five years that I presented. They were studied by IIM, Ahmedabad, audited by CAG as also Railways. But if any body has any confusion, he can correct it," he added.
Prasad also accused Banerjee of discriminating against Bihar, saying that railway stations of his states do not figure in the list of model stations or the route of Duronto trains as announced in the rail budget.
Lalu says Mamata 'has a complex'
New Delhi (PTI) Out in the cold in the new dispensation, RJD chief Lalu Prasad on Friday sought to embarrass Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee on the rail budget saying she had used his achievements in the Ministry to build her case.
Mr. Prasad, the former Railway Minister who was not preferred by the Congress leadership in the new government, also accused her of neglecting Bihar in the budget.
In a combative mood, Mr. Prasad said he was not bothered by the Minister's declaration of coming out with a white paper on the organisational, operational and financial situation and performance of Railways in the past five years when Mr. Prasad was at the helm.
"This is not an embarrassment (that a white paper is coming out). Let her bring out white paper. I am not bothered," he told reporters after Ms. Banerjee presented the rail budget in Lok Sabha.
"Is this a budget? She has just read out what I had announced during my stint...She suffers from a complex," he said.
Mr. Prasad claimed there was "nothing new" in the budget and that she had just read out what he had prepared during his stint. "She has used my achievements as a base to build her vision," he said.
Maoists issue double blast reminder to state
PRONAB MONDAL
Policemen at a blast site near the Binpur I BDO’s office on Thursday. Picture by Sanjoy Chattopadhyaya
Lalgarh, July 2: Suspected Maoists today detonated two improvised explosive devices barely a hundred metres from the office of the Binpur I block development officer hours before two state government secretaries were to hold a meeting.
The two simultaneous blasts in Lalgarh town — the devices were planted at the side of a metalled road leading from Jhitka forest to the town — at 7.30am did not cause injuries but startled the administration that has 900 state and central security personnel deployed in the area right now.
A policeman standing nearby was so startled that he involuntarily pulled the trigger releasing a bullet.
“We are investigating how the IEDs was planted so close to the BDO’s office,” said Praveen Kumar, DIG, Midnapore range. “They may have been planted last night as the area had been sanitised by the police and nothing had been found.”
Police sources said though patrolling had been done routinely, there was no police posting in that area last night.
The police said the IEDs were detonated by Maoists who were hiding in bushes about 200m away. They could have fled into the Jhitka forest.
“This has been a serious lapse and we have to be more careful at night,” said a police officer.
“The Maoists obviously took advantage of the situation and detonated the IEDs to drive home two messages. One, that it would be hazardous to dismiss them lightly and that they are still a force to reckon with. Second, that they are opposed to the government’s efforts to start development work here.”
The meeting of two state government secretaries was, however, held at the BDO’s office as scheduled. “Our schedule was not upset by the blasts,” said Sourav Das, the secretary of the public health engineering department. “The blasts were meant to create panic among the people.”
Two other senior officers, Subrata Gupta, the managing director of the West Bengal Industrial Development Corporation, and revenue secretary C.M. Bachawat, who were sent to Lalgarh to check on the progress of irrigation projects, travelled to different areas in mine-protected vehicles.
Immediately after the blasts, 400 central police personnel fanned out in the Jhitka forest. The troops combed the jungles in the rain right up to Kantapahari, covering a stretch of 6km. No Maoist was caught.
In Lalgarh, the police increased security after the blasts and put up checkposts where cars were stopped and searched.
In Bankura, an IED wrapped in plastic was found at Tantidanga on the Piralgari-Sarenga road near Sarenga police station this afternoon, reports our special correspondent.
Local residents alerted a police team this afternoon after spotting a device with wires sticking out of it.
Yesterday, three kilograms of explosives packed in a metal container was found planted at Khayerpahari.
After yesterday’s find, a n anti-sabotage drive was carried out by the police from dawn to dusk today.
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1090703/jsp/bengal/story_11190548.jsp
Friday, July 03, 2009
Mayawati at it again; Fresh trouble for Varun Gandhi over hate speeches
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Mayawati at it again; Fresh trouble for Varun Gandhi over hate speeches
Lucknow: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Varun Gandhi's reported hate speeches have landed him in fresh trouble with the Uttar Pradesh government Friday sanctioning legal action against him for promoting communal disharmony.
"We have given the nod to the Pilibhit district administration to start proceedings against Varun under the Section 153 A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) that deals with promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language etc., and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony," a state home department official told IANS.
The approval for initiating legal penal action against Varun Gandhi, who courted controversy with his alleged hate speeches during the run-up to the recent Lok Sabha elections, was taken after consulting experts of the law department, he added.
According to police, a charge sheet was prepared against Varun Gandhi after forensic experts confirmed that three CDs of the speeches he allegedly delivered in his constituency in March were genuine.
Friday, July 03, 2009
Tata Motors to drive in Nano to Africa in 2010
Abuja, Nigeria: Tata Motors, India's largest auto maker, will introduce its small car Nano - considered the world's cheapest - in Nigeria within next 18 months, ahead of its planned launch in Europe.
The car would be available for about NGN 360 for the base model, same as the price in the Indian markets. The car carries a price tag of Rs 1.23 lakh to Rs 1.72 lakh (ex-showroom) in the Indian capital for three variants.
"Tata Motors will make the Nano available in Nigeria in the next one year to one and a half years," a senior official of Tata Africa Nigeria, Sudeep Ray, said.
"The launching of the Nano was branded everyman behind the wheel and will benefit Nigerians much as public transport systems like metro are not available here.
"The car (Nano) will cost NGN 357,480 (about Rs 1.16 lakh) in Nigeria, which is much less than the price of most second hand saloon cars sold here," Ray said. The cost of an used car usually starts at NGN 500,000 in the country.
Ray, however, declined to give details whether the 'cheapest' car of the world be assembled in Nigeria or it would be sold as a completely-built-unit.
A Tata Motors spokesperson from India said: "The company has said that the Tata Nano can be marketed in other countries, but timelines, modes and countries are yet to be finalised."
Earlier in March, Tata Motors had showcased the European version of the Nano, which the company planned to launch by 2011.
Conceived in 2003, Tata Motors had launched the much- hyped 'cheapest' car in India on March 23 this year. The car has cost over Rs 2,000 crore to the company.
Tata cars, buses and trucks are being marketed in many countries in Europe, Africa, Middle East, South Asia, South East Asia and Latin America.
Budget 09’s possible impact on personal finance?
July 3rd, 2009
For the actual event we need to wait till the first week of July 09 and the wishes are innumerable for a few columns of print, though we have attempted to present a handful in one of the earlier posts. In this post we take a look at what the industry and experts have to say regarding what can be expected out of the upcoming budgetary speech in the first week of July 09 from the perspective of personal finance.
There are wishes and there are expectations and then there are events. For the actual event we need to wait till the first week of July 09 and the wishes are innumerable for a few columns of print, though we have attempted to present a handful in one of the earlier posts. In this post we take a look at what the industry and experts have to say regarding what can be expected out of the upcoming budgetary speech in the first week of July 09 from the perspective of personal finance.
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Personal Income Tax
Changes are expected to increase the minimum slab for income tax charges. Rs. 2.5 L seems to be the figure in the minds of the decision makers. Also the tax benefit from Section 80C investments may be increased to Rs. 2 L from the present Rs.1 L . An infrastructure supporting investment may be part of this 2 L limit.
The Pension Development and Regulatory is also lobbying to get tax benefits for investment in the New Pension Plan.
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Insurance Sector
The IRDA is aggressive in its reforms process by itself. It has recently passed regulations to make sales persons support the customers throughout the term of the insurance plan by linking their long term commissions to the services offered.
As such the budget may only have to talk about increasing the investment limits of the foreign partners. Are there talks of LIC going public soon? Now, that can be a big step in a positive direction in this budget, as implementation could take a couple of years.
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Savings Schemes
Typical Government sponsored savings schemes are the EPF and Postal Savings. Both these need changes. EPF has fixed this year’s rate at 8.5%. EPF office has said that all their reserves have been exhausted and hence cannot increase their payout rates. Postal savings had been at 8.5% for a long time now (Investment doubling in 8 years and 6 months). Their investment portfolio and management has always been a mystery.
Transparency is the need of the hour as well as there needs to be a conscious avoidance of recurrence of anything like the US64 Scheme of the erstwhile Unit Trust of India. This situation has been avoided in the NPS, it being a Unit Based Scheme. It is probably the right time now, in a down turn, to make these corpuses open to transparent & professional management.
http://msn.bankbazaar.com/guide/budget-09s-possible-impact-on-personal-finance/
Friday, July 03, 2009
Gas dispute: Anil Ambani moves SC against Mukesh's RIL
Mumbai: Anil Ambani group company RNRL Friday moved the Supreme Court seeking modification in the Bombay High Court order to make binding the gas supply from Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Industries.
RNRL moved the Supreme Court two days after RIL said it would move the apex court on the Bombay High Court order that upheld Anil Ambani group's plea for 28 mmscmd of gas at a rate of $2.34 mmbtu but asked the two sides to negotiate an agreement for this.
"After categorically ruling in our favour, court cannot ask us again to sit down with a party which is not willing to sit across...Not now, or even in the past," Reliance Natural Resources lawyer Mukul Rohatgi told reporters her.
He said a special leave petition has been filed challenging the last part of the high court order asking RNRL to "again negotiate" after "ruling in our favour in terms of price of gas, tenure and quantity".
Thursday, July 02, 2009
Left Front routed in municipal polls in West Bengal
Kolkata: Close on the heels of the Lok Sabha election reverses, the Marxist bastion in West Bengal crumbled further on Wednesday with Trinamool Congress and Congress combine winning 13 municipalities among 16 that went to the polls on Sunday.
Nine of these municipalities were under the Left control, while six were under Congress and Trinamool Congress.
A new municipality was created at Dankuni in Hooghly district.
The CPI(M)-led Left Front managed to win in only three and that too in a tough contest.
Trinamool Congress wrested key municipalities like Asansol Municipal Corporation, Dum Dum, South Dum Dum, Uluberia, Mahestala, Madhyamgram and Rajpur-Sonarpur in south Bengal districts which were traditionally Left strongholds.
In a ward in Dum Dum, Left Front lost for the first time in 48 years while it had last lost in Asansol in 1980.
Trinamool along with Congress retained control in Kulti and Egra municipalities, while Congress held sway over the Kaliaganj and Islampur civic bodies in north Bengal.
The Left Front won in Rajarhat-Gopalpur in the eastern fringes of the city, Gangarampur in South Dinajpur and Mal in Jalpaiguri district, with the last having been wrested from a Congress-Trinamool board.
The CPI(M) also retained the Siliguri Mahukuma Parishad defeating Congress-Trinamool alliance by 4-3 seats.
The Trinamool Congress also won a by-election to Kolkata Corporation's ward no 63 which fell vacant after the death of TC leader and former Union Minister Ajit Panja.
An upbeat Trinamool chief Mamata Banerjee said: "The CPI(M) government should draw a lesson from this verdict and step down. Despite their terror, the people have once again supported us within one and half month of the Lok Sabha poll."
An unexpected reaction came maverick CPI(M) leader and Transport Minister Subhas Chakraborty who said: "Can anyone cling to power forcibly if the people don't not want it?"
State Congress working president Subrata Mukherjee said the Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee government "should quit accepting the people's verdict".
The Assembly elections in West Bengal are due in 2011.
Friday, July 03, 2009
Fuel price hike impact: Truckers to up rentals 6 to 12%
New Delhi: The increase in diesel prices has raised truckers' operational costs 4 to 8 per cent, depending on the age and make of the truck. Diesel and tyres constitute 90 per cent of a truck's operating expenses on inter-state operations. Truck transport accounts for 78 per cent of good transported across India.
The rest may follow next week. "Truck rentals might go up 10 to 12 per cent probably from Monday," said Sanjiv Khanna, owner of a mid-sized Delhi-based transport company Delhi Modinagar Exp Transport.
There are doubts, however, whether truckers will be able to sustain this price rise. "How much the market, which is already in the midst of a slowdown, will be able to sustain this rise remains to be seen," said S P Singh, coordinator, Indian Foundation of Transport Research and Training.
Operators agree. "With diesel prices going up, operational costs have increased but the rise in rentals may not be huge owing to the slowdown in demand, " said Chiranjeet Singh, president, All India Motor Transport Congress, a truckers' association.
"Input costs have gone up, but a rise in prices will depend on market forces," added Chittaranjan Dass, vice-president of another truckers' lobby, the All India Confederation of Goods Vehicle Owners Association.
Truck rentals dropped 4 to 6 per cent over the May 6 to June 5 period on trunk routes owing to sharp declines agri-produce cargo and the tapering off the wheat procurement season.Agri-produce accounts for over 40 per cent of goods transported by truck.
Business Standard
Friday, July 03, 2009
Conversion, reconversion led to Kandhamal riots: Commission
Bhubaneswar: Conversion and re-conversion were among the major factors which led to the riots in Orissa's Kandhamal district last year, a judicial commission probing the violence has said.
"Sources of the violence were deeply rooted in land disputes, conversion and re-conversion and fake certificate issues," Justice S C Mohapatra, heading the one-man panel, said in his interim report on the violence in Kandhamal which claimed 43 lives besides damaging many houses and churches.
He, however, did not elaborate on the conversions and reconversions issue.
"Suspicion among the scheduled tribe and scheduled caste inhabitants of Kandhamal is the main cause of riots with the tribals suspecting that 'Pano' dalits were capturing their land through fraudulent means," Justice Mohapatra said.
Besides the issues of land and conversion and re-conversion, Justice Mohapatra said fake certificates were another major factor that created discontent among Kandha tribals who constitute 52 per cent of Kandhamal's population.
Justice Mohapatra, who submitted the interim report on July 1, said the government should take steps immediately to remove differences between the communities.
"I know it will take at least two years to complete inquiry, but interim report will help the government to make immediate intervention," he said.
Justice Mohapatra said in his 28-page report that most Kandha tribals were uneducated and were under the impression that quotas meant for them were being availed of by 'Pana' dalits, who were Christians.
This was another factor behind tribal anger, he said suggesting the state government expedite freeing of tribal land in possession of non-tribals, take up fake certificate cases and remain vigilant to conversion and re-conversion.
"Once the basic issues are addressed, the Kandhamal problem could be solved," he said.
Replying to a question, Justice Mohapatra said he had not blamed anybody for the violence in the interim report.
Sources, however, said the commission which was set up on September 3 last year could fix responsibility for the violence on any organisation or government body.
In the interim report, Justice Mohapatra had not blamed any religious body or the CPI (Maoist) which claimed responsibility for killing of VHP leader Laxmananda Saraswati on August 23 last year.
Killing of Saraswati and four of his associates had triggered large-scale violence in Kandhamal which evoked condemnation from many quarters in the country and abroad.
Friday, July 03, 2009
Air India employees walk out of work for two hours
New Delhi/Mumbai: Notwithstanding a warning by Air India management, employees of the national carrier "walked out" of work for two hours this afternoon as part of their nationwide protest against delayed payment of salaries.
The protest, called by Aviation Industry Employees Guild (AIEG), Air Corporation Employees Union (ACEU) and some other unions, saw employees coming out of their offices in Delhi and Mumbai and stage demonstrations from one pm besides threatening to boycott their meetings with the management.
Around 300 employees, carrying red flags, assembled infront of the old terminal shouting slogans in Delhi against the management and demanding immediate payment of salaries.
"The government cannot defer the salary as per Payment of Wages Act. It must pay the salary by July ten. The compnay is not following rules and regulations and taking decisions which is not in the interests of employees," J B Kadiyan, General Secretary of ACEU, said.
In Mumbai, AIEG General Secretary, George Abraham, said, "We are staging a walk-out and demonstration for two hours as the management has failed to honour its commitment given to the unions to pay our June salaries by today."
There were no reports of disruption of AI services from the airport due to the protest.
The workers went ahead with their strike despite a Staff Notice issued earlier in the day by AI warning that "any participation in the illegal strike would be viewed seriously and appropriate action, including deduction of wages and withdrawal of Productivity-Linked Incentive till further orders, will be taken." .
Warning them of "firm" action if flights were disrupted and passengers inconvenienced, the staff notice said the agitation by the Joint Action Forum would violate the Industrial Disputes Act and "tantamount to illegal strike".
Thursday night, AI CMD Arvind Jadhav had written to the employees that besides wages and salary payments every month, fuel and bank liabilities like interest and principal payments, have to be paid on time.
However, the unions blamed the management of "going back on their word" to pay the salaries by Friday.
The unions had called off their proposed strike on June 30 after the management agreed to pay salaries of 70 per cent of workers by Friday. They were protesting the earlier decision of the management to defer the June salary by the middle of this month.
Kadiyan alleged that the company is being "damaged systematically by certain vested interests who want to sell Air India off. This we will never allow."
He also demanded a CBI enquiry into the Air India's plan to buy 68 aircraft for Rs 6,000 crore when its annual budget is Rs 7,000 crore.
"The total budget of Air India is Rs 7,000 crore and then why it decided to buy aircraft worth Rs 6,000 crore. Air India has plans to purchase 24 aircraft and Indian Airlines has plan to buy 43 aircraft. But later Air India changed its fleet plan and within 24 weeks firmed a plan to buy 68 aircraft," he said.
I have done everything for all the states: Mamata
Diptosh Majumdar / CNN-IBN
Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday presented a people-friendly Budget leaving passenger fares and freight charges unchanged. She also introduced over 50 new trains and new ticket schemes. In an exclusive interview to CNN-IBN's National Affairs Editor Diptosh Majumdar, Mamata explained that she tried to please every part of the country.
Diptosh Majumdar: Lalu Prasad has not liked your Budget. Do you think Bihar was getting pampered because of successive ministers from the state, and that you have changed that pattern?
Mamata Banerjee (speaking in Hindi): No, no. We are like brother and sister. Every state we consider our neighbouring… sometimes one gets less and sometimes more. We balance it out. I like Bihar -- Laluji, Nitish Kumar, Sharad Yadav -- I love all of them.
Diptosh Majumdar: What about the fact that you seem to be coming closer to the Gandhi family today? You remembered Rajiv Gandhi in your speech; you have given lot for Rai Bareli.
Mamata Banerjee: I have not given anything. The leaders of the country cannot say give me this and that but you have to take care of all. I have given so many trains to Northeast--Prime Minister's constituency is there. For Pranab Mukherjee I gave Farakka-Delhi (train).
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Full text: Railways Budget 2009
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Railway Budget 2009: Full coverage
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Highlights: Rail Budget 2009
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Tell us: What can be done to make trains safer?
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Photogallery: Rail Minister gives Budget speech
There are some people who are working day and night for the country and you have to take care of them. It is not they will ask you… it's for you to decide.
Diptosh Majumdar: How much is Prime Minister involved in your Budget making?
Mamata Banerjee: All… without his blessing how can I do all this. I am very grateful and obliged to him.
Diptosh Majumdar: What do you have to say to your critics who say West Bengal has benefited from you?
Mamata Banerjee: I have 20 MPs. We are the first allies of this government. I have given all the seats to all the states. For 15 days I worked day and night up to morning 4 O' clock. I have done everything for all the states, wherever the opportunity is there.
And after doing work for all states if I don't do anything for my state then I will lose face.
I am very outspoken and I am very transparent. I said one project for my constituency.
Diptosh Majumdar: More than 100 municipal elections are coming up in West Bengal. How many are you going to win? 90? That is what your people are saying.
Mamata Banerjee: It will be a sweep, a complete sweep. Maa, maati, manush (will win). Two words are very common in this word: maa or mother, two maati or soil. My motherland--maati means motherland. Manush is human being.
Diptosh Majumdar: How long will the Railway Minister remain a Minister in Delhi? Will she give two budgets or three?
Mamata Banerjee: I cannot say all these things… there is no reply to ifs and buts--but I will continue to work for the people till I am alive.
http://ibnlive.in.com/news/i-have-done-everything-for-all-the-states-mamata/96284-37.html
ET Now and Times Now to present live Budget09
Times Audience Network, the online video arm of the Times Group, will be simulcasting the live budget feed for ET Now and Times Now on July 6. It
will be a never-done-before event in the Indian electronic medium's history with TAN coming together with Microsoft, Facebook, Akamai and the television properties of the Times Group.
Users will get live coverage of both ET Now and Times Now as well as on-demand videos, live news feeds, special updates and will also be able to interact with Facebook friends--all from a single show window. And with Facebook Connect and Live Stream Box, they will be able to take part in real-time conversations with their favourite TV anchors. The event will be hosted at http://budgetlive.economictimes.com
"We're pleased to collaborate with the Times Group on their coverage of the national budget," said Meenal Balar, International Marketing Manager at Facebook. "As discussions in New Delhi get under way, we hope Indians will share their comments and opinions with their friends on Facebook."
Sanjay Sinha, Director - Enterprise Evangelism, Microsoft India says, "Users will experience unique features such as on-demand videos, picture-in-picture feature to watch highlights while watching the live stream, powered by Silverlight." The event will be powered by Akamai, the global leader in live and on-demand streaming delivery. Sanjay Singh, MD, Akamai India, says they can "guarantee that viewers will get a flawless, high quality, live streaming experience."
Sunil Rajshekhar, TIMES INTERNET LIMITED, President and COO, says, with the Live Budget show, we'll be bringing together the strengths of industry leaders in the content and technology space.The event is a continuation of our leadership and innovation in the online video space. It also marks the entry of ETNow onto TAN and will help expand our efforts in proliferating rich media consumption."
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