Modi launches Jan Dhan Yojana; Rs 30K life insurance cover for A/Cs opened till 26 Jan

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday launched Jan Dhan Yojana, a mega financial inclusion plan under which bank accounts and RuPay debit cards with inbuilt insurance cover of Rs 1 lakh will be provided to crores of persons with no access to formal banking facilities.

The scheme seeks to provide two accounts to 7.5 crore identified households by August 2018.

A film on 'Financial Inclusion' was screened and the Prime Minister unveiled a Logo and a Mission Document on Financial Inclusion. He has dedicated the mobile banking facility on the basic mobile phone (USSD) to the nation.

Addressing the function, PM Modi said that it is a big record in the history of the banking as well as the insurance sector which has never seen account opening and accidental insurance of 1.5 crore people in a single day.

Modi said that Rs 30 thousand extra life insurance cover will be given for account opened till 26 January.

Stating that economy plays an important role to fight poverty, the PM stressed upon the need to remove financial untouchability to eradicate poverty.

PM lamented that even after 68 years of independence, 68 percent of population is not connected with banking and said that bank account opening is a step towards joining economic mainstream.

Banking for all is the first step in making the poor a part of country's economic growth, he added.

Prior to PM's address, Finance minister Arun Jaitley said that over 10 crore people have no bank account and thus they have no savings.

Thanking the ministries in the Government for their efforts in making this project successful, Jaitley said that the government will strive to cover 7.2 crore families by January 2015.

The PMJDY has been conceived as a national mission on financial inclusion with the objective of covering all households in the country with banking facilities and having a bank account for each household.

The main features of the PMJDY scheme include Rs 5,000 overdraft facility for Aadhar-linked accounts, RuPay Debit Card with inbuilt Rs 1 lakh accident insurance cover and minimum monthly renumeration of Rs 5,000 to business correspondents who will provide the last link between the account holders and the bank.

The first phase of the mission, starting this month, would end in August next year.

The second phase will start from 2015 till 2018, covering aspects such as micro insurance and pension schemes like 'Swavalamban'.

Some of the Phase II activities would also be carried out in Phase I. In addition, the coverage of households in hilly, tribal and difficult areas would be carried out.

While the existing banking network would be geared up to open bank accounts of the uncovered households in both rural and urban areas, the banking sector would be expanding itself to set up an additional 50,000 Business correspondents, more than 7,000 branches and more than 20,000 new ATMs in the first phase, a release said.
 

The Narendra Modi govt's intent to upgrade skills of the youth through a slew of measures has been welcomed, but much more needs to be done.

 

As he addressed the nation from the Red Fort on India's 68th Independence Day, skill development was high on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's priority list. He spoke passionately about the vision for a skilled India, repeatedly calling upon the youth of the nation and resolving to enhance skill development at a rapid pace.

"If we have to promote the development of our country, then our mission has to be skill development and skilled India. Millions of Indian youth should go for acquisitio ..

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As he addressed the nation from the Red Fort on India's 68th Independence Day, skill development was high on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's priority list. He spoke passionately about the vision for a skilled India, repeatedly calling upon the youth of the nation and resolving to enhance skill development at a rapid pace.

"If we have to promote the development of our country, then our mission has to be skill development and skilled India. Millions of Indian youth should go for acquisitio ..

Read more at:
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/41043369.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst

jjjjjhhhhhe addressed the nation from the Red Fort on India's 68th Independence Day, skill development was high on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's priority list. He spoke passionately about the vision for a skilled India, re

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PM lays foundation of Rs 4000 crore SEZ at JNPT

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday laid the foundation stone of the much awaited Rs 4000 crore port based SEZ (Special Economic Zone) at JNPT (Jawarhar Lal Nehru Port Trust) at Navi Mumbai.

The Prime Minister also laid the foundation of a Rs 1926.57 crore port connectivity highway project along with the allocation of land for project affected persons.

While inaugurating the project, Modi said that his govt is ready to welcome FDI into shipbuilding. He also emphasised upon the importance of the coastal highway (Sagarmala) project and location of upcoming airports near big ports in order to facilitate trade.

Addressing the media after the inauguration ceremony, Modi also reiterated his stand on his 'make in India policy'.

Meanwhile, it is learnt that the SEZ project will be completed within a time frame of three years.

Govt against high taxation; both pro-business, pro-poor: FM

Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Saturday said the Narendra Modi government does not believe in a high taxation regime but is being pro-business and pro-poor at the same time.

Addressing a BJP function here, Jaitley said there is nothing wrong in being "pro-business" as the country wants investments for better economic growth which in turn will lead to job creation and higher revenue for the government.

"Unless government gets revenue, it cannot build infrastructure and service the welfare schemes for the poor. By being pro-business and pro-poor, I am not contradicting but both have to exist at the same time," Jaitley said.

On retrospective taxation which the past government had brought in thus spooking investors, Jaitley said the imposition of the retrospective tax created a negative sentiment about the country.

"If your taxation policy is so fragile then there is no authenticity to your economic and tax policies. The UPA government had pushed the country to this situation," he said, adding that the present dispensation is not a "high taxation government".

aitley blamed the high inflation for the low savings rate.

"Last year, during the UPA regime, the savings rate declined to 30 percent from 33 percent. There is a need to incentivise savings which get converted into higher investments," he said without offering specifics.

Welcoming the Prime Minster's announcement yesterday to replace the Planning Commission with a new institution, Jaitley said, "We do not need a command structure where thing would be decided by the government sitting in New Delhi. Every state should have the right to decide on how it can take benefit from the country's resources."

Govt aiming at 24x7 power supply: PM

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said his government was aiming at providing 24-hour power supply across the country as he outlined his vision for infrastructure development with a nationwide network of roads, power transmission lines and power and water grids.

He also equated saving of electricity with service to the nation. "The dream of my government is to provide electricity all seven days a week, 365 days a year, 24 hours a day to every village," Modi said addressing a gathering after dedicating to the nation 765 KV Solapur - Raichur transmission lines and four laning of Pune-Solapur section of NH-9.

The Prime Minister also laid the foundation stone for four laning of Solapur-Maharashtra / Karnataka Border Section of NH-9. "Electricity is produced and then supplied but one more important task is that of saving it. Some people think that to serve the country one has to become MLA or MP or join the defence forces. Saving electricity it is also a big service to the country," he said.

He asked the students and youth to check their monthly electricity bills and discuss with family members about how to bring down the consumption. "Let us pledge to conserve electricity. It will help our families the most. We should consider it our national duty," the Prime Minister said.

"Generating electricity is expensive but saving it is easy and by this we can make a big difference," he said.

The Prime Minister shared the concern of Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan over power plants in the state remaining idle due to shortage of coal and gas.

"As Maharashtra CM Prithviraj Chavan was saying, I can understand the problem. I said the same thing (about non availability of coal and gas) when I was the Chief Minister of Gujarat but nobody paid heed.

"Now it is our responsibility. I will not run away from the responsibility. Using innovative technology, coal excavation would be done without adversely affecting the environment and we will work towards ensuring that power reaches every corner of the country," Modi said.

Referring to his government's decision to grant permission to raise the height of the Narmada Dam, Modi said once completed Maharashtra would get electricity worth Rs 400 crore from the project every year for free. 

The Prime Minister said roads and highways development will be accorded priority by his government, drawing inspiration from the Golden Quadrilateral and Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana launched by former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

"Road development is linked to all the sectors and with this, employment will also increase. Along with that we also have to increase rail network. Good road network is also important for the growth of tourism.

"Today the nation wants highways and I-ways or information ways. Every village must be integrated. It is today's requirement," he added.

Citing the advances made by South Korea, the Prime Minister said countries which invested in infrastructure creation reaped the fruits of development and prosperity. Talking about Solapur, Modi said, "its identity is linked to textile industry, which gives maximum employment, including to the poorest ones.

"We are determined to encourage textile industries across the country. We are determined to provide employment to youth in all sectors. If they get jobs, they will have the strength to fulfil the expectations of our country. Many elections have been fought on the slogan of Bijli-Sadak-Paani. If we give due importance to infrastructure, our people have the talent to turn clay into gold," he said.

Supreme Court suspends Bombay HC order on dahi-handis

The Supreme Court on Thursday suspended a Bombay High Court order restricting the height of human pyramids to 20 feet and did not bar persons above 12 years of age from participating in the popular dahi-handi festival celebrated on Janmashtami Day.

The suspension of the high court order is in place for this year. The Supreme Court said the suspension is subject to the condition that the State government ensures that the festival organisers comply with the safety guidelines framed by the Maharashtra State Commission for Protection of Child Rights.

A Bench led by Chief Justice of India R.M. Lodha was hearing a petition filed by festival organisers challenging the Bombay High Court order passed on August 11.

The court directed the Maharashtra government and authorities to file their replies on the petition within eight weeks.

The dahi-handi ceremony is annually held on Janmasthami, the birthday of Lord Krishna. It involves forming a human pyramid and breaking an earthen pot filled with buttermilk tied on a string at the top.

The festival, popular in Maharashtra, sees neck-to-neck competition and heavy wagers. Young children without safety harness are often employed to climb the human pyramid, which can go up to 40 feet. Accidents, often fatal, had led to the Child Rights Commission frame safety guidelines in February 2014.

Non-compliance with these guidelines had led the high court to pass its August 11 order, primarily barring the participation of persons below 18 years of age and capping the height of the pyramid at 20 feet.

“Has anybody bothered to follow the guidelines? That is why the high court has done this,” Justice Rohinton Nariman, on the bench with Justice Kurian Joseph, told the festival organisers and State authorities.

The high court had directed the organisers to provide medical help, helmets and safety belts to Govindas and cushion layers at the performance venues.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi to deliver Independence Day speech extempore

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will on Friday morning address the nation from the ramparts of the historic Red Fort for the first time and is expected to lay bare the priorities and vision of his government. 

It will be his first big address to the nation and comes just weeks before his government completes 100 days in office. 

Sources said the government has worked overtime to prepare the speech which PM Modi will deliver tomorrow.

While Modi is unlikely to announce any major policy initiatives in his speech, he will detail the systemic changes that his government has brought in or will bring in governance and administration. 

A major part of the speech has been prepared with the help of inputs received from 16 important ministries. 

PM Modi, however, is expected to deviate from the normal practice and is likely to deliver his speech extempore. 

He is expected to shun the teleprompter in favour of his oratory skills. Sources said PM Modi will carry sheets that will only contain bullet points, which he may refer to from time to time during the address. 

A report even claimed that PM Modi has instructed officials not to provide him umbrella cover in case it rains during the speech.

Also, the Information and Broadcasting Ministry is reported to have drawn huge plans for PM Modi's address. 

The speech will be streamed live in India as well as abroad. 

The address will be splashed across the Internet and the government has tied-up with private agencies like YouTube for the same. Social media websites like Facebook and Twitter will also be used in a big way. 

The ministry will also send out some 40 crore SMSes containing highlights of the PM's speech right after it is delivered. 

Also, over the next few days, the government will release advertisements to highlight main points of PM Modi's first Independence Day speech. 

As regards the itinerary of tomorrow's function at the Red Fort, PM Modi is expected to reach the venue at around 7:20 am. He will then receive a Guard of Honour from the armed forces and then hoist the national flag. 

The speech, which will begin soon after, is expected to last between 45 minutes and one hour. 

Over 10,000 people are likely to be in attendance at the Red Fort grounds, including VVIPs and other dignitaries.

Wholesale prices softer, RBI to stay cautious on food inflation

Wholesale prices softer, RBI to stay cautious on food inflation. As expected, fruits and vegetables inflation in July restricted any significant softening in headline WPI inflation trajectory, even as core WPI moved lower. Barring fruits and vegetables, on a yoy basis, most of the key components saw inflation falling or remaining stable, except for manufactured food products. However, the overriding concern on the food price inflation will keep the RBI on a cautious stance. Read Full Report

Vegetables lead WPI inflation higher

Vegetable prices increased 23% mom leading to WPI inflation remaining above the 5% mark. This was expected and the trend in vegetable prices was mirrored in the CPI inflation release earlier. Exhibit 1 shows the indicative price increase in July compared to last month. Given the higher weight of food in CPI, the impact of higher vegetable and fruits inflation was different for headline CPI inflation than for headline WPI. July WPI inflation came in at 5.19% (June at 5.43%). This compares with headline CPI inflation of 7.96% (June at 7.46%).

Core inflation softens but momentum remains unchanged

Core (non-food manufactured products) inflation fell sharply to 3.58% after a print of 3.91% in June. On a yoy basis, there was softening across almost all of the components. For the core index, momentum remained unchanged (mom seasonally adjusted) and showed an uptick on a 3m/3m annualized basis. Some of the recent depreciation in the currency will likely feed into the core inflation over the next few months. This will likely keep the core inflation stable for the next few months. However, we will need to closely watch the changes in core inflation to gauge the impact of the recent uptick in consumer sentiments on core inflation.

Wholesale inflation will be of limited importance in RBI’s policy

After the establishment of headline CPI inflation as the nominal anchor, the WPI inflation seems to be the less favored child. The most important information is to be derived from the core inflation that can also provide some indications of changes in the imported inflation apart from the likely pricing power of manufacturers. With core inflation remaining stable, there is unlikely to be many other cues that one can draw from the WPI reading. We expect headline inflation to average 5.2% in FY2015 with core inflation remaining at around 3.5% to 3.6% for the rest of FY2015.

RBI’s likely focus for monetary policy: 6% retail inflation

Sikh rights group seeks info on Obama's decision to invite PM Modi

A US-based Sikh rights group has filed a request under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) seeking documents relating to the Obama administration's decision to invite Prime Minister Narendra Modi for a meeting at the White House here in September.

In its FOIA filed before the State Department, the New York-based Sikh for Justice (SFJ) has also sought documents related to the visa ban of Modi after August 2005.

In 2005, the US State Department had revoked a visa that Modi had for travelling to the US in the wake of the 2002 riots in Gujarat.He never applied for an American visa after the US move.

Following his historic win in the general elections this year, President Barack Obama called Modi personally and invited him for a meeting in September.

White House officials say, Obama is looking forward to welcoming Modi.

Urging the Department of State to expedite, the SFJ's FOIA states that "Modi's visa was cancelled/revoked by the US government in 2005 for his involvement in serious human rights violations during 2002 massacre in the state of Gujarat while he was the Chief Minister of that state.

"Since Modi is due to arrive in the United States during September 2014 and is scheduled to attend a summit at the White House, it is urgent that public be aware of how and under what US law a decision was taken to reverse ban on the issuance of visa to Modi, a known human rights violator".

"The law requires USDOS to respond to such FOIA requests within 20 business days," the rights group said. Last year, SFJ had filed a human rights violation case against the then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

While the case is still pending in a Washington DC court, the US Government has ruled that Singh enjoys immunity from the case.

Modi's Nepal visit has given 'new impetus' to bilateral ties: Sushma Swaraj

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Nepal visit has enhanced mutual trust and confidence between the two countries and given a "new impetus, direction and dynamism" to vital ties, government told Parliament Wednesday with a resolve to build upon it.

Making a suo motu statement in both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said the two-day visit that concluded on Monday was "historic and highly successful" with several Nepalese leaders saying he had won their "hearts and minds" and clarified on misgivings.

"...Prime Minister was very satisfied with the outcome of the visit to Nepal. He touched the hearts and minds of all the Nepalese people that was conveyed to him in so many words by his interlocutors...," she said giving details of the talks Modi had with the Nepalese leaders and the announcements made by India for the neighbouring country.

Noting that Modi was according the highest priority to relations with Nepal, Swaraj said the visit "further enhanced the mutual trust and confidence" between the two countries.

"The Prime Minister's visit has given a whole new impetus, new direction and new dynamism to our vital relationship with Nepal, which we are determined to further intensify and build upon," she said.

Swaraj underlined that it was the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Nepal in 17 years under the bilateral format and the Prime Minister of the host country Sushil Koirala broke protocol to receive Modi at the airport.

Giving details of the outcome of the visit, she said the two Prime Ministers reviewed the whole gamut of bilateral relations and agreed to review, adjust and update the Treaty of Peace and Friendship of 1950 and other bilateral agreements.

Modi remembers Hiroshima victims

Prime Minister Narendra Modi Wednesday remembered the victims of the Hiroshima atomic bombing and hoped "humankind never sees such a day ever again".

"Today we remember all those people who lost their lives in Hiroshima. I hope humankind never sees such a day ever again," he said in a message on the 69th anniversary of the tragedy. "Let us all work together and further the cause of world peace and make the world a happier and more peaceful place in the years to come."

To accelerate Japan's surrender in World War II, the US forces dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima Aug 6, 1945 killing an estimated 140,000 people. Another atomic bomb hit Nagasaki three days later. Japan surrendered to the allied forces six days later, bringing an end to World War II.

Congress member rakes up issue of PM Modi not hosting Iftaar

A Congress member in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday raked up the issue of Prime Minister Narendra Modi not hosting Iftaar this Ramzaan while noting that he had offered prayers in Nepal's famed Pashupatinath Temple.

The member, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, said while no one has any objection to the Prime Minister going from "Pashupatinath to Tirupati", there has been a practice since Independence of Prime Ministers hosting Iftaars in the holy month of Ramzan.

 

"Even Atal Bihari Vajpayee continued with this tradition, but what has happened now," Chowdhury, a former Union Minister, said in an apparent reference to Modi not hosting an Iftaar reception this Ramzaan. His remarks were met with strong opposition from BJP members, prompting Speaker Sumitra Mahajan to observe that it would not go on record.

"Such personal matters will not go on record. I am sorry .... This is not the way. If you want a party, go to him," she told Chowdhury as PK Biju and MB Rajesh (both CPI-M) supported the Congress member.

Raising the issue during zero hour, Trinamool Congress leader Sudip Bandhopadhyay recalled the Prime Minister's visit to the Pashupatinath Temple yesterday and his donation of ghee and 2500 kg of sandalwood.

Trinamool raises PM Modi's visit to temple in Nepal

The Trinamool Congress Tuesday raised the issue of Prime Minister Narendra Modi offering prayers at the Pashupatinath temple in Nepal and claimed that he had not offered people greetings on the Eid. The government refuted this.

Sudip Bandopadhyay, Trinamool Congress MP from Kolkata North, raising the issue in the Lok Sabha Tuesday, said he appreciated the prime minister offering prayers at the temple in Nepal, "but it is equally expected that he should offer Eid greetings to the other community".

Amid shouts and protests from the ruling benches, Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu responded, "The prime minister has offered Eid greetings, which have been widely published. The government believes in the unity of all religions."
 

However, the Congress party was not satisfied by the reply and party member Adhir Ranjan Chowdhary sought to speak on the issue. When Speaker Sumitra Mahajan disallowed him, the opposition members trooped near the speaker's podium and the house was adjourned till 12.30 pm.

When the house re-assembled at 12.30 pm, similar scenes were witnessed and Chowdhary, who was this time allowed to speak, made certain comments which the speaker deemed as personal remarks and disallowed him again.

With members of the Samajwadi Party and the Congress again trooping near the speaker's podium, the house was once more adjourned till 2 pm.

Modi, who had offered prayers at Pashupatinath temple Monday, later said he felt "extremely blessed" on offering prayers there. The prime minister prayed at the temple, offered Rs 25 crore to build a 'dharamshala' (inn) in the temple complex, and also donated 2,500 kg of sandalwood.

CPI-M activist arrested for defaming Modi on Facebook

A CPI-M youth activist was Tuesday arrested for defaming Prime Minister Narendra Modi on social media Facebook, said a police official.

Speaking to IANS, the official said Rajeesh Kumar, 24, will be presented before a magistrate. "He has been arrested for defaming the prime minister through his objectionable posts," added the official.

The police registered a case after Umesh Babu, an office-bearer of the Kollam unit of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, complained that Kumar has been using the social media to defame Modi. Police picked up Kumar Monday and interrogated him. After checking with the Cyber Police if he had committed a crime, the police arrested him Tuesday.

Modi's Jeet Bahadur a celebrity at home

His popularity has reached new heights, and now people are lining up outside his family's small house in a Nepal village to catch a glimpse of him.

He is none other than Jeet Bahadur Saru Magar, the 26-year-old Nepali youth Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has taken under his wing and who was reunited with his family Sunday during the Indian leader's visit to this Himlayan nation.

Jeet Bahadur, who hails from Lokaha village near Kawasoti town in western Nepal's Nawalparasi district, has become the centre of attraction after he reached his home Sunday night. He is now staying with his brother, Dasarath, and is busy meeting people from Lokaha and adjoining areas who came to know about him from newspapers and TV channels.

Once the news that Jeet Bahadur has returned to his house to be united with his family members went viral, hundreds of people lined up outside the village dwelling to meet him, Nepal's leading daily Kantipur reported Tuesday.

Security has been tightened in and around his house and a separate tent has been erected to host people who come to see him, the daily wrote. Security personnel in plain clothes have been deployed for Jeet Bahadur, who is now a star in his locality.

Senior government officials, including head of the district security agency, journalists, and local leaders visited his house Monday to interact with him. "As soon as local people came to know that my brother has arrived with Modi, they came to my house to see him," his brother told the media.

Jeet Bahadur got held up in Kathmandu as the media queued up to interview him and his arrival at his brother's house was consequently delayed. On Sunday, after meeting Modi, Jeet Bahadur left for his hometown with his relatives. He will be leaving for New Delhi after a week to travel on to Ahmedabad where he is pursuing business studies for a BBA degree.

He does not speak much, but prefers listening to others, nodding and shaking his head and smiling, said his elated brother, who is a carpenter by profession. Interestingly, when asked questions in Nepali by the people, Jeet Bahadur replies in Hindi as he has almost forgotten how to speak the Nepali language.

Ganesh BK, a resident of the area, said people were queuing up as if to see a new bride. Jeet Bahadur's soft-spoken nature has also left people charmed, Ganesh B.K. added. People of the area love to narrate old stories about Jeet Bahadur.

Modi had taken the young Jeet Bahadur, who was born in Nawalparasi district, under his wing when he was found wandering on the streets of Ahmedabad in India's Gujarat state.

He had run away from his employer in Rajasthan state but mistakenly boarded a train headed to Ahmedabad instead of one heading to Gorakhpur as he had decided to return to Nepal. Modi sponsored Jeet Bahadur's education and has taken care of him over the years.

Modi's alleged poll-code breach: police to file ATR in 3 weeks

A local court on Tuesday granted three weeks time to police to file an 'action taken report' in connection with an FIR against Prime Minister Narendra Modi for allegedly violating Representation of People Act on April 30 when Gujarat went to Lok Sabha polls.

Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate (ACJM) M M Sheikh of Ahmedabad rural court passed the order on the application filed by Gujarat Police's Detection of Crime Branch (DCB) seeking 15-day time to submit the action taken report (ATR).

The court granted three weeks to the probing agency to submit the report on or before August 26, the next date of hearing.

The plea was filed by Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) worker Nishant Verma who had claimed that he filed an application before the state police seeking action against Modi for showing party symbol on the poll day but they had lodged an incomplete FIR.

On April 30 this year, when the voting was underway on the 26 Lok Sabha seats of Gujarat, Modi had addressed a press conference immediately after stepping out of the polling booth where he cast his vote in Ranip area of the city and displayed his party's symbol lotus.

On the directives of the Election Commission, the crime branch had lodged an FIR against Modi on April 30 under section 126(1)(a) of RP Act, for holding public meeting, and under section 188 of IPC, for violating election notification.

As per the section 126(1)(a), there is a prohibition of public meetings during period of 48 hours ending with hour fixed for conclusion of poll. Earlier, the court, while acting upon Verma's plea, had asked the DCB to submit the ATR on or before August 5.

Verma, in his complaint, had demanded that Modi should also be charged under sections section 130 of RP Act and IPC sections 114, 171 (c) and (f).

According to section 130 of the RP Act, a person is prohibited from canvassing for votes or exhibiting any notice or signs relating to the election within the polling station on the day of polling while IPC section 114 stands for the role of an abettor present when the offence is committed.

Section 171(c) fixes the culpability of a person whoever voluntarily interferes or attempts to interfere with the free exercise of any electoral right commits the offence of undue influence at an election. Besides, section 171(f) ensures that the offender shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to one year or with fine, or with both.

India bets on Modi touch to reform infrastructure PPP drive

India`s new government is betting on Prime Minister Narendra Modi to replicate his relative success with regional infrastructure projects to ensure fewer public-private partnerships (PPP) stall for want of land.

The government wants private companies to contribute half of a $1 trillion investment target over five years to 2017 to alleviate clogged-up roads and end electricity blackouts. But PPP contracts are often signed before specifying how much land authorities need to acquire by when. Difficulties moving occupiers has caused delays and prompted banks to cut credit lines, leaving scores of projects in limbo and deterring new investment.

"There is so much negativity around PPPs," said PPP expert Abhaya Krishna Agarwal at consultancy EY in New Delhi. "The new government needs to do a lot differently."

Transport minister Nitin Gadkari last month said one solution is to acquire 80 percent of land for road projects before inviting private participation. To push through that and other reforms, the two-month-old government is banking on a premier who was elected in India`s biggest landslide win in 30 years.

Modi came to power after cutting the number of approvals needed for road projects in Gujarat, making it easier for investors to build dozens of new highways. He also restructured utilities to make Gujarat India`s only state with almost universal 24 hour electricity.

But Gujarat`s former chief minister also has experience of a PPP going awry. A $4 billion power station in his home state almost closed last year because of a dispute over electricity prices.

WEAKNESSES

The Modi government will address such "weaknesses" through a new body tasked with resolving "the rigidities" of existing contracts, Minister of Finance Arun Jaitley said in his budget speech.

Road-building is particularly prone to PPP weaknesses. At least 600 billion rupees ($10 billion) worth of projects is unfinished, primarily because of difficulty obtaining the required land to lay, lengthen or widen roads.

One such casualty is the project to re-lay the Delhi-Jaipur "Pink City Expressway" and widen it to six lanes from four.

Three years after its scheduled completion and the inability to buy adjacent land has reduced the 225 kilometre road in places to one lane. Traffic is forced to take detours down single-lane service tracks into which houses, temples and even rubbish dumps jut.

While contractors and authorities blamed each other, banks cut funding preventing more land from being bought.

"We have had the pre-cast girders completed for every one of the (road`s) bridges sitting in our factory for years," said Shashank Shekar, a senior manager at Pink City Expressway Pvt. Ltd which is overseeing the entire project. "We can`t finish until we get the land."

Shekar said he would want "100 percent of land" before starting another highway, rather than the transport minister`s four-fifths pledge.

The National Highways Authority of India did not respond to requests for comment about the road.

EXPANSION

Such cases could deter private participation in future projects at a time when the Modi government not only wants to reform PPPs, but expand them to cover sectors such as railways, gas grids and waste-and-water treatment.

The PPP drive is welcome but tweaking contracts to make them more flexible for renegotiation, and to ensure land is bought beforehand, will not be enough to pull in investors quickly, said R. Shankar Raman, chief financial officer at Larsen & Toubro Ltd, one of India`s biggest industrial houses.

Analysts said the government will likely miss its 2017 infrastructure investment target, though it is not clear by how much nor what the percentage will be from private sources.

Private investors in the past few years have provided less than a quarter of capital for new infrastructure projects, instead focusing on repaying debt during a period of economic downturn, estimates EY`s Agarwal.

"For PPPs to work, the private sector will have to come back to health," said L&T`s Shankar, "Which it hasn`t."

PM to induct indigenously-built warship INS Kolkata

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to induct country's largest indigenously-built warship INS Kolkata in Mumbai in the the third week of August.

The Prime Minister has been invited in the third week of August to induct the largest indigenously-built warship, which is constructed by the Mazagon Dockyards Limited and has been designed by Navy's design bureau, defence officials said.

The 6,800 tonne warship, which is over three years behind schedule, is a technology demonstrator and will showcase a giant leap in shipbuilding technology in the country, they said. INS Kolkata will be a part of the Kolkata Class destroyers of the Indian Navy which will include follow-on ships by the name of INS Kochi and INS Chennai respectively.

The keel of the warship was laid down in September 2003 and the ship was launched in 2006. Its original commissioning was planned in 2010 but due to several project delays, it will now happen in 2014. The ship had also suffered a mishap during the trial phase when a Navy officer lost his life during an incident in the fire-fighting equipment of the vessel.

As part of her pre-commissioning weapon trials at sea, INS Kolkata test-fired a BrahMos missile off Karwar's coast earlier this month. India is also building an over 40,000 tonne Indigenous Aircraft Carrier christened INS Vikrant but it will take another three-four years before it gets inducted into the Navy.

The INS Vikramaditya procured from Russia at the cost of over Rs 15,000 crore is so far the biggest vessel in the maritime force and is expected to hold this position for at least another decade.

'India's Look East Policy needs concrete action'

India's Look East Policy, in which Myanmar plays a key role as the route for major connectivity between India's landlocked Northeast and Southeast Asia, needs to rise above "mere academic talk" to show "more concrete action", experts said.

According to experts, the connectivity corridors like the Trilateral Highway and the Kaladan Multimodal Project need to be fast turned into development corridors and stakeholders in the region involved in it.

Rajiv K Bhatia, director general of the Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA) and former envoy to Myanmar, said mere "academic talk is no substitute for concrete action" in the development of the connectivity corridors.

"Other stakeholders need to be motivated, and not just the Ministry of External Affairs," he said at a talk on 'Look East Policy: India and Myanmar Pitching for Greater Connectivity" Monday.

Bhatia said more funding is needed for the projects and better high-level management and visible and sustained action. He suggested that the authorities should issue "authoritative notes on when the projects, like Trilateral Highway and the Kaladan Multimodal Project, will be completed - or the deadlines will keep lengthening".

Speaking at the event organised by the Institute of Social Sciences here, senior journalist and author BG Varghese said the government has "structurally not got its act together" on the connectivity projects that are meant to link the landlocked Northeast with the Southeast Asian region.

He said the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DONER), which is meant for the Northeast region, should be having its office in the Northeast and not in New Delhi. "Why shouldn't the Ministry for the Northeast be in the Northeast? Why should Northeast people or issues related to the Northeast have to be dealt with in New Delhi," asked the veteran journalist.

"Structural changes are needed in India's Look East Policy, or no Look East can happen... It can't be run from New Delhi," he said, adding that the Look East Policy has "huge potential" and the constant delay in implementation of crucial connectivity projects is hampering forward movement.

Ajay Gondane, joint secretary, border connectivity in the Ministry of External Affairs, said the government has launched the division of border connectivity with a new emphasis of taking ties with neighbours beyond the borders. He said the connectivity projects in order to become connectivity corridors need to involve the people of the region in a major way.

Ash Narain Roy, Director, Institute of Social Sciences, said India's ties with Myanmar are getting new emphasis. In May this year, the two countries inked an MoU on border cooperation to provide a framework for security cooperation and intelligence exchange between the security agencies of the two countries.

In the last week of July, the Fifth India-Myanmar Regional Border Committee meeting was held in Imphal for boosting bilateral ties. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj is also set to travel to Myanmar to attend the ministerial meeting of the East Asia Summit and ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) in Nay Pyi Taw next week.

Modi did a lot to win Nepali hearts: Chinese media

 

Keeping a close tab on Narendra Modi's visit to Nepal, where China has increased its presence significantly in recent years, the Chinese official media on Monday said the Indian Prime Minister has done a lot to win hearts despite failure to clinch the power agreements. 

"Modi has spoken and done a lot to warm and win Nepali hearts to take the relations to a new height," China's state- run Xinhua news agency said in its commentary on the visit by Modi, the first Indian Prime Minister to visit Nepal in 17 years.

"The Indian PM won thunderous applause on Sunday from Nepali lawmakers when he mentioned that Buddha was born in Nepal's Lumbini while addressing the Constitution Assembly/ Parliament, as the first foreign head of government since the restoration of parliamentary democracy in 1990," it said.

"This is also a sensitive issue rousing deep passion between the two counties because some quarters of India claimed that Buddha was born in India," it said. The report said two "much-talked about agreements on the development and sale of hydropower" failed to materialise.

"Nepal's suspicion regarding possible monopoly of India facing power scarcity over Nepal's abundant water resources in the future dominated, mainly causing the delay in pact signing for the second time during Modi's two-day sojourn which, Modi himself wished, 'will open a new chapter' in India-Nepal ties," it said.

Modi's visit evoked considerable interest in Chinese media as China stepped up its relations with Nepal with liberal aid and trade deals. Nepal in recent years has stepped up its crackdown on Tibetan refugees imposing curbs on their freedom of assembly and expression to prevent any anti-China protest.

UPSC row: Will take decision soon, says MoS Jitendra Singh

A day after Home Minister Rajnath Singh held a meeting to find a solution to the ongoing Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) row, Minister of State (MoS) in the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) Dr Jitendra Singh said on Monday that a decision on the issue will be taken soon. 

The meeting was reportedly attended by Singh, BJP leader JP Nadda along with Cabinet Ministers Arun Jaitley and BJP chief Amit Shah.The government is likely to take a final call on the issue after Prime Minister Narendra Modi returns from two-day trip to Nepal, as per news reports.

Meanwhile, Congress leader Manish Tiwari accused the government of playing with the future of the students. The aspirants for the examination, conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), have been demanding the aptitude test (CSAT-II) be scrapped as they term it discriminatory to those from Hindi-speaking states as well as humanities students.

The CSAT-II paper in the UPSC preliminary exam carries questions on comprehension, interpersonal skills including communication skills, logical reasoning and analytical ability, decision-making and problem-solving, general mental ability, basic numeracy and English language comprehension skills (of Class 10 level).

Tamil film fraternity protests over controversial Sri Lankan article

Members of the Tamil film fraternity assembled here Monday to protest against Sri Lankan government for a controversial article degrading Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalitha and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The article was published on the Sri Lankan defence ministry`s website.Members of Tamil Directors Union and Producers Council protested outside the Sri Lankan consulate here.

Tamil film stars such as Vijay, Suriya, Vinay Rai, A.R Murugadoss, R. Sarath Kumar, Vikraman, Keyar and Sivakumar participated in the protest.The article also created furor in the Rajya Sabha, leading to the house being adjourned till noon.

Sri Lanka has since apologised for the article.

Varanasi widows to send rakhis to Narendra Modi

The widows of Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh will send 1,000 hand-made, colourful rakhis and sweets to Prime Minister Narendra Modi who made his debut into the Lok Sabha from this holy city, an NGO said.

Hundreds of old widows who are spending the twilight years of their lives in ashrams here will send rakhis to their "new brother", an official of Sulabh International said. Among these, a dozen-odd widows, all in their 80s, in Birla and Durgakund ashrams are are presently engaged in making the rakhis.

Also, a group of Nepalese elderly widows in Meera Sahabhagi and Chetan Vihar ashrams are busy in rakhi making. They started in the last week of July and have so far prepared around 500 such sacred bands that a sister ties on the brother's wrist on the occasion of rakhi. 

"We have planned a target of sending around 1,000 rakhis to our prime minister," said a 80-year-old widow of Birla ashram. The widows will also tie rakhis to local saints and brahmins to mark the occasion, Sulabh spokesman Madan Jha told IANS.

In places like Varanasi and Vrindavan, hundreds of widows lead an isolated life and often live in small rooms in narrow alleys. In the absence of family support, they spend most of their time praying and looking for food.

After the death of their husbands, widows at times face humiliation and insult from the family. They are asked not to be present on auspicious functions in the family. They are also not supposed to wear coloured clothes or ornaments.

"My idea is how to change thoughts, behaviour and attitude of people of this country towards widows of India who are their mothers, sisters...," said Bindeshwar Pathak, founder of Sulabh International. The NGO takes care of around 1,500 widows in Varanasi, Vrindavan and the Kedarnath valley.

Nearly 900 widows and some 200 children from various schools of Delhi and Mathura-Vrindavan will take part in rakhi celebration at Meera Sahabhagini ashram Aug 9.

Nepal Maoists happy after talks with Modi

Nepal's Maoist leaders said they had "very fruitful" talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi Monday and a new chapter had begun in India-Nepal ties.

"A new chapter has begun between India and Nepal," Maoist leader Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda told the media after meeting Modi on the final day of his two-day visit to Nepal."Our talks were very fruitful and very historic. Modi supports the peace process," Prachanda said.

"Modi is clear that first there should be political stability and then economic cooperation," he added. Added another Maoist leader, Baburam Bhattarai: "We are really satisfied with the talks."

Modi government stretches every muscle for Lok Sabha's smooth functioning

It is not just the sheer numbers that are giving the BJP smooth sailing in Lok Sabha. The ruling party and government are making that extra effort to ensure not just a productive budget session but also proper conduct of legislative business.

After criticising the previous UPA government for not being able to run the lower house, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government, in its first major parliament session, managed not just an elaborate debate on the general budget but also took up the demands for grants of six ministries.

"We have been able to dispense with the major house business efficiently. The government has been in touch with all opposition parties and they also cooperated," Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Santosh Gangwar told IANS.

The Lok Sabha spent 47 hours and 40 minutes discussing the budget in the ongoing session. Of this, 13 hours were spent discussing the railway budget, 15 hours were spent discussing the general budget and 13 hours in discussing the demands for grants. The Finance Bill took 6 hours and 12 minutes of discussion, according to figures compiled by PRS Legislative Research.

M.R. Madhavan, president of PRS Legislative Research, said the functioning of the current Lok Sabha is certainly "better" than under the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government. "The parliament is certainly functioning much better than under the previous government. There are fewer disruptions in the Lok Sabha, though the Rajya Sabha is still being disrupted," Madhavan told IANS.

"In this Lok Sabha, the ratio of number of hours worked to the scheduled time is more than 100 percent," he said.In the last three weeks, the 16th Lok Sabha recorded a productivity of 103 percent, according to PRS Legislative Research. The participation of first-time MPs in the debate on demands for grants increased by 58 percent with 158 of them speaking on the subject compared to 100 in 2009.

The Lok Sabha also witnessed an increase of 41 percent in participation by new MPs in discussing the railway budget. Interest in the general budget was also high with 26 percent more participation by in 2014 as opposed to the first session of the 15th Lok Sabha in 2009.

The 15th Lok Sabha came out as perhaps the worst performing in the history of democratic India, marred by continuous disruptions and din. Over its five-year term, the house could engage in productive work for only 61 percent of its working time.

Then in opposition, the BJP had called the parliamentary affairs ministers in the previous government "arrogant" and complained that they were not consulted on important matters. The parliamentary affairs portfolio under the UPA was first held by P.K. Bansal and then by Kamal Nath.

Senior BJP leaders say they have taken the UPA shortcomings as a lesson, and therefore Parliamentary Affairs Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu, and his juniors Prakash Javadekar and Santosh Gangwar have been instructed to focus on floor management. In both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, the ministers are often seen on their feet trying to pacify the opposition members.

"The prime minister has made it clear that the houses should function and there shall be no shortcomings on this from the government side," a senior BJP leader told IANS on condition of anonymity. "Even if the parliamentary affairs minister or his juniors are not present, any other minister present in the house tries to take control of the situation."

"When the Congress was in power, a major irritant was that the parliamentary affairs ministers were always too arrogant. They never consulted the opposition... So our party leaders have made it a point to address the opposition's concerns as soon as an issue is raised," the leader said.

BJP MPs have also been instructed to come to parliament on time. In a first time practice, the party MPs would also be issued "report cards" based on their performance, according to party sources. A group on mobile chat engine Whatsapp has also been formed to keep MPs updated.

"(Prime Minister Narendra) Modi-ji has made it clear that there will be no compromise with quality," said a BJP MP who did not want to be named.

"The Lok Sabha is not being disrupted as it used to be. The functioning is smooth, question hour is running... the speaker (Sumitra Mahajan) is handling it well. The government is conducting it well," P.D. Rai, the lone SIkkim MP from Sikkim Democratic Front, told IANS. 

"Another major reason is that people disrupting the house often on trivial issues are less," he said. M.B. Rajesh, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) MP from Palakkad, added that the opposition is also more cooperative. "The opposition has been more responsible. They not disrupting the house very frequently," Rajesh told IANS. 

"We must also not forget that, despite all this, the government has no legislative agenda for the session. That is a major shortcoming". he added.

Modi announces Rs 25 cr for construction of dharamshala at Pashupatinath Temple in Nepal

 

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi prayed at Nepal's Pashupatinath Temple on the auspicious occasion of 'Shravan ashtami' on Monday and granted Rs 25 crore to build a 400-bed dharamshala in the temple complex. 

Among other things, Modi also offered 2,500 kgs of sandalwood to the famed centuries-old temple.
He announced that India would actively participate in developing centres of religious importance in Nepal like Janakpur and Lumbini.

To remove bottlenecks hindering the movement of people between the two countries he announced the construction of a bridge on the Mahakali river. PM Modi went a step further in his efforts to reach out to the Himalayan nation and said he was open to reviewing and changing the 1950 India-Nepal Friendship Treaty.

“My doors are open, I invite you to bring any suggestions to review the 1950 Treaty, if you so want," Modi said at a banquet hosted by Nepalese Prime Minister Sushil Koirala. There had been demands for reviewing the treaty and both sides have reiterated their readiness to do so without any progress.

Some sections in Nepal have argued that the treaty is not in the interest of their country. Earlier today, after offering special prayers at the Pashupatinath Temple, PM Modi said he "felt extremely blessed". A devout Hindu, 63-year-old Modi was at the temple of Lord Shiva for about 45 minutes on the auspicious 'somvaar' (Monday).

He also met Nepalese President Ram Baran Yadav. Modi is on a two-day visit to Nepal, a first by an Indian prime minister in 17 years. His visit ends today.