Cabinet hikes MPs' perks, salary raise unaltered as CPI-M asks parties to oppose new amendments to N-bill!Pro-Maoist tribal body to protest 'unreasonable' MPs' salary hike!

Nuclear Power Corporation cautions against nuclear liability bill amendments

Government hoodwinking nation on n-bill: BJP

Cairn strikes oil, gas in KG Basin onland block

Indian Holocaust My Father`s Life and Time - Four Hundred SIXTY THREE

Palash Biswas

http://indianholocaustmyfatherslifeandtime.blogspot.com/

Under attack from Left and Right for some proposed amendments in the Nuclear Liability Bill, government on Monday sought to reach out to BJP but the main Opposition party said it doubts the "intent" behind the move and could not commit support unless the changes are dropped.

Read more: BJP refuses to support govt on Nuclear Liability Bill - India - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/BJP-refuses-to-support-govt-on-Nuclear-Liability-Bill/articleshow/6421684.cms#ixzz0xRTAwguQ

From: Romi Elnagar <bluesapphire48@yahoo.com>
Date: Mon, Aug 23, 2010 at 3:21 AM
Subject: [bangla-vision] Our combat troops may leave Iraq, but we destroyed Fallujah
To:

We may have withdrawn our COMBAT troops (but not the mercenaries) from Iraq, but the scars we leave behind will take a long time to heal, if ever. The depleted uranium we have sown there will never stop yielding a harvest of birth defects and deaths from illness.

One of the ugliest and most brutal attacks was on the city of Fallujah. It is an atrocity that the American "news media" have covered up very well. So, if you have not seen "Fallujah: The Hidden Massacre," you need to, but I caution you that it is very graphic and disturbing.

http://www.spike.com/video/fallujah-hidden/2684177

There is more about Fallujah on my blog page.
http://bluesapphire48.wordpress.com/2010/08/22/fallujah/
From: Prathiba Sundaram <prathibasam@yahoo.com>
Date: Mon, Aug 23, 2010 at 1:21 AM
Subject: [bangla-vision] Nuclear Liability Bill - Indians should Oppose

British Petroleum (BP) is facing a bill of up to $34 billion from the Gulf of Mexico oil spill disaster. After US senators demanded, the oil company deposited $20 billion (about Rs 92000 crores) into a ring-fenced account to meet escalating compensation costs but the way Indian legislators are agreeing to a Rs 1500 crore cap on nuclear disaster from large nuclear power plants, Rs 300 crore cap for institutions involved in reprocessing fuel and Rs 100 crore cap for small research reactors is unacceptable and condemnable.

There is an inner play with the MNC and Indian Govt......kick the .........of this rulers. Union Carbide tragedy should be a lesson to these MM Sings and Sonias and Chidambarams.

Killing Dalit movement is nothing but killing India

Brother D.V. Meshram is right. This is the experience all those who launched DV subscription drive. As for English, nobody has asked them not to study it. Dr. Ambedkar about a century back, living in a remote village and under more serious poverty mastered English and excelled the best of the Brahmin. How?
Brain dead: Brahminism has entered the very soul of our people, corroded and corrupted their brains. Nobody can save them. A majority of those going to the country's richest Brahmin temple, Tirupati, are our people. They go there, shave their heads and out of the hair the enemy makes a flourishing business. No Brahmin is ever seen getting his head shaved.
Our considered opinion after 30 years of experiment with DV, travelling all over the country many times, interacting with hundreds of "educated" Dalits is that the "educated" Dalits are brain dead —with minor exceptions like that of Brother D.V. Meshram. The 3% Brahminists have hinduised (enslaved) them and finished them. The other 97% of the uneducated, poverty-stricken Dalits are not Brahminised but they are helpless. Animal existence. Such of them are being "killed" by the Brahmin leadership of Maoist parties.
The ruling Brahminists may be rejoicing over killing the Dalit movement but they don't know that by this act they have killed the country itself. But why the alien Brahminists should worry about India, which is not theirs? — EDITOR.
http://www.dalitvoice.org/Templates/august_a2010/articles.htm

Bowing to persistent pressure from dissatisfied MPs, the union cabinet Monday decided to hike the allowances of parliamentarians by Rs.10,000 per month, but left their three-fold salary hike unaltered.
Cabinet hikes MPs' perks, salary raise unaltered! As CPI-M asks parties to oppose new amendments to N-bill!It is FUNNY to expect the Multi Millionair Super Slave Co Opted Parliamentarians going against the Gloabal Corporate Imperialist Zionsit Manusmriti Order of Apartheid, Exclusion and Ethnic Cleansing, War and Civil War! It is also amusing that the Capitalist marxists dying for Foeign capital Inflow, SEZ, PCPIR, Urbanisation, Industrialisation, Indiscriminate Land Acquistion,Chidambaram`s Corporate War, Retail chain and Bonded Contract Farming should speak the language of Resistance as only they allowed the Indo US Nuclear Deal to be uto Operationalised and the War in the Middle east be shifted in our heart and mind, right into the sub Continent. They killed the Trade Union Movement as well as Peasants` movement! The MP`s Hiked Perks , nevertheless, coincided Rothschilds Mind Control Game on the one hand and N- Liability Land Acquistion reform Bill, Financial Bills, Direct Tax Code,Delimitation of FDI, Disinvestment Drive, Turmil in the Himalayas,Unique Identity Project and ongoing Census!

Minister of State in the PMO Prithviraj Chavan met Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley to discuss the issue over which the BJP and Left parties are angry and are threatening to oppose the bill when it is taken up for consideration in Parliament later this week.

After the meeting, Jaitley said he had told Chavan that BJP wanted restoration of language in Clause 17(B) suggested by the Parliamentary Standing Committee that examined the bill and then his party would think about its support.

The opposition parties are crying foul after the Union Cabinet on Friday last cleared 18 amendments, including the one which deals with a clause on liability of a supplier in the event of a nuclear accident.

The controversial amendment to Clause 17 (B) makes it clear that an operator of a nuclear plant can seek damages only if an accident has occurred due to the "intent" of the supplier or its employees.

"Go back to the Standing Committee on language of Clause 17(B). After that we will see (on support)," Jaitley said as having told Chavan.

The Standing Committee had recommended that Clause 17(B), while talking about operator's recourse to damages from supplier, should read as -- "the nuclear incident has resulted as a consequence of latent or patent defect, supply of sub-standard material, defective equipment or services or from the gross negligence on the part of the supplier of the material, equipment or services."

However, the government amended the sub-clause to read as -- "the nuclear incident has resulted as a consequence of an act of supplier or his employees, done with the intent to cause nuclear damage, and such act includes supply of equipment or material with patent or latent defects or sub-standard services."

BJP said the change raises question over the "intent" of the government.

"It will be very difficult for BJP to support the bill unless the government relents and brings back original proposed legislation," said BJP spokesperson Rajiv Pratap Rudy, who is a member of the Standing Committee.

No respite from rains in north India

Maoist commander surrenders in Jharkhand

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Read more: BJP refuses to support govt on Nuclear Liability Bill - India - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/BJP-refuses-to-support-govt-on-Nuclear-Liability-Bill/articleshow/6421684.cms#ixzz0xRTlpFEi

Read more: BJP refuses to support govt on Nuclear Liability Bill - India - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/BJP-refuses-to-support-govt-on-Nuclear-Liability-Bill/articleshow/6421684.cms#ixzz0xRTcT7Jg

Read more: BJP refuses to support govt on Nuclear Liability Bill - India - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/BJP-refuses-to-support-govt-on-Nuclear-Liability-Bill/articleshow/6421684.cms#ixzz0xRTN5Jri

Nuclear Power Corporation cautions against nuclear liability bill amendments

While opposition parties see red in the latest amendments made to the nuclear liability bill, the Nuclear Power Corporation today cautioned that under these changes no Indian or foreign manufacturer would be able to serve the nuclear power industry.
Advocating the provisions of the Korean law in regard to right of recourse of the operator, Sudhinder Thakur, executive director at the NPCIL said that the provisions of Clause 17 (b) in the bill are "neither practical nor implementable".
In a statement, he said that a review of domestic legislation of different countries reveals that the operators' right to recourse wherever available is limited to wilful act or gross negligence by the supplier.
Citing the provision of the Korean act, he said, "Clearly it is not the same in Clause 17 (b) (of the Indian Bill)".
"Undoubtedly, the government has powers to make laws, but in the process of making such laws we should not defeat the purpose for which the laws are made since with the current formulation of 17b, no manufacturer, Indian or Foreign would be able to serve the nuclear power industry," Thakur said.
Drawing a parallel with the collision of two ships in off the Mumbai Port, he said the operators of the ships have an absolute liability to cover the damages.
"We are not talking about the manufacturers of the ship or suppliers of different components to the ship," he said adding that same was the case with the Bhopal gas tragedy.
"The liability is on the operator but not on the supplier of the valve which did not function well. This is between the operator and the supplier," he said.
In the liability regime that came into being after Bhopal disaster, there is no recourse for the operator. The rationale for attempts to introduce recourse for the nuclear industry is not understood, Thakur said.
He said nuclear plants are not like commercial aircraft which are imported as equipment from overseas.
"In the process of setting up nuclear power plants, there are large numbers of Suppliers who are contributing in varying degree and suppliers in turn have many sub-suppliers.
"They supply material according to the specifications of the operator and their obligations in terms of latent or patent defects, are incorporated in the respective contracts.
"No supplier, Indian or foreign would be willing to take the liability on account of recourse of the operator for the period of some 80 odd years after the contract is executed.
"Under the circumstances, the provisions of 17b are neither practical nor implementable," Thakur said.
He welcomed the move to pass the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Bill to provide prompt compensation to victims of an unlikely nuclear accident.
"In this respect it is a welcome move and has become a pre-requisite for rapid expansion of nuclear power in the country," Thakur said.

Cairn strikes oil, gas in KG Basin onland block

Cairn India, which is on the verge of being acquired by mining firm Vedanta Resources, today said it has made an oil and gas discovery in an onland KG Basin block. "Cairn Energy India Pty Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of Cairn India Ltd, has notified the Directorate General of Hydrocarbons (DGH) of a discovery of oil and gas in the Nagayalanka-1z well, located in the onshore block KG-ONN- 2003/1," the company said in a notice to the stock exchanges.
The block is situated in the Krishna-Godavari Basin and was awarded under the fifth New Exploration Licencing Policy (NELP-V) bidding round. CEIPL, the operator of the block, has a 49 per cent participating interest in the block and state- owned Oil and Natural Gas Corp (ONGC) holds the remaining 51 per cent participating interest.
"The well encountered a 200-metre thick section of tight sandstones with low porosity and permeability," it said, adding that the well flowed 75 barrels per day of oil and 0.27 million cubic feet of gas per day during tests. "The well and test results are being evaluated to assess the commercial potential of the discovery and to determine the future appraisal programme," it said.

Pro-Maoist tribal body to protest 'unreasonable' MPs' salary hike

The generous salary hike for Indian parliamentarians has upset the pro-Maoist tribal body Peoples' Committee Against Police Atrocities (PCAPA). It will observe black day on Aug 27 and 28 in three West Bengal districts to protest the 'excessive expenditure' of MPs.
PCAPA spokesperson Manoj Mahato told IANS: 'At a time when a section of workers are being denied their due wages, how could MPs be entitled to a salary of Rs.50,000 per month, in addition to expense allowances amounting to Rs.50,000?'
'Most of the MPs have done nothing good for the people. Even they keep for themselves a major percentage of the money allotted to them under the MPLAD (Member of Parliament Local Area Development) scheme,' said Manoj.
The MPLAD funds allotted for implementing development schemes for the people and the money spent on the salary of MPs belongs to the common people, he said.
'The money is collected by the government from the public as service taxes and income tax amounting to crores of rupees, from which the salary of the MPs is paid. So we can't let the government spend our money unnecessarily,' said the PCAPA spokesperson.
'We have decided to protest against the unreasonable hike in the salary of MPs. To protest against the excessive expenditure of the MPs, all people in the Junglemahal (Maoist affected forested areas of West Midnapore, Bankura and Purulia) have been requested to observe black days Aug 27 and 28.'
'During the two-day black days' observation, we will hoist black flags in several places across Junglemahal,' added Manoj.

The union cabinet Monday decided to further increase allowances of MPs by Rs.10,000 per month, comprising a hike of Rs.5,000 each in their constituency and office expense allowances. However, the three-fold salary hike remains unaltered.The panel met in New Delhi under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to reconsider and bring amendments to the MPs' salary hike bill it had cleared last week.The proposed hike was severely opposed by parliamentarians who were demanding a 500 percent raise against the three-fold hike proposed by the government.

Sources told IANS that the panel gave its nod to a hike in non-taxable perks - constituency and office allowances - given to MPs.The increase will be given with retrospective effect since the beginning of the current Lok Sabha, the 15th, which means MPs will get arrears from May 2009.

Meanwhile,Omar prays to Sufi Saint Khawaja Moinuddin Chisti for peace! Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, accompanied by his family and father Farooq Abdullah, today offered prayers at the shrine of Sufi saint Khawaja Moinuddin Chisti for peace in Kashmir Valley. He offered ''chadar'' to the tomb of Garib Nawaj and read the ''fateha''.Omar told the media after ''jiyarat'' that he came to the Dargah only to pray to Garib Nawaj for peace in the Valley. The state government is trying its best for maintain law and order peace, Omar said and added that he was sure that youth of the Valley who had gone astray would return to the mainstream. He tied "Mannat Ka Dhaga" on the "Jannti darwaja" of Dargah for peace in Kashmir Valley. The Anjuman Committee honoured Omar, his wife and other family members as also Farooq.Khadim Fakhre Moin did ''Dastarbandi'' (presenting headgear to Omar and his family members) and offered ''Tabarruk'' (eatables in the form of sweet or water).

However, the 300 percent hike in their monthly salary - from Rs.16,000 a month to Rs.50,000 - won't be altered, the sources said.

The latest decision comes two days after Congress trouble shooter and Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee met the protesting MPs over the issue. Though it remains to be seen if the parliamentarians agree to the further hike, the sources said Mukherjee has already taken them into confidence.

The government earlier Friday cleared the salary hike proposal and doubled other perks, but dissatisfied MPs from various parties stalled Lok Sabha proceedings demanding more money.

The protesting MPs led by Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Lalu Prasad said it is less than the Rs.80,001 as recommended by a parliamentary committee, which had proposed that MPs should get at least a rupee more than top bureaucrats.

An MP at present gets Rs.16,000 as monthly salary and a daily allowance of Rs.1,000 for each day when parliament is in session or taking part in house committee meetings. This has also been doubled.

Besides, a member is entitled to a constituency allowance of Rs.20,000 a month and an office expense allowance of Rs.20,000 each month. These perks were doubled Friday and the sources said the government has hiked these allowances each by Rs.5,000 more.

MPs' conveyance allowance has gone from Rs.1 lakh to Rs.4 lakh. Spouses of MPs are entitled to free train travel from their place of residence to Delhi. They also get up to eight free plane tickets from their place of residence to Delhi.

The bill seeking amendments to the Salaries and Allowances of Members of Parliament Act, 1954, after being cleared by the cabinet will be tabled in parliament most likely Wednesday to be passed by both houses before the hike is actually implemented.

CPI-M asks parties to oppose new amendments to N-bill

Stepping up its offensive, the CPI-M today accused the Government of bringing in changes to the Nuclear Liability Bill at the behest of the US and wanting to see its passage in Parliament before President Barack Obama''s visit to India in November. "Most of the energies of this Government is to somehow see that this bill is passed before President Obama comes to India in November.

That itself is a telling commentary on what are the priorities concerned," CPI(M) General Secretary Prakash Karat told reporters in Srinagar. He said the bill was brought "at the behest of the US".

The US wants to sell nuclear reactors to India and if there is a nuclear accident, the foreign companies should have no liability, he said. "That is the purpose of this bill.

It''s a shameful thing that you need a bill like this," he said. Berating the new changes in the Bill, CPI-M politburo member and Rajya Sabha MP Brinda Karat said Government has gone against the recommendations of the Parliamentary Standing Committee that went into the provisions of the draft legislation for a third time.

"Definitely, it is not in national interest.

the latest amendment goes against the recommendations of the Standing Committee of Parliament," she said adding it was aimed at protecting foreign suppliers.

"As far as national interest is concerned, we certainly request and think all parties should move against the amendments," she said. One of the 18 amendments cleared by the Union Cabinet suggests that an accident in a nuclear plant should have occurred as a consequence of an act done with an "intent" if an operator has to claim damages from the supplier.

The Left parties had yesterday slammed the new amendments and said it would make it impossible to ascribe liability to suppliers of equipment to new atomic power plants. "The formulation of 17 (b) proposed in the amendment is in fact worse than the provision contained in the original bill," they said.

NIA asked to get consent of terror suspects for polygraph test

The National Investigation Agency was today asked by a Delhi court to get the consent of Mumbai and Kerala-based terrors suspects, alleged aides of David Coleman Headley, for their lie-detection tests in connection with plotting the Mumbai 26/11 attack and other strikes in India from 2005 to 2009. "Since all the accused are from Mumbai and Kerala, let the Investigation Officer (IO) file on record the willingness of these persons to undergo the polygraph tests before asking them to appear in this court to ascertain their willingness," District and Sessions Judge S P Garg said.

The NIA, in its plea filed through Superintendent of Police Swayam Prakash Pani, provided the court the names of some Indian terror suspects in a sealed envelope and requested their identities be not revealed. The move to conduct polygraph (lie detection) tests on the accused assumed significance as the NIA has recently secured NBWs against two serving Pakistani Army Majors and three LeT operatives.

The NIA, in its application, said "the notices may be issued to the persons (mentioned in the sealed cover) so that they may be present before this court in an in-camera proceeding.

so that their consent could be sought by the NIA and, if given, duly recorded by the court".

The probe agency, in the FIR lodged on November 11 last year, has made American of Pakistani origin Headley, Tawahoor Rana, Canadian national also of Pakistani origin, who are now in the custody of FBI, Mumbai terror mastermind Hafiz Sayeed, LeT operations commander Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi, two Pakistani officers Major Iqbal and Major Sameer Ali along with Lashkar operatives Sajid Majid, Syed Abdur Rehman and Illyas Kashmiri as accused. The accused are wanted in connection with terror attacks in Mumbai, Delhi and other places during 2005 to 2009.

Sikh delegation meets Kashmir Guv

A delegation of the All India Shiromani Akali Dal leaders today met Governor N N Vohra at Raj Bhavan in shrinagar and discussed the situation in Kashmir Valley and issues relating to welfare of the Sikh community. The six-member delegation, led by S Jaswant Singh Maan, demanded measures for socio-economic development of the Sikh community, their representation in various bodies, including the State Legislature, J&K Public Service Commission and J&K Subordinate Services Recruitment Board.

In their memorandum of demands, they wanted launching of a special recruitment drive for the Sikh youth in Kashmir Valley and teaching of Punjabi language in the schools in the Valley. Other demands included setting up of a Punjabi Department in the University of Kashmir and establishing a Punjabi section in the Jammu and Kashmir State Academy of Art, Culture and Languages.

Government hoodwinking nation on n-bill: BJP

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Monday accused the government of trying to 'hoodwink' the nation by trying to bring in amendments to the civil nuclear liability bill that would let foreign suppliers off the hook.
'Why is the government trying to hoodwink the nation? Why is the government trying to mislead the nation? Why is the government hell bent on introducing this clause which absolves the foreign suppliers totally?,' BJP spokesperson Rajiv Pratap Rudy told reporters here Monday.
The latest contentions have arisen over the reported amendment in section 17 of the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Bill approved by the cabinet Friday, which empowers the Indian operator of a nuclear facility to sue the foreign supplier of any defective equipment in case of a nuclear accident only if the supply was 'made with the intent to cause nuclear damage'.
Rudy brandished a single page document, which he said had been included in the official packet sent out to members of the Parliamentary Standing committee on Science and Technology, which was examining the bill.
'It was unsigned, but since it was put in the official packet, we assumed it was from the government,' he said, adding that the page listed five amendments, including that of clause 17.
The BJP spokesperson said that the secretary of the Department of Atomic Energy had apologized for sending this document 'by mistake'. 'That day itself, the issue of intent was totally rejected by the committee,' he said.
He asserted that it will be very difficult for the BJP to support the nuclear liability bill unless the government relents and brings back the original proposed legislation.

Treat Kashmir problem as human one: PDP to Centre
The opposition PDP today appealed to the Centre to initiate an unconditional dialogue within the ambit of humanity to resolve the lingering Kashmir problem.
"The approach adopted by the Centre is unfortunate. It admits Kashmir is a 63-year-old issue but is laying conditions for dialogue," PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti said.
"Why not take the Kashmir problem as a human one and try to resolve it," she told reporters here.
Mehbooba said she was making the appeal to the Centre, especially the prime minister, as the state government had become "defunct, irrelevant and visionless".
She said the problem could not be resolved with the treatment being meted out to the people.
"You have brought weapons from Israel but the problem remained. You have used all methods but the problem remained."
The PDP head said dialogue was the only way to resolve the issue and the prime minister should intervene and initiate unconditional talks with the people.
Asked whether she would go to New Delhi and meet the prime minister in this regard, she said "we will not go with a begging bowl. The Centre should initiate talks with the people within the ambit of humanity if they want to save Kashmir".
"Unless Kashmir problem is treated as a human problem, it will not be resolved," she said.

Govt announces Rs.1,050 crore sops for exporters!

The government will provide an additional incentive of Rs.1,050 crore to labour- intensive sectors like handicrafts, handlooms and leather goods, whose exports have been badly hit by the downturn in the US and Europe, Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma said Monday.

'In order to give immediate relief, a bonus incentive is being provided to sectors whose exports are still not doing well,' Sharma said, announcing the annual supplement to the foreign trade policy.

The government has already announced an incentive package of Rs.1,350 crore. 'Rs.1,050 crore bonus incentive will be in addition to the package announced earlier,' said Commerce Secretary Rahul Khullar, adding the incentive schemes will be effective from April 1, 2010.

Labour intensive sectors such as handicrafts, handlooms, silk carpets, leather and leather manufacturers, sports goods, toys and some bicycle parts businesses are covered under the scheme.

India's exports growth slowed to 13.2 percent in July this year against 30.4 percent in the previous month. This has prompted the government to announce incentive measures otherwise it would not be feasible to achieve a target of $200 billion exports in fiscal 2010-11.

'Some sectors are still struggling to recover from the demand shocks of the global economic slowdown. For these sectors we are providing additional benefits,' commerce minister said.

In addition to the above mentioned sectors, certain new engineering and electronic items, finished leather, rubber products, packaged coconut water and coconut shell worked items have been covered under the incentive scheme.

Talking to reporters, Khullar said the incentives would be in the form of revenue outgo. 'It will be basically in the form of tax outgo and interest rates incentives,' he added.

The facility of interest subvention of 2 percent, currently available for handicrafts, handlooms, carpets and SMEs, is being extended for a number of specified products pertaining to leather and leather manufacturers, jute manufacturing, including floor covering, engineering goods and textile sector for the current financial year.

On $200 billion merchandise exports target for the current fiscal, the minister said, 'with the present growth trend, we are on course to achieve export target for 2010-11.'

In 2009-10, total merchandise exports from India was $178.66 billion.

20 Aug, 2010, 07.39AM IST, Amita Shah,ET Bureau

Supplier liability to save nuke bill

Bowing to pressure from BJP, the government has indicated that it would not spare foreign suppliers of liability for accident caused by their negligence.

Bowing to pressure from BJP, the government has indicated that it would not spare foreign suppliers of liability for accident caused by their negligence. The U-turn was prompted by BJP's decision to rollback its support for the bill unless the government made suppliers liable for nuclear accident.

BJP had earlier alleged that a 'clumsily' stapled note was stealthily included in the standing committee's report to dilute the liability of the supplier. The main opposition , which had offered its support to the government on Tuesday, conveyed to the government on Thursday evening that it cannot bank on its support unless the required changes were made to hold suppliers liable for nuclear damage.

The developments forced the Centre to put off a meeting of the Union Cabinet, scheduled for Thursday, to Friday, to approve the bill. However, with the government keen on ensuring passage of the bill in the ongoing session, it may make the required concessions to get BJP on board.

At a meeting with S&T minister Prithviraj Chauhan, BJP leader Arun Jaitley had said the report of the Standing Committee on Science and Technology made the supplier liable for damages only if a firm agreed to give it in writing. The note added in the report included a word 'and' between clauses 17 (a) and 17 (b) that diluted the suppliers' liability. "The operator of a nuclear installation shall have a right of recourse where (a) such right is expressly provided for in a contract in writing; and (b) the nuclear accident has resulted as a consequence of latent or patent defect, supply of sub-standard material, defective equipment or services or from the gross negligence on the part of the supplier of the material , equipment or services; and (c) the nuclear accident has resulted from the act of commission or omission of a person done with the intent to cause nuclear damage," the standing committee report had said.

BJP, which was unhappy about the government tampering with the agreed draft, had pointed out that while clause 17 (b) gives protection to operators, the word 'and' snatches it away. It said that clause 17 (a) provides for an agreement in writing in order to enable the operator to exercise the right of recourse against a supplier. "Since the nuclear power plants are to be operated only by the government or government companies, it would be to our own advantage to delete the word 'and' ," Mr Jaitley told Mr Chavan.

Both BJP and Left are of the view that the government was acting under US pressure. CPM general secretary Prakash Karat appealed to all parties supporting the nuclear liability bill to reconsider their stand in the light of the addition of the 'notorious' word 'and' in the report. "The real issue is that the bill is being brought as a result of the demand of the US that its suppliers are exempt from liability . India has already given the commitment ," he said at a press conference along with other Left leaders A B Bardhan , Debabrata Biswas and Abani Roy. Mr Karat said that American industries had objected to clause 17 (b) and now the government has made it contingent on 17 (a). "The original bill was better. I would like to ask parties supporting the bill to look at this. If 'and' is deleted, the problem will be solved," he said.
Asked if the Left will support the bill in that case, he said it would depend on the final shape the legislation takes.

IT'S CHEATING

BJP alleged that a 'clumsily' stapled note into the report was stealthily included later to dilute liability of the supplier BJP conveyed to the government that it cannot bank on its support unless the required changes are made to hold suppliers liable for nuclear damage With the govt keen on ensuring passage of the bill in the ongoing session, it is expected to make the required concessions to get BJP on board. CPM general secretary Prakash Karat appealed to all parties supporting the nuclear liability bill to reconsider their stand in the light of the addition of the word 'and' in the report

BJP has said it wants an India-centric bill. Does it mean foreign suppliers should have no liability?

PRAKASH KARAT CPM GENERAL SECRETARY
21 Aug, 2010, 07.20AM IST, Vikas Dhoot,ET Bureau

MPs' 'take home' salary Rs 45 lakh a year

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Narayana Murthy wants armed forces to be 'instrument of change'

PUNE: Infosys chairman and chief mentor N.R. Narayana Murthy has urged the armed forces to become the instrument of change for weeding out obsolete dogmas and stagnant mindsets to enable India become a force to reckon with among the leading countries in the world.

"The armed forces are one of the last bastions in which the nation has complete faith. So, it is the duty of each of the cadets to uphold the values and supplement this belief," Murthy said while addressing the cadets of the elite National Defence Academy (NDA) here late Friday.

Expressing his firm belief in the concept of change, Murthy stressed the need for uprooting corruption, weeding out outdated principles and stagnant mindsets to enable the nation become a force in the international arena.

"Education is the only way to improve society, I urge you to go ahead and make the most of your training, go forth and become the instrument of change," Murthy exhorted the young cadets, speaking on 'Leadership and the expectations of the nation from the armed forces'.

Murthy confessed that the discipline inculcated in the NDA always inspired him and it is something that the nation could also learn from.

Commandant of NDA, Vice Admiral Satish Soni welcomed the distinguished speaker and presented him to the cadets.

Nuclear Power Corporation cautions against nuclear liability bill amendments

Daily News & Analysis - ‎1 hour ago‎
Place: Mumbai | Agency: PTI While opposition parties see red in the latest amendments made to the nuclear liability bill, the Nuclear Power Corporation today cautioned that under these changes no Indian or foreign manufacturer would be able to serve ...

BJP refuses to support govt on Nuclear Liability Bill

Times of India - ‎1 hour ago‎
NEW DELHI: Under attack from Left and Right for some proposed amendments in the Nuclear Liability Bill, government on Monday sought to reach out to BJP but the main Opposition party said it doubts the "intent" behind the move and could not commit ...

Questioning govt's intent, BJP says it cannot back N-bill without key change

The Hindu - Vinay Kumar - ‎37 minutes ago‎
The Hindu We have conveyed to the government that without mentioning "and" and "intent", the Standing Committee report on the bill is fine: Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley. File photo The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday insisted ...

"Go back to the Standing Committee on language of Clause 17(B). After that we will see (on support)," Jaitley said as having told Chavan.
more by Arun Jaitley - 1 hour ago - Times of India (9 occurrences)

BJP won't allow UPA to work under US pressure, says Munde

Sify - ‎1 hour ago‎
PTI Kolhapur: Senior BJP leader Gopinath Munde today said his party will not allow UPA government to work under US pressure. Referring to Nuclear Liability Bill, Munde told the concluding session of Maharashtra BJP's executive meet that BJP wont allow ...

Government hoodwinking nation on n-bill: BJP

Sify - ‎2 hours ago‎
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Monday accused the government of trying to 'hoodwink' the nation by trying to bring in amendments to the civil nuclear liability bill that would let foreign suppliers off the hook. 'Why is the government trying to ...

BJP relents, nuclear bill report in Parliament Wednesday

Times of India - ‎Aug 17, 2010‎
NEW DELHI: Ending weeks of impasse over the the contentious civil nuclear liability bill, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Tuesday indicated its willingness to accept the trebling of compensation in case of an accident to Rs 1500 crore, a key proposal ...

Supplier liability to save nuke bill

Economic Times - ‎Aug 19, 2010‎
Bowing to pressure from BJP, the government has indicated that it would not spare foreign suppliers of liability for accident caused by their negligence. Bowing to pressure from BJP, the government has indicated that it would not spare foreign ...

Nuclear Liability Bill faces fresh hurdles from BJP, Left

Times of India - ‎Aug 22, 2010‎
NEW DELHI: The Nuclear Liability Bill faced fresh roadblocks on Sunday with the BJP and the Left parties asserting that they would oppose any dilution of the suppliers' liability. Both the BJP and the Left parties have apprehensions over an amendment ...

18 changes in nuclear liability bill

Daily News & Analysis - ‎Aug 20, 2010‎
Bowing to pressure from the opposition, the government made 18 changes in the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Bill, 2010, while adopting most of the recommendations made by the parliamentary standing committee. However, the government has rejected ...

'Nuclear liability Bill will clip wings of India's nuclear technology'

The Hindu - ‎Aug 19, 2010‎
Former chairman of the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board, A. Gopalakrishnan, has said the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Bill will lead to clipping the wings of India's indigenous nuclear technology capabilities. Mr. Gopalakrishnan, a stringent critic ...
All 223 related articles »

Bharatiya Janata Party
Nuclear power
Lok Sabha

Timeline of articles

Number of sources covering this story

	Nuclear Power Corporation cautions against nuclear liability bill amendments ‎1 hour ago‎ - Daily News & Analysis
	Final version of nuclear bill lets suppliers off the hook again ‎Aug 21, 2010‎ - The Hindu
	18 changes in nuclear liability bill ‎Aug 20, 2010‎ - Daily News & Analysis
	Supplier liability to save nuke bill ‎Aug 19, 2010‎ - Economic Times
	Operator will be at supplier's mercy: Left parties ‎Aug 19, 2010‎ - The Hindu
	Nuclear liability bill silent on impact of radiation on plant workers ‎Aug 18, 2010‎ - Daily News & Analysis
	N-bill liability cap hiked to Rs 1500 cr, suppliers' liability fixed ‎Aug 18, 2010‎ - Economic Times
	BJP relents, nuclear bill report in Parliament Wednesday ‎Aug 17, 2010‎ - Times of India

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Nuclear Liability Bill faces fresh hurdles from BJP, Left
NewsX - Aug 22, 2010 Watch video
<div class="video-thumb thumbnail"><a class="js-link thumbnail-toggle" href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="return false;"><img src="http://i.ytimg.com/vi/qp7QKGp5v-w/default.jpg" alt="" class="thumbnail" width="120" height="90"> <div class="icon play-icon"></div></a></div> <div class="video-details"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qp7QKGp5v-w">Nuclear Liability Bill faces fresh hurdles from BJP, Left</a> <span class="source">NewsX</span>  -  Aug 22, 2010 <div class="icon video-icon"></div> <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qp7QKGp5v-w">Watch video</a></div>

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Kashmir stone pelters get a taste of their own medicine

Daily News & Analysis - ‎1 hour ago‎
Place: Srinagar | Agency: PTI In a unique protest against separatists who have been forcing businesses to shut down under one pretext or another, shopkeepers have given stone pelters a taste of their own medicine. Separatists trying to enforce a shut ...

Protesters in Kashmir face stones, their own bitter pill

Times of India - Sumir Kaul - ‎5 hours ago‎
SRINAGAR: Fed up with repeated strikes by separatists in Kashmir Valley, shopkeepers are up in arms against protestors, who are tasting their own bitter pill as locals are attacking them with stones. Clerics have also started making fervent appeals ...
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PM, Ramesh asssured me of speedy clearance to Posco: Naveen

Read more: PM, Ramesh asssured me of speedy clearance to Posco: Naveen - India - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/PM-Ramesh-asssured-me-of-speedy-clearance-to-Posco-Naveen/articleshow/6421926.cms#ixzz0xRV0xi65NEW DELHI: Pushing for expediting the Posco steel plant, Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Monday said he has received an assurance from both Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh on speedy clearance for the Rs 54,000-crore project in the state.

However, the Orissa Chief Minister was evasive when asked if the Prime Minister has given a similar promise on the multi-billion dollar proposed mining project of Vedanta group, which has been accused of violation of tribal and forest norms, in Niyamgirl hills of the state.

But, he said, the State Forest Secretary U N Behera said will be meeting the Environment Minister tomorrow to see that the Vedanta issue is expedited.

Upset over key projects in his state being stalled, Patnaik had met the Prime Minister to apprise him of the situation and seek speedy approval for them.

"I met the Prime Minister and Union Environment Minister regarding large projects in the state that they should not be stopped as they will bring a great deal of investment to Orissa and generate employment opportunities. They should be expedited," he told PTI.

He said Ramesh has promised to "hasten" the South Korean steel giant's proposed project, billed as the country's single largest dose of FDI, which is lying pending for the last five years in the absence of green nod from the Environment Ministry.

Confident that both the projects will sail through in due course, Patnaik dismissed apprehensions that the Korean steel giant and UK-based Vedanta Resources will pull out of the state due to delay.

"They have not said they would be pulling out at all," he said adding "I think everyone is quite aware about these projects and I do certainly hope they would be expedited".

The Chief Minister said some members of a Forest Ministry panel headed by Meena Gupta will soon visit the Posco project site at Jagatsinghpur in Orissa to review the compliance by the state government with the Forest Rights Act (FRA) and Forest Conservation Act while acquiring the land for it.

The Environment Ministry has set up the Meena Gupta panel after Orissa government opposed N C Saxena committee's interim report on Posco saying it was based on falsified documents and that no one had traditional rights in the area under FRA.

Regarding Vedanta's project at Niyamgiri Hills, he maintained "our state forest secretary will meet the Environment Minister tomorrow to see that these matter is expediated."

Ramesh separately told PTI that he has asked the Gupta committee to expedite the Posco project but did not discuss the Vedanta proposal with the Orissa CM.

Vedanta Group firm Sterlite Industries is in pact with the Orissa Mining Corporation for the project and as per the agreement OMC would mine bauxite at the site.

On the upcoming visit of Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi to protest at Niyamgiri Hills on August 26, Patnaik said "he is free to visit any place in the state. But the developmenatl progress of the state ought not to be hindered."

The Congress leader had during his earlier visit in March, 2008, said he was opposed to mining activities at Niyamgiri hills which is a eco-fragile area in the Eastern Ghat.

Patnaik said the Prime Minister has also assured him on the Polavaram dam project in Andhra Pradesh, saying none of the tribal villages in Orissa would be submerged.
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Naveen to take up Pollavaram, Posco issues with PM
Naveen to push Vedanta with PM today
POSCO committed to steel plant project in Orissa
POSCO hints at relocation of Orissa project

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Read more: PM, Ramesh asssured me of speedy clearance to Posco: Naveen - India - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/PM-Ramesh-asssured-me-of-speedy-clearance-to-Posco-Naveen/articleshow/6421926.cms#ixzz0xRVCCJ4t

PM, Ramesh asssured me of speedy clearance to Posco: Naveen

Times of India - ‎41 minutes ago‎
NEW DELHI: Pushing for expediting the Posco steel plant, Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Monday said he has received an assurance from both Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh on speedy clearance for the Rs ...

India leader claims progress on Posco steel project

AFP - ‎2 hours ago‎
NEW DELHI — The chief minister of a remote eastern Indian state said Monday he had won a promise from the prime minister to speed up the clearance of 12-billion-dollar steel project by South Korea's POSCO. But Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik ...

PM nodded to Vedanta, Posco projects: Patnaik

Oneindia - ‎4 hours ago‎
New Delhi, Aug 23: Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik in New Delhi, on Aug 23, discussed with Manmohan Singh about the various projects facing delays in the state. After facing hit from the centre over mining projects in his state, Patnaik raised ...

On the upcoming visit of Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi to protest at Niyamgiri Hills on August 26, Patnaik said "he is free to visit any place in the state. But the developmenatl progress of the state ought not to be hindered."
more by Naveen Patnaik - 41 minutes ago - Times of India (2 occurrences)

Orissa Chief Minister to meet PM to discuss Vedanta, Posco projects

Economic Times - ‎9 hours ago‎
NEW DELHI: Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik will meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh here on Monday regarding the NC Saxena Committee report on Vedanta mining and Posco steel plant projects. He will also discuss the Polavaram (Indira Sagar) issue. ...

Patnaik meets PM, seeks clearance to Posco, Vedanta

Sify - ‎1 hour ago‎
Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik Monday hoped the centre would clear the stalled Posco and Vedanta projects in the state expeditiously and address its concerns over the Polavaram dam being built by Andhra Pradesh. 'Prime Minister assured me of ...

PM said, will try to hasten Posco: Naveen Patnaik

NDTV.com - ‎4 hours ago‎
Bhubaneswar: Upset over key projects in his state being stalled, Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Monday met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to apprise him of the situation. Patnaik has hit out at Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh for his alleged ...

Naveen Patnaik to meet PM on stalled projects

Economic Times - ‎16 hours ago‎
NEW DELHI: Orissa chief minister Naveen Patnaik is taking his case to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh as the fate of Vedanta's plans to source bauxite from the Niamgiri Hills in Orissa continues to hang in balance. The Forest Advisory Committee, ...

Naveen to take up Pollavaram, Posco issues with PM

Times of India - ‎Aug 22, 2010‎
BHUBANESWAR: Annoyed over Saxena panel's adverse remarks against Vedanta and Posco projects in the state and Centre's clearance to Pollavaram project in Andhra Pradesh, Orissa chief minister Naveen Patnaik on Sunday rushed to Delhi for drawing ...

Naveen to push Vedanta with PM today

Economic Times - ‎19 hours ago‎
NEW DELHI: The Orissa government seems to be fighting a last minute battle for Vedanta with chief minister Naveen Patnaik slated to meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Monday and the state shooting off a strongly-worded letter to the environment and ...

Patnaik to bring Vedanta to PM court

Hindustan Times - ‎21 hours ago‎
After the environment ministry's Forest Advisory Committee (FAC) reportedly refused approval to bauxite mining for Vedanta Resources, the Orissa government is planning to go all-out to save the project in the state. While Orissa Chief Minister Navin ...
All 32 related articles »

Naveen Patnaik
Vedanta
Orissa
Manmohan Singh
POSCO
Andhra Pradesh

Timeline of articles

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	PM, Ramesh asssured me of speedy clearance to Posco: Naveen ‎41 minutes ago‎ - Times of India
	Naveen to take up Pollavaram, Posco issues with PM ‎Aug 22, 2010‎ - Times of India
	I am committed to make Orissa number one in country: CM Naveen Patnaik ‎Aug 21, 2010‎ - Daily News & Analysis

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Orissa CM to take up Posco, Vedanta issue with PM
NewsX - 22 hours ago Watch video
<div class="video-thumb thumbnail"><a class="js-link thumbnail-toggle" href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="return false;"><img src="http://i.ytimg.com/vi/nLy92lP54u8/default.jpg" alt="" class="thumbnail" width="120" height="90"> <div class="icon play-icon"></div></a></div> <div class="video-details"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nLy92lP54u8">Orissa CM to take up Posco, Vedanta issue with PM</a> <span class="source">NewsX</span>  -  22 hours ago <div class="icon video-icon"></div> <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nLy92lP54u8">Watch video</a></div>

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Orissa Chief Minister to meet PM to discuss Vedanta, Posco projects

Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik will meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh here on Monday regarding the NC Saxena Committee report on Vedanta mining and Posco steel plant projects.

He will also discuss the Polavaram (Indira Sagar) issue.

The state government has been opposing the Polavaram project over river Godavari by Andhra Pradesh government as it claims that it would submerge many areas of Malkangiri district of Orissa.

The state government had earlier questioned the blockage of Posco project and Vedanta at the same time when it has approved the Polavaram Dam without conducting Gram Sabhas and public hearings in the state.

Meanwhile, the Environment Ministry has recently given its green signal to divert over 3,000 hectares of forest land for the construction of Indira Sagar (Polavaram) multi-purpose project.

The Saxena panel had found serious violations in the provisions of environmental clearance and the Environment Protection Act by Vedanta.

One such violation related to the unauthorised expansion of capacity from one million tonne a year to six million tons.

The expansion had no environment clearance and Vedanta is said to have ignored repeated notices sent by the Orissa Pollution Control Board to stop work.

Set up by the Environment Ministry early this year, the committee, which investigated alleged violations of environmental laws by Vedanta, also accused the company of illegally occupying forest land for its USD 1.7 billion project.

Swiss banks list out four conditions for sharing info

Facing flak from India and others for acting as a safe haven to foreigners stowing away wealth, Swiss banks have said they will share account details of suspected money launderers if the request is supported by four specific details.

The specific details that someone requesting information should provide are the identity of the suspected offenders, details of the alleged offence, along with facts to undermine the suspicion, name of the bank and branch concerned in Switzerland and a written request from the foreign country's tax authority.

India is believed to have completed talks with Switzerland to amend their bilateral tax treaty, which would pave the way for authorities here to seek details of illicit wealth stashed away by Indians in Swiss banks.

Having made it clear earlier that it won't encourage "fishing expeditions" by any country, Swiss banks have also said that account details would not be exchanged automatically and would be shared with foreign countries only under their taxation agreements.

Switzerland-based banks' apex body, the influential Swiss Bankers Association (SBA), has listed out the set of conditions for providing bank account details to other countries in its latest 'compendium' on the Swiss banking sector being distributed to various stakeholders.

The 2010 edition of the Compendium, which is an updated version of its last edition published in 2006, is "intended above all for readers outside the industry who seek to gain a general understanding of the banking sector," SBA said.

Switzerland is revising tax treaties with various countries, including India, as per an international model agreement on double taxation, which governs the exchange of information, or mutual administrative assistance among the tax authorities of the signatory countries.

In its latest Compendium, SBA has said that the banks' client confidentiality would still remain safeguarded and "administrative assistance" would be given only in isolated cases and the practice known as "fishing expeditions," where countries seek to flip through multiple accounts in the hope of finding incriminating evidence, is yet not permitted.

SBA has further said that "administrative assistance" would be provided subject to certain conditions.

"The foreign tax authority has to submit a request in writing, stating an adequately reasonable suspicion," the first condition says. The second makes it mandatory for the request to "contain a specific reference to the identity of the person liable to tax".

The other two conditions says that "the facts of the tax evasion case have to be adequately described (and), the bank or branch concerned has to be specified."

The issue of secret Swiss bank accounts is a political hot potato and a poll plank during last year's general elections.

Read more: PM, Ramesh asssured me of speedy clearance to Posco: Naveen - India - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/PM-Ramesh-asssured-me-of-speedy-clearance-to-Posco-Naveen/articleshow/6421926.cms#ixzz0xRV5yhPu

Threats to Sikhs in Kashmir, a very serious matter: BJP

Describing continuance of violence and threats to Sikhs in Kashmir as a very serious matter, senior BJP leader Chaman Lal Gupta today alleged that both central and state governments were failing to deal with anti-national elements. "Total anarchy is prevailing in Valley for about two months but the leaders of the coalition of National Conference (NC) and Congress are playing a dubious role," Gupta said here while interacting with party activists, including Sikhs, on the happenings in Kashmir and Sikhs being threatened there.

He said what was happening in Valley was not an isolated issue but part of the same game-plan which was occurring in certain parts of Afghanistan as also in Pakistan because of ''Taliban type'' of extremism. After forcing out Kashmiri Pandits, they are making Sikhs their target now, which is a serious matter, the former union minister said.

"The failure of both the state and central government leaders speaks volumes about it. Virtually, they are responsible for what was happening in Kashmir," he said.

As far as Pakistan is concerned, there is no secret that they have launched a proxy war, he said. The BJP leader said the need of the hour is to take firm measures to deal with those indulging in stone pelting and other unlawful acts.

Parents in Valley asked to send their children to schools

Minister for School Education Peerzada Mohammed Sayeed today appealed the parents of the school children in Kashmir Valley to send their wards to schools as they have already suffered a lot due to frequent strikes. "Now, there is time for children to attend their schools, complete their pending syllabus and compete at state and national level", Peerzada said in a statement.

He said all schools are functioning in Jammu and Ladakh regions but students in Srinagar are suffering.

Farmers'' outfit gives call for UP bandh

Kisan Sangharsh Samiti, an outfit spearheading the ongoing farmers'' agitation in this district of Uttar Pradesh, today gave a call for a statewide bandh on August 25 demanding higher compensation for their land acquired for the Yamuna Expressway project. The call was given by the Samiti at the dharna venue here, one of the 30 members of the committee said.

The bandh call has been supported by major opposition parties in the state including the Samajwadi Party, the Congress and the BJP. Farmer groups, including the Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU), are also supporting the agitation. Political observers here feel that Saturday''s unannounced visit by Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi to Jikarpur where the farmers protest is being staged for nearly four weeks now, has given a major boost to the ongoing stir.

During his hour-long visit Rahul Gandhi devoted most of his time talking to family members of those who lost their lives or were seriously injured in the police firing on farmers on August 14.

FACTBOX - What is the status of India's reform proposals?

With India's main opposition party continuing to object to bills on tax reform and opening up the $150 billion nuclear power market, several reforms proposed by the coalition government may be delayed.
The Congress Party-led coalition government has a slim majority in the lower house of parliament, but not in the upper house. The coalition is also composed of several small and fickle parties who are often suspicious of reforms, making the passage of bills in parliament subject to torturous negotiations.
If not passed, the bills can be taken up in the winter session, around November, but pending state elections from the end of the year could narrow the political window to push any controversial policies.
Here are some of the proposals on the government's wish list and their status:
NUCLEAR LIABILITY BILL
The bill is crucial for the entry of firms like U.S.-based General Electric and Westinghouse Electric, a subsidiary of Japan's Toshiba Corp, who are reluctant to step in without clarity on accident compensation.
The main opposition Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) has reneged on a promise to support the bill, saying it makes it difficult to claim compensation from suppliers in case of a nuclear accident.
The bill has the personal backing of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, and government officials have said they are hopeful it will be passed in the current session.
Chance of being passed: HIGH - Probably just a matter of some hard behind-the-scenes bargaining.
GOODS AND SERVICES TAX (GST)
India's most ambitious indirect tax reform, the proposed nationwide GST, will give the economy a boost by cutting business costs and enhancing government revenue. Given the bill is a constitutional amendment, it needs support of half of all Indian states and two thirds of parliament.
But the proposal has been opposed by the BJP and some states, who worry about the loss of their fiscal powers, and some analysts say this could delay the implementation of the reform beyond the targeted April 1, 2011.
Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee is in negotiations with political parties and state finance ministers to evolve a consensus, but the political wrangling makes it unlikely the legislation will come in before the next session in the winter.
Chances of bill be passed: UNLIKELY - This bill really needs wide consensus given its a constitutional amendment.
DIRECT TAXES CODE
The code will simplify India's archaic tax laws, helping improve compliance and remove a deterrent for foreign investors to do business in India. The government plans to implement it from April 1, 2011.
The code intends to cut tax rates to bring in more people and companies under the tax net, phase out profit-linked exemptions for companies and replace them with investment-linked incentives.
Despite there being little opposition to the proposal, the government has so far not indicated it will introduce the bill in the current session, making the chances of ratification low.
Chances of bill being passed: LOW - There's a chance, but it may lose out due to shortage of time the government has in parliament.
FOOD SECURITY BILL
The government plans to expand welfare schemes to give poor households greater quantities of cheap food, which in a country of hundreds of millions of poor is seen as boosting Congress's chances in elections.
But the extra spending will also raise questions if India can keep its fiscal deficit in check and stick to a roadmap of cutting it to 4.1 percent of GDP by 2012/13 from the projected 5.5 percent this year.
The government got back to the drawing board after powerful Congress party chief Sonia Gandhi's unhappiness over the original proposal. With the drafting proposal still on, it is unlikely the bill will be presented to parliament in the current session.
Chances of bill being passed: LOW - Despite the backing of the powerful Gandhi, an ongoing debate on its fiscal impact will probably delay it.
(Compiled by C.J. Kuncheria; Editing by Alistair Scrutton and Miral Fahmy)
(For more news visit Reuters India)

ISI chief met Lakhvi in jail after 26/11: Headley to NIA

Arrested Lashkar-e-Toiba operative David Coleman Headley has told Indian interrogators that Pakistan ISI chief Lt Gen Ahmed Shuja Pasha visited Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi to meet Lashkar's chief military commander Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi, held for the 26/11 attack on Mumbai. Headley also said 'every major action of LeT is done only after the approval of (outfit founder) Hafiz Saeed'.
A Pakistani-American who scouted targets in Mumbai for the Lashkar, Headley was interrogated for 34 hours by a team of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) between June 3 and June 9 in Chicago.
According to a report on the interrogation, accessed by The Indian Express, Headley provided details about the role of the Pakistan government, the ISI and its tie-up with the Lashkar in the 26/11 attack.
Headley told the NIA that ISI paid Rs 25 lakh to Lashkar for purchase of the first boat which was destroyed in a botched attempt to set out for Mumbai in September 2008. 'Headley mentioned that getting a boat loaded with weapons to India has been cleared by Pakistan government authorities,' stated the NIA report.
'After the Mumbai attack, Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi was arrested and kept in Adiala jail. DG (ISI) Shuja Pasha had visited him to understand the Mumbai attack conspiracy. Sajid (top Lashkar commander Sajid Majid or Sajid Mir or Wasi present in the 26/11 mission control room) had claimed before Headley that he had met Zaki when the latter was in jail,' stated the report, quoting Headley.
The ISI, he said, was fully involved in 26/11 and the attacks were possible due to complete support of the Pakistani intelligence agency. 'The money which was used by Headley for surveillance activities in Mumbai was provided by Major Iqbal of the ISI. Every big action of LeT is done in close coordination with the ISI. Every important member of LeT is handled by one or more ISI officials. His (Headley's) ISI handlers were Major Iqbal and Major Sameer Ali. Abdur Rehman Saeed or Hashim was handled by Colonel Shah. Similarly, he knows that one Brigadier Riyaz, based in Muzaffarabad (PoK), handles Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi, the chief military commander of LeT,' the report stated.
Headley, who visited India for reconnaissance nine times from 2005 to 2009, told the NIA that until his sixth visit, the Taj Hotel was the only Lashkar target. 'Sajid had told him on a number of occasions to complete the Taj Hotel reconnaissance. Sajid would also discuss plans like attacking the Taj Hotel during a conference of software engineers by two/three attackers. They had plans to send the attackers through Nepal or Bangladesh. After March 2008, multiple attackers and sea routes were discussed by the LeT leadership,' the report stated.
'Every major action of LeT is done only after the approval of Hafiz Saeed. Headley maintains that Saeed had full knowledge of Mumbai attacks and it was only launched after his approval. Headley believes that Saeed never acknowledges it publicly, though he remains abreast with each and every stage of planning and execution (of terror operations). During his meeting with Saeed, he also mentioned Bal Thackeray (Shiv Sena chief) and the damage he (Thackeray) had done to the Muslim Ummah. Headley believed that this was an indication that LeT wanted to take action on this front,' the report stated.
Headley recognised the voices of Sajid Majid alias Mir, Abu Al Qama and Abu Qahafa but could not place the fourth voice. 'Headley believes that the person giving instructions to the terrorists at Chabad house was Sajid Majid. Sajid instructed the terrorists to kill everybody, including women, in Chabad House. Abu Al Qama was also talking to the terrorists and it was he who was saying to the attackers that the entire Muslim Ummah is looking up to them and they should not fail them. Sajid later told Headley that Abu Hamza was also present in the control room,' stated the report.
Sajid Majid even showed photos of the Mumbai gunmen to Headley before the attacks began on 26/11. The interrogation report also states:
LeT has now formed a naval wing under Yaqoob which will be used against India.
Identified the photographs of Sajid Majid, Abdur Rehman Hashim and Abu Al Qama.
Details of some LeT/ISI safe houses, operational camps and LeT's technological capabilities.
States that activities relating to the task given to him by LeT were not known to any person in India.
Headley, after 26/11, became close to Illyas Kashmiri of al-Qaeda's 313 Brigade and Abdur Rehman alias Pasha who parted ways with LeT.
Headley used to separately brief his ISI handler after each reconnaissance mission to Mumbai. He also carried out exclusive reconnaissance missions for his ISI handlers.
Headley admitted that his reconnaissance videos on five targets in Mumbai, which were attacked on 26/11, were crucial to the mission success.
He also stated that reconnaissance videos in respect of other targets in Mumbai, Delhi, Pune, Goa, Pushkar (Rajasthan) will be used by LeT or 313 Brigade to attack India on a large scale.
(Tomorrow: Part II: The Karachi Project)

India to convey concerns about Taliban to Afghanistan

With Kabul openly accusing Pakistan's military-intelligence establishment of harbouring the Taliban and Al Qaeda, India and Afghanistan will discuss ways to combat the common threat when Afghan Foreign Minister Zalmay Rassoul arrives here Tuesday on a three-day visit.
Rassoul will call on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Tuesday and brief him on the evolving situation in Afghanistan in the wake of the Taliban reintegration plan endorsed by an international conference in Kabul over a month ago.
The two sides will continue talks when External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna meets Rassoul Wednesday for delegation-level talks.
Krishna is likely to convey that any such re-integration process should factor in India's concerns as it continues to get intelligence reports about plans of Pakistan-aided militant outfits like the Haqqani network to target Indian assets in Afghanistan, well-placed sources said.
At the July 20 Kabul conference, Krishna had made it clear that India backs the reintegration plan of the Afghan government, but only on condition the Taliban renounces violence, cuts off links with terrorism and accepts the Afghan constitution.
The two sides will also discuss the security of around 4,000 Indians involved in a slew of professional and reconstruction activities in Afghanistan, said official sources.
This will be the first Afghan ministerial visit to India after WikiLeaks, an online whistle-blower, revealed extensive involvement of Pakistan-backed terror groups in attacks against Indian personnel and interests in the violence-torn country.
Rassoul is also likely to tell Krishna about a recent conference involving Russia, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Tajikistan in Moscow, said sources.
With Afghan parliamentary elections set for Sep 18, the Afghan side is also expected to inform India about the security situation in the country. Since campaigning officially started in June, violence has spiralled, killing around 300 civilians.
India is concerned about the recent signs of bonhomie between the Hamid Karzai government and the powers-that-be in Islamabad. Kabul, however, continues to be uneasy about Islamabad's increasingly proactive role in the reconciliation with the Taliban.
In a hard-hitting article in The Washington Post published Monday, Afghan National Security Adviser Rangin Dadfar Spanta warned the global community against committing a blunder by embracing Pakistan as a strategic partner despite the fact that terrorism emanating from the region is affecting India, Britain and others.
'Unfortunately, the military-intelligence establishment of one of our neighbours still regards Afghanistan as its sphere of influence,' stated Spanta, also a former foreign minister.
He claimed that despite the domestic terrorist threats, Pakistan 'continues to provide sanctuary and support to the (Taliban's) Quetta Shura, the Haqqani network, the Hekmatyar group and Al Qaeda.'
'And while the documents recently disclosed by WikiLeaks contained information that was neither new nor surprising, they did make public further evidence of the close relations among the Taliban, Al Qaeda and Pakistani intelligence,' he wrote.
Spanta's article has been noticed in Delhi, and has set the tone for the meeting between Krishna and Rassoul Wednesday.

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No pay-back, no quota

J.N. SUDHAKAR, TAIWAN
There are many urban English-educated Dalits (BC/SC/ST) in our forum including my own family members and friends who can afford to donate to Dalit Voice. All are silent and enjoying the sufferings of millions of Dalits but ever ready to protect and save Brahmins by donating, dancing, jumping, singing, crawling, prostrating and running around their temples. They do not understand the power of the "media centre". Brahminists succeeded by capturing the media. All the educated Dalits, who benefit by reservation policy have a duty to pay back to the Dalit movement. If they fail to pay back, then they are not eligible to use reservations to themselves and to their children. In case, they use reservations to themselves and to their children without paying anything to Dalit movement then they are cheating. I know you from my childhood. Dr. Yadaiah (your Hyderabad representative) is my uncle. I read most of your books. I am very much inspired by your writings. But when I go to people and talk no one is interested to listen or read anything. As you said uneducated poor Dalits are far better than the privileged Dalits. I requested some of my Christian friends to talk to their churches and convince them to donate something to DV. Lets see what they say.

************************

You are the only member of the DV (despite living abroad) seriously worried over the closure of DV. We have our Dalit representatives in different state headquarters whose names appear on every DV p.3. You will be shocked if I tell you: even they (except S.C. Musafir) have not written a word till now. When I think of the state of the Indian educated, privileged Dalits, I silently weep. The uneducated poor Dalits are much better — EDITOR.

Is "Hindu India" dying?

V.T. RAJSHEKAR
Dr. Ambedkar died a sad man. He literally wept like a child saying the "educated people of my community have deceived me".
After a record 30-year-long service, we too have to repeat the same song. If DV dies, it will be nothing but yet another clear signal that the stagnating, if not the stinking Brahminic India, is rushing towards collapse.
Dalits along with Tribals (30%) are India's poorest of the poor whom the Brahminic rulers have crushed and made mince-meat. The other deprived are OBCs (40%) plus Muslims (15%). History has recorded all this.
ONLY VOICE
DV has been their only voice. Not of Dalits alone. This is what the over 75% of oppressed Indians have said. DV has been the voice of the entire Moolnivasi Bahujans. The rulers did not hesitate to kill India itself because they are aliens. Will they spare Dalits?
But it was the duty of elite among Dalits to save at least DV and thereby India. But they did not bother.
Can India live with Dalits and other oppressed (total 75%) on the death-bed?
This is what pains us and often make us weep in silence.

DV FAILED BECAUSE

Brahminism killed Bahujan desire to learn

GURNAM SINGH MUKTSAR, 2 - BHAGAT SINGH NAGAR, B/H BUS STAND, MUKTSAR - 152 026
Perhaps this is third time when our great warrior- scholar, in total sadness, is expressing his desire to stop Dalit Voice. Till today our people have not allowed him to take this disastrous step that he accepted with heavy heart. But how long it will continue? No doubt our beloved VTR had good dreams for a total change in the caste and hate-based society of this country of ours but under the mountain of Brahmanism. He desired to get it free from the clutches of Vaidik Brahmin Aryans. In 30-long years of struggle he could change only the minds. He could not change the masses. Why? Because he as an expert in English, he could pass on the true message of Babasaheb to the world unknown. He could tell about the blood-sucker Brahminism to the world. This effort made England to pass a Bill against casteism (Brahminism). We now listen about the giant of casteism even in UNO. The world has come to know this truth of caste-based racial hate in India because of DV. This is the achievement of Dalit Voice and that of VTR.
VTR is a scholar-intellectual but not a mass leader. He has contacts all over India and the world. He is a great scholar but not a mass leader as Babasaheb. Kanshi Ram could gather lakhs. But VTR is a great scholar on Ambedkarism and he too has created a mental revolution. I know him since 1981-82. His ideas have given me a mountain of knowledge that has become Mansrovar that supplies water through rivers and canals to the villages ,where the downtrodden dwell.
VTR could run a movement of ideas to free Indian masses, victims of BSO. He has guided the world on the lines of our great saviours like Phule-Shahu and Ambedkar. Since 1981-82, as a Dalit Untouchable Sikh, I am going to my people to get them free form the jaws of Brahminism. There I use the knowledge of VTR, I gained through Dalit Voice. VTR ideas are the guidelines for social revolution. Moreover DV has brought mass recognition to those scholars of the Bahujans not known to the masses of India like me. Through DV I have come in contact with revolutionary scholars. Like Mahatma Phule and Shahu Maharaj who belonged to Backward Castes, VTR too as a Backward Caste man has continued the ideological revolution. Who can forget this struggle? VTR has created the history of Bahujans. He has exposed the Vaidik Brahmins who always loot and fool the Bahujans.
Kanshi Ram's media centre: There is a gulf between a scholarly work and a mass work. One can work on both fronts like Babasaheb and Kanshi Ram. As Vaman Meshram is doing. It is not impossible.
I request VTR to forget the idea of mass media to wake up the revolutionary masses. He very well knows what has happened to the "media centre" set up by Kanshi ram. Mayawati is in power but she never desired such a media. BAMCEF wanted such a media. But it could not achieve it. This dream cannot be achieved.
Because Brahmins have stolen away our will to learn.
If the DV circulation had gone up to 50,000, the "media centre" could have taken shape. We cannot exceed some thousands because our men have no desire to learn. During the past 30 years DV has created such lust at least among some out of 110 crore Indians who have not gone to school even. It is a struggle against the Brahminical mountains lying before us.
So dear VTR, keep silent on "media centre" but do the great work you have done since three decades. Your life is a model for such an ideological struggle. Your life is more precious for the Bahujans. Will you leave them in jungle? Babasaheb did not prefer to die but live for Bahujans. You are his staunch follower. Be hopeful. We in lakhs are struggling for your dreams. (gurman.singh.muktsar@gmail.com)

******************

When people don't get angry what mass action can do?

You have asked us to forget the "media centre" plan and get into mass movement, which ultimately amounts to politics. For your information Babasaheb and Kanshi Ram also took to mass movement but it had no effect on the masses. Babasaheb will be remembered only for his ideas. Kanshi Ram had no original ideas, he took to politics which today is controlled by Brahmins. Dalits and even BCs (also Muslims) are today so much mentally enslaved by Brahminism that they can't get out of it. India has not seen any revolution. Even physical torture, starvation and extreme deprivation are not provoking our people to revolt. In the light of these what type of mass movement will wake up the masses pretending to sleep? — EDITOR.

Brahmastra to destory Brahminism

COM. AYYANKALI
After reading the latest issue of DV (July 16, 2010) I once again realised strongly that "educated" (Brahminised) Dalits and upper caste Ashraf Muslims are our biggest enemies and betrayers. But I have some hope in Arzal (Pasmanda) Muslims among Christians, Muslims and Sikhs (Mazhabhi) Chamar Sikhs).
I want Arzal/Pasmanda Muslims to think on my suggestion. Ashraf (upper caste) Muslims will never, ever embrace them as brothers because they are more interested in boasting about their Urdu, Arab-Turkish-Persian royal lineage, Prophet Mohammed's lineage and so-called superior blood. Also they are under the influence of Saudi money, zionism and Brahminism.
Arzal/Pasmanda Muslims must adopt any anti-zionist version of Islam. In fact, Mazhabhi/Chamar Sikh Dalits also must do the same thing and abandon the Khatri and Jat-dominated version of Sikhism which is nothing but Brahminism.
Khatri and Jat Sikhs will never embrace Mazhabhi/Chamar Sikhs and Ashraf Muslims will never join their own co-religionists who are the real Mustadafeen.
Liberation theology: Dalit-Muslim unity is simply impossible, impractical and undesirable as well. How can tigers and lambs live together in peace? But Mazhabhi/Chamar Sikh Dalits and Arzal/Pasmanda Dalit Muslims can surely join hands with Black Bishop Reverend Azharaiah's Dalit Christians. This is very much realistic.
Rev. Azaraiah can and must do the ideological and theological work to achieve this miracle by retro-fitting the engine of Catholic-origin Liberation theology on a Protestant and anti-zionist chassis. Such a bulldozer of a vehicle can smash all the conspiracies of all upper caste crooks — whether Christian, Hindu, Muslim or Sikh. All Dalits — Muslim, Hindu, Christian and Sikh— must adopt English and Christianity's liberation theology as weapons.
All upper castes of any religion love their jati more than even their religion. It will also conclusively prove that by using the name of religion, the Ashraf Muslims were merely fooling and exploiting Arzal/Pasmanda Muslims deliberately all these decades.
VTR's "caste identity" thesis makes this point clear.
It is now crystal clear that Dalit Voice will surely close down, because so far only one single OBC has actually sent the cash. Voltaire was absolutely right — "When it comes to money, all of us belong to the same religion". It has also become clear that educated (Brahminised) Dalits have been reading Dalit Voice — not for its revolutionary ideas, but for cheap entertainment.
These educated Dalits without self-respect and dignity are least interested in fighting — but enjoy the vicarious thrill when the hero, the Editor of Dalit Voice, is continuously bashing up the Brahminical villain on the cinema screen. So they will whistle when the Editor strips the villains and parades them naked. They will clap when the hero Editor thrashes these villains in the marketplace. But when the Editor asks these thrilled cowards to simply throw a few stones at the enemy, they simply shiver and shit in fear. When he asked them for money, they respond with a deafening silence which is not found in even abandoned graveyard.
Dalit moists: No wonder Dr. Ambedkar went directly to the uneducated rural Dalits who don't understand English and are not Brahminised. In fact, spending so much efforts on educated Dalit IAS and IPS officers was the biggest mistake. But the Editor misunderstood what I said about Dalits refusing to take up armed struggle. He said that Dalits have already taken to armed struggle. That is true. But the question is under whose leadership?
The only Dalits leading and running the Maoist Tritiya Prastuti Committee have taken to caste-class struggle as well as armed maoist struggle. What is the use of Dalits joining the ranks of Brahmins like Prachanda and Vara Vara Rao?
Gaddar with Brahmins: I was condemning Dalits like Gaddar who have joined Brahmin manuwadi maoists like Vara Vara Rao and Prachanda. The one and only one Dalit-led and Dalit staffed party presently engaging in armed, bloody and revolutionary armed struggle against both Vara Vara Rao, Prachanda and the Brahminist police is Maoist Tritiya Prastuti Committee (MTPC).
While Prachanda and Vara Vara Rao are busy following the revisionist zionist-controlled fake "revolutionary international movement" (RIM), it is only the Dalit-led MTPC which has the potential to join hands with the leading light communist organisation (LLCO) which upholds the Lin Piao Line of Global Peoples' War which is known today as "third worldist maoism" or "maoism-third worldism".
So far this has not happened. But the day the Dalit-led MTPC joins hands with LLCO to launch a pan-Indian armed, bloody and violent caste-class struggle, the entire equation will change and the Brahminical Social Order will be finished. Until that day, Brahminism and all the non-stop tragedy wrecked by it will continue.
But if you want this to happen, we must get all Dalits — Hindu, Sikh, Muslim and Christian — under a single Dalit-led movement.

Why Dalits carry Hindu names?

MUMTAZ HUSSAIN, DOHA, QATAR
I am a DV subscriber for the last 17 years. If our beloved Editor starts "Dalit media centre" in Delhi, I will contribute every year till my death. Though you criticise Hinduism, educated Dalits still carry Hindu names. Those who fought Brahminism and converted to Christianity, Islam, Sikhism changed their names because the name itself is a sign of protest to Brahminism. Names like Richard Dsouza or Anitha Carsto, Mohammed Fazal and Partap Singh. Dalits still carry Hindu names.
Yes. You are right. Brahminism has killed them. Made them lifeless. Yet they are in deep love with the enemy-oppressor. That is the power of Brahminism — EDITOR.

Jat Sikh donation

S.S. GILL, GATE WALI GALI NO.3, SJS NAGAR, GILL, LUDHIANA DT.-141 116
I discussed the case of Dalit Voice with my relation, B.S. Mangat in UK, who is also a DV family member. He was very keen that DV must continue. He promised to go on paying Rs. 25,000 every quarterly and Rs. 1 lakh for year for three years without fail. He even promised to continue paying the above amount of Rs. 1 lakh even after 3 years also. If the media centre cannot started, he promised to keep on paying Rs. 10,000 every year on the condition that DV is continued. I am sending a draft for Rs. 10,000 on his behalf. I will also contribute my due share after hearing from you.

London plea not to stop DV

V.T. RAJSHEKAR
Bangalore: We are under pressure from our family members not to "Close down DV". The pressure is more from our foreign family.
But those inside India, the big majority, is indifferent. Sleeping? Or is it like our oft-repeated statement: " Slaves enjoying their slavery?"
The only problem forcing us to "close down" is the continuous losses. But, alas, even those pressing us to avert the disaster have no answer.
If a Brahminical paper were to face such a disaster by this time hundreds, if not thousands of rupees would have simply poured in.
Muslim silence: But in the case of DV, India's only journal of the persecuted nationalities denied human rights, the silence of the big majority is ominous. And so worrying. What is happening to Babasaheb Ambedkar's dear children?
As for Muslims, less said the better. Such a virile revolutionary community, endowed with such a powerful religion, which vanquished the world's sole super power in Iraq and then defeated in Afghanistan — to cite the two latest historic achievements — is dozed and dispirited. Dead? We have no words to describe the Muslim state of mind.
Muslims form about 30% of our family. Those who read DV in our website are not included.
At the London conference of LISA there was a unanimous plea that when the DV's new thesis on the "Jews and Jews of India" is getting world recognition and our new book on this shocking thesis is taking shape and we have met a famous publisher in London who has come forward to publish the 200-odd page book, it is not proper to "close down DV" which is needed to serve as the launching pad for this fantastic thesis. (See also p.18)

Editor's "Jews of India" theory gets London appreciation

PRANAB MALLIK, LONDON (via email)
The famous theory of V.T. Rajshekar that the Jews squeezing the Western world and the "Jews of India" dominating the South Asia are blood brothers received unanimous endorsement at a meeting of the executive committee of the London Institute of South Asia (LISA) held in London on July 17, 2010.
V.T. Rajshekar, who represents India in LISA, in his presentation on the "Maoist movement in India" concluded his speech at the British Parliament House (Westminster) meeting of the 7th annual conference of LISA on July 14, saying:
"West is driven by the Jews and the East by the Jews of India. These twin enemies of humanity have to be fought and eliminated if we have to free the world from tyranny and exploitation".
This was greeted with a standing ovation by the entire gathering in the historic Portcullis House overlooking the Thames River.
At the executive meeting of the LISA later, the Editor of Dalit Voice, who is held in high esteem, was asked to elaborate on his thesis which he first propounded in his book, Brahminism, (DSA-2001).
Alan Hart, the British author of the 3-volume book, Zionism — Real Enemy of the Jews, and an expert on zionist Jews, said VTR had been long writing and speaking on his theory of "Jews and Jews of India" with which he fully agreed.
Representatives of all South Asian nationalities from Bangladesh, Assam, Kashmir, Pakistan, Nepal and Dalits were present.
A proposal was made to give an award to V.T. Rajshekar for propounding this theory so that it will help unite all those victims of the two tyrants and forge a common front.
Meanwhile, a well known British publishing house has come forward to publish V.T. Rajshekar's book, "The Jews & the Jews of India", which he has been writing for the past two years. It may take a year more to complete.
He was made a novel suggestion that the proposed LISA award to his new thesis should also result in establishing a new foundation on the lines of the Nobel Foundation, which belonged to the Jews, to encourage all humanist writers to research on the "Jews of India".
http://www.dalitvoice.org/Templates/august_a2010/articles.htm

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: <MAOIST_REVOLUTION@yahoogroups.com>
Date: Mon, Aug 23, 2010 at 6:06 PM
Subject: [** MAOIST_REVOLUTION **] 8/13/2010: Report on New York & California protests against Operation Green Hunt
To: MAOIST_REVOLUTION@yahoogroups.com

Sanhati, a forum for solidarity with peoples' struggles in India, successfully organized a protest demonstration in front of the Indian Consulate in NYC on August 13 against Operation Green Hunt to coincide with India's independence day on 15th August . The protest demonstration was endorsed by the Alliance for a Secular and Democratic South Asia and was attended by individuals from Massachusetts, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Texas representing diverse South Asian and international organizations like SASI (South Asia Solidarity Initiative), ILPS (International League of Peoples Struggles), ISO (International Socialist Organisation), RCP (Revolutionary Communist Party) USA, FRSO (Freedom Road Socialist Organization), WWP (Workers World Party) and others. A legal observer from the National Lawyers Guild (NLG) was also present during the protest.
The demonstration continued from 11 am to 1pm and was marked by chanting of slogans, distributing pamphlets to passers-by, making speeches in support of peoples' struggles in India, singing songs of resistance and finally submitting a signed petition registering a strong protest against the government's military offensive in the regions populated by the indigeneous (adivasi) people. The text of the petition is appended below for reference.
Sanhati Collective

———— TEXT OF PETITION ————–

To: Consul General
Consulate General of India
3 East 64th Street
New York, NY 10065

Petition against Operation Green Hunt in India)

Dear Sir/Madam,
We, the undersigned, would like to register our strong protest against the Operation Green Hunt, the Government of India's (GOI) deliberate move to escalate military intervention against the indigenous people in the forested regions of East-Central India. Such a military campaign already will endanger the lives and livelihoods of millions of the poorest people living in those areas, resulting in massive displacement, destitution and human rights violation of ordinary citizens, especially the indigenous people.
We are acutely aware of the fact that the geographical terrain where the GOI's military offensive is taking place, is very rich in natural resources like minerals, forest wealth and water, and has been the target of large scale appropriation by several Indian and foreign corporations. The desperate resistance of the local indigenous people against their displacement and dispossession has in many cases prevented the government-backed corporations from making inroads into these areas and has thankfully impeded the setting-up of ecologically disastrous industries. We fear that the government's on-going military offensive is an attempt to crush such popular resistances in order to facilitate the entry and operation of these corporations and to pave the way for unbridled exploitation of the natural resources and the people of these regions.
We feel that it would deliver a crippling blow to Indian democracy if the government tries to subjugate its own people militarily without addressing their grievances. As has been witnessed in the case of numerous peoples' struggle around the world, such military campaigns end up in enormous misery for the common people.
Therefore, we demand -
1) An immediate end to the Operation Green Hunt and withdrawal of all armed forces from these regions
2) The GOI should engage with the civil society mediated initiatives for negotiations with representatives of peoples' movements in order to address the grievances of the common people.
3) All Memoranda of Understanding (MoU-s) signed with different corporations, for the extraction of natural resources from the vast areas of East-Central India, must be revealed and immediately cancelled.
4) All draconian laws like Unlawful Activity (Prevention) Act, Chhattisgarh Special Public Security Act, Armed Forces Special Powers Act should be immediately repealed. Ban on political organizations should be withdrawn and all political prisoners should be released.
5) All state-assisted vigilante groups like the Salwa Judum in Chhattisgarh and Harmad Bahini in West Bengal should be immediately disbanded and the concerned criminals associated with these organizations, including government officials, should be brought to book.

San Francisco, California:

On Friday, August 13, an action of solidarity with the people in India and Kashmir–a protest of the Indian government's "Operation Green Hunt" and the repression of the resistance of Kashmiri people's struggle–took place at the Indian Consulate in San Francisco.
It was endorsed by the Sanhati Collective, and participants included US and South Asian solidarity activists from the Bay Area and elsewhere. The demonstrators held signs with clear messages:

Stop Operation Green Hunt!

Stop the War on People in India!

Solidarity with the Resistance of Tribal People in India!

Support the Just Struggle of the Kashmiri people!

The protestors handed out information about Operation Green Hunt: an Indian government offensive of over 200,000 soldiers directed against the areas populated by tribal peoples in eastern and central India–and why it must be opposed by concerned people around the world. A number of Indians coming to the Consulate for visas or other business had already heard about Green Hunt and wanted more information. This will be the first of many actions and educational events opposing Operation Green Hunt in the Bay Area.
www.icawpi.org
__._,_.___

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Sharma calls for measured withdrawal of stimulus

Sify - ‎2 hours ago‎
Stimulus packages given to various sectors may not be withdrawn abruptly as the global economic recovery has been fragile, Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma said Monday. 'We are not out of the woods yet. I would prefer measured and calibrated ...

Centre extends sops for exporters to continue in global economic scenario

Sify - ‎3 hours ago‎
The Central Government on Monday extended sops worth Rs 1052 crore to exporters, particularly for the labour-intensive textile, handicrafts and leather sectors, to help them mitigate the impact of fragile recovery of global economy. ...

Government renews sops for export-oriented goods

domain-B - ‎4 hours ago‎
In an attempt to boost exports, the government has announced a bagful of stimulus measures in the review of the Foreign Trade Policy (FTP) 2009-2014. The fresh export promotion incentives will cost the government Rs1,050 crore, commerce minister Anand ...

India Extends Export Incentives

Wall Street Journal - Mukesh Jagota, Anant Vijay Kala - ‎5 hours ago‎
NEW DELHI -- India Monday extended a popular tax rebate scheme for exporters by six months and offered a slew of other incentives as it sought to support export growth amid a fragile global economic environment. ...

Exporters, industry pleased with sops in trade policy

Business Standard - ‎5 hours ago‎
PTI / New Delhi August 23, 2010, 15:25 IST Up against weak recovery in major markets, exporters and the industry today welcomed incentives worth Rs 1052 crore, stating the steps in the annual review of the Foreign Trade Policy will help India achieve ...

Govt set to announce more sops for exporters

Business Standard - Nayanima Basu - ‎20 hours ago‎
The government is set to announce yet another round of stimulus measures for the country's exporters and importers in the review of the Foreign Trade Policy (FTP) 2009-2014 tomorrow, even as economies globally are looking at phased exit from bailout ...
All 27 related articles »

Anand Sharma
Textile
India

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	Govt extends sops, confident of $200 bn exports in FY-11 ‎6 hours ago‎ - Economic Times
	Govt set to announce more sops for exporters ‎20 hours ago‎ - Business Standard

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India's State Energy Companies May Bid for Cairn Stake, Counter Vedanta

Bloomberg - George Smith Alexander - ‎1 hour ago‎
Indian state-run energy companies are considering bidding for a stake in Cairn India Ltd., countering Vedanta Resources Plc's $9.6 billion offer for the explorer, according to ...
LON:VED - NSE:CAIRN - BOM:532792

Cairn informs regulator of oil strike at Krishna-Godavari basin

domain-B - ‎21 minutes ago‎
Cairn Energy today said that it has informed the directorate general of hydrocarbons (DGH) that its Indian unit Cairn India has struck oil and gas in the Krishna-Godavari basin, which the company had announced on 16 August 2010. ...
NSE:CAIRN - BOM:532792

Cairn strikes oil, gas in KG Basin onland block

NDTV.com - ‎1 hour ago‎
PTI, August 23, 2010 (New Delhi) Cairn India, which is on the verge of being acquired by mining firm Vedanta Resources, on Monday said it has made an oil and gas discovery in an onland KG Basin block. "Cairn Energy India Pty Ltd, a wholly owned ...
NSE:CAIRN - BOM:532792

Cairn India strikes oil in Krishna Godavari basin

The Hindu - ‎2 hours ago‎
A file photo of Cairn India's Ravva off-shore well which is producing worlds finest crude oil from KG Basin. Cairn India, on Monday said it has struck oil at a well in the Krishna Godavari basin, off the Andhra Pradesh coast. ...
NSE:CAIRN - BOM:532792

ONGC may counter Vedanta's $9.6-billion bid for Cairn India

domain-B - ‎2 hours ago‎
The ministry of petroleum and natural gas is reported to be trying to put a damper in Vedanta's acquisition of Cairn India's assets by demanding that state-run Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) be given the first right of refusal, reports said on ...
BOM:500312 - NSE:CAIRN - BOM:532792

ONGC-OIL-GAIL may bid to counter Vedanta's offer for Cairn

NDTV.com - ‎4 hours ago‎
PTI, 23 August, 2010 State-owned ONGC, OIL and GAIL may make a joint bid to counter Vedanta Resources' USD 8.48 billion offer for majority stake in Cairn India, and have already got USD 10 billion in loan commitments from international banks for the ...
BOM:500312 - NSE:CAIRN - BOM:532792

India Yet to Decide on ONGC Offer for Cairn

Wall Street Journal - Rakesh Sharma - ‎5 hours ago‎
NEW DELHI -- India is yet to decide whether state-run Oil & Natural Gas Corp. should make a counter bid to buy a stake in Cairn Energy PLC's local unit, Oil Minister Murli Deora said Monday. "(We have) not decided yet," Mr. Deora said ...
BOM:500312 - NSE:CAIRN - BOM:532792

Cairn India discovers oil gas in KG onland block

Moneycontrol.com - ‎3 hours ago‎
Cairn India says it has discovered oil and gas in KG onland block, reports CNBC-TV18's Sajeet Manghat. Here is a verbatim transcript of Sajeet Manghat's comments on CNBC-TV18. Also watch the accompanying video. We broke this story a week back or when ...
BOM:532792 - BOM:500312 - NSE:CAIRN

India undecided on state bid for Cairn oil assets

AFP - ‎4 hours ago‎
NEW DELHI — Indian said Monday it is still undecided on whether to push for a state takeover of oil assets owned by Britain's Cairn Energy, which mining group Vedanta is seeking to buy. Britain-based mining giant Vedanta announced last week an offer ...
NSE:CAIRN - BOM:532792

Cairn's untapped Barmer fields hot properties for NELP

Economic Times - ‎14 hours ago‎
NEW DELHI: Cairn's unexplored oil fields in Barmer could turn major attractions for bidders in the next auction of oil exploration blocks. Cairn India has exhausted the time limit for its Barmer block (RJ-ON-90 /1) in Rajasthan, but a large area ...
NSE:CAIRN - BOM:532792
All 50 related articles »

Cairn India
Cairn Energy
Oil and Natural Gas Corporation
Vedanta Resources
Petroleum
Rajasthan

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	Cairn informs regulator of oil strike at Krishna-Godavari basin ‎21 minutes ago‎ - domain-B
	ONGC-OIL-GAIL may bid to counter Vedanta's offer for Cairn ‎4 hours ago‎ - NDTV.com
	Cairn deal may not get ministry nod ‎19 hours ago‎ - Livemint
	Cairn to seek govt nod for Vedanta deal ‎Aug 19, 2010‎ - Economic Times

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NEWS

Telugu film stars in drug nexus?

Cloud over Telugu film industry as 60 high fliers involved in drug abuse and deals

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'Don't blame umpires for loss'

Sangakkara rubs salt into Indian wounds on umpiring referral system issue.

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Mallika: Nymph-turned-Naagin!

Exclusive hot snaps from Mallika Sherawat's 'Hissss', which is to hit the screens shortly

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