Sonia asks partymen not to be ‘complacent’ and work unitedly

NEW DELHI, Dec 7: Expressing satisfaction over the party’s victories in Arunachal and Maharashtra Assembly polls held recently, Congress president Sonia Gandhi today asked partymen not not to be "complacent" and work unitedly for the success in the coming polls in three states.

"We have elections coming up in three more states (Bihar, Haryana and Jharkhand) in the next three months. The momentum is clearly with us. But we cannot be complacent. Let us work unitedly so that we go from strength to strength," Gandhi said addressing the general body meeting of the Congress Parliamentary Party (CPP).

Gandhi, who is also the chairperson of the CPP, referring to membership drive for the party, sought cooperation of the members in the implementation of the "action plan" circulated to all PCCs, DCCs and BCCs after the last AICC session.

As promised at the last session, she said a task force has been constituted to study the issue of Naxalite violence in different states which would make recommendations on what the party should do to tackle such extremism effectively.

A Rajiv Gandhi Panchayati Raj Sangthan has also been set up in the AICC to mobilise lakhs of elected representatives in Panchayat bodies in the continued service of the party who would serve as our cadres in villages for which "we provide expensive training," Gandhi said.

Very soon, she said, the party would be announcing the details of the "Swachh Vatavaran Abhiyan" which would provide a blue print for party’s active involvement in public hygene and sanitation.

Gandhi also directed party members to suggest their view points with regard to the preparation of the budget 2005-06 so that it could be examined and, if felt necessary, meetings of MPs on this subject could also be arranged. (PTI)

Young MPs shine at ECO meet

NEW DELHI, Dec 7: They may be wearing different political hats as members of the Lok Sabha, but are bonded together through a common thread of youthfulness, political maturity and an equal degree of exasperation borne out of rampant corruption in the system.

The four MPs — Sachin Pilot (Congress), B J Panda (Biju Janata Dal), Dushyant Singh (BJP) and Naveen Jindal (Congress) —electrified the session on young Parliamentarians at the ongoing world economic forum’s 20th India economic summit by charting out their vision of a prosperous India and candidly accepting that impediments were too many for realising the goal.

Yet the Parliamentarians, in their 30s, foreign-educated and articulate, readily agreed that saying quits was not a solution. Cynicism and despondency had to be fought at every level if the country had to realise its goal of becoming a developed nation and an economic powerhouse by 2020, they argued as captains of industry and foreign delegates heard them in rapt attention.

The young MPs were unanimous in their contention that the liberalisation process in the country was irreversible irrespective of which party came to power. "No matter who is going to be in power, there is a consensus on economic reforms across the political spectrum. Things may go slow because we are in a coalition era," said the foursome, strongly disapproving of an observation that the UPA Government was backtracking on economic reforms in the face of compulsions of coalition politics.

They also asserted that the "growth rate of 3-4 per cent", which had characterized the Indian economy in over four decades after its Independence, was a matter of the past. "The 7-8 per cent GDP growth rate is an achievable target if the administration is transparent and corruption-free and is backed by strong economic fundamentals," they held.

In support of their arguments, Mr Jindal, who is vice-chairman of Jindal Vijayanagar steel, said the country had an enormous knowledge pool, given the fact that its skilled scientific and technological manpower was a matter of envy for many developed countries.

"An Indian immigrant to a developed country is no longer seen as a potential cab driver but as an it entrepreneur, he said, adding that the country still needed hundreds of Narayan Murthys and Premjis as also a string of world class business centres for projecting the country s economy to the outside world.

Mr Klaus Schwab, founder and executive chairman of the world economic forum, set the tone and tenor of discussions by shooting a very unsettling query.

"Do you feel frustrated with politics after becoming members of Parliament barely six months ago?" asked Mr Schwab, moderator at the session.

"I was so frustrated with politics that I thought in terms of quitting it barely within six months of becoming a member of the Lok Sabha. But later I decided that it was better to fight corruption in the system from within rather than quitting it altogether, replied Mr Panda.

Conceding that not everything was well with the Indian political system, both Mr Pilot and Mr Jindal said they were not frustrated. "We are not exactly happy with the Maladies in the system, but we have joined politics not to remain spectators. We have to fight out its malpractices. That is why we have joined politics.

Mr Pilot said it was far too soon to think that he was frustrated with politics. "There are several shining aspects of Indian democracy. The electoral politics has its own nuances expectations of the people are sky-high. I don’t feel frustrated at all. We must give vibes of positive energy. You always have challenges and obstacles, and these have to be met and overcome."

Mr Jindal said as a businessman, he had to fight red-tapism and corruption at many stages. In fact, 60 per cent of his time was spent on getting clearances from various quarters, which was really irksome.

Concurring with them, Mr Dushyant Singh said he had joined politics to learn from his elders in the BJP. "The young MPs have a responsibility to link themselves with their constituencies and bring people upfront into the policy framework for their genuine well-being."

"What will be your sweet dreams in 2010?" queried Mr Schwab, who last year set up forum of young global leaders to create a community of young business leaders and politicians below 40 years of age.

Lapping up the query, Mr Dushyant Singh said his priorities would be far greater spending on education and agriculture, 7 per cent GDP growth rate through greater allocation to infrastructure sector and strong fundamentals of economy geared towards the betterment of common people.

There were also areas like water harvesting, bio-technology and small-scale industries, which needed greater attention at the Governmental level, he opined.

Mr Jindal, on his part, said the need to provide quality primary and secondary education did not brook any further delay. But there was also a strong need to remove corruption and bring transparency in administration. "We have also to ensure that the population growth rate is brought to less than one per cent."

About his "sweet dream", Mr Pilot said he would like the country’s political system to be absolutely free from the caste-based, religious and emotive issues, a growth rate of 8-10 per cent of GDP, universal literacy and much better sanitation facilities across the country.

The four MPs also spoke in glowing terms about the quality of ‘Indianness’, which, according to them, implied tolerance, self-assurance and lack of social acrimony. While Mr Pilot said Indians believed in destiny, Mr Panda said he would evaluate the political leadership in terms of their legacy for the well-being of the masses.

But all of them readily agreed that India was now blessed with a favourable demographic profile. "More than half of India’s population is young and dynamic, and this fact alone gives immense hope for the country s economic growth gathering sustained momentum." (UNI)

Seer’s arrest is curse on nation, UPA: Uma

VELLORE, Dec 7: Terming Kanchi Acharya Jayendra Saraswati’s arrest as a "curse" on the nation and the Congress-led Government at the Centre, suspended BJP leader and former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Uma Bharti today alleged that UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi’s "stoic silence" on the issue indicated the "conspiracy" behind the entire episode.

Talking to reporters after a 25-minute meeting with the Seer, who is incarcerated in the central prison here, she expressed surprise over the silence maintained by the AICC president over the arrest. "The conspiracy behind the arrest will be exposed soon," she added.

"God is testing you" and the arrest was a "blot" and a "curse" on the nation and the Congress-led Government at the Centre, Ms Bharati had told the Seer.

The Acharya was arrested at Mahaboobnagar in Andhra Pradesh on November 11 in connection with the Sankararaman murder case. He was also subsequently arrested in the auditor assault case after the police reopened the two-year-old case.

Ms Bharti said her calling on the Seer at the prison was akin to a "daughter visiting her father."

"I know him since 1974. He is a noble man," she said and described the arrest as an "atrocious act." During the meeting, the Seer did not talk about his arrest, but wanted everyone to pray so that he would be able to prove his innocence.

"No one is above law. Whatever misfortune has happened to me, pray for the welfare of the people of the country," Ms Bharti quoted the Seer as having told her.

She said the Acharya was in good health. He was being well taken care of by the prison authorities, she stated.

She also thanked the Tamil Nadu Government for according special permission to her for meeting the Seer.

Earlier, on her arrival at the Central Railway Station at Chennai, Ms Bharti said that there was no politics behind her visit. "I am coming to meet the Seers. There is no politics in it." (UNI)

Petition against Lalu and Rabri politically motivated: CBI

NEW DELHI, Dec 7: The CBI, which probed fodder scam cases against Railway Minister Lalu Prasad as well as wealth case against him and Bihar Chief Minister Rabri Devi, has termed a petition in the Supreme Court seeking cancellation of their bail as "politically motivated".

The Supreme Court had on October 1 issued notices to Prasad, Rabri Devi, CBI and Central Board of Direct Taxes on the petition filed by BJP leader Sushil Modi and JD(U) leader Rajiv Ranjan Singh ‘Lallan’ seeking cancellation of the bail of the accused on the ground that they have been interfering with the probe and trial.

It was alleged that since the new Government, of which RJD is a coalition partner, has come to power at the Centre concerted efforts were made to scuttle the probe and trial in the fodder scam cases by changing the investigation officers and public prosecutors as Prasad is a key accused in the scam.

Giving a clean chit to Prasad, the RJD chief, the CBI in its affidavit before the apex court said the allegation that he was indulging in acts to derail the prosecution "is completely false and not at all borne out from the facts and records of the case".

Questioning the locus standi of the petitioners to file the petition before the court, the investigating agency said "the petitioner is a politician and is obviously seeking to achieve his own political purposes."

The petitioners had also alleged that the Income Tax Appellate Authority at Patna quashed the claims running into lakhs of rupees of the IT Department against Lalu Prasad in a "suspicious" and "hurried" manner. The court had issued notice to the Central Board of Direct Taxes, whose reply is yet to be filed in the court.

"Succumbing to his pressures, the CBI and CBDT have become party to a gigantic effort to shield Prasad and Rabri Devi in the fodder scam," they had alleged.

CBI gave details of the circumstances under which a new public prosecutor was appointed to conduct the trial of the fodder scam cases and said that the services of the earlier public prosecutor was still available with the agency and that he was dealing with other cases of fodder scam.

The averment of the petitioners that the respondents are "indulging in acts to derail the prosecution is completely false and not at all borne out from the facts and records of the case," the CBI said.

It also said that "the grounds raised in the present petition are highly misconceived, malicious and are devoid of merit."(PTI)

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