NEW DELHI, Feb 13: The “inconsistencies and anomalies” highlighted by CBI in the Lokpal Act may be corrected by the Government only after the anti-corruption agency starts functioning and faces difficulties in respect of specific issues, Rajya Sabha was informed today.
The Government has taken note of the issues raised by CBI Director Ranjit Sinha through a letter dated January 16, 2014, Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions V Narayanasamy said in a written reply.
He said majority of the issues raised by CBI relate to matters on which there have been extensive deliberations in Parliament and also consultations with stakeholders (including CBI) by the Select Committee of Rajya Sabha before the relevant provisions were finally given shape by the Select Committee and passed by Parliament in the present form.
“In the view of this, it is only after the institution of Lokpal becomes fully functional and if the Lokpal, as the pivotal institution on which implementation of the Act will be centred,experiences difficulties in respect of specific issues (which may include issues raised by CBI), that the Government may consider issuance of necessary orders, not inconsistent with the provisions of the act, whenever necessary, for removal of such difficulties under section 62 of the Act.
“Where any such difficulty is of the nature that it cannot be removed by an executive order, the matter may require amendments in the Act by Parliament. CBI has been advised accordingly,” the Minister said.
In a five-page letter to Department of Personnel Secretary S K Sarkar, Sinha referred to some of the anomalies in the Lokpal Act relating to powers of superintendence of Lokpal over CBI, frivolous complaints, jurisdiction of Lokpal officers, among others. (PTI)

NEW DELHI, Feb 13: Coal and gas supply constraints notwithstanding, the Government today said it would be able to meet the target of adding 1,18,000 MW capacity by March 2017.
The Government, which was unable to achieve the previous plan period (2007-12) target of 78,577 MW due to fuel scarcity issues, aims to add 1,18,000 MW power generation capacity by March 2017. The target includes the spill-over of the previous Plan’s shortfall, Planning Commission’s current target of over 88,000 MW and nuclear as well as renewable power capacities.
“We are targeting a capacity addition of approximately 1,18,000 MW including 30,000 MW from renewable energy sources in the current five year plan (2012-17),” Power Secretary Pradeep Kumar Sinha told reporters here.
About 18,200 MW, including 2,000 MW of solar power, is to be added during the current financial year, ending March 31.
“We are very confident of achieving this (financial) year’s target,” Sinha said.
On being asked whether fuel non-availability will be an impediment in achieving this target, Sinha said that the fuel pass-through mechanism will solve that problem.
“Coal is not a bottleneck as the Government has allowed fuel pass-through, shortages in domestic coal are being met through imported coal,” he said.
As per the fuel-pass through, the cost of imported coal is passed on to the consumer in the form of higher tariff.
As for the domestic supplies, state-run Coal India plans to increase its production to 615 million tonnes by 2016-17.
Sinha said: “Of the targetted 1,18,000 MW the Government has already achieved 30,000 MW capacity till January, 2014.” This does not include any renewable power capacity.
In 2012-13, India added over 20,000 MW capacity.
The Government was unable to achieve the revised target of 62,000 MW in the 11th plan period (2007-12), mainly due to scarcity of coal and gas. The original target for the plan period was 78,577 MW. The total capacity added during the period was close to 55,000 MW.
India’s installed generation capacity is 2,28,722 MW. (PTI)

NEW DELHI, Feb 13: Cracking the whip, Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar today suspended 18 MPs from Andhra Pradesh for rest of the session after unprecedented pandemonium broke out in the House over the Telangana issue.
Kumar announced the decision soon after the House met at 2 PM after being adjourned in the wake of the ruckus created at noon by pepper spraying and fisticuffs among members opposing and supporting Telangana.
She named the members and said they had been suspended under Rule 374 A which says that a member can “be suspended from the service of the House for a period not exceeding the remainder of the session” for disregarding “the authority of the Chair or abusing the rules of the House by persistently and wilfully obstructing business”.
“They may forthwith withdraw from the precincts of the House,” Kumar said.
Those suspended include L Rajagopal, expelled Congress member who had earlier sprayed pepper gas from a canister in the House, causing chaos. TDP member M Venugopala Reddy, who broke the mike, was also among the MPs suspended.
Others suspended are Sabbam Hari, Anantha Venkatarami Reddy, Rayapati Sambasiva Rao, SPY Reddy, M Sreenivasulu Reddy, V Aruna Kumar, A Sai Prathap, Suresh Kumar Shetkar, KRG Reddy, Bapi Raju Kanumuri and G Sukhender Reddy (all Cong), Niramalli Sivaprasad, Nimmala Kristappa, K Narayana Rao (all TDP), and Y S Jaganmohan Reddy and M Rajamohan Reddy (both YSR Cong). (PTI)

NEW DELHI, Feb 13: Steel Minister Beni Prasad Verma and BJP members engaged in sparring today in Rajya Sabha after he was accused of trying to bribe journalists and people from his Lok Sabha constituency by giving gifts.
Verma, however, justified it saying Rs 1.75 crore was spent on the National Steel Consumers Council (NSCC) meeting in Lucknow on February 3, which was organised to augment country’s steel output.
Raising the issue, BJP leader Prakash Javadekar said the event marked the “worst use of power” and amounted to “bribery” and wanted to know whether Government will institute an inquiry.
“This is misuse of power…This is nothing but bribery. Will the Government institute an inquiry? Whether Government will enquire into the episode,” Javadekar posed during Zero Hour.
He alleged that mobile phones, gifts and cash were distributed among 1,000 persons by the Union Minister in his constituency in the event which had nothing to do with increasing steel production.
The questions Javadekar asked were whether people from steel, house building and related industries can only be appointed as members of NSCC and if it was so, how could the ministry appoint over 1,000 members in this body without having the right background.
He also asked specifically as to whether these people were extended cash and gifts worth crores in the meeting.
In his reply, Verma said Rs 1.75 crore was spent on the event in which Dalits, backwards and minorities participated and charged BJP of “having problems” whenever something was done for these sections of society.
He stressed that it was Steel Consultative Committee meeting and the persons attending were given to and fro fares and TA, DA and it would be his effort that the next Consumer Council’s meet is attended by 2,000 people.
Verma underlined that the meet was part of efforts to boost India’s steel capacity to 300 million tonnes (MT) by 2025.
Javadekar, however, said people who were invited and given the cash benefits had nothing to do with steel industry.
Verma had kicked up a controversy some days back by stating that there was nothing wrong in spending Rs 2-4 crore on media as he was only “investing money to get good returns” in terms of publicity.
In his written reply, Verma said the NSCC consists of the representatives of the Government, producers and consumers of iron and steel, house builders and related industries.
“There is no limit on the number of consumers, who can be members of the Council,” he said attaching a copy of the Government notification regarding the setting up of the Steel Consumers’ Council.
Regarding the expenditure, Verma said, “As per the rules outstation members invited to attend the meeting may be reimbursed AC-2 tier/First Class train fare from the nearest station of their normal place of residence to the station of the meeting.”
He said local taxis charges from the railway station to the place of stay/venue of the meeting may also be reimbursed.
“…For board and lodging, each member was paid Rs 7,000 and Rs 1,000 was paid for local transport. Besides, a kit was also supplied to these members as is done in the case of conferences, seminars etc. The kit comprised a bag, report of the Joint Plant Committee, Annual Reports of SAIL and NMDC and a mobile phone,” he said in the reply. (PTI)

NEW DELHI, Feb 13: President Pranab Mukherjee today asked Governors to ensure that state Governments act according to the Constitution while safeguarding the interests of the state and the nation’s pluralistic character is not tarnished in any manner.
Mukherjee’s comments come at a time when Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s ambitious ‘Jan Lokpal’ bill is hanging in the balance with Lt Governor Najeeb Jung seeking Union Home Ministry’s opinion whether Centre’s concurrence is needed before passing any bill.
In his opening remarks at the 45th Conference of Governors at Rashtrapati Bhavan, the President said the role of Governors is that of a bridge between states and the Centre.
“Governors have to ensure that state Governments act according to the Constitution while safeguarding the interests of the State. This is the unique responsibility of a Governor as they represent the Centre in the State and the State at the Centre,” he said at the conference which is being attended by 26 Governors and three Lt Governors.
The two-day conference, attended among others by Vice President Hamid Ansari, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Finance Minister P Chidambaram, will discuss external and internal security environment, development issues, improving the quality of higher education and making disaster management more effective.
Calling upon the Governors to remain “alert” and ensure that the coming general elections are peaceful and conducive to free expression of the will of the people, Mukherhee said Governors must also ensure that the pluralistic character of our nation is not tarnished in any manner.
The President said the Group of Governors, constituted last year to deliberate on various issues such as the role of Governors, had submitted its report with invaluable suggestions that would serve as usful inputs for policy makers. (PTI)

NEW DELHI, Feb 13: Israel today demanded that the terrorists who attacked one of its diplomats here two years ago must be made “accountable” while reminding India of the assurance given to it in this regard.
“Immediately after the attack in Delhi, the External Affairs Minister of India assured the Israeli leadership that the culprits will be brought to justice at the earliest, that the law of land will take its course and that India will continue with the investigation,” a statement by the Israeli Embassy said here.
“One Indian citizen was arrested and four arrest warrants were issued against the Iranian culprits who have escaped. It is understood that the Iranian authorities did not provide answers to the Government of India. The terrorists who committed this heinous attack in Delhi and the Government of Iran that sent them must be made accountable,” it said.
It also said that the Israeli Government was grateful for the security India is providing for Israeli diplomats in order to prevent events like this from happening again.
Two years ago, Tal Yehoshua Koren, an Israeli diplomat, a friend and a colleague, was on her way to pick up her two children from school. “In the heart of New Delhi, she was targeted by agents of the Government of Iran who attempted to assassinate her,” it said adding Tal was still recovering from the attack. Her driver and two innocent bystanders, all Indian citizens, were also injured.
Israel has alleged that Iran was behind the terror attack, a charge denied by the Iranian Government. (PTI)

HYDERABAD, Feb 13: In a bid to promote peace and harmony, a 16-member group of dance performers and artists from Pakistan will perform in Hyderabad and New Delhi as part of ‘India Pakistan Culture Connect: Joint Celebrations for Union of Hearts’ from tomorrow to February 19.
The programme will showcase Kathak, Bharatnatyam and Odissi dances and Pakistani poetry by Karachi-based Tehrik-e-Niswan (Movement for Women).
It will also have plays with social themes, panel discussions on issues of concern and for promotion of better relations between the two countries, representatives of different organisations told reporters here today.
The aim of the programme is to facilitate people to people contact between different sections of society in India and Pakistan to promote mutual understanding, develop spirit of cooperation and generate mutual trust and secure an atmosphere to promote peace between the two countries, they said.
Students of schools, colleges and universities, members of civil society, professionals, business groups, journalists, policy makers and representatives of political parties will participate in over 25 panel discussions being planned in Hyderabad and New Delhi, reaching out to around 8,000 people through cultural performances and panel discussions, they said.
Classical dancer and social activist Sheema Kermani and senior theatre practitioner Anwer Jafri stressed on the need for starting ‘visa on arrival’ system by both Pakistan and India, saying artists among others were facing lot of difficulties in getting visas to tour respective countries.
“Lot of organisations from both countries have been campaigning in this regard,” they said.
Stating that they had also staged plays against the blasphemy laws in Pakistan, Kermani said, “I have lived my life with threats.”
“We have performed against fundamentalism and issues like blasphemy openly…The majority of Pakistanis are not fundamentalists and want to live peacefully…It is only a section with arms and ammunition issuing threats. The same goes for India also,” Jafri, Kermani and others said.
“We will continue our work…We are for anti-war and want peaceful co-existence between both the countries,” they added. (PTI)

NEW DELHI, Feb 13: The Supreme Court today stayed the proceedings in the Madhya Pradesh High Court on a petition filed against BJP MP Sushma Swaraj by her rival Congress nominee Rajkumar Patel seeking annulment of her election from Vidisha during the last Lok Sabha polls.
A bench comprising justices S S Nijjar and A K Sikri also issued notice and sought response within four weeks from Patel on Swaraj’s petition challenging the December 3, 2013 order of the high court rejecting her plea.
The Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha moved the apex court after the high court declined to grant relief on her application seeking dismissal of Patel’s petition.
While granting stay on the high court proceedings, the bench noted that it took almost five years in dealing with the matter.
“This is very disturbing as the interim application has been pending since 2009,” the bench observed.
Patel’s nomination was rejected from Vidisha seat on the last day of nomination during the 2009 Lok Sabha polls after he failed to submit the necessary documents (Form-B) on time to the District Electoral Officer.
Later, the Congress nominee filed an election petition alleging the District Electoral Officer had wrongly rejected his nomination papers and demanded annulment of Swaraj’s election.
In his petition, Patel claimed his representative was inside the Electoral Office well before the stipulated time and this could be verified from video-recording of the process of filing nominations.
However, Swaraj filed an application objecting to Patel’s petition on the ground that it was baseless and also for not providing certified copies of the petition and relevant orders of the High Court and the Supreme Court. (PTI)

NEW DELHI, Feb 13: Lov Verma, Secretary of Department of AIDS control, has been given the additional charge of the post of Health Secretary after the transfer of Keshav Desiraju to Consumer Affairs Ministry.
Verma is a 1978 batch IAS officer of Uttar Pradesh cadre.
Desiraju, who was appointed a year ago as the Health Secretary, was yesterday transfered as Secretary, Department of Consumer Affairs.
When asked about his transfer, Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad had said, “These are administrative things. I don’t think people should get into it. Officer’s and Ministers’ portfolio’s change, it is a regular affair. He is a capable officer.”
According to sources, Azad was not happy with Desiraju’s performance of late.
Desiraju, a 1978-batch IAS officer from Uttarakhand cadre, had joined the Health Ministry as an Additional Secretary in 2010, after completing his tenure as the Chief Secretary of Uttarakhand. (AGENCIES)

NEW DELHI, Feb 13: Senior resident doctors and medical students of top Delhi hospitals, including AIIMS, went on strike today leading to closure of OPDs, demanding revision of the recently cleared proposal of the MBBS course structure.
Only the emergency services will be available in the hospitals which is likely to cause distress for the patients.
Doctors from AIIMS, Guru Teg Bahadur hospital, Safdarjung hospital, Maulana Azad Medical College (MAMC), Lady Hardinge Medical College, Deen Dayal Upadhyaya and Ram Manohar Lohiya hospital have gone on a strike and joined the medical students who are protesting outside the health ministry’s office at Nirman Bhavan demanding revision of the proposed MBBS course structure.
Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad is expected to meet them today but if their demands are not met, the doctors threatened to go on a indefinite strike.
Senior Resident Doctors Association (RDA)of AIIMS today gave the notice to the Medical Superintendent, informing him about the latest development, sources said.
The RDA had officially extended their support to the AIIMS students Union in the protest, yesterday evening.
The protest is against the health ministry’s recently cleared proposal for increasing the duration of MBBS course from existing 5.5 years to 6.5 years with an addition of a compulsory one-year rural posting for admission into postgraduate programmes.
The students are demanding that instead of increasing the course duration, the compulsory one year rural posting be either incorporated within the existing MBBS course structure or included as part of the PG curriculum.
The strike was initiated after the police allegedly resorted to lathicharge and usage of water cannons when a few of the protesters tried to get past barricades yesterday.
Protestors have alleged that during the lathicharge several doctors including women doctors were grievously hurt and had to be rushed to hospital.
“These medical students were peacefully protesting and the police resorted to lathicharge without any warning. Several doctors have been grievously hurt and had to be rushed to hospital,” said Rajan Aggarwal, treasurer of the Resident Doctors Association in Guru Teg Bahadur hospital.
“That is why we have decided to join the medical students and interns and go on a strike from today,” he added.
“We may file an FIR against the police official who ordered the lathicharge,” a student leader said.
The protesters said they have submitted a memorandum to the Joint Secretary of the Health Ministry Vishwas Mehta.
“We are not against rural postings, but we want the one- year rural internship to be either incorporated within the existing MBBS course structure or included as part of the PG curriculum,” said Dr Anirudh Lochan, national secretary of the Young Doctors Association of India.
Around 2,000 doctors from AIIMS, University College of Medical Sciences, Lady Hardinge Medical College, Vardhman Mahavir Medical College and Maulana Azad Medical College took part in the protest staged at yesterday.
The Health Secretary met some of the protesting students yesterday noon and assured them that their concerns would be looked into. (PTI)