Today's Hot Stories - December 15, 2012
10 Headlines for Today
(1) Rehman Malik’s visit backfires, India rules out joint statement
(2) Centre using CBI to blackmail Mulayam: SP
(3) Obama visits Newtown, says these tragedies must end
(4) Jet shares jump on Etihad deal hopes
(5) Essar to convert debt into dollar loans
(6) 3 US entities lobbied on tax plan
(7) England reach 240/3 at lunch on Day 5
(8) Sri Lanka to chase 393 to win 1st Test
(9) Football: Real held by Espanyol, pressure on Jose
(10) Palghar girl Shaheen back on Facebook
5 Stories for Today
(1) Quota in promotion against Constitution, Arvind Kejriwal's party says
(2) Island row: China moves UN for claim
(3) Govt may hike fuel prices to offset cost of extra cylinders
(4) Swiss government mulls bill to curb black money
(5) Rail fares to go up next year: Minister
(1) Quota in promotion against Constitution, Arvind Kejriwal's party says
Calling quota in promotions for SCs/STs against the spirit of social justice enshrined in the Constitution, anti-graft crusader Arvind Kejriwal's Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has opposed the government move to bring in the quota through a constitutional amendment.
The party criticized political parties for exploiting the issue of reservation in promotions in government jobs and putting their partisan interests above national interest.
"Instead of taking a principled stand on this question, the Congress has dithered and allowed itself to be blackmailed while the BJP has maintained a strategic silence. Parties like the BSP and the SP have merely acted as pressure groups on behalf of one caste group or another," AAP spokesperson Manish Sisodia said in a statement.
This was one more instance of how the political establishment put its partisan interests above national interest, he added.
"AAP takes exception to the cynical manner in which the issue of reservation in promotions in government jobs is being exploited by various political parties to pit one section of society against another," Sisodia said.
The party said the basic rationale of the reservation system was to extend genuine equality of opportunity to those sections of society that have suffered systematic deprivation, discrimination and disadvantage and are therefore under-represented at the top echelons of society.
"This can be extended to promotions as and where there is evidence of systematic discrimination in promotions that do not follow seniority rule. Otherwise, there is no need for reservation in promotion," Sisodia said.
He said mechanical use of reservation in promotion often creates an anomalous situation. Those who are recruited against reserved category tend to get faster promotion than the rest and become senior to their batch-mates from the general category for no special reason.
"This creates unnecessary heartburn and a sense of injustice, which is not in keeping with the spirit of the system of reservations. That is why the Supreme Court has, while upholding job reservations for SCs, STs and the OBCs, rejected the idea of mechanical reservation in promotions," he said.
(2) Island row: China moves UN for claim
The Diaoyu islands dispute with Japan took another turn with China moving the United Nations to press its claim on a wider area in East China Sea.
Making a partial submission to the UN secretariat about the outer limits of the continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles in the East China Sea, China said the area is the natural prolongation of its land territory. This is evident in the physiognomy and geological characteristics of the shelf, it said.
(3) Govt may hike fuel prices to offset cost of extra cylinders
The oil ministry may raise prices of diesel by Re 1 a litre or that of cooking gas by Rs 100 to neutralise the impact of its plan to increase the supply of subsidised cylinders to households, government officials said.
"A Re 1 hike in diesel prices would generate about Rs 8,000 crore a year, which is sufficient for three additional cylinders in a year. About Rs 100 hike in domestic LPG can also make the move revenue neutral. There are other options that will be presented to the Cabinet," a government official said requesting anonymity.
Other options include supplying diesel at market rates to bulk consumers such as Railways, defence, industries and state road transport undertakings, and stopping diversion of LPG and kerosene through direct transfer of cash subsidies, the official said.
Diesel is sold at Rs 47.15 a litre in Delhi. "It is likely that the Cabinet may decided for a combination of the suggested options so as to have minimum impact on any particular consumer," the official said.
The suggestions will be placed before the Cabinet for its decision soon after the Gujarat assembly elections, officials in the oil ministry said. Oil minister Veerappa Moily had last week announced his intention to raise the cap on supply of subsidised cooking gas to nine cylinders per household in a year from current restriction of six and invited the Election Commission's ire that the move was against the election code of conduct.
Diesel prices in India are about Rs 10 per litre less than international rates, which would translate into a revenue loss of about Rs 92,000 crore in 2012-13 if the gap in prices persists.
"A one rupee hike on diesel prices is justified, especially when the consumers want three additional gas cylinders in a year," the official said. "The finance ministry is not opposed to raising the cap on subsidised cylinders, but it is not in a position to bear additional subsidy burden. So the oil ministry proposes to make it revenue neutral through several options," the official added.
Another way to provide additional six cylinders is by reducing diversion, officials said. The oil ministry aims to implement direct transfer of subsidy in 51 districts from February, officials said. The oil secretary is directly monitoring its implementation every week, they added.
In September, the government had raised diesel prices sharply and said each household would get only six subsidised cylinders a year to control the uncomfortably high oil subsidy bill and cut losses of state firms. After receiving six subsidised cylinders, consumers would have to pay market prices, which are significantly higher. The government eventually wants to sell all LPG cylinders and kerosene at market rates across the country by 2013-14.
A committee, led by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is monitoring the development. The Direct Transfer of Cash Subsidies on Kerosene 2012 (DTCK-12) has already been launched in 11 states and a proposal for a similar scheme for the entire country will be sent to the cabinet soon, officials said. According to the oil ministry, the proposed scheme would save Rs 7,500 crore in kerosene and Rs 7,200 crore on cooking gas annually.
(4) Swiss government mulls bill to curb black money
Often accused of providing safe havens to black money from India and other countries, Switzerland has proposed a new bill to prevent its banks and other institutions from accepting "untaxed assets" from their clients and put in place a stricter due diligence regime.
The Switzerland Federal Council, the apex decision making body of Swiss government , has asked its finance ministry, the Federal Department of Finance (FDF), to submit a consultation draft at the start of 2013 to meet its goal of preventing banks from accepting untaxed funds from their clients. A decision to this effect was taken by the Federal Council at a meeting on Friday in Bern.
The move follows rising global pressure on Switzerland to act against its banks giving 'safe haven' to overseas entities in name of client confidentiality . In India as well, the issue of alleged hoarding of black money in Swiss banks has been a matter of political debate.
While a revised tax treaty has come into force between the two countries for exchange of information on untaxed assets and money laundering related activities, the rules require sufficient information for any banking details to be shared and many requests face the risk of getting rejected in the name of 'fishing expeditions' . The Swiss Federal Council said in a statement that it "is stepping up its efforts to combat abuses in the area of money laundering and taxation".
"With the planned implementation of the revised recommendations of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), serious tax offences will be qualified as predicate offences for money laundering in future" it added.
(5) Rail fares to go up next year: Minister
Train fares might go up next year as an increase has become necessary to meet the financial situation of the Railways which was "not sound", minister of state for Railways Kotla Suryaprakasha Reddy said.
"It is necessary to increase the train fares as the financial position of the Railways is not sound. It is essential to raise the fares to take up developmental activities and provide amenities to commuters," he said.
Reddy was addressing a gathering after flagging off Visakhapatnam-Chennai and Visakhapatnam-Shirdi weekly express trains here yesterday.
He said commuters should appreciate this fact. Later, talking to reporters at Rajahmundry, Reddy said there was a proposal to increase the rail fares in the next railway budget.
He also said Indian trains were the cheapest transport facility in the world and at the same time the number of mishaps on the tracks was very low.
Rs 25,000 crore worth railway projects were pending in Andhra Pradesh, he said, adding, it would take some time to clear them because of financial constraints.
(1) Rehman Malik’s visit backfires, India rules out joint statement
(2) Centre using CBI to blackmail Mulayam: SP
(3) Obama visits Newtown, says these tragedies must end
(4) Jet shares jump on Etihad deal hopes
(5) Essar to convert debt into dollar loans
(6) 3 US entities lobbied on tax plan
(7) England reach 240/3 at lunch on Day 5
(8) Sri Lanka to chase 393 to win 1st Test
(9) Football: Real held by Espanyol, pressure on Jose
(10) Palghar girl Shaheen back on Facebook
5 Stories for Today
(1) Quota in promotion against Constitution, Arvind Kejriwal's party says
(2) Island row: China moves UN for claim
(3) Govt may hike fuel prices to offset cost of extra cylinders
(4) Swiss government mulls bill to curb black money
(5) Rail fares to go up next year: Minister
(1) Quota in promotion against Constitution, Arvind Kejriwal's party says
Calling quota in promotions for SCs/STs against the spirit of social justice enshrined in the Constitution, anti-graft crusader Arvind Kejriwal's Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has opposed the government move to bring in the quota through a constitutional amendment.
The party criticized political parties for exploiting the issue of reservation in promotions in government jobs and putting their partisan interests above national interest.
"Instead of taking a principled stand on this question, the Congress has dithered and allowed itself to be blackmailed while the BJP has maintained a strategic silence. Parties like the BSP and the SP have merely acted as pressure groups on behalf of one caste group or another," AAP spokesperson Manish Sisodia said in a statement.
This was one more instance of how the political establishment put its partisan interests above national interest, he added.
"AAP takes exception to the cynical manner in which the issue of reservation in promotions in government jobs is being exploited by various political parties to pit one section of society against another," Sisodia said.
The party said the basic rationale of the reservation system was to extend genuine equality of opportunity to those sections of society that have suffered systematic deprivation, discrimination and disadvantage and are therefore under-represented at the top echelons of society.
"This can be extended to promotions as and where there is evidence of systematic discrimination in promotions that do not follow seniority rule. Otherwise, there is no need for reservation in promotion," Sisodia said.
He said mechanical use of reservation in promotion often creates an anomalous situation. Those who are recruited against reserved category tend to get faster promotion than the rest and become senior to their batch-mates from the general category for no special reason.
"This creates unnecessary heartburn and a sense of injustice, which is not in keeping with the spirit of the system of reservations. That is why the Supreme Court has, while upholding job reservations for SCs, STs and the OBCs, rejected the idea of mechanical reservation in promotions," he said.
(2) Island row: China moves UN for claim
The Diaoyu islands dispute with Japan took another turn with China moving the United Nations to press its claim on a wider area in East China Sea.
Making a partial submission to the UN secretariat about the outer limits of the continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles in the East China Sea, China said the area is the natural prolongation of its land territory. This is evident in the physiognomy and geological characteristics of the shelf, it said.
(3) Govt may hike fuel prices to offset cost of extra cylinders
The oil ministry may raise prices of diesel by Re 1 a litre or that of cooking gas by Rs 100 to neutralise the impact of its plan to increase the supply of subsidised cylinders to households, government officials said.
"A Re 1 hike in diesel prices would generate about Rs 8,000 crore a year, which is sufficient for three additional cylinders in a year. About Rs 100 hike in domestic LPG can also make the move revenue neutral. There are other options that will be presented to the Cabinet," a government official said requesting anonymity.
Other options include supplying diesel at market rates to bulk consumers such as Railways, defence, industries and state road transport undertakings, and stopping diversion of LPG and kerosene through direct transfer of cash subsidies, the official said.
Diesel is sold at Rs 47.15 a litre in Delhi. "It is likely that the Cabinet may decided for a combination of the suggested options so as to have minimum impact on any particular consumer," the official said.
The suggestions will be placed before the Cabinet for its decision soon after the Gujarat assembly elections, officials in the oil ministry said. Oil minister Veerappa Moily had last week announced his intention to raise the cap on supply of subsidised cooking gas to nine cylinders per household in a year from current restriction of six and invited the Election Commission's ire that the move was against the election code of conduct.
Diesel prices in India are about Rs 10 per litre less than international rates, which would translate into a revenue loss of about Rs 92,000 crore in 2012-13 if the gap in prices persists.
"A one rupee hike on diesel prices is justified, especially when the consumers want three additional gas cylinders in a year," the official said. "The finance ministry is not opposed to raising the cap on subsidised cylinders, but it is not in a position to bear additional subsidy burden. So the oil ministry proposes to make it revenue neutral through several options," the official added.
Another way to provide additional six cylinders is by reducing diversion, officials said. The oil ministry aims to implement direct transfer of subsidy in 51 districts from February, officials said. The oil secretary is directly monitoring its implementation every week, they added.
In September, the government had raised diesel prices sharply and said each household would get only six subsidised cylinders a year to control the uncomfortably high oil subsidy bill and cut losses of state firms. After receiving six subsidised cylinders, consumers would have to pay market prices, which are significantly higher. The government eventually wants to sell all LPG cylinders and kerosene at market rates across the country by 2013-14.
A committee, led by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is monitoring the development. The Direct Transfer of Cash Subsidies on Kerosene 2012 (DTCK-12) has already been launched in 11 states and a proposal for a similar scheme for the entire country will be sent to the cabinet soon, officials said. According to the oil ministry, the proposed scheme would save Rs 7,500 crore in kerosene and Rs 7,200 crore on cooking gas annually.
(4) Swiss government mulls bill to curb black money
Often accused of providing safe havens to black money from India and other countries, Switzerland has proposed a new bill to prevent its banks and other institutions from accepting "untaxed assets" from their clients and put in place a stricter due diligence regime.
The Switzerland Federal Council, the apex decision making body of Swiss government , has asked its finance ministry, the Federal Department of Finance (FDF), to submit a consultation draft at the start of 2013 to meet its goal of preventing banks from accepting untaxed funds from their clients. A decision to this effect was taken by the Federal Council at a meeting on Friday in Bern.
The move follows rising global pressure on Switzerland to act against its banks giving 'safe haven' to overseas entities in name of client confidentiality . In India as well, the issue of alleged hoarding of black money in Swiss banks has been a matter of political debate.
While a revised tax treaty has come into force between the two countries for exchange of information on untaxed assets and money laundering related activities, the rules require sufficient information for any banking details to be shared and many requests face the risk of getting rejected in the name of 'fishing expeditions' . The Swiss Federal Council said in a statement that it "is stepping up its efforts to combat abuses in the area of money laundering and taxation".
"With the planned implementation of the revised recommendations of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), serious tax offences will be qualified as predicate offences for money laundering in future" it added.
(5) Rail fares to go up next year: Minister
Train fares might go up next year as an increase has become necessary to meet the financial situation of the Railways which was "not sound", minister of state for Railways Kotla Suryaprakasha Reddy said.
"It is necessary to increase the train fares as the financial position of the Railways is not sound. It is essential to raise the fares to take up developmental activities and provide amenities to commuters," he said.
Reddy was addressing a gathering after flagging off Visakhapatnam-Chennai and Visakhapatnam-Shirdi weekly express trains here yesterday.
He said commuters should appreciate this fact. Later, talking to reporters at Rajahmundry, Reddy said there was a proposal to increase the rail fares in the next railway budget.
He also said Indian trains were the cheapest transport facility in the world and at the same time the number of mishaps on the tracks was very low.
Rs 25,000 crore worth railway projects were pending in Andhra Pradesh, he said, adding, it would take some time to clear them because of financial constraints.
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