Andhra Pradesh is fast hurtling into anarchy because of the acts of commission and omission by a pusillanimous Government and interested pressure groups, charged Lok Satta Party President Dr. Jayaprakash Narayan here today.
Addressing a media meet on the agitations and counter-agitations on the sub-inspector recruitment written examination, Dr. JP said the Government could have pre-empted law and order problems had it persuaded the Union Government to delete the controversial Clause 14 F from the Presidential Order. The agitated people should have explored ways and means of getting their grievances redressed through legitimate and legal channels instead of enforcing shutdowns and threatening self-immolation.
Dr. JP recalled that the Lok Satta Party was the first to suggest deletion of the clause 14 F of the Presidential Order relating to recruitment of police in Hyderabad city. The State legislature unanimously adopted a resolution seeking deletion as early as in March 2010.
Without following up the Assembly resolution, the Government decided to recruit police personnel. As trouble erupted over treating Hyderabad as a ‘free zone’, the Government initially decided to put on hold the examination in Hyderabad but go ahead with it in other parts of the State. As the Telangana agitators would not relent, the Government has now deferred the examination all over the State and triggered a counter agitation in the rest of Andhra Pradesh.
Dr. JP said that the alien, undemocratic British rulers were much more balanced, mature, reliable, and consistent than the present Andhra Pradesh rulers. State Government actions have become irrational and unpredictable.
Dr. JP said that sections of people and political parties were equally to blame for the present chaotic conditions. They seem to forget that rights and responsibilities are two sides of the same coin. One could legitimately agitate for a cause but one should not inconvenience others in the process. Rasta rokos, hartals, and bandhs would hurt millions of people who lead a hand-to-mouth existence and deprive critical patients of prompt medical assistance.
He told sub-inspector aspirants in the Andhra region they need not fear any disqualification because of deferment of the examination by a few months. They will all be eligible for selection irrespective of some delay, as long as they were eligible at the time of application. Lok Satta party urges Government of India and Andhra Pradesh government to shed the passive, somnolent approach, and take energic steps to repeal Section 14 F of the Presidential Order, and conduct examinations for the police recruitment within two months. Meanwhile, Lok Satta Party appeals to unemployed youth of all regions not to resort to rasta rokos and bandhs, and not to hurt themselves. ‘They have to act with restraint and dignity, and they must not become victims of hatred and parochialism”, appealed Dr JP.
Monday, November 22, 2010
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Dr. JP urges PM to emulate Hong Kong in fighting corruption
Lok Satta Party President Dr. Jayaprakash Narayan today urged Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh to enact a comprehensive anti-corruption law and create an independent anti-corruption commission (IACC) as in Hong Kong. The IACC, formed in in Hong Kong in 1974, reduced corruption within a few years.
In a letter to the Prime Minister which he shared with members of Parliament, Dr. JP pointed that since there is palpable support among the public and political parties for rooting out corruption, he should create mechanisms to enforce public integrity and end corruption.
“Honesty is not merely a moral imperative; it is an economic necessity to accelerate and sustain high growth rates and eliminate poverty.”
On the colossal corruption in the allocation of 2G spectrum, Dr. JP said that apart from punishing culprits, the Government should undo the damage caused to the public exchequer and prevent future acts of such corruption.
He wanted the Prime Minister to revoke the tainted 2G spectrum allocations under Section 23 and 24 of the Indian Contract Act, 1872 so that corporates which colluded with bribe takers and caused a colossal loss to the exchequer do not benefit from corruption. He drew the Prime Minister’s attention to the Government of India canceling purchase of 197 helicopters worth $600 million from Eurocopter following a Central Vigilance Commission report in 1997.
Dr. JP suggested imposition of a Windfall Profit Tax on all licensees who sold the spectrum or equity to ensure that the public exchequer retains abnormal profits made out of a vital public resource. He proposed enactment of a law to make all contracts involving corruption, or loss to the exchequer void and unenforceable and another to impose a civil penalty of five times the loss sustained by the exchequer in any public procurement or transfer of natural resource.
In a letter to the Prime Minister which he shared with members of Parliament, Dr. JP pointed that since there is palpable support among the public and political parties for rooting out corruption, he should create mechanisms to enforce public integrity and end corruption.
“Honesty is not merely a moral imperative; it is an economic necessity to accelerate and sustain high growth rates and eliminate poverty.”
On the colossal corruption in the allocation of 2G spectrum, Dr. JP said that apart from punishing culprits, the Government should undo the damage caused to the public exchequer and prevent future acts of such corruption.
He wanted the Prime Minister to revoke the tainted 2G spectrum allocations under Section 23 and 24 of the Indian Contract Act, 1872 so that corporates which colluded with bribe takers and caused a colossal loss to the exchequer do not benefit from corruption. He drew the Prime Minister’s attention to the Government of India canceling purchase of 197 helicopters worth $600 million from Eurocopter following a Central Vigilance Commission report in 1997.
Dr. JP suggested imposition of a Windfall Profit Tax on all licensees who sold the spectrum or equity to ensure that the public exchequer retains abnormal profits made out of a vital public resource. He proposed enactment of a law to make all contracts involving corruption, or loss to the exchequer void and unenforceable and another to impose a civil penalty of five times the loss sustained by the exchequer in any public procurement or transfer of natural resource.
Saturday, November 20, 2010
Lok Satta approaching Supreme Court to seek cancellation of 2-G licenses
As part of its multi-pronged fight against ubiquitous and monumental corruption, the Lok Satta Party will be approaching the Supreme Court to get the corruption-tainted 2-G spectrum licenses cancelled and licenses issued afresh on competitive bidding.
The Lok Satta will implead itself as a party in the case filed by the Center for Public Interest Litigation in the Supreme Court or a file fresh petition if necessary on the 2-G spectrum scam, said party President Dr. Jayaprakash Narayan in a media statement here today.
He said that the revelation of Tata Group Chairman Ratan Tata that the Tatas kept away from aviation business as it was not prepared to oblige a Minister with a Rs.15-crore bribe once again underlined the need for institutional mechanisms to prevent corruption.
Dr. JP said that most of the debates in the media and political circles missed the forest by focusing on trees like the future of Mr. A. Raja, the guilty Minister, the alliance between the Congress and the DMK and the nature of the inquiry that should be instituted.
The terrible scandal offers a priceless opportunity to cleanse the political system of corruption, said Dr. JP and outlined the ways and means of going about it.
There can be no two opinions on the fact of massive corruption in the 2-G spectrum allocation as the Telecom Minister and some bureaucrats have been caught with the smoking gun. Allocation of precious and finite spectrum on a first-come, first-served basis without calling for competitive bids, arbitrary advancement of the cut-off date for considering applications, fixing an abnormally low price for the spectrum disregarding the remarkable increase in telephone density in the country, failure to lay down eligibility criteria for applicants and sale of cornered spectrum by fly-by-night operators for many times the fee they paid the Government had caused enormous loss running into tens of thousands of crores of rupees to the public exchequer.
Dr. JP demanded that the 2-G licenses granted by Mr. Raja be straightway annulled under Section 23 of the Indian Contracts Act. A contract as per the Act becomes void if it is tainted with corruption. The Government could return the license fee to the spectrum licenses after deducting fee for the period they used it. The Government should then call for international competitive bidding after laying down transparent eligibility criteria in consultation with TRAI (Telecom Regulatory Authority of India).
To prevent recurrence of such scams in future, the Government should enact a law under which any license for or lease of natural resources by the Government to corporates shall become void if there is evidence of corruption/fraud/collusion/loss to the Government. The fear of losing licenses/leases obtained with illegal money will deter corporates from indulging in corruption.
Dr. JP said that a second law be enacted immediately providing for stiff taxation of windfall profits earned by corporates because of the monopoly enjoyed by them in the exploitation of natural resources the Government allocated them either because of monopoly or a change in the global economic environment. The British Government enacted such a law in 1997, when some British companies earned abnormal profits by striking oil in the North Sea and the oil price skyrocketed. The companies that cornered the 2-G spectrum licenses through questionable means and sold them within weeks for astronomical sums should be subjected to the proposed windfall profits tax.
Dr. JP suggested enactment of another law on the lines of the False Claims Act in the U. S. If the exchequer incurs any loss because of fraud or misrepresentation or violation of the due process as determined by an independent, competent authority, the guilty had to pay a civil penalty equivalent to three to five times the loss sustained. The U. S. Government had collected USD10 billion under the Act.
Dr. JP appealed to all political parties to utilize the opportunity provided by Mr. Raja to devise institutional mechanisms for mitigating, if not eliminating corruption. India’s GDP (gross domestic product) would go up by about two percent straightway, if only corruption could be curbed, he added.
The Lok Satta will implead itself as a party in the case filed by the Center for Public Interest Litigation in the Supreme Court or a file fresh petition if necessary on the 2-G spectrum scam, said party President Dr. Jayaprakash Narayan in a media statement here today.
He said that the revelation of Tata Group Chairman Ratan Tata that the Tatas kept away from aviation business as it was not prepared to oblige a Minister with a Rs.15-crore bribe once again underlined the need for institutional mechanisms to prevent corruption.
Dr. JP said that most of the debates in the media and political circles missed the forest by focusing on trees like the future of Mr. A. Raja, the guilty Minister, the alliance between the Congress and the DMK and the nature of the inquiry that should be instituted.
The terrible scandal offers a priceless opportunity to cleanse the political system of corruption, said Dr. JP and outlined the ways and means of going about it.
There can be no two opinions on the fact of massive corruption in the 2-G spectrum allocation as the Telecom Minister and some bureaucrats have been caught with the smoking gun. Allocation of precious and finite spectrum on a first-come, first-served basis without calling for competitive bids, arbitrary advancement of the cut-off date for considering applications, fixing an abnormally low price for the spectrum disregarding the remarkable increase in telephone density in the country, failure to lay down eligibility criteria for applicants and sale of cornered spectrum by fly-by-night operators for many times the fee they paid the Government had caused enormous loss running into tens of thousands of crores of rupees to the public exchequer.
Dr. JP demanded that the 2-G licenses granted by Mr. Raja be straightway annulled under Section 23 of the Indian Contracts Act. A contract as per the Act becomes void if it is tainted with corruption. The Government could return the license fee to the spectrum licenses after deducting fee for the period they used it. The Government should then call for international competitive bidding after laying down transparent eligibility criteria in consultation with TRAI (Telecom Regulatory Authority of India).
To prevent recurrence of such scams in future, the Government should enact a law under which any license for or lease of natural resources by the Government to corporates shall become void if there is evidence of corruption/fraud/collusion/loss to the Government. The fear of losing licenses/leases obtained with illegal money will deter corporates from indulging in corruption.
Dr. JP said that a second law be enacted immediately providing for stiff taxation of windfall profits earned by corporates because of the monopoly enjoyed by them in the exploitation of natural resources the Government allocated them either because of monopoly or a change in the global economic environment. The British Government enacted such a law in 1997, when some British companies earned abnormal profits by striking oil in the North Sea and the oil price skyrocketed. The companies that cornered the 2-G spectrum licenses through questionable means and sold them within weeks for astronomical sums should be subjected to the proposed windfall profits tax.
Dr. JP suggested enactment of another law on the lines of the False Claims Act in the U. S. If the exchequer incurs any loss because of fraud or misrepresentation or violation of the due process as determined by an independent, competent authority, the guilty had to pay a civil penalty equivalent to three to five times the loss sustained. The U. S. Government had collected USD10 billion under the Act.
Dr. JP appealed to all political parties to utilize the opportunity provided by Mr. Raja to devise institutional mechanisms for mitigating, if not eliminating corruption. India’s GDP (gross domestic product) would go up by about two percent straightway, if only corruption could be curbed, he added.
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Lok Satta asks farmers to get ready to fight
The Lok Satta Party has called upon farmers to get ready for a serious fight against the State and Central Governments which have been depriving them of remunerative prices for agricultural produce.
The party’s State Working Committee, which met here yesterday, said in a resolution that 40 party teams would launch a publicity campaign in 150 mandals as part of its mission to unite farmers, supplementing party President Dr. Jayaprakash Narayan’s visits to districts. It suggested formation of farmers’ forums at the village level to keep the movement apolitical.
Addressing the media, party Working President D. V. V. S. Varma, General Secretary Katari Srinivasa Rao and Secretary P. Bhaskara Rao pointed out that the neighboring Karnataka Government collected a mere 1.5 percent market cess on paddy, allowed free movement of rice outside the State and announced a bonus of Rs.100 per quintal. In contrast, the Andhra Pradesh Government which earned Rs.1500 crore by way of tax and cess (totaling 10 percent), would not announce a bonus of Rs.200 a quintal of paddy.
By preventing free movement of rice outside the State and banning exports outside the country, the State and Central Governments are doing grave injustice to farmers. With a bumper crop round the corner and Government and private warehouses brimming with stocks, paddy prices are ruling below the minimum support prices, the party leaders said.
The leaders demanded that the State Government announce a bonus of Rs.200 a quintal above the minimum support price, facilitate pledge loans against paddy stocks in farmers’ homes, purchase discolored paddy and permit movement of rice outside the State. They wanted the Government of India to permit rice exports. The Karnataka Chief Minister would be leading an all-party delegation to Delhi to convince the Government of India on the imperative of exports in the present situation, the party leaders said.
The party’s State Working Committee, which met here yesterday, said in a resolution that 40 party teams would launch a publicity campaign in 150 mandals as part of its mission to unite farmers, supplementing party President Dr. Jayaprakash Narayan’s visits to districts. It suggested formation of farmers’ forums at the village level to keep the movement apolitical.
Addressing the media, party Working President D. V. V. S. Varma, General Secretary Katari Srinivasa Rao and Secretary P. Bhaskara Rao pointed out that the neighboring Karnataka Government collected a mere 1.5 percent market cess on paddy, allowed free movement of rice outside the State and announced a bonus of Rs.100 per quintal. In contrast, the Andhra Pradesh Government which earned Rs.1500 crore by way of tax and cess (totaling 10 percent), would not announce a bonus of Rs.200 a quintal of paddy.
By preventing free movement of rice outside the State and banning exports outside the country, the State and Central Governments are doing grave injustice to farmers. With a bumper crop round the corner and Government and private warehouses brimming with stocks, paddy prices are ruling below the minimum support prices, the party leaders said.
The leaders demanded that the State Government announce a bonus of Rs.200 a quintal above the minimum support price, facilitate pledge loans against paddy stocks in farmers’ homes, purchase discolored paddy and permit movement of rice outside the State. They wanted the Government of India to permit rice exports. The Karnataka Chief Minister would be leading an all-party delegation to Delhi to convince the Government of India on the imperative of exports in the present situation, the party leaders said.
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Great Work by LSP
LOK SATTA PARTY achieved another success in drawing Karnataka Goverment's
attention by organising a gathering and rally of farmers at sindhanoor
in Karnataka on Wednesday November 3, 2010.
Its a huge crowd..look at the pictures and news on below link.
http://www.hindu.com/2010/11/04/stories/2010110454800300.htm
Result
: With in 24 hours of the meeting, Karnataka Govt offered a bonus of
Rs.100 a Quintal to the farmers over minimum support price.
Kudos to everyone who involved in these meetings
Centre urged to revoke ban on export of rice to help farmers
Correspondent
‘Farmers are in distress as it has killed demand in the market'
Government asked to enhance storage
capacity in godowns
‘There is a dead stock of over 100 million
tonnes of rice in the country'
Voice of dissent:A gathering of famers at the rally in Sindhanur on Wednesday
Sindhanur (Raichur district): Jayaprakash Narayan, MLA from Andhra Pradesh and president of the Lok Satta party, has said that the Union Government should enhance storage capacity in available godowns and ask the State Trading Corporation of India (STC) to export rice to safeguard interests of farmers.
Speaking after inaugurating a rally of farmers, jointly organised by the Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha (KRRS) and the Hasiru Sene here on Wednesday, he said that wrong policies adopted by the Union Government had hit farmers. All farmers, especially paddy growers, were in distress owing to the ban imposed on the export of rice.
He said that the Centre had banned export of all varieties of rice, except Basmati. This decision had put a stop to the marketing of rice. Godowns were full with a huge stock of paddy and rice and farmers could not sell paddy due to lack of demand. Both traders and farmers had suffered heavy losses. Mr. Narayana explained that with a huge dead stock of over 100 million tonnes of rice in the country, the price of the commodity had fallen drastically. “There are no takers in the market even though farmers are ready to sell paddy at Rs. 1,000 per quintal. At this rate, the farmers will not be able to recover the cost of cultivation. The number of suicide cases among farmers could increase if the situation continues,” he said.
Urging the Centre to find alternative solutions to liquidate the huge stock of rice, he suggested exporting the surplus stock through the STC.
Chamarasa Malipatil, vice-president of the State unit of the KRRS, and a group of progressive farmers spoke.
attention by organising a gathering and rally of farmers at sindhanoor
in Karnataka on Wednesday November 3, 2010.
Its a huge crowd..look at the pictures and news on below link.
http://www.hindu.com/2010/11/04/stories/2010110454800300.htm
Result
: With in 24 hours of the meeting, Karnataka Govt offered a bonus of
Rs.100 a Quintal to the farmers over minimum support price.
Kudos to everyone who involved in these meetings
Centre urged to revoke ban on export of rice to help farmers
Correspondent
‘Farmers are in distress as it has killed demand in the market'
Government asked to enhance storage
capacity in godowns
‘There is a dead stock of over 100 million
tonnes of rice in the country'
Voice of dissent:A gathering of famers at the rally in Sindhanur on Wednesday
Sindhanur (Raichur district): Jayaprakash Narayan, MLA from Andhra Pradesh and president of the Lok Satta party, has said that the Union Government should enhance storage capacity in available godowns and ask the State Trading Corporation of India (STC) to export rice to safeguard interests of farmers.
Speaking after inaugurating a rally of farmers, jointly organised by the Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha (KRRS) and the Hasiru Sene here on Wednesday, he said that wrong policies adopted by the Union Government had hit farmers. All farmers, especially paddy growers, were in distress owing to the ban imposed on the export of rice.
He said that the Centre had banned export of all varieties of rice, except Basmati. This decision had put a stop to the marketing of rice. Godowns were full with a huge stock of paddy and rice and farmers could not sell paddy due to lack of demand. Both traders and farmers had suffered heavy losses. Mr. Narayana explained that with a huge dead stock of over 100 million tonnes of rice in the country, the price of the commodity had fallen drastically. “There are no takers in the market even though farmers are ready to sell paddy at Rs. 1,000 per quintal. At this rate, the farmers will not be able to recover the cost of cultivation. The number of suicide cases among farmers could increase if the situation continues,” he said.
Urging the Centre to find alternative solutions to liquidate the huge stock of rice, he suggested exporting the surplus stock through the STC.
Chamarasa Malipatil, vice-president of the State unit of the KRRS, and a group of progressive farmers spoke.
Sunday, November 7, 2010
Announce bonus for paddy, Dr. JP requests CM
Lok Satta Party President Dr. Jayaprakash Narayan today urged Chief Minister K. Rosaiah to announce a bonus of Rs.200 a quintal for paddy over and above the minimum support price.
In a media statement, Dr. JP said that the Karnataka Government had offered a bonus of Rs.100 a quintal within 24 hours of Karnataka paddy growers drawing the Government’s attention to their plight by organizing a largely attended conference at Sindanur in Raichur district of Karnataka on November 3.
Dr. JP pointed out the Andhra Pradesh Government burdens farmers with a five percent rural development cess, four percent VAT (sales tax), and one percent market cess.
In contrast, the Karnataka Government collects a mere 1.5 percent as market cess, and does not collect either rural development cess or VAT. It does not restrict free movement of rice outside the State.
Dr. JP wanted the Andhra Pradesh Government to remove VAT and permit free movement of rice outside the State. It should persuade the Government of India to permit export of non-Basmati rice considering that the country is about to reap a bumper harvest even as Government and private warehouses are overflowing with food grains. Since rice prices in international markets are reigning high, exports will earn the country foreign exchange and facilitate payment of remunerative prices to paddy growers. He said that in areas where the paddy has just come into the market, the ruling prices are less than the minimum support price and added that further dithering on rice exports will depress prices further and harm producers.
For the last two weeks, Dr. JP has been on a mission to mobilize farmers on their demands. He has already visited some Coastal Andhra districts and Nalgonda in Telangana. Beginning today with Khammam, he will be visiting Medak, Nizamabad, Kurnool, Kadapa and Nellore districts to interact with farmers in the next few days.
IMPORTANT NOTICE
Today's Meeting has been cancelled due to bad and rough weather.. pls update ur mail id's ASAP to get the agenda of meeting.. Team VOISE
Saturday, November 6, 2010
Bride burning deserves death penalty: SC
Accusing the "sick" Indian society for deaths of young women at the hands of their husbands and in-laws in the name of dowry, the Supreme Court has held that bride burning belongs to the "rarest of rare" category and deserves the death penalty.
Bride burning is a crime which deserves the death sentence because of the extreme depravity of mind involved in killing a young woman for the "lust of money", a Bench of Justices Markandeya Katju and Gyan Sudha Misra said in their judgment.
"The hallmark of a healthy society is the respect it shows to its women. Indian society has become a sick society," the court observed, adding that the evidence of this fact lay in the large number of cases coming up in the Supreme Court (and also in almost all courts in the country) in which young women are being killed by their husbands or by their in-laws by pouring kerosene on them and setting them on fire or by hanging/strangulating them.
Bride burning, the court said, is nothing short of murder. It explains that the term "rarest of rare" does not just mean that the act is uncommon, "it means that the act is brutal and barbaric". "And bride killing is certainly barbaric," Justice Katju said in its October 28 judgment.
The court was hearing an appeal filed by Satya Narayan Tiwari, who with his mother, killed his wife of three years in 2000 because her father could not afford to gift him a Maruti car. Forensic report showed that she was hung to death and then her body was burnt in an effort to deceive the police that she had committed suicide in their house.
The trial court acquitted the duo for lack of evidence, but the high court sentenced them to life under Section 304B (dowry death) of the IPC and six months under the Dowry Prohibition Act.
The jail term was to run concurrently.
But for the Supreme Court, the prosecution had not done enough by booking the mother-son duo for dowry death alone. Justice Katju said the state should have charged them with murder and fought for death penalty.
"In fact, it was really a case under Section 302 (murder) IPC and death sentence should have been imposed in such a case, but since no charge under Section 302 IPC was levelled, we cannot do so," he wrote.
Bride burning is a crime which deserves the death sentence because of the extreme depravity of mind involved in killing a young woman for the "lust of money", a Bench of Justices Markandeya Katju and Gyan Sudha Misra said in their judgment.
"The hallmark of a healthy society is the respect it shows to its women. Indian society has become a sick society," the court observed, adding that the evidence of this fact lay in the large number of cases coming up in the Supreme Court (and also in almost all courts in the country) in which young women are being killed by their husbands or by their in-laws by pouring kerosene on them and setting them on fire or by hanging/strangulating them.
Bride burning, the court said, is nothing short of murder. It explains that the term "rarest of rare" does not just mean that the act is uncommon, "it means that the act is brutal and barbaric". "And bride killing is certainly barbaric," Justice Katju said in its October 28 judgment.
The court was hearing an appeal filed by Satya Narayan Tiwari, who with his mother, killed his wife of three years in 2000 because her father could not afford to gift him a Maruti car. Forensic report showed that she was hung to death and then her body was burnt in an effort to deceive the police that she had committed suicide in their house.
The trial court acquitted the duo for lack of evidence, but the high court sentenced them to life under Section 304B (dowry death) of the IPC and six months under the Dowry Prohibition Act.
The jail term was to run concurrently.
But for the Supreme Court, the prosecution had not done enough by booking the mother-son duo for dowry death alone. Justice Katju said the state should have charged them with murder and fought for death penalty.
"In fact, it was really a case under Section 302 (murder) IPC and death sentence should have been imposed in such a case, but since no charge under Section 302 IPC was levelled, we cannot do so," he wrote.
Friday, November 5, 2010
Let us ensure triumph of good over evil, appeals Dr. JP
Lok Satta Party President Dr. Jayaprakash Narayan today conveyed his greetings and good wishes to people on the eve of Deepavali.
Pointing out that Deepavali symbolizes the triumph of good over evil as per mythology and tradition, Dr. JP regretted that the contrary has become true in contemporary India. Millions of people continue to be mired in poverty and drudgery, although we have the resources and technologies to wipe every tear from every eye. Not a day passes without skeletons of corruption tumbling out of the cupboard from all over the country in most spheres of life including the highest judiciary. The chasm between rural and urban India, agriculture and industry, the poor and the rich has been ever widening.
Dr. JP said, “Let us resolve on the occasion of Deepavali to address some of these burning issues if we want to ensure that the festival of lights will in future at least mark the triumph of good over evil.”
Pointing out that Deepavali symbolizes the triumph of good over evil as per mythology and tradition, Dr. JP regretted that the contrary has become true in contemporary India. Millions of people continue to be mired in poverty and drudgery, although we have the resources and technologies to wipe every tear from every eye. Not a day passes without skeletons of corruption tumbling out of the cupboard from all over the country in most spheres of life including the highest judiciary. The chasm between rural and urban India, agriculture and industry, the poor and the rich has been ever widening.
Dr. JP said, “Let us resolve on the occasion of Deepavali to address some of these burning issues if we want to ensure that the festival of lights will in future at least mark the triumph of good over evil.”
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Linguistic States have made India stronger: Dr. JP
November 1, which witnessed the formation of linguistic States, is as important at August 15 when the country attained Independence and January 26 when it became a republic, said Lok Satta Party President Dr. Jayaprakash Narayan here today.
Addressing a meeting after unfurling the national flag at the party headquarters to mark the formation of Andhra Pradesh in 1956, Dr. JP pointed out that nation builders opted for constitution of linguistic States as part of their mission to build a strong federal republic. In the early days of Independence, national leaders built India as a quasi-federal setup by concentrating power in the Government of India to preserve the country’s unity. Constitution of linguistic States subsequently promoted unity and facilitated India’s emergence as a strong federation. That neglect of any language would lead to catastrophic consequences is evident from the happenings in Yugoslavia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka.
Dr. JP said language continues to be a binding force, whatever are the differences among people under umpteen counts.
Mr. D. V. V. S. Varma, party’s Working President, and a large number of party activists took part in the festivities.
Addressing a meeting after unfurling the national flag at the party headquarters to mark the formation of Andhra Pradesh in 1956, Dr. JP pointed out that nation builders opted for constitution of linguistic States as part of their mission to build a strong federal republic. In the early days of Independence, national leaders built India as a quasi-federal setup by concentrating power in the Government of India to preserve the country’s unity. Constitution of linguistic States subsequently promoted unity and facilitated India’s emergence as a strong federation. That neglect of any language would lead to catastrophic consequences is evident from the happenings in Yugoslavia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka.
Dr. JP said language continues to be a binding force, whatever are the differences among people under umpteen counts.
Mr. D. V. V. S. Varma, party’s Working President, and a large number of party activists took part in the festivities.
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Lok Satta seeks package for rain-hit farmers
Lok Satta Party Working President D. V. V. S. Varma today appealed to the Government to go the rescue of the rain ravaged farmers in Coastal Andhra.
Quoting reports that crops in 6-7 lakh acres have been damaged in rains in the last few days, Mr. Varma suggested that the Government announce a package of assistance to the affected, a majority of them tenant farmers. The Government should make arrangements for purchase of discolored paddy and conversion of rain-soaked paddy into boiled rice. Banks should be asked to reschedule crop loans.
Mr. Y. D. Rama Rao, party’s Vice President, appealed to his party workers to instill confidence in affected farmers and draw the Government’s assistance to their plight.
Quoting reports that crops in 6-7 lakh acres have been damaged in rains in the last few days, Mr. Varma suggested that the Government announce a package of assistance to the affected, a majority of them tenant farmers. The Government should make arrangements for purchase of discolored paddy and conversion of rain-soaked paddy into boiled rice. Banks should be asked to reschedule crop loans.
Mr. Y. D. Rama Rao, party’s Vice President, appealed to his party workers to instill confidence in affected farmers and draw the Government’s assistance to their plight.
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Free trade a win-win proposal for Government, country, and farmers: Dr. JP
‘Agricultural liberalization need of the hour’ -- Dr.JP
The Government of India could make a net profit of not less than Rs.50,000 crore this year by exporting just one variety of rice grown in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, said Lok Satta Party President Dr. Jayaprakash Narayan here today.
Addressing a media conference, Dr. JP hoped that the economist-turned Prime Minister would seize the historic opportunity not merely to earn precious foreign exchange for the country but also to mitigate widespread distress among farmers. It was time Dr. Manmohan Singh, who liberated industry from the license-permit raj, focused on rescuing agriculture from imminent collapse.
Dr. JP, who returned today after a six-day visit to the granary of Andhra Pradesh, painted a very grim picture of the gathering agricultural crisis. Paddy prices are about to crash and ruin farmers, as all warehouses are overflowing with food grains even as a bumper crop is round the corner.
The Government has as of today 46 million tons of food grains, against the required buffer stock of 16 million tons for October. Farmers and traders have probably another 20 million tons of food grains with them. Thanks to bountiful rains and increased acreage, the country is about to witness record yields. The MSP offered by the Government does not cover even the cost of cultivation. The minimum support rice has become the maximum selling price.
According to Government estimates, Andhra Pradesh will produce an all-time high of 20.9 million tons of food grains, including 14.8 million tons of rice, during the current crop year. The State requires not more than 7.2 million tons of rice a year for internal consumption. In other words, two-thirds of the State's food grain production will be a surplus, not taking into account the huge stocks of the previous crop lying with farmers and traders.
The Governments - Union and State - have put farmers in fetters with their antediluvian farm sector policies. A corrupt, thoughtless license-permit-quota raj has been crippling the farm sector. In agriculture, production itself is dependent on weather gods, pests and diseases, availability of quality inputs and timely workforce. One out of three crops is lost and the farmer suffers heavy losses. But thanks to Government policies, even when a farmer raises a good crop overcoming all obstacles, the price is depressed. The farmer loses all when the crops fail; and he loses heavily when there is a good harvest.
Against such a backdrop, Dr. JP said, there is no wonder that paddy prices have started crashing. The Union Government continues the ban on non-basmati rice exports imposed last year in the wake of drought and floods. The State Government would not allow free movement of rice outside the State or between districts within the State. It condescends to allow movement of only limited stocks and that too against permits for apparent reasons.
The average yield of paddy in Andhra Pradesh is 22 bags of 75 kg each or 16.5 quintals. The cost of cultivation comes to Rs.16,000 per acre to a farmer and about Rs.25,000 to a tenant. Even if the Government ensures the minimum support price of Rs.1000/Rs.1030 per quintal, the farmer merely reaps back his investment, while the tenant incurs a net loss. In areas where the crop has already landed in market yards, the ruling prices are less than the MSP.
Dr. JP said that a sagacious Government would promote free trade and exports to overcome problems of overflowing warehouses within the country and take advantage of the galloping prices in international markets. Instead of granting permits and licenses to private parties for rice exports, and attracting charges of favoritism, nepotism, and sleaze, the Government could canalize exports through State undertakings.
Dr. JP said the Government need to export just one super fine variety of rice -- BPT 5204, known as Sona Masuri, which has a good demand in all rice-eating nations. The Sona Masuri surplus in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka after the current kharif harvest will be at least 10 million tons, he said.
He explained that Sona Masuri is quoting at $24-27 a bag of nine kg in international markets. It works out to Rs.120-135 a kg or Rs.12,000-13,500 a quintal in rupee terms. The price is likely to go up further because rains and floods have ravaged the paddy crop in Pakistan, Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines and other countries. Even if the Government realizes a price of only Rs. 80 per kg after meeting all incidental expenses on storage, transportation etc, the profit on export of 10 million tons of BPT rice will be more than Rs.50,000 crore.
Dr. JP said that the Government could retain 50 percent of the profit and share the remainder with farmers. It could pay a bonus of Rs.500 a quintal to all paddy growers in AP and Karnataka - not merely Sona Masuri growers - for the coming four years.
Dr. JP accused both the Union and State Governments of ruining agriculture, the mainstay of 60 percent of people in the country. The per capita income of farmers and tenants who are solely dependent on agriculture in India is Rs.15,000 a year, in contrast to Rs.1,04,000 of those engaged in non-agricultural occupations. How can industry flourish if 60 percent of people lead a subsistence existence and cannot afford goods produced by industry?
No farmer in the countryside would like to give his daughter in marriage to a farmer or want his son to take to farming because it does not ensure two square meals a day, leave alone a life of comfort or luxury. It is not a surprise that villages are getting depopulated.
Dr. JP recalled that Dr. Manmohan Singh and Mr. Pranab Mukerjee had defended India joining the WTO in the interest of the Indian farmer who enjoyed a competitive advantage in cost of production. "We today have a competitive advantage in rice production, but the Government would not permit exports and allow the farmer to benefit from high prices in the international market. On the contrary, it facilitates duty-free import of rice and wheat. We have a competitive disadvantage in oilseeds production. The Rajiv Gandhi government created an Oil-seeds Mission to encourage farmers, but now thanks to the Government's irrational policies, Indian cooking oil will soon be a thing of the past. Instead of encouraging farmers to step up yields, the Government permits duty-free import of edible oil and supplies it on subsidy to consumers. Imports meet nearly 80 percent of the country's edible oil requirements. In other words, the Government is straining its every nerve to ensure that a farmer on an alien soil benefits at the cost of the Indian farmer, whatever be the agricultural produce."
With the free import of Pangasius variety of fish from Vietnam, Bangladesh, Burma and other ASEAN countries, the price of that fish in India plummeted from Rs.50 to Rs. 30 a kg. Whenever cotton prices rise to the advantage of farmers, exports are banned, and imports are allowed even when international prices are higher. Sugarcane farmers are kept on a tight leash; this resulted in farmers givingup cane production. Factories shut down; and we had to import 50 lakh tonnes of sugar this year. The Government's single point program ensures that the Indian farmer never realizes good prices, and agriculture continues to be a subsistence occupation.
No major country actively works against its own farmers as the Indian Government does. If there is a conspiracy to destroy our agriculture, impoverish our farmers and tenants, and ruin village economy, the Government could not have done differently. Irrational and anti-national policies in agriculture are denying us market access, profits, foreign exchange and farm income. This shameless exploitation of farmers and tenants is leading to economic ruin of villages which constitute 70% of the population. This is also affecting the rest of the economy, as the demand for industrial goods and services is limited largely to 30% of the population. "The policies of the government are clearly resulting in India's economic growth being held back; eventually the economy will stagnate, and the nation will pay a heavy price," Dr. JP said.
Dr. JP recalled that the Government of India liberalized the economy in the 1990s not out of conviction but because of compulsion. It had to mortgage gold and self-respect in London to pay for fertilizer and fuel imports and ward off a default in debt servicing. The Government, which had unshackled industry and unleashed animal spirits, would not like to forgo its stranglehold on agriculture. "Should a catastrophe visit agriculture too before the Government mends its mindset?", asked Dr. JP
Dr. JP announced that farmers in Karnataka and Maharashtra will be meeting soon in large numbers to discuss the crisis they are facing and finalize the future course of action.
The Lok Satta Party, as a matter of principle, is opposed to inconveniencing people by calling for rasta rokos and bandhs on any particular issue. It may have to make an exception in the case of the present agrarian crisis if the Government does not respond and render justice to the farmer. It is considering a proposal to paralyze the general economy by blocking cargo traffic for a few days on national highways and rail roads so that the rest of the country will appreciate the problems 60 percent of people solely dependent on agriculture are facing.
The Government of India could make a net profit of not less than Rs.50,000 crore this year by exporting just one variety of rice grown in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, said Lok Satta Party President Dr. Jayaprakash Narayan here today.
Addressing a media conference, Dr. JP hoped that the economist-turned Prime Minister would seize the historic opportunity not merely to earn precious foreign exchange for the country but also to mitigate widespread distress among farmers. It was time Dr. Manmohan Singh, who liberated industry from the license-permit raj, focused on rescuing agriculture from imminent collapse.
Dr. JP, who returned today after a six-day visit to the granary of Andhra Pradesh, painted a very grim picture of the gathering agricultural crisis. Paddy prices are about to crash and ruin farmers, as all warehouses are overflowing with food grains even as a bumper crop is round the corner.
The Government has as of today 46 million tons of food grains, against the required buffer stock of 16 million tons for October. Farmers and traders have probably another 20 million tons of food grains with them. Thanks to bountiful rains and increased acreage, the country is about to witness record yields. The MSP offered by the Government does not cover even the cost of cultivation. The minimum support rice has become the maximum selling price.
According to Government estimates, Andhra Pradesh will produce an all-time high of 20.9 million tons of food grains, including 14.8 million tons of rice, during the current crop year. The State requires not more than 7.2 million tons of rice a year for internal consumption. In other words, two-thirds of the State's food grain production will be a surplus, not taking into account the huge stocks of the previous crop lying with farmers and traders.
The Governments - Union and State - have put farmers in fetters with their antediluvian farm sector policies. A corrupt, thoughtless license-permit-quota raj has been crippling the farm sector. In agriculture, production itself is dependent on weather gods, pests and diseases, availability of quality inputs and timely workforce. One out of three crops is lost and the farmer suffers heavy losses. But thanks to Government policies, even when a farmer raises a good crop overcoming all obstacles, the price is depressed. The farmer loses all when the crops fail; and he loses heavily when there is a good harvest.
Against such a backdrop, Dr. JP said, there is no wonder that paddy prices have started crashing. The Union Government continues the ban on non-basmati rice exports imposed last year in the wake of drought and floods. The State Government would not allow free movement of rice outside the State or between districts within the State. It condescends to allow movement of only limited stocks and that too against permits for apparent reasons.
The average yield of paddy in Andhra Pradesh is 22 bags of 75 kg each or 16.5 quintals. The cost of cultivation comes to Rs.16,000 per acre to a farmer and about Rs.25,000 to a tenant. Even if the Government ensures the minimum support price of Rs.1000/Rs.1030 per quintal, the farmer merely reaps back his investment, while the tenant incurs a net loss. In areas where the crop has already landed in market yards, the ruling prices are less than the MSP.
Dr. JP said that a sagacious Government would promote free trade and exports to overcome problems of overflowing warehouses within the country and take advantage of the galloping prices in international markets. Instead of granting permits and licenses to private parties for rice exports, and attracting charges of favoritism, nepotism, and sleaze, the Government could canalize exports through State undertakings.
Dr. JP said the Government need to export just one super fine variety of rice -- BPT 5204, known as Sona Masuri, which has a good demand in all rice-eating nations. The Sona Masuri surplus in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka after the current kharif harvest will be at least 10 million tons, he said.
He explained that Sona Masuri is quoting at $24-27 a bag of nine kg in international markets. It works out to Rs.120-135 a kg or Rs.12,000-13,500 a quintal in rupee terms. The price is likely to go up further because rains and floods have ravaged the paddy crop in Pakistan, Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines and other countries. Even if the Government realizes a price of only Rs. 80 per kg after meeting all incidental expenses on storage, transportation etc, the profit on export of 10 million tons of BPT rice will be more than Rs.50,000 crore.
Dr. JP said that the Government could retain 50 percent of the profit and share the remainder with farmers. It could pay a bonus of Rs.500 a quintal to all paddy growers in AP and Karnataka - not merely Sona Masuri growers - for the coming four years.
Dr. JP accused both the Union and State Governments of ruining agriculture, the mainstay of 60 percent of people in the country. The per capita income of farmers and tenants who are solely dependent on agriculture in India is Rs.15,000 a year, in contrast to Rs.1,04,000 of those engaged in non-agricultural occupations. How can industry flourish if 60 percent of people lead a subsistence existence and cannot afford goods produced by industry?
No farmer in the countryside would like to give his daughter in marriage to a farmer or want his son to take to farming because it does not ensure two square meals a day, leave alone a life of comfort or luxury. It is not a surprise that villages are getting depopulated.
Dr. JP recalled that Dr. Manmohan Singh and Mr. Pranab Mukerjee had defended India joining the WTO in the interest of the Indian farmer who enjoyed a competitive advantage in cost of production. "We today have a competitive advantage in rice production, but the Government would not permit exports and allow the farmer to benefit from high prices in the international market. On the contrary, it facilitates duty-free import of rice and wheat. We have a competitive disadvantage in oilseeds production. The Rajiv Gandhi government created an Oil-seeds Mission to encourage farmers, but now thanks to the Government's irrational policies, Indian cooking oil will soon be a thing of the past. Instead of encouraging farmers to step up yields, the Government permits duty-free import of edible oil and supplies it on subsidy to consumers. Imports meet nearly 80 percent of the country's edible oil requirements. In other words, the Government is straining its every nerve to ensure that a farmer on an alien soil benefits at the cost of the Indian farmer, whatever be the agricultural produce."
With the free import of Pangasius variety of fish from Vietnam, Bangladesh, Burma and other ASEAN countries, the price of that fish in India plummeted from Rs.50 to Rs. 30 a kg. Whenever cotton prices rise to the advantage of farmers, exports are banned, and imports are allowed even when international prices are higher. Sugarcane farmers are kept on a tight leash; this resulted in farmers givingup cane production. Factories shut down; and we had to import 50 lakh tonnes of sugar this year. The Government's single point program ensures that the Indian farmer never realizes good prices, and agriculture continues to be a subsistence occupation.
No major country actively works against its own farmers as the Indian Government does. If there is a conspiracy to destroy our agriculture, impoverish our farmers and tenants, and ruin village economy, the Government could not have done differently. Irrational and anti-national policies in agriculture are denying us market access, profits, foreign exchange and farm income. This shameless exploitation of farmers and tenants is leading to economic ruin of villages which constitute 70% of the population. This is also affecting the rest of the economy, as the demand for industrial goods and services is limited largely to 30% of the population. "The policies of the government are clearly resulting in India's economic growth being held back; eventually the economy will stagnate, and the nation will pay a heavy price," Dr. JP said.
Dr. JP recalled that the Government of India liberalized the economy in the 1990s not out of conviction but because of compulsion. It had to mortgage gold and self-respect in London to pay for fertilizer and fuel imports and ward off a default in debt servicing. The Government, which had unshackled industry and unleashed animal spirits, would not like to forgo its stranglehold on agriculture. "Should a catastrophe visit agriculture too before the Government mends its mindset?", asked Dr. JP
Dr. JP announced that farmers in Karnataka and Maharashtra will be meeting soon in large numbers to discuss the crisis they are facing and finalize the future course of action.
The Lok Satta Party, as a matter of principle, is opposed to inconveniencing people by calling for rasta rokos and bandhs on any particular issue. It may have to make an exception in the case of the present agrarian crisis if the Government does not respond and render justice to the farmer. It is considering a proposal to paralyze the general economy by blocking cargo traffic for a few days on national highways and rail roads so that the rest of the country will appreciate the problems 60 percent of people solely dependent on agriculture are facing.
Monday, November 1, 2010
The Value Of A Smile :)
The value of a smile is priceless, yet it is the cheapest, easiest, most rewarding and most sincere gift to anyone that crosses your path. A smile makes a person's day, anybody's day even a stranger's day. A smile is infectious. Start infecting people with your smile today.
A smile is nature's best antidote for discouragement. It brings rest to the weary, sunshine to those who are sad, and hope to those who are hopeless and defeated.
A smile is so valuable that it can't be bought, begged, borrowed, or taken away against your will. You have to be willing to give a smile away before it can do anyone else any good.
So if someone is too tired or grumpy to flash you a smile, let him have one of yours anyway. Nobody needs a smile as much as the person who has none to give.
A smile is nature's best antidote for discouragement. It brings rest to the weary, sunshine to those who are sad, and hope to those who are hopeless and defeated.
A smile is so valuable that it can't be bought, begged, borrowed, or taken away against your will. You have to be willing to give a smile away before it can do anyone else any good.
So if someone is too tired or grumpy to flash you a smile, let him have one of yours anyway. Nobody needs a smile as much as the person who has none to give.
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