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Cabinet approves Bill on black money

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BLACK-MONEY

New Delhi: To check black money menace, the Cabinet today approved a new Bill that would give more powers to the tax department in tracking illicit wealth stashed abroad and provide for strict penal actions for such offence.

Sources said that the Cabinet approved the new Bill this evening and it could be presented in Parliament during the ongoing session.

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had announced in his Budget speech on February 28 that the government would bring in a comprehensive law to check the black money menace by providing for a jail term of up to 10 years for hiding foreign assets and up to 300 per cent penalty.

Jaitley had also said that a host of other tough measures including dis-incentivising of cash dealings in Real Estate and other transactions would be put in place.

Under the proposed law, concealment of income and assets and evasion of tax in relation to foreign assets will be prosecutable with rigorous imprisonment of up to 10 years, Jaitley had said, while adding that the offence will be made non-compoundable and the offenders will not be permitted to approach the Settlement Commission.

As regards curbing domestic black money, the Finance Minister had said a new and more comprehensive Benami Transactions (Prohibition) Bill would be introduced in the current session of Parliament.

He had also proposed to amend the Income-tax Act to prohibit “acceptance or payment” of an advance of Rs 20,000 or more in cash for purchase of immovable property.

(PTI)

Don't insist on Aadhar card for social benefits: Supreme Court

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Aadhar

New Delhi: The Supreme Court Monday asked the central and state governments not to insist on possessing Aadhar card for availing benefits under the various social security schemes as it reiterated an order it passed in September 2013.

A bench of Justice J.Chelameswar, Justice S.A. Bobde and Justice C. Nagappan, without going into concrete examples, said: “In certain quarters, Aadhar cards are being insisted on by various authorities.”

The apex court by its September 23, 2013, had said “no person should suffer for not getting the Adhaar card inspite of the fact that some authorities had issued a circular making it mandatory and when any person applies to get the Adhaar Card voluntarily, it may be checked whether that person is entitled for it under the law and it should not be given to any illegal immigrant.”

The court reiterated its order after senior counsel Gopal Subramanium drew the attention of the court towards the Delhi government directive insisting on an Aadhar card for the registration of marriages. Subramanium had appeared for one of the petitioners.

The court did not appear appreciative when Solicitor General Ranjit Kumar submitted that some states were not abiding by the court order.

“It is your duty to ensure our orders are followed. You can’t say states are not following our order,” it told him, stressing it was incumbent upon the central government to ensure that the states complied with the apex court’s order.

Directing the next hearing of the matter in the second week of July and noting the presence of the centre and all the states, the court said: “We expect all to scrupulously adhere to our order dated 23 Sept 2013.”

The court’s order came as it took up the batch of petitions challenging the Aadhar card which were last heard by it on April 28, 2014.

Karnataka High Court’s former judge K.S. Puttaswamy had moved the court in 2012 contending that the entire Aadhar scheme was unconstitutional as the biometric data collected under it was an incursion and transgression of individual privacy.

(IANS)

Defamation case: Kejriwal, Sisodia, Yogendra forced to appear

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Arvind Kejriwal

New Delhi: Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, his deputy Manish Sisodia and dissident AAP leader Yogendra Yadav were today forced to appear before a Delhi Court in a criminal defamation case after their failure to do so drew a stinging remark by the judge that they have “no respect for law”.

“There is nothing to reflect why the accused (Kejriwal, Sisodia and Yadav) have not appeared. Accused have no respect for law. Considering no one has appeared for accused, I am keeping the matter pending at 2PM. Call at 2PM,” Metropolitan Magistrate Mayuri Singh said after the trio failed to comply with court’s order that they were to “positively” appear today.

Hours after the court rejected their plea for exemption from personal appearance for the day citing lawyers’ strike, the Chief Minister, Deputy CM and Yadav showed up before the Magistrate who marked their presence and fixed the case for May 2 for pronouncing order on the issue of whether to frame charges against the accused.

Kejriwal and Sisodia reached the court room together at around 1.45 pm while AAP leader Yogendra Yadav arrived few minutes later.

The presence of the Chief Minister resulted in over crowding of the court room and the premises prompting the magistrate to ask the onlookers to vacate the room.

On the arrival of the three leaders, the police barricaded the premises and the court room, which was already filled with advocates, litigants, mediapersons and staff of other courts, was latched from inside.

The case was put up before link magistrate Singh as Metropolitan Magistrate Muneesh Garg, before whom the matter was going on, was on leave today.

“As the presiding officer (before whom the case is going on) is on leave, I will fix the case for the purpose already fixed and will give you the date.

“I have marked the presence of the three accused, they can leave,” the magistrate said.

The three leaders had sought exemption from personal appearance for the day saying the case was at a crucial stage and the presence of advocates was necessary.

Later on, the lawyers, including senior advocate H S Phoolka and advocate Rahul Mehra, who accompanied the AAP leaders were without bands due to the strike.

In the morning, the court had directed them to personally appear before it at 2 pm saying there was no ground for exemption from their appearance and they “have no respect for the law”.

The court said the exemption application displayed no reason for the absence of the accused.

The court had noted that a clerk appeared on behalf of the accused and their advocates and moved the exemption plea.

The exemption plea, however, was opposed by complainant and advocate Surender Kumar Sharma saying the lawyers are on strike and not the litigants.

“It is mockery of justice. It would not be in the interest of justice if any adjournment is given in the case as the matter had earlier been adjourned three times due to absence of the accused,” he said.

The court had earlier issued summons against the three AAP leaders under sections 499, 500 (defamation) and 34 (common intention) of the IPC, and had said there was prima facie material to summon the accused.

The court had granted bail to Kejriwal, Sisodia and Yadav, after they had appeared before it on June 4 last year in pursuance to summons against them.

In the post-lunch proceedings, complainant Sharma who was accompanied by large number of lawyers sought court’s permission to advance arguments.

However, the magistrate denied the request saying the concerned court will hear the matter on the next date of hearing.

The court on February 11 had given last opportunity to Kejriwal, Sisodia and Yadav and directed them to positively appear before it today as it was scheduled to pass order on the issue of framing of charges.

Sharma, in his complaint, had alleged that in 2013 he was approached by volunteers of AAP who had asked him to contest the Delhi Assembly elections on a party ticket, saying Kejriwal was pleased with his social services.

He filled up the application form to contest the polls after being told by Sisodia and Yadav that AAP’s Political Affairs Committee of the party had decided to give him the ticket. However, it was later denied to him.

On October 14, 2013, the complainant claimed that articles in leading newspapers carried “defamatory, unlawful and derogatory words used by the accused persons” which have lowered his reputation in the Bar and the society.

While issuing summons against AAP leaders, the court had said, “The press release published in newspapers as well as testimonies of witnesses reflect that defamatory remarks were published in the newspaper which affected the reputation of the complainant in the society and lowered his reputation in the eyes of other members of the society.”

(PTI)

SC quashes extension of OBC reservation to Jats

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Supreme Court India

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Tuesday quashed the March 4, 2014, notification by the then UPA government extending OBC reservation to Jats in nine states, ignoring the recommendation of the National Commission for Backward Classes to the contrary.

An apex court bench of Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justice Rohinton Fali Nariman said: “We can’t agree that politically organised Jats are backward class so as to be entitled to OBC reservation.”

“Inclusion of politically organised class such as Jats… can’t be affirmed,” said Justice Gogoi pronouncing the judgment.

The court said that inclusion of politically organised castes like Jats in the OBC list is not good for other backward classes.

The UPA government had announced reservation for Jats in 2014 by including them in the OBC category on the eve of the Lok Sabha elections. However, a group of petitioners claimed that Jats were politically and socially advanced and that the decision to extend reservation to them was electorally motivated.

(IANS)

Haryana Police arrest main accused in Hisar church attack case

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hisar-church-vandalised

New Delhi: Haryana Police on Tuesday arrested the main accused in the vandalisation of an under construction church in a village in Hisar district.

“The main accused Anil Godara has been arrested from Hisar today,” Hisar SP Saurabh Singh said.

He said that the accused will be produced before a court and police would seek his remand.

“Further investigations in the case are under progress and search is on for remaining accused,” he added.

Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed “deep concern” over the gang-rape of a 71-year-old nun in West Bengal’s Nadia district and the vandalisation of a church in Hisar, Haryana.

“The Prime Minister is deeply concerned about the incidents in Hisar, Haryana and Nadia, West Bengal,” the PMO said in a tweet.

On Sunday, an under construction church in Kaimri village in Hisar district of Haryana was vandalized by miscreants and the idol of Hindu god Hanuman was placed inside the premises.

Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar had told the assembly on Monday that the church was reportedly built in an illegal colony and the dispute was the result of an altercation between the priest and those who attacked the place of worship.

Making a statement in the state assembly, Khattar that an FIR has been registered on the statement of church priest Subhash Chander, against accused Anil Godara, Dalbir Singh, Raj Kumar, Kuldeep, Satpal, Krishan, Suresh, Dinesh, Jogender, Kulwant, Sudhir, Bijender, Satnarain, Chhotu Ram and others.

The complainant has alleged that the accused entered into his house and damaged their religious symbol.

The accused persons have carried out this act because an altercation had taken place between the church priest and them on February 8, Khattar told the House.

(Agencies)

Karnataka: Janardhan Poojary urges CBI inquiry into D K Ravi death

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B-Janardhana-Poojary

Mangaluru: In the wake of state-wide protests after the sudden death of IAS officer D K Ravi in Bengaluru on Monday, former union minister B Janardhan Poojary urged the Chief Minister of Karnataka to conduct a CBI enquiry in the case.

Addressing a press conference here on Tuesday, he said that no person was willing to believe that such a bold and straightforward IAS officer had hung himself. The chief minister should set an example to the entire country by ordering a CBI inquiry in the death of IAS officer D K Ravi and send a message that the government will protect its officers. He should order a CBI probe to give the message that no criminal would go unpunished. There should be a thorough investigation in this regard, he urged.

The Centre also has a responsibility as much as the state government in this regard. There are only a handful of worthy officers in the state and country. Is it possible for such a brave IAS officer who took on the sand mafia and land mafia tax evaders, to have committed a suicide? Hence, there should be a thorough probe in his death, he reiterated, adding that even if the death was proved a suicide, there was a law that sought punishment for abetment to suicide.

Mr Poojary also urged that the media should highlight the issue to the extent that the central government took cognizance of the mysterious death since the deceased IAS officer had been selected and appointed by the Centre.

No culprit involved in his death, powerful or otherwise, should be allowed to go unpunished. Corruption should be tackled at all costs, he urged, stating that the young IAS officer had been loved and respected by all for his sincere work and sense of justice towards the common man and the poor.

He advised activists and protestors to conduct peaceful protests against the death of the young officer so that the law and order would not be disrupted in the state.

(Agencies)

Haryana Assembly Passes Bill Banning Cow Slaughter, Sale of Beef

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REUTERS/Shailesh Andrade

REUTERS/Shailesh Andrade

Chandigarh: The Haryana Assembly on Monday evening unanimously passed a bill under which cow slaughter and the sale of beef have been banned in the state. The new law will also promote conservation and development of indigenous breeds of cows and establish institutions to keep, maintain and take care of the infirm, injured, stray and uneconomic cows.

As per the Haryana ‘Gauvansh Sanrakshan and Gausamvardhan’ Bill, 2015, which was passed with two amendments, a person found guilty of cow slaughter can get rigorous imprisonment not less than three years, which may extend upto 10 years along with a fine ranging from Rs. 30,000 to Rs. 1 lakh.

Any person who exports cows for slaughter either directly or through somebody can get rigorous imprisonment not less than three years which may extend upto seven years, along with a fine from Rs. 30,000 to Rs. 70,000.

However, the killing of a cow in an accident or self-defense will not be considered as slaughter under the Act.

The sale of beef will be completely banned in the state; the offence will be punishable with rigorous imprisonment for not less than three years and upto five years with fine of upto Rs. 50,000.

The government will also establish laboratories for differentiation of beef from that of the meat of other species of animals, and testing and identification of various constituents of milk.

Haryana Chief Minister ML Khattar told mediapersons that the previous law was weak and had several loopholes.

“We have come up with a more stringent law… this will enable cow protection and development at the same time,” Mr Khattar said.

The opposition Indian National Lok Dal’s legislator Zakir Hussain said he had suggested a couple of amendments but the government has accepted only one.

“There should have been a provision for transport of cows within the state to avoid harassment of transporters, also similar punishment should be in place for corrupt officials who are found involved in beef trade. Government has accepted the latter suggestion,” Mr Hussain said.

(IANS)

Hassan: Deve Gowda turns emotional, offers to resign from Lok Sabha

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deve-GOWDA

Hassan: Alleging lack of concern among the ruling class about the interests of poor people and farmers, former prime minister (PM), H D Deve Gowda, who represents this constituency at the Lok Sabha, in an emotional outburst, offered to resign from his Lok Sabha membership.

Deve Gowda, who was participating in discussion on budget at the Lok Sabha on Monday March 16, noticed that some MPs seated in the seats located in his back, were speaking among themselves in low tone. Deputy speaker of the Lok Sabha, Tambidurai, who was in the chair, asked the members of parliament who were not interested in the proceedings, to leave the hall.

Deve Gowda, who appeared to have been charged with emotion, said that it could he his last address as a Lok Sabha member, and that he could decide to resign from the post. ‘No one shows interest about people like me, who are from rural background. I had resigned from this post twice in the past,’ he said.

Gowda also came out with strong words against the union budget for failing to moot any proposals for the upliftment of farmers of the country.

(Agencies)

Pioneering fighter Swaminathan who was in the forefront of the struggle to force the giant Coca Cola to quit Kerala is no more

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Veloor Swaminathan

by K.P. Sasi

Veloor Swaminathan is no more. He left Plachimada forever on March 14, 2015. Swaminathan along with Mylamma were the initial foundations of the historic struggle of Plachimada in Kerala. The struggle initiated by a small group of these Adivasis with Dalits and farmers forced one of the largest corporate powers in the world, Coca Cola to bend down and quit Plachimada. If anybody asks, how did such a small force of marginalised people achieve such a herculean task, I would say, study Mylamma and Swaminathan, for any strategy for any people’s movement raising issues of marginalisation.

They welcomed all shades of people with dissent against Coca Cola and made them comfortable under the shades of the struggle, in front of the Coca Cola plant. Thus, people belonging to diverse political parties, NGOs, religious groups, radical left groups, Gandhians, Lohiaites, environmental groups of different shades, representations from other people’s movements, middle class activists, film makers, journalists, intellectuals, researchers from India and abroad flowed to Plachimada in support of the struggle. But both Mylamma and Swaminathan were sitting there protesting against the plant along with villagers for hundreds of days. Looking back, one can rightly say that it is this `inclusive’ character of the movement for which both Mylamma and Swaminathan deserve major credits, which brought the tentative success of the struggle, inspiring many people’s movements and activists all over the world.

Veloor Swaminathan had an innate and organic political and intellectual search. He had strong convictions on Adivasi identity as well as rights. He was open for discussions on all these areas. With strong convictions on Adivasi identity, he spoke in Malappuram when activists organised a public programme in memory of film maker Sarat Chandran, soon after Sarat died. He said: `We Adivasis never felt that Sarat Chandran was from an outside community. We always felt that he was an Adivasi like us.’

I have listened to many people speaking in public about Sarat Chandran, who along with P. Baburaj made a number of documentary films on people’s movements and screened them widely. But I had never heard something like this coming from an Adivasi who had strong convictions on Adivasi identity. When he was speaking these words about our dear friend Sarat, Swaminathan was cryng in front of the mike. For the long standing work of film activism and by being part of many people’s movements, this was Sarat Chandran’s life time achievement award, for no Adivasi will normally tell that in public, about anyone who belonged to an outside community. No film maker in India has received this historical award as per my knowledge. And ultimately, Adivasis like Swaminathan, Sarat Chandran and Mylamma reached their destination.

Swaminathan had a small workshop in Plachimaada. His wife and two children were supported from meagre earnings from this small workshop. As far as I understand, during the later stages of his life, he was extremely bothered about the ill health of his elder child and the expenses for treatment. These freedom fighters do not get any pension for their survival, unlike the freedom fighters of the earlier times. Therefore I guess, compassion from those who relate with the sufferings of those who struggle, is the need of the hour.

The people of Plachimada are still struggling, with the support of the crystal clear foot prints of many who left us. These footprints must not be rubbed by history. These footprints must be preserved for the new generations who try to learn to walk on the roads of struggles for justice. It is from such footprints that new roads will emerge.

I request all my friends to preserve these foot prints, for the sake of the unborn and newly born children, who are yet to confront the pains and pleasures of walking.

In memory, respect and solidarity with the foot prints of Swaminathan.

K.P Sasi is an award winning film director and a political activist. He is also an Associate Editor of Countercurrents.org. He can be reached at kpsasi36@gmail.com

Modi government may spy on officials, parties, media: Congress

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congress

Ranchi: Congress today demanded a probe into the alleged snooping on party vice-president Rahul Gandhi as it claimed that the next targets could be persons from the bureaucracy, political parties and media.

“We demand a judicial commission or a Parliamentary committee to probe the surveillance on Rahul Gandhi as it is aimed at suppressing democracy,” AICC spokesman Ajay Kumar said at a press conference here.

Next, he claimed, the snooping could be on government officials, political parties and media.

Even former Delhi police commissioners Ved Marwah and B K Gupta denied that any such procedures had been there, Kumar said.

On the controversy surrounding absence of Gandhi Jayanti from the list of holidays in Goa, Kumar refused to accept Goa Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar’s logic that dropping of October 2 from the list could be an act of mischief or a typing mistake.

“The BJP has a habit to set off balloons to see public reaction. It denies the action if the reaction is strong and it goes ahead with its action if everything is quiet,” alleged Kumar, a former IPS officer.

Slamming the Narendra Modi government on the amendment to Land Acquisition Act, he said, “The BJP government is for only one per cent of the population, protecting the super rich. It is not bothered about farmers and the poor.”

If the bill was passed, he claimed, even houses in cities would go in the name of creating infrastructure.

(Agencies)

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