News Analysis India

Tag: Central Government

  • INTERVIEW| This government is not willing to discuss real issues: Rajya Sabha MP Syed Nasir Hussain

    Express News Service

    ENGALURU: The recent monsoon session ended in an impasse between the government and opposition, and marked a new low in parliamentary discourse. The opposition claimed that it wanted a meaningful discussion on the issues facing the nation — inflation, farmers’ agitation, Pegasus issue, mishandling of the COVID pandemic, and the Chinese incursions — but the government “failed to discuss real issues and was arrogant and stubborn”, Congress Party Whip and Rajya Sabha MP Syed Nasir Hussain said.

    In the past, the ruling Congress blamed the opposition BJP, now the tables have turned and the BJP is blaming the opposition for disrupting the House. What do you have to say?

    Under Rule 267, the opposition raised the issue of inflation and fuel price, which has crossed Rs 100, the farmers’ agitation which went on for more than eight months, and during which more than 500 farmers died.

    We wanted to discuss the Pegasus snooping issue, as phones of judges, journalists, defence officials and opposition leaders were spied upon, and are asking for an impartial inquiry monitored by the Supreme Court. Germany, France, Canada, Algeria, Hungary have already set up a probe.

    What is the government afraid of, if it was serious, it could have called for a discussion. This is why the opposition was agitating.

    House Chairman Venkaiah Naidu shed tears, what is your response?

    Those in power should function impartially. He should be above politics. Instead of shedding tears and pointing out that he is helpless, he could have convinced the government to have a discussion on these vital issues. Both the government and those looking after business in the Rajya Sabha failed on this count.  Kharge said the PM did not have a minute to talk to Rajya Sabha members.

    The PM, who had 11 hours and 45 minutes for rallies in West Bengal, did not have a minute to talk about inflation, farmers’ agitation, COVID mismanagement and other issues. The Home Minister, too, did not come to answer questions on phone tapping. Each bill was discussed for an average of nine minutes, which is a mockery of parliamentary process.

    The treasury benches have alleged that opposition members behaved in an uncivil manner in the House of Elders?

    The House of Elders is supposed to have a deeper and mature discussion on important issues, this is what the opposition is asking for. Whatever happened in the past four weeks is only because of the government’s immature approach to the request from opposition benches to raise urgent issues.

    What do you have to say about women marshals being manhandled?

    Selectively releasing a 2-minute 40-second doctored video to the media — which goes against House rules — and later blaming the opposition is only a cover-up for surreptitiously passing an important bill like GIC, especially as it was not even listed.

    Add to this three layers of security with a ‘women shield’ of marshals to pass an important bill was a cheap move by the government. Two of our women MPs were manhandled and injured seriously, we have taken it up with the Rajya Sabha chairperson.  

    Is there a plan to end the logjam?

    This government has been arrogant, adamant and stubborn. If the government and opposition sit across the table, things can be sorted out.

  • States responsible for implementation of 2015 judgement scrapping Section 66A of IT Act: Centre to SC

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: As ‘police’ and ‘public order’ are state subjects under the Constitution, the primary responsibility for implementing the 2015 judgement which scrapped Section 66A of the IT Act lay with them and their law enforcement agencies, the Centre has told the Supreme Court.

    The Centre has stated this in an affidavit to the apex court in response to a plea of an NGO, ‘People’s Union for Civil Liberties’ (PUCL), alleging that the steps taken by the Central government for ensuring effective implementation of the verdict “far from adequate”.

    Under the scrapped Section a person posting offensive messages could be imprisoned for up to three years as also fined. In the affidavit filed before a bench headed by Justice RF Nariman, the Centre said that state law enforcement agencies are responsible for taking action against offenders related to cyber crime.

    “Police and public order order are State Subjects as per Constitution of India and prevention, detection, investigation and prosecution of crimes, and capacity building of police personnel is primary responsibility of States,” the Centre said.

    “The law enforcement agencies take legal action as per provisions of law against the cyber crime offenders and accordingly the law enforcement agencies share equal responsibility to comply with the said judgement,” it added.

    The government also told the top court that it has directed the Chief Secretaries and Administrators of all states and UTs to direct all police stations not to register cases under Section 66A to ensure compliance with the top court’s judgement in the Shreya Singhal case.

    The Centre said it has also requested them for submission of reports to the IT ministry on the number of cases booked under Section 66A of the IT Act, and directing them to withdraw any prosecution invoking 66A.

    Responding to the Centre’s affidavit PUCL told the apex court that the steps taken by the Centre for ensuring effective implementation of the historic 2015 judgement, scrapping Section 66A of the Information Technology Act, which has still been used for arresting persons for offensive social media posts, are “far from adequate”.

    The bench, which scrapped the controversial provision from statute book by its verdict in the Shreya Singhal case, had on July 5 expressed shock after PUCL filed an application alleging misuse of the scrapped provision by authorities across the nation.

    “Don’t you think this is amazing and shocking? Shreya Singhal judgement is of 2015. It’s really shocking. What is going on is terrible,” the bench, also comprising KM Joseph and BR Gava, had said while issuing notice to the Centre on the NGO’s plea.

    The NGO, in its rejoinder affidavit filed through National General Secretary V Suresh, dealt with the steps taken by the Centre to implement the verdict and gave a slew of suggestions for its effective implementation.

    “The steps taken by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY ) towards ensuring effective implementation of this Court’s Judgment in Shreya Singhal vs Union of India…are far from adequate,” the affidavit said.

    It has suggested that the authorities be asked to collect “the details of the cases registered by the Police/Law Enforcement Agencies under Section 66A of the IT Act since the pronouncement of the Judgment in Shreya Singhal by co-ordinating with the Chief Secretaries/DGPs of the States and Union Territories”.

    Where the case is at the stage of investigation, direct the DGP in states and the Administrators/ Lieutenant Governors in the cases of UTs to forthwith drop further investigation under Section 66A, it said.

    It has also sought a direction from all High Courts to all the District Courts and Magistrates that no cognisance of offence under the provision be taken. The NGO said the Centre be directed to issue an advisory to all police stations not to register cases under the repealed Section 66A.

    The top court was hearing a fresh application of PUCL saying, “That, shockingly, despite the order dated February 15, 2019 and steps taken towards compliance thereof, the Applicant discovered that Section 66A of the IT Act has continued to be in use not only within police stations but also in cases before trial courts across India.”

    It had sought replies from the Centre. Attorney General KK Venugopal, appearing for the Centre, had said that on perusal of the IT Act it can be seen that section 66A features in it, but in the footnote it is written that the provision has been scrapped.

    On February 15, 2019, the top court had directed all state governments to sensitise their police personnel about its March 24, 2015 verdict which had scrapped Section 66A, so that people are not unnecessarily arrested under the struck down provision.

    It also asked all the high courts to send the copy of the verdict to all the trial court to avoid people being prosecuted under the scrapped provision which provided for jail term to people who posted offensive content online.

    Terming liberty of thought and expression “cardinal”, the top court had on March 24, 2015, scrapped the provision saying that “the public’s right to know is directly affected by Section 66A of the Information Technology Act”.

  • Top court seeks Centre and Delhi’s reply on beggar vaccination  

    By Express News Service
    NEW DELHI:  Taking grim view of the situation of beggars, the Supreme Court on Tuesday issued notices to the Centre and Delhi government on a petition seeking vaccination and rehabilitation and said it will not take an elitist view to ban begging in the wake of the pandemic. 

    Justices DY Chandrachud and MR Shah said beggars cannot be wished away from public places and traffic junctions. “No one would like to beg if not for poverty,” the bench said, while turning down a petition to restrain begging at traffic lights, markets and public places in light of the pandemic.

    The court observed that people are generally compelled to beg to eke out some elementary livelihood due to the absence of education and employment. “This is a socio-economic problem. We cannot say that they will not be allowed to beg,” the bench remarked while issuing notices to the Centre and the Delhi government, seeking their response within two weeks on the prayer made in the petition for rehabilitation of beggars and vagabonds, their vaccination and providing them with shelter and food amid the pandemic.

  • ‘Country knows who brought difficult times’: Rahul Gandhi slams Centre over various issues

    By ANI
    NEW DELHI: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday took a dig at the Central government over the issues like vaccine shortage, situation along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), price hike, and farmers and claimed that the country knows who brought these difficult times.

    Taking to Twitter, the Wayanad MP said, “Built through centuries erased in seconds. The country knows who brought these difficult times.” #VaccineShortage #LAC #Unemployment #PriceHike #PSU #Farmers #OnlyPR.”

    सदियों का बनायापलों में मिटायादेश जानता है कौनये कठिन दौर लाया।#VaccineShortage #LAC #Unemployment #PriceHike #PSU #Farmers #OnlyPR
    — Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) July 15, 2021

    Earlier on Wednesday, despite the Indian Army’s rebuttal, Rahul Gandhi referred to a media report, which suggested there was an altercation between Indian and Chinese forces in the Galwan valley. There was a clash between Indian and Chinese Armies in Galwan Valley on June 15 last year, in which 20 Indian soldiers and an unspecified number of Chinese soldiers lost their lives.

  • SC has given Centre opportunity to rectify its mistake: Congress on COVID-19 relief directions

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday said the Supreme Court has given an opportunity to the government to provide relief to COVID victims by fixing adequate compensation to them. He said doing so would be a step in the right direction.

    SC ने मोदी सरकार को ग़लती सुधारने का मौक़ा दिया है। कम से कम अब सरकार को मुआवज़े की सही राशि तय करके पीड़ितों को राहत देनी चाहिए।ये सही दिशा में एक महत्वपूर्ण क़दम है। pic.twitter.com/AmUjyaU9k2
    — Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) June 30, 2021

    The Congress has been demanding compensation to the tune of Rs 10 lakh to each of the victims of coronavirus. There have been nearly 4 lakh deaths due to COVID so far.

    “The Supreme Court has given an opportunity to the Modi government to rectify its mistake. The government should at least now provide relief to the victims by fixing the right amount of compensation. This would be an important step in the right direction,” he said in a tweet in Hindi.

    Earlier in the day, the Supreme Court gave directions to the government to provide compensation to Covid victims and asked the government to fix the compensation amount and frame guidelines within six weeks.

  • The central government gave permission on the proposal of the Chief Minister, Bhupesh Baghel requested the Prime Minister

    The Central Government has given permission on a proposal sent by Bhupesh Baghel from the Central Government regarding the use of oxygen to the steel industry. The Secretary level committee of the Central Government has agreed to use oxygen to 11 steel industries of Chhattisgarh. Chief Minister Baghel has expressed gratitude to Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal for this. It is worth mentioning that the proposal to allow 20 percent oxygen produced in the state to the steel industries of Chhattisgarh has been conveyed by the Department of Commerce and Industry of the Central Government. It has been said that permission for use of medical oxygen has been issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs to medical and defense production industries on April 26, 27 and 28. Similarly, 17 metric tonnes of oxygen is being made available daily to industries on the proposal regarding the requirement of oxygen from the Indian Steel Association. An empowered group of secretaries has also been formed to conduct continuous operations in the steel industries. The use of oxygen in steel industries has been approved by this group. On May 16, Chief Minister Baghel discussed the matter with Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the telephone. Earlier, the video conferencing with the Chief Ministers was requested by the Prime Minister to allow steel industries to use 20 per cent oxygen, keeping in view the improvement in the condition of corona and adequate availability of oxygen. Prime Minister Modi assured to consider it. Chief Minister Baghel wrote a letter in this regard to Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal and informed that the situation of Corona epidemic in the state is constantly improving. Oxygen producing units are suffering due to lack of demand for oxygen. All steelmaking units in the state have been closed due to lack of oxygen. Due to this millions of laborers have become unemployed. Keeping these circumstances in mind, the steel makers of the state were requested to allow the use of 20 per cent quantity (92 MT) produced in the state. He also said that the supply of oxygen to steel manufacturing units can be stopped at any time in the future, even if demand for additional medical oxygen arises.

  • मुख्यमंत्री श्री बघेल द्वारा प्रधानमंत्री से 20 फीसदी आक्सीजन के औद्योगिक उपयोग के अनुरोध पर केन्द्र सरकार ने मांगा प्रस्ताव

    मुख्यमंत्री श्री भूपेश बघेल ने प्रधानमंत्री श्री नरेन्द्र मोदी से कल 16 मई को दूरभाष पर हुई चर्चा और इसके पहले प्रधानमंत्री द्वारा मुख्यमंत्रियों के साथ ली गई वीडियो कांफ्रेसिंग में कोरोना की स्थिति में सुधार तथा आक्सीजन की पर्याप्त उपलब्धता को दृष्टिगत रखते हुए स्टील उद्योगों को 20 फीसदी आक्सीजन के उपयोग की अनुमति प्रदान करने का अनुरोध किया गया था। श्री मोदी ने इस पर विचार का आश्वासन दिया था। इसके बाद श्री बघेल से फोन पर हुई चर्चा में केन्द्रीय उद्योग एवं वाणिज्य मंत्री श्री पीयूष गोयल ने इस संबंध में प्रस्ताव तैयार कर भेजने को कहा था।

         जिस पर मुख्यमंत्री श्री भूपेष बघेल ने आज केन्द्रीय मंत्री श्री गोयल को पत्र लिखकर स्टील उद्योगों को छत्तीसगढ़ में उत्पादित आक्सीजन की 20 प्रतिशत मात्रा के उपयोग की अनुमति प्रदान करने का अनुरोध किया है। 

         मुख्यमंत्री श्री बघेल ने केन्द्रीय मंत्री श्री पीयूष गोयल को भेेजे पत्र में लिखा है कि – छत्तीसगढ़ राज्य की विभिन्न इकाईयों की कुल दैनिक ऑक्सीजन उत्पादन की क्षमता 462 मीट्रिक टन है। सामान्य परिस्तिथियों में राज्य की स्टील निर्माता कम्पनियों को ऑक्सीजन निर्माताओं द्वारा ऑक्सीजन की आपूर्ति की जाती है।

         कोरोना महामारी के इस बढ़ते प्रकोप के कारण केंद्र सरकार ने देश में ऑक्सीजन की आपूर्ति सुनिश्चित करने हेतु उत्पादित ऑक्सीजन के औद्योगिक उपयोग पर रोक लगा दी थी। राज्य सरकार द्वारा यह सुनिश्चित किया गया कि राष्ट्रीय आपदा की घड़ी में राज्य के सभी ऑक्सीजन उत्पादकों द्वारा अनेक राज्यों को उनकी आवश्यकता एवं माँग के अनुरूप ऑक्सीजन की आपूर्ति की जाए।

          15 मई 2021 की स्थिति में राज्य के कोरोना मरीजों के उपचार हेतु 114.93 मीट्रिक टन तथा अन्य राज्यों को 175.27 मीट्रिक टन ऑक्सीजन की आपूर्ति की गयी। जबकि 28 अप्रैल 2021 की स्थिति में राज्य की ऑक्सीजन की कुल आवश्यकता 149.83 मीट्रिक टन तथा अन्य राज्यों की कुल आवश्यकता 340.18 मीट्रिक टन की आपूर्ति राज्य के ऑक्सीजन निर्माताओं द्वारा की गयी।

         मुख्यमंत्री ने उल्लेख किया है कि कोरोना महामारी की स्थिति में निरन्तर सुधार हो रहा है। ऑक्सीजन उत्पादक इकाईयों को ऑक्सीजन की मांग के अभाव में क्षति हो रही है तथा ऑक्सीजन की कमी के कारण राज्य की सभी स्टील निर्माता इकाईयां बंद पडी है, जिसके कारण लाखों मजदूर बेरोजगार हो गये है। इन परिस्थितियों को दृष्टिगत रखते हुए अनुरोध है कि राज्य की स्टील निर्माता इकाईयों को राज्य में उत्पादित 20 प्रतिशत मात्रा (92 मीट्रिक टन) के उपयोग की अनुमति प्रदान करने का कष्ट करें। भविष्य में किसी भी समय अतिरिक्त मेडिकल ऑक्सीजन की मांग यदि उत्पन्न भी होती है, तो स्टील निर्माता इकाईयों को ऑक्सीजन की आपूर्ति रोकी जा सकती है।

  • The central government implemented the UP model, many other states also adopted

    The central government has also adopted the model implemented by the Government of Uttar Pradesh (UP) regarding oxygen supply (Oxygen Crisis). In this regard, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has mandated the installation of vehicle location tracking devices in oxygen containers, tankers and other vehicles. Proper monitoring and safety of these tankers will be ensured through GPS. It will also be seen that there is no diversion or delay.

    In mid-April, CM Yogi inaugurated a digital platform called ‘Oxygen Monitoring System for UP’ after Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath ordered technical support for increasing oxygen utilization in the second wave of Corona. This platform has been prepared in collaboration with the Food Safety and Drug Administration, Medical Education Department, Medical Health and Family Welfare Department, Transport and Home Department of the state. For this, a web portal link has been created, which is used by the officers and employees associated with the oxygen supply chain. Also, the oxygen tanker was also connected to the GPS based system, so that their real time location can be detected.

  • Covid-compliant facility available for workers at Central Vista Project site, Modi govt tells Delhi HC

    By ANI
    NEW DELHI: Defending ongoing work on Central Vista projects, the Central government on Tuesday told the Delhi High Court that the petition seeking to stop the construction of the project is “sheer abuse of the process of law and is one more attempt to stall the project.”

    The Centre also urged the High Court to dismiss the petition with exemplary costs on the ground that it is an abuse of the process of law.

    “Such attempts are going on since the inception of the project under one pretext or the other and in one name or the other. The following facts will satisfy this Hon’ble Court that the petitioner has while taking refuge under the present situation, made an attempt to stall the project under the garb of ‘public interest’,” the Centre said in its affidavit.

    “Further, it is important to note that about 400 workers were engaged at site of the aforementioned project well before the imposition of curfew on April 19, 2021. The workers are staying on the site and therefore the notification relied upon by the petitioner is fully complied with. The petitioner is fully aware about this fact and he has deliberately suppressed it in the petition,” it said.

    The Centre’s reply came on a petition seeking to stop construction activity on the Central Vista Project in compliance with orders issued by the Delhi Disaster Management Authority during the subsistence of the peak phase of the pandemic.

    The Central government submitted that while the arrangements for the stay of the workers was being made at the site, permission was sought for transportation of materials and labour from Sarai Kale Khan camp to the work site, including permission for the movement of supervisory staff. It is submitted that the said permission was granted on April 19, 2021, and was valid up to April 30, 2021.

    It submitted that in the meantime, a COVID-19 compliant facility was installed at the worksite itself, to accommodate the 250 workers who had expressed their willingness to stay put and continue the aforesaid work. The facility provides for strict implementation of COVID protocol strictly and also adherence to COVID appropriate behaviour, such as sanitization, thermal screening, physical/social distancing and masking.

    Moreover, the contractor has provided for a health insurance of all the concerned workers against COVID-19 and a separate facility for conducting the RT-PCR test, isolation and medical aid has also been provided at site, the Centre’s affidavit said.

    “More importantly it must be noted that pursuant to there being a dedicated medical facility at the concerned work site, the workers will have access to immediate medical attention and proper care which would otherwise have been extremely difficult, in these unprecedented times considering the burden on our existing medical infrastructure,” read the affidavit.

    “It is submitted that as per para 8 of DDMA order dated 19.04.2021, construction activities during curfew are permitted where labourers are residing on-site. Therefore, in view of the same, it is submitted that the present Writ Petition ought to be dismissed,” it said.

    Earlier in the day, the Delhi High Court said that it will hear tomorrow petition seeking to stop construction activity in Central Vista Project in compliance with orders issued by the Delhi Disaster Management Authority during the subsistence of the peak phase of the pandemic.

    Meanwhile, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told the court that the Centre has filed a reply to the petition.

    A Bench of Chief Justice DN Patel and Justice Jasmeet Singh noted that reply was not on record and directed to bring the Center’s affidavit on record.

    Senior Advocate Sidharth Luthra, who was representing the petitioner, told the Court that the issue concern to a specific area where construction is going on unabated. On Monday, the matter was mentioned by senior advocate Siddharth Luthra for preponement of the date of hearing as it was earlier listed for May 17 for a detailed hearing.

    The bench of Justice DN Patel and Justice Jasmeet Singh on Monday asked him to file an application and we will hear the matter tomorrow. Senior Advocate Sidharth Luthra also informed the bench about the Supreme Court direction in this regard.

    On May 7, the Supreme Court urged the Delhi High Court to consider the Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by petitioner Anya Malhotra seeking a stay in construction work of the Central Vista project in New Delhi amid the prevailing condition of coronavirus cases across the country and asked High Court to issue orders related to the matter.

    In December 2020, the Central Vista Development Project was inaugurated by the Prime Minister of India. The Project intends to revamp 86 acres of land in Delhi, which includes Rajpath, Parliament House, Rashtrapati Bhavan, India Gate, North Block and South Block, Shastri Bhavan, India Gate and Udyog Bhavan.

    The project envisages the construction of a new Parliament building, a common secretariat for central government offices, the Prime Minister’s office and residence, the Special Protection Group building and the Vice-President Enclave. The construction work for the project is being carried out since January 5, 2021, after the Supreme Court dismissed Petitions challenging the project.

  • Mamata’s quarantine deterrent for Centre

    By Express News Service
    KOLKATA:  The tense relations between the BJP-led Centre and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee reached another flashpoint on Thursday with the latter saying all visitors must produce a Covid-negative test report and stay in 14-day quarantine at their own cost. In other words, she sought to shoo off visiting Central teams.

    Responding to allegations that a Union minister’s vehicle was attacked in West Midnapore district, Mamata charged that he had come to stir up communal discord.  Alleging that Union minister V. Muraleedharan’s visit was aimed at instigating BJP supporters, Mamata said: “Their continuous visits in the past six months have resulted in a record spike in infections. Now that all political meetings and rallies have been banned in the state, why are they still coming here? They want to instigate their supporters.” 

    Stating that controlling the second wave was the priority, she said: “All visitors, including Union ministers, have to produce negative RT-PCR test report to enter the state. Rule is same for all. Even for me. If anyone comes in a special flight, they too will have to either produce a negative report or get the test done. If the report is negative, they will have to undergo 14-day quarantine at their own cost,’’ she said.      

    Earlier, a Home ministry team landed in Kolkata in the wake of the post-poll violence. Muraleedharan’s convoy was attacked and his vehicle was vandalised by alleged Trinamool Congress supporters at Pachkudi in West Midnapore district. In addition, a TMC candidate who stood for election in Dinhata was beaten up by alleged BJP supporters. 

    Though the minister escaped unhurt, the driver of his car was injured. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said the Union minister’s visit was unnecessary and BJP leaders are trying to create communal discord by instigating their supporters. The incident took place when Muraleedharan went to the area to meet the families  of those who were allegedly attacked by Trinamool Congress supporters during the recent post-poll violence. 

    “He, accompanied by BJP leader Rahul Sinha, got off his vehicle and started talking to villagers who were attacked by the alleged ruling party’s supporters. Suddenly, a group of villagers, armed with bamboo sticks and bricks, attacked the convoy parked on the road and vandalised the minister’s vehicle,’’ said a police officer in West Midnapore.

    In Dinhata, Cooch Behar, TMC candidate Udayan Guha, who lost by 57 votes to BJP’s candidate and sitting MP Nisith Pramanik, was attacked by alleged supporters of the saffron camp. Guha sustained fracture injury on his left arm. ‘’The attack on Guha took place when he was returning home from the party office. His security personnel were also injured,’’ said a police officer.

    Pay farmers their arrears: CM to ModiKolkata: Adding pressure on the BJP-led central government for the second consecutive day on Thursday, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee shot a letter to PM Narendra Modi reminding him of his assurance made during election campaigns on releasing arrears of `18,000 to farmers under the PM-KISAN scheme. She also said in the letter that no fund has been received by either the state government or the farmers.