Sheila ''misleading'' people, alleges Khandelwal

New Delhi, Dec 27 (UNI) Delhi Chief Minister's statement that one per cent increase in Value Added Tax (VAT) would have no impact on common man did not go down well with Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) Secretary General Praveen Khandelwal, who today called it ''misleading''.

Talking to UNI, Mr Khandelwal said, ''The statement of the Chief Minister was misleading as all the commodities on which VAT has been increased are of common man's use.'' Ms Dikshit made the statement in an interview with a news agency.

The VAT was recently increased by one per cent on 176 heads by the Sheila government in Delhi.

Mr Khandelwal stated that the increase in VAT would increase in the prices of raw material, finished goods, plants and machineries subsequently increasing the base price by five per cent.

He informed that the government had to increase the tax rate to compensate the loss incurred due to expected phasing out of Central Sales Tax (CST) in September but it did not happen.

''So logically VAT should not have been increased as CST did not phase out,'' Mr Khandelwal argued.

''The government has betrayed not only the people but also the other states as it was agreed that no state will increase the rates of VAT,'' he alleged.

It is against the agreed principles of 21-point convergence signed by all the states, he added.

Demanding the roll back of hike in VAT rates, Mr Khandelwal said it was ''illogical'' as Goods and Services Tax (GST), a uniform tax applicable on all the states, would be levied from next financial year.

Links:

http://topics.treehugger.com/article/04eE5gl1Kv7zK

http://news.webindia123.com/news/articles/India/20091227/1413633.html

Fair, ambitious, legally binding treaty to save planet: CSCC

New Delhi, Dec 12 (UNI) It is 'time to begin the deal to save planet' was the message by thousands of people participating in Climate Satyagraha to the world leaders meeting in Copenhagen.
The Climate Satyagraha Camp coalition (CSCC), a group of several big NGOs like Greepeace, Oxfam India and WWF as its members, today organised a rally from Rajghat to Parliament street here and a signature campaign to press for a ''fair, ambitious and legally binding treaty to avert catastrophic climate change.''

Archbishop of Delhi Vincent Concesseo while flagging off the six km rally said, ''The time for everyone to act is now - especially the leadership.''

Saying that people are not going to accept anything short of a real deal as an outcome of the Copenhagen talks, Climate Satyagraha Camp coalition Spokesperson Ajay Mahajan, while talking to UNI, said developed countries are responsible for the grave situation the world is facing today so ''the onus is on them to lead the world out of this crisis.''

He said, ''The people in western countries living completely a wasteful life. The way they live, it will need many earths to sustain their lifestyle.'' They go around in big cars, travel so much in planes and use much more resources than they are required to lead life, he added.

''In America, for example, there is no rail network to commute between two cities. They travel by plane even if they have to go to a neighbouring state. They are so much dependent on oil and it is pretty obvious why they are so much after oil fields,'' Mr Mahajan said.

The campaign was organised in 14 cities across the country. Around 30 thousand people including civil society groups, artists, and youngsters from schools and colleges signed and wrote their message on the 700 metre long banner unfurled by the CSCC, which they called 'Fabric of Hope' on the Global Day of Action.

The banner will become part of the ''sign a real deal'' wall at the Climate Satyagraha Camp at the Constitution Club from December 13 onwards.

Global Climate Campaign member Naveen Mishra said, ''Millions of people in India are vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. Our monsoons are being hit, and so are our glaciers receding rapidly. We cannot squander this opportunity to avert runaway climate change. Our message to the 120-odd Heads of State who would arrive next week in Copenhagen is loud and clear: The time to change the future is now.''

Advising that India should change its attitude towards climate issues Mr Mahajan asserted that rather than 'adapting' from western countries it should make its own efforts to 'mitigate' the effects of carbon emission on the environment.

When asked if he wanted to extend any message on behalf of the coalition to the leaders meeting in Copenhagen Mr Mahajan said, ''No business as usual while our climate and planet is in peril. The deal should be about people and nature and not about emission, omission and commission.''

''They should not get lost in jargons, denials, lies and unnecessary arguments. Reality of climate change should not lose behind these arguments and jargons,'' he added.

Links:

http://www.newkerala.com/news/fullnews-10028.html

http://news.webindia123.com/news/articles/India/20091212/1404001.html

http://content.usatoday.com/topics/article/Places,+Geography/Towns,+Cities,+Counties/Copenhagen/0aisajFdRpbPx/1

http://greenlife.daylife.com/article/0aisajFdRpbPx?q=Greenpeace

India vulnerable to terror attacks: Home Secy

New Delhi, Dec 9 (UNI) Union Home Secretary Gopal Krishna Pillai today admitted that India, particularly its coastal boundaries, is vulnerable to terror attacks and there is a need to plug the loopholes in the security system.

Speaking at the conference on 'The Challenge of Terrorism to India's Infrastructure and Economy', organised by Security Watch India (SWI) here, Mr Pillai said, ''There is a need to strengthen the security, especially of sensitive installations like atomic plants and refineries located along the coastline.'' Security forces have been acquiring latest technologies to face the challenge and it will take at least two years to do that, he added.

The Home Secretary also warned that software industry too is high on the terror list. ''We are world leaders in software but the software industry figures high on the terrorists' target list,'' Mr Pillai stated.

He said all software companies in the country were now realising this fact and were taking their own measures to protect themselves.

Indian software exports have risen from Rs 28,350 crore in 2000-01 to an estimated Rs 216,300 crore in 2008-09 and is expected to grow by 16 per cent this fiscal despite the global slowdown, he said.

Mr Pillai assured that the government is working in coordination with the IT companies to consolidate the security of their establishments.

''Standard operating procedures and mock drills needs to be up to the mark and both the government and the industry need to work in coordination,'' he emphasised.

Replying to a question, the Home Secretary said the government was working on establishing a National Intelligence Grid to integrate the intelligence inputs and create a coordination among various intelligence agencies.

Links:

http://www.newkerala.com/news/fullnews-7661.html

http://connect.in.com/locator-or-locater/news/india-vulnerable-to-terror-attacks-home-secy-e66f9dc9ad996c68b9da7a8cb4bbe49423f31b25.html

http://news.webindia123.com/news/Articles/India/20091209/1401558.html

http://oneclick.indiatimes.com/article/07iK7TSai11hw?q=David+Coleman+Headley

Terrorism can be countered through ''dialogue'': Lt Gov

New Delhi, Dec 9 (UNI) Delhi Lt Governor Tejendra Khanna today said bringing all sections of society to the ''dialogue'' table can be the answer to terrorism.

Mr Khanna was speaking at a conference on 'The Challenges of Terrorism to India's Infrastructure and Economy' organised by Security Watch India (SWI) here to discuss the threat posed by the global terrorism to the country and its economy.

During his address, he observed that it is more important to prevent any act of terror than to chase the culprits after the incident, and technology is a big factor in this.

''Global cooperation in the field of technology and training programme for intelligence officials are very significant for ensuring security,'' the Lt Governor told reporters.

''We are very keen in exchanging training programme for our intelligence officials. We welcome international cooperation in the field of intelligence and security,'' he added.

He also pointed out that arms and ammunition is readily available now-a-days, thanks to the thriving arms industry.

Emphasising that fight against terrorism needs peoples' participation Mr Khanna said citizens need to be aware of the happenings around them and immediately inform the police about any suspicious person or thing.

Link:

http://www.newkerala.com/news/fullnews-7566.html

http://content.usatoday.com/topics/article/Places,+Geography/Countries/India/09kFfTxdCJfrc/1

http://news.webindia123.com/news/articles/India/20091209/1401509.html

To tackle terrorism think the unthinkable: Home Secy

New Delhi, Dec 9 (UNI) Union Home Secretary Gopal Krishna Pillai today said the David Coleman Headley case has made ''us think the unthinkable''.

Speaking at the conference on 'The Challenge of Terrorism to India's Infrastructure and Economy', organised by Security Watch India (SWI) here, Mr Pillai said, the terrorists are switching to newer strategies to be successful in their subversive activities.

Mr Pillai said, ''We have seen from the Headley case that one can still slip through the radar because we are not looking for them. This is one of the big problems. Because nobody would look for a US citizen, with a US passport and a business visa, you would not think that he is a terrorist.''

If it can happen to a US national, it can happen to the citizen of any other country, he added.

He also empahsised the need to take necessary steps to tackle such issues.

Links:

http://oneclick.indiatimes.com/article/07iK7TSai11hw?q=David+Coleman+Headley

http://news.webindia123.com/news/articles/India/20091209/1401673.html

http://content.usatoday.com/topics/article/Places,+Geography/Countries/India/07iK7TSai11hw/1

Left criticises privatisation of PSBs

New Delhi, Dec 3 (UNI) Terming Banking sector reforms a ploy ''to serve the purpose of corporate sector'', CPI National General Secretary D Raja today said privatisation of Public Sector Banks (PSBs) is 'anti-poor'. Thousands of bank employees, wearing red shirts, under the banner of All India Bank Employees' Association (AIBEA) and All India Bank Officers' Association (AIBOA) today gathered at Parliament Street here to oppose the government's plan to dilute the government equity capital in the PSBs. Mr Raja said, ''The government should not undermine the importance of Banking sector, which undeniably plays an important role in strengthening the economy of the country.'' The government has planned to reform the Banking sector through privatisation of the PSBs, closure and merger of Associate banks and other PSBs with the SBI and amendment of the Banking Regulation Act to allow full voting rights to foreign investors in the Banking sector. Addressing the agitators, CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury assured them that his party would take their voice to Parliament. Criticising the Congress government, he said on one hand they say that nationalisation of banks had helped India to face the challenge of economic slowdown and on the other, they were conspiring to privatise the PSBs. On the issue of taking Rs 10,000 crore (2 billion dollar) loan from the World Bank to capitalise the PSBs, he said, ''We have enough money in our country to do that and taking loan from the World Bank will only put sanctions on us which will hinder our growth.'' Saying that the only PSBs were under poor people's reach, AIBEA General Secretary C H Venkatachalam told UNI, ''We want government to adopt people-oriented banking policy rather than corporate oriented.'' ''The government's plan to expand the Banking sector through consolidation and privatisation will not help the poor because big banks only care about big customers hence there won't be any bank left to give loans to the farmers and small traders,'' he added. Replying to a question whether India should have a central bank like other developed nations, Mr Venkatachalam replied, ''There is no need of such a bank but a Central Banking Authority is necessary.'' The representatives of the organisation submitted a memorandum in this regard to Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee demanding that there should be no dilution of government equity in the PSBs and no merger of PSBs. Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC) president Sanjeeva Reddy said, ''We want government to strengthen the Banking Sector rather than destroy it.'' The merger and privatisation of the PSBs would cut the employment potential of the Banking industry which would have adverse effect on the growth of the country, he added. Mr Venkatachalam said if the government refuses to listen to the demands, they would observe a nationwide bandh on December 16 Links: http://www.newkerala.com/news/fullnews-3732.html http://news.webindia123.com/news/articles/India/20091203/1397061.html http://content.usatoday.com/topics/article/Organizations/International+Agencies,+Alliances,+Cartels/World+Bank/02Zse3l4CW5dz/1

Sonia flags off AIDS awareness train

New Delhi, Dec 1 : On the World AIDS Day today UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi flagged off the second Red Ribbon Express, which will travel across the country to disseminate information about prevention and cure of HIV/AIDS, at Safdar Jung railway station here.

The Red Ribbon Express is an initiative to spread awareness among the masses about one of the most fatal diseases in the world, HIV/AIDS, by reaching to the people living in far flung areas.

Speaking on the occasion, Ms Gandhi said through this train knowledge would be spread to outreach places and spread awareness about the disease.

She also expressed satisfaction that the fight against AIDS is on the right track.

She opined that 'knowledge is empowerment' and it can save many lives by making people aware. ''We are committed to continue to work towards containing and reversing the HIV/AIDS pandemic,'' Ms Gandhi asserted.

The trian, in Phase-II, would halt at 152 stations in 141 districts across 22 states and would hold awareness programmes in about 10,000 villages during its year-long journey.

Addressing the gathering, Union Railway Minister Mamta Banerjee said, ''If we all work together it is very much possible to eradicate this evil from the society.'' It is necessary to provide economic as well as social security to the victims in order to wipe out the pandemic, she added.

Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad while giving the statistical information about the disease said, ''The idea behind the train was to take the information to the people residing in remote and far flung areas instead of dispensing the information while sitting in one corner.'' There are around 23 lakh HIV affected people in India.

The Health Minister said the number of HIV patients in India have been reducing significantly.

Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit while praising the initiative said the train would help in providing knowledge to the people about how to prevent and fight the disease besides how to treat affected people.

The volunteers on the train would visit the nearby residential areas and counsel the people about HIV/AIDS. There is counselling facility inside the trian.

The Red Ribbon Express is a joint endeavour of Rajiv Gandhi Foundation, National Aids Control Organisation and Railways.

Links:

http://www.patrika.com/news.aspx?id=284308

http://www.newkerala.com/news/fullnews-1846.html

http://news.webindia123.com/news/articles/India/20091201/1395567.html