NEWS IN BRIEF – NOV 26, 2011
1. FDI in retail sparks political storm, Trinamool, DMK Join Oppn
Chorus Against Decision: New Delhi: The government faces a fierce
political backlash on its decision to allow FDI in multi-brand retail with
traders’ associations preparing for a nationwide bandh next week and
opposition parties along with Congress allies like DMK and Trinamool
opposing the move. [TOI p1]
2. PM got past a split cabinet to push retail FDI : NEW DELHI: It wasn’t
just a vocal Opposition that was against the cabinet’s decision to allow
51% foreign direct investment (FDI) in multi-brand retail business. The
cabinet itself was split down the middle, and had an animated -even
heated -debate on the pros and cons of opening up a sector that was so
far considered politically too sensitive for farmers, small traders and
consumers.[HT p1]
3. Trinamool joins CPM in anti-FDI protest : NEW DELHI: After losing the
firs week of the winter session in Parliament to disruption, the government
is bracing for more opposition salvo next week as the Left parties and the
BJP are mulling adjournment motions on Monday against the Union
Cabinet’s decision to allow 51% FDI in multi-brand retail.[HT p8]
4. Multi-brand protest in House, retail tops BJP agenda : New Delhi :
The strong reaction in parliament to the decision to open up multi-brand
retail to 51 per cent FDI has prompted the opposition to re-prioritize its
agenda in the house for next week. Sensing broad opposition unity — and
in light of the significant opposition from Congress allies — the BJP is set
to force the issue in both houses, putting multi-brand retail ahead of price
rise and black money.[IE p1]
5. Will burn down first Wal-Mart store: Uma : Lucknow: Condemning the
move to open Indian markets to foreign retail chains, BJP’s Uttar Pradesh
in-charge Uma Bharti on Friday said that she would “set fire to the first
Wal-Mart store whenever it opens here, regardless of the consequences”.
She then told reporters, “I don’t care if they jail me for this.” [TOI p16]
6. BJP, Left see red over watered-down Lokpal : New Delhi : Yet another
major confrontation is brewing between the Government and the
Opposition with the BJP and Left parties cautioning the UPA against the
dilution of the Lokpal Bill and deviating from the ‘Sense of the House’
resolution adopted by Parliament. This comes in the backdrop of bitter
division in the Parliamentary standing committee dealing with the Lokpal
Bill.[Pioneer Daily p1]
7. Traders’ ire may hit Cong’s poll prospects : New Delhi: Besides
political parties, traders’ bodies have slammed the government’s move to
allow FDI in retail, which could upset the ruling party’s prospects in Uttar
Pradesh, something that crossed the Cabinet’s mind even as it announced
the decision. [TOI p16]
8. Can’t stop another 26/11: Pillai : NEW DELHI: Three years after the
26/11 Mumbai attacks, India still doesn’t have the ability to prevent a
repeat, former union home secretary GK Pillai, who took charge soon after
the terror strike, has said.[HT p1]
9. Raja May File PIL Against CAG : NEW DELHI : Former telecom minister
A Raja, the main accused in the 2G scam, plans to file a Public Interest
Litigation against the Comptroller and Auditor General, Vinod Rai, alleging
the latter used unscientific methodologies to project 2G losses, people
familiar with the matter said.[ET p9]
10. Kanimozhi, 5 Others’ Bail Pleas Adjourned to Monday: NEW DELHI :
The Delhi High Court will continue to hear bail pleas of lawmaker
Kanimozhi Karunanidhi and five others accused in the 2G spectrum
allocation case next week, even as it observed that the Supreme Court’s
bail verdict to five businessmen accused in the same case was “silent” on
a charge that attracts maximum punishment of life term. [ET p9]
11. MPs strongly condemn attack on Pawar, demand strict action : New
Delhi: The assault on agriculture minister Sharad Pawar evoked strong
condemnation in Parliament on Friday with MPs demanding stern and
exemplary action against Delhi transporter Harvinder Singh who attacked
the leader on Thursday. [TOI p16]
12. Govt inks pact with Assam outfit : New Delhi : The government on
Friday inked a path-breaking tripartite peace agreement with a prominent
insurgent group of Assam, United People’s Democratic Solidarity (UPDS),
after two-year-long peace negotiations.[IE p2]
13. Core Group discusses Lokpal Bill : New Delhi : The Congress Core
Group, which met here on Friday evening, was briefed by Union Law
Minister Salman Khurshid on the progress on the Lokpal Bill.[The Hindu
p1]
14. Anna & Co seeks CPM support on Lokpal bill draft : New Delhi:
Continuing with their drive to seek support of political parties on Lokpal
bill, Team Anna members on Friday met CPM leader Sitaram Yechury in
Parliament House and requested that provisions of Jan Lokpal bill be
incorporated in the draft legislation being looked at by the standing
committee. [TOI p16]
15. SC/ST organisations want reservation in lokpal panel : NEW DELHI:
The All India Confederation of SC/ST organisations is organising a rally of
SC/ST employees at Ramlila Ground on November 28 to demand
reservation for OBCs, Dalits and other minorities in the lokpal committee,
which it said, would not only ensure the participation of these communities
but also reflect the plural character of the society.[HT p8]
16. EC to Use Social Media to Attract Young Voters : NEW DELHI : The
Election Commission of India will soon use social media sites like
Facebook, Twitter and YouTube to attract youth to take part in the
electoral process, a commission statement said on Friday.[ET p2]
17. Intel agencies’ informers helped nail Kishanji : New Delhi: Security
forces zeroed in on the location of Kishanji with help from their informers
within close quarters of the senior Maoist leader, in what marks a success
of intelligence agencies in penetrating the close-knit extremist outfit and
suggests that other topnotch extremists could also be in the
crosshairs.[TOI p1]
18. PIL on Rajiv’s alleged Swiss a/c frivolous, slanderous: SC : New
Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday said it was “frivolous and
slanderous” on a PIL petitioner’s part to cite a 20-year-old report in a little
known foreign magazine to allege that 2.5 million francs were lying in a
Swiss bank account, allegedly in the name of former PM Rajiv Gandhi.
[TOI p14]
19. Bali grudge? India postpones border talks with China : New Delhi:
India took the unusual step of postponing boundary talks with China
scheduled for next week. Though no reasons were given, sources hinted
the decision was taken at the highest levels of the government. This is the
first time boundary talks have been postponed. [TOI p1]
20. We should utilize senior citizens expertise : Mitra : New Delhi : Rajya
Sabha MP Chandan Mitra on Friday said that it is high time that family
values are inculcated in the youth so that senior citizens and the elderly
can live with dignity in society.[Pioneer Daily p2]
21. Kerala Wants Clear Stand on Mullaperiyar, PM to speak to Chandy,
Jayalalithaa to diffuse tensions: NEW DELHI : Kerala water resources
minister PJ Joseph on Friday made a call to all national political parties in
the country to clearly state their stand on the Mullaperiyar dam issue. [ET
p3]
22. Stage set for `UP First Conclave’ in Lucknow today : LUCKNOW:
Even as Uttar Pradesh gets ready to go to polls early next year, politicians
of the state and representatives of the Election Commission are gearing
up to share the stage on Saturday in the first such event in the state.[HT
p9]
23. Rahul weight behind land bill, Injects Urgency In Government
Managers: New Delhi: Rahul Gandhi said the opposition conspiracy to
stall land acquisition amendment bill would not succeed and the Centre
would promulgate the law, setting a stiff target for the government which
has all but given up on the issue in the winter session of Parliament. [TOI
p15]
24. UP Farmers Being Branded Maoists: Rahul : LUCKNOW : Congress
general secretary Rahul Gandhi on Friday accused the Mayawati
government of falsely branding poor farmers as Maoists, and criticised
National Democratic Alliance (NDA) leaders for their ‘India Shining’
campaign. [ET p3]
25. BSP plans to hold massive rally on Nov 27 : Lucknow : In a reply to
Opposition campaign against State Government in form of yatras and
rallies, the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) plans to show its might through a
rally on November 27 in which over five lakh party workers are expected
to take part.[Pioneer Daily p6]
26. Cops seek legal opinion on complaint against Team Anna : New
Delhi: Delhi Police informed a trial court that it has sought legal opinion on
a complaint against Anna Hazare and his team. The complainant has
sought the prosecution of the team for allegedly dishonouring the national
flag during their anti-corruption protests in the capital in August. [TOI p9]
27. Police: Ramdev responsible for Ramlila fracas : New Delhi: Delhi
Police on Friday said yoga guru Baba Ramdev must come clean before
the Supreme Court about his role in triggering the June 4 fracas at Ramlila
Maidan leading to chaos and the subsequent accusation about use of
excessive force during the midnight operation. [TOI p9]
28. A dubious first for two Koda aides, For The First Time Ever, Charges
Framed Under Money Laundering Act: New Delhi: Charges have been
framed for the first time in the Prevention of Money Laundering Act
(PMLA). Two former ministers in Jharkhand’s Madhu Koda government —
Hari Narayan Rai and Ennos Ekka — who were earlier booked by the
Enforcement Directorate are the first to face trial under the stringent
money laundering Act. [TOI p13]
29. 4 Sreeramulu loyalists face suspension : Bellary : With BJP rebel B
Sreeramulu seemingly unassailable in Bellary, and with only days to go
before campaigning comes to an end for the November 30 bypoll, the BJP
moved against three party MLAs and a member of the legislative council
by Sunday, threatening to suspend them from the party unless they
stopped campaigning for the Valmiki strongman.[AA p2]
30. BJP banks on Khanduri in poll-bound Uttarakhand : New Delhi :
Banking on ‘clean image’ of its newly-inducted Chief Minister B C
Khanduri, the Bharatiya Janata Party hopes to beat the anti-incumbency
factor in poll bound Uttarakhand.[The Hindu p5]
31. BJP ally SAD supports govt : NEW DELHI: While the BJP hard ened its
position against FDI in retail on Friday, key ally Shiromani Akali Dal broke
ranks to come out in support of the government’s decision.[HT p8]
32. Nitish sets target : Bihar to be among best States by 2015 : Patna :
Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said that during the last six years of his
Government a lot has been done to bring Bihar back on track. Nitish on
Friday counted achievements of his Government, laid out road map for
future and strongly opposed the Cabinet decision on Foreign Direct
Investment (FDI) in retail.[Pioneer Daily p7]
33. Uttarakhand : No bus fare for girl students :Dehradun: Girl students in
Uttarakhand can now travel free in government buses within the state. An
order in this regard was issued by the state government Thursday, officials
said here Friday.[IE p9]
34. Councillors want to keep MCD polls a family affair : NEW DELHI:
While there is confusion among the councillors, over the trifurcation of the
Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), there is one area where it is pretty
clear about what they want.[HT p3]
35. Govt was alerted in 2009: 150 colonies cannot be located : New Delhi
: As the Lokayukta probes allegations that several unauthorised colonies
fraudulently benefited under a Delhi government amnesty scheme three
years ago, the MCD has blamed the Delhi government for irregularities in
issue of provisional regularisation certificates to colonies.[IE p3]
36. MCD split: Poll panel at work, Work On 50% Seats For Women To
Start After Special Session: New Delhi: With the MCD trifurcation all but
a reality, the State Election Commission is gearing up to start the process
for reservation of 50% of 272 wards for women. [TOI p4]
LEGAL/CRIME NEWS
37. SC bail order silent on criminal breach of trust charge, says HC :
New Delhi : With the Delhi High Court throwing a spanner over the
“silence” of the Supreme Court order on the criminal breach of trust
charge against the five corporate executives granted bail two days ago,
the hope for an early bail for DMK MP Kanimozhi and five other coaccused
in the 2G spectrum allocation scam hit a roadblock on Friday.[IE
p6]
38. Scribe held on charge of aiding J Dey murder, Accused Of Giving
Info To Chhota Rajan: Mumbai: The Mumbai crime branch on Friday
arrested 38-year-journalist Jigna Jitendra Vora in connection with the
murder of fellow journalist Jyotirmoy Dey (51), who was gunned down on
June 11 in Powai. [TOI p1]
39. Patna HC declares MP ML Mandal election void : Patna : In a
significant development, the Patna High Court on Friday set aside the
election of suspended Janata Dal-United MP from Jhanjharpur
constituency Mangani Lal Mandal for not furnishing full details in his poll
affidavit.[Pioneer Daily p6]
40. Can’t tread on House turf: SC, Rejects PIL Against RS Motion For
Removal Of Justice Sen: New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday
drew an unassailable boundary between judicial scrutiny and
parliamentary proceedings. The apex court dismissed a PIL challenging
the constitutionality of a motion adopted by Rajya Sabha to remove
Justice Soumitra Sen as judge of the Calcutta high court on charges of
proven misconduct. [TOI p19]
41. NIA to chargesheet Headley : NEW DELHI: Three years after the 26/11
Mumbai attacks, India still doesn’t have the ability to prevent a repeat,
former union home secretary GK Pillai, who took charge soon after the
terror strike, has said.[HT p9]
42. SC to hear Kasab’s appeal from Jan 30 : MUMBAI: From January 30,
the Supreme Court will take up Ajmal Kasab’s appeal challenging the
Bombay high court verdict confirming the death sentence awarded to him
for his involvement in the 26/11 attacks.[HT p10]
43. Bhanwari was killed on Sept 1, body was handed over to another
gang : Jaipur : Shahabuddin, a key suspect in the Bhanwari Devi
abduction case, has reportedly told the Central Bureau of Investigation
(CBI) that he and his accomplices had killed her before handing her body
over to another gang for disposal.[IE p1]
44. BSY family bail pleas adjourned to Nov 28 : Bangalore : The
Karnataka HC on Friday adjourned to November 28 petitions seeking
cancellation of bail to family members of former CM B S Yeddyurappa,
arraigned as accused in graft cases. The petitions were filed by advocate
Sirajin Basha seeking cancellation of bail to B Y Raghavendra, B Y
Vijayendra (Yeddyurappa’s sons) and son-in-law, Sohan Kumar.[IE p11]
EDITORIAL/OPINION
45. Why this Kolaveri Di?: BARKHA DUTT : I have rarely felt as disturbed
by the state of my country as do today. It’s terrible to watch India slip into a
quicksand f recrimination and under-confidence, where we alternate
between whipping others and self-flagellation, to make our ay out of the
morass.[HT p12]
BUSINESS NEWS
46. PPF to earn higher returns from Dec 1: New Delhi: The finance
ministry has notified rules which will pave the way for small savings
account holders to earn higher returns from December 1. Earlier this
month, the government had accepted the recommendations of a panel
which would help investors earn higher interest on small savings
schemes. [TOI p25]
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
47. JuD, terror outfits hold anti-India rally, Oppose Normalizing Of Indo-
Pak Trade Ties: Islamabad: Hundreds of members of banned extremist
and terror groups, including Jaish-e-Mohammed and Jamaat-ud-Dawa,
joined a rally in Pakistan occupied Kashmir on Friday to protest the
government’s move to normalize trade ties with India. [TOI p18]
48. Hindus upset over Ganesha T-shirts in US : Chicago: The Hindu
community in the US has asked a local online company to immediately
remove Lord Ganesha T-shirt designs displayed on its website, calling
them absurd. [TOI p18]
