Model Code of Conduct to come in force on March 6-8

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

exclusive report 

Model Code of Conduct to come in force on March 6-8

PM Modi to launch 70 projects in 70 days

Countdown for Lok Sabha poll begins

Amit Shah placates annoyed Mps

Harish Gupta

New Delhi, Dec. 29

The countdown for the Lok Sabha poll has begun which is just 70 days away. As the Model Code of Conduct is likely to come in force any time between March 6-8 when the Election Commission issues notification, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be on a hurricane tour of the country inaugurating one project or the other and rolling out series of welfare schemes to placate all section of society. All infrastructure ministries including the Road Transport have been directed to complete projects. The Road ministry itself is in the process of completing projects worth Rs one lakh crores. In order to steal the last mile advantage, Modi will be on a spree to open projects and club them with Congress bashing. A number of AIIMS in various states which are being set up, may be opened by February. If sources are to be believed, Modi will inaugurate one project a day in the next 50 working days.

If sources are to be believed, the government will not wait for the Interim Budget to be presented on February 1 by the Finance Minister Arun Jaitley to announce pre-poll doles. In fact, most of the measures relating to the farming, MSMEs, jobless youth and others will be announced immediately after the Parliament's session on January 8.

Since the Interim Budget session will be in continuation of the Winter session, both houses of parliament will re-assemble on January 30. The Budget session will end on February 15.

The PM is meticulously planning his 70-day working plan and traveling almost every day to launch one project or the other as part of his mission “Phir Ek Baar Modi Sarkar”. If he was in Varanasi today, he will be in Port Blair tomorrow where Netaji declared India's first War of Independence.

A high-level team comprising of BJP president Amit Shah, Arun Jaitley and Railway & Coal Minister Piyush Goyal is over-seeing the 2019 poll planning. They are in regular touch with the PM on an hourly basis to discuss every move. Though “Phir Ek Baar Modi Sarkar” tagline is yet to be given the go-ahead for the 2019 parliamentary polls as Modi wants something more catchy.

Piyush Goyal has ordered a fresh nation-wide survey which is being conducted by three leading pollsters to gauge the mood of the nation in different regions. Sources say it was ordered in the third week of December and the report will come in the second week of January. A similar survey by two leading agencies was conducted in August which had given BJP 300 plus seats. But the situation has undergone a sea-change after losses in three Hindi speaking states leaving Modi-Amit Shah team bewildered.

Shah is now holding parleys with 350 Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha Mps. He meets 40 Mps every day in two batches so that he could listen to them carefully. He has already met Mps from Bihar, Jharkhand & UP. This is first time he has done in 4 years and signals a change in the handling. Surely, the party doesn't want to leave anything chances before the D-day in May, 2019.

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Is the clock ticking for BJP ?

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

Is the clock ticking for BJP ?

Ramdev dumps BJP, Apna Dal threatens, Zafar Sareshwala distances

Harish Gupta

New Delhi, Dec 26

There is no respite for the ruling BJP and suffering one set back after the other. If it lost a key Bihar ally last week-RLSP, today was the turn of Swami Ramdev who turned his back towards the saffron party. He declared in Madurai today that he won't support any person or oppose any party

and can't tell who will be the “Next PM”. Ramdev's comments appear to be a huge rebuff to PM Modi. He has been closely associated with the BJP, besides supporting its national election campaign in 2014. He said "Now the political situation is very difficult.”

Another shocker came from the Apna Dal in UP which is a key ally in the NDA. The party's chief Ashish Patel, whose wife Anupriya Patel is the Union Minister of State for Health, said BJP's partners in Uttar Pradesh are upset and the party must address the issue. He said in Mirzapur that the party must learn from its recent losses in Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, where the Congress formed the government. “ The SP-BSP alliance is a challenge for us. Allies in Uttar Pradesh are upset. Leadership at the centre must do something, else NDA (National Democratic Alliance) would suffer in the state," said Patel.

Obviously Apna Dal is also showing its teeth to BJP leadership with months to go for the 2019 general elections.

The biggest shocker of the day was Yoga teacher Ramdev, who went on to say that it would be difficult to say who will be the next prime minister. "Now the political situation is very difficult. We cannot say who will [be] the next prime minister or who will lead the country, but situation is very interesting..." Ramdev said in Tamil Nadu's Madurai.

"I am not focusing on politics," he said.

"We don't have a political or religious agenda but we want a spiritual country and a spiritual world. Through yoga and Vedic practices, we are making a divine, prosperous and spiritual India," said Ramdev.

What shocked the political watchers was Sareshwala's nuanced statement when he said, “I have been very closely associated with Prime Minister Narendra Modi for nearly 13 years now. However, my association was always limited to PM Narendra Modi and was never with the BJP – in fact, I have never even visited the party’s office in Gujarat or in Delhi.”

Zafar Sareshwala said that BJP has lost the plot and “things are slipping out of Narendra Modi’s hands.”

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PM, Pawar shedding weight, politicians gearing up to be physically fit before polls

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

Special Report 

PM, Pawar shedding weight

politicians gearing up to be physically fit before polls

Harish Gupta

New Delhi, Dec. 25

Come elections and leaders are working hard to lose weight. With elections are just 100 days away, top leaders of various political parties are doing everything under the Sun to lose weight. The Prime Minister, Narendra Modi is working very hard to shed weight and succeeded losing only three kg. Though he has a gym at his South Block office, he doesn't find time to do it regularly. Yet, he tries hard and do a lots of exercises under a trainer from a para military force. In a month, the PM is able to use the gym for 15 days only. He wants to lose another 7 kg before the parliamentary polls are announced.

The lead has been taken by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley who has shed 20 kg weight. Though he underwent a series of surgeries during the past two years including kidney transplant. But he is very strict with his diet and now fully fit and regained a lot of energy.

Another politician who has shed 15 kg weight is NCP president and Rajya Sabha MP Sharad Pawar. He is determined to loose fat and flab. He is undergoing rigorous physical exercises. He has become agile and walking briskly these days.

HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar has installed his own treadmill at his residence and a regular at the Constitution Club of India gym. Environment and Science & technology Minister Harsh Wardhan is also gym regular. Steel Minister Chaudhary Birender Singh is regular at the Lodhi Gardens and so is parliamentary minister of state Vijay Goel. The number of politicians joining the CCI gym is rising and reflects growing awareness among them.

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BJP in a Bind on advancing Assembly polls in three states

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

Special Report

BJP in a Bind on advancing Assembly polls in three states

Maharashtra, Jharkhand, Haryana on the radar

"Time of strengthen NDA” says Amit Shah

wooing Marandi in Jharkhand

Harish Gupta

New Delhi, Dec 24

The BJP leadership is in a bind as to what it should do about Maharashtra, Haryana and Jharkhand where Assembly polls are due between October-December 2019.

The core policy group in the BJP is studying the pros & cons of advancing the polls in these states and hold them simultaneously with the Lok Sabha in April-May.

Though the BJP contested the Assembly polls in these states on its on and successful formed governments in Haryana and Jharkhand on its own. In Maharashtra, it entered into a post-poll alliance with the Shiv Sena for the assembly though it secured 122 seats while Sena got 63 in the Assembly of 288. Though both were partners in the Lok Sabha polls, they fell out during the Assembly polls. However, they formed the government together in the state and have been estranged partners as Sena could never reconcile of losing the post of the Chief Minister to BJP. The view is that the BJP may swing the Assembly polls again in these states in its favour by riding on the Modi wave if they are held along with the Lok Sabha.

However, the reasons for advancing the polls in these three states differ from state to state.

In Maharashtra, there is a strong feeling that BJP must go with Shiv Sena in the Lok Sabha polls. But the Sena wants assembly polls be held along with Lok Sabha and share Assembly seats on a 50:50 sharing formula. The Sena wants that the post of the Chief Ministers to be shared for two and a half years each irrespective of number of seats won by any of the partners.

The BJP leadership was on a high until it lost thee Hindi speaking states of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh to Congress. Since December 12, the BJP leadership is trying to retain allies and conceding their demands too. It wants to retain its existing allies and working hard to expand the NDA. It knows that losing Sena would be a set back in the present scenario.

However, the other view is that the BJP should not concede the post of the Chief Minister to Sena irrespective of the compulsions. A senior member of the BJP Core Group said he is of the firm view that BJP should not succumb to the Sena antics and should not hesitate to go it alone in the Lok Sabha polls. There is no need to advance the Assembly polls. This will send a strong political message. However, no final decision in this regard has been taken either way and the BJP is keeping all options open.

The BJP president Amit Shah has been quoted by core group leader as saying, “Its time to strengthen the NDA.”

In Jharkhand, the BJP trying to woo Babulal Marandi, president Jharkhand Vikas Morcha which secured 8 Assembly seats out of 81 and 10% popular votes. Its a different matter that the BJP took away six of its MLAs in its fold and he is angry since then. Now the BJP doesn't want him to go over to the Congress-JMM alliance. He wants the post of the Chief Minister. In fact, he was with the BJP way back in 2000 and state's chief minister too. But parted company later. The BJP is willing to make him a Cabinet minister at the centre right away.

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Modi considering Farm Loan Waiver Scheme

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

Modi considering Farm Loan Waiver Scheme

Rs 2 lakh crore bonanza on cards to farmers, weavers, artisans, middle class

Interim budget will be full of free-bees

Harish Gupta

New Delhi, Dec 20

After debunking the farm loan waivers by the Congress governments at the Centre and states, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is seriously toying with the idea of giving massive sops to the farm sector including a loan waiver scheme.

The PMO is of the considered view that loan waiver schemes had helped the parties winning the elections. It was tried by the VP Singh-Devi Lal combine during the 1989 Lok Sabha poll campaign and helped immensely. The final cost to the Central Exchequer in 1990 was Rs 10,000 crores. In 2008, the Manmohan Singh government waived the loans for farmers to the tune of Rs 52260 crores and returned to power.

Highly placed sources in the PMO say that data is being collected on a war-footing basis to identify the number of farmers in each state who will require National Loan Waiver benefits. The loan waivers worth more than Rs 2 lakh crores crores to send a strong signal to the farming community that the Modi government is serious about their well being and taking them out of the distress.

The government has already asked the RBI interim dividend and may also seek extra money within the next one and a half months. A high powered committee will be constituted shortly to lay down guidelines as to how much money RBI will need in its reserve. This committee will be asked to submit its report within 20 days and pave the way for massive transfer of funds from RBI to the government.

Though the BJP leadership has not undertaken a detailed review of the recent losses in the state assembly polls (or not shared reasons of its defeat with the media), it is under pressure to give doles to the various sectors before the Lok Sabha polls are announced in February-end March-first week.

It has been decided that loans will be waived for the weavers community and artisans which are mostly in UP. Similarly, the middle-class will be given some tax rebates. The PM has already announced massive GST relief brining tax regime from 28% to 18%. This will hit the government by another Rs 20000 crores a year. This loss can be off-set if the buoyancy in the economy comes soon.

Those facing GST penalties and other problems may also be given one time amnesty so that they can get rid of harassment.

In order to garner support from the 263 million farmers and their many millions dependents, the Modi government would move towards waiving loans to create a positive climate.

The party leadership feels that Modi's personal graph has not been dented even after the loss of power in three Hindi speaking states. Therefore, immediate relief measures even if they are to the tune of Rs 2 lakh crores or above, could turn the tables nationally in favour of BJP for the Lok Sabha polls.

Insiders say nothing less than the massive doze of concessions to all the sections including the MSMEs, GST, Farmers, weavers & Middle-class will work in favour of Modi.

Economists including NITI Aayog have already cautioned that farm loans waivers would widen a fiscal deficit which has been capped at 3.3 per cent of its gross domestic product (GDP), or Rs 6.24 lakh crore.

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Kushwaha to join Mahagathbandhan

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

Lokmat Exclusive report

Kushwaha to join Mahagathbandhan

Contest Lok Sabha polls with Congress-RJD in Bihar alliance sealed

Harish Gupta

New Delhi, Dec 18

Rashtriya Lok Samata Party (RLSP) chief Upendra Kushwaha, who quit the Modi government and snapped his ties with the BJP, is set to join the Congress-led Mahagathbandhan.

Highly placed sources told Lokmat today that Kushwaha has finally made up his mind to join hands with Congress-RJD Mahagathbandhan in Bihar.

Though he had said last week that he has "many options" before him. But he decided to go with the Congress and the RJD in Bihar. A formal announcement in this regard is likely to be made in a couple of days.

These sources also say that the RLSP may be given five Lok Sabha seats in Bihar under the alliance out of the 40 seats. He will have to accept the leadership of Tejashwi for the post for the Chief Minister. He had held a prolonged meeting with senior Congress leaders Ahmed Patel and Akhilesh Prasad Singh last week.

He declined to answer queries on all three of RLSP members in Bihar's bicameral legislature raising a banner of revolt, accusing him of pursuing his "personal interests" and declaring that they would remain in the NDA.

The Congress Party is of the view that Upendra Kushwaha is the leader of the party and has following among the 6% of backwards belonging to his community. Though there has been split in the party as both the MLA and MLC joined the Nitish Kumar camp, Kushwaha is the leader of the community.

With the joining of the RLSP the Mahagathbandhan, it now becomes a G-22 (Group of 22 parties).

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Long holiday for RS after 7 days ruckus

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

Long holiday for RS after 7 days ruckus

Rift continues between BJP & Opposition

Harish Gupta

New Delhi, Dec. 19

The Rajya Sabha will go for a long holiday beginning December 22 to December 26 and resume functioning from December 27. Initially, the Rajya Sabha was to close down on December 25 for the Christmas holiday. But the members wanted that December 24 and December 26 be also declared as holidays. It is unlikely that the Rajya Sabha will be able to function for the next two days either as ruckus is continuing in the Upper House between the Opposition and the ruling party.

The proceedings in the Rajya Sabha were washed out for the seventh day today after the opposition and treasury benches clashed over the Rafale deal and members from Tamil Nadu continued protesting over the Cauvery issue.

The Rajya Sabha was adjourned for the day after Congress members holding placards seeking a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) into the Rafale deal trooped into the well of the House soon after official papers were laid on the table.

They joined members of the AIADMK and DMK who have been trooping to the well of the House over the Cauvery issue ever since the Winter Session of Parliament began on December 11.

Treasury benches countered the Congress by raising banners seeking an apology from Congress President Rahul Gandhi following the Supreme Court clean chit to the Rafale deal.

Amid the uproar, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Vijay Goel demanded that Congress deputy leader Anand Sharma withdraw the remarks made by him in the House on Tuesday.  Naidu also allowed Bhupendra Yadav (BJP) to make his submission on the statement made by the newly sworn-in Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath on migrant workers from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.

As the slogan shouting from both sides continued, Naidu said, “It is very clear that none of you want the House to run... I don’t want this (ruckus) to be seen by the people,” he said, while adjourning the proceedings for the day.  The Chairman had categorically told the members that he would adjourn the House within minutes if they did not maintain discipline rather than summoning the house repeatedly and then adjourning several times.
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Top Opposition leaders to attend swearing-in-ceremonies tomorrow

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

Top Opposition leaders to attend swearing-in-ceremonies tomorrow

AAP to join the G-21 celebrations 

Rahul, Manmohan Singh, Sharad Pawar, Naidu, Kumaraswamy, Stalin to attend

Sonia to skip, Mayawati to send representative to Bhopal only  

Harish Gupta

New Delhi, Dec. 16

The swearing-in-ceremonies of three Congress Chief Ministers at Jaipur, Bhopal & Raipur tomorrow will herald a new era in Opposition unity when leaders of G-21 parties will travel to all three destinations. The G-21 is nick-named as the group of 21 Opposition parties who have come together to dislodge the NDA from the centre in the ensuing Lok Sabha polls. Significantly, the untouchable Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has been formally invited by the Congress to witness the swearing-in-ceremonies. Andhra Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu and JD (S) leader and Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy along with his father H D Deve Gowda will attend the swearing-in-ceremony at all the three places.

As per plans, Ashok Gehlot will take oath of office tomorrow at 10.30 at Jaipur while Kamal Nath will be sworn in at 1.30 pm at Bhopal. Bhupesh Baghel will take oath at Raipur at 4.30 or 5 pm. Congress president Rahul Gandhi and former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh along with many opposition leaders including Sharad Pawar and Praful Patel, CPM's Sitaram Yechury, D Raja of CPI and others will fly in a chartered aircraft to all three destinations. Mayawati of BSP has expressed her inability to witness any swearing-in-ceremony. Following her was SP's Akhilesh Singh Yadav who will stay put in Lucknow. But both the parties will send their representatives to Bhopal where they have extended unconditional support.

Sonia Gandhi will not attend any of the swearing-in-ceremonies either due to health reasons. But M K Stalin of the DMK will join the events. All Congress Chief Ministers including Capt Amrinder Singh and other leaders will also be in toe there.

The Congress wants to show case the swearing-in- ceremonies as the victory of the Opposition parties and trying hard that BSP and SP should join the governments. 

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BJP Moves privilege motion against Rahul on Rafale

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

BJP Moves privilege motion against Rahul on Rafale

Speaker to decide its fate tomorrow

BJP knocks at Ethics committee door too

Harish Gupta

New Delhi, Dec 17

The BJP on Monday launched a massive offensive against Congress president Rahul Gandhi by moving a privilege motion against him for misleading the Lok Sabha by “utterly false statement” on the Rafale deal.

The four ruling party MP s moved the 2-page privilege motion against Rahul gandhi for his statement made in the Lok Sabha on July 20, 2018 which was nothing but “figment of imagination, incorrect and utterly false”. The MP s charged Rahul Gandhi of misleading the House and held him guilty of Breach of Privilege of Parliament.

The MP s also filed a separate petition before the Ethics Committee of the Lok Sabha against Rahul Gandhi saying that his conduct was unbecoming of the MP as he is spreading falsehood in the country despite a clear verdict of the Supreme court on the Rafale deal.

The MP s quoted Rahul Gandhi of saying, “In the Rafale aircraft deal, the UPA government agreed to purchase the aircraft at Rs 520 crores. We do not know what happened and who was spoken to. The Prime Minister went to France but who went with him, the whole country knows. By a magic, the aircraft started costing Rs 1600 crores.”

The MP s said that the above statement is entirely untrue. For reasons of national security, the Government of India has not given out the exact details but has already indicated that the price of the basic aircraft is 9% cheaper and the price of the weaponised aircraft is 20% cheaper compared to the prices being negotiated by the UPA.

The MP s said that this falsehood has been knowingly uttered by him deliberately” and therefore, the motion has been moved.

However, sources say nothing much can be achieved by this motion as the previous privilege motion submitted in the same Rafale deal is still pending with the Speaker of the Lok Sabha.

The four BJP Mps are Nishikant Dubey, Anurag Thakur, Dr Sanjay Jaiswal and Prahlad Patel. If the motion is accepted by the Speaker, it will go to privileges committee of the Lo Sabha headed by first term BJP MP Meenakshi Lekhi. But the fate of the motion is unlikely to be decided by the House as it will adjourn on January and will meet for the interim budget on January 30 and adjourn sine die on February 15.

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"We are flexible” says Rahul to G-21 parties

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

Exclusive story

"We are flexible” says Rahul to G-21 parties

When Mamata said all are equal, DMK, RJD batted for Rahul

Harish Gupta

New Delhi, Dec. 12

Congress president Rahul Gandhi told the leaders of G-21, at the conclave of Opposition parties that his party is “flexible” and willing to accommodate the views of others.

He told the leaders that in order to change the Modi dispensation, the “Congress is willing to change” and give space to others.

according to a senior leader who participated in the conclave told Lokmat that Rahul Gandhi responded with maturity and was clear-headed. 

Rahul Gandhi was responding to suggestions of some of the leaders at the meeting. In fact, it was West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee who caused a flutter at the G-21 on Tuesday that “all parties are equal and no one is the leader here.” Mamata Banerjee reacted when the DMK leader M K Stalin who had said earlier that the Congress is the largest grouping in the Opposition and it should play the role of a catalyst. Tejashwi of the RJD who was also present at the meeting had echoed the same sentiments expressed by the DMK. When the turn of Mamata Banerjee came, she said that all parties have to fight the BJP. But no single party can lead it. “We all have to fight together and no one is the leader, “ she thundered.

At this juncture Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu rose to say that the very purpose of the G-21 meeting is to oust the BJP and not to elect a leader or project an individual. Interestingly, it was AAP leader and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal who was having the last laugh at the G-21 meeting. It was first time that Kejriwal was invited to the Opposition conclave. It now transpires that he entered in the hall with Mamata Banerjee who had been fighting for AAP's entry. But it was Chandrababu Naidu who had also been persuading Rahul Gandhi not to make AAP untouchable. If Modi has to be defeated in 2019, AAP has to be acceptable in the grouping. Insiders say that the day is not far when AAP and Congress will have some sort of seat-sharing understanding in Delhi. It was because of this very reason that Kejriwal said at the meeting, “ I am with this thought of unity and I am with you.”

It also transpires that senior Congress leader Ahmad Patel is talking to all the leaders of the Opposition parties to bring them on the table. But this will continue to be a informal arrangement.

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Congress win a warning bell for BJP in 2019

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

Congress win a warning bell for BJP in 2019

politics of hate, DeMo, GST cost BJP Dearly

Harish Gupta

New Delhi, Dec 11

The outcome of Assembly poll results in three Hindi heartland states of Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan is a warning bell for BJP for the battle of 2019 Lok Sabha polls. Though Congress came a cropper in Telangana where it had tied up with the TDP and lost power in Mizoram. But the results established beyond doubt that the “invincible” BJP can be beaten in its strong hold of Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh where it was ruling for 15 years. The entire RSS and BJP leadership had put its might behind Shivraj Singh Chouhan. But nothing worked there. The landslide victory of the Congress in Chattisgarh is the biggest surprise of this poll as no one expected it. It was always felt that Jogi-BSP team will cut into the Congress vote bank. But it seems, the opposite happened and it was the BJP which was routed. Its a different matter that BSP and Jogi put together were able to manage respectable nine seats in the 90 member Assembly while the BJP was reduced to 13 and Congress secured 63. Similarly, in Rajasthan where the BJP won all 25 Lok Sabha seats in 2014, crumbled though secured respectable number of seats.

With general elections barely six months away, the real battle has begun particularly in the cow belt and Hindi speaking states comprising of 224 Lok Sabha seats. The BJP had captured as many as 174 seats on its own in these ten states.

If sources are to be believed the G-21, as the conclave of 21 Opposition parties is now nick-named which met yesterday, will now emerge stronger. The BSP and SP which did not participate yesterday in the G-21 conclave, will work out modalities.

The presence of Aam Admi Party leader Arvind Kejriwal was a clear signal that Congress president Rahul Gandhi has shed his inhibitions of working with the Delhi Chief Minister. The G-21's sole aim is to defeat the BJP during the 2019 Lok Sabha polls as PM Modi is no more invincible.

The outcome is attributed to the defeat of the idea of Demonetization and hap-hazard manner in which the GST was implemented by the Modi government. Similarly, the Modi government will also have to look towards rural distress with a new prism.

The BJP's analysis is that the Ram Temple issue did help the party to prevent further slide in Madhya Pradesh though another section differs and maintains that Modi should have stuck to the Development agenda. The religious polarisation is not a big vote catcher.

The spate of lynchings may have pleased the hardcore Hindutva types, but it cannot swing the voter angry with the government, as was seen in Rajasthan. The Yogi Adityanath brand of spreading hate failed miserably in all the three states where he campaigned in a big way.

The opposition parties must have taken note of these developments and swifty calculations must be going on about positioning and tactics for the 2019 elections. The show of unity two days before the results, where almost all opposition leaders, including Mamata Bannerjee and Arvind Kejriwal showed up but Akhilesh Yadav and Mayawati did not, is a precursor of the times to come.

Praful Patel, senior NCP leader and Rajya Sabha MP told Lokmat today that this victory will give a big fillip to the Opposition unity and new chapter will be written.

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More Dalit Lok Sabha MPs upset with BJP leadership

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

More Dalit Lok Sabha MPs upset with BJP leadership

Dissidence rising in Haryana, UP, Bihar Rajasthan, Delhi   

Harish Gupta

New Delhi, Dec. 9

After Savitri Bai Phule,  a Lok Sabha MP from UP who quit the BJP, a number of other BJP MPs are contemplating to raise a banner of revolt. Encouraged by example set in by the first time MP who was a staunch BJP loyalist,  these MPs are also on course to raise their dissatisfaction against the party. It transpires that majority of these MPs belong to the Scheduled Caste community who feel completely orphaned  as neither the Centre and nor the BJP ruled Chief Ministers listen to their grievances. They feel that Dalits have been the worst sufferers in the BJP dispensation in states and the Centre.

These MPs have started meeting in groups lately and telling their supporters that they would have to chart out their own course in future. While film-star turn politician Shatrughan Sinha and Kirti Azad are known dissidents, Dharamvir of Haryana has also joined the ranks. At least five Dalit MPs belonging to UP have told the high command that they won’t stay in the party if their community’s oppression continued.  A dalit MP from Delhi has already voiced his concern at a party forum recently saying that he would be left with no alternative but to quit the party. No one in the meeting even pacified him.

A Union Minister from Haryana is already holding parleys to float his own party while the other Haryana Minister is peeved that his services were not utilized in the recently held assembly polls. He is being treated as an outcast and politically undermined.

A BJP MP from Madhya Pradesh who is part of this exercise told Lokmat on the condition of anonymity that discontent is simmering in the party in a big way. Irrespective of the outcome of the Assembly polls, a number of MPs will “start talking” and no more be subservient to the high command.

Some of these MPs are aware that they will not get the tickets during the May 2019 Lok Sabha polls as the high command had already indicated that 50 sitting MPs will lose their tickets. Though the 75-year cut off date formula may not be applied strictly, but at least 15 of the oldies will be rested by the party.

These sources say that number of dissidents may swell if the BJP loses all the three major Hindi speaking states on December 11.

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Alarmed Govt ask agencies to probe illegal ‘phone-tapping’ by CBI

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

Special report

Alarmed Govt ask agencies to probe illegal ‘phone-tapping’ by CBI

Alok Verma case hearing in SC tomorrow  

Harish Gupta

New Delhi, Dec 4

Disturbed by reports that illegal “phone-tapping” was the norm rather than exception, the government has asked the intelligence agencies to probe into matter and submit a report at the earliest.

It emerged during an internal probe undertaken by the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) and also by startling allegations made by CBI's own DIG in his petition before that Supreme Court that phone-tapping had been unleashed in the country's premier investigation agency. It touched its worst during the infighting between now exiled CBI director Alok Verma and his deputy Rakesh Asthana.

It may be mentioned that the CBI has its own mechanism to tap the telephones in cases of urgency and it takes post-fecto approval. The government is keen to find out if the infighting led to the free use of this facility granted to the CBI to tap the telephones of criminals nd individuals involved in the corruption.

It emerged that the CBI officials tapped the mobile and landline phones of their own officers, affiliates and several private individuals including politicians without taking prior permission of the Union Home Secretary.

The government is worried about the consequences of the “illegal phone tapping” saga in the event of CBI director himself going “rogue”. In fact, this is the plea that the government is virtually taking in the supreme court against Alok Verma. It is arguing that the Almighty CBI Director had turned rogue and refusing to even answer queries from the CVC or any other authority. He was tapping telephones at will and misusing his authority.

The case will come up for a hearing in the Supreme Court tomorrow. What looked like a simple case of government misuse of its authority in sending Alok Verma on forced leave, the whole thing has turned murkier and the Supreme Court is also struggling hard to deliver justice in the case. The CJI's comment that the CVC's report is uncomplimentary in some cases, goes against Alok Verma.

But what made government more worried was the disclosure in CBI DIG Manish Kumar Sinha who gave details of phone tapping. It clearly emerged that calls of officials and individuals are being tapped without required permission. In some cases, the identity of the person concern was kept hidden though it was known that whose phone is being tapped. This was done largely because if the name or the identity of the person was revealed, the technical surveillance unit would have raised objection.

So much so that the telephone of CBI's own Special Director Rakesh Asthana and RAW official were tapped without taking prior permission.   The Supreme Court is also struggling to find a way out to deal with the case of Manish Kumar Sinha,CBI's DIG and handed over the case to Fali S Nariman to guide the court.

This shows the complexity of the murky affairs in the CBI's case. It may be mentioned that the SC will go on vacation from December 14 and reopen on January 2.

Ends 

Moin Qureshi case fall out

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

Exclusive report

Moin Qureshi case fall out

Govt seeks pay offs to top CBI officials from abroad

Harish Gupta

New Delhi, Nov 28

The government is seeking specific information from various countries including Dubai (UAE), Singapore, Hong Kong, UK and other world destinations whether huge payments have been made to certain officials.

The government has specific information, based on investigations done by its agencies including Income Tax that controversial meat exporter Moin Qureshi had paid crores of rupees through hawala operator Sathish Babu Sana and Sukesh Gupta of Hyderabad.

These payments have been made through hawala channels over a period of six years since the days when A P Singh was CBI director. Singh was asked by the Modi government last year to step down from the UPSC as inquiries are on against him. Even his successor Ranjit Sinha is also under the scanner. Now the allegations of huge pay off s surfaced against exiled CBI director Alok Verma and his deputy Rakesh Asthana. Alarmed by series of bribery allegations against the directors of the anti-corruption watch dog, the government has decided to play tough. It decided to send

Letters Rogetory (LRs) to several countries containing names of at least 10 officials who served the government or retired. These sources refused to confirm the names of these officials mentioned in the LR s. None of them was willing to say whether the name of exiled director of CBI figures in the LR. But they confide that the Modi government is determined to cleanse the CBI and other such probe agencies with a heavy hand now.

It has emerged that Sathish Babu Sana was the conduit of channeling the illegal gratification on behalf of Moin Qureshi and channelised extorted money on his behalf. The Prasad brothers in Dubai were also part of this operation. Qureshi & his family members held several bank accounts in various countries. The agencies have given a list of 55 foreign bank accounts into which proceeds of crime were found transferred in seven countries. These were in the US France, UK, Hong Kong, Singapore, Italy and the UAE. .

Qureshi has been extorting and obtaining illegal money from various persons for getting their work done through public servants, said a source in the CBI.

Ends 

Tough steps against corrupt Mps, MLAs in sight,

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

Tough steps against corrupt Mps, MLAs in sight,

regular monitoring of their assets under consideration

Harish Gupta

New Delhi, Nov 26

In an unusual move, a judgment of the Supreme Court regarding creation of a permanent institutional mechanism to “monitor the assets and sources of income of Legislators and their associates” on a continuous basis was discussed.

It transpires that senior officials of the secretariats of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, Department of Personnel, Election Commission of India and about 20 state legislatures attended the meeting.

The meeting was held in the Parliament House to discuss various aspects of implementation of the SC order. Obviously, the presiding officers of the two houses, the Vice President of India, M Venkaiah Naidu and Speaker Sumitra Mahajan strongly felt that the SC judgment be followed up in letter & spirit.

In its judgment, the apex court had said in February this year in the Lok Prahari Vs.Union of India, that a permanent institutional mechanism be created to continuously monitor the assets and sources of the income of the Legislators. As if this was not enough, the SC had ordered that the assets of their associates including spouses and dependents be also included. As if this was not enough, the SC said the body should take appropriate action in case of disproportionate increase in their assets during the tenure of the membership, including disqualification from membership of the Legislatures’.

It emerged during the discussion that there are different rules and norms in different legislatures for members to declare their assets and liabilities soon after their election. There is no provision to ensure compliance of the same. Besides, there is no provision requiring such periodic declaration of assets once they are elected on a regular basis. Strangely, there is no provision under any Act of Parliament or Rules of respective legislatures to disqualify members from the Legislatures on account of acquisition of disproportionate assets.

It was felt that the implementation of the direction of the apex court may require necessary amendment in the Representation of the People Act, 1951 making such disproportionate acquisition of assets a ground for disqualification from the membership of the Legislatures. It was also pointed out that this Act is applicable only to the elected MPs in respect of requiring disclosure of assets and liabilities under Section 75 A of the Act. Invoking Sub-section 2 of this Section, the Chairman of Rajya Sabha and Speaker of Lok Sabha have issued the ‘Members of Rajya Sabha/Lok Sabha (Declaration of Assets and Liabilities) Rules,2004’. Under these Rules, MPs need to make such declarations within 90 days of their election to Parliament.

Discussions will further continue.

Ends

CBI's Director of Prosecution appointment in Limbo

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

Special report

CBI's Director of Prosecution appointment in Limbo

Harish Gupta

New Delhi, Nov 23

With the uncertainty over the fate of the CBI director continuing, the functioning of its vital prosecution wing has also been hit hard. The appointment of a full time Director of Prosecution (DoP) has been held up despite the government advertising for the post months ago. The government was forced to extend the tenure of the retiring Director of Prosecution, O P Verma for two months in the wake of dog fight between exiled CBI director Alok Verma & his deputy Rakesh Asthana.

The tenure of O P Verma, Director of Prosecution, was to end on October 23, 2018 after two years' tenure. But due to infighting, the appointment of a new DoP got delayed.

The government issued a special corrigendum to extend his tenure. Even he came into the controversy as reports said that Alok Verma sent the IRCTC case file to DoP instead of giving permission to arrest the suspects. The matter is under the probe.

The delay in the appointment of full time Director of Prosecution has also hampered legal work in the agency as he is under the administrative control of the probe agency's Director. Though the Central Vigilance Commission and a Parliamentary panel had recommended that the DoP should be independent of the Director CBI. The panel had suggested in December last year that the post of DoP in CBI should be of the rank and status of the Director CBI in order to ensure its independent functioning.

The Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) had stated that it would be prudent to set up an independent Director of Prosecution rather than DoP working under the Director CBI.

But Modi government bestowed all powers to the CBI director and rejected the suggestions.

The Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) had issued new rules for recruitment to the post under which civil servants, meeting eligibility criteria, working in various ministries, may also apply for the post. "An officer not below the rank of Joint Secretary to the Government of India are eligible to apply. The government has sought names from all ministries/departments to provide the names of the eligible and willing officers for the post. Advocates who practiced for not less than ten years as a Special Public Prosecutor, are also eligible.

The government delayed the full time appointment of the new DoP as it was wanting the Director of CBI Alok Verma to retire on February 1.

ends

Enthused Congress pitches Sonia in Telangana poll campaign

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

Enthused Congress pitches Sonia in Telangana poll campaign

Harish Gupta

New Delhi, Nov 21

UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi may have stayed away from poll campaign in Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. But she has decided to address at least two major rallies in Telangana.

Enthused by the internal surveys conducted by two professional agencies and ground reports emanating from the state, Sonia Gandhi has given nod to campaign. Though she has been keeping away from active politics ever since Rahul Gandhi took over as Congress president. But there is a growing demand for the “Amma” from the Congress candidates. The Congress candidates argue that Telangana was carved out as a separate state by Sonia Gandhi when UPA was in power and her appeal is greater than that of Rahul Gandhi in the state.

Secondly, the newly forged ‘grand alliance’ comprising of the TDP, CPI, Telangana Jana Samithi headed by KCR’s former ally Kodandaram and Congress, is clawing its way up despite the ruling party’s early start to the campaign. These parties contested separately during 2014 Assembly polls and the TRS emerged victorious with 63 seats in the Assembly of 119.

The Congress secured just 21 while the TDP bagged 15 seats. The TDP was then, however, partner with the BJP, which secured 5 seats. The All India Majlis Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) secured seven and others 8. The grand-alliance can take solace from the fact that the vote share of the TRS in 2014 polls was only 34.30% while the Congress got 25.20% and TDP polled 14.70%. The coming together of Congress-TDP-CPI-TJS will give State Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao run for the money.

It is this assessment of the Congress that made Sonia Gandhi to campaign in the state. The fact that more and more leaders are deserting the TRS including the sitting Lok Sabha MP, Vishweshar Reddy indicates that all is not well in the state for the ruling TRS.

Ends

Sushma shocks BJP, Not to contest Lok Sabha polls

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

Sushma shocks BJP, Not to contest Lok Sabha polls

Health reasons cited, no one convinced

Harish Gupta

New Delhi, Nov 20

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj dropped a political bomb when she declared that she won't contest the next Lok Sabha elections. The sudden announcement on the while interacting with reporters in Indore where she had gone for campaigning, shocked political circles across all hues.

Sushma Swaraj cited health reasons for not contesting the next Lok Sabha polls. The 66-year-old Sushma Swaraj, who underwent a kidney transplant in 2016, said she had conveyed her decision to the party. “Candidates are decided by the party. But I have made up my mind that I won't be contesting in the next elections.This is in keeping with my health,” she added.

Sushma Swaraj's announcement made the party leadership speechless as it came at a time when the BJP is engaged in bitter battle with Congress in Madhya Pradesh which goes to polls on November 28.

Once touted as a prime ministerial candidate in the BJP, Sushma Swaraj had to settle for the External Affairs Minister's post when Modi came to power. But she was relegated in the background as her services were not utilized for political affairs. Rather, an impressions was created that the PMO is running her ministry. Secondly, a couple of new women leaders like Textiles Minister Smriti Irani and Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman are used more often for political work. Yet she made

Yet she did did at 66 what veterans shudder to even think to hang boots of electoral politics.

The tweetrati were out immediately after the announcement saying 66 years is “Too Young to Retire”.  Her husband who is a former Mizoram Governor and senior counsel of Supreme Court Swaraj Kaushal came up with a fitting and amusing response to her decision, saying “there came a time when even Milkha Singh stopped running.”

While some questioned whether Swaraj’s decision reflected “her dissatisfaction” with the Modi government, others speculated if this meant her political career was over.

Some even said, “Doesn’t Mean Her Political Career is Over”. Obviously, she has only announced that she will not be contesting the Lok Sabha polls after remaining Lok Sabha MP for four terms. It is felt that she may come to the Rajya Sabha later and continue her parliamentary career.

She served as Union Cabinet Minister for Information and Broadcasting with additional charge of the Ministry of Telecommunications and Health Minister in Atal Behari Vajpayee's second government. She became External Affairs Minister in the Modi government in May 2014.

ends

No carpet bombing this time by BJP

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

No carpet bombing this time by BJP

Fever rallies of PM in MP, Chhattisgarh & Rajasthan

Harish Gupta

New Delhi, Nov 19
Contrary to earlier practice of carpet-bombing poll-bound states by the BJP's Central leadership, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan are witnessing a strange situation; that Prime Minister Modi is addressing fever number of rallies and incumbent chief ministers are given fulsome praises.

As against 34 rallies in Gujrat and 24 rallies in Karnataka, PM Modi is likely to address only 12-odd rallies in Madhya Pradesh. He has already visited the state twice and addressed five rallies. With polling taking place on November 28, the campaigning will end on November 26. It is said that Modi will visit the state for two days during the next one week. It simply means the number of rallies in Madhya Pradesh will be another six and won't touch the dozen mark. This was despite the fact that the three term chief minister of Madhya Pradesh Shivraj Singh Chouhan is facing anti-incumbency and needs extra support.

Even in Chhattisgarh, the prime minister chose to address five rallies only. Though its a small state. But still the Chief Minister Raman Singh is facing an uphill task to retain the state fourth time.

Another interesting feature of campaigning in poll-bound states so far shows that incumbent chief ministers in all three states have been given extra importance. BJP chief Amit Shah praised Shivraj Singh Chouhan showered praises on him saying that he had not seen a more hard-working chief minister than him. He even termed Chouhan as a symbol of development. This puzzled many in the BJP. As neither Shah nor Modi have a reputation of giving other leaders in the party credit for good work.

There is a feeling in the BJP that leadership is not inclined to project these elections as PM vs the Opposition. The Prime Minister is not the face of the ruling party’s campaign in any of the three states and rather chief ministers of Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan dominate the party’s billboards. This is a complete departure from the campaigning seen in Assam, Manipur, Goa, Karnataka, Gujrat and other states where the PM took upon himself to swing the polls.

In respect of Rajasthan, Amit Shah has taken control of the campaigning and given a free hand to Vasundhararaje Scindia. The PM may address not more than 10-12 rallies in Rajasthan, sources say. It transpires that after polling ends in Madhya Pradesh, Amit Shah will camp at Jaipur and monitor the poll campaign.

The BJP has also changed campaign strategy in this round and focus is more on technology and social media. The focus is poll booth management and concentrating on “Panna Pramukh” (voter's list incharge for each page) and house-to-house campaigning. It is realized that mega rallies may not be possible during the short period. The social media units in Madhya Pradesh is connecting to 45 lakh electorates and 30 lakhs in Rajasthan. The social media units focus in Chhattisgarh was 20 lakh voters. The leadership feels that carpet-bombing may better be reserved for the Lok Sabha polls.


Ends

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

Vacancies galore at CIC, Govt. Apathy for RTI visible,

Harish Gupta

New Delhi, Nov 18

With the exit of four Information Commissioners including the Chief Information Commissioner, country's RTI watch-dog will virtually become defunct.

The 11-member body was already down to seven as the government chose not to fill vacancies for some strange reasons. Now the CIC R K Mathur is retiring on November 24, Yashovardhan Azad and M Sridhar Acharyulu completing their five year term on November 21 and Amitava Bhattacharya demiting office on December 1.

This will leave the body with only three members; namely Sudhir Bhargawa, Bimal Julka and D P Sinha.

The Information Commissioners including the CIC are chosen by a committee of three members comprising of Prime Minister, Leader of the Opposition or the single largest party in the Opposition and a Cabinet Minister chosen by the PM. No meeting of the committee has been scheduled as Assembly polls are underway in five states.

This was despite the fact that the government had assured the supreme court in July this year that it would take immediate steps to fill the vacancies of the ICs. In order to mollify the SC, the government hurriedly issued the advertisement in newspapers inviting applications. But neither there was a mention of how many vacancies exist and what would be the terms & conditions of the ICs.

It is no secret that the Modi government has not been very enthusiastic towards strengthening the Right to Information Act (RTI). Rather, it is diluting the powers of the Commission by amending the RTI Act itself. It doesn't want CIC members to have the rank of the Minister of State and perks and salaries higher than that of Cabinet Secretary. In fact, the advertisement in the newspapers seeking applications for the post was silent on its terms of service and pay & emoluments.

There is a strong possibility that amendments moved by the government during the monsoon session of parliament may not be carried as there is hardly any time left to pass such amendments in s short session. ' in the Rajya Sabha for consideration and passage during the current session of Parliament, Minister of State for Personnel Jitendra Singh said in a written reply to Lok Sabha.

According to the proposed amendment of the Right to Information (Amendment) Bill, 2018' the salaries, allowances and other terms and conditions of service of the CIC and ICs "shall be such as may be prescribed by the central government". The tenure of information commissioners at the centre and the states is proposed to be amended from "a term of five years" to "terms as may be prescribed by the central government".

Many RTI activists have strongly opposed amendments to the RTI Act saying they are aimed at lowering the stature of Information Commissions from equivalent to the Election Commission (EC) and to do away with their five years fixed tenure.

The argument is that the EC is a constitutional body established by clause (1) of Article 324 of the Constitution, while the CIC and state information commissions are statutory bodies established under the provisions of the RTI Act, 2005, it said.


Ends

As tensions between RBI-Govt. Ease,

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

As tensions between RBI-Govt. Ease,

Finance Secretary Hasmukh Adhia retires

Ahia was Modi's most loyal man in Finance Ministry

Harish Gupta

New Delhi, Nov 17

In a sudden development, the government today announced that Finance & revenue Secretary Dr. Hasmukh Adhia will retire this month end.

The announcement was made by none other than the Finance Minister, Arun Jaitley in his blog under whom he worked for nearly four years. While lauding Dr Adhia's role in

various policy initiatives inluding fight against black money and the GST, Jaitley revealed that the government wanted to use his capability and experience in some alternate capacity. “But he informed me earlier this year that he would not work for a single day after the 30th of November 2018.” Jaitley also disclosed that he would devote his time to his “favourite passion and of course his son” and wished him “all the best for his post retirement life. Thank You Dr. Adhia.”

Sources say that Adhia was peeved with the government for not rewarding him with the post of Cabinet Secretary in June this year when the post fell vacant when he was senior most and particularly after his immense contribution in running the affairs at the North Block.

It may be mentioned that Dr Adhia is personally very close to the PM as he had worked with him in Gujrat when Modi was Chief Minister.

It was also speculated that Adhia may take over as RBI governor in the event of Dr Urjit Patel resigning after a face-off with the government.

With tension between the Government and the Reserve Bank of India easing before the crucial meeting of the full RBI board on Monday in Mumbai, the prospects of Urjit Patel resigning also receded. It transpires that the Finance Ministry and Reserve Bank of India are working hard to find a middle ground. Arun Jaitley will travel to Mumbai tomorrow to participate in a function and may connect with those handling the issue. There are already signs of softening of stance on the part of both the players.

The vexed issues of fixing norms for the surplus reserves, (Read Rs 3.50 lakh crores extra fund government is eyeing lying with the RBI), easing of Prompt Corrective Action (PCA) provisions for public sector banks, liquidity support for the NBFCs and improved lending and restructuring of loans to MSMEs.

There is no move now to invoke Section 7 of the RBI Act forcing the bank to give up or RBI governor to quit. Urjit Patel had earlier this month also met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley to discuss some of these contentious issues.

Sources in the government say that with Adhia going, the posts of Finance & Revenue Secretaries will be split again and two separate officers will chip in.

ends 

CVC grilled Sana for 8 hours in Bribery case

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

Special report

CVC grilled Sana for 8 hours in Bribery case

Hyderabad business Sana allegedly paid bribes to CBI officers

Harish Gupta

New Delhi, Nov 14

The Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) grilled Hyderabad businessman Sathish Babu Sana for more than eight hours, a key player in the Verma-Asthana feud in CBI,

The 8-hour grilling, spread over for two days, was held under the supervision of Justice A K Patnaik at the CVC headquarters. The CVC wanted to get at the bottom of the truth as Special Director Rakesh Asthana had alleged that he paid Rs 2 crores to CBI Director. Alok Verma countered it saying that Sana paid bribed to Rakesh Asthana.

Highly placed sources say that prima facie, the CVC report found no significant evidence against Verma. The CVC report raised some questions that require a separate and detailed probe and wanted more time to complete the probe.

The CVC felt that Sana was using one CBI officer against the other to wriggle out of the Moin Qureish case in which he was a conduit in hawala operation.

Asthana was the officer incharge in the Moin Qureshi case. Verma alleged that Asthana was extorting money from Sana since the very beginning. Later, Sana complained to Verma of extortion which led to registration of FIR against Asthana.

The CVC grilled Alok Verma for two days, Rakesh Asthana once and other officers who were dealing with the Moin Qureshi case. The CVC probe also focused on IRCTC Hotel case of Lalu Prasad Yadav and cattle smuggling case involving a senior BSF officer caught with unaccounted for cash in Kerala.

When Justice Patnaik asked Verma why Satish Babu Sana, was not booked under charges of giving bribe, he said the amended provisions of Prevention of Corruption Act gave protection if a person is forced to give bribe. The protection is available if he reports the extortion within seven days. Verma explained that though Sana had started paying bribe in December last year, giving bribe became an offense only in July 2018. Since Sana paid another bribe through Hawala and reported it to the CBI within seven days, action was taken.

Asthana had alleged that Sana paid Rs 2 crores to Verma on October 1, 2018 and signed the confessional statement on October 4, 2018.

But in a strange twist, Sana switched sides and made a counter allegation that he paid bribes to Asthana. Verma registered an FIR against Asthana and others for allegedly taking more than Rs 3 crores to scuttle probe against him. The money was paid over a 10-month period -- starting from December 2017.

ends

Tension mounts between RBI & Govt.: Hasmukh Adhia as RBI Governor ?

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

Tension mounts between RBI & Govt.

Hasmukh Adhia as RBI Governor ?

Harish Gupta

New Delhi, Nov. 8

As the tensions between the central bank and the Modi government refusing to ease, there is considerable speculation that the South Block is ready with a contigency plan in the event of RBI governor Urjit Patel putting in his papers.

Though RBI Governor Urjit Patel is on record to say that all issues will be discussed at the RBI board's meet in Mumbai on November 19, controversies refusing to die. Ut got a fillip when a leading newspaper reported that the Finance Ministry wants the RBI to part with over Rs 3 lakh crores in dividend. This is a record any government has sought from the RBI and has added fuel to the fire. The government and the RBI have not denied the report. Normally, the RBI has been giving dividend to the government to the tune of Rs 25000-30000 crores every year. But the Finance Ministry wants this amount to recapitalize the public sector banks who are facing a huge cash crunch. The government has already come out with a plan to fund these bank with Rs two lakh crores. But it is facing acute cash shortage due to surge in demand from the NFBCs, infrastructure sector and bank recapitalization.

Urjit Patel has maintained a studied silence despite provocative statements being made by some non-official and part-time members of the RBI Board. But Urjit Patel has sent a clear signal that he is a tough guy and unlikely to relent when comes to the independence of the RBI. The prospects of Patel resigning had receded as some sort of truce has been achieved. But after non-official member S Gurumurthy blasted the RBI and Economic Affairs Secretary Subhash garg attacked Viral Acharya, RBI Deputy governor, the war may escalate further. Garg attacked Acharya and mocked him asking him where is “Wrath of the Markets?”. Acharya had said if the government interfere, it will have to bear the wrath of the markets. The government is demanding that RBI relax norms for loans to power sector and relaxing norms for SMEs. Urjit Patel was in no mood to do so. The board of RBI was unwilling to relent also.

Highly placed sources say that the government is fed up with professionals who are not aware of the ground realities of the economy; be it Raghuram Rajen or Urjit Patel. It will now have bureaucrats as next RBI governor. It is in this regard that the name of Hasmukh Adhia is being mentioned.

He is retiring on November 26 this year. At one point, he was tipped to be cabinet secretary. But Modi decided to give extension to incumbent P K Sinha for a year. Adhia is from the Gujarat cadre and said to be one of Modi’s handpicked and trusted officials. Many in the bureaucracy believe that the government would like to retain his services in an important capacity after he retires. In the event of Urjit Patel choosing to stay put, Adhia may also be given an extension until the next General Election.

Ends

Alok Verma to appear before CVC tomorrow

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

Alok Verma to appear before CVC tomorrow

Inquiry has to be completed before November 12

Harish Gupta

New Delhi, Nov 4

The exiled CBI Director, Alok Verma will appear before the 3-member Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) tomorrow. Verma has been summoned by the CVC to probe into the allegations of administrative misconduct, delaying probe into certain sensitive cases including one relating to IRCTC land in Patna for hotel benefiting Lalu Prasad Yadav.

The CVC is undertaking this probe as per the directions of the Supreme Court given on October 26. The probe is being supervised by a retired judge of the Supreme Court A K Patnaik. Interestingly, Justice Patnaik has been regularly visiting the office of the CVC to scrutinize documents pertaining to nine allegations leveled by his number two Rakesh Asthana. Incidentally, Rakesh Asthana has also been divested of his duties following an FIR registered against him for bribery.

The CVC is racing against time to complete the probe against Verma within 14 days. This will be first time Verma will be appear before the CVC comprising of K V Chowdhary, Sharad Kumar and Dr T M Bhasin tomorrow. Patnaik monitored probe by CVC is confined to allegations of misconduct and corruption by Alok Verma. The CVC will not look into the issue of government’s decision to send Verma on forced leave. The SC may hear that case separately later.

It may be mentioned that Alok Verma was removed as CBI director on October 23 by the government and M Nageshwar Rao, a junior officer was given the charge. Verma challenged his removal. But the SC decided to hear the case of misconduct and corruption against him first. The SC said the other issues will be heard later.

Ends