Congress in a dilemma over Azad & Punia RS nomination

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

special report

Congress in a dilemma over Azad & Punia RS nomination

Harish Gupta

New Delhi, Feb 26

A tricky situation has arisen in the Congress with two sitting Rajya Sabha MPs Leader of the Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad and P L Punia are seeking re-nomination despite much ahead of their time of retirement.

Ghulam Nabi Azad represents Jammu & Kashmir in the Rajya Sabha and his tenure is ending in February 2021 while Punia's term is coming to an end nine months from now in November 2020. Punia was elected to the Rajya Sabha from UP in November 2014. Both of them cannot be re-elected from their respective states as J &K House stands dissolved and Congress doesn't have the numbers to get Punia re-elected in UP in November 2020. Hence, both of them want to be re-elected in April biennial polls.

It is in this background that suggestions have been made to bring Azad to the Rajya Sabha either from Maharashtra or any other states where party can win good number of seats. Since Azad is a face of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, the high command can ill-afford to lose him. Of course, there are biennial polls due in Karnataka in June where Congress can win two Rajya Sabha seats. But Mallikarjune Kharge, B K Hariprasad and Prof. M V Rajeev Gowda are already in the reckoning for two seats. Therefore, the high command may have to take a call on Azad during this round itself.

Similarly, P L Punia wants a Rajya Sabha seat from Chhattisgarh where the party will win two Rajya Sabha seats. He hails from Chhattisgarh too. But the Congress has a battery of claimants for Rajya Sabha seats.

These senior leaders are eyeing for Rajya Sabha seats for the 13 seats that the party is likely to win in this round of biennial polls. Interestingly, 13 members of the Rajya Sabha are retiring and party's strength in the Upper House may remain the same at 46.

Several Congress veterans like Digvijay Singh, Jytoraditya Scindia, Ku. Selja, T Subiram Reddy, Madhusudam Mistry, Rajiv Shukla, a close confidante of the Gandhi family are in the race. The names of party General Secretary K C Venugopal, Mukul Wasnik and RPN Singh are also being mentioned for possible contenders for Rajya Sabha seats.

Motilal Vora, due to his age, unlikely to make the cut this time.

Ends 

PM revives talks to induct Lok Sabha Deputy Speaker

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

special report

PM revives talks to induct Lok Sabha Deputy Speaker 

YSR Congress in reckoning as BJD declines

Harish Gupta

New Delhi, Feb 24

Intense discussions are being held at the level of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the election of the Deputy Speaker of the Lok Sabha.

Its now almost ten months when the 17th Lok Sabha came into being in May last year. But the House has been without a Deputy Speaker as PM Modi was unable to find a comfortable political entity whom the post could be entrusted.

If sources are to be believed, the PM has held informal discussions with some of the parties including YSR Congress chief and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy in this regard. Though no concrete offer was made to the party, but Reddy has come close to the Centre after BJP's ties with N Chandrababu Naidu took a nosedive before the Lok Sabha polls. YSR Congress is more than willing to do business with the BJP and Modi. It has 22 MPs in the Lok Sabha.

The talks through an intermediary were also held with the Telangna Rashtriya Samiti which is in power in the state and not a BJP ally and maintaining distance with the Congress.

In the 16th Lok Sabha, the PM gave the go-ahead to M Thambidurai of the AIADMK to be the Deputy Speaker. The AIADMK was not an ally of the BJP then but not part of the Congress-led UPA either. But the party was routed during the LS polls and AIADMK is not in the contention either.

Modi also toyed with the idea of offering the post to the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) which is neither part of the NDA or the UPA. In fact, the BJP leader and Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had made some friendly overtures towards the PM after Modi came back with a thumping majority again. The name of 6 term member of the Lok Sabha Bhatrohari Mahtab of the BJD also did the round for the post of the Deputy Speaker. However, Patnaik refused to take the bait and reported to have declined the offer.

With Shiv Sena walked out of the alliance and Akalis having nobody worth a salt for the post, Modi has been scouting for new parties in the South to strengthen the BJP's political base. However, the BJD has conveyed to the PM that it will continue to support the government on crucial bills but won't take the Deputy Speaker's post. It may now go to YSR Congress or TRS, these sources say.

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

Buy Voda-Idea for Re One

Company's startling offer to Govt. as closure looms large

Harish Gupta

New Delhi, Feb 20

Vodafone Idea is understood to have made a startling offer to the government unhead of in telecom or for that matter in any other industry ! 

"Pay us Re One and buy the company.” This includes all assets and liabilities as they stand today. The Vodafone Idea has suffered a loss of over Rs 2 lakh crores over the last decade and stare at staggering Rs 53000 crores dues.

Highly placed sources say that Mukul Rohtagi who is representing the Vodafone-Idea in the Supreme Court and actively involved in the back-channel strategies, has made this startling offer to the government. He reportedly sounded out Secretary in the Department of Telecom Anshu Prakash over the telephone last week. The company simply can't pay this money and render 10000-strong work force jobless.

The BSNL which is desperately looking for 4G spectrum and network should buy the Vodafone company's operations with 30 crores subscribers for at Re one. The BSNL is working hard to replace its 3G service with 4G in select areas. But it doesn't have footprints across India either. It is in this context the offer was made to the government that let BSNL buy Voda-Idea with ready made 4G network. Alternatively, the government should come out with a realistic demand of AGR dues and waive off all intrerest, penalty etc. It should also stagger its demand spanning over 15 years.

Efforts to contact Mukul Rohatgi did not succeed. But it was only after this telephonic talk that Aditya Kumaramanglam Birla, chairman of the Vodafone India met DoT officials and later Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman yesterday.

It was stated that if no efforts were made by the government, the whole telecom sector would be affected and company would shut down. This would also wipe out competition and leave only two firms, Rohtagi had told the media last week.

The Supreme Court had ordered telecom firms to pay up all their dues immediately which precipitated a crisis for the loss-incurring firm. The company is seeking staggering the payment of dues for the next 15 years for the sector to survive. The company has already deposited Rs 2150 crores and will be depositing another Rs 1000 crores.

Rahul Goes on holidays again abroad

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

Exclusive report 

Rahul Goes on holidays again abroad

Harish Gupta

New Delhi, Feb 19

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has embarked again on a week-long holiday abroad again quietly. According to highly placed sources in the Congress, Rahul Gandhi left for Rome and later he may travel to other European countries. However, he has been keeping track of developments and even tweeting as well by keeping himself posted through his back office.

He extended greetings to everyone on the occasion of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti on his twitter handle in Hindi on Wednesday and posted a photo of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. 

This is second trip abroad in two months this year. Earlier, he had gone on vacation on December 31 to celebrate New Year with his grand-mother and others to Italy and returned to India on January 11. There was some criticism of his foreign visit as the country was in the midst of the protests on the CAA. However, no one in the party is willing to confirm Rahul Gandhi's departure. It is learnt that he may travel to London later.

But no program has been released by the AICC or his office about the plans of his return. Sources in the party say that Congress Interim president Sonia Gandhi has recovered fully from her asthma problems and actively holding meetings with leaders. Earlier in November too, Rahul Gandhi had pushed off to South Korea to meet the Prime Minister as part of his official engagement. But he decided to stay abroad for five more days when the parliament was in session and he absented.

Sources in the security forces guarding him say that he has not informed them about his travel plans this time either. Rahul Gandhi’s foreign visits are a matter of concern to the security forces earlier too. In fact, Union Home Minister Amit Shah is on record in Parliament saying that some SPG protectees had left the SPG cover behind and went to unknown destinations. He was giving reasons for withdrawal of the SPG cover to the Gandhis in this regard. Now the Gandhis have been provided with CRPF cover in collaboration of the Delhi Police. Rahul Gandhi is serving his fourth term as a Lok Sabha MP.

Sanjay Kothari new CVC,

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

Sanjay Kothari new CVC,

Bimal Julka new CIC

 

Rajiv Kumar missed the bus, Adhirranjan Chowdhury batted on front foot in the meeting

Harish Gupta

New Delhi, Feb 18

Finally, the anti-graft agency, Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) was appointed today.

 

Sanjay Kothari, who is secretary to the President, Ram Nath Kovind was chosen as the new Chief Vigilance Commissioner by the high-powered committee headed  by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Ever since K V Chowdhry superannuated eight months ago, IPS officer and VC  Sharad Kumar was given the charge of the CVC. In fact, the CVC doesn't have a VC either after T M Bhasin retired in the 3-member watchdog body.

Rajiv Kumar who is a 1984-batch officer of the IAS and currently Finance Secretary superannuating this month, was the front runner. He belongs to the Jharkhand cadre of the IAS and rated high. He succeeded 1983 batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer Subhash Chandra Garg who resigned prematurely. The name of Union Home Secretary Rajiv Gauba is also among the names doing the rounds. The third name for the post is mentioned of C Chandramouli who is currently Secretary in the department of personnel & training (DoPT) under the Prime Minister. But they all missed the bus when Adhiranjan Chowdhury raised the oibjection saying that how could Rajiv Kumar who is a member of the search committee himself could be chosen for the post.

 

The shortlist was prepared a few months ago of applicants and a pruned names of three was placed before the committee which comprises of Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Leader of the single largest party in the Opposition Adhirranjan Chowdhury. The Prime Minister heads the selection committee for choosing the chiefs of both the CVC and VC. The CVC shall hold office for a period of four years from the date he or she takes over or until attains the age of 65 years whichever is earlier. According to the notification issued by the ministry, the interested persons for the CVC & VC posts were told to write 300 word essay to indicate their suitability.

The high-powdered committee also picked Bimal Julka, sitting Information Commissioner as Chief Information Commissioner.

The post was also lying vacant since more than a month now. Besides Modi, Amit Shah and Adhirranjan Chowdhury are also members of this high-powered committee to select CIC and ICs. Sudhir Bhargava, CIC, had superannuated on January 11, 2020. Four posts of information commissioners too are currently vacant. Out of the sanctioned strength of 11, the CIC is functioning only with six information commissioners.

Ends 

Govt. makes Last ditch efforts to save Voda-Idea

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

Govt. makes Last ditch efforts to save Voda-Idea

Harish Gupta

New Delhi, Feb 17

Efforts at the highest level in the government are being made to convince the Vodafone-Idea telecom company not to declare bankruptcy before the NCLT.

Vodafone-Idea has made it clear it is unable cough up Rs 53000 crores old dues of AGR and can pay only in 15 to 20 equal installments. Accordingly, it deposited Rs 2500 crores as first tranche. The Bharti Airtel owes Rs 35000 crores and willing pay in installments running into ten year without penalty & interest. It deposited Rs 10000 crores. The Tata Group has also made part payment of over Rs 2,190 crore to the telecom department towards statutory dues.

The government is making serious efforts to save the sector which is facing huge financial crisis. The Prime Minister, Narendra Modi had summoned the Telecom Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad to update himself of the consequences of a British telecom company winding up its operations in view of huge liability slapped at the company. Prasad briefed the PM last week. Unconfirmed reports also suggest that Prasad paid a courtesy call on Justice Arun Mishra on Sunday last who headed the Supreme Court bench which had strongly rebuked temecom companies for not paying dues running into over Rs one lakh crores. Both had also bumped into each other at the marriage reception of son of late Arun Jaitley on Saturday last. What transpired between them is not known.

But Vodafone-Idea has made it clear that if the SC doesn't grant relief on March 17, it will knock at the doors of National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) and go for insolvency..

The operations of Vodafone-Idea had been taken over by the Aditya Birla group's Idea and holds 45% equity. But the company says it has no monies to pay and would prefer to shut shop. Aditya Birla was in the city last week and held prolonged parleys with his legal team headed by noted lawyer & former Attorney General of India Mukul Rohtagi.

Ends

Kejriwal summons National Council meet tomorrow

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

Kejriwal summons National Council meet tomorrow

Nursing Big ambitions, But cautious to step out again

Harish Gupta

New Delhi, Feb 15

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal will hold National Council meeting tomorrow after the swearing-in-ceremony at the Ramlila Grounds to discuss Aam Aadmi Party's expansion plans outside the national Capital.

The Council meeting involving state and district level coordinators will deliberate on expanding AAP's national footprint.

The AAP leadership feels that the Congress is collapsing faster than expected and its voters and cadres are disillusioned. Therefore, its time to seize the opportunity and woo them.

The AAP has considerable presence in Punjab, Maharashtra and couple of other states. But even this base has dwindled during the past couple of years. Kejriwal is also pursuing soft Hindutva and seek votes in the name of governance & development. But lack of unity among the anti-BJP regional parties is boon for PM Modi & BJP.

These regional satraps are unwilling to join hands with the Congress for one reason or the other and the Congress is unwilling to accept the leadership of any of the regional leaders. There was a time when Congress was talking to Nitish Kumar to join hands to fight the BJP. But somehow the plans fell through.

It is in this context that Arvind Kejriwal sees an opportunity to emerge as an acceptable face who is non-controversial, non-corrupt and did not attack Modi or Rahul Gandhi personally. The CBI had even raided his office. But could not make out a case.

Therefore, an astute politician that Kejriwal is, he wants to gauge the mood of national council members tomorrow before taking the next step.

The first focus of the AAP will be Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) elections due in 2022 which is ruled by the BJP for the past 15 years and Punjab Assembly polls to be held the same year.

Kejriwal is of the considered view that his party is not prepared to play any significant role in Bihar polls due in August 2020 and West Bengal, Assam, Kerala & Tamil Nadu in 2021. However, it may try its hands in Puducherry where Kiran Bedi is Lt. Governor who faced a humiliating defeat at the hands of Kejriwal in 2015 polls.

Ends

Amit Shah's retreat is a “Tactical Shift”

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

Amit Shah's retreat is a “Tactical Shift”

Condemning “Goli Maaro” remark aimed at Bihar polls

Nitish, Paswan had sounded alarm bells

Harish Gupta

New Delhi, Feb 14

Union Home Minister Amit Shah's disapproval of remarks by BJP's motormouths after the humiliating defeat in the Delhi Assembly polls is a not a change of heart of the party but a “tactical shift”. Even this tactical shift is temporary keeping in mind the immediate political necessity looming large in Bihar.

The Assembly elections in Bihar are due to be held within the next six months where the BJP is a junior partner to Janata Dal (U). To top it all, the Lok Jantrantrik Party (LJP) of Ram Vilas Paswan will also not align with the BJP if it kept its own hate agenda in Bihar.

Therefore, Amit Shah poured waters by condemning “Goli Maaro and India-Pakistan match” remarks by sitting Lok Sabha MPs and ministers in the Modi government.

Insiders say that the public condemnation, three days after the defeat, was made publicly by Shah after allies in Bihar raised alarm bells. The BJP leadership is aware that the party is a junior partner in Bihar and neither Janata Dal (U) nor LJP will compromise on the issue.

Though Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar entered into an alliance with the BJP on two Assembly seats in Delhi and campaigned with Amit Shah, he was extremely uncomfortable with the hard-line Hindutva campaigning by the BJP leaders. Nitish Kumar is considered “Susashan Babu” in Bihar and able to defeat Lalu Prasad Yadav's RJD due to his performance and keeping the minorities on his side to some extent. He would not allow the BJP to pursue its agenda of hate or polarised campaigning in the state.

Since Assembly polls are due in Bihar in six months from now, Amit Shah knows more than anybody else that if the BJP is to align with JD (U), its Hindutva agenda won't work in the state.

Secondly, LJP president Chirag Paswan has already issued a tacit warning to the BJP leaders that no “hate speeches” will be allowed in Bihar. His father Ram Vilas Paswan shared stage with BJP leaders during the Delhi Assembly polls and was seen extremely uncomfortable with the BJP's political discourse. Instead of Ram Vilas Paswan making a remark against the BJP, he has fielded his son to issue a statement against the BJP leaders who made the hate speeches.

It is in this background that Amit Shah, being an astute politician, smoked the peace pipe. But Amit Shah's dilution of stand is temporary and once Bihar elections are over in August, the BJP will go back to its own agenda in West Bengal, Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry where Assembly polls are due in April 2021.

Gehlot wants Priyanka Gandhi in Rajya Sabha !

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

Special report

Gehlot wants Priyanka Gandhi in Rajya Sabha !

Harish Gupta

New Delhi, Feb 13

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot is understood to be keen that Priyanka Gandhi Vadra be brought to the Rajya Sabha from Rajasthan.

With three Rajya Sabha seats falling vacant and biennial poll to be held next month, the Congress is set to win two seats. The buzz is that Gehlot wants Priyanka be brought to the Rajya Sabha arguing her popularity and charisma be utilized in states other than in UP where she is general secretary incharge of Eastern part.

Interestingly, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is reported to have dumped her earlier plans to shift to Lucknow and hire a house on rent to focus completely in UP. She has started campaigning outside the state including Delhi and elsewhere.

Gehlot is reported to have met Priyanka recently and sounded her out in this regard. He wants Priyanka Gandhi Vadra to play more active role by entering Rajya Sabha. Rahul Gandhi is already holding the fort in Lok Sabha. But the Upper House requires a new face to take on the BJP there. The front benches leaders on the  Opposition  in Rajya Sabha comprise of mostly older leaders and the entry of a Gandhi will help galvanizing the party.

Since Sonia Gandhi has been unable to campaign due to health reasons, the party needs an additional face to take on the ruling BJP in Parliament and outside. If sources are to be believed, Gehlot had also talked it out with the other members of the Gandhi family too in this regard.

There are reports that Rahul Gandhi is likely to return as party president sooner than expected and would require to travel extensively. Therefore, Gehlot feels that the party would be significantly strengthened in Parliament too with Priyanka's entry.

Though there are many in the party who feel that she should come to the Lok Sabha as no member of the Gandhi family had ever taken a Rajya Sabha route.

But Gehlot loyalists pointed out that late Indira Gandhi entered the Rajya Sabha first and then went on become the tallest leader. Gehlot had been a minister in the Indira Gandhi ministry and a family loyalist.

Officially, no one in the party is willing to comment saying that its purely a decision of the “Family” and leaders are free to make suggestions.

Ends 

special report Govt. buys peace with Seers in Ayodhya

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

special report

Govt. buys peace with Seers in Ayodhya 

Nritya Gopal Das, Champat Rai to be inducted in Ram Temple Trust

Harish Gupta

New Delhi, Feb 10

The Modi government has decided to buy peace with the Seers in Ayodhya who are seething with anger for being dropped of the newly created Ram Temple Trust (Ram Janmabhoomi Teerath Sthan). These seers were kept out of the 15-member Temple Trust when it was announced last week by the government.

The seers who had been fighting for the construction of the Ram Temple since 1949 are bitter that the government had ignored them after the victory in the Supreme Court.

It now transpires that Nritya Gopal Das, the man behind the Ram Janmabhoomi movement for the past 50 years, is set to be inducted into the newly created government Ram Temple.

If sources in the Union Home Ministry are to be believed, Nritya Gopal Das will be co-opted by the existing nine trustees when they meet on February 19 in Delhi. The Trust has two vacancies which can be filled by the 9-member trust by co-opting other two members.

One of the reasons for not appointing him directly by the government as a trustee was because of criminal case pending in the CBI court. The BJP leadership had dispatched a senior leader and Ayodhya MLA to explain to the Seer that the trustees would co-opt him as a trustee. The government is also toying with the idea of giving him the task of making him the chairman of the Trust or a Board to be created. But no final decision has been taken.

The proposal is that the Trust will create another Ram Temple Construction Board and the task of constructing the temple may be given to Board to be headed by Nritya Gopal Das.

Nritya Gopal Das is already the chairman of the Ram Janmabhoomi Nyas which is tasked by the RSS and VHP to construct the Temple. The 60% work for the construction has already been undertaken and now the process will begin in April.

Another name being mentioned for induction into the trust is of Champat Rai, vice president of Vishwa Hindu Parishad who is the moving spirit behind bringing the Seers and RSS-VHP together that created the ferver in the country.

A senior minister in the Narendra Modi government spoke to Nritya Gopal Das last week and assured that he along with VHP leader will be inducted into the trust.

The formal announcement will be made when the first meeting of the trust takes place on February 19. The 15-member trust includes senior lawyer K Parasaran, Jagadguru Shankaracharya Swami Vasudevanand Saraswati from Prayagraj, Jagadguru Madvacharya Swami Prasannateerth from Pejawar, Yugpurush Parmanand Maharaj, Swami Govind Dev Giri Maharaj, Vimlendra Mohan Pratap Mishra from Ayodhya royal family, Kameshwar Chaupal from Patna etc.

ends 

Kejriwal turns Devout Hindu, gets Muslim votes

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

News cum analysis

Kejriwal turns Devout Hindu, gets Muslim votes 

Alarm bells for BJP as Opposition rejuvenated  

Harish Gupta

New Delhi, Feb 11 

The AAP's spectacular second sweep in a row in Delhi Assembly elections today has given the reverse “current” to the BJP leadership. The BJP which had made Shaheen Bagh as its main poll plank and fielded motormouths in the campaign to divide voters, will have to re-invent strategy to win Delhi. The 22 year long drought for the party in national Capital has been a huge pain in its neck and nothing worked for it since 1998. In 2015, the BJP even imported a rank outsider, former IPS Kiran Bedi, as its chief ministerial face ignoring the legitimate claim of party veteran Dr Harsh Vardhan. She suffered a humiliating defeat herself and the party sank to worst ever tally of three out of 70 seats. In 2020, the BJP leadership decided not to project any local leader for the post of Chief Minister against mighty Arvind Kejriwal and Amit Shah personally led the campaign from the front. A conscious decision was taken to grab the 'Shaheen Bagh indefinite dharna' by women folks and arouse Hindu sentiments in the city. More than 20 Union Ministers and 200 plus party MPs were pumped into the campaigning for 30 days. It was a “carpet bombing” Amit Shah is known for. He personally distributed leaflets in several colonies and hoped to turn the election. 

However, Arvind Kejriwal stuck to his development model and shunned Shaheen Bagh completely. He didn't utter a single word against Prime Minister Modi or even Amit Shah. He made all the right noises and even grabbed the Prime Minister's slogan “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas”. Simultaneously, he went on chant “Vande Matram” and visited Hanuman Temple to send the message to the nationalists and Hindus that he is part of them. He addressed several Town Hall meetings on TV channels and ducked all national issues. Yet, the Muslims saw in him a new saviour as Congress was no where to be seen or heard.

The underlining message of Delhi polls is the emergence of two party system relegating Congress to a position of complete insignificance. The Congress had no strategy and Rahul Gandhi went over-board when he went to address a public meeting saying, “The youth will beat him with a stick in six months as they are not getting jobs.”

The BJP committed the cardinal mistake of attacking the Congress. In the process, the party's votes went to the AAP furthering the prospects of Kejriwal.

Kejriwal proved himself as an astute politician and termed his victory by chanting “Bharat Mata ki Jai”. The BJP cannot target him for being anti-Hindu. Last but not the least, the BJP will have to revert to development model of the PM dumping the politics of hate. It will now have to look at Bihar Assembly polls more carefully and cannot take victory for granted. The location of one Shaheen Bagh may be shifted. But Kejriwal's win has given a new fervor to the entire Opposition.

Govt. buys peace with Seers in Ayodhya

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

special report

Govt. buys peace with Seers in Ayodhya 

Nritya Gopal Das, Champat Rai to be inducted in Ram Temple Trust

Harish Gupta

New Delhi, Feb 10

The Modi government has decided to buy peace with the Seers in Ayodhya who are seething with anger for being dropped of the newly created Ram Temple Trust (Ram Janmabhoomi Teerath Sthan). These seers were kept out of the 15-member Temple Trust when it was announced last week by the government.

The seers who had been fighting for the construction of the Ram Temple since 1949 are bitter that the government had ignored them after the victory in the Supreme Court.

It now transpires that Nritya Gopal Das, the man behind the Ram Janmabhoomi movement for the past 50 years, is set to be inducted into the newly created government Ram Temple.

If sources in the Union Home Ministry are to be believed, Nritya Gopal Das will be co-opted by the existing nine trustees when they meet on February 19 in Delhi. The Trust has two vacancies which can be filled by the 9-member trust by co-opting other two members.

One of the reasons for not appointing him directly by the government as a trustee was because of criminal case pending in the CBI court. The BJP leadership had dispatched a senior leader and Ayodhya MLA to explain to the Seer that the trustees would co-opt him as a trustee. The government is also toying with the idea of giving him the task of making him the chairman of the Trust or a Board to be created. But no final decision has been taken.

The proposal is that the Trust will create another Ram Temple Construction Board and the task of constructing the temple may be given to Board to be headed by Nritya Gopal Das.

Nritya Gopal Das is already the chairman of the Ram Janmabhoomi Nyas which is tasked by the RSS and VHP to construct the Temple. The 60% work for the construction has already been undertaken and now the process will begin in April.

Another name being mentioned for induction into the trust is of Champat Rai, vice president of Vishwa Hindu Parishad who is the moving spirit behind bringing the Seers and RSS-VHP together that created the ferver in the country.

A senior minister in the Narendra Modi government spoke to Nritya Gopal Das last week and assured that he along with VHP leader will be inducted into the trust.

The formal announcement will be made when the first meeting of the trust takes place on February 19. The 15-member trust includes senior lawyer K Parasaran, Jagadguru Shankaracharya Swami Vasudevanand Saraswati from Prayagraj, Jagadguru Madvacharya Swami Prasannateerth from Pejawar, Yugpurush Parmanand Maharaj, Swami Govind Dev Giri Maharaj, Vimlendra Mohan Pratap Mishra from Ayodhya royal family, Kameshwar Chaupal from Patna etc.

ends 

Modi's Un-parliamentary word Expunged from speech in RS

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

Modi's Un-parliamentary word Expunged from speech in RS

PM had accused the Opposition of spreading "Jhoot"

Naidu expunges word from Ghulam Nabi's Speech

Harish Gupta

New Delhi, Feb 7

The Chairman of the Rajya Sabha and Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu, expunged a word from Prime Minister Narendra Modi's speech in parliament on Thursday.

While bitterly attacking the Opposition (Congress) on the NPR & CAA, the PM charged them for misleading people an spreading "jhooth (lies)". This created a ruckus during the debate which went on late until yesterday. The chairman, sensing the mood of the House, immediately expunged the remarks saying anything said, done or any action which is un-parliamentary is dropped.

Today, his office issued an official order expunging the word “Jhoot” from PM's statement on the National Population Register (NPR).

Interestingly, the Chairman also expunged a remark by Opposition leader Ghulam Nabi Azad “Gumrah” (Misleading). It is rather surprising that the PM had also used the same word “Gumrah” during the course of his speech.

This is the second time that the Chairman, M Venkaiah Naidu had to expunge a remark of the PM from his speech.

In 2018, some words were dropped from PM Modi's comments on Congress leader BK Hariprasad. It was on August 11 in 2018 when Modi had made the remark about the Opposition candidate for House deputy chairman, B.K. Hariprasad, while felicitating the winner, Harivansh. Many in the Opposition and outside construed three words in that speech as an attempt to crack a joke about Hariprasad's initials.

While Opposition members squirmed at the reference, which they thought was in poor taste, the BJP benches too remained stony-faced. Next day, Naidu expunged these three words. He also expunged a reference to these three words by RJD member Manoj Jha, who had quoted them while demanding their removal from the records. There was talk of moving a privilege notice against the Prime Minister for the remark. But it was dropped after remarks were expunged.

Intense lobbying begins for 7 Maharashtra RS Seats

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

special report 

Intense lobbying begins for 7 Maharashtra RS Seats

Fadnavis tops the chart of probables, Pawar sure to return

Dhoot, Husain Dalwai may miss the bus

Harish Gupta

New Delhi, Feb 5

Quiet but intense lobbying has begun for seven Rajya Sabha seats from Maharashtra falling vacant. Given the composition of 288 member state Assembly, BJP will bag three Rajya Sabha seats while the remaining four will go to the Sena-NCP-Congress combine. If sources are to be believed, the NCP is asking the Shiv Sena to spare an extra Rajya Sabha seat for it. The Congress has 44 MLAs in the House and can easily win one seat.

Of the seven retiring MPs, the return of NCP supremo Sharad Pawar is a foregone conclusion. The NCP will take a decision on its second candidate only after Sena's green signal. Thus, the future of NCP's Majeed Memon hangs in the balance.

The BJP leadership has assured Ramdas Athawale, Minister of State for Social Justice & Empowerment of his re-election though his RPI doesn't have the numbers. But uncertainty continues about the remaining two BJP candidates.

Highly placed sources in the BJP say that there is an outside chance of Devendra Fadnavis being brought to Delhi through Rajya Sabha and inducted into the Union Ministry. The former Maharashtra Chief Minister is a blue-eyed boy of the Prime Minister and wants to use him in national politics as the party is not keen to destabilize the Uddhav Thackeray government, at least for now. But no final decision has been taken. Fadnavis has been in Delhi for campaigning and held talks with members of the party high command. Amar Shankar Sable, sitting BJP MP is also a contender for being renominated for second term. The name of Ajay Sancheti, a former RS MP, is also being mentioned. One also hears that a noted economist may be brought to Rajya Sabha from Maharashtra. Uday Raje Bhonsle who quit his Lok Sabha to join the BJP, is also in the reckoning.

It is also learnt that Shiv Sena sitting MP Rajkumar Dhoot is unlikely to make a cut this time. But the intense battle is going on in the Congress for the lone Rajya Sabha seat. The sitting MP Husain Dalwai is not to be renominated and many are in the fray including Rajni Patel, Rajiv Satav, Milind Deora, Rajiv Shukla and Mukul Wasnik. Prithviraj Chavan is also keen to return to national politics quitting his MLA seat.

The biennial polls will be held early next month.

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Govt. eyes Rs 70000 crores from Amensty scheme

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

special report with Table 

Govt. eyes Rs 70000 crores from Amensty scheme

DeMo declarants get last chance to come clean

Harish Gupta

New Delhi, Feb 3

The government hopes to mop up as much as Rs 50000- 70000 crores in Income Tax under an Amensty scheme announced by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in her Budget on Saturday last.

Interestingly, this bail out package will not only apply to 5 lakh tax dispute cases involving an amount of Rs 11 lakh crores, but also to those who got Income-Tax notices under Demonetisation scheme. These 4.78 lakh disputed cases include 87000 notices issued under DeMo scheme of November 2016. The IT department found these 87000 cases as suspicious entries amounting to Rs 1.50 lakh crores.

It is learnt that the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi was personally keen to bring this one last Amensty scheme for these suspicious assesses to pay taxes minus penalty and interest. The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) is hopeful that it will collect Rs 70000 crores extra under this Amensty scheme.

The scheme will cover all tax litigation, including those against individuals. Thousands of jewelers across the country including more than 500 in Mumbai, are likely to avail benefit under this scheme open until June 30, 2020.

The scheme “Vivad Se Vishwas” is aimed at bringing down tax disputes pending at the level of the Commissioner of Income-Tax, Tribunals and Courts. The government hopes that the number of disputes will come down drastically as the government is only seeking the principal amount which is pending for even for some decades without interest & penalty. The dispute at the Commissioner level alone is Rs 5.71 lakh crores. It is this amount that the government is targeting and reap the harvest by March 31, 2020. Those who want to settle dispute by June 2020 will have to pay 5% extra.

This initiative is similar amnesty scheme that the PM cleared for indirect tax floated in the July 2019 Budget. The Sabka Vishwas Scheme fetched the government over Rs 35,000 crore and resolved 1.61 lakh cases. The amount involved in these dispute was Rs 80,000 crore tax dues and the government settled for Rs 35000 crores. That scheme waived up to 70 per cent of the tax dues and 100 per cent of interest and penalty. But the Direct Tax scheme will not give any relief in principal tax demand. PM Modi was enthusiastic about the success of this scheme as he repeatedly mentioned of it at his public rally today.

Ends