Rio 2016: Haryana sports minister’s delegation hits the beach, ignores action

source :  http://www.hindustantimes.com/olympics/rio-2016-haryana-sports-minister-s-delegation-hits-the-beach-ignores-action/story-t4hiklDTd77WsA4tG49LxM.html

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A file photo of Haryana minister Anil Vij. (H Photo)

Haryana sports minister Anil Vij led a nine-member delegation to Rio, which cost the state exchequer R1 crore. Before leaving, he tweeted: ‘leading a contingent to Olympics to encourage the Haryana players’.

But despite reaching Rio on Sunday night (Aug 14), they didn’t go to watch any event on Monday (Aug 15) and missed the quarterfinal bout of Vikas Krishan, DSP in the Haryana Police.

Discus thrower Seema Antil and Greco-Roman wrestler Ravinder Khatri, both from the state, competed on Monday, but the Vij-led delegation skipped them too.

Even on Tuesday, the delegation spent most of the time in its beach hotel and exploring the city, missing Haryana Greco-Roman wrestler Hardeep Singh’s bout.

The entourage comprises two BJP MLAs, Gyanchand Gupta and Randhir Singh Kapriwas, and Amit Arya, media adviser to the chief minister. Additional chief secretary-sports, KK Khandelwal and joint director-sports, OP Sharma, are also in the delegation. Vij’s private secretary and Khandelwal’s private secretary have also made the trip.

“It is the mockery of the system. On one side the sports department has failed to provide basic facilities to the players at grassroots level and no consumable sports items have been procured for the last two years. On the other side they (sports department) are spending lakhs of rupees on the Rio visit. The delegation has not even bothered to come and see the match of Vikas Krishan,” said a member of Indian contingent from the state.

Sri Sri Event 'Completely Destroyed' Yamuna Riverbed, Says Expert Panel | But he wants an award!

Source: http://www.ndtv.com/delhi-news/art-of-living-event-completely-destroyed-yamuna-floodplains-panel-told-1444938

The massive 'World Culture Festival' held on the banks of the river Yamuna in Delhi by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar's Art of Living has "completely destroyed and not simply damaged the riverbed", a group of experts has told the country's top environmental court.

"The ground is now totally levelled, compacted and hardened and is totally devoid of water bodies or depressions and almost completely devoid of any vegetation," the experts say in a 47-page report, describing the damage because of the three-day event that featured performances on a seven-acre stage and hundreds of thousands of devotees.

The floodplain, the report says, has lost "almost all its natural vegetation" like trees, shrubs, tall grasses and aquatic vegetation including water hyacinth crucial to the survival of a large number of animals and organisms.

"These organisms were rendered homeless, driven away by intense activity and many were consigned to graves under the debris. This is invisible loss of biodiversity which cannot be easily assessed and most may never be able to return," it says.

Seven experts were tasked by the National Green Tribunal to assess the impact of the festival held in March despite concerns about the delicate ecosystem of the riverbank. Art of Living was allowed to go ahead with the event on the condition that it would pay five crores against the damage.

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After surveying the area, the experts have noted that a "huge amount of earth and debris have been dumped to construct the ramps."

There has been a change in topography in the riverbed, says the report, and the "construction of ramps and roads, filling up of water bodies and levelling of the ground together with compaction have almost completely eliminated the natural physical features and the diversity of habitats."

Sri Sri, 60, had said he should be given an award for organising the event and the site was in "better condition than we found it".

The opening of the event was attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi; President Pranab Mukherjee dropped out.

Schemes should be simply named after the country - not PM or CM

http://www.ndtv.com/india-news/nitish-kumar-suggests-credit-share-if-states-pay-for-pms-schemes-1440420

Why Not Chief Ministers' Names Also For Schemes, Asks Nitish Kumar

When states pay a share, scheme could include chief minister's name too, says Nitish Kumar.

PATNA:  Why would states pay a share for schemes named after the Prime Minister? Bihar chief minister NItish Kumar suggested a solution to his own aggressive question that has put several central schemes in the state on freeze.

If a state is making part payment for such a scheme, Mr Kumar suggested, it could be named after both Prime Minister and the Chief Minister of the state concerned.

The division of payment for centrally sponsored schemes has long been a source of friction between the centre and the states. But while many governments - usually a non-NDA party -- has claimed credit for such schemes, Mr Kumar, an arch-rival of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has questioned why states will have to pay for schemes named after the Prime Minister.

Today's suggestion came when Mr Kumar was responding to a question on why the Prime Minister's Crop Insurance Scheme was not being implemented in Bihar.

Although the centre has extended the deadline till August 10, Bihar has stuck to its refusal to endorse the scheme and pay the insurance agencies mandated by central government for the purpose.

The Chief Minister said the premium rate of 14 .5 per cent is too high, as it will cost the state's exchequer a whopping Rs. 650 crore. He has further insisted that for any scheme named after the Prime Minister, the centre should bear all the expenses.

Earlier, the Bihar government wrote to Union agriculture ministry, pointing out that several states - including neighbouring Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh -- the premium is low. The ministry, however, clarified that due to huge tracts of agricultural land being flood-prone in Bihar the premium has gone up.

In some BJP-ruled states like Maharashtra and Gujarat, the premium is equally high, the ministry has further pointed out.

Mr Kumar, whose demand for special status for his state has been turned down, has asked for a change in Centre's funding pattern. Last year, ahead of the crucial assembly elections in Bihar, he had alleged that the state received far less funds from the Centre than it should following the 14th Finance Commission recommendations.

GST - Rare Bonhomie

RS clears GST: BJP, Congress push together the biggest reform since 1991

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/RS-clears-GST-BJP-Congress-push-together-the-biggest-reform-since-1991/articleshow/53533074.cms

NEW DELHI: India took a giant step towards a goods and services tax with the Rajya Sabha, in a rare show of strong bipartisan convergence, approving the tax reform measure first considered almost 30 years ago. Once implemented, it is expected to do away with multiple indirect taxes, make the economy more efficient and transform the country into a single market.

The Modi government finally crossed the Rajya Sabha hurdle— where its lacks a majority — after more than 18 months of tough negotiations with Congress paved the way for implementation of the legislation. The government's ability to steer the Constitution amendment through choppy political waters was seen as a test of its commitment to economic reforms.

There were some dramatic moments as finance minister Arun Jaitley and hisCongress predecessor P Chidambaram faced off. Chidambaram sought a categorical assurance that subsequent GST-related bills would not be introduced as money bills, a parliamentary device that does away with the need for Rajya Sabha's approval. Jaitley pointedout that state finance ministers from Congress-ruled states would be part of the process to finalise a GST rate and draft bills.

No party opposed the Constitution amendment and AIADMK was the sole entity to express its dissatisfaction and stage a walkout. The GST bill was approved by a 203-0 vote with a lack of fuss that belied the long drawn negotiations and acrimonious exchanges that saw it being stalled in Parliament.

The next steps require sustained efforts as 50% of states must approve the legislation. The setting up of the GST council is a vital element as the entity will determine the GST rate and institute a dispute resolution mechanism.

While the rollout date of April 1, 2017 seems daunting, the government must reach a consensus on the rate which does not hurt consumers but also protects the revenue needs of states and is also non-inflationary. Congress's demand to cap the rate at 18% is a political challenge as the party argues that this protects the interests of the poor.

Jaitley and Chidambaram, both eminent lawyers, engaged in an engrossing verbal duel as the finance minister argued that he could not pronounce on yet-to-drafted legislation while also pointing out that eight state finance ministers belonging to Congress are part of the empowered committee. Chidambaram's insistence on an assurance that the legislation to follow will not be money bills was linked to Congress demand that the rate be capped at 18%.

Jaitley did not offer any specific assurance but said the House would be taken into confidence. The voting process began as deputy chairman P J Kurien assured leader of opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad that the subsequent bills would involve discussions with Congress. In the end, Congress did not find any support from other opposition parties.

The proposed levy will be a single tax that will cover all levies at the Centre and state level including entry tax and cut through the maze of indirect taxes that hampers free movement of goods and discourages investors. It is expected to lower the burden on consumers and add 1-2 percentage points to the national GDP. It will help curb tax evasion and usher in transparency and should translate into revenue gains for the Centre and states.

The legislation is part of a series of measures and laws passed by the NDA government to improve ease of doing business and reduce discretionary powers in the hands of officials and ministers. Other important steps include the bankruptcy code, debt recovery laws, Aadhaar-linked benefits, a supportive environment for start-ups, cleanup of bank NPAs and initiatives to boost Indian manufacturing.  Interestingly all these initatives originated during the UPA.

Rajya Sabha is a safeguard

Rajya Sabha is a safeguard, says Ansari

http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/rajya-sabha-is-a-safeguard-says-ansari/article8922293.ece

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PTI

INITIATION PROGRAMME: Vice-President M. Hamid Ansari and Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha P.J. Kurien at an orientation programme for new members of the Upper House at Parliament Annexe in New Delhi on Saturday.

‘It checks hasty legislation, its creation a decision of Constituent Assembly’.

Vice-President Hamid Ansari called the Second Chamber (as the Upper House of Parliament is known) as a safeguard against hasty legislation. He made the remarks at a two-day training programme organised for first-term Rajya Sabha members by the Rajya Sabha Secretariat.

The NDA government does not have a majority in the Rajya Sabha, where the Opposition effectively contest some pieces of legislation. Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, who is also Leader of the House in the Rajya Sabha, has often spoken out against this legislative obstruction. “To what extent our Upper House is going to be used to block economic decision-making. In Australia, the debate is on, the U.K. has gone through this debate a while ago, and Italy is having the same debate, because ultimately the weight of a directly elected House will always have to be maintained,” Mr. Jaitley had said in a speech in April this year.

But Dr. Ansari was categorical in his espousal of the Rajya Sabha. “The Rajya Sabha is necessary to reflect the concerns of the States as India is a Union of States. The Rajya Sabha and its creation was a conscious decision of the Constituent Assembly,” he told the 30 first-term members. “Parliament is to legislate, debate and deliberate and hold the government of the day accountable,” he said.

However, he cautioned the new members against disruptions which he said “infringed upon the rights of fellow MPs.” He urged the new members to take part in the proceedings of the standing committees which he said were important for a detailed look at legislation.

“Government departments are competent to draft laws, but MPs are needed to study the implications and fine-print of legislation,” he said.

Parikkar - Amir | The way India is heading

http://www.firstpost.com/india/manohar-parrikar-on-aamir-khan-are-we-in-india-or-some-nascent-version-of-islamic-state-2926664.html

Manohar Parrikar on Aamir Khan: Is this India or a nascent version of Islamic State?

Defence minister Manohar Parrikar must have heard of the Islamic State practice of extracting Baya'a — the oath of allegiance.

If you do not pledge complete loyalty to the Caliphate, the Islamic State will punish you. It reserves the right to kill, maim, enslave, rape or lash and stone you in public. But, whatever be the medium of instruction, Islamic State will always teach you a lesson you for not vowing fealty, disrespecting the Caliphate.

When the Defence Minister of India gloats about teaching a lesson to a defenceless actor for speaking his mind and an online retailer for its choice of a brand ambassador, you can see that we are getting into the Islamic State territory.

The means may be different, but the intent and desire are almost the same: If you disrespect the Caliphate, motherland in this case, speak against the state, a fitting punishment awaits you. Beware!

The warning came at the launch of a book on Sunday, where Defence Minister Parrikar told his audience that anyone speaking against the country must be “taught a lesson” in the same way that an "actor" and an "online trading company" were taught. He went on to narrate how the actor and the online retailer were punished in 2015 by his team.

According to The Indian Express, Parrikar said his team is very smart and keeps track of such incidents. Though he didn't name anyone, it was apparent he was referring to last year's hounding of Aamir Khan and Snapdeal.

In 2015, at an awards function organised by The Indian Express, Khan had spoken about his wife's fears of the growing intolerance in India, provoking a nasty backlash from a section of the right wing that argued the actor had insultedBharat Mata.

Turns out Khan was absolutely right.

Parrikar's confession that he and his ''smart team'' indeed went after Khan and Snapdeal shows the level of intolerance in the Parivar. If it can go after an actor and an established business entity for such petty reasons, there is indeed something wrong with today's India and the mindset of the people running it.

Even more worrying is Parrikar's desire to dispense the same treatment to everybody who speaks "against" the country.

Hello? Is this India or some nascent version of Islamic State where vengeful mobs can be let loose on people whose words someone may find unpalatable? Is Parrikar the defence minister of this country, the man responsible for protecting India's people and their freedoms, or leader of a gang of street vigilantes?

And, who defines what is in the interest of the country and what is against it? Who is the judge and jury? Since when did India turn into a banana republic? Were the 2014 elections held to elect a Kangaroo court?

It is a shame that Parrikar, an IIT graduate, former CM of a vibrant, liberal state like Goa, has revealed a mindset that mimics the al-Baghdadi school of thought. Only a few days ago, Indians were chiding Pakistanis for celebrating the killing of Qandeel Baloch, who was taught a lesson for speaking and acting against her country. And here we have an honourable minister narrating similar tales of retribution in public!

Ideally, Parrikar should have been reserving his retributive rage for neighbouring countries that nonchalantly send reconnaissance planes into India and then venture deep into our territories. But, when that happens, instead of roaring out warnings, the defence minister starts giving out clean chits, arguing that such acts are mere transgressions, not incursion.

How about ordering stuff from a Chinese online retailer and then returning it, Mr Parrikar, to teach our neighbour a lesson for strolling deep into Uttarakhand?

If China is too formidable an adversary, instead of taking on an artist, Parrikar should have been concentrating on ensuring that our Air Force carriers do not vanish into thin air over the Andamans again. That the lives of our service personnel are not at the mercy of run-down equipment.

Think about this, Mr Parrikar: Your job is to secure India against enemies like the Islamic State, not to create the impression that we are already under the yoke of their ideology of intolerance and state-sponsored revenge.