Two-G (2G) Spectrum Scam Tapes and follow-up

[Muppalla]

A tweet(based on Arnab and Shourie discussion):

Arun Shourie to Times Now Arnab. Journalism is not done by getting 2 people make opinions. You have to bring out facts.

[JwalaMukhi]

Ramanaji, there are more stories about how the top level jarnails in antriksha bhavan make their futures secure and comfy. It is through sweet heart deals mostly through retirement homes like NIAS(i woont go into more details), but doesnt involve money transfer ala Raja or Koda. these guys are rocket scientists, they are too smart for all that.

NIAS, eh? It is fondly referred to as Anath Ashrama. (Orphanage for ex-s)

[Muppalla]

Government likely to agree to JPC

With the government inches closer to the setting up of a Joint Parliamentary Committee after the Congress party reportedly took a decision that enough damage had been done by Parliament being stalled and a signal filtering across that the government had something to hide, sources said that the modalities of how this has to be done are still to be worked out.

The leaders of the Trinmool Congress, Nationalist Congress Party and Communist Party of India-Marxist are privately claiming that the government is likely to agree to a JPC.

The Bharatiya Janata Party still insists that the government should first announce the setting up of the JPC and only after that would they allow a discussion in the house, the Left parties and the Samajwadi Party have agreed with the government's line that there should first be a discussion and followed by the setting up a JPC. Both the Left and the SP do not want a vote on the resolution.

A Congress leader explained that since the JPC is a committee of parliament it can only be set up by a resolution of the House with the Speaker then announcing the setting up of the committee in the House. The leader of the Lok Sabha Pranab Mukherjee has made it clear that a JPC cannot be announced outside the House as it would be a breach of privilege.

Another meeting would be called just before Parliament meets on February 21, when the final contours of this resolution would be worked out with the government using the opportunity to discuss with the opposition leaders on the best way to break the impasse.

Pranab Mukherjee told the meeting, "there is no price dearer than running of parliament" in what is a clear indication that the government may well be on the way to accommodating the demand for a JPC.

Congress party leaders concede that the demand for a JPC should have been agreed upon on day one as the bjp has managed to get mileage out of this and are looking to be in the driver's seat.

What is of significance in this is how the prime minister would react and whether the decision to go in for a JPC further undermines his position as it is PMO officials who had been instrumental in blocking the JPC in the first round.

Sources say that a senior PMO official pulled up Union Law Minister Veerapa Moily over the new ISRO S-band controversy where the PMO has gone into denial mode saying there has been no allocation of spectrum but it is alleged that a contract was signed between ISRO and a private firm Devas.

Sources said in June 2010, the Department of Space asked the law secretary T K Vishwanath for a legal opinion asking whether the contract can be terminated to which he gave the opinion that "yes it can be" terminated. The PMO now wanted to know about the legal opinion and wanted a copy of it which was found with great difficulty by the officials.

The PMO officials were allegedly livid at Moily as to why the information was not brought to their notice. Certain quarters suspect that the story was leaked to the newspapers by the law ministry whilst others suspect it to be the handiwork of the CAG.

Sources say that the fact remains that despite legal opinion and despite ISRO itself pushing for scrapping of the deal, it was not done by the government. With the prime minister in charge of the department of space, the issue is even more embarrassing, even as the then MOS in the ministry at the time, Prithviraj Chavan admitted that the contract was signed.

The BJP wants to bring The ISRO Devas deal under the ambit of the JPC investigation and with pressure mounting on the governmenmt, it certainly looks as though the PMO has a lot of explaining to do, say party sources.

[ManjaM]

Sources say that the fact remains that despite legal opinion and despite ISRO itself pushing for scrapping of the deal, it was not done by the government. With the prime minister in charge of the department of space, the issue is even more embarrassing, even as the then MOS in the ministry at the time, Prithviraj Chavan admitted that the contract was signed.

Interesting. This is what i feel has happened.
ISRO goofed up initially by allocating S band to Devas, where clearly there was a conflict on interest situation and much more wrong with the deal. They realise later that they goofed up and want to cancel it. Anyway, satellite launch for this was stopped. After tasting (indian)blood in the 2G scam PM or his chelas realise that there is some money to be made in S band as well. SO even though it has been 8 months since ISRO realised that something was amiss in the deal, government didnt move on it. Maybe our masters realised that they can cover up the issue, kick MG Chandrashekar in the butt and make him cough up all the money and more that he made by sub leasing S band to other companies. More for the UPA party fund the merrier every one is. So revocation has become slow.
Now who has leaked this report and why. This might be a discussion in another thread. The timing makes it more interesting.Will it be the last straw that broke the camels back. Lets see what opposition does.

[Airavat]

Govt may agree to a JPC probe

Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee announced his meeting with leaders of all political parties in Delhi was inconclusive, but it is learnt that the government might reach a compromise with opposition parties over the demand for a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) probe into the 2G spectrum scam.

Opposition leaders said after the meeting there was “consensus” on the JPC issue and both sides were keen that Parliament should function. “The allies of the government too say they have no problems with JPC. We have told the government, and I think there is hope, that first government will take a decision, approve formation of JPC and then Parliament will function properly,” said Sushma Swaraj, leader of the opposition in the Lok Sabha.

[Sriman]

DB Realty's Shahid Balwa is Arrest No 4

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/2g-sc ... 4/747828/2

The CBI, which on Tuesday sought and got extension of custody of former Telecom Minister A Raja, arrested Shahid Usman Balwa, director of Mumbai-based DB Realty in the 2G spectrum case.

“We have arrested Shahid Balwa for his role in the 2G scam. He is alleged to be involved in receiving and channelling money for Raja,” said CBI spokesperson Binita Thakur, adding that Balwa would be brought to Delhi on Wednesday.

[Airavat]

The CBI arrested Shahid Balwa, vice chairman of Etisalat DB Telecom Pvt. Balwa is also the managing director of DB Realty Ltd., a Mumbai-based property developer. The agency has argued in court that Raja conspired to benefit companies including the then Swan Telecom Ltd., now known as Etisalat DB Telecom, and Unitech Ltd. by violating guidelines in the license sale.

Businessweek

TRAI recommends new pricing for 2G spectrum

The crux of the report is that all spectrum with existing telecom companies, which is more than the 6.2 Mhz that is being provided under the license be repriced. This repricing has been done at a formula by linking this to the prices discovered through the recent 3G auction as a result BSNL, which holds more than 10 Mhz of spectrum in most circles across India is now facing a liability of Rs 7,276 crore.

[Pranav]

So a bunch of technocrats decided why don't we also loot the country

imho, it's not the technocrats alone ... one has to take a close look at the investors that came in via Mauratius, and other foreign investors. It could have been managed by Sonia's henchmen operating within the PMO.

Sources say that the fact remains that despite legal opinion and despite ISRO itself pushing for scrapping of the deal, it was not done by the government. With the prime minister in charge of the department of space, the issue is even more embarrassing, even as the then MOS in the ministry at the time, Prithviraj Chavan admitted that the contract was signed.

http://www.rediff.com/news/report/govt- ... 110209.htm

[BhairavP]

DB Realty is a front organisation for a very powerful Maratha politician..

[AjayKK]

DB Realty is a front organisation for a very powerful Maratha politician..

Any names ?!

[BhairavP]

The Power-ful one.

[Akshut]

Sharad Pawar

[AjayKK]

Ok, in line with economic chankianness, one can say that at Rs. 128 its shares are at a discount down from Rs. 500

Found this link after the name came up:

One of the largest public frauds happening in the booming real estate market of India, specifically Mumbai, has to do with the extremely opaque redevelopment rights being offered to reality firms. The major players in this industry include DB Reality (India Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar lobby), Unitech (Congress lobby) and DLF (in bed with almost all political parties). Needless to say that there are many others who are in the fray and none of them can be viewed as saints.

http://www.indianrealtynews.com/real-es ... arket.html

So by raking up Lavasa and DB Realty, Pawar is being targeted. In the past,all these attacks on each other would reek of election year strategies.

TRAI recommends over six-fold cost for 2G spectrum

[Pranav]

So by raking up Lavasa and DB Realty, Pawar is being targeted.

Looks like the spectrum money was shared all around - Karunanidhi, Pawar, Dawood Ibrahim, Sonia Gandhi's Italian sisters.

[A_Gupta]

Corruption in India.

[Pranav]

Silent for 23 years, CBI faces RTI chief's fury
February 09, 2011 17:51 IST

For how long should a citizen wait for information in a case which is pending for more than 23 years, Chief Information Commissioner Satyananda Mishra on Wednesday asked while slamming the Central Bureau of Investigation for withholding information in the Bofors pay-offs scam.

The case related to an RTI application seeking to know the reasons for filing case withdrawal application against one of the prime accused, Italian Businessman Ottavio Quattrocchi, in the Delhi high court.

RTI applicant Ajay Agrawal had also wanted to know from the CBI about the brief given to the then Additional Solicitor General B Dutta who went to London in 2005 for de-freezing accounts of Quattrocchi and under whose orders he visited the United Kingdom.

The CBI said disclosure of these details could adversely affect its prosecution and the information should be withheld as per provisions of the RTI Act.

"How can giving reasons for filing withdrawal application in the court have any bearing on the case...You yourself (CBI) have said in the court that you don't want to pursue the case. You have made your desire to drop proceedings public," Mishra asked the CBI.

Rajiv Sharma, a CBI official representing the agency, said the court is yet to decide on the withdrawal application and the details on the reasons sought by the applicant contain the strength and weaknesses of the case.

If CBI's position is not accepted by the court, the weaknesses of the case can be exploited by the accused to "weaken our prosecution," he said.

"For how long should a case be pending or the prosecution be continuing after which a resident of India [ Images ] can exercise the Right to Information? This case has been pending for last 23 years. By your (CBI) admission you are saying that you want to withdraw the case because you are not able to get that man," Mishra said.

Mishra also asked the CBI why it was withholding the details of the brief given to B Dutta.

"Not all the queries relate to prosecution. For example the visit of Dutta...What was Dutta's brief and what did Mr Dutta told the court, already being available in public, can have any effect of prosecution?" he asked.

"At every stage you are saying every information is part of prosecution... If account of accused is defrozen with the consent of prosecution, does anybody need any information? In fact assumption is quite clear that prosecution itself agreed for the de-freezing of account," Mishra said.

The CBI said regarding Dutta's brief that some information was collected from Sweden, the United Kingdom and Switzerland which cannot be made public because of the confidentiality agreement signed by Indian government with these countries.

Mishra also sought to know from the CBI if any court has restricted the agency from making information public in the case to which it replied in the negative. The decision was reserved and both parties were given time to file further submissions.

http://www.rediff.com/news/report/silen ... 110209.htm

[Raghavendra]

^henceforth CBI officers should be paid their salary from sonia's swiss bank accounts

these officers were appointed to safeguard indian wealth from looters, now that they have joined hands with looters and helping them escape they dont deserve any renumeration from us. Why should Indians pay CBI officers salary? They should go ask their ringleader for their monthly hissa of the loot.

CBI ka Haath, Congress ke Saath

[anmol]

devas scandal facts and figures of scam

DEVAS SCANDAL – FACTS OF A SCAM
(This note is in circulation on email/internet sourced to ISRO employees association)

1. DEVAS does not own either the spectrum, the two satellites or the user terminal technology. It is only an agent for foreign multinationals. It paid Rs.1000 Crores, so far, for two custom-built satellites
but not a dime for Spectrum!!! What a sweet deal. Most of the DEVAS employees, Board Directors and Advisers are ex ISRO personnel who provide the “inside” information not technology.

2. This scam is masterminded by the three former Scientific Secretarys of ISRO – MGChandrasekhar, KRSridharamurthy and A.Bhaskaranaryana. ISRO HQ is too chairman centric and a den of corruption and favouritism. There can be another scam on this.

3. They misrepresented facts to the then Secy, DOS, Additional Secretary and misled the Space Commission and the Union Cabinet . The fact that a very one-sided contract has been signed by ANTRIX with DEVAS was never told to the Space Commission or the Union Cabinet. In fact a copy of the contract was never given to SC and Cabinet. The so called approvals were obtained from SC and Cabinet for the satellite GSAT-6 and more recently 6A without disclosing that these satellites have been contracted out to DEVAS.

4. No declaration of interest was put out on the ANTRIX website requesting bids from other interested parties before signing the Agreement.
5. emerging requirements of S-band spectrum by Strategic Government organisations (50 MHz) and societal needs ignored;
6. the Agreement raises serious national security issues due to the liberty provided to the private party to co-opt any partner without clearance of ANTRIX
7. The AGREEMENT violates INSAT Co-ordination Committee (ICC) guidelines of ‘Non-exclusiveness’.
8. It violates Govt.’s policy as contained in the Recommendations of TRAI dated 28 Aug.2007 that for any terrestrial transmission, except for 800,900,1800 MHz band, the spectrum allocation has to be done through an auction and,
9. the ANTRIX-DEVAS contract, contravenes the existing policy framework of the Government as part of this spectrum was co-ordinated for strategic use and is not to be shared with commercial applications to a private party Terrestrial transmission is not permitted in this part of S band as per TRAI regulation.

10. SECRETARY DOS is Deliberately not proceeding on the Directives of SC for the past seven months issued vide minutes of the SC mtg on July 2,2010 as pressures from former Chairmen, ISRO are overwhelming. Dr.Kasturirangan is worried about his clean image getting dented. Prof. U.R .Rao’ daughter works for DEVAS!!

11. The sweet deal between ANTRIX and DEVAS was considered to be similar to earlier INTELSAT contract but is not. This agreement allows DEVAS to sub-lease, assign or sell the capacity without any approvals of ANTRIX which would give rise to serious security concerns; violates INSAT Coordination Committee (ICC) guidelines of ‘Non-exclusiveness’ in leasing capacity , violates transparency, no technology neutrality, non-information of the Agreement to the Cabinet and the Space Commission, non-commercial viability for ANTRIX, terms of contract being biased against ANTRIX’s interest. (The fact of the contract already having been signed in Jan.2005 was not informed to the Union Cabinet while seeking clearance for financial sanction to build GSAT-6 satellite though the notes to the Union Cabinet were sent subsequently on Nov.17,2005) ; The total payment to be made by DEVAS to ANTRIX is not commensurate with the cost of the satellite and the normal profit projections of a commercial corporation. severe penalty clauses to be borne by ANTRIX for delayed delivery of the spacecraft.(Any body can check that these are true by referring to the Agreement)

12. DoT, Min,of Law and Justice have favoured cancellation of the contract.

13. The Agreement was never discussed in TAG or ICC. as it was considered “Commercially Confidential.” AGREEMENT copy was denied to Hindu under RTI?? Can you believe this in this age?
14. DOT/MOC vide their note dated 28.07.2010 further stated: “… that terrestrial component of the BSS frequencies should also be given similar treatment as in the case of 3G and BWA spectrum with regard to pricing, and, auction mechanism should be adopted for fair spectrum allocations”.

15 From observations above it is seen that the ANTRIX-DEVAS contract has to be terminated.

16. What happened between Jan.2005 and July 2010?

DEVAS was busy selling the capacity to foreign vendors, getting FIPB clearances, attempting trials without witnesses, waiting for European technology to mature which they could sell as their own indigenous technology. In short attempting bigger frauds and covering their tract as the satellites were getting ready.

17. Who wanted this spectrum?

All 4G vendors and LTE operators. They still want it.

18. Does DEVAS have a S-DMB license now?

No. Though the AGREEMENT is for delivery of S-DMB service, DEVAS does not have an operating license. Why? Because MI&B clearance is also required and DEVAS does not know or wants to know how to get S-DMB license. They hope to get it from the powers in Delhi on a platter.

19. The S-band spectrum has been auctioned in the World since 2000. A report is enclosed. UK sold 60 MHZ for 22.5 billion GBP.

20. AIR operates its services in this band and recently DD has plans to use this band for S-DMB which should take priority. Why are they not doing it then? Simply because there has been no meeting of the Inter-ministerial group for the past 2 years. The Govt. processes of checks and balances has been completely suspended. Who did it? The present Chairman ISRO to keep the lid firmly on the scam.

ends

[AjayKK]

Prabhu Chawla fires one at the PM over the 2G and S-band spectrum scams.

The tragic story of Mr Clean

In 1992, when George Bush Sr thought he’d whizz past the Democrats in the race for the White House thanks to the patriotic vote after the first Gulf War, Bill Clinton checkmated him with the slogan, “It’s the economy, stupid.” In 2011, the table has turned on India’s ‘Singh Parivar’— Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and his Sancho Panza, deputy chairman of Planning Commission Montek Singh Ahluwallia — who have for the past two decades managed to grab the pulpit of India’s best economic brains. While India’s economic advance under their stewardship is rather debatable, with India poorer now than in 1991 when they entered the cockpit, what is beyond doubt is Singh and Co’s yawning disconnect with politics.

Integrity and tolerance were Manmohan’s USPs. Both are evaporating fast. If there was a sandbag — A Raja — for the 2G Spectrum scam, in the S-band spectrum allotment controversy the punches are landing straight on the prime minister’s face. S-band is a special frequency that is scarce and therefore priced high.

It seems Antrix, a subsidiary of the ISRO — which is directly under the prime minister — got into a sweetheart deal with Devas Multimedia, a company owned by a former ISRO scientist for 70 MHz of the S-band spectrum. Now the CAG estimates that if the realised price in the recent auction of 3G Spectrum —`67,719 crore for a mere 15 MHz of frequency — is applied to the S-band that ISRO made a charity of, it would have been Rs 2 lakh-crore; tens of thousand crore rupees more than the 2G Spectrum loot. Together, the total suspected loss to the exchequer is 64.34 per cent of India’s government revenue in 2010-11.

The prime minister has failed to make the state look above suspicion as an auctioneer — be it of natural gas, coal mines, wireless frequency, land to build houses for war widows or even of the right to sponsor events in an international games. Nothing seems to go well in Manmohan Singh’s hands — not even appointing the CVC, whose job is to clean the Augean stables. The time has come for the prime minister to either assert his authority or suffer a massive erosion of both image and credibility. It is not difficult to see whom Sonia Gandhi meant when she lamented that there was no retirement age for politicians.

Read the complete article. And Prabhu Chawla has also figured in the Radia tapes and is close to the PC camp, so his information is irrefutable. Seems like 2G are stuck with the PM who is out to strengthen his own side which is not agreeable to the 2G-Mukherjee camp and the PC camp as well. Hence the weekly-leaks left, right and centre.

.


I guess, Rahul Mehta has been proved correct once again. Any chance that he could post again, since his basic accusation that the PM could also be corrupt seems to be true now?

[anmol]

This is the earliest news report on S Band 'scam' (according to google). According to this report it was Law Ministry that had sent the draft asking for cancellation of deal, and asked ISRO's comment..

Is it possible that Mr Moily was the one who 'leaked' this ?

Note for cancellation held up with ISRO

New Delhi/Bangalore, Feb. 6:

A draft note suggesting the cancellation of the contract between Devas Multimedia and Antrix is waiting for comments from the Indian Space Research Organisation.

According to top Government sources, the fourth draft of the proposal was sent to ISRO in October 2010, but the space agency is yet to take a view on it. “The Law Ministry had advised the Government to move a Cabinet note on cancelling the contract between Devas Multimedia and Antrix,” an informed source explained.

“The note is awaiting inputs from ISRO before it can be circulated among other Ministries.” The source added that the proposal to scrap the entire deal was being discussed from 2009.

Even the Prime Minister's Office sought a clarification from the Department of Space, but no action has been taken.

Informed sources said that the Government was unhappy with the contract because it was skewed in favour of Devas Multimedia, and the company had allegedly concealed information.

“For example, Devas claimed that the technology it has is indigenously developed, the source said.

“It was later found that there are other companies globally offering the same service.”

[Muppalla]

Someone asked Moily to leak.

[ramana]

A CT. Moily is from Karnataka. All the DevaS guys are from the same state. Could someone from Karnataka have tipped him off as he isn't that bright? And he needs to refurbish his image to be sent back to Karnataka as CM in case they get power.
Poor guy last few years was busy monitoring Telangana mess.

[Raghavendra]

Karunanidhi will be jailed soon: Subramanian Swamy http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/new ... 461670.cms

[RamaY]

Excl: Should Shourie explain now?

Adding summary of that discussion

TIMES NOW's Editor-in-Chief Arnab Goswami talks exclusively with former telecom minister Arun Shourie on the issue of Telecom Minister Kapil Sibal's claim of Rs 1.5 lakh crore loss to exchequer in2G spectrum allocation scam during the NDA regime.

Hitting back at Telecom MinisterKapil Sibal's claim of Rs 1.5 lakh crore loss to exchequer in 2G spectrum allocation scam during the NDA regime, former telecom Minister Arun Shourie today termed his calculations as "presumptive".Shourie, who served the ministry in 2003, defended the change in policy by the NDA government saying if the shift had not come about, the whole sector would have collapsed. "These presumptive loss calculations are always misleading and that itself destroys the illustrative figures that Mr Sibal gave for the NDA saying Rs 1.50 lakh crore, thats another presumptive calculation," Arun Shourie told a private channel.

Sibal, while talking to reporters here today, said the change in policy by the NDA regime in 1999 from fixed licence fee to revenue share regime caused a "net" revenue loss of Rs 1.50 lakh crore and questioned CAG's estimates of presumptive loss at Rs 1.76 lakh crore due to 2G spectrum allocation.

"He rightly read out the figures of the great growth in the sector because of those policies, which were that of NDA," Shourie said. The BJP member lauded Sibal for his stern stance for taking action against defaulters. "I think Kapil Sibal is correct on 3-4 points and I would urge him to advance the policy the way the NDA was advancing in its final months," he said.

[munna]

A CT. Moily is from Karnataka. All the DevaS guys are from the same state. Could someone from Karnataka have tipped him off as he isn't that bright? And he needs to refurbish his image to be sent back to Karnataka as CM in case they get power.Poor guy last few years was busy monitoring Telangana mess.

Diversionary tactic it seems Ramanaji! Nothing is coming up on that front any which way, the stakes are higher than mere Kursi of Karnataka. PM-ji and DCh-ji (titles used in GOI for MMS and MSA; before you accuse me of using argot) seem to be the target and people are fighting a pitched battle to be the new regime du jour. At stake are positions as influential ministers in CCS, Minister to PMO and DCH. Karnataka Kursi pales in front of fruits that may be attained if chik-mantris (copied from chik-appa in Kannada) end up fighting on the side of winning knights. Ah... the joys of dedicated jets and Z+ grade of security and those high powered phoren visits.

[sum]

^^ Arun Shourie was on NDTV yesterday and kept talking about the extremely courageous DoT official who really blew the lid off the 2G scam. The offices apparently tipped off the CBI ~2 years back and has continued his whistle blowing despite massive threats and monetary allurements from Raja gang ( and complete silence from GoI till the media took it up).

He was the person who pointed out the names of the front companies of Raja and each has been proved to be 100% correct when the CBI checked it out. He has deposed before CBI 7 times now and is still doing so.

Any idea who this brave soul is?

[svenkat]

Diversionary tactic it seems Ramanaji! Nothing is coming up on that front any which way, the stakes are higher than mere Kursi of Karnataka. PM-ji and DCh-ji (titles used in GOI for MMS and MSA; before you accuse me of using argot)

MSA ans DCh-What are they?

[munna]

MSA ans DCh-What are they?

MSA == Mr. Montek Singh Ahluwalia and DCh == Deputy Chairman Planning Commission of India (Cabinet Rank)

He was the person who pointed out the names of the front companies of Raja and each has been proved to be 100% correct when the CBI checked it out. He has deposed before CBI 7 times now and is still doing so.
Any idea who this brave soul is?

Hope this helps sir-ji
Spectrum 'scam': Raja forced whistleblower to resign

Manju Madhavan, then the Member-Finance in the Telecom Commission, had sent a note recommending revision of rates at which the licences were being granted. But Telecom Minister A Raja questioned her integrity and accused her of working “on behalf of vested interests”. Madhavan sought voluntary retirement after proceeding on leave in 2007.
When contacted, Madhavan declined to comment. “Thanks for calling me, but I don’t want to speak on the matter,” she said.

[ramana]

Vinhasa kale vipariti buddhi!

X-post...

Wonder if kaangress media is covering this?

http://www.bhaskar.com/article/RAJ-JOD- ... 31311.html

पाली. देश के सर्वोच्च पद पर आसीन राष्ट्रपति प्रतिभा पाटील किसी जमाने में पूर्व प्रधानमंत्री स्व. इंदिरा गांधी के घर में रसोई बनाती थीं। इसी वफादारी के नतीजे में कांग्रेस की राष्ट्रीय अध्यक्ष सोनिया गांधी ने उन्हें राष्ट्रपति बना दिया। यह चौंकाने वाला बयान राजस्‍थान के पंचायती राज और वक्फ राज्यमंत्री आमीन खां ने मंगलवार को दिया।

http://www.sify.com/news/rajasthan-mini ... y=national

'I was asking party workers to be patient and serve the party without making any demands. President Pratibha Patil is an example for everyone to follow,' he said.

On Tuesday, the minister told a meeting of the Pali district Congress committee that Patil was rewarded with the presidency for having cooked as well as prepared tea in Indira Gandhi's kitchen.

He said that when Indira Gandhi was out of power after losing the 1977 election, Patil would cook in her kitchen and even wash utensils.

'Finally she was rewarded with the country's top position by Sonia Gandhi though Patil did not seek any position. She was rewarded for her loyalty to the former prime minister,' said Khan.

[Sanku]

Subramanium Subramanium....

I threw Karunanidhi's notice into trash: Swamy

http://ibnlive.in.com/news/i-threw-karu ... 69-37.html

Swamy's open spat with the DMK dominated the conversation. When a reader asked about M Karunanidhi's legal notice to him after the DMK patriarch's name was dragged into the 2G controversy, Swamy said, "I have thrown it into my waste paper basket. Let him file a case instead of sending me inane notices." When asked if the law would catch up with Karunanidhi's daughter and MP Kanimozhi, Swamy said, "She is next in the CBI scanner."

When asked if he will include Congress president Sonia Gandhi and her son Rahul Gandhi as accused in the 2G investigation, Swamy said emphatically, "Yes and yes." On another reader's question related to the Gandhi family (Who is the inspiration of this brazen act and its sequel in S-band 'chori'), Swamy took two names: "Suresh Pachauri and Sonia (Gandhi)."

Ye aadmi kya khata hai (what does this man eat?)

[anmol]

The real Manmohan Singh
Working to a plan, the UPA has used a "clean" PM to loot the country, writes N.V.Subramanian.

9 February 2011: You would not begin to understand how corruption could reach such obscene levels in the UPA government unless you figure why Manmohan Singh was selected prime minister by Sonia Gandhi.

It is true that when Sonia Gandhi could not become PM, she chose a powerless Manmohan Singh instead. This meant that all power concentrated in her. It has. There was a second reason for choosing Manmohan Singh and not someone more politically experienced as Pranab Mukherjee or Arjun Singh.

Pranab Mukherjee had shown his "true colours" by proclaiming himself successor to the assassinated Indira Gandhi. He wouldn't docilely give up the prime-ministership to Rahul Gandhi when the scion was ready. And Arjun Singh was too wily by half, even though he wore his loyalties to the Gandhis on his kurta cuffs. Privately, the Thakur heavyweight from Madhya Pradesh was not as keen on the first family as he made out in public. Besides, he was ageing and infirm.

On the other hand, Manmohan Singh had an unblemished record of loyalty to the Nehru-Gandhi family. He would follow policies and guidelines unquestioningly like a perfect bureaucrat. Which is why, long ago, and regrettably, rather uncharitably, this writer had called prime minister Manmohan Singh a "super cabinet secretary." The appellation stuck.

But there was another reason besides his powerlessness, unflinching loyalty to the Nehru-Gandhis and his perceived ever-readiness to make way for Rahul that made Manmohan Singh a prized prime-ministerial candidate. This was Manmohan Singh's famed personal integrity.

You should remember that the Nehru-Gandhis were battered by the Bofors allegations. It destroyed Rajiv Gandhi's extraordinary mandate of 1984 and ignobly drove him out of office. The twin shocks of Bofors and Rajiv Gandhi's assassination kept Sonia Gandhi away from politics in her initial years as a widow. It was not till the P.V.Narasimha Rao regime failed to be re-elected that Sonia Gandhi stepped out.

Once it was clear she would not be acceptable to the country as prime minister, she narrowed on all the earlier-stated reasons to choose Manmohan Singh in addition to one other factor. This was his honesty. With Manmohan Singh as PM, no one reflexively could hurl corruption charges against the government. Manmohan Singh's honesty would drive the narrative in the media and in the middle classes so enamoured of him that he would not tolerate corruption.

But India misjudged Manmohan Singh whereas his appointers did not. Manmohan Singh was a lot like V.P.Singh. Both were honest. But both tolerated high levels of corruption. In V.P.Singh's case, it was a matter of cynical recognition that Indian politics couldn't operate without great amounts of ill-gotten cash. In the instance of Manmohan Singh, it was something worse.

Manmohan Singh could not be bothered about corruption so long he was not personally affected. He was powerless anyway to stop it. But more than that, he loved being prime minister. To those that cannot hear any ill about Manmohan Singh, this may appear ugly. But it happens to be true. Humble as Manmohan Singh seems, he is very ambitious. He would want to remain PM at any cost.

Would this clash with Sonia Gandhi's plans for Rahul Gandhi? In better times, when there was no risk to Rahul from a mid-term takeover (sometime in 2012), certainly Manmohan Singh's personal ambitions would have caused friction. But the Nehru-Gandhis would have forced a smooth succession. Manmohan Singh in Rashtrapati Bhawan was (and is) a fairly well-advanced plan.

But in the interim, Manmohan Singh's clean image was a big bonus to the Congress leadership. Every sort of scam would find sanction and cover under his regime so long he was not disturbed as PM. Manmohan Singh's image would afford protection to scammers. If opposition allegations of corruption threatened to get out of hand, the Congress party would invoke the PM's honest reputation to put the opposition on the defensive.

Then there was always coalition politics to blame. If you recall events of the last six months, they have played to this script. The Congress repeatedly has tried to block off the opposition by bringing up the PM's good name and innate decency.

What needs to be understood is that all this was a long-term Congress leadership strategy. Not wanting a repeat of Bofors, it kept the insulating shield of Manmohan Singh. In defence, it has similarly propped up A.K.Anthony, who is, if anything, even cleaner than Manmohan Singh, and more loyal to 10 Janpath.

So long Manmohan Singh is around, truth will never out. He is too loyal to come clean on the scams. With or without his knowledge (both being unacceptable), the prime minister's office is heavily implicated in the scandals. While the opposition may be in no position to force a change of government leadership (especially if its 2G JPC demand is accepted), this perspective must be understood:

Manmohan Singh was brought to provide cover to the Congress leadership's scams. In return, he was permitted nominal prime-ministership to satiate his ambitions. In the worst of men, this is revolting. In the best of men, it is intolerable. If Manmohan Singh is a man of conscience, he will go.

N.V.Subramanian is Editor, http://www.NewsInsight.net, and writes internationally on strategic affairs. He has authored two novels, University of Love (Writers Workshop, Calcutta) and Courtesan of Storms (Har-Anand, Delhi). Email: [email protected].

[Muppalla]

NVS is also writing politics and internal affairs as opposed to his expertise in foreign and diplomatic affairs. That is the state of the nation as every one is distressed with the scams and future of India and are more concentrating on these looters and repurcussions of the future.

[ramana]

Regarding the intemprate remarks by Rajasthan minister Khan on the President Patil, CM Gehlot is asking for the resingnation.

I don't understand why he is not being dismissed for insulting the President of India.

[Sanku]

-- edit ---

[ramana]

First real fallout of the 2G scam is Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group shares are tanking on the SENSEX on potential/expected indictments in the 2G scam. I thought Radia tapes had the other brother claiming to own the govt.!

Teh telecom companies are claiming that they cant afford to pay market rates and still be in business as they took on debt to actualize the licenses.

I guess they have to bring back the Swiss money hoard to payback.

---
Sanku, If I were you I would edit that as its direspectful of her and her position. I happen to know her integrity.

[vijayk]

Regarding the intemprate remarks by Rajasthan minister Khan on the President Patil, CM Gehlot is asking for the resingnation.

I don't understand why he is not being dismissed for insulting the President of India.

He was not insulting her. He was telling fellow CON party men to follow her footsteps and clean the dishes and bath rooms of the the great die-nasty so that they will be made President or CEC in 20/30 years. Be loyal like dogs to the dynasty is his message. See! What happened to Pratibha after cleaning Indira's dishes and cooking for her like a maid. She is the President now!

[putnanja]

2G scam: ‘Minister asked I-T to go slow on DB-DMK TV link'

MUMBAI: In January 2010, during an income tax raid, a union minister of state called a senior I-T officer in Mumbai and suggested that the department go soft on investigating money transfers from DB group companies to Kalaingar TV, which is controlled by DMK party chief M Karunanidhi's family members, highly-placed officials in I-T have said on condition of anonymity. The minister in question belongs to one of the allies in the UPA.

Soon, a retired income tax commissioner, who was employed with the DB group, met another senior I-T officer and tried to convince him not to track the flow of funds between DB and Kalaingar adding up to Rs 206.25 crore. (TOI carried a report on the money transfers in its edition dated Feb 4, 2011.)

The CBI is investigating these transactions because DB Etisalat Telecom is allegedly involved in the 2G scam and former telecom minister A Raja, now in CBI custody, is also from DMK. DB officials declined to comment when contacted.
...
...
Tax officials, during a raid on Cineyug Films, found a series of transfers from DB's group companies such as DB Realty and DB Infrastructure Pvt Ltd to another group company, Dynamix Realty, to yet another group company, Kusegaon Fruits & Vegetables Pvt Ltd, to Cineyug, which is 49% owned by Kusegaon, and finally to Kalaignar TV.

A senior revenue official, who did not wish to be named, said, "When the raids were on, the minister called up a senior I-T officer and requested him not to proceed with the probe. The officer was under pressure." The minister tried to convince the officer by saying they were from the same state and that he should therefore help out.
...
...

[Pranav]

Regarding the intemprate remarks by Rajasthan minister Khan on the President Patil, CM Gehlot is asking for the resingnation.

I don't understand why he is not being dismissed for insulting the President of India.

He was not insulting her. He was telling fellow CON party men to follow her footsteps and clean the dishes and bath rooms of the the great die-nasty so that they will be made President or CEC in 20/30 years. Be loyal like dogs to the dynasty is his message. See! What happened to Pratibha after cleaning Indira's dishes and cooking for her like a maid. She is the President now!

IMHO one factor that went in Patil's favour are the numerous skeletons in her family closet. Besides personal loyalty, it's always useful to have a handle to enforce disciplined behavior.

[Muppalla]

So by raking up Lavasa and DB Realty, Pawar is being targeted. In the past,all these attacks on each other would reek of election year strategies.

TRAI recommends over six-fold cost for 2G spectrum

Here is one more for you News from last July
Bandra's biggest redevelopment deal goes to DB Realty

Formed just a few years ago by Vinod Goenka of the Conwood Group and Shahid Balwa of the Balwas Group, DB on Tuesday received a Letter of Intent from the state government to develop Sector J of the colony which is spread over 57 acres.

[Sanku]

Sanku, If I were you I would edit that

I edited that, but to put it on the record only because you asked to, personally I did not think it was about a attack on integrity.

A question on some mechanics of discussing Pres position here.
http://forums.bharat-rakshak.com/viewto ... 1#p1027471