INDIA COUNTRY BRIEF
110719
Basic Political Developments
· Congress leaders from Telangana have said they will visit Delhi either on Thursday or Friday to meet with senior party leader Ghulam Nabi Azad on the contentious issue of a separate state for their homeland.
· YSR Congress chief YS Jaganmohan Reddy charged the Congress and Telugu Desam Party leaders with being vindictive towards him.
· Congress lawmakers from non-Telangana regions on Tuesday met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh demanding that the government should not bifurcate Andhra Pradesh, but were counselled patience by him.
· Delhi Police has approached the Home Ministry seeking permission to question MP Amar Singh in the 2008 cash-for-vote scam.
· West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today lashed out at the CPI-M and regional parties based in north Bengal for opposing the treaty.
· A Delhi court on Tuesday decided to commence from Thursday arguments on framing of charges in the high-profile 2G case.
National Economic Trends
Business, Energy or Environmental regulations or discussions
· Infrastructure Leasing & Financial Services (IL&FS) is likely to pick up a 10% stake in Bengal Aerotropolis Project Ltd (BAPL).
· Work remained stalled for the fourth consecutive day today with villagers stepping up protests at the Posco steel project site in Orissa's Jagatsinghpur district.
· Coal India Ltd. has again sought bids from local and overseas companies to explore its two coal blocks in Mozambique, the world's largest coal producer said. The state-run company has also separately sought bids to prepare an environment management report of the two blocks, prior to the start of exploration.
· Telenor hopes to reach a consensus on a Rs 6,500 rights issue with its Indian partner in joint venture Unitech Wireless, which offers telecom services under the brand name Uninor, within a month.
· Department of Telecommunications has asked them to enhance their existing capacity and provide call interception facilities of at least 480 lines at any given time to security agencies.
Activity in the Oil and Gas sector (including regulatory)
· Oil and Natural Gas Corp (ONGC) has withheld consent for internal restructuring of Cairn India Ltd for the past one year.
Militant Activity/Terrorism (Particularly in Bangalore, Mumbai, Noida, Chennai, Coimbatore)
· Maharashtra ATS, probing the 13/7 serial blasts, believes that at least six newly recruited terrorists could have been involved in placing the explosives at three sites and also suspect that they might have links with Gujarat and West Bengal. "During our meetings with the various security agencies including NIA, there was an unanimous opinion that there could be at least six accused who must have been involved in the operation of placing the explosives at the (three) sites," said an ATS official.
· A suspected ULFA linkman today hurled a grenade at an Assam Rifles vehicle at Bailungaon Alimur in upper Assam's Sivsagar district.
· Suspected United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) insurgents lobbed a grenade at Assam Rifles personnel escorting a school bus in upper Assam's Sibsagar district Tuesday morning.
Labor/Social Unrest
· The tripartite agreement on Gorkhaland council has triggered tension between the Hills and the plains.
Full Text
Basic Political Developments
Telangana Congress leaders to head to Delhi
Press Trust of India, Updated: July 19, 2011 18:33 IST
http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/telangana-congress-leaders-to-head-to-delhi-120538&cp
Hyderabad: Congress leaders from Telangana have said they will visit Delhi either on Thursday or Friday to meet with senior party leader Ghulam Nabi Azad on the contentious issue of a separate state for their homeland.
"We hope he (Azad) would clarify his remarks," said MP Gutta Sukhender Reddy.
Mr Azad who is in charge of Andhra Pradesh for his party had said discussions on carving out a separate Telangana state should begin from scratch. Those remarks upset Telangana leaders. Then yesterday, in an attempt at pacification, Mr Azad said that consultations will be held with party leaders from coastal Andhra, Rayalaseema and Telangana.
He told a delegation of non-Telangana Congress leaders to select a few representatives from the coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema regions for the negotiation process.
The Telangana Congress leaders have called upon party cadres to observe 'satyagraha' tomorrow
Congress, TDP vindictive towards me: Jagan
http://ibnlive.in.com/news/congress-tdp-vindictive-towards-me-jagan/168573-60-114.html
KURNOOL: YSR Congress chief YS Jaganmohan Reddy charged the Congress and Telugu Desam Party leaders with being vindictive towards him.
He was addressing people during his ‘Odarpu Yatra’ in Kurnool on Monday. The YSR Congress leader began his yatra this morning.
He briefed people about the reasons behind taking up the yatra and how senior political leaders were harassing him.
He also spoke on the political situation in the state after his father and former chief minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy’s sudden demise.
Reminding he promised people he would console families of those who died of shock following his father’s death, Jagan said he was fulfilling his word.
He alleged that senior leaders in the Congress had pushed him out from the party.
“With an aim to realise the dreams of my father and do good to the people, I launched YSR Congress and after that, harassment by Congress leaders increased,” he said.
He said it was unfair on part of his seniors, who were double his age, to resort to such pressure tactics.
Non-Telangana Cong leaders meet PM; push for united Andhra
http://www.rediff.com/news/report/non-telangana-leaders-meet-pm-push-for-united-ap/20110719.htm
Stepping up pressure on the Centre, Congress lawmakers from non-Telangana regions on Tuesday met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh demanding that the government should not bifurcate Andhra Pradesh, but were counselled patience by him.
As part of their campaign to counter the pro-Telangana protagonists within the party, the ministers, MPs, MLAs and senior leaders from the coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema regions are camping in Delhi to persuade the Centre and Congress high command from taking any step that would hurt the unity of the people.
The large delegation led by Higher Education Minister K Sailajanath and senior MP K S Rao met Singh at his 7, Race Course Road residence for over 30 minutes and apprised him of the situation in the state.
The lawmakers said they categorically told the PM that Andhra Pradesh should be kept united and no move should be made to divide the state.
The leaders said they "clearly explained" their position to him. Briefing reporters about the meeting, Sailajanath said the Prime Minister gave a patient hearing to them on all the issues raised and promised to "convey our sentiments" to All India Congress Committee general secretary Ghulam Nabi Azad, who is the party in-charge of Andhra Pradesh.
"The Prime Minister asked us to be patient. As disciplined Congress workers, he said everyone should wait (for a decision to be taken). He told us that he will convey our sentiments to Azad," Sailajanath said.
The delegation, comprising more than 15 state ministers, also told the PM that Andhra Pradesh should be kept united keeping in mind the "larger interest of the state."
The coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema leaders want the Centre to go by the sixth option recommended by the Justice B N Srikrishna Committee, which went into the statehood issue. The sixth option states that Andhra Pradesh should be kept united with Constitutional/Statutory powers to Telangana and formation of a regional council to ensure development in that region too.
The delegation will also meet senior ministers Pranab Mukherjee, A K Antony and P Chidambaram during the day to press their demand.
The delegation's meetings come on the heels of Congress leaders from Telangana region ignoring an invitation from Azad to come to New Delhi for talks.
The leaders are upset with Azad's remarks in Beijing that the issue "cannot move an inch forward" unless the Andhra Pradesh assembly passes a resolution favouring creation of Telangana.
Police seeks Home Ministry’s permission to question Amar Singh
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article2256476.ece?homepage=true
Delhi Police has approached the Home Ministry seeking permission to question MP Amar Singh in the 2008 cash-for-vote scam.
In a related development, MP Ashok Argal and former MP Mahavir Bhagora, who were allegedly offered money at the time of the trust vote, claimed that accused Sanjeev Saxena had told them that the money was given by the former SP leader.
Saxena, once considered close to Mr. Singh, was arrested on Sunday by Delhi Police’s Crime Branch in connection with the case.
Seeking to expand its probe, Delhi Police has written a letter to the Home Ministry in which is it is understood to have asked it to approach Rajya Sabha Chairman and Lok Sabha Chairman to question Mr. Singh and Mr. Argal.
“We have sent a letter to the Home Ministry,” a senior police official said.
Under the law, permission is required from the Rajya Sabha Chairman or Lok Sabha Speaker if parliamentarians are to be questioned.
Mr. Argal said, “Saxena is related to Amar Singh. Records are there (to prove it). Saxena said he brought the money from Amar Singh’s place.”
Mr. Bhagora also echoed Mr. Argal and alleged Saxena told him that he was coming from Mr. Singh’s residence and the money was sent by him.
Mr. Argal said, “No one is above law. I will give full cooperation to the investigation”.
Mamata criticises CPI-M, regional parties for opposing treaty
http://ibnlive.in.com/generalnewsfeed/news/mamata-criticises-cpim-regional-parties-for-opposing-treaty/758791.html
Siliguri (WB) Jul 19 (PTI) A day after the historic Darjeeling treaty was signed, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today lashed out at the CPI-M and regional parties based in north Bengal for opposing the treaty. "We want to rebuild Bengal. We are for friendly bond between the hills and the plains. When we are at work to achieve this... these parties are up in arms against us and trying to misguide people," she said at a function here. The Chief Minister said the landmark Darjeeling agreement would go a long way in establishing a link between the hills and the plains of north Bengal. Banerjee and Railway Minister Dinesh Trivedi today flagged off a number of state and railway projects aimed at all-round development of north Bengal among whom there is a mini-secretariat for the region. "This is in accordance with my pledge for a government of Ma, Mati, Manush which is installed in West Bengal," Banerjee said. Coming down heavily on the CPI-M for "misguiding and confusing" people on the Darjeeling agreement, the Chief Minister said, "It is amazing that this party, which neglected the hills for 34 years, has been raising a hue and cry over the treaty and also at a time when we are ushering in development in the hills". Asking the CPI(M) "not to play with fire and not to try to create a division between the plains and the hills," the Chief Minister said, "I am a soft person. But I will not tolerate any move to stall development work. I will not apply force against these parties. I will deal with them by going in for development." Banerjee also slammed regional outfits Kamtapur People's Party, Amra Bangalee, Greater Coochbehar and others for opposing the Darjeeling agreement.
2G case: Court to start hearing on framing of charges on Thursday
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article2257569.ece?homepage=true
A Delhi court on Tuesday decided to commence from Thursday arguments on framing of charges in the high-profile 2G case in which former telecom minister A Raja, DMK MP Kanimozhi and several corporate honchos have been charge-sheeted by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
“Arguments on charges shall commence with effect from July 21,” Special CBI Judge O. P. Saini said after the agency and the defence counsel submitted that the supply of documents, annexed with the two charge sheets in the case, has been completed.
The CBI had, in its first chargesheet, accused Raja, and eight other persons as well as three companies of causing a loss of Rs. 30,984 crore to the exchequer.
The companies named in the chargesheet filed in the Delhi court include Reliance Communications, Unitech Wireless and Swan Telecom.
Charges of cheating, forgery, criminal conspiracy and corruption have been levelled against Raja, his private secretary R. K. Chandolia, former telecom secretary Siddharth Behura and Swan Telecom promoter Shahid Usman Balwa.
Others named in the chargesheet include Vinod Goenka, a director of Mumbai-based DB Realty which was also the promoter of Etisalat DB, Sanjay Chandra, managing director of Gurgaon-based real estate company Unitech and Unitech Wireless (Tamil Nadu) Pvt Ltd, and Gautam Doshi, Hari Nair and Surendra Pipara, the group managing director and senior vice presidents of Mumbai-based Reliance Telecom Company respectively.
National Economic Trends
Business, Energy or Environmental regulations or discussions
IL&FS to pick 10% stake in Bengal Aerotropolis
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/services/property-/-cstruction/ilfs-to-pick-10-stake-in-bengal-aerotropolis/articleshow/9278192.cms
KOLKATA: Infrastructure Leasing & Financial Services (IL&FS) is likely to pick up a 10% stake in Bengal Aerotropolis Project Ltd (BAPL) which is setting up 10,000-crore airport city in West Bengal. BAPL is in the process of expanding its present equity base of 170.8 crore by another 75-100 crore.
At present, Singapore's Changi Airport International (CAI) holds a 26% stake in BAPL. West Bengal Industrial Development Corporation (WBIDC) enjoys a 1.48% stake and the rest 72.52% is held by Indian promoters namely Pragati Social Infrastructure Development, Pragati 47 Development, Citystar Infrastructures Ltd and Lend Lease Company (India) Limited.
The company will be issuing fresh equity shares shortly to expand the equity base. Post-expansion, the shareholding matrix of the company will change and the holding of the present promoters will come down.
Sources said, "The board of Changi Airport International has taken the resolution not to bring down its stake in BAPL below 26%."
" Therefore, CAI will infuse extra equity to maintain 26% stake in BAPL," the aforementioned source added.
The shareholding of Indian promoters will come down to 60-61% from the present level of 72.52%. "This 10-12% stake is likely to be picked up by IL&FS. Negotiations are currently on with IL&FS," BAPL sources added.
A senior official of WBIDC confirmed the development. In fact, the official added that the state commerce and industry minister Partha Chatterjee has already given a green signal to BAPL's equity expansion exercise. "IL&FS through its various group and associate companies will be able to add substantial value to the project in terms of financing as well as in bringing in strategic partners for the infrastructure development of the various elements of the project, other than the airport. Infusing fresh equity by CAI will bring in additional foreign direct investment (FDI) in our state. BAPL has informed us that the equity infusion will happen shortly," the WBIDC official added.