Month: February 2015

Irked by the government’s 10 per cent stake sale in Coal India Ltd (CIL), trade unions have warned of a ‘non-cooperation drive’ to protest against the disinvestment and other issues.

A decision in this regard would be taken by the central trade unions of coal industry during a meeting expected to be called in a couple of days, a senior union leader said.

“We may launch a non-cooperation drive later to protest against CIL disinvestment,” INTUC-affiliate Indian National Mine Workers’ Federation (INMF) Secretary General S Q Zama told PTI. He, however, did not divulge further details.

Getting tough with investment proposals from tax heavens, FIPB has deferred 23 applications in its last three meetings apprehending “treaty abuse”.

According to sources, the Department of Revenue has expressed doubt that a few foreign companies were evading tax by routing their investments through tax heaven countries with whom India has signed Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA).

The Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB), they said, is keen that guidelines should be prepared to deal with such investment proposals.

Though Maharashtra government has given ‘no objection certificate’ for field trials of some genetically modified (GM) crops, the Centre will take a final call on whether to allow such crops in the market or not, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has said.

Anil Kakodkar, who headed a state-level committee which recommended field trials of GM crops, has also said that clearance has been given for “confined field trials,” and it is the prerogative of the central government to approve or disapprove the use of GM crops, based on trial results.

A government-appointed committee has recommended constitution of a SIT for re-investigation of the 1984 anti-Sikh riot cases.

The committee headed by former Supreme Court Judge Justice (retd) G P Mathur has submitted its report to Home Minister Rajnath Singh last week and recommended fresh probe of the anti-Sikh riot cases through a Special Investigation Team, official sources said.

An order to this effect is likely after the February 7 Delhi Assembly polls as the Model Code of Conduct is in place in the national capital now, the sources said.

On her maiden visit to China, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj today proposed a six point “template” to broad base Sino-India engagement with an action oriented approach to usher in Asian century.

Addressing an India-China Media forum at the start of her visit here, Swaraj proposed the two countries should follow action oriented approach, broad base bilateral engagement, convergence of common, regional and global interests, develop new areas of cooperation, expand strategic communication, fullfill common aspirations to usher “Asian century”.

An avalanche warning in the higher reaches of Jammu and Kashmir and Uttarakhand was issued on Sunday.

While travellers have been advised about the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, those people living under the line of avalanche in the state were advised to temporarily evacuate their properties.

Reports also warn of avalanche activity in the higher reaches of the hills of Uttarkashi, Chamoli, Pithoragarh, Tehri, Pauri and Rudraprayag districts of Uttarakhand for the next two days.

The state’s high altitude districts were also issued an avalanche warning earlier this month. (ANI)

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, who is on a three-day visit to China, on Sunday suggested a six-point template for India and China to build their relations upon and to realise the dream of an ‘Asian Century’.

Sushma suggested an ‘action- oriented approach, broad-base bilateral engagement, convergence on common regional and global interests, develop new areas of cooperation, expand strategic communication and fulfill common aspirations’.