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2G scam: SC scraps 122 licences granted under Raja's tenure, trial court to decide on ...

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 07:42:55 +0100

NEW DELHI: In a major development having implications for the corporate sector, theSupreme Court on Thursday cancelled the 122 2G spectrum licences granted by former telecom minister A Raja on the ground that they were issued in a "totally arbitrary and unconstitutional" manner.

Imposing a fine of Rs five crore each on three telecom companies, which offloaded their shares after getting the licenses, the court directed regulator Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) to make fresh recommendations on allocation of 2G licences.

Asking the government to take steps on the recommendations of TRAI within a month, a bench comprising justices G S Singhvi and A K Ganguly said the allocation of spectrum will be done through the policy of auction within four months.

The order came on petitions filed by NGO CPIL and Janata Party president Subramanian Swamy alleging scam in the allocation of spectrum licences by Raja in January, 2008 during the tenure of UPA-I government, on which the CAG had assumed the presumptive loss of upto Rs 1.76 lakhs.

The 122 licences were given by Raja for over Rs 9,000 crore, while 3G auctions for a smaller number of licences had fetched the government a sum of Rs 69,000 crores.

The companies that are set to lose on account of the cancellation of the licences are Uninor (joint venture between Unitech and Telenor of Norway), Loop Telecom, Sistema Shyam (joint venture between Shyam and Sistema of Russia), Etisalat DB (joint venture between Swan and Etisalat ofUAE), S Tel, Videocon, Tatas and Idea.

Among the 122 licences issued by Raja in January 2008 on first-come first-serve basis, Uninor was alloted 22 pan India licences, Loop 21, Sistema-Shyam 21, Etisalat-DB 15, S Tel 6, Videocon 21, Idea 9 and Tatas 3.

Reacting to the Supreme Court judgement Uninor, which has launched services in most of the circles, expressed shock and said that the company has been treated unfairly.

"We have been unfairly treated as we simply followed the government process we were asked to. We are shocked to see that Uninor is being penalised for faults the court has found in the government process," the company statement said.

Noting that the order has not stopped the company operations for now Uninor said "we expect the authorities to ensure that our 36 million customers, 17,500 workforce and 22,000 partners are not unjustly affected."

Other new operators said that they would examine the order before commenting on the future course of action.

Trial court to decide on Chidambaram's role in 2G

The Supreme Court on Thursday said the trial court will decide on Janata Party chief Subramanian Swamy's plea to make home minister Chidambaram a co-accused in the 2G spectrum allotment case, IANS reported. The apex court said that the trial court should decide the matter within two weeks. Special CBI Judge O P Saini, who is hearing a separate petition of Swamy to prosecute Chidambaram, has already reserved his order for February 4.

(Read: SC refuses to ask CBI to probe role of Chidambaram in 2G case)

(Read: BJP asks PM to sack Chidambaram)

SC asks CBI to submit status reports on 2G probe to CVC

The Supreme Court on Thursday asked the CBI to file status reports on its ongoing probe into the 2G spectrum allocation case to the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC).

The court's decision came on a plea for setting up a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to look into the 2G case, the bench asked CBI to submit status reports on further investigation into the matter to the CVC which will assist the court.

The bench asked CBI to submit status reports on further investigation into the case to the CVC which will assist the court.

Hailing the order, Swamy said the court's direction is a "de facto SIT".

We can be proud of Supreme Court: Swamy after 2G order

Janta Party leader Subramanian Swamy on Thursday welcomed the Supreme Court order cancelling 122 licences granted to telecom companies during the tenure of former communications minister A Raja.

The country was proud of its Supreme Court, Swamy -- who had filed the original petition before the apex court -- told reporters after the landmark order.

"This is the best judgment which could come... the country can be justifiably proud of the Supreme Court," Swamy, who had filed a petition in the Supreme Court, said.

Licences to remain in place for 4 months

Licences held by five companies including the local joint ventures of Norway's Telenor and Abu Dhabi's Etisalat were cancelled in the verdict, calling into question the stability of business contracts and regulation in India, Reuters reported.

The Supreme Court ruling said the current licences will remain in place for four months, in which time the government should decide fresh norms for issuing licences, a lawyer involved in the case said.

(Read: We have been unfairly treated, says Uninor)

India's image as an investment destination was dented over the past year as the economy slowed, government reforms stalled and the telecoms scandals along with other high profile graft cases heightened concerns about government policies.

Stocks in telecoms companies including Reliance Communications and Unitech fell after the verdict, but shares in Bharti Airtel jumped.

Telenor has about 36 million subscribers in India and Etisalat has fewer, making them small players in a market dominated by Bharti Airtel, Vodafone and Reliance Communications.

The telecoms scandal is the biggest of several that have emerged during Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's second term and has weakened him. Two ministers, including former telecom minister Andimuthu Raja, who presided over the 2008 grant process, have resigned. Raja is in jail pending trial.

source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com

2G scam: SC scraps 122 licences granted under Raja's tenure, trial court to decide on ...

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 07:42:23 +0100

source: Time Of India

Anna Hazare has high fever, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar asks him to end fast IANS | Dec 27, 2011, 10. ...

Wed, 28 Dec 2011 05:01:34 +0100

MUMBAI: Anna Hazare refused on Tuesday night to end his three-day fast in support of a strong Lokpal despite falling sick and running 102 degrees temperature, his doctor and aides said.

His doctor DG Pote announced from the stage at the MMRDA ground that Hazare, 74, was very weak, his blood pressure had shot up by 30 points to 170/96, and his pulse rate was poor.

"This is the unfortunate reality," the doctor said. "When he fasts, he is always on the stage. This is the first time he is resting in the back."

The doctor said although the fast began only on Tuesday, his failure to eat adequate food the past few days because of cold had added to the problem.

Hazare confidant Arvind Kejriwal said he and his colleagues had been doing their best to persuade Anna to give up the fast.

"He is not agreeing. He refuses to break his fast. No one can have medicines on empty stomach," he said, speaking after the doctor gave his assessment.

PTI adds from New Delhi

Concerned over Anna Hazare's health, Art of Living founder Sri Sri Ravi Shankar today appealed to the social activist to end his fast and continue his agitation.

"I appeal to Annaji to end his fast and continue the agitation," Ravi Shankar wrote on microblogging site Twitter.

His appeal came as concerns were raised about Hazare's health.

Hazare, who is suffering from viral infection, began his three-day fast in Mumbai though his close aides appealed to him to stop his fast and continue with his dharna.
source:TOI

Will live and die for India, says Anna Hazare TNN | Dec 27, 2011, 03.42PM IST

Wed, 28 Dec 2011 05:00:12 +0100

NEW DELHIl Anna Hazare on Tuesday addressed the huge crowd that had gathered at the MMRDA ground Mumbai. Accusing the government of betraying the people, the anti-corruption crusader said, "I will live and die for India."

"Dil diya hai, he vatan, tere liye jaan bhi de denge," said Anna to the ecstatic crowds. The 74-year-old spoke of the lengths he had gone to for the sake of the country. He said he had shunned his family, didn't even know the names of his nephews and nieces; and did not marry, for the cause of the nation.

Battling a viral infection, Anna said he' was not afraid to die and would keep on fighting. He said his friends and Team Anna members Arvind Kejriwal and 'behen' Kiran Bedi had asked him to stop his fast, but he would not listen to them. Anna added, he had not eaten for three days.

Referring to his fast some months ago in New Delhi, he said the Ramlila Ground fast that continued for 12 days was because of the people's support.

Slamming the government, Anna Hazare said its betrayal over the Lokpal Bill is not a betrayal of Team Anna, but of the people. "And one day, the people will rise, and punish the government, he said, with furrowed brows.

"Bigger than the Parliament at Delhi is the Parliament of the people," said the Gandhian. "But bigger than both is the Parliament of the village. Voters of poll-bound states must punish the government for betraying the Lokpal bill," he added.

Anna said that doctors were concerned about his temperature, but he would continue his fast.

Meanwhile, the crowds enthusiastically cheered Anna's do-or-die rhetoric.

source:TOI

ANNA FASTING STARTS

Tue, 27 Dec 2011 04:57:00 +0100

ANNA FASTING STARTS

R u ready to support

Mon, 26 Dec 2011 06:03:50 +0100

Anna Hazare to stage dharna outside homes of Sonia, Rahul PTI | Dec 25, 2011, 10.13PM IST

Mon, 26 Dec 2011 05:16:52 +0100

RALEGAN SIDDHI: Anna Hazare on Sunday said he would stage dharna outside residences ofSonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi in Delhi after his three-day fast in Mumbai and asked his supporters to refrain from violence during the stir.

"Some people are waiting for violence during the agitation. If there is violence, the agitation will be maligned," Hazare said addressing a "gramsabha" here tonight.

The anti-graft crusader said he would reach Mumbai tomorrow for his three-day fast beginning on December 27 at the MMRDAground.

"After the fast, I will go to Delhi and stage a dharna outside the house of Sonia and Rahul. After Mumbai, we will hold a fast in Delhi. Our agitation has been going on for over a year but to no avail. We will need to speak in the language they (government) understand," Hazare said.

"During the agitation in Delhi, we have prepared ourselves to receive lathi blows if the government resorts to canecharge," he said.

The MMRDA ground rent is around Rs 2 lakh per day and the organisers of the fast have paid the rent with donations from the people, he said.

"The duration of the fast at Mumbai has been kept only for three days due to insistence from people not to undertake a long fast," Hazare said, adding he was fully fit to do it.
source: TOI

Lokpal agitation: In 2 days, 68000 sign up to go to jail TNN | Dec 25, 2011, 03.03AM IST

Mon, 26 Dec 2011 05:16:07 +0100

NEW DELHI: Anna wants to know if you're willing to go to prison. And 68,000 people and counting have volunteered in the last two days. As the countdown to Team Anna's third fast this year draws close, his team has unleashed a campaign spanning new technology and social media getting people to register, join the protest in Mumbai or just spread the word.

While activist Anna Hazare, Arvind Kejriwal andKiran Bedi will be present in Mumbai, Prashant Bhushan is expected to hold fort in Delhi. This time few members of the core team will sit on fast with Anna.

Consider this: over 60,776 people across the country have already registered on the website jailchalo.com to be part of the jail bharo andolan. About 7,000 people have responded on the toll free helpline and registered themselves through smses and IVR and over 19,000 faxes have been sent to parliamentarians in support of the Jan Lokpal bill.

The jail bharo campaign was started by the Mumbai chapter of the India Against Corruption movement and had registered about 37,000 people till Friday night. "The number has more than doubled. The response has been overwhelming," a Team Anna member said on Saturday.

The campaign is being cross promoted on IAC's social media pages. In fact one of the pages even has legal advice on what being arrested in an agitation of this kind mean and whether being detained can affect a person's job prospects or visa application.

The fax campaign was kickstarted by global organization avaaz.org that has been associated with the Anna campaign. Over 19,000 faxes have been sent to about 40 senior political leaders between Thursday and Friday including Congress president Sonia Gandhi, PM Manmohan Singh, Rahul Gandhi, cabinet ministers and senior leaders from all major political parties.

The text of the fax says, "Without the independence to investigate and prosecute those who are suspected of corruption, Jan Lokpal stands to become a toothless bill. The CBI must stay within the purview of the Lokpal so as not to weaken the Lokpal Committee's ability to tackle corruption in any substantive way."

Sent to 8 lakh registered users the fax said, "We are so close to passing the most powerful anti-corruption bill that India's ever seen - and delivering anything less will be a betrayal of your promises to millions of Indians." The group also plans to send another set of letters to all MPs with a sharp critique of the government's Lokpal draft just before the special session in Parliament.

A core committee member said this would be supplemented by street plays, dharnas, candle-light marches and rallies across the country.

source:TOI

Ready for fight on Lokpal Bill: Sonia Gandhi PTI | Dec 21, 2011, 10.57AM IST

Thu, 22 Dec 2011 02:38:48 +0100

NEW DELHI: Asserting that she will fight for the passage of the Lokpal Bill in Parliament, a combative Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Wednesday sought to hit out at the Opposition for "obstructionist" tactics and Team Anna for "deliberate and malicious" criticism of the government.

"We are being criticized and attacked for not tackling the scourge of corruption. This is deliberate and malicious misinformation," Gandhi told the Congress Parliamentary Party(CPP) meeting without referring to Team Anna or Anna Hazare, who has threatened to go on a fast from December 27 over the Lokpal issue.

"I will fight for Lokpal and women's reservation issue", she told reporters close on the heels of telling the Parliamentary Party, "I cannot see any reason for us to be defeatist".

She said that to tackle the issue of corruption, three bills with major implications are to be passed soon --those relating to the protection of whistle blowers, enhancing judicial accountability, strengthening anti-money laundering operations and controlling bribery of Indian public officials by foreign companies.
source: TOI

Chidambaram would be in jail if CBI comes under Lokpal: Anna Hazare PTI | Dec 21, 2011, 12.57PM IST

Thu, 22 Dec 2011 02:39:15 +0100

RALEGAN SIDDHI: Attacking the government for keeping CBI out of Lokpal, Anna Hazare on Wednesday accused it of "cheating" the people by bringing a weak Bill to "save" corrupt politicians.

A day after the Union cabinet approved theLokpal Bill leaving CBI out of its purview, Hazare said the ombudsman would not be strong and effective if the premier investigation agency was not kept under it.

"If the CBI is outside then how will the Lokpal be strong. This system will save corrupt politicians. If CBI comes under Lokpal then PChidambaram would be in jail. You are saving corrupt politicians and say it is a strong Lokpal," he said.

Rejecting the Bill, Hazare also took strong exception to government bringing a separate Citizens' Charter Bill, saying a common man will have to run from pillar to post to get his grievances redressed under the proposed system.

"It is cheating people who will teach them a lesson," Hazare said.

"How can the Lokpal be effective when Citizens Charter is out of its purview. A person will have to go through various levels for redressal of his grievances. What to do? Its like fooling people," he said.

The activist said he will visit all five poll-bound states and let people know about the misdeeds of the government. "Ahead of general election, we will visit the whole country and tell people about the government," he said.

The 74-year-old activist has already announced that he will go ahead with his planned fast from December 27 for three days followed by a 'jail bharo' agitation.
source: TOI