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UPA:
The 100 days
CMP: After the posturing - the explaining…
Chidambaram to visit Mumbai
New Delhi: Chidambaram said that he would be visiting
Mumbai to meet SEBI, FIIs and representatives of industry
and carry the commitments on the capital market, made
under CMP, to them and answer any lingering doubts. On
the proposal to review the Electricity Act, 2003, Mr Chidambaram
said that unbundling of State Electricity Boards (SEBs)
would be put on hold till the review takes place. He said
that more private players would be allowed into power
generation and distribution.
The Finance Minister did not give provide any clarification
on whether the mention of devising of 'special schemes
to unearth black money'' mentioned in the CMP implied
that there would be a new tax amnesty scheme like the
Voluntary Disclosure of Income Scheme (VDIS). He said
that the UPA Government would try to ensure an interest
rate structure that would take care of ''both savers and
investors.''
Walking
down musty corridors…
Prof. Natwar Singh holds forth
New
Delhi: External Affairs Minister K Natwar Singh interacted
with the Heads of Missions of the SAARC and ASEAN countries
and assured them that the new government will give the
highest priority to building closer ties with them. According
to MEA sources, Singh gave a historical overview of India's
foreign policy and the philosophical underpinnings that
acted as the impulse in evolving it. He also highlighted
the foreign policy aspects in the Common Minimum Programme
of the United Progressive Alliance government. 17 envoys,
including those from Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri
Lanka and Bhutan, attended the meeting. Iran's Ambassador
Siyavash Zargar Yaghoubi and Afghan Ambassador Masood
Khalili were also invited.
Garja Maharashtra…
Pawar Saheb is comfortable…
New Delhi: At his first official media interaction, the
Union Food and Agriculture Minister, Sharad Pawar, ruled
out the possibility of export of food grains from the
Food Corporation of India's (FCI) stocks or for the need
to import sugar. Interestingly Pawar conducted the press
meeting without any aides from the ministry at his side.
Pawar said the country's stock position was comfortable
and it would meet the country's requirements. He also
said that he would not like to take any decision on exports,
till a clear picture regarding the progress of the monsoon
emerged.
In the case of sugar, the minister noted that the stocks
position was, as of now, comfortable, despite the output
in the current (2003-04) season (October-September) falling
due to severe drought in States like Maharashtra and Karnataka.
Pawar said he would convene meetings with the Reserve
Bank of India (RBI) and National Bank for Agriculture
and Rural Development ( NABARD) soon to restructure
bank loans to sugar mills and cane growers. Pawar said
he was happy to be holding charge of both the Agriculture
and Food portfolios, "as this is the first time since
Bharat Ratna, C Subramaniam, that someone has been entrusted
with the two ministries".
Doing
away with the prohibitory framework…
Kamal Nath puts his best foot forward
New Delhi: At a meeting organised by the Confederation
of Indian Industry (CII) the Minister of Commerce and
Industry, Kamal Nath, promised to constitute joint working
groups between the Government and the industry.
Kamal Nath said that in the forthcoming Exim Policy, the
primary aim would be to liberalise the regulatory framework
as much as possible and "do away with what has become
a prohibitory framework". Representatives from the
financial services, telecom, health care, IT, ITeS, clinical
R&D, construction, aviation, education and hotel and
tourism attended the interaction.
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Dharam
Singh is new Karnataka CM
New Delhi: Congress Legislative Party leader Dharam
Singh will be the new Chief Minister of Karnataka, while
JD (S) leader Siddaramiah will take charge as the state's
Deputy Chief Minister.
Dharam Singh has served as the state's Home Minister,
Urban Development minister and also was PWD minister in
the S M Krishna cabinet.
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