(1 Dec) Kathmandu, Dec.1 (ANI): The Nepal Parliament were adjourned on Tuesday for five days after Madhesi lawmakers repeatedly obstructed proceedings over disagreement with the Revised Bill of the new Constitution. The agitating Madhes-based parties continuously demanded that the government of Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli address their issues at the earliest. The lawmakers of the Madhesi-based parties trooped into the well of the House and surrounded Speaker Onsari Gharti’s rostrum and chanted protest slogans. The repeated obstructionist behaviour of the Madhesi lawmakers forced Speaker Gharti to adjourn the meeting till 1 p.m. on December 6. Earlier, the meeting of Parliament was adjourned till Tuesday following obstruction by the Nepali Congress, reports the Himalayan Times. NC lawmakers had on Monday objected to Speaker Onsari Gharti after she provided Federal Socialist Forum-Nepal (FSF-N) Chairman Upendra Yadav with time to speak in the House. They had demanded that their party should be given first chance to speak as per the set parliamentary practice.

(30 Nov) Mumbai: Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Monday launched the first phase of the Mumbai surveillance project under which 1200 cameras have been installed at 434 locations across South Mumbai. The project, which is being implemented by Larsen and Toubro (L&T), was flagged by the former Congress-led UPA government in Maharashtra following the 26/11 Mumbai terrorist attack, which claimed 166 lives. Fadnavis had earlier said that his government had made significant progress in the project, which has been pending for the last seven years. He also said that the project would be completed in 2016. The entire project involves the installation of 6,000 CCTV cameras in Mumbai at a cost of Rs 949 crores.

Lok Sabha adjourned for an hour following a CPI(M) member’s allegation against Home Minister Rajnath Singh. CPI(M) Politician Mohammed Salim alleged Rajnath for making a statement saying that India got its first “Hindu ruler” after 800 years. Rajnath was quick to deny the allegations and said that he was deeply hurt by Salim’s remark. Mohammed Salim replied saying that he was quoting from a magazine interview and that if he (Rajnath) didn’t make the statement then he should sue the publication

Normally pro-Modi, Baba Ramdev has made a shocking attack on Modi government, saying black money has increased under the BJP dispensation.

He was speaking in ABP News programme Press Conference, which will be telecast at 8 pm today. He said black money is of two types-one that emanates from scams and others by tax evasion.

He didn’t tell when PM Modi’s promise of giving Rs 15 lakh to every citizen would be fulfilled, but he said he had full faith on the government.

The Centre announced that only 638 taxpayers had declared

undisclosed foreign assets worth Rs 3,770 crore -demolishing the tall claims of the government on bringing back all the black money supposedly stashed abroad.

The finance ministry said in a statement that the figures were subject to final reconciliation. The compliance window for making the declarations had been open for three months between July 1 and midnight of September 30.

The taxpayers who have disclosed foreign assets will have to pay a 30 per cent tax and a 30 per cent penalty on the declared amount.

The government is likely to receive Rs 2,262 crore by December 31.

The payout is just over Rs 18 per Indian – a far cry from the Rs 15 lakh that was seared into the collective psyche during the heat and dust of last year’s general election.

Top Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Manmohan Singh today met Prime Minister Narendra Modi at his Race Course Road residence. On the second day of the Winter Session of Parliament came the thaw. The ice between the ruling coalition and the main Opposition, the Congress, broke after a long time when Prime Minister Narendra Modi invited Congress president Sonia Gandhi and former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to the Prime Minister’s residence to discuss the Goods and Services Tax. Even before the meeting, the Prime Minister struck a reconciliatory note in his speech in Lok Sabha by calling for consensus on issues of national interest.

The government, often accused of being unilateral in decisions because it enjoys majority in the Lower House, has put the GST legislation on fast track. It is clear that the government wants to get done with this GST business as soon as possible and hopes to implement it by the next financial year. Based on the experience of countries where GST isalready in action, the government knows the implementation of GST generally will lead to an initial backlash as things are bound to get slightly expensive with the new levy. The sooner the better. The government doesn’t want it to hang fire and singe it in a big election year. The meeting between the leading lights of the government and the opposition saw the two parties discussing other issues as well. In the major reach-out to the main Opposition, the Prime Minister invited Gandhi and Singh over tea at his Race Course Road residence around 7 PM.

“Former PM Dr. Manmohan Singh & Congress President Smt. Sonia Gandhi meet PM. Top ministers are present at the meet,” the PMO said in a tweet. &; PIB India (@PIB_India) November 27, 2015 Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and Parliamentary Affairs Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu were also present at the meeting. “Former PM Dr. Manmohan Singh & Congress President Smt.Sonia Gandhi meet PM. Top ministers are present at the meet,” the PMO said in a tweet. The meeting lasted about 45 minutes. Jaitley had told the media yesterday that Modi was willing to speak to everyone to get the tax law through. Jaitley, who needs Parliament approval for the GST Bill in the Winter Session to roll out the new indirect tax regime as scheduled from April 1, had said he has spoken to “almost all Congress leaders” on the issue. “We have absolutely no hesitation even at the level of the Prime Minister. We have never had in it in the past, we don’t have it (now). He is willing to speak to everyone,” he had said. Congress had stalled passage of the GST Constitution Amendment Bill in the last session of Parliament over its demand that a revenue-neutral rate not higher than 18 per cent be mentioned in it.

It is also opposed to states being given powers to levy additional 1 per cent tax on supply of goods over and above GST rate. GST Logjam Congress’ three demands 1. GST rate capped at 18 per cent 2. No taxation on interstate sales 3. Tax dispute to be resolved through mechanism Government’s response to the 3 demands 1. Will be difficult to alter the rate in future 2.Tax to reimburse high producing states 3. Not clear on the mechanism What’s the GST Bill 1. The Goods and Services Tax (GST) is billed as India’s biggest tax reform since Independence. 2. GST is a single tax on any supply of goods or services and would replace excise, service tax, state Value Added Tax, entry tax and other state levies. 3. VAT regulations and rates generally vary across states but GST would introduce uniform taxation laws across states and different sectors. 4. The taxes would be divided between the state and the Centre, based on a formula that would be acceptable to both. 5. GST Bill will reduces the tax burden on producers. 6. GST will lower overall production cost and increase the output of the economy in the long run. 7. Initially however, GST is likely tocause high inflation rates, administrative costs, and face stiff opposition from states due to loss of autonomy.

Bihar’s new Health Minister Tej Pratap Yadav on Tuesday asked government doctors to be present on duty round-the-clock in emergency wards in all hospitals in the state.

Yadav, son of RJD president Lalu Prasad, gave the stern instruction after a review meeting of health department and asked the principal secretary to the health department to ensure that doctors stay at their place of posting, according to an official statement. He also stressed that senior doctors take at least two rounds at the wards in the evening along with regular monitoring and asked the principal secretary to the health department to keep a tab on doctors who absent themselves from duty.

The minister said he would pay surprise visits to any hospital any day to see whether the order was complied with, the statement said. Yadav instructed that life saving drugs should be present in each of these hospitals so that “no patient has to roam here and there for medicines.”

He also ordered to keep CT scan, MRI, X-ray machines and ventilators in good working condition and maintain cleanliness in hospitals.

The minister instructed the superintendent of Patna Medical College and Hospital to ensure that no ‘dalal’ (broker) is seen roaming in the hospital to dupe hapless patients and take them to private facilities.

“If need be security guards should be posted for the purpose,” Yadav said. He also asked for registration of private nursing homes.

The image of him embracing Lalu Prasad Yadav having gone viral, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday sought to defend his anti-graft credentials saying it was the RJD chief who “pulled and hugged him”, and it did not amount to an “alliance”.

Kejriwal said that AAP worked “against BJP” during the Bihar assembly polls and supported the chief ministerial candidature of Nitish Kumar. He termed the JD(U) leader as a “good person” and someone who has done “good work”.

“I go to Rashtrapati Bhawan. All party leaders come there. They meet us. In Nitish Kumar’s swearing in Lalu Yadav was on the stage. He shook hand and pulled me and hugged me. And held my hand and raised it. It was projected and questions were asked. We have not formed an alliance. We are against his record of corruption and we’ll always oppose it,” Kejriwal said.

The AAP chief made the remarks at the party’s National Council meet here. Kejriwal said he was against dynasty politics and the fact that Lalu’s “two sons are ministers. We are against that too.”

“I am happy that questions are being asked. Questions are being asked because people have hope, because they think we are different. Nobody asks questions when other leader hug Lalu ji, it’s good for us,” Kejriwal added.

The Delhi Chief Minister faced flak from various quarters for hugging Lalu, a convict in the fodder scam, at the oath- taking ceremony of Kumar on November 2O. Expelled AAP leader Yogendra Yadav described it as a “shameful” act.

Yadav, said it was not mere hugging, but the defeat of ideals to form a bloc against the BJP. “Political capital of the movement sold to symbols of political corruption.Ashamed!” Kejriwal was criticised even on social media with many even posting a tweet of his that he wrote in October 2013.

“Laloo made crores in fodder scam. But no order for recovery of that money. Just 25 lakh fine and few years in jail. A sweet deal,” the Delhi CM had tweeted.

24 Nov) Washington: Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump has not only maintained his top position in the popularity ratings, but has also widened his gap over rivals in the 2016 elections race, latest polls showed today. According to the national opinion polls, released by Fox News, Trump retains the top spot with a record 28 per cent support. He is up by 2 per cent compared to the poll conducted on November 1-3 by the channel.

The popularity of Trump’s closest Republican rival Ben Carson has dropped from 23 per cent to 18 per cent. Two others Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio are tied at 14 per cent. Jeb Bush’s popularity remains disappointing at 5 per cent. The latest poll was conducted between November 16 and 19. On RealClearPolitics.Com, which aggregates all the recent national opinion polls, Trump with 27.5 per cent leads his nearest Republican rival Carson with 7.7 percentage point. In another survey, Pew Research Centre said Trump, Rubio, Cruz and Carson get higher favourable ratings among Republicans who are angry at government than among non-angry Republicans, in part because they are better known among the “angry” group.

A year ahead of the election, American public is deeply cynical about government, politics and the nation’s elected leaders in a way that has become quite familiar, it said. The survey, based on more than 6,000 interviews conducted between August 27 and October 4, 2015, found that only 19 per cent say they can trust the government always or most of the time, among the lowest levels in the past half-century. Only 20 per cent would describe government programmes as well run. And elected officials are held in such low regard that 55 per cent of the public says “ordinary Americans” would do a better job of solving national problems, it said. According to Pew, the public finds the government frustrating and badly managed at a general level: 59 per cent say it is in need of “very major reform,” up 22 percentage points since 1997. However at a specific level, in 10 of the 13 areas included in the survey, the balance of opinion about government performance is more positive than negative.

Ahmedabad: Amid widespread complaints of deletion of names from voters’ lists, polling took place on Sunday for the first phase of the two-tiered elections to local self-government bodies in Gujarat, with around 47 per cent of the electorate turning out to cast their ballot. Voting began on a lazy note at 8 a.m. at around 13,000 polling stations in the state. Secured by police and paramilitary personnel, the turnout limped to just over 15 percent by afternoon, leaving political parties worried about their prospects. Polling, however, picked up during the last three hours to hover around an average 47 percent — 4 percent higher than the 43.8 percent in the 2010 municipal elections.

The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the state controls six of the eight municipal corporations — Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Rajkot, Surat, Jamnagar and Bhavnagar — that went to the polls. The terms of Gandhinagar and Junagadh are yet to end. Rajkot city topped with a maximum of 50 percent turnout, followed by Bhavnagar with 49 and Jamnagar with 47 — all three cities fall in the Saurashtra region that has a sizeable population of the Patel community which is on a warpath with the Anandiben Patel government over their demand for reservation.

The state’s commercial capital Ahmedabad and cultural hub Vadodara too saw around 47 percent voter turnout each. Surat, that cuts and polishes nearly 80 percent of the diamonds exported from the country, scored the lowest turnout of 44 percent. Though no untoward incident or poll-related violence was reported from anywhere, the state election commission (SEC) received a large number of complaints of deletion of names from voters’ lists from all the cities. Official sources said every city must have received an average of three major complaints about absence of and deletion of voters’ names from electoral lists. IANS

(20 Nov) Patna : Janata Dal (United) leader Sharad Yadav on Friday termed Nitish Kumar’s swearing-in ceremony as a ‘big day’ for Bihar and said that the grand alliance has tried to form a ‘balanced’ cabinet. “It’s a big day. Bihar’s election has become the election of the nation. We have formed a balanced cabinet. Problem is everyone has limited numbers, but we have tried to form a balanced cabinet,” Yadav told ANI here.

“It will be disclosed at 2 p.m whether Tejaswi Yadav will be the deputy chief minister. We have invited many people irrespective of political boundaries. Today’s oath ceremony will show the result of the Bihar election. It’s our priority now to fulfill the promises which were made to the people of Bihar,” he added. Senior JD (U) leader Nitish Kumar will be sworn-in as the Chief Minister of Bihar for the fifth time today in a swearing-in ceremony, which will be held at the Gandhi Maidan here at 2 p.m. Governor Ramnath Kovind will administer the oath of office and secrecy to other council of ministers belonging to RJD, JD (U) and Congress parties. According to reports, Rashtriya Janata Dal president Lalu Prasad’s sons, first time MLA Tejaswi Prasad Yadav and Tej Pratap Yadav, would be sworn in as cabinet ministers in new government. Tejaswi would reportedly be made deputy Chief Minister.