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MEDIAWATCH
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Asian Voice | 19th September 2015
The One Rank One Pension (OROP) agitation came to a peaceful end with the government and the leaders of the movement in agreement on the final deal. Veterans of India’s defence forces were broadly satisfied at the outcome, which will include a review of the financial package every five years. The element of sensible compromise was clearly evident – a mark surely of maturity that hopefully will spread to MPs in Parliament. The logjam in negotiation was resolved by the welcome intervention of Prime Minister Narendra Modi; and the negotiators deserve a warm round of thanks for a job well done. The Indian people owe much to the soldiers, sailors and airmen, who keep a strict vigil on the nation’s borders, sometimes at the cost of their lives. The courage and dedication of these men and women are frequently taken for granted.
Military pensioners following the government decision on OROP
In a moving gesture, Flight Lieutenant Tyrone Alfred Tyrone Cooke (retd) of the Indian Air Force returned to Lucknow from his home in Australia to present his Vir Chakra medal he won in the 1965 war against Pakistan to his old squadron at the IAF station. It’s in keeping with spirit of selflessness that has driven the country’s armed forces to achieve their high professional standards in every field. (Hindu, Times of India, September 8,9)
Parliament unable to debate GST
The government, in the face of Congress party obduracy, has decided to close the Monsoon session of Parliament without the vital legislation on the passage of the critically important Goods and Services Tax bill being passed. Its postponement will cost the country dear economically, but in the present state of fractious politics the national interest is made hostage to party parochialism. Congress had a point when they reminded the public of the BJP opposition-led obstructionism that kept the GST on ice. In power, the BJP has come round to the essential wisdom of the measure, just as they have on the Indo-US civilian nuclear accord.
Diminished Congress
Congress would have gained a cubit or two in stature, if having made their protest they had cooperated in getting the bill through. But Congress is much diminished, having been routed at the last general election and is in a prolonged sulk at the defeat. Sonia and Rahul Gandhi, illquipped to lead the party out of the political wilderness, are unelectable. Congress, bereft of ideas, are irrelevant. (Hindu, Times of India September 10)
Appeal to Indian investors
Prime Minister Modi urged the leaders of Indian business to take the opportunity presented by the current turbulence in international financial markets and increase their investments in India instead of looking abroad for salvation. The meeting, a closed door affair, was also addressed by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley. The current President of the Confederation of Indian Industry, Sumit Mazumdar said it was important that India should not be clubbed with the emerging economies, as its economic fundamentals were superior (Business Line September 9)
Relief for FIIs
Foreign portfolio investors and foreign institutional investors have been exempted from paying minimum alternative tax prior to 1 April 2015. The government seeks to energize the stock markets, currently in after-shock from the financial crisis in China and a declining Chinese economy. The announcement comes when markets are experiencing extreme volatility. (Telegraph September 2)
Andhra Pradesh to build metros
Andhra Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu has roped in the legendary E. Sreedhran, the mastermind behind the iconic Delhi Metro. Naidu has selected Sreedharan to be his adviser on similar projects in Vijayawada and Visakhapatnam, to be up and running by 2018. Both projects are to be financed by the Japan International Cooperation Agency. Further to these projects, the Chief Minister has pinned hopes of a metro for the upcoming state capital Amaravati (Business Line September 5)
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Telangana woos Chinese firms Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhara Rao met representatives of the Leo Group of companies for investing in the manufacture of heavy pumps in the new state. They evinced interest in the project. The Chief was on a 10 day visit to China for the World Economic Forum’ where he spoke eloquently on India’s economic prospects in the light of the global slowdown (Business Line September 5)
Rajasthan on the march
Rajasthan is territorially India’s largest state. It was considered backward not so long ago. Now it’s undergoing wholesale transformation as it industrializes with giant strides. The State government under Chief Minister Vasundara Raje has instituted fundamental administrative reforms, including changes in the Labour laws and a modified Trade Union Act and has done away with much of the legal baggage of the past, in order to make Rajasthan business friendly and an attractive destination for domestic and foreign investors. Institutions for skills development are creating an educated workforce with the necessary technical knowledge to tackle the challenges of the workplace.
Japanese zone
The Japanese zone at Neenrana includes 45 companies from Japan , the majority in the auto manufacturing sector. During a visit to Japan as part of a global road-show, Chief Minister Raje sanctioned a second Japanese zone, across a 500 acre site, for ceramics and electronics systems designs (Business Line September 5)
Communications leap forward
The extension of the Delhi Metro to Faridabad is a milestone in the capital’s urban transport network and is destined to make an even greater impact as it expands into the neighbouring states. Urban transport is engaging the attention of Chief Ministers looking to build smart cities in their respective states.
Tamil Nadu buzz
The Global Investors Meet 2015 in Chennai has created a buzz in Tamil Nadu, which is one of India’s leading industrial hubs and growing fast. Addressing the gathering of top global and Indian company heads and foreign diplomats, 5,000 in all, with 1,000 from abroad, Chief Minister Jayalalitha assured them that her government would do its utmost to make the State more business-friendly with the promise, for a start, to clear projects with 30 days. Investment in the State had already yielded a massive Rs 2 lakh crore. She said 84 of the 217 projects listed in the Vision 2023 statement were on course for delivery of the indus-
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa (3rd from left) meets investors at the Global Investors Meet 2015 in Chennai
trialization programme initiated after India’s economic reforms of 1991. The State’s unique assets in human capital and the applications of science and technology to economic development is like to make Tamil Nadu India’s power house in the coming years. (Hindu September 10,11)
Research and Development
Capability to design in India is a key factor in the ‘Make in India’ goal and Tamil Nadu’s strong presence in research and development should be well utilized, said Kumud Srinivasan, President Intel India. Tamil Nadu has a holistic economic system consisting high-end skills, start-ups, system integrators etc. This makes the State an R&D hub. The good economic system is an aid to opportunities for IT hardware and electronics products in Tamil Nadu, said Ms Srinavasan. (Business Line September 10)
Bengal non-starter for UK FDI
The Confederation of British Industry and the UK- India Business Council have released data that highlights the reluctance of the British companies to invest in West Bengal. The political turbulence in the State, frequent disturbances, bureaucratic inertia and corruption have been cited as impediments. British investments in India flourish principally in the States of South India, Gujarat, Maharshtra, Rajasthan, Haryana and Delhi (Times of India September 4)
Woman heads DRDO facility
Electronics scientist J. Manjula has been appointed Director General of Defence Research &
Development Organization’s Electronics and Communications cluster. It’s a very responsible position and a great opportunity that DRDO has provided me. I hope this inspires more women to take up science,’ she said. An alumni of Osmania University, she was earlier Director of DRDO’s Avionics Research Establishment (Times of India September 10)
Godavri water for Krishna
Water from the Godavri river has been diverted from the Tatapudi reservoir into the Krishna river to facilitate its supply to the delta region, making it the first step in the project to link the two south Indian rivers. Commenting on this landmark development Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu, said: ‘The government will create history by linking the Godavri river to the Krishna delta and drought-proofing the water stressed Rayalaseema.’ Meanwhile reservoirs in the State are filling up rapidly following abundant rain in the region (Business Line September 10)
Self-defeating lunacy
Maharashtra Chief Minister must have taken leave of his senses, by banning the sale of meat on days considered holy by Jains. His partner in government, the Shiv Sena, in an act of defiance, set up stalls in the city selling chicken curry. Meanwhile leaders of the Jain community have appealed for respect for their faith and not its politicization. The Bombay High Court has questioned the logic of this controversial measure. Twitter messages, generally, have been very critical. Rajasthan and Chhatisgarh have emulated Maharashtra. It’s worthy of Alice in Wonderland. (Hindu September 11).
A defendant, one of the 13 accused in the 2006 Mumbai train bombings case leaves for the prison after the court verdict, in Mumbai See comment page 3