S M Krishna to leave for Myanmar today

Nksagar-Sagar Media Inc: New Delhi Jun 20,2011
External Affairs Minister S M Krishna will leave for Myanmar today. He will be accompanied by the Foreign Secretary Nirupma Rao and other senior officials. This will be the first Indian high level visit after the formation of Civil Government in Myanmar in March this year. Broad based exchange on the issues of transportation, connectivity, Information Technology, telecommunication and infrastructure are high on the agenda of the Indian delegation. Our correspondent adds that India will also seek cooperation from Myanmar under its Look East policy. The success of programmes like trilateral highway between India, Myanmar and Thailand, Trans-Asian Railway to connect New Delhi with Hanoi and the Kaladan multi-modal transport project will depend only with Myanmar cooperation. India is also eager to boost its investment in gas and hydro-electricity projects in Myanmar and is eyeing oil and gas fields.

India, Denmark should fight terror together: Meira Kumar

India and Denmark need to pool in their resources to deal with the menace of terrorism. The Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar said this during her visit to Copenhagen yesterday. She said India and Denmark, both targets of global terrorism, need to work together to isolate the forces of terror, violence and intolerance and pool their resources to deal with the menace and to build effective defense against it. She is leading a Parliamentary delegation to Denmark where she held discussions with the five member Presidium of the Danish Parliament. The Indian delegation also called on the Queen of Denmark.

Myanmar for role in realizing ASEAN community

YANGON, Myanmar Union Minister of Finance and Revenue U Hla Tun has called for the role of customs departments in realizing ASEAN Community, stressing the need for encouraging commodity flow integration, earning revenue for the state and handling border trade in line with policy and law, an official media reported last week.

U Hla Tun made the call at a senior customs officials meeting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Nay Pyi Taw , said the New Light of Myanmar.

He noted that Myanmar has formed National Window System Leading Committee which will join ASEAN window system via ICT tools as it is one of pivotal pledges of ASEAN nations.

Dr. JP to address IIM and Public Meeting in Bangalore

Lok Satta Party President Dr. Jayaprakash Narayan will be addressing students and faculty of two institutes of technology and management in Bangalore on June 16 and 17.He will be chief guest at the graduation ceremony of the Reva Institute of Technology & Management on June 16. He will be taking part in a seminar on the ‘The Role of youth in Politics and Nation Building’ at the Indian Institute of Management Bangalore (IIM) on June 17.Dr JP will be addressing a public meeting on 17th at 5pm on the anti-corruption campaign at Rotary House of Friendship, Lavelle Road, Bangalore. Loksatta Party, Karnataka, would like to invite you to meet and interact with Dr. Jayaprakash Narayan (Dr. JP), the National President of Loksatta Party, and the serving MLA from Kukatpally constituency in Andhra Pradesh.
Dr. JP has been an important figure in the long and emerging national consciousness against corruption in public office, and has a stellar record of promoting reforms in government and politics. He was instrumental in the passage of the Right to Information Act, the strengthening of the Anti-Defection law, and the introduction of a cap on the number of cabinet positions in ministries of state and central governments. The requirement that all candidates to elections should declare their assets publicly, is another feather in Dr.JP's cap.
In late April this year, Dr JP convened the national Round Table discussion of the proposed Lokpal Bill in Delhi, attended by the best public servants in the country, to develop consensus on the provisions of the law. In 2008, he tabled the Andhra Pradesh Anti Corruption Bill in the State Assembly, which is almost is on the lines of Jan Lokayuta advocated by Jan Lokpal committee.

ON 17th June, he will address us on the topic: "Growing Public Participation in Politics in the Backdrop of the Jan Lokpal Bill Movement".

Mamata unhappy with food department officials

Mamata unhappy with food department officials reports PTI West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who visited the Food Department headquarters here today, said essential items were not reaching the poor and threatened to sack the officers responsible for it."Those from whom food is not reaching the people must be sacked," Banerjee told the department's officers when they informed her that items meant for PDS were not reaching the beneficiaries because of a section of Food Department staff and some businessmen.

Describing the food department as one 'without a father and a mother,' she said "nothing is monitored here. Funds are being spent on food items but it is not reaching the common people. This cannot be allowed to continue."

Warning the officers that they would be monitored, she said, however, that the government would not victimise anyone."We will all have to work together.

Mamata unhappy with food department officials

(PTI) West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who visited the Food Department headquarters here today, said essential items were not reaching the poor and threatened to sack the officers responsible for it.

"Those from whom food is not reaching the people must be sacked," Banerjee told the department's officers when they informed her that items meant for PDS were not reaching the beneficiaries because of a section of Food Department staff and some businessmen.

Describing the food department as one 'without a father and a mother,' she said "nothing is monitored here. Funds are being spent on food items but it is not reaching the common people. This cannot be allowed to continue."

Warning the officers that they would be monitored, she said, however, that the government would not victimise anyone.

"We will all have to work together.

China Brahmaputra's dam to adopt interest of downstream countries.

A day after India sought details from Beijing on its plans to divert waters of the Brahmaputra by building a dam on it in Tibet, China today said it will adopt a "responsible" attitude taking into "full consideration" the interest of downstream countries."China adopts a responsible attitude towards the development of cross border water resources," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman, Hong Lei told a media briefing here.He was answering a question on concerns in India over Beijing's plans to build a dam on Brahmaputra resulting in diversion of waters.

"We adopt a policy that protection goes together with development, and take into full consideration the interests of downstream countries," he said.

Congress' critical role in warmaking decisions

House of Representatives passed a new defense bill two weeks ago that strips Congress' critical role in warmaking decisions, and forces the armed forces to take on a new mission as judge, jury and jailor of all future foreign terrorism suspects. The Senate Armed Services Committee will decide whether to follow suit or change course starting this Wednesday.

Tell the Senate Armed Services Committee to protect Congress' role in deciding whether to go to war and limit the mission of our armed forces to prosecuting wars, not people. Not only are such choices smarter national security, they uphold the rule of law and American values.

The House version of the defense bill would:

Strip Congress of its critical role in warmaking decisions by ceding to the president unfettered authority to use military force anywhere in the world;
Force the military to become the judge, jury and jailor for all future foreign terrorism suspects, expanding the failed experiment at Guantanamo; and
Turn Guantanamo into the Hotel California where you get in but can never get out, even if you are innocent.

Sign the petition and tell the Senate Armed Services Committee to oppose any measures in the defense authorization bill that place politics over national security.

A silent march on 18 June from Rajghat to the office of the NH RC

New Delhi11 June 2011
Rashtriya Swabhiman Andola (RSA) appeals to all anti-corruption activists to join hands. We have convened a meeting of different organisations active nationwide in the fight against corruption on 25 June, the day Emergency was imposed on this country. We are confident that a common strategy can be evolved for the forward march. The fight against corruption demands that members of civil society should overcome ideological untouchability and act as per people’s sentiments to reign in the virus of corruption.

RSA has also decided to organise a silent march on 18 June from Rajghat to the office of the National Human Rights Commission to highlight the plight of the people oppressed by a despotic government. Holding peaceful demonstrations to protest the flaws in the system is their democratic right. RSA appeals to all to participate in this march in big numbers to register people’s serious objection to the atrocities of the authority.

RSA appeals to Swami Ramdev to call off his indefinite hunger strike in view of his failing health. By endangering his health, Swami Ramdev will only help the insensitive UPA Government that is not serious about exposing the corrupt but is scurrying for cover to save its skin. The anti-corruption movement in this country needs him to relaunch the fight with renewed vigour.

We strongly demand to the government to declare India’s money stashed in tax havens as national property immediately and pass the ordinance for the same for Baba Ramdev to have a reason to end his fast.

We strongly condemn the Union Government for its demonic attempt to muzzle public dissent on the night of 4 June. It was creating a situation reminiscent of Emergency, unmindful of its consequences. This repression will fail to strangulate democracy, no matter what brutal means the police employ, a deplorable example of which they displayed by beating innocent satyagrahis half-asleep in the fateful night of 4 June.

We would like to bring to your notice the statement of Union Home Minister P Chidambaram in his interview to Doordarshan and that of Mr Kapil Sibal in his interview on All India Radio. They were both blatant distortions of facts. They were trying to divert public attention from the issue of corruption by adding a political hue to a popular movement.

Those occupying such responsible positions in the government have said that I, Govindacharya, was ghost-managing the Bharat Swabhiman show. Mr Sibal even claimed that I was present on the dais and that Swami Ramdev was a mere mask of the Rashtriys Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS). I deny this charge and challenge the Telecom Minister to prove the allegation, failing which he should render an unconditional apology. This government, whose ministers are issuing such irresponsible statements, does not deserve to continue in power. It is distorting facts and trying to run down the anti-corruption movements in the same way in which Indira Gandhi had tried to berate the J P movement before imposing Emergency. You may all recall that, in order to belittle people’s movement for change, the then government had termed Loknayak Jayaprakash Narayan a CIA agent! A divided, bewildered Congress faced with insecurity of losing power then imposed emergency. People, however, taught the Congress a lesson and defeated it with a massive mandate and demonstrated their faith in democracy and abhorrence for dictatorship.

The issues confronting the country are unemployment, corruption and price rise. This government, having completely failed to address them, is trying to deflect attention from them. Its intentions are mala fide. Otherwise, how could the government not act on the FIR against Hasan Ali, the conduit of corrupt politicians and bureaucrats, for four years? Why is the government not disclosing the names of people who have stashed black money in tax haven countries? What are the compulsions of the government that it cannot get an ordinance passed on the issue of black money? Now it is clear that the Prime Minister was aware of the 2G and Commonwealth Games scams. Why were actions not taken against those responsible? All these show the intentions of the government to shield the corrupt and the guilty.

I appeal to all to join this fight against corruption in whichever way they can.

KN Govindacharya
Patron
Rashtriya Swabhiman Andolan

Campaign against Hazare, Ramdev

Anna Hazare and Baba Ramdev this year has created absolutely awareness in public domain to scuttle the rein of corruption and money laundering in foreign banks with media doing its own investigation and scams emerging every month by which the ruling party is in back foot trying to defence its governance model and thus Congress launches campaign against Anna Hazare, Yog guru Ramdev

Kolkata, Jun 12 (PTI) The Congress today launched a campaign to counter the anti-graft movement by Anna Hazare and Baba Ramdev and accused a section of civil society of trying to weaken democratic institutions.

"The Constitution has given the power to legislate only to Parliament and the state Assemblies. If 5,000 or 6,000 people dictate from outside what the Parliament ought to do, this will weaken democracy," Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee told a press conference.

Mukherjee, who released a document in English containing his party's views on the issue, said the Congress was launching an awareness campaign all over the country.

"The documents will be made available in other languages.

Debates, discussions and seminars would be organised right from the district to the block levels to put forth our views," he said.

India beat WI in Antigua to clinch five-match ODI series

India beat West Indies by three wickets in the third one dayer at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua last night to clinch the five -match ODI series.Chasing a victory target of 226, India made 228 for 7 in 46.2 overs. Rohit Sharma remained unbeaten at 86.For West Indies Andre Russell remained not out at 92. Amit Mishra and Munaf Patel took three wickets each.Rohit Sharma scored a fantastic unbeaten 86 under pressure as India beat West Indies by three wickets to take an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match ODI series in Antigua on Saturday. Except Parthiv Patel (46, 56 balls, 4x4, 1x6), none of the top-order batsmen showed intent although Virat Kohli got a poor leg-before decision when the ball seemed to be traveling down leg-side.

Chasing a target of 226, the visitors were reeling at 92 for six but Rohit (86 not out, 91 balls, 5x4, 2x6) along with senior-pro Harbhajan Singh (41, 64 balls, 1x6, 1x4) added 88 runs as India finally got home rather comfortably with 22 balls to spare.Praveen Kumar (25 no, 14 balls) provided final flourish after Harbhajan was dismissed.

The last two matches of the series will thus be rendered inconsequential as Rohit kept his composure when the team was in dire straits.He got an able ally in Harbhajan as the two batted with utmost responsibility.They never did anything flashy during their seventh wicket stand that lasted 18.4 overs.

CWG Delhi 2010 lacked mechanism,transparency,accountability

10.6.2011 New Delhi Nksagar- Sagar Media Inc;
Hazards Centre successfully organised the Press Conference on the Commonwealth Games 2010 at Indian Women’s Press Corps, New Delhi from 2pm-5pm on 10.6.2011.

Mr. Dunu Roy threw light on the issues that Commonwealth Games was part of an ad-hoc violation of the planning process and without public disclosure of and debate on all the decisions related to the Games. Who then are the real players? Because eventually the expenditure of the Games will be paid for by this “nation” whether it “watched” the Games or not. What were the steps taken by the State on the apprehensions and projections that were made in the report and, if not, then why?

Summary Note
While exploring the phenomena of Big Games, Hazards Centre published a report in 2007 titled “2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi: How much does national prestige cost?’’, in which the historical record of Big Games was examined. Thus, in the 1968 Olympics Mexico had plunged into a debt for 25 to 35 years. Both Munich and Montreal reported a deficit of $1,000mn in 1972 and 1976. Seoul suffered from a $45,000mn national debt in 1988; Barcelona incurred a loss of $1,400mn in 1992, and Sydney’s debt was $2,600mn in 2002. The $16,000mn Olympics in Athens in 2006 are linked by analysts to the current economic crisis in Greece, while the recovery of the spending of $37,000mn in Beijing in 2008 is yet to be seen. The analysis of the impact of big sporting events like the Olympics, World Cups, and Commonwealth Games, on the host cities show that the Games have little to do with sports or with pride. They are part of the larger economic strategy that is promoted by big financial interests through a programme of urban renewal along with advertising and marketing revenues.

This report was not only released publicly on 18 September, 2007, three years before the Commonwealth Games, but copies were sent to the various concerned Ministries. A copy was personally delivered to the then Minister for Sports. On his advice, copies were then sent to a selected list of hundred Members of Parliament and each one of them was contacted telephonically thereafter. However, there was no response from any of the Ministries or MPs – except for NCP MP Shri Tariq Anwar who merely acknowledged receipt of the report. Now, almost a year after the Games, we learn from responses to a RTI query by Shri Subhash Chandra Agrawal that our report was forwarded by the Sports Minister to the Prime Minister on as early as 19 September 2007 with the comment that “this document must make us pause and think before we continue down this disastrous path that heads of sports federations, doubling as statesmen in Parliament, are attempting to take us down” (emphasis added).

An analytical note was also prepared by the Secretary (Sports) of the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports on the same date of 17.9.2007 and forwarded to the Prime Minister’s Office. This note states that the report “is an extremely well researched and argued paper” although “some of comparisons and conclusions may be questioned”, because “there is no clear comparison of the revenue expenditure and revenue income”. However, the note goes on to acknowledge that “the paper attempts to cogently demolish several popular myths and arguments that support conduct of mega events”. These ‘myths’ include the “likely benefits of the revenues”, “the stark reality of social and environmental costs”, “the single minded trampling of environmental laws and safety-nets of the poor”, “the relative rise of prices due to so-called development”, and “negative impact on employment and environment and civil liberties”. The note comments that the report “could have elaborated on the mechanisms adopted by them (Olympic bodies and Organizing Committees)” to vest control in “a few multi-national companies and consulting firms”.

In an internal note circulated by the Director in the Prime Minister’s Office on 30.10,2007, the above observations are repeated with the acknowledgement that “there is no doubt that all the games have suffered deficit” (emphasis added). The Director further notes that “The whole issue of Commonwealth Games cost and benefits is repeatedly coming in focus due to serious differences between the Ministry and the Organizing Committee – while the Ministry insists on transparency and accountability, the OC wants to preserve its fiefdom”. She further comments that “The Cabinet Secretariat had reported resolution of the issues but that is not so”. Interestingly enough, this note is seen by the Joint Secretary (M) who remarks on 31.10.2007 itself, “No further action is required on this” (emphasis added).

Subsequent to this, just before the Games on 25 August, 2010, Hazards Centre released its second report titled “Heritage Games: cleaning up the debris”, in which it was reported that only 6 projects had been completed with the remaining still under construction, and the cost had risen to a staggering Rs102,000 crores, with Rs55,398 crores being directly invested as part of the Games related infrastructure. The report also predicted that the city would eventually have to pay for this investment in one way or another and for many years. On October 15, 2010, after the Games, Hazards Centre issued a press release documenting the adverse impacts of the Games on the workers who constructed the infrastructure, the other workers who serviced the city, the athletes who had participated in the Games, on the use of the infrastructure, the housing that had been built, the transport system that had been put in place, the revenues to the city, and the prices of property and consumer goods and essential commodities. Both these reports were given to the press, sent to the Prime Minister, and posted to all Members of Parliament as well as to investigating agencies. Once again, there was no response.
Conclusion:Some critical questions arise from this entire episode:
1. If the first report cogently demolished several myths and arguments that support conduct of mega events, why did the concerned Ministries not launch an enquiry into the mechanisms adopted by the Olympic bodies and Organizing Committees to vest control in a few multi-national companies and consulting firms?
2. If there was no doubt that all the games have suffered deficits and the OC wanted to preserve its fiefdom while the Sports Ministry was insisting on transparency and accountability, on what basis did the Joint Secretary in the PMO decide that no further action was required?
3. Why did all Members of Parliament abandon their mandatory rights of oversight and not raise questions about the profligate and unaccountable spending of public money even though they were warned three years before the Games were to take place?
4. What does it say about the accountability of parliamentary democracy if the Sports Minister is compelled to comment that the nation is going down a disastrous path at the behest of heads of sports federations, who are doubling as statesmen in Parliament?



We hope that the media will perform its role of vigilant watchdog over democracy and pose these questions before the appropriate authorities.

Ramdev protest: UP Congress leader resigns

Ramdev protest: UP Congress leader resigns
PTI / Wednesday, June 8, 2011 14:48 IST
A local Congress leader here resigned today from the party in protest against police crackdown on the camp of Yoga guru Baba Ramdev in Ramlila ground in Delhi.A local Congress leader here resigned today from the party in protest against police crackdown on the camp of Yoga guru Baba Ramdev in Ramlila ground in Delhi.
Pramila Vashishtha, vice-president of district Congress committee, resigned from her post in protest against alleged cruelty on women during forceful eviction of yoga guru Baba Ramdev from the Ramlila ground.Condemning the crackdown in her resignation letter, she extended full support to Ramdev's anti-corruption drive.
Meanwhile, the police crackdown is drawing flak from people from all walks of life here.Leaders of various social, political and religious organisations, have strongly deplored the midnight police action against Ramdev and his supporters at Ramlila Ground in Delhi.All India Teerth Purohit Mahasabha ,Rashtriya Mahila Sansthanand several other organisations have joined hands to condemn action against the Yoga guru.President of All India Teerth Mahasabha Yogesh Upadhyaya, extending full support to Ramdev's drive, criticised the UPA government for allegedly trying to curb a people's movement.

Disagreement of Lokpal panel

Disagreement of Lokpal panel for drafting the Lokpal Bill is situation of ego clashing rather than any positive step to move forward,bill drafting is legislature prerogative and civil society is nowhere mentioned to be part of the bill drafting panel but the bill needs to be brought in public domain for hearing an the procedure civil society to be heard by the elected members is getting murkier each meet. A day after boycotting the meeting of Lokpal bill drafting committee, Anna Hazare-led team has made it clear that they had no intention to quit the joint panel.Activist Arvind Kejriwal said civil society members will attend the next meeting and contended that if they leave the ten-member committee, it will have "no credibility" as it will only remain a government panel with five ministers.

"Kapil Sibal has said that whether we come or not, they will go ahead (with the drafting of the Lokpal Bill). Why did that question arise? We had written to (Finance Minister) Pranab Mukherjee that we will not be attending today's (June 6) meeting."We also said that Anna Hazare will not be available on June 10 and so that the meeting on that be postponed. So it makes it clear that we are going to attend meetings. We are not going to leave the committee just like that," he said.Despite the five civil society members boycotting the meeting on Monday, the ministers went ahead and finalized some provisions of the proposed Lokpal Bill.

Later, Sibal took objection to the boycott of the meeting by civil society members and said that the committee would do its work "whether or not someone comes".The activists also defended their insistence on live telecast of joint committee proceedings saying it will give a better picture of the stands taken by both the sides.On the question of live telecast, Bhushan said why the government was against the live telecast if they have nothing to hide.

India's war on to fight Corruption

Twitter reports janlokpal Janlokpal #SC issues suo motu notice to Govt on forceful eviction of #Ramdev from #ramlila maidan Janlokpal Janlokpal #janlokpal Anna Hazare fasts on 8th June @ jantar mantar, join him, spread the word! janlokpal Janlokpal.

Baba Ramadev movement will become another Tahir Square event, committed this brutal attack and even possibly planned to kill Baba Ramadev ji (as was predicted just few days ago). It is time to wake up.

Wake up India.

Regards,
Satya

LS Speaker advocates increasing duration of Parliament’s session

Jun 4,2011 New Delhi: Nksagar Sagar Media Inc:
Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar has advocated increasing the duration of session of the house. She says there is need to increase the days of sitting of the session from the current seventy days to at least hundred days in a year for carrying out ever increasing business smoothly in the house. In an exclusive interview to AIR correspondent Manikant Thakur Kumar, she said the increase in working days will sufficient time for debates on various problems facing a vast country like India.

Asked whether she would like to shift the Lok Sabha question hour from 11.am to 2.00 pm as done in Rajya Sabha to avoid repeated adjournments, Meira Kumar said that she is thinking in those terms but no consensus has been achieved on the issue so far.
Expressing concern over the delay in the passage of women's reservation bill, she expressed hope that unanimity amongst various stake holders will be reached.Media agencies

UPA : The most corrupt Government since independence

Lucknow Friday, 3 June 2011:
Bharatiya Janata Party National Executive Committee Meeting Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh) June 3rd & 4th 2011:Resolution on Corruption of the UPA Government:
UPA : The most corrupt Government since independence:
The Government of UPA II under the Prime Ministership of Dr. Manmohan Singh has completed its second year in office. On the said occasion both the UPA Chairperson Smt. Sonia Gandhi and Dr. Manmohan Singh declared their resolve to take strong action against the menace of corruption. Nothing could be more ironical as this hollow declaration was being made in the backdrop of one of the own erstwhile Ministerial colleague, a senior Congress Member of Parliament and the daughter of the leader of an important constituent of the UPA detained in Tihar Jail on serious charges of massive corruption. It is indeed very important that these arrests were possible only because of a very assertive campaign by the opposition notably the BJP, vigilant media and lastly because of monitoring by the Courts mainly the Supreme Court. Obviously, Dr. Manmohan Singh or, his Government cannot claim any credit because in stead of taking action he had given certificate of innocence to some of them. It is evident that Dr. Manmohan Singh presides over the most corrupt Government since independence. It lacks transparency, there is collusion at high level, no checks and balances and there is virtual collapse of system where scam after scam and scandal after scandal has become the order of the day. In fact, the Prime Minister maintained a “conspiracy of silence”, “culpability of inaction”, and “guilty of gross indifference” when nations wealth was being plundered by the then Minister right under his nose by a massive abuse of system and yet Dr. Manmohan Singh looked the other way. The silence of all powerful Smt. Sonia Gandhi was too conspicuous.

World Environment Day,Instituto Cervantes

On the occasion of the World Environment Day, being India the host country, The Embassy of Spain and Instituto Cervantes in New Delhi, in the presence of the Director of UNIC and the Chief of Communication of UNEP in Nairobi, would like to present“The first ever attempt of a world tour on a hybrid solar electric bicycle”
by Guim Valls Teruel and Nguyen Thuy Anh
Date and time: on 7th June 2011, at 6.30pm.
Place: Conference room at Instituto Cervantes, 48 Hanuman Rd, New Delhi.
Free admission

Japan PM Naoto Kan faces no-confidence vote

No-confidence motion submitted by the opposition Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), along with their coalition partners the New Komeito party and the Sunrise Party, which may be backed by the Communist Party.LDP accused Mr Naoto Kan of unable to handle restructure the required relief efforts following the tsunami, and the Fukushima nuclear crisis.On Wednesday, LDP leader Sadakazu Tanigaki told Mr Kan,"You have no personal virtues or ability to unite your own party members. I'm telling you to quit."Once you leave, there will be many ways for us to unite, to revitalise Japan beyond party lines." The prime minister Naoto Kan said no intention of stepping down.

LDP has charged Mr Kan of inadequate handling the reconstruction and relief efforts following the tsunami and the Fukushima nuclear crisis.Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan rejected charges for his resignation, after opposition parties tabled a motion of no-confidence against him.Thus in case Mr Kan loses the vote of confidence, due in parliament, he would be forced to resign or call an election. Media reports suggest important members of his Democratic Party may vote against him.Mr Kan's main rival within the party, Ichiro Ozawa, said he would support the move against the prime minister,replicate the former premier Yukio Hatoyama, Kyodo news reported.

GDP growth slows down

Confirming fears of a slowdown, India's economy grew by just 7.8 pc in the fourth quarter ending March this year, mainly due to poor performance of the manufacturing sector, as against 9.4 pc in the same three-month period of the previous fiscal.

However, economic growth, as measured by the Gross Domestic Product, improved to 8.5 per cent in 2010-11 from 8 per cent in 2009-10 due to better farm output and construction activities and financial services performance.

Meanwhile, the GDP growth figures for the first and third quarters of FY'11 have been revised upward. While the GDP growth figure for Quarter 1 has been pegged at 9.3 per cent -- as against the earlier estimate of 8.9 per cent -- the Q3 GDP growth has been revised upward to 8.3 per cent from 8.2 per cent.

During the quarter ending March 31 this year, growth in the manufacturing sector slowed down to 5.5 per cent from 15.2 per cent in the same quarter of 2009-10.

In addition, the mining and quarrying sector grew by only 1.7 per cent during the quarter under review, as against 8.9 per cent in the fourth quarter of the previous fiscal.

Furthermore, the trade, hotels, transport and communications segment grew by 9.3 per cent in the March quarter this year, as against 13.7 per cent expansion in the same the period of 2010.

However, services including banking and insurance grew by 9 per cent in the March quarter this year, compared to 6.3 per cent in the corresponding period last year.

Farm output showed tremendous improvement, growing at 7.5 per cent during the quarter under review, compared to a meagre 1.1 per cent in the same three-month period last year.Though economic expansion slowed down in the fourth quarter, overall GDP growth touched the 8.5 per cent mark in 2010-11, as against 8 per cent in 2009-10, due the smart recovery in farm output.

The agriculture and allied sectors grew by 6.6 per cent during the fiscal, as against a meagre 0.4 per cent in the previous year.The growth of services, including banking and insurance, improved to 9.9 per cent in 2010-11 from 9.2 per cent in the previous fiscal.

The trade, hotels, transport and communication segment grew by 10.3 per cent in FY'11, as against 9.7 per cent last fiscal, while growth of the construction sector stood at 8.1 per cent, as against 7 per cent in the previous financial year.

However manufacturing sector growth slowed down to 8.3 per cent in the 2010-11 financial year from 8.8 per cent in 2009-10.Growth of the mining and quarrying sector also slowed to 5.8 per cent in 2010-11 from 6.9 per cent in 2009-10.
The electricity, gas and water supply segment grew by 5.7 per cent last fiscal, compared to 6.4 per cent in 2009-10.