Night_Hawk
Siasat.pk - Blogger
Indian parties fail to end parliament deadlock
* Parliament deadlocked over corruption probe demands
* Coalition government unable to pass bills
* Singh to face Supreme Court questioning
NEW DELHI: Indias government and opposition parties failed on Monday to break a deadlock in parliament over an investigation into a widening corruption scandal that has prevented economic reforms being approved.
The opposition has halted parliament sessions since early November over demands for a joint parliamentary investigation into the sale of telecom licences and spectrum in the worlds fastest growing mobile phone market.
The Congress-led coalition government has refused the request, saying there is no need for one as a separate investigation is underway.
The entire opposition was united on the demand for a joint parliamentary committee, Sushma Swaraj, leader of the main opposition Hindu-nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party, told reporters, referring to the demand for an investigation.
We told the government if you (allow that) we will immediately end the deadlock, she said.
The coalition government is not at risk of collapsing but the scandal has weakened the governments ability to move key economic reforms through parliament.
Swaraj said the government was offering an investigation by a less powerful parliamentary body. The government was represented at an all-party meeting by Indian Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee.
Separately, an opposition communist party leader said Mukherjee had given an assurance he would discuss the opposition demand for a wider parliamentary investigation with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
The political storm threatens to cut short parliaments winter session. The government had planned to pass a banking law amendment bill, which would improve the capital raising capacity of banks and strengthen central bank regulatory powers.
A bill to give a slice of the profits from mining to displaced people is also at stake. Former Telecom minister Andimuthu Raja, who was forced to resign a week ago, is accused of selling licences and spectrums to companies too cheaply in 2007-2008, possibly costing $39 billion in revenue, according to an official watchdog audit.
Indian firm Swan Telecom, which has since been bought by the UAEs Ethisalat and several other companies, which are now part of Telenor, were among those singlled out in the government audit regarding discrepancies.
There have also been questions as to whether individuals received kickbacks for selling licences cheaply.
In a rare move, the Indian Supreme Court last week reprimanded Singh for taking 16 months to look into the allegations against Raja, a member of a party allied to Congress. The court demanded Singh explain what had happened, tarnishing his squeaky-clean image.
Documents filed to the Supreme Court on Saturday defended the prime minister, saying he followed procedures in looking into the issue. Singh decided not to approve a request to prosecute Raja.
A representative of Singh will answer questions in the Supreme Court on Tuesday, part of a request from the court for disclosure on how the prime minister handled the issue.
Telecom stocks fell last week on fear authorities would cancel some licences or ask operators for more payments. The broader market has largely shrugged off the politics in Delhi.
The apparent chaotic way telecom licences were issued, according to the official audit, has raised fresh concerns about doing business in India.
Corruption has long been a major problem in Asias third-largest economy.
The ruling Congress party has pledged to crack down but was put on the defensive in recent weeks when it was forced to fire three senior officials over corruption allegations, including over the problem-riddled Commonwealth Games.
India was ranked 87th in a 2010 ranking of 178 countries by anti-corruption group Transparency International, based on the perceived level of corruption. Rival China was ranked 78. reuters
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2010\11\23\story_23-11-2010_pg1_8
* Parliament deadlocked over corruption probe demands
* Coalition government unable to pass bills
* Singh to face Supreme Court questioning
NEW DELHI: Indias government and opposition parties failed on Monday to break a deadlock in parliament over an investigation into a widening corruption scandal that has prevented economic reforms being approved.
The opposition has halted parliament sessions since early November over demands for a joint parliamentary investigation into the sale of telecom licences and spectrum in the worlds fastest growing mobile phone market.
The Congress-led coalition government has refused the request, saying there is no need for one as a separate investigation is underway.
The entire opposition was united on the demand for a joint parliamentary committee, Sushma Swaraj, leader of the main opposition Hindu-nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party, told reporters, referring to the demand for an investigation.
We told the government if you (allow that) we will immediately end the deadlock, she said.
The coalition government is not at risk of collapsing but the scandal has weakened the governments ability to move key economic reforms through parliament.
Swaraj said the government was offering an investigation by a less powerful parliamentary body. The government was represented at an all-party meeting by Indian Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee.
Separately, an opposition communist party leader said Mukherjee had given an assurance he would discuss the opposition demand for a wider parliamentary investigation with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
The political storm threatens to cut short parliaments winter session. The government had planned to pass a banking law amendment bill, which would improve the capital raising capacity of banks and strengthen central bank regulatory powers.
A bill to give a slice of the profits from mining to displaced people is also at stake. Former Telecom minister Andimuthu Raja, who was forced to resign a week ago, is accused of selling licences and spectrums to companies too cheaply in 2007-2008, possibly costing $39 billion in revenue, according to an official watchdog audit.
Indian firm Swan Telecom, which has since been bought by the UAEs Ethisalat and several other companies, which are now part of Telenor, were among those singlled out in the government audit regarding discrepancies.
There have also been questions as to whether individuals received kickbacks for selling licences cheaply.
In a rare move, the Indian Supreme Court last week reprimanded Singh for taking 16 months to look into the allegations against Raja, a member of a party allied to Congress. The court demanded Singh explain what had happened, tarnishing his squeaky-clean image.
Documents filed to the Supreme Court on Saturday defended the prime minister, saying he followed procedures in looking into the issue. Singh decided not to approve a request to prosecute Raja.
A representative of Singh will answer questions in the Supreme Court on Tuesday, part of a request from the court for disclosure on how the prime minister handled the issue.
Telecom stocks fell last week on fear authorities would cancel some licences or ask operators for more payments. The broader market has largely shrugged off the politics in Delhi.
The apparent chaotic way telecom licences were issued, according to the official audit, has raised fresh concerns about doing business in India.
Corruption has long been a major problem in Asias third-largest economy.
The ruling Congress party has pledged to crack down but was put on the defensive in recent weeks when it was forced to fire three senior officials over corruption allegations, including over the problem-riddled Commonwealth Games.
India was ranked 87th in a 2010 ranking of 178 countries by anti-corruption group Transparency International, based on the perceived level of corruption. Rival China was ranked 78. reuters
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2010\11\23\story_23-11-2010_pg1_8
