Govt. to bring a Bill to protect bureaucrats from political pressures

September 11th, 2009 NEW DELHI - In a clear and firm message Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee said on Friday that ministers and bureaucrats who are entitled to travel on state expenses should undertake domestic travel in economy class. Mukherjee said that they could fly in business class for international travel.

September 2nd, 2009 JAIPUR - In a bizarre move, the Rajasthan government has directed all the government employees to properly welcome and see off visiting MPs and MLAs. Among other things, the directive requires government employees to stand up when a lawmaker comes to visit them.

August 29th, 2009 NEW DELHI - On the occasion of the UPA Government completing first 100 days of its second inning at the office on Saturday, the Bharatiya Janata Party blamed the government of having become instrumental in thrusting more sufferings on the masses instead of giving relief to common man on the price front. Criticizing the Centre's claims of implementing promises in its first 100 days in office, the BJP on Saturday alleged that the UPA had belied hopes of the people.

August 7th, 2009 NEW DELHI - The Government today expressed hope that it will be able to take up the Women's Reservation Bill in the next session of Parliament. The Bill that was introduced in the Rajya Sabha by the previous Government was referred to the Standing Committee.

August 2nd, 2009 KOLKATA - Communist Party of India (Marxist) on Sunday sought intervention of the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in the ongoing gas controversy related to Mukesh Ambani-controlled Reliance Industries Limited in the Krishna-Godavari basin. CPI (M) Polit Bureau Member and the Rajya Sabha MP Sitaram Yechury here said: "The CPI-M has sent a letter on behalf of the 30 CPI-M MPs today to the Prime Minister of India Dr.Manmohan Singh on the recent gas controversy of Mukesh Ambani controlled Reliance Industries Limited in the Krishna-Godavari basin." Divulging the details of the letter, Yechury said that in the letter the party has demanded that since gas is a national asset, the Central Govt.

July 28th, 2009 JAIPUR - The talks between the Gujjar leaders and the State Government will begin here today. On Monday, Gujjar leader Kirodi Singh Bainsla agreed for talks with the government.

July 7th, 2009 NEW DELHI - The Centre today informed the Lok Sabha that in light of the recommendations made by the Soli Sorabjee Committee there is no proposal under government's consideration to introduce a Bill on police reforms. "Police is a state subject under the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution and therefore, police reforms is primarily the responsibility of the state government," Minister of State for Home Affairs Mullapally Ramachandran said in Lok Sabha on Tuesday.

June 11th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Senior BJP functionary Vinay Katiyar said on Thursday that the Bill on women's reservation was not acceptable to him. He opposed the present structure of Women's Reservation Bill, saying that, if passed, it will benefit only a few.

June 9th, 2009 NEW DELHI - The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday urged the Central Government to take up with their Nepalese and Chinese counterparts the rescue of the stranded pilgrims to Kailash Mansarover. According to reports, hundreds of pilgrims, who are on their way to Kailash Mansarover, have been stranded in Nepal following a road blockade near the Tibetan border.

May 17th, 2009 NEW DELHI - BJP leaders Varun Gandhi and Maneka Gandhi arrived here to meet Lal Krishna Advani at his residence on Sunday morning, following reports of the latter's wish to step down from party's parliamentary board. On Saturday, Varun Gandhi won from the Pilibhit Constituency and his mother Maneka Gandhi registered victory from Aonla Lok Sabha constituency in Uttar Pradesh.

April 21st, 2009 NEW DELHI - Former chief election commissioner N. Gopalaswami said Tuesday, a day after demitting office, that bureaucrats don't need to resign when their recommendations get rejected because they send 'thousands of files' of which some get accepted and some don't.

April 10th, 2009 NEW DELHI - The government's failure to enact legislation reserving 33 percent of seats in parliament and the state legislatures for women was a 'matter of great regret', Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said Friday. 'That is a matter of great regret.

March 22nd, 2009 BANGALORE - Industrialist Vijay Mallya, who bought the belongings of Mahatma Gandhi for 1.8 million dollar at an auction in New York, has sought government's approval for waiver of import duty on the memorabilia of historical value and national sentiments. Taking to mediapersons here on Saturday, Mallya said that he is waiting for necessary permissions from the government to bring the memorabilia back on the Indian soil.

February 6th, 2009 CHANDIGARH - The Punjab government Saturday announced the setting up of a commission of eminent personalities, including academics and retired bureaucrats, to help reform the state. Setting up the Social Development and Governance Reforms Commission, the Punjab government hopes to bring in reforms in its existing system to put the state back on the path to progress, officials said here.

December 24th, 2008 CHANDIGARH - Middle-level bureaucrats in the union territory of Chandigarh will now supervise the preparation of mid-day meals for government school children in the city. The Chandigarh administration has ordered that all civil servants from Haryana and Punjab cadre on deputation with the administration will visit the cooking institutes and schools to monitor the quality and hygiene of cooked meals under the mid-day meal scheme, an administration spokesman said here Thursday.