Hazare announces jail bharo on April 12 after govt rejects demands

NEW DELHI: The government has rejected the demand of Anna Hazare to issue an official notification to constitute the draft committee forLokpal Bill and also rejected the proposal for an outsider to lead the new committee of government and civil society. 

The protesters announced that Kapil Sibal had conveyed about this decision to them and has also said that Pranab Mukherjee will head the committee. 

Reacting to the government's stand, Anna Hazare announced country-wide Jail Bharo agiation on April 12. 

An angry Hazare said that the people will teach the government a lesson by joinging the jail bharo agitation against the government. 

Meanwhile, Anna Hazare, whose fast entered the fourth day on Friday, has said that he will not become the chairman of the proposed draft committee for the Lokpal Bill. 

Addressing the thousands at the protest site, Anna Hazare said that he would only assist the committee in advisory capacity. 

The fasting leaders announced that Anna Hazare will write a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh forwarding the names of Santosh Hegde and Justice GS Verma to lead the proposed draft committee. 

The government has already rejected these names. 

Hazare called for immediate decentralisation of power at the centre to ensure that there is end to corruption in governance. 

Stating that Mahatma Gandhi stressed on decentralisation of power, he said his fast for Lokpal Bill was like the second fight for Independence. He said, Lokpal Bill will lead to decentralisation of power. 

Hazare said Right to Information Act is an example for all to see. The RTI has led to devolution of power. 

Taking a dig at the present set up, Hazare said all the agencies to tackle corruption at present are under the government and hence there has never been any positive outcome of any probe. 

Hazare said we are demanding that all these agencies should come under the purview of Lokpal. This will ensure that all the corrupt will land in jail, he said.

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Hazare-announces-jail-bharo-on-April-12-after-govt-rejects-demands/articleshow/7911517.cms

BSNL gave away valuable spectrum to 'shell companies'

NEW DELHI: State-run telecom firm BSNL bestowed favours on "shell companies" by allotting them wireless access (WiMAX) franchises; they, in turn, were more interested in selling their stake to "potential buyers" than in rolling out broadband network services. 

Communications minister Kapil Sibal has asked the telecom department to probe how Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) handed out costly broadband wireless spectrum to select WiMAX franchises who did not meet eligibility criteria for technical experience. "It has been pointed out that cheap access has been provided to these shell companies to precious resources of BSNL, including costly broadband wireless access spectrum in metropolitan cities for which BSNL has already made massive upfront payments," Sibal said in his letter. 

Official sources said some of these firms had no track record — one dealt in auto parts. BSNL allowed tweaking of contract conditions post-bid to favour some franchises. Firms also "changed their technology partners after the bid". One firm dropped Cisco for Alvarion and similarly other companies also changed technology partners. 

DoT sources said the file on the controversial deals never reached the ministry. 

"I would like DoT in coordination with finance wing to scrutinize the entire exercise once again and suggest appropriate action latest by February 11, 2011," Sibal wrote to the telecom department. He noted that BSNL made "massive upfront payments" for WiMAX, a technology that allows speedy broadband services. But it provided "cheap access" to the shell companies. 

The penalty clauses for not complying with rollout obligations were weak - ranging between Rs 5 to 10 crore — while the spectrum was worth hundreds of crores. To date, none of the companies have shared any revenue with BSNL and no services have been provided. The firms were also allowed automatic renewal of contract and a one-year moratorium in payment after winning the bids.

Source:-http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/BSNL-gave-away-valuable-spectrum-to-shell-companies/articleshow/7457393.cms