Tag Archives: United Progressive Alliance

Karunanidhi warns of pulling out of UPA over Sri Lanka

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DMK chief M Karunanidhi on Friday warned his party will pull out of the UPA government if India does not press for an independent international probe against those responsible for the genocide in Sri Lanka in the US-sponsored resolution in the UNHRC against the island nation.

In a statement issued here late night, Karunanidhi, referring to the US sponsored resolution at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), said: “India should take steps to amend the American resolution to include thatt those war criminals responsible for the genocide in Sri Lanka be identified, hold a free international enquiry against them and take time bound appropriate action.”

“If this request is not heeded, it will be meaningless for the DMK to continue in the central government,” he added.

DMK, with 18 members in the Lok Sabha, is a key constituent in the central United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government.

IANS

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DMK against FDI but ‘very strongly’ backs government

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Government ally DMK Thursday said it was against foreign investment in multi-brand retail but “very strongly” supports the ruling UPA and wants it to complete its full term.

DMK’s Tiruchi Siva told the Rajya Sabha that his party “finds it essential that the government should go for its full term for the progressive measures it has been taking.. and we want to keep away communal forces”.

The DMK spoke against allowing foreign investment in retail in the Lok Sabha but voted for the government Wednesday. It has 18 MPs in the lower house and seven in the upper house.

In a repeat of its stand, Siva said in the upper house: “DMK very strongly supports the government, but opposes the motion for FDI.

“The DMK has never let its friends down midway.. We started with a mission and the DMK will always be with the UPA.”

Terming FDI a “foreign invasion” by multinationals, Siva said: “FDI giants will eat the small farmers and shopkeepers.”

He urged the government to start a farmers market instead of bringing in FDI. “Through such a market, farmers can bring their produce directly to the market, such things can be done.”

Siva said the government should have gone in for consensus “to assuage the fears in the minds of the people” about FDI.

IANS

Sonia Gandhi: World’s Fourth Richest Politician

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Sonia Gandhi is the world’s fourth richest politician, said Business Insider, a U.S. based internet news aggregator and publisher. As per the report, the UPA chairperson’s wealth is currently valued at $2-19 billion (Rs 10,000-45,000 crore).

The wide range given, $2-19 billion is a giveaway that these numbers may have been plucked out of a hat.

As per Netapedia, an online encyclopedia about India’s politicians and the political events, Sonia Gandhi has movable assets worth 1, 17, 70,468 and immovable assets worth 20, 24,300. This financial information was as per affidavit filed before the 2009 general elections.

Firstpost’s own estimate, based on income disclosed by Sonia Gandhi during the last general elections and the income-generating assets she owns, suggests that her annual income cannot be more than Rs 50-75 lakh.

Given the wide range within which her assumed wealth is estimated, it is obvious that Business Insider is not sure what the numbers really are. The online publication has sourced the story to a website called ‘World’s Luxury Guide’. Luxury Guide in turn traces its information to five other sources like OpenSecrets.org, Forbes.com, Bloomberg.com, Wikipedia.org, and Guardian.co.uk.

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#UPA Ministers Owe 435 Crore to AI for Foreign Trips

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UPA ministers have accumulated dues of Rs 435 crore on the cash-strapped Air India which is 93 per cent of the total bills incurred by them during their visits abroad, Lok Sabha was informed on Wednesday.

Responding to a question, Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office V Narayanasamy said during 2009-10, Cabinet ministers incurred bills of Rs 61.10 crore on foreign travel while ministers of state spent Rs 3.78 crore.

In 2010-11, Cabinet ministers spent Rs 37.17 crore while ministers of state spent Rs 4.76 crore.
In 2011-12, foreign travel bill of Cabinet ministers was a staggering Rs 460.78 crore till December 16, 2011, while for ministers of state, the figure was Rs 3.80 crore, he said.

The minister said the figure of Rs 460.78 crore “includes pending payments to Air India for previous years amounting to Rs 435 crore“.

He said Ministry-wise expenditure information was being collected and would soon be tabled in the House, adding that the Cabinet Secretariat has issued guidelines from time to time regarding foreign visits by ministers.

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