Failure of the Election Commission of India (ECI) to question appointment of political nominees on the Board of Bharat Electoronics Ltd (BEL) involved in the supply of EVMs To Shri Rajiv Kumar Chief Election Commissioner Shri A C Pandey Election Commissioner Shri A Goel Election Commissioner Dear S/Shri Rajiv Kumar/ Pandey and Goel, Please refer to my[Read More…]
To Shri Rajiv Gauba Cabinet Secretary Government of India Dear Shri Gauba, I have come across a disturbing news report last evening (https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/centre-recommends-cbi-inquiry-against-activist-harsh-manders-ngo-aman-biradari-3877494#pfrom=home-ndtv_indiatrending) that the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has recommended a CBI inquiry against Aman Biradari, an NGO established by writer and human rights activist, Harsh Mander, for alleged violation of the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act. To my mind,[Read More…]
To Smt Nirmala Sitharaman Union Finance Minister Dear Smt Sitharaman, I refer to my last letter dated 26-2-2023 addressed to you on the subject (https://countercurrents.org/2023/02/has-the-government-unwittingly-or-otherwise-reduced-hzls-value-as-a-prelude-to-proposed-sale-of-its-29-54-equity-sale/) I understand that the Board of Hindustan Zinc Ltd. (HZL) will be meeting shortly to take a decision on releasing the final dividend for 2022-23. In that connection, I wish to raise the following concerns: Considering that[Read More…]
To Shri Rajiv Kumar Chief Election Commissioner Shri A C Pandey Election Commissioner Shri A Goel Election Commissioner Dear S/Shri Rajiv Kumar/ Pandey and Goel, I write this letter to highlight the Commission’s double standards in applying the Model Code of Conduct (MCC), one for the influential and another for the disadvantaged. The migrant Chenchus of Visakhapatnam: The[Read More…]
To Shri Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy Chief Minister Andhra Pradesh Dear Shri Jagan Mohan Reddy garu, I understand that Andhra Pradesh Power Generation Corporation (APGENCO) has placed an order for 7.5 lakh tonnes of imported coal for the Damodaram Sanjeevaiah TPS (DSTPS) at Krishnapatnam, by selecting the Adani Group as the successful bidder at a quoted price of[Read More…]
To Shri Alok Tandon Union Mines Secretary Dear Shri Tandon, You are aware of my correspondence with the Cabinet Secretary and the Ministry of Corporate Affairs on a disclosure filed by the Vedanta Group in the national stock exchanges on 19-1-2023 on a proposal allegedly approved by the Board of Hindustan Zinc Ltd (HZL) to acquire the group’s zinc subsidiary[Read More…]
To Dr Manoj Govil Secretary (Corporate Affairs) Govt of India Dear Dr Govil, The Vedanta Group, the majority shareholder of Hindustan Zinc Ltd. (HZL), informed the national stock exchanges on 19-1-2023 vide their communication No.HZL/2023-SECY/ dated January 19, 2023, as required by SEBI’s Listing Regulations, that HZL’s Board met on the same day and passed a resolution to acquire THL Zinc Ltd,[Read More…]
To Smt Alka Tiwari Secretary National Commission for the Scheduled Tribes (NCST) Dear Smt Tiwari, This refers to a news report (https://www.cnbctv18.com/business/companies/adani-arm-mundra-aluminium-named-preferred-bidder-for-odisha-bauxite-block-16061911.htm) that the Ministry of Mines has recently auctioned Kutrumali bauxite mine in Kalahandi/ Rayagarh districts in Odisha to the Adani Group. This mineral block is located in Thuamul Rampur of Kalahandi district and partly in Kashipur Tahasil of Rayagada[Read More…]
To Shri A L Meena Union Coal Secretary Dear Shri Meena, I refer to the CAG Report No 20/2016 on E-Auctions conducted by your Ministry for allotment of coal blocks, following the judgement of the Hon’ble Supreme Court holding earlier coal block allotments to be illegal. In particular, I invite your attention to the following observations of the CAG:[Read More…]
To Smt Nirmala Sitharaman Union Finance Minister Dear Smt Sitharaman, From media reports, it appears that both DIPAM and the Ministry of Mines are in a hurry to divest the government’s equity share of 29.54% in Hindustan Zinc Ltd. (HZL), without appreciating the strategic and financial implications of the proposal. In this connection, I invite your attention to my letters[Read More…]
To Shri Rajiv Gauba Cabinet Secretary Dear Shri Gauba, I refer to my earlier letter dated 7-2-2023 (https://countercurrents.org/2023/02/hindustan-zinc-ltd-hzl-proposed-acquisition-of-overseas-zinc-companies-in-namibia-and-s-africa-is-questionable/) raising serious concerns bout HZL’s proposal to buy THL, a Mauritius-based company of Vedanta, indirectly owning majority equity stakes in overseas zinc companies in S.Africa and Namibia. Belatedly, the Ministry of Mines has filed its opposition to the proposal (https://www.bseindia.com/xml-data/corpfiling/AttachLive/705CD9B9-44C1-403F-AEAA-F525481B0709-083834.pdf), stating that[Read More…]
To Respected Chief Ministers Sir, During the last few years, there has been a growing trend on the part of the Centre to diminish the role of the States under the Constitution in several ways, including by reducing the share of tax receipts to be devolved to the States on the basis of equitable allocations recommended by the Finance Commission[Read More…]
To Shri G C Murmu C&AG Dear Shri Murmu, The AP State government sold its 10.4% equity share in Gangavaram Port to the Adani Group in mid-2021 for Rs 120 per share, at a total value of Rs 644 Crores, without going through any competitive bidding procedure, as required by the Centre’s disinvestment guidelines, thus deliberately allowing the transaction[Read More…]
To Smt Alka Tiwari Secretary National Commission for the Scheduled Tribes (NCST) Dear Smt Tiwari, I understand from a news report (https://m.economictimes.com/industry/indl-goods/svs/metals-mining/vedanta-declared-preferred-bidder-for-bauxite-block-in-odisha/articleshow/97953706.cms) that the Odisha government has put the Sijimali bauxite mine located across Kalahandi and Rayagada districts to auction and that the Vedanta Group has been declared as a preferred bidder. Sijimali bauxite mine is located across Thuamul–Rampur tehsil of[Read More…]
To Shri Bhagwant Mann Chief Minister Punjab Dear Mann saheb, I have come across reports on the Centre asking Punjab power utilities to pay for transporting coal from the State’s coal mines in the eastern region via Adani Group’s port on the west coast (https://www.thestatesman.com/india/punjab-being-made-to-bear-high-expense-of-coal-to-benefit-adani-mann-1503154486.html). This is indeed paradoxical, to say the least! I had earlier written to you and[Read More…]
To Shri Rajiv Gauba Cabinet Secretary Dear Shri Gauba, For the last several years, I have been questioning the Union Mines Ministry’s proposal to disinvest government’s residual equity share of 29.58% in Hindustan Zinc Ltd (HZL), keeping in view that zinc is a critical mineral on which public ownership and control would be necessary and also keeping in view the manner[Read More…]
To Smt Nirmala Sitharaman Union Finance Minister Dear Smt Sitharaman, You must have received my letter of 31st January, 2023 (https://countercurrents.org/2023/02/overseas-shell-companies-a-shadow-economy-a-threat-t-national) on the legal vacuum left unfilled over the years (“shell companies” not statutorily defined), deliberately or otherwise, by the Finance and Corporate Affairs Ministries, which has perhaps strengthened the unholy nexus that exists between domestic corporate entities and their overseas shell[Read More…]
To Smt Nirmala Sitharaman Union Minister for Finance & Corporate Affairs, Dear Smt Sitharaman, In recent times, there has been a proliferation of overseas shell companies, which have literally come to represent a shadow economy, posing a threat to the stability of the financial system and a serious affront to national security. Answering a Rajya Sabha Question on shell companies[Read More…]
To Shri Govind Mohan Secretary Union Ministry of Culture Dear Shri Govind Mohan, I have come across a disturbing news report today (https://swarajyamag.com/news-brief/rationalise-the-number-of-monuments-of-national-importance-says-economic-advisory-council-led-by-sanjeev-sanyal) that the PM’s Economic Advisory Council (EAC) is considering a report titled “Monuments of National Importance — Urgent Need for rationalisation’ authored by Sanjeev Sanyal, pointing out that “the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI)’s list of MNIs (Monuments[Read More…]
To Smt Droupadi Murmu President of India Rashtrapati Bhawan Respected Rashtrapati Ji, Subject:- A mega Infrastructure project being undertaken by the government in Great Nicobar Island, without prior consultation with the NCST, would be violative of the Constitutional mandate and adversely impact the lives of the local tribals I wish to express my utmost concern at the manner in which the Union[Read More…]
To Shri Debasish Panda Chairman Insurance Regulatory Authority of India (IRDAI) Dear Shri Panda, I have come across a news report today (https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/wealth/insure/health-insurance/latest-general-and-health-insurance-claim-settlement-ratio-of-insurance-companies-in-india/printarticle/97081682.cms) that refers to information released by IRDAI on claim settlement ratios for life and general insurance claims in the case of private and public sector insurerers. According to that information, the claim settlement ratios for general insurance[Read More…]
Tip of the iceberg: Land subsidence in the Uttarakhand hills seems to be taking its heavy toll, not merely in Joshimath and Karanprayag, where many structures have developed cracks, but it is also likely to affect the other towns, including Gopeshwar in Chamoli district (where Joshimath is situated), Ghansali in Tehri district, Munsiari and Dharchula in Pithoragarh district, Bhatwari in[Read More…]
To Shri Rajiv Kumar Chief Election Commissioner Election Commission of India (ECI) Shri A C Pandey Election Commissioner ECI Shri Arun Goel Election Commissioner ECI Dear S/Shri Rajiv Kumar/ Pandey/ Goel, I have addressed you a letter on 7-1-2022 (https://countercurrents.org/2023/01/use-of-remote-evms-for-migrants-eci-should-set-its-house-in-order/), in connection with the proposed introduction of remote EVMs for enfranchising migrant voters and, in that connection, I[Read More…]
To Shri Rajiv Kumar Chief Election Commissioner Shri A C Pandey Election Commissioner Shri Arun Goel Election Commissioner Dear S/Shri Rajiv Kumar/ Pandey/ Goel, I refer to the Commission’s proposal to introduce Remote EVMs to enable migrant workers to cast their votes in their home constituencies. While the Commission’s effort to include migrant workers in the electoral[Read More…]
To Smt Droupadi Murmu President of India Rashtrapati Bhawan Subject:- Migrant Gutti Koyas (Murias) in Telangana facing a humanitarian crisis- Urgent need for recognition of their Constitutional rights in Telangana, AP, Odisha and Maharashtra Respected Rashtrapati Ji, A severe conflict situation in Chhattisgarh State since 2005-06 has forced more than 50,000 Muria adivasis, recognised as a Scheduled Tribe (ST) in their[Read More…]
Inaugurating the first Global Innovation Summit of the pharmaceuticals sector in November, 2021, Prime Minister Modi, in his characteristic triumphant style, said, “the global trust earned by the Indian healthcare sector (in recent times) has led to the nation being called the “pharmacy of the world” (https://www.business-standard.com/article/current-affairs/india-is-now-being-called- pharmacy-of-the-world-says-pm-modi-121111801288_1.html). It is true that the Indian pharmaceutical sector meets 50% of the[Read More…]
To Smt Droupadi Murmu President of India Rashtrapati Bhawan Respected Rashtrapati Ji, In June this year, while addressing a gathering in the UK, Justice Shri D Y Chandrachud, the present Chief Justice of India (CJI), was reported to have made the following observations. “the Constitution’s transformative dimension comes from its attempt to remedy discrimination. Flowing from it, working towards equality needs to consider[Read More…]
To Shri Rajesh Bhushan Union Health Secretary Dear Shri Rajesh Bhushan, I had earlier expressed my concerns about the implications of the death of 70 children in Gambia, allegedly the victims of substandard cough syrup manufactured by Maiden Pharma in Haryana. My letters 6-10-2022 and 12-10-2022 refer (https://countercurrents.org/2022/10/death-of-children-in-gambia-action-against-the-drug-regulators-called-for/?swcfpc=1). You may have seen the recent news reports on a Select[Read More…]
Opening mining of atomic minerals to private parties detrimental to national interest To Shri Rajiv Gauba Union Cabinet Secretary Dear Shri Gauba, Please refer to my letter dated 7-10-2022 on the far reaching implications of allowing private companies to mine atomic minerals and the need for revoking recent amendments to the Mines & Minerals (Development & Regulation) Act, 1957 (MMDRA) in furtherance[Read More…]
To Smt Nirmala Sitharaman Union Finance Minister Dear Smt Sitharaman, The Vizhinjam Port project being set up in Kerala as a “Landlord PPP” project involves partial financial support from the Centre towards “Viability GAP Funding”, in accordance with the PPP format developed by the erstwhile Planning Commission. The Kerala State Govt, after inviting bids from prospective promoters for the PPP[Read More…]
Shri G C Murmu Comptroller & Auditor General of India (CAG) Dear Shri Murmu, I write this in continuation of my letter dated 23-11-2022 (http://eassarma.in/sites/default/files/public/Vedanta-Foxconn-Letter-to-CAG.pdf), in which I had expressed my concerns at the excessively large capital subsidies provided to profit earning private corporate groups in the guise of the stated objective, “building Indian capabilities in semiconductor manufacturing is an imperative for[Read More…]
To Ms Leena Nandan Secretary Ministry of Environment, Forests & Climate Change (MEFCC) Govt of India Dear Ms Nandan, I understand that your Ministry has taken action to introduce a Bill to amend the Forest (Conservation) Rules in the Parliament during the ensuing winter session. The Bill has far reaching implications for the lives of the adivasis across the country[Read More…]
To Shri Rajiv Kumar Chief Election Commissioner Shri A C Pandey Election Commissioner Shri A Goel Election Commissioner Dear S/Shri Rajiv Kumar/ Pandey and Goel, I refer to my two letters of November 26 & 28, 2022 (http://eassarma.in/sites/default/files/public/MCC-Gujarat-Letter-dated_26-11-2022-to-CEC.pdf & http://eassarma.in/sites/default/files/public/Letter-to-ECI_28-11-2022.pdf) on possible violation of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) in Gujarat by Shri Amit Shah, the Union Home Minister, in[Read More…]
To Smt Alka Tiwari Secretary National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) Subject:- Great Nicobar Island- A “Mega Infrastructure Project cleared by Ministry of Environment without prior clearance by NCST Dear Smt Tiwari, I wish to submit the following concerns about this project to Hon’ble NCST for their consideration. The Ministry of Environment, Forests & Climate Change (MEFCC) accorded statutory Environment[Read More…]
Nicobar Mega Infra Project – destructive of the local ecology and detrimental to the interests of the Particularly Vulnerable Tribal communities- Revoke clearance for the project To Shri Bhupender Yadav Union Minister for Environment, Forests & Climate Change (MEFCC) Dear Shri Yadav, I have enclosed here a copy of my letter dated 15-11-2-022 addressed to you on a mega infra[Read More…]
Violation of Model Code of Conduct by Shri Amit Shah, the Union Home Minister in Gujarat- Defer Gujarat Assembly elections in view of the far reaching ramifications of his statement To Shri Rajiv Kumar Chief Election Commissioner Shri A C Pandey Election Commissioner Shri A Goel Election Commissioner Dear S/Shri Rajiv Kumar/ Pandey and Goel, I have come[Read More…]
To Smt Nirmala Sitharaman Union Finance Minister Dear Smt Sitharaman, In your Budget Speech this year, you referred to the government’s decision on Productivity Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme as follows: “The Productivity Linked Incentive in 14 sectors for achieving the vision of Atma Nirbhar Bharat has received excellent response, with potential to create 60 lakh new jobs, and an additional[Read More…]
To Smt Nirmala Sitharaman Union Finance Minister Dear Smt Sitharaman, I refer to a news report (https://www.businessworld.in/article/Union-Min-Pradhan-Seeks-Probe-Into-Farmers-Insurance-Scheme-In-Odisha-/17-11-2022-454459/) that Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, the Union Education Minister has written to the Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister, apparently on the basis of his own sordid experience in Odisha, to “launch an investigation into the ‘scam’ committed during the implementation of the Pradhan[Read More…]
To Shri A L Meena Union Coal Secretary Shri A K Jha Union Secretary for Tribal affairs Dear S/Shri Meena and Jha, I understand that the Ministry of Coal has allotted Gondalpura coal block in Hazaribagh district of Jharkhand in favour of the Adani Group and the local communities who would be displaced, including adivasis, are protesting against it (https://thewire.in/rights/gondalpura-coal-mining-adani-group-protests).[Read More…]
Diversion of 130.75 sq km of heritage forest land in Greater Nicobar island for a Mega Infrastructure Project violates every conceivable environmental norm To Shri Bhupender Yadav Union Minister for Environment, Forests & Climate Change (MEFCC) Dear Shri Yadav, I refer to the Hindu news report (https://frontline.thehindu.com/environment/massive-infrastructure-project-proposed-by-central-government-threatens-great-nicobar-island/article65991977.ece) on an “in-principle” clearance accorded by the Forest Wing of your Ministry for[Read More…]
In 2019, Prime Minister Modi envisioned “to make India a USD 5-trillion economy and global powerhouse by 2024-25” (https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/india/each-state-must-define-a-target-to-make-india-5-trillion-economy-pm-modi/articleshow/92288178.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst). More recently, he said. “BJP’s double-engine governments see India’s need for speed as ‘ambition’ and ‘scale’ as its ‘strength’, unlike their predecessors who treated the first as a ‘luxury”‘and the other as ‘risk’”,(http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/95460746.cms#amp_tf=From%20%251%24s&aoh=16682908062088&csi=0&referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst) A USD 5-trillion sized economy by 2024-25 i.e.[Read More…]
Shri Rajiv Kumar Chief Election Commissioner Shri A C Pandey Election Commissioner Dear S/Shri Rajiv Kumar and Pandey, I wonder whether the Election Commission of India (ECI) has come across two successive statutory notifications, one issued on 29-9-2022 (“State Bank of India (SBI), in the XXII Phase of sale, has been authorised to issue and encash Electoral Bonds through its[Read More…]
To Shri Shaktikanta Das Governor RBI Dear Shri Das, As a statutory regulator for both banking and non-banking financial companies, the RBI is required to remain independent and maintain an arms length distance from their management. I have come across a disturbing news report recently (https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/business/rbi-encouraged-us-to-go-for-hdfc-hdfc-bank-merger-says-deepak-parekh-9452931.html) that the RBI had encouraged HDFC and HDFC Bank to go for a merger, in anticipation of[Read More…]
CEC’s reported statement that Morbi bridge collapse was a factor for delaying announcement of the dates of Gujarat elections To Smt Droupadi Murmu President of India Rashtrapati Bhawan Respected Rashtrapati Ji, I refer to a statement reported to have been made by the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) on November 3, 2022 that “Morbi bridge collapse, a factor in delay in[Read More…]
To Shri Bhupender Yadav Union Labour Minister Dear Shri Yadav, Following several news reports on the problems faced by Indian migrant workers in Qatar, I addressed the External Affairs Minister, Dr S Jaishankar on 29-3-2021 for taking up the matter with the concerned authorities in Qatar. A copy of my letter is available in your Ministry. I extract below a relevant portion of[Read More…]
To Smt Nirmala Sitharaman Union Finance Minister Dear Smt Sitharaman, This refers to my last letter dated 16-9-2022, and the previous correspondence, as well as the recent report (https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/lic-plans-changes-to-revive-battered-stock-report/articleshow/95146851.cms), on the persistent, contrived attempts by your Ministry to shift LIC’s focus from safeguarding millions of its small policyholders to enriching a few limited number of affluent, speculative stock market investors, to[Read More…]
Letter to State Chief Ministers Respected Chief Minister, I have addressed you through a series of letters on the need for the States to form a “Federal Front” to persuade the Centre to respect the idea of cooperative federalism and ensure that the States’ autonomy as provided in the Constitution is fully safeguarded. My last letter on the subject may[Read More…]
Had DIPAM conducted due diligence on bidders’ background, it would have avoided causing embarrassment to the government in Pawan Hans disinvestment To Smt Nirmala Sitharaman Union Finance Minister Dear Smt Sitharaman, Referring to disposal of scrap in different government departments, the Union Minister for Personnel, Shri Jitendra Singh had proudly announced on October, 25, 2022 that “Over Rs. 254[Read More…]
Allotment of Barra coal block in Raigarh District, Chhattisgarh without local Gram Sabhas’ consent violates PESA and FRA E A S Sarma Former Secretary to Government of India To Shri Amitasbh Jain Chief Secretary Chhattisgarh State Govt Dear Shri Jain, I understand that the Union Ministry of Coal has allotted the Barra coal block in Kharsia Taluk in Raigad District[Read More…]
To Dr Suman Bery Vice-Chairman Niti Ayog Dear Dr Bery, In the public healthcare set up in the country, the hospitals run by the State governments at the district level play a pivotal role, providing a vast social security cover for the people, spanning the length and the breadth of the country. The medical and the para-medical[Read More…]
To Shri G C Murmu C&AG Dear Shri Murmu, I have just come across a news report (https://indianexpress.com/article/india/after-ec-now-cag-works-to-red-flag-freebies-state-largesse-8225594/) that your office would be “exploring how to devise parameters that will ‘red-flag’ the burden of subsidies, off-budget borrowings, discounts and write-offs which may pose challenges to the economy of States“. While the office of the C&AG has an obligation to audit[Read More…]
To Shri Rajiv Kumar Chief Election Commissioner Shri A C Pandey Election Commissioner Dear S/Shri Rajiv Kumar and Pandey, I have come across a disturbing news report (https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/ahmedabad/gujarat-firms-sign-mou-with-election-commission-to-name-shame-workers-who-dont-vote-8214689/) that “for the first time, over 1,000 corporate houses in Gujarat have signed agreements with the Election Commission (EC), undertaking to monitor ‘electoral participation of their workforce’ and publish the names of[Read More…]
Indian pharma company’s contaminated cough syrups have caused death of children in Gambia- Action against the drug regulators called for To Shri Rajesh Bhushan Union Health Secretary Dear Shri Bhushan, The news about an Indian pharma company’s cough syrup products causing the death of 66 children in Gambia has brought discredit to the country’s pharma industry and discredit to pharma[Read More…]
Revoke amendments to Mines & Minerals (Development & Regulation) Act, 1957 (MMDRA), especially with reference to entry of private companies in beach sand mining To Shri Rajiv Gauba Union Cabinet Secretar Dear Shri Gauba, I have time and again cautioned the government not to amend the Mines & Minerals (Development & Regulation) Act, 1957 (MMDRA), as proposed by the Ministry[Read More…]
Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSSs) funded under article 282 of the Constitution not only pose a threat to federalism but also lead to misapplication of scarce public resources To Shri G C Murmu Comptroller & Auditor General of India (CAG) Dear Shri Murmu, Earlier, vide my letter dated 20-9-2022, I had requested your office to conduct a special audit of a[Read More…]
To Shri Rajesh Bhushan Union Health Secretary Dear Shri Bhushan, During the last few years, the use of spurious cough syrup in India has caused deaths of infants. Eleven children lost their lives due to this in J&K in 2020 (https://indianexpress.com/article/india/jammu-children-deaths-poisonous-cough-syrup-recalled-udhampur-district-6286962/). There were several such instances in other States, as evident from the following news reports. https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/chandigarh/himachal-pradesh-toxic-cough-syrup-maker-gave-misleading-quality-report-hc-informed-6562290/ https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/healthcare/biotech/pharmaceuticals/cough-syrup-had-nothing-to-do-with-children-deaths-digital-vision-owner/articleshow/74312160.cms?from=mdr Despite this, no tangible[Read More…]
An appeal for initiating action to set up a legal service authority to reach out to undertrials and secure access for them to legal assistance for enabling them to get justice To Smt Droupadi Murmu President of India Rashtrapati Bhawan Respected Rashtrapati Ji, I had earlier addressed you vide my letter dated 25-7-2022 (which can also be readily accessed at[Read More…]
To Shri A K Bhalla Union Home Secretary Dear Shri Bhalla, The Dept of Telecommunications (DOT) had conducted 5G spectrum auctions recently, without fully appreciating the strategic implications of privatising the spectrum and without adequate preparatory steps to indigenise the 5G mobile technology so as to make sure that the country’s mobile services do not become captive to foreign agencies.[Read More…]
To Shri Shaktikanta Das Governor RBI Dear Shri Shaktikanta Das, I had earlier written to you about excessive borrowings by certain corporate entities from the PSU banks and their over-leveraged operations (https://countercurrents.org/2022/08/reports-on-highly-leveraged-debt-based-operations-of-the-adani-group-calls-for-a-closer-look-from-the-psu-banks-point-of-view/). In particular, I had suggested that RBI should be aware of the implications of corporates carrying out their operations, heavily dependent on PSU bank credit, instead of[Read More…]
To Smt Nirmala Sitharaman Union Finance Minister Dear Smt Sitharaman, I gather that the government has decided to scrap disinvestment of the Central Electronics Ltd (CEL), apparently on the ground that there were quasi-judicial proceedings pending against the bidder selected by DIPAM, a fact that the bidder had not disclosed. Thus, the blame seems to have been placed entirely on the[Read More…]
To Shri G C Murmu Comptroller & Auditor General of India (CAG) Dear Shri Murmu, The Ministry of Agriculture had introduced a Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS), Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) around 5 years ago for providing comprehensive crop insurance for farmers. Insurance under PMFBY is a precondition for farmers to take crop loans. From the website of PMFBY and[Read More…]
To Shri Ajay Seth Secretary (DEA) Ministry of Finance Govt of India Dear Shri Seth I refer to the revised overseas investment rules issued by the Union Finance Ministry vide GSR 646(E) dated 22-8-2022 on overseas direct investment (ODI). Apparently, these rules were notified on the basis of a draft notification placed in the public domain about a year[Read More…]
To Smt Nirmala Sitharaman Union Finance Minister Dear Smt Sitharaman, I have come across a report today (https://www.business-standard.com/article/finance/lic-exploring-all-options-on-dematerialisation-of-insurance-policies-122091500928_1.html) that the Insurance Regulatory Authority of India (IRDAI) has proposed to “dematerialise” all insurance policies, including life insurance policies. As a follow up measure, LIC seems to be considering to set up its own repository, in view of the large number of[Read More…]
To Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw Union Railway Minister Dear Shri Vaishnaw, I have come across a news report recently that the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has approved a steep reduction in the annual rental for land leased to third parties by the Railways from the existing 6% to 1.5% of the market value of the land, annual step-up[Read More…]
To Shri K Rajaraman Secretary (Telecommunications) Govt of India Dear Shri Rajaraman, I had earlier addressed the Comptroller & Auditor General of India (C&AG) to scrutinise the recent 5G spectrum auctions, keeping in view the absence of any worthwhile competition, which diluted its credibility, as also the post-tender relaxations allowed, that had the effect of vitiating the sanctity of[Read More…]
To Shri Anil Kumar Jha Union Tribal Affairs Secretary Shri Alok Tandon Union Mines Secretary Shri Amitabh Jain Chief Secretary Chhattisgarh Dear S/Shri Jha, Tandon and Jain, I understand that NMDC’s steel plant near Nagarnar in Bastar district of Chattisgarh has been demerged from NMDC and the Centre is fast-tracking its privatisation. There are some important[Read More…]
To Smt Nirmala Sitharaman Union Finance Minister Dear Smt Sitharaman, Over the last few months, I have addressed the government more than once, expressing my concern at the undue haste in which the government has resorted to privatising CPSEs and their valuable assets. For ready reference, some of those letters may be accessed at the following web-links. https://countercurrents.org/2022/03/lic-ipo-gross-injustice-to-the-smaller-lic-policy-holders-especially-those-belonging-to-the-scs-sts-obcs/ https://www.moneylife.in/article/lic-ipo-gross-underestimated-valuation-put-it-on-hold-says-eas-sarma/66146.html https://countercurrents.org/2022/01/cpse-disinvestment-valuation-approach-flawed/ https://countercurrents.org/2022/07/privatisation-of-psu-banks-legal-and-other-implications/[Read More…]
Letter to the Chief Ministers Respected Chief Ministers, Subject:- Increasing threat to federalism from Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSSs)– Need to form a Federal Front of the States to persuade the Centre not to proliferate CSSs, instead transfer existing CSSs with the associated fund allocations to the States I invite your attention to my letter dated March 2, 2022 addressed to[Read More…]
To Smt Nirmala Sitharaman Union Finance Minister Dear Smt Sitharaman, In my letter dated 26-8-2022 addressed to RBI Governor (https://countercurrents.org/2022/08/reports-on-highly-leveraged-debt-based-operations-of-the-adani-group-calls-for-a-closer-look-from-the-psu-banks-point-of-view/), I had specifically referred to the risks the public sector banks (PSBs) face from loans given to large private groups of companies, excessively dependent on over-leveraged debt, with little equity contributions of their own, aggressively expanding their activities into new areas in which they[Read More…]
To Shri Shaktikant Das Governor RBI Dear Shri Das, RBI must have seen the disturbing report of the credit research agency, CreditSights, on highly over-leveraged expansion programme undertaken by the Adani Group in India and abroad (https://www.reuters.com/world/india/indias-adani-group-deeply-overleveraged-creditsights-says-2022-08-23/) The credit research agency is reported to have pointed out, “The conglomerate’s debt-funded growth plans could spiral ‘into a massive debt trap’ and[Read More…]
To Shri G C Murmu C&AG Dear Shri Murmu, I write this in continuation of my previous two letters dated 13-8-2022 & 15-8-2022 on the 5G spectrum auctions (https://countercurrents.org/2022/08/5g-spectrum-is-it-a-distress-sale-cag-may-look-at-it-carefully/) There are two important post-tender developments that accentuate the concerns I had raised in my letter dated 13-8-2022. They are as follows. Relaxation of security conditions in border areas for mobile operators- Is[Read More…]
To Shri Rajiv Gauba Union Cabinet Secretary Dear Shri Gauba, I have cautioned the government several times on the need to strengthen the CPSEs from the point of view of promoting the country’s self-reliance, rather than weaken and privatise them. The way the government has dealt with the Maharatna oil behemoth, the ONGC is a case in point. In particular,[Read More…]
To Smt Droupadi Murmu President of India Rashtrapati Bhawan Respected Rashtrapati Ji, Delivering the 19th D P Kohli Memorial Lecture on ‘Democracy: Role and Responsibilities of Investigative Agencies’ in April this year, Chief Justice of India (CJI), Shri N V Ramana said, “our rich diversity cannot be sustained through dictatorial governance……with the passage of time, like every other institution of repute, the[Read More…]
Letter to the Chief Ministers Respected Chief Minister Kindly refer to my letter dated 8-8-2022 (https://countercurrents.org/2022/08/two-electricity-bills-tabled-in-the-parliament-without-consulting-the-states-letter-to-the-chief-ministers-of-states/) in which I cited the unilateral manner in which the Centre had tabled two Bills in the Parliament, one introducing several regressive amendments to the Electricity Act, 2003 and another for amending the Energy Conservation Act, also imposing undue obligations on the State power[Read More…]
To Dr Suman Bery Vice-Chairmam Niti Ayog Dear Dr Bery, For quite some time, I have been requesting both Niti Ayog and the Jal Shakti Ministry to take a long-term view of groundwater management and its implications for electricity subsidies and food security. In particular, I invite your attention to my letter dated 15-9-2020 addressed to the Prime Minister and[Read More…]
To Shri G C Murmu C&AG Dear Shri Murmu, I write this in continuation of my previous letter dated 13-8-2022 on the 5G spectrum auctions (https://countercurrents.org/2022/08/5g-spectrum-is-it-a-distress-sale-cag-may-look-at-it-carefully/) The DOT is about to resume 5G spectrum auctions and put more valuable spectrum bands on a distress sale (https://m.economictimes.com/industry/telecom/telecom-news/dot-initiates-process-to-auction-more-5g-spectrum/articleshow/93564927.cms) I have already pointed out in detail how the earlier[Read More…]
Pension entitlement of retiring low-wage employees of public and private sectors under the EPS Scheme not consistent with human dignity To Smt Nirmala Sitharaman Union Finance Minister Dear Smt Sitharaman, Kindly refer to my letters dated 22-9-2020 & 11-3-2021 addressed to you seeking revision of pension under EPS-95 scheme to bring it in line with the necessity of enabling the[Read More…]
To Shri G C Murmu C&AG Dear Shri Murmu, The Department of Telecommunications (DOT) in the Ministry of Communications has just finalized 5G spectrum auctions. According to the Ministry’s statements, out of the 72,098 MHz of spectrum put on sale, the government has realised Rs 150,173 Crores from the sale of 51,236 MHz of spectrum that could be sold. Most[Read More…]
Respected Chief Minister, At the recent Niti Ayog meeting, the Prime Minister (PM) is reported to have said that “India’s federal structure and cooperative federalism emerged as a model for the world during Covid crisis” (https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/indias-federal-structure-became-role-model-covid-19-pm-modi-niti-aayog-meeting-101659873302169.html). While the sentiment underlying the statement is commendable, it is important that it is translated into tangible action in all respects. In the past,[Read More…]
To Shri Rajiv Kumar CEC Shri Anup Chandra Pandey EC Dear S/Shri Rajiv Kumar and Pandey, I understand that a PIL has been filed before the Supreme Court seeking a direction to stop political parties from promising and distributing “irrational freebies” during election campaigns. Any undue inducement by a political party in power to woo the voters at the cost[Read More…]
To Smt Leena Nandan Secretary Ministry of Environment, Forests & Climate Change (MEFCC) Govt of India Shri A K Jha Secretary Ministry of Tribal Affairs Govt of India Dear Smt Nandan and Shri Jha, I refer to the amendment introduced by the MEFCC to the Forest (Conservation) Rules vide GSR 480(E) dated 28-6-2022, in which the procedure for[Read More…]
To Smt Nirmala Sitharaman Union Finance Minister Dear Smt Sitharaman, As one closely associated [as the then Chairman of the committee on Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management (FRBM) legislation in the year 2000] with the idea of evolving a statutory framework for the Centre and the States to ensure transparency in terms of the disclosure of fiscal liabilities to their respective[Read More…]
To Smt Droupadi Murmu President of India Rashtrapati Bhawan Respected Rashtrapati Ji, I wish to congratulate you on being elected as the President of India. As the first representative of the adivasis of the country, I have no doubt that you will take a proactive role in re-orienting the policy of the government for the overall betterment of the adivasis’[Read More…]
Respected Chief Minister, I had earlier addressed you through a series of letters on the range of policy changes introduced by the Centre that amounted to making inroads into the legislative and the executive domains of the States and overstepping the lakshman rekha of federalism that lies at the core of the parliamentary democratic system provided in the Constitution. The[Read More…]
To Shri Tarun Bajaj Union Revenue Secretary Dear Shri Bajaj, I understand that the a Customs, Excise & Service Tax Appellate Tribunal (CESTAT) has pronounced an order in favour of the Adani Group in a case being investigated by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) on alleged over invoicing of power equipment by some companies belonging to that group. I refer[Read More…]
To Shri Rajiv Gauba Cabinet Secretary Govt of India I have just come across a public notice issued by the Union Ministry of Mines proposing a few far reaching amendments to the Mines & Minerals (Development & Regulation) Act, 1957 (MMDRA). I have enclosed here a copy of the relevant notice [Ministry of Mines No. M VI-1/3/2022- Mines VI dated[Read More…]
“We must have full control over our electricity production and performance”, said the French Prime Minister recently, when she informed the Parliament of the government’s decision to increase its equity share from the present 83.76% to 100% in the EDF company, France’s premier nuclear electricity utility and one of the largest producers of nuclear electricity in the world. France has[Read More…]
To Shri Bhupesh Baghel Chief Minister Chhattisgarh Dear Shri Baghel, I have come across a news report (https://indianexpress.com/article/india/forest-conservation-rules-disempower-tribals-congress-8021282/) on a Congress spokesperson alleging that the NDA government at the Centre had amended the rules framed under the Forest Conservation Act on June 28, 2022, that would effectively bypass the requirement under another Central legislation, the Forest Rights Act (FRA) which[Read More…]
To Shri Rajiv Kumar Chief Election Commissioner Shri A C Pandey Election Commissioner Dear S/Shri Rajiv Kumar and Pandey, Please refer to my last letter dated 24-6-2022 about the danger posed by money power to the integrity of the electoral processes in the country (https://countercurrents.org/2022/06/money-power-of-the-political-parties-making-a-mockery-of-the-integrity-of-the-electoral-process/) I hope that the Election Commission of India (ECI) has considered my suggestions carefully and[Read More…]
To Smt Nirmala Sitharaman Union Finance Minister Dear Smt Sitharaman, In your Budget speech last year, you had mentioned that the government would privatise a few PSU banks in due course. There are reports on statements originating from your Ministry that the government would introduce a Bill during the coming monsoon session for enabling it to privatise PSU banks in[Read More…]
To Shri Anil Kumar Jha Union Tribal Affairs Secretary Shri Alok Tandon Union Mines Secretary Shri Amitabh Jain Chief Secretary Chhattisgarh Dear S/Shri Jha, Tandon and Jain, I have come across a report (https://www.business-standard.com/article/companies/nmdc-s-steel-plant-sale-may-fetch-enterprise-valuation-of-up-to-4-bn-122062700710_1.html) that the NMDC (a joint sector PSU of the Centre and the State governments) would be shortly hiving off its steel mill with[Read More…]
To Shri Rajiv Kumar Chief Election Commissioner Shri A C Pandey Election Commissioner Dear S/Shri Rajiv Kumar and Pandey, The naked display of money power by the political parties in India, as in display right now and amply evident over the years, raises concerns about the integrity of the electoral process itself and the role of the Election[Read More…]
Sterlite’s Copper Smelting Plant at Tuticorin- Illegal for Sterlite to sell the occupied land which should revert to the original agricultural owners To Shri M. K. Stalin Chief Minister Tamil Nadu Dear Shri Stalin, I understand that the Sterlite company of the Vedanta Group has proposed to sell its Copper Smelter plant at Tuticorin in Tamil Nadu. It is ironic[Read More…]
The Centre likely to table the Bill in the Parliament in the monsoon session to amend the 2003 Electricity Act – The need for the States to express their views Respected Chief Minister, Kindly recall how the Centre, a few years ago, had unilaterally enacted the three farm laws, in addition to introducing a Bill to amend the 2003 electricity[Read More…]
To Smt Nirmala Sitharaman Union Finance Minister Dear Smt Sitharaman, Your Ministry seems to be rushing into monetisation of assets of the CPSEs without adequate due diligence on the comparative costs and benefits. For example, I have come across a news report (https://www.livemint.com/industry/infrastructure/govt-asks-oil-psus-to-come-up-with-monetization-plan-11655236473972.html) that your ministry has been persuading the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas (MPNG) to ensure[Read More…]
To Shri Rajnath Singh Union Defence Minister Dear Shri Rajnath Singh, Kindly refer to my earlier letter dated 3-2-2022 (https://countercurrents.org/2022/02/should-the-government-disinvest-beml-at-all-is-it-not-imprudent/) raising concerns against the proposed privatisation of Bharat Earth Movers Ltd. (BEML) which is a CPSE under the administrative oversight of your ministry and plays a crucial role in meeting the strategic requirements of the defence forces. I have extracted below[Read More…]
To Shri A K Jain Union Coal Secretary Dear Shri Jain, I had written to the Cabinet Secretary earlier on 5-5-2022 (https://countercurrents.org/2022/05/private-companies-exploiting-the-state-power-utilities-with-active-support-from-central-ministries/) about the likely factors that were responsible for the unprecedented coal crisis that has crippled the economy. Partly, the failure on the part of the private coal franchisees to deliver coal as per the expected levels has been a[Read More…]
To Respected Chief Minister Sir, Kindly see my letters addressed to you sometime ago (accessible at the following links) on the need for the States to come together to set up a federal front to take up common issues with the Centre, so as to uphold the spirit of federalism that lies at the core of the Constitution. https://countercurrents.org/2022/03/proposal-for-a-federal-front-to-contain-the-onslaught-on-federalism/ https://countercurrents.org/2022/02/welcoming-the-opposition-to-centres-likely-move-to-privatise-singareni-collieries/ https://countercurrents.org/2022/02/onslaught-on-federalism-an-appeal-for-a-federal-front/[Read More…]
To Smt Nirmala Sitharaman Union Finance Minister Dear Smt Sitharaman, I refer to my earlier letter of May 19, 2022 (http://eassarma.in/sites/default/files/public/Drop-privatisation-forthwith.pdf) calling upon your Ministry to drop all further disinvestment proposals, in view of the dubious outcomes of the sale of the CEL and Pawan Hans and the potential fraudulent aspects of the LIC IPO. Apparently, the Centre is in[Read More…]
To Shri Rajiv Gauba Union Cabinet Secretary Dear Shri Gauba, In the past, I had written to your predecessors and the Ministry of Mines not to divest the government’s share of equity in Hindustan Zinc Ltd. (HZL), keeping in view the strategic nature of Zinc as a scarce mineral. I understand from recent news reports (https://www.news18.com/news/business/vedanta-cant-buy-more-than-5-stake-in-hindustan-zinc-if-divestment-happens-anil-agarwal-5243107.html) that the government has[Read More…]
To Respected Chief Minister Sir, Kindly see my letters addressed to you sometime ago (accessible at the following links) on the need for the States to come together to set up a federal front to take up common issues with the Centre, so as to uphold the spirit of federalism that lies at the core of the Constitution. https://countercurrents.org/2022/03/proposal-for-a-federal-front-to-contain-the-onslaught-on-federalism/ https://countercurrents.org/2022/02/welcoming-the-opposition-to-centres-likely-move-to-privatise-singareni-collieries/ https://countercurrents.org/2022/02/onslaught-on-federalism-an-appeal-for-a-federal-front/ https://countercurrents.org/2022/02/welcoming-the-opposition-to-centres-likely-move-to-privatise-singareni-collieries/[Read More…]
To Shri Rajiv Gauba Cabinet Secretary Dear Shri Gauba, Kindly see my letter dated 4-4-2022 to Coal Secretary on how private companies are openly exploiting the State power utilities with passive and active support from Central Ministries (https://countercurrents.org/2022/04/private-companies-exploiting-the-coal-crisis-need-for-an-investigation/). While the CIL and the SCCL, the two premier public sector coal companies, are doing their best to ramp up coal production[Read More…]
To Smt Nirmala Sitharaman Union Finance Minister Dear Smt Sitharaman, Please refer to my letters dated 6-3-2022, 11-4-2022, 16-4-2022 & 23-4-2022 addressed to you on the manner in which the proposed LIC IPO would do gross injustice to millions of its policyholders, largely belonging to the SCs/STs/OBCs. In my letters cited, I have pointed out to you the five-fold[Read More…]
When Boris Johnson, the British Prime Minister was posing for pictures, adventurously sitting atop a bulldozer in the new JCB factory inaugurated recently in Gujarat, little did he realise (or, did he deliberately choose to ignore?) that only a few days earlier, similar bulldozers were deployed by the local authorities to demolish buildings in the Jahangirpuri colony in New Delhi[Read More…]
To Smt Nirmala Sitharaman Union Finance Minister Dear Smt Sitharaman, Please refer to my letters dated 6-3-2022, 11-4-2022 & 16-4-2022 addressed to you on the manner in which the proposed LIC IPO would do gross injustice to its policyholders, largely belonging to the SCs/STs/OBCs (https://countercurrents.org/2022/03/lic-ipo-gross-injustice-to-the-smaller-lic-policy-holders-especially-those-belonging-to-the-scs-sts-obcs/ & https://countercurrents.org/2022/04/most-disadvantaged-policy-holders-to-lose-out-in-lic-ipo/ & https://countercurrents.org/2022/04/lic-ipo-gross-injustice-to-the-smaller-lic-policy-holders/) In my earlier correspondence, I had brought to your notice the following disturbing[Read More…]
To Smt Nirmala Sitharaman Union Finance Minister Dear Smt Sitharaman, Please refer to my letters dated 6-3-2022 & 11-4-2022 addressed to you on the manner in which the proposed LIC IPO would do gross injustice to its policyholders, largely belonging to the SCs/STs/OBCs (https://countercurrents.org/2022/03/lic-ipo-gross-injustice-to-the-smaller-lic-policy-holders-especially-those-belonging-to-the-scs-sts-obcs/ & https://countercurrents.org/2022/04/most-disadvantaged-policy-holders-to-lose-out-in-lic-ipo/). In my correspondence, I had pointed out again and again how the IPO would[Read More…]
To Smt Nirmala Sitharaman Union Finance Minister Dear Smt Sitharaman, Please refer to my letter dated 6-3-2022 addressed to you on the manner in which the proposed LIC IPO would do gross injustice to the policy holders of the LIC, largely belonging to the SCs/STs/OBCs (https://countercurrents.org/2022/03/lic-ipo-gross-injustice-to-the-smaller-lic-policy-holders-especially-those-belonging-to-the-scs-sts-obcs/) As apprehended by me in my letter, it appears that not more than 8[Read More…]
Letter to the Prime Minister on involving the CPSEs with a good track record in investing in Sri Lanka in the context of the economic crisis faced by that country To Shri Narendra D Modi Prime Minister of India Dear Shri Modi, I welcome the timely help being provided by India to Sri Lanka at this crucial hour,[Read More…]
To Shri A K Jain Union Coal Secretary Dear Shri Jain, The 2021 coal crisis has severely impacted the power sector, especially the performance of the DISCOMs operating within the State sector. As a result of the shortfalls in coal supplies, the DISCOMs were forced to import coal at exorbitant prices, which in turn escalated the price of electricity. As a[Read More…]
To Shri Bhagwant Mann Chief Minister Punjab Dear Shri Mann, Let me take this opportunity to congratulate you on taking over as the Chief Minister of Punjab. I am sure that your government will help open a new chapter in the politics of the State for the good of the people. In the federal framework in which the Centre and[Read More…]
To Shri A K Bhalla Union Home Secretary Dear Shri Bhalla, I have requested you time and again to get the whole matter concerning the use of Pegasus spyware in several States in India properly investigated. My last letter was sent to you on 22-7-2021 (https://countercurrents.org/2021/07/pegasus-spyware-need-for-thorough-investigation/) As I have pointed out, several States in India (AP, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra etc.) had apparently[Read More…]
To Shri Pinarayi Vijayan Chief Minister Kerala Dear Shri Vijayan, I wish to compliment the Kerala Legislative Assembly for unanimously passing a resolution voicing concern over the Centre’s move to sell its equity in the LIC to stock market investors and urging the Centre to retain the institution as a wholly government-owned CPSE, considering that it has played a key[Read More…]
To Shri Sushil Chandra Chief Election Commissioner Election Commission of India (ECI) Shri Rajiv Kumar Election Commissioner Election Commission of India (ECI) Shri Anup Chandra Pandey Election Commissioner Election Commission of India (ECI) Dear S/Shri Satish Chandra, Rajiv Kumar, Pandey, I refer to the report of the Citizens’ Commission on Elections (CCE), chaired by Justice Madan B Lokur. I wonder whether the[Read More…]
To Smt Nirmala Sitharaman Union Finance Minister Dear Smt Sitharaman, I understand that the Employees Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has further reduced the interest rate on beneficiaries’ deposits from 8.5% during 2020-21 to 8.1% during 2021-22, adversely affecting more than 7 crores of EPFO subscribers (https://www.livemint.com/news/epf-interest-rate-for-2021-22-reduced-to-8-1-lowest-since-197778-11647069646411.html). The rate of interest fixed by the EPFO for 2021-22 is the lowest since 1977-78.[Read More…]
To Smt Nirmala Sitharaman Union Finance Minister Dear Smt Sitharaman, Earlier, I had written two letters to you (https://www.moneylife.in/article/lic-ipo-gross-underestimated-valuation-put-it-on-hold-says-eas-sarma/66146.html, https://countercurrents.org/2022/01/cpse-disinvestment-valuation-approach-flawed/) about the flawed approach to valuing the LIC for listing it in the stock markets and the injustice meted out to millions of small policy holders, with a view to grant undue benefits to a handful of speculative,[Read More…]
To Thiru M K Stalin Chief Minister Tamilnadu Dear Thiru Stalin, In your recently released book, Ungalil Oruvan (One Amongst You), you have highlighted, among others, the necessity for the States to come together to protect the equitable federal framework in which the Centre and the States should function. On the occasion of the book release, as per news reports, you have[Read More…]
To Shri K Chandrasekhar Rao Chief Minister Telangana Dear Shri Chandrasekhar Rao garu, I had earlier written to you on 8-2-2022 welcoming your opposition to the Centre’s unilateral proposal to privatise the Singareni Collieries. Considering it from the point of view of federalism, in that letter I had suggested that the States should come together to counter the growing threat[Read More…]
To Shri A K Bhalla Union Home Secretary Dear Shri Bhalla, The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) seems to be rushing into privatising the electricity distribution systems in the Union Territories (UTs). I understand that the proposal to privatise the Chandigarh DISCOM is at an advanced stage. So is the case with the DISCOMs in Dadra & Nagar Haveli,[Read More…]
2021 Disinvestment Policy: The sweeping, ill-advised disinvestment policy announced by the NDA government in December, 2021 has put most of the national wealth on a distress sale. The few oligarchs who fund the political parties and issue diktats on policy are waiting with their war chests of funds ready to buy the Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs) for a song,[Read More…]
To Shri K Chandrasekhar Rao Chief Minister Telangana Dear Shri Chandrasekhar Rao garu, I welcome your statement expressing Telangana government’s opposition to the Centre’s move to privatise Singareni Collieries. It has certainly set the tone for a wider coalition being formed among the States to protect federalism. The NDA government has gone berserk by adopting a sweeping policy to disinvest the[Read More…]
To Shri Rajnath Singh Union Defence Minister Dear Shri Rajnath Singh, I understand that the Department of Investment and Public Asset Management (DIPAM), Ministry of Finance has processed disinvestment of 26% of the equity of the BEML, a CPSE under the administrative control of the Ministry of Defence. From what I could gather from news reports, two private companies are[Read More…]
To Smt Nirmala Sitharaman Union Finance Minister Dear Smt Sitharaman, I write this in continuation of my earlier letter dated 24-1-2022 (https://countercurrents.org/2022/01/cpse-disinvestment-valuation-approach-flawed/) expressing my concern at the flawed valuation methodology adopted by the Department of Investment and Asset Management (DIPAM) for valuing the CPSEs for disinvestment. It appears that your Ministry has not cared to revisit the methodology, as evident from the fact[Read More…]
To Smt Nirmala Sitharaman Union Finance Minister Dear Smt Sitharaman, I refer to my letter dated January 15, 2022 on the imprudence of listing LIC in the stock market and the misleading valuation approach adopted by the government (https://www.moneylife.in/article/lic-ipo-gross-underestimated-valuation-put-it-on-hold-says-eas-sarma/66146.html). As the single largest social security provider in the country for the economically weaker sections, the social value of the LIC[Read More…]
To Shri Mansukh Mandaviya Union Health Minister Dear Shri Mandaviya, At a recent meeting to review the Covid containment effort, the Prime Minister was reported to have said, “There is a need for continuous scientific research… including genome sequencing, given that the virus is evolving continuously.” Contrary to what he had said at the meeting, it has been reported (“Blow To[Read More…]
To Smt Nirmala Sitharaman Union Finance Minister Dear Smt Sitharaman, I understand from news reports that the LIC IPO is going to be issued shortly. Keeping in view the fact that it is the millions of policy holders of the LIC who have contributed to the Corporation’s phenomenal growth over the decades, some of us feel that relegating their interests[Read More…]
Chattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh proposing to extend urban authority laws to the Scheduled Areas to bypass the PESA legislation To Shri Ram Nath Kovind President of India Respected Rashtrapati Ji, Under Article 244(1), read with the provisions of the Fifth Schedule to the Constitution, areas predominantly inhabited by the adivasis have been notified by the President as “Scheduled Areas” where there[Read More…]
To Shri G C Murmu Comptroller & Auditor General of India (CAG) Dear Shri Murmu, I invite your attention to the following report on an ongoing investigation by the Supreme Audit Office of Poland into the alleged purchase of the controversial Pegasus software by the government of that country and its possible misuse for illegally exercising surveillance over Poland’s opposition[Read More…]
Shri Sushil Chandra Chief Election Commissioner Shri Rajiv Kumar Election Commissioner Shri A C Pandey Election Commissioner Dear S/Shri Sushil Chandra, Rajiv Kumar and Pandey, I had earlier requested the Union Home Secretary, under intimation to you, that political parties should not be allowed to hold rallies in view of the impending Omicron crisis. My letter dated 22-12[Read More…]
R L Stevenon’s classic of 1886, “Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde”, described the duality of character in the same person, manifesting itself in strange ways that were difficult to understand. Had Stevenson been alive today to witness the happenings in Indian politics, he would have found the present day political leaders having attributes similar to Dr Jekyll[Read More…]
To Shri Rajiv Gauba Cabinet Secretary Govt of India Dear Shri Gauba, I have come across a news report (https://www.business-standard.com/article/companies/ongc-without-a-chairman-as-subhash-kumar-retires-no-replacement-appointed-122010100678_1.html) about the casual manner in which the concerned Central Ministries have been dealing with ONGC, India’s premier hydrocarbons exploration and development agency, which is the country’s main plank for self-reliance in the sector. Apparently, the concerned Ministries have[Read More…]
To Shri A K Bhalla Union Home Secretary Dear Shri Bhalla, We are once again facing a steep surge of the Covid virus; this time it is the new mutant, Omicron looming large. This Covid variant is reported to be three times more infectious than its Delta predecessor, which wreaked havoc on the people during the second wave. In order[Read More…]
To Shri Ram Nath Kovind President of India Respected Rashtrapatiji, I refer to the reported meeting taken by an official of the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) on December 16, 2021 with the Election Commission of India (ECI), ostensibly to discuss certain matters relating to electoral reforms, already cleared by the Union Cabinet by then. For the executive, particularly the PMO, to[Read More…]
To Shri Anil Kumar Jain Union Coal Secretary Dear Shri Jain, I find from your Ministry’s portal that the enclosed list of coal blocks are being put to auction shortly. Most of these coal blocks are located in States such as Jharkhand, MP, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, AP and Telangana and many among the blocks are located in the areas notified[Read More…]
In common parlance, a “public good” refers to a commodity or service that becomes available to all members of a society with equal access, without discrimination. There are more rigorous definitions of this in economics. However, one simple way to describe a public good is to say that it is not possible to prevent individuals selectively from consuming it, unless[Read More…]
To Shri Sushil Chandra Chief Election Commissioner Election Commission of India (ECI) Shri Rajiv Kumar Election Commissioner Election Commission of India (ECI) Shri A.C.Pandey Election Commissioner Election Commission of India (ECI) Dear S/Shri Sushil Chandra, Rajiv Kumar and Pandey, In view of the imminent outbreak of the Omicron variant of Covid, it is well recognised[Read More…]
Letter to Prime Minister Privatisation of Central Electronics Lt. (CEL) and Bharat Earth Movers Ltd (BEML) runs counter to the Prime Minister’s Atmanirbhar effort To Shri Narendra D Modi Prime Minister of India Dear Shri Modi, You have launched the Atma Nirbhar idea with the intention of building self-reliance in the different sectors of the economy. It is indeed a[Read More…]
To Smt Nirmala Sitharaman Union Finance Minister Dear Smt Sitharaman, I understand from news reports (https://www.livemint.com/companies/news/government-clears-sale-of-central-electronics-for-rs210-crore-11638195251682.html) that the PSU, Central Electronics Ltd (CEL) is about to be sold to a private financial intermediary company, Nandal Finance & Leasing Pvt ltd for an amount of Rs 210 Crores. By any stretch of logic, the manner in which CEL is being[Read More…]
To Shri Rajesh Bhushan Union Health Secretary Dear Shri Bhushan, While we are about to conclude that we longer have to feel concerned about a Covid surge for the third time, the discovery of Omicron and its own mutants with high rates of transmission in many parts of the world has put to rest any such feeling of comfort. Are[Read More…]
To Shri Narendra D Modi Prime Minister Dear Shri Modi, I understand that the government has recently directed ONGC to hive off 60% of its Mumbai High, Bassein & Satellite oil/gas fields to foreign oil companies (https://www.business-standard.com/article/companies/x-121110100853_1.html), ostensibly to enhance hydrocarbons production from those fields. The proposal, in my view, is highly imprudent for the following reasons. Mumbai High, Bassein[Read More…]
Dear Shri Yogendra Yadav, Let me first convey my solidarity and compliments to you and your compatriot farmers for the historic victory against what can be termed as an “anti-people”, undemocratic attempt on the part of today’s political elite to suppress dissent and take unilateral decisions! In a way, the farmers’ victory shows that no power on the earth should[Read More…]
To Shri Sushil Chandra Chief Election Commissioner Shri Rajiv Kumar Election Commissioner Shri A C Pandey Election Commissioner Dear S/Shri Sushil Chandra, Rajiv Kumar and Pandey, A Press release by PMO on November 18, 2021 (https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1772883) indicates that the Prime Minister and the Home Minister will be holding the 56th All India DGP Conference at Lucknow during[Read More…]
To Shri Rajiv Gauba Cabinet Secretary Govt of IndiA Dear Shri Gauba, I have come across disturbing reports (https://indianexpress.com/article/india/sand-minerals-mining-modi-govt-private-sector-7585816/) that the government is making moves once again to permit private companies to mine and trade atomic minerals located in the beach sands of AP, T. Nadu and Kerala. It appears that this step is a part of a 60-point “Action Plan”[Read More…]
To Shri Rajiv Gauba Cabinet Secretary Govt of India Shri Rajiv Gauba, I understand (https://www.business-standard.com/article/economy-policy/centre-brings-ordinance-to-extend-tenure-of-cbi-ed-chiefs-up-to-5-years-121111400884_1.html) that the government has issued an Ordinance extending the term of the Director of CBI and Director of Enforcement to five years. If such a decision has been taken, in my view, it is an imprudent one. Making the benefit of the extended term of the[Read More…]
Letter to the Prime Minister on the occasion of the Janjatiya Gaurav Divas (national Tribal Day) on November 15, 2021 To Shri Narendra D Modi Prime Minister Dear Shri Modi, Janjatiya Gaurav Divas on November 15, 2021 The Centre and the States should “walk the talk”! I understand (https://indianexpress.com/article/india/pm-modi-to-lead-first-tribal-day-celebrations-7620370/) that you will be leading the first-ever Janjatiya Gaurav Divas on[Read More…]
To Shri Bhupender Yadav Minister Ministry of Environment, Forests & Climate Change (MEFCC) Govt of India Dear Shri Yadav, I refer to your Ministry’s recent decision (https://moef.gov.in/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/scan_1_20211021165307682.pdf) to exempt mine expansion projects from the mandatory requirement of public hearing as a condition precedent to granting statutory environment clearance. In my view, your Ministry’s decision is highly imprudent, as it violates the letter and the[Read More…]
The plight of the undertrials in the jails: The majority of the undertrials in India belong to the disadvantaged sections of the society. The offences alleged to have been committed by them may be minor ones but they are forced to languish in jails without a trial for years, as the criminal justice system in the country is a slow-moving[Read More…]
E A S Sarma, Former Secretary to Govt of India has raised serious concerns about the coal block auctions. He raised strong reservations about allocating coal blocks to Adani Power. In a series of letters, he questioned the rationale behind the allocation of coal blocks. To Shri A K Jain Union Coal Secretary Dear Shri Jain, Please refer to my[Read More…]
To Shri Sanjeeva Kumar Union Home Secretary Dear Shri Sanjeeva Kumar, I had earlier written to the Union Finance Minister in my letter dated 21-6-2021 on inaccuracies in the affidavit filed on behalf of the government before the apex court on the quantum of compensation payable to the victims of Covid virus. I forward here a copy of that letter[Read More…]
To Shri Ram Nath Kovind President of India Respected Rashtrapati Ji, It has been widely reported ( https://indianexpress.com/article/india/cji-50-womens-reservation-judiciary-7535963/) that Shri N V Ramana, Chief Justice of India (CJI) has recently made a statement on the need for 50% reservation for women in the judiciary. He is reported to have made the following observations on the subject, while addressing the Lady Advocates[Read More…]
Letter to the Prime Minister Subject: Promotion of decentralised solar electricity generation, in preference to large centralised solar generation projects To Shri Narendra D Modi Prime Minister Dear Shri Modi, Over the last few years, as a part of the global effort to mitigate the effects of climate change, India has rightly taken conscious strides towards a shift from fossil[Read More…]
To Narendra D Modi Prime Minister Dear Shri Modi, Sports strategy- Mere lip service will not suffice- Some suggestions on a sports strategy It is an extraordinary effort put in by the Indian athletes and sportspersons at the ongoing Tokyo Olympics which has brought laurels to India and united the entire nation with a collective sense of pride. It is[Read More…]
To Shri Rajiv Gauba Cabinet Secretary Govt of India Dear Shri Gauba, The website of the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) emphasises the need for transparency in governance in the following words. “Prime Minister Narendra Modi firmly believes that transparency and accountability are the two cornerstones of any pro-people government. Transparency and accountability not only connect the people closer to the[Read More…]
To Shri A K Bhalla Union Home Secretary Dear Shri Bhalla, Kindly refer to my letters dated 31-3-2019, 31-10-2019 & 19-7-2021 addressed to you (copies forwarded here) on the possible use/misuse of Pegasus in India. I wish to draw your attention to a press conference held by the Chattisgarh Chief Minister, as indicated in a news report, “Pegasus: Chhattisgarh CM[Read More…]
To Shri Bhupender Yadav Minister Ministry of Environment, Forests & Climate Change (MEFCC) Govt of India Dear Shri Yadav, Rarely do persons with such credible professional background as you have, especially in the highly specialised field of environmental jurisprudence, are asked to preside over the MEFCC. Let me welcome you to your new assignment, with the earnest hope and belief that you[Read More…]
In the death of Fr Stan Swamy on July 5, 2021, who was an “under trial” detainee languishing in the custody of the authorities, India has lost a courageous campaigner for adivasi rights. The manner in which the 84-year old Jesuit priest was forced to die has shaken the conscience of the nation. What hurts the feelings of any one[Read More…]
To Hon’ble Chairman National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) Hon’ble Chairman, I enclose here a copy of a representation dated 8-6-2021 submitted by me to Rashtrapatiji on the concerns I have on a range of statutory regulations proposed to be adopted by the Administrator of Lakshadweep Union Territory (UT), which will have a significant impact on the lives of the[Read More…]
To Shri Apurva Chandra Union Labour Secretary Dear Shri Apurva Chandra, The preamble to the Inter-State Migrant Workmen (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act, 1979 defines its primary objective to be “to regulate the employment of interstate migrant workmen and to provide for their conditions of service and for matters connected therewith“. This Act is by and large[Read More…]
To Smt Nirmala Sitharaman, I understand from recent news reports (https://www.barandbench.com/news/litigation/mha-tells-supreme-court-ex-gratia-payment-rs-4-lakh-covid-19-deaths-affordability-states) that the Centre has contended before the apex court that it would not be able to pay an ex-gratia relief of Rs 4 lakhs to Covid victims for the reason that “utilisation of scarce resources for giving ex-gratia, may have unfortunate consequences of affecting the pandemic response and health[Read More…]
Prior consultation with the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) mandatory for policy changes in Lakshadweep- Appeal for intervention` To Shri Ram Nath Kovind President of India Respected Rashtrapatiji, I understand that that the Administrator of Lakshadweep has formulated a number of far reaching regulations, such as the Lakshadweep Development Authority Regulation (LDAR), the Lakshadweep Prevention of Anti-Social Activities Regulation,[Read More…]
To Shri Rajiv Gauba Cabinet Secretary Govt of India Dear Shri Gauba, The Pricing and Accelerated National Covid-19 Vaccination Strategy 21-4-2021 (PANCVS) notified by the Union Health Ministry has given a free license to the vaccine manufacturers to set prices arbitrarily, ostensibly in a transparent manner, as indicated in Para 8(ii) below. “Manufacturers would in a transparent manner make[Read More…]
On May 31, 2021, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) is reported to have served a show- cause notice on the former West Bengal Chief Secretary, Alapan Bandopadhyay, for not attending a meeting chaired by the Prime Minister, under a stringent provision of the Disaster Management Act that entails imprisonment up to two years. Bandopadhyay had been found fault[Read More…]
To Shri Narendra D Modi Prime Minister Dear Shri Modiji, I enclose here copies of my letter dated 26-2-2021 addressed to your office and my letter dated 28-2-2021 addressed to the Finance Minister, expressing my concerns about the proposed divestment of government stake in Visakhapatnam Steel Plant (VSP) in favour of a foreign company, POSCO and another private company,[Read More…]
To Shri Narendra D Modi Prime Minister Subject:- Transparency in governance- Recent instances of extending the tenure of senior civil servants run counter to norms of good governance Dear Shri Modi, The website of the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) rightly emphasises the need for transparency in governance in the following words. “Prime Minister Narendra Modi firmly believes that transparency and[Read More…]
“However good a Constitution may be, it is sure to turn out bad because those who are called to work it, happen to be a bad lot. However bad a Constitution may be, it may turn out to be good if those who are called to work it, happen to be a good lot “ “A serious complaint is made[Read More…]
To Smt Nirmala Sitharaman, Union Finance Minister With the daily new Covid cases exceeding 4 lakhs and the daily number of deaths exceeding 4,000, with nationwide shortages in terms of ambulances, hospital beds, ICU facilities, ventilators, Oxygen and even cremation space, and in view of the nationwide shortage of vaccines, people are losing their patience, looking for immediate corrective steps[Read More…]
While triumphantly launching the roll out of India-made vaccines on January 16, 2019, with a view to drive home his point of helping others selflessly, the Prime Minister quoted the following words of Gurajada Apparao, the eminent Telugu writer. “Sontha labham kontha manuko, porugu vadiki thodu padavoy. Desamante matti kadoyi, desamante manushuloy” The above verse, which was written more than[Read More…]
As I write this article, results of the Assembly elections in the five States are trickling in, diverting the public attention from the tragedy that India is today, with Corona patients waiting in queues and dying helplessly in ambulances, unable to get hospital care, critical patients gasping for oxygen and breathing their last, the kith and the kin of the[Read More…]
My wife and I have just got our second dose of Covid vaccine. It was a triumphant moment, because there seemed to be an acute vaccine shortage in the country causing fears of its non- availability, coupled with new mutants of Covid spreading the virus like never before. The fear of those who got the first dose not being able[Read More…]
To Smt Nirmala Sitharaman Union Finance Minister Dear Smt Sitharaman, We are passing through a debilitating second wave of COVID, with new mutants evolving rapidly and the country facing a severe shortage of healthcare infrastructure facilities, acute shortage of vaccines, even cremation facilities for the deceased, across the country. Many of us, senior citizens, are waiting for a second dose of[Read More…]
To Shri Rajiv Gauba Cabinet Secretary Dear Shri Rajiv Gauba, Enclosed are my two letters dated 12th & 13th April, 2021 addressed to the Union Home Secretary, on the responsibility for spreading COVID by permitting Kumbh Mela to take place at Haridwar in Uttarakhand. I had requested the Union Home Secretary to intervene in the matter urgently and stop the[Read More…]
The head of the Norwegian police, Ole Saeverud imposed a fine of $2,352 on Erna Solberg, the two-term Prime Minister of the country for violating the COVID rules in a private party held by her. While doing so, what Ole Saeverud said is significant . “Though the law is the same for all, all are not equal in front of[Read More…]
To Shri Rajiv Gauba Cabinet Secretary Dear Shri Gauba, I write this letter in continuation of my earlier letter dated 30-3-2021 (copy forwarded) addressed to the Union Home Secretary on the potential danger of the huge election rallies being held in Tamil Nadu, Pondicherry, Kerala, West Bengal and Assam becoming super-spreaders of COVID. I had earlier requested the Union Home[Read More…]
To Shri A K Bhalla Union Home Secretary Dear Shri Bhalla, It is unfortunate that we have not been able to contain the COVID virus spread and many States including the capital city of Delhi are witnessing an unusual spurt in virus cases of different mutants, some potentially dangerous. Your Ministry and several States have rightly tightened the COVID[Read More…]
To Shri R P Gupta Secretary Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MEFCC) Govt of India Dear Shri Gupta, I understand from a Down to Earth news report (https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/forests/draft-amendment-to-forest-conservation-act-may-dilute-protection-to-forests-76145) that your Ministry is about to issue several crucial amendments to the Forest Conservation Act which exempt from its purview a wide range of projects (“strategic”, “linear” projects) and introduce[Read More…]
To Shri R P Gupta Secretary Ministry of Environment, Forests & Climate Change (MEFCC) Govt of India Dear Shri Gupta, Please read this letter in continuation of my earlier letter dated 19-3-2021 on imprudence on the part of your Ministry allowing ex-post facto approvals for projects coming up in violation of the CRZ notification. I have had an opportunity to[Read More…]
To Shri R P Gupta Secretary Ministry of Environment, Forests & Climate Change (MEFCC) Govt of India Dear Shri Gupta, I have just come across a disturbing news report that your Ministry has issued orders permitting industrial projects to obtain post-facto CRZ clearances (https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2021/mar/18/centre-allows-projects-to-obtain-post-facto-coastal-regulation-zone-clearance-2278359.html). If this report is factually correct, I am afraid that, by issuing such a[Read More…]
To Shri Rajiv Gauba Cabinet Secretary Govt of India Dear Shri Gauba, It is the collective effort and a culmination of the human endeavour at the global level that has enabled the country to launch the ongoing national campaign, including the vaccination drive, against COVID. The credit should rightly go to the scientists across the world who studied the virus[Read More…]
To Shri Narendra D Modi Prime Minister of India Dear Shri Modiji, I write this letter to express my anguish as a concerned citizen of north Andhra Pradesh at the decision taken by the Central Government to privatise Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Ltd. (RINL)’s steel plant at Visakhapatnam by divesting 100% of its equity to private agencies. From a statement made[Read More…]
To Secretary National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) Sir, I refer to my letters dated 4-1-2021 & 16-1-2021 on violation of human rights of the detainees under the the Foreigners Act, 1946, the Foreigners (Tribunals For Assam) Order, 2006 and the other related laws in force in Assam. I have enclosed here copies of the two letters for your ready reference.[Read More…]
To Secretary National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) N.Delhi Sir, Kindly refer to my attached letter dated 4-1-2021 on arbitrary detention of Mohammad Nur Hussain, 34, a rickshaw puller in Guwahati who hails from Lawdong village in Assam’s Udalguri district, his wife Sahera Begum, 26, and their two minor children (Ages 7 & 5 years). In June, 2019, on a false charge[Read More…]
To Secretary National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) N.Delhi Sir, I refer to the distressing news report (https://indianexpress.com/article/north-east-india/assam/assam-nrc-detention-centre-7128303/) on how four members of a rickshaw puller’s family in Assam, unable to secure ready legal assistance, suffered gross violation of their basic human rights, when they were erroneously called “foreigners” in Assam under the Foreigners Tribunal Act, 1941, Foreigners Tribunal Order, 1964 and[Read More…]
To Shri R P Gupta Secretary Ministry of Environment, Forests & Climate Change (MEFCC) Government of India Dear Shri Gupta, The National Environment Policy, 2006 (NEP) emphasises the need to conserve the rich biodiversity heritage of the country in the following statements. “Pay explicit attention to the potential impacts of development projects on biodiversity resources and natural heritage.[Read More…]
To Smt Nirmala Sitharaman Union Finance Minister Dear Smt Stharaman, Kindly refer to my letter dated 10-9-2020 regarding the problems faced by small businesses in repaying loans taken from NBFCs as a result of the lockdown restrictions and the fall in demand for services, an inevitable consequence of the COVID19 crisis. I have enclosed a copy of that letter for your[Read More…]
To Smt Nirmala Sitharaman Union Finance Minister Dear Smt Sitharaman, Articles 21 and 41 of the Constitution cast an obligation on the State to ensure that the aged and other vulnerable sections of the citizens are provided adequate assistance to be able to live in dignity. Right to adequate old age pension is one of the basic universal and justiciable economic[Read More…]
Letter to the Prime Minister E.A.S.Sarma Maharanipeta Visakhapatnam To Shri Narendra D Modi Prime Minister Dear Shri Modiji, India’s groundwater resources have come under severe stress as a result of increasing pressure on the same for urban water needs in cities and towns and from irrigation requirements in the rural areas. In many parts of the country, the rate of[Read More…]
To Shri A K Bhalla Union Home Secretary Dear Shri Bhalla, I write this in continuation of my previous letter dated 26-3-2020 regarding the need to comply with the lockdown restrictions in order to prevent the spread of COVID. It is unfortunate that several persons occupying high positions have time and again violated the lockdown restrictions laid down by your[Read More…]
To Shri Neerabh Kumar Prasad Spl CS (Environment & Forests) Govt of AP Dear Shri Prasad, I write this close on the heels of my letter dated 29-6-2020 about one more ghastly gas leak accident, this time, in the infamous Pharmacity of Parawada in Visakhapatnam district. The accident took place at the Pharmacity unit of Sainor Life Sciences Pvt Ltd[Read More…]
Letter to the Prime Minister To Shri Narendra Modiji Prime Minister of India Dear Shri Modiji, I refer to my letters dated 9-4-2020 & 5-5-2020 (enclosed) on the modalities of creating the PM CARES Fund (hereafter referred as PMCARES) and the need to ensure utmost transparency in its utilisation. I understand that the Trustees of PMCARES under your stewardship have[Read More…]
Letter to the Prime Minister To Shri Narendra Modiji Prime Minister Dear Shri Modiji, I forward here a copy of my last letter dated 15-5-2020 and copies of the previous letters addressed to you on the excruciating problems faced by crores of the migrant workers across the length and the breadth of the country. I am not sure whether my letters have[Read More…]
To Members of the Expert Appraisal Committee Ministry of Environment, Forests & Climate Change (MEFCC) Govt of India Dear Members of the EAC, I understand from the enclosed Agenda notice that the EAC will be holding its 33rd meeting on 18th–19thMay, 2020 for considering the proposals involving violation of EIA Notification. I further understand that Item No 33.4.4 concerning a proposal submitted by LG Polymers[Read More…]
To Shri C K Mishra Secretary Ministry of Environment, Forests & Climate Change (MEFCC) Govt of India Dear Shri Mishra, You are aware of the ghastly gas leak accident that took place at LG Polymers unit near Visakhapatnam in the early hours of 7-5-2020. Several persons in the vicinity of the accident site could not escape to safe places and got[Read More…]
To Shri A K Bhalla Union Home Secretary Shri Heeralal Samariya Union Labour Secretary Dear S/Shri Bhalla and Samariya, I understand that several important labour laws, meant to safeguard the welfare of the workers and to ensure industrial safety, have been “suspended” for three years in UP, MP and Gujarat. I hope that the Union Home Ministry and the Labour[Read More…]
Letter to the Prime Minister To Shri Narendra Modiji Prime Minister of India Dear Shri Modiji, I refer to my letter dated 9-4-2020 (enclosed) on the modalities of creating the PM CARES fund (hereafter referred as PMCARES) and the need to ensure utmost transparency in its utilisation. PMCARES was set up towards the end of March, 2020, more than a[Read More…]
To Smt Nirmala Sitharaman Union Finance Minister Dear Smt Sitharaman, Your Ministry has already announced concessions/ procedural relaxations etc. for business enterprises and industries in the context of COVID19 crisis. There are businesses who have violated the laws that provide social security to the workers. There have been instances of some enterprises guilty of non-payment of past wages, contributions to provident[Read More…]
Letter to the Prime Minister To Shri Narendra Modiji Prime Minister Dear Shri Modiji, The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has issued elaborate instructions to the States to observe a national lockdown by invoking the legal provisions under the Disaster Management Act. The Home Ministry has been admonishing all those States that have violated those instructions. The States in turn have been prosecuting[Read More…]
Letter to the Prime Minister To Shri Narendra Modiji Prime Minister Dear Shri Modiji, The sudden announcement of the lockdown three weeks ago has left lakhs of migrant workers helpless. It has deprived almost all marginal families across the country of their livelihoods. They need urgent help, care and succour. While some of those workers have ration cards and[Read More…]
To Smt Nirmala Sitharaman Minister for Corporate Affairs Govt of India Dear Smt Sitharaman, I write this letter in connection with the way your Ministry has interpreted Schedule VII under Section 135 of the Companies Act to arrive at the conclusion that the funds contributed by corporates to any Chief Minister’s Relief Fund (CMRF) do not come within the ambit[Read More…]
To Shri I Srinivas Secretary Ministry of Corporate Affairs Govt of India Dear Shri Srinivas, I am grateful to you for so promptly responding to my letter issued today on the apparent injustice meted out to the States by your Ministry in issuing a clarification to the effect that the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund (CMRF) does not qualify for receiving[Read More…]
To Shri I Srinivas Secretary Ministry of Corporate Affairs Govt of India Dear Shri Srinivas, I have come across a news report today (https://thewire.in/business/corporate-affairst-ministry-csr-pm-cares-cm-relief-fund) that your Ministry has issued a “clarification” to the effect that corporate contributions under Section 135 of the Companies Act to the State Chief Minister’s Relief Fund shall not qualify for benefits applicable to[Read More…]
Letter to the Prime Minister To Shri Narendra Modiji Prime Minister of India Dear Shri Modiji, From PMO’s website, it is evident that PM CARES Fund has been set up under your chairmanship as a public charitable trust, “keeping in mind the need for having a dedicated national fund with the primary objective of dealing with any kind of emergency[Read More…]
To Smt Nirmala Sitharaman Union Finance Minister Dear Smt Sitharaman, Kindly refer to my letter dated 23-3-2020 on the subject. Recently, you announced several relief measures to counter the spread of COVID19. In particular, you had announced that an insurance cover of Rs 50 lakh per person would be provided to frontline health workers – sanitation staff, paramedics and nurses, ASHA[Read More…]
To Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus Director General WHO Dear Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, I am writing this letter as a concerned senior citizen from India, at the manner in which COVID19 is sweeping across the planet, raising questions about the global community’s ability to contain the spread of the virus. It is ironic that the country which hosts WHO should[Read More…]
To Smt Nirmala Sitharaman Union Finance Minister Dear Smt Sitharaman, I have suggested several measures to be taken by the government to counter the spread of COVID19 and the relief to be provided to the vulnerable sections of the population affected by the lockdowns imposed initially by the States and the nationwide lockdown announced later on the 24th by the[Read More…]
Letter to the Prime Minister To Shri Narendra Modiji Prime Minister Dear Shri Modiji, You have rightly announced a nationwide lockdown, invoking powers under the National Disaster Management Act and asked the citizens of the country not to stir out of their houses and maintain “social distancing”, which is the only way to fight the scourge of COVID19.[Read More…]
To Smt Nirmala Sitharaman Union Finance Minister Dear Smt Sitharaman, Kindly refer to my letter dated 20-3-2020 addressed to the Prime Minister on the ongoing fight against COVID19. I have enclosed a copy of that letter for your reference. The campaign against COVID19 is assuming urgency in view of the rapidly increasing rate at which the States have been[Read More…]
To Shri Narendra Modiji Prime Minister Dear Shri Modiji, I compliment your government, especially Dr Harsh Vardhan, the Health Minister and Dr S. Jaishankar, the External Affairs Minister for the commendable effort they have put in to stem the tide of Corona Virus within the country and for airlifting hundreds of stranded Indians from Wuhan, Naples, Teheran and so on. This[Read More…]
To Shri C K Mishra Secretary Ministry of Environment, Forests & Climate Change (MEFCC) Govt of India Dear Shri Mishra, It is reported widely that your Ministry is thinking of relaxing the environment impact appraisal norms for bulk drug units. I sincerely hope that these reports are incorrect. From what I have observed over the last decade or so, in[Read More…]
Men, masculinities, and gender equality 
EU Warns After Russia Plans To Place Tactical Nuclear Weapon In Belarus 
A Hazardous Decision: Supplying Ukraine with Depleted Uranium Shells 
Media and the March to War 
The Basic Issue is not of Taking Sides in Superpower Rivalry, it is of Durable Peace to Save Earth’s Life 
The Pentagon’s Budget from Hell 
“…I want poetry to be detonated like a bomb!” -Nathalie Quintane 
Bundelkhand Must Choose its Priorities Carefully 
Citizenship: Beyond the Forked Vision 
Caste-wise census is necessary for balanced development 
Tribal woman murdered after rape in Rohtas and strong protest demanding punishment of culprits 
Why Avoiding Catastrophic War is the Biggest Priority Today 
Labor in market, and the mainstream economics 
Serbia Shall Never Forget NATO Aggression, Vows Serb President 
Kerala’s New Public Health Bill 2023: Subservient to Market Forces rather than Deliberative Democracy 
The Piracy of Development – The 3-Ds: Dispossession, Displacement, Destitution 
The Contemporary Relevance of Rosa Luxemburg 
Does Court Judgement on Rahul Gandhi Breach Human Rights (Freedom of Expression) 
From Oslo to Sharm el-Sheik 
Is Washington now Khan’s Buddy? 
Nord Stream sabotage was to undercut Germany, says Seymour Hersh It Will Be Hard And Cost A Lot Of Blood For Ukraine To Kick Out Russians, Says Top U.S. General 
Saudi – Iran rapprochement: A chance for peace 
Day 30 of the NREGA Protest: Students and Activists Detained by the Delhi Police An Irrational Verdict? 
Trump Rot at the EPA 
AUKUS, the Australian Labor Party, and Growing Dissent 
Palestinians Don’t Exist? 
The Long Arm of Washington Extends Into Africa’s Sahel 
Radio Fatherland!! 
Bellies of the Rich Swell Further on the Back of Hunger 
The Big Picture And The Small – Part II 
2500 people urge Chief Minister of Karnataka to protect farmers, pastoralists and Dalits from Supreme injustice 
Our Global Water Crisis 
3.5 Million March Across France Opposing Macron’s Pension Reform 
Election Commission of India must question the presence political nominees on BEL’s and ECIL’s Boards 
Ihan Omar Introduces Legislation to Combat Islamophobia 
Narendra Modi’s Cricket Coup 
The Big Picture And The Small 
Prophesies, Then and Now – My Life at World’s End 
Our beloved K.P.Sasi is no more. Filmmaker, cartoonist, writer, mentor, friend and above all tireless activist championing the cause of every underdog, Sasi breathed his last, mid-afternoon this Christmas day – after battling a medical condition for months. I remember the last time I met him, almost exactly a month before he passed away, at the ayurvedic healing center in[Read More…]
