Sunday, February 27, 2011

[rti4empowerment] The position of Rajiv case

 

Dt.28.02 2010

The prime minister of India,

New Delhi.

Sub: Position of investigation in Rajiv assassination.. reg.

SIR,

On P.Chidambaram, Justice M.C.Jain, who headed the one man commission which looked into the “wider conspiracy” angle of Rajiv assassination, observed as follow as appeared in India Today ,dated Nov.17,1997.Our country’s ill fate he is the Home Minister of our country.

“ In the speech of (Lok Sabha, February 25, 1991)..... he demanded a public inquiry into all that has happened in Tamil Nadu affecting .... National security and public order. According to him it was not only a matter of law and order but a problem affecting national security and he demanded an assurance from the prime minister that the public inquiry committee will be constituted to go into all that has happened in the latter half of 1989 and in 1990, into all that the DMK did in furtherance of its clandestine and secret objective of carving out a separate Tamil Nadu in support of secessionism.

P. Chidambaram, in his deposition on 21.11. 1996, stated (Annexure M- 122) : “My speech in Parliament reflected the position of my party on the issue of the dismissal of the DMK government and proclamation of President’s rule in Tamil Nadu, that was a political statement made on behalf of my party in the debate on President’s Rule. I offered in my speech to lead evidence to substantiate the allegations on behalf of the party. I had no difference with what I had expressed in Parliament on behalf of the party...Although Chidambaram adhered to the contents of his speech in the Lok Sabha made on 25. 2. 91, it looked from his deposition that he has gone a little mild and soft in his deposition as compared to the contents of his speech.... Can a Member of Parliament be allowed to speak anything he likes in total disregard of the truth ?...”

It may be stated that Chidambaram was there in the government of P. V. Narasimha Rao and besides that, he as also given additional charge relating to matters connected with the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi... It was expected from P. Chidambaram that he would place all material and adduce all ... Why he did not choose to act, is best known to him. I have sent number of petitions to the home ministry with no result. I do not have faith in the present Home minister, that is why I am sending this petition to you sir.

In 1998 the MDMA was formed to investigate the findings of Jain Commission, vide OFFICE MEMORANDUM No.201/4/98 A VD II, Government Of India , ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Department of Personnel and Training New Delhi dated the December 2 1998.It was decided to investigate the complicity of Sh.Chandraswamy, Sh.adnan Khasoggi,Sh. SubrasmaniamSwamy, KP@Kumaram Padmanathan ,Subbulakshmi Jagadeesan and Shri. M. Karunanidhi. The MDMA is in the thirteenth year and has not effected even a single arrest and it is obvious the MDMA has virtually lost track of the case.

Smt. Subbulakshmi jagadeesna was made a Minister in the union ministry and Shri karunanidhi is fifth time chief minister of tamilnadu in alliance with the party which is headed by sonia the widow of Rajiv Gandhi. smt sonia and karunanidhi says their alliance is so strong that even the arrest of Raja in the 2 G spectrum scandal cannot spoil their friendship. It clearly shows that the jain commission report was not accorded the importance which it deserve.

As a patriot and son of a Freedom fighter , I wish to bring the following facts to your notice in the belief that at least in this matter you will act as The prime Minister of INDIA.. For your information I was a member of the Special Investigation team ,Central Bureau of Investigation which investigated the Rajiv assassination. I am 100% sure the investigation was doctored tailored and truncated with lot of omissions and commissions. I was shell shocked and I took Voluntary retirement at the age 45 and since then fighting to unearth the truth behind the assassination of Poor Rajiv Gandhi.

Kumaran padmanathan, “KP” of Ltte.

The MDMA had approached more than 20 countries regarding “KP” However the CBI/ MDMA fail to unearth anything against “KP”. But when it was reported in 2007 from Thailand that “KP” was detained by Thai Police, the then External Minister Pranab Mukhergee promptly and aggressively rubbished the reports of detention of K. P.

Now , After the reported killing of LTTE chief Prabakaran In 2009 , “K P” was arrested by Sri Lankan authorities from Malaysia. Since then He is in the custody of Sri Lanka reportedly enjoying ROYAL treatment. Recent news says that he is likely to be given amnesty by thew srilankan government and it is also reported he is having plans to float his own Political party. Our government which rubbished the Thai report of KPs arrest is maintaining thundering silence about KP now.

The CBI/MDMA is maintaining thundering suspect silence over the matter of “K P”. Under normal circumstances K. P should have been brought to India & Questioned reg. his role in Rajiv Gandhi assassination. But nothing of that sort happened. In the mean time Pro- LTTE elements in india’s Tamil Nadu have brazenly questions the very integrity of India. Attacks on army convoy, burning of national flags, displaying the photographs of the slain LTTE leader Velupillai prabakaran in posters and banners all over Tamilnadu.I wonder in Tamilnadu whether the ban on LTTE is effectively impleamented. One Veluswamy claiming to be a congress worker had approached The Supreme Court in July 2010 to seek release of the convicts of Rajiv Gandhi case who are in jail. However the Supreme Court dismissed his plea.

I request you call for the records concerning “KP” from the MDMA and to take immediate steps to secure the presence of “KP” and interrogate him regarding his role in the assassination. The silence of the Indian government during the war in Srilanka with the LTTE when thousands of innocent tamils were killed and made to live in inhuman conditions arouses in me a suspicion that the Indian government is blackmailed by the srilankans with the confessional statement of KP @ Kumaran padmanthan which might be against the interests of some powerful persons in India. when the war was at its peak our government sent team India cricket to play cricket in srilanka to entertain the murderous srilankans. The Indian government accorded red carpet welcome to Mahinda rajapakshe during the common wealth games unmindful of the sentiments of the Indian tamils. The unabated killings of the Indian fishermen is sowing the seeds of separatism in he minds of gullible Indian tamils who are brainwashed by certain section of radical tamil elements. The tamil nadu chief minister Karunanidhi says he is sticking on to power only to save those who are indulging in anti national activities.[my complaint regarding this sent to the home minister is enclosed]. I request the prime minister to wake up to the realities and save the country from blood shed. The government should come out in the open regarding the role played by KP in rajiv assassination.I have a strong suspicion the government is hiding something in respect of KP. More over I call upon the Prime minister to solve the disputes tamilnadu having with the border states over water issue.

Chandraswamy.

The CBI/MDMA is silent reg. the role of tantric Chandra Swamy who once the CBI claimed that they have box full of evidence to prove that Chandraswamy funded LTTE Prabhakaran to eliminate Rajiv Gandhi. The CBI convinced a judicial magistrate in Delhi in Dec 2004 at an in-camera hearing. Again in2007, the CBI tried to impress the judges of the Delhi High Court reg. the involvement of Chadraswamy in RajivGandhi case and the Delhi High Court pulled up the CBI for delay in concluding investigation in RajivGandhi case. Again in 2009, the enforcement Directorate submitted before Supreme Court the role of Chandraswamy in Rajiv Gandhi case.

So far no worthy action is seems to have been taken in respect of KP and chandrswamy.But the Indian government is giving useless extensions to the MDMA which is wasting the poor nations money without doing any credible work.

I request a reply may be sent to me within ten days on receipt of this petition other wise I will be constrained to seek remedy in a court of law.

Thanking you,

In the service of this great nation ,

J .mohanraj,33 second street, wast abi rama puram ,chennai 600004.
094440 18543

COPY TO

The President of india

The director CBI.
The home minister, sonia

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Saturday, February 26, 2011

[rti4empowerment] PEOPLES’ CAMPAIGN FOR RIGHT TO WATER - Join mass protest on 28th Feb

 

Good day Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Its Sunday, February 27th 2011
 


Click for Mumbai, India Forecast


From: ESGINDIA <esg@esgindia.org>
Date: Sat, Feb 26, 2011 at 7:02 PM
Subject: [ESG-LIST] Endorse Memorandum Opposing Water Privatisation in Karnataka and Join Protest against US Water Trade Mission, Monday, 28 Feb 2011
To: esglist@lists.esgindia.org, bangalore_issues@lists.esgindia.org, esgevents@lists.esgindia.org


PEOPLES' CAMPAIGN FOR RIGHT TO WATER

JOIN the Mass Protest against anti-people water policies of Karnataka and the US Water Trade Mission on 28 February


Bangalore Mass Protest Rally commences at 10.00 AM at BWSSB (Cauvery Bhavan, K. G. Road) and proceeds to Gandhi Statue (at Maurya Hotel, Anand Rao Circle), proximal to Taj Westend (Race Course Road) venue of the US Water Trade Mission

Please sign the memorandum against water privatisation in Karnataka and the Government's support to the controversial US Water Trade Mission.  This will be submitted to the Chief Minister of Karnataka.  Kindly leave your affiliation in the comments section (as Individual with place, or Name of Organisation with place).

You can also encourage your friends and colleagues to participate in the sign on appeal by forwarding them this message:

Hi,

I wanted to draw your attention to this important petition that I recently signed:

"Oppose Water Privatisation in Karnataka"
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/opposewaterprivatisation/

I really think this is an important cause, and I'd like to encourage you to add your signature, too. It's free and takes just a few seconds of your time.



Thanks!

To know why you need to oppose the Karnataka Urban Water Policy and the US Water Trade Mission, please read the Memorandum to the Chief Minister (to be submitted with endorsements) below.  Also review the attachments (zipped).

In solidarity


Prabhakar
Peoples' Campaign for Right to Water
 9449820566
cawpka@gmail.com

Issac Arul Selva
Slum Jagatthu
9480452037
 slumjagatthu@gmail.com


Kshithij Urs-
Action Aid
9845452242
Kshithij.Urs@actionaid.org


Leo Saldanha
Environment Support Group
91-80-26713559-61
leo@esgindia.org
www.esgindia.org



Background

We write to express our deepest concern and disappointment over the continuing support of the Government of Karnataka to the policy of Commodification and Privatisation of Water. This is in complete disregard and contravention of the Constitutional Guarantee of Right of Access to Water as an integra part of the Right to Live.

Karnataka Chief Minister Mr. Yeddurappa has pitched the 2011 Budget as pro-people and pro-farmer. However, agencies connected with the Urban Development Ministry of the Karnataka Government, such the Karnataka Urban Infrastructure Development Finance Corporation (KUIDFC), Karnataka Urban Water Supply and Sewerage Board (KUWSSB) and Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) are actively preparing to receive a delegation of 16 American Corporations. These Corporations are advocating that "water resources that are allocated to the agricultural sector" be minimised as part of "water conservation" efforts and are intending to exploit business opportunities to provide "safe water for personal consumption and for industrial use". All this is considered to be part of their intent of capture the proclaimed US$50 billion water market in India. Such commodification of water attacks Constitutional Guarantees and the participation of State agencies in such a programme exposes the emptiness of the Chief Minister's claims that the Government works for common people.

The Mission Statement of the US Water Trade Mission to India 2011 which backs this visit also intends to exploit opportunities that "bypass the inadequate municipal system" so that "US water and waste water technology companies initiate and/or expand their exports to India …. (and) find best opportunities in sanitation, urban water supply improvement, rainwater capture, and municipal waste treatment." The Trade Mission thus treats with contempt our Constitution and Constitutionally elected bodies.


Karnataka Urban Development Minister opposed Water Privatisation, and then retracts:

To press for withdrawing support to the impending Trade Mission (28 Feb-4 March, 2011), we met with Shri. Suresh Kumar, Urban Development Minister on 23 February 2011, which involved the participation of senior officials from KUIDFC and BWSSB. At that time Shri. Kumar categorically stated that he was opposed to privatization of water, and also asserted that Karnataka Government would never allow commodification and privatization of drinking water. However, Mr. Kumar has later reinterpreted his commitment against water privatization on his blog, by claiming that we are confused about our understanding of the nature of privatization of water, and that "there is a distinct difference between privatization and private participation"; thus attempting to promote the view that our concerns are not reasonable and tenable.

But facts speak otherwise. What emerged in the meeting with Mr. Kumar was that neither he as Minister of the State nor the BWSSB or KUIDFC or any of the other agencies of the State assisting the US Water Trade Mission, had at all been formally approached by the US Consul General or the US Commerce Ministry as per protocol and to seek permission for such a Trade Mission. Mr. Kumar read out an email that had been received only recently by BWSSB where the US Consul General merely intimated the agency of the impending Water Trade Missions, sought entry into various water facilities and meetings with various agencies and local official. If this is not evidence of the scant respect the US Government has demonstrated for a Minister and Government agencies, what is?

Karnataka Policy Promotes Water Privatisation Unconstitutionally:


We addressed Mr. Kumar with our fundamental concern that such Water Trade Missions are encouraged because of because of the Karnataka Urban Drinking Water and Sanitation Policy, 2002. The basic objective of this policy is to "ensure universal coverage of water and sanitation services that people want and are willing to pay for". There is absolutely no evidence whatsoever to demonstrate that in a State with a majority of the urban population being poor, that people want to and can afford to pay for drinking water. The fact that they are coerced to out of sheer necessity should never have been used as a basis for arguing in favouring of willingness to pay.

Based on such spurious and unsubstantiated claims, parastatal and publicly unaccountable agencies such as BWSSB, KUWSSB, KUIDFC, etc. have been systematically promoting projects that privatise supply of drinking water. Without any substantive debate, or deliberate, prior and informed consent, these agencies have coerced Municipal Councils into agreeing to privatise drinking water services, to the detriment of the community, especially the poor.

The policy also promotes the role of the State to be one of organizing bulk water resources so that the distribution of drinking water would be parceled out to the private sector based on "commercial viability of operations to recover from the users of water the full cost of providing service". This with the clear and categorical intent of establishing an "appropriate cost recovery mechanism through adequate tariff to ensure that revenues cover operations and maintenance costs, debt service plus a reasonable return on capital" favouring the private investor. With such a sweet deal there is absolutely no business risk to invest in the "water market" as they State absorbs all such costs.

US Water Trade Mission out to make money out of Peoples Drinking Water needs:



It is no surprise then, that a fundamental life sustaining resource is now being perceived by American corporations as a 50 billion dollar business opportunity. The US Water Trade Mission clarifies that it is the objective of the American Government to "assist US companies to seize (such) export opportunities in (the water) sector".

We are extremely distressed that the Karnataka Government under Mr. Yeddyurappa's leadership is resorting to doublespeak. While proclaiming the purpose of governance to be pro-poor and pro-farmer, and even as Mr. Suresh Kumar claims that he is opposed to privatization of water, why then are Government agencies supporting the US Water Trade Mission. This when their stated objective is to overlook Constitutional Guarantees, belittle elected representatives and elected bodies, while also questioning our traditional and scientific wisdom of provisioning and supplying drinking water for all. It is because of this duplicitous position that it is critical that the government make a clear and categorical statement distancing the Government from the US Water Trade Mission, and only such a move will reassure the public. A further step that is essential is to repeal the Karnataka Urban Water Policy that paves way for such illegal efforts to take over our water, and commodify and trade with our life sustaining resources and our commons.

We can solve our water problem without privatisation.  Only political will and transparency are required:

As has been demonstrated by Karnataka State Council of Science and Technology by rainwater proofing 16,000 public schools (a world record), and thus providing drinking water, we have all the skill, capacity and traditional knowledge of harvesting rain. If only the Government were to come down heavily on polluters everywhere, it is only a matter of years before our rivers, lakes and village ponds will be brimming with clean water. If the Government introduced a strong legislation to regulate the ongoing reckless mining of ground and surface water resources by water mafias, and not support anyone in the government who are engaged in this criminal trade, not only would this build water security but the trust of people as well.

There is sufficient intelligence and capacity within our State's communities to build water security, and thereby social and ecological security. For this to be realised Karnataka Government needs to establish Constitutionally mandated District and Metropolitan Planning Committees based on representation from local elected bodies and other local expertise and act in a publicly accountable, transparent and representative manner in planning the utilisation of natural resource as required per the Nagarapalika Act. Such bodies in collaboration with local elected municipal bodies must be entrusted with the task of deciding matters relating to provisioning of the drinking water needs for all. Consequently, agencies such as KUWSSB, KUIDFC, etc., whose main intent seems to be to recklessly and criminally pave the way for global private water corporations to make money out of our life sustaining resource, must be abolished.

Demands:

  1. It is the constitutional responsibility of the State as Custodian to protect water as our commons. In addition, the State must promote policies and practices that advance equity in access and distribution of water based on sound principle of ecological and social justice.

  2. The Karnataka Urban Drinking Water and Sanitation Policy 2002 must be repealed and the State must own up and undertake its obligatory functions of providing safe drinking water for all as per the Constitution of India.

  3. The Operation and Maintenance (O and M) of water services in Hubli, Dharwad, Belgaum and Gulbarga has been undemocratically handed over to Veolia, a multi-national French company. The entire water services in Mysore have also been given away to JUSCO, a TATA Company. Such privatisation practices must immediately be remunicipalised. Consequently, the State must put an end to any ongoing or future efforts of privatising water and sanitation services across Karnataka.

  4. The campaign demands that the US Water Trade Mission to Bangalore be canceled. If the Trade Mission still persists on coming to Bangalore, there should not be any participation of elected representatives and any State agencies in such an illegal mission. Any such participation would amount to Government's solidarity with the American programme to commodify and control our waters, to the detriment of the Karnataka and its people.

  5. Thousands of public taps that have been removed to ensure a monopoly by water companies resulting in devastating impacts on the lives of the poor should be immediately restored and safe and sufficient drinking water must be supplied to poorer localities immediately.

Issued by:


Peoples' Campaign for Right to Water and Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha (Karnataka State Farmers Association)



--
Environment, Social Justice and Governance Initiatives Environment Support Group Trust 1572, 36th Cross, Banashankari II Stage Bangalore 560070 Tel: 91-80-26713559-61 Voice/Fax: 91-80-26713316 Email: esg@esgindia.org Web: www.esgindia.org

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[rti4empowerment] very interesting and important

 
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[rti4empowerment] Fwd: [ESG-LIST] Endorse Memorandum Opposing Water Privatisation in Karnataka and Join Protest against US Water Trade Mission, Monday, 28 Feb 2011 [1 Attachment]

 
[Attachment(s) from Ravindran Major included below]



---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: ESGINDIA <esg@esgindia.org>
Date: Sat, Feb 26, 2011 at 7:02 PM
Subject: [ESG-LIST] Endorse Memorandum Opposing Water Privatisation in Karnataka and Join Protest against US Water Trade Mission, Monday, 28 Feb 2011
To: esglist@lists.esgindia.org, bangalore_issues@lists.esgindia.org, esgevents@lists.esgindia.org


PEOPLES' CAMPAIGN FOR RIGHT TO WATER

JOIN the Mass Protest against anti-people water policies of Karnataka and the US Water Trade Mission on 28 February


Bangalore Mass Protest Rally commences at 10.00 AM at BWSSB (Cauvery Bhavan, K. G. Road) and proceeds to Gandhi Statue (at Maurya Hotel, Anand Rao Circle), proximal to Taj Westend (Race Course Road) venue of the US Water Trade Mission

Please sign the memorandum against water privatisation in Karnataka and the Government's support to the controversial US Water Trade Mission.  This will be submitted to the Chief Minister of Karnataka.  Kindly leave your affiliation in the comments section (as Individual with place, or Name of Organisation with place).

You can also encourage your friends and colleagues to participate in the sign on appeal by forwarding them this message:

Hi,  I wanted to draw your attention to this important petition that I recently signed:  "Oppose Water Privatisation in Karnataka" http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/opposewaterprivatisation/  I really think this is an important cause, and I'd like to encourage you to add your signature, too. It's free and takes just a few seconds of your time.  Thanks!

To know why you need to oppose the Karnataka Urban Water Policy and the US Water Trade Mission, please read the Memorandum to the Chief Minister (to be submitted with endorsements) below.  Also review the attachments (zipped).

In solidarity


Prabhakar
Peoples' Campaign for Right to Water
 9449820566
cawpka@gmail.com

Issac Arul Selva
Slum Jagatthu
9480452037
 slumjagatthu@gmail.com


Kshithij Urs-
Action Aid
9845452242
Kshithij.Urs@actionaid.org


Leo Saldanha
Environment Support Group
91-80-26713559-61
leo@esgindia.org
www.esgindia.org



Background

We write to express our deepest concern and disappointment over the continuing support of the Government of Karnataka to the policy of Commodification and Privatisation of Water. This is in complete disregard and contravention of the Constitutional Guarantee of Right of Access to Water as an integra part of the Right to Live.

Karnataka Chief Minister Mr. Yeddurappa has pitched the 2011 Budget as pro-people and pro-farmer. However, agencies connected with the Urban Development Ministry of the Karnataka Government, such the Karnataka Urban Infrastructure Development Finance Corporation (KUIDFC), Karnataka Urban Water Supply and Sewerage Board (KUWSSB) and Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) are actively preparing to receive a delegation of 16 American Corporations. These Corporations are advocating that "water resources that are allocated to the agricultural sector" be minimised as part of "water conservation" efforts and are intending to exploit business opportunities to provide "safe water for personal consumption and for industrial use". All this is considered to be part of their intent of capture the proclaimed US$50 billion water market in India. Such commodification of water attacks Constitutional Guarantees and the participation of State agencies in such a programme exposes the emptiness of the Chief Minister's claims that the Government works for common people.

The Mission Statement of the US Water Trade Mission to India 2011 which backs this visit also intends to exploit opportunities that "bypass the inadequate municipal system" so that "US water and waste water technology companies initiate and/or expand their exports to India …. (and) find best opportunities in sanitation, urban water supply improvement, rainwater capture, and municipal waste treatment." The Trade Mission thus treats with contempt our Constitution and Constitutionally elected bodies.


Karnataka Urban Development Minister opposed Water Privatisation, and then retracts:

To press for withdrawing support to the impending Trade Mission (28 Feb-4 March, 2011), we met with Shri. Suresh Kumar, Urban Development Minister on 23 February 2011, which involved the participation of senior officials from KUIDFC and BWSSB. At that time Shri. Kumar categorically stated that he was opposed to privatization of water, and also asserted that Karnataka Government would never allow commodification and privatization of drinking water. However, Mr. Kumar has later reinterpreted his commitment against water privatization on his blog, by claiming that we are confused about our understanding of the nature of privatization of water, and that "there is a distinct difference between privatization and private participation"; thus attempting to promote the view that our concerns are not reasonable and tenable.

But facts speak otherwise. What emerged in the meeting with Mr. Kumar was that neither he as Minister of the State nor the BWSSB or KUIDFC or any of the other agencies of the State assisting the US Water Trade Mission, had at all been formally approached by the US Consul General or the US Commerce Ministry as per protocol and to seek permission for such a Trade Mission. Mr. Kumar read out an email that had been received only recently by BWSSB where the US Consul General merely intimated the agency of the impending Water Trade Missions, sought entry into various water facilities and meetings with various agencies and local official. If this is not evidence of the scant respect the US Government has demonstrated for a Minister and Government agencies, what is?

Karnataka Policy Promotes Water Privatisation Unconstitutionally:


We addressed Mr. Kumar with our fundamental concern that such Water Trade Missions are encouraged because of because of the Karnataka Urban Drinking Water and Sanitation Policy, 2002. The basic objective of this policy is to "ensure universal coverage of water and sanitation services that people want and are willing to pay for". There is absolutely no evidence whatsoever to demonstrate that in a State with a majority of the urban population being poor, that people want to and can afford to pay for drinking water. The fact that they are coerced to out of sheer necessity should never have been used as a basis for arguing in favouring of willingness to pay.

Based on such spurious and unsubstantiated claims, parastatal and publicly unaccountable agencies such as BWSSB, KUWSSB, KUIDFC, etc. have been systematically promoting projects that privatise supply of drinking water. Without any substantive debate, or deliberate, prior and informed consent, these agencies have coerced Municipal Councils into agreeing to privatise drinking water services, to the detriment of the community, especially the poor.

The policy also promotes the role of the State to be one of organizing bulk water resources so that the distribution of drinking water would be parceled out to the private sector based on "commercial viability of operations to recover from the users of water the full cost of providing service". This with the clear and categorical intent of establishing an "appropriate cost recovery mechanism through adequate tariff to ensure that revenues cover operations and maintenance costs, debt service plus a reasonable return on capital" favouring the private investor. With such a sweet deal there is absolutely no business risk to invest in the "water market" as they State absorbs all such costs.

US Water Trade Mission out to make money out of Peoples Drinking Water needs:



It is no surprise then, that a fundamental life sustaining resource is now being perceived by American corporations as a 50 billion dollar business opportunity. The US Water Trade Mission clarifies that it is the objective of the American Government to "assist US companies to seize (such) export opportunities in (the water) sector".

We are extremely distressed that the Karnataka Government under Mr. Yeddyurappa's leadership is resorting to doublespeak. While proclaiming the purpose of governance to be pro-poor and pro-farmer, and even as Mr. Suresh Kumar claims that he is opposed to privatization of water, why then are Government agencies supporting the US Water Trade Mission. This when their stated objective is to overlook Constitutional Guarantees, belittle elected representatives and elected bodies, while also questioning our traditional and scientific wisdom of provisioning and supplying drinking water for all. It is because of this duplicitous position that it is critical that the government make a clear and categorical statement distancing the Government from the US Water Trade Mission, and only such a move will reassure the public. A further step that is essential is to repeal the Karnataka Urban Water Policy that paves way for such illegal efforts to take over our water, and commodify and trade with our life sustaining resources and our commons.

We can solve our water problem without privatisation.  Only political will and transparency are required:

As has been demonstrated by Karnataka State Council of Science and Technology by rainwater proofing 16,000 public schools (a world record), and thus providing drinking water, we have all the skill, capacity and traditional knowledge of harvesting rain. If only the Government were to come down heavily on polluters everywhere, it is only a matter of years before our rivers, lakes and village ponds will be brimming with clean water. If the Government introduced a strong legislation to regulate the ongoing reckless mining of ground and surface water resources by water mafias, and not support anyone in the government who are engaged in this criminal trade, not only would this build water security but the trust of people as well.

There is sufficient intelligence and capacity within our State's communities to build water security, and thereby social and ecological security. For this to be realised Karnataka Government needs to establish Constitutionally mandated District and Metropolitan Planning Committees based on representation from local elected bodies and other local expertise and act in a publicly accountable, transparent and representative manner in planning the utilisation of natural resource as required per the Nagarapalika Act. Such bodies in collaboration with local elected municipal bodies must be entrusted with the task of deciding matters relating to provisioning of the drinking water needs for all. Consequently, agencies such as KUWSSB, KUIDFC, etc., whose main intent seems to be to recklessly and criminally pave the way for global private water corporations to make money out of our life sustaining resource, must be abolished.

Demands:

  1. It is the constitutional responsibility of the State as Custodian to protect water as our commons. In addition, the State must promote policies and practices that advance equity in access and distribution of water based on sound principle of ecological and social justice.

  2. The Karnataka Urban Drinking Water and Sanitation Policy 2002 must be repealed and the State must own up and undertake its obligatory functions of providing safe drinking water for all as per the Constitution of India.

  3. The Operation and Maintenance (O and M) of water services in Hubli, Dharwad, Belgaum and Gulbarga has been undemocratically handed over to Veolia, a multi-national French company. The entire water services in Mysore have also been given away to JUSCO, a TATA Company. Such privatisation practices must immediately be remunicipalised. Consequently, the State must put an end to any ongoing or future efforts of privatising water and sanitation services across Karnataka.

  4. The campaign demands that the US Water Trade Mission to Bangalore be canceled. If the Trade Mission still persists on coming to Bangalore, there should not be any participation of elected representatives and any State agencies in such an illegal mission. Any such participation would amount to Government's solidarity with the American programme to commodify and control our waters, to the detriment of the Karnataka and its people.

  5. Thousands of public taps that have been removed to ensure a monopoly by water companies resulting in devastating impacts on the lives of the poor should be immediately restored and safe and sufficient drinking water must be supplied to poorer localities immediately.

Issued by:


Peoples' Campaign for Right to Water and Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha (Karnataka State Farmers Association)



--
Environment, Social Justice and Governance Initiatives Environment Support Group Trust 1572, 36th Cross, Banashankari II Stage Bangalore 560070 Tel: 91-80-26713559-61 Voice/Fax: 91-80-26713316 Email: esg@esgindia.org Web: www.esgindia.org

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TO UNSUBSCRIBE FROM THIS LIST, SEND AN EMAIL TO 'esglist-request@lists.esgindia.org' WITH SUBJECT 'unsubscribe'



--
 Veteran Major P M Ravindran
http://raviforjustice.blogspot.com
 

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[rti4empowerment] FW: Video on corruption in India......secong link is new...........LINKS

 
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Friday, February 25, 2011

[rti4empowerment] RTI COUNCIL OF U.P. AWARENESS PROGRAMME

 

RTI COUNCIL OF U.P. HOLDS AWARENESS PROGRAMME

Today, 25th Feb-2011, Dr.Niraj Kumar (Margdarshak) of RTI Council of U.P. gave a brief details of RTI Act to the students of Lucknow University, Department of Social Work, The session lasted for more than 4 Hours.
Students showed their overwhelming interest and were much curious to know "How we can involve ourselves in this mission." Dr. Niraj gave a detailed brief to the students about the "Use of RTI Act in Social Work". and also "through this Act how they can make a Corruption Free Society". This Awareness programme was organised as its first programme by RTI Council of U.P. in coordination with Dr. Roopesh Kumar Assistant Professor of Department of Social Work, Lucknow University who given a Sound Support in Conduct a Awareness of RTI Act to the Students of MSW and Diploma in Criminology.
The students offered their unconditional full support to conduct various RTI awareness studies which the RTI COUNCIL OF U.P. is going to conduct very shortly all over U.P. This will be a Pilot Project of the Council.

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[rti4empowerment] Sri Govindaacharya dupes a Police Inspector !

 

Friends,


When Sri K N Govindacharya came to our house today, he told us many stories but the one related with police department was the most interesting for me. It was related to the Emergency days. When I asked him if he had been arrested or not, he told me that he was arrested twice in emergency, one in the beginning another in the very end.

He also told the story of how he got arrested the second time. At that time, he was at Bhagalpur. He had to attend an election program for one Sri Ramji Singh. He had some premonition that the police was nearing him, but yet he attended the program. There when the meeting was still in progress, an Inspector of police, one Sri Mishra came. The moment Sri Govindacharya saw him, he asked Sri Ashwini Chaube, who is now a senior BJP minister in Bihar to continue the meeting and himself sat along with the spectators.

When the Inspector came, he asked each of those present there to tell their names. When Sri Govindacharya's turn came, he stood up with folded hands-

Your name?-                Hazoor, Ram Swaroop Tiwari.
Fathers name-                  "Ram Bharos Tiwari."
"Where do you live?"-               Sarkar, I belong to Village A, Post- B, District Arrah
"Who do you do?"-         "I am a teacher in Primary school at village C."
"So, why did you come here?"-          "Hazoor, I never wanted to come here, it is this person (pointing to someone there) who brought me. I knew there would be something "Gadbad"

Sri Govindacharya spoke all this with so much ease and confidence, in such Bihari dialect that the Inspector could not even suspect anything.

After this the Inspector got satisfied and moved away, but the moment he went back to his vehicle, the informer, an old acquaintance of Sri Govindacharya asked the Inspector whether he could arrest him or not. The Inspector plainly denied by saying that he had confirmed and was sure that Govindacharya was not there.

The informer said again that he had definite information and insisted the Inspector to come again. This time Govindacharya got arrested. When he sat in the police vehicle, the Inspector accusingly said- "You are such a big person, don't you feel ashamed of telling lies."
Govindacharya replied-" But isn't it true that you got duped by what I said."

He also narrated another story related with jayaprakash Narayan's house arrest in Patna. He said that despite a very heavy security at JP's house, Govindachary could meet him every day because he knew that the police went to listen to radio news at 6 in morning and again at 9.30 AM. He would enter JP's residence at 6 and would come back at around 9.30.

Finally, Govindacharya said- "Saving oneself from your police department in arrsst is not all that difficult, Amitabh ji. One only needs to keep one's eyes and ears open."

How do u people react?

Amitabh Thakur,
IPS,
Lucknow
94155-34526


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