Press Releases Archive

Lok Satta demands cancellation of all Mining leases and fresh allotment

The Lok Satta Party today welcomed the Andhra Pradesh Government decision, although belated, to halt mining of iron ore by six companies in Anantapur district as suggested by a Supreme Court’s Central Empowered Committee.

Talking to the media, Lok Satta Party spokespersons --- said, “It is not enough if mining is suspended for the time being. The Government should straightway cancel all mining leases and allot them afresh on the basis of international competitive bidding.”

The Lok Satta leaders pointed out that Andhra Pradesh is endowed with precious natural resources like iron ore, bauxite, and granite to name a few. The present policy of awarding leases on a first-come-first-served basis is flawed in that it gives scope for favoritism, nepotism and corruption, whichever party happens to be in power in the State. There is scope for corruption not merely in the grant of leases but also in the fixation of royalty to the Government. For instance, while the Karnataka Government is collecting a levy of Rs.1000 on every truckload of iron ore lifted from mines in that State, the Andhra Pradesh Government is still “thinking” of levying some charge.

In international competitive bidding, the mines can be leased to the highest bidders and Government revenue maximized.

Both the print and the electronic media have been carrying reports of illegal mining of minor minerals all over the State. The financially hard pressed Andhra Pradesh should not forgo the opportunity of stepping up its mineral revenue by granting leases only to highest bidders in competitive bidding.

The Lok Satta leaders pointed out that illegal mining of minerals ranging from iron ore to sand could not take place without the collusion of politicians and officials with leaseholders. The built-in corruption in the system could be tackled if the Prevention of Corruption Act is implemented to bring all elected representatives ranging from MPs and MLAs to MPP presidents and sarpanches under the purview of the Act, independent investigative and prosecuting mechanisms introduced and fast track courts formed at the rate of at least one for each district. The Act should be amended for the seizure of properties of the accused pending trial and their forfeiture, if the accused are found guilty.

“Otherwise, the day for the emergence of many Madhu Kodas in Andhra Pradesh will not be too far. Minting millions of rupees ever day in mining operations, the mining lobby will not be satisfied with dabbling in politics; it would like to dictate politics as was witnessed in our neighboring State Karnataka in the recent past. The problem is not merely with mining mafias, it is one of illegitimate money and big money capturing all levers of power and fast-converting our democracy into a plutocracy.”

Wednesday, November 25, 2009 - 17:18

Empower Center to preempt law and order Breakdown: Dr. JP

Lok Satta Party President Dr. Jayaprakash Narayan today demanded that a law be enacted in Parliament empowering the Government of India to deploy its forces anywhere in the country to address major public order problems that lead to the breakdown of the Constitutional machinery. In fact, the Second Administrative Reforms Commission had made such a recommendation.

Addressing the media, Dr. JP described the Liberhan report on the Babri Masjid demolition makes “much ado about nothing.” The learned Justice had taken 17 long years to present a report full of conjectures and guesses without any solid evidence to nail any culprits for Babri Masjid demolition on December 6, 1992. The criminal cases registered after the mosque demolition continued to be pending even to this day with none having been convicted. “The report testifies to the Lok Satta contention that criminal investigation in India continues to be antediluvian and needs to be thoroughly reformed. The Lok Satta has all along been advocating formation of an independent criminal investigation authority and independent prosecution machinery.”

The Lok Satta President maintained that the Government of India had clearly failed to act even when the danger of unruly mobs damaging or demolishing the mosque was evident to everybody. There was some merit in the argument that use of force against lakhs of people who had assembled in Ayodhya on December 6, 1992 was not resorted to because of fear of heavy casualties. The Government of India, however, could not be exonerated on that pretext since other remedies were open to it.

The Government of India could have preemptively dismissed the Kalyan Singh Government and brought the State under President’s rule under Article 356. Its failure to invoke President’s rule on the pretext the Governor had not recommended such a course of action did not hold water. Article 356 provided for Central intervention on its own even without Governor’s recommendation. The Government of India, which had abused Article 356 repeatedly, chose not to invoke it when it was clearly warranted.

Much earlier, the Union Government could have exercised its powers under Article 256 to direct the State to ensure that administration is carried on in compliance with the laws made by Parliament or the State legislature. In addition, Article 355 says that it shall be Union Government’s duty to protect every State against external aggression and internal disturbance and it can send forces to maintain public order.

Dr. JP said it might be difficult to pinpoint criminal responsibility on leaders like Atal Behari Vajypaee, L. K. Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi for the demolition of the mosque. They had, however, dismally failed politically.

“The roots of the 1992 tragedy lie in the politics of hatred assiduously propagated by major political parties for electoral gains. The mosque demolition and the subsequent communal riots could be directly traced to the climate of frenzy, hatred and intolerance promoted by the BJP and its front organizations. It is time we realized that the politics of hatred preached on the basis of region, religion, caste and language by any party will undermine the country’s unity and integrity and sound the death knell of democracy.”

Tuesday, November 24, 2009 - 21:50

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