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Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Saturday said that Terrorism is the biggest threat to South Asia’s stability.  While speaking at the opening ceremony of the 3-day long 15th South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) summit in Colombo, he reminded the twin blasts in Bangalore and Ahmadabad and the Indian Embassy attack in Kabul, and stressed the need to fight terrorism.

“Terrorists and extremists don’t know borders. We must act with determination to fight terrorism. We cannot lose the battle against ideologies of hatred,” said Dr Singh.

He further called on the eight-nation regional grouping to identify and address new challenges if it wants to be a dynamic and responsive body. Dr Singh also discussed the surging crude prices and warned member nations that rising crude prices could jeopardize the region’s economic development. He said, “We must pool our resources to tap renewable resources in South Asia”.

Calling the establishment of SAARC Food Bank in 2007 an extremely significant development, Dr Singh said it was “an example of our foresight in the wake of world food crisis”.

“We need a second Green Revolution” to tackle the growing food crisis, the Prime Minister said in his address. “South Asian countries need to work together to ensure food security so that the specter of food shortages and hunger vanishes from our region,” he added.

Tags: Ahmadabad, Colombo, Crime, M M Singh, Manmohan Singh, MM Singh, PM, SAARC, SAARC Summit, South Asia, Terror, Terrorism, threat

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has won the confidence motion in the parliament. 275 member of parliaments votes in the favor of the government led by UPA and 256 votes goes against the government.

With this small election in the parliament, Congress lead UPA government will now has a complete majority in the parliament. 10 member of parliaments did not caste the vote.

This confidence motion has a two days of discussion in the parliament and UPA government won the confidence motion by a margin of 19 votes.

Entire congress man in India are celebrating the victory of the government. The latest news coming on the voting are saying that 10 member of parliaments are cross voted in the favor of government.

Earlier today one BJP MP shows the money offered to him in the parliament. That amount was offered to him for vote in the favor of the government.  Speaker Somnath Chatterjee has announced in the parliament that it is the black day of the parliament and he will conduct an inquiry for this.

Tags: Confidence Motion, India, MM Singh, PM, UPA

After the Left parties have withdrawn support to the Congress led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government President Pratibha Patil has asked Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to meet her on Thursday.

BJP demanded that the government be asked to prove its majority within a week and in wake of these political crises, Singh who is in Japan for the G-8 summit is asked by Patil to meet her. He will be back past midnight.

Samajwadi Party General Secretary Amar Singh and its Parliamentary party leader Ramgopal Yadav also met the President and gave a fresh letter of support of 39 of its MPs to the government.

Earlier in the day, top leaders of CPM, CPI, Forward Bloc and RSP met President Pratibha Patil at Rashtrapati Bhavan and submitted a list of 60 Members of Parliament and handed over separate letters withdrawing their support to the government. They also submitted a joint communication asking her to “direct the Prime Minister to seek a vote of confidence in the Lok Sabha immediately”.

Lok Sabha has a total of 543 members. SP, PDP and some independents are supporting the government and UPA hopes to get 272 votes for a simple majority in the Lok Sabha.

Ajit Singh-led RLD, JD(S) headed by former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda, Mamta Bannerjee’s Trinamul Congress and TRS come in the “undecided” category but have given enough hints of backing the government in a trust vote.

There are clouds of worries in the Indian political ring. There is a curiosity among all regarding government’s survival? Now there are uncertainties whether the government will able to prove a vote of confidence within a week and will retain its power or will it fall??

Tags: Congress, G-8, India, JD, Manmohan Singh, MM Singh, PM, Pratibha Patil, President, RLD, SP, TMC, UPA

In the forthcoming G8 summit of eight wealthiest nations, India, being one of the participants, is going to raise the major global issues of climate change, energy security and food security.

India on Sunday said it will convey to the international community at the G8 summit its belief that climate change, energy security and food security are interlinked, and require an integrated approach.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh who is going to attend the summit said on the eve of his departure for Japan, “At the forthcoming summit, I would present India’s perspectives on a wide range of global issues. They included the state of the world economy, development, and trade, transfer of technology, energy security and food security.”

He further told that he will, in particular, highlight the impact of the sharp rise in fuel prices on the global economy and the need for joint action by both producing and consuming nations.

He said he will have bilateral meetings with the Prime Minister of Japan, and some of the other leaders present, including those of Australia, Canada, China, Indonesia, Mexico, Republic of Korea, Russia, USA and the Secretary General of the United Nations.

He was also looking forward to participating in an informal meeting of the Brazil-Russia-India-China (BRIC) leaders on the sidelines of the G8 summit beginning tomorrow.

Singh said prior to the meeting with the G8 leaders; he will attend a meeting of the O5 group of outreach countries being hosted by the President of Mexico on July 8.

“Today, India’s views are heard with respect, and there is recognition of the fact that solutions to global issues require India’s involvement,” the Prime Minister said.

He said that he will also participate in the meeting of the leaders of major economies at which the issue of climate change will be discussed. He further stressed that there can be no solution to the issue of climate change without taking into account the developmental imperatives and aspirations of developing economies.

“For us, the foremost priority is the removal of poverty, for which we need sustained rapid economic growth.”

Tags: Energy Security, Food Security, G8, G8 Summit, Group 8, India, Manmohan Singh, MM Singh, PM, Technology

A day after a farmer was killed in police firing on Tuesday, in Haveri in north Karnataka, Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa reached Delhi to meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on this issue.

More than a thousand farmers protested violently since two days against lack of fertilizers, and they even burnt buses. A fresh violence started on Wednesday when the body of the 35 year old dead farmer was being taken for the funeral who was killed during an open police firing during the protest.

The Chief Minister called an emergency meeting of top government officials. He has asked for a report in the next 10 days.

“Two lakh rupees for the farmer who died, Rs 50,000 for those with severe injuries,” said Yeddyurappa.

The Chief Minister, after an emergency meeting, has called it a political game by the Opposition.

“I appeal to the farmers not to resort to violence and maintain peace,” said BS Yeddyurappa, Chief Minister of Karnataka.

It was first time the BJP government came into power and the Chief Minister sworn-in a few days back on the name of farmers. Hence it’s a tough time for the government.

Tags: Farmer, Farmer Issue, Karnataka, Manmohan Singh, MM Singh, PM, Yeddyurappa

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Monday warns about the growing risk of nuclear weapons falling into hands of terrorists and urged a need of truly collective approaches to all the countries to ensure universal nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation in a time-bound manner.

Cautioning about the danger, he said all countries must ensure that the dangerous hands are denied atomic material and technology.

Giving his guarantee that India has “no intention” to engage in an arms race with anyone, he expressed India’s readiness to contribute in this regard.

Singh said New Delhi is “fully committed to nuclear disarmament that is global, universal and non-discriminatory in nature”, a goal which will enhance security of all countries.

While inaugurating a conference `Towards a World Free of Nuclear Weapons’ in New Delhi he said, “The painful reality is that the goal of global disarmament, based on the principles of universality, non-discrimination and effective compliance, still remains a distant one.”

He cautioned about the “increasing danger of non-state actors accessing nuclear materials and devices, development of new weapon systems based on emerging technologies which pose challenges to space security and provide new roles for nuclear weapons and the weakening multi-literalism even as bilateral arms control processes falter in shifting strategic landscapes.”

Referring to the “growing risk that nuclear weapons may be acquired by terrorists or those driven by extreme ideologies, he said, “Even more disturbing, however, is the emergence of new threats and challenges to global security.

Tags: Arms, Manmohan Singh, N-arms, Nuclear, Nuclear Arms, PM

When increasing price of crude in the international market is exerting a pressure over the Indian government to raise the fuel price, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Monday said that government is not in a position to fully insulate the consumer from the impact of rising oil prices.

On one side when the political parties including the Left are opposing hike in fuel prices, Prime Minister warned that the government could insulate poor people “up to a point” and economic pricing of oil was essential to sustain growth.

“We cannot allow the subsidy bill to raise any further.” said Singh addressing the Assocham’s annual meeting in New Delhi.

Prime Minister, however, ensured that the Indian economy will grow at 8 per cent and above despite of global slowdown. India has maintained the economic growth of 9 per cent and above for the last three years.

Fuel crisis is a cause of concern in the country as well as the world now-a-days. Despite the crude oil prices crossing the range of 127 dollars a barrel in the market and causing huge losses to the state-owned oil marketing firms, Indian government has not been able to pass on the burden due to lack of political consensus.

There are differences within the government also as to how to resolve the crisis. Finance Ministry is opposed to duty cuts sought by the Petroleum Ministry as also the Left parties.

Due to these differences the fuel hike decision is delayed day after day. According to the current reports the government has said that the decision is expected to come in this week.

Tags: Essential Commodities, Fuel Price, LPG, MM Singh, PM, Price, Price hike

Due to the rising crude oil price in international market, a decision to hike the fuel prices in India may be taken tomorrow. The Cabinet headed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh may meet on Friday to consider raising petrol and diesel prices.

Increasing crude price left the oil firms under pressure. With Indian Oil, Hindustan Petroleum and Bharat Petroleum projected to lose Rs 200,000 crore (Rs 2,000 billion) in revenues on sale of petrol, diesel, domestic LPG and kerosene below import cost, industry sources said a hike in the range of Rs 2 to 5 per litre appears on the cards. International crude prices reached an untouched height of $135 a barrel.

The three firms are currently losing Rs 450 crore (Rs 4.50 billion) in revenues on fuel sales every day. Petrol is being sold at a loss of Rs 16.34 a litre, diesel at Rs 23.49 per litre, LPG at Rs 305.90 per cylinder loss and kerosene at a discount of Rs 28.72 per litre. It will bailout state run firms that have been reeling under unprecedented high crude prices.

The three firms are faced with a huge liquidity crunch and are borrowing Rs 3,500 crore (Rs 35 billion) a month to meet day-to-day expenditure. Borrowings of the three firms have reached Rs 65,000 crore (Rs 650 billion).

Asked about the tomorrow meet Petroleum Minister Murli Deora neither denied nor confirmed Cabinet being scheduled for Friday.

“We are discussing all possible measures to help and protect our public sector oil companies . . . some remedial measures need to be taken (urgently),” he told reporters.

“I cannot rule in or rule out anything at this stage,” Deora said when asked if petrol and diesel prices hike was an option under consideration.

“We are concerned at the financial health of the PSUs.” he said.

Despite of the cost of raw material (crude oil) doubling to over $135 a barrel, government has not made any considerable hike in fuel prices which leads a revenue loss of Rs 200,000 crore to the three firms at the end of the current year. Last year, the revenue loss was Rs 77,304.50 crore (Rs 773.45 billion).

Tags: Bharat Petroleum, Diesel, Hindustan Petroleum, India, Indian Oil, LPG, Manmohan Singh, Oil Prices, PM

Oil companies of India has decided to finish the subsidies going on in LPG cylinders in India. In a recent movement they have decided to not provide any new connections.

Right now Government is giving around 300 Rs. subsidy on each LPG cylinder and if it has been removed then it will go out from the reach of the common people in India.

Right now cylinder is costing around 300-400 Rs. and after the removal of subsidy it can cross the 600 Rs. mark. This way middle class families will not be able to see the face of the LPG cylinder.

PM office and UPA Govt. has to decide yet on this topic and it is not sure whether they will accept it since it is the year of election.

Tags: LPG, LPG Cylinders, PM, Rising Price, Subsidy, UPA

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Wednesday said that he was still hopeful for the Indo-US nuclear deal rejecting the view that the deal is failed.

I am hopeful so long as we are discussing it,” the Prime Minister said putting an end to the assumption that the deal was dead.

His remarks came in the midst of government’s renewed bid to enlist the support of Left parties, outside supporters of his government, for going ahead with securing the India-specific safeguards agreement with the IAEA.

The Prime Minister told reporters on the sidelines of a military investiture at the Rashtrapati Bhavan, “I am negotiating in good faith.”

On Tuesday, the Left-UPA meeting on the nuclear deal failed to make much headway, the two sides decided to meet again on May 28. The Left parties would meet on May 23 to decide on whether or not to allow the IAEA safeguards agreement.

The Left parties questioned on guaranteed uninterrupted fuel supplies, full civil nuclear co-operation, the issue of reciprocity and implications of the American domestic Hyde Act on India’s foreign and security policies.

About the inflation issue Singh assured that “the current rate of 7.5 per cent will come down, hopefully in the next three months”.

Tags: IAEA, India, Manmohan Singh, Nuclear deal, PM, US