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Political Notes |
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Pesticides in Colas : MPs demand ban
There was a strong demand in the Lok Sabha on Thursday, August 3, for an immediate ban on the sale of Coca Cola and Pepsi after a study by the Centre for Science and Environment came out a day earlier on the level of pesticides in soft drinks available in the market. The report indicated the presence three to five different pesticides in all the samples, 24 times higher than the norms finalised by the Bureau of Indian Standards.
Sinking all differences, members form all sides assailed cola companies for slow poisoning the children by allowing pesticides contents for above the limits. The Opposition and Left parties accused the Government, particular the Health Ministry of succumbing to pressure from multi-national companies to delay notification of the norms for the manufacture of soft drinks.
The matter also figured in the Supreme Court on Friday, August 4, when it issued a notice to major companies making soft drinks to explain within three weeks their position about alleged harmful chemicals in their drinks. The matter came up through a public interest litigation filed by the Centre for Public Interest Litigation.
In another significant move, the apex court has taken away the power to grant temporary work permits (TWPs) from the Union Ministry of Environments and Forests and instead vested it in the Forest Advisory Committee comprising independent experts. TWPs are granted when mining leases expire and come up for clearance.
Telangana issue
UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee had a half an hour long meeting with Telangana Rashtra Samithi President and Union Labour Minister K. Chandrashekhara Rao in New Delhi on Thursday, August 3, reportedly to discuss the Telangana issue. No official word was forthcoming later on what transpired at the meeting. Pranab Mukherjee heads the three-member UPA committee looking into the TRS demand for a separate Telangana state. The meeting comes after a demand by the CPI that Chandrashekhara Rao’s portfolio should be changed as he has been completely ignoring the Labour Ministry’s work.
Code of Criminal Procedure to be amended
The Union Cabinet at its meeting on Thursday, August 3, cleared a number of amendments to the Code of Criminal Procedure to provide for witness protection, among other things. The amendments are based on the recommendations of the Law Commission. According to the proposed amendments, any witness who makes a confessional statement before a magistrate cannot go back on it.
The amendments also provide that only women judges will try rape cases. Video recording may also be recognized as evidence.
Anti-corruption activist to get Magsaysay award
Anti-corruption activist Arvind Kejriwal, who campaigned actively for the Right to Information Act has been awarded the Magsaysay award. He is among five selected for the award this year. They would be presented the award at a ceremony in Manila on August 31.
Kejriwal who heads Delhi-based Parivartan Citizen’s Movement, said : “I am happy as well as sad,” about the news of his selection for the award.
He said the award was an international recognition of his fight against corruption, which has not been recognized by the Government “The Government’s decision to change the Right to Information Act will kill the entire legislation,” said Kejriwal, a mechanical engineer from IIT Kharagpur, who has put in a lot of effort to bring awareness amongst the people about the scope of the Act and how it can change the lives of the common man.
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