One kick on the butt is more than enough... I have learnt lessons in politics, says Tharoor

Thiruvananthapuram: Listing his major achievements in the last two years as member of Lok Sabha in a 'half-term report,' Shashi Tharoor today said he was not disappointed with his work, but had learnt lessons in politics and got rid of illusions.

The diplomat-turned MP, who was elected from Thiruvanathapuram constituency, told  a press conference here that he had not yet become a 'typical' politician whatever that term meant.  "I am still who I am. I am learning lessons and making contributions," he said.

He said it had now become fashionable to decry the entire political class which was improper. There might be corrupt politicians, but there were others with long experience in politics and devoted to social service.

To a question, Tharoor said he was not 'parachuted' from the top. "If I was parachuted, I should have entered the Rajya Sabha. I took the ground transport, went to all sections of people and won an election fair and square," he said.

Not hiding his disappointment at the failure of his dream project of twinning the cities of Thiruvananthapuram and Barcelona, Tharoor alleged that due to 'petty politics' by Left Front municipal corporation, the agreement for twin city was sadly allowed to lapse.

He also listed as his achievement the bringing of IPL team for Kerala, the controversy over which he lost his post as Union Minister. The work for getting an international cricket stadium for the capital city was being strengthened, he said.

Tharoor said he also personally intervened to bring the world-renowned Hay Literary Festival, which had never before been held in India, to Thiruvananthapuram.

Tharoor said during his short 11-month stint as Union Minister of State for External Affairs, he could initiate new policy-planning activities on the Indian Ocean and represented India effectively at many global events, creating new relationships, especially with the countries in Africa which were earlier French colonies.

He could also guide and implement arrangements for Haj pilgrimage in an exemplary manner leaving no room for complaints from pilgrims.

Functioning of passport offices was improved and help rendered Keralites facing problems relating to visas, repatriation and compensation claims.

He listed as his achievements constituency road development works, infrastructural development for postal services, inauguration of the Rs 120 crore super-speciality departments at the Medical college Hospital complex and progress with the Vizhinjam International seaport project.

The new terminal for international airport and Air India hangar unit here were also pursued to completion, Tharoor said.

(PTI)

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Lalu proves in parliament that he is a joker

NEW DELHI: Lalu Prasad was at his irrepressible best in the Lok Sabha today as he used his rustic wit and humour to send a message against rushing through the Lokpal Bill, taking potshots at Anna Hazare and his team.

"Don't put the noose around your neck," the RJD chief appealed to the packed House, saying "Parliament cannot be run from the footpath. We are the lawmakers."

Prasad's poser was "how many friends of (Suresh) Kalmadi you want to make? If an ex-MP comes, he doesn't get place even in the bathroom," evoking laughter. He said the Lokpal would open a Pandora's box for the lawmakers themselves, both past and present.

In the midst of his hilarious remarks, he said "I was born in 1948. Mere aane se pahle hi Angrez bhag gaye (even before I arrived, British fled)". This sent the House into peals of laughter.

Repeatedly saying that he was not against the Bill as was being projected, Prasad went out of the way to woo the media saying that it should be exempted from the ambit of the Lokpal, maintaining it was doing "nothing wrong but giving publicity" to politicians.

In this context, he said Union minister Kapil Sibal's photographs were being well-published in the newspapers. Then he turned to another minister Pawan Kumar Bansal saying he has a file tucked in his armpit and feels like he is running the government.

Source

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Cabinet clears Lokpal, PM in but CBI & lower bureaucracy out

NEW DELHI: The Union Cabinet tonight approved a historic bill for creation a Lokpal with Constitutional status that will have no control over CBI but brings within its purview the Prime Minister with a number of safeguards.

Not succumbing to Anna Hazare's demand for inclusion of CBI under Lokpal, the government also decided against hiving off of the prosecution wing of the CBI.

After two days of intense drafting by a group of ministers and officials, the new draft of Constitution (Amendment) Bill was cleared at a special Cabinet meeting that lasted 70 minutes.

The bill will be introduced in Lok Sabha on Thursday and the existing one, introduced in August, would be withdrawn.

The Lokpal will be a nine-member body, whose Chairman will be selected by a four-member panel consisting of Prime Minister, Lok Sabha Speaker, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha and Chief Justice of India or his nominee from among the Supreme Court judges, sources told PTI.

The bill provides for the Prime Minister to be brought under the purview of the Lokpal with certain safeguards that keep out aspects like international relations, public order, atomic energy, space, internal and external security from inquiry.

Probe on any complaint against the Prime Minister will be decided by the full bench, of which at least three-fourth should agree. The probe will in-camera and if a complaint is dismissed, the records on it should not be made public.

Though the Lokpal will have no control over CBI, a demand strongly pursued by Hazare, an important provision has been added under which the CBI director will be selected by a committee of the Prime Minister, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha and Chief Justice of India or a Supreme Court judge, they said.

Appointment of SPs and above in CBI will be done by a committee consiting of CVC, Vigilance Commissioners, Home Secretary and Secretary, DoPT.

According to the proposals in the Bill, the Lokpal cannot initiate any inquiry suo motu and a complaint will be required.

The Inquiry Wing will be headed by a Director for preliminary inquiry. The Lokpal can also ask the CBI to conduct the preliminary inquiry, which should be completed within 180 days.

Ideally, the preliminary inquiry should be completed within 90 days and extension if necessary should be sought in writing.

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