12 MARCH 2015: PM to make Indian economy a blue economy

Ø Giving in to a combative Opposition, the government agreed in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday to refer two crucial bills — the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2015, and the Coal Mines (Special Provisions) Bill, 2015 — to select committees of Parliament. The Ordinances, which these Bills will replace, will lapse by April 5. The government’s decision is being perceived as an attempt to broker peace with the Opposition parties, ahead of the tabling of the important land Bill. So far, the government has been able to get the Opposition to give its consent only to the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2011, and the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill, 2015.

Ø The Congress closed ranks behind former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Wednesday after a special CBI court issued summons to him to appear before it in a case of alleged irregularities in the allotment of coal blocks to Hindalco in Odisha while he was in office.

Ø Nitish Kumar, heading the JD(U) government in Bihar, won a trust vote in the Assembly on Wednesday, securing the support of 140 MLAs, with the Opposition drawing a blank. Former Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi was not present in the House, while the BJP walked out, protesting Mr. Nitish Kumar’s speech critical of the party.

Ø Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to meet the former President, Mahinda Rajapaksa, during his visit to Sri Lanka.

Ø Controversial India-born author Salman Rushdie will join the journalism faculty at the New York University later this year to teach courses and advise graduate students. Mr. Rushdie will join the New York University (NYU) journalism faculty as a ‘Distinguished Writer in Residence’ at the Arthur L Carter Journalism Institute of the Faculty of Arts and Science in September, 2015. Over the next five years, Mr. Rushdie would be teaching courses in the Institute, providing public readings and advising graduate students, the institute’s director Perri Klass said in a statement.

Ø Terming Seychelles a “trusted friend and a strong strategic partner,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday wrapped up the first leg of his three-nation tour of the Indian Ocean countries with both nations underlining the need for comprehensive cooperation in the region. “Our security partnership is strong. It has enabled us to fulfil our shared responsibility to advance maritime security in the region,” Mr. Modi said. He is the first Indian Prime Minister to visit Seychelles in 34 years. Highlighting India’s push for regional integration, Mr. Modi observed: “We also hope that Seychelles will soon be a full partner in the maritime security cooperation between India, Maldives and Sri Lanka.” During his meeting with Seychelles President James Alix Michel, Mr. Modi announced that India will give a second Dornier aircraft to the island nation for coastal surveillance and called it a “privilege to be a partner of Seychelles in the development of its security capabilities.” The two nations signed four agreements for cooperation in hydrography, renewable energy, infrastructure development and hydro-graphic survey. Another important agreement pertains to infrastructure development in the Assumption Island. “Our agreement today on hydrographic survey adds a new dimension to our maritime cooperation,” Mr. Modi said. Mr. Modi also inaugurated the first of the eight Coastal Surveillance Radar Systems being set up by India. At the next stop in Mauritius, Mr. Modi will be chief guest at that country’s Independence Day celebrations on March 12 and also commission MCGS Barracuda — an offshore patrol vessel — built by India.

Ø India and Mauritius announced a new security cooperation agreement on Wednesday, as part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Indian Ocean outreach. In Port Louis, on the second leg of his three-nation tour to the Seychelles, Mauritius and Sri Lanka, Mr. Modi and Mauritian Prime Minister Aneerood Jugnauth signed five agreements, one on opening up the “ocean economy”, or “blue economy”. Another is a key memorandum of understanding that will see India taking over responsibility to build transport infrastructure (sea and air links) for the Agalega Islands. The highlight of India’s push for maritime heft during the visit will be the commissioning of a 1,300-tonne, Indian-built coastal patrol vessel, MCGS Barracuda. India’s security cooperation agreements in the Seychelles on Wednesday have set the course for Mr. Modi’s foreign policy initiative for India to become a “net security provider” in the Indian Ocean region, in a bid to counter China’s increasing influence there. During Mr. Modi’s visit, India is expected to offer expertise and funding to help Mauritius move from its traditional economy of sugarcane crops and tourism. “We have worked very closely in civilian structures, in building infrastructure, in health, in science and technology, in IT — India built the first cyber city — and in building up Mauritius’s capacities as a financial services hub, as well as now a petroleum hub,” said Secretary (East) Navtej Sarna at a briefing this week.On Thursday, Mr. Modi will attend the National Day celebrations as chief guest and address the National Assembly. During his address, he is expected to invoke the close connections between India and Mauritius, where more than 68 per cent of the inhabitants are of Indian origin. He will inaugurate a building of the World Hindi Centre.

Ø A special CBI court here on Wednesday granted bail to suspended police officer Tarun Barot in the Sadiq Jamal encounter case. DSP Barot was arrested in connection with the case in 2012. He had taken custody of Sadiq from Mumbai police’s former encounter specialist Daya Nayak. Sadiq, a Mumbai gangster, originally from Bhavnagar in Gujarat was killed in Ahmedabad in January 2003.

Ø The Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) will provide Rs.1.50 lakh crore in the next five years to the Railways for funding projects. The move is in line with Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu’s plan to look for funds outside of budgetary support and tap low-cost long-term funds. The Railways will need Rs.8.50 lakh crore in the next five years for various projects.