Fractured PAC meets to finalise 2G report

Fractured PAC meets to finalise 2G report

Parliament's Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on Thursday met to finalise its report on the allocation of 2G spectrum with members of the ruling United Progressive Alliance (UPA) and the opposition daggers drawn over the panel's criticism of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. The 22-member committee, hea

The draft 270-page report, which was circulated among members on Wednesday, has criticised Manmohan Singh for giving an "indirect green signal" to former telecom minister A Raja to execute his "unfair and dubious designs" in selling scarce radio waves at throwaway prices.

The yet-to-be adopted PAC report said DMK's Raja, who is now in jail, revealed "half truth to conceal his ulterior design".

The report does not hold Manmohan Singh directly responsible for the alleged losses the 2008 sale of telecom licences caused to the nation.

However, the prime minister does face criticism in the explosive report that was leaked to the media a day before it is likely to the adopted by the 22-member panel.

It also criticises home minister P Chidambaram, who was then finance minister, saying the committee was "shocked and dismayed" to note that in his note Feb 15, 2008, he acknowledged that spectrum price should be based on its scarcity value and efficiency of usage.

Congress members KSS Rao, Saifuddin Soz, Naveen Jindal and K Sudhakaran, as well as DMK's Tiruchi Siva, have come out in the open to slam the draft report of the PAC and asked for Joshi's resignation.

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French Restaurant in Delhi to offer meals to BPL card holders to qualify for VAT waiver

French Restaurant in Delhi to offer meals to BPL card holders to qualify for VAT waiver

An upmarket restaurant is acting upon Delhi CM Sheila Dikshit’s decision to remove VAT on meals for the poor by offering free meals for the hard-up. La Maison Goinfre has purchased 30kg of camembert, 50 cases of Bordeaux wine, 5kg of foie gras and 25 jars of preserved duck legs VAT-free.

To qualify for the VAT waiver, the restaurant must provide meals for 50 poor people per week, including wine, although a Delhi Government spokesman confirmed that “house wine” would be acceptable.

“This is excellent news for us,” said restaurant manager Suhail “Pierre” Kumar, putting on a French accent, “at the moment some of our dishes are inaccessible to the poor because the ingredients are so expensive; we are delighted to welcome the masses into our arms and educate them in fine dining – haute cuisine is for everyone, not just the cultured.”



“The man at the PDS shop sent me here,” said Rahul, 27, a rag-picker with a BPL card, “but they won’t let me in. They said I need a tie to get in. So, I borrowed Sunil’s tie – he’s a security guard down the road. When I came back they said if I could afford a tie I could afford to pay. I’m confused and hungry.”

Rahul argued with the doorman for a minute before being told that the main course was “cold duck liver” and ask if he “really wanted that”. He decided he didn’t. His friend Kabir, who works as a beggar near CP, wanted to try out the “cold duck liver” but he was turned away as he didn’t have a BPL card to prove his ‘poor status’.

After hiding behind some bushes for a while, our correspondent accosted a man identified on his number plates as “MRB1G” on his way from his Audi A8 Quattro to the front door of La Maison. Faking News asked if the businessman had a valid BPL card.

“This man is in debt by 500 crores,” interjected the manager, “he has less than no money so he is in a far worse position than most, and look, he has his bank manager with him as his income proof,” gesturing to a man in a suite with “MRB1G”.

Faking News tried to say something about assets, liquidity and investments, but security quickly intervened. Our correspondent did manage to have a glimpse of the man’s three BPL cards though before being ejected from the premises.

However, for the sake of balanced journalism, we must point out that the restaurant does have plans to host BPL diners. Next weekend, 50 BPL card holders will dine with 100 American philanthropists, NGO workers, and diplomats.

Tickets for Let Them Eat Cake: Meet the Poor night start at Rs.15000 for a “standard rag-picker” seat and rise to Rs.25000 for a view of “the deformed”. “We will be offering our BPL guests the full French menu and also a special menu, in case there are ‘cultural issues’,” said Kumar, “I suspect we will have to outsource some of the catering to our ‘BPL scheme’ partners, Punjab Dhaba.”

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