Govt proposes to begin talks with GCC on FTA
21 December 2005
Govt proposes to begin talks with GCC on FTA
New Delhi, Dec 21 The government proposes to initiate negotiations with the Gulf Cooperation Council to conclude a free trade agreement (FTA), Lok Sabha was informed on Wednesday.
“The dates for the first round of negotiations are being discussed,” minister of state for external affairs E Ahamed said in a written reply.
Report on cash for query scam likely today: Pawan Kumar Bansal, chairman of the Lok Sabha committee that went into the “cash for query” scam involving 10 of its members, presented its report to speaker Somnath Chatterjee.
The report is expected to be tabled in the House on Thursday.
Sarabjit issue raised at political level: India has raised with Pakistan at political level the issue of Sarabjit Singh, facing gallows in that country on charges of masterminding bomb blasts in two of its cities in 1990, Lower House was told .
The Indian high commission is in touch with the defence counsel of Mr Singh, who has filed an appeal petition in the Pakistan Supreme Court, minister of state for external affairs E Ahamed said in a written reply.
Canada Rly to talk with Sikh drivers on hats issue: Faced with stiff opposition from Sikhs to the new rule requiring drivers to wear hard hats, the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) plans to hold negotiations with Sikh truck drivers to resolve differences.
The CPR had issued a memo in August stating that it would enforce a rule requiring drivers to wear such hats. This resulted in stoppage of work later that month.
Subsequently, CPR temporarily suspended the enforcement of the memo until a resolution was reached, minister of state for external affairs Rao Inderjit Singh said in a written reply.
New performance appraisal system for civil servants: The government has decided to replace the present writing of annual confidential reports (ACRS) of civil servants by performance appraisal reports (PARS) for more objective evaluation of their work. The decision was taken after a detailed examination of the recommendations of Hota committee on civil service reforms and other committees, minister of state for personnel, public grievances and pensions Suresh Pachouri informed in a written reply.
Kerala MPs demand separate railway zone
Members from Kerala demanded a separate railway zone for the state.Raising the issue during zero hour, NN Krishnadas (CPI-M) also expressed apprehensions over moves to bifurcate the Palghat division of the Railways for the creation of a new division based at Salem.
– PTI
