BMS protests reducing PF interest rate?

Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS) strongly protested against the UPA government’s decision to reduce interest rate on Employees Provident Fund from 9.5 to 8.25 per cent. In a letter to Union Labour Minister Shri Mallikarjun Khargeji, BMS general secretary Shri Baijnath Rai requested him to immediately take up the issue with Prime Minister on behalf of the CBT, so that the unjustified decision of reduction in EPF rate of interest is reviewed and interest rate of 9.5 per cent is restored in order to avoid industrial unrest caused by the unilateral decision of Finance Ministry. “It may be recalled that in the last meeting of CBT, it was decided that the opinion of CBT Member would be placed before Ministry of Finance and then again the issue would be placed before CBT for appropriate decision because we pointed out some source of income for maintaining the interest rate at 9.5 per cent but sorry to say that this was not done. It is surprised that while rate of interest on PPF, Post Office Deposits & National Savings has been increasing but the interest of PF of poor workmen has been reduced,” Shri Rai said in his letter.

(FOC)?

Union Government withdraws beef export proposal
Victory for Hindus?

After the strong protest by the Hindus under the leadership of saints and the VHP the Government of India has rejected the Planning Commission’s committee proposal to lift ban from beef export. The Central Government issued a press note on March 16 stating that there would not export of beef.

In a statement issued on March 29 the VHP said it has become a habit of the Govenrment to take decisions hurting Hindus and only when Hindus take to streets, the decisions are withdrawn. From Rameshwaram Ram Sethu to Amarnath and from law against superstition in Maharashtra – there are many such examples. Instead of hurting the majority to appease minority, the Union Government and the State governments must care for majority sentiments and well-being for the betterment of India, the VHP said demanding to pass a bill for complete ban on cow slaughter. The VHP also urged the states that those which do not have such law must pass it immediately and those which already have must implement it strictly, as despite the law, in many states cows are still being captured illegally, transported in trucks and butchered.        (FOC)