Rubbishing the Congress' accusation that Team Anna was involved with foreign elements, one of its members and former Supreme Court Judge N Santosh Hegde on Tuesday said blaming a foreign hand was a 'famous statement' of the 1970s. "This was a famous statement of the 1970s. Every time a fault was pointed out, (an allegation was made saying) it is the international phenomenon or a foreign hand is involved," said Justice Hegde.
The government on Tuesday said it is aware of the plight of the 1,200 Indian workers stranded in Angola and will take all necessary steps for their return. "The government is taking steps for their return," Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs Vayalar Ravi said in the Rajya Sabha.
Pilots's association says the ministry is not serious about its assurance.
Facing serious financial turbulence, Kingfisher Airlines has sought government help for a bailout even as it continued its flight curtailment spree for the fifth consecutive day on Friday and its stocks plummeted by over 19 per cent to an all-time low but recovered slightly later.
The issue figured prominently during talks Overseas Indian Affairs Minister Vayalar Ravi held here with visiting British Immigration Minister Damian Green. Ravi told Green about the 'historical ties' between the two countries and requested him to ensure that Indian students and professionals do not suffer because of the changes in the immigration norms.
A section of Air India pilots, who threatened to go on strike from Wednesday demanding pay parity and better working conditions, on Tuesday night deferred their agitation till March 15 following tripartite talks with the carrier's management and chief labour commissioner in New Delhi.
In a written reply to the Rajya Sabha, Civil Aviation Minister Vayalar Ravi said Vijay Mallya-promoted Kingfisher Airlines along with Paramount Airways did not settle dues on a regular fortnightly basis.
In his inaugural speech, Overseas Indian Affairs Minister Vayalar Ravi invited the 25-million strong diaspora to be part of the 'India growth story' and take the country forward in diverse sectors.
A reshuffle in the Union Council of Ministers is scheduled for Tuesday evening at Rashtrapati Bhavan. The swearing-in has been fixed for 5 pm. Trinamool Congress' Dinesh Trivedi is likely to get the railways portfolio. The portfolios of a number of ministers are likely to be changed, including civil aviation, currently with Vayalar Ravi, and law, which is with Veerappa Moily. Minister Beni Prasad Verma from Uttar Pradesh is likely to be promoted to the Cabinet rank.
Millions of NRIs wishing to get voting rights may have to wait a little longer to see their names in electoral rolls as differences between the government and the Election Commission have resulted in a delay in finalising the modalities for enrolment.Overseas Indian Affairs Minister Vayalar Ravi on Tuesday said two rounds of discussions have already been held between the Election Commission, the external affairs ministry and his ministry to finalise the modalities.
Civil Aviation Minister Vayalar Ravi on Thursday asked managers of state-run airports to tighten up their belts for competing with private-led ones and fulfil their customers' expectations.
Stepping up their campaign on the Mullaperiyar issue, Union Ministers from Kerala on Monday met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, seeking his intervention in ensuring the saftey of the 116-year-old dam. Union Ministers Vayalar Ravi, K V Thomas, K C Venugopal,Mullapally Ramachandran and E Ahamed met Dr Singh with a demand to rein in Tamil Nadu's insistence on increasing the water level in the reservoir for enhancing water supply to the state.
Civil Aviation Minister Vayalar Ravi said the air carriers had sought a meeting with the prime minister.
State of Air India reveals one of the sorriest aspects of Indian public life.
The return of former Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee president K.Muraleedharan into the Congress party is almost clear with the state Congress president Ramesh Chennithala and Union Minister Vayalar Ravi supporting his return.
Noting that it was responsibility of the state governments to prosecute unscrupulous recruiting agents, he said proper enforcement of the relevant law will help in controlling illegal migration from the country.
Delhi high court on Tuesday issued contempt notices to nine of the striking Air India pilots for defying its order to call off the agitation which entered the seventh day.
In a bid to promote two-way engagement and build better understanding with the Overseas Indian community, a unique institution - 'Pravasi Bhartiya Kendra' - will come up in New Delhi by next year.
Attacking Army chief Gen V K Singh for reportedly writing to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh about the state of affairs in the force, Union Minister Vayalar Ravi on Wednesday said this reflects "frustrations" of an individual, who had to withdraw his petition on the age row in the Supreme Court.
Saving the lives of Indians held hostage by Somali pirates would be the prime concern of the government when it decides on taking appropriate action, Overseas Indian Affairs Minister Vayalar Ravi said on Monday.
With high festive season demand pushing up airfares, aviation regulator DGCA has been asked by the Union civil aviation ministry to examine if it could take some steps provide any relief to air travellers.
Agreement paves the way for increased air connectivity between both countries and has the potential to spur trade investment, tourism and strengthening the cultural exchange between India and Brazil.
The global airlines body International Air Transport Association also said that such taxes would compromise the industry's ability to maintain margins. Ravi said he would also appeal to all state governments to reduce sales tax on aviation turbine fuel.
Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam leader Vaiko on Wednesday alleged that the Libyan army had shot dead an Indian worker there and the authorities of the violence-torn country falsely claimed it to be a death in a road accident.Vaiko said 42-year-old Murugiah from Tirunelveli district was shot dead by the Libyan Army after it ordered the workers to vacate their place of accommodation. "On February 22, they were forced to vacate the place and the army opened fire on them."
In a letter to Civil Aviation Minister Vayalar Ravi, he sought permission to step down from the board of National Aviation Company of India Ltd.
The state-run airline is reeling under major financial losses and a plan of action has already been put in place to revive its lost status.
Overseas Indian affairs minister Vayalar Ravi said Government was in the final stage of establishing a 'Return and Resettlement Fund' that will provide 'reasonable level of financial security' to the overseas returnees.
Government has already set aside a provision of Rs 1,200 crore (Rs 12 billion) in the Budget for infusing equity in Air India in this financial year.
The decision came following the intervention of Civil Aviation Minister Vayalar Ravi who met Petroleum Minister S Jaipal Reddy to sort out the issue.
India received $55.9 billion in remittances in the year 2010-11.
The government has infused fresh equity of Rs 3,200 crore.
The airline is operating the flight AI-9801 with a 70-seater Canadian Regional Jet aircraft, which on Tuesday had an occupancy of 50 from Delhi.
The four recommendations came from Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel, Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs,Vayalar Ravi, member of US Congress Joseph Crowley and Dalis Adler, staff associate, sub-committee on the Middle East and South Asia under the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
The government has identified 355 foreign employers who were found to be harassing Indian workers abroad, the Lok Sabha was informed on Wednesday.
Overseas Indian Affairs Minister Vayalar Ravi, who was injured in a car accident in Liberia, was on Thursday airlifted to Cote d'Ivoire for further treatment.
A section of Air India pilots, who have threatened to go on strike tomorrow demanding pay parity and better working conditions, on Tuesday, met the Chief Labour Commissioner (CLC) as part of the conciliation process.
India said it will seek a report from its US mission into the arrest of an Indian documentary film maker at the Houston airport for allegedly carrying suspicious Islamic jihad literature, brass knuckles and $10,000 in cash.
Vayalar Ravi, who is also the Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs, was at the terminal 2 of the Indira Gandhi International Airport to receive the Indians evacuated from the Libyan capital Tripoli.
As many as 386 foreign companies are in the Prior Approval Category (PAC) list of the government due to non-payment or reduced payment of salaries and other related issues of exploitation of workers.
But if the minister signals that he is on the side of the unions on key staff issues, he reduces the management's scope of action as well as the likelihood of better service.
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