THE Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO) is carrying out a detailed probe into the matter related to the Sahara group of companies and it is also looking into the reason behind a sizeable number of investors not coming forward to claim the invested money in the company, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said in Lok Sabha on Monday. Sitharaman also said the entire affairs of the Sahara group are being monitored by the Supreme Court and the Government is acting according to the directives of the apex court. “It is true that only small investors have come forward to claim the refunds. The SFIO is investigating the entire matter. It is also looking into why all the investors have not come forward to claim the refunds and where are they. “The SFIO is going into a detailed analysis of this. We hope that at the end of it more legitimate claimants come and we can give the money,” she said during Question Hour. The Minister said the whole picture will be clear and action can be taken after the detailed analysis of the SFIO. 

 

 

HEALTH Minister J P Nadda on Monday urged state Governments to spend more on improving healthcare infrastructure and dismissed Opposition allegations on reduction of allocations under the PM-Ayushman Bharat Healthcare Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM). Replying to the debate on the demand for grants for the Health and Family Welfare Ministry in the Lok Sabha, Nadda listed the increase in number of medical colleges, steps taken for the reduction of out-of-pocket expenses on healthcare and initiatives for early screening of diseases such as cancer and sickle cell anaemia as achievements of the Government. “We don’t believe in just making announcements. We believe in effective planning, ensuring last mile delivery, identifying bottlenecks in last mile delivery and taking steps to remove them,” the Minister said. 

 

 

SEVERAL Opposition leaders on Monday alleged that the BJP-led Government wants to bring a bill for amending the Wakf Act to create a divide in the society and asserted that they will strongly oppose such a legislation. Several BJP leaders, however, strongly defended the imminent move, stressing that the Modi Government has always worked with the intention of bringing transparency in every sphere. The bill to amend the Wakf Act, 1995, if it is introduced and passed, will make it mandatory for the Waqf boards to register their properties with the District Collectors to ensure their actual valuation. There are 30 Waqf boards in the country. The sources on Sunday pointed out that the revenue generated by all Waqf properties is estimated at Rs 200 crore per annum. This is not in sync with the number of properties such bodies have, they said. The Government is all set to bring a Bill in Parliament to amend the 1995 law governing the Waqf boards to ensure more accountability and transparency in their functioning and mandatory inclusion of women in these bodies, sources said on Sunday. bbbbbbbbbbbb Oppn plans to protest against GST on health, life insurancebbbbbbbbb SEVERAL Opposition parties are planning to stage a protest in the Parliament complex on Tuesday to press for the rollback of 18 per cent GST on life and health insurance premiums. Sources said on Monday that Opposition parties were coordinating on the issue for a joint protest to pile pressure on the Government during the ongoing budget session. Trinamool Congress MPs have raised issue in Parliament and party supremo and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has written to Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on the matter. Union Minister Nitin Gadkari also wrote to Sitharaman and urged her to consider withdrawing the GST which, he said, amounted to taxing uncertainties of life and restricting the industry’s growth.