Page 2200 - Politics
Chidambaram takes dig at Jaitley on Rafale deal comments
Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram Saturday took a dig at Finance Minister Arun Jaitley for saying that the NDA government got the Rafale aircraft deal at a cheaper price, questioning if it was so, why did it not buy seven squadrons instead of two. In a series of tweets, Chidambaram said Jaitley has been maintaining that in the Rafale deal, negotiated by the NDA government, the price of the aircraft was cheaper by 9 per cent or 20 per cent. "If so, why did the government buy only 36 aircraft and not 126 aircraft," he asked. The former finance and home minister said the Indian Air Force has been maintaining that its fighter aircraft strength is depleted and it needs at least 7 squadrons (126 aircraft). "Then, why did the government buy only 2 squadrons (36 aircraft)," he questioned. Chidambaram said the aircraft maker was willing to sell 126 aircraft and according to the finance minister the price is cheaper. "Then, why buy only 36 aircraft? Will someone please solve this ...
After row, Centre seeks correction in SC order on Rafale
Under attack from the opposition, the government on Saturday moved the Supreme Court seeking correction of its order on Friday in the Rafale verdict, saying a note submitted by it in a sealed cover has led to misinterpretation about a CAG report being examined by the PAC, leading to an error in the judgement.
Political parties condemn civilian deaths in J-K's Pulwama, demand action
Mainstream political parties in Kashmir Saturday condemned the killing of civilians allegedly in security forces' action during an encounter in Pulwama district, with National Conference (NC) vice-president Omar Abdullah calling the incident a "massacre". Abdullah alleged that the Governor Satya Pal Malik-led administration was apparently not doing anything for the security of people in Jammu and Kashmir. Seven civilians died in south Kashmir's Pulwama district when security forces allegedly opened fire at an unruly crowd that tried to storm the site of an encounter in which three militants and Army man were killed. Abdullah said there was no explanation for such excessive use of force and "massacre" was the only way to describe it. "7 dead. There is no explanation for this excessive use of force, none what so ever. This is a massacre & that's the only way to describe it," he wrote on Twitter. Earlier, the NC vice-president said the encounter was "badly executed". "6 civilians ...
Bangladesh opposition accuses government of pre-election persecution
Bangladesh's main opposition party has accused the government of cracking down on its workers to prevent them from campaigning for the general election set to be held end of the month.
India, France review status of Jaitapur nuclear power project
India and France Saturday held discussions on deepening the bilateral strategic partnership through cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region, defence, space and civil nuclear energy sectors. French Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Yves Le Drian said he and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj reviewed the status of the European Pressurised Reactor (EPR) project in Jaitapur in coastal Maharashtra. "We adopted an action plan to guide our work for the coming months so as to advance as efficiently as possible towards the final decision for building this power plant," he said. "Six EPRs account for a total capacity of almost 10 GW, which is a significant contribution to India's aim of producing 40 per cent of its electricity from non-fossil fuels by 2030, in keeping with its commitments made ahead of the Paris Climate Conference," he added. In March, India and France inked an an agreement to expedite the Jaitapur nuclear power plant project, with the aim of commencing work at ..
National security is a punching bag for Cong: PM Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi Saturday hit out at the Congress party, saying national security and defence sector were either a punching bag or a funding source for it. "For the Congress, national security and the defence sector is either a punching bag or a funding source," he said in an interaction with BJP workers from Tamil Nadu through video conference from New Delhi. The Prime Minister alleged that the (Congress) leaders mock at the surgical strike on the one hand while on the other, they have looted defence sector from the jeep scam back in the 1940s and 50s to the Bofors in the 80s, the AgustaWestland and submarine scam, among many others. "All they see is the way to make money even if it means the morale of our forces is diminished," Modi said. "We are proud of our forces and have faith in them," the Prime Minister said. During an election campaign in Rajasthan recently, Modi had slammed Congress president Rahul Gandhi for "raising doubts" over the cross-border ..
Top Army commander visits strategic Karakoram Pass in J&K's Ladakh
A top army commander Saturday visited the strategic Karakoram Pass along the Indo-China border in the Ladakh region and was briefed on the operational situation in the sector, a defence spokesman said. General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Northern Command, Lt Gen Ranbir Singh visited the historic and strategic pass in Daulat Beg Oldie (DBO) sector of eastern Ladakh, in Jammu and Kashmir, the spokesman said. He said the commander was accompanied by General Officer Commanding, Fire and Fury corps and General Officer Commanding, Trishul division. He was briefed on the operational situation in the sector, he said. At Karakoram Pass, the spokesman said Lt Gen Singh also met and interacted with an Indian Army Patrol. He complimented the troops for undertaking such an arduous task in extreme terrain and weather conditions, in the interest of national security, the spokesman said. He said the Commander urged them to continue to uphold the highest standards of commitment and dedication to duty
59 detained ahead of 'yellow vest' Paris protests
The police in the French capital on Saturday arrested 59 people in a preventative move aimed at stopping those suspected of seeking to fuel violence in the "yellow vests" movement that has gripped the country in recent weeks.
PM thanks Assam voters for choosing BJP in recent panchayat polls
Prime Minister Narendra Modi Saturday said the BJP and its allies have become the preferred choice of people in the northeast states as he thanked voters in Assam for their support to the saffron party in the recent panchayat polls. "Over the last few years, the BJP and the NDA family have become the preferred choice of the northeast. We consider it our privilege that we have the honour of fulfilling the aspirations of the northeast and taking the region to new heights of progress," he said on online networking site Twitter.. He said the party has immense faith in the state government and its focus on good governance. "I appreciate the entire team of Assam BJP for their excellent work across the state, which has resulted in the party's wonderful performance. I am sure the 'karyakartas' will continue raising issues of public welfare and work towards Assam's growth," Modi said.
Cong playing into hands of enemy nations to scuttle Rafale jet deal: J&K BJP
Jammu and Kashmir BJP president Ravinder Raina on Saturday accused the Congress of playing into the hands of enemies of the country, like Pakistan and China, to force cancellation of Rafale jet deal. His comments came a day after the Supreme Court dismissed the petitions seeking a direction to the CBI to register an FIR for alleged irregularities in the multi-billion dollar deal between between India and France for procurement of 36 Rafale jets. The court said there was no occasion to "really doubt the decision making process" warranting setting aside of the contract. Unfazed by the apex court verdict, Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Friday maintained that corruption had taken place in the contract and asserted it will be proved by his party. "Prime Minister Narendra Modi undertook the Rafale deal to strengthen the defence of the country and make its Air Force powerful but Congress president Rahul Gandhi and his party leaders are out to force cancellation of this important ...
FIFA leader Infantino wins SE Asia support for re-election
FIFA President Gianni Infantino has received another pledge of support in his campaign for re-election next year. The ASEAN group of national soccer federations in southeast Asia says its members "unanimously declared their support for Mr. Infantino." The regional group has 12 voters including Australia, Indonesia and Thailand among the 211 FIFA member federations which can take part in the June 5 ballot in Paris. Infantino has public promises of support in each continental governing body outside Europe. He currently seems unlikely to face a challenger ahead of the Feb. 5 deadline for opponents to enter. Infantino is seeking a first full term after his February 2016 election to replace Sepp Blatter, who resigned in fallout from corruption investigations in the United States.
Canadian delegation meets Pb minister to streamline migration process
A Canadian delegation Saturday met Punjab Technical Education minister Charanjit Singh Channi and discussed the streamlining of migration process. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) will be signed between Punjab and the government of Alberta, Canada by next year to save the immigration aspirants here from unscrupulous commission agents, Channi said. It was in continuation of the initiative taken by the a high-level delegation that visited Canada this year to facilitate aspiring youths from Punjab to find jobs overseas and explore educational opportunities, he added. Earlier, Secretary Technical Education and Industrial Training D K Tiwari said the Punjab government was making all efforts to save youngsters from fraudulent agents. Led by Canadian Immigration Minister Christopher Kerr, the delegation later visited skill development centres run by the state government at Ludhiana and Amritsar, an official release said.
Bloody Saturday: Soldier, 3 militants, 7 civilians killed in Valley (Roundup)
It was a blood-soaked Saturday in Kashmir in which 11 persons, including seven civilians, an Army soldier and three militants, were killed and over three dozen civilian protesters sustained injuries in clashes with the security forces.
No clean chit to Kerala MLA; he was punished for misbehaving with woman: CPI-M member
The CPI-M here on Saturday denied giving a 'clean chit' to one of its legislators who was accused of misbehaving with a woman member of the party.
Turkey won't 'give up' on Khashoggi murder probe: minister
Turkey's foreign minister said Saturday his country would "not give up" on finding out the truth about the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi inside the kingdom's consulate in Istanbul. "We haven't received any new information or outcome of the investigation from the Saudi side," Mevlut Cavusoglu said on the sidelines of a conference in Turkish ally Qatar. "Turkey will not give up on this, we will go to the end." Earlier this month, the minister said Turkey was in talks over a possible United Nations investigation into the October 2 murder, which has provoked global outrage. The 59-year-old Khashoggi, a palace insider turned critic of the Saudi regime, was strangled and his body cut into pieces by a 15-strong Saudi hit squad, according to Turkish officials. The US Senate gave its unopposed backing on Thursday to a resolution holding the kingdom's de facto ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, responsible for the murder after the Central Intelligence Agency reportedly ...
Minister urges divided UK MPs to find Brexit consensus
A senior government minister called Saturday for British MPs from all parties to "forge a consensus" on Brexit to avoid a potentially damaging "no deal" withdrawal from the EU in March. Work and pensions minister Amber Rudd said Brexit could succeed "if politicians are willing to try a different way and only if a coalition of those who want what's best for this country argue a little less and compromise a little more". Her comments, in an article in the Daily Mail newspaper, come after Prime Minister Theresa May returned from an EU summit without the reassurances she said she needed to get her Brexit deal through the House of Commons. Few people now believe the agreement, forged over 17 months of tough negotiations with Brussels, will pass in a vote of MPs planned for January. That raises the prospect that Britain could leave the European Union with no arrangements at all on March 29. Rudd opposed Brexit in the 2016 referendum, and was reported by The Times newspaper to be among five .
Sri Lanka's disputed PM Rajapaksa resigns
Sri Lanka's disputed Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa resigned from his post on Saturday, signalling an end to nearly a two-month-long political crisis that has kept the island nation without a functional government.
PM welcomes strengthening of ties between India, France
Prime Minister Narendra Modi Saturday welcomed the strengthening of ties between India and France in areas such as defence, space, counter-terrorism, maritime security, and civil nuclear cooperation. He also conveyed his condolences to the families of the victims of the recent terrorist attack in France's Strasbourg and said that India stands with the country in the fight against terrorism. On Tuesday, a gunman killed four people at the Christmas market in the French city of Strasbourg before being shot dead. Modi made these remarks when French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Yves Le Drian called on him. The prime minister warmly recalled the state visit of President Macron to India in March 2018, as well as their recent interaction on the sidelines of the G-20 Summit in Argentina, a statement from the prime minister's office said. Le Drian briefed the prime minister on recent developments in the bilateral relationship, and French perspective on regional and global ...
Vijay Goel seeks Rahul's apology on Rafale deal
Congress president Rahul Gandhi should apologise to the Army and Indian citizens for alleging irregularities in Rafale deal after the Supreme Court gave a clean chit to the Central government, Union Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Vijay Goel said on Saturday."The false allegations of the Congress on Rafale deal have been denied by the apex court. As we are ready to talk on Rafale deal in the Parliament, and the Supreme Court has cleared that government played no role in deciding partners for the deals and also dismissed all petitions seeking court-monitored probe into the Rafale fighter jet deal, there was no reason to doubt the decision-making process in the deal," Vijay Goel stated."Thus, the Congress should apologise before the Army and the people of the country. And they should stop at least now asking for the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) probe," he said."Earlier, the Congress claimed that electronic voting machines (EVMs) were tampered and now they are saying ..
PM Modi meets French Minister Le Drian
French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Yves Le Drian, who is on a two-day visit to India called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday.Earlier in the day, Le Drian met with External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and the two leaders held a bilateral delegation level meeting.Swaraj and Le Drain discussed various issues including terrorism, climate change, and Jaitapur Nuclear Power project. The two nations committed to partnership in bilateral trade and fighting terrorism.It was revealed that Paris and New Delhi are launching projects in Africa, particularly in the area of sustainable development in connection with the International Solar Alliance.