Page 2659 - Politics
BJP ally MGP wants Parrikar to give charge to senior minister in Goa
The Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP), an ally of the ruling BJP in Goa, demanded Wednesday that Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar hand over his charge to "any of the senior ministers" till he recovered from illness. A statement issued by the MGP in this regard comes even as Goa Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief Vinay Tendulkar has maintained that there will be no change in leadership in the coastal state. Parrikar, 62, is not keeping well for the last few months. He is currently recuperating at his home here since he was discharged from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Delhi. MGP president Dipak Dhavalikar said the people of Goa were complaining that the state administration had collapsed due to the long absence of the chief minister from office. "Since he (Parrikar) is recuperating at home, he should hand over the charge to any of the senior ministers till he recovers," Dhavalikar said here. He added that the patience of the people was running out and they ...
Trump calls Khashoggi killing 'worst cover up ever', revokes suspects' visas
US President Donald Trump has condemned Saudi Arabia's account of the killing of dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi as "the worst cover up ever" as his administration took its first concrete step to penalize Saudi Arabia, revoking visas for its agents suspected in the killing.
CBI Director divested of charge, opposition smells a rat (Roundup)
In a dramatic midnight development, the government virtually removed CBI Director Alok Verma amid speculation that he was planning to order a probe into the controversial Rafale deal, a charge Finance Minister Arun Jaitley dismissed as "rubbish" saying it was done to ensure fairplay in investigations into bribery allegations levelled in the war between him and the agency's number two Rakesh Asthana.
Israel to supply missile defence systems to India for $777 mn
India has awarded an additional USD 777 million deal to a leading Israeli defence firm for supplying Barak 8 LR-SAM Air and Missile Defence Systems to seven ships of the Indian Navy, the company announced Wednesday. The Long-Range Surface-to-Air Missile (LR-SAM) system is an operational Air and Missile Defence (AMD) system used by Israel's navy as well as by India's navy, air and land forces. With the latest deal, the Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) said that the sale of Barak 8 system -- jointly developed by India and Israel -- a sign of strong bilateral partnership in defence, has crossed USD 6 billion over the past few years. The system provides broad aerial and point defence against a wide range of threats to the marine arena from the air, sea or land. The system integrates several advanced systems as digital radar, command and control, launchers, interceptors with modern radio frequency seekers, data link and system-wide connectivity. Designed to defend against a variety of ...
Modi govt conducted political coup against CBI: Yechury
Communist Party of India (Marxist) general secretary Sitaram Yechury on Wednesday alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Centre have conducted a political coup against the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI)."The Modi government and the Prime Minister have conducted a political coup against the CBI. They have conducted transfer of all the officers and directors, and main objective appears to be to protect the chosen officers of the Prime Minister posted at CBI," Yechury told ANI."We don't know if CBI was investigating other issues like Rafale scam. If that was the case, it was ordered to protect the govt, Prime Minister and concerned officers. Why was the DIG investigating the charges against Asthana has been sent to 'Kala Pani' in Andaman?," he added.Soon after the government's decision to send him on leave, CBI Director Alok Verma had moved the Supreme Court to challenge it. The apex court has accepted Verma's petition and the matter is likely be heard on October 26.The
MP polls: Cong in alliance talks with tribal outfit JAYS
After failing to sew up a pre-poll alliance with the BSP in Madhya Pradesh, the Congress is now holding talks with Jai Adivasi Yuva Shakti (JAYS), a fledgling tribal political outfit, to take on the ruling BJP in the next month's Assembly polls. JAYS convenor, Dr Hiralal Alawa, told PTI that his outfit has sought 40 seats from the Congress as part of the pre-poll alliance in the state, which has 230 assembly constituencies. "The Congress is in talks with us for a pre-poll alliance. Our focus is 28 seats in Malwa-Nimar region of western MP that has 66 assembly constituencies. Of these 28 seats, 22 are reserved for tribals," he said. Out of these 22 seats, the Congress currently has MLAs in five assembly constituencies, he added. Dr Alawa, who is a former assistant professor of AIIMS Delhi, says the JAYS eyes to field candidates in Alirajpur, Ratlam, Jhabua, Dhar, Khargone, Burhanpur, Khandwa, Dewas and Barwani districts as these places have sizeable tribal ...
CBI director leave order: Govt afraid of Rafale probe, says Cong
Senior Congress leader Abhishek Singhvi on Wednesday said that the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led central government had asked Central Bureau of Invesigation (CBI) Director Alok Verma to go on leave fearing he would expose the alleged corruption in the Rafale deal.Speaking to media, the Congress leader said, "An illegal, unconstitutional and illegitimate coup d'etat in the CBI by the Modi-Shah duo has shamed India and all its Indian institutions. It is very clear that Prime Minister Modi is experiencing Rafale-o phobia. This terror of the Rafale scam has led to the demolition of the pillars of Indian investigating agency by the Prime Minister in order to save his own skin."Singhvi added, "It is the de-facto removal, de-facto suspension of the CBI director and we charge the Prime Minister and the ruling Bhartiya Janata Party and its president for doing this, so as to control the premier investigative agency to get its dirty jobs done."Speaking further about the ongoing rift between ..
Civil War-like situation prevailing in country: Azam Khan
Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan on Wednesday said there was a "civil war-like situation" prevailing in the country, adding that the minorities were living in perpetual fear and feeling alienated.
Sitharaman holds wide-ranging talks with her Indonesian counterpart
Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman held wide-ranging talks with her Indonesian counterpart Gen (Retd) Ryamizard Rycudu during which the two leaders discussed ways to enhance defence cooperation, including strengthening maritime and coastal security. The meeting between the two leaders on Tuesday comes months after the two countries elevated their bilateral relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. The two sides have also concluded a new Defence Cooperation Agreement in May 2018. The two leaders discussed areas of enhancing cooperation, including strengthening maritime and coastal security, through improved information sharing and conduct of specialised training courses, said an official statement. They identified defence industries and defence R&D as the potential areas of cooperation. Both the ministers agreed to set up working groups to boost the bilateral defence engagements and emphasised that these groups should meet at the earliest in India. Sitharaman ...
Country, Constitution in danger: Rahul on CBI issue
Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday mounted an attack on the central government saying that Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) director Alok Verma was forcibly sent on leave as he was collecting documents related to the Rafale deal.Gandhi tweeted, "CBI chief Alok Verma was collecting documents relating to the Rafale deal. He has been forcibly sent on leave. Prime Minister's message is clear: Whoever sniffs around the Rafale deal will be removed. The country and the Constitution are in danger."Earlier in the day, Verma moved the Supreme Court challenging the central government's decision to send him on leave.The apex court had accepted Verma's petition and the matter is likely be heard on October 26.Gopal Sankaranarayanan, the lawyer appearing for Verma, told the apex court that the Centre on Wednesday morning asked his client and CBI Special Director Rakesh Asthana to go on leave, hence compromising the investigation into many sensitive cases.M Nageshwar Rao was appointed .
Extraordinary and unprecedented situation in CBI necessitated intervention: Govt
Wilful obstructions caused by CBI Director Alok Verma in the functioning of the CVC, which was looking into complaints of corruption against him, and a "faction feud" with his deputy Rakesh Asthana that "vitiated" the environment in the agency resulted in the divestment of powers of both the officers by the government, a statement said Wednesday. The government issued a detailed statement on the unprecedented events in the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), where two top officials -- Verma and Asthana -- were divested of all powers by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Tuesday. "The grave allegations of corruption by senior functionaries of CBI one against another, which has been widely reported in media, has vitiated the official eco-system of the organization," the statement said. It added that the environment of "faction feud" had reached its peak in the CBI, leading to a potential loss of credibility and reputation of the agency. It
Cabinet approves signing, ratification of extradition treaty with Malawi
The government Wednesday approved the signing and ratification of an extradition treaty between India and Malawi. The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved the signing and ratification of the treaty, an official statement said. The treaty would provide a legal framework for seeking extradition of terrorists, economic offenders and other criminals from and to Malawi.
CBI chief was non-cooperative, posed hurdles in CVC functioning: Centre
CBI Director Alok Verma was divested of his charge, as he was not cooperating with the Central Vigilance Commission, and had created "wilful obstructions" in the functioning of the anti-corruption watchdog, the government said on Wednesday.
Verma was collecting documents relating to Rafale 'scam', forcibly sent on leave: Rahul
Congress chief Rahul Gandhi Wednesday alleged that CBI Director Alok Verma was forcibly sent on leave as he was collecting documents relating to the Rafale 'scam'. CBI Director Verma and Special Director Rakesh Asthana have been "divested of all powers" amid an ongoing spat between them. In a tweet, Gandhi said, "CBI Chief Alok Verma was collecting documents relating to the Rafale scam. He was forcibly sent on leave". "The Prime Minister's message is very clear that whoever comes near Rafale (issue) will be removed, wiped out," he charged. The country and the Constitution are in danger, Gandhi claimed. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, however, has dismissed as "rubbish" allegations that Verma was removed because he wanted to look into the Rafale fighter jet deal. He said the government's decision to remove Verma and Asthana is based on the Central Vigilance Commission's recommendations. The Congress has been alleging massive irregularities in the Rafale deal. The government has ...
Israel signs USD 777 mn missile defence deal with India
A leading state-run Israeli defence company said Wednesday it has signed a USD 777 million contract with India for the supply of Barak 8 long-range surface-to-air defence missiles and missile defence systems for the Indian Navy, media reports here said. Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) said India's Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) will be the main manufacturer for the project, Israeli business daily Globes reported. The IAI will supply Long-Range Surface-to-Air Missile (LR-SAM) Air and Missile Defense (AMD) systems, the marine version of the AMD system Barak 8, for seven ships of the Indian Navy, the report said. The IAI is Israel's largest aerospace and defence company. It develops, manufactures and supplies defence systems including anti-missile, aerial systems and intelligence and cybersecurity systems. India maintains close relations with Israel's defence establishment, and has entered into several substantial deals with Israeli defence companies. IAI CEO and president Nimrod ...
Vietnam names new Information Minister amid silencing of dissent
Vietnam's National Assembly on Wednesday elected Lieutenant General Nguyen Manh Hung as the new Minister of Information and Communications at a time the government is silencing dissent.
Amit Shah in Lucknow to fine tune Lok Sabha poll preparedness
BJP President Amit Shah on Wednesday arrived on a day-long visit to Lucknow, as he seeks to assuage cadre discontent and improve coordination between the party and the state government ahead of the General Election in 2019.
PM buried the last nail in independence of CBI, says Congress
The Congress party on Wednesday tore into Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government, after it sent Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Director Alok Verma on leave, owing to his alleged rift with CBI special director Rakesh Asthana.Speaking to ANI, Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala said, "Prime Minister Modi has buried the last nail in the independence of CBI. The systematic dismantling and disintegration of CBI is now complete. Once treated as the most premier investigating agency of the country, the Prime Minister's systematic attack on the credibility and capability of the CBI has now ensured that its credibility is dead and buried."Venting anger over the government for its move, Surjewala added, "What prime minister could not do directly by removing the CBI director and dozens of his colleagues, he has done scrupulously by taking shelter behind the Central Vigilance Commission."The Congress leader further trained guns at the Prime Minister and questioned if the ...
Centre responsible for problems in CBI: Mayawati
BSP president Mayawati on Wednesday blamed the Centre for the state of affairs in the CBI and said other institutions are also facing similar problems because of the wrong policies being pursued by the government. "More than the officials, it is the central government which is responsible for the problems in the CBI," Mayawati said in a statement. She said the Centre's "vindictive, casteist and communal policies" have put not only the CBI, but also other agencies under similar threat. Cases like those involving Vijay Mallya, Nirav Modi and Mehul Choksi and the Rafale deal are blots on the BJP-led government's rule and they have not been probed properly, she said. However, she added, the ruling party misuses official machinery to target anti-BJP parties and institutions. This has been happening for the last four-and-a-half years and this is the reason why people are losing faith in government institutions, the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief said. This needs to be addressed, she ...
Abe vows to bolster ties with China day before Beijing trip
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe vowed to bolster cooperation and friendship between Japan and China in a key policy speech Wednesday before making the first official trip to Beijing by a Japanese leader in seven years. Abe said Japan and China are both responsible for the region's peace and prosperity, which he hoped to achieve by boosting exchanges between them. Abe will hold talks with Chinese leaders Xi Jinping and Li Keqiang during his three-day visit. "Tomorrow I will visit China," Abe said. "As we unflaggingly exchange summit diplomacy, I will also deepen the exchanges between the two peoples in all levels of activities from business cooperation to sports." Abe's visit comes as the two countries mark the 40th anniversary of the Treaty of Japan-China Peace and Friendship, and follows Li's visit to Japan in May. Abe hopes to make progress on maritime security and the contentious development of undersea gas deposits in the East China Sea. They are also expected to discuss North Korea ...