Page 2790 - Politics
India protests against Pak min for sharing dias with Hafiz Saeed
India has staged a protest against Pakistan Minister for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony, Noor-Ul-Haq Qadri for sharing dias with UN-designated terrorist Hafiz Saeed, sources said on Friday. The protests were launched by the Indian High Commission in Islamabad.Saeed is the mastermind of Mumbai 26/11 terror attack. He is known to roam freely in Pakistan and has an organisation called Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) which along with several other terror outfits such as al-Qaeda, Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, FiF, Lashkar-e-Taiba is a part of UN Security Council sanctions list.As per reports, Qadri was recently seen seating near Saeed during All Parties Conference organised by the Difa-e-Pakistan Council in Islamabad. The Difa-e-Pakistan Council is a coalition of more than 40 Pakistani political and religious parties that advocate conservative policies.In September, while addressing a gathering at United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) session in New York, India's First ...
Myanmar may lose EU trade privileges over Rohingya abuse
The European Union warned Mynamar on Friday it could lose trade privileges over its "blatant violation of human rights", as the international backlash over the Rohingya crisis grows. EU Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmstrom said a fact-finding mission would arrive in Myanmar soon to assess whether the highly preferential tariff arrangement Myanmar enjoys, known as "everything but arms" (EBA), should be withdrawn. "We can not exclude this outcome and of course the reason is the blatant violation of human rights in Myanmar," Malmstrom told reporters at a meeting of EU trade ministers in Innsbruck, Austria. "Our trade policy is values-based. These are not just words. We have to act when there are severe violations." The EBA deal, giving duty-free and tariff-free access to the EU market for all products except weapons and ammunition, was reinstated for Myanmar in 2013 to support political reforms as it moved towards democracy after decades of military rule. But Western powers and the UN ...
Rs 5.27 cr cash seized from homes of 2 govt officials by ACB
Unaccounted wealth, including Rs 5.27 crore in cash and 4.6 kg of gold, were seized from the houses of two state government officials here Friday in raids, the Anti Corruption Bureau said . Based on inputs, the raids were carried out simultaneously at eight properties of an engineer of Bengaluru Development Authority N G Gowdaiah and a top official of the Karnataka Industrial Area Development Board T R Swamy, an ACB press release said. The raid on Gowdaiah's house yielded documents relating to the purchase of two houses, eight plots, 14 apartments and Rs 30 lakh as bank deposits, it said in a release In addition to this, three kg of gold, 10 kg of silver, three cars, three bikes, Rs 75 lakh in cash and Rs 4.5 kg of gold ornaments were seized, the release said. The raid on Swamys residence revealed papers relating to purchase of eight houses in the name of his family members and close relatives, 10 plots and a 10-acre farmland. The ACB seized 1.6 kg gold and three cars ...
Tech capabilities also going to determine how nations deal with each other: Chari
Besides diplomacy, "technological capabilities" are also going to determine how different nations deal with each other, a foreign policy analyst said Friday, and asserted that India's international relations approach has been to balance the two aspects. Seshadri Chari, Secretary General of Forum for Integrated National Security (FINS), in his address at an event here, cited India's deal with Russia to acquire the S-400 air defence system, one of the most advanced long-range surface-to-air missile defence systems. "Technological advancement is really going to determine how nations are going to deal between them...The two World Wars happened and what determined was the strength of the Army that a country had," he said. Chari, a former editor of RSS mouthpiece Organiser in his remarks at the Prof M L Sondhi memorial award ceremony, said after the two World Wars, there was a long period of "ideology that dominated international relations -- East vs West, communist vs no-communist and then
Modi, Putin discuss GST
Russian President Vladimir Putin had a discussion with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on how the Goods and Services Tax (GST) was implemented in India, a senior official said. Putin told Modi that he was planning to implement the tax reform in his country. "There was a discussion with President Putin on how we implemented the GST... He is planning to do it. So, there was a long discussion on that," the official said. The GST was introduced in India on July 1, 2017. The official added that in the the run-up to the 20th Indo-Russia Summit, there was discussion to have a joint tiger conservation initiative at a bilateral or multilateral level. Stressing that people-to-people contact between the two countries should increase, the two leaders also decided to select 10 books from their country for translation in each other's countries. The two leaders also agreed to start Ganga-Volga Dialogue to rebuild the bond between the two peoples.
We laud Putin's role in strengthening ties: President
President Ram Nath Kovind on Friday said that India appreciated Russian President Vladimi Putins personal contribution to the bilateral "special and privileged strategic partnership".
Huge opportunities for Russian startups in India: DIPP Secretary
The government is taking several steps to strengthen the ecosystem for budding entrepreneurs and there are huge opportunities that exist in India for Russian startups, a top official said Friday. Secretary in the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) Ramesh Abhishek said more steps are required to promote the growth of startups in India. "We need to do more like we need more VCs, incubators, angel funds, market support and easier regulations. Many things have been done but it is a work in progress, we need to do more," he said here at a session of the Russia-India Business Summit, organised by CII. He said that the government is committed to strengthening the ecosystem from the government side. "We are trying to see the challenges of society can be resolved addressed by innovative solutions of startups," he said adding for Russian startups "lot of opportunities are there in India". On January 2016, the government unveiled a slew of incentives to boost start-up ...
Fuel price cut: BJD mum as BJP turns up heat on regional party
The ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) party in Odisha headed by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik is in a fix after the Union government on Thursday lowered the fuel price by Rs 2.50 per litre and urged all the state government to further cut it down by Rs 2.50 from their end.Odisha has imposed 26 percent VAT rate on petrol and diesel prices. The state, which earned Rs 3000 crore from VAT on fuel in 2014, is currently earning nearly Rs 7000 crore per annum from the same source.Knowing that the regional party was on the back foot following the cut in fuel prices, the state unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Friday held a massive rally here seeking an immediate cut in state's VAT rate on fuel prices.Sources in the state bureaucracy said the state government would be hit hard if it lowers the VAT rate on fuels.An attempt to cut Rs 2.50 per litre to match the Centre's gesture would mean the cash-starved state will face serious challenges to fund its ongoing populist programmes that have ..
Rahul hopes of a BSP-Congress truck, is willing to be PM (Intro Roundup)
Unfazed by Mayawati's snub, Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Friday exuded confidence that it will not dent his party's chances in the Assembly elections. He also talked of an alliance with the BSP in the next year's Lok sabha polls and expressed his willingness to become the Prime Minister, if allies want it.
DUJ-KUWJ protest against closure of Tripura daily
The Delhi Union of Journalists and the Kerala Union of Working Journalists staged a protest here Friday against the deregistration of 'Daily Desher Katha', a 40-year-old daily in Tripura. The publication of Daily Desher Katha, the mouthpiece of Tripura CPI(M), was suspended last Monday by the Registrar of Newspapers of India (RNI), based on a verdict passed by the district magistrate of West Tripura. The Delhi Union of Journalists (DUJ) and the Kerala Union of Working Journalists (KUWJ) held demonstration outside Tripura Bhawan against the decision of the state government and the Registrar of Newspapers of India (RNI). They submitted a memorandum to the Tripura government and handed it over to the State Resident Commissioner, demanding the action be revoked. "The registration was cancelled on flimsy grounds that there were some anomalies in a declaration of ownership. The real reason, however, is that the BJP government wants to suppress dissenting voices. It does not want Opposition .
Forensic audit of V B Industries to continue: Sebi
Markets regulator Sebi said on Friday the forensic audit of V B Industries and restrictions imposed on its promoters and directors "needs to continue". V B Industries figured among 331 'suspected shell companies' identified by the government last year. Through an interim ruling in November 2017, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) had directed the BSE to appoint an independent forensic auditor to verify any misrepresentation of financials and business by V B Industries and misuse of the books of accounts and funds. Also, the promoters and directors of the firm were permitted only to buy its securities. The interim ruling was passed after the regulator had observed that there was prima facie evidence of misrepresentation of business and financials as well as suspicion of misuse of funds and books of accounts of the company. "I note that VBIL (V B Industries Ltd) has chosen not to appear for hearing and has also not submitted any response to the allegations/prima facie ...
TRS chief continues tirade against Cong, TDP; Cong hits back
Targeting the Congress and TDP, TRS chief and caretaker Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao Friday alleged Telangana had suffered in irrigation and other sectors due to negligence during their rule. On the other hand, it was during the TRS rule that development and welfare had been taken up on a large-scale in various sectors, he claimed at an election rally at Wanaparthy near Mahabubnagar. Rao also lashed out at them for their tie-up for the coming assembly polls. Hitting back at Rao, Congress state unit president N Uttam Kumar Reddy said the TRS chief had no moral right to question his partys alliance with any other party. Rao should "mind his own business and stop commenting on Congress party's allies," Reddy said at a meeting of Greater Hyderabad Congress Committee's executive. After opting for premature dissolution of the state assembly last month for early elections, the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) supremo has announced candidates for 105 segments out of the ...
Relation with Russia top priority: PM Modi
Stating that India gives top priority to its relation with Russia, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said that the relationship between both countries is an important factor for global peace and stability.Briefing the media, the Prime Minister said, "India gives top priority to its relations with Russia. Our relationships in this world have become more relevant. Our Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership has consistently received new energy and direction from the continuous series of nineteen summits. And our cooperation on global affairs has got new meaning and motives. The relationship between India and Russia is an important factor for global peace and stability and appreciated each other's respective roles as major powers with common responsibilities for maintaining global peace and stability."Recalling the informal summit held between India and Russia in Sochi earlier this year, the Prime Minister said, "We are welcoming you (Russian President Vladimir Putin) as ...
Anand congratulates new FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich
World number 10 and former World Chess Champion Indias Viswanathan Anand on Friday congratulated Arkady Dvorkovich who won the FIDE Presidential election in Georgia.
Intent of sanctions is to impose costs on Russia: US
After India concluded a deal with Russia on Friday for the purchase of S-400 Triumf long-range surface-to-air missile system in the face of US sanctions on Moscow, a senior US official here said that the intent of her country's sanctions is to impose costs on Russia, not to damage the military capabilities of Washington's allies.
Rahul Gandhi to visit poll-bound Madhya Pradesh Saturday
Congress president Rahul Gandhi will be on a day-long tour of Madhya Pradesh Saturday, during which he will attend an event organised by a tribal organisation and also address a public meeting. Gandhi will tour Morena and Jabalpur in what will be his third visit to the poll-bound state in less than 20 days. He will arrive at Gwalior in the morning by a special plane and later, leave for Morena in a helicopter. He will address a meeting of the Adivasi Ekta Parishad at the Ambedkar Stadium in Morena, a party spokesman said Friday. A large number of people under the banner of the Adivasi Ekta Parishad have embarked on a foot march from Gwalior on October 2 (Gandhi Jayanti), seeking land rights for tribals and farmers. The march will conclude in New Delhi. "We have embarked on a foot march from Gwalior on October 2 for Delhi. The Congress president will arrive at Morena tomorrow to listen to our problems and to tell us how these problems will be solved in the event of his party coming to .
NIA takes over Manipur arms haul case
The NIA has taken over the investigation of the seizure of a huge cache of arms and ammunition in Manipur that was recovered from a house towards May-end, the anti-terror agency said on Friday.
I don't wish to become CM through shortcut: Panneerselvam
Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam on Friday said he does not wish to become Chief Minister through a 'shortcut'.
Impasse over GST can't be resolved politically, will require judicial pronouncement: Mukherjee
Former President Pranab Mukherjee Friday said he feels that the impasse over the Goods and Services Tax (GST) cannot be resolved politically and the top court will have to be involved at some point. Delivering the 16th V K Krishna Menon Memorial Lecture on the topic 'Sovereignty, International Law and Diplomacy' here, Mukherjee said by accepting the GST, the Centre and states have surrendered their "sovereign rights" over imposing excise duty and sales duty respectively over certain items. "In India, a debate is going on GST. What is GST? To some extent, the 29 state units and Union Territories have surrendered their taxation authorities, certain subjects mentioned in state list of seventh schedule of the Constitution. Government of India has surrendered its sovereignty with regard to the imposition of taxes with regard to the excise duty which was the exclusive domain of the Centre which was at one point of time a major chunk of tax revenue to India," he said. "While accepting GST, ..
S-400 negotiations preceded US sanctions on Russia by several years
After India and Russia on Friday concluded a deal on S-400 Triumf long-range surface-to-air missile system in the face of US sanctions on Russia, top sources said that negotiations for the purchase of the the missile system by New Delhi preceded the sanctions by several years, implying that the country could not give up on its defence cooperation legacy with Moscow.