Page 2799 - Politics
Rafale deal info not being revealed in national interest: MoS
Union Minister of State for Defence Subhash Bhamre said Thursday the details relating to the Rafale deal are not revealed in the national interest. The Congress Thursday urged the CAG to carry out a forensic audit of the "Rs 60,150-crore" Rafale fighter jet deal and bring all "facts" on record to enable Parliament to fix accountability for the alleged scam in the contract. "Our basic price of Rafale aircraft is nine per cent less that that decided under the UPA government. When we purchase a raw Rafale aircraft, it is only for transportation but to convert it into a potent air defence aircraft, a lot of things need to be added," the minister said. "So if we reveal what are these additional things to media, our enemy across the border will not need to deploy a secret service agency (to find out these details) and this why, in the national interest, the information is not being divulged," Bhamre told reporters here. Refuting the allegations of irregularities in the deal, Bhamre said ...
China using its power like never before: Pence
China is using its power like never before and the country's ships routinely patrol around the Senkaku Islands controlled by Japan in the East China Sea, US Vice President Mike Pence said Thursday. In a major policy speech on China, Pence said China's aggression was on display this week when a Chinese naval vessel came within 45 yards of the USS Decatur as it conducted freedom-of-navigation operations in the disputed South China Sea, forcing the US ship to quickly maneuver to avoid collision. China's aggression was on display this week, when a Chinese naval vessel came within 45 yards of the USS Decatur as it conducted freedom-of-navigation operations in the South China Sea, forcing US ship to quickly maneuver to avoid collision. China claims almost all of South China Sea and also laid claims on the Senkaku islands under the control of Japan in the East China Sea and has resorted to aggressive patrols in the last few years. Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan have ..
USDA chief says U.S. working to diversify ag trade away from China
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue said on Thursday that the United States "probably made a mistake' becoming too trade dependent on China, and that the administration was pursuing new trade deals elsewhere.
Congress part of break India forces, of which Pakistan is an important component: BJP
The BJP on Thursday alleged that the Congress, which failed to forge a mahagatbandhan (grand alliance) in the country, was appearing to form an international alliance with the break India forces of which 'Pakistan' is an important component.
'BJP's central govt and MCDs playing dirty politics on sanitation workers issues'
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday attacked BJP-led government and BJP-ruled Municipal Corporations of Delhi saying both were playing "dirty politics" on sanitation workers issues.
Sanitation workers protest at Kejriwal's residence
The EDMC sanitation workers on Thursday protested near Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's residence demanding their pending salaries and pensions along with pending arrears.
Coast Guards of India, Vietnam hold joint exercise off Chennai
A Vietnam Coast Guard ship on its maiden visit here undertook joint exercises with the Indian Coast Guard off the city coast Thursday, aimed at strengthening the working level relationship between them. Coast Guard ships Shaurya, Arnvesh and inreceptor boat C-431 along with a Dornier aircraft and Chetak helicopter participated in the joint exercise -'Sahyog HOP TAC-2018", an official press release said. The exercise was aimed at acquainting the coast guards of the two countries with each others' capabilities and strengthening the working level relationship to rescue lives at sea. The highlight of the exercise was a scenario of hijacking an oil ship and subsequent rescue of its crew in the coordinated joint operation of both the countries. The exercise was conducted under the supervision of Inspector General Paramesh Sivamani Commander Coast Guard Eastern region and was witnessed by Vietnam Coast Guard Commandant Major General Nguyen Van Son, the release added.
China using debt diplomacy to expand its influence: Pence
China is using "debt diplomacy" to expand its global influence, US Vice President Mike Pence alleged on Thursday, citing example of a Sri Lankan port which he said could soon become a forward military base for Beijing's growing blue-water navy. Pence said China was offering hundreds of billions of dollars in infrastructure loans to governments from Asia to Africa to Europe to even Latin America. Yet the terms of those loans are opaque at best, and the benefits flow overwhelmingly to Beijing," Pence said. "China uses so-called 'debt diplomacy' to expand its influence," Pence alleged in a major foreign policy speech at the Hudson Institute, a top American think-tank. "Just ask Sri Lanka, which took on massive debt to let Chinese state companies build a port with questionable commercial value. Two years ago, that country could no longer afford its payments so Beijing pressured Sri Lanka to deliver the new port directly into Chinese hands. It may soon become a forward military base for ..
Rahul sets up nine Cong committees in Rajasthan ahead of polls
Gearing up for the Assembly elections in Rajasthan, Congress president Rahul Gandhi Thursday set up as many as nine committees with former chief minister Ashok Gehlot chairing the coordination panel and state party chief Sachin Pilot heading the state election committee. AICC secretary Harish Chaudhary will head the party's manifesto committee, while senior leader Raghu Sharma will chair the campaign panel. Raghu Meena, who is deputy leader of the opposition in the assembly, will be the convenor of the state election committee. All senior leaders from the state are part of the state election committee, including, Girija Vyas, Mohan Prakash and C P Joshi. Joshi will also head the publication and publicity committee. Elections in the state are due shortly where the Congress plans to wrest power from the BJP. The nine committees are election coordination committee, pradesh election committee, campaign committee, publicity and publication committee, media and communications committee, ...
TRS manifesto to be released this month, KCR slams AP CM
The manifesto of the TRS for the coming assembly elections in Telangana would be unveiled this month, IT Minister K T Rama Rao said Thursday. Making the announcement during an interaction on Twitter, Rao, son of caretaker chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, also answered questions related to infrastructure, industries development. Our manifesto will come out later this month. Our manifesto will be a combination of all the welfare activities which were promoted in the past, he said. Meanwhile, his father, on a campaign trail, continued his attack on Andhra PradeshChief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, accusing him of plotting to halt development of Telangana. Addressing a public meeting inNalgonda,Chandrasekhar Rao also slammed Naidu over the proposed alliance between TDP and Congress, describing him as a 'betrayer'. He also hit out at the Congress leaders. "TodayChandrababu Naidu wants to defeat Telangana by bringing in wrong forces... nothing will happen. If your (people) ..
Assam objects to Payeng's portrayal
Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Thursday said he would write to his Maharashtra counterpart objecting to a school textbook describing Assam's eminent 'forest man' Jadav Payeng as a 'nomad'.
Rafale deal: Congress meets CAG for second time
A delegation of Congress leaders on Thursday met the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) Rajiv Mehrishi to discuss the alleged irregularities in the Rafale deal, for the second time in a month."We have brought to the CAG's attention additional developments and revelations since the last time we had submitted the memorandum," party leader Anand Sharma said.Terming the Rafale deal the "biggest scam of the century", Sharma said, "Parliament alone has the authority then to scrutinize the CAG report and to fix accountability for this biggest scam of the century i.e. Prime Minister (Narendra Modi's) arbitrary decision to purchase 36 aircraft three times the cost which was negotiated or the price which was negotiated."Raking up the former French President Francois Hollande's controversial Rafale comment over the offset deal, Congress said, "The former French President, who was privy to the details and development, Francois Hollande has made a statement that it was not French ...
Oil price cut a hogwash, says opposition
Far from being impressed by the Rs 2.50 per litre cut in petrol and diesel prices by the Narendra Modi government on Thursday, the opposition called the move a "panic reaction" and a hogwash, and demanded greater reduction in fuel prices.
After massive protest, Noida Authority says decision on free-holding of property rights soon
The Noida Authority said it has agreed to consider making residential property free-hold after thousands of people came out on streets to protest against its policies Thursday. The authority said it has also agreed to remove parking lots outside industrial units up to a size of 1,800 sq metres. The protest by resident welfare associations, Noida Entrepreneurs Association (NEA) and more than a dozen other groups saw thousands of people coming out on the city roads. The protesters marched from Sandeep Paper Mill square to Noida Authority office in Sector 6, where the chiefs of the participating organisations addressed the protesters. In Noida, plots or flats are sold on lease instead of free-hold basis. Under the lease system, a plot or flat is owned by buyer for 99 years and the buyer has to pay a certain amount for the property, whereas for properties with free-hold rights, no lease rent is required to be paid by a buyer. NEA president Vipin Malhan and federations of Noida RWAs ...
US building new and stronger bonds with nations in Indo-Pacific: Pence
To advance its vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific, the Trump Administration is building new and stronger bonds with countries in the region, including India, that shares its values, US Vice President Mike Pence said Thursday. The US recently renamed its oldest and largest military command - the Pacific Command - to Indo-Pacific Command, in a largely symbolic move to signal India's importance. "To advance our vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific, we're building new and stronger bonds with nations that share our values, across the region from India to Samoa. Our relationships will flow from a spirit of respect, built on partnership, not domination," Pence said in a major foreign policy speech at the Hudson Institute, a top American think-tank. "We're forging new trade deals, on a bilateral basis, just as last week, President (Donald) Trump signed an improved trade deal with South Korea, and we will soon begin negotiating a historic bilateral free-trade deal with Japan," he ...
'Dogfight' back as Kharge attacks BJP, RSS on their role in Independence struggle
Eight months after Prime Minister Narendra Modi rebuffed him for similar remarks, Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge said Thursday "not even a dog" from the homes of RSS and BJP leaders had died for the country's independence. The AICC general secretary was speaking at a rally to launch the second phase of the party's Jan Sangharsh Yatra in Maharashtra's Jalgaon district here. "We (Congress) gave our life for the country and made sacrifices. Indira Gandhi sacrificed her life for unity of the country. Rajiv Gandhi gave his life for the nation. Tell me, did even a dog die in a house of BJP, RSS (leaders) for the country's freedom?" Kharge said. "Tell us, which of your people went to jail (for India's independence)," Kharge said. In February, Modi had slammed Kharge, Congress leader in the Lok Sabha, for a similar remark. "People such as Gandhiji, Indiraji sacrificed their lives for the country's unity, who was there from your side? Not even a dog," Kharge had said in the Lower ...
Ravi redesignated Deputy NSA
The Union government's main interlocutor in Nagaland, R.N. Ravi, was on Thursday redesignated Deputy National Security Adviser (Internal Affairs).
Mamata demands roll back of central cess on fuel
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Thursday blamed the Centre for high fuel prices, and demanded that the Union government should roll back the Rs 10 cess it levied on petrol and diesel before asking the states to reduce taxes. She said that the Centre can dictate the BJP-ruled states but not the others. Banerjee claimed that fuel prices were reduced in the international market and asked why these were increasing in the country. "We (Bengal government) have already reduced fuel prices. You (Centre) have increased cess by Rs 10. Now you have reduced it by Rs 2.50 and you are asking others to do it. Others (states) are not your servants. You roll back the entire increase of Rs 10 and then talk", Banerjee said at a programme here. "We have not increased fuel prices. You have increased it. You can control the BJP-ruled states but not the others", she said. West Bengal had reduced the fuel price by Re 1 in August. "Their (BJP's) strategy is to increase the prices by 100 per cent ...
India, Kazakhstan agree to ramp up military ties
India and Kazakhstan agreed to step up military cooperation, especially in the areas of defence production, as Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman met her counterpart Nurlan Yermekbayev during her three-day visit to the central Asian country, a statement said Thursday. During her Kazakhstan visit, which commenced on October 2, Sitharaman also met Minister of Defence and Aerospace Industry Beibut Atamkulov. They discussed a wide range of issues relating to defence and military technical cooperation and took stock of the progress of the bilateral relationship, especially in the defence sector. The two countries had renewed the Memorandum of Cooperation on defence in January 2017. Both countries are 'strategic partners' since 2009. "Smt Nirmala Sitharaman also discussed issues relating to defence production with the Minister for Defence and Aerospace Industry. In this connection, the possibilities of joint production and/or co-production were discussed based upon the relative strengths ..
Goa govt cuts petrol, diesel prices by Rs 2.5 per litre
The Goa government Thursday announced reduction in the prices of petrol and diesel in the state by Rs 2.5 per litre by decreasing the Value Added Tax. Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, who is being treated at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in Delhi, announced the price cut. The announcement followed the Centre's move to reduce the prices of two fuels by Rs 2.5 per litre. "Many thanks to PM @narendramodi ji for the #FuelPriceCut of Rs 2.50 per ltr. Goa government will further reduce fuel pries by Rs 2.50 in the state," Parrikar tweeted.