by admin | May 25, 2021 | News, Politics
New Delhi : In a stern message to Pakistan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said the terrorists have committed their “worst mistake” by killing 45 CRPF troopers in Jammu and Kashmir and said their backers will pay “a very big price”.
Modi’s remarks a day after the Pakistan-backed Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) claimed responsibility for the Thursday attack in Pulwama.
“We have given complete freedom to the security forces. We have full faith in their bravery and valour,” Modi said while addressing a programme to flag off the first indigenous engine-less Train 18, renamed as Vande Bharat Express, at the New Delhi Railway Station.
He said: “The terrorist groups and those who are giving them shelter are responsible and have committed their worst mistake. They have to pay a very big price.”
Modi also assured the nation that “those powers who are behind the attack will be punished for their deeds”.
Hitting out at Pakistan but without naming it, Modi said: “If our neighbour which is totally isolated in the world thinks it can destabilize India through its tactics and conspiracies, it is making a huge mistake.”
“If our neighbour which is facing the worst ever economical crisis thinks that it can make India unstable, then their dreams will not be fulfiled.”
The Prime Minister’s remarks came minutes after the Cabinet Committee on Security decided to withdraw the “Most Favoured Nation” (MFN) status given to Pakistan. The MFN status to Pakistan was given by India in 1996.
Modi urged the political parties to stay away from politicizing the issue.
“This moment is very important and emotional. All of us should stay away from politics and we should unite together against them,” he said.
The Prime Minister thanked the countries which have supported India and condemned this incident in the strongest of terms. “A strong reply will be given to this attack,” he said.
“When all the countries will fight together against terror, terrorism will be eliminated. The soldiers have sacrificed their lives for the country. I assure everyone that we will take every step to bring the perpetrators of the crime to book,” he said.
Modi then inspected the engine-less Vande Bharat Express along with Railway Minister Piyush Goyal and flagged it off at 11.20 a.m.
Manufactured by the Integral Coach Factory in Chennai, it left from New Delhi at 10 a.m. for Uttar Pradesh’s Varanasi, the parliamentary constituency of Modi.
—IANS
by admin | May 25, 2021 | News, Politics
New Delhi : A two-judge bench of the Supreme Court on Thursday delivered a split verdict on the powers of the Delhi government, with the issue now being referred to a larger bench.
While Justice A.K. Sikri said transfers and postings of Joint Secretaries and officers above will be in the domain of Lieutenant Governor; for those below them, the recommendation will be routed through the Council of Ministers of the elected government in Delhi.
However, Justice Ashok Bhushan differed saying that the Delhi government has no control over appointments. Transfer and appointment of “higher” officers will rest with the Centre, he added.
The Centre alone will control the Anti-Corruption Bureau and can only pass orders under the Commission of Inquiry Act.
The bench also said that the Delhi government will have the powers to appoint Special Public Prosecutor, and decide the minimum rate of the agricultural land in the national capital. The power to regulate electricity will also rest with the Delhi government.
Justice Sikri speaking for the bench on the issues except services said that there has to be mutual respect between the Delhi government and the Lieutenant Governor as it was an essential part of good governance.
Saying that both — the LG and the Delhi government — must realise that they are there to serve the people. The court said that LG will not routinely differ with Delhi government.
He said that on the issues where differences are fundamental backed by cogent reasons, the LG would refer the matter to the President for a decision which would be binding.
The court also made it clear that the LG would not unduly delay referring the matter to the President where there is a fundamental difference of opinion with the Delhi government.
—IANS
by admin | May 25, 2021 | News, Politics
New Delhi : The Narendra Modi government is yet to take a decision on bringing an ordinance to amend the Citizenship bill after the amendment bill failed to secure parliamentary approval, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Narendra Singh Tomar said on Wednesday.
The government, however, is likely to repromulgate the triple talaq ordinance as it could not get the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill too passed in the upper House, though Tomar refused to comment on that too.
“I cannot say anything as of now on this matter. We will think over it,” Tomar said in response to IANS query whether ordinances will be brought in place of the said bills.
The Citizenship Amendment Bill is being widely opposed, especially in the northeast where even the BJP’s allies in the NDA have taken a strong exception to the legislation that was passed by the Lok Sabha last month.
Tomar blamed the opposition for non-passage of the triple talaq bill, saying the opposition’s attitude changed as the election came nearer.
—IANS
by admin | May 25, 2021 | Business, Economy, Investing, Markets, News, SMEs
New Delhi : The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Wednesday approved the signing of three Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with Saudi Arabia for strengthening cooperation in the fields of tourism, customs and investment.
The MoU would facilitate sharing information and expertise in tourism development, hotels, resorts and tourist accommodation facilities, tourism data and statistics, events and other tourism activities.
Saudi Arabia is one of the potential tourist markets for India from Middle East.
Another MoU is on establishing a mechanism for making investment in infrastructure in India, according to an official release.
The MoU will be a step forward in engaging with the institutions of Saudi Arabia to attract a potential investment into the infrastructure sector in the country.
It will lead to boosting infrastructure development in the country, creation of more jobs, growth of ancillary industries/ sectors which will lead to growth in GDP and overall economic prosperity.
The third MoU pertains to cooperation and mutual assistance in customs matters, said the release.
The Agreement will help in making available reliable, quick and cost-effective information and intelligence for the prevention and investigation of customs offences and apprehending of customs offenders.
The MoUs between the two countries are likely to be signed during the Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud’s visit to India next week.
—IANS
by admin | May 25, 2021 | Corporate, Corporate Governance, Economy, Finance, News, Politics
New Delhi : The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has found that the Rafale fighter jet deal signed by the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government was 2.86 per cent lower than the price negotiated by the United Progressive Alliance government.
The much-awaited report on Capital Acquisition on Indian Air Force was tabled by the government in Rajya Sabha on Wednesday.
The report does not disclose the actual price of the 36 Rafale fighter jets contracted by the NDA government. However, it includes examination of the pricing.
The prices have been redacted in the report based on the insistence of the Defence Ministry citing the Indo-French agreement of 2008 and the provisions of inter-government agreement.
—IANS
