Month: July 2017

Cult of the VIP

Consider the paradox. Prime Minister Narendra Modi exhorted his party MPs from Uttar Pradesh last week to give up the mindset of lal batti, specifically to be humble, shun any notion of hierarchy, and freely mingle with the common man. In parallel, the UP government directed all District Magistrates to earmark separate lanes for MLAs,...

July 31, 2017

Putin’s ‘bite’

It has been the proverbial tit-for-tat measure in diplomacy. The thaw in the Cold War frost, markedly in evidence ahead of Donald Trump’s election and thereafter, has been reversed with Sunday’s imprimatur from the Kremlin to the White House. In an aggressive response to the latest cache of US sanctions against Russia, Iran, and North...

July 31, 2017

‘Invading enemies’

Stray Indian hopes raised by a dilution of the rhetoric over the stand-off at Doklam during the visit of the National Security Adviser to Beijing would appear to have been deflated. For when addressing the People’s Liberation Army during a rare display of its military prowess, the Chinese President has emphasised a capability to vanquish...

July 31, 2017

China says US and North Korea are key to peace, not Beijing

The United States and North Korea hold "the primary responsibility" for de-escalating tensions and negotiating peace on the Korean Peninsula, not China, Beijing's UN ambassador said on Monday. Liu Jieyi said that if Washington and Pyongyang refuse to reduce tensions and hold new talks as called for in UN Security Council resolutions, "then no matter...

July 31, 2017

India submits Vijay Mallya’s extradition paperwork to his legal team

The Indian government has submitted the requisite "opening note" and paperwork related to Vijay Mallya's extradition case to the liquor baron's legal team within the UK court deadline on Monday. Chief Magistrate Emma Louise Arbuthnot, presiding at Westminster Magistrates' Court in London at the last hearing in the case on July 6, had set July...

July 31, 2017

US imposes sanctions on ‘dictator’ Maduro

The United States branded Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro a "dictator" threatening his country's democracy and imposed sanctions targeting any assets he might hold on US territory. "Yesterday's illegitimate elections confirm that Maduro is a dictator who disregards the will of the Venezuelan people," US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said in a statement announcing the action....

July 31, 2017

Chidambaram says government not serious about OBC Bill

Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram on Monday accused the government of not being serious on passage of the constitution amendment bill that sought to confer constitutional status on the Backward Classes Commission. In a tweet, Chidambaram said: "Congress and opposition parties supported OBC Bill. Government should have gracefully accepted amendments that strengthened Bill." Earlier in...

July 31, 2017

Sebi slaps Rs. 2.62 crore fine on 11 entities

Markets regulator Sebi on Monday imposed a total penalty of over Rs 2.62 crore on 11 entities for alleged involvement in fraudulent trading in the shares of four companies. As many as ten entities were found to have indulged in synchronised trading with respect to shares of Nakoda Textiles India, Gayatri Projects, Nandan Exim and...

July 31, 2017

India wants continued US engagement in Afghanistan against terrorism

India has said that the US should continue to be engaged in the fight against terrorism in Afghanistan. "Another area of growing convergence is the high priority being attached by both sides to countering terrorism," External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said on Monday while inaugurating the inaugurating the first edition of the India-US Forum here....

July 31, 2017

Darjeeling: GJM gives 10-day ‘deadline’ to Centre to intervene

With the indefinite shutdown in the Darjeeling hills entering its 47th day on Monday, all eyes are now on the all-party meeting, scheduled to be held in New Delhi on Tuesday. The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) has given a 10-day deadline to the Centre to intervene in the logjam arising out of its demand for...

July 31, 2017

Innovation, creativity on display

“Creativity is the key to success in the future, and primary education is where teachers can bring creativity in children at that level,” former President, the late APJ Abdul Kalam, once said. Walking on this path, Springdales School, Dhaula Kuan, on Sunday held its annual exhibition on the theme: ‘Destination Innovation’, that displayed creativity and...

July 31, 2017

Russia urges restraint, dialogue after North Korea’s missile test

Russia on Monday called on all parties interested in settlement on the Korean Peninsula for restraint and establishment of a dialogue after a new missile launch by North Korea. "We call on all parties involved to refrain from any steps which could lead to further escalation of tension in the region," the Russian Foreign Ministry...

July 31, 2017

DTC to be converted into world-class transport service: Kejriwal

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday announced that the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) will be converted into the most advanced and modern transport service at par with world-class transport services. He made the announcement while giving away Annual Road Safety Awards where he awarded 37 DTC drivers for Safe Bus Operation and 15 former...

July 31, 2017

Government suffers embarrassment in Rajya Sabha over failed bill

The government on Monday suffered an embarrassment in the Rajya Sabha when it could not ensure passage of a bill to confer constitutional status on the Backward Classes Commission with the opposition succeeding in amending an important provision. The house took up the Constitution (123rd Amendment) Bill, 2017, which was earlier passed by the Lok...

July 31, 2017

SC refuses to extend deadline for disposing unsold liquor in Bihar

The Supreme Court on Monday refused to extend the July 31 deadline for disposing of unsold liquor stock in Bihar. A division bench of Justice Dipak Misra and Justice AM Khanwilkar dismissed the plea by the Confederation of Indian Alcoholic Beverage Companies seeking more time for the state's liquor manufacturers to dispose of over 2.8 lakh...

July 31, 2017

Ram temple construction very much on BJP agenda: Amit Shah

BJP National President Amit Shah on Monday said a grand Ram temple will be constructed at Ayodhya, and the way for this will be either through talks, mutual settlement or through a court verdict. Addressing the media on the last day of his three-day visit to the Uttar Pradesh state capital, Shah said that construction...

July 31, 2017

No one has capacity to take on PM Modi in 2019: Nitish Kumar

Virtually giving up his national ambitions, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Monday said no one can take on Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections and hailed the way he takes decisions which he felt would take the country forward. At a 75-minute press conference, he defended his decision to tie...

July 31, 2017