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Twitter was abuzz Tuesday after the BJP leader Tarun Vijay's Twitter handle posted a tweet critical of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and another supportive of Congress President Rahul Gandhi.&nbsp 
&nbsp 
"Hello. you are NOT there bec you are very popular. you are there bec there is this person behind you. @narendramodi. shed your arrogance. Oh My god, you think you are very popular!!!" the first tweet read.

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Bjp leader tarun vijay tweeted...Thn deleted...Look like amit shah ko target kar raha tha
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"Those commenting, mocking at, Making cheap comments on Rahul's Kailas Yatra are wrong. Not what a Hindu should do. it is is all between him and Shiva. None can be bigger than Shiva. I hv been blessed to visit Kailas three times and president of Kailas Manasarovar Yatri Sangh.?" said the second.&nbsp

The tweets were deleted a few hours later. And late on Tuesday night, Vijay tweeted: "I am on morning walk and I am Ok. Sacked person who was handling my tweets."

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I am on morning walk and I am Ok. Sacked person who was handling my tweets.
— Tarun Vijay (@Tarunvijay) <a href="https://twitter.com/Tarunvijay/status/1037048095362699264?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 4, 2018</a></blockquote>
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"I have deactivated it (Twitter account). This can be a plot. I will live and die for (Narendra) Modi and Amit Shah. They are Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay and Dr. Syama Prasad Mukherjee for us small workers. My family and I work day and night for him. My family will die for BJP. No one demanded anything. It is a pre-2019 conspiracy. Please help me from anti-BJP elements," ANI quoted him as saying on Wednesday.&nbsp

"Thank you friends for showing faith in us and not believing the wrong tweets. It happened when we were shifting home. Password misused and I am filing a police complaint. Changed password. Thanks to the huge number of &nbspfriends who stood by me Thank you," Vijay finally tweeted Wednesday morning.&nbsp

&nbsp

 
&nbsp

'Hello. you are NOT there bec you are very popular. you are there bec there is this person behind you. @narendramodi. shed your arrogance. Oh My god, you think you are very popular!!!' the tweet read

Twitter was abuzz Tuesday after the BJP leader Tarun Vijay's Twitter handle posted a tweet critical of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and another supportive of Congress President Rahul Gandhi. "Hello. you are NOT there bec you are very popular. you are there bec there is this person behind you. @narendramodi. shed your arrogance. Oh My god, you think you are very popular!!!" the first tweet read. pic.twitter.com/FIPbLtSuOZ — Kirti Saxena (@Ghani_Bawri) September 4, 2018 × Bjp leader tarun vijay tweeted...Thn deleted...Look like amit shah ko target kar raha tha — PB (@bothrapawan53) September 4, 2018 × "Those commenting, mocking at, Making cheap comments on Rahul's Kailas Yatra are wrong. Not what a Hindu should do. it is is all between him and Shiva. None can be bigger than Shiva. I hv been blessed to visit Kailas three times and president of Kailas Manasarovar Yatri Sangh.?" said the second. The tweets were deleted a few hours later. And late on Tuesday night, Vijay tweeted: "I am on morning walk and I am Ok. Sacked person who was handling my tweets." I am on morning walk and I am Ok. Sacked person who was handling my tweets. — Tarun Vijay (@Tarunvijay) September 4, 2018 × "I have deactivated it (Twitter account). This can be a plot. I will live and die for (Narendra) Modi and Amit Shah. They are Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay and Dr. Syama Prasad Mukherjee for us small workers. My family and I work day and night for him. My family will die for BJP. No one demanded anything. It is a pre-2019 conspiracy. Please help me from anti-BJP elements," ANI quoted him as saying on Wednesday. "Thank you friends for showing faith in us and not believing the wrong tweets. It happened when we were shifting home. Password misused and I am filing a police complaint. Changed password. Thanks to the huge number of &nbspfriends who stood by me Thank you," Vijay finally tweeted Wednesday morning.

BJP's Tarun Vijay sacks person 'handling tweets' after post critical of Modi

When Shweta Singh wanted to become a pilot in India 20 years ago, she had to first persuade her parents to let her pick an uncommon profession for women, then deal with unwelcoming male colleagues in the cockpit.

Today, she says, it would be a much easier career to embrace. More Indian women want to become pilots, and more benefits await them: union-mandated equal pay, a safe workplace, day care services and a booming aviation sector.

India has the highest proportion of female commercial pilots in the world at 12 per cent, despite the country's patriarchal society.

"It was difficult," Singh said, recalling her early days of being a pilot. "It was a male-dominated area and not easy to break into."

But society is changing, said Singh, a senior trainer at Jet Airways Ltd on temporary assignment to India's aviation regulator as deputy chief flight operations inspector. The percentage of female pilots in India is twice as high as in most Western countries, including the United States and Australia. Globally, less than 5 per cent of pilots are women, according to the International Society of Women Airline Pilots.

Demand for pilots globally is surging. Planemaker Boeing Co estimates a need for 790,000 new pilots globally over the next 20 years, double the current workforce, as air travel rises.

India is the world's fastest-growing aviation market, with domestic capacity growing 22 per cent in the first half of the year, so airlines there are under particular pressure. Recruiting more women is an obvious way to help solve the pilot shortage, but social constraints have worked against that, said Maria Bucur, a professor of history and gender studies at Indiana University.

"The training and stressful work needed to become and work as a pilot require choices of women that go against most of the gendered expectations our society has of them at that age: to have babies," she said.

Equal Rights

Because pilot pay is based on seniority and flying hours under union agreements, it is one of the rare professions in India where there is no gender pay gap.

The starting salary, including flying allowance, for pilots there is $25,000 to $47,000 a year depending on the airline and type of aircraft. That is similar to the starting salary for corporate lawyers or architects.

About 13 per cent of the pilots at IndiGo, operated by InterGlobe Aviation Ltd, are women, up from 10 per cent five years ago, the company said. Some of IndiGo's 330 female pilots are also managers. 
The company provides day care and says it offers pregnant women office duties and an allowance equivalent to what they would have earned flying, helping them "constructively stay engaged with the profession."

At SpiceJet Ltd, 12 per cent of pilots are women, including some department heads, and there is a mandate to grow that to 33 per cent in the next three years, chairman Ajay Singh said this year at the Farnborough Airshow in Britain. The company also gives women a fixed monthly flying schedule.

Because everyday safety can be a concern for women in India, airlines offer a pick-up and drop-off service from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. Women are accompanied by an armed guard - a practice introduced after a horrific rape in New Delhi in 2012.

"It is the safest job. Women are more protected here than in any other place," Singh said.

Changing society

A year after graduating from flight school in 2002, Rupinder Kaur struggled to find a job and wondered whether spending 2 million rupees to get her flying license had been the "biggest blunder" of her life.

It took a year, she said, but she finally landed a job at a regional airline, Air Deccan.

Now, with India's aviation market booming, finding work is easier, says Kaur, 37, a pilot at IndiGo working on secondment with India's aviation regulator as a flight operations instructor.

"In India it is generally a rat race, where you choose a profession based on what the majority of people are doing," she said, adding that airlines should ensure women make up a certain percentage of their workforce, especially in piloting.

"It is still not that easy for us. We have to give our 200 per cent," she said, because women are expected to efficiently manage families and jobs.

The stakes are high for the country as a whole. Women contribute 18 per cent to India's gross domestic product, and only a quarter of India's workforce is female, according to a report by consultant McKinsey.

In China, women contribute 41 per cent of the country's economy and make up nearly half the workforce.

Recruiting more women to work could help India boost its GDP by 18 per cent, or $770 billion, over the usual annual growth, McKinsey said. 
There are signs that the number of female pilots in India will keep rising.

At the Bombay Flying Club, which has courses for commercial pilots, the number of women in the classroom has grown to about 25 per cent from less than 10 per cent five years ago, according to the institute's principal and chief instructor, C. Kumar.

"The society is changing and there is more acceptance about working in the aviation sector," Kumar said.

India has the highest proportion of female commercial pilots in the world at 12 per cent, despite the country's patriarchal society

When Shweta Singh wanted to become a pilot in India 20 years ago, she had to first persuade her parents to let her pick an uncommon profession for women, then deal with unwelcoming male colleagues in the cockpit. Today, she says, it would be a much easier career to embrace. More Indian women want to become pilots, and more benefits await them: union-mandated equal pay, a safe workplace, day care services and a booming aviation sector. India has the highest proportion of female commercial pilots in the world at 12 per cent, despite the country's patriarchal society. "It was difficult," Singh said, recalling her early days of being a pilot. "It was a male-dominated area and not easy to break into." But society is changing, said Singh, a senior trainer at Jet Airways Ltd on temporary assignment to India's aviation regulator as deputy chief flight operations inspector. The percentage of female pilots in India is twice as high as in most Western countries, including the United States and Australia. Globally, less than 5 per cent of pilots are women, according to the International Society of Women Airline Pilots. Demand for pilots globally is surging. Planemaker Boeing Co estimates a need for 790,000 new pilots globally over the next 20 years, double the current workforce, as air travel rises. India is the world's fastest-growing aviation market, with domestic capacity growing 22 per cent in the first half of the year, so airlines there are under particular pressure. Recruiting more women is an obvious way to help solve the pilot shortage, but social constraints have worked against that, said Maria Bucur, a professor of history and gender studies at Indiana University. "The training and stressful work needed to become and work as a pilot require choices of women that go against most of the gendered expectations our society has of them at that age: to have babies," she said. Equal Rights Because pilot pay is based on seniority and flying hours under union agreements, it is one of the rare professions in India where there is no gender pay gap. The starting salary, including flying allowance, for pilots there is $25,000 to $47,000 a year depending on the airline and type of aircraft. That is similar to the starting salary for corporate lawyers or architects. About 13 per cent of the pilots at IndiGo, operated by InterGlobe Aviation Ltd, are women, up from 10 per cent five years ago, the company said. Some of IndiGo's 330 female pilots are also managers. The company provides day care and says it offers pregnant women office duties and an allowance equivalent to what they would have earned flying, helping them "constructively stay engaged with the profession." At SpiceJet Ltd, 12 per cent of pilots are women, including some department heads, and there is a mandate to grow that to 33 per cent in the next three years, chairman Ajay Singh said this year at the Farnborough Airshow in Britain. The company also gives women a fixed monthly flying schedule. Because everyday safety can be a concern for women in India, airlines offer a pick-up and drop-off service from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. Women are accompanied by an armed guard - a practice introduced after a horrific rape in New Delhi in 2012. "It is the safest job. Women are more protected here than in any other place," Singh said. Changing society A year after graduating from flight school in 2002, Rupinder Kaur struggled to find a job and wondered whether spending 2 million rupees to get her flying license had been the "biggest blunder" of her life. It took a year, she said, but she finally landed a job at a regional airline, Air Deccan. Now, with India's aviation market booming, finding work is easier, says Kaur, 37, a pilot at IndiGo working on secondment with India's aviation regulator as a flight operations instructor. "In India it is generally a rat race, where you choose a profession based on what the majority of people are doing," she said, adding that airlines should ensure women make up a certain percentage of their workforce, especially in piloting. "It is still not that easy for us. We have to give our 200 per cent," she said, because women are expected to efficiently manage families and jobs. The stakes are high for the country as a whole. Women contribute 18 per cent to India's gross domestic product, and only a quarter of India's workforce is female, according to a report by consultant McKinsey. In China, women contribute 41 per cent of the country's economy and make up nearly half the workforce. Recruiting more women to work could help India boost its GDP by 18 per cent, or $770 billion, over the usual annual growth, McKinsey said. There are signs that the number of female pilots in India will keep rising. At the Bombay Flying Club, which has courses for commercial pilots, the number of women in the classroom has grown to about 25 per cent from less than 10 per cent five years ago, according to the institute's principal and chief instructor, C. Kumar. "The society is changing and there is more acceptance about working in the aviation sector," Kumar said.

India soars above global average in hiring female airline pilots

"There is no hatred here," Rahul Gandhi tweeted Wednesday from the banks of Lake Mansarovar in Tibet.&nbsp;

The Congress president is on a pilgrimage to Kailash Mansarovar, the abode of Lord Shiva in Indian mythology.&nbsp;

"A man goes to Kailash when it calls him. I am so happy to have this opportunity and to be able to share what I see on this beautiful journey with all of you," Gandhi tweeted Wednesday.&nbsp;

"The waters of lake Mansarovar are so gentle, tranquil and calm. They give everything and lose nothing. Anyone can drink from them. There is no hatred here. This is why we worship these waters in India," he tweeted a little later.&nbsp;

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The waters of lake Mansarovar are so gentle, tranquil and calm. They give everything and lose nothing. Anyone can drink from them. There is no hatred here. This is why we worship these waters in India.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/KailashYatra?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#KailashYatra</a> <a href="https://t.co/x6sDEY5mjX">pic.twitter.com/x6sDEY5mjX</a>
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) <a href="https://twitter.com/RahulGandhi/status/1037200078673522699?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 5, 2018</a></blockquote>
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It is not surprising that Gandhi would want to get away from it all, considering the "hatred" has been following him on the yatra too.&nbsp;

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‘It’? Did you just refer to Lord Shiva as ‘it’? Unless you have gone to mount Kailash with the sole objective of trekking, this smacks of ignorance about the cultural and religious significance of the Mansarovar Yatra. <a href="https://t.co/uVGsYJyLfb">https://t.co/uVGsYJyLfb</a>
— Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) <a href="https://twitter.com/amitmalviya/status/1037243056817352704?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 5, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Gandhi had landed in Kathmandu on August 31. A little later a controversy erupted in India after it was reported that Gandhi may have eaten non-vegetarian food (chicken kurkure) while he was there.&nbsp;

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"Did Rahul Gandhi eat non-veg food in Kathmandu?" - why is this of any relevance to voters in India?
— Suvojit (@suvojitc) <a href="https://twitter.com/suvojitc/status/1036867835509624832?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 4, 2018</a></blockquote>
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I don't care if <a href="https://twitter.com/RahulGandhi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RahulGandhi</a> had veg or Non veg food because that's strictly his personal matter. What should be the concern of everyone here's that he failed to be a True Hindu and now if he fails to be a SACHHA MUSALMAN too, will he accept that he is Raul Vinci, a Christian? <a href="https://t.co/bajws3RHda">https://t.co/bajws3RHda</a>
— L̶o̶n̶e̶ Crusader (@seriousfunnyguy) <a href="https://twitter.com/seriousfunnyguy/status/1036868561011204096?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 4, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Gandhi, who says he is a Shiv bhakt, had vowed to make the pilgrimage after an "incident" in an airplane during the Karnataka elections.&nbsp;

'A man goes to Kailash when it calls him. I am so happy to have this opportunity and to be able to share what I see on this beautiful journey with all of you,' Gandhi tweeted Wednesday.

"There is no hatred here," Rahul Gandhi tweeted Wednesday from the banks of Lake Mansarovar in Tibet. The Congress president is on a pilgrimage to Kailash Mansarovar, the abode of Lord Shiva in Indian mythology. "A man goes to Kailash when it calls him. I am so happy to have this opportunity and to be able to share what I see on this beautiful journey with all of you," Gandhi tweeted Wednesday. "The waters of lake Mansarovar are so gentle, tranquil and calm. They give everything and lose nothing. Anyone can drink from them. There is no hatred here. This is why we worship these waters in India," he tweeted a little later. The waters of lake Mansarovar are so gentle, tranquil and calm. They give everything and lose nothing. Anyone can drink from them. There is no hatred here. This is why we worship these waters in India.#KailashYatra pic.twitter.com/x6sDEY5mjX — Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) September 5, 2018 × It is not surprising that Gandhi would want to get away from it all, considering the "hatred" has been following him on the yatra too. ‘It’? Did you just refer to Lord Shiva as ‘it’? Unless you have gone to mount Kailash with the sole objective of trekking, this smacks of ignorance about the cultural and religious significance of the Mansarovar Yatra. https://t.co/uVGsYJyLfb — Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) September 5, 2018 × Gandhi had landed in Kathmandu on August 31. A little later a controversy erupted in India after it was reported that Gandhi may have eaten non-vegetarian food (chicken kurkure) while he was there. "Did Rahul Gandhi eat non-veg food in Kathmandu?" - why is this of any relevance to voters in India? — Suvojit (@suvojitc) September 4, 2018 × I don't care if @RahulGandhi had veg or Non veg food because that's strictly his personal matter. What should be the concern of everyone here's that he failed to be a True Hindu and now if he fails to be a SACHHA MUSALMAN too, will he accept that he is Raul Vinci, a Christian? https://t.co/bajws3RHda — L̶o̶n̶e̶ Crusader (@seriousfunnyguy) September 4, 2018 × Gandhi, who says he is a Shiv bhakt, had vowed to make the pilgrimage after an "incident" in an airplane during the Karnataka elections.

'There is no hatred here,' Rahul Gandhi says on Kailash Mansarovar yatra

Expelled DMK leader and M Karunanidhi's elder son MK Alagiri along with his supporters held a massive "peace rally" in Chennai's Marina Beach on Wednesday.

The rally was being carried out at the Karunanidhi memorial in Marina Beach by over lakhs of supporters.

Speaking at the rally, MK Alagiri said "One Lakh people came here to support me today. Will they send all of them out?"

Ex-Dy mayor and aide of MK Alagiri PM Mannan said that the DMK cadres who received Alagiri at the airport were suspended from the party. He further questioned that how many more will be sacked as lakhs of cadres were present at the peace march.

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One Lakh people came here to support me today. Will they send all of them out? You ask them and let me know: MK Alagiri, Expelled DMK leader when asked 'people who support you are being removed from the party...' <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Chennai?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Chennai</a> <a href="https://t.co/fyeNaouxLz">pic.twitter.com/fyeNaouxLz</a>
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&nbsp;

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Tamil Nadu: Supporters of expelled DMK leader MK Alagiri gather at Wallahjah Road in Chennai to participate in the march to Karunanidhi memorial at Marina Beach. MK Alagiri will hold a rally at the memorial today. <a href="https://t.co/YnoEODjzTg">pic.twitter.com/YnoEODjzTg</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1037197314035777541?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 5, 2018</a></blockquote>
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DMK cadres who received Alagiri at airport were suspended from party. Today lakhs of cadres are here to attend the peace march, how many will be sacked? Although we've been sacked we'll be DMK cadres only: PM Mannan, Madurai Corporation Ex-Dy mayor&aide of MK Alagiri <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TamilNadu?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TamilNadu</a> <a href="https://t.co/44VZFCbXBB">pic.twitter.com/44VZFCbXBB</a>
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Alagiri, 67, is two years older to Stalin.

Karunanidhi had expelled him from the party in 2014 for anti-party activities.

Thereafter the former DMK chief had appointed his younger son MK Stalin as his heir.

Stalin was made the working president of the party in January 2017 after Karunanidhi's health deteriorated.

Alagiri seems to assert his claim over the party after the demise of his father. He, however, recently announced&nbsp;that he was ready to accept his younger brother's leadership if he was taken back into the DMK.

Talking about the peace march, Alagiri had said earlier, " The DMK would definitely face 'threat' following the rally. Even rivals had appreciated my election work. And organisational skills. Section of DMK leaders will understand me at least now".

The rally was being carried out at the Karunanidhi memorial in Marina Beach by over lakhs of supporters of Alagiri.

Expelled DMK leader and M Karunanidhi's elder son MK Alagiri along with his supporters held a massive "peace rally" in Chennai's Marina Beach on Wednesday. The rally was being carried out at the Karunanidhi memorial in Marina Beach by over lakhs of supporters. Speaking at the rally, MK Alagiri said "One Lakh people came here to support me today. Will they send all of them out?" Ex-Dy mayor and aide of MK Alagiri PM Mannan said that the DMK cadres who received Alagiri at the airport were suspended from the party. He further questioned that how many more will be sacked as lakhs of cadres were present at the peace march. One Lakh people came here to support me today. Will they send all of them out? You ask them and let me know: MK Alagiri, Expelled DMK leader when asked 'people who support you are being removed from the party...' #Chennai pic.twitter.com/fyeNaouxLz — ANI (@ANI) September 5, 2018 × Tamil Nadu: Supporters of expelled DMK leader MK Alagiri gather at Wallahjah Road in Chennai to participate in the march to Karunanidhi memorial at Marina Beach. MK Alagiri will hold a rally at the memorial today. pic.twitter.com/YnoEODjzTg — ANI (@ANI) September 5, 2018 × DMK cadres who received Alagiri at airport were suspended from party. Today lakhs of cadres are here to attend the peace march, how many will be sacked? Although we've been sacked we'll be DMK cadres only: PM Mannan, Madurai Corporation Ex-Dy mayor&aide of MK Alagiri #TamilNadu pic.twitter.com/44VZFCbXBB — ANI (@ANI) September 5, 2018 × Alagiri, 67, is two years older to Stalin. Karunanidhi had expelled him from the party in 2014 for anti-party activities. Thereafter the former DMK chief had appointed his younger son MK Stalin as his heir. Stalin was made the working president of the party in January 2017 after Karunanidhi's health deteriorated. Alagiri seems to assert his claim over the party after the demise of his father. He, however, recently announced that he was ready to accept his younger brother's leadership if he was taken back into the DMK. Talking about the peace march, Alagiri had said earlier, " The DMK would definitely face 'threat' following the rally. Even rivals had appreciated my election work. And organisational skills. Section of DMK leaders will understand me at least now".

MK Alagiri holds massive 'peace rally' in Chennai

India recently skipped the inauguration of China-funded Sinamale Bridge in Male, commonly known as the China-Maldives Friendship Bridge

It is a flagship China's infrastructure project, linking capital Male with the airport island. Sinamale bridge was built with a grant of $116 million by China, apart from this China also provided a loan of $72 million.

President Abdulla Yameen hopes that this project will perhaps get him some relief from his sliding popularity following his dictatorial acts of targeting Supreme Court Judges, political opponents and signing Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with China. &nbsp;

Current crisis &nbsp; &nbsp;

President Yameen unofficially junked the ‘India First Policy’, when they asked India to remove its second gifted naval chopper (ALH Dhruv) from the Laamu atoll, on expiry of Letter of Exchange (LoE). Laamu has a potential to be developed into a military base. It is widely believed that China wants to build an ocean observatory there, which could become a part of China's ‘Incremental Encroachment Strategy’ - in case Maldives fails to pay off the debt.

Why can’t India Ignore Maldives?&nbsp;

Maldives is strategically located in the Indian Ocean, very close to Island of Minicoy (Part of India). The shipping from the Gulf of Aden and the Gulf of Oman passes through Minicoy and Maldives before sailing towards Sri Lanka/ Strait of Malacca/ the Java Sea/ Lombok Strait. Similarly, the shipping from the North Pacific Ocean, moving into the Gulf through these areas, also passes through this channel. It is estimated that nearly half of the world’s shipping consignments, including crucial oil for Japan and China passes through these points, hence control of these choke points is a major strategic concern.

What all can India do? &nbsp;

India, as a responsible nation, recognises that Maldives is a sovereign country with its right to choose its government as well as its strategic partners. Any military intervention by India is not a viable option, unlike 1988, when India was invited by the elected President to intervene. India, also, cannot be a silent spectator to decline of democracy and disorder in immediate neighbourhood, hence enhanced naval surface and sub- surface dominance, maritime patrolling in international water, and surveillance by all means needs to be resorted to, which I am sure is being done within international norms.&nbsp;

As per the media reports the two Indian naval helicopters, gifted to Maldives, are going to stay along with 48 member crew, which is a positive diplomatic step. India needs to negotiate that status quo is maintained in the two atolls where these are located, at least till the elections are over. India could give them the Dornier aircraft as requested by them, as an excuse not to renew LoE later. Further negotiations can be done with the newly elected government.&nbsp; 
 
International pressure needs to be generated on President Yameen for conducting free and fair elections by ‘smart diplomacy’.

President Yameen has supported the Chinese Belt and Road Initiative. He will not mind taking China's help for his regime survival. It is highly debatable that a future military base of China in Maldives will be a strength or vulnerability for them in light of distance involved from mainland, inadequate air cover, and high relative strength of Indian Navy and its strategic partners.&nbsp;

On economic front, India can think of sanctions if President Yameen continues to pursue anti-India stance. This, however, is a double edged weapon, because it can be counter-productive, pushing Maldives into Chinese orbit further. A travel advisory and restriction on tourism can give a decisive blow to their economy, because Maldives’ tourism industry is largest income generating industry, highly dependent on India. In case Maldives inclination is positive, India should continue with goodwill investments like building a Police Academy and other developmental projects.&nbsp;

India also needs to build up its own military capability not only in context of Maldives but other maritime commitments and threats. We need to have more resources to counter threats by PLA Navy submarines in our area of our maritime interest. We need to have good relations with Oman, and getting access to Port of Dukm in Oman, agreements with France for access to their bases are positive steps in that direction.&nbsp;

Periodic inter-operability exercises like Malabar Exercise will continue to send right message&nbsp;regarding protection of Indian interest in the Indian Ocean Region.

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

 
 
 
 
&nbsp;

International pressure needs to be generated on President Abdulla Yameen for conducting free and fair elections by ‘smart diplomacy’.

India recently skipped the inauguration of China-funded Sinamale Bridge in Male, commonly known as the China-Maldives Friendship Bridge It is a flagship China's infrastructure project, linking capital Male with the airport island. Sinamale bridge was built with a grant of $116 million by China, apart from this China also provided a loan of $72 million. President Abdulla Yameen hopes that this project will perhaps get him some relief from his sliding popularity following his dictatorial acts of targeting Supreme Court Judges, political opponents and signing Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with China. Current crisis President Yameen unofficially junked the ‘India First Policy’, when they asked India to remove its second gifted naval chopper (ALH Dhruv) from the Laamu atoll, on expiry of Letter of Exchange (LoE). Laamu has a potential to be developed into a military base. It is widely believed that China wants to build an ocean observatory there, which could become a part of China's ‘Incremental Encroachment Strategy’ - in case Maldives fails to pay off the debt. Why can’t India Ignore Maldives? Maldives is strategically located in the Indian Ocean, very close to Island of Minicoy (Part of India). The shipping from the Gulf of Aden and the Gulf of Oman passes through Minicoy and Maldives before sailing towards Sri Lanka/ Strait of Malacca/ the Java Sea/ Lombok Strait. Similarly, the shipping from the North Pacific Ocean, moving into the Gulf through these areas, also passes through this channel. It is estimated that nearly half of the world’s shipping consignments, including crucial oil for Japan and China passes through these points, hence control of these choke points is a major strategic concern. What all can India do? India, as a responsible nation, recognises that Maldives is a sovereign country with its right to choose its government as well as its strategic partners. Any military intervention by India is not a viable option, unlike 1988, when India was invited by the elected President to intervene. India, also, cannot be a silent spectator to decline of democracy and disorder in immediate neighbourhood, hence enhanced naval surface and sub- surface dominance, maritime patrolling in international water, and surveillance by all means needs to be resorted to, which I am sure is being done within international norms. As per the media reports the two Indian naval helicopters, gifted to Maldives, are going to stay along with 48 member crew, which is a positive diplomatic step. India needs to negotiate that status quo is maintained in the two atolls where these are located, at least till the elections are over. India could give them the Dornier aircraft as requested by them, as an excuse not to renew LoE later. Further negotiations can be done with the newly elected government. International pressure needs to be generated on President Yameen for conducting free and fair elections by ‘smart diplomacy’. President Yameen has supported the Chinese Belt and Road Initiative. He will not mind taking China's help for his regime survival. It is highly debatable that a future military base of China in Maldives will be a strength or vulnerability for them in light of distance involved from mainland, inadequate air cover, and high relative strength of Indian Navy and its strategic partners. On economic front, India can think of sanctions if President Yameen continues to pursue anti-India stance. This, however, is a double edged weapon, because it can be counter-productive, pushing Maldives into Chinese orbit further. A travel advisory and restriction on tourism can give a decisive blow to their economy, because Maldives’ tourism industry is largest income generating industry, highly dependent on India. In case Maldives inclination is positive, India should continue with goodwill investments like building a Police Academy and other developmental projects. India also needs to build up its own military capability not only in context of Maldives but other maritime commitments and threats. We need to have more resources to counter threats by PLA Navy submarines in our area of our maritime interest. We need to have good relations with Oman, and getting access to Port of Dukm in Oman, agreements with France for access to their bases are positive steps in that direction. Periodic inter-operability exercises like Malabar Exercise will continue to send right message regarding protection of Indian interest in the Indian Ocean Region. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Opinion: Maldives crisis - options for India

The Guru or the teacher always wishes for the student to win. And a good student wishes for the victory of the teacher. This is a very strange and unique idea about the teacher-student or Guru-shishya relationship in India.

The student knows that if his/her small mind wins, it is going to be miserable but if the teacher wins, it is the victory of the big mind, victory of knowledge which will only bring good and joy for everyone. So the student wishes for the victory of the big mind or Guru. It is healthy because if the student feels that he knows more than the teacher, that would mean the learning has stopped and that his arrogance has killed the wisdom.

Another quality that a good teacher needs to have is lots of patience. A student may be a slow learner but the teacher's patience can turn the student around. Parents may have to deal with only one or two children but teachers have many more in their classrooms. The situation is more testing and stressful. To handle it, you need to be centered. You have to set an example because children watch you carefully. They learn only half of the values from their parents and the rest are from their teachers. They observe everything you say and do.They observe when you are calm and composed, and when you are tensed and angry.

Teachers should understand where the student is coming from and how to guide them step by step. For example, Lord Krishna was such a good teacher. 
 
He took Arjuna step by step to the final destination. Arjuna was initially very confused. When a student is growing, he goes through a lot of confusion because his concepts are breaking apart. You first learn that the sun rises from the east. Then later, you are taught about the planets and their movements. So your concepts break. A good teacher knows this and guides the student through this confusion. And sometimes create confusion too when it is needed.

Be loving and strict at the same time. You find teachers who are very loving and teachers who are only strict. It is rather a delicate combination - firmness coupled with love. Some children are rebellious. They need more physical contact, more encouragement and more pats on the back. They need to be made to feel that they are loved, that you really care for them and that they belong. On the other hand, with children who are very timid and shy you can use a little firmness to help them stand up and speak out. You can be a little tough with them and, at the same time, you can be loving. Often the reverse is done. Teachers are strict with rebellious children and liberal with shy ones. Then that behavior pattern stays. You need to be tough and sweet both, otherwise you won't be able to guide the student to where you want to take them.

Educating a child should be holistic and not just a process of stuffing their heads with information. Just coming to class and learning a few lessons is not really the education that a child needs. We have to see to the total development of the body and the mind because they are linked. Human values like sense of belongingness, sharing, loving and caring, non-violence need to be cultured for the sake of the mind and the body. These principles are the basis on which you can start building your idea of human values. 
 
(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Teachers should understand where the student is coming from and how to guide them step by step.

The Guru or the teacher always wishes for the student to win. And a good student wishes for the victory of the teacher. This is a very strange and unique idea about the teacher-student or Guru-shishya relationship in India. The student knows that if his/her small mind wins, it is going to be miserable but if the teacher wins, it is the victory of the big mind, victory of knowledge which will only bring good and joy for everyone. So the student wishes for the victory of the big mind or Guru. It is healthy because if the student feels that he knows more than the teacher, that would mean the learning has stopped and that his arrogance has killed the wisdom. Another quality that a good teacher needs to have is lots of patience. A student may be a slow learner but the teacher's patience can turn the student around. Parents may have to deal with only one or two children but teachers have many more in their classrooms. The situation is more testing and stressful. To handle it, you need to be centered. You have to set an example because children watch you carefully. They learn only half of the values from their parents and the rest are from their teachers. They observe everything you say and do.They observe when you are calm and composed, and when you are tensed and angry. Teachers should understand where the student is coming from and how to guide them step by step. For example, Lord Krishna was such a good teacher. He took Arjuna step by step to the final destination. Arjuna was initially very confused. When a student is growing, he goes through a lot of confusion because his concepts are breaking apart. You first learn that the sun rises from the east. Then later, you are taught about the planets and their movements. So your concepts break. A good teacher knows this and guides the student through this confusion. And sometimes create confusion too when it is needed. Be loving and strict at the same time. You find teachers who are very loving and teachers who are only strict. It is rather a delicate combination - firmness coupled with love. Some children are rebellious. They need more physical contact, more encouragement and more pats on the back. They need to be made to feel that they are loved, that you really care for them and that they belong. On the other hand, with children who are very timid and shy you can use a little firmness to help them stand up and speak out. You can be a little tough with them and, at the same time, you can be loving. Often the reverse is done. Teachers are strict with rebellious children and liberal with shy ones. Then that behavior pattern stays. You need to be tough and sweet both, otherwise you won't be able to guide the student to where you want to take them. Educating a child should be holistic and not just a process of stuffing their heads with information. Just coming to class and learning a few lessons is not really the education that a child needs. We have to see to the total development of the body and the mind because they are linked. Human values like sense of belongingness, sharing, loving and caring, non-violence need to be cultured for the sake of the mind and the body. These principles are the basis on which you can start building your idea of human values. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Opinion: Teachers' Day - know a good teacher

An Indian Air Force MiG-27 crashed near&nbsp;Rajasthan's Jodhpur Tuesday morning.

The pilot is reported to have ejected safely.

Authorities have set up a court of inquiry to look into the the cause of the crash.

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Indian Air Force MiG 27 crashes near Rajasthan's Jodhpur, Pilot safe More details awaited. <a href="https://t.co/bVa9LiTZgv">pic.twitter.com/bVa9LiTZgv</a>
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MiG 27 aircraft crashed near Jodhpur during a routine mission. The pilot ejected safely. A court of inquiry will investigate the cause of the accident: Indian Air Force <a href="https://t.co/4QSRrWueby">https://t.co/4QSRrWueby</a>
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The plane had taken off from the air force's Jodhpur airbase. It crashed into a field.&nbsp;

Photos from the crash site showed a large fire and debris from the plane, with a large number of locals gathered around the crash site.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

The authorities have set up a court of inquiry to investigate the cause of the crash.

An Indian Air Force MiG-27 crashed near Rajasthan's Jodhpur Tuesday morning. The pilot is reported to have ejected safely. Authorities have set up a court of inquiry to look into the the cause of the crash. Indian Air Force MiG 27 crashes near Rajasthan's Jodhpur, Pilot safe More details awaited. pic.twitter.com/bVa9LiTZgv — ANI (@ANI) September 4, 2018 × MiG 27 aircraft crashed near Jodhpur during a routine mission. The pilot ejected safely. A court of inquiry will investigate the cause of the accident: Indian Air Force https://t.co/4QSRrWueby — ANI (@ANI) September 4, 2018 × The plane had taken off from the air force's Jodhpur airbase. It crashed into a field. Photos from the crash site showed a large fire and debris from the plane, with a large number of locals gathered around the crash site.

Indian Air Force MiG-27 crashes near Jodhpur, pilot ejects safely

India and the US will aim to further solidify their global strategic partnership in the inaugural two-plus-two dialogue on Thursday with a focus on significantly boosting military ties and ironing out differences over India’s defence engagement with Russia and crude oil import from Iran, official sources said.

The two sides will also seek to finalise a pact on encrypted defence technologies, deliberate on ways to boost counter-terror cooperation, look for increasing engagement between their navies in the Indo-Pacific region and try to resolve tariff-related issues.

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will hold the twice-postponed talks with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Defense Secretary Jim Mattis. Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff General Joseph Dunford will also be part of the US delegation.

As Secretary Pompeo arrives here tomorrow from Islamabad, India will also try to get his view about his engagement with the new government in Pakistan headed by Prime Minister Imran Khan, the sources said.

They said the focus of the talks will be to lift the strategic engagement between the two countries to a “whole of government approach” covering a wide range of areas for cooperation.

“The two-plus-two dialogue is core of the whole of the government approach and is the highest level political engagement between the two countries this year,” said a source. In the talks, the sources said, India will also try to “sensitise” the US that any cut in import of Iranian oil in compliance with the US sanctions may impact the country’s overall economy as the crude oil from that country is much cheaper.

India is also expected to apprise the US about the importance of the Rs 40,000 crore deal it is about to finalise with Russia to procure a batch of S-400 Triumf air defence missile systems. The US has been indicating that it does not want India to finalise the deal with Russia.

The sources said both sides will also discuss the long-pending Communications, Compatibility, Security Agreement (COMCASA). The COMCASA will help India obtain critical and encrypted defence technologies for Indian defence platforms from the US.

“Both sides are discussing the COMCASA. We cannot prejudge the outcome,” said a source. The two sides are also likely to deliberate on overcoming differences over issues relating to tariffs on steel and aluminium besides trying to evolve ways to bridge trade deficit.

Talking about deepening trade ties, the sources said India is expected to procure oil and gas worth USD 2.5 billion in the current calender year. India is also expected to raise its concerns over the Trump administration’s decision to make changes in the H1B visa programme.

The sources said the US delegation will arrive here on Wednesday. Swaraj will have a separate bilateral meeting with Pompeo while Sitharaman will have a one-on-one meeting with Mattis on Thursday morning before the delegation-level two-plus-two talks.

Twelve officials from each side are expected to attend the talks which will be followed by a working lunch. In the afternoon, Swaraj, Sitharaman, Pompeo and Mattis will call on Prime Minister Narendra Modi. On import of Iranian oil, the sources said India may also convey to the US that some of its refineries are dependent on certain kind of crude oil and making technical adjustments in them may require huge investments as well as time.

“We will take an independent decision on import of Iranian oil. It will not be under any compulsion. We are in touch with many other countries. We are examining various instrument for continuing to import petroleum products from Iran,” said a source. After withdrawing from the Iran nuclear deal, the US has imposed sanctions on Iran. It has told India and other countries to cut oil imports from the Gulf nation to “zero” by November 4 or face sanctions.

As ports in Iran also comes under the ambit of US sanctions, the sources said India was hopeful that it will be allowed to continue its engagement in the development of the Chabahar port as it is a major link for trade with war-ravaged Afghanistan.

Iran is India’s third-largest oil supplier after Iraq and Saudi Arabia. The US’s sanctions on import of Iranian petroleum products will be effective from November 4.

On the possibility of the US granting a waiver to India on S-400 missile deal, the sources said it was for the Trump administration to take a call on it considering the strategic dimension of its relationship with the country concerned.

The US has imposed military sanctions against Russia under the stringent CAATSA (Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act) law for its annexation of Crimea.

India’s position on the issue has been that it will go ahead with the deal notwithstanding American sanctions on military transactions with Moscow.

The two sides will also seek to finalise a pact on encrypted defence technologies, deliberate on ways to boost counter-terror cooperation, look for increasing engagement between their navies in the Indo-Pacific region and try to resolve tariff-related issues.

India and the US will aim to further solidify their global strategic partnership in the inaugural two-plus-two dialogue on Thursday with a focus on significantly boosting military ties and ironing out differences over India’s defence engagement with Russia and crude oil import from Iran, official sources said. The two sides will also seek to finalise a pact on encrypted defence technologies, deliberate on ways to boost counter-terror cooperation, look for increasing engagement between their navies in the Indo-Pacific region and try to resolve tariff-related issues. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will hold the twice-postponed talks with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Defense Secretary Jim Mattis. Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff General Joseph Dunford will also be part of the US delegation. As Secretary Pompeo arrives here tomorrow from Islamabad, India will also try to get his view about his engagement with the new government in Pakistan headed by Prime Minister Imran Khan, the sources said. They said the focus of the talks will be to lift the strategic engagement between the two countries to a “whole of government approach” covering a wide range of areas for cooperation. “The two-plus-two dialogue is core of the whole of the government approach and is the highest level political engagement between the two countries this year,” said a source. In the talks, the sources said, India will also try to “sensitise” the US that any cut in import of Iranian oil in compliance with the US sanctions may impact the country’s overall economy as the crude oil from that country is much cheaper. India is also expected to apprise the US about the importance of the Rs 40,000 crore deal it is about to finalise with Russia to procure a batch of S-400 Triumf air defence missile systems. The US has been indicating that it does not want India to finalise the deal with Russia. The sources said both sides will also discuss the long-pending Communications, Compatibility, Security Agreement (COMCASA). The COMCASA will help India obtain critical and encrypted defence technologies for Indian defence platforms from the US. “Both sides are discussing the COMCASA. We cannot prejudge the outcome,” said a source. The two sides are also likely to deliberate on overcoming differences over issues relating to tariffs on steel and aluminium besides trying to evolve ways to bridge trade deficit. Talking about deepening trade ties, the sources said India is expected to procure oil and gas worth USD 2.5 billion in the current calender year. India is also expected to raise its concerns over the Trump administration’s decision to make changes in the H1B visa programme. The sources said the US delegation will arrive here on Wednesday. Swaraj will have a separate bilateral meeting with Pompeo while Sitharaman will have a one-on-one meeting with Mattis on Thursday morning before the delegation-level two-plus-two talks. Twelve officials from each side are expected to attend the talks which will be followed by a working lunch. In the afternoon, Swaraj, Sitharaman, Pompeo and Mattis will call on Prime Minister Narendra Modi. On import of Iranian oil, the sources said India may also convey to the US that some of its refineries are dependent on certain kind of crude oil and making technical adjustments in them may require huge investments as well as time. “We will take an independent decision on import of Iranian oil. It will not be under any compulsion. We are in touch with many other countries. We are examining various instrument for continuing to import petroleum products from Iran,” said a source. After withdrawing from the Iran nuclear deal, the US has imposed sanctions on Iran. It has told India and other countries to cut oil imports from the Gulf nation to “zero” by November 4 or face sanctions. As ports in Iran also comes under the ambit of US sanctions, the sources said India was hopeful that it will be allowed to continue its engagement in the development of the Chabahar port as it is a major link for trade with war-ravaged Afghanistan. Iran is India’s third-largest oil supplier after Iraq and Saudi Arabia. The US’s sanctions on import of Iranian petroleum products will be effective from November 4. On the possibility of the US granting a waiver to India on S-400 missile deal, the sources said it was for the Trump administration to take a call on it considering the strategic dimension of its relationship with the country concerned. The US has imposed military sanctions against Russia under the stringent CAATSA (Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act) law for its annexation of Crimea. India’s position on the issue has been that it will go ahead with the deal notwithstanding American sanctions on military transactions with Moscow.

2+2 talks: India, US to aim to solidify strategic partnership, boosting military ties

The prices of Petrol and diesel rose further to Rs 79.31 and Rs 71.34 per litre respectively in the national capital on Tuesday.

Fuel prices&nbsp;also increased in Mumbai with prices of petrol reaching to Rs 86.72 per litre&nbsp;and that of diesel to Rs 75.74&nbsp;for diesel.

Following today's increase, the total surge in petrol prices went up by Rs 2.50 per litre and that of diesel went by Rs 3 per litre since the last one month.

While the prices of petrol surged by 16 paise, prices of diesel went up by nearly 20 paise on Tuesday.

Fuel prices have been on the rise since August 16 after the rupee dipped to its lowest value against the US dollar.

Petrol and diesel prices had gone up by almost a rupee a litre within a fortnight.

Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Dharmendra Pradhan blamed the "external factors" for the rise in domestic prices of petrol and diesel on Sunday.

Pradhan said that the factors responsible for the drop in production of crude oil have resulted in the rise of fuel prices in the country.

"I would like to mention two points, and both these subjects are external. OPEC (Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries) had promised that it will raise production by one million barrels per day, which was not raised. Apart from that, crises in countries like Venezuela and Iran are increasing. There is a pressure on oil prices due to a decrease in production. Secondly, global currencies have weakened against the US dollar," he said.

He also said that the increase in the prices was temporary.

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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Delhi?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Delhi</a>: Petrol price in the city, today, is Rs 79.31/litre and price of diesel is Rs 71.34/litre. Visuals from a petrol pump in the city. <a href="https://t.co/WuKhRjzzGx">pic.twitter.com/WuKhRjzzGx</a>
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Visuals of a petrol pump in Mumbai. Price of petrol in the city today is Rs 86.72/litre and diesel is at Rs 75.74/litre. <a href="https://t.co/HZ2coaGigW">pic.twitter.com/HZ2coaGigW</a>
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&nbsp;

Fuel prices have been on the rise since August 16 after the rupee dipped to its lowest value against the US dollar.

The prices of Petrol and diesel rose further to Rs 79.31 and Rs 71.34 per litre respectively in the national capital on Tuesday. Fuel prices also increased in Mumbai with prices of petrol reaching to Rs 86.72 per litre and that of diesel to Rs 75.74 for diesel. Following today's increase, the total surge in petrol prices went up by Rs 2.50 per litre and that of diesel went by Rs 3 per litre since the last one month. While the prices of petrol surged by 16 paise, prices of diesel went up by nearly 20 paise on Tuesday. Fuel prices have been on the rise since August 16 after the rupee dipped to its lowest value against the US dollar. Petrol and diesel prices had gone up by almost a rupee a litre within a fortnight. Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Dharmendra Pradhan blamed the "external factors" for the rise in domestic prices of petrol and diesel on Sunday. Pradhan said that the factors responsible for the drop in production of crude oil have resulted in the rise of fuel prices in the country. "I would like to mention two points, and both these subjects are external. OPEC (Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries) had promised that it will raise production by one million barrels per day, which was not raised. Apart from that, crises in countries like Venezuela and Iran are increasing. There is a pressure on oil prices due to a decrease in production. Secondly, global currencies have weakened against the US dollar," he said. He also said that the increase in the prices was temporary. #Delhi: Petrol price in the city, today, is Rs 79.31/litre and price of diesel is Rs 71.34/litre. Visuals from a petrol pump in the city. pic.twitter.com/WuKhRjzzGx — ANI (@ANI) September 4, 2018 × Visuals of a petrol pump in Mumbai. Price of petrol in the city today is Rs 86.72/litre and diesel is at Rs 75.74/litre. pic.twitter.com/HZ2coaGigW — ANI (@ANI) September 4, 2018 ×

Petrol prices reach Rs 79.31, diesel Rs 71.34 in Delhi

The ongoing tariff war initiated by the United States has started to show ripple effects in China and is poised to disturb global trade dynamics. Already major global currencies, including the Chinese yuan, have been weakening against the US dollar. However, President Trump does not have much reason to rejoice as the strengthening of the dollar against the yuan will assist exporters from China.&nbsp

The rising trade deficit between US and China has been the major bone of contention for some time now. At the beginning of this century, US’s trade deficit with China was just $83.8 billion which widened to reach $375.5 billion by December 2017. During 2000-2017, US’ export to China registered an eight-fold growth compared to China’s five-fold growth. Trade statistics indicate that the Chinese economy became more “liberal” but the quantum of US exports to China is a big concern for Washington. Many argue that the Chinese economy is still protected therefore accessing the Chinese market remains a daunting task for many.&nbsp

On the other side, the US market is the most lucrative for Chinese exporters. Despite the ongoing threats of tariffs, China’s exports to the US during January-June 2018 bulged to $249.7 billion, which is 8.6 per cent higher than the previous year. China’s ascendancy in exports rests on cost competitiveness owing to factors of endowment. As a result, analysts believe that in the event of a trade war China stands to lose more than the US, because of its higher exports. Statistics show that in 2017, China exported $505.4 billion to US as compared to its import of $129.9 billion. Washington has so far demanded Beijing brings down its trade surplus by importing more energy and agricultural products from the US but so far Beijing has been unwilling to do so.&nbsp

What is also an irritant between the countries is that Beijing’s closeness to Tehran ensures that China is likely to continue to buy Iranian oil in defiance of dictates of the US. Beijing may also crack down on US oil imports altogether. Already, China’s possible imposition of 25 per cent import tariff on US crude may lead to import curtailment by Chinese refiners. Platts has reported that Chinese import of US crude is likely to shrink around 6 million barrels in August compared to 14.65 million barrels in June this year.&nbsp

So where does India fit in? China’s stance, is likely to force the US to divert crude to other destinations like India, South East Asia and the European Union. Considering India’s growing appetite for oil the US may find India as the best alternative market to China. Delhi could also look to take advantage of the situation and import more crude oil and natural gas from the US at a reduced rate. This of course has to be weighed carefully as the country is currently the second largest buyer of Iranian crude and giving it up has consequences, especially with regard to the country’s huge investment in the Chabahar Port. On the other hand, importing more crude oil and natural gas from the US may be less expensive and create a feel good factor, as the Trump administration would certainly feel very happy to see the trade deficit between India and the US narrowing.&nbsp

In any case, India’s import of crude oil from US has already taken a quantum jump. During April-June 2018 US crude crossed $450 million mark compared to $609 million in FY 2017-18. In fact, Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) is the largest beneficiary of US crude and other refiners are also likely to join the race to capitalise on the availability of cheaper US crude. Indian refiners must seize this opportunity to secure crude supply at competitive prices.&nbsp

At the same time, India’s swelling import of US crude sends a strong signal to OPEC for revisiting its ‘Asia Premium’ policy. India for a long time, has been arguing for more “responsible pricing” by OPEC which so far has met limited success. A subtle switching of suppliers to protect its economic, social, and diplomatic interest may send the right signals. Besides, over-dependence on a single supplier country for a long period of time is not in the nation’s long term interests. Today, Iraq is the largest supplier of crude to India followed by Saudi Arabia. This has squeezed India.&nbsp

The country needs to look ahead and in the upcoming 2+2 dialogue this issue could be discussed. Surging crude imports from the US should help India to increase total trade with US make Trump comfortable on trade matters with India reinforce its ties with the US diversify the crude purchase basket improve access to the US market for exporting finished products and negate OPEC dominance on crude sales. It is an avenue worth considering, especially for a country whose crude oil import bill is rising by the day.

(This article was first published on The DNA. Read the <a href="https://www.dnaindia.com/analysis/column-crude-benefit-for-india-in-ongoing-us-china-trade-war-2658835">original article</a>.)

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL) 
&nbsp

Considering India’s growing appetite for oil the US may find India as the best alternative market to China.

The ongoing tariff war initiated by the United States has started to show ripple effects in China and is poised to disturb global trade dynamics. Already major global currencies, including the Chinese yuan, have been weakening against the US dollar. However, President Trump does not have much reason to rejoice as the strengthening of the dollar against the yuan will assist exporters from China. The rising trade deficit between US and China has been the major bone of contention for some time now. At the beginning of this century, US’s trade deficit with China was just $83.8 billion which widened to reach $375.5 billion by December 2017. During 2000-2017, US’ export to China registered an eight-fold growth compared to China’s five-fold growth. Trade statistics indicate that the Chinese economy became more “liberal” but the quantum of US exports to China is a big concern for Washington. Many argue that the Chinese economy is still protected therefore accessing the Chinese market remains a daunting task for many. On the other side, the US market is the most lucrative for Chinese exporters. Despite the ongoing threats of tariffs, China’s exports to the US during January-June 2018 bulged to $249.7 billion, which is 8.6 per cent higher than the previous year. China’s ascendancy in exports rests on cost competitiveness owing to factors of endowment. As a result, analysts believe that in the event of a trade war China stands to lose more than the US, because of its higher exports. Statistics show that in 2017, China exported $505.4 billion to US as compared to its import of $129.9 billion. Washington has so far demanded Beijing brings down its trade surplus by importing more energy and agricultural products from the US but so far Beijing has been unwilling to do so. What is also an irritant between the countries is that Beijing’s closeness to Tehran ensures that China is likely to continue to buy Iranian oil in defiance of dictates of the US. Beijing may also crack down on US oil imports altogether. Already, China’s possible imposition of 25 per cent import tariff on US crude may lead to import curtailment by Chinese refiners. Platts has reported that Chinese import of US crude is likely to shrink around 6 million barrels in August compared to 14.65 million barrels in June this year. So where does India fit in? China’s stance, is likely to force the US to divert crude to other destinations like India, South East Asia and the European Union. Considering India’s growing appetite for oil the US may find India as the best alternative market to China. Delhi could also look to take advantage of the situation and import more crude oil and natural gas from the US at a reduced rate. This of course has to be weighed carefully as the country is currently the second largest buyer of Iranian crude and giving it up has consequences, especially with regard to the country’s huge investment in the Chabahar Port. On the other hand, importing more crude oil and natural gas from the US may be less expensive and create a feel good factor, as the Trump administration would certainly feel very happy to see the trade deficit between India and the US narrowing. In any case, India’s import of crude oil from US has already taken a quantum jump. During April-June 2018 US crude crossed $450 million mark compared to $609 million in FY 2017-18. In fact, Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) is the largest beneficiary of US crude and other refiners are also likely to join the race to capitalise on the availability of cheaper US crude. Indian refiners must seize this opportunity to secure crude supply at competitive prices. At the same time, India’s swelling import of US crude sends a strong signal to OPEC for revisiting its ‘Asia Premium’ policy. India for a long time, has been arguing for more “responsible pricing” by OPEC which so far has met limited success. A subtle switching of suppliers to protect its economic, social, and diplomatic interest may send the right signals. Besides, over-dependence on a single supplier country for a long period of time is not in the nation’s long term interests. Today, Iraq is the largest supplier of crude to India followed by Saudi Arabia. This has squeezed India. The country needs to look ahead and in the upcoming 2+2 dialogue this issue could be discussed. Surging crude imports from the US should help India to increase total trade with US make Trump comfortable on trade matters with India reinforce its ties with the US diversify the crude purchase basket improve access to the US market for exporting finished products and negate OPEC dominance on crude sales. It is an avenue worth considering, especially for a country whose crude oil import bill is rising by the day. (This article was first published on The DNA. Read the original article.) (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Opinion: 'Crude' benefit for India in ongoing US-China trade war

Having a separate constitution for Jammu and Kashmir was probably an "aberration", National Security Advisor Ajit Doval said Tuesday as he stressed that sovereignty can never be compromised.

His remarks on Kashmir come at a time the Supreme Court is hearing pleas challenging the constitutional validity of Article 35-A of the Constitution, which provides special rights and privileges to permanent residents of Jammu and Kashmir.

Speaking at the launch of a book on Vallabhbhai Patel, Doval also paid glowing tributes to the first home minister of India, saying he had made significant contributions in laying a strong foundation of the country.

Doval said sovereignty "cannot be diluted and ill-defined", and added that when the "British left, probably they did not want to leave India as a strong sovereign state."

In this context, he said Patel could see through the plan of the British to sow seeds of disintegration in the country.

"His contribution is not about the merger of the states, it is only a means to an end. The thing was that to make a sovereign state in which there was the sovereignty of the people was established in the Constitution, which is applicable to the whole of it. Probably with Jammu and Kashmir, where the Constitution was...in a truncated form...another constitution of J&K continued to exist, which is an aberration," Doval said at the event at Vivekananda International Foundation (VIF), a think-tank.

Doval is also one of the founders of the VIF.

Talking about the British rule, he said one of their plans was to let the princely states decide for themselves, hoping that there would be chaos in the country.

"He (Patel) has been able to lay the foundation of a nation-state. And in the nation-state, there was one law, one Constitution...Sovereignty can never be divided," Doval said.

The former top spy said nation building is an "exothermic process" that generates a lot of heat.

Unless that heat is generated it is not able to have that melting point at which all the different identities can merge and become one identity.

"Probably the heat was not sufficiently generated during our Independence movement because of the route that was taken. I am not criticising that...the non-violence was the route in which the cost of Independence was not really understood by our people," Doval said.

In this context, he said Patel could see through the plan of the British to sow seeds of disintegration in the country.

Having a separate constitution for Jammu and Kashmir was probably an "aberration", National Security Advisor Ajit Doval said Tuesday as he stressed that sovereignty can never be compromised. His remarks on Kashmir come at a time the Supreme Court is hearing pleas challenging the constitutional validity of Article 35-A of the Constitution, which provides special rights and privileges to permanent residents of Jammu and Kashmir. Speaking at the launch of a book on Vallabhbhai Patel, Doval also paid glowing tributes to the first home minister of India, saying he had made significant contributions in laying a strong foundation of the country. Doval said sovereignty "cannot be diluted and ill-defined", and added that when the "British left, probably they did not want to leave India as a strong sovereign state." In this context, he said Patel could see through the plan of the British to sow seeds of disintegration in the country. "His contribution is not about the merger of the states, it is only a means to an end. The thing was that to make a sovereign state in which there was the sovereignty of the people was established in the Constitution, which is applicable to the whole of it. Probably with Jammu and Kashmir, where the Constitution was...in a truncated form...another constitution of J&K continued to exist, which is an aberration," Doval said at the event at Vivekananda International Foundation (VIF), a think-tank. Doval is also one of the founders of the VIF. Talking about the British rule, he said one of their plans was to let the princely states decide for themselves, hoping that there would be chaos in the country. "He (Patel) has been able to lay the foundation of a nation-state. And in the nation-state, there was one law, one Constitution...Sovereignty can never be divided," Doval said. The former top spy said nation building is an "exothermic process" that generates a lot of heat. Unless that heat is generated it is not able to have that melting point at which all the different identities can merge and become one identity. "Probably the heat was not sufficiently generated during our Independence movement because of the route that was taken. I am not criticising that...the non-violence was the route in which the cost of Independence was not really understood by our people," Doval said.

Having a separate constitution for Jammu and Kashmir was an aberration: Ajit Doval

NITI Aayog vice chairman <a href="http://wionews.com/business-&-economy/raghuram-rajan-responsible-for-economic-slowdown-not-demonetisation-niti-aayog-vice-chairman-163350">Rajiv Kumar's comment&nbsp;on former RBI chief </a>Raghuram Rajan has landed him in trouble. In his defence on Monday, the vice chairman clarified that he did not target any individual but the policies that were framed and undertaken.&nbsp;

Kumar, on late Monday evening, took to Twitter and posted out his clarification in a tweet. He stated that some misleading headlines have forced him to reiterate that the "discussion is on policies, not people".&nbsp;

"My views on GDP’s decline being unrelated to solely demonetisation and having begun way before with stricter norms of NPA by RBI under Mr Rajan R fact-based & self-explanatory but some misleading headlines have coerced me to reiterate that the discussion is on policies, not people," read the tweet.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Kumar had said that it wasn't demonetisation but deleveraging of credit under former RBI chief Raghuram Rajan's tenure that led to the economic slowdown in India.

In an interview, Kumar said that growth rate came down not because of demonetisation but there was a declining trend.&nbsp;

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My views on GDP’s decline being unrelated to solely demonetisation & having begun way before with stricter norms of NPA by RBI under Mr Rajan R fact-based & self-explanatory but some misleading headlines have coerced me to reiterate that the discussion is on policies not people.
— Rajiv Kumar ?? (@RajivKumar1) <a href="https://twitter.com/RajivKumar1/status/1036621980026458112?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 3, 2018</a></blockquote>
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"Starting from last quarter of 2015-16, the growth rate had come down for six successive quarters," he had stated.

"It is a continuation of a trend of a declining growth, and why was this growth declining, it was declining because of the rising NPAs in the banking sector. When this (NDA) government came into office that figure was 4 lakh crore, it rose to 10.5 lakh crore by the middle of 2017 because under the previous RBI governor, Mr Rajan, they had identified mechanisms to identify stressed and non-performing assets which is why the banks stopped giving credit to industries," Kumar said.

Meanwhile, the Congress slammed Kumar for his comment&nbsp;describing it as "obnoxious and laughable".

"This is called blame game and shifting of the goal post. When UPA demitted power, NPAs were only 2 lakh 83 thousand crore which was controllable but now after 4 years of BJP rule, the NPAs are touching 12 lakh crore. Modi Government has itself given this data through a reply in parliament on 31st July 2018... Demonetisation disaster has led to a drop of 1.5 per cent in GDP causing a loss of two lakh twenty-five thousand crores," Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala noted.

&nbsp;

The Congress has slammed Rajiv Kumar for his original comment describing it as 'obnoxious and laughable'.

NITI Aayog vice chairman Rajiv Kumar's comment on former RBI chief Raghuram Rajan has landed him in trouble. In his defence on Monday, the vice chairman clarified that he did not target any individual but the policies that were framed and undertaken. Kumar, on late Monday evening, took to Twitter and posted out his clarification in a tweet. He stated that some misleading headlines have forced him to reiterate that the "discussion is on policies, not people". "My views on GDP’s decline being unrelated to solely demonetisation and having begun way before with stricter norms of NPA by RBI under Mr Rajan R fact-based & self-explanatory but some misleading headlines have coerced me to reiterate that the discussion is on policies, not people," read the tweet. Kumar had said that it wasn't demonetisation but deleveraging of credit under former RBI chief Raghuram Rajan's tenure that led to the economic slowdown in India. In an interview, Kumar said that growth rate came down not because of demonetisation but there was a declining trend. My views on GDP’s decline being unrelated to solely demonetisation & having begun way before with stricter norms of NPA by RBI under Mr Rajan R fact-based & self-explanatory but some misleading headlines have coerced me to reiterate that the discussion is on policies not people. — Rajiv Kumar ?? (@RajivKumar1) September 3, 2018 × "Starting from last quarter of 2015-16, the growth rate had come down for six successive quarters," he had stated. "It is a continuation of a trend of a declining growth, and why was this growth declining, it was declining because of the rising NPAs in the banking sector. When this (NDA) government came into office that figure was 4 lakh crore, it rose to 10.5 lakh crore by the middle of 2017 because under the previous RBI governor, Mr Rajan, they had identified mechanisms to identify stressed and non-performing assets which is why the banks stopped giving credit to industries," Kumar said. Meanwhile, the Congress slammed Kumar for his comment describing it as "obnoxious and laughable". "This is called blame game and shifting of the goal post. When UPA demitted power, NPAs were only 2 lakh 83 thousand crore which was controllable but now after 4 years of BJP rule, the NPAs are touching 12 lakh crore. Modi Government has itself given this data through a reply in parliament on 31st July 2018... Demonetisation disaster has led to a drop of 1.5 per cent in GDP causing a loss of two lakh twenty-five thousand crores," Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala noted.

My views 'fact-based', says Niti Aayog VC after blaming Raghuram Rajan for slowdown

The aftermath of the destructive deluge in Kerala is not just the loss of property but also an outbreak of a disease that has claimed twelve lives so far.&nbsp;

According to reports, as many as 12 people have died from Leptospirosis, news agency ANI reported. Nearly 372 confirmed cases of the disease have been reported since August 1.&nbsp;

Kerala Health Minister KK Shailaja Teacher called a review meeting at Kozhikode, to take stock of the situation. Three weeks of high alert has been sounded in the wake of the outbreak, however, there is no cause for panic, the minister maintained.&nbsp;

Shailaja noted that some people were reluctant to consume preventive drugs when the health advisories clearly called for the same.&nbsp;

"Kerala would be on high alert for next three weeks but there is nothing to panic. All hospitals are equipped with enough stocks of medicine. Even though there were wide advisories after the flood, people were reluctant to consume precautionary tablets. As more cases have been reported from Kozhikode district, an isolated war-room will be set up in Kozhikode medical college," Shailaja stated.&nbsp;

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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UPDATE?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UPDATE</a>: 12 people have died between August 1 and September 3 in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Kerala?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Kerala</a> from Leptospirosis. 372 confirmed cases of Leptospirosis have been reported since August 1. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/KeralaFloods?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#KeralaFloods</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1036653323275792387?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 3, 2018</a></blockquote>
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According to reports, the maximum number of cases of the disease has been reported from Kozhikode.&nbsp;

A bacterial disease, Leptospirosis is found both in humans as well as in animals. It spread and infects humans on coming in direct contact with the urine of infected animals or with a urine-contaminated environment.&nbsp;

Symptoms would include high fever, muscle pain, headache, redness of the eye, vomiting, diarrhoea among others.

Kerala was lashed by unabated rainfall this monsoon season as a result of which the state authorities were prompted to open shutters of as many as 33 dams and reservoirs. Massive flooding across the state claimed nearly 400 lives.&nbsp;

Over 10 lakh people were displaced, taking shelter in more than 5,000 relief camps that were set-up across the state. The deluge has caused an estimated loss of over Rs 21,000 crore to the state. &nbsp;

According to reports, the maximum number of cases of the disease has been reported in Kozhikode.

The aftermath of the destructive deluge in Kerala is not just the loss of property but also an outbreak of a disease that has claimed twelve lives so far. According to reports, as many as 12 people have died from Leptospirosis, news agency ANI reported. Nearly 372 confirmed cases of the disease have been reported since August 1. Kerala Health Minister KK Shailaja Teacher called a review meeting at Kozhikode, to take stock of the situation. Three weeks of high alert has been sounded in the wake of the outbreak, however, there is no cause for panic, the minister maintained. Shailaja noted that some people were reluctant to consume preventive drugs when the health advisories clearly called for the same. "Kerala would be on high alert for next three weeks but there is nothing to panic. All hospitals are equipped with enough stocks of medicine. Even though there were wide advisories after the flood, people were reluctant to consume precautionary tablets. As more cases have been reported from Kozhikode district, an isolated war-room will be set up in Kozhikode medical college," Shailaja stated. #UPDATE: 12 people have died between August 1 and September 3 in #Kerala from Leptospirosis. 372 confirmed cases of Leptospirosis have been reported since August 1. #KeralaFloods — ANI (@ANI) September 3, 2018 × According to reports, the maximum number of cases of the disease has been reported from Kozhikode. A bacterial disease, Leptospirosis is found both in humans as well as in animals. It spread and infects humans on coming in direct contact with the urine of infected animals or with a urine-contaminated environment. Symptoms would include high fever, muscle pain, headache, redness of the eye, vomiting, diarrhoea among others. Kerala was lashed by unabated rainfall this monsoon season as a result of which the state authorities were prompted to open shutters of as many as 33 dams and reservoirs. Massive flooding across the state claimed nearly 400 lives. Over 10 lakh people were displaced, taking shelter in more than 5,000 relief camps that were set-up across the state. The deluge has caused an estimated loss of over Rs 21,000 crore to the state.

After the floods: Leptospirosis kills 12 in Kerala, 372 test positive; high alert sounded

Former prime minister Deve Gowda has written to <a href="http://wionews.com/india-news/on-ninth-day-of-hunger-strike-hardik-unveils-his-will-163217">Patidar leader Hardik Patel</a>, asking him to end his hunger strike because his "services are needed" in the country. &nbsp

Gowda added that he appreciated Hardik's "courage and concern in fighting aggressively" for his Patidar community. Hardik has been on hunger strike since August 25 he is demanding reservations in jobs and education for the Patidar community, and a loan waiver for farmers.&nbsp

Gowda also wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying "I am very much pained with the development in Gujarat..."&nbsp

"I learnt from the media reports that youth leader Hardik Patel's health condition is deteriorating by the day," he added.&nbsp

Gowda, in his letter, also asked Gujarat Chief Minister "to take up the issue with the Centre and take steps to end fast of Hardik Patel".&nbsp

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I am very much pained to learn that health condition of <a href="https://twitter.com/HardikPatel_?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@HardikPatel_</a> is deteriorating as the fast entered 10th day. I request <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@narendramodi</a> to intervene immediately and save the life of young Patidar leader in the interest of Backward Classes and community. <a href="https://t.co/KLP90KPnAP">pic.twitter.com/KLP90KPnAP</a>
— H D Devegowda (@H_D_Devegowda) <a href="https://twitter.com/H_D_Devegowda/status/1036605599067267073?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 3, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Gowda also referred to Patel's will, saying it "is a matter of serious concern". Hardik released his will on Sunday — his hunger strike entered the eleventh day on Tuesday — in which he divided his property among his parents, his sister, and 14 youths who died during the 2015 Patidar quota agitation.&nbsp

A Patidar spokesman added that Hardik had also left some money for a cow shelter, and that he wished to donate his eyes after death.&nbsp

Hardik Patel's hunger strike entered the eleventh day on Tuesday. He has again been demanding reservations in jobs and education for his Patidar community and a loan waiver for farmers

Former prime minister Deve Gowda has written to Patidar leader Hardik Patel, asking him to end his hunger strike because his "services are needed" in the country. Gowda added that he appreciated Hardik's "courage and concern in fighting aggressively" for his Patidar community. Hardik has been on hunger strike since August 25 he is demanding reservations in jobs and education for the Patidar community, and a loan waiver for farmers. Gowda also wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying "I am very much pained with the development in Gujarat..." "I learnt from the media reports that youth leader Hardik Patel's health condition is deteriorating by the day," he added. Gowda, in his letter, also asked Gujarat Chief Minister "to take up the issue with the Centre and take steps to end fast of Hardik Patel". I am very much pained to learn that health condition of @HardikPatel_ is deteriorating as the fast entered 10th day. I request @narendramodi to intervene immediately and save the life of young Patidar leader in the interest of Backward Classes and community. pic.twitter.com/KLP90KPnAP — H D Devegowda (@H_D_Devegowda) September 3, 2018 × Gowda also referred to Patel's will, saying it "is a matter of serious concern". Hardik released his will on Sunday — his hunger strike entered the eleventh day on Tuesday — in which he divided his property among his parents, his sister, and 14 youths who died during the 2015 Patidar quota agitation. A Patidar spokesman added that Hardik had also left some money for a cow shelter, and that he wished to donate his eyes after death.

Your services needed: Deve Gowda writes to Hardik Patel, asks him to end hunger strike

Google retains only a slight lead over Facebook in the competition for digital ad dollars in the crucial India market, sources familiar with the figures say, even though the search giant has been in the country far longer and has avoided the controversies that have dogged its rival.

Facebook's success has shaken Alphabet Inc's Google, led by an Indian-born CEO, Sundar Pichai, who has made developing markets a priority.

Google officials in India earlier this year were alarmed to learn that Facebook was likely to generate about $980 million in revenue in the country in 2018, according to one of the sources. Google's India revenues reached $1 billion only last year.

Facebook and Google declined to comment on Indian revenue figures or the competition between the two companies.

Google is now pushing back, attempting to lure customers with better ad-buying tools and more localised services. The revamped strategy mirrors initiatives that have succeeded in boosting the time Indian consumers spend with Google services.

The battle in India reflects an epic challenge for Google in developing markets around the world that are crucial to the company's long-term growth - many consumers in those country's are gravitating to Facebook and it's siblings, Instagram and WhatsApp, at the expense of Google search and YouTube, and advertising dollars are quick to follow.

"Facebook is a far more user-friendly platform even though they haven't created features specifically for Indian advertisers," said Vikas Chawla, who runs a small ad-buying agency in India.

Facebook ads, compared with those on Google search or YouTube, tend to transcend language barriers more easily because they rely more on visual elements, said Narayan Murthy Ivaturi, vice president at FreakOut Pte Ltd, a Singapore-headquartered digital marketing firm. Pinpointing younger consumers and rural populations is easier with Facebook and its Instagram app, he and other ad buyers said.

And Facebook is succeeding in India, which boasts the fastest-growing digital ad market of any major economy, despite internal turmoil and political controversy. It has been without a country head for the last year, and has faced a series of incidents in which rumours circulating on Facebook and WhatsApp have prompted mob violence.

Facebook and Google between them took 68 per cent of India's digital ad market last year, according to advertising buyer Magna. Media agency GroupM estimates digital advertising spending will grow 30 per cent in India this year.

The Facebook phenomenon is evident close to home for Google. During a recent lunch period, six out of 10 people who walked out of Google's Bangalore offices while looking at their phones told Reuters they were checking WhatsApp. All 10 said they regularly used Whatsapp.

Eight Indian ad buyers interviewed by Reuters were divided on whether Facebook would overtake Google in Indian ad revenue. That such a question would even be debated explains why Pichai, Google's chief executive, has pressed to flip the company's approach to emerging markets.

"India is the most important market for the 'Next Billion Users' initiative," Caesar Sengupta, the head of the effort, told Reuters on the sidelines of the annual "Google for India" event in New Delhi last week.

New Tactics

For many years Google designed its services for early adopters of new technology, who tended to be in Silicon Valley, said Nelson Mattos, who oversaw Google's Europe and Africa operations for several years. Great products would then find a broad global audience.

"Over time, as you saw the growth of Facebook, the importance of WhatsApp and other tools in these new markets, and not the same adoption of Google, the company started to realize that maybe they had to change that approach," Mattos said.

Shortly after taking the helm three years ago, Pichai mapped a new strategy for places such as India: More services tailored to locals more marketing on radio, billboards and TV more local staff and start-up investment.

Google's India workforce has more than doubled since to more than 4,000 employees, or about eight times Facebook's presence, according to a tally of LinkedIn profiles and company statements.

Its products evolved too, becoming easier to use with low data plans. Smartphone apps such as Files Go and Tez - rebranded last week as Google Pay - were aimed at Indians.

"There's definitely a sea change," said Asif Baki, a user researcher at Google who oversees two-week "immersion trips" in developing markets for senior executives and staff.

The efforts are bearing fruit. Indian users during the first half of this year spent more time on Google services than on Facebook services, according to estimates from audience measurement firm Comscore. Over a similar period a year ago, Facebook came out on top.

Extending those gains to the ad business is a work in progress. A handful of Google executives, including leaders for display ads and small business advertisers, traveled to India earlier this year in a previously unreported trip to better understand the needs of Indian clients.

The visit spurred them to consider ideas such as enabling advertisers to reach users only in a particular Indian state, since language and literacy vary greatly around the country, according to a person familiar with the discussions.

At the New Delhi event, Google unveiled a plan to bring Indian newspaper content online, to increase the supply of search results - and ads - available in regional languages.&nbsp

Google still has to reckon with other issues. Small businesses in emerging markets are less likely to have websites, a foundation for Google ad campaigns but unnecessary for Facebook.

Executives met with one Indian merchant who recorded product videos on YouTube then messaged the links to potential customers on WhatsApp, said Kim Spalding, the company's general manager and product lead for small business ads.&nbsp

Facebook, meanwhile, is already on to commercializing such behavior. Just weeks ago, it began charging for text-based marketing features on WhatsApp, with video ads expected to launch next year.

Google retains only a slight lead over Facebook in the competition for digital ad dollars in the crucial India market, sources familiar with the figures say, even though the search giant has been in the country far longer and has avoided the controversies that have dogged its rival.

Google retains only a slight lead over Facebook in the competition for digital ad dollars in the crucial India market, sources familiar with the figures say, even though the search giant has been in the country far longer and has avoided the controversies that have dogged its rival. Facebook's success has shaken Alphabet Inc's Google, led by an Indian-born CEO, Sundar Pichai, who has made developing markets a priority. Google officials in India earlier this year were alarmed to learn that Facebook was likely to generate about $980 million in revenue in the country in 2018, according to one of the sources. Google's India revenues reached $1 billion only last year. Facebook and Google declined to comment on Indian revenue figures or the competition between the two companies. Google is now pushing back, attempting to lure customers with better ad-buying tools and more localised services. The revamped strategy mirrors initiatives that have succeeded in boosting the time Indian consumers spend with Google services. The battle in India reflects an epic challenge for Google in developing markets around the world that are crucial to the company's long-term growth - many consumers in those country's are gravitating to Facebook and it's siblings, Instagram and WhatsApp, at the expense of Google search and YouTube, and advertising dollars are quick to follow. "Facebook is a far more user-friendly platform even though they haven't created features specifically for Indian advertisers," said Vikas Chawla, who runs a small ad-buying agency in India. Facebook ads, compared with those on Google search or YouTube, tend to transcend language barriers more easily because they rely more on visual elements, said Narayan Murthy Ivaturi, vice president at FreakOut Pte Ltd, a Singapore-headquartered digital marketing firm. Pinpointing younger consumers and rural populations is easier with Facebook and its Instagram app, he and other ad buyers said. And Facebook is succeeding in India, which boasts the fastest-growing digital ad market of any major economy, despite internal turmoil and political controversy. It has been without a country head for the last year, and has faced a series of incidents in which rumours circulating on Facebook and WhatsApp have prompted mob violence. Facebook and Google between them took 68 per cent of India's digital ad market last year, according to advertising buyer Magna. Media agency GroupM estimates digital advertising spending will grow 30 per cent in India this year. The Facebook phenomenon is evident close to home for Google. During a recent lunch period, six out of 10 people who walked out of Google's Bangalore offices while looking at their phones told Reuters they were checking WhatsApp. All 10 said they regularly used Whatsapp. Eight Indian ad buyers interviewed by Reuters were divided on whether Facebook would overtake Google in Indian ad revenue. That such a question would even be debated explains why Pichai, Google's chief executive, has pressed to flip the company's approach to emerging markets. "India is the most important market for the 'Next Billion Users' initiative," Caesar Sengupta, the head of the effort, told Reuters on the sidelines of the annual "Google for India" event in New Delhi last week. New Tactics For many years Google designed its services for early adopters of new technology, who tended to be in Silicon Valley, said Nelson Mattos, who oversaw Google's Europe and Africa operations for several years. Great products would then find a broad global audience. "Over time, as you saw the growth of Facebook, the importance of WhatsApp and other tools in these new markets, and not the same adoption of Google, the company started to realize that maybe they had to change that approach," Mattos said. Shortly after taking the helm three years ago, Pichai mapped a new strategy for places such as India: More services tailored to locals more marketing on radio, billboards and TV more local staff and start-up investment. Google's India workforce has more than doubled since to more than 4,000 employees, or about eight times Facebook's presence, according to a tally of LinkedIn profiles and company statements. Its products evolved too, becoming easier to use with low data plans. Smartphone apps such as Files Go and Tez - rebranded last week as Google Pay - were aimed at Indians. "There's definitely a sea change," said Asif Baki, a user researcher at Google who oversees two-week "immersion trips" in developing markets for senior executives and staff. The efforts are bearing fruit. Indian users during the first half of this year spent more time on Google services than on Facebook services, according to estimates from audience measurement firm Comscore. Over a similar period a year ago, Facebook came out on top. Extending those gains to the ad business is a work in progress. A handful of Google executives, including leaders for display ads and small business advertisers, traveled to India earlier this year in a previously unreported trip to better understand the needs of Indian clients. The visit spurred them to consider ideas such as enabling advertisers to reach users only in a particular Indian state, since language and literacy vary greatly around the country, according to a person familiar with the discussions. At the New Delhi event, Google unveiled a plan to bring Indian newspaper content online, to increase the supply of search results - and ads - available in regional languages. Google still has to reckon with other issues. Small businesses in emerging markets are less likely to have websites, a foundation for Google ad campaigns but unnecessary for Facebook. Executives met with one Indian merchant who recorded product videos on YouTube then messaged the links to potential customers on WhatsApp, said Kim Spalding, the company's general manager and product lead for small business ads. Facebook, meanwhile, is already on to commercializing such behavior. Just weeks ago, it began charging for text-based marketing features on WhatsApp, with video ads expected to launch next year.

In India, Google races to parry the rise of Facebook

While the Congress and the JD(S) claim that the results of the local body elections in Karnataka had rejected the Bhartiya Janata Party, BJP party president Amit Shah believes that the results showed "continued support" for his party.

Shah thanked the voters in Karnataka for their "continued support" to the party after results of the local body elections were announced.

He said that the outcome highlighted people's dissatisfaction against the "unholy alliance" between the Janata Dal (Secular) and the Congress.

Taking a dig at the alliance, he dubbed it opportunistic and said it would not come in the way of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) working for the betterment of the state.

"I heartily thank our sisters and brothers of Karnataka for their trust and continued support for the BJP. I want to assure the people of Karnataka that this opportunistic alliance in state won't come in the way of PM @narendramodi and BJP working for the betterment of the state," Shah tweeted.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
I heartily thank our sisters and brothers of Karnataka for their trust and continued support for the BJP. I want to assure the people of Karnataka, that this opportunistic alliance in state won’t come in the way of PM <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@narendramodi</a> and BJP working for the betterment of the state.
— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) <a href="https://twitter.com/AmitShah/status/1036651666945142792?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 3, 2018</a></blockquote>
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He termed his party's performance as "stupendous".

"Overwhelming support for BJP and decline in Congress and JDS seats reflects the dissatisfaction among people of Karnataka against this unholy alliance," he said.

The Congress, on the other hand, said that the results reflect that the people of Karnataka have accepted the development of the Congress-JD(S) government and have rejected the 'jumlas' (rhetoric) of the BJP.

The JD(S) further said that results were a defeat for the BJP in the state.

According to the state election commission, the Congress has secured 966 seats and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) bagged 910 seats in the elections held on Saturday. The Janata Dal (Secular) has won 373 seats.

Results for 2,628 seats out of 2,709 have been declared so far.

(With inputs from PTI)

Shah thanked the voters in Karnataka for their 'continued support' to the party after results of the local body elections were announced

While the Congress and the JD(S) claim that the results of the local body elections in Karnataka had rejected the Bhartiya Janata Party, BJP party president Amit Shah believes that the results showed "continued support" for his party. Shah thanked the voters in Karnataka for their "continued support" to the party after results of the local body elections were announced. He said that the outcome highlighted people's dissatisfaction against the "unholy alliance" between the Janata Dal (Secular) and the Congress. Taking a dig at the alliance, he dubbed it opportunistic and said it would not come in the way of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) working for the betterment of the state. "I heartily thank our sisters and brothers of Karnataka for their trust and continued support for the BJP. I want to assure the people of Karnataka that this opportunistic alliance in state won't come in the way of PM @narendramodi and BJP working for the betterment of the state," Shah tweeted. I heartily thank our sisters and brothers of Karnataka for their trust and continued support for the BJP. I want to assure the people of Karnataka, that this opportunistic alliance in state won’t come in the way of PM @narendramodi and BJP working for the betterment of the state. — Amit Shah (@AmitShah) September 3, 2018 × He termed his party's performance as "stupendous". "Overwhelming support for BJP and decline in Congress and JDS seats reflects the dissatisfaction among people of Karnataka against this unholy alliance," he said. The Congress, on the other hand, said that the results reflect that the people of Karnataka have accepted the development of the Congress-JD(S) government and have rejected the 'jumlas' (rhetoric) of the BJP. The JD(S) further said that results were a defeat for the BJP in the state. According to the state election commission, the Congress has secured 966 seats and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) bagged 910 seats in the elections held on Saturday. The Janata Dal (Secular) has won 373 seats. Results for 2,628 seats out of 2,709 have been declared so far. (With inputs from PTI)

Local poll results in Karnataka show people's continued support for BJP: Amit Shah

<a href="http://wionews.com/world/trump-warns-syria-russia-and-iran-against-idlib-tragedy-163412">Trump warns Syria against </a><a href="http://wionews.com/world/trump-warns-syria-russia-and-iran-against-idlib-tragedy-163412">attack</a><a href="http://wionews.com/world/trump-warns-syria-russia-and-iran-against-idlib-tragedy-163412"> on country's last rebel stronghold</a>

US President Donald Trump on Monday warned Syria against launching an attack on the country's last rebel stronghold with the help of Russia and Iran, saying the offensive could trigger a "human tragedy."

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NITI Aayog vice chairman&nbspRajiv Kumar's comment&nbspon former RBI chief&nbspRaghuram Rajan has landed him in trouble. In his defence on Monday, the vice chairman clarified that he did not target any individual but the policies that were framed and undertaken.

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The aftermath of the destructive deluge in Kerala is not just the loss of property but also an outbreak of a disease that has claimed twelve lives so far.&nbspAccording to reports, as many as 12 people have died from Leptospirosis, news agency ANI reported. Nearly 372 confirmed cases of the disease have been reported since August 1.&nbsp

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As newly elected government in Pakistan headed by Prime Minister Imran Khan is willing to pursue an International Monetary Fund (IMF) bailout, a group of United States Senators have asserted that Islamabad is at risk of debt distress due to rising current-account deficit and external debt obligations caused by the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

<a href="http://wionews.com/world/global-finance-as-vulnerable-as-in-2008-ex-european-central-bank-chief-163440">Global finance 'as vulnerable' as in 2008: Ex-European Central Bank chief</a>

Too much debt has made the world's financial system as vulnerable as it was 10 years ago, Europe's top central banker during the 2008 global meltdown has warned as he looks back on the crisis.

Trump warns Syria against attack on country's last rebel stronghold US President Donald Trump on Monday warned Syria against launching an attack on the country's last rebel stronghold with the help of Russia and Iran, saying the offensive could trigger a "human tragedy." Raghuram Rajan's policies, not demonetisation, caused slowdown: My views 'fact-based', says Niti Aayog VC NITI Aayog vice chairman&nbspRajiv Kumar's comment&nbspon former RBI chief&nbspRaghuram Rajan has landed him in trouble. In his defence on Monday, the vice chairman clarified that he did not target any individual but the policies that were framed and undertaken. After the floods: Leptospirosis kills 12 in Kerala, high alert sounded The aftermath of the destructive deluge in Kerala is not just the loss of property but also an outbreak of a disease that has claimed twelve lives so far.&nbspAccording to reports, as many as 12 people have died from Leptospirosis, news agency ANI reported. Nearly 372 confirmed cases of the disease have been reported since August 1. Pakistan at risk of debt distress due to CPEC: US senators As newly elected government in Pakistan headed by Prime Minister Imran Khan is willing to pursue an International Monetary Fund (IMF) bailout, a group of United States Senators have asserted that Islamabad is at risk of debt distress due to rising current-account deficit and external debt obligations caused by the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). Global finance 'as vulnerable' as in 2008: Ex-European Central Bank chief Too much debt has made the world's financial system as vulnerable as it was 10 years ago, Europe's top central banker during the 2008 global meltdown has warned as he looks back on the crisis.

News brief: Big stories of the day

RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat will be a keynote speaker at the World Hindu Congress, a gathering of Hindu leaders from across the globe in Chicago later this week, the organisers said.&nbsp

More than 2,500 delegates from 80 countries are scheduled to participate in the three-day World Hindu Congress (WHC) in Chicago from September 7 to 9. Bhagwat in his keynote address is likely to focus on the theme of the conference Sumantrite Suvikrante or Think Collectively, Achieve Valiantly.

The RSS chief is expected to underscore the need of the Hindu community spread across the globe to unite and think alike for the good of the mankind, former IITIan Swami Vigyananand, and the brain behind the mega event, said.&nbsp

“The idea of the WHC is to unite and gain strength for the Hindu society and with that look after the interest of the society as well as help other deprived, marginalised communities of the world,” Swami Vigyananand said in response to a question. He insisted that this is not a religious conference.

“The conference is neither religious nor philosophical. The conference is focused on community issues. It is focused on issues that is relevant to the progress of any community in the modern time,” Vigyananand said. Over three days, more than 250 speakers along with over 2,5000 delegates from over 80 countries would hold brainstorming sessions over seven parallel conferences: economic, education, media, organisational, political, and women and youth. These parallel conferences would also showcase the values, creativity, and entrepreneurial spirit of the global Hindu community, he said.

The WHC is a global platform for Hindus to connect, share ideas, inspire one another, and impact the common good, said Abhaya Asthana, convener for the Congress. He is also the president of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad of America The congress offers Hindus an opportunity to introspect towards improvement and tap into our collective resources to seek tangible solutions to the most pressing issues of the 21st century, he said.

In addition to Bhagwat, other prominent speakers at the conference are likely to be the Dalai Lama, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, Ashwin Adhin (Vice President of Suriname), RSS joint general secretary Dattatreya Hosabale, MIT professor S P Kothari, Mohandas Pai, Anupam Kher, Raju Reddy, Swami Paramatmananda Saraswati, Chandrika Tandon, Prof Subhash Kak, and angel investor Raju Reddy.

Among top speakers as the economic conference are Mukesh Aghi, president of US India Strategic partnership Forum, former vice chair of NITI Aayog Arvind Panagariya, Mahindra group president Dilip Sundram, Daniel Bryant from Walmart, Rajesh Sundaram from Federal Express, and Ed Monser from Emerson Electric. Other prominent speakers at the conference are Anupam Kher, Vivek Agnihotri, Madhur Bhandarkar, Amish Tripathi, and Francois Gautier.

On the eve of the Congress, renowned classical musician wife-husband duo of Kavita Krishnamurti and Dr L Subramaniam would perform live for the delegates. Meanwhile, the newly formed Coalition for the Defence of the Constitution and Democracy has announced that it will hold a press conference in New York on September 6 to lodge its protest against the WHC.

RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat will be a keynote speaker at the World Hindu Congress, a gathering of Hindu leaders from across the globe in Chicago later this week, the organisers said.

RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat will be a keynote speaker at the World Hindu Congress, a gathering of Hindu leaders from across the globe in Chicago later this week, the organisers said. More than 2,500 delegates from 80 countries are scheduled to participate in the three-day World Hindu Congress (WHC) in Chicago from September 7 to 9. Bhagwat in his keynote address is likely to focus on the theme of the conference Sumantrite Suvikrante or Think Collectively, Achieve Valiantly. The RSS chief is expected to underscore the need of the Hindu community spread across the globe to unite and think alike for the good of the mankind, former IITIan Swami Vigyananand, and the brain behind the mega event, said. “The idea of the WHC is to unite and gain strength for the Hindu society and with that look after the interest of the society as well as help other deprived, marginalised communities of the world,” Swami Vigyananand said in response to a question. He insisted that this is not a religious conference. “The conference is neither religious nor philosophical. The conference is focused on community issues. It is focused on issues that is relevant to the progress of any community in the modern time,” Vigyananand said. Over three days, more than 250 speakers along with over 2,5000 delegates from over 80 countries would hold brainstorming sessions over seven parallel conferences: economic, education, media, organisational, political, and women and youth. These parallel conferences would also showcase the values, creativity, and entrepreneurial spirit of the global Hindu community, he said. The WHC is a global platform for Hindus to connect, share ideas, inspire one another, and impact the common good, said Abhaya Asthana, convener for the Congress. He is also the president of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad of America The congress offers Hindus an opportunity to introspect towards improvement and tap into our collective resources to seek tangible solutions to the most pressing issues of the 21st century, he said. In addition to Bhagwat, other prominent speakers at the conference are likely to be the Dalai Lama, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, Ashwin Adhin (Vice President of Suriname), RSS joint general secretary Dattatreya Hosabale, MIT professor S P Kothari, Mohandas Pai, Anupam Kher, Raju Reddy, Swami Paramatmananda Saraswati, Chandrika Tandon, Prof Subhash Kak, and angel investor Raju Reddy. Among top speakers as the economic conference are Mukesh Aghi, president of US India Strategic partnership Forum, former vice chair of NITI Aayog Arvind Panagariya, Mahindra group president Dilip Sundram, Daniel Bryant from Walmart, Rajesh Sundaram from Federal Express, and Ed Monser from Emerson Electric. Other prominent speakers at the conference are Anupam Kher, Vivek Agnihotri, Madhur Bhandarkar, Amish Tripathi, and Francois Gautier. On the eve of the Congress, renowned classical musician wife-husband duo of Kavita Krishnamurti and Dr L Subramaniam would perform live for the delegates. Meanwhile, the newly formed Coalition for the Defence of the Constitution and Democracy has announced that it will hold a press conference in New York on September 6 to lodge its protest against the WHC.

RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat to deliver major address at World Hindu Congress

The BJP central leadership is “unhappy” with its Bengal unit over its failure to capitalise on the killing of two party workers in Purulia after rural polls in the state, a senior state party leader said Tuesday.&nbsp

BJP national general secretary and in-charge of the state Kailash Vijayvergiya expressed his dissatisfaction during an internal review meeting of the party over the failure of the state leaders to “grab the issue of the killing of party workers” in West Bengal, he said on the condition of anonymity.

“Kailash ji has asked us to launch a fresh movement across the state over the violence and attack on BJP workers in the state,” he said. During the meeting with the state leaders, Vijayvergiya criticised them over their failure to launch a continuous movement and an agitation on the issue of killing of party workers in Purulia after the state rural polls.

“He (Vijayvergiya) said instead of being on the streets on this issue, the state unit was satisfied with just holding a few meetings and rallies. He also asked the leaders the reason why the state unit had failed to launch a mass movement on the issue,” a senior BJP leader told PTI on the condition of anonymity.

Two BJP activists were found hanging in Purulia district on May 31 and June 2 and the central BJP unit had held a nationwide agitation. BJP national president Amit Shah had also held a rally in Purulia to protest against the killing and had calling for defeating the ruling TMC government in the state. The alleged killings had created a political controversy as the BJP had performed well against the TMC in Balarampur area of Purulia in the last panchayat poll.

The BJP central leadership is "unhappy" with its Bengal unit over its failure to capitalise on the killing of two party workers in Purulia after rural polls in the state, a senior state party leader said Tuesday.

The BJP central leadership is “unhappy” with its Bengal unit over its failure to capitalise on the killing of two party workers in Purulia after rural polls in the state, a senior state party leader said Tuesday. BJP national general secretary and in-charge of the state Kailash Vijayvergiya expressed his dissatisfaction during an internal review meeting of the party over the failure of the state leaders to “grab the issue of the killing of party workers” in West Bengal, he said on the condition of anonymity. “Kailash ji has asked us to launch a fresh movement across the state over the violence and attack on BJP workers in the state,” he said. During the meeting with the state leaders, Vijayvergiya criticised them over their failure to launch a continuous movement and an agitation on the issue of killing of party workers in Purulia after the state rural polls. “He (Vijayvergiya) said instead of being on the streets on this issue, the state unit was satisfied with just holding a few meetings and rallies. He also asked the leaders the reason why the state unit had failed to launch a mass movement on the issue,” a senior BJP leader told PTI on the condition of anonymity. Two BJP activists were found hanging in Purulia district on May 31 and June 2 and the central BJP unit had held a nationwide agitation. BJP national president Amit Shah had also held a rally in Purulia to protest against the killing and had calling for defeating the ruling TMC government in the state. The alleged killings had created a political controversy as the BJP had performed well against the TMC in Balarampur area of Purulia in the last panchayat poll.

BJP leadership ‘unhappy’ with West Bengal unit’s failure to capitalise Purulia killings

Some of Britain's MPs from the ruling Conservative party on Monday questioned the UK government's financial assistance programme for India, which will involve 52 million pounds for 2018-19 and 46 million pounds for 2019-20.

A few weeks after the government's Department for International Development (DfID) released its "India Profile" for the coming years in July, Tory MP David Davies said India did not "want or need" UK aid and that "in effect we are sponsoring an Indian moon launch".

In reference to India's 95.4 million-pound "splurge" on lunar probe Chandrayaan-2, which is expected to launch later this year, other Tory MPs also attacked the financial assistance ear-marked for India.

"Here we are spending money in a country that has not only got its own space programme but is developing its own overseas aid programme. To be honest, the government needs looking at if it thinks that is an appropriate way of spending taxpayers' money," Tory MP Phillip Davies told 'Daily Express', a newspaper which runs campaigns against what it believes is the UK's unnecessary foreign aid spending as opposed to domestic expenditure.

"It needs to get out of Whitehall and appreciate the public is not just sick and tired of this but angry too. It is completely unjustifiable and truly idiotic," Davies added. 
However, DfID stressed that none of the financial assistance marked for India was intended for its space programme.

"DFID ended traditional aid to India in 2015. The UK now provides the country with world-leading expertise and private investment which boost prosperity, create jobs and open up markets, while generating a return for the UK at the same time," a spokesperson said.

"This is firmly in our interests. Not a penny of British taxpayers' aid money has gone on India's space programme," the spokesperson said.

In its "India Profile" assessment, DfID notes that it works in partnership with the UK's Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the Department for International Trade and the UK Treasury to deliver joint economic development priorities in India, focusing on areas which will "generate the most jobs and lift people out of poverty".

Describing India as an important economic partner for the UK, DfID points out that India is constrained in reaching its full global economic and political potential by significant internal challenges, including some 230 million people living in poverty skills shortages unplanned urbanisation and a huge infrastructure deficit.

"Our partnership with India helps enhance investment and trade increase prosperity and jobs in both countries strengthen joint action on global issues of mutual concern widen access to knowledge and technology and support the UK's global security objectives," DfID notes.

But objections to the financial assistance from members of the country's ruling Conservative party dismiss this as a viable explanation.

"It's difficult to explain to the taxpayer that we are sending aid to a country that can afford its own space programme," said Andrew Bridgen, Tory MP for North West Leicestershire.

The 'Daily Express' ran a 'Stop The Foreign Aid Madness' campaign recently, which involved handing over a petition on behalf of thousands of its readers demanding the UK government cuts down on foreign aid.

"The 'Daily Express' has revealed how the government's target of spending at least 0.7 per cent of national income overseas has led to huge rifts," the newspaper claims.

A few weeks after the government's Department for International Development (DfID) released its "India Profile" for the coming years in July, Tory MP David Davies said India did not 'want or need' UK aid and that 'in effect we are sponsoring an Indian moon launch'

Some of Britain's MPs from the ruling Conservative party on Monday questioned the UK government's financial assistance programme for India, which will involve 52 million pounds for 2018-19 and 46 million pounds for 2019-20. A few weeks after the government's Department for International Development (DfID) released its "India Profile" for the coming years in July, Tory MP David Davies said India did not "want or need" UK aid and that "in effect we are sponsoring an Indian moon launch". In reference to India's 95.4 million-pound "splurge" on lunar probe Chandrayaan-2, which is expected to launch later this year, other Tory MPs also attacked the financial assistance ear-marked for India. "Here we are spending money in a country that has not only got its own space programme but is developing its own overseas aid programme. To be honest, the government needs looking at if it thinks that is an appropriate way of spending taxpayers' money," Tory MP Phillip Davies told 'Daily Express', a newspaper which runs campaigns against what it believes is the UK's unnecessary foreign aid spending as opposed to domestic expenditure. "It needs to get out of Whitehall and appreciate the public is not just sick and tired of this but angry too. It is completely unjustifiable and truly idiotic," Davies added. However, DfID stressed that none of the financial assistance marked for India was intended for its space programme. "DFID ended traditional aid to India in 2015. The UK now provides the country with world-leading expertise and private investment which boost prosperity, create jobs and open up markets, while generating a return for the UK at the same time," a spokesperson said. "This is firmly in our interests. Not a penny of British taxpayers' aid money has gone on India's space programme," the spokesperson said. In its "India Profile" assessment, DfID notes that it works in partnership with the UK's Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the Department for International Trade and the UK Treasury to deliver joint economic development priorities in India, focusing on areas which will "generate the most jobs and lift people out of poverty". Describing India as an important economic partner for the UK, DfID points out that India is constrained in reaching its full global economic and political potential by significant internal challenges, including some 230 million people living in poverty skills shortages unplanned urbanisation and a huge infrastructure deficit. "Our partnership with India helps enhance investment and trade increase prosperity and jobs in both countries strengthen joint action on global issues of mutual concern widen access to knowledge and technology and support the UK's global security objectives," DfID notes. But objections to the financial assistance from members of the country's ruling Conservative party dismiss this as a viable explanation. "It's difficult to explain to the taxpayer that we are sending aid to a country that can afford its own space programme," said Andrew Bridgen, Tory MP for North West Leicestershire. The 'Daily Express' ran a 'Stop The Foreign Aid Madness' campaign recently, which involved handing over a petition on behalf of thousands of its readers demanding the UK government cuts down on foreign aid. "The 'Daily Express' has revealed how the government's target of spending at least 0.7 per cent of national income overseas has led to huge rifts," the newspaper claims.

We are sponsoring Indian moon launch: British MPs question financial aid to India

The Central Information Commission has directed the External Affairs Ministry to disclose the names of those private individuals who have travelled with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on foreign tours.&nbsp;

Last October, Karabi Das approached the ministry seeking information on expenses incurred on the foreign visits of the prime minister in 2015-16 and 2016-17 along with the list of people travelling with him.

No satisfactory information was provided to the applicant following which he approached the commission.&nbsp;

The ministry had demanded Rs 224 for providing the information which was deposited by the applicant, activist Subhash Agrawal, who represented the applicant during the hearing, told Chief Information Commissioner R K Mathur.

In its submissions during the hearing, the ministry said no other data is maintained in consolidated form regarding the visits of the prime minister except date and place of visit and the expenses incurred on chartered flights.&nbsp;

The ministry also told the commission that it will look into the matter with regard to the payment of Rs 224 and will provide updated information.&nbsp;

“List of private persons (not linked with security) who travelled with the Prime Minister of India at government expenditure should be provided to the appellant redacting names of other officials,” Mathur ordered.

The Central Information Commission has directed the External Affairs Ministry to disclose the names of those private individuals who have travelled with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on foreign tours.

The Central Information Commission has directed the External Affairs Ministry to disclose the names of those private individuals who have travelled with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on foreign tours. Last October, Karabi Das approached the ministry seeking information on expenses incurred on the foreign visits of the prime minister in 2015-16 and 2016-17 along with the list of people travelling with him. No satisfactory information was provided to the applicant following which he approached the commission. The ministry had demanded Rs 224 for providing the information which was deposited by the applicant, activist Subhash Agrawal, who represented the applicant during the hearing, told Chief Information Commissioner R K Mathur. In its submissions during the hearing, the ministry said no other data is maintained in consolidated form regarding the visits of the prime minister except date and place of visit and the expenses incurred on chartered flights. The ministry also told the commission that it will look into the matter with regard to the payment of Rs 224 and will provide updated information. “List of private persons (not linked with security) who travelled with the Prime Minister of India at government expenditure should be provided to the appellant redacting names of other officials,” Mathur ordered.

Disclose names of private persons who accompanied PM Narendra Modi on foreign tours, CIC tells MEA

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has issued an advisory to all private satellite TV channels, urging them to refrain from using the nomenclature 'Dalit' for people belonging to Scheduled Castes in compliance with a Bombay High Court directive.

The advisory urges channels that they may refrain from using the term 'Dalit' while referring to people belonging to Scheduled Castes.

The letter, addressed to all private TV channels on August 7, referred to a June directive by the Bombay High Court asking the ministry to consider issuing a direction to the media to stop using the word 'Dalit'.

The court directive had come over a petition filed by Pankaj Meshram before the Nagpur bench of the high court.

"It is accordingly advised that media may refrain from using the nomenclature 'Dalit' while referring to members belonging to Scheduled Castes in compliance with the directions of the Hon'ble Bombay High Court and the Constitutional term 'Scheduled Caste' in English, and its appropriate translation in other national languages should alone be used for all official transactions, matters, dealings, certificates, etc. For denoting the persons belonging to Scheduled Castes," it said.

The advisory had also cited a Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment circular of March 15, advising the central and state governments to use the term 'Scheduled Caste'.&nbsp

The letter, addressed to all private TV channels on August 7, referred to a June directive by the Bombay High Court asking the ministry to consider issuing a direction to the media to stop using the word 'Dalit'

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has issued an advisory to all private satellite TV channels, urging them to refrain from using the nomenclature 'Dalit' for people belonging to Scheduled Castes in compliance with a Bombay High Court directive. The advisory urges channels that they may refrain from using the term 'Dalit' while referring to people belonging to Scheduled Castes. The letter, addressed to all private TV channels on August 7, referred to a June directive by the Bombay High Court asking the ministry to consider issuing a direction to the media to stop using the word 'Dalit'. The court directive had come over a petition filed by Pankaj Meshram before the Nagpur bench of the high court. "It is accordingly advised that media may refrain from using the nomenclature 'Dalit' while referring to members belonging to Scheduled Castes in compliance with the directions of the Hon'ble Bombay High Court and the Constitutional term 'Scheduled Caste' in English, and its appropriate translation in other national languages should alone be used for all official transactions, matters, dealings, certificates, etc. For denoting the persons belonging to Scheduled Castes," it said. The advisory had also cited a Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment circular of March 15, advising the central and state governments to use the term 'Scheduled Caste'.

I&B Ministry urges private TV channels to refrain from using 'Dalit'

The Maharashtra police told a city court on Monday that former Shiv Sena corporator Shrikant Pangarkar, arrested in the arms haul case, was in touch with an accused who is in custody of their Karnataka counterparts in connection with a high-profile murder case.

According to sources, the said accused is Amol Kale, arrested in connection with the killing of Gauri Lankesh, a Bengaluru-based journalist, in September last year.

Pangarkar and three other accused in the arms haul case -- Sharad Kalaskar, Vaibhav Raut, Sudhanwa Gondhalekar -- were produced before Additional Sessions Judge Vinod Padalkar after their police remand ended. 
The fifth accused Avinash Pawar is in ATS custody till Tuesday.

They were arrested last month by the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) in connection with the seizure of arms and ammunition from different parts of the state.

Seeking extension of Pangarkar's remand, the ATS told the court that it had received a report from the Karnataka police that his name was found in a diary seized from an accused who is in their custody in connection with a high-profile murder case.

The anti-terror agency told the court that Pangarkar was using two mobile phones. One of them had certain text messages which showed his connection with the man who is in custody of the Karnataka police.

The ATS added that it also needs to find out whether the Karnataka accused attended an arms training camp allegedly run by Pangarkar in Jalna, his home district in central Maharashtra.

The court extended Pangarkar's police custody till September 6. It sent Raut and Gondhalekar to 14-days judicial custody after the ATS said their police remand was not required.

It also granted the custody of Kalaskar to the CBI for probing his alleged role in the killing of rationalist Narendra Dabholkar in 2013.&nbsp

The Maharashtra police told a city court on Monday that former Shiv Sena corporator Shrikant Pangarkar, arrested in the arms haul case, was in touch with an accused who is in custody of their Karnataka counterparts in connection with a high-profile murder case.

The Maharashtra police told a city court on Monday that former Shiv Sena corporator Shrikant Pangarkar, arrested in the arms haul case, was in touch with an accused who is in custody of their Karnataka counterparts in connection with a high-profile murder case. According to sources, the said accused is Amol Kale, arrested in connection with the killing of Gauri Lankesh, a Bengaluru-based journalist, in September last year. Pangarkar and three other accused in the arms haul case -- Sharad Kalaskar, Vaibhav Raut, Sudhanwa Gondhalekar -- were produced before Additional Sessions Judge Vinod Padalkar after their police remand ended. The fifth accused Avinash Pawar is in ATS custody till Tuesday. They were arrested last month by the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) in connection with the seizure of arms and ammunition from different parts of the state. Seeking extension of Pangarkar's remand, the ATS told the court that it had received a report from the Karnataka police that his name was found in a diary seized from an accused who is in their custody in connection with a high-profile murder case. The anti-terror agency told the court that Pangarkar was using two mobile phones. One of them had certain text messages which showed his connection with the man who is in custody of the Karnataka police. The ATS added that it also needs to find out whether the Karnataka accused attended an arms training camp allegedly run by Pangarkar in Jalna, his home district in central Maharashtra. The court extended Pangarkar's police custody till September 6. It sent Raut and Gondhalekar to 14-days judicial custody after the ATS said their police remand was not required. It also granted the custody of Kalaskar to the CBI for probing his alleged role in the killing of rationalist Narendra Dabholkar in 2013.

Maharashtra arms haul accused was in touch with man held in high-profile murder in Karnataka: ATS to court

The Congress said Monday that the people of Karnataka have accepted the development policies of the Congress-JD(S) government in the state and have rejected the 'jumlas' (rhetoric) of the BJP, after the party emerged as the <a href="http://wionews.com/india-news/karnataka-civic-polls-congress-wins-majority-after-the-close-fight-163363">single largest outfit in the local body polls</a>.

The JD(S), which is in a coalition government with the Congress in Karnataka, termed the results a defeat of the BJP in the state.

Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala, while thanking the people of the state, said that they have once again reposed their faith in the Congress.

"People of Karnataka have once again reposed their faith in Congress by making it the No.1 party in Urban Local Bodies. People have accepted development policies of Congress+JDS Govt & have rejected Jumlas of BJP.

Many thanks to every @INCKarnataka worker!" he tweeted.

According to the state election commission, the Congress has secured 966 seats and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) bagged 910 seats in the elections held on Saturday. The Janata Dal (Secular) has won 373 seats.

Results for 2,628 seats out of 2,709 have been declared so far.

Both the Congress and the JD(S) contested the polls separately despite being partners in the state government, but they have already declared that they would tie up post-election in urban bodies.&nbsp;

Party spokesperson Priyanka Chaturvedi thanked the voters in urban centres for the party's good show, saying the results have demolished the myth that the Congress does not have a base in these places.&nbsp;

She said the Congress has also put up a good show in coastal areas and western regions of Karnataka considered a traditional stronghold of the BJP.&nbsp;

"The results have shown that wherever BJP has failed in its accountability and has resorted to unconstitutional means after the assembly polls, voters have given them a befitting reply," she said. Chaturvedi said all the murmurs about the Congress becoming weak following its alliance with the JD(S) has also been put to rest.&nbsp;

JD(S) leader Danish Ali termed the poll result as a defeat of the BJP, noting that the civic elections were held in 104 urban assembly constituencies, out of which the BJP had won 69 in the state elections held in May.&nbsp;

"The Congress and the JD(S) will coordinate to form urban local bodies since we are in alliance and this will help in further assimilation of the cadres," he said.

According to the state election commission, the Congress has secured 966 seats and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) bagged 910 seats in the elections held on Saturday. The Janata Dal (Secular) has won 373 seats

The Congress said Monday that the people of Karnataka have accepted the development policies of the Congress-JD(S) government in the state and have rejected the 'jumlas' (rhetoric) of the BJP, after the party emerged as the single largest outfit in the local body polls. The JD(S), which is in a coalition government with the Congress in Karnataka, termed the results a defeat of the BJP in the state. Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala, while thanking the people of the state, said that they have once again reposed their faith in the Congress. "People of Karnataka have once again reposed their faith in Congress by making it the No.1 party in Urban Local Bodies. People have accepted development policies of Congress+JDS Govt & have rejected Jumlas of BJP. Many thanks to every @INCKarnataka worker!" he tweeted. According to the state election commission, the Congress has secured 966 seats and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) bagged 910 seats in the elections held on Saturday. The Janata Dal (Secular) has won 373 seats. Results for 2,628 seats out of 2,709 have been declared so far. Both the Congress and the JD(S) contested the polls separately despite being partners in the state government, but they have already declared that they would tie up post-election in urban bodies. Party spokesperson Priyanka Chaturvedi thanked the voters in urban centres for the party's good show, saying the results have demolished the myth that the Congress does not have a base in these places. She said the Congress has also put up a good show in coastal areas and western regions of Karnataka considered a traditional stronghold of the BJP. "The results have shown that wherever BJP has failed in its accountability and has resorted to unconstitutional means after the assembly polls, voters have given them a befitting reply," she said. Chaturvedi said all the murmurs about the Congress becoming weak following its alliance with the JD(S) has also been put to rest. JD(S) leader Danish Ali termed the poll result as a defeat of the BJP, noting that the civic elections were held in 104 urban assembly constituencies, out of which the BJP had won 69 in the state elections held in May. "The Congress and the JD(S) will coordinate to form urban local bodies since we are in alliance and this will help in further assimilation of the cadres," he said.

People of Karnataka have accepted development policies over BJP's 'jumla': Congress on civic poll results

The Swedish furniture giant IKEA has issued an apology to the customer in Hyderabad who had reportedly found a <a href="http://wionews.com/india-news/caterpillar-found-in-newly-opened-ikeas-food-fined-rs-11500-firm-issues-apology-163332">caterpillar in the food </a>that he had ordered from the store.

The furniture giant which opened its first store less than a month ago in Hyderabad said it had apologised to the customer.

“We are currently investigating the matter to understand what happened and take immediate action,” an IKEA spokeswoman said.

Abeed Mohammad, the customer who had found the caterpillar in the food posted the picture on Twitter on Friday.&nbsp

Following which he alerted the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC). He also tagged the Minister for Municipal Administration and Urban Development KT Rama Rao in the tweet.

The GHMC has issued a notice to the IKEA restaurant manager and also to Haldirams, the Nagpur vendor from which it procures food items.

As per reports, officials from the GHMC went to inspect the store and collect food samples for tests.&nbsp

The first IKEA store in India opened on 9 August, five years after IKEA received government approval in 2013 to invest Rs 10,500 crore to open 25 stores in India by 2025. Its next store will open in Navi Mumbai in 2019, followed by Bengaluru and Delhi. In the next phase, IKEA would cover Ahmedabad, Surat, Pune, Chennai, and Kolkata.

(With inputs from Reuters)

'We are currently investigating the matter to understand what happened and take immediate action,' an IKEA spokeswoman said.

The Swedish furniture giant IKEA has issued an apology to the customer in Hyderabad who had reportedly found a caterpillar in the food that he had ordered from the store. The furniture giant which opened its first store less than a month ago in Hyderabad said it had apologised to the customer. “We are currently investigating the matter to understand what happened and take immediate action,” an IKEA spokeswoman said. Abeed Mohammad, the customer who had found the caterpillar in the food posted the picture on Twitter on Friday. Following which he alerted the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC). He also tagged the Minister for Municipal Administration and Urban Development KT Rama Rao in the tweet. The GHMC has issued a notice to the IKEA restaurant manager and also to Haldirams, the Nagpur vendor from which it procures food items. As per reports, officials from the GHMC went to inspect the store and collect food samples for tests. The first IKEA store in India opened on 9 August, five years after IKEA received government approval in 2013 to invest Rs 10,500 crore to open 25 stores in India by 2025. Its next store will open in Navi Mumbai in 2019, followed by Bengaluru and Delhi. In the next phase, IKEA would cover Ahmedabad, Surat, Pune, Chennai, and Kolkata. (With inputs from Reuters)

IKEA apologises after customer reports caterpillar in his food

The Congress on Monday criticised NITI Aayog's vice chairman <a href="http://wionews.com/business-&-economy/raghuram-rajan-responsible-for-economic-slowdown-not-demonetisation-niti-aayog-vice-chairman-163350">Rajiv Kumar's comment on former Reserve Bank of India's governor</a> Raghuram Rajan.&nbsp;

Kumar on Monday had blamed Rajan for slowing down the economy stating that Rajan's policies on non-performing assets (NPAs) led to the slowdown in the economy and not the government's demonetisation drive.

In reaction to the same, Congress MP Rajeev Gowda said, "Rajiv Kumar was also ahead in attacking Raghuram Rajan in his efforts in cleaning up the banking system. The NPA's were being identified by Raghuram Rajan and it is important to identify them. BJP has done a horrible job in not acting early enough and strong enough. Trying to pass the buck and blame on Rajan is just an absolute mistake and it has no credibility or factual basis."

Gowda also talked about the decline in the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) attributing it to the global financial crisis of 2008. He noted that the Congress and the United Progressive Alliance had done a "tremendous job" to revive the nation's economy.&nbsp;

"We had a global financial crisis in 2008 after that every country went through a slowdown. The Congress and the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) did a tremendous job in helping to revive India's economy. BJP government came into power at a time when they were able to benefit from the growth that was picking up again. However, there was two body blows to economic growth namely demonetisation and the bad implementation of the GST. These two essentially took away our two per cent of the GDP growth. Now we are slowly inching back to the growth rate that should have been a steady-regular growth rate through the last few years."

Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala also reacted to Kumar criticising Rajan and described it "obnoxious and laughable".&nbsp;

"This is called blame game and shifting of the goal post. When UPA demitted power, NPAs were only 2 lakh 83 thousand crore which was controllable but now after 4 years of BJP rule, the NPAs are touching 12 lakh crore. Modi Government has itself given this data through a reply in parliament on 31st July 2018... Demonetisation disaster has led to a drop of 1.5 per cent in GDP causing a loss of two lakh twenty-five thousand crores," Surjewala added.

Surjewala noted that every other businessman is failing other than those few who are supported by the Prime Minister. He also spoke about the relentless fall in the national currency.&nbsp;

"Only a handful industrialist friends of Modi Ji is prospering and every other business is shutting down. Currency is falling, the economy is failing, exports are down and Foreign direct investment (FDI) is at the lowest level," he added.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, Kumar in his defence stated that his comments did not target any individual but the policies that were undertaken.&nbsp;

"My views on GDP’s decline being unrelated to solely demonetisation & having begun way before with stricter norms of NPA by RBI under Mr Rajan R fact-based & self-explanatory but some misleading headlines have coerced me to reiterate that the discussion is on policies, not people," Kumar tweeted out on Monday.

Meanwhile, Kumar in his defence stated that his comments did not target any individual but the policies that were undertaken.

The Congress on Monday criticised NITI Aayog's vice chairman Rajiv Kumar's comment on former Reserve Bank of India's governor Raghuram Rajan. Kumar on Monday had blamed Rajan for slowing down the economy stating that Rajan's policies on non-performing assets (NPAs) led to the slowdown in the economy and not the government's demonetisation drive. In reaction to the same, Congress MP Rajeev Gowda said, "Rajiv Kumar was also ahead in attacking Raghuram Rajan in his efforts in cleaning up the banking system. The NPA's were being identified by Raghuram Rajan and it is important to identify them. BJP has done a horrible job in not acting early enough and strong enough. Trying to pass the buck and blame on Rajan is just an absolute mistake and it has no credibility or factual basis." Gowda also talked about the decline in the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) attributing it to the global financial crisis of 2008. He noted that the Congress and the United Progressive Alliance had done a "tremendous job" to revive the nation's economy. "We had a global financial crisis in 2008 after that every country went through a slowdown. The Congress and the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) did a tremendous job in helping to revive India's economy. BJP government came into power at a time when they were able to benefit from the growth that was picking up again. However, there was two body blows to economic growth namely demonetisation and the bad implementation of the GST. These two essentially took away our two per cent of the GDP growth. Now we are slowly inching back to the growth rate that should have been a steady-regular growth rate through the last few years." Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala also reacted to Kumar criticising Rajan and described it "obnoxious and laughable". "This is called blame game and shifting of the goal post. When UPA demitted power, NPAs were only 2 lakh 83 thousand crore which was controllable but now after 4 years of BJP rule, the NPAs are touching 12 lakh crore. Modi Government has itself given this data through a reply in parliament on 31st July 2018... Demonetisation disaster has led to a drop of 1.5 per cent in GDP causing a loss of two lakh twenty-five thousand crores," Surjewala added. Surjewala noted that every other businessman is failing other than those few who are supported by the Prime Minister. He also spoke about the relentless fall in the national currency. "Only a handful industrialist friends of Modi Ji is prospering and every other business is shutting down. Currency is falling, the economy is failing, exports are down and Foreign direct investment (FDI) is at the lowest level," he added. Meanwhile, Kumar in his defence stated that his comments did not target any individual but the policies that were undertaken. "My views on GDP’s decline being unrelated to solely demonetisation & having begun way before with stricter norms of NPA by RBI under Mr Rajan R fact-based & self-explanatory but some misleading headlines have coerced me to reiterate that the discussion is on policies, not people," Kumar tweeted out on Monday.

NITI Aayog vice chairman's comment on Rajan 'obnoxious and laughable': Congress

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