LIVE
Sun, 23 September 2018
Hollywood actors call on Ivanka Trump to support Kavanaugh's accuser

Timeline  Refresh

image
21:04   Hollywood actors call on Ivanka Trump to support Kavanaugh's accuser
Hollywood actors including Sophia Bush, Busy Philipps, and Chelsea Handler have asked Ivanka Trump to support Christina Blasey Ford, who has accused Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh of sexual misconduct.

Using the hashtag #DearIvanka, the Hollywood stars took to social media to post a message to the eldest daughter of US President Trump.

Busy Philipps shared a picture of #DearIvanka on her Instagram page and captioned it as, "You don't follow me on social media. But as a public servant, you work for me. You've proclaimed yourself a feminist and a champion of women's rights. Right now, you have an opportunity to fight for women and survivors. Use your access to demand that Professor Ford's request for a full, fair, trauma-informed investigation by the FBI be held. Use your access to make sure another abuser is not seated on the Supreme Court."

'One Tree Hill' actor Sophia Bush, shared the same #DearIvanka and wrote on Instagram, "I figured after the last one of these calls for you to take action, you'd unfollow me. But you're still following me!! So, let me use this opportunity to call you in. Rather than feeling called out, try to see this as an invitation to merge your words and your actions. Girl. You can do it."

Earlier this month, Ford, a professor at Palo Alto University in California, had alleged that Kavanaugh had assaulted her during a party in the 1980s when they were both in high school. 

She had accused him of groping her and even attempted to remove her clothes. According to a report by the Washington Post, Kavanaugh covered Ford's mouth with his hand to stifle her screams.

United States President Donald Trump, in July, nominated the appeal court judge Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court.
image
20:19   Ayushman Bharat a PR exercise, will prove to be another jumla: Kejriwal
Delhi Chief Minister and AAP National Convener Arvind Kejriwal claimed that Ayushman Bharat, the healthcare scheme launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday, is a public relation exercise which will prove to be another "jumla" (rehtoric).
  
The Aam Aadmi Party termed the scheme "another white elephant in the making" and alleged that it covers only six lakh out of 50 lakh families in Delhi.

"Pl read - why Ayushman Bharat is another PR exercise and will prove another jumla," Kejriwal said in tweet while referring to the AAP statement.

The prime minister rolled out the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana-Ayushman Bharat from Ranchi Sunday, and termed it a "game-changer initiative to serve the poor". The health scheme would come into effect from today (Sunday), he said.

The AAP, in its statement, said it was of the view a universal healthcare scheme is a must for the country and Ayushman Bharat is "not at all a universal scheme and is designed in manner which is bound to fail".

"The Ayushman Bharat Scheme, designed by the Modi government caters only to secondary and tertiary requirements. It gives a miss to the most important, the primary healthcare. The Modi government plans to climb the ladder of healthcare without laying a foundation; which is one of the reasons why the AAP terms the scheme as flawed. Without a strong foundation, it is destined to fall," it said.

The ruling party in Delhi claimed that there were flaws in the newly launched scheme, including that it skips primary healthcare.

It alleged that the scheme only for patients admitted to a healthcare facility, it is insurance without infrastructure, there are scope of fraud and corruption, and the rules are too soft rules for hospitals.

-- PTI
image
20:06   Navy officer stranded in Indian Ocean to be rescued in 16 hours
An Indian Navy officer who was stranded in the Indian Ocean near Australia after being injured while taking part in a sailing race will be rescued within the next 16 hours by a French vessel, the Defence Ministry said on Sunday.

An Indian Navy aircraft had located the yacht of Indian Naval officer Abhilash Tomy, who was participating in the Golden Globe Race, "rolling excessively" in the South Indian Ocean, a Defence spokesperson had said earlier in the day.
image
19:25   Army chief backs govt's decision to call off dialogue with Pakistan
Army Chief General Bipin Rawat on Sunday backed the government's decision to call off dialogue with Pakistan, asserting that talks and terror cannot go together.
  
The government had on Friday called off a meeting between the foreign ministers of India and Pakistan in New York, citing the brutal killings of three policemen in Jammu and Kashmir and Islamabad releasing postage stamps "glorifying" Kashmiri militant Burhan Wani.

Infiltration from across the border persists despite the call for a ceasefire by Pakistan, said Rawat stressing that this cannot be allowed to continue and appropriate action has to be taken to deter terrorists from disrupting the peace in the Valley. 

He backed the government's decision to call off the talks between External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and her Pakistani counterpart on sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

"The government's policy is very clear cut... You (Pakistan) show us some initiatives so that we feel that you are not encouraging terrorism. But we see that terror activities are continuing and terrorists come from the other side of the border. 

"In such an atmosphere, whether talks can be initiated that the government can only decide. I agree to the government's decision that peace talks and terrorism cannot go together," he said.

-- PTI
image
19:06   It's time PM, Jaitley stop lying on Rafale issue: Rahul Gandhi
Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Sunday hit back at Arun Jaitley on the Rafale issue, saying it is time the finance minister and the prime minister "stop lying" and call for a Joint Parliamentary Committee probe for an "uncorrupted truth" to come out.
  
He accused Jaitley of having the ability to spin "2 truths or lies" with "fake self-righteousness" and "indignation to defend the indefensible". 

"Mr Jetlie's speciality is his ability to spin '2 truths', or lies, with fake self righteousness and indignation to defend the indefensible. It's high time he, the RM and our PM stop lying and call a JPC to establish the full, uncorrupted truth about the Rafale Scam (sic)," Gandhi tweeted.

He also tagged a media report highlighting how former French president Francois Hollande's charges have hit the Modi government on the Rafale issue.

The Rafale controversy took a turn last week after former French president Hollande claimed that the Indian government proposed Reliance Defence's name as the offset partner for Dassault Aviation.

Jaitley earlier defended the prime minister on the Rafale issue, saying the French government and Dassault Aviation have categorically denied the correctness of the former president's first statement. 
image
18:23   PM violated oath by leaking info to Anil Ambani: Congress
Continuing its attack on the BJP-led Centre over the Rafale deal, the Congress on Sunday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of violating the oath of confidentiality by leaking information to Reliance Defence chief Anil Ambani about the purchase of 36 fighter jets from France.
  
Anand Sharma, deputy leader of opposition in Rajya Sabha, demanded that the prime minister respond to the charges made against him in connection with the controversial deal instead of fielding his ministers.

"My direct charge is that the prime minister violated the oath of confidentiality. Only he could have told Anil Ambani that HAL will be out and he will strike a deal to buy 36 jets and 'you (Ambani) go and talk to Dassault Aviation (the makers of Rafale jet)," Sharma told reporters at a news conference.

The Rafale controversy took a turn last week after former French President Francois Hollande claimed that the Indian government proposed Reliance Defence's name as the offset partner for Dassault Aviation.

In response, the French government said it was in no manner involved in the choice of Indian industrial partners for the Rafale deal, asserting that French firms have the full freedom to select Indian companies for the contract.

"We don't want to hear from the defence minister, finance minister. The one who is supposed to speak is quiet (maun vratt). The prime minister has to respond to these questions," Sharma said.

The Reliance group has rejected charges against it made by the Congress and said the government was in no way involved in securing its offset contract with Dassault Aviation.

Prime Minister Modi had announced the procurement of 36 Rafale fighters after holding talks with then French president Hollande on April 10, 2015 in Paris.

-- PTI
image
17:53   After France, India likely to ink pact with Russia for Gaganyaan
After an agreement with France, India could ink a pact with Russia for sharing of expertise on ISRO's ambitious human space mission project 'Gaganyaan' during Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit to New Delhi next month, official sources said.
  
Besides 'Gaganyaan', the two sides are currently engaged in talks to establish ground stations for Glonass, the global positioning system of Russia, and NaVIC, India's home-grown GPS in the other country, the sources added.

The subject to share expertise on 'Gaganyaan' came up during External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj's visit to Moscow this month, a source said.

Significantly, India and France signed a memorandum of understanding earlier this month to share French expertise on the human mission project announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his Independence Day address this year.

The human mission project envisages sending three Indians to space by 2022.

India's first and - so far - the only astronaut Rakesh Sharma visited the outer space in 1984 on a spacecraft of the erstwhile Soviet Union.

-- PTI
image
17:29   Is Village Rockstars the right choice for Oscars? Vote!
Rima Das' National Award-winning Assamese feature Village Rockstars has been chosen to represent India in the Best Foreign Language category at next year's Academy Awards, the Film Federation of India announced Saturday.

Is Village Rockstars the right choice for the Oscars? Vote HERE!

image
16:58   Ailing Parrikar to continue as CM of Goa, says BJP's Amit Shah
Bharatiya Janata Party president Amit Shah has put all speculation to rest by tweeting that Manohar Parrikar, who is currently being treated at AIIMS in the capital will continue as the chief minister of Goa. 

In a tweet, the BJP president also said that changes to the state Cabinet will be made shortly. 

With three MLAs each, MGP and GFP take the number of National Democratic Alliance to 20, a half mark in the 40-member house, even if the three ailing ministers remain absent during the trust vote.

According to report, the BJP is worried about the acceptance of a new CM among its own legislators. The party's top brass believes that no other leader can fit into the shoes of Parrikar, the state's tallest leader.
image
16:42   PM Modi to visit Nepal again in November
After visiting Nepal in August for the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation summit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be visiting the Himalayan nation once again, this time in November.

"Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be coming to Nepal again in the end week of the November. The probable date for his visit which will be a state visit, in fact, is expected to take place on November 28 and 29. There might be some changes over the date regarding a day before or after," said a high-level official from the Indian embassy in Kathmandu.

This will be Prime Minister Modi's fourth visit to Nepal after he came to power in 2014.

"During his visit, Prime Minister Modi will also be visiting Lumbini, the birthplace of Lord Gautam Buddha. High-level meetings and engagements will be continued as done before," the official added.

During his second state visit, Prime Minister Modi was scheduled to visit Janakpur, Muktinath and Lumbini but it was put off citing various security reasons.

However, during his third visit to the country, the PM had visited the pilgrimage sites. 
image
16:28   Pak's opposition holds Imran Khan govt responsible for 'diplomatic debacle' with India
Pakistan's two major opposition parties have questioned the "haste" shown by Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan in making efforts to mend ties with India and held him responsible for the "diplomatic debacle", saying he should have done his "homework" before approaching for a meeting.
  
Khan had written a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, seeking to re-start bilateral talks on key issues "challenging the relationship" including on terrorism and Kashmir.

India initially agreed to a meeting between Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj and her Pakistani counterpart Shah Mahmood Qureshi on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York this month.

However, New Delhi on Friday called off the meeting, citing the "brutal" killing of three policemen in Jammu and Kashmir as well as the release of the postal stamps "glorifying" Kashmiri militant Burhan Wani.

Dawn news reported that two major opposition parties -- the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and the Pakistan Peoples Party -- have held the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf government responsible for the latest "diplomatic debacle" following New Delhi's refusal to hold the meeting.

Former foreign minister and PML-N lawmaker Khawaja Mohammad Asif criticised Khan for stating in the letter that "Pakistan remains ready to discuss terrorism" and said it seemed the government was "not prepared" from the day one.

"Too much keenness being shown by the prime minister showed weakness on our part. Giving them (India) too much reflects haste on our part to mend fences with India," Asif was quoted as saying by Dawn news.

Asif said he was not against normalisation of relations between India and Pakistan but "dignity must be maintained".

He regretted that Khan wrote a letter in which he "talked about terrorism" without realising that the US and India had recently issued a joint statement after the visit of Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to New Delhi and Islamabad which was "dead against" Pakistan.

"They (the US and India) raised all kinds of allegations against Pakistan and you are talking about terrorism (in the letter). This is a sign of weakness (on our part)," Asif said.

He also criticised Prime Minister Modi, alleging that "he is playing to the gallery" as part of poll campaign.
image
15:58   Meghan Markle reveals wedding veil secret
UK's Duchess of Sussex Meghan Markle looked stunning in her Givenchy wedding gown, but who knew she secretly paid a tribute to her first date with Prince Harry using her 15 feet long veil?

In a sneak peek from the upcoming HBO documentary Queen of the World, Markle revealed the special significance behind a "piece of blue fabric" stitched inside.

She said, "Somewhere in here there's a piece of blue fabric that's stitched inside -- it was my something blue. It's fabric from the dress that I wore on our first date."

Designed by Clare Waight Keller from French fashion house Givenchy, Markle had worn a boat-necked, pure white silk gown, with a 15 feet veil embroidered with flowers. The veil was made of silk tulle with a trim of hand-embroidered flowers in silk threads and organza.

The embroidery took hundreds of hours to complete, with workers washing their hands every 30 minutes to keep the tulle and the threads pristine.

Markle's veil was held in place by Queen Mary's diamond bandeau tiara, which was loaned to her by Queen Elizabeth II.

Made in 1932, it comprises 11 sections, with a detachable centre of 10 diamonds that can be worn as a brooch.

Last month, it was reported that Markle is all set to put her wedding gown on display.

The former actor had a 'fairytale' wedding with Prince Harry at the Windsor Castle on May 19, with tens of thousands of people lining the route. 

-- ANI
image
15:46   Congress seeks for Joint Parliamentary Committee to look into Rafale deal
The Congress on Sunday hit out at Finance Minister Arun Jaitley over his latest dismissal of any scam with regard to the Rafale deal and demanded a constitution of a Joint Parliamentary Committee to look into issues pertaining to the controversial deal.

Speaking to the reporters, Congress spokesperson Manish Tewari said, "There should be a constitution of a Joint Parliamentary Committee to look into this issue and the matter needs to be investigated thoroughly."

Another Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge echoed similar sentiments and said that "Prime Minister Modi has kept him (FM Jaitley) in the cabinet only to make comments and attack opposition. I would like to tell Jaitley ji, your tall claims and words are not going to fill the stomach of the common man."

Earlier in the day in an exclusive interview to ANI, the finance minister rejected all the allegations of a scam in the Rafale fighter plane deal and said that whether the planes are bought at a higher rate or not is a matter for the Comptroller and Auditor General to examine.

-- ANI
image
15:36   AAP plans to contest 100 seats in next LS polls, focus on winning 25
Delhi's ruling AAP will focus on winning at least 25 seats out of the 100 it plans to contest in the next Lok Sabha election to better position itself in case of a non-BJP government formation, two party leaders said Sunday.
  
In the emerging political scenario, winning 25 Lok Sabha seats will ensure the Aam Aadmi Party is in a "comfortable" position to strike a bargain with other parties after the general election in 2019, a senior party leader said.

"The party is eyeing 100 potential seats. We will do whatever it takes to win at least 25 seats, particularly in Delhi, Haryana and Punjab, where we have a strong presence and effective organisational set up," the leader said.

The party will contest Lok Sabha polls in the three states - Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh - where assembly elections are due later this year, besides focussing on Delhi, Haryana and Punjab, he said.

Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat are other states where it plans to contest selected Lok Sabha seats.

The AAP currently holds four Lok Sabha seats in Punjab.

The state has 13 Lok Sabha seats and the AAP would work to raise its tally as it is an opposition party in Punjab Assembly, another party leader said.

-- PTI
image
15:11   WhatsApp appoints grievance officer for India
Under pressure to clamp down on sinister messages, Whatsapp has appointed a grievance officer for India and detailed out the process for users to flag concerns and complaints, including those around fake news.
 
Meeting one of the key demands that India had put on Whatsapp to curb fake messages that triggered mob killings, the Facebook-owned company has updated its website to reflect the appointment of a 'Grievance Officer for India'.
The update mentions that users can seek help through the mobile app, send an email or write in to 'Komal Lahiri', who is based out of the US.
According to Lahiri's LinkedIn profile, she is senior director, global customer operations and localisation, WhatsApp.
When contacted, a WhatsApp spokesperson declined to comment on the matter but pointed to the public FAQ on the company's website that contains these details.
According to sources, the appointment of the Grievance Officer was made at the end of August.
They added that the Grievance Officer for India being based in the US is in tune with similar practices by other American tech giants.

According to the WhatsApp website, users can reach out to the company's support team directly from the app under 'Settings' tab and in case they wish to escalate the complaint, they can contact the Grievance Officer directly.
A section within FAQs read: "You (users) can contact the Grievance Officer with complaints or concerns, including the following: WhatsApp's Terms of Service; and  Questions about your account".

-- PTI
image
14:22   Asked to keep away from church duties after taking part in protest against bishop: Nun
A nun belonging to the Syro Malabar Catholic church alleged she was asked to keep away from church duties after she participated in a protest by nuns in Kochi demanding the arrest of rape accused Bishop Franco Mulakkal. 

Sister Lucy Kalapura, who returned on Sunday morning from Kochi, claimed she was informed orally by the Mother Superior that she should keep away from holding catechism classes, conducting prayers and other church- related duties.  

"No written orders were given to me. I was only informed orally by the Mother Superior not to participate in any church-related activities," the sister said. 

Five nuns had protested near the Kerala high court at Kochi for 13 days, demanding the arrest of the bishop who was accused of repeatedly raping a nun.

-- PTI
image
14:20  
JUST IN: Araku MLA Kidari Sarveswara Rao and former Araku MLA Siveri Soma shot dead by Naxals in Dumbriguda Mandal.
image
13:50   PM Modi launches world's biggest state-run health scheme
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has launched Ayushman Bharat, the worlds largest government-funded healthcare programme. The Ayushman Bharat scheme, which would benefit 50 crore Indians, will be rolled out from Jharkhands capital Ranchi. 

The programme, also called Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Abhiyan, aims to provide coverage of Rs 5 lakh to 10 crore economically backward families. 

IT minister Ravi Shankar Prasad is attending the launch of Ayushman Bharat at the Gyan Bhawan in Patna along with Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and the Governor of Bihar

Over 8,735 hospitals, both public and private, have been empanelled for the Ayushman Bharat scheme, and as many as 31 states and union territories have signed MoUs with the centre and will implement the programme.
image
13:27   Bidding adieu to Ganesha: 50,000 cops, 5,000 CCTVs, drones for security
Mumbai police will use drones as well as a large network of over 5,000 CCTV cameras to maintain vigil during the immersion of Ganesh idols Sunday on the occasion of Anant Chaturdashi, a senior official said.

Mumbai police spokesperson DCP Manjunath Singe said that 50,000 police personnel, including those from specialised units like Force One, Quick Response Teams, Anti-Terrorism Cells would be deployed.

Plainclothes policemen would also mingle in the crowd to keep an eye on the security of women and children.

Singe said that the city has 162 idol immersion spots,
including Girgaum Chowpatty, Dadar, Juhu, Versova and Powai,
and several of them will have CCTV cameras in place.

Over 5000 CCTV cameras, which will be monitored from
the police control room, will be in place for the immersion
processions, Singe said.

He added that the Lalbaugcha Raja Ganesh Mandal, among the most famous and crowded of public festivities in the metropolis, will have a special arrangement of drones to cover the immersion route till Girgaum Chowpatty.

On Sunday, 3,161 traffic police and 500 wardens will be deputed to regulate traffic, he said.

He added that 53 roads will closed for traffic, 56 roads will made one-way and 99 roads will be closed for heavy vehicles.

-- PTI

Photograph: Sahil Salvi/Rediff.com
image
13:22   Bishop Mulakkal taken for reconstruction of crime scene
Bishop Franco Mulakkal, arrested on charges of repeatedly raping and sexually assaulting a nun, was Sunday taken to a guest house at nearby Kuravilangadu by police for reconstruction of the crime scene.
  
The police vehicle carrying the bishop, who was sent to two-day police custody Saturday by a magistrate court in Pala, reached the St Francis Mission Home at 10.20 am and left the place after completing the procedure at 11.10 am.

In its remand report submitted in the court, police had said the nun was subjected to rape and unnatural sex by the accused at the guest house of St Francis Mission Home 13 times between 2014 and 2016.

The victim and her fellow nuns staying in the home were not present there when Mulakkal was brought.

Official sources said police planned to move an application in the court, seeking permission to subject the bishop to a lie detector as he was still reluctant to make the confessional statement.

The Kerala high court on Saturday had rejected the bail plea of the bishop and sent him to two-day police custody.

-- PTI
image
12:55   Trump admin proposes to deny green cards to aid recipients
The Trump administration may deny green cards to immigrants who have availed or may avail government benefits including food and cash assistance under new rules which could negatively affect hundreds of thousands of Indians living in the US.

The proposed rule signed by the Homeland Security Secretary on September 21 and posted on the website of the Department of Homeland Security was slammed by the Silicon Valley-based tech industry and political leaders.

According to the rule, foreign immigrants who "seek adjustment of status or a visa, or who are applicants for admission, must establish that they are not likely at any time to become a public charge" unless determined by Congress. Public charge means receiving government benefits.

The latest move to crack down on immigration comes days after the Trump administration told a federal court that its decision to revoke work permits to H-4 visa users, a significant majority of whom are Indian-Americans, is expected within the next three months, a move which will have a major impact on Indian women as they are the major beneficiary of the Obama-era rule.

The DHS proposes to require all immigrants seeking an extension of stay or change of status to demonstrate that they have not received, are not currently receiving, nor are likely to receive public benefits as defined in the proposed rule.
image
12:36   Senate committee to hear Ford's testimony about sexual assault charge against Kavanaugh on Thursday
Christine Blasey Ford has agreed to a request from the Senate Judiciary Committee to testify before it next week on her sexual assault allegations against Judge Brett Kavanaugh, the Supreme Court Nominee of US President Donald Trump, her lawyer has said.

The Committee will tentatively hear the testimony of Ford on Thursday regarding her allegation that Kavanaugh sexually assaulted her, a media report said Saturday quoting a source familiar with the development.
Kavanaugh's confirmation as a Supreme Court Judge now hinges on the much-anticipated hearing.

Ford had alleged that Kavanaugh had sexually assaulted her at a house party some 36 years ago in suburban Washington. He has denied the allegation and has been ready to testify before the Congressional committee from the very first day the stunning allegation against him surfaced about a week ago.

"The Senate Judiciary Committee tentatively agreed to a hearing on Thursday with Christine Blasey Ford regarding her allegation that Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh sexually assaulted her while in high school," The Politico reported quoting a person familiar with the negotiations between the panel and Ford's lawyers on Saturday night.

-- PTI
image
12:12   EC to audit electoral rolls in poll-bound MP, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan
The Election Commission of India has decided to conduct a regulatory audit of poll-related activities such as those of electoral rolls in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan and Mizoram.
  
Elections in these four states are due this year-end.

The detailed regulatory audit of election-related activities such as electoral rolls, polling stations and storage of electronic voting machines will be carried out, the EC said in a letter to the chief electoral officers of these states.

It said audit of the systematic voters' education and electoral participation or SVEEP activities, and training of booth level officers among others would be also conducted.

Various audit teams are scheduled to visit the states soon.

-- PTI
image
11:44   Army man, main accused in gang-rape of class XII topper in Rewari, arrested
The Special Investigation Team formed to probe the gang-rape of a Class XII topper in Haryanas Rewari area on September 12 arrested two of the accused on Sunday.

The police had already arrested Nishu Phogat earlier this week and nabbed main accused Pankaj, an army man posted in Rajasthan, and Manish, for the alleged assault on the 20-year-old woman. 

The police have not yet released details of from where the two absconding men were arrested. 

The woman was allegedly abducted and gang-raped by three when she was going to her coaching centre in Kanina town of district Mahendragarh on September 12.

The accused, who arrived in a car, allegedly drugged her and raped her at a room housing a tubewell for irrigation.
image
11:17   Rafale will not be cancelled, will wait for CAG report: Jaitley
Rejecting allegations of a scam in the Rafale fighter plane deal, Finance Minister Arun Jaitely said that whether the planes are bought at a higher rate or not is a matter for the Comptroller and Auditor General to examine. He asserted, irrespective of the allegations, the Rafale deal will not be cancelled.

"The Rafale deal is clean and there is no question of cancelling it," Jaitley said. He asserted that the present Rafale aircraft are cheaper than what Congress-led UPA government had negotiated and added that all these facts and figures will be placed before the CAG.

"Fortunately, there is pricing, and for security interest, that pricing can't be disclosed in detail. But I have come as close to this. If you take a weaponised aircraft as of 2007, add the same two things to it again and bring it to 2016 level, the 2016 level is 20 per cent cheaper. Now the CAG will go into pricing. They may not eventually disclose it, but about being 9 per cent and 20 per cent cheaper or not, they are looking into it. Congress has submitted a memorandum. The truth will come out," Jaitley said.

Rejecting the possibility of scrapping the Rafale deal in view of the controversy and allegations on the government, Jaitley asserted that these jets are coming to India as they are needed for security and defence of the country.

-- ANI
image
11:15   PM to inaugurate Sikkim's first airport Monday
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said he would inaugurate the first airport in Sikkim at Paykong Monday and that it will improve connectivity, benefitting the people of the state.

The prime minister will leave for the Himalayan state after launching the Centre's flagship Ayushman Bharat-National Health Protection Mission from the Jharkhand capital Ranchi on Sunday. 

"After the programme in Jharkhand I will leave for Sikkim. In Sikkim, I will be inaugurating the Pakyong Airport tomorrow, which will improve connectivity and benefit the people of Sikkim," Modi said on Twitter.

Sikkim's dream of having an airport will come true nine years after a foundation stone of the greenfield airport was laid, around 33 km from Gangtok, in 2009.

The airport is spread over 201 acres and is located on top of a hill about two km above Pakyong village at 4,500 feet above sea level, Sikkim Chief Secretary A K Srivastava said.

The airport was constructed by the Airports Authority of India and at present, the nearest airport from Sikkim is located 124 km away in Bagdogra in West Bengal, he said.

The airport was constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 605 crore and is an "engineering marvel" for its soil reinforcement and slope stabilisation techniques keeping in view the altitude it was built at, Srivastava said.

-- PTI
image
10:59   Encounter breaks out in J&K's Pulwama
An encounter broke out Sunday between terrorists and security forces in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district, police said.
 
Security forces launched a cordon and search operation in Dar Ganie Gund village in Tral's Aribal area in the south Kashmir district Sunday morning, a police official said.
He said the operation was launched after receiving specific intelligence inputs about the presence of terrorists in the area.
The encounter broke out after the terrorists fired upon the forces who retaliated, the official said.
The gunfight is on and further details are being collected, he said. -- PTI
image
10:38   Encounter breaks out J&K's Pulwama
An encounter broke out Sunday between terrorists and security forces in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district, police said.
 
Security forces launched a cordon and search operation in Dar Ganie Gund village in Tral's Aribal area in the south Kashmir district Sunday morning, a police official said.
He said the operation was launched after receiving specific intelligence inputs about the presence of terrorists in the area.
The encounter broke out after the terrorists fired upon the forces who retaliated, the official said.
The gunfight is on and further details are being collected, he said. -- PTI
image
10:36   Rahul Gandhi, Hollande 'orchestrated' Rafale deal controversy: Jaitley
Questioning the timing of the statement by former French President Francois Hollande, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley today said that that it was not a mere coincidence that the Opposition leaders of the two countries were speaking in one voice on the controversial Rafale issue.

Connecting the September 21 statement made by former French President Hollande on Rafale in which he said the French side was asked by the Indian government to go with Reliance as an Offset partner, and a tweet by Congress president Rahul Gandhi on August 30 warning of impending news "in the next couple of weeks", Jaitley said that the two statements may have been `orchestrated' as they are in perfect rhythm with each other.

"I think he (Rahul Gandhi) is in some kind of a revenge mode. I won't be surprised if the whole thing is being orchestrated. On August 30, why did he (Rahul) tweet "Just wait for a while, some bombs are going to be burst in Paris"? And then what happens is in perfect rhythm with what he predicted," Jaitley told ANI.

When pressed further to clearly state if he is alleging that the Opposition of both France and India were in cahoots with each other, Jaitley added: "I don't know. But I see a perfect coincidence in the rhythm between his tweet on August 30 and what happens when a statement is made which is found to be inaccurate and, therefore, the next day itself, Mr Hollande goes and starts backtracking it."

Rahul Gandhi had on August 30 tweeted: "Globalised corruption. This #Rafaleaircraft really does fly far and fast! It's also going to drop some big bunker buster bombs in the next couple of weeks. Modi Ji please tell Anil, there is a big problem in France."

Days later, Francois Hollande told French Journal Mediapart in an interview that the French side had no role in deciding the Offset partner for Dassault and the name of Reliance was given by the Indian side. Hollande made this statement while defending himself and his partner Julie Gayet over alleged funding by Reliance of the latter's film.

Jaitley responded to this sequence of events, adding: "Yeh jo jugalbandihai, mere paas sabot nahin hai, lekin mann mein prashn khada hota hai." (I don't have evidence to back this but this apparent duet which  raises questions). 
image
10:25   PM to launch 'Ayushman Bharat' scheme from J'khand today
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will Sunday roll out the Centre's flagship Ayushman Bharat-National Health Protection Mission from Ranchi.
 
The ambitious scheme, renamed the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Abhiyan (PMJAY), aims to provide a coverage of Rs 5 lakh per family annually, benefiting more than 10.74 crore poor families for secondary and tertiary care hospitalisation through a network of empanelled health care providers.
"The prime minister will launch the scheme on September 23, but it will become operational from September 25 on the birth anniversary of Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay,"  Niti Aayog member V K Paul, the chief architect of the scheme, had said.
 
Billed as the world's largest government healthcare programme, it will be funded with 60 per cent contribution coming from the Centre and remaining from the states.
The scheme will target poor, deprived rural families and identified occupational category of urban workers' families, 8.03 crore in rural and 2.33 crore in urban areas, as per the latest Socio-Economic Caste Census data. 
It will cover around 50 crore people and there is no cap on family size and age in the scheme ensuring that nobody is left out. 
Over 8,735 hospitals, both public and private, have been empanelled for the scheme, and as many as 31 states and union territories have signed MoUs with the Centre and will implement the programme.
Telangana, Odisha, Delhi, Kerala and Punjab are not among the states which have opted for the scheme.
Union Health Minister J P Nadda, who recently visited the Jharkhand capital, had said that money would not go to any person. It would go from institution to institution with the Centres contribution being 60 per cent and the states 40 per cent. 
The prime minister will also lay foundation stones for medical colleges in Chaibasa and Koderma. -- PTI
image
09:57   Swaraj arrives in New York for UNGA
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj has arrived in New York to represent India at the 73rd session of the United Nations General Assembly and hold several bilateral and multilateral meetings with her global counterparts.
She will address the General Debate in the morning of September 29.
Swaraj, who arrived here on Saturday, will hold several bilateral and multilateral discussions with her global counterparts as well as with the top UN officials, besides participating in several meetings and discussions throughout the week on the sidelines of the General Assembly session.
"Destination #UNGA73. India's External Affairs Minister @SushmaSwaraj arrives in New York for High Level Segment of @UN," India's Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Syed Akbaruddin tweeted.
The General Debate commences on September 25. World leaders from 193 UN member states will address the global body.
US President Donald Trump will give his second address to the General Assembly on September 25.
In a tweet, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said "setting the stage for a week of hectic diplomacy! EAM @SushmaSwaraj arrives in New York to attend the 73rd Session of the #UnitedNations General Assembly and participate in several bilateral, plurilateral and multilateral meetings".
Earlier, following India's acceptance of Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan's proposal for a meeting, Swaraj and her Pakistani counterpart Shah Mahmood Qureshi were slated to meet on the sidelines of the General Assembly.
However, the Indian government called off the meeting, citing the brutal killings of three policemen in Jammu and Kashmir and Islamabad releasing postage stamps "glorifying" militant Burhan Wani. Qureshi will address the UN General Assembly in the afternoon on September 29. -- PTI
image
09:41   Government should come clean on Rafale: Shatrughan Sinha
Disgruntled Bharatiya Janata Party MP Shatrughan Sinha on Saturday said the Union government should come clean on the Rafale fighter jet deal.
 
Speaking to reporters at Katol near Nagpur in Maharashtra, the BJP leader said the questions arising from former France president Francois Hollande's statement must be answered.
 
"The statement has come from a person who was not only a former France president but the one under whom the (Rafale) deal was sealed. Some questions have arisen from it, which need to be answered," Sinha, who has been consistently critical of his party's government, said.
 
A French publication has quoted Hollande as saying that the Indian government proposed Reliance Defence as the partner for French aerospace giant Dassault in the Rs 58,000 crore Rafale deal.
 
"People are questioning why an experienced company like the HAL (Hindustan Aeronautics Limited) was set aside and a new company (Reliance Defence) got the opportunity (for offset contract under the deal)," Sinha said.
 
"How this thing happened without the knowledge of the defence minister?...the person in the know should not hide it as it will come out one way or the other," the actor-turned-politician said.
 
"It will be in the interest of the country and the party that the truth comes out with transparency," Sinha said in the presence of Aam Aadmi Party leader Sanjay Singh.
 
Sinha, who is rumoured to be joining the AAP lauded the work done by the Arvind Kejriwal government in Delhi while claiming that in the Narendra Modi-led dispensation at the Centre, most work is done by the prime minister's office, and not by the ministers.
 
"People call me (BJP) rebel, but I speak in the interest of the country and the party. If I say demonetisation was wrong, what is wrong with that...people suffered a lot during demonetisation due an individual's decision. I want to state very responsibly that it was not a party's or a cabinet's decision," he said.
"According to some people even the finance minister did not know about it," he alleged.
Sinha was interacting withe the media at the 'Katol festival' organised by local BJP MLA Ashish Deshmukh.
To a question, Sinha said he advised Deshmukh, who too criticises the BJP frequently, that he should not resign as he was "showing mirror to the party and guiding it in the right way". -- PTI 
image
09:31   BJP trying to divert attention from Rafale: Mamata
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday accused the Bharatiya Janata Party of trying to "cover up" and divert attention from issues like the Rafale deal.
 
"The price of petrol, diesel and gas is increasing everyday. In the name of demonetisation, they have siphoned off several crores. The party (BJP) is running on several crores of rupees. New information about the Rafale deal is emerging everyday," Banerjee said.
Banerjee is presently in Italy to invite business to the state. She was speaking to city journalists accompanying her in the trip.
She added that in order to "cover up" all these issues, the BJP is trying to divert attention to other matters. 
"But by doing this, they will not be able to stop our protests," she said in the interaction aired by local TV channels.
She also alleged that BJP and RSS leaders were being brought in from other states to West Bengal to "create problem" in different districts.
A media report in France on Friday quoted former French president Francois Hollande as purportedly saying that the Indian government proposed businessman Anil Ambani's Reliance Defence as the partner for Dassault Aviation in the Rs 58,000 crore Rafale jet fighter deal.
The French government, however, said it was in no manner involved in the choice of Indian industrial partners for the Rafale fighter jet deal, asserting that French companies have full freedom to select Indian firms for the contract. -- PTI
image
09:10   US SC nominee accuser agrees to testify before Senate
Christine Blasey Ford has agreed to a request from the Senate Judiciary Committee to testify before it next week on her sexual assault allegations against Judge Brett Kavanaugh, the Supreme Court nominee of President Donald Trump, her lawyer said on Saturday.
The two sides are now negotiating about the exact date and timing of the much-anticipated hearing, on which now hinges Kavanaugh's confirmation as a Supreme Court Judge.
Kavanaugh has denied the allegation of sexual assault and has been ready to testify before the Congressional committee from the very first day the stunning allegation against him surfaced about a week ago.
"Dr Ford accepts the committee's request to provide her first-hand knowledge of Brett Kavanaugh's sexual misconduct next week," the two lawyers of Ford -- Debra Katz and Lisa Banks -- wrote in an email to Senator Chuck Grassley, Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee. The two attorneys have sought more time to decide on the timing of the testimony.
The White House said this could be a delaying tactic.
"Our view of this latest response from Ford through her attorney is still ambiguous. She says she is willing to testify, but she says she still wants negotiations. Until there is actually an agreement, there isn't. It could be another delaying tactic," a senior White House official said.
The opposition Democrats described Ford's decision as courageous.
"Courageously Dr Ford will tell her story in the face of an impossible choice and vile bullying by the Republican leadership," said Senator Richard Blumenthal, a member of the Judiciary Committee.
"I will support her steadfast bravery against the arbitrary, unfair, irrational constraints set by Chairman Grassley. I remain deeply disturbed by the conduct of my colleagues over the last week," he added.
The Senate Judiciary Committee had initially scheduled the hearing on Monday, which now stands postponed.
Trump has said he strongly supports the nomination of Kavanaugh. The president has been critical of Ford.
"I have no doubt that, if the attack on Dr. Ford was as bad as she says, charges would have been immediately filed with local Law Enforcement Authorities by either her or her loving parents. I ask that she bring those filings forward so that we can learn date, time, and place! (sic)," Trump had said in a tweet earlier this week. -- PTI 
image
08:43   Filmmaker Kalpana Lajmi passes away
Filmmaker Kalpana Lajmi, who directed films like Rudaali, Chingaari, Ek Pal and Daman has died in Mumbai on Sunday. 

Actor Soni Razdan tweeted tributes to the award winning director and screenwriter. 

"Our dear beloved friend Kalpana Lajmi has gone to a better place. RIP my darling Kalpan. I shall miss you so terribly," Razdan tweeted. 

Actor Huma Qureshi also confirmed the news and offered her condolences.

"Deeply saddened... at around 4:30 am today morning #KalpanaLajmi passed away .. May she rest in peace," she tweeted. 

Lajmi, 61, was Assamese singer Bhupen Hazarika's partner till he died in 2011.
image
08:29   'Ready for war' but chooses to walk the path of peace in interest: Pak Army
The Pakistan Army on Saturday said it is "ready for war" but chooses to walk the path of peace in the interest of its people, comments which came in response to Indian Army Chief General Bipin Rawat's remark that "stern action" is needed to "avenge" the brutal killing of Indian soldiers.
   
In an interview to Dunya TV, Pakistan Army spokesperson Asif Ghafoor said the country has a long-standing record of fighting terrorism and "we know the price for peace", The Dawn reported.
Earlier in the day, commenting on the recent brutal killing of a BSF jawan and three policemen in Jammu and Kashmir, General Rawat in Jaipur said stern action is needed to avenge the barbarism by terrorists and Pakistan Army against Indian soldiers.
"We need to take stern action to avenge the kind of barbarism that terrorists and the Pakistan Army have been carrying against our soldiers. It is time to give it back to them in the same coin but not by resorting to similar kind of barbarism. I think the other side must also feel the same pain," he said at a press conference in Islamabad.
Rawat insisted that action against Pakistan was needed but not in a barbaric manner.
Refuting India's claim of Pakistani soldiers killing the BSF jawan, Ghafoor said, "We have struggled to achieve peace in the last two decades. We can never do anything to disgrace any soldier." 
"They (India) have in the past as well laid the blame on us for mutilating the body of a fallen soldier. We are a professional army. We never engage in such acts," he added. 
 
"We (Pakistan Army) are ready for war but choose to walk the path of peace in the interest of the people of Pakistan, the neighbours and the region," the spokesperson said.  
        
The war of words between the armed forces of the two countries came a day after India called off the foreign minister-level talks with Pakistan in New York this month on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly. -- PTI

TOP STORIES